QUEENSTOWN IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume II, Issue 63, 5 December 1863, Page 4

QUEENSTOWN IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE.

A meeting was held at Bracken's Hotel on Thursday evening. Present: Messrs. Harris (chairman), Gibson, Ryan, M'Gaw, Angus, Bracken, Budd, Carey, and Cass. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The following letters were read:— Waste Land Board Office, Nov. 26,1863. j Sir,—l have the honor to acknowledge the re-; ceipt of a petition signed by certain inhabitants of Queenstown, being occupiers of business allotments in the township of Queenstown, addressed to the Chief Commissioner of the Waste Land Board, forwarded through the Secretary of the Goldfields. I have the honor to inform you that the subject of the Petition had already received the attention of the Waste Land Board, and it had been resolved that occupied sections should be granted to the occupiers at a price to be fixed by the Board. 1 shall be at Queenstown at the first sale, on the 21st December next, and shall remain the following day, with the view of in- ' quiring into all claims which may be made under the resolution of the Board, or any previous authority of the Government. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your most obedient servant, W. H. CUTTEN, B. Cass, Esq., Chief Commissioner. Sec Queenstown Improvement Committee. Goldfields' Department, R. M.'s Office, Queenstown, Nov. 26,1863. Sir,—l have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 24ch insi, respecting the preservation of the Creek water in this township, and to inform you that I have, in accordance with the resolution, communicated with the Government upon the subject. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your most obedient servant, Richmond Beetham, R.M. B. Cass, Esq., Hon. Sec. Queenstown Improvement Committee. A letter from the Alexandra Progress Committee was also read, suggesting that this committee remonstrate with the Government on the mutter of establishing pounds on the goldfields. Four tenders were submitted for building a temporary bridge over the creek at the top of Beach street. That of Mr. Aerth's, for £2 10s., was accepted. The Hon. Sec. was instructed to reply to the letter from the Alexandra Progress Committee, requesting further information on the matter. Also to write to Mr. Willis, informing that gentleman of the desire of the Committee that he should attend more to his duties as a member. Also to request the police to cause persons to remove the rubbish from the back of their premises. Proposed by Mr. M'Gaw, seconded by Mr. Ryan, and carried —•• That Mr. Harris, Captain Budd, and the mover inspect the Cemetery, and report thereon at the next meeting of the Committee." A vote of thanks to the chair concluded the meeting. ♦ POLICE COURT, QUEENSTOWN. (Before Richmond Beetham, Esq., R.M.) Friday, 4th December. Bracken v. Grumitt.—lllegal possession of a double-barrelled gun, the property of H. W. Bracken, valued at £lO. Mr Campbell appeared for defendant, who pleaded not possessed. Mr H. W. Bracken, sworn, stated that he lent the gun to Mr Grumitt some time back, when he was going to the Head of the Lake. It was one that he received from a digger he knew in Victoria, and on which he had lent L 6, with the understanding that it was to be given up when that sum was returned. Mr Grumitt did not give him the gun back when he returned to but said it was mislaid, and gave several excuses, which led him to suppose Mr Grumitt wished to swindle him out of the gun.

Plaintiff told him he must and then Mr Grumitt said he would advertise for it, and'feava him a note of hand for L 6, if the owner should return and claim the gun before it wasffonnd lhe day after the summons, was issued/The brought a man who said he had the gun faUthe Head of the Lake. Mr Campbell-Is that all the evidence you nave to give? J r Bracken-.Do you want any more ? Mr Campbell-Not I, but I submit, your Worship, this is. out of the jurisdiction of the Court a ' wive t. Uld , haVG bl^ ht a i that \TG^TI?°* B T> he *ouldshow mat Mr Grumitt obtained the gun in an illeral manner, whereas he admits having lenUt Te have learned that the gun is at tie madl of the Lake, and have communicated with Mr Bracken informing him of the fact, and promfeW ffit should be immediately returned S Mr Bracken-It is a civil case*. His Worship-Then you should have sued on the civil side of the Court for th recowof your property, and for whatever dama g 4L u consider you may have sustained g } Mr Bracken—l have done so illegal SSetrt 1°" *!•**** him with megai possession. I muß t dismiss the case with it;- f earce J** for withdrawal of advertisement Mr Campbell for the defence; Dennis M'Kenna, sworn, stated that he had a monthly advertisement in the Wakatip Mail, 25° draWn *** hi « deste and as that was the only channel through which he could obtain proper publicity, he, as a business man, brought the present action, on the distinct refusal of the proprietors to insert it any longer, or any other advertisement of his, which he considered was an injury to his business His Worship—Upon what data do you lay your claim for damages. How long has the advertisement been withdrawn P Plaintiff—About a week. His Worship—Then, ihe amount of henefit you derive from your advertisement in the Wdkatip Mail you estimate at over £IOOO a-tear? I make no objection to the amount of your claim, but I wish you to show me in what way you arrive at that particular sum. Plaintiff could not say how he arrived at that estimate. By Mr Campbell—l called at the office and demanded that they should put in my advertisement. I cannot recollect whether I abused any one there—l might have done so, but don't think 1 did. I might have said something against Mr Grumitt in the heat of the moment, as I was much excited. I don't think I said I would get a bellman to cry the paperjthroiigh the town. I don't recollect the last time the advertisement was in the paper. The account produced is the last one I have had; ; it is for one month, I have always paid them. This account I believe is in advance—l have always believed I was paying in advance. Mr Campbell submitted that plaintiff had not made out a case. The contract had been completed, and the advertisement then withdrawn in consequence of the inconvenience of dealing with plaintiff. So far from payment being in advance, it was not till the middle of November that the monthly account, ending on 24th October, had been presented. Mr Taylor, sworn, said that the firm declined a ?L bU ?2f ßß , with Mr M ' K enna, in consequence ot the difficulty of obtaining payment from him, and also his violent language and manner. The account produced was due on the 24th October, another month had elapsed since that date, and then the advertisement was withdrawn The collector had frequently complained of Mr M'Kenna s conduct, who went to the office on Tuesday, and there made use of very violent and threatening language. His Worship said that neither he nor any other Court could dictate to any man in what manner he should conduct his business, aud the defendants were quite justified in refusing to receive an advertisement if so disposed; in the same manner as Mr M'Kenna might refuse to sell a bag of potatoes. Case dismissed, with costs.