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Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 314, 2 May 1866, Page 2

In the Warden's Court on Saturday, befor e R. Beetbam, Esq., Jane Maloney, Arthur's Point, was fined 20s and costs for selling spirits without a license. John Birrell, Maori Point, for a similar offence, was fined £5, including costs. In the R.M. Court, on the same day, Sarah Wheeler, Commercial Hotel. Queenstown,.was charged with neglecting to keep a lamp burning over the door of that house. Defendant having married lately, the case was dismissed in order that the license might be transferred to her husband.

We have been informed that the Who'd-a-Thought-It Company, Arrow, now prospectin<* their claim, have struck the reef and found payable stone. The stoue is similar to that of the Criterion Company; but opinion differs as to whether it is a continuation of that Company's reef or a new one entirely.

The escort took down from Queenstown on Monday 926 ounces of gold. The amount of the Arrow return has not reached us. We understand that the Criterion Company contemplate erecting a puddling machine in connection with their works. The stone contains a large proportion of loose debris from which the gold can easily be separated by puddling, after which the rough and solid residue will be put through the crushing mil. By this means unecessary wear on the stampers will be avoided, and it is also anticipated that the puddler will be equal to at least five additional heads of stamps, besides turning the gold out in the form of alluvial, and saving the trouble and expense of retorting. We are informed that the persons objected to on the ground of insufficient attestation in the Registration forms may have such objections negatived by presenting themselves personally at the Revising Officer's Court, held in July or August. The same remarks apply to those who have withheld proper descriptions of the property in respect of which the claims are made. In the event of a changed residence the elector should attend at the Revising Officer'. Court, and have the required alteration made; and so with respect to altered qual fications, providing the same hold good. There may be. some trouble in all this, but it is, nevertheless, the duty of those concerned to have any inaccuracy rectified as far as p< ssible, in order that the Roll may be complete and accurate and also to render them selves bona fide electors.

The case of Flannery v Martin, was partially heard in the Warden's Court on Monday, and adjourned till to day. It is very compli cated, and involves a question of considerable importance to miners. In order not to prejudice the case we hold over any report till our next issue.

The 'Evening Star' says: —"The long fought for and bard-won Panama route is, we may venture to say, at last a certainty. The agent for the Panama, New Zealand, and Australian Royal Mail Company (Limited), in this city (Mr G S. Brodrick) announces by an advertisement the commencement of the through service. In England it will commence at Southampton on the 2nd of June next, whilst at this end of the line the first homeward steamer may be expected to leave Wellington on or about the Bth of the same month."

The Hokitika correspondent of the 4 Press' sa y S A sad accident has occurred at the Grey involving the loss of four lives. The names of the men drowned are Gregory, storekeeper; Peter Blair, Steele, and Williams. Two of the bodi s only have been discovered. The k Grey River Argus' censures the Government for not taking more active steps to remove the snags Irom the principal rivers, upon <vhich there is now so much traffic and loss of life."

A woman residing near the old Hospital in Ilevell-street, Hokitika, has been taken into custody for throwing her child through a window in a fit of rage. It appears she has been deranged in her intellect for some time past, and should lot g since have been placed under proper surveillance.

Referring to the Bruce Bay riot, tjie Times' says:-" We have gre«tr pleasure in stating that the disgraceful conduct lately characterising Bruce has excited the greatest amongst the miners here, and not a single apologist cap be found for the plundering gang. of them have even gone so far as to promise a .liberal subscription towards offering rewards for the apprehension and punishment of the principal offenders. - This is as-it should be, and the Government will leave no stone unturned to punish the guilty. We may observe that two men have been brought before the Hokitika bench on a charge of being part of the mob, and two others, William Quinlan and William Ryan were committed for trial by Mr Warden Price, at Bruce Bay. s The prisoners will be forwarded up in charge of two constables by the Lioness to-day. Bruce<Bay is pretty well extinct, as far as further mention of it goes. There are still 300 people waiting the advent of Hunt to lead them to the new field. About Hunt there are the most contradictory rurivois afloat. One is that Hunt has appeared, and has shown the new field; another is that he has committed suicide; another version will have it that he has been drowned, but nothing whatever reliable has come to hand. One thing is certain that he has completely dutwitted those who thought to circumvent him, ai d the general opinion is that he has yet ground to open. A tew days, however, will decide the question." Okanta has not seemed .10 be so promising of late. The local journal says:—"The minds of trie miners are greatly unset tled, and it will be some time before the district Will recover the flurry it has been thrown into by the Bruce Bay disaster. Some are.inclined to give the Lake a trial, some go to the Grey, others hang about waiting for something to show in the ranges, and all have scarcely recovered themselves, and hardly know what to be at."

A great discussion has been going on between the West Coast " and Christchurch papers as to the validity of Mr Moorhouse s election to represent Westland in the General Assembly. Upon this subject the ' Lyttleton Times' states that the law of Parliament is only to the effect that member sitting for one place may not be elected for another and as Mr Mocrhouse is not as yet a u sitting " member —the House not having assembled, the objection cannot apply to him. ..* It then proceeds to say" Under all circumstances, we believe that the return of Mr Moorhouse for both seats must be accepted; but that, before he can sit and vote, he must declare which seat he will retain ; whereupen a writ can issue for the other. But it wilt be competent for any of the persons interested in the Westland election on the .other side to try question before the in the usual form.

The telegrams from Hokitika state that " the steward, second steward, andstewardess of the Barwon have been arrested on a charge of stealing a box of gold.—The diggings on the Hau-hau Creek ar£ extending. Ah impoitant rush has taken place, and two men have brought in 150 ounces."The following are the most important telegrams from the North " The Governor is about to visit Rewi at Kauhia. The Iriendlies on the East Coast are destroying the Hauhau pahs. The Silver Eagle has sailed with j the head quarters of the 43rd. Several cases of arson have occurred at Auckland. One man has been committed. The purchase of the Manawatu block has been completed for £25,000." It has been rumored for some time (says the * Hawkes Bay He rah land oW Poverty Bay correspondent calls attention to the fact, that several persons have already entered into arrangements with the native owners or, rather, presumed native owners—for the leasing of land on the East Coast, particularly in those parts which have recently been the theatre of war. Considering the pecular circumstances of the East Coast lands that recent events have in a measure upset all preconceived) notions oft title—*tha.t the territory is virtually in the hands of the Crown, but cannot be opened for settlement until the war is over—we think it most unfair that the Government should be erabaiassed in any arrangements, connected with the- confiscation; of rebel ;and by such unauthorised proceedings. Not merely unfair to the Government, but dangerous to the public peace; and we should be glad to learn, either that the goo 1 sense of the parties concerned has , shown them the folly of persisting in their arrangements, or that the Government has put a veto; upon all such transactions. The districts in question should be fettled upon such a basis as, without excluding capital, will encourage the introduction of a numerous agricultural p (pnlanon —men who will be able and willing to keep possession of the country they occupy, aud whose presence will form the best guarantee for the future tranquility of this part of the colony." The Hokitika correspondent of the ' Press,' writing on the 16th ult,, after speaking of the ever-varying bar at that place, says : — u We--are not in so bad a position as the good people at Okarita. who have received the consoling information that during the winter months the bar there frequently close* up altogether. Tnis is a Maori tradition, and on that account the interested are trying not to believe it. I hope they may succeed, though I fancy,; from ray little experience, they will find the Natives right. Okarita continues to send up about 3,0U0 ounces of gold weekly—not at all a bad return for the short existence it has enjoyed."

THE OPENING OF THE CRITERION ® ; "QIJAIITZ MINING COMPANY'S 'WORKS, ARROW'TOWN.

CHRISTENING OF THE WHEEL.

;Jhe opening of the works in connection with the above Company took place on Monday last. Upwards of 250 persons were present,. including a considerable nirarbef ""of ladies. The dam, head race, whim and wheel were gaily decorated with flags,and an al fresco luncheon was prepared for all comers at the rear of the Company's workshops. Shortly after .2 o'clock Mrs W. G. Rees, who had kindly undertaken to perform the ceremony of christening the wheel, arrived, attended by Dr Douglas, Chairman of the Directors, Mr Warden Broad, Mr Haughton,, M.H.R., and various other influential gentlemen of the Wakatip district. The platform adjacent to the machinery was set apart for, and speedily filled with ladies; aud every available spot from whence a view of the ceremony could be obtained, was crowded with spectators. Dr Douglas commenced the pr ceedings by giving a resume of the progress of the Company. He alluded to the time when the original proprietors of the reef us<?d to crush the quartz by means of a hand-stamper, the result of \rhich was of so promising a character as to induce a number of persons to buy the property and form a Joint Stock Company. The Doctor drew particular attention to the satisfactory manner, in which the Vofks had been carried out, and passed a high euioginm upon the professional abilities of Mr C. Wright, who had acted as consulting engineer to the Company since its formation.; the skill and : ability with which this gentleman had grappled with the engineering difficulties that presented themselves, were beyond all praise. Mr Harris, (the manager), Mr Thomas (machinist), and Mr Letcher (the principal carpenter), Were also specially entitled to the warmest thanks of the shareholders for the able and hearty manner in which they had discharged their several duties. The Doctor concluded his address by expressing his unbounded confidence in the success of the undertaking; then, handing a bottle of champagne to Mrs Rees, he, as chairman, directed the water to be turned on'; and, as the ponderous wheel began to move, that lady having in a few well chosen words wished prosperity to the Company, dashed the bottle in fragments over it; while the cheers of the spectators drowned for some ; moments the loud " thudding" of the stampers. The machinery worked most smoothly, no hitch of any kind whatever occurring. f 1 The company adjourned shortly afterwards to luncheon, ! room being found to seat all the ladies, while the gentlemen stood round in attendance. Dr Douglas .presided, and after a short time called upon Mr Haughton to propose the first toast. . • ( " Mr Haughton said that it devolved upon him to propose a toast which he was sure would be warmly reciprocated by all present —prosperity to the Criterion Company/ Under no common difficulties, at great outlay of capital, they had brought their works to the culminating point which had just been witnessed; the first quartz crushing machinery in the Lake district was in active operation, ureat credit, was due to all concerned in the management of the Company, especially to the directors who had gratuitously carried out their very arduous duties to the present point of success; and he (Mr Haughton) looked upon the event of that day as one of no slight importance —the inauguration in the district of the most important of mining operations. The speaker hoped before long to hear the whole valley of the Arrow reverberate with the thunder of stampers; and had no doubt that the cakes of gold which the present Company would shortly send down would satisfy the most sceptical as to the, value of the Arrow reefs. He would propose, with all the honors, " Prosperity to the Criterion Company, the pioneers of Quartz Mining in the Wakatip." (Cheers.) Dr Douglas, as Chairman of the Board of Directors, briefly returned thanks. Mr Richmond, in proposing the toast of the wardens of the district, observed \ that the mining population of the Wakatip had reason to c ngiatulate themselves upon having the right men in the right place; men of business, who knew how to work with the miners, and; who were always ready to afford assistance and advice. In California and Australia it had been the fashion to appoint old half-pay officers as wardens ; and a precious mess they had made of it. The Provincial Government,, here had exercised more, judgment, and appointed men who knew the and the habits and requirements of the minersi lie need not say anything specially about the' wardens of the Wakatip ; they were welt' known (cheers). He knew they would drink with enthusiasm, the healths of L. Broad and R. Beethaip, Esqs.. (Loud and prolonged : cheering.) .> ; ; . •! Mr Lowther Broad, in a few words, returned = thanks oil behalf of himself and Mr Beetham. The toasts of the Directors; the Manager, the Machinist, the Carpenter, and the Ladies, /; having been duly given arid responded to, the'; proceedings, so far as they were of a public character, terminated.

The Gothenburg with the Home mail took * 25,985 ounces of gold from Htktika. The " above quantity added to that taken by the, Barwon on 3rd inst, viz., 23.16Q will make $ total of. nearly 50,000 ispre-r..* senting about £200*0.00 in cut it •»;. v>