NOTES FROM ST. BATHANS.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 208, 21 February 1873, Page 3

NOTES FROM ST. BATHANS.

February 17th. The dry weather has once more fairly set in, and water is exceedingly scarce. There is about a head in the Mountain Race, and a head and a half in the Enterprise. The Scandinavian Race has still a fair supply, but the Mosquito is fairly dried up. At "Welshmans, Hills Creek, Woolshed, and, indeed, throughout the entire district, the want of water is severely felt. The Public Sludge Channel has been washed up, and has given good results. Over 200 ozs. of gold, including amalgam, realizing £776 7s. The expenses in connection with the washing amounting to the somewhat extravagant sum of £296, litigation as to the appropiation of the proceeds, £2O, managers wages, £64 ; leaving about £4OO for distribution amongst the contributors to the construction and maintenance of the Channel. It is not unlikely, however, that a considerable portion of this sum may be absorbed in further litigation,, as several absent contributors have notified their intention to claim their proportional share of the proceeds. The very cool proposal to divide only amongst those at present using the channel, finds favor with a number,of interested parties here. It is to be hoped, however, that more honest counsels will prevail. A distribution on the plan contemplated would be most unjust to those who have paid their fair share of expense in connection with the channel, and would, in fact, be little short of a public robbery. This channel question has evoked a great amount of bad feeling, 'which can only be allayed by a fair and equitable settlement of the claims of all parties concerned. A public examination of the District School took place on the 14th instant, a number of the Committee and the parents of the pupils being present. The examination was conducted by Mr. Yorston, the teacher, assisted by Mr. Wheeler, Mr. Patterson (teacher of the Welshman's G-ully School), Mr. Pyle, and Mr. M'Kay, and the juveniles acquitted themselves admirably. A soiree was held in the evening, when all the children and a number of their friends assembled and did full justice to the, good things provided for the occasion by Mrs. G-. H. Smith. After the teameeting a concert was held, at which the attendance was good. Some admirable songs were sung by Messrs. S. Inder, Watson, Murray, Cadock, and several ather gentlemen. Mr. W. Wilks gave a comic reading with good effect, and Mr. M'Kay a stump speech —"Woman's Rights"—which caused immense fun. The proceedings of the day were wound up with a dance, when a large number of the votaries of the " light fantastic " footed it right mer-1 rily to the strains of Mr. Melvin's violin till an early hour. Mr. James Stewart, agent for the j Bank of New South Wales, has ob-, tained twelve months' leave of absence, i and leaves; here on Friday next on a trip to Europe. Mr. Denistoun, from Clyde, will take charge of the bank during the temporary absence of Mr. Stewart. I There was no business in the Resi-; dent Magistrate's Court on the 11th 1 inst.

Warden's Court.—Feb. 11. (Before E. H. Garew, Esq., Warden.) Turner v. Channel Committee.—An < amplication was made by Mr. Tiernan, on behalf of defendants, for a rehearing of this case, which had been decided on the previous sitting. The Court was occupied a considerable time in hearing the applicant, and the "Warden stated that no sufficient reason had been given for a new trial, and refused the application. He stated further that the principal object sought to be obtained by a rehearing would not be before the Court under the present complaint, and was a subject for another action. The following applications were granted: —O'Hara and another, protection to claim; Fahey and another, protection; John Davies, residence area; Davies and others, extension of water race ; United M. and E. Company (Eegistered), protection to claim ;

Scandinavian Co., protection to claim; Rowe and others, protection to claim ; Sweeney and others, extension of water race and a dam.