THE GOLD FIELDS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 217, 19 August 1862, Page 5

THE GOLD FIELDS

TUAPEKA. (FROM OUR. OWN' COIIUESPONDF.XT.)' August 16th, 18C2. The defendants in the mining cases tried by Major Croker, on Tuesday last, have given notico of appeal, and provided "the necessary sureties. The defendants chiefly- rely upon the want of jurisdiction by Major Croker. who has never been Gazetted as Warden, nor have Wardens courts been established. These cases were heard by the Major in hia capacity of Resident Magistrate, sitting indie Court of Petty Sessions, and the defendants were summoned as for an ordinary debt, notwithstanding that the Gold Fields Act provides that the Wardens' Court is the tribunal before which they should-be heard. I believe however, that Major Croker, is not on this occasion acting on his own unaided judgment, but is supported in the course he Ls pursuing bythe opinion of the Provincial Solicitor. When these cases are heard before the Supreme Court, it is to be hoped Mr. M'Glashan will be prepared to defend bis opinion.

To-day a large uumber of persons attended at the Court of Petty Sessions, for the purpose of obtaining slaughtering'license*, in accordance with the late proclamation regulating tlie slaughtering of cattle, Oo account of some informality iv the application*.' the Bench postponed the granting of these licenses for a fortnight. Some oversight appears to have been committed by the framers of the proclamation, as no mention is made therein us to the scale of fees to be charged. If, in the absence of any distinct regulation, tbe maximum amount provided by the Act is to be charged, viz.-. For Sheep, Pig's, &c.,"25..Ud, ; for cattle, r».«—ihero will be some bitter complaints, and no little indignation on the part of the sufferers. By the 18th oblige of ihe Act, the Governor has power to fix tlie scale of fee* to be levied, always" provided that they do not exceed the amount I have mentioned. No notice of this portion of the Act appears to have been taken, and unless altered, tbe maximum amount will have to be charged. In Victoria only 3 J ahead is charged for slaughtering cattle, while sheep, pigs, &c, arc not charged for at ail. The intimation by the Government that they would cut a storm water-channel through Wetherstone's Flat, has been received with great satisfaction. The inhabitants of Wetherstone's are especially jubilant, anticipating that this work will be the means of reviving their drooping prosperity. Mr. Drummond, the Mining Surveyor, has arrived on the held, so that I presume the work will be commenced forthwith. This officer was much needed on the gold field, and his services will tend to lighten the very heavy duties of the Commissioner. The mining intelligence for 'the week has not been of much interest, save the first-rite yields obtained from the claims of some sluicing parties that have washed up. Doylo and Co. had close upon 180 oz., as the result of about five weeks work, while another party obtained 130 oz. for their work for the same period. The weather for the 1 ast few days has been favorable, and I anticipate an increased amount of gold will be sent down by next week's escort.