THE TOTARA.

West Coast Times, Issue 630, 1 October 1867, Page 8

THE TOTARA.

(eeom thb boss guabdian, sept. 28.) DHAiNAaE op jones's tljLt. A public meeting was held at the Court House on the 25th, to consider what means could be adopted for the drainage of the flat. The court was crowded with men of all classes. Mr Warden Aylmer was voted to the chair, and on taking his place asked to be informed of the object of the meeting. Mr Cumings replied that it was thought desirable to meet and talk over the present state of the diggings in the immediate neighborhood of the town, with a view to removing the stagnation which now existed. The evils to miners and tradesmen were apparent, and it was thought that by a free ventilation of the subject a remedy might be found. The Chairman said he thought it strange that tradesmen should have to devise a remedy when miners got into 1 a difficulty. doubted if storekeepers would iTSp^jfc the miners in similar circumstaneftjjiTlthev would probably set to work,and help ', aemselves, and that iv.:rwliat the miners ought to do. They h:tve only to work 'together, without further loss of time, and if they could not drain the flat they had better leave It to toe who wouW, i

Mr Tribe said that it had not been the intention to call a public meeting, but he was not the less glad to see such a large attendance. Such a course had alread)^ been adopted, and a committee formed, which had not accomplished any other result than finding that volun- j tary combination of .all the miners' affected by the water was not obtainable. He was aware that many of the men had offered to contribute a failshare, but a large number would not assist, and he did not think the drainage would be effected unless some means of compulsory assessment could be devised. Such he thought might be done under the Goldfields Act, clause 11, sub-clause ii. If under it the Superintendent would make a regution for the enforcement of drainage of the claims . on the flat, there would be no difficulty in obtaining the money for the first outlay ; he believed the miners would soon find it if they saw that all who were benefitted would be compelled to contribute, but, if necessary, the storekeepers would assist. His view was, that a drainage company should be formed, and all the claims which would be benefitted be assessed their proportion of cost, which, until paid, should bear interest. He believed it was competent to the Superintendent, and perhaps the Goldfields Secretary, to enact regulations regulations enabling a company to carry a tail race through any claims, and comßel payment from the claims benefjtjtejd. He spoke with the view of obtaining^ an expression of opinion, and would be I glad to be corrected if in error. The Chairman said, if such a course were practicable the delay would be considerable — he would recommend the miners to prepare plans and estimates, for which purpose he would ask the District Surveyor to give his assistance, and then appoint' independent assessors to apportion the cost of the work, get the claimholders to agree, and bind them. Mr Gow said he thought they must wait for a drainage law. Mr M'Kenzie said that the course recommended by the Chairman had -Jbeen followed in a similar case where he, unfortunately, was secretary, and he £ound the greatest difficulty in obtaining payment of even the most {rifling contribution. Mr Gordon was in favor of appointing a committee. MrMillnersfatieidthathe had acted on the conrmrWee appointed a few weeks before. They had roughly taken 'the levels of a proposed tail-race,- and found that one wMch would reach "a depth of forty feef at the whip claim, could be made for a cost of LSSQ. Towards this amount nine claims had offered to contribute Ll9O, two others Ll a man ; but there were many others swamped who would not contribute. In reply to an enquiry, he said the pro* posed tail-race would "be a certain benefit ; it would carry a great deal of water, and would not cost any thing for maintenance. Mr Cumings said he should be glad to assist to the best of his ability ; he contribute to any effective drainage scheme, and would help to collect subscriptions. Mr Knox said, it seemed the general opinion that a committee h?,d Letter be formed, he would therefore propose — '" That this meeting is of opinion that a Committee, five in number, be appointed to work with the Surveyor, and prepare a report to submit to a public meeting, to be held in that building not later than that day week." We would leave it to the meeting to elect the Committee. Mr Cumings seconded the resolution, .which was carried unanimously. The following were then elected as a Committee : — Messrs James Millner, R. Owen, H. Cumings, Evan Thomson, and Gilbert Everingham. A vote of thanks to the Chairman was carried by acclamation.

The following shocking story is published in the Rockhampton "Bulletin": — "About three weeks ago two men, named Jack Morris and Charley Considinc, left Bockharapton in the Flying Cloud, «a ketch of sinoll tonnage, for the Broadsound diggings, and before reaching Shoal Water Bay, anchored under Cape Townsend, about half a mile from the shore. During the forenoon they were visited by two blackfellows from the shove and treated^ them'li\sspitably, giving them some, tucker and one or t\\ o articles of clothing', being under the impression that the darkies intended to bring tfiem some'fish. Durirg the afternoon Morris and Cousidine turned into their bunks for a sleep. A piece of cunvas hung over the bank in ■which Morris slept, and lie was awakened by hearing Considine groan. He lifted up the canvas and saw a blackfellow leaning half-way across him and stab him above the .eyes with a knife — one of the weapons with which they delight in hacking to pieces the members of hostile tribes. Morris jumped up and received a severe blow on the head from a nullah nullah from a second blackfellow. He rushed at one fellow, but the darkey escaped him, and leaped into the water. There were two" others also on board, but they bent a hasty retreat before the pluck of old Jack, who caught up a tomahawk, and aimed a blow aI. one fellow's head in the water ; the nigger ducked and the weapon went overboard. Morris then had hold of his* gun, but could not find the caps because of the blinding stream of blood that came from the wound on his head. He picked up pieces of firewood .and pieces of iron lying upon the deck, and threw them after the blackfellows, but without effect; they swam to a canoe manned by a lad, and lying in wait some distance from the ketch. It appears that four of them boarded the boat, and Considine, before awakening Morris, had a piece of his scalp sliced off by the knife of one of the scoundrels ; an attempt had also been made to cut his throat, but the attempt was foiled by Considine having luckily a thick woollen comforter wrapped 111 several rolls around his neck. Moms nursed Considine for several days, and then proceeded on their trip. On the way back they called in at the same spot to pay out a compliment to their visitors, but could not get within 'talking' range. The Boat reached Bockhampton on Saturday, and Considinp is still in a weak Otftte,"