THE WAIMEA.

West Coast Times, Issue 659, 4 November 1867, Page 4

THE WAIMEA.

(fbom our own correspondent.) October 30. The population inhabiting what is known as the "old district" generally complain that they are unable to save money, because the supply of water is so limited that they are idle during several months in the year, and with, them it is either "a feast or a famine." Lately, however, even their demand for water lias been more than met, and the heavy rain of Friday last has proved very destructive to races, flumings, and dams. From Callaghan's Gully so great has been the havoc that several parties have departed during the week for "fresh fields" rather than construct fresh dams and races. The workings at Bed Jack's Gully are progressing favorably, several shafts having lately been bottomed on good washdirt in the new ground at the foot of the gully. The population is gradually increasing, and a well-founded opinion exists 'that gold in payable quantities will be fdund through a large extentfof country here. At Quinn's Terrace, Piper's Flat, three large hotels have recently been completed, and the township is extending rapidly. On the high Terrace to the westward several •' duffers" have been bottomed on the top of the hill, but along the side of the Terrace gold is being traced through a good many claims. During the heavy floods of Friday and Saturday traffic from Stafford Town to the old Waimea township was all but suspended through the great height of the with a great interest by all classes of politicians in New Zealand, for we look upon its establishment as the introduction of the thin edge of a wedge which is destined ultimately to effect great, very great changes in provincialism in New Zealand, it is in fact the "beginning of the end." The Provincial Solicitor is to leave for Christchurch tliis morning ; the Provincial Secretary will remain here some time longer, and Mr Hall will depart for Wellington about the 10th November, but will very shortly return to Westland. The wer.ther which was excessively stormy dun'ng the early part of the week, ppears to have cleared up, and there

appears every prospect of a succession of delightful weather. All Thursday night it rained heavily, and on Friday morning a strong fresh coming down the river was met by a high tide, and the backwater caused the creeks and drains to overflow, flooding portions of Hamilton, Tancred, Weld, and Sewell Streets, and also a portion of Gibson's Quay. The sea has- made considerable inroad ■ Waimea Creek. It is now quite time that a proper horse track over this portion of the district should be made, and the creek properly bridged. A sum of money was voted for the making of roads during the last Session of the Provincial Council, and I think that if the inhabitants of the Waimea were to bestir themselves they might obtain a share of the grant for this purpose. Mr James N. Owen, of the Sluicers' Arms Hotel, Stafford Town, narrowly escaped being drowned on Thursday night, the 24th ult. Whilst walking close to the creek which runs near the back of his premises, his foot slipped, and he was immediately carried rapidly down by the strong current which was running at the time, for nearly a hundred yards, when his further progress was arrested by a log lying across the creek. Mr Owen's head received a severe knock which nearly rendered him insensible; he had, however, sufficient consciousness left, and possessed presence of mind enough to hold on to the log and afterwards jump on it, and thus, fortunately, regain the bank. Warden's Court. GOLDSBOEOUGH. Monday, October 28. (Before Michael Keogh, Esq., Warden.) TTinilin and party v. M/Blane and party. — Injuring complainant's dam and tail race, by causing dam to burst ; L3O claimed as damages, Case adjourned for assessors to be summoned. M'Blane and party v. Kinilan and party. — Injuring race and claim by bursting of defendant's dam, situate on terrace above complainant's race, a quarter of a mile below Waimea township. Compensation claimed for loss of gold and injury sustained LIOB 10s. Case adjourned for assessors. STAFFORD TOWN. Tuesday, October 29. Kinilan and party v. M'Blane'and party. — Case adjourned from previous day. The following persons were chosen as assessors , — P. Forrest, Gcorgo Bishop, Thomas Creer and James Anderson. Case dismissed. M'Blane and party v. Kinilan and party. — Case adjourned from October 28. Verdict for plaintiffs ; damages L 35. The following persons were assessors : — P. Forrest, George Bishop, Thos. Crcer and James Anderson. Police Constable Bissett v. Lloyd — Carrying on business without a license. Fined L 5. Resident Magistrate's Court. Stafford town. Friday, October 25. (Before M. Keogh, Esq., R.M.) Thomson v. Salamon and Moss — An account of Ll2 12s 2d for meat. The defendant Salamon having clearly proved that the amount had been paid to Peter Brown at the time the debt was contracted, a partner of plaintiff, The case was dismissed with costs of court. Defendant allowed 10s expenses. GOLDSBOHOTJGH. Monday, October 28. Fisher and Co., v. Cailaghan — Claim L27s 6d for provisions. Settled out of court. Same v. Flannery — An account of L 2 Is 3d. Judgment by defaxilt for amount claimed with costs of court, 4s. Same v. Williams — Claim for L 3 7s 7d. Judgment for amount claimed with costs of court, 9s. Same v. Looke — Account L 2 7s lOd. Settled out of court. Same v. Sheals — Account Ll 11 . 4d. Settled out of court. Fraser v. Thompson. — Claim for Ll2. Judgment for amount claimed, with costs of Court. One witness allowed 10s. STAFFORD TOWN. Tuesday, October 29. Waite v. M'Donald. — Account for L 4 Is 6d. Settled out of Court. Same v. Nash.— Claim for LS 12s 6d. Judgment by consent for amount claimed, with costs of Court. Souter v. M'Lean. — Claim for L 3. Case dismissed. Jones v. Brown. — An account for L 3 p 4s 3d, for provisions. Judgment by default for amount claimed, with costs of Court, 7s. Newhouse v. Thrower. — An account for L 2 10s sd. Judgment by consent for amount claimed, with costs of Court, 4s. Lyons v. Nash. — Claim, L 3. Judgment by consent for amount claimed, with costs of Court. Criminal Cases. Stafford town. Friday, October 25. Breach of Public House Ordinance. — Thomas Kelly was summoned for this offence, and on pleading guilty was fined L 3. Tuesday, October 29. Breach of Dog Nuisance Ordinance. — Thomas Griffiths was summoned for having an unregistered dog, Fined Ll. Breach of Dog Nuisance Ordinance. Henry ELormann was fined Ll for this offence. The Court then adjourned.

An escape from the Lyttelton Gaol, and a re-capture in Christchurch has taken place. The"Press" sajs :— "OnSaturday cveninglast a prisoner of the name of Noon, who was undergoing a sentence of three years for forgery, escaped from the Lyltelton Q-aol, and succeeded in eluding theyrigilance cf the police for two or three days/Sras re-captured and placed in tho lock-up 'at Christchurch. After the escape, the police took such precautions as to render it impossible for tho prisoner to remain at largo more than a few days. Information was given at every outlet of the province, and police were stationed at 1 convenient distances to intercept tho runaway. On Monday evening information was received by tho police that Noon had been seen in tho vicinity of the rifle-range at Hillsborough, and three constables were sent early yesterday to search for him, but although traces of him were found, the man was missing. Yesterday further information was received that Noon had been seen in town, and was at the time somewhere about tho Papanui road. A number of the police at once turned out from the depot, and Constable Joffory, who was at the time in plain clothes, saw Noon coming down the Papanui road on horseback ; lie in company with Constable M'Cann allowed him to proceed along Cambridge torraco to the Royal Oak hotel, when they arrested him. Noon was very well disguised, but the police

have not as yet discovered tlie owners of the clothes. On Noon being searched at the lockup a letter to a prostitute in town was found upon him, together with a forged cheque for L3O, drawn in the name of Mr Caverhill, of ITawkeswood.