From Western Post, 13 July 1861: COONAMBLE From our Correspondent June 24th - I am rather surprised that no one should think it worth while to give you any information from this fast rising township. The buildings of Messrs McMAHON and McCUBBIN, which are intended for inns, are fast drawing towards completion , and will be opened on the 1st instant. Too much credit cannot be given to those parties for their untiring exertion, to have those places ready for the public accommodation on the usual licensing day. Those parts of society (the grog carts) must now seek some more lonely parts to pursue their unlawful trade. The list for the second Annual Races are fast filling up, when the time arrives, we anticipate some excellent sport. A rather cool case of attempted horse stealing occurred at a station near here, belonging to Mr Edward PARSONS. Two fellows who were living in the neighbourhood, by names of William TROY and William WILSON (alias the "Bull-frog") succeeded in taking six of the best horses, which were used on the station, but were overtaken by a blackfellow who had been sent to fetch them up, having driven them five miles. They decamped, but were followed by the overseer and blackfellow, and were tracked to their very door, where several other horses were found, one of which was taken from them; they have since absconded; but as a warrant will be issued for their apprehension, they will, no doubt, soon be found, as their whereabouts are known to the police. SMALL DEBTS COURT Tuesday July 9 Before the Police Magistrate and T CADELL, Esq. MADIGAN v BARRY - £2 16s for fencing boundary of allotment. This case was dismissed on account of the required notice not having been given. To prevent further litigation the Bench advised the parties to settle the matter. Mr BARRY said he was willing to pay £2, which was the full value of the work done. Plaintiff consented to accept that sum. DILLON v JACKSON - for balance of wages. Mr CLARKE for plaintiff. Mr BRODRIBB for defendant. M DILLON said he engaged in April 1859, to work for seven weeks for JACKSON at 20s per week, and was to be found in "taters and tae", and that defendant's "missus" was to cook his other "vittuals", which part of the contract defendant failed to fulfill in consequence of his wife (who was a very nice sort of woman) bolting through the ill-usage she received from her better half. He further agreed to reap ten acres and a half of wheat, and afterwards to thrash the same at so much per bushel. He faithfully, honestly, and well performed his part of the bargain, but all he could get out of defendant was about £15. He had applied for the balance over and over again; defendant always put him off by promising to settle with him as soon as the wheat was sold; his patience being at last exhausted he brought the man to Court. Mr BRODRIBB for the defence, put JACKSON in the box, who said h! e had never hired the man for seven weeks; that he was wrong in the amount of wheat he had thrashed, and that he had been obliged to hire a thrashing machine to do what the plaintiff had engaged to perform, and for the payment of which he had summoned him. The Court gave a verdict for £7 12s and costs. ***END*** N.B. All care has been taken to transcribe the above accurately, however errors may have been inadvertently made. Spelling of names/places should be as appears in original. Transcribed from microfilm available from the State Library. Annette Piper Coolah NSW