From Western Post & Mudgee Newspaper 16 October 1861 - FIRE AT GUNTAWANG A few days since an alarming fire occurred at the residence of Mr. GOLDSMITH, of Gunatwang. From the account we have received it appears that the curtains of the one of the bedrooms were set on fire by a child, and before assistance was rendered the whole room was in flames. Mrs. GOLDSMITH, who was the first to discover the accident, and whose first care was to save the children, was very severely injured in both hands and arms. The whole of the furniture was destroyed; the building was fortunately saved. DISTRICT and MINING THE UPPER MEROO From a Correspondent The want of water is beginning to be severely felt by the diggers working on the ground first opened up by Mr. SPICER; the consequence is , that those who have not payable claims are leaving for places nearer the Meroo. Several have attempted to work the swamp near Mr. SPICER's residence; here the water is too abundant; should the present dry weather continue, the ground will soon be workable, and you may expect to hear of some heavy finds. One or two parties have commenced working at the head of the Merro, near Mr. BEST's, and have obtained good prospects. Others are moving lower down the river. I am unable to send you the account of any particular quantity of gold having been lately obtained, for I do not mix much with the diggers. I may mention that I am making more than wages, and that a party of four obtained 24ozs of gold last week, which they sold to Mr. Charlton, of the Beehive Stores, Mudgee. WELLINGTON Court of Quarter Sessions Tuesday, October 8, before Henry CARY, Esq. CATTLE STEALING John PROCTOR, a butcher at Stoney Creek, James M'LAUGHLIN (a lad of about fourteen) in PROCTOR's employ, and John HANSFORD were charged with stealing three head of cattle from Gourbullion, the property of Messrs. MYLECHARANE and GARDINER; a second count charged the prisoners with feloniously receiving. Mr. SERJEANT (of Bathurst) appeared for the prisoners, and applied to have PROCTOR tried separately, as the case against him appeared to point to receiving only. With respect to HANSFORD, he (Mr. S) was under this disadvantage, that he had not read the depositions, the committal having taken place only the day before. The Crown Prosecutor did not wish to oppose the application, but submitted that the evidence, as it would be given, would apply to the three prisoners, and that it would be more convenient and would save time to try them together. His Honor saw some difficulty in pressing HANSFORD to trial, his advocate not having read the depositions, but thought, with Mr. CHAMBERS, that the whole should be tried simultaneously. Mr. SERJEANT then applied for postponement till next sessions, which was granted. Bail allowed. HORSE STEALING Frederick HOINS was indicted for stealing a horse, the property of one M'KENZIE, of Dubbo. It appeared that prisoner was apprehended on 14th September going to Carcoar; he had three horses with him, which he ten said were his own property, and produced receipts for them. The constable (FINNERTY), however, found that these receipts did not answer the description of the horses. Prisoner being reminded of this, he made a statement to the effect that the horses had been lent him by Mr. DULHUNTY; this statement he afterwards amended, saying one was DULHUNTY's, one he had hired for £5, and the third (a bay horse) he had borrowed from one M'KENZIE. M'KENZIE's evidence was to the effect that his horse had been missed from his run at Dubbo for five weeks, during that time prisoner had tried to borrow it, but he had positively refused to lend it; prisoner had no authority to take it. His Honor having summed up, The jury retired for a few minutes, and on their return delivered a verdict of guilty. Sentenced to five years' hard labour. His Honor then thanked the jury for their attendance, expressing a hope that by a prompt and impartial administration he should, by their help, speedily eradicate the now too common crime of cattle stealing. This closed the business. ***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