From Western Post & Mudgee Newspaper: Wednesday, December 25, 1861 The Undersigned has been appointed Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages for the District of Mudgee, in place of Mr. J W ALLPASS resigned. S H BARNES Lewis-street, opposite Hughson's Hotel. Notice This is to give notice that I have in my possession a ROAN HORSE, which I claim as my property, having been branded by some person M on the near shoulder, and M near rump. This is to give notice that I have branded the said Horse BE over the M, the above-mentioned Horse having been bred on the Tunnabutta Run out of one of my own mares. THOMAS BEST Telby, December 23, 1861 Notice to Constables STOLEN from my blackfellow by the bushrangers who latterly shot Mr. KERR, of Denison Town, a Black HORSE branded SF on the near shoulder. PAUL HARFORD, Merri-Merri. District & Mining RYALSTONE From our Correspondent Dec 19 - It so seldom happens that anything worth reporting occurs in our isolated district that were I to omit sending you an account of the land sale that has taken place to-day I should at least deem myself guilty of breach of promise; although I intended writing you about one or two little grievances that require redressing, I feel bound to give precedence to matters of greater import. Well, to begin. During the last two years and a half I have attended five land sales in Rylstone, and I have never seen a better attendance or more land sold that at this one; although the grater portion sold at upset price, still one or two lots were run up to £2 to £3 per acre. Mr. FITZGERALD had to pay £3 per acre for 30 acres on Carwell Creek; Mr Henry NEVILL bout 99 acres in Vincent's Hole, at £2 2s. per acre; and MARTIN Brothers a lot of 20 acres near Tara, at £2 per acre; Mr John LEE, of Bylong, was the largest purchaser, having bought 980 acres on Bylong Creek at upset price; t! he next purchaser in extent was a Mr. CONRAN, living on Warragunia Swamp who at the upset price became the owner of 209 acres adjacent to W H SUTTOR's 640 on Warrangunia Swamp; next was TINDAL Brothers, three lots, on Byong Creek, at upset price, 99 acres; the other lots were sold to separate individuals, realizing only upset price; altogether the sale passed off very quietly; none of our J.P.s graced the Courthouse on this occasion; one thousand six hundred and six acres were sold - a very respectable lot for such a small place. Harvesting has commenced in this district, but I fear the wheat crop will be almost a failure. The hay crop I may say is so; the corn at present looks well, and should the genial rains we have had continue, will recompense the farmers for losses in other crops. Messrs SORBIE and Co., the contractors for the new bridge, have commenced getting the timber; a good portion is on the ground, and I presume they will soon commence erecting it. Of love and war I have nothing to report, although one or two interesting cases are waiting the arrival of a second magistrate to decide. One comes under the Master and Servants' Act and the other for refusing to pay damages for cattle straying into a wheat paddock; you shall be duly informed of the result. In conclusion, let me wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year. ***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