From Western Post & Mudgee Newspaper, 18 December 1861: DISTRICT & MINING CASSILIS From our Correspondent December 12th - During last week a succession of very heavy thunderstorms, attended with a plentiful supply of rain (now much required), occurred in the Coonabarabran district, and extended downward as far as Coolah, though less heavily than in the Upper Castlereagh. T he heaviest fall appears to have taken place between Coonabarabran and Ulinda. A bucket placed in the garden at Belar was measured and at least five inches of water must have fallen in two days. The creeks were again set running and an abundance of grass and water ensured for a considerable period. At Cassilis, very little rain has fallen, and consequently pasturage, from the hot weather which has been prevalent of late, is greatly dried up and parched. Mr. G P BOWMAN, of Rotherwood, has lately erected on his estate, a wool-shed, which for convenience and superior arrangement, cannot be surpassed by any building of the sort in the colony. Mr. REGAN, the manager of the estate, with his usual courtesy and attention, will be happy to show the building to any gentleman who may be desirous of taking a plan of it. In transit I may observe that although Rotherwood is only twelve miles from Cassilis, abundant rain has fallen there, the creeks being particularly flooded. With sorrow and with shame be it recorded that no action has hitherto taken place at Cassilis to forward the movement in favour of a tramway between Singleton and Mudgee, although the line would pass within a short distance of Cassilis and would probably advance the value of land to a great extent. Our public men, if we have any, which is very doubtful, appear to see but a very short distance before their nose, and eschew all trouble except what immediately touches their own pockets. Free selection may possibly make them start from their lethargy, as many of the working classes have already commenced saving their money to make a dash at a "nice little farm of their own". Whether this "nice little farm' will alternately be of advantage to the free selector is still problematical; but it is certain many will take the leap and "chance the ducks". There is no local news to narrate, at least nothing to cause the excitement of the great South Sea Bubble. MISCELLANEOUS A case of drowning occurred in a water-hole at Glengallan Creek, a few days ago, to a lad of seven years of age, a son of Mr. Thomas STEEL. The body has been recovered. JOEY, a Chinaman, who kept an accommodation house on the Tenterfield road, was found dead by the mailman. BUSHRANGING - TWO MEN SHOT Information reached Mudgee on Saturday, that three determined bushrangers had made a most daring attack upon the inmates of Mr. CARR's public house, Denison Town. From the reports which have reached us, it appears that Mr. CARR had shut the house up for the night, and that his cook and a blackfellow who had been talking together outside, were about going to bed, when three men came up and requested to be accommodated. Mr. CARR gave them admittance, and they invited the cook and blackfellow to have something to drink. As the party stood at the bar, one of the strangers suddenly secured the legs of the cook with a rope; a scuffle ensued, and shots were fired, on of which wounded Mr. CARR in the fleshy part of the arm, another broke the jaw of the cook. The blackfellow very fortunately escaped through a window, and proceeded as fast as he was able to the residences of Mr. CUSSINS and Mr. PLUNKETT, who immediately went to the spot. The escape of the blackfellow so alarmed t! he bushrangers, that they speedily made their exit, without taking anything with them. Information was immediately sent to Mudgee and Cassilis for medical aid and police assistance. Mr. WESTON, chief constable of Cassilis, has, we believe, found and followed the track of the men for a considerable distance. Mr. HARDY, chief constable, and another officer from Mudgee, are supposed to have joined the Cassilis police, and it is expected that they will succeed in bringing the fellows to justice. They are suspected to be the three men who robbed Soldier Jacky's house on the Meroo a few weeks since. ***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