Gold miners strike a new claim at the mine head, Gulgong area
Source: SLNSW
Note: Lester Stuart Donaldson, Clerk of Petty sessions, on right (Ref. "Gold & silver" pp. 98, 258)Miner second right holds a pan of gold ore and the red flag to indicate a new claim is ready to be raised left.
Mine head with group of goldminers and the Clerk of Petty sessions, L.S. Donaldson, Gulgong area
Source: SLNSW
In the 1870s, Donaldson purchased a number of properties on Mayne Street in Gulgong.
- Allotments 3 and 4 of Section 29 Gulgong were first purchased by Lester Stuart Donaldson in 1875 and 1876 respectively.
- Allotments 6 anf 8 and part of 7 in Section 3 Gulgong
- Lot 1 Sec 45
- Lot 1 Sec 29
NEWS ITEMS
Clerk of Petty Session at last
We are truly glad to announce that Mr. Leslie Stuart Donaldson has been gazetted as Clerk of Petty Session at Gulgong. We do not know anything about the qualifications of this official, except that he has been an unsuccessful stock holder somewhere else; but we hear that he is not exactly incompetent. A CPS has been long wanted, and on the principle, ‘better late than never’, we hail his appointment as a sign of progress which will enable the Commissioner to devote the whole of his time to his judicial duties.
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 32, 23 September 1871
Furious Riding - Peter O'Loughlin charged, riding furiously along Queen Street and running over a man. Fined £8 or one month hard labour Mudgee gaol.
Ill-Treating a Child - John and Mary Tighe charged with ill-treating their five children. The mother is given to loose habits, of a disreputable character, her husband having been compelled to leave her. In her drunken bouts her little children are cruelly beaten [they were clinging to their father in court] One is an infant of about 12 months old, at the breast, and dying fast, the child having the death hues upon it in court. The children wanted to go with their father, he got the 3 boys and the two girls from their mother.
Caught and Fined - During the second day’s races an event took place that provoked much amusement and showed that when wanted, the police are ‘all there’. In the race for the Miner’s Purse, the contest was a keen one and coming up the straight running, four horses were close together, Gulgong leading. As the other horses were making their final effort, a flash-looking fellow rode between them and depriving the leader of a certain win. This unmanly conduct he continued until the horses passed the winning post, despite the hooting of the crowd. When Gulgong weighed in, the Clerk of the Course searched for the fellow and a chase ensued. Seeing the Clerk’s pony was not fast enough to catch the delinquent, Senior constable Byrne took up the race, and after an exciting gallop of three-quarters of a mile cleverly caught the fellow and having brought him up to the stand, was enthusiastically cheered to the echo. The offender was fined £1 which he paid and quickly slunk away into the crowd.
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 46, 30 December 1871
1872 - Births Deaths and Marriages.
We are thankful to Mr. L.S. Donaldson CPS, registrar of BDM who supplied the following stats. For the
quarter ended December, 31st 1871 - Deaths 24 males, 22 females, Births males 24, females 21, and 8 marriages.
With a population greater than 8,000 in which a there is a large number are children, we think 46 deaths are not large. The marriages, are of course, not many, as it is not deemed the ‘correct thing’ to be married in Gulgong, and what’s more, no clergymen of the various denominations were available nearer
than Mudgee until the past two months. On the whole, the statistics are favourable in every way, and we trust we shall not again hear it stated that Gulgong is an unhealthy place to live.
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 48, 13 January 1872
1872 - Keeping a Gambling House
Ah Tin charged, has common gambling house in Herbert Street. Sgt O’Donnell, with warrant from L.S. Donaldson, JP., and in the company of Detectives Powell and Hannan, plus a detachment of police, went to the place, forced opened the door and rushed in; found about 17 Chinese in the act of gambling, all were arrested All the implements and money were produced in court, but the evidence was very weak until the informer John Ling-way, a Chinese, came forward and swore to the gambling in the house, and the ownership of the defendant. Detective Hannan was the first to rush into the room with Constable Oliver, Detective Powell and Sgt. O’Donnell and secured 15 of the Celestials. The informers evidence was very conclusive as to the gambling. The Detectives evidence proved defendant’s ownership of the house. Fined £25 or 3 months gaol.
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 48, 13 January 1872
1872 - [COURT]
Shettle & Tebbutt V Kelly. - Claim £9 for advertising in the Mercantile Advertiser. Mr. Tebbutt left the Bench and Mr. Donaldson JP and CPS, popped on, which was very convenient. The plaintiff, Mr. Tebbutt, swore the defendant ordered him to advertise his hotel when the “Tiser” was first started, and it had been continued ever since. The defendant swore that he never ordered the insertion of the advertisement. The Bench gave a verdict for the plaintiff of the amount with costs.
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 78, 15 May 1872
1872 - [ADVERTISEMENT]
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 87, 15 June 1872
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 89, 22 June 1872
1872 - Police Court
J.P’s John Clements and L.S. Donaldson
Coroner’s Inquest into the death of a small boy aged 12 years named Charles Bohm, who was brought to the Hospital in a dying condition from injuries received by a tree falling upon him. He was found with the tree lying across his legs by his younger sister who was sent to find him. He had a broken leg and a rupture of the femoral artery. He died on Saturday morning.
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 92, 3 July 1872
1872 - A Novel Sight
The regular visitors to the Police Court must have been astonished on Tuesday last, when no less than seven magistrates were to be seen in Court at once, namely, Messrs. Browne, P.M., Rouse, Medley, Clements, Tebbutt, McDonnell and Donaldson C.P.S. There were twenty-nine summons cases set down for hearing, and, probably this magisterial roll-up was to report them through. Unfortunately, up to one o’clock, not one case was finished.Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 92, 3 July 1872
1872 - POLICE COURT
A Rowdy Patron – Michael McDonough charged with creating a row and using bad language at the Prince of Wales Theatre on Thursday night. L.S. Donaldson who was one of the check takers for the benefit for the hospital gave evidence, as did Mr. Con Driscoll, who stated the prisoner was generally a quiet man but the drink had got the better of him and did not know what he was about. Fined three pound or one month.
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 93, 6 July 1872
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 93, 6 July 1872
On Monday evening, a public meeting was held at Selff’s Hotel, for the purpose of inaugurating a Literary Institute and Reading Room, about 50 people attended. Mr. Townley took the chair in place of T.A. Browne Esq. PM, who was absence, who then turned up late, Mr. L.S. Donaldson, Mr. McLennan, Rev. Mr. Allworth and Rev. J. O’Donovan, Rev. Mr. Swift, Mr. W.D. Gould, Mr. Simmon, Mr. H. Dennis, Mr. T. Goulding, Mr. P.B. Cooke, Mr. D. Driscoll, Mr. Hinwood, Mr. Stacey, Bland, all mentioned.
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 98, 24 July 1872
Decided to allow women to be admitted as members, at 2/6 per quarter. Those present at the meeting were Messrs. L.S. Donaldson, Stacey, Cairns, D. Driscoll, McDiarmid, Goulding and Cook. The Secretary was instructed to request members to contribute new or second hand books for the purpose of starting a library. Mr. McDonald was requested to commence his canvass for books as early as possible.
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 98, 24 July 1872
Applications for the office of Poundkeeper made be made to the undersigned.
L.S. Donaldson, C.P.S
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 111, 7 September 1872
