It was due to unfair licensing laws. Governor Hotham came into office in 1854 and set up twice weekly licence checks. There was some corruption. This issue came to a head after a group of men beat to death a drunken Scottish digger. The group included local publican James Bentley. Bentley was a friend of the local magistrate and he escaped prosecution, as did three other men from the group. Eureka Valley, Ballarat, 1890