THE Cromwell Argus. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 26, 1870.

Cromwell Argus, Volume I, Issue 12, 26 January 1870, Page 4

THE Cromwell Argus. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 26, 1870.

A meeting was held in the Town-hall on Wednesday evening, the 19th inst., with the ' view of forming a committee of management for ; the proposed Athena-urn Hall. The following "gentlemen were chosen ; to act on the committee, Dr Corse, Messrs) Taylor, Baird, Whetter, Fenwick, Preshaw, Weaver, Wright, Fraer, Shanly, and Pierce. Mr B. R. Baird was elected Chairman of the committee, Mr Whetter vice'ehairman, and Mr Fenwick secretary and treasurer. It was agreed that the funds should be ]odged in the Bank of New South Wales, and 'that cheques shall be signed by the chairman *nd secretary. It was then arranged that a second musical entertainment should be given 'at a future date in aid of the funds for the Hall —a portion of the programme to consist of a negro minstrels' performance. The Committee ? the'n adjourned to meet again on Wednesday evening; tLe 2nd proximo.

The amount .qf gold sent clown from Cromwell by the Escort on Monday was 52907.5.

The Cromwell School was opened on .Monday, for the first time since the Christmas .holidays. The attendance of children was very good *Wo understand'that the progress made by the children 'untter Mr Maekellar'a tuition .luting the paSt yiar was very satisfactory ; but we would strongly r-fcoihmend parents to see t'j*% their children are regular snd punctual iu their attendance, so that the teacher may have a fair chance" to bring'thern on, which lie cannot '/reasonably be expected to'do'if %e pupils stay Way'from school a great part of ; their time.

/V.HHVuuth share in the Aurora Corn-.p-Miy'ti eUiin uhange.l hinds laßt week'for ,£IOOO '-■ »Ir WillUtii I'arclay having 'wild, liia interest in /.I: ■'"!>» Slicr*rnorl, of Clyde 4"

," A Farmer" at tii« Arrow JKivw vccmcsts us to state, that the harvest in that <Hb•e'jMi ai) uif, to commence. He nays "the unr e.n is jjtr«"i'„ !•■;' thy laWirtra -ire few,' '•*•»•{ sirivih'.* .a-n <•', ii 1 rci'lUy lintl eniiilfiymerit (i„ .«h «'■ '•'»«•: '■» 'hit luoali* •'• f- ' i ■: . •

A mectiug of the Cromwell Jockey Club U convened by advertisement fur Friday evening next, at 8 o'clock, in tho Town Hall.

Tho erection of the Aurora Company's water-wheel and battery at Bendigo is expected to be completed by Monday next, and we understand tbe shareholders intend giving a free luncheon to tbeir friends on the occasion of christening the wheel, which interesting ceremony is to take place on the following tlay (Tuesday). There is to be a grand ball on the same evening at the Provincial Hote.l, Logantown, recently opened by Mr Perriam.

The ceremony of laying the foundationstone of St. Patrick's church, Cromwell, was performed on Sunday last by the Rev. Jam e A. Norris, priest of the parish, who preached an eloquent and impressive sermon on the occasion. The usual parchment record, and a number of current coins, together with copies of several provincial newspapers, were duly deposited in a cavity beneath the rtone. Mr W. J. Barry was requested to lower the stone into its place which he did ; and the ceremony was thus concluded. Contributions in aid of the funds of the Church were then invited, and a large siim was laid on the foundation-stone by the Catholics present. Service was performed morning and evening by Father Norris in the school-house.

A special meeting of the Town Council was held in the Chamber on Tuesday, 18th inst. The Mayor, and Cra. Badger, Dagg, and Dawkins. Mr W. J. Barry applied for and obtained a lease for eleven yeara of a portion of municipal reserve adjacent to Mr Goodger's premises, containing 35 feet frontage to Melmore-street, at an annual rental of Cs. Bcfc. per foot. An application for a frontage on the same side of the street was also made by Mr Weaver, and the Town Clerk, was directed to write to the applicant requesting him to furnish the Council with a description of the building proposed to be erected by him. Mr H. Mandere' application for section 12, block 4, municipal reserve, -was referred to the Public Works Committee. An account of £o from Messrs Escott and Brook, for repairing water-race, was ordered to be paid. The Council then adjourned till next evening (Wednesday), when the business done consisted in i>assing a resolution to the effect that a letter be written to the Colonial Secretary, urging the necessity that exists for the immediate erection of a new Court-house.—Another special meeting was held on Thursday, the 20th, for the purpose of considering the assessment-roll prepared by the valuator, Mr Slanders. Cr. Badger was in the chair, the other Councillors present being Messrs Dawkins and Dagg. On the motion of Cr. Dagg, seconded by Cr. Dawkins, it was reEolred that the assessment-roll, as prepared by the Valuator, be adopted. It was then nuved by Cr. Dawkins, and seconded by Cr. Dagg, " that a rate be struck on .the assessment for the year ending 31 st Jul}' 1870, at one shilling in the pound." This was agreed to, and the Council then adjourned.

At a meeting of members of the Masonic Order, held at Bro. Smitham's hotel on Wednesday evening last, January 19, V. Pyke, Esq., P. P.G.M., in the chair, it was resolved to start a lodge, under the Scottish Constitution, to lie called the " Cromwell Kilwinning Lodge," and a requisition applying for a dispensation was duly signed. Bro. M. Fraer was elected first Right Worshipful Master. Bro. Smitham's offer of a suitable lodge-room was accepted. A vote of thanks to Bro. Pyke for presiding was unanimously carried, and the meeting closed.— We understand that the dispensation may be expected to be sent up from Du tied in at once, when immediate stops -vill be taken to open the lodge.

Theamended "Regulations of the Otago Gold-field " were published in a special Oazttte, isgued on the 14th inst., and are proclaimed to take-effect from and after the I lth of the present month.

We perceive that two or three of our leading business men have adopted the early closing movement, by shutting their establishments at Bp. m. This is a step in the right direction, and we should like to see the other places of business follow suit. Were all the storekeepers to adopt the system of early closing, the business of any particular one would not suffer, and it would afford the employes a little more recreation than they have the chance of getting at present. The movement is deserving the cordial support of the entire public' A man named Joseph Jones (says the Oamnru Times of the 18th inst.) lost his life at the Maerewhenua, about live miles from the diggings, on Tuesday last, under somewhat peculiar circumstances. It appears that he and a mate named George Baker were proceeding from Hogburn to Oamaru, Laving left the first-men-tioned place on Sunday, the 9th inst. They arrived at George's store the same afternoon, and remained there all Monday. They left on Tuesday morning, following the course of the river, lint lost their way, and had to pass the night in the open air. Being short of food, Jones picked a quantity of tutu berries, a portion of which he ate. Subsequently he fell into a fit, and his mate wrapped him in some blankets and went for assistance, following a race which he had found. On returning with i assistance Jonec was not to lie found, but there were traces op the bank of the river of something having rolled doTvn. Search being made, ..he body was found about two boms afterwards in the river.' ' Ah enquiry was buld on the 14th inst., at whim' it was certified that deceased had )>e<n drowV-d in the Maoiqwhcnua, vdiile suffering ficui v'r\» effects of the prison '"' tutu beiTi"".

"Fair Play's" contribution arrived too late for our present issue, but will receive attosition next week.

j A brunch of business is about to bo J established at Queenstown which, if successfully carried out, will largely benelit not only the Wakatip, but all the adjacent districts to no inconsiderable extent. The lake WakatipMaU of the 20th hist., says s—" "Wc understand that Messrs llallenstein and Co., who have already done so much to advance the prosperity of the Wakatip district, have induced Messrs Surmau and Davis to erect a brewing and malting estabment at Queenstown. While it is an industry that will benetit and give employment to woodcutters, boatmen, and farmers, it iB especially good news to the latter, who will find a ready market for barley—a cereal for the growth of which our climate and soil are admirably adapted. Hops also are grown on various farms, and those grown by Messrs Humphrey & Douglas seem to thrive well. We have it from good authority that no less than £7OOO worth of alo is consumed annually iu this and the neighboring districts of Cromwell and Clyde. Mr Surmau, who has had great experience in one of the largest breweries in Burton-on-Trent, feels confident that he will be able to produce an article which will find its way through all parts of Otago. We are informed that an extensive plant has been ordered from home, and a large stone brewery and malt-house will be ready for next season. Meanwhile, Messrs Surman and Davis are erecting a temporary brew-house to enable them to supply the wants of the present season. We wish every success to the undertaking. " The Provincial Government Gazette, of Wednesday last, notifies that his Honor the Superintendent has appointed Donald Reid, Esq., to be Provincial Secretary, and George Duncan, Esq., to be Provincial Treasurer, for the Province of Otago.

The same Gazette contains a proclamation cancelling the lease of Crown lands held by Messrs Campbell and Low, in so far as the lands comprised within the area hereinafter described are affected by the said lease (that is to say)— " All that parcel of land in the Province of Otago, containing by admeasurement 2500 acres, more or less, being part of Run 244, and situate in the Tiger Hill Survey District : bounded by a line proceeding from the Manuherikia River at the Pluming, near the Upper Gorge, due south for a distance of 13,600 links ; thence due west 21,592 links ; thence northerly and easterly along the Manuherikia River 37,000 links to the starting point."

At a meeting of the Waste Land Board, held in Dunedin on the 10t,h inst., Mr Joseph D. Ross applied, per Driver, M'Lean, and Co., for a sawmill license near the Hawea-Lake, as per sketch. Granted on the usual conditions.—Mr R. T. Wheeler, for Mr M. Malaghan, applied to have the price of section 1, block IX, Queenstown, fixed by the Board under clause 51 of the Gold-tields Act. Referred to the iSeccretary of Land and Works.