THE Cromwell Argus WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1870.

Cromwell Argus, Volume I, Issue 13, 9 February 1870, Page 4

THE Cromwell Argus WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1870.

Whatever complaints we have shad to make against any shortcomings of our Municipal Government have been, nj.the way of open and honest criticism. We have been, as censors, o<jual to the duty imposed upon us by our position. In fact, we suppressed an article that we considered after all might be thought to press too heavily upon the members of the Corporation individually. We did so, knowing that the duties of Mayor and Councillors were performed gratuitously, and that the Council deserved rather to be encouraged than severely censured. To the _want of t> proper regime at the first establishment of the system, we have to attribute many shortcomings of our local municipal body. The sins of the first body have been visited upon the last. We might, if we thought it would serve any good purpose, refer to the disgraceful proceedings that characterized the opening year of local self-govern-ment in our midst. We do not do so, because we believe in giving a fair and honest support to the principle of municipal government, and acting also upon the axiom that it is an ill bird that fouls its own nest. We even go further, and say that it is the citizens' fault if they are not properly represented by their corporate body. They cannot wash their hands and say, ", Oh ! it is the Council's doing." They are responsible for almost all past .and present derelictions of duty. They cannot escape from their responsibilities without acknowledging one of two things. The first is this—We are the rising or central part of the Upper'Clutha gold-fields: we require a Warden, a clerk, a court-house, a distributor of stamps, and various other officers. This town is likely to be a leading one : our natural position is excellent, our resources inexhaustible, our property of great value, and our public spirit genuine and outspoken. If this is true, it will shew itself not in division, but in unity ; not in the pulling down of municipal institutions, but in the building-up of local self-government—for instance, as they do at the Wakatip, where they ore consequently gaining everything they ask for. The second position is this—We are a sham ; we are sailing under false pretences ; we ask for Government money, but we do not care to give a r/nid pro quo for it; we can talk about our resdurces and natural advantages, but we eannafeven

govern ourselves. .What an unenviable situation as a community wo will bo placed in if we'adopt this second position P* We cannot esca[>e from quo .or the othor by saying we ignore municipal government, and that wo do not'require it. That is at once a. confession of wciiknoss so deplorable that we think ovory conscientious man will refrain from admitting it. If wo are to follow the path of progress, it will not be by throwing ourselves tfpop the tender mercies of the Provincial Council; So in our case, ami for all shortcomings, we cannot help arriving at tlie conclusion, after anxious consideration, that they are in great part due to the apathy displayed by the citizens themselves?. They have cast their votes in, the urn, and then stood aloof; or, if they have done anything, unkindly criticised their representatives. They have lent no helping hand, at least. Holding these views, we cannot but re gret that a fresh 1 firebrand has been introduced amongst the already explosive materials. Our contemporary the Guardian has taken up a brief in the local municipal quarrel at present raging. It is endorsed "No case : abuse the other side." It is a purely one-sided argument he attempts to give force to, but it is satisfactory to know that his rhodomontade is estimated at its, proper worth by ♦all to whom the writer's present dsnP> te.rented motives and past journalistic caieer are known. • ■ We shall not condescend, localise we are tenants of corporate property, to belaud the actions of the Municipal Council. The right of occupation of land for which we pay a rent shall not bias us, although a less desirable occupancy at-will seems to have biassed our contemporary. Wo wiil add, personal considerations shall have no weight with us, whatever they may, have with the,; Guardian. We shall not refer further to this point, nor combat the many misrepresentations made in the article we refer to ("Regina v. Whetter",—published in Guardian of 27th ult.). A passing reference to a piece of deception on the part of the writer is not, however, out of place. Ho quotes largely from the. Tuapelca Times, and with the coolest effrontery says, " Our Tuapeka contemporary in his last issue proclaims 'The grand Whetter-Cromwell-Munici-pality game has opened in the Supreme Court,' and adds ' It would be a godsend to the town and district if Whettor's reign could be brought to an end,'" Ac., | «fcc. For the information of the general public we may state that the Tnapeki Times ' proclaimed ' nothing of the sort —the words quoted haying been written by the unscrupulous author of the article in the Guardian, in his capacity of correspondent to the former journal, and afterwards made use of in the manner we have mentioned. It being pretty generally known that the case is as we have stated it, this little piece of donble-dealing on the part of the journalistic mischief-maker who has cast his lot in our midst deceives no one, and (if possible) only further adds to the very unenviable reputation already gained by him in other parts of the Province. We regret for the interests of the' town the stirring up of strife, the slur cast upon the body corporate, the gratuitous advice to people to have no transactions with the element- AH this is hurtful to the town, and further than this, to the district at large. Save us, indeed—we, as ratepayers and residents, exclaim—from such Guardianship .as this. Our contemporary endeavours to draw us also into a newspaper quarrel, in which perhaps he would shine by the display of his capability of using the strongest and coarsest language. Our object ls not to enter into such contests, but to advance the interests of the district of which we were requested to become the mouthpiece. We shall endeavour to be impartial, but we hold that nothing.is.to-be gained by virulent abuse or the continual throwing of mud.

In our last issue we intimated in a local paragraph that Mr J. B. Bortox, Gold Receiver at Roxburgh (Teviot), had received the appointment of Warden for the Mount Bcnger district. We intended then to make some reference to what appears to us to be a piece of unjust conduct on the part of the Government in ignoring the claims of Mr 11. A. Stratford, at pre sent Gold Receiver at St. Bathans, to the first vacant Wardcnship ; and we are very glad to sec that the matter has been mentioned in the columns of our Wakatip and Mount Ida contemporaries. In August, 1808, after having been a Warden and Resident Magistrate on the Otago Goldfields for nearly four years, Mr Stratford, along witli one or two other gentlemen holding similar offices, was informed by the Government that, in consequence of a reduction in the number of Wardens being absolutely necessary, his services were no longer required. The retiring Wardens had the option of either receiving a sum of money as compensation for the loss of their offices, or accepting situations as Gold Receivers at a considerable reduction of salary. Mr Stratford preferred to accept the situation offered, and wait for a vacancy in the higher ollice, while the others accepted the pecuniary compensation given —one of them £550 (if we remember rightly), and the other'jCSOO. As a proof that Mr Stratford's services were highly appreciated by the Government, one -of

\ our contemporaries states that ho receivt a most complimentary letter from the Ex| eutive Council stating that his previous col duct had given every satisfaction. Wei not for one moment wish to say anythil detrimental to Mr Borton while makinj these remarks, as ho is no doubt quite d pablo of tilling the office to which be y been appointed with credit to himself 1 am to the satisfaction of the Governmoiifi still we do Say that the treatment A Stratford has received at the hands o those who are at the head of Prqvinci affairs is most unjust and inconsidorat The excuse made by the Government—ai no doubt it was a legitimate one—-win the reduction in the number of Wardei took place, cannot now be advanced, ai we trust that this matter will be re-coi sidered, and Mr Stratford's claims to tl office taken into account.

The long list of fatal casualties whi< have occurred in the district within the last fc months has again received a fresh addition toi number, information having been received by tl Cromwell police on Thursday last that a m: had been drowned in the Hawea Lake on tl preceding Tuesday. We learn from a letter fo warded to Sergeant Cassells by a man nami Henry Palmer, that the latter was proccedin .up the Hawea Lake on Tuesday, the Ist inst in the cutter Water Lily, having a dingey in tm in which was anotherman named Henry Thoni] son. While proceeding on their journc; Thompson by some means fell out of the dingej and not being able to swim, he almost immi diately sank. Palmer made every effort he coul to save the unfortunate man, without avail. H then made his way to Mr Shrimpton'a, and i company with that gentleman proceeded to tl spot where the accident occurred, but they coul find no traces of the body. The Escort took down from Cromwe on Saturday last, 450 ounces of gold, and fro Queenstown (monthly return) 1834 onnces. The postal and telegraph departmeui at Alexandra are now both under the charge < Mr Walter Vause, who has long been promise the situation of postmaster at that place. « The late heavy rains have done mucj damage in the Lake district. The crops wel readv for cutting, and the rain had such an elTel on the cars of wheat that the grain was she! freelv. One largo farmer will thus lose ovl 1000 bushels of wheat. Labour is very scare! We are informed that the punt receiitlg placed on the Clntha, at Rocky Point, by MJ John M'C'ormick, has been purchased by Mr I\l J. Barry. i > In the Wakatip district, the Chinese] we hear, have been holding high holidav durin the whole of last week, and work has been sin pended by them during a period of ten da vis t end to-morrow. It is creditable that the Eiw pean population have not attempted to interfei with any of the Chinese claims in that district , though some are reported to be very rich. Thei claims have not been protected, but the Chines New Year holidays have nevertheless been re| spectcd. The Chinese hare also received inanf visits from the John Bulls, and a good deal J pleasant intercourse and exchange of feelings j said to have taken place.

We have received a poetical eifusk from a. resident at Rendigo Oully, but it is too personal a. nature for insertion in our coluimi

The proprietor of tlie Ijondon HOIIS drapery establishment (Cromwell aid Clyde) ]i tiinates by advertisement in another column tlw a great clearing-out sale of drapery, boots an; shoes, clothing &c., will take place during th ensuing month. Further particulars will appes in an extended advertisement in our next issue

Aspinall's claim, oa one of fcho Sliotove terraces, is reported to have yielded £IOO pi diem last week.

Harvesting operations arc in full swin: in the Lake district; the average yield will 1) about 40 bushels to the acre. Labour is scarw and will continue so, while the current rate o wages is only 40s. per week.

We understand that owing to a disscj lntiori of partnership arrangements, the punt on the Kawarau, owned by Messrs Owens, Ed wards, and Bridge, are shortly to be sold by pubj lie auction.

Mr N. Salomon, tlio well-known w.itcli maker and jeweller, of Duncdin, is at, presen paying a visit to the Gold-fields districts, an' we yesterday had the pleasure of inspecting tli valuable and magnificent assortment of goods hj has brought with him. Mr Salomon inform Us that the small portion of his Duncdin stoc which he has with him represents a money vain of about E6OOO. The jewellery is open forinspoi tion at M> Smitham's Kawarau Hotel, and i certainly worth being seen by all who wan really first - ela3=i articles. The display o gold watches, chains, lockets, brooches, brace lets, rings, &c, kc, is such as is seldom seen i up-country townships—one. magnificent diamom bracelet being v*lue 1 at 150 guineas, and man other articles, such as bracelets, brooches, &c. ranging at prices from 100 guineas downward! Magnificent gold watches, alborts, rings, pins &c, &c, set in diamonds and other preoiou stones, and of the most exquisite workmanshij are to be seen in profusion. Mr Salomon eel tainly deserves every encouragement for his en terprise in travelling wth such a valuable an magnificent stock of goods, and we trnst his tri will be a remunerative one. He risits Art V town on Friday next, when his stock will bo o view at Scolcs's Koyal Oak Hotel.

Mr Surveyor "Wilson arrived in QufSini&J town on Monday evening, and reports thntt«ljb| M 'Kerrow lias returned from his exploration ot the Dart River, made with a view to find ajpa%si * to the West Coast. lie Las discovered an open-, ing by which a road may ho cut and made through a hush country to Lake Kakapo. distance hy this route would ho about tlmJgF; miles. The country is said to ho very rSttJjjb jEfaod heavily timbered. The first line sunJMHI foy*l)r Hector (and afterwards hy Mr and then hy Mr Wright) is in public cstiuiMJkffi considered the best that can be obtained, ©specially as it opens up land adapted for agnbulj ttiral settlement as well as the material foii an extensive timber trade. Mr M'Korrow's report will he valuable, as he is one of our oldest pioneer surveyors, and thoroughly understaniMhiß *WA magnificent meteor was obsorve|pK| Moa Flat one evening last week. It was„df% pale green colour, dazzlingly brilliant, aii(LßMfc through the sky with great rapidity. .djLe f i The lease claims in the Moke CreckfOHtrict, Lake Wakatip, are, we believe, tiirai»g out splendid results, and though long tuaueb have to be driven in the claims lately takeH up, those in far enough have obtained very handsome r prospects. ■'" rr | Tlie miners' strike at Mount continues, and the local journal states does not appear to be any sign of a setfcliiinaut being made. The miners, according to acj* counts, have just reason to complain enormous price paid for water £2 10$ J '|]fer sluice-head. Some hundreds of personsftjfee thrown out of employment, and it is cstirn&tvd I! that it makes a ditFerenco of Boiiiething ;! |ike £'2oo a-day to the district. Mr Warden Itobjgpari ' •has earned golden opinions from the minefrs/i&y i promising to grant them two months' protection

fur their claims until some settlement of thMis-; {tute can be coino to. >W i e» Another splendid specimen of gold has been purchased by the Union Bank kt (ircymouth. This nugget weighs 79ozs 13dwt | 17grSj and was found by Mitchell and partvjpbti far from where one of a similar weight was fjpMSj about fifteen months ago. Jwlj Influenza and diphtheria have btfeh making havoc in the Lake district, so far aß'?re-' gards confining many to their rooms for seiWrilJ days togothci. 4>, • I'J : ! Messrs I. Itallenstein and Co. announce! a great clearing-out sale of drapery, clothujg,! hints and shoes, ito, at great reduction*! mi prices. Particulars will be found in the atlver-] tisement in this issue. i„ ; We have been requested to draw the attention of the police to a grievance which/fhie* owners of horses running on the "Cromwell cotaiinon hare to put up with. Wo refer to the. practice—which has of late become very pre"vqnlent—of horses being ridden away from tjreirv depasturing ground, and otherwise harassed anil mo'e.sted. One case we have been m,aae acquainted with, is, however, especially deseryireg; 1 of notice, the animal in question having beefal taken down to the ranges at the back of Clyde, ! J where he was found minus a considerable pxHi-. i ion of his tail. Whether the mutilation haa been done with a view to the future appropriation of the animal, or as a parting token of jre| gard, we are not in a position to state. By advertisement in another column; ft will be perceived that a general muster of horses running on the Kawarau Station will tak.e ( p,l#cp on Saturday next, 12th February. HorseyjEeF, 1 inaining unclaimed after the muster will warded to the Dunstan commonage. rrifv !•

The Tuapeka races tiike place on THftfe}clay and Friday, 10th and 11th inst. A'JiSmji siderable number of horses aro in the various events, among the number local "crack," Excelsior, the result of Wficie j performances on the Tuapeka turf will be looKeu for with interest by the sporting membere of our community. ! The Oamaru races are announced t»>.„\xj[ held on the 17th of next month. It is expc£j|&d that from £2OO to £3OO will be run for. ortJ The Waikouaiti district has been by a violent gale of wind, winch did serious damage. The local journal states that the cropij: have suffered very severely, and where the corn 1 was nearly ripe a large quantity of tho gratif. nas been lost, the ground being literally strewed]' with it.