THE Cromwell Argus. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1870.

Cromwell Argus, Volume I, Issue 14, 16 February 1870, Page 4

THE Cromwell Argus. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1870.

It is a fact much to he regretted that affairs have been so badly managed in this district that it has gained little from its large contributions to the revenue. The roads, with one exception, are those formed by nature. We leave out of consideration the main trunk line of road to the Wakatip, as that cannot be styled, by any stretch of imagination, a local road. It has also been usual to credit Cromwell with the cost of the bridge ; but this is also part and portion of the main line of road, and consequently a provincial work, of value to the Province at large. The contribution doled out to the Corporation for they cut it short of one year’s revenue—has not been anything more than legislative enactment entitled the town to. In the matter of Public Works we have been entirely neglected ; and though we do not approve of comparisons, we must say the Wakatip has leen petted, and its slightest wants attended to. It has recently had a road to the head of the Lake formed, while water communication to the same place existed ; Queenstown has just obtained 600 acres of splendid commonage for its Use 5 the local paper reports that its already good Court-house is to be improved by the addition of rooms which will just double its size, that a new Post-office is to be built, and that a second road to Moke Creek is to be opened. These are only some of the works in progress in that favoured district. We will not enumerate the Shotover Bridge, for that is like the Cromwell Bridge, a provincial work. But we do say that considering our large population, which contributes at the rate of per head to the provincial revenue, we are at least entitled to our fair share of the public expenditure. Our post-office and telegraph station is a mere box. Why should the General Government not build a new one 1 We know it will be made a charge upon provincial revenue; so will the Queenstown one. But we urgently require one, while the latter place could do for a year or two longer with its present accommodation. They, however, properly represent their wants in the district, and succeed in their applications. Our Court; house, too, remains in embryo, while the money is forthcoming in the other district for an addition to a building already sufficient for present wants. We could continue the catalogue. It is, however, enough to point out that the fault is our own if we cannot make our wants known and our claims respected.. What theso are, we have pointed out in previous issues, and now that the Mayoralty election is decided, we trust the Council will devote itself to representing the interests of the town and district, and obtaining some of the things so much required. In the outlying districts, the formation of committees who would communicate their wants through the Council, or directly, is a wise proceeding. By these means something like justice might be obtained ; but while we remain a disorganised community, calling for help and not helping ourselves, we can hardly look for anything better than in times past. By a steady, consistent line of action, we can retrieve our character, and prove that we have abilities to govern ourselves and develop our resources.

ThO Rev. R. Coffey, of Queenstown, will conduct Divine service in the school-house, Cromwell, on Sunday morning next, at 11 o’clock. It is announced that a baptismal service Will bo held at the same time.

We have been requested to state that a meeting of the Athenaeum Hall Committee will take place in the Town-hall this evening, at bight o'clock. A full attendance is particularly requested.

It is notified in the Gazette of the 2nd inst. that it is intended to grant leases of Crown lands for gold mining purposes to the undermentioned :t—William Jackson Barry, for Victoria Company, IGa. 2r. On Aurora Eeef, Wakefield District; E. G. Barnes, for Aurora Company, 16a. 2r. on same line of reef.

An adjourned meeting of die Cromwell Library Committee was held in the Town-hall on the evening of Frida)' last. Present—Messrs Preshaw, Marsh, Mackellar, and Fraer, . Mr Whetter, the president, was in the chair. The object of the meeting appeared to be, to decide what steps should be taken towards the erection of an Athenffium Hall. It was shown from the minute-book that a resolution was passed in August last appointing a sub-committee to report upon the best means of floating a public company for the erection of a hall; and in the annual report submitted to a meeting of scribers held on the 16th November, the Com. mittee recommended the desirability of having a building for the use of the library. That, report was adopted, but it appeared that nothing had been done towards carrying out the recommendation. Mr Marsh proposed a motion to the effect that the sub-committee formerly appointed (Messrs Whetter, Preshaw, Fraer, and Mackel* lar), be requested to take steps for carrying out the object for which they'were appointed, viz., the starting of an Atheutemn Hall Company. There was not a word said by any member of committee either for or against th» proposal to build a hall—the motion was tacitly agreed to. The resignation of Mr M. Fraer (hon. secretary) as a member of committee was tendered, and it was proposed and carried that Mr Fraer be requested to withdraw it; but this he declined to do. Mr Fraer, however, afterwards agreed to act as secretary until a successor is appointed. The remainder of the business was purely routine,

The Cromwell Municipality dispute has at length been settled, Mr W. H. Whetter having on Friday last formerly delivered to Mr G, \V. Goodger the property and effects belonging to the Corporation. A meeting of the Council was held on Monday evening, when, as will be perceived by a report in another column, Messrs Dagg and Dawkins were disqualified as Councillors. Mr Badger, also, is now out of the Council, his seat being occupied by Mr Kelly. The nomination of two Councillors to serve in the room of Messrs Dagg and Dawkins takes place on Tuesday, the 22nd instant. From the Cardrona we learn that the

prospecting party have abandoned tho shaft at the foot of the terrace, on which they have been engaged for the last fifteen mouths. They have lately been unable to beep under the large quantity of water which accumulated, and have therefore abandoned the enterprise—having had no return whatever for the many months of toil they have undergone. The pumping machinery in the Pirate, Gin and Raspberry, and Homeward Bound claims has all been drawn, as the ground is now worked out. This has had the effect of sending a greater quantity of water into the terrace claim, about two hundred yards further down the creek, thus rendering tho working of it more difficult than it has hitherto been. Between the township and the foot of the Arrow track over the Crown Range there are several parties of Europeans and Chinamen at work. They are represented to he making good wages. Matheson and party, who are engaged deep-sinking in the gully adjacent to the Bendigo stream, have, we are informed, bought out the Chinese working next to them, in order to get better drainage for their claim. The same partj have rented the tail-water of tho Aurora Com' pany, and are about to commence cutting a race to convey the water to their ground.

The Cardrona School was opened on Monday, the 7th inst., Mr Pope, from Alberttown, having been chosen teacher. There is an average attendance of fourteen scholars.

There are now about twenty miners at work on the Matatapu Creek, about sixteen miles from the township of Pembroke, Lake Wanaka. They are all reported to be doing well, and fresh accessions to the population are daily taking place. In the late attack of Te Kooti on the camp of Colonel M‘Donnell, the latter had a narrow escape, a bullet paftsing between his left arm and his side. A few minutes later he was slightly wounded by a splinter from a tree close to which he was standing.

There has been a rumour about the city this last few days that the opening of the Upper Thames will soon he' un fait accompli —in short, some of our citizens go so far as to say that advertisements have been sent to the Australian newspapers, announcing the fact that the Ohinemuri country is thrown open to European industry and enterprise. —Auckland News,

Three hundred men have been enrolled at the Thames, and are ready to assist against Te Kooti if required. From the Thames Times we lonrn that at the usual weekly cleaning up .at the Golden Crown Company’s battery, on the 21st ult., the nett quantity of gold, after melting at the BaStik of New Zealand, was 44Cozs. Sdwts.

A work of considerable magnitude is at present being engaged in by a party of Chinamen at the Arrow, which affords a noteworthy illustration of the energy and perseverance displayed by this industrious race. They have obtained a lease of twelve acres of ground in the bed of the river, extending downwards from tbe point at the back of the township. Prior to the recent heavy flood, they had constructed a wall about a mile in length, to confine the river to $ narrow channel, intending to paddock and run through their tail-race the whole of the ground they have under lease. This tail-race, which is about half* a mile in length, is a most substantial piece of work, being firmly built of atones for tbe greater part of the distance* The wall, or embankment, was built of shingly sand, thickly Interspersed with bushes and shrubs procured in the neighbourhood, the party, numbering about twenty*, four men, having been for several months engaged in its construction. The recent heavy flood, however, played Bad havoc with their handiwork,- a considerable portion of the wall having been swept completely away. This they are how busy re-constructing, nothing daunted at having again to go over six weeks’ work. They have made a wheel for their pumping machinery, Bft. in diameter ; but it has proved too small for the work it is required to do ; and when they are ready to re-commenco paddocking, a larger one will have to be constructed. Great practical knowledge is exhibited in the whole of their workings, and it is the general opinion that when they get properly set-in to work, fair results will be obtained. They have built a largo hut, capable of accommodating the whole of the party, and evidently intend to give the place a thorough trial during the ensripg winter. A deputation o£ the miners waited oiv Mr Warden Robinson, at his private residence, on Monday evening Last, to inquire the result of their petition to his Honor the Superintendent, The Warden, we (Mount Ida Chronicle) are informed, stated that no reply had been received, and advised their waiting upon the companies, to come, if possible, to an amicable settlement Mr Robinson being about-to proceed to Ha mil. ton, Hyde, and Macraes, the next morning, a promise was given to the miners that their claims should stand protected until 1 is return.