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Cromwell Argus, Volume I, Issue 18, 16 March 1870, Page 4

Mails for Europe via San Francisco leave Port Chalmers about the 25th inst. The postage is the same as via Southampton. All letters not specially directed via Suez will be sent by this route.

We are informed that Mr Simpson, District Road Engineer, has been instructed to proceed without delay to the head of Lake Wakatip, and thence to Lake Mackorrow, near Martin's Lay, for the purpose of examining the lino of route recently traversed by Mr Mackerrow, and of reporting to the Chief Engineer upon the probable cost of a horse track to the West Coast. Mr Simpson and his assistants left Cromwell yesterday, and it is expected they will be absent for three or four weeks. The result of the expedition will be eagerly looked forward to by all who are interested —and who is not?—-in the opening of a practicable road to Martin's Bay. Tho distance from the head of the Wakatip to Lake Mr.ckerrow is stated to be about 33 miles, and much of the proposed track will pass over very great altitudes—the greatest beirg about 4500 feat ahov-e tea.lecel.

We regret to state that the accident which befol the mare belonging to Mr G. Smith, carrier, resulted in its death on Thursday last. Mr Smith informs us that the animal was a most valuable ono—no less a sum than £llO having been offered for her, and refused by him. She U described as having been one of the best draught mares in the Province ; and certainly the offer of such a large auni as we have mentioned leads to that belief.

To-morrow is St Patrick's Day, although there will be nothing to indioate the fact in Cromwell, so far as we can ascertain. There must certainly be a lack of patriotism in the Irishmen in our midat, when they allow the day to pass without a demonstration of some sort in honour of their patren saint. A public meeting of the residents of Logantown was held at Perriam's hotel on Tuesday evening, th« Bth hust., Mr Stevenson in the chair, to consider the question of a supply of water for the use of the township. The chairman explained that the Committee appointed at a previous meeting had waited upon the Aurora Company, and had obtained from them a promise that they would allow a portion of their water to run into Milkman's Gully from 6 p.m. on Saturday till the same hour on Sunday evening. It was proposed by Mr Kelso, seconded by Mr Simpson, and carried, •• That the offer of the Aurora Company be accepted, and that a dam be constructed in Milkman's Gully, and a race cut from thence to the town." On the motion of Mr Isaacs, seconded by Mr Horrigan, it was resolved that a Committee, consisting of Messrs Stevenson, Kelso, and Beare, be appointed, to call for tenders for the construction of the proposed race and dam, and to take steps for raising the necessary funds.

We learn from the local journal that the strike of the miners at Mount Ida is almost at an end, and, with the exception of several claim .holders on iSurface Hill, all the miners have commenced work, and are using water at the rate,of 40s per head per week.

We are informed that the prospectors of the Alexandra reef, Butcher's Gully, (Halliday and party) have struck the reef, and intend to place machinery on the ground without delay. A special meeting of the Town Council was convened for last Wednesday evening ; but the only members who . attended were his Worship the Mayor and Councillor Kelly. Our readers will regret to learn that Constable Morkane is shortly to take his departure from Cromwell, having been appointed to the charge of the Alexandra camp. By his civility and obliging nature, Constable Morkane has become a general favorite, and carries with him the best wishes of all in the district.

The fortnightly meeting of the Municipal Council lapsed on Monday evening in consequence of the want of a quorum of members—the Mayor •and Cr. Kelly being in attendance at the hour of meeting. Crs- Whetter, Dagg, and Burres were in attendance at the Council Chamber within half-sn-hour after the time appointed for meeting, but the Mayor and Cr Kelly had then left. We have on more than one occasion adverted to the great inconvenience this community is put to in consequence of a supply of impressed paper not being forwarded to the local distributor of stamps ; but the public convenience seems to be a matter of small moment with the powers that be. It is the height of absurdity that in a place like Cromwell, where during the past few months the demand for stamped paper has been greater than in any other gold-fields town in the Province, not a single sheet could be obtained without sending to Clyde, a distance of fourteen miles, for it; and rather than they should be put;to this trouble we have been informed of instances where persons have actually had documents drawn out on a sheet of paper bearing a five-shilling stamp when a half-crown sheet could not be obtained, thus paying double the lequired duty. We do trust this matter will be attended to without delay.

The sale of pllotraents in the township of Bendigo was well attended. The upset price of £5 being, however, considered too high, only a few allotments were sold.

From the Big Beach, Shotover, we learn that the Chinamen are doing exceedingly well. They have boxed in their tail-races, so that no flood can harm them, and are now working from an extensive dry face. We are informed that they are makiug from £3 to £lO per man per week.

During the past fortnight there has been a rusk of over 100 Cinnamon to the Cardrona diggings, to work the old ground. They have constructed a large tail-race, -which dries the upper workings where they have set in sluicing, aud as they are washing everything before them, it is understood to be paying them well-

Miss Dolly Green is announced to appear in her monologue entertainment, "The Seven Ages of Woman," in Kidd's Concert Hall, on Friday and Saturday next. She impersonates no less than sixteen different characters, and having formerly seen the delineations, we can promise those who patronise the entertainment a treat of no ordinary character. Miss Dolly Green is a most versatile and pleasing actress, and is well-known to all Otago playgoers. As a further attraction it is announced that Monsieur Fleury, the. well-known and favourite violinist, assists Miss Green as accompanyist. We predict crowded houses on both evenings.

The meeting of the Library Committee called for Tuesday evening, Bth instant, lapsed for want of a quorum. Messrs Mackellar and Fraer were the only memberi present.

The Free Soiree which has been t nounced for'some time back, takes places tl evening. We understand that a large numl of tickets have been distributed, aud tbat ( attendance will probably be very numeroi Vincent Pyke, Esq., takes the ohair.

The sale of the Kawarau punts tod place at Cromwell yesterday, Mr Barry officii ing as auctioneer. The roserve price stt J each punt was £625, which of course i t include the houses of Owens or Edwards. \ffl punts were knocked down for £SOO each,! person competing but Messrs Edwards aj Owens. The attendance of the public w large. We can hardly understand how Buch pr| perty, if so valuable and paying as has been a quently represented, brought so low a figure. Mr Manders, we are informed, had narrow escape in crossing the Shotover on Sundi evening last on his way to Cromwell. The rivi Jiad got into a narrow gut, and was very dee It was supposed that a new ford had been forma and Mr Manders tried to find it and cross tl river; but the dangerous experiment only provi that the ford did not exist, and the horse at buggy g°t into deep water. After a periloi swim, however, the horse reached the bankthe buggy being slightly damaged, and Mr Ma ders wet through.

Aspinall and mate, and Finney and mal —parties who for some weeks past have hj« netting 200ozs of gold, or about £4OO per am at the Shotover—are likely to have ft disput and Mr Spence has been employed to ascef tal whether Finney's ground has been driven up \ the others. The parties are tunnelling in tl old bed of the Shotover, which passes throut the terraces.

At the District Court Sitting at Olyd on Monday, several unopposed insolvents wit no assets were allowed to pass. In one case, ft insolvent's liabilities amounted to £67, and hi Honor Judge Gray examined the insolvent asi his reason for coming into Court to seek relit from so small an amount of liabilities. The in solvent described himself as a miner, and alleged that his debts were of some standing, that B had been ill and unsuccessful, but was now pro specting, and therefore wished to have a cles sheet. His discharge was eventually allowed Another insolvent sought a release from debts hj alleged to be of several years' standing. H also passed. Michael Crawcour was not so for tunate. His debts amounted to over £6OO, an< his assets, though figuring largely, were only o nominal value. Mr Manders, on behalf of creditor, tendered a proof of debt to the amoun of £155, and, on behalf of same creditor, stata that another amount of £97 was due. He al* contended that a notice in the Dunstan Ti7>mo Friday last, and reaching the Queenstown credi tors late on the same night, was not a sufficien one, and this the Court upheld. Mr Brongh of fered to examine the bankrupt if Mr Manden would not afterwards press for an adjournment The bankrupt was opposed on the grounds ol non-residence, under one of the clauses of the Act; of having concealed property ; of not hariiig made a full disclosure of Ins affairs ; of having executed a bill of sale in contemplation of his insolvency ; of having sold property since his declaration of insolvency ; and it was stated that witnesses would be produced to prove these allegations. Mr Brough objected to Mr Manders ap pearing on the ground that he produced no writ ten authority ; but the objection was overruled' The form of the proof of debt was objected to, and it was ordered to be amended before next adjourned sitting. As an adjournment until next ordinary sittings, it was stated, would 1» inflicting serious injury upon the insolvent, his Honor, after hearing considerable arguments on both sides, agreed to sit on Friday, the 25th inst. The insolvent complained even of this de. lay, hut the Judge held that a man who coatracted £6OO worth of liabilities could not asi creditors to appear on so insufficient a notice. Williams v. Hillhouse, claim £IOO, resulted in a verdict for plaintiff, with immediate execution, as Hi vers in the R. M.'s Court had obtained im, mediate execution against defendant. j

Mi- T. George, Government auctioneer, last week disposed of over 50 sections in the township of Gladstone, HaWea Lake, and eight sections in the township of Newcastle, at the upset price. For the sections offered at Pen* broke, Wanaka Lake, there was not a single bid, on account of the ground being below flood mark.

Tlie Queenstown people, living on th« shores of the magnificent Lake Wakatip, seem bent on making holidays. St. Patrick's DaJ (to-morrow) is to be observed as a gala day. A general pic-nic in the Antrim to the head of the Lake is one of the features of the day- Al Maori Point they have a race meeting, at "whicl two of our townsman Mr Smitham's horses Tvill put in an appearance. There are also several; d»nces and a ball to wind up the day with.