JOTTINGS PROM ALEXANDRA.

Cromwell Argus, Volume I, Issue 32, 22 June 1870, Page 5

JOTTINGS PROM ALEXANDRA.

(From our ou6>\ Gurrttpontknt.) Litigation has been running rampant here for some time past. However, there was a slight change for the bettor ou Monday last, there being almost a clean sheet, Monday with ns, usually, has the appearance of a gala day, compared with the quiet and half-deserted look of our streets on other week days, Saturday included, for we have no Celestials—more's the pity. Three-fourths of- the workmen in the district are apparently in on Court-day. Those who hare cases are bound to come in, and those who have none knock off and come in to see the fun ; and the consequence is that the wretched and dilapidated shed called a Court House (!) is generally crowded to suffocation. Some cases seem to hare become chronic here ; for go to the Court when you will, your ears are saluted with the cry of So-and-so versus So-and-so, week after week. The mora I see of weekly courts, the less I like them. I was once a staunch stickler for the regular weekly attendance of the Warden; but my ideas on that subject gradually changed, and I have come to the conclusion that, if we had a monthly Warden's court, and a fortnightly one for the hearing of applica--1 tions by the GoM Receiver, a vast deal of ■ litigation would be done away with, and a great saving of time be gained by the miners, with a consequent increase of the escort returns. Were a little additional power granted to the Clerk of the Court, what would hinder him from hearing and deciding applications, making transfers, and performing other business of a like nature ] We have, at present, a highlypaid official, without a particle of responsibility—a mere machine, in fact. I notice that the Town Council are doing something towards providing a supply of water, to be used in case of fire. Several 400-gallon tanks have been phesd in convenient parts of the township. The tanks are provided with large brass taps, 2in. bore, by whioh it is expected a bucket will bs filled almost as quickly as it would be by dipping. I have no doubt that if a fire were to occur, the supply would be found of much use in quelling it, although not equal to the Yan Yean ; but a bucket of water in time has more than once in this township been the means of putting out what might have become a raging fire. It would hare been more acceptable if a supply for all purposes had been obtained, but the Council found that to bring water in in pipes was beyond their present means. \ —v-7 I said in my last that I had hopes that fair weather had set in, and that the river • was going down, though slowly. However, a couple of days of it was all we were allowed, and it has come down from all quarters since, in consequence of which the river has again risen. During the last day or two frost has set in, and everyone is now in hopes that this is the turn for the better afs last. We miss the Chinese amongst us this winter. People may say what they please, but this I know : it gladdens the hearts of business people to see them stringing in with their bamboos and empty sacks, to return with them full of the best the stores can supply ; for when John is on gold he likes good living as well as any other man. I was speaking to a Chinaman the other day, and he tells me that as soon as the river attains a lower level, a good many of hia countrymen may pay us a visit. Cheap meat is the cry at last. lam told that one of our butchers has been pushing the best mutton off at a shilling a side. This beats the shilling a leg at the boiling-down establishments. The opposition shop which started here a month ago has been tho cause of the reductions.