THE Cromwell Argus WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 3, 1870.

Cromwell Argus, Volume I, Issue 38, 3 August 1870, Page 4

THE Cromwell Argus WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 3, 1870.

The mail service, as managed at present, between Dunedin and the Dunstan, does not afford Cromwell all the advantages it might, and would, with a slight and inexpensive change in the present arrangement ; and the town population feel the disadvantage complained of in a milder form than the widely-scattered settlers in the outlying districts. So long as our mails were light, and our dealings with the chief town in the province were confined to a few business letters, we could hardly be expected to be heard in vindication of our right to plead on the question of postal arrangements. But impressed, doubtless, with our growing claims to consideration, the Post-office authorities re--sdShtly granted a concession in our favor. After much delay and correspondence, we obtained a tri-weekly mail from Dunedin. Another change is now required, in order to make all the benefits thus conferred available. _ Now, when the bulk of our mail-bags is four-fold as compared with those of two years ago, we may fully expect that our representations will be more patiently heard and more promptly attended to. „ In a few weeks the General Government will be calling for tenders for the conveyance of the mails between Dunedin and the Dunstan. If by a united effort we could induce the Postmaster-General to make Cromwell the halting-place for the mail coach in future, instead of the Dun* stan as at present, much would be gained here and nothing lost anywhere else. We ( |hould be brought, with all our business into a nearer proximity to the great business centre of the province by Nearly one-half in point of time. Letters posted in Dunedin on Thursday leave by the coach early on Friday morning, arrive at Clyde on -Saturday night, and remain there till Monday, and then reach us by the Queenstown coach on the morning of that day. Our letters in return can only leave Clyde on Wednesday, and are delivered in town on Friday morning. Seven days at least must intervene before an answer can- bo received to a letter sent .either to or from the city; and distant dwellers have to wait nearly twice that ’fength of time for replies from Dunedin. If this state of things lasts much longer, telegrams between us and our friends in

will t&ke less time in .tmnamia-, don, If the next mail contract should ho so_ arranged as to make Cromwell the ter- j minus, our friends ut the Dunstan could have no reason to complain they would still enjoy all the privileges they now have.,, This district would he drawn into closer communication with the ports, the marts, find markets of trade in the province. 1 Our correspondence—whether of business, I friendship, or affection—would be more I feelingly appreciated at the arrival and de- 1 parture of the Home mails. Our English I letters would reach us at an earlier \£, te j I our post-office here would he kept tfpen two days later for Home correspondence j and the time thus gained l both ways would, ,tend to bring us (in point of time) nearer j to our friends in Europe. ■ Feasible objections, no doubt, may,be, alleged against such a change as is here, contemplated, and we feel them as we write j yet, when fairly balanced against' the advantages that would result in an increasing trade, a growing township, an f ever-widening district, and various news interests which are springing up and de-s raanding communication without hampering and unnecessary delays, they have but little weight j at all events, they ought not to be held as a sufficient reason for denying our request. The contract price for the service on the through passage] from Dunedin, making Cromwell the des-J tination, would of course be higher; but the cost for the up-service from hence to the Lakes would be correspondingly lower, and the gross charge upon the revenue would be no greater than at present 1 If the arrangement here sketched should be carried into effect in the ensuing year, the people of Bannockburn, Nevis, Ben-; digo, Albert Town, Cardrona, and the: Lake districts would be placed a full week nearer to their friends in town and the business houses from which they receive their supplies. The Queenstown mails would arrive there earlier on the Monday, and depart at a later hour next morning. This, it may be presumed, our up-country neighbors would deem an improvement upon the existing plan. | In all nations, science and wealth are at the present time making gigantic efforts to bring the scattered settlements of civil. is«d men into closer neighborhood, and to make divided friends feel the world over that they are coming nearer and nearer to the. old home centres of friendship they left long ago. We must be contented to travel slowly on the path of progress, and to us every little facility of quickened communication is clear gain, and helps to put us into accord with the general ten dency of things. And we have a right t( expect that our own rulers will hear us oil this subject, and help us on in that direc tion where millions of hands are employing their various degrees of force and skill t< unite the children of a common fatherhood and make them feel and acknowledge-thi universal tie. i Let the business men of Cromwell tak( up this subject, as it affects their interests the Mayor and Council will deal -with i as affecting their office in the Corporator and their honor as the representatives o the people j and let all use their influenci in obtaining from the Postmaster-Genera such a change on the main line of traffil between Port, Chalmers and the Wes Coast as shall make Cromwell what natun has hinted it should be——the destinatior of the Dunedin mail coach.