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Cromwell Argus, Volume I, Issue 44, 14 September 1870, Page 4

A. second meeting of cattle-owners was held on Thursday evening last with the view of receiving and disposing of tenders for the services of a ranger, advertised for in accordance with a resolution passed at last meeting. There were present: Messrs Barr (chairman), Robinson, Hayes, Ritchie, Donegan, Kidd, Shanly, Williams, Howe, and Foote (hon. secretary). The following tenders were opened and read : Angus Robertson, £65 ; John E. Beattie, £l2O ; John Lawson, £175. Some discussion followed, and it was moved by Mr Howe, and seconded by Mr Lindsay, “That it is inadvisable, considering the small number of cattle-owners present at the meeting, to accept any of the offers received."—Carried. It was then moved by Mr Williams, seconded by Mr Kidd, and carried, “That the tenderers be written to, informing them of the result of the meeting.” On the motion of Mr Kidd, seconded by Mr Shanly, it was . further resolved, “ That, considering the paucity of the attendance of the cattle-owners, and the general apathy displayed by them, this Committee dissolve itself, and that Mr Loughnan be notified that the cattle-owners have failed to come to terms regarding the appointment of a ranger.” The meeting then broke up. A notice is posted at the Telegraph Office, intimating that from and after the Ist September double rates will be charged for all telegrams transmitted on Sundays. A movement is on foot for the formation of a cricket club here, and a meeting of those deSistms of joining such a club is announced to be held at the Bridge Hotel on Saturday evening, at seven o’clock. Mr Shepherd, M.P.C. for the Gold-fields, has requested us to inform his constituents in this district, that he will be glad to be instructed in any matters affecting their interests, more especially those re paring the consideration of the Council at the forthcoming special session ; and that any communication addressed to him at Queenstown, will receive immediate attention. Mr Shepherd has further requested us to make it public that he will, within a short time, address the electors of the Cromwell district at a public meeting to be called in the township of Cromwell. On the 2nd instant, William Grant, Bendigo, filed a declaration of insolvency in the District Court at Clyde. The skeleton of a man was found in the river, near Sandy Point, and between Clyde and Alexandra, on Monday last. Information was conveyed to the Alexandra Police Camp, and Constable Morkane proceeded to the spot and removed the skeleton out of the water. It was then placed in a rough coffin and buried. There was nothing observable in the appearance of tho remains that would lead to their identification ; but it was evident, from the size of the bones, that they had been those of a man considerably above the average height. It is conjectured the skeleton is that of the unfortunate Robert Ralston, who was drowned in the Clutha, below the Wakefield Ferry, on the Ist of January. Mr W. Smitham, Mayor of Cromwell, and Mr Horace Bastings, Mayor of Lawrence, have been gazetted Justices of the Peace for the colony. Wo wore shown on Friday last a parcel of gold weighing close upon sixteen ounces, which was purchased by Messrs I. Hallenstein and Co. from two miners engaged in tunnelling at the Bannockburn, The quantity mentioned was the result of a fortnight’s work by the two men ; and at £3 los. an ounce, they thus netted £3O each by tho transaction. The Cromwell Hack Spring Meeting takes place on Friday week, A considerable number of horses are expected to be entered for the various events, and a good day’s sport may bo looked for. It will be observed by an advertisement in another column that Mr Smitham intends running a fonr-horse coach to the Dunstan Races on Friday next. Tho fare is moderate, and should the day prove fine, in all probability a number of Cromwcllites will go to sec the races. Before the Criminal Sittings of the Supreme Court opened on Monday week, his Honor gave judgment in the case of Regina v. Bagley.’ The’ -rule was made absolute ; the question of costs being reserved.

A number of very promising specimens of auriferous quartz, from Huffman and; party’s reef at Smith's Gully, Bannockburn, were brought into town by some of the shareholders on-Wed-nesday last. Gold was visible in all the specimens shown us, and several of the pieces exhibited very rich indications. The specimens were obtained from four or five different shafts, at depths varying from four to nine feet..,. From a Clyde correspondent we learn that the four men—James Neil, Richard Fellows, James Anderson [alias Maori Jack), and Thomas Hueston—charged with sheep-stealing on Hawksbum Station; were again brought up yesterday, when additional evidence was given against them, and they were committed for trial. Hueston was further committed on a charge of stealing from the tent of Michael Dow. . It is with much pleasure we learn that Constable T. M. Smith, who was placed here as senior constable in charge of the station a short time since, has been promoted to the rank of a second-class sergeant. He is expected to return hither from Dunedin this week. It "was in a great measure owing to Constable Smith’s ef. forts that the perpetrator of the gold robbery was discovered and brought to justice, and we are glad to see that the valuable services rendered by him are appreciated by the police authorities as well as by the public. Sergeant Cassels, we understand, returns to the Cardrona station. The sale of Mr Lancaster’s cattle on Wednesday last was not largely attended, • and the competition was by no means brisk, only about twenty head being disposed of. The fact is that all the available pasturage in the district is already overstocked to such a degree that the cattle now running upon it are eking out a precarious existence, and any further increase of their number would only hasten their absolute starvation. Why does not the Government grant us a commonage ? Several foot-races took place at the Caledonian Society’s Grounds, Dunedin, on the 3rd iust. The first race of one mile, for a cup valued at 10 guineas, was won easily by T. Fairlie, who had 140 yards start, Pollock being second ; time, 4min. 44seos. A steeplechase was won by Shell. The principal event was a six-mile race, for which there were four competitors, Austin (scratch), Pollock, Shell and Howes (600 yards). The course had to be traversed fortyeight times, and Austin gained two rounds on the others before the first mile had been run, but afterwards he contented himself with getting close up to them. Pollock soon gave it up, and Shell maintained a good pace, rushing forward every now and then until the last mile, when he “caved in.’’ Austin and Howes kept close together until nearly the end of the last round, when the former put on a splendid spurt,-losing the race by about 150 yards ; had he done this sooner the result would have been different. Time—3min, 48secs An inquest was held on Thursday, Ist distant, at Morrison’s Coal Creek Hotel, before H. W. Robinson, Esq., coroner, on view of the body of William Colgan, who committed suicide by hanging himself to the ridge of the tilt of hji 3 waggon. The jury, after hearing evidence, returned a verdict of “ Felo de se.” A special meeting of the Town Council was held on the evening of Friday last, the Mayor and Crs. Dagg and Brown being present. Mr Prank Foote’s account (£ls) for the re-con-struction of the town water-race was passed for payment. The following correspondence anent the erection of a new Post-office was read : House of Representatives, Wellington, 26th Aug. 1870. Sir, —I have the honour to inform you that the Hon. the Postmaster-General has given instructions for the necessary steps to be taken for compliance with the request of the Cromwell Town Council regarding a new Post and Telegraph Office there. The copy of my letter to the Hon. the Postmaster-General, and his answer thereto, are forwarded herewith for your information.—l have, &c., Charles O’Neill. William Smitham, Esq., J.P., Mayor of Cromwell. House of Representatives, Wellington, 11th Aug. 1870. Sir, —I have the honour to send you herewith copy of report of “Petitions Committee,” on petition by the Mayor and Councillors of Cromwell, Otago ; and to request you to be pleased to place upon the Estimates such a sum as may be adequate to carry out the intention of the prayer of the petitioners. I may mention that the requests contained in the petition are believed to be just and reasonable, and his Honor the Superintendent of the province (with whom 1 have conferred) will have no objection to the demands of the petitioners being complied with. The favour of an answer to this will be obliging.—l have, &c., • Charles O’Neill, The Horn julius Vogel. i ’’ General Post Office, Wellington, 22nd Ang. 1870. Sir,—Referring to your letter of the 11th inst. on the’ subject of a petition from the Mayor and Councillors of Cromwell, Otago, tor a new Post and Telegraph Office to be erected there, I have the honour to inform you that 1 have given di-’ reotions for the necessary steps to be taken for compliance with. the request of the. Cromwell Town Council.—l'have; &c,, Julius Vogel. Chas. O'Neill,‘Esq., M.H.R,

. ■ The .-Coiling YaViety Troupe are on their way up-ctfuutny, and are advertised to appear at Clyde on Thursday evening. In all probability they will visit Cromwell in the course of a few days. The Mount Ida paper, chronicles a sad accident from fire, which took place at the Kyebhrn diggings on the 6th instant, by which a house and contents, the property of Mr Philip Beer, a miner, was completely destroyed. Mr Beer is a married man with five children, who had barely time to escape with their lives. The family, which "before this.sad accident were tolerably well to dp, have been rendered perfectly destitute. Messrs Stronach and Newsome, of the Kyeburn, with praiseworthy promptitude, immediately set on foot a subscription for the relief of the afflicted family, and the residents of Naseby alone, with their accustomed liberality, subscribed the sum of £3l Bs. Surface Hill, says the Mount Ida Ghroni. cle, appears to be acquiring a most unenviable notoriety—another miner in theprime and vigour of life having fallen a victim to the treacherous nature of the soil. The unfortunate man, whose name is .Robert Richardson, was engaged about 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon in undermining a fall, when the earth fell, burying him in the debris. He was immediately extricated, and taken to the Bendigo Hotel, where he was attended by Dr M‘Cambridge, but gradually sank, and expired about 4.30 p.m. The deceased was a native of Mushill, County Antrim, Ireland, was 24 years of age, and arrived in Otago in February last. An inquest was held at Tait’s Bendigo Hotel, before H. W. Robinson, Esq., coroner, when a verdict of “ Accidental death” was recorded.