Cromwell Argus. TUESDAY, MAY 16, 1871.

Cromwell Argus, Volume 2, Issue 79, 16 May 1871, Page 4

Cromwell Argus. TUESDAY, MAY 16, 1871.

Theuk was a time in the history of tho Provinces of New Zealand when the meeting of each Provincial Council for its annual session was looked forward to with both interest and anxiety. This was especially the case in Otago. Now, however, although the time rapidly draws nigh when the Provincial Council of Otago will meet, but little general interest appears to be felt in anticipation of that event. Provincial Institutions arc upon the wane ; and the rapidity of their decadence has been greatly accelerated by the schemes of a politician who was long and intimately connected with this Province ; we refer to the Hon. Julius Yogel. However, the Provincial Council of Otago possesses, we believe, more vitality than that of any of

the adjacent-Provinces ; and vvc may there* fore; indulge in a hope that its next Session Mil bring forth good fruit for the benefit of the Province.

Amongst other matters of local importance which we may mention in this connection is the fact" that it is intended to .memorialise the Council on the subject of the necessity for establishing a Gaol in Cromwell. The subject is one' of greater importance than may appear at first sight. Viewed in connection with the erection of a commodious Court House, and the granting to this place of an extended Civil and Criminal jurisdiction, it must be seen at a glance that the step indicated would be a great one towards rendering this place what it undoubtedly ought to be, the Judicial and Official centre of this the most important of the Northern Gold-fields, This is really the Great Centre ; Clyde is merely " a wayside village." Let us submit a few cogent facts :—The monthly gold escort from Cromwell far exceeds that of Clyde, although that of the latter is considerably augmented by returns fi'om the Nevus and Bendigo, which are systematically taken to Clyde in order to swell its fictitious total in the Escort Returns. The amount of business transacted in the Resident Magistrate's and Warden's Courts in Cromwell is, we believe, about four times as much as that disposed of in the Courts at Clyde. The population of Cromwell has nearly doubled itself within the last three years, whilst that of Clyde, allowing for natural increase (births), has decreased in the same period. There is a large and increasing permanent mining population around Cromwell, whilst around Clyde the number of the same class is almost nil. There is no gaol accommodation in Cromwell, simply an ordinarylock up, which is seldom occupied except by unfortunate inebriates. A prisoner sentenced to a few days' imprisonment is immediately packed off to Clyde. Now, arguing as we do, that Cromwell is the natural centre of a district extending from the boundary of the Province in the north to Alexandra in the south, and from iiount Ida in the east to Pake Wakatip in the west, we contend that the General and Provincial Governments, in the discharge of some of the most important of their duties to the public, viz., the expen* ditufe of the public funds, —the savin" of time, trouble, toil, and expense to the public,—are bound to recognise our claims, and avail themselves of our Central Position for the transaction of public business, Such a step would, we believe, give great satisfaction to a large majority ot the residents within the boundaries mentioned. By granting this place instead of Clyde a "Visiting Judge havingan extended Criminal Jurisdiction, much of that class of business which now has to be taken to Dun* edin could be transacted in the centre of the district in which it originated. It would somewhat astonish our readers could we but lay before them a full, true, and particular account of the expenditure of public and private moneys which has been uselessly incurred in order to convey accused persons, constables, witnesses, lawyers, &c, to Dunedin ; and, after all, the accused person has been acquitted, and the presiding Judge has felt it to be his duty to comment on the incompetency of the committing Justices. Numerous instances could be cited, amongst them tho following:—Chas. Heir, charged with perjury, committed from Cromwell; Joseph Dods, charged with obtaining money under false pretences, committed from Queenstown ; John Russell, on a similar charge, committed from Clyde ; a man from the neighbourhood of Wanaka Lake, charged with committing an indecent assault, committed from Cromwell; two men, charged witli stealing sheep from the Plawksburn Station, —all these were acquitted. Such unfortunate men, after acquittal, have to find their way back, up-countiy, at their own charges. The alteration of such a state of things is necessaiy. hi New Zealand it too often happens that local cliques are allowed to over-rido the general interest; and one local magnate who " has the ear " of those in charge at the Seat of Government may be instrumental in perpetrating a wrong and perpetuating abuses of a very grave character. Such has been the case, we fear, in this district. It were time this sort of thing ceased to exist. The axe should bo laid to the root of the upas-tree. Let us try, in the first place, what an appeal to the Government will do.

Captain- Baldwin is lecturing throughout the Province on the scheme of Life Assurance avid Annuities recently adopted by the General Government. The clear exposition of the principles, and the conclusive Hrgnments by which the Captain a p. plies them, arc telling with much effect in

favour of the Goveramfsnt scheme. It ap pears to b.aver"varbusand preponderating advantages over all other similar institutions having kindred objects in view. Wh are not surprised to haar that Captain Bddwin has been eminently successful, ami that the business of the Government ia this lino is rapidly increasing. The first and fund .imontal requirement of all Life As3nranc3 and Deferred Annuities Companies is security—absolute security. The person who invests his savings now for the purpose of scouring bene fits which are to accrue twenty or thirty yoar3 heo.ee, would be blind to. his own in torests, and to the comfort of those in whose favour the investment is made, if lis committed himself to mere probabilities, or peradventures, or any other shade of uncertainty which might be mentioned. Nothing but the most unhesitating certainty can or ought to give stability to the mind of the assurer. This demand is met bs far as human certainty can meet it; and there are few who do business with insurance companies who will not be able to comprehend the huge difference between the least degree of insecurity and the pledged faith of a whole country. The Englishmau has somewhere been represented as an insuring animal: he insures his ships at sea, his corn and cattle en land ; he secures himself against fires and iloods and all kinds of casualties. And if the Celt is somewhat less forecasting in his habits, it is a well-known feature in the character of the true Scot that he likes to be on the safe side ; he will always make his certainties as sure as any of his neighhours. The Government scheme, as fur as we can see, fulfils all the conditions that the most fastidious can require. It has other advantages that must be obvious to the minds of the reflecting part of the community. There is to be a Post-ofSce agency all over the Colony. The whole plan can be carried out with the existing machinery tit the command of the Government, and therefore at very little expense. It is in

tmnied to reach every settlement. It begins with children of two years old, and holds out its benefits to the man of threescore. It admits of persons assuring for sums varying from a few shillings to thousands of pounds.

We have seen some hostile criticisms on the Government for its interfer?nce with

Assurance business ; but there appears to be no scope for the play of sinister motives or party scheming. If, by the establishment of such an institution, the Government can husband the earnings and savings

of an overtaxed people with more economy than private companies, we see no Valid reason why it should not do so. In availing ourselves of the benefits offered, we have the teachings of Nature pointing in the right direction. The squirrel, the beaver, the ant, all use the sunshine of summer as a hoarding season for a future and looked-for winter : they fores'.'e the evil and provide for it under the guidance of move instinct Here is a lesson that Reason itself may "go to the ant and learn."