Cromwell Argus, AND NORTHERN GOLD-FIELDS GAZETTE. CROMWELL: TUESDAY, JUNE 27.

Cromwell Argus, Volume 2, Issue 85, 27 June 1871, Page 4

Cromwell Argus, AND NORTHERN GOLD-FIELDS GAZETTE. CROMWELL: TUESDAY, JUNE 27.

PETITIONS, praying that sittings of the Supreme Court, in its criminal ami civil jurisdiction, may be holden in the most central and best suited locality in the Northern Goldfields, have been submitted to the Provincial Council by Mr the member for Kawarau ; and by me Shepherd, specially on behalf ot Cly*'. They have been referred to the Petitions Committee to be dealt with on their merits. This is a matter involving, in its consideration, interests of the gravest importance to the communities of these extensive and valuable districts. Great public rights depend on its equitable settlement; and the investigation of the claims of the rival townships for the possession of the Temple of Justice, should be conducted in a spirit of strict impartiality, and only with a view to the promotion of the greatest good for the greatest number. The most expeditious and least expensive mode of carrying on the administration of justice for a large, constantly augmenting, prosperous, but comparatively scattered population, is of momentous consequence to its proper social vitality. It therefore behoves us to look about and discover the fittest way of arriving at this end. Let us at once understand that the inhabitants of the country radiating from Cromwell as a centre, from Alexandra to Qneenstown, from Naseby to the Nokomia, ate of one accord as to the necessity of having more immediate access to sittings of the higher Courts than that afforded by a journey to Dunedin. Merchants, miners, traders, artisans, of every grade and calling, are all alike affected by this cause. The heavy outlay, the irritating personal inconvenience, often the total, certainly the partial, suspension of their various occupations, not unfrequently deters people from availing themselves of the aid the law offers for the prosecution of rightful demands; and thus, frequently, the ends of justice are either aggravatingly frustrated, or hopelessly discomfited, leaving many a grievous wroag to lie patiently borne, and many a heinous offence to go unpunished. To remove these evils, and give a solid s:mso of security to the votaries of the "blind goddess" in these neighborhoods, it has been resolved by the population, that within the area of country comprising ihe localities indicated, as well as many others within its limits, some central site should be chosen as the place for holding periodical sessions of the Supreme Court. Two towns, Cromwell and Clyde, are mentioned as having the requisite eligibility ; and with their respective reasons for the claim set forth we have now to deal. The right that Cromwell indubitably holds in- connection herewith has been dwelt upon at some length in a previous issue of this journal; we shall only, therefore, cursorily glance at the position it occupies in the body politic, when contrasted with that arrived at by its quondam, but now almost insignificant rival, the moribund town of the modern " Pactolus." Firstly, we are in closer proximity than Clyde to the populous, auriferous, and agricultural Lake district, —-not only now a rich and influential integral part of the Province, but one also whose rapid progression in all courses adapted to advance the prosperity of Otago authoritatively speaks of a satisfactory future, carrying within its looming prospects a vast expansion of people and resources. The Lake residents, too, are our warm supporters on the grounds both of private and public utility. Secondly, if a numerical basis of population be taken in our favour, we find that the sub-district of Cromwell alone has, within a. radius of fifteen miles, a population consisting of 1400 persons. This is quite beside the numbers living in contiguous localities to whom we should become a legal and commercial pivot, and whose interests would be best sorved by a Court being held here. The continually increasing number of cases in the Resident Magistrate's and Warden's Courts hm:?:ceeds that of those adjudicated at Clyde, so much so, in fact, that these Courts have now to be held weekly instead of fortnightly, as was previously the case. Many of these cases have to bo finally decided by the Supreme Court. Furthermore, the sum we return to the Exchequer, when

properly accounted for, is far beyond that which Clyde contributes. For the lust four years, Cromwell has been producing from 1500 to 1000 ounces of gold monthly, and no signs of falling off are yet perceptible ; but rather on the contrary. Can the same be said of Clyde, with its population of twenty-five miners, all told 1 Why, the returns of the Dog-tax of this district, trivial as such a source of revenue may seem to be, amounts to nearly £2OO per annum. In the town and outlying districts we have 32 licensed public-houses, 41 holders of business licenses, and numerous holders of vap-olesale, bottle, and billiard licenses. Turato Clyde: there are only found 11 hotel\< three business license holders, and four holders of billiard licenses. At Bendigo we have seven different reef claims in working occupancy, and four quartz batteries, representing 35 head of stampers. On the Carrick Range, nine new reefs have lately been added to our mining wealth ; a quartz-crushing machine has been for some time in active operation, and two others are being talked of: their erection will probably take phtce very soon. It is useless to ask what Clyde can show of this kind. Up the Clutha, three large blocks of land are now open for purchase —good arable land—at the Hawea, the Wanaka, and the Lindis. These will attract a large number of settlers, who must be dependent upon us in a variety of ways. On their behalf, too, as well as on our own, we may urge our claims. The limited space at our disposal prevents us from further dwelling on this subject. We have barely broken the ice. In our next issue we hope to deal with the question more fully. We trust, meantime, that our representative, Mr Hickey, will avail himself of every item of information bearing upon our rights, and that the issue of the petitions will be that Cromwell has that justice done to it which its importance deserves.