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Cromwell Argus, Volume 2, Issue 86, 4 July 1871, Page 5

Skating on the dams beyond the Coalpits has been engaged in by a large number of persons during the past few days. One great advantage the skaters possess, is that there is no danger of getting drowned should the ice give way.&he ponds not exceeding two feet in depth. A partial eclipse of the Moon was visible here between 11.30 p.m. on Sunday night and one o'clock yesterday morning. The night was beautifully clear, and the phenomena was seen to great advantage. About 13-100ths of the lunar disc were temporarily obscured by the Earth's shadow. Considerable interest is beginning to be felt regardiug the approaching election of Mayor. Mr Smitham, we understand, intends coming forward for re-election ; and yesterday a requisition to Mr James Taylor was pretty numerously signed. Mr Praer has likewise been mentioned as a probable candidate for the civic chair. Forty-five tons of quartz from the Elizabeth Company's claim, Carrick Range, were crnshe-1 a few days ago at the Royal Standard Battery, the result being 531 ounces' of melted gold, The Elizabeth Company have since definitely decided to erect an eight-stamper battery of their own, to be driven by steam-power. The monthly Gold Escort left Cromwell on Saturday, conveying over 3000 ounces from the Lake district, and 1,235 ounces from the Bank here. A man named William Ryan was arrested on Friday last at Alexandra by Constable Morkane, on a charge of stealing a horse, the property of Mr William Gordon, Alexandra. Hi lias since been removed to Clyde, where he was to be brought before the Court to-day. A meeting of the Town Council of Alexandra was held on Friday, June 30. There were present: The Mavor, Crs Finlay, Beresford, and Ratclitfe. The minutes of the previous meting Mere read and confirmed ; and correspondence was read and approved. The account of Mr C, W. Browne for £5 was passed for payment. The Council balloted for the purpose of deciding which of the two members should retire in Clutha Ward at the ensuing annual election, and it ft.ll upin Cr Finlay to do so. Proposed by < T Rateliife, and seconded by Cr Beresford, " That Cr Finlay act as presiding officer for the election of Mayor :" carried. It was also nropose 1 and seconded by the same two Councillors, " That the Councillors wait upon the Library Trustees, with the view of making arrangements to throw the Council Chamber and Library Room into one :" carried. The proceedings were closed with a vote o£ thanks to the Chair. The Railway Engineer, in his report on the propose 1 line of railway from InveroarErill to Mataura, states that the natural feature? of the country are so favourable that a good 3ft Oiu line with the n'jcissary sidings can be made and equipped for £2">0!) per mile, including a substantial bridge over the Mitanra river. The B-.eepest inclination is 1 in 71. and the sharpest curve is I'2 chains radius. With respect to the land re ltiired, he says that the New Zealand an 1 Australian Land Company having notified their intention of giving the'land required for the railway without charge, there wffll)e but a very small area to be negotiated for-the cost of which will n ,t probably exceed £IOOO. The total length of the line is stated as a little over forty miles. We have received from the Superintendent's Office a copy of the " Resolutions and Report of the Otago Mining Commission." The seventh Annual Report of the Otago Seamen's Mission has just been published, and a copy of the pamphlet has bseu forwarded to us by Mr Gilbert, the missionary. The statement of amounts sheW3 a credit balance of £lO ■is 91 at the end of the vear. The amount received and collecte 1 by Mr Gilbert duiirt" his recent tour through the Gold-fields was £Ol 3s 3d. We are gla( j to j earn tllat t | ie affairs 0 f the Mission are in a prosperous condition. The people of Mount Ida have petitioned the Provincial Council to grant a subsidy for a Hospital to be established at Xasoby. The Mount Ma Chronicle, states, on the authority of a private communication from Duncdm, that Mr Carew's appointment as Warden at Blacks will not be reversed, but it is anticipated that Mr Stratford will speedily receive die appointment of Warden elsewhere. We learn from the Dunediu papers that Messrs Harris and Hewitt, the champion pedestrians, have started on a tour up-country, stopping a t Tnkomairiro, Tuapeka, and other places en roui,-.. It is expected they will visit tic various townships in this portion of the Goldlields. " Mow We are Governed," was the subject of an entertaining lecture, delivered by Mr < ■ E. Haughton. M.P.C., M.H.R., in Hunediii. on Friday, the 23rd ult. The lecturer extracted much fun and some instruction from his Parliamentary experiences -had a facetious dins at the Maori Representatives—talked warily of the policy of the present Government, and generally lm 'Wp'hnsolf as peculiarly oracular and geniallv y'lgSW* only Haughton can. He evidently enjoyed fcnq affair immensely : it was a capital joke ! The last electioneering campaign afforded ample food for comment, satire, comic illustration, and laughter. Mr Haughton said, "The miners' right franchise was a sjreat anomaly. He was of opinion that they should have registered manhood suffrage,—and was not quite sure that it would not be wise to extend the franchise to the fair sex." The lecture was-judging from the report in the Daily Tim",*,— very enjoyable, attWigh occasionally b >rdering on the farcical and absurd.— Arrow Adi-ocafe! |€

The Annual Soiree in connection with the Cromwell Sunday School took place yesterday evening, and was without doubt the most successful affair of the kind that has ever taken place here. The tables were well loaded with good things, and tastefullv decorated, by the various ladies who provided them. The entire arrangements were under the supervision of Messrs Howe and Nancarrow, who are entitled to very great praise for the efficient manner in which the tea-meeting was carried out. We regret that our space will not permit of a more extended notice this week. Mr H. S. Fish, jun., the present Mayor of Dunedin, has signified his intention not to seek re-election in that capacitv. lie expresses his conviction that the office should be held for only one year by the same person, and says that at least one, if not more, of the present Councillors possesses sufficient experience and antitude for the duties of the Mayorship. Mr Fish goes in for rotation in office, and has announced his willingness to " stand as Councillor for South Ward should a vacancy occur." Telegrams from Auckland of date 23rd June, report the expected yield of the Caledonian claim for the previous fortnight to be 14,000 ounces. On the date above mentioned the manager reported that the show in the face of the stope was magnificent, there being a seam of solid gold in sight. Eight tons of stone from Tookey's claim, yielded 109 ounces of melted gold ; fifteen tons from the Inverness, 31 ounces ; and the Morning Stai and several others are also paying well. The question of the validity of Fox's claim to a reward, as the discoverer of the Arrow Gold Held, (formerly known as "Fox's Rush,") has, on the motion of Mr Haughton, been referred back to the Private Petitions Committee for reconsideration. The Chairman of the Committee (Air Shepherd) explained that Mr Pyke had stated Fox was not the first discoverer of gold at the Arrow, and that no reward was offered by the Government at the time. Mr Haughton's motion was carried by 20 to 13. In the Resident Magistrate's Cmrt, at Clyde, on Tuesday (before Mr Pyke, R.M.), Mr Wilson, barrister-at-law, raised what we believe to be a new point of law,—and one of great importance in the Arrow and Likes districts, or wherever Chinese congregate. In the case to which wo refer, All Sui, a Chinaman, brought an action against Bridget Corcoran, a servant at Hyan's Beudigo Hotel, for assault. Bridget had thrown a jug of boiling watjr over the i.Hpudent Mongolian's face. Mr Wilsm appeared for the defendant, and on being called upon to plead, applied that, before doing so, the plaintiff, bdtvj an Alien, n)i,'ht be called upon to find security for the payment of costs, and cited authorities to bear out his vie .v. #Mr Brmu'h, for plaintiff, declared that he had never heard of such an applio itiou before, and contended that the Legislature never intended that persons in the positixi of the plaintiff should be virtually prevented fr\m obt lining damages on a wrohor. The IJesident Magistrate thought the point, If insisted on, was a good one, and lie was bound to maintain ft. He ordered the plaintiff to find security to the extent of £;">,— the case to be adjourned for a week in the meantime.— Arrow Atleocate. Twenty female servants, who landel in Dune.lin from the ship Wild Deer the other day, \ve)y speedily engaged at wages ranging from £25 to £35 per annum, one securing a situation at £45. The other assisted immigrants by the same vessel, consisted of two blacksmiths, one brass moulder, one butcher, three carpenters, one cooper, three dressmakers, one engine driver, one engineer, twenty-two labourers (calling themselves farm servants'.) one ploughman, twenty female servants, one fisherman, one housekeeper, one sawyer, two day labourers, one shepherd, one sugar broker, one storekeeper, one teacher, one warehouseman, and one weaver.