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Cromwell Argus, Volume 2, Issue 95, 5 September 1871, Page 4

The Cromwell Spring Meeting opens on the Koundhill Course at one o'clock to-day. The attendance of spectators will most probably be fully larger than usual. Mr Joseph Harding has the management of the grand stf,*v>> and booth. Y

The Cromwell Town Council fAd. its usual fortnightly meetiug last in the Town Hall. A lengthened discussion took place previous to the Mayor signing the minutes, in reference to Cr Fraer's motion referring Mr Pyke to the late Mayor for an explanation of the memorial complaining of Mr Pyke's neglect of duty. The Mayor eventually signed the minutes under protest. In consequence of the meeting being held last night, we are reluctantly compelled to hold over a report of the proceedings until next issue.

The quantities of gold taken down by the Escort which passed through Cromwell last Saturday, were as follow :—Queenstown, 2110 ozs j Arrow, 1330 ozs ; and Cromwell, 1820 ozs.

In the Resident Magistrate's Court on Friday last, before Messrs I. Loughnan and W. A. Bews, two inebriates were dealt with. One was fined £1 for drunkenness, £2 for resisting the police, and was ordered to pay 15s for damage he bad done to the cell; and as he had not the wherewithal to pay all this, he was put in prison for a short time. The other was charged with habitual drunkenness, and was sentenced to three months' hard labour in Dunedin. We regret to learn that Mr J. C. dimming has found it necessary, owing to ill-health, to apply for three months' leave of absence from his duties as Town Clerk of Alexandra. Mr Alexander Jack has been appointed to act as Town Clerk in the interim. A kleptomaniac—one who steals because he cannot help doing so—was apprehended some where near Alexandra on Saturday. Some mia ing tools had mysteriously disappeared from a claim on the river bank, and suspicion being directed towards the man now in custody, he was arrested, and it is said the missing tools were found in his possession.

The Deinstall Spring Hack Races take place on Friday next. It is anticipated there will be a very large field i;f horses to contend for the various prizes offered.

A. dredge built at the IVviot has been safely iimvigated up the Molyneus from that place to within a short distance of ths "' Meeting of the Waters," below Cromwell Bridge. Most likely the owners will take up a dredging claim between Cromwell and the Bannock burn Ferry. Their skill and enterpiise merit recognition, ami we wish them success in " seeking the treasures that lie hid below."

The lovers of good music will have an opportunity of enjoying a feast of harmony at Kidd's Concert Hall to-night. Messrs Sargison, Robertson, and Webber—all of them vocal and instrumental performers of a high order— announce a grand Concert and Ethiopian Entertainment for the delectation of the townspeople and visitors to the Race Meeting.

The heavy rain on Tuesday aud Wednesday last caused considerable damage to soma of the water-race 3 running along the terraces between Lowburn and Kawarau Gorge. The race owned by Mulholland and party, of the Gorge, broke away on the face of a steep hill near Mr Howe's farm, washing out an immense breach in the hillside, and forming a huge bank of gravel below. The races running underneath—belonging to the Westmoreland Co. and Hayes and party —were filled up with the dtbris; and a dozen men have since been sluicing them clear. The town was also deprived of water until Monday morning, when Messrs Hayes (from whose race the town is supplied,) managed to connect the disjointed portions with hose, and thus a supply was brought in. We hear that the damage will not be fully repaired for another day or two.

It is reported that the ship Joshua Bates has arrived at Port Chalmers, with about 300 more Chinamen.

We learn from the Southland Times that early on the morning of the 23rd ult., a destructive fire broke out at Springvale, Slyross Bush, the property of Mr Thoriiaa Ferguson, whereby a six-stalled stable, containing six valuable horses, as also a barn, containing 500 bushels of corn, together with a quantity of saddlery, farming implements, a new cart, &c , were completely destroyed. In addition to six valuable horses burnt to death in the premises, they contained twelve cows and a colt, which were ,i>; safety from the burning pile. The chaniu remains of the animals destroyed, tbre*-of which were brood mares in foal, were all found lying in circular form, with their heads together. In addition to the buildings mentioned above, a cow-house was destroyed. A good deal of sheet lightning bad been flying about during the night, and it ia supposed that the fire was ccmrauni'cited by one of these flaah.93.

Edith Palmerston is announced to give her Protean entertainment at the Cromwell School-house this evening, when an entirely new programme will bo presented. As it is quite certain there will be a crowded house, we would recommend those who wish to secure seats to go early.

The election of a member, of Provincial Council for the district of Waikari (in the room of Mr Henry Driver, resigned,) took place on the 29th ultl, and resulted in the return of Mr J. Macasaey. The numbers polled were, —Macassey, 52 ; Hepburn, 31.

English Churchmen in Otago (says the Daily <okfS ) will be rejoiced to learn that tHe Jenner controversy has at last terminated, Dr Jenner having relinquished all claim to the rights and privileges pertaining to the Bishopric of Dunedin.

Mr William Wood, late Superintendent of Southland, was elected Mayor of Invercargill on the 26th ult., the figures at the poll being : Wood, 191; Mitchell, 140 ;—majority for Wood, 51.

Hewitt, the English pedestrian, ran his half-mile against time at Christchurch the other day, in the presence of nearly 1000 persons. Speaking of the performance, the Lyttelton Times states that he bounded away at a magnificent pace. The beautiful manner in which he stepped, and the immense stride he took, were the theme of general admiration. At the end of the first quarter of a mile, which he accomplished in 51J seconds, he was joined by Harris. The pace flagging somewhat, there were cries of, " He'll not doit; he'll lose ;" but these surmises proved incorrect, for he passed the mark at 1 minute 53i seconds from the time of starting. Mr H. Redwood's time gave it as 1 minute 53J seconds. The result, whichever time be taken, records a victory of which Hewitt may be proud. It is considerably the best time yet made in England or the Colonies, being 2 seconds less than when Nutall beat Fleet.

Mr Shepherd, M.H.R., appears to be tolerably active in Wellington. He has presented a memorial from the miners of Alexandra, praying that the law affecting water-rights be maintained. Mr Shepherd must not be discouraged by "counts out" when he desires to address the House. That is an old and very ungraceful mode of stifling a new and loquacious Member. He will, we hope, persevere, and by his tenacity of purpose exact from an unwilling Government all that is wanted by and due to the goldfields oj Otago. A great quantity of snow fell hi the neighbourhood of Mount Ida last Wednesday. At Kyeburn, E.?.».n Creek, and Naseby, the ground remained white for several days ; and on the Houndburn Hill the snow lay to a depth of nearly two feet.

The case liegina v. Carpenter will not corao on for trial at the Supreme Court iliitil next week,—the sheriff having notified that the attendance of witnesses and others will not be required !<«.fore Monday, the 11th inst. The Arrow Observer "c«votes a large amount of space to" dummy advertisements, "to the exclusion of matter which might be of more general interest." At Bmnockburn, a movement is on foot to establish an Anti-Chinese Association. A public meeting to consider the matter is convened to take place at the Bannockburn Hotel on Monday next. A correspondent of the Tuapeka Times furnishes to that journal the following table for the measurement of "extended" claims : Claims the length Square Claims. double the breadth Acres. Yards. Acres. Yards. 1 70 x G9 1 98 x 49 298 A x9B 2 139 x 694 3 121 x 120 3 170 x S5 4 139 x 139 4 19G x 9S^ 5 1554 x 1554 5 220 x 110 6 1704 x 170 6 240 x 121 The inconveniences which people who attend the wretched little Court-house in this town have to endure was forcibly illustrated on the 17th ult., when a number of persons were attracted to that Shanty of Justice to hear the case of Regina v. Carpenter. The place was so crowded as to be more than usually offensive. Our reporter declares that it is, without exception, the worst specimen of a Court house he has ever been doomed to crouch in for many hour 3 at a stretch, taking his notes in torture. Alexandra is bad, Clyde is worse, but a day in Cromwell Court-house, when crowded, is excruciating. There is usually added to the discomforts of the interior an amount of external noise and hustle which renders undivided attention to the business before the Court a matter of much difficulty. Court-houses should invariably be erected on some site a little removed from the thoroughfare, in order to escape the clatter Qf. traffic. Mr Pyke ordered the police not to alfoV'"jiersons to crowd the Court, remarking—■with some warmth—" lam not going to be suffocated because the Government won't build a decent Court-house. Sometimes it is like tho black hole of Calcutta, —you are so stived up,— at others one is either smoked out, or blown to death ! " Thin is % graphic description of a very bsast!" place.

The Cromwell Jockey Club held a meeting last Thursday week. Arrangements woro made relating to the Hack Spring Meeting upon September sth and (sth, A grand Pigeon Matoh, racos, athletic and other sports will ba arranged for the second day. Mr Joseph Harding, of tho Junction Commercial Hotel, purchased the right to occupy the grand stand, the horso paddock, and to erect a refreshment booth on the course, for £lB, also subscribing £2 2s to the race funds. A cordial voto of thanks was passed to Mr Fraer for his valuable services as honorary secretary. At the Mayor's Court, Dunedin, on the 28th ult., Wong Meng, a Chinaman, was charged with attempting to commit suicide. The accused, on the previous Friday, was seen by a man cutting himself in the forehead, and was about to stab himself when the knifo was forced fiom his hand, and he was held down. He afterwards tried to hang himself in the look-up. He was committed for trial.