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Cromwell Argus, Volume II, Issue 102, 24 October 1871, Page 5

All accident, which was very nearly being attended with fatal consequences, occurred at Cromwell Bridge yesterday afternoon. Two bays-—one of whom was the eldest son of Sergeant Cassab—were gathering watercress on the brink of the precipice which forms the eastern abutment of the bridge, when by some means the boy Cassela got too near the brink, and rolled down the rocky slope with fearful rapidity towards the edge of the river for a distance of abont eighty feet, to a point where the slope terminates abruptly, and thence fell in an ob* lique direction twelve or fourteen feet farther, till he was caught on a shelf of rock within a few feot of the pier, and on to the very edge of the river. The boy must have been stunned by the fall, for he lay motionless, face downwards, in about six inches of water until rescued from his perilous position by another boy— Richard Whetter—who happened to be crossing the bridge atthe time, and who promptly gave the alarm. Mr F. Frenn33son, an employe of the Road Department, heard the cry, an I went wi liout a moment's delay to the assistance of the drowning .'- boy., Mr Prennassou took ths apparently lifeless form in Ms arms, and succeeded, with great difficulty, in regaining the top of the bank. By that time the boy had shown some signs of life, and was carried with all possible speed to the Bridge Hotel. Dr Corse was summoned, and the usual means were adopted to restore animation, —happily with success. It was then found that the boy had sustained severe concussion of the brain, the surface of the skull showing two depressions —one on the frontal bone, and the other at the base of the occiput. The little fellow still lies in a precarious condition, evidently suffering great pain. Dr Corse entertains but slight hope of his recovery. The rescue of the unfortunate boy from the river's brink was performed with an amount of promptitude and courage deserving "of the highest commendation. Those who know the rugged and precipitous declivity down which young Cassels fell can fully appreciate that to lush down the steep and rescue him from the river was not less difficult and perilous than to ascsnd the rugged bank bearing the almost lifeless form in one's arms. Therefore to Mr Frennesson and to Master Whetter much praise i 3 due. The celebration of Sir Walter Scott's Centenary in Dunedin—thanks to the utilitarian proclivities of some of his admirers in the " Edinburgh of the South"—was not permitted to pass over without an effort being made to porpetuate in a befitting manner the memory of the great poet and novelist : we allude to the movement for establishing a scholarship in connection with the University of Otago, to be Called the " Sir Walter Scott Scholarship." Subscriptions towards a fund for this purpose are being collected throughout the Province, and we understand that a very considerable sura has already been collected. The Mayor of Cromwell, Mr James Taylor, has received a circular and subscription list from the Honorary Secretary of the Scholarship Committee, and will be happy .to receive and forward to the Treasurer any contributions from residents in this neighbourhood. A branch of local industry which has for Rome time been unrepresented in Cromwell, Vf has just been commenced by Messrs Carl Nelson and Co. This firm have erected suitable pre raises in a convenient part of tho town, and arc now devoting their oxclusivc attention to the manufacture of lemonade, gingerbeer, and soda* Water. The warm summer weather which has already set in will doubtless havo the effect of a LrMly-increased demand for all kinds of aerated wate\*L A meeting Cromwell Church Committee will this evening at eight 0 'clock in the SchcvilhoiiW

Our attention has been drawn to a typxK graphical error in our report of the Albertown' Races last week. The valua of the stakes ny the Open Handicap—wan by Mr Colcloujdi's Fenian—was £2O, not £lO as stated in the report. The Treasurer of the Cromwell Church Fund desires us to acknowledge with thanks the receipt of the following sums collected by Mr MackCllar :'—E. Lindsay, L.3; Matthews and Fenwick, L.2 10a ; 0. Pierce, L.2 103 ; Robert Brown, LI sa; W. Talboys, L.2; G. T. Stephenson, L.l j R. R. Baird, L.2 10s ; J. G. Ballard, LI ; J, Ritchie, L.2 10a. J In consequence ot a scarcity of the "gentle sex," the ball given by Mr John M'Cormick, of the Carrick Range Hotel, Quartzville, on Wednesday evening, was not so successful as was anticipated. Those who were there, however, spent a very enjoyable night, notwithstanding the fact that there were at least ten gentlemen to each lady. Dancing was commenced at about 9 o'clock, the musicians being Messrs George Robinson (pianist) and T. A. Sargison (violinist), Mr Grindley acting as M.C. The first part of the programme was finished at about 12 o'clock, when supper, laid out in the dining room, was announced. Between GO and 70 persons sat down to one of the best suppers we have had the pleasure of boing at in this district. The second part of the programme was commenced after supper was over, and dancing was kept up till about half-past three. A miner named Malloch Ryan, a native of County Tipperary, h%3 been killed by a fall of earth while working in his claim at Surface Hill, Mount Ida. Mr Niuimo, of the Taierl, has been offered £6OO for his well-known draught stallion, " Emperor." Mr A. 11. Douglas, of Douglasvale, near Frankton, and Mr W. Paterson, of Hayes Creek, Arrow district, have been appointed Justices of the Peace for the Colon v.