Cromwell Argus AND NORTHERN GOLD-FIELDS GAZETTE. CROMWELL: TUESDAY, JULY 23, 1872.

Cromwell Argus, Volume III, Issue 141, 23 July 1872, Page 4

Cromwell Argus AND NORTHERN GOLD-FIELDS GAZETTE. CROMWELL: TUESDAY, JULY 23, 1872.

Accidents to life and limb, from a variety of causes, are always extremely common among digging communities ; in fact, they may be said to form part of the daily experiences of a digger's life. Generally speaking, these are the outcome of carelessness in some form or other ; and newspaper writing will not avail to lessen the general tendency to carelessness. Individual cases it may be able to point out a remedy for; but it can never go beyond this. And accidents, —besides, it may be, the loss of an arm, or a leg,—always briii" other losses in their train; losses of time, and of money. In some degree to cover these latter losses, our Bendigo correspondent, in his letter in another part, suggests to the miners that they should form a " Miners' Accident Fund." As he says, the formation of such a fund has been attended with success on the Victorian Bendigo, at the Thames, and elsewhere. We wonder, indeed, that these funds have not long since been established in many of the Otago mining districts. The reason has not been that there has been no need of them. The Mount Ida district, for an instance, has long held an equivocal renown in the matter of accidents ; and, indeed, wherever mining is carried on, from the very nature of the work, accidents may be always expected to be ef greater or less frequency. The mining history of Cromwell has not in the past been without its dark pages of direful disasters, fatal and otherwise] and the lamentable presumption is that, with the rapid extension of mining enterprise in the vicinity of the Bannockburn and Carrick Range, the catalogue of casualties in the future will not be lcs sen-id. Benefit societies, in the shape of Odd-Fellows' and Foresters' Lodges, have been established in many of the mining districts of the Province, and do much in the way of relieving such cases. But there are often disabilities preventing membership in these or similar societies; and there are many persons even who will not take the trouble to join them. To these, in case of accidental injury, a " Miners' AccidentFund " would prove a real blessing; and would often, by advancing the means necessary to provide a surgeon, be instru mental in saving valuable time to many a subscriber. We think the propos d " is worthy the serious consideration, not only of our own local mining communities, but of all such throughout the Province. In connection with this subject of accidents, a short time ago we advocated the establishment of a Branch Hospital in Cromwell, for the temporary reception of urgent cases. The suggestion was taken into consideration by some of our town residents, we believe ; but it was thought that, on the grounds of expense principally, such an institution could not be efficiently worked. The case of the late George Heidelberg, (regarding which a letter appears in another column.) however, shows that some sort of provision is

necessary for the temporary treatment here of those whose immediate removal to the Dunstan institution is ! attended with danger. This provision might be accomplished by a public committee appointed to collect subscriptions for the purpose of furnishing notei or other accommodation to all such sufferers ; —or the Local Committee in connection with the Dunstan Hospital might have such power given to them as would enable them to meet the requirements of any similar case. It maybe that they already are empowered in this manner; if so, it would be well that, in cases like that of Heidelberg, they should lay out a few pounds in providing accommodation for the sufferer. Similar cases are, happily, of rare occurrence ; but their rarity can be no reason that a similar course of action will be the only available one when the next dees occur. So far as poor Heidelberg is concerned, any step in this direction is too late ; the man has fallen a victim to this unfortunate defect in the state of things. Let us hope that it will be long before any action by such a committee as we have suggested is required : but let us hope, also, that if the occasion arises, some arrangements will have been made to do away with any risk that a fellow-creature's life will be jolted out of him on the execrable road to the Dunstan.

Some remarks which fell from Mr Taylor at the nomination on Wednesday last, perhaps deserve an explanation at our hinds. While upon the Water Question, he spoke as if he believed that, in our articles*upon this subject, we were actuated by private animosity against him,—or spite, as it is generally called. Now, we desire to assure Mr Taylor that in this belief he is alto gether mistaken. And the truth of this assurance is borne out by the tact tha long before Mr Taylor embraced publi; life as Mayor, we had written, and written strongly too, upon the water question. We will not deny that we have commented severely upon Mr Taylor's action in reference to the matter of water supply ; but always upon his action as Mayor of Cromwell, and a member of the Public Works Committee, not as a private citizen. Of Mr Taylor's singleness of purpose, and earnest desire to advance the interests of the town there can be no question ; and we only wish his perseverance had been applied to the Firewood Creek scheme of water supply. If there were nothing else, Mr Taylor's action in the matter of the Carrick Race, and of the Athetneum Hall, entitle him to the thanks of every miner in the district, and of every citizen in the town. But that he has done as much for the town whilst Mayor as it has been pos sible for him to do," we deny. We hope that Mr Taylor will take these remarks in the spirit in which they are written. We indite them not in any spirit of criugeing, but simply in order to disabuse his mind of the idea that in anything we have written concerning him, we have done aught but criticised, fairly and honourably, his public actions. Another matter also came up at the nomination, which it will possibly be as well for ns to say a few words upon, now that we are on personal topics. We know that it has often been insinuated, in certain quarters, that we have been to some extent under the influence of a certain gentleman in this town. But never before had it been made a subject of public talk ; so that we have never had a fair op portunity of publicly rebutting the insinuation. We will simply state here, that never, since the settiug-up of our newspaper press iu Cromwell, has twy private individual been privileged to any advantage inconsistent with the strict rules of journalistic etiquette, it is a difficult task to conduct a newspaper in a small community; but we hazard the opinion that nearly twenty years' experience iu all phases of colonial journalism affords some guarantee that we are able to do so without extraneous advice or assistance. We are sorry for having to intrude this description of matter ; but ''the ugly things" will crop up, and are perhaps as well explained away,—let us hope for ever.

Murray's World Circus Company gave a performance at Clyde last night and are announced to appe.tr at Cromwell th's and tomorrow eveunrj. The troupe includes a large number of acrobat'c performers, among whom are several o'd favourites who have previously visited tlrs township. It is unnecessary for us to say more than that the circus troupe have arrived : they are quite sure to have crowded houses here. At the half-yearly meeting of Court Star of Cromwell, held on the loth insb., the officers who had tilled the various positions in the Court during the preceding six months were all ree'ected without opposition.

The annual meeting of members of CromweH Jockey Club takes place at 1 o'c'ock this evening, in the Town-kail. The ball held on Thursday night n, the auspice 3 of the Cromwell Athenaeum Committee was attended by nearly ti couples, and we are informed that the a passed off most agreeably and satisfacto The arrangements made by tbe stewards w e every way complete. Uaaciug was kept up til half-past three on Friday morning, care"ul provision made by Mr and Mrs Kidd the comfort and convenience of the com* called forth many favourable comments { those who were present on the occasion. On Saturday next, at noon, the nom; tion of candidates in the room of the reti Councillors (Messrs Dawkins and Drown) take place in the Council Chamber. The n nations of Auditors for the ensuing yearwi made at tbe same time and place. We are informed by Mr Hawkes. tin ger of the Colclough Company, that the resa a crushiug of 108 tons finished at that compa battery on Saturday last was 55 o:«. The General Assembly met at Well ton last Tuesday. The Governor's speech singularly barren production, considering th may be presumed to have emanated from usually fertile brain of the Colonial Treasuri The anniversary soiree in connect with the Cromwell Sunday School is annoui to be held in the School-house next Friday ei ing. Children will, as usual, be admitted fi ami the charge for adults is fixed at two-ami pence each. We are in a position to state the financial affairs of the Sunday School ar present in a nourishing condition, and that soiree is intended simply as a social reunioi not for money-raising. The musical portia the programme will, we believe, be unusu attractive. The half-yearly meeting of Court Re Oak of Kawarau for election of oncers took p at the Bannockburn Hotel on Saturday even 13th insi.,—C.R. Bro. J. L. Moore presid in accordance with the nominations made at preceding meeting of the Court, .hi un.ler-n tioned Brothers were elected to (ill die var offices for the current half-year 1 }' term:—j \V. Go'dsmith, C.R. ; Bro. P. Kceuig, !S.( (re-e'eeteii) ; Bro. John Bic'iards, Treasu (re-elected) ; Bro. John- Fenwiek, Secret Bro. Edward Chilton, S. \V. ; Uro. fi-. (M J.W. ; Bro. James Richards. S. B. ; Bro. J Lange, J. B. (re-elected). The newly-eld officers were afterwards duly installed by retiring Chief-Banker. We understand that Mr J. G. Ballj the load I'ostmister. has been empowered to ccive payments upon policies he'd under Lire Assurance and Annuity Scheme of thed dial Government. This is a s;«p in the ri direction, and the increased facil ties now affbrj to assurers will doubtless result in a c irrespq ing increase in the amount of business dd Hitherto aU fees and paymeuts under the I | vernmen", Assurance Scheme have been mi I payable at C'yle, an I the cmsepient d ! trouble and expense to assurers hive to m extent proved prejudicial to tbe successful wc ing of tbe scheme as regards the Cromwell i I trict. Mr Ballard will be glad to furnish tending assurers with all requisite informal on the subject. The rain which fell on Wednesday 1 had the effect of melting a great portion o' I ! snow on the ranges, and on Thursday tbe stiea j throughout the district were yreat'y flooded consequence. The lower portion of Pipec Gully presented.the unusual spectacle of al midable torrent, which swept down the gu'lyl undiminished volume until Fridaymorning, wl tbe Hood began to subside. The owners of tij nel-claims situate on the north side of the guj experienced some difficulty in crossing over! their workings, the stream being so high as be almost unVdable. Several small dams various parts of the gully were destroyed, al one or two tail-races were "smothered"; buti believe that with these exceptions little dsma was done to mining property. Indeed, it is si the "spate' did more good than harm, s'nee effectually cleared the gullv of accumulations tailings, which before greatly interfered wi s'uiciug operations. A narrow escape from fire has beenr latcd to us, —to which we willingly give pn licity in the hope that a warning may be tab from it. Mr P. Smith, watchmaker, of tl town, the other day came upon quite a heap what had once been wax vestas in a comer his shop, which, strange to say, had evident beeu on lire, but had been extinguished again 1 some means or other. Indeed, a portion of j accordeon, near which the heap was lying. * eousi lcrably charred. The vestas had doubtlJ been gathered together from the floor of ti shop by tbe mice; and, among the many ns and therefore useless ones, some with the pho phorous heads still upon them had formed pa of the collection. These latter, by the nibblii of the mice, had ignited, but, fortunately I | the safety of the building and Mr Smith's stoc | had gone out again. Many disastrous fires, , the origin of which no clue can be fouud, a \ occasioned by the vagaries of rats and bin* | and this instance we have chronicled shows tl ' necessity of great care being taken not to alio matches to be cast about the floor.

fhe Bannockburn School Committee named Tuesday, the 20fch of August, as the , of next concert in aid of the buildiug fund. tfa are informed that Mr A. H. Jagger, te of Kaseby, is about to erect a brewery at n rt'ey'3 Beach, about half a mile below Orom--11 Bridge. Mr Jagger has made arrangements th Messrs Barker and Strabau for a supply of tar from tbeir race, and a complete brewinglant from Buuedin is expected to arrive in the ars e of a fovtu-ght. Mr Jagger anticipates , ; D „ j n a position to commence tbe manufacture , jjjgj about the middle of September next. f e wish the undertaking all possible success. It aopeavs that the disease among the Arawas at Tauranga (mentioned in our fce'epyc news last week) has arisen from starvation and exposure, and is not iu'ectious. Tbat eci'on of the natives is miserably off. No imnortauce is attached to the reported disease by the Auckland natives, who state that a similar disease manifested itself years ago. Xhe latest Provincial Gazette contains the following notifications :—Mr W. B. Cutten has been appointed Acting Provincial Secretary and Treasurer and Secretary for Land, during tbe absence of Mr ileid. Mr J. Shand, up.C., has been appointed a member of the Executive Couoc : l, and Secretary for Lands (Works?) during tbe absence of Mr J. B. Bradshaff. Mr James Allan, M.P.C., has been appointed a Commissioner of the Waste Land Board, vice Mr John Bathgate, resigned.

An extraordinary scene presented itself at the Prince of Wales Theatre, at Auckland, on tbe night of the 21st ult. It was one ef MiFrank Weston's gratuitous oil seance 3. Within ten minutes of the time of the doors being opened every seat and every foot of standing room in the house above and below was occupied, and still there were hundreds wishing to g-dn admission, wishing in vain. Then the idea seized upon someone that there was a back entrance to the theatre leading on to the stage. Be gave tbewood, and like a bewildered flock of sheep following a leader there was a rush round the oruer from Queen-street to High-street, and an entry was effected through the private gate to the theicre. when, before one could moderately count twelve, the whole of the stage was occupied, a very large proportion of those joining in the rush being ladies. Mr Weston had scarcely room le-'t for himself, his banjo, and his stock of ol Space in fact was so scarce that Mr Weston had to accommodate his hat by allowing it to remiiifor the whole of the evening on bis head. The wizard sang, talked, banjoised, spun yarns, mule the people laugh, stamp their feet, c ] ap their hands, and buy bis oil, all in a manner not to be ,described. The cheapness of the entertaiument was the great relish given to it.

In the Resident Magistrate's Court at Christchurch, on the 16th iust., the Magistrate pive h ; s decision in the case of Itegina v. Feredw. The defendant, who is a solicitor, was charged with h.iviag, on the 30th day of April list, written and signed a receipt for the payment of money, to wit £59 10s. 10d., upon paper without the same being first duly stamped, and contrary to the Stamp Act Amendment Act, 1860. The Magistrate dismissed the case, saying that the acknowledgment of receipt of a cheque cannot be regarded as a discharge, nor is it a note, memorandum, or writing for the payment of money, as provided for in Section 15 of the Stamp Act, 1569.

A destructive fire occurred at the Thames on the 16th inst., by which more than half the north side of Pollen-street, Shorthand, was consumed. Many lost their all, escaping in their nightdresses. The buildings burned are : —The Melbourne boarding-house; shop and house of Mr Marks, bootmaker ; Mr Hales's hop; Mr Hurley's shop, house, and bowling alley ; the shops of Mr Blundell, watchmaker, and Mr Grant, painter ; Garrett's saloon and nine dwelling-houses, making 17 bui'dings in .all. The following matters affecting the Cromwell district came before the Waste Land Board at a meeting held on Wednesdsy last : Application was made on behalf of Mr W. O. nill, as agent for Messrs Thomas Logan and James Smith, for a lease to them of an area of ten acres at Shepherd's Creek, near Bannockhurn, and known ai Logau ami Scott's coal-pit, { » coal-mining purposes. It was explained to the Board that Mr Logan had paid the sum M £llO for the mine some months ago, under the impression that he was purchasing the lease, whereas there was no lease of the mine from GoT enunenl. The area applied for was situate on a run, and the written permission of the runholder was requisite before the lease could be Ranted. The Chairman said that on the written consent being got, there would be no objection Jjthe part of the Board to granting a lease. T he applicant said that written consent could be

g°s and the matter was postponed to allow of J|« being obtained and produced.—The plan of °ck XVI., Cromwell, as surveyed into rivea «e sections, was submitted and approved of, *Mit was resolved that the sections be put up *t the next town lands sale at £2 per acre.—Mr j Da &3 applied for a coal lease near Crom*H near Richards' punt. The consent of the had beei obtained. The applicant JM requested to make the usual deposit at the and afterwards to have a survey of es'temade, when the lease would fee granted 011 the usual terms.

A telegranv received in Dunedin from MrW. H. Reynolds, M. H.R., states that the Colonial Government do not intend to introduce an Education Bill during the present session of Assembly. Mr John M'Neil was on the 16th inst. re-elected, without opposition, Mayor of Balclutha.—On the same day Mr T. S. Pratt, of the Walkouaili and Shay Valley Herald, wa3 for the tbird time elected Mayor of West Bawksbury. —Mr J. IT. Cambridge was yesterday elected Mayor of Clyde. The poll stood thus :—Cambridge, 41 ; Naylor. 39.—Mr W. Beresford was on Tuesday last returned as Mayor of Alexandra without opposition.—For tbe Mayoralty of Queenstown there were two candidates, — Messrs MaTagban and Warren. 83 votes having been recorded for Mr Malaghan, and 77 for Mr Warren, the former was declared elected. — At Lawrence, the result of the election was as follows :—Mr Edward Herbert, 91; Mr F. Meyer, 54.