Cromwell Argus AND NORTHERN GOLD-FIELDS GAZETTE. Tuesday, December 3, 1872.

Cromwell Argus, Volume IV, Issue 160, 3 December 1872, Page 5

Cromwell Argus AND NORTHERN GOLD-FIELDS GAZETTE. Tuesday, December 3, 1872.

"The Municipal Corporations Waterworks A.ct 1872," passed during the last session of Assembly, Is " an Act to authorise the Governing Bodies of Municipal Corporations in New Zealand to construct Waterworks for the Supply of Water, and to raise the Moneys necessary for the Works." Its provisions suit the Case of our ojflfc Municipality of Cromwell so exactly that the Act would almost seem to have been drawn up specially to provide for our Wants and requirements in the matter of Water Supply. We intend briefly to summarise its more important clauses, believing that such a summary will be acceptable to the townspeople. The first clause provides that the Aet i * all be brought into operation in any! I unicipality (except that of Dunedin) :n I y Province by an Ordinance of I j >vincial Council of such Province, use four provides that, not less thtn! j ,e calendar months before the uud«r*j i ' ng of any waterworks, the Council I 1 cause a plan to be prepared, showing locality and direction of the supply, J .. j all lands to be taken or used fur the i i j ],, oses of the undertaking; which plan Null be deposited in the office- of thej \ Council for public inspection, Clause fve j \ renders it necessary that notice, stating the \ fact of such deposit, shall be sent to die \ owner, or occupier of the water, and of ntiy ; luids mentioned in the plan aforesdd. Clause seven defines certain powers ghfen | to the Council in connection with the <mI rtertaking ; such as—-entering upon hud for the purposes of survey; construct nc; \ reservoirs, and nil other works for the ptr- \ poses of the undertaking ; lifting water \ from any stream within the district, arid j s altering'the cour eof any stream ; '&c. 'JSct" j Clause nine declares that full conipensaiiin: ; nhall be made by t' e Corporation to tuy: \ peisons having interest in land or wal?r i used for the purposes of the undertaking j \ aud to any persons whose property may■ ie i s damaged by the works. Clause sixteen i I gives power to the Corporation to borrow j ; money for the construction of the works ;t I ; interest not exceeding eight per cent, .nee] Munum. From seventeen to tweuty-eigli j \ make regulations for the repayment of thi j i luouey, and for the description of security obe given pending such repayment. Tin \ Council is empowered to issue, at will. ; cither debentures for sums of not less thanj I fifty pounds each, or grant mortgages for j sums of not less than five hundred pounds [ each, —payable in New Zealand or else- | where as may be agreed upon, and redeem- | ahle at any time not more than thirty | years from issue ; and such instruments i are exempted from stamp duty. If at the | end of the time fixed for repayment, the | Council shall find that it is unable to pay ! off the whole or any part cf the loan, it is i empowered to borrow afresh such money | as may be necessary for such repayment.

I A register of all mortgages unci debentures is to be kept in the office of the Council, I and shall be open to public inspection. S Clause twenty-nine savs :—■

For the purpose of securing the payment of the principal and interest of any loan which vakj be contracted by the Council as aforesaid, the Council may make a special rate upon all rateable property within the city, not exceeding in ; anyone year the sum of one shilling and threeJ pence in the pound of the annual value of such I property. I Clause thirty-five empowers the' Council f to levy a " water rate," or rent, for supply ■ of water ; and the rate of such rent is t fixed, in proportion to the rateable annual value of property supplied. Clause forty provides that it shall be the duty of the Council, upon application by any person : requiring wat n r, to lay on, at the expense | of such person, all necessary service pipes I wr the supply of water; and forty-three ! stipulates that every such application shall be accompanied by a deposit reasonably | sufficient to cover the cost of the pipes to ! belaid on by the Council. Clause forfcyI four requires that all persons so supplied | shall provide the necessary taps, &c.; and [ forty. five iuflicts a penalty not exceeding | twenty pounds for the wilful or negligent ; of water. Bv clauses forty-eight [ R nd forty-nine, the Council are required to i fix, at distances of not more than two hunI dred yarde apart, proper Ore plugs in the

main pipes within the town) and -to -provide public notices, in conspicuous places, in the streets in which such plugs are fixed, of their whereabouts. Clause fiftysix renders it lawful that Building or Benefit Societies may invest in any debenture! or t mortgage issued or made by the CoufoiUnodsr the provisions of the Act. The! next clause of any special interest is qlause' eighty, which requires the Council, throve months previous to the three months before mentioned as required by clause four of the Act) (that is to say, six months be--fore the commencement of the construction of waterworks,) to advertise in the local paper notice of its intention to construct such works. And eighty-one declares that, if they be so minded, two-fifths of the ratepayers in the town may object, by written notice to the Superintendent within two months after the publication of the said notice by the Council, to the construction of such works. In which case it is provided that the Council shall not take any proceedings towards the construction of the proposed waterworks without the authority of the General Assembly, to be embodied in an Act for the purpose.

It will thus be seen that, granted the passing of the Ordinance by the Provincial Council, all further proceedings necessary to be taken by any Corporation intending to construct works for the supply of water are clearly laid down. All is plain sailing. One matter for regret in the case of our own Muncipality is that six months must necessarily elapse after the passing of the Ordinance ere anything in the shape of a practical commencement of the works can be made. We believe the Corporation intend to take steps to have the matter brought before the Provincial Council at an early stage of its next session, which it is hoped will be convened shortly.

Mr James Crombie, the Delegate chosen to represent the district of Cromwell at the Conference now sitting in Lawrence, started for Tuapeka on Friday, accompanied by Mr T. Allan, the Cardrona Delegate. Mr Crombie was the bearer of a requisition calling upon Mr Christopher Hickey to resign his seat in the Provincial Council. Although upwards of 130 signatures were attached to the requisition, we learn by telegrrm that the honourable member refuses to comply. Such a result was not unexpected, and the announcement will not create much astouisknie.ut. The following is a copy of the telegram referred to: it was sent to the Mayor yesterday by Mr Crombie:-—" Lawrence, 10.44 a.m. —Have seen Hickey. He declines to resign, and says he will meet his constituents before next session, He blames the Municipal Council for any omission." We have no doubt his constituents will accord him a very warm reception should he fulfil his promise of meeting them ; but we don't think he lias suitioient moral courage to do so. Time will tell. Full particulars regarding the fire of last Tuesday evening will be found in our report of the inquest, to be found on our third page. The attention of publicans and speculators is directed to tko alvortiscl sale of privileges connected with the ensuing Race Meetinp, The sale takes place on Thursday, the sth hist., at 4 p.m. A meeting of members of the Cromwell District Miners' Association was held in the jkhool-house at Baunockburn last Wednesday 'veiling, furtlii; purpose of making recoinmenda- ! ; .ons an 1 suggestions for the guidance of the !'elegite (Mr James Crombie) appointed to attnd the Conference about to be held at Lawruce. A large number of miners were present. JJr James Marshall was called upon to preside. , V.rious questions afF» cting the miners and the 1 1 gt-d-fields were discussed, and several proposed

aerations and emendations of the Herniations wee unanimously regarded as desirable and neossary. The Delegate was requested to use hisinfluelioe in obtaining a reduction of the feeor miners' rights to ten shillings a year, and in le cost of certificates to one shilling each. He-as also requested to inquire into the crepnee between the Mining Regulations and the 'old-fields Act of 1800 in regard to the right of a liner to depasture two head of great cattle on tl; gold-fields by virtue of his miner's right. The iiportance of securing the establish limit of a Mil within the Colony was strongly urged and My recognised, and the Delegate promised ,to brii; the matter before the Conference. It ; was ah agreed to recommend that the amount ; appropated for water-supply on the gold-fields : should a handed over to the control of the Fro--1 vincial overnments. We have mentioned only I a few c the more important questions raised i during ta meeting. The discussion lasted over | three ho*s, a:xi at it? close a resolution was ' adopted equesting the Delegate to convene | another ueting after his return from Tuapeka, ! for the jrpnse of forming an auxiliary to the ! Miners' Aiuciation organised at Cromwell. Mr i Cromhie pursed to do his best, as a member of I the Conferee, for the benefit of the mining | communitjit large, and the good of his consti* i tuents in ptieular. Among the other speakers i were i'essi Stuart, Marshall, Behrens, Kemp, T Aitchisnn, lyde, Smiddy, fenwick, Hailiday, ' Mid Eumphte,

List of letters received at the post-office, Cromwell, in August, ami remaining unclaimed oil ijhe 30th November : Mrs Wm. Bryce, T. Colquhoun, John Goodlad, Alexr. Grey, August H. Hoffman, Murdoch M'Kay (2), J. Wilier (Pipiclay), Robt. Murray, Mrs O'Heam, Daniel Ross.

We are requested to state that, as the Rev. Mr Jones has to attend the Dioce3an Synod in Dunelin netft week, there will be no Church of England service here until after bis return, of which due notice will be given. A minor named 8.-uce, while engaged in splitting rock in the Colleen Bawn claim, Carrick Range, one day last week, was severely injured uy tlis fdbouuu m a steci gad he was using at the time, 'the gad struck him in the right eye, and it is believed he will be permanently deprived of its sight. Owing to a heavy freshet in the Kawarau, caused by a copious rainfall in the Wakatip district, the Bannock burn punts were unable to ply during Saturday night and Sunday forenoon. The monthly Escort left Clyde yesterday I morning for Dunedin, with the undermentioned j

quantities of gold from the places specified : oz; dwts. ; Queenstowli - ' - 1619 3 Arrowtowu ■ ,!.;-, • - 1188 3 Cromwell - -. ]4Sfj 12 Clyde • - - - 500 0 Alexandra- - - • 781 8 Teviot .... 4-2(5 1 Total - - * 6001 7 The Colonial Champion Combination Comedy Company pla-'ed on Friday and Saturday evenings last to very fair houses in Kidd's Concert-hall. Cn the former evening, the drama of "Miriam's Crime" was presented, and the charaolcis being cast so us extremely well to suit the member* of the troupe, a piece of hiah-class aud vciy ciijO.iilne ac.iug was witnessed, Miss Flora Ans'e'd l* an ac r .hs of acknowledged and widely-known merit, and her spirited rendering 'of the pait of Miriam West, the heroine, fre- : quently elicited he irty aop'auso. Miss Bray, as Mrs Baby, the lodging-house Keeper, played naturally and wel' Mr J P Hydes pour'.rayed the character of Biles, the rascally lawyer's c erk, I to the life, and created much merriment. Mr \ustin Bower, as Bernard Reynolds, acted with I feeling, and one; or twice received marks of p. i probation from the audience. To Mr South was |allotted the part of Mr LUt'lin, mil he suei ceeded admirably in bringing out the whims and : oddi.ies in the ckaraeteruf ihoold 1 wyer; while I Mr Thorpe could not hr»'e been better suited than in the character of Scumley. the returned i convict. Some singing by Mr South followed, ; and the night's performance concluded with the | amusing farce of "A Kiss in the Dark." On | Saturday evening, the drama of " Time Tries i All" opened the entertainment, the rharnctere ! in which Were admirably sustained, aud the fa- ; vourable impression created by the company on the previous night was in no wise weakened, lur rather the reverse. A nigger stump speech, wii hj a few local allusions, mirth'pro\ oking and not , offensive, was then given hv Mr Smith ; an 1 Mi I Thorpe saig " Pulling Hard against the Stream" fairly. The aftei piece of "We nil Have our ; Little Faults" was exceedingly well played, and ; the audience were kept on " the broad grin' ! throughout. Master Hydes' piano-playing on both evening was greatly admired, and was the I source of no small surprise. The company are ! advertised to re»appuar on the same evenings of this week, and doubtless they will be well pa- ! tronised. They are the most numerous and I highly-talented dramatic company which have yet performed in Cromwell, and are deserving of

; hearty support. ] We believe that pfi'ont inconvenience j, | has been felt by the public owing to the Court* i house here having ben ul«;se<l every fourth Mon- ; day without sufficient notice. Monday is the ( j last day for issuing summonses to he heard on j! the Thursday, and it often happens tint persons put otT un'il then the taking out (if summonses. '' in order to give as much time as possible for an j arrangement to be made ; and when they come in ] to town expecting to find the office open, they ; find it closed. —the Receiver being absent at j the Nevis. Thus business is necessarily post- , I poned for a week. We may state that if notice were given to us in time wo should be happy t" I insert it for the public benefit. On Tuesday last, a deputation, consist-1 ing of Messrs Stout, FTutchcson. nn 1 Duncan, '■ jM.P.C's, presented to the [Superintendent a! | memorial, signed by 27 members of the Council, ': ; asking that, an immediate session might be con' • ! veiled. Mr MacandroW promised to consider | the request, but the tone of Ids reply leaves I I Ihtle doubt of his intention to declhiu. ile said : a session wou d cost £2OOO. and would, so soon after the Assembly, he very inconvenient to many j members. It would be well if promoters of amaj teur concerts would pay attention to a provi I si on of the Licensed Theatres Ordinance, 1870. I It is this : that the porsni in whosj hall any performance, to which there is ail admission charge, takes place, or an/ poison taking part in such performance, renders himself liabb, unless a license is paid for. to a fine not exceeding £.lO. '!he eharga on a s:n..lc performance is 55., but i the Superinteu lent has power to grant pennis- \ sion for a sin le nLU\ free of -barge, for a per- ! form.ince in aid of any "pubbc. ivatitnt'on, or ! any " chiri tilde or benevolent" purpose. We believe persons applying for such permission will ' have to do so through the police. Jjnilif Times. The usual weekly meeting of the Waste | : Land board was held in Dunedin oi the 27th ult. The following is leported :—" The District ; Warden forwarded a report on the application of I I Messrs (Jeer and Farquisson, for a coal le.«se of! ', section 4, block It., iJanimcklmni District. An, I it was thought that the land might be within a reserve, in which case it could not be leased j i under the present. Act, a decision on the applied- ! tion was postponed ncftdlng fusilier infotuMii<m . 1 oUainci.' ;

Mr Bern]ix Hullenstein, of Qufetistowti, has been appointed a Juiiios of the Peace for tho Coluuy. At a recent meeting of tbo Dimeuin Jock'jy Club, Oapttfiit Hutchison's tnot ; oii t " Tha't the action of the Oint' j rhury Jockev* Ulub in disqualifying Peeress for eVe.r bejnllowed," was earned by seven to six, »ud it, was pointed out that two of the minority were uoa members of the Club. It was jjoitoraily remarked that on evidence being produce l by Mr Walters to show that he had been ill-treated by the Canterbury Jockey Club, the resolution could be reconsidered, and if deemed unjust, rescinded.— The of M'lvay, the jockey of Medora, uy the U.J.C. was also sustained ; with the proviso that on MTvuy producing evidence, the dia qualification could be taken otfi 0)i dit that Mr BoMvs, C.E„ hj to be appointed Provincial Engineer. Mr Bews is a gentleman of good standing in his profession, and we shall be glad to hear the rumour is correct. Wakatip Mail. It will be fememWerefl that the search party looking for the body of Murdoch M'Lean at Timaru discovered that of a man unknown, i i a small creek. The body ita,s since been ideiiLifted as that of Ueurae. li|aukall, generally known as "George ihe Cook.""A Tiwaru telegram ia the Daily Times of ISov. 23, says :—" The twico adjourned intiuest.pu the budy of (Jeorge Black - ali, was held yesterday. l)rs Hammond and M lutyre gave evidence oi-the result of the po. i marten examination made by them/ They sai I they had disco\ered a bruise on the skull over; the left ear, caused by a blo»v which Would have been sufiLieuc to stuii-tke man, and it miist have been gne.i either immediately a.ter ur before death. The jury, after being locked up for some hours, returned u, verdict of • wilful murder by some person or persons unknown.' The Coroner, Mr Woolleombe, iL-M., oojec.ea to the verdioi, and twice diiec.ed tLe ju.y to ic-uni an o(jei I verdict. The jury, however, after consultation, persisted iu aclneiiug to the ve.dict they had a.1 ready given, and the Coroner then aa.d that he was bound to accept it, ai .hough he strongly disseui/od from ii/. Tie decision of the jury hud given great satisfaction generally.