The Cromwell Argus. AND NORTHERN GOLD-FIELDS GAZETTE. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1872.

Cromwell Argus, Volume IV, Issue 161, 10 December 1872, Page 4

The Cromwell Argus. AND NORTHERN GOLD-FIELDS GAZETTE. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1872.

The subjoined telegram re commonage was received yesterday by the Mayor from bis Ho-.or the Superintendent:—“l luive agreed with Mr Loughnan for 7000 acres. Negociating with him for a small agricultural lease block. An also endeavouring to come to terms \\ itli two otler holders of runs contiguous to Cromwell. J. Macandrkw.” We may point out that the ana above mentioned (7000 acres) is not so in- 1 significant as may at first sight appear, seeing tlut it comprises nearlv eleven square miles of cantry. However, we shall require at least an e<ual extent of land from each of the other acjacent runs to satisfy onr requirements as reg;rds commonage. Previous to the receipt o his Honor’s telegram, the .Mayor received a uessage to the same effect from Mr Horace : fastings, the newly-appointed Secretary for (old-fields, who mentions 1500 acres as the detent of land which the (lovernment are nego--dating to obtain for purposes of agricultural ettlement.

As the new Stamp Act (1872) is now im force, our readers will probably feel interested jin becoming acquainted with its provisions, with those at least which apply to matters and transactions of business of every-day occurrence. The Act came into force on the Ist of the present month, and all the provisions in the Stamp Act of ISfiG, and its amendments, are to apply to this one. The duty 7 on receipts for £2 and upwards, and on all orders, is reduced to one penny. The word “receipt is defined to mean “any note, memorandum, nr writing whatsoever whereby

any money amounting to £2 or upwards, or any bill of exchange or promissory note for money, or any cheque, draft, or order for money,” amounting to £2 or upwards, is acknowledged to have been received nr deposited (the italics are ours), or paid or taken, nr whereby the whole or part of any debt, claim, or demand amounting to £2 or upwards, is acknowledged either wholly or in part to have been settled, discharged, or satisfied, —whether such document is signed or not. It appears by this, that if money is even deposited with a hanker, a stamped receipt is necessary. The stamp on a receipt must he affixed .and cancelled by the person giving the same before he delivers it out of his hands,: under a penalty not exceeding £lO. Any person; paying £2 or upwards is entitled to demand a duly stamped receipt from the person receiving the monev, and if such is not given, the person refusing is liable to a fine not exceedinc £lO- - of the Cromwell Commonage Committee are summoned by advertisement t«j meet in the Town-hall at eight o’clock this . evening.

The usual quarterly Licensing Meeting of Justices was to have taken place at Cromwell Court-house on the 3rd inst., but it lapsed for want of a quorum. The applications sent in have consequently been remitted to the Superintendent, who is empowered by the Licensing Ordinance to deal with them in the event of such a contingency as that we have mentioned. The only application for a new license was that of Hr John M'Cormick, for the Bannockburn Bridge Hotel. We direct attention to an advertisement announcing tbat the Bendigo Beefs Hotel has “ phceuixed”—in other words that a new structure has been built by Mr Goodall on the site of the one destroyed by tire some six months ago. A free ball and supper to celebrate the re-open, ing of the hotel are to be given by the proprietor next Friday evening. Mr D. L. Simpson, C.E., formerly resident at Cromwell as District Engineer for the Interior, has been appointed Provincial Engineer, in the room of Mr G. M. Barr, resigned. Messrs A. H. Jaggar & Co., proprietors of the Swan Brewery, have succeeded in producing bottled ale of very excellent quality,— quite equal, in our opinion, to the best samples of imported ale. We have no doubt the article will soon command an extensive sale throughout the district. We hear that arrangements are in progress for the formation of a Cromwell Brass Band. Queenstown has for a considerable time been favoured with the existence of such a,body in its midst; and Clyde has recently made i very creditable beginning in this direction. Wehave long possessed what may he termed the nicleus of a Band, as those who have attended our Po-

H ac i^ r Entertainments, and affairs of a like kind, 54 ’will be aware; and a few more members, with the advantage of Mr Whetter’a regular tuition, would soon attain proficiency. The cost of the necessary instruments might be easily raised by means of a special entertainment for that object. Mr Thomas Scott has been appointed working manager for the John Bull Company, Garrick Ilanse.

Owners of race-horses are reminded that nominations for the Cromwell Grand Stand Handicap, the Handicap Hurdle Face, an 1 Flying Handicap, must be lodged with the Secretary to the Jockey Club at or before eight p.m. to-morrow (Wednesday). The weights far the above-mentioned handicaps will be published iu our next issue.

In our seventh page, will be foiled a report of the business transacted at the Mining Conference in Lawrence. Of coui'se, we have been necessitated very much to condense the report as printed in the Tunpoka T'mw. Perhaps it is hardly necessary to say it. hut it must be understood that the motions passed and matters agreed to by the Conference are merely intended as suggestions to the Government,—pot, by any mean-; as p isitive emendations or alterations of the present Gold Mining laws. Owing to the smallness of the attendance at Kidd’s Hall last Wednesday evening, Mr Barry did not give his promised lecture on Tin and Copper Mining. A collection of mineral specimens—including “block,” “stream,” and “ruby” tin, copper ore, oxide of copper, cinubar, &c. —was arranged upon a table for inspection, and the various samples were examined with evielent interest by those present. Sorae fine specimens of native copper from Mount Pisa attracted much attention.—We understand that Mr Barry has been asked to deliver his lectuia at Bannockburn on Christmas Eve. We are informed that Mr Robert Kid} has obtained the Nevis and Cardrona mail con tracts for 18/3. After the close of the curren year, the Nevis mail wall he weekly instead oi fortnightly. This latter service includes the conveyance of mails to and from Bannockburn, Quartzville, and Carrickton. Mr Thomas Haz-1 letthas been gazetted postmaster for Quartzville, and Mr Alfred Short for Carrickton : both appointments date from the IGth September last. For some nights past the water which ought to run in the town-race has been allowed to overflow into the channel on the north side of the main street—from what cause we know not. The result of the diversion is that during the n ight-time, when the atmosphere is usually still a nd cool, and the water comparatively free from filth, the supply is cut off, to the great annoyonce and serious inconvenience of many householders. Water is only obtainable from the race during three or four hours a day,—sometimes loss; and even then it is simply an unwholesome solution of heterogenous impurities. Our present Municipal rulers entered upon their duties with * grand flourish of trumpets, and made many a 'r promises to their constituents ; hut of late they seem to have relapsed into a state of somnolence and stagnation. The sale of privileges connected with Ihe approaching Face Meeting attracted a crowd people to the Town-hall on Thursday afterni)on. Mr J. (J. Uhapple officiated as auctioneer, performed his uuty most ably and satisfacThe right to hold the grandstand and , r rc’hment booth was secured by Mr John I ‘ aish > of the Bridge Hotel, fur L.KI4. The I rs„-paddock realised L.6 10s., the purchaser emg Mr W. Pardos, n . For the right, to ’""e cards of the races, Mr r. W. Wright paid I Is.

fn view of the reduction of gold duty, which is to take effect on and after the Ist January, we imagine the Banks will now be prepared to pay an increased price for gold. Miners who may have occasion to sell before the New Year, should remember, that the gold which went down by the escort last week is the last upon which the 2s. 61. duty will require to be paid ; and that they are therefore now entitled to the extra price per ounce. All gold bought by the Banks from the time of the dispatch of last escort will be liable to the export duty of two shillings only.

The annual Races of the Dunstan Jockey Club are to be held on Thursday and Friday, Ti 1 <aV»r*n q r*\r iX onrl *7 1 o*7o TL _ •. j v i.uvi s , xkj su, JUC pi cUliUlC IS quite up to the usual mark. L.430 is the total amount of stakes, and that sum is to be apportioned as follows, in five events on each day : Maiden Plate, one mile and a half, L.30 ; Handicap Hurdle Race, two miles, L.60 ; Dunstan Jockey Club Handicap, two miles, L.100; Hack ■Selling Race, one mile, L. 15; Members’ Handicap. one mile, L.40 ; Grand Stand Handicap, one mile and a half, L.60 ; Scurry Stakes, one mile, L.25; Town Plate, two and a half, L.70; Hack Race, L. 10 ; Consolation Handicap, L.20. The Club, we notice by the Dunstan Times, has disqualified Peeress from ever running on the Dunstan course, and William M‘fvay. the jockey of Medora, from riding in any race. They have also determined to make some additions in connection with the Grand Stond,—such as a refreshment room, stewards’ room, &c.—By the same paper, we observe that the Dryhread Annual Meeting is to be held oil the 2nd and 3rd January. Stakes to the amount of close upon L.200 are offered.

Last week, in recording the amount of gold from the last crushing of Elizabeth stone, we omitted to mention the number of tons crushed. The yield was 82 ozs. from 160 tons, —the average per ton being close upon 10 dwts. ith the great facilities now existing for working the mine economically, it is understood this average will pay very well.

On their downward trip, the Combination Comedy Company (to somewhat shorten their title) played twice, to average audiences. On b riday night, “The Liar” was the comedy presented. As “the liar” himself (young Mr Wilding) Mr J. I’. Hydes was irresistible ; and his wonderful flights of fancy, and happy inventions to disentangle himself from one scrape only to involve himself in another more serious, were greatly enjoyed by the audience. Miss Anstead and Mr South played their respective parts with true histrionic ability ; ami the others did what they had to do passably well. “ Who Speaks First ?” proved to be indeed a laughable farce, and sent the audience home delighted. On Saturday evening, the first piece, the “ Follies of a Night, ’ did not go off so well as usual. Mr Thorpe, as the Duke de Chartres, was very ill-cast, a fact he seemed to be painfully aware of, and consequently made all the more evident. “ Bobtail and Wagtail,” however, was excellently performed. As before, on each evening, Mr South favoured the audience with some very good singing, and Master Hydes contributed the music. On the whole, the troupe in nowise lessened the favourable impression they created on their former appearance.

Amongst the new applicants for auctioneers’ licenses for the ensuing year, are Mr Joseph Harding, of Cromwell, and Mr Thomas Stauhrook, of Clyde.

Under the authority of a resolution passed by the House of Representatives on the 22nd October last, the Colonial Government offer the undermentioned bonuses for the encouragement of colonial industries L.5000 for the production in New Zealand of 100 tons weight of pig iron, of marketable quality ; L. 100 for the production of 100 tons weight of marketable steel from magnetic or titaniferous iron sand or iron ore ; L.2000 for the production of 250 tons of sugar manufactured from beetroot ; L'2ooo for the production of 100 tons of printing paper, manufactured by machinery ; and a bonus of 4s. per cwt. on cured fish, dry or pickled, exported from the Colony for consumption abroad.

11ig Tuapeka Races are to be held on Thursday and Friday, February 20 and 21, 1878, -just a fortnight after those at the Dunstan. t420 is to be divided in prizes, the two highest if which are the Lawrence Handicap, on the first lay, of £BO, and, on the second, the Tuapeka •ockey Club Handicap of £IOO. : A rush has set in to the Rock and Pillar i lange, at a point about four miles from Hyde. ; 1 private letter from a business man at Macraes, ■ ™ whom reliance can be placed, dated the 2nd list., has been handed to the Morn in;/ Star for I piblieatiou. The writer says : —“ There is great le.citement here just now—a regular gold fever i -a rush having set in to a place three or four I rules from Hyde. The ground is close to the | ri/de Station ; there is plenty of ground, which ; tares the form of gullies, all of which fall into tb Taieri River. In three of the gullies payI alia gold has been struck. From L2 to L.3 a da/ is being made. There are about 100 on toe I grund, and I expect that by the end of the , wck there will be 500 men here. All the miiers have left Macraes, with the exception of <in min in each claim, who ig left to hold the 1 ermnd. The miners have also cleared out from Fularton’s. Hyde, and Hamilton’s. The station herds 100 have rdl left their places.”

Tn reply to B. C.’s question, as to the shortest time in which Hewitt ran half-a-mile, we regret that we have been unable to obtain the desireil information.

11l a list of inventions recently patented in Victoria, we observe the name of Mr Robert Andrew Loughnan. manager of the Otago Meatpreserving Company, Dunedin, as the patentee of certain “ Improvements in the ordinary system of preserving meat, known as the chloride of calcium process.” The annual Race meeting of the Mount Ida Jockey Club takes place next Thursday and Friday. This Club also has sustained the action of the C.J.C. in disqualifying Peeress and W. M‘Kay, the jockey of Medora.

The Dunedin Evening Star says ;—The impression appear; to h.'ive got abroad that Mr Gillies’s Bill for the abolition of imprisonment for debt became law. It is not the fact. The Bill passed the Lower House, but was included among the measures that did not reach the Council.