Cromwell Argus, AND NORTHERN GOLD-FIELDS GAZETTE. Cromwell: Tuesday, April 29, 1873.

Cromwell Argus, Volume IV, Issue 181, 29 April 1873, Page 4

Cromwell Argus, AND NORTHERN GOLD-FIELDS GAZETTE. Cromwell: Tuesday, April 29, 1873.

When a requisition, bearing one hundred land thirty signatures, was presented to Mr Hickey, asking his resignation as member for the Kawarau district in the Provincial Council, he refused to comply with the prayer of his petitioners; but, probably thinking his constituents deserved some little attention at his hands, he sought to soothe them with a promise that before the session—that just at hand—lie would address them in person. And his constituents had no resource but a calm contentment in the hope of the fulfilment of this promise. Elsewhere will be found a letter from Mr Hickey, in which, for reasous that are simply amusing without being in any way worthy of acceptance as an excuse, lie declares his intention to forego the pleasure for a season of confronting both his friends and his " traducers." It is doubtful, after all, how far the fact calls for regret. Very little good could come of such a meeting. The member could only be told of a distrust and dissatisfaction of the existence of which he is already fully conscious, and we believe powerless to dispel ; the electors might be promised but certainly could not be assured an efficient representation for the future. Still, the member would show a more courageous spirit and something of a wish to do what is possible to h ; m, if he only came to the

district to make enquiries concerning 0t wants. Cut this even, much more , meeting a public audience, he seems coi ardly of doing,—inventing little-mini excuses for an evasion of what ho adnii is his duty. Beyond generalities, whi t probably mean little or nothing, want ( means—poverty—is the only tangible «, case Mr Hickey offers in his letter for tl dereliction. But let him come and atklrti his fellow-miners; take their correction manfully; explain where he can wit! spirit; and at the conclusion state his ei, cumstances boldly, and send round the hat True, the plan is undignified, but at leas it is honest, and has nothing of the shuffl in it. However, enough of Mr Hicrei Past experience has taught us the useless ness of asking payment of the obligation he owes to the electors of the Kawati district; and however much his constitt ents may regret the fact, they can onl grin and bear it that they are virtual unrepresented in the Provincial Council,' _ As we have previously shown, the se sion is likely to be short. Several matte* in connection with this district are neeessan to be brought under the consideration i the Council; and action to that end oug| to be taken speedily, else we shall fiij them no further advanced when the sessic is ended. Foremost in importance, m haps, to the district at large, may I* ranked the improvement of the road be tween Clyde and Cromwell. Winter aftei winter, this portion of the main road totli Lakes has remained in a horrible condi tion ; and accident after accident has beet of no effect. £4O was voted for its fa I provement last session ; but twenty tS) that sum would have been more fitting in fact, only what was required to put tin road in anything like safe or passable cot. dition. Two years only are to elapse er? the railway line to Tuapeka is complete", A bridge at the Beaumont and one ai Clyde are to be constructed shortly; ami the improvement of the portion of road n have mentioned,—as well as of that k tween Tuapeka and Clyde, already pro. mised by the Government.—will be a positive necessity in view of the increased traffic. Affecting the district generally, also, is the matter of commonage. The Cromwell Commonage Association has to all appear, ance gone the way of the Anti-Impoundinj League, to be resuscitated, probably, under some new high-sounding title, when particularly pressing occasion demands. What has become of the 7()00-acre block that we were granted 1 There has never beet any formal declaration made that it k been set aside as a commonage. The depasturing license has never been cancelled, The whole matter remains in statu quo, and seems likely there to remain. As to the further grant of country petitioned for, the last news in regard to it was to the effect that the Government were in communica. tion. Whether or not they are out of it yet, none in this district have been in. formed. The commonage for the Bannockburn is not even advanced to the communication stage. And if Mr Hickey can but succeed in having this commonage question set at rest satisfactorily, he will have done the district a service which will overtop his shortcomings in regard to many other matters. Another subject which has a fair call to our member's attention and influence is tie necessity existing that the Government should assume the control and undertake the maintenance of the road to Carrickton. The expense of the first formation of the road was borne by a private company j and now that it is an indispensable public convenience, the Government are in duty bound to see to its repair and improvement. There are several other matters, of greater and lesser moment, some of them relating to the town particularly, upon which we shall probably have something to say in next issue.