Cromwell Argus, AND NORTHERN HOLD-FIELDS GAZETTE. Cromwell : Tuesday, September 2, 1873.

Cromwell Argus, Volume IV, Issue 199, 2 September 1873, Page 5

Cromwell Argus, AND NORTHERN HOLD-FIELDS GAZETTE. Cromwell : Tuesday, September 2, 1873.

It may be worth recording as a matter ■of fact and for the information of the Public Works Committee, that the town water supply, (from some cause or other,) wre stopped from Friday evening abgut twelve o’clock till Sunday afternoon about the vsame hour. Then unfortunately a heavy shower or two took place, and ■consequently the water was practically useless till sometime on Monday morning: that is to say, there was no water supply for )hrco days. The matter of the residency areas at Quartz Beef Point, which came befoie the Court last week, and which was adjourned till next Court-day, will probably raise soim very interesting questions before it is finallr settled. As the matter is still under consideration, we shall reserve our remarks upon it till another time. It is a matter, however, well worthy of the consideration of our local Mining Associations. Through the courtesy of Inspector Koore, We are able to give the following statement of gold forwarded by Escort from Clyde yesterday morning ozs. dwts. Queenstown ... 905 9 , Arrow 612 0 Cardreona 400 1 Cromwell .. ... 1506 2 Alexandra ... 534 10 Tevlot ... 501 17 Clyde nil, \ The District Engineer lately appointed (Mr Fergus) has'not yet arrive 1, but is daily expected. It is to be hoped that amongst the first portions of the countrv to which he will direct bis attention will be the Wanaka and Cardrona districts. The roatls there are very much in want of attention, and will not occupy very much of his time to enable him to set the Works for their repair and construction in progress. A little attention in the meantime will -save the necessity of spending many pounds again. Mr John M'Cormick, the contractor for the erection of a bridge across Hie Kawaran F>iver above the Nevis Ferry, received only last week all the necessary plans from the Government. As Mr M'Conniek was only parsing through Cromwell we had no time to thoroughly examine them, but we saw sufficient of them to convince Us that the bridge will when erected be one of the handsomest in the Province. The entire structure, we may mention, will be supported on three chords or laminated girders, forming one arch from eighteen to twenty feet wide and thirty-nine inches deep, from which spring uprights skilfully braced and tied to support a level roadway. On the whole the plan is boldly conceived, and the details well adapted for the purpose for which it is intended. When completed it will form a model of strength combined with lightness. At some future time we may have the pleasure of describing the structure at more length. In the meantime Mr M'Cormick is pushing on with all convenient despatch a cutting through a solid wall of rock which on one side at present bars the approach to the Bridge level. The Arrow people* as will be seen by a telegram published elsewhere, are moving in the matter of erecting a bridge at the Morven Ferry. It is to be hoped they will push the matter energetically, as with bridges in place of the NeVis and Morven ferries there could not possibly be found any cause of complaint in their Queenstown neighbours erecting one at tile Frankton Falls. There might then exist more amicable relations between the two districts than appears to have been the case lately. A meeting of the Cromwell Jockey Hub Committee was held in the Town-hall on Friday evening, at which Messrs Preshaw, Dawkins, Marsh, Starkey, Taylor, Lake, Kidd, and Fierce were present. The minutes of previous meeting were read and confirmed. The President then informed the meeting that the Government had agreed to the deviation of the present track through the race-course reserve, the track in future to rUu along the line of the fence on the Eastern boundary. Arrangements were then made for the sale of the privileges, the erection of a proper judge’s box, and the other usual routine matters. On the proposition of Mr Taylor, seconded by Mr Pierce, it was resolved that a “ Cromwell Derby” be run for this year. On the proposition of Mr Dawkins, seconded by Mr Pierce, the prize was determined to be “a sweepstake of £4 4s. (£2 2s. forfeit), with £4O added,” and open to horses bred in Otago or Southland. The farther conditions can be seen by reference to our advertising columns. Mr .1, B. Lake was then appointed Judge for the enduing Spring Meeting. The Dunstan Times in its last issue, corrects an error made in advertising the prize for the Dunstan Jockey Club Maiden Plate. Instead of jive, the amount should have been ten Sovereigns. In its next issue, it may as well correct the mistake it made in speaking of the prize for the Cromwell Jockey Club Hack Race. Instead of Jive the amount is ten sovereigns.

'The road to Quartz Reef Point, which was contracted for by Mr M'Nultv, will in all probability bo finished during the next ten days. When the portion under the present contract is completed there will still remain about threequarters of a mile of easy formation to connect it with the nearest settlement at Quartz Reef Point, and it certainly is highly desirable that it should shortly be finished throughout. We would, therefore, recommend the matter to the consideration of the Town Council; they were successful before in getting the road under way as we see it at present, and doubtless they would be equally successful in getting the further extension made. The road must at some future time (we hope at no distant date) be carried through as far as Bendigo ; to make it, in fact, part of the main road ; and this can very reasonably be urged in favour of the immediate extension of the portion now spoken of. In a letter from a correspondent at tlie Dnnstan, w? notice that he remarked the energy which Mr Feraud displayed there in trying to obtain signatilres to his petition In the matter of Water at the Waikerikeri Valley. Our correspondent could not possibly know that Mr Feraud adopted the very unusual course of asking signatures in Cromwell and this neighbourhood to that petition, or doilVless he- would have adduced that as another proof of Mr Feraud’s energy. We wonder what motive Mr Feraud had in asking any person in Cromwell to sign his petition. He surely could rot expect their names to carry weight with them ; or. if any, about as much as Clyde names would carry in a question of Wliter-rights to be granted at the Lowhurn or the Bannockburn. Our readers are reminded that the Popular Entertainment in aid of the Athenasum Building Fund takes place on Thurslay evening first. The entertainment, as will be seen bv advertisement, is entirely a dramatic one, and judging from the way in which the last, which was only partly dramatic, was appreciated, we anticipate that even Mr Kidd’s large hall will have some difficulty in accomodating the audimce. Of the piece entitled “ Turn Him Out,*’ Ve need say nothin?, as it prove 1 such a success cn the last occasi mit was played. Of the other, hjwever, the “ Lottery Ticket,” it is said by tlose behind the scenes that it will be a still gnater hit. Not a little enjoyment mav also he anicipated from the presence of the Band, Who haoe kindly promised their services. We crave the attention of the an lienee especially to the beadiful glee of Or I’alcott. “ Mark the Merry Elve:,” which will be played during the evening. W» have to acknowledge receipt of the Illustrated X.Z. Herald of August 28th. This nuipbei contains some sketches of more thanusual iiterest notably those concerning the Sta-, well jmtp’ng cases. There is also a very good illustratioj of the Ballarat School of Mines. —We have almto acknowledge receipt of Hansards, and other papers from both the Geiletal and Provincial Governments. Amongst them we notice a cojy of the Ordinances passed during last session if the Provincial Council. We have been requested to draw the attention of our -eadera to the handsome sum (acknowledged in letailin oilr advertising columns) sent from Cardnna in aid of the funds of the Dunstau Hospital The total amounts as will be seen to £4l 3s. Gd. Ten pounds of this was the proceeds of an inter tainment given there by amateurs of local fame, the remaining £3l 3s. Gd. being raised by a personal canvass. For the successful issue of the entertainment, the Cavdrona people are chefly indebted to the exertions of Messrs Alfred and Charles Austin, two gentlemen well know* in the district for the interest they take ii all matters affecting the social wellbeing of the place. For the handsome sum raised by subscription, we have chiefly to thank Mr Pearce. Tie mines which he succeeded in getting Upon the list show that he must have travelled a good many miles on his charitable mission. The Cardrona has set an example this time worthy of imitation by all the outlying districts. The Clyde correspondent of the Daihj Times in that paper of the 2.Vd ultimo, says “We were rather startled by the announcement that the Mayor of a neighbouring municipality brings down his financial statement and public works policy. Surely Mr Macamlrevv was right when he prophesied that the city of Ironsides would he the future seat of Government in New Zealand.” Of course ho was ! Who outside of Clyde ever doubted it ? On Saturday night last or early on Sunday morning, the claim of Mr Michael Kett, which is situate on the west bank of the Mrtlyneux, about half a mile from Alexandra, Was visited by some unprincipled scoundrel or scoundrels, and robbed of a quantity of gold, the proceeds of the previous week's washing, Mr Kett estimates his loss at £SO. Ho informs vis that it was his practice to wash up once a fortnight, and he assumes the thief, whoever he be. was acquainted with this fact. The finger of suspicion is pointed, but it will be difficult to further than suspect. —Dunstan Times.

During the course of a rather protracted meeting of the Port Chalmers Town Council the other evening, when it had reached ten o’clock, the Mayor is reported to have left the chair for ten minutes, “ as ho knew that tho Councillors must be desiring a short adjournment to have a smoko."

The Wellington correspondent of the Daily Times says, under a recent date“ There exists a very general and, I believe, a very well grounded belief, that there will be a reconstruction of the Ministry, as soon as ever the session is over, and that two at least of the present members will retire into the snug haven of perinanent Civil Service appointments . , Who the new Ministers will be, of course no one can tell, but Mr Pyke's name is already freely mentioned as aprobable successor to MrO’Rorke as Minister of Immigration, his Victorian experience in such matters being supposed to lit him for that office.” Ladies, it has been decided, will be admitted into the New Zealand Telegraphic Department Under the following conditions -Candidates will require to be conversant with the elementary branches of an ordinary English education, and will he examined in orthography and writing from dictation, English grammar and composition, and the first four rules of arithmetic. A good legible hand will also be indispensable. They will also enter the service on probation, and will not have their appointment confirmed unless, after a reasonable period of tuition, they prove themselves on examination to he capable of becoming good operators. The rate of pay will be as follows : —At date of entry, £6O per annum ; at expiration of six months, if favourably reported upon, £7O per annum ; after twelve months’ service, if reported competent aS operators, £75 per annum, with an annual increase of £5 up to a maximum of £IOO.