DUNSTAN.

Cromwell Argus, Volume IV, Issue 202, 23 September 1873, Page 6

DUNSTAN.

♦ (PKOM OUK OWN COKRK.SrONDEN'I.) September 22, 1873. The Dunedin coach via Palmerston made its appearance on Saturday night about eleven o’clock, after an absence of about ten days, Hooded rivers and bad roads being among the principal items of intelligence it brings. The Tuapeka coach on its last trip tip had its pole broken, and was nearly a day behind time. The late rain has given a plentiful Supply of water in the Waikerikeri, and also to Lindsay and party from the Leaning Rock creek. The miners have been keeping the town well supplied with muddy water, and I suppose the more water they get, there will be the more mud. M‘Nallyand party’s race from Chatto Creek is proceeding rapidly. They have again made application for the surplus water in the Waikerikeri creek ; if granted, they purpose finishing the part of their race from thence to their claims on the commonage first. Andrew Dalziel and some others have been •at work with the Salamander dredge for a few days, somewhere by the Clyde claim, but with no great success as yet. Paddle-wheels to supply the place of the engine on the Pneumatic dredge are being made in Dun- ■ edin, and the dredge is being prepared to receive them. When ready, they are going to ■try their fortune up the river. Some few horses for the coming races are 'to be seen about the town, but I shall best know the winners when the races are over ; ! so I shall not attempt to predict. The Alex■andraites managed to keep the major part of their stakes to themselves, and it is natural we should wish to do the same. Our late townsman, Mr M. Marshall, had a rather severe accident on his way to town. If is fate may act as a warning to those who •are left, that it is better even to put up with the dull times than to leave and got an arm 'broken ; but as regards Mr Marshall we have hot much to complain, he having left a successor in his place, while some of our late deserters have left us without even a representative of their craft. It is to be hoped that what I have now got to say comes beneath the eye of some stray member, who may think of taking up his abode among us. I have been thinking, as there is an empty shop, of trying to raise a subscription to advertise for a good political steel-bar operator, who can fix well on buttons, and do a little at buttonholing. He must be a subscriber to the papers, and in the winter evenings, especially during the sitting of the Provincial ■Council, he must keep his shop well warmed with a good fire, and be able to introduce and discuss all matters political, whether relating to roads, railways, bridges, courthouses, lands, or gold mining ; to criticise the actions of the members generally ; and not to be too particular about the squaring of his little bill. Such a one would be a great boon, and would deserve a hearty welcome. There has lately been received into the I Clyde library from some voluntary contributor, a new poem entitled the “Destruction of the Gold Mining Bill,” accompanied by a portrait of “ one of our legislators,” by some unknown artist; and both are now posted up within the walls of that institution. The picture shows the original standing by the side of a billiard table in the attitude of ad•dressing the House, with his eyes fixed on the Ladies’ Gallery. I believe it is intended to have it framed and glazed, and sacredly kept as an heirloom to be handed down to ; posterity ; not so much for the beauties of art that it displays, but that future sages may 1 look on the picture of this superb specimen of the human family who at one time repre-1 1 seated their fathers in the Councils of the j 1 land, with wondering and amazing eyes, and | sigh over the degeneration of their race. The verses are to bo set to music, and when the next election comes, and the heralds shout ■ forth the approach of the “ Smiler,” a pro- ‘ cession, headed by the washerwomen, followed by the representatives of the Press, ! chanting forth their glorious melody, will 1 usher forth to meet their patron, while the ( miners, standing aloof by the lanes and cor- * ners, scrutinizing the spectacle and trying to recognize their father, will only perceive “'’the Claimant,” and “an old broom of the Dun- , •■stan.” ]