Cromwell Argus AND NORTHERN GOLD-FIELDS GAZETTE. Cromwell : Tuesday, September 30, 1873.

Cromwell Argus, Volume IV, Issue 203, 30 September 1873, Page 4

Cromwell Argus AND NORTHERN GOLD-FIELDS GAZETTE. Cromwell : Tuesday, September 30, 1873.

Complaints are pouring in from all parts )f the district as to the terrible state of the roads. At the Nevis, and especially in the neighbourhood of the Lower Crossing, they are k'ery bad ; indeed we are informed that two ieains stuck near that place for three days. The I holes and ruts are in some places sxid to be six "eet deep. From Quartzville to Carrickton, and sspecially the upper half, is also in a bad state. Prom Carrickton to the Elizabeth and Star-Mid-Oak batteries, drays sink to their axlebeds while conveying coals and quartz. The ap. proaches to the bridge and the punt are also sadly in need of repair. The road in many places between Cromwell, Albertown, and CarIrona are nearly impassable, and especially where the traffic is confined to a narrow space. The District Engineer, we are informed, intends to I set men on to the various places most requiring attention, but the calls upon his attention are so numerous that it is impossible to see to them all at Jnce. Since writing the above, we have rejeived an intimation from a usually well-informed source that it is the intention of the Government to expend the sum of £4OO on a track between Cromwell and the Cardrona, we presume the track via the Roaring Meg. The Cardrona people will be glad to hear this news, we think. As an instance of the direction in which the towii of Cromwell is inclined to enlarge its I borders,- it may be worthy of note that since the 1 erection of the Courthouse, twelve new dwel- § ling-houses have been erected on the terrace Hat, i immediately above the main portion of the town. Many of them are surrounded by fences and gar. dens,.and in one case we notice that one of the blocks purchased at the last sale has been entirely fenced for that purpose. We must, however, deprecate the practice which has been indulged in by one or two parties of including within their fences portions—no matter how j small—of the streets. It is a course of conduct I which must lead at some future time to much inconvenience and ill-feeling. Tn two cases a frontage of about two an 1 a half chains each by half r a chain in depth, has been thus illegally taken possession of ; not, let it be understood, in mistake, as has' happened in some previous cases. What does the Council think of such a proceeding ? We cannot afford to have all our streets narrowed. We believe it is the intention of Messrs Tolmie, M'Lean, and M'Lachlan to apply for a 1 coal lease at the Lindis, where they have been prospecting lately. The seam, we are told, has not yet increased in thickness, but the indications are sufficiently encouraging to justify them in taking up a lease before they go to much further expenae in testing the ground. We sincerely- trust their undertaking will prove a success. The Spring Meetings of the Lakes District Jockey Club and the Mount Ida Jockey Club, both take place on Friday, 10th October. The Cromwell Spring Eaces take place next Friday and Saturday. It will be seen by our advertising columns that there are seven nominations for the event of the day, the Spring Handicap ; and on the whole there is every pros;>eet of a successful meeting. Owners of "maidens" are reminded that the entrances for the Maiden Plate will be received only till Thursday evening at eight o'clock. The first race on Friday will start punctually at 1 p.m. We understand that arrangements are being made by Messrs Hallenstein and Co. to open a new business in Lawrence, and that there is every probability of us losing the services of our worthy Mayor, Mr Fraer. That gentleman, we hear, is now in Lawrence making the necessary arrangements on behalf of the firm. Mr Kraer will no doubt be back in Cromwell for a short time before finally leaving, and we certainly think the chance should not be lost of making some public recognition of the estimation in which he has been held, during the time he has represented this town as its chief citizen. As an instance of the harm which incailj j tious statements may sometimes do, and hnff I they may travel from one end of the Province to the other, we cannot help noticing the fact that the remarks of the Dumtan Times, in the matter of what it was pleased to call the " Reliance rumour," —and which was originally published in our " Mining Memoranda" column,—were reproduced verbatim in a late issue of the D'">* cdin Daily Times. They were so reproduced H perfect good faith, of course, and before our cori« firmation of the truth of our original statement could possibly have reached it. Without m»H ing any further comments upon it, we trust Dmistan contemporary will see that it is clearly its duty to niako the amende honorable.

On Saturday last it blew.quite a ijurri cane nearly the whole .day, from a southerly direction, and causing all the shopkeepers to keep their doors shut, to escape its violence. On the " flat" the dust it raised was something to witness, even in spite of the late rainy weather. All the odd papers, rags, and scraps about the township were most effectually cleared out. Towards the evening it, however, calmed down, and remained so till late on Sunday" night, when the gale again commenced from ah entirely contrary direction,, increasing in violence till about five o'clock on Monday morning, when it reached its utmost height. Beyond blowing down a few stove pipes, and injuring some fences, we have not heard that it caused any very serious damage. Last evening a storm, accompanied with a heavy rainfall lasting for about two hours, took place. Messrs Goodger and Kuhtze are making preparations for building extensive additions to their present premises at Hartley's Gully, known as the Swan Brewery. They intend, we understand, to erect, amongst other conveniences, a inalting-house, which alone will be seventy-four by twenty-four feet. Lately they made considerable alterations in the interior of their present premises, which will much facilitate working operations. In anticipation of next malting season Mr Goodger, we are further informed, recently sowed thirty acres of his paddock at the Lower Flat with barley. We have to acknowledge receipt of the Illustrated New Zealand Herald of the last date. The engravings in this number are even more interesting than usual. We have also to welcome the advent of a new journal, the Christian Record. It professes to be conducted on purely non-sectarian principles. If it only carries out its promises on this score and maintains the high standard which it aims at doing, it will be well worthy of support. We have also received a batch of Parliamentary papers. If any further evidence were required that water is the only thing wanted to extend considerably the mining operations at the Bahnockburn, it would be in the fact that enquiries are beginning also to be made for the Bannockburn company's water. No formal a'ppiication has perhaps been made to the company, but we know several parties ar« only waiting till their supply is available. The company are now calling tenders for the last portion of thfeir race. When it is partly finished they will be able to bring a portion of their water in. We are informed that a party of Wetherstones miners have taken a con tract .for. two miles of the Lawrence section of : the line of railway. We believe they started work yesterday. The contractors all along the line are pushing forward the work with great rapidity, and there can be little doubt the line between Tokomairiro and Lawrence will be finished simultaneously with the main coast line to Uunedin.— Tuapek'a Times. " Cameo," writing in the Auckland Weekly News. says:-r-"A good story is.told about the general malinger of the Telegraph Department. Looking in upon an operating room he heird a chaHv telegraphist 50 miles away, detailing the gossip of the town for the edification and amusement of his Going to the instrument, Mr Lemon ordered the operator to attend to his business, but was met with a cheeky reply. ' Don't you know who I j am ?' telegraphed the irate general manager ; 'l'm Mr Lemon.' The operator, thinking a brother clerk was poking fuu ai him, promptly responded, ' If you are Lemon you had better go and be squeezed.' I have not heard whether the manager carried out the advice upon that occasion." Inyercargill boasts of a female compositor. The lady is> said to be an excellent and speedy manipulator of type, and to have thoroughly acquired the art of setting in much less time than is usually occupied by compositors of the masculine gender. The Bruce Herald says Mr* Farrell, who gained such an unenviable notoriety in connection with the Moray-place shooting case, is officiating as a barmaid in Christehurch, under an assumed name. One of the most stupendous feats of (. newspaper enterprise that ever occurred, must, \ says an exchange, be credited to the New York Herald in connection with the Vienna Exhibition. liather than be defeated by their rival the Tribune, the manager of the Herald gave orders to their correspondent, Mr Edmund Yates, to "spare no expense." He carried out his instructions. The Tribune in order to steal a march on the Herald telegraphed to Queenstown, (in Ireland), so that "the copy" could go on by boat. Mr Yates telegraphed right through, and the charge for the message amounted to the nice little sum of 2000 guineas. News from Adelaide says further gold discoveries are reported from the Northern Territory. The Star's Wellington correspondent, speaking of Mr T. L. Shepherd, says his •« bulk and arrogance grow with his years. He would be a good managing director for a self-assurance company, unlimited." Private telegrams to Dunedin announce the discovery of a new goldfield at the Haast Liver, Westland. The cold is said to be very coarse, and there is likely to be an extensive rush. Captain Turnbull, the Harbor Master at Jiokitika, has been sent to the Haast to' protect the Government's interests there.—A telegram from Hokitika, dated Sept. 24, says :—" A large rush is taking place to the Haast River, although no further news has been received. -The tug Titan sailed thither to-day with 60 passengers and a full cargo, and other steamers follow tonight." Four Chinamen were brought before Captain M'Kenzie, J.P., at Tapanui, a few days ago, charged with wilful destruction of private property—to wit, mining on Captain Logan's « j • at Leitharn G °rge. They were each nned in the sum of £l, and were ordered to pay to each for damage done or take the alternative of fourteen days in Lawrence gaol. It is hardly necessary to say the Chinamen elected to " take " out' rather than pay such an exorbitant fine. ruapeka Times.

A telegram from Wellington of the 23rd inst. says:—•• Mr T. L. Shepherd moved ;for a Committee of the whole House to consider the increasing of the amount to be borrowed under the Otago Loan Bill between the passing of the Bill and the end of December 1874, from £IO,OOO to £IOO,OOO, which he said would be necessary for the immediate construction of the railway to Duustan.—Mr Macandrew said the amendment, if carried, would not accelerate the construction of the Dunstan railway. If the main line of railway were to be constructed, there would be 375 miles of railway under construction in the Province of Otago, which would absorb more labour than was likely to be available in Otago up to the end of 1874. Mr J. L. Gillies concurred with Mr Macandrew. —Mr Pyke hoped Mr Shepherd would withdraw his amendment.—The amendment was defeated on the voices."