THE VISIT OF THE PROVINCIAL AND GOLD-FIELDS SECRETARIES.

Cromwell Argus, Volume V, Issue 214, 16 December 1873, Page 6

THE VISIT OF THE PROVINCIAL AND GOLD-FIELDS SECRETARIES.

■ The Provincial Secretary (Mr Turnbull), accompanied by Mr Bastings (Secretary for the Gold-fields), arrived in Cromwell on Saturday afternoon, about one o'clock. They were received and welcomed to the town by the Mayor (Mr Dawkins), and one or two ■ other gentlemen. Not having been exnected before the evening, of course no public recognition of their arrival was made. After an hour's stoppage for rest and refreshment, Messrs Turnbull and Bastings, accompanied hy the District Engineer (Mr Fergus), and Messrs Dawkins and Maclvellar, rode out to the Carrick, for the purpose of making a flying inspection of that district. The visit was more particularly for the benefit of Mr Turnhull, as he is a stranger to the workings in the interior of the Province, at least when compared with his colleague, the Secretary for the Gold-fields. The workings on Doctor's Flat and Pipeclay Gully were casually observed nnd pointed out as they rode past, and the various quartz claims between Quartzville and Oarrickton. Leaving their horses at Carrick"ton, the visitors inspected the Elizabeth and Star-and-Oak machines. They then had a look «ver the Elizabeth, the Oak, and the 'Star claims. The workings of the latter they ventured to go through. Much pleasant surprise was expressed by Mr Turnbull at the magnitude of the operations carried on by the various companies. While travelling up the hill and round the claims, Mr Bastings expressed his regret that the vote of £4OO for the Carrick Bange road had been nearly all ■expended, as the roads were capable of still greater improvement, but at the same time promised, on behalf of the Government, that if the companies interested on the hill would subscribe a sum for any further works on the roads their expenditure would be subsidised to the extent of £2 for £l. Ho also :said that they would be able to command the assistance of Mr Fergus, the District Engineer, in the proper expenditure of the same, and further recommended that the offer should be taken advantage of before the advent of winter. Messrs Turnbull and Bastings also expressed themselves much pleased I with the appearance of the Rawarau Bridge, and had no doubt it would do its share in contributing to the advancement of the district. Shortly after their return to Cromwell, Messrs Turnbull and Bastings, in company with the Mayor and' Councillors, proceeded to the Town-hall, where a large number of the citizens were in waiting, for the purpose of hearing the wants and requirements of the district discussed. the His Worship the Mayor presided ■, and after having introduced the visitors to the meeting, briefly explained that the Council had adopted the usual Cromwell custom of publicly meeting the members of the Government, in order to give an opportunity of hringing the more pressing wants of the district under their notice. The first matter which he, on behalf of the Council, would mention, was the establishment of a District Court. Cr. Wright supported the request. Mr Bastings said the matter had been brought before his Honor the Superintendent

and himself in February last, and that the matter had since then been brought under the notice of the General Government. Mr Turnbull said that, under the circumstances, seeing that there was a good courthouse, and that the .Judge travelled through on his road to Queenstown, and since, doubtless, there was a good deal of the District Court business which came from the Cromwell district, the request was a very reasonable one, and one that he would undertake to again bring before the General Government, with whom the arrangement of the business entirely lay. The District Land Board question was then referred to. Mr Bastings was at first inclined to reject the proposal to establish a local Board, but altered his mind wjien it was explained to him by Mr MacKellar that the request really meant to give the present District Board of Enquhw power to sit at Cromwell on all cases which came from or affected that district. Mr Colclough gave several instances where the necessity of travelling to Clyde formed a serious item of expense, and might have proved an obstacle to proper justice being done. Mr Turnbull expressed an opinion in favour of the request being granted. Mr Bastings said lie would represent the matter favourably to the Waste

Lands Board, and he had no doubt of the result. The establishment of an hospital, either as a side or a main hospital, was then discussed. The Mayor explained that several persons within the last few year's had died after being taken to the Dunstan Hospital, under circum stances which led many to think that their deaths had been considerably hastened by the journey between Cromwell and Clyde. If either a main or a side hospital had existed in Cromwell snoh a suspicion could not have arisen. Mr Turnbull said it was entirely a question for the Provincial Council to deal with. The next matter brought forward was what is commonly known as the Block IX. question. The Mayor explained the action which had been taken by the Council, and asked whether the proposal to narrow the street to a uniform width of fifty seven feet would be legalised by the Government. Mr Colclough

produced the town map, and further explained the business. Mr Bastings said it was entirely a matter for the Corporation to deal with : if they wished to remove the people who had taken possession of part of the* street thpv fPvf-vinW linrl tl->« nnFi>r +o do so, although, if the residents in Melraoreterrace were all agreeable, they also had the power, ho thought, to allow the encroaching buildings to remain. His opinion was that any one who owned land on the north side of Melmore-street could,- with good reaso'n, object to part of the street on the south side being squatted upon. Ors. Grant and Shanly supported the proposal to narrow the street to the width of fifty-seven feet, and Cr. Grant said a memorial was lying on the table in support of it. Cr. Jolly said it was numerously signed, and that few objectionsi/had been made to a compliance with the request contained in it; but the reason for this was that those who had objections thought the thing would never be carried out, or sanctioned by the Government, and so had given themselves very little trouble about.it. Mr Bastings said the recreation reserve, called block IX., would bo vested in the Corporation when the Crown grant for it was procured, but the Corporation and the townspeople would require to settle the street question themselves. The "sand" allotments formed the next subject of discussion. It was understood that the District Engineer would examine and report upon the land spoken of, and that, if then the Corporation would distinctly say what they were prepared to do in the matter, the Government would deal with the question. Messrs Turnbull and Bastings would advise that the land should be given to the Corporation to the extent of (say) five or six acres if the Corporation would reclaim it. The Mayor then called attention to the fact that although the whole town was now surveyed into sections, no additional sections had been set apart as an endowment for Municipal purposes, besides what had been done during the partial survey of 18'oG. Mr Turnball thought it was only right and proper that a sufficient number of sections should be so set apart, and recommended the Council to name the sections which they would approve of. He would then see that they were temporarily reserved till the next meeting of the Provincial Council.

The matter of additional salary to the postmaster was then spoken of ; but this, it was explained, was entirely a General Government affair. The Mayor then asked if there was any probability of the Government assisting the Corporation in enclosing the recreation reserve of sixty acres. Mr Bastings said there was not the remotest chance of the Government so doing. The commonage question was then brought up. Mr Bastings said the matter had been fii'.ly discussed ab.uit twelve months ago when his Honor and himself made a tour through the Province. It was a question in which they took the greatest interest, as could be seen from the fact that they had put £2009 upon the Estimates for the purpose of providing one. Immediately upon their return to town on that occasion, they badopened up negotiations with the neighbouring runholders, but were not able to do anything except to get the offer of 7000 acres from Messrs Loughnan,—an offer which was made known to the people before, but which was apparently little valued. This was upon condition of erecting a fence. The local paper (the Argus) had devoted some time to the matter, and had quoted portions of the

law bearing on the subject, but the Argns had quoted the law in the same way as the Scripture was sometimes quoted. The Government could not declare the commonage as was said, or they would only be too glad to do it. They were fortified in this opinion by the advice of several lawyers in Dunedii), who all said it could not be done except by private treaty with the pastoral tenants. Fresh negociations were opened up from time to time, and now the pastoral tenants took up the position that they would not part with any land at all for the purpose spoken of. At the same time, he was assured that no objection was, or would be, made to bona fide miners running a horse and two or three head of cattle. It was butchers and small squatters who were objected to, and who kept the commonage from being granted. This question of runs and rnnholdera, however, was getting a serious one, and it was worthy of consideration whether some new terms could not be proposed when the present leases fell in. He did not think the evil would be entirely got over till then. At any rate, the Government would have to adopt the advice which was given them by the most experienced lawyers on this question. If, however, a larger expenditure than £2OOO would secure a commonage, he did not think the Council would object to vote it next session. The Government would be prepared to recommend it. Mr Colclough (who spoke as one of a deputation from the Miners' Association) said a question had even arisen lately in the Warden's Court whether it was lawful to grant certain areas under the mining regulations without tiie squatter's permission, or as against his wishes. One case, in particular, had cropped up lately, in which the Warden had refused to grant certain residence areas at Quartz Reef Point, in consequence of some doubts as to his power in tire matter. The Warden kept postponing the cases from time to time, instead of settling the matter one way or the other. The Mayor here explained that it -was on another ground that the Warden refused to grant the applications,—that it was in order to prevent an abr.se of the regulations in re residence areas. Mr Bastings said if any question of the rnnholders' power, as against the miners, ever should crop up, if he were advised of it as Secretary for the Gold-fields, lie would get proper advice upon it, and publish it for general information. In reply to Mr MacKellar, Mr Bastings said ~ie would furnish the opinion, for public information, given by Mr Barton and other lawyers in i\>, the power possessed by the Government to cancel pastoral leases when land was required for other purposes. Mr Turnbull said the opinion of the AttorneyGeneral would be furnished if desired. The same gentleman further said that the land at the Hawea for selection on the deferred payment system, would be set apart before the end of the pres -nt month. He further said that great objections were made to parlies taking up small areas on runs for settlement. That was picking the eyes out of the runs. If 530 to 10JO a:rjs could be taken up by two or three parties in one block, he thought the Government would not object to declare it open for settlement on any run.

Mr Hastings, in reply to the Mayor, said | the Engineer had already laid off the road to the Bannockburn, and would shortly lay one off to the Lower Fiat. In the matter of an extension of the Quartz Reef Point road, Mr Bastings would give no positively favourable answer. The thing would be considered. The question of the establishment of an assay office was then spoken of, but as the hour was getting late, it was not gone fully into. The general understanding wai that the Government, if it could be done, would favourably consider the matter. No one appearing to have any desire to put further questions to Messrs Turnbull and Bastings, Or. Grant said it gave him grea! pleasure to move a vote of thanks to these gentlemen for the courteous manner in which they had met the people of this place, and given them every facility for making their wants known. A good many promises had been made, which he hoped would be carried out. Mr Turnbull briefly rcpl ied. Among other things, lie said lie never promised to do things, unless he intended to carry them out; they might depend upon that. He also complimented the town on the energy displayed by the Town Council in bringing forward their various wants. lie concluded by moving a vote of thanks to the Mayor for presiding on the occasion. The mestiiui then dispersed.

COITI'IiIMEX'T.ARY OINXER. Shortly afterwards, about thirty of the citizens met Messrs Tuvnbull anil Bastings at dinner (which had been prepared by order of the Corporation) in Mr Starkey's hotel. Mr Dawkins and Mr Wright occupied the chair and vice-chair respectively. All the Councillors were present. The affair passed off in the most pleasant and successful manner, and the "spread" was everything that could be d?sirod or expected, especially on such short notice as was given to Mr Starkey. After the eatables had been disposed of, the toast of " The Queen," was proposed by the Chairman, and received in the usual loyal fashion. The Chairman then proposed the toast of •' His Honor the Superintendent," unking leave to couple it with the name of one of the guests of the evening, Mr Turn bull. The toast was drunk with musical honours. Mr Tiirnbull, in replying to the toast, said he stood here almost in a sense representing his Honor, for if it had been possible, hi.s lienor would kirusclf have been here. He

I was quite sure his Honor would be glad to I hear how enthusiastically his health had been drunk in his absence, for Cromwell was one of the places which occupied a good deal of h's attention. He often referred to the place as one which yet eventually would occupy a leading place amongst the towns of Otago. He (Mr Turnbull) had not before had the pleasure of seeing so much of the country as he had within the last few days ; indeed, he had never before been more than fifty miles oub of Dunedin since he came to the Province ; ana he was decidedly of the same opinion with regard to the future prospects • of Cromwell.—(Hear, hear.) He was quite sure also that his Honor would make particular inquiries as to what his friend Mr Grant had to say on the commonage question—(laughter)—and that he would pay a little more attention to the subject than ever before. Mr Turnbull then went on to say that' he had learned a good deal during his presenttrip. He had been able to realise for himself.. what a tremendous amount of country was in some cases in the hands of one man. Run/ tliis or that looked a small thing on the ma,]),'' but when one came to see with his own eyes that it meant twenty miles on one side of a river, and twenty miles on the other,- it was

possible to understand that it might not be altogether a good thing for the country. At, any rate, his views were a good deal altered, and he would be prepared to make more suitable provision for the settlement of popula-' tion throughout the country than had hitherto'' been c!one. —(Hear, hear, and applause.) His ' own interests, he might say, lay entirely in seeing a large population in the country. • Mr Turnbull then complimented the town on the "model" Corporation which it possessed. • He judged it to be a model from the manner in which he had that day seen them conducting their business. Mr Turnbull sat down amidst groat applause. The Chairman next proposed the toast, "Oar Guests,' 1 which was received with great Mr Bastings, in a short but effective speech, responded. He referred to the plan, lie might say initiated by himself, of the mem-

hers of the Executive annually making a tour through the country. It had the effect of bringing them into contact with a great number of people, and of allowing them to hear all kinds of opinions upon this or that policy freely ventilated. He might give as an ex* ample, his friend and colleague, Mr Turnbull ; he was quite sure his ideas of the country would be much broader and sounder when be got back to Dunedin than when he left it. If all the members of the Provincial Council could be sent round the country, it would be a still greater improvement. The speaker then shortly referred to the policy which had been pursued by the present Government with regard to the up.- country places', and challenged any one to give an example of any previous Executive which had dealt so liberally with them as the present one had. tie always had been under the im pressing that Cromwell was the most important mining centre in the Northern Gold-fields, and its importance now was nothing to what it ivould yet reach, —an opinion which was gaining ground among people well able to form an opinion on the subject. Writhing he had yet give him occasion to alter his views on the matter. He concluded by thanking the company for the honour which they had done his colleague and himself, in first of all inviting them to this feast, and afterwards treating them so kindly. Cromwell was cert duly in his experience the most hospitable place in the Province.—(Hear, heir, and applause.) Mr Turnbull then proposed "The Mayor and Corporation of Cromwell," which was well received, and to which Messrs Hawkins and Grant briefly responded, Mr Bastings then proposed the toast of the " Jiepresentative of the District." He said he remembered the time when the Cromwell people used to send to him to get their requests preferred to the Government, —a duty which he hoped they would all admit he had always been willing to perform. Since the election of their present member, however, that duty had been taken off his shoulders. If anything was wanted for the district, and any begging had to be done, their member was up to the mark in that respect, they must admit. Indeed, he (Mr Bastings) was rather surprised at tho success which had attended Mr MacKellar's efforts, seeing that on several occasions his voting was not altogether " straight."—-(Much laughter.) Of course, lie (Mr Bastings) meant in his opinion. He would again give, '' The Member for tho District."—Mr MacKellar briefly responded to the toast. Tho Chairman then said, as the hour was getting late, (it was now nearly twelve,) ho would propose only one more toa3t, viz., tho " Host and Hostess." The acclamation with which the toast was received was sufficient evidence that Mr Starkcy had done his duty in the catevin ,' line to the satisfaction of the whole company. Mr Stavkey responded in suitable terms, after which the company dispersed, all greatly pleased with the evening's proceedings.