PASSING NOTES.

Cromwell Argus, Volume V, Issue 222, 10 February 1874, Page 6

PASSING NOTES.

(by a bannockburn correspondent.) Truly the roads in this district are fearfully and wonderfully made. One is almost tempted to the conclusion that in some instances the surface-men employed must, for the time being, have been imbued with a malignant spirit of ingenuity. Fancy a piece of road being cut on a rising sidling in such a manner that the drainage, both from it and the hillside, must inevitably flow into the centre of the road at the foot of the rise ; and if you happen to be in the vicinity where such a method of road-making had been adopted, your fancy will lead you to suppose that some miniature sluicing operations have been carried on, and the tailings deposited where it is not permissible. Roadmen, I should infers are not properly supervised, though when at their work they most likely think they are (to use a digger's vulgarism) "doing a stroke," which doubtless they are—a Government one.

After all the tall talk about our vast and inexhaustible mineral resources, our bounteous water Supply, and such like rhodomontade ; after all the " high-falutin" which Mr Anthony Trollope so much deprecated, what is OtagO, as a gold-producing country, in comparison with, other places ? Look at Ucmligo, in Victoria, for instance. The

yield of gold from that district alone, for the year 1873, has been considerably more than tufico as much as Otago, with all her vaunting, has been able to produce in that time.' Statistics are'stubborn things to deal with. The weekly earnings of (Hagan miners (twentyfour shillings)-do not disolose such a very flourishing state of affairs. Otago, in fact,: is what miners would call a "good, poor man's diggings." No doubt,' there is yet a deal of gold in the country, but, as a rule, there is too much, dirt mixed with it. In this district alone there are hundreds—l might say thousands—of acres of auriferous ground; but the precious metal is so sparsely disseminated that, under existing circumstances, the ground in most cases would barely pay a Chinaman rice. What is wanted is a plentiful and cheap supply of water. Water is a powerful auxiliary in gold-getting; but it will have to be obtained oil very" reasonable terms in this district to render the greater portion of the ground remunerative.

The success that attended the miners at Chines in their efforts to prevent the incoming of Chinese seems to have carried its demoralising influence as far as the West Coast. I see by a telegram from Greymouth, that a body of Chinese, on landing from the Alhambra, were pretty roughly handled by a large crowd of persons assembled on the wharf; the number of police being insufficient to altogether prevent their maltreatment. Should justice overtake the ringleaders, it is to be hoped that the Miners' Association (if there be any) will not disburse any portion of their funds for their benefit, as in the case of the Chines disturbance. An Association having for its object the advancement and protec" tion of the interests of the class from which it derives its denomination, has a character to maintain, which, together with much of its influence, it in a measure loses when it indirectly upholds strife and disorder. The Chines miners might be able to advance a reasonable plea m justification of their conduct; but any attempt to vindicate the late outrage at Greymouth would only prove futile. There is no palliation for such deeds of violence. Any just or real ground of complaint should only be met in the proper manner,—by way of petition. Miners enjoy the same privileges in this respect as other classes, and any aggressive demonstration in opposition to law and order will only drawdown upon the promoters the indignation and odium of all rightthinking persons.

_ Whilst on the subject of Miners' Associations, I may as well mention that, after mature deliberation, J have arrived at the conclusion that the charge of a half-a-crown per annum, which is all that is necessary for constituting a member of the district Association, is not an exorbitant one ; some persons might even deem it moderate and reasonable. That medium of exchange is not, however, circulating so freely and "satisfactorily as could be desired, for'it has come to my knowledge that a considerable number of the Tiembers have not manifested the same readiness to sustain the funds of the Association as heretofore. This unconcern, or backsliding, is much to be regretted, as it might entail a deal of perplexity and annoyance, should a contingency occur. The requests of of this district, expressed through their Association, have already met with some consideration. It is a duty, then, I trow, almost incumbent upon them to aid and countenance to their utmost any body that has been successful in asserting their rights.

. "A jest's prosperity lies in the ear Of him that hears it, never in the tongue Of him that makes it." When a friend of mine related to me the following amusing incident, I was considerably tickled, and thought it might have the same effect upon your readers :—During the late season of festivity, a well-known and respected inhabitant of the Kawarau district might have been seen in the main street of Cromwell, in rather a strange quandary. Christmas had evidently told upon him, for he was doing his best to preserve a dignity of carriage, and keep on the sidewalk, which appeared scarcely wide enough for him. Several attempts to keep on the desired track had proved unsuccessful. His legs were evidently not thoroughly under his command, for much to his chagrin and discomfiture, they would persist in taking his body into the roadway. At length his patience had to succumb to the stubborn desire evinced by his uncontrollable supporters, and, in a tone of voice betokening a little anger, but much resignation, lie thus addressed them : " Well, walk in the middle of the road, if you it so." Which they did, the owner not attempting to interfere any further with their vagaries.