Cromwell Argus. AND NORTHERN GOLD-FIELDS GAZETTE. Cromwell : Tuesday, February 24, 1374.

Cromwell Argus, Volume V, Issue 224, 24 February 1874, Page 5

Cromwell Argus. AND NORTHERN GOLD-FIELDS GAZETTE. Cromwell : Tuesday, February 24, 1374.

Some time ago we had occasion to call attention to the extraordinary amount of sickness which prevailed in the township of Cromwell, and we attributed a good deal of it to the insufficient and filthy water supply with which the township was supplied. Since writing that notice the number of cases of sickness have increased in such an alarming manner in the township and its neighbourhood, that we should be neglecting our duty if we failed to again take notice of it, and urge upon people to make some effort to discover the causes from which so much trouble springs. Some of the sickness lately prevalent bis no doubt been due to the long tack of hot weather we have lately experienced, but the greater part of it undoubtedly springs from .preventive causes, and it is therefore the duty of everyone concerned (and who is not 1) to trace the effects to their first source. The same causes of disease are in existence throughout the whole district (witness similar results) as are in operation in the town ; but thev work more powerfully in the latter, where the dwellings are more crowded together. ° These can be no two opinions on on Q subject, and that is that the dreadfully insufficient and filthy water which we have been compelled to use in Cromwell lately, has.had much to do with causing much of our late sickness. Some time arr o we drew attention to the results which would inevitably follow at an early date, a prediction which has unfortunately been too well verified. Numerous cases have oc-

curred in winch the source of the mischief can be almost demonstrated to have been entirely owing to the use of water from the town-race. In some cases, the sickness was only temporary, and easily removed, but in others it has been long and protracted, and may be doubtful in its final results. It is not fair, however, to trace all the sickness which lately has occurred to one source. There must be other causes work.

It appears to us that if a competent medical authority were asked to report upon the conditions of health which are violated by the inhabitants of Cromwell in such a way as to render this town so unhealthy during the summer season, ho would find but little trouble in doing so. At first, if he was a stranger, he would be astonished, looking at the township from a distance, to hear that it was so unhealthy, and that the inhabitants were subject every year to attacks of fever of a Typhoid and Enteric nature. He would think it impossible that a small, thinly-populated place should be so liable. When he entered the township, however, he would see some of the causes at a glance. Leaving the water out of the question altogether, he would see vacant pieces of ground and portions of the streets crowded with all kinds of refuse, decaying and otherwise; stabledrainage running into the main streets; matter offensive to the eye and to the nose in every direction. He would find piggeries, some ill, some well kept, and he would find slaughter-houses with all their stinking surroundings. In one part of the town, he would find a vacant space which for ten years past has received the slops and slush from a large number of houses. It looks fair enough to the eye, but the ground must be thoroughly impregnated with the elements which go to produce disease. He would find no proper cesspools; as the climate is so dry, and the ground so gravelly, that they are supposed not to be required. After seeing th is, we rn ay suppose our competent medical authority's attention to be directed to the Kawarau River bank bounding and facing Melmora Terrace, and we venture to most deliberately assert that lie would see no further necessity for an examination in order to report upon the liability of the town to disease in hot weather. From the part opposite the Post-office to the Bridge, he would find covered with rubbish and filth of every description—one great muck-heap in short. Could he be long doubtful as to the causes which predispose the inhabitants of Cromwell to the diseases we have above indicated ? We should think not. In. making the above remarks we wish them to be understood in a general sense. Cromwell is the town to which we are parti cularly referring, but every gold-fields town is more or less guilty in this respect, but more particularly those which are situated on the river bank, as Cromwell, Clyde, and Alexandra are. It is so easy to get rid of any rubbish by throwing it down the river bank. Cromwell, however, is the greatest tinner of the three, for, if we mistake not, both the Clyde and Alexandra Corporations have made successful efforts to abate the nuisance which we have last pointed out. After the Council have dealt with the question of the water supply, we hope to see them bestowing some attention upon the subject raised by our present remarks.

Between road-making, the abatement of the dust nuisance, the water supply, and other things, they have their hands pretty full at present. But this other matter is one which can be very effectively dealt with by an enforcement of the excellent code of bye-laws which they lately succeeded in compiling.

The Nevis races, as may be seen by our advertising columns, begin on the 17th proximo (SI. Patrick's Day). The Cardrona races are on the same day. We direct particular attention to the instructions sent to Gold Receivers in the mutter of receiving parcels for transmission to the Mint. The experiment is worth a fair trial, though it is a somewhat c'uinsy one. Mr John Wilson, a miner at Kawarau Gorge, met with an accident yesterday morning in his claim, whereby he had his leg broken. /V fall of earth and stones came upon him .shortly after he had started work in the morning. The Town Clerk, Mr Colclough, has received instructions from the Under-Secretary that the fines and penalties imposed in the Kesident Magistrate's Court, are payable, and will in future be paid to the Corporation, under the Municipal Corporations Ordinance of ISG7. The Star of the East crashing, which was cleaned up last week, only yielded 7(5 ozs. 11 dwts. This was from over 250 tons of stone. —The Voting Australian company are now crushing at Mr Logan's battery. About 200 tons will be put through, and the result is not expected to fall far short of an ounce to the ton.—The Elizabeth are reported to have struck some good stone. So far as we know it is only a report, but everybody would be glad to know that it was correct.

A good clock would ho a desirable addition to the Court-house property. The funeral of the late Mrs Thomson took place on Saturday last; A large number of people from all parts of the neighbourhood followed her body to the cemetery. The Rev. Mr Drake conducted the burial service. Mr M'Nulfcy's contract, for the formation and construction of the road between the Bridge and the Brewery, is progressing very fairly. At present, the newly-gravelled portion is rather heavy for dray traffic, but the benefit of it will be found in winter time, and after it has had time to set. There will be a special meeting of the Cromwell Miners' Association on Saturday evening next, at 7 p.m., to appoint a delegate for the general meeting of delegates to be held at Clyde on 2ml proximo, r-A meeting of the B>nnockburn Association takes place on Thursday night, for the same purpose. Tuesday last was the day appointed for receiving applications at the District Land Office, Clyde, for land in the Hawea Block, lately (fpened for sale under the deferred payment system ; but it would seem that land for settlement is nob much desired in that quarter, for not a single application was made. The Roxburgh or Teviot Block was open on Friday, when applications were made, by nine applicants, for close upon 1400 acres in the aggregate. Most of the sections are applied for by more than one applicant, so that on the day of hearing some mode of distribution will have to be r»sorted to. In another column will be found a description of the new Athenoeum about to be | erected in this town. Judging from the plans the building will prove to be an ornament to the town, and a credit to the Committee which erected it. It will also be seen-that portions of the work are to be executed in a new description of building material, viz., concrete. This material is now coming into very general use at ( Home, for buildings of all kinds, both large "and small, having been found to be cheaper and more durable than either brick or stone. Mr Burwell, we believe, understands the business thoroughly, having ha I considerable experience in the Home country. We trust he may be able

to introduce concrete building on a much larger scale, especially in this district, where the use of stone, brick, and timber is attended with so much expense. * On Friday last, before business in the R.M.'s Court was proceeded with, IvJr Simpson took occasion to sav a few words in reference to the letter from the Secretary to the Bannockburn and Carrick Range Miners' Association, published in our last issue. Mr Simpson's remarks were to the effect that he had not yet made up his mind whether to take any legal action against the person who had made the statements referred to. If he did, however, he would endeavour to make ib a caution to that person, and to others who might be inclined to adopt a similar course of conduct. Mr Simpson said the duties he had to perform were of tea disagreeable enough in themselves without his being exposed to such insinuations as those now referred'to. He also said he had been aware of the existence of some letter of the kind before, but till it was published he had taken no notice of it. We liarl prepared some observations on the various plans which might be adopted by the Town Council, to secure a permanent water supply for the township of Cromwell, but as we have every reason to believe the matter will be fairly and intelligently dealt with at the meeting which _ takes place on Thursday evening, Ave ' deem it better not to (possibly) anticipate the action which may be resolved upon by the Council. The subject, however, is one of" the utmost importance to this town, and we trust the citizens will show that they have such a sense of it by their attendance at the meeting when it comes on for discussion. Over ami over again we have tried to draw popular attention to the question, and over and over again we have been disappointed at the apathy with which it is regarded, but we do sincerely trust that we have come to the end of that. To show that there is an end of it on the part of the citizens, we trust to see the Town-hall tilled on Thursday evening. The Councillors will have then a convincing proof that a more than usual interest hj taken in their proceedings.

The letter in our correspondence column in reference to the Aitchiton Brothers may safely (if read with our remarks last week) be left to speak for itself, hut the others require a remark or two. First, then, lespecting those of Messrs Colclough and O'Neill, as they are apparently intended to be read together. These gentlemen may as well understand that we do not consider any letter written by the Secretary of a Miners' Association, if written by him as Secretary, as a private letter, and if it contains any matter affecting the public interest we certainly claim the right to publish it. In this case we only made universally known what w is partially known to the public before; even the Warden, as he stated in Court last Friday, knew of it before it was published in our columns. Why should it be concealed we should like to know, unless it 1 e that it did not suit Mr O'Neill to let the publie know what opinions he expressed at a certain meeting ? It is something new to us to hear that we did wrong in publishing the letter without first having obtained Mr Oolclough's permission. It has not hitherto been customary for us to do so, and we have nob the s'uditest intention at present of establishing snch°a custom. There are other remarks made by Messrs Oolc lough and O'Neill, about motives, «.v.c., etc., which are not only impertinent in themselves but are-somewhat impertinent to the subject, so wo shall waste no time upon them. The real matter at issue is this, shortly: Wr-s the See- ; rotary to the Association justified, by Mr! O'Neill's remarks at a certain meeting, in writing the letter published? If he was, then Mr I O'Neill is deserving of the greatest censure, if not worse, in making insinuations regarding the Warden, which we have (and we may add Mr Colclough has) the very best grounds 'for saying are most untruthful. One word more, and we have finished with the subject. If the letter was a private one, will Messrs Colclough and O'Neill kindly explain how its contents came to be tolerably well known even before its publication in our columns ?

The Mount Ida races take place on the sth and 6th March. At the Arrow Municipal election, on Tuesday last, for the office of Mayor, Messrs Pntohard and Golds ton tied with thirty votes each. A new election is ordered for the 27th mat. An Auckland telegram, dated February 18, says :—" Sullivan has left Auckland : but the Government and Police keep hia future movements very secret, and decline to give any information heyond the statement that he has left the place. It ia believed that he has left in the Phoebe for the South to-day." . AttheTuapeka races on the first clay (Thursday last), 700 persons were present. The Maiden Plate was won by Young Leamington : Nelly King second; Miss King, filly, third. Lawrence Handicap : Tambourini, 1 ; Ada colt' 2; Verbena, 3. Wild Boy last, pulled up! Tambourini won by two lengths. For the District Handicap : Sultana, 1 ; Young Leamington, 2 ; Haven, 3. German Louis ran, and would have won easily, but he bolted off the course eight lengths from the winning post, having a strong lead at the time. Novice was scratched for the Flying Handicap, Colour-Sergeant being first, Wild Boy second, and Patch third. The race was won in a canter by twelve lengths. Patch regularly sold the bookmakers, a strong favourite. °

"He came; he saw; he conquered!" A tolerably full report of Mr Shepherd's speech on the Mining Bill appears elsewhere, which will we trust please some of our exchanges, if not the whole of our readers. Wc have been obliged to curtail the latter part of our report, which however, will not be much loss, as it was chiefly personal. We observe that some kind friend has telegraphed over, the country how the Arrow people appreciated the address. A more truthful statement might be compiled, no doubt. Our opinion is that the meeting, for one got up impromptu, was fair for the Arrow ; it was in no way excited, and the' expectation of some fun was the great attraction. There is no doubt however, Mr Shepherd will make sufficient capil tal out of the materials ; still it appears reasonable to suppose that when a man deliberately chooses one particular place to address the public I of the Oolonv, it is usual to give more than a few | minutes' notice of his intention. Had he desired to address the Colony, as he stated, he would not only have chosen some other place, but he would also have given it due publicity through the press. Arrow Observer.

' The Kennedy Family gave their enter- , tainmeat, according to advertisement, on , Fhnnday evening last, to the largest audience which ever assembled in Cromwell. From the ; descriptions which hid reached Cromwell of the i performances of this celebrated family in other i pLvies, the entertainment was expected to be of a very eujin-able character, and judging from the . | applause which attended most of the selections , ut the evening, a very large number, if not all, had their expectations realised. There was a , very respectable number of the audience, however, who would have preferred that the programme had embraced a larger number of songs of the " Macgregor's Gathering" class than it did. Mr Kennedy's stories and anecdotes, illustrative of Scottish humour and character, were invariably well received, and caused nu end of amusement. Mr Kennedy, we should think, is unrivalled in this latter department. Amou *st the pieces excellently rendered by the "Family " we may mention the quartette, "The Boatie jnows," and the glees, " Hail, Smiling Morn,"' and "The Cloud-capt Towers" At the con[elusion of the entertainment, "Auld Lang Syne" was sung by the company, Mr Kennedy contriving to infuse, for the time, some of his own peculiar energy into every one present.