CORRESPONDENCE.

Cromwell Argus, Volume V, Issue 232, 21 April 1874, Page 5

CORRESPONDENCE.

TWe do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents. ] To the Editor of the Cromwell Arous. Sir, —As the time is fast approaching for the assembling of our representatives in the Provincial Council, it may not be out of place to offer a few suggestions which may possibly be worthy the consideration of at least the members for the Cromwell and Wakatip districts. I think it will be admitted that since the first rush to the West Coast, the latter district particularly has not been in such a depressed condition as at present; and what is still worse, the prospect of any improvement seems to be very remote. What, may I ask, is the cause of this ? Is it that our mines are hopelessly exhausted ? Certainly not. I attribute it rather to a diminution in our adult population, arising from the public works scheme and the Palmer rush ; to a want of speculative energy; and lastly and chiefly to the chilling indifference shewn to up-country districts by our high officials. This last reason is at present a consequence of that wholesale desire to make the most of the Vogel policy so conspicuously prominent in the actions of the down-country and Dunedin members. I would have them remember that the old cow (the Gold-fields) is not yet dry, but there is great danger that the want of a little moderate attention may render her so. There will be an end even to the Englishman's money, and then the desire to again milk her as of yore will arise. This will be more easily done by a little nursing and kindness being at present shown. If we cannot share in the advantages of having a railway pushed through our midst, let us at least have ordinary tracks or roads, whereby we are enabled to make the most of the efforts we are putting forth. The staff of life in the Wakatip district is at present actually a drug, yet in many cornels of the same district there are people being starved out of it because of the costliness of living. This condition of things must ever remain so, whilst the method of transport is solely that of the pack-horse. 1 do not say, let us have highways, bridges, and macadamised roads all over the district; that would be unreasonable in siifdi a one as this. But I do say that where it is fairly practicable, and can unmistakeably be shewn to be of enduring advantage to all interests not only in the district, but in the Province, we are entitled to a better and cheaper means of intercourse. Why should the people of Waaaka and Car-

{dronS li'avo to tear 1 'the expense of a 'sixty or (eighty miles' journey, wheu the distance via the Crown Range is but thirty-two miles in the one 'caie', and 1 sixteen miles in the other, from Arrowtown ? The ascent tf> the Crown Terrace can be accomplished with a very gentle gradient. There ar§ miles of,a natural, road when that is reached. The engineering difficulties to top the highest altitude on the Crown Range (the saddle at Muddy creek).are anything but serious ; and the descent into the Cardrona could .be, accomplished by an experienced bullock-teamster even in the present natural condition of the,country. The Cardrona Valley once reached, there are but four mile 3 of roadrnaking necessary until you reach that portion of it where carts may be seen any day in the week. Now, what would be the result of connecting this point with Arrow Flat by dray road? By forming some nine miles of road, so that a waggon might traverse it, the two great' natural highways in the Lakes district, Lakes Wakatip and Wanaka, would be within easy reach of each other. Wakatip produce could be. delivered on, the Wanaka side of the.Crown llange at some 50s or 60s per ton less than at present. The increased traffic along the Cardrona Valley would do much to unearth the mineral treasure which there is but little doubt it possesses in abundance ; and the almost incomparable beauties of Lake Wanaka could be witnessed by those people living west of the Crown Range without the sacrifice at present necessary. On the other hand, a new market for the superior and unlimited supply of timber which lines the Makarora Valley and its slopes would be opened up. The boat traffic on Lake Wanaka would be increased. The carriers on unloading their flour or other produce at Cardrona or Wanaka could'again load with wool for Punedin, or timber for the mining and pastoral localities along the valley of the Molyneux ; and the up-carriers to Wanaka and Cardrona could load timber to the Arrow, replacing it by flour, etc., to Cromwell and Other places down-coun-try. No interest or locality would suffer from such a scheme; all would be material gainers. And when this can be accomplished at such a trivial cost, I ask, and I believe I am heartily supported by every one of my fellow-settlers, that our representatives will see it to be their duty to suggest to the Government'at the next sitting of the Council the desirability of carrying it out, and that at once. The JtTOOO or £BOOO yearly pastoral rent drawn from the Wakatip district, with the probability of its being supplemented by a like or larger amount from a similar source, should enable them to succeed in obtaining this trifling request. The first step to secure it would be the settlement of the Crown terrace in such a way as to permit the miner, the pastoral occupant, and the agriculturist to occupy it without any preventive barrier in the shape of compensation in following their respective callings. The elasticity of the law, as displayed by .the Government in the recent sale of the Wakatip runs is a proof that such can be effected, [f so, why uot let barrenness and desolation give place to productiveness and settlement ? Apologising for troubling you at such length, I am, &c, , JvOBT. M'DOUGALL. Cardrona, 13th April, 1874.

BLOCK IX. To the Editor of the Cromwell Argus. Sir, —The attention of the citizens was specially directed to the anomalous position in which occupiers of land and buildings on Block IX. were placed, at the time when civic honours were being competed for last year. I, with many other citizens, have watched the proceedings of our Town Council for a considerable time, and have concluded that it is a reserve in more senses than one, for it appears to be carefully kept for the purpose of electioneering. Is it not discreditable to the town that no Councillor should take the matter vigorously in hand, and get it dealt with ? While it remains in its present unsatisfactory state, that portion of the main thoroughfare of the town is permitted to be a receptacle for the most incongruous materials. What reason can there be for permitting not only its occupation, but that of a very considerable portion of the already encroached-npon street? Timber, old carts, &c., are permitted to occupy a large portion of the street, not to speak of the supposed footpath. Where is the Nuisance Inspector ? I si\ppose waiting to get instructions from a Council that is studiously blind to such a disgraceful state of affairs. The citizens will not be so easily hoodwinked at the next election, or I much mist ike their temper. It may be recollected that some months since Mr Bastiugs distinctly stated that the Corporation had no authority or power to permit the occupation of the ground which, under the name of Block IX., is really portion of Melmoreterrace. The Council did not hesitate to accept his reasoning, and yet from that day to this nothing has been done. It is doubtless unp'easant to be compelled to order the clear-mco of teat part of the street, hut surely our Council should act independently; for it must be done sooner or la! er; and "bisdat," &c. I fear that the hesitation is caused by what a friend of mine terms the " almighty dollar ;" and I will conclude by paving, that if nny such reason is the true one, it indicates the necessity of a thorough change of our Councillors. I am, &c., A Citizen. Cromwell, April 20, 1874.