DUNSTAN.

Cromwell Argus, Volume V, Issue 244, 14 July 1874, Page 5

DUNSTAN.

(from our own correspondent.) July 13, 1874. At the close of the water appeal case, Judge Gray intimated that he would reserve Lis decision. Some of the many important points of tire case, he proposed to have the opinion of the Supreme Court upon ; others ho would seriously consider, and it was very probable he would state a case for the Supreme Court if the opinion of the Supreme Court on the points he would submit would not so coincide with his own views that he could arrive at a decision ; meaning thereby that ho might still withhold his decision and get the Supreme Court to decide. He reviewed the whole case, the serious question raised as to supplying towns with water held by miner’s rights, and the effect that a declaration of forfeiture might produce over nearly all the goldfields towns in the Province. At the Hospital Committee meeting held on Monday night, the Amendment Ordinance of which we have heard so much of late, both publicly and privately, did not come up for discussion. It was anticipated our M.P.C., and President of the Hospital Committee, would get hauled over the coals for not carrying to an issue the resolution of the Committee in the Provincial Council. The subject, however, seems not to have been touched upon, so we may conclude that taking from subscribers the right of electing the resident surgeon was a grievance more fancied than real ; or perhaps the Hospital Committee meeting was not the place to call in question the doings of an M.P.O. The Treasurer drew attention to a matter which is of more importance,—that of raising the necessary funds. Now that the Cromwell district contemplates erecting an hospital, little more could he expected from -that quarter, and the institution being now a little in arrears they would have to exercise groat economy in carrying on the establishment, and he moved that the collector be asked to canvass the district for subscriptions. Reverting to the above subject, if the Amendment Ordinance is to do any harm, it will be this.—that it may diminish subscriptions. But even that may be got over by using a little tact in the formation of the Committee. The working body must of necessity reside in Clyde, which under any circumstances will give that place an advantage over other portions of the district; but suppose in every place where a certain number of subscribers were located, that on becoming subscribers they be asked to name one among them whom they would wish to be on the Committee. Then at the yearly meeting for electing the Committee, which very few from a distance feel sufficiently interested to attend, the production of such a list would guide the meeting to elect those who had the confidence of the subscribers, and in the event of an election each member of Committee would act for the district. This, or some such scheme, would do away with the imputation that Committees elect themselves; and seeing that school committees have the power of electing teachers, which is a system considered to work well, the Hospital Committee, which has everything to do with the proper conduct of the institution, having lire power to elect the surgeon, as long as ho is duly qualified, cannot become any great detriment to the Hospital. And when wo now ibid that the Committee does not complain that their resolution was not carried to an issue in the Provincial Council, it may be taken for granted that they are of the same opinion. Tiie Town Council, at a special mooting held for the purpose, decided to Bridge the Molyueux at Clyde. Now that ihore'is an efficient punt at Clyde, something should have been done in the way of opening the road from .Butcher’s. The pnut was enlarged no doubt with a hope ihat this would he done, as it would not require a large sum b> make a passable road that way, and many of the settlers at Speargniss arc anxious for it to bo open. Surely before building the bridge there will he some guarantee from the C;vvernment that they will make the road, or else what use of either punt or bridge ! Building the bridge without the road looks like putting the cart before the horse.