Cromwell Argus, AND NORTHEREN GOLD-FIELD GAZETTE. Cromwell: Tuesday, December 8, 1874.

Cromwell Argus, Volume V, Issue 265, 8 December 1874, Page 5

Cromwell Argus, AND NORTHEREN GOLD-FIELD GAZETTE. Cromwell: Tuesday, December 8, 1874.

IlfflW JK ffc Iw «*. Dunedin Editors, and then' owp foul streets. and filthysuburbs feaVe them an intervift of leisure' they proceed to erect a gallows alld 'swing off the township of Cromwell, to dangle before .their readers as a hideous beacon to warn all uncleanly townships/ Dr CoUGhtrey’s report, like a hand in the margin, is made to point its finger to every period as justification of the heartless writer. Some are beginning to think that the transit of Venus has something to do with the insane indignation which just now governs the weekly and daily press in its references to Cromspectable amount of honest dirt vindicates its right to be here and everywhere else, and it is sheer affectation to pretend to wring from fate what the conditions of social and corporate life forbid us to expert. We are not ashamed of our town traditions ', we never had a monopoly in dirt 5 we have no apology now to offer for avoidable defilement of any kind or degree, either in person or possessions. But we have had all along a hard fight against natural conditions and discouragements. We have no empire over the air,' the winds, the rain-clouds, or the dust. These mastering elements are the terrible armada which hold a checking warfare against improvements of almost all kinds. What science and experience could suggest to improve our sanitary condition has been attended to, as far as Corporation funds afforded the means. And We await the verdict of events and of all Sensible men with the calm confidence that, though condemned as a public nuisance by the press in Dunedin, we shall find acquittal everywhere eke. We are not whining for pity. We ask for xjo truce at the hands of our public slanderers. We will not sink down, like Sterne’s ass, asking for milder conditions—“ Don’t thrash me, but if ye will, ye may.” As a struggling community, we hurl back the groundless charge of defilement with’ infinite scorn in the face of our public traducers, and only ask them in future to receive our orders in payment of their tawdry trash with a pair of longhandled tongs* and fumigate them well, that the Eden of Otago may not imbibe the Cromwell leprosy. “Time Was when a man’s brains were out, he died.” But here are men without either brains or heart, the mere wreck of our common manhood, eating the bread of hireling scribblers and doing the work of Milton’s devil! If the Editor of the Times or Guardian were accessible to reason, we might tell both that long ago we appointed an Inspector of Nuisances, who for vigilance is unsurpassed in this Province or anywhere else, aud he had only one case to report to the Court here, and that was dismissed. The Dunedin papers never lose an opportunity of reminding us of our fever-Stricken history, and we are prepared to take the moutnful responsibility of admitting all the Sad facts involved, only objecting to the disgusting cause assigned. Some three years ago, a fever patient was sent up from Dunedin to the district, and died ; and at various intervals others followed, till the heat, high winds, and dust of last summer developed the latent principle in the town, and the fatal result is written “ on the wan leaf,” and read in silent grief by many a broken household, Dr CougUtrey’s report sets this misfortune down to the filthy habits of the people. This may easily be combated, but even admitting the report to be true, nowthat so many of its requirements have been complied with, is it manly, honourable, or just for leaders of public opinion to gibbet us from week to week in the eyes of a whole reading community, and to doom our township to nothing better than a quarantine barrack, to soapsuds, sand, and holystone? Have these gentlemen changed their mission of pioneers to their adopted country for a Nemesis to fulminate nothing better than blasts of hot wrath to dry up to the root whatever Is hopeful among us, and send a paralysis to every arm that could help us from without, and to persuade our fellow-colonists that there is nothing too monstrous to be believed of us, and nothing too good for US to pervert? All this is bad enough, but the Guardian tells its readers that on r uncleanliness is a type of our ungodliness, that moral and material obliquity are twin brothers in CrOnivvell, and finds all kinds of proof of this in the allotment of shares by the Bendigo Deep Level Company. A simple mistake occurred, and in this innocent mistake the Guardian finds a conspiracy to swindle the capitalists in Dunedin. Still

t&AI Anay -be fl’otnethirtg in - this 'charge alleged against the~niofality of Cromwell, some years we have not had the benefit of the exampje. His morality was set at so high ,a pitch, and presented to the views of people here a standard at which all could aim, but few could reach. The Golden I ink affair at Bendigo waa an instance, the impression of which is not yet worn out. A rare complement of virtues met and was manifested in this case. The vulgar thought that the vizors worn were but hollow masks, but the betterinformed saw deeper down. As long as the Guardian leader remained among us, the high tone of moral feeling that marked this transaction was telling bn the right side. Time would fail to tell all the good resulting from his shining example. The measure of our loss of such a sublime example of integrity can be estimated only by the extent of our present fraudulent, swindling, and deceiving tendencies. Had the sojourn of the famous Editor been prolonged, the budding forms of truth and fairdealing which he cultivated with so much earn might by this time have fruited into trees of righteousness. But alas for the mutability of all human things ! The great master of morals departed, his lessons have fallen dim, and his disciples Into different ways. In conclusion, may we ask the Little Corporal—When did he ever know a citizen of Cromwell convicted of mean villany? Who among ns ever bred his store and stock-in-trade to clutch a high insurance! What Cromwell insolvent has robbed his Dunedin merchant and levanted with the immoral proceeds! But all this, it may be said, is but the negative side of human morals. Admitted custom forbids us to present the other side of the picture, for obvious reasons. We all re member here how the little Would-be-thought and vainglorious Emperor disposed of his Elba estate. This was the last, but by no means the least, instructive lesson in the art and mystery of morals. Let Cromwell morality be Compared with that which is found in authority at the Guardian office, and it has nothing to fear.

The performance oil the occasion of opening the new Athenseum building is to take place on Friday, and the programme is advertised elsewhere. “ Time Tries All” should draw a good hous •» It is a play which demands a higher class of acting than those heretofore attempted in Cromwell, and we believe the amateurs are lully able to do Justice to it. "We liaVe to remind our headers that the sale of privileges in connection with the approaching annual race meeting is to take place at Heron’s Hotel ott Friday next. • - A meeting is advertised to take place at the Gorge on Thursday evening, with the object of opposing the agricultural lease applications. The annual meeting of Athenaeum snbscrihers was held on Thursday evening last. The report of the meeting will appear in next week’s issue, being crowded out this week. We have to acknowledge the Receipt from Mr Didsbury, the Government Printer, of a volume of statistics tor 1873 ; as also of a num» her of Parliamentary papers of rriOre Or less interest. The Cromwell Company, Bendigo, sent down last Thursday a magnificent Cake of gold, Weighing 1409 ounces. The next escort is ex peeled to be a very heavy one ; this cake alone is a good escort in itself, and there are cakes from the Star of tile East and other claims which Will tell heavily towards swelling It. We have received a letter from Mr Samuel Wiliams, of the Toilng Australian claim, Garrick, replying in some measure to the statements of “ Another Shareholder,” in reference to the Garrick water race." The letter is rather too long for publication, alld we prefer to give some idea of its contents rather than publish it in full, especially as in another Column information regarding the race and its nrngress will be found. The only thing wanting. Mr Williams argues, to the Successful completion of the face P harmony and unaniniitv between directors and shareholders “, artd he advises faultfinders to alter their tone, and do all in their Ito wor to have the water brought in as soon as possible. Of the success of the speculation eventually, Mr Williams entertains no doubt whatever ; and ho knows of several who intend investing pretty largely in Scrip as soon as there is a slow of Unanimity anlnitgst shareholders and directors. The choice of Mr Yareoe as working manager, he considers a wise choice on the part of tho directors. Prom Visits he has paid to the work,' he has every confidence in saying that Mr Varcoe is as fit a man for the office as could be found; “he is decidedly one of the most practical workmen in cutting and keeping a race in repaif that I have met with in the colonies.” Mr Williams b<d eves the Water will he in to work the crushing machine at his claim by the first ft second week in January. Tie Chinamen who have the contract for the big tiinnel in the Heart of Oak are making very little headway, arid if they do hot make niore rapid progress, the Company will see it to their advantage to take the affair (nit of their handi. The Chinese do not seem to he able to make'a living at it, having taken it at a very low price, and to all appearances would be glad to give it up. Tie argument in the Macrewhomia case has commenced before the Appeal Court. The Attorney-Genera,l appeared for the plaintiffs, and the vhole question of water rights on goldfields will te opened up.

■ The following, waa ( lie only iter;*, .b La. ness affecting this district -brought bo: ;•••• u.-; Waste Lands Board at its last sitting ediu Warden Simpson ivi-ortcd oTi the. an plication of Mr W. IT. Condall, -for s-tanL; 1 Block V., Lower ilawea.-op deferred pavmejp.jj stating his objections to survev, as hit el v executed. It was resolved that the application bo granted, as recommended by the District Bur* veyor.” The rider of Mabel (Mitohellsou by name) in tl e first Handicap at the Spring meeting in Dunedin has been disqualified from riding on the Dunedin course. There was a very strong meeting of the Jockey Club over the affair Captain HutcULoh resigned his position of V ice-President of the Club. The Star machine started again on Saturday last, and will continue crushing up to Christmas. The manager will now be able to get stone out much faster, as the reef has widened considerably, being in one place nearly six feet in width, with very good prospects The main tunnel is being carried in to cut the old reef, a contract for driving 100 feet (unless the reef is first struck) having been let at 36s 6d per foot. Work has been commenced on this contract, and is progressing' Satisfactorily. When the reef is struck in this drive, the taanr.ger will be able to keep the mill going without any stoppages. The meeting of shareholders in the Bendigo Deep Level Company, advertised for last Wednesday, was adjourned until Saturday, when a. meeting Was held with a very fair attendance. The object of the meeting was, to take into consideration the best means of refuting the statements made by the Duhedin papers—the GMrdi'dn, more with reference to the allotment of shares 111 the company. The feeling of the majority of those present appeared to be in favour of some strong measure being taken ih vindication Of the company’s honour, and a motion was proposed to the effect that if, on a true statement of the facts being sent to the Gua dian for publication, that paper did not apologise, the opinion of a high legal authority iU DUuecUu be obtained as to whether action for slander Would lie. This, howeVe' , was not car* rlfed, it being Urged that the matter now rested with the director's, and the Conclusion come to was that any action taken by them—'legal or otherwise—would be supported. The Revs. Waters and Bunhehnan, of the Clutha Presbytery, visited the district as a deputation te confer With the Presbyterian con* gregation on matters religious and congregational. They met the church Committee on Monday evening, the 30th ultimo, and were given an idea of the amount likely to be raised by the congregation towards the minister’s stipend. The understanding come to was that the Rev. B. Drake should become a member of the Presbytery, aud be ordained a minister of the ChUroh. As a matter of form, the congregation will Uow give a call to M r Drake, and for that purpose a meeting is to beheld next Tuesday evening. The call will then be forwarded to the Presbytery, and Mr Drake will thereafter be induced to , he charge, —probably in Pebi Ualy. . With regard to the building of a manse, the Synod allowance will be £l5O. Plans and specifications will be at once prepared and sent to the Synod for appi oval, and the building afterwards will then be proceeded with. ..... The Wellington Clip, of 200 i-ovs, wua won by Tambourini the o her day.