TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

Cromwell Argus, Volume VI, Issue 311, 27 October 1875, Page 5

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

DUNEDIN.

[from our own correspondent.] —* —

Tuesday, 7.43 p.m. The certificate of the Captain of the Bruce has been suspended for twelve months, and that of the first mate for three months. The insurance companies are now paying claims on Strathmore policies, so that all hopes of the vessel are now given up. The Macandrew Banquet Committee have definitely announced that the Banquet is given strictly in admiration of his Honor’s energetic opposition to the Abolition Bill. In consequence of it being a political demonstration, the Mayor has defined to recommend the citizens to observe a holiday in honor of Macandrew’s return.. A carrier named Charles Siddons met with a serious mishap on Saturday night. He was proceeding along the Blueskin road with an eight-horse waggon, when the horses to'ok fright, and in the dark bolted furiously down the hill, finishing up by running over an embankment, whereby one horse was killed, and damage done to the loading,to the value of £l2O.

The Albion left Wellington yesterday with his Honor the Superintendent, accompanied by Sir George Grey, Fitzherbert, Sheehan, Bunny, and Rolleston. It is likely that a plebiscite of the ratepayers will be taken by the Corporation as to the desirability or otherwise of widening Princes-street, tenants to first inform the Corporation of the smallest amount of compensation they will take. Auckland, October 26. The Bank of New Zealand report at the half-yearly meeting to-day shows that the net profit for the half-year, after providing for bad and doubtful debts, was £47,103. The balance undivided from last half-year was £16,974, giving a total of £64,077. A dividend of 10 per cent, and a bonus of 5s per share was declared. The Directors have announced the issue of 10,000 L.lO shares at L.5 premium, to be offered on January 1 to present shareholders.

Some interesting matter will be found on the third page of our present issue.

Amotion by Mr Shepherd in the Assembly deciding on an alteration in the electoral boundaries of the Dunstan, Wakatip and Waikaia districts, was agreed to.

A telegram in tho Wakatip Mail gives currency to a rumor that Mr T. L Shepherd has received an appointment in the civil service. 'He waits in Wellington in the meantime.

A special meeting- of members of tho local Jockey Club is convened for Friday evening at Heron’s White Hart Hotel, for tho purpose of considering the advisability of altering Buies 89 and 90 of the Club Laws. A Committee meeting will afterwards be held.

We hear frequent complaints about the Corporation dayman being remiss in his duty, and neglecting important sanitary work. As the summer season is rapidly advancing, when that officer’s services are most urgently required, it is to he hoped his employers will impress upon himthe necessityof regularity and efficiency n carrying out his labors.

Parliament was prorogued on Thursday. Wo learn that previous to closing, Mr T. L. Shepherd, in answer to enquiries made by him, elicited from the Government that they would, as soon as possible, bring streams at present being fouled by gold mining workings under the Fouling of Rivers Act. Regarding railway extension to Roxburgh the Government said they could give no promise respecting the extension of the main line from Lawrence to Roxburgh until the coast lines had been constructed.

“ Amateur” writes from Arrowtown a letter to the editor of this journal, an extract from which will be sufficient to indicate its object:—Sir,—ln a recent issue of the Observer it is asserted that to Mr Hornsby is due the credit of starting a Dramatic Club at the A rrow. I beg to contradict the statement, as the Club was initiated by other parties before that gentleman’s arrival here, and he was simply asked to join it. I regret to see that the Arrow Observer seems to make it its mission to bespatter Mr Hornsby with fulsome praise, which in some cases is not deserved.

Whatever lingering remnant of hope may exist with regard to the Strathmore is lessened by the fact of the New Zealand Insurance Company having given up the vessel as lost, and liquidating all claims under policies payable in the Colony. In connection with the supposed loss of the vessel, the following is telegraphed from Auckland : The captain of one of the ships now in port here says he was in London when the Strathmore left. She was dreadfully overloaded with railway iron. Her Captain, on coining up from Scotland declined to take her to sea, and 50 tons ef iron were taken out. This was a more nothing, and she sailed most unsafely deep.

The adjourned meeting of Town Council to consider and deal with the Block IX. question, took place on Friday evening. There was a full attendance, with exception of Councillor Ctrant. In accordance with notice, Councillor Talboys moved—“ That a letter be written to the Under-Secretary to the effect that this Council declines to take any steps for the removal of those parties residing on Block IX. and Melmoro Terrace.” The motion was seconded by Councillor Arndt. An amendment by Councillor Brown, seconded by Councillor Aitken,was carried—“ That no encroachment be allowed* on the public streets of Cromwell, and that steps he taken for the removal of all trespassers at the present time. ” A long d iscussion ensued which we are unable to publish this week. A full report will appear in our next.

The tender of Messrs Allan and Kingstreet, of Wellington, for £32,700, for the completion of the Port Chalmers contract of the Duaediu-Moeraki railway has been accepted. Among the rejected tenders is one from Mr Thomas Logan, £38,983.

At a spelling bee held in Dunedin on Friday evening, Mr J. A. Matthews, recently connected with this journal, carried off second prize. He missed first place by failing on tho word “panacea" into which he put two c’s. A pronouncing bee was afterwards held, at which Dr Bakewell took first prize.

We observe a notice in the Mercury asking for information regarding one Charles Low, from Kirriemuir, Scotland,, who is wanted to hear of “something to his advantage.” We have reason to believe the gentleman enquired for is at present located in the Arrow district, where he has been settled for many years, and we wish him luck of his apparent good fortune.

In the House of Representatives last Wednesday evening, Mr Stafford brought up the Public Account Committee’s report, which recommended that notice should be given to determine the present agreement with the Bank of New Zealand, and that tenders should be invited from all banks in the Colony to take the Colonial account. With respect to Mr Bridges’ evidence, the Committee reported that his imputations and inferences are absolutely unwarranted, and without foundation.

A meeting of the Cromwell Cricket Club was held oir Wednesday evening last, the principal business of which was to consider a challenge from the Clyde Club to play a match on the 9bh November. The letter also intimated that in the event of challenge being accepted it was probable a contest would be got up—- “ Squatters v. the United Clubs.” It was decided to accept the challenge from Clyde, conditionally on the return match being played at Cromwell on Tuesday, 30th November, and a Match Committee, consisting of Messrs Preshaw, Gudgeon, and Dench, was appointed. As a number of members displayed a want of promptitude in paying up their subscription, a resolution was passed that those who failed to pay up by Ist November would not be entitled to the privileges of membership. Two members were appointed to canvass for names and subscriptions, and the meeting adjourned till Wednesday, 3rd November. Mr Preshaw occupied the chair, and there was a good attendance. [We learn that the neighboring Club has agreed to the proposal from this body, so the match may be considered settled, ]

In mining matter’s throughout the district there is not much worthy of special chronicle at present, although there are not wanting signs that the approaching summer will bring with it a busy and we hope a prosperous season? All the companies are getting in train for realising on the dead work of the winter mouths, and no doubt our gold returns will shortly show a considerable increase in bulk. From the Carrick we learn that the Star of the East Company will clean up to-morrow, and a fair cake is expected from this mine. The Young Australian machine is going night and day, and the stuff is looking well. The Try Again Company have started crushing, and the shareholders are hopeful of a good return. At Bendigo, Rooney and party have commenced carting stone to the Aurora mill. It is anticipated the outcome from the stone in this company’s mine will be rich, as the stone looks exceptionally weighted with the precious metal. The Lucknoiv Company have also started crushing operations, and it is to he hoped tho shareholders in this venture will be rewardel for their patience and perseverance. We hear that the reef has been traced higher in the Great Britain, and that the stone now shows about 15 inches thick, with good prospects. Altogether, the mining interest looks healthy, and promises further improvement.

A shareholder kindly forwarded us the following telegram from Arrowtown on Thursday “ Result of crushing two tons stone from Crown Terrace Reef [Cornish’s], 3m Idwt to the ton,” and we notice that a like return has been telegraphed to the Dunedin papers. Of course the news was very gratifying and well worth the money paid for it, as it indicated a return of permanent prosperity to the Arrow district. But unfortunately the information lacks the element of truth, and its circulation will probably have the effect of seriously injuring mining enterprise in reefing at the Arrow so far at least as outside capitalists are concerned. The trial crushing yielded at the rate of loz 4dwt to the ton, and it is difficult to understand how such a mistake could occur as to place it at three times the value. The Observer must have been cruelly hoaxed into creating a sensation by means of “ Extra, ’s” publishing the fictitious returns. We trust the affair was merely a mistake, as if knowingly and deliberately false statements were allowed to go abroad, the perpetrators do not deserve well of district residents. There has been too much of this sort of thing in the past, and it has borne its bitter fruit. No district can better stand on its merits as a goldfield than the Arrow, and it will be cause for regret if its advancement is retarded by careless reports or interested canards. We are glad to see the directors of the Crown Terrace Company have lost no time in refuting the misstatement as to yield from the trial crushing, and also pretty strongly expressed their opinion of the imprudence of those who have been the means of circulating the untruthful returns. The following is copy of a letter which they have ordered to be published :—“The Directors of the Company regret that a false statement has been printed and circulated throughout the country regarding the trial crushing of two tons of stone from this reef. The trial yield was loz 4dwt per ton, and not 3oz Idwt as reported. Those circulating such report had no authority to do so, and the Directors feel it necessary to censure them for having been guilty of such imprudence. The Directors trust that no such folly or dishonesty will be practised in future, and they desire further to intimate that no statement regarding the mine, unless stamped with the signature of the Chairman of Directors or lion. Sec., shall be considered a correct statement. The Directors also feel it their duty to state that the yield is very satisfactory, and, should it continue, will give a respectable profit upon tlio outlay. —Rout. M ‘Docgall, Chairman of Meeting of Directors.”

Father Hickey, who visited the Colony six years ago, collecting subscriptions for churches in Ireland, is expected to bo Bishop Orokes’s successor in tho Catholic Bishopric of Auckland.

The official enquiry into tho circumstances attending the wreck of tho steamer Bruce has resulted in the suspension of the captain’s certilicate for 12 months, and that of the mate for three months,

A fire occurred in Dunedin on Thursday evening last by which the premises of Webb, painter, and the American Rubber Stamp Company were destroyed. Webb estimates his loss at £I6OO. He is insured in the New Zealand office for £7OO, Standard £4OO, Musgrave and Hodgson, of tho Stamp Factory, lose £6OO, but are insured.

A fatal accident happened last week at Clark’s Diggings, Naseby, to a miner named Anthony Guffie. A congealed or frozen mass of snow became detached from the drift, and fell upon him, causing instant death. The deceased was a young man, about 25 or 26 years of age, and very deservedly respected. At the inquest, a verdict of “accidental death’’was returned.

A Dunedin contemporary has been informed that Mr W. H. M‘Keay, as acting for the widow of the late Judge Wilson Gray, has received a sum of £BOO from tho Minister of lustice at Wellington. We are glad to hear that the Government has been so prompt in settling the widow’s claims, as we understand that shols by no means in affluent circumstances.

Afc Charleston two persons named Nestor and Humphries were charged with putting noxious matter in the teapot or boiler used on the occasion of a ball lately held there by the Oood Templars. After a lenglhy examination of witnesses, both defendants were discharged. The Magistrate said he was sorry the crime had not been brought homo to some one; a more disgusting case he had never heard of.

The grim King of Terrors has been busy in this district of late, scarcely a week passing without our having to record tho decease of some member of tho community. This issue it is our painful duty to report two deaths, both of men who but a short time hack looked strong and healthy, and who succumbed to pulmonary affections. Samuel Stuart, a miner at Nevis died in tho Hospital on Monday, to which institution he had been conveyed tho previous day. Yesterday Mr W. Williams, an old and highly respected resident of Cromwell, expired at his residence after a brief illness. Deceased who was a native of Denmark, was in tho prime of life, b.-ing only 40 years of age. He loaves a widow and family of live children to mourn their affliction, Tho funeral takes place this afternoon.