QUEENSTOWN.

Cromwell Argus, Volume VI, Issue 311, 27 October 1875, Page 6

QUEENSTOWN.

fFKOM OUE OWN OOEEBSPONDBNT.]

October 21, 1875. Mining matters are dull just now, the rise in the Shotover compelling the river-bed claimholdera to suspend operations until the New Year. We have had some very heavy rain hero during the last week. The crushing of the Phoenix claim is reported to have averaged five ounces to the ton. If this continue wo may augur prosperity for the district. It will put new life into the real staple of gold mining,—-quartz reefing. Our Corporation have come to an amicable settlement with Mr Robertson. All further legal proceedings are stopped, and they are about to issue debentures which no doubt will meet with a ready sale, at good prices. Our security (the rates) is excellent. Rates and fees amount to about £BOO, and a tithe of this amount will keep our streets in order. We have an unlimited supply of excellent road metal—shingle—for the trouble of carting it a few yards from the shore of the lake. £SOO per annum, even if Corporations do not get the promised Government subsidy, can be relied on as permanent security for any loan. If the pound for pound grant is given by the Government, this amount will be increased by £4ll more. Few Corporations can go into the market in such a position as this.

Our trout ova promise well. There are about 1000 being hatched now. If these live the Lake and its tributaries will then be stocked with 2000 altogether. Their rate of increase when they begin to spawn is astonishing, and here we have neither otters nor pike to destroy them. That the water is favorable to their growth is already proved. A few got out of the boxes last year into a little stream that runs through Mr Rowell’s gardens. Here they remained until a few days ago unsuspected. When discovered, they had grown to six inches in length, and were so lively that there was considerable difficulty experienced in capturing them. Mr Worthington’s attention and zeal are beyond all praise. It is to be hoped that his labour and trouble will bo crowned with success, both for his own gratification and the good of the district. Success will be of great importance to the Wakatip, as the number of our tourists would be doubled could wo pro vide trout-fishing to add to the attractions of our mountain scenery. Our neighbors at Arrowtown have had the services of their volunteer corps accepted. It was refused at first, evidently from the ignorance of the Government officials, who thought it too inaccessible. Our member, Mr Pyke, however, took the trouble to enlighten them on our local geography, and by his influence the corps will be formed. It is very strange that you do nothing in this direction at Cromwell. Your population compares favorably with that of Queenstown or the Arrow, and you must have a number of young men to whom military drill would be acceptable. Besides, a little local jealousy and emulation are often very useful. You should not be beaten or overshadowed by your rivals if you can help it. There is a large quantity of this useful commodity at Arrowtown, nor are we deficient in a fair share. So go in for volunteering. The Rev. D. Ross, Presbyterian minister, and one of the leaders in the Good Templar movement, was entertained at tea on Monday evening by that body, as a token of respect for his zeal in the cause. He is leaving the district for a short time, as his health has been impaired from over-work. I believe that after the heavy guns of the lodge had retired to attend another meeting, the members enjoyed a dance, —carrying out the old adage about the cats and mice. It is astonishing how long it takes all the “ isms” to change human nature. People cannot be got to see the mischief that uuy arise from recreation. Unhappy moths ! The Government forwarded some immigrants to us a few days ago without making any provision for their board,*— showing how we are likely to be served from the great centre, Wellington. If it hid not been for the kindness of Mr Betts, bur Mayor, who put himself to considerable trouble in the matter, they might have boin here some days before the townspeople would have known of their distress. Even the police had no instructions concerning jtiera, and there was no matron at the depot. Our Volunteer corps hj in course of re-for-mation. The Government is about to issue the new breech-loadug rifles, and having withdrawn the old aims some time ago, we were resting on our oars. The inspecting officer visited us thif week, and insisted on a large muster before sending up the rifles. Captain Worthingtm, receiver of gold revenue, etc., has resigned the captaincy, owing to the increased rork in his office not permitting him to a*end sufficiently to the control of the corajany and management of its affairs. Mr H.P. Macklin has been elected in his stead.

Our Fire Trigade is defunct, —a serious matter to tip town, built as it is for the greater part of timber. It is to be hoped that our Coloration will soon be at liberty to attend tojuch a matter of vital importance as this. Tiey certainly have had much to do lately, lut municipal affairs have now got into a go»d working groove, and the Fire Brigade mght to be re-organised as soon as possible. There are many complaints against the Governnent for the delay in opening the railways Daniels’ crossing. If this occurred under Provincial management, we would never aear the end of it. The rapidity of constriction of the Port Chalmers line contrasts most favorably with the inefficiency of

North Island management. There is reason to think that public opinion here is taking the direction of one province for each island, with federation. It is quite clear that redtapeism wielded at such a distance will ruin remote districts like ours.

The Wellington disclosures have excited considerable attention here, and have surprised those who have not hitherto paid attention to politics. The outlying districts of the Provinces, having only been concerned with the Provincial centres, know nothing of the capital, except that hazy enchantment or illusion given to it by distance and ignorance. But now that close scrutiny is drawn

to it by the proposed constitutional changes, it is fast losing the verdure of distance, and will soon appear in all its greed and hideous deformity. The Ohinerauri miners’ rights swindle and the transactions with the Bank of New Zealand might only have excited a shrug of the shoulders had we heard of their occurrence in the United States or Mexico ; but here we have the “ ring" in full working swing right under the nose of our central administration. And to make matters worse, we are handng them over the whole affairs of the Colony to manipulate. Unhappily our population take little interest as yet in politics, but they will understand the Ohinemuri miners’ right transaction. The land was the natives’, and both miners and capitalists tried to purchase. The Government stepped in and prevented this, making its own bargain for the land. Promises were made that the miners’ rights would all be ready for issue at the same time, so that the holders might have a fair start. But more than two hundred were issued ten hours before the appointed time by a small ring of officials, and no notice is taken of it, until it is raked up by Parliament. An official is offered a share as a bribe, —does not take it himself, but allows

his subordinate to accept it. He has not been dismissed. And to crown all, an exmanager of the Bank of New Zealand states openly that an overdraft of £6OOO against one of the ministers was wiped out for his sanctioning the purchase of the Port Chalmers railway bjr the General Government. Can a Government of this stamp get honest administration? I strongly recommend the Abolition party to read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest the above. Is our public politico-moral principle one whit more honest? Is not the whole pound-for-pound system one huge public bribe ? One consolation remains: there is little probability of the bribes being

paid. A few rings are hard to feed, and clem,os will have little but a fine estate in bankrupt railway stock. It seems proved to a demonstration that the promise of another loan to pay the municipal and road-board bribe, and circulate more cash in the centres of population, will enable them to carry another fourteen years for the runholders, sell large blocks at 15s per acre, and raise land on deferred payments to 40s. Of course our Goldfields members are men of irreproachable virtue, and have a stem sense of public duty. We cannot imagine any Bank or association offering to draw the pen through one of their overdrafts ; and hence we may make certain of seeing them at once in opposition. Of course, if it were not for their high political status, and that of a few members from other places I could mention, things no doubt would be much worse. No Government, except one of stern integrity, could expect the support of the Goldfields and Southland members. We are now going through the same evolution as that experienced by a neighboring Colony In the days of the old Victorian Association.

The Oddfellows are getting np a great picnic for the 9th November. They have chartered the Jane Williams to go to the Greenstone and islands on the Lake. A dramatic performance by our amateur club will be given in the evening, and most probably the 10th will be ushered in by a dance. One party of prospectors at Arthur’s Point are putting on double shifts. They are in now about 120 feet, and are anxious to reach the back reef. This they will do in a few days, and by sinking shafts in the drive they will soon prove the lead. They have been driving through what looks very much like, and probably is, an old river-beach. They are working about 300 feet above the present Shotover. Many are of opinion that another river-channel exists on a level 100 feet higher up. This would correspond with the Skippers terraces in height.