CROMWELL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 243, 21 December 1866, Page 3

CROMWELL.

[■FROM A CORRESPONDENT.]

17th Dec, ISGS. Mining matters in this district are looking exceedingly prosperous and some really first-rate washings will take place during the next fewdays. The es.cort.ihis Christmas will, doubtless, b? the largest that has ever left this district. Tunnelling operations in the banks of the Kawarau River, opposite th/i toiviisliip, are being priß3cuted vigorously and the miners are making good wages. I may say that a more systematic system of working ground is being rapidly intro■duccd and in all cases with favorable results. Mr Stewart's punt at the new ferry at the Bannockburn Junction will be in full operation by the 15th February next. The approaches to the river arc already made, and even in the absence of the punt, goods by being boated across the river, may be conveyed on a level road between the township of Bannockburn and M'Kenzic's.Station. Mr M'Kenzie is levelling the road at a number of places, at his own private expense. Conveyances from Clyde will ba able soon to visit the Kawarau Gorge* via the Station or Cromwell or vice versa. Of Christmas Sports we are to have plenty, they are to come off simultaneously at the township and at the new diggings at Lowburn, it is however a great, pity that 'in both cases they come off on Boxing-day, people cannot be in both places at one time. On Saturday last a monster petition, said to have been signed by some 500 miners at this district, Cardrona and the Nevis, were forwarded to Messrs Vogel and Dillon Bell for presentation -t) His Honor the Superintendent praying him to make Cromwell an independant district, also, t) annex to it the Cardrona and Nevis. The .latter might bo done with very good grace as tho Warden hero could very easily extend his peregrinations there at stated periods. As to the other, it is better that it should remain attached to the Arrow, it being distant from that place only 18 miles, while it is more than 50 miles from Cromwell. I believe that a counterpetition has been sent down by the Cardrona miners, signed by 56 miners out 63, to the- effect that only six signatures wore obtained at that place, and those by mis-representations, the names sot down as bona ride Cardrona miners being in reality those of men engaged in shearing at Wilkie's station. The Government no doubt value petitions in their true light, as so much waste paper, of late years on the goldfields they scarcely represent public opinion from the readiness to which people attach their signatures. A petition to have effect should be the result of a public meeting, to which the greatest publicity has been given. The over zealou3 individuals who got up the memorial are likely to do more harm than good, by stirring up a large amount of ill feeling. The position occupied by Cromwell will, of course, ensure its being a prosperous placa, also a rising one as population increases, in fact the latter desideratum is all that is required. The building of the Town-Hall does not seem to progress much, it is said there is a slight difficulty between the contractors, and the TownCouncil respecting the affair. The punt at the Nevis ferry on thq_ main road to Queenstown was opened on Saturday last for traffic. Horsomen and pedestrians can now reach the Lakes by a route ten miles shorter than heretofore, Cromwell is now only five hours easy ride from Queenstown. The Government with a little more energy could open the road all the way for dray traffic in leas than two JUGBtbs.