CROMWELL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 286, 18 October 1867, Page 3

CROMWELL.

(Fkom Otk Own Correspondent.) ■l3th. Oct. ISC7. 'T H E CPO MWE LL PAC E3. A numerously attended meeting of the sportsmen of the district was held on Tuesday evening at Mr. Goodger'H Junction Hotel. Mr. Hubert Kid.l occupied the Chair. The cardinal object of the meeting was to take preliminary stops towards forming a Jockey Club at Cromwell; secondly to take into consideration the proceedings of the Dunstan Jockey 'Club, on its proposal to have the Pacing days published for Cromwell altered It was definitely arranged that a Jockey Club be at once established : and as to changing the dales of the 'races from the 26th and 27th of Dec. the idea was scorned ; a determination was arrived at to make the races of Cromwell equal in attractiveness for horse owners to anv, which New Zealin 1 has produced. Mr. Smitham propose;! that a stake "of at least .£'2oo be ofierred for one race on the first day, and not leis than 100 guineas for a race on the second day ; in his opinion the district could contribute sufficient funds to allow the minor stakes t') be equally attractive to the owners of second rate animals. Mr. Kelly of Cromwell and Messrs Pulling, Ashworth, Fleming and others from the Kiwarau Gorge, spoke in the strongest terms of their faith as to tV 1 resources of the Cromwell district in funds arid horses ; they also felt confident thai some of the Lest horses of the Province would be on tie nurse, despite the attractions whi.'h may be offered by the Dunstan Jockey Club on the sum" days. Me-K!S Smitharr., Ashworth, Ki lly, -Vloming, and Conlni were appoiute 1 a Committ v of the ihic ' meeting : they are to m-'i't on Wednesday next to draw up a-'Programme and make the desirable arrangements. CHRISTENING <>F THE BANNOCKBURN AND NEVIS KERRY. East Friday was the gayest of all days with the residents of Cromwell : and lie surrounding districts, with the exception of the on*, on-which 'the. Governor passed through the locality. The punt in question forms an important part of the road between Cromwell and the Nevis and is placed to ply over the -Nawarau about three miles above Cromwell. Although it has been available for traffic for some lime, no formal opening and miming it took place until Friday last. Mr. Stuart the proprietor of the Ferry had issued a general i irritation to all the inhabitants of the district, including the Scholars of the Cromwell School, and it cnuld not be but highly gratifying to himself and Mrs. Stuart t'o find such an universal acceptation of the invitations issued. Conveyances of every description were pressed to the service of the day, and by two o'clock, the scene in and out of Mr. Stuarc's hotel was a most animated one. Soon after that house the party proceeded to the 'punt, f witness the christening ; the youthful daughter of Mr. Stuart performed the ceremony in the usual way and named the punt " The Bannocklmrn and Kawarau Ferry". The weather proving unpropitioiis at the very moment, no speeches were delivered, the guests being compelled, to make a hasty retreat to the pavilion, where Jkuostsumptuous banquet awaited them'; .W. W. J, Barry. Mayor of Cromwell occupied the Chair, and Mr. G. W. Goodger the vice ; before the tables were cleared, the company was considerably augmented by a large party of miners from the surrounding districts. Mr, Robert Edwards, of Cromwell proposed the Queen and the Royal Family ; the roast was responded to amidst great cheering, Mr. Whetter's band playing " God save the Queen. The Mayor of Cromwell then rose, and said that it gave him much pleasure to propose " Prosperity' to the Bannockburn and Kawarau Ferry' He hs.d known Mr. Stuart from his earliest days, and found him a man of perseverance arid enterprise, and ho (Mr. Barry) need only point to the great outlay of capital in erecting the punt, and forming approaches tc it oi either side of the river in proof of thj enterprise of his friend Mr. Stuart. He the speaker) understood that £IOOO had t

been placed on the estimates by the Government towards making the road to Ihe Nevis, and although Mr. Stuart's Feny was a private enterprise, lie considered that a portion of the £IOOO voted, should be given to Mr. Stuart, to aid his private outlay, and especially as the Ferry was by far the most important part of the ro: d from the Nevis to Cromwell. He would suggest that a memorial be drawn up, signed by the inhabitants of the district, and forward ed to the proper authorities, praying that M •" Stuart's outlay bo taken into cousidera lion by them, and an adequate proportion of the £IOOO granted to him. Mr. M'Mahon then proposed the health of-Mr. and Mrs. Stuart. Mr. Stuart rose t> reply, and gave a full account of how he became induced to place the punt where it was, and in doing so, he stated that Mr. Ziale was the first to.point out an opening 'o settle down permanently, where the ferry now is, and lie did not regret adopting Mr. Ziele's advice. Mr. T.ilbjys of Clyib, proposed the Ladies. "dr. Marshall proposed the Mining and Commercial interests : responded to by Mr 1). Booth. Mr. ( toodger proposed the rising generation : Mr. M'Kellar responding. Mr. Suiirham propo&d the Press, which was suitably responded to. The Toasts and responses having concluded, the '■ louipauy retired to the pavilion where dancing was carried on with high spirit until a la'e hour.

MINING INTELLIGENT!

The miners, more particularly the sluieers throughout the district, were never more satisfied with their lot. than they are at the ['resent moment. 'The kite rain, which copiously fellhere, has caused the wale --races to bo well supplied, and the result is, a considerable increase in the weekly earnings of the miners, consequently contentmeUo seems to reign in their minds. Old Bendigo Cully is prosperous beyond belief, o.ie water-race is to be extended to new ground next week, and a new large race is on the eve of being completed ; fresh vigor will in a few days be apparent in the district. The new race is being directed to the extensive auriferous terraces breasting the flat, which skirts thaClutha, and as the ground, lias been [.roved payable, it is only reasonable to anticipate that the area of the diggings in the locality will soon be double what it is at present. Barkly, brothers, and Gerrard and party owners of the Aurora, water-race at Bendigo (Sally, were engaged in washing up this week, and judging by present indications, no washing up has as yet taken ['lace in the disrict with such satisfactory results. It may not be out of place to mention here, that the party just mentioned, have amongst the r,.eks on the high ranges overlooking the Fid, a djp . i; of many tons of gum which m ui hj ive lj : -n ;..•.) 1 m ; 1 by some feathery species noi known in iho province at the p.'esi'ht tine ; the sticks with win- hj the nests were made, couhl not be carried by any bird known to the new chn us of the goldlie'.ds, an 1 Mm transmutation of the deposit almost into a lapideous concretion; is a proof that scores of .VMS-- must have passed by. since the birds i -x ted A f.-w days ago ,hj ■ Bmdi ,o na s deomingthat their purses would allow a day's amusement, released themselves from the trammels of labor, and bet. ok to hor.e an.l foot-racing for considerable amounts. A private match between Mr. O'DonnelJs M idea .i.i Mr. Paillip's lilly Miss I'.iiilip's oar .C!l a;id>, Mr. F. F.iote of Cromwell, had been sent for to pi--1 >t Music, and through superior riding lie landed her a safe winner.The owner of the tillly was not sufficiently steady on his sa.ld'etogive the youngster a fair chonco of making *h'e best of the speed that is mi fncstionably in her. Other races followed. The annual Concert and Ball to be held, on the •_".!{h. at Mr. Nidd's Cromwell Hotel, for the benefit of the Cromwell day School, is likely to excel any given on former occasions, 'the vocalists and insiumcutaiists are, 1 am informed preparing r programme with much more than ordinary care, and as to the ball it will be on a grand scale.