CROMWELL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 290, 15 November 1867, Page 2

CROMWELL.

(from our own correspondent.) Cromwell, Nov. 12, 1867. The announcement in your issue of last Friday, that the murderer of Ah Hang at the Kawarau Gorge has been arrested at Mount Ida has created excitement throughout the district and an anx'ous look-out in kept for his appearance at our Police Court, there to be fully identified, and it is to be ko»i fully committed for trial. The murder must have been committed in a most extraordinary manner judging by tho evidence of Dr. Corse. From a peculiar lividity of the neck he arrived at a positive conclusion that an attempt at fctrangulation was first made and then followed the tomahawking. Tho jaw bone was smashed and the "choppings " of the neck presented a most hideous appearance. Dr. Corse was positive in his own mind that two instruments had been used as tho wounds inflicted on (he neck being lacerated end those cv. the bead incised. In addition to tho report of hxue.vfc

which has already appeared in your columns it may not be uninteresting to note the following facts. In the "A early part of September the deceased, r Ah Hang, and his mate Li Ah Cheong called at Mr. Stuart's Hotel, Bannockburn Ferry, when Ah Hang left a first class pick in his, Mr. Stuart's, care, saying that he would call for it in a day or two, but the day or two passed without Ah Hang making his appearance. However on the morning of the second or third day after the murder just at grey dawn Li Ah Cheong came to the punt and Mr. Stuart ferried him over to the Bannockburn side of the Kawarau. Mr. Stuart noticed distinctly that his clothes were wet and he also noticed that the man was much agitated. He was invited into the hotel and Mrs. Stuart gave him a cup OMither hot tea or coffee. He went and returned in half-an-hour and re-crossed the punt again. However difficult it may be to swear to the identity of a Chinaman, Mr. Stuart is prepared to point out Li Ah Cheong amongst a million and Mr. Kelsall of Georgetown is prepared to do so likewise. The earliness of garden fruit and vegetables in this district is this season most extraordinary. At Mr. Barry's farm, a distance of about two miles from town, cherries may be seen nearly as large as marbles and gooseberries quite fit for table, currant trees are loaded, while green peas and new potatoes will be fully ready before Christ- ** mas. Taking the general appearance of the luxuriant crops of this and other farms the season is likely to prove an abundant one. Funds for the races are tumbling in freely from all quai - - ters and there will be plenty of sport provided. At Bendigo Gully mining operations are particularly brisk. The proprietors of the Aurora Water Race •opened last week some new ground about a mile and a half from the old workings and have already found ample proofs of its auriferous character. Williams and party have obtained a ■conditional grant of all the water from the gully after it has left the present •diggings and they have commenced to •construct a large race to conduct it to Rocky Point close to the banks of the Clutha, and no doubt eventually tho water will be conveyed to work ground at various other spots down to Quartz Reef Point, a distance of eleven miles from Bendigo Gully. At the former place the sluicers are in their glory and the sunny days of olden times seem likely to be once more realised. Fiedler and party have just completed a conduit conveying water to old ground at the lower end of the Point ;und within a mile and a half of Cromwel'. They have commenced sluicing and are very sanguine of handsome returns. Instead of the mining resources of this locality being on the wane they are weekly developing themselves. At Eighteen-mile Crock, that is eighteen ■miles from Cromwell on the Alberttown road, several sluicing parties are at work and doing what is termed a " quiet stroke." Norris and party especially are doing well and they never calculate on averaging less than £7 per week per man. From some unaccountable reason the auriferous ground in this particular spot is not being made the most of, I presume for want of population. I can with every confidence state that there is a fine opening here for any number of men with moderate capital. From here to the Lugget there is an immense extent of ground but water races must be constructed and that can be done at a moderate cost. Whilst dealing with this immediate locality it may not be out of place to pen a few lines as a guide to miners who may feel disposed to try their luck at the Cardrora. The distance from Cromwell is about 55 miles and at nearly every seven or eight miles there is an accommodation house, except for a distance of eighteen miles from Alberttown. There is, however, no need of going to Alberttown as the road turns leftwards a few miles above the Lugget Creek and by this route some four or five miles may be saved. However, should a traveller be fatigued it is advisable for him to go via Alberttown as he -can there find capital accommodation. I was yesterday informed that last week some of the claims turned out an incredible number of ounces of gold and that the business men were doing a most flourishing trade. Mr. Horrigan, of Cromwell, took a large new budding over last week and others from this place intend opening branch establishments. At the Kawarau Gorge much fresh ground is being opened and there is great activity manifested by the miners »itand an extra yield of gold will soon be at Georgetown.