CROMWELL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 295, 20 December 1867, Page 3

CROMWELL.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) In the issue of the " Punstan Times" of the 22nd ult. remarks were made describing the favorable prospects of Duffer's Gully, situate between Cromwell and the Nevis. Since then I have paid a visit to the locality, and found indisputable proof that the account in the issue referred to was not in the least too highly colored, Wit, on the contrary, it was not sufficiently sanguine in its tone. Walsh and party were making active preparations towards working the deep ground lately discovered by them, and they seem firm in faith that a deep-sinking goldiiold of an extensive character will be act'vcly worked here at a very early date. Water is most abundant in the main gully and its branches, and there being a good fall at every spot, no difficulty stands in the way of working the old ground by sluicing it on an extensive scale. I may safely recommend min&s possessed r,f moderate capital to go there, with every probability of success. On my way from Duff, r'a I directed my way to Adams's Gully, abrtut a mile and a half from the Kawarau Station. There I found many parties in active work. Some of the tail-races are leviathan in size, and must have cost their constructor's a large amount of labor and capital. The chief claim is that of Robinson and party, and their dividend averages from £9 to .£lO per week per man. Nearly all the claims will require at least two years' labor to work them out. From Adams's I crossed the range to old Potter's Gully, and there I found that the locality is likely to be a busy locality during the summer. Burne and party have a tailrace of large dimensions, and, judging by the washing-up they lately made, the, "old ground is paying exceeding well. King and party are realising ove> £7 per week per man, and Berry and mates are doing nearly equally well. When the resources of the locality are better known than they are at the present time a large population will, no doubt, be living there during the summer months. In the immediate neighborhood of Cromwell the sluicers are likely to realise a most satisfactory return for their labors. The Great Westmoreland Canal 'Company are sanguine of pocketing at least £ls per man per week from the time they commenced to sluice, and, after looking at the prospect washed from the ditch of one of their seven claims, I believe their anticipations are not ill-founded, and no company in the Cromwell district deserve more credit than the owners of this race. The municipal body of this town has been for a long time fighting against itself, and a house divided against itself cannot stand_ However, at the last Municipal meeting a more cordial feeling existed, and the following resorptions '#ere agreed to :—"That the foot-paths on the main street are to be at once formed/' "That the buildings on the reserve be at once removed, and a Council Chamber, Telegraph Office, and other Public Buildings be 'immediately erected thereon." The action taken by tha Council at the meeting was' of a more satisfactory than usually has been the case since the town wfes incorporated. Public buildings are at all times calculated to add importance to a district, and their absence from Cromwell 'has caused much injury to the town.

Great preparations are being actively made for the forthcoming races, and a most successful meeting iaanticipated. The pro-

prietor of the grand stand, Mr. William Jackson Barry, is erecting a most substantial building, which will be quite an ornament to the course. ' Preparations are being made for the erection of the new building for the Bank of New South Wales. The School Committee are also about to build. They will at once proceed with the erection of 'a master's residence, the munificent sum of £220 havi ing been granted and received from the Government for that purpose. The late rains and warm weather have had a most beneficial effect upon the growing crop's.-. The farm of Mr. W. J. Barry looks most luxuriant, and if the season should only continue as favorable as it has commenced the enterprise of that eentleman in the pursuit of agriculture will be richly rewarded,