CROMWELL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 386, 10 September 1869, Page 3

CROMWELL.

(from our own correspondent.) September 8. There linve not been many events worth mentioning since I wrote yon last, except racing ones, and of these I see your sporting correspondent gave an excellent account in yonr last week’s issue 1 Things have been rather dull ever since, as in truth they always are for a week or two after races, no matter how insignificant. But of what little there is stirring I will endeavor I I give you an idea. The leader which appeared in yonr columns some few weeks ago on the subject of the establishment of a gaol and a sitting of the Supreme Court at Clyde, has been the means of provoking a good deal of discission, and the remarks of the Mayor of Queenstown, as reported in the local journal, have not caused the ferment *o subside. A public meeting was held this evening in the Council Chamber cn the subject, and yon may he sure the unanimous opinion was that, if it was decided to establish a sifting of the Supreme Court of the northern goldfields of Otago, Cromwell was decidedly the most central place. It was also resolved to send a memorial to that effect to the proper quarter. Just as the meeting was about clo.-ing a number of miners dropped in, and brought under the notice of the meeting another matter, naroe’y the attendance of the Warden at Cromwell ; and really if some of the things mentioned were true, it is time that a remedy was applied, Ehher the district is too extensive or else well I will refrain in the meantime from mentioning the alternative. However let tho day's proceedings bo taken for an example. Bummonseo were

issued for several cases and the only satisfaction received was that the Court was postponed for another week and fresh summonses were granted, and take notice, fresh expenses to pay for the fresh summonses. It would he all very well if it had only happened this once, hut the meet ing was informed that it had happened repeatedly. It cannot bo said on the Warden’s par,., that there are or were no cases of any importance to be heard or he would have come, as a seemingly trifling case may involve a miners all. One miner, who was present, speaking of a “little bit ot a case” which he had on some time ago, said, ho had attended only seven times about it, and that in conscience hfe had lost seven days’ work—a mere trifle—that after all he had to cry second best—which also was nothing —hut that his expenses, travelling and otherwise, would have paid a Wax-den for a month, which “he supposed” was something. Another mentioned that he had that day walked twenty-seven miles to attend Court, only to discover that he wou'd have to go home again, and so on. Is there to lie any end of it soon or will tiie miners he reduced to follow the example of some at the Bannockburn—sensible examples too—and settle their own cases. The meeting was evidently of opinion that the time for taking some action had arrived, and it was again unanimously resolved to petition for redress in the matter. I noticed a slight mistake or slip in your columns some time ago, which would have been hardly worth while noticing had it not been repealed in the Daily Times , Summary for the English Mail. It was in reference to the 4,000/. worth of gold said to have been obtained by four men in eight weeks in the vicinity of Cromwell. There can be no doubt that the saying was quite truthful, and the. gold was got from the Bendigo Gully quartzreef. Further, 1 make no doubt whatever that other 4,000/. worth has since that time been got, though I cannot say so for a certainty. The reef, at any rate, is turning out well, and the fortunate shareholders in it have every prospect of a “pilu” before them. There are a tood many prospecting parlies hard at it up in the same direction, and some, I understand, have obtained very fair prospects. Nothing definite can lie said of Messrs Barnes and party, as they are only in a transition state as yet. so to speak, they are getting their machinery, roads, flaming, etc , under way. Ihear that operations on Barry’s reef have been begun, but it is too soon to talk of results yet. Our Escorts are steadily on the increase I perceive by the late returns although in several of the out districts the miners arc still delayed by obstinate frosts—all the Quaitz Reef Point for instance. Apropos of the Escort returns, it is rather an anomalous state of things, to find Cromwell without a Resident Warden, a gold receiver, or official of any description, returning during the last year within 2000 ounces of the amount returned by the two districts of Clyde and Arrow, each with Gold Receivers, and one. of them, a Resident Wraden to boot.* It, certainly looks as if we were, a little neglected iu the official line. ■■■■ As our correspondent lias made some slight inaccuracies, we append this note with the hope ho will in future, when dealing with figures, deal also in facts. By referring to the published returns of the amounts of gold sent by I‘scort from the various Districts, it will he seen the difference betwen Cromwell and the two districts mentioned is not 2000, but 78160z. Bdwt.