CROMWELL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 398, 3 December 1869, Page 3

CROMWELL.

(from our own correspondent.)

Nov. 20. [The following arrived too late for iusersion in our last issue.] The news from the reefs is of the usual character, and golden stone has been struck in several more c aims. The number of persons attracted by the repute of our reefs, to pay them a visit, is large. The opinions of their value, of course, vary ; some holding more sanguine views than others, but the general estimate of them is favorable. Mr. Gtorge, draughtsman, is making an excel ent map of the Bendigo reefing d:strict, showing the claims on each of the separate lines of reef. It will be a most useful record. Mr. Surveyor Bate is also iu the district, and is making a survey of the best way of using the remaining unallotted water at Bendigo Gully. The opening up of an agricultural area upon the Clutha is commanding attention, and shortly a strong application will bo made to- Lave a block of land act. apart for

selection, under the leasing system, ns in the Wakatip district. The result of the Island block sale, at Teviot, has alarmed miners and others, who apprehend that if the lands are thrown open for sale Mr. M ‘Lean will pursue the same tactics as Mr. W. G. Clark did at the Teviot. Mr. Macanrewis, however, strongly in favor of selling the laud rather than leasing it, for I presume, two reasons; first, because the Provincial Treasury reaps an advantage at once appreciable, ahd secondly, because it is the interest of the squatter to have the land put up for sale. These are now Mr. Macandrew’s supporters. But it is not for the true interests of the Goldfields to have the land alienated in this manner. The residents upon them desire to see an agricultural population in their midst, and au opening for their own investment and for their families. That wheh they lay down the pick find shovel they may be able to take up the plough and build comfortable homes on their own land. Free selection and deferred payments will settle a portion of the mining population on the soil, as it has done at the Wakatip, and it is for the interests of all that such a population should be retained and Settled in the province, and especially on the Goldfields. Hence the reason why the subject is commanding attention. It is a great pity to drive away the wealth dug out of the ground from the province, and I am confident the opening of a 10,000 aero block, under the system named, would be attended with success. The region in question is admihibly adapted for farming pursuits, and it would greatly tend to promote and establish other industries.

Not a single unsold allotment remains in Cromwell, all the surveyed town lots being now private property. The Superintendent's suggestion, that Judge Gray should be askol to arbitrale upon the municipal differences in reference to the post of Mayor will not, I believe, bo adopted, and things frill remain as they are.

The rain that has fallen has been inadequate, and more is anxiously looked for. It has been raining very heavily in the Lake district. A narrow escape from drowning is reported from the Shotover river. Doyle's spring cart having been overturned in the river, and a man named Barrel, rescued by the exertions of Mr. Blair, when life seemed extinct. By longcont'.iuned efforts animation was rcsto red and 1 hear that he is recovering.