CROMWELL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 647, 11 September 1874, Page 3

CROMWELL.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

On Sunday last the residents were agreeably surprised to find that the mail had been forwarded by private hands from Clyde, and the letters delivered that morning instead of Monday. I don’t know that any particular reason existed for this extraordinary despatch, and such a practice is open to a very grave question. On the same day an accident hefell Mr Starkey’s two-horse trap, which fortunately was not attended with any very serious consequence. Mr Starkey was entrusted with the “ ribbons,” and when about a mile from town, near Goodger’s farm, the pole broke. The horses were at once unhitched, and tiro fair passengers compelled to walk home.

By reference to the report of the Warden’s Court it will be seen that Mr Warden Simpson decides that a contractor for work connected with mining cannot sue unless he is the holder of a miner’s right. On Monday last Mr Mackay, surveyor, discovered that the foundation of Messrs Hallenstein and 'Co.’s new store was on the road 17 inches, and the contractors have had to take it further hack. It appears, by the same authority, that nearly all the buildings on the north side of Melmore Terrace are also on the road. Will any officious citizen write to the Provincial Government informing them thereof, as the Block IX party feel interested in the matter ?

Last Tuesday, as Miles MTimis, waggoner, was coming down Melmorc Terrace his horses, eight in number, took fright and bolted, hut M Tunis, who was on foot at the time, stuck manfully to the reins. They tore along the street, and it scened certain that they would cross the bridge, which certainly would have happened had it not been for the prompt and decisive action of Mr Grant who, at considerable risk, rushed to the shaft horses and caught hold of the reins, and thereby succeeded in throwing the oft-side shaft horse. The poor animal was dragged about 100 yards, but the street being covered bv seven or eight inches of sand I am happy to state no groat injury was done, although how the horse escaped being killed was little short of a miracle as he fell right across the shaft, and his head lay immediately under the hind legs of the near-side shaft horse. The driver (M Tnnis), to whom no blame is attributable, received a severe blow on the hip, but after a short rest he was able to take his seat on tire box. It was fortunate that there was no other waggon in the road, and that the frightened animals were checked in their wild career, or an accident of a more serious nature would in all probability have ensued. The ceremony of baptism was performed by the Rev. Benjamin Drake, upon a converted Chinee (Mah Hoey), on Sunday evening last. The church was crowded to excess. The rcnouncer of the doctrines of Confucius occupied a seat to the right of the reverend gentleman, and appeared to he deeply interested in the ceremony, but did not fail to gaze wistfully upon the congregation. The reverend gentleman discoursed from the latter part of the 2nd verse of the sixth chapter of Hebrews—“Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.” This being finished an account was given of the circumstances that led to the conversion of Mr Mah Hoey, and his desire to be cleansed and adopted by the Christian Church, For the past four years he has frequently attended Mr Drake at his private residence, and during the past eighteen months, never absented himself of an evening except when his preceptor was from town. He has learnt to read English, and can write very intelligibly, and was desirous to master our language with a view of translating and placing the Goldfields’ Regulations in the Chinese tongue before his countrymen ; but it happened that Mr Drake received a bundle of printed matter from some undisclosed friend, merely bearing his address, and not knowing what they were he handed

them to’Mah Hoey, who began translating, what proved to be the story of “ The i’rodi-, gal Son.” He then, like Saul on hia way to Damascus, was seized with “ fear and trembling,” and importuned Mr Drake to admit him to baptismal rights. The Eev. Mr Drake stated that he believed in his sincerity, f and though he was of a different country, he thought he thoroughly understood and adhered to the tenents of the Christians’ creed, and admitted the error of the faith he had formerly held. The con-i vert and congregation were then requested to kneel, when the reverend pastor offered a fervent prayer, supplicating the Almighty to assist and counsel the recipient Mah Hoey, No other Chinamen were present during the ceremony, but it is whispered that another well-known Celestial will shortly follow the example of Mr Mah Hoey. The Eev. Mr Drake has been most zealous in sound doctrine to Mah Hoey, and it must be to him, as well as to others, a source of gratification to learn that his “ labours have not been in vain.”

Some dissatisfaction has been expressed respecting the conduct of the Cromwell Hospital Committee, and very strong feelings are entertained anent their action in reference to the tenders for the new Hospital. The Committee have made several appoalsjto the public, and have, up to the present, met with a cheerful and ready response ; and it is with a view of furthe ring the interests of the Institution that I write. Returning then to the contracts : Messrs Grant and Taylor, amongst others, tendered respectively—the one f-, r LI 125, and the other for LI 135—and boingjthe lowest the Committee met to determine the matter. Mr Taylor {was and is a member of the Committee. Mr Grant is not and is a Good Templar. Both there gentlemen have had large contracts, and both are known to be thoroughly practical and tolerably well off in this world’s goods, and the fact of their estimates being so close plainly indicates that each carefully studied the plans and specifications, Tand intended the same class work and material. In the face of this the Committee thought fit to ignore the other tenderers and give the job to M r Taylor, but for what reason remains a solemn secret. The question of superior workmanship could not arise, as the contractor would he hound to work under the architect, who would, and not the Committee approve or disapprove of the same. Being the custodians of public money too much caution could not have been exercised, ns the position of an ordinary private individnal letting a contract to be paid for by himself is a very different thing to a Committee letting a contract which is to be liquidated by voluntary a : d and public subscription. 1 know, on the best authority, that the architect, Mr Harwell, would have been satisfied with Mr Grant, as he already had one or two jobs in hand with which that gentleman was connected, among them being the erection of the Cromwell Athenaeum. It is time that nar-row-mindedness and personal feeling had less to do with the granting of contracts, and that a more genuine and exalted influence regulated the conduct and judgment of local Committees. Free as I am to admit that the office entails a sacrifice of time and labor ; free as I am to concede that it is unreasonable to blame all; free as I am to honor those who arc engaged in the noble work of devising means to aid and assist the suffering ; ye: I am equally free to protest against tho wasting of public money. It is all very well to say that LlO is not very much. That is not the evil, as the same reasoning would justify the malappropriation of a much larger amount. Tho principle remains the same, and the question merely is—wore tho Committee justified in giving Mr Taylor the contract when the work could have been done as efficiently performed for a less sum, and thereby a saving effected ? It is but fair to Mr Taylor to add that no blame is intended to be cast upon him, as I have every reason to believe that the action ot the Committee did not meet his approval. The subject is before the subscribers, and though several residents have expressed their resolve to withhold their piomised subscriptions, it is to he hoped they will re-consi.ier that drtermination. A more glorious work than the raiaiug of a local hospital never called true men together ; hut let it be seen that the right parties are elected, and that they possess the Stirling qualities of fair play and no favor.

The usual meeting of the Town Council was held on Friday last, September 4th. Present—D. Jolly, Esq., Mayor; and Crs Wright, Taylor, Whetter, Shanly, and Grant, 'ihe inward and outward correspondence wore read. The report of the Waterworks Committee, recommending that Firewood Creek be the source of supply for the town was adopted. Inspector of Works reported on contract of Mr J. Scott. After discussion it was resolved that L7O be paid on account, the matter of the balance to bo referred to the Public Works Committee. Letter accompanying Memorial to Superintendent, re Block IX, asking the Council to forward the Memorial to His Honor was now read. A good deal of discussion ensued. During the debate Cr Wright said ho was taken by surprise, and would like to see how the memorial came about. It had not originated from any public meeting, but was got up in a-hole-and-corner fashion, and on that account was not worthy of notice. The Memorial was signed by some ratepayers, who paid almost nothing for rates. They were poor and ignorant, and did not know what they had signed ; of tho 65 signatures only a few were ratepayers, and it was not respectably signed. He would propose that it be not recognised.—Cr Shanly : As the Memorial emanated from private individuals ho would second the motion.—Cr Grant: It was not the Memorial so much as the way in which it had originated that was objected to. Ho differed from Cr Wright, and was of opinion the memorialists could not have gone more openly to work. Had they solicited the support of the Council they

would have made a mistake. The memorial now came before them untrammelled and without prejudice ; and the request to forward it should he complied with. He would move an amendment to that effect.—Cr Whetter: Seeing that it is signed by so many respectable citizens he would support the amendment.—The Mayor said: At the last meeting of the Council they complained of beingtreated discourteously by citizen writing to the Government, and yet when a l large number of ciiizens prefer a sensible and reasonable request they insult them by declining. The Memorial had been got up in an open manner, and bore the signatures of the best men in the place, he could not hold with the course proposed. The Council should look at the matter on public grounds, and not he governed by private feeling. They should forward it with or without an opinion, and not insult the ratepayers by a refusal.—Cr Taylor : If it is sent through the Council it will appear ns if they endorsed it.—The Mayor: I don’t think so.—The amendment was thou put, two voting for it, and three againstit.—The motion was then declared carried ; and the meeting adjourned. Tire adjourned meeting of tho Council was held on Tuesday last, for the purpose of considering the motion of Cr Grant respecting the sale of Block IX. There was a fair attendance of citizens. Cr Shanly, in an able speech, seconded the motion, which was warmly supported by Cr Whetter. - Cr Wright proposed an amendment, which lapsed for want of a seconder.—Cr Taylor proposed another amendment, which shared the same fate as Cr Wright’s, although the Mayor expressed himself in favor thereof.—Cr Grant’s motion—“ That Block IX be sub divided into sections and sold, and that Melmore Terrace’he reduced to a uniform width of 57ft,” was then put and carried.—For the motion : Crs Grant, Shanlcy, and Whetter. Crs Wright and Taylor did not vote.- —It was resolved that fresh tenders be invited for scavenger, &c., as the specifications did not embrace all tho conditions i equired by tho Public Works Committee.