CROMWELL GOSSIP.

Dunstan Times, Issue 679, 23 April 1875, Page 2

CROMWELL GOSSIP.

(FROM our OWN CORRESPONDENT,) “ Tis something to bo thought of in this cold world,” and that I am, is proved in every issue of your paper, and hy your liberal allowance of three ponce por week advance on screw, with the injunction nob to buy tobacco, (frequent pubs, quadrille parties, or balls; but you surely Mr. Editor overlooked the fact that in myself you and your subscribers, have secured the sei /ices of a literary genius, to prove this assertion what says a committeeman of the Bannockburn Miners Association in his last letter as published by you on the 16th. Here ib is verbatim “If 1 could but wield the pen with but half the force as doth that able, clever, and pithy writer your Oromwell correspondent, whoso cleverness is admited by all, but admired by few, I would have something to say that would astonish the Bannockburn folks ” Now this is really cheering, and as the writer in no other portion of the letter refers to mo but poms out his pent up spleen upon some unfortunate Mr. Crombic, who was formerly President to the association I leave that gentleman to fight his own battle but it is only due to him to say that anyway at the meeting of the Gold Fields Secretary at Bannockburn some short time since ho presided at the largest assemblage ever held under the auspices of the association, I have so few friends that I can’t afford to quarrel with, this newly acquired one, and therefore will quietly w»it the turn of events and see how the sanguinary struggle shapes, my friend, I suppose 1 may now use that endearing term, I may tell you concei ning those ticklish resolutions 1 did not get my information from Mr. Crombie but fossicked it out by means known only to myself. Ah ?no 1 forgot that little urchin, “Our” devil, was also in the secret; but I know' you dont envy him the society of so able, clever, and pithy a writer as the Cromwell correspondent’ to the Dunstan Times.

I clout know whether a description of Arrowtown proper would prove interesting to your readers, but may say that it is not so large as Cromwell by considerable odds, nor does it transact the same amount of business, although it is a thriving little place and likely for some time to support a limited population. It is much healthier than Queenstown, and will, in all probability become the capital of the Lakes. Hut this is a question of time. I have been told that, not to be out done by their neighbours, they have determined to form a grand army on the Volunteer principle, in order, not only to protect their hearths and homes against invasion by the Macetownites, but also as a reserve in case of a civil war amongst the Arrow Town Councillors, as the peaceful denizens have been alarmed through one of the said Crs. having purchased a set ofboxing gloves, which the ladies insist, indicates pugnacity. Several of the most unlikely persons to discharge, with credit, the onerous and important duties pertaining to the position, and the most unsoldierlike in appearance and courage spoken of as likely to he appointed io the post of Captain, and my informant desires me to put in an application for the Lieutenant Colonelcy, which, upon reflection, I have declined, as my first act would doubtless he to Court Martial Monsieur Le Captaine, and disband the patriots. 1 think they might originate an army of amazons, as a short time since (within a fortnight) three of the fair sex claiming to constitute the elite and fashion, took out cross summonses f. r arsault and battery, and the case was duly heard before the E. M., who, in one case inflicted a fine of 8s with 11s costs ; and in the other a fine of Is and costs. Now, sir, I am a father, and a lover of morality, and as the author or authors of that foul and diabolical baby murder have not been discovered, the old system of Female Detectives might he initiated. My youngest daughter is very much concerned about the matter; and as I’m a kind, stupid, good old father, I’ve promised never to let the subject of the history of that little defunct darling, of Barracouta Shaft, Arrow, rest, till every lawful means to bring the culprits to justice have been tried, and I know the mothers of the Arrow will applaud the resolution.

Since last writing another resident of Cromwell, Mrs. D. A. Jolly, the wife of D. A. Jolly Esqre., Mayor of CromweU, has been gathered to that “land from whoso bourne no traveller returns.” Only the preceding Sunday her little child was also called away to that better land. The departed Lady was deservedly held in the highest esteem, while in works of charity and usofullness she ever lent a willing hand, and no loss adorned the domestic hearth than she shed a halo of purity and virtue around all with whom she came in contact. Ffer illness was short, but as might have been expected when summonsed to attend the call to which all must succumb she was not found unprepared or dismayed. She was followed to the Cromwell Cemetery by a largo number of mourners, and has left three children behind who cannot do better than imitate the virtue of their excellent and departed mother. In common with others we extend our sympathy to the afflicted husband.

Without desiring to follow the sensational style of writing, or to raise the cry of “wolf, the wolf !” when none such appear, there are times when it becomes imperative that a correspondent, like every other person connected with a newspaper, no matter in what capacity, whether as reporter, runner or correspondent, should acquaint his literary head with those things which arc within bis personal knowledge and under his immediate observation. To perform this duty is no easy or pleasant task, and ho who assays to do the same must be prepared to endure many hard knocks, and to learn to turn a deaf car to throats of action for libel or defamation of character ; nay, more, he must be prepared to give and take, and often to tolerate many false and unfounded rumors and accusations affecting himself. From the starting of the Cromwell Hus-

pital I have alwaya looked upon the movement as unnecessary and ill-advised. On more than one occasion has strong reference teen made to the action of the Building Committee, and latterly, to that of the Permanent. The paucity of votes recorded at the recent election of Resident Surgeon (Dr •Stirling) clearly showed the force of the observations contained in a former issue referring to the subject. It was then boldly affirmed <that the number of votes recorded would be very few, and the force thereof was shown by the result of the total ballot being under ninety subscribers. That Dr Stirling should have polled some eightytwo votes was not to be wondered at, as he was well-known throughout the district, and was partly promised the appointment. For the Committee to offer a sugar-coated plum to the subscribers in allowing them to select the Surgeon, and then to reserve the right of making the appointment when they knew, or must have known full well that by allov ing such a step it was in violation of the Ordinance passed at the last Session of the Provincial Council, calls for no remark. Mr De Lautour was a stranger, and not in the colony, or it is not unlikely that ’if; would have stood a very fair chance, as the copy testimonlaltf'forwarded were certainly the highest of those submitted, although there were some to bo found who were ready to throw doubt upon their genuineness. Another observable feature was the circumstance of seven and eight subscribers being allowed in the polling booth at one and the same time ; while every voter, within a convenient distance, was secured for the local man—sick patients being actually brought from their beds, and (perhaps from accident) arriving about three-quarters of an hour before the time appointed for the closing of the booth; and yet, in spite of all these efforts, there were not ninety votes recorded out of hundreds. It is only fair to estate that Dr Stirling did not -attend, or take part in the election, but as his diplomas were the only originals submitted, and being on the usual ■quarter-sized sheet of parchment they were bound to command the most attention and carry most weight. By this decision let future Hospital Committees take warning, and carry out that i which the Ordinance directs ; let them also learn to act fearlessly and impartially, and when once selected by their fellow men to perform a particular duty, to see that they do the same irrespective of whether they please or offend the subscribers, who, if dissatisfied with their conduct, can, by a public meeting bring the accused and accusers face to face when the proper tribunal will have an opportunity to pass judgment. With a great flourish of trumpets it was asserted that the Cromwell Hospital would he opened and fit to receive patients during the first week of April; yet, May is close at hand, and the long promised opening has not occurred, though the Surgeon, Matron, and Wardsman, &c., have been appointed, anda.ro doubtless in receipt of salary. During the past two months the patients claiming admission to the Hospital of Clyde, have been double that of the number during a corresponding period for the year 1875. It is also a fact that some of them have fallen victims to fever, and it is equally true that the Resident Surgeon has only just returned from Dunedin. One case of pressing importance was left by him to the Surgeon of the Clyde Hospital, while the absence from his professional post, in the case of Mrs Jolly may very properly engagethe attention of the Cromwell Hospital Committee. Accidents are constantly occurring, and the query is—“ Where is the Hospital Doctor ?” It would he unreasonable to suppose that a doctor cannot he allowed some spare time to himself; but to leave a very severe case of fever to another surgeon who has his own practice to attend to exclusive of the Clyde Hospital, is, to say the least, extraordinary conduct, and such as to call for investigation. That the Surgeon of the Cromwell Hospital may he well posted in his profession is not sought to he gainsayed, hut it is most positively assorted that he is not justified in leaving a very had case to another surgeon, who, not from choice, hut from a conception of professional duty, attended at personal inconvenience and in the interests of humanity. What would be thought of a field captain who, when danger arrived, absented himself from his Company, or of the Commander of a merchantman, who seized the first boat when the ship struck, and left his passengers to perish? and, if the pride and principle of Englishmen leads them to regard such commanders as undeserving the trust reposed, what—by the same logic—should be applied to the surgeon who leaves his patient under any but the most imperative and pressing call ? To the unbiassed it is as plain as the noonday sun that the position ■of the medical man is equally, if not of far more importance than that of him who is “ rocked on the cradle of the deep.” The family practitioner should feel that his very presence tends to cheer the patient, as well as to impart confidence and hope to the other members of the family. That dread enemy to Cromwell—fever—has again made its appearance, and with the consequences of last summer before us—the nonsupply of pure water, the greatest curse and forerunner to sickness and disease—the permanent location of a surgeon is an established fact that is only too evident. That the friends of Dr Stirling may feel ofTended, and regard this as an unmerited attack I am ready to believe, but it they had been treated in the same way it is not improbable they would view the matter in a different light. “ One touch of human nature makes tho whole world kin.”

An employe in the French courts, says the Semaine des Families, asked half-a-dozen friends to dinner and gave them -choice edibles exquisite wines, served with all desirable appurtenances in plate and crystal. But there was something in the steclwaro which shocked everybody like a false note in music. The joints were carved with a butcher’s knife, the partridge with a hunting knife, the guests were provided with ■dagger knives, and the dessert was helped with a razor. When an explanation was at length asked it turned out that the host had collected the cutlery during thirty years of connection with criminal affairs, and that every article represented an assassination wbichhad been dealt with during that period. The explanation ended the reunion, much to the surprise of the collector, who had intended to give his friends a treat.