THE CROMWELL PETITION AND MR JAS. HAZLETT, M.P.C.

Dunstan Times, Issue 686, 11 June 1875, Page 3

THE CROMWELL PETITION AND MR JAS. HAZLETT, M.P.C.

—o— The rumor that the member for the Duns’an, MrJas. Hazlett, M.P.C., had signed the Petition from CromweU for the establishment of a District Court and Gaol in that town, necessarily caused a considerable amount of surprise and enquiry as to the correctness of the rumor, and wo were fairly inundated with communications on the subject. The only course left open to ns was the one wc pursued, and that there might not ho the possibility of any doubt upon the matter we forwarded telegrams to Dunedin, and received replies, which wo issued in the form of an Extra, and which we reprint here, together with a letter extracted from the Cromwell Argus, and signed by Mr George B. Douglas, the gentleman who obtained the signatures to the petition. How Mr Hazlett, in his position as member for the Dunstan, could have signed such a document wc are at a loss to learn, and wo can only account for it that, as he says, ho was unaware of its exact contents, and signed the petition without reading it. This is a very common practice on the Goldfields, and many parsons besides Air Hazlett have boon entrapped into sigu-

ing documents of this description, when the context matter was opposed to the principles they advocated. So far as a District Court is concerned, Judge Harvey has said that ho would bo willing to hold a Court wherever such was required ;in that case, if the necessity for a District Court was a matter of vital importance to the prosperity of Cromwell, the people there should most decidedly have what they ask for, and the same might bo said of a gaol. It would assuredly bo better that evil doers in Cromwell should be carefully retained in durance vile than bo permitted, not only to prey upon the townspeople there but upon th ir neighbors likewise. But there exists no necessity whatever for a gaol at Cromwell, for reasons that there are no prisoners to put into it; also, that any gaol establishment should occupy a central position, whore it could be available for the whole of the Northern and North-western Uoldfields. It is all very well to point to the largo esc art returns from Cromwell as evidence of its immense prosperity and importance. Were all the gold obtained at the Dunstan sent through Clyde it would show up equally large. But let the outlying districts of Cromwell sufficiently outgrow the present town as to require banking establishments for themselves, in the matter of its gold produce Cromwell would scarcely be in such a good position as Clyde. We wish our Cromwell friends every prosperity, and we fully believe that the better they get along a correspondent beneficial effect will be experienced at Clyde. As representing the interests of a large community, spread over a considerable extent of country, Mr Hazlett could not have conscientiously signed any petition other than for a District Court Sitting to be held at Cromwell ; and taking all the circumstances connected with the affair into account, we think that we may fairly acquit him of signing else than under a misapprehension of the exact contents of the petition. Mr Hazlett’s mistake will doubtless be valuable as a guide to the future, not only for hims.'lf but others likewise. Explanatory telegrams from Messrs Jas. Hazlett, M.P.C., and D. MaoKellar, M.P.C., respecting the Petitions from Clyde and Cromwell re District Court and Gaol, The subject being one of so much public interest, and hearing that Mr Hazlett’s name was attached to the Cromwell Petition, wo forwarded to Dunedin the following telegrams, and received replies in the order they appear. _ 2 p.m. To H. Mandors, Esq. See if Mr Hazlett signed Cromwell Petition. [reply.] To the Dunstan Times. Yes, signed early. Must have signed in Cromwell. Signed, H. Manders. To Jas. Hazlett, Esq. Did you sign Cromwell Petition; what about Clyde one? [reply.] 4.47 p m. Did sign Petition at Cromwell without looking at it. On finding it for Gaol had my name at once erased. Think Clyde Gaol will be right. Signed, J. Hazlett. 2 p.m. To D. MaoKellar, Esq. Did Mr Hazlett sign Cromwell Petition; what done with Clyde one ? [reply.] 4.35 pm. Mr Hazlett’s name was on Petition from Cromwell. When it was presented Mr Hazlett erased his name, having signed it under impression that it was for District Court only. Mr Hazlett expects that the Clyde Petition will not be interfered with by the Cromwell Petition. Signed, D. MaoKellar. To the Editor of the Cromwell Argus. Sir, — In an “ extra" issued on the 4th, by the Dunstan Times, a copy of a telegram from Mr James Hazlett is given, in which he says he signed the petition re establishment of a District Couit and Gaol in Cromwell, “without looking at it.” Whether this version is correct or not I cannot say ; but I think anyone who knows Mr Hazlett will give him credit for more wisdom than to sign any document “with out looking at it.’.’ 1 was requested by the Cromwell Corporation to obtain signatures to tbe said petition, I called upon Mr Hazlett and asked Idm for bis autograph and handed Idm the document forpernsah He at first demurred, and told mo tbit sittings wove sure to ho he’d in Cromwell, I remarked that was all very well, hut, thought tbe importance of Cromwell and its large contributions to the revenue gave it superior claims over Clyde to have the vote expended here, and as he was now partia'ly resident and bid established his business in Cromwell, it would look graceful on his part to suppo’t the application for the expenditure of ihe vote in Ike latter place. He thereupon attached hisnacne, as I imagine with a full understanding of what he was dome, and if he now repudiates the act, he displays—well, inconsistency.—l am, &c., Geo. B. Douglas, Cromwell, Juno 8, 1875.

Prayer is the key of the day and lock of the night. And we should every day begin and end, bid oir.selves good morrow and good night, with prayer. How Divided.—The mother of Tommy—a little fellow who had been sent to school at much too early an age—was very proud of his acquirements, and liked to exhibit bis learning before company. One day when some visitors where in the parlour, Tommy was asked how the earth was divided.—" By earth-quakes,” said Tommy Very promptly.