CROMWELL

Dunstan Times, Issue 698, 3 September 1875, Page 2

CROMWELL

(FROM CVlt OWN OOBRESrONDENf.) On Thursday evening about fifty per. responded to the - invitation by the Mayor to assemble at the Athcmeam Hall for the purpose of considering tho “Abolition of Provinces Bill, 1875, and the Local Government Bill of 1875.” The Mayor piesided, and after silence had been maintained for a considerable time, Mr James ; Taylor addressed the meeting in a very telling and effective speech, He criticised the provisions of the Bill, and reminded them tl at the Late Premier had stated, in the last session, that the whole of the consolidated revenue would be required to pay interest upon the Loan, and that further assistance from the consolidated revenue was out of tho question. He contended that if the people received L2 for LI for tho rates collected in the district, that even then they would not he as well off as they would under the existing institutions! •' He urged that Otago was peculiarly situated and likely to be seriously affected by the passing of this measure, as its Laud Fund would be attacked to pay the Interest and Sinking Fund upon the Loan; that Educational changes were also fastened on to tho Land Fund and' not the Consolidated Revenue ; that Athemsum and other reserves would bo vested in the General Government; that, under tho public Works and Immigration Policy of 1870, the Colony had expended eight millions, and that they had been told that a million and a half went towards securing support. He then, at considerable length, reviewed the doings of the Otago Provincial Council, and claimed for them that they had done their duty to the people and tha' during the last two years they had treated every part of tho Province equitably, while the votes of expeiiditurein this district for the current year were hand°omo and not likely to bo improved or increased by the establishment of Road Boards or Shires. He was a thorough Piovincialist, and would resist every attempt to do away with the same until he saw that a radical change was necessary, and then he would require to be informed thoroughly of tho proposed change or substituted government. He concluded by proposing a resolution in favor of Provincialism. —Mr Marsh seconded the resolution, and in doing so reviewed the action of the Provincial Council for the past few years. He was alarmed by tho proposed Bills, as he saw they meant a sapping and appropriation of our greatest treasure, the Provincial Laud Fund. He also thought that the L2 for Ll of rates collected in the district was nothing but a oat’s paw and thoroughly impracticable. The only parsons that were likely to benefit by the passing of these measures were the squatting in. terest, who were doubtless jubilant. It was just possible that their jubilance arose from the fact that nearly .all their leases expired I in 1834, and there was a very slight pros- $ p.eot of the Provincial Government renewing ' them. He was entirely opposed to Shire Councils, and, in his opinion, by the proposed form of government the public monies would bo squandered in keeping up the dignity of several little Road. Boards with their Clerk, Auditors, and other officials. He had gone through the Bill and could not sec that it was an improvement upon tha existing form of government. If the people wanted Road Boards, they could long since have obtaine 1 them, as tho Provincial Council had years ago made ample provision for that contingency. It was better to bo governed from Dunedin than Wellington.— Mr William Grant would propose an amendmeat, f 1 That this meeting is of opinion that .a change of the form of Government is highly necessary ; yet, in the opinion of this meeting, tho Abolition and Local Government Bills, now before the Assembly, should he postponed, to give the various throughout the Colony the opportunity of expressing a well matured opinion upon the subject at the forthcoming general election." He did not like the Bills, and believed that corruption existed on the Ministerial benches ; while it was a well known fact that many of tho Government supporters had speeches not only written by others for them, but actually printed. He was most desirous that before such a sweeping change was effected, tho people should be afforded an opportunity to make themselves acquainted with tho Bill. Provincialism had done much good, but its day of usetulnesshad passed. -Mr Aitken seconded this which was carried by a majority of four, and became the resolution of the meeting,—Mr Cololough then proposed an amendment to the effect that abolition was necessary. The speaker seemed to have only one objection, which was tho necessity of doing away with tho nine little Governments (Provinces), and the having of the big Government at Wellington. The District Engineers were being drafted down to Dunedin, so that in the event of the aboli-

tion Bills being carried, they might lay their hands upon the whole of the available monies and spend it. Mr Burrows seconded this in a somewhat laconic speech.—The Mayor was in favor of delay in the passing of theJe important measures until the now Parliament was elected which would take place in a few months, and the popple could then .<■make themselves better acquainted with the provisions thereof, while they would have the advantage of, pledging thn candidates. It was useless W say that these Bills had only just been introduced, as, last session the Government announced that they would bring forward the Abolition Bills —Mr Taylor: That was only to deal with tlie Northern Provinces. - The Mayor thought it was pretty generally known that the measures were intended to apply to the whole Colony of New Zealand. He differed from some of the provious.J'speakers about the LI for XI raised in the district. That >,r tfas quo groat boon the Bill proposed, ' namely,, that wherever money was raised there-it should ha spent,,and not as at » present at Dunedin. He would go in for a Shire, having Queenstown, Cardrona, Alexandra, and Wanaka as its boundary, and Cromwell as the centre, when they could then make one grand main trunk road. He went through several clauses of the Bill, and concluded by stating that in his opinion Abolition was necessary, but it was undesirable to carry the Bills this session.—The anieridftieut was then put, and lost,—A vote of thanks to the Chairman brought the proceedings to a close. It is with feelings of deep regret (itat I announce the decease of Mr Samuel Thomas, a miner at Bendigo; and well Jcnown in connection with Logan’s reef. His illness was of shor.t. duration having-only been/received • into the Cromwell Hospital on Sunday last, .. when he expired within forty-eight hours from admission. On Thursday he was interredin the Cromwell- Uemetery, being followed by the Oddfellows and Good Templars, ho being a late brother of each. He was a deserving and promising young man. During the past few days the weather has been excessively stormy. Sheets of iron, boards, clothes, and other, articles too numerous to mention, being involun. tarily wafted into the Kawarau, dr carried across the Clutha. Of course we have had the usual quota of dust for which Cromwell is co distinguished ; hut, as the water is promised inside of five mouths we must, with Christian fortitude, wait “the good • time a coming.” The Cromwell Cricket Club has now been formed with Mr Preshaw as President, Mr Gudgeon, Field Captain, and, Mr Dench, Secretary and Treasurer. The initiation is ten chitlings and six-pence, : and therefore it is within the reach of all parties. Cromwell gave a good account of herself last season, .and as there are several good players in the district, it is to be hoped they will throw aside their hashfulness and coma to the front. It is only fair to infer that Clyde will be up and doing, and it would be too bad to let the laurels be itakou there.. I have heard that the Bannockburn minors intend forming a ‘ Club—l should very much like to see it done, as it would be the first step to the introduction of the Victorian raining cus-tom,namely-knocking oiT work at 12 on a Saturday. The summer is fast approaching, and the sooner the initiative is taken the better.- What say the Bannockburn Mining Association ? It is gralifyingtebe able to report the •continued progress of the Cromwell Amateur Dramatic Club, who have a melodrama in hau l, an I nearly all the members are perfect in their parts, although they have ■ only had four rehearsals. I understand it is'positively settled that they will make ' their first appearance at the Athenaeum on the first iiight Of the races, when their efforts to amuse wilil doubtless be rewarded by a full house, especially when it is remembered that the performance will be in aid of the funds of the Athemeum, which building is a credit to the town and the district. The Committee are in want of money; and I feel certain that this fact, only requires publicity to take elleot. The Dramatic Club now numbers some eighteen , and others are joining. A second trip by the Arrow Stars will therefore be unnecessary. Cromwell should be able to provide its own amusements as wall as the Arrow, The Mayor is President of the Club. ' Sir’Julius Vogel"has been eclipsed, and his great policy of IS7Q, by which he established his fame, .must pall before our 3 jcal magnate, who proposes to take compassion oh poor Clyde and Alexandra, and to gather under his wing unfortunate Queenstown and Wanaka. \V T c art to have one “ great Shire, with dirty, despised ■Cromwell as its head.” In anticipation of this being realised, a gentleman who shall be nameless has taken np a piece of stony ground some twd miles out of town, where he intends, like the Roman Emperor, to ruralise, and wait the approach of the “ strangers," as he feels certain that the new Political Coach will require One or two good leaders and he fancies they cannot do without him. “Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown,” and it is not to be wondered at that the amor jpalriiß sometimes leads a person to'extremes. One word to the Queenstown folk if you should becoma one of your family,—destroy the cliques, square,up the Waterworks affair, but don’t introduce another paper.