CROMWELL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 730, 14 April 1876, Page 2

CROMWELL.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT,). The busin S3 in the R.M. Court, before W L. Simpson, Esq., was of a light nature. A. Z i'iian was lined 40a anil costs of Court for a breach of the Town and Country Licensing Ordnance, bv disposing of goods by lottery The Magistrate in giving judgment, remarked that the witnesses in the case were just as guilty and liable to be lined as the defendant, but they would be let off with a caution.—Police v R. Long. Alleged breach of the licensed auctioneers’ Ordinance. The Bench held that no breach of the. Ordinance had been committed, and dismissed the case.—Corporation v. Marsh. Claim of £44 12s 6d, rates in arroar. Judgment reserved.

In the Warden's Court tho following business was transacted :—Applications were granted for extended claims.— Hitchins and others, Bannockburn ; E. Tupkor and another, 2 acres, Adam’s Gully; George Bennett, 1 aero, Adam’s Gully ; W. Novcllo, 1 ace, Quartz Reef Point; W. Buchan, 1 ace, Bannockburn ; Geo. Clough mi l ano'he-, 2 acres, TCevi* ; Ah Pan and another. 2 .can, Rmn ekbnrn Creek.—Protection Granted ; John Barry and others, 00 days claim Bannockburn ; Daniel Moore, 90 days, claim an ! tai' race, Potter’s Creek. Cromwell has I ecu very dull lately on account of the very dry state of tho weather which has caused tho mining population at the Bannockburn district to bo idle during

the past two months, but it is to be hoped that the heavy rain-fall of last Sunday w'l have a beneficial and animating influence. Groat dissatisfaction has lately been caused by our resident medical man. Several cases of neglect have come under my notice, causing patients to leave their homes to seek medical aid at Clyde. Conduct of this . description deserves a largo amount of censure.

The usual monthly meeting of the Committee of Management of the Cromwell District Hospital took place on Thursday last, the business transacted was of an un important nature. Our sanitary condition is very satisfactory at present—it seems the new waterworks have a beneficial influence in that respect. An inquest was held on Wednesday last before W. L. Simpson, Esq., Coroner, on i the body of one 1 amis Darcy Pox, who was found dead on Monday night last in his tent opposite the Post Office, the jury returned a verdict, of death in a natural way from effusion of blood on the brain. What a distressing thing it is to be always in the way ! Now, being a fly, and not a very inquisitive one, bnt of that despised genua, viz., a house fly. It is most strange that these people of Cromwell should find me out from the rest of my species. No matter how lightly 1 sit, stand, run, fly, or walk these spiteful Cromwell ites are down upon me sharp. That fly again ! Bad luck to it! By J vlv z, I'd give a fiver to be at him, that I would ! Be at what ? queries a bystander. That infernal fly ! He’s been in my nose, going all rnun 1, in and out,

like a dog in a cave, th's last half-hour. No v, he is up to his Rlondin like tricks in my car ! Ah ! I’ve cot him ! Crush ! crush I By the new waterworks I bet he won’t annoy me any more ! No. no ! 11a, TTa ! not this time, Mr Citizen. I’ve had ray life insured, and I’m not going off die honks in a hurry. Not for Joe, not if I knows it ! Oh, dear no ; I’m not an inquisitive fly, but I like to know what is going on. When 1 bite it is to remind folk not to be to > spiteful and uncharitable. There is a little morn than is palatable of that sort of food served out at the tables of the inhabitants ef this dusty town. For breakfast this fly likes sweet bread ; not as one is sure to get it in Cromwell, which is had enough by itself, goodness knows, without being buttered with malign, spite, and the green-eyed monster jealousy. A step in the light direction has been taken in the matter of water, which is far, very far from being pure and wholesome yet; still, boiled with coffee in I can manage it, when the sugar is free f r om the indigestible and objectionable balking matter. Talking about breakfast makes me feel at the present moment almost ravenous, or next door to it. I’ll fly into the first tub and see if it be possible to get my small.wants satisfied, without giving dissatisfaction to any other animal. Friends and lovers of truth shall hear from this fly again. In the meantime gossips beware I [ Flies in wintei bite, and tbo frost sharpens I the pain.

DUNEDIN. —o—(PROM OUR OWN COKRPSrOX DRN’T.) Dcnediv, April 9 r h. Education is a matter on which a good deal of controversy is constantly going on in respect to its various phases. One day the masters are up in arras, and try their best to become the masters of the situation by overruling the Educational Board, and proclaim what they consider the acme of perfection from their point of view, and would go to the extent of prohibiting all private schools unless the proprietors passed an examination. These self-sufficient gentry fail to see that although a man or woman may pass an examination that enables them to he employed by the Board, there their qualification ends. Experlen-M proves that numbers are lamentable apologies for teachers, and have not in the least d gree the power of imparting their knowlodge to the pupils. It is true that we have Inspectors of Schools ; hut what a hollow farce it is the hurried manner these inspections are made. The question arises, are we getting a quid pro quo for the money expended on education that we ought ably to expect. I have noticed that wiVu all the lavish expenditure the punils, as a general rule, are lamentably deficient in several points ; Ist. You scarcely come across a boy or girl capable of reading properly, being generally nothing but one continuous gabble from beginning to end, without stops or emphasis. 2nd. In writing there is a great deficiency, good writing being the exception to the rule 3rd. In arithmetic I have be< n quite astounded at the it norance of the children who have been at school some years. It is clear that the-o is something radically wrong in the system ; or, that although the teachers may he very learned, thev are to‘ally unfit to he masters of onr schools. Now that Abolition is about to take place a great deal of pood would result if a Commission were appointed to examine the schools and all matters portaurng to education. We have a University, and are supposed to have a Council to manage it, hut their doings no one knows anything of, and the whole affair is of a very misty nature, except the fact that one of the most valuable sites, with a building thereon, which cost the Province some forty thousand pounds, (the foe simple) was by some jungling placed at the disposal of this rnythy Council for the benefit of a class who, if they want to give their children a University education are well able to pay for it. This Council has some foggy ideas on the matter of publicity. This savors too much of the precedents wo have in the Home country, where institutions were founded, and by secrecy were perverted from what they were intended for —notably the Christchurch School, the Charterhouse, and many others. Will wo as colonists submit to such a repetition ? Wo must have their proceedings made public. Surely they ought not to bo afraid of the light of day dawning on them. Jobbery 1 and malversation may take place in tho

dark, but never in the daylight. The goldfields m»y languish long before the paternal Government would spend money to make roads j but can give property, as before stated, for the benefit of a small class of the community to the neglect of the best interests of the Province. Tokomairiro has had its Races, and a nice little meet it was. The weather was splendid, and the racing of average goodness. The mare Mystery came in iu quite a mysterious manner a winner, to the satisfaction of the bookmakers, who, as usual, were prepared to give a shot on anything. Many availed themselves, but were not fortunate enough to spot Mystery. Old Clyde, lately owned by Mr Kidd, now by Mr Parsons, has been disqualified ; also the rider Laing, during the pleasure of the Club. This has caused * S°°d deal of dissatisfaction, and the action of the Club is keenly criticised, many assorting that the Club were anything but unanimous in their opinion that there was any foul play on the part of Laing. After a discussion of some four hours the decision on the face of it denotes that there was weighty doubt ; or else, why not, if the case was proved beyond a doubt, a permanent disqualification should have been awarded. The Police charged Mr Caleb Moore with selling tickets for the Cup Sweep, held at Dodson s Empire Hotel, There was practically no defence ; but it was pointed out that far worse had taken place at the Bazaar in aid of Knox 'Church. Mr Harris Stated that a friend of his had been swindled there to the'extent of Ll9, and all he had to show for it was a box of paper collars. The Bench said that was a charitable affair, and covered a multitude of sins, but two whites did not make a black. The decision was reserved till yesterday, when a fine of LlO was inflicted, the Bench expressing that it would like that the Supreme Court should give their decision on the subject. John Barnes, the Inspector for the Corporation, was assaulted by a man who has a contract for laying kerbing. A dispute took place, Barnes wanting some sand shot in a particular spot, the man objecting. Barnes then upset it, and the man struck him with a shovel'am the" head. He was taken home at once, the doctor stating that he was in a precarious condition, the skull being fractured. The man is remanded for a week, bail refused till a further report as to the state of Mr Barnes. It is reported that the Colima will be docked at Port Chalmers, the Provincial Government granting its use* free of charge. We have had no more trash in the shape of tel»grams passing between the two representatives of Saint Michael and Saint George—Sir George Grey and Sir Julius Vogel. Happy people ! but who is to pay the piper ? I once saw a notice to civil servants that if they used the telegraph where the matter could go by post, that they would have to pay for the telegram. That which is sauce for the g.,ose should be the same for the gander. What if Parliament should apply the rule to the two knights, and make them shell up.