ARROWTOWN.

Dunstan Times, Issue 796, 20 July 1877, Page 3

ARROWTOWN.

(from our Correspondent. ) The lailway question is being actively taken up and a memorial will be sent to tbo Government asking for a survey ol the line from Kingston to Cromwell and Clyde. Tho various Municipalities and County Councils affected by the line will bo written to and their co-operation sought in furthering the work. People here are inclined to leave the matter of which way communication will bo established between Dunedin and Clyde to down country interests as being too far distant for them to have a proper appreciation of the most advisable route. In the matter of our County Council wo appear to have undeservedly come in for a very great and unnecessary amount of abuse anent extravagant expenditure. Suck a charge is really undeserved, for the truth really is that all the business of tho County is conducted very economically. The balance sheet, or rather financial statement for tho year ending March 3L, 1877, is a most carelessly prepared document and tho cause of all tho trouble. The various items set down as departmental include all tho salaries, the grand total only amounting to LI2GO. The advertising and printing account, L2lO, is the only item that appears exorbitant, but that will be reduced next year. You must know that wo have two newspapers published in the district, and our Council patronises both, no journal having a monopoly of the business as yet. Since the Gibbstown Coal Pit has come into the hands of its row owner, Mr R. D. Owens, we have been receiving a Supply of splendid coal, which for its burning properties has never been equalled, while it is also very plentiful ; the difficulty ot a scant supply oftentimes occurring, q’bo circumstances connected with the sale of this pit have been rather amusing, everything connected with it having boon of a seemingly dual character. For instance, two auctioneers went down to sell it, one obtaining halt commhsicn for looking on. Two purchasers claimed to have jointly bought tho property, but this difficulty, after having occasioned a very great deal of ill-feeling and personal abuse, appears to have eventuated in an unmistakable case of hallucination of mind on the part of one of tho would-be purchasers. Mr Owens having, after much difficulty, succeeded in convincing tho person that be Mr Owens, having paid tbo money out ot his own pocket must be considered the purchaser in fact. Coal on tho brain is a serious thing. One poor fellow got a “ little touched” from this cause, and is now att inmate of the Benevolent Asylum. It is to he hoped that we shall not experience a second case.