CROMWELL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 824, 1 February 1878, Page 3

CROMWELL.

(Comib.N’ICATF.D.) '; *’ January 23, 1878. In "my hist .!■' -made reference to the excitement' amongst our troops. It appears the same orders were received at the military head-quarters, Arrowtown, as to the keeping up the 'strength of regiments,, and which caused a .great panic. The general in command issued an order to the officer in ■command of the. Queenstown garrison to use all meins in his' power to obtain recruits ; he was also instructed to muster the cadets to see if any were lift for active service. On examination fifteen were found fit for service, and were sworn in as regulars—some of tender year* «nd hardly knowing the nature of an oath. For days the telegraph departments were kept going forwarding messages' from one garrison, to. .the other. While this was going on no time was lostat district head-quarters, an orderly was

desiia'ched to iM ace town tp njaky it known that Major General Msctay with a. recruiting staff would visit that place in a few ! Up to that time it- Afis not dreamt | of that a general and a '.-staff wearing Her Majesty’s livery would visit such an outlandish place. Accordingly the staff arrived on the 12th instant, and were heartily greeted by the inhabitants. A meeting was held in the school-room at. S-p-w,, when 11. J. Cope, Esq., was called to the chair, a gentleman of talent, which was clearly shown by the able manner in which he opened the meeting, and the glowing description given of the gallapt general—-com-menting on his long'experience as a soldier, describing the bloody battles he had takeu Eart in, also the many hair breadth escapes e had had during along career. The chairman also explained the cjmdfe of the gallant old soldier’s visit, and dwelt on the menacing aspect of Europe, not knowing the moment it would flash by.cable: across the ocean—Britain, involved' in'w’ar. He also congratulated the brave'-general on his recent promotion, stating that;a more deserving soldier did not exist. The gallant general, being introduced fn' the.audience, rose 'and thanked.the Qhairman for the very flattering description given t»f him and the cause of his mission. It was- plain to be seen that the old soldier ; was nyicl^affected; he informed the audience 1 that he' was almost unable to express his ideas, as the chairman so flatteringly lard before them his deads of warfare, it called to mind his youthful daysj.and httgoUifot AiolpTfiokl!' ing back hut with emotion ojpthe days that crowned him with hendrWl glory, that glory which had raised him to the honourable position he now held. He informed the meeting that he would not detain them long, as the chairman had tajd before thepi' all the facts! but "would merely stale that it was intimated to him by cablegram from thp. war office that all--regiments in Her Majesty’s service were to be kept on a war footing, if not, to bo disbanded.. As general' of the district the duty devolved on him to call them to rally round that standard, so nobly upheld by'the blood df -theiir-fore-fathers. Ho called on one and all to unfurl and protect that banner .which-bad for ages so proudly waved in the battle and the breeze. The audience, unable longer to withstand such excifmglSngffiige, ‘sjAafigid their feet, many exclaiming their readiness to become soldiers, eo .’aj t# protect that proud banner so nobly upheld'ey the blood of their ancestors. - Several stepped forward and were sworn in. The- meeting was brought to a close in th> us'il'al manner, the gallant general being much applauded. The audience were much pleased' on hearing ot the general’s salary being increased to LSO per annum, and I suppose other-little pick---ings such as.. travelling allowances, etc. This is not to he sneezed at ' now-a-days. The meeting numbered abnut twenty-five persons, and ten wove enrolled. The Doctor of the Apostles and one of the Whitechapel boys joined; another of. the! Apostles was present, but declined to join pn the grounds, of being tno old arn.d. sjintly to become a soldier. It was- much’ regretted. the' King,' of the Apostles not being 1 present, for being an old soldier he -would* boa;-great aequisi-” tion to the corps—.without him: it is nofc-j complete. Had die jojned.it (is-most likelythe Saint would "have followed suit. In’ future Macetown is to he a denfi*-, and a detatehmeut stationed there. Arrow is the head-quarters of the. district... How, I fancy that is not right, -Cromwell *fe‘a more important city and should bo the general’s As I iptradyccd; the name of the Apostles, a little of dheir 'history maybe interesting- 111 the olrly-tlays: of the rush drunkenness was carried on to a great extent at Macetown. Twelve drunkards clubbed together and ea\led themselves the Twelve Apostles, appointed one as King, another Doctor, and-one ns Secretary, who were, supposed to transact all the business of : the'company. : They seldom drank athotela. but purrhafad thair liquors wholesale and consumed it in their huts, and although the greatest drunkards.'they were otherwise honest, and aKvays managed to pay their store bills. All. their earnings were divided, and when hard-up for (money and drink they used to purchase goods, etc., on tick, and sell them again for one-fourth the value. Tiie king on one 'occasion purchased a pair of trousers for 3l)s and sold them for S’, six ’ as to raise the wind, and which was quite a common occurrence. Out of the twelve only three-are-living , The’ king is still at Macetown, but' his appetite is rather delicate. 1 have it-from an.eyewitness who saw him on one occasion devour twelve duck eggs, a loaf,of.bread, half a pnund of butter, arid a billy of tea, and could have .gone, fitrther.had, things.run it. If I could only get a few such delicate gentlemen to patronise Mr- Marsh’s cheap meals I would be entitled, to, twelve mouths free tucker. Peter and Paul obtained salvation by prayers and fasting; but the Macetown Apostles believe blasphemers, drunkards, and gluttons have the best chance of late days. . The .Whitechapel Boys were another drunken blob,' and who resided on the Arrow River about four miles from the township, who also, drank wholesale. When lying prostrate they used to employ Chinese to go‘ : to! ilia: Arrow for the deadly draught, and were proud of boasting that they were superior to the Macetown Apostles. 'The reefs are now all being worked. ■ TheHomeward Bound and All Nations companies look Well .; the Ladye F*yre is also getting on well, having a good ffiafl : at, 'the helm. The Maryborough, GladstoheV'anVl, Premier have hot much work dofteyiaiid itri is hard to judge as to the, prospects.llheTipperarv looks particularly try ft "in,—one' part. of.the claim. Great jifb'vails on" account of ohanoinghhwkiiagfrs of ’experience and replacing them-by otlrers, ns 1 am told, not ro well up in mines. The notorious Premier c-iso is finally’ settled. After a waste of valuable time and.„monev it is to be hoped that tluiigVwul gd on more smoothly. There is but little nows here in the soldiering line move than .that-the poor nightman was compelled to take up arms, and his duty will be that of Pioneer, ft was thought the poor man had quite enough to do in attending to the sanitary condition.. ot the town, and if ho bad on hour to spare to spend it with his family. To keep up the staff a contingent is to be raised at the Nevis, with Mr E. Thompson in command. Great agitation is expressed as to the manner in which the Cromwell Commonage is about to I.? -ncnupolisod, the whole flat, ' Lowburn, and lount Pisa Range to the water shed is .narked off for agriciltural purposes, and applications for same to be heard on the Bth proximo. Any man, that can cultivate Mount Pisa Range shbu'd be looked upon as a model farmer.' The cultivation w 11 be cattle runs, although some „of them who run 150 head arid pay for 23 should be well satisfied. Large blocks of 320 acres are applied for situated at Cromwell flat, f wonder is Mount Pisa Range Cromwell flat, it is shut out ■ by farms running from Poverty Point to ’the'saddle at Burnt Cottage gully. Now, unless some steps be taken, such; injnstieeryyilj- drive the poor man from the district; gold mining about the Gorge, Lowborn,' aiid Cromwell is not no prolific as it usod-ta lie.-and; working men depend much on their little gardens and I the run of a,few head of caVsq. Ms that 1 right now to be taken'from them’? " It'was by great agitation the commonagi bvas ch-

ained, and now it is to bo given into the hn ads of a few; It is to be hoped such will not be the case. If the Mayor of Cromwell mas to call a public meeting protesting it would be humane. Groat rejoicing—Pyke for ever is theory! The best day yet dawned for the Bannockburnites will he Monday, the 4th proximo, when the Bridge is to be thrown open. Come up Clydeites one and all and witness the great event. -•