CROMWELL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 825, 8 February 1878, Page 3

CROMWELL.

(Communicated.) February 5, 1878. Having laid before your readers the lead--1 ing topics, I will now try and give an outline of Cromwell and district, showing their resources, &0.. Yon are aware this thriving town is situated on the banks of the Kawarau and Clutha rivers, wedged in at the junction of both rivers with the Molyneux. Mining operations are 'carried on for about three-quarters of a mile -along the river banks, and extending about the same distance from tho junction into the flat. Coming in from the south and taking the town in the rear it presents to the eye a very barren'appearance ; over the 'Clutha River is a wooden bridge of grand structure, by which ingress is obtained to the town. On approaching the bridge a full view is obtained of the main street, which runs cast and west and is known as Melmore street, with a terrace on the nori hj side and tho Kawarau River on the south, and which rUns'parallel with only room for one row of buildings. This street is the centre of attraction and is the only place of commerce. 1 will now refer to ‘the chief ‘buildings, which are of stone. On entering from tbo east, .on the north sido is I. Hallenstein and Co.’s establishment, a two-storey building of fine architectural appearance, and commands an extensive business as general merchants. Adjoining is the Colonial Bank of New' Zealand towering over all the other buildings, and which is a very handsome structure showing great architectural skill. Next worthy of 'notice is 'B. A. Jolly and Co.’s establishment, who are doing a very extensive trade as general merchants.Sharwood and Wright have added much to their business in consequence of the new building erected, and is apparently tho most commodious place of business in tho town. Adjoining is the Bank of New South Wales, the first bank erected in Cromwell, and is remaikable for the fine drooping willows overhanging it from the rear. A few doors farther on is the Bank of New Zealand, and a little further on tbo Post-office, which is no-ornament as regards its structure. At the rear of the Post office is the Atbenamm fronting Sligo-street, and which is a fine hall but of poor architecture. Opposite stands the 'Schoußhouse tall recreation ground, which has a substantial stone wall round it. To the west Melmore Terrace stands conspicuously—Dr Stirling’s residence glancing tho eye; further on appears in view a very' showy building with a wooden front, and which was erected for an hotel, but the owner having become a Good i Templar it is "used as a store-room for ; timber, &c. The only' building of note on | the south side is Goodger’s Junction Commeieial Hotel, a -spacious iron building; I close by'is'the Council Chambers, a small wooden building. There are a half-dozen I substantial stone buildings on the flat, the 1 most prominent of which are the Church of England, Court-house, Police Camp, and ; the Rev. Father Kehoe's residence, a neat , building with a garden nicely laid out, on ; the ground that at one time was tho pest of i Cromwell, a manure and sand d.-p t but i which is now enclosed with a post, rail, and ' wire fence. The Homan Catholic Chapel, a wooden structure, stands in the enclosure. 1 There are lOO'dwolling-houses 13 of which | are unoccupied, and allowing there are five I persons in each bouse, gives a population of | 435, but I think four and a half will come ; nearer the mark, which would givo about 3914- 1 have included all places where persons sleep at night, hotels, steles, banks, &c.; there are over a dozen places trusting 'to one occupant. There are seven hotels, three genelal merchants, one timber merchant builder, Ac., two drapers, three butchers’ shops, two blacksmiths’ shops, one tinsmith, one wheelwright, one painter, one saddler, one tailor, two raining agents, two dress makers, a printing office, two shoemakers’ establishments, one coal merchant, two Chinese stores, one doctor, one surgeon, ono chemist, a registrar of births, kc., and a postmaster and telegraphist. I am happy' hi state we havo been free from sickness this summer, which is no doubt owing to the supply of pure water, and I must state wo have a nightman who does his duty. As to the district, I will try and lay before your readers as nearly as possible its resources :—lst. Tho mining interest—There arc 48 water races, 15 on the south side of the Kawarau river and supplying Bannockburn, k:., the largest of which is tho Garrick Range Company’s race taking its rise from Coal Creek flowing from the North Po’o, near Showy Gully, at tho head of Fraser's River. Several races take, their )iso at the junction of Duffer’s Gully with the Bannockburn Creek. Tim Bannockburn Company's race is tho, largest, next is Thomas and Tippet’s, which terminates at Cornishtown, and is fed by the Bannockburn Creek. On the north side there are 17 races, six terminating at the .Kawarau Gorge, two at Cromwell, the Westmoreland having a right to twelve and a half heads. There am also good rights at tho Lowbnrn and Five-mile creeks ; further to the north Poison Creek, Dead Horse Gully, and the Sunny Side races, taken from the head of Luggate Creek and terminating about a mile above the Devil’s Nook, arc all fed from the Water Shed of Mount Pisa. On the East side of the Clutha there are 16 races, South and Phillipi’g race, then the Firewood Creek, property of the Cromwell Corporation—a good right. There are five races terminating at Quartz-reef Point—-first-class rights ; next is the Aurora, purchased some time ago by’ the Cromwell Company, and commands the Bendigo reefs; then comes the Rise and Shine—a first class right, commanding pood ground. To tho east is Anderson’s, on tho Downs ; there are also four races at Manuka Point. There are but few of the races enumerated trusting to. one right, some have several tributaries. Mount Pisa supplies tlje largest quantity of water, Bannockburn has a good supply and is tbe richest part of the district in alluvial workings. There are nine-quartz batteries with 71 stampers—four batteries at Bendigo with thirty-five stampers, and five batteries

at Carrickton with 36.stampers. Quartz reefing is at a stand-still, there arc only live men reeling on the Garrick and are prospecting the Star of the East. The are seven I- coal-pits—one at Cromwell, one at Kawarau Gorge (not worked), throe at Bannockburn r (two worked), two at Bannockburn Bridge g (not worked). There are large deposits of lignite between Bannockburn Bridge and e Cromwell along tbe river, and last winter when tho river was low some hundreds of t tons were taken away. There arc eleven r farmers, of which six only are depending on i- -farming; Anderson Bros., Poison Creek, . are the oldest farmers in tho district. There e are half a dozen in the district holding a small patches of about ten acres. Including 5, Cromwell there are nineteen hotels, two i bush licenses, one brewer, and three wholesale wine and spirit merchants, about a twenty-six -business licenses, eleven t slaughtering licenses—eight of which , slaughtci-s great cattle, and tight billiard 3 tables. There are three stations—Morvern 3 Hills, Mount Pisa, and Kawarau. There f are about 300 dogs registered annually. . Tbe boundary is as-follows :—Commencing . at the Roaring Meg Hotel and following up , tho Kirtleburn to tbe junction of the Annie 3 and taking a slanting direction across Mount 1 Pis'a to the head of tho Luggate, continuing j north-east and crossing the Clutha at Mau- . uka Point, and on to Grandview, getting on 1 to the water shed. Turning to the east and c foliotning up to Mount Jenus saddle and f leaving Mount St. Bathans on the left, then > facing to tho south and crossing at the head of Cluden Creek (better known as Grumbling [ Gully), then following on to the saddle ber tween Thompson’s Creek anil the Rise and . Shin», getting on to tbe tbe Dunstan Ranges , afthe head of Sonora Creek, then following . tbe creek clown and crossing the Molyneux, - then on to Cairnmuir taking in tho Halfway House, Nevis road, and following up tho road to the bead of Duffer’s Gully, then . turning lo tbe nor.h and following up the , watershed of the Carriole Range and ter- ( urinating at the Kawarau River opposite tho [ starting point. The population within the ! circle defined at the census in 1873 numbered, including Chinese, about 1,400, Cromwell furnishing 400 Europeans and t about 25 Chinese. I havo no hesitation in stating that at the next census it will number but little over 1,200, if any. In 1873 there were 26 hotels, two bush licenses, one brewer, one bottle, three wholesale wine and spirit merchants, and fully 40 business licensee. In 1870 there were about 30 hotels. In 1863 Cromwell aud district boasted of nine hoteh and about twelve | business licenses. At that time, however, the district was overrun with sly grog shanties, which was a profitable came with nobblei sat a shilling. Some ot the leading men of the district owe their position to selling-grog on the sly, and are now fattening on the mis-spept lives of many whose bodies lie mouldering in the clay and others pent up in the asylum. 1 furnish this return from a knowledge of the district by glancing over if without note?, and 1 Venture', to state I will not bt found much over or under the return given. I am unable to give particulars as to tie opening of tbo Bridge in consequence of the post closing so early, more than to state it was a great success. The day was all that could ba eupeoted but rather oppressive, tho heat being something unusual. There wore about 400 persons present, the ladies mustering in great force and adding much to the festivity of the day’. On Mr Pyke’s arrival he was received with great acclamation, aud he then proceeded to perform tho ceremony of throwing open tbe bridge—the gates were removed and the board of ordinance pulled down, after which M r Pyke proceeded to the centre of tho Bridge and delivered a short and humorous address fitted to tho occasion, and committed to the deep tho keys which so securely preserved tbe spider and bis wab. No more will he be seen watching oi pouncing on his prey ; the poor insects can now pass back-and torward unmolested. I 'was proud to sco so many Clydeitos present on tho occasion, among whom I noticed that jolly-looking gentleman. His Honor Judge Harvey. Refreshments and good things were provided in abundance,