CROMWELL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 827, 22 February 1878, Page 3

CROMWELL.

( Communicate!). ) February 19, 187 S. I wonder has our worthy member taken any steps towards the erection of the institution suggested a short time since, to wit, a lunatic asylum, for the benefit of the Cromwellites. Block IX. has cropped up again. Mr John Marsh appeared before the Waste Lands Board, Dunedin, on the 13*h instant, with regard to block IX., Cromwell, and inquired whether tho Board had received any communication upon it from the present Government. The Chief Commissioner said there had been no communication. Mr Marsn said the Hon. Mr Larnaoh, during his recent visit to Cromwell, promised to speak to the Chief Commissioner on his return to town. The Chief Commissioner replied curtly, “ Well, he didn’t.” Now, I think the Chief Commissioner should not have spoken that way to a gentleman from the country, moro especially a Cromwellite. Mr Marsh, it appears, was knocked out of time, as he did not come to the scratch afterwards. I suppose it will be a job for the Temple Chamber Boys - the patriarchal looking boys with long robes. Botheration to this block IX., what is to ho done with it at all ? Something must ba done. There will be plenty of candidates for the asylum previously referred to. We do not want that frightful building up here. I think it would bo better if a big flood would come down tho Kawarau river and sweep blocks IX. and XXVII. down the Molyneux, then we would hear no more about them. Unless something of the kind takes place it is hard to say what may occur. Things are dull, and the decrease in value of freehold property is preying much on those who hold a quantity of it; land is looked on now as a bad speculation. Taking the whole together things look very dickey about Cromwell at present, but it is to be hoped better days are coming. In my last I brought .under your notice I an occurrence that took placeat the Cornishtown chair, and which nearly proved fatal. I was since shown the spot where young Stephens dropped from his’perilous position, the fall was something about twenty feet. He managed to keep clear of a ledge ol rocks close by the river edge, had ha fallen on them death must have been certain. The river being very wide—nearly 300 feet —where the chair crosses, the wire is necessarily several feet lower in the centre than it is at the Listenings on each side, so the great danger is in getting in or out. When the chair is let loose it slides quickly to tho centre and remains stationary until the slack of the hand rope is pulled in, then it takes a stiff pull to obtain a landing in consequence of the elevation. Young Stephens states that when the chair got to the centre it gave a jerk, by which the foot was thrown out and he lost the grasp of one .hand for a moment, but the frightful position ho found himself in. hanging over the seething surrent of the Kawarau, gave him strength to regain his hold. It is hard to surmise which of tho boys acted with the greatest coolness or pluck, Charles Stephens, or his rescuer, young Mitchell, neither of whom have seen their eleventh year. Many b n ys of that age seeing the occurrence would have become frightened, and run away perhaps; but young Mitchell, with great presence of mind, rendered the required assistance, and to his piuek young Stephens owes his life. It is to be wondered how the chair hag run so long without an accident taking place with the number of children that crass daily. Mr Scully, drill instructor, paid a visit last week for three nights but his parades were poorly attended. It is thought he comes out the old soldier too much in impressing on tho young soldiers proper timo,’ &c. If ail tho New Zealand volunteers are trained like the Cromwell company they never will be perfect. Men join, rifles are put in their hands, and after an evening’s instruction are supposed to be properly trained soldiers. In the line recruits must have a thorough knowledge of drill before being entrusted with a rifle. such as marching, counter-marching, formation of companies, half companies. See. Mf Scully, no doubt, is well up in drill, and does not spare the lungs ; his mode of catechising recruits might have done in the olden times, such is not allowed now, and volunteers will not stand such stiff language, 1 looked on for a few minutes on Thursday night, the men were kept standing to attention with shouldered arms during tho greater part of the instructor’s discourse, which was not touching on the position or movements at tho time. A recruit should not, be kept in the same position longer than is really necessary. During the time 1 was looking on, the front rank men wore strictly at the attention, while I noticed some of the chaps n the rear rank stood at case now and again, and ns I fancied, rather, cunning Jor young soldiers. Had I been so situated 1 belieyp I would try a. .little scheming. ’ It is right, rr.cn not effective should be cautioned and

told what to do with as few words as possible, and, if necessary, the drill instructor should stand in position and go through the motions, &c.; when going through the manual or rifle exercises tho instructor should always bo provided with a rifle in order that he may be able to show the recruit the required positions and movements.