CROMWELL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 838, 10 May 1878, Page 3

CROMWELL.

—o—In my last something was said about the framers of the Municipal Act and their intention, hut as you made considerable use of the scissors, I presume is a hint that you have had enough of my communication. Any way, last Friday was another great field day with the head of the Corporation suing for rates. However, he has the effrontery to do so is more than I can understand seeing that ho not only occupies the most valuable piece of land (rent free) the Corporation had granted as an endowment, hut is actually trying to persuade the Government to take it away from the Corporation and sell it to him and his followers. (See Waste Land Hoard's proceedings.) As most of your readers are aware the late change in our school masters is giving general satisfaction, and parents as a rule are satisfied with the progress the children are making. During the term of one of our earlier teachers complaints were made at his not having control over the children out of school. The present teacher is trying to remedy it. While on the subject, it seems strange'while the Catholics and Episcopalians provide a place of worship for themselves, the Presbyterians continue to use the School house. They are the oldest established in Cromwell, and I am told the Presbyterian body have large endowments in various parts of Otago, surely they are as able to provide a place as either of the others ; and I am also told the juvenile Good Templars use it. Is it fair to the teacher that the room should be used by any one hut himself. There was some excuse in the early days, but surely after an important town like Cromwell being in existence fifteen years no excuse can be given for holding divine-worship in the school I hoar a sub-

Boriptinn was started some time since. My only surprise is the School Committee do iid Miel against Us being used. Are they afraid of offending or what? Cur enterprising quartz reefers have taken up the old Heart of Oak, and if wages were lower I am told * prospect of dividend might he got. I hear there is a fair chauee of a good dividend from the Star as the stone is looking well. Any way the plucky shareholders are richly deserving it. Kennedy and party washed-up at the Meg with satisfactory results. At Bendigo there seems to be gaining a feeling of coniidence, and men seem to have come to the conclusion that they will have to work for themselves and not stick out for the high wages some time since. The road being made to Thomson’s has enabled the reef there to be again taken up, and with such men as are now tackling it, it will get a fair trial. It has often surprised me that no one has ever prospected Glen View, as it is a well known fact a quartz reef exists there, but any labour coining up country do not now care about hitting out for themselves, every one looks for work but does not try to chalk out independent labour for themselves. If the Dunedin people have not come to the conclusion about the mistake they have made in making the railroads round the coast line instead of into the interior of the country they shortly must do so, for if the interior is not prosperous, how is it possible the seaboard towns can be, they cannot live one on the other ; gold, wool, grain, or something must be sent down for export to pay for imports and the present high rate of carriage, the quantity of fencing material required, timber down, wire up, consequent on so much land being opened for settlement, Then again, at the present time, about L7OOO w’as sent to Wakatip last season for flour, and about L4OOO to LSOOO sent to Blacks for oats. Now, if this is produced locally, and no mode of cheap transit provided, these places must suffer by a surplus, as no period of our history is so necessary as the present for pushing on the railway right through the Island. Then. 1 'say, by all means in our power, push on the railways, not political ones, but take advantage of nature and where the land will support large populations. A party of practical miners have takenup the old Lucknow quartz claim. Mr. Henrich Behrens was duly elected councillor on the fith, nominated by Charles Colclough, Esq., Town Clerk, and seconded by Mr William Taylor, Bootmaker, resident on the celebrated Block IX., where Mr Behrens is also a resident I presume the street squatters will consider they have gained some strength in their illegal occupation. But to those who know Mr Behrens best, think that his honest, sense of what is right will prevent him from turning to his own special benefit illegally the power ho has got by his elec'ion. Mr M'Cormick is determined if possible to have the Bridge finished in time. He has enough timboi cut and lying at the Wanaka, but it will not float and there is no other way of getting it down. Mr M’Corraick has been to Wakatip and purchased another lot to be brought down by horse teams, so that now the lot provided will lie on hia hands. So much for the determination of our local contractor. A start is being made on the Terrace, the carting of stone having commenced, so we may expect very soon to see some permanent buildings erected. 1 see David Jolly, Esq., County Treasurer, has erected, in hia enclosure, rather a handsome private residence. Mr William George Smith, of Bendigo, is an inmate of the Cromwell Hospital with not much'hope of his recovery, which is deeply regretted by those, who know him. he having been one at all times ready to assist others in misfortune.