THE Mount Ida Chronicle FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1871.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 131, 1 September 1871, Page 4

THE Mount Ida Chronicle FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1871.

In another column will be found a memorial from the Mayor and Town Council of Cromwell to the Postmas-ter-General, relative to making that .place the terminus of the north-western mail service instead of Clyde, as at present. We have so often and so strongly expressed our opinion on this subject, that we feel some hesitation in returning to it, nor, indeed, should we have done so on the present occasion were it not for the receipt of the memorial to which we have above alluded. In our opinion the prayer of the Cromwell memorial is fair aqd just, and the request made a very simple and reasonable one. We do not, in any decree, desire to disparage Clyde, or to detract from its importance as an inland centre. Still, it must be borne in mind that during the late session of the Provincial Council a Commission, specially appointed to enquire into Groldfieids matters, decided unanimously that Cromwell was the place—the most central—the most important in the Dunstan district, and the place wherein should be located the Executive Machinery of the district. Under

these circumstances we cannot but think, to use the words of the memorial, that Cromwell is the "natural termi- " nus of the .North-Western Mails," and we think also that every effort should be used so to make it. The present arrangement is eminently unsatisfactory, the present mail terminus being only some thirteen miles short of what the Cromwellites designate—and, we think, designate with truth—the natural terminus for that portion of the inland mails. Let us, however, attempt to arrive at something like facts. The dist nee from Dunedin to Cromwell is net down at 170 miles. JVow, let us see how this distance is divided in a mail point of view. The coach from i uuedin reaches Pigroot the first night, a distance of some seventy miles ; the following day Clyde is reached, a distance of something like ninety odd miles. At Clyde the service terminates, and Cromwell, the principal inland capital, is reached the third day by a branch mail. While agreeing with the remarks contained in the memorial, that an alteration in tiie hour of departure from Uunedin would do much to effect a cure of the present mail disease, we doubt if the expression withou' extra expense will be found to be correct. Nor do we, indeed, believe —much as we desire to see it accomplished—that the proposed service can be in any way satisfactorily carried out unless that abomination, the Houndburn Hill, is avoided by the making of a new road through what is generally known to be the gorge, l'hat this can be done has been frequently demonstrated by survey, which has shown that, should a new road be made, commencing at the old ti aning of the Shag River Company, the distance between Pigroot andNaseby would be shortened by some six or eiuht miles, and a good road substituted for a bad on,\ thereby making the distance saved actu illy and virtually much greater. In supporting the prayer of the Cromwell memorial we desire to be honest and outspoken. We admit that Cromwell has a right to be consdered and to be the centre of the Dunstan district, and being such, has a right to be made the terminus of the NorthWestern Mail Line. Human nature, however, is selfish, and we look upon the question in a selfish and Naseby point of view—a point of view which we think should be endorsed by the Cromwellites. Our desire is not only that Cromwell should be made the terminus of the North-Western Mails, and Naseby the midway station, but that the whole traffic of up-country should be made to pass there through. To effect this it would be necessary that the road to which we have referred should be constructed. As we have already stated, the construction of this road would not only save a distance of some six or eight miles between Pigroot and this place, but would at the same time substitute a good road for a bad, nay, an abominable one. Though this place would, no doubt, be a great gainer by the alteration of the line of road, Cromwell, though at a greater distance, could not fail to reap, if not as great, still a great advantage from the change of route. To be honest we must say that, airree. ing fully with the prayer'of the Cromwell Corporation, we see little prospect of their aim being accomplished unless the line of road to which we have referred be constructed. There is, how- : ever, no doubt that the mail service and \ the alteration of the road are two different things—the former a General, and the latter a Provincial Government matter. Still, if the mail contract for the ensuing year is to make Cromwell the terminus, instead of Clvdr, we feel sure that it will be tendered for upon much more easy terms if the line of road be changed in the manner in which we have, ever since our advent here, advocated. We are glad to see the present action taken by the people of Cromwell, and we feel sure that, if the various Goldfields would drop their little jealousies and go in for general instead of abstract principles, much of the evil under which the mining interest labors would be avoided. In conclusion, we can only say that the movement has not only our best wishes for its success, but, at the same time, shall have every support which it may be in. our power to give it,

One of the consequences of the recent fall of Bnow has been the interruption of telegraphic communication since Tuesday last. This is not to be wondered at, as the wire in some places was so large, from the adherence of the snow, as to resemble a very large cable. There is one known break in the. wire between the Houndburn Hill and the Jiyeburn Hotel. It is more than probable, however, that breaks have occurred at other places. Thk usual two-monthly sitting of the District Court is appointed for Wednesday, the 13th inst. There are, we believe, no cases for hearing, that of Fulton v. Keenan, for false arrest and imprisonment, having been settled out of Court. There has been no business either in the Resident Magistrate's or Warden's Courts since our last issue. In consequence of the bad state of the road, the Rev. Mr. M'Cosh Smith will not hold service at the Kyeburn on Sunday next, as he intended to have done, but will conduct Divine aen ice, both morning and evening, at the Masonic Hall. Should nothing occur to prevent his so doing, the rev. gentleman will preach at Kyeburn on the following Sunday morning. Mk. Warden Robinson left this place on Monday last, for the purpose of holding a Court at the Serpentine. It was, we believe, his intention to spend the night of Monday at one of the stations, and to proceed the next day to Serpentine. We fear, heweve ..he heavy snow will have prevented him from naving readied his destination. A meeti*g of the Provisional Hospital Committee was held at Hunter's Empire Hotel on the evening of Monday last, when it wasresolved that a further effort should be made to obtain a definite reply from the Government in regard to the vote passed by'the Council, the previous reply to the application of the Committee being deemed alike evasive and unsatisfactory. We have been informed that Mr. E. H. Carew has received official information by telegrnm of his appointment as Resident Magistrate and Warden for the Otngo G-oldfield, and that his Commission is it the present time in) transitu. JVIr Carew will, we understand, bf located at Blacks. f We bet; to call attention 1o an auction sailby Messrs. Inder and Greorge, at the Victoria Hall, on Saturday evening next. Eor particulars see advertisement. The break in the wire has prevented the receipt of our usual-Dunedin telegram. A.N extraordinary meeting of the Mount Ida Trade Protection Association will take place in the Empire Hotel, on Thursday evening next, 7th inst. MiNlNGjiffairs have, since the recent heavy snow-fall, been virtually at a standstill, the being generally choked. No doubt a continuation of .the present thaw will shortly enable the water to flow freely. Though there been little work, there has been a great d.»' of play, and from want of. better occupation, .Unow-balling has been, since Tuesday last, the order of the day. Much has been said of the impecuniosity of the State Treasury, and ingenuity has been exhausted to devise the means of taxation to keep the ball moving. The exhausted state of the exchequer is not to be wondered at, if the report which appeared in an evening paper a; few days hack be correct—that the House of [Representatives was engaged the whole day iri * discussing the important question whether or not the Speaker should wear a wig. Fancy the House of Representatives, consisting of seventy-six honorable members, sitting a whole day, and quietly pocketing their £1 Is., to determine the grave question as to whether their Speaker should wear a wig. The report does not say how the debate terminated, or how the momentous matter was settled. In which way soever it resulted the Speaker's wig will cost j the Colony £76 at least for the honorarium to members, in addition, no doubt, to other etceteras. The whole affair might at first sight appear to be a joke. We fear, however, that it is a reality, and a reality which the; Colony will be called upon to pay. Afe evidence that civilisation is improving in Kaseby, we may mention that an early closing association has been recently formed, and is, so far as we can learn, working well. Until the formation of this association the hours of business often extended till midnight. By the rules of the association the members pledge themselves to close each night at nine o'clock, with the exception of Saturday, when the hour of closing is extended to eleven. From enquiries made we learn that the movement has ■ not had the least effect in reducing the amount of business, while there can be no doubt that it will be productive of good results to the community at large.