THE OTAGO GOLDFIELDS.

Southland Times, Issue 1202, 28 January 1870, Page 3

THE OTAGO GOLDFIELDS.

_ «. (FEOil OTTE OWN COEBESPONDENT.) Cromwell, Jan. 15, 1870. Since the date of my last communication, we have entered upon a new phase of the nineteenth, century. We have passed from the year of our Lord 1869 to 1870. Let me repeat the now dying echoes of the season — " a happy new year, and, so far as Southland is concerned, may its shadow never be less." Taking the cue from this part of the province, the past few weeks have been a sort of mixed period of existence. The one day we have been whirling round amidst the giddy excitements of the festive season, and the next we have turned out in the sombre garb of public mourners. The occasion of the latter was oae of those sad, solemn events which casts its shadow around the brightest phases of i existence, and opens up a new page in the | transitory aspect of human life. John I William Garrett, a young man whose i name has lately been a good deal before the public, was killed by a fall from his horse on the evening of the 29th ultimo. What makes the circumstance more painful is, that during the day he was present, and took part as one of the stewards at the Cromwell race meeting. He was an enterprising young man, and, but for his determined perseverance, we question very much if the Bendi*o Gully Eeefs would have attained the hopeful position they now occupy. Fatalities, like misfortunes of a different cast, seem never to come alone. Since the date of Garrett's decease, a cattle dealer, named Bawlston, has been drowned, and a Chinese cook has disappeared from our midst under circumstances which point conclusively to the treacherous waters of the Kawarau as having been his doom. Events of this kind occurring in close succession have cast a gloom over the district which even the excitement of the holidays has been powerless to dispel. Talking about the holidays, we have had something like a spurt over the head of them. We have had what should have been a very good race meeting, and had not the sudden death of Garrett damped the ardour, a noteworthy event it would have been. The money subscribed for prizes was greater than on any former occasion, and the one district meeting was so arranged that the horses from a distance were enabled to be present at each event without taxing their energies too much, or delaying them in one particular place too long. The local horses, however, carried the day, and their owners are naturally proud of their achievements. A very large concourse of residents was attracted from the outlying districts, and an orderly class they were. G-etting on what is techinically known as the " burst" was not unknown, still it was upon the whole gone through quietly, and street brawls and pot-house pugilism were not by any means a feature of the day. The serious apprehensions that were entertained a few weeks ago regarding a shortcoming in the water supply for mining purposes have now been relieved. The weather which for months past has been at fever heat, licked up every drop of moisture about the place— the Molyneux and its head waters excepted. Besides drying up the streams, the heat caused the snow on the ranges to melt much more rapidly than usual, consequently there was every appearance of a drought. Just in the nick of time the weather relaxed, and within the last week or so we have had some heavy falls of rain. Head races and dams are now over- j flowing, and the sluices revelling in the ] enjoyment of a plentiful supply of the precious fluid. So heavy has the rain been that in some of the districts even down country it has produced a deluge on a small scale. Last week the Manuherikia was so high that the traflic to and from Dunedin was intercepted, and mails, &c, were delayed for a week beyond their usual time. Accidents are reported, but these are confined to mining and other property. The Bendigo Golly reefs are progressing quietly. Whether early anticipations are to be realized or not remains to be seen. The forthcoming week will telL something pro or con. Machinery on what is known as the Aurora line, will be finished, and as the company have got plenty of stone ready for crushing, no time will be lost for testing its value. The want of machinery is the great drawback. The prospectus of a public crushing company has been issued. The capital proposed is £6,500. Whether or not it will float is doubtful. Some people appear to think the capital has been fixed at too large a figure. If the Aurora turns out well, I have no doubt but that it will stimulate the project considerably. Sluices are doing well, and the returns for last year show that although the interest has not been a brilliant one, it has been upon the whole healthy. Dredging the different streams is a branch of work beginniag to attract lively interest. Some of these machines at work on the Molyneux have been doing an excellent stroke for the last year or two. They have been taking out as much as £100 a man per week. Encouraged no doubt by this fact, a company has been formed for dredging the Shotover. The machine was launched last week, and if any degree of success attends its early efforts, other machines for the same river will be erected forthwith. I don't know whether or not the fame of the Municipal Council of Cromwell has reached your remote part of the world. It has become notorious enough to be recognised at a distance. It is not the Council that is to blame, it is the mayor, or rather, I should correct myself by saying the acting mayor, for it is very questionable whether the gentleman who assumes to hold that oflice has any more right to it than the man in the moon. Proceedings to displace him are going on ?n the Supreme Court. If he is the man, then I suppose municipal matters mast just remain as they are, until he is forced from, the position by the effiuxion of time. In the meantime, local self-

government, as administered at Cromwell, points a moral, and could be made to adorn a tale. The Invercargill Town Board of 1 862 was not a patch on it.