ARROWTOWN.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 238, 22 August 1872, Page 5

ARROWTOWN.

(From the Eveni <g Star's Correspondent.)

At a meeting of the committee of the Miners' Association, held here on the 3rd inst., a letter was read from the Clyde committee, propooiny that a scries of resolutions in reference to the gold export duty, the agricultural lease law, aod the desirability of placing the goldtields under the charge of the General Government, should be prepared and submitted to public meetings ou the various gold fields, with a view to their embodiment in petitions from the several districts to be presented to the General Assembly as soon as possible. After discussion, the following resolutions were agreed to :—: — " That the committee is of opinion that (while acknowledging he immense benefits which have resulted to the district from the workin" of the agricultural lease regulations) the time has arrived when it is desirable in the interests of the miners that any further alienation of land for agricultural purposes should be suspended in this district, and that in cases where the lands already leased Jhave been proved to be payably auriferous, the purchase of the freehold by the lessee should not be permitted, with a view to the future- determination of such leases by the Governor as the present rapid development of the gold workings may demand. "That having in view the acknowleged inability of the Provincial Government to car, y out public work» without selling large blocks of land principally on goldnelds — such as that sold to Clarke of eighty square miles, or the proposed Bale to Cargill and Anderson of about thirty square miles— this committee are of opinion that the entire control of the goldfields of Otago should be vested in the General Government." In reference to tho first resolution, I may remark for the information of jour readers that the West Coast rash took away a very large number of miners from the Wakatip, an I as an immense area of land suitable for agriculture existed, the Leasing Regulations offered great inducemeuts to settlers ; and as by the efforts of Messrs Haughton and Shepherd the district was brought under their operation, nearly the whole of the land was taken up in farms, thus placing the district on a firm and prosperous basis. The Depasturing Regulations have also contributed greatly in bringing about the present reasonable prices at which the necessaries of life are to be obtained here. The great increase in the production of gold during the past six months — in round numbers 10,000 ounces as against 6000 — is in a great measure due to the working of the Agricultural and Depasturing Regulations, 1 in cheapening and affording a plentiful supply of food, as well as the advantage which many of the miners derive from occasional employment ou tin farms, when from wmt of success or scarcity of wa^er such employment becomes desirable. Now however that our agricultural resources are lieveloped to the full extent of present requirements, it is only fair that the now rapidly progressive raining interest should be conserved ; and as but little land in the Wakatip basin is left except such as is probably auriferous, I think that the miners have a good case in advancing this resolution. The second resolution speaks for itself, although to present appearance the Provincial party is too strong in the Assembly to permit of such an enormous curtailment of their power, nor do I suppose that the idea will D'nd much favor in Dunedin, as the interests of up country districts have been made subservient to those of the eapitai ; but I should not be doing my duty did I not acquaint you with the true state of public opinion here as far as my means of observation will allow me to discover. I believe that most men here agree with Mr Yogel when he asserted " that the time has arrived when Provincial institutions must be made less costly," and I am strongly of opinion that most of the gold fields committees will endorse the second resolution of the committee. August 7. A little agitation is going on between the Committee of Management of the Wakatip hospital and the Arrow Sub-committee. The Arrow Sub-committee have complained of the apparent ambiguity of some of the rules, and nave declined to collect subscriptions until the rules are amended. In consequence the hon. secretary, Mr J. Worthington gives the Arrow Sub- committee a severe lecture (by letter), saying that they want the rules altered to suit their prejudices, and that the Committee of Management see no ambiguity iv the rules complained of. As the rules of a district hospital are necessarily of great public interest, I subjoin the rules in question, and also another rule, No. 13, which does not seem to me quite so liberal as might be expected from an institution which professes to rely for suppost upon " voluntary contributions and a Government grant in aid." Rule 7 says : "Any person who shall have paid the sum of LI Is to the funds of the hospital, shall receive a ticket, which shall entitle its holder to admission into the hospital at any time during the twelve months following the date of the ticket upon his paying at the rate of 10s per week in advance for his board . . . pro* vided that a certificate shall be produced by him to the medical officer of the hospital, signed by two members of local committee, that he is not in a position to procure medical attendance outside the hospital." Compare this with rule 8, which says :—: — ". . . But any person being an annual subscriber of LI Is to the hospital, and being desirous of becoming a patient, shall be entitled to admission on his paying in advance the sum of L 2 10s per week." The residents here seem to think that the sum of L 2 10s per week ought not to be expected from subscribers, but that any bona fide annual subscriber to the hospital should be entitled to admission on the payment of 10s per week for his board, without haying to obtain a certificate of poverty as required before he can take advantage of Rule 7 ; or, if .possessed of a few pounds, being possibly reduced to poverty under rule 8. Rule 13 is as follows : — "That no female for the purpose of confinement, child under five years ef age, insane person, or one infected with venereal, or any infectious diseaee, or any person, who in the opinion of the medical officer in attendance, is unfit for an indoor patient, shall be received under any circumstances whatever." The illiberality of this rule speaks for itself. Attention is called to these rules iv no unfriendly spirit, as there is much in the management of the institution, which is praiseworthy, and as I mentioned in a previous letter the resident surgeon (Dr Douglas) is held in the highest esteem, and bestows the most devoted and unwearied attention to his patients. A public meeting of subscribers has been convened to consider the subject, when doubtless an amendment of the rules will be made. Murray's Circus Troupe performed here on the evening of the 3rd inst., to a large audience. The manager stated, that taking into account the size of the town, he had been better supported at the Arrow than at any other place, and announced hu intention of returning in a few montns with a larger company. Mr Stratford is expected to arrive here in a few days to eater upon his duties as SubWarden. As the Arrow has been without a resident Warden for some years, I have no

doubt but a hearty welcome will' be ' accorded to Mr Stratford on his arrival The Miners' Association intend to present a parting address to Mr R. G. Field, the Gold Receiver, who is about to be removed to Mount Ida. " ' A public meeting of the townspeople was \ r held on Monday night, sth inst. Mr S. N. Brown was voted to the chair. The followiug resolutions were carried :—: — " That it is desirable that Arrowtown be incorporated under the Otago Municipal Act." "That the following gentlemen be appointed Co take the preliminary steps to carry out the foregoing resolution : — Messrs PritoharJ, M'Dougall, Wilkinson, Innes. Scoles, Paterson, aud Feely." It is very desirable that this movement should have a practical result. We have had aa Improvement Committee during the last two years ; but it was seldom heard of until lately, when it shopped seme work' which was being carried on near the town by the District Engineer by informing the Government that it could lay the money oat to more advantage. The Government consequently handed over thn money, — some L 75, — and it has been lying in the Bank about three months. This Improvement Committee was self -elected, and never reported to the' public, so I do not think that any regret will be felt if it should be supplanted by a Municipality