MESSRS TURNBULL & BASTINGS AT CROMWELL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 315, 24 December 1873, Page 1 (Supplement)

MESSRS TURNBULL & BASTINGS AT CROMWELL.

The Provincial Secretary (Mr. Tumbull) and the Secretary for the Goldfields (Mr. Bastings) paid an official visit to Cromwell on the 13th instant. Much pleasant surprise was expressed by Mr. Turnbull at the magnitude of the operations carried on by the various companies. Mr. Bastings expressed his regret that the vote of £400 for the Carrick Range road had been nearly all expended, as the roads were capable of still greater improvement, but at the same time promised, on behalf of the Government, that if the companies interested on the hill would subscribe a sum for any further works on the roads their expenditure would be subsidised to the extent of £2 for £1. The* visitors viewed with considerable interest the works outside the town. After their return to Cromwell, Messrs. Turnbull and Bastings, in company with, tlie Mayor and Councillors, proceeded to the Town-hall, where a large number of the citizens were La waiting, for the purpose of hearing the wants and requirements of the district discussed. The conference opened with municipal and legal subjects, which were practically venWated. Mining appropriately entered into the debate, but the references to agricultural settlement deserve, so to speak, to be written in letters of gold. These sentiments were accompanied by a dinner, and were therefore doubly appropriate, because when we are discussing the fat things of the earth it is natural to sympathise with the producer who tills the soil. Mr. Turnbull told his fellow-diners that be almost represented his Honor the Superintendent. We infer, therefore, that on political questions the members of the Government share the same liberal views on agricultural settlement. Mr. Turnbull then went on to say that he had learned a good deal during his present trip. He had been able to realise for himself what a tremendous amount of country was in some cases in the hands of one man. Run this or that looked a small thing on the map, but when one came to see with his oto eyes that it meant twenty miles on one side of a river, and twenty miles on the other, it was possible to understand that it might not be altogether a good thing for the country. At any rate, his views were a good deal altered, and he would be prepared to make more suitable provision for the settlement of population through the country than had hitherto been done. — (Hear, hear, and applause.) His own interests he might say, lay entirely in seeing a large population in the country. Mr. Turnbull then complimented the town on the ' • model " Corporation which it possessed. He judged it to be a model from the manner in which he bad that day seen them conducting their business. Mr. Turnbull sat down amidst great applause. The Chairman next proposed the toast, 11 Our Guests," •which was received -with great enthusiam. Mr. Bastings, in a short but effective speech, responded. He referred to the plan, he mighfr say initiated by himself, of the members of the Executive anuually making a tour through the country. It had the effect of bringing them 'into contact with a great number of people, and of allowing them to hear all kinds of opinions upon this or that policy freely ventilated. He might give as an example, his friend and colleague, Mr. Turnbull ; he was quite sure his ideas of the country would be much broader and sounder when he got back to Dunedin than when he left it. If all the members of the Provincial Council could be sent round the country, it would be a still greater improvement. The speaker then shortly referred to the policy which had been pursued by the present Government with regard to the up-country places, and challenged any one to give an example of any previous Executive which had . dealt so liberally with them as the present one had. A few more toasts were given and responded to after which the company dispersed, well pleased with the manner in which the evening had been spent.