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Cromwell Argus, Volume I, Issue 7, 22 December 1869, Page 4

To-day the usual fortnightly sitting of the Warden's Court will take place at the Courthouse, Cromwell. Not the least important business to be brought under the notice of the Warden will be the consideration of the protest lodged by the quartz-miners of Bendigo against the granting of an exclusive water-right to the shareholders in the reef first opened out in that locality, and now known as the Bendigo Beef. Very important issues are involved in the settlement of this question, and there will doubtless be a large attendance of miners and others interested. The body of the unfortunate man Steel, who was drowned in the Molyneux on Wednesday last, while swimming ashore from a raft which had stranded upon a sunken rock some few miles above Wakefield Perry, has not yet heen found. The body will probably float to the surface in the course of a day or two, when it. will no doubt be recovered and interred. We understand that the raft has since been got off the rock, and conveyed to the landing place, abouttwo miles above Cromwell. flie establishment of Mr Cunnard's daily coach to the reefs will be a great boon to the residents of Cromwell and Bendigo Gully. A very large number of the miners and residents in Bendigo Gully have availed themselves of the opportunity thus afforded of getting their letters from the Cromwell and Rocky Point post-offices, and have given Mr Cunnard full authority to receive them. From Ardgour Station we learu that the total number of sheep that will bo shorn this season is estimated at 75,000. Of thi3 number 36,000 have already been relieved of their surplus wool, and the remainder are to he shorn iat Morven Hills .Station The wool from the latter station is conveyed to Oamaru for export, while the whole of thit from Ardgour ptssss thy?" 'b Cromwell.

Mr Perriam, proprietor of the Welcome Homo Hotel, Lowburu, has, with his accustomed public spirit, arranged to hold several Hack Races on Boxing Day. A number of athletic spwts are announced to come off after the races, and an excellent day's amusement may be oxpected. The arrangements are under the direction of Messrs Luscombo, Jolly, and Taggart, as stewards ; and some good prizes are offered, particulars of which will be seen in the bills and advertisement. As the Lowburn is within an easy distance of Cromwell, and there is no counter-attraction announced for Boxing Day, we have no hesitation in predicting a large turn-out of visitors. From the Bannockburn we learn that in many of the sluicing claims the miners are unable to work more than three or four hours a day, owing to the almost unprecedented scarcity of water. The heavy rain which took place in the early part of last week was not so severely felt at Bannockburn as in other places in the immediate neighbourhood of Cromwell. It was the means of giving a better supply of water to some of the races ; but this, of course, was merely a temporary benefit, and water is now as scarce as ever. By advertisement in another column, it will be perceived that the new punt at Rocky Point will be open for traffic on Friday next. Mr M'Cormick, the enterprising proprietor, announces a reduction of fares ; and we have no doubt he will receive a fair share of support. The following applications for protection will be heard at the sitting of the Warden's Court, which takes place to-day :—J. M' Donald and five others, claim, Bendigo Reef, 60 days' ; K. Bayo, and five others, No. 2, south-east on Wilson's reef, 60 days'; J. Wilson and five others, prospecting claim, Wilson's reef, 60 days'; J. Hayes and five others, No. 3, east, Richmond reef, 60 days' ; J. Gibson and five others, No. 1, west, Wilson's reef, 60 days' ; H. Wilson and five others, No. 4, Aurora reef, 60 days' ; John Jones *nd five others, Bendigo reef, 60 days' ; W. Low and five others, Bendigo reef, 60 days' ; John Muir and five others, No. 3, west, Wilson's reef, 60 days'. A fire broke out on the premises of Mr William Beresford, timber merchant, Alexandra, on Saturday last; but it was fortunately prevented from spreading before any damage was done. Particulars will be found in our Alexandra correspondent's letter. Mr Alfred Burton (of the. firm of Burton Bros., photographers, Dunedin), who has been making a tour through the northern part of the Province, arrived is Cromwell on Monday. He has wit! lii.a some beautiful specimens of tad art, taken by himself, which are on view at Smitham's Kawarau Hotel. Mr Burton announces by advertisement in another column that he has been unexpectedly called to Dunedin, and leaves on Thursday ; but that he will return to Cromwell in about a fortnight.

On Monday last a rather serious accident occurred at Bendijgo Gully to Mr E. Ryan and Mr Thomas Hawthorne, of Clyde. They were riding at a quick pace down the hill above the Sol way Co.'s machinery, when Mr Ryan's horse shied, and threw his rider to the ground. Mr Hawthorne pulled up quickly, and in doing so his stirrup-leather broke, and he also was precipitated to the earth. Mr Ryan received a severe contusion on the right side of the face, and remained insensible for upwards of an hour. Mr Hawthorne sustained some bruises on the chest ; but beyond the injuries we have mentioned we understand no serious results are likely to follow.

The Provincial Council for several days during the first week was engaged with the consideration of Mr Donald Reid's resolutions anent the passing of the Otago Hundreds Regulation Bill by the Legislative Assembly. The motion proposed by the hon. member protests against the course pursued by the Legislative Assembly in passing the act in question and was moved by Mr Reid on Monday. The member for Oamaru (Mr Ashoroft) moved the following amendment on the motion : '' That in the opinion of this Council it is undesirable, in the meantime, to pass any resolutions tending to bring the Colonial Legislature and the Provincial Council into collision, and that without committing the Council to an approval of the provisions of the Otago Hundreds Regulation Act, the Act should be put in operation in so far as proclaiming the Hundreds recommended last Session, with the view of testing how far it is calculated to meet the requirements of settlement in the Province, and ascertaining whether any and what amendments it may be desirable to apply to the General Assembly to have effected at some future time." A long and occasionally acrimonious debate which is reported at great length in the Daily Times, took place, and was still being continued when our last files of that journal left Dunedin. From the Kaikouras, theLyttdton Times learns that on the 7th inst. a woman was seen there with one of her children under her arm with its throat cut. In the other hand she had a loaded revolver, and under the same arm a gun, supposed also to be loaded. She had fired also at some children belonging to Mr Monk, of the Accomodation House at the Boat Harbour. Her name has not been learnt, but the police constable and men from Hartlaud's and Caverj hill's stations were out, by last accounts, in ! search of her. The news was brought to | Hawkeawond by the Kaikouras mailman. The \ woman is supposed to nave lmen landorl from the JVio li«f, triti, mil) ih in snrh n fltttottntahe may h*vc to hn M?v»f hefnrp bring laktfit,