THE Cromwell Argus. WEDNESDAY, MAY 25, 1870.

Cromwell Argus, Volume I, Issue 28, 25 May 1870, Page 4

THE Cromwell Argus. WEDNESDAY, MAY 25, 1870.

Her Majesty's Birthday was partially observed as a holiday in Cromwell, Bome of the principal shops ant stores being closed, and butlittle business wasdone. We were favored with " Queen's weather "and several excursion parties made a " trip to tie country." The premises of Mr Harding, of me Commercial Hotel, were tastefully decorated during the day, arid after dark there were tiansparcncies of various kinds arranged outside ihe hotel. A band of youthful negro minstrels (not from Africa) paraded the streets and enlivened the citizens during the evening . of their vocal and performances! was acknowledged and applauded by everyone who heard them. And thi juvenile singers did not go unrewarded, for many a shilling and half-crown was dropped into the contribution-box (a tambourine) in recognitici of their efforts to afford a little harmless abasement. Squibs and crackers were let off in al directions after nightfall, and there was more artificial noise made in the streets last night tian has been heard for some time in CromweL

The late heavy rains would appear to have caused considerable damage to roads and bridges slowa country. It is reported that the Blueskh and Waikouaiti bridges have been carried away, but very little will be known of the damge done until the arrival of the mail from Dinedin. The coach due at Clyde on Saturday night had not arrived at a late hour yesterday afternoon, and no mails have been received fom Dunedin since last Wednesday. We are iiformed tnat, in the vicinity of Ainslie's, seven niies from the Dunsfcan, the road is all but imp*33able, in consequence of the breaking away of i water-race. The road is described as a complete quagmire. On Sunday, an empty waggon g)t bogged at the spot mentioned, and twelve h»rses had to be hitched on to extricate it. The waggon was literally ploughed through the mire, for th&' wheels did not revolve until the bog 4as cledred. On the same day, aMr Lahey attempted to get through at the same spot witi three horses and a dray, but the horses sank almost oat of sfght in the mud, and the dray had to be drawn out backwards. At Messrs Grtigaud TumbulFs ford, a finger-post to direct sirajgers to the proper crossing is much needed. /

We ursd/rstand that a movement is on foot at Bajwckburn with the view of establishing a sidichool in that locality. There are about twe ;y children in the district capable of attending shool, and of these only one or two come to ie Cromwell School. Several resi-. dents hav offered -liberal subscriptions to aid the cause, md it is believed that, about £IOO might bo aised within two months from the present ti/e to assist in building a school-house. We shall b glad to see the matter taken up in good eanfet by the people of Bannookburn. Theiajayor of Queenstown (Mr B. Hallenstciij in his capacity as a member of the Shotovi Celebration Committee, courteously sent usi\ invitation to the public dinner which took plie at Queenstown last evening. ' Want of timejiombined with the length of the journey, to the iotover and Queenstown, precluded our being p sent at "ither the opening ceremony or the puil; dinner, but noxt week wo shall be enabled 3b ;ive an account of the proceedings from the pe» f our own correspondent. Tlji lembers of Court Pride of Alexandra, §,< F., intend celebrating their first anni. versay v a eupper to-morrow evening, at the Roy* M tt Hotel.

Mr J, Mitohinsofr, of thefirm of Mitchil eon and Harrison, storekeepers, Wakefield, hi .been- apposed postmaster f«r4hatßace. To-night the Town hold special meeting with the view tli rate to be levied for tho present municipal yeai As tho Council is rather short of funds jußt now and cannot afford to advertise in the local newi paper, it 'becomes our duty to notify charge), for the benefit of"ratepayit.~>3> ma intend to appeal, that it is necessary to lodj notice of such intention with tho Clerk to th District Court (Mr Harvey), and also with th Town Clerk, on or before Saturday next, tl 28th inst. We append the 26th clause of" Tl Otago Municipal Corporations Empowering Ac 1865," which bears upon the appeal question :• "Appeals against assessment,or alteration < assessment shall be heard before ft Ju3ge of tl District Court if the city be wijtliin' aMstriot i which there is a District Courti'nearm cstal Ushed or if not rhon the Resident "Magistrate Court held nearest to the Offices of the Tow Clerk and shall be commenced by a notice i the form in the Sohedula B. or as near theret as circumstances will permit served by the ap pellant within the period allowed for appeal upon the Council and also upon any perso whose name it is proposed to insert in the assess ment or whose property it is alleged is omitte or assessed bolow its full and fair annual valu •and a copy of such notice shall be delivered t the Clerk of the District''Court or Residen Magistrate's Court six days before the day t hearing."

Destructive floods, involving loss of lil and property, occurred in the Hunter district N. S. W., on the 24th,f25th, and 26th...Apri At Singleton, the river rose to 43 feet above it ordinary level. Five inches of rain fell at Scon in twelve houra. Seven lives were lost at Mui mellbrook. Hundreds of families were floods out, and many thousands of sheep and catt) were drowned. ' -, ■

We have received the second number o the Oarnaru Herald t a new weekly newspape ■twice the size of the Dunstan Times. It is ver creditably got up, and bids fair to prove a vain able acquisition to our provincial press. W observe that the new journal possesses an " ow correspondent" at Cromwell.