ARROWTOWN.

Cromwell Argus, Volume VI, Issue 308, 6 October 1875, Page 5

ARROWTOWN.

(FROM OUR own CORRESPONDENT.) October 4, 1875. A letter appeared In your last issue complaining that the proceedings of the Town Council were misrepresented by the Arrow Observer, In order to the glorification of Councillor Hornsby at the expense of his colleagues, with other charges too numerous to mention. The writer evidently * went for’ Hornsby with no light hand. The Arous has been in brisk demand, everyone wanted

to see the letter. As the Council was to meet this evening, I put in an appearance with a view of enriching the columns of the Argus, and found that a reporter from tiie Wakatip Mail was also in attendance. This unusual attention on the part of the Press seemed to have a depressing effect upon the members of the Council, as one or two

looked in furtively and afterwards could not be induced to attend. The Mayor therefore adjourned the meeting for another fortnight, by which time, if the Councillors are then able to stand it, I hope to have the honor of again attending. Parties paying assessment for cattle running on the commonage complain loudly that the Crown terrace is again overrun with sheep, and assert that the ranger is studiously neglecting his duties, things being no better than they were before his appointment.

That gentleman, for his own .credit’s sake, might devote some little attention to the duties for which he is paid. The Sons of Fortune Co. are still driving on the old river-bed of the Arrow, but in what was a narrow gorge with a hard smooth rock bottom having no catches for gold. They may have to drive some distance before the gutter widens out, or they may strike gold very soon. Meantime the work is carried on with system and energy, the management of this Co. being admittedly unexceptionable.

The sergeant’s quarters and police office here still remain in an uninhabitable position in spite of the protests which have appealed in the Press from time to time. Tenders are called for a new gaol, but none for officer’s new quarters, which are in a shamefully delapidated state. The late sergeant’s family suffered in health on this account, and the present one is compelled to rent a house for his family. Mr Weldon, the head the department, ought not to allovy this discreditable position of affairs to continue, as provision was made last session for new buildings, and were these buildings anywhere near Dunedin the department would bo shamed into doing what is clearly its bounden duty by this station, which is only treated with indifference on account of its distance from head-quarters. In regard to the auriferous land at Whitechapel Flat recently refused to bo sold to Mr Kerin, the agricultural lessee, the Warden has offered to give him a renewal of lease for five years without rental on terms of free entry for miners. Compensation of 30s per acre for land taken by them, and standing crop not to be interfered with. This offer will be open to Mr Kerin until the 25th instant, when, if not accepted, the matter will probably be settled by arbitration.