QUEENSTOWN.

Cromwell Argus, Volume XI, Issue 548, 11 May 1880, Page 6

QUEENSTOWN.

(from our own correspondent.) May 9. The firing for the medal given by Captain S. N. Brown, of your town, has been won by the Queenstown men of M Battery. We are glad of this, because a certain soreness existed over the firing for the District Prizes and Officers’ Cup, it being alleged that some alteration of dates favored the Arrow and Cromwell Companies as to weather. It is to be hoped that this victory will now put things u all square ” again, and that the “ hatchet, &c.,” as the calumet of peace has been already smoked, after partaking of, by all accounts, an excellent dinner. Your correspondent, not being a man of war, misses all these good things, but all speak well of the reception given them by their Arrow confreres. They also state that it was a hard - contested affair, or what in racing parlance is called a neck-and-neck race. The medal has not been seen yet, but no doubt it will be one one worthy of being worn as a memorial of a hard fight for victory in a bloodless contest.

The Corporation have landed themselves in a fix. They should have held a revision court between the 22nd and 30th of April, of the date of which three days’ notice must be given in a paper circulating in the district. This provision is to enable defaulting ratepayers to have an opportunity to pay up arrears and have their names placed on the burgess roll. No notice of any kind was given, and no meeting was held, yet last week’s Mail contains an advertisement that an adjourned meeting of such a sittings is to be held on the 14th inst. The Arrow Municipal Council published a notice in the Observer of 29th appointing the meeting for the 30th inst.; that at any rate is a step in advance of the proceedings taken here. This very important part of the Act seems to have been forgotten by other bodies as well as our own one. The remedy is, not advertising an adjournment of a meeting that could not exist, but by applying for the powers given by the 12th section of the Municipal Act, 1876. Other corporate bodies have had to adopt the prescribed process.

Mr J. S. Worthington, Clerk of Court, has received another appointment—Assessor for Queenstown under the Property Tax Act. The remuneration for the service is not large, but “ every mickle makes a muckle,” and these little waifs provide pocket-money, if nothing more. It ds presumed that the Land Tax Valuer (Mr O’Meara) will ; he appointed Assessor for the greater part of the County. The duties are not very heavy under this Aot, the chief being some acquaintance with a person’s standing and- means, the proper delivery of notices, and the assisting of persons to fill up the returns. We have had an elopement. The daughter of a craftsman whose protecting god in times past was Vulcan, having yielded to the protection of an ardent son of Israel, and dispensing with parental consent, has sought to find some haven in which the fetters of matrimonial life may be rivetted. The young lady was rather a favorite, and the suit was at first encouraged, but latterly the parents have been obdurate, and refused the required consent. The damsel is one year ahead of “ sweet sixteen,” and how she will be able to pass the scrutiny of the registrar of i these affairs is a matter of surmise. Tell-tale looks can hardly be hidden, but woman’s ingenuity overcomes many obstacles. It is to be hoped that the final scene will prove less exciting than the first, and that the curtain will drop upon the swain being rewarded for his gallant enterprise, and all interested made happy and contented.

There will be no increase in the number of publican’s licenses this year, only one new house being applied for, while, on the contrary, two formerly licensed will not apply again. The accommodation in Queenstown, apart from Mr Eichardt’s establishments, is limited, and at the periods of “a crush ” not adequate to meet demands. In reefing and mining matters generally there is little to report. The “ Invincible ” Company, as the new mine at the Head of the Lake is now christened, has finished its road-making. A shaft is being sunk at present following down the reef as a test. The stone, it is said, improves upon appearance. The Company is also getting supplies of mine timber. No trial crushing of the stone can be made except sent to some distant battery. Your own is the nearest quarter, and as yet no dray-road exists up the Rees Valley. The Mount Oram (Nugget and Cornish) Company’s crushing of 96ozs from 180 tons of stone is satisfactory. The machine being close to the reef, no expense for cartage is incurred. Apart from timbering, the mine can be very cheaply worked, and half an ounce is more payable therefore than an ounce would be in many other reefs. There is an immense body of stone, and the company are so well satisfied with results obtained under the new management that they will enlarge and improve their crushing power. In alluvial, the Chinese are still obtaining excellent returns at Moke and Moonlight Creeks.