Cromwell Argus. AND NORTHERN GOLDFIELDS GAZETTE. Cromwell: Tuesday, March 31, 1885.

Cromwell Argus, Volume XVII, Issue 833, 31 March 1885, Page 2

Cromwell Argus. AND NORTHERN GOLDFIELDS GAZETTE. Cromwell: Tuesday, March 31, 1885.

For report of proceedings at last week's meeting of the County Council we are indebted to the Dunstan Times. The great boat race between Beach, and Hanlan to decide the championship of the world took place in Sydney on Saturday, and resulted in victory for the Australian. A partial eclipse of the moon will take place to-morrow, visible in New Zealand. The first contact with the penumbra 1.20 a.m.; first contact with shadow, 2.29 a. m.; middle of the eclipse, 4.4 p.m.; last contact with shadow*, 5.40 a.m.; last contact with penumbra, 6.49 a.m.. The following players will represent the Cromwell Cricket Club in the match against the Clyde Club on Easter Monday, to be played at Cromwell -.—Messrs Cogan, Davidson, Turton, Howell, Torrance, Tobin, Halliday, MacKellar, Vallange, Tizard and M'Cracken. The Englishmen inflicted a crushing defeat on the combined team the Victorian Association put in the field at Melbourne. The Australians second innings closed for 126. The principal scorer wa3 Bruce, (caught), 35. The Englishmen thus won by an innings and 96 runs. We are requested by the legal manager of the Cromwell Prospecting Association to cor-, rect a small error that crept into the advertise-, meutlast week applying to be registered as a limited company. Instead of the name Colonial Bank of New Zealand the public are requested to read that of Cyril E. Gudgeon. Alexander Fleming was committed for trial on Friday for inflicting grievous bodily harm on his son John Fleming. Later in the day application was made to commit the three children to the Industrial School, and tho Resident Magistrate adjourned consideration of the "application in order to ascertain if there was any probability of the parents obtaining bail. # ■-■-' A buggy accident happened to Miss M. Mountney yesterday forenoon. While driving down the main street homeward, the horse (otherwise a quiet one) began to rear and kick. Miss Mountney and a younger sister, aged about three years, were thrown out of the trap, when the horse made for the stable yard, smashing a shaft at the entrance. Miss Mountney got a severe shaking by the fall, but was not seriously hurt. The child, however, it is feared, has sustained graver injuries. Mr John Stone, compiler and publisher of that useful and popular work, "Stone's Directory," is at present in Cromwell, and will be happy to meet with any resident who can afford him any information that will be of use in the work he has in hand. Mr Stone is making a tour of the Goldfields in connection with his Directory—the excellence of which we have before commented upon—and our business men and others will probably find it to their advantage to make his acquaintance. The Hon. the Minister of Mines, and MrPyke, M.H.R. for Dunstan, accompanied by a secretary and special reporter, arrived at Qucenstown on Thursday evening. Mr Larnach visited Skippers on Friday, and Head of the Lake Saturday. Yesterday he started from Arrowtown for Macetown, and to-day crosses the Crown Range to Cardrona and Pembroke. So far as we can learn, the Ministerial party will reach Cromwell tomorrow evening, but whether in time to be interviewed that evening is problematical. At a meeting of the Cromwell School Committee held last evening it was decided to close the School for Easter holidays on Thursday, April 2nd, and re-open on Monday, 13th. The matter of a pic-nic in connection with the school was discussed. It was deemed undesirable to have this during Easter week, when a number of townsmen would be absent from the district, and Friday,sl7th April, was fixed upon as a suitable date. Meanwhile the details of the affair will be worked up, and no doubt parents will actively co-operate with the Committee and teachers to make the event a pleasant and successful one. The local option vote for Cromwell Borough, taken on Thursday, created more interest than has been noticeable in home politics for some years past. Rumor of an intended new hotel in the borough seems to have been the leading factor in rousing the hitherto dormant energies of the ratepayers. On the question whether more licenses should be granted during the next three years, no less than 51 burgesses recorded an opinion. Of these, 29 were against further licenses being granted, and 22 were willing to leave the matter to the discretion of the local Licensing Bench. The will of the majority, therefore, s that no new licenses be issued within the JJorough during the next three years.

The Government have decided not to import any more railway material,' except what cannot be manufactured locally. It is stated that Mr Wm. Matheson, the New Zealand champion hammer-thrower, is one of the New South Wales contingent for the Soudan. The question of appointing an officer of rank to command the Volunteers of the colony will be settled in a day or two. The Minister of Defence will confer with the Governor as to the selection. : v y On Thursday last a miner, named James Meyers, of Waikaia, was so_ severely injured by a fall of earth in his claim as to expire shortly after extrication. The body was removed to Roxburgh. The Rev. Mr Gumming, one of the Inspectors under the North Canterbury Education Board, died on Thursday at Philp's Hotel, Dunedin, where he had been staying for a few days. Before accepting the inspectorship, Mr dimming had been head-master of the West Christohurch State School, and in that capacity had been highly scccessful. We are desired to correct some figures given in our Wauaka correspondent's letter last week with reference to assay of a sample of Criffellgold tested for Mr J. Baiker at the Ballarat School of Mines. The proper figures in decimal fineness were 839J, and the assay in carats and grains 2Ll§ths. The error was a typographical one. A fire broke cut on Mr Lawrence's property at Bannockburn on Saturday morning. About seven o'clock Mr John Taylor noticed smoke rising in the vicinity of Mr Lawrence's stackyard, and immediately gave the alarm. On proceeding to the spot indicated, it was found that the wheat stack and the fowl-house which was adjacent were on fire, and by this time had a good hold on the stack. Fortunately there was not a breath of wind at the time the fire took place, or the effect would have been disastrous, as there was a space only of six feet between the stack that was consumed and the others in the stackyard. The origin of the fire is, like many similar ones, a mystery. Mr Lawreuce estimates his loss at £35, which was not covered by insurance. The clerk to the Dunstan Presbytery courteously forwarded us report of session held at Alexandra on 18th instant, but unfortunately it came to hand late for last issue. The rev. James Henry, M.A., of Lauder, was elected Moderator for current year. Rev. Mr Blackie reported concerning Wanaka and Hawea districts: That Mr Mackay, a student missionary, after laboring in the district for four months, intimated that he required to return to Victoria, and therefore could not remain longer in the district. Then the Church Extension Committee sent Mr Johnston, Divinity student, who is now laboring there with acceptance, but he requires to return to the Hall in April. The Church Extension Committee had not as yet given any grant to assist the district in paying the salary of a missionary. After consideration the Presbytery adopted the following deliverance : Receive the report and are glad to learn that the services of a missionary have been available for a considerable period now in Wanaka and Hawea districts, and respectfully request the Church Extension Committee to supplement the efforts of the people by a grant of £3O towards maintaining a missionary in the district. Mr Henry reported that the people of Lauder were agreed to raise the £SO necessary to make a start with the new manse, and the Presbytery therefore authorised him and Mr Smith to proceed with the work at once. After a considerable amount of other business had been considered and completed the Presbytery adjourned to meet at Ophir on the third Wednesday of September, at the usual hour. Saturday was set apart as a special Court-day at Clyde for the purpose of hearing no less than 72 informations laid under the Weights and Measures Act, which resulted in convictions in all but one, that against R. M'Dougall, which was dismissed on technical grounds raised by Mr Turton. The fines, with a few exceptions in cases of a gross nature and where defendants failed to appear or to ba represented, were nominal; but; the costs were very severe on those living at a distance, through the mileages that were charged for the services of summonses, some of which strike us as being incurred by the head of the Police simply for the purpose of heaping costs on the defendants. For instance, the constable stationed at Pembroke was sent summonses to serve at Cardroua, but those which required to be served at Pembroke itself and at Albert Town and Hawea were sent to the Police at Cromwell for service, and charged according to the number of miles distant from that place, so that instead of the three that were summoned from Pembroke being served without having to pay mileage they each had to pay 38s under this head. There is something wrong somewhere Although according to the exact letter of the law, perhaps legal, yet it was never the intention of any legislature to heap unnecessary costs upon defendants, as was done in the cases under notice. The whole proceedings in this tyrannical business should be brought under the notice of the Minister of Justice, as it is on the face of it a monstrous injustice that each individual should be mulct in heavy mileage fees which could have been easily avoided by utilising the police services available in the various outlying centres. The Volunteer corps of Lake District paraded during last week for Government inspection, and at each centre there was a satisfactory muster. The Cromwell Rifles were especially well represented, there being between 40 and 50 men on" parade. Among these were a number of recruits lately joined, who acquitted themselves with great credit. This accession to the ranks of the local corps will j>rove an advantage not only with regard to drill, but will also add to the already excellent physique of the corps, as the newly joined members are all strapping well-built men. The inspecting officer, Capt. Brown, expressed his satisfaction with the. turn-out and general appearance of the corps, and the condition of their arms and accoutrements. The band also mustered in full force, and played in finished style several selections during the evening. The men were exercised in a number of battalion movements and wheeling, in which they acquitted themselves fairly well. After dismissal, a meeting of the corps was held-—Lieut. Jolly presiding—at which a variety of business was ilealt with. The annual balance sheet was read and adopted. A Finance and general management committee was elected, the members chosen being Messrs Anderson, Menzies, Henry, M'Cracken and 'Talboys, with the commissioned officers, ex officio. Lieut. Fleming (transferred from Arrow Riflej) was nomiuated for the sub-Lieutenancy, in room of MrC. Colclough, and was unanimously elected. Names were taken of those who purposed attending the Review at Queeustown, and twenty men, exclusive of band, signified their intention to be present. This number will probably be increased before the day of deEarture. One or two other matters having een discussed and disposed of, the meeting was brought to a close. In an article on the defence of Dunedin the Star says :—Supposing, which we do not at all believe to be on the cards, that war with Russia should be the outcome of the present situation, the question would at once arise as to the most effective provision to be made for immediate defence. The entrance to the Otago harbour could, we believe, with the means and appliances at present at disposal, be made practically inaccessible, considering the intricacy of the channel, narrowed at one point to less than 400 yards. As to the danger of bombardment from the sea, this would be effectually prevented by the erection of the projected batteries, the 7in gun and one of the 64-pounders being mounted at Lawyer Head and the other 64pounder at Forbury Knoll. A ship to bombard Dunedin with any effect would have to lie not over 1,000 yards from the beach, completely within the range of the guns. Even were she an ironclad she would be likely to fare but badly. The 7m gun can be fired up to 4iooo yards, and is capable of piercing six inches of iron at 1,000 yards. The 64-pounder, although not an armor-piercing gun, is as effective against unarmoured vessels, and can be fired up to 3,500 yards. The carriages and platforms supplied are arranged for batteries en barbette — i.e., guns with a wide sweep, firing from a parapet. Such batteries at the points indicated would, we conceive, effectually keep an enemy's cruiser at a respectable distance from the Ocean Beach.

“ Ada Mantua’s ” Consultation on the Christchurch Autumn Handicap is rapidly filling, therefore early application is necessary.— CareLyonsand Hart, Box 351, P. 0., Dunedin. Mr James Wilson, of Well Park Brewery, Dunedin, has been fined 40s and costs, for neglecting to affix and cancel stamps according to the Act. Although there was no intention of defrauding the revenue, and it was simply a case of negligence on the part of some person in the employ of Mr Wilson, it appears that the Act makes no provision for such cases. At a meeting of shareholders in the New Pipeclay Channel Co. held on 26th inst., the following gentlemen were appointed directors, viz; Messrs J. C. Anderson, W. T. Talboys. K. Pretsch, S. M'Lelland, and J. D. Menzies. Mr Thos. M ‘Cracken was appointed legal manager of the Company. It was resolved that the shares applied for to date be allotted, and that the allotment call be fixed at £1 per share. It was also decided to assist the old company (to the extent of one-half) in suing claim-holders in arrear of rent to the old company. Giving away during the next four weeks. Great inducements will be held out to Purchasers of Drapery and Clothing. W. Talboys’ Winter Shipment will arrive from Home early in February, and the Summer Stock will have to be sacrificed to make room for it. Trousers and Vests, 12s 6d ; Suits, 255; Hats, 2s, Prints and Hollands, 6d per yard. All Goods sold at less than Wholesale Price. All purchasers will be presented with Xmas Cards, Pictures, and other novelties. Save your money by purchasing from the Importer, W. Talboys, Loudon House, Cromwell. —[4du/5.] At a meeting of the Queenstown Review Committee held on Wednesday evening last, a letter was read from Mr Siddall, conductor of the Invercargill Garrison Band, stat ng that the band would be present at the Review, but they would not take part in the contest; although he would be happy to play two or three selections. It was ordered chat the Band be thanked for their generosity, and that Mr Siddall, con jointly with Mr Fergusson, be requested to act as judges at the contest. The hon. secretary, Mr Dewar, stated that the amount at present in hand was £B6 19a 6d, including about £l4 net proceeds of the recent concert. Replying to a question at his Christchurch meeting, Sir Julius Vogel said : —I am an advocate for Volunteers being treated, I will not sav liberally, because that is not the correct phrase. I look upon the Volunteers as a most important portion of the community, and I think that they should be treated fairly. One part of the question, however, I can answer affirmatively. We are in favor of a commanding officer being appointed to the Volunteers who will restore that old esprit de corps, that old desire to be part of the Volunteers, which seems to be somewhat lacking now, when I re member the spirit with which we looked upon volunteering in former years. It is an esential part of the defence proposals of the Government that they should be connected with the aid and assistance of Volunteers. The work of constructing the Pipeclay Channel is being steadily pushed forward under the new company which was formed for that purpose about a month ago. There are still about 12 to 14 chains to construct, but it is almost certain that the channel will be completed about Christmas. Up to the present time the work has cost £3,800, all of which amount, with the exception of £2lO payment to account of Government subsidy, has come out of the pockets of the shareholders. It speaks well for the faith in the ultimate success and usefulness of the channel that in face of such an amount being expended without any return a new company should be floated so readily to complete it. Looked upon in its true light, tlm channel, apart from being a payable speculation to its shareholders, is a work of great public importance. Starting at a point on the bank of the Kawarau River it forms a water-shed right up to Angel’s Hotel, over one and a-half mile of country, which completed will be the means of opening up a large extent of payable ground. For this reason, then, it is to be hoped that the Government will further assist the company to the extent of the balance of subsidy voted for the Smith’s Gully Channel, and doubtless if matters are properly placed before the Minister of Mines on his arrival here there will be no difficulty in securing that portion of the subsidy. The Faust Family played here before two very large audiences on Wednesday and Thursday evenings, and the universal verdict was that the entertainment provided was t e best submitted up-country for a long time past. As a display of. strength, daring, and agility the performance of the Family was simply marvellous, putting in the shade any similar exhibition ever witnessed in this part of the world. From an artistic point of View, the grouping and posturing in the statuary representations were faultless, conveying more the idea of inanimate sculpture than living figures. The rapidity and precision with which the grouping was perfected was truly wonderful, and the cleverness displayed fully merited the hearty applause that was ac corded after each representation. As an acrobatic troupe the Family cannot well be excelled, every member from the oldest to the youngest being thoroughly up in the business. Evidence was also given of musical talent in the Family of no mean order, and their manipulation of the violin was a fearful and wonderful thing—enough to make a Remenyi shudder or Paganini’s shade to rise in protest against the violation of his favorite instrument. And yet the brothers can play very nicely, notwithstanding their grotesque antics give this part of the programme an air of absurdity. At intervals during the evening, Miss Heath varied the performance by siuging very feelingly and well a selection of popular songs. The lady scarcely had justice done her, as the musical accompaniments were not so well rendered as they might have been, and the same fault was apparent in the national characteristic dancing the first night. In other respects as we have said the performance was of high excellence, and took the popular taste immensely. In timberless regions like Central Otago the plentiful deposits of coal—or lignite—scattered throughout the country form perhaps the most important factor in the settlement of the interior, as it is certain that but for these extensive fuel deposits population could not exist in many districts. While coal is to be found almost in continuous beds throughout the northern goldfields, it is not by any means of equal quality. Some veins are slatey and dull in burning, and this class of fuel is only used where better material is difficult to convey or high in price. In the Cromwell division, the deposits vary a good deal in quality, but nearly all are fit for domestic use. At Nevis—a bleak inhospitable region in winter—the residents are blessed with an inexhaustible coal supply, ob- ' tained with no further trouble than breaking it down from an open face. The Bannockburn division, too, is amply blessed in this respect, Cromwell town and the Clutha Valley being mainly supplied from there, Mr John Pryde, proprietor of the Kawarau Coalpit, has sent us copy of a report by Professor Black on a sample of coal from Mr Pryde’s pit submitted to him for analysis. From this it appears that the constituents are—Water, 14'1 per cent.; ash, 8 - 8 ; gas, 4362 ; coke, 42‘28 ; fixed carbon, 33 - 4 S. Professor Black says : “ This shows the coal to be a very good sample of brown coal. It compares favorably with Kaitangata and Shag Point coal, and is far superior to the Green Island coal sold in Dunedin. It is fortunate that there is coal of this good quality so abundant on the Goldfields.” It is also fortunate for consumers that the coal is supplied, throughout the district at a very reasonable price, Mr Pryde and other proprietors being dilligent and regular in meeting public requirements. A Great Business. — The United States of America is the home of some very large enterprises, but none perhaps greater than the business conducted by Mr G. G. Green, of Woodbury, New Jersey, U. S. A. He is the proprietor of the well-known Boschee’s German Syrup, winch is unequalled as a remedy for Pulmonary and Bronchial affections. He manufactures also Green’s August Flower for Dyspepsia and all disorders of the Liver. These preparations are used throughout the civilized world and thousands testify to their valuable curative properties. Both these preparations have reachedan immense sale solely on their merits. Sample bottles of each are sold at 6d, or full-sized bo ttles at 3s fid. All druggists keep then),