Cromwell Argus AND NORTHERN GOLDFIELDS GAZETTE Cromwell, Monday, Mar. 2, 1908.

Cromwell Argus, 2 March 1908, Page 4

Cromwell Argus AND NORTHERN GOLDFIELDS GAZETTE Cromwell, Monday, Mar. 2, 1908.

Court clay on Thursday. Meeting of too Wanaka Doctor's Committee on Saturday. The sitting of the Warden's Court at Pembroke was a short one, and all the business was practically transacted in less than half-an-hour. A ssrious outbreak of fire occurred in Messrs Thompson and Co.'s airated water manufactory last Monday and damage was dona to the amount of £2OOO.

Among the land to bo thrown up for settlement, under the Land for Settlement Act, during the next three months, are the Tauuaata and Meadowbank estates in Ofcago. The Matron of the Cromwell Hospital begs to acknowledge, with thanks, a case of fruit from the Anglican Harvest Thanksgiving Service at Queensberry, per Mr A. I). Mitchell.

Mr M. H. Dawson, the popular sport, secured a win on the concluding day of the Tahuna Park Trotting meeting, in the Advance Handicap, with Inia D. Nome of the country competitors were successful. A gentleman, with a good knowledge of fruit growing, informs ua that the finest apples he has ever seen were grown this season at Mr J. Swann's property, in the Lowburn Greek at the foot of the Pisa Range. The recent rain replenished the water supply a little with the result that the ratepayers have had an hour's more water each day for the past week. With yesterday's showers a further increase should be available.

At a special meeting of the Borough Council held on Thursday evening, the resolution, passud at a maetiug on the 'J',)th January, in regard to a special order making a special rate for tho new water loan, was confirmed.

A committee meeting of the Upper Clutha Valley Collie Dog Club is called for Saturday evening, at 7.30 p.m., at the Albion Hotel, Luggate. Tenders for the booth and refreshment room at the coming trial also close on that date.

Messrs J. \V. Perriam and H. Mountney, who recently purchased the well known Rink Stables in Dnnedin, took possession last Tuesday. Mr J. Goodger, of Cromwell, went to Dunedin to valuate on behalf of the purchasers. Messrs Mallon Bros, announce in our advertising columns that they have taken over the management of the Steam Gallery, opening in Cromwell on Tuesday night, and wish to assure patrons of all civility and attention in connection therewith. Arrangements are being made to have the local band in attendance on Wednesday evening. The long looked for rain, an absence of which had been causing great auxiety among farmers in regard to winter feed, sot in early on Sunday morning, and continued intermittently throughout Sunday and Monday. The weather is yet very broken and there is every appearance of further showers, despite the fact that a cold southerly breeze prevailed this morning. A Bluff correspondent of the Southland Times reports what is stated to be the biggest catch of blue cod during three or four seasons. Working at Cod-fish Island on Monday and Tuesday tho Nile netted over three tons of fish, besides a number of exceptionally large gropor. The takings per man are said to have jumped from 20s to well on towards 40s per day. A Pembroke correspondent writes : —" In spite of the dry weather, the crops are turning out very well. The grain is well rilled, and is threshing far better than was expected. 'I here is also a great crop of fruit here this year, and a quantity of it can bo seen even now lying under the trees, rotting. If wo had the railway nearer we could grow tons of fruit, every year, at Mt. Barker alone, and send it to Dunedin, which would pay us well, but of course this is out of the question at present, with the railway so far off. While returning home from Cromwell on Saturday in a light vehicle, Miss Hoskings, of Quartz Reef Point, met with a slight accident while passing a waggon on what is known us the new road. At the particular place the road wa3 fairly narrow, and in passing, a projecting board on the waggon came in contact with the vehicle, causing tho horse to take fright and jump away. The occupant was thrown out, but, fortunately, was not injured beyond a severe shaking. The horse continued unguided along the road, and the trap was damaged in consequonce.

The various railway leagues are again on the move in view of the proposed visit of the Prime Minister and Minister of Lands to this district, and also the visit of the Hon. Hall Jones to Dunedin. A report of a maeting of the Bannockburn League appears in another column, and that league is moving in the matter of sending a representative from each of the leagues to Dunedin to interview tho Hon. Hall Jones, during his stay there and obtain if possible a definite answer. A meeting of the local league will be held to-night to consider the same matter. A meeting of the Pembroke league waa to be held on Saturday -2'2nd inst, but so fax we have not been favored with a report.

The Hou W. Hall-Jones is anxious to digpel the impression that his health is not good (says the Wellington correspondent of the Christchurch Press). " Here I am, at my cilice as usual, up to my eyes in work," he remarked, "I'm not ill; do I look like it ?" Ho explained that Friday was a big day for him among his Timaru friends, and on Monday he had a very busy time with deputations. He started by the afternoon express for Ckrischurch, and when he got there felt too fatigued for his public engagement. He had been following the rule he had laid down since his return, this being to work as quietly as possible, and he felt that the precaution he tosk on Monday evening was wise. There was no ground for anxiety on account of his health,

While on a visit to the district laet week, Messrs Blackmore and Courtier, two Government officials in the fruit department, paid a special visit to Mr J. Mackenzie's farm on the Cromwell Flat, where that gentleman is going in for fruitgrowing on a large scale, as he planted 3GO trees last season, and intends to put in 400 more next Beason. The visitors spoke highly of tho sites for orchards available along the foot of the range, and particularly of that selected by Mr Mackenzie, which was considered to be almost perfect. We are informed that some very valuable information was imparted to the grower, and these two gentlemen intend to make another special trip on their next visit.