Cromwell Argus. AND NORTHERN GOLDFIELDS GAZETTE. Cromwell, Monday, Aug. 29, 1910

Cromwell Argus, Volume XLI, Issue 2210, 29 August 1910, Page 4

Cromwell Argus. AND NORTHERN GOLDFIELDS GAZETTE. Cromwell, Monday, Aug. 29, 1910

Tt is reported that Mr R. Logan has sold the > T orthburn Station to Mr D. Middleton of Waitaki, and also that he intends disposing of his Maritanga property and pa}' a visit to the Argentine, where he will probably stay. A special meeting of the Borough Council will be held to-morrow night to consider a letter from Mr Bodkin, solicitor of Alexandra, acting for F. McFelin claiming damages caused by a break in the borough race to his land. A Kawea correspondent writes that the crops are looking well, ami they had several nice showers of rain lately. A wedding of considerable local interest takes place here on Wednesday, when the eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs John Kerin will be married to Mr J. Fouhy.

The agitation for the recommencement of work on the Lawrence-Roxburgh railway was brought under the notice of the Prime Minister last week by a deputation, which urged the resumption of work on the line, with a view to having it completed to Beaumont. The Prime Minister, in reply, said that he hoped during the session to go down to the district one week-end. and look into the matter before the Public Works Estimates were framed. After that it would be finally decided whether the line was to be carried to Beaumont or not.

Owing to the large amount of work at the Supreme Court sittings the appeal case of It. Gray versus llnjuhart and others set down for hearing on Friday only resulted in evidence being taken before the llcgistrar, the counsel to make their addresses later on. There is considerable dissatisfaction expressed locally over the delay in the appeal case of Fleming v. the Cromwell Borough, as the parties concerned are quite in the dark as to when it will be heard, and there is still no prospect of a day being set down.

" Have you ever tried to live on £3 a week, with a sick wife au two ehidren, pay eighteen shillings a week rent, chemist and doctor, and keep a respectable appearance H" said Mr Hascldcn, S.M., to a solicitor who was applying for an order against a debtor in the Wellington Magistrate's Court recently for an amount owing on account of a suit of clothes. The solicitor admitted that the position was a difficult one. "Of course its very hard on the plaintiffs," said the magistrate ; they have to pay wages, find material, and other things : but I can't make an order in this case." There were two other cases during the morning iu which the Magistrate refused an order, one being a case where a man with only one arm testified that he had not averaged more than £1 a week since Christmas, and was paying 15s a week in rent, while he had a wife and child to support.

On Tuesday evening last the Lowburn choir rendered the Service of Song " The Battle of Life," in the Methodist Church to a fairly good audience, and, on the whole, the different musical items were successfully rendered. During the evening two extra items were introduced, Miss Barker singing very beautifully tbe solo " Consider the LMlies " to her own accompaniment, and Mrs Clymo the solo " Jesus Lover of my Soul," the chorus being taken by the choir. The setting of many of the anthems being very high the sopranos had a very arduous task before them and they came out of the ordeal very creditably indeed. The other parts were well sustained. Mr Hamer wielded the baton, Mr L. Woods gave the connective readings and Miss Wood acted as organist, while Mr J. Edwards helped with the cornet. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded the choir for rendering the service after which some refreshments were handed round to them ere the homeward journey was made.

The new scenic railway in Norway, recently completed from Christiania to Bergen, is proving exceptionally attractive to tourists. It is the longest mountain railway in Europe, and lias no fewer than 177 tunnels, one of which cost £IOO,OOO and took twelve years to build. Unlike most mountain railways, which merely go to tlie edge of the snow and ice, this line, after passing Finsen—a station whose name in a year or two is sure to become as well known as that of any favourite resort of Switzerland—proceeds across the snowfields for a long distance. Two snow plows are kept busy on the road as late as June, and there are lakes along the route which do not lose their ice until August, and in some years do not thaw at all. Snow sheds have been constructed with shutters on their sides, which can be opened iu summer to permit an unobstructed view on the magnificent landscapes. An international ski tournament was held in Finsen last midsummer. The mixture of wintry experiences with summer touring was a unique novelty, which attracted to Norway an increased number of enterprising iravcllursii

Local farmers are crying out for rain, and they state this is the driest spring that has been experienced here. The autumn sown crop came away well during the winter, but owing to the exceptionally dry weather it is now withering, and in one instance the owner is thinking seriously of irrigating to save it. The Bannockburn Q.uadrillc Assembly held a very successful wind-up on Friday evening, the large attendance being representative of all the surrounding district, Cromwell patrons beiug much in eviderce. Excellent music was supplied by Miss Graham (piano) and Mr W. Ritchie carried out the duties of M.C, dancing being continued until the small hours of the morning. An excellent supper was also provided. Speaking in the House on Friday night, the lion. J. A. Millar (Minister of Railways) said the Otago Central Railway had made a bigger increase in its earnings last year than any other line in New Zealand. No other line had increased its percentage so mu-h. The increase was from 7s to just on 20s. Upon another member asking the reason for this, Mr Millar said there had been a good season and a lot of good luck. There were no slips or anything else throughout the year. An interesting discussion took place at the last meeting of the Otago Acclimatisation Society in Dunedin on Friday regarding the little owl and its future im portation. This emanated presumably from the recent reported destruction of quail at Quartz Reef Point, The chairman (Mr Chisholm) who attempted to champion the case for the owl did not produce a very convincing argument when he failed to see how the owl, being a nocturnal bird, could attack the quail, which was a day bird. To our mind this contention is anything but favourable to the owl as the species of small bird pest which the owl was imported to keep in check, must be admitted in habits to be closely connected to the quail, and anything but nocturnal. There was the usual large attendance at the Anglican Church Guilds Social iu the Athenaeum Hall on Wednesday, and all present spent a very enjoyable evening. The programme consisted for the greater part ot dancing with songs rendered at intervals in a very pleasing manner by Misses M. Thomas and White and Messrs G. Neill and H. Hicks, the accompaniments being played by Mrs Neill, and Mr J. Edwards., The music for the dances was in the capable hands of Messrs J. Betts (piano) and H. Partridge (violin,) several extras being contributed by others present. The supper provided by the ladies was first-class. Mr D. Betts carried out the duties of M.C.

$ " I tfciiik it is quite possible that Mr Edgar Stead may succeed in getting some huias if he stays long enough, say, three weeks," remarked Mr A. Hamilton, director of the Dominion Museum, in discussing with a Times reporter the prospects of the trip. " The experience gained in three previous expeditions to the head of the liangitikei showed me that the birds were there, as they could be heard, but they could not be induced to come out to the call, as they generally do." added Mr Hamilton. " Mr John Stevens, of Bulls, has written me stating that some of the Maoris there are anxious to go into the liuahine with Mr Stead, with a view to aiding him in securing some of the birds, as they are desirous of raising funds for a native meeting. Mr Stead has been asked to communicate with them on his journey north. I wish the expedition every success, and hope they will be able to bring back some of the birds. The Duke of York's visit was responsible to a large extent for the killing off of the huia. numbers of which were slain for the tail feathers for presents and decorative purposes. There are eight feathers in a huia's tail, and these brought from 10s to £1 each. It is a remarkable thing that the huia should only be found in the southern part' of the North Island of New Zealand. It has never been seen south of Cook Strait, and never higher north in the old days than about the centre of the Tararuas, being gradually driven back as civilisation advanced. The huia is jot known to have ever been seen in Auckland, Nelson, Weslland, Canterbury, Otago, or Southland provinces."