ARROWTOWN.

Dunstan Times, Issue 765, 15 December 1876, Page 3

ARROWTOWN.

(Fltoil oufl OWir C'ORRKSrON'DKNt.) Quite a flutter of excitement was caused by the visit of the Hon. C. C. Bowen, who arrived at Arrowtown by Coach bn Wednesday morning, and remained .about an hour. When it. Was known the day previous that the Minister of Justice would visit the town, the members ;of the Town Council, headed by the Mayor, set them-' selves to work to prepare for his reception, and at once organised a small brigade of scavengers, v ho, with brooms and shovels swept and scooped the Streets quite clean, making them look so tidy and respectable that many citizens scarcely knew them again—thanks for this much to the visit of the Hon. C. C. Bowen. Immediately that the coach an ived, the Councillors, headed by the Mayor and Town Clerk, interviewed Mr Bowen, and showed him round the township, taking him as a matter of ■course j to see the new gaol. What pleasant reeollections or associations the exhibition of this building can have for our Town Conn- [ oil I am at at a loss to learn ? Perhaps it is that it is the only public building in the Town ; and, however undesirable the possession of such a structure might he it is better than nothing at all. Any rightthinking person would have thought that, however proud our Town Council are to possess a public building of some sort or another they would have expressed their gratification with becoming modesty; but such was not the case, they actually complained to the Hon. C. C. Bowen about the insecurity of the building, and gave practical illustrations fhat any strong man, if confined within 'its walls could easily remove the iron bars protecting 'the windows, and make good bis escape What all this solicitude about the gaol means ofi the part of our civic authorities 1 am at a loss to learn, Excepting some two or three drunkards, and a maniac it has been tenantless ; and long may it remain so I am sure is the desire of every well-conducted citizen. The Hon. C. C. Bowen Created a very favorable impression. He did not promise everything after the old Provincial fashion, hut discussed the pros and cons of everything that was asked him ; and what he thought favorably of he mado-a memo of in his pocket book, and. promised to give it his attention. Mr Boweh seemed rather surprised to find the Arrow such a busy little place, and So many nice residences and gardens. Prom his remarks I should judge that our Queenstown neighbors had not been setting us down in the most favorable light. Mr Henry Mandors, M.H.R., has also paid us a visit, and visits ns again on the loth instant, when he makes a public address at the Library Hall. I think that Mr Manders’ constituents have considerable reason Who thankful. Without a question ho has been the best member we ever had, and he has been very painstaking to do good for the place. Of Mr Manders’ change of politics I hear nothing said, in fact, I think that his having thrown the Provincial party overboard and adopted Abolition gave very general satisfaction, as, excepting a prejudiced few, who sometimes picked up small crumbs from the Provincial Government table, the Untiru population of the Arrow were staunch supporters of centralisation. The county elections are beginning to produce a little excitement, and there is a sharp look out for suitable candidates, which, unfortunately, are by «uo means plentiful. It is a most important thing that we should secure good men, as the future of the district very rtiuch depends fipon the doings of the first coimdil, and above all things a good chairman and clerk is indispensable to success. From the reefs the news is most cheering. The Homeward Bound Gorapany are upon 1 splendid stone, equalling anything ever obtained hero. Tlmir little battery Works Very satisfactorily, but it does not pht through enough ; however, until we have a road made up the Twelve-mile Creek extensive in the machinery lino can he erected. The All Nations company are engaged tonstnioting a tramway for bringing down their quartz, they having decided to erect a small battery of four and a half hundred weight stampers to be driven by a 20-foot wheel which is to bo ready by the end of March next. The Maryborough are sinking a shaft so as to prospect the reef to the level of the

All Nations tunnel, which is 150 foot below thorn. Those two companies will have to “hole through” so as to secure a supply of fresh air t6 work tholt respective mines. Jl fancy the reefs never looked better than they do at present, in fact, the more they are opened up the better and more permanent they appear to bo.