The Arrow Observer, AND LAKES DISTRICT CHRONICLE. Arrowtown, Friday, May 24, 1872.

Lake County Press, Issue 51, 24 May 1872, Page 2

The Arrow Observer, AND LAKES DISTRICT CHRONICLE. Arrowtown, Friday, May 24, 1872.

The Miners' Association have at last taken up in earnest the matter of the appointment of a Warden for the Arrow district, and we notice that our Provincial representative, Mr Innes, has moved in the same direction. At the meeting of the Association held on Monday last the subject was ably dis-

cussed, and an unanimous vote carried that the Governments—both Provincial and General—be at once appealed to to procure that object. Petitions have already been prepared, and the district will be at once canvassed for signatures not after the Chinese fashion, but with the desire to obtain an honest expression of public opinion; and we have no doubt the result will he a universal desire for the object sought. It must not be supposed that this action arises from, or advantage is taken of, the late excitemeut anent the removal of the Warden. The necessity for the Arrow possessing a Resident Magistrate and Warden has for some time past been earnestly discussed, and the action now taken to procure one was long since determined upon, and only delayed by the excitement of the pastelections. At the meeting on Monday there could be no other opinion formed than that Mr Beetham possessed the confidence of the miners on the Arrow; there were, of course, some dissentients, but they were mostly disappointed suitors, who had received adverse verdicts in Court, and showed their desire for his removal by sympathising with the Chinese petition, while their insignificant minority made them subjects of ridicule.

In asking for the appointment of a Warden, the Arrow district is ouly seeking to be restored to its former position, as, until the removal of Mr Warden Broad, it always possessed its Warden and ltesident Magistrate ; while in point of revenue and population it always was the most important half of the Wakatip district. During the last three years the Arrow district has improved wonderfully—its population has been doubled, while the yield of gold has been in exact proportion. Thousands of acres of land have been cultivated, and from the Arrow threefourths of the grain and other ciods exported from the Wakatip is produced, and it now possesses two mills for converting its wheat into flour. The elections for the Wakatip are in the hands of its residents—it is the political centre of the electoral district of Wakatip ; and this alone must entitle it to a large amount of consideration. We hove no wish to disparage Queeustown, but we must say that the human hive of industry in the Wakatip district is at the Arrow, and in consideration of this alone we are entitled to ask tor the appointment of a Warden and Resident Magistrate to reside permanently at Arrowiown. The duties of this officer, since Mr Broad's removal, have been performed from Queenstown by Mr Warden Bhetii am; and that they have been ably discharged there is no gainsaying. At the same time that gentleman cannot possibly overtake the necessary work required of him. Cardrona. Macetown, and Gibbstown have lately acquired great importance as goldmining centres, and demand the presence of the Warden at stated intervals, but their wants cannot possibly be attended to. Mr Beetham visita the Cardrona every alternate month, and no one eau but conclude that, excepting in very fine weather, the fatigue is far too much, especially where a large amount of mental exertion is required, No man can run about and hold Courts of Justice after the fashion of a lamplighter, and it is ridiculous for the Government to suppose such ; while we feel assured that even as a matter of revenue, the desired appointment of a Warden and ltesident Magistrate would effect a considerable saving.