THE ARROW WARDENSHIP.

Lake County Press, Issue 53, 7 June 1872, Page 2

THE ARROW WARDENSHIP.

From petitioning for the appointment of a Warden for the Arrowtown district, the residents now seem to have reached the happy position of choosing one. At least so we infer from the action taken' during the present week. It appears that a rumor got abroad that the choice of the Executive lay between Messrs Wortnington and Stratford—the fornier ; Reoeiver at Quee.nstown, the latter at Naseby. The result of this rumor was that active partizuns displayed themselves on both sides. On Saturday and Sunday, we hear, it became known that those favor-, able to the appointment of Mr Stratford went round town and obtained a Few signatures to a dooument advocating the same. As this might lead the Governs ment to suppose it represented the opinion of the district it was thought more legitimate to call a public meeting. The result of the meeting was that 38 votes were recorded—the fact bting that owing to short notice the principal parties affected the miners—were unable to attend. It will be gleaned from this that no public opinion, properly so called, has yet been expressed. -...-.. ~, As to the qualifications of the two

gentleman named we desire to say a few words. Mr Worthington has been stationed in the Wakatip district for a period of seven or eight years, and during that time has fulfilled his arduous duties in such amanueras to gain the highest encotiiuins from every class of the community. The miners, almost to a man, speak of him as in every respect one of the most able and courteou-i officers in the goldfields service-; and, with few exceptions, would be proud to have him as Warden of this district. This may be looked upon as high-flown praise, but from all we can hear and have known of the gentleman it does -not fall short of the truth.

Of vlr Stratford very little is known in this district, any further than that he has previously filled the position uf Warden on the Otago Goldfields. That gentle, man's abilities may be of a high order, and no doubt are, to qualify him to have occupied the offiV ; but we have no hesitation in stating that to meet the requirements of the Arrow district, Mr Worthington would be the more suitable officer, as his long connection with, and knowledge of, the dL-trict is of itself a recommendation; while we are certain his technical knowledge of the goldfields service is second to none.

Another phase of the question worthy of consideration is the position of' our present Receiver, Mr Field. That gentlehas only been stationed here twelve months, and was put to considerable inconvenience and discomfort in removing from Alexandra. In case of the appointment of Mr Stratford, the probabilities are that Mr Field viill be called upon to fill tha vacancy at Noaeby—a journey at this

time of year of no .little an xHy to one so situated as that gentleman This would be obviated, and expense saved the Government, were Mr Worthington appointed here and Mr Field took his place at Queenstowri. ontui jltris to be hoped that the Executive will tike these things into consideration before making the appointment We believe we are correct in saying that in following out the suggestion above stated they will be acting. in accordance with the feeling here.