CROMWELL. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT )

Otago Witness, Issue 1476, 28 February 1880, Page 13

CROMWELL. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT )

February 23rd. The result of the sale of Corporation lands acquired by tho reduction of tho width of Molraore tortaco has exceeded our expectations: the grots result will bo about £1600 for ground occupied for the last ten years without title and without any successful effort to clear off the occupsntir. Several attempts were made to detar the Corporation from taking tho action, but the uucceifl of tho result has given very general satisfaction.

The amount received ti date for the Irish Distress Fund Is ahout £130, which, I believe, it ib intended to tend Home direct to the Lord Mayor of Dublin. Our Warden ha* suffered a severe bereavement In the death of Mrs Keddell, which occurred last woek. Ho has had considerable difficulty fur scmo weeks in endeavouring to attond to his public duties while his domestic troubles demanded such constant attention, and much sympathy is expressed by the whole community. A cane of disposal of spurious gold by Chinese hes itartled gold-buyers. A parcel of somo 00 ounces, a large quantity of which was found to bo spurious, was offered to tbe Colonial Back, when d' tectlon ensued ; hut from what I can learn, although the culprit is doubt'eue in custody, there is not much protpece of a conviction. It is reported that quite an establishment exists for the manufacture of the fpurlous article, and doubtless the police will, from the meagre information in h»t<d, follow tho matter up, if not to conviction, at least to extirpation. As the Dui.edin School Oommiltoe hsu adopted tho Compulsory clauses, we here will feel interested \n

finding their interpretation of that clause, which mentions the necessity of attending during halt the period during whioa the school is open. We gave it up hnre, as it may mean six months out of the year, or half "of each day, or some still more erratic calculation, all of which wii) defy the ingenuity of the Committee to enforce, or of Jtrticea to order upon. The Garrick Water-rac* is now de>ivering about four heads of water, an absurdly small quantity as the remit of suoh erormoue outlay ; and miners are iiis'atirg that the whole supply of water granted to tho Company ha brought in before the Government mortgage in telexed. Some dis^ausf action is expressed as to its disposal, it being averted that the greater i art of the supply is given to on« party, while other* aie left without a drop, although prepared to pay a hieher rate for it. The company should look into these roatftw, w d endeavour to do tbe greateit good to the greatest number. Tho we.itber lias baen unusually hot and dry, and a ourioui citcumstnnco in notable throughout tho district thi' srawn, which is tous','quit,euiiaccounUble— that ib, the total absence < t our summer pest- files. The Government Inspector cf Mines id now vieitinsr the several coa -mines in the dlntrict to satisfy himself of tho safety cf the workings.