CROMWELL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2528, 27 August 1902, Page 44

CROMWELL.

August 25 —In common with other places in the King's dominions, the loyal people of Cromwell duly celebrated the Coronation. They "proceshed," delivered and listened to speeches-, and cheered as vigorously and loudly as possible. The local Volunteers mustered in good force, and quite a feature of the military part of the display was a piece of artillery of local manufacture. This engine of destruction was cunningly made from an old telegraph pole with a stsel tubo inside and an ingenious breech action. The charge, consisting- of about lib of blasting powder, was frred by means of a short fuse. Messrs Johnston and Tidey were tho makers of this local "Long Tom."

Sand. — The sand nuisance, which gave some piomise of abatement latt year, threatens to be troublesome again in the near future. The Borough Council is taking ateps to do- what ifc can to prevent a new irruption of sand into the town. It has cost a considerable sum of money to clear the sand out of the town, and preventive measures should be adopted to stop a new invasion. Soma "sheep's parsley" was sent down from Hawea by Mr M'Lennan and planted by the corporation, but enough time has not elapsed to prove whether it will .bo successful in binding and covering the drifting sand.

Weather.— The winter just passing away ha<? been a somewhat unusual one. There has been a long-continued frost and, practically speaking, no snow — at least on the low ground, anrt a much thinner covering than usual on the mountains. The indications point to a low river all summer, to the- benefit of the Sarß°S ar ß° and river dredges ; but if rain falls as heavily and as frequently as it did last summer this prognostication will be falsified. Otago ©mitral.— A public meeting was hold last Thursday evening to consider the North Island propoaaftfc.giab all the recent loan for North Island raihws. The meeting protested

proposal, and passed resolutions to that effect. It was also determined to form a local branch of the Otago Central Railway League. The Mayor -was appointed president, and Mr J. Little secretary. The branch is to hold monthly meetings. Those Obstructions.— The local people are beginning to ask when the work of blowing up the obstructions in the Clyde-Cromwell Gorge is to be commenced. During the last two months the river has been phenomenally low, and the work could have been done under very favourable circumstances. It appears as if operations were going to be delayed until the river rises to its summer level, when the woik will be mere difficult and expensive than it ■would be had it b?en done in a more favourable season Delay only means additional loss to the companies -whose operations are hindered by the obstructions. Political. — It is astonishing how little public inteiest is being taken in the (forthcoming election, although four candidates are already in the field — three in the Liberal interest a:.^l the sitting member (who, although an Oppositionist, is an eminently fair and honest critic of the Government). My idea is that the three Liberal and Government candidates will be pTetty well weeded out before polling day cornea, and that after all it will be only a twohorse race, with the odds in favour of the piesent member.