Cromwell Argus. AND NORTHERN GOLD-FIELDS GAZETTE. Cromwell : Tuesday, January 14, 1873.

Cromwell Argus, Volume IV, Issue 166, 14 January 1873, Page 4

Cromwell Argus. AND NORTHERN GOLD-FIELDS GAZETTE. Cromwell : Tuesday, January 14, 1873.

I Ever since the gold-fields became privileged to be represented in the Councils of the country, —became invested with the right of making their voice heard in its government, —there can be no doubt that the mining class has been considered, more or less generally, to be without political opinions or political life. Mining districts have been looked upon as " fall-backs," or, at any rate, as but convenient steppingstones to political power, with a view to office or a Government " billet." A glance at the character of representatives who have sat for the gold-fields in tne Assembly, and in the Provincial Council, will be ample proof that such has been the case. To succeed in becoming elected by mining i constituencies, it has not been thought nej cessary to come before them with any deep j set or sound and lixed ideas upon the questions of the day : all that have been deemed lit acquirements have been a plen tiful stock of assurance and a brazen habit of self-praise, in some cases ; or, in others, a skin-deep cleverness, and a plausible, flowing oratory. Examples need not bt gathered, but will at once rise to the imagination, of representatives who have se cured seats upon no other qualifications than these. Perhaps it would not evei be going too far to name Mr Vogel as be longing to the latter of these classes. A any rate, he came not seeking election a miners' hands with any interest in theii well-being or (advancement ; but, rejectei and despised of others, be tried his lucl for a gold-fields district, with a convictioi j that anybody would satisfy the minors: am ! the result proved that he was right. Bu j much of this political dead-and-alive stab 'of feeling has gone,-—-given place to a fitte '■ i condition of thiiurs. With the settlemen l ) of the prosecutors of the mining industr; upon the land, a more fixed attention t political matters has grown up. Miner are to be satisfied no longer with nondc script representatives,—political jaek-o ' lanterns and living-seekers. A change ha taken place in this direction, —or rathei perhaps, is just beginning to make itsel 3 apparent. The la:st election for the As • semolv iu the Wakatip district was a pleai ling eviueiae o: the change. And w

view the recent Mining Conference as a decided result of such an awakening on the part of the gold-fields residents ; and, further, believe that it is a favourable omen for the existence of a greater attention to politics among them for the future. The willing and hearty manner in which all—, with one exception, we think—invited to represent themselves responded, goes far to confirm us in such a belief. The members of the Conference, too, bear out the evidence of some change of the kind we have mentioned, by the clear-sighted and comprehensive knowledge, betokening no small amount of study, displayed by them as to past mining legislation in the Colony, I Of course, the fact that raining has now! become a settled industry, and that its fol-I lowers, for the most part, possess a personal! interest in the prosperity of the Colony, has been the groundwork of this change, —its main cause. But, inside this, as it were, there can be no doubt that the Min. ing Associations, which have sprung out I of this settlement, have been a grand auxi- I liary in effecting this result. These havelr now been formed in almost every districtl gold-field in the Province, and are calcn-l lated to have no slight influence towardslt keeping alive this political revival. The! Arrow Association, in particular, is deserv-i of the thanks of the whole mining coin-l" munity. So to speak, it was the parent-1 stem of all the rest, which have beenl i formed, if not at its direct suggestion, air least upon its model and by emulation of I its example. Indeed, the Conference itselfß may look to it for parentage : that ciation has the credit of being the original! suggester of a meeting of delegates, andl took energetic steps to carry its idea to al practical termination. | We published the report of the Confe-I;; rence in one of our issues a month or sol: ! ago ; and, as our readers have doubtless!' criticised it for themselves, perhaps any| lengthy remarks upon it would fall flail and be of no profit. It bears evidence off , I rather hurried compilation : and, as a coii-1- ! sequence, in some instances the recommeii. | dations are couched in rather vague tenm j One or two of them, also, are to our minds \ . of rather a finical nature; while sut|'\ jects of great importance, to the interest! \ \ of the mining community are baiely toadied | < upon. For instance, the subject of a win! \ \ for New Zealand. Something stronger \ i and more decided might have been place! jf. i on record than a mere endorsement of tli? I 1 recommendation made by the Mint CWJ ■< mittee of last Assembly,—which was t; 1 the effect that a practical proposal on if < matter should be brought down by the Go-i: 3 vernment next session. However, these| 3 matters, in which the report comes shot! c of what might have been expected, aref perhaps redeemed sufficiently by the mann * i valuable suggestions it contains, and tin numerous subjects of deep moment totkj miner of which it treats, —intelligently, ij not concisely and clearly. Altogether; ' there can be no question that the report \\ well worthy of the earnest considerationc; those who are entrusted with the framk o of the new Gold Mining Bill, and from i:; t> they may derive hints and suggestion: I 1 1 that will greatly aid them in their task. \ ! <" The report, however, is not a suiumin? j *f up of all the business transacted and m \ " lutions adopted by the Conference. Of 41 j matters of which it contains no mention! n I Mr Alexander's motion as to the fonußp tion of an Otago Mining Board is perlwp m B the most important. From the discussion IL which took j)lace on this matter, it appear that it was thought best to allow no G -„. vernment interference in its composite >p or management: and so the motion :'. 0 j carried providing that the Board shou ? 5_ reserve the right of appointing a chairnu" [ p. from among its members. It wast. :-- Cf opinion of some of the Conference thattt <_ oc Government of the Colony would notr te willing that so powerful a body should \ I -gc i created without a Government voice in c j br . deliberations; but, however that may I* tv whether a chairman were appointed by I- ov j Government or not, such a Board vot ■ f e; ;i effect a vast amount of good ; and its eC : !n ; • tence would conduce to secure muchgif* \ ] I attention to the interests of the gold-fit' 811 : than has hitherto been paid, —and gtt* ! i perhaps, than is paid in any other FroviE-' ai I or Colony. j th b It will' be remarked that another mf clc ■ ing of the Conference is to be held at|- s ef i- end of the present year,--on this occasi iin tat Clyde; but we have no recollection he / seeing it stated whether a new election! *< i delegates is intended to take place. % " (1 s presume this will have to be done; for 1! e - reason that in some uf the districts- 1 ! J 1 - own, for instance—the associations «<| s organised so hurriedly that but few of J ', miners had a chance to join ; and asitfj f bers of the associations only were all# K , ; to vote, the elections in those districts 1 »- hardly be said to be full expressing Str n I opinion from all interested in the ffliWf'.

The weather during the past week has partaken almost of a wintry nature. Snow has once or twice fallen upon the ranges, and we have had a considerable quantity of rain on different occasions, affording both.to the miner and agriculturist a much-needed supply of water. At night-time, there have been some cold winds, but they have been almost welcomed as refreshjnff changes from the close and sultry atmosphere we had been accustomed to. The whole district was beginning to find water for mining purposes falling short, but the renewed supply has set all to work again vigorously. The statutory annual meeting for election of a new School Committee was to have been held las'" evening at the Cromwell School-house; but owing to the paucity of the attendance, it was postponed until Friday, the 17th inst. Miners resident in the Baanockburn and Carrick Range districts are reminded that a public meeting is to be held at the new Schoolhonse next Saturday evening, with the view of forming a Miners' Association in connection with that already established in Cromwell and at other centres of population on the gold-fields. We learn on undoubted, authority that | the Nil Desperandum Company have struck a \ new and well defined reef in their ground at ; Pipeclay Gully. The new lode is said to average \ th'rty inches in thickness, and is what miners I call a "flat reef." The Robert Burns Co. have cleaned-up I within the last few days, but the returns, we are \ sorry to learn, are scarcely payable. The Kawarau Bridge Company (Messrs I M'Cormick, Grant, and Richards) are miking j rapid progress in the formation of the approach {on the east side of the river. The piers are all | but completed ; and there is good reason to exi poet that the bridge will be finished and open [ for traffic in the beginning of May. Alfred Austin, the champion runner of I Australia, arrived in Cromwell on Wednesday I last, his object being to make arrangements for a I public exhibition here of his well-known prowess as a pedestrian. Having received from one of our most enterprising public ms a guarantee for payI merit of his expanses, Austin concluded negoI' ciations for a match against'time, to be run in Mel-move-terrace to-morrow (Wednesday) evening, when he will essav the feat of running five miles within thirty minutes. We may mention that the shortest time on record as having been achieved lin a five-mile performance is that of the AmeriI can Deer, who covered the distance in 24 min. 157 sees. It is hardly probable Young Austin I will nifike fast time on the occasion •>{ his appearliiiicfi here, as the " course" is very heavy, and 1 not at all adapted for rapid pedestrian locomol.tion. However, th i race will be well Worth I witnessing : an opportunity of seeing a runner ■of Austin's celebrity may not occur again for I years. The people of Cromwell have seen what II young Augustus Murray (of the World Circus) I can accomplish ns a " walkist " ; and when they I know that he was a pupil of the Australian Idiampion's, they will fe 1 all the more interest lin an exhibition of speed and endurance on the Ipart of Austin himself. I Mr T. A. Fraser, of Hawea Lake I Station, hns been gazetted a Justice of the Peace I for the CVony. I The Morven Hills Station, the property of the Hon. John M'l.ean, is advertised to be sold by auction on the 20th March next, in Dunedin. The area comprised in the run is 3*0,000 acres, and there is besides a freehold of 4000. 130,000 sheep, 2000 head cattle, and 100 horses are to be disposed of along wdth it. James Graham, the man who was arrested at Bannockburn on Sunday week, on suspicion of being insane, was brought befwre the Bench at Clyde and committed to the Dunedin Lunatic Asylum. liVe mentioned last week that the Kaau coal-pit on Gibbstown Flat, was on fire. i following is part of a letter written by one he owners of the pit to the Arrow Observer : : It would be wanting of gratitude on our t were we to pass over in silence the noble duct of the miners of Gibbstown Flat on the ision. Although Christmas week they musid almost to a man, and worked with a hearty d-will, making a water-race from the Camin Race—a distance of nearly three miles in i days—to the coal-pit. The Cambrian Race iers—Messrs Jones, Thomas, and party—also ilered very valuable services, not only in maktlie race, but giving the use of their water, hout which it would have been quite impose to extinguish the fire." At Ciudrona, on Saturday, January 4, liner named James Lloyd was found dead at bottom of a shaft, near the township, and in se proximity to the main road. He was last n alive on New Year's Day, in the evening, ler the influence of liquor. An inquest was i, and a verdict returned to the effect that deceased met his death accidentally. In a sr, the jnry recommended " that steps should taken to prevent the recurrence of such acciils by the covering of all shafts near the main d,—the work to be done with Government 'stance." The Arroio Observer says deceased la share in a claim paying from £3 to £4 a e k ; was inoffensive, and very hard-working. ;nty or ninety persons followed his corpse to ! grave, and the burial service was read by Mr fatford, R.M. at the Arrow.

The Queenstown Races are to take place on Thursday and Friday of this week. The fact that harvesting operations are being carried on throughout the district is likely somewhat to lessen the average attendance ; but in all other respects, the Mail believes, the meeting will be highly successful. Doubtless His Excellency the Governor will be present on the rirst day. We observe from the Gazette that the Provincial Government invites " conditional tenders" from persons desirious of constructing a bridge over the Clutha River at the Beaumont. A Cbristchurch telegram, dated the Bth inst., states that the sale of Mr Nosworthy's racing stock on the 7th was a failure, in consequence of the high reserve prices. Only three important lots were sold. 430 guineas each were bid for Lurline and Calumny, but they were withdrawn at £SOO each. The Daily Times "learns upon good authority that it is the intention of the Hon. Mr Hall to resign his seat in the Cabinet before the next session of the Assembly, with a view of proceeding to England in connection with his own private affairs. We learn also that the Premier, the Hon. Mr Waterhouse, will endeavour to obtain a seat in the House of Representatives before the Assembly meets."—A late Wellingron telegram says:—"lt is rumoured Mr Waterhouse will take the portfolio of Colonial Secretary on Mr Hall's resignation of it. Mr Waterhouse denies that he has any intention of seeking a seat in the House of Representatives." In his report to the Government upon the state of the Martin's Bay settlement, Mr Warden Boetham says : —"One of the greatest aids to the development of the great resources of the Martin's Bay settlement would be the establishment of some permanent industry there, by means of which capital would be introduced, and an impetus given to the whole settlement. This could of course only be attempted by private enterprise ; and it will, I have no doubt, before long take the direction of the establishment of saw mills, for which I feel convinced no more favourable locality could be found on the New Zealand const. Timber of all kinds and of the finest quality is abundant, while there is sufficient water to turn all the mills in the Colony. The logs could be floated by means of the lake to the mills from all parts of the settlement; while the Hollyford river could be used as a drive for the magnificent forest on its banks. The river from the sea is easily entered by s+oamers of a moderate draught of water, and the Me'bourne market is at hand. The benefit to the settlement bv the establishment of such an industry would be incalculable ; it would indeed he the key to its success Considering the great natural advantages posjsessed by the whole district, which, 1 think, | cannot be overrated, I believe that the settlement is destined in a very few years, if it receives a moderate share of attention, to become a thickly populated and very valuable district." A New Zealand Emigration Agency has been established in Dublin, and is now in active I operation. At the Auckland Supreme Court, Francis Conway, a man 70 years of age. was found guilty of rape upon a child under eight years old, and was sentenced to five years' imprisonment. The Charlotte Gladstone, which sailed from London for Otago on Nov. 4, has 360 passengers on board. Eight se-amen and one marine deserted H.M.S. Dido, while she lay recently in Port Chalmers. One of them has since been arrested at the Bluff. £.'■} reward is given for each deserter arrested. The Tuapeha Times says the new Waste Land Board will be comprised as follows : Messrs Henry Clark, A. W. Morris, J. L. Butterworth, A. Chetham-Strode and a member of the Provincial Executive.—The gentlemen named have since, with the addition of a member of the Executive in the person of Mr W. A. Tohnie, been declared appointed as the members of the Board. The approval of the Governor in Council has to be officially intimated to the Chief Commissioner of Waste Lands in the Province before the Board can sit.