BANNOCKBURN.

Cromwell Argus, Volume IV, Issue 196, 12 August 1873, Page 5

BANNOCKBURN.

(from our own correspondent.) August 11, 1873. In a former issue of your paper, I stated that the Post-office hero had been abolished, that at the time being the extent of my information on the subject. In your last number, I notice a correspondent corrects the mistake by informing your readers that the office has been abolished only in consequence of Mr Halliday having resigned his appointment as postmaster. I can merely assure your correspondent and others interested that I had not the remotest intention of in any way slighting Mr Halliday when 1 wrote the paragraph in question. On the contrary, I, with many other residents, feel very grateful to our late postmaster for the attention he has paid to the duties of the office while he held the appointment,—to which, I may also state, there has never been any salary attached. I hear that an endeavour is shortly to be made to get Mr Simpson, our schoolmaster here, appointed postmaster. Ido not know whether that gentleman has consented to take it; if he has, I hope something like a salary may be attached to it. The pigeon match between Messrs Reid and Cassels, which I alluded to in my last, came off on Saturday afternoon, and drew a considerable number of spectators together ; indeed, there must have been nearly seventy present. Neither gentleman seemed to be in good shooting trim, and for some reason or other the birds did not rise well. The match was won by Mr Reid, the following being the number of birds killed by each, and the distances ; 21yds 23yds 2oyds Reid ... 10 ... 01 ... 10 Cassels ... 10 ... 00 ... 00 There being three birds left, a sweepstake was got up between Messrs Reid, Cassels, and Lake ; the two former only killed their birds, and therefore divided the prize. One of the gentlemen recently appointed as collector for the Dunstan District Hospital was busy handing round his list, taking advantage of the assemblage of people. He was fairly successful, having obtained in cash and promises, something, I understand, over the sum of £l2. A number of persons met in Mr Stuart’s Ferry Hotel on Saturday evening to consider the advisability of asking Mr D. MacKellar, M.P.C.. to a public dinner, thus giving him an opportunity of meeting his constituents in this part of the district, and giving some information in regard to his action during the late session of Council. It was ultimately agreed to leave the matter over until Wednesday, the 13th inst., on which evening a public meeting is to be called, under the auspices of the Mining Association, to go into the matter. Among the numerous documents for signature which have been going round lately, I notice a petition for an extension of the railway from Tuapeka to Cromwell. It is to be hoped the district will bo well canvassed for this petition, and as no money is required after signing one’s name, no doubt the signatures will be numerous, considering the large population between Teviot and Cardrona. BANNOCKBURN AND UVRRIOK RANGE MINERS’ ASSOCIATION. The Committee of the above held their monthly meeting on Wednesday evening, (ith inst. The members present were—Mr J. Crumble, president ; Messrs Stewart, Menzies, Smiddy, Aitchison, and Moore. The minutes of previous meeting having been read and confirmed, and some minor business transacted, the following resolutions were submitted, and after discussion agreed to : Proposed by Mr Aitchison, seconded by Mr Stewart: “ That the Secretary for Gold-fields be written to requesting him to rectify the mistake that has evidently been made in appointing two officers of the Central Association to ascertain whether land applied for under the agricultural lease system be auriferous or not, instead of selecting them from the Association of the district in which the land applied for is situated ; the miners in the locality of the land so applied for being in our opinion better qualified to judge as to whether laud is auriferous than others living at a distance; and considerable expense would be saved by selecting local men.” Moved by Mr Menzies, seconded by Mr Smiddy : “ That the Postmaster-General be written to showing the necessity that exist i for the appointment of a Postmaster at the Bannockburn, and this Association recommends the appointment, of Mr John Simpson, the schoolmaster, as Postmaster, with a salary.” (Mr J. L. Moore acted as Secretary pro tern.)