Cromwell Argus AND NORTHERN GOLD-FIELDS GAZETTE. Cromwell: Tuesday, August 12, 1873.

Cromwell Argus, Volume IV, Issue 196, 12 August 1873, Page 4

Cromwell Argus AND NORTHERN GOLD-FIELDS GAZETTE. Cromwell: Tuesday, August 12, 1873.

Elsewhere we print the petition at present being circulated for signature in favour of the extension of the railway from Tuapeka to Cromwell. When we wrote a few weeks ago enlarging upon the necessity of the speedy initiation of this work, we had not thought to find the matter so soon advanced to its present stage. It speaks volumes in favour of the belief in the payableness of the line that the necessity of its speedy construction was so universally and unhesitatingly recognised by the Provincial Council. As is known, that body has recommended that the construction as far as the IWiot lie proceeded with “ concurrently with the progress of the contracts between Tokomairiro and Tuapeka,”—which, as these contracts are now in process of being carried out, simply means immediately. And if the Assembly can only be brought to see the necessity in the same favourable light, the railway will soon be under way, and we may reckon on seeing it not only at the Teviot but at our own doors within a very few years,—probably four or five at the most. But unfortunately, the Assembly is approached at much less ad van tage than the Provincial Council. It will doubtless be somewhat difficult to secure the support of a body the majority of whose members have perhaps never heard of Cromwell except as the capital of the Middle Island in that future the glory of which is at present only seen “ as through a glass darkly.” These members will ask for some knowledge of our resources, of our population, and so forth. And to some extent to answer these inquiries is the end designed to be accomplished by this petition. Being accompanied by the Report of the Select Committee of the j Provincial Council, with its statistics and 1 highly favourable expressions of opinion, the petition requires but to be fairly signed to . carry considerable weight. < d course, the opposition of some of the Nor them members who have no eye or ear for j any proposition the support of which gives j them no opportunity to boast before their j constituents, is to he expected. But to. those who are willing to look into the matter with any degree of attention, and to judge of it on its merits, the proposed extension must strongly commend itself; and with the support of such members, aml that of several influential Otago men who are not onlv satisfied hut pledged to give it,—Messrs Macandrew, Reid, Beyxolds, Bathgate, Gillies, and others, —there is every reason to hope that the matter will be successfully carried through the Assembly. As we have said, the petition will he no slight aid to this end, and therefore we have to urge that those who have had the copies for signature placed with them, will use strong endeavours to get them as numerously signed as possible. Those members of the Town Council who bestirred themselves in the matter of framing and cii dilating the petition are to be thanked for their energy, but at the same time we would remind them that no time must be lost in forwarding it to Wellington for presentation.

On our seventh page, we reprint from the Timaru Herald a short article pointing one the absurdity and injustice of asking newspaper proprietors to furnish gratis files of their newspapers for the use of Athenaeums and Public Libraries. The following letter, received by ns a few days ago, is an admirable specimen of the polite blarney and consummate assurance which are brought to bear upon the unfortunate proprietors of struggling country newspapers by those philanthropic organisations known as Athenaeum Committees. We draw a veil over the whence of this model epistle : Athenaeum. Ts T .Z , July 21. 1873. Rir, —-I have the honour to inform you that the Committee of the Athenaeum and Mechanics*’ Institute, being desirous of rendering that Institute more generally useful as a means of popular education. hove instructed me to solicit your aid in accomplishing this obj ct. The Athenaeum embodies a very good I'hrarv, and a reading room which is supplied with the leading magazines and Home papers. Colonial journals have also been given in the most liberal spirit, bv many proprietors of newspapeis in this Colony, and it being most desirable that the people in this district shou’d bp cognisant of the progress which is being made in the other Provinces, whereby a generous emula-

tion may be excited in .advancing tbe interests of the Colony at large, the Committee have directed me to ask you whether you would be so good as to assist them in. their work of extending the usefulness of the Institute, by the contribution of your valuable and influential journal. I need hardly add that all papers received at the Athonieuui are duly filed and kept for future reference. .Requesting the favour of a reply,—l am, &c.,