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

The voting for election of Mayor of Cromwell took place last Wednesday, and resulted in the return of Mr Fraer (who held the office for the past municipal year) by a majority of 19. There were 105 votes recorded, 02 being for Mr Fraer and 43 for Mr Marsh. After the declaration of the poll, both gentlemen briefly addressed the ratepayers. The first regular meeting of the new Council takes place on Thursday evening, when it is expected the Mayor will submit his tinar. cial and public works policy for the current year. We direct attention to an advertisement which appears in another column, convening a meeting of the Cromwell Jockey Club for the transaction of important business. The meeting takes place on Thursday evening, 14th inst. A special meeting of the Cromwell Athenaeum Committee was held in the Library on Thursday evening, for the purpose of organising another popular entertainment in aid of the building fund. The members present were—Mr Preshaw, president ; Messrs Jolly, MacKellar, Colclough. Matthews, and C. W. Wright. After full consideration, it was agreed to request the amateurs who performed the farce of “ Turn Him Out” at the last entertainment to repeat the performance, and Mr Fraer undertook to arrange for the performance of another piece, so that the proposed entertainment should consist almost entirely of dramatic representations. It was also agreed to ask the assistance of the Cromwell Brass Band on the occasion. The date of the entertainment was not definitely fixed., but it was understood that it should Lake place about the 4th of next month. The nett pro.eeds of last entertainment were £l6 2s. Mr J. P. Armstrong, surgeon and mechanical dentist, announces bv advertisement the fact of his arriv'd at Clyde on a professional visit. As his intention is to remain th re only a fortnight, and as his other engagements do not permit him to visit Cromwell during his present tour, those desirous of consulting him should do so at once. We..have.much pleasure in acknowledging the receipt, through Mr J. L. Gillies, of a map showing the various education d, university, and hospital reserves throughout the Province. We intend to keep it in the o'fice for reference by those who may he interested in the purchase or le sini of lands in this district. A map sh living the various blocks reserved or in l e idel to he reserved for settlement on the dcferre 1 payments system, as well as for the "imposes above mentioned was, we unlerstanl, laid upon the tab e of the Provincial Council during the past session, and we intend, if possible, procuring a copy of it also f >r the purpose of reference. Wo have been favoured with a contribution in verse, written in a feminine hand, and j signed “ Mrs Impartial.” The real name of the I writer is not given, and for that reason the lines | cannot be inserted. No respectable newspaper j will publish contributions either in prose or verse unless the editor be furnished with the real I name and address of the writer. In a note ap- ; pended to the verses, the authoress asks us to (“correct errors,” which, she fears, are numerous. AA'e are constrained to admit that we do not fed equal to the task. We give “ Mrs Impartial” full credit for possessing kindly motives, hut she lacks the power of expressing her sentiments intelligibly in verse. The annual meeting of the Garrick Range Water Supply Compile', which was to have Leon held on the 6th or 7th instant, lapsed for the want of a quorum. We observe that the Chairman of Directors has called another meet- ; ing for Monday, the 18th, when it is to he hoped ! a sufficient number of shareholders will be in at- | tendance to enable the business to be proceeded ! with. The pod of legal manager being vacant j through the resignation of Mr Smythies, a fresh appointment has to he made, and this can only be done at a properly-constituted meeting of the shareholders. We have to acknowledge receipt of No. 1 of Messrs Gillies and Street’s Monthly Property | List, dated Ist inst. It contains much useful : information relative to the value of real property throughout the Province ; and there is also a j money article, and a sharennrket report. As a | means of augmenting the business of the pub- | lishers, the pamphlet cannot he otherwise than I successful. I Throughout the Kawaran district a large i . . . number of si-.matures are being obtained to the I Railway Petition. It is requisite to mention the fact, that the occupation and place of residence of each signitary should be adhibited. The usual monthly meeting of the Cromwell Athemenm Committee takes place this evening. at eight o’clock. It is desirable that all the members should he present, as there is business of great importance to bring before the 1 mcet'.ug.

. The Cromwell Coalpit has been purchased from Mr John Perriam by Messrs John Hayes ami W. Williams, for the sum of £2lO. Hitherto the principal drawback to the successful working of this valuable mine has been the want of sufficient water-power to work the pumps during dry weather ; the new proprietors, however, have no such difficulty to encounter ; both are shareholders in the Westmoreland race, and the water at their command will, it is ex* pected, be amply sufficient to work the pumps all the year through. We sincerely wish Messrs Hayes and Williams a larger measure of success in the venture than has been vouchsafed to their predecessors. A third share in the Mount Pisa waterrace, with a proportionate interest in a sluicingclaim on the Lowburn, changed hands the other day for the sum of £2OO. Mr J. Werner was the vendor, and Messrs George Partridge and Thomas Wood, the remaining shareholders, were the purchasers. A preliminary meeting of the newlyconstituted Town Council was held in the Townhall on Friday afternoon. The Mayor (Mr M. Fraer) presided ; and the Councillors present were Messrs Dawkins, Wright, Hayes, Shanly, and Pierce.—The Mayor explained that his chief object in convening the meeting was that steps might be taken towards appointing a Town-clerk and Rate-collector, as Mr Smythies was only performing the duties until a successor could be obtained. Ho (the Mayor) would suggest that the salary of the Town-clerk be fixer! at £25 per annum, and that commission be allowed at the rate of 10 per cent, on rates and rents, and 2£ per cent, on publicans’ license-fees. This would make the Clerk and Collector’s remuneration equivalent to about £6O a year, which he thought was quite sufficient for the work required to be performed. The collection of dog-tax within the Municipality might be advantageous! v performed by the police, who would do the work more efficiently than any private individual. The Inspectorship of Nuisances might also be undertaken by the police-officer deputed to collect the dog-tax.—The Councillors concurred in the suggestions and a motion proposed by Or. Wright ami seconded hv Gr. Shanlv. that applications for the Town-clerkshii) be advertised for in the local paper, was agreed to.—On the motion of Gr. Shanly, seconded by Cr. Haves, it was decided to write to the Commissioner of Police in reference to the appointment of an Inspector of uisances.—On the motion of Crs. Hayes and Pierce, the Council resolved to invite offers for cleansing the main street and keeping the town race in good order for three months.—The usual vote of thanks having been aocorlel to the Mavor, the Council adjourned till Thursday, the 14th inst. The nomination of candidates for the representation of Wakatip in the House of Representatives is fixed to take place on the 18th ihst, and the polling on the 10th. The new tariff proposed by Mr Vogel in his Financial Statement is meeting with strenuous opposition on the part of importers throughout the .Colony. Ad valorem duties are proposed to be substituted for those on the old plan of measurement ; and it is calculate I (by the merchants, not by Mr Vogel, who thinks the plan will make little difference) that the Customs revenue will be increased something like £IOO.OOO a year. Strong petitions against Mr Vogel's proposals are being sent from all the commercial centres in the Colony. Mr Beckham, the Resident Magistrate of Auckland, is something of an original, and it seems that he recently hit on a novel method of curing an habitual drunkard named Tommy the Shingler. This man is described as having been addicted to habits of intemperance, and being a constant occupant of the police cells and dock in consequence. Mr Beckham tried every punish, ment the law allowed without success Very few days ever intervened between his release and re-arrest. His Worship then tried lenity, and the man who had submitted to fines and imprisonment without any impression being made on him was deeply touched, and ultimately effectually cured by this seldom beneficial resource. He for some time steadily maintained a character of respectability and sobriety, and although an old man, actually married a young wife. The result of this change of life, or his former excesses is not, however, satisfactory, for poor Tommy’s brain is reported as softening, and he is now an inmate of the Lunatic Asylum. In his election address at Queenstown, Mr Vincent Pyke said he was totally opposed to imprisonment for debt; but considered that when a man was found guilty of defrauding his creditors, he should be treat d as a criminal, and set to hard labour like an ordinary felon. We are requested to state that Mr Peebles arrived s fely at Hong Kong, after a pleasant passage of nine weeks. He was about to visit. Canton, and after a stay of a few weeks would proceed to India.— Times. The second reading of the Deceased Mifes bister Marriage Bill was carried in the House of Representatives, by a majority of 25 to 15. The Dunedin Licensed Victuallers’ Association have forwarded a petition to the Assembly against the Bill which proposes to disallow the appointment of Publican’s License holders to the Commission of the Peace,'

Mr Richardson stated in the House of Representatives, on the 30th ult., that there was only a balance of £BO,OOO, out of the £300,000 voted for water races on Gold-fields, available, and that was taken up by applications already sent in. The Dunedin Jockey Club, by a majority of one, have withdrawn the disqualification from Robert Reay. Bishop Moran is reported to have received an ovation on his visit to Napier the other day. With commendable solicitude for the morals of its staff, one of our Auckland contemporaries has recently taken to sending one of its reporters regularly to church, and being evidently proud of the fact, the result is regularly announced in Monday’s issue under the heading of “ Our Church Goer.” An Education Bill has been introduced by Mr Vogel. He explained its provisions to be permissive in their character. The control of education matters in each district would be regulated by a School board elected by the School Committees. Instead of four kinds of rates, there would be a uniform rate on the capital value of property, and an annual value rate on adults. Religious education was provided for, but only at the end or commencement of school; at least four hours’ secular education were provided for. The choice as to religious education was to be left in the hands of parents and guardians. This permissive system would ultimately develop into a general system for the Colony. The differences of the regulations in the respective Provinces were not at present reconcilable.