Written description from some years ago:- “Cromwell stands on a point of land where the rivers Clutha and Kawarau conjoin and form the Molyneux. From the configuration of the site it was known to the pioneer settlers as “The Point,” but when a town sprang up, in the early days of the gold rush, it was named “The Junction.” However, on being proclaimed a municipality in 1866, the town was re-named Cromwell. A boatman, charging half-a-crown per head, rowed passengers across the Clutha, and, later, a small footbridge was privately constructed, for the use of which the proprietor charged travellers the same toll, until “The Old Man Flood” of 1864, washed away his property. In that year the Government commenced the construction of a bridge—which was reconstructed in 1891—and completed it in 1866, at a cost of £28,000. Superintendent Thomas Dick conducted the opening ceremony amidst great jubilation. A bullock was roasted whole, free beer was served out, and the township was for some days what a euphemistie writer might term a scene of jollity. Two children were born at Cromwell in 1884, but as the nearest registrar lived at Waikouaiti, 150 miles away, the registration was postponed somewhat beyond the legal limit. From the early days to the present time Cromwell has been a mining town. There is but little agricultural land in the neighbourhood of the borough, but much of the land is eminently suitable for fruit growing. On the surrounding hills large flocks of sheep are depastured, but the rabbit pest considerably reduces the amount of feed. On the Morven Hills and surrounding country Messrs John and Allan McLean at one time owned a sheep run, which was reputed to be the largest pastoral property in New Zealand. 

Cromwell is situated 148 miles northwest from Dunedin, and at present (August 1904), the nearest railway stations are at Ida Valley and Lawrence. From these stations a coach service connects with Cromwell, and extends to Pembroke and Queenstown. From the Cromwell Gorge road several dredges are seen at work in the Molyneux River. The famous Hartley and Riley Company and the Electric Company's dredges, which have obtained the largest yields, are working close to Cromwell. The whole district is auriferous, and from 1862 to 1896 large quantities of gold were obtained from the quartz reefs and sluicing claims. A period of some depression then set in until the dredging industry was established in 1899, since which almost the whole of the Molyneux and tributary rivers have been dredged for gold. This industry will continue to be the chief one for many years to come.

Cromwell is a compact town, with an area of 640 acres, and a population of about 700. The borough, which is divided into two wards, Kawarau and Macandrew, is bounded on the east side by the Clutha River, and on the south side, by the Kawarau river; on the north and west side there is a town belt ten chains in width. There is a recreation reserve of twenty acres, which has been planted with trees. A reservoir containing 2,500,000 gallons, at an elevation of 320 feet above Cromwell, supplies the town with water, and provides the local fire brigade with a high pressure supply. The town is lit with kerosene lamps, and the business premises, including the post and telegraph office, banks, stores, and hotels, are in the main street. There are churches of the Presbyterian, Anglican, Catholic, and Methodist denominations, a public school, hospital, court-house, Athenaeum - with a public and lending library—and a local weekly newspaper. The Cromwell Brass Band, which receives an annual subsidy of £20 from the Corporation, periodically gives open-air concerts. There are also cricket, football, tennis, and golf clubs.”

Dr. George Alexander Morris, Resident Surgeon of the Cromwell District Hospital, was born in 1860, at Dairy, Ayr shire, Scotland. He was educated in his native place and at Glasgow Academy. He studied at the Glasgow University and gained his degrees of M.B. and C.M. in 1883. Dr. Morris was in practice for two years at New Abbey, Gallowayshire, and for a like period at Fenwick, Ayrshire, before coming to Port Chalmers, by the SS Coptic in December, 1888. Till February, 1890, Dr. Morris was in practice at Mataura, and since then he has been resident surgeon at the Cromwell Hospital. He is also surgeon to the local Oddfellows. Dr. Morris was married, in 1891, to a daughter of the late Mr. D. Trevethan, of Cornwall, England, and has one son and one daughter.

The Cromwell District Hospital was established in 1875, and occupies a central position on a section of thirty-two acres, granted for hospital purposes. It is surrounded with a well-grown plantation of ornamental trees and the ground is laid out in a vegetable garden, orchard and paddocks. The building, which is of stone, contains three wards, two for men, and one for women, and there are altogether ten beds. In addition to the wards there are quarters for the wardsman and matron, and the customary provision is made for the dispensary, kitchen, wash house, and outhouses.

The Cromwell Argus and Northern Gold-Fields Gazette- Abel Warburton, proprietor, Melmore Terrace, Cromwell. Bankers, Bank of New Zealand.

“This journal was established in 1869, by Messrs W. Fenwick and J. Matthews, now of the “Otago Daily Times and Witness,” Dunedin, and was conducted for twelve years by Mr. Thomas McCracken, prior to being acquired by Messrs Warburton and Scott. The present owner has published the “Argus” since the 1st of October, 1898. It is a bi-weekly journal, issued on Tuesday and Saturday mornings, consists of six pages of seven columns each, and circulates largely throughout the Otago Central goldfields. The plant consists of a Wharfedale printing machine, and a good jobbing plant, and the premises consist of a wooden and iron building, erected on a corporation leasehold.” 

The Argus Proprietors.

The Argus 1880 and 1997.

London House Stables.

ALL IN ALL A GRAND MIX OF OLD AND NEW

                     REMINDED ME OF MORWELLAM QUAY