CLUTHA NEWS ITEMS.

Bruce Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 89, 8 December 1913, Page 3

CLUTHA NEWS ITEMS.

(From the Clutha Loader.) The ltomahami school is at present closed owing to scarlet fever in the teacher's house. The local hairdressers have raised the price of haircutting from Gd to Is for American style, and 9d for ordinary style. The "break-up" of the Balclutha school will be on Wednesday, 17th hist., and Kaitaugata on Friday, 10th. Both schools re-open on Monday, February L\ The "specials" from the Olydevale Fanners' Union who went to Dunedin last week returned home on Wednesday. They will be recalled if necessary. They were a line-looking lot of young fellows, and would have given a good account of themselves had there been any trouble. The ironwork for the Papatowai railway bridge is daily expected, and the contractors (Messrs' Watson Rhodes and Son) expect to have the bridge completed in a few days after the material has arrived. As no material is available for the Balclutha bridge extension work here will cease for a while, but once the I'apatowai job is finished and material arrives here the Balclutha contract will be pushed on with vigour. When the Balclutha District High School Committee at its meeting on Wednesday night was arranging for tlui annual break-up, the rector (Mr W. W. Turner) brought up the question of the allocation of prizes. He said that the children who had most ability would consequently have the bigger chance of getting most of the prizes, but ho thought it hardly fair that one child shouid be awarded several prizes, while others got nothing at all. It would be better to give such a child one book of more than ordinary value, with an inscription inside stating for what subjects they had been awarded. This would allow for a more even distribution of prizes. The committee said this had once been the practice, and was apparently inclined to revert to it.

In ISBO the deposits in the banks of bnio in New Zealand amounted to £IS per head of the mean ponuiation ; in 1890, £19.92; in 1900, £:M; in 1910, 1:2.3,15; and in 1911, £26,:i7. in 1912, however, the average, fell to £21.60. "Do you not think it fair to assume that the damage to the ear may have been caused by'a fault in the joint itself:- 3 " asked counsel of a witness m a ease at Petone. "That all depends on which side of the case you are on." replied the witness. An increase in toe fees of the Auckland General Hospital from Is Gii per day to (is wan decided upon by Auckland Hospital and Charitable Akl Board last week. In ca.se.s where trie I'oes are oaid Avuh'ui one month of the tinui the'nationt leaves tlie institution a discount of Od daily is provided. A woman who was married to a third husband four months ago has applied to the Auckland S.M. Court lor a separa : ton. Commenting on the lrc<|tiency of these applications, .Mr C C. Kettle, S.M., -said: ■•This court is being Hooded with these applications for separation orders between husbands and wives. "V\ o will soon want a special court to deal with these particular cases." A second offender for drunkenness at Taihape last week was unfortunate owing to his failure to recognise faces once fieen. The police report was that defendant had been in the habit of "cadging" from people, thus making himself a nuisance. '•Your Worship," protested defendant, "'tis a thing I've never done in my life before!" Oh, yes you have," said the magistrate (Mr YV. P. Haselden), "vou stuck me up the other night." This bombshell was followed by a conviction and a 10s line. An unusual incident is related by a Stratford livery-.stable keener. On a recent afternoon two vehicles from different localities arrived almost .simultaneously at the stable, and in both the clothing of an occupant was on lire as the result of smokers' sharks. In one ease, a woman's dress and underclothing were burnt through. In the other case, a man's coat was on fire —"flames," our (the 'Post's') informant stated—and he. jumped out of his coat just in time to prevent being severely burned.

A believer in the astuteness of the Maori (Mr C..K. Wilson, ALP.j told the following story in support of his belief in the House of Representatives the other night (states the Dominion'). A Maori paid a cheque for £23 to a man who subsequently lost it. The loser sent a telegram to tlie Maori asking him to stop the cheque. He received a collect telegram in reply, saying: "Don't you bother; the cheque will stop itself." "The Maoris," commented Mr Wilson, gravely, "are very able people."

It is an ill wind which profits nobody, was proved bv the' Waikohu County Council last week (states the Wellington 'Post'). Five tenders were received tfor three bridges on the Kanakanaia lloatl deviation, AVaihora Valley. The engineer had estimated the work at over £3OO, but the Council was agreeably surprised to find the tenders ranged "as follows:—£s62 10s, £469, £739, £674, £4BO. The- engineer stated that the prices would never have been obtained had it not been for the strike.

It was explained that the non-arrival of building materials had rendered the bridge-builders' gangs idle, and work had to be obtained to keep them together. Hence the lowness of the tenders.

Apropos of the Lyttelton, by-election, "Woolston" writes to the Christchurch Press:—"it is a source of much satisfaction to many electors in tho Lyttelton electorate that the Government has secured such a candidato as Mir Malcolm Miller to contest tho election in its interest, Tho opinion held by Mr G. W. Russell, ono of tho leading Oppositionists, regarding this gentleman may be read in the last issue of 'The (Spectator,' which roads as follows: —'Mr Massey is sure to put a candidato in the held, however hopeless his chances, and he will probably appear under the guise of an Independent, but it is too early to endeavor to pick him. As to the Liberal candidate, one namo that has already been mentioned as that of Mr Malcolm Miller, a well-known resident of tho I'ort. Ho is respected by all who know him, and has held every position in the gift of the people of Lyttelton. He is a strong personal friend of the late Mr Laurenson, and held many of the same views. If be were to accept nomination as the Liberai standard-bearer we ('Spectator') should have no doubt ol tho result of the election.' It will be interesting to watch what this versatilo writer will have to say about tho fitness and respectability of Mr M. Miller now that He is fighting under the Reform tamwr,'*