The Clutha Leader. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1874.

Clutha Leader, Volume I, Issue 11, 17 September 1874, Page 5

The Clutha Leader. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1874.

The next English mail via Suez will be .despatched from the office here, on Tuesday, the 29th instant. It is expected the horse parade, in connection with Clutha Agricultural and Pastoral Association, will he held about the. 12th or 14th proximo. H| Members pf tbe Clutha Agricultural and Pastoral.. Society will please observe that the annual meeting will be held in the Crown Hotel here on the 25th inst. A covey of about a dozen of partridges fvere flushed on Monday on the hill between the bridge and the railway near the river bank. , A considerable number of new arrivals passed through the township on Sunday on their way. to Kaibiku, where they are to be employed by Messrs. Kirbv and O'Kane on their contract for road? works. They seemed a superior class of men. *^»^ The usual monthly meeting of the Lodge Clutha, 460, SC, was held in the Masonic Hall on Monday e-ening. There was a good attendance of members and several .visiting brethren. The business was of a routine character. The District Court is to benheld hy Judge Ward on the 19th inst., when a criminal case, several bankruptcy matters, and an important civil case will be heard. Mr W. Taylor will prosecute for the £rown. A meeting for the reorganization of the Tokomairiro Christy Minstrels waß held in the Volunteer Hall on Monday evening last. A fresh company was formed under the management of Mr F. Bastings, which is immediately going to commence rejhear^als for the production of an entertainment at an early date. Carries Maitlarid, Esq., R.M., having got jix .months leave of absence from his magisterial duties, his place will be filled by E. H. Carew, Esq., Warden of Lawrence, who Jield bis first Court on Thursday last, when Mome four cases of no great general interest were disposed of. We learn that in future the Court days will be — Tokomairiro every Tuesday, and Balclutha every Wednesday, .commencing from Wednesday, 25th inst. A meeting of the creditors of Charles Hewitt was held in the Courthouse, Milton, <>r Monday, 14th inst. There being no .creditors present, the meeting was adjourned for seven days. The first meeting of the creditors of James Reid. was also held on the same day, at which a large number of creditors attended. Robert Patterson was appointed- trustee; John Macdonald, of Balclotha r and John Alexander Duthie, of Tokomairiro, were appointed supervisors. The bankrupt was not in attendance. The weather has been for the last week .very fine, and all farm-work has gone on .very rapidly, a large breadth being Bown both oi wheat and oats. It seems that we .are to have a very early and good spring, as both English grass and native pastures are very forward for the time of year. It is to be .hoped that the weather will continue ■favourable for tbe next month or so, as tbe .ewejs are now f?*t dropping their lambs, of Which there are a very large number in the hands of the -farmers of Tokomairiro plains .and its neighborhood. Mr. Burton, pfthe firm.of Burton Bros., ,the welt known Photographers in Dnnedin, ie now in Milton, and we understand bave met with .that.shar.e of success which their productions so justly deserve. Their win,dow now presents the portraits of ,a great many ,of pur local celebrities. As Mr Burton's 'stay must necessarily be short, we j would urge on all those who are anxious to •have then? portraits well taken to pay him as early a visit as possible. Among the attiacticns of the Messrs. Burtqn^ Bros., is a series of large photographic views of the Province, known as "Otago through the camera," which scene includes a number of ,views of v the astounding scenery of the Sonnds.of the v^est, Coast. Our readers will remember that -Mr. was ■invited ,by the Government to accompany 'the expedition dn the Luna last -year, and those views .are the result .of his lobour . should cstrongly recommend all our readers to see them and judge tor themjnlref. ' '/-"» •

It will be observed from an advertisement that the Balclutha Cricket Club will have a scratch matph on Saturday first. Pheasant? are now very plentiful in the Kaitangata district, and are flushed daily in the gullies adjoining the coal pits. In this district the seed is now about all in, and tbe bnad looks very well indeed. The grass aleo is springing, and gives promise of an abundant feed for stock. Stock breeders in this district will regret to hear of the death of the well-known Clydesdale entire Young Major, the property of Mr Anderson, of Balthoral, and , which occurred on Saturday last. At noon yesterday the boxers at the upper pit, Kaitangata, bad suuk to a depth of 27 feet or an unbroken Beam of coal. There was then no indication of bottom, aud it is impossible yet to say what may turn out to be the thickness ot the seam.^ It will be observed Irom an advertise* Iment thit the good old horse Maquis will travel the di-trict during the tn*u ng season. South- rn Cro<s will compete with him, and we daresay some difficulty will be experienced on the part of settlers as to •which should have the preference. L The annual meeting of the Balclutha "Cricket Club was held in the Crown Hotd last night. Thirteen new members were added to the roll. Mr. M'Owen was reelected president; Mr H. E. Muir, secre tary ; and Mr. A. Campbell, treasurer. The following gentlemen were elected members pf committee: — Messrs Renner, Hogg, Jas. Henderson, HtUchins, Hewitt, WatmoUiih, Neville, and Adams. A vote of thanks was passed to, the retiring officers and the meeting separated. At last meeting of the Puerua Market* Committee, it was resolved that the next market be held on Friday, the 2nd October. A long discussion to;>k place upon the subject of the prop iety of holding an auction saleon the market day. A motion in favor of thi? was passed, the sale ro commence ab ut three o'clock, Mr. R. Gruor to be the auctioneer. These markets have hithtrro hern very successful, and from what «c can he;ir it is anticipated that of the 2nd voll b very largtly attended, in order to facilitate business, the National Bink will have a representative on the ground. sL.Tbe loliowing resolution was passed at last last quarterly meeting of the Clu'ha T»resbytrry: — y The Presbytery taking into considera'ion thatthe Mata ra district j has now a settled pastor, and also that Mr Connor has been relieved from b. ing Modtrator of that charge, resolve to express their gratification tha* such an imi portant charge has been provided with a oastor, snd to acc.wl the t-anka of the Presbytery to Mr Connor for the very laborious manner in which he exerted himself to supply and to superintend that district, and for the paius he took to have it successfully settled with a stated minister.'^ Mr. J. L. Gillies, late Elitor ot the* Bruce Herald, was appointed Secretary to the Otago Harbour Board at the meeting on Tuesday last. The Speaker of the Provincial Council beinj by virtue of hi-* office a member of the board, it is to be ■ resumed he will at once resign that office. Whether he caa hold thp secretaryship f> the Board, and also his seat as member fur Waikouaiti in the House of Representatives, remains to be seen. Should it be necessary for him to resign we can only' s*y the country will be the loser. The General Government 'Ghz?tte' contains the following notifications : — Mr. E. Pryce Houghron is appointed ViceOonsul for Germany at Dunedin. The, following gentlemen are appointed Justices of the Peace : — Mtssrs. Christian Bast-tian, Dunrobin Station; A. C. Begg; J. C. Boyes ; E. Herbert, Lawrence ; H fiyons, Riverton; J M Gregor. Barrwooi Station J. M'Neil, Balclutha; J. M. Ritehk- ; W,;. J Steward, Waitaki. The appointment of Militia Lieutenant W. E. Hopwood to be captain is made, the date of commission beine September 4, and he is to command the Volunteers in the South and portion the Province of Otago. The Auditor of Courts ot Liw Trust Accounts is Mr E IL Carew, for the Clutha district, and he is also appointed Resident Magistrate fur the same district, with extended jurisdiction, during the absence, on leave of Mr. J. P. Maitland. Mr. J. Turubull will be Resident Magistrate fur the district of Southland. A Port Molyneux correspondent writes ; — It is not often I have to congratulate this Port, but I must do so now. The jetty is going on slo>vly ; the contractor is waiting for the Inspector of Works coming this way. Property is brooming valuable. Mr. Paterson, me- chant has just bought a property adjoining his own at a very high price. * Mr. Telford, Otanom >mo, ha* als> bought a property partly imp ovtd, at L 6 per a^cre. There are a great numb, rof our most old ancl respected settlers who have been in a Rip Van Winkle state of s eep this some years. Now is the cry of clearing, fencing, and plou^hm;* ; whether it is the high price of Produce or tbey may have been looking through a pla^s and seen dimly, coming events casting their shadows before them. Perhaps our northern magician in place of making a combination of the southern Provinces, may make a land ta* ; then the question i 8 whether does improved or unimproved land pay to be taxed. Two saw mills under steam is going up within a radius of five mi e^s, to supply the local wants and the Dunedin market. If they go on they will cause a large amount of extra shipping, and will supply many a want that has been long felt. H. Clapcott, Esq., Sub- Commissioner for the Government Life Insurance Scheme, will be iv Tokomairiro during the week when we trust those who have m-t as yet taken advantage of the very favorable terms which the Government offers them to make provision for their families in the event of any fatal illness or accident happening to themselves, and which m^st certainly ought to be taken advautage of by all thiokin:* lathers of families in New Zealand. Mr. Clapcott will lecture on Life Insurance, an i give some of his well-known readings after the lecture, at Southbridge Schooihoyse to morrow evening, when, a- there is a good moon, we hope there .will be a good attendance. • The Wellington l Tribune ' asks :•— " Is the Luna maintained at tbe expense of the Colony as a pleasure yacht lor ,the hon. Mr. Fox ? It really looks very much like it Lately th,e Luna was sent up to Wanganui with the hon. gentleman and his wite, although othnr steamers w.ere also having, and when Mr. Fox wanted to come down the Luna was a'so placed at his disposal. This ia rather too much of a * good thing."

Captain Baldwin's station house at Patearoa, ITpptr Taieri, was burned down last Thursday morning. Most of the furniture was saved. This is the second time within a few yeirs-that Captain Baldwin has been •urnt out, as it is not very long since his residence at the North £ast Valley," and a good deal of his personal eff cts, were destroyed by fire. The station houseat Patearoa was insured. The police took proceedings against a carpenter named Hopcraft for working at his trade b\ building a bouse on the Lord's Day. Mr. B*rton defended, and addressed the Court at length upon the application of the English statute to this Colony. He contended tbat there was locality in. the statute, and it did not reach New Z ai*md. His Hor?hip differed in his opinion, and j while deciding that the law was quite applicable, dismissed the case in consequence 'of it being the first of the kind.— Daily .- Times.' Speakinc: of the appointment of Major Atkinson to a portfolio, the Napier Telegraph sa)S— " Mr. Yogel, in making this choice, was doubtless led by the consideration that it would be inadvis'ahle to have auy but third-rate men as* colleagues, or nitu of indeptndent mind. Mxjor Atkinson is no debater, nor is he gifted with an overabundance of brain-power for tbe work of administration. Having no political convictions, Mr. Yogel will be enabled to bend him to his will. Mr. Atkimon occupied the position ol Defence Minister iv Mr. Weld's Cabinet, and during the existence of that Ministry, was considered neither useful nor ornafi.-ental." •

Mr. George Coombo, of Milton, has just other two race horses in Victoria The Australa-ian says— ' Mr. W. C. Yuille reports having «old privately to Mr. Ccombe the racehorse Right Bower, by The Peer, out of Midge by Kelpie, formerly the property of Mr. Abbot. This horse has grown into a fine animal, and will doubtless prove a mo t useful racer to his new owner. Also by auction to the same (•entleraan the game son ol Peter Wilkins— Fii ing Dutchman— vo well k;own for hie grand struggle with Sakdin in the Australian Cup two years ago. He served last season at the stud, and is now as sound as a bell, and we understand it is Mr. Co-mbe's iutention to run ! him in N»-w Zealand. Mr. Mansf.ru, barrister, P rt Chalmers, who formerly wa* Resident Magistrate at the Port, has ag.in been appointed to his old offi .c. The London Engineer, in giving an account of the preparation* in progress for obs.-rving the transit of Venus, names the various s:aiions and observers. It says: — "For Ntw Zealand the latter are Major Palmer, R.E., chief astronomer; Lieut. Crawford, R.N., astronomer ; and Lieut. Darwin, R. X., astronomer and photoHrapher. The main station. is intended to c near Bluff Harnor, at the southern extremity of the southern island, the loDgitude of which may bt established by azimuths and other lunar observations. The pecondary station will probably be established by Litut. Crawford receiving telegraph time from Mij.-r Palmer." The ' Taranaki Herald, ' referring to the native census, says: — " Considtring this has hitherto bten the principal i .»eat of hostilities with the natives, it is satistacfory to find thatthe number now is ■hot so formidable,- being only 2761 ; of i these 1520 are males, 8-9 femahs, aud 662 ' cluldrtn. The decrta.se in the race is uiearly shown by the small proportion of women and children to tbe number of men. 'According to the return, the native women of the place do not average anything mar a child a-pitce, in fact, only thrte-fourtha ot them h we children at all; whilst there is one founh more ot male adults than females. According to European statisics, the females usually number three to two ma)e3; but with the natives we find it the reverse. In a few yeas, therefore, at this rate, the Maoris will have passed auray, and will he remembered only as a brave and manly race. From a private source the • Sydney M-iriiing Herald ' barns that Admiral Ri'-ouit hits completed his ioquiriea at Noumea, and was to leave for Sydney on the 18th, per steamer L'Orne. It'lus been decided to remove all the Communist D*ißoners from New Caledonia and Isle of Pirns to Billepe, an island lying off the north end of the main island. The trans., port Aiceste r.rri-?ed on Sunday we<k from France with convicts. An order of banishment has been enforced against a lady con-, nected with one of the Communist prisoners, and the was l-anishfcd jfrom the island at three days' notice, v ,i;^^4 As to tbe relative claps? of Ntw Zealand and America' upon:. the attention of small capitalists in Great Britain who intend t » emigrate, the following testimony will be inter* sting. It is that of a gentleman well acquainted with New Zealand affairs, and who is at present making a tour of America " to spy out the land," for the benefit of himself and triends. Writing from Portland, Oregon, on the 15h June, he say- : — " I have been lure three weeks, ani have seen a good many parts of Oregon, and h-<ve likewise seen and had cony* r.*ations with numbers of settlers regarding the prestnt condition of the State and its future prosper s. I have very lir.tle doubt hut that in a short time this State will strike out, and keep ahtad of any State in the Union in t he-path of progress — that is relatively. Of cour.-e it will not lor a long time be actually ahead of many other States iv point of population and wealth, bit I am greatly mistaken if wi hin the next ten years its relative progress is not greater than any other Stats in the Union. The soil is pot, I beiieve, surpassed for richue.^s and fertility. Tnen any amount of excellent grazing land can be bad fpr not! ing. Splendid wheat raiding prairie land-, within t a *y di^ance of railway statiou and steam boat lauding, can bp purchased at from. L? to Le or Ls, the latter with improvements. I svent out to see Mr. Wat-on (late of Keillor, Scotland, and Clydevale SUtion, New Zealand) last night, and asked him what he thought of yoa coming here. He said—" By all iric-ans, let him come out at once. He will be independent in five years, with half tbe '. lab- r he has had upon his Taieri farm The present is an,extrtmely favorable time for buying land. It is cheaper than it has been for the past four or fiveyears,-but, take my word for it, it will not remain long at present prices I will be here for other, three wetks and will mako the most of my time and report. I'm in for Oregon, that's certain. I am told that Washington i Territory, to the north of it, is as good, if . not better. I will examine it and let you kcow.

propagation of the Gospel making"' a total of L 175 at the disposal of the. Committee for the stipend fund. Dr. South said—Your lordship, after the intimation >'ou have ma.de, arid k bowing fully L 25 to L3O mo,re can be raised, in the Balclutha district, that probably the other districts may hot have been thoroughly canvassed, I have much pleasure in proposing •- That tins Committee is, prepared to guarantee L2OO per annum for two years as the stipend lor the clergyman of tbe district." Seconded by Mr. Corrigan, aid carried unanimously. ' Hts lordship theu had a private inleryiew with the Rev. O. F. Withey, after which he informed' tbe meeting that Mr. Witney would accept the charge of the dUtrict. Mr. M'Girr proposed " that Mr. Hutchins be appointed bon. Treasurer^and Mr. Renner bon. Secretary." Seconded by Mr. Townstnd, and carried.

Mr. Rtnner proposed that the Bishop be authorised to procure for Balclutha a harmonium. Seconded by Mr. Corrigan. Thia concluded the business of the meeting-

A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the Bishop for presiding at the meeting, and for his assiduity ia visiting the Clutba district.