Untitled

Clutha Leader, Volume II, Issue 58, 19 August 1875, Page 5

The next English and European mail, via San Francisco, will close at this office on Friday, the 27th day of August, at 8 a.m. ; via huez, on Saturday, the 28th instant. From our Assembly news it will be seen the Clutha River Conservators Bill has been withdrawn, the Govfirnment promising to bring in a measure to effect the desired object. The electors of the Clutha district are requested to meet in Barr's Hall, on Tuesday, to consider the measures for the abolition of provinces now before the Assembly. If ever there was a meeting at which every elector should make a point to attend it is the meeting of to-morrow night. We take it that the very political existence of a large number of the electors, as well as their liberties as British subjects, is staked upon the measure. Should they allow it to become law without lifting their voices against it now that an opportunity is offered, they will hereafter be debarred from complaining of the ' consequences. We trust that no elector will allow anything whatever to interfere to prevent his attendance at the meeting, when the whole subject will no doubt be fully explained and discussed. Our Wellington correspondent's letter .received last meht we are reluctantly compelled te hold over. The following extract will be interesting Ito our Tokomairiro readers :— By the way I see a long extract in the morning paper from the 'Bruce Herald.' The extract is given because it favors the views of the Government, and comes pretty hard on Mr Murray, the member for Bruce. A stranger reading the extract would immediately conclude that Mr Murray on the abolition question does not represent his constituents, and doubtless the article will be used against him, if not in the House at least in the lobbies. From what I have heard of the Tokomairiro people, however, I cannot believe that the Herald' on this question is an accurate exponent of public opinion. The few persons who see * j. J* erald ' in this city express astonishment at the change in opinion that has lately come over it. This change, however, may not represent a. change of public opinion on tha hurt portant public questions of the day, but ii may; fbe owing to ft change in the editorship of the' I papar. -■ r ■•* ■ • j

Captain B.usaeu' passed Ibrouglu Balclutha last night on his wav toCatlins Biver to inspect the wreck of theM gpeV, '^reported elsewhere. ;■' It is OTtpected that the Qm Francisco mail will be delivered in Balclutha this afternoon. As Andrew Chapman, of Balolutha, was driving cattle on Inch Clutha on Thursday, his horse fell, and Chapman had his shoulder severely injured, although no bones 'Were broken.; A memorial Bi'gned.by 50 householders and residents, praying that the township of Tapanui be declared a municipality, is now lying ready to be forwarded to his Honor the Superintendent on his return from Wellington. . When will that be? A boy seven years of age, son of Mr Wm. Stewart, Puerua, got his leg fractured above the knee on Saturday, by falling off the shaft of a dray on which he had been riding. He was attended by Dr Smith, aud is progressing favorably. . .Numerous new buildings are springing up a Clinton. Amongst the places of business now in course of erection area saddler's shop by Mr J. Low, of Balclutha, and a butcher's shop by Mr Murray. These will be finished within a week or two, and others are spoken of as likely shortly to follow. . . * Mr Somerville, Waitepeka, having been suw> moned to Wellington to give evidence before the Public Works Committee on the subject of the Waitepeka railway deviation, left on Tuesday morning for the Empire City. Mr Steward has at last been rewarded for his perseverance with the Deceased Wife's Sister Bill, the same having been passed through all its stages in the House .of Representatives. It has yet to pass the ordeal of the Upper House, and what the Lords may do with it it is hard to say, and really we don't, much care. Our Wellington correspondent writes :- It ia rumored m Wellington that the runholders all over the colony have been forming themselves into an association for the purpose of raising ' money to contest seats during the coming election. It is said that the money has been coming j pouring in. They wish a preponderance of voti ing power in the next Parliament. This does not look well for the settlement of tho country, in the Government measures to abolish the pro- ! vinces. The object., of the* runholders in fact seems to be to leave no stone unturned in order to get tho freehold of their runs. - Steps are at present beiug adopted to establish an Agricultural and Pastoral Association at Tapanui, and should the. effort succeed, a good number have promised to bring forward stock lor exhibition at the first show. Such Associations have undoubtedly been attended with beneficial results elsewhere throughout the colony, and we know of no new district so much deserving of an association, and where one is likely to be more successful, than Tapanui. We believe Mr Rodgers is the moving spirit in this matter, and we trust that success may attend the efforts now being put forth in the matter. The want of sufficient accommodation for the travelling public at Clinton has long been felt. This want has now.been supplied by the erection of a new and commodious hotel— the Commercial —by Messrs Kirn apd Pollock, and which will afford sleeping accommodation for about twenty guests. The Commercial will be conducted upon temperance principle's, and the peace and quietness it will afford will no doubt be relished by travellers arriving at Clinton on coach nights. Hitherto, as is well known, the accommodation has not unfrequently been altogether inadequate to meet the demand on these occasions, but the inconvenience which has thus been occasioned to many will now be obviated. At hi 3 meeting with th<? electors of Caversham at Andersons Bay on Monday evening, Mr Stout referred to a provision in the Abolition Bill which has hitherto been pretty much overlooked, and fwhich would, if it were to become law, annihilate the political privileges of a great many electors whose names are now upon the various eleotoral rolls of the province. Mr Stout said he believed that a large majority of the ratepayers would be disqualified from voting at all. Under the Abolition Bill no person would have a vote unless he had property of the rateable value of £50. That was one of the privileges this b:ll conferred upon the electors. If they . happened to be- wealthy men, and had £600 worth of property, they could have six votes. If this bill became law, they would only have to pay their rates and trust to the wealthy men to keep them "all square." Good Templarism seems tobe popular at Cromwell.- The anniversary of the Cromwell Lodge was held on Friday evening, at the Athenaeum, and was an immense success— the largest public gathering that ever took place in Cromwell, The tickets sold amounted to nearly £120. Over 300 persons were present at the performance ot "Bob Boy" by the Arrowtown Dramatic Club. The drama was exceedingly well played and followed by general applause." A ball conjluded the entertainment. Seventy-two persons were dancing on the floor at one time. On Saturday the Club performed " Kory O'More " and " Out on the Sly »to a large audience. The representation was almost better than on the previous evening. The Cromwell band, under the leadership of Mr Whetter lent most valuable assistance upon both evenings. Should the Opposition members in the General Assembly manage to prolong the abolition debate for a short time longer, the bill will have but small chance of passing this session. Although, when the measure was first introduced, it met with favor in some quarters, still as it is being understood and the true object aimed at discovered, the whole country seems to be giving a decided opinion against it, aud demanding that it be sent down to the constituencies for consideration. Prom yesterday's Dunedin papers we observe that large public meetings had been held throughout the province of Auckland— Coromandel, Otahuhu,. Ponsoby, Onehunga, and Waipara—the whole of tbe resolutions being in favor of the measure being submitted to the country at next general election. The same was also carried at a meeting of the electors of the Wellington country district, and at a public meeting held in Christchurch. The second of a series of monthly concerts and readings took place at the schoolhouse, Kaitangata, on Tuesday evening, with the usual success, the building being crowded to excess. Mr Charles Higgins, as upon the former occasion was voted' to the chair. The Chairman, in opening the proceedings, delivered a brief address, in which he remarked that though many people not resident iv the district might imagine that Kaitangata people at this time of the year , study nothing but wading through the mud, he | felt assured that should they pay a visit to \ Kaitangata upon the occasion of another concert, they would find that though the Kaitanga residents were troubled with more than their fair share of that disagreeable element, their upper stories were not all muddy, but as clear and as refiaed as those who had the privilege of living in cleaner cities. He might also remark that he felt very proud in placing before the large audience that had that evening assembled such ' an excellent programme. The programme of ! the' evening, as far as regarded the readings, greatly owed its success to the kind exertions of Messrs P. F. Stoddart, Allan Blackie, and James Sniaill, and those gentlemen acquitted themselves satisfactorily. The concert was ably supported by the Misses Darling (3*, who delighted and astonished everyonethy the great amount of ! amateur local talent they displayed; and two ' ladies (Mrs Wye and Mrs E. Stevens) sang a duet, "What are the Wild Waves Saying," most admirably. The gentlemen singers included Messrs John Johnston, T. Lacy, James Wilson A. Hislop,' Wye, &c ; , who executed their parts most excellently. At the conclusion, after *• God Save the Queen " being sang by the company, the Chairman remarked that the net proceededsof this entertainment, as of the other, would be handed over to the School Committee, with a recommendation to provide with the same prizes as rewards of merit to tho children at their next examination. It was also announced that the proceeds of next concert would be devoted to the funds of the Kaitangata annual regatta.: With a vote of thanks to the Chairman, and also to the musicians (Messrs Kelly and Clements), the meeting dispersed some to their homes, others to delighfrin ah hbfofcor two in the h^ht fanwatictoi^, jth©-.m3^iaus= having conysented to jramaiX for •*' short, time for that purpose. ' ' •'; : •<-'■•■ : I >■

The timber trade of Tapanui is at t a standstill at present in consequence of the im* j passable state of thß roads. A woman named Elizabeth Collins attempted { to commit suicide by jumping ' off the ..Rattraystreet jetty on Wednesday afternoon. . Drink is supposed to have been t£e cause. There was no sitting of the Kesident. Magistral's Court here yesterday, Mr Maitland haying been unable to leave Dunedin through the death ©f : his brother, Mr David Maitland, and alsothe illness of his , mother. There were no pressing cases set down for hearing, and we are sure both litigants and the public generally will cordially sympathise with Mr Maitland in the painful position in which he ia at present placed. The cause of his absence will be deeply regretted, but the propriety and reasonableness of that absence, under present circumstances, none will for a moment question. "We would call attention to advertisement in our columns to-day relative to the concerts of Sacred Song in connection with the psalmody classes now being conducted in the Clutha congregations, and cordially commend the public to give them their countenance. Psalmody is a matter deserving the attention of every family and individual. Congregational singing will never be heartily entered into unless it be skilfully executed. "We understand the classes have almost unanimously wished Mr Reid's services for other three months. In this they have acted rightly. Having frequently heard Mr Iteid teach, we can. bear testimony that he is laboriously painstaking, and manifests a very extensive knowledge of his subject, and his method is calculated to produce permanent results. On Tuesday afternoon last week a meeting was held in the Presbyterian Church, Tapanui, to form a Manse Building Committee, a new manse being rendered necessary owing to the old one having been disposed of some time ago owing to its inconvenient site. The following I gentlemen were elected members of committee : —Mr J. McFarlane (secretary), Mr Fisher (treasurer), Captain McKenzie, and Messrs Kodgers and Atkin, with power to add to their number. An attempt was made to have this work done last year, but it was found that owing to the high price of labor the funds were insufficient. These have now been raised, or are being raised in the district, and a building similar to the Popotunoa manse ia contemplated. A Lawrence correspondent writes :■— A meeting was beid here on Thursday evening re Abolition. It was simply a burlesque, and as an expression of the mind of the electors, is valueless. Notwithstanding the frantic appeals of our local paper, extensive advertising, the efforts of a bellman, and personal entreaty, only between 40 and 50 individuals could be got together. A resolution approving of the Government measures had been written out, but some difficulty was experienced in finding a proposer or seconder. It was, however, managed to get the_ necessary forms gone through, and the resolution was carried. There was no enthusiasm, except the enthusiasm of indifference. The electors of the Clutha will be glad to know that Mr Thomson, the honorable member for the district, is acquitting himself well in the House of Representatives, where he has, in public estimation, secured the position of a firstclass debater. Of his speech on the abolition question the "Wellington 'Post' says t-^*' Mr Thomson's speech was, in one sense, the best of the debate so far, for he really addressed himself to the subject before the House, and his re marks contained much shrewd sense. He left no room for doubt as being thoroughly opposed to the Government proposals." The ' Tribune ' says of him— "The debate for the night was closed by Mr Thomson, who appears a warm provincialist. The House was thin, and little attention seemed to be paid • but if the speaker had been Sir J. W, instead of plain Mr Thomson, we should have heard a great deal of it. Shakespeare did not know all that a name contains to the tuft-hunter and the toady. For all practical purposes, at all events, the Opposition will find Mr Thomson's speech more useful to them than Sir George Grey's." It must be remembered that the previous speakers were such men as Mr .Reader Wood, Sir Donald McLean, Sir George Grey, &c. The completion of the Chain Hills tunnel is now an accomplished fact, and the last rail of the line between Dunedin and Balclutha has been laid. When at Balclutha in the end of last week. Mr A. J. Smyth informed us thetjthe line would positively be opened for traffic on the Ist September, and final arrangements are now being made for the event. Our readers will be riad to know that the trains will be run ri«ht through to the site of the railway bridge at this end, instead of stopping at Stirling station as it was at one time feared they would do. A turn.table is at once to be placed at the river bank ' for turning the engine, and the necessary platform and other temporary accommodation will also be provided for passenger traffic. The railway to Balclutha, which has so long anxiously been looked forward to by man}*, will now be available in a few days, and we have to congratulate the citizens of the metropolis upon the facilities which will thereby be afforded them of paying frequent visits to the tamed Clutha. We can assure them that here they will find a pleasant retreat from the cares and troubles of city life. Instead of the smoke and dust of Dunedin, they wiil find "fresh fields and pastures new," the magnificent scenery of "the mountain and the flood," order, the invigorating breeze, peace and plenty, and, in short" everything requisite to render life pleasant and comfortable. These privileges we have no doubt will be fully appreciated, and taken full advantage of by our Dunedin friends. Although many were aware that Mr David Maitland had, through indisposition, been detained at Melbourne on his journey to the home country, but few were prepared for the mournful news which reached town on Sunday last, when it was announced by telegraph that Mr Maitland had succumbed to a painful disease on the 4th instant, lt appears that upon his arrival in Melbourne with Mrs Maitland and family, he engaged passages to England per the Northumberland, but before sailing he was seized with an attack of gastric fever, which prevented him continuing his journey. His family only proceeded by the Northumberland, Mrs Maitland remaining to watch over her husband in Melbourne. Soon afterwards he underwent several operations for abscess of the liver, and his condition being considered very critical his brother, Mr George Maitland of Invercargill, proceeded to Melbourne. The disease terminated as above stated. Young in years, and with bright prospects before him, the sudden termination of his earthly career falls as a sudden shock upon his many friends and acquaintances in the Clutha district, where many will long fondly cherish the memory of Mr David Maitland as that of a true and generous-hearted friend. !' # Our Catlin's Biver correspondent writeß on 6th instant :— Since I last wrote you the whalers i have returned to Tuatuku, having left yesier- [ day, but whether to stay until the end of the i season, or to return with their gear I cannot say, as they had not made up their minds which to do when they left. The Dagmar, Isabella, i Janet Bamsay, and Fanny are waiting a start to i get out. The Jane Hannah and Franklin Belle arrived yesterday. The Eliza McPhee, Mabel Jane, Catlm, Lloyd's Herald, and Spec arrived to-day, making eleven vessels in the river at the present time. The weather during the past week has been very fine, and bar smooth. On the 16th he writes :— I am sorry to inform you of the schooner Spec having been wrecked whilst endeavouring to leave this port between one and two o'clock this morning. It being very clear, and a bright moon, the master .was tempted to try and get out, but unfortunately struck upon the Centre Bock, and after thumping heavily for some time the vessel became waterlogged, and soon washed everything moveable from the deck. The master has had a survey of the vessel, and has abandoned her according to advice contained in the report. Both master and men have been working very hard, trying, if Eossible, to get the. vessel inside the river, and ave;succeeded so. far as that should the weather continue fine, there is now no danger of her breaking up. The schooner Mabel Jane sailed at the same time, but was moire fortunate, she baying got out clear. The Elkft yAJcPhee arSSi B^ oraine ' au - * h 9 Fra nJFiin, Belle yes- ••-■■''•-'- i.'s-y- -'■•' - ■ »•.■

Mr Justice Williams has arrived and com- 1 menced hia judicial duties at Dunedin; A number of Auckland milkmen have been summoned at, the instigation of the Provincial analyst for adulterating milik. B, S. Fox, an old resident at Greynaoutli, has been drowned while attempting toford the New river, five miles south of "Greymouth. In the province of Marlborough gorse seems to be as great a pest to the settlers as itho thistles are in Otago. . . ~J- | The report circulated that Comptroller Fitzgerald prepared the Abolition and other Governj ment Bills, is entirely unfounded. i Two girls were convicted of perjury at Auckland on the 6th, in connection with a Sunday beer selling case. . . A fire took place at Will wood's farm, Waimate* by which about 4000 bushels of wheat were destroyed. The Nelson Volunteers intend holding an encampment next Easter, and are inviting some Volunteers in other provinces to be present. The Road Boards of Canterbury are passing resolutions asking that the question of the abolition of the provinces be deferred until the general election. «7 T f' m * ti Reina » of Wangaehu,;complains to the Waka Maori that Christianity and its ministers | are dead on the West Coast, and that " money and ardent spirits " have taken their places. A Wellington paper says, that fever is making its appearance amongst the natives in that province. Several deaths have occurred. The residents in Wairoa have changed the name of th-sir rising township to Waverly. If we were beside them we would suggest that they should name the streets after the principal characters in the novel. _, Th e rules of the Wellineton Co-operative Cattle Dealing and Butchering Society, Limited, have been registered under the provisions of the Provident and Industrial Societies Act, 1867. Rumour says that Mr H. Manders will take the editorship of the new Wakatipu paper, with Mr Mackhn as sub-editor, and Mr Tully as business manager. A pigeon shooting match between Auckland, canterbury, and Otago, will take place on the lith November. The competitors will fire simultaneously at all places, and the result will be communicated by telegraph. M^ c , ter Dorreen . w ho has been an inmate of the Wellington hospital for the last three years died within the past few days at. the patriarchal age of 101 years. He was born in the County Down, Ireland, in the year 1774. He came out to New Zealand in 1840 in the ship Bengal Merchant. An old man, named Arnold Denman, was found lying on the Saddle Hill road in a speechless condition, earlf on Wednesday morning. He was conveyed to the Dunedin Hospital, where he remained paralysed until Thursday morning, when he died. The following curious advertisement appeared "i «^ '.taranaki News ' lately :— •• To be raffled at Cottier s Masonic Hotel, on the evening of Saturday, four red herrings and one bar of soap. Commenting upon one of the evening papers at Wellington now being the Ministerial paper the Auckland "Star "says.:— Now is the time for the ' Tribune ' to come to the front, and by capacity for vigorous lying, show its capabilities as the new Government organ. One novelty about the precincts of Parliament is a colossal wooden bust of the Queen, presented, we believe, to the Maoris, which is temporarily shelved in the smoking room, in too low a position for its' size. The likeness of Her Majesty is faithfully matronly. The wood is painted white with gilt sceptre, crown, and ornaments. The cost of Knighthood is £96 14s 6d, and no credit is given. Lord Carnarvon, in the despatch announcing Sir J. L. C. Richardson's appointment is a Knight Bachelor, intimates that the patent will proceed through the Home Ofiice as soon as it is intimated by whom the above * necessary charges ' will be paid." An effort to organise an expedition for the colonisation of New Guinea is now being made in Melbourne. The proposal is to form a' company, which shall establish a trading factory at Moresby Harbor, or some other convenient spot, and which shall carry on trading operations with the natives. Several merchants have expressed their willingness to join in such a scheme. The promoters have a vessel at present engaged in tho pearl fishery and beche de' mer trade off the northern coast of Queensland, and instructions have been sent to the captain to return as far as Brisbane, so that any action which may be determined on, can be taken without 'delay. The Gazette contains a statement of transactions of the Provincial Government for the quaiter ending 30th June last. The receipts during that time were £116,224 0s 9d, and the expenditure £147,242 12s 6d. Of the receipts, the sum of £70.243 lOs 3d was from Crown lands (being, in round numbers, £42,000 from Otago proper, and £28,000 from Southland); from railways, £15,615 ; and from licenses about £3800. Of the expenditure, there has been a sum of nearly £50,000 on roads and works, and of over £15,000 on railway works. A largely attended meeting was held at Kaiapoi, Canterbury, ou Friday night, when tbe following resolution was carried :—*! That in the opinion of this meeting, considering the {[very short time tbe Abolition and Local Government Bills have been before the public, and the fact that in a few months a new Parliament will be elected, it is the wisest aad moat constitutional course to allow the electors to give their opinion upon the questions of such vital importance in the usual epnstituiional way by their votes at the approaching general election." The "Lyttelton Times' says :— The following ' incident deserves to be mentioned. Just before the early south train started yesterday, a newspaper runner, putting his head through the carwiadow, asked a gentleman if he had sold him a paper ? The gentleman returned an affirmative reply, whereupon the lad said, "Sir, you gave me a two-shilling piece in mistake for a penny." The passenger found he had done so, and taking the two-shilling piece, handed the boy a sixpenny fpiece. Another passenger in the same carriage pulled out a shilling, and handing it to the boy, told him he deserved it for his honesty. Greyhounds seem to be of considerable value in Victoria. The following account of a sale of these quadrupeds is from the Australasian :— The whole of Mr Geo. Plant's kennel was submitted to public anction at Kirk's Bazaar. There was a large attendance of coursing men present. Abimelech, the winner of the West Bourke Cup! was knocked down to Mr J. W. Fleming, for 135 guineas. Comet fell to Mr Cutler's bid of 44 guineas, and Fair Helen was secured by the same gentleman for 23 guineas, Bothwe'.l was bought by Mr Currie for 7 guineas, and MrLynch's bid of 33 guineas secured a black puppy by Spot out of Fair Helen; Lazarus was sold for | 10 guineas to Mr Moore, Bob for five guineas to Mr Bobertson. Jonadab, Voltaire, and a puppy by Spot were passed in. There were some other dogs put up, but no sales were effected. We learn from our Tuapeka contemporary i that a large and influential meeting was held in I Storry's Commercial Hotel on Thursday evening, to consider in how far the present banking system in Lawrence is cohdncive to the wellbeing of the commercial interest, of the Tuapeka: district. The meeting was called by circular, and brought together nearly all the business men 'of |the town. After a long conversation, . which was generally on the action of the banks in putting on the screw, and after a resolution' had been moved that the Banks of New South Wales and New Zealand be asked' to form their agencies- into branches, the following amendment was moved and seconded :—". That a, requisition be prepared and signed inviting the" Colonial Bank to establish a branch of their bank in Lawrence.". It was stated that in the Tuapeka district there were' shareholders of the* Colonial Bank representing some 6000, and those persons would much prefer doing their business with that bank. It was also' asserted, -oh- good authority, that several of the best accounts in, the district would be transferred in tbe evehtlof the Colonial starting in , ; the . town. . The fnxieridnaent was carried by, a large majority. Tha' ' maetihg then broke up. ' '- ; ; '-' '.-'-.' '.; ■'. ".'■' \ « ;•