The Clutha Leader. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1875

Clutha Leader, Volume II, Issue 66, 14 October 1875, Page 5

The Clutha Leader. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1875

Mr Reid's reply to an " Uncertificated Singer " is crowded out, as well as some leading and local matter. So far as instrumental music is concerned, .the correspondence must now draw to a close for the present.

.It is expected the Assembly will be prorogued about the 20th inst.

In room of the * Shag Yallev and Waikonaiti Herald,' now defunct, two papers have sprung up—the 'Palmerstou and Waikouaiti Times' and the 'Waikouaiti Herald.' Both are very creditable additions to the colonial Press, and we wish them long life and prosperity..

We learn that a monster pic«nic of 500 or so is being arranged in Dunedin for Balelutha on St. Andrew's Day. It is expected it will be held on the lower reserve.

There were no cases of public interest heard at the R.M. Court here yesterday. In one, Bain v. Grey, claim of £13 for goods sold and delivered, judgment was confessed. Tn Stewart and Gow's claim of £10 3s (3d for goods, Mr Reid appeared for the plaintiff. No appearance for defendant. Judgment' for. amount claimed, with costs. Several other cases were called, but there was no appearance for either party.

We learn from a telegram received yesterday that the competition of drainage machines has again been postponed. It has now .been fixed to take place on the 28th inst., when the membere of Assembly will be present.

We hear that another company is projected in Milton—this time for the purpose of prospecting the plain for gold. Tokomairiro's projects in the company line have not been very, successful of late, and we much fear this new one will be no exception to the rule.

Now that we have communication -with Dunedin per rail twice a-day, it would seem reasonable that we should have two mails a-day. This wottld facilitate business, and if merchants and others desire it, they had better take some action in the matter.

The members of the Balelutha Cricket Club opened the season on Saturday last—a match, President v. Captain being played, the latter •winning *by thirty-three runs. The score were — President's team, 29; Captain's team, 62. Some very fair cricket was shewn. No one on the President's side made any stand, the President himself being the highest with 6. The principal scorers on ,tbe Captain's side were Moore, 15, Cook, 12, and Loudon, 10. A very good start has been made, and we think our cricketers ought to score a few victories this season. .

A public meeting was held, at Tapanui-on Wednesday, 6th inst., ;to consider the question of obtaining railway communication from Tapanui i» othei' parts of the province. Mr John Patterson in thel chair. The meeting was largely attended, and after some little discussion' as to the best route, it was resolved that a Committee be formed, to be called the ' l Tapanui Railway Committee," to obtain information as to the shortest, cheapest, and most expedient route to. be followed'in constructing a line from Tapanui to the main trunk railway,: and to report at a future meeting. The following are the names of the gentlemen elected on the Committee:—Capt. Mackenzie, Messrs G. F. B. Poynter, John Macfarlane, Alexander M'Duff,. John; Patterson, John Howat, John MacKellar, John Mackie, and R. Hill; Fisher. The meeting evidenced the greatest interest in the undertaking, and seenied quite prepared to float a Company and. construct aline themselves in the' event of the Government declining ; to undertake it.

The entertainment given by the members of the Clutha dramatic Olub in St. John's Hall on Monday and Tuesday evenings were not very well patronised, and the performances not as good as -usual. The bill of fare for Monday evening consisted'of thecomecL'etta "Cupboard Love," which was not a success, Messrs Algie, Kelly, and Renner sustaining the characters.' The lastnamed gentleman was rather funny at times, but the piece dragged considerably. Mr V. Allen read "Edinburgh after Flodden" which was listened ' to ' with marked attention, and received with, The musical portion of the programme consisted of "Little, Footsteps," by Mr Barlow, who sang it very sweetly. ; "Like a Spirit's Sigh" was not Mr H. S. Reunert's happiest effort. Mr P. Smith was very amusing as the "German Professor';" he al3o gave a fife-like imitation of .a well-known itinerant mesmeric medico. . Mr Kelly gave a Christy song, and dance. The entertainment concluded with the farce "The Aroa Belle," which caused much amusement, j, Mr Algie in the " title rolle "• was capital, and Mr Jamie as "Tosserthe soldier" was immeiWe, these being the two best played parts-iti the: piece..' Mr Renner as " Pitcher," Mr tWilliams as " Walker Chalks," and Mr Wm. M'Giriyjun., as "Mrs. Croaker," • were all very good. ; 'The orchestra was eyen. better than before, and would.: be a credit to any Dramatic Society. Tuesday evening's programme consisted Pf a scene from " The Rent Day,'.'in which Messrs Renner and Algie I were very good, the scene , being very, pfl/eetive, ! and we would advise the Club to try something' in-tbatlmeftn their next appearance. A negro farce followed,.but it was" rather'tame. r ; Mr ; H., S..Reuh'ertj3ang "Ob! Smile' Sweet,; Love,''for, which'he received a well-merited encore,,arid^in 1 ' ; repbnse gave "Sl!m Afloat,"; which he did justice. to, ,'" The Area, Balls'' .again cpn.ch.ided tertainment, and'was L Played betiter than oh the previous evening. ; ' We "strongly jprbtest the .unusual;-longth;ofnUiteryalß<i a»fl:hppej th'aj Club. : wiil this iv future. ' Winder,-,. 'stand the'Club;'purpose 1 p^dueipg 1 tfbftethihg '•heavy: about.ChristniaS'drithe NewiYeaft i- ••• >[" ;; \ .'•■»'.-'.' .';l>'-'."X] 'yi'.i'-U 'i'JJI.

1 .„» walking here to-morrow." We hew there is hkely to be a good.turn out of horses)-..} '■:'■: .' I y The Clutha Regatta takes place at Tuakitoto to-morrow. . It ;is- to.b6,h.op,ed the weather will be favorable, when we expect, to see a large turn .but of bdats and spectators." "

:J. M. Parker, of' Tokoroairiro," has within the past week been selling brooms made out of. the. leaves of the. cabbage-tree, in the. Clutha, district.; These are similar to' the imported American; brooms, than which we believe they are superj or They ar'SSbld at a mere trifle, "and there beingian abundance of the raw material, Parker and others ought to put a stop to the importation of this article for the future. —

We observe a goodly number attend at the Court House, Balelutha, on.the occasion of service heiner conducted by the Roman Catholic Priest. ; The Court House is .not exactly a comfortable or convenient .place, for, divine service', and we would suggest that steps be taken by the members of the body referred to to erect a church. /Their brethren; in lose pretentious townships have been more active in the matter* ..,;;•

. We have been shown by Mr, Wm. Maitland.tw 0 samples; of Fiji-made sugar, the first we believe that have ever reached this quarter; They were produced at;Poole's mill, Rewa River, and we have.no in prphouhoing them first-class samples,fullv equal to much' that is retailed here. ; The price of the one in Levukais £36 per ton, and the other £34. If the, sugar . growers of Fiji can supply such ah article .at reasonable rates, there can be no doubt that' it will command the markets of Australasia..

The Messrs Somervile, of the Waitepekarhave just added a new brick kiln, 12.x 14, to their meal jnills. The kiln is erected upon a new principle,, and has a recess into which all the oat shells are drawn into a shoot in leadihess for supplying fuel. The oats are taken from the dfars by means of a lift, wrought by water power, to the tbird floor from which they are spouted into the kiln to bo dried. From the kiln they are again Bpouted : into large bins capable of containing 150 bushels, prom these" they are elevated to the second floor by means of elevators and passed through a screen. They then pass into the shelling stones, then elevated and passed through fanners on the second floor from whence the seeds are blown into the; recess in the kiln. They are again elevated and run through stones on the second floor,, and passed into the hopper for grinding. After >being ground the meal is elevated to tho; finishing fanners and screen. After passing through the whole of these operations it may reasonably be expected that the meal will at least be free from a mixture of posts and rails. No handling of the grain is necessary from the time it is taken off the drays until it is bagged in the shape of good oatmeal. The whole is performed by wator power, and the machinery hum smoothly, requiring little attention. ,

The public will be glad to know that in order to meet the growing necessities of the surrounding districts in matters medical, Dr has now secured a partner in his business, Hitherto the Doctor has had the sole charge of a very wide district, including Wangaloa, Kaitan? gata, Inch Clutha, Hillend, Pomahaka,Waiwera, Clinton, Catlins River, Port Molyneux, Puerua, ke., and altbough it is proverbial that when called Dr Smith never hesitates to start at any hour of the night or day for any distance whatever maybe the state of the roads or the weather, still it must be patent to all that the district is too wide and now too densely populated for any one man being equal to all the emergencies which may ariae.: The Doctor has certainly done his best, "but there is a point beyond which, even with the most indomitable industry, flesh and blood cannot go. This point has now been reached by Dr Smith, with his Clutha practice, and he has provided that additional medical attention which the district requires. Dr Robert Withers, who has now joined him in his business, is as yet unknown here, but his antecedents are such as ought to secure for him from the first the respect and entire confidence of the community. We observe from the report for 1874-5 of the London Hospital and Medical College, Dr Withers' name frequently mentioned. He was, House Snrgeon of that establishment from 6th October, 1873, to 26th January, 1874; alsoi Resident Accoucheur from Ist January to 7th i October, 1873. During the session 1870-1 in the Obstetric department he took the Scholarship and the first prize—a gold medal. We observe also that his name is mentioned as having contributed a paper on "Spontaneous Version," during the session 1873-4. It need scarcely be mentioned that the London Hospital stand* out prominently as one of the largest and most active hospitals in the world. It contains about 600 beds, and an equal number of maternity cases are attended to out of doors during the year. Dr Withers has therefore occupied positions in connection with tbis extensive establishment to which oniy gentlemen of the highest ability and experience could be appointed: He has devoted the past, year to travel, chiefly in America, and now he has come to settle down permanently in the Clutha, where we believe he is entitled to and will receive a cordial welcome.

As' formerly announced Judge Bathgate devered bis lecture upon the old days of Scotland, in Barr's Hall here on Friday evening. Mr T. T. Ritchie, President of the Athenasum, presided on the occasion. We were sorry to observe that, the attendance was comparatively small, and we are tempted to say that it speaks. but little for the taste of the inhabitants when the hall is readily filled on the occasion of any trumpery entertainment of a low.comic character given, by a company of " strolling minstrels," while a lecture of ah instructive, entertaining character, such ac that delivered by Judge Bathgate, fails to attract a decent audience. . It is-needless to say the lectuie was a thoroughly good. one, ( and was applauded throughout; It whs racy in its character, and.'freely illustrated. by sketches and anecdotes which-told in Mi?, Bathgate's pa.wky style—were true to the life, .and were provocative of bursts, of langhtbr. Every one present enjoyed the lecture immensely.: Those who failed to attend were unworthy, of such a rich treat. At the. close the Rev. Mr M'Ara, in a few appropriate remarks, moved a hearty vote of thanks to the lecturer, which was as heartily accorded. Mr Bathgate,' in acknowledging the vpte.' assured them that the best way they could, thank .him would be,by giving a hearty support >to the Athenaeum, 'institution towards :the funds of which the proceeds of the lecture were to be devoted. A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the proceedings. '"'■.' I ■ •'

On Saturday evening MrsfWiltsbire, the well• known pedestriene, under.tobkthe unprecedented feat of walking" twelve" "rniles.ih'two hours'(which has not been accomplished by female in tlie colonies), in,, St. Georges " Hall,- Milton, kindly lent for the occasion by Mr. ,Atkinson, the proprietor. The Milton brass band, tinder the able, conductorship of Mr J. Grant,was. in attendance, and played several first-class selections and gallops. At 8 o'clock punctually Mrs' Wiltshire commenced the arduous task, and got over the first mile in Umin., very comfortably; 2nd mile, 9min,; 3rd mile, lOnnn.; 4th mile,. sth mile, 9min.; Cthmile, 9£min.; 7th mile, 12min.;. Stlvmile, 9mitt.; 10th mile, 9fmih.; 11th mile, 10.|min : ;'12th ;mile, 9,mih.r-making a splendid spurt which brought forth loud applause from the audience.' The whole distance was accomplished iii li 9 minutes, thus winning with one minute to spare., There was a very, large attendance in the hallafe the finish, Mr Diver-Tuck kindly ofliciated a.s : tirhekeeper. '■

As Mr Peter Farrell,. Clerk to the 8..M. Court,' • - Tokomairiib, and Mr F. Julras,.wero returning . from Manuka Creek in a' buggyoii Thursday last, and when nearing'the first bridge. pn the Milton : roadj' the'horse" suddenly shied and went .over the precipice'- abbiit' 30' feet higb; J into'the creek.. Mr-Farrell: leapt ;:out and, got off-with a: few scratches. Mr Julius accompanied the horse and. buggy to ths bottom, and indeed'passed through the creek and'tt&itfr&plcft-bf- -grass on-the other 1 sido. Farrell: having .gathered himself up went at once to' Julius' assistance, who,'although, he ~ was* severely;injured, ; was able 'to- ! stand' upi ! With considerable difficulty he wasjgot,;tb> the• rpad, and a trap .having been ..procured, ~he-,,was .: conveyed homo.': Dr' Stewart? .'was sent' for ana ■ found several 'ribs''broken, but . we/ are 1 glad'to ', know. Mr Julitts is batisflact'orily,' '-Thafr'he r waS''. , n6t' , killea "on the sp'ot;ia' aimpst\"a 7 miracle;' Certainly hV-may r brandipln,cked!fvoni-the-.creelif.i Ohe'pfotheltrdggy? butthe> horji| '■gured. Jl 'i 7 l ' ;iJik i Hp * ■*- tv

~/We™dersto^ of Wiltshire -Bay,- intends- at - once- to establish a fishing tana fish-curing:: station 1-in that locality.: FishTof allirinds are said to Be plentiful along the coast, andthe enterprise-should therefore prove a-successfulone*:-! „ (;( [ ~•?>%•,•;•!;.'' *r I"7 , A meeting of; the Puerua; Market Committee was held.ori Eri4ay last, t .when it.was agreed to call the.annual public meeting 1 oh 'the 30th inst.,, when afeportf will'be submitted, arid a hew Com* miftee elected" for the ensuing year.,;;- . ;.;';

A .In order to provide for tHc present;and largely increasing business at ..the,, Crown Hotel,and to maintain its long ago. established ,repufetion as a first-class hotel,'Mr StanbrooK Ms' if or Sometime past Ijadlthe, carpenters, painters, ; paperhangers, and otherjg- engaged overhauling and renovating the.Whole building from bottom "to "top.- jThis work is now approaching completion;', and we must say, that the interior of the rooms now pre-: sent .a very "clean, and elegant, appearance. _ A large addition iff also to be made 'to the building, or perhaps more properly speaking, a new.build•ing of fourteen ,rooms is .to be erected at.therear of the present building', and connected with' it by a portico."' This new building will have a private •by the* east' wing : of the hotel. The foundations wjll be .concrete,- and the building material wood and lath and plaster, In the new building'will be twelve bedrooms and two parlours, and the'occuparits will have all the quietness and comfort ,to be,.obtained»in ,a private dwelling. Other improvements have'yettobe effected in cohnectW : with the' Crown Hotel, which space prevents, us referring : :to: in' the present issue. "It is evident,.however,,that it is.Mr Stanbrook's intentioft' id r«nd6r the house of accommodation second : to none even in

•Dunedin. ■/■"•!.', ■ '-'■". '' '7 --"•:■ ' • Arrangments are being made forr giving |Mr Macandrew a banquet, in ;Dunedin, pn.hu return from Wellington. A large meeting wAs held for this purpose oh Thursday evening,' #hbh the following resolution; was. -.carried, unanimously: —"That, while we admire Mr. Macandrew as a public man, we especially approve his late'action in relation to the Abolition Bill." The meeting was a most enthusiasticpn.e,anda subcommittee of eighteen were, appointed - to t carry out the instructions of the General Committee. W° understand the whole iot i thß Opposition members of the House of Representatives, .have, been invited,' and that Sir George Grey, Mr Fitzherbert, and others have already signified 1 their intention of being, present; ;= >.

At the Supreme Court, Christchurch, on Tuesday last, His. Honor Mr< Justice Johnstone, in alluding tointoxicatioh, said that if, the granting of licenses were in his hmds he would on principle decline to .grant a, license to any person who was shown to have supplied drink to persons while in a state .of drunkenness.

' Two undoubted, cases or 1 Scarlet fever, have occured at Itlvercafrgill, ode in a private house and the dther in the immigration barracks. The Board of Health has taken Bteps to insolate the patients.;

The' Timaru Herald says the speeches which some of the most prominent members of. the Opposition made during the debate on the third reading of the Abolition Bill, are a mixture of what may be aptly styled " concentrated' essence of humbug, with about equal.parts of the sublime and ridiculous." From our-contemporary's experience in that'style we giye him credit that he certainly ought to be a judge of - humbug, as ,vfcll ;as the ridiculous. The sublime, however is not in his line,. . ' ,

The Cricketing and golfing seasons were successfully opened in Dunedin on Saturday last. On Saturday the fiercest, storm in' the recollection Of the oldest inhabitants, passed oyer Gisborae. Buildings were unroofed, and in some cases blown to the ground. Scarcely a soul; ventured out in the streets during the day. A cutter which was moored to a'high/tree on the river baak, tore the tree up by the roots. Other casualties are reported. Fences are lying flat on the ground in all directions. Ai number : of drowned cattle, sheep, and pigs, were floating down the river Paora.

A Maori who was recently imprisoned for biting two fingers off the hand of an arresting constable, and swallowing the same, has escaped from the lock-up at Gisborne,. and swam, across the river. ;-;.

A prize pugilistic fight, in European style, came off between Porte Prou and Te.Hah, a notorious Chinaman (lately imported), near Mungata, (Gisborne) for pounds a side. The Chinaman was conquered, and has since left, the district*

The Cyphrenes having the English American mails via San ; Francisco oh board arrived at Auckland on Saturday morning. A summary of the news' will be found, in pur sixth ,' , ,' ■ " ' : .'. : ,-' ': llt is reported that, at next election Mr W. J. Dyer, Mayor of Milton, intends to offer, .himself as a candidate for the representation of .the district of Bruce, in the House of Representatives. It will be remembered that Mr Dyer'opposed Mr Murray for the seat at last olection, but was unsuccessful.

Writing of the shooting- of Cyrus. Haley, the convict, the 'Daily Times' says : -The catalogue, of the dead man's brimes was so astounding that the common instinct iof selfrpreservation warnss us that even one night pf .freedom, one, opportunity of acquiring arms, or doing mischief, would probably have resulted it! more deaths .than one. Cyrus Haley had arrived at last state of degradation when it would be improper to liken him to a wild beast, since, he had .sunk much lower. His hand was against every man's hand, and Warder Miller's act is no less deserving of 'commendation, than if he had r struck,down a tiger, ora mad dog. " , ■' :' ' ■"■■' '•'•.'

The AucklandPresbyterydiscussed-the ques- ' tion of a training school for ministers, on Wednes-r -: day last. It was resolved that;a, committee he. appointed ito prepare a detailed plan for creating a Theological hall, to be submitted at' the =next meeting. It was also resolved that the General; Assembly should raise ;the minimum salary of ministers to £150.' . .'..'.

Thomas Hughea.ahd .wife have been committed for trial for forging and! uttering, at Timaru." A curious case'of a bank draft, being dehVered. and paid to the wrong person- at.the wrong place .(the Post Ofl&tie ,at C. -and' the' Bank of New.Zealand, Timaru): by mistake rendered the offence possible." .„• ;j; •, '. ;;...:;.' :■■ --■.