Untitled

Clutha Leader, Volume II, Issue 68, 28 October 1875, Page 5

We observe Mr P. Mason has procured a new, •legant and substantial waggonette for the conveyance of passengers to and from the railway station here, and which, through the exertion of G. Bruce, the driver, seems generally to have a full compliment of passengers.

The Rev. "Mr Kir-land, late of Inch Clutha, and from which he accepted a call to Hokitika, was yesterday inducted into ths pastorate of the West Taieri conjjrega-inn, vacant by the translation of Mr Gillies to Timaru.

We have been shown % number of views taken by Mr Tyree, of the Balclutha Sohool, with the children in front, and of several dwelling-houses in the township. These are executed in a very superior style, and we would advise all to call at Mr Tyree's studio to see thorn. They are well werth inspection.

To-day is to be observed as the Presbyterian Fast Day throughout the Clutha district. We understand the local clergymen are to be assisted by tbe following gentlemen from a distance : — Balclutha, Rev. J. G. Paterson ; Inch Clutha and Kaitangata, Rev. J. Chisholm , Warepa, Rev. J. Gow; Port Molyneux and Puerua, Rev. Lindsay Mackie. In the Presbyterian Church, Balclutha, there is to be a service of praise, conducted by Mr Reid and his psalmody class. All are invited to attend. All who have Sankey's collection of hymns are requested to bring the same with them in order to take part in tha service. The meeting begins at half-past six o'clock, and will last one hour.

Wa understand the monster pic-nic party which we a week are two ago mentioned as expected at Balclutha, from Dunedin, is not now to come off. The reason given is that the railway authorities could not let them have a special train on the day they had fixed. But how don't they travel by the ordinary trains ?

Too much praise cannot be given to Messrs R. Williams and Co., for their enterprise, and the exertions they make to accommodate the travelling public. Through the medium of their coaches, the journey from Tapanui to Dunedin can now be, and is accomplished in one day. Tbe arrangements are as follows : — The coaches leave Tapanui on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, at 6 a.m., and Clinton at noon, arriving in time for the 4 o'clock train to Dunedin. They also leave Balclutha on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays upon the arrival of the morning train from Dunedin, and arrive at Tapanui the same night. This is good driving, but Mr Williams is well acquainted now upon the southern road, and the public have this confidence in him, " that whatever men dare, he can do." Mr Williams deserves success, and we trust he will receive the rich reward he has so well merited.

THE banquet to be given at Balclutha to-morrow night, promises to be a thorough success. As will be seen from an advertisement, tickets have been sent to all quarters of the electoral district, and we hear they are being re <dily secured. We may mention that amongst the gentlemen invited are Sir George Grey, Mr * itzherfcert, SuDerintendent of Wellington, Mr Rolleston, Superintendent of Canterbury, Mr James Macandrew, Superintendent of Otago, Sir J. L. C. Richardson, Speaker of the Legislative Council, and Messrs Reid, Stout. Murray, Sheehan, Bunny, and J. C. Brown, members of the House of Representatives. Although replies had not last night been received from all of them, it is expected they will all be present. It appears their programme for this province was fixed before they took their departure from Wellington. According to a telegram received from Mr W. A. Murray, M.H.R., they had arranged to attend the Banquet in Dunedin last night, visit Lawrence via Milton to-day, and arrive ab Balclutha this afternoon. It will thus appear they all intended travelling together, although sufficient time had not elapsed after their receiving the formal invitations in Dunedin yesterday for their replies being all received in Balclutha, there can be no doubt they will be here. Every possible preparation has been made to give them a fitting welcome, and every settler throughout the district should be here to take part in it.

Three new members were initiated at the meeting of the local lodge of Good Templars on Friday evening, and five applications for membership. In the course of the evening the. W.C.T. took occasion to refer to the inconvenience they labored under from the smallness of the lodge room, and congratulated the members upon the prospect of their shortly occupying comfortable and commodious premises at the Athen*»um. He had no doubt their average attendance would then be very much increased, and he expressed the hope that the new arrangement would also prove a large addition to the membership of the Athenaeum. He counselled all to support that institution by becoming members.

The Mayor of Dunedin positively refused to -proclaim a public holiday yesterday, on the ground that the demonstration had a political significance.

Ovkk sixty men arc at present at work at the Manuka Valley tunnel, and only about seven chains remain to be pierced.

The game of cricket seems to be gaining in popularity all over the country. A Club has been formed at Kaihiku, and our Balclutha sons of the willow had better look out for their laurels.

It is stated that His Excellency the Governor will visit Canterbury next month, probably leaving about the 6th proximo. He will be present at tho races.

As to the caus°s of ir any vessels going amissing a significant fact has just become known in Wellington, viz., that the three men who were recently sentenced to terms of imprisonment for broaching cargo on board the City of Auckland, on one night dropped a lighted candle between the kegs of powder over which they had to scramble, and with difficulty succeeded in putting the light out before any serious result occurred.

On Monday, 18th inst., Mr Deans, manager, for the Acclimatisation Society, brought twenty* six full-grown perch, and deposited them in the lagoon on the Balmoral Estate (Mr A. Anderson's), Inch Clutha. Mr Deans considers the lagoon a' most suitable spot for such fish, and it maybe mentioned that some of these spawned as soon as they were deposited in the water. It would thus seem the fish concurred in Mr Deans' opinion, and determined to lose no time in having it fully stocked.

The following extract from a letter, of a gentleman in America to a friend in Edinburgh, diifced August 2nd, contains a rather disturbing piece of news for farmers : — " Have the potato bugs crossed the ocean yet ? 1 saw them ten days ago, at least eight miles out on the Atlantic, and they appeared to be bound for Scotland. If they have not arrived, you may tell the people that they are certainly on their' way. They Beem perfectly at home on the waves. Many of them climbed up on our yacht, and I think it likely some may have crossed with you."

We do not know if many shared our ignorance with reference to the habits of paradise ducks, bnt we were under the impression that they built their nests by the edge of lagoons same as other ducks wisely and conveniently do. Those acquainted with their practice, however, inform us that they build them in trees sometimes fifty feet high. This may be witnessed in Mr Anderson's bush, Inch Clutha, where they have buiit for the past four years. Their mode of carrying their young iB somewhat curious. They simply bend low down when the juvenile scrambles on to the back, and thus they are borne to or from the ground until they are able to use their own wings.

A private London telegram states that Lord Dunmore's herd of short-horns, consitins* of forty herd, sold at an average of 670 guineas each ; and the Hon. William Torres's hord averaged 509 guineas each. Mr Morton, of Mount Derwent, has determined to remain in England, and his celebrated short horn herd is be sold in February.

The special evangelistic services held in Birr's Hall, during the week have been well attended. Tho services are being conducted uuder the ausnicea of the local clergyman, assisted by ministers and others from a distance. On Monday evening, the attendance was not large, tho night being v<-*ry stormy and urcomfortable. The Revs. M'Ara, (Presbyterian), and Withey, (Church of England), delivered very appropriate addresses. On Tuesday evening, the attendance was very good, and the tone of the meeting earnest and hearty. Excellent addresses were given by Revs. Bannerman and M'Ara, and the hymns given ouc were heartily sung by the audience. Last evening the services were held in the Presbyterian church- Barr's Hall being otherwise occupi-^dfor that night. The addresses were given by Revs. Dewsbury (Wesleyan), and Paterson (Presbyterian), and listened to with marked attention by the congregation. These services seem to be much appreciated, and we have no doabt tin attendance will be yet more largely increased as the week advances. For the rest of the week the services will be held in Barr's Hall, each evening at 7.30. " Hymns for Times of Blessing "is the book made use of at these meetings, and the hymns sung are very appropriate.

During this week we have had most seasonable showers, which have much refreshed" the soil, and wrought a wonderful change on the face of nature. New sown seeds are now coming beautifully, grass grows apace, and crops of all kinds look healthy and fresh. Fruit trees are in full blossom, and garden flowers gives, forth a rich perfume. The country everywhere gives promise of abundant reward to the husbandman. We hope the police of Balclutha will keep strict wntch over the . parties who make a practice of annually stealingSthe fruit from the gardens.

In connection with the competition of drainage matters to take place at Tokomairiro to day, we commend to those interested in drainage machines, as well as_ the gentlemen who have been appointed to adjudicate upon the work today, a persual of the following paragraph from an Australian contemporary : — A trial of Brayshay'3 patent excavator was made a few days ago at Ballarat, Victoria, and the machine proved a perfect success. Several experienced agriculturists and machinists were present, including Mr Tynan, who is perfectly satisfied with the result of the trial. The machine is capable of excavating 25 cubic yards an hour. The cutter is one inch deep, and an additional inch for doing the work quickly can he given up to six inches. Four horses worked the excavator easily. It has a side delivery by an endloss band, which throws the stuff clean of the work, and is able to perform the work of 50 men. The machine can be used to construct an embankment for a dam, railway, or road. It will cut a drain one mile long, six feet wide at the top and three at the bottom, and two feet deep, ia three days.

The "* Abolition mob " of Dunedin have made tremendous fools of themselves in the eyes of the public in the action they have taken in thr. matter of the Macandrew banquet. All throughout the past session they have left no stone unturned to vilify the Superintendent both personally and politically, and all who acted with him, especially upon the question of the abolition of the provinces. No sooner was it determined to give him a banquet on his return, than they suddenly discovered he was not such a bad fellow after all ; that throughout his long career as Superintendent, and also as a representative in the General Assembly, he had always had the good of the country sincerely at heart, and had incessantly labored to promote its best interests. It was, according to their wav of thinking, most befitting on the part of the public, also due to Mr Macandrew that he should receive a banquet. Thus insiduously they attempted to change the grounds upon which the banquet was to be given to that of general past services. The Committee stuck to their standard and declared that the banquet was to be given solely on account of the stand he had taken upon the abolition question during the past session. The abolitionists then attempted to throw cold water upon ifc, but it would not do. They saw it was to be a splendid success, and getting frantic, they iised every influence, and tried every means, fair and foul, to shift tho ground, hub the Committee remained unmoveable. To place the matter beyond the possibility of any misunderstanding, the Committee at a meeting on Saturday night, passed the following resolution :—" That we hereby declare that our purpose is political, and based on the following resolution, which was passed previously, viz., — ' That, while we admire Mr Macandrew as a public man, we especially approve of his action in relation to the Abolition Bill ' — all statements to the contrary notwithstanding." This is plain enough, and the abolitionists may just as well admit that they have been "soUl" and that they have made themselves foolish laughing-stocks in the eyes of the world. In consequence of their own action, they have been told plainly that the banquet is not for them — that their presence was not desired nor expected, and that not one of them could put in an appearance without acting .as a traitor to his cause. It is to be hoped the abolitionists will from this learn a lesson that maybe useful to them for the future, and such as will induce them to give up their very question* able ways.

THE'^Daily Times ' says :- '* We hear that n member of the legal profession is filling affidavits in respect of the alleged shady doingi of another member of the' same honorable profession, and that the whole matter will probably be enquired into shortly before the -proper tribunal.' — Who is he?

A WKLT. attended public meeting was held at Clinton last week, to take into consideration various matters connected with the district. We hope'to publish full particulars in our next issue.

Two Budden deaths occurred in the Port Molyneux district during this week. Mr James Dunn, aged 62, one of the oldest settlers in the Clutha district, who was ailing for a few days previous died suddenly yesterday morning at 3 o'clock. Dr Smith was sent for at an early hour, and was quickly in attendance, but Mr Dunn had expired ere the doctor arrived. A son of Mr A. S. Begg, aged 26, died suddenly on the 26th inst. He had algfo been ailirg a few days and died very suddenly.

An interprovincial pigeon match is to "take place at Balclutha on the 9th November. Mr Thomas Stanbrook has received instructions to provide 300 pigeons for the occasion. We are to have the various towns in Otago well represented. The local shootists are Dr J. G. Smith, Mr F. Roberts, and Mr G. W. Hutchins.

An accident, though fortunately not of a serious nature, occurred at Inch Clutha on Monday last by which we regret to say David Boyd, the son of Mr Boyd, of Wangaloa, sustained a fracture of the forearm. It appears that while driving a dray along the river bank the horse became unmanagable, and the young man fearing that he might be thrown into the river, jumped out, and fell with his hand doubled under bim. We understand that Dr Withers, was promptly in attendance, and reduced the fracture: We are glad to loam that the sufferer is progressing favorably. The horse and dray were secured, neither having suffered any injury.

It would appear that the Dunedin lawyers are now considered the fairest existing game for the waggish-inclined portion of the community. The sell a respectable firm lately had in connection with a threatened action fer libel against the 'Bruce Herald' will yet be fresh in the memories of our readers. The following is an. other specimen reported by the ' Daily Times' : — " A joke was going round town yesterday to the effect that a man and his wife, with six children, called at the office of a firm of lawyera in Princes street, and the head of the f amil r asked for the '' boss." He was informed by the clerk that he was not in, but if the business was very important he would send for him. The visitor replied tbat he had come down from Clutha, and wished particularly to see the head of the establishment. The office boy, thinking he saw a good client sticking out for his employer, rushed off to the Supreme Court, and at once summoned his master. To remove the wig and gown, and rush down to the office, was the work of a moment. " Good morning, sir," said the ' pater familias,' addressing the lawyer ; " I waß recommended to come to you, as I was told you did the thing cheaper than any one else." " Well," said the barrister, " we certainly try to do the best we can for our customers. What can Ido for you ?" 'llie head of the family called the lawyer quietly on once side, and then, casting a suspicious look around to see no one was listening, whispered the following into the lawyer's ear : — " What can you do mutton pies for the lot, three saveloys, and two half-pints of Colonial for ?" The man of law jumped, foamed, and -stamped, and then spasmodically informed his visitor that he was not the proprietor of a pie-house.

Messrs Chaplin and Co. on Saturday last set an example to employers of labor which were it mor--* genendly followed would prove beneficial to both employers and employed, and would at the same time much tend to establish a friendly and co-oj.erafcive feeling amongst those whose interests are common. On the day named Messrs Chaplin and Co. pave their employees a holiday, and hired a special train to convey them and their friends to and from Balclutha. The train left Dunedia at 0 o'clock, and arrived at the *»nd of the line at 12.30. Upon arrival tha party, numbering about sixty, repaired to a piece of sward in the vicinity where their ample provisions in the shape of food and drink wore unpacked and heartily enjoyed. Sports and games of various sorts were got up and engaged in with much spirit, and all seemed to enjoy their day's relaxation. Before leaving, about half -past 4 o'clock, Mr Stewart, Manager, proposed three hearty cheers for their employers, aud concluded with expressing the hope that the picnic would be an annual one, a remark which was received with enthusiasm. Throughout the afternoon a number of the pleasure seekers paid a visit to and made a tour of inspection through the township, but the majority remained in the vicinity of the railway. We are glad to know our visitors enjoyed their trip, but for the sake of those who are expected to follow we must point out wherein their arrangements were defective. The place they selected, or rather by chance dropped npon, for their pic-nic was about the most uninviting they could have found in thi* district. We are informed they remained at the slktipn because they did not know where else to go tb-^and be. cause they had no means of transportin^their provisions. Now, they should havo aritteh to some on* in Baclutha to select a suitable place, and also to have had a vehicle in waiting to convey their provisions. The cost would only have been a few shillings, and the pleasure of their trip would have been much enhancad. We mention this matter simply by way of a hint tojothert in Dunedin, who contemplate paying us a visit during the ensuing months.

Aa a sort of antidote to the effects likely to be produced by the Macandrew banquet, according some of the Dunedin papers, a committee was got up for the purpose of presenting Mr Reynolds with a testimonial for his late services in the Assembly. After the announcement of the formation of this committee, a respectable number of days was allowed to lapse, and then appeared a paragraph in the * Star ' to the effect that it had been decided the testimonial should take the shape of a silver tea and ceffee service, or some such articles, we forget what all— and that an order for tbe same had been forwarded to England per mail, or telegraph, for the supply of the same. This looked like business, and also very like a verification of the old proverb about a fool aud bis money being soon parted. But mirk the sequel. It appears the irrepressible H. S. Fish, junior, had either been appointed, or had arrogated to himself the position of Hon. Secretary to this committee, and the paragraph referred to being the first he had heard of the affair, he felt his honor and position insulted, and immediately wrote to the 'Star' that ite information must have been incorrect, as. he was Hon. St-c, and knew nothing about it. In short, he says the whole thing must be a canard — .ornmittee and all we presume. It is too bad of a number of disappointed individuals thus to bring Mr Reynolds into ridicule to suit their own purposes. Mr Reynolds has lately befooled himself sufficiently not to need assistance from them to make him worse. Although vacilating as a weathercock, but without its reliable elements, Mr Reynolds is a very decent old wife, and if left alone might be useful at times in the kitchen or the nursery. The youngsters are now however playing naughty tricks upon him in his old age, which ought to be put a stop to.

Thr* other day a gentleman of Balclutha who enjoys a drop of good porter before " turning in " of an evening, and not being quite satisfied with the quality of the article supplied at our localvendors of spirituous liquors, determined to try the manufacture of a "wee draft for himself." Accordingly he procured a quantity of malt and produced six gallons of porter of a very superior brand. The grains, hops, and other ingredients were placed in one tub on the green in front of the house, and the porter in another tub adjoining. In the enclosure were two horses, one of which he observed quietly munching his grains which he intended ' for grumphy. He hastened to drive him off to another portion of the paddock. Tho other horse stood by unobserved, and as his mate. was being driven away from, the grains he cooly walked up to the other tub, and before he was noticed had the whole porter consumed. Six gallons was not a bad^ guzzle for a light harness horse, but beyond appearing a little more than usually frisky , for the remainder pf the day no evil ' effects ensued. , Next morning he appeared as" if he had a slight headache, but upon applying to the tub he found -ho* had followed the example of some of the: human species, and had not left a drop for his morning's "nip. 1 '

Messrs Kilgotmi's -window has of late beon the source of much attraction to the juveniles of the township, and even the older portien of the community. In it are to be seen a large assortment of confectionery manufacture in the shape of human figues, beasts, fowls, boots, potatoes, and other articles "too numerous to mention." In many cases the imitation is so perfect as to deceive tho uninitiated. The other day a wealthy settler from Inch Ciutha, and who prides himself upon his grouud always supplying the earliest fruits, seeing the potatoes in the window, entered to make inquiries. He wns told they were new potatoes of this year's growth, aud that they had been produced in Balclutha. He was indignant at the idea of being beaten by Balclutha, and in spite of all a«suranc93 to the contrary, went away declaring they had been grown in a hot. house. Any one who inspects the imitation will quite excuse the mistake fallen into by our Clutha friend.

At the City Police Court, Sandhurst, recently, John Niasen, landlord, of the European hotel, was charged, for receiving money as the consideration to pay money on an event relating to a horse. Defendant pleaded guilty, and ignorance of wrong. He hail stopped the sweep aud returned the money. The beuch, under the circumstances, the money havinsr been returned, and this being the first offence of tho kind that had come under their notice, inflicted the nominal fine of 20s, with 2s 6d costs. So much for the law regarding sweepstakes.

A chess match was played by telegraph between four gentlemen of Dunedin, and an equal number in Lawrence, (the Rev. Mr Beaumont being one of the latter,) on Thursday evening and Friday morning. Play was commenced at half past 7 o'clock on Thursday evening and the first game was only finished at 7 o'clock on Friday morning, the Dunedin Club scoring the first victory. The match is to be decided in favor of the club that wins the first two games, and play will be resumed this evening. So far as tbe reverend gentleman at least is concerned it is thought by many of his parishioners tbit he would be more appropriately employed sxiidying his sermons. When we read of his •master being employed over night it is at a' "different kind of work thau a game at chess.