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Clutha Leader, Volume II, Issue 81, 27 January 1876, Page 5

THB Warepa, and Kaihiku New Year's Games Committee will moet on the evening of Monday week to square up matters. We are glad to learn that the young lad named Ewing, who recently met with a serious accident on Inch Clutha, is now getting on favorably. WE have to acknowledge receipt of Wise's Shilling Almanac for 187 G. It is a nice handy size, and the printing is beautiful. It contains a large amountof useful and interesting information, and ought to be found in every household and business establishment. Thb Kaitangata Railway Company deserve all credit for the energetic manner in which they have pushed forward their works. Already the whole of the rails have been laid from the junction to the main line, and they are now being continued up the gully to the coai pits. Ballasting will be commenced next weeek, and it is expected this operation will be accomplished at the rate of a quarter of a mile a day. In three weeks it will be completed, and the line ready for 'traffic/ - This is the wuy to do business. The Company have merited success.

Some important alterations have been made in our local Mail Guide, to which we call attention. The next San Francisco Mail leaves on the 9th February, and that via Suez on 16th February. A full report of the match between the Balclutha and Tapanui Cricket Clubs held at Clinton, on Saturday last, is unavoidably held over, but will appear next issue. The match was won by the Balclutha team. The party who so persistently help themselves to our water without permission, will perhaps be considerate enough to leave the " Printer's Devil " a little to wash his hands with. Balclutha still continues to progress, and new places of business are rapidly being. opened. A fine new saddler's shop has been opened in Clyde-street by Mr Gawn, and a butcher's shop by Messrs Lamond, Martin, and Co. We have no doubt they will both obtain a good share of public patronage. With this issue we publish a supplement containing a full report of the Breach of Promise case, Hughes v Shand, which was concluded on Monday last, and which has created so much excitement in Dunedin and throughout the colony. The supplement also contains much English and other news. His Worship the Alayor, Councillors Mason and Hogg, and the Town Clerk, yesterday afterBoon, signed, sealed and delivered seventeen Corporation Bonds. for £50. each. From the nature of the proceedings which took place immediately thereafter, and tho hilarity which prevailed, it seemed pretty conclusive that the whole of tho .councillors did not belong to the Lodge Hope of Balclutha, 1.0. G.T. It will be seen by our advertising columns that Mr Andrew Dickson has commenced business as General Blacksmith and Agricultural Implement manufacturer, at Stirling, We understand that Mr Dickson was favorably known in the Old Country as a first class ploughman and should consequently know how best to manufacture this particular article so much used in the neighborhood. This is another addition to the rapidly improving township, and will no doubt be appreciated. In a recent issue we referred to the urgent necessity which existed for some one taking steps to secure the services of a music teacher for Balclutha. We are, glad to observe that this want is shortly to be supplied" by Mrs Kinnear of Tokomairiro. Of this lady's qualifications for and tact in teaching music we can speak with the utmost confidence. Besides she will be an acquisition to the township in several respects. When the people were assembling for public worship last Sunday morning a number of parties were keeping up a constant firing with guns, on the river beach within the township; We do not know what they were firing at, but the shots were fired with' a frequency, equal to a well contested pigeon match. This is a disgraceful state of matters to say the least of it, anl the surprising thing is it seemed to have been taken no notice of by thoso whose duty it was to have put a stop to it. The crops thre Ugho'tit th.e'Clutha and surroundiug districts, are at present looking exceedingly well. The general answer to an inquiry as to tbeir condition, is - we have never seen them look so well in the district." Farmers are busy with haymaking and cleaning turnips. The fields of oats have now assumed a yellew tinge, indicating that harvest is rapidly approaching. The amount of wages to be paid to harvest hands this season is") occupying some attentioa amongst settlers in the district. It is generally expected an ample supply of men will be got at reasonable rates. One settler- informs us that several fully experienced and competent men have offered to engage with him for the season at 5s per day. This we presume would be considered a reasonable rate. • A VERY pleasing presentation took place at Kaihiku on Saturday evening last, when Miss Chisholm was presented, 'by the parents and children of the district with a handsome and valuable workbox in recognition of the services she has rendered gratuitously to the young people of the district in musical tuition for two years past. Mrs Dickie made the presentation, and in a few graceful remarks referred to the" kind interest Miss Chisholm had taken in the youth of the district, and the exertions she had made to give them an opportunity of acquiring those accomplishments which, as a rule, only the residents of towns enjoy. Miss Chisholm heartily expressed her appreciation of their kindness. A PUBLIC meeting was held in the School house, Kaihiku, on the evening of Thursday last for the purpose of considering the price which ought to be paid, during the ensuing season, for thrashing grain. There was a good attendance, and Mr Newson was called to the chair. The following motion was moved by Mr Moffat and seconded by Mr Youngson. " That the settlers in this district make arrangement to [have their crops thrashed this season at the rate of 10 shillings per hundred.*' A long discussion ensued and it was ultimately agreed that Messrs. Youngson and M'Pherson' be appointed a committee to go round the district to get a sufficient guarantee to come to terms with a millowner. It was also considered that the first offer should be given to Mr Hay, of their own district, for the thrashing of the grain.. We regret to have to record the occurrence of a fatal accident by drowning at Port Molyneux on Saturday afternoon. It appears Mr Garroway, of the Alexandra Hotel, and another man were out having a sail upon the river. Coming down the river with a good breeze, and a strong current, and when passing the schooner Friendship, they tried to pass underneath the line by which that vessel was moored to the shore, but the top of the mast struck the line and the boat capsized. It is said that both men got a hold of tbe rope but that Garroway let go and sank. Ke was not afterwards seen. Search was made for the body, which was found yesterday afternoon at Kaka Point. The inquest will be held at noon to-day. Gangway's companion held on to the line and reached the schooner by climbing hand over hand. A meeting of the Working Committee of the Clutha Agricultural and Pastoral Society was held in the Crown Hotel on Thursday last. There were present, Messrs P. Ayson, Vice-President, in the chair ; T. T. Ritchie, Treasurer, Tosh, Secretary, Watt, Robson, Johnstone and Moir. From the report of the Treasurer, it appeared that ■there was a credit balance of £18 at the commencement of the year, and the sum of £77 odds had been received for membership cards, entries at Show, &c. There had been paid £36, leaving a balance of £59. There was outstanding credits £22, which would give £81 to meet prizes, medals, &c. It was expected there would be sufficient for this purpose but no balance over. The Secretary mentioned that Mr Johnstone had generously handed over to the funds of the S»ciety the amount -of the money prizes he had gained at the Show. A vote of thanks vas passed to Mr Johnstone for his liberality, and a hope was expressed thit others might follow his example. There Was no other business before the meeting. The representatives from Otago for the Colonial Prize Firing have nowbeen elected. They are as follows :—

The following have qualified to take part in the Colonial competition, provided they pay the expenses of their passage : — Vol. Blackie, No. 1 Clutha ... 184 Corp. Mann, South District ... 183 Sub-Lieut. Wilson, Port Naval .. 179 Lieut. Douglas. No. 1 City Guards 178 Vol. Creagb, No. 1 City Guards .. . . 178 Sub-Lieut. ;Nutsf of d, Bruce ... 178 Vol. Mitchell, North Dunedin . .-. 176 Vol. Adams, Wakari ... 175 Vol. Hutchinson- North Ounedm ... 175 Corp. • Tressedor, No. 1 City Guards 175 Lieut. Marshall, Wakari .... 174 Sub-Lieut. Christie, East Taieri ... 174 Vol. Capstick, Bruce ... 173 Vol. Provo, No. I City Guards ... 173 Vol. Fredric, North Dunedin .., 172 Vol. Millar, South District . . 172 Capt. Goldie, Port Naval ... 171 . Corp. Smith, East- Taieri , ... 170 Vol. Smaill, No. 1 Clutha ■- .., 170 Vol.'Stewart, No. T City Guards - '... 168 Sub-Lieut. M'Kenzie, Wakari ... 167 Vol*. Smith, No. I. City Guards ... 167 . Vol. Darling, No. 1 Clutha 7 ... 165

Barlow's Circus visited Balclutha on Monday evening. The performances were very fair, and appeared to be appreciated. They had a good house, and their takings must have been sufficient to pay the cost of transit from Invercargill. Complaints have.reached us of their omissions in this respect. We understand the Honorable Mr Richardson is expected to visit this district within a few days, when he will no doubt examine and decide upon the long-pending Waitepeka deviation contention. In the meantime the local engineer has been posting himself up so as to be able to afford his chief every information as to the respective proposed routes. THE Committee appointed to make the necessary ai*rangements in the matter of the straightening of the creek from the Tuakitoto Lake to the river, are requested to meet on Saturday first. The collectors will then report as to their success with the collection of the funds, and steps will be taken to have the work proceeded with. Yet another Bank is to be established in Balclutha ! The Bank of "New South Wales has leased the premises lately occupied by Mr G. W. Hutchins, chemist here, Fand we believe will open a branch here at once. This will make four in all, besides tho Post Office Savings Bank, in our little township. There is, however, yot room for more Banks, especially should they bring plenty of gold and deal it out liberally. MEESR3 Sinclair & Marr are making satis—factory progress with their formation and metalling contracts upon the Warepa district road. The metalling of the road across the plain — the School road — ia finished, as also is the contract for that portion of "Shaw's Track," near to Mr Falconer's. The metalling of the north end portion will be proceeded with at once. Thus in a very short time there will be a good metalled road almost the whole way from Balclutha to Warepa. Metal is at present being laid along the road through the Kaitangata Swamp, preparatory to its receiving a new coat before winter. The road is at present in very good order, but apparently the Government do not consider it sufficient to sustain the winter traffic without remetalling. Wo wonder if the General Government would show an equal solicitude regarding every small and secluded bit of road, if the matter was in their hands. A CORRESPONDENT says : — When trudging along on horseback on Friday last, on a dusty road, and with the hot rays of the sun causing every pore of my body to emit a boiling prespiration, I met a Chinaman. He put down his swag and looked up at me, saying, ** Aha ! Aha ! How do you like Chinese weather ? Aha ! John got the best of you to-day— me quite cool j aha 1" I strongly recommended him to make tracks to a country where T informed him he would have the cool taken out of him. We acknowledge receipt from Mr E. Teague of a copy of Messrs Mills, Dick and Co.'s Otago Provincial Almanac and Directory for 1876, with which is incorporated Rose's Southland Almanac. It is a good sized volume, and in addition to a large amount of information, contains a diary which ought to be appreciated by settlers for making memoranda of reference. It is a work all should have, and we doubt not its circulation will be enormous. A meeting was held on tbe evening of Monday the 10th inst., at Tuakitoto Schoolhouse, for the purpose of electing a School Committee for tbe ensuing year. There were present of the old Committee, Mr Dunlop, (Secretary,) and Mr Ourrie, and householders A. Marshall, C. Borrie, A. Nelson, and W. Marshall. The Secretary read the balance-sheet, which showed a debt of £22, which was occasioned by the sinking of a Well which cost upwards of £30. On proceeding to elect a Committee, the Secretary and Mr Cun'ie declined to stand again ; consequently the meeting had to be adjourned, as the householders present were unwilling to take the responsibility of clearing off the debts which tho old Committee had incurred. They started the year with 'a balance to their credit, and there was only two of them present to give an account of their stewardship, and as they had not done anything towards reducing the liabilities they had incurred, those present did not feel called upop to take the responsbility of clearing off the debt incurred without some of the old Committee standing to assist them, which they re'f used to do ; consequently the meeting dispersed till the Education Board fix a date for a new election . There is surely something rotten about the state of the old Committee, when they failed to come forward in support of the expenditure they had incurred, thereby trying .to throw it upon the shoulders of the new Committee.

Ist.. 2nd. Tl. Capt. Wales, City Guards ... 95 99—194 Corp. Willocks, Clutha ... 104 89—193 Corp. Richardson, N.D. . . 96 94—190 Vol. Anderson, Clutha ...101 86—387 Vol. Mills. 'S. D. X, ... 97 86—185