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Clutha Leader, Volume II, Issue 98, 26 May 1876, Page 5

We call attention to the soiree in connection with the "Wesleyan Church here, which will be held on Thursday evening. One by one of the first arrivals in the Colony fire passing away. The funeral of old Mrs James M'Niel took place yesterday, and was very largely attended. Subscribers to the Clutha Leader in the Port Molyneux, Puerua, and Waitepeka districts will observe that they may expect a call from our traveller, Mr Christie, on Monday and Tuesday first. The annual meeting of tho members of tho Athenaaum, Balclutha, will be held on Monday evening. ' It iBto be hoped that everyone interested in the success of tho institution will make it a point to attend. We are glad to say that upon the river-steamer Balclutha being laid up, immediate steps were taken by parties interested for having a suitable boat built. Mr James Davidson, of Dunedin, was employed to prepare plans and specifications, and tenders were called for. These were to be opened last night. •We-'Kope to be able to give the result, with, some particulars of the boat, in next issue, <, TflE Carnival in aid of the funds of the Benevolent Institution, whioh was arranged to be held in Messrs Guthrie and Larnach'e new buildings during the last four days of the week, was opened by his Honor the Superintendent on Wednesday. It is ' proving an immense success, and is expected to realise about £2503, which with the Government subsidy, will give £5000 towards the funds of the institution. The Committee have perhaps had too much on hand for the short time at their disposal, but we cannot help thinking it a pity that the Clutha district has been so thoroughly ignored in the matter. We are sure many contributions would have been sent and many would have attended from here, had the slightest arrangements been made to bring the matter before the public.

In last issue we mentioned the serious illness of Mr Alexander Aitchison, of Milton. We regret to have to record that the disease terminated fatally on Monday evening. Heart disease was the immediate cause of death, hut deceased had been suffering frrm a complication of diseases, and his sufferings were of a very painful nature. Mr Aitchison had seen a great deal of rough service in the Victorian Police Force in the early and exciting days of the goldfields. He came over here with the late St. John Branigan, and has been for about nine years stationed in the Tokomairiro district. He was for many years driver of tho gold escort of this Province. • As a mounted constable, he has gone through much hard official w/irk, but he was ene of those men who could see what required to be done, and set himself to do it whether it came strictly within his duty or not. As an instance of this we may ' point to the present condition of the Police reserve in Tokomairiro, to improve which ha devoted much of his spare time. Several thousands of trees have* been planted by him along the fences and creeks, which will long prove a livinj? memorial both to his industry and taste. We ■would add also, that these trees will stand as a lasting rebuke to the freehold settlers of tho district, to whom the deceased set a laudable example in the way of planting, but which they disregarded, much to their own loss, and against the general amenity of tho plain. ; Perhaps now that Mr Aitchison is gone, his work referred to may be more noticed, and others maybe shamed into setting about devoting their leisure hours to Bimilarjobjecti. We may add that deceased v.a* a man of a very kind and genial nature, and while most strict and resolute in the performance of his duty, was respected by everyone' who knew him. He leaves a wife and Bix young children to mourn his loss, and for whom much sympathy is felt throughout the district. The funeral, which took place yesterday, was attended by upwards of 30*, a large number of the members of the police force being also present.

Tt has been resolved to give a concert in aid of the building fund of the English Church here in Barr's Hall, on the evening of Wednesday, 2nd August next. The heavy rains of last week have done considerable damage here to the crops remaining ia stack, owing to their being un thatched. People persist in 1 running all risks, rather than trouble themselves to ensure safety by thatching. We call attention to a billiard tournament, which is to commence in the Newmai-ket i Hotel on Tuesday evening. , Prkes to the value of nearly £20 will be given away. These are now on view at the shop of Mr Hogg, jeweller. Such tournaments seem to be all the rage now, and no doubt that in the Newmarket will be largely patronised. -' '" •. ■ ' In another column we give an exSellent and temperately written article from the * Canterbury Press* — a strong Abolition' paper— in which Vogelism is judged by results. We commend its perusal to our readers, It will enable ;them to judge how much faith can safely be placed either upon the great schemes or estimates of the,present Premier. We learn that the Presbyterian Council, which was to have been held in Edinburgh in July, and for which representatives have gone from the Australian churches, and the Rev. Mr. Bannerman from the Church of Otago, has been put off for twelve months. ' The reason was, wo beliey'e, that in consequence of the Centennial of America the representatives from that country found they could not attend this year.

The following report of a case heard in the R. M. Court, Dunedin; on Monday last, is from the ' Daily Times ' :— Ro*bert Smith (Balclutha) v. William Barr and James Baxter (Trustees in the Estate of John Barr) ; claim of £8016sj- commission on the sale of the Milton Hotel and the Crown Hotel, Balclutha. MrHoworth appeared fcr.the plaintiff. Mr Stout, who def ended j' said the plea was barred by the Statute of Limitations, and pleaded noi indebted. Mr Howarth contonded that the claim was within the Statute, some of the work having been done on the 4th May, 1876. Robert Smith gave evidence as... to transactions between himself and the deceased John Barr in 1868 and 1870. The deceased had denied his ability during his lifetime. "Witness said he never received value for certain charges of whisky and brandy in the books of the deceased. Dr Smith deposed that the plaintiffs family had been liberally treated by the late John Barr. His worship gave judgment for the plaintiff for £15 5a and costs;

The anniversary of the Loyal Dalton Lodge of Oddfellows, was celebrated by a ball in Barr's Hall, on Wednesday evening. The gentlemen of the order turned out in large numbers, but there was a great lack| of ladies. The dresses of the latter were "immense," the tasteful profusion of flowers and ribbons and the, variety of colors being something wonderful. We have frequently heard it predicted, and need not conceal it, that the persistent extremely showy dressing on the part of a few would very speedily put a stop to balls and dancing parties in Balclutha. We believe the prediction hag now been realised. At all events we know a good many young ladies would have been present on Wednesday evening, hut for the.fact that, they thought they could spend their money to better' purpose than in paying for the style of dress in fashion here. The ball, however, passed off , very well Dancing commenced at half-past nine, and was kept up till half -past four in the morning. Mr Reunert performed the duties of M.C. with tact and efficiency. The music was supplied by Messrs Clements and Kelly, of Kaitangata, and was all that could be desired. Refreshments were supplied throughout the night by Mr M'Dougall, and gave every satisfaction.

If all our deings here were to be made known, some would imagine we were a queer lot. For example, during the wettest, day of the recent storm, we dropped upon his . Worship the Mayor and the Town Cleik industriously cutting a drain in a back street to drain a portion which was threatened with, a flood. Probably such, practical persenal industry on the part of our officials may account for the fact that tho Town Council wero recently so flush of cash that they lodged in the bank, upon a deposit receipt, a sum far exceeding that collected in rates during the past year. But it must not be supposed it is all work and no play with our civic rulers. The other day one Councillor challenged another to an impromptu football match . They speedily collected a crowd of from forty to fifty willing players. Renfrewstreet was selected as the ground. Thither they repaired, tossed for first choice, and proceeded to business, The Inspector of Nuisances was the' first drawn, and citizens of all grades were speedily ranked in hostile attitude. It took three contests to decide the victory, which certainly was most keenly contested. It was remarked that the Councillors had not so warmed up to their work for a long time. We hear that the defeated ruler took the matter so much to heart that he had immediately to take a " turn in." We have not heard whether he has yet turned^ out. It is said that out of this frolic a challenga match between married and single is likely to result. '