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Clutha Leader, Volume III, Issue 138, 2 March 1877, Page 5

It is contemplated to hold a race meeting in Tokomairiro early in May. We learn from a piivate telegram from Auckland that Sir George Grey is now recovering from his late illness. The next English and European mails via San Francisco will close at this office on Tuesday next, 6th inst., at 10 p.m. y It will be observed by an advertisement that Mr J-, P. Armstrong, of Dunedin, is now in Balclutha, and can be consulted for a few days at the Crown Hotel. A meeting of the Balclutha Jockey Club will be held in Dunne's Newmarket Hotel, tonight at 8 o'clock, to which a full attendance of members is requested. A meeting of the settlers on Mr M'Kellar's flat, Tapanui, was held on the 13th ultimo, when steps were taken to establish a school in the district, and a committee was appointed to attend to the matter. It was reported at the meeting there were thirty-one children eligible for school, all within a radius of a mile or a mile and a quarter. We regret to learn that while in Dun edin last week, the Rev. Mr Bannerman was suddenly seized with an attack of pleurisy. Although warned by his medical attendant against the probable effects of travelling, he managed to get home on Saturday, but was quite unable to officiate on Sunday. We are glad to know that he ia gradually recovering. Our Kaihiku correspondent informs us that the farmers in that district have made great progress with harvesting operations during the la3t ten days, a good few having finished with cutting, and some have it all in. There is a considerable increase in the number of acres in wheat this year, and a decrease in oats. It is expected there will be an average turn-out of bushels of wheat to the acre when threshed, but it is feared there will be a deficiency of oats in comparison with last year. Mr Hay will begin threshing at the Bridges in a few days on Albert Down farm as usual. The building trade is at present very brisk in Tapanui. New and commodious premises are being erected for the Bank of New Zealand by the side of the Post Office, while opposite, Messrs Jeffrey and Esther, chemists, are building a fine shop, and at the corner of the same street, Mr M 'Duff's late store is undergoing ' extensive alterations, to fit it for the business of the National Bank, a branch of which is about to be opened by Air Heath, late of Milton. Many other additions, principally private dwelling houses, have been made to this township within the last few months, and as the demand for these still far exceeds the supply, there is eveiy prospect of continued activity in this department, and a further extension of the township, which is fast assuming respectable proportions. The following circular to the chairmen of the several Road Boards withm the County of Clutha was agreed to at a meeting of the Clutha Road Board on Saturday last, and sent us for publication : — " Clutha Road Board Office, Warepa, 26th February, 1877.— Dear Sir,— The desirability of a conference of the Chairmen and members of the several Road Boards within the County, prior to fixing the rates for the coming financial year, having been pointed out by the Clutha Lbadeb, the Clutha Board, believing that such a meeting would be conducive to the interests of the ratepayers of the County, respectfully invite you and the members of your Board to attend here on Saturday, April 7, at 1 p.m. A signification of your compliance will be greatly esteemed. — I am, &c, Wm. Chbistie, Chairman." There is one class of nuisance in Balclutha to which attention has not hitherto been called, but which is felt as a great annoyance by the entire community. We refer to several unoccupied sections of ground in which sowthistleß and weeds of all descriptions are allowed to grow most luxuriantly. At this season of the year every slight breeze of wind scatters the Beed in showers over the .township , in all directions, causing no end of labour to keep the gardens clean the following year. Tho nuisance as a rule exists upon the property of non-reaidents, who purchase and keep sections vacant upon specula* tion. Some of the foullest of these, we believe, belong to a gentleman of Dunedin, the dirty and dilapidated state of whose property here is a disgrace to himself and a positive nuisance in the township. When the Town Council set about framing new bye-laws, the inhabitants would really be much obliged if they would keep this matter in view. We beg to call attention to an advertisement intimating that on Wednesday next, Mr J. P. Armstrong, who is well known as a lecturer, will deliver one of his highly amusing and instructive lectures ia Barr's Hall here. We have, no hesitation in saying that in this lecture there is a great treat in store for the inhabitants of the district. Mr Armstrong has a happy way of his own which at once gains the attention of his audience, while his original, quaint style of describing his wanderings, and the dry humourous manner in which he relates his numerous anecdotes are quite refreshing, and the attention of the audience nevev for a moment flags. The Press speaks in most flattering terms of Mr Armstrong's undoubted talent as a lecturer j they recognise in him one who has the very rare ability of being quite at home with hia subject, and able to handle it in Buch a manner as to please everyone. We trust he will have a crowded house in Balclutha, and strongly recommend anyone that wishes to spend a most enjoyable evening to attend, as an opportunity like the present is seldom offered in. this town.

We have again to call attention to the concert and ball .at the Wangaloa School this evening. Harvest operations are proceeding apace in the'Tokomairiro 'district. The crops are likely to tarn out well. •Hie Volunteer Hall, Milton, has just been renovated and re-painted, and again presents a very respectable appearance. The crushing for the last three Weeks at the Bruce Quarfcz Mining Company's battery, Canada Reef, yielded 58oz. 14dwts. We are requested to call attention to the fact that Messrs Maclean Bros.' special sale of sheep and cattle has now been fixed to take place on Thursday, the 29fch insfc. Referring to the advertisement in another page of a horse found in Mr Mosley's paddock, Inch Oluth.v, ft fuller description of the horse was received too late to include in the advertisement. The description is as follows : — Dark brown horse with white off foot, and blaze on face ; no visible brand. Harvesting is being actively prosecuted around Tapanui and the Wavpahi, and crops are over the average. The late unsettled weather has in some instances had a' detrimental effect on the quality of the wheat, and should it continue, it is likely before the crops can be secured to materially affect its value. ■ Parties having a little spare cash will on the 291h instant have an opportunity of investing it in town property of a very, durable character, such as is certain to bring an immediate return, and to materially increase in value kg the township progresses. We refer our readers to an advertisement elsewhere. The following are the new arrangements for the sitting of the District Court, Tokomairiro and Clutha districts :— For civil business, 15th day of every month ; for criminal business. 15th March, 15th June, 15th September, 15th December. If any of these dates fall on a holiday, the next day, not being a holiday, will be substituted. We have to acknowledge receipt from Mr G. S. Robertson, agent for the South British Fire and Marine Insurance Company, of a pamphlet published in Auckland, and entitled " Useful Hints carefully attended to may Save your House from Destruction by Fire." We are obliged for the hints, and shall endeavour to attend to them. Messrs Dabinet and Young have now completed their store at Owake Flat, and the same has been fully stocked with drapery, groceries, ironmongery, crockery, boots and shoes, &c. Such a store has long been a want much felt in the district, and will prove a great convenience to the inhabitants of this five romantic corner. We understand the store will be opened nest weak. The whooping-cough has been running riot in South Molyneux simse the beginning of the year. It has now, however, almost disappeared. There is scarcely a family (if one) in the whole district which has not been called on to receive this unwelcome visitant. The disease proved fatal in two instances, — both very young children, — though we believe the cases were numerous where the attack was so severe that for days, aad even, weeks, life and death seemed to hata'g in the balance. On Monday evening last a complimentary dinner was givea by Mr Simmonds, of the Commercial Hotel, Tapanui, to Mr Alexander M'Duff, oh the eve of his departure from the districts A considerable number of his personal friends were invited, the chair being occupied by Mr A. Allan, the Mayor, who was confronted by the worthy host. Health and prosperity to Mr M'Dufic was proposed by the Chairman, and feelingly responded to by Mr M'Duff, after which numerous toasts and songs, interspersed with anecdotes and jokes by the wits of the company, prolonged a very enjoyable evening to the small hours of the morning. A testimonial, taking the useful form of a well-lined purse, was presented to the guest of the evening, as a mark of the esteem of those with whom he has been so long connected. Mr Jame,s Brugh, South Molyneux, is slowly recovering from a severe relapse of pleurisy.. Mr Brngh was first attacked while moving about his run during the late severe weather. As symptoms of inflammation were rapidly appearing, he wisely concluded that the station was- no place for an invalid, and at once removed to his home farm. He was in a fair way of recovery from the first attack, when the charms of a few hours* sunshine tempted him too soon out of doora, and the result was a rapid and dangerous relapse. Dr Smith has been in frequent attendance, and, though aided in his efforts to combat the grim destroyer by a strong constitution and careful nursing, has found it one of the severest cases of the kind that has ever been in his hands. The All-England cricket match in Christchurch was a very close contest. It took place on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday this week. The scores were : All-England Eleven, first innings, 70 ; second, 102, Canterbury eighteen, first innings, 65 ; second, 84. The Englishmen were thus victorious by 30 runs. It was the finest exhibition of cricket which fras ever been seen on the ground, and one which the Englishmen state was exciting and unexpected enough to cause them to tremble for the result. The great features of this match, to which Canterbury will always look back with pride, were the bowl, ing of the Canterbury colt Frith, and the fielding of their whole team. The fielding of the All-England Eleven was superb, as may be imagined when it is stated that Stevens, of Canterbury, though at the wickets for two hours, only managed to score 10. Hill, for the Eleven, bowled magnificently, in better form, indeed, than ever before since he left England. The match m Dunedin. begins to*day, and is to finish on Monday. At a meeting of the Tapanui District Committee, held on Saturday, the 17th ultimo, a motion was passed to the effect that a petition for a new County be prepared, and that a trustworthy man be engaged to secure signatures; The following are the proposed boundaries of the County : — Bounded on the north by northern boundaries of blocks 1 and 4, Benger Survey district, thence by boundary of run 369 to Mount Benger, thence by nothern boundary of run 368, to Whitcombe, thence by boundary of James Riding to Black Umbrellas, thence by western boundary of runs 202 and 175 to its junction with the northern boundary of Chatton Hundred, thence following the 169 parallel of longitude to railway line, thence along that railway to western boundary of Wairuna Hundred, thence by said boundary to Waipahi River, thence along that stream, to its confluence with the Pomahaka River, thence by the Pomahaka to the Rankleburn Creek, thence by said creek to its sources, thence by watershed of Tapanui ranges to a point due south of Spylaw Hill, thence due north to said hill, thence duo east to Molyneux River, and by centre of said river to the starting point. Over 400,000 acres. Averjige, 32 mffes x 20.