Untitled

Clutha Leader, Volume III, Issue 152, 8 June 1877, Page 5

We understand Parliament has been summoned to meet on Thursday, 19th July. We have to call particular attention to an advertisement in another column, having reference to the issue of return, tickets on the New Zealand Railways. . At the land sale at Tapanui, on the 28th ult., the deferred payment sections were eagerly contested for, some of them realising as much as , 19 per acre. Purchasers were mostly outside men not previously known in the district. We would remind the electors of Baiclutha that the time approaches when they must make choice of a Mayor for the ensuing term. Three Councillors will also be required, — in 'room of Mr Hogg, who retires from the representation of Korth Ward, Mr Tosh, who retires from South ; Ward, and Mr Hope, whose term of office expires lorEaatWard.

j The Governor is at present on a visit to Canterbury. There are thirty-six public-houses in Westport, where the population is only 2000. The Zealandia with the English mails via San Fraucisco is due at Auckland next Friday. Owing to the want of attendance the proposed pigeon match did not come off at Milton on Friday last. At the licensing meeting at Christchurch on Monday five applications for new licenses were refused. At the licensing meeting at Milton on Tuesday all the applications were granted. There wero no new applicants. The parishioners of the Rev. Mr Steven, Presbyterian minister at Awamoko, contemplate presenting him with a buggy and harness of the value of about L 75. We understand Messrs Collins, of Baiclutha, have sent Home for a new thresher and engine— Clayton and Shuttleworth's— wbich they intend for the Tapanui and Waikaka districts next season, To the regret of a large nnmber of residents in Milton, Mr M'Kellar, the popular manager of the National Bank, is about to leave to take charge of the Mosgiel branch. Mr Pyke, from Riverton, is to succeed Mr M'Kellar in Milton. An accident occurred at the Railway bridge here on Friday morning. It appears William Bruce, one of the workmen, had one of his fingers crushed by the crab-winch. The sufferer waited upon Dr Smith, who found it necessary to amputate the finger just above the first joint. The patient was placed under chloroform for the operation. A Harmonic Society, under the leadership of Mr Heffernan, has been formed at Clinton. The number of members to start with is nearly 20, exclusive of ladies, of which latter a considerable number have already signifiedtheir intention of joining. We heartily wish them success, of which there can scarcely be a doubt, considering the abundance of musical talent this place possesses. The remains of the young man M'Dowell, who was drowned in Catlins River a short time ago, were discovered on 31st ult. by Captain Cairns, of the Lloyd's Heiald. It appears that he was out shooting, and was attracted by his dog barking at something in the sand. Proceeding to the spot, he found the remains lying considerably above high-water mark. They were identified by some articles of clothing attached. It is supposed the late tidal wave had washed the body ashore. The place where it was found is about a quarter of a mile down the river from the scene of the accident. Twelve members of the No. 2 Clutha Rifles turned out on Saturday to compete for a silver cup, which has been raised by subscriptions from members in the Company. The cup has to be won five times before it becomes the property of the winner. The following are the scores of the six highest : —

In another column will be found the prize list of the forthcoming Matau and Clutha Ploughing Match, which is this year to be held on the farm of Mr William Tosh, Fearn Hill. The special prizes will appear in next issue. We believe more interest is being taken in the match this year than on any previous occasion, although it always proved highly successful. The paddock selected for the contest is within the boundary of the township, and therefore no doubt there will be a large number of visitors. The prizes will be awarded on a very liberal scale, and therefore the competition is sure to be good. With favourable weather we have no doubt there will he a very large turn out both of teams and visitors. Captain Hayward reports from Catlins Biver under date June 1, 1877 :— The arrivals here during the past month were nine, equal to 347 tons register, and ten sailed, equal to 386 tons. Six loaded at the Owake Mill, and four at the Big Mill. Six sailed to Dunedin, one to Lyttelton, one to Moeraki, one to Waikouaiti, and one to Molyneux. Among the vessels sailed was the Owake Belle, a very smart looking little craft recently built here, and unless she belies her looks, I think she will be able to show a srood many vessels of her class tbe road. The Catlin, Good Templar, Jessie, Fanny, Lloyd's Herald, Jane Hannah, and Jane are lying waiting a chance out. The threshing mill has just finished operations in the South Molyneux district. This district is usually among the last visited by the mill, and in consequence of the lateness and wetness of the season the roads were very soft, and the labour of moving the mill to and fro was unusually severe. All the settlers interested seem to have reason to be very much gratified with the number of bushels yielded per acre. A pretty good return was looked for by all, but the result, after the work was done, was found in most cases to exceed even their most sanguine expectations. Mr Stevens, Riverside, has obtained about twelve hundred bushels of oats, wheat, and bai-ley, all of a first-class quality. Mr Shiels, who anticipated somewhere about seven hundred bushels of oats, ftrand, not at all to his disappointment, that the real return was upwards of eight hundred, and of superior quality. A meeting of Committee of the Matau and Clutha Ploughing Match was held in the Crown Hotel on Friday evening. There were present : Messrs James Petrie (in the chair), A. Watt (secretary), R. Moir, U. Clark, J. M'Farlane, P. Ayson, J. S. Bishop, J. S. Cossens, Jas. Whyte, W. Hay, A. Ironside, Jas. Bruce, Alex. Petrie, W. Rae, G. H. Gilroy, W. O. Watt, W. Tosh, and C. Shand. The collectors reported upon the amount of subscriptions received towards the funds of the match. It was found the Committee would be in a position to award prizes to the value of L7O, while the special prizes would amount to L3o— -in all Ll°o. The prize list was accordingly arranged, and judges nominated. It was resolved that there be a public dinner on the evening nf the match, and a committee was appointed to arrange as to the matter. It was agreed that the Working Committee should meet on the evening of Wednes- ; day, the 13th inst., when all subscriptions must be paid, and when final arrangements will be made. The meeting then adjourned; ~ ■" ■ • - .'-"--.■-• ------ - - - .■ .

The Auckland Licensed Victuallers are | agitating to eqxralise the license fees. There was no sitting of the Resident Magistrate's Court here on Wednesday last. A cow was killed on the Anderson's Bay road by a passing train on Tuesday evening. No other damage was occasioned. The skating rink here, is now fully occupiod. The practice evenings are Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, when there generally is a large attendance. A man named Ewart, working at Hollick's saw-mill, Tokomairiro, the otker day, had hi's arm broken by a fall from the saw-bench, He was sent to town for treatment. A large and enthusiastic meeting was held in the Temperance Hall, Dunedin, on Tuesday evening, when resolutions were passed in favour of Mr Stout's Local Option Bill. A Court of Revision for revising the Electoral Roll of the district for the General Assembly was to have been held on Wednesday in the Courthouse, but the Revising Officer (Mr M. W. Hodgkins) was not present to hold the Court. We understand Messrs Jackman and Co. have secured the contract for supplying the timber for Messrs Proudfoot and Mackay's railway contract from the terminus to the Baiclutha station. They accordingly advertise for men for squaring logs in the bush. We understand the work of the contract will be commenced as soon as the necessary appliances can be put upon the ground. The s.s. Ino has resumed steadily running between, Dunedin, Port Molyneux and Kaitangata. For some time the superior chances of trade offered by the shipment of grain at Waikouaiti, caused a prolonged absence from Port Molyneux, broken only by a flying visit once in three weeks or so. Latterly the need of the Ino or some other vessel in her place, has been imperative, and between the Port, Inch Clutha, and Kaitangata she is now making a trip every two or three days. An application was made by Sergeant Finnegan to the Resident Magistrate at Milton on Tuesday to have a young lad, aged 11 years, the son of the late Walter Ford, of Fairfax, sent to the Industrial School as a neglected child, lt appears that the child's father died about twelve months ago, and left his property to his second wife, the step-mother of the lad, who, since Ford's death, had married again, and had turned her step-son out of the house. His Worship said he would hear the application after the business of the Court. We are informed by one firm in Baiclutha that were the prayer of the petition granted to transfer the junction of the Tuapeka and main line of railway from Clarksville to Milton, the result to them would be the payment of an additional £1 per week for carriage of goods. We are not aware whether many others would be affected iv a similar manner, but of course the cost of travelling by railway between Baiclutha and Lawrence would be considerably increased. No action has been taken here in the matter, although considerable indignation prevails, as it is not supposed for a moment that the proposed alteration will be agreed to. [ The ordinary monthly meeting of the ' Baiclutha School Committee was held on Mon day evening. There were present : Messrs Paterson (in the chair), Hope, Hogg and Bain. Messrs Stewart and Bain were appointed a committee to examine and report upon repairs necessary to schoolmaster's residence. It was arranged that the winter holidays be given during the last week in June, and that the interior of the building be painted and renovated during that week. It was resolved that a special meeting be held on Monday evenhig first, to consider a motion of which Mr Hope had given notice, as to the expediency of raising the schoolmaster's salary. There was no other business. A meeting of the Waiwera School Committee was held on Thursday 29th ult. Thero were present : Messrs D. Wallace (in the chair), W. Brooks, W. Blackie, J. Wyllie, D. M'Kenzie, and W. Littlejohn, (Secretary), The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. A prolonged discussion ensued re the proposed establishing of Childrens' penny banks, and the teaching of economics in the schools of the Colony. It was unanimously resolved—" That, though the establishing of school banks in the Colony would be, no doubt, productive of good in the case of towns and populous country districts yet the Committee consider the measure inexpedient iv a thinly populated district like the Waiwera, where as a rule the children have no money to save, and no means of spending it if they had. It was decided to charge a firewood fee of 6d per month during the winter months. Several accounts were passed for payment, and ordered to be paid. At the close of the meeting a conversation took place as to the desirability of establishing a mutial instruction society in the district. The proposal met with much favour from all present, and the secretary was instructed to convene a public meeting at an early date, also to take the necessary steps towards the organisation of the proposed association. There nrast be something wrong in connection with the management of the Dunedin , and Clutha railway which should be inquired into. We refer to a letter in another column upon the subject, and we may mention that we have heard very numerous complaints of lato regarding the delays that ocsur with regard to goods transmitted from Dunedin. One firm here informed us last week that not unfrequeutly several days, and sometimes a week elapsed between their goods being sent to the railway station, Dunedin, and their receipt here. This delay seems a pretty gene; al complaint. Then, in the case of Kaitangata coal, it has scarcely been possible, for some time past, to get any conveyed to the terminus here either for love or money. For weeks past the majority of the people have actually had to use some other kind of fuel. The answer to all inquiry is that trucks are not to be had. Yet in travelling along the line one sees empty trucks in all directions. We cannot conceive that the Government would so materially restrict the traffic and reduce the revenue for the want of trucks, and therefore these must not be kept properly rolling. One thing is certain, that coal cannot be had here, and that the railway revenue, and also the revenue of the Kaitangata Coal Company, suffers to a considerable extent, through the present '" want of trucks" — as the excuse is. There are other matters in connection witb the arrangements at this end of the hue which we are informed are likely shortly to give employment to the gentlemen of the long robe, and also to induce investigation on the part of, the Governments

The Rev. J. Hill, Grahamstown, has been presented with an illuminated address and a purse of sovereigns, on the occasion of hia departure for Lyttelton. The Dunedin Presbytery met on Tuesday lastfto consider suggestions as to the subject for the new Chair to be endowned by the Synod in our University. After full deliberation, the Committee agreed to send up to the Presbytery the following subjects for its consideration : — First, " English Language and Literature, and Constitutional History" ; second, " Moral Philosophy and Political Economy.'' At its next meeting 'the Presbytery is likely to decide on one or other of these three, and to recommend the Synod to adopt it as the subject for the new Professorship, Mr Thomas Pollock, -of Popotunoa, passed home the other day with his old favourite racing mare, Lady Ellen. This mare has been in Christchurch, where she had a fine colt foal to the celebrated horse Traducer. This foal Mr Pollock left behind at Dunedin for tho present till tho roads get in better condition fer travelling. We have also to mention that Mr Pollock has just purchased a splendid yearling by the same sire, but he has not yet made up his mind as to whether he will race him or keep him for stud purposes. Mv Pollock's enterprise and perseverance with thoroughbred stock certainly merits success. We trust his present venture will lead to the ultimate improvement of this class of btock throughout tho district. At an adjourned meeting of the Clinton Ploughing Match Committee on Tuesday last at the Commercial Hotel, Mr David Murray in the chair, it was resolved that the match come off on Friday, the 29th inst., the ground to be selected by the following gentlemen, who were elected a working committee, viz.: — Messrs Wm. Brook (Waiwera), Wm. Pagan (Waiwera), A. Rutherford (Waiwera), Wm. M'G. Murray (Wairuna), John Moffat (Wair ana). The above-named gentlemen are to meet at Mr W. Brook's residence on Saturday, 9th instant, at 10 o'clock a.m., tor the purpose of selecting the ground. Mr James Scott was elected President for the ensuing year, and the meeting then- adjourned till Tuesday next, the 12th inst. An accident, fortunately unattended by personal injury, occurred at the Stirlinff railway station on Wednesday morning. It appears that while shunting a carriage by means of a tow rope some misunderstanding or miscalculation occurred. The engine came to a standstill close to the switches, and the carriage which was being shunted not being left room to pass struck the engine with such a foi'ce that both were thrown off the rails. The engine was slightly damaged, while the carriage was considerably smashed. This occurred while the train was being got ready to come up to the terminus for the passengers by the morning train. Tt took about five hours to replace the engine upon the rails, so that no morning train was dispatched on Wednesday. The Guardian of, Monday reports : — A very unpleasant and dangerous accident occurred on Friday afternoon at the quarry in the upper end of North-East Valley. A charge was fired, when by a fault in the rock a portion was blown away to an unexpected length, a stone of considerable weight striking Mrs G. Calder, the the wife of the proprietor of the quarry, on the head, at a distance of over a hundred yards from the explosion. The skull was fractured in two places. Dr Coughtrey being sent for, was promptly in attendance, and everything that was possible was done for the sufferer, who lies in a very precarious state. The latest accounts show that, though still in danger, there are some hopes entertained of her recovery." Mrs Calder is daughter of Mrs Dalziel, of Baiclutha, and we are glad to learn she is recovering, and is expected soon to be out of danger. The new Presbyterian church at Mataura was opened for divine service for the first time on Sabbath, the 27th ult., by the Rev. Dr Stuart, Dunedin. The event was looked forward to with great interest, and great preparations had been made by the ladies of the congregation for the soiree to celebrate the opening. The weather on Sabbath was very unfavourable, still the church was well filled on both morning and and evening services. The collections amounted to £20 The attendance at the soiree on Monday night was much greater than at any similar entertainment in Mataura. The first part of the programme— the tea, was left in charge of the ladies, and most liberally they provided for the wants, as after all had been satisfied, sufficient remained to serve as many more. After tea an adjournment was made from the school to the church. Addresses were delivered by the Revs, Mr Davidson, Dr Stuart, Dunedin ; Mr M'Nichol, Invercargill ; Mr Henry, Wyndham ; and Messrs Gilbert, missionary; Winning, and M'Gibbon. During the evening the church choir, under the leadership of Mr Walter Johnston, sang a number of Sankey's hymns in a manner very credit, able to the leader. The church, which is capable of seating 200 persons, is built from a plan by Mr Kerr, architect. Mr Main, the contractor, deserves great praise for the manner in which he i has finished his contract. A Clinton correspondent writes : — " In one of your late issues a correspondent pointed out the absurdity of the Government not appointing a J. P. about Clinton when they established a Police camp th ere. This was for the first time verified a few days ago, when some hilarious individual tried tha patience of our constable to such an extent that the latter found himself obliged to lock him up. I daresay the constable would have been able enough to determine the extent of punishment for this offence, were he permitted to do so, and thus save trouble and expense ; but as it is, he is obliged in such a case to take the prisoner to Baiclutha and bring him before a magistrate, the distance being 22 miles, and the roads bad. He has to pay 10s coach fare for his prisoner, whom he accompanies Cn horseback himself. The outcome of the whole affair is, that the prisoner, after being dragged about and looked up for several days, is eventually discharged, he having been amply punished for his offence. The constable sperds two or three days over it, and the country is saddled with all sorts of unnecessary expense. In the abovenamed case, however, the prisoner was in a position to bail himself out, the coach fare Keing thereby saved, but in similar cases that may, and are likely to occur frequently, the same may not always bo the case. I mention this incident, not so much in order to point out what hardship is in ? store for a man that oversteps the mark of discretion in the tipling line in Clinton, but I cannot help admiring the manifold and ingenious ways that the Govtrnment have of introducing their retrenchment policy. This is retrenchment with a venge^n^e.)

We are sure universal regret will be felt throughout the Popotunoa and neighbouring districts when it is known that Dr Bogle is obliged to leave in consequence of ill health. It will be observed that a meeting is called for the evening of Friday next to adopt steps to secure a successor. At the Resident Magistrate's Court, Milton, on Tuesday, James Crane was fined 4('s and costs for unlawfully removing timber from the Government bush in the Clarendon district. Wm. Marshall obtained a judgment against the ' Bruce Coal Company for rent of office, £6 13s i 4d. D. Reid sued H. White for £7 Bs, profes-sional-costs. Judgment reserved. D. M'Kinnon, of the Camp Hotel, obtained judgment for £2 16s against Dyer and Ciossan for necessary repairs to the hotel. There was no other busi- [ ness. At Wednesday's meeting of the Waste Laud Board, Hanger Hughan reported on the application of [John Tobin to purchase half an acre of land in the township of Kaitangata, stating that the application had been opposed on the ground that the land might be required for the straightening of the Kaitangata Creek. The Board declinedjto grant the application at present—Messrs Connell and Moodie applied, on behalf of Mr James Robertson, to purchase 50 acres of the bush reserve 45, block I, Warepa, adjoining sections 34 and 35. Referred to the ranger for a report. Another new business has been established in Baiclutha. Mr Parry has this week opened the shop next to this office as a tobacconist, where he will also sell all classes of fancy goods. In connection with the establishment is also a hair-dressiug saloon, to be conducted by Mr Durkin, late assistant with Mr Beissel, Dunedin. The saloon is elegantly fitted up, and possesses all the latest appliances of the trade. In this department everything is as neat and' comfortable as in any establishment in Dunedin. We believe there is ample room for this opening of both branches of business in Baiclutha, and believe the new establishment will meet with hearty support.

Hndep. 200 400 500 TI Vol. Ho§g 0 15 18 15-48 Lieut. Henderson ... 0 17 14 16—47 "Vol. Stan brook 12 10 13 31— 46 Vol. .T. M 'Neil 12 12 11 8— 43 Vol. Cowie 3 16 8 15 —42 Vol. ft. Mason 0 17 12 12 —41