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Clutha Leader, Volume IV, Issue 173, 2 November 1877, Page 5

There was no business of any importance before the meeting of the Athenaeum Committee on Monday evening. We" are glad to know that the inhabitants of the surrounding districts aro giving their attention to the claims of the Indian Famine Relief Fund. At Port Molyneux upwards of L2O has been collected, and ab Puerua on Sunday the collection for this purpose amounted to upwards of Lls. The contributions in these districts ba-»€ not yet been completed. We understand one or two cases oi scarlatina have recently occurred in Balclutha. The disease, fortunately,? is of a very mild type, and therefore is occasioning no apprehension, While there is not the slightest occasion for anj alarm or excitement, it would only be prudenl that the inhabitants should remove any influences that might facilitate the further progress of tht disease. The best means, we believe, of check ing this and most other diseases, and also to miti gate their effects in case of an attack, is to pre' serve the constitution in a thoroughly health*) condition, live amongst plenty of pure air, anc keep the raind perfectly at ease as to danger As a rule, diseases generally keep at a respectable distance from those thus prepared for them.

„ Very seasonable rains have fallen in i Victoria, and the crops are looking splendidly. >• We have to call attention to the concert 3 and soiree to be given in Kaitangata on Tuesday , evening, the proceeds to be devoted to the very laudable purpose of procuring school prices. > An outhouse belonging to Mr Xfcobert 1 M'Kenzie, Inch Clutha, was destroyed hy fire on 1 Monday evening. Dr Smith, Coroner for the > district, held an inquest yesterday, bnt there wa<3 '-' no evidence to show the cause. Those intending to exhibit pot plants at the forthcoming show of the Clutha Horticultural Society would do well to call on Mr Sandilands here, where very handsome flower-pots of various designs are to be had. These are manufactured at the Britannia Pottery Works, The Grove, and we understand are sold at extremely reasonable prices. We understand Messrs Macdonald and Co., here, have received substantial contributions towards the funds of tlie forthcoming Agricultural and Pastoral Show, fi-oni Messrs Sargood and Co., A. Briscoe and Co., aud Mackerra's and Hazlett. Other liberal contributions have also been received, and membership cards are being rapidly disposed of. We have to call attention to the Tokomairiro Annual Show to be held on Friday next week. Being a general holiday, we trust to see a large number from the Clutha present. As the railway now affords facilities for tlie transmission of stock, it is to be hoped ihe settlers of the Clutha will swell the list of exhibits on the occasion, so as to compare results with their friends in Tokomairiro. Ib would only be manifesting a friendly spirit, and might result in bringing a few prizes iv this direction. We have beeu requested to call attention to the present all but impassable state of the road between the railway bridge and Stirling. It is now almost dangerous either to ride or diivo over it, while the traffic ifc has at present to sustain, is very considerable: All that is required is that the ruts and a few holes be rilled up, and the water kept off, and it is said there is abundance of material to fill yip these ruts. Thus apparently a few days' labour is only required, and we have no doubt the Matau Road Board will endeavour to do what is necessary in the matter. A Tokomairiro correspondent sends us full particulars of the pick and shovel war between a Miiton force md the Chinese at Glenoi-e the other day. Another account was previously in type aud will be found elsewhere. Our eorre- . spondent says the report in Milton on Tuesday night was that tho fight resulted in a thorough victory for the Celestials, they baying succeeded ia drowning one man, and capturing one gun and one prisoner. He, however, assures us that the only blood drawn during the whole affray was in tho train on ths occasion of the homeward retreat of the vanquished. Our Otaria correspondent writes : — lt is pity a few settlers on the Waikaka side of Otaria still neglect to cart a load of timber each from the Mataura Bridge for the Waikaka School. They promised to do so over aud over again, and by tbeir neglect tbey are keeping back the Waipahi side school, which has been finished for some time. It is lamentable to see so many children at home losing their education solely through the carelessness referred to. It is to be hoped that if they intend doing their quota of work towards building the school, they will set about it at once and not delay any longer. There are only two or three loads wanted altogether. — There is a flrsfc-ciass opening at Otaria just now for a blacksmith. The settlors require to goto the Mataura Bridge if they want any smithy work done, a distance of ten or twelve miles. — We have had very severe weather this past week, of snow, wind and rain. It is feared it will make havoc among the lambs. The young crops look very promising at present. As an instance of the confusion and inconvenience caused by the abolition of the Provincial institutions before appropriate machinery was provided to take their place, we may refer to the difficulty now experienced in establishing new Boad Boards. Many months ago Otaria and other districts were, upon the requisite petition by the inhabitants, declared road districts. According to the Roads Ordinance the Superintendent was enjoined, within forty days after the road districts were so proclaimed, to appoint a day, and the necessary returning officers, &c, for the election of the new Board. The office of Superintendent was abolished, and apparently there is no one empowered to perform the duties referred to. At all events application was made to the Colonial Treasurer to make the necessary appointments in the cases referred to, and his reply was that nothing could be clone till a new Act was passed to meet the case. In the meantime the people have got a Road Board district, and although they are willing to tax themselves aud make their roads, thej' are prohibited from doing so :.by the imperfection of the law. We understood that the Governor was now empowered to do all the acts formeily competent for fche Superintendent to perform. Apparently either we or the Colonial Secretary have been labouring under a misapprehension, but if it requires special Acts to meet all such cases, we fear the statute book will soon prove a voluminous one,, Vague reports are frequently telegraphed by Wellington correspondents as to the extreme, degrading and immoral dodges adopted by tho Atkinson party and their whips to secure votes. As a specimen of these, the Daily Times correspondent says : — " Mr Manders is being shephorded hy tho Opposition, his wants being carefully attended to. Ho seldom comes to the House except; in a carriage and pair, accompanied by the Opposition, whips, and then often secretly is put a into room aud furnished wifch the good things of this life, and when the division bell rings comes down and votes. Mrs Manders is shown the greatest deference by ex -Ministers, nice little presents frequently being left at their lodgings," Such are the characters of the parties whose cause is so zealously and intemperately supported by the talented and once highlyrespected Mr Fox, the aposfcle of temperance. We now can understand the reason many have for affirming that Mr Fox himself is the greatest hindrance to the passing of the Local Option Bill, md if the supporters of the Bill wish to see it ever become law, they should get ifc placed in the bands of a more consistent and prudent member, As to Manders, it is astonishing his constituents have not before now taken some notice ot his extraordinary actions. That he is allowed to con* binue a member of "the House of Representatives san only bo accounted for upon the supposition that his constituents have but very little regard for their own reputation or that of their member or his wife.

3smreMw«rgp«u_iu^_cwT_i«-ATKCTag^wwra*-_»^^ We are. glad to learn that Mr James Lamond, of Balclutha, is the successful tenderer for a lease of the fine estate of Willowmede, Puerua. It will be observed that the annual en= fcertainmenb in aid of the funds of the Benevolent Institution will be held in Messrs Simpson and Watt's barn, Puerua, on tlie ovenin* of Tuesday first, when we have no doubt that as Usual there will be a large attendance. We understand that 120 of ihe liv vercargill volunteers will come overland to attend the review at the Forbury on the Otln Mi Williams has arranged to coach th^t number through from Clinton to Balclutha on the Bth. This will give some idea of the extensive plant Mr Williams has at his command. We notice that the site of the new Presbytorian Church here has been pegged off, and a great portion of the piles are on the ground. Mr Young intends making a start on Monday morning. He has secured the services, as foreman, of Mr D. M'Kinlay, Kaitangata, the builder of the new church there, and there is every reason to believe the erection of the new building will progress satisfactorily, and will be completed, within the contract time. A concert and soiree to celebrate the anniversary of the Ilndauuted Lodge, 1.0. G.T., Catlins River, will be given this evening. We understand it was the intention of a number of the members of the Balclutha Lodge to have been present, but unfortunately it happens upon the night of the installation of officers and other important business here, and therefore ifc will be impossible for them to get to Catlins. ."Now that the good weather is coming in, we believe the Catlms Lodge may expect visitors by-and^by. We have to call attention to tho alteration in the arrival and departure of the trains for November in another column. So far as Balclutha is concerned, the principal alteration is that the morning trains both from Dunedin and Balclutha will leave at 7.30 instead of 7.5, as hitherto. These trains will arrive at their destinations at 10.40, thus accomplishing the journey in 3 hours and 10 minutes. The evening train from, here now leaves at 4.30 instead of as hitherto 5.15. Wo notice that a late train leaves Dunedin at 10.30 and comes as far as Milton. This means that.. the inhabitants of Milton may visit the theatre or the opera, and get home same evening, whereas those of Balclutha are obliged to remain in town till the following day. We presume, however, tbe train will come on here so soon as the line is open to the Balclutha station. The annual meeting of the Caledonian Society on Monday evening was very well attended, and very great heartiness in the cause prevailed. The well-known energy and enthusiasm of the gentlemen elected as office-bearers and members of Committee will fully establish public confidence as to the progress of the Society during the ensuing year. Wo believe it is intended considerably to increase the value of the prizes, and it is determined that tho sports shall be carried out ih the most prudent and orderly manner. We may mention that Boxing-day was selected for these sports so as not to interfere with the usual arrangements throughout the country districts on Christmas and New Year's Day, This must be regarded as a considerate act on the part of the Caledonian Society, and should influence for it the kindly sympathy and support of the inhabitants of the surrounding districts. A paper was laid before the Honse of Representatives on Wednesday afternoon relative to the calling of J. N. Wilson, of Napier, to tlie Legislative Council. It appears that the members of the Executive sent a memo, to the Premier advising that J. N. Wilson, barrister, be summoned to the Legislative Council, ami urging that it is desirable the Council should have further Jeg.il assistance in the Council, adding that Mr Wilson stands high iv his profession, and would be of great advantage to the Council and the country if he was summoned. Sir Geo. Grey accordingly requested the Governor to call Mr Wilson to the Council, but His Excellency declined, upon the ground that there was a vote of want of confidence under consideration. This is regarded as another evidence of partisanship on the part of His Excellency, and it is rumoured he has acted in the matter under the advice of the Opposition instead of the Government. The Tapanui Town Council has been rather unfortunate in its first attempt at carrying out public works. They got the permanent levels of the township taken at a cost of L7O, and proceeded to make a footpath and a water channel, as they believed in accordance with these levels. As the channel progressed, Councillors were horrified to find it carried from two to three feet above the level of the street ! The quesLion arose whether it would he best to lower the channel or raise the street, and ifc was found to do the latter would cost from LSOOO to LSOOO, while to alter the channel before the completion of the contract would lead to a larger expense for extras than the original cost of the contract. It was therefore resolved to allow the work to be completed, and then remove tho stones, whioh ifc was thought would be useful for some purpose or other. But unfortunately, in the works referred to, the Council has exhausted all its available funds, besides incurring a somewhat heavj overdraft, so that there are no funds wherewith even to remove the obstructive channel; A somewhat novel instance of stern perseverance might have been witnessed one day recentlyonan agricultural andpasfcoral (?) farmnofca hundred miles from the head end of Inch Clutha. It appears that although farming implement. 1 * art almost entirely discarded by the proprietor, genius has suggested ample substitutes. For example, he had an improvised roller busy at work, It attracted the attention of many passers-by or the maiu laud side. We heard oue person as! another, "Look oWer there ; what's the mar dae'in? is he daft?" and over there might hi seen a tall man of dark visage, cudgel in hand, accompanied by a sagacious dog, as well as i picaninny of tender years, adorned in the moa exquisite oriental fashion, suggestive of a heatec atmosphere, laboriously toiling to keep abou twenty head of ewes and their increase within i prescribed limit, driving them to ar.d fro ovei some few acres of wheat crop. The gestures o the lord of the manor were ludicrously unique His language was such as would not merit tin commendations of Chesterfield, in afcfcpmpfcing t< send his dog * * wido-furret," while the littl eastern-clad diminutive piece of animated natttri showed lasting powers of exertion. If the' eroj has gained a start through this primitive style o rolling, we wish the indomitable perseverance o its owner a good harvest and a firm market fo both " clip " and grain. • . ..-

3 The second trial of George Proudfoot • commenced on Wednesday before Mr Justice , Williams and a special jury. It is expected to be concluded to-day. • I Humours have been freely circulated for , 5 sometime past to the effect that it is the inten- i I tion of H.R.H. the Prince of Wales shortly to • visit the Australian Colonies, Whether there is ; ) any truth in these we do not know, but we notice. by a telegram from Melbourne that at the Stawell Natioual Agricultural Show, the Governor ex- . pressed his opinion that the Prince of Wales , would favourably i*oceive an invitation to be pre- , sent at the International Show in Melbourne in 1870. It must be remembered that it was Sir George Bowen who uttered this opinion. We understand a requisition calling • upon Mr A. J. Burns to resign his seat in the General Assembly lias been forwarded to that gentleman at Wellington. It is said to be signed by over 300 of his constituents, wbo ar-e offended . at Mr Burns having left the party he was elected . to support and gone over to the Atkinson side of i the House. Mr Reid gets credit for having brought about this change in Mr Burns' politics, i It is not thought Mr Burns will accede to the request now made, but it is none the less creditable to his constituents that they havo taken so prompt action in the matter. It may be taken as an indication of the mind of the people in general upon the late struggle in Wellington. We regret to learn that Mr Burns is at present so seriously indisposed that ib is sonsidered absolutely necessary he should leave the impure ' atmosphere of the empire city. Those interested in the opening up of the river for navigation will be glad to kuow that the work of removing the snags is still beine vigorously and successfully prosecuted. A fine channel has now been opened at Begg's, which hitherto has been the most difficult and dangerous pavt of the river. Captain McKinnon and his crew were engaged last week removing obstructions near to Whitelea, and -notwithstanding the weather being a succession of heavy gales, with rain and snow, eight snags were got out at that spot. One of these was 97 feet long, and at the butt 5 feet in diameter. It is a fine stick for 48 feet in length, when ib divides into two branches. Captain MoKinnon says ho believes there is as much timber m the river as would fence it from Tuapeka Mouth to Port Molyneux. It of course will talco some time to remove it, hut wero it accomplished the river would be a magnificent one for navigation, and we believe many of the sandbanks wliich are causing a deviation of channel would then also disappear. We have received from Mr G. W. Hutchins a packet of Goundry's consolidated tea, which is pressed and sold in tablets weighing a quarter of a pound each, with half-ounce divisions so as to enable anyone to know the exact quantity to infuse. It is claimed for this tea that there is a gain of 40 per cent, in strength of liquor secured by the compressing process, that the article is genuine, that it is impossible to adulterate it. that is presented in a very convenient and portable form, and is not liable to waste in using. Whether or not the public will endorse all these and other claims we do not know, bub we do know that the article is really a good tea, and is much more convenient for use than the ordinary article. Those who have to carry their provisions a distance will find a great advantage in the compressed tea. They can carry it same as a cake of chocolate ov tobacco, and thus it will not gefcmixod up with the salt, pepper, sugar, soap, etc., as the ordinary loose tea is often liable to do.