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Clutha Leader, Volume IV, Issue 183, 11 January 1878, Page 5

We have to call attention to the sale of superior store cattle and other stock in Balclutha to-day. The crops on the, Mataura ridges are as usual, looking second to none either in the Clutha or Southland Counties. We have been requested to direct attention to a notice in our advertising columns, of a reduction in the prices of Nicholson's reaping machines. Harvest has commenced in the district. Mr D. P. M'Kenzie had finished cutting his oats, which were a good crop, and fully ripe on Monday. A memorial to the Education Board is being signed in the Waipahi dist:ict, praying that a public school may he opened in the town of Waipahi. There are about 50 children within three miles of the township. The rains on Saturday and Sunday last have done much good to the crops in the Tapanui district. The settlers in that district, as elsewhere throughout the country, have been looking forward to a not very plentiful harvest, as cereals, especially wheat, have not presented a very promising appearance. We presume some confusion or m;^ apprehonsion as to the locality of Pukerau exists amongst the post-office officials who have the dispatching of the Otaria bag, as no mail has been received there since the beginning of this year. As we have drawn the attention of the Postmaster to this laches wo have no doubt it will be rectified without delay. The new Board of Governors for the Dunedin High School has now been formed as follows : — Appointed by the University Council — The Rev Dr Stuavt and Professor Shand ; by the Education Board — Professor Macgregor and Mr Stout ; and by the Government -Messrs R # Oliver and G. M. Reed. His Worship the Mayor of Dunedin is, ex officio, a member of the Board. Tlie Ladies' Challenge Shield, won by Volunteers J. C. Anderson, James Willoeks, Smaill, Darling, and John Willoeks, is now to be seen for a short time in the window of Messrs Horn, Hoy, and Co., Stirling. It is an article of considerable intrinsic value, being valued at several hundred pounds, and has indeed a very elegant appearance. Its dimensions are three feet eight by two feet nine inches. As an artistic production there are very few specimens to be seen comparable with it in the Colony. The hieroglyphics displayed are of deep interest, and are very elaborately and naturally brought out. Captain Hayward, Harbour-master, Catlin's River, reports under date Jan. 3, 1878 : The number of vessels arrived during the past month was eleven, equal to 387 tons register. Five were sent to Dunedin, one to Moeraki, two to Timaru, and one to Lyltelton. Four loaded at tire Big mill, four at the Owake mill, and one with produce. Tlie Lloyd's Herald for Oamaru, the Edith Keid. Fanny, and Anne for Dunedin, the Good Templar for Lyttelton, and the Jane for Moeraki, sailed to-day. The Owake Belle and Alpha are up the Owake loadiug. We have had a good deal of easterly weather during the latter half of the month, with splendid weather during the Christmas and New Year's holidays. At a public meeting held in the schoolhouse, Kaitangata, on Wednesday evening, the following 'gentlemen were appointed a deputation to wait upon the Hon. Mr Macandrew :-- Messrs W. Aitcheson, W. Watt, W. G. Smith, P. F. Stoddart, and William Smith, ' of Smith Brothers. The object ot the deputation is to urge, the necessity for a new loch at the Kaitangata Creek to prevent flooding, to confer as to the difficulties in the way of getting the township proclaimed a municipality while the Act requires that the number of householders be not less than 250, to endeavour to procure an endowment for the township, and other local matters. Mr Murray has kindly consented to accompany the deputation, and has arranged that the interview will take place to-day. A ball under the auspices of the Otago Bifle Association took place in the Drillshed, Dunedin, on Tuesday evening. There was a fair attendance of members from the country districts. Upon a table in the centre of the Hall were displayed the trophies and prizes won at the recent matches, of which we gave a report. About midnight Lieut. -Colonel Stavely introduced Mrs Wales and Mrs Wilson, who presented the prizes. A considerable number of these prizes fell to the lot of the Clutha and Bruce Rifles. The presentation of the Ladies' Shield called forth a considerable amount of speechmaking. Colonel Stavely introduced the matter in a few words, and Captain Wilson, of No. 1 Company, who held the trophy last year, expressed the feeling of his Company to the effect that they could surrender it to no Company with better grace than to the No. 1 Clutha. Captain Pillans and Sergeant Darling were the members of the Company present to receive it, and Captain Pillans acknowledged the gift in suitable terms. Three cheers were given for the winners. The children attending the Dunrobin Sunday school had a very enjoyable picnic on the 3rd iii3t. The school-ground being the most central and convenient, was selected as the scene of the gathering. The weather in the forenoon was wet, but just as a postponement was being arranged it cleared up and was fine for the re- i maihder of the day. Upwards of 100 people assembled, the half being children. Through the liberality of the ladies of the district abundance of provisions most palatable to juveniles were supplied, and were temptingly displayed upon a table in the schoolroom. The centrepiece was a handsome cake, piesented by Mrs Longmore, Moa Flat Station. The cake was handsomely decorated, and over it waved a flag — red, white, and blue bearing the inscription " A Happy New Year," " Chead Meille Falta." Throughout the afternoon numereus races, games at football, &c, were contested by the juveniles, and swings and other amusements were fully patronised. Before breaking up Mr Anderson addressed the children in a few appropriate remarks. He referred to the picnic being the first of the kind held in th district, and expressed the hope that it wouia oo an annual •entertainment and attract large gatherings. The picnic which proved a very enjoyable and successful one was then broken up. ..";-' """'•-

Messrs M'Landress, Hepburn, and Co., soli by auction, on Monday, Keenan's Criteron Hotel, for L 1045. Mr John Carroll was the purchaser. | The tender of Mr John Hollick, of j Milton, for a station master's house at Mount Stuart, on the Lawrence line, has been accepted. The amount is 1-256 0s Gd. A fire occurred at' Port Molyneux last Friday, by which the house and furniture of Mr George Balloch was entirely consumed. The house was insured for L2OO, and the furniture for LSO. A purse containing a small sum of money was found upon one of the tables during j the Horticultural Show in Barr's Hall on Tuesday. The owner can have it upon applying at this office. | Miss Hargood, while out riding accompanied by another lady, met with a slight accident yesterday. Her saddle being slackly girthed the animal which she was riding commenced jumping, and she was thrown from her seat, but beyond a good shaking she escaped unhurt. Another attempt was made on the night of Monday last to enter the store of Mr J'.-S. Vial, at Catlins River. The instrument used was a fin. augur, with which the party or parties bored nearly round the lock, but opportunely had been scared before they could accomplish an entrance. This shows the necessity of a constable being stationed in the district. Mr Murray, M.H.R., addressed his constituents in St. George's Hall, Milton, on Wednesday evening. There was a large attendance, Mr Henry Clark presiding. Mr Murray spoke for an hour and a quarter, his speech being a very able and interesting one. At the conclusion he received a hearty vote of thanks and confidence; moved by Mr R. W. Capstick (Mayor), and seconded by Mr James Goodall. Our report is unavoidably held over till next issue. The ordinary meeting of the Balclutha School Committee was held on Monday evening. There were present Messrs Hope (in the chair), Hogg, Stewart, and Bain. The Secretary read a circular from the Education Board requesting certain returns to be forwarded. The Secretary was instructed to attend to the same. The teacher reported that a sum of £68, school fees, remained unpaid. Tho Treasurer was instructed to recover the same at once; also, to lay his financial report before a special meeting to be held for the purpose. Mr Robert Hogg was appointed Auditor. There was no other business. The site of the Mataura Paper Mill Company's works was exposed to sale on Friday last by Mr R. B. Martin, Government Auctioneer. The site consists of three acres, section 1, block XVIII., Mataura township, and was put up at £25 per acre, with a valuation of £7180 for improvements, which consisted of building and machinery. One of the conditions of the sale made it incumbent on the purchaser to erect a flour mill within twelve months, uuder a penalty of £2000. The only bid was made by Mr W. H. Pearson, as Chairman of the Company, at £2 per acre, and .the site fell to him at that price. The annual meeting of the Clutha Property Investment and Building Society was held in the Athenreum Hall on Wednesday evening. Mr T. T. Ritchie, President, occupied the chair. The annual report of the Committee (already published) was held as read and adopted. The President, vice-President, and members' auditor, were re-elected. Messrs Hope, Hogg, and Benthain were elected members of Committee in room of three retiring. A vote of thanks to the retiring Committee was passed on tho motion of Mr R. R. Jones, who greatly complimented them upon their management of the business of the Society. Mr James Sheed, one of the new settlers on Block IX., Glenkenich, sustained a severe loss by fire on the 31st ult. On the morning of that day he left home with his wife to spend the New Year with friends at a distance, and returning on the 2nd inst., he found his stable, only some mouths erected, in ashes. His harness, of course, and many other articles of value (part of the btiilding having been used as a store-house) were also destroyed. The fire, which was seen by some of his neighbours, occurred iv the afternoon of tha day he left home, and as he is no smoker, and has no reason for thinking it the work of an incendiary, there is no clue to its origin. His loss is partially covered by insurance in the Victoria office. On New Year's Day the pupils of Waikaka school, near Gore, and their friends assembled on the school-grounds to commemorate the day by a picnic. The weather was faultless, but the absence of shade on the grounds led the party to relinquish the idea of banqueting in the open air, and they were fain to seek the friendly shelter of the spacious and airy schoolroom, where refreshments were abundantly laid out and efficiently presided over by Mrs T. Dawson and Mrs J. Fowler. Games and other amusements passed off well, and the children appeared to enjoy themselves thoroughly. This school was opened during the past year, aud the fact of the attendance having already risen to 29, notwithstanding the scattered nature of the district and the absence of good roads, promises well for future prosperity. On the Sunday previous to the New Year, the Rev Mr Davidson delivered an appropriate address in the schoolroom to a very large and attentive congregation. The marked increase of attendance at these Sunday services has been for some time past another indication of the continued advancement of this newiy-settled district. The criminal sessions of. the Supreme Court commenced at Dunedin on Monday. The only case of interest in this quarter was that of Thomas Roots, charged with having feloniously set fire to the Crown Hotel stables on 3rd Oct. last. The prisoner pleaded guilty, aud asked his Honor to be as lenient aa he could, and to consider the circumstances by which he had been led into the crime. His Honor in passing sentence said : Prisoner at the bar, I have carefully read the depositions in your case, and your statement of the manner in which you committed this crime. You endeavour to implicate another person in your guilt, and assert that you were incited to do what you did by another person. Whether your statement in that respect is true or not I have no means of knowing ; but, true or not true, you are a person of mature age, and must have been aware of the heinousness of the offence which eventually you committed. I shall take into consideration, however, in awarding punishment,* the fact that immediately you lighted this fire you repented, and took prompt and effectual steps to put it out. so that, in fact, no damage was done. Had any serious injury resulted from your action, the sentence would have been a ve.y heavy one indeed. As it is, as you repented at once and put out the fire yourself, and as nothing is, known against your previous character; I shall pass; a comparatively lenient sentence. The sentence of ;the Court is that you be imprisoned ih the common gaol, Dunedin, for the term of twelve months, arid' kept to h.ird labour. . x.7, 7 ; .

The Daily Times * says ;:— The Rev. /Francis Knowles has consented to act as .Editor of the New Zealand Churchman. A 7 , ; ; At the Licensing Court held at Tapanui on the 28th ult., licenses were granted to the Waipahi Hotel (Mr Sutherland), and new Railway Hotel, Waipahi (Mr Thos.' Hewitt). We call attention; to Mr Pine's clearingout sale by Messrs Grigor, Stewart, and Co., on Wednesday next. Mr Pine we understand has lewsed the Prince of Wales stables, Invercargill. We hear a veiy superior quality of lignite has been discovered on Mr Telford's Clifton property. It was come upon three or four feet below the surface, and from the lay of the country it is supposed there should be a considerable quantity in the neighbourhood. It will observed by an advertisement that Mr H. ETargan has established a new class of business in Balclutha — that of bottler. As Mr Hargan only deals in tho best beverages, and sells at Dunedin prices, this is a good opportunity for settlers to procure small supplies in bulk at reasonable rates. The weather about Otaria during the last fortnight has been wretched beyond limit, rain and wind combining to depress the spirits of settlers", far below zero. From all quarters accounts of the like nature reach us. At the same time, Otaria— which is the watershed of the Molyneux and -Mataura- -appears to come in for a preponderating share of attention from Eolus and Jupiter Pluvius. We notice that the simple and inexpensive protective works carried out by the Matau Road Boai'd to prevent the washing away of the road line on the flat near to the old manse, between Stirling and the railway bridge here, stood the severe test to which they have been subjected by the recent high state of the river. But for these works, there cannot be a doubt that the road line v ould wholly have been washed away, and the Board would have had to purchase ground and make a new i*oad. Surely other Boards and also many private individuals might profit by this example, when they see that the simplest means may protect large interests and obviate future large expenditure. Until people show an" inclination to help themselves, they need expect but little sympathy or assistance in the matter of the washing away of their properties; Let them try some simple experiments ■ at an expense corresponding to some extent with their present and prospective loss, und we have little doubt the public would not look on idly or disinterestedly.