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Clutha Leader, Volume IV, Issue 184, 18 January 1878, Page 5

A telegraph station has been opened at Waipahi. The proceedings of the Synod of Otago and Southland were concluded on Wednesday evening. We understand the Rev. John Waters will preach in "Wairuna. and Waiwera on Sabbath first, the 20th instant. There was no business of importance to settlers in this district before the Waste Lands Board on "Wednesday. There will be no meeting next week . Mr J. Hislop, late Secretary to the Education Board, will leave Dunedin on Monday for Wellington, where he will take office as Secretary to the Education Department. The Clutha Road Board have accepted tenders for the following works :— Otanomomo Swamp Road, let to Mr Morton for L 205 ; Gorge road, to Mr Morton for L7B, anu Bush ioad, to Mr George Pullen for L 32 with the timber. In last issue we mentioned that we had brought under the notice of the chief postmaster the fact of the Otaria mails having gone astray somewhere since the new arrangements were made at the New Year. The matter was at once enquired into and rectified. The Otaria mail will now go regularly by Pukerau. We have to call attention to the soiree to be held in aid of the school funds, Ahuriri, on the evening of Friday next. We have no doubt that as usual it will be attended not only by the inhabitants of Ahuriri, but also by many from Puerua, South Molyneux, etc., etc., and that the schoolroom will be crowded on the occasion. At last meeting of the Balclutha branch of the Educational Institute, Mr Wm. Waddell, M.A., Warepa, was appointed their representative to read a paper at the general meeting of the institute at Dunedin during the Easter holidays. We understand the subject of Mr Waddell's paper will be "The Social Status of Teachers." At the Supreme Court, Dunedin, on Monday, in reply to the judge, Mr Haggitt, Crown prosecutor, intimated that the chai'ge of rape against George Proudfoot had been abandoned. This has created intense surprise and stiong feeling throughout the country. It is anticipated the matter will lead to a warm discussion at next session of Assembly. •At all events an explanation ot this palpable failure of justice is demanded. The civil sittings of the Supreme Court, Dunediu, before a common jury, were commenced on Monday, when the case of Capstick v. Chapman, a claim of L2OO commission on the sale of Coombe Hay estate was heard. The case had been removed by certiorari from the District Court, and was tried on the record of the Court below. A verdict was returned for the plaintiff for the amount claimed, and the Jury expressed a regret that they could not add to the verdict the cost of a previous action in which the plaintiff had to accept a nonsuit. The Public Works Department are not treating the railway station-masters at Clinton and Waipahi at all well ; they are both married men with families, but have no houses to live iv, so are compelled to leave their families at Invercargill. At Clinton there is a house which was built for the station-master, but is occupied hj the resident railway engineer, to the exclusion of the station-master, who, as there are no houses to let, has to board at one of the hotels. At Waipahi there is no house at all, so the station-master has to turn his office into a sleeping room at night. We have frequent enquiries as to when the railway is likely to be opened through to the Balclutha. station. It is Impossible to say exactly when this will be done, but the railway officials are making every effort to open it upon the earliest day it can be done without interfering with the goods traffic. It will take at least three weeks yet to finish the goods shed here, but were the necessary sidings once laid down, some temporary expedient may be devised to accommodate tbe goods while the shed is being completed. In the course, therefore, of a few days we are likely to have the trains running to the Balclutha station. On the 9th instant a distressing accident happened to a man named Hare, working on M'Guity's road contract on the Tapanui road between Mr Dickson's of Mainholm and the Pomahaka Bridge. "While excavating for gravel he was caught by a heavy fall of earth, from which he was not 5 extricated without some difficulty, when it was found that both his legs were broken, one of them in two places. He was at once conveyed to Simmond's Hotel, Tapanui, where Dr Douglass attended him. Onj examination he was found to have sustained further injuries in the spine or lions. Tapanui he was sent to Tuepeka Hospital, and we have learned since that some friends meeting him in Lawrence had him conveyed at once to Dunedin. The greatest cricket match of the season — twenty-two of Otago v. the Australian eleven, has ended in a draw, slightly in favour of the former. The weather throughout was something wretched for cricket, and doubly severe to the Australians, who are used to cricketing in a climate from a hundred to a hundred and thirty iv the sun, playing best, they say, when the prespiration rolls *'in beads." The Otago players went in nrst, and were disposed of for 124 runs, the Australians going in about 5 o'clock on Saturday, continuing their innings on Monday, which closed for 92. Otago scored 93 in the second innings, thus leaving 126 runs for the eleven to get to win. The rain on Tuesday prevented the stumps being pitched, and some hxandreds of people on the ground had their admission money returned at the gates. At a meeting of the Education Board on Wednesday the following memorial signed by a number of householders was read : — " We, the undersigned heads of families and residents of Tapanui, having learned that Mr G. K. South, , teacher of Tapanui Main school, has resigned his position as teacher on account of a few of the residents here;, having some unkind feelingtowards him, we,. seeing no just cause for him having to do so, would earnestly request your Board to retain him here with us,' we being , highly satisfied-with him as a gentleman of sound ; moral character,. and a:,gqqd teacher." After a discussion, the following, resolution,; moved by Mr. Gillies, , .was passed :-4' ' That the action, of : the Board will doubtless be .guided, in reference ,to the' mastership of >,the 'school,' by, the,recomr mendatio'n'ofCthejrDistrict School Committee, to; be elected outhe 28th iriirt.' j '''[ .;.;.. ■'."

We call attention to the sale of sheep at Riversdale by Mr Driver to-day. A meeting of the Clutha Horticultural Society is called for Tuesday evening. A full report of Mr Murray's address at Milton last week is published in this issue. Owing to so me miscarriage no mails were received by the evening train to Balolutha last nigbt. The inhabitants of Tapanui are at last accommodated witli a daily coach, and mail, both from Dunedin and Invercargill via Waipahi. ' At the meeting of the Waste Lands Board on Wednesday, Mr Butterworth tendered his resignation as a member of the Hoard. The Board postponed consideration of the matter. Under the Counties Amendment Act, 1877, the Chairman of ltoad Boards will be subjected to a penalty If they do not supply the County Council with returns. The lload Boards have to make their valuations, which muse be accepted by the County Councils, and the County Councils can over-draw their bank account to the extent of the estimated rates. They can also pay the travelling expenses of their councillors. The Illustrated London News of October 20th, 1877, in speaking of the Indian Famine Belief Fund, says :— "The first Colonial remittance of importance arrived in London on Wednesday, in the shape of L2OO from Otago." Again, on 27th: "Otago, second instalment, L 500," and iv the issue of November , 10th : "Third instalment from Otago, L 400." The Mansion House Fund at that date had reached L 446 ,100, of which sum Australia had contributed L 76,000. Parties having occasion to go to our post offico after dark had better be careful as serious accidents may very readily occur. Some of the steps leading to the entrance platform being completely rotten through, have fallen out. Any one descending after dai'k, and not knowing the position of affairs, could scarcely avoid bavins: a leg, if not a neck broken. The whole structure is a disgrace to the place, and we trust a vote for a new and suitable building will be obtained at next session of Assembly. All work upon the section of the line contracted for between Balclutha and Clinton has virtually been suspended since Christmas. In the course of another month or so the weather favourable for carrying on clay works, driving material for bridges, etc., will have passed for the season. The contract time expires in July, but of course the question remains as to when the works will be finished. We really think this work requires the personal examination of the District Engineer, and we would suggest thnt a few members of the Chamber of Commerce should accompany him.' Our Tapanui correspondent writes : — There is much jubilation in Tapanui about the gratifying result of the interview with Ministers in Dunedin of the deputation from Tapanui anent the proposed railway. The assurance givea by Ministers that the Waipahi-Tapanui line would at once be proceeded with, has given large satisfaction, but the hope confidently expressed by Mr Larnach that this line would be open for traffic within 12 months, is considered almost too rosy to be fulfiled. — It has been raining hero almost unintermittedly for 48 hours, and things generally, considering the season look unprecedentedly moist and bedraggled. Mr J. W. Thomson, M.H.R., and Messrs Brugh and Jowitt, members of the Clutha County Council, waited upon Mr Larnach in Dunedin, on Wednesday, and urged that the LIOOO voted at last session of Assembly for the road between Glenomaruand Catlins River be expended during the summer months. Mr Larnach promised to have the money placed to the credit of the Council, so that the road might be proceeded with at once. It will be observed from our report of the County Council, that the engineer has been instructed to report upon the works necessary, and as the money is now to be forthcoming, there is nothing to prevent the same being expended and the road put to rights before winter.