The Clutha Leader. BALCLUTHA : FRIDAY, FEB. 8, 1873.

Clutha Leader, Volume IV, Issue 187, 8 February 1878, Page 5

The Clutha Leader. BALCLUTHA : FRIDAY, FEB. 8, 1873.

In consequence of a pressure of late advertisements this week, "we are obliged to hold over our reports of the County Council and Court, and much local and other news now in type. As regards the County Council, the most interesting part of the proceedings will be found indicated, in our advertising columns in the shape of a call for tenders for numerous public works throughout the County. The dates of the arrival and departure of the English mails during the current year, both by Suez aud San Francisco, will be found in the eighth page. At a meeting of the Kaitangata school committee on Friday, Mr W. T. Smith was elected chairman, Mr J. Walsh secretary, aud Mr W. Shore treasurer. The following were the gentlemen elected as a new Committee for the Hernot school: — Messrs J. Edie, A. Barrow, J. Kerr, Eobertson, F. M'Kenzie, W. M'Kay, and M. il'Carthy. W e have to call attention to an alteration in the data of two sales by Messrs Whyte Brothers, from to-morrow to Tuesday first. We refer to the displenishing sale at Netberby and Mrs Robbie's furniture sale. An inquest was held on Saturday last by Di 1 Smith and a jury at the Balclutha Hotel on the body of a man found in the river on the previous morning. The following were the particulars adduced in evidence :— The body was found by Mr John Tyson, adhering to a raft near to the bridge on Friday morning. It wj>.s quite naked. Daniel O'Brien, farmer, Tuapeka Mouth, had examined the body and believed it to be that of his brother, Michael, who had lived with him for the past five years. M ichasl had left his place on the morniug of the 13th ult. without giving any intimation of his intention to leave. Ho had' subsequently been seen about Watson's bush, going in the direction of the river. Daniel had searched for him for nine days, but without any result. His brother was always " queer." and sines he had arrival from Victoria—fourteen years ago— had been a little "cranky." Inspector Thomson, Lawrence, ex-, plained the ineffectual search that had been niade by the police. The jury returned an open verdict. • . '

Harvesting has commenced on two or three farms in the Warepa district. There are four religious sects at Mataura Bridge, all worshipping in their own way, so if the inhabitants are not a gooa people it is not for the want of the means of grace. At the meeting of .the Balclutha School Committee on Friday evening, Mr 0. V. Brewer was elected Chairman and Mr K. Hosrg Secretary and Treasurer. It was resolved that application bo made to the Board for an assistant teacher.

In consequence of the crowded condi--1 tion of the Tokomairiro District High School, no in ore children can lie admitted into the infant room until additional accommodation is providedPupils can yet be enrolled provided they are qualified to take thoir pl«ce in the higher classes. We notice that Clinton is at last siipplied with a bootmaker, who, from the fact of his having erected new pi-emises, may be viewed as a citizen. The want of such a one has long been felt, and we take no credit for shrewd discrimination in prophesying for him a prosperous future. The late fine weather has greatly improved the prospects of grain crops in the Clinton district. These are now expected, should the weather continue favcmrablo, to yield a good average. Harvesting, as in most other districts, will be late, not being expected general for another month. The turnip crop is likely to be a failure. The following tenders have been accepted for the erection of two inspector's houses on the Clinton section of the Southern trunk line of railway :- Houso at Warepa, J". Hoiliek (Milton), LIBB 2s lid ; at Waitepeka, J. Hollick, L 507 9s 7d. Tenders for the erection of a station-master's houso at Waipahi will close on the 13th inst. The following officers of the Star of Inch Olutlia Lodge. TOG-T, were duly installed on Wednesday evening: — VVCT, Bio D. M'Kenzie j WVT, Bro T. Parker ; WS, Bro M'Neur ; WC, Bro J. Allan ; WT, Bro P. Lavson ; WJ?B, Bro Roy ; WM, Bro W. Lochart ; WIG, Bro J. Henderson; WOG-, Bro' T. Rouley ; WiUTS, Bro Al'Cracken. At the meeting of householders for the election of a School Committee held at East Clutha School, the following gentlemen were re-elected : — lLev. W. Banuerman, and Messrs D. Henderson, Wm. Hay, James Johnston, Alex. Ledingham, Anderson j and Wm. Stewart. Messrs Bannerman and A. C. Bagg have been nominated by the Committee for the Education Board. At the meeting of the Fairfax School Committee on Friday night, Mr J. Parker was elected chairman, and Mr J. C. Gordon secretary and treasurer. A resolution was passed instructing the secretary to write to the Education Board informing it that the school accommodation was insufficient, and that an addition was necessary, and also requesting the Board to appoint a female teacher, as the number of pupils on the roll was eighty-eight.

As an evidence of the large extent to which agricultural operations are now earned on upon some of the statious in the Provincial district, we need only to point to the call for tenders for harvesting wheat and oats upon the Wantwood, Caroline, and Otapiri stations, Southland. The crops are of really first-class quality. Here is a line chance for an enterprising individual with a reaper and binder. After harvest, the cross ploughing and hai rowing of 90UO acres upon the same stations will also be let. Some weeks ago, a petition very numerously signed, was forwarded to the Colonial Secretary, praying that a. Board of Con. servators be created for I uch Clufcha. One would imagine that purely formal matter was one regarding which there need bo no delay, and yet it seems the prayer of the petition has not up to tiie present time beeu answered, nor has any veply been received in reference to the matter. But for the delay something might have been done to* prevent damage by floods next season, hut we fear it will now be too late. These who took the lead in the matter should use the telegraph to urge dispatch at Wellington. A special meeting of the Balclutha Borough Council sva3 held on Tuesday evening. There were present Messrs Hogg (in the chair), Cramond, and Macdonald. The meeting had been called to take the initiatory steps for providing Bye-laws for the Borough. Mr Henderson. Borough Solicitor, wan also present;, nnd read and explained the provisions of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1870, boariug upon vhe svibject. ' A long consultation ensued, after which a Committee was appointed to prepare draft of Bye- laws to be submitted at the ordinary meeting oi' the Council oti Tuesday evening. A specinl order will theu be uvula lo consider the .live-laws and pass them through the various stages as provided for by the Act. 2*o. 1 Clutlia Rifles fired for district prizes afc their ranges on Tuesday morning, under Capt. "Wilson and Staff -Sergfc Smith. The morning was against good shooting. Twenty men competed. The following are the full scores of those who made 6U and over : —

No. 2 Clntha fired on Tuesday afternoon. Sergt. James Hogg was the only member who succeeded iv making 60 points. His score was made up as follows : —

We have to call attention to some provisions of the Slaughterhouse Act passed at lastsession of the Assembly which we believe are not generally known, and may lead to disappointment. Clause 24 provides tiiat no license, not being the renewal of a previously existing license, shall be issued to any person to keep a slaughterhouse unless public notice .shall have been given by the applicant for the same once in each week for one montli immediately preceediug the time when such, application is to be heard. " Public notice" is defined by the Act to mean the insertion of a notice in one or more newspapers having general circulation in the particular place affected by the matter cbutained in such notification. Licenses within Counties are to be issued by the County Councils. , The penalty for slaughtering without a license k a sum not exceeding £10 for every head of cattle slaughtered. Thus it will be observed that parties desiring a slaughtering license within a County should apj.ly to the County Council for such, liceuse at least one month before they require to use it, and they must give public notice of -their' application once every week during that month. Of necessity there must be a month's delay after application before the license can be granted. We regret we did not sooner notice this matter so as to obviate irregularities and inconveniences throughout the district.

Mr H. Clark, Chairman of the Bruce County Couucii, lias given ten guineas as a prize to be competed for by the Bruco Rifles. Admirers of old Izaak Walton's allabsorbing pastiino will be interested to know that a trout weighing over 2lbs was caught in the Waiwera last wee.*, near the hotel, by Mr Tdlford. We notice that Mr Allan of Clinton is building an addition to his hotel, consisting of a billiavd-room and several bedrooms. This speaks volumes for the material prosperity of this rapidly progressive township. We understand a petition is in course of signature to have Mr VJorren's house at Pukerau declared a post-office. A request to this eff'.-ct was embodied, we believe, iv ihe petition re the Otaria mail service, but as it appears to have been misunderstood by the postal authorities, a separate requisition, to which we anticipate no objection, has become advisable. The rope industry at Maiaura Bridge is succeeding beyond ex, eetation, as the demand exceeds the supply. This speaks well for the quality of the article produced. The paper mill with the new machinery is iv full working order, and also producing first-class paper. Bags of various sizes are made on the promises, suitable for storekeepers, etc. At a meeting of the Batclntha School Committee last evening Messrs John Al'Neil ami ii. Hogg were nominated for the Education Board. The Secretary" was instructed to endeavour to arrange a meeting of delegates from the various School Committees in tho County— the date of meeting to bo advertised -to secure unanimity of voting.

A flute band is being established at Mataura Bridge, and the inhabitants of the dis trict may expect soon to have their ears regaled with the " concord of sweet sounds." It is to be hoped that the boys who are to join will get every encouragement in this pr.uswoituy object. The instructor is a veteran who learned in one of her Majesty's music bands. We notice that Mr Hewitt's hotel at Waipahi is now completed, and presents a most imposing appearance when compared with its surroundings. Its present state of isolation will not, it is anticipated, be of long duration, aud there is little doubt that Air Hewitt will derive as much benefit from his enterprise as the publicwill gain convenience. The first meeting of the Clinton School Committee was held in the sciioolhouae on Friday evening last ; presunt— Messrs M 'Donald, Scohie, Barlow, Gaiden, Fiulayaon, Lange, and Clifford. Mr Barlow was appointed Chairman, and Mr Lange Secretary aud Treasurer, for tho' ensuing year. After some routine uusiuess was gone through, iv was resolved to postpone tho nomination of two members for the Education Board for a week. Last Saturday at Mataura Bridge there were ono death, two births, one marriage, aad twelve children christened. Those in connection with the Church of Ulriglaud, residing in tho district, found they could not get their children christened by the Presbyterian minister without cout'onniug to the rules of ins church, and they therefore invited tho Rev. Mr Farmer, from Invercargill, who performed the ceremonies of marriage and christening iv tho courthouse. There was a good turn ouc on tne occasion, Tiia Lovels Flat School Committee met on Friday evening. There wore present : Messrs Nelson, Bowie, M "Donald, Twemlow, and Harvey. Mr Bowie was elected Chairman and Mr Nelson Secretary and Treasurer for the ensuing year. The Committee agreed to request Messrs Howry Clark aud James Adam to consent to |je nominated as members of the Education Board. Trie Committee then adjourned till loceipt or an answer from Messrs Ciaik and Adam.

Mr Alex. Begg, Glonomaru, has just received from his suns in ludia th 6 skin and skull of a very large and celebrated man -eator — a tiger. In connection with the deceased animal many bold adventures, hair-breadths escapes, and general hunting sensations, are related, a few of which along with approximate of the number of babies and adults, noraes, bullocks, etc. , that have been destroyed by him, may tiud their w.iy into our columns shortly. In tne meantime Mr Bogg has lcit't the above trophies of the prowess of his sons at our olh'ce, where they may be examined by naturalists, juveniles, ana oihers fioo of charge.

Captain Hay ward, Harbour-master, Catlius River, reports under date Feb. I, 1878 : Tue number of vessels arrived during the past mouth was 18, equal to (3 >7 tons register ; and 15 sailed, equal to 557 tons register. Seven loaded at the Big Mill, seven at the Ot*ake Mill, and ono loaded' fencing posts. Ono was sent to Molyneux, six to Dunedin, ouo to Waikouaiti, three to Moeiaki, three to O.unuru, ana ouo to Lyttelton. Tho Owake Bello is waiting a cliancd to gut out; tiie JuueC i-.amsny, Jane liannun, iVuua, Isabella, aud Harriet, are loading ax tho liig Mill ; tlio U-ooit Templar, Jaue, Anne, Alpha, and. i J aijii'jrstou, at the uwatse. .mil. .During cuo early part or the mouth wa had some very itirty weather, and on Jan. 10 the^ barometer stood lower thciu ever I have known it, but tUt> latter part of the ir.ontn has been very Hue.

The latest and one of the mosfc imposing additions to the township of Clinton is tne hotel of Mr Charles Finhyaon. This house, which has been christened " The Prince of Wales Howl,' is a substantially-built structure, containing fourteen rooms, including ten roomy bedroom and a private uitting-rooru for ladies, the whole being furnished and littcd up moro with a view to comfort than economy. This' house was formally opened on Tuesday evening last with considerable eclat, a ball having been decided upou l.»y t,ne host and hostess ,ia an appropriate inauguration of tins, to them, new unuortakiug. Tne company present must iiavo uum tiered about) lifiy, the sterner sax aa U3ual predominating, aud a most 'enjoyable* evening was pioio.iged till dewy morn with dancing, music, and geuer.il sociability. We understand .vlr Fiulaysou intend* aj>plying for a license at the eusuing licensing session, and as the house is mast conveniently situated tor tiie travelling public, being immediately opposite the railway station, we do not apprehend any objection being raised.

As is usual on the occasion of a church of Englaucl picnic at Miltou, the, weather on. Tuesday last was wet and unfavourable.. To provide for such a circumstance it had previously been arranged that should the weather prove wet the picnic would be transformed into a soiree, to be held in the Volunteer Mall. Very few therefore went to tha tiiove. In the Hall there was a good attendance. The tea was served shortly after six o'clock. The tables, which were loaded with an abundance of good things, wore presided over by the folio wiug ladies :- Alesdaiues Jfefcuc, A. Joims, E. aiarryatt, Greyj Konaldscfu," aud ltulman. After tea the HaiL w.is cleared, and dancing was commenced. ! After the first dance Mr A. Jones briefly addressed the meeting, "expressing the disappointment Jt'elt by both old and young at not gutting to tne Grove. He hoped,. however, they would De awe' to enjoy themselves for an hour or two, arid proposed^ set of quadrilles. Uaucing was thereupon! resumed, and kept up for.aiew. hours, witumuiti; and spirit, and wnen tho finale vvas.reacned all felt tney certainly had .made the" uibst of tho' entertainment under the circiiii B^utgw; {" f,'. * . . ;

400 500 600 yds. jds. yds. Tl. Sergfc. J. Hogg 28 "19 19 —60

4*50 500 600 ■ yds. yds. .yds. Tl. Sergfc. Darling 23 22 21 —«9 V01.. J. C. Anderson ... 24 23 20 —67 Vol. Win. Ramsay ... 2(5 19 21 — Gtf Vol. James Horn 25 22 17 — 64 Vol. A. Anderson... ... 21 22 20 —63 Vol. Wm. Willocks ... -21 VJ 20 —G3 Corp. K. Smail 24 23 16 — (53 Vol. Alex. Blaekia ... 21 21 20 — 62 Vol. John Willocks ... 25 23 12 —60