Untitled

Clutha Leader, Volume IV, Issue 195, 5 April 1878, Page 5

We have been asked to mention that -tbe programme of the concert lo be giveu in aid of tlie funds of tiio Fife and Drum Band will be published iv next issuo. As will be noticed by reference to our advertising columns, tbe Otaria Road Board are calling for tenders for the appointments of Clerk, Collector, and Engineer, either collective or separate. Mr Wm. Simmonds, of the Commercial Hotel, Tapanui, has purchased Mr Galloway's coaching plant on the Tapanui- Waipabi line. The coach started yesterday morning under the uew proprietary. will be observed that the Kaihika annual soiree will hike place on tbe evening of Tuesday the 16th inst. It will then be full moon light and we have no doubt that as usual the schoolroom will be crowded ou the occasion. Mr Kitching, of Moa Flat, has purchased the Horse Shoe Bush Estate, of 2000 acres, at, LIO per acre, lt is stated that Mr Kitching intends to highly improve the laud, and make ita model breeding farm for shorthorns and Clydesdale lrorses. We learn that the Otaria School Cominittoe having failed lo obtain a teacher for their half time schools, have declared one a full time school. There are now about 40 children of school age ; and- it is to be hoped that the Committee will be successful in obtaining a suhable teacher at once. Judging from the large number of " swaggers " to be met with, in the township aDd throughout the neighbouring country districts, labourers must be very plentiful. We hear that' Mr M'Millan, Inspector on that rorlion of the railway beiug constructed by day's v.ag<*-s, has sometimes to refuse work to as many asf^url'-en men a-day. ■ It will be seen from onr report of a special meeting of the Clutha County Council that a niotiun was passed to divide Waipahi Hiding into two, the ikw riding io he oal'yd Wuiiv.na Riding, also that in future South Molyneux riding be represented by only one member. Per haps tbe ratepayers of Soutli iMolyneux, Inch Clullia. etc., would like to say something upon tho subject; We learn from Mr John Macdonald, the local agent for tho Australian .Mutual Provident Society, thnt tbe new bu- iness of th-d. Lis'iht'.ion for tho year 1877 ninouidri to ,"1."0 policies, introducing row revenue in the shape of picmiutus lo tho extent of £61.659, and n?Miii')*: the magnifient sum of £1 ,8S0,0;O, thus f tr surpassing (bu mo 4 popular and sure -Ksful ofthe (Tonic ofib.-es — 1 Tho "Scottish Widows," the " Standard," and the " Ore-ham " The Waitaki County Council have made claim to L 53.000 being their proportion under the. Financial Arrangements Act of revenue obtained . from Iho sale of lands within the provincial district of Canterbury and within the Waitaki County. Apparently the Government refuse payment and it is said the County Council has served an injunction upon* tho Colonial Treasurer to prevent him paying the money to any one else till the the claim is set t ] od. A Tapanui correspondent writing under date March 27 says : — Things arc looking as usual at this time of year around Tapanui, harvesting work monopolising all attention. Though in special cases splendid results are anticipated in wheat, notably Captain Mackenzie, who recently .threshed a large quantity with magnificent returns, yet speaking generally farmers are -indulging in gloomy anticipations of this yeai-'s harvest.— Tho survey of the Waipahi-Tapauui railway proceeds apace. The survey party are j now close to Captain Maelcoiizic's on the flat, and as the rest of the country through which the line will run presents littlo or no engineering difficulties, it may he anticipated tbat the survey will be speedily completed. — Tlie religious element in Tapanui is fervid and practically earnest. The Presbyterians have had for some time a missionary to assist their minister. The Wtsleyaus, though by no means a numerous denomination, are about to erect a place of worship for themselves ; and the Church of England folk, who for many months have bad no spiritual head, have recently acquired lhe ministerial services of tlie l?ev. Mr G-iU-e: t, formerly of Baiclutiia, mid are taking steps toward* procuring a suitable place of worship for th-Mr communion. —In response to the increasing business;* requirements of this place Mr Jas. Mair bas started a general store here. This makea th*t'lird establishment of this kind on a large sca,le that Tapauui can now boast of. The marled increase of settlement which has been' going on ■of .late in the district, together with thn n o^prct of an early railway oouimuuie.tviofi, give, I shou d thiuk, sou rl as-iui'd'.'ce' o? sii'cc'-ss to ari cut-r---prise of this kind. . Mr Mair.,in. particular nic-ril-the good wishes "and- suppoit of the Tapanui people, as lie has been loug favourably 'known in the. township iv another line of buaiues-*, and aa his undertaking. is purely- a local one in capitai 'and management. . ...

Wo notice that the teacher's residence, Waitepeka. has gofc a thoroiigh overhaul during the holidays. We have been asked to stats that Divine Service wilibe conducted as usual ia St. Marks Church here, on Sabbath first. The monthly meeting of the Balclutha School Committee should havo been held last night, but only the Chairman aud Secretary put iv au appearance. ' We hear a considerable number of men havo left work this week on the Balclufcha and Clinton railway contract and thafc they ha\e no intention of returning. Mr James Green is a candidate for the seat in tho House of Representatives rendered vacant by the retirement of the Hon. W. U. Reynolds, the late member for Port Chalmers. At a meeting of the Heriot School Committee on the 2rth uit., it, was agreed to forwaul to the Education Board an climate of the expense of fencing the school grounds, -purchase of water-tanks, &c. In this issue wiil be found a large number of additional certificates to Professor St-.inich's skill and success as au auriat. We understand that gentleman will shortly pay a visit to Ealclutha, but the exact day is not yet fixed. The new river steamer the "Iona" went up to Clydevale with a full cm-go of coals etc., on Wednesday and returned last evening with wheat. Tho cirgo will have to be carted from the river bank to the railway station as tho siding h;is not yet been laid down. Indeed it haa not been comuicnncd. We have to thank . Sergeant Daly for the following returns of population in this district : — Males Females Tohd. Town of Balclutha... 408 354 702 Inch Clutha 190 115 305 Wiiropa and Waitepeka 389 275 644 South Molyneux Riding 1001 Matau 249 194 443 We regret to hear tliat Mr James Bruce, Te Houka, met with a serious accident while riditi<>- a horse to water, on Tuesday evening. The horse apparently took fright aud Mr Bruce was thrown, fracturing liis collar bone in two placs, and causing other injuiies. Dr Smith v. as sent for and under his treatment, Mr Bruce is progressing favourably. We have been asked to mention that the practice of the frlee Club next week will be on Tuesday, instead of Wednesday, in consequence of tho Hall being engaged on the lafcW evening. The Club has now comnioncod to practice a new set of glees, nnd wo believe it is Mr Heath's desire that tha pioceed-; of the next concert should go towards the funds of the Athenceum. An accident attended with serious results occurred to the train going norfch, which left Oamaru at 4.30 oo Thursday afternoon. At- Richmond's ciossing, seven miles north of Oamaru, the engine was thrown off the line by striking a bullock. The stoker, named- Stewart M'lntyre. was seriously injured, and the engine was shattered. Tho train was a heavy one, with a large number of passengers, but none were injured. The Tapanui races wliich commenced on Friday were continued ou Saturday, with the following results :— Tapanui Handicap, ot 30 soys— -Sir Tatton, 1; isative, 2; Stella, 3. Consolation Haudicap --Fenian, 1; Testimonial, 2. ThrQo others started. Hospital Eaee (for which £22 was collected on behalf of a iocnl hospital — TesUriujnial, 1 ; Romance, 2, Four others came to tbo post. Hurry Scurry— Seven started. The wi-ather was fino. and the racing very good. Th,:re was a good attendance of visitors. We have just seen an entrance gate made and erected, to the order of Miss Banner--1)3,111, here by l\ir Legg, blacksmith, and which certainly is worthy of notice. It is made according to an elegant design 'by Mr Legi and is wholly of wrought iron. Tlie centre piece is the monogram H. B. 8., io gilt. The gate w.is painted by Mr Mitchell, chocolale and bronze. Two handsome pillars havo been made to nuto'i aud arc irnitaiion Peteih-.-ad granite. The gate although very strong i-; light and handsome and is a credit to the designer and manufacturer. The search for the boy Williams who went missing at Adams Fiat on Tues lay afternoon last week lias been comiuued wiUiout intermission, large nun, bers from Milton and elsewhere having rendered assistance, but as yet withont effect. Not the slight est trace of tho boy has been discovered. Some of those who have joined in iho search have expressed to ns tlieir belief that he conld not possibly have fallen into any of the diggers' holes in the neighbourhood, as overy one of tliem has repeatedly beeu minutely exaniiii'd. His fate, therefore, remains a complete mystery. Through the courtesy of Mr Brebner, postmaster, here, we lost evening had a long conversation with Kaitangata by means of the telephone. In general tho voices wei'j heard very distinctly. The conversation, however, might* not prove very edifj'ing to the general public ; and besides we pledged our word to a lady at Kaitangata not to reveal its import, lest it might come to the ears of a gentleman very nearly related to her. We may mention, however, that Mrs Owens sung a few songs very. nicely ; and we have no doubt tho School Committee will secure her services for the forthcoming concert. We havo pleasure in calling attention to the sale of what is known as Allan's block of land in the Waiwera, lately purchased by Mr George Wilson. That property, consisting of 2300 acres, is now to be subdivided and sold in suitable sized farms. The soil, it is well known, is veiy superior, will be easily broken up, and no doubt will shortly he converted into some of the most fertile tarms in this quarter of the country, rt is most devoutly to be hoped that other owners of- large blocks of virgin soil in this neighbourhood will shortly see it to be to their interest to follow Mr Wilson's example. A' correspondent v ZYX " in another column calls attention to several matters in connection with the railway siation which require looking into. The siation platform* is certainly most uncomfortable and obstructive. It is to be hoped it has not yet been passed by the engineeras finished. As to the night train stopping afc 'Stirling ifc was understood here 'that ifc would L'oni.; on. to Jj.dclufcha so soon as the engine shed was completed. We have known mmy iiistauc s in.' which,, considerable numbers. o£ passengers ' would -have been convenienced diarl^the train, come on. We <hu-esay a* representation to" Mr Grant upon thelsubjecfc would have the desired effect. --■-:■