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Clutha Leader, Volume IV, Issue 197, 19 April 1878, Page 5

Some items of local new 3 will this week b« found on our sixth page. We have to direct the attention of rate-paj-ers within road districts to notices o£ Assessment Courts published in this issue. It is reported that Mr 0. E. Haughton has served a writ upon the proprietors of the Daily Times for L2OOO damages for alleged libel. We have to call attention to alteration' of the date of meeting of the C'iutha Agricultural and Pastoral Society from 2u'th inst., to May 3. . , , There was a crowded house at the concert in aid of the Fife and Drum Band last even- | ing. The programme published in last issue was very successfully carried out. The proceeds were upwards of £20. We regret to report that a serious fire occurred tit Hillend oni,Monday last. The thresh■ing mill belonging to Messrs Black and Smith, was that day at work threshing out four wheat ■stacks iv a paddock belonging to Mr Robert j Clark; One stack had just been finished-, at half past 1 o'clock, when a cry of fire was raised. Mr Clark then noticed that the top of a small round Stack had just caught fire. Bags wereafc once' soaked in water and placed over the fire which was get under, but all at once an adjoining stuck caught, and all attempts to put, it out were unavailing. When .once the fire obtained, a firm hold the whole of the three stacks ,were speedily, consumed. Mr Clark reckons that he lost a. little over 700 bushels of wheat. He was unin-, sured. The mill and engine weregot - removed and were uninjured. There can.be no doubt the fire originated by a spark from the engine, .

A miner named Michael Collins, at Co- | romandel,. has received a letter from a LoDdon solicitor, announcing that he is heir to a fortune of L"0l),000, . • . . .-.-.• .3 The Otaria School Committee having secured the services as teacher of Mr Sttele, recently arrived from Victoria, it is expected the school will be opened in about ten clays. We observe a commGncenient has been made with the .formation, of .the siding from the new Jetty to the railway here. We understand it will be completed as expeditiously as possible. We understand the hotel accommodation of Balclutha is about to be extended, Mr George Townsehd having decided to erect a hotel of twelves rooms upon a site adjoining the entrance to the. railway statiou. We are requested to call attention to Messrs IvT.ielean'a sale at their yards here on Monday first ; also to an alteration of the date of Mr Harray's sale at Puerua from Thursday to Saturdry the 27tb, in consequence of Thursday beiog the Presbyterian : Fasb clay. A large quantity, of grain is now stacked and ready for threshing in .Otaria. The settlers are anxious a mill should visit the district at once, as the roada will soon be getting heavy. The mill could travel thence toPukerau, where there also is a considerable quantity of grain to thresh; A telegram from Oamaru says :— A well known farmer named .Robert Rogers was proceeding home with. a dray from Teaneraki on Tuesday afternoon, and while passing through a gateway the horses bolted, llogers either attempted to jump .or fell .off the dray, and one ■wheel passed over the lower part of his body. I-Ie was picked up insensible, and never rallied. He died on Wednesday morning. Deceased was a steady young man, 29 years of ago, and was much respected. From all quarters we hear of very stormy weather having prevailed for tho past . week. It seemed to reach a climax on Sunday when it was almost clangorous to walk abroad. • "Very little damage was done in, this quarter but the storm does not seem to have yet quite exhausted itself. The greater portion of the crops had been secured before tho storm commenced, but a considerable quantity is still being tossed about tho fields, and will not be improved by tho rough handling. So far as we have heard tho turn out is fully above expectations. Our Gore correspondent writes : — Most of tho Settlors in this district have got all their crops carried in, and stacked in good order. -A. good many of them threshed from the field. Wheat crdps were very good and have turned out well. Mr'Gr. 51. Bell had four reapers and binders cutting for some time. His was a splendid crop of wheat. — Three gentlemen from Dunediu have come up fully equiped to do jus ties in. the sporting line. They seem to havo a peculiar penchant for a rural life, as they left the township just before dark fco go a mile and camp. I am afraid they put in a cold night of it as they did not go array well prepared. —East Goto 13 at present progressing rapidly. Mr Cosfcla is building a largo hotel. Mr Million is about to put up another, and Mr Brown is jujfc opening out hia goods ib his new store. — The Flour Mill is now about completed and will start to work soon. -Thus ono of the long felt wants in ' tho district is supplied.— ; He nlso writes on the IGth insb. : — Tho weather here has been very stormy for some days, and on Sunday hist there was a very strong gale. No damage was occasioned here, but at. Invercargill some buildings were blown down and other injury was done to property. In consfqaence of the storm harvesting was stopped here, bub most of the farmers hud their crops secured. The season has been so backward that some of the crops were late, and as' there was no chance of their ripening they were cub green for chaffing. This only. refers to small portions, and in general, tho wheat especially, wa-j a splendid crop. We fully expect that at our mill here wiLl be turned out somo of the best flour in Olago. At present two threshing Uiiichines ure busy at work in the district aud the quality of the flour. will soon ba tried. — I believe Gore to be at present the most prosperous . township of its ago in the province. The railway from here to Atliol is also expected to be commenced soon. This will bo a great boon for both town and country.