BALCLUTHA.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 122, 9 June 1870, Page 5

BALCLUTHA.

(From our Own Correspondent.)

The most general topic of conversation here at present is the interesting one of pounds shillings and pence. 1 can assure you that few townships have suffered so much this season as the Clutha Ferry, for each insolvency in succession came heavy, not only in proportion, but in actual round numbers upon our local trodesmen and merchants, until even milk and firewood must rest contented with receiving tlie equal dividend, by the protection ticket. Well, such things cannot pay, and I hope the worst is over for the creditors, although I fear the "difficult hill" stands yet in front of the Balclutha bankrupts of 1870.

I have to record a very narrow escape from drowning this evening. A son of Mr. Cooper, Ualclutha, went on board the steamer Tuapeka with some butcher meat, when, in the darkness of the night, he stumbled and fell unobserved into the dark flowing river. But thanks to a kind Providence, his piercing ciie3 for aid soon brought the captain and steward to his rescue, which having been quickly effected, he was hurried home to a more congenial element. It deserves to be mentioned that, though thoroughly saturated and gasping for breath, his first request was, " Where is my basket?"

The roads hereabout are nearly as bad as it is possible for roads to be, and, except by water, we can scarcely procure anything from Dunedin. The steamers run regularly, and are veil patronised. In produce very little is doing, and prices are about the same as in the beginning of the season, viz., oats, 25. ; wheat, according to sample, 2s. 6d. to 45.; barley, 2a. 6d. to 3s. 6d. ; potatoes, 2s. ; butter, lOd. to Is. ; cheese, 9d. ; bacon, 6d. to Bd. There are now three storekeepers, three hotels, three butchers, and three bakers at the Ferry, and bread is down to 7d. the 4-lb loaf, but I cannot praise the quality.