The Bruce Herald. "Nemo me impune lacesset." TOKOMAIRIRO, MAY 18, 1875.

We have before us the copy of a Bill introduced into the Otago Provincial Council, and entitled the Clutha Conservator* Board Ordinance, 1875, for the constitution of a board of conservators for the district of Clutha River. The Bill deals with a matter concerning which a large section of our readers has been for some time very much exercised, and purposes to give a solution to a question of very vital importance to the township of Balclutha. Under an Act of the General Assembly of New Zealand, entitled " The Clutha River Reserve Act, 1874," it has been enacted that as soon as the Superintendent and Provincial Council of the Province of Otago should pass |an ordinance constituting a board of convervators for the district of Clutha River, I these conservators should hold the lauds de- ! scribed in that Act upon trust, for the purI poses which should be specified in the | Provincial Ordinance. The Bill before us then provides for the necessity created by the Act of the General Assembly. The absolute number [of members of the Trust is left vacant, as is indeed the constitution of the Trust, except in so far as an indication is given that the chairmen of certain Road Boards are to be members ex officio. Prorision is made, however, that it shall be lawful for the Superintendent at any time, and from time to time, upon a resolution being passed by the Provincial Council requesting him so to do, to remove any or all of the members of the Board, and upon a notification being iuserted in the Otago] Provincial Government 'Gazette' of the fact of the removal of any such persons, they shall cease to be members of the Board. The Board is to have full power and authority to do all things necessary for the improvement of the Clutha River — to erect jetties, embankments, piers, docks, wharves, and walls in the river ; to make bridges, and maintain ferries across the river, and to do all things proper and expedient for the better navigation of the river and theimprovement of Port Molyneux. Ii short, the Board is, within the meauing of" The Harbor Boards Act, 1870," to be a Harbor Board for the port of Port Molyneux. Additional powers are given to the Board under the Bth clause of the BUI, which makes it a corporate body with perpetual succession and a common seal. Provision for the appointment of chairman and other officers, for transaction of financial and other business is made ; also powers are conferred to enter into contracts. It is provided further that the lands mentioned and described in the schedule to " The Clutha River Trust Reserves Act, 1874," shall be held by the ! conservators in trust tor the various purposes for which the Board has been constituted, and these lands, or reserves, may be leased by the i Board for terms not exceeding twenty- one years, and the rent accruing shall be disposed for the purpose of the Ordinance in such manner as the Board may determine. The Board is expressly, however, prohibited from selling or disposing of these lauds otherwise thau as above specified. We understand that already more thau one tradesman in Milton is breaking through the rule as to early closing, recently established with his consent. We sadly^ regret this, as persistence in such a course Avill compel non-offending business people, in self defence, to keep their shops open to as late an hour as that adopted by these skinflints, who endeavor to make a shilling without regard to their own honor or the

welfare o f their employees. We would strongly recommend to the assistants in shops a bold course in this matter, namely, thattlieyshould, without hesitation, point out offenders against the/early closing system, and enable them to obtain unfavorable notoriety in addition to their paltry gains.

Mb Kavanagii, of Manuka Creek, grows prolty fair potatoes. We saw a number of ITia yesterday, and selected one (not the largest), which measures 10 iachcii in length ami weighs 31bs. A DuNEDIN contemporary sayß : — " It is rumored tlvat a powerful opposition to the Provincial Executivo has been formed, and that a trial of strength will shortly take place." Foe. two months past, eight and a half brace of partridges have taken up their abode in Mr Mark Scott's paddocks adjoining bis house on the Tokomairiro Plain, and have now become quite tame. We observe that Mr Davies, Manager for Messrs A. J; Smyth and Co., who have contracted for the Manuka Creek tunnel, advertises for miners and laborers. A responsible firm having takon this contract we may entertain hopes of its completion. "We have been requested to draw attention to an alteration in the hour of the auction Bale at Mr Peat's, Waiwera, by Messrs Capstick, Duthie and Co., on June the first. The sale will commence at 11 a.m. and not at 1 p.m., as previously advertised. The recent fine weather has been fully taken advantage of by settlers and others in the Clutha district, where all tho outdoor operations of the season have been pushed forward with all haste. The soil is again being turned over and prepared for the Eeed. A considerable quantity of oats and wheat has already been sown, and in some instances settlers have finished sowing their autumn crops. Saturday's Dunedin 'Evening Star' says: — "The ca3e of Margaret Collins lias, we learn, excited the attention of some ladies in Dunedin, whose benevolence is well known. Yesterday the prisoner was visited by them ; and a gentleman from Tokomairiro has consented to take her into his service after the termination of her sentonce. Her conduct and industry in gaol have been highly commended." We observed surveyors at work, the other day, taking the necessary levels, &c, in connection with the proposed bridge across the Molyneux, at tho township of Stirling. This is somo indication that the Government ivre really in earnest in the matter, and it is to be hoped "thi3 long contemplated work will r,ow be proceeded with. We understand it is intended to be a double bridge, suitable both for railway and ordinary traffic. We would again remind our readers of the Amateur Dramutic and Minstrel Ctub's performance this ovening for the benefit of Marion Moore (Mrs Perrier). An excellont evening's bill of fare has been provided, and we can safely promise a good night's entertainment. Tin's, combined wilh the well-known claims of the beneliciare, will doubtless secure a bumper house. An amateur concert is, we notice, to bo given in the Volunteer Hail, on the evening of Monday next (Queen's ]3irthuay), in aid of the funds of the Bruce Rifles. An excellent programme has been in rehearsal for some timo, and a hirge display of our local talent will come to the front on the occasion, when we trust to see a very large attendance, as the steady manner in which our Milton " warriors " have sustained the credit of their corps deserves every support. At the last Committee meeting of the Milton Atlienroum, it was agreed to hold sixpenny readings during the present winter evenings, for the benefit of this popular inslution. A sub-com-mit tee was appointed to curry out the project, to be commenced next month. We gladly learn that we arc to have a revival of these readings, which, under t.ie same direction, were so successful a few years ago iv furnishing many an enjoyable and 'instructive evening's entertainment to the community. The contractor, Mr Pink, for metalling the Swamp Road, between Stirling and Kaitangata, is still progressing with the work. The groat portion of the stone is now bid on the road side : but very few stone-breakers arc at work, and there seems little prospect of the metal being laid on before the winter weather sets in. The road is already much cut up in •several places, and Ims to sustain a large traffic. Unless the work of metalling be pushed on energetically, and at once, the inevitable result will be that the traffic will be suspended during winter. For this stute of matters there must be blame somewhere, and a remedy should be applied without delay. We have to call the attention of our readers in Kaitangata and district to an advertisement in another column, being the prospectus of a Building and Investment Society to be established in that township. Such societies have proved o£ immense value to the inhabitants of other townships throughout the Colony, and have been the means of enabling many to become the propriei tors of freehold properties who, otherwise, would still bo living in rented cottages. As Kaitangata is progressing so rapidly in importance, aiu\ the demand for dwelling-houses is so great, there can be no question that it is the duty of the inhabitants to give the promoters of the Building Society a hearty support, as we have no doubt they will see it to be for their own individual benefit to do. Having- for several days observed a dangerous hole into the culvert which crosses the mnin road near the branch road leading to Mr Leggc's mill, we thought it right, having a regard to the safety of the public at large, to use our best endeavors to have the m:itler sot riyht. Accordingly we addressed our.-olve.s to Mr Surveyor Brown, deeming, in our ignorance, that ho wag the right man to apply to. Hi\ however, referred us to Mr Jioadman Jones ; find having interviewed that functionary, wo were informed that, to the best ot his belief, we ought to make our complaint to the contractor (Mr Robinson, he believed his name to be), and who would most probably be found at Wsiihola or thereabouts. The combination of nunii'ti m.y well suit a tour clown the Rhine, but we fail to see how the defect to which wo have ulluded is to be remedied. Tub notorious John Graham has been having a pnssage-at-ai-ms with the School Commif.lee at Orepuki. Tile Committee WOiiLl not let Mr Gruhiiin have the use of tho schoolhousc to discourse about tho Battle of Armageddon, and other kindred subjects, for less than £5. Air Graham on the other hand, contended that there was a minute in the Committee's book stating that 20s only should be charged. He purposes to moot the Cominitto in the schoolhousc to discuss the matter, and requests the schoolmaster if ho will "please have the school ready on Friday night at 7 o'clock, when 1 will meet the resolution iv the minutebook." The Volunteer Ball of the No. 1 Company Clutha Rifles was held in the Drillshed, Inch Clutha, on Friday evening. The members of the Company turned out in fall uniform, and there was also a large number of civilians present. Dancing commenced a little before 9 o'clock, and was kept up till 4 o'clock on Saturday morning. The music was supplied by Messrs Lade and Stathain of Dunedin, the former performing on the violin, and the latter the piano. The whole proceedings were carried out under the superintendence of Mr James Ilogg, of BalcUitha, who acted as M.C. on the occasion. At, midnight an interval occurred, when refreshments were served upon a liberal scale by Mr Higgina, of "Waugaloa. Captain Pillans briefly addressed those present, and after a few excellent songs were sung, dancing was again resumed, and terminated as stated. Everything passed off most successfully, and the utmost harmony prevailed throughout.

Akbahgements hare been made for performing the ceremony of turning tho first sod of the Kaitangata Railway, on Friday first. Already two miles of the formation has be^n contracted for, at a rate very favorable to the Company. Tho work will bo carried out by Chinese labor, and it is intended to push it on as speedily as possible before the winter weather sets in, so that the formation through the swamp may be consolidated and ready to recerre the permanent way early next summer. The Company haa certainly entrusted tho woi'k to proper hands, when they appointed Mr A. J. Smith with full powers, and 110 Oil his part, has secured an energetic representative on the ground, in the person of Mr Reginald Macdonald. With such men at the head of affairs, the result cannot be otherwise than satisfactory to all concerned. According to the ' Otago Daily Times,' another painful accident occurred on tho Port Chalmers railway line, near Pelichet Bay, about eight o'clock on Friday night, to a carter in the employ of Mr Lambton, named Thomas Borland. Whilst proceeding alone the line towards his homo his foot became jammed between some planks at Hanover - street crossing, and though some persons, attracted by his cries, endeavored to extricate him, they could not do so. The last up-train was then due and before the engine-driver could be warned of danger the poor fellow was knocked down and sustained frightful injuries. His left ankle was torn off, the flesh being wrenched from the leg, his right arm broken, and parts of his body severely bruised. Borland, who is said to have been the worse for liquor at the time of the accident, was removed to the Hospital, where he remained in a very low state on Sunday evening. The lining of the second large new kiln being erected at Mr W. M. White's Pottery is being made with firo bricks, the clay for which was obtained from the " stripping " at the old Real Mackay Quarry. The bricks are reported to be of excellent quality, as were others made from the underlying clay at the same mine by MiGeorge Jones, at the Britannia Pottery, some years a^o. We understand ! hat, in anticipation of the railway being shortly constructed down the river, Mr Mackay is in communication with the English patentee of the latest and best steam brick-making machine, with the view to the erection of one of these machines in Coal Gully, wherewith to economise the clay being stripped from the surface of tho coal and the dross now being thrown away as useless, in which event he will be in a position to revolutionise tho brick trade of tho Colony by the supply of building and firo bricks at prices which will_ command the Dunedin and other markets. A FBW weeks ago we referred to the departure from our midst of Mr R. Bonnet, who is now on his way to South Africa. Before leaving tho district, it would now appear that, he had made a very handsome donation in an unassuming and characteristic manner on behalf of the then projected Fairfax School, the erection of which has since been agreed upon by the Education Board, provided a certain proportionate amount is raised in the district. Mr Bennet left with Mr John C. Gordon an order for £15 sterling on behalf of the building fund now being raised. Such a liberal and disinterested act deserves publicity now Mint he has gone, and might have easily found excuse for subscribing to an institution which had no existence, and was merely mooted, had he not had the cause at heart. No better proof could be offered of his interest ia the district than this now timely gift left by him, should the occasion which called it forth arrive. We gladly observe that the efforts of tho Fairfax Committee arc being liberally responded to by the residents of that township and the business community of Milton, to whom we would commend so desirable an undertaking as worthy of general support. Each member of Committee possesses a subscription list, and will gludly receive additions to it. The General Manager, in his report on the Dunedin and Green Island railway for the past year says : — " The deep embankment on the side of the Main South road has settled very much, and requires some earthwork to make it up. The | cutting behind the English Church at CaverI sham will require some sto-.ie ballast, as the formation is a soft quicksand, and water is springing 'up in it. Tho Cuversham tunnel is also very bare of ballast, but is standing Very well. I would here suggest that the line from Hillside siding for about six" chains be ballasted with stono ballast, as, in the event of the water pipes, which run along the side of the line at this part, bursting, there would be less chance of an accident. The line is rather difficult to keep in good repair, on account of the lightness of the ballast used. I have effected an improvement by shifting a great number of the sleepers nearer to the rail points, and intend to continue this wo:k as the men get time. The fencing is very \ deficient ; sheep can run through anywhere. The following newworks have been complete;!, viz. : — Side road leading to Messrs Car-gills, Gibbs, and Co. ; Siding at Hillside, and Mr Smith's s ; ding at Brickfield. The line U <it present in pretty good repair."