BALCLUTHA.

Bruce Herald, Volume VI, Issue 402, 24 January 1872, Page 6

BALCLUTHA.

(From our own Correspondent.)

: It was mentioned, in the ' Herald ' a fortnight ago that , bur Town Council" contemplated taking steps to prevent Mr Robert Doull erectiug a flotir mill on the fiver bank in tast ward. On Friday last Mr, Doull was summoned to appear before Mr, Maitland, R.M., to answer a charge of obstructing aj public roadway, by placing, building, and other materials, thereon. The charge was laid by constable Dunn', at the instance of Mr Robert Patterson, a gentleman possessed of considerable property along the bank of the river, and 1 hitherto approached , by \the road-' way in. question. , The constable stated :the nature of .the obstruction, and. called upon Mr Robert Grigor, a duly qualified surveyor, who produced a sketch plan of that part of the township contiguous to the north bank of the river. The spot upon which the obc traction was placed was part of B asborough Place, within the Municipal boundaries It was a part of the instructions, by which surveyors were guided, to reserve • river frontage. Mr Robert Paterson said the road had been reseiv^d as a public roadway and was the only one by which his property could be approached. It was just possible to get past at this dry season, but during a great part of the year it would nob be possible. Mr Doull handed the bench his lease of the ground granted him hy the Waste Land Board. After examining the lease, His Worship said that appeared correct in every essential particular, bearing as it did the signatures of the {superintendent and. the Commissioner of Crown Lands. At this stage of the proceedings, Mr Taylor rose but Mr Doull objected to his being heard as he appeared to be acting without instructions. Mr Taylor submitted that as standing counsel to the Corporation, he merely wished to sugsrest an adjournment as it was quite probable the right of the Waste Land Board to grant such a lease would be contested by the Town Council in the interest of the general body of ratepayers His Worship hid nothing to do with the matter except, as at present before him. If it were likely to be contested in a higher court, he did not flunk any decision of his would act prejudicially against either side, if, ho vever, the constable thought fit to do so. he would allow him to withdraw the charge After some discussion the chanre was withdrawn.

A similar charge against Mr Robert Crammond fo^ an obstruction in Clyde street or Terrace was similarly disposed of.

The body of the man Richard Howarth, whose death by drowning in the river was reported a fortnight ai^o, was found on Thursday last about a mile below the spot where he fell in. An inquest was held hy Df Smith, district coroner, and a verdict in ac corrlance with the facts already reported was returned.

The members of our race Committee are going to work like true sportsmen, a fact which seems to -have <*ot wind in »orre very remote parts of the Province as even at thin early date horse 3 intending to compete are putting in an appearance. Thei'eis a project mooted for forming a really fvrst-class racecourse on the Lower Ferry Reserve, but of course nothing can be done in the matter in time for this year's meeting. I apprehend, howe^ei', that the natural advantages of the Reserve for such a purpose will commend the project to the favorable consideration of tha local authorities, it would, indeed, be a pity if, at a fortieth p-irt of the expense, a racecourse equal, if not superior, to that of Forbury can be obtained, I repeat, it would be a pity if such a manifest advantage to the township were not secured. Some people may object to racing on the ground of ' immoral tendencies," but I don't think it would do to preach the doctrine at D.mcasier, and I really se~e~nY>thihg in the way of Balclutha being made the Doncaster of Otago — as far as public interest in its annual races would entitle it to the name. While speaking in favor of racfS I would not have it thought that T see nothing o' jc-ictionable in the surrounding atmosphere "Under and over" and " doodle-em-buck " are neither to be commended as intellectual acquirements or pi'oti table amusements, although, I verily believe that even these little game 3 sometimes receive unmerited castigation, indeed, if I must make a confession, 1 remember that many years ago, at Chester, a little indulgence in the latt°.r game taught me a practical lesson which time has never effaced. If anyone thinks it is a pleasant thing to be left fifty miles from home without a return ticket or the price of the single fare, let them contradict mo.

The Rev. Mr Arnot preached his farewell sermon yesterday, to a large congregation. The reverend gentleman leaves behind him a number of sympiithising friends who will gladly learn thai his undoubted earnestness has ceriunfced a bond of unity between him and his parishoners in any locality to which he may be called. The scholars attending the Presbyterian Sunday School were treated, on Saturday last., to a pic-nic in the grounds of Mr John M'Neil. It is needless to say that, under the influence of bright sunshine and a liberal distribution of good things, the little folks enjoyed themselves to their heart's content.

The collapse of the railway contractors has proved very disastrous to a large number.of working men, who can ill afford to want work very l»ng, let alone to work long and get nothing for it. It is to be hoped the Government will, at least, liquidate the labor liabilities, and that an early intimation of their intention to do so will be made public. I know of my own knowledge that some families have been placed in a state of utter destitution by this first act in the great scheme, which was promised as a blessing to the laboring classes. As the case stands, it looks very miich like giving a stone when bread was atked. . ! .; The accident which lately occurred at Popbturioa, and by which the driver of. a waggon had bnth his legs. broken, was i caused bya whirlwind sweeping vp M r the gorge, and, in spite of the brak6 ! , pushing -the waggon upon the f horses, and rendering the team quite unmanageable.' ll 'The' poor man still 1 lies in. a very precarious state..., • ' <■■■ ; UndSr the|^influence' of 'the cbntihued dry ■ weather'tlie"^©^ lii'this' district are becoming -prematurely^ ripe.^and^'will, in .piacjesj h^ye §o be eaten^off. ;