Clutha News Items.

Bruce Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 5, 21 January 1909, Page 2

Clutha News Items.

(From the Clutha Leader.)

Mr A. E. Bmgcr. the contractor for the Manse in Balclutha, huj* made very good progress with the work, and' apparently a first-class job, and expects to be finished this week.

The New Zealand Loan and Mercan. tile Agency Coy., Ltd., has secured the contract for the supply of binder twine and cornsacks to' members of the Clntha Branch of the N.Z. Farmers* Union.

An effort is being made to resuscitate the local Poultry Club, which has been dormant for about two years, and a meeting to thai end will be held this evening. The club has, we understand, several trophies on hand. The continued wet boisterous weather is interfering very ruinously with the grass-seed harvest in this district. There are some very fair crops, especially in the Waiwera district, but it is feared some of them will have to be abandoned.

The small birds seem to be causing greater havoc amongst the ripening grain this year than ever. Many crops of oats will have to be cut for chaff in order to stive them from the birds.

Visitors at Warepa last Wednesday who hat! a look at the school gardens were very favourably impressed with what they saw. The gardens are well kept, there is a good variety of vegetables all looking well, and bearing evidence of the interest taken in the work, and tin; care bestoyed upon it.

Mr Malcolm, M.l'., wlio wrote to the Iloii. Sir J. (i. Ward, Postmaster (<enerul, urging the immediate erection of the post oilice new building- at Balelutha, has received a reply conveying- the welcome information "that the Public Works Department Ims been instructed to fake the necessary action."

Then l are so.me fine crops of wheat and oats in this district this year. Indeed, in some eases they will be too heavy and will fall before they are ready for cutting. Mr Jlarvey has a Ji.ne-looking crop of wheal on the.Hermitage property, near Stirling. It Is well-grown, dean, and liNing nicely., and promises a (id bushel yield to the acre. On the opposite side of the road, Mr •). ('. Anderson has a very heavy crop of oats, but unfortunately it has been already badly laid in places.

it is a matter for regret that Arbor Day has fallen largely into disuetude. For a few years after its lirst institution it was pretty generally observed, not only as a holiday but as a planting day, and the ninny pretty clumps of trees to be seen here and there in the country side are a testimony to the go;od work that was done a few years ago. This is particularly the case at some of the country schools, where, by planting, exposed and bleak situations have been made veritable "cosy corners." There is no place where this is more noticeable than at Warepa, where planting was carried on regularly for years, and the results of which were the occasion of much favourable comment last "Wednesday afternoon.

, The utility of the motor-car in i country agents' circles was amply exemplified last Thursday in this disj trie!. Notwithstanding the inelemI ency of the weather, a perfect dovn- ! pour prevailing all day, by the aid !of their motor-car the local represcn- • tatives of Messrs Wright, Stephenson land Co. "successfully negotiated the 1 sale of over SUuO sheep, a pretty considerable extent of country being covered, and divers conditions of roads being encountered during the after- . noon.

i Signs of prosperity in this district I are not wanting by any means. Al- ; ready in the town there are two nrot- ' or ears and it is reported that nnoth'er will find its way here within a j month or so. while a well-known landi owner is also investing in one. | We hear that very e'ood sport is iexpected at the Ciutha .Races on I'Vi- : day. and then' ate good fields in all the events. Some first class horses lap- running and even the knowing j ones are not too sure about the fav- \ ouriles. i 'I he members of (he. Loyal Hal ton : Podge, to the number of about 15, j paid an ollieial visit, to the Loyal j Pride of Kaiiangala Lodec on Thursi dav eveninu'. ' Deputv P.G.M. C.J. I Wood a.nd Past l'.(!..\|. Bro. Munro (Diinedin) were also present. There '. was a fair attendance of tlie Kaitangnla brethren. The new ollicers for ! the Kaitamjata Bodge were installed iinlo their various offices by P.P.G.M. I Munro in a most able manner. The ; visitors were afterwards entertained | by the local lodge, and a very pleasant social "Sour was spent. The Kaii tangaln Lodee has been in existence for about 10 years, has a lnembership of about Kill, and accumulated funds amount to I'l.fiOU. 'JT.e lodge appears to be wed managed, and is performing a good work. Last year it held the record in Olago for new members, but this year the Dalton Lodge takes pride of place. R.C. , Bro. Rain conveyed I lie visitors , thither and hitlier in -Mr Liston's clrao". A well-known settler not 50 miles from Ralclnllia on the North side of the river is reporlcd "missing." Aboiit six weeks ago the settler in question, who works the farm in conjunction with his brother, though it is understood jo be in his own name, left for Duncdm with a pair of horses to sell. .He sold the horses, got the money, and nothing has been heard of him since. There are rumours that he purchased a horse from another agency linn, re-sold it privately almost immediately and pocketed the money. As the strictest enquiries faded- to reveal any trace of him, resulatnt investigations are understoad to show a rather astonishing condition of affairs. lie had apparently plenty of credit, and for some months prior ( to his departure he apparently availed himself of. this to the fullest extent possible. When his liabilities are totted up. it is said they mount up to somewhere in the vicinity of £2.000. In the meantime he has been declared a bankrupt. Not only, accord inp- to reports, have business houses been "got at'''/" but his relatives have been also victimised in the most callous manner.