CLUTHA NEWS ITEMS.

Bruce Herald, Volume L, Issue 32, 30 April 1914, Page 4

CLUTHA NEWS ITEMS.

(From the Clutha Loader.) Clutha County Council decided on Friday to establish Finegand freezing works public abattoirs for Balclutha district. This has been done at the request of Balclutha Borough Council Considerable interest is being taken in the election of members of tlie Inchclutha River and Road Board, there being eight nominations for six vacancies. The poll is on Saturday. We understand that Mr F. 11. Wilson, teacher at Houipapa, con templates relinquishing teaching at the end of tho year-in order to enter upon missionary work in Africa. , The Public Works Department have some difficulty in getting metal for railway ballast, and are likely to again use Balclutha gravel, getting the River Board's dredge to pump the supply near to the ballast line at the railway bridge. The River Board on Friday passed the following resolution:—"That the secretary, Mr James Stewart, be authorised to exercise, within reasonable limits and with the sanction of the chairman, all functions which would be exercised by the board itself in the ordinary conduct of its business." The work of sinking the cylinders for the traffic bridge extension is proceeding apace. After taking out one of the old piles just at the brink of the river the other day Mr Rhodes sounded the hole and found it quite dry. This leads him to think that the piles may be sunk without the use of the air-lock, which, however, is ready in case it is required.

A serious accident, which unfortunately ended fatally, occurred at Matarae on Saturday, when Trooper Philpott, of Heriot, a member of the 12th Mounted Regiment, was thrown from his horse while engaged in military duties. Philpott was brought to the Duncdin Hospital in a critical condition, and from the first -but slight hopes were entertained of his recovery. He never rallied from the shock, and died about 10 o 'clock on Sunday night.

Requests for metalling on To Houka roads gave Councillor Edwards an opportunity to again protest against the metalling of Ayson's clay gap. He said he would much sooner give better roads to farmers than to touring motorists. The council, however, adhered to its determination to metal Kaihiku hill provided the motorists give a subsidy.

The annual meeting of Baklutha householders last night was poorly attended. The report (as already published) and balance-sheet were adopted. A lengthy discussion took place on the understaffing of the secondary school, and it was decided to ask the board for another teacher. The matter of having the school heated by hot-water pipes was also considered, but as it was considered unlikely'that the £l5O necessary could be raised it was left for the incoming committee to "keep steadily in view.'' There were 10 nominations for the committee, and the election resulted:—McDonald 17, Eeid 17, McEwan 16, Watt 15, Gilmour 14, S. 11. James 14, T. A. Johnston 13, G. W. Wood 13, T. Weir 12, W. G. Finn 9. The first nine were declared elected.

Constable Martin, of Kaitangata, had a sensational escape from a serious buggy accident on Hasborough road on Thursday evening. He had just returned from his annual holiday, and was driving his horse and a borrowed buggy from Balclutha to Kaitangata, when just past the traffic bridge the off-hind wheel collapsed. The constable was thrown out and lost the reins; Mrs Martin succeeded in getting clear with her baby in her arms, but failed in her endeavours to get her six-year-old boy out; while two occupants of the back seat managed to jump clear. Meantime the horse, bolted, and the small boy was thrown out some yards further on, some of his clothes being ripped off. The horse galloped on round the cliffs, the buggy remaining upright on the three remaining wheels; another trap was coming round the cliffs and was safely passed, the runaway being caught at the Hermitage. The occupants of the buggy got off lightly, the small boy being the only one to suffer, and he was but slightly hurt.

A young man of prepossessing manner has been doing a good thing in soap during the last few months. From an lid bar of soap he could pocket £5 12s through his eloquence, aided by the gullibility of the public. He. simply bought a bar of laundry soap, cut it into about 200 lumps, wrapped paper round it, stood at a street corner or anywhere else where a crowd would gather, talked and sold each lump for 6d, or three for Is. The gulls thought they were buying a wonderful stain-remover, and there were always sufficient waiting to be softsoaped. The young impostor is said to have "done" New Zealand, starting at the North Island. He visited Balclutha one night, but getting a hint td ''move on" from the man in blue hied to Milton, and proceeded to shake up the canny Scotch Tokoites and take their feaxpences. Milton had him for a fortnight or so, and no more was heard of him for some months. Then last Monday, at Clinton, Constable Collins took an interest in him and his soap, and now he is serving three months in Duncdin gaol for having no lawful means of support.

There was not much business of local concern transacted at last week's meetings of tho Education Board. The Stoney Creek school committee applied for alterations to the school to provide for additional accommodation. There were oii pupils on the roll, and the committee understood that there was accommodation for only 24. The matter was referred to the inspector for a report, and in regard to the accommodation it was pointed out that the plans showed 399 square feet of floor space, or fully 12 square feet for each pupil, 10 square feet being regarded as the mini- • mum. At Papatowai an area of two acres of land has been purchased from Mr Mclntyre for the erection of a f-chool. Permission was given to let the teacher's residences at Warepa, Tuapeka West and Henley under the usual conditions. It was reported that the contractor had made a start with the teachefV'residenco at Wharetoa; at Lovells Plat the wooden retaining wall, to prevent the encroachment of the creek, and repairs to outhouses are in hand; at Pukeawa a chimney has been erected at the school; and a porch at Qtskura*