CLUTHA NEWS ITEMS.

Bruce Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 73, 17 September 1917, Page 4

CLUTHA NEWS ITEMS.

. »»» ■■■■ \ ~ •', * (From Clutha Leader.) .A crowded house greeted the Harrigan Concert Party at Stirling on Wed- ' nesday night, when their'popular entertainment was staged. The programme ■was practically the same as that presented at Balclutha, readings from the ■ "Benhar Buster" taking the place of ;the "Barnego Buster.'" During the evening a, desk donated by Mr Barty was disposed of by Dutch auction and realised the sum of £4. The ladies of Stirling are grateful to the company's very substantial suppprt in augmenting the funds of the Red Cross. It is quite evident that there is a lamentable lack of interest shown by many of the ratepayers in borough council affairs, as not a single nomination was received fcr the vacancy on the council caused by the resignation of Councillor A. Stevenson. It has therefore become necessary to call for fresh nominations, w'hieh are requested to be lodged with the returning'officer '(Mr J. F. Walsh) on or before Wedues-. day, September 26, noon. If more than one nomination is received an election will be held on the following Wednesday. . The ladies of the Balclutha Patriotic Association are making a special appeal to Hie public to assist with their "Bag Day" effort. It is proof that the ladies are of an enterprising turn of mind when thev attempt to sell 10,000 one shilling tickets, but it will require the enthusiastic support of the public to provide the contents of 10,000 bags and -also to part with the requisite money for purchasing the tickets. Yet no one should ''turn down'' Hie ticket sellers or refuse to provide the bags, as the proceeds are to be devoted to the British and New Zealand Red Cross funds, and so will ultimately be used to nurse back to health.those who have suffered on our 'behalf. At the annual meeting.of the Balclutha Patriotic Association a short discussion on the ladies' "Bag Day" effort took place. It was pointed out by one member that the Dunedin "Bag Day" had been the cause of a considerable amount of- dissatisfaction in regard to the contents of the bags, the recipients in many cases being "had." Although a bag cost only one shilling, anyone would have thought it cost live shillings by the noise that was made by the disappointed ones. A great deal •of tact was also required in placing the contents of the "lucky" bags; these should be numbered by outside persons. . Several suggestions were made for the numbering of the bags, but no doubt this will be done in a satisfying manner by the ladies' committee.

Residents in the vicinity of Hosebank have recently been taking the precaution to lock their coal sheds and backyard tgates. Dame Humour, who is not always a lying jade, has it ..that a midnight prowler in the person of a tall lady wearing a black and .white shawl and a black hat with plumes is the cause of this uneasiness. The lady aforesaid is said to be particularly interested i» clothes lines. The Harrigan Concert Company has established a record in the amount of money raised for war funds through its " various entertainments. Since the party was formed last year approximately £750 has been gathered in to swell'the coffers of the patriotic committees, and this amount has been allocated to the funds most in need of it. This year.the amount raised as a result ! of three entertainments is about £250, 1 an exceedingly creditable sum. The takings at Stirling concert on Wednesday night amounted to close on £2O, -which is to be given to the Red Cross fund. The company desires to thank all those who "did'their bit" by lending their motor cars, etc., for the conveyance of the performers to the different centres. At a meeting of office-beavers of the local Methodist Church on Wednesday Rev. B. J. James, intimated that he was leaving Balclutha at the end of the "• connexional year, ami he advised the officials to take steps towards inviting a successor through the September quarterly- meeting. Mr James is in the fourthAyear of his pastorate, and stands high in the esteem of the members and adherents of his church. A few friends of Mr and Mrs W. M. Allan met them in the-Coffee Palace, - Owaka, on Thursday evening (Septem- " ber 6), for the purpose of making a presentation to them on the occasion of their leaving the district. Mr T. Maginness occupied the chair, and, after explaining the object of the meeting and speaking of the loss the district was sustaining by their guests' departure, called on Rev. Loan, who presented a purse of sovereigns to Mr and Mrs Allan from the public. Dr Stenhouse, in presenting tp Mr Allan a Gladstone bag and Mrs Allan a Mosgiel rug from the telephone bureau officials in the district, said. Mr Allan »s place would be 'hard to fill. Mr Chesney, ' on belialf of the pupils in Master Jack i Allan's class, asked his acceptance of [' a purse containing something with [ which to buy a suitable" present for ■ Jack. Messrs J. M. Thomson and W. Hayward endorsed what had been said fey the previous speakers. A pleasant fcour was spent, the music being supplied by Miss May Guthrie and Miss "Mabel Ford. Mr and Mrs Allan left next day for Lawrence, to which place Mr Allan has been promoted. Mr W. Watt (acting stock inspector) -was* entertained by a number of per- ■ sonaf friends on Wednesday afternoon, ' prior to iis departure for Dunedin. An ■enjoyable social hour was spent, and Mr Watt was made the recipient of a case of Loewe pipes. On Monday evening he was entertained by the boardeTs at the Crown Hotel and presented with a fountain pen. Private Thomas Frederick Ward (Mill. Ward, Otekura, father) has been wounded in action on August 29. Biflemau William E. Garden, of the INcw Zealand 'Rifle Brigade, was wounded' in action on August 22. He .-.is a son of Mrs A. Garden, of Bal- & clutha. §T-. ,Mr and- Mrs A. Stevenson (Barnego) ,|Vleft on "Wednesday for their new home