CLUTHA NEWS ITEMS.

Bruce Herald, Volume LV, Issue 63, 18 August 1919, Page 4

CLUTHA NEWS ITEMS.

(From Clutiha Leader.) '; Tho new pontoons for the punt at Clyde vale were launched on Wednesday afternoon by the county engineer, and arc working satisfactorily. Messrs McKeown Bros., of Balclutlia, who recently returned from the Front, have, taken over the old-established ■bakery 'business of Hedpath 's, Clinton. An Owaka correspondent writes:—l noticed the other day that 'Mr Telford (Pounawea) -and Mr W. Miller (Otekura) had several lambs running about, some of them' apparently a'bout a month old. There was a yarding of upwards- of 3000 sheep at the Clinton stock sale yesterday. Prices in most cases were good. Good ordinary hoggets brought 20s to 245; 'better class hoggets, 25s to 275; wethers, 32g 6d to 37s Gd. Cows 'brought £8 15s to £l2 12s Gd. At last meeting of the- Southland County Council it was decided! to instruct flic county solicitor 'to take steps to have a coininission appointed to decide the question in dispute- 'between the Southland and Clutha Counties regarding the Clutha County making contributions .to certain roa'ds in the Southland Oountv.

The- Owaka Caledonian Society held a ball in the Owaka Hall on Friday night in aid of the funds of the society. The'night was all that could 'be desired, and a'bout 50 couples turned' out, and, under the 'eapa'blc management of Messrs A. Mason audi C. Ashmore as M.'C's., a very enjoyable evening was spent. The music was supplied ! by Mr McLelland's orchestra, and was of an exceptionally high class. 'The funds will '.benefit by a'bout £B.

The Foresters' Dramatic Company gave a performance* of "The Masked at Clinton on Wednesday •evening before a moderately large audience.* A considerable improvement was shown on previous performances, and the residents of Owaka, where the eom•pany intend giving their next performance, can' look forward to witnessing a really good entertainment. At the conclusion of the performance at Clinton a dance was 'held. The takings for the whole night amounted to £ls.

Ecplyiiug to representations made by Mr-MalcoLur urging that a start should be made on thc.Tahakopa Eiver bridge at Papatowai, the of Public Works regrets that as there does not appear to be ■liny likelihood of hardware timber being obtainable in the immediate future, owing to f® disorganisation of shipping caused by the strike iii' Australia, it will be impossible to imake a commencement with the erection of the above-mentioned bridge at present. There was a slight breeze in the local Magistrate's Court on Tuesday. At the conclusion of the case, McNeil v. McXoe, his Worship in giving judgment, for defendant stated that there appeared to have been an evasion of 'Stamp Act in the" case of the original sale of the, property, to which Mr E. E. Stewart, who appeared for plaintiff, rather warmly retorted that he did not see it. His Worship, however, was positive in his opinion that there had been, and Mr : Stewart as hotly denied the imputation. For a few moments the atmosphere of the court was quite electric, his Worship threatening to deal with Mr Stewart for the severe personal nature of his remarks to the Bench. An apology, however, being asked for by Mr -Mosley, Mr Stewart apologised, and the incident closed.

'The danger of allowing children to 'play with anything in the nature of paints was tragically emphasised by the fatality that occurred in Balelutha on Tuesday. Dr Brugh gave his professional opinion that a square of the paint ■would! be -auflicicnt to cause death to an infant if swallowed by it. The precautions tahen in its manufacture to prevent, the workmen from inhaling the dust pointed to the poisonous character of the paint. The doctor said this was the iirst case of the kind that he had heard of. .The tragic lesson should, not be ignored by parents.