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Clutha Leader, Volume I, Issue 19, 19 November 1874, Page 5

British and other mails via Suez will be despatched from the office here at 8 a.m. on Tuesday first, the 24th instant. After several weeks absence, we believe the Rev. Mr. M'Ara will occupy his pulpit here on Sunday first. — The Rev, Dr. Roseby, of Dunedin, will officiate in the Wesleyan Church in the forenoon. V/e observe another vocal company is about to visit Balclutha, and if we may take for granted what is announced in the advertisement, " Thatcher superseded," we will doubtless have a treat. The crops in the upper flat, Catlin's River, are looking very well indeed, but on the upper flat, where they were more effected by the severe weather, they : are not so. far iorward. We understand Mr. M'lntyre has just purchased from Mr. Green 100 acres of land upon the lower Owake Flat for the sum of LSOO. This ground was only purchased by Mr. Green a few years ago for L3OO. This speaks well for the district. L ; .ke other townships of greater pretensions, Tapanui is going a-head. Many new buildings are at present in course of erection to provide accommodation for the increasing population. The Commercial Hotel is to be considerably enlarged, and it is reported that a new hotel of large dimensions is about to be erected. Smith's Combination Troupe will give entertainments in Barr's Hall here tomorrow evening and on Saturday evening. In Dunedin, Invercargill, and wherever this Troupe have been, they have been mo3t successful ; and, from the reports of the Press, they seem to be far superior to any troupe of a similar kind which has hitherto visited the Colony. They haVe drawn very large audiences, and tbeir entertainments have given unqualified satisfaction. As to the manner ia which they are regarded by our contemporaries, the following specimen from the 'Southland Times' will suffice :■— " Considered collectively, the entertainment was admirable, and the same term applies to the individual performances. Mr; Turner is a pleasing serio-comic and falsetto oinger ; and for rendering grotesque melodies St. Vincent surpasses in artistic mirth- provoking power any singer we can call to mind. As yet we have said nothing of the celebrated gymnists, Verletti and Airec. Verletti on the horizontal bar is undeniably great, but Airec on the trapeze is, in our opinioD, greater. But both are artists of the first wafer, and their performances excel in artisticness anything of the kind which has ever before appeared in Southland, or, indeed, New Zealand. Both are indiscribable, and must be seen to be appreciated, but of Airec we will say that anything more entrancingly graceful and thrilling than his performances on the trapeze is scarcely imaginable."

Shearing has commenced at Catlin'f River. Some of the fleeces of Mr Andrew Lees' sheep weigh lilbs each. It will be. observed from an advertisement that Mr. Dunne's Royal Mail *Coach will in future run both ways between Balclutha and Kaitangata on the evenings oi Monday, Wednesday, arfd Saturday in each week. / We understand it has been decided to hold Tradesmen's Ra«es and other, sports at Balclutha oh N^w/oear's Day. The programme is now being prepared, and will be published so soon as completed. There was a very large attendance at 'the concert given last evening at Kaitangata in aid of the funds of the English Church, Balclutha. The whole passed off most successfully-, but, in consequence of the late hour and the distance, we are unable to give a fuller report in this issue. It has been arranged that a regatta will take place at the junetiodof the two rivers, Catlin's River, on Sararday, the 28th inst., and which is expected to be a great success. We beg to call attention to Messrs Wright, Stephenson and Co.'s sale of draught horses at the Provincial Yards, Dunedin, on Saturday first. Particulars in our advertising columns. Extensive improvements have already been started at Levuka wharf and pier in contemplation, of the naval stores about to be erected. We observe that for the sake of convenience, Mr Brewer's sale on Saturday will be held in his own store, next to the Temperance Hotel, instead of at Mr R. Grigor's sale rooms, as previously announced. We may mention that Mr Brewer's goods are new and really of a first-class description. It is seldom that such goods are exposed for sale by auction here, and we have no doubt there will be a very keen competition. The blossom upon the fruit trees in this quarter has been very abundant this spring and should the season prove favorable there is every liklihood that the crop of fruit will be a very large one. A miserly settler at Hamilton (Waikato) whose wife was on her death bed, refused to pay the travelling expenses of his son, whom the dying mother wished to see. After the woman died he bought a packing case, nailed a bit of black cloth oil it, on which be chalked her name, and thus she was buried.— Grey River Argus. A shoal of real mackerel is said to have appeared off the coast of Auckland a few days since. Some of the fish were brought to town and disposed/of on the Auckland wharf, where thev paused great attraction. They are, undoub/edly, the first mackerel that have been seen in these parts (says the paper from which we quote), and it is remarkable how they have found their way such a long distance from their usual grounds. We have heard of sheep coming by their death in many ways, but the most singular of any happened a few days ago on Sutherland and Poison's run. The Tuapeka Times pays : — One of the shepherds was driving a large flock on the ranges, and when they came to a sudden descent, they fell on the top of each other, and got piled up in a mass at the foot. When they were separated, upwards of 200 were found to be dead, having been completely' smothered. Mr A-. D, Duncan, of Tokomairiro, has just commenced business as Lemonade, Gingerbeer, Sodawater, aud Cordial Manufacturer in Balclutha. This is an addition to our local industries lor which there seems to be abundance of room, and we have no doubt Mr Duncan will have the hearty support of the town and district. Mr Hawthorne, Rector of the High School, is dangerously ill, and very slight hopes are entertained of his recovery. The. ' Daily Times ' says — He was first confined to his room on the Prince bf Wales's Birthday, and has been suffering from inflammation of the lungs and fever. On Sunday Mr Hawthorne had a very severe attack, and about eight o'clock on Tuesday evening welearnedJthathe was unconscious. Dr Hocken and Dr Hulme have been attending the unfortunate gentleman. News have reached us that Mr John Pearson's house, at Wetherstones, with all its contents, was totally destroyed by fire on Tuesday morning. The origin of the fire is unknown. The property Is reported to be insured in the Norwich Union office for L3oo> and in the Victoria for L2OO. We have observed several grass fires on the surrounding ridges of late. What of the pheasants' and partridges' nests ? 'j here must be eggs in many of them now, and of course they will be all roasted in the localities where the fires have been. Now that game are spreading all over these ridgee, a law should be pas?ed to prevent burning during certain months ot tbe year, same as in tbe home country. We Commend this subject to the attention of the Acclimatisation Society. A meeting of the "Working Committee of the Clutha Agricultural and Pastoral Association was held in the Crown Hotel, on Friday afternoon. There were present, the President in tbe chair, and Messrs Ayson, Tosh, J. Scott, G. Sco&V-Andereon, Petrie, Robson, Moir and M'Neil. A letter from the Provincial Secretary relative to the prizes to be offered by the Government for the best drainage plough (published in a late issue) was laid before the meeting. Several members expressed their gratification at the course the Government had adopted in the matter, but in consequence of its im« portance to the country its consideration was postponed till Kext meeting. The Secretary reported the progress which had been made in procuring special prizes, the arrangements for the show, etc.* Several new prizes were offered and ordered to be added to the published list, and 200 slips of the complete list were ordered to be printed for distribution by the Committee. It was resolved that there be two booths on the Snow ground, a publican's and a temperance booth, and that these be sold by Mr Grigor on the 21st inst. The following gentlemen weie appointed a Show Committee with power to complete all necessary arrangements Ayson, G. Scott, Tosh, Moir, .Petrie and Ander* son. The Show Couimittee met immediately thereafter, ami having inspected various paddocks in? the neighborhood, selected that belonging to Mr John M'Neil, in the rear of the Crown Hotel, as tht Show Ground. Upon application to Mi Grigor, auctioneer, that gentleman kiridlj granted the use of his store for the dairj produce exhibition. There was no othei business of importance before the 'Com--1 mittee.

9 ( , About L6OO waa taken in shillings at the * Rates at the Christchurch Agricultural Show on Thursday. ---=--- Mr. Whalley,. an official of the late !'Crot verhment of Fiji, and two friends, were drowned while going in a boat to a neighF bouring island. i Mr. Alexander Matheson is the successful tenderer for conveyance of the mails i between Beaumont, Tapanui, andSwitzers. ;. Mr Matheson has had the contract for the past eight years. t A son of Cakoba'u "nanfe'd William, who « is demented, lately tried to set 'fire to : several houses, and clubbed three women, injuring one severely. He has been placed* under restraint. There is now a prospect that the rdad Balclutha to Kaitangata will shortly be completed. Tenders are called in another, column for the construction of that portion along the river bank to the railway. The Rev. John Chapman Andrew, M.H.R., the Rev. Donald M'Naughton Stewart, D.D., the Hon. William Gisborhe, and Mr Theophilus Healey have been gazetted Fellows of the University of New Zealand. The following is the * Guardian's ' attempt at pun manufacturing . — Cremation has its advocates even in Dunedin. A certain medico, whose winter residence is not many miles distant from the Flagstaff Hill, is a strong supporter of the innovation, and a rival practitioner has been heard to aver that, although the medico in question cannot earn his living by his profession, he would have plenty of practice if he commenced to burn his dead. It is a burning shame to make such remarks as these about votaries of the noble science of cremation. A meeting with a view to the establishment of a Female Refuge in Christchurch was held in that place a few days since, when a committee was formed to collect subscriptions to supplement the sum of. L2OOO offered by the Government for that purpose. The measles epidemic has not yet abated in this quarter, and although many who were first attacked in the township are now convalescent, the disease is spreading throughout the country districts, and it would appear as if neither yOung nor old are to be missed, who have not hitherto had it. Some pretty severe cases have occurred, but no deaths, and the epidemic continues of a mild form so that it creates *very little fear or anxiety throughout the community. An oddfellows lodge was opened with great eclat at Catlin's River on Friday night, 6th inst. Messrs J. and W. Paterson, Burns, and others were present from Port Molyneux. The lodge having been opened 13 members were initiated. In Dr. Smith's absence, Dr. Andiews from Balclutha officiated. After the business of the lodge was over the members, with a large number of friends, sat down to an excellent supper prbvided by Mr Reay, and great credit is due to Mrs Reay and Mrs M'Lean for their exertions in connection with the matter, and to them the success of the whole is mainly d-ie. Supper over dancing was commenced and, interspersed with songs, was kept up with great spirit till long after King Sol had appeared the following day. Considerable dissatisfaction is felt and expressed in Tapanui for want of a local P.P., which is in this respect placed in a very anomalous position. There are, no doubt, gentlemen on the commission in the district, but these live at some distance from ; the township, and of course belong to the \ squatocracy. During the shearing season it is not at all likely they would feel inclined to leave their men and ride to town to hear a small debt case, or fine a man 10s for having imbibed a drop too much over night. There are no lack of gentlemen in the township who would do honor to the list of the ' great unpaid,' and the Government really ought to stndy the wants of the community and appoint one of them. The ' Southland News ' copies the recipe for diptheria recently sent us by Mr H. Bower, and published in this journal. Our contemporary adds : — "The medicine has at Jeaat the the merit of perfect harmlessness. I nfortunately its application to children of tender years would be practically impossible." The best evidence that our contemporary is mistaken as to the impossibility of administering the medicine to children of tender years is the fact that it has been given to children of about twelve monthß old, and that the cure was almost instantaneous. The fact is, it is equally applicable to young and old. The upper township of Kaitangata presented a very business-like appearance in the end of last week/and beginning of this when the two steamers Wallabi and Lady of the Lake wer,e/lying close to the jetty. These two vessels had come round with cylinders and othtr plant for the railway bridge at Balclutha, their return cargo being grain. A large number of men were engaged discharging and loading; Mr Macdonald's stores were alive with workmen, while his saw- mill and tonguing and grooving and dressing machines were, by their hideous noises, giving ample evidence that they also were fully engaged. The river bank and the road side were covered with all kinds of railway plant, produce, &c, while waggons and drays were so numerous as to have some difficulty in finding room t6 move along. The whole , presented somewhat the appearance of a small busy port town, and it is evident that if the trade is to increase, as it in every , likelihood will, more accommodation will have to be provided for the trade. The following contracts for roads have been accepted: — '• G-ravelling portions of . road between Silverstream and Maclean's i store, contracts 995 and 996 — W. Meade, :, L 64 10s and L 64 ss; 997— Jones and . Childrum, Ll4l 15s; 998— D. M'lntyre, i LlO6 15s 3d. Gravelling portions of the s road beyond West Taieii Bridge towards - Rough Bridge, contracts 992, 993, and 994 — W. Meade, L 59 18s Bd, Lsl 19s, and L7O 19s. J>o. 9§5, construction of a por- • tion of road . from Finnegand. to Port I Molyneux— James Muir, L 363" Is. If p. , 986, construction of road through Dicken- ' son's Flat, on road Waipabi to Tapanui — ■ Nelson and Hewston, i.1,583 3s 3d. No. I 984, construction of portion of road, , Clinton to Waipabe-^D. White, L 641 12s. , No. 957, • metalling on road. Southern ; Trunk to Hogg's Bridge— D. Sinnott, : LB7O 13b 4d. No. 989, metalling 70 chains t of road, Glenomarii to Catlin's River — f Anthony M'Gintry, L 463 8s 9d. No. 909, r construction of bridge and portion of road, ■■" Tapanui to Swift ' Creek' ha 9 riot been let. Government will do the work.

The Times of 23th October speaks highly df Fijian prospects held out by a competition going on for tbe Fiji trade between New Zealand and New South Wales. Mr. 6'Rbrke has joined the Auckland Provincial Executive, taking the orfice "Vacant b/y the death of Mr. Beveridge, Provincial Solicitor. Mr. O'Rorke does not „ take the title, but.it is understood he will do the solicitor's work. Since last issue two additions have been made to the prize list for the forthcoming Shbw — one a silver cup for the besl; shorthorn cow, and the Other one guinea for the best thoroughbred foal. Exhibitors of sheep will be good enough to bear in.mind that their entries must be made not later than Monday first, otherwise they will have to 1 provide their own pens. The entries of all other exhibits must be made not later than Thursday • vening — the evening before the Show. It is impossible to carry out the arrangements without confusion, unless this rule be strictly adhered. The Christchurch Metropolitan Agricultural Exhibition on Monday was a great success. The weather was fine, and there was an immense attendance. There were 224 exhibitors of sheep, 94 of cattle, 114 of horses, 15 of pigs, 19 of poultry, 14 of dogs, 47 of implements, 27 of dairy produce, and 51 of local manufactures. The sheep, cattle, horses, and implements were of splendid quality. There was close competition in every class. Messrs Sutton Bros.i, of Southland, took the Champion , Medal for Lincoln rams. The clipper ship May Qneen arrived at Port Chalmers from London on Friday. She has a good deal of cargo, and 60 passengers, all told, 53 of whom are second cabin and steerage passengers, none being Government immigrants. On the 28 th September* Henry Chase Edmonds, a saloon passenger, aged 34 years, died from acute mania and general debility. All the others arrived in good health. •Mr Steward addressed a meeting of the electors of the Waitaki district at tbe Volunteer Hall, Oamaru, on Thursday night. A resolution of thanks and entire confidence in Mr Steward was unanimously passed ; as also the following resolution : — " That this meeting is of opinion that the time has arrived for the abolition of Provincialism in the North Island, and the substitution therefor of a less costly system of government, securing the expenditure of the local revenue (alter deducting co> lonial charges) in the districts in which it is raised ; and is further of opinion that the abolition of the Provinces add substitution, of local government, with local expenditure of local revenue, should be extended to the Middle Island as soon as practicable." While Dr Andrews, of Balclutha, and Mr David Whytock, of Puerua, were driving along a sidling on the road Port Molyneux to Puerua on Friday last, the buggy overbalanced and capsized. The doctor was unhurt, but we regret to say tbat Mr Whytock rectived pretty 'severe injuries. He was», however, in good company, and his wounds and bruises were at once dressed by his fellow traveller. While Mr William Dalrfiesh of Waitepeka was out mustering sheep on Wednesday last, his horse fell upon his side, breaking the rider's leg. Mr Dalgliesh was shortly afterwards found by one of his shepherds-, to whose hut he was conveyed, and where he was attended by Dr Manning. He was taken home the following evening, and we are glad to say he is how progressing favorably. We learn from the contractor for ballasting -and laying the rails on the line Bal« clutha to Tokomairiro that the work is proceeding very satisfactorily. An effort is being made to have it completed by tbe new year. It is feared, however, that this will not be accomplished, but it will be very shortly thereafter. The lirie will then at once be opened for traffic from Balclutha to Dunedin, with the exception of the Taieri section. This portion,, however, cannot be opened for some months to come, the delay being occasioned by the time necessary to erect the bridges across the Taieri and Waihola rivers. It is generally known in the Clutha district that the vexed question of whether the Clutha and Mataura line ot railway shall go by the Four-Mile Creek or by the Waitepeka Valley is to be referred to Engineer -in - Chief for his report. We, however, give below the letter of the Minister for Public Works bearing on the question. "Public Works Office, Wellington. — Sir, — I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt Of your letter of the 28th September, relative tb the deviation of the Mataura and. Clinton line of railway via Waitepeka, arid to inform you that jt has been referred to the Engineer -in- Chief for his report. —l am, &c, (Signed) Edwabd RichabdsoSt.— Td J. W. Thomson, Esq., M.H.R." We are informed on very reliable authority that the timber which is being U6ed for piles in the construction of the Port Molyneui Jetty is nothing more nor less than mero. Anyone who has a little experience of the qualities and ue'es of the different kinds of New Zealand woods are perfectly well aware that it would be difficult to find a description of timber less adapted for withstanding the action of water or 1 weather than' merd. Us outward appearance, in a few aspects-, resembles black pine — a hard and durable wood ; and we can orily charitably supobse that it is through some incapacity on the par.t of the contractor for the work, dr of the Government Inspector, to distinguish between the. two sorts bf wood, and not because it is the > timber named in the Government specification that the public money is being wasted — not by any means. for the first time. in the carrying outoi work of this description. Although the late firm bf driver, Stewart, and Co. has' been dissolved, we are: pleased tb state that Mr. Henry Driver will still continue to conduct the same business as that relinquished hy hislate firm ; and as a guarantee that he desires to maintain his large business connection with the district, be has placed at the disposal of the Cofhmittee of the Clutha Agricultural and Pastoral Society^ silver cup, the value of Lid, which : , the Committee have determined to award, to. the best shorthomed cow, of any age, exhibited at the Annual Show on 27th mist., We notice that Mr William Ayson has commenced business as butcher ip those premises lately occupied - 'by : Mr William Renton in Clyde- street, here; . A Jafge business has hitherto been carried priori those premises, and we have no-doubt X\xii with Mr Ayson's energy and- -'perseverance' J and the ample means at his cpmmandidtbVe trade will now be largely. 'IncreasfdT'y / -

J Sir James Fergiisson was entertained at a farewell dinner by the metdbers of the Wellington Club on Saturday evening. , His Excellency finally left Wellington S|: his yacht oh Monday evening, accompanied by Major Campbell and Dr Pollen. Only ; about fifty people 'were presetit oh the ■ wharf to "witness his -"departure. , In connection with -the death by drowning of John Mdrtdh, engineer bf (the Wallabi, on Friday last (report of iii'que'st ifa> another column) we may mention that the deceased had recently insured- hifl life for L4OO, only the first premium having been paid. His widow and young family are, therefore not left dependent iipbn public . charity, as so many have of late been by similar misfortunes. This special instance df the advantages "to be derived from life assurance should induce others 'tb folio vr the laudable example of the deceased' in thifc matter. . , .