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Clutha Leader, Volume I, Issue 37, 25 March 1875, Page 5

A Dunedin correspondent writep: — Much regret is being felt in Dunedin with regard to the resignation of Mr Conyers, superintendent of the Dunedin railway station. We understand that he has joined Mr Davidson, who lately bought out Mr Wm. Wilson, of the Otago Foundiy. The consideration and urbanity disp'ayed by Mr Conyers in his official capacity will long render his resignation a matter of regret to all with whom he ha 9 had to do. Mr A, Mollison has successfully carried out his northern railway contract, having delivered in considerably less than contract time eight carriages and three locomotives, with their gearing, at Oamaru and Moeraki. The heavy draught of this contract tells well lor the northern roads construction, and has ended in a very satisfactory manner. We understand that Mr Mollison has a second northern contract on hand, and that part of the Gareloch cargo is commenced with. The Wellington has also railway stuff for the north. Mr W. F. Kinnear announces that he will deliver, at an early date, a series of lectures on " Water Lifters," as applied to irrigation and farm economy, as he passes through the upper Clutha and Tapanui districts. The M'Comae' chain pump will be fully detailed in conjunction with wind, steam, water, horse, cattle, and manual power. The Rev. Mr Williams, Wesleyan clergyman, who has labored with much success and acceptance in the Clutha circuit for the past two years, is, we regret to learn, about to be transferred to the North Island. On Sunday first Mr Williams will preach a farewell sermon in the Wesleyan Church, Balclutha, at the morning service. The floral artist in clay at Mr W. M. White's pottery works, at Milton, Tokomairiro, i 3 getting up a lot of twig vases and baskets beautifully decorated with lifelike imitations of the forget-me-not. The vases will contain groups of flowers tastefully arranged, consisting of f ushias, dahlias, dasies, roses in bloom and bud, the passion flower, the anemone, and the chrysanthemum. These articles when burned will give the flowers in white and the twig work in red. The ease and taste with which the artist fashions his work is quite a pleasure to witness. Mr Davidson, settler, Tuturau district, lately imported four very pretty 2 tooth Leicester rams. On the way up to his farm, the animals attracted a good deal of notice, which resulted in a bargain being struck between their owner and Messrs Steel and Roberts, by which they became the property of the last named gentlemen, at a cost of LlO each. It is just possible, writes our informant, that had these rams been better known even larger prices would have been obtained. They are of undeniably pure blood, being out of Murray's eyres, and got by an imported ram. The following' communication has been received by the secretary to the district railway committee :— " Dunedin, March 18th, 1875 : — Sir — lam directed to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 12th inst., together with copy of resolutions relative to the opening of the Clutha railway line for immediate traffic, and to inform you in reply that the General Government have been urged to give effect to the resolutions. As regards the survey of a line to Catlin's River, the Provincial Engineer Department has been directed to attend to this without delay.— -I am, &c, A. Wiixis, undersecretary." Within the last week a great change has come over the character of the weather. Late on Friday rain fell copiously. The early part of Saturday, however, was fine, and hopes were at one time entertained that the late spell of good weather had not yet taken its departure. Towards evening, however, a storm of wind and rain set in from the southward, accompanied by peals of thunder and a few flashes of lightning. Throughout Saturday night the storm raged with considerable fury. Sunday morning was again fine ; but about midday the storm once more set in, and up to the time at which we write it has continued ! without intermission. The cold at times ! was moet intense. What we presume to be the first snow of the season fell between Tuesday night and yesterday morning. The fall up-country must have been considerable; as we observe the Blue Mountain range covered with its winter coating down as far. as some of the lower spurs. The crops are as a rule pretty well secure, still we are aware of some outstanding. These cannot avoid being damaged by the inclemency of the weather. Messrs Wright, Stephenson, and Co. sold Mr PritchardV race-horse Pertobe, five year old, by Panic, out of Hester Grazebrook, on Monday. Bidding started at 100 guineas, and was continued languidly until 155 guineas was reached, at which price Fertobe was knocked down to Mr Alexander Patterson, livery stable keeper Oamaru.

We are again painfully called upon to record another death in our midst. The wile of Sergeant Finnegan, so long known and respected among us, has been suddenly and unexpectedly removed from us. The deceased lady had been ailing for one or two days previous, but no serious thoughts were entertained until Tuesday evening last, when her friends were sufficiently alarmed to telegraph to Tokomairiro for medical assittance (in the absence of Dr Smith from Clutha), and Dr Gillies arrived at a late hour, and remained until the sufferer expired, at an early hour yesterday morniDg. Deceased leaves a husband and five young children, as well as numerous friends, to mourn her loss, and was but 27 years of age. Not only will her untimely death be regretted in this district, but in other districts where she was equally known and respected. Sir John Richardson's lecture, in aid cf the Riverton Athenaeum, at the Oddfellowe Hall last evening, was, considering ths very ph >rt notice given, very well attended. The chair was occupied by his Worship the Mayor, who briefly introduced the lecturer to the audience. The subject choshen, " Central Asia," was handled in a very marsterly manner by the gallant East Indian veteran, who was listened to with great attention by those present. At the end of the lecture, a vote of thanks was given to Sir John Richardson. A fatal accident occured on the Clutha line at 7,30 on Monday morninsr. An engine was pushing two trucks and drawing one, proceeding from Milton toward s Balclutha, and taking men to work on the different sections of the line between Adams's and Cameron's crossing. A gate was blown or thrown across the rails, and upset the foremost truck, killing one of tbe werkpeople.aboy named Patrick Connor,the son of an old resident at Fairfax. Death was instantaneous, his brains beiag knocked out. The body was forwarded to Milton, At the inquest held at Tokomairiro on Tuesday, a verdict of accidental death was returned, with a recommendation by the jury that trucks should not be driven in front of the engine. At a meeting last. evening of the Ross, Inverneis, Argyle, and Bute Association, one hunered members were enrolled, and the following elected office-bearers:— Mr J. L. Gillies, president ; Mr John Maclean, vice- president; treasurer, Mr J. M. Jaraieson , local secretary, Mr A. M'Leod ; corresponding secretary, Mr A. Douglas ; directors, Messrs J. T. Mackerras, John M'Donald (Balclutha), J. A. M'Arthur, Alex. Grant, Kenneth Cameron (Shag Valley), Dr F. M'Bean Stewart (Toko mairiro), Hugh John M'Lean, W. N. Blair Alex. M'Gregor, George Calder, R. C. Ferguson, and John Campbell. — ' Dunedin Evening Star.'