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Clutha Leader, Volume I, Issue 39, 8 April 1875, Page 5

From Catlin's River we learn the following particulars regarding last menth's shipping trade : — Fourteen vessels, equal to 563 tons, arrived in, and ten, being equal to 399 torn, sailed from the river. Six of the number were despatched for Dunedin, two for Oamaru, and two for Waikouaiti. Eight were loaded at the new mill, and two at the Owake mill — the mill formerly wrought by Mr Stratford. Of late a good deal of westerly weather has prevailed, making it rather awkward for vessels bound to the southward. On the Ist instant, when our despatch left, the Fanny, Isabella, and Lloyds Herald were in port, the former being at the new mill, and the other two loading at the Owake. The Eliza M'Phee set sail that day for Timaru.

The following unclaimed letters are lying at the post-office, Balclutha : — Altx., Armstrong, Samuel Bowers, John Christie, Chairman District Road Board (Balmoral), Sandy G-arr, William Harvey, Alexr. Hamilton, Mr Hewitt, Isabella Marshall, Tysn. Reid, Robert Kirkwood, T. or J. Kearney, Mr Larkin, Arch. M' Arthur, P. Ramsay (2), Henry North, Mrs Tysn. Reid, R. Tweedie, Samuel M'Taggart.

Messrs Gillies and Street, Land Agents, Dunedin, write to us, notifying the sale of Sir John Larkins Cheese Richardson's estate, Willowmead, Puerua, to A. W. Morris, Esq „ as agent for the trustees of the late Robert Mackay, Esq., W.S., Edinburgh. Price and terms withheld.

It will be observed, from a perusal of the report of the District School Committee's meeting, held on Monday, that the examination of pupils attending the school, which was postponed from December last in consequence of a large proportion of the children having been withdrawn iroaa attendance through illness, has been fixed to take place at the Schoolhouse here on Wednesday, the 21st inst.

We have again to remind our Inch Clutha readers and others interested in tte bridging of the Matau of the meeting fixed for Monday, the 12th inst. The district members are expected to be present and take part in the proceedings.

We have pleasure in directing attention to an announcement in our advertising columns convening a meeting at the Temperance Hotel, Kaitangata, for the evening of Saturday next, 17 ih inst, for the purpose of adopting means for the establishment of a local building and investment society.

Our Clinton correspondent writes:— Dr Carr, the mesmerist, gave two seances at the Schoolhouse here, which were well attended, and otherwise successful. On the first occasion, after giving a highly instruitive address, he examined the " bumps'' of a number of the settlers, and elicited roars of laughter at the happy way in which he hit off the character and peculiar traits of his subjects. He next succeeded in mesmerising one of the audience, who, although usually of a quiet turn, kept the company highly amused by the natural and earnest manner in which he obeyed the orders of the Dr. On the second occasion he was even more successful, and obtained two subjects. Dr Carr also very kindly gave a lecture on Sabbath afternoon on the " Immortality of the Soul," highly philosophic and convincing, after which a collection was taken for the purpose of lighting the Schoolroom. — It is said that Mr Knox haa sold the .Royal Mail Hotel, and intends removing to Tapanui. — The travelling public will be glad to hear that there is to be a new hotel built at Clinton, when it is hoped there will be more choice of accommodation, and a chance of a quiet night's rest, between Dunedin and Invercargili.

We readily publish the following communication forwarded to IXr J. Q-. Smith, of this place :-—" Sir,— Your solicitor has directed my attention to a local paragraph which appeared in the columns of the Cjcutha Leader, of the 25th ult., alluding to a death . which occurred in this place during your absence in Dunedin. I have already informed you personally that the paragraph in question found its way into the columns of the journal at a time when I was absent from the district ; still, I can venture to say that, in giving it publicity, there was no intention whatever of casting the slightest reflection upon your general attention to the dutits of your profession. Speaking from my own personal knowledge, I should say that your conduct in this respect has been of the most exemplary character, and it is, I believe, an admitted fact that few rural districts of Otago are better provided for in that respect. My, attentioa has also been, drawn to a fact which I do not think was generally known when the paragraph in question was penned, viz., that you provided for your temporary absence by leaving a medical gentleman in your place, and that he was in close attendance upon the patient whose death is referred to in the paragraph. Under these circumstances, I think you will acquit the conductors of the journal of any intention of casting reflections upon yourself.-— I am, &c, Editor- Gmjtha Lbajxeb.

We understand that the promoters of the forthcoming race meeting argure tha best possible results from the character of the horses nominated. It is fully expected the races this year will be much betfer than they were last year. All the best horses of the day, with the exception of Templeton, have been nominated. They hail chiefly from Dunedin, Dunstan, &c. A few pounds are about to be expended on the the improvment of the course.

We observe from our advertising columns that tenders are called for an additional storey to the Newmarket Hotel. The travelling public will be pleased to learn that this well-known establishment is keeping pace with the times.

The building trade, and in fact trade generally, was never so brisk in the Clutha as it is at present. In the main street of the township, the foundation of a large two-storey tenement to be used as a Temperance Hotel has been laid. On the opposite side, similar preparations are going on for a concrete building for the Bank of New Zealand. Further up the street a large hall and adjoining premises are in course of re -construction, and we observe from our advertising columns that tenders are invited for ex ensive additions and alterations to be made upon the Newmarket Hotel. In the adjoining streets we have the Athenaeum, a large and commodious tenement nearly completed, as also a similar building for the Church of England, the frame- work for which is now well advanced. Lesser establishments-dwelling-houses, &c, are going up in nearly every # part of the town, and still the fact remains, that the demand for house accomraodatioa is far from being provided for. From the more remote districts serious eomplainfs come to hand regarding the want of labor. Catlin's River School Committee have been inviting tenders for months past for erection of a schoolhouse, without any response having been made. The road works at Popotunoa Gorge are almost at a stand-still for men. It was fully expected that when the harvesting was over the demand would be relieved. So far from that, it would seem the further the season advances the greater the scarcity becomes. To some considerable extent we have ourselves to blame for this state of things. Other districts are not quite ao badly offas we are, but these other districts did not distinguish themselves as Balc'utha did by negativing a proposal for establishing a local immigration depot. On Saturday last a lad in the employment of Mr Cameron, settler, Waiwera, met with a painful accident while driving a dray along the main road. From some cause or another the horse shied and the dray vras capsized against the fence. The wheel of the dray passed over the lad's leg, causing a compound commionited fracture close to the ankle. Dr Smith was promptly in attendance, and from what we can learn the lad is progressing favorably under his treatment.

Mr Rose, Post Office Inspector visited this place on Tuesday, when the following matters were brought under his notice :— The state of the Post Office building, Balclutha;; certain irregularities alleged to have taken place lately in connection with the delivery of newspapers at the Waikaka Post Office, also the unsatisfactory state of postal arrangements to and from Port Molyneux and Catlin's River. In reference to tVe first of these, Mr Uose stated that in consequence of the late additions made to the building, the postal authorities were not at all inclined to erect a new building. He would, however, be disposed to advise that certain improvements should be made. Regarding the Waikaka Post Office, complaints, he pointed out that the name was liable to be confounded with that of Waikawa,,. Waikivi, &c 9 and that the probabilities were that fact accounted for the miscarriage of the papers complained of. fie promised steps would be taken to prevent recurrence of a similar contingency. With respect to the complaints from Catlin's River, he thought the matter was one the postal authorities would be disposed to consider favorably if properly represented.

At the Dunedin sale yards last week there were sold, on account of those wellknown breeders, Messrs Tolmie, Anderson. Rich, Sise, M'lntyre. and others, 1450 merino rams, at from L3 to 14 4s each ; also, a shipment of American merino rams, at from LlO lOs to L36 103 each ; aleo, a shipment of 25 Lincoln ewes, at L37 10a each.

Aa illustrating the enormous additional value acquired of late by pastoral land, we may mention a circumstance that occurred at the land sale at the Mataura Bridge lately. On that occasion, a remnant (1600 acres) of land, left outside the Toi Toia Hundred boundary when it was declared, being considered too broken and limited to be worth obtaining a lease of by the original runholder (who had the right to renewal without premium) was submitted —not for sale, but for lease— at the ordinary rental paid for runs in Ofcago. The privilege of paying this rent (says the 'News') was esgerly competed for, and eventually the lease wa3 knocked down at a premium of L22Q — or nearly 3* per acre. .

The volumn of water in the Molyneux has for some time past been steadily decreasing, and considering the season of the year, the river is now unprecedentedly low. On the Quoa branch the notorious " mona meg,.'*— a large Bnag— is exposed Borne feet above the surface of the water. The creeks and bye-channels in the neighborhood of Finnegand, are all very low, some of them being completely dry.

At a. Committee meeting of the Clutha Building Society, held on the evening of Tuesday, it was resolved to take immediate steps to enlarge the baais of operations by re- casting, the rules with a view to the issuing of new shares periodically. This course says a correspondent, when carried into effect will enable parties to join the society upon more favorable terms. The' profits are steadily increasing,. • and new members will participate in the advantages thereof at once. _AU the difficulties incidental to the starting of the concern baying been overcome, the financial position of the society is now in a flourishing state. Erom the. increased population of the place, and the consequent demand for house accommodation, a considerable. number of snares will doubtless be taken up with the view to borrowing for the 'purpose of supplying the demand, which is certainly a much more sensible course than for parties to go on year after year paying rent to a landlord.

We have been requested to direct atten. titn to an announcement in our advertising columrs to the effect that no horse will be qualified to run in the Maiden Plate at the forthcoming races tlfat has won an advertised race exceeding Lls sterling.

At a meeting of the Athenaeum Com' mittee held la9t night, Messrs Crammond & Robertson were"appointed to act with the inspector in taking over the building from the contractor. Arrangements were made to obtain an immediate supply of periodic cab. The committee expect the Athenaeum will be opined in about a fortnight. Bishop JNTeville has intimated his willingness to give a lecture in aid ot the funds, on a date which will be announced next issue. The members present were Messrs Ritchie (chairman), Crammond, M'Owen, M'Ara, Kobertson Campbell, and Grtigor.

We understand that Mr F. Juliu?, so lonpr of the Camp Hotel, Milton, has taken the Royal Mail Hotel, Clinton, where he intends to make extensive alterations and additions for the comfort and convenience of his patrons. We feel sure that the cordial and business-like manner in which he meets his customers will secure for him the goodwill and patronage of all.

Although there is no real cause lor alarm, it is nevertheless a fact, that there is a large amount of sickness prevalent just now. Alluding to that circumstance, a correspondent says : — "I think it is high time that the attention of the Corporation's officer was directed to the sanitary s'ate of the town. He must be very short- sighted indeed if he cannot see a number of stagnant pools and filthy yards requiring attention at his hands.

We learn by telegram from Clinton, that a fire occurred on the premises of Mr F. C. Roberts last night. It waa first discovered in the woolahed where it is sup.posed to have broken out. The flames communicated with the 9tableg, which, together with the woolshed, were burnt to the ground. Fortunately there waa no wool in the shed at the time, otherwise the loss would have been much more aerioua, Mr Roberta's dwelling- house, together with a number of stacks were in eminent danger at one time ot igniting, but owing principally to the calmness of the night, the flames were confiued to the shed and stables. The origin of the fire is unknown.

Mr R. Grigor requests us to state for the information of farmers, settlers, and others, who have fivored him with th<?ir patronage, that he will hold fortnightly sales until further notice. And that to give increased facility to settlers from a distance for getting their stock cleared early in the day, the time will be changed from 2 o'clock as formerly to 11 a.m.

Detailed particulars of the launching of the new stern- wheel steamer will be found at page six.

On Sunday last, exactly as the clock struck the hour of noon, there went (writes the ' Tuapeka Times') to his final rest one of the best, most beloved, and generous hearted men that the Southern British colonies have seen. It must ever be a red letter day in the history of Lawrence that his Honor Judge Grey breathed his last in it. Nothing could we have desired more than when he had concluded his official career here, the relief which he would have found in being quit of tbe toils of office which he had faithfully fulfilled for ten years past, would have permitted him to regain his health. But fate ruled otherwise ; with the finale of his course as a judge of men, he was summoned to appear before the One in whose presence even .judges must render their account. Within three days from his sitting on the Bench of -Liwrence,. Mr Wilson Gray ceased to live.

The following acceptances have been made for tbe forthcoming Clutha Races : — Flying Handicap : Dowse's Kathleen, Cotton's Envy, Knox's Wee Lad, and Gow's Color Sergtant. For tbe Members' Handicap : Dowse's Kathleen, M 'Kay's Unknown, Cotton's Envy, White's Sir Tattan, and White's Atlas.