Untitled

Clutha Leader, Volume II, Issue 79, 13 January 1876, Page 5

M_ G.. W: 'Hu'tchins yesterday entered into "possession' of his new dwelling-house.' _is business will be transferred to the new premises next week. ....

The sum of £161156 d has been collected during the year in .Balclutha towards the Dayspring mission fund.

It is stated that Mr E. N*. Legge, Of Helens■brook, Milton, is about .tor enter an aotion against •one; of the Insurance Companies in Dunedin for -"10,000 damages, arising from complications resulting from the late _re.

We understand Mr Robert Clark has disposed 'of the two handsome shops just erected by him "in Clyde-street, to Mr Gawn, saddler, Dunedru, •who is'-'-to, commence business in the one, the. •other being' to let.

! _t will he observed by an advertisement that 'the new premises of the Bank of New Zealand have now been opened for business. We trust "the amount of business will in some degree 'Correspond ;'with the superior accommodation now 'providedl

Our Milton correspondent reports that H. 'Wise and Co.'s traveller, Mr H, Seymour, has been very successful in taking orders tor Gully's " serie3 <f fac-simile water-color views of New Z. a- • land scenery to be executed in England in cromo- . lithograph during the present yearV

At the ordinary meeting of the local Lodge of f 6ood Templars on Friday evening, the second •and third degrees were conferred upon a number of the members. It was suggested that as a -large numbir.L&i now taken the degrees, a Degree Temple should be instituted, and it was arranged that a meeting should be held on the -evening.or Monday first to consider and decide ■ as to, the matter.

At one of his recent meetings with the electors of Port. Chalmers, Mr Reynolds is reported to _tave stated that'he had been requested to stand for Roslyn, Mataura, Waikaia, Bruce, Clutha, =and the -Grey Valley, to all of which he had made the reply that if he represented any place it would be Port Chalmers. Just so. Mr Reynolds said the same to the Danedin electors— "that if herepresented any place it would be Dnn--edin. But it would-be gratifying to the curiosity -of marly to know who asked him to stand for the Clutha. . Numbers have -been asked, but deny •.all knowledge of the matter. It would thus appear that either ihe statement is not true, or that the individual who perpetrated the joke is now ashamed of 'his action.

We are'inf ormed that the cultivation of the pop- " 'lar is rhighlyrecommended by the Scotch papers - f on account of its value for purpose Of lining railway, carriages" It has been long known that boards and timber is of great value for the -following purposes : —Dray shafts, dray floors, floors for brick and stone waggons, boxes for ■packing window glass, boxes for general packing, lining boards for houses, timber for joists, also 'for rft'ters, floors, a__ lai_a;.a_afor the following 'qualifications : — lightness, toughness, .hinflam- , -ability, and elasticity. It can be grown in any :_6il wherever there is moisture, and is admirably it-adapted to the soil of the Henley Estate, in the ■ Taieri swamp, where it might most successfully be planted -along the sides of the dykes and drainage These dykes would plant Hibout 500,000 trees, and allowing a failure of 5 per cent, in the 'first ten years, (which is a large -average), the estate ;. would have 475 000 trees, which at the rate of five shillings each.would • -come to £118,750, an easy and handsome return . -for.the outlay. Poplars are not affected by even . the most severe frosts.

-It is gratifying to know that the Messrs Macdonald, of Inch Clutha, are spiritedly carrying tout the enterprise commenced by their late lamented father, Mr Thomas Macdonald, in connection with the breedirrg of stock, especially ■ahorthorn'cattle. Mr George Macdonald purchased the other week the pure shorthorn bull '" Charlie Barry," bred by NathanieTCatchpole, "and lately landed ex Wave Queen, ffom London. " Charlie Barry "is roan color, and was calved •on 7th September, 1873. ■He was got by Oxford Prize out of Lady Lubbock, by Red Duke ; g d Buttercup, by Butterfly sth, 18,756 ; gg d Bella, "by Louis, 14,861 ; gg g d Lady Blanch, by .livers, 10,716 ; ggggd Raspberry, by Mozart, "11,830; g ggggd Cherry, by Stirling, 5,330; ggg.ggd Wide 2nd, by Frederick, 3,836. 'There -can -be no question, therefore, as to the purity of the breed. He cost 180 guineas, and is doubtless the best importation of the kind that has yet been introduced into the district before <or since the foundation pf the Colony. Messrs •Macdonald have already some very superior 'heifers, got by the celebrated white bull which took first prizes everywhere, but which has now -gone to Southland, and with the importation of '" Charlie Barry," there is every appearance that •the Macdonald herd of shorthorns will soon become a celebrated one throughout the Colonies. It is pleasing to see the young men of the district possessed of so laudable an ambition, and making such exertions to secure the object aimed •at. We are sure the inhabitants of the whole

-district will wish the Messrs Macdonald every •bucc?ss in their enterprise.

Inr last issue we referred to the large number of three men being at work at the new railway . -bridge here. The ' Daily Times ' of Saturday reports progressin the following terms : — " A fair is.,'now\ being made at Mr Mackay's -•"'contract for the erection of the railway bridge .'•'oyer 'the Molyneux, near Balclutha. Work was -^"commenced about six weeks or two months ago, -and there have bee. some difficulties in the way of making a start, but th«y nre now almost overcome. The weather was for sometime against anything being done, and the unusually high m L ,ate of the river this winter 'caused some delay ■ in/the floating down of timber required from the ■ Beaumont. The archway of masonry on the Dunedin side has to be completed hefore anything can be done. The archway is now almost "finished. There is' plenty of material (piles, - .earns, and timber) on the fground. Machinery -_.a3 been constructed and is ready for work. The prospect appears to be one of a^ favorable beginning of the work of the erection of the temporary •staging required in sinking the cylinders. The ponderous iron segments of the cylinders are now and have for a long time past been lying on the ' ground near the bridge site. The time allowed .or the work is a year from the commencement ef the contract." ; This would lead one naturally to suppose fhat very satisfactory arrangements and'progress had . 3en made by the new contractor. We do hot know the source of the ' Times' ' information, but the true state of matters in connection, with this unfortunate bridge is somewhat as follows:: — The contract (Mr Watson's) was given up on or about the 11th May. It was about the Bth September before it was re-let. No materials haa as yet-been ' laid down by Mr ' Mackay except porhaps -S' few Oregon planks, "nd; an old donkey engine. More than four months of summer weather have passed since Mr Mackay entered into, the contract, and ..during three weeks work has not "been done. "The ' *''! _mes ' says the contract is to be completed '•'within-, year from' the commencement — that is

■■.* eight-months from the present; date— which is ; ' .. vinaply^n impossibility. . At the. present rate of rbgross it will hot be completed in twenty yeara.

SOME difference of opinion prevails as to the growth of cocksfoot grass in this district. In M'Neil's paddock some stalks were pulled the other day which measured 6 feet 1 inch in length.

By the mail just arrived, Professor Coughtrey, of Dunedin, received intimation from the authorities of the University of Edinburgh that they would recognise him as a lecturer in Dunedin whose lectures would qualify for graduation in medicine in that University under the Scottish Universities Commissioners' Act of 1858.

The sound of the reaper ia now heard in this neighborhood. Messrs Tosh and Cossens have commenced cutting some self grovro oats, now Yellow, and as good a crop as we have ever seen. The stalks are at least 6 feet high, and proportionally strong, and as thick as they can stand.

There i 3 evident need for a little more police supervision in connection with our country hotels, especially when road contracts are being carried out in this neighbourhood. That supervision should be made to extend to the drink sold in such houses— judging from recent results that have occurred not a hundred miles from a main .ranch road now being improved.

A re.Clar onslaught was made on Christmas Day on an extensive shaggery on the banks of the Puerua stream. Several of the settlers turned out with gun in hand to make war on the shags, enemies deadly to the young trout so liberally placed in the Puerua "by the Acclimatisation Society. Up wards of 200 young and old fell before the sportsmen. Many of the shags however determinedly held their position, renderings second attack necessary, and affording an opportunity to our Balclutha Sportsmen to employ their skill in "gunnery" in a vay less' cruel and more profitable than in popping at gentle pigeons let loose for their special mark.

Immigration and Emigration at the Port of Dunedin for th© year ending [December 31st, 1875:-

The Clutha Shearing Match was held lately in Mr C. Anderson's wool shed, when eleven entries were received. The shearing taken all over was very good. The judges took a fancy to a style of shearing known in the old country, as Collie's style, and consequently they chose the three prize lots from pens of sheep shorn in that style. The conditions of match were the following, 2 sheep to be shorn in 40 minutes. The straightest. evenest, and most regular run, and the best met in the back of the sheep to be considerpd the pair entitled to the Ist prize. We would suggest to those gentlemen who aro interested in getting up the match, the desirability of having two different classes of shearing, as there are many men who can shear very well in the plain style, who may never have seen' fancy British Shearing, or a sheep coolied. The Melbourne Pastoral and Agricultural Association set great value on p*"ain shearing, aR they give £10 for a prize' For it the Judges were : — Messrs R. Moir, R. Houliston, and A. Armstrong. The competitors were : — Messrs Alex. King, J. King, W. S. Kerr, Adam King, G. Anderson, Arch. Anderson, J. Ravenhall, L. Camplell, A. Shillinglaw, and C Anderson. For best shorn pair of sheep. Ist prize, £2, W. S. Kerr ; 2nd do. £1, King; Srd do, 10s, A. Shillinglaw. For best shorn single sheep. Ist prize, 10s, J. King.

Our Milton correspondent writes : — The urinaries and closets at the railway station here are in a most disgraceful state, from the want of water to flush off their impurities. Although they have been provided with escape sewers and pines leading to them, the connecting pipes -whioh would conv«y water from the tanks have not bpen supplied hitherto. The consequence of this defect is a very serions inconvenience to passengers by train, , Besides this, only one closet is open of three; why the other two remain locked is a mystery, uniess from the want of water. It may be easily understood that in the hot summer weather we have at present, we experience no small dread of the consequences to public health. As we have already been visited by the, mild form of scarlet fever, may. we not with reason dread the unseen and odourless but not the less deadly malaria' which arises from these very causes. A. mon is paid to piitnp water for station purposes. Why is this not attended to.

The new school in connection with Catlin's River Saw Mils, was -opened on the evening of the 24th ultimo, when the event was celebrated by a concert and supper. . At 8 o'clock the people were to be seen crowding towards the school, both by the ordinary roads and by the river in boats. By half past' 8 o'clock upwards of 1 50 people had taken their seats, and after "listening to an appropriate opening address the concert was commenced. A number of excellent songs "both instrufnental and comic were sung, accompanied by the music of the violin and flute. The concert -was kept up till . ten o'clock when the company retired to enjoy an elegant and substantial supper prepared by Mesdames Andrews and Green, and which reflected the greatest credit upon the resourses of 'these ladies. Tea. coffee, and wine were plentiful, and it is wTfchy of notice that Mr Grpen presented a cask of beer for *he occasion. Supper over dancing was commenced, and was kept up till 4 o'clock the following morning, when all retired to their homes delighted with the whole proceedings. The proceeds amounted to the handsome sum of £13. 2s 6d, which are devoted to the .'library fund.

Mr James Maokay has lodged a protest against the return of Sir George Grey for the Thames on the ground that as he was already a member of the House, he was ineligible for another place. It is also reported that Rowe's election will be protested against on the ground that he or his committee had a room at a public house. It is also stated that Mitchell has protested against Vogel's return in case Grey be unseated. The following telegram appears in the ' Auckland Star' :-— "I have consulted 'May's Parliamentary Practice,' and it upholds my oninion about an elected member being ineligible for a second seat unless he resigns his first seat previous to nomination. Legal authority here is against Grey's election for the Thames. I will maintain mv protest against' his return. — Ja_e3 Maokay'"

The ' Sydney Morning Herald' has the following respecting the . San Francisco mail service : — " Sir Julius Yogel is said to he really coming out at last, and if the rumour is true it would be very convenient if he could take Sydney on his way to New^Zealand, and consult with this Government on the service generally. \nd it would be still more convenient if he could name 'someone in Sydney, or send someone from New Zealand who could act as plenipotentiary on behalf of the Colony.' For it is obviously difficult for our Government, in any. unforseen crisis, to act in any wav that shall give perfect satisfaction to ita ally. It can but do its best, but is always under the suspicion of having subordinated the interests of New Zealand to those of Kew South Wales."

A BAZAAR in aid (if the funds* of St. Peter's Church, Clinton, was held in the schoolhouse, 'Clinton, on New Year's Day. There were two stalls, besides the refreshment stand, presided over by.Mesdames Roberts, Curie, Steel, and Charlton, and the Misses. Tmmbles, Roberts, and Steel. Mrs Roberts lent "her piano for the occasion, and the playing of Misses. Roberts and E. : Trumble, contributed not a little to the success of the bazaar. The room was tastefully decorated with evergreens and the well filled stalls of really usefully articles, and pictures ranged along Ithe walls testified to the liberality and energy of the congregation. The total sum realised. was £86, and there, are a number of things left, which will be disposed of at some future time. Taking into •con-deraticra the size of the place, and that this i^ the -first affair of the kind ever held in Clinton, it went off well, and vre congratulate our friends on their suce'e-- .' { . *: . , , '

Deer are increasing very rapidly in the Tapa> nui district.

Pheasants and partridges are to he seen very frequently in and ' „round the bush at Tapanui.

Mullet, eels, and flounders are to be had in the Tokomairiro river, not far below Mr Popplewell's place. How is it that fish are scarce ?

ON boxing day John M'Kellar, Esq., and a partyof friends, at Tapanui, took a day's Deer shooting. They . secured four bucks, one of which weighed 2901b5: his horns alone weighed 401bs.

A. a late meeting of the Tapanui Ploughing Match Committee, it was resolved to offer as a first prize at the next annual match, a silver cup valued at L3O ; this is a step in advance again by the Tapanui people.

JoftN M'KEI'I'AR) Esq., of Tapanui, has lately let go a quantity of Californian Quail. They were of his own importation. This is a highly commendable action, and might be well copied by others in assisting to acclimatise fish and fowl of a superior nature to that which nature has supplied us with here.'

We observe that Young Baron, a fine stud draught horse, owned by Mr W. Montgomery, of Waihola Gorge, has become a great favorite with some of our farmers on account of his very promising appearance.

A MOVEMENT is on foot in and around Tapanui (and we are informed as far as Lake Wakatipu, unexpected support has been promised)for the inaugurating of a Central Agricultural and Pastoral Society, nimilar to the SkiptoD Agricultural and Pastoral Society in Australia. No less a sum than £400 has already been subscribed; this augurs ' well for the pluck and energy of the Tapanuities, and will compare favorably with any other district in New Zealand for liberality.

Mr. W. A. Baker, the representative of the Albion Brewery Company, has at last paid a visit to this district, and has received large orders for his celebrated ales. We cannot speak from personal experience of these ales, as we have not yet received our tasting sample, but we are reliably informed by an old Dunedin traveller — who "is fond of a drop of good beer" — that the Albion Brewing Company sends out the best article that he has yet tasted in the colony. There is much need for improvement in this district for this very useful beverage, and we have no doubt that as long as the new company continue to supply a good article it will meet with a steadily increasing demand.

Dunedin must be a nico place to live in, if the following taken from the ' Guardian' be an index of the morality of the inhabitants : — " We have been requsted to call the attention of the police to tho fact that a number of larrikins are in the habit of making the steps leading off Princesstreet, in the Cutting, a nightly rendezvous, where they lounge about smoke, and use language of the most vile description. Females are insulted in the grossest manner, and the ear's of passers up and down are assailed with expressions most abominable, or songs of the lewdest character. If a detecive, or a constable in plain clothes, would make it convenient at an early date to give these young gentleman a caution, as well as those who use the green at the top of the bank fer somewhat similar purposes, they would earn the thanks of the residents in the vicinity, and be nothing more than their duty.

Great indignation has been caused with the inhabitants in and around Tapanui by the Goernment giving the contract of carrying the mail between Clinton and Tapanui, to a contractor who carries it on horseback when last year it was distinctly stipulated that it was to be run by Coach. The present coach proprietor Messrs. Williams & Co., were the Inst contractor. 1 ?, and were paid for carrying two mails each way each week, but they carried three, the third being carried free, and now that the Government have got them fairly established on the line they allow a party to get the contract for a few pounds, of diffierence and thereby play a kind of cutthroat game with those who had done the work at. a fair rate of remuneration and endeavor to drive them off the road, and thereby deprive them (the public of Tapanui) of their line of coaches and a tri-weekly in place of a bi-weekly -mail as at present. It is a great pity that the same terms were not adhered to this year as last _• c. that the mail be carried by coach. We hope this complaint will yet receive the attention of the proper authorities, in answer to the numerously signed petition sent in.

On Friday the second day of the Tapanui Races, there was some four pounds odd collected for an Hospital Race, but owing to the late hour that the races were got off that day it was resolved to have the Hospital Race on Saturday, and in order to keep up the amusement for the remainder of the week, a £16 Handicap was got up, and for which the following horses were entered and ran :— J. Lawson's " Maniototo,'' 10sfc3lb; A. Kelly's "Day Dream," '9st 91b ; John Cameron's " Brutus," Bst 121 b ; E. Rain's "Welcome." The distance was 1£ miles, and was accomplished by " Day Dream " in 2 mm- 53 sec.' " Maniototo" ran second. For the Hospital race three horses only ran. The distance .was-1 mile, entry 2s 6d, the winning horse to receive the entrance money. Mr John Perry's " .ultan." Mr James White's " Cut the Wind," arid Mr Shaw's " Wild Harry" were the horses which ran, and the above is the order in which they came in, it being an easy victory for " Sultan." Mr White was not-satisfied, but challenged Mr Perry to rnn his horse for a second mile, (privately,) which Mr Perry accepted, and proved as before that " Sultan " was too many for " Cut tire Wind." Mr Perry very generously handed the proceeds of the match to the Hospital fund. Another match was run, between Mr W. Simmorid's "General," and Mv James Gavin's "Cannie Willie," owners up. This provsd a gift to the military gentleman, and finished the Tapanui race meeting of 1876.

Theß. M. Court, at Tapanui on Saturday last, was a busy day,' There Was some fifteen charges by the police, such as usually accompany festive meetings: There was one worthy of notice in Police v. Alex. M'Duff— information for a breach of the distillation act of 1868, charging defendant with selling spirits, he having a wholesale license under the licensing acts, and having neglected to register the same with the clerk of the court, as required by the distillation act. Mr Walter Taylor, (of Milton,) defended ; Sub Inspector Thompson conducted tho case for the prosecution, and called the informant, Constable Blair, who deposed that he had bought a bottle of brandy from the defendant afc his store, about the3ofch October last, that he had had repeated conversations "with the defen-ds-1 as to whether he had registered his wholesale license, and that the defendant had informed him that he had not done so, as he had been advised by Mr Taylor, (his solicitor,) that he could not do so before the first day of the year. For the defence Mr Taylor took a preliminary objection to the information which he apprehended wonld be fatal, viz:, under tbe I4olh. section of the - distillation act. the information required to be laid ' by the Chief Inspector of Distillery, or officer of Customs, arid could not be lodged by Constable Blair. The bench held this objection as, fatal and dismissed the case.

TH3 usual licensing meeting was held at Tapanui, on the Bth inst., before N. Woods. Esq., R.M., G. V. B. Poynter,. Esq., Capt. M'Kenzie, and J. F. Herbert, Eeq., J.P.s, when an application for transfer of the general license held by James Black of the Waipahi "Hotel, to ;.Tohn Knox was considered. An objection had been lodged by the Police, re the transfer, on the grounds that the proposed transferee had failed to conduct his former hotel at Clinton to the satisfaction of the public. Mr W. Taylor was specially retained, and appeared to support the application. Sub Inspector Thompson on behalf of the Pol ice supported the objection. Mr Taylor addressed the Bench on behalf of the applicant, and pointed out that th? charges were too vague to justify the Bench in depriving Knox of his means Of livelihood; also that the original license had been granted to Black, (the transferror,) without opposition, thus showing that a -censed house was required in the district, and that the petition presented by him, (Knox's Counsel,) 'to" the' Bench sb numerously signed by. influential gentlemen that Knox was a fit and proper person, 'must outweigh, the unsupported objection of the. Police. , The Bench .deliberated .or' a few moments and then decided to the transfer. .*' ■?- ' "•• .' , : ■;..'.; v.V

Mr George Capstiok was elected Clerk to the Tokomairiro Road Board on Monday last.

The crops in the Tapanui district are looking much better and more forward than in any other district we have visited.

Mr Geo. Maokay is finishing a handsome four-roomed cottage for his private residence, opposite the Chinese garden in Miltnn. He has laid down drainage tiles all round the property.

A pear tree in Mr Popplewell's garden, near Milton, is bearing a double lot of fruit, from its first and second flowering, at one and the same time.

Mr Mark DALE, of Canada Farm, Waihola Gorjre, will cut oats towards the end of this month. He has 100 acres of turnips which look splendidly.

Wheat cutting is expected to bo begun at Mr John M -Cellar's Homestead, at Tapanui, on Tuesday next, and which he expects will yield from 60 to 80 bushels to the acre. His oats are in as forward a condition.

Mails for the United Kingdom, &c., via Suez Mail, will be despatched from this (Balclutha) office, on Wednesday next, the 19bh inst., at 6.15. a.m.

A meeting of Committee of the Clutha Agricultural and Pastoral Society is called for Thursday next, in the Crown Hotel here.

At the Statutory meeting for the election of a School Committee, for the Tokomairiro Grammar School, for the ensuing year, the following gentlemen were elected : Messrs P. Cunninghame, A. Jon<_, H. Clnr_, R. Murray, W. Marshall, J. Inglis, Jas. Scott.

We notice that Mr W. Ayson. . butcher, Balclutha, has disposed of his retail business to Mr James Wilson, who was formerly in his employment. Mr Avson will in future devote his attention solely to the wholesale department of the business.

We. have much pleasure [in recommending 'H. Wise and Co.'s " Runholder's Map " for Otago, in which each Run is numbered and initialed with the name of the proprietor. Stock and station agents, runholders, agriculturists, and public men interested in the Waste Crown Lands of Otago, should avail themselves of this handy map.

We call attention to an advertisement of a meeting of the Lodge Dalton, M U.1. 0.0. F. The Purple Lecture, which has hitherto been given ouly in, Dunedin and Port Chalmers, will be delivered in the Dalton Lodge at 5 p.m. on Saturday, tire 22nd inst. We have no doubt the matter will create a great amount' of interest amongst the members of the Order, and- that there will be a full attendance on the occasion;-

The shipping business at Port Molyneux has been very busy of late. On Monday two of Mr Reid's ketches cleared out with full cargoes of wool and produce. On Tuesday a third left with wool and other cargo, and the Martha Reid is now loading up for Dunedin. She will sail on the arrival of the Balclutha with cargo from up river.

Mr Mosl.t held a meeting at Port Molyne.x on the evening of Thursday last. The meeting was called for the Schoolhouse but was adjourned to, the Alexandra Hotel, where the constituency was represented by a very few of the elector^. Mr Mosley received the thanks of the meeting, and a vote of confidence.

No attempt has yet been made to float the wreck of the Lady of the Lake. She is gradually sinking deeper in the sand, and there are indications of the funnel and steam chest giving way; She is so full of sand, and the water being flush with her deck, no one as yet has been able to find whether her hull has. sustained any serious damage. There is now less prospect than ever of her eventually being got off. .

At the meeting of householders and others of •Kaihiku on Monday evening the following gentlemen were elected a School Committee for the ensuing year : — Messrs 'John Johnston, George Johnston, W. Mudto, W. Chisholm, R. Sutherland, John Watt, Walter Nichol, M. Paterson, and J. A. Anderson.

Mr D. R. Popplewell's estate, down the Tokomairiro River is possessed of splendid soil. Judging from the clover and other grains it carries, it must contain - all those constituents which are required for the production 'M- good wheat. It is a pity that labor is so high, as flax and hemp could be successfully" produc-d ,upon it. The garden is literally loaded with fruit, one purple plumb tree being covered almost to breaking with fruit. The preserving season for small fruits is now at its height, and pans, jars, and jelly pots, are in general requisition.

IF a publican on New Year's Day finds himself., the possessor of two blackened • byes, ' and a bruised face, does riot that indicate that his house is not respectably conducted, or .that he has iiot been respectably conducting himself, or perhaps both? The last one "we 1 should say, and such a ' one should be reported to the Licensing Court, aid would be, if the police were as ready to h.ve i the law carried out in its bearing upon publicans' as they are upon the publican's miserable dupes and victims. ...

We have been asked how the. police allow tents to be erected by roadmen on the roadway, and if, in allowing this to be done,' they are not neglecting their duty? •We refer, the matter to our Sergeant of Police, aud will be giad.to give our correspondent the information he'ni.ay communicate. Ther« Can be no :dbubt that when drinking riota are being carried on. within such tents so situated, there must be considerable risk of danger to passers-by, especially on horseback or in buggies. In case of accident occurring, who would be responsible, the .dwellers in the tent' or the grog-seller, whose driDk has maddened them?

Every one in this quarter knows that for many months past a very great- scarcity, of dwelling houses has been felt in Balclutha. Indeed, so great has been this scarcity that parties have actually had to leave for want ■bf house room. Such a state of matters could not of course be allowed to continue, and we are glad to observe that the enterprise of the inhabitants is equal to the emergency. Mr Wm. Maitland has already two four-roo'ned cottages in course of erection in John-street, and we are informed that the contest for permission to occupy them is almost equal to that just over for the seat for Port Ch.Tmers in the General Assembly, but the candidates much more numerous. We hear it is Mr Maitland's intention to erect a few more of these cottages, and it will be, observed by an advertisement that Mr Dunne calls for tenders, for the erection of from one to four cottages.' These will always help to supply the present demand, but a large number, of additional houses will require to be erected before the. requirements of the township, present and prospective, are satisfied. . — . -■

A PICNIC of the'children attending the Presbyterian and Wesle'yan Sabbath Schools here, was ■ held at Mr Anderson's. Balmoral, on Saturday last. The weather was delightful, and there was a large attendance of 'juveniles. The Rev. Messrs M'Ara and Withey, and the Sunday School teachers were present, besides a few strangers from a distance, amongst whom were Mr M.'Leod of the Invercargill Grammer School, and Miss Brownlee and Miss M'Gregor, of Dunedin. The .children met in th. forenoon in the Pi-esby terian Church' arid proceeded to the river bank, fliers Mr Allan had his large boat in waiting, and in which .the whole were safely, ferried accross to the island. A short walk landed ■ them, at Balmoral, -where . they were heart'lv welcomed by Mr Anderson, ■who had •laid his grounds open for their enjoyment, and also supplied tbem with fruit ad libitum. The whole arrangements were carried out under the superintendence of Mr J. M. Russell, the oldest Sunday School teacher in the district, and everything passed off most successfully, "Tea and other refreshments were abundant; skipping ropes anrl swings were largely patronised by the girls; while the boys indulged in cricket, footVall, and otheir games. At half past 4 o'clock, the children ivere assembled, and .before -a service of tea swg several of Sankey's hymns led by ;MrI Dallas. ; After tea 'three hearty cheers "were ! given for Mr Anderson for his kindness, and- for I. Mr Allen: who had kindly given his boat free of. j charge for their; conveyance across the , river. -Cheers were also' given for the collector 'of the j Day. Sprtnig: ,mis,sionlfuhd,;and a. .start ; •was, * cry reluctantly made for, home, where L all. reached j safely, feeling delighted', with' the whole proceed, ings of the. day. -''■-' '-'. "y''YY ■; ; . >,;'■■ y

The arc of swimming is one of the branches to be taught in All Saints School, .Dunsdin.

A telegram from Wallington says : — " It is understood that Sir Julius Yogel will not return at once to New Zealand after arrival at Melbourne but go to Sydney to confer with the Government there as to the action to be taken by the two Colonies re the San Francisco mail contract and other matters.'"

Our readers will learn with unfeigned regret that the Rev. Mr Withey, of the English Church here is shortly to leave the district. He sometime ago tendered his resignation lo the Bishop, and we understand that the . same has been accepted by his Lordship. We learn that the resignation will take effect on the 15th proximo.

The annual meeting for the election of a School Committee, was held in the Waihola Gorge Schoolhouse, on Monday evening last. The following gentlemen wero elected a new Committee for the year, viz : — Messrs George Lindsay, John France, James Strain, Adam Oliver, 'John Gf. Grey, Wm. Chalmers, Wm. Smith, Donald Macdonald, and Wro. Raitt.

In our last issue we incidentally mentioned that arrangements were being made for a match between the Clutha and Tapanui jCricket Clubs. We are pleased to hear that they have now been completed, and that, should tho weather be favorable, the contending teams will meet at Clinton on Saturday, the 22hd inst.

It will be observed by an advertisement that a public meeting will be held at Kaitangata on Tuesday first, to appoint a committee to arrange as to straightening the creek between Tuakitoto Lake and the township, with a view to the prevention of the overflowing of the waters of the lake, and the consequent destruction of property. It is high time that some-fching were done in the matter, and we trust the settlers will show their interest in it by securing a large attendance at Tuesday's meeting.

We regret to learn that a young lad named Ewing a nephew of Ewing, of Brown, Ewing, and Co., Dunedin, while riding from Inch Clutha punt towards Mrs Bowlei _ on Saturday last, met with a serious accident. It is supposed he was by some means thrown from his horse, and when found he was lying upon the road insensible, with a wound on his forehead, and a stirrup and stirrup leather attached to his foot. It did not appear as if he had been dragged any distance, if at all. Dr Smith was at once sent for, and attended to the sufferer, He found him suffering from concussion of the brain. Up to the hour of our going to press he was still unconscious, but the symptoms were more favorable.

Our readers will regret to learn that an accident occurred at Stoney Creek on Saturday last by which an old and respected settler, and two ladies sustained serious injuries. It appears Mr Bower had gone with a spring cart to the railway station at Lovell's Flat to meet two friends, Mrs Lothian and Mrs Weir, who had come from Dunedin on a visit to Mr and Mrs Bower. Ou entering upon the main road from off the district road, the wheel struck the corner and the cart was capsized. Mrs Lothian sustained dislocation of th© shoulder, while Mrs Weir had several contused wounds on the face, and was much shaken. Mr Bower sustained a severe injury on the knee and was also severely crushed across the loins by the cart falling upon him. Dr Smith was sent for and did what was necessary, but Mr Bower is only progressing vety slowly, his injuries having been severe. The ladies were able to proceed home to Dmedin.

Mr. Reid's new steamer, "Matau," was launched at Dunedin Wharf a few days ago, and will be laid on to the Molyneux trade in a week or so. It is satisfactory to learn that the trade from Clutha is increasing by water carriage, notwithstanding the opposition caused by railway traffic. The river steamer "Balclutha," has been kept hard at work .carrying wool and pro : duce ih- connection with Mr Reid's outside vessels. The wreck ofthe "Lady of the Lake" will .cause a. little inconvenience until the new steameris fairly at work. Meantime freights will be taken te and from Dunedin by Mr. Reid's new schooner* . "Martha and Edith Reid," The pressure of the wool' trade from Oamaru, Riverton, and other ports has prevent c 1 Mr Reid from being able to supply steam communication for a week or. two. The "Coomerang^' was engaged for a trip or two at £100 a trip, but it was found impossible to take hen off the Riverton trade, in which' her owner, Mr Justone, is largely interested. The " Matau" will be at work before the e,nd of January V

As. an -lustration or truth of. the old proverb* about going' from home to get news we copy the following from^the ' Guardian' of Tuesday :— The driver, of a coach at Clutha was dealt with by some enraged passengers* who had been placed in . grevioua bodily fear by the* way.in. which Jehu drove furiously, in a very summary manner the other day. When the coach^ contrary to the expectation of the occupants, arrived at its' destintion in safety, one of the party, showed his, thankfulness, for. hay'n* escaped from the imminent danger' of being drawn over a precipice into the river,' at the rate of 15 miles an hour, by knocking coachee down, while some of -his companions poured forth a- torrent of abuse which must have been as great a punishment as. the blow. Coachee,' altogether belonging to a class who, as a rule, can project themselves with what they are wont to call, " their bunch of fives," bowed his head before an indignant majority, -and no doubt regretted that he had not put them. all in the river. Perhaps he mightif they had gone the return jpurney.. , . SOME considerably long drawn yarns find their way into print regarding the handiwork of " new chums;" who give themselves out as experienced and competent farm servants, or whatever other calling they may ' happen to " fc.ke to." The following however is a fact: — A Tokomairiro farmer recently, engaged. the. services ,of a Hew . arrival who gave out that he had had ample experience in all kinds of farm work. In- a few days he. was! sent .to sow turnips> and took to the field with him a bag of 40 lbs of seed. In a short time he returned to the house and asked his master foi- more seed. " What " replied he, " you had more seed than was required for the whole paddock ; how much , ground ■ have • you sown ?" . "Scarcely an acre and. it took the whole 1 ofthe seed to go over it." ; *' Thunder and ' < lightening ; 40 lbs of tuinip seed to the , _cTe !" The farmer is not characterised by the possession of the smoothest of teriipcrs, or a diffidence in freely expressing his sentiments .in whatever language may come first,, when it is.ruffled. The ' neighbors say that on the day in question there was a storm — a thorough brirristone burster:- j In order to meet the 'greatly, increased demand upon hotel accommodation . consequent, upon- the opening up of railway comrnunicaiion with Dunedin, the increase of population,' and the prosperity of the township. and tbecoun try generally, . the proprietors of , the principal hotels in Bal- . clutha have just erected large ~ additions to their ; establishments. Mr Dunne of the Newirrarket,has had nine new bed-rooms and a private sitting room added to his hotel, arid the whole is finished and furnished in a most substantial and elegant ' styje. - The new portion is i» the south wing] of. the building, is perfectly private and free from . all noise or . disagreeable element, which might', arise in connection with thh bar". • A' _neview| is • •obtained from the window of^the sitting room of: Balcutha, South Clutha, Puerua, t ani Warepa ranges, &c. The dinin? room bti'the ground.' floor has been enlarged, and it, together with a pretty little 'private ; parlor,- billiard rqojn, &_., v have < all he^n. refitted . and refurbished, . , .. Th c; billiard- table is one of, the " best in the Colony, being one of Allcock'a befctf make and:largest size: The whole establishment is ,now, in the.best order, nib a clean and comfortable . appearance aird' is v^Pv one of the best hotels in the Colony: '• No •doubt the advantages; it affords, will- be a'ppre-' . ciated. by - the travelling public and, others who may visit" us during the summer months.' " The : Crbwn Hotel is the other establishment referred : to. Regarding it, 'we mentioned sometime ago: that Mr Stanbrook had given the whole .building a thorough overhaul,' and in connection with it had erected alarge addition, or rather a separata' building adjoining, with- some fourteen'; rgointf, arid which is intended for- the use of the laiiif s/ aad private families, who desire comfort* and; privacy instead of the usual public rooms ot'a_: hotel. ; This-new building.has a private' entrance, ... and is arranged in suites of apartments— parlors, bedfoori-, &c. It is now'f ast approaching completion, and is expected ; tobe^finished.and--ready for.being occupied in the course., of ,a fortnight . It is intended to bobothco'mfbrtabla aid elegant," an* the carrying ont of thiscbuld not hem .etteiv •h,ands -> than . those ; of- Mr < Stanbrojikjr . ; X When oncei completed <it will be 'worthy .of a- visit o'.. : i ,'speotion. • - '••' '-'- „ "■ - : --' ! v,: - riiJ "--

A TENDER has been accepted for the section known as the Kartigi contract on the Dunedin and Moeraki line. The successful tenderers tsr j Messrs Munro and Culling, rf Moemki. '1 hi amount of the coritract'is £58,747 5s 10J. The work is to be completed within two years from the date of the acceptance of the contract.

The Mac Mahon Ministry expect to obtain a large Legislative majority at the general election for members of the Assembly. 1 The Duke DeCazes, the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, states the reason why the Government refused to purchase the Suez Canal shares when the property was tendered for sale to tho Ministry, was that the Mac Mahon Cabinet feared war with Germany. |

We are informed that a consignment of shrimps arrived the other day at Dunedin from Lyttleton. Their advent was at once hailed by an outburst of joy from hundreds of Dunedinites. They were retailed at one shilling per small tumblerful. We presume the Christchurch exporter will again try his luck, since our fishermen have not the enterprise to avail themselves of our own coast shrimping grounds. If the Otago fishermen would visit Moeraki bay they can obtain, with the assistance of a dip net or drag, a schooner load of these foreign marine luxuries in a few hours. __ We have seenthe shores of the bay for many miles covered with them after an easterly gale, and we are informed by Mr Leggatt, who has resided at Port Moeraki for many years, that it is no uncommon occurrence to see them many inches deep at such periods. This gentleman also informed us that he used them with great success as manure, and considers them better than guano or bone dust.

©wing to a press of meetings, both political and recreative, a report of the Interprovincial Pigeon Match was omitted in last issue. It is unnecessary now to give full details. The match was only contested by an Otago and an Auckland team. The conditions were as follows : -Three gentlemen were to be selected from each Province in New Zealand, to fire upon their own ground on Ist January, at 13 birds each, . 21 yards rise, 80 yards boiuuUry, from 3 traps placed 5 yards apart, guns not to exceed 'No. 12 guage, I^'oz. shot, powder unlimited) use of both barrels, first to score 2, second 1. Rules of the Henley Gun Club. Prize, cup, value 80 guineas. The selection of the. Otago team was left to Mr S. G. Smith, and the Dunedin gentlemen arrived at Balclutha by the early train. Here everything had been prepared for the contest by Mr S'anbrook of the Crown Hotel. After refreshments, the party went to the ground where the preliminaries were arranged. The Captain explained the rules, and made his final selection. The following are the total scores :- -Roberts, F. 15 ; Smith, Dr., 12 ; M'Kellar, D., 14 ; Lafchbury, W. H. 12 ; Edwards, G., 19; Dodsbn, T.. 23 ; Goodby, M., 16; M'Kellar, J., 14; Hodgkiuson, E., 14; Smith, S. G., 12 -Total, 151. At the conckis ion of the match, several sweepstakes were fired at double and single rises, and the party retired to the Crown Hotel, where some little convivialty and toast-drinking were indulged in until the hour arrived for the departure of the train. The following were the scores made by the Auckland team : — "Wynyard, .13 ; Russell, 19 ; Middleton,l2; Bishop, 19; Anderson, 11; Steele, 11 ; Aifcken, 10 ; Morrin, 15 ; Boosie, 17 ; Wood, 13 -Total, 140. It has, however, been discovered that through some misunderstanding the Auckland men only fired at ten birds, while the Otago team fired at thirteen birds, and the Auckknders therefore claim a victory. The result will in all probability be that the match will have to be fired over again.

The poll for a member to represent the district of Port Chalmers, in the General Assembly, was taken on Monday last, and resulted in the return of tho Hon. W. H. Reynolds by a majority of 56, the totals being : Mr Reynolds, 241 ; Mr Green, 185. The election was a very keenly contested one, and caused great excitement, and a greiter display of party feeling than any one that has yet taken place. The whole power of the General Government seems to have been arrayed on the side, of the Minister, while according to Mr Reynolds hehad to contend against the wholeMacbina-, tions of the Superintendent, the Provii cial Government and the League. Wo. gather from our Dunedin contemporaries that the plans of the Centralists were laid with consumate skill. Evory available vote had been marked down and canvassed for, votes even being sent for as far South as Catiiri _ River, and as far North as Oamaru. A compact phalanx of Voters were to arrive from Dunedin, 'and one or two from the Molyneux. •A3 to the town itself, it. underwent a house to house canvass, and nothing was left undone tha t had the remotest likelihood .of favouring the cause. Boats had been engaged to bring voters from Portobello and Purakanui, arid nearly every available vehicle was pressed into the service of the ; Centralists,- and,- * loudly placarded, scoured the , town to bring up voters from the opening of the poll to its close. Special trains had also ■ been engaged to bring voters from Dunedin and take .them^back again. Mr Reynolds had a very strong conynittee at Port Chalmers. Its members worked energetically on his behalf, and brought in every "available voter. He had also another committee in Dunedin, to whose exertions lie was very much indebted : mr deed, they brought to poll every man they had promised, with the exception of three. ,'One fact will serve, to show the energy with which the election was worked is that a steamer ' was" chartered to proceed to the -Heads for the purpose of bringing up an individual voter. Such exertions deserved success. A pity it is thp.y were hot displayed ih a better cause, than the picking up of the cast off clothes 'of the city of Dunedin.

Immigra- Emigra- Differ- : Chinese tion tion ence arrived. January ... lOfil 80 981 — February ... 1068 213 855 — March ... 844 166 678 253 April ... 366 235 331 — May .. 992 330 662 465 June ... 447 142 305 — July ... 577 120 457 3 August .. 405 112 383 — September ... 550 71 479 8 October ... 13«8 71 1317 8 November ... 272 44 228 2 December ... 1090 128 962 7 Totals ... 9150 1712 7438 740