Untitled

Clutha Leader, Volume II, Issue 89, 23 March 1876, Page 5

We have till now purposely abstained from reminding those who have the necessary qualification for exercising the franchise, of the necessity of seeing to their names being enrolled upon the electoral roll before the expiration of the present month. Our reason was because we knew from past .experience that so strong is the spirit of procrastination abroad, that let U3 urge the matter ever so strongly, any action in the matter would be put off till the last day, and then probably be altogether forgotten. As it is we have now simply to say that the application must be lodged with the returning officer on or before to-morrow week, otherwise the opportunity will be let slip, and those who neglect it will be unable to take part in the political affairs of the country — by voting — till October, 1877. We have now to call attention to one or two clauses in an Act to amend the law relating to the representation of electors, passed at last Session of tbe General Assembly. Clause 3 says-*-

On the thirty -first day in the month of March in every year, or if that day fall on a Sunday then on the thirtieth day of the said month, the Clerk of every governing body shall compile an alphabetical list of all those persons, being males of twenty-one years or upwards, who shall have been assessed to shall have made payment of any 1-ate struck by such governing body in respect of rateable property situate, in an electoral district within the year ending on the thirtieth day of March then instant. » Clause 4 says — Every such list when so prepared shall be signed by the Clerk and shall be countersigned by the Mayor, and shall be forwarded to the Re-, istration Officer for the electoral district within which the municipality highway or road district or other division of the colony ( imder the control of such governing body shall he situate, on or before the seventh day of the' month of April in each year. The names contained it these lists will be dealt, with in the same manner as claims sent in in the form prescribed by the " Registration of Electors Act, 1866."

By another Act passed last Session a new qualification is created— the lodgers' franchise. According* to this Act every person is entitled to be registered and to vote who is qualified, as follows : —

1. Is of full age, and not subject to any legal incapacity. 2. — As a lodger has occupied in the same electoral district, separately, and asa sole tenant, for twelve months proceeding the last day of December in any year, the same lodgings, such lodgings being part of one and the same dwelling house, and of a clear yearly value, if let unfurnished, of ten pounds or upwards, 3. —Has resided in such lodgings during the twelve months immediately proceeding the la3t day of December in such year, and has claimed to be registered as a voter at the next ensuing registration of voters."

We much fear that in complying with the provisions of the Acts quoted, considerable difficulties, complications, and mistakes will result. To avoid these it will be the duty of every one to carefully study the matter, and perhaps seek advice ol those who are in a position to afford it. One thing- is clear, that the new Act throws considerable additional labor upon the clerks to governing bodies, and while nothing- is said of remuneration, a heavy penalty is imposed for neglect. This seems, scarcely fair. Another point we may refer to and that is that the new Act is likely to .prove of assistance to local, governing bodies in the collection of their rates, as only those who have paid for the past year can be placed upon the electoral, rolls by the clerks referred to. This provision all will approve of — -except those who are in arrear, and who may . be interested in the half-yearly balance of the .banks, which is struck -upon the same day. In case of any mistake with tne, making up of the lists by governing bodies, we would advise all ,to get filled up and sent in, applications in the form required by the 1866 Act. For the ..convenience of the public we have procured a number, of forms, and shall .be. glad to supply those who may require them. We have ohly^to repeat that to-morrow, weekis thelast day- for ; lodging, applications with the (returning officer* . . ...

To-DAY (Thursday) being anniversary of tlie Province, Sunday hours will be observed at all Telegraph Officeß in the Province ; and the Post Offices will be closed all day. ]

Mr and Mrs Bates.have announced that they will shortly visit Balclutha. Their drawing-room entertainments are exceedingly popular in Dunedin, and mo doubt they will, be well received here. • ' - i

A correspondent says, .he. .noticed dense clouds of cabbage blight flies^coming from Seaward in the neighborhood of, Mataura last w.eek. wind on ch.tnging to the - north-west blew them back again.

The highway, road from Clinton to Otaria is in very good order. From Otaria to Mataura Government contractors are - actively engaged in constructing culverts arid pitchincr and metalling formations. The foad is also being improved by cuttings ahd levelling. ..'

Mr w. Pollock, of the Otaria Hotel, has laid down 100 loads of gravel and stone rubble on the main road approaches to and from his botel and in front of the stable. . Formerly this was a complete' bog. Mr Pollock has also ■ extehsively renewed the furnishing of the hoW, bedrooms, &c.

The Annual Meeting of members of the Church of England in the Balclutha district was convened for Monday last, but owing to the inclement weather the attendance was So small that the meeting was adjourned until Monday next, at 7.30 p.m., in the Church. \ Harvest Thanksgiving Services are to be held iii^t Marks Chinch, Balcliiblia, on. Sunday next — Horning and evening; and in St Marys Church, Inc\i, % Clutha, ou Saturday, April 2nd, at 11 a.m.

Hix ."Worship had but a short sitting in the R. M. Court yesterday. • Three cases only were called — T)urme v. laglisi claim of S,i 18s ; Kirn v, Willis, -£\. 18s 6d; and Stowart v. Shand, £16 19s 6d. Th&re was no appearance for the defendants, and it. each case judgment was given for the plaintiff Vlfch costs. " ''■'■'

THE * IllustraUd New Zealand Herald » for the present monftt -well sustains the character that, journal has ,nW secured throughout the colony, The yiewa a>e excellent, and the reading matter interesting. We call special attention to this publication, as we Ho not believe it receives that support its merits der&rve. Being only published once a month, it is inexpensive and'ought to be supported by every body.

One of the lodal journals states on trustworthy authority that a bed of; lignite has been discovered within the Municipal boundaries of Invercargill. One of the residents, while digging a well on his section, on the bluff road, came upon a seam of lignite, which he found at that particular spot to be fully 5 feet in thickness.

This is how they do things in Auckland — not Dunedin. The 'Thames Advertiser' says : — **The representative "Volunteers will arrive in the Manuka this morning from Wanganui. The Auckland Volunteers are to send a band out to Onehunga to accompany the men and play them into town. The Volunteers will themselves turn out on the occasion, and a luncheon is to be pi*epared foi* the guests and themselves in the drillshed. It is intended to give Volunteer Armstrong a dinner on his return to the Thames, but the date will not be fixed until it is known whether he will remain in Auckland for any time or come on to the Thames per first steamer after arrival.

The Editor of the ' South Canterbury Times, has written in the form of a leading article a peri and ink sketch of the literary career his brother of the 'Timaiu Herald,' andM.H.R. for Geraldine. This is about the mildest portion of the column and a half: — " He is like a snake in the grass, no one is safe whom he may perchance fall across, either male or female, it matters little to him. He hisses, and with head extended pounces upon his unlucky victim, with unerring precision, and his poisonous fangs take due effect upon him, who smarts under the poisonous satire unable to answer the villanous attack upon his actions.

A bullock killed at the Slaughter-house on Saturday was found to contain in its stomach a rather peculiar assortment of articles amongst v Inch may be mentioned half a pound of duck shot in the form of a ball, a quantity of pins, several hair pins, half a dozen buttons, several nails, a four bladcd penknife, and other things of a like'sort — in fact a small hardware shop. This ordinarily indigestible diet appeared to have agreed wifch it. as the animal was in excellent condition. How it could huve obtained these luxuries mentioned is. a, mystery, but it evidently fattened on " hard" fare.—' Evening News.'

We have to acknowledge receipt of the first number of;"; The Otago Licensed Victullers' Gazette," published by Messrs ..Matthews, Baxter, and Co., Dunedin.- It is Well advertised, very well brought- out, and. contains a considerable amount , of Very readable The hame stamps the character of the paper. Apparently tlie' promoters' are dissatisfied with the present licensing law, but do not say the eXact nature of the amendments they desire. One thing is stated with sufficient plainness, viz., "that Sunday trading < within limits) is a necessity, aiid that the observance of the law as it stands at piesent is simply impossible." . No doubt we shall be enlightened as to the . alterations necessary in future issues: •'

We have to acknowledge receipt of the ' New Zealand Liberator,-' published by Messrs Coulls and Culling, of Dunedin. Our young contemporary is a special and uncompromising temperance advocate, and intends to fight to the bitter end.: Thus j— A ; The clang of the battle may be loud, the onslaught may be fierce, and the contest long and determined, but of victory we have not the shadow of a doubt. . Friends may forsake us, our foes may be m^ny and cruel, our contemporaries may rush at us with open mouth and loudly denounce us, but the memory of the slain ! the groans of the dying ! the chains of the slave ! and the vision o f Liberty ! shall nerve us to prolong the strife till loud and long huzzas shall proclaim that universal man is safe from the inebriating curse.""

There was a very large attendance on Saturday night to witness the performance by a detachment of Wilson's Palace Circus Company. The performance, however, had little m6re than commenced when the wiod assumed a force too strong for the tent which speedily gayo way, and in places was soon torn to shreds. ' The performance so far as it went was exceedingly good, the horses giving evidence of a course of training superior to anything ever witnessed in these parts. It was unfortunate that it had to be brought to so abrupt a termination, but it was through ne fault of the manager or the company, and the disappointment was received by the public with- good grace, net a single complaint being heard.

A special prize is offered in connexion with the forthcoming Balclutha Jockey Club Races. Messrs Cowie and Richardson, with their usual liberality, determined as they are to support every thing in the shape of recreation and amusement, have decided upon giving a valuable Saddle, to be run far on the Second day of the races, by hacks ' belongiug only to the district. We have had an opportunity of inspecting the prize offered, and doubt not that a number of entries will be f of thcbming f ot the same. Apart from the value of tlie saddle, which is of; their own manufacture, we would direct the special attention of owners of hacks to this race.

Cricket Notes. —Should the weathei* pi'ove faVorable on Saturday next,, the match Town v Country, will be played in Mr Paterson's paddock. The town team will be selected 'from the following, viz: —Clark, Davfs, HaWs6n, FrutChins Hennessy, Loudon, Mason,. M'lntyre, M'jSirr, Renner," goanbrook,. J, Smith, and H. Smith. Country Team. R. M'Kay, Cook, M6ore, Joseph John, and William Anderson James, William, and George Johnston, Moffat, and T, M'Kay. We are rather afraid the ground will be too wet, without the weather improves at once. A match between the Albion (Milton) and Star (Balclutha) Cricket Clubs, took place on. the. Bruce Club ground at TSlilton, oh Saturday last. 1. The ground was very wet indeed. It was supposed that the two .teams would be ! composed of juveniles,- but the , Albions : played, Browne, MatheWsori, and. Norrie, three members of the Bruce Club, who are far better piny era than any of the Albions. The ,albipns . won the; match •by 31 runs, the score's being ; Albienffirst innings 38, second. 32. Stars 'first innings ; 2l_' ; second 18. For the Stars 3J. Smith made the'highest score, theref ore wins Mr .Dunne\bat«'vA ,- „...-. : ,

A telegram from Sydney says— -Victoria com- . bines with New South Wales to send a team of riflemen to Philadelphia, and it is suggested that two New Zealand representatives should be selected. Seeing, that the Clutha representatives at the late Colonial Prize Firing are so far ahead bf anyone in this country it is to be hoped the suggestion; will he acted upon, so that they may have an opportunity of meeting- with foemen worthy of their steel. ! '' ' ' j li' will be observed that, a late 1 train will leave Dunedin at 6,45 to-night, to-morrow night, and : Saturday nighty for the convenience of .those ; from the Clutha district who may attend the races. Our sporting friends need not, therefore, ■ be expected home till half-past 10 or 11 o'clock. We mention this to obviate the anxiety of those , who remain at homeland might expect their friends home with the ordinary train at 8 'o'clock. If they twei'e not made aware of the late train,, they would of course imagine that all sorts ef , evil had befallen them.

Mr Anthony Trollope, writing from San, Francisco iii a letted regarding the wild borrowing scbeihes atd financial position of New Zealand says :-'-Such a system may last the time, ah* may answer the purposes, of this or that bold and speculative politician; but With a country as with an individual, the ' time will'xome when ■ debs must be paid or bankruptcy .ensue. I do not predict bankruptcy to New Zealand. The ' mother country Would probably save sd Well ; loved a colony trotn that position. But if she . did so she would demand to have the management of its finances for a time in her own hands. It seems to me to be quite possible that Sir Julius Yogel, if he remain long enough in 'power, may bring New Zealand to this. condition.

The .' Mercury,' papier, referring t6 the ftttempts made by Sir Julius Vogelto gain over Mr Fitzherbert to his party, and the utter hopelessness of any temporising he may attempt with Sir George Grey, continues : —lt is rumored, now that the next conversion Sir Julius contemplates is that of Mr Macandrew, and to that end he proposes to make a visit shortly to Dunedin. So far as the , Superintendent of Otago himself is concerned, ahe Premier . might obtain a fairly easy conquest, but Mr Macandrew is not in a position to ignore the results of the last elections. It will take guarantees of an extremely material character to convince the people of Otago that the primary- policy of the present Government is not the unity of the colonial purse. One purse means one land fund, and O.bagb is not going to part with its revenue without : a '-struggle; If in his missionary labors Sir Julius succeeds in showing the people of Otago how much, more independent and wealthy their province would be, stripped of its land fund, then he possesses greater powers of persuasion than for which we give him credit. "' ' "■*'''

A meeting of electors was held in the Council Chambers at 'noon on Friday last for the purpose of nominating candidates for the office of councillor for West Ward, in room of Mr Alexander Stewart resigned. His Worship the Mayor presided, and after the usual preliminaries, called upon the Clerk to read the nominations, which were those of John Dunne and F. S. Canning. The latter was found to be informal, and Mr Dunne was declared duly elected. Mr Dunne in the course of a few remarks, expressed his regret that the error had occurred in the filling up of the Cther nomination form, but he 'thought anyone might be excused in making such a mistake, as it would take a Philadelphia Lawyer, jo know how.,to-fill up such an absurd form." He thought the sooner it wag altered the better. Heheartily thanked the electors for the 'confidence they had placed in him by returning him to the Council. He assured them he would always be ready to sacrifice his own time f ox the public good. He believed that Balclutha stood in as good a position financially, as any other Municipality in. the Colony. He would oppose heavy taxation, and thought all wprks in the meantime necessary could be carried out without this. He had. no .doubt that the whole of the Councillors would work harmoniously and amicably together for the good of the town generally. A vote of thanks to the Mayor concluded the proceedings.

THE Mokerita (Wyndham), farmers, have had good crops this year, despite the frost which touched some portions of their grain. Mr James Cushine used his frosted wheat to thatch his stacks, which was much wiser than burning it. His farm is very good land, growmg clovor and grass of firstrate quality. Mr Mime's land, in the same district is very superior, and portions of it are highly adapted for tho production of ch.ver and turnips. Mr Andrew Noble's farm which is situated nearer the side of the Western Downs, is splendid wheat laud, even surpassing the far-famed " Queen's Flat horfiestead " of Mr Edward Menlove, of the Waireka, Oamaru, which gave fifty bushels of wheat to the acre, Mr Noble's giving last year fifty-five bushels average throughout. He has just finished his harvest, and expresses himself thoroughly satisfied with the results. Harvesters got 7s per day and found in the district. The oat crop has been particularly good. The turnip and root crop generally very good. The roads in this direction are generally formed, and culverts constructed. There is, however some agitation going on in relation to the formation of Road Board. The Tuturau district bounds Mokerita to the northward, and is pretty thickly covered with farms. The crops, together with the class of land is very similar to that we have just described, with the exception that the country is more broken in character.

IN" our report in last issue of the ball and supper given here to the Clutha. representatives ab the Colonial Prize Firiug, reference was casually made to the petty spirit of envy evinced by the Dunedin Volunteers at the belt having been secured by a Clutha instead of a Dunedin representative. For the fact that such a feeling existed, we relied upon remarks that reached us from town upon the subject, the incredulous and sneering reports that were circulated with reference to the scores made by . Willocks and others here before their departure for Vvanganui, and the cold reception they met with in Dunedin on their return. Our Dunedin contemporaries have taken uf> to task sorhewhat severely 'for even hinting" that Dunedin could bo jealous *of the Clutha, and the 'Daily Times' says t- "We believe we are s >eakiug the mind of all the Dunedin Volunteers when wb utterly repudiate the idea of the existence 6f such a spirit in Dunedin. Corporal Willocks won the beit by his assiduous exertions, and hone are more glad than the Volunteers of Dunedin. that his efforts were successful." Just so ; we .were. glad to hear that such was the opinion of our contemporary, although We dohbted whether in his Case, "'the wish was not father to the thought.? A.s a test we resolved to leave the matter to tbe' result of the ball given td the represeritati«/es in Dunedin on Friday evening. No one. dan doubt but that had the belt gone to Dunedin, the ball would have proved, as it should have been, a successful and enthusiastic one. What tfas tTae fact? The ' Daily Times ' says. " The ball wsj* not very successful. , About fifty couples were present, and ladies were at a premium. Dancing was kept up till a late hour in the morning." The ' Guardian ' is sorry it cannot" give a favorable account of the ball. "There were only about a dozen ladies preserit. At about 11 o'clock it was' deemed advisable to postpone the' whole affair for a month. Those who were there, however, enjoyed a few dances until 12 o'clock, "when the company separated*. We hope that we shall be able to report more favorably of.the next event.'.' The ' Star ' says plainly it w.aa '.'a failure. '.'\S6 small was the 'attendance of ladies,' that 1 at one time a postponement was, seriously thought ,of. . Atl'>.&o : a start was made, and " those present, made the most of "the excellent 'inune provided: by the band, led "by Mr Leech and: West.. ; We believe dancing was kept up jtill.3 o'clock." These reports, „ conflicting though tlxey , be on several point's, all agree' as "to the ball to -the representatives "being a failure, and . no. reason^ isassigned! We are thus left to judge of jthe cause. We are tpld. Willocks, the champion," was not present, he having missed the train 1 Alt will be? gratifying to that gentleman to know that ifihe, s did miss the train he did not miss much else, but we may give a hint for Ihe* information 6f ■ those ■■ who. may not already. know ; that it is not. Mr . Willocks' practice to " score misses " at the raiW : way station any more than at, the' butts;' " All will -be- glad to ' know -that Captain PilFaris hadSufficiently recovered from his /late . indisposition to admit dfhis journeying to. Dunedin fto be pre-r sentat '. the detri.6Dstration v thus; 'preventing it being saia;'that= No. ; 'l Clutha Rifles was not represented on the occasion. ■- 1 v yi'lX'i

We have to acknowledge with thanks, 'receipt | of Supplementary, Schedule and Synopsis, of Otago Ordinances 'passed in 'the -years 1871 $o | 1875. ' The same has been compiled -under they direction of the Speaker of the Provincial Council j by W. E. Sessions, Esq., ?01erk of Cbiificil and ' Librarian. The work "Will -prove or great 'convenience %o many, and .tlie public ought ,to,feel; grateful to Mr Sessions for the great trouble- helias taken in .the matter. f Were ovei'y. officer to ' manifest an equal regard "for public wants and* convenience we might' hear less of the cry for re-, ductibns of salaries, retreiichinont, '&c.-, so far as the offibers are concerned.