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Clutha Leader, Volume IV, Issue 192, 15 March 1878, Page 5

Our report of the Resident Magistrate's Court and several articles are unavoidably held over. Preparations are being made for "*the annual school soiree at Kaihiku, which is to take place about the beginning of April. We find an error occurred in our report of the Waikaka school entertainment in our issue of the Ist inst. The amount of the proceeds was there given as about £5. The exact amount has since been ascertained to be £11 63. A gentleman who has just travelled over the district between Clinton and Clydevale informs us that Scotch thistles and rabbits everywhere abound. He predicts that within afew years both will be felt a very great nuisance un« less some means are adopted to prevent their spread. We hear that the late winds have greatly damaged the crops in the surrounding districts, many having, sustained a considerable shake. Those too green to shake have been so slackened at the roots that they will now ripen without filling. Harvest is now about half through in the district. In another column will be found programme of the concert to be given in aid of the building fund of St. Mark's Church here on Wednesday evening. The programme is an excellent one, and the Glee Club will take a prominent part in the entertainment. We need not say that there will for certain be a crowded house. The weather has sadly interfered with harvest operations in the Kaihiku district for some time past. On Sunday last a perfect gale raged, doing much damage to standing crops. The block roads are putting on a wintry appearance, a circumstance to be deplored, seeing that they are likely to be traversed often during tho next month or two.

The vendors of boots in the township will no doubt fully appreciate the consideration which induces the neglect of blinding the metal at the railway station here. The gain to the cobbling interest must be considerable, and no consolation is derivable by pedestrians from the fact that no sooner are they clear of the jagged rock than they discover themselves half way to the knees in liquid mud.

"vf c understand that Mr John Allan of the Taieri has sold his Waiwera estate, extending to 2400 acres to Messrs Calcut, Conyers, and another, at a very satisfactory price. The property is situated upon the flat surrounding the proposed railway station ; is first-class agricultural land, and we hear it is the intention .of the new proprietors to cut the property up into small farms aud sell or lease them. We hope this is true as it would be a great advantage to the district.

Some few weeks ago Mr John Watt, Kaihiku, disposed of a fine lot of young merino rams for the Southland district, as also did Mr John Johnston. Kaihiku is certainly to the fore as a sheep-producing district. Some of the finest merino sheep in Otago have been bred in it, notably those of Mr John Johnston, who succeeded in carrying off the champion prize at the last Dunedin Show for the best merino ram. Many a sideboard in tbe district is graced with silver cups and other trophies of successful exhibitions.

We have this week to ask the indulgence of our readers. We have been obliged to omit the usual chapters of the "Abbot" in order to make room for a little service required at our hands by the municipal authorities. We expect to have our usual space available for news next week. In the meantime we give along with this issue a supplement, containing report of Sir George Grey's address in Dunedin on Friday evening, report of the banquet given in his honour on Saturday evening, report of the banquet to Mr J. C. Brown at Lawrence on Monday night, etc., etc.

Apparently the visit of the Premier and the Pjostmaster-General to Balclutha is not to prove an altogether fruitless -one. As at Lawrence no request for benefits was preferred to these gentlemen by the inhabitants of Balclutha. As mentioned elsewhere, however, they took a stroll throughout the township, and amongst other buildings the post-office was pointed out. They could at once see that the building was quite unsuitable and inadequate for the amount of postal and telegraph business conducted here, that it is a disgrace to the town, and that the inhabitants had simply been punished for their loyalty to their political principles by the late Government. The result is that the Inspector of the Postal and Telegraph Departments, along with a Government Engineer, visited Balclutha-, yesterday, aud took tie necessary measurements and other particulars for a new building. Plans are ordered to be at once prepared, and the building is to be erected with the least possible delay. Thus a long standing grievance is about to be remedied by the present PostmasterGeneral, and that.too without any complaint or representation on the part of the inhabitants.

Messrs Cooper and Bailey's Menagerie arrived at Port Chalmers from Port Adelaide on Tuesday morning per the Claud Hamilton, the steamer having heen entirely chartered by these gentlemen. The first performance of the company in Dunedin will take place this evening, and from an advertisement it will be seen that two performances will be given in Milton tomorrow week. Special trains will run on that day at reduced rates from the Clutha and Tuapeka. We will be able to say more of this monster company next week, and also state the hours of the special trains, but in the meantime we may mention that the live stock consists of six elephants, three lions, two lion cubs, four pumas, one bison, one elk, four leopards, , two jaguars, two tigers, two ostriches, . two I camels, two baby camels, six dromedaries, one grizzly bear, one cage of monkeys, two orangoutangs, .two horned rhinosceri, twelve ponies, thirty horses, one zebra, two sea lions, two fur seals, two silver-striped hyenas, two spotted hyenas, one armadillo, one prairie wolf, two prairie dogs, two educated pigs, one den of boa constrictors, calliope, &c, &c. We daresay a good many in the Clutha district will keep tomorrow week a free day for a trip to the *» City of the Plain."

At the meeting of, the Tokomairiro School Committee ou Friday last, the Rev. Jas. Chisholm asked and obtained permission to uss the school for an hour on • Friday afternoons, for the purpose of imparting religious instruction to such of the scholars as might attend.

A school is much required at Swift Creek, where, we are informed there are at least fifty children who would attend, who at present have no opportunity of obtaining instruction. The parents should take the necessary action at once to have a school established in their district.

We understand Messrs Clark and Thomson, membere of the Waste Lands Board will today and Saturday visit the newly surveyed land in the Warepa Hundred, and report upon the same to the Board at next meeting. We may therefore expect that the same will shortly be advertised for sale.

In reply to numerous enquiries, we have to mention that the meeting of delegates from the various School Committees within the the Clntha and adjoining districts to consider as to the member to be elected to represent this district in the Education Board, will be held in the schoolroom here at noon on Saturday, the 23rd instant— to-morrow week. The Secretary to the Balclutha School Committee has communicated with the several Committees, and, considering the importance of the subject, we hope every Committee will be represented at the meeting.

As enquiries have been made with reference to tho work of erecting the new jetty here, we may mention that the piles have all been procured, and are being carted to the site of the jetty. The other timber and the iron work are all prepared, and the work of putting the jetty together will at once be commenced. No delay as yet has occurred, and none will occur with the" completion of the work. We understand that the siding to connect the jetty with the railway will also be commenced within a day or so.

It may be interesting to members of the order of Good Templars to know that during the conversation at luncheon here on Friday-last' Sir George Grey made enquiries as to the strength of the Order in the town and district. He mentioned that although not a pledged abstainer, he never tasted even a glass of wine in his life. At one time in the early days he induced twelve Native chiefs to join him in taking the pledge for twelve months, and he was glad to say that all were true to their pledge.

At the meeting of our local Lodge of Good Templars on Friday evening thero was a large attendance of members and a visit was received from a dozen or fifteen members of the Clinton Lodge. Mr Dyer, of Milton, District Deputy, was also present. A number of new members were initiated, and after the ordinary business, congratulatory and explanatory addresses, some harmony, etc., were indulged in. After the Lodge was closed the visitors were entertained to supper in Grant's Temperance Hotel, and started for home a little before midnight. It is expected the members of the Balclutha Lodge will shortly return the visit.

A special meeting of the Balclutha School Committee was held in the schoolroom on Monday evening. There were present : Messrs Brewer (Chairman), Hogg (Secretary), Hope, Bell, Stewart, Bain, and M'Neil. The Chairman read a circular containing tho names of the candidates for the election as members of tbe Education Board. A number of letters were also received from candidates, soliciting the Committee's support and votes. On the motion of Mr Hope, seconded by Mr Bain, it was resolved to hold the conference on Saturday 23rd inst., at noon; the Secretary to write to the School Committees in the district informing them of the samo. There was not other business.

A Clinton correspondent writes : — An open harmony meeting of Clinton Lodge, " Home of Love," 1.0. G.T., was held on Monday evening. Tho singing and speaking was hearty and most enjoyable. Bro. Hall spoke in laudatory terms of the kindness of the Balclutha Lodge, and how much those who visited that Lodge last week enjoyed their visit. He proposed that the " Home of Love" should return the compliment if favoured with a visit from them. Bro. Conner agreed with the remarks made, and acknowledged their great indebtedness to the Balclutha brethren, especially to Bro. Hogg and others, who had been so helpful to them in their commencement. This Lodge now numbers 44, and is working most harmoniously.

The new river steamer lona made her first trip up the river on Tuesday last. Through the kindness of Captain M 'Kinnon about twenty Balclutha gentlemen were invited to have a sail, and accepted the invitation. Mr Brydone came from Dunedin over night, and joined the party. With the gentlemen referred to and about 25 tons of cargo the Tona sailed from the old jetty here at 8.10 a.m., and rapidly steamed up the rivei*. Before 10 o'clock sho had reached Whitelea, where she was joined by Mr Robson. The journey was then resumed and continued till the bottom of the island at Clydevale was reached, when it was found the old passage had shoaled up, and the lona grounded. Efforts were made to get her off, but this was not accomplished till 6 o'clock, w hen the return journey was commenced, and the passengers were landed in Balclutha shortly after seven. The weather was delightful, and although the party did not get as far up the river as was intended, they enjoyed the sail very much. There was abundance of provisions of all kinds, and the little exigency that arose only added interest and excitement to the trip. A few tearing that the steamer would not be got off that night started down the river in a boat, but were passed by the lona before reaching Balclutha. It may be mentioned that considerable shifting of the sandspits have taken place during the recent floods, but till reaching the point referred to no difficulty was experienced. At that point there is a second channel, which it is expected will be navigable. Along the banks are to be seen numerous huge snags which had been taken out by the Board of Conservators, and at Begg's, formerly the most difficult and dangerous part of the river, a line broad even channel has now been opened up with about nine feet of water. As to the lona, there cannot be a doubt that she is a fine, powerful, andl fast, vessel, admirably adapted for the river traffic. But for the shoaling np of the channel she would have reached Clydevale in about three hours, which, considering the strength of the current, is certainly good steaming. We have no doubt she will prove of great convenience to the settlers along the river banks, and will materially enhance the trade of ' Balcl-atha.

Harvest may now be said to be general in the Wairuna district, and -will be a good average crop of former years. A concert and ball is to be held in the new mill at Gore on Monday first, the proceeds go in aid of the Church of England. Mr James Nicol, Kaihiku, has let his farm for a term to Mr Davidson, and intends taking up his residence in Dunedin in the course of a month or two. The state prosecution for libel against Mr George Jones, of the Oamaru Mail, was com* menced in the Supreme Court Dunsdin, on Monday, but as yet the preliminaries have not been arranged. The Gore bridge is now* completed and open for traffic, and the approaches on both sides are nicely gravelled. Mr Shaw was the first to take a team of bullocks and waggon over with a load of timber. ( Mr 6. M. Bell has three self-binding reapers on Croydon Flat, all working well and making a good job. Some crops aro already cut and carried on the Waikaka, but in many places they are very late. We have received the March number of the Illustrated New Zealand Herald, being tho first of the eleventh year of publication. It contains a fine view of the rapids of the Waipori river and many interesting sketches of Australian scenery. It will be seen that Professor Stanich has been obliged to postpone his visit to the Southern districts, in the meantime, in consequence of the pressure of business in Dunedin. Additional certificates to his skill will also be found in this issue. At the R.M. Court, Dunedin, on Wednesday in a judgment summons, H. Benjamin v. Henry Manders, M.H.R., for Ll2 4s, hia Worship made an order for.,tfcc|paymeul of thu ! uum on or before the 10th April ; in default, eight weeks' imprisonment. ' Mr Stout" having accepted the portfolio of Attorney-General, left for Wellington along with. Mr Macandrew on Monday night, arriving on Wednesday morning. Mr Stout will be sworn in early next week, and will stay at the Empire Hotel until a residence is provided for him. A Kaihiku correspondent writes : — ln connection with the railway works, very little progress is being made. There ia very little likelihood of the line being completed before thia time next year. Doubtless, our worthy Premier has experienced the necessity for its immediate completion, a circumstance which may aid him when the fine for non-completion within contract time, inflictod. With reference' to a report in another column of the meeting held here on Monday evening for the purpose of establishing a Game Protection Society, &c, we may mention that we have been shown a letter from Mr A. G. Begg, Secretary to the Acclimatisation Society, to Mr Ritchie here, in which the writer thoroughly approves of the object of the meeting, and promises the fullest support by way of paying rewards for the conviction of offenders, &c. Mr Begg also points out that the Act does not allow game to be sold without a special license, which costs £5 per annum. If anyone therefore can be detected offering game for sale or selling game he can be pulled up and fined, and the game forfeited. The Acclimatisation Society, Mr Begg Bays, would be glad to hear of a Society being formed here, and would affiliate it as a branch Society. This is very satisfactory, as from the action taken on Monday evening | much will no doubt be done to preserve game I throughout the district.

Since Sir George Grey left Balclutha on Friday last his movements have been as follows i — He arrived in Dunedin same afternoon at 4 o'clock, where he had a very hearty reception, and was escorted to the Fernhill Club. In the evening he addressed a public meoting in the Princess Theatre. On Saturday evening he was entertained by a number of the leading citizens of Dunedin at a banquet at the City Hotel. At 10 -o'clock on Monday morning he started hy special train for Lawrence, stopping at Green Island and Greytown, where he visited the schoolroom and addressed the children, and was loudly cheered on his arrival and departure. At .Tokomairiro some half-dozen of the citizens assembled, and arrangements were .made for a stoppage on the downward journey, so that an address might be made. At Waitahuna the school children had hurriedly been assembled on the platform, and Sir George addressed a few words to them, and on his departure was again loudly cheered. Lawrence was reached at two o'clock, and the party had a most enthusiastic welcome. An address was read by the T«wn Clerk, and replied to by Sir George Grey, who also attended the banquet given to Mr J. C. Brown in the evening. The party left Lawrence hy train at 10 o'clock on Tuesday morning. The first halt was made at Milton, where, according to arrangements made the previous day, somo little time was spent. On the train's arrival, the Mayor (Mr R. W. Capstick) and town councillors were waiting upon the platform, and upon Sir George Grey leaving his carriage, the Mayor read and presented an address, to which Sir George Grey replied. Under the guidance of the Mayor and principal citizens, the Premier and friends went for a stroll through the town, visiting amongst other places, the schoolhouse, where the scholars were marshalled by Mr Malcolm, rector of the school, outside the building, and were briefly addressed by Sir George. The usual boon of a half -holiday was petitioned for by him in their behalf, and granted. After a short stay at Stanbrook's Railway Hotel, where lunch was partaken of, the party re-em-barked and proceeded to Mosgiel, where a halt was made and a visit of inspection paid to the Woollen Factory. All the various processes, from the first cleansing of the wool to the turning out of a perfect web of tweed, the skein of worsted, and the pair of pants or socks, were in full operation, and the inspection of them was a pleasant and interesting featuie in the proceedings. The school here was also visited, and the youngsters made joyful with a half-holiday in honour of the occasion. A start was then made for Dunedin, which was reached at 4 p.m. On Wednesday the party bade farewell to Dunedin and left per special train for Oamaru at 10 o'clock. At Palmerston Sir George Grey bad a very demonstrative reception, received an address from the . Municipal Council, addressed the children, partook';of luncheon, and started for Oamaru, which wa's reached at 6 o'clock. He was met at the station and cheered by a very large crowd, and at 8 o'clock addressed the largest meeting ever held at Oamaru. f A't-the conclu«oii of his speech the following resolution was passed unanimously and amid vociferous cheering — "That this meeting expresses its en*tirh. confidence, in the policy of the , Mixj jstry, of Sir George' Grey as" detaijel by him.*' t Go^Thnrsday he visited the public schools, the breakwater, etc. and started for Christchurch at 10 o'clock. ' v 1 <