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Clutha Leader, Volume V, Issue 216, 30 August 1878, Page 5

We commend to our readers a careful perusal of the Public Works Statement in this issue. Want of space compels us to hold over comments upon the Statement till next issue.

We hear that the tunnel and several miles of the Waipahi • Tapanui line have been sub-let in smaU sections to practical nawys, who intend to commence work in a few days.

We observe the building formerly occupied by Mr Reid as a butcher's shop at Stirling has now |been removed by Mr Gilroy to a site beside hia premises, where it will be used for the accommodation of his workmen.

The railway Dunedin to Christchurch will be opened on Friday next. His Excellency the Governor, Members of Assembly, &c, will arrive in Dunedin about six o'clock in the evening. The Mayor will entertain them to a banquet on Saturday evening.

The weather stiU continues stormy and unsettled. Occasionally a fine day intervenes, but the soil is never permitted to get into a condition to receive the seed, and as the season is now well advanced it is getting a very serious matter for the whole of the settlers. The reports are the same from all quarters — storms and rain and farming operations retarded.

. A smart shock of earthquake was felt in Balclutha about 3 o'clock on Saturday afternoon, We learn from our correspondents that it was felt in many places throvighout the Clutha district. From telegrams from most of the townships in the Middle Island it appears that the shock was pretty generaUy felt all over, but no damage is reported.

In last issue we caUed attention to the efforts now being put forth in Dunedin and throughout the country on behalf of the funds of the Benevolent InstitutioH, and urged that those in authority here should arrange for a public meeting and a canvass for contributions. In Tokomairiro, Wangaloa, and other places prompt action was taken, and the general public are responding' liberally. We trust the Clutha will not bo behind in this matter, aud that many contributions of grain and other • articles wiil be sent to the railway station here, when they wiU be forwarded free of charge.

Henry Hawkins, painter, was arrested in Balclutha on Sunday last by Sergeant Comyn for acting in a disorderly manner. It appears he went to the Balclutha Hotel and demanded drink, and upon being refused made an attempt to fight the landlord, who at once apprised the police of tho case, when Sergeant Comyn went to the hotel and took him into custody, He was brought before Dr Smith, J.P., on Monday morning, charged with being drunk and disorderly, and using insulting language likely to provoke a breach of the peace. For the first offence he was fined 5s and for the second 10s, or in default three days' imprisonment.

At a meeting held at Wangaloa on the 20th inst., after local matters had been discussed Mr Alex. Mitchell read a letter from Mr J. L. Gillies, in reference to the Carnival and Bruce Auction in aid of the funds of the Benevolent Institution. The following gentlemen were appointed a Committee to canvass the district for contributions : — Messrs M'Farlane, M'Lauchlan, Boyd, Darling, Johnson, D. Mitchell, A. Mitchell, Hardie, and Robertson, the latter two to visit the ladies. Mr M'Ooll offered to take charge of any contributions that might be sent to the schoolhouse until such time as they could be forwarded to Kaitangata. Mr Joseph Smith, carrier, offered to carry the same free from the schoolhouse to the railway station.

The arrangements made in connection with the opening of the new Presbyterian church here on Sabbath first will be found in our advertising columns. There will be three services on Sabbath, Rev. Dr Stuart officiating forenoon and afternoon, and Rev. W. Bannerman in the evening. Two soirees will be held, one for adults on Tuesday evening, and the other for children on Wednesday evening. From what we can learn there is likely to be a considerable attendance of strangers from the surrounding districts on Sabbath, especially should the weather prove favourable. As many of them will no doubt remain over the several services we would hint to our Balclutha readers that they will thus have an excellent opportunity of practically manifesting their hospitality, and this we trust will not be overlooked.

A serious accident occurred to the ballast train from Waipahi to Clinton, about six miles from the latter place, on Monday last, when, through the breaking of an axle, eight of the tracks ran off the line and five were smashed to atoms. The line was torn up for about three chains— rails bent and twisted like pieces of hoop iron, and sleepers torn up and splintered into fragments. The engine, with the two nearest tracks, providentially remained on tho line, and thus the engine-driver and stoker escaped unhurt, but it is estimated that L3oo' will not cover the damage. A large gang of men were speedily forwarded to''-- the scene of disaster, and by the time the up train from InvercargUl arrived the damage was so far repaired as to enable the train to pass. It is the opinion of some thit the trucks are too heavily laden, some seven ton 3 and more ; being put in them, whereas we believe, four tons should be the maximum.

The Committee of the Clutha Horticultural Society meet at the Farmers' Arms Hotel on Thursday first at 8 p.m.

A married woman named Arnold was recently convicted,. at Timaru, of stealing a ring, and sentenced to one months' imprisonment. It is reported she ia the only daugh ter of a wealthy squatter in Western Australia.

It will be observed Messrs Kilgour and Son have resumed business as bakers and confectioners in premises beside Mr Brewer's store here. We have no doubt a hearty support will be accorded them by the public of Balclutha and district. .

We notice that Mr Thomas Johnson, Wangaloa, it at present carrying out extensive drainage operations upon his property; We have no doubt the work will prove reproductive, and that the beneficial results will be so manifest as to induce many others to follow Mr Johnson's example.

A Waipahi correspondent writes : — There ia a splendid opening at Waipahi for. a baker. All bread is brought from a distance and retailed at tue extortionate price of 9d per 41b loaf. Clinton is little better for notwithstanding that there are two bakeries there, and flour so cheap, 8d is charged for the 41b loaf,

Three pure white rats were captured in a stack at Messrs Begg's station Hillend, the other day. Two were caught alive by Mr M'Guffock, but only survived their captivity a few days. One was given to Mr T. M'Kenzie storekeeper here, and has been forwarded by him te Captain Hutton for inspection.

We are glad to 'notice that the bridge over the Waipahi River on the Clinton to Tapa. nui road is at present undergoing a thorough repair, and by the appearance of the timber removed not a day too soon. The bridge was built in 1863, and has cost very little in repairs hitherto, so there is no reason, to be surprised that so much of the timber is perfectly rotten.

We understand that Mr W. A. Murray, M.H.R., has obtained the promise of the Government to provide the necessary funds to erect the lock at the mouth of the Kaitangata creek for the protection of the settlers and the Government lands from floods. Mr Blair we believe is now preparing plans and- estimates as to cost for the work, which it is to be hoped will be undertaken at once so as to be completed beforejthe anticipated rise of the river.

The usual meeting of the Committee of the Balclutha Athenaeum was held on Monday evening. There were present Messrs Ritchie (president), M'Ara, Turnbull, Macdonald, Cossens, JFleming, and Grigor (secretary). Several small accounts were passed for payment. The Secretary reported that the annual subscriptions were coming in very slowly, and a Committee was appointed to call upon members for the same. After some routine business, and a conversation over the affairs of the institution generally, the meeting separated.

The trout fishing commences in October. Numerous representations have been made, to us as to the advisability of the Acclimatisation Society opening up all rivers for fishing. It is argued that unless good fishing is found in a river it won't be worth while for any to continue their sport there to the extent of retarding the increase of the young trout. The advantage of a promiscuous opening of the rivers would be that in all likelihood good fishing might be discovered in streams where such was uot anticipated. Much prospecting would be done and no harm could result from fishing where there was no fish.

It will be seen from our digest of the proceedings of Assembly, that Mr Murray's letter to the Premier, published in our last issue has received due consideration at the hands of the Government, and that the result, so much to be desired, is likely to be accomplished. The Government contemplate introducing a drainage measure this session, but from the large and important nature of the scheme it is feared it will be impossible to deal with it till next year. Thus agriculturalists and others interested will have full time to examine and consider the Government proposals upon the subject before they are passed into law.

Although only a few weeks have elapsed since Inch Clutha was proclaimed a River Distirct under the Marlborough Rivers Act a good deal has already been done. A Board has been elected, and ten miles of embankments have been surveyed and partly contracted for. The members of the Board have themselves put their shoulders to the wheel, and have done personally and gratuitously all the engineering and preliminary work. We have no doubt that with the present energy and weather permitting, and other circumstances continuing favourable they will have the whole island banked within a few months.

Mr Thomson has got the Catlins River Cemetery Act passed through the House of Representatives; It withdraws from its position as a portion of the Education reserves and constitutes a public cemetery the following lands :— All that parcel of land in the Provincial District of Otago, containing by admeasurement four (4) acres three (3) roods and fourteen (14) poles, more or less, being part of Sections Nos. 29 and 31, Block "VII., Glenomaru Survey District. Bounded towards the North-west by a road line one thousand two hundred and twentyfour and Beven-tenths (1224 "7) links; towards the East by a line due south four hundred and sixty-eight and eight-tenths (4688) links; towards the North by a line due east one hundred and seventy-six (176) links j again towards the East by a line due south four hundred and seventy and three-tenths (470*3) links; .and towards the South by a road line nine hundred and twenty and seven-tenths (920*7) links : be all the aforesaid linkages more or less;

Now that the journey to Great Britain can be accomplished so expeditiously and at a reasonable outlay, we hear that numerous parties contemplate "a trip home." Two young lads, settlers' sons in this district, viz., Robert Darling, Inch Clutha, and Alexander Blackie, Kaitangata, left yesterday, not to Great Britain alone, but to see the world in general. They first go to Australia, the principal districts of which they will visit ; thence to India, Great Britain, and the various capitals and kingdoms of Europe. They will then cross the Atlantic and make the acquaintance of pur cousins there, and return via San Erancisco. They promise, through the columns of this f journal, to keep their acquaintances here fully posted up as to their journeyings and the strange scenes arid characters with which they may. come into contact. We have no doubt they will have a most interesting and pleasurable tour of a year or two, which we trust they7wUT j enjoy to the utmost, arid, improve it to.thenLerij lightepment and advantage in after life:-; A A