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Clutha Leader, 20 September 1878, Page 3

The weather during the week has been exceedingly fine, and the seed is being everywhere sown with, all dispatch. understand the steamer lona is expected round from Dunedin to resume the river traffic in the course of three weeks. The annual meeting of the Olutha Agriculture I and Pastoral Society will he held on Tuer-dny. October 8. The "Walking Show of Entires bas been fixed for noon same dav. It has been resolved to provide a public library for the Waipahi district, and we are requested to say that subscriptions towards the object will be thankfully received by the chairman of the Progress Committee. There seems to be some misunderstanding as to the position of the stations on the line between Balclutha and Clinton. We understand .one will be placed at the crossing of the road to Port Molyneux, one at Mr Falconer's and one at Mr Farquhar's properties. We hear from all quarters complaints of the destruction done to trees by parroquefcs, who completely strip them of their buds, which will materially interfere with the crnp of fruit. It is a pity some simple and eflectual means for destroying these pests could not be discovered. The Oommittee of the Warepa and Kaihiku Cemetery met the other evening, when they resolved upon making considerable improvements upon the ground, repairing hedges, fences, &c. To meet the necessary expense it was resolved that papers be sent round the district asking for subscriptions. The readings and dance are still continued with great success at the Hillend school every Friday evening. We need not say the utmost order and propriety are maintained. .For the past evening or two the young ladies have exceeded the number of male partners, and a few more of the latter would readily find engagements. A concert and ball was held in the Drillshed, Inch Olutha, on- Friday evening last, in aid of the local school funds, and although the weather was far from being favourable (especially in the early part of the evening) the attendance was far above what we expected. The Chairman (Mr W. A. Mosley) briefly explained the object to which the proceeds {of the entertainment were to be devoted. He said that at considerable expense the Committee had lately improved the school accommodation, botlrin the building itself and in erecting sheds for the protection of the children in rough weather, swings, &c, and the proceeds of the present concert were to go towards payment of these improvements. As the evening was gettiag on, he would not detain them with a lengthened speech on this occasion, but would proceed at once to introduce the ladies and gentlemen who. had kindly offered their services for this entertainment. Want of space prevents us giving a report of all the songs and recitations given during the evening, and where all acquitted themsslves so well we consider it would be bad taste to single out individuals for special praise. The concert being over shortly after eleven, the hall was cleared for dancing, which we believe was kept up till five o'clock the following morning. <We are informed the result of the entertainment amounts to something like^ L ls 14s, and that^'ths iiich Clutha /volunteers contributed largely iboth in talent and with their, services in . gattihg the ar--4 rangemehts. earned put;-- >/>:'.

. We hear some talk of erecting a flourP mill at the "Wavepa Railway Station. , The committee of the recent concert and dance in aid of the Inch Clutha School funds, desire us, on their behalf, to thank those ladies who kindly supplied refreshments, and also Mrs Townsend, who gave the use of her , piano for the occasion. We may mention that Capt. M'Kinnon who has for some months past been engaged removing snags up the river has found dynamite to be of the utmost service in these operations. It is both efficient and economical. We shall be able to give a full report shortly. Mr Wood, baker here, met with a nasty accident on Wednesday afternoon. When driving along a siding on the Te Houka road, with his bread cart a wheel went into a rut and the cart overturned and rolled down the embankment. "Both Mr Wood and his boy were in the cart at the time, but escaped with severe bruises. One of the shafts of the cart was broken. There was no other damage. We are glad to say that Mr Waddell, Warepa, has kindly consented to deliver a lecture on '• Robert Burns " in Balclutha on an early evening, in aid of the funds of the Athenseum. A number of ladies and gentlemen will give illustrations in the shape of songs, recitations, &c, from Burns' works. Due intimation will be given of the date, and we can assure all and sun-, dry this 'Night with Burns' will prove a treat of no ordinary kind. By the Suez mail delivered this week information has been received in Dunedin of the floating in Scotland of the Colonial Investment and Agency Company of New Zealand with a capital of half a million. The Home Board of Directors is an influential one. comprising the names of leading gentlemen of Edinburgh, Dundee, and other cities. The head colonial office will be in Dunedin, and Mr T. T. Eitchie, of the Colonial Bank here, has received the appointment of Colonial Manager, the local .Directors being John Douglas, of Mount Royal, James Smith, of Greenfield, and A. C. Begg, Dunedin. At a meeting of Committee of theTokomaiviro Farmers 1 Club on Wednesday, the Secretary laid on r the table a copy of Mr T. Murray's drainage scheme, which was fully discussed, and a motion was unanimously passed in its favour. A conviction was expressed that if the Government were to pass a measure embodying the scheme it would be largely taken advantage of, and would prove a great benefit to the country. The Secretary was instructed to forward copies of the scheme to kindred societies in order to elicit their opinions upon the subject with a view to a petition being forwarded to Parliament in favour of the scheme. We have been asked to draw the attention of the Kaitangata Road Board to the bad state of the roads to and from the coast side. Now that the weather is changed we hope to see the. deep ruts filled, for we heai- great complaints from settlers in the Wangaloa district that they cannot get their grain to market. We understand that there are some thousands of bags of grain, and the state of the roads prevents even bullock teams from crossing the ridge. We would suggest that a surface-man should be placed on the road for a few weeks. It would be the means of saving money afterwards, and in the meantime would much convenience the , settlers. The Toioro section of railway— from Balclutha to the Waitepeka station, which the Government has carried oxit by day labour— is now so far completed that material can be taken right through from Dunedin to Messrs Proudf oot and M 'Kay's contract. We fear, however, th^ contractors will be unable to take advantage of this, as a cutting has yet to be taken out near to this end of the section which, with the greatest number of men that can be employed and the best weather, will take about five weeks. We regret to learn that Mr M'Oallum, late teacher at Matavira Bridge, now lies at the Manse, Clinton, throudi bad health. The state of his health compelled him to give up his charge at the Mataura a month ago, and he inteuded proceeding to Christchurch. Upon reaching Clinton he found himself unable to journey further, and the Rev. C. Connor, hearing of his position, kindly took him and his daughter, who accompanied him, to the Manse, where he is still forced to remain, his health being in a very precavious condition. We trust the present fine weather will speedily bring about a change for the better. Ail awkward mistake occurred during last pay-day orgies at one of the grog shanties in connection with Proudfoot and Mackay's railway contract, Balclutha to Clinton. The bacchanalians believing they had received injustice either in the matter of the quality or quantity of the grog supplied, or the change returned, resolved upon summary revenge. Having procured ropes, they fastened them to the roof of the building, which they pulled down bodily. Haviug secured the " grey -beard," and deeming it necessary ttvh v " landlord " should receive still further marks of their displeasure, they seized one supposed to be him, dragged him to an adjoining pond, and subjected him to a good ducking, oft repeated. Haying gratified their revenge they dragged ; their victi.n to terra firma, when, to their horror, I they discovered him to be one of themselves — i one of their mates. It appeared that during the ' melee the " host " had slipped through their fingers, and they then had got hold of the wrong man. The "landlord," it ia said, was sitting upon an adjoining tussock with the " greybeard" between his legs, and complacently viewing the proceedings at the pond, he no doubt feeling rather pleased than otherwise at the turn matters had ultimately taken. Mr William Waddell delivered a lecture on Robert Burns in the Schoolhouse, Warepa, on Tuesday evening. Mr Milligan was called to the chair, and there was a large attendance, the building not affording even standing room for all. Consequently -some had to listen from outside. The lecture was a very able one and was delivered with great fluency and effect, the lecturer but seldom referring to his manuscript. He wns frequently interrupted with bursts of applause. In the course of the lecture Mrs Nicol sung very effectively a number of Burns' songs, including 'There was a lad was born in Kyle,' 'Afton Water,' 'Burns' farewell to Highland Mary,' * Last May a braw wooer cam doonthe langglen,' j ' The blood red Rose,' I'm owre young to marry yet.' Mr R. Aysori sang ' A man's a man for ' a' that,' and ' Scots wha bae wi' Wallace bled.' ! Master Waters recited a portion of the ' Cottar's I Saturday Night.' Mr Howie read ' Burns' address to the Diel,' and ' Tarn O'Shanter.' It will thus be seen that the entertainment was a treat of no ordinary character, and at the close very hearty vates of thanks were passed to Mr Waddell and those^who had assisted. A similar vote was passed to the chairman, and the proceedings terminated by the company joining in singing Auld Lang Syne. A number of the young folks then retired to the play hill and enjoyed a dance for.an hour or two. \- We may mention that the lecture (i realised about L 5 towards the School funds.^ % i tt , " .

The anniversary of the Undaunted Lodge 1.0. G.T., Catlin'a River, will be celebrated by a ball on -the evening of Friday, October 4. A very able and interesting statement on Native affairs was made by the Native Miuibter on Tuesday evening. The report will be found in our digest of the Assembly proceedings. A stable belonging to Mr Gumming, of Beaumont, was destroyed by fire on Sunday night. Three horses perished. Estimated los>s L3OO j insurance, L3OO. At a meeting held in Christchurch on Tuesday night a committee was appointed to obtain signatures to a petition to divide the city into four wards. "We hear that the sum of L 1,500, 500 was subscribed by residents in the neighborhood of Stirling the other day towards the erection of flour mills there, and that the works are likely to be proceeded with. The embankments on the Kaua branch of the Clutha River are being pushed forward with all speed. It is expected they will all be finished before the end of November. More workmen are yet wanted at the works. At the Police Court, Clinton, on Saturday last (before W. H. S. Roberts, Esq., and Dr. Agassiz, J.P.s), John Boyle and Richard Sircomb, for fighting on the 3rd September, were fined 10s, and 6s 6d costs each. — Henry Wil. liams, for fighting on the 9th September, was fined 20s, and 6s 6d costs. We have received the Illustrated New Zealand Herald for September, which is an exceedingly well got-up number. The views comprise The Remarkables near Lake Wakatipu iv a snow storm ; The Victorian Court at the Paris Exhibition ; "View of the Interior of New Guinea, Noumea, New Caledonia, and numerous Australian views. The furthest advanced grass we have seen this season is in a paddock in front of Mr P. Ayson's house, Corydon, Warepa. It is young grass, and seems almost rich, enough for midsummer. Many of the paddocks in front of the Warepa bush have now a fine rich deep green colour, and present a striking contrast to the brown unbroken tussock land not far distant. Mr Townsend's new Railway Hotel here is now altnost completed. It is a building of thirteen rooms. Although it looks low from the outside, the rooms are lofty and are all lath and plastered. The sand used is from the river, and has been found to suit admirably. Mr Watts has carried out his contract in a very substantial and satisfactory manner, and the Railway Hotel will prove a very convenient and comfortable establi sh m ent. We notice that the materials are being laid down preparatory to proceeding with protective works along the river bank, between the railway station and the new jetty. The work will be carried out by the Government, and will practically be an extension of the jetty for a few chains, so as to protect the railway siding, go soon as this work is accotuplished, goods sheds will be erected for the accommodation of the river traffic. We are glad to notice that more than usual attention is being given to tree-planting within the township this season. Mr James Cossens has just planted a double belt of pines in the half -acre section recently purchased by him at the corner of John and James-streets. Mrs Canning, senr., has also planted her property in Charlotte-street. Many others are also putting in trees, which in a few years will much enhance the appearance and comfort; of the Borouglv. In the Public Works and Immigration Estimates, published elsewhere, will be found some items of interest to our readers in various districts. These include Post and Telegraph office, Balclutha, LI, 000 ; Gore, L 50 0; Catlin's River, L3OO ; Nuggets, Ll,ooo. The sum of LI, OOO is again put down for blasting the rocks at Catlin's, and for a shed and jetty, L6OO. It is to be hoped these sums will be expended this year, and that it is not intended the estimates should continue to be annually burdened with them. The following letter, signed by upwards of fifty inhabitants of Kaitangata, was handed to Mr Owens, postmaster there, on Tuesday last :— "Mr Owens, Postmaster, Kaitangata. Dear Sir, — "We, the undersigned, residents in Kaitangata, beg to express our sympathy with Mrs Owens and yourself in the unfortunate position in which you have been placed with regard to your servant girl, who was delicate before she entered your service. We have pleasure in stating that to our knowledge the girl was eery comfortable while in your employ. We also know that it wns a charitable action on your part that induced you to take her, and we are very sorry that you should have suffered thereby. We hope these expressions of our feelings will be accept-