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Clutha Leader, Volume V, Issue 220, 27 September 1878, Page 5

The Tapanui Annual Show of entires ' is fixed for Saturday next week. It will be observed that Messrs Maclean's sale at Mr Malcolm Morrison's, ; Wangaloa, ha 9 been postponed from the 11th to ' the 18th October. : Mr Christie's sale of Mr Bentham's • household furniture, &0., advertised for to-day ; has been postponed in consequence of the flood. The date of sale will be given in next issue. i Our readers will regret to learn that the ] Hon. Sir J. 0. Richardson has been obliged to obtain leave of absence from his post as Speaker , of the Legislative Council till 4th October on account of ill health. Mrs Kane's house of five rooms on the : lower reserve here was burned to the ground , shortly after six o'clock yesterday morning* While a girl was lighting the fire a part of the building caught, and the whole was speedily in , flames. The building, we understand, was insured for LlOO. , The education vote was discussed in the : Assembly on Tuesday night, when several mem- : bers pressed the claims of outlying and thinly ' populated districts to increased assistance. Mr i Ballance, however, would accept no other basis ' than that of population for the distribution of i subsidies. A rather serious railway accident occurred on the main line north of Palmerston early on Wednesday morning, when a passenger train ran into a goods train. It appears the accident occured from the circumstance that the up-train was allowed to pass Palmerston before the goods train arrived, and the non-arrival of the goods train was caused by one of the trucks leaving the line. Both engines were damaged and one of the engine-drivers had his legs broken, but the damage was otherwise trifling. We notice the name of Mr J. Wright, of Kaibiku, among, the list of pupil teachers who have passed the second class examination. "We believe it was only necessary for him to have taken up the third class ; his passing in the more difficult examination will therefore have the effect of placing him a year in advance of other pupil teachers who have entered the services of the Board at the same time. Mr Wright is at present conducting the Kaihiku School, rendered vacant by the resignation of Mr Moore. It will be remembered that some time ago the Government, on the representation of the Board of Conservators for the Clutha River, agreed to carry out protective works at the river bank near to the new jetty here. Some negotiations have since been carried out regarding these works, but we believe the matter has now been definitely arranged. The bank will be piled with ! 25-feet piles for five chains above the jetty. Along these three horizontal beams (10-feet by 1 4-feet) will be placed, and sheet-piled behind. This structure will be securely braced to 10-feet piles, driven a good distance back from the river. The slips and hollows at the back of the breastwork will all be filled up with clay or gravel. This structure, which will be most substantial, will serve all the purposes of a jetty, and being five chains long in addition to the present jetty, will afford ample accommodation for a large traffic by the river for many years to come. Our Tapanui correspondent sends the following items :— Things are beginning to look consolingly brisk down this way at last. The work of railway formation is being largely sublet, and contract parties have begun operations at several points along the line. The sawmills, too, are busy in addition to ordinary work with. rail, way timber, and wages are good in consequence, skilled labor being at a premium. —A movement has been started to present a suitable testimonial to our member, Mr Bastings, for hia efforts in railway affairs, and for his public services to th c district generally. There is every reason to expect that the testimonial will be a handsome one. — The Tapanui Episcopal Church, now all but completed, is a credit to the place. The Episcopal : communion is not the largest in the district, but it has come forward most spiritedly in this matter ; but it is only justice to say that aid has been largely received, from members of . other communions also. ; The bazaar and fancy fair, in aid of the buildrasj, promises to be a most pronounced success. The event will come off sometime about New Year.— Our Mutual Improvement Society . is beginning to make its weight felt. Already it has, been decided by ,that- body, after hot debates pro and con, that Chinese are desirable immigrants for the Cplbny, ; rand that vfehe plaiiet?;v6rtsoine;i of jh'em^at-leask arenot mhab'^fedr , meeting night we have ; got .Jto;;decide*^he^^

Mr J. J. Lane was returned unopposed for South Ward, Milton, on Tuesday. The Licensing Court was on Wednesdayagain adjourned for 14 days. (^ bi The members of the Athenseum Committee are reminded of the meeting on Monday evening at 8 o'clock sharp. A horss and dray was observed to float down the river hero on Saturday last. A bullock followed on Sunday. (Many have followed since.) A grand concert and ball will be given in the Hillend School-house on Friday evening next week, as a wiud-up of the weekly entertainments that have been continued there during the winter months. An excellent programme will be prepared, and we have no doubt there will be a full house. Parents of children in the Kaitangata district have reason to be grateful for the prompt and decisive action taken by the School Committee there in order to retain the services of the schoolniistress. A teacher of Miss Osborne's tact and | « abilities is not to be secured every day, and the Committee have done well to prevent her leaving their school. We mentioned a fortnight ago the unfortunate accident to Mr Henry Almond, Kaihiku. From the severe nature of the injuries received it is not to be wondered at that his recovery has been somewhat protracted. On Saturday last he was taken to Dunedin so as to be nearer medical treatment. He returned on Wednesday much improved. He is now rapidly regaining the use of his arms and legs, and a speedy complete recovery is anticipated. Captain M'Kinnon goes to town this week to bring round the lona to resume the river traffic. The boiler of the steamer has been moved torwards and placed near to the bow, so as the better to trim the vessel when unloaded. A nice comfortable passenger cabin has been fitted up, and other improvements made. It is expected she will be ready for coming round in a few days. At the meeting of the Board of Conservators for the Inch Olutha River District on Saturday last, the Chairman (Mr Mosley) explained his reason for voting for the amendment in the matter of the classification of lands. He pointed out that the, whole of the island was liable to daruage during heavy floods, that the works the Board had undertaken were intended as a protection against such floods, and not only to meet occasions of ordinary floods. Thus as the whole island would reap the benefit, it was only right the whole land should be rated so as to contribute towards the cost of the works. A meeting of gentlemen favourable to the formation of a Cricket Club here was held in the Crown Hotel on Wednesday evening, when there was a large attendance. It was agreed to hold a meeting on this night week to elect office-bearers, ceminittee, &c. Committees were appointed to ascertain at what sum the old club would agree to dispose of their cricketing materials for, and to canvas the town and district for subscriptions. The qualification fee for working members was fixed at half-a-guinea, and for honorary members at one guinea. It was decided that the name of the club should he " The Clutha County Cricket Club." A number present signified their intention of becoming members, and altogether it is anticipated a strong club will be formed. After appointing Mr D. Campbell secretary pro. tern., and transacting some unimportant business, the meeting was adjourned until Friday next. Good progress is being made with the embankments along the river banks on I»oh Clutha, and there is every prospect that the main protective works will be completed all along the Koua branch by th*e end of November. The expense of the works already authorised amounts to L 4300, and additional works 'to coat upwards of LlOOO are necessary. We mentioned in a recent issue that embankments were also being carried out on Mr Inglis' property for the protection of the township of Stirling and neighbourhood. We are glad to notice that private individuals have also commenced to protect their properties against damage by floods by erecting embankments. Mr Griffiths has erected a substantial wall along his property for about a mile in length, and from the fine crops of wheat he annually grows we have no doubt the embankment will pay itself during the present season. Mr Griffiths is also erecting a new stockyard, and is otherwise improving his fine freehold.