Untitled

Clutha Leader, Volume XX, Issue 1027, 30 March 1894, Page 5

Many in this quarter will regret to learn that the health, of the Hon. V. Pyke, M.H.R., ■is at present far from goo I. The Dnnedin City Councillors have appointed one of their number— Councillor Barron— to the high position of assistant inspee" tor of nuisances. The local football club will play the opening match, President v. Vice- presidents, on Saturday first; play to commence afc 3.30 p.m. sharp. Sides will be picked on the ground. The Easter services in tho Anglican churches of the district were attended by large congregations. The churches were tastefully decorated. The services at St. Paul's at Kaiiangata were attended by tho local Masonic body in full force. Replying to a deputation from the Auckland Chamber of Commerce with reference "" to the gum industry on Tuesday last the Premier said the appropriations for roads would not keep the men for a week. Tlir only solution of the difficulty was to put the gum diggers on the land. There was plenty of work, but mau,y men had been improvident and had not provided for a rainy day when they had the opportunityIt is reported that Mr P. M'Cann has sold, the Farmers' Club Hotel, Tapanui, for L 450- A few months ago he purchased the hotel for L9CO, while the improvements he has since effected would bring up his outlay on the premises to about LI2OO. The deterioration in value if, ro doubt., due to the expectation that the license to sell liquor will not be renewed in June next. The roll for the Clutba District compiled from all the rolls used at licensing elections numbers 24*8 of which 1483 are males and 995 females, but the Act is somewhat obscure as to whether nonvoters at the licensing election are to be erased from the roll. The returning officer in Dunedin holds that the nonvoters must be taken off the roll the same as at the general election. At the Magistrate's Court;, Auckland, on Tuesday, a number of young women were proceeded against under a new by-law on a charge of keeping a disorderly house. The Stipendiary Magistrate, after poiuting out the enormity of the offence, convicted and discharged the accused, it being the first case under tbe by-law. No mention was made of the young men who supported such houses. In the new order of the franchise it is not unlikely that an effort will shortly be made to provide equitable legislation on the subject. At a meeting of directors of the Balclutha Gas Company the manager was authorised to employ two practic.il gas-fitters to fit up the necessary pipes aud fittings required by intending gas consumers, as it Was considered advisable in the meantime to hold full control of all opei-a--tion in connection therewith ; and, that the same shall be carried out under tbe personal supervision of tho manager. A large number of intending consumers have selected their fittings ; these have been ordered from Melbourne, and should arrive this week, so that we may expect the light will be in use very shortly, At the close of the recent Wesleyan Conference held in Christcburch, the Rev W. Morley moved, the Rev J. N. Buttle seconded, , and it was "carried unanimously—' That this | Conference desires to express its hearty thanks to the G'hrislchurch Gas Company aud its manager, Mr K. C. Bishop, for tbe supply and fixing of the gas cooking ttoves which have been used for tbe Conference luncheons.' The Revs Morley, Dewsbury and Bond refered to tbe admirable arrangements made by the Gas Company for lessening the labors in connection with providing tbe luncheons. It was mentioned as worthy of note that seven hundred people sat down to dinner during the past seven days, the coat of cooking by the gas stoves only amounting to 235. There was only a moderate attendance at the annual meeting of the Balclutha Literary Society held in the Borough Council Chambers on Wednesday evening. The President for the previous year, Mr D. Stewart, was in the chair, and the treasurer, Mr J. Bremner, submitted the balance sheet which showed a credit balance of Jfl 3s 3d. Dr Fleming was elected president for the ensuing year, and Messrs D. Stewart nnd W. Cargill vice-presidents. Secretary and treasurer, Mr R. C. Hay Mackenzie ; nod gener.il committee, Messrs J. Paterson, J. A. Valentine, A. Bishop, W. Brabant, M. Taylor, A. Bray, and the Revs. Messrs Jory, Currie, Dodd, and the officebears ex officio. It was left to the committee te arrange placo of meeting ' and syllabus for the ensuing term. The meeting of the society will be held on Wednesday evenings. On the motion of Dr Flemiug a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the retiring officebearers. Lyons' Operatic Burlesque Company performed to very meagre audiences in M'Kenzie'a Hall on Monday and Tuesday evenings. The entertainment in every particular was meritorious, and the company all round was strong. But this treatment of travelling companies is nothing new. As time goes on i* seems to be getting worse, and before long these companies will pass Balclutha by altogether. Of course Madame Heller drew full houses— that class of show generally does somehow,— but when companies both competent and respectable come along they meet with a beggarly array of empty benches. Tbe admission ii generally only 2s and Is, but yet the public oi Balclutha seem to think the money can be speni to better advantage these times. Probably ii could, but it is doubtful whether it is or not, However, the fact remains that the majority ol travelling companies leave more money it Balclutlia than they take out of it, for the} generally come with a little and go away ston< broke. Lyons' Company had a good house ii Kaitangata on the Saturday sight.

The Dnnedin Presbytery, at its meeting this week, expressed by resolution its gratification at the result of the licensing electious and local option polls within the' bounds of the presbytery. . . » Mr W. Willocks showed ua a sample the other day of the fruit lie grows in his garden at Hillcnd. One ai'p'e weighed lib Boz., and others apprpacbed that weight. We forget the class to which they belong. Messrs Neil ;iv<\ Co. have received ? a cup valued five guineas from The* Sunlight Soap Co., which they have presented to the Ciutba Cycling Club through the vice-president, Mr M. Cogblan, to be competed for within tw6 months. The choir of the Owakn. Presbyterian congregation are again getting up a service of song " Uncle Tom "—on bfihalf of the funds of the church and Snnday-scbool. The soiree and service of song will be given on Tuesday evening, 24th April. The Rev. A. P. Davidson, who has just resigned his appointment sis colleague 'and i successor to T)r Stuart of Knox Church, is al>oufc io return to Scotland. He will leave Dunedin for Wellington . on April 13 to catch a steamer sailing three days later for LondonT The Rev. Mr Dodd intends to start on a trip to the Home Country in the middle of next month. He will probably be absent about six months. His place here will be supplied by the Rev. Mr Mitchell from Australia. We wish Mr Dodd a pleasant trip. A correspondent writes complaining of the vandalism carried on at the reserve at Kororo Creek, Wiltshire Bay, where the New Year's Day sports and picnics are held. He says that during the summer months a large number of people have camped in tents on the reserve, have cut down the bush 4ov firewood and otherwise greatly destroyed the amenity of the spot and reduced its beauty and natural attractions. In one case at least manuka trees, the growth of 40 years, have been cut down and carted away for fenciDg, Our correspondent says the names of the vandals have been obtained, and will be forwarded to the proper quarter with a view to their being called to account for their depredations, and in order that others may be warned against future repetitions of the offence. At the meeting of the Dunediu Presbytery on Wednesday the resignation of the Rev A. P. Davidson as colleague and successor to the Rev. Dr Stuart in Knox Church again came up for consideration. A long statement was read from Dr Stuart with reference to the relations existing between himself and Mr Davidson, and the latter also made a statement about the matter. After some discussion the Rev. Mr Will moved as follows :— "The presbytery, having taken into full cinsidoration the resignation of the Rev. Mr Davidson as colleague and successor to the Rrv. Dr Stuart in Knox Church, the report of the committee appointed to meet with Mr Davidson, Dr Stuart., and tbo offini»V>fiarers of Knox Church, clso the resolutions of the congregation and tho explanatory statements of Dr Stuart and Mr Davidson, feel constrained to accept Mr Davidson's rssignation. In =o doincr the presbytery agree to recoid their deep sympathy with Mr Davidson, tlvir belief in bis full coiu cientiousness in resigning his chargf, their regret that he is leaving New Zealand, where goorl and able ministers are much needed ; their high estimate of his learning, of his ability as a preacher, of his piety, zeal, and devotednes=s to the ministry of the Gospel. Th-* presbytery also assure Mr Davidson of the kindly feeling entertained towards him by all the brethren, of their confidence in him, and of their earnest desire and prayer that God may long spare .and effectually bless and prosper him.iv bis ministrations in the Home country, where they feel assured he will ere long find a suitable sphere of, usefulness." The Rev. Mr Gribb seconded the motion which was earned. The New Zealand Times of Wednesday says the statement that Colonel Fox has, resigned is not correct, but that he has written to the Defence Minister (Mr Seddon) offering to resign on certain conditions, and giving bis reasons. The Post' of same evening, in the course of a leading article on the subject, says : — " So soon as it was seen that he was a capabla and conscientious man, knowing bis duty and determined to do it faithfully and impartially, all the powers of officialism were brought to boar to thwart him, and every species of politic il intrigue was resorted to in order to defeat the adoption of bis straightforward recommendations. All real power^wns studiously withheld from him, and he was held up to public scorn because he would not lend himself to political purposes. Everything that Ministers — the Premier and Defence Minister especially— could do to tie bis hands and undermine him in the respect and obedience of the forces he was supposed to command was done. His reports were pigeonholed, and bis recommendations ostentatiously ignored. Officers whom he commended were got rid of without reference to ! him, bis confidences wore violated, and he was j exposed to every species of contumely and neglect-. He was kept in a position of utter and complete uselessness— a mere dummy, — powerless to prevent the grof s improprieties committed on all sides, under Ministerial approval, in the force which be had been brought out from Home to reorganise and render effective. 1 j Instead of that force being consolidated, im- • proved, and rendered effective, be was compelled 1 to look on every day at its growing less efficient ; i and more disorganised as it dwindled away. i Useless corps continued to be maintained for , 1 political purposes, despite his remonstrances, and excellent material was every day lost to the service, until at last volunteering has been ■ reduced to a complete farce."