The Clutha Leader. BALCLUTHA : FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 1894.

Clutha Leader, Volume XX, Issue 1029, 13 April 1894, Page 5

The Clutha Leader. BALCLUTHA : FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 1894.

At the Clutha Football Club's practise on Saturday Mr Alex. Bain was elected captain and Mr VV. Finn deputy. We direct attention to the annual soiree of the Kaitangata Presbyterian Church, which will be held in M'Govern's Hall on Wednesday evening. We understand a convention of delegates from the variousfcemperance soecieties with in the Clutha licensing district will be held at Clinton at 9 o'clock to-morrow morniog. We remind our readers of the socia tonight in M'Kenzie'a Hall to bid fiirewell to Bey. Mr Dodd. who goes on a six months' tiip to the Home Countiy, and to welcome his locum tenens — Rev. Mr Mitchell. The harvest festival sermons were preached in the Wesleyan Church here on Sunday last by the Rev. J. T. Pinfold, who also delivered a lecture in the same place on Tuesday eveuing, his subject beiDg " John Bunyan." HarTest thanksgiving services were held ia St. Mark's Church here on Wedneida? evening, tho Rev. Mr Mitchell beiDg the officiating clergyman. The church was decorated with gnuD, fruit, flowers, etc., for the occasion. Messrs Neil and Co. have received a cup valued five guineas from The Sunlight Soap Co., which they have presented to the Clutha Cycling Club through tbe vice-president, Mr M. Coghlan, to be competed for within two months. Messrs David Moir, G. W. {Draper, W. Carlton, R. B. Berney, J. White, R. Warnock. andW. Williamson have beengtzetted truster s of the cemetery at Ratanui, section 38, block VII, 'Woodland. This matter has been a [considerable time under way. Mr Mackenzie, M.H.R., first bringing the matter uuder notice ig May 1892. We understand Messrs Macdonald aud Solomon, Dunedin, will appear in support of the petition to upset the Clutha licensing election and local option poll, aud Mr T>. Stewarfc, Balclutha, and Dr Findlay. Dunedin, will appear on the other side. The inquiry will bo held by Mr Hawkins, S. M., at Balclutha on Monday first. "We also hear that Mr Adams will appear on behalf of the temperance party. A man named William Marr was arrested on Sunday last on a charge of indecently assaulting two girls aged 13 and 15 years respectively. He was charged with the offence on Monday at Clinton before Messrs Wallace and Roy, J. F's., when the case was conducted with closed doors. Marr was cornmittad for 'trial at next criminal sitting of tlie Supreme Court in Dunedin. The work of laving the gas mains in the streets and tbe connections with the consumers' premises has now been completed. All that is yet required to permit of tbe light being used is the gasaliers, brackets, etc., and these will arrive hy first steamer from Melbourne. Thpir fitting up will only occupy a few days. The making of gas was commenced yesterday, everything working smoothly, and satisfactorily. The gas was lit at the works aud proved all that could be desired. A special Owaka corresponelent writes : — The little English Church congregation here were summoned to worship for the first time on Sunday by their new bell, the gift of Mr Craig. The services during the day were taken by Rev. Mr Dodd, and the attendance was very fair considering the exceptionally wet weather Mr Dodd always takes care to bring with him. The hope, however, was confidently expressed that the valley will be blessed with an exceptionally dry winter, not merely on account of prohibition but because the rev. gentleman is leaving oa a six months' visit to the Home Country. Many in this district will regret to learn of the death of Mr Andrew M'Laren, butcher, Milton, which took place on Saturday last. About 6 o'clock that morning his body was found in Mr M'Gill'o mill race, life being extinct. At the inquest the evidence tended to show that Mr M'Laren hauvbeen crossing a bridge over the race, and missing his footing fell in and so met his death. It is believed he had not been over a quarter of an hour in the water when his body was found. Mr M'Laren had resided in Milton for about 30 yenrs, and no man in the district was more widely known. During his career he has done an extensive business as butcher, cattle dealer, and farmer. He was of an extremely kindly and obliging disposition — a " good hearted fellow," and bis sudden and tragic death has cast a gleoni over the whole commuuity. His funeral took place on Monday afternoon, and was attended by a very large number of mourners. Much sympathy is felt for his widow and family in tbeir sad bereavement. A meeting of sheep owners was held in the Council Chambers, Milton, on Wednesday evening last week to devise means for putting a stop to sheep stealing in the district. Tliere was a large attendance, iir M. Henderson presiding. The chairman explained that he was 300 sheep short, and he heard that other farmers were losers to an equal extent.— Mr Win. Dunn had lost 50 from one paddock, and he bad heard of many more beiug lost iv the district. Others present explained their experience iD the matter. Mr W. Grey said if some people would feed their sheep better they would have fewer losses to complain of. The sheep got into rough c ountry and had not strength to get back. After a good deal of discussion Mr Dunn moved '"That this meetiug form themselves into an association to raise a substantial sum, say L7O, as a reward to be paid to any person giving information that will lead to tbe conviction ol ' the parties engaged in sheep stealing." The motion was secondeel by Mr Inglis md carried, Mr J. W. Thomson moved " Thafc iv tbe opinior of tbis meeting ifc is desirable that the Ministe* of Agriculture should, next session of Parlki' ment, inquire into the truth of the allegatior that sheep stealing is prevalent in the colony : and, if he find thafc this is so, that he shoulc take steps to consider the proper way to pufc i stop to this state of things, also that a copy ol thir resolutian be forwarded to the Minister ol Agriculture and the member for the district. ,: The motion was seconded by Mr Grey anc carried. The following gentlemen were ap pointed a committee to canvass for subscriptions. Messrs H. B. Flett, W. Dunn, J. H. Wilson W. Grey, W. Cockburn, J. Allison, G. Martin, J. Waters, T. W. Sutherland, J. E Palmer, C. J. Crawford, A, Boyd, and J, W Thomson.

A concert and dance in aid of the funds of (be Stirling Athenaeum will bo held in the Stirling Hall on Friday evening next. j A West Taieri farmer informs the Advocate tbat tbe Hes?ian 'fly, wbich caused considerable damage last year to his crops, was almost (if not entirely) absent tbis year from his fields, although in adjoining crops tho fly was as numerous as ever.