Untitled

Clutha Leader, Volume XX, Issue 1032, 4 May 1894, Page 5

The new members of the Te Houka School Committee are Messrs R. Moffat, J. Wilson (chairman), C. Dallas (secretary), J. Laing, and K. Houliston. Yesterday, the anniversary of the ascension of our Saviour, there was morning prayer at St. Mark's Church, Balclutha, at 8 a.m. and eveniug service with address at 7.30. p.m. We understand that on Sunday next, atthe morning service, Miss Guthrie, of Dunedin, will sing during the offertory the solo "The Golden City." In the course of his speech at the opening of another section of the Otago Central Railway, on Tuesday, the Hon. the Minister of Lands mentioned that in the whole of Central Otago there were not 50,000 acres of crown lan d suitable for small settlements. This is a very different story from that so oft told and repeated from Dunedin. The Hon. John M'Kenzie, Minister of Landt {was entertained afc a bauquefc afc Shag Point on Friday evening, when there waa an attendance of over 2CO people including a number of ladies, M.H.R's., and others. The Minister's speech chiefly dealt with tho recent "high falufcin talk." as he termed ifc afc P.tlmerston, when- Mr Scobie Mackenzie received a presentation. We have another retrun of the expermenfc with the Government seed potatoes. Mr George Bain planted 51b magnum bonum and his produce was 2281 b ; Bruce, 51b produced 3lllba ; 51bs main crop kidney 2271bs • 10 lhs Imporato 3231b5. Thus 25lbs seed yielded 10S91bs, 3e.« s weight of bags 201hs— 10691bs. The seed wa«s planted in Mr Bain's ground, James Street, B.tlclutha, the space being 36ft by 21ft and horse manure was used. The section of the Otago Central railway 'between Middlemarch and the Rock and Pillar was opened on Tuesday by the Hon. J. M'Kenzie, who with the Colonial Treasurer and a number of members of both Houses and prominent citizens, left Dunedin by special train that morning. The section declared open is eight miles in len-jtb, and the Rock and Pillar station is 56 miles from Dunedin. Luncheon was served afc Hyde where speeches were delivered by the Hon. Mr M'KeDzie and others. /The street lamps of Ralclutha were lighted with gas for the first time on Saturday night, and the light was certainly a great improvement on the keros.ene lamps previously in use. The gas is now also in use in many of the stores aDd other places of business, and the gasfitters are still busily employed fitting up dwelling houses, elc. So far as the quality of the gas is concerned everyone, we believe, is satisfied, while, if the company has tiie hearty support of the community, as no doubt ifc will > there is no reason to doubt it will prove a financial success. Mi* Charlie Hugo, with the Enterprise Minstrels are to appear in Mackenzie's Hall Balclutha, on "Wednesday evening next the 9bh iosfc. They have issued au attractive programme and the entertainment should be a very popular and enjoyable one. Charlie Hugo, the veteran minstrel has brought many of the best shows through the Colony, and is quite a host iv himself. Fred "Woods, Sam Walton, and Jack Deaker are all good " end men," and with Hugo will supply plenty of the comic element. Mr C. M'Mahon is "an experienced interlocutor and will act as " Our Host." while Messrs Stanley,' Cullimore, and Dickinson will furnish the ballads and duets, each of them being highly spoken of as good vocalists. Mr J H. Brown is musical director. Hugo, "Walton, and Woods givo specialities, and the whole company give a grand comic military finale, and conclude with a side splitting farce entitled " The Darkfcowo Studio." The prices of admission are back seats Is, front seats 2s. A soiree and service of song, " Uncle Tom," was given in the Presbyterian Church, Owako, on Friday evening. Tuesday evening had been fixed but the very severe weather that then prevailed rendered a postponement unavoidable— a change that no doubt, interfered with the attendance. Everything, however, passed off exceedingly well, the members of the choir aquittin-? themselves with great credit and receiving thehearty plaudits of a highly appreciative audience . The Rev. Mr M'Laren gave the connective readings. Miss E. Duttou presided at the organ. The Misses Dufcfcon cave a duet, and solos were given by .Mrs M'Lean and Mr Jackman, all being well received. At the close Mr Blair moved a votes of thanks to tbe choi'-, organist, and the committee, and also to the Rev. Mr M'Laren for his expressive rendition of the readings. It is to be hoped the choir will manage to arrange for giving this -.ervice of song in other parts of the district where they may calculate on a very hearty reception. At the Police court here yesterday four boys were charged by Constable Chrisfce with unlawfully throwing stones. From the evidence it appeared that on the night in question a larsre number of stones were throw at the house occu. pied by Donald Forno. Forno procured assistance and it w*s found the stones were thrown from the loft of Mr Lousley's straw houso. The four boys were found inside the door with a pile of stones collected for use. Forno had been similarly annoyed during the past 18 months, although he was not aware whether the same boys had always been the delinquent!? Constable Christie said there had of la'/fe been many complaints of stone-throwing which had been continued even since the present summonses had been served. A very large number of young boys were allowed to roam about the streets till a late hour afc nights and instead of getting to Church on Sunday nights he had to walk the streets and with a stick disperse the crowds of boys that collected.-Xs.This being the first time tho matter had been brought before the court the accused were each fined 5s without costs. Itrwas explained tbat this was intended as a warning to these boys andgto others, and, if it [did not put a Btop to the practice, a flogging would likely be ordered on next occasion. Ati aU events such sentences would be passed as would put down the nuisance.

A bicycle race (15. miles) comes, off hen on Saturday next week. The first prize is a silver cup presented by the Sunlight Soap Com. pany, and the second is a silver medal, gift of Mr Bremner. The ope.iiirg meeting of the Balclutha Literary Society will tike place in MacKenzie'a Hall on tlie evening of Friday next at eight o'clock when tho president Dr Fleming, will give an ambulance lecture. The Payno Family of musicians and bellringers gave one of theii- drawing-room entertainments in M'Kenzie's Hali here ou Wednesday evening. There was a very good attendance, many of the aud fence beiug from the surrounding districts. The programme was faithfully carried out, the entertainment proving a very pleasing one, and being highly appreciated by the audience. Mr Farnie, manager of the Dnnedin Labour Bureau, visited the Catlins district in the end of last week, when he selected 37 men to start work on the roads and railway works there. The Chief Surveyor and Messrs Mackay (chief clerk of the Labour Bureau, "Wellington), and Mr Farnie again visited the district this week to select ewo blocks of land to be taken up., under the Hon, Mr M'Kenzie's assisted bush settlement scheme, '