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Clutha Leader, Volume XX, Issue 1039, 22 June 1894, Page 5

At the meeting of the Southland Presbytery on Tuesday the Rev J. Ferguson accepted the callfrom St. Stephens' congregation, Sydney.

It is understood that Messrs T. Knowles (Tahatika). W. Carlton (Ratnnui), and W. L r- Oinc (Tauhukupu) are to be appointed Justices of the Peace.

The annual installation of officers of the local Masonic Lodge tiikes place at the lodge room this evening at 6.30. The event will be celebrated by a grand ball and supper in Mckenzic's Hall later in the evening.

Parliament was formally opened by commission yesterday, but the ceremony was devoid of the usual pomp, which was reserved for to-day when His Excellency will attend and deliver the opening address.

Mr Scobie Mackenzie opened the campaign for the Tuapeka seat at Lawrence on Tuesday evening. The meeting was tho largest ever held in the township. Mr Mackenzie had a most enthuastic reception and was accoded a unanimous vote of confidence.

Several temperance committees and labour unions in the Auckland district are calling the attention of the Premier and Minister of Justice to the remarks made by Mr Wade, solicitor, at the recent meeting of the Invcrcargill Licensing committee. Mr Wade's remarks are published elsewhere.

At Melbourne on Wednesday a man named Fraser was shot by a woman named Anderson in a hotel in Binuko street. The woman then attempted to commit ouicido. Fraser formerly boarded with Anderson in Sydney and was married two months ago. W hen Anderson heard of the marriage she went to Melbourne and tcok the fatil step reFerred to.

Two rather awkwird accidents happened in the district oti Wednesdiy last. A son of Mr W. Mason, Catlins River, fell off a tree and broke his leg. Mr W. Wright and Mr A. Saunders rendered first aid, and Dr Smith was sent for and fixed it, up. Mr A. M'Dodald, engineer, Milton, while examining Mr George Thompson's boiler, accidently got his legs into the exhaust tub and so got both lea;s somewhat severely scalded. Dr Fleming was sjnfc for aal dressed the burn.

" Ladies night" at tho Literary Society on "Wednesday evening was a decided succo-s. Mr J. A; Valentine, 8.A., was in fio chair and read tho papers, whk-h had been contributed by the ladies. " The Political Woman," "by one of them " caused a gwod deal of amusement and discussion. Another one on " The future of the Clatha" showed various ways in which the Clutha district should go ahead by opening up new industries, freezing works, the mouth of the river, etc. Another paper contained an ablo review of " Marcella," Mrs Humphrey Ward's last book. Tho next meeting will bo held on. Thursday evening instead of Wednesday, whoa Rev. Rutherford Waddell will give a lecture on Term3 r sou and Browning.

The Clutha Presbytery met here on Wednesday, when minutes refnrring to the deaths of Rev. Dr Stu.ut and Messrs A. D. Johnston an<l John Shaw were recorded. The presbytery sanctioned the introduction of instrumental music in the service of praise iv the Inch Cluthn congregation, and ngreed to applications fiotn the congregations of Balclutha and loch Clutha for grants of LoO each towards their respective mnnses in accordance with regulation of synod. Leave was granted to the Lawrence congregation to moderate in a, call to fill the pastorate of the congregation, the presbytery to meet at Lawrence on Tuesday, July 3, to deal with the matter. Rev. J. Watson Smith gave explanations with reference to the Catlins mission, and at the request of the presbytery agreed to continue to supply that field meantime. The presbytery thereafter took into consideration the remit of synod anent regulations re home missionaries, and passed a. series of resolutions on the subject. A full report of the meeting will appear next week.

Our Owaka Correspondent writes : — I notice another gang of men going out bush falling and to road woiks atTaukupu.— The first meeting of the debating society was held last Monday, Rev. Mr M'Laren presiding. There was not more than a score present, when the preliminaries were gone through. The Rev. Mr M'Laren was mrde President, Mr S. Youug vice-president, Mr 11. H. Olapperton secretary and treasurer, and the committee Messrs Todd, M'Keown, and Rattan. The Rev. Mr M'Laren gave a splendid paper on " Memory," which was very attentively listened to. The next meeting is to be held in a fortnight, when Mr S. Pullan and J. at'Keown will give a debate on " Land Nationalisation,"{which should prove interesting . — A petition is on foot to get three tew J.Ps. elected for this district— viz., Messrs Saunders, Craig, nud Campbell.

Mr Geo. Dabinett. J.P., held an inquest at Tauhukupu on Monday last on the body of Charles Henderson, settler. From the evidence it appeared that deceased was previously nt work on the Owaka-Waikawa road, but had declined to go to work for two months past. Early ou Wednesday morning last week a neighbor heard a shot as from deceased's tent. Whea going to his work some time afterwards he saw a large amount of smoke issuing from deceased's tent, but believing it arose from Henderson lighting his fire he did not gn to it. On Saturday morning another neighbor named Scott found the tent burned and deceased's remains in the debris, his legs, arms, etc., being burned off. There was also a gunshot wound on the right s-ide of the head, which must have caused iustantaneous death. Deceased had previously been subject to fits of temporary insanity. The jury returned a verdict of suicide while suffering from temporary insanity.

The D.'LC. announce an extensive sale in W. T. Smith's store Kaitangata.

We remind our readers of the plain dress ball to be held in the Puerua Hall this evening, A trial of tlie M.msey- Harris cultivator will lake pine:* at Mr Edwards' farm, Waiwcm, on Thursday noxt.

Persisted rumours are »rire<l fr.o.n Wellington as tn si chingo in the p>rsoinel of

the ministry lieing imminent

Our Port Molyueux Correspondent writes : — Dr Fleming gave an ambulance lecture in the Port Molyneusc school on Monday evening in aid of the funds to improve Wilsher Biy. It was a very rough night, yet the school w.is well filled. The lecturer explained at I-.ngth how to stop the different kinds of bleeding; then the subject of the apparently drowned wis treated ; also the different way of uping the ambulance bandage, what to do in cases of fractures, burns, fits, poisoning, etc. The meeting closed with a hearty vote of thanks to the doctor for his interesting lecture.

The question of the Speakersliip of the House of representatives is still an open one. The Government continue silent regarding their choice. It seems probable that Sir Maurice O'Ronrke will be speaker and Major Steward chairman of committees, which, no doubt, woud he the best arrangement. Sir Mauriae being head and shoulders above all oihers for the office.

A rather dangerous trick was perpetrated on a farm in tho Puerua district the other evening. A pair of harrows had been left near a creek in a paddock where the horses were depasturing. Someone placed the harrows in the crossiag place of the creek, the water covering them. Had tho harrows not been discovered before any of the horses attempted to cross serious injury might have been tho result. It is to be hoped the offender will be found out and brought to account for his action.

The half yearly meeting of the Loyal Dalton Lodge, M.U.1.0 0.F., v.as held on Tuesday evening last when there was a large attendance of members. The election of officers for the ensuing six months resulted as follows : -Bros. J. B.iin N.G., C. J. Wood V.G., J. Anderson E.S., J. A. Valentine Warden, and P. S. Betfc I.G. One new member was admitted by iuitiatiou, one by clearance and two proposed. The lodge now numbers J4's being the largest membership outside Dunedin in the Otago District. The receipts of the evening were L>)9 53 Id .

Purukireki Correspondent. —The folowing were elected members of School Commit • tee on the llth lust ;— J. Gillespie, J, Brugh, Geo. Johnston, John Mitchell, J. Caley, A. Shiols, G. Souness. At first meeting of Committee Mr Gillespie was elected chairman and Mr Brugh secretary. The new te.icher Mr T, A. Findlny has now fairly entered upon his duties and is giving every satisfaction.— A. general on" slamrht is no\yjiheing made .om the rabbits, and poor buuny h now getfcing**^gjsscare to say the k-ast of it,.— As is ususil at this season of the year the roads aro pretty bad.

Mr George Coombe, asjed 62, an old resident of Toknninirrio, died on Tuesday morn ing. He has been ill for a considerable time, and his deaih was not unexpected. In the eaily days of the gold fields Mr Coombe was owner of a rich claim at Manuka Creek, out of which he amassed considerable wealth. When this claim was wrought out he purchased the Commercial Hotel, Milton, which he has conducted ever since. Mr Coombe was well known in sporting circles, and in his day was the owner of Swindle, The Flying Dutchmau, Bar won, Catapult, Right Bower, etc. Four or five years ago he ceased to keep racehorses. Mr Coombe made many frieuds during his stay in Milton.

At an adjoanred meeting of the Invercargill Licensing Committee on MoncUy it was finally decided not to grant renewals of licenses to seven hotels— namely, the Prince of Wales, Union, Stag's Head, Supreme Court, Mitson's Golden Fleece, and Strath earn. It was also decided that the hotels shall be closed at 10 o'clock. At the conclusion of the business the following remarks were made :— Mr Wade, solicitor : And before you seperafce, gentlemen, I would like to tell you that it is now war to the knife. You have been guilty of wilfully, wantonly, and deliberately inflicting a gross injustice — The Chairman : The committee object to such remarks, Mr Wade. — Mr Wado : You can object to what 3'ou like. I say it is war to the knifo, and those of you who are ia private business will particularly and individually suffer. — The chairman : That will do ; that will do.— A voice from the crowd : " Good for you, Wade ; good for you.'-

A very enjoyable and in every way successful soiree was held in the Waiwera Presbyterian Church on Wednesday evening. Full justice having been done to the eatables — supplied as usual by the ladies— the Rev. Mr Spence took the chair, and briefly referred to the work of the year, and especially to the cordial relations existing between himself and the congregation. Thereafter short addresses were given by the Revs. Fairmaid, M'Laren,and Ourrie, and Mr Taylor (Wairuna). The latter as treasurer congratulated the "Waiwera end of the parish upon their liberality, and trusted that the depression from which all were suffering would not unduly interfere with the funds of the united congregations, especially ' with the sustentation fund. During the evening the choir under the supervision of Mr Roseveare gave a good account of ihemselves. Solos were also rendered by Mrs Irving, by the Misses Shore and Paterson, and by Mr Stewart. Votes of thanks having been passed by Mr Gibson to the speakers, by Mr Fyfe to the ladies who had provided so liberally the tea and cake, and by Mr Taylor to the choir a very pleasant evening was brought to a close. The proceeds, which go to the laudable object of providing for a native teacher in the New Hebrides, amounted to close on LB.