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Clutha Leader, Volume XXI, Issue 1044, 27 July 1894, Page 5

The new Standing Orders of the House of Representatives cxnie into fore* on Tuesday l;ist. The ordinary monthly meeting of the Cluilia County Council will be held hero this afternoon. Next Wednesday bcinrr :v pnhlic holiday throughout the Colony— Arbor Day— the meetin? of the Land Board will be held on Thursday instead of the usual meeting day. At Kaitangata active steps are being taken for the due observance of Arbor Day. The required funds have readily been raised by subscription. Mr Dutton and other practical men have been employed to assist, and it is believed a good deal of work will be accomplished. The Balclutha School Committee will meet this evening in the school to duci.lj on til applications for the head mastership of the hiyli school. We understand there are a considerable number of highly eligible candidates, and, no doubt, a thoroughly efficient head master will be secured for the school. At a meeting of the Balclutha Borough Council on Monday evening it was decided not to accept any tenders for the clearing of the gorge and willows on the river bank, but to have the work done by the dayman. There were 16 tenders, and want of funds wan the 'reason assigned for the course adopted. We learn on the best authority that the lessees of the Pomahaka estate recently purchased by the Government contemplate shortly applying for a reduction of rent. They consider they now pny higher than the price since paid for Mr Logan's improved estate near Clinton notwithstanding that the latter is better soil and close to the railway. Another new place of business will shortly be opened in Balclutha— viz., a wheelwright's shop, which is now being erected at the correr of Gordon and Stewart streets, near to the Railway Hotel. There is every prospect that the most of the vacant sections in Stewart street, between John sticet and the railwny station will gradually bo filled up. Speaking in the. House on the tariff question air E. M. Smith paid : " The Hon. the Leader of the Opposition is anxious to let the Colony know he is a Freetrader to the backbone, and I waut this House to know that I am a Protectionist (or tl.e good of the country." — (Mr Duthie ; " And no backbone.")— Mr Smith :" I admit I hsive no backbone. 1 have left my backbone in the political dustbins of the Colony."] The usual fortnightly mooting o f the Hope of Biilcluth.i Lodge was hold on Tuesday evening. After the usual business had been transacted, the following officers were elected for the ensuing quarter:— C.T Bro. .11. Hogg, T.T. Bro. J. Henry. P.O.T. J3ro. J. Bower, C, Sis. Ferrar, Sec. Bro. G. 11. M'Neur, A.S. Sis. Bariy, T. Bro. "W. Tosh, F.S. Sis Clark, M. Bio. H. Chapman, P.M. .Sis. Wri»ht, 0. Bro. G. Holme?, S. Bro. Smith, S.J.T. Bro. .Tory. In the Toxa Company's circular wo notice that those who have used toxasiy that it is bettor than phosphorus in < 3 .iy frosty weather, while others prefer to use it in tlio hot summer months. That the article is a good one theie can be no question, as runholders in all parts of New Zealand testify to the splendid results obtained afier exhaustive experiment*. Fiiimera who aro now beginnim; to think of reducing the numbers of thy smill birds should get a SHinplo of the company's bird poison, which is a'so highly spoken of. We notice that the Clutha Eivor Board has ju^t about completed a grion at the upper end of Inch Clutha, the object of which was (o shut up a channel that had formed by the washing away of the bank on the island side, and thus confine the current to and deepen the witcr in the main channel. The groin is a double row of piles, filled up with stone] from a quarry on Hosborough road. The stone embankme/it is now being faced with willows. The groin is acting most satisfactorily as already the stories are almost cemented with the sediment carried ! by tho river, the current in thn side channel hns virtually ceassd, and the channel itself is rapidly silting up. A goodly number from all parts of the district followed the remains of the late Mrs M'Kinnon to it? last resting-place on "Wednesday. The deceased lady arrived in Australia in 1532 along with her mother and several brothers and sisters ; part of her family are still settled near Gcelong. In 1862 Mr and Mrs M'Kinnon arrived in New Zealand, when tho Tuapeka gold fields were in their prime. They then commenced storekeepins at Waifcahunn. When tho DuustsiD broke out they were among the first to stnrt for the new field. Mr and Mrs M'Kinnon followed several of tiie new rushes as storekeepers, but getting tired of tho hard life I they settled at the Beaumont for a number of years, wheie they carried on dairying. For the { last 20 years they have been residing in Milt.nn j and this district. Mrs M'Kinnon was well known to the travelling public, and was of a quiet kindly nature and well liked by all who knew her. Much sympathy is felt for Mr M'Kinnon in his bereavement. i Wednesday first is appointed by the Government as Arbor day. It is gratifying to notice that in many quarters throughout the colony arrangements havo been made for the due celebration of tho day and there is every likelihood of a large number of trees being planted. We do not know what, if any, arrangements have been made for observing the day here. We fear nothing hss been done and the likelihood is that nothing will be done in the way of tree-planting here on Wednesday. If this were a matter Involving the expenditure of money, Balclutha in common with other places, might be excuse,} for inaction during ths present financial depression. But it is not a question of money ; it is simply a question of individual taste, tact^and exertion and of the existence of a. desire to beautify and to improve the amenities of the township. The Government has laid on the local bodies the responsibility for a duo observance of Arbor D.iy but the Borough Council ignore or neglect this duty. It, is to be hoped that before another Arbor Day comes round the citizens will take the matter iuto consideration and appoint an independent committee to look after the amenities of tho borough and prepare for Arbor Day celebrations. We believe this is the only way by which the day will be duly observed here.

Notwithstanding tho very cold, wet, dark and stormy night there was a fair attendance at the meeting of tho Literary Society in M'Kenzie's Hall on vVY<lncßiln\- evening when ProFcs or Ssilniond del ve red a Inc'urc — subject , '" The Stoics and Epicurmns." It is needless to s;ty tho lecture was a very nble, instructive and interesting one which was much appreciated by the auilifiiO''. Ab tbo c!'»se, on the motion of Mr V.dcnt'ne a hearty, vote of thanks was accorded the lecturer. Mr Oariie occupied the chair. JS 7 ext evening (Wednesday) will be devoted to roading short papers.