BALCLUTHA : FRIDAY, DEC. 17, 1897.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXIV, Issue 1224, 17 December 1897, Page 4

BALCLUTHA : FRIDAY, DEC. 17, 1897.

There was not a large attendance at the meeting held here on Wednesday afternoon to consider what steps should be taken for the relief of the settlers who had suffered by the recent flood. The matter was, however, discussed and the light and proper course was decided on. There still remains in the hands of the Trustees of the Clutha Floods Relief Fund, subscribed twenty years ago, a sum of LSOO which sum is avilable to meet loss sustained by the inhabitants of the Clutha through the flooding of the river. That serious loss and damage has recently in this way been sustained there can be no question, and it is difficult to see why relief should not be paid out of the fund referred to. According to Mr McNeil's report the Trustees seem to think that the recent damage is not of the nature intended to be made good out of the fund under their charge. It is possible the Trustees had formed this opinion on very imperfect knowledge of the nature and extent of the damage. The claims now to be submitted to them will enlighten them on the subject, and will, we believe, show them that the losses are exactly of the same nature, as tlmsp for which tli-y granted relief on the former occasion. Should this prove to be the. case we havo no doubt a reasonah'<> amount of relief will at once be granted. 4* —

The financial year 1897-98 has now only three months to run and it is expected the present brief session will dose, in the beginning of the week-. ThePoblic Works Statement was hid on the table of the House only on Tuesday night and some estimate of its importance <*nd the interest it is expected to excite may be formed from the fact j that the Minister did not deem it necessary to go to the trouble of reading it to the House. Possibly only a few members will even read it, the majority resting satisfied with such cursory perusal as will enable them to discover the appropriations for their | respective district?. Certainly the statement cannot now have that careful

study aud exhaustive discussion to which such statements were formerly subjected in the Parliament of the colony. Do our readers realise the fact that, notwithstanding almost daily demands for information, the Government have only this week, on the eve of the close of the session, condescended to throw on the table of the House an account of their stewardship, so far as the public works of the colony are concerned, for the year 1896 97 ; also that for nine months of the current year they hay? gone on expending the public money without the slightest control on the part of the people's representatives. Yet such is the case, and as only a quarter of the second financial year has now to run ie seema scarcely worth while to enter on any examination of (he Statement. To do so would serve no good or practical end. For all must sco that the newLiberalism of the colony has now virtually and to all intents and purposes resulted in irresponsible expenditure of the public funds, in an irresponsible one man Government, or in othfir words a solid despotism. Under these circumstances it seems only a farce to elect representatives or to summon sessions of Parliament. If one man is to be allowed to act the part of a despot then let the present expensive sham representation of the people be aljol hed.

♦ . The Public Works Statement commences by explaining thai during last year— the year 1896-97— a large number of applications were received by the Government for the execution of , works which would have involved an expenditure much greater than the means at their disposal would permit. Since January 1891, 224 miles of railway have been completed and there are now in hand, exclusive of main trunk lines, several short sections, totalling about 50 miles, most of thorn near completion. Some information is given as to the state of the Public Works Fund and details as to the railways under construction. Some of these detail? aro very stale news indeed. For example, the Minister for Public Works now condescends t) inform the people that the Catlins railway was opened for traffic to Owaka on the 22nd June, 1896 — eighteen months ago ! He also informs them that " As promised in last year's statement, a reconnaisance survey has been made to ascertain the best route for a line to connect the Oatlins River and Seaward Bush Railways. The report of the engineer shows that the line would be nearly 60 miles in length and would be an easy one to construct. There are four saddles to Burmount, the total height to rise in going from Owaka to Waimahnka beincr 1626 ft, with 1580 ft to fall. There "would bo numerous gradients ranging from 1 in 50 downwards, one of the steepest grades being over five miles in length. There -would also be two tunnels o£ a total length of over half a mile, As only a reconnaisance survey was mad^, no reliable estimate of cost can be given ; but it is tolerably safe to. say that a substantial railway along this route according to present standards could not be constructed for less tW about' L7OOO per mile." He does not, however, say whether he has any intention of proceeding further with the construction of this lino, or whether he considers the necessities of the public have been met by the completion of the reoonnaisance survey. A. survey has also been' made of the line to connect Heriot vnlh Roxburgh, a distance of 27^- miles. The earthworks of several miles would be very heavy, and he estimaces the cost of the extension at L 199.000. The cost of a line to connect Roxburgh with Lawrence, 38 miles in length, is estimated at LIBB,OOO, and this line would afford a much cheaper and speedier connection for the Roxburgh district with Dunedin. " The district immediately beyond the present terminus of the Heriot railway regards itself as entitled to better railway facilities for the transport of its produce. During the recess detailed plans and specifications will be prepared for an extension of this railway for a distance of six miles and aquarter beyond Heriot, to a point locally known as ' Edie's,' and as construction of thig section would servo a very considerable area of excellent agricultural land and would afford reasonable communication to the upper end of Orookston and Benger districts,and as the cost of the extension is estimated to bo under L 25.000, i he question of putting the work in hand would be worthy of consideration when funds are available for the purpose. During the ensuing rpcfiss detailed information as to the possil)'fi traffic results' will he obtained, nnd should this prove satisfactory a bill to authorise its extension will be introduced next session. It is also proposed to have a detailed survey made of the Lawrence-Roxburgh line. The total appropriations for railway construction works, including survey, permanent way, materials, etc., is L2U.000, and L 250,000 for additions to open lines. Last year the amount for construction works vras L 204,&23, and L 60,009 for additions to open. lines. The Statement embodies a large amount of information regarding light railways, which had been obtained from Tasmania and different parts of the world during the recess. A considerable number of applications had

been received for 'light railways in different parts of the colony. During the recess the relative merits and necessity for these several lines will be carefully considered, and information as to their probable cost or the revenue returns they may be expected to yield wiil be. laid before Parliament i.ext session. Some informs* ioi is also given regarding the construction and maintenance of roads, the development of gold fields, purchase of Native lands, telegraph extension, public buildings, lunatic asylums, etc. The amount voted for school buildings last year was L 48,780, and the sum expended L 48.495. The appropriation aiked for this year is L 59,350. The following proposed appropriations for the financial year ending on 31st March next will be interesting to our readers : Waipahi bridge, L 15 0; Matau bridge, L 450 ; road TVaitahuna to Bruce County boundary, Ll5O ; Long Point road, Glutha, L6O (expended L 58 ); Hunt's road, LlO5 (expended L 103) ; Bavr's road, Ll4O (expended L 32) ; Cannibal Bay, Ll3O (expended L 128) ; Catlin's road, L 250 (expended L 207) ; block I, Oatlins, L4OO (expended L 167) ; block IV, Catlins district, LOO ; Catlins and Tautuku, LBO (expended L 80) ; Tehaukaru, L4OO (expended L 377) ; Glenomaru, block IV, L4OO (expended L 260 ); Glenomavu, block V, LIOO (expended L 96) ; Cathenvood's road, L2'so ; Glenomaru, L4OO (expended L 277) ; Glenomaru, . blocks 111, IV, V, VII, X-, LIOO ; Woodlands, L7OO (expended L 549) : OwakaCatlins Lake, L1G0) ; Eimu, L 250 ; Purakaniti stream, L2OO (expended L 200) ; Kaler's road (ielling), Ll6O (expended L 150) ; Owea, (Campbell's), L7O (expended L 63) ; Tautukn river landing sheds, etc., LUGO ; Kimu, block IV, L3OO ,- Eimu, block XIII, L2OO (expended LloO) ; Owaka railway station (£ for £:), Ll6O (expended L 45) ; block VIII, Catlins, L 250 (expended LIOO ; Eatanui-Whitehead, L3OO (expended L 200) ; Katea Dairy Factory, Owaka, L9O (expended LB6) ; Warnoek's road, L6O (expeuded L 64) ; Tautuku, L6OO (expended L 147) ; Pomahaka, Clutha, L4OO (expended L 400) ; Mouat's Saddle, L2OO ; Pomahaka bridge, Kelso, (to account), LSOO (expended L 500 ); Pomahaka bridge, Clydevale, LSOO (expended L 500) ; WaikawaCatlins, L 2700 (expended LIG2B).

'The special attention of farmers and others is directed to the fact that the yard sales will commence next week, and in future, at 12 o'clock sharp. i A bowling match Balclutha v. Kaitangata ; was played at Kaitangata yesterday. The Balclutha rinks- won by 47 points. '• A very successful and enjoyable dance was given to Mrs W. S. Pillans, who with Mr Pillans leaves shortly for the Old Country, in M'Kenzie's Hall last Friday evening. Mr Gilfedder is to ask whether the Minister of Justice has received a report on the working of Prohibition in the Clutha district from -the local stipendiary magistrate, and if so, will he lay such report on the table of the House ? Alexander Kinder of Lovells Flat, is this year dux of the Otago Boys' High School which he has attended for three years. He won a junior board scholarship some five years ago on which he attended the Milton High School, originally coming from the Stoney Creek School. The Christian Outlook is pleased to hear that the officebearers of the Caversham Presbyterian Church have requested their minister to take a six weeks' holiday, promising at the same time to be responsible for the supply of the pulpit during his absence. The Outlook asks, How many congregations will , follow suit? We are informed that in sending by post cards and other printed matter, M.S.S. for publication, etc., many persons cut out nicks out of the ends of the envelope, gumming the flap as in the case of an ordinary letter. This is contrary to regulation. The cutting of the end serves no purpose ; the flap of the envelope should be turned inside so that the contents may be readily examined by the post office officials. Where this is not attended to the usual fines will be inflicted. With reference to Mr J. S. Vial's letter at last meeting of the County Council, we stated in our report that Mr Hay favoured the request, which was opposed by the chairman and Mr M'Neil. We overlooked the fact that Mi* Bradfield was chairman for the ftrst time that day, and used the term " chairman," referring to Mr Robertson, forgetting that at that time he had just vacated the chair. Mv Bradfield was in favour of the request; The request was opposed on the grounds that the council had no local power in the matter. The annual Break up of Balclutha District High School took place yesterday. In the absence of Mr Day, chairman of the committee, Mr Henry was voted to the chair. MiHenry and theEev. Mr Carrie then addressed the children, after which the following children were presented with attendance certificates: — Fivsi class — L. Gawn, Bobina Rose, Agnes Hogg, David Marshall, Kate Agnew, Victor M 'Donald, Dan -Wright, James Hogg, Earnest M'Lay, Maggie Maker, Katie Eose, Kenneth M^Kay, Flora Guest ; second class— James M'Dbnald, Florence M'DonaUl, John Burley, Archie' Wilson, Annie Maker, Agnes Kerr, H. Paterson, J. Purvis, Helen Jklllroy, fhe school then closed until Tuesday ist'Februavy, 1.898, (The rector's report is unavoidably held over till next week), An adjournment was then made to the show ground where sports of various kinds were engaged in by the children during the afternoon. A very liberal supply of cakes, sweets, etc., was handed .round several., times, mugh tp the gratification of the children, ' Perhaps we need scarcely call attention to the annual school concert to be given in M'Kenzie's hall this evening. There is, however, on this occasion a special reason why it should be liberally supported. Our readers are owftpe that only a portion the school ground has yet been asphalted and at last annual meeting of householders for the election of a school committee the retiring committee expressed a hope that the work would be completed during the presnt yewzThis has not yet been done, the difficulty being the want of funds. The Edupation Board has now agreed' to give £25 on oondh tion that the school committee find a like sum to complete the asphalting. Of course the- capitation grant allowed by the board cannot be applied to this, purpose but we understand the proceeds of the concert wilLbe so wpUea and if the parents give liberal support to-night there is every prospect that their children will soon faava the comfort of {in asphalt playground. Let us hope the importances the pbjept will be- kept in view and that a good round sum will result so that the L 25 offered by the board may not be lost. ; Kin, Notice.-A mall leaves- Balfllutha twice daily for' all parts of New Zealand, carrying with it numbers of Souvenir Junds of cards of Balclutha, the work of J. H. Yerex, photographer. Don't forget your friends at this season. A large variety of beautiful cards also oa band.— [Advo?.]

Several correspondents' letters curtailed and others held over. i ■ Bishop Nevill returned this week from his I Home trip. Boring for petroleum will be resumed at Mataroa, near New Plymouth in a few days. j Mr Coombs, * dentist, visits Balelutha on Monday and Tuesday. The Catholics of Dunedin, lay and cleric, have presented Bishop Verdon with a landau and pair ef horses. The Taieri Advocate states that arrangements have now been made to construct an up-to-date railway station at Mosgiel. The anniversary services at Waiwera mission hall will be conducted on Sunday first by the Eev. Mr Fairmaid. The Hon. John M'Kenzie has been confined to his bed this week, the cause being variously reported as la grippe and inflamation of the bowels. A fire a Narrabri, New South Wales on Monday, destroyed a large business block in the centre of the town, comprising 26 business places and offices. The damage is estimated at L 20.000. In our last issue we inserted a paragraph j which erroneously stated that Dr Menzies had ! recently taken his M.B.C.M. degree in 1 Edinburgh, whereas it should have been the L.-E.C.S. degree. Dr Menzies took the M.8., B.Ch. degree some years ago in the Otftgo University. A fire occurred on Friday night, at Oamaru by which one of the Benevolent Society's cottages was totally destroyed. There was no water near the place and the fire had to burn itself out. The charred body of the occupant, a very old woman, was found near the door, which deceased had been endeavouring to reach. The strawberry season has, says the Waii mate Times,' as usual had a very disastrous j effect on the school attendance. No fewer than 113 children were absent on Monday " strawberry picking." The efforts of the Truant Officer only succeeded in reducing the number of absentees to 106, and it was therefore decided to close the school a week earlier than usual, so that the strawberry growers ; might have their ci*ops sent to market. ' We beg to call the attention of stock owners to Section 57 of the Stock Act 1893, which is as follows : " All sheep forthwith i after shearing and all lambs before the 30th of April in each year shall be distinctly and legibly branded with the registered brand of the owner, and for every sheep not so branded the owner thereof shall be, liable to a penalty not exceeding 10s." All sheep should be branded before leaving the yards after shearing. At the S. M. Court, Clinton, on Tuesday, Mr Hawkins inflicted the following fines for failing to destroy rabbits : — T. Taylor LlO and costs lls ; Alexander Allen L 3 and costs 9s. In the first case defendent was convicted and fined on September 21 last, and he was charged on Tuesday under Section 10 of the Act — viz., that he had failed to take steps to destroy the pest since last conviction — to which he pleaded guilty, Mr Bruce represented the department. ! The usual convention for the deepening of spiritual life will be held again this year in Catlins Biver on Saturday and Sunday 25th >, and 26th December. A good number of Christian workers from other districts at a distance are expected to be present; among others Mr ß.~ Robertson, Evangelist (iv connection with the Evangelisation Society of Australia) ; Mr James Dickie, from Kurnara ; Mr J. Wilkinson, and members of the Dunedin Young Men's Mission. The fortnightly meeting of the Loyal Dalton Lodge of CTddfellows was held on Tuesday, N.G. W. S. Pennycook presiding. Nominations for the "vai'ious chairs for the January-June half year were closed the following nominations having been received : —For K.G., V.G. Geo Gray ; for Y.G., Bro. j J. Simpson ; E.S., Bro. Duncan Watt ; Warden Bro, D. T. Fleming ; Guardian Bro, P, Bell. • A very pleasant harmonious evening was spent, the following brethren con? tributing.:— Per. Sec, Hogg, P.G. W. Bain, N.G. W. S. Pennycook, and Bro. Bentley, Next fortnight the half-yearly summoned meeting will be held. •A notification by the Railway Department states that on Christmas clay the whole of the trains on the Huranui-Bluff section will be suspended, with certain exceptions. The exceptions so far as this district is concerned are : —The 8.0 a.m. Dunedin to Balelutha, the 4.10 p.m. Balelutha to Dunedin, the 11. 4Q a.m. BalclutHa to Clinton, the 2.15 p.m. Clinton to . B,alclutha, the express trains between Runedin and InverpargiJ], a trajh will leave Balelutha for Dunedin at 7 ; 23 a.m., arriving Dunedin 10.50 a.m. So far as, we can see this leaves the train service here for Christmas clay exactly the same as at present with the exceptions that the morning train from Clinton to Balelutha aud the evening train from Dunedin to Balelutha -will not run. We, have received a copy of the Witness Christmas Annual for 1897. The special feature pf this year's issue is the excellence of the illustrations, and the large number given (93). A novelty is a specially ijlus* trated colonial tale by "Fabian Bell,; 1 |n which many of the most noted beauty spots of the West Coast Sound country are faith-fully-depicted. The illustrated portion of the paper comprises no less than 40 pages, and we think we may claim for this issue a high place among this year's colonial numbers. The variety and class of the reading matter are excellent, and so also is the general get up of the number. In the colonies, the Javge weeklies take the place of the magazines in the older lands, and It is in this light we regard the Witness, which we look upon as one qf tho best weeklies in the colony. We direct attention to the notice inserted by the Bank of New Zealand at Clinton, in which it is intimated that after the Ist January a charge of 10s Gd will be made for opening current accounts with a smaller credit or debit than LIOO, and a further charge of 10s 6d will be made every half year when the credit balance for three consecutive days at less than, LSO. Present customers and those opening accounts before January 1 will be subject to the same regulations as from April Ist neat. The qbieot of these regulations is to mitigate to some extent the large amount of labour involved in keeping petty accounts, and also to secure some profit on a branch of banking business which at present is practically "unremunerative, ft is of course a great convenience to many private persons to get a ba;ik to act the part of bookkeeper gratuitously, but tie majority of these persons would willingly pay the small sum required for the privilege of being able to fceep an account with a bank, and those who grudge a guinea a ypar- gaii bepome their own bookkeepers. There are 'persons who, with the utmost sang froid, will deposit LlO in a bank and immediately proceed to draw half a dozen cheques which will amount to L 9 19s lid. They are often und/er the delusion that they are valued plients gf the bank and resent as an affront the suggestion that the labour of entry, cross-entry, and supervision involved in their transactions is I *?. »° wa y SPmmensuvatie w itn jihe yalue of I their oustom,