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Clutha Leader, Volume XXVI, Issue 1323, 11 August 1899, Page 5

Beport of complimentary dinner at Kaihiku received too late for this issue.

The barquentine Tacora has arrived at Mauritius and reports having sighted the Waikato on July 31, with a broken shaft, in latitude 39deg S., longitude 39deg E.

The Papanui, by which. Mr Thomas Mackenzie is a passenger, was due in Hobart on Saturday, but has not yet put in an appearance, and it is presumed she is making a search for the missing Waikato.

At the Magistrate's Court, Invercargill, on Wednesday, a man named Duncan M'lntyre vras committed for trial on a charge of perjury. — For causing a disturbance in the streets, two men were fined L 3 and costs (LI 8s) each.

We call attention to the announcement of aGhortseriesof meetings to beheld by Eev. L. M. leitt in this district, the first to be held in M'Kenzie's Hall here on Monday evening. Mr I3itt's ability and popularity as a lecturer are so well known that we are sure the bare announcement of the meeting will be sufficient to ensure a crowded attendance.

The Clutha Presbytery met at 'Milton on Wednesday last to moderate in a call towards filling the vacancy. There was a good congregation, the Bey. J. A. Somerville, M.A., interim Moderator of Session, presiding. Four names were proposed — viz., those of Messrs Miller, Hall, Henderson, and Fergus. A good majority, however, favoured Mr Miller, and finally some 145 members and 29 adherents agreed to his name being inserted in the call. Thereafter the Presbytery, considering the good congregation, and the absence of any strong feeling in favour of other candidates, agreed to sustain the call. The Bey. Mr Somerville and Messrs Adam and Moore were appointed deputies to prosecute the call before the Mataura Presbytery.

Two applications for old age pensions came before Mr Stratford yesterday morning. ' The first was a woman in the Waitepeka district, who did not appear. After looking over the papers, however, the Magistrate said he was satisfied that the applicant wa<? entitled to a pension, but in order to allow some technical defect in one of the affidavits to be remedied, he would have to adjourn the matter till next sitting. The second applicant was a man at Owaka, and he was present. The Magistrate looking over the documents saw that the age was put down at 67, and after asking the applicant if that his age and getting a replj in the affirmative, remarked that he did not look more than 57. Observing further that the applicant was single, Mr Stratford jocularly remarked that that might account for him carrying his years so well. So far the applicant appeared" to be in a fair way to get his pension. Mr S. Young's corroborative affidavit failed at a certain point however — he could only prove that the applicant had been 23 years in the colony. This was two years short of what the Act required, and to enable the applicant to strengthen his position on this point, Mr Stratford adjourned this application for a month also.

The representatives of a local gold prospecting syndicate had rather a risky trip on Tuesday evening. They went up the river with the steamer that day, taking a boat with them for the purpose of prospecting the river up about the Pomahaka. There were five of them, and by the cime they had fiinished their prospecting and were ready for the return trip in the boat it was a quarter past six. There was no moon and the river is unusually low at present rendering navigation very dangerous from snags and rocks which project all over its course, not to speak of shallows. However, there was no help for it but chance it, and this was done with considerable misgivings. A sharp lookout was kept by the man at the bow, while the man with the steer oar displayed unusual coolness and alacrity. At times a gaping snag, or a rush of broken water indicating hidden dangers underneath, was passed in dangerous proximity. As luck would have it, however, everything went well, and only twice did the boat bump on anything, once over a sand bar, and another time bounding, so to speak, over the trunk of a tree lying apparently across the course. The distance must be about fourteen miles, arid Balclutha was reached at exactly 8 o'clock. At this rate of speed, had the boat struck a jagged snag, of which there are scores, the consequences can be better imagined than described. A look at the river in broad daylight reveals the dangerous nature of the trip, and we should .imagine that few men in their proper senses would care to take the same risks a second time, for all the' gold, almost, that is in the Clutha River,

A letter from Mr George Thomson, in reply to " Old Identity," is held over.

Mr Thomaa Murray, late of Glenore, died peacefully on Wednesday morning at the residence of his brother, Mr William Archibald Murray, ex-M.H.E. for Bruce, Bothwell, Glen-Murray, Auckland.

Mr Stratford, S.M., ha 3 decided to in future hold sittings of the Magistrate's Court once in two months only at Milton, Kaitangata, and Clinton, in place of every month as formerly.

At the recent sitting of the Vincent County Council a communication from the Lands and Survey Department was received, the said communication being to the effect that cooperative labor must be employed henceforth on works executed under Government grants.

The Bruce Herald reports that Mr Nelson, the Clerk of the Bruce County Council, has received information from Mr Allen, M.H.11., stating that the vote of Ll5O for road up the Clutha river to Pukepito lapsed in March last, but he will endeavour to get the vote reinstated on the Estimates.

A female teacher of a small school near Stratford was sued recently for illegally assaulting a scholar, a boy nine years of age, by giving him a couple of cuts on the hand with a stick. The stipendiary magistrate dismissed .the case, which he termed a diggraceful one. the outcome of spite. The teacher had done her duty, and left the court without a stain on her character.

We have to acknowledge receipt, with thanks, of the Southern Standard souvenir, being a series ot views of Gore, and neighborhood, with a historical sketch of the borough. The photos, which are excellently execsted', are by C. Clayton, and B. Koger, M'Kee and Co., Wellington, being the process engravers. The booklet is very nicely got up, and is altogether a very handsome souvenir.

Mr H. T. Bain forwarded by the s.s. Matau on Tuesday morning five of Gardiner's threefurrow ploughs to the order of Messrs Begg Bros., Hillend, In addition to these the steamer had a miscellaneous cargo, including a fair-sized sledge hut which was shipped at the traffic bridge. There was a considerable crowd of people about, and Mrs T ia batt, who was present with the camera, took one or two views.

Twenty fishermen at Port Molyneux have written Mr J. W. Thomson and the Minister of Marine anent the steam trawling which has been done in Molyneux Bay by a Dunedin syndicate. They say that if this is permitted close to the coast-line, line-fishing on which they depend will be useless, and that their occupation will be gone. They ask that a limit line should be fixed for trawling, same as is done in connection with all other fishing grounds where trawlers are at work.

Jimmy Kohia, a. native, appeared before the S.M. at Greytown last weeks (reports the Observer) to demand old age pension, but after a little investigation the magistrate found that the native was really in a wealthy position, and jocularly said he would be very pleased to change places with the native, and and let the Maori take the Bench, aHd the magistrate would take Jimmy's land. It is needless to say the aboriginal went away minus the pension.

The Gymnasium Hall was crowded on Wednesday evening, when Miss Benjamin, L.L.8., of Dunedin, barrister, delivered a lecture, subject • Joan of Arc." Mr J. A. Valentine,B.A.,oc:upied the chair. Miss Benjamin's lecture was a life sketch of the heroine, and was delivered in an able and interesting manner, which held the wrapt attention of the large audience for an hour. At the close a hearty vote of thanks was passed to the lecturer on the motion of Mr D. Stewart, seconded by Dr Fleming.

The usual quiet serenity of the Magistrate's Court was somewhat upset on Wednesday by the Plaintiff in one of the cases dropping down in the witness box in a. fainting fit while undergoing his examination. The clerk of the court went to his assisc.srht but the man soon regained consciousnes"j pr was placed in a chair. He however loot

deathly pale for some time and the ma? ? trate ordered a doctor to be called, but i of meantime, and after a few mouthfulls oivuirt water, he almost completely recovered and was able at a later stage of the proceedings to undergo his cross examination by Mr Beid.

At the meeting of the Land Board this week, the application of B. L. M'Latchie for section 17, block 11, Catlins district, as rural land was approved. The following applications for rural land on occupation with right to purchase were also approved. — John Campbell, section 24, block V, Glenomaru; John Harris, sections 32 to 37, block VIII. Crookston ; Wm. Christie, section 18, block V, Woodland district. The following application for rural land on lease in perpetuity was also approved.— Miller, sections 11 and 12, block V, Woodland district. The following applications for surrender of leases were referred to the rangers for a report:— J. G. Bead, section 14, block VI, Woodland ; J. W. Tapp, section 10, block 111, Catlins; Emily A. Hill, section 16, block VII, Woodlands.

It will be seen by an announcement in our advertising columns that the several banks doing business i?i the colony have entered into an agreement that from and after 30th September next, a fee of not less than five shillings every half year will be charged on all current accounts, whether debtor or creditor, operative or inoperative. This charge will supersede that recently decided on — viz., 10s fld a half year on unremunerative accounts. We understand that the charge now to be made has been in operation for some time in the banks in Australia. It seems quite reasonable that the banks should make a small charge to cover the cost of stationary, etc. entailed in keeping people's accounts, and we do not suppose much exception will he taken to the new arrangement.

Many in the township and district will regret to learn that Mr J. A. Valentine 8.A., first assistant teacher of the District High School here is about to leave. Mr Valentine has been appointed head master of the Timaru South School and will enter on his duties there on September 6. This appointmont means advancement in his professsion, on which all will congratulate him. He will, however, be much missed here. He has occupied his present highly responsible position in Balclutha for seven and a half years and has proved himself a thoroughly efficient, zealous and successful teacher. He as in enthusiast in his profession, is apt to teach, has the entire respect and confidence of his pupils, and is held in the highest esteem by parents and the whole public. Apart from the work of the school Mr and Mrs Valentine will be much missed in connection with social and musical functions, in which they have taken a prominent part. We are sure they will carry with them the heartiest wishes for their comfort and happiness in their new home.

"Empire and freedom!" So said one of the greatest of Romans, when asked what were his politics. Britons, let the motto be your watchword throughout the ages. But no less notable was the saying of one of the greatest of New Zealand public men when asked what he took for a cough or cold, "Woods' Great Peppermint Cure," he exclaimed. He was as right as the old Eoman statesman. Give it a trial ; it is sold everywhere au4 never fails,