Untitled

Clutha Leader, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2137, 20 August 1907, Page 4

Wo understand the settlers) at To tTouka are to at 4 for a bi-weekly mail service, and probably also a telephone. They are justly entitled to both of these, "We are pleased to be able to say that Mr Matthew Marshall, whom Wo mentioned ten 'days ago as having been suddenly stricken blind. Is again slowly recovering his sight. On Sunday he was able to dimly distinguish objects held up in front of Mm. "Ladies' .Nijrht" at tho Literary Society to-morrow evening is to be held in the Oddfellows' Hall, us there is a very largo autiienee exj)ccteil to bo present. We understand the programme to be submitted is of exceptional excellence oven for the ladies of tho Halclutha Literary Soolety^

The Harriers' Fiv« i ft()« |foad Race, which waa to be hjtld on Wednesday, will bo postponed till a further date. Yfe understand that Mp George Clements has resigned his position as bandmaster of the Balcfutha Braes Band. <*

The annual dinner of the Clinion Caledonian Society will be held in the Oddfellows' Hall there on Thursday evening.

In consequence of the high price of flour, Dunedin bakers are considering the question of combining and import* ing all their flour from Australia. The Kuriwao Estate, Clinton, was purchased last Saturday by Mr W. 0. Rutherford, of Albury, as a going eonwrn. The price is understood to be a considerable advance on what Mf Copland recently gave for it. Messrs Dawson and MeKechnie's rfawmill a t Ratonui, which was burned to the ground three woeks ago last Friday, has again been re-crectcd and everything was reftdy for a start hill sixain ahead yesterday morning.

We learn from Mr Dunne that he lias decided to cut up h : s property in Charlotte streot into building sites, and put them on the market at an early date. There are some really fine building mtcs in this block, all within half a minute's walk of the main streot. .

It is reported that Mr F. B, Flat* man has decided to stand forAshbur* ton seat at next election. Mr Flatman states that ho has the support of the Government and will oe their candidate. Mr McLaohlan when asked if ho would stand again, said he wouM not commit himself, at present. Tie Minister of Lands will probably move the swond reading of tie Land B)U on Friday. He estimates that the second reading w i]J take a Week, and the committee stage two weeks, JTho Dill will be kept bt the top of the Order Paper until dealt with by the House.

It. is probablo that the settlors whoso properties abut on the river on toe Te Houka side will hold a mooting amongst thomselves iii a day or two to discuss matters in connection with the j roposed riverside road, with « vi3>v to coming to an understanding on the question.

The basket social held In St. HarVi Hall on Friday evening turned out very successful . Some CO e&upfes engaged in dancing to splendid musio by the Band Orchestra. Miss Robinson, and Messrs Edwards., and Waymouth contributed songs. The sum of £J -70 was taken at the door, the pro* coeds going to the organ fund. Mr Joseph Parker, an resident of Milton and lately of Inch (Hatha, leaves to-day r «r Papamrf for a trip to the Homeland and his nativo Yorkshire. It is considerably over 40 years sineo Mr Parker saw his native place, and ho proposes spentiinjr six months there ami other parte of the Old Land before returning to New Zealand.

Tho Kxrt-utors of the late P. Grant, at tho Milton Court on Friday, claimed from Laehlan McDonald the snm of ■,H and liquor su> pphed.-Mr Thomson appeared for the plaintiffs (in the absence of Mr Reid). -Magistrate Cruickshank-, allowed the items for liquor purchased in bottles, but struck out the items for liquor consumed on the premises. Judgment was entered by default for £7 H/6 ; court costs 8/-, solicitor's fee 16/fl.

The Loyal Pride of Hhitangata Lo- %<•, M.U.1.0.0.P., held their annual ball on Thursday evening last in Burroll's Hall. There was a large attendance and several brethren from other parts. Messrs Poole (violin) and Himmol (piano) discoursed excellent music. Mr Lang was the caterer and introduced ah innovation on this occasion by providing tho Supper at the Club Hotol dining room, for which a special license had been granted, and which was very much appreciated. P.(j. Arthur Thomas represented the 'Dalton Lodpc nt tho function.

in view of the high rates charged to flaxmillers for accident insurance, it has been determined to form an insurance fund locally (says the Bruce Herald). There are some 50 mills in Otngo and Southland, and it is estimated on the basis of '. past experience ami the law of averages that after lh* first year the rote could be lowered to about 10/- per £IOO of wages, and a margin left for accumulations. The Manawatu Association is also moving in the matter. In the event of serious uccidenls during the first year, a call would be made pro rat* on the wage* sheets of all the mills in tfhe Association.

.Mr Alex. S. Malcolm, who spent the week in Balelutha, left by the express on Saturday night for Wellington. He proceeded North from Duncdin by the first express yesterday morning, and would arrive In Wellington early this morning. Mr Malcolm says tho Session has been & very ouiet one so far, but for all that fair progress has been mads with the business of the country, and the way has-been cleared for • the more important policy measures of the Government. He expects more stirring times when the land proposals come forward. He is of opinion that the Public Works Estimates will not bo on tho lavish scale of lormrt years, and that there will be many disappointments. He thinks the Catling line will secure a fair vote, though the activity of the Otago Central and Lawrence-Roxburgh people may have a more prejudicial effect than would otherwise be the case.

On Friday night one of the largest and most enthusiastic public meeting! held in Invercargill discussed the quwtibn of railway commutaicatiott bet- | ween Box burgh and tho seaboard. Hie ; Ijunedin agitatibn for a largo vote for tWe. Lawrence-Bo* burgh rod way was adversely critioised »n the groffinti that the route was bad from the point of view of distance, cost of construction, and probable revenue. After an animated discussion the following resolution was carried unanimously with acclamation : "That in view ol the very strong opposition by a large section of tiho community fur the expenditure ol further moneys on the I.nwrenoe-Rox-burgh railway and the opinion held thai a much better route is available at a greatly less cost, this meeting asks the Government to Appoint a commission of oxjicrts to inspect and report as to the most suitable and tha cheapest route to connect Roxburgh with tho main line,"

The Clutha river is reported to be abnormally low on the goldfields, and the Chinamen are exploiting crevices never before touched.

Qn our third page will be found an original story, entitled "Mates," written by a local writer. Before being put into the printer's hands the M.ijl.S. was submitted to a competent judge of literature, who expressed a very high opinion of the merits of the« story.

Thore is only one subject of conversation in the Goldfields at present, and that is the success of the Vincent football team in Dunelin during country week. Their praises resound from one end of Vincent County to the, other. Webb's victory is nothing to.it.

Genial rains fell on Sunday night and yesterday which will bo very welcome after the protracted spell of dry weatner. We have not heard of any-having fallen at Oamaru, but possibly the explosives let loose there have been wrongly foeussed and the 'effcots have been felt here instead of iheae.

It has generally been accepted in the past to be a. statement of tact that Crown' Leaseholders under any tenure were not called upon to pay land tax. Ah a matter of fact wo believo this was the case up till last year. Last jreaf» Qowwer, the returns show that 113 l.i.p. holders paid land tax, and WB understand that in future it is the intention of the Government to make all crown tenants who are liable pay tax. The tax is levied on the tenants' interest on the present valuation. Mr and Mrs Thos. Mackenzie spent a very pleasant two days in Balclutha at the end of last week, and looked up old friends. On Saturday afternoon Mr Mackenzie had a walk round the gravel-pit on the reserve, and saw the work done in connection with the proposed baths. He is strongly of opinion that the gravelpit should be fenced in for a time and planted round with native and other trees and turned into a beauty spot and a Banctuary for native birds. If this were taken in hand ho promisee a substantial subscription towards it.

We have received from the Singer Maohine Co. Dunedin, a copy of an interesting little booklet, entitled "Bow a perfect Singer needle is made." "The efficiency of a sewing machine is only equal to tho efficiency of its needle." Recognising this as a fact, The Singer Manufacturing Company has spared neither skilled effort nor expense in establishing a needle factory at each of its two gigantic principal works, situated at Kilbowie, near Glasgow, Scotland, and at Elisabcthport, N.J., U.S.A. These turn out no less than 117,000,000 perfectly finished and well-tested Singer needles per annum, from 350 tons of specially manufactured steel wire. Each needle passes through 27 pairs of skilled hands.

Mr John Dunne has leased the well-known Crown Hotel property, private hotel and stables, for a term of years to Mr Thos. Meadows, who entire into possession this week. The valuation of the-, household furniture and effects takes place to-day. Mr Meadows has been in business for many years in different parts of Southland arid North.Otago, and he, as well as his wife and daughter, eome with a good reputation as caterers for the requirements of the travelling and general public, and in the Crown. Hotel they should find ample scoj)e for business on approved lines. Mr Meadows also takes over the Crown stables, but of course he will not require the whole of tha extensive array of buggies and conveyances of various kinds, horses, hartma, etc., that Mr Dunne has gathered about him. The whole of these wll therefore be submitted to public auction on Tuesday, 27th inst., and Mr Meadows will supply his requirements at the sale. Mr Dunne will probably take a short holiday trip, after which with Miss Dunne and Mr John Dunne, jun., he will settle down to a retired life in Balclutha. Mr Dunne is now getting well up in years, and that he may spend many years in ease and comfort is the wish of many friends not only in the Clutha but throughout Otago,