The Clutha Leader. BALCLUTHA: TUESDAY, DEC. 7. EXIT FINANCIAL ADVISER.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXXVI, Issue 51, 7 December 1909, Page 5

The Clutha Leader. BALCLUTHA: TUESDAY, DEC. 7. EXIT FINANCIAL ADVISER.

The Government suffered a rather un- ■ pleasantr reverse on the estimates on Friday night, when Mr Massey carried a motion by 35 votes to 25 to strike out the item £IOO, payment to the Hon. W. P, Reeves as financial adviser to the government in London. We could not see the force of this appointment at the time it was made and we have not heard anything since to convince us that it was necessary. .It is true enough that there was such an officer in London at one time, but that is a good many years ago in .what used to be referred to as tne "bad old days" when . it was said positions were found for loyal party supporters. In the present ease such a charge cannot lie, but the position is none the less a luxury which the country can well afford to do without. Some years ago the country raised the status of its official representative in London from an Agent-General to, & High Commissioner, and' concurrent with the added dignity there was a substantial increase in salary. And if to the increased tost of the more high sounding title is to be added the increased cost of a financial the country may well ask what it has gained by the change ? The Hon. Mr Hall-Jones as a New Zealand politician and administrator was a man for whom we had the Kghest resp&ct, and of whom we always entertained a very high opinion. But, frankly, we never considered him fitted 1 for the position of High. Commissioner. The appointment of his predecessor as financial advisor and the "creation of the new office might reasonably be interpreted to mean that the government were of the opinion that his qualifications for the position were not what it demanded, and he was relieved of the financial side of the position by Mr Reeves being retained as financial adviser. Not onlv was Mr Hall-Jones not possessed of the qualifications necessary for the office, but he was in ill-health at the time of his appointment, and on occasion's since he tfent Home it has been reported that his health was not satisfactory. Muvh as we regret it is so, and much as we appreciate his past services to the country and to his party, yet we strongly hold that the position of High Commissioner should not be a reward for services to country or Party unless the person appointed is fully qualified for the office, and is, in such a state of health as will enable him to give his best to the country, and carry out the duties to the Best of the ability oi which he is possessed. We are glad to see that members of Parliament are keeping a watchful eye on the increasing cost of the High .Commissioner's Office, and we trust we are justified in hoping that we may take Friday night's vqte to mean that members are detertnined to see that the country gets value for the money expended. do not attach any great party significance to the vote, but the evidence of independence on the part of members is a thing we have not been much accustomed to in years gone by, and it is distinctly refreshing and welcome.

Violent gales in Britain. There have been several wrecks with loss of life, and much damage is reported from inland.

The official dissolution of the Imperial Parliament, owing to the Budget rejection by the House of Lords has been fixed for the Bth of Januarys and rats are to be issued the same day. The earliest polling in boroughs is to be on the 13th January. ' At Lord Curzon's initiative, many Peers are arranging to participate* in the election prior to the issue of writs. ,

The Balclutha Boy Scouts held their first field day on Saturday. There was a good turn out—about 30 boys, -under scoutmaster A. 11. Keid. The "Lion" patrol was feent out to act as despatch bearers to endeavour to get into Balclutha from the South, through the remainder of the scouts. The scouts were too keen and the despatch bearers were captured near the railway crossing just on the call of time-5' p.m". The boys enjoyed themselves thououghly. and, if the work was not quite properly understood, it was still good enough for a first Outing.

The N.S.W. Coal Strike still continues. Extra polite are being sent to Newcastle and Messrs Bowling and Brennan (strike leaders) have been arrested on a charge of conspiracy. The Bollandi Coal Coy. has offered 7000 tons of coal at pre-strike prices to the railways and the offer has been accepted ; several locomotives are being fitted for oil fuel. The electric lighting of Sydney can be maintained till January, but the gas /ightinq will cease on Dec. 14th. The municipal authorities are fitting up kerosene lamps. Numbers of vessels are being loaded with coal in England for Australia.

Tiie horse in Mrs Shaw's buggy, in which were three ladies, took fright at a motor car near the post office about 7 o'clock on Friday evening, fi nd set off at a gallop towards trie railway station. Near Mr Boyd's house the animal got one of its legs over the shaft, and some one caught ' it, and, a crowd gathering, the occupants were taken out of the buggy. ■ Beyond the frignt they were none the , worse, and after a rest in Mr Boyd's were driven home. The buggy shaft Was broken, which was about all the : damage. The horse was a very quiet • one, but the accident exemplified the f statement that even the quietest hor|Seß sometimes get frightened out of their wits tit a motor car or motor

IThn Clutha Mounted Rifles has new a membership of 88 on a "clean" roll.

A tennis club has -been formed at Waitapeka, with Mr T. Ke&n as president and Miss Long' and Gray Somerville joint secretaries.' The court has, been formed on the old site of Mrs •'as. So.r.erville'a house. A social) evening is to be held in the old mill! b'n'di !>s on Thursday evening (ffth), in ai.l of t!.e funds.

Mr A. S. Mnlviolm was present at the Clutha Show on Friday and was welcomed by many friends from far and near. Mr Malcolm gays that matters in Parliament are much more interesting titan they appear on the surface. He is of opinion that the House will rise before Christmas, and that it will adjourn till about the usual time. Mr Malcolm leaves for Wellington this morning.

The A. and P. Society's concert on show night was well attended, tho takings amounting to £3B 4/6, while the dance brought in £9 8/. The concert programme was provided by a Dun'edin party, . "The Will o' the Wisps," who gave a good performance of the "variety" order, which was much enjoyed by the audience. Excellent music for the dance was provided by the Band Orchestra.

The Hon. Thos. Mackenzie, who was unable to attend the Clutha Show, wired to the secretary, Mr Thos. Mcj Donald, on Friday as follows As you can understand I very much regret that pressure of Parliamentary business which is now becoming very important prevents _ me being witli you at your annual show to-day, much as I desire to be there. Permit me to wish you every success, I trust that the present show will be a record one. If you see any of my old friends about the pla-ce please give them my kind remembrances. Hest wishes to yourself.—Thos Mackenzie.

| Mr Andrew Hislop, who died at Benhar on Friday morning, was born in Selkirk, Scotland, and came to\ this Dominion with his parents ,by the Palmyra in 1&58. For a short time< he lived in the Taieri, but later came through to Waiwera, and for a period of three years was in the employ of Mr Anderson of that place. The Gabriel's Gully, Dunstan, and Hokitika rushes attracted him for a time* but shortly afterwards he returned to the Taieri and took up farming. In 1575 removed to Stirling, and took a farm about half a mile below the township. Disposing of this three I years later, he went to live in Mosgiel. Subsequently Mr Hislop joined the railway service, with which he was connected until 1903, when he re : tired and settled in Stirling, Five years ago he suffered a paralytic stroke, from the effects of which he never recovered.

A meeting of the Otago Country Aewspaper Proprietors' Association was held at vhe registered offices of the Association, liattray St., Dunedin, on Saturday week. There was a representative attendance and some important business was transacted. The delegates to the recent Australasian Conference in Brisbane reported fully on their mission and were accorded a hearty vote of thanks. It was 1 inmated that the next conference would be held at Auckland about November next and that the Minister oi Railways had agreed to grant free railway passes throughout Xew Zealand to the delegates, and that the Minister of Tourist Resorts (Hon. T. Mackenzie) had promised to do all ju his power to add to the enjoyment of the visitors. This is only in keeping with the hospitality extended to the delegates by the State Goveramentof the Commonwealth. The meeting d'ecided to take the preliminary steps towards mapping out an itinerary programme for the visitors. The secretary was instructed to ascertain the exact terma of the arrangement existing between the county press of Australia and the metropolitan Press Association with regard to the publication of cable, news. It was resolved that in future notification's from the Postal Department with regard to holi(MJ\s and alterations in mail services be charged for as advertisements at ordinary rates, the department to be notified accordingly. Some adverse comment was made on the refusal of the banks to advertise their holidays in tho country papers. In several towns they did so. The notification was) general!}- considered necessary in the interests of country customers. An- ' other .meeting of the Association will be held this evening.

There were all the elements for a very serious accident at the show on, A lady's hack, ridden by, Miss Dickson, became unmanageable, and bolted out of the judging ring. It swerved and dashed tnrough the crowd, and collided with a horse and gig belonging to Mr Mark Jackman, who was at the time unyoking. The force of the impact sent the rider flying in the air clear of everything, and capsized the gig, Mr Jackman, the two horses, and the gig being for a moment or two all mixed up together. The runaway horse became entangled in the trap, and things were anyhow. The hack got clear, however, and the gig righting itself the horse and it. set off; fortunately it was headed towards the Paisley street entrance, away from the crowd. Just at the gate the gig again capsized, but once more righting itself the horse dashed through tile gate. But here someone caught it and put an end to further damage. Meanwhile, Mr Jackman was picked up insensible, and thos'd who saw what had happened were! apprehensive lest his injuries might be serious. He was quickly attended to by Dr and was driven off the ground in Mr M. Liston's cab. He remained in a semi unconscious state all the afternoon and evening, was carried over to the station in a stretcher, and went home by the evening train. Fortunately, beyond a few bruises and a severe shaking he was found not to be very much the worse. A maii who was hit by the trap on the collision got off with a few scratches. The young lady who rode the horse got olf with a violent pitch, arid the trap has a broken shaft, a bent axle, broken seat and dash-board, the total damage being, say, £lO. If the horse in the trap had been headed towards the crowd instead of the gate at the time of the accident the total results would have been muoh more serious, As it happened, it was a fortunate let-off,

The dates of the Clutha Flo wen Show haVe been fixed for Friday'and' Saturday, 25th arid 26th February.

A very fine exhibit of rhubarb was sent to the show on Friday by Mr H. Peak, of Awajnanau. Four stalks weighed no less than 7jibs. ,We understand that a Southland firm of wool buyers is operating l freely in this district, on behalf of American manufacturers, and has seeured seve--ral local clips. The prices are reported to be satisfactory.

The Professorial Board of the Otago University have nominated Henry J1 avclock Cornish, of Kaitaiigata, as the Otago candidate for the Rhodes scholarship. Mr Cornish has proved 1 a brilliant student' of Otago University and that he may be finally selected as the N.Z. Rhodes scholar is the wish of many friends.