The Clutha Leader. BALCLUTHA: TUESDAY, AUG 8th. THE FREEZING WORKS.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 10, 8 August 1911, Page 4

The Clutha Leader. BALCLUTHA: TUESDAY, AUG Bth. THE FREEZING WORKS.

Wo do not know whether there is to be any ceremony in connection with the laying of a foundation stone at the freezing works, but it appears cerium that the contractor (Mr I.viler-) is not going to lose any time in currying out his contract. He iius already made a start, and is determined to do all that is in his power to f, r ct the building completed by contract time, January 31st next. Now that tho completion of the work* in time for next year's trade is assured, a new interest is centred in the project, and alreudy those interested 111 the frown meat trade are on the look-out for profitable business. We should not be surprised within the next week or two to hear of one or two contrails, now on the tapis, being completed in South Otago for the delivery of certain large quantities of sheep and lambs in London next year. Not only are those interested in the export trade looking round for a profitable opening in connection with the works here, but we understand that money is open and ottering for investment in debentures on the works. We shall bo Borrv if the directors find it necessary to lean too heavily on the money-lena* er. We remember that Mr Way mouth last year urged that the words hcie should be a Farmers' concern, to all intents and purposes, owned »ml con* trolled by farmers. We ourselves strongly insisted on this in urging the flotation of the company, and we still urge it as strongly as ever. We do not want the works to bo a lied concern, or for the control 1o pass out of the hands of the local people and into the hands of capitalists. To insure this it is necessary lor another 1500 shares to bo taken up in order that tho subscribed capital may be at leas' £35,000. The positibn in a nut-shell is Outgoings and liabilities Bfilifij Machinery 8,324 Electrical Plant Land Siding fisl Preliminary expenses— Brokerage, etc., to date ... Total ~.£31,8"^ Value of shares sold £27,(565. We commend the foregoing position to the consideration of the residents cm the Clutha and surrounding districtsThe establishment of tho works is assured, and we think the subscribed capital should be at least equal v> their cost. This done, the directors can readily get what working finance > s necessary, without calling up all P® share capital, and without hampering the works. There are many throughout the district who have not yet taWji any shares, many took only a smau number with the intention of twn#» more in the event of the works go l ®# ahead. It is for all suth to bow co®* lau

Toko. Farmers' Club has a credit balance of £ll3, £SO of which has been placed on fixed deposit. There are three informations laid for technical breaches of the liquor law in Clutha, and these will be heard at the gitting of the i Court here on the 16th. Messrs Cross Bros, are the successful tenderers for the erection of Messrsi Marshall and Summers' two-storey brick building to be erected next the farmers' Arms Hotel. There were full houses at the Band Hall Pictures on Friday and Saturday nights, and the coronation films were well shown, as was a varied programme of industrial, comic, and dramatic cinematography. Hitchon Bros., of Milton, notify in this issue that they are spot cash buyer, of prime bacon pigs in any quantity, and can take thorn uny day in the week except. Saturdays. They semi prompt returns. The Dunedin Show closed its doors on Saturday evening after a very successful run of live days. The total door takings amounted to £1382. For the four days last year the amount was £>l3lo. Messrs Alex. Ba'n and J as. Thornsoil; have the Job of carting all the building material to the South Otago freezing Works. Yesterday Mr Bain made a start taking out 3000 ft of limber.

Miss Blacke will be assisted at her concert on the loth by some of the best lowil talent, as well as by visitors from Milton, including Miss Katkleea Hall. M'ss Blacke will sing Gounod's "Serenade," with violin obligato, and a duet with Mr B. O'Connor and Miss Kathleen Hall.

Last week there were 517 railway passenger tickets issued from Balclutha to Dunedin, and on the Owaka Branch 560. Most of the country people have returned home from the show, and on Saturday night and yesterday morning long and heavy trains were running southward. Mr Wm. Thomson, formerly organiser for the licensed Victuallers' Association, now farming at Linton, is to be a candidate for the Otaki seat and has already opened his campaign. He is an independent, and declares that if ever there was a time in the history of New Zealand when strong, fearless, independent men were wanted it is liow.

A class of 22 assembled for the dressy making class last evening. Future date" of class will be advertised on Friday. A cookery class, for adults, under Miss Allan (Dunedin) will commence on Wednesday (to-morrow) afternoon at 3 o'clock. Special attention is directed to the wool-classing class to commence* in the Harvey Hall on Wednesday evening at 7 o'clock.

Mr N. Holmes, cadet at the Balclutha railway station, and Mr J. Turnbull, porter, have received notice of transference to Pod, Chalmers and Milburn respectively. Both men are popular amongst their co-workers and a large circle of friends, and although regret is expressed at their departure, gratification is felt that they are to be promoted.

Mr Chas. E. Keast is resigning his position as a member of the Dunedin City Council, of the Harbour Board, and of the sanitorium committee of the Hospital Board. His reason is that he admits, as a member of the Hosiptal Board in May, 1910, "I did an act, in doing which I had no intention of doing wrong, but on reflection I feel bound to admit was improper. I make the best reparation I can—namely, I express my deep regret for what I did, and I am resigning every office which I hold in Dunedin."

Mr H. Lamb, who for some years has been stationed at Balclutha as electric lineman, was presented by his fellow employees on the local staff, with a purse of sovereigns. Mr Bush made the presentation and spoke in felicitious terms of the high esteem in which Mr Lamb was held, and several others also spoke eulogistically of the recipient's popularity, and exp.essed regret that he was leaving Balclutha. Mr Lamb has exchanged places with Mr Melrose of Dannevirke, and he leaves for that town this morning. The Borough Council has now commenced work in earnest in the Coronation Park, and yesterday seven men were engaged in sloping out the sides of the gravel hole, and preparing for the erecting of fencing. At a glance it can be seen that a great improvement will be effected to that part of the town, and at comparatively trifling expense. An uninviting and unsightlyapproach to the town by rail will be given an appearance of decency and order, and some measure of attractiveness. In addition to the work at and round the gravel hole, a series of clumps of trees are to be planted across the reserve, circling well out from the show ring fence to near the gate at Glasgow street entrance. There will he ten or twelve of these plots in all, but they will only be of some 20ft in diameter each—fenced and wire netted. The plan that has been adopted is a verv good one, and when com pleted the park will add in no small measure to the pleasure of living in or being a visitor to Balclutha. Messrs Friedlander Brothers, Ltd., of Ashburton, have bought the well-] known Newstead estate, in Waikato, not far from Hamilton, comprising 3000 acres, with stock and plant (infinding 700 cows and creameries, etc.), as a going concern at a price in the neighborhood of £70,000. A return showing the volume of immigration to the Dominion from the United Kingdom during the year ended March 31st last was presented to the House on Wednesday. The number of persons who arrived was 10,334. Of that number 2626 persons were assisted by the High Commissioner. Their capital totalling £37,735, an average of £l4 each. The number of domestic workers assisted was 831. Under arrangements made by the High Commissioner with three shipping campanies, a farm laborer possessing £lO capital may obtain a passage in a six-berth enclosure for £B. A female domestic worker may make the voyage in similar accommodation for £2 16s, the rates having been especially reduced in order to induce young women to come to New Zealand, and to assist local associations in introducing domestic aslUtftnts.

Borough Balance "Sheet appears on page 2 of this issue.

Mr H. Lyders, contractor for the' Freezing Works building, arrived in Balclutna yesterday morning, accom-, panied by several carpenters. Gas consumers are reminded that Thursday the 10th inst. is the last dajf ■upon which discount will be allowod lor gas consumed during July, Tickets have gone off well for the Hockey Club to bo held in the Oddfellows' Hall to-night, and there is every indication that it will be a highly successful gathering. Last week a special train ran at nights from Dunedin to Milton, and there were the usual instances of taking the wrong train. Several Clutha residents were reluctantly compelled to spend a night at Milton. The Commissioners have concluded , the re-adjustment of electoral bound- ! aries in the South Island. The neces- | sary maps are now being prepared, and the boundaries will be gazetted in a week or so. | A man named Thomas Burgess, 62 years of age, met his death in a re- j niarkable manner on Friday morning , in Ballance street, Caversham. A man saw him leaning over a paling fence, and, thinking something might be I wrong, rang up the police. Constable , Herd, who is in charge of the Caver-, sham station, at once went to the lo- ; eality, and found that Burgess was ! cjuite dead, though the body was still warm. The fence over which he was | leaning had the top cut in zig-zag form | and he had got his neck into one of the V-shaped spaces and been strangled. Deceased had been working at Catlins Hiver and had gone to Caversham on Tuesday for a holiday. There was no signs of drinking about the ' deceased. I The Hon. Thos. Mackenzie has probably suffered more than any man now [ living from repeated re-adjustment of I electoral boundaries. At Green Island on Tuesday night, he said : "Under j the present system, you are continu- ' ally throwing public men together to 1 fight each other, and this means excluding tried men from Parliament when the country desires to see them [ there. Take the history of one or two recent electorates. ' First in Wai- | hemo, John McKenzie and Buekland ; were thrown together, then Scobie 1 Mackenzie and Vincent Pyke ; the two Mackenzies survived, only to be later thrown against each other, and I believe the strain of that contest laid the foundation of the diseases which carried off both these eminent states- I men. Ten years ago I followed Sir John McKenzie at Waihemo, and al- | most shortly afterwards the seat was j wiped out. I then stood for Waikoua- ! iti, and again the seat went. Now it would seem that the one I now repre- | sent is among those that are threat- ! ened either with extinction or distortion." i

There arc complaints loud and deep at the crowded state of th<* trains from Dunedin on Saturday night. The express leaving at l.'io was bad enough, but the passengers could at least get inside the carriages while coming through the tunnels. In the case of the train which left Dunedin at 4.50, however, the passengers were literally packed on to the train like sardines in a tin. Standing room was. at a premium, not only inside the car-, riages, but also on the platforms and on the gangways connecting the carriages. Women and children had to stand outside the platforms coming through the tunnels, and for a considerable part of the journey. The crowded train had only one engine, and was half-an-hour late at Balclutha. At Milton an attempt was made to take off four carriages, and crowd the passengers into the already crowded carriages. This was found to be impossible, however, and three of the carriages were put on again. To make matters worse the lavatories and corners leading thereto were taken up bv a number of more or less half-drunk men and youths, passing round the bottle. The language was not always choice, and the conduct was most objectionable. It was a journey that will not soon be forgotten by those who were unfortunate enough to have to experience it. If the crowded train is part of the policy to make the railways pay, then the people would prefer to pay a little extra and have some comfort and decency.