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Clutha Leader, Volume XLII, Issue 87, 9 May 1916, Page 5

Parliament opens to-day. The principal business of the session will probably be'the introduction of a compulsory service bill.

The Excelsior Hockey Club opened the season on Saturday afternoon, a useful practice match on the school ground being indulged in. During a much appreciated interval afternoon tea was dispensed. The Public Works Department has lieen engaged since early in December on the construction of protective works at Barnego, in the Clu'tha district. Mr .1. McKenzie devised a scheme of banks and willowing to confine the Molyneux at that point, and this is the scheme that was adopted. The top end of the work is finished, and the rest of the undertaking will lie completed very shortlv.

While motor cycling home along Davidson Street after attending a funeral on Sunday afternoon (writes our Kaitangata correspondent), the soft and slippery state of the road was responsible for a rider coming to earth, but being unhurt he quickly remounted his machine ami resumed his journey.

Gas consumers are reminded that Wednesday, May 10, is the last day on which discount- is allowed for gas consumed during April.

A trial survey is being made of a railway line from Lovells Flat or Cricht-on, through Ililleiid, to Tuajieka Mouth. There is an engineering difficulty about the bridge if the line is begun as a branch from Balclutha, and it is to avoid that difficulty that the alternative route is being looked over bv the surveyors. Of course, a trial survey ilocs not commit the Government to anything, but thellillend people are rejoicing and the Balclutha folk are beginning to murmur. As will be seen from our advertising columns, a new business under the name of "The. Variety Store," and conducted by Miss M. MeGrath as manageress, will be opened at 'Balclutha, next the Oddfellows' Hall, ou Friday next. It is certainly good to see that- the prosperity enjoyed by Balclutha is the means of attracting others to our town, and as a glance at The Variety Store's advertisement shows that the new business will hold an exceedingly comprehensive stock at- extremely reasonable prices, it cannot fail to elicit- a fair share of public support. A conference between Otago members of Parliament and the Otago Expansion League (Dunedin, Alexandra and Balclutha branches), Dunedin Chamber of Commerce, Lawrence-Roxburgh Railway League and Otago Motor IClub was held 011 Friday night in the Otago Expansion League's board room, Stock Exchange Buildings. The principal business of district interest brought before the meeting was the Tuapeka Mouth railway. Messrs D. Stewart and D. T. Fleming beuig the speakers. Members of Parliament in attendance "were Messrs T. K. Sidey, A. S. Malcolm, C. E. Statham and j. M. Dickson. The conference was in private. That, the Balclutha Orchestral Society promises to be a real live body is shown by the fact that although it is only a few davs since the movement to form a society was set afoot the membership is crowing very rapidly. The. tickets are now out of the printers' hands, and can be had on application to the hon. secretary (Mr J. Ramsay). The subscription has* been fixed at ss, and holders of a os ticket will be admitted to four of the society's concerts during the year, and will have the privilege of taking a friend, so that a slight mathematical calculation will show that this makes the actual price for admission 7M. It is the intention of the society to hold its first concert in about six weeks' time, and this will be followed at intervals by others*

Recruiting for active service still continues on satisfactory lines (writes our Kaitangata correspondent), several additional names being handed in during the last few davs.

'During a patriotic social at Clinton in honour of our 'returned soldiers (wiites our correspondent) a flag was taken round while Mr 11.I 1 . Brown ('Gore) was singing the "'Marseillaise," and a sum exceeding £ll w&s collected in aid | of the Wounded Soldiers' Fund. Saturday afternoon witnessed the closing of the Kaitangata 'bowling green for the season. There was a satisfactory attendance, visitors being present from the Stirling and Balclutha clubs. Despite the recent heavy rain 'the green was in capital order, and an enjoyable game was indulged in. During an interval in the .hostilities, hospitality in the shape of afternoon tea was dispensed by lady supporters of the club. An interesting demonstration of the Wizard light was given in the office of the (Jutha Leader a few even'ings ago, and it certainly proved its right to the claims made on its behalf bv the local agent, 'Mr George A. Coxon.' The light given by this comparatively new illuminant was of almost dazzling brilliancv, which can be readily understood when it is stated that one light alone is of 101 candle-power. This, combined with the fact that the price for consumption of petrol is exceedingly low, should insure a rapidly increasing demand for the Wizard light.

Quartermaster-sergeant Dent, a returned soldier, when speaking at a recruiting meeting in Wellington, gave an example of what he considered was a "shirker'' of the worst type (says the Dominion). A man well set up and in the pink of condition went to a recruiting depot to enlist, ile filled in his papers, and on examination it was found that, although the man knew that infantry recruits were badly wanted, he stated in his papera that lie was prepared to go into camp with the Army Service Pay Department with the 2lir'd Reinforcements.

A man.who lias travelled a good deal over the roads in the Catlins district informed a (.'lutlia Leader representative that there is a marked improvement in the roads since the' Government has seen lit to spend a few hundred pounds on the bush quagmires. Great praise is due to the officer of the Public Works 'Department, who sees that the contractors put on good metal and also that they break it properly, thereby making it passable tor horses, etc. A considerable quantity of the me'tal put on the roads a few years ago is still unbroken, and a biglot of it would not go through a (iiu gauge.

W.liile witness! ug a display by the Auckland Grammar School boys at, the opening of Hie new school recently, Hon. A. M. Myers came across what he described to a reporter as a typical example of the splendid martial spirit prevailing anions some members of the community. One man, 72 years of age, who hail two sons at the front, was most anxious to be sent. 'Kven if he could not go into thi> firing line, lie said, he could do some other kind of work. The same evening a farmer from the north, fit years of age, who has had one son killed and has another one lighting, waited on him on the s'ame subject. He was prepared to submit himself to any medical inspection if allowed to enlist, and declared that he was as good as most men half his aye. Both of these men, said the Minister, were Irishmen, anil he added: "Now that Ireland is once more ! a united people, the incident does to show that the outbreak was merely due to the efforts of a misguided section who had been lured away by German teaching and money.

There was a rather unusual accident at a veterans' dinner held at New Plymouth recently (says an exchange), when an old soldiers of German parentage harangued the gathering regarding his own patriotism, lie related that in the sixties lie, with other Germans who had lied from military tyranny in their native land, was in 'Melbourne and read there (if the trouble with the Maoris. They at once decided to come to New Zealand and help the settlers. From that day he was a ■Britisher, and was proud of the fact. He detested the tyranny of the Germans, he had no sympathy with their methods of warfare, and he asked if anyone in the building had anything to say detrimental to his loyalty lo stand forth and say it. The. challenge was not taken up, but enthusiastic applause prevailed. The old man was visibly affected. Then he went on to complain of his not having received his Maori war medal because lie Irad not been under lire, he having acted as hospital orderly, lie would die happy if he got the medal. The veteran was greatly cheered, and left the function a much happier man for having so unburdened himself.

The Derwent potato, for which North Otago was at one time famous,, has almost disappeared from our tables (states the Oamant mail). At times we get a tuber of the variety, but it is a poor apology for the mealy full-flavoured sort that was so abundant during the years 18H4-1885. The late Mr Hassal, of Cave Valley, brought them ..into prominence, and they were distributed over Otago as the 'Cave Valley flour balls. Their cultivation was taken up by the croppers of Kakanui and Totara, and great crops of fine tubers were produced. Fortunes were made by many of these potato kings. The quality began to deteriorate, probably by a careless selection of seed, planting too often in the same ground, too little cultivation and the prevalence of fatlieu, which robbed the potatoes of their nourishment. These, followed bv the blight of various kinds, have completed the downfall of the Derwent. Occasionally a seedling has appeared with the true Derwent character. Mr Roxby, of Oamaru, discovered in his garden a batch of seedling potatoes which had resulted from the self-sowing of a vagrant potato plum. He selected and planted out seven whole potatoes in November. These were cleanly cultivated and grew well, ami iu April were dug, the produce being 207 potatoes, weighing (3Slb. The potatoes have been examined by potato-growers 'and experts, and pronounced to be the true Derwent type. To all lovers of good clothes we appeal. Economy is the general note throughout the Dominion at the present time, and a well-tailored suit or costume spells strict economy. It will last you twice as long as the cheap made garment. Everyone in Balclutha and district knows that I cater for high-grade tailoring. I solicit your patronage now for your Easter costume or suit. Patterns of newest fabrics from Chas. (J. ■ Kirby, tailor, Balclutha.***