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Clutha Leader, Volume XLIII, Issue 13, 15 August 1916, Page 5

The well-known "Elite" Tea-rooms situated in Clarke's Buildings are now open under new management, Mrs J. A McLeod (late of Taihape) being the proprietress.

Major Waite, D.5.0., will deliver a lecture at Clinton on Monday, August il, on his experiences at Gallipoli. The lecture will be in aid of the patriotic funds, and will be illustrated by a number of lantern slides.

At the annual meeting of the Clutha and .Matau A. and P. Society on Saturday, the secretary (iMr T. McDonald) stated that the receipts vet to come in from properties sold and outstanding members' tickets amounted to £1393 19s.

One of the bullocks recently disposed of by Mr S. Wright at the Addington stock sale, and which brought the record price for New Zealand of £6.3 10s, was subsequently resold by Mr Wright on account of the new owner for the phenomenal price of £75. ,

The long arm of the law was in evidence in the Clutha district yesterday, when Constable Almond arrested a man named Martin Davis on a charge of disobeying a maintenance order. The warrant for accused's arrest was issued at Dunedin in February last. Davis was conveyed to Dunedin by yesterday afternoon's express.

We understand that the purchase by the Government of between 6000 and 7000 acres of the Clifton Estate, including the homestead, has been completed through the agency of Messrs. Dalgety and €o., Ltd. This area will be subdivided in small holdings on which to settle returned soldiers, and should prove an ideal property for this purpose. Mr Telford has retained, what is known as the Waiwera block, comprising about 3000 to 4000 acres. ,

Some of the units of the Expeditionary Force that have leit Xew Zealand have taken dogs; with them as mascots. Those that survived the trip on the transports were usually lost sight of in Egypt, where the animals sometimes develop a profound, dislike for the natives, with inevitable results. Word has been received in Auckland that the bulldog taken by the fourth battalion of Lord Liverpool's Own has actually reached the trenches in Francfe, where the mascot was reported to be healthy and cheerful. The dog wears a collar presented by an Aucklandi resident.

An interesting relic from the war zone appears in a recent issue of the Christchurch Weekly Press in the form of a photograph of a group of vyell-known Stirling residents. The original photograph from which the Press copy was reproduced was found in the trenches by Private Claude McCardale on May 25 and forwarded to his mother, Mrs W. W. McCardale, of Pahiatua. The group consists of Corporal J. YViilocks (Stoney Creek) and Private .1. Anderson (Stilling), both of whom are members ot' the 13th Reinforcements and are at present in camp on Salisbury Plain, aud Misses Violet and Millie Anderson and Miss Smith (of Stirling) and Miss Telfer (who was spending a holiday at the time with the Misses Anderson). The photograph was sent by Miss Millie Anderson to a friend in the trenches.

An unusual development occurred in the Auckland! Magistrate's Court recently in connection with a claim for arrears of rent (says the "Auckland Herald.). The defendant in the case was the tenant of a house, the owner of which had previously applied to the court for an order for possession and for a judgment for arrears of rent. Both applications had* been granted, and the defendant ejected, but she to satisfy this judgment. A judgment summons was therefore taken out against her, and a witness subphoenaed to give evidence on behalf of the plaintiff. The witness was tendered his expenses to attend the court, but when the case was called he Tnade no appearance. Counsel for plaintiff then asked that the witness be committed for contempt of court. After argument with regard to the procedure in such cases, the magistrate held, that a summons would' require to be issued calling upon the absent witness to attend the court, and to show cause why he should not be diealt with for contempt. The ease was then adjourned to enable the summons to be served..

The social annual in connection with the Salvation Army work was held in the Salvation Army Hall on Wednesday night, but owing to the inclement weather audi counter-attractions there was only a poor attendance of the public. Prior to the commencement the brass band played one or two selections in front of the hall. Mr G. W. Wood presided in the absence of the Mayor (Mr D. Stewart), and Rev. B. J. dames occupied a seat on the platform. Adjutant Macaulay, who spends his spare time in visiting the prisons and asylums on behalf of the Salvation Army, fave an able and instructive address, 'he speaker traced the social work of the Army from its" inception to the present day, explaining that in many instances it was possible for their officers to visit places where the church ministers could not get. Miss Bennett and Miss Beid rendered solos during the evening. In concluding Captain BriAdock saidi that he wished to thank the band for its assistance, which (he said) | was always willing to assist any deMTviag cause. , '

The annual balance-sheet of the Clinton Town Board is printed on page 7 of this and the report of the annual meeting of the Clutha and Matau A. and P. Society on page 2. At the annual meeting of the Clutha and Matau A. and P. Society on Saturday afternoon Mr S. Wright announced .that Mr D. Wallace ('Balclutha) had promised to donate a special prize of £5 as towards the summer show. The announcement was received with applause. A meeting of the Balclutha Presbyterian Women's Missionary Union will be held in the class-room of the church on Thursday, August 17, at 3 o'clock. Any ladies of the congregation desirous of being present will be heartily welcomed by members. We understand that Messrs Geo. Downes (Import Company) and J. K. Hunter ('Clyde Street) will seek municipal honours at the forthcoming election to fill the vacancies on the Balclutha Borough Council caused by the resignations of Councillors SBega; and Wright.

A number of members of the "Phantom Army'' was to have been dealt witk at last Tuesday's sitting of the Balclutha Magistrate's Court, no less than seven cases under the Defence Act being set down for hearing, but owing to the absence from town of Sergeantmajor A. K. Gray these were adjourned to the next monthly sitting of the court.

The Bruce-O'lutha teachers invite all interested in educational progress to attend their meeting in the Balclutha Technical School next Saturday afternoon. The topic to be dealt with is that of writing, and Mr McElrea will ;give his impressions «of the new Pelman system at present on trial in the Normal School.

Im connection with the Stirling St. John Ambulance Class, the following ladies have passed:—First aid: Misses Ruby Lawrence and Florrie Lawrence. Advanced aid: Misses Mary Parker, Gertrude Mosley, Elizabeth Willocks, Jeannie 'Harvey, Margaret Spratt, Elizabeth Bryce, Margaret Anderson, Helen Bell, Kate Smaill, Catherine Bell, Alice Smith, Aldyth Willocks, Pearlie Shores.

Territorials and cadets who are in possession of rifles are requested- by advertise'ment appearing elsewhere in this issue to return same at once to the Defence Office. Those failing to comply with this request are liable to prosecution. As some of the Territorials and cadetsi may have left the district, householders and boarding-housekeepers with whom rifles have been left are requested to communicate with the Defence Office.

The voluntary concentration camp of the B Company, 14th (South Otago) Regiment, will be held this year from November 27 to December 4 inclusive. All those attending this camp, which extends over eight days, will be excused 'from attending all further evening and half-day parades, and will only thereafter have to attend the compulsory annual training camps. Everything (including railway fares) is provided for those attending camp, but no pay is allotted.

Fat. lambs sent Home after the February show at Feilding fetched 10|d per lb in London (states a Feilding Press Association' message). The show committee on Saturday pointed out that the Government was commandeering fat lambs at s§d. Members want to know who is getting the difference. The opinion was strongly expressed that they had no objection to the Government taking meat at a price, providing the British people got the benefit; but they protest against the middleman making a huge profit. It was decided to bring the matter before Right Hon. W. F. 'Massey, and to suggest that he inquire into.it.

A case which promised to occupy the attention of his Honor Mr Justice Sim and a jury of 12 for at least two days was settled yesterday after the jury had been sworn in. Robert Newburn, a lad, brought an action against the New •Zealand Coal and Oil Company claiming £2OOO damages as the result of an accident in the Kaitangata coal mine, by which plaintiff (who was under the age of 15 years at the time) lost both his legs above the knees. The lad was caught in a revolving shaft or roller. Mr P. J. O'Regan (Wellington) and Mr 0. N. Scurr appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr J. MacGregor and Mr J. B. Callan for the defendants. On Mr 'MacGregor's application the court adjourned for a few minutes, ami on resuming Mr O'Regan said: "This case has been settled by agreement, your 'Honor, the defeudant company having agreed to pay £IOOO and costs according to scale." His Houor then entered up judgment for £IOOO, costs according to scale, disbursements aud witnesses' expenses to be fixed by the Registrar, the damages to be paid to the Public Trustee.

In Conversation with a New Zealand Times representative, Hon. James Allen (Minister for Defence) said that the Government did not intend to set up a factory for making artificial limbs in New Zealand:; but Messrs Wiseman and Co., of Auckland, were experimenting with regard to the manufacture of such limbs, and if they eould produce completely satisfactory articles at a reasonable price as compared: with the limbs made in the Old Country as many as possible would be produced in New Zealand. A New Zealander, who had himself lost an arm, had (said Mr Allen) invented a special grip, which him to use a paint brush, a hammer, a saw and other tools with great facility. The Minister had himself seen' the invention; and, so far as he could judge as a layman, it seemed a very useful one. Surgeon-general Henderson had therefore been asked to examine it and report as soon as possible. "We are not importing any artificial limbs from America,'' added Mr Allen. "So far as possible* we are importing the men with the limbs already fitted'. That is to say, whenever a man requires an artificial limb we get the very best we can made for him at Home, and he eomes out with it already fitted. In fact, in cases where at first men who re-quired limbs caine out without them, we" have sent ihem back Home to be fitted whenever their needs could not be satisfactorily dealt with here." "Extra! Special! All about the War! Paper?" Do what you will you cannot lesist the temptation to buy the paper thrust before you,' though you know already that it is to read again a tale already twicei told. We have per sistently placed before you the benefits to be obtained by ordering your Winter Suit or' Costume from the well-known [ high-grade tailor, Chas. G. Kirby. My ! tailoring creates the interest and satis-i-faction that is always-sought for. Latest patterns on request from (Stag. GK fcrby, tailor, Balclutfca.***

■Mr A. E, J. Blakeley, dentist, visits Balclutha every Friday. Mr Malcolm Boss (the New Zealand war correspondent in Prance), cabling ijnder date August 12, states: "Since niy last cable message was sent there has been comparative quiet on the New Zealand - front, and the percentage of casualties has'fallen considerably. Several bags of incoming New Zealand mails were accidentally burnt in a railway truck. Tt is thought that the fire originated through matches in a postal packet."