BALCLUTHA.

Otago Witness, Issue 1320, 17 March 1877, Page 6

BALCLUTHA.

March ,3rd. Thackeray sighed for a country with tha nuisance of talking politics removed from out of it, and the Clutha district would almost at present fulfil his wish. The reaction from the excitement of a few months ago sesms to have set in. The farmers get in their grain, quite regardless of the fact that the national buhuMJt of liberty in the shape of Provincialism is brosen + down, and will hold their "harvest homes" despite the circumstance that the political entity ot Otago is destroyed. The County Council has elected to play a quiescent part, and is looked upon as a body whose principal duty, yet to be performed, is the settlement of the County Bank question. Donald Reid has joined the Government, and no set of men with whom he joins himself can be so black as they have been painted. The new arrangement must have a trial, aad perhaps it will not turn out so bad as the local oracle said it would. So argue the farmers, and are therefore politically at ease. The possibility of the decease of the Convention Council raised not the ghost of a feeling of interest ; and even the question of what was to be done with the money did not excite a suggestion from the settlers who are said to have subscribed it. Having given their mite to send Mr Macandrew Home, it is doubtful whether, now that he is not going, they will part as readily for his testimonial, even though they be appealed to as former constituents. I think the feeling is gaining ground that he was not thoroughly sincere in his proposal of going to see the Queen, or at least in his predictions of the blessings to arise from the interview ; and that he was not sorry for the excuse afforded by Sir George Grey's illness. Indeed, more was expected from the latter gentleman. So rich an opportunity of dying for his country is not likely to arise again j and then there is the opposite view of the affair — that a sea voyage might possibly have worked his cure— so that perhaps Mr Macandrew has lost, rather than gained, by a resistance to a majority such as he himself at other times would have beea the first and severest in deprecatinsr. At any rate, so far as can be seen, no great amount of interest is taken in his future. There is only a.

kind of mild speculation about whether he is bound for Redmayne's Haven to take charge of politics among those whom "political troubles " are driving from Otago. There are none going from this district.

The town politicians are just now mildly agitated about the protection of the river bank and of tide township from a flood. The last flood dealt mercifully with us, for 10 or 11 years siace the water was three feet higher in the township. The warning of such a possibility in time coming has f .roused us to the necessity of "doing something," and an engineer is to be consulted as to the best means of doing it A Committee wa3 appointed by a public meeting held on the heels of a rise in the river some months ago to arrange means for the protection and conservation of the river bank above the township ; but it did nothing, and finds itself only this much better off— that now there is less of the bask to conserve. Some enquiries are being made once more about the River Trust. This body appears to lead the most aimless land of existence. It is convened once a year by its secretary, congratulates its convener, and is congratulated by him upon having nothing earthly to do, and so disbands. The fact is the Board needs a fresh constitution. The theory is that it has to attend simply to improving the navigation of the river, not the conservation of the river banks ; and if this is correct, the sphere of its operations needs enlarging. Its duties might more fittingly be made similar to those of the Taieri Board of Conservators. There are many places where the river is making great inroads on properly, and on roads also ; and some action towards preventing this would be better appreciated by the settlers than anything the Board is likely to be able to do for many years in the way. of improving the navigation of the river. At least, action in such a direction would be infinitely more satisfactory than the present utter inaction.

The deputation which waited on Mr M'Lean about the Poit Molyneux Harbour hsd recourse to some very sorry arguments in support of their case. Mr Milan's ultimatum is undoubtedly the correct one : when the port deserves it, then it will get its signal-master back again. The fact is, such vessels as come or are likely to come in do, and can do, very well without that officer's services. Meantime the district is really put to no loss, The Town Council are determined to resist the favour the Government wish to do them, of giving them the bridge to take care of. One Councillor makes the happy remark that the Government wish to do with the bridge as they did with that awful Abolition Act — force it on people who do not want it. The case stands thus. Mr M'Lean says the bridge legally now belongs to the Corporation ; the Corporation solicitor says it belongs to the Queen. While the bridge and its revenue were sour grapes, the Corporation hankered after them ; now, when they find nobody else will have them, they fight shy. They did not bargain for spending Ll5O a-year on repairs, and fear, instiad of a surplus revenue, the balance Trill be on the wrong side of the lodger. Mr Stout, who could not ward off the Abolition Act, is to be appealed to to help the Corporation to stave off this new iniquity. In matters religious, there is nothing of special moment to record. Under Presbyterian auspices, a Young Men's Christian Association was formed a week or two ago, but promises to make no prominence for itself. The annual soiree of the Presbyterian congregation takes place on the night of the 23rd. The Her. Mr Morris's departure from the district was much regretted. There was some talk of a call oeing given to him in the Catlin's district, but the movement fell through. The congregation he ministered to have fallen off since his departure, a proof that his ministrations were acceptable. Church of England matters are not in a very flourishing state. The clergyman's stipend is a small one, and a parsonage has yet to be provided. If times do ziot improve, it may come to be a question whether Balclutha and Milton shall not be again included in one cure. On Wednesday night, the Amateur Dramatic Club gave a performance for the benefit of the Athenaeum, and Professor Black promises to lecture on behalf of the same institution during this month. The Athenaeum Committee are thus showing a disposition to bestir themselves in the matter of raising money, a commodity they stand in need of. The library of books is a meagre one, and requires additions. A course of cheap entertainments during the winter months might be a good step for them to consider. The genial John Armstrong is to lecture here during the coming week in aid of the usual charitable object — himself. TTin lecture Is entitled, " Wanderings in and Reminiscences of America and Americans." Jonah's experiences in the whale mast have been sufficiently ■wonderful, but those of Mr Armstrong during hit wanderings in Americans may probably be a tune more astounding. Our cricketeis were on the verge of asking the All-England Eleven to stop a day on their road to Invercargill,but there has been no word of it since our men returned from Dunedin. I notice rather a good suggestion was thrown out at a recent meeting of the local club, that, namely, of playing a combined country team against Dunedin. Next season it may come to something. The Football Club has been reconstituted for the winter, and intends to practise hard in view of their return match with Dunedin.

The harvest is in full swing. The heavy rains may have damaged the quality, but in quantity the yield is fully up to the average.