BALCLUTHA.

Otago Witness, Volume 01, Issue 2123, 1 November 1894, Page 25

BALCLUTHA.

October 29.— After a rather damp winter a too dry summer has followed, and if a change does not soon come the crops in general must assuredly suffer. It very often follows in our climate after a long spell of wet weather a corresponding period of dry weather supervenes, or vicevcrsa. Let us hope therefore that the present dry weather will not be followed by a wet spell to carry us well into the new year. Inßpiteof the ft tie warm weather grass is rather backward as yet. The night's rain a week ogo did some gtiod, but the hot weather that came after it soon dried it xip again. The young braird would be all the better for an occasional shower, and a« the season for sowing turnips is coming round again rain is all the more wanted. The continuance ef dry weather makes the want of a water supply felt sorely in this township, as the river water is not fit for use and the water in most of the wells is little better. Some day this question of water supply will be forced upon us in not the most agreeable manner. _, , „ Tur Boating Season.— The boating searon is upon us, and every youth in the township is seized with the burning desire to possess a boat of some sort. The prevalence of easterly winds has fanned the pastime of boating, as an east wind is up current, and the boats can sail up stream, the work of returning being easy with the strong current of the Molyneux. Although not one of the best rivers for beating, stall it is gratifying to know that bo many are developing a Skins fw thfo.feealth-xlviPJ! exerci«e, for a_ good

tug at the oars is capital for youths who desire to develop wind and muscle.

Bowling and Tknnis.— The local bowling green was opened last Thursday, when a goodly number of members and visitors turned up. A couple of hours' very pleasant playing was indulged in, a friendly match between the president and vicepresident being played off. After the match the president's good lady assisted by another lady handed round t<*a and cake to maka th> afternoon the mor«j enjoyable. The Tennis Club began its season's play on Saturday, and needless to say the green was well patronised. There as in the bowling green tea and cake were handed round to refresh the players and onlookers. A Ginger Wine Drama.— The first informations for sly-grog selling in the prohibition town of Balclutha were laid the other d*y against the lessee of the Farmers' Arms Hotel, which has been kept open as a boarding house since prohibition was carried. The informations, three in all, arose out of the drunken misconduct of some men who were fined for making use of indecent language, and for atsaulticg a cyclist by pulling him off his bicycle. One of these men on being served with a summons by the constable blamed the drink obtained at the above hotel for his delinquencies, but when placed in the witness box to give evidence he declared that he got nothing but ginger wine at the hotel. When opening his case for the prosecution in the bicycle case, the solicitor said it was the third act in the ginger wine drama, which caused hearty laughter amongst the spectators in the court. The prohibition party here are disgusted that the informations had to be dismissed, aa it is a theory with them that a considerable illicit trade is being carried on, but before a charge can be sheeted home they will require stronger evidence than thit given in the ginger wine affair. The fact is the constable haa been goaded on by the more rabid teetotallers to lay informations when the only evidence he could command was of a doubtful character ; whereas, had he been left to his own judgment, he would have waitod his time for a case in which there was some hope of Bucce*a. Now he will scarcely risk a doubtful case again, and everyone knows how difficult it is to sustain a charge of sly-grog selling. The iafarxner ba? to stand pxxblic obloquy, autl tile "drouthy" mortals who drink "ginger wine" at private hotels are not likely to bear witness against the owners.