CLYDE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2302, 14 April 1898, Page 25

CLYDE.

April 11.— Showers of rain have fallen here intermittently through the past week, and occasional cold winds blow up from the south, bringing with them a crown of suow for tha higher imouutain3.

Conditional Licenses.— Me Warden M'Uaithy has decided uot to grant conditional licenses for the sale of alcoholic liquors at the Clyde sports, which take place to-day. Of course, as was expected, there is a cry out ajainst the stand taken by Mr M'Carthy, S.M., in his capacity of chairman of the Tuapeka Licensing Committee ; but beyond all manner of doubt the magistrate has very good reasons for taking the stand he has taken, howaver arbitrary his action may appear in the eyes of men less competent to form an unbiassed opinion of what k and what is not necessary regaiding the sale of alcoholic liquors upon our Jubilee recreation grounds. There is good reason to believe that iv refusing these conditional licenses the magistrate has acted in the best interests of the public generally, and has probably taken into account the unseemly conduct of pai-ties at certain sport 3 which recently took place in an outlying pait of this district, and where liquor was sold under the conditional license granted by Mr M'Catthy. It may be said that we should not be made to suffer for the sins of our neighbours ; but then we must remember that human nature is the same the world over, and that under similar circumstances the best of ub ara as prone to err as our weak brother. " Prevention is better than cure," aud in preventing the sale of tpirits upon our public rports grounds Mr M'Carthy has done much to assure the peace and pleasure of such gatherings as may take place in sparaely populated localities upon the goldfields. Overstocked.— About a hund>ed head of cattle were offered for sale by auction at the Pound yards ou Saturday last, but, remarkable to relate, only one beast was sold. Some farmers here are now quite overstocked with a very iuferior kind of cattle, in the breeding of which no recognised strain has been introduced, the herds invariably being allowed to go on " mixty-maxty," as the Scotch say, until to-day they have assumed the shape of veritable monstrosities that to all appearances have laid aside the predisposition of the genus for displaying the well-known pendulous appendage at the rear, whilst the shoulders, neck, and forepart generally show a, giraffe-like tendency to narrowness and superfluous length. These remarks do not apply to the majority of cattle in the district, great care having been exercised by many farmers here in the breeding of their herds, some of which would compare favourably with herds of similar breed on farms along the seaboard. Beyond all question it will be a matter of difficulty for farmers to rid themselves of the bad strain they have allowed to grow up round them through their own inatteution and carelessness to matters of vital importance to their herds.

Presentation.— At the usual meeting of the local Masonic Lodge on Tuesday evening last, W.M. Bro. M'Meching, on behalf of the brethren of the lodge, presented Bro. R S. Gilkison with a Masonic token on the occasion of his lecent marriage. In making the presentation, Bio. M'Aleching conveyed the usual good wishes of the brethren, and expressed the hope that the recipient would be long spared to bless the happy event that called forth the present expressions of good wishss on his behalf by the brethren of the lodge. Bro. Gilkison suitably responded. Tbe Masonic token presented was in the form of an expanded compass in massive gold, from the centre of which is pendant a square of New Zealand gieenstone, also beautifully mounted in gold. Political. -The Hon. W. J. M. Larnach, M.H.R., iuid a surpuie visit to this end of his electorate on Tuesday last, and during the evening addressed some 15 electors in the County Council Chambers, Mr Naylor occupying the chair. Mr Larnach's address was mainly a defence of Government measures — good, bad, and. indifferent. He explained his action in voting "agiu" the Government on the Old Age Pensions Bill. The entire speech was simply a re-hash of political humbug, such as we are growing accustomed to in spite of ourselves. At the conclusion of his address Mr Larnach expressed his intention of again contesting the Tuapeka electorate.