PROHIBITION CLUTHA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 285, 3 December 1901, Page 2

PROHIBITION CLUTHA.

Ths Rev. W. J. Elliott, who has just returned from a brief visit to the Olutba district, writes describing tbe progress made there, and which he claims is owing to prohibition. "Six months ago," beaiys, "I left Balclutha, and though the population of tbe town is jus l ; about 1017, the improvements in buildings, etc.' have been at the rate of £IOOO a month, or £6OOO for the six nnntbs. There is eros'derable enterprise among some of the business mw, and everywhere I saw signs of progress. Mr Watt has.re-built his water-gas works, the former ones haviog been destroyed by fire, and the gas mains nre being considerably extended. Sly-grog selling is nothing like so rampant, and it ia being rapidly reducsd to a diminishing quantity by the vigilance of the local police. lam convinced that a great; libel was recently perpetrated when it was declared that drunkenness was on the increase among the young men of Olutba. Though I spent nearly four days in Balclutha last week, I never saw a single person the worsß for liquor, but I regretted to see some traces of it on a special trip I made with 150 others up the Clu&ba River."