Page 3 Advertisements Column 1

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 1, Issue 53, 27 January 1880, Page 3

England’s Grain* Want. —lt is now stated that Great Britain will require not less Gian 18,000,000 quarters of wheat from foreign sources during the present year. This at an average price will probably represent a payment of little short of L 50,000,000. “ Pinafore.” —Notice has been served, on behalf of Mr. J. S. Williamson, on Mr. Wade, the lessee of the Theatre Royal, Auckland, prohibiting the performance of “Pinafore.” Mr. Wade refuses to acknowledge the exclusive right of Mr. Williamson, and determined to play it till some better authority is shown. Harbor Defence. —Regarding the visit of Colonel Scratchley to Lyttelton, and the choice of battery sites made by him, the “ Press ” says :—Two sites for batteries were chosen by him for the four guns now in the shed at port, and it is said a recommendation will be made to the Government to have four more fort guns placed upon the western point of Camp Bayq on the southern shore. The sites for the guns that are here are the point just to the eastward of Gladstone Pier, known as Sticking Point. And the next point is to the eastward. They are about a mile distant from Lyttelton, approached by the Sumner road, and two guns placed upon each. Colonel Scratchley one day last week took a run out in one of the jjmftll steam launches plying in the harbor to judge of their adaptability for torpedo service, and it is probable the Government will be asked to obtain five or six small vessels for torpedo boats. In referto the sites for the guns the surveying of them and construction of the batteries will be pushed ahead at once, and the guns placed in position, after which it is probable that a naval brigade will be organised to work them. Colonel Scratchley expects to return from Dunedin bqfore the end of the week.