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Ashburton Guardian, Volume 2, Issue 229, 30 December 1880, Page 2

“The Smiler.” —Mr. Thomas Luther Shepherd, ex-M.H.R., who fell a victim to the retrenchment policy, lias been reinstated in the clerkship to the Pv.M. Court at Hawkesbury and Palmerston.

Mount Somers Road Board. Thecandidates for Nos. 2 and 3 Wards of the Mount Somers Road Board District— Messrs. Isaac Taylor and A. E. Peache — were not opposed at the election yesterday, and were therefore declared elected. But.no nomination was made for No. 4 Ward, so that the vacancy has still to be filled, and nominations will bo received up to Gth January.

Fire at the Rakaia.—A disastrous fire raged on the Rakaia River reserves all Tuesday afternoon, and owing to the strong wind blowing it was found impossible to get it under when first discovered. Mr. William Carroll, the foreman of the Rakaia River works, on discovering it, immediately sent all hands to endeavor to stop it. One large plantation belonging to the Board of Conservators has been almost ruined, and several miles of fences completely consumed. Mr. White’s plantation also had a very close shave, nothing but the untiring exertions of . the men saving it. Mr. W. Moorhead, a foreman on the works, had his house, at one time almost surrounded by the fire, but luckily the wind lulled for a time, and it was got under. , It was not till twelve o’clock at night that the hands considered it sufficiently safe to leave it, but it was, however, quite out yesterday morning.