The Ashburton Guardian. FRIDAY, JANUARY 7, 1881.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 2, Issue 236, 7 January 1881, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. FRIDAY, JANUARY 7, 1881.

TOWN EDITION. [lssued at 5 p.m.], a——b—i

To Correspondents. -T-Mr. Stephens’ letter is unavoidably held over. Perjury. The trial of Michael Murphy and John Watt, for perjury, is proceeding at the Supreme Court, Christchurch, this afternoon. The Templeton Murder. —The trial of W. P. .Gibson, for the murder of W. Kerrisou, will be heard at the Supreme Court, Christchurch, on Monday morning next. The Old Men’s Home. —The master of the Old Men’s Home wishes to acknowledge, with thanks, the receipt of two parcels of tobacco and some newspapers, from Mr. Shearman, Somerset Hotel. Blood Money. —The Tarcvnaki B. erald complains that in the distribution of the reward offered for the capture of Miss Dobie’s murderer, the services of the civil police have been overlooked, and especi-. ally the services rendered by Constable Day. The . Brindisi M ails. —Mails for the United Kingdom, via, Brindisi (for specially addressed correspondence only), P6int.de Galle, India, China, Japan, the East/ Aden, Mauritius, Natal; Cape of Good Hope, &c., will close at Ashburton on Tuesday, the 11th instant, at 10 a.m. The Brindisi rate of postage for the United Kingdom is Bd. per 1 oun:e.

■i The Pensioners and the Stamp Act. A deputation of Imperial pensioners waited on the Governor yesterday, arid complained of having to pay stamp duty dii receiving the amount of their pension. After hearing their complaint,' the Governor said that Capt. : Knollys would advise them as the best course to'adopt. Capt. Knollys then advised the deputation to ; get all the Imperial pensioners in the colony to unite in adopting a petition to the Queen.

Modesty. —Sydney possesses a modest architect in the person of Mr. Rowe. Responding to the toast of his health, recently, he complained that in a report of the proceedings connected with the laying of the fouridatiori stone of the Ashfield School of Arts, although he had given an account of the style of the building, his (the architect’s) name was; omitted, and in drawing attention to the omission in a polite note, no notice was taken of it. He, however, could console himself with the reflection, that while in a few short years “this reporter” would probably be forgotten, the grand edifices erected under the superintendence and direction of Thomas Rowe would be a standing monument to keep his name green in the memory of future generations.

Ashburton Library. —A special meeting of subscribers to the Ashburton Library was held last night in the reading room of the institute, the president, Mr. Joseph Ward, in the chair. There was but a limited attendance of members, but the discussions on the various alterations in the rules proposed were somewhat animated. In rule 2, the subscription to the society was fixed at 10s. per year, ss. 6d. half year, and 2s. 9d. ■ for a quarter, payable in advance. A motion, which was put to the meeting, that aqy person subscribing 255. to the funds of the institute be allowed three sets of, books at one time, was ; lost. In rule' 4, the words, “any member of committee neglecting to attend three consecutive meetings to forfeit his seat ” were added, an amendment that the words “ without leave”;be inserted, being lost. Rule 14 was altered so as to provide for half-yearly instead of- quarterly meetings. Several other minor alterations, additions and deletions were decided upon, and the meeting adjourned. Masonic. —The installation of officers of the Somerset Lodge of Freemasons took place. in the Masonic Hall last night. •Theta was an .unusually Ihrge/atteridanbe including numerous visiting brethren. In fact, .the .lodge room j was full, and every available seat was occupied. The following officers were installed by theD.D.G.M., Bro. Henry Thompson : W.M., Bro. Rudolf Friedlander; J.W., Bro. H. Zander; Treasurer, Bro. Hugo ■ Friedlander; Secretary, Bro. G. F. ‘ Henry ; S.D., Bro. R. Muschamp ; J.D., Bro. A. O. Aitken ;I. G., Bro. W. C. Page; M.C., Bro. W. H. Felton; Stewards, Bros. Canning and Savage; Organist, Bro. H. J. Weeks ; Tyler, Bro. R. Cullen. The officers were suitably addressed by Bro. Thompson on their respective duties, and at the close of the address he presented Bro. Harry Zander, the hon. secretary of the Lodge with a handsome jewel in gold. The jewel was the gift of the Lodge, and was a very handsome one indeed. It bore the following inscription —“ Presented to Bro. H. Zander, in recognition of his services as hon. sec. during 1879-1880. Ashburton, N.Z., 31st Dec. 1880.” On the front of the jewel was the name of the Lodge running round the outside band, and behind. the crossed quills, while on the blue ribbon was secured a large but neatly executed monogram’ of the recipient. Across the heavy clasp of gold that surmounted, the whole, ran the figures 1879-1880. Bro. Zander replied, and in a few feeling remarks acknowledged the compliment that had been paid him, and afterwards the Lodge adjourned to the banquet, which was spread in the supper room. The purveyor was Bro. A. Thiele, and the table only bore out his well-known good .name. .’ After the ability of the purveyor had been fully recognised, and fair justice done to his provision, the cloth was removed, and the'remainder of the evening was JconyiviaHy’.spent -with toast, song,’ and sentiment, the Lodge breaking up shortly after midnight with “ Auld Lang-, qyne. ’