The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prevalebit. TUESDAY, JUNE 13, 1882.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume III, Issue 661, 13 June 1882, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prevalebit. TUESDAY, JUNE 13, 1882.

TOWN EDITION. [lssued at 4.40 p. m.j

John at the Bar. —The Chinese are making great headway at Round Hill, near Invercargill, where 0 Celestial has applied for a publican’s license.

Suicide at Hokitika. — A woman 69 years of age committed suicide on Sunday at Hokitika by hanging herself with a rope suspended from a nail in her bedroom. She had been for many years separated from her husband, and this appears to have preyed on her mind for some time past. One More Unfortunate. —At the Court this morning, before Mr Robert Alcorn, J.P., a laboring man was charged with lunacy from drink. Sergeant Felton asked that the unfortunate fellow, who presented a semi-idiotic appearance, should be remanded to Addington gaol for eight days for medical treatment. Remanded accordingly. Bitten by a Tiger Snake.— Mr Cato, proprietor of the “ Mechanic’s Vision ” entertainment at the Town Hall, while performing with his snakes last evening, for the public edification, was bitten on the knuckles of the right hand by a tiger snake. This snake is a native of Australia, about half an inch in thickness, and some four feet in length. It is beautifully marked, and, in its natural state, at any rate, its |bite is highly venomous. Mr Cato’s hand very quickly assumed an inflamed and puffy appearance, but fortunately he managed to counteract the effects of the bite by drinking freely of spirits, and applying a dressing of his own devising to the wound. The company went South this morning.

Business Mem. —Attention is directed to the announcement of Mrs Henderson, dressmaker, Burnett street west. To Planters. —Mr M. Fitzgerald’s announcement will be found in another column. Planters will be interested.

Hunt Club. —We have been requested by the secretary to state that the run at Rakaia on Thursday next will be strictly confined to members, as landowners have granted the country on the understanding that this rule will be enforced.

St. Andrew’s, Tinwald. — A public ten and entertainment in connection with the above church is announced for Thursday, Jnne 15. Proceeds to be devoted to church funds. Tea will bo on the table at 5 30 p. m.

The Last Week. —The American Gem Photographic Company announce that this is their last week in Ashburton, and portraits will be taken at a shilling a dozen, which is certainly cheap enough to come within the reach of all. Oamaru Steeplechases. —Tho following concludes our report of this meeting: —Tallyho Stakes of 50 sevs. Weight for age: Clarence, ]; Why Not, 2; Baron, 3. Young Slodmere and Gang Awa also ran. Consolation of 30 sovs—Black Doctor, 1; Gang Awa, 2; Trovatore, 3.

Evangelistic Service. —An Evangelistic Service is announced to ho held in tho Town Kali this evening. The principal speaker will be the Rev. D. Gordon, of Temuka. who, we understand, has been accustomed to evangelistic work, in addition to which he is a fluent speaker and has earned a well-deserved popularity wherever he has labored. Tho united choir will be present to-night, and a cordial invitation is given to the public to attend. Timaru Criminal Sessions. —The halfyearly criminal sessions of the Timaru Supreme Court was opened to-day, before Judge Williams. The following is ihe list of cases for trial: —John Sullivan, placing stones on railway line ; John Thomas Healey, forgery and uttering, six counts; Charles Healey, horse stealing ; Frank Wellsman, embezzlement; Mark Bishop, rape ; Thomas Chiistie, forgery and uttering ; Edward Ford and Fredk. Cullamore, larceny.

Free Trade v. Protection.—ln another column will be found an epitome of an interesting article on Protection and Free Trade, which originally appeared in the English Fortnightly Jtevieiv. The facts and figures adduced are very striking. We commend the arciole to the attention of our agricultural readers, who should at least adopt the legal axiom—“ hear both sides ” —before they make up their minds on a question which is of vital importance to them, both individually and collectively, as well as to colonists generally. Skating at the Exhibition.—Great preparations are being made at the Exhibition for the approaching skating contest. The following is the programme :—lst event —Gentlemen’s Race ; distance, ten laps, for prize cup. 2nd.—Ladies’ Race ; distance, three laps for prize trophy. 3rd —lnterval for general skating, open to all present, for a prize ; no entry necessary. 4th—Fancy skating for champion cup ; time, five minutes for each competitor. 5th —Race backwards ; distance three laps, for prize cup. 6th—Hurdle Race ; distance four laps, over two hurdles 18in high. Sunday Tramway Traffic. —We learn from Invercargill that the vexed question of Sunday tramway traffic was discussed at the annual meeting of shareholders of the Tramway Co. yesterday. It transpired that the cars had first been run to suit churchgoers, but the directors finding

that running cars at irregular intervals did not pay, decided upon running all day, which was found to be more remunerative in proportion to the expense. A motion approving of the action of the Board in the past, and leaving it untrammelled in the future, was passed by a large majority. Sold to the Lowest Bidder.—An auctioner at Brisbane had a very g <od lot of horses put in his hands forsale bypublic auction. He got through the best of the mob at very fair rates, bids commencing low and rising somewhat rapidly. Towards the end, however, a very seedy brokendown hack was brought into the yard. The auctioneer looked at Rosinate, and smiled a smile, determined to do his best to secure a good price. “ Now then, gentlemen,” he remarked, “Ido not wish to insult your good taste by asking you to bid up for such an animal as this. I’ll start him at one hundred guineas and you can bid down; the lowest takes him.” “Right you are,” exclaimed a rather wealthy squatter in the crowd, “ I’ll bid down ninety guineas for a start.” “ Sold at ninety guineas to Mr —exclaimed the auctioneer, bringing down the hammer at

once. “ Sold to the lowest bidder, thank you, gentlemen, for your attention. ■ This concludes the sale.” A Clever Idea.—We have to-day in-

spected at Mr Jas. Bradley’s works, a very ingenious machine for manufacturing concrete kerbing and channelling for street

purposes. The machine is in the form of a long metal box, into which the liquid concrete is poured hot from the boiling

vats. The box moulds the stuff into shape, the necessary pressure being supplied by a powerful screw worked by a fly-wheel. Either channelling or kerbing can be made in the same machine, which can be altered in a few minutes to turn out either the one or the other article. Blocks can be made to any length from half an inch to three feet. The contrivance was designed by Mr Bradley himself, the plans and drawings being prepared by Mr A. E. Ingram, of this town, to whom a working model of the machine was supplied by its inventor. It will save an immense amount of labor, time, and trouble compared with the laborious process necessitated by the employment of wooden box moulds such as Mr Bradley has been hitherto using. A couple of chains of kerbing and channelling can be turned out per day with this clover little machine, which thus performs in a few hours what used to take manual labor as many days to effect. The machine is not yet in working order, it having only just arrived from Messrs Watt and Co.’s foundry at Dunedin. The latter firm of engineers speak highly of it, and express the opinion that it should be admirably adapted to the purpose for which it was designed. It will be fixed up and at work in the course of a few days. It can be worked by either manual or steam power, as may be deemed expedient.