The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas, et Prevalebit. FRIDAY, JULY 21, 1882.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume III, Issue 694, 21 July 1882, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas, et Prevalebit. FRIDAY, JULY 21, 1882.

TOWN EDITION. [lssued at 420 p.m. i

Another Victim. A man named James Young died suddenly at Auckland on Wednesday as a result of drinking heavily. Ecclesiastic. —Archdeacon Harris is expected to be in Ashburton on Sunday next, and will preach at Tin wald in the morning, at eleven, examine the St. Stephen’s Sunday school scholars in the afternoon, and occupy the pulpit of St. Stephen’s the same evening. Poultry, Pigeon, and Canary Show. —This Show opened this morning and was a great success. The prize list will be found elsewhere. Four carrier pigeons shown attracted some attention, having raced yesterday from Christchurch to Ashburton. The day was anything but adapted for pigeon flying, as the birds were handicapped by having to fly dead against a head breeze. Tho match resulted as follows :—Pvlr S. Saunders’ “ Pathfinder ” (2hrs), 1 ; Mr E. Saunders’ “ Random ” (2hra Bmin), 2 ; Master Owen Saunders’ “bide-a-wee” (2hrs 26min), 3; and Master J. Permain’s “ Nelly Gray ” (2hrs 35min), 4 Had the weather been favorable the birds could have covered the distance in one half the time. At to-day's Show, “Pathfinder” was awarded a first prize, and “ Random ” a second.

Tenders. The Ashburton County Council invites tenders for ploughing and fencing.

A Profitable Speculation. —We learn that the operations of the Auckland Union Sash and Door Company yielded a profit of L 13,000 for the past six months.

Road Board Election.—At the election for a member for the Mount Hutt Road Board, held yesterday, the polling resulted as follows: —Mr W. L. Orr, 61 ; Mr James Dent, 31. A Scientific Visitor. —Dr Schmidt) a German celebrity, a passenger by the City of Sydney, from Sydney to Auckland, intends making a tour of the colony for the purpose of making scientific investigations.

The Bobbies’ Reward. —An Auckland telegram states that Sergeant McGovern gets LlO, and the members of the capturing party Lb each, from the reward fund, for the seizure of Epiha and Pakara.

Bishol Berwyn.--From a Press Association telegram we learn that Bishop Selwyn was a passenger by the Mission schooner Southern Cross, which arrived at Auckland from Noifolk Islrnd yesterday.

A Good Example.—A number of the leading business firms of Ashburton announce in our advertising columns that they will, from 22nd July, close their respective establishments at 9 p.m., instead of at 10 p.m., as at present. This will bo a boon to the employees, who will not work any worse during the rest of the week for that hour given them on Saturday night.

Temperance. —At a meeting of the Committee of the Wesleyan Christian Temperance Society held last night, it was decided to hold a public meeting on Monday evening next, when matters of interest will be discussed. The desirableness of establishing a Band of Hope in connection with the Society will be advocated, and one of the members will advance arguments in favor of Chiistian Temperance Societies as compared with others.

Resident Magistrate’s Court, South Rakaia. —A sitting of the above Court was held yesterday, before C. Whitefoord, Esq., R.M. S. Compton was fined 10s and costs for having an unregistered dog in his possession. Denis O’Reilly was charged, under section 35 of the Larceny Act, with taking wire from the Rokeby estate. Constable Rouse gave evidence that he had found some of the wire on O’Reilly’s property. After hearing the evidence the Magistrate considered the charge fully proved, and inflicted a fine of L2; cost of wire, L2; costs, L2 13s. The following civil cases were also disposed of:—Anderson v. Matter. Claim for wages. No appearance of plaintiff. Case struck out. F. Wilson v. Plummer. Claim for LI 14s. Judgment for plaintiff for 17s and costs. W. Hartnell v. F. W. Quaife. Claim L3O, dishonored bill Judgment for amount claimed. Matter v. Street. Claim, L 6 11s sd, for goods supplied. Judgment for plaintiff.

Board op Education. —At the ordinary meeting of the Board of Education, held at Christchurch yesterday, inspectors’ reports upon the Ashburton Forks, Lismore, Dunsandel, , Hinas, Alford Forest, and Springburn schools were laid on the table. The report upon the Mount Somers school was read. A report upon the Tinwald school was read, and the Board authorised the dismissal of the master, who had been suspended. A letter from some of the Committee of the Kyle school contradicted the report read at the last meeting of the Board, reporting unsatisfactorily upon the master. A letter from the master on the same subject was read. Mr Peryman had noticed that a presentation had been made to the master by (he residents. The Board resolved to write to the master, saying they had nothing against him. The Chairman explained the position of affairs at Wakanni school. The incidentals had been exceptionally heavy in consequence of the Health Officer requiring pans in the closets. A letter from Mr Brown was read, asking for Lll as a special grant, and LlO a quarter for incidentals. A previous letter from Mr Brown threatened an appeal to the Minister for Education. The Board resolved to leave Mr BroA'u to follow any course he chose. A Flax - dressing M vchine. —Our readers, says the Bangitikei Advocate, will, wo ioel sure, be glad to learn that the flax-dressing machine patented by Mr Bertram of Halcombo is attracting particular attention in all parts of the colon}'. Some time ago we gave an account of this important invention, which was copied into the principal papers in New Zealand, and the result has been that Mr Bertram has received numerous letters from every one of the provincial districts, inquiring as to the terms on which ho would be prepared to supply the machines. Mr Bertram exhibited to a number o f the leading merchants in Wellington samples of New Zealand flax dressed by his ma-

chine, and these were favored with the warmest approbation. Mr Krull, the

German consul, was so much impressed with the excellence of the invention that he was quite sure that flax dressed in the same way as the samples shown would meet with a ready and almost unlimited market in Germany. He also offered to provide the moans of working one of the machines in some central place in Wellington, in o.der that the people of the Empire City might have a chance of seeing for themselves “ what the thing was like.” We believe that Mr Bertram will avail himself of this offer, and if ho does we have no doubt that the M. H. R.’s from

all parts of the colony will “be there to see.” Mr Bertram intended to show his patent at the Christchurch Exhibition, but unfortunately the only machine made waa destroyed by the fire at Mr Lash’s

sawmill. However, he has complete drawings, and Mr Murray, of Wanganui, is prepared to turn out the machines at L 35 each, and we expect to see this really valuable invention soon put to a fair trial.

The matter is one of really national importance. Tens of thousands of tons of phorviium tenax are now absolutely running to waste year by year, and ad this natural wealth will probably at no distant

date be turned to very prolitablo account through Mr Bertram’s invention.