The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas, et Prevalebit. TUESDAY, JULY 25, 1882.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume III, Issue 697, 25 July 1882, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas, et Prevalebit. TUESDAY, JULY 25, 1882.

TOWN EDITION. j [lssued at 4.20 p.m. i

The Library Funds. — Mr George Gould, we learn, has promised the Committee a subscription of ten guineas towards the new building fund,

A Rare Chance. —lt will be seen on reference to our advertisements that there is a vacancy in a bachelor establishment for one. A player of poker and the piano will be preferred. This sounds like a happy home, although the reference to “ poker ” is suspicious. Canterbury Saleyards Company.— We hear that the shares in newly formed company are going off rapidly, as we expected, applications having been received from Christchurch and other outside places. The greater portion of the shares have been sold. Library Concert and Entertainment. —To-morrow evening the first entertainment in aid of the building fund of the new Library takes place at the Town Hall. A very excellent programme has been arranged, which appears elsewhere, to conclude with the performance of a farce entitled “ Betsy Baker,” by local amateurs, who have kindly proffered their assistance. The temporary reading room in the hall will be closed during the entertainments.

A Nondescript. —There is just now on view at the premises recently vacated by Mr Doyle, in Havelock street, handy to the Courthouse, a curiosity in the shape of a double-bodied double-headed calf, the two bodies being united in a way similar to the manner in which the Siamese twins were held together. The calf (or calves), however, rather have the pull over the Siamese people, inasmuch as they possess an eye the size of a bullock’s on their back, which is doubtless an exceedingly useful place to be able to see from. The admission to gaze upon this freak of nature is only sixpence, and those interested in such things are advised to go and have a peep at the animal under notice.

The Exhibition- —The sale of the Exhibition builds commenced yesterday, and realised a sum of L 2,110. The sale was continued to-day, when fairly satisfactory figures were obtained. While upon the subject of the Exhibition, we may state that Mr Thomas Quill has received the following letter from M. Jonbert:—'‘New Zealand International Exhibition, Christchurch, July 24th, 1882. Thos. Quill, Esq.—My dear Sir, —Prior to leaving Christchurch, and now that the New Zealand International Exhibition is closed, and we are both about leaving to return to our respective homes, I wish to express to you my thanks for the way yon have managed the catering and bar business of this large undertaking. Your venture, like “ours” was a bold one—and you paid a high price for the privileges you bought. I hope and trust the venture has paid you. This you may safely reckon, at all events, namely, having given entire satisfaction to a large number, if not all, who have visited the Exhibition. Wishing you every prosperity.—l remain, My Dear Quill, yours truly, Jules Joubert.”

Wesleyan. —The public meeting in connection with the Wesleyan Christim Temperance Society held m the church last evening, was very well attended, and the proceedings throughout of a moat interesting character. The Rev. C. 11. Standage occupied the chair, and after a brief reference to‘the programme, called on Mr Thos. Williams to address the meeting. Mr Williams, who is warm advocate for total abstinence, gave a capital speech on the advantages possessed by this Society over other temperance societies not based on Christian principles. Mr Robert Alcorn then spoke on the necessity of forming a Band of Hope in connection with the Society ; and after Mr Alison had spoken in similar strains, the latter gentleman proposed that a Band of Hope should be started, to be incorporated with this Socisty. This was seconded and carried unanimously. Mr J. E. Buchanan followed with one of his laughter-provoking speeches, in the course of which, however, wore some instructive remarks bearing on the subject of total abstinence. Mr T. Williams then brought forward his motion, notice of which had been given at a previous meeting, to the effect that this Society recommend the officials of the Ashburton Wesleyan Church to procure in future unfermented wine for use at the Communion Service. The speaker brought forward some forcible reasons why the action suggested should be taken ; and Mr Alison seconding the motion, it was carried. During the evening the choir, under Mr Ray’s leadership, rendered several of Sankey’s hymns, Miss Murray presiding at the harmonium.

Colonial Defences. —The Government have received a reply from Colonel Scratchley to their request that he should visit New Zealand and report further on the defences of the colony. Colonel Scratchley regrets that he is unable to come earlier than September, which of course would be too late for any vote to be taken this year. He has, however, promised to write as fully as possible, reviewing his former proposals and revising the estimates of the cost, which he prepared in 1880. It is also the intention of the Government to select at once a small number of the Armed Constabulary force, who already have some knowledge of artillery work for special training in artillery knowledge, especially in the management of heavy ordnance, so that when our big guns are mounted they might act as instructors to the force, whether volunteers or paid men be detached to work them. The Wellington correspondent of the Press rolegraphing on the same subjects, says:—Colonel -'cratchley intimates, however, th it his general views as to defensive inea urea remain practically unaltered. Come modification in regard to position of batteries may be made, but, in the main, he is disposed to adhere to hu former opinion. He still advocates spar torpedoes in preference to other kinds, and advises the Government to procure a supply at once from Home, as also one torpedo launch for each port to serve as a pattern, which can afterwards be multiplied as needed. It is the intention of the Government to act on this suggestion without delay, and directly the boats aro received to have others constructed in each port as occasion may require.

Melancholy Suicide.— From Auckland we learn that Captain Johnston committed suicide at Raglan on Thursday, by shooting himself through the heart. II o had been in a low state of mind since the death of a favorite daughter two months ago. He wrote an obituary notice for the Star before committing the rash act. Another account to hand of the melancholy occurrence states that for some years past Captain Johnston has not been on good terms with a Justice of the Peace for the district of Wallace, who also acts as Coroner, and in his statement the deceased says no doubt that gentleman will be glad to have an opportunity of sitting on his body. The following obituary notice was written by the deceased prior to his death and forwarded under cover to the Press :—“ News has come to hand of the death on the 20th July, suddenly, at To Haurota, of Captain John Campbell Johnston, formerly commandant of the 20th Regiment Punjaub Infantry. Fie was the second officer in the Royal army appointed to the command of a regiment while yet a lieutenant. He left instructions that his body might, if possible, be burned, and that his family would not go into mourning.—Te Haurota, 20th July, 1882.” The deceased loaves a family of eight or nine sons and one daughter. His wife is the daughter of Major Speedy, of Abyssinian fame. The deceased owned 2,000 acres of land of poor quality at Raglan, and was known for years as a rather eccentric person, having sustained sunstroke in India many years ago. It appeals, on the day before his death, he received a summons to appear as defendant in an assault case, the prosecutor being Charles Sutton.

The Rilway 1 abler Meeting. —The meeting to consider the railway tariff, and also Mr Wright’s letter re the Ashburton traffic bridge, takes place this evening at 8 o’clock, in the Town Hall. accident at Rakaia. —Yesterday a man named Dennis Murphy, employed by Mr Sprott, at Rakaia, fell off a dray he was loading with straw, and sustained a severe sprain of the left leg. He was removed to the hospital. The ’Frisco Mail. —The Wanaka, with the Southern portion of the ’Frisco mail, is expected at Wellington on Wednesday morning, when the Penguin will be waiting to bring on the mail bags to Lyttelton.

The Camaru Tragedy. —Alex. Beattie was yesterday committed for trial on the charge of murdering Sarah Adams at Oamaru. The prisoner will he tried at the next Supreme Court sessions at Dunedin.

Sale oe Immigration Cottages. Messrs R. Wilkin and Co. to-day sold, at the offices of Messrs Jameson and Roberts, soveial immigration cottages, the property of the Borough Council. There was a large attendance, and the bidding was very spirited, indeed the auctioneer said that he could have sold three times the number of cottages had he had them to dispose of. The sale resulted thus;—No. I cottage, LI3; No. 2, L 10; No. 3, Ltl; No. 4, Lll 10s; No. 5, 1 13.

Shepherd the Levanter. James Martin Shepherd, the levanter, after leaving Auckland by the outward mail steamer for ’Frisco, remained in Honolulu for one or two trips, and then proceeded to San Francisco. According to his own account he lodged at the Palace Hotel, where he was constantly drunk for five weeks. How he got on board the mail steamer here he does not exactly know, but he states he intended to surrender on his arrival, and further alleges he wished to do so to save another man, who was supposed to be implicated in the transaction, but who is innocent. All the prisoner’s luggage is labelled for Christchurch, and that fact in some measure bears out his statement. Shepherd was brought up at the Christchurch Police Court, charged with forging and uttering, and remanded to Timaru.

Political Gossip. Says the Press’ special at Wellington, wiring yesterday:— The answers of the local governing bodies to the Treasurer’s circular were laid on the table to-night. They fill no less than 130 columns of closely printed matter of small print, giving the views of over 200 different bodies. I need hardly say therefore that anything like a precis of their general purport is utterly impracticable, and as regards their main effect it has been pretty accurately conveyed by my former telegram on the subject. On the question asked as to the election of chairmen of local bodies, however, there is almost an absolute unanimity in favour of the existing system and against the proposal to elect as mayors are, only seven out of 200 odd having approved the suggested change. There is also, as I remarked in a former telegram, a remarkable consensus of opinion iti favor of additional financial assistance being afforded by the colony to local bodies. The only report of a Select Committee to-day is that of the joint sub committee of both Houses to the effect that the following resolution was passed at the meeting on Saturday: —“ That the following be the sub-committee of the lawn-tennis ground, three to form a quorum: The tlon. G. R. Johnston, Hon. W. B. D. Mantell, Mr Dargaville, Mr Beetham, and Mr J. Wilson.” I quote this important resolution to show the valuable public business on which hon. members expend their energies, and to which they devote their powerful intellects in the interest of the country in general and of their constituents in particular. It is perhaps not surprising that Parliament has now entered the third month of its session without doing anything worth speaking of. The revised order paper for this evening shows that the number of Bills in various stages has now increased to 91. The list of petitions has grown to 320, and the papers presented to 131.