The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas, Et Prevalebit. TUESDAY, JULY .27, 1882.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume III, Issue 699, 27 July 1882, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas, Et Prevalebit. TUESDAY, JULY .27, 1882.

‘Tenders. —The Borough Council invite tenders for fencing. - Police. —One "drunk” at the Court to-day. The police say they never knew things.so dull. Departure op Mr Pilkington. —-Mr Pilkington, our late respected stationmaster, proceeded to Oatnaru per the 4.45 train this afternoon. Railway Hotel. —Mr S. Compton, who has a business card elsewhere, has lately made some important alterations at this well-known hostelry. The New Fire Engine. —A meeting of subscribers to the new fire engine for the west side of the town will be held on Thursday, the 27th inst., at the Borough Council office, at 7.30 p.m. Alleged Rape.— At the Christchurch Magistrate’s Court yesterday Thomas R. Roberts was charged with rape, and on the application of the police was remanded till July 28th. Bail was allowed, prisoner in 1300 and two sureties in Ll5O each. The Supposed Infanticide Case at Cambridge—At the inquest at Cambridge (JVaikato) yesterday on the body of the child of Sarah Johnston, domestic ‘ servant of the Masonic Hotel at Cambridge, a verdict was returned that the deceased had died from natural causes.

The Late Fall in Bricks in Dun ED!N. —The man and lad who were hurl by the falling of a building at Dunedin 01 Tuesday are now progressing favorably. The contractor blames the recent we weather for having loosened the brickwork.

New Surf Boat for Timaru.—The new surf-boat, made to the order of the Timaru Harbor Board by Messrs Anderson Bros., of Christchurch, went through per special for Timaru to-day. The new boat is between 30 and 40 feet in length, and should prove serviceable, judging by its appearance on the,rail way trolly.

Bishop Selwyn. —Bishop Selwyn, of Melanesia, leaves • Auckland immediately for the Bay of Islands in the mission schooner' Southern Cross, to have an interview.with Commodore Erskiut with respect to the South Sea Island matters and the recent outrages. Mr W. H. Grace, native interpreter, accompanies him.

The Railway Tariff.— Our own correspondent at Wellington, whose telegram, received this afternoon appears in another column, sends good news for the farmer. He tells us that “ large reductions ” in the tariff for agricultural produce are in contemplation. This is very satisfactory. Dripping water will wear away a stone in time, and the constant (and moat reasonable) growling of the farmer Ms apparently at length had the desired effect of inducing the Government to, redress a crying evil.

t New Zealand Refrigerating Company.—The first annual meeting of the New Zealand Refrigerating Company was held yesterday at Dunedin. The report showed that the works were now complete*,; and operations would bo begun early next month ,to prepare cargo for steamer to arrive in September. The total expenditure on the site and for works to date had been L 11,534, and L 3,030 more would be required for their thorough equipment. Mr Larnach, Chairman, in moving tho adoption of the report, referred to the extreme importance of the undertaking.

The “ Keep-it-Dark.” —The talk at Reefton, says a Grey mouth telegram, is all about the Keep-it-Dark mine. Five bags were yesterday (Wednesday) broken out in the presence of the directors, and put through the mill, the result being about 400 ounces. Another lot, about the same quality, was also broken out in the presence of the directors and was crushed with a similar result. Those present it was one of the finest displays of gold they ever say. Since noon yesterday shares have risen from 71s to 955. Shares in the adjoining claims are also rising.

Dunedin Jockey Club. —The annual meeting of the Dunedin Jockey Club was held last night. The balance-sheet showed that, after paying all stakes and expenses, also the hrst instalment (1/1,520) of the purchase money of Forbury Park, etc., a credit balance remained of L 343 10s lOd. The committee contemplate the erection of a public stand over the booths outside this grand stand reserve. The totalisator receipts for the year were L 2,780, of which L 2,126 was from the Autumn meeting. The sum expended as stakes was L 3,207. At a committee meeting afterwards, it was agreed to add L 1,500 to the stakes for the spring and autumn meetings. Cantekbury Linseed Oil and Fibre Company. —We are pleased-to chronicle the formation of tha Canterbury Linseed Oil and Fibre Company, having already on more than one occasion drawn attention in these columns to the highly im-* portant industries which the company under notice propose to take up. If tho facts and figures which we have seen are correct the Company ought to prove one of the most remunerative concerns for the shareholders that has been floated for many a long day. Its capital is LIO,OOO, and it possesses an influential directorate. Speculators would do well to peruse the prospectus published in our advertising columns.

Bishop’s Guide to Wellington.— We have; received from the publisher, Mr Walter Bishop (well-known in New Zealand journalistic circles), a copy of his “ Illustrated Guide to Wellington and District ” —a capitally got up little work of over a hundred pages, teeming with information relative to the Empire City, its suburbs, and the townships and other places of interest'surrounding it. The The guide contains a number of illustrations, and not the least interesting portion of it (to the newspaper man) is the chapter devoted to the newspaper press of Wellington and neighboring townships. The compilation of this little work must have entailed a considerable amount of labor. Every tourist—in fact, everyone travelling north, and who is likely to visit Wellington en route —ought certainly to got a copy of this guide, which, procurable for a shilling, will be found to represent full value for the money. Old Men’s Home —At yesterday’s meeting of the Hospital and Charitable Board at Christchurch, Mr J. E. March submitted his annual statement of the receipts and expenditure of the hospitals and charitaqle institutions under the control of the Board for the financial year ending 30th June, 1882, frain which wo extract the following as being of local interest :—Ashburton Home--The number of inmates in the house on July 1, 1881, was 42 ; admitted during the year, 34 ; total 70. Discharged or left the institution, 31; deaths, 8; total 39. Number remaining on the 30th June, 1882, 37. The expenditure was L 1,064 17s 7d, as as against L 983 11a for the preceding year. The average cost of each inmate was 10s 5d per week. A report was received from the medical officer ot the Ashburton Home, recommending that increased accommodation should be provided for old men suffering from consumption and rheumatism. The secretary was instructed to telegraph to the Colonial Secretary, asking that the work, which would cost some L 95, be proceeded with*

South Rakaia Hotel. —Attention is directed to Mr A. J. Howell’s announcement respecting the above hotel.*

Nothing" Like Leather. —Mr J.-Jbhn-ton, bootmaker,- of Methven, is prepared to turn out an article • that shall please the most fastidious customer, and he sells at Christchurch prices, or prices that will hear a favorable comparison with those of. Christchurch. • A. R. C. To-night the adjourned annuul meeting of the A R.C. is to be held at Quill's Hotel. It is to be hoped that there will be a good attendance of members, in order that no more time may be lost in arranging for the spring meeting, and getting out a programme for the same. The Geraldine Racing Club have had tlioir programme out for some weeks past, and it is high time that the Ashburton Club followed suit.

The Alleged Conspiracy Case.— The “ special ” of the Lyttelton Times at Wellington. writes with regard to the case of the man Loughurst, convicted two years ago of rape on a little girl named Adams, and “ sent up ” on the evidence of the girl and that of her father:—" The extraordinary interest taken in the very painful case of Longhurst may be judged from the fact that no less than three separate questions concerning it were asked in the House to-day. After • answering them, the Colonial Secretary went on to enlarge upon Ins statement with regard to Dr. Collins. ,Ho said there was no- keeping back the fact*.that Dr, Collins knew about the case. Prisoner’s brother knew about it, and a Government officer as well; but it must be presumed that the doctor himself thought little of it, or he would not have let a whole year slip by without giving bis evidence. At all events, neither the Government nor the Chie: ! Justice saw in it sufficient to alter the decision of the Court. The matter would come up before the Supreme Court again very shortly, and Government could do nothing more than watch the trial_ carefully with a view to gaining some evidence for their future action.”

The Opposition Growing “ Smalt- by Degrees and Beautifuly Less.”— The Opposition seem more utterly and hopelessly demoralised than ever (says the Press special, wiring last evening). The result of their all-night battle on Monday, when Mr Smith , was put forward as a “ cat’s paw,” has damaged them severely.. Their shallow pretence of not being as a party connected with Smith’s motion the more injurious to their reputation, inasmuch as several members of “ the party” had been openly boasting a week 1 beforehand of what they were going to do, and hdw they had organised the device ; and you will remember that I notified you long ago of what was intended, and my, forecast was exactly borne out. Poor Mr> Smith has been going about With eVen a more depressed and *' sat upon” mien; than is his wonted aspect, and evidently mutters constantly to himself (after the

manner of Bunthorne) “crushed again.” For a time before his motion came on he stalked about with the air of a leader, but it is whispered that, as the time drew nigh, be became horribly nervous lest he should defeat the Government, and be sent for to form a new Ministry. This, however, did not come off, and I see little prospect of anybody being called on to perform such a task this session. Ashburton Fire Brigade. —A' ■- special practice of the Fire Brigade took place last evening for the purpose of testing the new appliance for taking water out of the street channels. Cr Roberta has the credit of being the inventd* of the new contrivance, which will be found to supersede the sump now used in the channels for shpplying water to the fire engines. The chief object is to strain the water that is supplied in the channels in order that stones and other debris shall not enter the engines and so cause the stoppage, as was the case at the Library fire, owing to the state of the sumps then used. For this purpose, then, it can be fixed_ in any concrete or other channel, it being the exact size of the bottom of the channel, and about three feet long and six inches deep, with perforated holes at each end. The channel, when dammed up with sandbags below where the “ channel strainer” is placed, enables the water to cover the appliance in a moment, and the stones which are continually being washed down the channel never interfere with the pump. The special

utility, however, is that the “strainer” can be put down in any one part of the channel wherever the water is running, and so will not necessitate the making of any more sumps, and consequently will be found of great service. Messrs Dolman Bros, who made the strainer, deserve great credit for the manner in which it has been turned out. Crs .Harrison and Roberts, the Fire Committee, were present, and expressed themsslves highly pleased with the way in which the new apparatus worked.

Mount Huxx Road Board. The Mount Hutt Road Board met on Friday, the 21st inst. Present—Messrs Cameron, Orr, and the Chairman (Mr Julian Jackson). —The Overseer’s report was read and considered, and he was instructed to give Mr Golands notice that if he did not start the formation of Broom Park road immediately and clear the Rakaia Gorge cuttings, according to his contract, the usual penalties would be inflicted in each case. It was resolved to write to the Rakaia and Ashburton Forks Railway Company, ami request them to hand over to the Hoard the laud from section 29907 up the side of the line to Methven, for the purpose of opening up the road, the distance being about two miles.—Mr Wason wrote, applying for permission to put down an open crossing on his road. Mr Steadman also wrote, applying for permission for a similar purpose. Both applications were grant.-d, subject to the crossings being put down to the satisfaction of the Board. A letter was read from the County Council, informing the Board - that the Boundary road, between the Mount Hutt and South Rakaia districts, had been placed under the control of the Mount Hutt Road Board. A letter , was read from the Clerk of the' Upper Ashburton Road Board, giving information as to re-taking over streets in private tHwnships. The letter ordered to be acknowledged with thanks. From the the County Council, asking the Chairman to undertake the superintendence of the sowing of the different reserves in the district. The Chairman expressed his willingness ; a letter to be sent to the Council to that effect. A circular was received from Mr J. D. Enys, re the reduction of the railway tariff from Springfield and Malvern. Ordered to be acknowledged.—lt was resolved to deposit the L 2,800 that would mature on the 22nd inst. again with the Bank of New Zealand, Rakaia, for six months, the interest for the previous six months to be placed to the current account —A letter was read from the Returning Officer, informthe Board that Mr William Longmuir Orr had been duly elected member of the Board, to fill the vacancy caused by the retirement of Mr Pannett.—After passing accounts to the amount of L-34 11s 2d, the Board adjourned.