The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas, Et Prkvalbeit. SATURDAY. NOVEMBER 4, 1882. A Good Example.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 785, 4 November 1882, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas, Et Prkvalbeit. SATURDAY. NOVEMBER 4, 1882. A Good Example.

TOWN EDITION. \ Issued at 4.55 >

The establishment in Christchurch of the “ Young Men’s Club,” brief mention of which we made in a late issue, is undoubtedly a step in the right direction. The Club "is not a social one in the sense in which the word is usually applied to clubs. It aims rather at combining instruction with amusement; while providing means of rational recreation for the mind wearied with the business cares of the

day, it will offer every facility to those members who may desire it to improve themselves and add to their stock of knowledge. But there is to be no compulsion—no enforced study. The members are, in the words of the Mayor of Christchurch, to be entirely “ unfettered.” “ But,” added His Worship, “ there were many who felt the want of further improvement in their education, who had been forced to leave school early, or had neglected to take advantage of the means then in their hands. To meet the wants of these, several gentlemen had kindly volunteered their valuable services to open classes for instruction in several of the most usdul branches of education, so that those who wished it would have ample opportunity of improving themselves in those subjects in which they felt deficient. ’1 he promoters and gentlemen who had so kindly volunteered to instruct them would feel themselves amply rewarded for any trouble or expense incurred if the pupils showed by earnest attention and good conduct that they appreciated and benefited by the privileges offered.” It is to be hoped that the club will prove a success. The fact that the number of members has, since its formation, increased from 50 to 150 says much for the popularity of the movement, and shows that the promoters have not striven, as frequedtly happens with these societies, to accomplish too much, They have not, that is, omitted recreation from their programme. And wisely. Too much amusement, of the right kind, cannot be provided if the Club is to rank as a permanent and popular institution. In many individual cases very much will have been accomplished if the newly-joined members can be weaned away from un desirable amusements and associates, and taught to acquire a relish for recreations and companionship •of a more healthy kind. There is plenty of room for clubs of this kind in other places than Christchurch. Wine Growing in New Zealand.

In a recent issue ot the Auckland Herald appeared a letter from a Mr A. G. Allom, on “ wine growing in New Zealand,” which is so interesting and important that it deserves to be made as public as possible. In it the writer describes a visit which he lately paid to a vineyard near Auckland. We quote his own words as to what he saw and heard ;—“ It would be difficult to find a more suitable place than that chosen by Mr Woodcock, and a great amount of time and labor has been expended cultivating the several acres of vines, which appear to thrive well about this part of the country. The wine made by Mr Woodcock is really very good, tasting very like port wine, but not so sweet. It is much drunk by the settlers round about the district, and very little of it finds its way into our Auckland market, but from what I have seen ot this wine myself, I think there is every reason to believe that if it once found its way into Auckland, it would ensure a ready sale, especially when its quality and cheapness were taken into consideration by the public.” Notwithstanding this favorable impression of Mr Allom’s, he goes on to say : —“ Mr Woodcock’s opinion U, that New Zealand will never be& wine-growing country. Although the climate is a beautiful one, it is not suitable for wine-growing. His whole crop of grapes has often been spoiled by one or two slight frosts during the latter end of the spring. These frosts spoil the grape for wine, as frost creates acidity in the grape instead of sugar. This is where Australia has the advantage. Her climate is not so changeable as ours, and the grapes have everything in their favor.” Undoubtedly Mr Woodcock is right in his surmise. Re says that “wine can be made here, but that this country will never be a wine-growing one.” This is rather a hasty conclusion to arrive at as it appears to us. Mr Woodcock seems to have lost heart and to have grown despondent, because his vineyard does not pay, but if, as our contemporary points out, he is content to limit his market to the out-of-the-way district in which the wine is produced he can hardly expect it to pay. He should seek a wider field. Wine of the quality and at the price of that produced by Mr Woodcock should command a ready sale all over the colony, and its introduction might lead to the establishment, on a large scale, of a highly important industry. Of course, in a novel enterprise like wine-growing, and at present the enterprise is a novel one so far as New Zealand is concerned, difficulties innumerable are likely to arise, and success can only come of perseverance and experience. Even in Australia, where the climate is of course far more suitable than that of New Zealand for grape culture, the road to success has been a weary one, the failures and disappointments many, but that success has been attained the recent Bordeaux Wine Exhibition, where Victoria carried off no less than twenty-four first and second prizes, New South Wales fourteen, and South Australia six, amply proved. That a similar measure of success will attend the efforts of the New Zealand winegrower is extremely improbable, but Mr Woodcock has shewn that the climate of Auckland is sufficiently warm to mature the grape for vintage purposes, and that wine, and good wine too, can be made in the colony. The principal objection appears to be the “ slight frosts” which sometimes spoil the crop of fruit. But although Mr Woodcock complains of bad years he admits that there are also good ones, end one good season should compensate for two or three bad ones. The successful establishment in this colony of the industry might reasonably be expected to be attended with much benefit, apart from its commercial result. If a wine cheap, palatable, and wholesome could be obtained, there would doubtless be a very large decrease of drunkenness, for the prevalence of which the quality of the liquor retailed is, in many cases at least, as much answerable as the quantity consumed The question we have discussed in this article is thus an all-important one, and Mr Woodcock’s experiences as a winegrower, it is to be hoped, will not be lost sight of. He has proved that excellent wine can be produced in New land, and it only remains to be seen whether it can, the proper conditions being observed, be produced profitably or not. That Mr Woodcock has not made the industry pay goes for little. He has evidently been hiding his light nnder a bnshel. '

The High School Scholarships.— An announcement respecting the above scholarships will be found in another column.

Havelock Street Crossing.—As Mr Hayes’ lease of the railway site does not expire until the 7th inst., this crossing will not, although now completed by the railway department, be opened for traffic until that date. Prince of Wales’ Birthday. —The local post office will be open to the public f ora 9 till 10 in the im ruing, a :d from 7 till Bin the evening of Thursday next. Mails will bo sent away by the first trains north and south.

Quarterly Licensing Meetings.—A notification by Mr Walter Martin, clerk to Licensing Committees, appears in our advertising columns, giving the dates fixed for the holding of the quarterly meetings of Commissioners in Ashburton and district.

The Rain. —The heavy rain that commenced to fall last night and wh'ch has continued to come down in a manner I hat clearly proves that itjmeana busmes-, ever since, has been welcomed by the farmers, who are jubilant. It will do the growing crops incaclulable good. So far the harvest prospects are moat cheering. Watbrton. — A meeting of the Library Committee was held yesterday. Pre-ent —Messrs J. Davis, Seal, Tomlin, and Mager. Mr J. Davis occupied the chair. It was resolved to hold a co cert and ball in aid of the Li rory funds on the 15th inst. Seveal accounts were passed for payment, and the meeting adjourned.

ThbWakvndi Lecturer, From the Timaru Herald we learn that Mr Phillip Maguire intends to give an entertainment, consisting of comic songs, at the Oddfellows’ Hall, Timaru, on “ Monday next, the Ota inst.” If “ sufficient inducement offers,” Mr Maguire intends also to give a lecture on reli.dous topics. A Bit of a Blow. —A country paper published in Otago, at itos that during the last week a gale of extraordinary violence was experienced on the Carrick range. So great was the force of the wind that a dray and three horses were blown over, while an unfortunate miner who was caught in the b ast was lifted clean off his feet and hurled into a neighboring gully. Trout. —The Domain creek will evidently become a splendid fishing place for local angler', as we understand s >me capital sport was had there yesterday by a well known boniface. The trout have increased very much, both in number and wei ht, and in attempting to land a goodsized fish yesterday, “mine host” not only lost his trout, but went home minus a good portion of his fishing tackle. Theatrical. —To-night Mr Frank Wilmott’s dramatic combination will appear at the Town Hall, in “ His Last Legs and the extravaganza of “ Cinderella. ” The company comprises Miss Amy Johns, Miss Louise Crawford, Miss Amy Nelson, the Howard sisters (o), Miss Vickers, and Messrs Jas. Wilkinson, J. Hesford, Simmons, Willmott, Marter, and others. Thus it will be seen the “ combination ” is a strong one, and as the bills are both good (“ Struck Oil ” will be played on Monday night), it ought to draw good houses.

Something Wrong with the Gas.—A rather serious gas explosion occurred about nine o’clock last night in the Robert Burns Hotel, George street, Dauedin. The landlord had entered the room to discover the cause of the amell of gas, and, pushing the gas ilier up, the gas which was lying neir the ceiling, exploded with great force, among other things, blowing the door oft’ the hinges into atoms. The I mcllady, Mrs Sinclair, WiS hurt by some of the f agments, and

was thrown down some distance away. Mr Sinclair miraculously escaped with a few bruises. There was great damage done to the bottles in the bar. Royal Australian Circus. —The above circus, run by the well-known caterers for the amusement-loving public, Messrs Woodyear and Ross, will pay Ashburton a visit shortly, giving one performance on the evening of Monday week. Several months have elapsed since this circus was in Ashburton, and since that tim# it has been tripled in size or thereabouts, and now boasts twenty-nine performers and twenty-seven trained horses, besides novelties of all kinds. The big show has only just arrived from the North Island, where it ban been liberally patronised. T opens in Christchurch to night, preparatory to its southern tour. Kkligious Mania. —ln the War Cry, the • alvation Army’s organ, we read, cone oning one meeting, that “ on Saturday night a man fell prostrate at the Mercy-seat, an i kicked and roared In an agony of sold.” Then, re another:- “One came running to Jesus, an I what amazed the pe pie most was to s‘e a woman, who got so filed with’ the power hat she shouted and jumped. The singing was still kept going, then a rush was made to the Mercy-seat. Down went another and another, until they were lying about in all parts of the Temple like dead men and women. . . We con’d not gst the pe ip e to go home, so we let them go on ti I nex f . morn ng, and then the women were at it, preparing for the May morning breakfast, which was held in the Temple. Thirty more sou's wept their way to Calvary ! Halleujah !” Saved by the Rain. —The following curious “Government Orders” were issued in the early days of New South Wales:—“ Government House, Sydney, April 14, 1801—The regiment to be under arms on Monday next, the 10th instant, at half-past nine in the morning, to attend the execution of John Boatswain, private soldier in the New South Wales corps, sentenced to die by Court Martial, for desertion.” “ April 19, 1801: Raining in torrents. The execution of the prisoner, as directed in the order of 14th inst., on account of the incletn ncy of the weather, is deferred until to-morrow, 20th instant, “April 20th: Still raining in torrents. Execution still further deferred.” “April 25th: Favorable circumstances having been reported the Governor of the settlement is pleased to extend a reprieve and grant a free pardon to the prisoner, John Boatswain, sentenced to death for the unsoldierlike crime of desertion ; but the Governor t usts that the awful position in which the wretched man was placed will deter others from following his example. God save the King.” Pouch Court. —At the Court this morning, before the Mayor and Mr Thos. Bullock, J.P., William Brown, farmer, living near Drotnore, was charged with ill-treating six horses by working them with sore shoulders, and John Brown, James Page, Alfred Holston, and Robert Tayl r, four ploughmen in Wm. Brown’s employ, were similarly charged. Constable Rouse, Rakaia, deposed to the rrest of the whole of the defendants, and to bringing them and the horses into town. The’horses were 'standing outside the Court, and were in a disgraceful state. It was evident in fact that their sufferings must have been severe. Their collars were exhibited to the Bench by tsergeant Felton, and their appearance fully bore out the evidence of the Constable as to the condition of the unfortunate animals. In defence of his conduct, Brown, the owner of the horses, said ho had a very heavy job on hand, and the horses had lost condition since he had been on the work. Low as their state was now, they had been in good condition previously. The work ho was on would last for another fortnight. The Bench reprimanded both master and men, and fined the former L 5, and the latter 10s each, together with costs, 33i. The police deserve every credit for the determined way in which they are bringing these maltreaters of horses to book.

A Handsome Pres r Nr. —The owners of the ship City of Perth have presented Captain Clark, the master of the steam tug Lyttelten, with a cheque for LSO, for the skill displayed by him in towing their vessel off the Timaru beach, and taking her safely to Pirt Chalmers.

Where Did it C umb Fuom? —The Hokitika Star says : —“A greatquantity of pitch has been washed up on the South Spit, and the people living in the neighborhood have pieces 5001bs in weight. It is hard outside, and soft inside. The finders are at present using it to light their tires. Where it came from is a mysteiy.” Sale of Privgleges. —On Saturday next, 11th inst, Mr T. Bullock will sell by auction at the Bazaar, Burnett street, the privileges in connection with the forthcoming A. and P. Lhow and the A. R. 0. Spring Meeting. The sale is at three o’clock, and there will doubtless be a large attendance of speculators, for it is only once a year that such a chance preents itself for “ making money.”

Holloway’s Ointment and Pills. — Though it is impossible, in this climate of changing temperature, to prevent ill-health altogether, yet its form and frequency may be much mitigated by the early adoption of remedial measures. When hoarseness, cough, thick breathing, and the attending slignt fever ndicate irritation of the throat and chest, Holloway’s Ointment should be rubbed upon these parts without delay, and his Pills taken in appropriate doses, to promote its curative action. No catarrhs or sore throats can resist these remedies. Printed directions envelope every package of Holloways medicaments which are suited to all ages and conditions and to every ordinary disease to which humanity s liable.—Advt.