The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas, et Prevalebit. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1882.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 799, 22 November 1882, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas, et Prevalebit. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1882.

Celebrities Expected. Archibald Forbes begins his lectures the week after next, and McCabe, the great ventriloquist, opens on December 9th, making a stay in Dunedin of one month. The Fkeebody Romance. —The girl Annie Freebody was surrendered to his Honor Mr Justice Richmond in Chambers yesterday morning, at Wellington, by virtue of a writ of habeas corpus, and afterwards delivered over to the custody of her sister. The Railway Squabble. —Three men, dismissed from the locomotive department, Dunedin, sent in apologies admitting their insubordination, and undertaking in future to abstain from any action that would promote discontent among their fellows. They have accordingly been reinstalled at a lower rate of pay. A Deputation in Hot Water —It will be seen from an advertisement in another column, that the Ashburton and Rakaia forks Railway Company have instituted legal proceedings ag'inst a deputation which waited on the County Council at its last meeting, and a meeting of those interested in the matter is called for Monday next, at the Road Board office, Methven. Mrs Hampson.—We learn from the local Advocate that Mrs H uupson, who is on a visit to the Rangitikei district, will shortly leave there for Napier, to fulfil an engagement made twelve months ago, the date for carrying out which is now close at hand. After finishing at Napier, Mrs Hampson will proceed to Lyttelion, thence to Rangiora, and from the latter place to Kaiapoi. She will thence go Australia, and after a short stay she will return to New Zealand.

A Fatal Kick. —A fatal accident occurred yesterday to Thomas Sayers, aged sixteen years, in the employment of Mr Richie, baker, of Port Chalmers. He was in the act of backing the horse into the shafts of the cart when the animal rushed forward, and whilst he waa trying to stop it the horse plunged and kicked him in the cheat. He was immediately carried into the house close by, and a messenger despatched for Dr Dryadale, but before that gentleman arrived life was extinct. District Prize Firing. —lt is understood that the annual district prize-firing will take and though to say mean, no doubt our local volunteers will make an effort to secure some portion of it. Wo believe that only three companies, namely, the, Christchurch City Guards, Ashburton Rifles, and Temuka Rifles, will contend for the Canterbury share of the rifle prizes, while the Timaru Artillery, Lyttelton Naval Brigade, etc , will contend for the carbine prizes. Tea Meeting. —There is every pros-, pect of the Primitive Methodise tea and public meeting 'n-momir night being very successful. The influx of a number of country folks to attend the Show will doubtless help to swell the numbers at the tea, and several solos to be sung by wellknown ladies at the public meeting afterwards will add much to the evening's enjoyment. We understand every effort is being put forth by the promoters to secure the comfort of visitors, and the catering being in the hands of Mr T. Taylor, the commissariat department will be all that can be desired. The Ashburton Rifles. —The usual monthly inspection parade of this corps took place last evening, but owing to the holidays and other causes only some forty men put in an appearance. After inspection the company was put through manual and firing exercise, company Prill, etc., by Captain Dongl is, Lieutenant Dolman, and Sergeant-Major Morgan. Subsequently the inspecting officer, Major Lean, addressed the men, expressing regret at the small muster, but congratulating the company on the efficiency of their officers, who evidently know their work. The customary march out did not take place.

Tows Hall. —The Willmott Combination Company made their re-appearance last evening at the Town Hall to a very satisfactory house. The programme opened with a dramatised version of Miss Hraddon’s we l-known story “ Aurora Floyd.” Mias Louise Crawford filled the part of the heroine, the cha-ming but too much-married Aurora, and she was certainly very successful, her acting being remarkably life-like, excepting in the emotional scenes where she rather overdid it Still, taken as a whole, we must congratulate Miss Crawford on her impersonation. Miss Amy Johns as the deceitful and false-hearted Mrs Powell, the companion, had a part quite out of her usual range of characters, but she showed what a versatile artiste she is by accommodating herself to it, and certainly made the most of it. As the free, frank, jovial John Mellish, Aurora’s second husband, Mr Herman was capital, and his cheery manner appeared to communicate itself to the audience. The “ (Softy ”of Mr Hesford we cannot praise. It was the least successful impersonation wo have seen this actor attempt. He did not look the part and he did not act it in a way to bring it home in its true colors to the audience. Where he should have excited interest ho aroused laughter. Mr Wilkinson as the dog-stealer—we beg his pardon, dog-fan-cier—was excellent. His make-up was all that could be desired, and his appearance on the stage was the signal for unlimited applause. Mr Wihnott, as Jem Conyers first husband of Aurora, did the little allotted to him well. The only remaining character that calls for mention was the comic butler, who seemed to please the audience immensely. The bill wound up with the farce of “ The Lively Jockey,” in which Messrs Wilkinson, Hesford, Herman, Miss Amy Johns, and others, kept the house in roars of laughter for half an hour or so. To-night “ Struck Oil ” is to be repeated (by special request), and our advice to those who have rot seen the piece is—go and see it; while those who have seen it could not do better than go again. To-morrow night “ East Lynne ” will be performed, following which a race and show ball will take place, tickets for which can be obtained of Mr Moss, secretary, or any member of thq company.

Bto Gooseberries. —The ,big goose-' berry season has commenced 'in Ashburton. Mr R. S. Bean brought to our office to-day a small hag of magnificent berries, weir grown and well flavored. Of course they Were “ raised” by the exhibitor. Frozen Meat. —The cargo of frozen meat for the ship Lady Jocelyn, which is to load at Wellington in February, is already secured, applications having been received from shareholders alone for space in excess of that at the disposal of the Wellington Meat Export Company. Funeral op Mr Seaton, M.H.R.— The funeral of the late Mr J. Seaton took place yesterday at Portobello. There was a large gathering present, including Messrs Montgomery, Macandrew, and seven other members of the Hou=e of Representatives ; also, the Hons. Reynolds and Captain Fraser. Cricket.— The following will represent the Borough Club in the match to be played against the Ashburton Club on the Domain ground .to-morrow: Messrs Johnston, L. P. Andrewes, Robertson, C. R. Andrewes, Marsh, Davis, G. W. Andrews, Amos, A. Andrews, Hosking (captain), and Groves ; emergencies— Purchase, Giles, and Eastham. The match will commence at 10.30 sharp.

Rid of Them.—A captain of an American ship is credited (or discredited) with an ingenious bit of sharp practice as a moans of clearing his ship from rats. Having discharged a cargo at a port in Holland, he found his ship in juxtaposition with another which had just taken in a cargo of cheese. He laid a plank at night from one vessel to the other ; the rats, tempted by the odour, trooped along the plank to the feast. He took care that the plank should not be there as a pathway back again, and so the cheese-laden ship had a cruel addition to its outward cargo. The Domain Water. —The Domain re-, servoir of an evening just now is rather an interesting and lively spot, the recent discovery that the water was full of trout, having stirred up the spirits of many old anglers, who now do a quiet hour or two with the rod on the banks. Last evening Mr A. H. Shury succeeded in landing the first perch that has yet been taken from the stream, about a chain or so below the island; He took two perch altogher, each

a half pound fish, well grown and healthy looking, and, with true acclimatisation spirit, returned the fish to t ie stream. Seafield —A correspondent at Seafield writes :—“ Twelve months ago there was great scarcity of water on the plains, but now it is quite refreshing to see the streams of water (thanks to the County Council) meandering through the country. Occasionally, too, some fish are noticed in the races. The other day as Mr Hampton was drawing water from the stream running close by his home he was surprised to find a trout of about five inches in length in the bucket he was using.” The residents of Seafield are jubilant over the waterworks schema instituted fiy the County Council, and no doubt it will be of untold benefit to the people during the ensuing summer. Presbyterian Dand op Temperance. —At the ordinary monthly meeting of the Presbyterian Band of Temperance last night, there was a fair attendance, the Rev. A. M. Beattie, M.A., presiding. The secretary read a racy paper on “ Shouting,” treating his subject in a style both humorous and racy, and in the course of his remarks giving some remarkable results of the blue ribbon movement in Scotland. The essayist was thanked for his paper, and after some routine business had been transacted regarding the demonstration on the 16th, in which the Band of Temperance wijl take part, the chairman announced that the next paper would be read on the 19th prox., by Mr Andrew Orr. m . T __ liiX. we are glad to hear that the residents in the Methven district will shortly be placed within telegraphic communication with the rest of the world. Mr E. G. Wright, M.H.R., has received the following letter from the Superintendent of Telegraphs: —“ Sir, —I have the honor, by direction of the Hon. the Postmaster-General, to inform you, in reply to your letter of the 10th instant, that the erection of the telegraph line to Methven will be commenced at once 1 have the honor to be, etc., D. Lemon, Superintendent.” The line, when completed, will be found to be of great service to those living- at Alford Forest as wed as those living in the Methven district, and will no doubt be largely patronised. An Artful Nag. —Prom the Oamaru Mail we learn that Mr John Bulleid has a horse which lately displayed wonderful sagacity. For some time the household were puzzled to know how it came about that the tap waa frequently turned on mysteriously and the water allowed to flow, but at last the mystery was solved by the horse in question being caught in the act of helping himself, and since then he has been seen by many persons on numerous occasions to go to the tap and turn on the water. Mr Bulleid hopes that the animal will yet learn to complete the operation by 'turning the water off again after quenching his thirst. When that time comes his owner will probably claim that he possesses the most sagacious horse in the country, and it will take a heap of money to induce to sell it.

A Vegetable Flt Killer. —The Jtritish Medical Journal contains a description of the accidental discovery of a natural fly-killer, which is worthy the attention of shop-keepers whose wares are so much exposed in this hot weather to one of the plagues of Egjpt, and indeed the house-dwellers generally, as well as of horticulturalists and market gardeners, whose plants and fruit trees are literally eaten up by insects of various kinds. A castor oil plant, it appears, was placed accidentally in a room swarming with flies, which of course came in in hundreds through the open w niow, but as soon as it was deposited in its place flies disappeared as if by enchantment. On examination they were found under the castor oil plant or clinging to the under surface of its loaves, perfectly dead. The leaves, wo understand, give an essential oil or toxic principal, which posseses the strongest insecticide qualities, and it would be well worth the while of many persons who suffer from the ravages of flies to provide themselves with one of these plants, which, in addition to their ornamental appearance, resist variations of atmosphere or temperature very well. That Comet. —Mr Arthur Beverly writes as follows on the comet in the Otago Daily Times of yesterday : —“ As to the fears of certain wiseacres lest the sun get a square meal at some early date and become vicious in consequence, I believe them to be entirely groundless. Mr Ellery, of Melbourne, has sent me a recently computed set of elements, in which the- perihelion distance slightly exceeds mine, instead of almost grazing the sun as in the first set ; so it is now almost certain that the present comet is not a return of that of 1830. Helmholtz has shown that if a body as massive as the earth wo o to drop into the sun it would only supply him With energy to last a hundred years at his present rate of waste. The immediate consequence of such a plunge would probably be a slight commotion for a short time about the spot where the body entered, accompanied by auroras and electrical disturbance on the earth ; then all would be quiet, and the sun wou'd be just as he was a hundred years ago, the difference in his mass being almost imperceptible. He would have to collide with a body comparative to himself in magnitude before there could be such a destructive flare-up as many people are in dread of. ”

Fatal Accident.— A ' man named Arthur Hine, residing near Geraldine, was killed by a fall from his horse on Monday evening. . > .The Auckland Horse-whipping Cake. —The ■ assault case, 0. 0. McMillap y. Oornewall, of the South Sea Islands, has been further adjourned till Friday. New Zealand Blondin. —It is reported that young Morris has had offers to give the attraction of hia high rope performances on the occasions of the Riverton and Bluff Regattas at the coming New Year holidays. At Riverton it is proposed that he shall walk the rope suspended 100 feet above the river ; while at the Bluff, arrangements are intended by which the rope will be stretched between a ship’s mast and the shore. Should these events come off, they will Import a decided novelty to the regattas. Holloway’s Pills. —The sudden changes, frequent fogs, and pervading dampness sorely impede the vital functions and conduce to illhealth. The remedy for these disasters lies in some purifying medicine, like these Pills, which is competent to grapple with the mischief at its source, and stamp it out without fretting the nerves or weakening the system. Holloway’s Pills extract from the blood all noxious matters, regulate the action of every disordered organ, stimulate the liver and kidneys, and relax the bowels. In curing chest complaints these Pills ' are remarkably effective, especially when aided by friction of the Ointment on its walls. This double treatment will ensure a certain, steady, and beneficent progress, and sound health will soon be re-establi shed. —Advt.