The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas, et Prevalebit. MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1882.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 809, 4 December 1882, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas, et Prevalebit. MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1882.

Old Men’s Home. —The master of the Ashburton Home wishes to acknowledge, with thanks, the receipt of a draughtboard and men for the use of the inmates from the Rev. Father Coffey. Wo«JDStock. —All work has been suspended at Woodstock rush for the past fortnight, owing to the want of rain. A welcome fall commenced, however, yesterday evening, and the miners are more jubilant. Horses.—Messrs Robt. Wilkin and Co. announce elsewhere that on Friday next they will submit to auction eighty horses on account of Messrs Wilkin and Carter. The sale will take place at the Tinwald saleyard and. not at Ashburton, as originally jntended. Ashburton Rifles. - -A squad of twelve went out for rifle practice at five o’clock this morning. Captain Douglas was top scorer with 38 points, and Sergeant Jessop second with 37 ; the ranges being four, five, and, six hundred yards ; five shots at each range. The weather was rather unfavorable for shooting. Railway Employees’ Excursion. —An excursion train conveying a number of Addington railway employees on a holiday trip, left Christchurch about seven o’clock this morning, passing through Ashburton about ten o’clock. The destination of the party was Timaru. The weather, it is to be feared, must have considerably interfered with the enjoyment of the outing.

Winslow Annual Races and Sports. —A meeting of persons interested in the Now Year's Day Sports at Winslow was hold at the Winslow Hotel on Saturday last, Mr G. Lawson in the chair. A tender was : eceived from Mr Davison, Ashburton, for right of erecting a refreshment booth, which was accep ed. It was decided that the weights for the handicap races be publishe i on Monday, the 11th inst., and acceptances and general entries close on Saturday, 16th inst. The nominations will be found elsewhere. A Child Without Food or Shelter for 100 Hours. —Ada Witlow, aged two years and six months, who was lost tne other day from home at Woodend, near Kaiapoi, was found on Saturday morning on the sandy beach, miles away from her home. ' She was sitting in a state of semiconsciousness on the sand, and was unable to speak. Two men in search of cattle found the poor little thing, who had been without food for just 100 hours. She was taken to Mr McKenzie’s, farmer, near Kaiapoi beach, and was looked after by Mrs McKenzie, who administered food very cautiously at first. For some time fears were entertained for the child’s reason, but at latest accounts she was recovering rapidly under the skilful treatment of her friends. Search parties had been out scouring the country in all directions. New Zealand Wines. —Speaking of some New Zealand wines lately introduced into the Christchurch market by a Mr Oliver, to-day’s Press says “ They possess a full flavor and bouquet, with great natural strength, and, being unfortified with alcohol, cannot but b healthful. Indeed, they are, as claimed for them, the pure juice of the grape. A visit was recently paid to the vaults for the purpose of sampling, when six different kinds of wine were produced. The first of these was Manzanilla, a very nice flavored wine, which, with age, will be much relished by connoisseurs. Next to this came a red Burgundy, which is also a very fine wine, with sp ! endid bouquet and flavor. The New Zealand Constantia will challenge favorable comparison either with its South .'Australian or Victorian rival, being very clean on the palate. A light wine Avhicii has been called Vidonia was next tasted. This is a sherry with a full grape flavor. The Malaga for those who t prefer a full fruity wine, is also excellent, and Mr Oliver has a white wine yet unnamed, but which has all the characteristics of Sauterne. The only difference from the French wine is that it is somewhat sweeter. As a whole, the New Zealand wines are excellent in quality, and no doubt when mote known will come largely into consumption.”

Tenders. —The Christchurch Hospital and Charitable Aid Board invite tenders for the supply Of provisions, fuel, etc., to the Old Men’s Home for twelve months. Mr S. Hardley wants tenders for sinking a shaft.

Ashburton Cheese Factory. —lt is announced elsewhere that the annual meeting of shareholders of the above takes -place on the 13th inst., at 3 p.m., when some very important business will be considered. Road Board Amalgamation. —The Longbeach R;iad Board, at its meeting on Friday last, declined to entertain the proposal of the Rangitata Road Board to merge the several Road Boards of the County into one.

Temperance Demonstration.—A meeting of delegates in connection with the approaching United Grand Temperance demonstration is called for to-morrow evening at the Secretary’s office, at 7-30. o’clock, when a full attendance is requested.

McCabe at Invercargill. Fred. McCabe opened in his celebrated “ Begone Dull Care ” entertainment at Invercargill on Saturday to a big house. This was his first appearance in New Zealand. We trust he may pay Ashburton a visit on his tour North.

Crushed Beneath a Roller.— A man named Gould, while at work in a paddock at Geraldine last week with a Cambridge roller, slipped and fell beneath the heavy mass of iron. Fortunately, although much hurt, for the roller passed partially over him, he had the presence of mind to stop his horses, and another man seeing the team all standing still ran over and rendered assistance. The sufferer was at once conveyed to his home, and now lies in a very precarious state.

Floriculture. —We understand there is every reason to believe that the flower show to bo held in the latter part of this month will be a decided succesi, and, as the weather is most congenial, a beautiful collection of plants and flowers will doubtless be exhibited. This afternoon we were shown a very choice display of dianthus flowers, grown by Mr Porter of the North Belt. Should he be able to cull more of such rare flowers from his garden, Mr Porter will have an exhibition at the show well worthy of a peep. Flemington. —A meeting of the ratepayers in the vicinity of Flemington was held on Thursday evening last, t> consider the advisability of petitioning the Longbeach Road Board to continue the Wheatstone road through to the Longbeach road. There was a fair attendance, and Mr John Dunn was in the chair. It was resolved that the Board be petitioned to acquire the necessary land for the purpose of a road, to define a rating district, and to strike a special rate to .defray the cost.

D.J.C. Spring Meeting. —At this meeting on Saturday (the concluding day) the President’s Handicap, a sweepstakes of 3 sovs with 130 added, was won by Turquoia, carrying 7st 101 b, Manoymong (sst 71b) second. These were the only starters. Turquoise won easily. The Novel Race was a walk-over for Aurora. The Grand Stand Handicap, of 60 sovs, was won by the Miss King filly (6st 121 b), Nautilus (7st 121 b) second. The Members’ Plate (welter handicap), a sweepstakes of 3 sovs with 100, added, was pulled off by Turquoise (9st 41b),, .Uitapa (Bst 61b) second, and Somnus (Oat 61b) third.

Benevolent Carnival Sports at Dunedin. —The Benevolent Carnival sports were highly successful at Dunedin on Saturday, especially in point of attendance. The fun principally consisted in well-known citizens playing a cricket match against a team of well-known young bloods rigged out in . petticoats. Some of the latter team were perfect belles of the period, others wore coal scuttles and gay colored prints, and the crowd being in the humor to be amused laughed heartily at their absurd antics. One of the events figuring on the programme was the “ Ladies’Tricycle Race,” for which the prize was “ a cassinette and infant’s outfit—or, if preferred, one husband.” The competitors were attired in character, representing Mrs Gamp, Mrs ’Arris, Mrs Partington, Mrs Brown, Mrs Caudle, and Frableia Von Plaus. The first prize, it seems, was awarded “ to the last in.” Needless to say the contest was received with roars of laughter.