The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas, et Prevalebit. MONDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1882.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 821, 18 December 1882, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas, et Prevalebit. MONDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1882.

Anniversary Day. —Anniversary Day appears to have been observed as a close holiday everywhere but in Ashburton, where business and pleasure struggled for the mastery, busia ss appearing to have the best of it. The Licensing Act. —At the quarterly meeting of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce on Saturday the Licensing Act was pretty freely criticised, and the following resolution was carried:—“ That it is desirable that the attention of the Government be called at once to the present state of the Licensing Act, and the Administration of the same, more particularly the large power placed in the hands of looai policemen.”

Christmas Announcements. Messrs Dimant and Coe, of Victoria House, and the proprietors of the Berlin wool and fancy repository, Havelock street (Kingston and Steel’s), have Christmas announcements in our advertising columns. Church Parade.—Some fifty members of the Ashburton Rifles mustered for church parade yesterday mo-mug, under Captain Douglas, and proceeded to the Wesleyan chapel, headed by the band. An appropriate and interesting sermon wm delivered by the Rev. Mr Standage.

A “ Splendid ” Haul, The Port Chalmers manager of the company which fitted up the barque Splendid, visited the . hip at Lyttelton, and South with 8841bs of amber, ris, taken from one whale, valued at L 45,000, the market price of ambergris being T. 4 10s per ounce

Christmas Treat for the Aof.o and Crippl n.—Donations of money or kind will be thankfully acknowledged by the master of the Ashburton Home, towards providing the inmates with a Christmas treat. We hope our readers will not be unmindful of the old men, during the merry season now at hand.

Runaway Sailors.—A telegram from Auckland states that two seamen of the barque Kentish Lass deserted at Helensville, and at Kaukaupo attempted ,to assault the daughter of John McLeod, settler. A settler approaching, the sailors fled. The police and settlers of the district are searching for the offenders.

Cricket, —A match .between the Ashburton Club and a Timaru team was played on Saturday in the Domain. The visitors scored 72 in their first innings and 98 in their second, and the local men put 79 together in their first innings. The game was decided on the one innings in favor of the Ashburton team who won by 7 runs. Ashburton Rifles.—Twelve men went out for Rifle practice this morning, but owing to a high wind blowing across the range the scores made were very low, CorporaliMcDonald being top scorer with 28 points. The district prizes will be fired for to-morrow afternoon, under the supervision of Capt un Dundas, and wo trust the weather will be propitious.

Willowby Sunday School. —A tea and public meeting is announced to take place in the Willowby schoolroom, on Wednesday evening next, in connection with the Sunday school in that locality. This institution is, wo nndertand, of an undenominational character, the teachers and office-bearers being composed of members of different sects. The tea meeting is becoming an annual affair, and on past occasions of this kind, a considerable number of visitors from Ashburton have been present. It is to be hoped the affair will be as successful as its predecessors. South Rakaia Sports. —At a meeting of the South Bakaia sports committee held on Saturday, it was reported that about L4O had been collected, and many other subscriptions promised, so that although late in commencing, there is every chance, weather permitting, of a pleasant day being spent, although a little cold water (not enough to hurt) has been thrown by some in the district on the movement. The programme of sports—a long and varied one, appears in our advertising columns. The Rakaia people are to be congratulated on the prospect of a capital day’s sport.

The Modern Miracle Worker. —Mr Milner Steven gave the public an exhibition of his professed healing powers in the Theatre Royal, Napier, on Saturday night, and created great astonishment by apparently instantaneously curing partial paralysis, rheumatism and like affections. The patients certainly walked away professing to be cured. In one case a deaf and dumb boy was made to hear, and he repeated words after Mr Steven. It is reported that he has since fallen from grace, and cannot now speak. The socalled cures are brought about by breathings and blowings and stroking with the hand, assisted by red flannel, on which Mr Stevens breathes, and by bottles of what he calls magnetised water and magnetised oil. His performance was the tajk of the town last night.

A Deserving Appeal. —The Master of the Old Men’s Home will be glad to receive contributions towards the Christmas dinner at the Home. Christmas comes but once a year, and when it comes it ought to bring “good cheer,” but it does not always do so. Doubtless Mr and Mrs Harris might be able to supply their chsrg-s with a dinner unaided, but the rules of the institution do not, of course, admit of luxuries being placed upon the table. It is to be hoped that the public will not let the appeal made to their generosity pass by unanswered. We feel sure they will never regret it if they lend Mr Harris a helping hand to provide a right good dinner at the Home on Christmas Day. Good things or the money to buy them will alike be acceptable, and acknowledged by Mr Harris in these columns.

The Garden Fete. —The work of prejiaration for the Church of England fete in Dr Trevor’s grounds on Wednesday next is still proceeding, and numbers of lady parishioners are very busy getting their wares together and making fanciful as well as useful articles for the various stalls. We hear that most of the stallkeepers will be dressed in fancy costumes. A good display of fireworks will also take placi about 9 p.m. Torches will also be Jit by the Ashburton Fire Brigade, and altogether the grounds will present a very pretty appearance. There will be stalls for the sale of farm produce, fancy work, fruit, flowers, and one for Japanese goods specially selected for Ashbu ton. We hope the day will be fine in order that a large number of the public may avail themselves of the opportunity of being present. The Caledonian Sports. —Mr Thomas Bullock disposed of the privileges in connection with the Caledonian Sports, to be held on Boxing Day, on Saturday afternoon, The attendance was very meagre, owing, doubtless, to the day being observed as a partial holiday. The publican’s booth was secured by Mr T. Quill at L2B, Mr W. T. Davison purchasing the right to erect the confectioner’s booth for L 6. The cards and the right of sports were passed in. The Society hold the gates themselves. On account of several special prizes coming in just as the nominations were timed to close, the date of closing has been extended till the 20th inst. We understand that there are already a large number of nominations to hand, and there is every prospect of the Caledonian Sports meeting of 1882 being one of the best ever held. Certainly Mr J. C. Duncan, the energetic secretary, is sparing no pains to ensure the success of the gathering. Mysterious.— A rather strange affair is reported fromTuapeka west. Mr John Bulfin reported to the police that a man had been seen last week in the bush behind his accommodation house, by himself, his son, and a ploughman, with a large pole or stick in his hand. The man came out of the bush, was seen to sti -fc die pole in the ground, go some distance from it, throw stones at it, return and take it up, shake it round his head, and then bestride it as if on horseback. Those who witnessed the strange occurrence made a run to try and capture him, but he made his escape into the bush. As the parties were not close to him no description of his person can bs given. On Monday last Sergeant-Major Moore and Mounted Constable Clark proceeded to the locality, and accompanied by Mr Bulfin made a careful search of the bush, but could find no trace of the man. No one is known to have called at any place in the neighborhood asking for food. The probability is that the individual, whether semi or wholly insane, has removed to some other locality,