The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prevalebit. MONDAY, APRIL 23, 1883. A Good Suggestion.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 924, 23 April 1883, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prevalebit. MONDAY, APRIL 23, 1883. A Good Suggestion.

More than thirty years have gone by since the first Exhibition was opened in England, and the fact that since that time nearly every nation in the civilised world has followed the example set by Great Britain is suffi-

cient evidence of the usefulness of such institutions. The idea of gathering together under one roof specimens of products from all corners of the world was originated by the late Prince Consoit, and the motives that actuated him are best given in his own words. “ Whilst ; formerly • discovery was wrapped in secrecy,” he said, speaking at a banquet given in 1850, “ the publicity of the present day causes that no sooner is a discovery or invention made than it is improved upon and surpassed by competing efforts. The products of all quarters .of the Globe are placed at our disposal, and we have only to choose what ,is the bast and the cheapest for our purposes,.

and the powers of production are entrusted to the stimulus of competition

and capital” These words are as true to-day as they were thirty years ago, and there can be no doubt that the International Exhibitions have been

the means of exercising a great and beneficial influence on trade. Australasia has not been behind the times in

;his respect, and it needs no argumeni

to show that the Exhibitions at Mel: bourne, Sydney, Adelaide, and Christchurch did more than anything else to give strangers'an idea of the vast resources of the colony. But so great a distance separates us from Europe that only comparatively few people can afford the time to pay us a flying visit, so that all but a few of the inhabitants of older countries must depend for their knowledge of our resources upon the reports of others. This is, it need scarcely be pointed out, unsatisfactory, and Mr Twopeny, recognising the necessity of bringing Mahomet to the mountain, if the mountain will not come to Mahomet, has hit upon a scheme that is well worthy of consideration. The active part which this gentleman took in carrying out the Adelaide and Christchurch Exhibi-

tions well qualifies him to offer an opinion on the subject, and the letters which he has written respecting his scheme show that he has studied the matter carefully. Mr Twopenny suggests that one of the large exhibition buildings near London—the Crystal Palace or the Alexandria Palace—should be rented for the period of one year, and all the Australian colonies should send contributions of their products. The project is certainly a large one, but we must confess that we do not see any insuperable objections to its being successfully carried out, except that perhaps the buildings mentioned may be too extensive for the purpose. This latter feature of the question has indeed presented itself to Mr Twopenny, and, in one pf his letters be justifies the chance of such a

vast place as the Crystal Palatrel fortfce intended Exhibition. The building in question, he points out, contains one J million square teet, and he proceeds to allot the space as follows; —Victoria, . 200,000 square feet; New South Wales and New Zealand, 150,000 square feet each; while 300,000 square feet should be given to South Austra' lia, Queensland, Western Australia* Tasmania and Fiji collectively. This would fill up all the room with the exception of 200,000 square feet, which it is proposed should be utilised for promenades, refreshments rooms, freezing chambers, etc. Still, it must not be forgotten that many things were shown at the colonial exhibitions which were not strictly speaking productions of the colonies, as, for example, specimens of mechanical skill, which, however interesting to visitors of local exhibitions as showing that we had men here worthy of comparison with those in older countries, would be out of place in London. Mr Twopenny has gone into calculations to show the expense of carrying out such an undertaking as he proposes, and he puts down the cost at Li 74,000, Against this he places the probable receipts tor admission and the sale of refreshments at Lx 10,000, leaving L 64,000 tq be provided by the seven colonies. Distributed among so many the amount to be contributed by each colony is not large, considering the undoubted good that would be done to trade by the Exhibition. . The objection we have referred to as to the size of the building proposed t6> be used is a minor one, and does not interfere with the excellence of the scheme as a whole. Evidence is not wanting to show that a more enlightened interest is being shown at Home in New Zealand, but , English people are still woefully ignorant of the value of our resources, and no better way of informing them could be devised than the manner suggested by Mr Twopeny. As that gentleman points out, the scheme, if carried opt by private enterprise, would cost less money than he has estimated ; but if it is to be done at all it should be done well, and this will only be possible if the Governments of the various colonies: take it U P- "

A special meeting of the L.0.L., D.F.N., South Rakaia, is called for Wednesday night. A woman named Amy Dyson died suddenly yesterday morning at her residence in New street, Ohristchufch. An inquest was held this afternoon.

The Equitable Investment Company of New Zealand has opened a branch in Ashburton, the agency being conducted by Mr J. 0. Duncan. Mr B. Turnbull, M.H.8., addressed his constituents at Timaru last Saturday evening, and was accorded a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence.

To-night an entertainment under the auspices of the Debating Society will be given at the Arcade Chambers. Each member is entitled to be accompanied by two friends.

Twenty-four converts to Mormonism loft Wellington yesterday en route to the Salt Lake City, also the two elders lately lecturing throughout the colony. They proceed by the ’Frisco mail boat from Auckland. A Sro broke out this morning at two o’clock in the Pacific Dining Booms, at the corner of Manchester and High streets, Christchurch, of which Mr King was the proprietor. The Fire Brigade was quickly on the spot, and soon had the fire extinguished, but not before the property, which was insured for LIOO, was completely destroyed. The dead body of Mason, one of the two boys who have been missing from Christchurch for some time past, was found yesterday on the Port Hills, near Opawa, by aMr Courtenay. From the condition of the body it is probable that the boy must have died very shortly after he was missed. No trace of the other boy (Lilly)' has yet been discovered. The ship Wanlook sailed this morning for Falmouth from Lyttelton, loaded with grain by Messrs Friedlahder Bros. Bhe contains a splendid lot of locally-grown wheat in fine condition, and will, we trust,-arrive in good time. The same firm have - filled another vessel, the Alexandria, and she will follow the Wanlock to-morrow. . I

Mr Rudolph Friedlander left Ashburton by the'evening express on Saturday tn route to.- England, proceeding from Lyttelton by the Hawsa to Auckland, from whence he goes by the ’Frisco mail boat. A large number of- townspeople were on the platform to wish Mr Friedlander a pleasant trip to the Old Country, and a safe return to Ashburton.

An inquest was held in Dunedin on Saturday, on the body of a child, two and half years old, named Cecil Geo. Dwight. His mother gave evidence that'on Sunday afternoon, the 15th inst. , she was in town with the child and her , baby. . As they were passing along Princes street, near Wise’s corner, a large mastiff dog bounded up against the child, who was clinging to her skirt, and knocked him down. The apparent owner of the dog picked him up, and after saying that he did not seem to be much hurt, went away. Blood was, however, gushing from one of his ears and he could not stand up. He was brought to Dr. Maunsell, who attended him until he died on Thursday last. The owner of the dog had been advertised for, but had not made himself known. The Coroner, in summing up, commented strongly upon the indifference displayed by the owner of the dog in regard to the occurrence. The jury returned a verdict of “ Accidental death,” and added a rider expressing the opinion “ That large dogs should not be allowed to go about the streets unless under the strict and sufficient control of those in charge of them.”

Mr Perraain, who has been for several years an active member of St. Stephen’s choir, who is about to leave for Sydney, was presented last evening after service, with a handsomely bound volume of the “ Hoyal Path of Life,” accompanied with the following testimonial, signed by the Incumbent and members of the choir •. — “ St, Stephen’s Church Choir, Ashburton, Canterbury, New Zealand. Mr Harry Permain—Dear sir, it is with regret we hear of your departure from among us, and we take this opportunity to convey our most sincere thanks to you for the deep and loving interest you have taken in our choir, of which you have been so worthy a member, prompted by a desire 10 forwards God’s holy work, and we feel sure that His blessing will rest on you. We truly feel that a dear friend is leaving us, and wo earnestly trust and believe that sHcoess will attend your efforts in the sister colony to which you are bound.” The Rev. E, A. Scott,:in making the presentation, <said that he felt quite sure that not only the choir, but the whole congregation deeply regretted having to part with Mr Permain, who had done so much good work, in the cburjh land Sunday school What he admired most in Mr Permain was the quiet and unassuming way he had of doing things. In fact, he considered him ‘ one of a thousand/and hoped we should soon see him back again in Ashburton. Mr Permain made a suitable reply.

A shocking fatal accident happened ini h Wanganui yesterday. William Kirkwt>pd,j the licensee of the Red Liori Betel, inf; shooting at a pigeon on a hillside at. the j ‘ back of the hotel hit his son, aged and riddled him with shot, some of whiph, j went through the heart. The little :bp££ “ died in a quarter of an hour. It was a ' breechloading fowling piece and No. 4 shot. . At the R. M. Court this morning,, before his Worship the Mayor, John Johns, an elderly man, was discharged with.Tr: caution for being drunk on Saturday last, but was ordered to pay 2s costs. William Lambert, a notorious drunkard, against whom there was a list of twenty-five previous convictions, was charged with violently resisting Constable Smart in the execution of his duty, and with being drunk in a public place. His Worship sentenced him to one Uijath’s imprisonment with hard labor. Alexander Thompson, alias Williams, was fined 5s or twelve hours, and Geo. Thompson 10s or twentyfour hours, for being drunk in a public place. A remarkable warrior recently presented himself at Constantinople to pay his respects to the Sultan. He is known as “ Hod Bey,” the Circassian leader, and claims to be 120 years of age, and that he has seen 105 years of military service. He asserts that be was born 1762, and entered the Turkish military service under the Sultan Abdul Hamid in 1777Since then he has served in the Ottoman army, to which he still belongs, under eight successive Sultans. He is said to have participated in 65 battles and unnumbered smaller affrays, and to have received 23 wounds. He is still erect and vigorous, and possesses a remarkable appetite. The present Sultan is said to have treated him with much kindness and attention.-

Not long ago, says the Taranaki Herald, a Certain brewer, being out of luck, made application for employment to a Melbourne brewing firm of decayed fortune. He was accepted, and proved to be a diamond of the first water. /The beer of this firm rapidly became famous, and now its net annual profits amount to the nice little sum of LBO,OOO. Having given his employers a taste of hss quality, he arranged his terms, namely,;! LI,OOO a year fixed salary, and half-a-orown on every hogshead turned out of the establishment. The weekly output never falls below 850 hogsheads in the worpt winter months, and during the summer it reaches 1,250. This is every week, mind ; bo if you add about 1,000 half-crowns weekly t<t a‘ salary of LI,OOO a year, you will find that the “screw” of a successful brewer is not so far behind that of a colonial Governor;

Quite a chapter of. accidents were re- 1 ported in Nelson, yesterday! Whilst engaged in the removal of a building in Bridge street, a man named Ha?ry Buff, had one of his legs badly broken., A lad at Brightwater sustained serious injuries, from the kick of a horse. A few days ago' Mr Alfred Baigent, the son: of Mr Baigent, formerly M.H.R. for-Waimea, fell downstairs and injured his spine. His death has how resulted.-1 A man named Williams, while working at a circular saw on Mir Cross’ wharf, had his left hand drawn in and his thumb almost severed. Whilst the steamer Charles Edward lying at Westport, a charge of dynamite was fired in the river close to the vessel, for the purpose of blowing up a snag. The steamer was much shaken by the force of the explosion, but it was not thought any damage had been sustained. Oh her passage to Nelson she made 2ft of water in the main hold. It is supposed that some of her rivets must have been started. She goes on the si again proceeding to sea.

" Stop, ” gentle reader, and look out, not for the engine, but for the best and cheapest Furniture Warehouse in this town. Do you want “ a table or a chair,” "both warranted to wear,” then only buy within your reach, by patronising Mister Meech. Drawing room suites in repp and cretonne, fancy chairs, and tables, carpets, Venetian blinds, general household furnishings at extremely moderate prices. Fashionable and extremely comfortable. Armchairs (the Grandmother’s included) made to order and in stock. Meech’s Furniture Warehouse, Burnett street, Ashburton.—

[Advt.] Holloway’s Pills are strongly recommended to all persons who are much reduced in power and condition, whose stomachs are weak, and whose nerves are shattered. The beneficial effects of these Pills will be perceptible after a few days’ trial, though a, more extended course may be required to re-establish perfect health. Holloway’s medicine acts on the organs of digestion, and induces .complete regularity in the stomach, liver, pancreas, and kidneys. This treatment is both safe! and certain in result, and is thoroughly consisteritwith observation, experience, and cbtnmpn sense. The : purification of the blood, the removal of all noxious matter from the and the excitement of gentle action in the bowels, are the sources of the curative powers of Holloway’s Pills.—Advt. '