The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prevalbeit, WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 1883.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 944, 16 May 1883, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prevalbeit, WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 1883.

It will be seen on reference to our advertising columns that Mr Dominick Browne, of Waterton, is anxious to obtain some Maori antiquities. The greenstone axes and other curios are not unfrequently come across by ploughmen working on the plains, and we are sure that anybody who happens to discover what Mr Browne wants will only be too glad to find a purchaser for them.

The new Oddfellows’ Hall is now completed and will be opened with a concert and ball this evening. Messrs Rose and Whitmore, the contractors for the stage fittings, have worked hard to finish the work entrusted to them, and an inspection of the building yesterday showed us that everything is in readiness for the opening. The Town Hall has no doubt been of great use in the past, but there can be no question that, so far as stage accommodation goes, the Oddfellows’ Hall quite puts the older building in the shade. The gas arrangements, which have been carried out by Mr J. 0, Dolman, are unusually complete, every part of the place being well lighted. The Order numbers so many members in this district that there is certain to be a large attendance this evening, especially as the ;entertainment promises to be in every way enjoyable.

The master of the Ashburton Home, desires to acknowledge, with thanks, the receipt of LI towards the piano fund, from Mr Joseph Clark. The Ashburton Fire Brigade turned out last evening to practice, there being a a good attendance of members, and the various exercises were gone through sue cessfully. At the Christchurch Magistrate’s Court yesterday the adjourned case of arson against D. Stranaghan,' grocer, Papanui road, whose store was recently burnt down, came on for hearing, and occupied several hours. The case was dismissed. The body of a young whale, measuring 30ft in length and 20ft in girth, was discovered on the Wakanui beach on Sunday last by one of Mr Cass’s machine men. Those who wish to have ocular proof of this find can see the tail of the fish at Messrs Matson, Cox and Co.’s office, where it is now on exhibition.

We have to acknowledge the receipt of the April number of the North New Zealand Settler, a journal which invariably contains a largo amount of information interesting to agriculturists. The issue now before ns is fully equal to those which have gone before, and further improvements are promised in the periodical.

Mr J. P. Joyce, member for Awarua, met the electors at South Invercargill last night. The attendance was fair. At the conclusion a vote of implicit confidence was passed. There were a few dissentients on the ground of Mr Joyce’s vot« and views on the education question, he having supported Mr Fyke's Bill last session.

At a meeting of the Auckland Harbor Board a resolution was carried, on the motion of Mr Graves Aickin, seconded by the Mayor—“ That in order that the Board should assume the control of the harbor of Onehunga, being the western port for the commerce of Auckland, the matter be referred to the Tariff Committee to ascertain the particulars as to the revenue, expenditure, and endowments.”

The election of a member of the Wei* lington Harbor Board to replace Mr W. y. Jackson, the late Chairman, who resigned, took place yesterday, and resulted in Mr J. Duthie being elected by a majority of nearly 200. Mr Duthie in returning thanks, expressed his opinion that the construction of a dock in the harbor was quite within the means of the Harbor Board, and that he hoped before long to be able to place before the Board a scheme for the purpose. The Directors of the Southland Frozen Meat Company visited the ship Opawa at the Bluff yesterday, and dined on meat frozen over a month. Everything was in excellent condition, and satisfaction was generally expressed with the New Zealand Shipping Company’s management, and the facilities given for the export. The Opawa is now nearly filled up, but as the preliminary freezing is done on board, the process is slow as the chambers get fully stowed. The ship would have got away on Saturday, but the s.s. Kawatiri, with coal for the use of the refrigerator, is bar-bound at Westport. It is arranged that the Kawatiri will tow the Opawa to sea, so that there will be no delay. A Conference of ministers in and around Dunedin was held last night to consider the question of giving religious education in schools. It was attended by ministers and one lay representative of each congregation of every denomination except Catholics and Jews. Bishop Nevill, of the Episcopalian Church, was present. The following resolution was carried unanimously :—“ This Conference recognising the fact that the Education Act affords facilities (subject to the approval of ihe School Committees) for the instruction of the children of the common schools in the Bible, hereby resolves to take immediate action to make provision for the imparting of such instruction, and that with a view to this a deputation from this meeting wait upon the School Committees of Dunedin and the suburbs, and also upon the head masters of the schools.” This was carried unanimously, and a deputation was appointed. Considerable discussion then arose upon the question whether the instruction should be denominational or undenominational. The Episcopalians alone stuck out for the former. All other denominations were united in agreeing to the latter. The point was eventually left unsettled. A resolution was proposed to make it undenominational, but, upon the Episcopalians threatening to withdraw from the whole affair if 5t were carried, it was withdrawn. The following singular 'extract is published in a London weekly : —“ A learned writer on the subject of marriage with a deceased wife’s sister says that, although he has come to the strong conclusion that it is forbidden by Leviticai law to marry a deceased wife’s sister, there is, he must admit, no prohibition against marrying the sister of a wife whilst the wife is alive. This will put a little sparkle in the discussion, and form a new and quite interesting point of departure. It is stated on good authority that several prelates of the Church of England have caused intimation to be made to the clergy in their various dioceses that it would not be an undesirable thing if the Marriage with a Deceased Wife’s Sister Bill were studiously preached against. The natural result of this step has of course fallowed. The friends of the measure are strongly recommending the Nonconformist ministers of the country to preach in favor of the Bill. What will be the effect of such a pulpit war remains to be seen ; but the situation certainly has a comic aspect. It is not often that a legislative proposal has the honor of being both preached up and preached down at the same time. ” Mr Raikes, the chosen representative of the culture and refinement cf a University constituency, undertook the congenial task of reprimanding the indecorum of which Mr Gladstone has been guilty in circumstances “grave and revolting.” The Premier’s health having given way, he had been reluctantly compelled to seek rest in Southern France, and he was therefore absent from recent meetings of the Cabinet. This is the way in which Mr Raikes thought it seemly to refer to the incident of his visit to the Carnival at Nice “ Where was the Prime Minister when his colleagues were considering these terrible details? (A voice: Sick.) Sick 1 No. He had later news than that; that while the Cabinet was sitting in Downing street to hear this tale of crime and d Border, the Prime Minister was parading through the streets of an Italian town upon the knife-board of an omnibus, with a wire mask over his face in order to protect him from the showers of comfits that were hurled at him by an enthusiastic populace. (Loud laughter.) Was not this a repetition of the historical picture of Nero fiddling while Rome was burning ? (Laughter and loud cheers.)” It is difficult, thinks the Pall Mall Gazelle, to say which is more to be admired, the exquisite taste of Mr Raikes’s sarcasm, or the brilliant originality of his historical reference.

Holloway’s Ointment and Pilis.— Glad Tidings.—Some constitutions have a tendency to rheumatism, and are throughout the year borne down by its protracted torture. Let such sufferers bathe the afflicted parts with warm brine, and afterwards rub in this soothing Ointment. They will find it the best means of lessening their agony, and, assisted by Holloway’s Pills, the surest way of overcoming their disease. ' More need notbes said than to request a few days’ trial of this safe and soothing treatment, t>y which the disease will ultimately be completely swept awajk Pains tthat would make a giant shudder are assuaged without difficulty by Holloway’s easy 'and inexpensive remedies, which comfort by moderating the throbbing vessels and calm* ng the excite^nbrves. — Advt.. -