The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prevalebit. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 1883.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1022, 15 August 1883, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prevalebit. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 1883.

At the Police Court this morning before R. Alcorn, Esq., J. P., a first offender was charged with being drunk and was fined 6s with the usual alternative. We are pleased to learn that Mr Alfred Harrison has already been promised various amounts, in all a little over fire pounds, towards the Hospital harmonium fund. As the instrument is intended to assist the singing in the services held at the Hospital, and which the patients appear to most thoroughly enjoy, it is to be hoped that sufficient money will soon be received to enable Mr Harrison to suply the patients with the longed-for harmonium.

The usual fortnightly meeting of th® Mount Somers Mutual Improvemen Glass was held in the uibrary last Saturday evening, when a debate on Sir F. D. Bell’s paper on “ The Colonies ” took place, Mr W. Easton made a vigorous attack on the paper, and did not forget to censure the recklessness of the Government in borrowing so much money and taxing the people so heavily to pay the interest on the debt, Mr Williams had a great deal to say in defending the paper on the colonies, but at length admitted that he thought the population of New Zealand would not increase according to Sir F. D. Bell’s estimate. The meeting was unanimous in the opinion that the paper showed an exaggerated state of things.

At the Timaru Magistrate’s Court yesterday, Captain Reuben Smith, of the Salvation Army, was fined LI and costs for obstructing the street with his army on Sunday last, and refusing to move on when requested by the police.

The tea meeting in connection with the Ashburton Presbyterian Church, which was to have been held on Monday next, 20th inst, has been unavoidably postponed; the anniversary services, however, will be conducted on Sunday next by the Rev W. W. at, as advertised. The Dunedin City Council last night considered the question of obtaining powers from the Assembly to sell or lease the gas works to private parties, offers having been received to that end. It was decided, after a lengthy discussion, on the casting vote of the Mayor, to take no such action at present.

At the inquest on the body of Andrew M. Allan at Auckland the jury found an open verdict of “ Found drowned without marks of violence, but there was no evidence to show how the body came to be in the water.” The evidence left little doubt but that deceased committed suicide. His watch was stopped at 11.30 p m., which would just give him timq,to walk from the Queen’s Head Hotel, — where he left a girl named Zillah G adding a domestic there, —to the Reclamation ground, where his hat was found.. He

told the girl she would nor see him again and gave her a ring in remembrance o him.

Thanks to an energetic lady the entertainment at the Old Men’s Home last night was a decided success, both in the manner the programme was carried out and the attendance of visitors. Mr .Lawrence piesided, and the various pieces sung, interspersed with readings and recitations and instrumental music, were heartily appreciated and applauded to the echo. The duet and solo performances on the piano by a diminutive lady and gentleman were exceedingly well executed. The contributions to the piano fund amounted to LI Os. Mrs Manhire, who was instrumental in organising the affair, is to be congratulated on the manner in which it was carried out.

The deputation which waited jon the County Council in connection with the Rangitata traffic bridge was, as might have been safely predicted, not successful in its mission. Mr Walker plainly told the Geraldine representatives the that idea of appointing two referees to decide as to whether the bridge had been properly constructed, as the question to be settled was not in any sense an engineering one. He also mentioned the motion that had been previously carried by the Geraldine Council to the effect that the bridge should be tested by a flood, and he pointed out that Mr Baxter reported that the Rangitata had been in full flood yesterday, and that the bridge was perfectly safe. What was considered the most necessary test has therefore been tried, and it remains to be seen what will be the next action of the Geraldine Council. Ah Quee, a cousin of Ah Chin, who was murdered at Shingle Creek ( Itago) four er five months ago, and who had been in a desponding state of mind ever since the death of his relative committed suicide at Roxburg yesterday morning by drowning himself. He was to have been taken to Dunedin yesterday on account of his unusual and peculiar actions of late, but while his mate was preparing breakfast for him he went outside, sallied down to the river (a distance of twenty yards or so), took off his hat, boots, and coat, and jumped off a projecting ledge of rock into the river. The current at this point is very strong, and he must have immediately been carried out into mid stream and down the river, as the spot has been dragged without discovering any signs of the body. He Beamed never to have recovered from the shock occasioned by the death of his relative. Mr Williamson, the Manager of the Golden Crown Mining Company, writing to the local paper on the result of the Terawhiti crushing, says : —“ It settles once and for all the question ef a payable goldfield in the vicinity of Wellington. There is reason to believe that inevitable loss arising from the curing of plates and in connection with new machinery, as well as an admittedly insufficient supply

of water to keep the tables clear during the greater portion of the crushing, may be moderately estimated at not less than half an ounce per ton. It may, therefore, safely be asserted that the first trial crushing of stone at Terawhiti has produced at least 2oz of retorted gold from each ton of quartz stuff passed through the battery. The unanimous verdict of experienced miners goes to show that the supply of golden stone is practically unlimited in the Golden Crown claim, and as no one can suppose that this quartz is confined to this particular claim for a fact' —we have daily reports of the reef outcropping all along a vast length of line—we may with every assurance predict a speedy developement of a new goldfield to a degree difficult to realise at the present moment.”

A procession of about a score of per" sons, consisting principally of women and children, paraded several of the main thoroughfares last evening, singing what we should presume would • be termed Salvation Army hymns. The party was headed by an enthusiastic youth, whose vocal powers were exerted to the utmost in his capacity of precentor, and who seemed to be the moving spirit throughout the proceedings. As a natural sequence the procession was followed up by a considerable number of people who were attracted by the singing, and who were, doubtless, curious to ascertain whether a detachment of the renowned

“Army” had invaded the township. The terminus of the procession, however, appeared to be the Primitive Methodist Church, which, during the evening, was filled to its utmost capacity, the gathering taking the form of a -t testimony ” meeting, inimitation, it may be imagined, of the Salvation Army doings. If the result aimed at by the march about town were to secure a large congregation, the effort met with signal success. Serenading the streets by moonlight is a feature somewhat new to Ashburton, and if harmony and good music characterised such attempts, it would be an inovation deserving perhaps of much appreciation, but the initiatory efforts cannot certainly be classed with good taste.

The Chairman of the Mount Hutt Road Board has an announcement in this issue with reference to gorse on roads in the Board’s district.

Members of the Ashburton Quadrille Assembly are reminded that the final meeting takes place this evening at the Oddfellows’ Hall.

Mr S. E. Poyntz intimates having removed into new offices —No. 3, Friedlander’s Buildings, Burnett street—at which place business with the Woollen and Cheese and Butter Factories is also conducted.

“ Rough on Rats.” —Clears out rats, mice, roaches, flies, ants, bed-bugs, beetles, insects, skunks, jack-rabbits, gophers. Druggists. Moses, Moss and Co., Sydney, General Agents. 2 Wanted parties about to furnish to know that J. Meech is selling all his goods at a sacrifice, being over-stocked and wanting the money. Drawing-room Suites from £lO 10s, warranted ; Good Bed-room Suites, remarkably low; Drawing-room: Fancy Walnut Tables, Japanese Tables, a splendid Inlaid Walnut Sideboard, Marble Slab, with Plate Glass back, to be sold cheap. Iron Bedsteads, Crockery-ware, and every requisite for house furnishing etc. Funerals conducted on the cheapest scale. Practical workmen kept in all its branches. Agent for the celebrated Venetian Blind Makers, Dunedin. Carvings and Turnery of every kind. All kinds of furniture exchanged and highest price given for furniture. Note the address—Next BulUsk’s Arcade, Ashburton.