Untitled

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1025, 18 August 1883, Page 2

In future there are to be two Court days a week in Ashburton, Tuesday being appoint,-d for the hearing ot criminal charges, and Friday for the transaction of civil business.

■ In the Wellington Divorce Court in the case of Neil v Neil, a petition of the wife for a dissolution of marriage, on the ground of the husband’s adultery, a rule nisi was granted. Operations in connection with the Wellington meat freezing commenced yesterday, the carcases of 300 sheep being placed in the chamber. The Doric, which is expected next month, will take 3,000 carcases of sheep and ten bullocks. At a meeting of the Timaru Chamber of Commerce yesterday a resolution was carried expressing an adverse opinion of the new Insurance Companies Bill, except as regards clause 34 and related clauses. Members for the district will be communicated with and asked to oppose the Bill.

The official returns of the revenue and expenditure of the colony for the quarter are now complete. The total receipts of the consolidated fund were L 797,771, and the total expenditure L 735.960. The revenue from land sales was L 35,791, of which L 26,851 was cash, the balance being on deferred payments. The Commissioners are still taking evidence respecting fever on board the Oxford. The immigrants make grave charges as to the filthy nature of the Immigration Depot at Plymouth, and state the beds were covered with vermin. The general arrangements there were very bad, and the treatment they received was not likely to improve their health. At the Blue Ribbon meeting in the Town Hall last evening there was a large attendance, Mr R. Alcorn being in the chair. Several addresses on the temperance question were delivered, and a number of musical selections were well rendered by the choir. At the conclusion 136 declared their wish tojjwear the blue ribbon.

Eight informations for fraudulent bankruptcy have been received against Wm. Lingard, late brewer, of Wanganui. The prosecutors are Oheymol of Wellington, and Hodder and Thomas Harley of Nelson, and the charges include obtaining cases of beer, malt, and hops by falsa pretences, and disposing of or pledging the same within four months of filing. The informations are to be heard at the Police Court on the 27th, The Committee on Otago Dummyism have brought up their report. It finds the charge of alleged dummyism on Gellibrand and Co.’s station to be fully proved, and that the purchases were not bond fide. They recommend they be cancelled, and possession of the land resumed by the Crown. Also, that increased power be given to the Waste Lands Boards in dealing with such matters, and ihat a Royal Commission be appointed to further investigate the other cases of alleged dummyism. Matters in the borough of West Harbor, which is within a couple of miles of Dunedin, have become somewhat complicated. For some years a question has been agitated regarding the closing of a

road line, and the present trouble began through a charge being laid by the Town Clerk (Mr Newton) against the Mayor (Mr John McNeil) of temporarily abstracting, with the view of destroying, an important document relative to the matter. The charge, which was in writing, created a sensation amongst the ratepayers, who held a meeting, and called upon the Mayor to resign. In the meantime the Council, after hearing the Mayor’s explanation about his abstraction of the letter, had carried a resolution on the casting vote of the Mayor that the Mayor’s statement was more worthy of belief; and further, by a majority of one to discharge the Town Ci-rk. Now the Clerk, Mr Newton, has burned the Municipal books, or some of them, including the cash book, it is stated, for which In will probably be prosecuted. The Oddfellows’ Hall was well filled last evening with an audience that evinced by their laughter and applause that the representation of the “ Pirates of Penzance” by the juvenile Comnany was thoroughly appreciated. The impression made upon Ashburton p'aygoers by these clever little people on their previous visit was sustained, and this opera, which is perhaps the most difficult to do justice to of any of the works of Messrs Gilbert and Sullivan, was given throughout in a manner that would have been creditable in actors and singers of larger growth. The exquisite drollery of the dialogue was perfectly understood, and though the children have evidently been carefully trained they could not have attained their present standard unless they possessed great natural ability and perception of humor. To Miss Amelia Hodge was allotted the part of the heroine Mabel, and she acted with considerable intelligence throughout. Possessing an excellent soprano voice, which she uses with skill, and a clear and distinct utterance, she gave the music satisfactorily, her most successful numbers being the well-known valse song and the madrigal in the second act. Miss Florence Graupner was very amusing as Ruth, throwio g into the part an amount of dramatic force that augurs well for that young lady’s histrionic future, her action being effective without exaggeration. The appearance of the diminutive Miss Dolly Inman dressed in the uniform of the MajorGeneral was the cue for a burst of applause that showed that this young lady’s Sir Joseph Porter had not been forgotten. The opening patter song was loudly redemanded, and nothing but praise*can be accorded to the representation of the character. Mias Amy Childs as Frederick made one of the most decided hits of the

evening, both as regards singing and acting. In the latter respect she could give a lesson to many older and more pretentious people on the stage, her movements being invariably graceful and well studied. M ister Driscoll was excruciatingly comic as the Sergeant of Police, keeping the audience in roars of laughter while he was on the stage. His efforts to amuse ware well seconded by the members of the force under his command, and especial mention may be made of a policeman no taller than a walking stick, whose antics were very funny. Master Osmond was fairly successful as the Pirate King, his principal solo earning him considerable applause. All the minor characters, such as the less important daughters of the Major General and the pirate gang, were satisfactorily filled. An ballet at the conclusion of the first act pleased the audience so much that they insisted on its repetition, the dancing of Miss Amy Childs and Miss blodge being particularly good. The entertainment was entirelj successful, and the universal verdict "f those present was, that they had spent a very pleasant evening. The company left this morning for Christchurch, where they will commence their season to-night.

Yesterday the South Canterbury Poultry Society held Rs second annual exhibition in Messrs .Robert Wilkin and Co.’s salerooms. The show on the whole was a very long way behind the Ashburton show in the number of entries as well as the quality of the exhibits. The following exhibitors from Ashburton were successful in the classes named :—Class 2, brown breasted or ginger red game, J. Carter, 2 and 3 ; class 8, colored dorkings, S. E. Poyntz, 1; class 9, white dorkings, S. E. Poyntz, 3 ; class 10, Spanish, S. E Poyntz, 2 ; class 11, buff cochins, S. E. Poyntz, 1 ; class 16, Langshan, S. E. Poyntz, 2 ; class 22, golden Polish, S. E. Poyntz, 1,2, and 3; class 23, silver Polish, S, E. Poyntz, 2 ; pigeons—baldheads, S. E. Poyntz, 2 ; nuns, S. E. Poyntz, 1 ; Antwerps, S. E. Poyi\tz, 2. It will be seen that Mr Poyntz was successful with 12 of 'his exhibits. He diet not send any of his canaries which were entered, otherwise most of the prizes given at the show would have come to Ashburton. The Committee of the Ashburton Agricultural and Pastoral Association met in the Arcade Chambers yesterday, there being present Messrs Bullock (in the chair), Harper, Oliver, Hunt, Thomas, Tucker, Dudley, Harrison, H. Friedlander, Revans, Strachan, Purnell, Carter, and Lyttelton. The Committee resolved that Mr W. Lyttelton’s prize of three guineas be offered f or the best Southdown ram. Messrs Bullock, Thomas, and Jameson (Secretary) were appointed a sub-committee to arrange for the printing of the catalogue, and Messrs Loatham, Mayo, Hunt, Stitt, and Millar were requested to superintend the arrangements for the horse parade, to be held at the Ashburton Show ground on October 6. A. suggestion made by Mr J. Strachan, that the Association should offer a ze for the beat kept farm in the district was discussed, and the matter allowed to stand over till a future meeting. It was decided that L33s be offered for the best collection of agricultural produce grown by the exhibitor at the forthcoming show. Messrs J. Haine and T. Wilkinson were elected members of the Association,

The bankruptcy of Chas. Lake, of Rakaia, laborer, is announced in this issue.

An important notice to owners of properties through which water-races A, C. and E run, will be found in our advertising columns. The Court for considering objections to the electoral roll of the Ashburton County Council has been postponed from the 23rd to 27th inst.

Tenders for various works are invited elsewhere, from which it will be observed that the enterprising firm of Orr and Co. intend erecting new stores in East street. The usual services of the Baptist Church will be held at the Oddfellows’ Hall to-morrow morning and evening. The Rev. T. Bray, of Greendale, will conduct each service. A baptism will be administered in the Domain to-morrow morning at 9.45 a.m. Wells’ “ Rough on Coens.” —Ask for Wells’ “ Rough on Corns.” 7j£d. Quick relief complete, permanent cure. Corns, warts, bunions. Moses, Moss and Co., Sydney, General Agents. 3 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 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 Bullock’s Arcade, Ashburton.