The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prevalebit. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1883.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1045, 11 September 1883, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prevalebit. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1883.

Pressure on our space compels us to hold over leading and other matter from this issue.

The Penguin, arrived from Fiji, brings intelligence of the wreck of the barque Prince Alfred on North Astrolabe reef. Captain Smith and crew reached Suva safely. The vessel is part owned by the captain, who loses heavily by the wreck. Other news is unimportant. All the candidates for municipal honors addressed the public eeting last evening excepting Mr Hugo Friedlander, who was unfortunately prevented from attending through illness. A letter was read from Mr Friedlander expressing his regret at being unable to attend, but stating his willingness to act on the Council if he ratepayers so desired it. The meeting was a most orderly one, and was largely attended. A full report of the proceedings appears elsewhere. Among the cases brought before the R.M. to-day was a charge of larceny against three very small boys, whose united heights could not have exceeded more than six feet. The crime that they were accused of was larceny, it being alleged they had annexed three padlocks. No evidence was offered, as the youngsters were too infantile to plead, and they were simply marched into the Court and out again. They seemed not to be affected in the slightest degree by the position they occupied, and evidently had no idea what they were there for. Before commencing the business of the Court this morning, Mr Baddeley said that he wished to make a remark concerning a very reprehensible communication which he had received. He referred to’ an anonymous letter that had been sent to him about a case which was to come before him that day, and he characterised the action of the writer as unmanly. If people had complaints to make they should communicate with the proper authorities, and it was an insult to a Magistrate to suppose that he would be in any way influenced by such a letter as he had received. Mr Baddeley concluded by expressing a hope that what he had said would prevent a repetition of such a disgraceful proceeding. Another special containing a few members of the General Assembly passed through Ashburton about twelve o’clock to-day. The question naturally arises— Why is the country put to such an unnecessary public expense for the convenience of a few well paid individuals? Could not this money be far batter expended in carrying out some productive works at a time when scores of people even in Ashburton can scarcely earn enough to keep them in bread ? We believe we are stating a fact when we say that 50 or 60 carpenters in this town are at the present moment out of employment. Let MH. R.’s and Honorable M. L. C.’s ponder over this fact. The Nelson Colonist’s correspondent at Motueki has wired the following message: —“T. R. Brownsden,a retired paymaster in the British navy, who had not been seen since 11 o’clock last night, has just been found drowned at the bottom of the river, between the bridge and R. .Staples’house. A note was found under his pillow this morning, expressing his intention (if destroying himself, the supposed cause being that an information for indecent ex J ‘ posure against him would be heard next Court day. Deceased was much respected.” It appears that the information laid against that gentleman was so laid upon ridiculously weak grounds, and there can be little doubt he would have been honorably acquitted, but the thing preyed on his mind. The usual fortnightly meeting of the Mount Somers Mutual Improvement Class was held in the Library on Saturday evening, the President in the chair. The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmoi. The deferred debate on the “ Capabilities of the North Island of New Zealand to sustain a larger population than the Middle Island,” was discussed by Mr Williams and Mr Hood, the latter asserting that the Middle Island was capable of sustaining a larger population than the North. Mr Williams fought well for the North, but he failed to convince the meeting, as after all the members had taken some part in the discussion, the meeting decided in favor of the Middle Island. The subject for next meeting is ‘‘ Fallow v. Green Manure,” by Mr S. MoLymont and Mr A. Harvey. Captain Greig, of the Government schooner, Kekeno, employed in the prevention of sealing during the close season, reports to the Secretary of the Marine Department, under date 16th August, that he had been detained at Port Pegasus, Stewart Island, from the 3rd August, waiting for the weather to moderate sufficiently to enable him to start on a cruise to the Auckland Islands. His detention was caused through strong gales of wind blowing principally from between the south and west. Occasionally the wind would back round to the north-west for an hour or two, with heavy rain and falling barometer, and then would change again to south-west, and blow with great violence. At 2 a. m. on the' 16th it was from the south, and at midday was blowing a heavy' gale from the north-west, with pouring rain and barometer 29.0. All was well on board the vessel.