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Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1053, 20 September 1883, Page 2

It is understood that the final decision as to which Minister will represent New Zealand at the Annexation Conference in Sydney will be made this week. A large number of tickets have been sold for the concert to be given in the Town Hall this evening, and there is every likelihood of there being a crowded house.

In the event of Mr E. G. Wright’s resignation, Mr C. J. Harper intends to offer himself to represent the country portion of the riding in the Ashburton County Council. The New Zealand Shipping Company are advised by cable that the s.s. British Queen arrived at {.he Cape of Good Hope on the 18th September en route for Port Chalmers. The Company’s clipper Waimea lias arrived in London all well from Wellington.

The N.Z. and A.L. Company have j imported per Waihora twelve merino j rams, three Lincoln rams, and one short- ( horn bull. These were selected by Mr Brydone, the manager, in Melbourne. , Seven of the merinos are from Gibson and Son’s flock, Tasmania. The shorthorn bull, Lord Penrhynthe 2nd, is considered a very fine youngster. The Agent-General cables that amongst the cargo which went down with the ilifated St. Leonards was the following consigned to Lyttelton :—2OO tons of rails and fastenings, one locomotive, and 125 sets of wheels and axles fcr high sides waggons ; and as the non-arrival of this material is likely to cause considerable inconvenience, the Agent-General has been instructed to despatch a second shipment with as little delay as possible. At the Central Hotel last evening a farewell dinner was given to Mr George Gaukrodger, who is about to leave Ashburton. Mr St. Hill occupied the chair, and in proposing the health of the guest of the evening said that the reason of their meeting was to show sympathy with that gentleman for the treatment he had received at the hands of the police. He did not wish in any way Ito palliate Mr Gaukrodger, as he thought gambling should be put down, but at the same time he must condemn the police when they became persecutors, as he was of opinion was the case in this instance. He concluded by expressing a hope that what had happened would be a warning. Mr Gaukrodger briefly responded, and after a number of other toasts had been duly honored and several songs sung, the meeting separated. At the Resident Magistrate’s Court at Rakaia yesterday, Mr Baddeley, R. M., granted a prohibition order for twelve months against Henry Rutter, to refer to that district. —N. Welsh was then charged with using unlawful language and assaulting G. Shellock at Chertsey. Mr Caygili appeared for the defendant, and pleaded guilty under provocation. Shellock said that when he was at the Chertsey Hotel, Welsh used very abusive language and called him a thief, and he also stmck him and knocked him against the doorpost. Defendant was fined for the assault LI and costs LI or seven days’ imprisonment, and to be bound over to keep the pease for one month, in his own surety of L2O, and two sureties of LlO each.

The Directors of the Union Steamship Co., after careful consideration of all the circumstances attending the recent stranding of the Rotomahana, and, taking into account the favorable finding of the Court of Enquiry and the immunity from accidents enjoyed by Capt. Carey during the lengthened period he has commanded the Company’s steamers, have decided to reinstate him in his position in the service. They have, however, issued a circular to their masters notifying that they wish it to be clearly understood that they regard it as a master’s first duty to consider the safety of the valuable ship and lives under his charge, and that they have therefore resolved that in any future case of stranding the responsibility will be thrown entirely upon the master, and he will not be reinstated in the service unless the accident is proved to have occurred under such exceptional circumstances as entirely exonerate him from blame.

A meeting of the Auckland Rugby Union Football Association was held last night. A draft letter was agreed to for transmission to the Wellington Union. It requested the Wellington Union to state

definitely what they considered the result of the late match between Auckland and Wellington. If Wellington claims to win, the Aucklanders desire the claim to be referred to the Southern Unions, which

should be asked to sit jointly or separately as might be arranged, and the Auckland Union would pledge itself to abide by their decision. It is hoped in the letter that the Wellington Union will view the matter in a different light to the Wellington newspapers’ reports, and announce the match as a draw, when the recent disagreeable episode would be speedily forgotten. The following telegram has been received at Brisbane from Mackay relative to the recent terrible massacre by the natives of Apia:—The schooner Lavina left

Mackay on June the 21st, and reached Apia on : August the 24th. Here she landed some returned islanders. Next day, in compliance with a request by the Apians, Captain Smith sent a boat ashore. The Lavina at this time was lying half a mile off. Some time afterwards, hearing shots tired, the captain immediately sent another boat near to the shore, where it picked up three of the first boat’s crew, who had swam off to the ship when the attack was ma ■e. The crew at once went to recover the first boat, in which they found the second mate still alive, but dangerously tomahawked, also the Government agent, Mr Steadman, quite dead, who had been terribly mutilated. The living and dead were taken back to the vessel again. A second party then went ashore, where they found one of the first boat’s crew dead, and near him a trade box empty. The murderers had evidently committed the savage deed for the sake of plunder, as they had stripped the body of the mate and the Government agent of nearly everything. Captain Smith, of the Lavina, took the dead bodies of the two whites and two islanders who were in his schooner to Havannah Harbor, where they were buried, he subsequently gave information to be handed to an English man-of-war, after which ho sailed at once, and reached Mackay on Monday last. A telegram had been received by the Queensland Government with reference to this massacre, which states that the second mate, the Government agent, and four of the boat’s crew were killed.

At the R.M. Court this morning, before Mr Baddeley, R.M., an old offender named O’Loghlen, was fined 60s for being drunk, with the alternative of 14 days imprisonment. The money not being handy, the prisoner chose to go to gaol. For the same offence, Wm. Craig and F. Allen were each fined 10s or 48 hours’ imprisonment, and Wm. Evans had to pay 5 s or submit to 24 hours’ incarceration. A man named Daniel Burns was then put in the dock to answer a charge of having stolen 15s from the till of Rowse’s hotel at Methven. Mr Bowse gave evidence to the effect that the prisoner came to his house and had two or three drinks, besides some refreshment. Witness left the bar for a few minutes, and on returning missed the sum of 15s from the till. He had the prisoner searched, and discovered money in his pocket, although ho had previously said he was penniless. He recognised one of the coins produced as part of the money in the till. Afcer hearing the evidence the Magistrate remanded the case till to-morrow, after the civil business is concluded,

General meetings of the Phoenix and Premier Prospecting Companies were held at Christchurch yesterday. The first had 2,500 shares of LI each, 1,000 of which were taken up. The second named had 200 shares of L 5 each, all being taken up. A meeting of the Fleming ton School Committee was held on Monday evening last, when there were present Messrs Dunn, Cowan, Holland, Smith, Fleming and Dacres. The minutes of the last meeting were read and agreed to. A circular letter from the Board of Education was read re appointment of teacher. Two applications were received for the use of the school for a temperance meeting and a concert on the 28th inst. Mr Dacres moved, seconded by Mr Holland—“ Thai the use of the room be granted for th« temperance meeting free of charge.” Mi Fleming moved an amendment, seconded by Mr Cowan —“That the room be chargee for.” The original motion was carried bi

the casting vote of the Chairman. On the motion of Mr Cowan the use of the room for the concert was granted free of charge, it being the usual practice night of the singing class. An application was received from the singing class for aid in obtaining a platform, which they proposed to hand • ver to the Committee. On the motion of Mr Holland, seconded by Mr Dacres, it was agreed that the Committee pay half the cost of such platform, on the understanding that it became the bona fide property of the Committee. The subject of school prizes was brought for consideration and deferred to the next meeting, as was also an application for support to the school library. The Chairman was instructed to gat the gymnastic apparatus erected. After passing two accounts, A. Orr L2 10s, and R. Bean LI ss, the meeting adjourned. A meeting of the Wakanui School Committee was held in the main school on Tuesday last, the members present being Messrs J. Kilgour (chairman), T. Walsh, T. Dalton, T. Patterson, and J. Brown. The minues of the. previous meeting having been read and confirmed, the following [ business was transacted A letter was read from the Education Board aoknow-

lodging receipt of Committee’s letter of 25th ult., with an explanation from Mr Angus why he did not present himself at the last examination, and informing the

Committee that in compliance with the wish expressed by the Committee, the Board will allow Mr Angus to retain his appointment on the understanding that if he does not succeed in obtaining a certificate he will at once send in his resignation at a month’s notice. The Chairman was requested to forward the letter to Mr Angus and withdraw the notice.—The application of Mr Pitt for the use of the side school for a ball was granted, subject to the usual conditions. —Mr Angus, side school, reported the number on roll to be 32. Working average for past month 25. —Mrs Hill wrote, stating that in undertaking the cleaning of the school, she understood it was to be for one year. Unfortunately the matter was not in writing. She said she understood from the late chairman that if she did the work properly she would be sure to have the cleaning for one year, and that the present chairman had requested her to keep on cleaning the school as usual. She demanded payment of L 5 as a breach of contract. After discussion it was decided to pay Mrs Hill, L2 10s, on account of her having to do the cleaning during the winter. —Mr James Brown wrote, bringing under the notice of the Committee the irregular school hours ; master and mistress neglectful of their duty in the matter ; clocks not kept to proper time ; the master not teaching in accordance with his time table ; that one of the boys is still writing in the same copybook that he had last year when the school was examined ; also the harsh treatment that his boys received at the hands of the master. A conversation followed the reading of the letter, but eventually the matter was allowed to drop, Mr Brown being satisfied with the ventilation it had received. Subsequently Mr Brown handed in his resignation, which was accepted, the appointment of a member to fill the vacancy being left over for anothe.- meeting. Some necessary works having been authorised and the monthly accounts passed for pa yment, the Committee adjourned.

Attention is directed to an announcemen concerning the Goldfield Consultation Co. to be found in another column.

The Court Star of Ashburton holds a special summoned meeting this evening. Wells’ “Rough on Corns.” —Ask for Wells’ “ Rough on Corns. ” Quick relief, complete, permanent cure. Corns, warts, bunions. Moses, Moss and Co., Sydney, General Agents. I