The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas Et Prevalebit. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1883.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1054, 21 September 1883, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas Et Prevalebit. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1883.

We understand that Mr Hugo Friedlander will come forward to represent that portion of the district whi h has been so ably represented by Mr E. G. Wright for the last seven years, as member of the County Council The absconder Heller, who was arrested in Sydney and detained (hero on remand until the arrival of Sergeant-Major Mason, will probably reach Christchurch on Tuesday next, as advice has been received that he was to leave Sydney on the eighteenth of this month. A Committee meeting of the Borough Cricket Club was held last evening, at which the following were elected members of the Club, viz., Messrs Hill, Farley and Coffey. It was decided that new material be procured and that the season be opened on the Ist October by a match, Married v. Single. Dr Donald, the District Grand Master of English freemasonry, in Canterbury, has been obliged to resign hia exaked position, owing to failing health. He has been at the head of the English lodges for a number of years, and every Mason will regret that he has now to resign the important position.

Yesterday some children were playing at highwaternear Puni creek, Clyde street, Invercargill, behind the Bank of New Zealand. Among them was a little girl, daughter of Mr J. 0. Wild, London Hotel, in charge of a baby and perambulator. The vehicle got av.ay from the girl, ran over the bank into the creak, and the child was at the ri k of being drowned. The Rev. W. P. Fairclough, Wesleyan clergyman, happened to pass, and found a man trying to fish out the child and perambulator with a walking stick. Thinking more urgent means were required, Mr Fairclough stripped off his coat and jumped into the creek, speedily bringing them ashore at the expense of a thorough wetting.

Last evening the concert and entertainment which was held at the Town Hall in aid of the Poultry Society, passed off only fairly well, owing to the delay in commencing and the necessary alterations in the programme, consequent upon several of the performers not turning up as expected. There was not a very large attendance, but those who were nresent appeared to enjoy themselves. The first part of the programme consisted of some very clever conjuring tricks by a young gentleman aimteur who rejoices in the name of “Professor Xocceni." We can safely predict a successful career for the Professor from the artistic manner in which ha performs. In commencing the musical part of the evening a treat was afforded those present by Mr Baddeley junr., who played the overture from “ Zampa " in such a way as to plea e the most fastidious lover of piano music. Mrs Orisp, who was in excellent voice, sung “ Close to the threshold remarkably well, and in the “ Wood Nymph’s call,” the same lady narrowly escaped an encore. Mr Branson, who was also in capital voice—in fact, we have never heard him to better advantige—sang the ballad “ The great city ” in such a way as to bring forth an enthusiastic encore, but which was unfortunately not responded to. His next song, “She wore a wreath of roses,” was also given •with great expression, and he had to respond to an encore. Mr Bell sung “ Jack’s yarn ” very well, and the duet, “We are faries,” was very well rendered by Mrs Crisp and Mrs Branson, the voices blending well together. Mr Farley followed with an amusing speech which no one appeared to understand. Mrs Branson sang “Sweet and Low ” extremely well, and had to respond to an encore. This lady possesses a sweet contralto voice, and we hope to hear her often again -at our entertainments. At the conclusion of the concert a farce entitled “ Tiger Taming Extraordinary ” concluded the entertainment. The three gentlemen who undertook the parts of Beeswing, Chutnee and Jacob did extremely well, and caused no little amusement for the spirit which they put into their acting.

It is understood that a letter has been received from Mr T. O. Kelsey, relative to his test of the supposed diamonds from Alford Forest. A meeting of tho Directors of the Pioneer and Koh-i-noor Com-

panies has been called for this afternoon, but we have not heard of what transpired up to the hour of going to press. The South Invercargill Town Hall was burned down on Wednesday night. When the fire was first observed it had obtained too great a hold to admit of anything being done. The building was insured for LISO in the Royal. The safe was afterwards found unlocked among the ruins ; and it is believed that nearly all tho Corporation records for the last seven years have been lost, together with the valuation roll and rate-books. Rumors of incendiarism are afloat, and the police are inquiring into the matter. The Hall was occupied that night by a Good Templar Lodge. They had a fire during the evening, but they sta*e that it was re duced to a few embers when they left, and that these were carefully raked toge her before the place was closed. * An extraordinary case wa heard before the Birmingham magistrates recently. A charwoman named Mary Jane Brookes was charged with stealing a large quantity of wearing apparel belonging to a tradesman named William Angell. It was shown that Mr Angell and his wife were ill|with smallpox, and the prisoner was engaged to nurse them. The illness lasted eleven weeks, and during the whole.

of that time the prisoner was taking away the clothes of both of her patients, including linen they had worn in bed, and pledging them at pawnb okers’ shops in different parts of the town. The Bench said it was a disgraceful case, showing how easily smallpox was spread, and sent the prisoner to gaol for six months’ hard labor.

On Wednesday evening a meeting of the Ashburton Evangelistic Committee was held to make final arrangements for Mr Duncan Wright’s gospel mission, which is to commence in the Town Hall on Sunday morning at 8, and in the evening at 8 o’clock,, and be continued f«r eight days. A large number of stewards were appointed to assist at the services, which it is expected will be very largely attended. Mr Duncan Wright is an Evangelist from Dunedin, and a licentiate of the Presbyterian Church, but is carrying on a very successful gospel work in various places where he has been invited. ~ He is exoected to arrived on Saturday evening, and will hold a conference with those engaged in this mission at 8 o’clock in the Presbyterian Church, and will afterwards meet the choir. The manufacture of wood-stone, a new building material, is assuming considerable dimensions in the United States. It differs from brick made of ordinary clay by not being brittle and hard, but porous, and by wearing out the tools employed in cutting or shaping it very little more than wood. It is produced in large blocks, which are cut up according to what is necessary or desired. The method of producing the material is very simple. One part of kaolin clay is mixed with from one to three parts of shavings, and the mixture reduced to a sort of pulp. Ou becoming solid this is cut into blocks or plates, which, when dry, are put into stoves, heated to white heat, by which the shavings are burned up, leaving behind a more or less porous material. Woodstone is fireproof, and is only half the weight of oadinary brick, while it can be worked with the same ease as wood. It is found particularly v luable for party walls, vaults, and so forth. A recent cablegram contained the information that hostilities had been resumed between the French forces and the Black Flags, and that a severe engagement had taken place. In view of this the following translation of a document sent by the Chief pf the Black Flags to M. Chenieux, the French Consul at Hanoi, and posted on the 10th May on the gate of the citidel, may be of interest : ‘‘Robutt Warrior Luu makes the following declarations to the French: You are only brigands; other nations make no account of you. You lie in pretending that you only come for commerce, for you only come to steal our land. Vour conduct is that of wild beasts. Since your arrival in the Kingdom of Anam you only take citadels and assassinate mandarins. You seize the Customs, and have brought the country to the brink of ru n. All the populat ion is irritated, and cries to Heaven for vengeance. I have orders to make war against you. Then led my troops to Phu Hoai Due, my flags and my spears obscure the heavens, my guns and my swords are as numerous as the trees in a forest. All is prepared for the destruction of you and your followers. But I shall not choose for the scene of combat the territory of the town of Hanoi, for fear of causing prejudice to the inhabitants. If, therefore, you are strong enough, meet me at Phu Hpai, and there m asuro yourselves with me. Give up the citadels, and go back to Europe, and I will then refrain from pursuing and massacring you.—Dated this fourth day of the month on the 36th year of Ter Due.

Sour- stomach, sick headache, and dizziness Hop Bitters cures with a few doses. See.— Advt.] Gorged Livers, Bilious conditions, constivpation, piles, dyspepsia, headache, cured by “ Wells’ May Apple Pills.” 5d and is boxes at druggists. Moses, Moss and Co., Sydney General Agents for Australasia. 2 Meat Show. —The show at the ReadyMoney Meat Mart to-day was something im. mense consisting of 16 lambs (3s and 4s) the first of the season, fattened on Balmoral estate; two prime bodies beef; twenty-five sheep; four dairy fed porkers ; and the display of small goods excels anything in Canterbury, reflecting great credit to the manager, G. C. Primmer. —[Advt.]