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Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1077, 18 October 1883, Page 2

Edwards challenges Scott to a 48 hours’ walking match for LSO or LIOO a side, to take place in Ohristchurch. It is scarcely necessary to remind our readers that the long looked for Scotch concert takes place at the Town Hall tonight.

Ihe Christchurch Orchestral Society gave their first private concert (for gentlemen only) at the Oddfellows’ Hall last night. It was greatly enjoyed by all present. The special general meeting of the shareholders of the Town Hall Company, to have been held this afternoon, lapsed for want of a quorum, and was adjourned till to-morrow at the same time and place.

At the inquest on Boland, who was killed on the railway, a verdict of “ Accidental death was returned. No blame was attached to the railway authorities, as deceased persisted in riding on the edge of the truck after repeated warnings.

A squad of the Ashburton Rifles took advantage of yesterday’s half-holiday to get through some of their class-firing. The highest scorers at the long ranges (500 and 600 yards) were—-Private G. Parkin, 41 points ; Private Hooper, 36 ; and Lieut. Dolman, 34.- At the short ranges, Lieut. Dolman was first with 47 points. Mr Mason, of Lake Wakatipii, ia making a peculiar experiment in refrigeration. He has procured a number of plants of the mountain lily, * which flourishes at an altitude of 4,000 feet, and These will be sent Home in a refrigerating chamber. Some ferns sent home by Mr Mason some time ago arrived in such splendid condition that they took first prize against all England. About noon to-day a very strong gale from the sou’-west sprang up and lasted for about an hour. Crouds of dust ahd quantities of shavings and rubbish were blown about, and for some time it was extremely .dfficult to walk in any, exposed portion of East street without the risk of fading blind-d or blown away altogether. The temperature was also decidedly colder than that ot the morning, making it almost necessary for one to keep warm to wear a thick overcoat during the afternoon.

At the Court this morning, before Mr i homaa Bullock, J.P., a man named John Wilson, alias Fergusson, was fined 20s for being drunk, with the alteruitive of 48 hours’ imprisonment, and a first offender was ordered to pay 5a or go to gaol for 24 hours. Thomas Daly, who was charged with drunkenness yesterday, and who had protested that he would reform, was again brought up. This time he was charged under the Vagrant Act as an habitual drunkard, and society was relieved of his presence for a period of 14 days, the option of a fine not being allowed.

A laugh was caused in the Timaru District Court yesterday (remarks the Herald) by the manner in which a witness, under cross-examination, described some dirty wheat. Being asked if there was not some Danish oats in it, he replied’in-a deliberate but Jerky style, “ There was some Danish ;oats in it,-—arid some otheroats, —aud some barley,—and some tares,—and some combine, —and some dock,—‘ and some darnell,—and abme-sorrell The witness appeared prepared to go on for a long time, but at this point ho was stopped, a knowledge of the precise constituents of the mixture not b'ing important to the case in hand.

The military and athletic sports in connection with Christ’s College Rifle Volunteers were held yesterday in Lancaster Park under the pa roaage of the Mayor and Counciliors of Christchurch and Sydenham. Many mercantile and legal houses made a half-holiday. The weather was favorable, aud the affair quite a success. There were 1,500 people present. The judges for the military competition were Lieutenant-Colonel Lean, commanding the Canterbury district; LieutenantColonel Bailey, of the Imperial Army ; Captain Newall; Captain Saunders, R.N., and Lieutenant Bristow, B.N. The moat interesting events were the march past, bayonet exercise, and 440 yards obstacle race.

A will case came before Judge Williams at Dunedin yesterday. Some time ago a negro hotelkeeper named Shumate died on the Tuapeka diggings, leaving L 1,400 to one Robert Carter, also a negro of Colorado, in America. The trustees wrote and advertised for Carter, but he never turned up until quite recently, when a person claiming to be Carter presented himself in Tuapeka. Ho said he had been living in Santa Fe, Mexico, and the letter had been forwarded to him from Colorado, whereupon he started right away. The case came before the Judg£ to decide whether this particular Carter was the particular Carter mentionedip the will, but the Judge said the question was one for a jury. At the Wellington Supremo Court yesterday an action was brought by the widow of the late George Dixon, who was drowned off the s.s. Taiaroa some months ago, to recover from the New Zealand Accident Insurance Company the sum of LSOO upon a policy issued to the deceased about two years ago. Counsel for. the defence admitted all plaintiff’s allegations, with the exception of that which declare! the deceased was in his san© ininjql when he met his death in June last. Evidence was taken to the effect that Dixon, who was a well-known manufacturer of aerated watpr ip Wellington, had visited Auckland in June last; and on returning home via the East Coast by the steamer Taiaroa was lost overboard off Cape Turnagain. The deceased's wife deposed that he was usually a bad sai’or. Her husband was not an intemperate man, and she had not known him to get intoxicated. Dr Cowell, of Napier, deposed he was called off to the Taiaroa in June last, whan ha was told his services were required in a case of delirium tremens. Deceased’s symptoms were such as would result from alcoholic poisoning. He asked Dixon what bad brought him to this state, and he said he “ had been carrying on a bit.” John Warren, steward of the Taiaroa, gave evidence as to what took place up to when Dixon went overboard. In cross-examination, he said he was convinced that deceased had thrown himself overboard. The case was not concluded yesterday.

Owing to some mistake gn advertisement calling for tenders for a supply of metal on the Hackthorne road by the Upper Ashburton Road Board appeared in yesterday’s issue. As the work was let at the last meeting of the Board, it will be seen that no other tenders are required.

Tin sitting of the Baptist Onference was concluded at Nelson yesterday. The Rev A. North, of Dunedin, has been appointed President; the Rev W. 0. Spencer, of Lincoln, Secretary; Mr H. S. Matthews, of Auckland, Treasurer; Committee: the Rev 0. Dallaston, of Christchurch, and C. Bright of Caveraham. In accordance with the wish of the Baptist Association of Canterbury the Revs A. North and C. Bright were appointed joint Editors, and Mr J. Arundel of Dunedin, Secretary for the Baptist Journal. It was resolved to hold the next session of the Conference at Auckland.

The promoters of the summer race meeting met at Quill’s Hotel last evening. Mr Quill having been voted t-> the chair, reported that in company with Mr Bell he had applied to the Ashburton Racing Club for the use of the course on Boxing Day, but the Club had given them clearly to understand that the course would not be let on that day for racing purposes. The Club, had, however, offered the course for another day on ve r y liberal terms, and an offer had been received fro ii Mr H. Johnston to let another ground for the day’s sport at a merely nominal rental. The two offers having been read, Mr Bell protested against the dictatorial tone assumed by the Racing Club. He thought the members should have allowed the Caledonian Society and the applicants to settle their difficulties without interference, and not have allowed themselves to be made tools of. It was net even officially known to the Racing Club that it was proposed to hold the meeting <>n Boxing Day. Mr Saunders had not intended to take any part in the

proceedings, but he felt compelled to distinctly contradict two statements made by Mr Bell. The Racing Club had approached this matter as an amicus curios with no prejudices, and the application was distinctly for Boxing Day. Any statements to the contrary were not only injudicious but absolutely incorrect. Mr Quill thought it would bo better to abandon the intention of holding the meeting on Boxing Day. He had been opposed to the proposal throughout, and considered it would be better to preserve the friendly co-operation of the Club and Caledonian Society- . Messrs Smith, Beecher and tlioks having supported the views expressed by the Chairman it was resolved —‘‘That .Messrs Quill, Beecher and Brittan be authorised to arrange with the Racing Club for use of course on 27th December next. The meeting then considered the programme drafted by the Committee, and after several amendments adopted it as follows :-(l) Hurdle face of 25 sovs ; (2) Hack Hurdle race of, IB sovs ; (3) Counties Handicap of 40 sovs ; (4) iNovel race of 25 sovs ; (5) Town Plate of 20 sovs ; (6) Christmas Handicap of 30 sovs; (7) Consolation Handicap of 10 sovs. ....

There ■ have been indications that trouble was brewing for the Salvation Army officials at Invercargill, although most of those who did not approve of their proceedings have simply left them alone, and they have been respectfully treated. Captain Burfoot is blamed for nagging individuals in the audience, and using insulting expressions without cause.: The feeling against the Salvationists seems to have culminated with the publication of the following letter in the Southland Neivs on Tuesday night; Will you kindly insert the following in the paper : —I attended the Salvation meeting last night, and was rather astonished at the language made use of in: a place consecrated to the worship of God, as they term it. The language complaind of was used to a respectable youth, and was unmanly and uncalled for, and blackguardly in the ex* treme, and more likely to result in doing harm to the causa of religion than any

good it could do to the youth in question. As to the larrikin element of our town in general, it is nothing more or less than inviting assault to use expressions of this kind—' Go home and buy a paper collar, and put another shirt on, and give-the poor little creatures a rest, their feet will get sore running on your flash.” Is this what Christ taught ‘1 I think not. ” Last night a.large crowd assembled at the Salvation Theatre, and it soon became evident that there was to be a row. . When .Burfoot or his wife essayed to speak, Their voices were drowned in rounds of

howling and Kentish fire. To mend matters the pit, was comparatively cleared, but with little good effect. The malcontents gathered outside, and at the conclusion of the. service assailed Burfoot and his wife with yelling, hooting, and menaces. Mrs Burfoot was overcome with terror and fainted. The party took refuge in a fruit shop, and after Mrs, Burfoot came round proceeded home, escorted by a rowdy escort, who finished up by throwing stones on the ro if of the house. The young, man assailed by - Burfoot, referred to in the letter, it is said, will proceed for libel.