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Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1089, 1 November 1883, Page 2

It has been decided to hold the Otago Rifle Association meeting on Dec. 13th, 14th and 15th.

The Zealandia, with the October English mails, left San Francisco for Auckland on the 20th inst., being time-table date.

A man named Andrew Farns was brought up at the Court this morning, charged with being a habitual drunkard, The accused was in a filthy state, and his Worship sent him to prison for ten days. At the Dunedin Anglican Synod en Tuesday it was debated whether they could afford to print the order paper. About L 250 is required to pay outstanding debts, and Archdeacon Edwards said ho was constantly being dunned for these. The Otago Land Board held a special sitting yesterday to inquire into dummyism at Silver Peak. The first case taken was that of Mr Borthwiok,, who was represented by counsel. After legal argument, the Board decided that they were empowered to make a general enquiry, and that th? licensee was called on to show cause why his license should not be declared nu'l and void, and his deposit forfeited. Mr Bor th wick having been examined at length, the enquiry was adjourned till today. The trial of the action McGregor v. Boyd began yesterday in the Wanganui Supreme Court before the Chief Justice without a jury. The plaintiffs are half brother and the husband of an adopted daughter of the late John McGregor, who resided 40 years in Wanganui, and the defendant is Miss Christina Boyd, another adopted daughter of his, who lived with him for the last few years of his life until his death. The plaintiffs seek to set aside the deeds of gift made in Miss Boyd’s favor by the deceased, on the ground of her undue influence and his unsoundness of mind. A large number of witnesses will be called on each side. The case excites deep interest, the property at stake being worth L 20.000, the whole of which passed by the deeds of gift. The trial will probably last the remainder of this week.

Shortly after the arrival of the Westland at Wellington yesterday it was ascertained that a case of smallpox had occurred during the passage, and she was ordered into quarantine. It appears that the disease first made its appe trance among a family on August 17th. Immediate steps were taken to isolate the patients, and no further spread has taken place. The pa tients became convalescent on the Is:. inst, and since that date the vessel has been thoroughly fumigated. There is at present no sickness on board, and after the usual cleaning up and disinfection the ship and passengers will be admitted to pratique. From the papers sent ashore it is ascertained that four deaths occurred, one, an infant, from natural causes, the others being three seamen who were drowned. This accident is supposed to have occurred when the vessel lost her raaintopmast. No definite particulars, however, came ashore yesterday as to how these men lost their lives.

At a meeting of the Auckland Committee of the New Zealand Rifle Association last night, it was announced that the Racecourse Club h-’d granted the use of the racecourse for the forthcoming meeting. The following resolutions were carried Ist. Tnat before any subscriptions be asked from the, Auckland public the Secretary of the Association bo requested to state that all moneys will be added to the prize list, etc.; the prize list showing only LSOO given by the Government, and the entrance fees, etc., being sufficie it to cover all expenses. 2nd. That a letter be sent to the Secretary of the Association, informing him that as a very great deal of dissatisfaction prevails among members of the Association in consequence of no balance-sheet being produced, and with the view of making the forthcoming meeting a success, the Secretary should immediately prepare a balance-sheet on account of last meeting, and have the same distributed among the several Secretaries for the information of the members of the Association, as early as porsible.

A curious circumstance is related by the Vossische Zeituug. For several days there was lately seen near the town of Furstenwalde an immense bird flying in circles at a great height, which in the evening disappeared in the direction of the Bauener mountains. One morning a laborer heard the howling of a dog in great pain, and, on running to see what was the matter, he found the large bird seated on the dog’s back, half lifting it into the air, any dragging it hither and thither. He ran to fetch a companion and a gun, and on returning the two again caught sight of the bird and the dog. The latter was already dead, badly torn by the beak and claws of its enemy. They succeededin shooting the bird, and found it to be a true Royal eagle (aquila imperials) which measured from wing-tip to wing tip fully 7|ft. Its dark feathers were snow-white on the shoulders, indicating great age; and a surprising circumstance confirmed the fact. On the eagle’s left foot, just above the claws, was fastened a thin smooth gold ring, on which were engraved, still clearly distinguishable, the letters HK3o A, and below the word Eperjes. On the other side of the ring was the date 10-9-1827.

There was a very fair attendance at the Town flail last evening when the Wilmott Combination gave theirlaat performance of the present season. The pieces chosen were Watts Phillips’s “ Lost in London ” and the farce “ Founded on Fact.” The former is a play of the old-fashioned melodramatic type, containing several strong situations, and demanding forcible acting on the part of the principal performers. Miss Crawford, as Nolly Armroyd, had the most difficult character that has been allotted to her during the visit of the company, and her excellent acting must have been a surprise to those who had judged her capabilities by her previous performances here. The pathetic episodes of the drama were given with great force, and in the final scene when the erring wife returns to her sorrowing husband Miss Crawford was specially successful. As the goodhearted Tildy Dragglethorpe Miss Johns was a little out of her element, but she acted with care and evidently to the satisfaction of the audience. Mr Heaford’s Job was an artistic performance throughout, particularly in the more emotional scenes, and Mr Teece as the villain, Gilbert Featherstone, and Mr Simraonds as Thomas were quite equal to what was required of them. As Benjamin Blinker Mr Wilkinson was well suited, and as usual the audience were in roars of laughter while this clever comedian 'was on the stage. During the evening Mr flesford came forward and thanked the people for the support given to the company, and added that Mr Wilmottjintended to re-visit Ashburton for the race and show nights.

Lette s for H. Beckett, M. Daniel, Jas. Gillespie, Thos. Stanton, and Mrs C. Thompson wore received at the Ashburton Post Office from places beyond the colony during the month of September, and are still unclaimed.

An inquest touching the death of the man who was found floating at the mouth of the Avon on Tuesday last was held at Christchurch yesterday, before Dr Coward and a jury. Mr Alfred Reid was chosen foreman. Evidence was given as to the finding of the body by William George White and Constable Magill. Dr Hunt deposed that he had made a post mortem examination of the body. It was in a decomposed state, but there were no mirks of violence visible. From the condition of the heart, witness thought that deceased had met his death by drowning. Sergeant Pratt produced a telegram from the police at Ashburton, stating that a man answering to a description of the deceased, and bearing the same name, had resided there in 1881. The jury returned a verdict of u Found drowned.” The funerals of the late Mr George Wood and Mr H. V. Chichester took place yesterday afternoon and were largely attended. After proceeding to St. Stephen’s Church, the funeral cortege went to the cemetery preceded by a large body of Masons belonging to the various lodges in Ashburton. There were following also a number of vehicles and traps containing about 500 people, the friends of the deceased, and about 200 boys from the Borough school. The Revs. E. A. Scott ( piscopalian), and A. M. Beattie (Presbyterian) read the funeral service respectively’over the graves of Messrs Chichester and Wood. The Masonic service was also read by Bro. H. W, Felton, the W. M. of the Somerset Lodge, and previous to leaving each Mason dropped a piece of acacia into the graves, according to ancient custom.

The ma f ch between the County and Borough Clubs was continued yesterday afternoon, and the result so far goes to exemplify the proverbial uncertainty of cricket. It will be remembered that the County could only manage to put together 48 runs in their first innings, while their opponents scored the respectable total of 177. Yesterday, howe' er, the tables were turned with a vengeance, as the County kept the B irough players leather-hunting all the afternoon, 222 runs being registered to their credit before the last wicket was down. A. Fooks with 65 was the highest scorer, but Denshire showed the belt cricket, his 62 being obtained in faultless style. Thomas made 39 and Mathias, a visitor from Christchurch, played prettily for his 21. The Borough are now 93 runs behind their opponents’ score.

The Directors’ report and balance-sheet for the tenth year of the National Insurance Company’s operations, to be submitted to the annual meeting, to be held on Wednesday, November 14th, is as follows:—The receipts for the year (including L 5,619 19s from previous balance) have been L 181,667 15s Bd. The expenditure for the same period has been L157,000756d, leaving the sumof L 24,577 8a 2d, out of which the Directors declared an interim dividend in March last, which absorbed L 15.000. The payment of the guaranteed interest of 7 per cent on new capital for the whole year amounts to L 6,096 3s Bd. They now recommend the payment of a further dividend of 10 per cent for the half-year, making with the interim dividend 20 per cant per annum on the old capital of L 50.000, of L 5,000, and to carry forward L 9,481 4s 6d. Provision has been made in the accounts for L 20,748, unadjusted losses, and all ascertained liabilities at the date of closing the books. In order to provide for the customary re-insurance of outstanding risks, the Directors recommend that the amount necessary for this year, viz., L 14,364, be taken from the reserve fund. The re-in-surance fund will then stand at L 53,715, being the exact sum required for the purpose. Notwithstanding the trying times that all underwriters have experienced during the last two years, the Directors have confidence in the future substantial progress of the Company.

In our advertising columns will be found a notification from Mr W. Gavin, the well-known draper, etc., of East street, who intends holding a great clearing sale during the month.

Flies and Bugs.—Beetles, insects, roaches, ants, bed-bugs, rats, mice, gophers, jack-rab bits, cleared out by “ Rough on Rats. ’ 7 /£&• Moses, Moss and Co., Sydney, General Agents.

Holloways Ointment and Pills. — Notable Facts.—lntense heat augments the annoyances of skin disease and encourages the development of febrile disorders; therefore they should, as they can, be remove by these detergent and purifying preparations. In stomach complaints, liver affections, pains, and spasms of the bowels, Holloway’s ungent well rubbed over the affected part immediately gives the greatest ease, prevents congestion and inflammation, checks the threatening diarrhoea and averts incipient cholera. The poorer inhabitants in large cities will _ find these remedies to be their best friends when any pestilence rages, or when from unknown causes eruptions, boils, abscesses, or ulcerations point out the presence of taints or impurities within the system, and call for instant and effective curative medicines.— [Advt. ] .