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Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1015, 3 December 1883, Page 2

It is estimated that close on L 3,000 will bo needed to repair damages to roads and bridges in the Waikouaiti County by the recent floods.

The Shag Point Coal Company has secured the tender for the supply of coal to the Dunedin and O.unaru sections of railway for 1884. Mr Bryce, the Native Minister, has told the Kingites that, to facilitate investigation of the title of blocks of land they bring before the Native Lands Court, he will undertake to send two judges to the Waikato district to remain two years if necessary, and move about from place to place. Members of the Irish National League of Auckland applied to Bishop Luck for the use of one of the Catholic schoolrooms for the evening meetings for the transaction of business of the League. Bishop Luck replied to the request, that the Society was a political organisation, and required the schoolroom for a political purpose, and that therefore he could not grant the request made.

An accident occurred to a man named Hulston last evening in East street. It appears that about half-past six when the religiou! procession was marching through the town Hulston was riding round Alcorn’s corner when his horse, startled, it is alleged, by the singing, reared and fell on his back. The rider was thrown heavily and received a concussion of the brain. He was taken into Quill's Hotel, and Dr Rosa was soon in attendance, b.ut we are glad to say that the patient was greatly improved this morning, and left for hia home this afternoon.

A Home letter for 0. Moore lius unclaimed at the local Post Office. was rcstoiod on the Port Darwin line tills afternoon.

An installation of officers of the Thistle Lodge takes place at7io’dock this evening in the Masonic Hall. Mr James Brown is a candidate for the va ant seat in the Ashburton County Council. His address to the electors will be found in another column. The Hon E. Mitchelsou left Christchurch for Timaru this morhing. He will inspect the Ashburton Forks lino en route and also the Mount Somers line.

Tho following are the names of tho Ashburton players selected to play in the Hororata match : Messrs Thomas, Mi nwaring, Denshire, C. P. Oox, A. Fooks, Kemp, G. Andrews, Simpson, Cuttis, Maude, Jephson,' and M. Scott. I he above are requested to roll up for the first train on Wednesday morning next. At the Police Court this morning, Mr

!?alioc< ordered an old offender, named Thomas Harris to pay a fine of 10 1, or to go to prison for 48 hours, for being drunk in a public place. Joseph Goughan, an old man in feeble health, was also charged «ith drunkenness, and as remanded till tomorrow, to enable the police to communicate wLh Mr March as to whethsr the accused could be re-admitted ta the Old Men’s Home.

Plays adapted from novels ar t seldom successes from a literary point of view, and “ Aurora Floyd,” which was given by the Wilhnott Company in the Town Hall on Saturday is certainly no exception to the rule. The very title is a misnomer, aa when the curtain rises tho heroine is the supposed wfe of John Mellishand the actual wife of the trainer James Conyers. The only merit tho play has is that it affords some scope for the display of forcible acting on tho part of tho.e entrusted with the principal characters. Miss Crawford acquitted herself well as the heroine, especially in that scene where she is threatened by “ Softy,” and the struggle between these two in tho final act was also effective and called forth loud applause. Miss Johns, as the mischief-making housekeeper, played her small part with her customary care. Mr bore off the palm among the actors by his impersonation of “ Softy,” a part in many respects wall suited to him. Mr Teeca made a manly John Mellish, but Mr Siramonds, as Conyers, was rathar overweighted. None of the others call for special mention, though they filled the parts allotted to them fairly well. The burlesque of “ Cinderella” concluled the evening, and sent the audience away in a good humor. To-night tho Company appear for the last time, and will give “ Blow for Blow,” one of the best of H. J. Byron’s popular comedies.

The twenty-four hours walking contest at Wellington, between Sc )tt and Edwards was concluded at 10 o’clock on Saturday night, Edwards being dec'arcd th; winner by one lap (80yds) Shortly after the start on Friday evening eld wards assumed the load by about 400yds, and he held this un'il six o’cl'-ck on Saturday morning, when ho le’ired from the track. Scott previous to this had been off the track twice, but for very short intervals. At 6.20 a.m. Edwards returned, and the register was—Scott, 40 miles 5 laps; Edwards, 40 miles. The positions were unaltered at five minutes past eight in the raonrng, when both pods left the track for nine minutes. The men were walking in capital style, and when half the time was up Scot' had covered 58 miles 9laps, and Edwards 56 miles 20 laps. At noon Edwards went off again for 20 minutes, an I Scott had a spell of the same duration at one o'clock. The who'e afternoon both were walking strong, and at 3 p.m. Scott had a lead of exactly a mile. He maintained this lead until near 6 p.m , when Edwards spurted and reduced it by four laps. At 8.30 p.m. Scott was still ahead by half a mile, but Edwards by successive spurts gradually overhauled him, and won by a lap. The distances were —Edwards, 110 miles 16 laps ; Scot, 110 miles 15 laps. Iho latter part of the race, was most exciting. Throughout the day the at'endance was by no means large, as all sporting people were away at the races, but from eight to ten the building was crowded, about 600 being present. A few minutes after the conclusion Edwards thanked the public for their attendance, and also for the treatment he and Scott had received. He complimented Scott on the way he walked, end said it was the first time he had beaten Scott at his (Scott’s) own distance. Scott also thanked those present. The forty-eight hours’ contest will start next Thursday evening. The following additional details of the alleged find of gold in the Rakaia Gorge are given by this morning’s Lyttelton Times :—The leader ot the party sent out some few weeks ago by the Premier Goldmining Prospecting Association returned to town on Friday, having brought down some very good specimens of gold-bear-ing stone. The quartz was taken from the outcrop of a six foot reef, discovered at about 800 ft from the base of the main dividing range at the foqt of Browning’s Pass. From the appearance of tha stone and tha lay of tha reef, there is thought to be little doubt but (hat it is a continuance of the line of reefs that a few years ago were opened at the head of the Taipo river, on the western side of the main Taking their starting-point from Moa Creek — or, as the prospectors found it, river—they traced up the main reef through numerous small specimens of gold-bearing quartz which they discovered in the creeks and gorges on the left-hand side of the Wilberforce. Nearing the main range indications were also mat with that they were on the right track, which was eventually proved by their striking the outcrop of the main reef previously mentioned. The country is reported as being frightfully broken, very mountainous, and in places almost inaccessible, the heavy snow rendering travelling and prospecting extremely dangerous. That the prospectors have struck gold-bearing stone there is no gainsaying ; but that the auriferous metal is sufficiently diffused throughout the stone to make it payable, can only be ascertained aftsr a thorough practical trial. Specimens of the quartz are displayed in the window of the shop of Mr I. Herman, watchmaker and jeweller, High street. In one of the specimens there is visible something more than a speck of gold, and in the others the indications are very promising. The reef from which they are brought is six feet wide. A meeting of the directors of the Company was held on Saturday afternoon to consider what action shall be taken in the future. The meeting was private, but it has transpired that it was decided to send the samples of quartz to Wellington to be assayed by Dr Hector.

“ Rough on Rats." —Clears out rats, mice, roaches, flies, ants, bed-bugs, beetles, insects, skunks, jack-rabbits, gophers, 7 Druggists. Moses, Moss and Co., Sydney, General Agents. 2 Indigestion, weak stomach, irregularities of the bowels, cannot exist when Hop Bitters are used. ' ee.—[Advt.] Holloway’s Pills.—The sudden changes frequent fogs, and pervading dampness sorely impede the vital functions and conduce to illhealth. The remedy for these disasters lies in some purifying medicine, like these Pills,. which is competent to grapple with the mischief at its source, and sta mp it out without fretting the nerves or weakening the system, Holloway’s Pills extract from the blood all noxious matters, regulate the action of every disordered organ, stimulate the liver and kidneys, and relax the bowels. In curing chest complaints these Pills are remarkable effective, especially when aided by friction of the Ointment on its walls. This doable treatment will ensure a certain, steady, and beneficent progress, and sound health will soon be re-established, —Advt.