The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prevalebit. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1883.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1032, 22 December 1883, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prevalebit. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1883.

I At a meeting of the North Otago A. and P. Association on Thursday, it was ; decided to hold a ram and ewe fair about i the beginning of March next. • The Walton Park Colliery Company de--1 dare a dividend of 8 per cent for the year, • and the Otago and Southland Investment 1 Company an interim one at the rate of 10 per cent. 1 The only business at the Court this morning was a charge brought, against a • resident for having set at naught the Borough By-laws by allowing a horse to' 1 wander at large. The defendant was ( fined Is and costs. The celebrated Scottish athlete Donald Dinnie passed through Ashburton by this ( morning’s express en route to Dunedin. He was interviewed by representatives of the local Caledonian Society, and we understand that there is a probability of ! his returning hero for the purpose of being present atthe sports on Wednesday. I The Otago Harbor Board at their meeting yesterday afternoon decided to make an offer to Findlay and Co. to proceed with the construction of 400 ft of wharfage l at Rattray street, at schedule rate as per their tender, and in the event of their re- ; fusal, that fresh tenders for the work be called for. Captain Douglas has received a telegram 1 stating that the first, second, fourth, and twelfth prizes for the district firing have been won by Christchurch Volunteers, but all the rest by members of the Ashburton Rifles, who thus take L 23 15s out of the L 43 12s allotted for the Cant rbury district At the Wellington Magistrate’s Court yesterday David Maurice Pomeroy, fourth officer of the Rotomahana, was charged with assaulting a seaman named Patrick Comerford. The accusing denied the offence. Evidence given by the informant and two others showed that shortly after six o’clock in the morning men were em ployed in washing down decks, when an altercation ensued as to lifting of the sheep net, the result being that the fourth mate struck the prosecutor twice in the eye. The accused admitted that he struck the man once, Comerford having provoked him by striking him in the eye. A fine of L2 and costs was imposed. The Westland Education Board matters are in a position of inextricable confusion The people are indignant that no teachers’ salaries have been paid since October last, and no present prospect of their being paid. Mr Fitz Gerald, M. H.R., was requested by the people of Westland to proceed to Wellington, and to endeavor to get the Act passed last session subdividing this district from the Greymouth district brought into operation. A telegram from Mr Fitz Gerald states that the Government will not consent to the elections for a new Board until all outstanding liabilities of the old Board are paid. The quarterly summoned meeting of the Loyal Ashburton Lodge, M.U., 1.0.0. F., took place last evening in the lodgercom, Wills street, and there was a large attendance of members. After the usual routine of business, P.G. Bro J. Tait, assisted by Bros J. Ivess and J. Maynard, installed the following officers, who had been chosen to take charge of the Lodge for the ensuing th r ee months : —N.G. Bro W. Baylis ; V.G. Bro Thos. Conolly; E.S., Bro K. Stephenson, jun.; R. S. to N. G., Bro McKee ; L. S. to N. G. Bro Clephane ; R.S. to V. G., Bro Miller; L.S. toV.G., Bro Woodward; G., Bro Daintry; Warden, Bro W. C. Page : Lecture Master, Bro Miles ; Auditor, Bro Charles Baker. Votes of thanks were then passed to retiring officers, which were suitably responded to by Bro J. Tait, who haring now passed through the various offices in the lodge in a satisfactory manner, is to be presented with a handsomely framed certificate of merit. Bros. Miles and Crooks were appointed sick visitors. As several complaints were made about insolence alleged to have been received from the chemist who is |at present supplying medicine, etc , for the sick members of the lodge, a committee was appointed to wait on Dr Rosa, t the medical officer, to ask him to make arrangements with some other person to supply medicine, etc., to those of the members who objected to go to the chemist who has been dispensing , for him. Several members were fined for being absent without apology, and it was . resolved —“That at the next summoned , meeting, section 59 in the general laws be strictly adhered to.”