Untitled

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1040, 3 January 1884, Page 2

Foreign letters for A. Meagon and W. Wyatt are lying unclaimed at the Ashburton post-office. Mr Charles Napier Bell, 0.E., of Christchurch, has been appointed a Royal Commissioner to report on the best route for the Ashburton branch extension.

Owing to a slight accident to her machinery, the Takapuna will not go North this trip. She leaves Wellington fer Lyttelton to-morrow. The accident is not of a serious nature.

The share list of the Champion Copper Co. closed in New Zealand on Monday. Fifty thousand shares were app ied for. The result is deemed satisfactory. The lists for the Australasian colonies close on the Bth.

A young married man, named Frederick Pahl, was riding in Motupeka Valley when a dead tree was blown down and fell upon the rider and horse, killing both. Pahl leaves a wife ar,d child. He was accompanied by a friend, who had a narrow escape. At the Timaru Caledonian Society’s sports yesterday the weather was fine until about 5 p.m. About 2,000 people were on the ground. J. M. O’Connor won the 2,000 yards steeplechase, J. Murphy the 100 yards running, B Nicholl the 200 yards runring, and T. Clarke the one mile walking match. The Society pays away about L2OO in cash, besides a number of private and special prizes. The New Zealand Shipping Company have received cable advice as follows : “The s.s. British Qneen left Plymouth on the 29th ult for Wellington and Lyt telton with immigrants. The Company’s steamers Aorangi for Wellington and Doric for Auck'a’id will probably proceed direct from T. nerifte to their respective ports of call in New Zealand. The third new steamer, the Ruapehu, built for the Company’s direct steam line, has arrived in London from the Clyde, and will be despatched to Auckland about the 10th inst. The clipper Rakaia left London for Lyttelton on the 23rd Deo.

The Customs revenue collected last month in the colony (with the exception of Tauranga) amounts to L 102,789 12s lOd. The sum collected for the corresponding month for last year was L 113,290 7a 2d. |The receipts for the quarter just end.d are below the average required to maKo up the estimated amount for the year. It is expected that the falling off will be pulled up next quarter, which is usually the best quarter of the year. The amount collected at Tauranga averages about L3OO per month. The beer revenue for December last amounted *0 L 6,478 6s 7d, in December last year it was L 7,070 9s Id.

There was again very bad weather for the Otago Caledonian games at Dunedin yesterday, which were largely attended There was a great deal of rain. The principal event was the Border wrestling, in which Hudson, Tyson, and Robertson, the Maori, were among the principal competitors. Hudson won the champion belt with a good deal of ease, throwing Robertson, who took second prize. Tyson, who was thrown by Robertson took the third. Donald Dinnie won the throwing the 221 b ball and tossing the caber. For the first two days of the gathering over L9OO gate money has been taken, even with the vile weather, A meeting of the Longheach School Committee was held in the main school on Monday, December 31st. Present Messrs J. Grigg (chairman), Croy, Donaldson, Houston and Shearer. The correspondent was read, also the Inspector’s report, which was of a most unfavorable charac er, very few passing their examination excepting under the care of Miss Dawkins. In the infants class and Standards I and II which were well prepared, every one passed the examination successfully. The master’s report for the main school showed the same number on the register, while that for the side school showed that four had left the school during the month. Several accounts were passed for payment and the meeting closed.

i he annual treat in connection with the Ashburton Presbyterian Sunday School took place in the paddock of Mr Andrew Orr, kindly lent for that purpose. The children arrived upon the ground about 10.30, when a rush for the swings, footballs, etc., took place, and all games provided were well attended. A splendid luncheon was provided, and ample justice was done to the good things, after which the Rev A. M. Beattie delivered the prizes to the scholars. The sports were again renewed, a d notwithstanding the ominous state of the weather, were carried on until about 4.30 p m., when tea was partaken of by the holiday makers Sports were resumed for a short time, when the Rev Mr Beattie delivered a pleasing address to those present, and as the weather looked threatening they were allowed to disperse at discretion after a very enjoyable day The holiday fetes at Invercargill have been seriously interfered with by the weather, and heavy hail and rain showers. The sports interests in town were divided this year. A new society, the National Athletic, having got up sports on the northern reserves in opposition to the Caledonian Society. The ground of the split in the camp was that a section of the latter Society desired to hold sports on leased ground this year, while the majority resolved they should be pulled off on the Society’s own freehold in the centre of the town. The pew Society’s sports were not so well patronised as those of the older body. There was nothing startling in any of the events, moat of the competitors being local men, unknown outside of the district. Scott, the pedestrian , did two half-hour spells at the Caledonian sports each day, but did not compete. The Caledonian Society’s takings for the two days were LB7l, which is considered very good in view of the miserable weather.

August Flower. —The most miserable beings in the world are those suffering fpm dyspepsia and liver complaint. More than 75 per cent of the people are afflicted with these two diseases and their effects; such as sour stomach, sick headache, habitual costiveness, palpitation of the heart, heart burn, waterbrash, gnawing and burning pains at the pit of the stomach, yellow skin, coated tongue and disagreeable taste in the mouth, coming up of food after eating, low spirits, etc. Go to youf druggist and get a bottle of august flower. This valuab’e medicine has cured thousands and thousands of sufferers, and is known in all civilised countries. Two doses will! relieve you. It costs only 3s 6d a bottle. Sample bottles, 6d.—[Advt.]

There were registered in Ashburton during the month of December 19 births, 6 marriages and 7 deaths.

It is stated that the Hon E, Richardron will again contest the Selwyn seat rendered vacant by the death of Mr E. J. Lee. The other expected candidates are Mr E. Wakefield and Mr McLaughlin. The first meeting of the Couniy Council this year will be held to-morrow, the day having been changed from the first Wednesday to tho first Friday in each month.

The following are the hospital returns for the month of December :—No. in hospital on the first of the month, 13 ; admitted during the month, 2 ; discharged, 9 ; remaining in hospital on the 31st Dec., 6 ; deaths, nil.

A meeting was held in Christchurch 1 .st night to form a People’s Co-operative Protection Society for New Zealand. Only some forty were present. It had been announced that Messrs White, Holmes, and Wynn-Williams would address the meeting, but only Mr White was present. Several working men spoke, but no resolutions were con e to.

We are glad to see that the accident to Mr Alfred Harrison, painful as it was, has not had the effect of preventing that gentleman from attending to his business His many friends will be pleased to learn that he is about again, although it will of course be some time before he regains the proper use of his right arm. The cheap excursion train from here to Christchurch which ran yesterday was a great success, about 500 people taking advantage of the reduced fare to visit the Exhibition. The arrangements made were well carried out, and we feel sure that if another similar excursion was arranged before the Exhibition closes it would be well patronised.

The Caledonian games a*. Oamaru were largely attended during the two days. Close upon 9,000 people were present. All the events were well contested, the number of competitors being large The 220 yards handicap (first day) was won by Church, the 440 yards handicap by Sutherland, and the half mile handicap by Hunter. On the second day the 150 yards handicap was won by Church, the 440 yards handicap by Lefevre, and the mile handicap by flowlison. 'i. A man named Jacobs was drowned on Tuesday night while returning from the Ellesmere regatta in a boat. The de ceased, who was in the employ of T. McDonald, was in a flat bottomed boat, with a sou of his employer. The water was rough, with choppy waves, and the boat overturned. Both clung to it for a long time, but Jacobs at last fell ofl. It was dark at the time. The boat drifted ashore with McDonald, who was so exhausted with cold and wet that he wenr. to sleep and did not wake till daylight. The deceased's body had not been found at 4 p.m. yesterday. The annual picnic of the children attending the Roman Catholic School came off yesterday in a paddock belonging to Mr T. Hrankin, and was the most success-

ful ever held in connection with the school, nothing unpleasant happening to mar the pleasure of those who had met together to have a good day’s outing. The children with their parents and friends, numbering nearly 400, were favored with lovely weather for their picnic, and Father Coffey with Mr Diueen (schoolmaster), who were assisted by several ladies, among whom we may mention Meadames Brankin and McTeigue, and the Misses Moran, Macfarlano, Butler and O'Malley, were most indefatiga le in their endeavors to make all present enjoy themselves. Several prizes were given away during the afternoon to successful competitors at the sports, and the great item of the day was the tug of war in which the girls came off victorious. Next year it is intended to institute in connection with this annual picnic the Olan-a-Gael sports, which are similar to th> Caledonian sports.

Our correspondent writes :—New Year’s Day is one of the red-letter days in the Longbeach district. On this day the children attending the schools held their annual treat, and at about noon they and their friends assembled near the beach in a paddock to which they had been invited by Mr J. Grigg. Here they were entertained at a substantial lunch, provided by Mrs Gngg and other ladies of the district. Racing for toys and other amusements were afterwards indulged in, but they had to be brought to an early close on account of a severe hail shower, which; interfered with the sports. The prizes for racing were distributed, and many

toys given as presents to the others. The distribution of prizes was made by the chairman of the School Committee, who congratulated Percy Edge and John R. Bell —who took this year as last a prize for regular attendance, which bethought was the heat they could get. The pdzes for sewing were next distributed, and the ladies who examined the work said that the sewing taught by Miss Dawkins was neat, clean, and well done, and deserving of the greatest praise. Mrs Grigg, who with the Misses Grigg examined the sewing, gave a special priz' for the first and second whose work was done remarkably well, and was awarded to Mary J. Bundle and Alice E. Dawson respectively. Then came tea, after which nuts and lollies were sown broadcast by the chairman, and a general scramble was the result. Three cheers were given for Mrs and the Misses Grigg and other ladies who provided the good things so liberally, three for the chairman of the Committee (Mr J. Grigg) for his kindness, and three for Mr J. Trigg, jun, the energetic getter up and starter in the races, while Mr W. Moses acted as judge. The members of the Committee weie busily engaged in making all comfortable, and a day not soon to be forgotten in this neighborhood was passed and the homeward journey began.

A fretful mother and cross child indicates illhealth, requiring only Hop Bitters to remove. See.— [Advt.] Flies and Bugs. —Beetles, insects, roaches, ants, bed-bugs, rats, mice, gophers, jack-rab-bits, cleared out by “ Rough on Rats.” Moses, Moss and Co., General Agents, Sydney

Holloways Pills. —Nervous Debility. No part of the. human machine requires more watching than the nervous system—upon it hangs health and life itself. These pills arthe best regulators and strengthened of the nerves, and the safest general purifiers, Naue sea, headache, giddiness, numbness, and mental apathy yield to them. They dispatch in a. summary manner those distressing dyspeptic symptoms, stomachic pains, fulness at the pit of the stomach, abdominal distension, and overcome both capricious appetites and confined bowels —the commonly accompanying signs of defective or deranged nervous power. Holloway’s Pills are particularly recommended to persons of studious and sedentary habits, who gradually sink into a nervous and debilitated itate, unless some such restorative be occasonally taken.—[Adyt.] 1