The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prevalebit. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1884.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1398, 6 December 1884, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prevalebit. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1884.

A telegram was received in town this morning from Mr J. 0. Wason, who is now in Dunedin, to the effect that the Premier is urging the suspension of the action taken by the Rakaia-Ashburton-Forks Railway Company. Mr Stout considers that the ratepayers have a good case if proceedings go on, and Mr Wason has retained him for the defence.

It is understood that many difficulties wore experienced by the Government in framing the regulations for the elections of the Board for the Government Insurance Association, and it was not until yesterday that they were sufficiently shaped as to be presented to the Executivo Council, which they passed, and have now been forwarded to Christchurch for his Excellency’s signature. They are to be gazetted in a few days. The votes of policy holders are to be taken by means of voting papers, which will bo supplied by the Government. It is more than probable that the nomination day will be fixed for a date prior to the 20th Decern her, and in order to avoid having the election during Christmas week, they will take place during the first week in January.

W. Tyrr ell, Wm Peacock, and John A. Colton, three young men who had been arrested at Christchurch on suspicion of having utragod a woman on Monday night last under circum-lances of extraordinary brutality, were yesterday committed for] trial on a charge of criminal assault.

The following cable has been received from the Agent-General “ London, December 3rd. The Post Office notices have been issued, announcing alternate fortnightly mails by direct steamer. No further matter will bo £.O it via Brindisi, unless superscribed.” A deputation of the Dunedin City Council waited on the Promt r yesterday with reference to the clause in the Public Works Art, validating the Sidey compensation claim in connection with the Silverst' iam waterworks. Gome of the councillors expressed the opinion that it had been passed solely on Mr Sidey’s account. The Premier said ho could not agree with the view of the matter taken by the Council. He had learned tha it was suggested to tha Minister of Public Works by Mr W. D. Stewart, and the Minister agreed to introduce it, after consulting the Under-Secretary for Public Works, and finding there were a number of cases which it would meet. After hearing all that had been said on the subject he (Mr Stout) would support the measure if it were again brought up in Parliament. It would be a most immoral proceeding if the corporation were allowed to take advantage of what he considered a doubtful point of law, a mere technical defect in a man’s notice of claim, and to pay simply what they pleased. Evidence was taken yesterday in the Christchurch Supreme Court re the application of Macpherson, Filrner and Co., of 'i imam, against the bankrupt estate of J. T. Brown, for the delivery to the applicants of 200,010 ft of timber shipped from Invercargill to Brown shortly before bis bankruptcy. Argument in the rasa has been a journed till Mr Justice John aton returns from the Timaru sessions.

Take Hop Hitlers three times a day, and you will;have no doctors’ bills to pay. See.— Advt.] The local industries of Ashburton are growing apace. A visit to the principal workshops in this town will convince any of our readers that there is still a splendid future before usif we only patronise those of our enterprising townsmen who are determined to do a legilimat-; I usiness with small profits. In H irnett street the workshops of Messrs Mcech and Co. present a busy appearance, and having improved machinery are able to turn out an excellent display of household furnishings equal to any in Canterbury. We anticipate a great demand ana a satisfactory profit for the manufacturers in return. In Kast street Messrs M and Co. have also opened a show room, where is to be seen some very fine furniture suitable to all classes, and we believe at prices that muse command a ready sale. Our advice is inspect Meech and Co.’s stock for house furnishings.

A man named James Anderson, a farmer at Ida Valley is supposed to I avo been drowned at Clyde yesterday aft rn»on. He arrived in Clyde to see the doctor, and was on his nay to the hosp ial when he was observed to descend the river b ank, take off his coat and vest, and walk into the river Clutha.

A singular care was heard at the Dunedin RM. Court yo torday. The plaintiff, Ireland, sued defendant, Ivuraey, for hoard and attendance supplied to Mrs Kersey. The defence was that Mrs Kur acy left her husband one day, tolling him she was going to Mosgiel, instead of which she went to Auckland, travelling, i was alleged, with a young man named Lockhart, as his wife. She was examined and admitted going to Auckland, but denied ever knowing any young man called Lockhart. She said she did not know by what steamer she went to Auckland or returned in. Hia Worship said there being no clear evidence of adultery, though the facts were very suspicious, he must give judgment for the plaintiff. News has been received from the Southern Cross Petroleum Works that the defective pipes have been withdrawn. The bore is in good condition, and drilling is being continued previous to putting pipes in again. During the stoppage a large quantity of oil accumulated at the bottom.

A deputation, which included Mr Mitchelson and Auckland M.H.R.’s, waited upon the Minister of Justice, urging the inclusion of Kawhia in the district over which the sale of drink is prohibited. The M nister said that his impression was that Kawhia was included, but that he would telegraph to the Native Minister for information.

It is stated that a monster meeting of Maoris will be held at Aroma, in the vicinity of Waug-mui, about two months hence. Over 2,000 natives are expected to be present, among them Titokowaru, the rebel chief, who figured so prominently during the Maori wars. In the Wanganui R. M. Court yesterday, the civil action Timms v Spurdle was heard. It was a claim for the recovery of LIOO penalty on two alleged breaches of the Municipal Corporations Act. The defendant, a councillor, had done some work at the hospital under instructions of the Borough Council, and subsequently sat and Voted as a councillor. The Magistrate gave judgment for the plaintiff with costs of Court. Some further particulars of the Nenthorn fatal affray have been received. The o:iginal quarrel seems to have arisen in banter pver a dog-fight, and it las'ed for some hours, and reached its height about one o’cb ok on Tuesday morning, when Mrs Meldrum got soma persons to interfere. Meldrum was found lying beside a creek near by in an insensible condition. His principal wound seems to have been a stroke on the head with the butt-end of a gun, said to have been given him by Fitzgerald, who is still at large. He was also stabbed in several places with a shoemaker’s knife. He was put in a litter and carried by four men to be taken to Uindon, hut died on the way. The in quest is fixed for to-day, before Mr Fulton, M.H.R., J.P. The following cable message was received yesterday by Government from Mr Ualley, t cti.ig Colonial Secretary of New South Wales Smallpox at present confined to one district of the city. No known cases at large, but fourteen cases in Smallpox Hospital in strict quarantine, four being confluent, four semi-confluent, three discreet, thre? convalescent. A strict house to house investigation has been instituted in the affected locality by the medical adviser.” Henry Lewis, better known as the ‘‘ hangman,” was arrested yesterday on a charge of breaking into the Brunner Coal Mining Company’s offices, and remanded till Monday. The Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association, at their meeting yesterday, appointed a Committee to consider the advisability of obtaining new Show grounds. The present ground is considered too small, and cannot be easily drained. Apropos of Belgian immigration, or rather of the imperative necessity for Belgian emigration, owing to the density of the population of the Kingdom which is one of the smallest and at the same time one of the most progressive in Europe, we (Timaru Herald) heard a good simile a day or two since. “ Belgium,” said a gentleman who takes a great interest ia the new movement, '‘is like an old cheese, so full of mites that they have got to the rind, and must either get out or else eat one another.” That is really the position. Belgium has a population of 5,700,000 souls, increasing at the rate of 200,000 a year—that is to say nearly twice the population of the whole of the Australasian colonies—on an area about t.ho size of Canterbury. Close packing that, considering that a great proportion of the people are engaged in rural pursuits. But there is plenty of room for them hero, and as they have no very strong sentiment of nationality, there is no reason why they should not be as happy hero as there.

A correspondent of the Railway Review, writing about English and German engine-drivers, makes out that the latter

receives much the better training in learn ing his business. He asserts that young Germans intended for locomotive enginedrivers have to go through a technical school course, from whence they enter the railway fitting shops to learn some

mechanical work. After having spent one or two years in the locomotive work--1 shop, the German is sent into the running shed to learn how to make current repairs. When he is old enough to be trusted with a responsibility ha has to do at least a year’s firing under one of the ablest en gine-dtivers of tha railway, who has to be strict with him, and must show him everything connected with the management of the engine. After he has served the necessary time as fireman he has to pass a prac'-ic-il examination, that is, to make a trial trip, on which he is accompanied by tie engineers ana other local authorities, who have to judge if he can be safely entrusted with a locomotive. His next job will be to do a lot of shunting; then he will have to drive eight coupled mountain engines, afterwards the six-coup ed, and so on, until he rises to the post of first-class or express engine driver, the ne plus ultra, ot the calling, to which many aspire, but few are selected. These engine drivers are superior men in every respect, of undaunted energy, thproughly acquainted with their engines ; many of them are learned men, and fit to fill up the post of engineer. Whan not at work they lor like gentlemen. This system does not exclude firemen from advancing to the post of engine drivers, when, after some years’ running, they have distinguished themselves by their punctuality, cleanliness, and especially by their sobritty. The position of the engine driver abroad is not well paid, it is true, but thsir lot is more enviable, espec’ally those where the State manages. They are allowed so much a month for house rent; they have also mile money (melengeid), besides coal and punctuality premiums. The working hours are not so long, and on many lines every third day is a day for rest. We know that there is nothing on earth equal to Hop bitters as a family medicine. Look for. — [advt.] C ciarru of the Bladder. —Slinging .natation, inflammation, all kidney and similar complaints, cured by “ Buchu-patba.” T! e N.Z. Drug Co., General Agents. 3

Coughs, Colds, Bronchitis, etc., arc quick y cured by using Baxter’s * Bung Preserver. ’ This old-establidied medicine is pleasant to the palate, ana higirly extolled by members of the medical and clerical profession, Kead advertisement.

The ordinary monthly meeting' of the Longbeach Hoad Board wis to have been held yesterday, but Messrs Grigg and Dowding ware the only members in attendance at the unpointed hour, and the meeting was adjourned until Friday, January Gth. As will he seen by an advertisement in another column, Ashburton is to receive a visit from the Pollard Juvenile Company, a troupe which has earned great praise from the press in the South. They will occupy the Town Hall for a short season, commencing on Wednesday next. A meeting of the Committee of the Choral Society was hold last evening, when a considerable amount of routine business was transacted. A sub-Com-mitoo was appointed to interview the Orchestral Society with a view of discussing the adviaableness of giving a performance on the night of the Summer Race Meeting (December 29th). It was decided to hold the quarterly meeting at St Stephen’s Schoolroom on Monday evening at eight o’clock, and to resume the usual weekly practices, the first of which will take place after the meeting on Monday. At the gymnastic competition for pnp’l teachers of Canterbury schools held in Christchurch yesterday, Alick Jamieson, pupil teacher in the Ashburton Borough school, took second prize. A correspondent has written to us expressing a wish to have his name withdrawn from our list of subscribers. He states —“ My reason for doing so is for the very ungentlemanly manner you reported on the thoroughbred horses at the late Show. My horse is quite tho-rough-bred. If I have not given you an ad vertisement for the season you might not have shown your teeth. The public has talked more about it than your reporter thinks. If he is no favorite of his I am happy to inform you that he is greatly sought for by the public, which is of more consequence than your biased report." On turning to our file we find that we made no reference to this much sought for quadruped, and our reporter excuses the omission (but we do not credit his statement) by alleging that he was directed by the management to look rather with a kindly than a critical eye upon the exhibits of subscribers, and when he reached this particular specimen his beneficent organ of vision closed. Our correspondent’s reference to an advertisement is, we fear, too vague to be construed into an order for its insertion and we too highly esteem the gentleman we have been unfortunate enough to offend, to solace ourselves with the reflection that the Guabdian is as much a necessity to him as he to the paper. We shall always be prepared to resume our cordial relations, and trust that at no distant date our correspondent will entertain a similar sentiment. In the meantime we should like to remind him of the old Scotch saying—“ He wha will to Cupar, maun to Cupar.”

A contract has been signed by Messrs Barnes and Smith for the erection of the Fleraington Presbyterian Church. The dimensions of the churc will be 35ft by 20ft, and the contract price is L 257. Mr R. Bird ii the architect.

There was no quorum af the Finance Committee of the County Council at their meeting called for this morning. The Committee will meet on Saturdvy next at 11 am.

Yes'e -lay the scholars of the Flemington school presented Mr and Mrs John Small with a letter of condolence in re spect to the recmt melancholy deuh of their two sons. The deceased lads were attendants at the Fletnington school. Th« Hospital and Charitable Aid Committee did not meet th a afternoon, there being no quorum. A meeting was held at the Wakanui Schoolroom last evening to complete arran emeuts for holding the annual sports on New dear’s Day. Mr Protheroe occupied the chair, and there was a large attendance. A ptogramme of events, including the Wakanui Cup, Trot, and Hurdle race for horses, and the usual athletic sports, was adopted. An offer from Mr 0. Hill of the use of a paddock for the sports was accepted. The Treasurer (Mr ProtheiOi) and the Secretary (Mr Oooksou) were authorised to arrange for the sale of privileges, and to advertise the programme. The Committee of the Ashburton Racing Club met at the Club’s room last evening. Present —Messrs Purnell (in the chair), Harrison, Crisp, Quill, M, Friedlander, R, Friedlander, Drs Leahy and Ross. It was resolved to hold the general half-yearly meeting of the Club on Tuesday, 9th instant, and to appoint Mr A. Harrison as auditor, . Drs Ross and Leahy and the Secretary were appointed as a Committee to report upon a suitable data for the Autumn meeting. After the transaction of a large amount of routine business the Committee adjourned.

August Flower. —The most miserable beings in the world are those suffering from dyspepsia and liver complaint. More than 75 per cent of the people are afflicted with these two diseases and their effects 5 such as sour stomach, sick headache, habitual costiveness, palpitation of the heart, heart burn, vvaterbrash, 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 your druggist and get a battle of august flower. This valuable 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.—fADVT.

Christmas presents free of charge. —Last year we are informed that over 9,000 presents were given away during December and the early part of January by H. E. May a Co,, The Hall, Christchurch. This year they are doing the same, and this is how they do it Every customer is presented with a ticket equal to 10 per cent, on the amount spent by them, so that if you spend Lio you can choose anything Tip to Li, if L 5 is spent a los present will be given, if L 3 a 6s piesent, if a 2s present, but if you only spend One Shilling you will get something. And every time you come duri g this month of December and up to January the 6th you will get a present. If you do not wish to spend a lot of money in one day’s shopping you can get your tickets for what you have spent, and so on each time you come, and then get one really handsome thing equal in value to all the tickets you hold.— [AnvT.J