The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prevalebit. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1884. The Closing Year.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1418, 31 December 1884, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prevalebit. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1884. The Closing Year.

On the eve of a new year it becomes our duty in deference to journalistic practice to briefly review the closing period, and our pleasure to wish our friends —the public—“ A happy and prosperous future.” The declining year was entered upon more in hope than confidence, and unhappily it has not fully realised the aspirations of those who looked to its advent to determine the long period of depression which weighed so heavily during the preceding year on all classes of society. However, we may again reasonably hope that relief is at hand ; that the new year will initiate a decade of prosperity, which the experience of the past will enable us to appreciate to the fullest extent, without disregarding the bitter lessons of adversity. The year has filled an important page in the history of the world. The political atmosphere of Europe has suffered no common disturbance. The experience of Australasia has not been a repetition of that of previous years, and New Zealand’s own affairs have not been dormant. But this evening we propose to take a transitory glance at events nearer home, landmarks which may serve to recall some pleasing or profitable reminiscences to our local readers. The year opened with perhaps as many meteorological vagaries as it is closing. The early part of January was characterised by cold wet weather, culminating on the 10th of the month in the disastrous hailstorm which effected so much damage to growing crops in the Ashburton Forks and other districts. On the day following this calamity Mr C. Napier Bell commenced his labors as a commission to report on the extension of the Mount Somers branch railway, and his mission occupied much attention for a few days. On the 20th Mr D. Oliver, of Westerfield, reported that he had discovered the comet, which was then watched for with considerable trepidation and interest, and was credited with very inflammatory intentions towards this planet. On the 28th the annual elections of the School Committees took place ; the seven gentlemen entrusted with the control of the Borough School subsequently gaining some notoriety in a little passage of arms with the North Canterbury Education Board. The 12th and 13th February were red letter days in the amals of County cricket,, being the dates selected for a match with the Tasmanian cricketers, in which the visitors defeated a local eighteen by 13 runs. On the 19th of the same month a conference took place between Committees from the Borough and County Councils, to discuss the question of raising funds for the erection of a traffic bridge across the Ashburton river. The results of their deliberations were embodied in a report, which has since been made public, presented to the two bodies. On the 21st of February the late Mrs Trevor was suddenly attacked by the illness to which she so recently succumbed. March was accompanied by the new grain tariff, which was vigorously pretested against at the time, but now appears to be accepted as inevitable. On the 20th, Sir William Fox, one of the most distinguished and perhaps the most able advocate total abstinence has ever possessed, lectured in the Town IJall on the only subject oq which his enthusiasm is not tempered with prudence. On the 22nd we were able to present our readers with the Government statistics of the crops the County, and were compelled to remark that the season was ‘kn unprofitable one for growers of cereals, quantity, quality and price being against them.” On the 28th, the first ram and ewe fair, under the auspices of the Ash- [ burton Agricultural and Pastoral : Association, was held, and proved a marked success, On the 7th April, the case Rakak and Ashburton Forks Railway Co, v Wason was first before a legal tribunal when the plaintiffs were non-suited jn the local Resident Magistrate's Court. On the evening of the following day Mr Wason delivered a public address at the Town Hall, and at its conclusion announced his intention to contest the Ashburton seat in Parliament at the first opportunity. On the 26th Mr John Carter, an old identity well known in the district, died. During May the question of local government attracted much alien-

tion and diverted the public gaze from the return to the colony of Sir Julius Vogel and the approaching political crisis. On the 7th Mr Ivess, then sitting as member for Wakanui addressed his constituents in the Town Hall, and his political downfall was foreshadowed by the absence of that enthusiasm which his previous utterances had evoked. On the 15th a melancholy ‘ case of {poisoning occurred at Urral, which occasioned the death of a man named Thomas Fahey, while three others experienced a very narrow escape. On the 16th Mr E. G. Wright announced his resignation of the Ashburton seat in Parliament, and on the following evening Mr Wason delivered another of his public addresses at Chertsey and declared himself as a candidate for ’ the seat vacated by Mr Wright. On the 26th Mr S. Jolly, the pioneer of a large number of irresponsible candidates at the last general election, addressed a public meeting in the Town Hall, and solicited the support of the Ashburton electors in the approaching contest. June was essentially a month of political fever. On the ind it was definitely announced that Sir Julius Vogel would oppose Mr Wason for the Ashburton seat, and on the 13th the now Colonial Treasurer delivered his memorable address in the Town Hall. The following evening Mr Wason essayed to reply to his formidable opponent, but on the 17th, after some days ot excited suspense the House was dissolved, and, as is now a matter of history Sir Julius sought another seat at the general election, leaving his mantle on Mr W. C. Walker, the present popular and efficient member. On the 13th July Mr Grigg came forward as an opponent of Mr Ivess, for Wakanui, and after the briefest of electioneering campaigns won the seat by sheer force of character. The general elections were held on the 22 nd, and so far as Ashburton was concerned, excited more interest than any previous contest. On the 29th Mr D. Thomas ousted Mr Sr. Hill from the seat he had held in the Borough Council since its inception. On August 4th it was announced that smallpox had reached New Zealand, but the measures taken to insure its isolation proved eminently successful. The 10th witnessed the laying of the foundation of the Convent, and on the 23d a l meeting of farmers took p CC at.the Town Hall to discuss Mr Newlyn's scheme for the reduction of the rate of mortgage interest. September was ushered in by a terrific nor’-wester which did much damage in the Mount Somers district. The Bth was the occasion of the Conference between the Road Boards and County Council in reference to local government, and on the nth Messrs Harrison, J. Orr and Bird, the retiring members, were re-elected to the Borough Council. The Early Closing Association, which has established itself as a power in the Borough, was constituted on September 22nd, and on the 27th of the same month a conference between the Directors of the Ashbuiton Cheese and Butter Factory and the milk suppliers happily averted a dead-lock, with which the Factory was threatened. On the Bth November the new County Council was elected without a single contest; on the 19th, 20th and 21st the annual Agricultural show and races occupied attention, and the 23rd {attained melancholy distinction by the sad death of the two sons of Mr John Small by drowning. On the 26th, Mr R, Friedlander was elected Mayor of the Borough, and that gentleman’s installation on the 17th of the current month must complete our record of Ashburton’s year, if we except the general election, the period has not been marked by events of supreme importance, but the town and district have continued, even if laboriously, to progress, and we may hope that our wish for a happy and prosperous New Year for our readers, will be followed by speedy and bounteous realisation.