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Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1479, 4 March 1885, Page 2

At a meeting of the Southland Waste Lands Board held on Thursday last it was resolved to call upon Mr Moftatt (late of Wakanui) to show cause why a penalty of LBO should not be imposed upon him for cutting timber from the Otaulau Bush without a license. Messrs R Alcorn and T. Bullock, J.P '3, presided at the R.M. Court this morning James Franklin, against whom there had been a number of convictions previous to I‘■'B2, but none since, was charged with having been drunk and incapable, and, the evidence of Constable Smart having been taken, the accused was fined 10s and costs with the usual alternative.

Very heavy rain fell throughout the northern districts during Monday night and yesterday morning, and it is feared the uncut and unslacked crops will suffer damage to a considerable extent.

A meeting of persons interested in the formation of a Working Men’s Club was held in Fowler’s buildings last evening. There were about 20 persona present, and Mr S. B. Nelson was voted to the chair. After the matter had been fully discussed it was proposed by Mr Tasker, and seconded by Mr Marsh—“ That a Club be formed, and that it be named the Ashburton Club.” The motion was carried unanimously. Those present expressed their willingness to become members. Mr Amos was appointed Secretary pro iem , and the following were appointed a Committee to draft rules :—Messrs S. B. Nelson, Tasker, Connelly, Hoult, Scott, Noakes and Bonuington. It was resolved to write for a copy of the Christchurch Working Men’s Club rules. The offer of a building was received, but nothing definite was done in this direction. The meeting then adjourned till Wednesday next.

We regret to learn that Mr R. Jenkins, who for some time has been a prominent working member of the Orchestral Society and the Ashburton Brass Band, will shortly leave Ashburton to take up his reidenoein Napier. At a meeting convened by Mr Arenas, the Spanish Vice-Consul in Christchurch, yesterday, the Mayor presided, and a Committee was appointed to consider the best means for raising money for the relief of sufferers by the earthquakes in Spain. A telegram received yesterday from Sir Julius Vogel states that he will arrive in Christchurch on Monday or Tuesday next.

A meeting of the Excursion Sports Committee will be held at Messrs Matson, Cox and Co. ’a 1 ffioa this evening to receive the Treasurer’s report and wind up the affairs in connection with the late sports.

One of the moat striking features of modern French life is the rapid increase of insanity, the number of cases of which, ard epeciaily those induced by alcoholism, is becoming larger each year. In 1882 there were 13,434 admissions in the asylums, of which 10,181 were new cases, the total number under treatment in the year being 58,760, of which 27,000 were men and 31,000 women.

The Committee of the Ashburton District School met at the Borough School last evening. Present—Masers Williamson (chairman), W. H. Collins, A. Ore, S. W, Alcorn, J. Orr, J. Tucker and D. Thomas. A communication was read from the North Canterbury Board of Education in reference to the headmaster. The Inspectors’ report and the headmaster’s reply were also read. The Chairman announced that no reply had yet been received to the Committee’s application for a copy of the Inspectors* comments upon the headmaster’s letter; it would be for the Committee to determine whether they should go into the matter or not before that reply was received. Mr Thomas thought they were unlikely to receive any further information from the Board in reference to the matter. ne was prepared, from his own examination of the school, to combat, the Inspectors’ report, and suggested that they should discuss the matter forthwith. The Chairman and Mr A. Orr thought the proceedings should be adjourned until the Committee had at, least, an acknowledgment of their communication. Mr Thomas proposed, and Mr Collins seconded—“ That the question be dealt with at this meeting.”— : Aa an amendment, Mr A. Orr proposed, and Mr J. Tucker seconded—“ That consideration of the question be deferred until the ordinary meeting of the Committee on Tuesday; March 10th.”—After a desultory discussion the proposition was withdrawn the amendment substituted end carried. —The Committee than adjourned until Tuesday, 10th March. The Marquis of Lome is still, it is understood, desirous to go to Ireland as Lord-Lieutenant, and it is possible that this post will :be offered to him should Lord Spencer retire in the spring. In the meanwhile the Campbell family are sending telegrams to the Scotch crofters, to which they decline to listen, and writing articles in magazines to prove that all crofters, with the exception of those on the estates of Lord Napier of Ectrick, are exceptionally well off, whilst those on the Argyll estates are in an earthly Paradise. — Truth.

The jury list for the district of Ashburton now lies at the Resident Magistrate’s Court for inspection. Objections to the list will be dealt with by a meeting of Justices to be held on Friday, April 3. The Port Chalmers Licensing Bench have granted extensions from ten to eleven o’clock to all the hotels in the port. A young woman appeared at the Rear dent Magistrate's Court this morning charged with child desertion, but Sergeant Felton informed the Bench that the accused bad arranged to pay expenses and take charge of her infant, and the case was consequently dismissed. Af a meeting held at the Tinwalii Hotel oo Saturday last, it Was resolved to hold the annual Xinwald Races on Wednesday, 15bh April, io a paddock kindly lent by Mr Robert Wilkin. The following officers were appointed .'—President, Mr C. J. Hawdon ; vice-president, D. McLean ; secretary, Mr J. 0. Bell; clerk of the course, Mr W, Hanks; clerk of the scalps, Mr Hazeltine; starter, Dr Leahy; judge, Mr M- Stitt; handicappers, Messrs Crisp, Fooks, Saunders, and Dr Leahy ; treasurer, Mr M. Scott. A meeting will be held on Saturday evening to arrange details of the programme. The Borough Couuoil’s advertisement, inviting volunteers .to form a Fire Brigade, has yet received no response.

Another unfortunate.—Again we must raw the attention of our readers to the fact that a .£2,424 stock of Clothing and General Drapery, in the estate of Dennis O’Connell, trading in Lyttelton and Cristchurch, now bankrupt, was purchased by 11. E. May & Co., of the Hall, High street, for £954, or only a little over one-third of its value. 11. E. M. and Co. are now selling it at half the marked price, which surely ought to sepnre a speedy clearance.

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 legitimate business with small profits. In Burnett /street the workshops of Messrs Meech 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 East stpect Messrs M. Sind Co. haye also opened a show roprp> vytyere is to be seen some very fine furniture suitabltp all classes, and We believe at prices that must command a ready sale. Our advice is inspect Meech and Co.’s stock for house fur nishings.