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Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1248, 27 May 1886, Page 2

At the R.M. Court this morning Charle Smithel, arrested at Kaikoura, was brought up charged with wife desertion, ana remanded until to-morrow.

His Excellency the Governor has received a cable message that her Majesty has conferred on the Premier the dignity of Knight Comaador of St. Michael and St. George.

The obituary column in the “ Times ” of March 23 has been pronounced to be the most extraordinary one ever published in one newspaper, the number of deaths advertised being 81, of which number 11 represented a total of 3133 years or an average of 78 years each.

A meeting of householders was held at Barrhill schoolroom on Wednesday evening, when the following gentlemen wore duly elected as members of the Barr Hill School Committee for the ensuing year :—Messrs D. Hurst, S. Hurst, H. Jaques, J. Blain, G Blackmorc, 11. Mills and C. S. Mackie. A meeting of the Committee was held subsequently, when Mr C. S. Mackie was appointed Chairman of the Committee, and Mr D. Hurst Treasurer.

There was a fairly numerous attendance at the Addington stock market yesterday. In sheep a tolerably brisk demand was experienced for crossbred wethers of good quality, especially for those suitable for freezing, for which purpose a considerable number were purchased. Second-rate and medium quality were not much in demand, still, on the whole, late quotations were fairly well upheld, and little, if any, alteration can be reported. Prime crossbreds sold at from Its t 0 10s 6d; medium, at from 6s to Bs. In merinos only one or two pens of inferior quality were on oiler, and prices ranged from 3s Od to 5s 3d. The average price of mutton was IJd per lb. Not many lines of store sheep were penned, and very few sales took place, the principal being crossbred wethers in forward condition, at 5s and 17s 2d, and cull crossbred ewes at 2s 3d and 2s 6d. The prices of cattle and pigs were unchanged.

Sir Alexander Stuart was interviewed A New York while on his way to England on the subject of laying a submarine cable between Australia and San Francisco. The “ New York Mail ” thus reports his answer: “We are trying to form a plan with the assistance of this Government, the Hawaiian and New South Wales, for that purpose. X called uponjthe.President at the capital the other day, and unfolded to him and some members of his Cabinet the desire of my Government. The plan proposed is for the three Governments mentioned to lay the cable by advancing the money, 10,000,000 dollars. This sum will be sufficient, and the Governments must agree to pay 5 per cent, on this capital annually to keep the cable up. If the o per cent makes a big surplus, then that sum to be devoted to buying a new cable. It will only require a payment of several hundred thousand dollars. The Hawaiian Government have already passed a Bill for that purpose. The cable will touch there. The outlook somewhat fcyarabie."

A number of the parishioners and friends of the Rev H. C. M. Watson, who has recently returned to Ohristohurch from a visit to Europe, welcomed him last evening at a cor| vorsazione.

His Excellency the Governor has received a cablegram that Her Majesty has conferred on the Premier, thcHon]Mr Stout, the dignify of Knight Commander of St Michael and St George.

Professor Bice fgave |a third entertainment at the Town Hall last evening. There was a fair atendanco. The entertainment passed off very well, the mind reading tests being in each instance successful. Musical selections contributed by Mrs Rice, and an exhibition of legerdemain and clairvoyancy went to make up a very enjoyable programme.

In the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon Urn Premier told Mr Dargaville that the census returns would bo completed and published some time next month. He added that, when they were out, some hon members would bo very considerably astonished, and perhaps disappointed.

A public meeting of citizens was held at Invercargill last night on the New Hebrides question. The following resolutions were passed : —•' That, in the interests of civilisation and commerce, this meeting protests against the proposed annexation of the New Hebrides Group by France.” “ That, in the opinion of this meeting, the Government of the Colony should unite with the Governments of the Australian Colonies in urging upon the Imperial Government the destrabilily of placing the New Hebrides under the protection of the British llag.” Copies of the ordered to be forwarded to the Premier, and the thanks of the meeting were accorded to Sir George Grey for the action he has taken in regard to the Now Hebrides question.

A special meeting of the Winslow School Committee was held in the Schoolroom on Saturday evening, for the purpose of electing a Chairman in the place of Mr foster, resigned. Present—Messrs Hayman, Grace, Drennan, Mclvor, and Bellamy. On the motion of Mr Grace, seconded by Mr Bellamy Mr Drennan was elected Chairman. Mr foster was elected Secretary and Treasurer, It was resolved to request the Board of Education to enlarge the,Winslow School District, subject to the approval of the WiHowby School Committee, so that it might include B.S. 15688. The members of the Committee expressed regret that Mr foster should have resigned the Chairmanship, and hoped that, if the district were extended as proposed, Mr foster would be induced to again occupy the chair.

Forty-three nominations have been received for the Dunedin Champagne stakes of 1887.

A very large meeting of persons to consider the advisableness or otherwise of leaving for the Kimberley Goldlioids was held at the Corn Exchange, Christchurch, last night. A quantity of information was .given to the meeting by gentlemen who hud been appointed at a previous meeting, and it was announced that were sullicient inducement offered the owner would lay on the steamer Triumph for Derby. It was stated that the steamer could iind accommodation for 100 horses and 000 or 600 passengers, and that she would sail about the eud of June.

A certain M.H.lt,, who (says the "Tuapeka Times”) is in the habit of travelling pretty regularly on a certain Otago railway, some-how—-no doubt through his olliciousness—got at loggerheads with the guard. The guard,.by way ,of exorcising hi* authority, insistedmpon the hon. traveller showing his pass every time he travelled over the line. The latter got somewhat weary of eternally displaying his railway medal, and one day when the carriage was pretty full he felt rather annoyed that the guard should insist upon him showing his tickotjlike an ordinary traveller. "My face is my ticket, sir,” he replied. "Then,” quietly exclaimed the guard, “ I have strict instructions to punch all tickets.”

An extraordinary defence was set up at the Sydney Police Court by a man named Michael Desmond, who was sued by his wife for maintenance. Desmond stated that he had been sentenced to death by Sir James Martin, which sentence was commuted to imprisonment for life. After serving 13 years his exemplary conduct gained him his release, and he pleaded that having been sentenced to death, he was dead to the world and had no wife. He asserted that so rare a legal point had never been submitted to any judge or magistrate, and that nocourt.in the world had jurisdiction in such a case. The magistrate declined, however, to regard Desmond as a dead man, seeing that sentence of .death had not been carried out, and ordered him to pay os weekly for the support of his wife.

*_Judgment was given in the Court of Appeal at Wellington yesterday morning, in re Ell v. Harper, from the decision of Mr Justice Johnston, refusing to adjudicate Ell a bankrupt. In his Honor’s view, payment into Court, after execution, rendered it impossible for him to say the petitioner’s debt exceeded £SO at the time of the hearing of the petition. The Court was of opinion that His Honor was wrong in so deciding, but as it was contended that the respondent was entitled to oppose the petition on other equitable grounds, and that he was interfered with in so doing, the Court refused to ajudicate him a bankrupt, and directed that the Judge in the Court below should re-hear and adjudicate upon the whole matter, the debtor being at liberty to go into evidence at any point which has not been decided, Mr Jellicoe, on behalf of the debtor, applied for leave to appeal at the Privy Council in the matter, and His Honor the Chief Justice desired that the application should be renewed later on.

The committee of the Christchurch Presby;ery have drafted a series of resolutions in eply to the Priemier’s letter, rr the New

Hebrides. They submit that the Presbyterian Church has never allowed self interest to stand in the way of any real public good,

as is shown by their attitude with regard to national education ; they fail to recognise that France has any ciaim to annex the New Hebrides and do not believe such annexation would be a public good but are convinced annexation would jeopardise the missionaries work, and believe the natives themselves would not be willing to trust their future destinies to France, cessation of the deportation of criminals to the Southern Seas being made a reason for the cession to France of

these islands. They believe the time is not far distant when no European nation will be allowed to cause a moral nuisance at the door of the Australasian Colonies. But while not wishing to furnish a ra/wtn belli, they consider that a firm diplomatic front is more likely to maintain peace than any temporary policy. As to the ownership cf the Pacino Islands, the committee desires to thank Mr Stout for his courtesy and consideration ; but hopes Government will unite with the great majority of the Australasian people in protesting against the annexation of the New Hebrides by France, and also against the deportation of reoidivistes to an island or islands in the Pacific. I

A concert was given in the Hinds school-1 room on Friday evening in aid of the State and Sunday schools fund. Mr A. Gibson presided, and there was a very good attendance. Items were contributed by the following performers : ilesdames Manning and Bailey, Miss Manning, Messrs Manning, Philip, Norrish, Mutton, Rich and Broom. At the conclusion of the programme, votes of thanks were accorded to the performers and to the ladies, who had provided refreshments. The concert was followed by a dance, and the whole entertainment was one of the most successful yet held at Hinds.