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Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1258, 8 June 1886, Page 2

Mr Sidney Wolf, R.A.M., late of Ashburton, has, we hear, been appointed bandmaster of the Timaru Garrison Band. The ordinary monthly meeting of the Ashburton School Committee will be held this evening. The ordinary half-yearly meeting of members of the Ashburton Tradesmen’s Racing Club will be held this evening.

- Notice appears in the “ Gazette’’that trees and shrubs consigned to Domain Boards for planting in public domains will be carried free of railway charges.

The next Government inspection parade for tiie Ashburton Billes and Guards is ordered for Tuesday next. Any member absenting himself without leave will render himself liable to a penalty of

The Hampstead School Committee, wc hear, contemplate suggesting to Major Steward the inclusion in his Education Act Amendment Bill a clause applying the principle of retirement by rotation to members of School Committees, in place of the present system of annual election.

In the current number of the “ Gazette” is published an Ordor-in-Council increasing the holding area of land to settlers in the village settlement of South llakaia. It is set forth that any settler at present residing in the village settlement may apply for such additional area of land as will not exceed, together with the land at present held by him, a total area of twelve acres.

Tho following is the latest story that is told about the Empress Eugenie, who has ever been a striking figure since the day she charmed Napoleon 111. with the wreath of violets which she wore in her golden hair. “ ‘Twas morning then, but now the night has come.” A short time ago, says the chronicler, a visitor to the Marcus Church at Venice, where tho ex-Empress is now staying, observed a lady dressed in deepest mourning, kneeling in long, silent prayer before one of the side altars. When at last she rose, she looked about her in search of something which she missed, and then walked slowly away, supporting herself by the wall, towards the entrance. Tho stranger politely offered his arm, which was gratefully aaoepted, the lady meanwhile explaining that one of the beggars must have taken her silver-headed walkingstick away, without which she was “ very helpless.” Outside the church two liveried footmen were waiting; the strangrr on retiring offered his address card (alas, tor cruel Nemesis, he was a German from Bcr-

lin I), glancing at which the lady was seen to shudder slightly, and then return the civility by whispering, “ Empress fiugonie, and—homeless.’’

Tho Hampstead School Committee have decided to request the member for Wakanui to support the amendments in the Education Act which are being brought forward by Major Steward, M.H.K. for Waimate, and to ask other Committee in tho district to likewise give their support to these amendments, which, it will be remembered, define the terra “ householder,” regarding which so much confusion has of late arisen, and propose to abolish tho system of cumulative voting.

A lad named Heron, about 16 years of age in the employ of Mr E. Mclntyre, Ashburto 11 Forks, met with a serious accident on Sunday. Ho was thrown from a horse, and falling heavily struck an old horse shoe lying on the ground with his forehead, a projecting portion of tho shoe penetrating the skull. Dr Leahy, who, fortunately, happened to be passing a few minutes after the accident, was called in and did what was possible for the sufferer. Yesterday, assisted by Dr Trevor, he removed a piece of the bone of tho skull, about the size of a shilling, which had been driven into the brain by the force with which the lad had struck the shoe. Heron is now progressing as favorably as can bo expected.

The usual monthly meeting of the Mount Somers lload Board was held at the Board’s office yesterday. Present Messrs Peache fin tho chair) Maofarlane, Edson and Harrison— The Overseer’s report was readand considered. It was resolved to substitute a ford for the bridge on the Alford Forest road near Bowyor’s stream crossing.—The clerk was directed to again send notice to Mr Carleton with regard to overflow of water on the the Alford Forest-Mount Somers road. —-The Overseer was directed to attend to a variety of routine work. —The 1 following tenders were acceptedshingling Alford Forest Eoad, A. Harvey Is fijd a yard; shingling Pound road, J. Carleton, Is 3d a yard ; crossing Kutherford and Alford Forest roads, £5. Accounts having been passed for payment and other] unimportant business disposed of, the Board adjourned.

The usual monthly meeting of the Winslow District School Committee was held in the schoolroom on Saturday. All the members were present. The master, who commenced his duties on May 28, reported the roll number to be 11, but the working average only 26, the wet weather having affected the attendance. On the motion of Mr Bellamy, seconded by Mr Grace, it was decided to ask the Board for a grant of £lO to be devoted towards trecplanting and fencing. A number of tenders were received for the ollioe of caretaker, and that of Mrs C. I’ye, at a remuneration of £7 10s per annum, was accepted. Mrs Gulvorhousc was appointed sewing mistress, and, after accounts to the amount of £6 10s had been passed for payment, the Committee adjourned.

Reporting to the Earl of Rosebery on the returns of shipping and tonnage which passed through the Suez Canal in 1883, 1881, and 1885, the British directors state that since 1883 there has been a gradual increase in the amount of net tonnage, and from 1881 to 1885 the increase was 161,252 tons, which is accounted for by the high tonnage for vessels of war, transports and Government chartered vessels, amounting to 661,276 tons which in 1881 amounted only to 268,181 tons. Taking the four principal flags engaged, in 1885 tiro percentage of Groat Britain was 76 77 of the total net tonnage, that of France was D‘os per cent., of Holland 3-08 per cent., and of Germany 3-11 per cent.