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Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1292, 19 July 1886, Page 2

Robson’s Transparent Diorama attracted a fairly large audience at the O Idfeilows’ Hall on Saturday evening, and the pictures met with a very favorable reception. The views illustrating the career of the late General Gordon were well executed and well shown, and those connected with the late eruptions in the North Island were both interesting and instructive. The pictures were shown by means of an oxy-hydrogen limelight, and one and all were of very great excellence. Besides the pictures already indicated the collection includes views of European and New Zealand scenery, and most exquisite representations of groups of statuary. The diorama was placed at some disadvantage on Saturday evening by a defect in the limelight appliances, but this, we understand, will be entirely remedied this evening, when a still more complete and varied exhibition will be placed upon the stage.

At the Wellington Supreme Court on Saturday morning, the jury, which had been looked up since six the previous night, brought in a verdict of larceny against John Gilmour, and the prisoner was remanded for sentence. The jury were discharged, and owing to the number excused from attendance, the panel was so much reduced, that it was thought not expedient to go on with the last case on the calendar, and the Court adjourned until Monday. The Chief Justice expressed an opinion that an amendment in the Act giving the Judge power toS discharge a jury after being looked up throe or four hours, when there was no chance of agreement, would bo a step in the right direction.

A firm iu Dunedin complains that some oases received by the direct steamer in cargo which had been transhipped from the North had been rifled of its contents in transit, pieces of iron being substituted.

On Friday evening a very successful Gospel Temperance meeting was held in the Schoolroom, Flemington. The Rev. A. Blake presided. The meeting having been opened with prayer, the Chairman delivered an interesting address on “ Temperance Example. ’ A miscellaneous programme was then gone through as follows :—Reading, “ Death of Little Joe,” Mr H. C. Williamson ; Song, " Father won’t drink any more,” Mrs Dunn ; song, “ Dare to do right," Mr Osborne ; song, “ Don’t forgot the old folks,” Miss J. Anderson; song, ” Why I sign the pledge,” Miss Annie Dunn ; duet, “ Bessie, the drunkard’s lone child,” Mr and Mrs Konnington ; " The Brick Lane branch of the Temperance Society,” Mr R. Gilmour , trio, “ The social glass,” Mr and Mrs Dunn, Mr Dakers ; Recitation, “ Scenes from life,” Mr Martin ; song, “ The drunkard’s ragged wee ’un,” Mr Andrews ; song and chorus, “ Como and sign," choir. During the evening Mr Harding addressed the meeting on “ Prohibition,” and Mr Andrews on “ Publican’s compensation.” Hearty votes of thanks to the performers and speakers were carried by acclamation, and several new names having been added to the roll of membership, a very pleasant evening was brought to a close.

A football match was played on the Borough School ground on Saturday between the Hampstead and Tinwald Schools, resulting in a win for the former by 5 points to 4. Tries were secured by A. Jamieson and D. T. Todd. For the winners Painter, Fawcett, and Lamb did good service, and Clark (2), Williams (3), and Armstrong played well for the losers.

A well attended meeting of the Chertsey Farmers’ League was held in the Hotel on Saturday evening to discuss the irrigation scheme lately prepared by the County En-

gineer, who was present. Mr Coster, who was also present, supplied a large amount of information as to the course of procedure by the County Council, pointing out that the intention of the Council is to put the scheme before the public in the shape of a proposal to test the feelings of the ratepayers. Mr Baxter entered into the full details of his scheme, explaining that it was proposed to construet wide but pMIIow mains, with submains to convey . c r°ady for distribu- j tion over the land. I- ;1; pointed out that the water wonld be measured, and each farmer could use that allowed him he thought proper, either to irrigate the whole of hia farm or any portion of it. He explained that in the maintenance clause the present water race rate was included, so that it would materially decrease the 3d per acre rate. After a long discussion Mr Wilkinson proposed—“ That this meeting cordially agrees with the Council’s endeavors to form irrigation districts throughout the county.” The motion was carried by a large majority. A hearty vote of thanks to Messrs Coster and Baxter for their attendance was unanimously carried, and a similar compliment to the chair closed the proceedings.

A rumor baa been current in town for the last two or three days that proceedings lor libel are about to be taken against a wellknown professional gentleman by an equally well-known gentleman, who for a considerable time past has resided iq this town.

The reeent rise In the price of wheat (says the Wanganui Herald) has set the farmers on this coast hard at work ploughing, and the area sown will be much larger than during the past two years, during which not nearly sufficient for “home consumption” has been grown, owing to the low prices ruling. With wool and wheat up to remunerative prices things in this district will soon become lively and property saleable at better prices than they now command. All classes are benefited [by the rise, which we sincerely trust may be permanent.

The following telegram has been received by Mr Weaver, manager of the South Pacific Petroleum Company, from the Chairman of Directors in Sydney:—“Leaving for Gisborne to-morrow. Woit my arrival.”

The following Russian Imperial Order, addressed to tho commanders, officers, and sailors of the Black Sea Fleet, has been promulgated More than thirty years have now elapsed since the Black Sea Fleet, alter accomplishing heroic {deeds, sacrificed itself lor the welfare of Russia, the brave men who served in it transferring themselves in spirit to the memorable heights of Sebastopol. This fleet is now being ra-oonstruoted, to the 1 joy of Fatherland, which so long mourned its loss. My will and thoughts are directed t the peaceful developement of the nation’s welfare. Circumstances, however, may render the fulfilment of my wishes difficult, and may force me to the armed defence of the dignity of the Empire. You will go with me in this with the devotion and constancy which your j ancestors displayed in response to the appeal 1 of my grandfather, which caused astonishment to their contemporaries. On the sea which witnessed their gallant exploits I confide to you the defence of |the honor and safety of Russia.”

A. Esau, manager of the Oamel Carrying Company, who recently returned to Adelaide alter a seven months’ trip through Australia and Western Queensland, gives som e particulars of the plague of rata which is causing inconvenience in a of South Australia. "On his return south Mr Esau found thejcountry dry, even in Queensland, and very dry in iSouth Australia. At Tallatocbi, 50 miles'south from Innamines, there was barley a drink. At Mundrabarcoola there was a good supply of water, butjfrom there to Mulligan’s springs the track was nearly waterloss for over GO miles, except at Willow Wells where the water contains numbers of rats and, is quite undrinkable. In fact, the whole country was undermined by rats, which had travelled as for south as Wankaranga. When Mr Esau arrived they were a veritable plague, the traveller often waking up in the morning to find that half-a-dozen had sought the warmest place beneath the blankets and had eaten the greater part of his boots or devoured the paddingjout of hisjaaddle. ? : Tha rats appear to have migrated from the north of Queensland, having been driven south by the flood. They are now entering the bush, and are a veritable nuisance to the squatters, who have to place all their stores on raised platforms. Even'then the marauders often succeed in 1 effecting an entry. The drought now appear a to be killing the pest off rapidly. Ordinary means of, destruction-ware quite useless, dogs and poison making nOjdiflerence in the vast numbers of the rodent.” A football match was played on Saturday between the first fifteen ofj the Ashburton High School and the second fifteen of the i Christchurch Boy’s High School, on the ground of the former. After an excellent game the visitors secured a victory by thirteen points to eleven. For the visitors, Moir and Watt (half-backs), and Thacker, Little and Bates (forwards) played well, while S. Clarke (half-back) and R. Clarke, Fooks and Buchanan (forwards) played well for Ashburton.