Untitled

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1299, 27 July 1886, Page 2

Among ths through passengers by the Mararoa is Professor Chaney, spiritualist.

Government have received telegrams from Hawke’s Bay and Bay of Plenty districts that the Natives are collecting goods for the Tarawera districts, and that from the former district it is expected thirty tons will be sent. The Natives on the West Coast of the North Island are said to be making efforts to send assistance to those in need.

The annual meeting of members of the Ashburton Agricultural and Pastoral Association was held at the Arcade Chambers at 3 o’clock this afternoon. Owing, doubtless, to insufficient publicity having been given to the calling of the meeting there was not a quorum, but the members present determined to proceed with the business. Our report is held over.

An inspection parade of the Ashburton Volunteers will take place at the drillshed at 7 o’clock this evening, and will bo followed by a Volunteer Ball in the Oddfellows’ Hall

The Christchurch Young Men’s Christian Association has struck out into new lines since the appointment of Mr Smeatou as Secretary. It is intended to have classes for Bible study, English literature, Latin, French, shorthand, chemistry, book-keeping, etc. A literary Association, chess club, rambling club, and cricket club, are also to bo established.

At Christchurch yesterday afternoon a little boy fell into the river close to the Cheater street Fire Station, and after floating down for more than a hundred yards was hauled out by a lad named Fraser, who pluokily swam in for him. Several more wore there, but wasted their time in trying to reach the lad with spades and clothes props.

The fourth of the series of winter entertainments was given in St. Stephen’s schoolroom last evening. There was a good attendance, and vocal and instrumental items were given by Misses Ray and Gates, Mrs Denshire, Messrs Jameson, Stevenson, Piokford, and others. Refreshments were handed round during the evening, and a very enjoyable entertainment was brought to a close by the singing of the National Anthem.

Mr Robinson, of Messrs MoKeone and Robinson, contractors for the Brunnerton section of the Midland Railway, left Christchurch for the West Coast to-day.

It is stated that a Christchurch man who went to Kimberley diggings has transmitted to his family as an instalment the sum of £4OO.

The foreign mission meeting, held at the Wesleyan Church last night, though not numerously attended was of an interesting character. Mr D. H. Brown was in the chair and in his introductory address, contrasted the interest taken in missionary meetings held in New Zealand and at Home. In some of the towns in the Old Country business would be partially suspended, and merchants and citizens generally would devote several hours of the day in attending missionary gatherings, and the interest sometimes would rise to fever heat. The Rev. D. MoNicoll read a few extracts from the T! sport, that portion bsaring upon ; . I-few P-itain work—the scene of the Rev. Gr brown’s labors — being specially interesting, and showed that

the labors of the mission agents there were proving abundantly successful. The income of the Australasian Wesleyan Missionary Society for 1884-5 was about £12,000, of which amount New Zealand contributed only £4OB, an evidence that the people of the colony were not at all alive to their responsibilities in this direction. The Bev. G. W. Spence then gave a vigorous address, epitomising the work which had been undertaken in Samoa, Fiji, and New Britain, and in forcible language sought to heighten the sympathies of the audience in spreading the Gospel among the inhabitants of the South Sea Islands. He combated some of the taunts used by sceptical people regarding the genuineness of converted savages, and quoted the opinions of disinterested observers in support of his remarks. The Rev. T. W. Newbold briefly exhorted the audience to pray earnestly for those who were at work in mission fields, and the meeting closed by the ■ Rev. D. McNicoll pronouncing the Benedio- i diction. A collection in aid of the cause was j taken up during the evening.

The Dunedin Evening Star of Friday says that in a private letter received in Dunedin from Kimberley the writer states his conviction that {the newly-discovered goldfield 8 will yet prove the richest in the world. He is, he states, totally unbiassed in the matter, but acting on bis conviotion ho means soon to become more directly Interested in tb 0 search for gold

Referring to the honor of Knighthood con

ferred on certain colonists, the Melbourne Leader says that no public man of any note in Australia has been able to maintain his position fafter accepting his title. The people of Australia are averse to such honors being accepted by their publicmen, ond as a consequence the recipients have always been shortly afterwards relegated to private life. A football match between teams representing the Catholic and Hampstead Schools was played yesterday afternoon and resulted in a victory for the former by one try to nil. For the winners Henry, Healy, Butler and MoTeaguo, and for Hampstead, Betts, Boyle and Foster played wbll. The new books which recently arrived for the Ashburton Library are now on the shelves.

The usual monthly meeting of the Upper Ashburton Eoad Board was held at Tinwald yesterday. Present—Messrs McLean, (Chairman), Sergeant, Stitt and Foster. Correspondence was read—(l) From Property Tax Commissioner, stating that the balance of subsidy would be paid at once. (2) From the Ashburton Borough Council stating that some misunderstanding had arisen re Quinton’s Jfiro account.—The Board decided to deal with the matter when all the members were present. The Clerk’s report was then read, and it was decided to call for tenders by Saturday, July 31, at 10 a.m., lor formation of roads past Mr D. MoEendry’s farm and Mr Edward Bright’s farm. It was decided to leave the matter of selection of tenders to Messrs McLean and Foster. Tenders lor work advertised were opened, and the following accepted: MoQuinness protective works, F. Low, £l2 11s fid; Hackthorno road, W. Lindsay,

6s pec chain ; cottages, G. Nicholas, £2O; F. Black, £l4; reserve, M. Scott, £l7 5s per year. Accounts to the amount of £B2 5s 7d were passed for payment, and the Board adjourned.

At the R.M. Court this morning, before Mr R. Alcorn J.P., and Mr H. Friedlander J.P. a first offender for drunkenness was fined 5a and costs with the ÜBual|alternative, and a charge of vagrancy against a young woman was withdrawn.