LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1338, 10 September 1886, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

It ia announced that on account of so many members taking part in the Ingleside gather' ing, there vill be no meeting of the Dramatic Society this evening. Mr C. M. Gray, of Christchurch, has com* piled the following statistics of the colony’s drink bill. He says ;—“ In 1869 the population numbered 273,249, and (he drink bill amounted to £2,541,607. Last year the population totalled in round numbers 600,000, and the drink bill amounted to £2,239,514. In order, however, to show the immense falling of! in the amount spent on intoxicating liquors, it only remains for us to adopt the population basis, and then see how the matter stands. Taking the average expendtj ture per head of the population—for every man, woman, and child—and the sum approximates as follows: —1869, £lO 10s per head; 1885, £3 16s per head ; difference, £6 14s. This result seems almost too good to be true; but it is true nevertheless. The figures are correctly quoted, and carefully revised, and will stand the test of the strictest scrutiny.”

The s.s. Tongariro is advised as arrived at Plymouth, and the ship Lady Jocelyn at London, from Port Chalmers. Their cargoes of meat are reported in good condition; A sitting of the District Court will be held at half-past four o’clock this afternoon. The business in bankruptcy consists of two applications for orders of discharge, and a motion for an order granting costs. In addition there is a civil case, Briggs v. Patching, in which the sum of £69 14s 2d is claimed.

It is announced that the current issue of the Weekly Press contains an account of Ashburton past and present. A special train passed through Ashburton last night, conveying 110 horses to Lyttelton, where they will be shipped by the Triumph to India. The animals are from Mr John Grigg’a Longbeach estate. Fifty are for private sale, the remainder for cavalry remounts. This is the second lot of horses which has left Ashburton for the same market.

An exchange says that St. Leon’s Circus took £4OO during the two days it was at Rotorua, and that the majority of the audience were Maoris. If so, what becomes of the appalling distress which has been said to exist in that locality ? Russia has been foresting the steppes for the last halt a century, and Siberian tracts, once too parched for agriculture has now abundant rainfalls. In one province where little wool formerly existed, the Government has seven plantations ranging in size from 18,000 to 21,000 acres each.

Our Lawrence contemporary says that a party of Chinese have leased twenty acres on the township boundary, and intend establishing a tobacco and hop farm, which will be under the management of a Chinese expert. The Gazette notifies that the following articles are exempt from duty ;—Saddle cloth, felt, plain felt for lining, horse covers, and raw silks (organizine). A proclamation as to recruiting for the police and permanent forces is gazetted. It provides that the police force shall be recruited only from men serving in the Permanent Militia, and who have so served at least one year. The Artillery, Engineers, and Torpedo Corps, with the exception of special artificers, engineers, or electricians, shall be selected from the rifle branch of Permanent Militia. Appointnients to the Permanent Militia rifle branch are to be exclusively to efficient Volunteers of not less than three years’ efficient service nor over twenty-five years of age at the date of their appointment. A correspondent of the Missionary Hevdld (American Board) writes from Japan that Buddhism is “ breaking down much faster than Christianity can take possession of the wrecks.”

During the last four years 0283 oases of suicide have been reported in the United States. Of these persons 2053 were married men, and 1315 bachelors ; 471 were maids, and 598 wives ; 288 were widowers, and 128 were widows. The age at which the largest number of persons destroy themselves in 35, and there are more deaths of this kind in summer than in winter. Of the total number 2431 were Americans, 1570 were Germans, and 381 were Englishmen. Only one farmer in 38,000 commits suicide, but the proportion is one in 2000 only among journalists, commercial travellers, saloon-keepers, and shoemakers.

The municipal elections at Christchurch yesterday did not excite very much interest, but they resulted in two councillors seeking re-election being ousted. Messrs D. B. McLaren and J. Goss beat Messrs H. Crooks and C. M. Gray. The next English and European mail, via ’Frisco, will close at the Ashburton Post Office to-morrew, at 5 p.m.

Drowsiness, biliousness, pains and aches and ague, Hop Bitters always cures made by American Co. Bead

The best known remedy is SANDER and SONS’ EUCALYPTI EXTRACT. Test its eminent powerful effects in coughs, cold, influenza, etc.—the relief is instantaneous. Thousands give the most gratifying testimony. Ilia Majesty the King of Italy, and medical syndicates all over the globe are its patrons. Read the official reports that accompany each bottle. W 6 have no occasion to offer rewards in proof of the genuineness of our references. The official reports of medical clinics and universities, the official communication of the Consul-General for Italy at Melbourne; the diploma awarded International Exhibition, Amsterdam all these are authentic documents, and, as such, not open to doubt. We add here epitome of one of the various oases treated by Siegen, M.D., Professor, etc. : Burning of the right hand through the explosion of a small oil stove. The cpirdermis on the volar and palmer side of the hand of the thirty-year-old patient was completely separated and lifted up as far as the joint of the hand. The likewise lifted nails were hanging loose, and half of the phalanx of the nail of the middle finger was coaled. The wounds thus con. traoted .healed in thiee weeks under daily applications of Eucalypti Extract dressing] The patient has, etaiued the full usejof band.—(Advt.)

The Rev. P. W. Fairclough, ol Timaru, will occupy the pulpit of the Wesleyan Churoh on Sunday next. Two hotelkeepers were asked to attend a meeting of the Christohnrob South-east Licensing Committee held yesterday for the special purpose of admonishing them in consequence of the police report. One of them had been taking too much of his own liquors and had delirium tremens In consequence, and the other had allowed bad characters to frequent his hotel. Both promised amendment.

A patent medicine 'manufacturer, having 1 sent to the wife of a prominent man in Newport, Kentucky, a bottle of his medicine for trial, after a suitable length of time bad passed, wrote to him as to wit: —“ Dear Sir, —Please write over your own signature what effect the medicine had on your wife.” The reply as to wit: —“ She only took one dose of it, and it killed her. Another wonld have had the desired effect, but 1 oonld’nt get her to take any more.” Although the man signed bis name in full to the reply, for some reason or o*her it was Diver printed in any paper by the patent medicine man. The Timaru Herald reports that a very painful accident happened a few days ago to a foal belodging to Mr Jameson, of Fareora. It appears that the foal was feeding in a paddock, and some bow or other got the end of a piece of chain in its mouth. The ohain had a hook attached to it, and the foal in champing the chain, got the hook fastened lato its tongae. Finding itself fast it began to tug at the chain in order to get free, but instead of freeing itself it forced the hook further into its tongue, and eventually half the poor brute’s tongue was completely torn out. The foal is suffering fearful pain, and will have to be destroyed.

Hop Bitters gives good digestion, active liver, good circulation and buoyant spirits Get be only genuiue American Co.’s Bead