LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1342, 15 September 1886, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

♦ It is said that the repairs to the Oamarn breakwater will cost £3OOO. The surgical operation to which Mr Henry Driver, of the Government Insurance Department, had to submit was due to cancer. Twothirds of the tongue had to be removed.

An avalanche, three-quarters of a mile long, great breadth and depth, of solid snow, recently occurred in the mountains near Browning’s Pass.

The Marlborough Express mentions a peculiar circumstance as happening during the recent earthquake. The town clock was striking 12, and had got through two strokes satisfactorily, but omitted the third. The other nine went on without interruption.

Referring to the fact that nearly a thousand persons in Wanganui have been induced to become total abstainers through the influence of Mr Burnett, a contemporary adds—" Surely there will now be a decrease in the number of lunatics which have, in the past, been annually exported from that city.”

Those members of Parliament who supported last session the State introducing stoats to exterminate rabbits will, perhaps, be surprised to learn that a lamb has been killed by one of these vermin at Stoke, Nelson. Rather a rich idea (says the Wellington Press) to pay for the introduction of a pest into the colony of a far worse character than the one sought to be destroyed.

The annual meeting of teachers of the Wesleyan Sunday School was held last night, Rev D. MoNiooll in the chair. Details connected with the forthcoming anniversary celebration were discussed, and it was intimated that Mr F. Whitmore Lsitt had consented to conduct the services on Sunday, 10th October, and deliver a popular lecture on the Monday following. Considerable time was Spent injtaking a retrospect of some portions of school work, and in devising methods for future adoption. All the officers were reelected, and the meeting closed at a rather late hour.

Some silly youths at Christchurch yester day, pretending to represent the unemployed, burnt Sir Robert Stout in effigy.

The Wellington “ Own ” of the Lyttelton Times says it is rumoured that Mr and Mrs Ballance intend paying a visit to tho Old Country shortly.

The Midland Railway Company cannot start work till the Company is registered in New Zealand. This has caused some delay, but Mr Alan Scott, the General Manager, on Monday had an interview with the Minister for Public Works, and the Company will be registered in a day or two. Mr Soott will then be able to treat direct with the Government, and the work can bo commenced at once.' The diver in the employ of the Napier Harbor Board had a very narrow escape the other day. The Harbormaster and the diver went out in a lighter to recover the anchor of the ship Falls of Clyde, which parted during tin late heavy weather. The diver supplied Mr Kraeft with a code of signals, and then went into the water. Mr Kraeft waited for some minutes, but no sign was made, so he signalled "do yon want more air ?” There being no response, he hauled up, and on opening [the helmet found the diver quite insensible, with blood oozing from his mouth. The proper restoratives were applied, and in due course the man recovered. He was in the water nearly ton minutes, and he is under the impression that ho fainted very shortly after going overboard.

M. Diaz, the son of the famous painter of that name, has invented a method of stopping runaway horses, by which be claims that ha can bring them to a standstill within thirty yards. The bit and tho breeching are connected by means of a strong cord passing over pullies, the coachman holding the end of it with his reins. If the horse bolts, a vigorous strain upon the cord compels him to lower his hindquarters. M. Diaz experimentalised with a horse at full gallop. In three instances he failed, owing to the breaking of tho strap; but in the fourth he was perfectly successful. In fact it would appear to be a mere question of the capacity of the cord or extra rein to bear the sudden strain imposed upon it. The best known remedy is SANDER and SONS’-EUCALYPTI EXTR ACT. Test Its eminent powerful effects in coughs, cold, influenza, etc. —the relief is instantaneous. Thousands give the most gratifying testimony. His Majesty tho King of Italy, and medical syndicates all over the globe are its patrons. Read the official reports that accompany each bottle. We 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 cases treated by Siegen, M.D., Professor, etc.; Burning of the right hand through the explosion of a small oil stove. The epirdermia on the volar and palmer side of the hand of the thirty-year-old patient was completely separated and lilted tip 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 contracted healed in thiee weeks under daily applications of Eucalypti Extract dressing The patient hasj etaiaed tbs lull.Uße]of| j band.—(AdvU

The Master of the Ashburton Home desires to acknowledge, with thanks, the receipt of a parcel of clothing from Mrs Andrew Orr for the use of the inmates. An election for five members of the Tinwald Town Board was being held at Tinwald to-day. The next meeting of the Ashburton Debating Society will be held on Wednerday, Sept. 22, when the bill of fare will be “ A night with poets and humorists,” Messrs Steele and Son have just manufactured to the order of Mr John Grigg a handsome station waggon. It is, we believe, the first of the kind turned out in Ashburton, and reflects the highest credit on its makers. It is fitted with Gilpin’s patent axles, with the exception of which, all the wood and iron work was done in Messrs Steele’s factory* The capacity is three tons, it can be used for

farm parting purposes, and as a brake ; it is also fitted with seating accommodation, which can be used when such is required. It is finished in the beat style, and as the vehicle is one which should recommend itself to farmers, the demand for these waggons will probably be great when their usefulness becomes known* In anticipation of this Messrs Steele are erecting machinery in their shop by which work of this nature can be done more expeditiously than at present. They have a number of handsome Whiteobapels and waggonettes just ready to leave the shop, the appearance and workmanship of which leave nothing to be desired. They ace anticipating from other parts of the country large orders for work which has hitherto gone to Dunedin or Christchurch, but which now bids fair to be permanentle diverted to Ashburton, as the excellency of the work executed here becomes known.

We learn from Wellington exchangee that some fool has been playing the ghost in that city, frightening a good many women and children. For the last week or two a spectral figure has been perambulating some of the Te Aro thoroughfares, notoriously Webb street. It is a tall individual of the spring heel order, and the peculiarity about him is that no one has been able to rub shoulders with him. He seems in fact to be a kind of shadow ahead. Those who have tried to overtake him have been fairly baffled. Several residents and even the policeman on bis beat have tried to arrest him but in vain. Latterly pistols and lead have been called into requisition, but the spectre appears to be bullet proof. The latest ghost hunt was on Friday night last when fifteen or sixteen joined in the chase and several shots were fired but the spectral figure leaped the fences like a kangaroo, and disappeared apparently unhurt.

First Scotch farmer, selling—“ It’s a guid horse; but I maun tell ye its got ae taut—it’s a wee gi’en tae rin away wi' ye.” Second Scotch farmer, buying—“ If that’s a’ it’li dae fine I Man, the last horse I had wca gi’en tae rin awa’ withoot me ?’’

There are more suicides in Paris than in any other city in the world, while Glasgow has the least number of suicides than any city in the world except Edinburgh. Strange that the brightest city in the world should have the most and the darkest the least of the suicidal mania.

The Auckland S tar gives a very gloomy account of the finances of that city, which, it says, are undoubtedly drifting into a serious mess. The Bank overdraft is now about £IO,OOO, and the annual charge for interest on the city debt next year will be £27,000, while a shilling rate, even if all collected, would only yield £18,500. Further taxation appears to bo inevitable. The water works are yielding a profit, however. The Lancet declares that people who drink large quantities of tea first become “ wildly excitable,” and then “ the sense of hearing goes.” Truth says this is bad news for the Bishop of London, who is the greatest drinker of tea that has been known in England since the death of Dr Johnston.

On tilt that one o! the unsuccessful candidates at the recent Borough Council election desputes the legality of the return of one of the gentlemen elected and intends taking a seat at the Council table next meeting night.

The Government Printing Office deserves credit for the promptitude with which the statutes have this year been printed, the complete volume for 1886 being already to hand.

The (Matakohi correspondent of the Auckland Hjrald writing under date 7th instant, says;—“Mr Phillips, the Government Surveyor, whilst engaged in his professional duties, discovered, the other day, a very beautiful cave in this district. The roof, thickly studded with stalactites, is about 5 feet high, while the cave is some; 12 feet wide and 30 deep. Although no one at present living in the district appears to have known of its existence, the Maoris of bygone times were evidently better informed, as the large quantities of crumbling bones and skulls found in its recesses, clearly attest. Mr Phillips, who leaves by to-day’s steamer for Auckland, has taken some specimens of the stalactites (which are of peculiar and unusual formation) with him for examination.”