LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1409, 17 November 1886, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Messrs T. Sealy and A. Harrison are the only candidates nominated for the Mayoralty, An election will be held on tho 24th instant. The Ashburton Volunteers will be inspected to-morrow by Sir G. Whitmore. A halfholiday has been proclaimed, and doubtless the public will attend in numbers to witness tho manoeuvres which will be gone through. Tho following players will represent the Ashburton Borough Cricket Club against the Ashburton Junior Cricket Club, on the former’s ground, to-morrow at one o’clock : Messrs Patching, Flower, E. Davies, W. J. Davis, G. Andrews, L. F. Andrewes, Peate, W, C. Davis, Amos, Webb, and Williams ; emergencies, D. Leitch, T, Leitch, and L. Baker. Last evening as a man on horseback was leaving Mr A. Harrison’s saleyards the animal he was riding became startled at the Salvation Army band, which was leaving the barracks. The man was thrown, but from what we can learn was not seriously hurt. The New Zealand Bible, Tract, and Book Society has just opened a shop next door to Mr Bayiis, grocer, opposite the Railway Station, where, for the next few days the book and publications of this excellent Society can be obtained. The stock comprises a large variety of religious and moral literature and special advantages as to prices are offered. A sitting of the District Court will bo held to-morrow. The following is the cause list : —Ho James Tait, Thomas Hopper, John Coutts: applica’ions for orders of discharge (Mr CrlspL lie A. Dawson, junior, deceased l letters of adminis’ration (Mr Cuthbertson). The ordinary monthly meeting of the Hakatere Town Board was held on Monday evening Present—Messrs F. T, Mayo (Chairman), Fawcett, Orr, and Andrews. Mr W. B. Compton was appointed ranger and inspector of nuisanoes; the Chairman and Mr Andrews to arrange terms. Correspondence was read—(l) From the Colonial Secretary re award between Wakauui Road Board and Hakatere Town Board. (2) From Mr John Ollivier on the same subject. (3) From the Colonial Secretary stating that the change of name of the district to Hampstead had been gazetted. Au unanimous vote of thanks was accorded the Chairman for the energy and zeal he had displayed in connection with the question of settlement of accounts. Mr O. Braddell made an offer of a section for gravel pit purposes. The Board did not accept it. The Clerk was instructed to send out gorse notices, and the Board adjourned. A curious error appears in an issue of the Auckland Herald of a recent date. Speaking of the Canterbury A. and P. Association Show it says that the Ashburton Woollen Factory was recommended for a silver modal for a collection of ropes and twine I The Methven police constable has been transferred to Opunake for a few weeks. During his absence Constable Latimer, of Ashburton, will have charge of the Methven police station. A company is being formed in Mexico to work up the cactus plant The oil is to be used for lubricating purposes, the fibre for cordage, the leaf for paper, and the fruit for eating. The fruit is so juicy that it often takes the place for water, for both man and beast; and some years ago when the drought came over San Luis Potosi, thousands of cattle were saved by eating the fruit. An Ohio widow owned a large gravel bank which a certain railroad company was very anxious to secure. Several propositions were made and rejected, and the president finally sent his private secretary down with instructions to offer up to 14,000d015. The young man returned after a couple of days and, when asked how the business had turned out replied, “ I will accept your offer.” ” You ? ” “ Exaotly, I married the widow and own the bank.” An amusing and evidently not got-up incident occurred at the Eden Theatre in Brussels one night recently. After Burton, the conjuror, had performed one or two sleight-of-hand tricks, he stated that he was prepared to make any lady or gentleman disappear whose suppression might be desired, when a men among the audience called out to him to wait a minute while be went and fetched his wife.