LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1415, 24 November 1886, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

We understand that the Hon Mr Ballanoe is likely to arrive in Ashburton about the beginning of nest month. It will be seen by an advertisement in our advertising columns that the Rev Father Chastagnon will celebrate mass on Sunday morning, at 10.30, at Bakaia ; vespers at Ashburton at the usual hour. By the courtesy of Mr Herrick we are in receipt of the first annual report of the Prison Gate Mission, to which we shall take an opportunity of referring. The first wool sale of the present season takes place at Ashburton on Friday, when the various mercantile houses will together submit catalogues including about a thousand bales. The wool this season is exoeptionably bright and clean, and should command an active market. We understand that the Ashburton Woollen Factory is likely to be an extensive purchaser during the season, and for the present sale we hear that there will be a large attendance of foreign buyers. These sales are of great advantange to the farmers of the district, who will, we believe, be able to obtain fully as good prices on the spot as could be obtained in Christchurch and save the cost of freight thither. We draw attention to the fact that the sale of Mr Graham’s property, which has been advertised for some time past, takes place at 2 p.m., on Saturday next, at Mr Jameson’s stores. The land has been out up into Sections of from 35 to 100 acres each, and will, we hope, be taken up by bona fide Settlers. It is situated within a mile of Xinwald railway station and has thus the advantage of nearness to the market, as also ol an asapl* irat« supply.

At the R.M. Court this morning, bpfore Mr E. Thomas, J.P., a first offender lor having been drunk while In charge of a horse was fined 5s and costs. It is not often that a lady bookmaker i mentioned, but one at Silverton, New South Wales, known as “ Copper Top,” is reported to make a good income by this singular profession. The Evening Bell, Auckland, has beau purchased by Messrs dagger, Hon E. Mitohelson, and Rev D. Bruce, three former proprietors, for £6OOO. An exchange remarks that the ups and downs of human life may offer a subject for contemplation from the fact that Hill and Dale are both in prison for stealing letters. Hill is in Napier and Dale in Invercargill. Tho Napier Telegraph says that tho Ngaruroro river about West Clive is swarming with jelly-fish. A fisherman caught in his net in one haul over five tons weight. The jelly-fish are after the herrings. Sir Julius Haast has advised the Government that an English expert in boots and shoes has stated that the New Zealand exhibits in these lines at the Oolindies beats the exhibits of all other colonies. A bishop’s daughter seems to be coming to the front as a musical composer of great merit. She is Miss Rosalind Eliicoit, daughter of the Bishop of Gloucester, and an overture composed by her was performed at the recent Gloucester Musical Festival. Mr Noble, the temperance lecturer, who ie said to possess the eloquence of Gough and the humor of Manoabe, and who was to have commenced a tour in New Zealand early next month, has written from Melbourne stating that in consequence of the serious illness of his wife be is compelled to cancel all his colonial and American engagements. The Hawkea Bay Daily Telegraph says that “ During a discussion in the Anglican Synod upon funeral reform the Rev FynesClinton said ho bad known of a whole township being drunk for a week over a funeral,” Surely not in New Zealand 1 If so, we should like to know where this exceptional township is situated. Her Majesty the Queen has just been presented with a umbrella made at Glasgow, the handle of which is a round globe of fine gold, representing the world, studdied over with precious stones to represent Her Majesty’s dominions. With this valuable present the Queen is immensely pleased.