LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1438, 22 December 1886, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The annual distribution of prizes in connection with the High School will take place to-morrow at 11 o’clock. We are reques ed by the Rev Father Chastagnon to state that on Christmas Day the services in the Catholic Church, Asbbur. ton?will be at the same hours as on Sundays, also that on Sunday, 26th inst., Mass will bo celebra t’d atR ikaia, and vespers at Ashburton ; and that on New Year’s Day there will be Mass at Metbveo, at 10 a.m. Inspeotor Broham, in charge of the South Canterbury police, was in Ashburton to-day. An inquest was held at 9 o’clock this morn* ing before Mr H. C. S. Baddeley, Coroner, and a jury of six, of whom Mr J. Cahill wai chosen foreman, touching the death of Annie Jeff, who was killed by being thrown oft a horse on Monday evening. The evidence of Dr Trevor was to the effect that tho base of the skull was fractured, and be believed the neck was also broken, but this he could not definitely ascertain without a xwst mortem examination. Such examination, however, he did not deem necessary, as the other injuries were sufficient in themselves to cause death. A verdict in accordance with the medical testimony was returned. Rsefton is going in for electric lighting at a cost of £IBOO.

At present the British army in Ireland numbers nearly 44,000 officers and mem. The New Zealand Iron and Steel Company, Limited, is to be voluntarily wound up. The first railway contract in China has been secured by an English firm. It is lor the construction of a line between Tamsni and Leelung, in northern Formosa. Attention is directed to an advertisement in another column from the proprietors of the Canterbury Times, relating to a lithographed supplement of views of the early days, which it is intended to publish with the Christmas number of this popular weekly. A lad named Meggina has been killed by lightning while in charge of a load of hay near Tarlea (S.A.). His two horses were also killed, and the hay and wagon were burned. They are evidently going in largely in Auckland for women printers, the Evening Bell of last evening containing the following advertisement: “Wanted, ten or twelve young girls (respectably connected) to learn Printing. Preference given to those who have passed sixth standard, and have not been engaged in otjjer employment.—Apply, Evening Bell Office.” The Maoris in the Wanganui district seem to be going in for sheep-farming, the Herald stating that they have brought down by the Tnhua a large quantity of wool from the upriver districts. This they have disposed of at prices they consider satisfactory to Messrs Hogan and Co. From this sale they will receive about £6OO, a sum of money they seem highly gratified to get hold of, especially as they have not yet got the lengths of liens, etc., hut they get the whole of the proceeds. The London correspondent of the Christchurch Press writes: Another batch of recidmstcs have recently left France for New Caledonia. They are said to be a set of ruffians of the lowest and most pronounced type, and, strange to say, a considerable peroentage of them are women. Thus it is that tho British possessions in Australasia are being cursed with impunity by the continued intro motion of this pernicious element in their very midst, and it is unaccountable that all protests appear to be unavailable. Tho greatest nourishing tonic, appetizer, strengthener and curative on earth. Hop Bitters made only by American Co. See