LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1490, 23 February 1887, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dr Lynn, who has a high reputation aa an illusionist, has engaged the Oddfellows' Hall for the 11th ana 12ih of next month. The tiiok of the vanishing lady, which is one of puzzles of the day, is included m Dr Lynn's repertoire.

The present appears to be an exceedingly favorable Beason for stone fruit. Plums have borne profusely, and so have peaches, apricots, and nectarines. Mr D. Thomas has grown apricots this year nearly as large as a man's fist and his neotarines are particularly ohoioe and fine. In peaohes Mr Joseph Hunt can scarcely be beaten, a box full shown to us yesterday being of immense size and magnificent quality, weighing m most instances fully half a pound each.

It will be noticed that the ranks of the Knights of the Hammer m Ashburton have received an accession m the person of Mr Peter Williams, who is removing to this town from Oamaru, where he has long oonduoted an auctioneering business. No doubt he will get his share oithe good things going, and on the principle the more mouths the more morsels, possibly the more auctioneers the more business. Anyhow it is a good sign for the prospects of business m Ashburton that it is still an attractive field.

Mails for the United Kingdom, etc, via San Francisco will close at the Ashburton Post Office on Friday next at 5 p.m. Money orders may be obtained up to 10 a.m, .

The Rev E. A. Scott, who lias been on a visi to the Old Country, arrived at Christohurch yesterday. A social gathering is to take place at St. Stephen's Schoolroom on Friday evening, when on opportunity will be afforded of congratulating the reverend gentleman on his safe return, and of wel. coming him back to bis old sphere of labor* A short thankigiving service will be held at the ohnrch at a quarter past Beven the same evening.

The Tomato pack of 1886 m tho States reaoheda total of 2,314,460 cases of two dozen tins each, or a total of 55,547,040 cans. Great as is the quantity, it is below the consumptive requirements of the country. It gives every family of five persons only fiva cans per annum.

The Taranaki Ilcrald writes thus vigorously, if not particularly elegantly : — " Some newspaper editors bare very short memories, and are apt to be flunkies. The leader writer of the New Zealand Times Bays, ' Sir William Jervois is the best Governor m New Zoaland history.' What rot|! Sir William is a thirdrate man, and cannot be spoken of m the same breath as Sir Hercules Bobinßon, the Marquis of Normanby, or even Sir Thomas Gore Browne."

The Eov Mr Fergusson, of Invercargill, said, during a speeoh m the Empire City, that "If tsked to Idescribe Wellington he would nay it was a great city crushed between great bills, with large Government Buildings and houses tumbled gable end on to the street."

There are splendid crops of wheat and barley throughout tho Wairau district. In frequent instances 50 to 55 bushels per aore are reported. The late sown barley is not bo good, owing to the absence of rain. There are good orops of oats, of which a large quantity ia being converted into chaff for export to Wellington and the West Coast.

On Saturday evening last (says the Press) a patient named Edward Pimm, who, having dislooatod it through a fall from a trap, was put under chlorform preparatory to the Betting of his shoulder, unfortunately died while under tho influence of the drug.

The English Government has purchased a large number of Mexican saddles for use m the English cavalry service.

It is stated by the Foxton paper that there are now about eighty men engaged m different contracts at bush falling, flax clearing, and draining on the Moutoa estate.

Families living m the country have 8 per cent, more children than m towns. Old families have a marked tendenoy to die out m England, Italy, and Prussia, probably because of intermarriage with cousins. Among Jews there are 116 males born to 100 females ; their ratio of illegitimacy is the loweßt m the world, barely 2 per cent. After a destructive war the births of males predominate m a surprising manner.

The Waipaw Mail says that the skull which was found at Wallingford has been handed to Dr H. A. Reed, who pronounces it to be that of an aboriginal, so far as can be ascertained from an anotamical examination. He H. A. Reed also believes it to be the Bkull of a woman, so that it is not likely any fresh light will as yet be thrown on the mysterious disappearance of Gordon twelve years ago.

The Taranold Ilvrald, reports that the codlin moth was the subject of discussion at the Borough Council at New Plymouth last week, the Hawera police having intimated that a quantity of pears infected with the insect, and therefore unfit for human food, was believed to be m New Plymouth; Mr Roy etated that tho codlin moth had been m Taranaki for the last twenty years, and he could not understand why so much fues was now being made. The Council declined to do anything m the matter.

It is reported that an Irish gentleman has died m one oE the North London workhouseß. Ten years ago he was drawing £1200 a year from the property on whioh he lived m Ireland, but m 1879 his affairs became embarrassed, through no fault of his own, and the revolt against rent completed his ruin. His wife died twelve months ago heartbroken.

A colossal balloon ia being constructed m Berlin. It will be propelled and directed by two steam engines of 50 horse-power each. The balloon itself is of a cigar-shape, and 500 feet m length by 5 feet m diameter. The total weight is estimated at 43,0001b5 ; the envelope and netting alone represent lO.OOOIbs of this. It is expeoted that a speed of 46 to 48 feet per second will be obtained, which, it is said, exceeds tha ordinary velooity of tho wind near the earth's surface.