LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1504, 11 March 1887, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

It is notified m the "Gazette" that the Bervicoß of the Ashbutton Cadets hare been accepted. A rather unfortunate acoidont occurred on the Tinwald approaoh to the traflio bridge laat evening. Mrs Curtis was driving home m a buggy when n horse, which was being ridden by a lad near by, shied at some objeot and backing into the bupgy upset it. Mrs Curtis was thrown out and sustained several severe bruises. At noon Mrs Curtis was progressing favorably towards recovery. A huge mushroom was pioked on Mr John Grigg's Longbeaoh ostato yesterday. It was fully three feet m circumference and weighed over two pounds. The following are the players selected for the cricket matoh to. be played to-morrow botween tho Ashburton and Timaru High Sobools. Ashburton — E. Buchanan (captain), 0. Chapman, It. Clark, B. Low, A. McLennan, A. Buobauan, It. Iteßtell, E. Whittle, D. MoNicoll, G. Clark, and G. Foley. Timaru —0. 0. Hante, Turnbull (oaptain), 0. Reeß, J. Ivess, W. Tate, G. Hart, A. Jones, G, Planto, J. Coy, Balfour, and E. Le Cren. It will be seen by reference to our advertising notices that Mr Duncan Wright, the Preebyterian Evangelist from Dunedin, will conduct special services m the Presbyterian Church here during the noxt week, commencing on Sunday first, when he will preaoh morning and evening at usual hours, and also have a special service for the young at 8 p.m. Mr Wright will bo remembered by many m Ashburton, having oonduoted similar crevices some years ago here, when his eloquence and taking manner with both young people and their elders was very much appreciated. No doubt on this occasion many will be glad to again meet him and listen to his words, both spoken and sung, as Mr Wiight is also an accomplished vocalist, and may be expected to greatly assist the services by singing as well as speaking. Mr Wright's mission to Canterbury is under the auspices of the various Presbyterian ministers, and his visit to this provinoe will oxtend over several weeks. News by the mail with respeot to the Panama Canal says :— Ground is broken from ocean to ocean, and men arc working at intervals along the entire survey. Tho heaviest and only cut of moment is at Culebra, which is about eleven miles m extent, •and when finished will be 367 feet below the surface. The out begins nine and a half miles from Panama, and ia about one-quarter finished. The channel will have to be widened to twice its present oapacity. The Auckland Woollen Factory is expected to oommenoe operations m May. In Melbourne it is stated that the Great Eas torn will be employed m the frozen meat tra.de. Tho latest Parisian novelty is the automatic brooch, one of which is a rose, a Bingle flower on a stalk, with a few loaves m small diamonds, mounted on gold points like stamens. Around these are several gold petals, which, by some unseen and patented mechanism, expand and gradually fold ovei the stamens, to expand again with the same mysterious and regular movement. The calyx, stem, leaves, and bud, including the pia behind, are m red and yellow chased gold, and the entire ornament measures about three inches. ' In the report of Mr Bindon, the Wanganui Sohool Inspeotor, that gentleman says:— "At one Bohool, upon asking who wqb the Governor of tho colony, X was gravely informed * yourself,' while at many sohools some boys pinned thoir faith to Sir Julius Yogel, and others had a weakness for Major Atkinson." Tho " Pall Mall Gazette " has the following paragraph : — " New Outlet for British Capital. — Mr Sherwood, a gentleman recently arrested by the Amorican Consul at Samoa, is expected shortly m London as a representative of a Byndioate formed for disposing of large tracts of land m tho Samoan Islands." ££~& Another new shell, called the Mitrailleuse, is reported to have been invented m France by a mechanical engineer named Thimon. It shatters tho object at which it is aimed, and continuing its course, sends twelve bullets forward and the same number backwards, finally exploding and discharging 114 bullets.

An amusing case was heard at a Paris Police Court the other day. An old lady was charged with assaulting tho attendant at some baths. She had hired a bath, and after sho had been m an hour the attendant, on opening the door found the old lady, after dressing, had refilled the bath and was washing a dog she had smuggled m m a basket ; at the same time a oouple of eggs wero oooking m a bowl of hot water taken from tho tap, and a plate, knife, bread, cheese, and a small bottle of wine wero laid out on the shelf ready for her broakfast.