LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1513, 22 March 1887, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

At the Government inspection parade last night there was a very creditable muster of the. looal volunteers. The Rifles numbered 51 the Guards 40, and about 60 Cadets paraded' The officers present were— Major Newall (m command), Major Douglaß, Captain and Adjutant Fookß and the company officers. After inspeotion the men were told off for company drill, under their respective officers, and Sergtmajor Jones put the Guards through the bayonet exercise. During the evening Major Newall took ocoasion to oompliment the Cadets upon their smart first appearance.

The new Commission of the Peace contains 1385 names, or nearly 100 less than were on the previous Commission. There is, how* ever, as will be seen by an easy calculation, one Justice of the Peaoe to every 414 of the European population of the colony, or one m 114 of the male adults.

The " Oamaru Mail " regrets to say that a oloser examination of the salmon ova received ex Doric by the Acclimatisation Society , shows that fully two-thirds are bad.

"A Clodhopper" writes to the "South land Times " propounding a new panacea for the ills of New Zealand. He says :—" I think the best thing we can do is to prorogue Parliament and suspend the Ministry for three or four years, and let the Governor manage the whole thing. We have plenty of laws and taxes to serve us that time."

According to the Southland correspondent of an exohange it is stated that Beaob, who has relations m the Lake district, is likely to be present as a visitor at the Biverton regatta, whioh comes off at Easter, and after* •wards make a tour of tbe colony. The main feature of the ragatta is a sculling race of £100, for whioh Hearn and White intend to compete.

The " Rangitikei Advooato " of the 17th mat. says :— One of the biggest bailßtorniß ever experienced m this diatriot took place this morning. The hailstones were aa big as pigeonß* eggs.

The Wellington " Post " prediots that the final prorogation of the present Parliament will take place about the end of Judo or early m July.

Ths Westport " Times " reports that the Coalbrookdale coal, used at the Westport Gas Works, ia proving itself a splendid gas produoing mineral. The average is 30,000 feet of gas from one ton of coal with an illuminating power of 18 candles.

Bueeia'o public debt increases at the rate ol £40,000,000 annually.

Emm Bey has freed from the Biave trade a province containing 10,000,000 inhabitants.

Three young Italian women are about to start a literary review m Rome. Its objeot will be largely to direot attention to women's work.

A band' of Indian squaws who came into Bangor, m America, reoontly all invested m oorsctß.

In Philadelphia there are eight women practising as phyeioiana, who earn over £5000 a piece per annum.

Facetious Gent (about to enter tramoar on a wet day) ; "Is the Noah's ark quite full ? " Passenger; "All but the donkey; step m, air ! "

It has been resolved to wind up the Eaiapoi Glass Company.

The illicit still case at Timaru has resulted m the charge against Joseph Matthewß being dismissed. The other accused, James Matthews, was convioted and fined £100 and coats. Notice of appeal to the District Court was given, whioh waß allowed, sureties being taken for payment of fine and costs.

Pasteur is soon to retire from aotive practice to avoid paralysis with whioh he ia threatened.

The marriage of Mies Watson, a ward of Sir William J. Clarke, Bart., and Mr MatheaoD, of New Zealand, is to take place shortly.

A great hospital has been opened m France for the cure of the disease which the doctors call morphiomania, and whioh has made formidable headway all over the country.

A large cako of ice, cut from the Illinois river, near Ottawa, contained the dead body of a man frozen m the middle of it. The dead man was Joseph Johnson, of Fern, 111.

A Wisconsin farmer revenged himself on his neighbor by throwing ten pounds of Epsom salts into his well. As soon as the water began to tasto the report went out that it was a mineral well, and a dozen people rushed to buy the farm.

The "Napier Daily Telegraph" has the following :— The other day a juror noticed a man next to him having a quiet doze. He inßtantly nudged the sleepy one and whispered, " Do you understand the Judge's charge ? " " Wort ? " exclaimed the drowsy juror, waking up briskly ; •• Wort ? he don't oharge us nothink for that, does he ? Why, I thought as 'ow we was a-going to get paid ? "

» Aw, may I awßk what an Amerioan is ? " Raid a supercilious Britisher to a full-blooded Yankee m London. "Certainly. An American ia an Englishman," was the answer, •• with all the modern improvements."

The " Amorioan Israelite " says it ib an ominous sign of the times that a large number of young Israelites who were born m Franco, but have been residents of the United States for some time, are going back to the country of their birth to enter the army. In several oases that we know of this is being done at the request of their parents who are still living m the old country. There is little doubt tbst the day of trouble for &v Europe ie act fir og.