LOCAL AND GENERAL,

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1515, 24 March 1887, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL,

As a proof of the exceptional weather whioh [has been experienced this season, we are .informed that a resident of Allentonhasa number of strawberries quite ripe m his garden ; and m many parts of the district pear and apple trees are bursting into blossom. It is announced that the Fun on the Bristol Company will appear at the Oddfellowß' Hall, Ashburton, on Saturday and ; Monday next. Among the chief attractions is the wonderful performance of /Eola, the •• human cartridge," who allows herself to be shot out of a oannon. We understand that Mr Andrew Orr has scoured by tender the bankrupt stook of Mr A. Smith, of Bakaia. Particulars of the sale of thiß stock will be given our readers to-morrow.— [Advt.] The wife of a comparatively reoent Oommissioner of the General Assembly happened to be seated, at one of the official dinners at Holyrood, between two former Moderators, while two " Moderator " lamps upon the table, not having been properly trimmed, were somewhat inodorous ; m allusion to whioh oiroumstanoe her ladyship inadvertently exclaimed, " How very unpleasantly those old Moderators smell 1 " The Emperor of Germany is subjeot to frequent attacks of somnolence, which, his physioians say, if allowed to last longer than is absolutely necessary to permit him to rest, might result m death. Every two hours he is given Boup or broth, and is waked up by hiß attendants during the day. He is troubled with a weakness of the heart and ossification of the veins. Still he continues to work and supervise all things relating to the army.

The San Francisco mail closes at Ashburton to-morrow (Friday) at 5 p.m. Money orders must be proonred before 10 a.m.

The great civil case, Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company v. Timaru Harbor Board, for the loss of the Bhip Lyttelton at Timaru, was oonoluded at Wellington yesterday when a verdiot waa given m favor of the plaintiffs for ,£14,490 for the ship's loss, and £17,302 16s 6d for the cargo. The Attorney-General obtained leave to move for a non-suit on the points mentioned m his arguments on Saturday. Judgment ,was entered up with oosta according to soale, and for a second oounsel and speoial jury. In reference to the question of " gross " negligence, the fore* man of the jury, m answer to his .Honor, stated that, with the exception of one man, the jury were unanimous m finding Captain Storm guilty of " great " negligence.

On Tuosday, at Eangiora, A. Wasohman, Waiau, was fined £20 for two breaohes of the Sheep Act,

It appears that the story that Count Von Moltke is a descendant of the McLeans of Loohaber is denied by no le3s an authority than the Count himself, who has written to a Wick paper stating lhat his genealogical tree shown no relationoVup with any Scottish clan. His direct forefathers for centuries lived on thqir estate m Mecklenburg. This disposes of a : Celtic claim of no small pretensions.

According to the " New Zealand Times," A breaoh of promise case is said to be on the tapis m the Wairarapa. The plaintiff is of the sterner sex, and he proposes to try to re. cover from a lady of "his acquaintance pecuniary compensation for damage to his feelings. The lady ia understood to be the possessor of a face which, although good looking, is not her fortune, for she has some means of her own.

Rosa Bonheur is at present m Nice. She has bought two lions from Bidel, to serve as models for a painting which has been ordered by an American, and for which a long prioe is expected.

The last English exeoution by burning at the stake occurred on Maroh 18, 1789, when Christina Murphy, for coining, was fixed to a stake and burned before Newgate, being first strangled by the stool being taken from under her.

Mr Dunoan Wright commenced a series of meetings m Flemington Presbyterian Church lapt evening. The commencement was considered a very good one, there being a goodly number present from different parts of the district. The Rev A. Blake and others took part m the mooting. The singing was well taken up, and the evangelist himself seemed quite m his clement. Before closing the meeting he made touohing reference to news received that daj of the death m India of the Rev B. Rioo, whose jubilee- as a mis* eionary had been celebrated the month before. He then led the congregation m prayer for the beroaved daughter, the wife of their paßtor, and the meeting dosed,

A movement is on foot for the return of the Jews to Spain. About four centuries ago all Jews were expelled from that country. During the last twenty years a few have been living m some of the principal towns and have not been noticed. This has enoouraged others, and it ia very improbable that the Government will repeat its bigoted action of four oenturies ago.

A movement has been set on foot m Italy toward erectiDg m one of the prinoipal towns an eleotrio crematorium. In this edifice the corpsos will be instantly consumed by means of an immense heat caused by eleotrioity.

Mr Ballance, M.H.R., has fixed the 31st Maroh as the date of his address to his constituents at Wanganui. A policy forecast is then expected.

Rimu timber is becoming so scarce m Marlboroogh that it is difficult to obtain the quantity required for building purposes.

The "Rangiora Standard" thinks that when New Zealand boasts a national park of 18,000 acres, containing two first-olass volcanoes, America can take a baok seat as far as big things are oonoerned.