LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1543, 27 April 1887, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The annual meeting of the parishioners of St. Stephen's will be held to-morrow (Thursday) m the Churoh Schoolroom, at 7.30 p.m. Miss Morrison, of Ashburton, and Miss Holloway, of Christchuroh, announce that they have entered into partnership as dressmakers, etc, m premises opposite those »i .Mr Chapman, painter. We were sorry to disappoint our country subscribers yesterday, but the late hour at whioh the telegram containing His Excellency's speeoh .at the opening of Parliament reaohed us rendered it impossible to get the paper out m time for the trains. Mr J. Clark, of the Hinds, bad four etudes of wheat burned last week. The grain was insured. On the 21st inst Mr Osborne, of Dobbin's ford, had a quantity of oats destroyed by fire. A combine and elevator, which were on the ground, were also burned. Tha oats combine and elevator were insured m the Colonial office. A trial of Kennedy's patent washing machine, for whioh Mr W. Baylis is the local agent, was held at the Central Hotel this morning, There was a fair attendance o* persons interested, and all expressed themselves very well pleased with the manner m which the maohine did its work. The patentee has received nnmerous testimonials regarding his machine, greatly praising the saving of labor attained by using the maohine and also the less amount of wear and tear involved on the olothes. The following very unlikely piaoe of news appears m yesterday's Ohristohuroh " Telegraph," as reosived from its Wellington correspondent; — On dit that Sir Julius Yogel has expressed his desire to throw m his lot with the Opposition, and that at least one Atkinsonite has been sounded with a view of seeing whether such an alliance would be acceptable. I merely give the rumour for what it is worth* At a meeting of the Tinwald School Committee a letter was received from Mr D. T. Todd tendering his resignation as pupil teaoher, and from Mr Quarterrnain recommending a pro tern supply. It was resolved that Mr Todd's resignation be aooepted, the Committee expressing regret at the loss the sohool would sustain m the acceptance of suoh resignation, but wishing him every prosperity m the future. It was resolved that Mr Eees Williams be appointed as a temporary supply m place of Mr Todd, as reoommended by the Head Master, until a pupil teacher be appointed. The Chairman' was instructed to communioate with the Board of Education asking for a oopy of the Eduoation Aot for each member of the Committee. The Committee decided to hold their meetings on the last Friday m eaoh month. The anniversary of the Methven Sunday Sohool was celebrated by a soiree m the sohoolroonvon Friday last. The tables were very tastefully arranged and decorated, as well as bountifully supplied with all the good things that ate so attractive to the eyes of the rising- generation, and whioh were presided over by Mesdames Grainger, Hook, Sorimgeour, Rands, Hill, and others, Misses Andrews and Grainger presiding m the biohelors department. The attendance of young and old was so numerous that the teachers deoided to give the children their tea first, and let them play whilst th« old folks enjoyed theirs m peace. After ample justice had been done to the good things the tables were oleared and a meeting held, at whioh somt of the ohildren sung several hymns very nicely, and addresses ware pivan hy tha Rev D. MoNicol and Mr J. M. Jones, of Ashburton. The Superintendent (Mr M. Grainger) read bis yearly report, and stated that the soiree had been a finanoial success. He then presented the prizes, there being one for eaoh scholar. A vote of thanks was passed to the speakers for their attendance and addresses > and a similar compliment was paid to the onergetio Superintendent and his effioient staff of teachers. A very pleasant gathering. was brought to an end by singing a hymn and pronouncing the benediotion. White Island has been giving magnificent pyrotechnic displays of late, sending up flames, smoke, and steam to a great height. Impecunious Lover : "Be mine, Amanda, and you will be treated like an angel." Maiden : " Yes, I suppose. Nothing to eat, and less to wear. No, I thank you." A man m New South Wales was attaoked by a monkey the other day, and received 13 gashes on his leg, rendering him a cripple for some considerable time. Mrs Boulanger, near Ogdensburg,- N. V., is j said to have given birth to nine ohildren during the past two years. Two years ago she gave birth to twins, the year following to triplets, and a few days ago she presented her unlucky husband with four youngsters. The New Zealand " Times " Canterbury correspondent, «' Fossiker," writes : — lt is reported that Major George* (or rather Mrs George, for it is no secret that the horse is her own private property) has aocepted an Australian bid of £5,000 for Nelson, and that tha Major and his wife are on their way to Auckland to settW down. No crape was hung on the door when Beecher lay dying, ho having always objected to the use of this and the gloom associated with it m the presence of death. And, instead, a magnifioent wreath of flowers was hung from the left side of the doorway, and the top of the stoop, composed of white and red roses and lilies of the valley, tied up with satin. A subscriber to Mudie's lately wanted to borrow Eider Haggard's last novel " She." All available copies were out at tha moment, but a few days later he received the following post-card :-— " * She ' has come m, and will be kept for you till to-morrow evening, but no longer.' Unfortunately the poor fellow's wife Baw the oard first, and, forming her own conclusions, kept it from him. He had an awful time of it, till the lady (m a rage) produced what she called the "proof of his perfidy ! " And the worßt of it was he never got " She " after all. A friend writes from Shanghai to the Vienna correspondent of the " Daily Telegraph " that m view of the coming oonfliot between England and Russia m Central Asia, the Japanese Government have spent upwards of £180,000 on the fortifications of the twin islands that command the entrance to the straits of Corea. There are now a number o localities m Japan where tha Russian language is spoken. The number of prose* lytes to the Russian Churoh last year was about 12,000 spread over more than 180 villages. The Burmese are a nation of smokers. Every man, woman, and ohild, from the King downward, may be said to smoke immense cheroots four or five inohes long, > made of a coarse leaf rolled up and tilled with wood chips, raw sugar, and a dash of tobacoo, according to taste. One of these cheroots, once lit, frequently passes round the entire family circle, not forgetting even the smallest member of it. Feeble ladies, aged persons, weakly children, persons of sedentary habits, all need American C 0,6, 6 Sop Bitters daily, Believe