LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1544, 28 April 1887, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

We desire to draw the attention of working men and others to an advertisement m another column of a meeting called for to* night by Mr J. E. March, of the Grown Lands Department, m connection with the proposed j Village Homeßtead Special Settlement at the Hindß. The Roselle Bros.' Surprise Party gave one of their performances at the Templar Hall, Tinwald, on Tuesday evening. There was a good attendance, and the various items were gone through to the evident satisfaction of all present ; the principal ones being postures on the Roman rings and feats of strength by Harry, Ted, and Arthur Roselle, and the Highland fling and sword dance by the Brothers Moßae. The dramatio portion of the programme was well sustained by Messrs G. W. Saddler and E, Vinten. A ball was held after the performance, at whioh about twenty couples were present. During one of the intervals the fcttage Manager announced that by request the Surprise Party would pay a return visit to Tinwald shortly with an entire change of programme. In addition to other attractions the Roselle Bros, will introduce, for the first time m New Zealand, their iErial Ladder and Leap for Life.} A public trial of the Zealandia Sheep Dip, manufactured by Messrs Kempthorne, Prosaer and Co., was held at the Ashburton Saleyards yesterday. There was a good attendance of farmers and others interested. About 1300 sheep were operated on, and a large ' number of others whioh bad been brought it was impossible to put through because m aonsequence of a misapprehension only a limited quantity of the dip had been supplied. These, however, were dipped this morning. All wno witnessed the trial were surprised at the rapidity with whioh the ticks on the sheep were destroyed, and although the fluid is a non-poisonous one it is decidedly unhealthy for vermin, and its penetrating qualities are very great indeed. In addition to its efficacy, the economical oharaoter of the dip is a great point m its favor, and as its virtues become known it will no doubt receive its due share of attention. The usual Government Inspection parade of the Ashburton Volunteers took plaoe m the drillshed on Tuesday evening. The parade was Inspected by Major Douglas. Captain Fooks and Sergeant Major Hayes were also present. The Rifles (Oapt Dolman) mustered 50, and the Guards (Oapt Sparrow) 37. The parade was exercised m battalion drill by Major Douglas, and the manual and firing exercises by Captains Dolman and Sparrow. The corps were afterwards exercised by their own officers. Now that the Inspections are held on Tuesdays instead of Mondays we are glad to notice a decided improvement m the attendance, whioh we hope will continue. We understand the Rifles intend sending a squad to contest m the bayonet competition, to bo held m Christchurch on the 21th May. It is reported that the Minister of Justice is considering the advisability- of celebrating the Queen's Jubilee by releasing a number of prisoners serving long sentences for first offences of a serious nature where their conduct has been exemplary since their conviotion. The prison authorities are underStood to be Btrongly m favour of releasing several who do not belong to the habitual oriminal class. The Government will likely communicate with the- Home Government before taking any action m the matter. Donkey parties are the latest rational amusement of provincial gatherings acroaa the Atlantic A huge donkey, minus its tail, is cut out of calico, fixed against the wall, and all the company are provided with pins and calico donkey's tails. Eaoh guest is then blindfolded m turn, placed opposite the figure on the wall, twisted round three times, and left to pin the tail m its right plaoe on the donkey. As the blind man soaroely ever hits the right plaoe, the oompany gets plenty of fun out of their game. A schooner lately arrived at Dundee from North Wales with a cargo of slates after a voyage of 117 days, the usual duration of suoh a voyage being a fortnight. The will of the late Mr David Kennedy, the Scottish vocalist, has been proved, and the net value of the personal estate m this country after deducting debts and funeraj expenses is stated to be £7184. In addition to this the deoeased has left veritable property to the value of £1400, and personal assets m Australia to the value of nearly £7000, making a grand total of about £15,100. His many friends and admirers m Australasia will doubtless be glad to know that the old man was so comfortably oircumstanced. A table, compiled by Mr Thomson, of Elgin, Scotland^and published m the " Elgin Courant," gives the average price of British wheat for each year since 1641. From this it appears that low as that cereal is m price at present there have been " deeper depths," the average price m 1743-44 being 23s Id per imperial quarter. The highest point touohed was m 1812, when wheat was sold at 126a Gd per quarter. McDonough Brothers, the disooverers of the Mount Lyell goldfields m Tasmania, have discovered on Rooky Creek, six miles north of Pieman River, a goldbearing reef, 20ft wide, believed to be the souroe of the largest nuggats obtained m Tasmania, found by McGinty and Griffin m the early part of 1883,. Holloway's Pills.— The Great Need.— The blood is the life, and on its purity our health as well as our existence depends. These pills thoroughly qleanse the vital fluid from all contaminations, and that means strengthen and invigorate the whole system, healthily stimulate sluggish organs, repress ovor-exoited action, and establish order of circulation and seoretion throughout every part of the body. The balsamio nature of Holloway's Pills exeroises marvellous power m giving tone to debilitated and nervous constitutions. These pills dislodge all obstructions, both m the bowels and elsewhere, and are, on that account, much sought after for promoting Regularity of aotion m young females and delioate person's who aref naturally weak, ov have from some cause, beoome bo,