LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1569, 27 May 1887, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

In his annual report on the New Zealand Forces Major-General the Hon Sir George S. Whittnore makes the following short but complimentary reference to the two Ashburtoß corps :•—" Ashburton, 18th November, 1886. — Present, 94 ; absent, 15. I had not in* speoted this station before. One corps was almOßt perfect. The other, an honorary corps, was also fairly good. The attendance was good. Tbe two corps moved well together.' 1

The first of a series of Bocial gatherings will be given by the Ashburton Guards m the Oddfellows' Hall this evening, the proceeds of which will be devoted to a fund for defraying tho cost of the new badges lately procured by the company. Wt understand that an enjoyable programme has been prepared for to-night,. and we hope to see a full house,

The business at the R.M. Court this morning was oon&ned to two cftil cases :— -Mount Somers Road Board v. Ryan. Claim £2 10s 2d for rates. Judgment by default for the amount claimed and costa. — Bayli3 and Co. v. E. W. Clayton. Claim £5 la 2d. Mr Outhbertson for plaintiff. Judgment by default for amount claimed and costs.

Collections will be made next Sunday Whit Sunday, at St Stephen's Churoh, and throughout the diocese of Christohuroh for the Melanesian Mission. Excellent work id being done by the Mission* the staff of whioh now oonsista of eight Euro* pean and seven Native clergy, two European laymen and no loss tean 156 Nativa male teachers, who are instructing 1977 scholars m 69 eohools. The Mission deserves the support whioh no doubt it will receive throughout (he diocese on Sunday. Members of St Stephen's congregation are reminded that subscriptions through envelopes go to the general expenses of the parish. It is there* foro hoped that additional oontributions will be made for the Mission.

Keatinq'b Cough Lozenges oures coughs, Asthma, Bronchitis, medical testimony states that no other medioine is so effectual m the cure el Jhese dangerous maladies. One Lozenge alone give ease, one or two at bedtime ensurea rest. For relieving didoulty of breathing they are invaluable. They eonjtain no opium nor an/ violent drug. Sold by !«U Chemists, m Tine, U XJd, a d $ 9d each

The " Gazette " notifies that Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, the 20th, 21st, and 22nd days of June, will be observed as general holidays m. all departments of the publio service of New Zealand, m honor of the completion of the fiftieth year of Her Majesty's reign.

The Queen's Birthday fixture m connection with the Ashburton hounds proved a very enjoyable one. Several short runs were obtained during the early part of the afternoon on the Lagmhor Estate, near Tinwcld, but eaoh time the hares made for the river bed and the hounds had to be whipped of! and were eventually taken to the favorite spot, where the Mount Somers line crosses the Maronan road. Almost immediately a fino hare was found, which dodged about some of the paddocks towards Maronan, after a fine run of about six miles. The jumps were big and were only negotiated by a comparitively smalt portion of the 80 mounted persons out. A great muster of traps were also to'be seen along the roads. The weather was all that could be desired and should the Olub be as fortunate with the rest of their fixtures as this, some very pleasant days' sport may be looked for daring the winter.

One of the items by the San Franoisoo mail is as follows :— A new " plunger " named Benson has made his appearance m the English raoing world. He embarked m business with a fortune of £600,000. Benson laid £1400 to £80 twice on the Hungarian, when the latter was beaten at Sandow. Oan this be the same Benson who embarked ia a brief sporting career m the colony a few months ago ?

A well attended meeting of the Jubilee Committee was held m the County Council Chambers yesterday afternoon, Mr O. J. Harper oooupying the chair. A disoussion took place as to tha best means for getting m subscriptions from the various portions of the district m a systematic manner, and several influential Sub-Committees never appointed to oarry this out. It was here ddoided to have the celebration held over if possible on a day before that m Chrißtchurch, bo as not to clash with the Jubilee arrangements there. A meeting of the trades was also arranged for on the motion of Mr O. Boid, to arrange details of procession of various trades on ttse Jubilee day. After several routine matterß had been discussed, and a number of other names added to the Committee, and the Seoretary instructed as to forwarding these gentlemen subscription lists, tbe Committee adjourned till Tuesday next, at 2 o'clook.

A letter from Mr Field, surveyor on the Waimarino land m the Upper Wanganui district, dated Bth May, states that steam is rolling out of Ngaruahoe like a great fleece of wool, and that from Ruapehu there is a great oolumn of unmistkeable steam. Eiohard Dwyer, aged 72, recently admitted to the Melbourne Benevolent Asylum, told the Committee a striking story of the vioissitudea of life. Twenty years ago he *as a passenger by the ill-fated steamer London, wbioh foundered m the Bay ot Bisoay. He was one of the survivors, but he loafc his wife and two daughters, £11,000 m money, and cargo worth £250. He never prospered after, although ho worked hard. He stood before the Committee aged, infirm, entirely destitute, and alone, and the members considering the case a very pitiful one, at once granted the Bhelter he craved.

Anybody who takos the trouble to turn over the pagOß of the new edition of Sir Bernard Barke's " Peerage " (saya tho " World ") may Bee for himself how little fitted to afoot the " popular (imagination " our existing aristocracy has already become. Of the whole number of 610 peern and peeressea m their own right whose names are therein enumerated no fewer than 419 bear titles which have been oreated since the accession of George 111. Of these five dukedoms, three marquisates, 2G earldoms, 14 viscounties, and 118 baronies are the creations of the Queen, while a hOßfc of other peerages oreated by her m the halfcentury she has reigned have become extinot.

Not to mention promotions m the peerage

and peerages of the United Kingdom conferred on Scotch and Irish peers, no fewer than 84 oommoners have been raised to the peerage at the iQEtance of Mr Gladstone alone, against 37 at the instance of Lord Beaconsfleld and Lord Salisbury.

A disgraceful scene occurred m the House

at Sydney the other day . between Mr M'Elhone and Mr Toohey. The former was the aggressor, as when Mr Toohey rose to complain about something having reference to the duties, Mr Elhone said, " Don't mind him ; he is drunk, with hia own tanglefoot."

Mr Toohey retorted : " You are a low blaokguard," Than Baid Mr M'Elhono : '■ You are

a low Fenian and a dynamiter. " The Speaker commented on the disgraceful words nttevod, and called on Mr M'Elhone to withdraw and

apologise. This he declined to do, and reiterated the expression. The Speaker wob powerless, and said he considered it a q&se m wbioh the leader of the Houbo should take action. Sir H. Farkes thought that Mr Toohey should be first dealt with, but the Speaker said he had only heard Mr M'Elhone. Eventually both members apologised, but Mr

M'Elhone did so very reluctantly. Sir Henry Parkes was greatly blamed for not upholding the Chair. A Frenchman has found means to restore the life-like expression to tbe eyes of dead persons. He places a few drops of glyot-rine and water m the oornor of the eyeß and the effect is said to be startling, so life-like do the eyes beoome.

Wells' Haib Balsmi. — If gray, restores to original color. An elegant dressing, eoftens end beautifies. No oil nor grease. A tonic restorative. Stops hair coming out ; strengthens, cleanses, heals scalp. Skinny Men.—" Wells' Health Renewer » restores health and vigor, oures Dyspepsia, Impotence, Sexual Debility. At chemists and druggists. Kempthorne, Prosser, and Co., Agents, Ohrietchuroh,