LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1584, 14 June 1887, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tho English and European mail via San Franoisco closes at Ashburton on Friday next at 5 p.m. Money orders must be procured before 10 a.m.

Members of the Ashburton Football Club are reminded of the praotice to take place to-morrow afternoon on the Domain Ground, when it is hoped a good muster will attend.

Great preparations are being made for the 1 forthcoming military and fancy dress ball.; We understand that the Committee have arranged to pitch a large marquee to adjoin the hall for the purpose of a supper roorut The whole of the back part of the hall will be thrown into the ladies' dressing room, -while the upstairs room will bo assigned to the gemlemeD, The Btage will bo reserved for spectators, of whom a large number are expeoted. The volunteers are practising a grand march, with which it is intended to open the proceedings, and as both ladies and gentlemen will take part m this, the various fanoy dresses and the uniforms will look very well, and it should, indeed, be a grand eight from an onlooker's point of view. The tickets, which were only issued on Friday, have nearly all been disposed of, and as the Committee iatend to limit the attendance to 200, it is advisable that those wishing to attend should furnish themaeveß with tiokets at onoe.

The Now Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, has received the following cable message from London, dated 10th June :— Wool—The sales progress firmly. For superior greasy merino the market is unohangod, while medium and inferior greaßy have deolined *d per 1b sinoe close of laßt Bales. Combing washed has also declined Jd per Ib. The following descriptions have deolined £d to Id per lb :— Merino clothing, washed and sooured, fine washed and fine Bcoured orossbred, also coarse crossbred. JPor fine greasy crossbred the market is easier. Market unchanged for merino lamba, except faulty, for which description prioes are easifir t wi»Bhea orossbred lambs' wool has declined Id per lb. Up to date 28,000 bales have been Bold.

Our correspondent writea : — A general meeting of shearers of tho AUord Forest district was held m the Schoolroom on Saturday evening last, and although the heavy rain kept away many from a distance, the meeting was very hearty throughout^ Mr W. T. Chapman was voted to the ohair" and read out all the correspondence received, together with the general rules. The latter were most carefully considered. The chief disoussion was on the rate to be fixed for shearing, which was fixed at 163 8d per 100 or 2d per head for clean sheep ; no dagging to be done except it be paid for separately. The questions of double banking, wages of reuseabouts, rules, and engaging through the head offioe were each fully discussed, and ita was decided that any member of the Union failing to secure a shed should be supported from tho general funds. A Committee of four members to aot as referees m each shed and decide on the just merits of the case. A strong wish was expressed that fair play to master and man should form the guiding spirit of the Union. The eight houra' movement was loudly applauded, that is with a proviso as to wet daya beibg made up for as far as possible. The hours fixed for shearing were from 5 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. Mr Muirhead pro* posed, and Mr T. Fagan seconded, that Mr W. T. Chapman aot as delegate to the Oamaru Conference on Tuesday, the 14th inst. Carried unanimously. Ninety-five per cent, of all shearers have already joined the Union.

. A well attendod meeting ol the ABbburton Jubilee Committee was held last evening m the old Borough Council Chambers, Mr Furnell m the chair. A quantity of corroapondence re sohools attending procession, trades demonstration, etc, was read and considered ; also telegram from Mr W. 0. Walker, M.H.R., regarding Bohool children being oarried free on the railways. The final decision on this matter has not been yet given by tho Government, but the Minister of Public Works promised that only the very lowest fares, possible would be charged. — Secretary was instructed to reply tUanking the Gas Company for their promise to supply coke for roasting the bullook, and tar for the bonfire. —It was arranged for all the sohool children attending the procession and sports to have tiokets issued them to entitle them to refreshments.—lt was arranged for tha committee to meet every night this week m Borough Council Chambers, to arrange matters regarding details of sports, procession, etc.— The Sports Committee promised report on Wednesday night re programme of races, sports, etc— lt was docided tbat the Borough Council be requested to illuminate the Library Buildings, and that the Mayor be asked to invite the townspeople to illuminate tbeix business premises and residences on Monday night.— Mr Elaton's offer of the Templar Hall for uae of the Committee, etc, free, on Monday was accepted with thanks. — Tho Committee expressed a desire* that the sohool children be provided by their pareats with rosettes m red, white, and blue, for use on 20tb, and it was also arranged that a quantity of ribbon for same purpose be procured, and that the ladies of Asbburton bo invitod to attend at the Borough aohools on Wednesday afternoon to nßßist the sowing classes m making up ros«Uea for (he procession. It was arranged for Page's shooting gallery to be run on the show grounds, as arranged by Mr Kneen with Mr Page, swings to be also procured from same gentleman if possible— The Procession Committee were instructed to arrange the order m which the various bodies shopld march, tho Societies' positions to bo deoided by ballot.~Af ter a vote of thanks h the chair the Committee adjourned till Tuesday evening at 7.30, m upper room, Borongfc Oguaoil Obambws,