LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1588, 18 June 1887, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

At a meeting of the Volunteer Ball Committee on Wednesday evening, it was deoided not to issue tickets for onlookers at reduced rates. As many persons are m doubt as to whether they oan attend the ball m evening dress, we have been requested to Btate that persons attending the ball can drees as they wish. We witnessed a practice of the grand march by the Volunteers at the Driilßbed on Tuesday evening. Tho men entered into the praotico with spirit, and the maroh went off very well.

An enquiry was held to-day bofore Mr J. Ivess, 8.M., as' visiting justice, into certain charges preferred by Thos. Gallagher againat the Aehburton gaoler. At the request o! Mr Gallagher we cent a reporter with a view to the publication of the proceedings, but wera informed that the enquiry was of a private nature.

There being no objections to the County ' Rolls these were duly signed yesterday by the R.M. Mr Ellis Newton, who olaimes to be the " King of Salesmen," has an announcement m this issue of his intention to conduot sates of watohes, jewellery, and general morohan* disc m the Arcade, commencing to-night at 7.30. His sales are, we understand, conduoted m a manner whioh is nearly " as good as a play." He intends to parade the streets on Monday with what he desoribea as "a state carriage," and a very swell turnout.

We oall the attention of owners of greyhounds to the faot that entries for the Coronation Cup and Jubilee Puppy Stakes, at the Canterbury Coursing Club's Meeting, olose on Friday, 24th inst., at 9 p.m., at the Shades Hotel, Chrißtohuroh.

The Oamara morning paper says that it has reason to think that that dreaded scourge of the farmer, the Oalifornian thistle, has established itself m North Ofcago and that its eradication will be a very tedious and costly prooess.

We are m receipt of the first number of the " Gisborne Standard," a new penny triweekly published at the town of that name*

An experienced local amateur will make an attempt to take the photographs of all persons present at the Volunteer ball on Friday next, by eleotrio light. Should the attempt be a success a good number of copies will doubtless be disposed of.

The quarterly meeting of the Loyal Ashburton Lodge, 1.0.0. F., M.U., was held last evening m the Lodge room. There was a large attendance of mem berg. After the ordinary routine business was gone through tho election of officers was proceeded with, with the following result ;— N.G., Bro Jas. Elliott ; V.G., Bro T, Jones ; E.S., Bro Jas. Keir. The minor offioes were satisfactorily filled. It was deoided to celebrate the anniversary of the Lodge early m July, and a committee was elected to carry out the same. It was resolved to call the members of the distriot together by advertiament, on Monday, to take part m the jubilee demonstration. One member was initiated and two candidates for admission. The newly elected officers were installed into their chairs by G.M , Bro Horgan. The receipts were shown to be £72 5a 9d, and the expenditure £5 11s. A correspondent of the "JHawera Star" recommends the following Ministry i— Say Bracken for Eduoation, Bruce for Lands Fergus for Fublio Works, Ivess for Colonial Seoretary, Samuel for Justice, Seddon for Mines, and— yes, there's the trouble— l must leave the Treasurer's name blank ; bat they would find one somewhere.

A notice appears elsewhere over the name of Fred. H. Barns, secretary to the Canterbury Insurance Association, informing insurers that by illuminating their premises without consent they are liable to vitiate their polioy.

The Hebrew Annual estimates the total oi the Hebrew race m tho world at G,3G0,000.

A oitrua fair, to Bhow what can be done m the way of growing ouanges, lemons, limes, citrons, ahaddooks, etc., will be held m Wbangaroi Bhorily.

Aocording to the Sydney "Globe" ex Speaker Barton has teen converted to Pro* teotion, and, on the> first opportunity, m\\ resign his seat m the Oounoil and contest a seat m the House m the interests of Protection.

It is probable that Melbourne will afford a good market for New Zealand potatoes before the season fa ova*. *t!ba Wawdambool crop is a poor one, and Umq quality indifferent, aad importations will proibsbly have to be made to supply the demand.

Ferrets have teaohed the Bluff. Several householders have had a number of their fowls killed by the little " varmints," and are now getting nervous about the cradled babes. The Hawera paper declares that a cook m one of the hotels m that township was ordered to make a dish of curry for dinner, and made it out of Heating's inseot powder 1 Lord Tennyson is not to celebrate the Imperial institute m verse. That commission has baen entrusted by the Prince of Wales to Mr Lowib Morris, the author of " The Epic of Hades," one of the most remarkable poems of the century. The laureate is stated to be too ill to write the ode.

From a Home paper we learn that it is reported the Viotory, Lord Nelson's flagship, is to have masts put m her once more, and to be towod oat to Spitbead to serve as flagship on the oooasion of the Ju bilee naval review The Viotory, besides being the oldest ship m the navy, is, as far as oan be ascertained, th 6 oldest ship at present afloat, and the name which she bears has been borno by British men-of-war ever since the earliest infancy of the service. She was laid down at Chatham m 1759—128 years ago— and was launched on May 7, 17C3. On the day of Trafalgar she *as already an old ship. There are m the United States 2,647,157 women who earn their own living. Of this number 2,242,252 are laborers (mainly agiioultural), mill operatives, seamstresses, domestio servants, <and teachers. A bird's nest, made wholly of long, Bpiral steel shavings, without the least partiole of

vegetable or animal fibre, has been found at

Solothurn, m. Switzerland, tha centre of a large •watch manufacturing distriot. It has been preservod m the loo.il Museum of Natioaa 1 Hißtory. .

A curious and very important discovery has been made by the Crown with respoot to two of the Mount Bennfe criminals imprisoned for life whioh may eventuate m the immediate release of Keegan and Miller and another, and also that Coleman and Sweetman may bo saved from the lash and reoeive further meroiful consideration. ' *

The list of oases of ohild murder m Sydaey is swelling at an alarnaing rate. On the (Uh inst the body of a male infant, which hod apparently been Btranglea, was found on tho North Shore, and next morning another body of a full-developed male ohild was found at Darling Point. Including these cases, no fewer than seven infants, abandoned and apparently murdered, have be«n founa m the city and auburbs m a foitwigfat.