LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1624, 1 August 1887, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

# Mr W. 0. Walkor oddrcßßoa the electors of Aehburton to-morrow evening at the Odd* fellows' Hall, The Ashburton Hospital returns for the month of July are as follows :— ln Hospital on Ist July, 11; diaohargod, JL6 j admitted^ 15 ; remaining on 31st July, 10. The Matron of the Anhburton Hospital wishes to laoknowledgo, with thanks, the receipt of books from Mr H. Zander, papers Miss Bishop, Mr g. J Paul, Mr JJittlpopt, and Post Maßter, tobaooo from Mr H.Fr^edlander, old linen from Mrs Peters (Anama), Mra Oarbett (Windermere), and Mrs W. J. Hayes, also clothing from Mra W. J> Hayes for the use of tire inmate^ oKbating'b Couoh Lozenoes cure Coughs, Asthma, Bronohitia. Mfdioal testimony Btate that other medicine is bo effeotual m the cure of these dangerous maladies. Ope Lozenge alone give case, one or two at bedtime ensures rest. For relieving difficulty breathing they are invaluable. They contain no opium nor any violent drug. Bold by Chemists m Tint, J»lJdand2iodMob^

A summoned meeting of the Loyal Ashburton Lodge, 1.0.0. F., M.U., waß held on Friday evening m the Oddfellows' Hall. About fifty members were present. After the ordinary routine business was disposed of, the half-yearly balance-sheet, wbioh showed a substantial credit balanoe for the past term, was received and adopted. Five candidates were initiated into the order and nine propoeed for admission. The Lodge has now 139 members on its books. Owing to the large amount of business brought before the meeting it was a late hour when the Lodge was closed. A concert and dance will be held at Seaview on Wednesday. Admission 2s; children to ooncert only, 6d. The "Post "says it cannot bring itself to believe that Mr Bryce is really the coming leader of the Opposition party, and contends that " it would only be aß a measure of desperation that either Sir John Hall or Major Atkinson could oonnent to follow Mr Bryoo'i lead or take office under him."g General Ferron, the new Frenoh Minister of "War, was employed as direotor of the •ngineering oorps m New Caledonia during the Franoo-German war. He served m the Crimea, and distinguished himself m the assault on the Malakoff. A few days ago an individual coolly entered a hairdresser's shop m Wellington, while the assistant was engaged m the saloon,* leant over the counter, scooped the till, and walked off. Fortunately the money m the till only ; amounted to 6s. 1 The Fooohow tea market ,was opened on June 10th. The opening quotations for best . Oongou are said to ba 30 per cent lower than i last year. A war m freight rates is said to have ooourred at Amoy, with the result that freights were reduced fromj£4 to £2 10. The Government have decided to allow the widow of the late Constable Potter, who was drowned at Pcfrt Ohalmerß by falling off the wharf while on his rounds, one year's pay, besides funeral expenses. The sum which Mrs Potter receives will be £164 ss. '" Civilisation is open to the attacks of al, creation. We have every day to find out which are our friends and wbioh are our foeß, In the Amerioan cities a new nuisanoe has' sprung up. The towns are supplied with abundance of water from the lakes, but the fresh water sponge (Spongillafluviatilis) has found its way up the pipes.^ and multiplied there so abundantly that the largo water mains have been filled up with masses of growth of this sponge. No wonder the complaints have been made about the •• fishy taste "of the water— for a decomposing freßhwater sponge is just a caution, By the Civil Service Act of 1886 it is pro- . vided that applicants for positions m the Civil Servioe shall have priority according to : the order of merit m whioh they pass the examinations. We (" New Zealand Times ") learn that tha post of honor is now held by an Auokland fyoung lady, who passed the last examination with flying colors and many ; marks. The very first vacanoy m the servioe whioh happens to bo m the Government 1 Insurance Department, has been offered to her, and the Government offioials are now , anxiously waiting to hear from the young lady \ who has achieved such a unique distinction* i A colonial miser, 0. M. M'Queen, of Mcli bourne, died of starvation and oovered with j , dirt, and his whole wardrobe would hardly : have covered a sobnarpa botf'o. He was , "«»vu *,xu,uuo, and burnt up while trying to Bolve the problem of living on balf-a-orown a week. The highest price for a merino ram at the ; late Btud sheep sales m Sydney was 425 guineas. Other prices were 310, 250, 200 ■ guineas, and so on, The average price of . the 20,647 sheep sold was £9. In 1883, 2400 > sheep were sold, and the average price was £19 16s. The low average at the late sale is " attributed, remarks the "Daily Times," to the faot that a number of sheep were disposed if whioh ought never to have been put up at ; «»*»BBle. ! The military authorities are using . «™*2H»vdf instead of dynamite. The • powder is made v, treating ordinary sawdust with a muture of mto. and au l p hurio acidsomething after the man^ r m whioh the cellulose of oidmary cotton is into 1 gun-cotton. This wood powder is au- war^ B ' formed into cartridges by powerful presu w | whioh are covered with paraffin paper to keep | out damp. These cartridges are said to ; explode as instantaneously and effectively as dynamite ones. ! Mr Maokay, manager of the Bank of New Zealand, has shown us (" Southland Times ") a sample of the new sovereign struck this Jubilee year. Tha coin is ohiefly remarkable for the ohange that beon made from the youthful medallion portrait of Her Majesty, whioh haß for bo many years graoed tho coin of the realm. Tho good lady is now repre. sented with a decidedly matronly cast of countenanoe, and with a veil surmounted by » crown of the imperial type. Tho reverse bears the familiar and spirited impression of St. George and the Dragon. The execution of the dioais beautifully clear and delicate.