LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1637, 16 August 1887, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The billiard match for £5 a side between Viotor Olsen and W. Brosnan, a well-known Dunedin player — 500 up— the local man receiving 100 points, came off at Zander's private room on Monday night, and resulted m a viotory for Olßen by 17 points, the game showing at tbe conclusion — Olsen, 500; Brosnan, 483. JThe Otago man played an excellent game m the early part of the evening, and oaught his opponent at 176. Prom this out the men kept pretty well together, first one leading, then the other. A tournament, m whioh four competed, followed. This waa won by Olsen from soratoh, Brosnan 20 behind scratch, having to be again content with second honors. Mr Deakin, Chief Seoretary for Viotoria, when introducing bis Negleoted Children and Juvenile Offenders Bill m the Legislative Assembly on the 19th ultimo quoted some ourious statistics to show the urgent necessity for legislation to save the negleoted ohildren and juvenile offenders from the contamination of the criminal classes and tho terrible associations of prison life. In Amerioa, he said, the descendants of one oriminal family, 709 m number, have been traced, and among other results of this one stream off oriminal Life the State has been subjected to losses equivalent to a tax of £200,000. The Wesleyan Conference now sitting m London have resolved that an (Ecumenical Conference be held m America m 1891. Sinoe Cardinal Moran has been m Sydneysome three or four years-— he haa let contracts for building edifioea m connection with the Catholic Churoh to the extent oi £850,000. Another colonial youth has greatly dis. tinguished himself. Mr John Sutherland, 8.A., of the Melbourne University, has been placed first on the whole list of candidates for the London University matriculation examination, and been awarded the Gilohrist I scholarship of £100 a-year, tenable for three years at the London or Edinburgh Universi- 1 ties. The scholarship wbb open for competition among all "the colonies. Another Australasian student has also secured the ninth position on the London University honor list' Dealing with Sir John Hall's speech the •N.Z. Times" Bays:— So far we have only been able to discover two journals who admire it> whereas to this duet of approbation there is opposed quite a " monßter chorus " of disapproval. The shortest letters on record are two exchanged between a oouple of members of the Sooiely of Friends. A member of that oommunity, wishing to learn if a correspondent m a certain town had any news to communicate, posted to him a quarto Bheet of paper, on whioh nothing but a note of interrogation was written, thus : ? (meaning, «" what news ? " He reoeived m reply, by next post, a blank sheet of paper, indicating that there was nothing to relate. , According to "Truth" it is rumored that the editor of the Wellington " Evening Press " is likely to soon take up his residence m London, and enter upon the work of Magazine literature. There is no doubt that Mr Wakefield is a brilliant writer, though not a successful editor, and' his fluent and pungent pen would be amply rewarded m the great centre of literary activity. Recent news from Russia states that three Astnanian Protestant missionarieß~.eßiding m Tiflis have been exiled to Siberia, and that a very painful sensation has been created m consequence. Tbe fate of one of them iB especially deplored. He waa a great philologist, and has [translated the English Bible into two Eastern languages. His popularity was very great among the best families m Tiflis, and he was often seen at the Court of the Governor, the Grand Duke Miohael. He is 60 years old, and has many followers and pupils. Just before Easter, all three missionaries were arrested, thrown into prison like common criminals, and sent to Orenberg, on their way to Siberia. The pretext for their arrest is that they displayed undue activity m making oonverts to their faith; but this aoousation is said to be altogether false. Beoently a gigantio balloon [was inflated with gas near Rothesaj', on the island of Bute but before all was ready it broke from its moorings and shot miles into the air. Eventually it burst, and fell near a gardener's cottage at Port Bannatyne. The enormous extent of silk whioh composed the balloon had completely covered tha little cottage, suddenly and unexpectedly enveloping it m worae than Egyptian darkness. "Oh, John, John," said the gardener's wife, " it's the Judgment Day at last, and I've my auld olaes on ?" " Nonsense, woman," said John, " it's just a disruption somewhere." During the United States Civil War 2,066,301 different individuals fought on the Union side. Of these, 359,496 died m the service, leaving more than 1,700,000 alive at the close of the struggle; On June 30 last there were upon the pension rolls the names of 268,807 men who served m the army or navy during the war, and inourred wounds or disabilities <■ titling them to pensions under the present laws. It is estimated that this number will be inoreased under present laws to 365,783. The present expenditure m America for military purposes, m one form or another, nearly equals tbat of Germany, and promises to far exceed it, and they have a force of only 27,000 officers and men m comparison with 427,254 under the German colors, La Plata, the new capital of Buenos Ayres, has a remakable history. In 1882 the foundations for the publio buildings were laid, and taken possession of m 1884. At the present moment, m a spot where m 1882 there was only one dwelling-house, there now clusters a population of over 30,000 souls. The Earl of Dunraven has introduced into the House of Lords a Bill dealing with the subject of allotments for agricultural laborers. According to the " London Times " Southern Tunis is being transformed by Capt Landais, who is continuing tho soheme of the late Captain Boudaire for an inland sea. The arteßian wells now being sunk by him yield a large quantity of water, whioh is utilised m agriculture by the natives who oolleot around these new oaseß, Gardens are being created where, till recently, there was nothing but sand; and avenues of trees are growing whioh will one day be bordered by houses. In a few years, if tbe operations are continued, tbe whole region will have been converted from a desert into a garden. " Rough on Itch." — " Bough on Itch" cures .kin humors, eruptions, ring worm, tetter, Bait rheum, frosted feet, ohilblains, itoh, ivy poison barber's itoh. 3 "Rough on Cobns."— Ask for Wells " Rough on Corns." Quick relief, oomplete, permanent ourr. Corns, warts bunions. 3 chemists and druggists. All your own fault if you remain siok or . put of health, when you can get Hop Bitters ' niflde pply by 4merjo&n Co, Read,

Mr A. Eobert a has been nominated as a candidate for the Borough Council. Those favorable to Mr Walker's candidature are reminded that a meeting of friends and supporters is called for this evening at the Lodge Boom, Oddfellows' Hall, at 8 o'olock. We have to acknowledge, with thanks, the receipt of a presentation copy of " The Canterbury Jubilee Waltz," published for the compoaer, Miss Graoe Boyle, of Allenton House, by the " Lyttelton Times " Company The piece, whioh is written m the key of P sharp, is of a bright and sparkling character, and will, we think, become a favorite with dancers as well as pianists, being rhythmical and easy to danoe to. The treatment of the theme shows considerable mußioal ability, and we have no doubt that the composer, who ..rites under the norn do plume of " Gretohen," will be heard of again. The publishers have performed their part of the* work admirably, the thiok ivory paper, and clearness of the score, leaving nothing to bo desired, while a well-executed lithograph of Her Majesty the Queen adorns a very pretty title page m rose-colored ink. Copies of the Jubilee Waltz can now be obtained of all musio sellers. A meeting of the South Bakaia Domain Board was held at the Boad Board office on Saturday. Present — Messrs 0. Hardy (m the ohair), Makeig, Bruoe, and Sharpe. The Chairman reported that the balance-sheet had been passed by the auditors, showing a credit balance m bank of £6 5s 9d; also that he had let the ground for six weeks to Mr Hartnell for £5. The Chairman's aotion was approved. It was resolved to oall for tenders for taking a orop of oats or barley off tbe ground, and that Messrs Hardy and Makeig be empowered to draw up conditions and acoept tenders. Resolved tbat Mr W. L. Allan be nominated as a member of the Board m the plaoe of the late Mr G. Bobinson. It was deoided to call [for tenders for gorse outting and grubbing. Aooounts for £4 2s 3d were passed for payment, and the meeting adjourned. In an address at Oamaru Mr Glover gave some interesting particulars concerning the nonconformist settlement of ' Albertland situated to the north of Auokland. He said that, among the whole of the settlers, there was not a penny of a mortgage over a seotion, and that the two first graduates of the Nelson College hailed from there, these being the two Misses Edgar, one of whom is now Lady Prinoipal of the College. During a visit he had paid to the settlement, m going through the bush he- Baw two fine-looking young women ohopping wood and taking it to the homestead. Having oooasion to call at the house on hia return, he found these two young women m the parlor, one playing the piano, and the other engaged m some fancy work, but both working and aoting like what they were — well eduoated and accomplished young women. Tbe proud boast of these settlers was that no drunkard had found a grave m their cemetery. But North Albertland, with only ene publio -house had twelve buried m theirs.