The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. MONDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1887. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1739, 19 December 1887, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. MONDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1887. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

• ». At the B.M. Court this morning, before Mi D. Thomas, J.P., two first offenders foi drunkenness were fined 5a each and costs.— Abraham Kolton, for a similar offence, wai mulcted m a like penalty. A cbnroh parade of the Aahburton Volunteers was held yesterday, the Rifles mustering 30 (Captain Dolman), Guards 28 {Captain Sparrow), and Cadets 38 (Sergeant Major gay es), Major Douglas being m command. Captain Pooka was also present. Headed by the Volunteer Band, ander Bandmaster Hoskin, the men were marohed to the Weeleyan Church where a very interesting and instructive sermon was preaohed by the Rev* D. McNiooJ. After aervioe the Voluntoers were marched baok to their parade ground and dißmiesotfi The privilegog m connection with the Caledonian Sooiety's Sports were sold by Mr J. C. Duncan, at auotion, on Saturday last, and realised the following prices :—Publioan'e booth, Mr John Henry, £8 10a ; confectioner's booth, Mr W. C. Davis, £2 15s; oards (selling price 6d eaob), Mr Matthew Patterson, 4s Gd per dozen; right of sports, Mr W. C. Davis, 9a An accident occurred on the Aahburton bridge on Saturday night by whioh Dr Trevor's buggy was considerably damaged. The dootor was driving across the bridge when an express Game into collision with bis vehicle. It is possible that something further may be heard m connection with the matter. We understand that the net proceeds of the ! Garden Party amount to about £50. A daylight inspection parade of the Ash* burton Volunteers will be fteld on Tuesday evening at H p.m. Major No wall, thi pietrict Adjutant, will bo present. As this is tha iapt daylight parade this year it is important thai every man should attend.

A patoh of Californiau thistles waß discovered an land very cioee to the town on Saturday last, but prompt aotion was taken for their •radioation, which it is to bo hoped may prove sucoesßiul. This thistle is. a very great pest to agriculturalists, and onoa it gets firmly established it is almost impossible to clear the land of it. Therefore aotion cannot be taken too soon to get rid of the noxious weed bb soon as its presence iB discovered. Bailiffs m the exercise of their duties have \ generally to keep all their wits about them iv order that their intended prey may no^ escape, and long praotioe making them pro* ficient, bb a rule they are not hoodwinked very easily. A rather amusing atory roaches us of an experience whioh the bailiff of the local court had recently; Having oooasion to eorvo a summons on a person who was to occupy the position of defendant m a certain osbo, he proceeded to that person's rosidenoe. But the wanted one probably bad had aome intimation of what was owning, for when the offioer of tho law arrived at the house he railed to find the man he was m quest of. The inmates disclaimed any knowledge of his whereabouts; all they knew was that he had gone out and they did not know when he would return. The bailiff was not satisfied, and started on a round of inspsotion. Before going far the hawk-eyed offioer thought it might be as well to look up a gum tree whioh was growing near by and there ho found bis quarry | snugly enaconsed among tho branches. The blue paper was duly served on tbe crestfallen rooipient, and the bailiff wended his way homewards reflecting on the futility of endeavouring to evade him when on business bent. The annual sohool treat m connection with the Ohertsey District Sohool took place m tha sohoolroom on Friday (Anniversary Day). There was as usual a large attendance of parents and friends, and all seemed to relish the preparations that had baen made for their refreshment and amusement. Games and sports of various kindo were arranged for ths amusement of the little ones by the Commit* tee, and toya of various attractive sorts wore distributed to the most (successful iv the sports. Every child m the school also received 0 handsoms reward book. Refresh* mentß were liberally distributed at appropriate intervals throughout the day. Altogether, a very pleasant day's outing was spent by all concerned, and all seemed highly pleased with the success of the day's proceedings. A young lady oompanion who bad been fishing for compliments very successfully, was surprised by the young gentleman who Bat beßida her affectionately putting hia arm around her neck and kissing her. Filled with indignation, she angrily demanded why she was thus insulted. "My dear lady,'* replied the young man, gasping with exoitement, "I hope I have not offended you. Beally, I supposed that those who fished for compliments would not object to taking them m sinackt." Poor Charley Beed, who defended Guiteau, has been caught till tapping m a Jersey City Saloon, He began his professional life m part, norahlp with Joe Knoz,. of Book Inland, went to Chicago, and olirabea to the top round of his profession. Then he got drunk and fell to the bottom, and we fear has rolled into the gutter. Oapt Whisky is a hard boBB " AUa California." The Falmouth House estate at Newmarket (England) was sold m two lots for £78000, and the purchasers ought to have obtained a real bargain, as the property oost Archer, tho jockey, upwards of £20,000. There are vague rumours of a disoovery of alluvial gold m the neighborhood of Grey, town. Our informant stateß that something definite will bo announoed about it m a few days. There m a good prospect of a large yield of plume* m the Waikato this season. Many trees aro wonderful sights, bearing m suoh abundance that the branches aro bowed to tbeg round with the weight of the fruit. Dr Kenny ban a yellow gage, whioh has to be propped up m all directions to save the, tres from total destruction by its own fecundity. There is come hope of the rabbits m the Wairarapa district getting diminished by a natural disease, aooording to 9 statement made by Mr Orbell, an jnspeotor, to (he Wairarapa "Daily" of Tuesday last. H« says that a disease, identical with the one proralant iv South Australia, is now decimating the rabbits throughout the Wairarapa. It is reported that an effort is to be mado by Mr J. B. Smith to give practical proof of the auriferous oharaoter of the soil at WaitoaA water engtno has been purohased, and a I plant is about to be fplaoed on the unsold 1000 acroß of Mr Smith's farm. The " Wairarapa Star" states that a young and much encumbered Auokland solioitor has been non at since the mail steamer loft, and it is feared ho has gone io quest of distant clients. His outstanding liabilities are said to amount to over £10,000. Latest intelligence is confirmatory of the great losses of sheep m Buenos Ayres within past year. It is still alleged that ovsr 20,000,000 Bheep have died, and the loss is estimated at about £6,000,000, whioh is *t least 12 per cent, of the value of all (he atoc|c.