LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1726, 28 December 1887, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

At the 11. M. Court this morning, before Mr T. Bullock, J.P., five first offenders for drunkenneH3 were each fined 5s and costs, with the usual alternative A good 3eal of comment boa been caused m Brisbane on a case where a Dr O'Doherty standa ohargod with visiting a woman at the point of death while m an intoiioatod oon. dition. It is alleged that unblushing efforts were made by one of the magistrates on the bench to white-wash the aooused. The matter I baa been brought under the notioe of tho Colonial Seeietary. Sour stomach, aiok headache, and dizziness, £n?erloaq Co,'b gop Bitten curoi with » few

There waß another largo attendance at tho Otldlellowe' Hall laßt evening to witness tho seoond performanco of the Lynoh Family Bellringers. The programme, whioh wao an entire ohange from that of the previous night, was gone through to the evident satisfaction of the audience. Messrs Cromo and Oyßten contributed two piano ducts. Mr Griffin, who was m hotter voioo than on the previous evening, Bang 4< The Scout," " Lovo's Old Sweot Song," and "Never Deßpair," with lasto and feeling. Mr Parlatti wai aa sueoessful ob over with his comio songs, for all of whioh he had to respond to redomands. The Bellringers played a number of selections on the Bolls, " Homo, Sweet Home " being undoubtedly the gem of the evening. Mr W* W. Lynoh played a soleotion on the hong klongs (Javaneso piano), a peculiar looking instrument, but with a very good tone. The Lynoh Brothers contributed a Chinese song and danoe, and Messrs W. Lynoh and Parlatto an Irißb oharaoter duot. The performance oonoludol with a farco, entitled " The Judge's Substitute," whioh kept the audience m oontinuous laughter for about twenty minutes. The Company loft by the express this morning for tbe South.

We understand that Miss Carrie Swain and her dramatic Company, who at present intend appealing for two nights m Timaru, contemplate relinquishing one of these nights m order to play m Ashburton should sufficient inducement be offered. A considerable amount of support has already been promised and as the Company is very highlya poken of, having playod to crowded houses throughout Australia, there is little doubt they will eooure a large attendance should they come here Mr E ston, tho lessee of the Oddfellows' Hall is at proßont negotiating with Mr Stuart, tbe manager of the Company ; and if they appea r here it is likely January 14 will be tbo date fixed upon, and the piece chosen for the occasion, " The Tomboy." : Tho Master of the Ashburton Home desirei to acknowledge with thanks the rocoipt of a quantity of sausages and joint beef from Mr James Tasker, and pipes and tobacoo from Mr W. Zander, for the Christmas treat for the inmates.

The annual treat m oonneotion with the Hampstead School took place on the 23rd inst, at Mr Lamb's farm, a paddook having been kindly lent for the purposes of tho treat. At eleven o'olook the children mustered at the Bohool and were soon safoly on board the waggons attaohed to Mr 11, Meaolam's traotion engine, whioh that gentleman had placed with his usual generosity at the disposal of tho Committee. Mr H. Hunt was also present with his largo waggon and two horses, After taking a trip through the Borough the children were conveyed to the field and before the sports commenced were regalefcwith buns and ginperbeer. Owing to tho very liberal support given by the public tho Committee were enabled to give every child a prize, which meant a great deal, there being 280 obildren attending tbe eohool. Keen oom. petition took plaoe for these prizes, whioh occupied the time till tins meal of tho day, on tho preparation of whioh Mcsdamos Lamb, Q. W. Andrews, Miss Lamb, and others, had been very hard at work. Sports wore onoo more the order of the day till 6 o'clook whon> before tbe homeward journey was commenced, tbe Chairman called for oheers for Mr Lamb Mr Meaolam, Mr Hunt and tho sohool teacher Whioh were responded to with enthusiasm. Hearty cheers were then gtveu for the School Committee, and the children reached home about seven o'clook after having spent a most enjoyable day.

The "Asiatic Quarterly" states that the quantity of territory acquired by England m Upper Bunnah measures 188,000 squaro miles —an area of one and hilt times the me of Great Britain and Ireland. The population is estimated at 2,000,000 ; but Mr A. K. Colquhon, the writer of the artiole, boliovoa Upper and Lower Barman can com* fort ably acoomodate 80,000,000 more m Addition to the present 7,000,000 m tho two provinces. He further Bays : —" By tho acquisition of this new territory wo have gained a gate to China for tho use of the Mother Country and India, and, if we choose, can now oonneot, by railway, India and China the two most populous Empires m the world. The three Chinese provinces nearest to Burmab, rich land-looked markets, contain about 100,000,000 inhabitants, or a greater population than France, Germany, Holland, Belgium, and Denmark combined. We have now an opportunity of reaching Southern and Western China and commercially cement* ing our relations with the other poaoeful powerß of Asia. Some sheep |that hare never been shorn were mustered for the recent Bhearing at Ledcourt Station, Viotoria. They have been apparently forced out of the reoeseea of the Grampians by last summer's fires, and bad joined tho flocks on the plains. The fleeces were of remarkable length and weight. One from a ewe weighed 521bs, and a sample of the staple was 15 inotaeß m length without any break.

A sad fatal aooident occurred to two State school teachers m Viotoria named William Beilby and Joshua H. Vaughan. Whilst fish ing along the coast at a plaoe known as the* Crags, a rocky and dangerous plaoo, a wave washed over tho ledge on wbioh they worn standing, knocking Boilby into the sea Vaughan, who was standing cloce by and wa a goocUewimmer, bravely jumped into the sen to save his friend, but immediately sank, and never afterwards reappoared. Beilby drifted out abou f ten yards, and sank m a patch of kelp. There was a considerable swell on at tbo time, rendering assistance from the re r mainder of the excursion party impossible. Both were young men and married. On the same day two children, tho Bon and daughter of Mr John Brown, were drowned near Hamilton. Tbe boy went into a dam for the purpose of bathing, and got out of bis depthHis sister, a obild seven years old, went to his assistance, the result being that both children were drowned.