LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1753, 30 January 1888, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

It will be observed by to-days cablegrams that Major Atkinson has reoeived tbe well* deserved honor of knighthood. Tbe news will be reoeived \nt\x general satisfaction throughout the colony. At tbe R.M. Court this morning, before Mr F. Guinness. J.P., a man who was treated as a first offender was finod 5» and costs for drunkenness.—On Saturday night a man suffering from the effects of drink gave himself up at the Polioe Station. On Sunday he was m such a bad atate thai a dootor had to be called m, Ho was too weak to appear at the Court this morning, but will probably be brought np to-morrow. On Thursday last a meeting of working men of the Rakaia diatriot only was held at the Railway Hotel. Mr Windsor was voted to the ohair, and explained that the object of the meeting was to consider the advisability of forming a " Working Men's Money Club," similar to the one m Sydenham. After considerable dißOueaion it was resolved to ask tbe Sydenh&m Club for a copy of their rules, and if a Booiety could join theirs as a branoh.' After passing a vole of thanks to the ohairman the meeting adjourned till after harvest, when the date of meeting will be advertised. On several 0 ••casionß lately the ourioßity of the fnbabitantß of a small township some miles Bouth of Christohurch has been exoited as to what was the object m running a train consisting of a locomotive, olassJ., sixteen truoks, with contents very carefully guarded from the publio gsze through being covered with tarpaulins, and a guard's van. It is rumored that the trucks are filled with ihingle, and that tbe Railway Department are running this " special " ballast train m order to arrive at the merits and value of a certain olaeß of native coal. It is stated that the engine, trucks and contents, van, and the man m charge have been carefully weighed, as if for racing purposes; but owing to a fresh guard being put on tbe train for the seoond trip, without bis accurate weight being taken, it is thought advisable to run tbe trip over again, and thus make Bure of the actual tonnage hauled at co muoh cost. If these reports aro correct, surely some more eoonomioal method could have been found to have gained the requisite information, without this appare at utter disregard to the publio funds, especially during the existing daily cry for eoonomy and retrenchment. The Oatnaru papers record tbe death of Mr Arthur Toms, who had? been for the past • 80 years a resident of that distriot, and for many of these had occupied the position of Borough Valuator and Inspector of Nuisances. Mr Tome was last week visiting the Hanmer Plains hot springs m the hope of restoring his failing health, and was seized m the bath with something like a fit. He immediately returned home, and shortly after bis arrival was taken suddenly ill and expired before medioal assistance could be summoned. He leaves a widow and four obildren. The biggest thing yet attempted m New Zealand m the shape of a Fire Brigade competition will come off on tbe Agricultural Show Grounds, Christohureb, on the 21st and 22nd February. The following brigades have entered, viz.: — Ashburton, Caversham, Obrietoburob City, Obristoburoh Railway, Dunedin City, Dimedin Railway, Dunedin South, Gisborne, Gore, Hastings, Invereargill Southern, Lyttelton, Masterton, Napier, Naseby, New Plymouth, Port Chalmers, Rangiora, Roslyn, Spit, Temuka, Timaru, Wanganui, Wellington Munioipal. For the ambulance competition the only entry so far is the Addington Railway Workshops Brigade,' and for fire escapes Mr Taylor, Ashburton. The great tower of iron 1000 feet high, wbioh was to have been the feature of the next world's fair at Paris, is to be abandoned. It was found impossible to induoe workmen to build it. A Court of Inquiry is to be held at Greymouth into tbe general discipline of tbe Greymouth consequent upon a letter whioh recently appeared m tbe " Canterbury Times " charging them with gross misconduct and complete disorganisation. A case that occurred m an English country court shows that Solomon is located there. Tbe Judge bad to try a caso of disputed ownership of a dog. To facilitate matters the Judge made the rival claimants stand at opposite aides of tbe court, while a policeman held tbe dog m the middle. He then told both parties to whistle and the officer let go. Tbe dog bolted out of tbe door, and was no more seen. The Judge simply remarked, " This case is disposed of; call the next on tbe list." The " Wellington Press " says that a laugh wag raised at tbe Wesleyan Conforenoe on Friday evening. The retiring President {the Rev W. C. O iver) was roferring to the virtues of our climate, when he waxed eloquent, and somewhat ranhly remarked that "it was not surpassed on God's carth —or ! elsewhere 1" The ministers recognißod ie qb a gooi opportunity for a laugh at tbe President's oxpense, and the merriment was general. The rev gentleman did not intin>j.to whore ho derived bis information as to "elscwboro," and it is to bo hoped, bearing m mind the weather we have experienced of late, that the President is " out " of bis calculation. 1 • 1 : [ . ' ' [ I r : t ' - i . r 5 ; » * 7

Tbo general quarterly meeting of members of the Aabburton Club will be held this evening. Mr Albert J. Muller, of the Ashburton Post Office, has been appointed to the temporary charge of the Rakaia Post Office during the absence on leave of Mr A. Olark, Postmaster ( there. 1 i , Members of the Aehburton Rifles, 3uards, \ and Cadets are reminded that the first i inspection parade for the year takes' plaoe , on Tuesday evening, at eeven o'clock, when ■ a full mnßter is desired. We understand that the Annual Inspeotion by General Sir George Whitmore may be expected within a few days and Volunteer! should be on tho gui vine for •" orderß." The annual treat given to the scholars attending the Sunday School (at Ashburton and Bampßtead) m connection with St. Stephn's Church, was held on Thursday last at the Parsonage Garden. The attendance was large, the schools just now having more scholars on their rolls than has ever bofore been the case. Tho proceedings began with a short service m the Ohuroh at half-paßt one, after which tho children walked m a long procession to the Parsonage grounds. Games were at once entered into with great vigor, the teaohera throwing themselves heartily and unselfishly into the work of amusing their pupils. Tea was served at 4 p.m. and owing to the liberality of the many contributors the provision was ample and excellent. After tea, races, garnet and scrambling were the order of the day, until a drizzling ruin Betting m the children began to drop off m two and threes. A very pleasant day was spent m spite of the rain which came on m the evening. These Sunday Schools are now m a very flourishing state and it is satisfactory to note that the attendance continues to increase. Some tussocks m the vioinity of the Temp'ar Hall caught lire on Saturday evening, but the flames were almost immediately subdued. Both bells loudly rang out the alarm, but there was no oooaaion for the servioaa of the Brigade. An election for a Licensing Committee for the Borough of Ashburton has been proceeding to-day. Very little interest appears to be taken m the contest, for up to 2 o'olook not more than 30 voteß had been recorded. The result will be deolared about seven this evening. No. 8 of Mr Leslie's series of Parliamentary Portraits is to band, the number before us being devoted to the members for Mount Ida and Te Aro. In Mr Soobie Mackenzie's presentment the artist has caught bis expres■ion well, but the subjeot is drawn with rather too full a face. Mr Stewart Menteath's ia an excellent portrait. At the Wesleyan Conference on Saturday the motion for Separation from Australia was oarried by 13 votes. The votes recorded were as follows: — For Separation, 39; against, 26. The ultimate decision remains with the General Conference, whioh meets next May m Melbourne. The " Wanganui Herald " writing of the New Plymouth Harbor difficulty says ;— "Tho real position of the Board ia not known to anyone outside a narrow oirole, and the ratepayers have a right to conclude that they are being hoodwinkbd. It is asserted that it will oost at least £5000 a year for dredging to maintain a depth sufficient to admit the larger steamers, and that no extension of the wall within the means likely to be plaoed at the disposal of tho Board will obviate the necessity of constant dredging." The Glasgow correspondent of the " Daily News" cays:— "A borribla diaoovery was made hero the other day m one of the suburbs. A middle-aged woman, owning, her own bouse and a plot of ground* has for the last few years taken charge of a number of illegitimate infants. From time to time many of these -young ohildren disappeared, the woman's neighbors boing led to understand that they were;removed by their parents. The disappearance of a female ohild the other day aroused suspicion, and a police investigation was instituted. The polioo discovered the body of the missing child buried under the floor of a cow-stall. A further searoh of the premises led to the disoovery of the remains of ten infants disposed of m a similar manner. The baby-farmer is now charged with the murder of all these ohildren." Hair Bahuu.— lf grey restores to original color An elegant dressing, softens and beautifies. No oil or grease. A Tonic Restorative. Stops hair joining out ; strengthens, cleanses, heals icalp. 2