LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1755, 1 February 1888, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

It is announced that another of the Greenwood's concerts is to be given m the Odd* fellows' Hall on Monday evening. The merit of the entertainments given by this talented family during their visit here here, some months ago, will be remembered and doubt, leei there will be a good attendance on the occasion of their re-appearanoe.

A special meeting of the Borough School Committee was held last evening. . Pro* sent — Messrs J. 0. Dunoan (ohairman), Dimant, and Elaton. The Ohairman ex. plained that the objoot of the meeting was to oonaidor the matter of giving the children a treat and also of presenting good attendance certificates to those pupils entitled to them He said that Mr Dimant bad discovered that there was an account for the treat fund atj the Union Bank with £2 Oa 8d standing to its; credit. A cheque for this amount had been reoeived from tho late Seoretary, and the treat fund waß now io credit £13 9s sd. It was resolved that the treat be held on Friday, February 10th, and that Mr D. H. Brown be written to asking if he will grant the nee of bis paddook for the occasion. The matter of ordering refreshments was left m the bands of Mr Elston. It was resolved that first-class attendance certificate* be presented to the children who had attended 437 times and upwards, and that Beeond-olaea certificates be issued to children who bad attended from 431 to 435 times. The following ohildren gained certificates : — First-class — Elizabeth Tannahill, Julia Hefford, George Walker, John ftolHns. Second-class— William Anderson, Joseph Ward, Elizabeth Miles. Henry Gollins, Minnie Ranger, Peter Walker, Bessie Atwell, and Alex Arthur.

At the Obrieteburoh Police Court this morning, Mrs Dalzoll, who is now m police custody at Addington, was charged with the murder of her son and with attempted Buioide at Xlakaia, on Deo. 29th. The woman too ill to appear, and ehe was remanded to Asburton, to appear on February 10th.

The enormous amount of six and a half tons of diamonds is said to have been ex* traded from four South Afrioan annas daring the last few years. They were valued at £40,000,000. The other great diamond flel i of the world, India, is also a British posses* flion.

At Ohristohurch yoßterday, Georgia Tellett was committed for trial on a charge of obtaining money by false pretences. Ho is a bird f anoier, and sold to a mat named William Smith a stook of birds and cages for £35« Alter the money had been paid it was ascertained that many of the birds did not belong to him.

At the Wesleyan Conference on Tuesday the Eev W. Morley, General Secretary of Ohuroh property, presented hia annual re* port. The following additions to Chnroh property hate been acquired during the year ; Auckland, £3641; Wanganui, £100; Wei* lington, £725; Nelson, £153; Canterbury, £224; Otago, £333. Redactions of Church debts to the amoaat of £4563 were also reported. Thanks were presented to Mr Morley for his valuable services, and the Rev W. B. Martin, of Timara, was appointed General Secretary for the ensuing year.

The yearly production of tobaooo m New South Wales is 0,617,424108, of the value of £458,870.

A Goyernment reeident is to be appointed at the Solomon Islands to check tho sale of arms and spirits to the natives.

The yield of gold m Viotoria daring 1887 was Gi1, 117021, or 29,4550z3 less than m 1886, when the amount was 010,8720z3.

The " North German 3azette " records the faot that the first tram upon the xnoßt northerly line m the world has passed the Arotio Cirolo. It is m the north of Sweden.

Sinoe Jan. 6th, 1887, over 3,000,0000zs of silver have boen obtainei fro a the Broken Hill mines, the value beiog £762,000, of which £271,000 have been paid m dividends.

v I have met this man," said the lawyer with extreme severity, "m a great many places where j[ would be ashamed to bo seen myself," and then he paused and looked at the Btniling court and jury.

Says a recent "Napier Telegraph" : — At an early hour this morning the supply of whisky m the hotels gave out, and when thja was discovered there was so much consternation among the Scotchmen that a large exodqs to the country set m, the result being the first train was very orowded.

" I am very tired," said the lady at the head of the supper table one Sunday evening. " You should not be," said her minister, who bad been aßked m to the evening meal " you haven't preached two sermons to-day." '•• No," said the lady absent-minded, " but listened to them."

An interesting story is told of Lady Randolph Churobill (nee Miss Jerome). It is stated that the young lady, prior to her marriage, attended a masked ball at St. Oload on one occasion attired as Eve, the impersonation being czaot m every particular, yhe Empress demanded her immediate retire.meat from the festive scene.

The lig treo ib a long-lived tree ; those that ate natives of India often exist for 2s() years, gmryna exported 2l r 6QQ,OOOIbB dried figi"^ 1884, and other countries brought the total up to 40,000,0001b5, besides the large toflous consumed at born?*