LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1808, 6 April 1888, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A meeting of (he Ashburton Hospital Board was held this morning. Present— Messrs W. 0. Walker (ohairman), A. Harrison, H. Fried, lander, and T. Soaly. The balance-sheet was laid on the table. A disouaaion took plaoe m reference to patients' fees, and it was ultimately agreed that a Committee consisting of the Ohairman, Mr Harrison, and Mr Friedlander should confer with the medical officer m order that some belter plan oi collecting patients' fees may be devised. The Christohuroh Hospital Board wrote enclosing account for maintenance of a patient from the Methven distriot. Some disoussion took place m reference to this letter, it being stated that a number of persons from the Bakaia and Methven distriots went to the Christohuroh Hospital, the result being that the ABhburton Board was responsible for them, and m most oases had to pay for their maintenance, ft was deoided to oommunioate with the South Bakaia and Mount Hutt fioad Boards on the aubjeot. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr Friedland, " That the Clerk prepayo the following returns :— (1) Amount oharged for maintenance during each financial year ending March 31st, }§Bs, 1887, and 1888. (2) Amount received during eaoh of those financial years from patients. (3) Also names of patients owinp for maintenance, and amounts duo by them during the above period." Mr Harrison alluded to the great saving that had been effected m the ordinary expenses of the Hospital during the past year, while the number of patients waa about the pamo as m the previous year It waa mentioned that the report of. the Inspector of Hospitals was very favourable. The Committoo expressed its satisfaction with tho manner m whioh the Hospital was conducted. Boutine business waa transacted, and the Committee adjourned. The people of Napier have obtained a splendid Artesian water supply at a depth of 15G feet.

At the meeting of the Hospital Board this V morning mention was made of a convenient \ little financial arrangement by whioh the | Ohristohuroh Hospital Board benefit; oonsider

ably. It appears that the North Canterbury and ABhburton Charitable Aid Board and the Christohurch Hospital Board have the Bame Bank, and there is an arrangement m force that if one body is m funds and the other ,haß an overdraft the ' latter will have no interest to pay on the overdraft |to the amount that the former is : m credit. Now the Charitable Aid Board is a body noted for the liberality of the contributions it levies, and consequently has a substantial sum to its credit. The Hospital Board has an overdraft, and it is therefore evident that Ashburton County, m common with tho remainder of the Charitable Aid distriot, has to pay m order that the Christchurch Hospital Board may have the advantage of an overdraft, without the drawback of paying interest for it.

At the County Oounoil Chambers there is an interesting exhibition, consisting of vegetables, olover, and grain from the irrigation farm, some of eaoh olass having been irrigated, and some grown on the non-irrigated portion. The difference m size and quality between the two classes is Btartling. The potatoes, beet, carrots, etc., whioh have been irrigated are large, plump, and healthylooking, and as different from the miserable siokly and shrivelled up things grown on the non-irrigated portion of the farm as day is from night. Some oats whioh have been irrigated are a wonderful improvement on others whioh have not so been treated, the grain being much plumper and heavier. The olover whioh has been irrigated oannot be compared with that whioh has not, the latter being small and dried up, and the former large, healthy, and suooulent. As with olover bo with some Italian rye grass, the results of the experiment m regard to these two oropß conclusively Bhowing that by irrigation excellent returns may be obtained, whereas without it nothing could be grown i with any suooess on the farm. Tne land comprised m this, as is probably known, is very poor. It would not be practicable to grow root orops there unless with the aid of irrigation, but with this, as has been shown, the results are most satisfactory. The exhibits will be on view at the Town Hall tomorrow. The usual annual Harvest Thanksgiving Service took' place m St Stephen's Church on Thursday evening, and was attended by a large congregation, who listened with great; attention to an excellent sermon upon the Bubjeot of Gratitude to God, the preacher taking for his text the aooount of the cleansing o* the ten lepers, of whom only one returned to give thanks (Luke XVII, 17). The preacher was the Rev. Walter Harper, inoumbent of St. Michael's, .Ohristohuroh, and the service whioh was choral was an exceedingly pleasing one. The Church was beautifully decoraled for the occasion. Sheaves of wheat and oats with a pyramid of fruit and vegetables were disposed upon and about the altar, above whioh was a cross m sunflowers, and the communion rails were wreathed with foliag o and flowers interspersed with ears of oorn and with various fruits, that of the barberry being freely used, with excellent effeot. The ohoir stalls, leotern, desk and pulpit were also similarly decorated, the latter having m front a croßß of white summer chrysanthemums. The font also was orowned with a pyramid of corn wreathed with leaves and flowers, and altogether the decorations were remarkably tasteful, effeotive and appropriate. j The music of a paok of hounds m full oty broke upon the astonished ears of Ashburton citizens yesterday afternoon. On "enquiry it appeared that the County Hunt Club's Harriers were out for exercise and had gone m full chase of an unfortunate sheep dog, who was doubtless soared oat of his wits as he made off at a tremendous pace down the Wakanui road. He was, however, speedily relieved of the dilemma by the whipper-in, The Bey J. N. Buttle (sucoessor to the Bey D. MoNiooll) arrived m Ashburton to-day, and will preaoh at the Wesleyan Churoh next Sunday morning and evening. The servioes are m celebration of the Church anniversary, and being the first time on whioh Mr Buttle will oooupy an Ashburton pulpit, a two-fold interest will attaoh to the oaoasion, and naturally large congregations are expected to assemble.

Mr Campbell, an Auokland barrister, who has just returned from S.amoa, informed a "Herald" representative that, although matters are apparently quiet m Samoa, the natives are extremely dissatisfied with the aotioD of Germany and the truoulent polioy of Tamaseße. Many of Tamasese's former adherents are disgusted at his having allowed himself to be made a 'tool of by the G erman Government. Taxes to the extent of 47,500d01s have been imposed upon the Samoans throughout the islands, payable m the months of June and August, whioh the nat.iyea are quite unable to pay, without mortgaging their lands, whioh will probably rpsult jn their ultimately falling into the hands of the Germans, The Hon. Mr Mitohelson, interviewed by a '•New Zealand Herald " reporter, said that pn the West Coast he found a deal of oorruption m the expenditure of public money, and thought it best the Government should take over the whole of the works. He feara Gißborne will get into the Bame position as Taranaki respecting harbour works, but he iB determined the Government shall not take Over the Taranaki harbour works. Eeferring to railway management, he said ho did not think Mr Maxwell would be one of the rail way commissioner. It is a striking fact that the cost of the oarriage of wheat from New York to the United Kingdom has fallen m 14 years from 10a 6d per quarter to 2a 6d, In 1874 the rate was 10s 6d., m 1879 Os, m 1885 ss, m 1886 4a 3d. and now it is just over 2s 6d. With the greater firmness m freights it is possible that the rate for wheat may stiffen, but it can never approaoh the old figures, and henoe there is a permanent reason for bi\Q lower prioe of wheat. Laay and dull feelings always preceed siok, ness, whioh nothing but Hop Bitters will banish. Get the genuine American. Bead