LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1811, 10 April 1888, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

At a meeting of the Committee of the Caledonian Sooiety, held m the Secretary's office last Saturday night, it was decided to hold the next " Ingleside " m the Oddfellows' Hall on Friday, 27th instant.

We are requested to state that for the con. venienoe of gentlemen purposing to attend the clearing Bale at Mr H. W. Parsons' farm, Seafield, on Thursday next, a drag will leave the Ashburton Eailway Station immediately after the arrival of the express from Christohuroh on that morning.

A very suooessM Sunday-sahool bull-fight was recently given m Chihuahua, Mexico. The young men of the Sunday-sohool took part m it, and the prooaeds were devoted to the interior adornment of the parish ohuroh.

Mr C. Braddell has been appointed Olerk and Engineer to the Borough Counoil. There were m all about fourteen applicants for the

position.

In the Hawera distriot, aooording to the 11 Star," the caterpillars are very destructive to the tomatoes again this season. Very [few people are succeeding m getting any fruit, although there is a grand show. Those who have suoceeded have clipped all the leaveß off the plants after the fruit had formed, and there was thus not the shelter for the caterpillars that they provided.

A German company has been formed (apparently m Berlin) for the manufacture of watohea to be actuated by eleofcrioity. The case contains two small cells and a small eleotrio motor aotuated by make-and-brake movement. Watohea of this type have already been made, but have never hitherto been regarded as anything more than curiosities.

The " Auokland Herald " says that while oases of destitution are reported, two tons of butter-milk are daily poured into the sewers, and thenoß into the sea, at the butter depart* ment of the New Zealand Freezing Company's works, whioh people will not take away, even though this wholesome and nutritious article of food is offered to them for nothing. It seems to be a Boandalous waste, whioh ought to be prevented m some way or other, m the midst of complaints of want of food and destitution.

Several fires lately ooourred m rapid succession at the New York Hospital for Ruptured and Crippled Children m that oity. On a Sunday one of these fires broke out, and some of the servants of the establishment were suffocated. A little girl named May Wilson, aged eleven years, one of the inmates of the Hospital, was afterwards arrested, and confessed to having deliberately caused the fires.

The " San Franoisoo Ohroniole " has published a lengthy article on Australian trade, -giving very complete statistics. These show that there has been a heavy decrease m the exports from the United States to the colonies, while the imports are correspondingly increasing. At San Franoisoo the imports forj last year exceeded the exports m the colonia trade by 400,000d01. Thia Budden ohange m the trade with the United States is of very great interest, and is indeed somewhat surprising. It seems that the colonial imports into 3an Franoisoo are mainly from New South Wales.

Specimens of quartz and silver and copper are being taken into Palmeraton (North Island) from the Pohangioa district.

About twenty Mormons left Napier laat Thursday en route for the Wairarapa, where they purpose proselytising the natives. Thej were mounted on rough looking steeds, and and have travelled over land from Auokland.

It is not altogether pleasant to be a horoino. Miss Minnie Freeman, the young Nebraska .school teaohor, who distinguished heraelf by Baying the lives of 13 of her pupils during the late blizzard m the Western States, haa since "been overwhelmed by a deluge of offers of marriage from aimpletona all over ihe west. There seems to be an idiotic idea prevalent that the highest ambition of a woman's life ia to acquire a huaband, but as a rule, says a contemporary out there, thoae who entertain that view get "left." It is gratifying to know that the senders of the letters referred to will be among the number.

The " Wanganui Times " says that one of the latest rumours from Wellington ia that the Colonial Treasurer ia preparing a proteotive tariff whioh will go as far as 30 per cent, m most instances, and it ia also whispered that a measure is being drafted to get at bank depositors, nine-tenths of whose money now escapes taxation.

An Auokland telegram says that on the night of the 9th inst. the drapery and clothing Store of Mr Lovett, m Wellesley atreet, was broken into and ransacked, clothing being stolen. A sum of five shillings, found m the till, waa the only money stolen.

Pat (who has come to London with a view to emigrating, Btops before a newsvendor'a shop, where a plaoard with a large line upon it •' Situation m Egypt," ia exhibited. " Sure, I've come |about that eitutation ye're advertißin'." Newsvendor : " What situation d' you mean ? " Pat (pointing to poster) : " It's the worm m Agypt I'm afther." Newavendor : "Pooh, that's on the state of affairs—" Pat : " Sorra a ha'porth I care whose estate it's on. Bedad, I'll take it."

The " Colonies and India " of 15th Peb reports that "the Marquis of Normandy, formerly Governor of this oolony, ia now m New Zealand, and that he is expeoted to return to England m the spring with a Wellington lady." On dit that the lady referred to the widow of the late Mr Rhodes, M.L.O.

Many Wellington residents were the victims of a " sell " on April Fools' Day. The "Poafc," published from a correspondent a letter stating that the gale had driven a large whale ashore north of Island Bay. Several wellknown savants went out early to see the whale, and as the first comers were returning they met a perfect stream of people going out, and all those who were facing homewards appeared marvellously delighted with what they had seen, and spoke of the monster of the deep m the most respectful terms, but m answer to enquiries aa to its preoise position gave surprisingly disorepant replies, varying from " just round the first point " to " about half a mile further on." The same sort of double procession continued during the greater part of the afternoon. Later m the day it transpired that all that waa to be seen round the beach was a placard bearing the inscription. " This is where the whale ought to be." This being dated Ist April, disclosed the mystery.