ALFORD FOREST

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1899, 18 July 1888, Page 2

ALFORD FOREST

(from oub own correspondent )

The Salvation Array had a fbld day bere on Monday last, Us advent being anticipated with delight by a great crowd of admirers, bat more particularly by the javeniles who ware anxionn to st'e a real band. Some of them had 7ery vague' ideas of it, questions beirfg asked, each j as " Whether the band was not » big drnm ?' Tnis erroneona conclusion oon tamed some germ of truth, aa indeed most nntrutha do, tot who would bs satisfial with a band without a big dram. I remamber following; an a child, a ciy band whoae drummer became Impeded by the crowd eagerly taking Its tnrn abont m carrying that martial instrument, and lagging behind somewhat he took the wrong turn, and nothing but the warning cry of the crowd brought him baok to his comrades. A torch light procession and the Imposing glitter of the many brass instruments, together with the soul inspiring maroh tunes brought a large number of people together who marched from the Bohool down the road to Host I Tiaoh's Hotel, but from a variety of oanses that fort has fallen into quiet Inoffeuslveness, and there was not much ohanoe fot so heroic attack or the snatching of brands from the burning. >( Times have changed," as an old imbiber of long sleevers and stiff nobblers re marked smiling iy and knowingly ; and be added, sfgni6oantly, "If any one had to?d us ten years ago this would happen, we should have huDted for a straight waistcoat for him. 1 ' Truely it If not only what has been fenced m, that causes the feeling of wonder, but wh»t has been fenced out. We enjiy all fiah that come to the bet, tolerate all sects, Presby terlanlsm, Wesleyanistn, and m the past Mormonlsm, but latterly these last named have gone farther afield. We are an impressionable people, willing to give fair play to all. About 7 o'clock the schoolroom presented a most animated scene being orammed to overflowing 1 , id Captain Aston whose quiet common sense and earnest manner has made a great impression here, with the help of Mrs Captain Harvey and her sister Miss M Dawson soon got to work, the band enliveniug the proceedings amazingly. A large supply of cakes, tarts, sandwiches, etc., disappeared as if by magic, and if the intolloctual standard may ba gauged by rude health and robust digestion, Young Men's Christian Associations will not keep ral recent converts gave their testiin the ba r kground much longer. Pevemony, and Messrs Allison and Duff of Methven earnestly addressed the meeting. The proceedings terminated about ten o'clock, and the proceeds to be devoted to the furtherance of the cause amounted to about five pounds. We trnst here that the grand old hilte will never re-echo anything more unpleasant than the hymn of praise and the shouts of thanksgiving. The Mount Somers Buxton Lime Kiln is being resorted to largely by all the farmers m the district, and the outside demand is very large. The first lot made wps carted away directly, and there is no reason for doubting that the cold land will be as much benefited by itß application as the respected owner, Mr A. E. Peache, must be by its rapid sale, Many are trying it on a small scale this year, so that, should its use prove as it must do profitable, they will cjo m hrgely for general purposes. Analysis of various sample.3 of soil sent to the Royal College of Agriculture, proved that it abounded m all elements of fertility, but this one lying at our doors, namely lime.