LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2250, 11 October 1889, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A five year old child in Monson, Maine, is said to speak three languages.

A Western papor has this do'.ioato personal item ; " Those who know old Mr Wilfon, of this place, will regret to bear that bo was brutally assaulted last week, but was not killed."

There is a oradlo in New York that has rocked over 10,000 babies, It began to rook nineteen years ago when the Sisters of Charity started a little foupding hospital on Twelfth Btrcet, New York, with sdola in the treasury.

It is soventy.four years ago sinoo the battle of Waterloo was fought. Tbe following are tbe names of tbe surviving officers who took part in it : — General George Whioboote, General tbe Earl of Albermarle, Lieut-Oolonel W. Hewett, and Major Basil Jackson.

A writer in the " Leader " (Boston) says that " when tbe ' Messiah ' is performed in the Free Hall, Manchester, fcuoh is the enthusiasm tbat cannot contain themselves but must join their voioes. Often have I seen our grand old oonduotor, 3ir Charles Halle, turn bis baok to band and chorus, and hold up bis hands depreoatingly to the audienoo to keep it in cheok."

Tbe " Wanganui Herald " hears that a circular has been sent out by the Dafeoos Department to the effeot that if any of tbe olfioara of tbe Permanent Force, mili ia, or volunteers are going to England they oan get a formal letter from the Defence Minister, whioh will give them tbe right to present themselves at any of the Queen's levees*

A fire ooourred at Jephson and Moore's flax.mills, at Tinwald, yesterday; A spark from the engine set fire to some flax near a Boutoher, and there was speedily a big blaze. All bands set to work to extinguish the flames and fortunately they were able to get them under oontrol. Damage to tbe extent of about £40 was caused.

An unbearsed scene ooourred in the Theatre Royal, Wellington, a few evenings ago wbioh sent the audienoe into convulsions of laughter. Mr Maooabe was in good voice, and daring bis sketch of ventriloquism he very euooessfully imitated tbe bark of a dog. Now there happened to be a member of the oanine tribe in tho stalls of tbe theatre, and recognising as be probably thought tbe natural sounds of a friend or foe, gave vent to bis feelings in a serious of bloodcurdling howls whioh brought down tbe house.

The Count de Pontoves-Sabran oaptain in tbe French Hussars, who has just returned from l'ersia, reports that the Lake of Savah, wbioh lies not far from Teheran, and wnioh dried up 1375 years ago, u now full of water, which began to well up from subterranean eouroes in 1883. It is slightly brackish in taßte, and brilliant blue in oolour. Tho phenomenon is exciting all the more attention because, according to the traditions of ths country, the desiccation of the lake ooourred >n the year jn which tbe Prophet was born, and on the very day of bis birth.

The " Pall Mall Gazette eays that a titled Englishman reoently wooed and won the heart of a simple Norwegian peasant maiden. When he sought her band from her father in marriage, tbe Bturdy oountryman replied, " I will see ; I muat go with you and see what sort of a man you are before I oonsent." Ho Ottilia over to Eagland, saw the lover's home, hoard o( hli Dosition, and satielied himself that all was right; " Xcs," said he, •• you may have my daughter, y6/J ji?s Pi ri Bhl8 hl Borfc of man." Nor did tho idea Uiai 8u? was wedding a title ever soon to weigh a feftthoi 1 ;n tbo balance of his judgment.

Tho "World" Btateß that in a private ohapol on the estate of Mr Fredoriok Weld has been discovered, as an altarpicoo, a replica by Rubens of his famous pjoture, '• Too Adoration ot the Magi." This picture is one of tho treiimres of tho Madrid Galloiy, measuring 12ft by 17ft, and containing 28 life-size figurce, many in gorgoous attire, warriors in sloel armour, horsemen, slaves, camels, eto. It was painted in Antwerp in 1609 at tho town's expense, and after three years in the Town Hall it was sont to Spain as a present | to Don llodrigo Oalderon, Count of Olivar. Rubens represented himßolf bareheaded in a chain amongst the horsemen. This areni jyork jg regored bb Rubonß' chef d' The best Rkmrdy KjR ZfcipiGKSTiON'.--Nohton's Camomii e Pills are .confidently recommended as a sin.pL remedy for indigestion, which is the cause of marly all the diseases to which we are subject. Norton Pills, with justice called the " nature'*. Strengthener o! the human Ktrmach." ast as a powerful tonic and gentle aperient, are mild in their operation, and safe under any circura* stances. Sold in bottles -at is I J^d, 3s ad, ity »U medicio ycndpistf} oujfho^t tbe wo;ld

The deaths by snakfl bite in the north-WGSt provinces of India laßt year were 6000. In Madraß 10,096 oattle were killed by wild animals, and the loss of human life by snakes nnd wild animals was 1619.

Farmers who have manoged to keep their pbeep over the period of soarcity of pasturage aro reaping their reward in the high piioea now obtainable. A rise of a shilling to two shillings a head has taken plaoe during the last few days. A rise in wheat would be very welcome.

At a recent meeting of the Goolo Board ol Guardian?, Hanna Dyson, who oompleted her 100th year last April, and resides at Swine* fleet, was among the applicants for a Blight increase in the amount of outdoor relief. The daughter who lives with ber is over seventy. Tbe Board granted the application.

Aooeptances for the Handicaps and ontrioß (or the Maiden Plate and Novel Raoe, to be run on the first day of tbe Ashburton Spring Meeting (next Wednesday) must be in the hands ot the Secretary by nine clock to«uiorrow evening. Doubtful was soratobed for the Windermere Handioap at 1.30 p.m. to-day.

The Salvation Army is steadily inorensing in numbers and enthusiasm in England. A grand review reoently took place at Alexandra Palace, London, in wbioh an increase of 283 corps and 1665 officers was shown over last year. Over 20,000 soldiers participated in tbe prooession, which was reviewed by General Booth arid his staff.

An opportunity is afforded the people of this distrust to send to their friends at Home in time for Christmas a gift that will be appreciated, viz., a oaroase of New Zealand mutton or lamb. Mr Rule and Mr Wood advertise that they are prepared to receive orders of this kind for delivery in any part of the United Kingdom, and as the prioes are very reasonable a good business should be done.

"We (" Wanganui Eerald ") have been shown a letter from an engineer in England whioh came out by last mail, in whioh it is stated tbat tbe New Zealand Government had referred the question of the present state of New Plymouth harbor to Sir John Ooode, and that that gentleman had given his opinion to the effeot that tbe proseoution of the work ought to be abandoned, and that the present work can only be used by constant expensive dredging. Even if this is done, the enormous quantity of sand whioh is ever being oast up may make it impossible to keep a narrow channel open inside the existing breakwater."

A Maori wedding in wbioh great local interest was taken waa celebrated at St Augustine's Ohuroh, Waimate, on Wednesday last, the bride being Misß Emma Pohio — daughter of tbe late rangatira Horomona (Solomon) Pohio— and Mr James Saundere, a half-caste. The ohurob, as well as the ohurch grounds, was orowded to excess. The Rev O. Coates was tbo officiating clergyman. As soon as the oeremony waß over tbe bridal party were arranged outside the oburob, and a photograph of tbe group taken. An adjournment was I hen made to tbe Oddfellows' Hall, where a breakfast was laid out for 100 guests. After ample justice bad been done to (tbe good things provided, tbe party dispersed.

Remarking upon the rapid increase in number of the members of the legal profession, the "Lyttelton Times" says: — " From the roll of barristers and solicitors in the Supreme Court of Canterbury, we gather that there are in all one hundred and thirteen qualified members of the legal profession in Canterbury. Of this number there were eighty-one but a short time ago practising in Ohrißtohuroh City alone. Five of these having sought " f roßh fields and pastures new " and one died, Ohristohurob ie just now well supplied with seventy seven (adding two admitted elsewhere aad not appearing on the above roll). It ueod to bo said tbat a stone thrown anywhere in New Zealand muat hit some member either of a City Council, Road Board, Town District Board, J.P., or M.H.R. We may fairly now add lawyers to tho list."

A rich story is told of a venerable Maori well known in tbe Wairarapa. Some years ago. tbe natives uold a large block of land in whiob they wero interested, and reoeived payment in gold. The patriarob, who was as astute as he was aged, was uppointed to divide the spoil. Gleefully aooopting the office of distributor he addressed tho first applicant thus : — " You wjtnt your share, Eapai — ma divide one to you, one to mo." Suiting the action to tho word, he went on banding a sovereign to the other Maoris and passing one to himself. Several tried to expostulate, but it was quite useless. The paymaster with great volubility and gosiioulation assured them it was quite fair. He resolutely kept bis share — half the plunder belonging to the tribe, and left bis fellow oountrymen bewildered and confessing tbat they oould not understand it. — " Napier Telegraph."

" Broadbrim " in his New York letter, writes : -Mpdamo Dis Debar who figured some time sinoe as a high priestess of spiritua. lißm is now here in extreme poverty and at her wits' end to know where hor breakfast or dinner will come from. A year ago she was living in one of tho finest houses on tbe Fifth Avenue, surrounded by every luxury. Luther Marab, ono cf the ablest lawyers in New York, bad given her a magnifioent house and everything in it, valued at thirty thousand dollars. Against his protest the Bar Association of Now York took up the oase ; Bhe was proseouted for swindling, although the man swindled never oomplained, and after a long trial was sent to Blackwell's Island. Since her release Bhe has tried to make a living but failed; her children have been taken from her by the oourts, and now the onoe auooess* ful swindler is a complete ruin, without a friend or a home,

Compensation to publiosna whose houses have been oloaed under tbe new law is a question that is troubling the Arbitration Courts in Viotoria. five decisions have been given reoently in Oeelong, and tbe amounts awarded were;-£757. £924, £048, £1050, and £1090. The tenant obtains one. third of the amount and the landlord two-thirds, The grounds of tbe decisions are, that tbe property is worth so muoh as a publio house, and bo muoh less for any other purpose. People aro beginning to reflect, however, that there are 2000 houses in tbe oolony liable to be dosed, and that if they are shut up at the rate of £1000 apiece, the sum of £2,000,000 will havo to bo paid. The localities are not oharged with tbe cost of compensation* The looaljty votes oo local option, but does not pay tne compensation money. By the Viotorian law the license fees were greatly increased, and tho larger payments, together with all fines and forfeitures, go to a trust fund, out of whioh compensation is paid. It is provided that if the fund should be inadequate, the compensation is to be paid out of some new tax on liquor.—" Wanganui Ohroniole."

The ordinary monthly meeting of tbe Hampatoad Sobool Commit too was held on Friday last. Preaont: Messrs Orr (ohair* man), Andrews, Meaolom, Baker, Johustoa, and §milh. A quantity of business of a routine nature was transacted. The master's report was read and adopted, and it was resolved as reoommended to apply tp the Board for the creation of an additional class room. Aooounts amounting to £17 8s Q& were passed for payment, Followi'ig ia tbo report of the Inspeotor on tbe recent exam' inatipn : — Tbe sobool is ia a thoroughly sound condition of efficiency. Standards VI and V make an admirable appoaranoo under examination; their oomposiiion, grammar, nnd geography r.ro of notable oxoellonoo Standards IV and Ul bpo !>ad several, obangos of teaohors during tbo year,, wbioh havo somewhat interfered with a steady preparation. In standard IV the reading needs better quality of oipreßßion, and tho grammar and ari\hmouo axe wanting in aocuraoy, otherwise the work is of a more or loss Batißfaotory phuraoter. The grammar and arithmetic of Standard 111 ace also weak, but in nil tbe other subjecta of tho pass group, and in hiitory and objeot leß3ons of: the class group the class reaobes a good j average level ot attainment. The yoaog! teaober, Miss Orr, who has praotioally bad \ charge of it for the last four rnonihs, is to bo congratulated on tbo very promising first appearanoe she makes before an inspector; she will era long win the very highest praiso for her woli, ™ I am much mistaken. Standard two is a remarkably RO oa * llMMI " aB '? the classes in the Standard I and^lnfants' diviewn, w>th S ome Blight weakness in reading, present all lfee best leaturea of the work which wo espeot in an excellent infant department. Ql the Bdditional subjeots, Bewing (MiBB I?awo6tt Standard U-VI, Miss Shirtohfle, Standard I) possesses moßt merit. The dJßOjpline jg very good,— h, B, WOOD. Juepeator, '