LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2299, 11 December 1889, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

No lesß than 28,000 letters ate posted ever; year iv England without addresses. The other day the thermometer stood at 110 degrees m the shade at Broken Hill. " Every nation has its oustoms," remarked an old lady, placidly, when informed that her Bailor husband had been eaten by cannibals. Of the 35,000 tons of wire fencing annually imported into the Argentine Bepublio it is said that Belgium furnishes half, Great Britain about a quarter, and Francis somewhat lesß. The largest proprietor of deer forests m Sootland is the Duke of Sutherland, with three foreßts covering 147,010 aorea ; then comes the Duke of Fife, with the Mar forest of 80,000 acres ; and thirdly Lord Broadalbane, with the Blaokinount of 70,000. It is announced that M. Gourton, a ohemiet, produced rooently, at the sitting of the Frenoh Aoademy pt Soienoe, a sealed envelope oontaiaiag & description of an apparatus by moaDB of which objeots may be seen at vast distances, the vibrations of light being transmitted through a wire. The home of the late Duohess of Cambridge ib being thoroughly repaired for the oooupalion of Prinoe Albert Viotor of Wales on his return from India. It is expected that he will be home about the end of April, and with a separate establishment the question of his marriage will, it ia expected, be considered. According to " Vanity Fair," a rather novel competition for jumping honors appeared at Newtownards Horaa Show, County Down, m tho shape of a young white bull, piloted by a mere lad, who rode him bare backed. The animal did all' the jumps m a most hunterlike faßhion, muoh to the astonishment and amusement of the visitors. The statement that the boundary commission have concluded their labors, as pointing to the probabilities of an early dissolution, is officially Btated to be devoid of truth. As a matter of fact Mr Smith is the only member of the commission m Wellington. The others are scattered over the colony. Denmark for 25 yearß paßt hae spent £10,000 yearly m the maintenance of dairy schools. As a result of the training the butter-makers have reoeived at this Bohooi, the butter of the oountry haß so muoh improved m quality that within 20 years Denmark's exports of butter have increased from £425,000 to £2,600,000. There has been a measuring of words over the reoent diotionary making. The latest dictionary ia the greatest of its kind. Todd'a Johnson's Diotionary has 58,000 words, Worcester's latest edition 116,000, Webster's 118,000, the Imperial 130,000, the Enoyoloprodia 180,000. The Century Diotionary is to have 200,000 words at least. A oyolist recently went from London to Brighton and baok m less than eight hours, following the " Old Times " coach route, and aohieving the return journey within four minutes of the time m whioh the famous whip — the late Jameß Selby— accomplished it. The precise time is Baid to have been 7hr 53min lOaeo. There are only two royal scientists living at the present time worthy of the name. One is Prince Albert, of Monaco, well-known for his deep sea researches, and the other is the Arohduke Ludwig Salvator ot Austria, a courageous traveller, and by no means contemptible naturalist. Congregationalism has lost its oldest English minister m actual servioo by the death at the age of 90, of the Bey Benjamin Slight, of East Grinstead. The deceased waß ordained m 1830 on leaving Highbury College, and has since held only the two pastorateß <5f Tunbridge Wells and East Grinstead. The city of Brooklyn can probably boast of having the largest bread bakery m the world. Seventy thousand loaves a day it usually turns put. requiring three hundred barrels of flour. Three hundred and fifty persons are employed m the bakery, and for delivering the bread m New York, Brooklyn, and adjaoent places, over one hundred wagons, constructed for the purpose, aro ia constant) use: The well-known Berlin firm, Gerson and Go., hays just twelve splondid dresses for the Empress ol Japan. Among these the palm for riob color and boauty was oarriod away by a ooatutno made of old pink eilk brooade riohly ombroiderod with rosoß, tho devant being adorned by a broad garland of "La France " roses. The mantelet was made of rather darker velvet, trimmed with rosos ppb out from the damask Bilk of tbo dress. A fullmeetiug of the Vestry of St Stephen's Churoh to complete arrangements for the fortbooming Garden Party took place at the Parsonage last evening. Gatekeepers, judges for the flower show, boat races, e(o., were appointed apd it was decided that a small entrance fee should be charged fcr the latter. It was stated that Mr Ferriman had arranged for a merry-go-roand, and swings and outdoor games of all sorts will be provided for. All preparations were reported as ia a forward state and, given fine weather, this year's Garden Party promises to be a very suooessful and enjoyable affair. . * BEST KKMEDV FOR INDIGBSTJON.— Nokion's Camomile Pills are confidently recommended as a simple remedy for indigestion, which is the cause of nearly all the diseases to which we are subject. Norton's Pills, with justice called "Nature's strengthens of the human stomach," act as a powerful ton ie and gentle aperient, are mild m their opeif lion, and safe uudcr any circumstances. tioJd m pottles at is I %d, as od vail mp icinp vendors throughout the wod

It ia said of a great man just dead thai he began life a barefooted boy, Oomo to think all boys begin thit way. The "Illustrated Australian News" for the ourrent month is to hand and is a very good number, containing inter alia a full page engraving illustrative of the aboriginal myth of the origin of water, sketches of a natural aroh at Antipodes Island, and of a eoenS on the Whangarei river. The " Southland Times " remarks that m view of the stagnation existing m the grain and breadstuffa trade of this calony it ia of interest to note the paragraph m the news by the San Franoisoo mail to the effeot that the Transvaal is threatened with famine following a drought, and that bo serious is the situation that the Government of Natal has abolished all import duties on artioles of food m order to relieve the sufferings of their people, who number 800,000. The Seymour-Walshe Opera Company brought their brief season to a close last 'evening with Vincent Wallace's opera "Maritana." There was a good and thoroughly appreciative audienoe. Misa Seymour as 11 Maritana " and Mr Walshe as " Don Orosar de Bazan " scored decided success m their respective parts, most of their solos being enoored. The other members of the oompany filled their roles m most oapable manner, and it is to be regretted that Ashburton people are not more frequently given the opportunity of enjoying suoh a treat aa j that afforded last evening. We have to acknowledge, with thanks, the reoeipt from Messrs J, Scaly and Co., seedsmen, of an interesting pamphlet on Garter's orossbred wheats ; also from the publishers, Messrs Quibell Bros, of Newark-on-Trent, England, of a copy of "Quibell's Sheepbreeders' Guide," a complete treatise upon sheep and sheep-breeding ; and from Messrs Miller and Sons (Edinburgh) of copies of their tabulated statement of Investment and Mortgage Companies, showing the exact position of all th 6 prinoipal financial com. paniea doing business m the colonies. The following is the result of the independent and volley firing by the Volunteer oorpß ia the South Canterbury distriot this year : — Rifle Corps— Timaru Rifles, 30*64 ; Waimate Rifles, 29-35; Ashburton Guards, 25-20; Temuka Rifles, 24*60; Ashburton R>fles, 24*10 ; Geraldine Rifles, 22-92. Carbine Gorpa— Timaru Navals, 1818; O Battery, 17*11. Several of the Canterbury corps did not have two-thirds of their roll strength present, and will, therefore, be disqualified for the Government prizes. The Cavalry have made the best shooting of all the oorps m Canterbury, their figure of merit being 32*04. — " Timaru Herald." The position of the woollen trade m the United States lias lately given rise to great anxiety! Bankruptcies have ocourred so frequently that a Bpeoial meeting of the Woollen Manufacturers' Union was held last month to discuss the situation, The bad state of the trade is attributed to the raised tariff of 1883, Some idea of the present condition of things may be obtained from the recent bankruptcy returns. During the present year forty-six firms have failed, the oapital involved being £1,384,000; the total for the whole of last year was thirty-five failures, involving £496,000. Besides these, seven wool|brokors have failed, with liabilities of £353,200, against six m 1888 with liabilies of £56,400, — " Finanoial Chronicle." A romantic story is told about Madame La Mareohale Canrobert, whose death was recently announoed m Paris. Twenty-six years ago the Marshal, at that time m the height of his glory, was at an offioial ball, when an exquisite young lady approaohed and said quite simply, " Monsieur, will you danoe with me ? " The surprised Boldier " begged off" m a few oonfused words, then, turning to a young offioer beside him, he said, " Will you kindly take my plaoe beside the young lady? and remember that this nipht a Marshal of Franoe envies a sublieutenant." However the matter did noi rest there, for Misa Flora Maodonald, under the auspioes of the Empress Eugenic, with whom she was a favorite, subsequently beoame the wife of tho great general. < The quarterly meeting of the South Rakaia Lioensing Committee was held ia the Town Hall on Tuesday. Present — Messrs- Coster, Holraee, and Oxley. In the absenoe of the Chairman Mr Oxley was voted to the ohair. The police reported very favorably on the lioensed houses m the district, all of whioh wero well oonduoted. A confirmation of tho transfer of lioonse from Janet Miller to Henry Bates for the South Rakaia Hotel was granted, there being no oppoaition and referenoea very satisfactory. A one day's license wae granted to Mr A. J. Howell, of the Railway Hotel, to sell on tho Domain at the Boxing Day sports. Aooountß were paßßed for payment and the meeting adjourned. A very fine sample of flax dressed by tbe Hamilton boiling process has been left at tbe office of the " Evening PoBt " by Mr Purkies who, on behalf of the patentee, has oome over to Wellington from Blenheim to arrange with Messrs Cable and Co. for the erection of a maohine. The sample inspected is wonderfully dean and soft, and wholly free from any traces of gum. It is olaimed by the inventor of the prooess that it obviates the bleaohing stage, and enables the fibre to be turned out completely dressed within 24 hours of the flax being out, It is also asserted that whereas under the ordinary prooess it takes over six tons of green flax to produoe one ton of fibre, the same quantity of fibre can be produoed with four tons of the raw material under tbe new process. The ourioua idea, shared at different times by Jews, Christiana and Mahomedans alike that Jerusalem is the oentre of the world is about to be made an astronomical reality. The (,'« World " writes :— -The neoessity of a world-meridian hat) long been felt, and an effort ia to be made to supply it from Jerusalem It is imagined that the Baored olaims of the Holy City will be found more binding than national prejudices, suoh as, for example, the preference shown by England for Greenwioh, by Spain for the island of Ferro, by Franoe for Toulon, and by Sweden for Upaala. The projeot of a universal meridian of Jorusalom will bo disou'ssed at the Astronomioal Congress next year. The proposal ia to run it through the site of tbe Holy of Holies — a spot whioh Mahommedan superstition has long regarded aa the " navel of the earth." A despatch from Burnsburg, V.A., iof November 12th, mentions a most sanguinary affair, Dr Walker, a member of the State Board of Medioal Examiners, residing at Brownburg, obarged Henry Miller, an elderly farmer, with haying insulted his wife. Walker threatened to kill Miller, and the latter had Walker arreatod. When the oase was oalled the Magistrate's Court was orowded with the friends of the parties. Walker was ordered under bonds, but refused to give them, At this junction a window was thrown open, and four pistolß were dropped into the Court room. Then the trouble began. Miller was instantly killed, it is Baid by Walker with a knife, Mrs Walker was Bhofc and killed, Walkor woe Bhot twice and fatally wounded, Daniel Miller, a son of the former, waa killed by a bullet, and Will, another son, was shot through the body. Samuel Weaver was Bhot badly, and out m the neok. A Sheriff and posse came on the soene and stopped further tloodahed, The best medioine is Sander "ana Sons' Eucalypti Extraot. Test its eminent power. ful offeota m ooughs, colds, influenza, etc— the relief is instantaneous. Thousands give the moat gratifying testimony. His Majesty tho King of Italy and modioal syndicates all over tho globe are its patrons. Read the offioial reports that aooompany qach bottlo. We have no oooaoion to offer rewards m proof of the genuineness of our references. The oilioial reports of medioal olinios and universities, tho oflioial communication of the Oonßul-General for Italy at Melbourne ; tha diploma awarded International Exhibition, Amsterdam — all these are authantio dooumenta, and, as suoh, not open to doubt. We add hero epitome qf onp of the various cases efeated'at thd olinlo of Sohultz, M.p. Via. fesaor, 0t0.— •'0.8., 24 years old ; congestional sbwesa on (he (high. Inoisions made m two plaoes. Although Listar'a dressing was applied, the seoretion beoame, two (lays later, very copious, and had adopted a foetid decomposed dharactor. The temperature rose enormously. In oonsequenoe the dressing waa removed, and m its plaoe were made during the day-time repeated irrigations with Eucalypti Extract. Tbe offensive footer disappeared very Boon, tho fever abated within a few days, and the patient recovered a .fter the lapso of Beveral weeks. In thiß instance be must not logo sight of the faot that the latter trottoenfc save. 1 . .!:" patient'o lif » (Advfc.) * 3 DHAPNHag. noises ia the beaddisohargen etc., oomplo'-.oly enrol m au their yarn , farina by oloc tro-tnodioatioi\, PauipUlyfc fr fom AurM OHaij, 145 OjlUqs utrooii 'Me 'fcofirttfe,