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Ashburton Guardian, Volume I, Issue 28, 29 November 1879, Page 2

C.Y.C.—The drill of the Ashburton contingent on Thursday evening produced a muster of ten troopers, who were put through their evolutions by Trooper Scott in hia usual masterly manner. The movements were not so correctly done as they were at last parade owing to one or two recruits making their first appearance, and a charger here and there refusing to answer the demands of the rider. It is evident that the contingent will be none the worse of being drilled by Trooper Scott more frequently. The Caledonian Sports.— The Racing Club fcommittee have decided to adhere to their resolution respecting the letting of the racecourse to the Caledonian Society. The Racing Club offered the ground for £2O, and the Caledonian Society made an offer of £lolos as rent for the day. The club being of opinion that the sum offered would not pay for the damage likely to be done to the ground and fences, resolved that it should not be used for the purpose unless on the terms originally offered,

Cambridge School Committee, —A meeting of the Cambridge School Committee was held at Mr. Megson’s house, Nov. 26th, 1879, Members present—Mr. Megson (chairman), Messrs. Lloyd, Watkins, and Hargetts. The Chairman laid before the Committee the business done since last meeting, which was approved of by the Committee. A cheque was received from the Board of Education for £l2 Is. Od. for ploughing, planting, and grassing down the school site. Mr. Watkins moved and Mr. Margetts seconded —“ That Mr. W. T. Lill be reelected a metnbgr of the Gorpmittee. ” Moved by Mr. Margetts, seconded by Mp. Lloyd —“ That the Chairman apply to the Board of Education for permission to advertise for a certificated teacher.” A discussion then took place as to the manner in which the school should be opened, and it was thought advisable to have a tea meeting. It was finally resolved —“ That a sub-committee be appointed to arrange the programme. Mr.

Watkins moved a vote of thanks to the Chariman, after which the meeting adjourned.

Winslow Spouts. — A meeting of the Winslow Sports Committee was called for Monday evening, Nov. 24, but owing to an insufficient attendance it was necessary to adjourn. The adjourned meeting was held last evening, their being a fair attendance, Mr. Jtimes Scott in. the chair. A letter was revd from Messrs. Weeks and Dixon, referring to the sale of last year’s cards. The Secretary was instructed to reply. The programme was then ■ discussed, the following horse racing events being fixed upon : —lst., Hurdle Race, !£• mile, £10; 2nd., Winslow Cup, l£ mile, £2O; 3rd., Trotting Match, 2 miles, £6. 4th., Hack Race, mile, £lO ; sth , Consolation. Race, 1 mile, £5. The entrance to the Cup was fixed atone guinea ; for other races half a guinea, and the following rules were adopted. 1. All horses must be owned in the county three months prior to the races. 2. Three horses to start or no race. 3. No protest will be entertained unless £1 be deposited with the Secretary, which will be forfeited should the same, in the opinion of the Committee, prove frivolous. The athletic programme of last year was adopted after substituting a one mile race in the place of the walking race. The following gentlemen were elected as a Ground Committee :—Messrs. Rogers, Grant, Williams, and Walker, and they were empowered to procure the necessary fencing material. It was resolved, after some discussion,—“ That Mr. Harrison be instructed to fsell the privileges by public auction on Saturday, 13th December, 1879.'’ After some further routine business the meeting adjourned until Saturday evening, the 13th inst.

Musical. The members of the Wesleyan choir and others who have promised to assist at the forthcoming anniversary services, are requested to observe an advertisement in another column announcing practice for this evening at 8 o’clock.

The Hvoe Benefit Concert.— The concert got up by a number of the musical people of Ashburton came off on Thursday in the Town Hall, and the result was a full house. It is all the more creditable to the residents that they mustered so strongly last night, when a* many other things have recently made demands upon their giving, and it shows that Mr. Jacobson, in his original song on the “Fire,” had, caught the true spirit of the people when he sang that no man who acted “on "the square ” in his daily life would want friends in Ashburton when misfortune met him. The programme, which has appeared for the past week in our paper, was gone through with bui little alteration, and in the manner that was expected from the known ability of those whose names were upon it. With nearly all the amateurs who took part in the entertainment on Thursday night the public are familiar, so that it is unnecessary to say more regarding them than we have done ; but we must mention a song by a'very young lady—“ The Dear Little Shamrock,’ sung by Miss Butler in a remarkably clear’ and rich voice, and with the unaffected simplicity that usually characterises extreme youth. She was loudly encored. We do not mention her with the intention of giving her undue prominence, or special compliment, but simply because it was her first appearance, and a very successful one. The other singers were just as successful, but we have noticed them before on like occasions. We learn that about £3O will be realised from the concert.

R.M. Court. —At this Court yesterday a cattle trespass case was disposed of by a fine of ss. per horse and 7s. costs ; and only one civil case was heard—in which judgment wis confessed. Saunders Bros, were the plaintiffs.

Mayoral Elections. —At the Christchurch Mayoral electionon Wednesday, Mr. Ick polled 380 votes against 317 for Mr. Ayers, and 207 for Mr. Gapes. Mr. Ick was thus elected Mayor. The new Sydenham Mayor is Mr. J. T. Brown, who gained the honor with 448 votes to Mr. W. W. Charters’ 257. Mr. Harry Allwright has been returned to the Lyttelton Mayoralty, with 117 votes over Mr. Chalmers’ 92 ; and for KaiapoiMr. G. H. Blackwell had a walk over.

Sad Termination to an Opera.—A painful scene recently occurred at the town of Altorf, in Switzerland. As “Lucia” was being performed at the theatre, a violent thunderstorm burst over the house. The tenor was singing the air in the malediction scene, when Edgardo fell forward, struck down by lightning. He was immediately raised from the ground, and, though alive, was found to be paralysed in every limb. The performance, of course, was brought to an abrupt termination, the accident leaving a sad impression on the minds of the audience.

Land Tax. The following is Major Atkinson’s Land Tax Bill“ Notwithstanding anything in ‘ The Land Tax Act, 1878,’ the land tax in andfor the year commencing on the first day of January, 1879, shall be deemed to have been payable in one payment on October Ist, 1879, and payment thereof may be enforced accordingly. All proceedings taken and acts done under the said Act, for the purpose of collecting or otherwise obtaining payment of the said tax on the day aforesaid, and all other acts, matters, and things, done in connection therewith, fir in relation thereto, aljall be deemed to have been and to be good and valid in law to all iptpnts and purposes whatever, and to have been taken and done in strict accor-. dance with the provisions of the said Act,”

Dead-— The fine plant of the “Poverty Bay Standard," recently defunct, comes to the hammer on the 10th December at Gisborne.

The Season.— Frosty weather prevailed recently in the Manawatu district, and did considerable damage, variously estimated at from £2,000 to £IO,OOO.

Ballooning. Before the Aeronautical Society pf Great Britain, on June 23, Mr. Glaiaherstatedthat (b’riug the Pftsty entile British and French Governments had bepn actively engaged in balloon experiments to see how far it was applicable during times of warfare. He thought that the direction in which the development of ballooning would in the future be found to be of great service was for photographing different places for war purposes.