LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXL, Issue 6164, 9 January 1904, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Cable and Commercial News will be found on the fourth page of this issue. School Excursion.—The annual excursion of the Borough School will be held at Timaru ou Thursday, Feb. 4th. The Rivers. — The local Fo3tmastei advises ua that the following reporta re the respective rivers were received to-day s— The Rakaia river is nofc fishable, tht Waitaki and Rangitata rivers are ia good order for fishing. The Levels Estate.—Yesterday the Canterbury Land Board decided to infora applicants for sections on the Levels Estate that when appearing before the Board foi examination, it was necessary for them tc come prepared with documentary evidence in regard to the means they possess. . A Scottish. Tribute. — The wreatt sent to the Hon. W. C. Walke's funera! yesterday by the Scottish Society of Nev\ Zealand, was composed of stfig-horn moss rock lichen, Scots thistles, oak-leavefcand heather from many historic places in Scot land, including Culloden, Killicrankie, Tuy side and Pentlands. The wreath was tiec with Royal Stuart tartan ribbon. A Geyskr ik Eruption.—A telegran from Auc'daud states that, a violapt erup tion of the Waiinangu Geyser yesl;erdaj carried away and completely wrecked th< wire fence lately erected by the Tourisi Department as a safeguard to visitors One stone, 301b in weight, fell four hundred yards from the geyser crater. The Weather.—The weather at Kyi during the past month of Decembe was exceedingly hot and dry, the rainfal being very light, only 060 pointe bein{ recorded during the whole month. Rail fell on seven'days, the greatest fall bein< on the 9th, when 018 inches was registered The crops and pasture in this dtstric present' a strong contrast to the luxurian growth of the previous season. Funeral. —The funeral of the late Mr Jane Fawcett, of Hampstead, took plaei yesterday afternoon, at the Ashburtoj cemetery, there being a large following o friends and sympathisers. The coffin wa> covered with beautiful wreaths and gar lards of flowers, which had beon tenderei by the immediate friends of the decease* lady. The funeral service was conductet by the Rev. E. Whitehouse, the pal bearers being Me3sr.* G. W, Andrews, W Halsall, Mr Thomas Crooks, senior, and Mi T. junior. Fitzgerald's Circus—Fitzsgerald Bros, Circus and Menagerie is visiting Ashburfcoi to-day, and gives a matinee performanc this afternoon and another performance a night. It offers numerous attractions to the sightseer, and a capital programme o eventF, not the least noteworthy being th appearance of l>r Gordon, "The Moden Vulcan," claimed to be the strongest mai on earth, whose wonderful feats have beei previously commented upon. A strop; I prray oF artistes are billed for both enter i tainments, which promise to be of a uniiqu [ character, and of exceptional interest. Thi combined shows arrived this morning fron the south at 10.3 J in a lengthy specia train, great interest being taken in thi unpacking and carting operations by thi numerous onlookeis. The long line oi: re< menagerie rnide an imposing show. British-Nkw Zual&nd Meat Co.— A meeting of th'! provisional directors of thi British-New Zealand Meat and Produa Company, Limited, was held-on Thursday It \va3 decided to go to the allotment o. shares on January 16. Ie was also decidec to give exhibitions of the patent defrosting machine in various part-* of the colony, i 1 discussion took placa on the wisdom ol keeping control of the company in th( ;colouy. The chairam (Mr H. P. Reeca] said that ample power to do this had boei provided for in the articles of the company and those present oxpressed the desire tha this should bu rigidly adhered to. Proposal of great importance to the company won then dis.cu ; fced, and thair aacepl.aaco w.i: deferred to a meeting to be hold on Jan. 15 St. Patrick's Sl\>iit3 Association. — A meeting of the committee of the St Patrick': Sports Association took place last oveniug there being present—Mossrs J. Porter (it thp chftuj, D. G. Taylor, J. Thorn, D. Mor iarty, P, \V'ils6o, agd T. Ilancox. The pro gramme- for the' spirts p: drawn up, and includes athletic, cyolin/ motor, and novelty events. Mr A. Wilde; was appointed representative cm tho Nertl Canterbury centre, and Mr J. Moriarty was elected secretary, yfce Mr , M. J, Moria ty reslgued. The" sporps ppQgramine £pr thi meet ; ngon Blarcl. 174}- w&5 thosicirawn up among tho events dee : ded upoy being a Wheel kace of i>ls, a Sheffield Handicap c 419, and a motor race of £7. Theevt-nfc; should secure pecord entries aud a full attendance at the sports, tha program mi generally being a? an attractive chancier, not merely from-the spectapuluj? standpoint but also from that of the competitor. Wi wish the Committee every success in theij undertaking. Colonial Life and Its Temptations.--There was an exceptionally good attendant a,t tho Primitive Methodist Church lasi evening w.b&a ih.e last of the series oi United Prayer meetings a.irranged undei the auspices of the Evangelical Alliaace was held. The Rev. W. L. Salter, whe announced that the special subjeci for confession and prayer wa§ " Temptations common to Colonial Lifei ?; reverend geutljsman giving a pohited address oh three special tsmptations hampering the spiritual life—4oye oi wealth, reading of trashy literature, and fcligi ~ inordinate pursuit of pleasure. Reading from Sfc. Matthew iv. l-ll the story of the. tempta tion in £he wilderness, Mr Walter pointed out that tempta-tioa came to our Lord in its mo3t insidious form, '} as P as he found strength to rosisfc it, so strength would be given to the Ohristian t© como the temptations which beset his path. The pray6»s and singing were again of a very earnest nature, anjQngst those taking part being the Revs. Q. #, lug Jig and A. Peters and Mr Parlane. An Impctbkh'l' HyyrNDLE. — From Melbourne comes a story of a swindle which, for trusting simplicity on the part of the victim and brazen impudence'on the part of the victimizers, would bo hard to beat. A New Zealander named Devalier was on his way to Germany, having sol>i his farm, and fell in with three men in a hotel at Melbourne, Two of them had o, game, for stakes of £L and the loser handed over a, £5 note, apparently fey ciistake. It was immediately returned and the erro>? pointed out. This was to impress the' New Zealander wjth tlio honesty of his companions. Ono of t.lio spielers, who represented himself as baing worth hundreds of thousands of pounds, than offered to give all present ,£IOO each, it theyeould show that they already had money. One of £hp spielers produe id £ 100, another .£125, and had £'S7. The allege 1 weals-hy gentleman jthen offered to give thorn ,£IOO between $hen», and on being reminded of his original offer of .£IOO aach it was decided to settle J the matter by 'the other three playing agameWith the gen.e'rous one, putting up £100 eagfe agninsfc his £300. Devalier was induced to sign $ clique for £<od, to ma-ke up his £100. although he had uo bank account. Of course Devaliet -iosfc, and he was giyen 10s and a railway ticket tv Adelaide. On his journey it dawned on him that he had been'-had" and hove turned and laid an information'with the police who speedily arrested the principal offendei , , .who was committed for trial. The Holida-stk :—Wβ h#ve just imported direct from the manufacturer** p lw'gp assortnieafc of Summer Hats in all the 'L'atei;*; Styles and Siiadep,, comprising ranges' of the new " Cool Sprang Jiafcs," for which we are the sole agents in .this ,?,nd all the popular ehap.es in straw, ajid rea}. Panama hate, from gd up to 25s eaoh. Special value in White fcbjrfcs at fid (made to order nnd Tennis Siiirfcs fa 6d. Grand selection of up-to-date Ties and Geuib's Hosiery of every deaoription. Boots and S'hoea. Ready made clothing. High Class Tailoring ,(evary garment made up on our own premises) at, ths lowest prices, compatible with reliable quality, perfect fit and best jtf.Qrkinan&hip. "' We guarantee | every article wo regorotnend. Our mot'fo is " SatisfaotioQ."—Cbai<jhbap and ' Ber»t- i man, the Leading T^U9 r f a » d 9*™s*?s ' Ashburfcon,—(Advfc.) {

Weather Forecast.—Captain Edwin wires to-day as follows:—Moderate to strong winds from between north and west and south-west; glass fall; rnia probable. The Price of Eggs. — The Christmas season made very little difference in the price of eggs in Christohurch. Some time before the holidays they rose from ]0d a dozen to Is, and remained at that price right through. Grocers report that plentiful supplies are coming to hand. Field Trial.—The public trial of the Osborne Columbia Reaper and Binder, which was postponed on account of tho wet weather, will be held at Moore's Camp, Surveyor's Road, Longbeach, on Wednesdaynext, at 1 p.m. Reduced Prices.—Mr B. D. Johnston has now made a very considerable reduction in Eudge-Whitworth bicycles, and is now ..selling these very popular machines from 16 guineas, net cash. The Wet Weather—Besides doing the crops good, has increased the sale of foot wear at Alcorn's Clothing and Boot House, the public knowing that for reliable boots and shoes " Aicorn's is the place." Alcorn advertisement. i