News in Brief.

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

News in Brief.

I The Sultan recently ordered 220,000 Maui ser rifles and 96 Krupp guns. One of the main reasons for the alarming decrease in marriages in France is the increasing cost of living in that country. i Mr R. Y. Ferguson, land and estate, agent, has a new list of properties for sale in this issue. Mr William Cobb is in charge of the Tinwald dip, and Mr T. M. Jones, of the Ashburton dip, and both dips are now re-idy for sheep. Dipping may be done every day, except Tuesdays and Saturdays, i At the fire at the railway goods shed at the Hook flag station on Thursday, about gOOO bushels of grain, chiefly oats, and 8 bales of flax fibre. These were not insured. Incendiarism is suspected. The is making inquiries through the Agont-General as to the feasibleness of connecting Cape Palliser lighthouse with the mainland by the Marconi system of wireless telegraphy. As a result of a recent Army Order in France hundreds of youths about to be called up for military service have hastened to take unto themselves wives in order to enjoy the exceptional privileges acoorded to the married soldiers. The marrying of American girls by foreign potentates may be hard on America, , but it is a mighty good thing for the rest of the world to have a clear-headed, independent big-hearted, American woman somewhere in the community in case of emergency.—" The Ajperican." A well-known English firm of papermakers (says the " Star ") is sending machinery (showing the whole process from wood pulp to fine cream laid noie paper) for exhibition at H'awera m February. At the close of the exhibition the machinery will be sent on to one of the Australian States to be set up permanently. Wβ notice that one of our very o T d residents, Mr Edward S. Lowe, is again in Ashburton. During his absence he has won I for himself the position of special repre- } sentative ol the Mutual Life Association of Australia. Although his return is principally to see his old home and friends, he will combine business with pleasure. MemI bers of the Mutual Life Association should j benefit by our friend's visit, especially as j this is bonus year. Dr Mason, the chief health officer, is about to give a series of lectures on the j prevention of consumption throughout tho j colony (says the Auckland "Herald"). Dr J Mason believes that the public will fully j appr oiate and understand the danger and ] extent of the sourjjo, and assist in tho eru?adf>. The prohibition of expectoration in public places and the encouragements of ixnre hoilthful conditions under which people sleep are the clr.of features of his campaign.