The Ashburton Guardian, COUNTY AGRICULTURAL & SPORTING RECORDER SATURDAY, JULY 10, 1880.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 1, Issue 124, 10 July 1880, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian, COUNTY AGRICULTURAL & SPORTING RECORDER SATURDAY, JULY 10, 1880.

In another column a correspondent writes to -us regarding the departmental expenditure in the Borough. Assuming “ Ratepayer’s ” figures to be correct—and we believe they are; not far from the mark —we think there is room for some of the “ sweeping reductions ” so frequently talked about in these days of economy and retrenchment. Our correspondent has not, however, made as bad a case against the Borough as he might have done. For instance, printing and advertising cost last year according to the Council s balancesheet, £lB7 3s. 7d.; petty cash and insurance £l9 4s. Bd. Fire prevention, £95 os. 6d., which amounts, leaving out other departmental expenditure, tots up to the respectable sum of £3Ol Bs. 9d. This, added to £660 mentioned by “Ratepayer ” as the expenditure on salaries, &c., equals £9Bl Bs. 9d., and as we understand the Engineer is also paid a commission on work outside the town, we may safely put down another £2O for work done there, thus showing a total of “charges” for departmental work of £l,lOl Bs. 9d. The actual rates, when collected, amount to £1,195 10s. 6d., and, allowing every rate to be paid in full, we have a surplus left of £94 Is. 9d. for the maintenance of our streets; for we imagine that out of that sum there cannot be much put on one side for new work. We trust the two candidates for the vacant seat, together with their supporters, will endeavor to set us right, as we hear much comment by the public upon tho subject. As a matter of fact, other and larger boroughs do their work efficiently with less expensive staffs, and we are of opinion that our local selfgovernment could be conducted in a much more economical style. As an instance, we may cite the Borough of Rangiora, whose income is £2,459 6s. 6d.; and whose actual salaries,and fees amount to' £175; office expenses and advertising, £l3B ; legal expenses, £l4 15s. —total departmental charges, £319 12s.

School District of .Hinds. - undaries of the school district o- _ iu this issue. Hinds Tenders. —The South Rak f nard call for tenders for b ia lloatl r: which intending ten ere jme work, Lyertisement. ra may see Mou.nt Hu xt. —The Or [ount Hntt Hoad Boan .airman of the hapman summons a me Mr. Edward ay next, in the Hoad 1 eting for Tlmrsistrict, to consider th ,oard office of that he passing of the tr 0 advisableness of rmeudment Bill nov junty’s Waterworks Tradesmen’s Qu r before Parliament. )n Wednesday ? adrille Assembly. — private Quadril; light the Tradesmen’s lance in Mr. Qu’ ,e Assembly held their ivas a large al Jl’s sample rooms. There was of very er -tendance, and the music refreshments .cellent character, while the was kept up were abundant. Dancing The Asse' with spirit until four o’clock. Wednesdr Ably holds a practice every Bailv ‘■y evening. Esq-, T /ay Arrangement. —Fred. Back, turn 1 .raffic Manager, announces that reTimr tickets for ordinary fares issued at war ,ru or any intermediate station north--16 1 , is to Christchurch, on the 15th or

,h inst., will be available as late as the i& 17th for return. This concession has jeen made to suit those desirous of visiting the Industrial Exhibition to be held on the 15th and 16th in Christchurch. Inquest.— Yesterday the Coroner, Dr. .Trevor, held an inquest on the body of Mrs. Wilkinson, the wife of a well-known Chertsey resident. The inquest was held at the residence of deceased, and Mr. L. Langham was chosen foreman of the jury. The evidence of two sons of deceased was taken, which went to show that deceased had partaken of strychnine. Dr. Ross gave evidence also, proving that from this poison deceased had died. The jury having retired, brought in a verdict that deceased met her death by taking strychnine, while in a state of temporary insanity. The Alford Forest Sheep Stealing Case. —The charge of alleged sheep-steal-ing made against Benjamin Corry, manager for Dennis Hoare, runholder, Alford Forest, was heard before the Supreme Court on Thursday. The evidence given before the R.M. was repeated. Mr. L, E. Corsbie stated t]iat Corry had told him a deliberate untruth, in that Corry had promised to do nothing in mustering without giving notice, but bad given no notice whatever, and had marked all the strong lambs of the Alford run, when he mustered. The other evidence was substantially the same, and the jury, after an absence of thirty minutes, returned a verdict of “Not guilty.” Methven. —A meeting was held at the Road Board office, Methven, on W ednesday, to consider the advisability of the passing of the Ashburton County Council Waterworks Amendment Act now before Parliament. The meeting was poorly attended, very short notice having been given. Mr. Julian Jackson was appointed chairman. He read the Bill, and explained the object of the meeting. Mr. Thomas Jackson proposed to adjourn the meeting to Ip.m. on Thursday, the 15th inst., to ensure a larger attendance, as the greater part of the ratepayers had received no notice of. it. This was seconded by Mr. Morgan, and carried. A meeting of persons interested in the building of a school in the township was held immediately afterwards, to consider the reply received from the Board of Education in answer to their petition. Mr. Edward Chapman occupied the chair. This meeting was also adjourned until Thursday, the 15th inst.

Sunday School Teachers’ Conference. —A very interesting gathering of the teachers and office-bearers of the various Nonconformist bodies in Ashburburton took place at the Cameron street Wesleyan Church last evening. The .Rev. W. Keall presided, and suitable addresses were given by the Revs. Beattie, Westbrooks, and Smith. The former part of the meeting took the form of a more devotional character, interspersed with the addresses of the gentlemen mentioned. The latter end of the meeting was of a conversational style, and many useful hints were thrown out for the Sunday afternoon service at the Town Hall. A motion was proposed and carried that a meeting similar to the present be held once a quarter. An amendment to the e&ect that the gathering take place only once a year was lost by a large majority. A proposal that the Episcopal Sunday school teachers be asked to co-operate at the next reunion was withdrawn, it being explained that on the present occasion they had been asked to join in the affair, but had respectfully declined. The meeting terminated about ten o’clock. The scholars of the schools interested in to-morrow’s gathering at the Town Hall are requested to be punctual in their attendance at their respective schools at two o’clock. “The Lost Ship.” —The Amateur Dramatic Club gave their first representation last night of “ The Lost Ship.” The performance was for the benefit of Mr. Charles Bourk, scenic artist to the Club, and we are glad to say that the public responded very heartily, all parts of the house being fairly filled, the dress circle more especially. The scenery, thanks to Mr. Bourk’s efforts, was excellent, and the painter was called before the curtain to acknowledge compliments paid to him. The piece was very well mounted indeed, and the cast of characters was very judicious. In one or two cases there was a manifest want of acquaintance with the text, but the leading parts were well pourtrayed. There were complaints made about the length of the intervals between the scenes, and the audience, a remarkably good natured one, showed some impatience, but as there always is stiffness in a first representation, we may expect to see these intervals shortened to-morrow. The company are fortunate in the accession to their strength they have secured in Mrs. Thompson, who was very telling in Rose Lindon. The cast was as follows : Ben Trennant (well played by Mr. Jessop); Ned Martin (by Mr. Franks, who would lose nothing by a closer application to the text, but would save the prompter a world of trouble); Jan Dunsterswyvle (by Mr. Poyntz, the part could not have been put in better hands); Nicholas Nibble (by Mr. Felton); Timothy Trim (by Mr. Elston, who was as usual quite at home, and tickled the audience much); Vivian (by Mr. Higgins, whose rich voice belied hie assumed years, but otherwise made a good old man) ; Mark Lindon (by Mr. Tippet, who had not much ho do, but filled the part well); Sally Popple (by Mrs. Tippel, always popular, and highly so last night); and Rose Lindon (by Mrs. Thomson, as already mentioned). The Christys’ orchestra supplied the music. Mr. Nettleton’s violin vras missed from the little circle of musicians, but he will appear to-night. As it was, the orchestra was very useful, and we hope to hear them very often. With steady practice they ought to make an orchestra of no mean merit. We hope the pernicious habit of whistling that some of the Ashburton youths indulge in at entertainments will not be further cultivated. Everybody is satisfied of their proficiency in this accomplishment, and having, proved their ability last night they will perhaps take the hint, and not treat the audience to a gratuitous performance of the inharmonious sounds to-night. Something should be done, too, withthegas arrangements. Itis exceedingly awkward that every attempt to lower the gas in the sunlight should end in total extinction, and necessitate re-lighting from the centre of the hall. Wo do not know whether the fault lies with those who have charge of the taps or with the taps themselves, but surely it is not a necessity that the lights should go completely out when a dark scene is brought on.

South Rakaia Domain Board.—Td a Gazette of July 1, the following gentlemen are appointed members of the South Rakaia Domain Board :—Messrs. Charles Norris Mackie, Georgb Robinson, Walter Hartnell, James Rowland Sharp, Arthur Makoig, Charles Albert Creery Hardy, and James Bruce. The Board will meet for the transaction of business on the first Monday of each month at 4 p.rn., in the Road Board oliico, South Rakaia, or at such other time and place as they may fix, the first meeting taking place on Thursday next. The Charge of Manslaughter.—J. Walsh appeared before the Court yesterday, on remand, charged with the manslaughter of his wife Anne Walsh, but Sergeant Felton stated that after the result of the inquest he would not proceed with the case. Walsh was accordingly dismissed from custody.—A boy of about four years of age, the son of Walsh, was brought before his Worship under the Neglected and Criminal Children’s Act, but as Walsh stated he was prepared to see that the child was attended to and well looked after, his Worship dismissed the case, but instructed the police to visit Walsh’s house occasionally, and if the boy was not cared for, as promised, to again bring him before the Court, when he would be sent to Burnham.