The Ashburton Guardian. COUNTY AGRICULTURAL & SPORTING RECORDER THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1880.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 1, Issue 153, 16 September 1880, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. COUNTY AGRICULTURAL & SPORTING RECORDER THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1880.

Druns. —For an over-indulgence in the cup which doth intoxicate, Patrick Sullivan, at the request of Mr. Guinness, handed over to the Clerk of the Court on Tuesday five Colonial Roberts, as the penalty of his transgressing the law. The Courthouse Bailiff. — Govern-

ment have at last sent down the amount of rent due to the Templar Hall Company for the use of the hall as a Courthouse, and the bailiff has therefore been relieved of hia charge.

Lecture.— Mr. O’Reilly has been frequently requested to repeat his lecture on William Pitt, and he has consented to deliver another lecture this month, but on a new subject—The Art of Memory of the Chinese and Ancients, illustrated by feats of memory. The San Francisco Mail.— The City of New York, with the London mails, of 12th August, left San Francisco on the 28th, being two days before the contract date. The Zealandia, with the August colonial mails arrived at San Francisco on the Bth inst. —one day in advance of contract date.

An Unattended Cab. —For allowing a horse and cab to be unattended, without locking the wheels, John Newman had to shell out ss. The cabby protested that he was only a distance of three feet from his charge at the time of the alleged offence, but this Constable Daly denied, and added that he had seen the horse make off, with Newman in pursuit, but at the time the vehicle started the driver was nowhere to be seen.

The Presbyterian Manse at Rakaia, —The contractors for the erection of the Presbyterian Manse at Rakaia, Messrs. Sharp and Kimble, have commenced work, and the building will be completed in ten weeks from this date. The structure will cost about LSOO, and its completion will greatly aid the congregation who have hitherto been without a residence for their pastor, Rev. B. J. vVestbrooke, who had thus to reside in Ashburton. The manse site is on five acres of ground on the Great South*road about half-a-mile from the Rakaia Town Hall. The Doctor Caught Capping. —Dr. Trevor appeared before Mr. Guinness on Tuesday on a charge of committing a breach of the Borough By-laws in allowing his horse to stand across the footpath in Tancred street. George Parkin stated that, on the date of the information, he saw Dr. Trevor ride across the footpath to Mr. O’Reilly’s office and remain there for two or three minutes. In consequence two ladies who were coming up the street were; obliged to take the road. The doctor said he was sorry to take up the time of the Court with the case, as he admitted the offence ; but he had defended it, in the first instance, so as to let the public be acquainted with the fact that a Borough Councillor had descended to the position of a petty informer. His Worship inflicted a fine of ss.

Lecture.— Tho Rev. A. M. Beattie, M. A., is to deliver a lecture on the 21st instant, in the Ashburton’ Presbyterian Church, on “ The Five Senses.” The proceeds to aid the Sunday-school fund. •

The Horse Parade. —Owners of entires are reminded that the Agricultural and Pastoral Association’s annual horse parade takes place on the new show ground on the 2nd October. Ashburton - Quadrille Assembly.— An invitation ball was given on Tuesday night last in the Town Hall by the Ashburton Quadrille Assembly. The invita tions sent out were liberally accepted, and a good attendance was the result. Dancing was kept up with spirit till a late hour.

The Mails. —Mails for Sydney, per the Hero, will close at Wellington on Friday, at 11 a.m. Mails for Sydney, per the Wakatipu, will close at Wellington on Saturday, at 11 a.m. Mails for the United Kingdom, &c., via- Brindisi, (for specially addressed correspondence only) close at the Ashburton post-office, on Thursday, the 23rd inst., at 10 a. ra. Money orders should be taken out on or before the previous day.

Wesleyan Sunday School Anniversary.—Active preparations are being made for the forthcoming anniversary of the Wesleyan Sunday School, the services in commemoration of which are to be held next Sunday in the Cameron street Church. On that day the Rev. Mr. Best, from Dunedin, will preach morning and evening and address the scholars in the afternoon. A platform has been erected in the church for the children, and great pains have been bestowed upon their singing practice. Tussocks. —The overgrowth of tussock on many of the unoccupied sections in town is being rapidly reduced. The good example set by the Borough Council in this matter is being followed by many owners of sections, who are “ being wise in time.” We would take the liberty of hinting to those who have not started, and who are apathetic on the subject that the sooner they think about beginning the better, as they may be found out one of those fine days by the officers who are just now carrying on such an energetic by-law crusade. Nonsuited. —Mr. Ivess would appear to have mistaken his vocation in going in for law. It is no doubt satisfactory enough to those gentlemen of the long robe, whose education gives them sufficient grasp over the subtle peculiarities of the science of law; but lawyers are for the most part made, not horn, and herein they differ from poets, for “Poeta nascitnr non fit"; therefore, those not fitted by education for the practice of the law had better, if they wish to indulge in such a luxury, pay a lawyer to manage their legal business. Mr. Ivess was again nonsuited yesterday, and he presented a rather good illustration of the old adage —“ He who is his own lawyer,” &c.

Entertainment at Rakaia. —On Tuesday evening an entertainment was given in the Town Hall, Rakaia, in aid of the Presbyterian Manse Fund. The attendance was large, and the programme was made up from local talent. Piano duets were played with good taste by Misses Sharp and Bruce, and Miss Sharp and Master Blackburn, and songs were sung by Messrs. Sharp, West, Wilkinson, and Lawrence, which were accompanied by the violin and piano. The entertainment provided was highly appreciated by the audience, and the concert was over about ten o’clock, after which the room was cleared for a dance.

The Municipal Reserves. —The Town Clerk gives notice that tenders for leasing the Borough reserves can now be received. The amendment to the Municipal Corporations Act passed this session enables this to be done. The section giving the power is section 22, and is as follows : ‘ ( The authority of the Council to lease lands by public auction, as provided in section 177 of the said Act, is hereby extended, and the said Council may, by resolution in Council, lease lands or buildings by public tender, provided that all the conditions prescribed by the aforesaid section are complied with in the same manner as if such leasing were by public auction.” A Fight. —A hand-to-hand fair stand up and knock down fight between two “ gentlemen ” who had differed in opinion took place bn Tuesday evening on a vacant section in Tancred street. The “ mill ” amused a crowd of idlers for half-an-honr or so, and the mauled ones seemed to bo very earnest in their work. They went through another sort of mill in the Templar Hall next day, before the Magistrate, who made them pay a tax on them little luxury of the previous evening. It is to be regretted the muscular men were not sent for a month to work off their superabundant muscle at clearing tussock off the vacant sections. Foreman Brown would be very glad to guide their efforts we are sure.

Licensing Bench. —At the sitting of the Licensing Commissioners on Tuesday Messrs. Guinness (Chairman), Winter, Cox, and Ward, being present, the application of Thomas Macfarlane, for a renewal of his license for the Barrhill Hotel was considered. At the last meeting of the Commissioners the applicant had been instructed to have his house repaired to the satisfaction of the police, on whose favorable report a renewal would be granted. Constable Rouse reported that, although the hotel had undergone certain repairs,, yet it was far from being comfortable. The Sergeant of Police was instructed to visit the house, and direct the occupant to make the necessary repairs, and if such instructions were complied with, the license would be allowed to stand, but if, at the next meeting of Commissioners the police reported that the house had not been made comfortable, the license would be cancelled. The transfer of the license of the South Rakaia Hotel, from Mr. Francis to Mr. Kemp, was confirmed, and likewise that of the Waterton Hotel from Mr. Doherty to Mr. O’Shannassy. The whole of the other licenses in the district were renewed, [no complaint having been made by the police.

The Sparrow Question. —At the meeting of the Agricultural and Pastoral Association last night some of the members were eloquent on the sparrow nuisance. The kind-hearted Chairman, whose motto evidently is “ Live, and let live,” thought that too much mischief was laid to the sparrows’ charge, and while farmers were loud in their anathemas against the birds, they entirely overlooked the benefits derived from the sparrows’ existence amongst them. Such an expression of opinion was like applying a match to gunpowder, judging from the effect produced on some of the members. Mr. Siicock advocated the Association pledging itself' to return to Parliament only members who would do their utmost to repeal all laws that afforded protection to any kind of game ; and while speaking most desparagingly of the sparrows’ existence in the colon}', also referred to the increase of hares in the district, adding that unless farmers were allowed to destroy them “puss” would soon cause disastrous effects on the grass of the country. Both Messrs Jones and Sargent were also very strong in their remarks concerning the loss farmers sustained by the sparrows, and gave instances of equal damage having been caused by the sky-larks. Genial John Carter, however, could not be shaken from the position he had taken up, and although neither a sliootist nor a lover of greyhounds, he would do all in his power to preserve the game of the district, which would by-and-bye afford much sport to the residents, and give them an opportunity of having social gatherings like the good old farmers in England.

A Hard-up Shoemaker.— ln a North Island township recently a disciple of St. Crispin filed his schedule. His assets were three pairs of boots and L 7 in book debts. His liabilities were Ll7O.

Assets, Nil ! —That eminent divine, Monsignor Capel, has had to “ meet ” his creditors. At the first meeting the statement showed total debts unsecured L 7295 ; secured, L 18,506. Assets, nil! Faith 1— The Echo. Renewed Youth. —ln one of the West Coast townships recently a bridegroom led to the altar a lady aged three-score and ten. The united ages of the “ happy pair ” make up nearly a century and a half. The Danger of Arsenic. —It is well known that arsenic is used in producing green colors. Not long since a Prussian brought from Paris a splendid dark green dress for his daughter. After wearing it for a short time the young lady became dangerously ill. The doctor ascribed her illness to arsenical poisoning, and chemiexamination detected a large percentage of arsenic in the coloring material of the dress. The Cattle Show. —The Committee of the Agricultural and Pastoral Association are already active, making arrangements for the Show, on the 31st November. Suitable judges have been “ spotted,” and marshals for the various descriptions of stock and other exhibits appointed, so that our farming friends having “anything particular” about their places had better be -looking ahead. Prizetakers will this year have the option of taking a silver medal or a money prize for first, and for a second a money prize or a bronze medal. As the show will he held on the new ground this year, the railway authorities will be approached to give as great facilities to the public as possible on the occasion by the erection of a platform at Saunders’ siding, so that passengers may be dropped at the show gate; by the running of special trains, and by the reduction of fares, etc. The usual dinner will take place in the evening.