The Ashburton Guardian. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1881.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 2, Issue 271, 17 February 1881, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1881.

TOWN EDITION. {lssued at 5 p.m.]

Mail Notices. —Mails for Australian Colonies, per Ringarooma, will close at the Bluff to-morrow (Friday), at 11.30 a.m. Elgin Farm. —ln our advertising columns, the nice little estate of Elgin is advertised for sale by Mr. W. J. G. Bluett, who will sell it by auction on March 12. Elgin Farm is the property of Mr. J. Stanley Bruce, who, wo understand is about to take a trip Home, and is relinquishing his property with that view. The auctioneer! we think, has not overdrawn the picture in the least, in the description given of the property, and those who have seen the grounds will bear out our remarks. The Railway Tariff . —The circulars of the County Council sent to the various Bead Boards, asking concurrence in the County Council’s action in the railway tariff question, have received affirmative replies from the following Boards—who also consented to co-operate :—Mount Somers, Mount Peel, Mount Cook, Gust, Temuka, Riccarton, Rangiora and Mandeville, Wakanui, Upper Ashburton, Templeton, and Lincoln. The following are the only other Boards who have deigned a reply at all, and these have reserved their opinion:—Akaroa and Wainui, Eyreton, Pigeon Bay, and Port Levy. The* Australians at Napier.— lt appears that though Napier was deluged with rain yesterday forenoon no rain fell at Hastings, where the cricket ground is, and when the teams reached the theatre of operations the ground was perfectly dry. The Australians pronounced the ground the best in the colony. The Napier men took the bat first, and were all got put half-an-hour before “time” for 79. Then Spofforth and Palmer went to W6ric r but before time was called Spofforth was bowled for 20, Murdoch took' his place, and when the day’s v ork was finished the Australians had made 10 in all, with one wicket down. Up to going to press, the following is all we had got .about, to-day’s play The Ahs- j tralians commenced at 12.30,. with one wicket down for ten runs. Murdoch and Palmer went in, to the bowling of laddie and Edwards; At 1.30 Murdoch * bad 21 not out, and Palmer 12 not out. Total-,.3ff for one -wicket. The weather - Was fine, and the attendance good. ‘

Property Assessment. —The Board of Reviewers under the Property Assessment Act commence their sittings in the Courthouse to-morrow morning, at ten o’clock. Tinwald Yards. Mr. Joseph Clark has just al out completed some extensive alterations on the Tinwald cattle-yards, by which means a ccommodation has been provided for another 4000 or so sheep, and some uu h-wanted repairs have also been made upon the enclosures for cattle. It is a healthy sign for the district that the extensive additions were required, and that they were so every visitor to the yards on a sale day can amply testify.

The Bird Show. —Las- night a meeting of the Poultry, Pigeon, and Canary Association’s Committee was held in Messrs. S. Saunders’ office—Mr. S. Saunders presiding. It was decided to make the show an open one, and the Committee made a classification of exhibits, and arranged a prize schedule. The secretary reported that Mr. E. G. Wright did not see his way to take the position of president of the Society, but had promised to subscribe to its funds, and would aid it in every other wav he possibly could. On the motion of the secretary, it was decided to ask the Mayor to accept the president’s position.

Obscenity. —For some time past some blackguard or other has gratified his vile taste by writing obscene sentences on the passage walls of certain buildings which the public have access to, and which have to be passed and re-passed many times in the day by young females. For such a man’s back the cat-o’-nine-tails is a fitting appliance. It is astonishing sometimes how smartly a detective will run a fellow with proclivities of the kind wo refer to, to earth, and the police have the matter in hand. The blackguard may fancy himself very safe from detection. We shall sec. When he is run mwe can guarantee Mr. Nugent. Wood giving him the full benefit of such punishment as the law allows.

Mile Race. —Last night the mile race came off that had been arranged for between two of our local pedestrians— Messrs. John Groves and W. Bayliss. The race was run in the Domain at seven o’clock, and the stakes were L 5 a-side, Bayliss getting 65 yards start. The judges were Messrs. Stephens and Purchase, and as promptly as possible at the hour the men were got away pretty well together. We have seen Groves in better condition, and we liked Bayliss’ form much. In the first lap, Groves visibly decreased the odds he had given, and gradually pulled it down till within 50 yards from home, when he came level with Bayliss. Then a neck-and-neck rush came on, and both men breasted the tape together—a dead heat. It was evident Groves was running a waiting race and that Bayliss was saving himself for the finish. The latter somewhat surprised even his friends by the amount of running he showed was left in him, which proved that Groves held his man too cheap. The time shows that neither of the two made any special effort, as the mile was run in 5 minutes 25 seconds, a,s near as could be reckoned. It was arranged, to decide the struggle, that the race should be run over again on Wednesday next, at half-past six, on the same course. There was a pretty good attendance ol the public.

Sheep Workting. Complaints are numerous just now against the many useless dogs in the county that have a weakness for worrying sheep. The new Dog Registration Act is very stringent. It permits a magistrate to order a dog of whose bad character he has been convinced to be destroyed ; and any dog known to be dangerous, and found at large without a muzzle, may forthwith be seized and killed by a constable. Should any dog rush at, attack, or startle any person, horse, cattle, or other animal, whereby the life or limbs of any person may be endangered, or any property be injured or endangered, such dog may be immediately killed, -and on conviction the owner or keeper of the dog may be fined, in addition to making good any damage that may have been caused; any person who may see a dog bite' or attack any person, horse, sheep, or cattle, or who may himself be so attacked or bitten, may kill the dog, and not be answerable for any damage; the owner, or agent of the owner [servant or employe], of any cattle or sheep may destroy any dog running at large amongst such cattle or sheep; and the owner of every dog shall he liable in damages for injury done by his dog, and it shall not be necessary for the party seeking damages to show a previous mischievous propensity in such dog, or the owner’s knowledge of such propensity, or even that the injury was attributable to neglect on the part of the owner of the dog.

School Treat axTixwald.— ln a recent issue we gave some short details of the arrangements made by the Tinwald School Committee for a treat to the scholars. The treat came off yesterday in grand style, and it is intended to make it an annual affair- 120, or thereabout, of the Children assembled at the school at two o'clock, and the usual sports indulged in on such occasions were* held in a paddock adjoining the school, the offer of Mr. Carter’s paddock not being taken advantage of, owing to harvest operations going on. Prizes were distributed to the winners of the various contests, and many of the Tinwald residents did much to help on the enjoyment of the day. Prominent with their active aid in this direction were several of the ladies residing in the township, to whom the thanks of all are due, and Mr. Allsop, the schoolmaster, was unwearied in his efforts to keep the pleasure of the young ones keen. Tea was served at five o’clock, Mr. Jephsou contributing half a hundred weight or so of cake, and Mr, Mark Scott supplying quite a fountain of “pop.” Other friends contributed largely-to the eatables fund, and the happiness of the children must have been to them a great reward. After tea the children assembled in the schoolroom, where Mr. J. Clark, the most patriotic gentleman in the county, distributed the prizes. Mr. Clark is Chairman of the Committee, and as he distributed the prizes, he gave a word of commendation or encouragement to each recipient. A burst of cheering from the children followed each little speech by the distributor of the prizes. Mr. Clark offered a prize to be competed for next year, and the boy or girl who most successfully traces the materials that made up the tea to the countries whence they came,, describes these countries, and gives their locality and distance from New Zealand will obtain the prise. After “Home, Sweet Home,” had been sung and the National Anthem, the meeting dispersed. The following is the prize list :—Standard V.—Eliza Houston, 1; Annie Gairncross, 2. Standard IV.—Oliver Allsop, 1; Gertrude Littlecott, 2. Standard 111 (Boys).—Alexander Burns, 1 ; James Allsop, 2 ; Isaac Lewis, 3. Standard 111 (Girls). —Harriet Ward, 1 ; Isabella Stalker, 2 ; Mary Lewis, 3. Standard 11. —Amy Hickman, 1 ; William G reen v 2. Standard I (Boys). —Arthur Williams, 1 ; A. Innes, 2. Standard I (Girls). —Esther Burns, 1; Annie Stephens, 2. Under Standard I.—John Burns, 1; Charles Baxter, 2 ; Susan Hickman 3. Advanced Infants.—Mary McLauchlin, 1 ; William Mullaney, 2. Sewing. —Harriet Ward, 1; Hannah Lewis, 2 ; Margaret Stalker, 3. Special prize, by recommendation of Mr. Carter. —Isabella Stalker, 1. Drawing (3rd Class) —J. T. Allsop, 1. (4th Class) —G. Littlecott, 1. Best Attendance (Girls). —Mary Lewis, 1. (Boys)—Robert Innes, 1. (Infants) —Elizabeth McLaughlau, 1. Singing (Boys).—-James Allsop, 1. (Girls)— Agnes Williams, 1. Good Behaviour (Boys).—Alexander McLauchlarr) 1. (Girls)—Harriet Ward, 1. (Infants)—Elizabeth Griffiths, 1.

New School -Districts. —The boundaries of the new school districks of Lismore and Methven are' published in our advertising columns. Quill’s Consultation. —On Monday next, at 2p. m., Mr. T. Quill’s Cons Station on the Dunedin Cup will be drawn at his rooms, Saunders’ Buildings.