LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1361, 4 October 1886, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Hew Zealand Herald (Auckland) says that Mrs Judge Ward, while outwalking the other, day, slipped on a pebble, and fell, spraining her ankle severely, and is therefore set aside for some time from active temperance work.

It is stated that Mr John McLean, of Redoasfle, Oamaru, has been offered the vacancy in the Legislative Council caused by the Hon. Mr Ba’hgate’e decease. The Wellington correspondent of the New Zealand Herald gives currency to the rumour that Major Atkinson is likely to retire temporarily from active political life, owing to illness in his family. The editor of the Itangitikei Advocate records that he has been shown by Mr B. G. Bruce, a feather 12 inches long which was dug from a depth of seven feet on the property of the Minister of Mines, in Otago. The feather is in an excellent state of preservation, and is supposed to have belonged to a moa.

The Standard Comedy Company are announced to appear at the Oddfellows’ Hal), on the 11th instant, Monday next, when “ The Little Sentinel ” and “ Mistakes ” will be put upon the boards.

At the R.M. Court this morning before Mr R. Alcorn, J.P., a first offender for drunkenness was fined 5s and costs, with the usual a’ternaternative.

“I see ihe scoundrel in your face,” exclaimed the Judge to the prisoner. “ I reckon, Jedge,” was the response, “ that that ’era’s a personal reflection, ain’t it ? ”

London newspapers report the sale of the Scarborough Aquarium, which cost £IOO,OOO within a few years, for £4soo—probably the biggest shrinkage in value of a show place od record.

Maize is so extremely cheap in the United States at the present time that a Nebraska shipper the other day received jmt five cents a bushel as the balance due to him on a consignment to Chicago. The grain was sold at 27 cents a bushel, 22 cents of which wen' in railroad, freight, storage, and commission.

A few months ago, says the Sydney Mail, Nr Quong Tart received from Mrs Swift, widow of the late Mr S. M. Swift, several samples of washed wool, which he forwarded to China for the purpose of ascertaining whether there was a market for it in China. Last week Mr Quong Tart received letters stating ihat there would be a good market for the wool in China if some one could be iuduced to leave the colony and proceed to China tor the purpose of erecting machinery, and starting a woollen factory there.

As illustrating the difference between “then and now ” it is mentioned by an exchange that in the parish of Christchurch in 185 G a section below tho church having been put in tho market, the church supporters banded together and raised a sum of £l2 10s, and bought the freehold. That section now brings ii.to the church funds the modest rental of £llO a year.

The Wanganui papers note with regret the death, at the age of 29, of Mr Frederick Bryce, son of the Hon. John Bryce. He was the victim of consumption resulting from a neglected cold. The Hon. Mr Bryce’s many friends will sympathise with him in the great grief he has sustained.

Mr Macdonald, the new M.P. for Queen’s County, is blind, having lost his sight at the ago of 13.

“Do you know the nature of an oath, ma’am?” inquired the Judge. “ Well 1 reckon I orter,” was the reply. “ My husband drives a canal-boat.”

A “wail from a pedestrian” has come to us, complaining of the authorities permitting the branches of the trees in Baring square to overhang the footpath, to the detriment of the head-gear of passers by. He says:— “ When I was returning from chapel on Sunday my new bell-topper was ruthlessly swept off my head into the gutter and spoiltd.” This should be satisfactory news to the hatters, as a person, who, now-a-days, can afford the luxury of a “ bell-topper,” is indeed a rara avis.

The recent destruction of a plantation, and the risk of a similar misfortune befalling others, has led the County Council to issue instructions that a strip pf ground round their edges be sown down with olover. A gentleman of much experience has desired us to sta'o that in order to make assurance doubly sure it would be as well to plant a few rows of cupressus tnacrojarpa and Norway spruce Ca hirs excclsa) as closely as possible round ihe borders of the plantations. These trees throw out branches close to the ground, and so smother tussock and other growth. Bfing themselves covered with green, close foliage, ihey are not likely to be set on fire.

The Timaru Herald says ;—lt is proposed io inaugurate a jam factory for the purpose of preserving the fruit grown in Temuka and Geraldine districts. Winchester has been fixed upon as the most central spot for tba surrounding fruit-growers, and a meeting will be held there on Monday evening to discuss the pros and cons of the scheme.

The Xem Zealand 'Times says that a number of stamps for the Government of Tonga, South Seas, are being printed by tho New Zealand Stamp Department. The dies were engraved by Mr Cousins, of Book and Cousins, of Wellington, and are a credit to him. The stamps are being beautifully printed.

The vigor of youth given to the aged and infirm by using Hop Bi'tera made by American Co. Try it. Bead. The best medicine known is SANDER and SONS’ EUCALYPTI EXTRACT. Teat its eminently powerful effect in coughs, colds, influenza, Arc—the relief is instantaneous. Thousands give the most gratifying testimony. His Majesty the King of Italy, and medical syndicates all over the globe, are its patrons. Read the official reports that accompany each bottle. We have no occasion to offer rewards in proof of the genuineness of our references. Tho official reports of medical clinics and universities, the official communication of tho Consul-General for Italy at Melbourne ; the diploma awarded at the Interna ional Exhibition, Amsterdam—all these are authentic documents, and, as such, not open to doubt. We add here an epitome of one of the various oases treated by Siegen, M.D,, Professor, etc. : Burning of the right hand through the explosion of a small oil stove, The epidermis on the volar and palmer side of the hand of the thirty-year-old pa’ient was completely separated and lifted up as far as be joint of the band. The likewise lifted nails were hanging loose, and half of (he phalanx ot the middle finger was coaled. The wounds thus contracted healed in three weeks under daily applications of Eucalypti Extract dress, ing. The patient has retained the fail us, oi her baud..—[Adyt.

We understand that the representations j made by the Hakatere Town Board have resulted in the name of the district being j changed to Hampstead. j

A strange wedding ceremony recently performed at Waltham Abbey. Both the bride and brid-groom were aged persons, some of the latter’u great-grandchildren being present at the ceremony.

The Crown Princess of Germany takes rank in Europe as a real artist. She studied like a student, and now paints like an artist, and she has bad a lasting influence on the art of Germany.

The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the Ashburton Borough Council will be held this evening.

A meeting of the Ashburton Guards, tor the purpose of electing officers and for the transaction of other important business, will be held at the Drillshed to-morrow evening.