LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1362, 5 October 1886, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

We learn from the Dunedin Star that the strict secrecy observed with regard to tho analysis of portions of Captain Cain’s body ia under the direction of the Minister ot Justice, who has ordered that the result shall not be permitted to transpire until after tho trial of the prisoners Hall and Houston on the charge of the attempted murder of Mrs Hall. This is only right, as should traces of poison have been found in the body ot Captain Cain the making of tho fact known before the trial would undoubtedly tend to prejudice the jury. It another charge should eventually be developed that can be tried on its merits at the proper time.

A meeting of the Hakatero Town Board was held last evening when the resolution re striking rate was confirmed, and the Clerk was instructed to take vigorous proceedings against owners ot unregistered dogs.

Tho Mount Somers Railway extension was opened yesterday.

It is announced that the concert at Rowlands, which was to have taken place to-night, has been postponed till October 12.

The Tch i/raph says that samples of tobacco grown in Hawke’s Bay have been forwarded to Auckland from four different growers. Mr Ormond has forwarded samples of three varieties grown by him.

A resident near Riverton states opossums are becoming numerous in his locality.. The interesting strangers are supposed to be the natural increase ot several liberated by the late Captain Haiikinson some years ago.

The W<m,triUe Examiner says ; The mountain birch, so largely found in the Ruahiue Range, is ot splendid durability. We have heard of some ot this timber having been on the ground tor over twenty years in the vicinity of MakareUi, and it is still quite soand.

The T;;ttriton Timex tolls the following amusing 'story of the unpleasant experiences of a certain splatter who some little time ago tried the experiment of turning loose a few dray loads of cats upon his ruia The imprisoned. oa‘a were set free one lino evening around their importer’s homestead, and during the ensuing uight sleep fled afar from that beleaguered spot. The liberated cats fought, conversed, and sang part-songs until the dawn. With daylight the habits of their old suburban life were resumed, and all together they made a rush for tho house as soon as its doors were opened. TII4 inmates had to light for dear life, and though they were successful, it was at the cost of for over renouncing the cat-cure for their plague of rabbits.

Mr W. Rees, the Sheep Inspector for South Canterbury, informs the Timaru Jlerahi, that the number ot sheep in South Canterbury on May 31st, 188(1, was 1,853,000, an increase since the corresponding date of 1835 of 59,000 This increase is exceedingly satisfactory and gratifying.

At a meeting of the directors of the Christchurch Goldminiug Company last night, it was stated that a tiro assay had been made of the stone brought by the mining manager from a reef Oft thick, which yielded gold at the rate of 21 ounces per ton.

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