LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XIV, Issue 3050, 12 August 1893, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Entries tor the Maiden Pla'e ftt the Spring Meeting of the Ashburton Racing Club close on Saturday, September 2. A poll of ratepayers of Lyttelton taken yesterday was in favor of the proposal to raise a loan of £3000 for the purpose of replacing the water main between Heathcote and Lyttelton. A memorandum sent by the Premier to the Speaker notifies that, in consequence of a person having been detected travelling on the New Zealand railways with a gold pas* stolen from the residence of a New South Wales legislator, Australian passea would only be granted on presentation of letters of introduction. Members of the New Zealand Houses should be prepared to act similarly in Australia. It will be seen by advertisement that the RevE A. Siotfc officiates at St. Stephen's Church to-morrow (Sunday). The Rev T. A. Hamilton be'ng summoned to preach at the Cathedral on Sunday evening, an exchange of duties was happily arrauged w th 11 c former incumbent. Itgoos withoutaayiDg that Mr Scott will ba most heartily welcomed by his old parishioners, and should the weather prove favorable large congregations may be expected to assemble. A public trial of the celebrated Carlyle Spading Harrow manufactured by Messrs Booth, Macdonald and Co., and for which Messrs David Thomas and F. Ferriman are the Ashburton agents, has been arranged to take place at Mr Duffy's paddock, on the Great South Road, near the Ashburton County Saleyards. The trial will be held on Tuesday ne*t,«August 15, and farmers and others interested »re jnvited to inspect the working of the new implement, The following are the Ashburton prise- j takers at the Christchurch Poultry Show hold yesterday. Mr Stephens first for Leghorn cockerel, and 1 and special for Leghorn pullet. Mr E. E. Tasker 1, 2, highly commended and special, for gulden pencilled Hamburg cockerel, 1 and 2 for hen, and 1, 2, and special for pullet. The following are the Titnaru prize takers t—J. £rown, 1 and special, Orpington cock. A. J".. Ennjg, I, 2, and special, Spanish cock, I and 2, cockerel, 1 and 2, pullet, 2, hen, Mrs fifunnell, 1, 2, and special, Minoioa cockerel, 1 and h cfaen^ Thefollowing rather malicious paragraph is going the rounds of the Australian press :— Dialogue between two Victorian farmers which is reported to have recently taken 1 place i—r" Talking abo.ij.fc weeds ; how about I this new crop of Canadian thistles that's springing up everywhere about?' 1 " What, have you gob them too?" "Yes." "Well, dye know where they come from ?" " No." "Hayo you been getting much grass seed lately from JjTew Zealand ?" " Yes, I have; I thought the sample 19 good, and the price moderate, that I've beea ranging on it a good deal." " Well, that's where IVe found mine come from. The thistle's thick over ther& and ever since the New Zealand grass seed Gawe 89 pjjiich into fashion we have had the Canadian thistle, and J'ye determined to buy no more New Zealand gr«#s without a test guarantee. The Canadian thistle is like Cape weed, it only flourishes in rich land $ afyj let either of them get a hold, and good-bye <to yop land," It is becoming more and mot ( e .evident (says the parliamentary correspondent ,oi a Southern paper) that many and great changes will taka place in the pertonel of the House after the next general election. It Is certain yhat a considerable number of the present jpousbera will not come back after the poll, but apart fj?<?m this some of the best men in the House are t»rei ,of politics The Opposition will suffer severely in thyi way, fpr no less than «even are said to have signified ; tjtteir intention to retire from political life at the end of tfoe present session. These are :—Sir Jokn Hall (Bllesmere^ Mr Bruce (Eangitikei), Mr Bllc.kl.and (Manukau), Mr Fergus (Wakafcipu^ Mr Harkness (Nelson), Major Hamlin (Franklia), Mr JL-ake (Waik*ibo), and Mr (Tuapeka). Pressure being brought to bear upon these to reconsider the£r decision, it is to be hoped with some measure of succeea, for ( the list contains the names of some of the besi i > debater)! soundest politicians in the I I House, I