LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XV, Issue 3422, 29 October 1894, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Appeal Court has reserved its decision m the c*se Union Bank v South Canterbury Building Society. Money under the Advances to Settlers A cfc will be lent through the Public Trust Office and branches, which it is anticipated will be equal to the work without any material addition. There are many inquiries m Scotland for Queensland sugar lands. A syndicate is willing to invest £80,000 in'he event of a sufficient guarantee bein* offered. At a meeting of ths W<*itaki High School Board of Governors Mr W. H. A. Craddock was Hslected out of seventeen applicants for the post of first assistant master. Mr Craddock, who was educated m Christchurch, ia at present head master of the Greymouth District High SchoolTwo of Maoriland principal cities have been theatrically boycotted (says on exchange). Brough and Boucicault passed Auckland by, as terras could not be arranged for Abbott's Opera House, and the Royal Comic Opera Company (Williamson's) gave Wellington the 'cue out,' A local band was one day playing at Dunfermline when an old weaver come up and asked the bandmaster what that was he was playing. " That is * The death of Nelson,'" solemnly replied the bandmaster. ' Ay, man,' remarked the weaver, ' ye hae's gien him an awful death,' A man named Edward Settc>tt was brought to Christchurch by the police from Kaiapoi on Sunday suffering from a severe selfinflicted wound m the throat, and was tsken to che hospital. The man is m a precarious condition and not expected to recover. He had been living by himself and was of somewhat eccentric habits. At Gisborne on Sunday a man named William Brennan was found dead m a whare near Karakaka. A post mortem examination revealed signs of strychnine poisoning, and a bottle with strychnine crystals was found by the side of deceased. The jury returned a verdict of poisoning, but whether by accident or design, there was no evidence to show. A Greymouth telegram informs us that a very important gold reef has been discovered at Langdon's, nine miles from Greymouth. The ree', which was unearthed at a lower level than ever tested before., is three feet thick, carrying heavy gold, visible throughout A rush has set m, and leases are being taken up m all directions. The popularity of the Australian Station among men m the British Navy was again shown on Friday, 54-th August, at Plymouth- Drafts for the new crews of the crnsier Orlando, the flagship of the station, the cri sier Rapid and the gunboat Lizard were called for. When the crew #f the Austria wa* paid off into the Devcnport Fleet Reserve after mobilisation, upwards of 50 per cent, of the men offered their strvtces for the station. An elderly man named Robert Martin, a school teacher, was found drownei m the vicinity of Tervois Quay Wellington, on Sunday. The deceased hit his home at s ?ven o'clock on Saturday evening for the purpose of looking at the shops. It is not known how he came into the water, and his friends state that they have no suspicion of suicide. Alfred Freeman, aged 39 cut his throat at the National Hotel. TLere Is some hope of his recovery. He had been manager of a drapery stoe at; TCketahuria, and the loss of this position seemingly preyed on his mind. The design for the new letter card which is to te issued by the Postal Department m December, js, says the Wellington J^ost, an exceedingly pretty ■nd £aais£ul one. The address side is plain, but on the back of the card are dxquisite views, drawn by Mr F. Sears (of tfre Lands and Survey Department), of Mnunt Cook, Mitre Peak, the Sutherland Falls, Mounts Tongariro and Ruapehu, and Lake Taupe. The card folds «p and (he writing space is on the inner side of the fold. It was the Duchess of Gordon, a clever and beautiful Scotchwoman, who successfully dumfounded a pretentious dandy. He wa<? beside her at a supoer party, and, m order to gain her good graces, affected a liking for the Scotch tongae. declaring ,bhere fas not a Scottish phrase he did not understand. * Rag; me a sprawl o' that babbly-jock, replied fch.e puchese, scarcely. moving a muscle of her fabe. The exquisite looked appaH'ed and then j?lunk away m confusion; while the commm VY ¥§? performed by a cavalier haijilnj? tyom tjie #orph' of the Tweed,

At Duneiin on Saturday the Hassars brought their week of training to a close by the usual military sports;, which were fairly attended. The Lloyd Lindsay competition was won by Sergeant Allan and Troopers Grieve, Freeman, and J. Findlay. According to the Wunganul Herald the prosecution, for the breach of the licensing law cost the country about £400 for witnesses' expenses and so forth. It was elicited m evidence that the ' whiskey' m question was retailed t,o European-! at 14s per bo';tlo -And to tha Maoris at as much aa £1 per bottle. Ab-.ut 6.30 p.m. on Sunday a boy named Daniel Matthew Gibson, aged fifteen, who resided with his parents m St. Asaph street, Christchurch dropped dead at the corner of Kilmore and Colombo streets where he had gone to join some companions. He had run a distance of about fifty yards with his brother, and then jumped on to a fence. He fell down immediately, md died m a few moments, Dr Irving was sent for, but the boy was dead before the doctor arrived. The deceased had been subject to fainting fits up to two years ago, bat had none since, and it was thought that he had grown out of them. L'Echo do lArrnee states that a most important transaction is said to be contemplated by Russia. Portugal seems disposed to cede to Russia for a consideration a great part of her colonial possessions—among others m India the town of Daman (at no great distance from Bombay), further, the territory of Goa, which with its large area would enable Russia to establish an important colony there. The question of the purchase by Russia of the Portugese port of Timor is also on the | tapis. This acquisition would be of particular importance, owing to the strategic position of the lale of Timor m the face of the Australian continent. A very successful concert, promoted by the Rakaia Football Club, was held m the Town Hall on Friday night last. Mr Hardy commenced proceedings with an address, after which an excellent programme was gone through by the following ladies and gentlemen :—Mrs Brooke (Ashburton), Misses Cant (Christchurch), Ansley and Thompson, Messrs Brooke (Ashburton), Lill (Dunsandel), Walker, Dixon, Austin, Blackburn and Keddell. The accompaniments «rere played by Misses Hardy and Thompson, and Mr C. Blackburn. The usual dance followed, and waa kept up fciil daylight, and thoroughly enjoyed by about fifty couples, Mr Walker supplied the music m his usual efficient style, and was ably assisted by Mr Brandon. In connection with the Ellesmere Show he weight-judging competition was decided on Friday morning. Mr James Stackhouse' was the fortunate winner of the prize for the fat bullock. The bullock weighed 6201b5, MrStackhouse's judgment being: 6211b5, Mr S. Sparks came next with 6161b5, Messrs F. H. Pyne and A. Cooper next with 6121 bs each. Mr C. C. Smithson was the winner of the prize for sheep. The five sheep weighed 4061b5, or an average of 81 1 sth lbs, Mr Smithson's guess being 4101 bs, or an average of 821bs. Mr Baxter came next with 80Jlbs, Mr J. R. Campbell t! ied with 821bs, and Mr A. E. Campbell fourth with 831bs. The weights of the guesses for bullock varied from 4951bs up to 7141b5, for sheep from 661bs to 851ba, A week's mission will be commenced m St. Stephen's Church on Wednesday evening. Special intere?t will ba felt m the services by church peopla owing to the fact that the missioners—the Rev A. W. Robinsons with his colleague the Rev Canon Carter —have come from England especially for tlm work, and have held most successful missions m Hobart. Adelaide and Melbourne. Canon Carter would have been associated with Mr Robinson here, but unfortunately he is only just; recovering from severe indisposition > and it is feared he cannor. do any work until tha commencement of the Cathedral Mission on November 10 The Rev. A. W. Robinson is examining chaplain to the Bishop of Wakefield, and Commissaiy In England for the Bishop of the Diocese of Christchurch. He possesses a very forcible and clear style and has made a imrked impression elsewhere. All are freely invited to attend the mission, and will be heartily welcomed, and it is hoped that a lasting benefit will be received by many. During the mission all seats are free, and hymn books are provided. There are no collections except on Sunday and ab the thanksgiving service on the last night of the mipsion. The Vicar will hold services on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday at 7,30 p.m.; the missioner will be welcomed on Saturday at 8 p,m. KEATING'S POWDER destroys Bugs Fleas, Moths, Beetles and all other insect, whilst quite harmless to domestic animals on exterminating Beetles the success of this Powder is extraordinary. It is perfectly clean m application. See the article you purchase is KEA'I ING'S, as imitations are noxious and ineffctual Tins, 6d and Is, ie with the signature Thomas Keating on each tin. Sold by all chemists.