Local and General.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XVII, Issue 4192, 15 May 1897, Page 2

Local and General.

Speaking on the Buahy Park sale, Mr Scobie Mackenzie, M.H.R, said he was pretty sure from his own knowledge of the land that a full price had been paid for it. Two immense potatoes grown on the()paki Estate, Orari, have been shown t.q the Tcmuka Leader. They each weigh 3ilb and are 13 inches in length and (11 inches in girth. Falcons are superior to carrier pigeons for messenger service. The falcon is much ihe stronger, and some of them have carried a weight of four pounds without material hindrance to their speed. " New Zealand pifiduoe is handed to the shipping companies in better condition than the produce from any of the other countries I have visited,"says Mr MacEwan, after his recent tour.

On our fourth page to-day will be found the remainder of the results of the races which were decided after we weafc to press yesterday. Commercial news will be fouad on the first page. The disease which is causing mortality in calves in the Tikorangi and VVaihi district* has been described by Mr Orbsll, Inspector of .Stock, as Bymptotna'ic anthrax or black, water The first meeting of the Chertsey Band of Hop-:) was held in the schoolroom on 'Jhursday evening last, and the sub-committee who had charge of the programme must have beeD highly gratified by the large audience that assembled. The Rev. J. X, ' lark, President of the association, presided. The children, who had been admirably trained by Mrs Scarlett, sang some of their Bind of Hope songs in exce lent style. Several of the children also recited very well. Miss and Messrs Alex and Fred Ironside sang a trio, and were loudly applauded. The public school children, who had been trained by Miss Todd, sang some of tl eir action sougs in good style. In the preparation of the programme Mrs Scarlett was ably assisted by Mrs Thomas. The f llowing officers were eleoted for the ensuing nyear:—President, Rev. J. R. Clark; ViceI president, Mr George Scarlett; Secretary J and Treasurer, Master Edgar Dunstan • I Committee, Mrs P'unstan, Misa Donald, and I viPHsrs TnotnftFj Gr*y, MyOlure and A,

Carl Hertz has booked the Oddfellows Hall for June 17.

Lord Dudley, spoken of as the next Victorian Governor, was a visitor to Melbourne about eleven years back, and has one record —his life is insured for a heavier sum than that of any other B'itisher, nam-l' £1,200,000.

A Momohaki farmer has supplied the New Z-'.a and Daryman with theresul:s obtain d fiom his herd of 16 dairy cowa tor the yeav. From this we glean that No 1 gave a retur, of £6 4i 4d. while No. 16 gave £2 19j 6d, the average beinjj £5 14s 4 1.

A letter has been received in Wantranui from Mr Arthur Clampett, who is at present at Beverley, neir Penh He siateis that he is largely interested in Hannan's gold dud at Coolganiie, and intends taking a trip to America, via New Zealand, In all probability he will pay Wa«gauui a visit.

New Zealand produce passes through too mauy hands in London, says Mr MaoEwan, and as a result do^s not receive that atteution it should on its arrive I in London, nor is it placed to the beßt advantage. In this respect there is, he thinks, room for improvement in the facilities for distribution.

An ex policeman, just returned to Melbourne from Westralia, niys that the first man he met on arrival to Perth from the goldfields was a quondam able metropolitan magistrate of "genial" habits, who offered to carry his baggage for a fee of sixpence.

Mr William Leggett had a very narrow escape from being seriously injured yesterday afternoon. He was in the act of stepping off the footpath in East Street near a crossing, when a trap, driven by a youth named Baker, suddenly ran against him, throwing him violently to the ground. He was fortunately not much hurt, but his escape was remarkable.

Mr J. R. Charlton, the well-known veterinary surgeon, in the course of a recent, interview with a representative of the Weekly Press, stated that, having tested several private herds of cowa recently, he is of opinion that of tuberculosis scarcely one herd in Canterbury can be said to be free from this disease. If this be so, public attention should be at once directed to the matter.

On June 2 and the following day a new form of catering for the public amusement will be introduced to the worthy inhabitants of Ashburton and surrounding districts. Preparations have been made for holding a " hobby show" in the Hampste^d school buildings. The promoters have been well supported, and when the show opens, everything will be well worthy of a visit. Curios, pet animal?, and various other things will be on exhibition, while the pubic will be tempted (o purchase serviceable and cheap articles manufactured and presented by the children and their frien s. In addition to the ordinary attractions of the show a concert will be given «ach evening by the children, and from appearances at rehearsal aa enjoyable and excellent programme may be expected-

A man named John Nic^l, a nibbiter on Locbindool Station, was shot through the cheek in a mysterious manner on Tuesday. He and a man named Reid were living in a hut. Reid said thut he was going to Balclutha that day. While Nicol was having ea alone a shot weut off, the bullet passing through his cheek, stiiking and fracturing ihe jaw and lacerating the tongue. Knowing that his mate kept a revolver, Nicol concluded that it had by some means gone off, and he set out fjr the homestead without making an examination. Dr Fleming reached the station from Balclutha about 2 a.m. on Wednesday. He failed to find the bullet, and it is surmised that Nicol, who was bleeding freely, spat it out. Nicol lias been brought to Balclutha. Constable Griffiths, on making inquiry, found that Reid did not come to Ba'cluttu on Tuesday, and as Nicol had some £17 in the hut, he has gone out to make inquiry, but his not yefc returned. The hut was in a very lonely part of the country.