Local and General.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XX, Issue 4477, 25 April 1898, Page 2

Local and General.

-*- Death ov JudghFenton.— Judge Fenton, ex-Judge of the Native Landa Court, died suddenly at Auckland yesterday from apoplexy. Fire— On Saturday afternoon the residence of Mr Nicholas Welsh, situated on the Great South Road, about two miles from Chertsey, was burned down. The cause of the fire is unknown, and there is no insurance on the property. i The School Elections.— Householders are again reminded that the eleotions of school oommittees take place this evening m all the districts, and they should strain a point to be present It is understood that there will be lively discussions at more than one meeting. The Want of a Morgue.— Nelson is, like Christohurch, m want of a publio morgue A few days ago im Nelson a ehtd at the rear of a private house was used to receive a dead body, pending the inquest. The jury, thereupon, added a rider to their verdicb, urging the necessity for a proper building for euch a purpose. Insufficiency op Railway Tbtjoks.— A Wellington telegram Bays that the sawmillerß at Newman, m theForty Mile Bush, have sent a notioe to the Railway Department that unless more waggons were supplied they will olose down on Wednesday, which would ihrow a hundred hands out ol employment. Delated Train.— The south express wat about three-quarters of an hour late m reaohing Ashburton to-day. The delay it said to have been through one of the pUtot rods getting damaged at Dunsandel. Ji fresh engine was attached and the trait wan brought on to Ashburton, leaving au 1.40 for the south drawn by two angines. Hospitable Bowlers.— Some Gisborne bowlers, who viiifced Napier recently, are loud m their acclamations at the warmth of the characteristic weloome whioh they reoeived m the latter town. Describing the trip, at a sooial gathering m Gisborne a few nights ago, one of tho team Baid thab the ( visiting bowlers wore shown the greatest hospitality m Napier, and that from the time of one's arrival " ono'a nose was never opt of a glasß." The Vocabulary oir Wellington Children.—Some of the visitors to Wellington during the Easter holidays, saya an exchango, were startled somewhat by the large and varied expletive vooabulary of the children. Oho blue-eyed and flaxen-haired boy of about six summers, a really pretty ohild, swore with suoh fluenoy, because he stubbed his toe against a stone, that a fctook driver well known for his ability m that direction, who was m charge of a baggage oarb for the volunteer encampment, nearly fainted with envy. Mr John Vale.— Concerning this gentleman, who is to speak at the Orange Hall next Thursday night, the Southland Times Eays : — " Mr Vale succeeded m carrying his hearers along with him throughout hie entire discourse. As he is — m addition to being a forceful speaker — a moderate man, his addresses should receive a hearing from all classes of the community." His Worship the Mayor will preside at Mr Vale's meet inf.

Thf. War Excitement. — There is great excitement m Christchurch over the war. Last night there were crowds m the streets opposite the limes and Press offices, waiting for the issue of cablegrams. After the wire indicating the actual declaration of war had been pub up, ib was announced that no further cablegrams -would be available till one o'clook m the morning, and the main body of the crowd dispersed, but a few enthusiasts were on hand even at that hour.

A Costly Staircase.— The bizarre extravagance of the upstart millionaire Beems to have reached its ultimate expression m the freak of Mr George Gould, who is having a gold plated staircase and balcony put up m a house now being erected for him m New Jersey. The des'gu chosen ia after the style of Louis XVI., and is described as "sircp'e, chaste, and light," garlands and torches being the chief ornaments used, while the stairway terminates not m the ordinary newel post, but m a ram's head witn carved horns. The staircase wil, when completed, cost many thousands of dclUra. Weight Guessing Competition. —On Saturday Mr Sileoek had on view a very fine two-tooth maiden ewe. Shropshire and Border Leicester cross, and a card attached invited all to have a gueßS at the weight of thin fine carcase of mutton. TUe one who guessed the correct weight or the nearest to it to receive a leg of mutton. At 9 o'clock p.m., the time to weigh, there was a great crowd outside the shop, and a good deal of chaff; and out of a large number of competitors Mr S. Trevurza was declared winner, ho having guessed within half a pound correct weight. His estimate was 111£ lbs, whereas the actual weight was 111 lbs. A large number of tha shots were wide of the mark from SO to 130 lbs. The Churches.— St. Stephens' Church— The services at this Chur«h were of the usual character on Sunday, and were conducted by the Rev. Harold Purchase, of Mouut Somers. Ab the evening service there was a large congregation, and the text was taken from St. Matthew's gospel, 17 chap., v. land 2. The same preacher also conducted a Bervice at Seafield m the afternoon. The services ab the Presbyterian Church were conducted by the Rev. G. B. Inglis. The subject of discourse m the morning was " Decision of character." This quality was highly esteemed m all departments of life, The evening sermon was on " The manna,' The speaker enlarged on the fact that Christ wag not only bread for the living, but life for the dead* At the Wesleyan Church on Sunday large congregations attended both services, which were conducted by the Rev. R. Taylor. The subject of his morning discourse was " The lite and death of a Christian," during which he said that unselfishness was an essential attribute of a Christian's life, while devotion was also necessary. In the evening he preached a speoial sermon to young women on "Esther's venture," speaking of women's special opportunities of influencing for good. Presentation. — A very pleasing ceremony took place on Friday morning at the Ashburton railway station, the occasion being a presentation made to Mr J. Carnaban, fireman of the Springburn-Ashburton engine. The presentation, which took the form of a handsomely mounted travelling bag and a beautiful case of Bilver^mounted pipes, was gob together by Mr C*rnahan'a railway mates and friends, who, appreciating his capabilities and goodfellowship, thought thab some ssuvenir should be given to him of his Aahburton sojourn. Mr Parsons, the station- I master, who made the presentation, spoke of the good feeling existing between the two Departments, and although the transfer which Mr Carnahan was about to undergo was not for promotion, bub pimply one of the many vicissitudes of a railway man's life, still he wished him every success m his new district, and hoped that he would ever meet with the same good feeling as he had experienced on this occasion. Mr Stewart Molntyre, the senior locomotive pffioer, also spoke, eulogising the many good qualities of Mr Carnahan, both as a comrade and aa a personal friend. Mr Carnahan, m thanking thofie who had contributed to the handsome presents he had received, said that m all his experience he had never met with such comradeship aa with those whose luok it had been his lob to be placet! with while stationed on the Ashburton section. He wished them every sorb of good luck, and extended a hearty weloome to all who perchance should visit him op the Invercargill section.

Hoixo^tay's Pills.— With changing temperature the digestion beoemes impairpd, jiver disordered, and mind despondent. The cause of theße irregularities is easily removed by the use of Holloway's Ointment and Pills. They directly afctapk the source of the evil, remove all impurities from the circulation, restore the affeoted organs to their natural state, and oorreot all defective secretions. An easy means of restoring health and strength is supplied by Holloway's Pills and Ointment. These famous medicines are blood renovating remedies, whose influence reaches the great centies of the nervous system, purifies the circulation, induces a healthy state of the bodily powers, gives tone to t j»e stomach and brain, producing a desire tor food, and all the proper rpijuirenwnfcii fof fw^tji #nd vjgo.uj, -

An Auckland Doo Story.— The N.Zi htrald is responsible for the following emarkable account of a dog's intelligence : -*' A fine large specimen of a St. Bernard log has taken up its residence ab the Penroee railway station since Wednesday last, and ippears to be anxiously awaiting the arrival )f ita owner. Whenever a train comes m it the station the dog, rises and looks m at ill the first-class carriages, but passes by the second-claaa as unworthy of its serious attention. When a train departs it is the custom of the dog to sit down and wait for the next, when it repeats the same conduct. A Fright. — A countryman received a severe fright at one of the livery Btables m town on Thursday morning (says the Taranaki Ha aid). He had put Mb horse m a loose box, carefully shutting both dooia as the horse was sweating. On returning an hour or two later he went straight to the loose box, and opened the top door, when to his astonished vision there appeared a, huge beast which seemed to completely fill the box, and at the same moment a great outstretched arm desoended over his head and noiselessly removed his hat, disclosing his hair standing on end. Rubbing his eyes and oolleoting bis nerves he saw, m place of his horse, a great elephant, which had arrived by the train, and bad been accommodated m the loose box from which the horse had been removed during its owner's absence. Methven Cricket Club Concert.— -The Methven Crioket Club held a successful oonoert m the schoolroom on Friday evening last. (The opening number was a pianoforte solo, played m excellent Btyle by Mrs Batty. Mrs Bands sang a solo with her üßual taste, and was heartily applauded. The number chosen by Miss Hibbß gave that young lady the opportunity of displaying her vooal ability, and - her singing was greatly appreciated. A solo by Miss Granger was pleasingly rendered, while ia a trio the voices of Misses Hibbs, Patton, and F. Hibba were sweetly and effectively blended. A duet by Messrs Tilloy and Randn was well reoeived, and Master F. Rands contributed a recitation. Vooal items were given by Messrs Walker, MoKenzie, Granger, Oromie, and Sievwright, adding much to the evening's enjoyment* The accompaniments wer* played by Mrs Batty, who alio gave much assistance m arranging the programme. Several tableaux, mostly representing local " wieldera of the willow," were effectively shown by the Rev. J. R. Clark, with his limelight lantern. Ia order to make room for the builders to complete the alterations we have resolved to greatly reduce our stock. We have therefore culled a large quantity of our Tweeds and Worsteds, etc., to clear at the following reductions :— Men's suits to measure, usual price 90s, now 70s ; Men's trousers, usual prioe 255, now 15s 6d ; eto. We have also pleasure m notifying that we have just been appointed agents for the famous "British Monarch ' " Waverley " andEclipse-Humber Bicycles (both gents' and ladiea'), which we are now selling with all the " up-to-date " improvements ab the lowest cash prices, or on the most liberal terms to suit the convenience of our customers. (Every machine guaranteed).— Oraighead and Bebryman, the leading Tailors and Outfitters