Local and General.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XX, Issue 4585, 30 August 1898, Page 2

Local and General.

-S r A Lat*y Licensing CoMiiissroNEß.— The Depart mcnb of Justice has appointed Mrs Margaret H, Sievwright to the vacancy on * the Waiapu Licensing Committee, caused by * the dealh of Mr F. F. Harris. ' THEFr from a Church — Thieves are at work iv the Hastings district. Scverrl have teen reported, and a few nights ago ] the Church of England was brokeu i lto and i quantity of facraniental wine stolen. After Many Years — A p;tiei t who seven and a-half years ago left Masterton hospital without paying the usual fee?, hanow written to the secretary of the institution, encloßiug £4 10d to clear off the old account A NEW serial, entitled "John Whiting's diaappraranoe" is commenced on our fit et piga to-day, also a report of a meeting of the Inatitue ot journalists will be found on the first page. On our fourth page will be found sporting and commercial news. •Submerged Coal. — The Neio Zealand limes states thit the Government has purchased 600 tor. s of the coal which has been submerged m the held of the barque Coromaudel at the Wellington Railway wharf for over two years. A NEW USB FOR A PIANO,— A Lower Pungitikei resident lately found a nest of young mice uuder the keys of his piano. The r'avjted mother had torn all the wall paper from behind the piano, carried it into the instrument, and with it made its nest. A Beautiful Album. — As enquiries have been made ab this office concerning ths binding of " Glimpes of Australia " now being offered to the Ashburton public, it may be mentioned that complete copies of the twenty-four parts of this fine work, bound, «an be seen at the offioa of this paper. Letting out the Lake. — The heavy seas lon Thursday and Friday last have entirely blocked the channel made by the contractors to let out Lake Ellesmere. They had been at work a week, and had the water running when the wiud changed to the southweßt, burying scoops and tools and destroying all the work already done. Taranaki Oil Boring. — After the abandonment of the boring for petroleum on Mr Okey's farm, m the Taranaki district, and pending the decision of the Government whether or not to a-.sist m another effort to bore, a site has been selected for a new bore on Mr John Veaie's farm, about half a mile away, and the plant has been removed there and a derrick erected. The Uncharted Shoal near Waitara — Captain Allman, Nautical Adviser to the Government, has been informed by the Maoris (reports a Proas Association telegram from Wellington) that they have long been aware of the existence of the sandbank off Waitara ; but apparently it had not been discovered when the Admiralty survey was made forty years ago. The Sounds Excursions. — The Union Company propose a new departure m connection with the annual Sounds excursion by the Waikare, leaving Sydney on January 7. She will come on to Wellington, Lyttelton and Dunedin, and after picking up the Melbourne passengers visit the Went Coast Sounds ; but, instead of returning by way of Foveaux Strait, she will go north to Pelorus and Queen Charlotte Sounds. Romneys. — A well-known breeder of Romneys m the Manawatu, who his had a lengthy experience with sheep, states that out of a flock of nearly 1000 he has only lost three hoggets this winter. 1 his (remarks the Palmerston North Times) is undoubtedly a splendid record, especially when the fact is taken into consideration that on all the farms this year there hue been an unusual scarcity of feed. The breeder m question states that the above record is convincing proof of the excellent constitution' possessed by the Romuey sheep. Methven Literary Focisty. — One of the most successful evenings m connection with the Methven Literary Society was held at Methven on Thursday last. The subject on the syllabus was a lecture by the President (Rev J. R. Clark) on •* Physiognomy." The lecture was comprehensive and racy, and showed that the subject was not new to the lecturer, who, to illustrate it, exhibit ;r] a number of lantern slides, on which were depicted eyes, noses, mouths, etc., m great variety. The Vice-president (Mr Morgan) occupied the chair. A vote of thanks to Mr Cla:k was passed. Hockjsy. — The following team has boon picked to represent South Canterbury m the match North v. South Canterbury, to bo played m the Ashburton Domain on Thursday nexr. :— Goal-keeper — W. Smith; fullbacks — P. Potter and C Andrews ; halfbacks— W. Fitzgerald, D. Stock, and W. McKinney ; forwards— H. Millichamp, A Huston, M. Fitzgera'.d, W. Hustoo, and C. Clarke. Emergencies : — Goal-keeper —F. Watt ; full-back— G. Clarke ; halfback— F. Gale ; forward— C. Simpson. The North Canterbury te an represent men picked from clubs nonh of the Rukaia, the South Canterbury team from clubs south of the river. IVfASONio.— The Ota%o Daily Times is informed that the Masonic lodges of Otago, Dunedin, Port Chalmers (Marine and St. George), the four lodges m the district of Otugo aud Southland under the English Constitution of Freemasonry who remained loyal, have resolved to continue their allegiance to the Grand Lodge of England. This decision waß arrived at by three of them without a dissentient voice. The Grand Lodge of England has communicated to her lodges m thi3 district (says the Times) th»t she has Recorded recognition, under certain condition, to the Grand Lodge of New Zealand. Hoodlums m Wellington.— A disgraceful incident is reported by the New Zealand Times to have occurred m Willis street, Wellington, one evening iast week. A young woman employed m a place of business m the city was seined with a fib and subsequently walked about m a very dazed condition. A large crowd gathered round her, including a gang of hoodlums, who hooted and jeered, attracting the attention of all passers-by, who completely blocked the traffic. The poor young woman was taken to a chemist'd and attonded to, but the crowd of hoodlums followed, and assembled round the door uutil they were dispersed. Volunteer Slouches — The New Zealand Times having complained of the unsoldierly gaib of some of the local volunteers, a correspondent wrote that the remedy was a simple one. " Let the drillsergeant," he suggested, "march each company for an hour, with a weight on the heads of the men, up and down the drill shed. The more enthusiastic members can continue the practice each day at their homes for half-an-hour. They will soon have the upright gait of the Eastern girls, who parry daily heavy j»rs of water, pr of the Irish milk girls, trained by carrying pails of milk on their heads. School girls might well follow the same plan." Chertsey School Committee. — The usual monthly meeting of the Chertsey School Committee was held m the schoolroom on Saturday ovcuiug last. There wore present — Mr George Scarlett (m the chair), and Messrs J. Stringfellow, senr., J. Copland, J. Stewart, and G. Campbell. The masters report ahc&e,d the average to have been forty-five during the month. It was agreed to get a new ashpau for the schoolhouse. The question of sewing prizes was disoussed, and a letter from the mistress on the matter yaa tead. It was finally decided to give two sewing pri'^a m each class, and the secretary wan instructed to write and ask Mesdamss Hardy and Holland of Rakaia to kindly judge the work. Ashburton PonLTRY.-s-Ashburton poultry breeders are getting well to the fore, birds having been sent away this season to all parts of the colony by our local breeders, whose successes at the shows during the last few years have pretty well advertised them. In addition to the shipments to Australia recently mentioned m our columns, a trio of Houdiins was oept from the Pel ham Poultry Yards last week to Messrg .Giles and Wilson, of Bonaventure Farm, New South Wales, probably the largest poultry breeders and exhibitors m that colony. Another I rio of the same favorite breed was forwarded yesterday from the same yards to Blenheim, Sj'nd a ninUlcp shipment is to be made to Napier m a day or tw& a There has been a growing demand for Houdan fowls of late, as the good qualities of this fine freed i Ijeoomo better knpwn.

Brass Band for Methven— A brass band is to be started at Meihven ia connection with the Bind of Hope. Mr Lock has been appointed bandmaster.

The Police. —The Post denies the report that several changes m the Police Inspectors of the colony are about to be made, and thai the Commissioner intends to retire a number of the icepectois and constables.

Tub Chair of Fnqi/sh.— The Registrar reported to the Canterbury College Board of Governors yesterday th*t 29 applications had been received for the chair of English at the College, of which ten were from New Zealand aod Australia,

Alford Forest Domain-. — Messrs C. Morrison, G. Goldsmith, D. Syme, T. E Fagan.andQ J. Mo William, are appointed the Alford Forest Domain Board, having control of 14 aores m the Spaxton survey district. '

Sale Days. —The snow ia still reported to be over a foot deep at the Bush, Stavely, and work ib almost at a standstill. Old settlers Bay they have never known snow to remain bo long on the grouud m the Staveley district.

Thd Measles Epidemic— A large number of cases of measles are reported m Greymouth and Kumara at present, some cases being second attacks, whioh is considered unuau il. The attendance at Brunner school has fallen off so greatly that the Committee has closed it temporarily.

Disorderly Footballers. — At the Magistrate's Court at InveroargM, five young men belonging to a football team, returning triumphant from a country match at> Woodlands, were (according to a Press Association telegram) convicted of behaving m an offensive and violent manner m a railway carriage, under the influence of liquor, and of smoking m a non-smoking car, to the annoyance of other pasßeDgers. The Magistrate said these offences were becoming too common, and must be stopped. The chief offender was fined £5, ana each of the others £2, all with costß addod. Another man, for being drunk on the train and striking a fellow paßoenger, was fined £1, and £1 2a 6d ooßts. The Show. — For many years we have been rushed with orderß prior to the shows and holidays, and late customers have been inevitably disappointed. We therefore respectfully invite all who will require new suits, &c, for the approaching summer to call eakly. We have just opened oub our new seaeon's goodß, and as we anticipate a further increase of business, our stock of new, fashionable, and durable suitings, &o, is probably the largest ever shown m Ashburton, comprising ail the latest novelties, and a special line of Fox's celebrated Cheviot serges, which we are making to measure m the newest styles at three guineas per suit ; also trousers to measure m a big assortment of Scotch, English, and Colonial tweeds and worsteds for 15a od per pair (usual prices 22s 6d to 25 ) ; and m saddle tweeds : Suits £3 10s and trousers to measure 17s sd. Fit, , style, and workmanship m every garment guaranteed.— Cbaighkad and Bbrryman, the Leading Tailors and Outfitters, Ashburton.