The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1898. Local and General.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XX, Issue 4628, 19 October 1898, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1898. Local and General.

Cable news on fourth page. Mkehvbn Tennis Club.— The Methven Tcnnia Club will open its season on ThurscUy afteruoon next. The club now consists ot about torty members. Suicide of a Chinaman. — A Chinese lauudryman, named Yot Lee, hanged himself from a rafter m his house m Madras Street, Christchurch, this morning (says a Prefs Association telegram) . No cause is assigned. The Metropolitan Slow. — The Christchurch grand annual show will be held on November 10 and 11. Entries will olose on Saturday, the 29 0h inst. Catalogues and all information can be procured on applying to Mr M. Murphy, the secretary. ' Methven Band of Hope.— *A meeting of the members of the Methven Band of Hope was held on Friday evening laat m the schoolroom, when the room was completely filled. A very pleasant and instructive evening was spent m song, dialogue, and recitation, and an address was delivered by the Rev J. R. Clark. The meeting con- , eluded at about 8.30. j A Blow. — Our Mayfield correspondent writiDg on Tuesday says : — From early on Monday forenoon until late at night, we were almost suffocated by one of those old time nor'westera of ours, which raised the loose dust and heated the earth like an oven. No damage vras done to the crops The heavy downpour of rain which came on j about ten o'clock at night made gras3 and j crops fairly jump up. j A Tr'BDTE — Tho Press Association agent at Wellington telegraphs— At a meeting of the Philosophical Society, Sir James Hector i made a feeling reference to the death yeaterduy at Dunedin of Mr John Buchanan, a botanist of considerable note, who had made moßt valuable contributions to the botany of | New Zealand. He hoped that great care would be taken to preserve every scrap of work left by Mr Buchanan. 3 Women's Temperance Union.— From an announcement m this issue itwill be observed that the local branch of the W.C.TU. is to hold a public meeting m the Templar flail to-morrow night. The proceedings are to be of a social character ; and, m addition to an address by Rev R Taylor, and a programme of an entertaining kind, the chief attraction will be an address by Mrs Newton, of Christchurch, a la'ly who has the reputation of being an enthusiastic worker m temperance and other social lines, and who also posse ses the rare gift of winning others to heartily co operate. Upiikaval of Rocics —The Charleston Hoi aid says that intense excitement was caused m town a few day ago on word being received of a rather mysterious explosion of t'ck3 at Parson's bsaoh. The explosion is supposed to have occurred on Friday evening, the anme night that the Mapourika was driven ashore. The beach was visited by hundreds of people, all of whom expressed astonishment-, on feeing huge pieces of rock, huadteds of tons m weight, hurled a thousand yards from the scene of the explosion, and millions of smaller pieces scattered about m nil directions. The cause of this mysterious occurrence is utknown. Tub Mysterious Balloon. —A. correspondent writing to the Otago Daily Times from K'ihiku on October 12, s'aUs:— * In Monday's issue of the Otago Daily limes you mentioned that a balloon had been seen parsing over Dunedin. I thought it might be of somo interest to let you know that on the night of Thursday, 22nd Septemher, about eleven o'clock, I noticed what looked like a very bright star, but on drawing the attention of one or two ohers, it was seen to be moving. The motion was like that of a kite, with a rise and fall. In a short time it seemed to disappear behind a cloud. When it paeseel from view it appeared to be m the direction of Balclutha. On looking out ag\ia about half-past twelve it was scon to be m the direction of Port Molyneux, but was nob watched further. — I am, etc, Objerver." Whales.— Tho Kaikoura whalers have concluded a very fair whaling season. They s! at ted on May 17 and finished on October 6. Daring the twenty weeks they gavj chaao to ten whalea, got fast to nine, and landed six. The Bix whales, says the Kaikoura Star, yielded 17 tons of oil and 7£.;wt of whalebone. Of these two quantities two sm.ill right whales produced 8^ tons of oil and 3|jwc of bone, thus proviug far more profitable proportionately, than the other four whales, though some of them were 'urger. The capture of the right whales was the easiest piece of work of the ceaaon, the two being landed m about three hours' time. The winter was very unfavorable tor whaling, otherwise the season would doubtless have proved more profitable* Over a hundred whales were seen to pass the peninsula during the winter, bub heavy seas prevented the crews putting off except on ten ocoaßions. Baring Square Church. — The quarterly congregational meeting of the local Wesleyan Church was held m tho schoolroom on Tuesday night. There were between thirty and forty persons present, and Rev. R. Taylor presided. Mr John Hayman, on behalf of the Circuit Stewards, reported a Blight isorease m the membership during the past three months, and spoke m sanguine terms of the spiritual condition of the church. Mr Berryman, representing the Trustees, give & lucid statement of the finances connected with the church property, from which it was gathered that the parsonage was free of debt, and the total liabilities on the church were £312, this sum including £179 14s 9J, owing to the church building and loan fund — which does not carry interest — and is being repaid by quarterly instalments. Towards an enlargement of the Echoolroom thg sum of £30 had been allocated from the Sunday schoohfunds, and an effort is to be made at once to raise the balance necessary to go on with the work. The Superintendent of the Sunday School referred to contemplated enterprises m that department of the church's work, and before Bittiog down, Mr Dixon asked for an expression of opinion by the meeting concerningaggressive work, iftainjy jrj the direction of reaching the non-church going portion of the community. At a later Btage a conversation on tho subject ensued, and ultimately resolutions favorable to holding open-air meetings after, the evening service duting the aummor months were carried. Mr H. M. Jones emphasised the claims of the Home Mission department, and also intimated that at the recent quarterly meeting of officials Rev R. Taylor had accepted a unanimous invitation to remain m the circuit a third year. Messrs E. Undrill and R. Collins, with Misses Collins and F. Parsons varied the proceedings by giving instrumental selections, and during an interval refreshments were dispensed. The practice — which of late has become prevalent— of giving bot fly remedies or ordinary colic drinkß, without proper discrimination the moment a horse is taken bad cannot be too severely condemned. Many a valuable horse has been sacrificed through the owner not understanding simple symptoms So-oalled reardies, inimical to life under certain conditions, are administered, with the resull thab the disorder assumes an acute form, the owner becomes alarmed, but alas !it is often too late. W T Kingston has been wonderfully successful during the late epidomio among horses, Veterinary medicine can be obtained at all hours, either at his Veterinary Forge, Wills Street, or at his private residence, Grey Street, near High School. Horses (only) attended upon Jhe shortest notice. Teatimonials can be seen upon application.— (advt) j 0 19 EvkN ft glanna ac their windows will chow | that Craighead & Berrymnn are determined j to maintain their reputation aa the leading I tailor* and otttflttjßM.— (Adyty

Cricket — The opening game of the se^on will take pUoo to-morrow afternoon, when all members und intending members are roqueattd to attend. Sides will be picked up on the ground ; play to start at 2.15 pm. Another Special Prize —The folding additional special prize has to be added to clio Hat for Cho !Sliow already published by the A. and P. Association : — J. McCormick, Esq , gives £2, or the services of his horse Baltimore, for the best yearling (colt o r filly) by thafc6ire. A Bpecial entry required. Thunderstorm. — During the thunderstorm which passed along the coasb last evening there was a smart fall of hail which extended as far inland as Ashtou, The lightning at times was very wild. No damage is reported. At Longbeach the hail ttorm, which lasted for h*lf an hour, was very heavy. Open Air Concert. — The Ashburton Brass Band will (weather permitting) render the following programme m Btring Square to-morrow (Thursday) evening, commencing at 7.15 : — March—-" Woodman spare that tree"— (Edward Newton) ; Polka — "Silver King " — (Eugene ßobc) ; Selection — " The Mountaineer "— (H. Round) ; Valse —'•Passing Thoughts" — (H. Round); March—" Defiance"— (T H Wright) ; Quadrille— " Diana "—(H. Round); Sohottißche —"Queen of my heart" — (Lawrence Carolan); Gallop— •• Shooting Stars"— (H. Round) ; " God save the Queen."