Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 1900. Local and General.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XII, Issue 5057, 7 March 1900, Page 2

Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 1900. Local and General.

%* On the first page to-day will be found War items Recovery or Peach Trees - A Wanganui paper states that the peaoh trees in that district have recovered from the blights that ruined them some years ago, and *-re bearing splendid fruit this year. A Rip Van Winkle—A young man about nineteen years of age, was down from the back blocks yesterday. He had heard nothing about the war, and was unaware that such a thing was in progress Photos of Oub Bots—Mr Cooper has just) oompleted some admirable pictures ef 11 Our BoyB," seen under various conditions at the Ashburtnn send-off, and on the occasion of the final departure on the 17th ult. Amongst) the rest is a view of the lunofaeon given by Mr Buckley in the Commercial Hotel, in whioh everybody can be easily recognised. The Lawybb Won.—ln a letter read at the New Plymouth Magistrate's Court the other day a defendant st gmatised one of the lawyers as "a white-livered skunk," and informed him that he "could jolly well go to law for his money. " The lawyer did so, and got judgment against his irreverent client. Cockney Sjobtsmkw I—The wild geese in the upper Taieri river (sayß the Advocate) are multiplying rapidly. There is a lock up there of over 400. They are getting shy now, and will yet bo good sport. Black swam are very numerous in spite of the murderous assaults of half-bred sportsmen who shoot these beautiful birds for mere killing's sake. Where can the pleasure be in shooting the handsome birds merely to let them float down the river ?

Of* to England.-—The Temuka Leader says :—On Thursday evening next) the Rev. MrTinsley and Mrs Tinsley, who are aboub to visit the Old Country, after along absence, will be accorded whab ia popularly called a " Send off," in the form of a tea and public meeting, in the Temuka Wesleyan Ohurch. Since the Rev. gentleman'a appointment to the charge of the cirouit, about two years ago, he has laboured hard for the good of his ohuroh and the community, and he and Mra Tinsley have made a host of friends, who will, no doubt, be glad of the opportunity to wish them a pleasant holiday. A Mystebiotts BcsiNEfeS.-—The Timaru Herald says :—Oar readers will remember that or< December 6, the house of Mr James Coradine, atMaetertnn, waa broken into, and the whole household ch'oroformed,and money taken from every room. Last Thursday Mrs Coradine received a post parcel containing the boxes and pnreea, empty except for slips indicating how much money had been contained in each (about £21 in all), and another slip with " Thanks, pay you when our ship comes in. ' The parcel was posted In Masterton. The Westinghquse Brake—According to a Wellington Press Association telegram, the fitting of the Westinghouse brake on the North Island railways is proceeding apace. Mr Ron&yne anticipates that the LongburnNew Plymouth, and Wellington-Napier sections will be fitted by the end of June. The inter-'.ookinp Bystem introduced at the Lyttelton and Christchurch railway statiDns years ago. is being revived, but on a more up-tc-dete principle. The work in the Wellington station is now under way, and its extension throughout all important stations will be carried out without unnecessary delay. All the railway workshopare working overtime constructing rolling stock to overtake the pressing demands of a plentiful harvest

Vol»ntebbin« - The Ashburton Guards mastered in strung force at the parade on Monday night, about fifty rank and file being present. The Company exercised under both officers and non-commissioned officers, and acquitted themselves creditably. Oapt. Sparrow and Lieut, Ouihertuon were respocaible fur company drill, and Sergt, JSchwar'a for the sword-bayonet exercise. | The Rifi«p, to the number of Sfry, p»ra-ed for inspection last evening, and were put through very useful movement* in an instructive manner by Lieutenant Hayes. Before dismissing the pirade, Caplain Dolman dwelt at some length on the necessity of every member q-iaiifying in class firing (% few having 'orfeiied capitation last year on that score), and explained thab it is essential that rifb praotica must be indulged in, as otherwise, the Company would be as useful armed with broom-handles. Squads for this purpose are now being formed. The b word-bayonet team exercised under Sergt. Dee. A New Moorniso Coach—Messrs Baker and Brown have just completed, to the order of Messrs Baker Bros., a very handsome mourning coach. Ihe vehicle is build on the latest style of English carriages. The carrying capacity is large, ten inside and three on the box. Large oval windows in the sides correspond with the hearse at present used by the firm. Large sliding windows in the front and door allow of ample ventilation. The sombre appearance ot the ooaoh is relieved by a band of handsomolygrained, clear varnished cedar, about a foot) in width, running round the body. In the boot of the coach is a recess for carrying infants' oofias. Ib it reached from both sides through glass doors framed in cedar* The carriage is upholstered io navy blue carriage oloth, and is comfoztably cushioned. The axles are of the latest mail patent. The wheels are about five feet with silver bands on the hubs. The fore •carriage locks. The iron - work of the undercarriage ia an exceptionally handsome piece of work requiring much skill in its construction. An additional bearing of the builders'designing is a great improvement. Altogether the coach is one that the owners may be proud of. Ashburton is to be congratulated that such high class work can be turned out here.

[ An Unreliable Weapon — The Leef Enfold riia is undersighted at all ranges, the amount varying from thirty to 100 yards with the full or fine eight taken by the soldier. The LeoEnfield throwt consistently to the right, the simple reason being that the foresight is seb too much to ' the lefk This at any long range may render the rile praoiioally useless. There is no allowance for '• drift" with long-range sights. "Drift,' it may bs explained, is the lateral movement imparted to the bullet during its passage by the roll caused by the riling. At a long range this may be very considerable ; yet the long-range sights of our service rifle take no count of it. At 1000 yards the drift of the Lee-Ecfield is llio; at 1200 yards it is as much as 23in. A word about the ammunition supplied for theae r'€as. That two varieties should be issued adds greatly to the offence of the War Office, for the simple reason that each gives a very different result. It will scarcely be believed that as a matter of fact the difference! between the Royal Laboratory cartridge and the Kynoeh cartridge fired from the game riflb is about 30in of elevation at a range of 600 yards. What this would mean at a long range may be guessed. We have evidence of each statement that we have made; and we venture to think that so cruel and reckless an issue of personal arms to our gallant and ams*ingly piucky soldiers is a ranker and more shameful offence than any that has yet; bseu alleged against the British War Office.

St Patrick's Day gPOßTS—Entries for the cycling and running events close with the secretary, MrD. McDonnell on Thursday, at 9 p.m. Personal—Mr Alfred Harrison, who with his family has been spending Borne weeks in limaru, has returned to Aebburton, and seems much benefited by hia sojourn on the ■ea Bhore. Fouool Excursion.—Ac excursion train arrived this morning about 10.45 with the Springfield school children, consisting of 235 people, to spend the day in the Ashburton Domain. They would, no doubt, spend an enjoyable time. The Yellow Agony. — The Chinese laundries do such a roaring trade in Melbourne and suburbs that an out-of-work white Thespian, who started a laundry, the other day, hung out this signal, "On Lee, Chinese laundry, manager, J. Smith. " Foe the Paris Exhibition—Mi J. Moison left Aihburton this morning en route for his nativa country, France. Mr Moison will travel by Measageries Maritime steamer' from Sydney to London, He hopes to be present at the opening of the Paris exhibition, and to be back again in Anhburton in a few months. Pbohfio Yield ov Oats.—Mr James Hampton, of Grove farm, Tinwald, has just threshed from 7£ acres of oats, 816 bushels of firsts and 18 bushels of seconds, a total of 834 bushel?, over 100 bushels per acre, The threshing was done by Mr Charles Bennett, This is a maguifioent yield and proves bho quality of the land in that locality. Stores for Mafsking—South African correspondents state that stores for Mafeking were sent out from Bulawayo on New Year's Day. On that day Captain John Anderson, the Assistant Controller, received orders bo dispatch a large quantity of foodstuffs, forage, etc., to the force down the line. It! being New Year's Day, the staff was absent, but by means of the useful bicycle they were found and the necessary instructions given, and about fifteen hours after the receipt) of the orders 162 tons, containing 28,000 rations and forage and grain sufficient for 650 animals for six months was despatched, leaving by special train.

The Old F*ag—lt will be remembered that some years ago the late Mr Vincent Pyke wrote some stirring verses under the head "The Old Flag,' 1 which, like other! matter from that author's pen, were favourably accepted throughout the colony. Mrs Donald McLean recently set the words to mußic, and we were to-day favoured with an advance rendition from the composer's score. The first strain is a decidedly bold introduction, embodying this lady's genius aa a harmonist, but it is undoubtedly the refrain which follows that contains the sweet and telling melody so essential in patriotic com* position. Mr Horace Gates has, at present, > the original score. Jubilee Re»atta at Lyttelton.—The Jubilee Regatta to be held at Lyttelton promise! to be a big affair. At a meeting of i he committee of the Lyttelton Regatta, Mr J T Brica in the chair, the hon. treasurer I (Mr C Ferrier) submitted a balance sheet of the late regatta, showing receipts £487, and expenditure £375 The balance sheet was adopted. The Bum of £50 was transferred '■ to the Jubilee Deposit Fund. It was decided to ask the Mayor of Lyttelton to oall a public meeting, not later th&n the middle of April, to consider the matter of the Jubilee Regatta. Two sub-committees, consisting lof Messrs Laurenson, Collins, Riih, and Cleiry, as a Sailing Committee, with Messrs Curtiee, Page, Harkess, and Weastell, with the hon. secretary and hon. treasurer, as a Rowing Committee, were appointed, to submit suggestions for next year's pro* gramme It is expected that the Jubilee RegatU will have between £1000 and £1200 at its disposal to conduct a two days' regatta

Tinwhj) Patriotic Demonstration—We again remind o.ur readers of the Patriotic Demonstration at Tinwald to-morrow (Thursday). In addition to the attractions mentioned yesterday, there will be a aham ight, the Defence Department haviDg given permission for the local volunteers to take part. The concert in the evening is expected to be a good one. An attractive irem will be the siDgiog of the late Vincent Pykes' spirited soDg, ClThe Old Blag." This has been set to music by Ashburton's talented musician, Mrs Donald McLean, Muc Baa, and its rendition has been entrusted to Mr H. A. Gates, who may be relied on to do the music justice. The traction engine, with the waggons attached for visitors, leaves the Ashburbon Post Office with the procession of Highland pipeia, the Brass Band, Fire Brigade, school children, &c., at 1.30 p.m. The Tiawald Domain is a splendid spot for an afternoon's outiog, with plenty of shade, and Ashburtoaifces cannot do batter than make a little picnic to the grounds, and thereby help their neighbours across the river in their display of loyalty. Accident to the Express —The nonarrival of the >wouth express on Tuesday evening caused much speculation, but from the information that was permitted to leak out, it was gathered that the delay arose from an accident which was not serious, and that the train would be through in an hour or two As a matter of fact, the train passed through Ashburton just before midnight. The facts, as detailed in a Timaru telegram, which came to hand early in the eveaiDg, are as follows :—The express from Chriatoburch to Dunedin was derailed at Studholme Junction on Tuesday afternoon, blocking the main line. A relief train which was gen* from Timaru with a gang brought al«ng the Dunedin passenger* and luggage. The expresses cross there, and the train from Dunedin returned to Oamaru. Both engines had to run tender first, and their speed was therefore slow, some ten miles an hour. The train for the South started at 7 p.m, and that for the North at 7.30 p.nu The line waß cleared at 8 pm. No one was hurt. The main line was ploughed up and the rails bent. It was expected that a heavy stock train for Addington would not be able to cross till 10.30 or 11 p.m. Further j private telegrams stated that the engine was derailed when entering the station at Studholme Junction, and, fortunately, as the train was slowing down.