Local and General.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXI, Issue 5058, 8 March 1900, Page 2

Local and General.

* # * On the first page to-day will be found Commercial.

Valedictory—A valedictory social is to be tendered to Mrs Sando, in the Primitive Methodist Church to-night. Mrs Bando has proved herself a most energetic worker on beh »If of the church, and a good attendance t,o bid htr good-bye is requested.

Bad fob Bicycles—A bicycle, ridden by Mr L Craighead, and a cab, driven by Mr H. Dalley, had a tilt at each other on Tuesday evening in the presence of eomo interested spectators who happened to be aboul'. The bicycle was very bidly damaged;. The cab was uniojured. Akrived Safely—A cable from Durban on Tuesday announced the arrival at that port of the ss. Lincolnshire. It will be remembered that this vessel took a number of nurses from Christchurch to jna the Army Nursing Staff in South Africa. Their friends will be pleased to learn of the safe arrival t-f the steamer. An Enterpbisjng Undertaker — The reported death of a well-known Coromaodel resident gave rise to a laughable circumstance. A locul carpenter, hearing the sad news, hurried to the house of the late lamented, to offer his sympathy—and obtain

I the order for the coffin. He was consider- ' ably staggered when the door was opened to him by no leas a personage than the " deceased " himself, The Mothbr Was Glad —A certain school girl in Greytown does not think it such a great thing to get a holiday because Cronje has surrendered (observes the Wairarapa Times). This girl on coming home, rushed inside full of glee, shouting to her mother,

" Oh. mother, we've gob a holiday because

.Cronje has surrendered." "So glad fco hear it, my girl," replied the mother, •' I'm just going to do my washing, and you'll come in nicely to help me." The look on that girl's face can better ba imagined than described.

Iron Foundry jtor .Hokitika—Negotiations are proceeding in Hokitika for the establishment of a foundry there. The

Guardian says that ib is|estimated that about £200,000 worth of work in dredge building would be in sighb the firufc year, and if mining developments assume the proportions at present indicated, there will be ample work to keep the foundry going. Mr W. Cable, of Wellington, was in Hokitika a few days ago making enquiries as to the starting of a foundry, while the representative of a London firm is on the same mission.

Literary Society. — At the Catholic Literary Society's usual weekly meeting, which waa held in the Boys* School on Wednesday evening, there was a large attendarca of members. Mr L. Hanrahan (president), presided. Amongst those present was a visitor from Dunedin, in ths person of Mr Patton, who needless to say received a hearty welcome from the Society, The usual formalities having been disposed of the numbers were then treated for the evenk'g'a entertainment to hearing and criticising two original papers, which were contributed by Messrs Moriarty and j Cooper. The pipers were of a very lengthy i nature, and notwithstanding that they underwent a severe handling by sorno of the able critics of the Society, ib was the general opinion of the members that they ! were of the first order, and more so as they embodied history and other interesting matter, which should prove most beneficial to both young and old members of the Society* . A vote of thanks was passed to the gentlemen for the excellent papers they contributed, and the meeting was concluded in the usual form,

Rough Riders Fond—The Rough Riders fund in Auckland totals over £4000.—Press Association telegram

Diphtheria—Thia disease looks aa if it had come to stay with us. Two patientu from the north pairt of the town are now in the hospital.

Horses for thk Fifth Contingent—At Geraldiue yesterday the Government inspector passed five or sis horses for the fifth contingent.

Grit Does It.—Everybody will be glad to loara that young Kerr, who lost his arm the other <;ay, i 3 getting on very nicely under the care •' the hospital cfficials.

The Fifth Contingent.—The following temporary appointments have been made :— To be acting-corporals, E A Taylor, L Glendinning, and G S Williams.

At Last.—lt will be remembered that a young man named Borenson, hailing from Ashburton, was rejected by those responsible for the selection ot the third contingent, because it waa s id he could not ride,, although, subsequently, he rode a horse bare-backed over the jumps. His name now appears amongst the men selected for the fourth ooobicgenfj.

Not a Pro-Boer.—4 Wellington Press Association Bays :—-The Rev John Irwin, minister of Trinity Presbyterian* Church, Cambridge, has written to the Press Association, denying the truth of the telegram Bent from Auckland on February 20th that he p-eached a pio Boer sermon on the previous Sunday, and adds that he was completely misrepresented.

Moee Men Fund.--The Government House grounds, which were kindly lent by Lord Ranfurly,, presented a pretty and animated scene yesterday afternoon oh the occasion of the garden fete, arranged by Lady Douglas, in aid of the more men fund. The Premier opened the proceedings, and there were several thousand people present, only a small charge being made at the gates. During the afternoon about £100 was taken, and last night) the grounds were densely packed. It is expected that the fund will benefit to the extent at least of £300.—Press Association telegram

Ashbubton Swimming Club—The final meeting of the Ashburton Swimming Club was held in Messrs McConnell and Gompton'a rooms last evening. Present—Messrs P. Orr (captain), W. W. McKinney (secretary), G. Jesson (treasurer), H. Braddell, and C. B Willis. The secretary t&bled his resignation, which was received with regret. A special vote of thanks was passed to him for the excellent manner in which he had oarried out. his duty to the club. The balance sheet was read, and showed a balance of £3 2s Id, leaving the club in a pood position. It was decided to ask the N Z Amateur Swimming Association to arrange for school children in the Achburton diatrios who could swim 50 yards receiving a certificate to that effect. A vote of thanks was accorded Messrs McConnell and Compton for the use of their rooms as a committee room for the season, free of charge; After passing a vote of thanks to the chairman the meeting adj >urned

The Bubonic Plague—" Medicus," writing to the Otago Daiiy limes, says :—ln view of the appearance of the plague in Sydney and elsewhere in Australia, I beg to suggest that it would be well for the City Council, as the pub'io health authority, to place the public health department on a thoroughly efficient baeia. I would further suggest-, that the Health Committee issue a leaflet of instructions to all householders, urging them to scrupulous cleanliness in person and premises, together with the destruction of all manner oi vermin. That the committee look after all streets, sewer?, open spaces, park, foreshores, etc, for hygienic purposes ; that a suitable isolated building be secured for isolation, observation, and hospital purposes ; that the committee associate with them some medical man to advige upon the medical aspects of all sanitary questions. I

write thus, not from any alarmist point of view, but from a desire that our city ba prepared for any emergencies which may ovf-ntunte from the dangera which un-fortunate-y threaten us.