Ashburton Guardian Megna est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 1900. Local and Genera!.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXI, Issue 5060, 10 March 1900, Page 2

Ashburton Guardian Megna est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 1900. Local and Genera!.

%* On the first page to-day will be found Mr D* Thomas's report on the Aahbmton stock market, etc. Personal—A recent) arrival at Geraldina the sod of a newspaper man, has been christened Baden-Powell.

Mubsb Carston— Before leaving Timaru for the Trausvaal, Nurse Oarston was presented with a purse of sovereigns by wellwishers. Ashburton friends also presented her with articles useful on the field*

The Fourth Oontinsent.—Seven men of the fourth contingent left Greymouth per | the Wftinui this morning. They received an enthusiastic send off.—Press Association telegram. ' Personal.—Mr W. H. Triggs, editor of the Christohuich Ptess, passed through Ashburton yesterday evening, returning from a trip to Mount Cook. He was looking decidedly well after his week or two in the open air Review.—" The Young Man's Magazine," a periodical published by the St. John's young men's Bible class, Wellington, is to tiand. Ib is a bright, well written magazine, containing some twenty-seven pages of reading matter, illustrated by a few good photos,

Dancing Class—-It will be noticed by an advertisement which appears in this issue, that Mrs A' ZepSin, of Christchuroh, teacher <if dancing in all its branches, will, if sufficient inducement offers, make arrangements tor visiting Ashburton at regular intervals for the coming season.

Ths N.Z. Wheelman—This week's issue of this well informed cycling paper is to band. As usual it contains a quantity of

chatty news., specially interesting to cyclists,

including letters from correspondents from Auckland to the Bluff. & public analyst writes learnedly on aoebylene, and an English correspondent contributes notes on cycling in the Old flountry, also some notes about the forthcoming championship meeting at the Paris exhibition.

(Ehs PiGEON, — An exchange says :— Pigeons can walk, but cannot hop. Most other birds can hop, bub oannot walk. Pigeons are not exactly polygamhst«, but the males have no parliou'ar mate and they will feed the young of any mother." The pigeon is the only bird that drinks by draught or suction, »a we do. All other birds raise their heads and leb the water run down by gravity and dip the bill for another drop.

Nurse for South Africa.—Miss Oarston, late nurse at the Ashburton Public Hospital, but now of Timaru, who has offered her services as a nurse for South Africa, passed

hrough Aehburton by the express last evening en tonte to Lyttelton, where ehe will leave for the front on Thursday next. Mrs McKay, matron at the Hoßpital, was at the station to bid nurse Carstcn good-bye. Qiite

v crowd of old friends were also down and g;ave three hearty cheers as the train steamed out. Mies Carston appeared in the best of health and sp:rits and was looking forward so her experiences at the front with great pleasure.

, Returned From Johannesburg —Mr H. BT, Stephens, formerly of Ashburton but Utely of Johannesburg, arrived back at

\ehbnrton by the 8 o'clock train last night;

Mr Stephens is one of those driven out of the Trans yral by the war; He sent his wife

md family back to New Zealand last October twelve months and was promised by the Transvaal authorities a permit to remain md look after hia buaineag. War was declared

on October 11 and on the 24th Mr Stephens

was put over the border: He aoted as clerk at> East London in connection with General

'Jatacre's division for some time, and then

mot getting letters from Mrs Stephens for some months, he became anxious, and decided to coma over to New Zealand and see for himself how matters progressed. The African sun has left) its mark on Mr Stephens, but otherwise he looks none the

worse for his adventures.

Ihe Famine. —A London paper of January 3 says :—Very serious news comes from the Indian famine districts. Ho enormous have been the additions to the numbers oi the distressed seeking emp'oysnent within the past few days on the government relief works that the authorities have been compelled to give notice that they must reduce the amount paid to the peop'e engaged. The funds alloted for relief purposes are altogether inadequate to the entire'y unbooked for demand upon them. We have point d out how far, how very far, the extent) of the suffering caused by the present dearth exceeds the J anticipations of the r xecutive and the assumptions of the Commission upon which the existing relief system was organised, we are constrained to admit that even our estimate did not come near the reality. Not alone will the one and a quarter millions sterling thab was to suffice till March be absorbed but double that amount will not cover the expenditure that will have to be incurred before the end of the dearth is in view. Unfortunately, too, we have nothing of the winter rains that should hold out promise of a better season to come. And if the outlook doea not shortly improve, we shall have a condition of destitution to deal with the like of which will be without parallel in the history of the Dependency under British administration. Tennis—-In spite of the high wind blowing on Thursday afcerooon, an interesting tennis match was played between teams representing the Trevor ton and Baring Square Clubs. The gk.nia was played on the Baring Square ground, and the suburban team won by one game, the points being 285-255. In tbe evening a social was held

in the schoolroom, which was tastefully

decorated for the occasion. Vocal or instrumental itema were contributed by the following:—Misaea Steel, Jones, Parsons, Lilly (of Chrtstchurch), Mra Hiskena, Messrs McClyinont, and Tucker (of Chriitohurch.) Various parlor games were heartily enjoyed. Refreshments were dispensed, and a pleasant evening was brought to a termination by singing the National Anthem,

Messrs Hardley Bro?, of East Street, who have just opened up their newly impojted stock of tartridgea, ammunition &c, for the ooming shooting season, have made a most effective display in their window. The design being a fortress built up of cartridges, with imitation guns appoaring, including the famous "Joe Chamberlain." Shootists may therefore rest assured of having their wants well looked after by the above firm. The firms new advertisment will appear in Monday's issue!