News in Brief.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume xxi, Issue 6077, 25 September 1903, Page 2

News in Brief.

Labour Day this year falls on Wednesday, October 14th. Marseilles has been reported free of plague. The British Consul now issues cleat! bills of health Mr C. Grieve, Alford Forest, has a stud notice in another column of the Clydesdale stallion " Sir Hector." On account of the Horse Parade, Mr 11. Stephenson will commence his sale tomorrow at 1 o'clock, instead of 12 noon, Mr James Little, of Harwarden, has forwarded to Port Chalmers for shipment to South Africa 35 Corrieda'e rams. The annual concert in aid of the Win? slow prize fund will be held this (Friday) evening. A dance will be held after the concert. The Government Life Department cave sums of money to lend in amounts of from iJlOOto £10,00 on country, city, and suburban freeholds. Mr F. W. Moorhouse has resigned his position of ranger to the Canterbury Acclimatisation Society, having accepted the position of curator to the recently-formed Hawera Acclimatisation S*. ciety. Misa Jessie King, of Wellington, who is to receive a decoration from the head centie of tho St. John Ambulance Association, is the first in New Zealand tib be so honoured by the order; The effects of this winter's frosts- will be noticeable in Central Otago for years (says the Cromwell " Argus "). Around Wanaka the cabbage trees and manuka are killed, while the gum trees that formed such a. pleasant feature of the Wakatipu landioap*. have also succumbed. '.'

The first prize in the " Snowball" competition initiated by.the " New Idea " ha* been divided between two New Zealand ladies—MrsC. Q. Hardie of Ashburton, and MrsM. L. Evans, of Paeroa—and; consisted of £25 worth of household goods each/from Messrs George and Kersley, Wellington. We would remind our readers that 8.-D. Johnston, bicyole agent, of Burnett street, has a large number o£ second hand bicycles for sale, and anyone requiring a bargain should not fail to examine these n^aob^riag^