LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXI, Issue 6202, 24 February 1904, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The J.N.VABO Mails. — A Homo mail arrived last ni^ht J?y the express from the South,

Weather Fokeg ast.—Captain Edwin wired to-day as follows: — Moderate to strong winds how. eastward j glass fall slowly.

The Southland Hauvest. —Harvesting is becoming general in Southland. The yields seem to be patchy, and it is evident that the district cannot do without a heavy rainfall, which has been short this season. Fruit is £0 plentiful as to be almost unsaleable.

The Hospita.li.—His Worship the Mayor and Mr T. Harrison, members of tun Visit- i tog Committee of the Hospital BoarJ,' inspected the Hospital yesterday, when everything was found to be in satisfactory order and condition.

Reooonisikg Merit.—Mr J. Lambie, in seconding a vote of thanks to the Lyttelton Harbour Board Staff at phe meeting of the Board yesterday, said fch^t they were fortunate in having such an" able and energetic secretary. Members who noticed how the accounts and correspondence were placed before them must recognise, he added, tS?as tjje manner in which it was done was the work Qi msM® *#■?•

Grocers' Picnic. — The grocers of Christchurch are sot down to hold their annual picnio iu the Ashburton Domain to-morrow.

Indecent Exposure.—Two men named John Scott nnd Thomas Eenuett wore arrested by Coustablo Eade on a charge of indecent; oxposure in tha Ashburton Domain. It appears that they came outside the bathing enclosure while iu n state of nudity. They will be brought before the Court to morrow.

Ashburton Rifles.—-There waa a fair muster of the Ashburton Rifles last evening, Captain Dolman, V,L)., being in command, and, with Lieutenant* Hayes and lleiiord, putting the company through the U9ual drill.

Theatrical.—The Taylor • Carringlon Company will pay a return visit to Ashburton shortly, appoaring in the Oddfellows' Hall on March 23 rd and 2ith.—The Sandford American Company have decided to appear on the 2nd and 4th April only, and not on the sth, as previously arranged.

Ebtect op the Smallpox Scare. — Captain A. B. Harman, of the Queensland vice-regal staff, states that to his personal knowledge the smallpox scare in New Zealand has prevented many Queenslanders from visiting the colony. Many leading hotelkeepers in New Zealand testify to the same thing, having received instructions from intending tourists to forward letters addressed to them on to Australia.

Orchestral Society.—The Ashburton Amateur Orchestral Society held its usnal weekly practice in the Templar Hall last evening, when there was a good attendance and much good work was got through. In tha unavoidable absence of the conductor, Mr S. McClurg, leader of the orchestra, wielded the baton in a very satisfactory manuor.

Guessing Competition.—The result of the guessing competitions held in connection with the Ashburton Horticultural Society's show was announced this morning. The peas contained in the jar numbered 2;563, S. Knox guessing 2256, and J. Thomas 2500. The pumpkin contained 307 seeds, Lizzie Knox making the winning guess with 306.

FuasoNAL. —Constable Frazer, who has been .absent for twelve da/s on a holiday, returned ve3terday, and resumed duty to-day.—Tho Rev. A. Peters and Mr G. W. Andrews will leavn for Auckland by Thursday's boat, to attend the annual Conference of the Methodist Church.—The friends of Mr George Williams, who met with an f.Ciident at Islington on Saturdny last, nnd is now in tin Chriatchuroh Hospital, will be pleased to learn that he is making satisfactory progress towards recovery.— Mr John McLachlan, M.H.8., arrived in town to-day by the expre33.

The Chimpanzee " Consul." — The Chimpanzee " Consul." whose death at Berlin, was recorded in our cables yesterday, and who was insured for .£20,000, was recognised as the most highly trained ape that has yet appeared. lie was recently apDearing at Earl's Court, London. Attired in full dress $uit, he first appeared at dinner, at;ended by a waiter, and having " done " the full course, from soup to nuts (table etiquette boing a specialty,) he next appeared in the drawing room, where he played several pianoforte solos, and eventually wound up the evening by adjourning to the smoke room, and, in the company of his trainer, Mr White, enjoyed a cigarette, occasionally requesting a match for re-lighting purposes.

, The Fishing Industry. — Speakiag to tie Burnh:im boys on Quail Island on Saturday, Mr Laurenson stated that recently over 20 large whales were stranded on the Chatham3, but had to be left to rnt away, as there were no appliances or barrels t 1) secure the oil that might have been obtained from them. He also stimulated the boys towards a fishing career by stating that when his fishing company at the Chathams was at work, suitable lads would be able to make £1 a week in their employ.

Athletics.—The New Zealand Amateur Atl.l >tio Associate j a fl making endeavours to get a visiting team of athletes from America and England, to come to New Zealand about November next. A sub-com-mittee ha? beeu appointed to go into the matter, and communicate with the English and Amaricau governing bodies on the subject,

Valedictory. — Lieut-Colonels Moore and Major Jowsey, who are leaving Timaru, will be guests at a valedictory gathering in Titnaru to-morrow evening, The Ashburtpa Rifles and the Ashburton Guards are both arranging to attend in connection with the parade to be held there. It is stated, with some circumstantiality, thab Oaprain Dolman is likely to be promoted to a higher rank in connection with the lebirement of these officers. The local corps will parade at 12.30 to-morrow at the Ashbuiton Post Office, preparatory to leaving for Ttmarn by the express. Lieut. Colonel Porter will be in attendance, and on his return from Timaru will inspect the Ashburton rifle range.

Bees in kis Fui.vn. — A West Coast clergyman last week, who had commenced his stirring pulpit oration as if he were good enough for a{; least three hours, saidj — "Brothers and sisters, I would commend to your notice Ugh ?" And he beg an doing a break-down, pounding violently at the atmosphere with his manuscript, suddenly dropped it on to the inviting head of a worshipper, and fled down the pulpit steps six at a time. " Buz-z-z !♦' sang the swarm of bees that had sought a habitation in the pulpit. The sight of a local bee-farmer seizing the collection plate, and banging it with a hymn book to " charm " the bees, will be treasured as a memory by several people who were there.

Great Fires.—Chicago's holocaust (says an exchange) possibly tops the records for theatres, but does not come within cannon shot of the champion church disaster—that of Santiago, where, on December 8, 1863, there were over 2000 people burnt, mostly women. The Ring Theatre, Vienna, was burnt in 18S2, with a loss of 417 lives out of 2000. The Paris Qpera Comique fire was on May 25, 18S7, during a performance of the opera " Mignon." Loss of life, 131. It is a ghastly coincidence that the Chicago Iroquoi? Theatre was modelled on. the rebuilt Opera Oomique of Paris. Carvalho, £he manager, was sentenced to three months imprispnmant and a fine equivalent to 42000. Andre, the chief fireman, was sentenced to, ' a month's imprisonment, The manager was also imprisoned over the Ring Theatre affair.

The Land Meeting.—A. Christchurch paper states that Mr G. Laurenson, M.H.R,, has replied to the letter of the Provincial secretary of the Farmers' Union (Mr W. Harding), mentioning March Ist as the date and 2 p.m. as the time of tho meeting at Ashburton, stating that Mr Taylor and he could not address a meeting before the latter part of March, and they proposed that ifc should be an evening mooting:. Under Monday's date Mr Harding replied that his committee specially desiyedto hold a day meeting, as they wished to obtain the attendance of farmers. If he}d at the hour q^entiqned they would get an attendance of members from twenty miles around. The date suggested was the moat suitable, as towards the end of the month the sheep sales take longer, and people cannot leave them till business is over. Mr Harding also pointed out that this meeting would not interfere with the evening meeting, which Mossrs Laurenson and Taylor proposed to hold.

Angling.—When at the mouth of the Rakaia tiver on ifaturc'ay last, writes an Ashburton correspondent of the " Press," Tsaw a fine rainbow trout just caught by Easier T. Joint, weighing 2£lbs nett Considering that jfchese beaujbiful and fine sporting fish were only jutroduced into the Rakaia a year ago or'less, it is quite evident that they are succeeding remarkably well. When intj/QoUiced into the river about 2000 were yearlings, the remainder, 1 abojjt 30.000, were ordinary fry. They are also succeeding well in the Ashburton river, several having been caught this season, with vaiious baits, weighing from lib to 2lbs. Other fish were also taken on the minnow on the same date. In the eveniug Mr Walker lander? a Jarge eel, while the following evening Mr Carruthers took a tench at the mouth of the Island Creek, weighing about sozs. This is the second record I know of tench having be9n caught near the mouths of creeks flowing into the large rivers crossing the plains. Owing to the milk coloured condition of the river, due to the recent hot weather melting the snow, very poor baskets were obtained during the last three days of the'week.

PiiopßttTT Sams.- Messrs Fnedlander Bros., Ltd., report having, in conjunction with Messrs jt E. Watson and Co, of Invercarjxill, Bold part of the well known BJendnle estate, and consisting of about 18,300 acres to Mr Max Friedlander, of this town.

Rakaia School Excursion. — A large number «.f children and ndults left Rnkaia by the first train this morning en route tor Suinner for the school excursion.

Crvir, Servick Examinations. — Miss Graeo Kelfln.i M:vkeig and Master James Peton Lane have passed in the junior civil service examination, which wa3 held last month. CtiRTSTCKURCK Wool Saltss.—The catalogue for to-morrow's wool sale comprises 2244 bales, distributed as follows:--New Zealand Farmers' Co-operative Association 320, Malcolm and Company and L). lnouias 402, F. C. Tabart 222, O ilgety and Company 715, Now Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company 315, Pyne and Coy. 240.

Wesley GxriLD.-The weekly meeting of the Baring Square Guild waa held last night, Rev. A. Peters presiding. About thirty-five members were present, and after a short time engaged in praise and prnyer, the meeting discussed further details regarding the syllabus, which was finally passed. The Society's inaugural gathering take* place on Tuesday next, when an excellent programme will bo presented.

Canterbury Volunteers.—So far as the Canterbury district is concerned, the volunteer year has ended very satisfactorily. There were 3012 volunteers returned a3 effective, as compared with 1 2608 for the year ending February, 1903, an increase during the year of 404.

Merchants and larmerb. —The decision of Auckland grain merchants not to pay for the sacks in purchasing chaff has aroused the antagonism of the farmers. The Farmers' Union3 in "Waikato are organising against the decision, and the Auckland Provincial Union has sent a sub-committee to interview the merchants on the subject.

Harvesting Opera.tions.—Owing to the broken weather experienced during the fortnight harvesting operations have been somewhat retarded. Stook threshing has been practically abandoned and in some cases the wheat his commenced to sprout. Speaking generally, however, the greater portion of the crop*! has been safely gar-n-rad in Erst class order.

Instruction is SwusnttNG.—ln response to representations from swimmers. Sir Joseph War<l has announced that in future the vote in aid of swimming instruction will be divided into the proportion of two-thirds to the Association, which has its headquarters in Christchurch, and onethird to the Auckland Association. The money was previously halved.