Ashburton Guardian Megna est Veritas et Prævalebit. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 1904. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXI, Issue 6206, 29 February 1904, Page 2

Ashburton Guardian Megna est Veritas et Prævalebit. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 1904. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stock Sales.—This week's stock sales will be held at the Ashburton yards tomorrow (Tuesday).

Big Price Fob Turnips. —We learn that Mr John Brown, of Anama, has sold to a local lamb buyer 12 acres ofc turnips at £4 per acre.

Choir Social. — For the purpose of mutual profit and pleasure, the Baring Square Church choir held a social on Friday night, confined to members of the choir, when a few business items were dealt with, and, as might be expected, harmony in more than one sense was the distingaishing feature.

Business Changes.—Mr John Moffat has sold his general merchandise business, in Saunders' Buildings, to Mr Spragge, of Christchurch. He has also sold his interest in the Commercial Hotel to Mrs Nairn. Both changes take place from to-morrow, March Ist. We understand that Mr and Mrs Moffat intend leaving for a trip to the Old Country in about two months' time.

The Farmers' Union and Henry George.—At Saturday' 3 meeting of the Farmers' Union, Mr Lill referred to Mr Laurenson's letter to a Christcb«rch newspaper, in which he Btated that very few people had ever read the works of the late Mr Henry George, and expressed the opinion that the time would come when the name of Henry George would be honoured throughout the world as one of the earth's greatest men. Mr Lill thought that a man who talked like that was not worth arguing with. Mr Leadley then chipped in with the remark that Henry George had repudiated all his views before he died. He had realized £100,000 by the sale of his book at that date.

A Daring Burglary.—About 1 p.m. on Thursday last the house of Mrs Gough, Dromore was broken into in a very davinsj manner. It appaars that that Mrs trough and her daughter, Mrs Fitzgerald, had just returned from Ashbnrton. Mrs Fitzgerald placed her purso, containing about thirty shillings, on the table, and she and her mother went out to a paddock some little distance from the house, to see a Rick horse, first taking the precaution of locking the door. They returned in time to see v man hurrying away in a suspicious manner. Upon going into the house, they found that one of the windows had been forced. The money had been.stolen, and the empty purse was lying on the table.

Valedictory.—When it became known that Mr and Mrs Trevurz:i were about to leave Dromore for South Canterbury, thoir friends were unanimously of opinion that they should not be allowed to depart without some token of the respect and esteem in which they are held. Accordingly a "surprise party" was organised for Friday evening, and a number of friends Trent to Mr Trevurza'a homestead. During the evening Mr Syme presented Mr and Mrs Trevurza with a handsome silver tray, suitably inscribed. Mrs Trevurza has acted as organist for tho Church of England, Presbyterian, and Wesleyan sevices at Dromore for some considerable time. Mr Trevurza has also rendered valuable aid in church matters, and they will both be muoh missed in the district.

"Bible Sunday.—" Afc each of the Anglican and free churches ia tho Ashburton district on Sunday, announcements were made in connection with the centenary of the British and Foreign Bible Society, which i 3 being celebrated on Sunday next, March 6th, a .meeting following at the Oddfellows' Hall on Monday, March 7bh, at whioh addresses will be given by the Revs. T. A. Hamilton and Taifc, of Christchurcb, in support of the Bibla Sooiety's claims. During the 100 years of its existence (the Society was founded pn March 6th, 1804) the British and Foreign Bible Society has distributed osror J. 80,000,0,00 Bibles of portions of the Bible" ia 3<JQ odd languages in all parts of the world.

A Neighbourly Act.—The Baptist congregation and the trustees of the Wesleyan. Methodist Church at Ashburton, meeting on the same evening, and acting, of course, in ignorance of each other's decisions, both fixed upon Sunday, April 17th, and Thursday- April 2£st, as the dates for celebrating their harvest thanksgiving and anniversary services respectively. the ser-, vice at the Baptist Tabernacle yesterday morning, the Rev. W. L. Salter m9ntioned > the matter to the church members, whoj endorsed the ,decision of the deacons to" pyfc their harvest thanksgiving _ services forward $ week, and thu3 obviate the threatened .cjiasfoing: of the special services, with their consequently divided interest,?. The Baptist thanksgiving s.ervice3 will now be held .on Sunday, April l.Qth, and Thursday, April 14th, instead of the dates previ-* ousljr announced. , ;

A Ea.be XmwT, -rr Mr W. W. . Smith informs us that he has l&'ely had brought to him several specimens of a rare as 4 beautiful moth which were captured in tha the & shburton district. It is known to entomologists as the Convolvulus Sphinx Moth, and is almost cosmopolitan .in its distribution. This, large and baautiful mohJi pccurs in Europe, North and South America, Japan, Java, and throughout Australasia. The group to which it belongs are also known as hawk jaoths, of. powerful flight, and are generally'ornamented v/ith tha richest shades of colors'. The present species in beautifully marked with various shades of grey black, and pink, finely blanqtag} .in scroll-like patches and pink baeds. $vo [W e first specimens of this wo vjsii<rtC to have beeu capfcmedat Ashburioa. M> Ki^ith would be pleased to hear of other c#p t i;ures of this rare moth should they oocui 1 in" tie Ashburton district.

Comb at Last.—The Key. R. E.ainc, speaking at the open air mooting last eveaicg, said he hoped that, now the churches b^.4 J?ogun holding thoir -united open air 'me,etiingß, they would continue them, at anyrate, as long aa ttyp weather continued fine. He had often thought and said it woujld be a good thing jit" all the ,ehi^Jlw-rGh,urQh' of England, Presbyterian; $/ rsssleyan.s, jPriroit.ye.?, Baptist?,and Salvation Ai-tyy— would pxnk all their differences of opinica, unite to carry the Gospel to the people in twa s&ropts. He had suggested it to several when he' tirst catne to Ashburfcon, and he was glad to think the meetings had been started at although, sorry that he had bad to wait for £&W MJtftil he was leaving the town. H© £i^M f%» wo"¥ continue and be made At the close of the meeting' Wr' Eame ftapouneed that "two sfcrangjera" would deliver addresses at the ope» V.I? gjeejbjing H3Xfc Sunday evening.

One of a Very Few.—Considering the number of cycle shops throughout the colony there are very few so prosperous as Messrs Oates, Lowry and Co. They are practically the pioneers of the trade, and have always given complete satisfaction to every section oS fes public. The local Branch is now selling cycles a£ .jgjfi cash; terms arranged as re<jttited.~.(Advi.)

Weather Forecast.— Captain Edwin wired to day as follows :—Strong winds to gale from between north and west and' south-west; gl»ss fall J raiu > probably heavy. Police Inspection.-Commißioner Dinnift, aooomp'inietl by Gillies, visited Ashburton on Saturday afternoon and inspected the lwal station and staff, returning to Christchurch by the same evening's express. This is Commissioner Dinnie^B first offiotal visit to Ashburton.

Christchurch Tramways Valuation.— The Christchuich Tramway Company have appointed Mr Hugo Friedlander of Ashburton as arbitrator to act in conjunction with Mr J. A. Frostick, of Christchurch, the repreoentat yj of.the new Board, their duties being to assess the value of tramway property and concessions now being handed over to the Christchurch municipality.

Striking Water at Matfirld -Mr Barton, of Mayfield, and others have for some time past been engaged in digging a well near the Mayfield saleyards. Water was found on Saturday last, unexpectedly close to the surface, at a depth of 22ft. This is somewhat of an exceptional occurrence, considering the dryness of the recent weather.

Accident.—An unfortunate mishap befel the ten year old son of Mr David Johnston, blacksmith, Wakanui,on Saturday evening. The lad was chopping wood, when the handle of the axe broke, and a portion of the handle flew into his, right eye He was brought to the Ashburton Hospital yesterday afternoon, when the eye was removed. The lad is progressing as favourably aB can be expected.

Post Office Improvements at Mayfield —A much needed improvement has at last been made at the Mayfield Post Office, which is in telephonic communication with the Ashhurton service. For sometime past the May field telephone ba3 been situated ia the sitting room in the house of Mr Dellow, which, being necessarily occupied by members of his family, rendered privately impossible in telephone messages. This has now been remedied by the addition of a special telephone room, to Mr Dellow'a house, which should obviate any inconvenice previously experienced by telephone users.

Highbank.—Highbank has been pretty free from the inevitable Hor'wester for some considerable time past, hut it ha 1? returned at last. Happily the crops aro nearly all in stack and some have threshed, but the majority consider it advisable to wait and let the grain mature. Last week there were four tihreshing plants up there, but two have laid up until the grain is fit. Mr Rutherford had the misfortune to have a stack of grain and a loaded dray burned. The flames had too strong a hold before the fire was noticed, as the men were on their way home to dinner. They endeavoured to save the dray but were unsuccessful.