Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. MONDAY, APRIL 18, 1904. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume xxii, Issue 6246, 18 April 1904, Page 2

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. MONDAY, APRIL 18, 1904. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A report of a meeting of the Aaama Koad Board appear on tho fourth page.

Weathbb Forecast.—Captain Edwin wired to-day a3 follows:—Moderate to strong winds from botween north and west and south-west, glass fall.

Thr Mayoralty. —Mr Henry Davis being the only gentleman nominated for the position, was today re-elected as Mayor of Ashburton.

The Domain. —The Domain Committee paid a visit to the Domain this morning, and were introduced to the new curator, Mr James Young, by his Worship the Mayor.

GoTiP Club. —The Ashburton Golf Club commences its medal matches on Thursday, April 28th, at the show ground links. The ladies' matches will be arranged later on.

Pkrsonai.. —Mr F P. Claridge, who lately acquired the Stone Stubles in Stafford Street, (says the Timaru " Post " is so well satisfied with his venture that he has | taken over tho Beswick Stroefc Stables ■as a going concern. Mr Claridge's brother is in chacgo of the Beswick Street Stables. Blind Musis at, Students.—The Blind Musical Students gave, a successful sacred concert at the Oddfellows' Kail last evening. There was a fairly large attendance, and the various numbers were heartily ap-p-iauded, "Nazareth," "The Holy City/ and other favourite songs were artistically rendered by the Students, whose affliction seema to have in no way interfered with their musical studies.

Unclaimed Letters.—"Letters addressed as under from places beyond New Zealand are lying unclaimed at the Ashburton Pos- f Office s—From Queensland s Wm. Batt, Albert Buifein. From New South Wales: F. C. Cartsraght, Ernest (Groves, Hugh McLean, Mrs Or. Soldy (or Toldy), Jack Scott, Mrs E. K. Spinks, John Cowie Wilson. From Victoria; W. J. Bitch ? H, (irey, H. Michael, \V. Moore, Eobfc. Nish, J. O'Kane, Thos. Seller?, W, Wall. From Tasmania-; Edward Jackson, prom South Australia< Vasley George. From ESsgJand : : W. Petty, Harry Turner.

. AiitiENTON Debating Soccbtt. — The Allonton Debating Society met on Friday evening in the local schoo'roora, Mr A. Hewson presiding over a fair attendance. " Will England in years to coma loss her supremacy?" was the subject under debate.'" For the affirmative, Miss A. Mewson and Mr .?. Harris wero the chief spoa&iStP, Miss Gourdie and Mr M. O'Cohqop negativing the proposition. After a leßfi^y discussion, a vote was taken on the question undor discussion, resulting in one vote heusg recorded us a Majority for the negative side, /£he subjeei for next Friday week will ba "Is tjae pen isrfgjjtit'r than the sword?" The business lia.vii)g bpen transacted, the regaining, portion of tj&f evening waß devoted to barmory.

; Tub L.vte Mr John Franc** Is,o^er— i The late Mr John Francis Butler yvis tjio eldest son of the late Dr John Butler, Kilkenny County, Iraland. He was born in Roscra, Tippernry. i® 1529, aud landed in Australia in 1849, proce6<&&£ from Melbourne to the diggings at Ballarat. Being of a roaming disposition, and fond ot eoojtinual efeanses as a young man, Mr Butler sailed for New Zealand in 1852, and for some time after kis arrival in the colony, •he followed the oecapa^on of a miner in iGrahrief3 Gully, Central ©tag*, and subsequently proceeded to the West Coast. As j ike result of an accident 2$ years ago, Mr I ißutler w*s stricken with paralysis, aud Ins I eve* since ;b,ae?j practically a helpless '^t»|o, Oo becominjg xngapacitated, he Cr}V *" JBtwests ,on ifche Wesp Coast sold ou. •. wife m $ famil , Cfttugi t0 and with his . ag gi Ashburton m 187b, A'^ g^grown resided. The deceased .. MJ^.A b i«,ir up daughters aud two sons to 1.. „""•"■. toss. Rfr W. Butler, the eldest gou, * Chief Clerk in the Headquarters Office of the Defence Department, Wellington, and Mr John Butler accompanied one of the South African Contingents as Lieutenant. The married daughter are Mrs JP. Devano, Christchurch, Mrs Fitzgerald, Stratford! Mrs Stack, Lismore, New South Wales, Mrs Bishop, Awatere, and Mrs Lorimet, Christ- j charcb. The funeral took place ou Saturday, when a large following of people paid their last tribute of respect to the deceased. The funeral service was conducted by the Rev. Whitehouse. The Premier sent the following wire to Mr J. P Butler on Saturday :■—" Regret exceedingly to hear of the death of your dear father and my old friend. Old and pleasant recollections of the past are revived. Our warmest sympathies are with you and your brother and sisters.—E. J. Seddon."

AsiiBtJRTON Traffic BitiD3i3,--The Ashburton traffic bridge was re-oponod for traffic at 5 o'clock on Saturday evening.

Pa bins Squ.vrk Laurbi, Fasces.—The work of rem>vin^ the laurel trees from Rnring -Square and transplanting same ou the railway reserve waa commenced to-day.

Live Stock Market.— The ordinary weekly sale"of live s-took will bo held tomorrow at She Tinwald Ynr-ia. A number of special oatrio3 will ba offered.

Accident —Advice w;ts roceived in Ashhucton to.lay that a young mail named Lagan, son of Mr M. Lugaa, of Tiawald, accidentally foil from the mdl caach between Owri awl G-evaldtao thin morning, sustaining somewhat serious injury,

To THffl Potnt—.A superintendent of a Sunday School, whan coaxing the scholars t.i sing with more heartine?s yesterday afternoon, adroitly added—" You are quite rwady to open your mouths to lob «ood things go in; be equally ready to open your mouths to allow pood to come ont."

Actrecuatbd. —During last week, sundry alterations were effected to the lighting arrangements of Baring Square Church, and favourable comment was made bi6t night on the very apparent improvement. For a long time past there wa3 ground for the dissatisfaction often expressed by members of the congregation.

Military Funeral.—The funeral of the late Mr Robert Harper, a veteran soldier inmate of the Tuarangi Home, took place yesterday at the Ashburton cemetery. The Ashburton Guards, mustering 30, under Captain Schwartz and Lieutenant Percy, and the Ashburton Rifles, mustering 45, under Captain Dolman, V.D., and Lieutenant Hayes and HeflFord, were in attendance. Lieutenant Hoist of the Lytteltou Naval Artillery, aad Lieutenant Paul, of Ashbnrton, aho accompanied the cortege. The County Band, mustering 18, under Bmdtnasfcer Humphries, played Handel's Dead March in Saul during the procession from the Old Men'a Home to the cemetery. About 25 inmates of the Home followed the body to its last resting place, amotti'st them bring Messrs John Bassett and VVilliam Carr, Crimean Naval veterans, William Hay (N.Z. Medal), Maori war veteran and an old comrade of the dead man. and Dennis Cullen, who came out in the same troopship as the deceased. The coffin was covered with a Union Jack, lent for the occasion by the County Council. The pall bearers were six non commissioned officers, three each from Guards and Rifles. The oereraony was conducted by the Rev. E. Whitehonse. After the customary three volleys had been fired, the " last call" was played by Buglor Hosken of the Bifles. On the return march the band played " Onward."