LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume xxii, Issue 6427, 21 November 1904, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

WeekiiT Stook Market.—The usual weekly stock market will be held at the Ashburton yards to-morrow.

.River Report—The Telegraph Department advise us that the Eakaia and Rangitata rivers are nob fishable; the Waituki river is in good order.

Weather B'okisoast. -~ Captain Edwin wired to-day:— Strong winds from between north-west and west and south; glass rise.

The Weather.—The following are the records for rainfall taken from the books at; the Domain weather station for the pa^fc three mornings :—Saturday, 12 poiat3; Sunday, 23 points ; this morning, 21 points —a total of 56 points for three days.

Gazette Notices. — According to a notice in the current number of (he " Government Gazette," Mr William Wood BMdii'k has been appointed postmaster and telephonist at Eiffelton.

The Asuburton Seat. -Mr John Studholme, of oldstream, Hinds, who unsuccessfully conrestud Ashburfr'n in the Conservative interest at the la^t general election, has, (says the " Lyttelton Times,") in response to representations, intimated that his services will again be at the disposal of the electorate, providing no candidate whom he may consider more suitable should be available.

Road Race. —In connection with the road race to be run to Wiai'hmore «nd back oa December Ist, under theau^picfls of the St. Patrick's Day Sports Association, it, m>sy be said thar Messrs Oates, Lowry, and Co. offer a prize valued £1 Is for the first rider brnaatiag the tapa on a Znalandia bioyclo. Mr R. D. Johnstone also give 3 a prizi valued £1 Is, on the same conditions for the rider of a Rudgo-Whitworth or Beeston Humbor; and Mr G. H. Carsm gives 10s 6d, cash prize, for the first placed rider of a National or Swift. It is understood that the race will he keenly contested, and that the entry will be large.

Attempted Suictdr. — At; about five o'clock yesterday morning, a man named James Bunce, a gardener, residing in May's Road, St. Albans, Cbristchurch, attempted to commit suicide. He was discovered by a passer-by standing in the shallow waters of the Avon, near Salisbury Street, with a pocket knife in his hand and a deep wound in his throat. He was bleeding profusely, and when rescued from the river begged that he might be killed. His rescuer bound up his throat and sent for the police, who conveyed Bunce to the Hospital. It was gathered from the injured man's conversation that he was a victim of religious mania, which drove him to attempt his life. He was very weak when admitted to the Hospital, but improved under treatment, and was reported last evening to be making favourable progress.

Shipwrecked Twice—To be shipwrecked twice within six months has been the rather unenviable experience of Mr W. Darling, son of Mr R. Darling, Rautjiora. He waa an apprentice on the West Australian, wrecked amongst the Islands, and on reaching New Zealand was sent to join the Kinclune, news of the stranding of which 15 miles from Kaipara Heads was published last week.

Harvesting Machines. —California has an area ot 150,000 square miles and a greater acreage of'hay, wheat, and other grains, fruit, and vegetables than any other State in the Union. In order to harvest these vast crops California relies on huge machines. It is estimated that a big California hay-fork will harvest a whole aero in the same time that an ordinary pitch fork in the hands of the average farmer would clear a square rod.

Peel Forest.—A Peel Forest correspondent writes:—" Since writing last I have been through the Raineliff-Clayton Fairlie district, and was astonished to notice that the crops in the latter district were much better grown and of better colour than those on the plains. The lambing in the hill districts is much below the"average, owing mainly to the heavy snowfall. From what I could learn, it appears that the percentage of lambs in the hill runs will be only from 45 to 50. Shearing is now in hand on many front estates, and the clip, both for quantity and quality, is above the average. Much of the wool is very light in grease, but this will be mado up by the extra quality and brightness. Lambs are doing well, but more warm, sunny weather is required."

S.A. Self Denial. — Afc last night's meetiug of the Salvation Army, in the Havelock street barracks, Adjutant Gray announced th>\t the sum of £140 Us 7d bad been collected in response to tht•-* year's self-denial appal, as agiinst .£lO3 last yeur. This was the highest sum the corps had yet raised, and it proved that the good work that was being Hocompli.<hed by the Salvation Army was being rscog nised more at itn true worth. Ritrht throughout, the colony the people had responded liberally. On behalf of the Army he desired to tender hi 3 sincere thanks to all those friends and sympathisers who had donatfd their quota to the fund.

The Monster Picnic. — The Timarti " Po3t " saya t —The forthcoming Ashburtoa picnic to Timaru s^ems to be exercising as much attention here as it is doing in Astiburtin. A well-known citizen, in the course of a conversation with a "Po-t" reporter to-day, asked whan the Beautifying Society or Borough Council were going to do about providing seats at Caroline Bay '>. Several seats had been promised by residents, bat these were not available yot, and there was some talk of cutting the foot-square timber lying on the sands into suitable lengths for seats. These would be better thau nothing, but the work should be done at once, co as to be ready for the visitors. Facilities are also required for procuring water from a^out the centre of the bay, instead of at the fountain at the north end. It was pointed out that tbe cost would not be heavy. It has been suggested that the date of the picnic should be altered to December 16th, Anniversary Day, and a public holiday. It is further BUggested that if the date is fixed for December 16th, the band rotunda might be opened on that day. The May or informed a " Post" reporter that he saw no objection to opening the rotuuda on December Kith, and he had been given to understand by an Ashburton resident, that owing to the scarcity of rolling stock on the railway, the date already fixed for the picnic would require to be altered.

Destruction or Small Birds.—At the last meeting of the Wakanui and Longbeach Road Boards, exception was taken to accounts submitted by the County Council to cover the half coat of payment mado by that body for the heads and eggs of small birds. In each instance the accounts were repudiated, the Boards objecting to be ft double banked" in paying for the destruction of the feathered pest. It appears that the various Boards throughout tho County purchase the eggs and heads of small birds out of their own funds; but the County Council during the past year hns accepted and paid for eggs and heads brought in to their representative in Ashburton. The contention raised is that eggs and heads may be collected in one district and purchased out of the funds of a neighbouring road district. This being the case, it appears that the only reasonable wny to overcome the difficulty ia to strike a uniform rate with which to proTide funds to pay for the destruction of a, pe3t that has exercised the minds of farmers during the past few years to no little extent.

Moukt Peel Road Board.—This Hoard met on Friday, a bare quorum being present. The certified balance-sheet was received from the Audit Department, with a notification that the expenditure in destruction of birds was not in accordance with law, it being the County Council's duty to undertake this. Mr Dixon wroto. saymg that he would not be able to attend the meeting. Mr jackman asked the Board to lower a pipe culvert at Arundel, as his land was flooded. — The Overseer to have this done. Mr D. Grunt asked tho Board to expend a portion of his thirds in erecting a stock bridge near his house.—To be done as soon as possible, The Overseer reported on metalling required on east side of Tripp's Saddle, the steep cutting to be metalled. The Clerk wa3 instructed to notify three defaulting ratepayers thit if thflir overdue rates were not at once paid they would be summoned —The Clerk to take action and appear for the Hoard. The Clerk was instructed to thank Mrs Poland for the acceptable portrait of their late Chairman (the Hon J. B. A. Acland), who occupied that position foe nearly thirty years. Accounts amounting to .£lsl 17s 9d were passed for payment.

A Popolab Patent —One of tljo princ;pal improvements on the new Rudge Whitworth Bicydea is the patent ootterless oval craak, which not only gives the machine a very neafc and strong appearanoe bat entirely does away with cotter pins, Intending purchasers of new bicycles should examine these machines at Johnston's Rindge Whitwofth and Huinber Cycle Depot, Burnett Street,

Personal.—Mr Denis O'Reillf, who has had the Cherfcsey Hotel for some tima past, has disposed of his interest in that property, and his friends purpose giving him and his family a fitting send-off this evening.

Shbartng— Owing to the periodical showers that have fallen during the past week, shearing operations have been more or less delayed. A good deal of woo! is now been carted into town, and it is understood that a large number of clips have ohangedhands at current prices.

St raw be rri es.—Mi' M. Gilmour, fruiteror, etc., East Street, this morning showed us some line specimens of ripe strawberries, the first of the season, grown by Mr George E'l'ofc, gardener, Alford Forest Road,

A New Motor Car.—Mr Jas. Doyle, late of Kuapuna and now of Ashburton. has purchased a 6i horse power " Etoile" Voiturette motor car. He had the car in town to-day for the first liino, and expresses himself as being highly satisfied with his purchase. The m tor cir was purchased through Mr R. D. Johnston, who ac*s as local a^ent for the Adams' Star Cycle Company, Christchurch.

Angling.—Messrs B. and A. Terris, fishing in the Opihi, near Pleasant Point, omght 83 trout, averaging ljlbs each. Owing to the uor'wester of Saturday there ia a slight fresh in the Ashburton river, and the water is much discoloured and practically unfi3h>ible. Messrs J. and E. Rickman and Pilbrow report having caught over forty trout; above the Ashburton bridge for the thr-erods, tlw weights varying up to lib. Fish in this part of the river are numerous ■md in fairly good condition, Hlthough the size ii small. The above catch was with artificial fly hooks.

The Tarawera Eruption.—The exposure of a autn-ier of skfll«tons recently at Lake Turawera, near the situ ot the eruption, shows considerable change is taking place on the surface there. These bones (says the " fot Lakes Chronicle") are the remains of those unfortunates who on the ni«ht of the great eruption, met their d>om. The "Chronicle" understands that the relatives of those who were buried on the occasion are taking step^ to re-bury the remains as they appear, and at the same time to secure certain Maori treasures that were buried during the eruption.

Funeral.—The funeral of the late Mr Chtbs. Shannon took place in the Rakaia cemetery on Saturday, being one of the largest seen there for a long time. The Rev. P. J. Riddle was the officiating clergyman, and he conducted impressive services at the Presbyterian Church, and also at the grave The late Mr Shannon was the secretary of the Chertsey Good Templar Lodge, and was highly respected in the Order, being an efficient and capable secretary. A gap haa been made in the local Lodge which will be hard to fill. The Lodges of Ihe district were represented at the funeral, and the late member was nccorded a (rood Templar funeral. Bros. James and A. Doig, P. Shepherd, and R. Croy acted as pall bearers. Twenty members of the Order headed the procession. The funeral service was conducted by Bro. George V. vVeatbrooke, D.0.T., assisted by Bro. H. Rands. P.D.C.T., while Bro. L. A. White discharged the duties of chaplain. The funeral arrangements were in the hands of Messrs Baker Bros,, of Ashburton.