News in Brief.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume xxii, Issue 6434, 29 November 1904, Page 2

News in Brief.

The banks throughout the colony will be closod to-morrow, St, Andrew's Day. Messrs J. Moffat and Co. have a new price list in this issue.

The next wool sales will be held a( Timaru on Friday nexb, wh^n our local auctioneers will be represented.

An area of 16,000 acres in North Taranaki, clo eto the Mokau River, is to be thrown open in small dairy farms at the beginning of the year.

Mr D. Thomas has for private Bale the Shepherd's Bush estate, containing 2,500 acres. The estate has been subdivided into blocks of from 300 to 1,800 acres, and will be sold on easy terms.

Rev. G H. Mann in the course of his temperance sermon at Timaru on Sunday evening, "is not with us on any great moral issue. They have betrayed "us on every such issue during the last session."

The Premier has been advised that the following Boer War trophies will arrive by the Karamea:—Two Krupp guns; one Maxim gun and tripod mounting, .together with carriages; and six hundred Mauser rifles.

The Gore Brass Band has resolved to ask the Borough Council to take over the band with its assets and liabilities. At a meeting on Thursday evening it was stated that the only debt now existing was .£77 10s 9d, due on the instruments, The assets were set down as follows :—Bandroom, £30 ; instruments ; £250 ; uniforms £130 ; music ,£25 ; lamps, torches, stands, etc, £5; —total, M4>Q.

Speaking at Wellington at an early-clos-ing meeting on Wednesday evening, Mr John Hutcheson, referring to tho immigration laws, pointed out that many men who would make good settlers were now debarred from entering the colony bscause they wou'd not pass an examination test, but on i ayment of a poll taX, Chinese were at all times admitted. This meant that the State took a bribe of £100 from the alien, but strong-limbed, healthy European men could be rejected.

A nearly new " Swift" bicycle, taken as part payment for a "Hoilis" Road Racer, is for sale at John Orr and Cos. This bicycle is fitted with a Kelly Outrigger handle bar, Dunlop tyres, and a Brooks' saddle. This is a bargain at <£11. 10 0