LOCAL AND GENERAL.

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

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

River Rkport—The Telegraph Department advise us that the Eakaia, Rangitata, and Waifcaki rjvers are in good fishing order.

Weather Fokgoast.— Captaiu Edwin wires:-Strong winds to a gale from between north-east and east and south , glass fall; rain probable. Moun-c Somebs Road Boaud.—Mr Jurats Harrison has been elected unopposed to tha vacancy on the Mount Somer3 Road Board. FiusT ob thk Season's Lambs.—Through a typographical error th,e y/eighfc of tho first lamba slaughtered afc F^irfieUl on Saturday as published in our last issue was slightly wrong. Instead of being 321bs per lamb, the weight should have read 3Slbs.

The Public Hospital. — Several membsrs of tho Hospital Committee, accompanied by Mr J. S. Turn bull, architect, Tiinaru. visited the Hospital this morning for the purpose of inspecting the moss' rocac-'u addition to .that institution. A report of the iawesfcigat WB of the Committee will no doubt he submitted aS the monthly meeting to bo held next Tuesday.

Bicycle Repairs.— Bicyclists who require their bicycles enamelled, overhauled or repaired., cannot do better than go to Johnstons Cycle and Motor Works, Burnett Street, which is now the most complete and up-to-date repairing plant in Ashburton. A.1.1 ."work done by a first-class mechanic, • 11 o

Scarlatina. —Another case of scarlatina is reported from the Allenton district.

The Importation of Liquor.—Mr T. W. Taylor, Clerk of the Court, has been appointed to receive at the Magistrate's Court, Ashburton, statements of liquor sent to persons, residing wibhin the district in accordant with the provisions of the Licensing Act, 1904.

Musicat, Examination. -—Mr Graham Moorp, tho examiner for the Associated Board of the Royal Academy of Music and tbe Uoyal College of Music, visited Ashburton to-day to comhiot the practical examination for those institutions. Eleven candidates presented themselves, and kopt Mr Moore busy all the afternoon.

Memorial to Sir "G-i-.oroe Grey,—The memorial tablet to the late Sir George Grey md the bronze over his tomb have now been placed in po&ii ion in St. Paul's Cathedral; There hus been no formal unveiling, The tablet is placed immediately underneath the bust of New Zgaland's " Grand Old Man."

The Siun Sales —. —At n recent mooting of the skin and wool buyers, who peiiodically visit Ashburton, together with our local buyer?, it was decided to urgd upon the auctioneers the advisability of cornmencins? tb.9 ' sales at 12 30, so as to have the business completed in time to enable the visiting buyers to return to Timaru and Christchurch by the 3 15 p.m. expresses. The new order of affairs was brought into vogue yesterday, but the auctioneers were obliged to work with much vigour to complete the sales in time. *'

Increased Rates j>f Interest. —The Ashburton Permanent Build ng and Investment Society intend increasing the rates of interest on monies deposited with them at call and on fixed deposit. From December Ist, 1901, the rates on deposits •at call' will be H per cent on t-utns up to .£2OO, and 3 per cant on any sum over tha 1-. amount. It should be noted that the Society pays interest on the daily balance. For fixed deposits the rates are 3k percent, for six months for nny sum, and 4 per ct-nt for twelve or twenty-four months. In the event of depositors desiring to withdraw monies, which have been fixed for a stated period, before the due date, call rates will be allowed.

Impending Cask Against a Brewer.— We understand that a Timaru brewer will appear at the Magistrate's Court on Friday next charged with a breach of the Alcohol c Liquors Sale Control Act, 1895. The information is laid under Section 33, clause (I) c, of the Act which deals with No License districts, and which states that it shall not be lawful for any person whomsoever to send (either from without or within such district) or deliver to any person residing therein, any liquor which the person sending or delivering has reasonable ground to suspect is intended to be sold or exposed or kept for sale. Sub-section 7 of the same section reads —"In any prosecution for sending or delivering liquor in broach of this section it shall be on the accused to show that he had no reasonable giound to suspect that such liquor was intended to be sold, or exposed or kept for sale, within such district."

State Coal Buhtnehs—"Mr Sadden has gone into the coal business," remarks the " Westminster Gazette." " The New Zealand Government is now retailing the output of its State coal mines nt 2s a ton less than the price demanded for the best coal from mines under private ownership. That is something to the credit of State Socialism, provided losses are not made good out of the consolidated revenue of the colony. It is added that the State coal mines at Dennistou and S'eddonville now provide an ample supply for the railways and all other Government purposes. King Dick evidently desire 3to be perpetuated on the map of New Zealand. Mo3t of us never heard of Seddonville before."

Manx Farming.—-Mr William Moore, who recently disposed of his farm at Tokomairiro and went for a trip to the Old Coun r try, write I to his son from Kirk Michael, Isle of Man, confirming statements recently made that farmers at Home are very far behind in their agricultural methods. They still plough with the swing plough, with two horses yolked tandem, one man driving while another holds the plough. They still cut their crop with the back deliveries, fcheep, he says, are selling here at 35s to 45s per head, cows from £IG to i>2o, and horses at the samfl price as in New Zealand. If the farmers in the Old Country were to adopt the same methods as in New Zealand they would do better than their colleagues in the colouies, as oats are never below 2s 3d per bushel, and wheat 4s per bushel,

U.A.O.D.—The half-yearly meeting of the Star of Ashburton Lodgoof Druids was held last evening. There was a large attendance of members, Bro. Dunlop, A.6., presiding. Correspondence having been read and dealt with, the Visiting Bards reported on one Bro. who is on the sick list, and pay due was passed, as was also tho usunl quarterly accounts and doctors'" fees. The nomination of officers for the ensuing half year was then taken, with the following result: —A.D., Bro. J. Bryant; V.A., Bros. Moriarty and Dobbin; Secretary, Bro. H. Stephenson; Treasurer, Bro. Shrimpton; 1.G., Bros. Williams, Beech, and Young; OG., Bro. Waiker; A.D.B's., Bros, O'Connor and Mulford; V.1.85., Bros. Williams, Beech, and W. Ilarman; M.S., Bro. Pearson; Auditor, Bro. D. Stock. D.P. Bro. S. Eobinson (Timaru Lodge); D.G. Lodge representatives, Bros. Dunlop and Shrimpton. A number of motions, of which notice had been given, were then discussed, and disposed of. A motion affecting the funeral fund was given notice of for discu sion on next Lodge night, when the installation of officers will also take place. The receipts of the evening were .£76.

Argentine Competition.—Some idea of the severity of Argentine competition with Australian products may be gathered from the following remarks by Mr P. C. Smith, who is at present visiting the Commonwealth :— !i You can tell them in Australia and New Zealand that they do' not realis- 1 how strong the Argentina is as a competitor against your two countries over here. Argentina will cut out these two places; make no mistake. For one thing, we have only hnlf the number of your legislators for the same population ; and, again, we pay from a third to a fifth loss for our laud than you value yours at, and are just half the distance you are from the European market. And another important thing, we have no trouble over our labour. It is cheap; jusfc half the price it is there. Such things as strikes, except in ths city of Buenos Ayres, are unknown. On the Esfcancia everything goes on peacefully. We work in the summer from 4 in the morning until 8 at night, and there is never a word of grumbling. The men seem to be perfectly oontented on £2 10s a month.

A Pakson and a Publican—A serious conflict has arisen in the village of Drydekirk, near Annan, between the parish minister and his flock. Until recently the parish boasted one church and one publichouse. The miuister lately took an active part in raising a petition against the license of the public house, and the movement was successful, the result being that the parishioners have to travel six miles to get a drink. This does not suit them at all. It is customary in small villages for the ohurch and the public-house to be close together, and the disturbance of the old order of things is much resented by the parishioners. They consequent declaro " If we cannot have a public-house, neither will we have a church." and accordingly, they are declining to attend the services. If the boycott is persisted in, the minister will have fco petition, for the restoration of tho licen-e aa the oqlymea'^s of saving the souls of his parishioners.—Birmingham «' Mail."

Angling.—Mr Davis, of Coidstreairff fishing two recent evenings at the Rangitata moutb, reports having caught four fi*h weighing in the aggregate 12lbs for tho first evening, and for the second a catch of fish of various weights totalling 271bs. He intimates that the river is in first-class fishing order.

Shbabino at Mayvieljj — Shearing is general now in the Mayfield district, but has been suspended lately owing to showery weather; mo^t of the shods will start operations again to-day. Feed is abundant ami crops looking very well though backward for time of year.

Scarcity or Shearers. —Owing to the showery weather experienced since tho commencement of the shearing season, shearing operations hwe been much retardeJ, and as a result farmers are taking Full advantage of the present fine weather. It is understood that shearers are somewhat scarce at the present time, the extra demand heing oo doubt responsible for absorbing all the surplus labour.

Motor Cycling.—Visiting motor-bicyles are now quite a common occurrence) in Mayfield, but it is oaly since yesterday that this centre of the lamb industry could boast, of an owner residing in the district. Gre it interest was taken by the inhabitants in the trial trips up and down the road, and several ordinary cyclist 3 pedalled in the wake of the monster to help in any case of emergency.

Distributing! the Honorarium. -The " Cheviot News " says: —•" Mr Rutherford, M.H.R., is distributing his honorarium witb a lavish ha,nd. He has already given the sum of £40 to the various school committees within his electorate for prizes for the best all-round boys and girls in each class in the different schools. He haa al-o donated large sums to the football and athletic clubs, and has not forgotten the churches."

3?VHrcA.T3TONK AND ASKTON DISTRICTS — A correspondent informs us that the crops in the Wheatstonaand Ashton districts are looking splendid, both as regards colour and thickness of growth on the ground. The winter sown wheat and the oats are just coming out into ear, and with favourable weather till the crops are ripened harvest will be somewhat; earlier fchan was the case last year.

A Ruined Shopkeeper.—According to the " Dunedin Star " the Premier has received the following telegram from an Auckland shopkeeper: — " Am ruined, wife and family, through the Shop Hours Bill; if you value your life don't come to Auckland ; am desperate." The Premier evidently does not regard the matter a 9 serious, for he overlooked mentioning it to the Pres3 reporter who called for news.

Ashbukton A. & P. Association.—lt k pleasing to note the strides that have been made by the Ashburtou A. & P. Association especially during the past year, and the large increase of the membership. During the year, however, the Association has been to a good deal of expense, and the committee would deem it a favour if all outstanding' subscriptions were promptly paid up, so as to enable the Association to meet all liabilities incurred in prize money, and other ways in the running of the recent show. The reason the majority of unpaid subscriptions have not been liquidated is no doubt due to oversight on the part of subscribers.

Mayfield Public H;,ll. — Considerable interest is now being taken throughout the Mayfteld district in the erection of a public Hall. At a meeting of trustees held in the school last nighfc it was decided to push on thejbusiness of registration, etc., and the collec;ion of mouey subscribed las possible. As a public Hall has been a badly felt, want in Mayfield for a number of yefctrs, it is the duty of the people of the district to rally round the trustees and help the cause both with their money and their sympathy. The site of the Hall, kindly given by Mr James Dellow, will be opposite the Saleyards entrance p'n the Mayfleld-Lismore road. It is estimated that half the t.otal cost of erection will be met before the building is opened.