LOCAL AND GENERAL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXII, Issue 6456, 24 December 1904, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

\ The Ashburton Guardian will not be published op Monday, December 26th. Cable News will be fognd on the fourth I page of this issue.

Fkddon-Taycok Case.—lt ia not geiia* rally known that throughout the recent slander case the defendant, Mr T, B. Taylor, was assisted by an able lawyer's clerk from one of the best offices in Christphurch. The latter sat beside Mr Taylor all ,the time and supplied him with quotations from legal authorities and ether information.

A second-hand Cycle, '•' Sfcarlinf*," in thorough good order, new tyivs, to be pold at £0, also a number of other cycles at prioe3 from £3, £4, £5. Easy terms, £1 deposit, at Jqjin Ore & Co/s

Eivek Report—The Telegraph Department advises as follows :—The Rangitata and Rakaia are not fishable, the Waituki is fishable.

A Drought Predicted.— Mr Paulin, the gentleman who, from the hill tops near Duuedin, supplies the"Otago Daily Times" with pretty reliable weather predictions, prophesies that after the 28th of December there will be a drought over all New Zealand.

Fchool Picnic.— About eighty excursionists from Holleston visited Ashburton yestm'dny, and held their annual picnic in the Dora iin. Tne visitors spent a most enjoyable time, aud raturnei by the afternoon train.

Presentation. —The members of St. Stephen's Choir last night presented two of their number —Miss Pattou and Mr Ireland —with a silver cruet and oak biscuit barrel, on the occasion of their approaching marriage. The Rev E. Whitehouse made the presentation on behalf of the chi ir, and wished the recipients every happiness in their new sphere of life.

Personal. — After a lengthy absence fiom the colony (says the London correspondent of "Truth ") Mr and Mrs Duncan I'ameron (Ashburton, Canterbury, N Z.) left London on Tuesday en route for Marseilles, there to join tha Himalaya on their return to the colony via Australia. They have travelled extensively in Kgypt and the European Continent, as well as throughout the United Kingdom, eince they staited from New Zealand rather mora than a year ago, Miss Cameron accompanies her parents.

Property Sales.—Mr R. Y. Ferguson reports having sold on account of Mr J. Rehrens, his leasehold farm of '.H acres at Orari, to Mr Thomas Bradford, Tinwald.--The National Mortgage and Agency Com pany of New Zealand, Ltd,, in conjunction with Messrs Guinness and LeCreu, report having offered Mr J. Jobberus' farm of 203 acres atTe Moana.nearGeraldine.on Wednesday last, when it was passed in at auction at £13 per acre.

Aeundel Gun Club.—The following are the handicaps for the Live Pigeon match, to be fired by the Arundel Gun Club, on Monday, Doxiug Day :—J. Doyle, J. Balfour, and VV. Stevens, 22 yards ; H. N. Eiby, VV. King, J. McGee, 23 yards; J. Henry E Taylor, W. Booth, J. Rees, T. Jones E. W. Clements, A. G. Turner, D. Fraser, sent 1., W. Jones, and J. and W. Gully, 24 yarda. B. J. Smith, and "Manton," 25 yards; E. E. Tasker, and A. L. Eeby, 26 yards, T. Grindell, —

Dromobb School Tkeat.— The annual treat in connection with the Dromore Public School was held in the grounds on Wednesday laßt. Thero was a large attendance of scholara^nd parents, and the function was successful throughout. The Committee provided a liberal programme, included in which was the distribution of prizes and toys; and the function was concluded by a dance in the schoolroom. Altogether the affair was highly successful.

The Scottish Covenanters—The Rev. Q. B. Inglis read a very interesting address on " The Scottish Covenanters " before the Baptist Young People's Society last evening. There was a fair attendance, and tho lecturer's graphic description ol the fight for religious liberty which raged in Scotland for twenty-eight years was listened to with interest and appreciation. At the conclusion of the address the Rev. W. L. Salter briefly addressed those present, and after a voto of thank 3to tho Rev. Inglis the meeting terminated.

The Alien Invasion of Britain, —Unchecked, the alien immigrant continues to settle in Britain at the rate of between 7,000 and 8,000 a month on the average. Last month 9,205 arrived at British ports, as compared with fi,051 in October, 1903. During the ten months of this year the number who h*ve reached England and given no indication of any intention of leaving it to cross the Atlantic has risen to 75,472, or 5, 64!) more than arrived in the corresponding period of last year.

The Waikato.—We are experiencing a strange season (writes a Hamilton correspondent). Some farmers have grain changing colour before ripening off, and are getting anxious as to how they will get on when the harvest sets in. Haymaking is iq hand, but much injury to the crop is being caused by the heavy downpour of rain. The weather has been very favourable to lare*sown grains, and most of the crops are looking really well. Grass however, is very plentiful, but owing to •the inclement weather animals are not progressing as well as they might,

A Lady Lecturer on Japan and New Zk An and.—Miss Balgarnie gave an interesting address the other day to the members of the Edinburgh branch of the British Women's Temperance Association upon her observations in regard to womon's work in Japan and Australasia. In Japan she found the women exceedingly anxious for education, and in many respects she thought Japan was centuries ahead of India, where the condition of women was deplorable. In New Zealand she wasst-uck with the atmosphere of anticipation and buoyancy in a country which, she said, had the good, sound common sena« ta develop the col my on lines which no other colony wa-i prepared to undertake. In temperance work there was no mistaking the weight and influence of women voters, white it was gratifying to note their enthusiasm. In the colonies, as a whole, women's work took a very practical turn.

Tenxis—Mr H. A. Parker, the New Zealand Tennis champion, Mr Lysett, the Victorian Champion doubles player, together with MissNunneley, passed through Ashburton to-day en route for Dunedin to take part in the championships to be decided in that centre. They will subscf quently return and play in the tournaments to be held in Ashburton at the beginning of the next year.

Abattoir Tlet utiNß.—The returns of animals slaughtered at the Fairfield abattoirs during October are; —Cows slaughtered, 6; bullocks or heifers slaughtered, 67; calves slaughtered, 2; pigs slaughtered, 73, condemned 1; sheep slaughtered, 725, condemned wholly 6, condemned partially 1; lambs slaughtered, 4. The returns for Novpmbor are :—Cows slaughtered, 5; bullocks or heifers slaughtered, 63, oondemned partially 1 ; calves slaughtered, 2; pigs slaughtered 61, condemned wholly 1, con? detuned partially 3; sheep slaughtered 683, conriomned wholly 10; lambs slaughtered, 3.

Angling—None of the rivers in the county are in the best fish&bie condition, owing to the recent nor'wester, which has caused a freshet in each case.

Why Japan Wins.—Shako down these elaborate technical expositions of Japanese and Russian tactics, and they can all be comfortably boxed into old General Forrest's phrase. The whole theory and practice of war is indeed nothing but how to " git thar fustesfc with the irtostest men." The important inquiry is, " How doei it occair that the Japanese always arrive first with the mosfc man?'.' There are several reasons? one i 3 basic. The Japanese have vastly superior poVers of physical endurance. They caia march ajl day and fight that same night; they can fight all day and march that eiime nu-hr. And the reason for this superiority is nob racial or temperamen'al, but physiological. The Japanese are a nation of common sen3e livers. They eat sparingly, and of food that nourishes the body, afc the same time giving the least possible amount of waste to clog and overtax the organs of elimination. Tfcay take regular breathing exercises.' Antfthey do not tq,ke stimulants. J-n a sentence more than any other people on earth the Japanese keep their bodies jn such j&ondition that every nerve and muscle is in use all the time, and so do.es not collapse when a slight extra task is put upon ifc.

Fhost at Rakaia.—A very sharp frost was experienced at Rakaia on Thursday night, and a considerable amount of damage was done to gardens.

The Late Miss O'Juj-mvanv— A large number of friend* followed iha remain 3

to the Roman Catholic Chuchat Rakaia this morning, whe:i the usual servicsa were held. The body was then tuken to Waimate for interment, by tha 11.25 express. The c >ffin was covered with beautiful wreaths sent from all parts.

Personal.—Mr and Mrs Peter Gourdie returned from a visit to tha Old Country last night, looking well after their trip.— Messrs Dilgety and Company, Limited, announce that they have appointed Mv K. A. Rickman to take charge of the company's agency, in place of Mr D. A. Morgan, who has resigned. Mr Eickman has been connected with sfcosk and station business For close on 20 years, part of thi3 time in Waisna'e. wheru lm is well known. Of recent years he has filled important po-ibioas with Messrs Friedlander aud Go. Limited, aud the New Zealand Farmeri' Co-operative Association in Ashburton.

Holiday Attractions. —The weather indications to-day were favourable, and there is every prospect of a fine day on Monday There are several attractions udvertised, so that those in search of a holiday will not lack the opportunity of gratifying their wishes. The Mount Somers and Rakaia Racirg Clubs will hold meetings, and both ot <he-e functions promise to provide an excellent day's amusement-. The Temuka Caledonian Society hold their annual sports at Teumka, and the lanje entries should ensure some good contests. The Christian Endeavour Union will hold a picnic in the Domain. In the evening dances will be held at Tinwild, Staveley, and Rakaia.

Shop Decorations —As ou former years the v irious shops throughout the town were exceptionally well stocked and decorated in keeping with the soason, aud without attempting to individualise any particular one, it mu6t bo said that the taste exhibited by our tradesmen was particularly credit able ; and highly appreciated by the large number of people who visited town to-d ;y from practically every corner of the county. In many instances the trades people went to no little trouble and expense to set their business places off in a manner fully in keeping with this festive season, and the beautiful weather conditions prevalent as:-isted materially to make Ohristmastide of 1904 in Ashburton a season long to be remembered for general and genuine pleasure. The various trains from north and south brought in a large influx of passengers and considering that the friends of those visiting our town were present on the railway station in large numbers, the scene in that portion was especially animated.

Farmers, doctors, lawyers, bankers, builders, tradesmen—everybody that desires to see Ashburton prosperous—Think what it means! Study your own interest 1 Patronize local industry, and thereby make more work for wage earners, and improve tho value of property. Don't send your money out of the place when you can get better served at home. Compare our suits for prices, quality, fit, and style, from .£3 10s, in the newest patterns. Large stock of real Panama Hats; men's straw hats from Is; special liDe of white shirts, 4s 6d; tennis shirts 3s 6d reversible silk ties Is; celluloid collars in up-to-date shapes, etc., etc.—Cbaiohbad & Berryman, The Leading Tailors and Outfitters, Ashburton. 12