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Ashburton Guardian, Volume xxii, Issue 6457, 29 December 1904, Page 3

1.0.0. F., M.U —The quarterly meeting of the local Oddfellows' Lodge was held in (he Lodge room on Friday evening last, N.G. Bro J. Torton presiding. The election of officer* resulted as follows : —N".G., Bro C. Campbell; V.G., Bro J. F. Mitchell; E.S, Bro F. Prifcbard. Hall Committee — PG. Bro. J .Turton, N.G., Bro. C. Campbell, and Bro F. White. Dr H. Bett was eluctad a Lodge surgeon. The proposed two storey addition to the Hall, with Lodge room on the first floor and supper room below, was discussed, and the plans and specifications inspected. The receipts for th c ev.ening totalled £136 odd.

Xjias Postal Business—While no aotual tally was kept of the volume of Xraas postal business at the local Post Office, we understand that taken in the ageregatfe an increase of about 50 per cent was noticeable on the business of Xmas 19P3. A fair numher of telegraphic messages containing Xmas greetings were sent and received, while the Christmas card was less in evidence than in former years, its place being taken by the pictorial postcard, those beating views of Ashburton preponderating, and in fact constituting the bulk of the extra business.

Archbishop C«rr, of Melbourne, has arranged to <"ake his annual holiday at the beginning of the new yoar, and will leave for New Zealand about January 9th. Bpforo returning to Melbourne, be will preach the sortnon at the opening of the new cathedral at Christchurch on the second Sunday in February.

The colony is to have tho benefit of ano, ther expert. The " New Zpfxlau'i Horald ' statwa that Mr I. Hopkiu^ has rpceived an appointment under the Government as bee expert. He will commence his duties in January, and will probably tour the colony, giving lecture?.

The London correspondent of the "WVl-lingf-on " Post," writing about the middle of last month, stated that he had received a letter from Bishop Julius in which the latter said:—"After going to and fro on the earth, I have returned to London for a few days. My health is much improved, and I was intending to return to New Zealand ia December, being altogether weary of idleness. But Dr Ferrier, whom I saw last week, strongly objects to my doing so, on the ground that I am nob safe from relapsp, nor as yet entirely • free from head trouble.. He urgsa me to go to Rome in January for six w^eks, and to return to New Zealand not earlier than the end of March. As the Synod in Christchurch and my friends in England are of the same mind, I have consented to this arrangement,"