LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume xxii, Issue 6458, 30 December 1904, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Ashburton Guardian will cot be published on Monday, January 2nd, 1905.

EiVEit "Report—The Telegraph Department adviso3 as follows :—The Raksiia and Rangitata are not fishablej the Waitaki is in good order.

Weather Foil boast. •■-■ Captain Edwin wire*: —Strong winds to a gale from batween noith and west and south-west after 10 houra from now with gla3S falling, rain probable.

Great JJkat Wave, - Ali3at wave passed over New South Wales yesterday. Thirtythroe stations report temperatures of more than 10 >, and Goodooga: registered 117 in the shade.

Personal —jfiv Wn. Frew, formerly caretaker of the Ashburton Saleyards, who has been suffering from a severe attack of rheumatism for about; four months, is at present at Hanmer Springs, trying the effects of the waters and the treatment to be obtained there.

Band Contest.—The Wanganui Christmas Carnival Band Contest was held yesterday afternoon in glorious weather and in the presence of 3000 people. The waltz competition for which there were five entrants was won by the Trinity Young Men's Institute Band (Wan^anui), w-ith Feilding second and Hawera third. The marching competition resulted—Trinity Young Men's Institute 1, Foilding 2, Hawera 3.

Australian Photographic Journal.— We have to acknowledge receipt of the Xtnaa number of the " Australian Photographic Journal." Besides a variety of excellent reproductions of photos, the magazine contains a number of articles of interest to amateur photographers, giving useful hints in th*e photographic art.

Saturday's Supplement.—-The supplement to be given away with Saturday's issue of the Guardian is well up to the usual standard of excellence. The short stories are well selected, interesting, and smartly written, and include " The Green Mouse," " he Fancy Dress Election," " The Vain Pursuit," and "A. Doctor's Romance." A number of bright and readable miscellaneous are well supplemented by the usual, weekly features of the production, whichwill be found up-to-date, useful, and instructive. S , S:

Weight qv Geain Sacks.—Mr G. Witty, M.H.8., recently wrote to the Minister of Railways asking for information in regard to the grain sack regulations. He has received the following reply :•—" Sir, -With reference to your letter of the 15th instant, addressed to the General Mauager, in regard to the by-law regulating the weight of grain in any one sack to be conveyed by railway, I have the honour to inform you that the by-law was made purposely to apply only to wheat, oats and barley, so as to allow any surplus stock of the larger size of sack to be utilised, [t is ultimately intended, however, that the weight of all produce should be restricted, and as soon as the trade generally becomes accustomed to the altered conditions, the by-law will be extended in that direction. A margin of three pounds per sack will be allowed so that consignors will be able to put 2001b of grain in every sack. The operation of the by-law will be closely watched, and although there may be some little difficulties in the initial stages, I feel sure that it will, after a fair trial, be found to work in the interests of all concerned.—l have the honour, etc., J. G. Ward, Minister of Railways."

Presentation at Drokore—A number of friends met together yesterday evening to say farewell to Mr and Mra Matthew Clarke, who are leaving for Edendale, where Mr Clarke has purchased a dairy farm. Mr Elliott who was voted to the chair, said th^y hud met that evening to bid farewell to their friend 3Mr and Mrs Clarke, who had resided for many years among them, and he was certain that they wool t be missed in many ways. Mrs Clarke had spent the greater part of her life in the district, and would leave a large number of friends as well as relatives behind her. He was sure he was voicing the sentiments of all those assembled when he wished them health, wealth, and prosperity in their new home. He then presented them on behalf of their friends with a gladstono bag and travelling-rug. In reply, Mr Clarke thanked the donors for the gifts, which he said would remind them of the many friends they were leaving behind in Dromore, and he hoped that should any of those present pay a visit to Southland, they would give him a call, as they would find a hearty weloome. Me Clarke spoke in high praise of the quality of the land around Edendule, and although the government valuation was high, some farms being valued up to .£ls pr jr acre, still he thought they were worth it. Last year 90 bushels of oats per acre w«re threshed off the farm he (Mr Clarke) bad purchased. During the evening songs were contributed by MesdameJohns, Clarke, and Martin, and Messrs J. Hlackburu, T. Blackburn, E. Good, Elliott, and Vlaster A. Johns. Mr Good danced a sword dance, Mr Johns a Hornpipe, and Master Johns the Highland Fling. The function concluded with the singing of " Auld Lang Syne."

"Review of Reviews."—The "Review of Reviews " for December contains many interesting articles. The principal feature this month is the firs*: of a series of articles by Mr W. 'P. Sfead on the Theatre. Tn his introductory paragraph he says: "In the present preliminary papers an attempt is made to excuse, perhaps even to justify, or at least to condone, the theory of a conduct of life which kept the writer outside fche play-house, until, after thirty-three years of active journalistic labour, he has decided to undertake a personal tour of enquiry through all the theatres of London, which will be reported month by month in the " Review of Reviews." Next month Mr Stead will give his impressions of the production of " The Tempest," the first play" seen by him. The Character Sketch is of the new Governor-General of Canada, Earl Grey. The article gives, besides a general outline of his career, a clear ininsight into the character of this "Opportunist-Idealist." Special photos of Lord and Lady Grey and their country seat afc Howick House illustrate the article. An account by Rev. P. W. Fairclough of one of New Zealand's national parks ia illustrated by charming views of tha country about Milford Sound. The Rev. R. H. Campbell's criticism of tho British working man has called forth much angry protest. An interview with " the little grey archangel," as Dr. Campbell has been dubbed, sets forth his view of the mitter-. Other interviews ace with Mr Lansbury upon the successful results of his struggles with the problem of the unemployed in London; with Mr Lutoslavski, the fam«us Polish author, upon, the future of Poland; and with Mr W. T. Stead upon his remarkable novel issued as the " Review 'of Reviews" annual this year. There is a review of Mr H. Gyles Turner's History of Victoria, and another interesting article discusses the question, " Should the Catholic and Protestant Churches be Re-united ? " There is a short sketch of General Kuroki by his compatriot, Hirato Tatsuo.