LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXIX, Issue 7586, 8 September 1908, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hie Rangiora Friendly Societies, at a meeting held on Monday evening, decided to go to Ashburton on October 15 for their annual excursion, and a committee- of nine members, with Mr t T • mitll as cnairnian, and Mr C. I. Jennings as secretary, was appointed to make arrangements.

Mr James Allen, M.P., is asking for a return showing the expenditure on account of the visit of the American fleet to New Zealand, the return to show under various headings the nature of such expenditure and the total.

The Department of Industries and Commerce has received, through its Sydney agency, particulars of-tenders invited for the supply of potatoes and onions to_ the American army stationed fu , ™i™ Phihppmes. It is estimated that 600,0001b of potatoes and 120,0001b or onions will be required each month, lenders, which have to be rendered in triplicate, close at Manila, Philippine. Islands, at 11 a.m. oh September 17

Speaking at the annual" meeting- of the Christchurch Prison Gate Mission, Bishop Julius said that in regard to the treatment of prisoners we were more empirical than in any other social matter. No approach had been made towards the remedial treatment of criminals. Wo put away prisoners for the sako of society, but certainly failed to regenerate them or to make them better men and women. Very few were satisfied with the present criminal laws and most believed that better solutions of the problem than those already aimed at were available. Very few were was to help the unfortunate men in the position in which they found themselves placed. There should be some means of following up the discharged prisoners and of handing them over to others who would take a kindly interest in their wefare;

The proprietors of the Gisborne Times have been served with a writ on behalf of Joseph Burke, hotelkeeper, who sues for £250 for alleged libel, said to have been contained in a paragraph concerning a reported case of " lambing clown."

The total rainfall at Kyle for August was 1 inch 53 points, which fell on eight days. The maximum fall, 38 points, fell on the 24th of the. month.— John I ambie. -

A libel action is set down for hearinp at tho Supreme Court in Timaru thir week, the plaintiff being Mr G. V. Cochrano, of Waimato, and the defendant Dr H. C.. Barclay, of the same town. Plaintiff, who will bo represented by Mr Stringer, claims £1000 for alleged libel, while the defendant, who will be represented by Mr S. G. Raymond, counter-claims for £250 for alleged libel . .. ,■

The Maoris in the Shannon district prophesy another dry season.

Captain Edwin telegraphs as follows: There will be southerly strong winds to a gale, and tile glaS3 will fall; but there will be westerly strong winds to a ~alo after sixteen hours.

A ni.tii, apparently in a fit, fell down in tlife street to-day near the Post Office c6r"n'e.V, .austflinintf injuries to his foreliead, whicli was badly cut, and bled profusely. Constable O'Griuly went to the man's assistance,, and, finding him to bs in a state of helpless drunkenness, the constable arrested him and drove him to the police station.

Owing to the good supply of sheep of suitable killing weights at the preeent time (says the New Zealand Times), the butcher has been able to secure his meat, calculating on the dreased carcase, cheaper than at this time last year, when the desirable quality was difficult to:obtain,: "but owing to there being more weight in this year's cheep the farmer in selling on the hoof is receiving proportionately a better price than last year.

The three Government steamers, Hinemoa; Tutanekai, and Amokura, are iiot irtaiiitaiiietj without the expen-diture':-6f a. .tififtsiderable sum. Last year the disbtirseifteni. aggregated £23,011 3s 4d. The actual working ■ expenses of the- Tutanekai came to £9950 2s 2d, thoso of the Hinemoa to £9175 3s 9d, and those of the Amokura to £5295 6s Bd. The sum earned by the steamers , in frieghts, passages, etc., was £2493'i7s 7d.- '"■

The value of the fruit gfowi iii &W Zealand is now a million pounds a year, according to a statement made by Mr T. W. Kirk, Government biologist. Mr Kirk added that the industry was only in its infancy, and the-area tinder fruit culture was increasing at the rate of over 200 acr^es a year. A gratifying advance in fruitgrowing had been made in this country during the past few years.

On Thursday last, whilst riding over part of the run on the Rangitata, Messrs Conway Chisnall and Wign Jackson put itp a very large wild boar (says a correspondent). After an exciting gallop, the boar was bailed up at some rocks near the river.- .Mr Conway Chisnall carried his small rifle, and one shot discharged from the back of his horse settled the pig. It is understood that Mr George Nelson, the manager of Shepherd's Bush run, who is an excellent taxidermist, intends preserving the boar, which must —for this part of the dominion —be one of the last of a once .numerous rac*.

Our Lowcliffe- correspondent writes as follows: The usual monthly meeting of the Band .of Hope was held on Friday the 4th instant, when there was a large attendance. The president (tlje Rev. Mr Standage) occupied the chair and the meeting commenced by the singing of a hymn, after which several young ladies sang "Strike out the Top Line".'' The following assisted: Song, Mr Winder (encored); recitations, by Misses Alice Read, Lucy Fountaine, Messrs Aicken and Day, Master Eric Norrish; reading, by Mr W. Irwell; violin solo, Mr Lush (encored) ; address by. the president; Miss Ford presided at the piano. A committee of ladies was appointed to arrange a programme for the next meeting. The meeting closed with the singing of the Doxology. . •■•:.' ' .■■■■

An official report on the. cost of a proposed electrification of tho Lyttelton tunnel service says that the first cost would be nearly £150,000, and the working expenses about £18,000 a year more than at present. The chief reason urged for the electrification is the smoke nuisance, and Mr Ronayne says that this could be avoided by the use of oil fuel. • •

Mrs Cole, president of "the Women's Christian Temperance Union, headed a deputation which waited on the Hon. G. Fowlds at Christchurch on Monday with regard to the teaching of temperance principles in schools, and asked that the Minister .should 11 have the subject added to the syllabus. The Minister replied that It was already provided for in the syllabus, but the syllabus probably would be revised during the coming year, and, as he had promised previous deputations on the same subject, the inclusion of teaching on the subject of: alcohol;, would be emphasised, and indication given of what was expected to bo done.

The total valuation of the district paying rates to the Timaru Harbour Board is £9,744,795, compared with £9,257,915 last year. Of this amount Waimate county (including Waimate borough) furnishes £2,710,558; Levels county, £2,204,747; and Timaru borough, £1,451,472. The levies payable to the Harbour Board this year (3-16 d in the £) total £7665 13s 6d"", compared with £7232 15s last year.

The Awanui Mutual Improvement Association's usual meeting was held at the residence of Mr E. Hampton (Mossgrove). Mr Wiggins presided, and there was a large attendance of members'and visitors to take part in "the mock parliamentary election." Four candidates came forward, namely: Messrs McIlraith (Socialist), Cribb (Liberal), Watson (Independent Liberal), and De Villers (Conservative). After each candidate 'had. addressed the gathering a poll was taken and resulted in favour of Mr Mcllraith. As this was the last meeting of the session, the bachelor members decided to entertain the ladies and friends at a social at" a future date. After votes of thanks to the chairman, secretary, and members of Mr Hampton's family had been passed, the meet; ing dispersed, after having 5 spent a most enjoyable evening. I

We are informed (says the Waimate Advertiser) that a fairly big line of Waihao Downs wheat was sold a few days ago for 4s 2d per bushel, and that the vendor, was mighty glad to get the price. Time was, in the course of the season, when 4e 5d per bushel was refused, but even the most sanguine, scarcely, hope to reach that sum again. The" indications are that not a very great proportion of the wheat in this country has yet been quitted. Hie tenacity of the producers is remarkable. .Their ability to hold on is r in itself, a thing to congratulate them I and the district upon. In the meantime a slight tightness of money must result, which ■is felt more or less by every tradesman.' At the :samo time the farmer is losing interest upon the money he is standing out of, or else paying away interest upon mortgage. Whether 4s 2d at the end of the tug-of-war is any" better than 4s at the-har-vesting is a question we cannot go into just now. The farmer is the beet judge.

A. Press Association;-message from Auckland s^ysithafc- a' meeting o"f - railway shunters Was held on Sunday,; to endeavour to obtain some amelioration of the conditions of that branch of the service.' ; "Complaints were made regarding overtime and the employment of acting-shunters.,- It was' stated'that the Classification Act provided for a minimum wage? of 8s 6d. per day, but the -officers' had made a. third grade, and of the' nineteenMneii engaged in ■ shunting on Auckland lines only one was classed as a shunter. It was resolved to hold a further meeting to draw up a.statement, to be forwarded to the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants for presentation to Parliament. •'..-.

An unusual legal defence won a case in the Timaru Magistrate's Court on Friday. William Sapwell was charged with riding a~ cycle in North Street on the night, of August 19, to which (says the Herald) he pleaded "Not guilty!" Sub-Inspector Green put in the by-law on the subject, and a witness named Barton stated that, on the evening in question, ho was riding from town on the loft hand side of the street when he met defendant riding on the same side without a light, and a collision resulted. Mr Emslie, representing defendant, asked that the information be dismissed on the ground that the information said that defendant rode his cycle

at night," whereas the by-law eaid

"between sunset; and sunrise," and these terms were not. synonymous. He quoted authorities to show that night commenced at 9 p.m. and ceased at 6 a.m., and stated that there was no definition in the' Police Offences Act to the effect that night was continuous from sunset till sunrise. His Worship upheld Mr Emslie's cbntentibn,.arid dismistsedth© case without prejudice,"the police intimating at the eame/tim© that a fresh information would.lie;laid.

Christopher Weldon, aged about 75. years," was fouridf dea'a.jfl his bed this morning at the reside'riee' of Mrs McCormick, in Wills street. Ho" had lately been attended medically for rheumatism and dyspepsia, and death is supposed to have been due to old age and general debility. The deceased was a very old resident of the district, and his familiar figure will be missed by a large number of acquaintances and friends. He and his brother, Pcarce Weldon, who predeceased him by about twelve years, were the first to direct a . plough through the tussocky lands in tne Springfield estate.

Mr A. Joyce, canvassing agent for the Ashburton Petroleum Prospecting Company, Limited, is now in Ashbu'fton, and will remain here for a week or ten days in connection with the business of increasing the interest which >c '»Jveady taken in the enterprise ; which, if successful, will . give an invaluable impetus to the industrial life of the whole community. '

Several barristers "and solicitors in Timai'U are agitating for the opening of a Supreme Court office in that town. At present all applications, documents, etc., bearing on Supreme Court business are filed with the Registrar in Christen urch, and, as this is often found to be inconvenient, it is thought that an office should be established at Timanuto deal with local matters.

Considerable interest was manifested in a case opened before Mr Northcroft, S.M., at Onehunga, on Mottdqy, in which William Nepean Mclntosh, the headmaster of the Onehunga public school,' was charged, on the information of the_ father of a twelve-year-old boy, a pupil at the school, with unlawfully beating tlie child_ by striking him on the thigh and wrist with a cane.After considerable eyi'dencfl (says a Press Association message) the case was adjourned.

The following players will represent the_ Ashburton Ladies' Hockey Club in their match with Timaru on Thursday: Misses Thomas, Hewson, Walsh, M. Hewso'ii,' A. Thomas, R. Hewson, E. Andrewes, M. Smith, A. Stock, L. Smith and M. Armstrong.-

There is a good demand for fat stock in the North Otago district, cattle being particularly scarce. Prime ox beef is worth 27s 6d per 1001b. Good forwai'd cattle are enquired for, and three arid fotir^year-vold steers are worth £5 10s to £6 10s. An enquiry has sprung up for youiig stores for Canterbury, and two to two and a-half-year-old steers' are quoted at £3 to £3 15s, and 18-months-<old steers and heifers 30s to 40s. Dairy cows have improved in price, and good sorts are worth from £8 to £9.

The sheep market has suffered a bigger drop during the week than has been experienced for a long time (says the Southland correspondent of the Otago Daily Times). At the Winton sale on Thursday there We're fully 10,000 sheep offered, and a most dragging and disappointing sale resulted. Even young ewes, which are generally regarded as the safest buying, particularly at this time of the year, were not in demand, and some tip-top two, four, and sixtooth ewes were sold at 20s to 21s 6d. Old ewes were selling at from ■ 8s to 12s, according to age and condition. Good ewe hoggets made.up to 16s sd, but other, hoggets were very dull of sale, and in some cases were practically unsaleable. Hoggets, which ' were bought in May and June at from 14s 6d to 15s 6d, were being-sold at from 12s 6d to 13s 6d, and smaller sorts at from 8s to 10s. Fat. wethers are slightly better, and export buyers are operating in light weights at from 17s 6d to 18s 6d.

On Thursday, the 3rd instant, the Mayfield Bible-class gave a very successful concert. The evening was all that could be desired, and consequently there was a large attendance. Mr T. McDowell, president of the Mayfield Bible-class, occupied the chair. Songs were sung by Misses Wihell, Williams, Calder, Burgess, and Mr E. W. Withell. Recitations were giveir by Miss E. Butterick (of Ashburton). Mr J. Dellow gave a short address. During the evening a humorous dialogue was given by members of the Bibleclass; namely, Misses H. Murdoch, G. Dellow, A. Withell, and Messrs G. Murdoch, S. Austin and J. McDowell. Mr E. J. Hall, of Ruapuna, acted as accompanist, and gave an organ recital. A collection, amounting to £3 7s, was taken up, and at the request of the class it was decided to send it to the manager of the Presbyterian Orphanage in Dunedin. On the motion of Mr C. W. Withell, a cordial vote of thanks was given to all those who had helped to make the meeting a success, and especially to those who had kindly come from a distance. Tea was then handed round, and the meeting closed with the Benediction.—Own correspondent. v