Ashburton Guardian Megna est Veritas et Prævalebit WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1909. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXI, Issue 7933, 15 December 1909, Page 2

Ashburton Guardian Megna est Veritas et Prævalebit WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1909. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A special meeting of the Otago University Council yesterday conferred with Mr John Studholme, of Coldstream, regarding tho appointment of a lecturer in domestic economics (says a Press Association telegram). Mr "Studholme made an elaborate report. He had been given power to engage a lecturer, but contented himself with strongly recommending two ladies. If one of these were appointed, it would entail the engagement of an assistant at £150 per annum, and Mr Studholme said ho was willing to increase his donation to £300 .per annum for four years, and also to pay the passage of an assistant. The University Council decided to lay this phase of the matter, before the Citizens' Committee. ,

A strong protest was to have been made by the Christchurch Presbytery yesterday against the establishment of canteens in Volunteer trailing camps, but in view of the practical abandonment of the proposal, the Presbytery carried the following resolution, without any discussion, on the motion of. the Rev. J. Mackenzie: "That in view of the fact that the majority of those in the training camps under the. new defence proposals will be- under the age of twenty-one, the Presbytery of Christchurd'i records its* strong protest against any attempt to establish in such camps military canteens for the sale of intoxicating liquors. The Presbytery notes with satisfaction that a committee of the House has made a recommendation to strike out of. the Bill the clause' authorising the estabIshment of canteens, and urges Parliament to accept the recommendation."

This morning the Rakaia river was reported to be clear,, and the Rangitata dirty.

It would appear that school teachers are not now so scarce as formerly. For two positions dealt with by the South Canterbury Board of Education yesterday, there were 23 applications.

At the meeting of the Board of Governors of the Canterbury (Lincoln) Agricultural College yesterday, a letter was received from the secretary of the Ashburton A. and P. Association, enclosing £5 ss, the Association's special prizes to the students showing the best all-round knowledge of sheep and wool.

Mr H. M. Preston, who has been stationed for some years in Ashburton, and has latterly been acting-accountant at the local branch of the Bank of New Zealand, left Ashburton to-day, on transfer to Christchurch. He is being succeeded here by Mr T. A. Robertson.

The Headmaster of the Ashburton High School (Mr W, F. Watters, 8.A.), in referring, in his annual report, io the failure to establish a permanent class in elocution 'during the year, said: "I hope that this class, which had to be abandoned at the end of the first term, may be resumed with a larger number of pupils and better success next year, for one of the most noticeable faults of present-day pupils, and adults also, is indistinct and faulty enunciation. I am not alone in this opinion, for Supreme Court judges and school inspectors and others have made reference to the same fault during the past year."

At-, yesterday's meeting of the Christchurch Presbyt-ery, nine months' leave of absence was granted to the Rev. J. Mackenzie, of St. Andrew's Church, to enable him to visit Great Britain. The Rev. T. Tart, moderator; in expressing the Presbytery's good wishes for an enjoyable holiday, said that no man ,in the Presbytery deesrved, a holiday more than Mr Mackenzie, whose work had been untiring not only in his congregation, but in the larger work vof the church. Mr Mackenzie will leave Cbristchurch on January 27, and during his absence his place will be taken by the Rev. J.^H. Lang.

The Palmerston North Agent of the Press Association telegraphs that his Excellency the Governor; and Lady Plunkett will leave Palmerston North at the end of the month, and will for -a time travel in various parts of the dominion. On February 10th- Lady Plunkett, with her children, Miss Hill, and Captain Gathorne Hardy, will leave for England. His Excellency will then_ travel throughout New Zealand, making his headquarters at Weljinp;ton, until he leaves the dominion, which will probably be at the latter end of May, or early in June.

For the swimming races to lie held, on Friday evening, by the Ashburton' Amateur Swimming Club, .the following handicaps have been declared: Club Handicap—E. Cla,rk scr., E. Scales ssec, E. Cokcr and T. Thomas 6sec, W. Page, F. Anderson and G. Hardacre 7sec, G. Scott Bsec, E. 'Beaumont lOsec, and F. Gobbe 12sec; representative schools handicap—Shannon scr., K. Rollitt 2sec, A. McDonald ssec, J.; Harris 6sec, D. Fitzgerald 7sec, and H. Hyland Bsec. Besides the swimming races, there will probably be a diving competition.

Greate.r Invercargill, as it will be constituted when effect is given to the Wednesday's poll, will (says the Southland Times) be a very satisfactory town from the point of view of form and arrangement, and will take a very satisfactory position in the. municipal records of the do.minion. In area; the town will comprise some 1914 acres, with a poulation of 11,045. If South Invercargill is counted in the population would be 2500 more.

Taking the figures for the Commonwealth" as shown in the last annual report of the States' Railway Departments, Australia has 15,000 miles of railway, which represent a public debt of, roughly, £150,000,000. The gross earnings last year amounted to £14,750,000, 'as against expends £8,720,00, and interest £5,138,000 leaving a surplus of £892,000 to go to the consolidated revenue.

The Gisborne Oil Company struck oil at a depth of 655 feet, but on the advice of Dr Bell, Government Geologist, they drove deeper in search of a main oil deposit, and ou Saturday last the bore was down to 901 feet. The first deposit was in a thin stratum of sand, and would have given, it was estimated, 85 to 100 gallons a day. The bore is-the largest put down in New Zealand, beginning with ll^-inch pipe, and reducing from time to time till at 900 feet 6-inch pipe is being used. The Taranaki wells started with 8-inch and 6-inch casings.

At the recent Tiniaru show an exhibitor used bad language to the judge in one of the horse classes, and at a meeting of the committee of the Association on Saturday it was decided to disqualify this exhibitor from exhibiting,at future shows, unless lie apologises for the language he used.

Contagious mammitis is causing some trouble among one or two dairy herds in the Wairarapa district this "season. Farmers are • co-operating with the Stock Department in their, efforts to check the spread of the disease..

Carson, the TJp-to-Date Cycle Man. —G. H. Carson, of Tancred street, has something specially good in his new models of Carson popular cycles, at £12 10s. These machines are bnilt for speed and durability. Being very light, they are easily propelled; and being built by a reputable 'firm, they are thoroughly reliable. Carson's Dreadnought tyres are a new lino; there is three years' hard wear in j these tyres; price, 20s cover, 7s 6d j tube. You are invited to inspect these splendid lines. No o 1"^ pressed to b\iy. 11 OOJ

Mr Bates telegraphed to-day as follows: Winds freshening to a heavy westerly gale; expect unsettled and cjoudy weather; rain is probable and the glass will fall pfadu'afiy.-

The Rev. Father Dignan, son oi Mr T. Dignan, of the Bank of New Zealand, is at present on a visit to Ashburton. .. .

The newly-formed Farmers' Union in South Caiiterbiify already has, a membership of 396. Mr F. Ferrima'n reports the sale of 44 acres, with residence, at Staveley, on account of Mr W. Cookson, to Mr C. E. Lusk.

Invercargill is now the fifth city of the dominion, with a population of 11,200. Palmerston North is sixth, with 10,243. ... .

Mr Wragge advises that seven more distinct disturbances are visible in the sun. This continued solar activity; he says, is remarkable, and the earth is bound to respond.

A well-known South Hillend farmer (says the Winton Record), whose flock contains a Romney cross, last week declined Is per lb offered him for his wool.

The various flaxmills in the Horowhenua and Oroua counties are stated to be working double shifts at present, in order to take advantage of the present satisfactory prices.

A. scarcity of milkers is being experienced by'dairy.farmers in Hawke's Bay. The demand is greater than usual at this time of the year.

Constable Donovan, who has been transferred to Addington, was presented last evening, by Sergeant Fouhy, on behalf of the local members of the force, with a case of pipes.

Any person desirous of purchasing a motor-car should attend Mr Henry Stephenson's sale, Saturday next; when he will be offering three cars, including one of the well-known Seddeley cars. 12 239

Mr Fitzpatrick produced evidence in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly last week of 117 accidents with firearms in the last five years, of which 87 were caused by pea-rifles.

This afternoon a' gentleman left his horse and trap unattended in Burnett street while he went in to a shop to get a parcel. For some reason the horse took fright, and started off down the street. After coming into contact with a post at the corner>of Cass and Burnett streets, the horse continued to the Fire Brigade Station, where the trap was (overturned and almost completely wrecked. ■' ;

The South African Government statist has issued his forecast of the coming wheat and hay harvest ' in' that State. The figures show an increase of 66,387 acres under wheat and hay. The area under barley is much smaller, but that under oats considerably greater.

Mr Robert McNab, late Minister of Lands in. New Zealand, has taken up his residence at Sutton,''in Surrey, within easy reach of London. He is pursuing at the Record Office in Chancery Lane his researches into the early history of New Zealand, and will visit Paris on a similar quest.

There was a good attendance of members at''the weekly meeting of the Catholic Club last evening', when the president (Mr Frank Pritchard) occupied the chair. An "Editor's Box" formed the programme, and was the means of providing interesting discus-, sions on the topics of the day. ■

Pohutu geyser, at Whakarewarewa, (says the Hot Lakes Chronicle) has for the past few days been giving some very fine displays. Pohutu, during the month of November, was in disturbance thirty times. WaikoroMhi, the Prince of Wales's Feather, Kereru, and Pa^akura geysers have also been active during the week. . . ; .

A letter from the sub-committee set lip on the subject of ecclesiastical, and educational records in. connection 'with, the early colonists' section at the Canterbury Museum, was received by the Christchurch Presbytery yesterday. On the motion of the Rev. Dr Erwin, seconded by the Rev J. Mackenzie, it was. resolved to furnish copies of any. minutes of interest to the sub-com-mittee.

The Taylor-Carriugton Company will Way a special stage version of "East ■Lyune" to-night at the Oddfellows' Hall, Ashburton. > This dramatisation of Mrs Henry Wood's well-known story has been running at two of the leading London theatres, and seven touring companies in Great Britain have also been playing it. The large amount of comedy that has been introduced serves as a strong foil to the many emotional scenes of the play, with the result that the audience is kept both interested and amused from start to finish.

A. little twelve-year-old orphan boy, who has been an inmate of the Waiiganu.i Orphanage for, the past seven years, some time ago asked the matron whether he could not -pay for his maintenance by going on a milk-cart morning and evening, and he was allowed to do as he wished." Accordigly 4s 6d is paid every week to the Charitable Aid Board, while an extra shilling or so-is, at the-request of "the trustees, kept by the lady' The secreary of the Charitable Aid Board saysfthat it is the only incident of the kind that has come under his notice during his twenty-five years'. experience.

At the end of October, according to the Wellingtpn Post's London correspondent, the Hon. W. Hall-Jones was so ill that the New Zealand Government was communicated with by cable, and Sir Joseph Ward replied requesting the Commissioners of the.Public Revenue in London to exercise the powers vested in them in the event of illness or death of the High Commissioner,, for the time being. The Commissioners are Sir Westby Percival and Mr C. Wray Pallisor (Secretary to the High Commissioner's Office), and on the recommendation of the Premier, they appointed Mr Palliser'High Commissioner pro tern. 1* .

A social was held by the Wakanui Good Templars Lodge last evening to welcome" Mr Owen Trevurza, on his return from a trip to the Old Country. A cycling party from the Ashburton Lodge were amongst those present. TJie gathering was presided over/ by the C.T., Bros. Wilson, and-a' programme consisting of musical items ancfrecitaUcns was brought to a conclusion at a late honr,, with supper. Mr" Tr'evurza, who deliver-ed an address, had an interesting story to tell of his visits to England, Scotland,. Italy, France, the the United States, Honolulu, Australia and Fiji.

At. the meeting of the Christchurch Presbytery yesterday, the Ashburton county representatives present were Key. Messrs G. B. luglis (St. Andrew's, Ashburton), J. Wilson (Mayfield) and A, d™ Bfgg (Kakaia). On the motion ° <<wu iA- BegS- & was resolved Inat the travelling- expenses of members of the Presbytery to all ordinary meetings of Presbytery be made a, charge on the Presbytery expenses * V 7 for one year ;that an assessment of 17b 6d per hundred pounds of stipend be made, with the exception of bydenham for which the total expenses ?r-l + ml' s that missi,oa stations contubutelOs per annum ] tha* no traveling expenses be, paid to congregations lUr eaTS !? thl? flind for mor« *han twelve months; that members of Presbytery be paid the amount of their secoad-class fare, after deducting 2s and the odd -eponco; that members whose travelling expenses are paid be required to remain till the business of ™» yter 'v h* over, unless leave be granted.

Cycles tor Christmas.— Undoubtedly the best value m Cycles is now to be ■had at R D. Johnston's Cycle Depot !" B™et st»«t- Twelve new sample Commodore" Ladies' and, Gent's Cycles just unpacked. These machines are made by the world's renowned firm of Compotents, Ltd., England They are equipped with free wlieels, 2 rim brakes, plated rims, D.mlop tvr<> s . Brooks saddle, Reynolds' chain, "and beautifully hand-polished and.lined in two colours The prices. whi!o they last, are: Gent.'s, £11; Ladies', £12 A two-years written guarantee is given with each of theso machines. 12 0