LOOKING BACK.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 109, 18 February 1935, Page 4

LOOKING BACK.

FIFTY YEARS SYNE. (From the “Guardian,” Feb. 18, 1885.) Salvation Army at Methven.—Our Methven correspondent writes:—The Salvation Army paid a visit to this place on Sunday. They drove from Ashburton in a van, and when nearing the “City of the Plains,” formed a procession, and headed by their band marched through the town, faking up their position in front of the Livery Stables, where they went through their open air devotions. About 3 p.m. they adjourned to a room they had hired lor the evening, and were followed by a crowd that kept teeming in till the building was quite crammed. Notwithstanding their exertions, however, they were unable on this occasion to bring anyone to the penitent form. The meeting was an orderly one throughout, and the many speeches by converts were attentively listened to. It is hoped they will succeed a little better the next time they come, but if they leave their band behind as they are resolved to do, 1 am afraid they will meet with but- little success. At 9 p.m. they started for Ashburton, and left Methven little changed, little better. i . .

Cheaper Gas.—At last night’s meeting of the Borough Council, the Mayor said the Ashburton Gas Company supplied the lighting for street lamps at a cheaper rate than any other company in the colony. The charge is £5 5s per lamp. ~ ,i “ TWENTY*FIVE YEARS AGO. (From the “Guardian,” Feb. 18, 1910.) Closer Settlement.—The Government has purchased from Mr George Palmer the Ruapuna Estate, Containing 4431 acres, for closer settlement purposes. The land is well known for its fertile qualities as being line grazing country and as producing splendid crops of turnips, rape and oats. 4t should, therefore, be capable of subdivision into nine farms of about 500 acres each. The estate belonged to the; late', Mr John Ballantyne for many years, ( and in his time et was worked in four blocks, the Staple block, containing 1078 acres; the Thirlestong block, containing 1147 acres; the Yarrow block, containing 1206 acres; and the Etr trick block, of 1000 acres. Ruapuna is the only estate in the Ashburton County acquired by the Government for closer settlement purposes in the last dozen s'ears, the Highbank Estate purchased about 1898 being the last one to be so. dealt with in that way.

Building in Ashburton.—During the past year 25 permits were issued for the erection of new buildings in Ash-, burton, QH being within, the outer area of the borough (and seven or that number on borough reserves) and two in the inner area. In the period 20 permits for alterations and. additions to buildings weer issued, 'eleven in the outer and nine in the inner area.