LOOKING BACK.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 58, Issue 39, 25 November 1937, Page 4

LOOKING BACK.

FIFTY YEARS SYNE. (From the “Guardian,” Nov. 25, 1887.) Shearing Operations.—The very unsettled weather during the last month has seriously retarded shearing operations in this district, and the local sales advertised for 25th instant will, of necessity, be postponed. Comparatively little wool has come forward, but should the weather continue propitious, the opening auction will, we understand, be held about a fortnight hence. County Council.—A special meeting of the County Council, which was to have been held yesterday for the purpose of electing a chairman, lapsed for want of a quorum. The matter will come up at the next meeting. Fire at Hampstead.—A fire occurred at Hampstead early this morning, by which a lean-to, containing two rooms, and owned and occupied by Mr Peter Stewart, was destroyed, the occupant narrowly escaping with his life. Tho house was situated near the Hampstead School. Mr Stewart went to bed about his usual hour last night, and shortly after midnight he was awakened by the crackling of fire, and found the house in flames. Jumping out of bed, he endeavoured to make his way out by the door, but was beaten bade by the flames. He managed to make his escape by the window. TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO. (From the “Guardian,” Nov. 25, 1912.) Good (batches,—Messrs Henry Margetts, A. Jamieson, and C. Pearce angled with much success at the moutn of the Rakaia on Monday and Wednesday, and between them they landed 68 trout. The heaviest weighed lOlbs, and the average weight was from 4ibs to 51bs. Gn .Tuesday it was too windy to fish. Stock Sale.—The following sales were effected at the Addington stock sales on Wednesday on account of Ashburton County farmers: —Fat sheep: Woolly wethers, J. Gardiner (Rakaia) to 295; J. C. Lochhead (Rakaia) 21 at 22s 6d to 23s 6d; shorn wethers, J. Withell (Ealing) 120 at 18s 3d to 225; H. Drummond (Lauriston), 66 at 19s 4d to 21s; F. Reesby (Lyndhurst), 138 at 19s to 20s 9d; W. Drummond (Lyndhurst), 72 at 17s 6d to 19s. Woolly ewes, J. Gardiner (Rakaia), 57 at 21s 3d to 255. Shorn ewes, J. Withell (Ealing), 48 at 17s 7d to 21s 7d. Personal Experience!?—A solicitor was explaining in the Court yesterday the effect of a light upon the sight of a cyclist who was riding towards it without having a light attached to his machine. He did not speak like a man who was merely dealing with a theory or hypothesis, but like one who had personal experience. He did not say when or where he gained his experience.