ASHBURTON NEWS.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 10215, 10 December 1898, Page 5

ASHBURTON NEWS.

—*—■ (FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT). A good deal of building has been going oil in Ashburton during the past year, principally in the form of cottages and villa residences. Additions, alterations and improvements to various business premises have, however, added their quota, and assisted in keeping masons, carpenters, '. painters and paperhangers very busy. The latest addition to tho architectural features of Burnett street East is a handsome pile of buildings now nearing completion for the Bank of New South Wales. This Bank opened a branch nt Ashburton eleven years . age, and until yesterday had been carrying on business in-premises, erected for the purpose by Mr Thomas Bullock on the south side pf Burnett street, closo to tho Arcade. The Bunk business - has -gradually so increased in volume that the Bank found it necessary to secure iucreased accommodation. Accordingly a site wa3 purchased adjoining the Ashburton Club, and yesterday Mr Mci'_rland, tho Bank manager, and his staff started, business in the new premises. Tho Bank is a handsomely designed structure, built of brick, with Oamaru and Mount Somers stone facings. While from an architectural point of view the outside presents an imposing appearance, tho internal - arrangements ate very complete, and the best of workmanship has been piit in.' .'Mr MoFnrland and his family will reside on the premises. The building contract has been faithfully carried out by Mr J. H. Maynard, under the supervision of ijLr J. Dutton, clerk of works. The architects were Messrs Collins and Harman, of Christchurch. Tne tender of Mr J. H. Maynard,' at something over £1100, has been" accepted for additions to St. Stephen's' Church, on modified plans and specifications prepared by Mi- Mountfort, of Christchurch. - It- ; is hoped that everything will be in readiness so that the foundation stone for the new part may be laid by the present vicar,* the Rev. T. A. Hamilton, prior to" Kis leaving at the end of the year to take up his new duties as vicar of the pariah of Fendalton. • Mr 'E. Gates, ot Grove Farm, has received newa that his well-known horse, Prime Warden, died somewhat suddenly on Monday, Prime' Warden was in tho hands of Mr T. C. White, -of Wyndham, Southland. - .;-'.- r, Seventeen entries have been received for the Ashburton Art Society's medal for freehand drawing. There are,six contpetitors ' , from the High School, six from the Borough St-houl, three from Dromore, and. twolirom ; Greenstreet.- "'-., .v. «--.!■ j. ; . On Tuesday last I took a run through the Mount Somers, Springburd/Alford For'esV ~ Methyen, Springfield' a.id Winchpi6re4is» , tricts. What crop there ia along the foot- - hills is looking well, and there is. an abundance of rich pasture. Sheep aud oattle ate' in rare' condition, *and . there J will be an early lot of: fat lambs*.' .Away -' -down" through . Methveh- .and , bn\-"the Springfield estate.there are some magnificent crops of, wheat arid oats. The effeotsiuf. the' late dust storm are still visible. ' Near Mr Cameron's homestead several of his fjad* . docks were badly blown, and "here, the crop is naturally patchy, but he has a very,large . area which promises heavy MrJ'O. - F. Todhunter, of Weaterfield,,waß aJaOmjb sufferer, a couple of. his upper paddocksbeim? so badly blown as to reduce; whali should _aye been forty bushel e/ops downed '■ , about ten. The lower-paddocks, however, escaped, and here ihe yields should be very satisfactory. There is one' field' of Tuscan . wheat'-jußt at the, entrance to' the private -, road looking as promising "as any bit of wheat in the whole couutry. There are also * L - a couple of paddocks 6f 'field'pepsin 1 avgry ' forward state, and whioh are promising unusually heavy crops. Some of the'newly broken up and sown grass paddookaon the Lagmhor estate make a gratifying-sight.. Mr Buckley intends cutting tne grasß'Jfor seed, and-with favonrable weather he should get a handsome return. Many who in iforbier years had- the pleasure of coursing and hunting over the Lagmhor estate, and/Who were frequently brought, - upstanding 'by great overgrown gorso and thorn "hedges will not again meet with these "formidable .' obstacles, - for they have all been cut down ' to within reasonable' height, ' and' neatly - 'trimmed, ■ useless growths have been completely '. cated. A lot of good work has been done Jin: Lagmhor during the past' twelve montls, and Mr Buckley Contemplates spending further large sums' of' money ih" effecting/ • radical ohanges_nd improvements fit various . portions of this fine estate. . *-_•,. "\ - f-. At the Mr'J.' &W. Grigg a large number of the members of'the Asel Bicycle Club journeyed to Thursday afternoon, while ; others,* who dsd 1 rJiot care to-lace asixteenmile journey e%eh way went down-.in a drag. , On.arrival nt Longbeach the,visitors were "gery hospitably entertained, 'and spent' ah enjpyable afternoon. ,',-'■. „ At the quarterly .meeting of the Ashbur- • 'ton Licensing Committee on Thursday there were present—Messrs C. A. Wfay (mre- . siding), B. McLean, A. McQuilkin and J. Sealy>.. Mr H. Bavis'ot the Rc-yal Hotel was present, and informed ' the committee that the work of erecting a bath room at the hotel would be putlin hand at an early date. Mrs' Timpson, of, *#ie Mount Somers Hotel, was granted per* mission to continue the license in her own name till the next quarterly meeting. The license had hitherto been held in her late husband's name, ' A conditional license was granted for the Mount Somers sports and races.