ASHBURTON NEWS.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 10267, 9 February 1899, Page 3

ASHBURTON NEWS.

«. , (FROST OCR COHKESrC.VDEN'T.) An early foretaste of winter was experienced in Ashburton yesterday. The weuther j was tolerable line during the greater part of j Tuesday, and some further progress was made with harvest operations, but heavy rain set in again in the evening, and- about eight o'clock it cama down in torrents. There was a clear sky at sunrise yesterday, but < at eight o'clock it was again overcast with heavy clouds, and a bitterly cold southerly wind was blowing, followed by heavy showers of rain and hail. The c'.ouds parted j at noon, when it was seen that the ranges ! at the back of Moiu:t Homers and Alford j Forest were covered with a thick_coating of i saow. The weather during, the afternoon ! was tolerably fino. The heavy showers put j a complete check on the ingathering of the cereals, and caused some little damage. Fc-itunately,it was a< cold , rain,and the winds, though boisterous enough to do a lot of injury to orchards and gardens, were of a dryinir nature, so that there is not much ikeJihood of the grain in stook sprouting. It' has been a' very anxious time for farmere, but even now if the weather clears ; and remains steady and fine for a couple ; of weeks the damage done will be comparatively light. There is very little grain left standing on the western side of the line, though, in a number ot instances, it has been left in stock waiting for the threshing machines to arrive. A lot of it has been cut on the green side, ajid is consequently less likely to sprout than if it had been thoroughly ripe before the rains came on. A good deal has been bagged up during the past fortnight, and in nearly every case yields have exceeded anticipations. Mr H. Harrison, who has a, ndee property in the Doric district got over 5000 bushels of oats off 100 acres of medium land. Sir John Bonifant, of Wakanrui, jhas threshed out considerably over sixty bushels per acre, and Mr J. W. Oliver is now threshing for Mr Isaac Sargent, of Ashburton Forks, a paddock of pearl wheat, which is averaging between forty-two and forty-three bushels per acre. A case of .considerable interest to auctioneers cropped up at the last meeting of the Ashburton. Borough Council. The head of a firm of auctioneers took out a license in his awn name, but on the same day concluded negotiations with a third paifcy to act. as salesman. An''application was made to* have the license transferred. The Municipal Association's solicitor's opinion was obtained, and his advice was that there was no provision i» the Act for such a transfer, and consequently it could not be made. His Lordship Bishop Julius, the Rev. *>. A. Scott, T. A. Hamilton and other clergymen will be in Ashburton to-day to assist m -laying the foundation stone for the enlargement or St. Stephen's church. There will be a choral service. , : v. T 5 e fi. n «7 S °. f l he ? eath of Miss B^ncl »e Burdett-Stuarfc, daughter of Mrs John Davison, was received with feelings of the deepest regret by a very wide circle of friends. Deceased was a very popular young lady, and prior to her prolonged illness wal a member ot bt. Stephens choir, and a very active Church worker. She had been an invalid* for considerably over a year, but hopes were always entertained of her ultimate recovery At the time of her death deceased was in Uiristchurch undergoing medical treatment Deep sympathy is felt for Mr and Mrs Davison In their heavy bereavement. At the second annual meeting of the Barryf, Go - dmini u ng Com P a ny> the report stated that since the starting of sluicing operations in August last, the gold won had realised £1888 18s Bd. The profits had been expended in the purchase of additional machinery and land. No dividend had therefore been paid, but the future prospects were .very encouraging, and it was hoped that the company would shortly be position to declare a substantial dividend. Mr H. Zander was re-elected a director, and m i?" Uly was elected in Pkce of Mr J. C. Duncan, resigned. Messrs F. H. Nicoll and E: Stephens were elected auditors Arrangements have been made for the mcrninz and afternoon trains to and from Lnnstchurch to set down or pick up passengers at the Fairfield Freezing Works siding after the 11th inst. The works are being completed rapidly, and it is expected that they will bo ready to start freezing operations by tie end of the month. The Ashburton Domain is now becoming a very popular resort for picnic parties from a distance. On Saturday a large number of visitors -are expected from the Woolston tanneries.