ASHBURTON.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17938, 5 December 1923, Page 5

ASHBURTON.

PERSONAL. News that Mr and Mrs E. B. Newton (of Ashburton) will bo leaving Sydney for New Zealand by tho Ulimaroa on December Sth was received by cable 011 Monday. Mr and Mrs Newton are returning from a trip to England, where Mr T. Bullock, who had accompanied them from the Dominion, died.

General News. At the complimentary social to tho Rev. G. Miller on Monday night, M T W. F. Waiters, in humorous vein, urged St. Andrew's congregation to send its Moderator-elect away elegantly and immaculately attired, and recommended that the ladies form a sewing bee to be ready when the occasion arrived. The anuual picnic of Ashburton East (Hampstead) school takes place at Timaru next Saturday. The train leaves Ashburton at 8.20, and Timaru at 5.55. Tickets are advertised to be obtainable from Mr A. W. Hopkins, bookseller. The Advance Ashburton Association's working bee on Monday night consisted of six members, as compared with 17 last week. The levelling of the reserve on East street, toward the traffic bridge, was continued, and considering the small number a satisfactory amount of work was accomplished. There now remains about 30 yards of the strip to level. At 1 o'clock yesterday morning a police constable almost fell over a man lying in a helpless state of drunkenness on the Williams street footpath. With difficulty the man was lumbered off to the station, and was bailed out in order that he might get back to bis work. At the Court yesterday morning there was no appearance of tho man, a first effender, and Mj James Cow, J.P., entered a conviction and estreated tli.e bail. "You have no idea where lie got the liquor at that hour of the night?" asked the Bencli. Senior-Ser-geant Jackson: "At first he would not say, but late,r admitted he got it at a certain house.". The Bench: "Into which matter you will bo making further enquiries?" Senior-Sergeant Jackson: "Yes, we aro looking into it." Garden Party. There was an attendance of over sixty at the annual garden party held in Mrs Derisley Wood's grounds, ?n aid of the funds towards sending I Christmas bags of suitable presents to the Lyttelton Sailors' Institute. Gifts were brought by all present, and a delightful afternoon was spent in tho charming grounds surrounding the residence Tennis and other games were indulged in. Afternoon tea was partaken of, and a most enjoyable programme of vocal and other items was given, under the direction of A. T. Smith. Last year sixty Christmas bags were sent to the Institute, and Mrs Wood, who is president of the Ashburton branch of the British arid Foreign Sailors' Society, hopes that nearly that number will be sent again this Christmas. Tho monthly meetings of the Ashburton branch have been well attended during the past year,_ and Mrs Wood spares no effort to induce tho members to take a keen interest in the welfare of the Society. After the dispatch of this season's Christmas bag 3 the members will take a rest till March, when the annual monthly meetings will be resumed. Sudden Death. The death of a married woman, Mrs Jane Isabelle Morriss, occurred with tragic suddenness at about midnight on Monday. At 10.40 o'clock Mrs Morriss, who resided at 172 Victoria street, woke her husband, and informed him she was feeling very ill, and asked for water. The husband, Mr Charles Morriss, went immediately ±or water, and bathed his wife's head. Mrs Morriss went off into a ever. Mr Morriss awakened ms year'-old son, instructing him to call on a neighbour, Miss Smithy, 180 Peter street, which he did. When Miss Smithies arrived, Mrs Morriss recovered, and complained of a severe pain in the head. Dr. G. J S. Fisher was telephoned for, but while he was being communicated with Mrs Morriss collapsed, and commenced moaning. She died shortly afterwards. It is understood deceased had a similar at-t-ck about twelve months ago. bho was then medically attended, and was an inmate of the County Hospital for a time. The deceased was 39 years of age. A BANKRUPT BUILDER.

(PBJSS9 ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.)

• ASHBUKTON, December 4. AndVew Munro Bremner, a bankrupt builder, of Methven, was charged before Justices of the Peace to-day failing to keep_ proper books withm three years of his bankruptcy. Mr Tracey, for accused, elected to take the case to the Supreme Court. The Official Assignee, Mr Christian, said that Bremner's books comprised a diary containing a few rough_ notes, mainly concerning accounts owing, a bank passbook showing the state of the Methven account, three invoice books containing duplicate copies of accounts • sent out, and two note-books containing rough details of work done. He could not discover bankrupt s position from the books, which showed nothing about the liabilities. W. S. Mac Gibbon, an accountant, ot Christcliurch, said that from the records and verbal information he estimated a credit of £1912, but, on amended information, ho reduced this to £558. A third attempt in December, 1921, showed a deficiency of £734 9s Bd. He was much handicapped by the want of reeords, and had to advertise for debtors-and creditors. Stanley Smith, a timber merchant, ! of Methven, said - that accused owed him between £I3OO and £I4OO. In July 1921, he asked him to reduce it. Accused showed him a statement showing, a credit of £.1912, whereupon he advanced a further 30 300 or £-400. Accused pleaded not guilty, and was committed for trial. Bail was fixed at £IOO, with a surety of £IOO.

Mail Notices. Hails close to-day for northern ports a-t 2.15 p-m.; lata lea letters 3.10 p.m.; guards van ii.iSO P-Ei- „ , -c- t Mails lor Australian States ana the per ilanuka, from Wellington, 11 a.m. December 7th, c.oso in Ashbuiton at 0.10 p-m. December 6th. - _ _ . Mails for United Kingdom, Europe and America, via Vancouver, will close at Ashburton on December Btli, at 6.10 p.m., money orders at noon. Alails lor Tonga, Fiji and Samoa mil close at Asliburton on December 7th, at ~4& P Mails for United Kingdom, also Pitcairn Island and Cristobal, Panama Canal, to connect with Kimutaka from Wellington 4 p m. December 14th, close m Ashburton at 5.15 p.m. December 13fh.