Local & General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5096, 2 September 1884, Page 3

Local & General.

♦ The following are the vital statistics for Ashburton, for the month of August : — Births, 30 ; marriages, 3 ; deaths, 3. The Northern Agricultural and Pastoral Exhibition will take place at Eangiora on the first Thursday in November. Messrs John Mann and George Kelly have been nominated as candidates for the vacant seats on the St Albaus Borough Council. At [a .meeting of the Ashburton High School Governors, held on Saturday, Miss S. Saunders was appointed mistress of the Girls' School. The Timaru School Committee last night considered the present shocking state of the school grounds, and resolved to take steps to form a "Working Bee" to put them in order. The Ladies' Guild of St Mary's Church, TimaiUj held a sale of fancy work, &c, and a promenade concert, last evening in the Assembly Rooms, which were very largely attended and highly successful. The following are the Ashburton Hospital returns for August : — Patients in the Hospital on August 1, 12 ; admitted during the month, 4 j discharged during the same period, 6 remaining on Sept. 1, 10. A meeting of St Luke's Parochial Association of Lay Helpers was held in the parish schoolroom, at 7.30 p.m. yesterday. There was a fairly numerous attendance, including a number of ladies. Two papers of considerable interest were read, one on " The Cathedrals of the Kremlin of Moscow," and the other on " Woman's Work in the Church." The anniversary services in connection with the Wesleyan Sunday School, Springfield, were celebrated on Sunday last in the District Schoolroom. Messrs E. Harker (Home Missionary) and A. Condliffe conducted the services, which were well attended. The children, under the guidance of Messrs H. Barker and A. Condliffe, recited and sung pieces very nicely on the occasion, and Master Bothwick presided at the harmonium. The Committee of the East Christchurch School are taking advantage of the recess to effect a very decided improvement in the girls' playground. This is the planting of a large number of macrocarpa and pinus insignis trees inside the fence. Ere long these must afford very grateful shade in the heat of the summer, a want which must have been keenly felt in past years, j At a meeting of the Ashburton Cheese Factory Company, held on Friday last, it was resolved to pay 3d per gallon of 101 b for milk supplied during the ensuing season, also to co-operate with other factories to obtain a reduction of freight to London on cheese shipped. Should this concession be obtained, the farmers would derive the benefit in a higher price paid to them for their milk. Eobson's Panorama attracted only a moderate audience to the Tuam sti'eet Hall last evening. As it is really worth seeing, and the prices of admission are reasonable, it is surprising that the attendance has not been more numerous. Mr Robson has arranged to give another and final exhibition of his " transparent panorama " this evening. Those who have not seen it will not regret if they take the opportunity of doing so. Those who have recently visited New Brighton must have been struck at the advance that is being made in what may be termed its settlement. Several new houses are being erected, and the grounds of those which have been built for some years are assuming an appearance of verdure which the sandy nature of the soil would scarcely lead one to expect. The hotel, which has of recent years gained so largely in public favour under the management of Mr and Mrs D. W. Hamilton, is now changing hands, and was yesterday to be taken over by Mr and Mx*s Patterson, formerly of Suuraer. Last night an invitation ball was given at the Sunnyside Asylum, in commemoration of the marriage of the Medical Superintendent. A large number of guests accepted the invitations, and dancing was kept up with great spirit till long after midnight. The decorations, &c, were in the admirable style so well known to those who have had the pleasure of participating in re-unions at the Asylum. The annual "Scotch Concert" at Ashburton, given under the auspices of the local Caledonian Society, has been fixed for Oct. 2, and the Committee appointed by the Society to take charge of the entertainment are busy arranging the programme. It is understood that this concert will be one of the best, from a musical point of view, the Society has yet given. A meeting of the Courtenay Cricket Club was held at the Kir wee Hotel last week ; present — Messrs Anson (in the chair) Turner, Amyes, Simpson, Sawle, A. M'Nae, and Robertson. The Treasurer presented a statement of accounts for the year, showing receipts to have been ,£l7 16s Gd and expenses .£lB 9s lid, leaving a debit balance against the Club of 14s sd. This, however, was considered satisfactory, as there was still an amount of unpaid subscriptions which would more than balance the accounts. The Chairman explained his views as to the formation of a club to be called the Courtenay District Club, so as to promote greater interest, and induce local cricketers from the surrounding districts to join. On the motion of Mr Turner, seconded by Mr Robertson, it was resolved —"That in future the Club be called the Courtenay District Cricket Club; the entrance fee to be 10s, and 5s to members who belong to any local club." Mr T. H. Anson was again elected Captain, and Mr G. G. Robertson lion Secretary and Treasurer ; the Match Committee to consist of Messrs Anson, Sawle, Amyes, and the Secretary. The first match of the season takes place on Saturday, Sept. 13, against Greendale. The number of recruits that joined the British army during the year 1883 was 33,090 — the largest number of recruits ever raised in one year in time of peace. Of these 22,404 were infantry, 4022 royal artillery, 3036 cavalry of the line, 1727 foot guards, and 505 royal engineers. The terms of service in all branches have been made more elastic with a view to induce eligible men to join. In many instances the minimum of age has been induced, and a lesser standard of height or chest measurement has been adopted. There has been a considerable amount of -clearing done recently among the trees and shrubs of the older portion of the Church of England Cemetery, with the. result that more light and air are admitted to the ground. In the newer portion, there have been some very handsome monuments erected lately ; and as the whole of the Cemetery is exceedingly well kept, a walk through it during this time of spring flowers, is not without a sober pleasure to those who have followed the remains of old friends to so picturesque a last resting place. The Admiralty have got tired of losing torpedoes during operations in the neighbourhood of Portsmouth, and it has been decided to expend some .£OOOO in dredging and enclosing a sheet of water within the harbour, which is to be used exclusively as a torpedo-ground.

I In reference to the poisoning case at Timaru, the following details have been received : — A woman named Bridget Healcy, a domestic servant, committed suicide at Timaru on Sunday evening, under peculiar circumstances. The Rev Father Geoghan hearing cries of distress in the Catholic Church, from his room in the adjoining presbytery, at once entered the sacred edifice, and found the unfortunate woman in agony. Dr M'lntyre pronounced the case one of attempted suicide by ammonia, and she was with some difficulty conveyed to the Hospital, where she was tended with the utmost care until four o'clock last evening, when she died from the effects of the violent shock to her system. The woman, who was 35 years of age, bore an excellent character. No motive has been assigned for the rash act.