LOCAL AND GENERAL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1283, 9 January 1891, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

i Winchmore school holidays commence to-day and extend to the 2nd February. The widow of General Tom Thumb has married airain. She is 32 inches iu> height and her husband 13 also a dwarf. We are requested to state that it i° intended to fix another date, after the Christchurch season, for the exhibition of the phonograph at Ashburton. Enfant terrible—"And did they go into the ark two by two?" Mamma—" Yes, dearest." Enfant terrible—" Well, who went m with auntie ?" A cockney who was much absorbed m a cricket match at the Oval was heard to say that lie liked to see the ball hit " bloomin' 'igli, bloomin' 'ard, and bloomin' often." If your laugh is loud it is low. But if it is low it is not loud. The English language is a fine structure, but when we have to talk straight logic, we generally use Greek ourselves. J: " You don't seem very well this morn ing ?" P. : "No. I laid insensible for eight hours last night." J. .- "Goodnessgracious! What was the matter?" P.: "I was asleep." Mother. " Don't think so much of getting presents. You know it is more blessed to give than to receive." Bobby (six): "Then I hope a lot of people will be blessed on my birthday." Chinese pheasants, introduced m Oregon some years ago, have thriven wonderfully. They are estimated now at millions, and aro spreading over a wide district. They are beautiful birds. According to the Jewish Talmud, Adam had a wife before Eve, whose name was Lilith or Lilis. She refused to submit to Adam's authority, and left Paradise for a region m the air. She is fabled to haunt the night still as a spectre. The Women's Franchise Bill was shelved by the Lords m the South Australian Parliament, not because of any adverse majority, but because the number who voted for the third reading—twelve to five—does not constitute the absolute majority required by the Constitution. Says an eminent physician:—So long as men uncover their heads m theatres, halls, etc., just so long catarrh will be a national ailment, and men suffer neuralgia and bronchial affections. There is no more sense m a man removing his hat than there is m a woman laying aside her bonnet. There have just been imported into Ceylon from China some plants known as "Mok Lee," which produce a blossom used for scenting "scented orange pekoe and caper," and if the effort to establish and propagate these plants m Ceylon is successful, they will be supplied for the production of the classes ot tea named. A correspondent of Garden Work records an almost incredible yield of tomatoes obtained by Mr Young, who states |that during the past season twenty-four plants produced fully twelve hundredweight of fruit, an average of 56Ibs to a plant. Such a crop has probably never before been heard of, less than half such yield being considered a fair crop. The plants were grown m a hothouse and, liberally manured. Along the West African coast there are now about 200 churches, 35,000 converts. 100,000 adherents, 275 schools, 30,000 pupils; 35 languages or dialects have been mastered into which portions of the Scripture and religious books and tracts, and general educational books, have been translated and printed, and some knowledge of the Gospel has reached about 8,000,000 of benighted Africans. Cowhide horse shoes, it is said are fast coming into use m England and m many parts of the Continent of Europe. It is claimed for this style of shoe that it is much lighter, that it lasts longer, and that split hoofs are never known m horses using it. It is perfectly smooth on the bottom, no calks being required, the shoe adhering firmly on the moat polished surface. Its elasticity prevents many sprains, the horse's steps being lighter and surer. Sims Reeves is willing to visit Australia on a guarantee of twenty concerts at £5000, with a deposit of the full amount, or a guarantee of fifty coneerfcsafc £10,000, with a deposit of £5000. Moreover, if the guarantors prefer a start with him on a season of twenty concerts and then decide to prolong the season to fifty concerts, they have the option of on the terms mentioned m the draft agreement. Thip agreement is for Australia only, as the great tenor reserves himself the right of doing New Zealand on hia own account. A curious phenomenon, says a correspondent of the " New Zealand Herald " occured on the farm of Mr Turubull, near Morrinsville, one day the week before last. During a heavy squall there fell a shower of small red worms of bright color, varying m size from an inch to an inch and a half m length. Vessels such as milk dishes, e\c, were filled to a depth of from one to three inches, and the worms lay nearly an inch thick upon the yard about the house, and m the grass land m the vicinity. They were, however, soon dried up by the heat of the sun, and unfortunately none were saved for transmission to the Auckland Society. M Louis Hugonning, a distinguished toxicologistin France, has just publishedavolume on alcoholic and other poisoning, with tables of statistics. The writer states that during the last 20 years the number of persons admitted into the French lunatic asylums, whose insanity is attributable to drink, has more than quadrapled ; that the iucrcase has been most notable since 1870; and that the influence of alcohol on crime is becoming more marked year by year. He also states that the yearly consumption of opium reaches the stupendous total of between 6000 and 7000 tons, nine-tenths of which is consumed by those who smoke and those who chew the pernicious drug. A Kansas telegram, dat«d 9th November, says :—" A most remarkable romance came to light to-day. Twenty-five years ago two babies, brother and sister, were abandoned m Castle Garden, New York city, by their parents. They were adopted by different people. The girl lived with her foster-mother, Mrs Evans, Philadelphia. The boy was adopted by a man named Barr and grew up, and learned a trade and went to Philadelphia. There he met Miss Evans, fell m love with her, and m due course of time they were married and came to Kansas city to live. A couple of years ago Mrs Evans died, and soon after a relation m Canada died, and died intestate, leaving a large fortune. Detectives m searching for Mrs Evans' adopted child discovered the story and told it to Mr and Mrs Barr. No issue has resulted from the marriage. Legal proceedings' will at once be taken to annul it. The brother and sister will then takepossession of the fortune." The polling yesterday m the election to fill the vacancy on the Borough Council caused by Mr Hugo Friedlander's election to the Mayoralty, created no little interest m the town. It was expected that Mr Cookson would poll very strongly among the ratepayers m the northern part of the Borough, and being an old and respected resident, he was by no means an opponent to be held cheaply. Mr William Anderson, too, who has been a ratepayer m the town "siuce the town was," as Councillor Quill used to put it, was also expected to poll well, and many people thought that between Mr Anderson and Dr Tweed votes would be split just enough to allow Mr Cookson to go m a bare winner and no more. As it came out, however, the prophets were all wrong, j for the figures read out by the Town Clerk j at seven o'clock, to an audience of four, gave I Dr Tweed 132. votes ; Mr Anderson, 74; Mr I Cookson, 65; Mr Andrews, 0; informal, 5 —leaving a majority for the Doctor of 5.8 over the next best man. The vote of thanks to the Returning Officer was moved and seconded, m the absence of the candidates, by the reporters. Thk Best Remedy for Indigestion— Norton's Camomile Pills are confidentlyrecommended as a simple remedy for Indigestion, which is the cause of nearly all the diseases to which we are subject. Norton's Pills, with justice called the f lTatura] Strengthener of the Human Stomach," act as? 'q, powerful f;qnic arid gentle aperient, are mild'jn' their operation, and afe under any circumstances. Sold m ottles, at Is I^l, 2s 9d, Us, by all madicinte endors throughout the wo ldj'

The United States produces 750 million cans of tinned meat and fruit a year. Of 1,700,000 persons m the United Kingdom who are over sixty-five years of age, 400,000 are permanent paupers. ' If pure milk only were sold m London, it is estimated that from 20,000 to 30,000 more cows would be wanted to keep up the supply. Buffalo has a firm named Irish and English. What is equally curious, Mr English is an Irishman, and Mr Irish is an Englishman. The Doric left Hobart for New Zealand at eight o'clock this morning. She brings 97 passengers, A Reuters telegram, dated New York, September 1, says :—Oh Saturday last a horse named Roy Wilkes trotted a mile m 2min. S^secs. at Independence, lowa, Hius beating the world's record. A roan named Thomas Sheridan died under chloroform on the operating table of the Ohristchurch Hospital on Thursday from rupture of the great artery of the heart, caused, by his struggles under the infiueuce of the drug. He was about to be treated for cancer on the tongue. During December 20,884 acres of Crown lands were taken up, 13,592 behm under perpetual lease, 5062 qpsli system, and 2230 on deferred payment. Under the three systems there were taken up m Auckland 9319 acres, Otago 5595, Wellington 1753, Canterbury 1622, Nelson 1507, Taranaki 451, Hawke's Bay 326, Southland 155, and Marlborough 154. Newsjfrom New Guinea, dated January Bth, says that a tribe of head hunters have annihilated a village of forty inhabitants, and are preparing to take the next village, which is next to the residence of Mr Cameron, the Government Agent, whom they also threaten to attack. A force of constabulary has been. sent from Port Moresby to protect Mr Cameron. The nomination of candidates for the Northern Maori Electoral District, the seat having become vacant through the death of Sydney Taiwhanga, took plate at Russell on Thursday. The following were nominated: —Epirama Timutu Kipa, Wiremu Pomaro, Renata Te Kawatapu, Wiremu Te Teaiana, Timoti Puhipuhiti, Wiremu Rahene, Haki Rewiti, Kipate Whstanui. The show of hands was "m favor of the first-mentioned candidate. The polling takes place on the 7th February. I have a circular before me (says a writer m the European Mail) from a large firm m the south of London, setting forth the insrits of New Zealand mutton, and very truly saying :—" New Zealand mutton is mow being imported m such perfection that it ia very difficult for the moat experienced connoisseur to distinguish it from homee killed meat." In the "prices" legs are quoted at 6id, and shoulders at 9d. The former are sold at lid. No wonder some butchers or purveyors of meat get rich m a hurry m these days ! The phraseology of some of the contributors to the "War Cry" reads just a little peculiar to the uninitiated. As for example the following from Hokitika m the latest issue of that publication :—" The people swallow the new man right away like jam. All stiffness went to the "wind. The fire burned, the pot boiled, and occasionally boiled over. Hallelujah ! Yours truly led on some testimonies, the lads went- m proper; they were just full up of the glory. I don't know what their fate would have been if the glory had not got out. Lieut. Douthwaite had a smack at the Devil, and told of the joys of a well-saved soul. Then our worthy D.O. takes the boards with a new song, to make the people more bliable for the happy heart to heart talk which followed Glory." A meeting of the Ashburton Cycling Club was held on Thursday evening, there were about twenty-five members present, and Mr H. H. Stephens occupied the chair. A long discussion took place with regard to the old club, after which it was decided to tevive the same and go on as before. The following officers were elected: —Mr William Dunnage, captain ; Mr W. F. Bennetts, vicecaptain ; Mr C. G. Moss, hoii. sec. ; Mr H. H. Stephens, treasurer. The folio whip gentlemen were elected a Committee: — Messrs Webber, McFarlane, Mitchell, Stewart, Walls, and Craigjiead. The Secretary was instructed to write to the Hon Sec Pioneer B.C. re affiliating with the Cyclists Alliance Great enthusiasm was shown at the meeting, and there is every prospect of the Club going ahead as it should do. A meeting is to be held about Easter, when it is expected some of the Christchurch and Timaru men will also compete.