The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 1892. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XIII, Issue 2652, 26 April 1892, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 1892. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Several reports, letters to the Editor, and other matter, are crowded out of to-day's GIJAKDIAN. The annual Parish Meeting of St Stephen's Church will be held this eveniug at 7-30p,m. A scientific journal states that a little sugar put. on the hands with soap will greatly increase its lather and cleansing power, and will remove dirt, chemical stains, etc. Chairmen or Secretaries of the newlyelected School Committees will oblige by forwarding annual reports and result of elections as early as possible, if not already sent. Great indignation was recently caused throughout Wales by the appointment to a County Court judgeship of a gentleman who does not understand the Welsh language. It uppears that in some parts of Wales the inhabitants do not yet speak English. A London East End clergyman lately asked a gathering of about 200 children th^s question; " What is water used for? Among the answers were such as the following ; " To give horses," " To wash clothes," ' •' To put out fires," "To water streets," but not one child said " To drink." The Auckland correspondent of the " Otago Daily Times " writes that " the disclosures at the inquest on the late J. M. Alexander, solicitor, have given a great shock to the public mind in view of recent events in connection with some members of the lejjal fraternity who have gone where the woodbine twineth." Mr Lewis, " the New Zealand Whistler,'' is to be well supported at hie concert to-morrow evening at the Oddfellows' Hall, Among others he has secured the services ot Mr F. Weir, of Christchurch, one of the best tenora of that city. With other talent and his own unique performances Mr Lewis will no doubt have a large audience. A serious result from the wearing of dyed socks has lately occurred in Sydney. A man is at present a patient at the North Coast Hospital, Little Bay, suffering from bloodpoisoning, produced by the dye from a pair of socks he had worn, and which had been a, sort of saffron colour. He had, previous to wearing the socks, received a cut or bruise upon one of his feet. At a meeting of the Federated Females o France, just held in Paris, it was resolved by the fitty women delegates of the different branches of the association to organise a campaign against the modern costume of women. The delegates bound themselves to wear skirts and dresses as short as possible, to discard stays, broad hats, boots with high heels, and lew-necked attire. Captain George Cftllagivvn, an F.nglishman who died not long ago in Valencia, at the age of one hundred years, was at one time a guard of Napolean Bonaparte on the island of St Helena. Callaghan entered the English Navy in 1819. He was sent to St Helena to watch over the gre^t Emperor. Callaghan loved torelate his reminiscences of Napoleon, and always s-id thit|the fallen ruler had a great liking for him. " The law's delay " is provoking enough in most countries, but perhaps more so in the United States—owing to the complicated legal system prevailing there—fhan anywhere else. It has just been forcibly illustrated in the State of Nebraska. A man was convicted in that State for theft, and S3ntenced to a year's imprisonment, whei'eupon a new trial was moved for in his case. The man served his term of imprisonment, and was discharged before the Supreme Court of the State decided that he was entitled to a new trial. In his speech at Gore the Minister of Lands said: "He pa sed the other day through blocks or 70,000 and 85,000 acies. in the hands of two individuals, all of which was endowment land ? The lease of one property had eight years to run, and the rent was 2d per acre, but he would be willing to-morrow to give 9d per acre for it. Tha lease of the other had no less than 13 years to run, and the land, which was the finest grazing country in the colony, was let at 4d per acre, while it was worth Is every acre of it. " There is, in a town in England, a certain preacher of Hibernian antecedents, who considers himself to be in direct communication with the well of English undefiled, and is generally credited with the posession of as rich a brogue as can be found anywhere in Tipperary. Some mention was made of his peculiar prouounciation at a church meeting, which greatly angered him. He immediately called upon one of his members, and, after complaining of the injustice done him, asked him whether, in his opinion, a single trace of the brogue waa to be observed in his speech. " Well," his friend answered, " if you wish to deny it, I should advise you to do ao in writing." The Auckland Agricultural and Pastoral Association, in response to a suggestion at the last general meeting, have decided to open a register for the use of farm hands. Any experienced working man who can produce satisfactory testimonials from his fast employer can enter his name free of charge afc the office of the association. The list will be open for inspection to any member of the society. This should prove a great boon both to men and farmers, many of whom conplain that mo9t of the men have little or no practical knowledge of farm work, and a similar scheme might with advantage be generally adopted by A. and P. Associations in other districts. A meeting of the Ashburton hounds took place at Lagmhor homestead on Saturday, when there was a field of some twenty followers, with many others who viewed the sport from buggies and other vehicles. A numerous company partook of luncheon generously provided by Mr and Mrs Buckley, after which Mr Claridge took his hounds down and threw off in a paddock a mile below the homestead. Hares, however, were so numerous that the "pack could not be kept together, and after several short runs over a country that afforded some nice jumping, amove was made to Mr Remington's farm. Here the country was all a straight goer could wish, but paddock after paddock was drawn blank till 4.30 p.m. when it was decided to make for home. Amongst those following were — Miss Grigg, Dr Leahy, Messrs Buckley, Saunders, B. Roberts, P. Roberts, Master Roberts, Messrs Hayden, Cass, McLean (2), Johnston, A, McKay, G. Morrison, andN. Parsons. The next meet is at Winchmore, and it: is expected that there will be a large gathering at one o'clock to-morrow.