LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XIV, Issue 3036, 27 July 1893, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Governor h*s become patron of the New Zealand Football Association. On Wednesday the Committee of Welcome, including several consuls, heads of public bodies, and leading citizens, waited upon Captain Villaamil, of the Spanish training chip Nautilus, and welcomed him and his officers to Lyttelton. Mr Scobie Mackenzie informed the Hou&o on Friday evening that a man who was and still is engaged upon co-operative Government works :bad recently jn his possession in Bunedin drafts amounting to £2000, which he intended to invest in property. There was a fair attendance at the American salesman's entertainment last wight, which consisted of comic singing; com petitions, musical and other, by members of the audience; and the programme gone through appeared to give satisfaction to those present. We (" Oamaru Mail') are informed that Mr Davidson, of the New Zealand and Australian Land Company, intends to cut up and dispose of the Levels estate (near Timaru) on behalf ot the compan}-, and that it is not improbable that the Totara and other estates will afterwards be treated similarly as opportunity offers. At the Chr stchurch Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday proceedings were taken against Mr Eden George, mayor, as the peraon having control of the Tuam Street Hall, for having allowed the building to be used for the purpose of a public meeting on Sunday. There was a similar case against the trustee of the Oddfellows' Hall, and the Bench reserved decision in both oases. A conference of representatives of the Mid and South Canterbury County Councils wilj be held at the Council's Chambers on Mon. day next at noon to consider the question of the small birds nuisance. The delegates expected to be present are—Ashburton County Council—Mr John Grigg; Geraldine—Mr W Balfour; Waimate—Mr E. Elworthy; McKenzie County—Mr J, T. Milne; Selwyu ~Mr», McMillan,

Aawei, th< ' Taori evangelist, who was for ' some time connected wi'h the Salvation Army in Ashburton, and has since his severance from that body been engaged in successful evangelistic work in the south, will conduct an evangelistic service ia the Oddfellows' Hall on Sunday evening, and deliver a lecture on Monday evening in the j sare place. Portion-are are given elsewhere, j

Tim sixth of the scries of country people's popular concerts took place in the Eiffel ton Schoolroom on Wednesday evening. Owing to the inclemency of the weather there were a few vacant seats, but those who were there enjoyed the fun immensely. 3h9 plnm padding competition was won by Master Luscombe, who seemed to have trained hard for ihe event. Songs were snnij by Misses Barratt, Vessey, Rickman, Banger, Grubb, and Primmer j Messrs Broad, F. Rickman, Dowle, Begg, Hardley, Stratforde, Cullen, and Burns. Recitations were given by Messrs Stratforde and Hardley. Misses Barratt and Ranger played the accompaniments. Mr Stratforde exhibited his magio lantern views, which were very much enjoyed.

At a meetiog of the Chriatchurch Liberal Association, held on Wednesday evening, to protest against the sale of any portion of the Cheviot estate, resolutions were passed as follow:—(1) This me«ting gratefully recognises the action of tho Government in repurchasing the Cheviot estate ; but considers it] undesirable, on the grounds of public policy, that the property should be dealt with on any system of sale or lease which will deprive the State of its future increasing value from settlement and public works. (2) That in the opinion of this meeting the estate should be so subdivided as to secuie settlement upon it tor the largest number possible; and this meeting protests against any portion being laid off in 5000 acre blocks orsimilariargeareas. (3) That the proposal to sell the Cheviot mansion together with a large block of the surrounding country U opposed to the public policy and platform of the Liberal Association, and this meeting urges upon Government to apply the msnsion to some public purpose—either as a home for deaf mutes or such other object as may be deemed desirable.