CORRESPONDENCE.

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents.

THE WRONG HORSE.

To the Editor of the Ashburton Guard an

Sib, —Under the head of “ Sporting ” I notice a paragraph in the “ Ashburton Mail” of the 9th inst., in which the celebrated sire, Tribune, and myself are made to figure in anything but a flattering manner. It is as follows :

4 ‘ Sporting. —An exciting and interest ing race between the celebrated sire, Tri bune, and a renowned trotting mare came off in the Wakanui road last evening. There was no betting on the event, but the groom in charge started off and made a good third in the race. ” It is far from my wish to cast any un pleasant reflections on the gentleman who occupied the editorial chair of your con temporary, but either he or one of the staff’must have been somewhat “ mixed ” on the evening referred to ; as Tribune and myself, being quite in a different locality, could scarcely be racing on the Wakanui road.

It is just possible the writer may have visited one of Professor Jonas’s entertain ments, in which optical illusions hold the premier place in the performance. 1 am, &c. Aleck Hbwson, Groom in charge of Tribune. Alford Forest, Oct. 13, 1879.

MASONIC.

A meeting of delegates from lodges holding under the Scotch Constitution in Canterbury, was held on Thursday even ing, the 9th inst, at Quill’s Commercial Hotel, Ashburton, when four out of the six lodges were represented as follows : Canterbury Kilwinning, Christchurch. —P.M., Bro. Taylor; J.M., Bro. Carrel!; Treasurer, Bro. Grubb. Robert Bums, Christchurch. —P. M., Bro. Fleming; DM., Bro. Johnston; Treasurer, Bro. Pulton. Southern Star, Geraldine. —W.M., Bro. Williams; S.W., Bro. Robertson; Brc. Cullen (proxy). Thistle, Ashburton. W.M., Bro. Hurst; Treasurer, Bro. Quill; Bro. Harris.

P.M., Bro. Fleming, was voted to the chair, and explained that the principal business to be considered was the desira bility; of forming a Provincial Grand Lodge for Canterbury. The delegates present fully discussed the question, when the following resolutions were carried : 1st —That in the opinion of this meeting it is desirable that a Dis trict Grand Lodge be formed, and that the boundaries of the proposed , new district be those of the present Provincial District of Canterbury. 2nd—That the expenses of the pro posed D.G.L. be borne by all the lodges, proportionately to the num ber of their members. — —- 3rd-—That a petition be drawn up by a committee, consisting of Bro. Taylor, Fleming, Hurst, Harris, and Williams, asking that the various lodges in Canterbury be released from the present G.L and that. they be constituted a G.L. having jurisdiction extending over the Provincial District of Canter bury. It was then proposed by Bro. Fulton and seconded by Bro. Quill, “ That Bro. J. E. H. Harris be asked to act as Hon. Secretary until the petition be received or rejected by the G.L” Carried. A good deal of discussion took place as, to where the proposed G.L. should hold its meetings, when it was proposed and carried that the G.L. should * meet alternately at Christchurch, Ash burton, and Timaru. After some further business had been transacted, the delegates were invited to a banquet, which was tastefully served at tfae Ashburton Hotel—Bros. Mutch and McKenzie , catering in a manner which not only did credit to themselves, but afforded every, satisfaction to the guests, who numbered about 30. Bro. P.M. Fleming occupied the chair, and B.W.M. Bro. Williams the vice chair. .

The usual Masonic toasts were drunk, and some, very good songs were rendered. An expression of regret was passed during the evening when it . was mentioned that Bro. Felton wm lying dangerously ill.

Mixed. —An unfortunate mistake is said to have been made in a church near Rhyl (says “Brief.") The clergyman, who intended to pray for fine weather, offered up by mistake the fervent petition sor rain. The mistake was neutralised at the evening service, when the prayer for fine weather was substituted. To Make Yeast.— ln a saucepan con taining two quarts of water, put one large handful of hops, one large potato ; boil an hour, strain and allow to stand till about the warmth of freshly-milked milk ; put one cup of sugar and one of flour-hatter; in 24 hours it will be fit for use. In win ter place in a warm place, near the fire ; in the summer it is not necessary to do so, WhAt is a “ Cockney ?”—The word isa corruption of the French word “ cocagne ” (sweetmeats) the ’ land of cookery, an imaginary land of good living—and ap plied to the natives of the City of London,, in contempt, on account of their supposed S, pampered; and luxurious life. The n to the title is generally allowed to be confined to natives of the city, or as some have-it, to those bom within the sound of Bow Bells. She Caw' Stand it.— United States railway porters have earned an excellent reputation for their skill in destroying passengers’ luggage. They have now and then, however, to encounter difficulties which are insurmountable. A Detroit paper of a recent date says :—“ Saturday morning there came over the Great Western road, on its way West, a irunk which made the hair of the baggage smashers stand right up. It was 34inches long. 3 feet wide, and was made of solid boiler iron, one-eighth of an inch thick. The handles were of iron, riveted on with great bolts, and the lid was fastened down with an immense padlock. On one end of the trunk was painted the wqrds, ‘ She can stand it!” and on the other— ‘ More coming.’ ” The railway men groaned aloud as they walked around “that and .twisted it from every angle, and two omnibus men', who thought the owner was going to step over to them, made tracks out of the depot.

NOTES FROM SEAFIELD.

[from an occasional correspondent.]

I am glad to see you have started the “ Guardian.” It is just what the farmers havewantedforsometime,and I hope they will take advantage of the facilities it of fers for exchanging their views on farm ing, stock-rearing, and so forth. I know there are thinking men on these plains who could give valuable advice to their fellow settlers, and whose experience in many ways would’ be worth gold to many I know—myself included. I took a ride round the district a day or two ago, starting from Seafield, and I may as well tell you what I saw. But before I start just let me notice a few items about Seafield. The school is doing re markably well; the master tolls me he has an average attendance of 26 children, and the parents seem, to be highly pleased with the master’s work, as the young ones are maldng satisfactory progress under him. Mr. H. W. Pai’sons has laid out the grounds around his house withfinetreesand shrubs, quite a picturesque appearance has been given to the township by the work. A considerable extent of blue gum planting has been done in the vicinity too. Mr. Hardwick has a nice lot of two years’ growth, looking uncommonly well, and promising fine shelter in the not very far off future. He has also a fine garden of fruit trees in full blossom. His wheat and oats, too, while I am speaking of his place, I may mention arelooking very well for a good harvest. Mr. Field is another of our neighbors who has not neglected the future as regards trees, and he has sown a considerable lot of gums and pines. This is a step in the right direction that I would like to see every farmer follow. Mr. Field’s crops are looking healthy for the season. Messrs. Jones and Co., have also done some planting of trees, but their most important plant is a butchery and bakery, and I wish them every suc cess in their undertaking. They have also a farm of 200 acres, with a fair share of it under crop. Mr. Murdoch Bruce, their neighbor, has 300 acres, some in grass, and the rest in crop, and what is more a nice flock of cross-bred sheep, and some excellent milkers. Altogether Sea field is likely to become a pleasant little spot, and by-and-by will be quite a sea side resort of you Ashburton people. Saunders Bros, have about 900 acres of wheat in on the reserve, showing every prospect of a good return. As I said at the outset, I have been up Kyle way. Coming on the farm of Messrs. o‘Grady you find a hearty show of grass, wheat and oats. Not far off Mr. Brick has 360 acres of wheat and 140 of oats, with 10 of grass ; and I should say if things go right he will have a good show at harvest. I looked in at Mr. Alexan der’s. He has sown gums with a view to a nice avenue, and has laid down a grand lawn in front of his house. Being close to the sea, to which a fine gully leads down, if you want an enjoyable coun try outing, you would seek it in a less pro mising locality than this. Mr. Hurley has some healthy crops, both wheat and oats, and Mr. D. Buckley has about GOO acres in good heart and looking remarkably rich. I called at Mr. E. S. Lowe’s, and found that he has a really nice place, well fenced and provided with capital buildings. His crop consists of 300 acres wheat, oats, and barley, the whole very well grown. At Kyle, Mr Lambie is still well to the fore with substantial improvements, amongst which I was pleased to notice about 100 acres of young gums. He has about 250 acres in wheat, 130 acres in oats, and a quantity of bai ley, and is now putting in more crop. The Kyle school is making excellent progress, the master reporting the average attendance at thirty ; and the grounds have been tastefully planted with gums, firs, and larches. I was particu larly pleased to see the latter trees, as I think they will prove themselves well adapted to this soil and climate. I visited the properties of Messrs. McAnnlty, Mes son, Johns, and Blackburn, and found a fair amount of crop, looking well in each place. One paddock I noticed which had been ploughed in, and this was looking well. I saw a quantity of nice milk cows and fat cattle in this neighborhood, and their condition speaks well for the land. In fact, if the forthcoming harvest is a tolerably good one, stock-breeding and building will be taken in hand by our far mers, and great improvements effected. I took a hurried trip round the Wakanui Creek district, but I must leave any fur ther remarks until my next letter. In conclusion, it is very satisfactory to be able to add, that the crops generally are looking very well, although in some cases a little late. I think that this want of apparent growth, at this season of the year, is not a bad sign for the farmers ; and I confidently expect to see their labours this year rewarded by a bountiful harvest. I have previously omitted to notice a lot of excellent grass grown by Mr. Derden of Kyle, which is exception ally good.

A Lost Planet. —Among the dis covered asteroids, now numbering nearly 200, a few have already been lost, and not a few might well be spared. There is one, however, remarks Mr R. A. Proctor of the “ Newcastle Daily Chronicle,” which astronomers would regret to lose, viz., Hilda, which travels in a much wider orbit than any of the others. This planet could give more exact information respecting the mass of J upiter than any other member of the solar system, coming much more fully at certain times under his influence. Unfortunately, Hilda has leea searched for in vain at its first re turn to opposition, and astronomers begin to fear that the planet is, for the time being, lost. How to Make Bread. —Peel and boil 51b. of potatoes, strain and mash them, add one quart of cold water, strain through a calender ; add to the potatoes a pint of yeast, place in a large tin bucket or dish, stir in sufficient flour to make a thick batter, cover with a cloth, place by the fire ; do not fill the vessel more than half full ; when it has risen sufficiently put 151 b. of flour in a dish or trough, pour in the leaven, mix with tepid water and thoroughly knead ; keep it warm; in about two hours it will be risen ; make into loaves about 2ib.. place in tins, set, rise half an hour, put in the oven, bake one hour ; set the leaven at night, it will be fit to mix in the morning.

CHISPA’S LETTER.

(From the Aehbtuton Herald of October II.)

“I am not yet so bald that you can see my brains. ” —Longfellow.

I often notice in the Parliamentary reports allusions to the purchase of votes, and it makes me cogitate as to the market value of such-like commodities. Is the market ruled by the number to be sold, and are they cheaper when bought whole sale or retail, and do buyers and sellers class them like wool, or grain, or any other mercantile article, or is a guarantee required that, like Manchester prints, they have fast colors and are warranted to wash ? Really I think the buying and selling of votes must have become a recognised institution in Wellington when the Press correspondents so directly allude by name to members who are open to political conviction for the sake of emolument. Such things used to be whis pered with bated breath, of representatives of the people, but now it seems to bo looked on as rather a meritorious feature in a politician’s character to be recognised as a rat, who will turn his coat at every division—and the more divisions the better—whilst the real business of the colony is going to the dogs.

I wonder if, when the next big loan is raised, any portion of it will find its way here to assist in improving the appearance of the railway reserve fronting on East street. It never was a particularly picturesque looking spot, nor will it ever become beautiful, but it might at least be made decent. “ Strangers visiting Ash burton,” as. the advertisements say, can not be very much impressed with the extent of the paternal care the General Government sheds upon its offspring, as the' dilapidated station, the miserable huts, and the filthy gully in the busiest part of the town will vouch for. I don’t say we should demand luxuries, but let us have a few necessaries to go on with in the meantime.

For doing a smart stroke of business, and making both ends meet, commend me to a smart ofiicial in the Puritan City of Philadelphia. He was coroner of the city, and one would naturally imagine that very little could be done in the way of trade in that line of business. How ever, he had his eye to the main chance, and as perserverance and ingenuity are generally rewarded by success, he hit upon a splendid idea. It seems that one of the duties of a coroner in the “ States ” is to deposit the lamented remains of the sat upon ” in their last resting place for which the city authorities disburse 20 dol lars per “ corpus,”—and as the business of his department was equal to twenty cases per month, one would imagine that the coroner ought to make a good thing out of each line placed—seeing that tim ber is cheap in America, and the coffins consequently could be built by the mile ready for any emergency at a low rate. The Philadelphian coroner had, however, a soul above coffins, although he took care to draw the cost of them from the city funds. It is necessary in the pursuit of medical science to obtain corpses occa sionally, so that surgical students can be educated up their future vocation by ocular demonstration on the anatomy of a defunct; and as these necessary adjuncts to a training hospital are not to be pur chased as readily as a reaping machine or a pair of blankets, the coroner saw a chance of doing business. The medical colleges wanted “subjects,” the coroner had the mesns of supplying the market. The advantages were mutual, the college lecturers being able to lecture with the advantage of giving practical illustrations of their art. The coroner got rid of his bodies and saved his coffins. The pursuit of scientific investigation was forwarded, and an enterprising official was rewarded for having developed a new source of in dustry. He is now called upon by the legal authorities to explain how he made the two businesses to fit in, and I have no doubt that his information to the Court will be as ingenious as his previous pro ceedings.

Highway robhcry is not a common way of making .a living in New Zealand — perhaps because there are not many high ways. Such highways as we have, how ever, we have been taught to consider as almost as safe to walk upon as the garden path to a parsonage. This belief got a rude expulsion recently from the bosom of a respected Sumner resident. Riding home some nights .ago he was set upon and chased by a mounted Dick Turpin, revolver in hand, and only escaped with dear life through the terror in his own bosom inspiring, through his spurs, the heart of his noble steed. Next day the “ victim ” told the “ orrible tale ” through the daily press to the wondering and alarmed people of Christchurch. We wonder how he feels now that the murder is out. It was this way: A poor chap had a message to deliver to the hero of the tale. He sought the Sumner resi dence of the hero, who of course was away. Told that the hero could be met on the road from the city, the messenger made tracks. He held his “briar-root pipe ” by its ample bowl, and when he saw the hero approach in the grey light he summoned him to stand with a loud “ cooey ” and a big briar-root flourish. But alas! That unfortunate briar-root took the form of a revolver in the brain of the hero, and every repeated cooey sounded as a call to surrender. He bent his head to the mane of his steed and sped

“Away, away, Like a torrent in a stormy day. ” The messenger pursued but lost the race, and next day the full truth flashed upon his mind when the terrible “ letter to the editor” appeared. Too much afraid to tell the part he had played in the story he kept his secret bottled up lest a police man should hoist him for highway robbery. But murder will out, and we have received his confession. His shrift has done him good, may it also relieve the feeling of the couageous escapee from the clutches of a New Zealahd highway man. Chlspa.

Reclamation. Miss Rye, a noble Englishwoman, has just made her thirty second voyage across the Atlantic with a cargo of “ wastrels,” or street waifs —girls coliccted from the highways of Loudon. These girls are taken to Canada and placed in highly respectable families, and in almost every instance have obtained comfortable homes and led virtuous lives. The work has been carried on for about ten years.

POLITICAL.

It in unquestionably no new thing to hoar an Opposition make grave charges of incompetency and insincerity against the Government in office, and not infrequently, when the accusing Opposition change places with the accused Government, the charges, though substantiated to some ex tent, lose a good deal of the grossness the zeal or the bitterness of those who made them, charged them with. Greyite organs now ring the changes on this, and caution their readers against accepting as true the charges now being made against the Grey Government of mal-ad ministration, and malversation of office. Though similar charges have been made previous to every change of Government, and though we allow that they have just as often failed to be substantiated to the extent the accusers hoped they would be able, we do not think there is much room left for 'doubt that, wore a fair oppor tunity given to the Hall Ministry, an ugly category of scandalous doings might be unearthed from the departmental records <-f tl io Grey Ministry’s term of office. The history of the Grey Ministry’s doings, as apparent to outside observers, was not a creditable one, and they laid themselves open to charges that their op ponents have not Leon slow to hurl at them. Wo are perfectly satisfied there are reasonable grounds for believing that they have allowed a huge financial de ficit to accumulate, and should not bo surprised to hoar within the next few hours that the country will require to find a million or so of money to make the two ends meet, that the recklessness and extravagance of the very “ liberal ” Go vernment have deprived of the power of junction. We are certain that a keen head for figures, like that of Major At kinson, only wants to bend for a short time over the colony’s ledger to find out the financial situation, and the fact that the books of the colony wore to fall into his hands is sufficient to account for the unwillingness of the Grey party to re linquish office, and their desperate anxiety, after having been shamed into abandoning the reins, to resume them at the very first opportunity. What the effect upon the colony’s credit, and the value of its property will be when Major Atkinson makes his statement of finance it is not safe to prognosticate. But the conclusions we draw from certain rumors now floating about Wellington are that some startling revelations will be made during the week, that are bound to raise a feeling of uneasiness in the colony, and greatly cool down the popularity that has hitherto been enjoyed by the “ Great Liberal Party. ”

THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

[by telegraph.]

(FROM OUR OWJf CORRESPONDENT. ) Wellington, Saturday, 1.50 p.m.

Last night’s division shows the extreme equality of parties in the House. If Messrs Ormond and Russell had been in their places, the division would have been a tie, and on such a question the Speaker’s casting vote must have been with Govern ment. The apparent retirement of Sir George Grey has made his party far more united and compact, but the revelations that the new Government are getting out will not fail to shake the faith of any who are opon to conviction. Besides the utter wantof anyattempt to make both ends meet, and the most wicked and personal extrava gance and contempt of Parliamentary control, Sir G. Grey’s groat concern for the welfare of the colony, and of the working man in particular, has just been shown by the production of a despatch which he had kept back from the immigra tion papers, laid on the table of the House, in which he advises Sir Michael Hicks-Beach that wo wanted 0000 immi grants. He received for an answer that Sir Michael Hicks-Beach had communi cated with the guardians of thepoorin Eng land to supply them. This was done last Feb., after the bad harvest was known, and the consequent depression and want of em ployment was apparent to every one. Bor rowed money would be worse than thrown away in the introduction of 6000 paupers. Alluding to the accusations against the Pre mier made by Mr. Montgomery last night Mr. Wakefield said, “I will not waste any words on such small fry. ” Monday, 3.5 p.m.

The constituents of Mr. Joseph Shep herd, the member for Waimea, are very indignant, and request him to resign, but he is not made of that kind of stuff.

Messrs. Russell and Ormond return by coach to-morrow, and the week is likely to be one of very close lighting, in which every form of the House is likely to bo stretched to the utmost to prevent the present Government from holding office long enough to reveal to the public the frightful state that Grey and Sheehan rule has brought about; the many thou sands that have been spent in paying election agents under the name of native land purchasers, land tax collectors, etc., and in many cases without any such blind. A very few more weeks would have brought the Grey Government to a dead standstill, and it is difficult to sec how the same able and prudent Govern ment can got the colony out of the mess it has been brought into by their reckless manner of seeking popularity ; and who have been seeking popularity by taking off taxes when the circumstances of the colony should have called fur great addi tional taxation, however unpopular.

An Old Yarn. —A Scotch pedlar, with out the remotest intention on his part of getting into a quarrel or fight with any man, had put up (with his pack) for the night at a country ale-house on the borders of Wales, where, as the fates would have it, he found in the kitchen of the inn a motley assemblage of not the most desirable companions, and among the rest a Welshman, whose aim from the very first seemed to be to get into hot water with poor Sawney. The latter, sagaciously appreciating the true character of his tormentor, and determined to get rid of him in the quietest way possible, told him that he “did not want to light.” This only excited to a still higher pitch the bravado of the Welshman, and he told the Scotchman “he would make him fight. ” “ Well,” said Sawney, “if I must fight, let me say my prayers first,” which the Welshman conceding, the Scotchman fell upon his knees and implored his Maker to pardon him for the “ twa men he had already killed, and for the one that was aboot to doe.” The Scotchman slowly rose from his knees, but the Welshman had made tracks.

LOBBY GOSSIP.

[from bboknt exchanges.]

The Maori Representatives.

The Maori members of the Legislative Council are, with the exception of Taia roa, heavily tatooed, but the advance of civilisation is shown by the fact that all the Maori members of the Lower House are without any tatoo marks. Tainui is a short stumpy man. Tawhai is much of the same build. The best-looking of the group is Te Whcoro, of Waikato. It has been reported that ho was to he petitioned against, but nothing is said of the mattter now.

Speeches on the No-Confidence Motion.

Tlie speech of the now leader of the Opposition was disappointing to me, and I find that my opinion is concurred in by others. It was a great occasion, for which ample preparation might have been made, and the address ought to have had all the characteristics of a good sot speech, but he missed big tilings, and dwelt on little matters. lie wandered, and he displayed little humor or literary skill. Mr Hall may prove a good leader, and a good debater, hut his first effort has boon a disappointment. Very different was the speech of Mr Saunders, which had every characteristic which a good address ought to have. It was one of the ablest and most telling speeches I ever listened to. The matter was good, and the manner was quite equal. Mr Saunders lias established a claim to a seat in the Ministry, if Ids party has a chance of forming one this session. Sir George Grey’s speech was carefully prepared, and abounded with passages of eloquence. As a debating speech, however, it was a failure. Future Rewards. I pity both Ministers and the leaders of the Opposition. Their life for the past week has been most humiliating. A few days ago a Minister, with anxiety written on his countenance, met one of the leaders of the Opposition in a similar state in the lobby. Both were after the same game, and each smiled at the other. Said the Minister, “ We are beth such good and patriotic men that I am sure we will meet in Paz-adise. We will then compare notes as to how much dirt we have had to eat during the last few days. ” Mr Fyke’s Arrival. Mr Vincent Pyke was received like a monarch, and might, if he liked, have got a member to carry his umbrella and his walking-stick. He was carefully shep herded up the wharf, and it was a triumph to get a smile from him. The Agent-Generalship.

A correspondence is issued respecting proposed alterations and reductions in the Agent-General’s office. The ex penses of the Agent’s office are :— Agent- General, £ISOO ; secretary, £BOO ; ac countant, £SOO : clerk, £225 ; dork, £l4O ; clerk, £l3O ; messengers, £7B ; rent, £3Ol 4s ; total, £3734. Sir J. Vogel thinks his title should ho altered, as it “ does not do justice to the many responsibilities and trust position of the officer in question.” He thinks the Agent-General should be called Resident Minister in England.

The Hand that Rocks the World.

BY WILLIAM ROSS WALLACE. Blessings on the hand of woman ! Angels guard its strength and grace In the palace, cottage, hovel, Oh no matter where the place ! Would that never storms assailed it; Rainbows ever gently curled ; For the hand that rocks the cradle, Is the hand that rocks the world.

Infancy’s the tender fountain ; Power may with beauty flow : Mothers first to guide the the streamlets ; From them souls unresting grow, Grow on for the good or evil, Sunshine streamed or darkness hurled— For the hand that rocks the cradle, Is the hand that rocks the world.

Woman how divine your mission Here upon our natal sod ! Keep, Oh, keep the young heart open, Always to the breath of God ! All true trophies of the Ages Are from mother love impearled ; For the hand that rocks the cradle, Is the hand that rocks the world.

Blessings on the hand of Woman ! Fathers, sons and daughters cry, And the sacred song is mingled

With the worship in the sky, Mingles where no tempest darkens, Rainbows evermore are hurled ; For the hand that rocks the cradle, Is the hand that rocks the world.

A Plea fur Mothers-in-Law :—“ It is worthy of notice that the mother-in law is never spoken of with disrespect in the Bible. Ruth, the most charming woman in the Old Testament history, ob tained a husband and an immortality of admiration because she loved her mother in-law, and treated her kindly. One of the signs of the troublesome times that are to come upon the earth will be that the daughter -in - law shall be against the mother-in-law, and the mother-in-law against the daughter in-law. Possibly we may attribute the fall of man to the fact that Adam had no mother-in-law to look after him and his wife, and to warn them, as the efficient mother-in-law always will, against doing wrong. Solomon was the wisest man that ever lived, .and he had 700 mothers-in-law, unless some of his wives were orphans, and there is not a reproachful word concerning them in any of his writings. The modern man who has but one, and who growls about her, ought to consider this and refrain. ” A Ghostly Vandal. —A singular claim for the recovery of 30,000 fr. has been brought against a priest in the neighbor hood of Madrid by the heir of a connois seur whom ho had attended in his last moments. 'The plaintiff alleges that the defendant refused to absolve the dying man until he had burned two valuable paintings, by Reubens, as ho objected to them from a moral point of view, and that this act of vandalism had injured the 1 estate to the extent mentioned. The Court has not, as yet, given its judgment in the case.

CRIME IN AMERICA.

Referring to the above subject, the New York correspondent of the “ Australasian” savs ;

Next to politics, what engages the pub lic mind most at present is the “ Epidemic of Crime,” as it is rather fancifully called. If it -were really in the air, and the germs of murder, swindling and robbery were scattered by the wind, the result could hardly be more startling or extensive. Within the past month, no less than 20 murders have been committed in the City of New York and its vicinity, and some of them have been of a most outrageous character. Four were reported on the morning of the 4th of July. One of these was worth noting. An old man residing with his brother in a theological seminary occupying extensive grounds near the cen tre of the city, went out about 11 p.m. to see that no intruders were on the grounds. Two hours later he was found shot through the heart. The police, with their average acuteness, immediately started the theory that he had committed suicide. There was not a particle of evidence to sustain the notion. The dead man was of a cheerful temperament, in easy circum stances, the head of a family, and himself of perfectly regular habits and of pure life. Hut so wedded to their invention were the detectives, that no adequate investigation was had, and the coroner’s jury was allowed to bring in the amazing verdict that Seymour came to his death with a pistol shot, fired accidentally by some un known. Tliia jewel of “ Crowncr’s ’quest ” law ends all enquiry, though there was strong reason to believe, from the evidence given, that the old man was shot by a man with a woman in a dark corner of the grounds. New York is not alone by any means in its remarkable harvest of crime. Nearly every large city of the Union, especially in the ordinarily quiet States of the east, is engrossed in some extraordin ary trial for murder or other serious of fence. Boston is engaged with the case of a white-haired church officer, exposed suddenly in a long series of forged en dorsements of his own paper. The most striking feature in his case is the frantic efforts that are being made by his highly respectable friends to save him from punishment, by paying the forged paper. In Kentucky, the sensation is the trial of a lawyer of high standing at the bar for having deliberately killed a judge who had given judgment against him in a foreclosure suit. This gentleman, a Colonel Burford, seems to have been a model of the old fashioned southern chivalry. He is a man of honorable character in his ordinary dealings, but of ungovernable temper. Hearing that his brother had sold out the half of a farm which the two owned jointly, he sent word to the purchaser that he should bo shot on sight if he undertook to enter upon the property. Then he sought his brother, and warned him that he was about to kill him. The brother who was armed, threw away his pistol, and folding his arms,, faced the angry man, who fired three shots at him. He was so excited, however, that none of the shots hit. Three days after he severely wounded a friend of his brother’s who re proached him for his cowardly assault. When his sister’s farm was sold under foreclosure —the suit led to the present trial- —he garrisoned the house against the sheriff, and successfully resisted a siege of three days, which was finally raised on account of a new trial being ordered. When the new trial ended adversely, he “loaded his gun,” in his own language, “ slung on his game bag and started out to hunt judges.” He failed to find two, but the third he came up with, and killed on sight, the wretched victim being en tirely defenceless and off his guard. When arrested he caressed his shotgun, and re marked, “ She went as clear as a bell then added, kissing the barrel, ‘ ‘ I’ve had a good deal of sport with you, but 1 reckon this will be the last. You have brought down noble game to-day.” Being told that the judge he had shot was dead, he exclaimed, “By , I thought he could not get away with that load.” This brute was defended on the plea of insanity, and though the evidence was of the flim siest character, he was sentenced only to imprisonment for life—a sentence from which he will not be long in escaping.

SYDNEY COFFEE PALACE.

The following description of the Coffee Palace a movement that is rapidly spreading and gaining strength—is from the Sydney “ Town and Country.” The Palace was opened on the Gth inst; — The “Palace” comprises the whole of the premises, No. 393, and the upper floors of Nos. 395 and 397, George street. The ground floor area is 20ft x 70ft, and upstairs each of the flooi’S have three times that amount of space. In the base ment, which, like the ground floor, has an area of 20ft x 70ft, are a series of culinary conveniences of the most complete order, including a Pullinger range, and grill of Brobdignagian proportions, steam boiler, bain-marie, hot plate oven, and steam carving table. Tim ground floor apart ment is highly decorated with gilding and mirrors, and furnished with coffee urns, and marble tables on bronze bases. The bar, although intended to be devoid of in toxicating beverages, will be resplendent with glassware and colored fluids and crystals. The first floor is divided into two magnificent dining-saloons. One of these is for ladies, fur whom a separate entrance and stairway from George street is provided; the other is for gentlemen. Oft' the ladies’ dining saloon is a spacious and elegantly-furnished retiring room, connected with which is a lavatory and other conveniences. There is also a steam carving table on this floor, as on the base ment. Visitors to the hotel will be enabled to read the principal journalistic literature of the world in a cheerful read ing-room, while they recline in morocco covered arm-chairs. On the floor above is a salooif in which are two billiard tables, by Alcock, one of them being the hand some blackwood one made specially for Cook, the champion, to play his matches in Sydney on. On this floor also is a com fortable smoking room, lavatory, baths, and fourteen bedrooms.. On tho third floor there are thirty-six bedrooms, replete with every convenience. Tho comfort of lodgeis seems to have been studied to the fullest extent, and tho “ Palace” will offer a comfortable residence to those whose pietensioua are moderate. The tariff, it is said, has boon framed on a reasonable basis.

i An Aberdeen baby is said to have in herited the eyes and nose of his father, hut the cheek of his uncle, who is an 1 insurance agent.

Dr Slade, the Spiritualist, a Woman.

About three years ago one of the most famous leaders in the spiritualistic ranks was Slade, the medium and lecturer. He was very daring in his exploits, and became notorious throughout the country for his audacity, and the number of peK|< sons whom he drew under his influenced He made a e msiderable amount of money in America ; and in the latter part of 1876 iie went to England, where he continued his career as a medium, and for sometime was a rival of Home, the lucky medium who mairied a rich woman, whom he had taught to believe in spirits. Finally Slade w.rs arrested, and was tried in Lou don on the 29th January, 1877, for fraudu lently obtaining money by means of the unlawful power he obtained from his occupation as a medium. It was charged that as spiritualism was not a belief sanctioned by law, it was a delusion and a fraud, and that its use to extort money from the credulous was against public policy. The trial brought up the question as to whether .spiritualism was a fraud or not, and thd cases, which became the talk of the day, gave Slade a world wide repu tation. He was found guilty of fraudu lent practices and sentenced to three months’ hard'labor, but bis sentence was afterwards quashed on some technical ground. Slade came to Australia, and then returned to San Francisco. A few days after the steamship arrived a conver sation was'overheard between the ship doctor and an intimate friend of his, in which the startling statement was made by the medical man that Slade, the medium, was a woman, and was as per fectly developed as any other of her sox. The physician gave the following account of the manner in which he made the discovery. The gentleman who oc- . cupied the state-room with Slade was a man well known in Pittsburg, Pa., where he has many friends. He was not an admirer of Slade or his doctrines, and did not have much conver sation with him (or rather her). One day when in mid-ocean Slade was stricken down with something like paralysis when in his state-room. The other occupant of the room came in, and finding Slade ill and probably unconscious, began to re move his clothing and rub his (her) sides and chest to bring back the circulation of the blood. It was then that the dis covery of Slade’s sex was made. When Slade recovered sufficiently to talk, she begged that the gentleman would not expose her. He said that he would not do so publicly, if she would acknowledge the truth to the physician of the steamer. Slade at last consented, and told the doctor all about it. He made an examin ation, which proved beyond doubt that she was a perfectly developed woman. One of the queerest parts of the story is that Slade wears a heavy moustache. She said that she had always wanted to be taken for a man, and had shaved her face daily when very young. She had kept up the practice until she had a very long heavy moustache, of which she was very proud, and which she took great care of. She could, she said, have had a beard and whiskers had she dressed them. The physician, it may be mentioned, is a man who is well known in San Francisco, and stands well among his professional breth ren. After the story had been overheard, the person who heard it asked Slade’s room-mate if it was true, and be said every word of it was” correct. In corro boration of this story, the experience a well-known young Pittsburger, now holds an important Government ofiroe abroad, may be related. He had been reading “Footsteps on the borders of another World,” and other spiritualistic works, and was a partial convert to Spiritualism. He went to New York for tue purpose of seeing Slade, just before Slade started for England. - What took place at the interview was never fully bnown, but enough was said by the young gentleman to show that Slade had said or done something which was not to her credit, and which partially exposed her sex.

Neutralising a Prayer.—An unfortu nate mistake is said to have been made in a church near Rhyl recently (says Brief). The clergyman, who intended to pray for fine weather, offered up by mistake the fervent petition for rain. The mistake was neutralised at the evening service, when the prayer for fine weather was sub stituted. Appropriate Names.—There are in the United States five Unitarian ministers, and their names are as follows :■ Coles, Sparks, Tongs, Anvil, and Bellows. There are five generals in the Russian army whose names are as follows : Cut raenosoff, Pulmenosoff, Sawmenosoff, Blowmenosoff, and Nosbegon. There is a squatter living in the Wagga Wagga dis trict named Ram, and a farmer named Baines ; I also know a parish clerk named Pope, a blacksmith named Toole, and a bushman named Bear. At Parramatta there lives a fruiterer named Pye. A Moist Rem ark. --Americans manage to invent odd expressions. The other day a young American lady was at a London ball. Dancing heated her. “ I feel a little dewy,” she said to her partner, as she wiped perspiration from her brows. A Sick Sinner. —A shrewd merchant, who once in a while gave Ins conscience a severe twist, lay sick. Alarmed at his situation, he sent for a clergyman, who seems to have laid down the law in pretty strong language. The sick man moved uneasily, but at last said to his spiritual advisor : “ Parson, you are pretty hard on a poor fellow, but I guess you are about right, after all. I have thought it all over, and made up my mind that if I get well I will live principally honest.” The word “ principally ” was probably inten ded to cover any special contingency that might occur, and is a very convenient adverb. A young lada’ in North Carolina re quested to be released from her marriage engagement, on the ground that when she contracted it she believed her lover “ a duck,” but has since found him to bi a goose.

Tuesday, October, 14. 1879.!

THE ABHBURTON GUARDIAN,

3



Holloway’s Tills. —The Grand Secet. —With the variable temperature of this country, ill health will creep in unless the bloo 1 from lime to time be purified and noxious matters be expelled from the body. In this the nvblic may be its own physician. Holloway's Pills may be purchased at a trifling cost; instruc tions for (along them will be furnish;! with the Pills, and a little attention, with few in structions, will enable persons to keep them selves in hea'th under very trying circumstances. These Pills act as alteratives, tonics, and ape tients. Holloway’s medicine should be ready for instant administration when the' slightest symptom gives warning of approaching indis position.—Apvt.