RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

ASHBURTON, Monday, Nov. 3rd. (Be ore Mu F. Guinness, R.M.) CIVIL CASES. Grigg.v. Orr & Co. —Interpleader case. Mr Crisp for plaintiff and Mr Branson for defendant. For £BB 7s 7d for goods seized under a warrant in re Orr & Co. v. Heron, and to compel restitution of same. 0. B. M. Branson, bailiff of the Court, produced a warrant taken out against the goods of James Heron by Orr & Co. Certain horses and goods were seized under the warrant a list of which was read. The goods were seized on Heron’s farm, Longbeach, by Henderson, and as sistant bailiff. They were seized on Oct. 23rd. Witness did not know of the exist ence of the warrant until the day after the seizure. Went to Heron’s on the 2&th, and took possession of the goods then. Removed the goods under the warrant to Ashburton. Have since had notice from Mr Grigg that he had a claim <m the goods. James Heron deposed to have been working on Mr Grigg’s land for some time. Gave up possession of his farm in April last, t> Mr Grigg. Had some horses, drays, Ac., which I sold to Mr Grigg. The goods described in the list produced never belonged to me, except a grindstone which was a fi v t ure. Was present when the bailiff seized, and told him the goods to Mr Grigg. Since I sold out to Mr Grigg I have been working for him. Examined by Mr Branson : I bought some land from Mr Grigg about three yearn ago 1 never had a title or agree ment. 1 signed over my claim to it, as 1 was not able to keep it up. I got £1 for giving it Imck. I owed him about £6OO. .1 owned h< rses and ploughs about that time, 5 horses and a quantity of harness. I sold all the property to Mr Grigg. I got a cheque from Mr Grigg for the value of them, and paid it back to reduce my debt. After & deal of hesitation witness said—l paid the cheque in Christchurch to Mr May, the agent for Longbeach Station. J yaid it voluntarily. I stayed on the land afterwards, and got horses and gear from Mr Grigg t > work the laud— about two months after 1 sold my horses. I was to work the farm with them. There is no agreement between us. Mr Grigg vould now turn me out without paying wagws. I get what goods I reouire at the station. Orr and Co., aud Jameson Brothers both refused to give me a double-fuiTOW plough on credit. John Grigg : I am proprietor of Lnng lieach, and know Heron’s farm. He had got about £6OO behind in his payments, and as he had taken the crop off, I gave instructions for him t > abandon the land, which was done, and he has since been fanning it for me, and I have found everything necessary to work it. The goods described in the list are my pro perty, and were never Heron’s. Cross-examined by Mr Branson: I have no definite agreement with Heron as to payment. The amount I will pay liim in April next will be according to xesults. 1 should say ho has now a 1 alance to his credit after paying his store 1 do not stand in the position of a creditor now, but as a debtor for labor.

Mr Branson drew his Worship’s at tmtion to the fact that the terms of the Act had not been complied with. Judgment by consent for plaintiff, witlnni costs, the goods to be returned to tr Grigg. Mr Crisp applied for a new trial. James Heron was then put in the box, :and aw< >re he had never been served with ai sum-uo'is 4on which the was ■obtained. MrOrroune to my place, and pointed out a summons ha had taken out :£or me, but he did not give it to me. Mr John Orr said Heron came to his office and stated what his liabilities and assets were, the latter being nil, and I Unaided him a summons, but 1 don’t think Ihettook it. Implication refused.

LONG BEACH ROAD BOARD.

The’Hsaal monthly meeting of the Long beasih lEt-iad Board was held at Willowby acVwl aum. Saturday at 2 p.m. Present— John iQaigg (Chairman), Joseph Clark, and Thomas Taylor. Correspondence was read from the Colonial Secretary’s Office, ;stating that the subsidy due would : shortly lie paid and that the proportion of ’ the £loo,ooodue from the land fund could : not be paid until the loan was raised.

From the Bank of New Zealand, re ex tension of the overdraft. The Manager ; informed the Board that the Bank would would grant the accomwodation asked for ■ upon the security of rates and grants ; all : amounts collected to be paid to the credit •of the Board at the Bank of New Zealand tto meet the overdraft. The overdraft in cluding payments due and payable at this ijiieeting amounted to £1,482 Ids Sd. On tthe motion of Mr Clark it was resolved Hhat the thanks of the Board he recorded fro the Bank, and the terms offered ac-; ■l‘ipted. ; rTO;ii the County Council, advising the IP“lot the name of the district had .“'.■*•l from Lower Ashburton to ...heath C « stme, enclosing copy of En ; -port on drainage at Tinwald, ■:>, , -cquest to f-rivard the same to the . >i.-i -Vhbnrton Board after considera vt.. D was resolved to forward that ■ tr-rbai of the report relating to the drainage affecting the railway to the au ; and to authorise the Chairman '•> •ctv-iibe County Engineer to draw up a fr.-sh report and forward the same to the ftiail-vay department, also to forward a ••oy~ o : sane to the Upper Ashburton p.vi*. I\,ird drawing their attention to the ■_ =;■. jK'f.eaeiity of the work, and asking i hem tto iroake similar application to the OwQOntDMRt

I'irwmJfdhn )Black, asking the Board to cor ?Üb»r;lhe eactra quantity of gravel he was ;to put on Bell’s Road. Too Survey or (explained his action, and it v- m resolvsdirthofc the contractor should be to adhere to the specification. ’.--out MrUJ. IS Dobson, re state of the r-r Jr. i-M,L to Hinds, pointing out that the between3sinds ami Ashburton had s large number of main and cross ; ■ fonv.ed and gnetalled, and mention ing some instances Where roads had been formed whore no traffic existed, and call ing attention to the necessity of forming mud nuking passable roads near Lowcliifo

The Chairman pointed out that roads at Lowcliffe had Been made at Mr Dobson’s own request, and it was resolved that the Surveyor report on the matter and reply .to Mr Dobson that no money was avail able. -

From %G. Raymond, asking for lease of reserve 1412 at Tiuwald. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr Taylor, that the Chairman write to the member for the district (Mr Wright) ask ing him to endeavor to arrive at the posi tion of the Road Board reserves, and that he endeavor to got a Bill passed empower ing the Road Board to grant leases, and give them other privileges in connection with same.

From John Bell, re purchase of land at for gravel pit at Waterton. —To bo en quired into. From Railway Engineer stating that a railway crossing would be put opposite Graham’s road. The surveyor was author ised to procure a new level. From Joseph Sloan, enclosing account for work on Longbeach road. Resolved to pass it. From W. Reed, asking for a crossing on Bell's road. A discussion took place its to the liability of the Board to construct bridges over drains, and it was resolved that timber be supplied by the Board, and the ratepayers do the work themselves in such cases.

Tenders had been opened by the Chair man since last meeting for a drain at Longbeach, and that of James Oroy at £39 had been accepted. The Surveyor’s report was read recom mending the letting of the maintenance of the roads by contract, he reported that the office, &c., was nearly completed ; and recommended that the deposit account at the bank N.Z. be discontinued.

Mr Clark said that his experience was. that in fine weather the maintenance of roads by contract was very satisfactory both to the Board and the contractor, but in wet weather the reverse was the rule, and he thought that no fixed specification could be drawn to meet the difficulty.

The Chairman endorsed Mr Clark’s remarks and pointed out the difficulties which would be experienced by the con tract system. It was resolved not to move in this matter at present. On clause 2 the Surveyor was instructed to prepare an estimate of the cost of the works suggested at the Road Board offices, and it was decided to close the deposit account. A number of account were passed for payment and the Board adjourned, the next meeting to be held at the new offices.

Turncoats.

When the Grey party had succeeded in winning over Messrs Shephard and Pyke from the aide of Government, by the aid of these coquettish politicians they lifted up in triumph their previously desponding heads. They could then point to the narrowest possible majority in their favor, and howl against the Government for holding place “ when they had not the con fi lence of the House. ” The Grey party had nothing to say against the political morality of either Mr Pyke or Mr Shep hard, and were in no way anxious that the reasons for those gentlemen’s change of side should be placed upon the housetop. Strong in the strength supplied by their recruits they placed a no-confidence motion on the Order Paper, and howled defiance. They were sure that the knell of the Hall Government had been sounded, and secure in that belief they proceeded to set their Ministry in order to begin work on the Ministerial Benches at an early date. But “ the best laid schemes o’ mice and men gang aft agley,” and soon the joyous and cheery faces of the ex pectant Ministers began to look woe begone. Tired of the humbug that was stone-walling the real business of the session, and seeing what was patent to everyone not wilfully blind, that for a time at least the ablest man on the Opposition was unable to obtain a working majority, and that no chance whatever remained of such a majority ever follow ing the common herd of inferior men who had pretended to take his place, four Auckland men consulted the best interests of the country and the constituents they represented, and cast in their lot with the party in power. Then the storm burst. It was no political wrong for Messrs Shephard and Pyke to play fast and loose with hustings promises. They were perfectly justified, of course, in being untrue to the votes that had sent them to Parliament, and the fact that they had joined the Grey side was sufficient palliation for being untrue. But for four of the more respectable of their own party to dare think for themselves, and see through the hollow sham of the Macandrew make shift, was akin to treason, and all the wrath which Sir George can enshrine in the very modest and quiet language, he is so noted for indulging in, was poured forth by the doughty chief. His followers joined in the chorus of execration with voices less tuneable, and language less choice, and all that could well be said against the Auckland seceders, and a great deal more than ought to have been said, they got the full benefitof, Government of course coming in for an unlimited share of abuse. But -»ir Macandrew was now beaten—beaten with his own weapons. He and Sir George Grey had angled for Messrs Pyke and Shephard. The anglers baited with a large worm, and the bait took. To the Hall net came the four Auckland votes, and sides were at once changed. The triumphant Opposition became a very much disheartened Opposition* with a very ominous limpness in the upper lip. But it is the country and not the Go vernment, that reaps the benefit of the Auckland contingent of seceders. All business stopped will now go on, for the Opposition seeing no possible chance of carrying their No-Confidence motion have wisely withdrawn it, and the Government have magnanimously allowed them to do so. Now the way is cleared for legisla tion. The financial position of the colony, and the state of native afiairs may now be got at and dealt with, seeing that the question of party for the time being settled. There are, of course, the other Liberal measures of which wo heard so much, and these will come |in time ; but the great question for Parlia ment to conside at this moment is finance, and the colony will look anxiously for th-s

financial policy of the Government now in power. It will be a difficult task for them to extricate the colony from the mess which is the country’s inheritance from the Grey Ministry.

The Loftus Troupe.

There is not very much that can be called instructing in the performances of the Loftus Troupe. Further than giving another lesson of our pom- humanity, in showing how far men and women can be degraded, and yet have the effrontery to claim to be considered respectable, they teach nothing. Their singing is nothing to go into ecstacies about, we have seen better dancing outside a penny sliow, and the troupe all through have yet to become actors and actresses. Truth may be elastic, but no man with any regard for truth at all could so stretch it as to in clude a statement that Ihe “ blondes”— powder and paint blondes—of the Loftus Company were pretty. The pieces they get up are not clever, and have no merit in them more than what might be pos sessed by any piece written by any literary hack standing upon leg. Tile jokes they retail have long since become musty, and have haunted the stage and circus ring for years. The only prominent features in the whole turnout, are the gross vulgarity of the performances, and the indecently suggestive action—not so much of the men as of the women. It is strange, but no less true, that in these enlightened times of high - toned Christianity, these same prominent features are the attractions that draw to the Loftus troupe's performances the crowds of male patrons who assemble to be entertained, not by the wit of the jokes—they are too flat to raise a laugh—not by the dancing, as dancing it is poor ; not by the acting— a local dramatic club of pick rnd shovel men would be ashamed of it—but simply by the filth badly insinuated, and the in decent gestures openly perpetrated. Yet this troupe have travelled the colony and made money—filled their coffers at a time when everyone was crying out about the financial depression, and when hun dreds of the workers were dying for bread ; at a time when sterling merit in lie theatres and concert rooms could carcely earn a livelihood. Auckland allowed the troupe to go away with only a faint newspaper condemnation. Welling ton through its Press fiercely condemned them, and refused to notice the perform ances. But the town walls were placarded with the life-sized pictures of almost naked women, and vicious men rushed to the theatre. The same thing happened in Christchurch, hut it was not till the shameless pack reached Dunedin that the faintest attempt to stop the indecency by the hand of the law was made. And that attempt is a miserable failure, through ono of those wretched leaal technicalities that so often cause justice to miscarry. We will not go into the legal merits of the case. When an Attorney-General brings off the women scot free, telling the Magistrate there virtually exists no law under which such performers can be punished for their arross outrage upon public decency, we are bound to believe that it is so. But the failure of the prosecution only shows that machinery ought to exist, competent as promptly to remove an offender on the statre against the public sense of decency as that which can be put in force against immorality on the street. We hope the Legislature will not rise this session until it has placed the country in possession of a law that will make a tour to drop moral filth impossible, and save the colony from a repetition of Loftus exhibitions.

The reports issued by the Treasury Department show that for the year ending June 30 the exports from the United States reached the value of $710,000,000, and the imports $445,000,000.

Five young men were playing poker at Asheville, N.C. One was detected hiding an extra card in his breast pocket. The dirk of another was instantly driven through the card and into the cheat’s heart.

Chinese Lotteries. —“ The “San Fran cisco Post ” says that there are nine osganised Chinese lottery companies, with 300 agents, in San Francisco. It also states that the head quarters are known to the police, and yet the business is allowed to be conducted without let or hindrance.

Maintenance of Roads. — We notice hat Mr Win. J. Silcock has commenced his contract for the maintenance of roads in the Wakanui district. The Wakanui road is the first he is operating on, and it promises to be considerably improved in appearance by his method of working it.

Since Sir George Grey’s exultation has been suddenly cut short by the defection from his ranks of the four Auckland mem bers, and the recent further accession to the Government side of the Hon. Mr Richardson, who has supplanted the Knight of Kawau in the Christchurch seat, Sir George has been singing a very small song. The recent turning of the political tables has had the effect of, so to speak, shutting up the Opposition, and business has accordingly made rapid pro gress. It is significant of the extent to which the sting has been taken out of the Greyite party that no less than seven Bills relating to electoral matters were read a second time on Friday night.

Mr E. G. Wright’s engineering skill has been turned to good account in the House of Representatives. It will be remem bered by those who read the items of political gossip telegraphed to us by our own correspondent that Mr Allwright, the member for Lyttelton, had been successful in greatly improving the ventilation of the building in which the “House” meets. A later telegram from our correspondent puts us right as to whom belongs the honor. The credit, it appears, was given wrongly to Mr Allwright, and the real genius was Mr Wright, the member for this district. We hope the House will benefit in more ways than one from the improved ventilation, and that this is only the beginning of many successful attempts on the part of Mr Wright to “clear the air ” of the august chamber of which he has the honor to be a member.

THE FARMER.

A Remarkable Pyramid of Cheese.

At the recent dairy fair in New \ ork the most conspicuous objects wers two immense pyramids of cheese, one on either side of the hall. That on the right contained ten tons of Vermont and Western cheese ; that on the left was still larger ; it was decorated with flags, ivy > evergreens, and upon its summit a fine Jersey cow,—dead of course, but hand somely mounted and quite life-like This pyramid was constructed and exhibited by the Messrs H. K. and F. B. Thurber, of New York. It comprised many varieties of home and foreign make. The lower course was a row of great cheeses, each weighing about SOOlbs, and ornamented with cards, bearing appropriate inscrip tions, among which were: “And carry these ten cheeses, with the captains of their thousand, and look how their breth ren fare.”—l Samuel, xvii, IS ; “ A last course at dinner without cheese, is like a pretty women with only one eye.”— “ Brillat Savarin.”, Above these were arranged smaller American, and the peculiar shaped and fancy foreign cheeses. On one side was a Gruyere cheese, with the inscription from Hudibras : “And prove that she .. is not made of green cheese,” and a jolly face representing “ the man in the moon.” The Messrs Thurber contributed largely to the interest and success of the fair. At one end of the pryamid was a table, containing a large variety of foreign cheeses, including oddly shaped ones from Italy, made of goats’ milk, and put up in bladders ; the famous English Stilton and Cheddar varieties, Irish cheese, French and Swiss cheese, which the firm procured abroad and brought over especially for this exhibition.

Coal Pirea—Practical Hints,

So much of the comfort, health, and economy, depends upon the proper management of coal fires during winter, that we offer a few common-sense sug gestions which may be new to some readers who have not given thought to the subject.—ln renewing a fire in a stove or furnace, it is customary to dash in a lot of coal, entirely covering that already on fire. The result is a cold spell, cessation of cooking, etc., for half an hour, more or less, depending upon the kind of coal, its size and quality, the draft, and the amount already ignited. Often the fire vexatiously goes out. This can be avoided by piling all the fresh coal on half or so of that already on fire. The burning portion will partially maintain the heat, will keep up the draft, and rapidly extend through the fresh coal. When that is well on fire, it can be spread over the whole, or if needed more coal can be put on the other side, leaving the new coal on the other side well burning. In this way a continuous heat can be maintained, with far less risk of extinguishing what we have. This may seem a small matter, but it will often contribute a great deal of comfort, and often save weak or sickly or damp persons from taking or increasing a cold. In the kitchen it may save the spoiling of good cooking or baking. In large steamships, a steady power is kept up by having several fire boxes under the same boiler, and replenishing only one at a time. When a coal fire is almost out it can be started afresh by first adding a little fine coal over the fire, with a bit or two of dry wood if needed, and with coal enough to concentrate the draft upon the little fire remaining. STARTING COAX, FIRES. In starting a coal fire, a great point is to concentrate the draft. If kindling wood is abundant and cheap a great quantity may be thrown in and fired, and when well lighted coal thrown on freely. But usually it is better to put a little kindling in a compact heat in one place, at the middle of the grating ; when well started, put over it a little fine coal, and cover all the rest of the grate with at least coal enough to turn the draft of air through the kindling point. It will burn more certainly and more rapidly, and extend to the rest of the mass much sooner than if the kindlings were spread out so as to give no strong heat to the hard coal at any point. The best kind ling for hard coal is a few shavings or paper to catch from the match ; over this a little pine, cut short ; and over this a little charcoal, or dry hard wood only half a foot or so in length, and slit fine — all the kindling in one pretty compact mass. The point is to get heat enough to ignite the hard coal. When the draft is not strong, or one is in haste, cover all the grating with a few thicknesses of waste paper, with some coal upon it, except right under the kindlings. This will con centrate the draft at that point, and greatly. The paper will burn oft’ as the fire proceeds, and admit the air to the other points. SAVING co A 1.. In mild weather much coal might be saved in large stoves, or furnaces, or grates, by covering a part of the grating with brick, or fiat stones, or even clay, or by covering part of the coal with fine ashes, so that the draft of air can only pass through part of it. A little skill and care in this will effect a great saving of fuel, and supply an amount of heat adapted to the weather dr to the rooms to be warmed. 1 we prefer a pretty large fire box in a stove or furnace, and in the cook stove even,' the burning portion to be contracted or regulated as above ; we then have ample room for a large fire in extreme cold* weather, or for an emergency. The brick or clay can be removed from any part of the grating as desired. SIZE OE COAT.. The smallest coal that will not drop through the grating is usually the most economical for all fires, even for large heating furnaces. Large lump, or egg coal even, requires a considerable depth of mass to burn well or, indeed, to keep ignited at all. Fine coal two or three inches in depth will keep on fire and its rapidity of burn ing can be easily regulated by the dampers, opening the upper door, rr by covering a part or the whole with ashes, to be raked off or shaken out as necessary. For the cooking stove or range, with three tons of moderately small “ stove-coal ” size, we buy one ton of “chestnut” or “nut”/

size, to be used in kindling, in starting up afresh quickly, and when only a small fire is wanted for a short time. For the largest heating furnace we use “egg” size (not lump), and with each four or five tons, one ton of stove size, and half a ton of chestnut size—the smaller sizes for kindling and renewing, and when but little fire is required—regulating consump tion with dampers, ash covering, or stop ping port of the grating.

Death of the Oldest Gipsy.

Dayton, Ohio, August 31st.

Aunt Mary Smith, the veteran gipsy» died at her home in Harrison township on Wednesday, aged 112 years. Aunt Mary was a native of England, and was one of

the first born of gipsy parentage in that part of the British Isles. She came to this country with her son-in-law, Thomas Geffrey, about seventeen years ago, he having returned to England for her. She travelled in the South for about eight years with her tribe, when from want of physical strength she was obliged t G retire from the road, and for about nine years she has resided here and in the vicinity. Aunt Mary was quite an in telligent woman. She was the mother of Amelia Geffrey, wife of “ Gipsy Tom,” who was, without question, the most in telligent and most cultured gipsy in this country, and who, with, her husband, died on their farm in this vicinity a couple of years ago, within a few hours of each other. Her funeral was observed with great ceremony. Aunt Mary was related to the Stanleys both by blood and by marriage. Levi, the old chief of the tribe, who some years ago deceased, was her son-in-law. She was a woman of great physical strength when in her prime and she had great mental force. Her funeral was celebrated this afternoon, and her remains were interred in the lot of the Stanley tribe, in Woodland Ceme tery. The tribe being scattered in dif ferent parts of the country, only those who were in this vicinity were present. —Dispatch of “ Cincinnati Gazette.”

Prosperous Exiles.

In a late number of the Paris “ Figaro” there is an interesting article on the transported Communists at Noumea. The writer says he has spent several months in New Caledonia studying the manners and customs of the convicts. If the in formation he gives is reliable, it will make many an industrious English artisan wish he had been sent to Noumea as a Communist. That place, in fart, ap pears to be the ready and straight road to fortune for all who are willing to work. Take the case of M. Bourdinat, for in stance, formerly a sergeant-major under the Commune, and now a contractor fo r joiners’ work on a large scale. “For merly,” said M. Bourdinat to the writer of the article, “ 1 was in favor of a general sharing all round ; but at that time I had nothing. Now I am worth 200,000 francs, and have no debts. I won a bronze medal at the Intercolonial Ex hibition of Sydney; the local Govern ment encourages me, and I am now executing several important orders for the colonies. I have no desire to return to France, except to see my old mother, and even if I do go I shall return to Noumea.” M. Victor Grellier, who was at the head of the Home Office under the Commune, keeps a flourishing hotel, and, though he sometimes speaks with a sigh of his past greatness, his present and material prosperity consoles him for the loss of official honors. Another Com munist, M. Joulin, has turned surgeon dentist, and is rich—a fact which would tend to prove that there is a great deal of toothache among the convicts, for it is scarcely probable that there is much demand for ornamental dentistry in new Caledonia. Meunier, who had not a sou when lie arrived at Noumea, is now worth £4,000. Four journalists can boast of having made as much in the short space of six years. M. Meunier has his daughter taught by a religious order, and may have adopted religious opinions since the Commune. M. Cognie, who had a great deal of gold on his ephemeral uniform in 1871, but none in his purse has spent 25,000 francs in having a new house built for himself, and has paid for it in hard cash. Piazza, an ex-Garibal dian, has recently bought two houses for 20,000 francs, and spent 10,000 francs in having them repaired. This is a very bright picture ; but there is a terribly dark shade to it. The majority of the political convicts work as little as pos sible, and spend all their earnings in drink. It is probable that not many of them were drunkards in Paris, but during their banishment they are des cribed as having generally become con firmed sots.

Hearing Angel’s Whispers.

There has recently appeared in the city of New York a clairvoyant who adds to his gifts of spiritualism that of clairaudience, which may be described as the faculty of hearing angels’ whispers and the low-toned conversation of those ethereal beings of the other and supernatural world. The new medium has published a work on the new discovery, and the credulous and the sceptics are said to be rapidly buying it up, inasmuch as it is a work of a man of superior education, who until recently would only believe what he could see or understand to exist by putting it to the test of his five senses. Whilst this convert is reviving the drooping hopes of spiritual ists in New York, a young lady is causing quite a sensation in San Francisco by her “ marvellous power over the spirits of the defunct friends of all her visitors. ” Know ing only the English language, she possesses the wonderful facility of com pelling the immortals to communicate their thoughts in any language which their living friends may indicate. A gentleman, whose testimony is said to be unimpeach able, and whose faith in clairoyancy was previously at zero, has r iade public his visit to this wonderful medium. He took the precaution to arm himself with a double slate, hinged strongly, and so made

that when folded no human ingenuity could insert any writing instrument to the interior, and before entering the house of the medium he placed a piece of genuine pencil within it. Without enquiring into the peculiar construction of the slate, the lady asked the especial object of her vistor’s call. On being informed she laid one hand on the wooden cover of the slate and immediately a scratching noise was heard. She withdrew her touch and the sound at once ceased. The visitor opened his double slate, and found one side written close over in English in a clear and bold hand, whilst on the other the answers were written in French. Though his incredulity was fast being sapped, he begged another trial. After cleaning the slate he closed it and held it tightly be tween his two hands, and on this occasion the medium did not even touch it. At a wave from her hand the scratching noise was repeated, and ceaoed when she motioned negatively with her head. The whole slate, on being opened was found to be covered with questions. During this manifestation of power strange “ Tappings” were heard, the air seemed charged with murmimngs of soft voices. Later on the lady astonished her visitor by command ing a trumpet to sail round the room, which the instrument did in a series of gyrations, during the whole time emitting [sounds and speaking words as if with a human voice. The lady does not pretend to read the future, nor does she cause the spirits to indulge in projdiecies. With the dead, however, she claims to hold communion, and she asserts her power of summoning to her presence the departed friends or relations of any person living who will honor her with a call, and, of course, with a fee.—“ Daily News.”

A Duel in the Dark.

The Washington correspondent of the

“Boston Journal” writes: —“Among the many bloody duels on record as having been fought by Congressmen was one in which James Jackson, of Georgia, who had been and who was afterwards a United States senator, was the ohallenged party. He was an Englishman by birth, but he went to Savannah when a lad, studied law, was a leading Freemason, and fought gallantly in the revolutionary war. He killed Lieutenant Governor Wells in 1780 in a duel, and was engaged in several other ‘ affairs of honour,’ until he finally determined to accept a challenge on such terms as would make it his last duel. So he prescribed as the terms that each party armed with a double barrelled gun loaded with buckshot and with a hunting knife, should row himself in a skiff to designated points on opposite sides of the Savannah River. When the city clock struck 12, each should row his skiff to a a mall island in the middle of the river, ..Inch was wooded and covered with underbrush. On arriving at the island each, was moor his skiff, stand by it for ten minutes, and then go about on the island until the meet ing took place. The seconds waited on the mainland until after one o’clock, when they heard three gunshots, and loud and angry cries. Then all was still. At day light as had been agreed on, the seconds went to the island and found Jackson lying on the ground and his antagonist lying across him dead. ” Jackson recovered, but would never relate his experience on that night ; nor was he ever challenged again. He died while serving hia second term as United States Senator, March 19, 1806.

How we Catch Cold.

This pertinent question is just now en gaging attention. There is another ques tion which should be answered first— namely, what is cold ? The old idea of a “ chill ” is, perhaps, nearer the truth than the modern notion of a. ‘‘cold.” The hypothesis would seem to be that a “cold ” is something more than a cold, because it is said, “ you do not catch cold unless you are cold.” The fact is, there are pro bably as many diverse occurrences grouped and confounded under the generic title of cold catching as diseases covered by that popular term fever, which is made to comprise every state in which the pulse is quickened and the temperature raised. By a parallel process of reasoning “cold” ought to be limited to cases in which the phenomena are those of a “ chill. ” When a person “ catches cold,” either of several morbid accidents may occur—(l) He may have such a chill of the surface as shall drive the blood in on the internal organs and hamper some weak, or disorder and influence some diseased viscus ; (2) the cold may so impincc on the superficial nerves that serious disturbance of the system will ensue and a morbid state be set up ; (3) the current of the air which causes the cold may in fact be laden with the propagating “ germs” of disease ; or (4) the vitality of the organism as a whole, or of some one or more of its parts, may be so depressed by a sudden abstraction of heat that recovery may be impossible, or a severe and mischievous reaction ensue. The philosophy of prevention is obviously to preserve the natural and healthy action of the otganiam as a whole, and of the surface in particular, while habituating the skin to bear severe alterations of tempera ture by judicious exposure and orderly stimulation by pure air and clean water, and natural habits of hygiene and health.

Lost Property Department.

From a correspondent of the “ Inver ness Courier ” wo glean the following curious facts. He says :—Most London ers have heard of the Lost Property De partment at the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police in Scotland Yard, but very few are aware of the magnitude of the transactions carried on there ; and the report recently published in one of the daily newspapers of a visit to this museum of forgetfulness must have been a startling revelation even to the most ardent be liever in the vastness of the Great City. It seems that on an average one hundred articles are received every day from cab men whose honesty is sufficiently active to induce them to comply with that stipula tion in their license which requires them to convey to the nearest police station any stray goods or chattels found in their vehicles. Not that that virtue is left to be altogether it own reward; for if the property be claimed, the owner has to pay two shillings and sixpence or three shil lings in the pound, which is handed over to the law-abiding coachman ; and if no satisfactory application be made within three months cabby becomes the legitimate possessor of the “ treasure-trove. ” It is said that the men, as a rule, prefer to re ceive the reward rather than the article it self. And certainly when it came to bo the fourth umbrella or walking-stick, or the third pair of spectacles, a smart young cabman might be excused for murmuring at the monotony of chance. But when it is a case of five hundred pounds in bank notes, six hundred pounds’ worth of watches, four hundred and seventy-six American gold eagles, or four thousand

pounds in valuable securities, the requisite three months must seem a very long time to wait for a careless owner to put in an appearance. If the value of the property exceeds ten pounds, the reward takes the shape of a lump sum fixed by the Com missioners of Police, in accordance with ihe particular circumstances of the case, and in a few instances ranging as high as one hundred pounds. Within the last twelve months, cabmen who are now ply ing for liire, have received amounts in this way of twenty-five, fifty, and one hundred pounds. Some of the stories of forgetful ness thus brought to light are as curious as they are amusing. A hairdresser leaves behind him a bag containing all the materials of a modern coiffure and all the implements of his craft. A merchant for gets his cheque book, a traveller his port manteau, an invalid his box of pills, an actress her diamonds. Umbrellas,, spec tacles, opera-glasses, walking-sticks, muffs, pipes, even boots, all find their way to the Lost Property Department. Little wonder is it then that the total value of the “ flot sam and jetsam ” of this great sea of traffic was estimated last year to amount to four teen thousand pounds.

A Modem Miracle.

West Union, 0., Aug. 15.—Persons ac quainted with Mrs H. Clay Cooley, of Manchester, compassionately remember her as an unfortunate, patient, Christian sufferer from that most painful of all afflic tions—a weak spine. For ten years past she has been unable to attend ordinary household duties, and only able to hobble around with much pain and labor, with the assistance of braces, crutches, or canes. Her sufferings have, at times, been in tense, and to all beholders she seemed a cripple for life. Only a person of great piety could have borne up under what she has foregone without a soured, grumbling disposition, but she has been as bright and earnest and hopeful as if a merciful Provi dence had only dispensed upon her His choicest blessings. Unable to do anything else, for years past she turned her atten tion to flower gardening, and as her beau tiful, tasty home testifies, she has become an adept in that line. But she has de voted more time and more pains in doing w hat she could for her church. Being a Christian of the most extreme and best type, she has always believed in what her minister called “ the saving power of Jesus Christ,” and never ceased to pray, and pray almost hourly, for the full re storation of her physical powers. This week her prayers have been singularly and completely answered. On Tuesday she told her friends that her pains would soon he over ; that her sound body would once mure be restored, and that the next day she would walk as well as as ever.” “That night,” she says, “I spent in prayer, and prayed as 1 had never before prayed, until about daylight, 4 o’clock a.in. when 1 arose, without effort, and with ii " assistance whatever, only believing that G-id had fully restored me, and went forth with a joyful, thankful heart to spread the good ticlings’of His wondrous love and power.” Since that time; Mrs Cooley has been as well as she ever was in her palmiest days, and suffers no pain whatever. To all intents she is as healthy a woman as there is in Manchester. Is her wonderful recovery a miracle 1 One thing is certain. Tuesday she could not walk ; to-day, without having taken any medicine, or being under any one’s treat ment, she walks as well as ever. She does not appear under any excitement or delu sion whatever, but takes her recovery, as a matter of course, after God’s sending peaceful assurance that she should again be well. Will some one explain the mystery 1

A Jury Story.

One of the best jury stories I have heard for a long time (says a London correspon dent) was told about a case which was tried at Westminster recently. The action was brought to decide a dispute between a water company and some of its consumers, and the evidence in favor of defendants seemed so irresistible that the judge ex pressed his wonder that the jury should want to retire to consider their verdict. After being absent some time they came back and announced that they were all agreed with the exception of one, and the judge, indignant at a single person refusing to accept the overwhelming testimony offered in favor of the defendants, made some remarks not flattering to the intellec tual powers of the solitary recalcitrant, though, of course, no one out of the jury box knew which of the twelve was the man. However, the jury had to be dis charged, and it afterwards it turned out that it was the twelfth who had taken the same view of the evidence as the judge himself, and the other eleven who had refused to adopt what his lordship, and, indeed, everybody else in Court, thought the only reasonable conclusion to be drawn from the fact.

4

THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN

Tuesday November 4, 1579



The American commercial failures in I the first half of 1879 were 4058, with 'liabilities of $65,000,000, as against 5825 failures, with $130,000,000 in the first half of 18G8. The “ Cologne Gazette” states that Dr Falk has been offered the patient of nobility, but has declined it for himself, accepting the offer, however, for his son, who is an officer in the army. Holloway’s Pills. —These Pills are more efficacious in strengthening a debilitated con stitution than any other medicine in the world. Persons of a nervous habit of body, and all who are suffering from weak digestive organs, or whose health has become deranged by bilious affection, disordered stomach, or liver complaints, should lose no time in giving these admirable Pills a fair trial. Coughs, colds, asthma, cr shortness of breath are also within the range of the sanative powers of this very remarkable medicine. The cures effected by these Pills are not superficial or temporary, hut complete any permanent. They are as mild as thev are efficacious, and may be given with confidence to delicate females and young chil dren. Their action on the liver, stomach, and bowels is immediate, beneficial, and lasting, restoring order and health in every case.— AdvtJ