SHIPPING.

STEAMERS LEAYE LYTTELTON AS UNDER. Fob Napier, Gisborne, and Auckland —Arawata, Thursday, Bth April. Fob Taueanga Arawata, . Thursday April 8 (transhipping passengers and cargo at Auckland). For Port Chalmers— Ringarooma, Mon day, April 5. Passengers by 2.40 train. Fob Melbourne, via Bluff —Ringa rooma, Monday, April 5. Fob A karoa —Wanaka, April 15. Fob Picton, and Nelson (transhipping at Nelson for West Coast Ports) — Hawea, Saturday, April 3.

COMMERCIAL.

CHRISTCHURCH CORN EX CHANGE. The following is the report of the Christchurch Corn Exchange for the week ending Friday evening, the 2nd in stant : The last week having been given over to holiday-making, business in the grain trade has been almost entirely suspended. The exceptionally fine weather which has characterised the season throughout still continues. Large quantities of grain con tinue to come forward. Wheat-—Wheat is hardly so firm as the preceding week, notwithstanding that recent English advices report the market steady. Millers have supplied their wants and are now fastidious as to samples and quality. For good milling quality 3s. lid. to. 4s. is obtainable. Chick wheat is in good supply, with the demand fairly good. The quality of the samples coming to hand are so various that a good margin must be allowed, 2s. 6d. to 3s. per bushel being the extremes. Barley.—The remarks in last week’s re port bearing on this cereal must be again repeated, very few samples of really prime malting putting in an appearance. Any parcels of such coming forward are eagerly taken at top prices. Large quantities of second rate to inferior are offering, which are difficult of sale at even a very low figure, the price of oats bei:.g detrimental to this class of barley. Prime malting will command 3s. 9d. to 4s. ; second rate to inferior, 2s. to 2s. 9d. per bushel. Oats.—The price has given way, but not to any appreciable extent. Buyers are not quite so eager. To counterbal ance this, however, holders are equally unwilling to part, and prices must again be repeated at Is. 4d. to Is. 6d. per bushel. Grass Seed.—A few inr uiri 'S are being made for small lots, but iho d mand does not exist which will at all sffeo values, 2s. fid. to 2s. 9d. per bushel being the highest prices obtainable. Potatoes. The trade has not yet set in and prices still remain in an uncertain state. The quality this season as a rule is good, but the yield is by no means what it was anticipated. This is being pretty generally the case. Sales are reported as ranging from 30s. to 40s. per ton, sacks extra. Cheese and Butter.—4|d. to sd. for the former, fi£d. to 7d. for the latter. [BY TELEGRAPH. I Christchurch, April 2.1 F Mr Nos worthy offered aquantity of young stock for sale to-day, but biddings were slow, and after one or two animals had been sold, reserves were put on the rest, and they were not disposed of. The customs revenue collected at the Port of Lyttelton last quarter, was L 45,934 14s. lid.—some L 14,000 less than in the same quarter last year. Dunedin, April 2. Prime beef, 225. fid, per lOOlbs ; mut ton, 2Jd. to 2|d. Wheat, 4s. to 4s. 2d. ; fowls’ wheat, 3s. to 3s. 3d. ; oats, Is. 3d. to Is. sd. ; barley, 4s. to 4s. fid. ; feed, 2s. fid. to 3s. ; potatoes, L 3 to L 3 ss. ; old hay, L 4; new oaten hay, L 3 ss. ; chaff, L 3 ss. ; straw, L2 ; bran, L 4 ; pol lard, L 5 ; flour, large sacks, Lll to Lll 10s. ; oatmeal, L 1 0; pearl barley, L 22 ; onions, 7s. ; new cheese, 2d. to fid. ; bacon, rolled, lOd. ; hams, Is; sides bacon, lid.

ASHBURTON RETAIL LIST.

MAIL NOTICES.

Mails close at the Chief Post Offices for the following places (subject to the necessary alterations) as under : Monday, April 5. For Otago and Australia, per Ringa rooma. The next mail for the United Kingdom via Brindisi will be closed at Christ church on April 7th, and will be due in London on May 27th. The next mail for the United Kingdom via San Francisco will be closed at Christ church on April 24, and will be due in London on June 8. SYDNEY J. DICK, Chief Postmaster. For Christchurch and North at 10.20 a.m. 4.30 p.m., and 8 p.m., daily. For Chertsey at 10.20 a.m daily. For Rakaia at 10.20 a.m and 4.30 p.m daily. For Dunedin, Timvald Winslow, Hinds, Coldstream, Rangitata, Orari, Winchester, and Geraldine, at 10.20 a.m, daily. For Temuka. Timaru, and South at 10.20 a.m and 3.30 p.rn daily. For Greenstreet, Ashburton Forks, Mount Somers, and Ashburton Gorge on Tuesdays and Fridays at 10.30 a.m For Ashton, Waterton, and Longbeach, at 3.15 p.m. daily. For Wakanui and Seafield, on Mondays and Thursdays, 7,30 p.m. W. St. G. Douglas, Postmaster.

MEMORANDA.

AMUSEMENTS, This Evening. “Ashore and Afloat,” by the Ashburton Amateur Dramatic Company, at the Town Hall, at 8 o’clock.

AUCTION SALES.

This Day. Acland, Campbell, and Co., at Messrs. Jameson andßoberts’ store, at 1 o’clock, —lB6 Building Allotments, Township of Chelmsford, Lagmohr.

BIRTH.

Compton. —At South Rakaia, on March 28th, the wife of W. B. Compton, of a daughter. Both doing well.

The Ashburton Guardian, COUNTY AGRICULTURAL & SPORTING RECORDER SATURDAY, APRIL, 3, 1880.

For some time back, if we read the signs aright, there has been a tendency i n some parts of the colony to favor the levying of a poor rate, and a few dajs ago we read an article in the Wellington “ Post,” which not only favored such a rate for the colony, but advocated it —at least, so far as the larger cities are con cerned. There are some men so thoroughly thorough that they must call a spade a spade, and cannot bear even the slightest mincing of matters. While we have a system of charitable aid that is unsatis factory in its working, and a source of heart-burning between the Government and the public bodies, and out of which disputes are continually arising, these thorough men fancy it is just as well to be hanged for a sheep as a lamb, and would rather have a regularly imposed poor rate than dispense charitable aid from the Government coffers. They hold that charitable aid, as we know it in New Zea land, is only another name for the poor rate, or rather the poor rate raised in a different way, and like the drunken man on the road with a ditch on either side, who chose to go into the ditch at once and flounder along in the mud in preference to enduring the mental torture of keeping up an appearance of sobriety and putting forth his befuddled efforts to avoid the ditches, these very thorough men want to be into the poor rate at once, and have all the ills they now fear brought upon them. We confess to the existence of all they point to. A stone’s throw from our own township we have an institution called by the name of the Old Men’s Home, and there are other similar institutions in various parts of ths country. We may speak sentimentally about these institutions, and gloss over their character as we may, but they only hold the place that other institutions, with other and less pretty names would, were a poor rate the means employed to support them, instead of votes from the general funds of the colony. We confess, too, that the number of un employed who now ask for Government aid, and clamor for work, brings the ques tion of a poor rate very near to us ; but we are not satisfied that the time has yet come for us to consider the advisahleness of a poor rate. The unemployed exist and the Old Men’s Home exists, to be sure, but before we cast off the old system, with all its faults, we would do well to consider what effect the introduction of a poor rate would have. The little flutter has scarcely subsided that was caused by the tour of the Lincolnshire farmers’ delegates, and and we now cast our eyes longingly to the old country, and wish for men of the class of Grant and Foster to come and settle among us. W T e still keep agitating in the Home land the grandness of the colony as a refuge for the stalwart sons of crowded England, and we cease not to tell the people of Britain that we are a country without poor and without beggars. We boast of the room we have for thousands more of our fellow-countrymen, and point with pride to our fertile soil, the broad

acres of ifc the plough has not yet reached ; and when we invite our brethren to come we are not slow to tell them that in coming here they leave poverty and all its unpleasantness behind them. Notwithstanding that for the time being free immigration has been stopped and the introduction of even pas sage-paying laborers discouraged, it is not intended that the avenues of immigration should be closed for ever, and that in bet ter times we should not as heartily as we did in the past invite our countrymen at Home to join us the colony. True, the borrowed millions that brought free immigrants here, and found hundreds of them work have been spent, and those works that found them employment, have, to a large extent, ceased. A time of depression came upon us in common with all the world, and the slackness that followed upon the spending of all our borrowed money was heightened by the general dulness. But those very works that found the immigrant work when he first came over, have opened up for settle ment a wide area of country, and that area is constantly extending It may be that we have imported more labor than we are able to employ at [this moment, but the time must come, with the prosperity that is returning to the whole world, when all the now idle hands will be busy, and the cry will be for more. 400,000 no more represents the mouths New Zealand is able to feed than its present population represents the utmost feeding ability of the great continent of America. Are we then to levy a poor rate and confess to the outside world that the halcyon days of our prosperity are gone, and that here the laborer is no better off than at Home ? Certainly not. Settle ment truly does not progress at so fast a rate as we would wish it, nor do manu factures increase as they ought to do, but there’s a good time coming, just asbad times have come, in the ebb and flow of life, and when the cloud of depression has been thoroughly lifted, not only from England but from the whole world, then we must get a share of the sunshine of prosperity. New Zealand’s future is not a dark one. ' “ The poor ye have always with ye,” are the words of one wiser than any statesman that ever lived, but still in a young land, where only a small portion of the virgin soil has been broken, and not half a million people have settled on its ample bosom, it is not yet time to go back to the institution of the great teem ing land where poverty and squalor beg for bread at the doors of untold wealth, and the relieving officer doles out a miser able pittance to keep soul and body to gether till the time shall come when the poor starved body shall be ‘ ‘ rattled over the stones, only a pauper whom nobody owns.”

Mount Somers Railway. —We under stand that this line will be open for traffic in a few days. Henry Irving. —Henry Irving, the great Shakesperian actor, has a first cousin in Ashburton, in the wife of a genial and well-known contractor. Abe Hicken. —Abe Hicken, “ with a galaxy of other talent,” displays the “ manly art of self-defence in all its grace and beauty ” in the Town Hall on Monday evening. The Christchurch Tramway. —During Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of this week, the Easter Review and race days, the Christchurch tramway .carried 7,500 passengers. The Grain Trade. —For the first four days of the present week, 50,393 bags of grain were carried on the Christchurch section and branches. On Thursday night the bags accumulated at the various stations amounted to 29,349. Matson and Co.’s Sale. —A very large crowd of farmers and others attended Matson and Co.’s sale of farm, stocking, .and implements yesterday at the saleyards. The property sold was that in the estate of the late Mr. John Joyce, and com prised some splendid horses, cattle, and implements. The A. and P. Association. —The meeting of the A. and P. Association should have been held on Thursday, but wasn’t —only one member rolling up. The announcement of the meeting only ap peared in one paper—hence the failure. The next meeting will be held on Tues day, the 13th. Heavy Yields. —Mr. Isaac Sargent, of the Ashburton Forks, is at present thresh ing out from 104 acres, the fair average of 47f bushels of wheat per acre, and a splendid sample. This, however, is some what exceeded by Mr. Jamieson, of the Wakanui road, who threshed out, last week, G 8 bushels to the acre. Settling Day. —The settling for the autumn meeting at Christchurch took place yesterday afternoon, when the fol lowing stakes were paid over : —Fraser, LlB4 ; Mason and Yallance, L 550 ; the Hon. R. Campbell, L3CS ; Cutts, L 142 (only half paid for the Epsom Stakes walk over) ; Goodman, L9O ; Butler, L 46 ; and Plummer (hack race), LlO. Bee Keeping. —Dr. Irving’s lecture is announced for 13th April. Perhaps no man in New Zealand is better able to tell us all that is known and worth knowing about bees, and how to make their honey producing powers profitable, than is Dr. Irving, and we would recommend those who have an hour to spare of an evening to make a note of the date. The lecture, we feel sure, will he worth stealing an hour from very pressing business to hear. The Chelmsford Township. The building allotments in the new township of Chelmsford, at Lagmohr, will be put up to auction this day, by Messrs. Ac land, Camybell, and Co., at the stores of Messrs. Jameson and Roberts, West street. There are 186 sections altogether, some quarter acre, some half-acre. The township is on the new Mount Somers line, and a station will probably be erected near it. The sale commences at one o’clock, and immediately after the sale of the sections, some eight or nine farms in the near vicinity will be sold. The Supreme Court Sessions. —The following is the criminal calendar for the next sittings of the Supreme Court at Christchurch Michael Murphy, obtain ing money by false pretences ; W. H. Hudson, larceny; Henry Russell and John Walsh, larceny and receiving stolen property ; Ellen Stokes, larceny ; Frede rick Sandberg, larceny ; James Gardiner, horse stealing (two cases) ; John O’Brien, horse stealing and larceny ; James Step hens, larceny ; Bernard Neavy, larceny ; Peter Martin, indecent assault; Henry Mason and William Palmer, placing ob structions on a railway ; George Wilson, attempt to committ a felony ; E. G. Crisp v. Joseph Ivess, libel; G. G. Stead v. George Fenwick, libel. A Rev. Poet. —The rev. gentleman mentioned in the following paragraph is the clergyman who was the predecessor of the Rev. W. Keall in the Wesleyan charge at Ashburton. We take the cut ting from the “Wesleyan” : —“ A new poem from a new author is in New Zea land an event so novel that I may con gratulate myself on the rare privilege of being the first to give publicity to the announcement. Anything in the way of detailed criticism of the work is for the present held over. I simply call atten tion to the fact that the Rev. W. B. Marten, of Manawatu, has written a poem based on the incident of Christ weeping over Jerusalem, and that that poem will in a few days be offered for sale to the public for the modest sum of one shilling. It will, if I mistake not, be found to well repay a careful perusal, and as the first literary venture of a well known and respected minister of our Church, I anticipate for the work a ready sale and a favorable reception.”

Unclaimed Letters. —We are indebted to Mr. St. G. Douglas, the Ashburton postmaster, for the following list of letters received at the Ashburton Post Office from places beyond the colony during the month of February, and remaining un claimed on April 1, 1880 James Allen, Thomas Connor, W. Bradshaw, Da.-id Dawson, James N. Dunn, Jas. Bsprey (2), Chas. Gale (2), Joseph McMaghan, Jere miah O’Neil, John H. Sullivan. St. Mark’s Church, Rakaia. —Har- vest thanksgiving services were held in St. Mark’s Church, Rakaia, on Thursday, April 1, at 4 o’clock in the afternoon. The church had been very tastefully deco rated for Easter and this occasion by the ladies of the parish. On the altar were vases containing bunches of wheat, and several beautiful bunches of grapes and clusters of apples from Cor war were sus pended from the decorations on the reredos. The church was well filled. Prayers were read by the incumbent, the Rev. W. H. Elton. The first lesson was read by the Rev. W. E. Paige, and the second lesson by the Yen. Archdeacon Harper, by whom also a most impressive seimon was preached on the subject of thanksgiving. The service was choral throughout, the singing being heartily joined in by the whole of the congrega tion. The offertory at the close of the sermon amounted to L2 18s. A tea meet ing in connection with the church was afterwards held in the Town Hall, when a sumptuous repast was provided by Mes dames Elton, C. H. Maclean, Partridge, Passmore, E. S. Coster, C. S. Mackie, and Cox. The bachelors’ table was presided over by the Misses Cox and MUormick. The tea was quite a success, the large room being well filled. After tea was over, a little impromptu singing was pro vided by several ladies and gentlemen, who received a large measure of well merited applause. A gift auction was proceeded with, when the articles usually to be found at those institutions were put up, and knocked down at prices varying with the humour of the audience. Mr. T. A. Winter officiated as auctioneer, and did his work well, the result of the sale amounting to about L4O. The receipts for the day should reach very near L6O.

Proposed New Railway Arrange ments. —We understand that very im portant re-arrangements of the railway trams’ arrivals and departures will shortly take pla-e, and that something very like the following time-table will take the place of that now in use. The first train will leave Ashburton at a quarter to seven (instead of at ten minutes past six as at present), and reach Christchurch about ten o’clock. A second will arrive hi Ashburton at 9.25 a.m. from Timara (which place it will leave at a quarter to seven in the morning), and it will leave Ashburton at twenty minutes before t3n, reaching Christchurch at about a quinS ec past twelve. The present pas senger arrangements for the goods 11.10 train wi‘l be discontinued, but a mixed • vain at another hour in the afternoon will be substituted, by which passengers can reach Rakaia or Bolleston, and transfer to the express, which will leave Ashburton soon after five. The mixed train will stop at all stations this side of Rolleston. From Christchurch an ordinary Malvern iram will leave before the express, and stop at all stations up to Rolleston junc tion, where passengers by it for the South will wait for the express. The express will leave Christchurch at 8.25 a.m., stop ping nowhere till it reaches Rolleston. From Rolleston, south, it will stop at all stations to Ashburton. Another train wi'l leave Christchurch at two o’clock, reaching Ashburton about five, and leave for Timaru immediately after the express has arrived here, and arriving at Timaru, i.'s final destination, at 7.45, A third train will leave Christchurch about 4.40 p.m., reaching Ashburton about eight. The new arrangements will enable passen gers from Timaru to make Ihe double journey to Christchurch in one day, and will be an incalculable benefit to Ashbur ton, from whence to Christchurch and back the journey will be done in eight hours with time for business in the city.

“Afloat and Ashore.” —This drama, which has been in cateful and diligent preparation by our local dramatic club for many weeks past, was produced last night to as well-filled a house as we have seen in ishburton since the prosperous times of 18 months ago. Like all new machinery set a going for the first time, there was a little stiffness observable, and here and there the too audible prompter’s voice evidenced either faulty memory, or a failure on the part of one or two of the performers to be completely letter perfect; but, taking the thing as a whole, it was fairly well performed. There were one or two hitches —there always are some in a first production," no matter who plays—but these will disappear to-morrow night, without doubt. We have no criticism to offer of any of the individual performers, being thoroughly satisfied that they did their best, and that best will become better with more experience. If we are to say anything in praise of any individuals, we must certainly compliment the ladies who assumed the parts of Cicely Chips and Ruth Ringroso. Cicely was very happy in her particularly sprightly part, and her companion made a very modest and effective Ruth. The heroes of the piece—Hal Oakford and Newton Barnard —got through their parts very well in deed, and Joshua Boynton scored a point or two with his droll “ Dear, dear.” But perhaps the most popular of the whole was Billy Billberry, who was extrava gantly amusing. Abd Ali, a fine looking Arab, with a splendid figure, acted his part as well as he looked it, while Capt. Crofton, who assumed his character at a night’s notice, was very effective. Abel Ringrose, Ralph Oakford, Omar Pasha, Mirza, Casouba, and Ben Kelson, were all represented as well as we expected them to be, and that was very fairly, while the clodhop pers, etc., were as numerous and as stolid as clodhoppers usually are. The piece depends mostly on scenery for its effect, and the company are exceedingly fortunate in having Mr. C. Bourke amongst their number. While the piece was in preparation he spent every spare hour he had in painting scenes, and his facile brush turned up trumps last night, for the excellence of his work atoned for any faults that might have been apparent in the performers. Taking the repre sentation all round, it went very well, and we must compliment the amateurs on attempting and getting through on the first night so well with a piece of such a weighty character as “Ashore and Afloat. ” To-night the drama will be again given, and we doubt not they will have an at tendance that will amply reward their efforts.

The Maori Prisoners. —The Maori prisoners will be tried on the Ist of July. A Pierced Heart. —A post-mortem examination on a man who died recently in Saxony revealed the fact that deceased had had a needle sticking in his heart for years. The Nelson Education Board. —The Nelson Education Board have appointed Mr. Stead Ellis, of Christchurch, secre tary, at a salary of L 250 per annum. There were thirty-four applications sent in. Alleged Manslaughter. —A woman, named Ellen Sarah Kitts, has been arrested at Kumara on a charge of man slaughter, through having neglected a child given to her to nurse, which died. The jury returned a verdict to that effect. Energy. —Our energy is in proportion to the resistance it meets. We can attempt nothing great but from a sense of the difficulties we have to encounter; we can persevere in nothing great but.from a pride in overcoming them.—W. Haaliti I

Low Rent, —At the Greymouth As sessment Court the statement was made by an appellant, and afterwards verified on oath, that a man lived in one of his houses for nothing, and left it because he bad got a better house at the same rental. The judge, however, refused to reduce the assessment. Cultivation of the Soil. —A corres pondent of the Auckland Weekly News writes as follows :—“ In your article on the cultivation of the soil, you left un-said one of the principal reasons why so few take up farming as a means of livelihood. I allude to the. way children are brought up. Most parents in towns endeavor to obtain a Government billet for their sons, and they are brought up so artificially and effeminately that they have not the pluck to do hard work Until boys in towns are educated for an agricultural life there will always be a large proportion of the town population wasting their lives.” Though the writer exaggerates the evil very greatly, there is a proportion of truth in his remarks.

Native Affairs. A New Plymouth telegram of the Ist says :—Notwithstand ing the sensational telegrams forwarded' by correspondents to newspapers in other parts of the colony, native affairs were never more favorable than at the present time. We have it on the authority of those who arc thoroughly acquainted with the natives that there is no sign of war like intention on the part of the Maoris at Parihaka or on the Plains. They have never shown more friendly feelings to wards Europeans than that exhibited at the present time. The natives at Parihaka are ail engaged preparing ground for plant ing potatoes, of which there will be a larger area put down than during any pre vious season. The natives at Eureho are very friendly, and take no money for the produce which they supply to the camp, insisting on making it a present. When the road party crosses the boundary, and enters on Parihaka territory, we learn that the roads will be allowed to be made without any aggressive action on the part of the Natives. The Law of Bankruptcy. —The fol lowing extract from a recent issue of the “ Taranaki Herald” will be of interest to business men, as furnishing another judi cial interpretation of an important por tion of the Bankruptcy Act: “An application was made this morning by Mr. Govett at the District Court, for the final discharge of John Driscoll, a debtor. The trustee’s report was unfavorable to the bankrupt, but his Honor held that a trustee could not oppose a debtor in obtaining his order of discharge, it being the duty of the creditors to do so. It was stated to the Court that in this case a meeting of creditors had been convened for the purpose of considering the debtor’s application for discharge, but none of the creditors attended the meeting. His Honor said he noticed in the report of the meeting of creditors, the trustee was instructed to oppose the discharge of the debtor, but the Act did not contemplate such a mode of procedure, as the trustee was as much the trustee of the debtor as he was of the creditors. His Honor granted the order of discharge, with costs. ”

WAKANUI ROAD BOARD.

The usual monthly meeting was held at the Road Board office on Thursday. Present Messrs. Hugo Friedlander (Chairman), Hunt, and Brown. Correspondence was read from the County Council, stating that a sum of LBO9 had been voted for drainage pur poses for the Board. From the Secretary of the Ashburton High School Board, requesting payment of LI 4 2a. 2d., for gravel taken from the reserve on Jones’ Road. Resolved that the amount be paid. From the Secretary to the Treasury, stating that L 361 13s. Id. had been placed to the credit of the Board. The Chairman stated that a certain por tion of this amount would be payable to the Longbeach Board. From the Rev. W. E. Paige, calling attention to two pits on the Beach Road, opposite Dr. Stewart’s. The necessary work was ordered to be done. From the Ashburton Borough Council, asking for a share of the subsidy due to the Borough. The Chairman explained that a small portion of the moiety was due to the Borough for rates collected on the 1878 rate. The amount, Ll 9 4s. Gd., was ordered to be paid. From Mr. George Roberts, declining to take less than L2O per acre for land taken for gravel pits, and the Board to fence them, otherwise he considered it a case for arbitration. The Board decided to adhere to its former resolution. Resolved—That in consequence of the Ashburton river having frequently over flowed its eastern bank, about three miles below the railway bridge, and caused much damage to private property, the County Council be requested to take the matter into consideration, and to take such steps as in their opinion seems best adapted to prevent such an occurrence in the future. It was resolved that the Chairman attend the Assessment Court to object to the Valuation List, and it was resolved to' recommend Mr. C. C. Fooks as valuator. It was resolved to call for tenders for forming the Beach road to the full width, from the finger-post to the Wakanui school, and for re-metalling same ; also to call for tenders for repairing cottages. The rate collector reported having paid in L4"G 14s. lOd. to the credit of the Board. It was resolved to metal the dedicated and formed roads on Mayo’s and Tancred’s and Allen’s land, and the Board then adjourned.

ASHBURTON COURT HOUSE.

The Ship of State is doubtless a mag nificent and majestic craft, but she is not built for speed. Canvas is never unduly crowded on her masts, because her officers and crew know they can laugh at their owners, and do not care whether they arrive in port on due date or dilly-dally on the voyage fishing for mermaids and come in long after common vessels had arrived, loaded up, and sailed. She is a grand vessel, the Ship of State. She cares not for the soft zephyrs of petitionary wheedling, nor for the tempestuous scold ing of neglected latitudes. Her timbers are strong, and she keeps the open sea de fiant of everything. This sort of thing goes on till it becomes altogether too strong for her very patient owners, and then a change in the captaincy occurs, and far a time the sailing is of a quieter and more regular character ; but by-and-by, owing to the owners’ relapse into lethargy, the same old game is played, and the captain and crew are at their old tricks. So long as Ashburton was a quiet, patient, forbearing township, jogging along comfortably in a time of prosperity, and taking little thought as to how she was used by Government, Ashburton was unknown to the powers that be, and her wants were lost sight of in the great crowd of wants shaken before the Governmental eyes by more noisy places. The place with the noisiest representative was best seen to, and the quiet man was as quietly ignored. When, however, she shook her self together to raise a persistent outcry, a sop in the shape of a promise was thrown to her to her keep her quiet. She did quiet, in the hope that the promises would be fulfilled ; but, as we said before, the Ship of State is not built for speed, and even the most distinct promise made to us by Government is not yet fulfilled— notwithstanding that it is two years old, and the money to fulfil it has been twice voted,

Tho session before last L3OO were voted for a courthouse for Ashburton ; the year went, and the building was not erected. Last session the vote rose to LSOO. The next session will soon open, and it looks as if it would open with the vote still unspent. Months ago tenders for a new courthouse were called for—a courthouse of wood, notwithstanding all the soft whispers for brick of our public men, and > regardless of the angry storm ing of the Ashburton Press —and still The silence is unbroken And the stillness gives no token, and inquiries are rife as to what has come of the promised neat little courthouse, so admirably planned for the accommodation of judge, bar, police, press, and public. Surely, with every allowance for the ap parently indispensable red-tapeism of officialdom, ample time has elapsed for us to know whether any tenders have been received at all, whether any have been accepted, or if to tho question whether a courthouse of any kind is to le built, The only word there spoken Is never, never more.

MAGISTERIAL.

ASHBURTON— Friday, April 2. (Before Mr. F. Guinness, 8.M.) INDECENT ASSAULT. Win. Skedgewell was brought up on remand, charged with having committed an indecent assault on the person of Elizabeth James, on the 26th August last, in the kitchen of the Wheatshoaf Hotel, where the girl was then a servant. Mr. W. 0. Ireland appeared for the prisoner. Elizabeth James, a servant in the em ploy of R. W. Shearman, Somerset Hotel, said that in August last she was cook at the Wheataheaf Hotel. On the 25th August last, the prisoner threw her down on the floor of the kitchen, and com mitted the offence complained of. Wit ness screamed and Mr. Willcocks came to the rescue and sent for the police at orco. Constable Farmer came the same evening after dusk. The prisoner was then gone, ihe assault took place between 12 and 1 of the day. Never had any connection with the prisoner previously. Mr. G, Willcocks, landlord of the Wheatstone Hotel, deponed that last witness was in his employ in August last. Prisoner was also working for him and had boarded in the hotel for seven weeks previous to the 25th August. On the latter date witness heard a row in the passage, ond on going down, met the girl at the door, who said she had been in sulted by the prisoner. Told prisoner to leave the house at once, as he was using bad language, and abusing the girl. Sent for the police, immediately afterwards. Did not servo tho prosecutrix with any drink on that date, and never saw her guilty of an immodesty. Jesse Baxter, a laborer at Longbeach, said he was at the Wheatsheaf Hotel on the 25th August last. The girl James and the prisoner were both in the kitchen. Was asleep at the time, and was wakened by their loud talking. Heard prisoner call the girl a very disgusting name, and make a remark about her being unduly familiar with all the men about the place. Witness said he ought to be ashamed of himself for using such expressions to a woman, and threatened to thrash him for it. Prisoner cleared out of the hotel, and was not found again that night. Mr. Ireland said there was a doubt as to the prisoner having committed any assault on the prosecutrix, and he would ask his Worship to give him the benefit of the doubt. Prisoner reserved his defence, and was committed for trial at the next criminal sittings of the Supreme Court at Christ church. The case was heard with closed doors. CIVIL CASES. Cookson v. Stewart. Claim LlO 10s. No appearance for plaintiff. Case dis missed. Taylor v. Dufrates. —Claim LI 15s. 2d. Judgment for plaintiff, with costs. Griffin v. Adams.—Claim L 8 9s. 9d. ■No appearance. Tisch v. Elder. —Claim L 9 7s. Bd. Judgment for amount in full, with costs. Doherty v. Keen. —Claim L 4 for rent. LG had been the original sum owing, and L2 had been paid. Defendant contended that only three weeks’ rent was due, but was not able to produce any documentary evidence of ihe fact. Judgment was given for LI.

TELEGRAPHIC.

LATEST FROM EUROPE. (Reuter's. ) London, March 31. Consols 98J. Adelaide wheat has declined one shil ling, and is now quoted 58s. per 4961b5. ex warehouse. Australian beef and mutton tallow, unchanged. The wool market is strong. The arrivals for the next auction amount to 179,000 bales. The Oriental Bank Corporation pay a dividend of two per cent for the half year. The Bank of South Australia pays per cent., and carries forward LB,OOO " • The general elections for the new Par liament have commenced. Up to the present time ten Liberal and eight Con servatives have been returned unopposed. London, April 1. Then general elections continue. Ninety Liberals and sixty-one Conserva tives have now been returned for the new Parliament. The Liberals, so far, have gained 25 seats which were held in the last Parliament by the Conservatives. The latter have gained nine seats formerly held by the Liberals. The elections for Birmingham resulted : n the return of Messrs. John Bright, Muntz, and Cham berlain, the former Liberal members. For Hackney, the late Liberal member. Messrs. Holmes and Fawcett, have also been elected. For Westminster, the Right Hon. W. H. Smith, First Lord of the Admiralty, and Sir Charles Russell, Conservative members, have been re turned. London, March 30. Three per cent, consols 98^. Adelaide wheat per 4961b5., ex ware house, 595., steady demand. Best Aus tralian beef tallow, 345. 6d. ; best mutton tallow, 355. Gd. ; market quiet. Arrived—P. and O. Company’s steam ship Indus, with the Homeward Suez mails. Calcutta, March 31st. According to the latest news from Cabul, General Stewart’s force has arrived at Ghuznee without meeting with any open hostility on tne part of the enemy. It has not yet transpired what General Stewart’s further movements will be. Paris, March 31. It has been officially stated that the French Government do not intend that their decree disolving the Society of Jeseits shall further have effect of ex pelling foreign members from France. AUSTRALIAN. ( Reuter's Telegrams,) Sydney, April 2. Government made a call of a quarter of their special deposits wi f h the Banks, leaving L 1,475,000 still on deposit. It is understood that, money being easier, the Banks were agreeable to the withdrawal being made. Sir H. Parkes, Premier, introduced in the Assembly last night a Bill for de priving the Council of future power to amend money bills, and made a lengthy speech on the occasion. Sir Alfred

Stephen introduced in the Council a Bil having the same effect as that now before the Assembly. Sydney, April 1. , In consequence of the recent action of the Legislative Council, twice rejecting the Bill for imposing the Stamp Duties, which was sent up from the Legislative Assembly, Sir Henry Parkes, Premier, has introduced in the Assembly a Bill to deprive the Council of power in future to amend Money Bills. Sir Alfred Stephen has given notice for the introduction of a similar Bill in the Upper House. Melbourne, April 1. pESThe works in connection with Sir John Goode’s scheme at Fisherman’s Bend and Yarra Yarra are actively pro ceeding. A further meeting has been held for the formation of a Meat Company, with a capital of LIOO,OOO. Already L 13,000 have been subscribed. The Cabinet have decided to reduce Wm. Benjamin Berry, who was promoted by Mr. Graham Berry shortly before the resignation of the Mimstry, to his former rank in the Civil Service. Melbourne, March 31. A Cabinet Council was held to-day, when the Reform Bill and other proposed measures were discussed. Colonel St. Hill, late private secretary to Governor Weld, has been dismissed from the command of the Tasmanian- Volunteers. Arrived—Tararua. Sailed—Aravvata and Albion. Adelaide, March 25. The Orient Company’s s.s. Sorata has arrived from Plymouth. INTERPROVINCIAL. Auckland, April 2. Mr. Lowe, traffic manager on the Auck land railways, has resigned, owing to a difference of opinion with Mr. M‘Donald, general manager. Large potato crops are reported from Waikato. One field has yielded fourteen tons to the acre. The report that Sir George Grey is suffer ing from ill-health, which is likely to pre vent his attendance'atnext session, is con tradicted. He enjoys good health, except the old affection of the leg, through a spear wound, received in Western Aus tralia. Auckland, April 2. Mr. J. C. Young, late Native Lands Commissioner for the East Coast, was ar rested on account of an alleged debt to the Crown of LICOO, but was released on a representation to the Attorney-General that the proceeding would interfere with his defence. Pleuro-pneumonia has broken out amongst the cattle on the Piako Swamp Company’s estate, and it has been declared an infected district by the Cattle Board. 28,010 head are depastured on the estate. The manager has had all the cattle inocu lated. Mr. Naiden, V.S., is up to inspect. There is great excitement in the Waikato district over the outbreak. Scott commences to-night to walk 112 miles in 24 hours, under the auspices of the Auckland Amateur Athletic Club. Henry Durant has been committed for trial on a charge of robbery of L 7 from Annie Hopkins in a brothel. Napier, April 1.

Several dead bodies have been found in the rivers during the last few days, and no doubt they were men who had been trying to cross during the floods. The damage done by the floods is now ascer tained to be light in Hawke’s Bay and Wairoa counties, but it will take about L 5,000 to put the roads and bridges in Waipawa county into their old state of thorough repair. The private losses were not nearly so great as the great depth and extent of the floods would have led one to fear. Mr. Farmer, of Hastings, was the heaviest loser in stock, 1,500 sheep having been drowned. It will probably be a month before the coaches can come through the bush road. The natives at Wairoa are indulging in threats of murdering each other. Their dispute refers to some land, but it is not likely to go beyond blank cartridges. An information has been laid on behalf of F. Ward, jun., of Gisborne, against Ropata and Tucker, interpreter, for ma licious prosecution and conspiracy, arising out of the recent prosecution of Ward, in which, after four days’ hearing at Gis borne, the magistrate dismissed the charges of conspiracy brought against Ward and Cooper, but commented strongly on their conduct, and advised Ward to be careful in future, and not to be misled by clients. Wellington, April 1. Mr. William Bowden, bailiff, was arrested this morning on a charge of in decently assaulting Ellen Syrns. Martin, of the Albion Hotel, was fined L 5 for selling liquors after hours. The petition of the Licensed Victual lers presented to the City Council, re sly grog-selling, has been forwarded to the Police, with a request that they will take action in the matter. Wellington, April 2. A woman named Catherine M'Call, CO years of age, was burnt to death last night under horrible circumstances. She was housekeeper to a gentleman named John M'Laughlan, and was last seen by him about ten last night, when she was lying on a sofa, helplessly drunk. He left her there, and went to bed, leaving the candle burning. On rising this morning he found her charred remains. With the exception of her stays, all her clothing was burnt, and portions of the wall had been on fire. M'Laughlan states he heard no noise dur ing the night, and is unable to say how she was burnt. Deceased had been drinking heavily for about ten days. An inquest will be held to-morrow. At the inquest this afternoon on the body of Miss M'Coll, who was burnt to death this morning, the jury returned a verdict of * ‘ Accidental death while in a state of intoxication.” A little girl named Russell was run over by a vegetable cart this morning, and killed. The driver was unaware of having passed over anything until called to by the spectators. A man named Henry Graves was killed on the Foxton-Palmerston railway on Wednesday, owing to his accidentally fall ing between the carriages. Dunedin, April 1. Butler has been committed for trial for the murder of the Dewar family. He begged the public and the press not to be influenced by the prejudice attempted to be created against him. He reserved his defence. He charges Inspector Mallard with attempting to influence the public prejudicially, made a long statement on the subject. Dunedin, April 2. The Customs’ revenue for the March quarter is L 85,661, against L100,1G2 for the same quarter last year. All the papers here call on the volunteer authorities to institute a searching inquiry into the charges against the southern volunteers, amd make examples of the offenders. The result meetings here is that LB9O has been forwarded to Canada in aid of this mission. Messrs Dick and Oliver, in reply to the unemployed’s petition, say that it is not the duty of Government to attempt to regulate the rate of wages. The rate provided by Government is shown by the sum paid for rations to be sufficient support for workmen and their families. The terms have been thankfully accepted in other parts of the colony. Govern ment can hold out no hope of different terms being given to Otago.

SUSPENSION OF THE RUSSIAN GOLOS.

The following summary of the article for which the “ Golos ” has been sus pended for five months is supplied by the St. Petersburg!! correspondent to the* ‘ ‘ Times,” who says there is hope that the time of be shortened if the “Golos” fiipSuses to behave better in future :—“ The diarist devotes his first entry on Sundaylast to an outburst of complaint regarding the enormous rise in the prices of all the necessaries of life. Life has become dearer, and still people do not value their lives any more. Nothing but suicides by drowning, shooting, or the knife are reported from every side. Even the tallow candle has become dearer. Every thing develops and grows, why should not prices grow ? Monday’s entry consti tutes a sarcastic protest, against the threatened abolition of the system of election of university professors and the substitution of that of appointment by the Government. On Tuesday agricul ture is the butt of the diarist’s well-aimed sarcasm. More than a year ago new statutes were established for the lower agricultural schools, but, as usual, they never emerged from the region of project and theory. Materials enough were amassed by the commission to convince a blind man of the necessity of educating the agricultural classes of Russia. But this necessity was no novel idea. The commission also believes that it is pos sible to teach agriculture in our national schools, but the teacher of a St. Peters burgh school who once took it into his head to instruct his scholars in natural history brought down upon his head the wrath of the press and Territorial Assem bly. It is also proposed to teach trades in national schools. The “Golos "next refers to the dishonesty practised in the pecuniary concerns of the commune authorities. The press also entirely ignores the malpractices and embezzle ment which are so common in the rural commune. If all the deficits disclosed by the occasional revision of the communal funds were reckoned up they would amount to millions. Threats of torture have been used in certain districts as arguments for the conversion of Stundists to°orthodoxy. Refractory members were flogged. One woman, named Pruskowia Shimenko, was flogged to within a short chance of her life, as testified by medical evidence. No feeling was stirred in the breast of any of the one thousand wit nesses of this barbarous scene, not even when the poor woman cried out in pain, “ Lord, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” This castigation was evi dently premeditated, for many of the spectators were persons who had purposely come from long distances. Nineteen years will soon have passed since the emancipation of the serfs, and during all this time the whip and stick have not dis appeared from the self-administration of the peasant. Such barbarism does not harmonise with the respect due to the individual man. What do we see ? The flagelation of Stundists, the burning of witches, the murder of a dumb man sus pected of spreading rinderpest, the drown ing of a drunkard who in his cups threatened to burn down a village—this is the way the commune exercises its authority over the individual. An elder directed the ‘auto da fe’ of the witch, and an elder ordered the cruel treatment of the Stundists. Who hold the whip more tenaciously in their hands than the elders of the first step in is to des troy this arbitrary pdWßfrSf individuals. Saturday’s entry is a narrative respecting the suspension of a Jewish paper called ‘ Hamelitz,’ which, however, is hardly to the point and of little interest. ”

THE FARMER.

IS THE THISTLE A NUISANCE? One of the many things connected with farm management which attracted the attention of the Lincolnshire Delegates, in their tour of inspection throughout New Zealand (says the “ New Zealand Country Journal”), was the undisturbed possession, of the soil in many places permitted to the thistle —a weed against which an in cessant crusade is maintained in England. Their astonishment was not lessened, on inquiring the cause, by being informed by some that, so far from being a nuisance, the thistle had come to be regarded as one of the surest and best means of preparing the soil for the luxuriant growth of grasses and corn. On the other hand, farmers are found who will tell you that the thistle is a terrible nuisance, robbing the soil of its nourishment, smothering grasses and clover alike, and completely usurping the ground for the time being. Those who advocate the thistle say that the roots penetrate to a great depth into the subsoil, and bring up large quantities of potash, etc., which is deposited on the surface, in their decaying stems and leaves, and that the vacancy left by the decaying roots opens the way to a great depth for water and air, the mechanical action of -which is to pulverise and render the subsoil more accessible to the roots of other plants ;no doubt this is true. The question naturally suggests itself, what is the cost of this natural mode of tillage? The thistle usually possesses the soil for at least three years, consequently the ground must remain unremunerative for that time ; if the thistle only invaded un reclaimed or exhausted soils much might be said in its favour, but unfortunately such is not always the case—on the con trary, it is partial to rich soils of all de scriptions. We fancy that the secret of the impunity with which the thistle has been allowed to spread in this colony, arises more from a want of ability to cope with | the constantly recurring crops of this persistent plant, caused by the want of cheaper labour. That the soil is much improved by thistles is admitted by many who have had to cope with them, and that toleration is cheaper than extermination is also true; so that for the present the thistle must remain master of the posi tion. There is just one comforting re flection, and that is, it leaves something behind it, according to its adcocates, as shown above, whereby the farmers may reap some after benefit.

THE DAIRY.

In an address recently delivered to . his tenants, many of whom have been engaged in dairying, the Earl of Bessborough is re ported to have spoken as follows For the information of those who have not yet been able to make good butter I offer the following suggestions :—Have a proper dairy or a separate room from your milk, well ventilated, but not too light, far away from stable, piggery, or manure heap. The floor should be of flags, tiles, or concrete, very close and evenly made, so that it can be easily washed without leaving any substance behind likely to create a bad smell, as it would be injurious to your milk and butter. Clay floors are very bad. Be sure not to use your milk room for any other purpose than your milk and' butter. Wash or sponge." the_ cow’s udder before milking, and youf^'iigiia,before commencing each cow. finest hair strainer you can get. Keep sll your milk vessels scrupulously clean ; never use soap in cleansing your milk vessels, not even in washing your hands, when engaged with your milk or butter. Do not keep your milk too long standing before churn ing. Twenty-four to thirty-six or forty eight hours, according to the temperature of the weather, will be enough. Avoid all touching of the butter by the hand. Use the best salt, made very fine. Wash and press all the milk out of the butter before salting, using plenty of cold spring water,

THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN, SATURDAY, APRIL 8, 1880.



s . d. s . d. Butter, inferior to best lb 0 10 to I 0 Eggs, # dozen I 6 to 0 0 Cheese, prime quality, lb 0 7 to 0 10 Bacon, prime smoked, t;? lb 0 0 to 0 0 Hams in cloth, $?lb 0 0 to 0 0 Flour in bags, loolb «4 6 to 0 0 Oatmeal, ij? 25R) s 6 to 0 0 Lard, $ lb - 0 9 to 0 0



MESSRS. H. MATSON AND CO., AUCTIONEERS, &c., Hold fortnightly stock SALES at Ashburton and Tinwald. Next sale at the ASHBURTON YARDS, on TUESDAY, April 13, 1880. C. PERCY COX, 27 a* Agent, Ashburton. NEW * TAILORING ESTABLISH MENT. CRAIGHEAD ft Co., MERCHANT T^ORS, HAYB opened thos£, premises situated in Tancred street adjoining Messrs. Orr and Co’s General Store. A SPLENDID ASSORTMENT OF TWEEDS, FANCY GOODS, &c., &c., 4 JUST ARRIVED. Mr. Craighead’s experience as Head Cutter in connection with First Glass Tailoring Establishments in Edinburgh and San Francisco has extended over a period of ten years, and from the immense success which has always attended his efforts to please, he is prepared to guarantee a perfect fit i i every case. TANCRED STREET, (Next Orr and Cl’s. CRAIGHEAD & CO. 982 a



NOTICE TO FARMERS. T HE undersigned will be jjrepared to treat with farmers and others in Ashbur ton, every Wednesday and Saturday, for the PURCHASE of GRAIN, or SHIP MENT on ACCOUNT of GROWERS. JOSEPH CLARK. February 28, 1880. 550a* THE NEW ZEALAND CLOTHING FACTORY WAS started about five years ago. The proprietors at first in tended to manufacture for the Trade only, but, owing to the persistent op position of importers and Shop keepers who could make a better profit on the imported article, they were compelled in self defence to open Branches for the sale of their goods direct to the public. In this they but followed the example of some of the largest manufacturers at home, and the Public, by purchasing at the undermentioned Branches, will SAVE THE PROFIT OF MIDDLEMEN, AND OBTAIN A SUPERIOR ARTICLE. BRANCHES. Invercargill Christchurch Wellington Dunedin Ashburton Auckland Oamaru Nelson New Plymouth Timaru Wanganui Napier A SINGLE GARMENT AT WHOLESALE PRICE. W. SPARROW, Manager, Ashburton Branch, 588g* New Zealand Clothing Factory. FIRST TIME IN NEW ZEALAND ! ! TOWN HALL. THE Amateur Dramatic Club, having obtained special license under the Authors’ Copyright Act, WILL PERFORM, TO-NIGHT, The Nautical Drama entitled “ASHORE A«.D AFL O A T," With a magnificent cast of 25 characters, with 17 sets of splendid scenery. Full particulars in handbills. Admission—Front seats, 35.; back, 25.; gallery, Is. Doors open at 7.30 ; commence at 8. 266c-664g



A Boston paper somewhat sarcastically says it’s no use vaccinating the New York police—they never catch anything.