SHIPPING.

PORT OF LYTTELTON. Arrived. Yesterday. Bells, barque, from Newcastle. Hawea, s.s., from Wellington. Ocean Ranger, harquentine, from New York, via Mauritius. Onward, schooner, from Pelorus Sound. * To-day. Wakatipu, s.s., from Sydney, via Wel lington. Sailed. Yesterday. Hawea, s.s., for Port Chalmers. To-day. Jane Douglas, s.s., for Kaikoura and Wellington. SHIPPING TELEGRAMS. Auckland, Yesterday. Sailed— Avawata, s.s., for the South; Tararua, s.s., for Sydney ; Fernglen, ship, for London, with a cargo of gold, wool, and gum, valued at L77j000- Wellington, Yesterday. Arrived—Florinda, brigantine, from Greymouth , Enterprise, from Timaru ; Wanaka, from the South ; Wakatipu, from Sydney. Sailed —Kennedy, for Nelson. Timaru, Yesterday. Arrived —Star of the South, from Dun edin. Port Chalmers, Yesterday. Sailed —Cora, schooner, for Greymouth; Rotomahana, s.s., for the Bluff. Bluff, Yesterday. The Albion arrived at 10 a.m. to-day. She left Melbourne at 2 p.m. of the 27th ultimo. She experienced strong westerly winds.

Melbourne, Yesterday. Arrived—Ringarooma, s.s., from the Bluff.

COMMERCIAL.

Ashburton Retail List.

Batter, inferior to best, P lb, 6d to Bd. Eggs, dozen, is. Cheese, prime quality, P lb, 6d to Bd. Bacon, prime smoked, t"? lb, lod to is. Haras in cloth, $ lb, is qd. Flour in bags, loolb, 13s. Oatmeal. 1? 25ft', 4s. Lard, $ lb, 7(1. The Christchurch Corn Exchange. The following is the report for the week end ing Friday evening, the 3rd inst:— The grain market for 'ome considerable time past has been extremely languid. Prices are practically unchanged. The rain, which arrived so opportunely, just as the want of it was beginning to be felt, has, it may be said, effectually allayed all fears as to harvest pro spects. The ground is now completely covered by the green crop, so that all moisture is now carefully conserved. The prospects of an abundant harvest are now better than ever. Wheat.—The (one of the market is quiet, and there is little or noihing doing. A parcel now and again comes forward which is taken up by the millers. They are, however, not very large buyers, being at the present moment tolerably well supplied. Good sound milling is worth 4s. 3d. 104 s. 4d.; hard, wheat, of un deniable quality, a shade over these.quotations ; second-class milling samples range from 2s. qd. to 3s. 6d. per bushel; chick wheat, is. qd. to as. qd. Oats. —A better feeling seems to pervade the market. • The price, however, is in no way affected. The difficulty of obtaining freight, which has for some time past been the obstacle to transactions taking place, still exits. Good stout milling are saleable at from is. Bd. to is. qd., free on board ; good feed samples range from is. Sd. to is. 6d., in Christchurch; in ferior feed, is. 3d. to is. 4d. Barley.—The transactions taking place in this grain are really of such an unimportant character as to render it difficult to give ac curate quotations. Prime malting samples are hardly to be met with, while second rate to in ferior are tolerably plentiful and difficult of sale ; for the first named 3s. to 3s. 3d. may be quoted, the second ranges from 2s. 3d. to 2s. qd., while feed parcels are from is. 6d. to is. qd. per bushel. Grass Seed.—There is no business doing. Price nominal.

Potatoes are entirely neglected. Dairy Produce. —Cheese, prime, 4d. to butter, sd. to 6d.

Auctioneers’ Reports.

Messrs. H. Matson and Co. report on the live stock market, £'c., for the week ending Thursday, December 2nd, 1880. as T«Hows : The supply auction was somewhat below the average, mutton representing a comparatively small proportion of the- entry in sheep. There was a fair mustering of the trade, and, although prices in some instances were firm at last week’s quotations, values were irregular, and there was an absence of anything like animated biddings, which might have been expected in a thin market. Several lines of sheep were passed in at auction, but afterwards placed privately at rates barely equal to earlier sales. Judging from this, we can only come to the conclusion that, had there been a large supply of mutton, prices must have suffered a con siderable decline. There were more store sheep on offer than we have seen yarded for some weeks, chiefly ewes and lambs, and for every line ready buyers were found at prices which must have been eminently satisfactory to vendors. By midday there was scarcely a pen of sheep unsold in the market, prices ranging for fat woolly crossbreds to 14s fid ; shorn do, 9s to 12s fid; fat merinos, out of wool, 6s fid to 7s fid. A line of 700 aged merino ewes (in the wool), with 70 per cent, of strong lambs at foot, sold at Its, and various small lots of shorn 2-tooths 7s to 8s fid per head. The fat cattle market exhibited a falling off in numbers, whilst the quality generally was somewhat inferior. This, no doubt, accounts for the slight firmness in values which was noticeable for the best lines yesterday, though prices are so absurdly low that it is difficult to determine where the price of fat cattle ends and stores commence. We sold light-weight beef at from L 6 10s to L 7 ics ; heavier classes, to L 8 10s per head. In store cattle there was not a large entry, but the bulk of those to hand were good even lots, chiefly 2 to 3-year-olds, and easily saleable sorts. The totals yarded for the dav comprised 6,014 sheep, 492 head of cattle, and 43 pigs, of which our entry in cluded 2,274 sheep, 224 fat lambs, and 336 head of cattle. Fat lambs were in very large supply, and with the exception of a few lines were all prime quality. Although large num bers have been sent in for the last month or so, the demand has been equal to the supply, and prices have kept up much better than last season,

Canterbury Horse Market.—Our last Satur day’s catalogue comprised an entry of 97 horses, drays, harness, etc., for the day’s sale. For the past two months a large number of really useful farm and plough horses have found their way into this market, but buyers for such are scarce, and there is comparatively little busi ness doing. Of course a good few change hands every week, but not as many as might reasonably be expected, considering the class of horses and the price owners are prepared to accept. Hack and light weedy harness horses were never more plentiful than at the present time, and a far greater number of these, in proportion, are sold week‘by week than of the heavier sorts. We quote prices unchanged.

Land Sale.—On Saturday last, at our rooms, the village of South Opawa was submitted to Jjublic competition. The attendance was very arge, the sale rooms being crowded to excess. Biddings were active, and although some of the properties were passed in others found teady purchasers. 29 sections were disposed of, coniaining 6a ir 23p, averaging L 69 lis per section, or L3Ol 17s id per acre. Total amount of the sale, 1.1930. 412 acres, known as Taletta, situate at Ashburton, sold by order of the Registrar of the Supreme Court, realised L 824. We Have disposed of this week privately four sections in the Methven town ship, contoining one rood each, and being NO3. 67, 68, Br, and 82, for L 6 ios each.

Messrs Robert Wilkin and Co report:—At the Addington Yards on Wednesday 6,041 sheep and 402 head of cattle were penned. The sheep consisted principally of good and prime quality fat crossbreds, together with several mes of full mouthed stores, for which descrip

tion there is still a brisk demand. The fa cattle market was indifferently supplied, the bulk of which comprised second and medium quality lots, which met with a more ready sale than at laft week’s market. There was a larger supply of stores than usual, the most of which changed hands at fair marfiet rates. We sold on account of some of our clients good quality crossbreds (shorn) at ios each, second ditto at os 6d, ditto light weights at Ss. Fat lambs from 5s 6d to 7s qd, according to quality; fat steers to L 7 7s 6d ; ditto heifers from L 5 ios to L 7. On Thursday, at our New Zealand Wool Stores, we held our weekly sale of sheepskins, hides, rough fat, etc. There was a good at tendance of buyers, and the average prices obtained throughout the sale showed a slight improvement on last week’s quotations. Butchers’ crossbred, large and full woolled, 4s qd, 5s sd, 5s yd ; do do, second quality, as 6d, 3s 4d, 4s id, 4s qd ; do merino, large, ss, 5s 6d, 6s id ; do do second quality, 3s 3d, 4s id, 5s ; country crossbreds, large and full woolled, ss, 55 lod, 6s 6d ; do do. second quality, 2s 3d, 3s, 3s 6ci, 453 d, 5s ; do merino, large, ss, 5s 48, 6s, 6s 61 ; do do, second quality, 2s yd, 3s, 3s 10, 4s 6d ss. Lambskins, at 6d, is, is 2d to is. 6d. Pelts at 3d, and 8d to lod. Fat and tallow—There was an average attendance of buyers, and the competi tion was spirited. Fat, best quality, clean and well saved, to per lb ; second quality, to 2j/jjd per lb ; heated and inferior, per lb. Tallow at z}4d and 2}£d per lb, and 22s 6d pel cwt. Hides, sound, at 3}£d per lb, and 4d pe.i lb for a line of heavy hides. Hides, damaged, 551 b and over at 2}4 d per lb ; dodo, under 551 b, Rt 2 d per lb. Calfskin, sound, at 4d per lb ; do, cut and otherwise damaged, at 2d per lb. Wool—We beg to notify to our clients that our second wool sale of the season will be held on Tuesday, 14th inst., and would request them to forward their consignments as early as possible. * - ■ 11 —MHIIIIWWI

THE CHURCHES.

SUNDAY AND WEEK NIGHT SER VICES AND MEETINGS.

EPISCOPALIAN CHURCH.— Tancred Street, West. Rev. A. W. Hands, Incumbent. Sunday. Morning, at 11, Rev. A. W. Hands. Evening, at 6.30, Rev. A. W. Hands. Baptism, 3 p.m. Sunday-school, at 3 p.m. Wednesday. Evening Service at 7 p.m., Rev. A. W. Hands. Choir Practice at 8. Thursday. Sunday School Teachers’ Meeting, at 7.30 p.m. Country Services— Sunday. Tinwald, G. 30 p.m., Mr. J. Ward. Willowby, 3 p.m., Mr. J. Ward. Longbeach, at 3 p.m., Lay Reader. Mount Somers, 11 a.m., Rev. A. W, Hands. Alford Forest, 3 p.m., Rev. A. W. Hands. Alford Station, 6 p.m., Rev. A. W. Hands. R AKA IA PARISH. Rev. W. H. Elton, Incumbent. Sunday. St. Mark’s Church, llakaia.—Morning at 11, Rev. W. H. Elton. Evening, at 7, Rev. W. H. Elton. St. John’s, Barrhill, 3 p.m., Lay Reader. St. James’, Chertsey, Rev. W. H. Elton. Kyle School, 3 p.m., Lay Reader. All Saints, Sherwood, 3p.m., Lay Reader. Communion. —First Sunday in the month at St. Mark’s. Second Sunday at St. John’s. Fourth Sunday at St. Barna bas’. Fifth Sunday at St. James’. Baptism in St. Mark’s, and Children’s Service at 3 p.m., second Sunday in the month. Sunday School. Bt. Mark’s, St. John’s, and Kyle, at 2.30 every Sunday. Friday. Evensong and Choir Practice at 7.30. — St. Mark’s. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.—Have lock Street, West. Rev. A. M Beattie, M.A., Minister. Sunday Services. Morning at 11, and Evening at G. 30, in the Church. —Rev. A. M. Beattie. Wakanui School, at 3 p.m., Ror. A. M. Beattie. Sunday School in the Church at 2.30 afternoon. —Mr. \V. Gavin, Superinten dent. Tuesday. Finance Committee —First Tuesday of every month, in the Church at 7.30. S. S. Teachers’ Association —Second Tues day of every month, in the Church at 7.30. Wednesday. Pastor’s Bible Class in the Church Yestry—Weekly at 7. Week night Service at B—Rev. A. M. Beattie. Thursday. Tinwald School —Weekly service at 7.30. Friday. Choir Practice at 7.3 o—Mr, Savage, con ductor ; Mr. A. Stott, organist. RAKAIA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. —Town Hall, Rakaia. Rev. B. J. Westbrooks, Minister. Sunday. Rakaia Town Hall at 11 a. in. Alford Forest Main School, at 3 p.m. Mount Somers School, at 6 p.m. Methven Road Board Office, at 11 a. m.

WESLEYAN METHODIST CHURCH. —Cameron Street, East. Rev. W. Keall, Pastor. Sunday. Morning, prayer meeting at 10 ; service at 11, Rev. W. Keali. Evening, at G. 30, Rev. W. Keall; Com munion after Service. Sunday School—Afternoon, at 2.30. COUNTRY SERVICES. Old Men’s Home—Afternoon, at 3, Rev. W. Keall. Tinwald—Evening, at 6.30, Mr. H. M. Jones. Seafield—Afternoon, at 2.30, Mr. J, Buchanan ; Sunday School at 1.30. Monday. Cameron Street Church—Prayer meeting at eight o’clock. Tuesday. Class Meeting at 7.30. ' Thursday. Preaching Service at 7.30, Rev. W. Keall ; Class at the conclusion of the service. Friday. Choir Practice at 7.30. PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHURCH. —Wills Street, East. Rev. Arthur J. Smith, Pastor. Sunday. Morning School at 10 a. m. Morning Service at 11 a.m., Mr. J. Scott. Afternoon School at 2.30 p.m. Evening Service at 6.30 p.m. Supply. Monday. Ladies’ Class —In the Church at 7.30 p.m. Tuesday. Divine Service, at 7.30. p.m. Wednesday. Quarterly Meeting, at 1 p. m. Thursday. Class Meeting at 7.30 p.m. Friday. Choir practice at 7.30 p.m. NEWLANDS PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHURCH. Sunday. Morning School, 9.30. Service at 11 a.m. and 6.30 p.m. (Anniversary Sermons, Rev. A. J. Smith). ASHBURTON FORKS. Sunday Afternoon Service at 2,30 Mrs. Jowsey.

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHAPEL.— Burnett Street West. Rev. Father Chervier. Mass at 11 a. in. on the second Sunday of every month. Benediction service in the evening of the same day at 6.30.

MAIL NOTICES.

Mails close at the Ashburton Rost Office, as follows :

For Christchurch and North at 5.30 a. rn. 10 a.m., and 6 p. m., daily. For Ohertsey Rakaia, &c., at 10 a. in. and 5 p. m. daily. For Dunedin, Tinwald, Winslow, Hinds, jjldstrcam, Rangitata, Orari, Winchester, and Geraldine, at 10 a.m. daily. For Temuka, at 6 a.m. and 10 a.m., daily. For Timaru and South, at C a.m., 10 .t.m., and 4.20 p.m., daily. For Greenstreet, Ashburton Forks, Mount Somers, and Ashburton Gorge, on Tuesdays and Fridays, at 10.30 am. . For Ashton, Watorton and Longbeach, it 4.30 p.m. daily. For Wakanui, Elgin, and Scafield, on Tuesdays and Fridays, at 6 a. m.

Mails arrive at the Ashburton Post Office—

From Christchurch and Rakaia at 10.25 a.m., 4.35 p.m., and 7.50 p.m. From Ghertscy, &c. at 10.25 a.m. daily. From Dunedin and intermediate places at 5.35 p.m. daily. Frem Temuka and Timaru at 10.15 a.m. 5.35 p.m., and 8.15 p.m, daily. From Greenstreet, Ashburton Forks, Mount Somers, and Ashburton Gorge on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 3 p.m. From Ashton, Waterton, and Long beach at 10 a.m. daily. From Wakanui, Elgin, and Seafleld on Tuesdays and Fridays at 2.30 p. in. W. St. G. Douglas, Postmaster.

DAILY MEMORANDA.

AUCTION SALES. To-morrow, Saturday, December 4. Mr. T. Bullock, at his Rooms, Bast street - Lot 28, Township of Trevorton, with three-roomed Dwelling-house. Two o’clock. Thursday, December 9. Mr. T. Bullock, at the Prince Albert Boarding-house Furniture. Twelve o’clock. MEETINGS, AMUSEMENTS, Ac. To-Night, Friday, December 3. Ashburton Racing Club, Meeting of Mem bers, at Quill’s Hotel, at 8 p.m. . Wednesday, December 8. Local Industries Association, Monthly Meeting. Concert and Ball, opening of the - new hall, Tinwald. Concert to commence at 8 o’clock. Thursday, December 9. Public Meeting,-.Wakanui Schoolroom, at 7.30 p.m,, re Railway Tariff Monday, December 13. Borough Council, at Borough Council Chambers, at 7 o’clock. Tuesday, December 14. Amateur Dramatic Club, Town Hall, at 8 sharp.

TRAVELLERS’ GUIDE.

Trains Leave Ashburton fob Christ church and intermediate stations at 6 a.ni., 10.30 a.m., and (Express) 5.48 p.m. Trains Leave Ashburton for Timaru and South, at 7a. m., 10.3 Ga. in. (Ex press), and 4.50 p.m.—the latter pro ceeding no farther than Timarn. Trains Arrive at Ashburton from Christchurch at 10 24 a.m. (Express), 4.35 p.m., and 7.50 p.m. Trains Arrive at Ashburton from Timaru and South nt.-io.-is o. m. , 5.34 p.m. (Bxpreag), and 8.16 p.m.

The Ashburton Guardian. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1880 Wife Desertion.

FIRST EDITION. [lssued at 4 p. in. ] —i.t ww ..i * uiMaiit

At the sitting of the Charitable Aid Board in Christchurch, on Wednesday, it was reported that no less than 37

wives and 116 children were receiving aid from the Board in consequence of having been deserted by their hus bands and fathers, and in view of these state of things, Mr. Montgomery .moved the following resolution, which was car ried : That the return be forwarded to the Colonial Secretary, calling bis attention to the necessity which existed for legislation, so as to enable the Board not only to bring back the deserters from other colonies, but to punish them by im prisonment. Christchurch is not the only place in

the colony of New Zealand in which deserted wives and children are to be found, their presence in the communi ties of the colony being only too gene ral. Not a meeting of any charitable or benevolent association has been held for some time back, without com ments having been made on the number of deserted wives and children, and remarks made upon the necessity for special legislation on the subject, with a view to reducing the grievance, or at least punishing the deserters. Thereare, webelieve, hundreds of wives and families throughout New Zealand, the husbands and fathers of whom are to be found in neighboring colonies, and who ' have escaped thence for no other purpose than to, avoiding supporting their dependants. Many of those . men have been stopped' temporarily while on their way by the police, in response to tele grams received from the places whence, they hailed, but the law does not recog nise a telegram as a warrant, and the delinquents have escaped. When, however, they do get brought before the Court the utmost extent of the Court’s power appears to be to make an order for the contribution by them of so much per week for the support of the family, and the blackguard husband and parent is allowed to go. ■ Of course he promises to faithfully discharge the duty which his position, lays upon him, and which has been made doubly in cumbent by an order of the Court. For a week or two he behaves himself, and acts like a dutiful bread-winne r , but as soon as he gets a fair chance he goes off, and before a warrant for his apprehension can be made out he is en route for Sydney or Melbourne. What appears to be wanted is that in cases of this kind wife deserters should be liable to be apprehended on the strength of a police telegram, detained in custody till a warrant ar rives ; and further that the police should but put in a position that would enable them to bring deserters back from their places of refuge. It seems to us to be far more criminal on the part of a strong, able-bodied man to desert his wufe, and the children she has born to him, than it is for him to be guilty of a petty larceny; and, as it was put by Mr. Montgomery, the man by his de sertion commits a crime not only against those he deserts, but against the colony itself, for to it he leaves the sup port of his wife and offspring. Instead of simply making an order to pay, if the unnatural father were sent to gaol for a time, and a tangible punishment in flicted upon him that he would feel, he would very soon drop down to the con viction that it was better to work for Tirearl to liia-wife «n<l children than to bolt and leave them like the coward that he is. Thereare often, we confess,' extenuating circumstances, that might be adduced in cases of wife desertion, when, for instance, a woman is a worthless character, but we know of no circumstances that can extenuate the desertion to the world’s mercy by a father of the helpless children to whom he has given paternity. Men who do this do not deserve any leniency, and upon them the law ahould be smart in its punishment. Only punishment can cure a coward, and desertion of the kind we are now speaking is cowardice in the extreme. Perhaps the deserter’s heart may be reached more effectually through his hide than by any other means.

The Railway Tariff.

We are glad to notice that some of the country districts at least are joining in the crusade against the new railway tariff. The Wakanui Road Board an nounces its intention of holding a public meeting on the 6th in the Wakanui schoolroom, and it would be wise if all the other Boards followed the example. The Long beach Board has already done so, and we hope the meetings will be general. The simple signatures of the farmers to a memorial against the tariff are not enough, as men will often sign such memorials almost mechanically,, and without the least notion of what, they are doing. But a public at which the evils of the tariff have been explained, and the farmers have attended and expressed their feelings on the subject, both by speech and resolution passed, must be looked upon as a proper exponent of the feeling in the district; and the more of these meetings that are held the greater weight will any memorial drawn up and presented to Government have with the powers that be, and the more will the hands of any deputation sent on the subject be strengthened. We sincerely hope the agitation will not be allowed to drop, but that every schoolroom in the district will be the scene of a meeting, got up by the far mers in the immediate vicinity, to ex press their dissatisfaction with the unjust tax upon their grain that has been laid on by Government in the tariff drawn up by the recently removed General Managers, as a parting farewell by which the grain-growers of Canter bury may keep green the memory of their term of office.

Unstamped Beer.— The Beer Duty Act is being stringently enforced both North and South, and brewers in Wel lington and Dunedin were to-day fined heavily for allowing beer to leave their premises without the stamps required by the Act. A publican was also fined for receiving beer that was not so stamped. Ashburton School. —From the report of the sitting of the Education Board in Christchurch yesterday, published in the Christchurch morning papers, we take the following:—A report .on the Ashburton school was read, showing that of 243 chil dren presented for examination 92 passed. Yarious alterations in the arrangement of the buildings were stated to be necessary. The inspector found much room for unfa vorable comment, many of the standards being far below the mark, and the state of the school generally, indicating loose management. It was resolved to forward a copy of the ‘ report to the chairman, of tiio committee, and to enquire if, in the opinion of the committee, an improvement can be effected under existing manage ment. It was further resolved to re examine the school in three months after the holidays.

The Old Men’s Home.—The Charitable Aid Board" have accepted the tender of Mr. W. C. 'Davis, Ashburton, for lime washing and painting the Old Men’s Hopie, at Lll 10s. qlt is intended,.if possible, to give the annual feast at Christmas to the inmates of the Home, and we' are re quested to state Master of the Home will.be glad to.reoeiye. subscriptions towards a fund for that purpose.

The Dunedin Cup. Foul Play and Natator ha"e been scratched for the big handicap of our southern neighbors. A Month for Having Convulsions. — A sort of chronic charge has stood for two or three years in the Ashburton and Christchurch Courts against a man named W. H. Strange. ...He is a habitual drunkard, and, like most habitual drunkards, neglects his wife and family, who are thus left to shift for themselves.

In 1878 he was before A. LeGrand Camp bell for neglecting to support his wife and family, and an order was made for him to contribute. We next heard of him a month after, when, charged. with assault ing his wife, he was bound over to keep, the peace for six months, finding a, surety of LSO. Since then he has appeared in the Christchurch and Ash burton Courts on various charges of neglect of Iris family. Last Tuesday he was again before the Court for neglecting to obey an order of the Christchurch Court to pay for the support of his wife and family. lie pled hard for leniency, and promised to go to work and send money as soon as possible. How he lias fulfilled that promise was explained in the Court this morning before the Mayor and Mr. Cox. Instead of going to work, Strange got drunk, was found, intoxicated by Constable Smart, who tried to appre hend him. Strange was violent, and the. constable had to procure aid. In ex plaining the circumstances to the Court Strange denied having been, drunk ; he was subject to convulsions, when be took a very small quantity of liquor, and it was in one of these (its of convulsions that Ie struggled with the constable. The Court thought convulsions of Strange’s sort wore dangerous to the community, and put Strange and his convulsions in charge of the Gaolor for a month, the tendency to convulsions to be lessened if possible by hard labor.

CABLE NEWS.

LATEST FROM EUROPE.

{Pet Renta’s Agency.) More Troops for Ireland. London, Dec. 2. Additional bodies of Marines have been ordered to Ireland, the importation of arms being still on the increase. A Proposal. England has made a proposal to the other Powers not to disperse the combined fleet; and maintains that they should still; continue to act in concert to execute the remainder of the treaty. . Wants to Come to Terms. Constantinople, Dec. 1. The Turkish Government has addressed a circular note to the Foreign Ambas sadors, containing proposals for mediatory action by tho Great Powers towards bringing about an understanding' for the settlement of the Greco-Turkish frontier question. The Wool Sales. London, Dec. 2. At the wool sales to-day- 8,600 bales were offered, making a total of 62,000 bales catalogued since the opening. The tone of the sale was again firm. Fiji to be Shaken Up. - Washington, Dec. 2. • • The United States Government has de decided to obtain -redress for the. murder of an American in-Fiji.

AUSTRALIAN.

(Per Reuter's Agency.) The Australian- Cricketers’ Welcome Home. Melbourne, Dec. 2. The Australian cricketers received a most hearty welcome back after their English tour, and at the Town Hall to day Mr Street, of Dunedin, on behalf of the Otago cricketers, presented Mr. Mur doch, captain of the team, with a hand some gold bat. The Mayor entertains them to-night. The Intercolonial Conference. The intercolonial conference has adopted a resolution in favour of a federal council. Legislation on the Chinese question has been adjourned until the meeting of the conference at Sydney on January 15th, when all the colonies will be invited.. The Sorata. Adelaide. Doc. 2. The Sorata sailed for Melbourne to-day.

NEW ZEALAND

(Per Press AsoociaUon.) Floated. ' Gisborne,- To-day. ; The Lochnagar was successfully floated last evening, and is now anchored in the bay. Unstamped Beer. ’ Wellington, To-day. At the Magistrate's Court this morning William Donald, brewer, was fined L2O for neglecting to aihx and have cancelled a stamp on a barrel of beer sent out of the brewei-y. Cole’s Circus. An immense crowd attended Cole’s circus last night. Hundreds were turned away. Giving Drink to a Drunk Boy. Dunedin, Yesterday. At the City Court, the Bench dismissed the information against James Muir, publican, Caversham, who was charged with supplying liquor to a boy who was intoxicated. It is said the evidence was flat perjury on both sides. : Prize Brewers. Speight Bros., brewers, Dunedin, to-day received a - telegram from Melbourne, stating, they had Taken first and second prize for-strong ales. West Coast Coal. The gas engineer has reported strongly in favor of Westport and Grey coal for gas making purposes.

A Clever Cabul 'Gsneral. —Here is an extract from a private letter from the Punjab :—There is a very'fine fellow here, a sort of State prisoner, Daood Shah, who, they say, tried to stop the massacre of poor Cavaguari. He is six feet four inches high, and a handsome Jewish looking man like all Afghans. The officer in whose charge he is brings him to the club to read the papers to him sometimes, for he is' a most interested student of events, and even eager for telegrams. His comments on European politics are amusing, though it is hard to make him’ fairly understand Radical and Tory and Russian .Nihilism. Still, ,he is wonder fully well informed, and a striking con trast for mental activity and general vigor to Indian swells. We want to get him a Kr icy spiel, or war game, for he is an en thusiastic soldier, and a great student of battles and, plans : thereof. We made a mistake in under-rating opponents like these. He is out of it now, of course ;. but he freely criticises Gen. Roberts,'and points out his mistakes. It is a pity to keep a mountaineer like him down here in the heat. We . all , say ho should be sent to Simla to teach our Commander in- Chicf the art of war. These Afghans are queer folk. He is the mildest-mannered man that ever cut a throat, and yet

throat-cutting would come as easy to him as saying h/s prayers. He prays devotedly five times daily.”— London World.

Upper Ashburton Road Board.

. The ordinary~meeting of the Board was held'on Monday* the 29th instant. Pre sent—-Messrs McLean (chairman), Stitt, Sargent, and Poole. HINDS'WATER SUPPLY. Dr.*Stewart interviewed the Board, 0n,,, behalf of a numb'er'of ratepayers settled between the Ashburton and Hinds rivers, for the purpose of getting the opinion of the Board relative to supplying that por tion of the district with water. The doctor said, it was evident they could not

depend on wells. A number had been sunk, which hadnow run dry. One had been sunk 120 feet, which at one time had 60 feet of water, but it had'also rtnrdvy.. Stock were languishing, and the land rendered worthless for the want of water. Ho instanced the Rakaia Plains and other portions of tho district which had been liberally dealt with in experimenting for the supply of water. The district hero presented did not heed experimenting. As a proof, the late Mr. Charles Peed had watered the whole of his estate from the .Ashburton river and a small creek, so it was an established fact that water, could be got to flow over all these magnificent plains, enhancing their value tenfold, in raising crops and stock. He held and maintained that if one blade of grass grew how, and two with water, it would be a boon well worth tlyirig for. • Where a few hungry cattle now lingered out a miserable sickly existence, thou sands of good healthy cattle would gladden the eye of the beholder, to say nothing of the project in a sanitary point of view. He would, therefore, impress upon the Board the necessity for urging upon the County Council the advisableness of watering these plains. If time had per mitted, a large and influential petition could have been got up, showing the in expensive nature of the scheme, the acre age represented, and the great benefits which would be derived. i.

Mr. Donald M'Lean (Chairman) thought that a petition would be the best means to take for fixing the question on the Coun cil’s consideration, The petition would certainly receive the support and approba tion of the Board, so far as it was possible the Board could venture. After thanking the Board, the doctor withdrew. .; . TENDERS. Tenders were then opened as advertised for, and resulted as follows;—For main taining, etc., all the,roads in the district, Mr. Wm. Sutherland’s, tender was ac cepted. No. 91~Forming and shingling Domain road, Mr. John Boyle’s tender was accepted. CORRESPONDENCE. . ‘ From the Steward of Education Re serves, re road proposed to be taken through reserve No. 1122, from Digby’s bridge. The Clerk to reply the Board would be willing to give Ll 5 per acre- for the.road, and settle with the tenant for compensation. .Mr. M'Coll wrote, apologising for his non-atiendancc at the Road Board meet-.

mg. . Mr. J. Carter wrote, complaining that a fence had been erected by Mr. M'Lean, cutting off the old road into the Hinds, and also about a promised road across the Hinds. 1 Thd Clerk was directed to reply in explanation. . Mr. Aubrey Roacoe wrote, asking that the Tinwald and ’Maronan road be con tinued. The Clerk to reply, that at-pre-* sent they were • unable to continue the road asked for. From the. Ashburton Racing Club, for a lease of reserve 1035, situate at the cor ner of the race course. Granted.

From J. P. Quinn, stating that he had been wrongfully .deprived of certain water, formerly running through his section, No. 9on reserve 350. The Clerk to reply that the water in question was not creek water. From the Ashburton County Council, fenclosing extract from the County En gineer’s report, relative to protective works on the North Ashburton river, and wishing to have the Board’s opinion on the same. accounts, Ac. The accounts were then gone into and passed, and other routine business having been transacted, the Board adjourned.

CORRESPONDENCE.

We do not hold ourselves responsible for :h ---opinions expressed by our correspondents.

CORONER’S INQUESTS.

To the Editor.

Sir—Your leader in Wednesday’s paper, I honestly believe expresses the opinion of the general public, relative to holding unnecessary inquests in cases of death from natural causes, which I observe has been practised here to an unlimited extent —the result of which lias been, first, sad and painful feelings to the relatives of the deceased* subjected to such unnecessary in vestigations ; secondly, the inconvenience and annoyance to jurors summoned to attend for no real reas on ; and thirdly, a professional fee paid to the coroner, who is also a medical surgeon, whose useful ness would be greater were he not coroner. I think the time has arrived when a general meeting of the inhabitants should be held to request our representa tives to demand that the 11. M. of the district should be appointed coroner, at a fixed yearly salary, which granted, I honestly believe would prevent half the inquests being held that are now.—l am,- &0. , A J URYMAN.

THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1880.



Special Advertisements. THE BEST VALUE FOR READY MONEY is Tire MEN’S) CLOTHING (AND BOYS’] MANUFACTURED BY THE NEW ZEALAND CLOTHING FACTORY, which can be purchased at their Retail Branches, now established all over New Zealand. The Garments are thoroughly shrunk. The Fit and Style are perfect. The Workmanship is equal to bespoke. The Trimmings are of superior quality and strength. The Tweeds arc of the very best descrip tion. The Stock is the largest in the Southern Hemisphere. The tall, short, lean, and stout can be equally well fitted. The Goods are all marked in plain figures. The system of business is to exchange every article that does not give satis faction. And, in addition to all these advantages, you can purchase A SINGLE GARMENT AT THE WHOLESALE PRICE. Mercery, Hats, Shirts, Ties, Scarfs, Bags, Portmanteaus, Rugs, and Blankets at Wholesale Prices. THOUSANDS OF DISCERNING CUSTOMERS Testify that the New Clothing Factory’s Garments are the Very Best Value for Ready Money. Ashburton Branch : EAST STRE ET . WM. SPARROW, 5)10 Manager. O. Carstens & Co. (Late Weston’s), PROSPECT BUILDINGS, Tobacconist, fancy goods, AND STATIONERY. Meerschaum Pipes, G.B.D. Pipes Nailrod, Twist, and Vanity Fair Tobacco Musical Instruments, etc., etc. flaircutting, Shaving and Shampooing. BAST STREET, ASHBURTON. 520*



NOTICE TO ADVERTISERS.



All orders for insertion of advertise ments must be written legibly on the face of the advertisement. When no order is given the advertisement will he inserted until countermanded, and charged accord ingly. All notices of Births, Marriages, or Deaths must be accompanied by the sig nature of the sender, as a guarantee of good faith. All advertisements and business letters to be addressed The Manager ; literary communications should be addressed to The Editor.



How to Quiet Them. —Several Maori prisoners at Ripa Island having been un ruly. and defiant of late, their liberal allowance of food has been reduced to bread and. water. \



Lost. LOST, between the Alford Forest road and the English Parsonage a Parcel of Ladies’ NEEDLEWORK and OALICO. Please return to the office of Messrs. Fooks and Son. 683



£1 Reward. LOST, from Wakanui, on Monday, November Ist, One Chestnut HACK, branded HD on the left shoulder, with hollow back. Last seen in the direction of Barrhill.— Anyone returning him to Friedlandeb Bros, will receive the above Reward. 487 Barristers, Solicitors, &c. C. W. Ireland, jgARRISTER AND SOLICITOR, 'Saunders’ Buildings, ' Ashburton. 393 Branson & Burnell, JgARRISTERS AND SOLICITORS,. BAST STREET. ■ 394 Gazette in Bankruptcy. * R. J^J"OTICE— The Asueurton Guardian is a Gazette .for all notices under the Debtors and Creditors Acte



Wanted. WANTED— A Good General SER VANT. Apply immediately, Office of this Paper. / >. CBQ - WANTED— By a young respectable woman, a SITUATION as HOUSE',.. MAID or WAITRESS in a Hotel.; Country preferred. - 667 WANTED —A General SERVANT. Apply to Mbs. Douglas, Post Office,., 666 TirrANTED, a LAD to Milk, and Kill : » * ' Sheep and make himself useful on a-Farm. Apply Office of this Paper. 669 ANTE D—A Young Woman as GENERAL SERVANT for a country hotel. Apply, Office of this , Paper. : 668



TXT ANTED, SITUATION as Plough ’ YY ’ 'man, or to do general Farm work. —Applyj Office of this paper. 642 "ANTED, a respectable GIRL, 14 or 15 years .of to .make herself generally useful. Apply, Office of this paper. 622 WANTED KNOWN—A CART will travel round Ashburton on SATUR DAY NEXT, to dispose of Waterton Produce. Eggs, 14 a Shilling. Butter, 6d. per Ibv- 663 WANTED KNOWN, That HENRY’S PORTRAIT ROOMS, Saunders’ Buildings, East street, Ashburton, are open DAILY, from 9 a. in. till 5 p.m. Portraits taken hi any weather.; .Great Reduction iii Price.* : - . 606 WANTED KNOWN. SOMERSET LIVERY AND : BAIT STABLES. JW. M'RAE begs to inform The , public that he has taken the above Stables from Mr. Bossenberg, and is making extensive repairs. Buggies and saddle, horsps on hire., . .. Lowest prices and best attention.; 903c— 2860



ANTED KNOWN—Just arrived from England—Christmas, New Year, and Birthday Cards. New Zealand Illustrated Annual, Young Ladies’ Jour nal, and Bow Bells, Is. 6d. each. Family Herald and Family Reader, Is. each, and all other Magazines supplied at .Christ church Prices, ' "Colonialand European Newspapers, School Books, Stationery,&c. A visit solicited. L. F. Andre we. s, East street, near Lancaster’s Butchery. 527 YV, Cards, plain or mourning, can be obtained printed in various styles, at the .“Guardian” office, opposite the Railway Station. • BpffffHBHBaUJWIILIIIMMmMtIIkT. Meetings. ROAD DISTRICT. A PUBLIC MEETING will be held at the Wakanui Schoolroom on THURS DAY, the 9th instant, at 7.30 p;m., to consider the Railway Tariff question. H. T. WINTER, Chairman. Wakanui Road Board.; Ashburton, Dec. 2, 1880. 678 ASHBURTON RACE CLUB. A " MEETING of the above CLUB will ; will be held at QUILL’S - HOTEL, [ THIS {Friday) EVENING, December 3rd, 'at Eight o’clock. ■ Business : : 1. —To receive the Secretary’s Report and Treasurer’s Balance Sheet. 2. —To consider the best means for improving the Course, and other matters of importance. By order, JAMES WILKIE, 631 ; Hon. Sec.



Amusements. DRAMATIC - CLUB. Under the patronage of the Mayor and Borough Council and the Ashburton Volunteer Rifles. The Lady of Lyons. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 14th, AX THE, TOWN HALL, . ASHBURTON. Farewell Benefit of LIZZIE LIZ E T T E (Mrs. Thompson). PAULINE—LIZZIE LIZETTE. After the Performance, a BALL will be held^-Admission 2s. Od. 682 mHE KELLYS ! THE KELLYS ! ! JL THE KELLYS !! ! Coming, Coming, 1 Coming ! Glorious success in Christchurch.! Over 100 Life-size Views of the Kelly Outlaws. Hundreds of other Views of the principal Cities of the World, including the Glasgow Riots. Admission—One Shilling ; and a Pre sent to every Visitor. 494 Ecclesiastical. PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHURCH, NEWLANDS. ■XTEXT SUNDAY, DECEMBER sth, ANNIVERSARY SERMONS will be Preached in the above Church, by Rev. A. J Smith. Morning service at 11 o’clock; evening, at 6.30 o’clock. On MONDAY following, DECEMBER 6th, a Public Tea Will be held at 5.30 o’clock, after which Addresses will be given by Revs. W. Keall, A. M. Beattie, A. J. Smith, and others. Tickets for Tea—ls. 6d. ‘ V 664



Railway Notices. V. R. NEW ZEALAND RAILWAY'S. (Christchurch Section.) MOUNT SOMERS BRANCH. URING the WOOL SEASON, a , man will be placed at the terminus to receive and load wool into railway wagons. Arrangements have been made for supply of wagons and covers. . Further 'information can. be obtained from the" station, masters, Ashburton arid Tiriwald, or the porter at : the ter minus. FREDK. BACK, Traffic Manager. Traffic Manager’s office, ; , Christchurch, Nov. 29, 1880 653 DO you Want the’News <Jf the Day Read the Ashburton Guardian. .Price, One Penny. • G ASH RECEIPTS Printed at “ The Guardian” office,



Public Notices. road district. IMPORTANT:- NOTICE. tu accordance with the Canterbury Ordinance, OCCUPIERS and OWNERSare hereby required to REMOVE 1 immediately all GORSE, BROOM, etc., growing on the roads front ing their property for half a chain wide, otherwise the same will be done at their expense, - ■ H. T. WINTER, 679 Chairman. THE BEST IN TOWN;--Aitken’s Pastry. Cakes, etc., are acknowledged.; so to be. Soirees, Parties, PicnicS, etc.," provided for on the shortest notice.^, Aitkbn,, Pastrycook,' etc., . Saunders’ * Buildings. . 681 E. Dobson & Son,, CI VI L E N GIN EERS, AUTHORISED AND . . LICENSED ’ SURVEYORS, South British Chambers, : Hereford Street, Christchurch. > 674 A CARD] G. Hastings Bridge, S U RVE Y ; OR, And Licensed under Land Transfer . Office : Hobbs and Co.’s new Buildings, Hisjh street, second floor, Christchurch. - : ? ; . 675 , T y i [card.]



rr IHEODOBE B. JACOBSEN AND |_ . . O. PEEZ, ~ r , ARCHITECTS. Note office — HEREFORD I IVE§T, ’-‘1 Christchurch, . r ,571 ALL DEBTS due to Herald and * must be Paid to Mr. S. E; tPbTirrz,: .otf behalf of the Assignees) at. the. Guardian s Office, East street, Ashburton, and. hia,:> receipt alone will be a sufficient discharge.i ---: S. SAUNDERS, For Self and Cb-Assigneps.’ - - MR. HARDY JDH ( NS r TQ.Nr,. CIVIL I EN dINE^RAND ; '• ARCHITECT,,, .. Authorised and ' Licensed Surveyor,- > VALUER AND ARBITRATOR, Is prepared to execute Surveys, Engineer*' ing and Architectural Designs, Estimates, and Reports, and Value 7 Property inHown -* f orcountry at the following tariffed charges, exclusive of travelling expenses. SURVEY CHARGES. For any fractional part of an acre, and not exceeding five acres, two guineas. Exceeding five acres and under twenty-five acres, three guineas. Exceeding twenty-five acres and under fifty acres, . three guineas for the first r twenty*fiye ' i acres, and one shilling per acre for balance.' Exceeding fifty acres and under one hundred acre?, four guineas for the first fifty acres, and one shilling per acre for balance, 1 L. L,.i 1 'Ji. Exceeding one hundred acres and under five hundred acres, five guineas forthe first one . hundred acres, -and- ninepence per acre for ? balance. Exceeding five hundred acres and under five ‘thousand, ninepence per acre for the first five hundred acres, and sixpence per acre .for. balance. :.i ■; ~'V\ .': c. I ; • For sub-dividing into allotments carefully pegged and numbered, the charge, in addition ( to the above, would be two shillings for eadlv town allotment comprising any fi actional part of an acre, and two shillings and sixpence for each suburban or rural section comprising one .acre and upwards. r i he above charges do .not' apply to very hilly or broken country, or to "bush” land, in which case from twenty-five tofilty percent, would have to be added in prbportibn’to the difficulties met with in the country to be sur veyed, and also in discovering; the boundaries"X of the Crown Grants.



Fair copies of the survey plan drawn on mounted paper, together With: Book of refer*. : cnce, if required, will be furnished at the rate pf ten per cent, on the cost ot the survey. All surveys will be earned out ahd completed in accordance with the rules and instructions issued by the Surveyor-General for the, guid ance of the Survey Department of the Govern ment, and will be certified to as being correct, . , The charge per day would be two guineas l clear of all expenses should clients prefer that mode of payment.. ~ ... - ENGINEERING CHARGES; / _ In making surveys of land for engineering purposes, such, for instance, as the drainage or or irrigation of districts of country, the drain age or water supply of construction of , railways, common roads and bridges, canals, •' harbors, river improvements, &c., the charges would be for plans, design, estimate, report, &c,, at the rate of three per cent, on the total estimated cost of the proposed work if under ,£5,000; above £5,000 and under £lo,ooo, three per cent, on the first £5,000 and two and a half percent., on the balance ; above ,£IO,OOO and under ,£20,000, two and a half per cent, on the first £10,060, and two per cent, on the balance, and so on-lessening in proportion to • the extent of the estimated cost on the proposed work. If employed by the. day, the charge would be three guineas clear ofhll expenses.” • ARCHITECTURAL CHARGES. In furnishing designs and specifications with estimated cost, &c., for cottage and villa .rcsi*”- dences, shop fronts, warehouses, banks, public buildings, tic., &c,, the charge would be from five to two anda half per cent, in proportion to the estimated cost of the proposed building, v VALUATIONS; House and landed property, agricultural machinery, tools' and effects, railway plant, and . every description of engineering and building : ■ material, plant, &c„ &c., valued on equally reasonable terms as above. ' •. i’ , • T. M. HARDY JOHNSTON, C.E., Member of the Institution pi' Civil r En gineers, London. , Offices—Sydenham Chambers, Hereford street, Christchurch. 672 Agricultural Elens. THE Undersigned are open to receive applications for CASH ADVANCES on Growing Crops. 610 P. CUNNINGHAM & CO. Wool Season, 1880-1881. • ’ - THE Undersigned-are prepared to make LIBERAL CASH I ADVANCES; (Free of Commission) on all WOOL placed in .their hands.for SALE hi the London, or Continental Markets.; ; • , t ; -ri; ~ r We are offering special inducements to ■ shippers of wool to bur London Agents, haying made arrangements; whereby’ the . wool will receive such an amount of attention prior to sale thafc farmers can; calculate upon exceptionally good prices being procured. . , Insurances on Clip can be effected from sheep’s back to London. - 1 Woolsacks supplied at most reasonable prices.' I "'"'' ■’ : ■, For further particulars apply to . P. CUNNINGHAM, & CO. ' >ll j . Christchurch. , ■ L'HE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN.' PUBLISHED EVERT EVENING. PRICE— ONE’ PENNY.. A DVERTISERS are reminded that the ASHBURTON GUARDIAN ommands the LARGEST CJRCOLA ?ION in the Borough and Suburbs, and, he prices for advertisements are very easonable.