SHIPPING.

PORT OP LYTTELTON. Arrived. Saturday. St. Kilda, s.s., from Dunedin and (jarnaru. Yesterday. Palace, barque, from Newcastle. Gatlin, ketch, from Gatlin’s River. Wanaka, s.s., from Wellington. To-day. West Riding, barque, from Glasgow. Thurso, barque, from Calcutta. City of Tanjore, barque, from Calcutta. Planter, barque, from Tasmania. Sailed., Saturday. Lyttelton, p.s., for Wellington. Yesterday. Wanaka, s.s., for Wellington and Nelson. Cleopatra,- schooner, for Greymouth. St Kilda, s.s., for Wanganui. To-day. Durham, s.s. for London. SHIPPING TELEGRAMS. Welling toy, Yesterday. Arrived—Wakatipu, s.s., from South ; Star of the South, s.s., from South ; Grafton, s.s., from Lyttelton ; Zior, from Napier. Cleared Enterprise, brigantine, for Tirharu ; Hannah Barrett, schooner, for Kaipara. Sailed—Rotorua, for Sydney, via Auck land and East Coast ; Wakatipu, s.s., for Sydney ; Aurora, schooner, for East Coast. Greymouth, Yesterday. Arrived—Wallabi, from Wanganui ; Charles Edward, from South. Sailed —Isabella Anderson, for Dunedin ; Elizabeth Conway, for Nelson. Dunedin, Yesterday. Sailed —Wave, brig, for Whangaroa. Dunedin, To-day. Arrived—Waitara, ship, from London. All well.

MAIL NOTICES.

Mails close at the Chief Post Office, Christchurch, for the following places (subject to necessary alterations) as Under: — Tuesday, December 14. For Otago and Australian Colonies, per Te Anau. Wednesday, December 15. For the United Kingdom, via Brindisi (for specially addressed correspondence only), Continent of Europe, Point de Galle, India, the East, Aden, Mauritius, Natal, Cape of Good Hope, Suez, the Mediterranean Ports, Australian Colonies, &c.;—Ordinary letters at 7 a.m. ; books and newspapers at G a.m. ; registered letters at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, December 14th ;. money orders at 4 p.m. on Tues day, December 14. Late fee letters may be posted in the travelling Post Office van attached to the express train on Wednes day, 15th December. The next mail for the United Kingdom, via San Francisco, will close at the Chief Post Office, Christchurch, on Saturday, Ist January, 1831. Mails close at the Ashburton Post Office, as follows : For Christchurch and North at 5.30 a. m. 10 a.m., and 5 p. m., daily. For Ohertsey Rakaia, &c., at 10 a.m. and 5 p. m. daily. For Dunedin, Tinwald, Winslow, Hinds, Coldstream, Rangitata, Orari, Winchester, and Geraldine, at 10'a.m. daily. For Temuka, at 6 a.’in. and 10 a. m., daily. r . - For Timaru and South, at G a.m., 10 A.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, Waterton and Longbcach, at 4.30 p.m. daily. For Wakanui, Elgin, and Seafield, on Tuesdays and Fridaj's, at G 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 Chertsey, &c. at 10.25 a.m. daily. From Dunedin and intermediate places at 5.35 p.m. daily. Fr»m 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 Seafield on Tuesdays and Fridays at 2.30 p.m. W- St. G. Douglas, Postmaster.

DAILY MEMORANDA.

AUCTION SALES. To-morrow, Tuesday, December 21. if. T. Ford and Co., at the Ashburton Yardr—Sheep and Cattle. MEETINGS, AMUSEMENTS, &c. ‘ To-Night, Monday, December 13. Public Meeting in connection with .he Good Templar Order, Town Hall, 7.30. Borough Council, at Borough Council Chambers, at 7 o’clock. To-morrow, Tuesday, December 14. Meeting of Milkmen, at Mr. Harrison’s Auction "Room, at 7 p.m. Amateur Dramatic Ciub, Town Hall, at 8 sharp.

TRAVELLERS’ GUIDE.

Trains Leave Ashburton for Christ church and intermediate stations at 6 a.m., 10.30 a.m., and (Express) 5.48 p.m. Trains Leave Ashburton for Timaru and ,South, at 7 a.m., 10.36 a.m. (Ex press), and 4.50 p.m.—the latter pro ceeding no farther than Timaru. 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 at 10.15 a. m., 5.34 p.m. (Express), and 8.15 p.m.

The Ashburton Guardian. TOWN EDITION. [lssued at 5 p.m. ]

The Ashburton Guardian. MONDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1880. The State of Ireland.

Almost every day a cablegram appears in the daily press referring to some new phase in the agitation now going on in Ireland. Now a big meet ing has been held, at which the English Government has been de nounced, anon the Land League takes some new departure, encourages the withholding of rent, or institutes some sort of arbitration court, with a constitution entirely apart from the control of constituted authority—while the intelligence of a fresh agrarian outrage diversifies the news at pain fully short intervals. Altogether ample evidence is given in cur rent news by cable that Ireland is in a bad state, and that sooner or later a change of some sort must happen either what the agitators want will be given to them, or it will not; but at any rate, the state of matters now exis tent in Ireland cannot much longer continue. The cry appears to be for the landlords’ land to be given to the people. We would be only too glad to know that the Irish peasantry had be come the owners of the farms they oc cupy, and that the most discontented of all discontented countries had been transformed into a land flowing with milk and honey, and where every man was at peace with his neighbor, with no grievances to remedy and no heart burnings to allay. But this millenial time seems far off as yet, and bitter as the agitation appears to be, we do not fancy that it is likely to bring it any nearer, from the fact that the agitators ask too much. England is not the country to put forth its hand and take from the landlords the land that repre sents their capital, and give that land to Tom, Dick, and Harry who have only been in occupation of it. England will want some far stronger reason for such a course than the mere existence of a Land League with a motto— “ The land for the people.” It is ab surd to expect that while the relations between landlord and tenant that ob tain in England and Scotland continue, the British Parliament will ever con sent to the spoliation of Irish landlords that seems to be the aim of the land agitators, and even with a possible re bellion looming in the distance, the House of Commons will never consent to such a thing. If the Land Leaguers were to moderate their demands and ask for the Irish tenantry to be put upon the same terms as regards land tenure as those under which English and Scotch tenant farmers lease their holdings, and to be firm in their de mands for this not very extravagant concession we have no doubt but they would gain their purpose. But beyond that concession we feel certain Parlia ment will never go. There are really only two possible means open to the Leaguers from obtaining redress of their grievances--these are an Act of Par liament and a civil war. The first

they may secure easify, .so long as by it no act of gross'-injustice is com mitted against the landlords, and if tlie Leaguers:themselves are only temperate enough in their agitation to avoid rac ing unnecessary hostility in the House. A rebellion would be the ruin of Ire land; Again, the Leaguers seem to overlook the fact that were landlordism annihilated in Ireland to-morrow, and the land confiscated and appropriated by Government, the other question would arise—who is to receive it ? Certainly not the farmers, nor anv one else, without some return to the state, and the payment of this return the agitators would feel as heavily as they now do . the payment of rent. If, however, the Land League is successful in bringing about a new system of land tenure in Ireland that will in some degree lessen the terrible frequency of agrarian outrages that make Ireland a hell upon earth, and will make a contented people of a hard working peasantry, it will have done some good ; but it need never hope to browbeat the English Parliament into an act of robbery just as greatly wrong as is the tumbling of a landlord by a cowardly bullet from behind a hedge.

Suicide. —A man named John Wilson, sixty-eight years of age, committed suicide in Christchurch last night by cutting his throat. Financial troubles are presumed to have incited him to the act.

Crime. —To-day two cases were re* manded till to-morrow’s sitting of the R.M. Court—one a case of alleged indecent assault on a child, another a charge against a drunken man of attempting to forcibly extort money.

Wakefield, M. H.R. —Mr. E. Wake field’s seat for the Geraldine constituency is not a bod of roses. On Saturday last he essayed to address his Tcmuka consti tuents, but the rowdy portion would not permit him to speak and lie had to cave in. He speaks to-night at Geraldine, and tries Temuka once more on Wednes day. Winslow Sports. —At the meeting of the Winslow Sports Committee on Satur day evening, a considerable amonm of routine business was transacted. The prize money was voted amounting to over L7O and the allotment of sums for the several events was made. The complete programme will appear in an early issue of this paper. All arrangements regarding course and privileges were left in the hands of the Secretary. Sir F. Dillon Bell. —Sir F. Dillon Bell -was presented with a silver cLret jug and cup by the residents at Palmer ston. The present was the product of a shilling subscription over the district, and was accepted by Sir F. Dillon Bell as an expression of popular good will. He claimed to hare devoted himself unsel fishly to the colony’s service, and had been one of the pioneers who rescued the colony from a waste wilderness. This fact gave him great pleasure in represent ing the colony in England.

The Te Aroha Goldfield. A Grahamstown telegram says : One hundred weight of picked specimens and 35cwt. quartz from the leader in the pro spectors’ claim, Te Aroha, yielded lOioz. gold. There are a number of rumors that other claims are getting gold, but none have shown any great quantity of golden stone. The prospectors are putting in a drive to cut the leader at a lower depth, and intend sinking a winze on the speci men leader. Many business places have been erected, but comparatively little mining work is done on the field ns yet. The Warden’s opinion on the goldfield is that it extends over a large area, even in blocks included in Patetere. Several claims have been formed into limited companies and scrip issued. LO.G.T. — A New Lodge at Rakaia. —On Saturday evening Bro. R. Elston, District Deputy for Mid Canterbury, in stituted a new Lodge at Rakaia, assisted by Bros. Scott, Sando, and Head. The Lodge was instituted in the school-room, and thirteen members joined, while many more were nominated, and will be initiated next meeting night. After the institution ceremonies, the following officers were elected :—Lodge Deputy, Bro. David Bruce ; W.C.T., Bro. W. Byrne; W.Y.T., Bx*o. Sydney Head; W.S., Bro. R. Wright ; W.F.S., Bx-o. Haslett ; W.T., Bro. Welsh ; W.C., Bro. Hall ; W.1.G., Bro. Lake ; W.0.G., Bro. Stafford ; D.M., Bro. Shannon; R.H.S., Bro. Layman ; L.H.S., Bro. Laurenson. The Lodge was christened the “ Nil Desperandum,” and the nights of meeting were fixed for Saturday evening in each week. After the usual business and votes of thanks, the Lodge closed in duo form.

An Enormous Estate. —Every now and then a paragraph about a large amount of unclaimed money lying in a public office to the credit of persons who never ask for it excites a feeling of wonder that people can be so indifferent to their pecuniary interests. In other cases people’s money is kept carefully for them by a public institution. The great holder of this kind is the Court of Chancery, which on August 31st, 1879. possessed securities to the amount of L 76,582,207, which it held in trust for the owners whose estates are administered by the Court. This is ex clusive of cash yielded to same extent by the aforesaid securities, and partly coming from other sources, which in the year end ing on the day named amounted to L 17,677,488; and also exclusive of securities held in rupees, dollars, guilders, florins, and francs, which amounted to a considerable sum. The Court paid out cash amounting to L12,G48,033 ; and had on September Ist, 1879, a balance in hand of L 5,029,454 cash, LG8,083,526 in sucuri ties, a larger amount than ever in foreign moneys The enormous estate does not represent all the valuables with which Chancery is entrusted, for there are deposited at the Bank of England to the account of the Paymaster-General, a num ber/)! boxes duly marked, which contain wills, title-deeds, securities, plate, family relics, and jewellery. Much of this per sonal property is held on behalf of persons of unsound mind.

Tea Blending. Messrs. Nelson, Moate, and Co., Christchurch, have com menced a line which should commend it self to the heads of households, as well as to the proprietors of hotels and refresh ment rooms. Wo refer to the business of tea blending which the above firm have been induced to establish, and which, we understand, has met with a deal of support both in Christchurch and neighbourhood. Our representative, on visiting the establishment, was shown twelve varieties of teas, some of which are exceptionally rare in the colonial markets. Mess r s. Nel son, Moate, and Co. have fitted up extensive premises in High street, Christchurch, where, besides the necessary room required for carrying on a largo wholesale and retail business, rooms are set apart for the practical portion of the work. In one of these are a mixing trough and blend ing apparatus, the latter being a large iron revolving cylinder, fitted inside with fixed fans, and capable of holding a large quan tity of tea. The blends are of five differ ent kinds, and one of them —the Dar geeling Blend—which we have tried, is certainly a most delicious tea. It is intended, at an early date, to establish an agency in Ashburton, but in the meantime any orders sent from the country to Messrs. Nelson, Moate and Co.’s wire house, Christchurch, will he attended to without fail.

Wakanux School Treat. —We have been requested to intimate that the children’s treat at Wakanui is postponed from Thursday, the 10th, to New Year’s Day.

CABLE NEWS.

LATEST FROM EUROPE.

{Pet Renteds Agency.) Homeward Bound. London, Dec. 9. The Right Hon. G. H. Goschen, ambassador extraordinary to the Porte, has left Constantinople and lias arrived at Brindisi, cn route for London. The Bank Rate. London, Dec. 10. The bank rate of discount has been raised to 3 per cent. The market rate remains at 2 per cent. Colliery Explosion. A terrible colliery explosion occurred to-day at Prygraig, which lias resulted in the death of over 90 miners, who were in the pit at the time of the ex plosion. Chili and Peru. News is to hand from South America that the Chilians in large force have landed at Pisca, on the Peruvian coast, and are rapidly advancing on Lima, the capital. Wheat Afloat. The total qantity of wheat afloat for the United Kingdom is 235,000 quarters. ; Kauri Gum. Kauri gum, S)^d. The Wool Sales. At the wool sales to-day, 5,600 bales were offered, making a total of 102,200 bales catalogued since the opening. The tone of the sale was firm. Dec. it. The wool auction closed to-day, 1,190 bales being offered, making a total of 114,100 catalogued since the opening. The tone of the sales showed a better demand for most descriptions. There was a good attendance of home buyers, but the number of foreign buyers was small. There was a fair competition for inferior to common qualities—crossbreds are id. to 2d. lower than last sales. Another Arctic Expedition.

The Geographical Society are pro jecting a scheme for another Arctic ex pedition. Indignant Depties. It has been announced 'to-day that the necessary capital for carrying out the Isthumus of Panama Canal scheme has now been fully subscribed. For War Purposes. Athens, Dec. 11. The Greek Government has voted a new loan for war purposes. The Kurds. Teheran, Dec. 10. Kurdish tribes, who carried on their depredations for some time in the western provinces of Persia, and were afterwards attacked and severely punished by the Persian troops, have now retired to their mountain fast nesses. The Panama Canal. Paris, Dec. 11. MM. Delontane and Dasson, mem bers of the Chamber of Deputies, have commenced a law suit against M. Gambetta, President of the Chamber, for having ordered their arrest for dis order. They allege that such arrest was illegal. '

AUSTRALIAN.

(Per Reuter's Agency.)' Crieket,

Melbourne, Dec. 12,

The cricket match between the Aus tralian Eleven and Victorian Represen tative Eleven was resumed to-day. The former continued their innings, and were all disposed of for 291 runs. Bannerman was run out for 58, Bonnor stumped for 50, Spofforth caught for 38, and Boyle caught for 55. The Victorian team then went to the wickets for their second innings, afla when the slumps were drawn for the day thev had lost four wickts for 167 runs.

New Zealand at the World’s Show. Dec. 11. The following Exhibition awards have been made—For bulk ale, first prizes, Speight, Dunedin ; Franks Ho kitika; Ward and Co., Christchurch; second prizes, Pascoe, Wellington ; Cochrane. Dunedin; Speight, Dunedin; Baynes, Wangaralta; third prizes, Strachan, Dunedin ; fourth, Manning, Christchurch. For porter in bulk First prizes, Vincent, Christchurch ; Ehrenfried, Dunedin: For bottled porter—First prize, Hargan, Dunedin ; second, Manning, Christchurch; Baynes, Wangaratta. The Transcontinental Railway Pro moted. Brisbane, To-day. Mr. Mcllwraith, the Premier, will shortly proceed to England, on business connected with the proposed transcon tinental railway. Postmaster General. It is announced that B. J 3., More head will be appointed "Postmaster General, in the place Of Buzacott, who takes the position of editor of the Brisbane Com ier.

NEW ZEALAND.

(Per Press Association.) Crushed to Death. Dunedin, To-day. At Bannockburn some boys wore play ing in an old sluicing ground when one, named Manson, got a pick and started picking under a hanging face. The mass of earth jell, crushing him to death. The Australian Team. Mr. Alexander cables that he hopes by to-morrow to obtain leave for Groube and Sleight, when he will telegraph definitely whether the team will leave on January 4th or 11th.

Looking Up. Westtort, To-day,

Mr. Reeves, M.H.R., has arranged for a supply of machinery to the Victory Company’s mine, Vew Creek, on behalf of the Dunedin capitalists. The mine looks remarkably well. The “Medium” Wanted. Invercargill, To-day.

The spiritualists of Southland are asked through the press to contribute for the benefit of the wife and family of J. Tyre man, spiritualistic and freethought lec turer.

THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL.

[ijY TET/TCGRAPH. ]

Auckland, To-day, The Australia has arrived from San Francisco. The mail left San Francisco wharf at 2.30 p. m. on November 21st. Passengers for New Zealand Hayes, Pulleine, Mills and wife, Larche, Gregory, Eastin, Williams, Reardon, Paul, Brownlie (Dunedin), and fifteen steerage. Summary of News. San Francisco, Nov. 21. The Republicans carried every northern State excepting New Jersej 1 ’,' California, and Nevada. The Democratic party car ried Hancock of Pennsylvania, and Wm. J. English, of Indiana. The Republicans polled an increased vote in every State of the Union gaining enough members to the Lower House of Congress to give them a working majority. In tho next House the Senate will be Democratic, by one of a majority. The President elect is a tariff man, but believes the system can be modified so as to bear less heavily upon certain industries. He has stated that lie will treat the Southern States justly, but allow them no favors. The Commissioners, have concluded a new Treaty with China, on tho immigra tion question, in the interest of America. The sugar crop of Louisiana is spoiled.

Counterfeit United States bonds are circulating, and only the best experts can distinguish them from the genuine paper. Edison claims that he has discovered a plan by which the electric light can bo divided indefinitely.

Sarah Bernhardt made her debut in New York City to an immense audience. Before the Presidential election a forged letter, with Garfield’s signature, appeared in a New York paper, which lost the votes of three states to the Republicans. Two men have been arrested and bound over in connection with the affair.

Anxiety is felt respecting the arctic exploring ship Jeanette, which was fitted out by Bennett, of the New York Herald. A relief vessel is to be sent.

Minnesota State insane asylum has been burnt. Between 20 and 30 lunatics have been burnt to dosth.

Leprosy is spreading among the whites near San Francisco. Twenty cases dis covered have been traced to the Sandwich Islands. There is also a small pox epi demic in San Francisco.

An influential San Francisco journal is advocating a reciprocity treaty between the States and New Zealand and Australia 1 ] Sixty bandits concerned in sacking towns in Brazil have been killed. The Chinese employed by the Peruvians have joined the invaders. The Chilians have landed a force at San Lorenzo. The at tempted mediation by the United States and the British is abandoned. Neither Peru nor Chili would compromise. In Southern Chili the Indians arc plundering and massacring the whites. The Chilian Government is straining every nerve to effect the capture of Lima, hoping to end the war ■ Forty four miners were killed in a coal mine at Stellcrton, Novia Scotia. GREAT BRITAIN. It is stated that the Reform Club has raised L 270,000 for election purposes. It is reported that the Queen has asked Mr. Gladstone to propose that Parliament should vote L 40,000, to enable the Prince of Wales to pay his most pressing debts, and the Premier refused. Fifty thousand delegates of all trades are to meet in Glamorganshire to take action with reference to the foreign tariff. Mr. Gladstone, at the Lord Mayor’s banquet in London, said possibly Govern ment might have to ask for increased powers in regard to Ireland, but he did not anticipate such a contingency. He said no progress had been made on the Greek question. Cardinal Manning opposes the French Jesuits settling in England. Mi. Gladstone has refused to support a scheme for the Euphrates Yalley railway.

8,000 rifles have been received in Ire land from Italy. The Land Leaguers are tampering with the troops.

Mr. Gladstone denies that there are dissensions in the Cabinet on the Irish question. Parnell, at a meeting, expressed his conviction that Ireland would obtain an organisation from America if there was any chance of breaking the British yoke.

Signal flashing by night is carried on by the Land Leaguers. The Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland passed a resolution to combat the agita tion with all its power. Foster favors an overwhelming display of power to overawe the League people. The Pope condemns the agrarian move ment in Ireland.

The London Sportsman says Tricketfc was not well in the match with Hanlan, He was over-trained and relaxation ensued, but he would never beat Hanlan in his best form.

The Man;uis of Lome sent 0 despatch congratulating Hanlan. The Panama Canal Company las funds to make a beginning. The Russian Government is concentra ting troops on the Chinese frontier.

The Czar is in a state of mental and physical prostration. He has lost popu larity since his morganatic marriage. Another powerful Nihilist rising is im minent.

The Turkish Government is preparing to close the Dardanelles at the shortest notice. The Greek Government has ordered the formation of fifty additional battalions of 250 men each. The Turks are sending arras and ammunition to the Greek frontier. War is certain unless the Greeks retire.

The Chinese are making large purchases of war material.

THE TRIAL OF TUHI.

[By Telegraph.]

Wellington, To-day.

At the Supreme Court this rooming, Tulii alias Tuhiata, alias Te Karea, was arraigned on the charge of murder ing Miss Dobic. Tuhi pleaded not guilty. Mr. Fonvood, counsel for the defendant, made an application for a postponement of the trial, on thcground that the defence required that Colonel Roberts should be in attendance to give evidence, it being said that pri soner had made a statement to him, on certain inducements, previous to “uhi making his confession. After argument, it was found that one of the witnesses in the case, who is now in Wellington, was present during the conversation with Roberts, and therefore the post ponement was not necessary.

SAD SHOOTING ACCIDENT.

[By Telegraph.]

Dunedin, To-day.

An accident happened on Saturday evening, which resulted in the death of Alfred Kishngbury, aged 13. He, with his brother and a number of com panions, went out shooting skylarks and rabbits. They had two guns with them —one a single and the other a double barrelled. John Kislingbury was carry ing the double-barrelled gun, and when in one of Mr. R. B. Martin’s paddocks, he was in the act of placing the right hand hammer on the nipple, when the left barrel exploded, and the contents lodged in Alfred’s side, causing death in a few minutes. Alfred cried out “Oh, Jack, Jack, you have shot me.” John said —“ Alf, are you dead ?” and Alf replied, “ Not quite.” Deceased’s brother then called on the other boys to help him, but they all ran away ex cept two, with whose assistance the wounded lad was carried to Mr. Mar tin’s house, where he expired almost immediately. At the inquest to-day the Jury added a rider, suggesting the institution of a gun license throughout the colony, and returned a verdict of “ Accidental Death.”

A Flight of Sand Larks.

To witness a large flight—or, as it is more correct to call it, a “ fling ” —of Dunlins on the wing is a sight as cari ous as it is interesting and beautiful. It is not when they are flying with an ap parently settled purpose from one place to another, hut when they are flying about hither and thither over the banks in a “ fling” of from a few hundred up to thousands in the flock, that their wonderful lightness and activity on the wing are seen to such ad 'antage as to strike even the most casual beholder with admiration. At one moment the spectator sees at a distance a dense, dark body moving rapidly along, which a practiced eye at once sees is a large flock of sand larks. Watch them, and to your amazement, if they are some distance off, the rapidly moving dark cloud will suddenly, almost, or some times entirely disappear. This is caused by the whole flock simultaneously turn ing their sides and the edges only of their wings to the spectator. Slowly then, and looking at first like a shadow, the birds reappear, the flock comes into full view as at first, and one is wondering what the next' change may be, when, instantaneously, every bird in the whole flight, turning its white under-surface toward the spectator, almost dazzles him with a momentary flash of bright, silvery whiteness; the appearance of the flock under this aspect having been most aptly com pared to a shower of new shillings. These graceful and attractive evolutions are often repeated, each change being a surprise ; for, owing to the constantly varying shape of the flock, which one moment may be in a long drawn-out line, and perhaps in the next in a round ball, no two of the movements are ex actly alike. The flock, if large, often breaks up, but only shortly to reunite again.—“ The Birds, Fishes and Ceia cea of Belfast Lough" Patterson.

CORRESPONDENCE.

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

REPLY.

To the Editor. Sir, — Permit me to make a few remarks on the letter signed “ Discretion,” which appears in to-day’s Guardian. The writer of that letter seems to me be one of those meddlers, whose highest object is find fault with all and sundry who have got presumption or common sense enough to guide their actions by any other rules than those ho approves of. “ Discretion” says, when young girls have been dancing, per haps six hours on a stretch, Ac.” When he can point out any lady, young or old, who danced one hour on a stretch at our entertainment, I will pay some respect to the following sentences of his letter. Has “ Discretion” not succeeded well at home in his efforts to christianize everybody, that he writes with such feeling about the grief children cause their parents ? Per haps our discreet friend knows the mean ing of the danse, ‘ and servants lose their situations when they remain at such places until morning.’ lam certain no servant lost his or her situation by attending our school treat, or the dance which followed. “ Mr. Discretion” waxes eloquent about “ married ladies dropping their children down in some corner.” There was not a single child dropped down either in a corner or any other part of the room on that eventful night. I have spoken to the only two bachelor householders in the neighborhood, and they both deny having had to sleep on the floor on the night of the entertainment.—l am, &c., Murdoch Bruce. Seafield, Dec. 11.

THE CHIMNEY CORNER.

HOW RHYS DAVYDD SAW THE FAIRIES. A sturdy man and Sceptical was Rhys Davydd, the woodman, who lived in one of the neat cottages in Peak valley. A.practical man, like his race and followings. Pie was in the prime of life; some five and forty summers and winters had passed over his head; he had a wife as stout and jolly as him self, and children ranging in a happy gamut from the young toddling of three to the youth of twenty. Rhys worked hard and slept hard. His people, as he called them, saw little of him, but in the morning, when lie went away with his bread and cheese in his pocket, and at night, when he came home, had a hearty supper, followed by a pipe and a hearty nap.

“ Fairies ! ” he used to say to enquir ing tourists, “Ha ! ha ! dint anfod , didn’t know or believe in em.” But it happened one day that he had just finished levelling a fine old and um brageous tree, when tired nature vindi cated herself, and from sitting down to wipe his forehead he gradually lay down full length on the big tree and fell into a deep sleep. He was awakened by peals of merriment and the tiniest laughter he had ever heard, and. sitting up in amazement, he was astonished to see a crowd of little imps dancing about him —“ males and females,” he was wont to say—and their gambols were cf the most extra ordinary kind. One brown-faced miss would now and then break out from the rest, and seizing a slender little fairy with wonderful golden tresses, would there and then execute one of the most impulsive of waltzes, and then as suddenly retire again into the crowd. “ Weltan wir,” said the woodman, resorting to his handkerchief, “it is true then. Boys,” he cried, and his voice in comparison with the silvery laughter was like a thunder clap, “boys, where’s the goold that people say you sometimes give poor people,” and as he spoke, the broad-faced one, evidently the jester of the merry crew, executed a surprising bound, twice turning a somersault, and landed himself on the speaker’s knee. “ You want gold do you ? You people of the earth always do. Will you come and see our store? ” “ Yes, will I,” cried the woodman, and another bound took the elf away into the midst, and the laughter and the dance ended as they gathered themselves in a circle. Rhys Davydd only heard a hum, “ like a bee in a jug,” he said, “ and then’all at once they had scampered away.” He had frightened them; then lie should see no gold. As he thought this there was again a rush, and they re-appeared carrying, like the Israelites from the promised Land, a long branch covered with flowers. Fie looked ;it was hem lock, and as he looked they swarmed around him, each one stripping off a leaf or flower and waving it about his head ; and again drowsiness seized him, and he sank to sleep. It could not have hern a doze of more than five minutes.

The sun was high when he sat down, and was high when he awoke; but where were the fairies ? Where was the big tree? Where was his axe and his coat ? It was odd ? He could have sworn that he had sat down on the very tree he had felled, but where on earth had it gone to. He shook himself to see if he was awake, and after a wondering look around marched away home. Every step that he took added to his surprise. Great patches of wood land had been cleared, and trim hedge rows surrounded nicely cultivated acres. There was his cottage, but it was not the cottage in a wood that it used to be. There was a long line of cottages close by, and a great black heap hung like a huge beetle on the slope between the wood and the river. Still more amazed, he hurried on and reached the cottage. That, at all events, was the same, yet even in the front he saw changes, for a large, trim garden met his view where he had once, in a much more limited space, cultivated a few leeks and cab bages, and in the garden, looking up to see who the comer was, stood the very image of himself, burly and sturdy, as he knew himself to be. The two eyed one another for a moment, and then the gardener resumed his work, while Rhys, wondering who it could be, passed into the cottage. Changes again. A middle aged woman, utterly unlike Shan, was sewing, with a lot of youngsters about her, and the old earthen floor was replaced by paving, and the furniture was different, only the walls seemed the same. “ Isn’t this Rhys Uavydd’s house ?” said Rhys to the woman. “ No, sir,” she said, “ ’tis Rhys Davydd’s son’s, my husband.” Poor Rhys again resorted to his hand kerchief and wiped his brow, and as he did so the likeness of himself came in from the garden and looked inquiringly at him, and then at his wife. “He wants to know,” said his wife, “ whether this is not Rhys Davydd’s house.” “ That was my father who lived here fifteen years ago, and went away sud denly and was not heard of.” “ Went away suddenly,” cried Rhys. “ I went away from this house this very morning, lam Rhys Davydd.” There was a look of incredulity upon the gardener’s face as he heard this, and he shook his head as he replied, “No, no, poor old man, you are not Rhys. He must be dead in some of the old caves, or murdered and buried; for I tell you he went away fifteen years ago.” Poor old man, thought Rhys, who felt no age in his limbs, and he looked to the glass, which, as usual in Welch houses stood on the chest of drawers, I 'and sure enough the face that met bis was that of age! He was under the power of witchcraft now, that was certain, “ And you are Rhys’s son,” he asked. “ Yes.” “ And your mother ?” “ Dead about five years back.” “And—and—little Johnny?” and the voice of Rhys faltered, for it was his youngest, his Benjamin. “ Oh, he’s a clerk down at Swansea and doing well,” and still questioning, Rhys heard of the fate of the rest —some in foreign lands, others dead, life’s sorrows and bliss ended.

There was a long pause, a wistful look at the son, and then again Rhys said,“ But I am Rhys; I left here this morning only as it seems to me. You know that I, must be Rhys, for who could ask you after the family as I have done ? ” “ No, no,” was the rejoinder, you have picked up the names. There’s nothing about you like what my father was fifteen years ago.” And blanched and weary, and sick at heart, Rhys was going away, when it suddenly struck him that he might have some thing about him which would prove who he was. He felt in his pocket, and produced a knife, an old clasp knife. “Did his son remember that?” “Yes,” Davydd did, “that was father’s”’ “ And this watch,” old and rusty, and not worth its weight in brass, but still the old family watch. Many a time had Rhys given this into his son’s hands and promised it should be his one day. So, little by little, the old tones of the voice made themselves heard through the crust of fifteen years. It must be his father. Father had come back, and Davydd felt his heart warm and his eyes soften. It was in deed poor old father. The neighbors knew that a strange old man was living at the woodman’s cottage. He was

seen looking about and wondering at the swift- trains that passed by, and the colliers coming, like so many gnomes out of the pit-house; but who he was, or what he wasi remained unknown; and it was years and years after he had been placed to sleep by the old Shane of his heart that the curious story oozed out, and was gossipped about the valley, told in many ways, with oddest of additions and colorings. “And had Rhys no story to tell of his visit to the fairy world,” was the query made to an ancient gossip. “ Oh, yes, but it seemed to him like a dream.” He was an illiterate kind of man; buL “ he would use strange expressions, as if he had been in contact with superior minds. For instance, he would Isay;' “ I fancy hearing, a small golden, lijltle ~ elf say, ‘Here is our storehouse of roots, here we nourish and preserve, so , that the sap rises up in the big , trees of your world and sends out green banners to make you glad.’ ” And then another. “ Wanted to see gold, did you; look into our color shop, and watch us tint the flowers and gild the butterflies,” and the gold was like soft sunshine that glowed and sparkled. And he put a large lumpinto his pocket, and it burnt him, and he believed to the last that it was this which woke him and sent him back to earth and life again. Ile always seemed to be like a man in a dream, said one who told the tale. “And did he never see his - Benjamin ?” “ His what ?” “ Did none of the other children come to the old home, and greet their father?” i‘ Ah, master,” was the. J reply, “ ’tis only in story books you get • that sort of thing, or perhaps in upper steps of life. We humble people branch off from our homes, and are scattered wide; sometimes we come home to marriages and to buryings, but when the old man and old woman are gone, then we rub along by ourselves until the end.”

So Rhys never clasped his Benjamin to his heart, and the yearnings and the mourning and the grief only ended when he laid himself down and died. O fairyland, this is ore of your shadows, : O sprites and elves, this tarnishes the gold, and dulls the sunshine, and deadens the songs that have always J . been associated with the name. _ But, stop ! let us still believe in their fun,. • and their innocent mischief, and think ’■ after all that the witchery of Rhys, the Welsh Rip Van Winkle, was the work of a soured gnome, a cynical man hating being, and not the doing of the gentle sprites of the mountain and the : flood.

THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN, MONDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1880.



Special Advertisements. O. Carstens & Co. (Late Weston’s), PROSPECT BUILDINGS, T OBACOONIST, FANCY GOODS, AND STATIONERY. Meerschaum Pipes, G.B.D. Pipes Nailrod, Twist, and Vanity Fair Tobacco MusicalTnstruments, etc., etc. Haircutting, Shaving and Shampooing. EAST STREET, ASHBURTON. 520* WINSLOW CUP (County horses only), li- miles. Weight for age. Ist horse 20 sovs., 2nd horse to save his stake. Entrance 2 sovs. All those interested in the above are reminded that entries (2 sovs.) will close on December 20. All communications to be addressed to the Secretary, Winslow, stating age of horse and the colors of rider. . ; No one. will -bo qualified to enter a horse for the above unless a - subscriber of one guinea to the funds. ° J. B. ROGERS, 735 Hon. Sec,



Special Advertisements. THE BEST'■ VAL U E FOR ■ . ' : READY MONEY IS THE MEN’S) CLOTHING (AND BOYS’) MANUFACTURED BY THE NEW ZEALAND CLOTHING FACTORY, which can bo purchased at their Retail Branches, now established all over New Zealand. The Garments are thoroughly shrunk. The Fit and Stylo are perfect. The Workmanship i? equal to bespoke. The Trimmings are of superior quality and strength. The Tweeds are of the very best descrip tion. The Stock is the largest in the Southern Hemisphere. The tail, 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 THIS WHOLESALE PRICE. Mercery, Hats, Shirts, Ties, Scarfs, Bags, Portmanteaus, Rugs, and Blankets at Wholesale Prices. THOUSANDS OF DISCERNING CUSTOMERS Testify that the New Zealand Clothing Factory’s Garments are the Very Best Value for Ready Money. Ashburton Branch : EAST STREET. WM. SPARROW, 910 Manager. A NEW DEPARTURE. DAWN OF A NEW ERA IN THE HISTORY OF TAILORING. ONE of the great requirements of the Colonies at the present time, is— CLOTHING MADE TO ORDER, AT READY MADE PRICES. In order to meet this want and bring our PERFECT FITTING SUITS, Within the reach of all, we have made arrangements which will enable us to offer CLOTHING MADE TO ORDER from COLONIAL or IMPORTED Materials, at the following Prices: — Boy’s SUITS from £3 Men’s SUITS from £3 7s. Gd. Men’s TROUSERS from 18s 6d. Ladies’ MANTLES from £2 ss. PERFECT FlT—Any Style Required, and First-Class Workmanship guaranteed in every case. CRAIGHEAD & CO., TANCRBD STREET, (Next. Qrr & Co.) ’ A PUBLIC MEETING will be held on SATURDAY EVENING, DE CEMBER 18, at Wakanui Schoolroom, to consider the advisability of getting up men’s Sports for New Year’s day. CHARLES HILL, JOHN KILGOUR,



In Hungary one’s official age dates from his baptism. A woman of 40, only recently baptised into the church, was arrested for stealing, and pleaded that she was an infant, being legally only six months old. The Court considered the defence good and acquitted her.



Play spades if you would win potatoes ; play clubs if you would deal with a ruffian ; play hearts if you would win friendship : play diamonds if j'ou would win a woman. . Husband—“ Mary, my love, this a;,pie dumpling is not half done.” Wife—“ Well, finish it then, my dear. ” Popping the Question in Typos,— Tyrolean maidens are by old custom spared the necessity of giving the tongue to their “Aye” or “No.” The first time a young man pays a visit as an avowed suitor he brings with him a bottle of wine, of wdiich lie pours out a glass and offers it to the object, of his affections. In any case she will not refuse it point blank —that would be too gross an insult ; but, should the wooer not be agreeable to her, or his declaration come a little too pre maturely, she declines the proffered wine, pleading that it looks sour, or that wine disagrees with her, or any other excuse the femine ingenuity may suggest. If she likes the lad and is equal to owning it, she empties the glass, taking care not to spill any of the wine, for, if she does so, or the glass or bottle be broken, it is an unhappy omen. “ They have spilt the wine be tween them,” say the peasants when a marriage turns out badly. ” Holloway’s Pills.—Let the Sick take heed.—The stomach is the commissariat of the physical system. It furnishes the material sus tenance of every organ. If disordered, the whole "body languishes; but however severely it may be affected, its tone and vigor may always be restored by a course of these irresis tible Pills; biliousness, indigestion, liver com plaints, and other disorders of the stomach can easily be cured by the use of Holloway’s Pills. Thousands attest this assertion, and no sufferer who, has ever tried them will deny their su preme efficacy. In every case of stomach dis ease, from the mildest case of dispepsia to the disorder of both liver and stomach, from the nausea of the free liver to the vomiting accom panying ulcerated stomachs, these Pills imme diately relieve, and by perseverance effectually cure.—Adyt. I



Wanted. WANTED, by a competent hand, a SITUATION as* _ Ploughman.;,} Apply, A. 8., at Mr. Martin’s Butchery. ' 740 WANTED, a Good General SER VANT. Apply. Office of this Paper. 733 WANTED KNOWN, That HENRY’S 1 ’ PORTRAIT ROOMS, Saunders’ Buildings, East street, Ashburton, are open DAILY, from 9a. in. till 5 p.m. , Portraits taken in any weatheiv Gr«iat ( - Reduction in Price. GOG ANTED KNOWN—That a .Church of England minister’s wife writes that she saves Ten Shillings a Fortnight by using Harper Twelvotrees’ Villa Washer, Wringer, and Mangier, com bined; and, although she permits no rubbing, the clothes are beautifully white, and much cleaner than when done by hand, while the saving in mending has been astonishing. Sold by, J. HERN,, Range Milker and Importer, -cdrnet of ! Manchester and Tuara streets, Christ church; Price—£9 10s. /, f . .'7OO " ' WANTED KNOWN. SOMERSET LIVERY AND BAIT STABLES. JW. M'RAE begs to Inform The , public that he has taken the xbove Stables from Mr. Bossenberg, and is. making extensive repairs. ' " i , . .1 'll. Buggies and saddle horses on hire. Lowest prices and best attention. WANTED KNOWN—Just arrived from England—Christmas, New Year, and Birthday Cards. , New Zealand Illustrated Annual, Young Ladies’Jour nal, and Bow Bells, Is. 6cl. each. Family Herald and Family Reader, Is. each, and all other Magazines supplied at Christ church Prices. Colonial and European Newspapers, School Books, A visit solicited. L. F._Andeewei3, street, near Lancaster’s Butchery. 527 Lost. £1 Reward. LOST, from Wakamii, 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 Friedlander Bugs, will receive ’ the above Reward. . , ,487 ; , Found. FOUND,— A Tan and White Owner can have the same by paying. fortius advertisement.—Apply, Office of " this Paper. , 728 Gazette in Bankruptcy. £k...:U R. ■j^OTICE —The Ashburton Guardian. ; j is a Gazette for all notices under the Debtors and Creditors Art* V. ,R. In the District Court of Christchurch/ Holden at Ashburton. In the matter of the “Debtors, and;o:e Creditors Act, 1876,” and the several; .■•; Acts amending the same, and in the matterof the bankruptcy of GEORGE 'jj . ELLIS PIKE, of Ashburton,-.butcher - and cattle dealer, a debtor. . ■ : r • IVTOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEIS', that .% , xM the abovenamed George. Ellis Pike, of Ashburton, in the Provinciiil District of Canterbury and Colony of New -Zea- : : : land, butcher and cattle dealer, has this day filed in the above Court a declaration of his inability J to i meet his engagements with his creditors.The,first meeting of creditors will be«held at the'- = district Court, Ashburton, on MONDAY, the 20th day of December, 1880, at 11 o’clock in the forenoon. - , , Dated this 13th day of December, 1880 W. MARTIN, . , Clerk of ..Court E. G. Crisp, Solicitor for Debtor. 744