SHIPPING.

STEAMERS LEAVE LYTTELTON AS UNDER. For Wellington— Ladybird, This Day, March 16. Passengers by 3.55 p. m. train. To be followed by Rotomahana, on Thursday, March 18. For Napier, Gisborne, Tauranga and Auckland —Rotomahana, Thursday, March 18. Passengers by 2.40 p.m. train. To be followed by Hawea, on Saturday, March 20. Fob Port Chalmers —Arawata, This Day, Tuesday, March 16. Fob Melbourne, via Bluff and Hobart Town —Arawata, This Day, Tues day, March 16. Passengers by 2 '4O train. To be followed by Tararua, Tuesday, March 23, not calling at Hobart Town. Fob Sydney —Te Anau, Thursday, March 25. Fob Akaroa— Waitaki, Thursday, March 18. For Picton, Nelson, Taranaki, and Manukau Ladybird, This Day, Marsh 16. Passengers by 355 p.m. train.

COMMERCIAL.

MAIL NOTICES.

Mails close at the Chief Post Office, Christchurch, for the following places (subject to necessary alterations) as under: — Tuesday, March 16. For Otago and Australian Colonies, per Arawata. For Chatham Islands, per Island Lily, at 9.30 a.m. ; guard’s van, 10.30 a.m. train. The next mail for the United Kingdom, via San Francisco, will be closed at Christ church on March 27th, and will be due in London on May 11th. SYDNEY J. DICK, Chief Postmaster. Mails close at the Ashburton Post Office, as follows : For Christchurch and North at 10.20 a.m. 4.30 p.m., and 8 p.m., daily. For Chertsey at 10.20 a.m daily. For Rakaia at 10.20 a.m and 4.30 p.m daily. For Dunedin, Tinwald Winslow, Hinds, Coldstream, Rangitata, Orari, Winchester, and Geraldine, a. 10.20 a.m, daily. For Temuka. Timaru, and South at 10.20 a.m and 3.30 p.m daily. For Greenstreet, Ashburton Forks, Mount Somers, and Ashburton Gorge on Tuesdays and Fridays at 10.30 a.m For Ashton, Waterton, and Longbeach, at 5.15 p.m. daily. For Wakanui and Seafield, on Mondays and Thursdays, 7.30 p.m. W. St. G. Douglas, Postmaster.

The Ashburton Guardian. COUNTY AGRICULTURAL & SPORTING RECORDER TUESDAY, MARCH 16, 1880.

For a week past the chief topic of talk in every coterie in the county has been the charge of libel preferred by Mr. E. G. Crisp, solicitor, against Mr. Joseph Ivess, proprietor of the “Ashburton Mail.” Wliile the case was pending, of course, it was not our place to make any remark one way or other on the subject. The case is decided so far as the Resident Magistrate is concerned, and will probably now go before a higher Court. We are not surprised at this result, nor will we be surprised to learn, when the case comes before the Supreme Court, that the judg ment is adverse to the defendant. Still, to a great extent Mr. Ivess is entitled to public sympathy. According to his lights, he pounced upon what he believed to be a great wrong to the public, and, as out of the fullness of the heart the mouth speaketh, so we may measure the depths of Mr. Ivess’ feeling by the strength of his language. Possibly the strength of his feelings caused the promptness with which he moved in the matter of Miss Callaghan’s letter, but it is never safe to utter judg ment against a man until a fair chance has been given to the supposed offender to clear himself, and the full facts of the case are available. In Mx*. Crisp’s case, at the first blush, and supposing that the £IOO salary he received covered all costs, there was an apparent reason for any defaulting ratepayer feeling indignant when a charge for a letter making the demand was made in addition to the rates he owed. We confess to having ourselves thought there was something out of joint when we first heard of the charge, for the understanding around the Council table seemed to be that the salary paid to their solicitor covered all costs. But then we knew Mr. Crisp, and believed him to be a gentleman, and so waited until he should explain his conduct to the Council before we delivered om-selves upon it. We had the same chance to attack Mr. Crisp that the “Mail” had, axxd the same reason for that matter, but chose to be more cautious and more just, and gave the Boi-ough Solicitor that fair play which every man is entitled to. The “ Mail” did not do so, and the x'esult is a charge of libel. The evidence given in the case goes to show that Mr. Crisp was only acting as any other solicitor would have acted under the circumstances, and the blame lies less with him, if any lies with him at all, than with the Borough Council, the terms of whose contract were not clear enough as to what charges were to be made by the solicitor they engaged. We pass over the fact elicited in Court that Mr. Ivess helped to stir up the ques tion by injudicious meddling, in concoct ing Miss Callaghan’s letter to the Council, and ho thus, to a certain extent, laid him self open to a charge of hunting up an opportunity to make the attack out of which all the proceedings have arisen. We oxxly hope this little escapade will be a lesson to him that it is a difficult thing to combine the position of a fair journalist and a consistent public man. To be a journalist worthy of the name a man re quires unflinching pluck, and the courage of his own opinions, but to these be must rt dd, if he would command the respect rt his constituents, prudence and caution and a kind toleratioxx of those who honestly differ from him in opinion. When he has a wrong to redress—provided he has found out that a real wrong exists— he must attack that wrong and the perpe trators of it, fearing not a man because of his position and influence, but boldly de fending the right, and if he admits of any respect of persons at all, his leaning ought to be to the side of the weak. He ought to slxow due respect for constituted authority, but when constituted authority makes a palpable error, or is guilty of a wilful wrong, his pen should know no stint com patible with the language of a gentleman, and his denunciation should be as vigorous as fair and square criticism will allow. The press is perhaps the greatest power in modern civilisation, and while its free dom is assured tfie liberty of the subject will be well conserved; but while its liberty makes it an all-potent power for good, that liberty run mad and degenerat ing into license will change it into an equally potent agency of evil. It is well that all liberty is bounded by the law that keeps it within the region of liberty, and out of that of license, otherwise we should soon have reason to wish for less liberty. This laiv of libel which has just been put in operation against Mr. Ivess is the barrier civilisation has put between the liberty of

the press and the license of the press—and we never hear that law attacked until it has been put in motion. But the man who knows he is right, and- knows it be cause he has left no means of proof untried, will seldom have cause to fear the law of libel, if he attacks a wrong-doer courage ously, yet honorably and temperately, after due search for and elicitation of the truth.

In our issue of this morning Mr. Ivess tenders an apology to Mr. Harry Friedlander for the charges he brought against him in the article out of which the libel case now pending arose. The apology is full and unreserved, and doubtless will be satisfactory to Mr. Fried hinder. Surely the case between Mr. Crisp and Mr. Ivess might be settled in the same way, for there is no necessity whatever that the aid of the Supreme Court should be called in to settle the case. The glorious uncertainties of law may perhaps clear Mr. Ivess before the higher Court, while the same uncertain ties may commit him to prison. Under any circumstances both lie and Mr. Crisp have been put to much trouble, and will be put to more should the case go on, while a host of witnesses, heartily sick of the case already, will be required to waste still more time over it. And we think all could be and no honor lost to Mr. Ivess, could he and Mr. Crisp settle the case as between them in the way it has been settled as between Mr. Ivess and Mr. Friedlander. Mr. Crisp is not the good hearted man we have always known him if he refuses to be content with an apology now that the case has been heard before the R,M.

In another column will be found a letter signed “ Ratepayer,” .on the subject of the proposed division of the Longbeach district into Wards. We agree with a great deal of what our correspondent states. To begin with, the ratepayers about Waterton and Wheatstone did not elect only their own men until their spending power had come nearly to an end, the great bulk of the large Government grants having by that time been expended. As to “Ratepayer’s” complaint of the dry land having to pay for making drains in the Longbeach swamp, there is some modicum of truth in it. The Longbeach swamps cover a very large area of country, the dry lands comparatively little. All the roads necessary for the dry land have long ago been made. There is not a land owner between the the Ashburton and Hinds on the shingly land who has not a well formed road on the frontage to his section ; but there is a tremendous acre age of swamp which is as yet inaccessible. “ Ratepayer ” appears to consider that the expenditure of the Road Board money in drainage is a misappropriation of funds, but it is far from it. It is, in fact, one of the Boards most important duties to see to the proper drainage of roads. And the dry districts of Longbeach have certainly no right to find fault with their share of the expenditure. The Great South road, a large portion of Graham’s, Ford’s, the Longbeach, Winslow, and other roads, are certainly in the dry district, and have cost a good round sum of money ; and, chain for chain, we do not think the cost in a large number of instances has varied to any considerable extent. So far as our correspondent’s complaint as to the assessment is concerned, we must agree with him ; but as the assessor has had his roll condemned, and has been ordered to prepare a fresh one, it would bo premature to pass a judgment on a document still in embryo ; besides, “Rate payer” lias the Rating Act to guide him as to the proper method of lodging ap peals, if he considers he is charged too much or his neighbor too little. As to the contemplated movement in the direction of still further dividing the district, we have already expressed our opinions on the inadvisableness of that course. The Longbeach Road District as at present constituted is paying a good salary for a clerk and surveyor, who, to say the least of it, can have very little to do, seeing that no contracts are in ex istence. There is no money to spend, and if a split takes place it will only lead to the appointment of another officer to shave the duties of the present one, while additional buildings and office expenditure will be required.

Mail Notice. —The mails for Sydney per Ringarooma close at Auckland on Tuesday, 16th, at 2 p. m. Novelty. —ln another column Messrs. Everett Bros, announce their intention of giving a grand concert in the Town Hall this week, the whole of the proceeds of which are to be given for benevolent pur poses in Ashburton. A number of ladies and gentlemen of known talent have been secured from Christchurch with the object of making the entertainment a signal success. Wesleyan. —On Sunday next there ai’e to be thanksgiving services held in all the Wesleyan Methodist Churches in the dis trict of Canterbury. The Rev. Mr. Keall, making the announcement on Sunday last from the pulpit, said it would be a fitting opportunity for the congrega tion to give some pecuniary aid to the trust or building fund, and hoped the matter would be very liberally responded to, as help was much required to meet de mands upon the trustees of the Church. Induction Services. —On Thursday first the presbyterial services in connection with the induction of the Rev. Mr. West brooke to the Presbyterian charge at Rakaia will be held. These will be held in the Rakaia Town Hall, commencing at 11 o’clock in the forenoon, and in the evening a tea meeting in celebration of the induction will be held, at which all the clergymen who took part in the cere mony in the forenoon will be present. The excellent choir of the Ashburton church will also be present, and contribute anthems, &c., under the baton of Mr. Savage, conductor of psalmody, and Mr, Stott presiding at the harmonium. Tussock Eire.—A tussock fire of some extent was the cause of considerable alarm in Rakaia on Sunday. It commenced shortly before divine service began, and while the wind continued the fire kept spreading, and for a time the houses known as “ Sod Town ” were in danger. Several of the residents turned out and did what they could to stay the progress of the fire, and as the wind fell towards afternoon they were successful, but not before a considerable extent of the young blue gum plantations had been burned. The Horticultural Society’s Show. —Mr. G. T. Smith writes, pointing out that his name has been omitted from Our prize list of the Horticultural Society’s Show in five different exhibits —viz., Nos. 39, 4G, 104, 113, and 114. In four cases he got fii'st prizes and two cases second in the exhibits he refers to, and he asks the reason why they did not appear. As far as we were able to ascertain the judges awards, we gave them, the hon. Secretary kindly supplying the list. Whether the Secretary or ourselves are to be blamed for the omission we cannot say, but we are very glad to accept Mr. Smith’s recti fication of the omission. Inquest. An inquest has been held at Auckland on the body of the late Mr. Thomas Birch, who died on board the Penguin. The evidence showed that de ceased had been ailing on the passage up, and after leaving Gisborne got worse. He took a fit and died in five minutes. He had obtained some chlorodyne at Napier, which was the only medicine he took on the voyage. The medical evidence showed that death resulted from aneurism of the heart, and the wonder is that he had lived so long. A verdict of ‘‘Death from naturaf causes” was returned. 2Gs. 6d. were found on the body, and while the inquest was going on the purser dis covered L 96 in bank notes in his under clothing.

Thanksgiving Services —On Sunday the services at the Ashburton Presbyterian Church were special ones, and prayers of thanksgiving were offered up for the har vest. Appropriate references to God’s goodness and the richness of His Grace, and man’s duty to God were made during the forenoon service, by the Rev. Mr. Beattie, and in the evening lie took occa sion to make use of the lessons of the sea son in connection with’ the approaching feast of the Lord’s Supper. Harvest hymns were sung by the congregation at the services.

Important Land Sale. —Messrs. Edmis ton Bros, and Gundry will sell by public auction, on Thursday next, the 18th inst., a very valuable farm near the Hinds. It is known as Auchindrane, and consists of a block of 768 acres of really first-class grain growing land, and it has the advan tage of being within some two miles of the Hinds railway station, and the land will be put up in convenient-sized blocks suitable for small capitalists, varying from 58 up to 500 acres At the same time there will be offered a lot of first-class draught horses, unbroken colts, farming implements, chaff, oats, and furniture. Conveyances will be ready at Winslow to meet the express, and intending pur chasers will be enabled to attend the sale at noon, when the auctioneer will com mence the slaughter. The Old Men’s Home. —We have re ceived the following note, which, though unsigned, we have no doubt is genuine : —“ Sir, —By inserting the following lines in your valuable paper you will oblige the humble inmates of this institu tion (the Old Men’s Home). The inmates of this Home beg to express their regret at the resignation of Rev. Mr. Paige ; also their gratitude for the favors they have received from him. The rev. gentleman was at all times both ready and willing to assist them in any way that lay in his power. Mr. Paige was evidently one of those benevolent gentlemen who believe that the way to live happy is to endeavor to make other people happy. Wherever he goes he will carry with him that which is more precious than gold—a good character. May well be with him, and long may he live to administer comfort to his fellow creatures, is the sincere wish of the in mates of this place, who also beg to ex prsss their gratitude to other parties who kindly attend to their spiritual wants every Sunday—rain or blow—evidently believing that forsaken old age is a pitiful thing.” Muffs v. Publicans.— ln a match at Christchurch yesterday the muff cricket ers were able to make 103 runs against the men of “ spirit.” The Unemployed at Dunedin.—A meeting of about 500 of the unemployed at Dunedin on Saturday resolved not to accept less than seven shillings per day, and decided to forward a petition to the Government expressing their unwilling ness to accept the terms offered. New Brick Kiln. —The firm of Austin, Kirk and Co, (Limited), have just com pleted at their works (we learn from Christchurch) the largest brick kiln, it is believed, in the Southern Hemisphere. It is circular, with fourteen chambers, to hold 24,000 bricks each. The shaft is 130 feet high, circular, and seven feet in the clear at the base. Found Drowned. A man named Hyde or Hines was found drowned off the reclaimed ground, at Auckland, near the dock, on Sunday morning. As his boots and socks were off, it is conjectured that he went down the ladder on the face of the reclamation to wash his feet in the tide, and tumbled in, hitting his face against the woodwork. “There’s Many a Slip, &c. —The correspondent of the “Press” telegraph ing from Invercargill, says A well known publican from Dunedin was a pas senger per Te Anan, for Melbourne, taking with him a lady friend and L9OO, belonging to his creditors. Owing, how ever, to the accident to the steamer, he is not likely to see Melbourne for some time, as a constable has just left here with a warrant for his arrest.

The New Goldfield. A telegram from Blenheim informs us that there are now about 60 diggers at work upon the newly discovered goldfield at the Upper Wairau, and the creek has almost as many men as it can carry. Owners of land contemplate taking pro ceedings on the ground of trespass, in which case Government will have to take immediate stops to proclaim the district. A party of four men obtained six and a half ounces in two weeks, and seem favor ably impressed with the prospects. Rain is the great thing the diggers have to fear, as a slight rain which fell during the week interfered sadly with the next day’s work. Two or three Blenheim store keepers have already opened branches on the ground. The Civil Service Commission. —The Civil Service Commission met on Satur day, at Wellington, all the members being present. Mr. Alfred Saunders was unani mously elected chairman. The Colonial Treasurer attended and conferred with the Commissioners. After some preliminary enquiry from the heads of departments in Wellington the Commission will probably proceed South. Mr. W. Gray, Under secretary of Postal Department, has been confidentially examined. Interesting to Travellers. —The dis abled steamer Te Anau left the Bluff at 9.30 on Saturday morning in tow of the Koputai for Dunedin, but before leaving, the greater portion of the passengers and luggage were transferred to the Rotorua, which sailed on Saturday for Melbourne. In consequence of the accident to the Te Anau, the following will be the alterations in the company’s time table : —The Roto rua leaves Melbourne on Thursday, March 18th, for the Bluff direct, in lieu of the Te Anau ; the Rotomahana, which is due at Port Chalmers on Tuesday next, will return to Melbourne direct the same day, and arrive there in time to take up the Rotorua’s trip, as set down on the present time table ; while the Te Anau will tran ship the Rotomahana's northern pas sengers and cargo, and leave Port Chal mers for Northern Ports on Wednesday, thus taking up the voyage set down on the time table for the Rotomahana. A New Overland Route to the West Coast. —-The “ Grey River Argus” says : —“ On Friday morning last Mr. George Walker and Mr. Wilson, surveyor, loft Lake Guyon, Canterbury, and arrived in Reefton in the evening of the same day. They travelled via Cannibal Gorge to Maruia, and thence down the valley of the Inangahua. Mr. William Gardner, engineer to the Inangahua County, formed one of the party, and he says, in connection with the trip ; —‘ The distance between Reefton and Lake Guyonps about 57 miles, and the time taken to travel it by Messrs. Wilson, Walker, and myself was 18 hours. At present there is about six miles of country to pass through, which is totally unfit for horse traffic, and until this portion of the route has had something done to it, I would not re commend any person to attempt the journey to Christchurch on horseback. As to the practicability of the route, there is not the slightest doubt, but until more work has been done in the vicinity of the Spencer Ranges, I would not recom mend anyone to make the journey that way.’ Mr. Gardner further informs us (Inangahua Times) that the level country of Canterbury is reached from Reefton under a distance of 50 miles, and thence to Amberley no difficulty stands in the way of traffic. The ascending grade from Reefton to the Cannibal Gorge is almost imperceptible, but the passage of the gorge is in itself somewhat difficult, being rock-bound and precipitous for a distance of between three and four miles.”

Soldiers’ Mournings. —The practice of wearing armlets of crape in the army has orown to such proportions that the Duke of Cambridge’s attention has been called to the fact that these habiliments of mourning can form no recognised part of the soldier’s kit. “ The Soldier’s Tear ” is an old and favourite song, and the Go vernment cannot and will not attempt to repress the soldier’s tear, but a special order has been or is to be issued that the wearing of crape must be abandoned. This practice is to be immediately discon tinued, particularly by non-commissioned officers and privates. Her Little Revenge.— A Danbury young man offended one of the lady clerks in a fancy goods store at a party a few evenings ago. A day or two later he went into the store and inquired if she had “gentlemen’s gloves.” She answered, “ Yes.” “I want to get a pair,” he said. “ Who are they for ?” she asked, looking him straight in the eyes. “ Why—for— me,” he gasped, turning scarlet under the insinuation in her inquiry. —“ Danbury News.”

A Hog Scraper.— A recently patented hog scraping machine is thought to have a possible capacity of removing the bristles from GOOO swine in ten hours—work hitherto requiring the help of sixty men. According to the “ Cincinnati Inquirer,” it was tried the other day in Chicago, when seven hogs of various sizes were passed through in Cfiy-aaven seconds, and “ all came out as clean as a whistle.” Christian Charity. —No wonder some of the clergy are perplexed at the terms of the “ prayer in time of war,” when applied, as requested by the Archbishop of Canterbury, to General Roberts and his Army ;—“ We commend to Thy Fatherly Goodness all those who are in any way afflicted or disturbed in mind, body, or estate, especially those (General Roberts and his army) for whom our prayers are desired.” The General does not seem to be much afflicted or dis tressed, and his hand is always able to guard his head. The really wretched beings are the Afghans, whose sufferings do not disturb the British General’s diges tion, far less evoke his prayers.—“ Echo.” A Remarkable Death.— A most singular instance of death from strangula tion occurred near Melugin Grove, Mendota, Illinois, ten miles north of Mendota. A young man named Abies was standing in front of his horse w'hile the animal was feeding. The horse coughed and ejected a kernel of corn, which flew into Abies’ windpipe. He ran into the house, and, by signs, endeav oured to make his family understand what had happened. A messenger on horse back was instantly despatched for a physician, but long before he arrived young Abies was a corpse. The Unemployed. —Mr. Austin, Dis trict Engineer, has just returned to Christ church, having made arrangements for the employment of unemployed on the terms mentioned by the late telegram from the seat of Government. Provision has, apparently, been made for married men to take up their wives and families. A Refugee. —With reference to the cablegram on Tuesday which mentioned that the Russian Government had un successfully endeavored to procure the ex tradition of a Russian named Hartmann, who is charged with being concerned in setting fire to the Forestry College in Moscow, the Dunedin “ Star” says “ Hartmann is the man’s name, and he is a sapper. He is believed to be the prime mover in the attempt on the Czar’s life at Moscow. The Staroveis, who occupied the house adjoining that from where the excavation was dug towards the railway line, identified Hartmann as the skilled engineer who superintended the work, and as the man who bought the house and superintended the excavation of a cellar, as he took care at the time to inform his neighbors. Another fact established by the Russian police is that Hartmann, im mediately after the failure of the attempt on the Czar’s life, obtained leave of absence, and crossed the frontier. ” An Offended Deity. —A Japanese paper states that, having attended their lord’s obsequies near Hiogo, the ladies of the household of an official named Hamuro were thrown from their carriages as they were being conveyed homeward. Fortunately, none of them were seriously injured ; but nevertheless the super stitious ascribe the mishap to the inter vention of a deity annoyed by a twofold innovation—that women should not only venture to accompany a funeral procession at all, but should even ride in a carriage on the occasion. A Rowing Challenge. —White Bros., Auckland, publish a challenge to pull any four men in New Zealand the following three events at three months’ notice : Four-oar outriggers, with cox.: pair out rigger, without cox.; and single scullers’ race ; each event to be for £SO.

TELEGRAPHIC.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN. (Renter's 7elegrams.) London, March 12. Information has been received from Shanghai that a serious revolt of Chinese at Pekin has taken place. Ohinghow, a high Chinese official, has been beheaded by the rebels. Three Per Cent Consols are at 99|. The total quantity of wheat afloat for Great Britain is 1,800,000. The wool sales have closed, the quantity sold being 190,000 bales. There are none held over. London, March 13. Earl Derby has written a letter to Earl Sefton declaring he has now given his de finite adesion to the Liberal Party. March 13. The Hon. Mr. Gladstone, in a speech delivered at Marylebone, said he believed that Earl Derby would henceforth be definitely associated with the Liberal party. AUSTRALIAN. (Reuter’s.) Melbourne, March 15. The owners of the Claud Hamilton have been mulcted in L 1,078 damages for the collision with the steamship Adela in January last. INTERPROVINCIAL. Auckland, March 15. H.M.S. Cormorant, on her passage from Wellington, had one boat carried away and two stove in during a gale off the East Cape. An inquest on the body of Herbert Hines has been held, and a verdict of found drowned returned. He "was of intemperate habits. Thomas Hanson, clerk in the Railway office, and Frank Foxton, teller of the Bank of New South Wales, have been arrested on a charge of embezzlement, and remanded for a week until an in vestigation can be made of the accounts. The remains of the late Mr. Birch, are to be forwarded to Dunedin for inter ment there. The Auckland and Thames champion representatives were welcomed here on tbeir arrival. The carbine champion, Sergeant Thomas, was placed in an open carriage, and, with band playing, was marched to the drill shed. A banquet is being given to-night. Colonel _ Leckie has left by the Penguin for Wellington. New Plymouth, March 15.

Owing to the steamer being delayed till Sunday, the arrangements made for the reception of Sergeant Okey, the winner of the Championship, were abandoned, but a church parade of the Volunteers was ordered for 10 o’clock yesterday, which was well attended. It was expected the steamer Wellington would have been here

during the morning, but she did not show up till 3 o’clock, when the Volunteers were again mustered by bugle call, and were marched to the beach, where they were drawn up to receive the representa tives. In the meantime, a deputation went on board the steamer, and invited the Auckland and Thames representatives on shore. The invitation was accepted, and they came. On the boat reaching the landing place, four of Sergeant Okey’s comrades advanced with a chair, on which they seated the Champion, and then, lifting him on their shoulders, carried him through the town to the Oddfellows’ Hall, the band playing, “ See the conquering hero comes.” As the steamer left at 5 o’clock, the visitors had only time to have some slight refreshments at the Odd fellows’ Hall, which had been prepared for them, before they had to go on board the steamer again. A public banquet will be given this "evening to Sergeant Okey, which bids fair to be a great success. Wellington, March 13. Mrs. Boyle widow of the late Mr. Jas. Boyle, who was killed at Fort Britomart, complained in the Auckland papers that though her husband’s life was insured in the Government Insurance department, and the premiums all paid up, she has not received the money. Boyle’s death oc curred three months ago. A letter from the Commissioner of the Government In surance Department states that the delay in payment of the amount of the policy was owing to the necessary documents for settlement not being received. The original probate was only received on the Bth of March, and on the 10th a cheque was forwarded to the widow. Young Scott continued steadily on his twenty-four hours’ walking task, and on Saturday, at 8 p.m., had finished 100 miles. He then freshened up, but was unable to complete the distance, doing 109 miles four minutes within the ap pointed time. A large crowd attended, and Scott was loudly cheered at the con clusion. At the sitting of the Civil Service Com mission on Saturday, all the members were present, and Mr. Alfred Saunders was unanimously elected chairman. The Commission will probably proceed south in the course of about a week. Nelson, March 15. Major Stack, well known throughout the colony as commanding officer of Volunteers, died hero on Saturday even ing. He will be buried this afternoon, with military honors. Christchurch. March 15. At the Police Court to-day a man named James Brown was charged with cruelty to animals. It was proved that he had left a couple of horses harnessed to a cart stand ing out all night in a storm of rain, and as it was not the first time he had done this kind of thing, the magistrate sent him to gaol for a fortnight, without the option of a fine. The Native Lands Commission is still sitting at Akoroa. Mr. Clark presented an urgent petition from 30 natives of Aparima, Southland, asking the Commis sioners to hold a sitting there, in order that they may be heard in connection with the purchase of the Murihoku block. The Commissioners decided to proceed to Aparima after finishing the investigation at Akaroa.

SHOCKING TRAGEDY IN DUNEDIN.

MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR. Dunedin, March 14. One of the most horrible tragedies which ever occurred here happened this morning in Cumberland street, when James Murray Dewar, alias Grant, a butcher in the employ of Mr. Dornwell, of George street, was found dead, his wife injured almost beyond hope of re covery, his child suffocated, and the bed room on fire, a lighted candle having been placed under the bed. The de ceased man was aged about thirty years, and has been in this colony nearly twenty two years. His proper name was Dewar, but his mother (who resides in a house just behind his) having remarried a carpenter named Grant, he adopted his step-fathei’s name- Between five and six o’clock this morningthe milkman, who sup plies the family, on making his customary visit to the house, was startled by seeing smoke issuing from one of the front windows. He knocked loudly at the front door, and received no reply. He then raised an alarm, which brought some neighbors to the scene, and subsequently a member of the Fire ' Brigade, and Ser geant Deane and a constable. On the house being entered, Mrs. Grant was dis covered lying on the floor in her night dress, with blood issuing from her head, and quite unconscious. The bedroom was next visited, and it was full of smoke. On the bed lay Mr. Grant, with a severe blow on his head, evidently inflicted by an axe, which lay at hand, and which bore marks of blood on it. The infant was also in bed, apparently suffocated, the lower part of the mattress having been set fire to by a lighted candle, which, was found alongside it. Mrs. Grant was then lifted from off the floor, and carried into the sitting room, and Dr. Niven, who was sent for, on seeing her condition, ordered her re moval to the Hospital. The tragedy must have been committed very early this morning. By whom it has been done —whether the act of a stranger or by either of the Grants—is a question that the police are endeavoring to solve. So far as can be learned, noth ing has been missed from the house, nor does anything in the other rooms appear to have been disturbed. The only suspicious circumstance is that the door of the house was found to be open. The wounds on Grant’s head and those on his wife appear to the unprofessional eye to negative the theory of having been self inflicted, and there is an additional cir cumstance, vouched for by many people who knew the couple intimately, that they lived very happy lives. The strangest part of the whole affair is that none of the neighbors, some of whom lived about twelve feet from Grant’s house heard the slightest noise or were awoke by an alarm of fire, which was raised by a fireman who lives close by. The woman, who still lies unconscious at the hospital, has three wounds on her head, causing a com pound depressed fracture of the skull. One of the wounds is on the crown of the head, the second behind the right ear, and the third on the temple. The affair has caused great excitement. [by teleoeaph, yesterday.] Dunedin, March 15. There is every reason to believe that yesterday’s affair was the result of a brutal murder, that the sleeping, unconscious man had been killed by one stroke, and that a deliberate attempt was made to conceal all evidence of the crime by burn ing down the house in which the deed was done. The last thing known of any mem ber of the family on Saturday night is that Grant travelled by tram-car from South Dunedin to the corner of St. David street, whence, no doubt, he pro ceeded home. The next thing we hear in connection with the family is that about four o’clock on Sunday morning a neigh bor named Henry Haydon, who happened to be up for a few moments, saw a light in one of the front rooms of the house. This was the sitting- room. From this till close upon 7 o'clock nothing is known. Shortly before 7 o’clock Mr. Robb, sen., who lives in Lambeth place, opposite, noticed smoke issuing from the residence of the Grants, and his son being a member of the Fire Brigade, the father naturally aroused him, after satisfying himself that the smoke was really proceeding from the house. Robb,

jun., donned his uniform and ran across the street. He called to the inmates, but got no answer, then tried the front door, but found it locked, and ran round at once to the back. At this time he was certain that the house was on fire, as smoke was issuing from underneath the eaves, from the window, etc. He found the back door open, and rushing in, he went up the pas sage and into the bedroom, hearing, as he did, a gurgling noise. • In the room he found the smoke was so thick as to prevent his seeing anything, and he had to go down on his knees. He had not made his way for more than a moment or two in this way before he felt a body on the floor. Catching hold of it, he dragged it out, and placed it in half-way in the sitting room. As he moved it in he heard a groan, which convinced him the person was alive, and when he got the body out ho found it was that of a woman. Then he obtained assistance, and quenched the fire. During this time Robb found Grant himself lying on the bed, but, seeing he was dead, and having got the fire under, he did not move the body. At the head of the bed was an ordinary American axe, which belonged to the house. Grant had a severe blow on the head, inflicted by this instrument, for it was covered with blood. Blood was also on the pillow and over the bed, spattered over the wall. The wound had been made, not by the sharp blade of the axe, but by the butt. Dr. Brown states that there can be no question that the blow was given while Grant was sleeping and 'that it caused death im mediately. Mrs. Grant had three wounds inflicted, also by a portion of the axe other than the sharp edge, and they had undoubtedly been inflicted while the woman was in bed, for she has burns about her body and legs, and her nightdress is also burned. Thus, apparently, she must have had conscious intervals after receiv ing the blows, and made an abortive at tempt to get from the room. The baby had no blow upon it Underneath the bed, after the blows had been struck, and the axe placed at the head of the bed, a lighted candle had been placed. The bedclothes were partly burned, and the mattress was burned pretty well through, and a hole made in the floor. A strange thing was that none of the neigh bors heard any noise. The parents of the deceased, who are living immediately in the rear of the house, saw nothing of any of the family after between 3 and 4 o’clock on Saturday afternoon. There was not the slightest sign about the house after wards of any disturbance or struggle. There was not the slightest reason to be lieve that any robbery was committed. Mrs. Grant’s jewellery remained un touched on the chest of drawers in the bedroom, and the house was perfectly in order. Mrs. Grant died at the hospital this morning at 12.30. Dr. Brown, when she was was admitted, at once treated her wounds, and, as the result of this, during the afternoon she breathed more easily, and slight hopes were then entertained of her possibly recovering consciousness. 8 p.m. Nothing new regarding the Cumberland street tragedy has been elicited. Mrs. Grant died from the effects of her injuries soon after midnight, not having regained consciousness. No arrests have yet been made, and no clue as yet has been ob tained as to the perpetrator of the crime.

CORRESPONDENCE.

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents. THE LONGBEACH ROAD DISTRICT. To the Editor. Sir,- — I observe that several ratepayers of this district have sent in a petition to the Board, requesting it to be divided into Wards, in order that the good people about Waterton and Wheatstone may not have it in their power to elect only their own men. This plan may answer for that portion of the district lying between tie Hinds and Rangitata; but if the ratepayers living on the dry land between the Ash burton and Hinds think that by having the old Wards confirmed they will at all improve their position, they will, I am afraid meet with disappointment. In the first place, every one knows that it is more expensive to make roads among swamps than it is on dry land ; now the old Road Board very astutely made the different Wards to consist of about equal quantities of dry and wet land. Thus the dry land has to assist in paying for the drainage, under the guise of road-making, of the Longbeach swamps. Why, sir, if the dry land in this district had fair play with their rates and subsi dies, there would have been money to their credit in the Bank, instead of which, the Board being composed of men from the swemps, it has always been in debt, and yet the rates are double those of the upper Board. But even supposing the district were fairly divided into Wards, composed for the greater part of one kind of land, wet or dry ; so long as both remained a por tion of one Board, any outside creditor, would, I think have a claim against -the whole Board, and the division into Wards would not be a sufficient plea in law, to exonerate the dry Wards from paying the debts and extravagancies of the wet ones. Then, again, observe the unfair manner in which the different classes of land are assessed. Looking at the rate roll I find that the dry land—on account of being near the railway—is assessed between 10s i nd 12s. per acre, whereas the Longbeach swamp pastures, which carry about double the quantity of stock, are assessed about Bs. Cd. per acre, or nearly one-third less. Whether this valuation will hold, is of course open to question ; nevertheless, such was the state of the roll, and it is not likely to be much altered. The only plan for the ratepayers living on the drier portion of this district to adopt, in order to secure themselves justice, is to separate and form themselves into a new Board, or attach themselves to the upper Board, where the rates are one half, making the old boundary road between the Longbeach and the Lagmohr Runs the boundary of the new Board, on the one side; and the Hinds the other boundary. I am, &c.. Ratepayer.

RAKAIA. — Thursday, March 11.

(Before Mr. F. Guinness, R.M., and Messrs. E. S. Coster and C. N. Mackie, JJ.P.) WINDOW SMASHING. Police v. Burnard.—Defendant pleaded not guilty to a charge of destroying private property at Chertsey, on the morning of 25th December last. Sergt. Pratt con ducted the prosecution, Mr. C. W. Pur nell appeared for the defendant. Benjamin White, sworn —I am a carpen ter and joiner living at Chertsey. I was living at Chert ley on the 25th December last. I was working for W. Hartnell and Co. I lived in a house belonging to the firm. I was disturbed on the morning of December 25th by a noise of stones falling on the roof. My wife was living in the house with me. When I went out I saw accused and two or tnree others whom I could not recognise. Saw accused throw a stone through the window which I was looking through. Saw the others throw stones through the window. 1 went out, and accused ran home. I followed him to near his door. He stood at the door. I asked him whether he knew that he had been breaking windows. Accused made a rush at me and struck me. The other parties dispersed, and I returned home. When he struck me my hat fell off, and I left it with him. Three panes of glass were broken by accused and the others on this occasion. Two sheets of iron were damaged by the stones thrown

on the roof. Each sheet of iron was worth Bs. The watertank was damaged at the tap. It did not leak before. The property belonged to W. Hartnell and Go. By his Worship—The accused was drunk when he struck me. There were a good many drunken men about that night —Christmas Eve. By Mr. Purnell—l am a teetotaller. This* disturbance occurred at 4 a.m. on the 25th of December last. I got up through the noise on the roof. I was sleeping in a room back from the shop. The morn ing was light, but not broad door I was standing at was 10ft from the window. I was living there about seven months. The windows of the bakehouse had not been cleaned during that time. When I opened the door of the bake house my attention was drawn to accused by his throwing stones. Accused was dressed in lightish clothes. My wife came out shortly afterwards. I know a person called Capel. He was among the crowd tnat night. I did not go to accused’s house and try to break in. He was at the open door. When I came home on Christ mas eve there was a horse in the stable. I do not know whose the horse was. I put the horse outside and tied it to the stable door. I did not turn the horse loose. Accused had been at a patty that night. The holes in the iron roof could not have been caused by rust. My children might have been playing with the tap that day. Frances White, sworn—l am wife of - Benjmin White, the former witness. I lived with my husband in the house be longing to Hartnell and Co., at Chertsey, in December last. I remember the morn ing of Christmas day last. I got up about 4 o’clock through a noise of throwing stones from outside on to the roof of the house. The stones seemed coming through the roof and windows. I stepped out into the shop and looked through the window of the bakehouse. I stood about five feet from the window. I saw two or three men outside including accused. They were about ten yards from the window. Saw accused throw stones at the window. The stones came through the window on to the table near it. No other stones came through while I was there. My husband was standing near me at the time. He had got there before me. There were three panes broken in the window of the bakehouse. Two had been broken before I arrived there. My hus band went out, but I remained inside. I saw my husband running in pursuit of the men. There were two holes in the iron roof of the house. I used the tank the night before. It did not then leak, but it leaked in the morning. My children had not been to the tap. I could dis tinctly see the people outside. By Mr. Purnell—l think accused was in his shirt-sleeves, but could not be posi tive. I did not notice the dress of the others. Alexander Capel, sworn—l am a wheel wright, living at Chertsey. I remember 25th of December last. I was not with defendant on that morning. I was not in bed at 4 o’clock that morning. I was in defendant’s company at 1 o’clock. At-the request of Mr. Purnell his Wor ship cautioned witness that he was not obliged to answer any question which might tend to criminate himself. Examination continued —I could not say how long I was in accused’s company. I know Hartnell and Co. ’s shop at Chertsey. I was near there that morning. I was not • in accused’s company at daylight on that morning. This was the case for the police. Accused's counsel declined to call any wit nesses. The court was then cleared, and on resuming, his Worship, addressing Bur nard, said that in inflicting a high penalty on him the Bench were quite satisfied that he had committed the which he was charged. He and tijfmera who were with him at the time had evidently wound up their night’s orgie by annoying White and his family, because he (White) had put out of his employer’s stable a horse which had been put there without permission. It was no excuse to say that it was customary for people coming from a distance to put up their horses in any person’s stable. No one had a right to use the humblest person’s stable any more than he had to place his horse in a king’s stable without permission. The evidence of White and his wife was perfectly reli able, though given in a somewhat rambling manner. He would be fined L 5 and costs. RAILWAY TR ESSPASS. Jas. Wilkinson was charged by the police with driving fifteen head of caitle across the railway line at a place which was not a proper crossing, and not being a station. Defendant admitted the charge, wnich was substantially the same case which had been heard before his Worship some time ago, and which had been dis missed on technical grounds. After hear ing the evidence of Patrick Malley, ganger on the railway, who said that the place where the cattle crossed the line was per fectly level, and that no damage had been done, a fine of Is. and costs was inflicted. ASSAULT. Haymah v. Cane. —Frank Cane was charged by Jesse Hayman with assault. Defendant pleaded not guilty. It ap peared that Hayman had lost his pick handle, and said that Cans was as likely to have taken it as anyone else Cane replied that if Hayman said that again he would give him a “dab in the mouth.” They then began to fight, and after several rounds they both fell, and while rolling on the road Cane took up a boulder in his hand and hammered Hay man on the head. Fined £l, and costs £1 7s. Bd. CIVIL CASES. W. Hartnell v, A. J. Kelley. —Claim, £l3 7d. —W. Doherty v. T. Santy.— Claim, £ll6s. sd.—Morris v. Johnson. — Claim, £l3 3s. 6d. —Judgment in each case for amount and costs.—Stenning v. Goldsmith. Judgment for £l2 9s. 6d. to be paid in two instalments. —W. Hart nell v. Santy. No appearance of defen dant. Judgment for plaintiff, the amount to be paid in instalments of £2 per week, or in default, three months’ imprison ment.—C. Lake v. Joseph Hasket. This was a case of disputed accounts which took up a good deal of the time of the Court. Mr. Purnell for plaintiff; Mr. Ireland for defendant. Judgment for plaintiff, £7 Bs. The Court then adjourned.

DISTRICT COURT.

Monday, March 15. Before His Honor Judge Ward. R. RATION V. RARE AND ANOTHER. Claim L 142, for work done on the Rakaia and Ashburton Porks Railway, for for the construction of which defendants held a contract. The plaintiff stated that he had done work for the defendants to the amount of the claim. A certain amount of the claim for work done had been admitted, but the balance was dis puted. Daniel Loach and two other witnesses measured portions of the works, and the amounts charged for by plaintiff were correct. Judgment for the amount claimed with costs was entered, with immediate execu tion. Mr. Purnell for plaintiff. R. RAVIXT V. SANDREY AND BL^KLY. Mr. O’Reilly applied, on the plaintiff, for a change of venu church and an adjournment.—Granted. E. SARNIGHAUSEN V. W. H. ZOUCH, TRUS TEE IN THE ESTATE OF SANDO AND BOWLING. Adjourned till next Court day. RE THOMAS DUDSON. Application by Mr. O’Reilly for payment of costs.

THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN, TUESDAY, MARCH 16, x»»u.



ASHBURTON RETAIL LIST. s. d. Gutter, inferior to best lb o 10 to s, I d. 0 Eggs, $ dozen - - i 1 to I 3 Cheese, prime quality, i? lb o Bacon, prime smoked, $ lb o 7 to 0 10 10 to 1 0 Hams in cloth, $ lb I 2 to 1 3 Flour in bags, $ roolb 14 6 to 0 0 Oatmeal. $ 251b - 5 6 to 0 0 Lard, 1? lb - - - 0 9 to 0 0



MOUNT SOMERS ROAD BOARD. TARE NOTICE that the VALUA TION LIST for the year 1880, as amended, is now OPEN for inspection at the Road Board Office, Mount Somers. All objections thereto must be left at the Road Board Office, Mount Seiners, on or before the Thirteenth day of April, 1880, addressed to the Assessment Court; and a copy of every such objection must be left at the Mount Somers Road Board Office, not less than Seven days before the next sitting of the said Court. 0. J. WENTWORTH COOKSON, JUNB. Clerk to the Mount Somers Road Board. Mount Somers, March 13th, 1880. 6140 NOTICE TO FARMERS. fjpHE undersigned will be prepared to treat with farmers and others in Ashbur ton, every Wednesday and Saturday, for the PURCHASE of GRAIN, or SHIP MENT on ACCOUNT of GROWERS. JOSEPH CLARK. February 28, 1880. 5500* TO FARMERS. fjpME undersigned are CASH BUYERS of WHEAT, or will make LIBERAL ADVANCES on shipments to London on growers’ account. MILES, HASSAL, & CO., Christchurch ; MILES, ARCHER, & CO., 566 a Timaru. THE NEW ZEALAND CLOTHING FACTORY WAS started about five years ago. The proprietors at first in tended to manufacture for the Trade only, but, owing to the persistent op position of importers and Shop keepers who could make a better profit on the imported article, they were compelled in self defence to open Branches for the sale of their goods direct to the public. In this they but followed the example of some of the largest manufacturers at home, and the Public, by purchasing at the undermentioned Branches, will SAVE THE PROFIT OF MIDDLEMEN, AND OBTAIN A SUPERIOR ARTICLE. BRANCHES. Invercargill Christchurch Wellington Dunedin Ashburton Auckland Oamaru Nelson New Plymouth Timaru Wanganui Napier A SINGLE GARMENT AT WHOLESALE PRICE. W. SPARROW, Manager, Ashburton Branch, 588g* New Zealand Clothing Factory. IJ ANTED KNOWN, that Envelopes V and Notepaper can be obtained olesale or retail, at unusually low rates the “Herald” Office, East-street



MESSRS. H. MATSON AND CO., AUCTIONEERS, Ac., Hold fortnightly stock SALES at Ashburton and Tinwald. Next sale at ASHBURTON YARDS, on TUESDAY, March IG, 1880. SPECIAL ENTRY. 1000 MERINO EWES. C. PERCY COX, 4270* Agent, Ashburton. BIS DAT, QUI CITO DAT, OK SMALL PROFITS AND QUICK RETURNS Is the motto of Eyerett bros., & co., HAVELOCK STREET. THIS WEEK We will give a GRAND CONCERT in the Town Hall, which will bo duly noti fied. The whole of the proceeds to be given for the purpose of Charitable Aid in Ashburton. Gl7g-182c* Ashburton, 15th March, 1880, To Mr. Harry Friedlauder, Ashburton. SIR, —At your request I beg to retract, without qualification, the assertions made concerning you, either in your capacity as Rate Collector for the Borough of Ashburton or otherwise, in a leading article headed “ Six Shillings Costs,” which appeared, with my knowledge and consent, in the “ Ashburton Mail” news paper, of which I am the proprietor, of the 26th February last. I regret that the statements concerning you were ever pub lished, 'and now apologise to you for their publication, which apology I trust yon will see fit to accept. You will perhaps permit me to explain that the assertions in question were made under a misapprehension of the facts of the case. I am, yours faithfully, 618* JOSEPH IVESS. rpOWN HALL, ASHBURTON. MONDAY and TUESDAY, March 22, 23. Grand Entertainments by the OARANDINI Operatic and Ballad Company. SLENDID PROGRAMME— English, Irish, and Scotch Songs ! Scenes from Grand and Comic Operas, Comic Duets, Trios, Instrumental Solos, and Charming Ballads. Admission —First seats, 45.; second, 2s. Commence at 8 o’clock. 175c-603g