The Ashburton Guardian, COUNTY AGRICULTURAL & SPORTING RECORDER TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1880.

The Lyttelton Times has for some time past endeavored to give its readers the impression that Mr. Sheehan has always been at liberty to enter the pre sent Ministry,, and that nothing but his own unwillingness has prevented him from doing so. This is perhaps natural enough when we consider the zeal with which Mr. Sheehan was supported by the Lyttelton Times through all the questionable transactions with which his name has lately been so clearly connected by the Native Commission and'the Public Accounts Committee. Bfitsufely it is practising rather too much on the credulity of the public when they are expected to believe that such men as the present Premier and his cplleagues.would be willing to sit in the sameJVlinistry with the drawer of two thousand pounds for the avowed pur pose of purchasing native land, but for the real purpose of intoxicating, feast ing, and demoralising native men and women; or the nominator to seats, of justice of those outcasts whose qualifica tions and functions are described with so much delicate tact,—but with such unmistakeable clearness, —in all their deformity, in the second report of the two Knights who formed the Native Commission. It is well known that, a son of one of the present Ministry has taken Mr. Sheehan by the hand, and endeavored to utilise his ability and conceal his moral defects; it is also well known that Mr. Sheehan has taken up a position between the two parties in the House of Representatives which has restrained both parties from referring to his past actions in the terms these deserve; but to suppose that men like the members of the pre sent Ministry would own Mr. Sheehan as a colleague, or that a man of Mr. Bryce’s common sense would do “ no thing without consulting ’’the author of all our present Maori difficulties, and the waster of our late reckless native expenditure is rather too much to ex pect any commonly well informed per son to believe. The “ well informed circles” which supply the Times' cor respondent with the truly extraordinary political information which that; paper conveys to its readers must either be exceedingly ignorant of Mr. Sheehan’s antecedents, or can know very little of the character of the Ministers whom they represent as anxious to number him amongst their colleagues. We profess no deep insight into future Ministerial changes, .but .we know enough of the public men of New Zea land, and especially of Canterbury re presentatives'; to be quite sure that if ever this colony should again accept Mn’ JShHehah as one of its Ministers, the same Government will not contain a John Hall and a William Rolleston.

Postal.— Mails for San Francisco and United Kingdom, per s.s. Australia, close at Auckland at 1 p.na. this day.

A Lost Child.— A three-year old, hail ing from the neighbourhood of the Gas Works, went missing oh Saturday even ing. It appears that Mrs. Keen, the mother of the small boy in question, went to look for another of her charges, when the child wandered away in the direction of Seafield, and after camping out for the .night, was, discovered next morning not much the worse for his expedition. Flattened Out. —Mr. P. Hyland, of Wakanui, had a narrow escape last week. He was driving a team attached to a Cambridge roller, operating on a crop near Dromore, when the horses swerved, and the driver was precipitated from his seat, the roller passing over his body. Mr. Hyland was considerably damaged, but had no bones broken. Had he been built, on a stouter model, the accident might have been disastrous. The Kyeburn Murder. —The Kye burn murder trial was concluded on Saturday. The jury came into Court at 8.20 p.m. with a verdict of “Guilty” against Ah Lee, and “Not Guilty” against Lee Guy. His Honor then put the black cap on, and passed sentence of death in the usual way. All the Dunedin papers have articles endorsing the verdict of the jury, and urging the police to bring to justice the others who must have been concerned in the murder.

Phrenology. —On Saturday evening, a very interesting lecture on phrenology was delivered at an open meeting of the Star of the East Lodge of Good Templars in the Templar Hall. The lecturer was Brother Craighead, who showed a very intimate acquaintance with the subject on which he spoke, and was frequently ap plauded. At the close, Mr. Craighead examined the craniums of a good many of the audience, giving readings of the characters of his “ subjects ” that rather astonished them by their accuracy. A vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. Craig head.

Cricket. —A meeting of the Match Committee of the Ashburton Cricket Club was held last night to consider a challenge from the Mount Somers Cricket Club to play a match at Ashburton on Saturday next. It was decided to accept the challenge, and the following team were selected to represent the Club;—Wcstenra, Hodder, Eyton, Marsh, Duncan, Den shire, Wix, E. G. Crisp, Groves, Martin, and Fooks. Emergencies—Mayo, Hill, Price, Mainwaring, Baldwin, Andrews. The match will be started at 10.30. sharp. Any of the above members who are unable to play are requested to inform the Secre tary at their earliest convenience. The team will practice every evening during the week.

1.0. G.T.—The Clearbrook Lodge of Good Templars at Waterton celebrated their anniversary on Saturday by an open lodge meeting, which w r as largely attended by the residents, about fifty being present. The meeting was held in the Library Hall, which has been greatly enlarged, the workmen engaged on the alterations having only just completed their labors. Bro. Davis occupied the chair, and the pro gramme comprised songs, readings, and recitations, which were well received. The Library Committee deserve great credit for their enterprise in enlarging the Hall, which is now an ornament to the place, and will be found quite sufficient in capacity for the largest meeting of the residents that is likely to be held.

Cambridge School Committee.—A meeting of the Cambridge School Com mittee was held on the 4th October at which the following were present —Messrs. Megson (Chairman), Lloyd, Watkins, and Margetts. After confirmation of the minutes of last meeting, Mr. William Allen was elected a member of the Com mittee in room of Mr. Dale, who had left the district, and Mr. Allen took his seat. The correspondence with the Board having been read, and the business done by the Chairman during the month recapitulated and approved, the schoolmaster’s report was read. The report was considered satisfactory, but the members of Com mittee expressed themselves as still feeling the necessity of urging parents to send their children to school. After discussion, it was decided to bring the compulsory clauses of the Act into force-within the district. An allowance of 10s. for stamps and stationery was made to the Chairman, and a sum of 30s. was voted to the Chair man to be spent in providing cricketing materials, etc., for the lads. Considering the state of the funds it was not considered advisable to offer prizes for competition by the children this year. Westerfield Estate. —Last Thursday evening, a party was given by 0 G. Haw don, Esq., to the farmers and employers on the Westerfield estate. The assembly took place in the schoolroom in the new township of Westerfield, which has re cently been laid out, and about sixty guests assembled. The weather was very inclement, a heavy rain having fallen almost without intermission from an early hour in the afternoon, which prevented the presence of a large number of guests from Ashburton and elsewhere. In the absence of Mr. Hawdon, the guests were entertained by Mr. and Mrs. Oliver, who provided a sumptuous supper, and were as siduousin their attention to the corafortand happiness of the visitors, who were enter tained in real old English style. After long life and prosperity had been often and heartily wished to Mr. Hawdon, dancing was'comraenccd and kept up with great spirit till broad daylight, when the party broke up. This was the first social gathering of friends, neighbors, and employees, given by the proprietor of Westerfield, and it was an entire success in every way. We understand that such parties as that of Thursday will not be seldom given on the Westerfield estate, the spirited proprietor of which is making a vast improvement in the locality, the new township, which is close to Westerfield station, having made rapid progress, and there is every indica tion that in a short time there will have grown up an important township where four months ago there was nothing but tussock. Already a good many buildings have been erected on the township site, and these will be increased immediately. Elgiii School. —The monthly meeting of this Committee was held last Wednes day in the schoolhouse. Present —Messrs. J. Stanley Bruce (Chairman), J. Keir, F. Innes, and P. Greenaway. The minutes of the last meeting, held on the Ist ult., were read and confirmed. The Chair man’s statement was as follows :—The last quarter’s return shows fifty-eight children belonging to the school. The following amounts have been lodged to the credit of the Committee by the Board of Education since the last monthly meeting :—For pay ment of the well and chimney cowl, LIG 17s. 10d.; salaries to teachers Lll IGs. Bd.; and incidental expenses, L 5 Gs. In answer to the letter which I was requested to write the Board of Education, asking for a small amount to enlarge the master's garden, the Board replied that they had not any funds to spare for the purpose. In the same letter 1 also requested that a gymnasium might be erected, and the requisite apparatus was sent down im mediately to Ashburton. I sent a dray for.the same, and the master and some of his pupils have erected it. The master applies for an assistant. The school will be examined by the inspector on Thurs day, the 14th inst. The correspondence was next read. Mr. P. Innes proposed, Mr. J. Keir seconded —“That blinds be provided to the school.” Carried. Mr. P. Innes proposed, Mr. T. Greenaway seconded—“ That the Chairman bo re quested to forward the master’s letter asking for an assistant, to the Board of Education, recommending that the same be complied with.” Carried. It was further resolved that the Board of Educa tion be applied to for a larger sum for incidental expenses. Accounts to the amount of L3O Os. lOd. being passed for payment, the Committee adjourned to Wednesday, the 3rd pros.

The ‘ ‘NewZealand Muse. ” —The Auck land musical publication entitled the Neio Zealand Muse has suspended publication for a time owing to dissolution in the partnership. Samoa. —News from Samoa by the Coronet, at Auckland, states that all are prepared to fight, and in such a disturbed state that the public meetings of the Lon don Missionary Society had to be post poned. Chlorodyne. —A Waimate chemist has laid informations against several local storekeepers for selling poison without being registered. The poison is contained in the patent medicine called chlorodyne.

Fires. A fire that did but little damage occurred on Saturday at Garlick and Cransell’s cabinet-maker’s shop, Auck land.—The Royal Hotel, Onehunga, with some adjacent buildings, was burnt to the ground. The loss amounts to about L 1,500, and there is no insurance. A fire at VVa nganui on the same day burned the resi dence of a leading merchant, which was insured for L 1,250. The Magistracy. The Wellington Post of Saturday says—“ln reference to the rumored Magisterial changes which have been mentioned as impending, we find on further enquiry that all these statements have been made without the slightest authority and are evidently based on the merest rumors. We have been most distinctly assured that the whole question is still entirely unsettled, and remains under the careful considera tion of the Government, while we have reason to believe that several of the guesses will be found very wide of the mark. ”

Cruelty to Animals. —At the Christ church R.M. Court yesterday, a man named Michael Winter was fined 20s. for squeezing thirty-eight fowls into a case about two feet six inches long by two feet wide and deep, and taking the same by train a distance of forty miles. Four of the fowls were dead by the time they reached Christchurch, and when noticed by a constable, others were in a suffocat ing condition. This inhuman poultry pedlar, in defence, said he thought he had made the fowls very comfortable for their journey. Looking Up Again. Reefton has furnished many enviable instances of astonishing acquisition of wealth, but we ( Inangahua Times) doubt very much if any previously cited instances of the kind approach to that of a knight of the long' robe, resident in Nelson. The holder of 6,000 shares in the United Alpine Com pany, and 4,000 shares in the Golden Fleece Company, his interests in these two mines have risen in the short space of about throe months from a nominal value of almost nothing to the princely sum of L 16,000. Talk about being rich beyond the dream of avarice. —The returns from the top plates of the Golden Fleece Extended Quartz Mining Company, Reef ton, for the two weeks ending 9th October, amounted to 670 ozp. amalgam. Native Industry. —The Dunedin Star says :—As a result of the Sydney Exhibi tion, Messrs. Reid and Gray have received a large order from New South Wales for some of their manufactures, comprising three furrow ploughs and double-rurrow and subsoil, for which latter they _ re ceived the first prize at the Exhibition. Concerning the subsoil, Messrs. Reid and Gray’s Sydney agents have received the following from a purchaser of one of the ploughs :—“ We have much pleasure in testifying to the excellent workmanship and design of Messrs. Reid and Gray’s double plough. It has been much ad mired in this district, and has ploughed some very hard and sun-baked land in a surprising manner. We trust Reid and Gray will send only the best workman ship, as the land here is heavy and hard.” And from Howlong (N.S.W.), they also received this further testimony to the excellence of their goods “ The plough you sent us has been much ad mired, and gives great satisfaction. We think you will receive orders for several from this quarter next season.” _ For the Ashburton district Messrs. Friedlander Bros, are the agents.

TELEGRAPHIC.

LATEST FROM EUROPE,

(Per Reuter's Agency.) London, Oct. 7.

Consols 98. Total reserve of notes and bullion in the Bank of England, L 15,000,00 three quarters of a million less than last week. There is a fair demand for most descrip tions of Australian leather at full prices. The shipments of wheat from America to England last week exceeded half a million quarters. London, Oct. 8.

It is stated that, with a view to coerce the Porte the British Government has proposed, and the Powers have agreed, to occupy and place an embargo on the chief Turkish ports on the zEgean sea, and it is reported that the admirals in command of the combined fleet have been instructed by their respective Governments to carry this into effect. The Daily JLews of to day hints at the possibility of the Sultan being deposed. Intelligence has been received from Teheran that the Kurds inhabiting the dis trict of Kurdistan, on the western border of Persia, have risen in large numbers against the local authorities, and are at tacking and pillaging the towns and villages in the district. Consuls, 9?5.- Adelaide wheat, ex warehouse, 495. 6d.; Adelaide flour, ex warehouse, 355. 6d.; New Zealand wheat, ex ship, 455. The total quantity of wheat afloat for Great Britain is 1,350,000 quar ters- Australian tallow —Best beef, 335.; best mutton, 355. Galvanised iron, Ll 7 ; best Sydney copra, LlB. The Board of Trade returns of imports for the past month amount to L 34,250,000, being an increase of LC,500,000 compared with last year. The exports amounted to L 20,000,000, being an increase of L 2,625,000 for the same period. Arrived —Ship Brisbane, from Timaru. London, Oct. 9.

Nothing definite has transpired with re gard to the decision of the Great Powers for the settlement of the Montenegrin question and cession of Dulcigno. On the strength of a proposal made by England, and agreed to, Admiral Seymour summoned the other Admirals of the com bined fleet to hold a conference. It is re ported that detached squadrons are going to the Levant, accompanied by a troop ship, to render assistance in taking muni tions of war and gathering guns. The counties of Galway and Mayo, in Ireland, have been proclaimed disturbed districts. Constantinople, Oct. 8. It is said that a plot is on foot against the Sultan, and in consequence severe! arrests .have been made. It is, however, understood that the Sultan prefers abdica tion to yielding. Latest intelligence from Afghanistan reports the arrival of Ayoub Khan at Herat. Home, Oct. 9. Signor Caniza, who was recently arrested at Genoa, has been amnestied through the mediation of General Garibaldi, his father-in-law, who went to Genoa to use his influence with the authorities to obtain Oaniza’s pardon. AUSTRALIAN. {Per Reuter's Agency.) Melbourne, Oct. 8. Lord and Lady Loftus and Sir Francis and Lady Smith have departed. It is proposed to dispense with Colonel Scratchley’s services. Mata is backed for the Cup at 12 to 1,

Sydney, Oct. 8.

Hennessy’s brandy, in cass, 355. 3d ; bulk, quarters, 10s Kerosene, diamond, per gallon, Is. to Is. Bd.; Devoe’s, Is. 9d. Patna rice, L2l to L 22. Maize, per 601b5., 2s. Id. Adelaide, Oct. 8.

Adelaide wheat, per bushel, 4s. 4d. There is a good demand, but higher prices are asked. Town flour, LlO to LlO 55.; country flour, L 9 ss. to L 9 10s. Freights to London by sailing vessels, 375. 6d to 40s. INTERPROYINCIAL. Per Press Association. Auckland, Oct. 9. Sub-Inspector Thomas has made an important seizure of smuggled spirits and beer at Whangatata near Kat.ikati, esti mated at £3OO value. The cases were found buried in the sand near Gains borough’s store. No intelligence has yet been received of the crew of the wrecked ship James A. Stewart. Four native officers in Auckland hare received notices that their services wi'l be dispensed wiih. The timber trade is brisk. The Hura, schooner, is loading tongued and grooved timber and joinery for Sydney ; and the Kenilworth, sashes and doors for Lyttel ton.

Auckland, Oct. 11. The steamer Southern Cross has arrived from Levuka. The captain reports that the prevailing opinion in Levuka is that Sir Arthur will be conveyed hither by the Emerald. • It is thought that she will leave about November Ist., and that Sir Arthur will embark for New Zealand on or about that date. W. J. Hunt has commenced an action against Sir Arthur Gordon claiming two thousand pounds for removing him wrongfully from Samoa. Grahamstown, Oct. 9.

Information has been furnished to Go vernment that a plant of arms and spirits existed at Wangamata, and upon the arrival of the Stella at Auckland she will be despatched with some members of the Constabulary to the locality. A telegram received this morning says the plant sprung consists of spirits to the value of Ll5O, but no arms. Wellington, Oct. 9.

Messrs. Bryce, Summer, & Co. have joined the Union Steam Shipping Com pany, and the latter have taken the steamer Hero into their fleet. Wellington, Oct. 11.

A young man named Walter Frank Thomas, on two charges of larceny from hotels, was sentenced to three months’ hard labor at Halcombe. A woman named Ellen Conrad, met with a serious accident while crossing the railway on Saturday night. v She was caught by the cow-catcher which broke her right thigh, besides inflicting other wounds.

A smart shock of earthquake was felt on Saturday, but there was no damage done.

Mr. Mansford, R.M., is suffering from a severe attack of bronchitis. His medical advisers recommend a change of climate. Pursuant to this recommendation, applica tion has been made to Government for twelve months’ leave of absence ; if suc cessful, Mr. Mansford proposes to take a trip to England. Nelson, Oct. 11.

Kinzett’s flax mill, at Wakefield, has been destroyed by a fire which was caused by friction. The scutching shed and about two tons of flax were destroyed. The engine shed which is contiguous, was saved by filling the place with steam. No insurance.

At the City Court, Alex. Weiler re ceived three months for obtaining money under false pretences. Ann Purcell, who in a few days would have completed her sentence, died in gaol last night of consumption. Nelson, Oct. 11.

Haskayne Jones, who has been con nected with the Bank of Now South Wales for a quarter of a century, died somewhat suddenly this morning. Although he had been ailing for some time, he appeared in better health lately. At the District Court to-day, an action was brought against Lowe, second pilot, by Hamilton and son for injuries sustained by the latter ; the boy having been most seriously scalded, as alleged, through de fendant turning on steam into the waste pipe on board a steamer lying alongside the wharf at the time. A legal point was raised that the father and son were im properly joined in the action, and there upon plaintiffs were non-suited. Invercargill, Oct. 9.

An order has gone Home for enough rails for two miles of tramway between the post-office and the suburbs of Waiho pai. The company’s cars will be running before next winter*. It is rumored here that Parliament is likely to be called together almost im mediately on Sir Arthur Gordon’s arrival. The statement is said to have originated from a high political source. The conduct of the Ministry in dis missing Inspector Fox without the option of accepting a lower designation and pay is severely animadverted upon by the public. Mr. Fox has been seventeen years in the service, and the whole time his conduct, with a numerically in adequate force, has given the utmost satisfaction. It is proposed to memorialise Government on the subject. Invercargill, Oct. 10.

Messrs. Bain and Shanks, M. H. R’s., on Saturday received a deputation of nearly a hundred of the principal citizens, urging them to protest against the dismissal of Inspector Fox. The members promised to represent to Government that if it was necessary to abolish the Inspectorship, Mr. Fox ought to be offered a position similar to his present one, but with lower pay and a different title. Mr. Fox has been for seventeen years in the service, and has a large family of eleven children. A whale was chased off the Blaff on Saturday, but the boats failed to catch it At a meeting of the Southland County Council on Saturday, a request was re ceived from the Makarewa Road Board to be allowed to merge into the County. It was refused, the Council considering that plenty of good work remained for the Road Board yet to do.

SOUTH BRITISH INSURANCE COMPANY.

[by telegraph.] Auckland, Oct. 11,

The sixteenth half-yearly meeting of the South British Insurance Company was held at 10 o’clock to-day. The following is the report The Directors have much pleasure in placing before the shareholders the following statement of accounts for the sixteenth half-year of the Company’s busi ness, ended 31st August last. The income from fire and marine premiums has been L 63,765 Bs. Bd.; from interest and transfer fees, L 5,278 Os. 6d.; total, 1,69,043 9s. 2d., which, added to L 2,343 3s. 5d., brought forward from the previous half-year, makes a total of L 71,386 12s. 7d. The total expenditure has been—Fire and marine losses paid and outstanding at close of books, L 30,114 ss. 3d.; re-insur ances, commissions, salaries, printing, advertising, and general charges, L 20,301 Os. 5d., leaving a balance of L11,9G1 6s. lid. to credit of profit and loss account, from which your Directors recommend the payment of a dividend at the rate of ten per cent, per annum. If the dividend be sanctioned by shareholders it will be payable at the head office on 13th October, and at branches on receipt of ad vice. It will be the duty of shareholders to elect two Directors in the place of the Hon. H. Chamberlain, and P. Howard, Esq., who retire in accordance with the articles of association, but who are eligible and offer themselves for re-election.

THE TERRIBLE AFFAIR AT KANIERI.

COMMITTAL OF HUTCHISON FOR MURDER. The man Hutchison, who has been ac cused of the murder of his wife and child in connection with the fire at Kanieri, has been committed for trial on the charge. It will be remembered that the woman and her child met their death under very painful and suspicious circumstances, hav ing been burned alive in their dwelling. On Saturday the R.M. Court at Hokitika was occupied up ,till 7 o’clock in the even ing hearing the case. The evidence showed that at the time of the fire Hutchi son was fully dressed in coat, vest, trousers, &c. His eldest daughter stated that her father left her youngest sister behind till she called attention to her absence. One of the witnesses stated that it was com monly rumored that this younger daughter was not Hutchison’s own child. Acts of brutality towards his wife, too shocking to be described in print, were proved against him by two female witnesses, and his own ; mate spoke of other acts of violence. It was proved that he stated to Inspector Keely that he had saved nothing from the fire except his gun, lyhich had fallen on his shoulder while trying to arouse his wife. In reality he had saved all his tools, ajbag of food he had bought the night before the fire, a pair of trousers and a spring balance, all of which were in the room where his wife and baby were burnt. It was also proved that the remains of his wife were found in such a position that she could not have been lying on a stretcher insensible as stated by the prisoner at the inquest. A kerosene-tin was found on the floor of the room where his wife and baby were burnt. To the great astonishment of everyone, when the other witnesses had been examined, Mr. Giles, who had presided as Resident Magistrate through the whole of the ex amination, descended from the Bench and gave evidence both as Coroner and as a member of the College of Surgeons, against the prisoner, and then resum ed his seat on the Bench, and in concert with his brother magistrates, Messrs. Reed, M.H.R., and the Hon. J. Bonar, M.L.C., committed the prisoner for trial.

CRICKET.

MOUNT SOMERS C.C. Y. ASHBUR-

TON C.O.

A match between the above clubs came off on Saturday on the ground of the for mer. The local team started from Shear man’s corner at 6 o’clock a. m. in Mr. Price’s brake, drawn by four prancing Arabs, driven by Mr. Price, jun. They arrived at Mount Somers at 10.30 a.m. Andrews, the Ashburton captain having tossed, decided to take the wickets, and his side were all disposed of for a total of 155 runs—the highest scorers being Denshire, 37 ; Amois, 32 ; Curtis, 22 ; Andrews, 13 ; and Mr. “ Bye ” 16. Bain and Tomlinson then took the wickets to the bowling of Andrews and Shury, and it looked as if the two would make a stand, till Andrews changed the bowling, when Bain was caught by Wix, and Tomlinson was clean bowled by the same gentleman, but not before the two had scored 22 and 21 respectively. The other double figure scorers were Peters 23 and Hood 13. The former was grandly caught by the longstop, A. Fooks, and the latter was bowled by F. Shury. The innings closed for a total of 102 runs. The visit ing team again took the wickets —Fooks and Amos handling the willow to the bowling of Potts and Bain. Fooks was caught by Cookson at long-off ; Andrews then followed, and succeeded in putting 53 together, by some excellent cricket, when he was ultimately bowled by Hood. Amos played well for his nineteen, we only hope he will keep it up all through the season. The innings closed for 119, when time was called, the match was therefore not finished, but was decided in favor of the Ashburton “boys” oy 53 runs. The fielding of A. Potts and Gif kin for the “mountaineers” requires special note, also the bowling of Bain in the first innings, and Hood in the second. Wix bowled well for the visitors. At aboutl.SOp.m. the respective teams sat down to an excellent dinner served up by Host Hood, which was done ample justice to especially by the visitors. Appended are the scores ; Mount Somers. — Ist Innings. Bain, 123111 n 141112, c Wix b Andrews 21 Tc-mlinson, 211131111131212, b Wix ... 22 Polhill, 1, c Marsh, b Andrews ... ... 1 Chapman, 112, c Wix, b Andrews ... 4 D. Potts, b Wix ... ... ... ••• o Gifkin, 151, c Andrews, b Wix ... ... 7 A. Potts, 1, b Wix, ... ... ... I E. Peters, 225521411, cA. Fooks, b Wix 23 Taylor, I, not out ... ... ... ... 1 Hood, 1311142, b Shury ... ... ... 13 Cookson, b Shury ... ... ... ... 0 Byes, 1121 .. 5 Leg-Byes, 1... ... ... ... 1 Wides, ill ... 3 Total 102 Ashburton. —lst Innings. G. W. Andrews, 2121322, b Bain... ... 13 A. Fooks, 2212, b Bain 7 W. B. Denshire, 1113122133112442122, c Gifkin, b Hood ... ... ... 37 Wix, 23*1, cA. Potts, b Bain ... ■ ... 7 A. Curtis, 1111221X122111211, c Gifkin b Hood ... ... ... ... ... 22 D. Amos, 1112111211111322121111111 not out ... ... ... ... ... 32 Marsh, 11, c Gifkin, b Hood ... ... 2 F. Shury, 1, b Bain ... ... ... I Lechner, o, bßain... ... ... ... o Lovell, 31, b Bain ... ... ... ... 4 E. Fooks, 11, b Bain ... ... ... 2 Byes 11HH11111212 ... ... 16 Leg byes mm 6 Wides min ... 6 Total 155 2nd Innings. And re ws, 134231131313213131231133311 112, b Hood ... ... ... ... 59 Fooks, 1, c Cookson, b A Potts ... ... I Denshire,.l2l32, c Bain, b Peters ... 9 Wix, b Chapman ... ... ... ... o Curtis, 2XI, b Peters ... ... ... 4 Amos, 2313121222, b Peters ... ... 19 Marsh, 233, c Gifkin, b Hood ... ... 8 F. Shury, 31 m, c and b Chapman ' ... 7 Lechner, run out ... ... ... ... o Lovell, 32, not out... ... ... ... 5 E. Fooks, c Bain, b H00d... ... ... o Bye?, 1 1 Wides, mm , ... 6 Total .. 119

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION.

SHEEP BREEDING. The usual monthly meeting of the Agri cultural and Pastoral Association was held in the upper room of the Town Hall on Saturday evening, when a greater number of farmers were present than usually at tend these meetings. The essayist for the evening was Mr. Donald Oliver, of Wester field, and the subject of his paper was “ Sheep Breeding.” Mr. John Carter occupied the chair, and in introducing Mr. Oliver, remarked that the subject of the paper to be read was, to his mind, the most important one that had yet been dealt with at any of the meetings, as too much cropping had been done in the country hitherto, and too little attention paid to stock rearing. He did not know any gentleman in the district who was better qualified to speak on the subject of sheep breeding than was Mr. Oliver, and he (the Chairman) was sure they would enjoy a treat in listening to Mr. Oliver’s paper on SHEEP BREEDING. Mr. Oliver then read as follows : Mr. President and gentlemen,— I have with much pleasure complied with the request of your Secretary to pre pare a paper on “ The Breeding of Sheep.” As I have been long associated

ill matters of this sort with some of the best breeders in the Southern Hemi sphere, I trust this paper may be of some little service. In the premises, let it be understood that I am writing principally in the interests of breeders, who are to the dealers what the scientific gold miner is to the gold broker. By baying and selling, the broker will enrich himself, but will not add a single ounce of the precious metal to the currency of the country. In like manner, the sheep dealer may enrich himself without assisting in creating, or even keeping up, any single one of the qualities which make the animal he deals in so profitable to himself and so valuable to the human race generally. Being better acquainted with merinos than with any other variety of sheep, and believing them to be the most profitable animals at present in the world, I will confine my self almost exclusively to them. _ How ever, you all know that the principles of breeding apply to every variety of sheep alike, and so do all questions of a physio logical nature. I very much regret that I cannot say much to benefit the general run of farmers—those who buy and sell as often as they can make a profit out of a flock of sheep. To them, there is some thing good in every variety, if they will only fatten readily, or give a fair return of lambs. To such farmers it must be a matter of perfect indifference whether the sheep they buy possess a fixity of type or belong to the greatest mongrels in the country. I will venture, however, to give one hint to those who intend going into sheep farming, and are anxious to start economically, yet would like to be: sure that the venture will end profitably to them. Buy old merino ewes. They are always cheap, and if they can be wintered on good English grass, they will do very well, even if they are what we call “gummies.” Put a pure Lincoln or Leicester ram to every seventy-five of them. Do not use mongrels. Pure rams can be got cheap enough—indeed, far too cheap at present to pay any breeder for the expense and trouble he must bestow on them. The progeny from this cross are most valuable sheep for the butcher, and their wool is alwaj’s exceptionally valuable. Mr. Carter, of Tinwald, sold this year in the London market a con siderable quantity of wool taken from sheep of this description, and it f e ;ched Is. 4d. per lb., in the grease. The sheep from which this wool was taken were grazed all the year round on tussock country only. The good qualities of this cross, however, are not fixed, and no mortal can breed again from them in any known direction without changing the character of their get to something inferior to themselves. It is, therefore, better not to breed from them at all, but when they are old enough, sell and make up the flock again in the manner in which it was commenced. The materials for so doing will always be at hand. It will of course be conceded by everyone that there is a wide differencebetween indiscriminate, careless breeding, and skilful, careful breeding ; the former is the style followed by the multitude, and the latter is that which is, adopted by the enlightened few. Had our domesticated animals never been bred away from their original and normal condition by the intelligence of man, the terms “ selection,” “ breeding,” and “ classing ’’would, in the sensei am about to use them, be meaningless ; for Like , then, would invariably produce like. In proof of this, let anyone for a moment consider the matchless uniformity of indi viduals in any family of the wild denizens u f the earth, air, or water. This uni formity has obtained among them from the remotest ages, and will continue so while left in their natural state, unless some 'great geological disturbance upsets the present order of things. Such, how evex‘, will not be the cast with reclaimed animals that have come under the dominion of man. Their latent variability, which has been called into activity by man’s intelligence, will, if left to itself, have a continual tendency to carry them back to the point from which they started, but if this variability is wisely directed by judicious selection and periodical classing, the improvement and profit of the animal very soon becomes apparent, and in no animal does this change show itself sooner than in sheep. There seems as yet to be no known finality to this progress of im provement under proper management. Certain merino flocks in the Australian colonies are now as much superior to the Spanish sheep from which the}'’ originated as the latter were at one time superior to all other sheep in the world. I will not here enter into details as to how or by whom this beneficial change was first brought about. I will simply take those sheep -where they now stand, at the highest pinnacle of excellence to which any section of their species ever arrived. This superiority is now conceded to the Australian merino by both Americas, and also by several kingdoms on the Continent of Europe, as well as England. The French manufacturers would never be able to produce some of their best muslin delaines, and other delicate woollen fabrics were they not able to supply themselves in the London market with the long, elastic silky, wools from some of the well managed Australian stations. But this, improvement did not take place simply because those sheep were placed in the favored climate and pastures of Australia. In that country, as many ill-bred and neglected flocks can be seen as in any other portion of the world. It is, therefore, not to any inherent quality in sheep pastures or climate the world is indebted for the peerless sheep and wools produced in that country, but to the intelligence of a few breeders, who took advantage of the known tendency in animals under domestication to yield to modification, and their directing this modification to a profitable end by selection. Their energies were not so much directed to bring about radical changes in the form of the animal, as to make it produce more wool of a uniform character and better quality. The extent to which they have succeeded in their endeavor is now known to every sheep breeder of note, and manufacturer of fine wool in the world, besides giving the owners at least one-third better annual returns than those realised for the same outlay by their more careless neigh bors. You are all familiar with the prices which the ordinary New Zealand wools fetch in the London market. Well, the price obtained for the common run of the Australian wools are no higher ; so I need not quote any of them, but to show what skilful management will do, I will quote prices obtained by a few of the best Victorian breeders for their last clip in London, and these prices are only what they are in the habit of geting every j'ear. For it must be understood that the best wools are always scarce, and not subject to the same fluctuations in price as the medium and indifferent sorts—

s. d. ' Sir Samuel Wilson (washed) 4 o]4 per lb. Thos. Dowling & Son ~ 3 » J. L. Cunie ~ 3 >, W. Gumming ~ 3 2 » T. Dowling & Son (greasy) 1 11K » A. Buchanan ~ I 10 14 ~ A. Anderson ~ 1 9'/i » T. Shaw „ J. Wilson ~ 18 ~ There is a prevailing belief that sheep pur ducing very valuable wool have less of it on them than those carrying wool of a commoner description. This belief, when it relates to the improved Australian merino, is utterly groundless, and it is also groundless (as several members of your society must know) when applied to the best English breeds in this country. Take a Leicester or Lincoln flock, and class out the fine, rich, glossy, well clad ones, and shear them against an equal number of coarse, fuzzy ones, and it will be found that the former cut by far the heavier fleeces, and the wool is more valuable per pound. In fact, it hag geveral qualities which

the other description of wool from the same flock has not, one of which is that it is specifically heavier. Thus, even in the best English breeds, the necessity exists for careful annual classing by every one who wishes to keep pace with the progress of the times. The fact seems to be lost sight of in these colonies that the wool from a sheep before he is sold for mutton, represents at least three times as much money as the mutton will fetch when a flock is sold to the butcher. This being the case, it becomes obvious that three times more attention should be paid to the wool than the mutton. Almost any mongrel sheep will produce as good mut ton as the very purest bred ones, but how would we get even fair mongrels if no one attended to breeding ? It is the near relationship.mongrels have to pure sheep that give them the qualities we de sire in them ; but, let them interbreed for any considerable length of time among themselves, and they become compara tively worthless. The fact is, that if breeders were extinguished altogether, and the breeding of sheep left to dealers and chance for, say a hundred years, it would not require the imagination of a Darwin to predict the lean, half hairy, party colored animals they would become, by the end of that time. Almost e fery one in possession of sheep believes he understands breeding, and is often strongly prejudiced against any method that does not agree with his own. I say he has a perfect right to be so, and to do absolutely what he sees fit with his own. I am writing with the hope of assisting those who admit —at least to themselves — that their sheep and wools are inferior to what they might be, and are anxious to improve them. Every breeder of sheep must either buy his rams or breed them. In most cases it will be more convenient to buy than breed ; but he who buys, must at all times be content with rams of less value than he who breeds them ; be cause every , man competent to direct breeding, is also competent to select the best for himself, and will assuredly do so. At the same time, it.is safer to buy second rate rams from a well managed flock that has acquired a fixity of type by being bred from sheep of a uniform character, in the same direction, for some time, than it woulibe to get the first pick out of a flock that had been unskilfully managed, and possessed no fixity of type at all. The first thing to bo done by any one desirous to breed his own rams, is to select ewes for the purpose. This is where he will ex perience the greatest difficulty, and un less he has a special aptitude for this kind of work, coupled with a large amount of experience among sheep, he will at first make a good many blunders. I will here endeavor to specify what a merino ewe should be. The face should be covered with a peculiar velvety, semi-transparent, kind of hair. This hair, when examined through a micro scope of low power, should appear the color of pure water tinged with sherry. Hairs from the face of coarse-woolled breeds, under the same power, resemble milk. There should be no wool about the nose, nor near enough the eyes to obstruct the sight. But she should have fair, long wool on the forehead and on the cheeks. Viewed from behind, she should, in full wool, have a very thick neck, a wide chest, and be particularly wide at the hips. The surface of the wool should be as nearly level as possible—not pointed, like hoggets’ wool. Each natural division or lock will, however, be more or less pointed on the top, but the nearer the top of the lock approaches the level the better, if other things are equal, such as length, fineness, and density. This lock should on no part of the body of. a first class merino be less than a quarter, or more than half-an-inch in diameter. When smaller, as a rule, it indicates lightness of fleece; and when larger coarse, harsh wmol. Thin, pointed wool, or staple resembling belly wool, on the top of the shoulder, is objectionable. The good body wool should extend quite down to the belly on the sides, and right down to the knees and hocks on the legs. _ Wool on the hind legs below the hocks is a good feature. Coarse wool, resembling hair, on the hips, or any part of the body, is very objectionable. This does not, how ever, apply to the hairs often seen on ranis’ heads, the consequence of having the skin abraded with fighting, nor to hairs growing on the tail where it has been cut. The reason why hairs grow on those parts after they have been disturbed in the manner stated, would require a more learned physiologist than myself to ex plain. What I want to show is that in such cases they are not objectionable. Reject all wrinkles. Randal very justly characterises them as an unmitigated nuisance. The outside of the thighs should be full, pre senting a convex appearance. Sheep whose form has been neglected have flat, straight-up-arid-down thighs, or whac is worse, thighs concave from the outside. Some writer on sheep has said that the body of the animal should resemble a barrel set .on wooden pegs.. I have seen some odd samples approaching this build, and would advise every sensible man to discard them at once, and also several breeders’ maxims which would appear now to require modification. For example, it was at one time considered that the more yolk wool had in it the finer it was, this notion is completely exploded. Good wmol certainly has a large quantity of yolk in it, but the most a well-bred sheep should show on the tips of the wool is a sprinkling of black dots—never com pletely pitched over with it.' Randal illustrates this by quoting a high bred ram’s fleece —according to Yankee notions —which weighed in the grease 19 J lbs., but when properly cleansed weighed only 4lbs. Buyers in London neglect wool with much black tip on it, and the brokers advise us : to send it Home in bales by itself. It has also been asserted that the smaller the lock the finer the staple. This, as a rule, is true ; but it is also true that in any breed of sheep the lock, by breeding, may be made so fine that it would be utter folly to cultivate it because it would not be the best kind of wool wdien grown, and the fleece would become so light that it would not pay. The term “spiral,” when applied to the convolutions of the fibre of wool, is also misleading. Good wool never is Spiral !ike a corkscrew ; it is simply curved, and the more curves it has in the space of an inch the finer it is, and the more valuable it is as a clothing, but not as a combing wool. The general belief that like pro duces like, leads many a stock owner astray. He does not consider that each of the sheep he intends to couple together are made up of parts, and strains of blood, descended to them from numerous ancestors ; and that it is quite as likely the progeny may resemble one of its pro genitors as its immediate parents. This disposition in ■ sheep to breed back (as it is called), is known to and acted upon, by every one who understands his business as a breeder. Hence his desire to get rams from a long established and well managed flock, knowing that the longer they have been bred in one direction, and persis tently kept to the desired type, the more certain they are to reproduce themselves in their offspring, because the strains of blood of ancestors equal in quality, and of the same type as themselves, have de scended to them through several genera tions, so that, if they do breed back, unless they go very far back, they are hound to be good, because all their ancestors for many generations were good. But if you want to dissimilarise the form of your sheep and the character of your wool use rams of no fixed type, from the flocks of say A B and 0, alternately ; and should you live to the age of Methuaaleh you will never have a uniform flock of sheep, nor a uniform clip of wool. But if the flocks of A, B, and C are similar in . form and character of wool, and have

been bred nearly to the same type, with an equal amount of intelligence, through the same number of generations, then using rams from them alternately will not injuriously affect the character of your flock. However, this is not the shortest road to uniformity and perfection. The shortest road is first to fix on a flock de clared to be of the highest quality by breeders and manufacturers —and colonial stock-owners would be wise to pay par ticular attention to the voice of the latter.

Out of this flock buy a ram for your stud ewes, and use him among them until he becomes too old for service ; then get another from the same breeder’, use him in like manner, and whilst the flock out of which you have bought continues to be skilfully managed, never change. Cast, aside all notions of the balefulneas of in- - and-iu breeding, as -you would a ghost story. The healthiest and most beauti fully formed animals. on earth have been bred in - and -in for ages, and if in - and -in breeding were.; likely to result in the destruction of a species the All-wise Creator would have so constituted their natures thak it would be as impossible for interbreeding within restricted limits to take place among them as it is now between widely dissimilar species. Any flock of pure merino ewes that have never • had other than merino rams among them may be used to start a stud flock from; but oh looking through them it will be observed that various types of form and wool pre sent themselves. It then becomes a question which is the right type: to pick out for stud purposes. I say stud purposes, because without a stud flock the breeding arch would bo without the only thing that can hold, it together —the keystone, I have already ~ described what a merino ewe should be and I will only say now that in choosing her it should be apparent that, with all her other qualities, she will clip a heavy fleece; arid so long as she is a perfectly pure merino, it is not a serious objection should her wool be rather stout in fibre if she has plenty of it, and is put —asshe oughtto be— to a ram possessing the requisite hereditary qualifications, because the prepotency of his blood will at once have the effect of giving an improved fineness to the wool of his offspring. Very fine wool is ~ at present most valuable per lb., but wool . of medium fineness, combining the qualities, of length, strength, soundness, evenness, and elasticity, with a dazzling brilliancy of-fibre when scoured, is what pays best per sheep. It starting a stud flock keep in view the fact that the rain constitutes the half of it, and should always be greatly superior to the ewe in the qualities you desire to see in the off spring. The ram has a prepotent power over that of the ewe in stamping his characteristics on the offspring, and no matter how good your ewes are, if you use indifferent rams, you will, in a few generations, scatter their good qualities to the four winds of heaven. If you want to succeed as a breeder have always the best rams that can be got and you will ; do wonders, even should you neglect the classing of your ewes altogether. But reverse this order of things, and the engine you expected to go forward/will most assuredly 20 back. In choosing a ram for stud purposes, get him with an undoubted pedigree, or, in other words, a long descent from good ancestors ; but however long this descent may have been in a pure channel, the tendency to revert back, though weakened, has not been des troyed, and consequently very indifferent animals will appear occasionally when least expected. So it would be unwise to con-. sider any ram first-class, whatever hia descent, unless he the requisite individual excellencies himself. As rams from different flocks are slightly different in character and appearance, yet of equal intrinsic value, I will here enter ~ upon no description of what a ram should be, further than that he should bo large, broad-set, and densely covered with long, fine wool. Some writers say that, a merino ram should have a perfectly straight back. Don’t believe, any such nonsense. It .would show as little judg ment to look for a straight, level back on the statue of Apollo as on a merino ram. The accompanying woodcut, taken from the Australasian, is that of the famous ram Sir Thomas, the property of Messrs; Gumming, of Darlington, Victoria. -He. was purchased by them four years ago, . for the sum of L 714, and, taking into ac ? count what, in several ways, he realised for his original owner, Mr. James Gibson, of Tasmania, and subsequently for the Messrs. Gumming, he exceeds in value any ram that has ever been bred in this hemisphere, or, indeed, in any other part of the world. As it may be interesting to ; some of the members of your society and others to have a look at the portrait of this peerless ram, I have had it framed, and do present it to your society for general information. Mr. Lewis, in opening discussion, said, in reference to Mr. Oliver’s remarks as to" the yolk in wool, that lie (Mr. Lewis) had ; always thought a great quantity of yolk a good feature in fine wool. Mr. Oliver said that he only objected to an ovor-abundance of yolk. He knew an instance in which wool that weighed 191bs in the grease only gave 41bs when washed. The London market would not buy dirt, and it was no use sending dirt Home, for by the time all charges wore paid great havoc would have been played with the 4lbs of wool. Yolk was not a bit of good. Mr. Oliver also, in reply to a rerivark by the Chairman, said he wished the questions to be confined to such as- ■ arose out of the paper, as he was not pre pared to answer every question that might be put to him outside the subject he .had written on. He knew a number of young men who were able to write excellent ■ papers, but who did not care to be 5 pulled about in the after debate. They would far rather write the paper and de fend it through the press. Mr. James Brown (Wakanui) differed from Mr. Oliver as to the value of the carcase. He (Mr. Brown) could only get half for the wool that he obtained for the mutton, and thought the best mutton growing sheep were the best for the , farmers. In making a reference to what: had been done for Leicesters, Mr. Brown , said he thought farmers ought, to get riierino ewes and cross them with long-: , woolled rams.

Mr. Oliver thought sheep should be three years old before they were 'sold for? mutton, thus giving three fleeces of wool; : In regard to the value of' Leicesters as compared with merinos, as mentioned by - Mr. Brown, Mr. Oliver said he had never, heard of a Leicester bringing the money that the subject of the engraving he had . shown them had done. The owner of that ram had lately refused L 1,500 for a relation of the same animal, and the same man got 3s. 2d. for his wool and 2s. for his pieces. He could not then give the price obtained for fleeces from this flock,, but would write to the Australasian for the weight and price, and failing that ■- source, to the producers themselves, with whom he was well acquainted. Mr. Brown thought it was mora profit able to keep a sheep for one year and sell it for mutton at the end of that time, after one clip. Long-woolled sheep, taken, fleece for fleece were more profitable than’ •- merinos, and best he thought for the general run of farmers. Mr. Oliver said they were drifting away from the subject oh which he had written. He had dealt with sheep breeding—not sheep farming. Another time, if they wished, he would write on sheep farming, and deal with what was most profitable for the general run of farmers, but that night the subject of his paper was Ho was quite prepared to allow that long woolled sheep were perhaps the best for the farmer, but not long-woolled mongrels.; Mr. Lewis mentioned a case in which a farmer had bought aflock of gummy ewes

THE ASHBUETON GUARDIAN, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1880.



The national mutual life ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRAL ASIA (LIMITED). Established 1869. Actuary and Secretary —J; M. Templeton, F.I.A, The MOST LIBERAL and EQUIT ABLE OFFICE for Life Assurance in the Australasian Colonies/; The - best' office for young men. Profits divided every three years. Offices in Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Wellington, and Hobart Town. The New Zealand Branch—A LOCAL INSTITUTION, investing all moneys in the colony. Resident : Secretary:—Thomas Swain, Temple Chambers,' Featherston street, Wellington. Agent for the .County of Ashburton— S. SAUNDERS (of the firm of Saunders Bros.), Ashburton. Note the name—The National Mutual. 1690-218 c THE NEW ZEALAND LOAN AND MERCANTILE AGENCY COMPANY .(LIMITED). . • ‘ ■ WOOL SEASON—IBBO-1881. SPECIAL NOTICE TO SHEEP FARMERS. THE Company makes LIBERAL CASH ADVANCE.'! on WOOL entrusted to its care for sale in the London market. This being one of the leading depart ments of the Company’s business, and an expert and practical staff being employed by its London House especially to superin tend the classification, valuation, and dis posal of wool consignments, growers may rely upon their clips being carefully handled and placed to the best advan tage. Further information may be .obtained upon application at the Company’s office, Cathedral Square, Christchurch. 283 g fJjO OUR SUBSCRIBERS- This journal, and the evening paper published from the same office, having changed hands, the new proprietary con sider it advisable to amalgamate the two, discontinuing the morning issue and pub lishing the Guardian in its present form every evening, reducing its price to one penny ; and the change will therefore take place from this issue. This step is taken with a view to concentrating the efforts of tho staff, which were somewhat divided and weakened by their attention being required to two papers ; and it is calculated that the production of a good evening paper will meet the wishes of both our subscribers and our advertising patrons, whose support we hope td' continue to merit. : It is generally allowed, that an evening publication is the newspaper most suited to the circumstances of .this colony, and in this district the railway and mail arrangements; are now of such a character as to favor admirably the penetration of the whole district easily. The amalgama tion will give the united issue a large circulation, combining as it will the town and country subscribers of the two papers, and making the Guardian a first-class advertising medium, commanding a pub licity in Ashburton County that no other journal can possibly provide. The early hour in the evening at which the telegraph offices close in country towns makes it impossible for a country morning paper to compete with the papers published in the larger towns, but there is no such difficulty in the way of an evening paper, and the Guardian will be able to give its readers the latest telegrams up to the hour of going to press. The Guardian’s character will be in no way changed. It will still devote that at tention to the agricultural interest that it has hitherto, and will still endeavor to make itself a welcome guest in. the home stead and the cottage. Tho editorship will remain in the hands of the gentleman who has conducted it since its commencement, and everything will be the same as before as far as pos sible, beyond, of course, the evening in stead of the morning issue, and the pro prietary trust that tho change will be quite acceptable to the many friends who have so loyally supported it during the first twelvemonths of its existence, J. MACLEAN DUNN, Printer and Publisher.