are.told by a meagre telegram on the sub ject that the Charles Edward just managed to back out of the pass in time to allow the advancing Grafton to emerge into clear water. As we have already stated, the pass is one in which, should an acci dent occur, almost inevitable death would wait upon the passengers of the colliding vessels, and now that the occurrence of two hair-breadth escapes within a few days of each other has shown that the un expected collision may happen at any moment, it would be ■well that the marine authorities should give thought to the framing of rules for the guidance of vessejs using the pass, the observance of which rules would save the occurrence of as dire a calamity as can be well imagined.

THE FARMER.

CANTERBURY HAS A FINE WOOL GROWING COUNTYB. [ln reply to numerous inquiries as to which breeds of sheep are the best suited for Canterbury farmers, we give below, as supplementary to the “sheep-breeding” article by the “Plains Farmer” in our last issue, a letter written by Mr. D. Oliver, of Westcrfield, to a Chr;stchurch paper in 1876, and which speaks for itself.] Sin, —I recently read, with great in terest, a paper by J. T. Ford, Esq., on the management and breeding of sheep which appeared in your columns some time ago. It is evident that Mr. Ford must have bestowed considerable care and trouble in the collecting of such an amount of valuable information as is con veyed in his paper, and it is therefore with regret that I, in common with a number of old Australians, see that he has, in my opinion, fallen into an error very common in Canterbury, namely, the belief that the improved Australian merino, the most valuable sheep of its kind in the world, is not the best adapted for this country, as it is not likely to retain its high intrinsic qualities here. This opinion of Mr. Ford’s, published as it is to-the world, many besides myself will consider rather unfortunate, coming as it does from a gentleman known to be one of the best judges of sheep _ in the colony, as undue weight will be given to it by. a great many breeders, thereby re tarding lire premier industry of the colony, viz., the growing of fine wool, in one of the most favoured fine wool-grow ing countries in the world. I think that if Mr. Ford had experi enced the varying vicissitudes of a number of seasons in Australia, and witnessed their effects on stock, he would form a much higher estimate of the value of the natural pastures and climate of New Zea land, particularly that of the Canterbury plains. The climate and pastures of Can terbury are eminently suited for the merino sheep. Clad in its dense yolky coat, it is quite proof against any climatic change which takes place in this country, up to an altitude of 2000 f t; and, in fact, from the sea level to the line of perpetual snow, wherever there can be found suffi cient food for their support, they will be fou; d to be the hardiest and most valuable animals that the grazier can beconie pos sessed of, except in heavy damp soil ; and even there, after drainage and laying down of English grasses, they would suc ceed if an adjoining piece of shingle bank could be afforded them to preserve their feet, and provide a dry bed at night, and they would, in a country where meat can be procured in such excessive propor tions to the wants of the population, give - < rguch better returns for actual food con jßjfcSrnsed and other expenses incurred, than v any other domestic animal. I do not ; mean this to apply to the wretched mongrel merino so often seen in New Zea land, bred out and out till its own grand mother would not know it, but to the same animal skilfully bred and liberally fed. Mr. Ford believes that the native pastures of Canterbury, from fheir coarse ness, would produce coarse wool. This idea receives no support from modern physiologists who have made sheep and wool subjects for study, and my own ob servation, extending to nearly a quarter of a century with merinos, leads me to the opposite conclusion ; fatness, however superinduced, brings about coarseness of fibre, and leanness the reverse. Coarse pastures are not so conducive to fatness as fine therefore not so liable to produce coarse wool. The best condition a sheep can be in for producing fine wool is what we call good store condition. Canter- • bury, wisely stocked, is the best place I have yet seen for keeping np this desir- i able condition, and the tendency of the climate, though unappreciable for a long time, will be to give the Aus- ’ tralian merino increased density and fine- i ness of fleece. It is agreed by the best 1 modern writers on the merinos that with ] common care they will thrive and retain s their fineness under all parallels of lati tude, from the burning sun of the tropics < to the frozen regions of Norway. Tas- 1 mania, which is in the same latitude as 1 Canterbury, produces some of the most 1 valuable sheep in the world, ■ as instance < the ram Sir Thomas, bred by Mr. James 1 Gibson, which was sold some time ago to ‘ the Messrs. Gumming, of Victoria, for the ‘ unprecedentedly high sum of L 714 ; and i in August last the same breeder sold in ! Melbourne 49 rams and 30 ewes- even in : this bad season—for the handsome total i of L 3,601 10s. Silesia and Saxony, in J Europe, in latitude 51deg., are from seven 1 to eight degrees further from the equator 1 than Christchurch, and those countries, as '< everyone knows, produced some of the i finest merino wool ; and in Sweden, as 1 far north as 60deg., Mr. Lastyree states ’ that he had an opportunity of comparing i a flock of merinos, which had been in that 1 country for fifty years, with a flock of new 1 arrivals, and he found that the wool of • the old stagers was fully as good as that of the newly imported ones. Many years after the merinos were brought to Eng- \ land, their wool w.is compared with the best samples of wool direct from Spain, ; and Youattsays that “it yielded not to them in fineness of felting quality.” The same authority states that in Ireland the quality of the merino wool improved rather than deteriorated. In 1819, the clip of the Nowlan was G-ilb. at 35., amounting to 19s. Gd. per sheep, and it would appear that Randall and others, who have studied the physiology of wool, have, without doubt, arrived at a just and correct conclusion when they assert that wool on the living animal becomes finer in cold and coarser in fine climates. This applies to the hair of other animals as well. Whoever heard of men going to hot countries in quest of fine furs ! Mr. Weld, an intelligent and experienced sheep farmer, writes of the climate as fol lows :—“ The climate of New Zealand, though one of the most variable within certain limits, is, at the same time, ' perhaps the most strictly temperate, both in summer and winter, of any in the 1 world. As a natural consequence | the growth of grass is never sufii- ' ciently checked to affect seriously the condition of stock. There are no ■ prejudicial extremes of heat or cold, and it naturally results that the increase of a 1 flock is more rapid than is usual in the neighboring colonies, whilst the stock are ; at a|l times in high and thriving condi- regard to sheep, this mani- 1 XAgHptself not only by the early age at TPJRnTthey are fit for the butcher, but by : : the length and soundness of the fibre of the wool, and the consequent weight and 1 quality of the fleece. In New South ; Wales 2£lhs. of wool is’ a high average yield for sheep ; in New Zealand a well- : bred merino flock, on a good run, will fully average 41bs. With regard to the quality of the staple, I have the authority ! of some of the first English brokers for i

speaking of it in the highest terms. As yet it has not fetched prices equal to those of the first-class New South Wales wool, because sheep farming being yet in its infancy in New Zealand, the flocks are in most cases of a mixed description, and the sorting and getting up of the wool have not hitherto been sufficiently at tended to.” . If the last three winters are fair samples of the seasons in Canterbury, Mr. Weld’s opinion may be endorsed by anyone who has made the management of sheep his study, and to his remarks on the quality.of climate and feed there need be nothing more added, but that the geolo gical formation, and hydrographical sys tem of Canterbury combine to form one of the soundest sheep countries in the world, and its soil, which is purely sili cious, is of that description which has been proved to be the best for soft fine wool growing. Mr. Ford's paper on sheep being a com prehensive one, precluded him from say ing much about any one breed of sheep. I will, therefore, with your permission, say a few words in behalf of the merino and its value for crossing. We have the written authority of several ancient writers to prove that they existed as a fine wool breed long anterior to the Christian era : indeed, its history runs back into the bane of the remotest antiquity. The belief that they were improved by coarse sheep, from Africa is not grounded on any well authenticated authority, and it would be quite as easy to believe that copper would improve the value of gold as to believe that a union with any sheep) ever found in Africa could improve themeiino. That some breeders may have attempted to do it is very probable ; we can scarcely concede more judgment to the ancienis than we take to ourselves, and to this day some flock owners are to be found who be lieve they can form an intermediate breed of a fixed type between English sheep and merinos ; but should they pursue it for a lifetime, they will at the end exclaim, like Bolon oii, “it is all vanity and vexation

of spirit,” the ancient blood of the merino utterly refusing to ally itself permanently midway with that of any coarse breed on earth, least of all with that of the artificial Ei 'glish sheep of yesterday. There is, how ever a safe and profitable course to follow when tbestockownsrhas a flock of indiffer ent ir erino ewes, from which he would rather not t ilce another merino lamb, that is, to put out with them Lincoln or Leicester ra’ns, as pure as can be got in England. The cross thus got will, in proportion as the merinos are uniform, have wool of a uniform character, and highly valuable from the scarcity of it. The value of such wool for certain manufactures may be in ferred from the fact of a lady in England having spun, from a single pound of it, 95i miles of thread, which proves that it rn:st possess great strength and fineness. The animal itself will thrive well on the native pastures of Canterbury, but, on such feed, to make one more cross towards the English sheep would be to commit an e-gegious error, and every other move in the same direction would hut intensify that ciror. To breed back again to the merino would be an absurdity, so the only wise < uirse would be to exclude the ewes from breeding altogether, just taking their wool yearly till they become rf age to bo sold with the wethers to the butcher. This is the full extent to which anyone can cross with profit on the indigenous pastures of this country, and those who are making wool growing their business would be wise never to 'produce a coarser fibre, except on Ibe small flock of pure English sheep kept for producing this cross. The dispropor tion between the j’»opulation of this island a*'d the meat raised in it is very great, and wjU continue to be so long after the present occupiers have taken leave of sub • mcry affairs. What then can be the use of rearing, at great cost, a huge animal for li e melting pot, requiring, during his life, twenty times more attention than the ? lerluo, and at least double the money in fences ? And if the owner does not pay costs of attendance in shape of wages, he p«ys it four-f Id to death, the abnormal structure of the improved English sheep ; endoriug him incapable of getting up off’ bis own back, on to which he seems to lave an irresistible tendency to turn. And it must also be remembered that his coarse wool has to find a market in the coarse wool growing countries of the world, where there is already abundance of it f row-'. It has been accurately ascertained that sheep consume food, in proportion to fheir live weight ; thus rue sheep whose live weight is 2001bs, will consume exactly as much food as two sheep of lOOlbs each. J’i point of meat the large animal may give rs good return for food consumed as the •Iwo smaller ones, but the wool growing ®utface on the smaller ones will be very • > uch greater than on the large one ; ami I - it wool, if grown with judgment, tan be much more valuable per pound, as the small sheep may be good merinos or the first cross from them. Tutting cross-bred rams to cross-bred ewes with the hopes of having anything but a progeny showing extreme varia bility, is an unqualified'absurdity, and the same applies to the indiscriminate use of various descriptions of rams of the same ''■reed, expecting to have uniform wool or sheep. The merino has an almost un conquerable tendency to breed back, and tl'is tendency requires much care in management, even when rams of a uni form. character are constantly used, and the breeding directed by a single intelli gent will. What, then, can be expected when Tom, Dick, and Harm's rams, along with their advice, are used alternately, a'd the annual classing of the ewes a thing unheard-of ? This practice, I be lieve, is too common in this country, as wel 1 as in the Australian colonies, and t’-Is brings me to a vital part of my letter, ■ip-nely, the reason why some stock-hold ers in Australia can sell their clips even at this bad season to figures ranging beyond three shillings per pound, when their nearest neighbors, in many instances, r...n hardly get two shillings for theirs. Now these neighbors are in possession of precisely the same kind of country, the •.leridiaiial or latitudinal difference between them amounting in many in duces to no more than the thickness of a w ire fence. These men started at the same time, and with the same kind of stock as the good, breeders, and if those writers who lay so much stress on climate wore correct, we would expect, knowing that beginnings were equal on each side of the fence, to find equal results ; or if, as other writers assert, all improvement is io be, attributed to the inherent qualities of the animal changing for the better with changed conditions of life, we would still expect that, from the same beginnings in tbe same locality, the same results would ultimately accrue. Lat such is clearly not the case in Australia, as anyone at vey little expense can prove for himself. To what influence, then, is the world in debted for the magnificent sheep and wool produced by such breeders as the Cummings, Dowlings, Currie, and others, of Victoria, and Gibbons and others, of Tasmania 1 Simply to the sound know ledge of those gentlemen, which enabled them to take advantage of the tendency to variability, which is inherent in all re claimed animals, and the directing of this variability in their flecks to the most profitable end by accumulated selection. Hy the repetition of this process in one direction for a number of years, their im proved sheep have now the hereditary power to transmit their good qualities to their offspring, with a force and certainty approaching that of species, and every year this power will become greater, and iheir sheep correspondingly more valuable for improving indifferent stock. The high figures the good breeders of Australia receive for their wool from the British and French manufacturers, the enormous sums they are able to get for

heir sheep, and the high commendation heir wool called forth at the Philadelphia exhibition this year, clearly points out to the intelligent Canterbury breeder that to Australia he must look for his stud stock, and he will be compelled to do so or see himself entirely distanced in the wool markets of the world. The Australian merino has for a long time been improving the flocks of Africa. He is performing the same du :y in the centre of India, and I fearlessly predict that in a very few years, by the proper use of the same animal, some breeders in Canterbury will successfully race the Australian wool growers in the London market. I noticed some very good Australian sheep at Christchurch Show last year, exhibited by -Messrs. Lee and Chapman. I also notice that the Messrs. Parker, of this province, have purchased first-class stud stock in Melbourne a short time ago. These gentlemen are unmistakeably taking “the tide at flood that leads to fortune,” and their spirit in buying such stock will be rewarded in a few years beyond their most sanguine expectations, assuming (and I have no doubt of the fact) that they have the judgment to shape their breeding in the direction the voice of the manufac turing world proclaims to be the right one.—l am, &c. Fine Wool. October 23, 1876.

THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN, THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 1880.



Amusements. FIRST TIME IN NEW ZEALAND ! ! TOWN HALL. THE Amateur Dramatic Club, bavin? obtained special license under the Authors’ Copyright Act, WILL PERFORM, ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, April 2 and 3, The Nautical Drama entitled “ASHORE AND AFLOAT, 1 ' With a magnificent cast of 25 characters, accompanied with 17 sets of splendid scenery. Full particulars in handbills. Admission—Front seats, 35.; bade, 25.; gallery, Is. Doors open at 7.30 ; commence at 8. G64g H. Matson and Co. TO-MORROW, FRIDAY, APRIL 2, 1880. CLEARING SALE. ASHBURTON SALE YARDS. Horses, Cattle, Reapers and Binders, Drays, Harrows, Horse-power Chaff-cutter, etc., etc. Double - furrow (Reid and Gray’s) Plough, Harness, etc. Messrs, h. matson & co. (in conjunction with Messrs. Friedlander Bros.) have received instructions from the Administrator of the Estate of the late Mr. John Joyce, TO SELL BY PUBLIC AUCTION, ON FRIDAY, APRIL 2, 1880, At 12 o’clock sharp, . At the Ashburton Yards (Removed for convenience of sale), 11 draught mares and geldings, guaranteed staunch ; 2 two-year colts, 9 yearling fillies by Glen roy, 1 yearling colt by Glenroy, 2 draught foals by Prince Royal, 2 hacks, C dairy cows, 2 calves and 1 bull, 2 reapers and binders by McCormick, in good order ; 1 reaper, G fans by Hornby, 3 drays, 2 sets harrows, 1 wooden roller, shaft and leading harness, 1 horse-x)ower and chaff-cutter, nearly new ; 2 double-furrow ploughs, Reid and Gray , plough harness, etc., etc.; 74 head of fat and stoie cattle, mostly three year old steers ; and other articles too numerous too par ticularise. The Auctioneers would draw the atten tion of farmers and others to the above sale, as the horses, cattle, and implements are really very good. Remember day of sale— FRIDAY, APRIL 2, xSSo. Luncheon at half-past eleven. Terms easy, at sale. Sale at 12 sharp. Without reserve. H. MATSON & CO., 638 g Auctioneers. ASHBURTON. GRAEAT CLEARING SALE OF TWO FIRST -CLASS FARMS AND FARM STOCK.



ESSRS H. MATSON & Co. have received instructions from Mr. Benjamin Ede to Sell by Public Auction at his Farm, lh miles from Ashburton, ilia x'cU.ilij uiii«a iiuiii -rvaiiuui L.UU, ON FRIDAY, APRIL 9th, 1860, 1 5 draught mares and geldings, in cluding prize-takers; draught stallion Heather Jock, good stock getter and excellent worker; several farm drays, Yankee wagon, a very large quantity of first-class chicken wheat, 100 w r ell-bred pigs (extra good), 75 head of cattle including milch cows, springers, and fat and store young cattle ; 1,100 sheep, store ewes and wethers, and a large number of sundries, too numerous to particu larise ; harrows, ploughs, harness, etc., etc. Also, at the same time and place, Seaßeld Farm, containing 234 acres of very good agricultural tnral land, situated in the Waka nui district, sub-divided into two paddocks, securely fenced, w r ell watered, and all in stubble. Terms easy at sale. Also, under instructions from Messrs. C'ark and Ede, they are autho rised to sell that splendid farm lately the property of Mr. James Johnstone, and known as Rox burgh, and situated on the Ash burton Forks, and containing 230 acres. Roxburgh Farm, if well looked after and tilled pro perly, is the best 230 acres in the Upper Ashburton. Terms easy at sale. Land sale takes place at 1 o’clock. Lun cheon at 11 o’clock. Clearing sale at 12 o’clock sharp. H. MATSON & CO., 63Gg Auctioneers. Amateur gardeners should read the instructions on gardening in the “Ashburton’ Guardian” every month, by a professional gardener. TTTANTED, a strong BOY, accustomed W to horses, and to be generally useful. Apply Herald Office. 666a-253c CHINIQUY’S LECTURES.—Just Ar rived, New Edition H. M. Jones, ailng Square. ITTANTED KNOWN—That Visiting vv Cards, plain or mourning, can be obtained printed in various styles, at the “Herald” and “Guardian” offices, near the Rai i,r ay Station LABOURERS requiring work can secure first opening by applying early at Herald Registry Office, on pay ment of Is.



Robert Wilkin and Co- IMPORTANT CLEARING SALE AT CHERT S E Y. TO-MORROW, FRIDAY, 2nd APRIL, At Eleven o’clock sharp. R OBERT WILKIN & Co. have received instructions from George King, Esq. to OFFER FOR SALE, At his Farm on the Beach Road (2lr miles from the Ohertsey railway station), As above, The following



LIVE AND DEAD STOCK, HORSES (Draught Stock), 1 grey mare Jess, 6yrs, stinted to Lord Castlereagh I' grey mare Grace, 7yrs, stinted to Lord Castlereagh 1 bay mare Duchess, 7yrs, stinted to Lord Castlereagh 1 brown filly, Beauty, 3yrs, stinted to Lord Castlereagh 1 grey filly, 3yrs, stinted to Prince of Kilbride 1 bay mare Violet, syrs, stinted to Prince of Kilbride 1 chestnut mare Madam, 3yrs, stinted to Prince of Kilbride 1 bay mare Maggie, 7yrs, stinted to Prince of Kilbride 1 chestnut mare Pollie, syrs, stinted to Prince of Kilbride 1 black mare, aged, stinted to Young Watty 1 chestnut mare, syrs, stinted to Young Watty 1 bay mare Rhoda, aged 1 grey gelding Duncan, 6yrs 1 grey gelding Major, 7yrs 1 grey gelding Don, 7yrs 1 bay gelding John, syrs 1 bay gelding Prince 6yrs 1 bay gelding Punch, 4yrs 1 chestnut gelding Tom, 4yrs 1 bay gelding Dick, aged 1 black gelding Darkie, aged 1 black gelding Tommy, 4yrs HACKS. 1 bay gelding Sailor Boy, aged 1 grey gelding, broken to saddle and harness 1 cream gelding Creamy, broken to saddle and harness 4 other young horses, draught and light 1 milch cow IMPLEMENTS. 1 Eansome, Sims, and Head 3-furrow plough 1 Ransome, Sims, and Head 2-furrow plough 1 Hornsby 2-furrow plough 1 Hornsby 1-furrow plough 3 Osborne self-binders 1 seed-drill 1 set wooden harrows 1 set iron harrows, 20ft. 1 set tripod harrows 2 Cambridge rollers 2 drays and frames, new Buggy and harness 2 chaffcutters 1 seufHer Iron tanks A large assortment of plough, leading, and shaft harness, all nearly new Also, sundry other things, too numer ous to mention Also, On account of Mr. W. Hartnell, 1000 mixed merino and cross-bred ewes, excellent stores for turnip ing. Luncheon provided. Terms at sale. 2640 Business Notices.



Guns! Guns! Guns! POWDER. SHOT. CAPS. 088 AND CO. AYE now on hand a very fine assortment of BREECHLOADING DOUBLE AND SINGLE-BARREL GUNS, And as these have been imported direct from the manufacturers, we are prepared to Sell at the most Reasonable Prices — From £2 10s. to £25. ORR AND CO. 2G5g JOSEPH WARD, FAMILY BUTCHER, Wakantji Road, near Post Office, IS A CASH PURCHASER of POULTRY and NATIYE GAME, which will be sold at Reasonable Prices, at his Shop, near Post Office. 2C6a Lost. TEN SHILLINGS REWARD. LOST from Ashburton, Bay Hack MARE, Branded S near shoulder, wart on near flank. Apply, E. Cook son, Livery Stables, Ashburton. 2620 NOTICE. ALL Horses and Cattle running on the Buccleugh Estate will be pounded after April sth. 263 a J. E. TAYLOR. McSHERRY DRILLS. A SHIPMENT of these celebrated Drills is expected shortly to arrive. They will range in width from 6 feet 6 inches (12 Hoppers) to 10 feet (17 Hoppers). Orders taken by the undersigned, FREDK. PAVITT, Ashburton, For the SOLE AGENT, JOHN ANDERSON, S46a Canterbury Foundry.



Public Notices. ACLAND, CAMPBELL, AND CO., Auctioneers, Land, Stock, and General Agents. WOOL AND GRAIN BROKERS. Christchurch, Ashburton, and South bridge. We beg to inform our constituents and the public that we have made arrange ments with Mr. W. R. Boyle to take charge of our Ashburton Branch, and to act as our Agent there. Mr. Boyle will make arrangements for Sales of Stock, Farms, &c., and is au horised to receive and pay all moneys on our behalf. The fortnightly Sales of Stock, &c., at Ashburton and Tinwald, will be held as heretofore. Account Sales rendered with care and promptitude. ACLAND CAMPBELL, & CO. W. R. BOYLE, 228c-652q Ashburton. Y. R. OFFICE OF THE REGISTRAR OF ELECTORS. Ashburton, March 10th, 1880. "JjIORMS of application to be placed on the Electoral Roll of the Coleridge Dis trict can bo obtained at this Office. C. PERCY COX, 627 a Registrar of Electors. RE JAMES STEVENS’ BANKRUPT ESTATE, ALFORD FOREST. ALL persons indebted to the above estate will require to pay their ac counts at once to Mr. John McDonald, at the Store, Alford Forest, whose receipt will be sufficient. All accounts not paid on or before the 12th April will be sued for without further notice. ANDREW ORR, 624 g Trustee. v R LAND TAX ACT 1878. SECTION 45. VALUATION FOR NEW ZEALAND.



CANTERBURY DISTRICT. NOTICE WHEN LAND TAX IS PAYABLE. IATOTICE is hex-eby given, that in pur- J3I suance of the 45th section of the Lands Tax Act, 1878, the Land Tax for the Land Tax District of Canterbury will be payable on the first day of April next, and that the same must be paid to the Collectors appointed to receive the same at the following places, at the time set opposite each : Date; Ist April 1880, and following days. Hours : 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and on Saturdays 10 a.m. to 12 noon. Borough of Ashburton and County of Ashburton. Postmaster, Ashburton. E. C. LATTER, Deputy Commissioner.- Date—llth March, 1880. 604 g GRAIN. ROYSE, STEAD, & CO. are prepared to PURCHASE GRAIN or to make ADVANCES ON GRAIN consigned to them for sale or ship ment. C. PERCY COX, Agents for ROYSE, STEAD, & CO., 493 g Ashburton. Lost. A Brown Mare PONY, about 13 hands high, no brand visible. Finder will be rewarded upon giving information to 659 g SAUNDERS BROS. lOST, between Mount Somers and Valetta Station, on Saturday last, a PURSE containing two one pound notes, 15s. in silver, and a cheque, No. D 7061, on the Union Bank of Australia for £9 2s. 6d., drawn by J. Hood in favor of Mrs. Cox, dated 27th March, payment of which has been stopped. Anyone bring ing the same to Mr. Hood, Mount Somers, or Mr. Gavin, Ashburton, will be re warded. C67g-254c Tenders, MOUNT SOMERS ROAD BOARD. TENDERS. TENDERS are invited for the following works : Contract No. 3—Ashburton Gorge road—Formation, metalling, &c., 21 chains. Contract No. 4—Township road—Re formation, &c., 138| chains. Contract No. s—Boundary road— Cuttings, ford, Ac., 6 chains. Tenders, endorsed with the name and number of the work, to be sent in, addressed to the Chairman, on or before noon on MONDAY, April 5, 1880. The lowest or any tender not necessarily • accepted. C. J. WENTWORTH COOKSON, Jun., Clerk to the Mount Somers 665 g Road Board. NEW PRINTING MACHINERY, FOR JpRINTING LADIES’ AND GENTLEMEN’S VISITING CARDS FROM COPPER PLATE. Specimens and prices on application at the EVENING HERALD AND GUARDIAN OFFICES, Saunders’ Buildings, ASHBURTON.



Building Materials. Ashburton steam saw mills SASH AND DOOR MANUFACTORY. ! G. PARKIN, Proprietor, BUILDER AND CONTRACTOR. ' Moore Street, ! Every description of Timber and Budding i Materials in Stock and supplied on most reasonable terms. Plans prepared and Estimates Given on tl e shortest notice. 2G Business Notices. BREAD!BREAD! Co-operative Bread and Biscuit Factory. Triangle, Wakanui Road, Ashburton. A. THIE LE, 1 >EGS to inform the public that he is ■“ " now in a position to SUPPLY BEST BREAD, 6d. per 41b. loaf, unsur passed. Delivered daily to all parts of the Borough, also, Confectionery, &c. Mixed Biscuits reduced from Is. to Bd. per lb. Wedding Cakes made to Order. 986a-5700 TO FARMERS, LIVERY STABLE KEEPERS, SPORTING MEN, AND OTHERS OWNING HORSES. GEORGE KIDD, Moore Street, BEGS to announce the fact that the PRICE for SHOEING hacks and light draught HORSES is now REDUCED to 7a. per set, and that all horses of this description will be specially attended to by himself. Horses liable to cut are shod on a prin ciple of George Kidd’s own invention, which has proved an effectual cure for brushing. All kinds of blacksmith’s work, and repairs to agricultural machinery of any description done on the shortest notice. GEORGE KIDD, 7oc-526a Moore street, Ashburton. FARMERS ! FARMERS ! FARMERS ! R. McKERROW AND CO., RE Cash Purchasers of Wool, Grain, and all kinds of Farm Produce, and are also prepared to make Liberal CASH ADVANCES on the above placed in their hands either for sale or shipment to the English or Colonial Markets. A Large Stock of Cornsacks, Wool packs, &c., for sale at lowest current prices. R. McKERROW & CO., GRAIN MERCHANTS, RAKALA. 60 Educational. GOODGER begs to inform the Ladies of Ashburton that she opens a Private School on MONDAY, March 15, at Mr. Jones’, Stationer, Baring square. Terms : English One Guinea. French ~ Music ... ... ~ Referees : The Very Revd. Dean of Christchurch, and J. P. Restell, Esq. 124c-sG9ct Conveyances. THE LONGBEACH COACH ! GEORGE WILLCOCKS respectfully acknowledges the liberal support which lie has received during the short j time his Coach has been running, and solicits a continuance of the same. The fares by Willcocks’ coach are exactly 3d. per mile ordinary fares, and lsd. per mile for Saturday return. They are as under— ' Longbeach to Ashburton, ordinary 55., return Bs. Waterton to Ashburton, 3s. Cd. ordi nary, 6s. return. Ashton to Ashburton, 3s. ordinary, ss. return.



Wheatstone to- Ashburton, 2s. 6d. ordinary, 4s. return. SINGLE FARE RETURN ON SATURDAYS. The coach leaves the Boohing Office, Quill’s Commercial Hotel, each day at 3.15 j Post Office, 3.30. 292 u ECOOKSON, Wills Street, runs the . MAIL COACH from Ashburton Railway Station to Green Street, Alford Forest, and Mount Somers, every Tuesday and Friday, returning Wednesday and Saturday at 3 p.m. For Sale. LAND. LAND. ESS RS. POY NT Z & CO. have received instructions to OFFER FOR SALE BY PRIVATE TREATY, AN UNIMPROVED FARM of 400 Acres, in one or two lots. The land is of fair quality and situated within four miles of a Railway Station on the main line 197« ADVERTISEMENTS received for the GUARDIAN up to 9 p.m. at the scale charges, afterwards at double rates or insertion over the leader



Business Notices. TO FARMERS. rjpilE undersigned are CASH BUYERS Of Wheat and other Grain, or will make LIBERAL ADVANCES On shipments to London on grower’s account. DEERING’S TWINE BINDER. NOTICE TO FARMERS. 'yy'E have this day APPOINTED MESSRS. FRIED LANDER BROS. SOLE AGENTS for the DEERING TWINE BINDER for the county of Ashburton. MASON STRUTHERS & CO. Christchurch 10th. February, 1880. 0 The Deering Twine Binder AWARDED GOLD MEDAL At Ashburton, six machines competing. THE DEERING TWINE BINDER took the SPECIAL PRIZE at the Oamaru trial etc. JJAYING been appointed sole agents for the above machines, we are now prepared to TAKE ORDERS for the



coming season. As only a LIMITED NUMBER can be supplied, all who wish to make certain of securing those favorite machines fo next season should order before the depar ture of next San Francisco Mail. FRIEDLANDER B R P. S AGENTS FOR THE COLONIAL FIRE AND MARINE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW ZEALAND SOLE AGENTS FOR THE CELEBRATED ALTHOUSE SELF - REGULATING WINDMILLS.



Business Notices. VALUE EXTRAORDINARY. THE Great Bargains OF THE SEASON. GREAT CLEARANCE SALE FOR THIRTY DAYS. ORE AND CO. HAVING - resolved to clear out the Balance of the Bankrupt Stocks purchased by them during the Season (amounting to over ten thousand pounds) regardless of cost so that they may commence the Autumn Season with en tirely a new Stock, ORE, AND CO. Will also offer several cheap lots pur chased by them during the late depression. Special Bargains. 90 Pair Twilled Kaiapoi Blankets at 4s. under the usual price. Kaiapoi Flannel at Is. 4d., Is, 6d. to 2s. English Flannel at Is., Is. 2d., Is. 6d., to Is. 9d. Prints at sd. and 6d., worth 9d. Brown Hollands, 7d. to Is. COSTUMES, 56 Costumes at 215., worth 355. 6d., a Ba; gain. 64 Print Costumes at 7s. 6d. to 12s. 6d., worth 20s. 1700 yards Dress Goods, Alpaccas, at Bd., lOd., and Is. MILLINERY. Trimmed and Untrimmed Hats- at half price. 2 Boxes Flowers, sold at 6d. per spray. Ladies’ Underclothing at very much under usual prices. 20 Dozen Stays at 3s. 6d., 45., 4s. 9d.. to ss. 6d. CLOTHING. Men’s Suits at 15s. under usual prices. Boys’ Suits at 15s. 6d. to 355. Youth’s Suits at a little over half-price. Braces, Ties, Collars, Socks, and Shirts, unusually cheap. 20 Dozen Harvest Shirts at Is. 6d. to 2s, 6d. BOOTS Men’s Boots still sold at Bankrupt prices. Youth’s Boots in great variety. Ladies’ Kid Boots at old prices. . 1 Case Children’s Boots at Is. and Is. 6d., a bargain. TAILORING DEARTMENT. WE HAVE MUCH PLEASURE IN ANNOUNCING TO THE PUBLIC THAT A Tailoring Branch HAS BEEN OPENED IN CON NECTION WITH OUR CLOTHING DEPARTMENT, HAVING MADE ARRANGEMENTS WITH MESSRS. CRAIGHEAD AND CO. (LATE OF EDINBURGH AND SAN FRANCISCO), PRACTICAL TAILORS. TO MAKE UP ALL ORDERS EN TRUSTED TO US IN THE VERY BEST STYLE. A PERFECT FIT GUARANTEED. SCOTCH, ENGLISH, and COLONIAL TWEEDS IN GREAT VARIETY. THE CELEBRATED BLARNEY TWEED (CORK) KEPT IN STOCK. FANCY COATINGS IN GREAT VARIETY, SUITS from £ I 4s. DRESSMAKING DEPARTMENT. Dresses, Costumes, and Jackets made up to order, under the superintendence of a first-class Dressmaker. WEDDING & MOURNING ORDERS PUNCTUALLY ATTENDED TO, ORE AND CO. IMPORTERS ASHBURTCN AND RAKAIA,