SHIPPING.

POUT OP LYTTELTON. Arrived. Yesterday. Go-Ahead, s.s., from Kekeranga. Tui, s.s., from Boat Harbor. To-day. Wanaka, s.s, from Wellington. Sailed. Yesterday. Waratah, barque, for Hobart Town. Tui, s.s., for Kaikoura and Wellington. To-day. Wanaka, s.s., for Akaroa and Dunedin, Go-Ahead, s. s., for Wellington. Star of the South, s.s., from Westport. SHIPPING TELEGRAMS. Auckland, Yesterday. Sailed—Hero, s.s., for Melbourne, via Greymouth and Hokitika. New Plymouth, Yesterday. The s.s. Hawea arrived at 5 a.m., and left for Nelson and Southern ports ; at 10 a.m. Wellington, Yesterday. Arrived —Taiaroa, s. s., from the South; Grafton, from Nelson. Sailed —Charles Edward, for Nelson. Timaru, Yesterday. Arrived— Nightingale; brigantine, and Hannah Barrett, schooner, from Kaipara. Port Chalmers, Yesterday.

Arrived—Tararua, s.s. . from the Bluff; Eingarooma, from the North ; Loonariga, barque from Hobart Town. Melbourne, Yesterday. Arrived —Albion, s.s., from the Bluff. London, Nov. 22. Arrived —Remington, from Lyttelton.

MAIL NOTICES.

Mails close at the Ashburton Post Office, as follows :

For Christchurch and North at 5.30 a.m. 10 a. m., and sp. m., daily. For Ghertsey Rakaia, &c., at 10 a.m. and 5 p. m. daily. \ For Dunedin, Tinwald, Winslow, Hinds, ©oldstream, Rangitata, Orari, Winchester, and Geraldine, at 10 a.m. daily. For Temuka, at 6 a.m. and 10 a.m., daily. .. >; For Timaru and South, at 6 a.m., 10 a.in., and 4.20 p;m., daily. - For Greenstreet, Ashburton Forks, Mount Somers, and Ashburton Gorge, on Tuesdays and Fridays, at 10.30 a m. !' For Ashton, Waterton and Longbeach, at 4.30. p.m. daily. For Wakanui, Elgin, and Seafield, on Tuesdays and Fridays, at 6 a. m.

Mails arrive at the Ashburton Post Office r

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

DAILY MEMORANDA.

AUCTION SALES. Saturday, November 27. Quill and Co.— Usual Weekly Sale, at their rooms and yards, at 12 o’clock. Monday, November. 22. Quill and Co., at Hood’s Yards, Mount Somers, at 12 o’clock —Land, Cattle, Horses, Sheep, Pigs, Poultry, &c. MEETINGS, AMUSEMENTS, &c. To-Night, Thursday, November 25. Thistle Lodge, Monthly Meeting, at the Masonic Hall. Saturday, November 27. Ashburton Trotting Club, Committee Meeting, 7.30 p.m. ' Monday, November 29. Eire Brigade, Meeting of Committee, at Lieut. Dolman’s, at 7.30 p.m. Mount Somers Road Board, Monthly Meeting. Borough Council, at Borough Council Chambers, at 7 o’clock. Wednesday, December 1. Ashburton Town Hall Company, Meeting of Shareholders, Town Hall, at 8 p. m. Tuesday, November 30., Masonic Ball, in the Town Hall, to com mence at 8.30. Wednesday, December 'B. Local Industries Association, Monthly Meeting. .

TRAVELLERS’ GUIDE.

Trains Leave Ashburton for Christ church and intermediate stations at G a.in.., 10.30 a.m., and (Express) 5.48 p.m. Trails Leave Ashburton for Timaru and South, at 7 a.m., 10.36 a.m. (Ex press), and 4.50 p.m. —the latter pro ceeding no farther than Timarn. Trains Arrive at Ashburton from Christchurch at 10 24 a.m. (Express), 4.35 p.m., and 7.50 p.m. Trains Arrive at Ashburton from Timaru and South at 10.15 a.m., 5.34 p.m. (Express), and 8.15 p.m.

TOWN EDITION. [lssued at sp.m. ]

The Ashburton Guardian. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1880. The Tariff Meetings.

The meetings of farmers, merchants, and the general public that have been held this/week, tb be'held, and the’speeches That have; been delivered both at those meetings! and at the County Council, gave a very! clear idea of how public opinion trends: in regard to the railway tariff. The meetings have not been organised as many electioneering and other meetings are, with a view simply to make un popular the particular party or thing they oppose, .and to give license to uncontrolled arid uriweighed declama tion. They have not been held by men opposed to the Government in office, buUby -men, they great majority Of whom recorded' their 'votes ’aV last election to support the Hon. John Hall’s ministry, and who still accord a warm general support to that adminis tration. It must therefore be from a very strong feeling of injustice done and injury suffered that they thus meet together apd denourice -what they feel to be the ode great 'efror made by the party they support. In most things the population of the Ashburton County are with the party in power, but in this thing of-,.the Railway ,-tariff the Hall Miiristry|are|nof receiving ja bitter and 'uncompromising opposition, and that simply because it is a gross blunder that is worse than a crime—a blunder that evidently arises more from ignorance and incpinpet e pcyAhpn /frpm any desire to irijure ‘the agricultural interests of the colony. There is no gainsaying the fact, that upon the plough depends New Zealand’s life; upon the -- facilities ; offend/ to her farmers, and file 1 encouragement given to them to produce grain depend her hope for the future. She has to com pete in this article of grain with the most formidable rival imaginable—the greatest grain producing country in the world. Up to this time she has held her own fairly with the great Continent of America, and has gathered good prices in the •' English I market 'in' the very teeth of American competition. America’s producing power will in time reach its maximum,,. Arid we shall yet get to know all that she can do when at her best, and how much we are re quired to do to maintain our position, against hbrri Tlds'is M’dritidak tinife, 1 and about the worst possible that could have been chosen to cause a single penny more cost to -the producer of grain in his competition with this power. The railway authorities call this new and absurd tariff of theirs a “ tentative” one —tentative, we pre sume, as to how many straws the camel’s back will bear before it reaches the last and breaking point. But it should be remembered,. that, vyitlG America in the market, the colony's; grain-producing is also an experiment, and one that has not been fully solved as to ho\v r far New Zealand .can .depend, with assured results upon her grain ; yet, in this incomplete state of things, Government steps in and does its best to prevent the result, or rather to .bring about a result which Government itself, we feel assured,- would; .only be too sorry to see —ckiriely,’' -New Zealand driven out of the grain market, and England fed on American .wheat,in stead of the breadstiiffs of her own colony. Government want a revenue from the railways, they say, find ing that. Hielr /greatest . railway is derived' froth*the 'carriage of grain, they are short-sighted enough to over look all consideration of the circum stances of agriculture in the colony, and impose a specially high rate on corn. The Government last session were loud in their protestations : 6jT affection for local industry, and their desire to encourage it. They sent their Commission over the land torseeh but the best means of aiding and develop.- ing local industries, and promised to do all in their power to -cultivate, find foster every one that gave a hope of success, and to countenance the introduction of new branches. Re garding the railways as -a local industry they began to do their best to cultivate and prune them. All suckers in the shape 'of.-superfluous officials, unprofitable trains, and other public conveniences that had only public con venience without. remuneration to recommend them" were ’ swept away. And now this newly made pet industry is to be made “highly remunerative but how? At the cost and to the en dangering of the greatest industry of the colony, the one that requires most of all the care and nurture, not of the Government only, but of every man in New Zealand. The railways as a whole dq nqt pay, because they.are, r i|o| workedJmAmsifless pririfciples, /When a man finds his store not yielding revenue to his liking, he does his best to increase his business. He reduces expenses as far as he can with safety, but he also reduces prices, with a view to inducing.business. His profits are less on the articles he sellp, but he dis poses of fnore of them, arid of course finds his profits on the whole increased. His prices are laid on according to an arithmetical and rational scale—if he sells a pound of sugar at 6d., he will sell two at a shilling, and three at

eighteenpencecj j-J-Jjb will not be such a fool as to adopt A- scale, like what Mr. C. P. Cox, in hfs speehli'-.on Tuesday evening, showetl the railway had adopted—rcharge 6d. fdr the first pound, is. jzdj for the secondhand is. sd. for the ..third.' .Yet sortie such absurd principle as this the railway has adopted, and instead of doing their best to increase'' business and revenue, they set about simply trying to see how fair they can play with the colonial estate and the colonial prosperity. We have spoken of America' in this article, and America has, been referred to in the tariff meet ing speeches. - The American railway companies have been lauded for their,, liberality to the farmer in the carriage of his grain, and the great distances for a small ebst that they take his produce.; It is well, however, to add that the’ American Government is at; the bottom of these low figures, and not - the com panies. Numbers of the great-Ameri-' can companies are handsomely sub-/ sidised and endowed by the American Government, both with 1 money hnd' land/ Irion’e crise the line'is allowed three and a half per cent, annually on its cpst,: besides several millions of acres •that were given to it to start. This will easily account for the lowness of their grain tariff/ - .which is also, an induce ment to farmers to buy and settle upon, the land the companies. o\vn,. arid through which their lines run. ' This is how the American: Government aids -in) the'development'of its agriculture, and it is a telling commentary upon the ■ Miserable policy of the rhefiAvho pte-' : tend to guide our railway affairs—and : institute a carriage tariff on a principle that,the,.hurpblest owner of an- orange barrow: would, laugh at. We hope- the farmers ' will agitate this tariff repeal question, and that wherever • art: wince :ofgrain Is grown, meetings expressive' of- 1 the growers’ dissatisfaction ’will 'be' held. Unity is strength, and it will be a bold and a suicidal Government indeed that will dare to brave the opposition .of the whole farming comniqnity united to protest against,a decided and palpable injustice to their best interests, and-the best interests of the colony itself;"' /,

Geraldine. —Mr. 0. G. Tripp has been re-elected Geraldine County Chairman for the third time.

; i Jto«B GILiiES.-LJudge Gillies Arid-Mrs. Gillies are expected- t 6 ■ reach Auckland ■:-. .. . ; ; . I SroRTiNO.-L-A telegram from Dunedin this rooming states that Betrayer and Lure, have .been, scratched,fpr.the, Ifunedin Clip, ' apAßetrayet for' the jockey- Club Handicap.’ : '

Arrival of a New Zb aland.,, Ship.— The Nrivv Zealand , Shipping received : a cable advice'[to-day, informing them of the arrival in the channel :of rthe ship Pareora,-from Timaru. . ,

The Gold Fever. —The Te Aroha rush has. caused a marked diminution ,of the population of Waikato,, and the labor markets are being greatly reduced. Forty people left Cambridge for the diggings in one day.

Good hear tha f attother Good Templar Lodge is about to be formed in the township.' 'Whether the necessity for the new Lodge is a sign pf strength or weakness is-,a The hew swarm is'to coirie' from the Dawn of Peace Lodge. The Mails. —The San Francisco mail, which left New Zealand on October 12th, was delivered in London on November 22rid. The Suez mail, which left Tiondbn on the *22ud October, arrived at King' George’s Sound :in the P. and O. Cob’ Bokhara pivthc 24th of this month: * ■ :T

Landing of the : Governor at Auck- : land: —His Excellency Sir Arthur Gordori landed in Auckland yesterday, 'and was received by the, Ipcal, dignitaries &c., a public demonstration being made in honor of - Ink arrival; Sir Arthur acknowledged the compliment in a short speech. He leaves Auckland for' Wellington, to-mor row, , and will reach the latter port, on Saturday. The County Chairmanship. Mr. Walker has consented to act as Chairman of the County until the end of the year. We hope he will see his way to remain in office for a farther period, as we know no member of the Council better suited for the position or;likely-to secure; the confi dence of the members to a greater extent. .During the time he has been County Chairman he has earned the respect; of all parties/and his withdrawal from the posik tion, for any reason whatever, will, be an absolute loss to the County,

•' The Footpaths. —Tlie subject of the footpaths, isj well- canvassed in the’ township, arid people seem to favor Mr. Harrison’s project to have the footpaths asphalted from' Quill’s Hotel to the river end of East street;: Doubtless the run of public opinion will have its due effect upon the members of the Borough'Council, and they will concede to what we are sure are the wishes of the whole community. No,w,v . since* the County Council have put the con trol of the water pipes in the hands of the Borough with anything but a grinding pro viso, there should be no trouble about the funds to do the work, and councillors,, un less wo sadly misjudge them,, do not want! the will. We hope they will now get up the will somehow,' and the means .also, tp macadainise the large boulders th'atmrna-: ment’ the 'niiddle of East street. ,

An Awkward Blast. —As the Oamaru train, due in Dunedin at 12.45 yesterday, was nearing the Port Chalmers quarry, a heavy bksi was fired, which dislodged k; lump of stone , estimated at somewhere: about 10 tons. This mass came rolling, down on the line, tearing,up some; of-'thief rajla grid sleepers. A quarryman had just, time to give warning to the approaching train of. t}iO clanger ahead. If the train bad been two minutes in a.dvanco of its time the; effine would probably have de.- scended on the top of it. After (lotpn tion of an hour and a half, -the line was cleared, and the train proceeded to' Dun edin, the passengers having widkod to the lower station. .

The Mayors.— The MayOv'al contests throughout the colony have been more than usually stiff this year; and in most casps the seats have been' fought ’for. Messrs. Gapes a nd Ayres tried conclusion's for the Christchurch seat of lionor, andafter, a stiff contestjthe former was declared top scorer with 558 Votes /against the barber's 439. For Sydenham/ J. ; F> : Brown beat Mr. John Joyce, by 57 votes. Harry Allrigbt wrestled the Lyttelton seat from Mp* Webb, by a majority of 19 votes.. At Waimate, Mr. . G. R. Freeman has been beaten by Mr. J ohn Manchester. The excitement was great in Dunedin,./and. feeling run;high,, but; jail- tire enthusiasm .of Mr.[Fish’s. sup porters could not’place him at the top ; of the fidlij' ai>4;hli'. A. „H P Ross’is Mayor.* At Wellington,' Mp, ‘ Hutchison is re-' elected, over three other’s. JHyen Nelson has had'a contest, arid two bi’invets' and a tinsmith aimed at the position. Mr. Dodson, of the brewing firm, Hooper and Dodson,\ stood first; with over' '4OO -votes/ J; T. sflarley/ the other ’ brewer, only got 150, while Graham, the tinsmith, was only able to beat up iO2 votes. Johnston gets the Invercargill scat by # hfgp majority. There was great excitement at the Kuhrnya election, and O’Hagan was returned by a largp majority.

The Dog Collars. —There was a bit of a contest amongst saddlers yesterday for the contract for making the dog-collars to be used in the County next year. The Council table was Uttered with specimen collars, and notes, cheques, and money/ sent by the numerous tenderers as’deposils, and tenders cuno from far and near, even Waimate having a representative. The lowest tenderer was Mr. Dunbar, of Christ church, who submitted a very fair sample, but, as a matter of fact, all the samples were very good. Wo hope care will bo taken to have the badges propel ly rivoited this time, as last year too many of these came off the collars after two or three months’ wear. > . • ;

CABLE NEWS.

LATEST FROM EUROPE.

{Per Reuter’s Agency.) ' The Markets. • , ■ i*". • • ' London, N0v."22, i Gonsols are unchanged at 97§. Adelaide wheat, 'ex warehouse, 525. ; Adelaide flour; ‘ex warehouse, 375.; New Zealand wheat, ex ship, 4Gs. Gd. Disturbances iii Ireland. : , .', Nov. 23,,, , A sanguinary fight took place at Ballina, in county. Mayo, Ireland, to-day,;between the police 'and people, who were obstruct ing the arrest of some Leaguers. Several policemen were, severely wounded. Fifteen persona have: been arrested in Mayo on a charge of intimidating ,landlords at Ballin robo. ! ,i ' Wool Sales. The November-Deqepiber serics ; of wool Auctions to-day. ■-There’ ivas a goad attendance of home and foreign buyers.-. . The opening catalogue comprised ’ ■'4,Boo\'hales! 'Prifres 'were firmly main-; tamed’,) and: there -was fair competition. ’ The present series close on December 14tll. , , ' „ .... . ■ ■ The Fenians Again—Riot in .the {Streets of Cork—The Police Fired Upon. A’..;,. London, Nov. 24. , As’ a' Fen lair procession -was parading the' streeW of Cork to-day at collision occurred with the police, upon whom several shots were fired by the mob, Fourteen! Fenians were, however; arrested by the police, and will be placed on trial. ; The Cape Troubles. ; The latest.- intelligence from the Cape states thatT;BOO colonials have repulsed 5,000 Basutos on November 13th: ; 300 rebels: and .six colonials.were killed and wounded. Capetown, Nov. 22., New's' has been; rdcdived’-'th’at 'a-'tribe hitherto friendly has twice attackcd-tbe Colonial Residency at'Lerida, in Basuto land, but were on both occasions repulsed. Mii; : "Still Obdurate. ■ Constantinople, Nov. 24. Dervisch Pasha, in advancing on Dul i cigno, met the Albanians in great force, ! and firing, upop there,: the,enemy, replied ;most" vigorously, which, compelled the ! former to suspend their advance on the. city.- - : ; Caved in ;at last, i i i News has been received that Dervish Pasha has at last entered Dulcigno. A 'slight conflict took place at the outskirts ,of the town between the Turkish' troops and the Albanians, but the latter were soori overcome arid subriiitted to the entry iof the Turks.

AUSTRALIAN.

(Per Reuter's Agency,) ; Sugar. ■ : : - Melbourne, Nov. > 24, ; At the sugar sales held yesterday, prices iwere firmly 'maintained. .... ; Advices from Mauritius, dated Novem ber 11th, state that'2oo tons of sugai were loading for Dunedin.- The state of ■ the market is more active, and freights are in good ,deipand. .- • : ’ Victorious Victoria. ; ‘ Victoria won the Intercolonial Rifle- Contest by 129 points. ( . ~. , Postponed. : • , * ’ Melbourne, To-day. The debate .on Mr. Berry’s Bill for the Reform of the Constitution, which was expected to commence this week, has’npw. been postponed until next week. , : ; : Tricing to Shiint Him. : In-the Legislative Assembly last night;! Mr. J. Orkney, Member for West Mel bourne and a supporter of the Opposition, gave, notice of motion to rescind Mr. DaVid Gaurison’s as' Chair-, man Of Cdnimittecs. , The N.S.W. Parliament. ; 7:r : . . Sydney, Nov. 24. Parliament lias been summoned for dis pF tch of business on December 15th, Half of the members have now! been elected, most of. whoni are favorable to the Go-. vernmeut programme.

NEW ZEALAND

(Per Press AsoociaMon.) Native Lands. Auckland, To-day. A proclamation has been issued re the Eatetcre land,-'and appoints a sitting of the Land Court at Cambridge on January: 25, at which one' block of '240,000 acres will be adjudicated upon. The Court will also .deal with lands at Hokianga, Wha rigarei, the Thames,Tanpo, Bay of Plenty, Toledo Bay, Otaki, Wanganui, and Patea. : The .Governmetit have scheduled blocks ;.o£ about' 1,000,090 acres in area, with ro -gard to which they, will proceed under tjle Native Land Act, 1877, in order to set aside land equivalent to Government advances from the date Of the order of the Court. The remainder of the lands wlil be opened to public competition. The Natives Threatening.

Two chiefs, . named Hanawra Ngati maniopoto and Tengakau, were present at the expulsion of the ploughmen from Mr. Tole’s land at Ngamoko, but did not interfere. The natives now threaten de predations on Mr. M'Leau’s land. ’ Hotel Burned. ■ ' Nafier, To-day. The hotel at To Ante was totally, cle stToycd by fffD ]uat night. ..The.building w,Ts insured for L3OO in the National, and L30(5 in the Union. The stock and furni ture was insured for L 350 in the .Union, of which the'Standard holds ; L2ooi * * •' Good for the Lawyers. The claim of Mr. Solomon, Attorney/, General of‘Fiji, to several sections in’ Napier, reported some ■ tithe back, is en gaging all the lawyers here, either for or against the claim. The investigation shows that Solomon, conveyed the land 21 years ago to G. Sheddon, the bvhiers of the sections have been consequently put to considerable expense for nothing. ; ; An Unfortunate Spring. • ,-1; ■ Wellington; to-day. ; J A.yoiing mari’ named -Hartry, niet with a serious accident last night. He jhlriped offi the spring-board at*' the -baths' aiid" striick liis' head onthe bofctohi.; Hartry was thken to the hospital, and he'is ndw'in a; ! precarious condition.' - i; “ t j ; 1 r Alleged Smugglirig. : ; , ; A'charge has. been IhicVkg'amst' tlie cap-, taip'alnd'stewhi'tl 1 of the ship' vVairoa, for smuggling, of a,quantity of tobacco, eigqrs. The' :case. 'will bo ; heard to day. 1 : ' " " J ’ /• . Unprofitable. ~. > 1 ’ ■■ . A deputation from Port., Chalmers waited on the Hon. Miy Oliyerj _yesfesay re the stoppage of the railway workshops at Rol’t Chalmers. -Mr. 1 Oliver replied that bwipg jo circqmlpcutipn and 'other; causes, tie works at presept carried on.

were a dead loss. Recently ..soiree woi’k' had been done there for 2fd. per-.lb. for: which 4?;d. was offered; and in»another case, the Albion’s shaft, skd.,;had been charged;; when TOM. / had - been ; paid /in, Melbourne for die 'same A ork. _ The Gdvernmorifc ought at jonco.s to ■ scriqusly consider the advisableness -of leasing the workshops, ! Jtlr.'-iMacandrew, who was .present agreed \rifch--iMr., Oliver’s sugges-,- lion. A Concession. The Hon. the Minister for Lands agrees to.the postponement of the sale of sec tion A u qf. defaulting,,,.deferred., .payment, settlors "till June, to enable them to (gather in their crops. • -

OPENING OF THE TE AROHA GOLDFIELD.

f {By-Telegraph.] Grahamstown, To-day. A Star pigeongram states that the Te/Arohp. goldfield was opened by Mr. Kenrick, at nine o’clock’ this' morning, by. reading , the proclamation. Guns WeW fired as he said, “ God Save , the Quereri;’’ ariri 'the’ '360 riferi who had assembled on the prospector's clairri commenced . pegging, out. -No quar relling took place. ' ’lmmediately after pegging out, the Warden took down the" names, and the Inspectors iissued miners’ . rights. ~ The.' following have clainis Comes, Murphy, Wickham, and Whitaker,-Reuben Pair,’Fergusson and Mcjntyre, andj-R.-McD. Scott.: -

LOCAL EXHIBITIONS.

! / -By the-Plains Farmer

Having attended ' the 'Ashburton] exhibition ,of stock,; farm/prod-uce,- &c., I was surprised : arid • disappointed in not seeing the district betffif ■'repre sented, especially iri ; sheep' 'arid ‘cattle. Messrs. Wilkin and Carter’s position was anything-„but an,,, cnyiable} one ( in taking the tjil prizes dndlbng: wool sheep where there was .no cqm,- petition. I quite agree, with. Mr. Grigg’s renparks- ithat,-in .as district like Ashburton, where there are only one,or two large breeders, whose stock had been prepared for show, and who for a' long while: ,’nave hp.d opportunities of com paring ..them with, the .best stock iri New Zealand, such .men should, refrain ; from 5 showing much in the .local -sjfp.vyp : seeing that .small farmers, and those;* .who are'brily just beginning to stqck, .Would; have rib chanceAvhile,.,thq laf'breedeVs were' found; "exhibiting in every class. But' if tire s 'Ashburton Agricultural 1 and Pastoral ’Association would ' be' A general - benefit to the district, emulation must be encouraged amongst the, masses..; of .-small farmers. If the whole district could be induced to compete, some in one class and some in another, then we should soon have a good show. Any practical man; would rather see .a large ,cofripelitibn, in every 1 class, ; although*' the exhibits might not be.,of such,a high.character,, than'see But / brie name, .catalogued' in every class. The mpsf plegsing-.feature; in any annual show is the marked im provement r whiph,-takesf place both in quantity .and quality. . Some - men will say-that nothing; but the 'best animals should be brought toA'shpW,* while it is notHipl’brif epmpansbri tjiat mrikes the difference Between'good and bad ; and if all the- farmers in the district could be induced to bring something" of the best’they'had, we might soon expect to see great-improvement in-the quality. But it will be many years' before;such a general competition will he seen in this newtdistrict, fe^iecial jy if twb) pf tliree' large farmers who have had greater advantages for obtaining good ; stock, continue to monopolise. ; But’ Tam'hot quite satisfied as to the advisableness of supporting local shows, now that we .have such .an . exhibition as’ the .Metfbpplitan.. at, Ghrist chiirch/made accessible to all parties, and where.>may-.ib:e,- seen the best of everything; which we should all en deavor to propogate. Would it not be •a greater benefit to the district if the Ashburton Agricultural -and" Pastoral .Association were to form'-itself into a Farmers’ Club, after the manner of a' joint slock company, 1 which is the case in some parts of; England/ and instead of expending the funds in holding petty shows; r th© money riiight be ; spent in procuring the best breeding animals that could be got. These animals might be kept in different Idealities’ by mem bers of the,club,,and at g. certain price. shouldffiC acceSsißle'to all,'which would greatly tend to improve the general stock "of the district. Such a club, pro perly managed, would’ pot only be a local, but a national 'benefit, arid would'enable 1 the' district to cornpete Isuccessfully in any of the latger shows.- If such clubs were formed in different districts, there 1 might' be' ’ migra tory shows among themselves'. Such- farmers’ : - clubs have'’Been very successful and beneficial in England. I waspyell acquainted with.the working of IBe-Probus; Eatmers’, GlußilGernwall,; and such was the excellence of the stock.kept and bred by that;Glub' that they frequently Took first' prizes, not only in the Cornwall, but':iH‘ lhe' Bath .and West; df .Englriridi; 'and .Royai; Agriculturar Shows." ’ X.see rip .reason why "the Ashburton 'tanners’ Club might npt become eminent and suc eesful, riot pnlyfin improving fife-breed' of farm stock, etc., but also be. the means of improving and elevating the minds of our young men, who.; for- the wxint of something better,'-afe too much engaged: nv-ith petty amilferirCuts.• - I .would like to see them, .using every [means within their reach to make them selves - fully ■ acquainted with all ' the points wrrd-• peculiarities ’of the best breedirig stdckrefall dekirr'ptibris; 1 and; aiming; at rising to tfic standard of a thorpugh'ly /good , far m.er. ’/[B ut I his. will, never be'the case unless they are at tended tq while young. yj s j-f , ; . - r

Niagara Dry.

“The Falls of Niagara-\v6re dry for a .whole day,” said the Rev. Dr. T. B. 'Fuller, of Hamilton, Ontario, in a re cent lecture. The. accuracy of the statement:-was questioned, and now the clergyman publishes the- sworn state ment; of several.persons that they saw the phenomenon. They say that it oc curred on March 31, 1848. At 5' o’clock in the morning so little water was dribbling over that a man and his daughter.walked -half -way across from .the Canadian shore neat the edge of ' the precipice. The girl stuck a pole into the, crevice,= of. the rock- r and left a handkerchief flying from the top. Not content with this feat, they went half a mile above the fall and rode part way across the bed of the river in a waggon. Others did similar things. The jagged rocks at the bottom- of the 5 falls were exposed. ' This strange condition lasted until nightfall, when the stream began rapidly to swell, and : before, morning was ,as large as tisui-iL. Dr. Fuller’s theory is as follows :—“ The winds had been,blowing; down Lake Erie, which is : oply about. thirtyi feet deep, and rushing, a great deal of the water from it over the falls; it then suddenly changed, and : blew ' this -little water (comparatively speaking) up to the western portion of the lake; at this juncture -the ‘ ice on Lake Erie, which had been broken up by these high winds, got, jammed in the river between Buffalo, .and,, the Canada .side, and formed a dam which kept back the waters of Lake Erie.”

THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1880.



Special Advertisements. THE BEST VALUE FOR READY MONEY IS THE MEN’S) CLOTHING (AND BOYS’) MANUFACTURED BY mHE NEW ZEALAND CLOTHING 8 FACTORY, which can be purchased at their Retail Branches, now established all over New Zealand. The Garments are thoroughly shrunk The Fit and Stylo are perfect. The Workmanship is equal to bespoke. The Trimmings are of superior quality and strength. The Tweeds are of the very best descrip tion. The Stock is the largest in the Southern Hemisphere. The tall, short, lean, and stout can be equally well fitted. The Goods are all marked in plain figures. The system of business is to exchange every article that does not give satis faction. And, in addition to all these advantages, you can purchase A SINGLE GARMENT AT THE WHOLESALE PRICE. Mercery, Hats, Shirts, Ties, Scarfs, Bags, Portmanteaus, Rugs, and Blankets at Wholesale Prices. THOUSANDS OF DISCERNING CUSTOMERS Testify that the New Zealand Clothing Factory’s Garments are the Very Best Value for Ready Money. Ashburton Branch :. EA S T ST REE T . 910 WM. SPARROW, Manager.



Special Advertisements. Quinton ’ ./Brothers, ASHBURTON BOTTLING-.STORES, Alford Forest Road. - | / i tv?( _Jiv4S HAVING won First and Second Prizes for ‘ ALE ’ .and STOUT, atrcthe Agricultural Shows at Ashburton, 1879 and 1880, should be a sufficient guarantee of the quality of Liquor supplied by the above Firm. All orders promtly attended to. Gl9 Or- G arstens -&00. (Late' Weston’s*), PROSPECT BUILDINGS, mOBACCONIST, FANCY GOODS* i. AND STATIONERY. Meerschaum Pipes, G.B.D. Pipes 3Tailrod, Twist, and Vanity Fair Tobacco Musical Instruments, etc., etc. Haircutting, . Shaving tandj Shampooing. I EAST STREET, ASHBURTON. i 520*



1 v The Volunteers; ~ At J.he nextjparade ,(dn Tuesday evchirig atN3.45)/ the ca'n’di rdates fpJCfirpprqtipn’MU'/be /.examined/ And after parade a meeting will be held to. tike, ipto (.consideration. thq : advisableness ( ' holjilrig a ’.dale..;' Both Sides of the Question.—One of the chief clerks in a joint stock hank waited on an Irish gentleuiaii recontly, and . Informed him that lie* ’'liad overdrawn his' account to the tune of a hundred pounds. ‘ 4 Well, I know that,” replied, the veteran, “so what’s-'the .rioceacity 'of -boring me aßout it 1 Why nqt treat me as Ido you ? I don’t go when I have that amount in your institution and shout, ‘ Mr. Matlager/- 'you hold a hundred pounds of mine 1 ’ Such way. Good morning:; ; ' : : - '■ '



It Wouldn’t Do.-—As they were taking their oysters the lady gave a little' scream of rapture,. and detached from one of the bivalves that had fallen to her share a pearl. . “1 wonder,” she said, as she examined it closely, “ if it; is worth any thing. There doesn’t sCenvto be a flaw in it.” 'Her, lord : and;;piaster'.' inspects it critically, and returns it, with a sapient shake of the head. “ Imitation,” lie says. “ They couldn’t afford to give real pearls with oysters at a shilling a dozen.”



Wanted. WANTED, a respectable GIRL, 14 or j 15 years of age, to make herself generally useful. Apply, Office of this paper. 322 WANTED— A good strong LAD, able to Milk. None but good Milker need apply! : Also, a young person about 14 years’ of age, as. a NURSE ■ ‘GIRL.; Apply office of this paper.,, ..:;; : ’ ; : - WANTED EMPLOYMENT ’ as : Book-keeper or Storeman by an experienced man. First-class testimonials. Address A. 8., office of this paper,.-, 598 WANTED- SITUATION, by a married man, as Farm Manager,’ or other position of trust. Wife also used to farm work, and; competent to take charge of dairy, etc. Apply, A;-M., Ashton Post Office. 580 M ANTED KNOWN, That HENRY’S j PORTRAIT ROOMS, Saunders’ Buildings, -. East. street, Ashburton,; are open .‘DAILY, frbffi 9 aim. till 5 p.m. Portraits taken in. any weather. Great Reduction in Price,' ’ ; ' : 60 q t WANTED KNOWN. SOMERSET; LIVERY AND BAITi • ; vV V STABLES. ’ ;; / ’ -|-. -i Yf -• i ae ’ begs to inform the public that he has taken the above Stables’ from ‘Mr.’ Bossenberg, and is making extensive repair’s. Buggies and,.saddle horses on hire. Lowest prices and best attention. ‘ 908c—2800



KNOWN—Just arrived from England—Christmas, New Cards., .New:, Zealand Illustrated Annual; Young Lklies’Jour nal, and Bow Bells, Is. Gd. each. Family Herald' and: Family Reader, Is. each, and all other Magazines supplied at Christ church Prices. Colonial and European Newspapers'. School Books, Stationery, &c. A visit solicited. L. F. Andeewes, Bast street,-near Lancaster's; Butchery. :527 R/'ANTED ' KNOWN—That ■ Visiting W Cards, plain or mourning, can be obtained printed in various styles, at the ‘‘Guardian’'’ office, opposite the Railway Station.



Meetings., THISTLE - LODGE,'' 627/ ASHBURTON. S.C., riIHE REGULAR MONTHLY MEET- X TNG of the above Lodge will bo held .THlS.(Thursday) EVENING, at the Masonic Hall, Tancrcd street. All .Brethren are requested to attend. By order of the R. W. M. - G. GAUKRODGER, GO4 Hon. Sec. |||^'' ■ ’ SOMERSET LODGE. THE Rbgular Monthly'Meeting of this - Lodge will be held on FRIDAY EVENING a 7-30., in the Hall,: Tancred Street: . Visiting Brethren invited. 615 By order ; w.m.. ASHBURTON AGRICULTURAL AND . PASTORAL ASSOCIATION. NOTICES. ALL persona having accounts against the above association, will oblige by sending them'in At once. : ’.Vi ' T ‘ GENERAL COMMITTEE MEET ING will be held on FRIDAY NEXT, .26tli hist., at 3 o’clock, at Shear man’s Hotel. GEORGE JAMESON, ; 600 i ; , ' Secretary. ASHBURTON FIRE BRIGADE. Members op committee win MEET at Lieut. Dolman’s • house' at. ,7.30 ,p.m» sharp on MONDAY NEXT,, to . arrange i programme for enter tainment on Boxing Night, in the - Town Hall. - , r r j.. 1 l *„ ' ‘ ’ W. ADAMS, 620 .- , , Hon. Sec. THE ASHBURTON TOWN;HALL COMPANY. 1 X ■MEETING of~thoi SHARE HOLDERS • of> * the above Com pany is hereby convened to be held in the .Town. Hall, Ashburton, on WEDNES DAY/ the Ist day;of;; December, 1880, at 8 o’clock in* the evening, for the purpose ol CONFIRMING the RESOLUTIONS passed .at.the,extraordinary general meet-, irig bf : Shareholders-held’ On the 19th day of October last, relating to Directors and other matters. „ Dated this 23rd day of November, 1880. By order of the Directors. THOMAS BULLOCK, 617 J 1 Chairmali,



Public Notices. Agricultural Liens.; THE Undersigned are open .to receive applications for CASH ADVANCES on Growing Crops. 610 P. CUNNINGHAM & CO. Wool Season, 1880-1881. THE Undersigned are prepared to make LIBERAL CASH ADVANCES (Free of Commission) on all WOOL placed in their hands for SALE in .the London or Continental Markets. Wo are offering special inducements to shippers of wool to our London Agents, having made arrangements whereby the wool will receive such an amount of attention prior to sale that fanners can calculate upon exceptionally good prices being procured. Insurances on Clip can be effected from sheep’s back to London. Woolpacks supplied at most reasonable prices. For further particulars apply to P. CUNNINGHAM & CO. 611 Christchurch. [card;] ri IHEODORS B. JACOBSEN AND |_ O. PEEZ, ARCHITECTS. j. i Note .office— ■ HEREFORD STREET, WEST, , Christchurch. ■ ■ ■ 5?1



MILK! M ILK! M ILK! R. MALCOLM MILLER intends after Ist December next, to SELL MILK at 3d; PER QUART till further notice. 573 ALL DEBTS due to Ashburton Herald and Guardian, business must'be Paid to Mr. S. E. Poyntz, on: behalf, of the, Assignees, at the Guasman Office/East street, Ashburton, and; his receipt alone will be a sufficient discharge. S. SAUNDERS, For Self and Co-Assignees. METHYEN' AGENCY.' MORGAN and HIBBS, General Store keepers, Methven, are authorised agents for the Ashburton Guardian. Subscribers will .please get their papers from the ‘ agents in future. Orders en trusted to them will receive prompt attention. MR. CAYGILL, of Walker street, Christchurch, is AUTHORISED to- CANVASS for Advertisements for The Ashburton Guardian.



Tenders MOUNT SOMERS ROAD BOARD. TENDERS are invited for tire following WORKS : No. 23.—Formation, etc,, 20 chains Tramway Reserve road, Alford Forest. No. 33.—Formation, etc., 90 chains Morrow’s road. No. 34. —Maintenance of Fords for twelvemonths. Specifications of the above works can be seen at the office, Mount Somers, where tenders, addressed to the Chairman, will be received until noon on MONDAY, Nov. 29th, 1880. The lowest or any tender not necessarily accepted. C. J. WENTWORTH COOKSON, Jun. Surveyor to the 615 Mount Somers Road Board. ASHBURTON BOROUGH COUNCIL. TENDERS are invited for Concrete Kerbing and Channelling, (Labor and Shingle only). Specifications may be seen the Borough Council Offices, and Tenders, enclosing a guarantee deposit of L 5, to bo delivered at the Town Clerk’s Office on or before MONDAY, the 29th instant, .at noon. 601 FOOKS & SON. WAKANUI ROAD DISTRICT.



riHENDERS aro invited for the following J- WORKS:— No, 32.—Boundary Road (Rakaia).— Metalling from Side Drains, about Two Miles. No 33.—Wakanui'Township Road. — Forming, full width, about 100 Chains. No. 34.—Wakanui Township Road.— Metalling about 100 Chains. Plans arid specifications can be seen at the Board’s Offices. Tenders will be re ceived till 10 a.m. on THURSDAY, December 2nd,, addressed to the Chair man, endorsed with number of contract, and accompanied with deposit equal to five per cent, on value of work. The lowest or any tender not neces sarily accepted. . FOOKS & SON, 589 District Surveyors. UPPER ASHBURTON ROAD BOARD. TENDERS are invited for the RE . . PAIRS arid MAINTENANCE of all the Roads in this district fora term of three years ; each ward to be tendered for separately. Tenders are als6 invited for the follow ing works : No. 91—Formation of Boundary Do main Road Crossing from Alford Forest Road ; about 40 chains. Written tenders, endorsed, are to be sent in, addressed to the Chairman, not later i than noon of. MONDAY,)the 29th day of; November. The Clerk will be at the office every Thursday of each , week, from nine to twelve o’clock 1 a;hi. 1 ; ‘to give the general conditions and specifications of the work. ROBT. D. PULLAR, Clerk and Surveyor to the Board. Road Board Office,- Westerfield, Oct. 27, 1880. . 408 To Let. TO LET—A Five-roomed ; HOUSE in Cameron street, west. Pitted with every convenience. Rent moderate. 584 , ' POYNTZ & GO. Barristers, Solicitors, &c. C. W. Ireland, -gARRiSTER AND SOLICITOR, Saunders’ Buildings, Ashburton. 393 Branson & Purnell, gARRISTERS AND SOLICITORS, EAST STREET.



' Lost. LOST; on Saturday, 13th, a BAG OF ■ SUGAR, put by mistake into trap at Sir. G. Kidd, blacksmiths. Reward for information at Guardian oflice. 607 LOST, Stolen, or Strayed, A Chestnut HORSE, three years old. Has a Ion" scar on near hind leg ; had on a leather collar strap, with long tether rope attached. Last seen in the direction of the Beach road.—Any person bringing him to the Office of this paper will be Rewarded. '' £1 Reward. LOST, from Wakanui, bn Monday, November Ist, One Chestnut HACK, branded HD on the left shoulder, with hollow back. Last seen in the direction of Barrhill.- —Anyone returning him to FeibpxiANdee. Bros, will receive the above Reward. Found. FO U ND, : : BETWEEN Rakaia and Cherlsey, a Black and Tan COLLIE BITCH, about four months old. Owner can have same by paying expenses. • THOS. STEVENSON, Village Settlement, South Rakaia. FOUND, a Pair of LADIES’ UNDER CLOTHING. The owner can have the same by describing mark and paying expenses. Apply, Office of this paper. " oJJ.



Consultations. HFRIEDLANDER’S consulta , TION, No 1 OX THE GHAM PI G N RAG By* To be run for in Melbourne on January 1, 1881; ; FORTY-NINE NOMINATIONS. 1000 SUBSCRIBERS, AT 10s. EACH, First Prize : ...£l4Ol Second Prize ... ... 105 ) Third Prize ... ••• 75 )-All net. Starters (divided)... ... ; Non-Starters (divided)' ... ■ 65J In forwarding cheques, please add ex* change. / i Two stamps needed, one for reply and one for result. , To be drawn as soon as filled. Address —. : H. PR lEDLA NDE R, Tobaconist, P.O. Box it;, Timaru. 548



Gr J. L. FLEMING’S band Consultation, No. 2, on THE LOWER HEATHCOTE CUP,> To be run Dec. 27, 1880. 1,000 Subscribers at 10s. each. First horse ... £l4O Second do. ... . ... ..... ,90 . .Third do. . \..t ... ... 50 Starters and Non-starters (divided) 220 If cheques are sent, exchange must be added and stamps for reply and result. J. Jj. FLEMING, Auctioneer* &(?.> >.._i High street, Triangle, Christchurch. N.B.—Note change of addresS. 612 J. L. FLEMING’S Ctrand Consultation, No. a, ON THE . DUNEDIN CUP, 1881, 3,000 Subscribers at £1 each. First horse ... ... ...£750 Second do. ... .... , ... 500, Third do., , ... ... t .... 250; 'i Other Starters (divided) ... 500 Non-starters (divided)... , ... 1000 If cheques are sent, exchange must bo added and stamps for reply and result. J. L. FLEMING, Auctioneer, &c., High street, Triangle, , ' ■ ' Christchurch. N.B.—Note change of address. 613 C O N S U L TATIO N ,N d. 11 ON DUNEDIN CUP, 1881. STAR PROBLEM. 2,000 MEMBERS AT,£l. • First ... ... 1.. £BOO Second ... ... 400 Third ... ... :.. 200 Starters ... ... ... 250 Non-Starters 350 Total £2,000 39 Nominations. Address—STAß PROBLEM, Care of C; J. HARRIS, ‘ Star and Garter Hotel, > Or, Box 10, P, 0., Oamanii No. 2 Consultation win be opened im mediately after No. -1 closes. ~ L £SO PRIZE. 1. A Special Prize of £SO will be awarded to any correspondent who First places the first three horses in their rela tive positions in the Cup.’ 2. Letters received each day will be kept distinct, and opened after the race, in order of priority, as received, until win ner is found. 3. If the horses be correctly placed by more than one person on the same day, ■ such persons to divide prize. Each letter must have a 2d. stamp enclosed, or not eligible for competition. Letters received from November 22nd, 1880, to February 23rd, 1881, inclusive. - 4. A Committee of five to superintend their decision to be final. Address-D. 0. PRIZE, ■ Care of C. J.. HARRIS, . Star and Garter Hotel, 602 . Or, .Box 10, P.Q., Oaroaru.



Gazette in Bankruptcy.. V. E, OTICE— The Ashburton Guardian is a Gazette |pr all notices under the Debtors and Creditors Art* Y. R. In the District Court or Christchurch, HoUden at Ashburton. In the matter of the Debtors and-; Creditors Act, 1876, and the Acts! amending the same, and. of the r bankruptcy of STEPHEN STOKES, of Ashburton, Tailor, a debtor. THIS IS TO NOTIFY-that the "said ; Stephen Stokes has this day -.filed a statementthat he is, unable to meet-.his. engagements with his, creditors. The., first meeting of creditors to be held at the District Court, House, Ashburton,; on THURSDAY, the 2nd day of. December,;, 1880,.at. 11a.m. - Dated this 2oth day of November,-1880. C. CAYENDISH HURRELL, , . . . Clerk of tke. District .'Court,; . F. P. O’Reiliy, Solicitor for Debtor. ■ 618