SHIPPING.

PORT OF LYTTELTON. ARRIVED. Jan. 18.—Wakatipu, s.s., from Sydney, via Wellington. SAILED. Jan. 27.—Jane Douglas, s.s., for Kaikoura, Wellington, and Foxton. Jan. 27.—Albion, s s., for Port Chal mers, Bluff and Melbourne. Jvn. 27. —Wellington, for Manakau. STEAMERS LEAVE LYTTELTON AS UNDER. For Wellington Rotomahana, This Day, Thursday, Jan. 29. Passengers by 2.40 p.m. train. To be followed by Wanaka, on Satur day, Jan. 31. For Napier, Gisborne, and Auckland —Rotomahana, This Day. Thursday, Jan. 29. Passengers by 2.40 p.m. train. For Melbourne, via Bluff— Tararua, on Tuesday, Feb. 3. Passengers by 2.40 p. m. train. Cargo till noon. To be followed by Aravvata, on Mon day, Feb. 9. For Sydney Rotomahana, This Day, Thursday, Jan. 29. Passengers by 2.40 p.m. train. To be followed by Wakatipu, Feb. 6. For Hobart Town —Tararua, on Tuesday, Feb. 3. For Picton, Nelson, Taranaki, and Manukau —Taiaroa, Tuesday, Feb. 3. Passengers by 2.40 p.m. train.

NOTICE TO ADVERTISERS.

All orders for insertion must be written legibly on the face of the advertisement. When no order is given, the advertise ment will be inserted until counter manded, and charged accordingly. Advertisements received after 10 o’clock each evening will be placed over the leader heading and charged double rates. All notices of Births, Marriages, or Deaths must be accompanied by the sig nature of the sendei’, as a guarantee of good faith. All advertisements and business letters to be addressed The Manages. ; litei-ary communications should be addressed to The Editor.

MEMORANDA.

AUCTION SALE. To-Morrow. By Mr. J. L. Wilson, at Chertsey, at half past 10 o’clock—About 80 acres of Barley and 70 acres of Oats. MEETINGS. To-Day. Horticultural Society—At Quill’s Sample' Rooms, at 8 p. in. Committee of the Borough Council on Distress in Ireland—At the Council Chambers, at 3 p. m.

The Ashburton Guardian. COUNTY AGRICULTURAL & SPORTING RECORDER THURSDAY, JANUARY 29, 1880.

In about a month or so New Zealand will harvest as heavy a crop as has ever fallen before the edge of the scythe or the knives of the reaper, and knowing that the season’s crop, heavy of itself, and its quantity increased by the greater extent of land under grain this year, requires to be taken to the seaboard, we naturally begin to be anxious about the facilities for transit afforded by the railway. Last year, it will be remembered, though the yield of grain was exceptionally low, the railway rolling stock had enough to do to carry it from the side stations to the ports of shipment. Special trains were run at all sorts of untimely hours in very laudable endeavors to wipe off arrears of grain traffic, and it -was only by such means that the huge piles of grain that were stored at Ashbur ton and other places were gradually re duced and finally run to the seaports for shipment. This year those piles will be larger, we believe about three times larger, than last year, and a far greater strain will come upon the grain carrying power of the line. To meet this extra strain some 1200 trucks have been added to the rolling stock of the colony s lines since harvest and a fair number of heavy, powerful engines have increased their strength in locomotives, so that some efforts have been made to meet the de mands that must he made upon the rail way. But with all the increase of stock, we fear, owing to the exceptionally heavy yield, the usual delay that we have been accustomed to experience in getting the grain to the seaports will bo repeated this year, though we hope it will not be so long as in previous years. It is idle to expect that such a number of trucks will be kept on hand by the railway as will be able to accommodate all the grain grown in the colony desired to be ex ported, without any special effort being put forth in the shape of extra trains, and making the trucks do double duty, and increased despatch. If a stock of trucks, Ac., like that were kept, (hey would be the next thing to idle for nine months in iho year, and that is not de sirable. We believe, that with the in creased number of trucks and locomotives, and special efforts by the management the delay which is feared by many will not be anything like so great as they imagine. Certain alterations in the time-table, which we refer to elsewhere, seem to point to the railway authorities clearing the line of such passenger trains as can be spared to make room for those the grain season will inevitably demand all to itself.

Colonel Sckatchley. —Col. Scratchley is expected to arrive in Timaru on Thurs day, when he will review the Volunteers. A Lady School Committee Member. —The Nelson'householders have elected a ladjq named Mrs. Gibbs, a member of the School Committee. The Irish Relief Fund. —Kmr.ara lias forwarded to the Lord Mayor of Dublin a first instalment of Ll5O in aid of the Irish Relief Fund. The Barley Bushel. —The Richmond (Nelson) farmers have fixed the weight of their bushel of barley at 591b5., and intend forming a company if the maltsters, etc., do not agree to their figure. A Good Investment. The annual balance sheet of the Wellington and Hutt Building Society shows a profit of L 1,900 for the last year, equal to a profit of L2 per share. Another Kerosene Accident. —The “ at anchor ” lamp of a barge at Makarau, suspended as usual from the rigging, hurst shortly after dusk on Tuesday, and the blazing liquid spread all over the deck. Two sailors from the man-of-war Sandfly extinguished the fire with difficulty after the jib of the barge was partially burnt. A Dry Rub. —ln Court on Tuesday last Mr. Branson made an application to the Bench in such a meek, appealing voice, that during the delivery of it we wondered what had come over the usually self possessed solicitor. It was to request that as access to the Law Library (?) had been by order denied the profession, for the future the Acts and Ordinances be laid on the table for reference during the sitting of the Court. The request was at once acceded to by that most urbane of magis trates, Mr. Guinness. Alterations in Trains. —Several im portant alterations are to bo made on February Ist. in the running of the trains, the most prominent one being the discon tinuence of the midday passengers train except for Saturdays. All the times of departure for the other trains are altered and the express is for the futui’e to stop at Rakaia and Winslow on both down and up trips. The time-table will be pub lished in our next issue. In the mean time we refrain from comment except to say that the withdrawal of the midday train seems to be an extraordinary pro ceeding, quite uncalled for, and likely to inconvenience a large section of the travelling public to a very serious extent, as it cannot be argued for 011 c moment it does not pay, since it is generally a mixed train of goods and passengers.

Pastor Chiniquy’s Visit to Ashbur ton. —Arrangements are being made for Pastor Ohiniquy to deliver a lecture in Ashburton on the night before he opens his campaign in Timaru. New Zealand Shipping Company.— The directors of the New Zealand Ship ping Company Limited have declared an interim dividend at the rate of 10 per cent, per annum for the half-year ended 31st December, 1879, payable on the 31st instant. Reduction in Miners’ Wages. —The miners in the Coal Pit Heath mine (Grey) have got notice of a reduction of (id. per ton in the getting out price. The miners consider the present price too low, especi ally as regular work cannot be depended on. A Maori Lady Missionary. —lt is stated that one of Te Kooti’s wives is at Te Kopua, near Kawakawa, engaged in making converts to Te Kooti’s new religion. She is expected to visit the settlement at Waioma, and much interest is taken in her movements. A Turf Trick in the Post Office. — The postman at Otaki has been suspended in consequence of his having dated a letter enclosing an entry for Wellington races as being posted on Jan. 19, when really it was posted on Jan. 20. It is believed that it was so stamped to suit the convenience of the person entering the horse. £350 for a Life. —ln the case of Mel drum v. Proudfoot, heard at Dunedin, an action brought to recover damages by representatives of a man killed on the tramway, the Jury returned a verdict for plaintiff for L 350. The jury recom mended that men only, and not boys, should be employed as conductors. The Mount Somers Railway. —We are glad to learn that Messrs. Frazer and Co. have nearly arrived at the end of their labors on their contract on the Mount Somers railway. The middle of February will see the line completed, and wc hope the Government will be alive to the neces sity of calling for tenders for No. 2 sec tion forthwith. The Natives. —The following is a tele gram from Opunake, dated Saturday : The Native Minister, attended by Colonel Roberts and Major Noake, loft Hawera at 10.15 and arrived at Opunake at 2.15. The Stella has just left, after landing seventy-five Armed Constabulary and twenty tons of cargo. Major Brown is on the Waimate Plains, interviewing the people of Tito Kowaru. Criminal Assault. —At the Auckland Police Court on Tuesday Wm. Samuel Tidmarsh was charged with assaulting Harriot Shakespeare, with intent to com mit a rape, and remanded. He has been tried at the Supremo Court before for a similar offence. The police have now ascertained that it was Tidmarsh who at tempted a criminal assault on the Kyber Pass road about a month ago. Retrenchment.— The Ashburton muni cipality is not the only one in the Colony hampered for funds. At Dunedin 'the municipal credit account is now reduced to L7OOO, and the Finance Committee of the City Council recommend to that body that the idea of completing the Town Hall be abandoned, that the Works Com mittee be instructed to dispense with all surplus labor now employed, and that the Council abstain strictly from ordering any new works. Cheap and Nasty.— The Levels Road Board recently let the valuation of their district by tender. The new valuer was appointed at a saving of LIOO on the re muneration demanded by the former one, but the new valuation has given terrible dissatisfaction, being full of discrepancies, inaccuracies, and omissions. f J he Board ou Tuesday held a special meeting, and decided to appear before the Assessment Court with last year’s valuation rolls, and apply to have the omissions inserted, raid all the necessary alterations made whore the properties have been undervalued. The Municipal Association. The Municipal Conference sat yesterday in Christchurch and was well attended by delegates, who were present from five boroughs, while two others sent letters of sympathy. Mr. Hugo Fricdlandor pre sided, and the following resolution, moved by Mr. Bullock, and seconded by the M.iyor of Lyttelton was carried: “ That this meeting is of opinion that a Municipal Association bo formed to be called the Now Zealand Municipal Association, its object being to facilitate the enactment of suitable laws on nil matters having ex clusive reference to Municipal Govern ment.” It was also decided unanimously that all Municipalities in the South Island be asked to join, and that the secretary advise the boroughs represented at the Conference as i.unu as lie receives replies. Duomore.- —The Government seem to have at last satisfied their conscieiices that such a place as Dromore exists. Farmers who are likely to use that station —and the farmers about Dromore are not few, nor are their crops small—arc aware that applications, petitions, and requests have been made for a goods shod, to put them on an equal footing with farmers in more favored districts. Further, Mr. E. G. Wright, in Parliament, drew the special attention of the Minister for Public Works to the necessity of it, and now that harvest is on us, and crops arc being cut and threshed by thousands of acres, wo are delighted to see that tenders are invited by the Government for the erection of a goods shed. By the time the contract is let, and the founda tions of the goods shed laid, all the grain from that part of the district will have been sold, and probably be half way on its voyage home. We appreciate the paternal care of the Government, but for the future would like it to be doled out at a more seasonable time of the year. It would 'have done more good to Ashburton if they had called for tenders for the exten sion of the Mount Somers railway. The Wesleyan Conference at Dun edin. —At the Wesleyan Conference on Tuesday, the Auckland and Rangiora circuits were reported as being required to make provision for receiving a married minister each. Additional ministers have been granted to Waikato, Wairoa, Kawa kawa, Whangaroa and Wellington. It was decided to form the Upper Thames district into a new circuit, including Ohiuemuri, Katikati, Waihou, and Piako. In the afternoon session, the statistics were read by the Secretary, showing the number of members to be 3737, being an increaso for the year of 122. The number of members on trial is 202 ; and the number of ministers is 71, being an in crease of six. The lay representatives from several circuits in the colony were present for the first time that morning as follows:—From Auckland, Messrs. F. R. White and R. Wykes ; New Plymouth, J. George ; Wellington, W. Lustin and W. Moxhain ; Christchurch, J. Shierlaw ; Springstou, H. W. Peryman ; Rangiora, C. Howard ; Timaru, B. Holgate ; Wai mato, J. Manchester ; Dunedin Trinity Church, G. Hindle and (Mornington) P. M‘Leau ; Port Chalmers, J. Lane ; Bal clutha, W. Hope ; Roxburgh, H. Blox liam ; Invercargill, L. Cheync ; Treasurer of Contingent Fund, W. Harris (Christ church). The Revs. A. Reid (Christ church), W. Keall (Ashburton) and T. Fee (Waimate) also took their scats. The income for the Home and Church Exi eli sion Fund was as follows ; —Towards liquidation of debt, L 593 6s. 6d. ; by way of ordinary income, LSBB 13s. 10d. The income was found to be considerably less than the claims upon the fund, and conse quently the votes had to be reduced. The evening session was occupied with the consideration of estimated income and ex penditure for the next 12 months.

The Waste Lands.— Notwithstanding the outcry made by the Thames settlers for waste lands, at a sale at Auckland on Tuesday of Government waste lands, there was not only no competition, but not a single Thames settler appeared as a purchaser. The small suburban lots in the Te Aroha block were specially sur veyed so as to enable working men to acquire a small freehold, but they did not seek to avail themselves of the privilege. A considerable number of sections in the town of Tauranga, the whole of those in the town of Te Awamutn, and the greater portion of those in the town of Newcastle (Ngaruawahia), offered for sale were dis posed of. Only a few of the Te Aroha suburban lots found purchasers, and none of the rural lots. Farms varying from 130 acres to 48 acres, pub up at L2 an acre, did not elicit a bid, although the land bordered on the river and was of good quality. A Legal Intruder. —At the reaper and binder contest yesterday one of the ex ponents of “ equity and good conscience ” made his appearance on the convincing ground. There was no particular objec tion to his appearing there by himself, but when he was accompanied by a steed with prominent ribs and a ewe neck, lie naturally drew the attention of the marshals of the several competing ma chines to his unexpected intrusion. After several expeditions in various parts of the paddock he met one of the officials, who is as well known for his shortness of tem per as the limb of the law is for his pro ficiency in discovering nonsuit points, and the equestrian was ordered off the ground with very short notice. He appeared to consider that as “an officer of the Supreme Court ” he had a locus standi anywhere he liked to wander. A slight “diversion” ensued during which the nonsuit man’s horse played up and the rider performed sonic equestrian exercises quite unknown to any of Chiarini’s ablest performers, one being a graceful effort to sit on the animal’s ears. The marshal eventually got him out of the way of the knives of the Osborne machine, and Don Quixote and llosinante subsequently fell into the hands of our old friend Joseph Hunt, who gave him prompt notice to quit, and he finally left the ground, and was last seen travelling as fast as the framework would carry him to look up the authorities on assault, with a view to future iircocedings. A Tribute to Mr. Gladstone. —The Earl of Rosebery, presiding at' Mr Glad stone’s mass meeting in Edinburgh, paid the following tribute to the venerable leader of the Liberal party in Britain : “Full of years and honors—(hear, hear) — followed in his career by his country with a strange mixture of tenderness and pride, at an age when body and mind alike in vite repose, an illustrious statesman has come down to fight one supreme battle in the cause of freedom. (Cheers.) He has passed through one long series of well ordered triumphs from his home in Wales to the metropolis in Scotland. There has been no village too small to afford a crowd to meet him ; there has been no cottager so humble that he could not find a light to put in his window as he passed; mothers have brought their babies to lisp and hurrah ; old men have crept forth from their homes to sec him before they died. (Cheers.) These have been no prepared ebullitions of sympathy—(hear, bear) —these have been no calculated de monstrations. The heart of the nation has been touched. (Cheers.) And, gentlemen, wo to-day have nothing to do with the special business which has brought Mr. Gladstone down to Scotland. It is not an ilectoral meeting. We are here to-day, electors and non-electors, Liberals from every part of the United Kingdom—(cheers)—one with another come to pay respect to the intellect which has inspired our Liberalism, and to the leader who has led our parry to victory. (Cheers.) On the colors of 1868, which were borne to triumph, his name is in scribed ; and though those colors are tat tered now, they are none the less his colors for all that. (Hear, hoar.) Others may enjoy the place—others do enjoy the place and the power which he held so worthily then ; but there is one place and one power which, as none can give him, none can take from him—that is the power of great intellect—(cheers) —moved by the highest virtue and purest patriot ism—(cheers) —and the place is the place in the hearts of his fellow-countrymen. (Loud cheers.) ” The Sale of a Living.— The Arch bishop of York told the following story at the York Diocesan Conference :—What happened in this diocese in one case was tins— A living was bought and the presen tation was sent down to him, with a great number of papers. A.mongst the rest was a letter winch was opened like the rest, having apparently been sent with them for his (the Archbishop’s) secretary to read. It was a very curious letter. It said— “ Dear Dick, —I have bought the living and paid for it. You go as quickly as possible and get instituted, before the thing is much talked about ; and there is an end of it.’’—(Laughter.) Ho directed the secretary to ask an explanation of this very short lobtei - . There was a pause of three weeks, and at the end of it a solicitor wrote back to beg that he might be furnished with the letter. In these latitudes they did not part with original documents (laughter) and they told him so. A fortnight elapsed, and the same solicitor wrote for a copy of the letter, which, they rejoined, after the explanations would be given him. It was by a pure accident that this matter was found out, and if the gentleman had burnt the letter instead of sending it, they would have known nothing about the plan. He prevented the transaction as a matter of coarse. The waiter in the York refresh ment-room, two days before the man was to be instituted, was the witness of that deed ; and between the glasses of sherry the living was to be bought, and before the end of the week the man was to bo in it. That was the kind of action that brought scandal on the Church. (Ap plause.) ■

TELEGRAPHIC.

LATEST FROM EUROPE. (Renter s). London, Jan 26 Adelaide wheat is declining, and is to day quoted at 575. per 4961bs ex ware house. Adelaide flour is unchanged at 425. per 2801b5., ex warehouse. The total quantity of wheat afloat for Great Britain is 1,968,000 quarters. With reference to the speech of the First Lord of the Admiralty at Sutton last week, it now transpires that it is pro posed that the British troops in Afghanis tan shall retire from Cabul to Jcllalabad, and the appointment of a British Envoy at Cabul will probably bo waived. Public belief is strengthened in rumor recently circulated that a frontier province would be formed between the Kyber and the Kunnn now that the above facts have transpired. London, Jan. 27. The Duke of Marlborough, Lord-Lieu tenant of Ireland, has refused to dine with the Lord Mayor of Dublin because the latter recently presided at a Home Rule meeting. New York, Jan. 26. Mr. Parnell, the Irish agitator, made a violent speecli to-day, in which he de nounced the formation of Irish relief funds, because they would not afford aid to rent defaulters. The latter, he said, claimed separate nationalty, and the land lords must therefore give way. Washington, Jan. 27. The Senate has confirmed the appoint ment of Dr. Lowell as the United States Minister in London vice Wells.

St. Petersburg. Jan. 26. There is a serious deficiency in the Rus sian wheat crops. The export of corn has largely decreased, and the expediency of importation of American grain is being discussed. (Argus Special .) London, Jan. 26. Ayoub Khan is advancing on Gliuznee. Bombay troops will replace the Bengal troops at Candaliar, the Bengalese returning to Moia via Ghuznec and Cabul. The German Army Bill has created, a profound sensation in Russia. Prince Bis marck and the National Liberals have been reconciled. England, Austria, and France have complained to the Porte of the continued non-fulfilment of the Berlin Treaty re garding Montenegro. Greek and Turkish papers are violently attacking England ou the late Mollah incident. ( Age Special.) London. Jan. 26. In addressing a political meeting at Birmingham, the Hon. John Bright stated that the greatest boon which could be granted to the Irish peasantry would be a modification of the land laws, en abling a move easy acquirement and more secure holding of lands He deprecated the seditious tone of the Home Rulers. London, Jan. 27. Germany has formally warned Italy to refrain from hostile demonstrations against Austria. The latest news from Afghanistan states that Ayooub Khan and Mahommed Jan have united, and intend to entrench them selves near Gliuznee until strong enough to attack Cabul. France has annexed Tonquiu. Lord Salisbury is ill. AUSTRALIAN. (Reuter's.) Sydney, Jan. 27. A man named Ooultham, aged 23, has surrendered himself to the police at Yass, stating that in January 1878, while he was a chemist at Everton, England, he poi soned his wife with prussic acid, weighted the body, and threw it into the Mersey. Shortly afterwards ho emigrated to Aus tralia, and now asserts he is wretched and sees a vision of his wife nightly. Arrived —Arawata, from Auckland. Melbourne, Jan. 27. Grainy yellow sugars have advanced LI. Competition is brisk. Wheat and oats are weaker. Melbourne, Jan, 23. The Ringarooma leaves to-morrow for New Zealand with the inward (December) Suez mails.

PER OUR SPECIAL WIRE INTERPROVINCIAL.

Auckland, Jan. 28. Mi - . Sheehan proceeded to Waikato last night, where he will enter into partnership with Messrs. Whitaker and Grace, to passthrough 309,000 acres of land in Fatere district, most of which is fit for cultiva tion. 50,000 acres are to be sold ou de ferred payment, probably as special settle ments. M ssrs. Whitaker, Douglas, Walker, Rich, Jackson, and others, who have advanced separately on lands, have agreed to combine, and they hope that the Government, which has also advanced, will abandon its claims by arrangement with them. Many blocks overlap, and the natives have taken money from all sides. Groat reductions are being made in the salaries of the Native Office officials, native assessors, and others. Paul, of Orake, will receive a life pension of LIOO a year instead of L3OO salary. Government refuses to abo’ish tolls in many counties. The second tenders for the section of the Waikato-Thamcs lino to the Thames will shortly he called for. . Great dissatisfaction exists that Govern ment lias not replied to a telegram from the Chamber of Commerce, urging the resumption of the railway reclamation contract, as the earth is rapidly silting up the harbor for want of protective works. At the Waste Lands Board yesterday, a resolution was passed approving of grant ing the Tepuko land to Mr. Vessey Stewart. A telegram from the Govern ment desired the Board not to deal with Mr. Russell’s claim to the To Anohama land ponding enquiry. The Board agreed to open the unsold blocks of To Aroha land on deferred payment at L2 per acre. Grauamstown, Jan. 28. The Committee of the Thames Orphan age decided to give an orphan infant, six months old, to a childless married couple who are Protestants, notwithstanding a protest from the Catholic priest and con gregation. The mother of the child died in the hospital, and the child was christened by Episcopalian and Catholic priests. The latter cla'ms it. It seems the child is illcgitima ! c, and the Catholics say they will got the father to claim it. It is likely there will be trouble over the matter, A child two years old had a wonderful escape from death by drowning last even ing It appears a disused well, 30 feet deep, had a defective covering, through ■winch the child fell, and after some minutes a man was lowered by a rope. He grasped, the child under water, and sustained himself against the sides of the well. Taking off the rope, he fastened it to the child, which was taken to the sur face. The rescuer was subsequently taken up. The child was attended to, and recovered. Normandy, Jan. 28. Major Gordon and 92 men arrived at Kaikaki from Opunake on Monday after noon, making in all 200 men under Col. Roberts. The camp is cleared and in good order, and the men hard at work at the road. No native visitors are about and the men arc exceedingly well conducted. The camp is much pleasanter since the rain of yesterday morning. Wellington, Jan. 23. Honi Molua Tawhai has resigned his appointment as one of the Royal Commis sioners on native affairs. It is understood that his avowed reason for the course he has taken was dissatisfaction at the re stricted functions of the Commissioners. That they did not compass all that was required for the satisfactory exposition of the differences that sundered the Maoris and Europeans, and altogether avoided the main issue—confiscation of Maori territory ; and, moreover, that the Com missioners recognised the legality of the confiscation. Westport, Jan. 28. The heavy floods in the river on Mon day carried away the Koranui Company’s bridge lately erected. The perjury case, Johnston v. O'Connor, in the R. M. Court, was dismissed. Christchurch, Jan. 28. The New Zealand Shipping Company have declared the r.ite of freight for wheat to London at 50s. per ton. Mr. Frederick Thorne, of Rangiora, a very old colonist, died this morning. He had ailing for some time. The projected fete in aid of the Irish fund has been abandoned. The Municipal Conference held its first meeting this afternoon. The only busi ness was passing of two resolutions—one affirming the desirability of forming a New Zealand Association, and the other requesting the co-operation of all the Boroughs in the Middle Island. Further proceedings were postponed till answers are received from the Municipalities in this Island. Dunedin, Jan. 28. At the inspection of Volunteers last night there were 750 men on parade. Colonel

Scratchley . dwelt strongly on tlie necessity for day drill if Volunteers were to be made efficient. A wool sale was held by Mr. Donald Stronach, on behalf of the New Zealand Loan and Agency Company (Limited) at the Otago Wool Stores to-day, when about 800 bales were disposed of at satisfactory prices. Greasy cress-breds fetched up to 12d. per lb., and merino up to 12|d. Washed descriptions were also well com peted for, and realised up to I7jd. for cross-breds, and 19d. for merino. The next sale by the Company has been fixed for February. The mixed Wesleyan Conference re assembled at 10 a. in.' Financial affairs occupied the attention of Conference all day. Reports of the Mission, Educa tional, and General Connexional Trust Properties were adopted. Permission was given for the sale of the church property in Manners street, Wellington, also for the sale of the Terrace parsonage in the same city. Sanction was given to the formation of a limited liability company to manage the affairs of the book concern in Christchurch, capital L2OOO, in shares of L 5. Reports of the Rook Committee and of the “If. Z. Wesleyan” were adopted. The Rev. J. Armitage was re appointed editor. The eleventh half-yearly meeting of shareholders of the Colonial Bank of New Zealand was held this afternoon, G. M‘Lean, Esq., in the chair. The directors’ report was read for the half year ending 3ist December last, and the balance sheet was also submitted. The net profits, after deducting interest paid and accrued for fixed deposits, all ex penses of management, rent, and other charges, and after rebating allbills current, and providing for all ascertained bad debts, amount to L 17,511 Gs. Id. Bal ance of profit and loss for previous half year, L 2,045 18s. Id. making a total of L 19,597 4s. 2d., which the Directors propose to be appropriated as follows : To Reserve Fund (in compliance with the stipulation of clause 106 of the deed of settlement) LI,OOO ; to payment of divi dend of 8 per cent, per annum on the paid up capital, L 15,998 10s. 5d ; balance to be carried forward to next half-year, L 2,558 13s. 9d. By to-day’s mail applications under the nominated system of immigration for 44 souls were forwarded home. A man named Alex. M’Donald had his right leg broken to-day. He was slinging iron castings from the hold of the lighter Dunedin, when the case fell on him. Three publicans at Blueskiu were fined 40s. and costs at the City Court for keep ing unstamped measures. At the Heads, the ship Wellington, with 400 immigrants. Seven hundred and fifty Volunteers at tended the inspection by Colonel Scratch ley last night, who distributed prizes won at the Rifle Association’s meetings. Colonel Scratchley and Major Sargood, of Victoria, strongly deprecated drilling men in halls at night. On dit that the tramway proprietors offered to pay L4OO before the proceedings were taken re the Castle street accident. .The “ Star ” states the Dunedin tele graph operators who went out on the strike have been fined LSO. At the Dunedin School Committee election the Free Thought party mustered in force and turned the tables on the Bibles in Schools Association and the re ligious party. Their two candidates occu pied first and third places on the poll— Bolt receiving 434 votes, and Low 159. Ramsay, Dick, Nathan, and Livington, ex members, were returned lowest. W. S. Stewart was among the rejected. Great diversity of opinion existed as to the value of cumulative voting. Mr. Stout strongly supported it, saying, though opposed to it at first, the more he saw of it the better he liked it. Several Com mittees in the suburbs intend bringing the compulsory clauses into operation.

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN OAMARU.

[BY TELECiiAMI.] Oamaiiu. Jan. 28. The most destructive fire which has yet taken place in Oainaru, commenced to-day, at half-past 12 o’clock, in Messrs. Bailie and Humphrey Is warehouse. With in a few minutes the flames burst through tlie roof, and it was at once evident that nothing could stay their progress. The buildings forming a portion of the Queen’s Hotel were composed of wood, and efforts were made to remove all the timber in Craig and Co.’s timber yard, lying near the fire, and so prevent the flames spread ing in that direction, while scores of will ing hands were busily engaged in remov ing the furniture and stock from the hotel. Bailie and Humphrey’s store, and the small shops on south side. The fire brigade attended quickly, but want of water greatly interfered with their useful ness. With alarming rapidity the flames spread from the store where the fire ori ginated to the back fiortion of the Queen’s Hotel. Within a few minutes the whole of this part of the buildings was en veloped in flames. The roof of the store soon fell in, which was quickly followed by that of the rear part of the hotel. The progress of the fire at Bailie and Hum phrey's was checked by a s’one wall, and it was hoped the stone wall of the main part of the hotel would prove equally effective in that direction, but the flames were carried under the roof by the breeze. From the roof of the hotel the flames spread to the north of Bailie and Humphrey’s store, whore a bod} 7 of men was stationed, and by applying water kept the flames from doing much damage. On the south side of the Queen's Hotel two small shops were situated, occupied hy Murray, bootmaker, and M‘Bride, tobacconist. They fell an easy prey. The whole of the interior of the hotel was burned clean out, leaving nothing but walls standing. The flames spread no further, but a vast amount of damage was done. The fire, probably, originated in a bakehouse ad joining the store in which it was first discovered. The amount of insurance on the buildings and stock is LII.BGO, of which, probably, LSOOO will have to be paid by the companies involved.

WOOL AWARDS AT THE EXHIBI TION.

, (by TELEGRAPH.) Wellington, Jan. 28. The following is a list of the awards granted to New Zealand wool at the Exhi bition •—■ Division B—Wool (in grease) from any variety of sheep other than merino : Sub-class 26—Six ram lioggetts’ fleeces, unskirted.—Commended, D. McNicholl, Auckland. Sub-class 27—Six ewes, fleeces, un slcirted.—First prise, James Wallace, Auckland. Sub-class 23—Six owe lioggetts’ fleeces, unskirted. —First prize, Chas. Reid. Supplementary competitive exhibition— Division G—Wool in grease, other breeds: Sub-class 25—Six rams’ fleeces, uu skirted. —Highly commended, W. 11. Watt and Baker and Allison. Sub-class 26 —Six ram lioggetts’ fleeces, unskirted.—Highly commended, W. H. Watt and Owen and Dethridge. Sub-class 27—Six ewes’ fleeces, ua skirted.—Hisdily commended, W. H. Watt. Sub-class 30—Six ram lioggetts’ fleeces, unskirted.—Highly commended, W. H. Watt. Sub-class 31—Six owes’ fleeces, un skilled. —Highly commended, W. H. Watt. Sub-class 32—Six owe lioggetts’ fleeces, uuskirted.—Highly commended, W. H. Watt.

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Per Wakatipu at Wellington. (by telegraph.) Sydney. Trickett received information by the San Francisco mail that Hanlon visits England during the coming season, to retain the trophy won frmn Elliott. Canon Smith, of Bathurst, is .about to visit England, and has undertaken to deliver ten lectures on Hew South Wales. At the meeting of the Cricket Associa tion < n the 19th, a letter was read from the manager of the team for England con tradicting rumors that the team is not likely to go. Lilly white is arranging matters in England on behalf of the team. At the executions Scott died instantane ously. Bogan struggled ten minutes. Scott wrote incessantly the greater part of the preceding night. At the first interview with his mother and sister Bogan behaved brutally, using disgusting language. South Australia. Freights are lower. Iron ships, GOs ; wooden, Cd. loss. Weather very hot, and several bush fires raging. One at Port Elliott threatened to destroy the township, and burnt the gardens, haystacks, and grass of the town ship. The steamer Seine left Banjocwangi on Saturday the 17th, paying out the dupli cate cable to Port Darwin. The missing brig John Wesley, _from the Solomon Group, was spoken off'New castle on the 19th under jury masts, but declined assistance. Queensland. On the reopening of the schools on the 20th, the Boman Catholic children were noticeably absent. At the half-yearly meeting of the Queensland Insurance, the recent move ment to wind up was generally deprecated, and the report was adopted. The heaviest floods known occurred on the Daintrco river. Cedar logs and bullocks were washed away, and appre hensions respecting the cedar-getters’ safety prevail. Victoria. Subscriptions to the Irish Relief Fund continue to flow in, and the Committee hope soon to pronounce the receipt of LIO,OOO in contributions. The Australian Agency and Bankmg Corporation declared a dividend of 10 per cent per annum. Mr. Johnston, analytical chemist, finished his analysis of beer in the Qaeenscliff poisoning case, and found enough strychnine in the bottle to poison fourteen men. The Brewers’ Club are taking action in the case, in the interest of the trade. Bush fires are reported in many parts of the country, but no serious damage is done. The highest heat registered in the country to-day was 110 in the shade.

THE REAPER AND BINDER CONTEST.

G The clerk of the weather must be a bosom friend of the Secretary of the A. A. and Pastoral Association, the weather being made to order for the occasion of the Reaper and Binder Contest. Mr. Jameson, who has been untiring in his efforts to make everything go off well, deserved the success he achieved for the Association. The contest took place in a paddock of Mr. Hay T. Smith’s, close to town. The crop was wheat, and each machine was allotted two sections, the first experimented on being a fine crop of purple tuscan wheat, and an acre and a quarter was measured off for each machine. The second trial being in a field of Hunters white, both crops being equal in growth, and about 50 bushels to the acre, and standing very evenly about sft. 3iu. in height throughout. At 10 o’clock a start was made, and the following is a programme of the competitors, and the officers of the Association, who superin tended the arrangements. Committee—Messrs. H. T. Smith, Joseph Hunt, F. T. Mayo, E. Saundeis, and W. J. Silcock. Judges—Messrs. H. W. Parsons, F. B. Passmore, and T. Black. Consulting Engineer—E. G. Wright, Esq. Machines entered—Wire Binders—The Osborne, 2 horses, Mr. Grace, the Ameri can agent for the machine, driver ; the Wood, 3 horses, Mr. Henry Hunt, driver; McCormack, 2 horses, W. H. Town, driver. String Binders—The Wood, 2 horses, Mr. Freeman, driver ; the Marsh Harvester, with Beering string binder, 2 horses, Mr. O. S. Ellithrope, American agent, driver: the Johnston, 2 horses, Mr. Wilson, driver. The old Wood wire binder had a large number of admirers. Many of the Ash burton farmers having used this machine for three seasons have obtained a thorough knowledge of its capabilities, and appreci ate its simplicity of working and its non liability to get out of order. It has also the recommendation of being cheaper by L 25 than any other in the market. The one on the ground yesterday was in the hands of a local man (Mr. 11. Hunt) who knew his machine, his horses, and the work he had to do, and as a consequence he cut his plot in a workmanlike manner. The McCormack was a great favorite here last year from the case with which it could bo converted from a wire binder, by attaching a platform, into a hand bind ing machine, and in this contest it proved itself capable of doing good work in a heavy crop. The Osborne, which was yesterday piloted by the agent of the makers, is a machine which, from its sim plicity and easy management, combined with a very light draught, lias been by many looked upon as the best of the wire binders extant. It performed the allotted work in a most satisfactory way in the first block. Of the string binders, it is bard to say too much in praise of the ingenuity dis played by the Yankee in providing for the farmers a want which has only manifested itself since the advent of the self-binder. That the want has been supplied by no less than three manufacturers, was abun dantly evident at the trial yesterday, and we honestty give our opinion that the perfection of machinery now been arrived at, when such ingenuity is shown as is done in these machines. The Johnstone, which took first prize in the contest near Christchurch on Monday, was unfortunate yesterday, one of the arms breaking when about half her first section was operated on ; and before the broken piece could be repaired, all the others had finished. The knot made on the string by the Johnston is an ordinary overhand one, and the tension on the band can bo altered to give either a slack or a very tight band, at the option of the driver. This is, however, a feature in all the string binders. The only perceptible difference in the knots of the different machines is that the Marsh and Wood tie with a loop, while the Johnston pulls the loop through, and cuts it so as to make it into an ordinary knot. The time occupied by each machine on the allotments was as follows : On the first section, in the purple tus can wheat, the allotments being one and a quarter acre— STRING BINDERS. hrs. mins. Johnstone ... ••• 1 16 Bcering ... ... ... 1 17 Wood 1 20 WIRE BINDERS. hrs. mins. M'Cormack ... ... ... 1 8 Wood ... 1 17 Osborne ... ... ... 1 23 On the second trial in a very similar

field of Hunter’s white measured ott m acre blocks, the time was— STRING BINDERS. lira. mins. Peering ••• 1 20 Wood 1 26 Johnstone ... ... ••• 1 29 WIRE BINDERS. hrs. mins. Wood 1 11 M'Oonnack'... ... jB.. 1 12 Osborne ... ... "'•••. 1 I^. The judges had great difficulty in awarding the honors, as the work done by all was beyond anything we can say in praise of the various machines. The Johnstone was unfortunate throughout, a small, and to the uninitiated apparently insignificant part of the binding gear, giv ing way early in the first trial, that caused a delay by which the machine was compelled to remain idle whilst the others were finishing their work, and during the second trial a large number of untied sheaves were delivered, the cause being, so far as our reporter could see, not from any intrinsic fault in the machine, but from the haste the driver displayed in trying to finish in good time. The mechanism which ties the knot is intricate, but at the same time, from its slow motion and smooth manner of work ing, is not, we should consider, liable to derangement. The Johnston took first prize in Christchurch, as we have men tioned, and must have done better work there than it did in the Ashburton. I’he Marsh Harvester, -with the Deering string binder attachment, was throughout the day the centre of attraction. The work it did was the perfection of agricultural work in the shape of harvesting, and every farmer on the ground was delighted to see that there was a machine in the market for next year’s harvest capable of saving his grain in good time, and leaving the straw so as to be utilised in the winter without the danger of killing his horses and cattle from the effects of taking a dose of wire. We con sider the Marsh Harvester, with the Deer ing twine binder, is to be the machine of the future. In these days, when im provements and invention are so rapid, it is hard to say what the ingenious. Yankee will supply us with when we want a new labor saving appliance, but we fancy that the top rung of the ladder was very nearly reached in binding machines when this one was invented. The Judges in arriving at a decision between the Johnston and the Marsh were of opinion that the work done by both machines was excellent, and the work manship of them was equally good; but they gave their decision on the ground that the Marsh-Deering was the simplest, its draught the lightest, and the tying was also in its favor. r' It may be interesting to our local farmers to know that Messrs. Friedlander Bros., of this town, have been appointed agents for the Marsh-Deering machines, and will take orders for next year’s harvesting operations. The Wood string . binder did good work, but was not to be compared ' with the other machines, and the tying was slacker and as a whole the machine did not seem to be so reliable a farming implement as the other two. In the wire binder the old competitors of last, year again did battle, and of the three the McCormack had a long way the best, of it, and the, Osborne as much the worst of the trial. Wood coming in midway. This result, however, cannot be looked upon as a final decision as to the qualifications of the three machines. All have been tried in the district and all have tludfefdmirers and champions, and for part we have a sneaking kindness , towards the much despised Osborne of yesterday, for . the simplicity of machinery, and the absence of any gear likely to puzzle a farmer not well up in engineering. The Wood lias also any number of farmers in the Ashburton ready to swear by it as the most reliable, and to cost less for extras and repairs during harvest. But the M‘Cormack was not to be denied, and, barring the wire objec tion, the work done by this machine well deserved the gold medal it gained. Among other implements shown on the ground was a Yankee gang plough, by Carr and Hobson. It was not by any means the kind of tool we see produced in prints of “Hums at the plough,” or the sort of article shown to us in pictures, intended to give the schoolboys of the present day an idea of how the Israelites of old used to do their breaking up. This now plough is in fact a comfortable kind of a vehicle, upon which the ploughman perches himself and drives his pair, en joying a drive, and doing the farm work at the same time, and it does its work well, that is, on ground to suit it-light stubble land, which only wants tickling. But we do not for one moment believe that, in the matter-of-fact work of break ing up tussock land,, especially on stony ground, the gang plough will become a farming implement in Ashburton. One feature ; .n the day’s performance we are proud - o record —the unanimous opinion of all pi isent on the superiority of the Hew Zealan ; twine made from native fibre. This is, if course, another induce ment towards meal industry, as we have plenty of flax in this district to encourage the starting of works for the conversion of the raw material into marketable rope and twine, to say nothing of what might follow in the shape of sacks, matting, &c. The proprietor of the crop, that genial old soul Hay Smith, was so delighted with the day’s work, that he offered to give the Association another paddock at Green street’s in a fortnight’s time, and give them a ton pound note to go there. Slay his shadow never be less. Creature comforts were dispensed during the day by that best of providores : Mr. T. Quill, and the heat of the day ap peared to influence the lemonade market to a considerable extent,’ but stocks were forthcoming to meet all demands. A first class luncheon was also provided for the Committee by the same purveyor.

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

o ASHBURTON— Tuesday, Jan. 27. (Before Mr. F. Guinness, R.M.) DRUNK. Charles Evans, alias Piccolo Charley, was charged with having been found drunk. Sergeant Pratt proved the offence, and defendant was fined 10s. Piccolo then made application for his property, consist- , iug of a two-bladed knife and some valuable colors. The police were in structed to return all property belonging to aim. USING OBSCENE LANGUAGE. Chas. Evans was charged with obscenity, and Sergeant Pratt proved the offence. Constable Farmer corroborated the Ser geant’s evidence. The defendant'was sworn, and said that since his last discharge he had been work ing at Lagmohr. He was quite sober on the occasion referred to in the charge, and had not used any such language as that imputed to him. He had been brought up in too good a school to use any obscene . language. M The Magistrate considered the chaigc , " proved, and said that as drink was no excuse*' for the offence committed, prisoner be fined 10s. and costs, or twenty-four hours. NO MEANS OF SUPPORT. George Douglas, an old man, was charged with having no visible means of support. Sergeant Pratt stated he had been in the Old Men’s Home, and had been turned out. ; ; i S. Maddisou, muster of the Home, said the accused was not turned out, but he had left voluntarily, and the rules of the Home wore that he could not admit those who had gone without leave. He had

THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 29, 1880.



LABOR MARKET. REGISTRY OFFICE FOR MASTERS AND SERVANTS, AT THE ‘ EVENING HERALD ” OFFICE. Farmers requiring hands can engage men through the “ Evening Herald ” Registry for 1/- each, prepaid. LABORERS REQUIRING SITUA TIONS can engage through the “ Herald ” Registry Office by paying 1/-. SERVANTS REQUIRING SITUA TION S can get them by applying at the “Herald” Registry Office, and paying !/-• ENGAGEMENTS will be POSTED UP every day at 12 noon and 4 p.m., by numbers given to the applicants, who will learn the address on enquiring. SPECIAL or URGENT WANTS will be inserted in the “ Evening Herald ” in the registry column on paymient of Six pence additional in advance, for each issue. Further Particulars on application at the “EVENING HERALD” REGISTRY OFFICE. SAUNDERS’ BUILDINGS, BAST ST~ ASHBURTON. "TTtTANTED, those in search of employ- W ment, to call and either enter their names at Herald Registry Office, on pay ment of Is. LABOURERS requiring work can secure first opening by applying early at Herald Registry Office, on pay ment of Is. SERVANTS requiring situations, call and get your names entered in the Herald Registry, Is. EMPLOYERS requiring any kind of laborers can engage through Herald Registry Office, on payment of Is. in ad vance. xn a w a P 3 < & O i !NK gj Ml run iswl a e -« f i-3 o INK for Stencil Plates and Bag Marking, in quart bottles ready for use, on sale at the HERALD AND GUARDIAN OFFICE, NEAR RAILWAY STATION. RECEIPT and DELIVERY BOOKS for Threshing Machines, Grain, and Goods PRINTED on SHORTEST NOTICE. “ ” ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION IN ADVANCE. /|S. paid by the 31st January, obX. -i 1880, will be a SAVING to sub scribers, of Gs. on the year’s subscrip tion. pi "I AS. for the Guardian sent by c&X Xvf post,paidby the3lst January, 1880, will be a SAVING to yearly sub scribers of Gs. WEEKS & DIXON, Publishers and Proprietors, Ashburton, Near Railway Station. ALMANAC for 1880, printed on a neat card, with Ashburton Direc tory, Postal and Railway Guide, can be obtained gratnitiously at the “ Guardian ” Office. WOOD’S REAPERS AND BINDERS. THE undersigned is prepared to RE CEIVE ORDERS for the above. F. PAVITT, Ashburton. Agent for John Anderson, 983 a—442 g Canterbury 7 Foundry. NEW TAILORING ESTABLISH MENT. CRAIGHEAD & Co., MERCHANT TAILORS, HAVE opened those premises situated in Tancred street adjoining Messrs. Grr and Co’s General Store. A SPLENDID ASSORTMENT OF TWEEDS, FANCY GOODS, &c., &c., JUST ARRIVED. Mr. Craighead’s experience as Head Cutter in connection with First Class Tailoring Establishments in Edinburgh and San Francisco has extended over a period of ten years, and from the immense success which has always attended his efforts to please, he is prepared to guarantee a perfect fit in every case. TANCRED STREET, (Next Orr and Cx’s.) CRAIGHEAD & CO. 982 a THE - ASHBURTON GUARDIAN. ADVERTISEMENTS received for tha GUARDIAN up to 9 p.m. at the jgcale charges, afterwards at double rates for insertion over the leader .



MESSRS. H. MATSON AND GO., AUCTIONEERS, &0., Hold fortnightly stock SALES at Ashburton and Tinwald. Next sale at Tinwald, TUESDAY, February 3rd, 1880. 0. PERCY COX, 427g* Agent, Ashburton. BARLEY*. fIJHE Undersigned are Purchasers of jL very choice samples of Bailey. 430g* * ROYSE, STEAD, & CO. REAPERS AND BINDERS. THE Uundersigned have still on hand a few IMPROVED REAPERS AND BINDERS, at specially low rates. Farmers can be supplied, and payments arranged for after harvest. ROYSE, STEAD, & CO., 419g-' Christchurch.