SHIPPING.

PORT OF LYTTELTON. Arrived. Yesterday. Awaroa, schooner, from Waitapu. Speedwell, barque, from Newcastle. To-day. Hawea, s.s, from Wellington. Eotomahana, s.s., from Port Chalmers. Sailed. Yesterday. Go-ahead, s.s., for Amur! Bluff. Aratapu, brigantine, for Ivaipara. Saucy Lass, schooner, for Wellington. Owake, schooner, far Timaru. Elizabeth Curie, schooner, for Picton. To-day. Hawea, s.s. for Akaroa, Oamaru, and Dunedin. ■— SHIPPING TELEGRAMS. Auckland, Yesterday. Arrived —Midge, schooner, from Fiji. Wellington, Yesterday. Arrived —Hawea, s. s., from Picton ; Kiwi, from the East Coast; Prince Alfred, three-masted schooner, from Lyttelton. Sailed —Kiwi, for the East Coast ; Wakatu, for Nelson. Port Chalmers. Yesterday. Arrived —Taiaroa, s.s., from Timaru; Tararua, s.s., from Sydney, via Coast. Melbourne, Yesterday. Arrived —Te Anau, s.s., from the Bluff. Sydney, Yesterday. Arrived —Wakatipu, s.s., from Welling ton Adelaide, Yesterday. Arrived —P. and O. Company’s steamer Cathay, from Galle, with the inward Suez mail, dated London, November I9th.

MAIL NOTICES.

Mails close at the Chief Post Office, Christchurch, for the following places (subject to necessary alterations) as under • Friday, December 24. For Northern Ports, per Penguin, at 7.30 p.m. ; guard’s van, 8.30 p.m. train. A supplementary mail per Penguin for late fee letters only will bo closed on Saturday, 25th December (Christmas Day), at 7-30 p.m. Friday, December 31. For the United Kingdom, via San Fran cisco, &c., as under :—Money orders and registered letters, at 5 p.m.; books and newspapers, at 9 p.m.; ordinary letters, at 10 p.m. A supplementary mail will be closed at 7 p.m. on Saturday, January, 1, 1881. Late fee letters may be posted in the guard’s van attached to the 8.30 p.m train on Saturday, January 1.

On Saturday, December 25th (Christ mas Day), all branches of the Post Office will be closed. On Saturday, Ist January (Nc\v_ Year’s Day), all branches of the Post Office will be closed.

Mails close at the Ashburton Post Office, as follows :

For Christchurch and North at 5.30 a. m. 10 a.in., and 5 p.m., daily. For Chertsey Rakaia, &c., at 10 a. ra. and 5 p. m. daily. For Dunedin, Tinwald, Winslow, Hinds, i&aldstream, 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 G a.m., 10 a.m., and 4.20 p.m., daily. For Greenstreet, Ashburton Forks, Mount Somers, and Ashburton Gorge, on Tuesdays and Fridays, at 10.30 am. 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—

From Christchurch and Rakaia at 10.25 a. m., 4.35 p. m., and 7.50 p. m. From Chertsey, &c. at 10.25 a.m. daily. From Dunedin and intermediate places at 5.35 p. m. daily. Frsm 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.

DAILY MEMORANDA.

AUCTION SALES. To-morrow, Friday, December 24. Mr. T. Bullock—Usual Weekly Sale. Quill and Co. —Usual Weekly Sale.

Friday, December 31. Mr. T. Bullock, at his rooms, East street —Freehold and Leasehold Property. Two o’clock.

Tuesday, January 4. Quill and Co., Monthly Sale, Mount Somers.

MEETINGS, AMUSEMENTS, &c.

To-Night, Thursday, December 23. Concert, in aid of the Borough School Prize Fund, Town Hall ; commence at 7.30 p.ra. Monday, December 27. Fire Brigade Carnival, Town Hall, at 8 p.m. Wednesday, December 20. Borough Council, at Borough Council Chambers, at 7 o’clock. Monday, January, 3. Upper Ashburton Road District—Annual Meeting of Ratepayers, Road Board Office, at 12 noon. Tuesday, January 4. Longbeach Road Board—Annual Meeting of Ratepayers, Road-Board Office, at 12 noon.

Wednesday, January 5. County Council, at the County Council Chambers, at 11 o’clock. Thursday, January G. Mount Soxnors Road Board Annual Meeting of Ratepayers, Schoolhouse, Mount Somers, at 12 noon. Wakanui.Road District—Annual Meeting of Ratepayers, at the office of the Agri cultural and Pastoral Association Show Grounds, at 12 noon.

TRAVELLERS’ GUIDE.

Trains Leave Ashburton for Christ church and intermediate stations at 6 a.m., 10.30 a.m., and (Express) 5.48 p.m. Tears s. 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 Timaru. Trains Arrive at Ashburton from Christchurch at 10 24 a,m. (Express), 4.35 p.m., and 7.50 p.m. Trains Arrive at Ashrurton from Timaru and South at 10.15 a.m., 5.34 p.m. (Express), and 8.15 p.m.

The Ashburton Guardian. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1880.

TOWN EDITION. [issued at 5 m. ]

Work. —The Surveyor to the Mount Somers Road Board advertises in this issue for tenders for certain protective works.

Weekly Sales. —In consequence of Saturday being Christmas day, Mr. Bullock and Mr. Quill will hold their usual weekly sales to-morrow. Holiday Train Arrangements. —ln this impression of the Guardian will be found an advertisement containing the train arrangements for Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Beaten. —The compositors’ strike in the Lyttelton Times Office, Christchurch, has terminated. Finding no chance to carry their point, the men applied to be taken on again. In many cases the application was granted, but some were refused. Free Travelling. —We learn, by tele gram from Dunedin that the Hon. R. Oliver has agreed to grant free passes over the railways to delegates attending ' the fire brigades convention .to be held at Wellington on January 24th. The Union s.s. Company have also granted a conces sion in the fares.

Frightened at the Tram. —A serious coach accident occurred in Wellington yesterday afternoon. While Cobb’s coach from Foxton was passing through town, the horses shied at the tram and bolted. The vehicle., came into collision with a verandah, and the driver, named Maher, was thrown out, the wheel passing over him and breaking several ribs. He also received other injuries of a serious nature. The passengers escaped unhurt. Leaving the District.— To-day, Mrs. Thompson, or as she is better known here, Lizzie Lizette, left for Christchurch, en route, for Sydney. Mrs. Thompson, during her stay in Ashburton, has never been backward in lending her services to help our local amateurs, and to the valu able assistance she has rendered them is due in no small measure the results they have lately achieved. We are sure her numerous friends in the district will heartily wish her a successful caieer in the colony to which circumstance have called her.

That Circus. —The “ sun-eclipsing big show” appears to have been the cause of trouble in the course of its journeyings through the country. Yesterday we pub lished a telegram from Auckland, stating that the landholders round about the site granted for the use of the Circus had pro tested against the invasion of their domain by the irrepressible Yankees; and had carried the question into the law courts. Now comes the information that eight valuable draught horses were destroyed on the railway line, near Waimate, on Monday morning by the train conveying the Circus to Oamaru. The horses were the property of J. H. Taylor, a farmer, and strayed on to the line through a gap in the fence.

Professor Haselmayer. The dis tinguished Wizard, Haselmayer, well known in these colonies, paid Ashburton a passing visit last night. The damp evening no doubt interfered with the at tendance, which was not at all in propor tion to the merit of the entertainment. The moderate attendance, however, had no dispiriting effect on the Professor, who went through his performances with as much heartiness as though he had been playing to a crammed house. Most of his tricks were quite new, and the cleverness of their execution eclipse anything we have yet been treated to in this town. The most extraordinary novelty the Pro fessor showed was the automaton Psycho, a figure that plays a most wonderful hand at whist, and the ingenuity of its con struction defies the keenest eye to find out how it works. If the Professor or any one else has any communication with the figure to control its movements, it is so perfectly concealed as to be invisible to everyone in the audience, no matter how alert. Another specialty was the excel lently trained birds and white mice which the Professor exhibited. These he was able to make dance on a tight rope, swing in a boat, rock in a chair, and do all sorts of tricks, much to the amusement and delight of the audience. , The Professor’s mar vellous manipulation of coins astonished the audience, when, in a trick ho calls “ The Miser’s Dream,” he caught up half crowns from the ficor where theywernt lying, from the air where they were not floating, from people’s pockets that were empty, and from every impossible place. Having placed twenty-five of these magic coins in-a hat, and handed them- to a gentleman for safe keeping, he with drew six of them from the hat before the man’s eyes, closed the hat again, and asked the custodian of the pota'i to count his coins, when to his astonishment, in stead of nineteen, only the full tale of twenty-five were found in the hat. It is impossible to enumerate and describe all the things that were done by the Pro fessor, but when a southern contemporary said the Professor’s entertainment is two hours in. Wonderland, lie.was not far from the truth.

Mount Somers Road District. —The ratepayers of this district will hold their annual meeting on the 6th January, in the,Schoolroom. Mount Somers. Shocking Accident. — A man working at the Woolston steam wool works met with an accident with the machinery this morning, and had his right leg torn oft.

Cricket. —The annual match between the respective teams of the Timaru Herald and the Christchurch Press will shortly be played on the Ashburton ground. A- Nice Boy.—L. B. King, foreman in Austin and Co. ’s shoe factory, Auckland, in an altercation with an apprentice named Storey, was stabbed by the latter wiim a knife in the hand.

Remand. —To-day his Worship 'he Mayor remanded till Tuesday a man named Arthur O’Neil, who was brought up on a charge of stealing a watch, :he property of E. Maclntyre. The alleged, larceny took place in 1879. Sunday Drinking.— Pursuant to pro mise to the deputation from the Grand Lodge of Good Templars a few days agoj the Government have issued a ciro Jar letter to thesuperintendents and inspectors of police, requesting them to do ah. in their power to' put down illegal traffic in drink on Sundays. The Old Men’s Home. —The master of the Old Men’s Home desires to acknow ledge, with many thanks, the receip of ss. from a Friend, 3 bottles of bra ,-.dy and 10 gallons of beer, from Messrs. Fnedlander Bros. L2 (given in tobacco), from Mr. H. Fiedlander, being money re ceived by him for the'lush Relief Fund ; 2 large Christmas cakes from Mr. T. ’. ay lor, confectioner. The ingredients for the Christmas pudding from Messrs. Jrr and Co., 1 gallon of milk from Mr. Rat tray, towards a Christmas treat for the in mates.

CABLE NEWS.

LATEST FROM EUROPE.

(Per Renta's Agency.) Consols. London, Dec. 21.

Three per cent. Consols, 9S :4 ; Adelaide wheat, per 4961135., ex ware house, 495. fid. Another Railway Accident,

A serious railway collision has oc curred at Leeds, by. which over fifty persons have been killed or seriously injured. . Soldiers for Natal. The 50th Regiment has been ordered for service at Natal. Much Disturbed. Limerick, in Ireland,-has been pro claimed a disturbed district. A Panic. New York, Dec. 21. A panic has taken place at Chicago, owing to the numerous grain failures. The price of wheat is falling.

AUSTRALIAN.

(Per Reuter's Agency.) The Markets. New Zealand oats 3s. fid. ; stocks are small. The sugar market is ex cited, owing to advices from London and Paris, which state that the beetroot crop is small. Prices are 255. higher. The Auckland Yacht for the Inter colonial Regatta. Melbourne, To-day. The yacht Taniwha, from Auckland, has been sighted off Wilson’s Promon tory. Political- Government has consented to the adjournment of Parliament until 15th February. The Inter-colonial Con ference will accordingly meet as ar ranged, on the 13th January, at Sydney. On their Travels, A three days’ pedestrian tournament was commenced here last night. Progression. Sydney, Dec. 22. The Telegraph Department has .de termined upon mounting the message boys on tricyles. Information Wanted. Sydney, To-day. The proprietors of the Weekly Bulletin otter a reward of L 1,000 for authentic information as to the fate of Leichardt, the explorer.

NEW ZEALAND

(Per Press Association.} A Bridge on Fire. Auckland, To-day

Yesterday the large railway bridge at Mechanic’s Bay was discovered to bo on fire, but the flames were quickly ex tinguished. They are believed to have originated from a live coal dropped be tween the woodwork by the tender. The Lord’s Prayer in Schools.

The Scripture Gift Association, having asked permission of the Minister of Edu cation to place illuminated cards with the Lord's Prayer and Commandments in public schools, the Government reply that the matter is one to be dealt with by the local authorities.

A Damper. Grahamstown, To-day.

Another test of 4-h tons of quartz from the Bright Smile claim, Te Aroha, is just completed for return of 2ozs. retorted gold. The result is not considered satis factory. The proprietors are desirous of having a reliable test. The miners are returning from the new field for the holi days, and nothing will be done for several weeks. The feeling here is not so sanguine regarding the prospects of the field. Hematite. It is proposed to form a company to word the deposit of hematite found here. Large workshops are to be. erected here at once, and artizans are coming from Eng land. Bankruptcies. Dunedin, To-day. Four small insolvencies have been filed this week. Dead. Mr. John McNeill, for many • years with Briscoe and Company, died rather suddenly to-day.

PRIZE DAY AT THE ASHBURTON SCHOOL.

To-day was the red letter day in the year’s history to the children attending the Ashburton School. The examiners having finished their work, and selected the best, second best, and third best scholar in each class, their report formed the basis on which the awards of the prizes were made. We give below the list as it was supplied to and put in type by us this morning, though we believe some alterations have been made since then, and the actual awards are not in accordance with the ex aminers’ lists.

At three o’clock the children assembled afc-the school and marched to the Town Hall, where, being all seated, and of course occupying all the seat room in the building, the Chairman of the Committee, Dr. Stewart, took the chair. There were

a considei’able number of parents present, and after no little delay in arranging the prize books, the proceedings commenced by the Chairman delivering an address to the children. He said he was that even ing to distribute prizes to the scholars of of the Ashburton School; for the third., time. It was always pleasant to distribute awards of merit, but this year his ardor, had been considerably damped by a report by the Inspector on the condition of the school. Since the school had been ex amined by the rev. gentlemen, and Mr. Ward, who had undertaken the work this year, he bad received letters from each of those gentlemen, in which they showed very conclusively that things were not nearly so black as they were painted. The Chairman then went on to urge the children to new efforts to improve, and in the course of further remarks, said that much could bo done for, them by the parents. He was sorry that so few of the' latter were present that day, as it was not 'a good sign when parents were unmindful of gatherings like the present. He feared that children now-a-’daya were the masters, and the parents, the ser- : vants. The speaker then threw out the suggestion that an Industrial Exhibition should be held in Ashburton, to show what the children could do in the matter of work. After a reference to the kindness of the Committee in giving the children a treat, the Chairman read the respective reports of the examiners, which we will give in another issue.

Rev. Mr. Hands addressed the children. He had to thank, them for making him laugh so heartily last night. He had learned that the Wars of the Roses had taken place in the Holy Land, that Oliver Cromwell had been Archbishop of Canter bury, and that the Himalayas were in Eng land. He would much rather, however, have been quietly pleased than much amused. They did not seem to have a proper notion of what history was, and they were more inclined to preserve in their memories the little anecdotes of history than the great facts. He hoped this would be remedied in the future. Tn re gard to geography, they did not seem to have any very practical notion of what geography was, or of the importance of it. He was sure there were none of them there who would like to have a sailor, brother go to Hong Kong, and not he able to understand to what part of the world he had gone. He wished to impress upon them that both history and geography were of great practical importance, and in study ing them they should bear this in mind. If they were to learn the stories in history lot them do so, but do not separate the stories from those with whom they were connected, but let them study history, so that they may be able to know all about how’ the British Constitution was built up. .

The prizes were then distributed. The following is the

Examiners’ Prize List.

Revs. A. W. Hands, A. M. Beattie, M.A.,C. Fraser, M.A., Mr. J. Ward, ex aminers.

Standard VI.

Dux of the School—Silver medal— Henry Ernest Felton.

Standard V.

English, (Ist Division) —1, Mary Pearce ; 2, Isabella Williamson. (2nd Division), Annie Felton and Emma Fel ton—equal. Merit Reginald Hodder and Ben. Williamson.

Arithmetic —1, G. "Kidd ; 2, George Pilkington, ; 3, Richard Ryan. Geography—l, Reginald Hodder ; 2, Emma Bean ; 3, Weymouth Roberts. Grammar —1, Mary Pearce : 2, Emma Bean ; 3, Isabella Williamson. History—l, Emma Bean ; 2, Reginald Hodder; 3, Annie Felton. Writing—l, E. Tasker ; 2, Emma Bean ; 3, R. Hodder. Standard IV.

English—l, Sophie Shury; 2, Lilly Womer ; 3, Lucy Chapman and William: Murray equal. Arithmetic —1, Lilly Worner ; 2, Thomas Permain ; 3, James Hancox. Geography—l, George Murray ; 2, James Hancox ; 3, Lilly Worner. Grammar—l, H. Tasker ;2, H. Pres ton ; 3, B. Edo. History—l, G. Murray ;2, Lilly Wor ner ; 3, Kathleen Henderson. Writing —1, W. G. Murray ; 2, Henry Tasker ; 3, W; Mitchell. ' Standard lll—lst Division.

• English—l, H. Funks ; 2, Fanny Choate ; 3, Matilda Ward. Arithmetic —l, Matilda Ward ; 2, Thomas Undi’ill ; 3, G. Hoftbrd. Geography—l, Hubert Fooks ; 2, Kate Leggett ; 3, Matilda Ward. Grammar—l, W. J. Puddicombe; 2, H. Fooks ; 3, Lucy Edo. History—l, H. Fooks ; 2, W. J. Puddicombe; 3, Kate Leggett. Writing—l, H. Fooks; 2, Kate Leggett; 3, Annie Bean. 2nd-Division.

English—l, Ethel Andrews ; 2, Edith Bean ; 3, Henry Hardley. Arithmetic—l, Robert Hooke ; 2, Henry Hardley ; 3, Willie Williamson. Grammar—l, Edith Bean ; .2, Winnie Cookson ; 3, Ethel Andrews. Writing—l, Edith Bean ; 2, Ethel Andrews ; 3, Edith Pilkington. 3rd Division English—l, Edith Priciiard ;2, Martha Holborough ; 3, Willie Phelps. Arithmetic—-1, James Orold ; 2, Annie Phelps ; 3, Kate Pearson. Geography-—-1, Edith Prichard ; 2, Ettic Berry. Grammar —l, Edith Prichard ; 2, Moses Dailey , 3, George Barber.- Writing—l, Martha Petty; 2, Alice Hughes ; 3, Hannah Fletcher. Standard 11. English—lst Division—l, Harry Pick ford ; 2, Cassey Lancaster ; 3, Eva Hoare. 2nd Division —1, Hardy Major ; ’ 2, Louise Olsen ; 3, Mary Caird. Arithmetic —I,' Florid Compton; 2, George Ben foot'; '3. Eva Hoare. Geography—l, Stewart M'Callum , 2, Chas. Davis ; 3, Eva Hoare. Writing—l, Mary Ann Addis ; 2, Stewart M'Callum ; 3, Lizzie Nicholson, ■ Standard I. .1 Reading and Spelling—l Margory Wil liamson ; 2, Maggie Shaw; 3, Esther Gates. Writing—l, Maud Williams ; 2, Annie Griflin ; 3, Annie Barber. Arithmetic—l, Maggie Graham ; 2 Margory Williamson; 3, Affaragh Pris toii. Sequel. Reading and Spelling —1 Maggie Tait ; 2, Nellie Graham. Writing—l, Agnes Woolley ; 2, Nellie Marsh. Arithmetic—l, Nellie Graham ; 2, Alf, Dally. Class I.—lst Division. Reading and Spelling—l, C. Ryan and E. Fletcher equal; 2, A. Osborne. Wrighting—l, Ellen Woolly ; 2, F. Leggett. . , Arithmetic—l, Ellen Woolly; 2, Walter. Hardley ; 3, Emily Fletcher. 2nd Division. Reading and Spelling—l, Annie Shand; 2, Godfrey Foley ; 3, Madaline M £ Rae. Writing—l, Frederick Poole ; 2, Annie Shand; 3, Mary Roberts. Arithmetic—l, Mary Roberts; 2, Annie. Shand ; 3, Godfrey Foley. Primer .Class. Reading and Spelling—l, Isabel M‘Gal ium ; 2, Alick Henderson. Writing—l, Norman Orr ; 3, Emma- Empson. Arithmetic—l, Willie Foreman ; 2, Rosie Savage, : Sewing. • : Examiners—The wives and daughters of members of the School Committee. Ist Class—l, .Annie Felton (bag, given by Eyefetfc Bros.) ; 2, Alice Poole ; 3, Matilda Ward. 2nd Class—l, F. 'Wil

liams ; 2, Edith Pilkington ; 3, L.' Trevor. 3rd'Glass —1, Alice Broomfield. •' Knitting—Kate Leggett. Fancy Workk — Lucy C.ookson, and Ruth Leggett. , . Special Prize for Sewing—Emma Bean (presented by Mrs. Dr. Stewart).

Discovery, of Ancient Remains in Rousay, Orkney.

Some interesting researches, which may prove of considerable antiquarian importance, have just been made on the farm of Corquoy, in the valley of Sourin, island of Rousay, of which General Burroughs, C. 8., is proprietor. Immediately above the farm-house a group of mounds is situated, locally known as “ Menzies ’’ mounds a cor ruption of Magnus—and supposed to mark the site of an ancient burial place. These are five in number,, the. largest being irregularly surrounded by four smaller. On carefully trenching the mounds, each was found to con tain a stone burial-place, consisting, in every case, of a top and bottom stone with four side stones, the whole neatly cemented with tempered red clay, pro 1 bably from the Sourin burn. The stones, which were of a flat but massive description, were partly naturally plane on the edge, arid partly roughly chipped into form, possibly with some stone im plement. The fresh appearance of the stones and workmanship was especially noticeable, and the firmly set masonry was further strengthened by irregular blocks placed as buttresses to support the superincumbent weight. The measurement of the largest mound, which was the most interesting, and with the internal details of which the others closely correspond, was —outside circumference, 50 feet, and top 5 feet from surrounding level; inside.of burial place 2Y> feet by 2 feet, and foot depth. The centre of the cavity was almost filled with what seemed to be clay, mixed, with very minute fragments of bone, and the action of fire was clearly visible on the stones as well as on some calcined substance —> probably peat. Imbedded in this clay an oval vessel was found, heaped also with similar fragments of bones, etc., and resting mouth upwards, leastwise north and south. The material of the vessel is uncertain. It has a somewhat metallic appearance, interspersed with glittering points on a dark iron-colored ground. It is of oval shape at the rim, round which there is a kind of plain moulding; from this moulding it assumes a dome like shape, flattening into an oval base, on which it was found resting. The vessel measures —diameter of mouth, by 8 inches; height to top or base, inches; diameter of base, 4 yC, to inches; thickness irregular, but averaging a quarter of an inch. Various cracks are visible throughout, but the only part defective is the base, of which about one-third is wanting. Weight about 3 lbs. The most careful scrutiny failed to detect any further remains in this mound, nor was any thing noteworthy found in the others. Two of the other mounds contained burial places rather squarer in form than the above. The- smallest one measured only 12 by 6.inches,-and no cement .seemed to have. been.used in its construction. Arrangements are being made for placing, the vessel or urn in the-Antiquarian Museum, Edin burgh, when competent judges may be able to fix the date of the mounds or the race to which the remains belong.

The Famine in Persia.

The famine is quite bad here now. The exporters of carpets are employing men to.pave the streets with the money sent to them. Mr. Ward is having a wall built round the church graveyard, and also a chapel is in process of con struction by the poor masons who could not find work elsewhere. I say Mr. Ward is having it done, as he oversees the workmen and pays them every evening, and gives each two pounds and a half of bread. Mr. Wright gives out money amounting to xsdol. a day, in sums from 20 cents to 50, and dis tributes bread to about 400 persons. We have four people in the house. The first one we took was a boy about 10 years old, who was just beginning to beg. Mr. Ward told him to ask his mother if he -could come every day . and open the gate, and we would give him bread, and money to buy bread for his mother • every, day. Fie has been here oyer two months. ' The next one is a boy about 14 years old. He was so nealy starved fha't he had to be carried here. Two days after he came we sent him to find- his father, whom he feared was dead. He found, him in the graveyard, whither he had gone to die, and brought him here ‘to us. Afterward the boy also brought an older brother, - They are very devoted to us now, and are full of what they will do for us this fall when they get work again., - Their- work is. bringing charcoal from the mountains! It is very unpleasant going out on the streets now, for the beggars-catch hold of one’s bridle and cling to - one’s clothing. Yesterday I was obliged to strike a woman hard, with my whip to make her let go of me. Those who are actually starving do not act in that way. In the streets people will run after us calling out “ In the name of the Holy Jesus give us bread !” Some ask for money. Mrs, Oldfather of Ouvmiah, writes: “Women are eating their own children. The smell in the city is terrible, and we fear a plague.” —Fiom a Missionary's Private Letter.

The Westinghouse Continuous Brake.

(From Iron.)

One of the best managed of English railways has taken another step towards ensuring the safety of the human freight carried by it. The directors of tho,t com pany have decided to apply- the Westing house brake, in use on their lines, to the engine as well as to the carriages and tender of express trains. The company would have been saved heavy damages, and their passengers great and in many cases prolonged suffering, incident to recent disasters, if this precautionary measure had been adopted earlier. It is. true that the uncertainty of all safeguardi that human ingenuity is able to provide— however perfect they at first sight may appear—has been too often demonstrated. Yet their introduction will contribute much towards prevention, which, as we all know, is better than cure. If to this be added a more stringent adherence to' regulations laid down for the guidance of railway servants, all that human foresight possibly can do has been done, and we shall in all probability in future hear less of railway accidents than hitherto. The Westinghouse brake is the best at present known for stopping trains within short distances and diminishing their speed. Wo hope the good example of the Mid land Company will be speedily followed on all our principal lines.

THE CHIMNEY CORNER.

MR. SQUAB’S DOMESTIC CRISIS

[Continued. ]

“ With the ■ trusting confidence of girlhood I placed myself in the power of a smooth and smiling villain. No sooner had he led me from the altar than a smile of triumph illumined his fiendishly beautiful countenance, and tearing me from the arms of a loving mother, and severing the holy lies of sisterhood, he bore me to the seclusion of a den, where none could shield me from his inveterate hate and brutality.”

“ Scoundrel!” interpolated Mr. Squab, audibly grinding his teeth. “ Long and patiently I suffered in silence, striving, despite his behavior, to be to him a good and faithful wife.. Oh, how I longed for one who, like you, would wipe away my tears and comfort my aching heart. But still I had to bear my hard lot in utter soli tude.”

“ Solitude it must have been, for what communication of thought or sentiment could exist between your husband a bear and you —an angel !” “A bear he was—cruel, obstinate, morose. At last 1 could support existence with him no longer, and I fled. Then his barbarity knew no bounds, and -he threatened to take the lives of all I hold-dear, and lay me in an untimely grave.” “The villain ! What is his name?” After a little hesitation on the part of the lady, she responded : “ Hem ! Smith !”

“'Smith ? By this hand, if I meet him, he or I shall fall, Mrs. Smith, nevei to rise again !” • : “ Call,.me not by that hateful name, but rather by my maiden application— Vavassour !”

“ Nay, let me call you only Mabel 1” “ Can you call me Mabel, and forget my fearful past ?” “ Oh, think not your past misfortunes prejudice me against you, or else must I appear to you no less 'culpable than you imagine I think you. For "know that, though- youthful, I'' too ant married !”

“Married? O heavens! and j'ou wife ?”

“ Call her not my wife, for she is Mrs.—hem !—Montressor no more !”

“ Poor unhappy boy ! I- can under-, stand the false, dissimulating viper she must have been, who, warmed within your bosom, could turn her venomous fangs against your tender heart, my own Monstressor !” “ Call me Theodore.”

“ The-o dore !”

“ And now forget there lives one in the world bearing the name of Smith, and let me be for ever thy guardian and cherisher. Fly how with me. My brougham is waiting below. Do not hesitate.”

“ Give me time for reflection.”

“Impossible. Fly!” “My heart, my heart! O, guardian spirits, .help me, for I know not how to act.” . ~

“ I ani thy guardian spirit henceforth -and for aye.”

“I feel that you are right.'" Lead me away.” ......

■ For one moment as Mrs. Smith: was into the brougham, Mr. Squab thought of his wife, and looked ner vously at the crowd, almost expecting to see. there her face, and to hear her remark upon what he-feltto be,’despite his Platonic character, a rather impro per proceeding on his part.. But the presence- of a soft- hand,on his as he took.his seat beside Mrs. Smith dis pelled every terror, every thought, of past and future. He rapturously pressed the hand, to his lips, and when they had passed from the crowded streets, and to where the imperfect light-rendered discovery impossible, he again entreated the fair Mabel to unmask, at the same time removing the mask from his own face., Mabel instantly comphedi They gazed ,earnestly at each other in the darkness, and -Love’s torch dispelled the gloom. “ You are more beautiful than my imagination,- prompted, by the lovely, features your envious mask could not conceal, had pictured you,” said Mr. Squab. “ And you,” responded Mabel, “ have the noble lineaments your discourse led me to conceive.”

- Mr. Squab replied by a chaste salute; and then the lady returned to her- woes and business. “I fear with all your noble generosity that: you will repen j the step you have taken, and rbgret that you ever bur dened yourself with the expense of -a broken-hearted woinan,” “ Lovely Mabel, never ! What is poverty to hearts opulent with love ?” : “Oh!” said the lady. . “ True, I am not rich in the vulgar sense.” “ But this brougham , “Is hired only .for the occasion. Thrifty as I am, I could not walk along the.-.streets in this costume. What cares passion for est.ate.or equipage ?” “ Oh !” said the lady. “What are jewels and riches to the priceless gems and treasures of- mutual affection ?” The ladyF sighed, [and Mr. Squab continued:

“ How much does your wretched husband allow you, dearest Mabel ?” “ But a paltry pittance, scarcely sufficient to decently feed and clothe myself and the children as becomes our station in life,” replied Mabel scorn fully. “ Children, did you say ?” asked Mr.

Squab. “ Yes, six little angels.” “ Oh !” said Mr. Squab and he sank back in his corner and began to calcu late how much it would cost to keep twelve children, seven sisters and a mother-n-law, one wife, and a friend, in the necessaries of existence. The calculation was painful, and he did not heed his fair companion’s discourse un til these words struck his ear :

“ Revenge is sweet! You shall tell me what to say when we send back to the wretch the paltry pittance he thinks I need.” “ Don’t you think it would be more Christian-like to take his money and forgive him ?” urged Mr. Squab. “ Never, never ! If you feel incap able of writing such a letter, mamma shall, come and help me.” “Oh !” said Mr. Squab. Then he asked, as one would, having a forlorn hope that his own senses were not to be trusted : “Have you a mother?” “ Yes ; I don’t think I could exist for one day without her. You can’t imagine how clever she is.” “Yes, I can, though. Have you any other near relatives ?” “ Some sisters, darling. I shall be quite-envious if they come to live with us !” “ In that case they had better not come, then, dear.”, “ Oh, I was only in fun when I said I should be jealous. Of course they wont care for you.” “ You may be in fun, Mrs. Smith,” said Mr. Squab, now goaded to despera tion by the contemplation of having to work for a family perhaps numbering forty or fifty, “ but lam in earnest, they shan’t come !” “ They shall,” said the lady quietly, yet firmly. “We shall see,” said Mr. Squa‘b, turning his face to the window. Mr. Squab put his feet on the opposite seat and- whistled cheerfully to show his in difference and resolution, but presently broke off his merry tune to say : “If I’m to be made uncomfortable I might as well have my wife back.” “ And if I’m not to have my own way I might as well go back to my husband.”

“It isn’t very complimentary to put me on a level with that fool.” “ And it isn’t kina to make so small a distinction between me and such an idiot as the woman must have been who married you.” “ Idiot, madam! I’ll let you know she was one of the cleverest women that I ever met.”

“ A deal too clever, I should think. Those very clever women generally make fools of themselves in the end with their dreadful tempers.” “ She was an angel when properly managed. You derive your idea of my wife’s ill-temper, surely, from the recollection of your husband’s bru tality.” “He a brute ! Dear little fellow, he had the patience and tenderness of a lapdog.”- . Ah those amiable people are too stupid to be anything else.” ./ “Stupid! He was the ornament of society. His intellect was perfectly astonishing.” “ My poor little wife ! ” [A sigh.] “ My dear little husband ! ” [A sob.] “ Oh, if you are so fond of him, why don’t you go back to him ? ” “ I would this very moment if he’d Only ask me.”

“ He’s not likely to do that, with the certainty of getting your mother and sisters as well.”

. “ Do you think I’d let them, stand in the -way of reconciliation? No; I’ve long seen the folly of that. It’s irrational to expect a man to tolerate the inter ference of his wife’s relations.” '

“ My wife, I hope, wouldn’t sacrifice her family so heartlessly as that. Is it reasonable that the ties knitted by long years should be suddenly and forever broken ? ” , ;

“ Well, if you think your wife better than another man’s; why .don’t you ask her to live with you ?” “ I have, but she won’t accept .my invitation. Why don’t you ask your husband’s forgiveness it you think the precious flat’s in the right ?” “I have, but he won’t read my -.letters;” ■ '

, “ Allow me to observe, madam, that if your present professions of regard for your husband are true, your late pro testation of affection for me was false.”

“ Not so, I loved you madly ! Even now iiiy heart yearns toward you ; for something in your voice reminds me of my lost darling.” “Very curiously that same con sideration and. the faint resemblance your teeth bear to her. lovely set, fired the passion that still smoulders in my bosom.”

They sank back in their corners, and for some time were lost in melancholy •recollections of the partners of their affections. Then- Mr. Squab, with a profound sigh, murmured : “ Dearest Octavia !” - “ Did you address yourself to me ?” said the lady. ■ “No; I was alluding to my lost wife.” [Sigh.] • “Pardon me [sob], darling Sylvius.” “ What’s the matter ? “ Nothing. I was apostrophizing my late husband.” “Ah, Smith!” “. No, Squab. That is his real name. Disguise is no longer necessary. You must know, Mr. Mpntreszor, my maiden name was not Vavassour, but Jones.” “ Is it possible ?” Mr. Squab hastily put his feet down and turned to the lady ; the lady turned herself toward him.

■ The fly had stopped before .Mr, Squab’s residence, and the lamp placed conveniently at the garden gate shed its ■ effulgence into the brougham, wherefore when the .driver, .haying de scended from the' box,, looked through the window, as he was about to open the door he- beheld the lady and gentle? man in an ’affectionate 1 embraced The flyman was; himself- the father of a family, and a bashful man : so, instead of opening the door, he coughed, and retiring modestly behind the brougham, awaited further orders.— Tinsley’s Ma-

•gastne.

THE ASHBUETON GUARDIAN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1880.



■ Special Advertisements. O. Carstens & Co. (Late Weston’s), PROSPECT BUILDINGS, Tobacconist, fancy goods, AND STATIONERY. Meerschaum Pipes, G.B.D. Pipes Nailrocl, Twist, and Vanity Fair Tobacco Musical Instruments, etc., etc. Haircutting, Shaving and Shampooing. EAST STREET, ASHBURTON.



NOTICE TO ADVERTISERS. All oi’ders for insertion of advertise ments must.be written legibly on the face of the advertisement. When no order is given the advertisement will be inserted until countermanded, and charged accord ingly. All notices of Births, Marriages, or Deaths must be accompanied by the sig nature of the sender, as a guarantee of good faith. All advertisements and business letters to be addressed The Manager ; literary communications should be addressed to The Editor.



■ ’ “ It’s a common remark,” said an absent-minded farmer to a friend, “that misfortunes never come single,, and I have had an extraordinary proof o’ the truth o’t this morning. Some time ago I broke a pipe, and what do you think?—l hae broken anithor ane this very day.” s*. Billy, how did you lose your finger ? “ Easy enough,” said Billy. “ I suppose you did—but how ? ” “I guess you’d a’ lost yourn if it had been where'mine was. ’ .“ That don’t - answer .. my, question.” “Well, if you must know.,” said Billy, 11 1 had to cut it off, or else steal the trap,” . . . .Holloway’s Pills.— The extraordinary change of temperature prevailing in our climate is extremely trying to the delicate-chested, the weak and nervous. All troubled by these afflictions should resolve to resort _ to the strengthening and i egulating medicine immedi ately they perceive in themselves discomfort, of that feeling of restlessness which betokens dis ordered digestion and defective secretion of bile. One of Hollaway’s. Pills taken -about noon and followed at bed-time by a dose suffi ciently large, to act, apperiently will speedily recruit the- faulty functions, and restore order throughout the whole system. A treatment so safe in operation and so' successful in result should be. known , and practised when,, from cold and sundry other causes, disease is at. tempting to gain a vexatious footing.—-Advt.



A lie travels round; the v world, while truth is putting on its boots.



Wanted. WANTED— A good General SER VANT ; references required. Ap ply, Office of this Paper. 803 ’ANTED KNOWN, That HENRY’S PORTRAIT ROOMS, Saunders’ Buildings, East street, Ashburton, are open DAILY, from 9 a.m. till 5 p.m. Portraits taken in any weather. Great Reduction in Price. 606 WANTED KNOWN—That a Church of England minister’s wife writes that she saves Ten Shillings a Fortnight by using -Harper Twelvetrees’ Villa Washer, Wringer, and Mangier, com bined ; and, although she permits no rubbing, the clothes are beautifully white, * and much cleaner than when done by hand, while the saving- in mending has been astonishing. Sold by J. HERN, Range Maker and Importer, corner of Manchester and Tuara streets, Christ church; Price—£9 10s. - 1 . 700 WANTED KNOWN. ' SOMERSET LIVERY AND 'BAIT STABLES. JW*. M‘RAE begs to inform the , public that he has taken the T,bova Stables from Mr. Bossenberg, and is making extensive repairs.- Buggies and saddle horses on hire. Lowest prices and best attention. 908c—286g WANTED KNOWN—Just arrived from England—Christmas, New Year, and Birthday Cards. New Zealand Illustrated Annual, Young Ladies’ Jour nal, and Bow Bells, Is. 6d. 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. Andbe’WES, East street, near Lancaster’s Butchery.' .527 To Let. TO LET—Near the East Belt, TWO ROOMS, with use of copper .and out house. Rent, 6s. a week. Apply, Office of this Paper. , 795 Meetings jyjOUNT SOMERS ROAD BOARD. The ANNUAL MEETING of Rate payers of the Mount Somers District will be held at the Schoolhouse, - Mount Somers, at 12 noon on THURSDAY, January Gth, 1881, for the purpose of laying before the Ratepayers a statement of receipts and expenditure and the Balance Sheet for the past year. Bv order, C. J. WENTWORTH COOKSON, Jun., 805 Surveyor to the Board. UPPER ASHBURTON ROAD DISTRICT. The ANNUAL MEETING of Rate payers of this District will be held at the Road Board Office on MONDAY, January 3rd, at. 12 o’clock noon, for. the purpose of ELECTING THREE MEMBERS id the place of Messrs. D. McLean, M. Stitt, and Arch. McCpll, who retire by rotation, but are eligible for re-election. A Poll, if demanded, will take place the same day, closing at 4 o’clock p.m. ; D. McLEAN, 781 Chairman. Amusements-. TO-NIGHT. fJIHE BOROUGH . SCHOOL. A GO r Will bo given in the TOWNH A L L, ON THURSDAY EVENING, 23rd Dec., BY THE SCHO L A R S OF THE BOROUGH SCHOOL. Doors open at 7. To commence at 7.30. Admission-LDress Circle, 2s. 6d.; Front Seats, 2s. ; Back Seats, Is. j/sS~ Proceeds in aid of the Prize Fund. * 784 NCE R T FIRE BRIGADE Carnival. MONDAY, DECEMBER 27, Under the patronage of his Worship the Mayor and the Borough Councillors of Ashburton T the Directors and Members of the Caledonian Society, and of all the Beauty and Talent of the County. Peogbamme. At 7.30 p.m., the Brigade will march through the town, and at 8 p.m. sharp the Concert will commence at the Town Hall. ■ 1. Overture—Pinaoforte. 2. Song— 3. Scotch Reel, with Bagpipe acom paniment. 4. Glee—“ Hark, the Lark,” Ashbur ton Glee Club. 5. Local Stump Speech. 6. Irish Song and Dance. 7. Bagpipe Solo. 8. Scotch Song. -.. ~ , , ' 9. Pianoforte Solo. 10: Recitation. 11. Glee—“ Sweet and Low.” : : 12. Sword Dance, with Bagpipe accom-. paniment. 13. Double Song and Dance. . . 14. Brigade Song and Chorus. 15. National Anthem, with full chorus. At 10 p.m. a Torchlight Procession will take place, accompanied by Mephistopheles and his-Evil Genius. The procession will march round the town, and a Pyrotechnic Display will be made at the Fire. Brigade Station. Tickets for the Concert may he had from all members of the Brigade. Dress Circle and Chairs, , 4s. j Second Seats, 35.; Back Seats, 25,,. . 799 pUS T RECEI VE D. A Recherche Assortment of CHRIST MAS and NEW YEAR CARDSV also,’ nice selection of TOYS, ALBUMS’, and FANCY GOODS, suitable for thfr Christmas season. • ... H. = M. JON ES, ' STATIONER*’ . East Street and Baring SqDare/; ,'f A large stocks of STATIONERY!!*)i arrive shortly. 710 __ THE GUARDIAN is.published every evening*.!giving)every day’s i\ew3,k up to the. hour of going to press. This is better than buying a sixpenny weekly.



Special Advertisements. mHE BEST VALUE JL FOR READY MONEY IS THE MEN’S AND BOYS’ CLOTHING MANUFACTURED BY THE NEW ZEALAND Clothing Factory, Which can be purchased at their Retail Branches, all over New Zealand. A SINGLE GARMENT AT THE WHOLESALE BRICE. Thousands of the discerning customers testify that the New Zealand Clothing Factory’s Garments are the Very Best Value for Ready Money. Ashburton Branch ; EAST STREET. WM. SPARROW, 751* Manager. K. F. Gray, AUCTIONEER, VALUATOR, STOCK, STATION, AND GENERAL COMMISSION AGENT, TEMUKA. Agent for Standard Insurance Com pany, and Sub-Agent for the Althouse Windmill. Licensed Dealer in Arms and Ammunition. 782 THE GUARDIAN is on every Tea Table in Ashburton.