SHIPPING.

STEAMERS LEAVE LYTTELTON AS UNDER. For Wellington— Wanaka, This Day, Saturday, Jan. 31. Passengers by 6 - 30 p.m. train. To be followed by Taiaroa, Tuesday .... Feb. 3. Foe Napier, Gisborne, and Auckland —Wanaka, This Day, Saturday, Jan. 31. Passengers by 6.30 p.m. train. To be followed by the Ringarooma, Thursday, Eeb. 5. For Port Chalmers— Hawea, This Day, Saturday, Jan. 31. Passengers by 12.10 p.m. train Fob Melbourne, via Bluff— Tararua, on Tuesday, Feb. 3. Passengers by 2.40 p.m. train. To be followed by Arawata, on Mon day, Feb. 9. For Sydney Wakatipu, on Friday, Feb. 6. Passengers by 2.40 p. m. train. To be followed by Tararua, Thursday, Feb. 26. 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.

COMMERCIAL.

* Messrs. J. T. Ford and Co. report on the live stock market for the week ending Thursday, the 29th inst., as follows : In consequence of the harvest opera tions there was a very limited supply of sheep sent forward for last Wednesday’s market, and what were yarded sold readily at considerable advance on previous week’s prices. However, this is no criterion of values, as next week may see the yards glutted with fat sheep. The total number sent forward com prised 1,900 sheep, 264 cattle, and 53 pigs. Mutton sold freely at 2d. per lb., and beef at from 17s. Gd. to 20s. per IOOIbs. The demand for store crossbred sheep is very active, and we feel convinced this class of stock will be much wanted after harvest for grazing purposes. We have also a fair enquiry for cross bred ewes for lambing purposes, also for sound mouthed merino ewes. Delivery to be taken during the early part of March next. Our entries were on account of Messrs. S. Garforth, Grieves, Evans, Slattery, Blake, Kefshaw, and others. In sheep we sold a line of fat crossbred ewes on account of Mr. Evans, at Bs. 6d. ; also, on account of same owner, 200 fat lambs at from 7s. 3d. to 7s. 6d. each. Fat cows on account of Mr. Blake and others at from L 5 12s. 6d. to L 6 10s. each. Fat calves brought from 25s to 30s. each. At our wool sale on Thursday, we catalogued over3oobales, and succeeded in selling every parcel at satisfactory prices. At onr skin and tallo w sale on Thursday we had the usual attendance of buyers, and biddings throughout were very brisk. Lambskins brought from Is. 3d. to Is. lOd. each, best merino skins up to ss. Id. each, crossbreds, 4s. Bd. each ; pelts, from Bd. to Is. 9d. each ; rough fat at l|d. per lb., and tallow in casks at L2l per ton ; bides, 3|d per lb.

Messrs. Acland, Campbell and Co. report on the live stock market for the week ending Thursday, 29th January, as follows : At the Addingtor yards yesterday only ISOO sheep were to hand, being the smallest number we have ever seen penned since the yards were opened. But even this short supply seemed enough for the requirements of the trade, as with the exception of one or two lines there was very little advance on the prices ruling of late. We quote best crossbreds, heavy weights, from 9s. to 10s. 3d. ; medium, 7s. Gd. to Bs. 6d. ; light weights, Gs. 6d. to 7s. ; very few stores in. We placed one small line of two-tooth crossbreds, mixed sexes, at ss. Bd., and another lot of two-tooth crossbred wethers, early shorn and in good condition, at Gs. Bd., and a very superior lot of fat merino wethers from the Hon. Ernest Grey’s Eoonhay estate realised Bs. 9d. Lambs found a ready sale at from 4s. to Ss., according to quality. Cattle—2G4 head were yarded. We cannot quote any improvement in the price of fat cattle, in fact a good deal of beef was sold yesterday at little over 15s. per lOOlbs. We placed one very well grazed line of bullocks from Campbell Bros.’ Bellfield estate, at an average of L 7 7s. per head, making the highest price in the market, and equal to slightly over 20s per lOOlbs. Very few store cattle in, but those found a tolerably ready sale at late rates, two to throe-year-old steers in good condition fetching from L 4 10s. to L 5 2s. 6d. Eighteen months old, 50s. ; yearlings up to 40s; springers, L 4 10s. up to L 7. On Friday, 23rd inst., wo held a sale at Horsley Down, on account of the exe cutors 'of the late J. W. Mallcck, Esq. We had a good attendance, and all lots found buyers at satisfactory prices. We also at the same time sold on account of Messrs. Mallock and Lance a line of fat bullocks at L 7 10s. per head. We also for the same owners disposed of 500 store merino wethers at market rates. Messrs. Robert Wilkin and Co. report under date January 29th : At the Addington yards on Wednesday, 1900 sheep, 264 head of cattle, and 52 pigs were yarded. Owing to the very limited supply of sheep the competition was brisk for the various lots offered, and in consequence there was a rise compared to list week’s prices of fully 2s. per head for the best quality lots. We sold on account of several clients —Fat cross-breda, to 9s. Gd. each ; ditto merinos, Bs. 9d.; Fat steers, L 6 7s. 6d.; pigs, from L2 ss. to L3lßs. Sheepskins—At our sale to-day 2504 skins were catalogued and all sold. There was a large attendance of buyers, and competition was brisk, resulting in satis factory prices being obtained. Woolly cross-bred. Is. 3d., 35., and 45.; do merino, Is. 10d., 3s. Gd., and 4s. 9d.; pelts, 3d., lid., and Is. 7d.; lambskins, Is. 6d., Is. 9d., and 2s. Fat and Tallow—loß packages fat and tallow were catalogued and all sold. There was a good attendance of the trade, com petition was brisk, prices being even throughout. Fat, in bags—Best quality clean and well saved, to l|d per lb.; in ferior and heated, at Id. per lb. Tallow, in casks—lnferior, 12s. Gd., 13s. Gd., and 20s. per cwt. Hides—Salted, 3£d. per lb.; damaged, 2d. per lb. Calfskins unsold. ASHBURTON RETAIL LIST. s. d. s. d. Butter, inferior to best fib I o to o o Eggs, li? dozen. - - i 6 to i 9 Cheese, prime quality, If lb o g to I o Bacon, prime smoked, 1? lb oio to I o Hams in cloth, I? lb I o to I 4 Flour in bags, IP 1 xoolb 14 6 to 00 Oatmeal, 258) • 6 o to o o Lard, 3? Ib - - - 09 to 00

POST OFFICE NOTICES.

Mails close at the Chief Post Office, Christchurch, for the following places (subject to necessary alterations) .as under : Saturday, Jan. 31. For United Kingdom, Continent of Europe, and America, via San Francisco, India, China, Sandwich Islands and Northern Ports of New Zealand, &c., per Wanaka, as follows ;—Ordinary letters, 5 p.m.; late fee letters, 5.30 p.m.; books and newspapers, 4 p.m.; registered letters'4 p.m. money orders, 3.30 p.m.; guards’ van, special train, 6.30 p.m. This mail is due in London on March 16. The next mail for the United Kingdom via Suez will be closed on Feb. 12, and will be duo in London on April 1.

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 he 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.

The Ashburton Guardian, COUNTY AGRICULTURAL & SPORTING RECORDER SATURDAY, JANUARY 31, 1880.

The public of the Ashburton district will have an opportunity of hearing Father Chiniquy, that best abused of all lecturers who have ever come to this colony. Whatever may be our feelings as Protestants, as journalists we care not a straw whether ho comes or stays, but after the amount of gratuitous abuse that has been poured out upon him, we feel inclined to give the old gentleman a hearty welcome. We are astonished at the attitude assumed towards Pastor Ohiniquy by certain sections of the Now Zealand press, who, without any previous knowledge whatever of the old pastor, have let out at him with such endearing epithets as quack, charlatan, and fool. When the history and associations of the newspapers who have thus treated the old priest arc taken into consideration, it is not difficult to arrive at a reason for the course they have followed. If we are to listen to the advice of those writers who so virulently denounce Father Chiniquy, we have arrived at a time when every word—true or false—likely to irritate the tender sensibilities of any section of the community must be rigidly repressed, and if a man believes that gross and outrageous error exists in the belief of such section, he must sneak his convic tions with bated breath, lest the tender sensibilities aforesaid may be jarred, and trouble follow. We are at a loss to know why poor Chiniquy should he called a quack and a charlatan, and why, in an avowedly Protestant country, he should be snarled at, and set down as a disturber of the peace. We have every respect for respectable men, no matter whether they be Catholic or Protestant, but surely if Chiniquy has anything to saj' against the Catholic religion he ought to be allowed to say it just as much as Hennebery was permitted without molestation to tell us there was no sacrament out of his church, and to inform Protestants they had no chance of a happy hereafter except through the institution of which he was a loading light. Nobody cared a straw for Eonne bery’s denunciation of Protestantism, and he was allowed to garnish his oratory unquestioned with condemnations that any Protestant might well have taken offence at. Almost every sermon preached by Catholic clergymen has a warning against the heresies of the age, amongst which Protestantism is classed, and not infrequently the priest is unsparing in his condemnation of the latter. Yet nobody interferes, and the priest is thought none the worse of for wielding what is his idea of “ the sword of the Lord and of Gideon.” Notwithstanding the liberty the law of the colony allows a man to proclaim his religious views, and notwithstanding that full toleration is given by a liberal public opinion to the expression of every phase of religious belief, a certain section of the Catholic body have yet to learn what the toleration means, for though they may parade the streets clad in green regalia, and headed by their own priests, and meet with no opposition from the tolerant Protestants and Protestant societies, when these Protestant societies take their turn at a little innocent demon stration, they are received with brickbats and pickhandles, and get for their pains Skew smashed heads and broken limbs. a man comes to lecture wh® has spent the best part of his life as a Catholic priest, and may be _ supposed to know what that religion is, he is de nounced as a “charlatan, a quack, a scoundrel,” because, as he says himselr, that knowledge has convinced him of the error he so long considered the truth. If

Catholicism has truth on its side it has nothing to fear from Father Chiniquy or anything he can say, and respectable men who believe in it will not trouble themselves about his efforts to disprove it. Respectable members of the Catholic Church disclaim any sympathy with the rowdies who attacked the Christchurch and Timaru processions, and we may safely adjudge that they care nothing whether Chiniquy speaks or is silent. Is the colony then to be terrorised over by the turbulent spirits in the social sub stratum of that Church—by the men whose actions Catholicism does not sympa thise with and disowns ? Because Pat, and Mick, and Denis’ ears are too fine to be grated on by the harsh s : rains of “Boyne Water,” or their eyes too tender to look without rage upon an orange flag, is the whole colony to have to bow down before them and cut the old air from the book of Irish music, and hide the orange flags and sashes, while Pat, Mick, and Denis whistle such tunes as they please, and flutter their green ribbons at will 1 Certainly not. And if Pastor Chiniquy has anything to say against the Catholic religion why is he denied the right of free speech by a press that was prepared to laud the utterances of a Bright or a Britten. Those orators never called brick bats and pickliandlcs to the hands of Pro testants, however much Protestants dis liked their talk, and the sweet language pitched at Chiniquy by cowardly writers who do not care a rap for the feelings of the impulsive Irishmen, and would them selves lacerate those feelings if they did not fear, what they fear now—Pat’s pick handles—was never hurled at the Free thinkers, who, we should think, ought to bo greater foes to the common faith in Jesus than is Father Chiniquy, now a Presbyterian clergyman. Catholics—or at least the less chinking and least educated of them—do their cause a great wrong by their wild threatenings ; and their false friends, who are so choice in their epithets to the old gentleman, follow the most certain course they can adopt to raise a row. Chiniqny’s work since he left the Catholic Church has been a persistent war against the Church he left." Had that Church and its mem bers taken no notice of him, but treated him with the silent contempt the “knave, quack, fool” he is made out by some ought to deserve, he would have passed through these colonies with scarcely a notice. But now that the “ under crust” of the Church, and the cowards who bid for popularity with such, have turned upon him the tap of their vituperation, one is tempted to believe that they are afraid of him, and that he carries with him more truth than is comfortable for them to hear. If he is the quack he is made out to he, let him bo treated as such, but do not hang a man before he is tried, and do not ask ns to give him the cold shoulder simply because the rowdies may turn out as the multitudes came, led on by Judas, with swords and staves to apprehend our Lord. The Irish famine question seems to have had the effect of establishing a feel ing of brotherly love among all English speaking nations. From all parts of the known world we are daily receiving cable and telegrams to the effect that large sums arc being subscribed for the relief of our impecunious Irish cousins, and the unani mity of feeling in all the colonies is no t to he wondered at. Colonists know and appreciate Irishmen as being possessed of the hone and sinew as laborers for any thing in the shape of arduous labor, for we can say of our own personal knowledge that the thousand and odd miles of rail ways constructed in this colony have been made by laborers of whom fully 90 per cent, hailed from the Green Island, While Pat is at work he is one of the best fellows extant, but when he starts to play he is apt to be a trifle too demonstrative, and we very much regret his playfulnesss should have got the better of his judgment in the “sport” which lately led some of his countrymen to have free lodgings at her Majesty’s expense. The relief subscrip tion fund has now assumed a definite form, and is in the hands of a reliable com mittee, who will use every endeavor to show such a record from tins district for so humane an object as will reflect credit on its denizens at a time when they are, as a rule, straitened in circumstances by two consecutive bad harvests, and the drain on their pockets for the incoming one. On tin’s point wo would, if not intrud ing on the prerogative of the Committee, make a suggestion, the idea of which was suggested to us by a remark of his Wor ship the Mayor : that is, that where a farmer docs not feel that his means jus tify him in paying a cash subscription he should donate a portion of the proceeds of his farm, whether it was in the shape of a few bags of oats or wheat, a pig or so, or even a few dozen of eggs, if no other subscription was forthcoming. “ Every mickle makes a mucklo,” as the old Scotch proverb says, and none of our farmers can. plead poverty to such an extent as to say “No ” to an appeal for starving fellow countrymen, and all who read this paper cannot help claiming the suffering population as countrymen, We do not for one moment doubt but that the appeal made will he nobly responded to. One sug gestion we would like to make on the subject is, that as all the residents in the county cannot subscribe grain as their quota, those who give cash should have their amounts placed to a “ freight fund account,” and so send the Ashburton County subscription Home in the shape of grain, delivered free in some Irish port. A free cargo of Ashburton grain, sent as a testimonial of the sym pathy felt for the distress in Ireland by a place almost unknown to the bulk of the Irish population, would do more to adver tise its capabilities and advantages as a place to emigrate to than all the Captain Barry’s ever paid to lecture on the sub ject.

The Rev. B. J. Wbstbbooke. — The Presbyterians at Rakaia have given a unanimous call to Mr. Westbrooke to be their pastor, and the induction is'expected to take place about a month hence. The Midd'Y Train. —His Worship the Mayor has received another telegram from Mr. Sydney J. Dick, Chief post master at Christchurch, stating that he will again see the railway authorities on the subject of the midday train. The Recent Affair at Ohertsey.— The woman Mary Gough, wife of Garrett Gough, whose death at Chertsey was re cently the subject of an inquest, was yes terday before the Court here charged with vagrancy. In consideration of her notori ously dissipated habits, and the proba bility that sooner or later she may meet a fate similar to that of her husband, the Magistrate did for her perhaps what was the best thing for her—he sent her to gaol for twelve months. She will now be out of harm’s way. A Prodigious Vegetable.— Cabbage is not much in our lino unless accompanied by beef, and the other usual accompani ments of “greens,” but we were shown on Thursday a vegetable of most inordinate growth. It was a cabbage of the Early York breed, and measured 7ft. 2in. in diameter. After all the damaged leaves were cut away the heart, sound and lit to pass any examination, was 27ins. round the waist. This specimen is a product of Mr. Harry Friedlandor’s garden, .and he assures us it was grown on native soil. Wo are inclined to believe the relationship of the Inspector of Nuisances to the cab bage has had some inlluuitco on the giant proportions of the latter. Our rcado.-a may inspect the bouquet in Mr. Savage’s window, East street. The Wesleyan Conference. The Wesleyan Conference re-assembled on Thursday morning, .and passed in review the Children’s Fund, the Supernumerary Ministers’ Fuad, and the Foreign Mission Fund. The report and balance-sheet of the Wesley College, Auckland, were read and .adopted. The report showed the College to be in a prosperous condition. An influential deputation representing the temperance societies introduced by the Rev. Dr. Roseby, waited upon the Conference to advocate the temperance cause. The Conference expressed its hearty sympathy with the principles of temperance, and wished God spued to all fellow workers in the great cause of tem pcrance. The Planet Jupiter. —The Berlin newspapers direct attention to the ap pearance which the planet Jupiter just now presents. A vermillion-colorcd spot covers a space equal to about one-fiftieth of the whole visible surface. It is situate in the northern hemisphere of the planet, and is elliptical in shape, and the astrono mers declare that it is an affection of the planetary body itself and not of its atmos phere. There is no record of a similar phenomenon having been previously ob served, and the explanation generally given is that it indicates that some great disturbances are in progress within the planetary substance. We may obtain some notion of the extent of the dis turbance by noting that the size of the spot with reference to the whole area of Jupiter’s surface is as largo as the whole of Europe is with reference to the surface of the earth. The Year 1881.—The year 1881 will be a mathematical curiosity. From left to right and from right to left it reads the same ; 18 divided by 2 gives 9 as quotient; 81 divided by 9 and 9is the quotient. If 1831 is divided by 209, 9 is the quotient ; if divided by 9 the quotient contains a 9 ; if multiplied by 9 the product contains two 9’s. 1 and 8 are 9; 8 and 1 are 9. If the 18 be placed ‘ under the 81 and added, the sum is 99. If the figures be added thus—l, 8,8, I—it will give 18, two 9’s. Reading from left to right is IS, and reading from right to left is IS, and 18 is two-ninths of 81. By adding, divi ding and multiplying 19, 9’s are produced, being one 9 for each year required to com plete the century. How to cure a Ham.— ln an old Patent Office report of 1850-51, “Agri culture,” occur the following directions how to cure a ham in ten minutes: — “Put two quarts of butter salt into an iron kettle and place it over a slow Are, and stir it occasionally, so that it does not bake in the kettle ; and, while the salt is ■dissolving, the ham should be placed on a strong bench near the fire, and a common sized teaspoon of saltpetre to be rubbed smoothly with the hand on the flesh side of the ham ; it will soon dissolve and disap pear. The salt in the kettle being hot, lay a tablespoon of salt on the ham, and rub with the hand ; continue to apply salt to all pares of the ham until the ham sweats, which is an indication that the salt has penetrated through the ham. The above quantity of saltpetre is for a ham of twenty pounds ; a ham of this size may bo cured in ten minutes. The ham may be treated thus before the ani mal heat is entirely out, and ready for the smoke-house, where it will be fit for use in ten days or kept the entire year through. Any lover of good ham, after trying this plan, will be satisfied it is the best method. ” The Waiwbra Hot Springs. —From the subjoined pan-graph, which we clip from the “ New Zealand Herald,” it will be seen that these springs are being patro nised by visitors from nearly every part of the world:—“The following visitors were staying at the Hot Springs Hotel, Waiwera, on January 11 : —Mr. and Mrs. H. F. Gray, Misses M. and M. F. Gray, Masters F. W. and H. J. W. Gray, Christ church ; Mrs. S. Crawley, Master Craw ley, Mr. Gunman, and Mr. H. Russell, London ; Mr. Thomas Hooper, Nelson ; Mr. Rothschild, Dunedin ; Mr. A. F. Lewis, Kew ; Mr. R. Young, Hongkong ; Mr. Harris Day, Fiji ; Mr. E. W. Wright, Mr. R. W, Wright, Adelaide ; Mr. H. W. Felton, Ashburton ; Mr. Bates, Cam bridge ; Mr. and Mrs. Wincbclifi', Mis?. 11. Wincholiff, Miss Owen, Sydney ; Mr and Mrs. Macindee, Miss Hill, Ponsonby ; Mr. .and Mrs. Wren, Mr. and Mrs. R. Felton, Masters H. F. and F. H. Felton, Remuera ; Mr. and Mrs. Waller and three children, Mrs. Fielder, Mr. A. Townson, Mr. R. Connell, Mr. H. Connell, Mr. Coates, Mrs. W. Williams, Mr. F. E. Williams, Auckland ; Captain and Mrs. Bower, Napier ; Miss Burns, Master Dodd, Thames.” Borax for . Salting Butter. —The Italian Minister of Agriculture has ad dressed a communication to the Chamber of Commerce of Milan relative to experi ments in salting butter witli borax which have been carried out at the agricultural station at Florence. From the account which appears in the “ Giornale di Agri coltura,” borax would appear to have a most marvellous effect in insuring its absolute preservation. Samples of fresh butter made at the Florence station and purposely not carefully fx-eed of their but ter- milk, were found, on the addition of eight per cent, of borax, to maintain their natural fine flavor, without the least change whatever, for upwards of three months. To attain this satisfactory result, it is necessary that the borax should be perfectly dry and in very fine powder, and care must be taken to insure its thorough mixture with the whole mass of the butter operated on. Among the further advan tages of this plan, it is noted that borax imparts no flavor of any kind to the butter, while it is entirely harmless in its nature, and also reasonably cheap. Still later ex periments have shown that a very much smaller proportion of borax suffices to pro duce the desired effect, and also that simple solutions of the salt act quite as well as the dried powder.

A Married Catholic Priest. —Roman Catholic priests are not supposed to marry. Indeed, they are prohibited from marry ing. To the surprise therefore of the ■War office (says the . “ United Service Gazette”) an application has been sent in for a pension by the widow of a military chaplain of the Roman Catholic persuasion who recently died 1 Though oppose d to the regluations of the Church to which he belonged, in law Ihc marriage is recognis able, and the law officers have reported ac cordingly. Mr. Sheehan. —Mr. Sheehan has re cently decided to go into business in the Waikato, ami specially to direct his at tention to the opening up and settling of various blocks of native lands which have for some years past been under negotia tion by Europeans. It is said that all lands which ho will deal with will bo offered for sale by public auction, and that a large area of tlie best lands will bo opened for sale upon deferred payment system. Mr. Sheehan is not goin? with Sir G. Grey to the Thames. It appears as if the friendship between then is not so cordial as hereto fore. A Russian Robbery.— The following strange story appears in the “ Golos,” copied by that journal from the leading newspaper of Warsaw. A Jewish pedlar, recently travelling on foot through the Grodno district, was attacked in a wood by a footpad, who robbed him of all the money he had about him and lot him go. Proceeding on his way, the plundered pedlar met a mounted gendarme, to whom he related his mishap, and who pro ceeded at once to search for the robber, accompanied by the plundered man. They soon camo up with the object of their quest, upon whoso person the stolen money was found, as well as two clasp knives and a pocket whistle, of which “ unconsidered trifles” the gendarme took possession. Having hound the cul prit’s hands behind him and attached him to the gendarme’s saddle by a cord, they started for the nearest village, the pedlar on foot, the police officer on horseback. Presently it occurred to the latter that he might as well ascertain wliafc sort of a tone could be procured by the confiscated whistle, which ho accordingly put to his lips and blew with untimely vigour. Straightway there appeared upon the scene a horde of armed brigands, who sur rounded the party, and, after freeing their comrade from his bonds, attacked his captors. The gendarme put spurs to his horse, broke through the circle of his as sailants, and got away with a bulletin his shoulder. But the unfortunate pedlar, unable to escape, fell a victim to the brutality of the bandits, who hacked his body to pieces and left his mutilated re mains on the high road. Preparations are being made by the district authorities to surround the wood in which this band of malefactors has fixed its head quarters. Such enterprises, however, are as rarely successful in Russia now-a-days as thsy were of yore in the kingdom of Naples or the Papal States.

TELEGRAPHIC.

BRITISH .AND FOREIGN.

(Age Special. ) London, Jan. 28. The Afghans in the Kohst district are organising an expedition to attack Cabul. Reinforcements have been despatched. The “ Daily Nows ” asserts that the British native allies of South Africa have been guilty of revolting atrocities upon prisoners. Garibaldi has married Signora Ar raasins. The Northumberland has arrived at London. AUSTRALIAN. (Reuter’s Te/egi a ms. J Adelaide, Jan. 20. During a ball last night on board the barque Excelsior, lying at the port, the crow made an unprovoked attack on the officers, who were engaged in tho festivi ties. They used belaying pins, marlin spikos, and revolvers. The mate was fired at, but the shot missed. All the other officers wore wounded more or less severely in tho head, and tho captain received a serious blow on the right temple. After a gicat struggle tho mutineers wore arrested, and will bo charged at the Police Court to-day. ( Reuter's 7 etegrams.) Sydney, Jan. 29. The special meeting of the Australian Mutual Provident Society, which was to have been held to-day to consider a pro position by tho Directors for the repeal of the nineteenth byo-law, allowing voting by proxy in the election of Directors and other matters, has been postponed till after the annual meeting of the Society, which will be held in April next. Sailed—City of Sydney, for Auckland. Melbourne, Jan, 29. Sailed—Ringavooma, for New Zealand, with the English mail. „ Adelaide, Jan. 2 f >. For last night’s row on board the Ex celsior, seven of tho sailors were sentenced to twelve weeks’ imprisonment. PER OUR SPECIAL WIRE INTERPROYINCIAL. Normandy, Jan. 30. Tho Constabulary are hard at work forming the road from the camp at Kaipipi towards Tuahe. The Natives, who have kept aloof until to-da.y, came into camp, about 40 in number, mostly men, with two drays and a spring cart, loaded with 30 kits of potatoes, one kit of peaches, four geese, two pigs, and seven fowls, which they presented to the camp by Ngatakahuiahi, who acted as spokesman, and briefly said—“ This is a present from us to Colonel Roberts and all his Europeans here assembled.” Colonel Roberts briefly thanked them, and tho band was ordered out to enter tain the visitors, besides Ngati. Tho principal Natives present were Pukia Karewai and Nuku (half brother of Tito Kowaru). It is believed that the present was made by order of Te Whiti, who teachoa them “ If the enemy hunger feed them.” Wellington, Jan. 30. The Woodville coach from Palmerston North to Napier this morning met with an accident at Sfconey Creek, four miles from Palmerston. The coach upset, and Com missioner Booth, a passenger, was so much hurt that he had to bo loft behind. The other passengers escaped with slight bruises, and after a few hours’ delay, pro ceeded on their journey in a fresh coach. The accident was occasioned by the horses shying at a tent pitched on the road. Henry Anderson retires from the part nership of the “ Chronicle,” a partner ship arbitration being held prior to his retirement. A youth, who was employed in the Taratahi Post Office, Waiararapa, lias illegally taken possession of certain letters .which he had access to, and absconded. The police are making enquiries as to his whereabouts. Nelson, Jan. 30. At a public meeting held last night, re the Irish distress, a large and influential committee was appointed with a view to getting in subscriptions. An old settlor named Thomas Gladhill, of Appleby, died suddenly yesterday. The weather is splendid for harvest. Dunedin, J an. 30. The Colonial Bank has kindly under taken to send home per cable, free of expense, remittances for the relief of the Irish distress. L7OO was sent to-day by the Dunedin Committee. A telegram was received in town to-day

intimating that the Garrick Water Race is completed and the water in- Dalvoy station homestead, the property of W. Sheath, near Tapanui, was burnt to the ground yesterday. All the men were in the wool shed at the time. The fire originated in the kitchen. The insurance is L3OO on the building, and Ll5O on the furniture in the Victoria office. When word was brought to Tapanui the in surance agents and others went to the scene of the accident, but they were too late to be of service. Sheath’s loss is very considerable, as ho allowed a L3OO policy in the Standard office to lapse. His loss wholly is estimated at L4OO. The result of Colonel Scratchloy’s in spection of the harbor and coast, will bo that, of six big guns now in store here, two will be placed at Richardson Point, near the Hoads ; two at Sawyer’s Head ; two at Look Out Point, to guard the approach to Dunedin from Ocean Beach. The Minister for Works and Justice to day visited the Police Court and expressed themselves surprised at the inadequate accommodation. Invercargill, Jan. 30. William Fuchs, station master at Oreti, was stabbed in the left arm yesterday by a man named Robert Arnold, to whom he reused a ticket, because Arnold was drunk. The wound, although severe, is not dangerous. Tho assailant was brought up at tho Police Court this morning and committed for trial.

THE LATEST.

( Reuter's Telegram.) London, Jan. 29. Although suggestions that England should hand Herat over to the care of Persia are being renewed by the press, nothing positive is yet known as to the in tentions of the British Government in the matter. It is stated that the Home Rulers of Mayo, Ireland, intend to select Davits and Brennan, now under committal for using seditious language at the anti-rent meetings, as candidates for the represen tation of Mayo in Parliament, upon con dition that they abstain from attending the sittings of the House of Commons. {Age Special.) London, Jan. 29. A Socialistic outbreak has occurred at Barcelona. Many were arrested. Latest from Afghanistan states that early hostilities are expected. General Roberts has, boon re-victualled, and lias strengthened his lines of communication. It is reported that Mahommcd Jan died from recent wounds. The Insurgents demand the reinstate ment of Yakoob as a condition of peace. The British forces march on Herat in March. Lord Salisbury is out of danger. AUSTRALIAN. (Reuter's.) Sydney, Jan 30. Hennessey’s brandy—cases, one star, 355. ; throe star, 455. ; quarters, 11s. Kerosene—Diamond, Is. Bd. ; Devoe’s, Is. 9d. Rice—Patna, L2l 10s. To bacco—Raven’s twist, Is. 7d. Sugar- Company’s No. 1 prices, L4O. Candles— 81s. 4d. Maize—2c. 4d. to 2s. Gd. New Zealand wheat, 4s. to 4s. 6d. Adelaide wheat, ss. to sa. 6d. Adelaide flour, Ll2 to Ll 3. Adelaide, Jan. 30. Flour, LlO LlOs.

AN INTERVIEW WITH TE WHITI BY A EUROPEAN LADY.

* (by telegraph.) New Plymouth, Jan. 30. The “ Herald” publishes a detailed account of a visit to Te Whiti by Mrs. Bartlett, of the Opunake Hotel. She re ceived quite an ovation from the Maoris. Te Whiti supplied her with an interpreter, and had a long korero with hex*. He said she had nothing to fear ; he was father of all in the district. He would live at peace with Europeans. Mrs. Bartlett was the fh’st woman who had come to Parihaka, and he was very pleased to see her there. If she wanted anything, to let him know. To Whiti then asked her if she had seen the prisoners-when in Wellington, and all questionsshc answered fully. Hesaid there would be no fear of any fighting taking place, for the Europeans and natives were to live peaceably together. The English he knew, were a very strong people—much stronger than the Maoris—and could crush Maoris to the ground if they chose, hut he knew they would not do so. Mr. Gordon, who was present, asked if ho would permit of his portrait being . taken, but Te Whiti positively refused to permit it. In reply to questions put, Te Whiti said that he would like to see the Governor if ho would visit him in an unofficial manner. He would not ask him to come ; he must come of his own accord. Ho wished to be friendly with Europeans ; they did not want to fight them. The difficulty was about the land ; but that could be settled with their tongue.

THE OAMARU FIRE.

(by telegraph.) O AMARU, Jan. 30. Tho report which was in circulation yss terday that a man had lost his life in the fire in the Queen's Hotel was verified to day by the finding of a few calcined human bones. The police made every enquiry about the town for the missing man, and then proceeded to make a care ful search in the ruins of the building. They discovered the bones and the man’s watch together. The latter was recognised as the property of a man named William King, who had been lodging in the hotel for some time past, and who was in the bakehouse adjoining the hotel immediately before the alarm of fire was given, when he rushed into the building with the intention of saving some property, anti must have been suf focated in the dense smoke which filled tho house. The remains were found in the vicinity of the passage, and the flames or smoke must have caught him as he was endeavouring to make his way out. He was a carpenter by tx’ade, 38 years of age, and is described as a stea,dy man. A rumor was circulated that a second man was missing, but if so, no trace has yet been discovered of him in the remains of the hotel.

THE WESLEYAN CONFERENCE.

Yesterday's Sitting. [by telegraph.] Dunedin, Jan. 30. Tho Wesleyan Conference resumed its sitting to-day, and agreed to the following allocation of ministers for the year 1880 —William Morley, Henry B. Dewsbury ; Auckland District : Auckland (Pitt street) John Hobbs and John Warren, supernumeries. Auckland (Wesley’s College)—Thomas Buddie. Home Mission and Church Extension Society—Thomas Buddie, General Secre tary. Wakapuaka—A Home Missionary. Mahurangi—A Home Missionary. Auckland (Grafton Road and Parnell) —Geo. Bond, James Wallis ; Henry H. Lawrey and Jno. Wheelan, supernumeries. Thames—William J. Watkins. Coromandel—A Home Missionary. Upper Thames—One wanted,' Manukau—Jno. Law. Waikato and Pakehoki—Leonard M, Tsitt. Waikato—Henry Bull and Cornelius Griffin.

Raglan, Ahotea, and Kawhia —Cosh H. Schnackenburg ; Waremu Pafcene, native minister (Karakariki), Hamiona Ngaropi, native minister (Wha'awhata) ; Kaipara, William Si ttos (O tarn at sk e i); Andre wCI ark Coughey, Paparoa, Martin Luther ; (Waititi) Native minister. Wairoa—Geo. W. J. Spence (Aratapu). Hokianga—Thomas G, Hammond ; (Waiuri) Raraoka; Waikeripuru (Nahe Ke.) Kawakawa—Walter G. Salter, WhangaroaandMongonui—One wanted: Wi Waiona Powa (Kaeo). Whangarei Christopher Abernethy ; William Morlcy, Chairman of district. Taranaki and Wanganui District:—New Plymouth—David M‘Nicol ; Francis W. Marten and F. W. J. Sitt, Supernume raries. Patea—Paul W. F. Fairclough. Wanganui—W. Lee, President of Con ference ; Geo. Stanard, Snpernumary. Pangitekei—John A. Luxford. Manawatu —William B. Marten (Sau don); Frederick 0. Dewsbury, (Palmerston North); G. S. Harper, supernuniery. W. Lee, Chairman of district. Wellington District :—Wellington—W. Kirk, W. J. Williams (Thorndon); Lewis Hutson ; Maori mission Heteraki, Warihi. Hutt —W. Cannell. Grey town—Wm. G. Thomas Masterton —John Dukes. Napier—W. C. Olsen. Scandinavian Mission—Edward C. Neilson (Norsewood). Gisborne —John Dellow, Wm. Kirk, Chairman of tho District. Nelson District;— Nelson— Rainsford Bavin, W. Rouse. Richmond and Motueka—a Home Mis sionary. Grey mouth —Charles A. Standage. Rainsford Bavin, Chairman of the Dis trict. Canterbury District : Christchurch (Durham street) —Alex. Reid, William Baumbcr ; Jno. Aldred, supernumery. Christchurch (Oolumbo road) John S. Rish worth. Chrischurch (St. Alban’s) Jno. B. Richardson. Lyttelton—W. 11. Beck. Maori Mission—Tc Koti, Raupaki. Springston—J. S. Smalley. Leoston —W. Worsley. Kaiapoi—Jno. Armitage (editor of the “ New Zealand Wesleyan.”) Rangiora—James A. Taylor, Samuel J. Garlick. Amberley—a Home Missionary. Thnaru—Joseph H. Simmonda. Waivnate—Jno. J. Lewis. Teniuka —Wharton S. Harper. Ashburton —W. B. Keall. Chertsey and Rakaia (under the Super intendent of the Ashburton circuit). Jno. B. Richardson, Chairman of the district. Otago District ; —Dunedin (Trinity Church) —Edward Best, who shall change twice a quarter with Port Chalmers and once with Mornington. North-east Valley—A Home Mission ary. Hyde—A Home Missionary. Waitomarto—A Home Missionary. Mornington—Lane Lawrey. Port Chalmers —Wm. Tinsley. Balclutha —A. Butler. Milton—Dave J. Murray. Lawrence —Thos. Fee. Roxburgh—Peter Wills. Invereargil—R. S. Bunn. Oamaru —Jno. Crump. Tapanui—Jno. Gray. Jno Crump, Chairman of district. Joseph Bullen, supernumerary, has per mission to reside in England. Joseph Berry has leave of absence for one year to reside in England. Francis W. Isitt has permission to visit' England. '

CORRESPONDENCE.

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents.

SUBSCRIPTION TO IRISH FAMINE FUND.

TO THE EdITOE. Sir, —lt is with groat regret that so deserving an object as the above is liable to come to grief in the Ashburton, which there is no doubt it will, since there are a number of lists Hying about, all with the same avowed object. lam informed that there have been two attempts at meetings in the Borough Council Chambers, with no practical results, and no wonder. 1 should have thought that the best way to got at the majority of the people would be for our worthy Mayor to have called a public meeting, and invited some of the ministers and leading citizens to speak on the matter, and thus open up the subject in its true light, and so appeal to the hearts of the people. At present it only ranks in the same line of lists as any other local object for which subscriptions are sought, and stands a far less chance of the same support. I do sincerely trust that our leading men will move, and compel a public meeting to be called, when no doubt resolutions would be moved, and carried, -which would result in a sum being gathered which would be a credit to Ash burton in common with the rest of the Colony. —I am, &c. True Sympathy.

THE FARMER.

AMONG THE FARMERS. Wakanui this, year can cry “ To triumphe,” the wish of a certain plains farmer for a shower of rain every day, and shower of muck on Sunday, having been gratified as nearly as Dame Nature would permit. The old woman who pre sides over natural arrangements, such as rain and caterpillars, has been particularly kind this season, pouring forth plenty of the former and giving the latter to New- South Wales, as a sort of addition to its particularly' payable Exhibition, which we understand is likely to be a loss to that colony of something approaching a quar ter of a million of money. We, in this economical country, can’t afford that kind of extravagance, as all the energies of our farmers are exercised in the direction of making both ends meet, and it is gratify ing to us to observe that farming opera tions for the present year are likely to return something to the agriculturist. Having taken a round turn about the country, we are able to report on several of the farms, and will select WAKANUI, to begin with. The portions of this dis trict we are at present able to describe from personal observations are confined to the Dromoro, Ohertsey, and portions of the Wakanui Creek districts, but by next Saturday’s issue a full account of all the other farms in the district will be sup plied by this journal. ' To go into particu lars of the various holdings, we will com mence as near town as possible, and that out and out good old soul Joseph Hunt is the first wo drop in on. He don’t farm to any great extent, but what he does, he does well, and he is appealed to by all the country side when any difficulties occur in the iiway ofi agricultural pursuits. He is always in the front rank when anything in the shape of a plough ing i match or a reaper and binder contest is on ; but when a meeting of the Agricultural and Pastoral Association is held,- why, then, Joseph Hent is indis pensable. When he takes it in his head to “shulile off this mortal coil,” —.may the day be far distant, —we do not know where to look for his successor in public exhibitions appertaining to agricultural avocations. However, talking about crops, Mr. Hart and his sons have no great extent in grain, but what they have is good, as all crops are whore knowledge and experience are brought to bear on good land. This “ family clique,” in this

instance, seem to have rubbed through the preliminaries of colonisation.tolerably well on what is now considered a very small block of agricultural land, and the example shown by this “ clique ” is worthy of imitation by ail the successors of the pioneer farmer of the Wakanui. To use an old Scotch saying, he is as “weol kent an rospeckit,” and we cansay nore no more, better of him. After a long gossip with the ols man, we journeyed onwards. The pro portions of Mr. Thomas met our eye on the road, and when Tie neared us lie kindly informed us that he felt very well, but owing to the sultry state of the weather he was particularly thirsty. We condoled with him, having the same com plaint ourselves, but did not, unfortun ately; possess the wherewithal to quench it. Mr. Prendergast gave us an ad libi tum ticket to investigate liis crops, and after a careful inspection on arrival at Ins place it was unanimously decided by all tho visitors that he was a particularly well-off farmer, and that it was his duty to his family to start a carriage and pair forth with on tho strength of his present pros pects. He has 135 acres wheat which would cause any grain buyer to speculate at the rate of 45 bushels to the acre ; and a paddock of oats of some 36 acres looks all a farmer could wish. But the owner will very likely beselfish enough to keep the lot for his own use. He has also some grass and it is grass of suck a kind that the land on the banks of the creek can grow, and no other land in the district can match for quality and quantity. Just on the opposite side of the road is the Elgin' farm, the property of Mr. J. Stanley Bruce, but, with the exception of about 20 acres, laid out in plantation and lawn, leased to 0. P. Cox, Esq., who has about 35 acres in oats, which look equal to threshing out 60 bushels per acre. His barley is not so good as it ought to have been, considering the amount of trouble iaken over the preparation of the land ; but I suppose Mr. Cox knows by this time, as well as wo can tell him, that the most unreliable crop both for yield and price that a farmer can go into is barley. In fact barley-growing is about equal, as a money making pursuit, to “Yankee grab’ or “ blind hookey.” Some 320 acres on this farm are in permanent English grass, and some good looking stacks of hay seem as if the cattle on the farm will not starve during the coming winter. Following the Wakanui creek from this point towards the sea is a journey of some magnitude. The distance in a straight line from the township to the ocean is about ten miles ; but if a pedestrian of ordinary travelling powers undertook to follow the windings of this erratic water course, wo are prepared to give him a week to do the journey in. Anyhow, by following its sinuosities, we get in the,, long run to the best guide post in thfj whole district —Moffat’s mill—and here we found plenty of improvements to in vestigate and report on. As this report is purely an agricultural one, and the mill having been previously described in these columns, it must be left in the lurch on this occasion ; but Mr. Moffat kindly in vited us to visit a farm of his some five miles lower down the creek, if we took the road, but about five thousand miles away if the creek route was adopted. We took the road, and found one of those kind of fields which make a man, especially a farming man, feel on good terms with himself and all his neighbors. Mr. Mof fat paid a long figure for this block about two years ago, when Mr. G. H. Moore sold all the land on the Wakanui run, and the purchaser of this farm was not far wrong when he bid so high a figure as LlB 10s. an acre for this land. Hisjttjjforaent has proved to he as good the quality of laud as it is known to be ' in his better known capacity as a buyer of grain. Mr. Moffat’s next neighbor, Mr. P. Innes, don’t believe in neighbors. He has fenced himself in on a sort of peninsula, to which no one can gain access except through a gate and roadway sacred to him self. But Peter is a comfortable sort of a man. If he and the creek fence people off, he is none the less ready to make visitors welcome when they give him a look in, and the look of his crop and the substantial concrete house, is a sufficient evidence that this fanner is, or ought to be satisfied with his lot. A new school just here, now nearly finished, is a feature of the district, and the manner in which the residents turned up at the annual meeting the other evening, : isa very good criterion of their ability to raise a crop of scholars for the new institution. Mr. J. Stanley Bruce has, we understand, been the moving spirit in the matter, and he de serves the thanks of all possessors of olive plants for his exertions. Still further down the creek we arrive at the comfortable homestead of Messrs. Earle Bros., who have a block of first class land fronting on the Beach road, and extending northwards across and including the creek. They have a small paddock in wheat, which ought to give a return of 45 bushels, and perhaps a handful over ; 130. acres of oats with a promise of, we should say, 50 bushels. Notwithstanding that there is a considerable quantity of self-sown crop among it, their barley has been a miss this year, and will not return more than 14 or 15 bushels at the outside. There are about 100 acres of pasture which is equal to anything in the shape of a paddock to bo exhibited anywhere, that is, if a paddock can be exhibited. But my experience of the whole of the country teaches me that the best pasture land in it is on the banks of the creek or river. There is no deny ing the assertion. To take all the farms in detail would occupy too much space in the present issue, hut. we may mention the pasture crops, beyond those mentioned, of Messrs. J. Jamieson, M. Miller, Brown Bros., John Black, Mrs. Gibson, and Meredith Wilson, as being specially noticeable for the extreme growth of grass and clover' this year. Weregret that our space will not allow of our describing the farms' we visited, and as a matter of course our readers must wait for further news till Tuesday’s issue.

HORTECULTURAL SOCIETY.

■«> : : The adjourned meeting of those inter ested in the formation of a Horticultural Society, was held at Quill’s Hotel last night. There was a good.muster present: ' Mr. H. O. Jacobson was voted to the chair. The report of the Canvassing Committee appointed at the previous meeting, showed that an unusually large amount of support might reasonably be > expected, as time had only allowed a very small portion of the Borough to be can vassed ; yet forty-three names had been subscribed. It was resolved—‘ ‘ That the Society be at once formed,'and that its name should be ‘ The Ashburton Horti cultural Society.’ ” It was also resolved to ask B. G. Wright, Esq., M.H.R., to become President, and Dr. Trevor, Messrs. W. G. Walker, John Grigg, and Alfred Saunders, to become Vice-Presi dents. Mr. S. E. Poyntz was elected Secretary, and Mr. F. Shury, Treasurer. The following gentlemen were elected as a Working Committee, viz :—Messrs. H. C. Jacobson, J, Simmons, G. Smith. J. J Sealey, T. Sealey, D. Goutts, J. G, ,W Anstee, W. H. Collins, W. T. Davison, A' H. W. Charlton, J. R. Chapman, with the Secretary and Treasurer, by virtue of, their office. A sub-Oommittee' of the fob lowing was appointed to draft rules—to be submitted to a general meeting to be held on February sth, via. ; —Messrs. Jacobson, Anstee, Collins, Chapman, and Sealey Bros. It was resolved— <£ That at the next meeting the question of holding the first show during the month of March, be considered. The annual subscription for member’s ticket was fixed at 10s, Od,.

THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN, SATURDAY, JANUARY 31, 1880.



MESSRS. H. MATSON AND CO., AUCTIONEERS, &c., Hold fortnightly stock SALES at Ashburton and Tinjsiild*Jj Next sale at Tinwald, TUESDAY, V February 3rd, 1880. 0. PERCY COX, 427g* Agent, Ashburton. LECTURES.—H, M. \j Jones, Stationer, Baring square.



NEW TAILORING ESTABLISH MENT. CRAIGHEAD & Co., MERCHANT TAILORS, • , HAVE opened those premises situated in Tancrcd street adjoining Messrs. Orr and Co’s General Store. A SPLENDID ASSORTMENT OF TWEEDS, FANCY GOODS, Ac., &c., JUST ARRIVED. Mr. Craighead’s experience as Head Cotter 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 Oi.’s.) CRAIGHEAD & CO. 982 a “ Q_UARDIAN ’’ ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION IN ADVANCE. _Q~i /IS. paid by the 31st January, tt 1880, will he a SAVING to sub scribers, of Gs. on the year’s subscrip tion. for the Guardian sent by post,paidby theSlst January, 1880, will be a SAVING to yearly sub scribers of 6s. WEEKS & DIXON, Publishers and Proprietors, Ashburton, Near Railway Station. ALMANAC for ISBO, printed on a neat card, with Ashburton Direc tory, Postal and Railway Guide, can be obtained gratnitiously at the ‘ ‘ Guardian ” Office. THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN. Advertisements received for tho GUARDIAN up to 9 p.m. at the cale charges, afterwards at double rates or insertion over the leader



Parliament. —Parliament is further prorogued till the 22nd April. The Oajiaru Fire. —lt is feared that a man, whose name is not known, lost his life by the fire at Oamaru on Wednesday. The San Francisco Maim.— Mails for the United Kingdom &c., via San Fran cisco, will close at the Ashburton post office on Saturday next at 10.20 a. m. The School Staff. —Miss Jane Gooden a young lady not long. out from Home has been added to the staff of the Ashbur ton school as a pupil teacher. The Ranoitata. —Yesterday afternoon one of Mr. John Grigg’s threshing engines, while crossing the Lower ferry of the Rangitata got into difficulties ; and the axles were broken. When the 7 p.m. train crossed over the railway bridge, the engine was still in the river. The Copyright Act. — Legal proceed ings have been commenced at Wellington against the Invercargill Garrick Club for the unlicensed representation of “ Hunt ing a Turtle ” on Monday night last. This is the first case brought under the Copy right Act of last session. C.Y. C.—The Government having ap pointed a drill instructor to this corps, Lieutenant Slater has withdrawn his re signation, and will inspect the Ashburton Contingent on Wednesday next, the 4th February, at Gp. m. It is to be hoped that all members will muster at Tatter sail’s punctually. The parade will be mounted. In all probability the C.Y. Cavalry will be the only mounted corps at the Easter Review, when it is expected that they will have to take a prominent part. The six days’ training of this corps will commence on the Wednesday before Easter, the 24th March,