COMMERCIAL.

Ashburton Guardian Office, Monday evening.

Alfred Harrison reports holding his usual weekly sale on Saturday last, when the following were disposed of : —Pigs, 6d. to Bd. per lb.; fowls, 2s. 6d. to 3s. fid. per pair ; ducks, 3s. fid. to 4s. fid. per pair ; geese, 10s. to 13s. per pair ; cheese, sd. to aid. per lb. The demand for horses was very quiet, though one or two •were sold at moderate prices : also, two drays, one light cart, harness, a plough, and set of harness. An enormous quantity or furniture and effects were disposed of bringing really good prices.

Messrs. H. Matson and Co. report as follows :

Canterbury Horse Market.—Our last Saturday’s sale at Tattersall’s comprised an entry of 110 horses of various descrip tions, of which 31 were unbroken. There was a good average attendance, and for all classes of sound, useful plough horses a better demand exists, and a considerable number are placed every w'eek. The most noticeable alteration in the horse sales of the present time from what they were two years since, is that medium weight horses, from L‘2s to L 35, have to a great extent taken the place of the extra heavy, high priced stock then so much in use. Occa sionally w r e find L6O to L7O being paid for a good brood mare, but the overstocked state of the market generally, and con sequent redaction in price, has. for the time being, put a check on breeding. On Thursday, at TattersalTs, by order of John Grigg., Esq., we submitted his eighth annual draft of heavy horses from the Longbeach station. It was a general theme of remark, with those who viewed the animals, that a better line of horses for farming purposes has seldom been sub mitted in one line. With a few except tions, they were not of the heaviest class, but useful, sound, active, staunch horses, that would alike do the vendor and pur chaser credit. There was a very large at tendance present during the day, repre senting buyers from different parts, and although biddings at first were not over brisk, Mr. Grigg’s general custom of placing his stock in the market for unre served sale soon had its effect, and every horse of the line (45 in number) were sold at satisfactory prices. Sixteen geldings, varying from 3 yrs. old to aged, made from L2C to L 45, or an average of L 34 each. Twenty-six mares by Lincolnshire Traveller, Sir Colin Campbell, Crecy, Ac., some of which were stinted to Bobby Burns, Waverly, and Lord Beaconsfield, brought from L2l to L 43 each, or an average of about L2B 55., 38 mares and geldings taken together made an average of L 29 10s., and G culls at prices as per description.

Messrs. H. Matson and Co. on Satur day last held their usual weekly sale of various properties, city and country. The attendance was large. The auction was held in the large and commodious wool store at the back of the offices, in conse quence of the sale room being occupied with a large shipment of furniture just lauded ex Palala, and for sale on Tues day next. The first property submitted for competition was the farm in occupa tion of Mr. John Hoskyns, at West Mel ton, and placed on the market by order of the trustees. The biddings not reaching anything like a reasonable price, the pro perty was withdrawn at a bid of L 4 ss. per acre. The next property was the town ship of Methven, situated in the Upper Ashburton district, and at the termina tion of the Rakaia and Ashburton Forks Railway. The interest shown by the bidding, which for the front sections was very brisk, proved that the property was a good investment, and one of consider able importance. Quarter-acre section 35 fold for L 36, and quarter-acre section 33 sor L 24. Sections 6,8, 10, 25, 26, and 27 realised from Ll 5 to L 24 each ; sec tions 30 to 38, from Ll2 to Ll 3 each ; sections from 39 to 57 fetched from L 4 to L 7 10s.; 61 to 63, from Ll2 to Ll 5 ; sec tions from 73 to 111, realised from L3los. to L2l. A farm section contiguous to the township, containing 10a. Or. 13p., was sold at LlO per acre. Several other pro perties, which were to have been offered, were necessarily postponed to the follow ing week in consequence of the lateness of the hour when the sale of the Methven township came to a close.

We extract the following from the New Zealand Load and Mercantile Agency Company’s circular dated London, March 25, 1880 : Coni Marhst. —The trade in Foreign wheat during the past month has been inactive. For supplies actually arrived holders are asking full rates, under the impression that the existing scarcity and the moderate quantities known to be afloat and due next month will tend to maintain prices at the present level. Speculation is, however, quite dormant, and for cargoes to arrive at later periods there are few buyers, even at a consider able margin on present values. The American stocks continue large, the visible supply being 27 million bushels, while the demand for the Continental markets shows a distinct falling off, and many cargoes are offered for resale by French houses.

A sale lias been reported of Australian wheat for shipment or on passage at 535. c.i.f. A few' parcels for London direct have changed hands at 525. to 545., ac cording to date of Bill of Lading, but for April shipment offers are freely made at 50s. for London without attracting buyers. New Zealand wheat for forward ship ment has been sold at 475. 6d. to 48s. Gd., c.i.f. to London, and there are are buyers for the coast at 48s. On the spot quotations are as follow : Per 4961b5. Australian wheat, ex gianary ... 58s. to 60s. New Zealand, do. ... 565. to 595. Per ?,Bolbs. Australian flour ... ... ... 38s. to 425. New Zealand do ... 365. to 395. The following are the arrivals for the month : Wheat. Flour. Oats. Norfolk, s.s., Port Philip 2200 ... 50 Mermerus, do. 1711 Old Kensington, do. 1291 250 Melbourne, do. 1499 Invercargill, Pt. Chalmers 1974 ... 1283 Mataura, do. 3960

AUCTION SALES.

Wednesday, May 12. Alfred Harrison, on the premises of the late Mr. Janies Cairns, Waterton.— Compact little Farm of 100 Acres. Sale at 12 sharp. Thursday, May 13. Edmiston, Gundry, and Co., at their rooms, East street.—3s Sections in the Township of Timvald. Four-roomed cottage and one acre of land, fenced, at corner of North-east Town Belt. Also Risely Brothers .farm of 197 acres at Wakanui. Sale at 2 o’clock.

NOTICE TO ADVERTISERS.

All orders 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.

MAIL NOTICES.

Mails close at the Ashburton Post Office, as follows :

For Christchurch and North at 6 a,m, 9. a.m., and 5 p.m,, daily. For Chertsey Rakaia, &c., at 9 a.m, and 5 p.m. daily.

For Dunedin, Tinwald, Winslow, Hinds, Coldstream, Rangitata, Urari, Winchester, and Geraldine, at 10.15 a.m. daily. For Temuka, Timaru, and South at 6 a.m. and 10.15 a.m. daily. For Greenstreet, Ashburton Forks, Mount Somers, and Ashburton Gorge, on Tuesdays and Fridays, at 10.30 a m. For Ashton, Waterton, and Longbeach, at 3.15 p.m. daily. For Wakanui, and Seafield, on Tues days and Fridays, at 6 a. m.

Mails arrive at the Ashburton Post Office—

From Christchurch at 10.35 a.m., 4.55 p.m., and 8.15 p.m. daily. From Chertsey, Rakaia, &c. at 10.35 a. m. daily. From Dunedin and intermediate places at 5.25 p.m. daily.

From Temuka and Timaru at 9.25 a.m. and 5.25 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 and Seafield on Tues days and Fridays at 2.30 p.m.

W. St. G. Douglas, Postmaster

Tuesday, May 11. For Otago and Australian Colonies, per Ringorooma. Thursday. May 13. For Northern Ports of New Zealand, per Rotorua. The next mail for the United Kingdom via San Francisco, will be closed at Christ church on May 22, and will be due in London on July 6. The next mail for the United Kingdom via Brindisi (for correspondence specially addressed only), will be closed at Christ church on June 3rd, and will bo due in London on July 24th. SYDNEY J. DICK, Chief Postmaster.

The Ashburton Guardian, COUNTY AGRICULTURAL & SPORTING RECORDER TUESDAY, MAY 11, 1880.

The letter of Messrs. Harper, Harper, and Scott, to the Wakanui Road Board is anything but a pleasant pill for that Board to swallow, inasmuch as it cuts the ground from under their feet in the matter of recovering the rates that ought to be levied on the abortion of a roll prepared by the blundering valuator whom the County Council chose for the district. Mr. Leach, the valuator who was unfortunate enough, both for himself and the County, to be the successful tenderer for the -work of assessing property in the Ashburton, has not in any way graced the position he at tained, and his work is not by any means a testimony to the wisdom of our County Councillors. True, the best of men may make a mistake, and doubtless the County Councillors very much regret the blunder they made in appointing Mr. Leach. His low-priced tender may have been tempting —it was tempting—and had he been com petent for the position he aimed at, he would have been a grand catch indeed. But he was not competent, as the result hasonly too sadly proved, and the County, in selecting him, fell into the error of choosing an article because it was cheap, and not making themselves certain at the same time that it was not also nasty. Mr. Leach’s appointment was a mistake, and the .County is a loser by it. But it will be a* good lesson. In the future choice of

men for difficult positions we shall cer tainly see more care exercised, and a closer scrutiny made of their alleged quali fications. The valuation fiasco , too, will have the effect of sending home the truth that the lowest tender is not always the cheapest, and that where skill is required the cheapest man is he who, able for his work, is willing to do it at a reasonable figure. Poor Mr. Leach now occupies a most humiliating positions. Ho has most signally failed to produce a roll that is any good in any district, and in some instances what was intended by his appointment, to he avoided has again been resorted to, —viz., other valuators have been chosen to do the work. And now we find the blunder ing and incompetent roll maker coining whining to his employers to be paid for work he has tried to do and failed, and which must be done over again by some better qualified men, if the rolls are ever to be of any service to the district. The idea of the County Council, to have only one valuator for the whole of the shire—was an excellent one in its way, and at its first suggestion it commended itself to every one. It held out a prospect of uniformity and fairness, as the work being one of some magnitude was likely to attract ten ders from men of experience, ability, and sound judgment. The work did attract such tenders, no doubt, and we know one or two men who tcndei'cd who had the ability, the experience, the energy, and the will to do the work well and satisfactorily. But their price was high compared with the tender of Mr. Leach. He seems to have formed no conception whatever of the extent of the work he took on hand ; his sad muddling shows that he had very little notion even of the nature of it ; and from the fact that scarcely a dozen settlers in the district knew the man “ by head-mark,” it is evi dent he has not put himself to any trouble by actual personal judgment to ascertain the value of the property on which he placed his prices. The tender of such a man for the position of County Valuator was far more an impertinence than it was a farce, and, instead of being paid for what he may dignity with the title of roll making, he would only get his deserts if he were mulct in all the costs, the loss and trouble represent that the country has been put to by his imprudent application for a position for which the present dead lock with the Wakanui Road Board shows him to have been in no way fitted. In deed, actions for expenses against him are spoken of, and it will be no matter for surprise if some of the landowners who have been put to trouble through his blundering seek to indemnify themselves at his expense in a Court of law.

But the whole blame does not lie with Mr. Leach, upon whom it is useless to be too severe. He applied for a position that was put up to public tender, and he got it. The system is surely faulty that makes it possible for such as he has turned out to be, to obtain a position to which so much responsibility attached as to that of valuer for the County. Speaking generally, and without reference to any one in particular who applies for a valuer’s position, any fool who fancies himself, in his own conceit, equal to the task of valuing property may tender, and if he can prevail upon kind-hearted friends to furnish testimonials —and every one knows how easy some men can secure these gushing documents nowa days—and manages to tender low enough, he may succeed in casting dust in the eyes of a few country gentlemen, who, with no personal knowledge of the ten derer, have only his gushing testimonials to guide them. Trusting to the testi monials, and allured by the low figure, they may be induced, quite innocently, to let their work to the veriest failure that ever picked up a shabby genteel living by occasional clerkly drudgery in a lawyer’s office, or periodical employment at a shoemaker’s books, or when a Hoad Board Clerk had more to do than he was equal to or cared to. The testimonials, however acquired, will sway those who sit in judgment on the tenders, if they are backed up by a sufficiently modest figure of remuneration, and the result is—an incompetent man is employed who muddles his work. ' A certain amount of blame for muddles of this kind lies with the body who makes the appointment. But more, we contend, lies with their constituents, or rather the noisy portion of them who are ever on the howl against extravagance, and are con stantly ready to raise a cry about favorit ism or wild expenditure if the very lowest tender is not accepted—whether the man putting it in be or be not the veriest duffer that ever essayed a work, and a man of straw, who, just clear of the Bankuptcy Court, borrows his deposit, and would have to give an order on the Board to his merchant for the material he requires to execute the work were he successful in obtaining it. The valuation roll for Wakanui, even after its items have passed through the not very effective filter, the Assessment Court,—-and the Judges of Assessment Courts are not always possessed of qualifications for that posi tion equal even to those possessed by Mr. Leach, —is a mockery and a snare ; and from the legal opinion of the lawyers consulted it is evident that some trouble will have to be experienced before it becomes workable. That it will be made wox-kable we have little doubt. But does not the huge humbug that has fol lowed the valuation of-the County point to the wisdom of Government taking the whole system of valuation into its own hands ? Now that extensive machinery is at work for the assessment of property under the Property Tax, does it not seem to be wise that competent men should make one general valuation for all pur poses '! An objection has been raised to this suggestion that in the hands of a Government official the valuations would be excessive, with a view to getting the best return to the general revenue. Granted that the possibility of that con tingency exists, the Assessment Appeal Court would always remain, and for local rating a lower rate could easily be struck if the Government valuation was felt to be higher than that of the locally ap pointed man. One end at least would be gained by the adoption of a general sys tem —the men who undertook the duty would be skilled valuers, working under a uniform system and standard of value, and their valuations, whether high or low as compared with those of the amateurs who have hitherto done the work, would at least be uniform. We never j’et met the man who -was wholly satisfied with the value set upon his property for rating purposes. It is always too high, too high. But when the same property appears in the market to let or sell the value seems to have become amazingly enhanced.

A LENGTHENED IMPOSITION.

An extraordinary case of imposition has been brought to light at Chelmsford. At the celebration of the termination of the Crimean war, in 1854, a woman fell down in the street. She was carried home, and has pretended ever since to be suffering from paralysis, and to be unable to leave her bed without help. During alfc this time she has lived on the charity of the benevolent, and the prayers of the Church have frequently been requested in her behalf. Lately persons entering her house at unexpected times have found her dressed and downstairs, and one discovered her making a very hearty meal. She has confessed her imposture, and for the present has been taken charge of by the Guardians,

Borough Council. —A special meeting of the Borough Council is to be held to day at two o’clock, to consider the annual balance sheet and auditors’ report. The Borough By-Laws —A draft of the Borough by-laws, which have so long hung fire, was published last night as a supplement to the evening paper, the Ash burton Herald. Agricultural and Pastoral Associa tion. — A meeting of the Committee of this Society is called for next Friday at Shearman’s Hotel, to receive the report of the Yard Committee, and to transact other business. Road Closed. —The Mount Somers Road Board give notice of a proposal to stop a road from the south-east corner of rural section 23518 to the south-east corner of rural section 19975, and to take in exchange a road from the first-men tioned section to the south-east corner of rural section 21989, joining the Govern ment road at the south-west corner of rural section 25611.

Drunk. —His Worship, theß. M., yester day dismissed a first offender against the laws of sobriety, giving him a lecture against the evil of too much drink.

The San Francisco Mail. —The Taia roa, with the San Francisco mail, arrived at Lyttelton on Saturday morning, and the Ashburton portion was forwarded by the 10.35 express. Erratum. •— ln an advertisement an nouncing the insolvency of Henry Red fern, Tinwald, the debtor was described by a printer’s error as “ farmer,” instead of “tenner.”

Stacey’s Panorama. Stacey’s pano rama of Australia and New Zealand was shown in the Town Hall last night to a fair house. The pictures are fair, and fairly described, and the ventriloquism of Mr. Corbett is creditable. Good Templar Anniversary.— The anniversary of the Star of the East Lodge of Good Templars is to be cele brated on the 24th inst. by a tea meeting and entertainment. For the latter we believe some excellent music is in prepara tion, by amateurs who have not yet ap peared in Ashburton. A Nor’-Wester.— On Sunday we were treated to a pretty stiff nor’-wester, one quite strong enough to remind us of old times. The past summer has been ex ceptionally free from strong nor’ west winds, and w r e had began to think that a permanent change had taken place upon our climate. Sunday, however, changed that opinion, for a stiff, hot, dusty blow continued all day and far into the night. Not a great deal of damage has been done, only some outhouses upset. The Cab Movement.— The moving of the cabs from the stand they have occupied for some some time by the kerb in front of the Somerset Hotel, to the oppo site side of the road, has had a very sain tary effect, and the footpath has been kept tolerably clear of loafers since the new regime advented. We hope the police, to complete the work, will now clear from the corner of the street the clusters of idlers who are not cabmen, but in the evening are just as great a nuisance as the fellows who hung about tie hotel door.

A Handicappbr for New Zealand.— At the Canterbury Jockey Club meeting, in Christchurch, on Saturday, a notice of motion was given for discussion at the next general meeting, favoring the ap pointment of a handicapper, with the co operation of the leading New Zealand Clubs, who would be willing to engage his services. The gentleman is to receive a substantial salary, and attend the various race meetings held in the colony, but to neither own, back, or be in any way in terested in the running of horses.

New Grand Stand for Christchurch Racecourse. —At the meeting in Christ church on Saturday of the Canterbury Jockey Club, it was stated that instruc tions had been sent to Sydney for plans of a new grand stand to seat 1000 persons, having a sloping lawn in front to accom modate about a similar number. The new building will comprise luncheon room, weighing house, the Judge’s box, steward’s stand, &c. A resolution was carried, in structing the newly elected Committee to take immediate steps for the erection of the 'stand, if the requisite financial ar rangements can be made.

Travelling Without a Ticket.— John Boyce, who was slightly elevated on Saturday, started from Christchurch for Chertsey. He had a ticket covering the journey to the latter place, but for some reason or other ho would’nt “ demit ” at Chertsey, and came on to Ashburton. Here he was asked for the difference of fare, but refused to pay. No amount of persuasion would induce him to part, and ultimately Constable Daly got charge of him. Sergeant Felton explained to the refractory one that the day was Satur day, and before he could be tried he would have to honor the cells with his presence during the sacred hours of Sunday and on to Monday morning. This was a view of things John Boyce had not taken, and he was quite ready to pay the two shillings wanted then. But the re pentance came too late, and ho was shunted off to the lockup. Yesterdny his Worship lectured John, and cautioned him against such obstinacy in the future, fining him LI and the 2s. excess fare. Sporting. —The running match for L 5 a-side, between Messrs. John Groves and George Montgomery, took place on Satur day afternoon in Mr. Hay T. Smith’s paddock. The weather was all that could be desired, and the attendance was very fair, fully one hundred persons having been on the ground. Both com petitors stripped well, Groves looking par ticularly fit. The distance, as before mentioned, was one mile, which was five times round a course that had been pegged out. A capital start was affected, Groves (who had the inside running) taking the lead, which lie maintained throughout. Twice did Montgovery essay to pass his opponent, but without avail ; and finding his chance of first breasting the tape a poor one, he judiciously withdrew when about half-way round the cuurse the fifth time, thus allowing Groves to win as he liked. It is generally stated that the dis tance was accomplished in smin. 14secs., but we have heard doubts thrown on the accuracy of the record. Montgomery does not seem in any way disheartened by his defeat, which may be attributed to want of condition. Yery little money changed hands on the event. We should not be at all surprised to hear of another match at no distant date between Groves and Montgomery.

Drunk and Disorderly. —His Wor ship the Mayor disposed of three police cases on Saturday. A first offender es caped with a fine of os. Peter Kennedy, against whom nine previous convictions were recorded, was charged with the triple offence of being drunk and dis orderly, resisting the arresting constable, and using obscene language. The prisoner admitted being drunk ; but declared he had not been in such a state for two years or more, and if his Worship would let him off, he “ would not taste drink again—no, not for five years.” Peter forfeited ten shillings for his too free indulgence in ar dent spirits, and for resisting the con stable and using intemperate language, resigned his liberty for fourteen days. Edward Jones, according to Constable

Beaumont, was parading the streets at half-past three this morning, in a very un happy state of mind, consequent upon his being under the delusion that the had been robbed of what money he possessed. Jones evidently not being very able to take care of himself, Constable Beaumont escorted him to the lock-up, and gave him lodging till this morning. His Worship fined the delinquent 10s. or the usual al ternative of forty-eight hours’ imprison ment.

A Good Servant.— A steel rail is on exhibition in France that has been in use 18 years, and over which 256,000 trains have passed. Pleuro. —The settlers at Waikato are greatly incensed at the slaughter of cattle suspected of pleuro-pneumonia, but which on examination in several cases, < have proved healthy. A Big Order. —Messrs. .Stephen and Sons, one of the principal shipbuilding firms on the Clyde, have received an order from an Italian house for ton steamships, each of 3,000 tons burden. Jewel Robbert —The Crown Princess of Denmark was robbed during her recent journey to England of ornaments worth 60,000 or 70,000 crowns. A sailor named Weiss on board the Skoldmon had been detected as the culprit. He stole the articles from the saloon in which the Prin cess, like the other passengers, had left her property.

Sly Grog Selling. - A man named Charles Boyce was fined L2O and L 5 costs at the Waimate R. M. Court on Thursday, for selling spirituous liquors in an un licensed house.

Volunteering at Home. —The official return of the British Volunteer force for the past year show the total number of men enrolled has risen from 203,201 in 1868 to 206,250, while the “ efficients” have increased from 194,191 to 197,485. A Costly Funeral. —Thirty thousand pounds is no mean sum to spend on a funeral, yet this is said to have been ac tually expended on the obsequies of the Maharrjah Bardwan. The greater por tion of the three lakhs was given away in charity.

A Funeral Sensation. —A sensation occurred at the funeral of Bliss Ada Bruin, daughter of Councillor Bruin, at Leceister. Just as the procession left the chapel in the cemetery, Mr. Joseph Block ley one of the bearers, dropped down dead. Miss Bruin was drowned while skating on the ice.

“Out of the Fryingpan,” Ac. —Two years ago the farmers in Hancock County, Kentucky, -I posted ” their lands so as to prevent sportsmen shooting upon them. In the interval, squirrels have so multiplied, that a large part of tl« co n crops in the country have been destroyed.

John Bright on Religious Educa tion. —John Bright, speaking at Birming ham, contrasted the eight generations educated in accordance with Puritan tra ditions in America with the same genera tions in England, where they had been scaudously neglected, and allowed to grow up without State help towards knowledge.

The Civil Service Commission.—A telegram from Auckland of May 8 says : —The Civil Service Commission have examined the heads of all important de partments, and leave for Nelson on Tues day by the Hanea. They will remain at Nelson until the following Monday, then they go to Blenheim, where they remain three days, and then proceed to Welling ton.

A Rich Man. —Mr. J. B. Watson, the Sandhurst millowner, made his fortune out of the Kent claim, Garden Gully. For several years he kept twelve batteries going on his own quartz, and got so much gold that the small difference between the mint and bank prices enabled him to net thousands by selling direct to Govern ment. He has L 500,000 invested in Mel bourne property, and has large interests in Sydney, where he has a brother. He has seven unmarried daughters. A Queer Result. — One of the most remarkable cases of restoration to speech on record is from Huntsvilla, Georgia. A Mrs. Martin had been partially para lysed for nearly a year, and had lost the power of speech. One day she acci dentally struck a loaded revolver lying upon the table in such a way that the ball was discharged into the knee of her paralysed leg. A severe wound was pro duced ; but, strange to say, the woman began to talk, and has been able to do so ever since.

Let Off. —The tendency of colonial juries is to let offenders 6ff, but here is a sample of an English j ury which appears to have erred quite as much the other way. Justice Maule once addressed a prisoner thus ;—“ Prisoner at the bar, your counsel thinks you innocent ; the counsel for the prosecution thinks you innocent; I think you innocent; but a jury of your country, in the exercise of such common sense as they possess, which does not seem to be much, have found you ‘guilty,’ and it remains that I should pass upon you the sentence of the law. That sentence is that you be kept in imprisonment for one day ; and as that day was yesterday, you may now go about your business.”

Bare Hoof v. Shoe. —Some time since the London Christian Union called attention to the fact that an experienced farrier of England reported that horses did better without than with shoes. A writer in the London Times has been trying the experiment, and thus reports : —“ When my pony’s shoes were worn out, I had them removed, and gave him a month’s rest at grass, with an occasional drive of a mile or two on the high-road, while his hoofs were hardening. The re sult at first seemed doubtful. The hoof was a thin shell, and kept chipping away until it had worked down beyond the holes of the nails by which the shoes had been fastened After this the hoof grew thick and hard, quite unlike what it had been before. I now put the pony to full work, and he stands it well. He is more sure-footed ; his tread is almost noiseless ; his hoofs are in no danger from the rough hands of the farrier ; and the change altogether has been a clear gain without anything to set-off against it. My pony, I may add, was between four and five years old—rising four, I fancy, is the cor rect phrase. He had been regularly shod up to the present year.”

Leap-year in San Francisco.— “ Silverpen,” writing to the Herald, says: ■ —This being leap-year the ladies of Sun Francisco have the blessed privilege of doing exactly as they think fit with the other sex. Should a lady propose this year, as is the regulation, and the gentle man declines the honor, he sends her a scarlet petticoat as a sop for her dis appointment. Just think of it, a red petti coat in lieu of a live husband. Then, the ladies give parties to which they invite gentlemen only, calling for their respec tive beaux in a carriage, filling their pro grammes, and attending to them just as they are used to be waited on. The rules of the leap-year ball are that “ each lady shall consider herself a gentleman for that night, attend to their partners, protecting them from draughts, fanning them, taking them across the floor,” etc., and these rules are punted on the programmes. No gentleman dare to cross the floor with out an escort. I have seen some funny scenes at these gatherings. For instance, some poor man, who had been invited by a girl who only gave him one dance, has been chained to his seat for the rest of the night, no one taking the least notice of him, until the poor wretch has begged some passing fairy to take him to the cloak room, when he has thankfully escaped, with a suppressed blessing (?) levied on all leap-year balls. Which World ?—The following story comes from Auckland -On Thursday two Chinamen honored a British magis trate so far as to request him to arbitrate on a matter in dispute. Thomas Quoy, an intelligent young Mongolian, who speaks very good English, consented to act as interpreter, and was sworn upon the Bible. One of the learned counsel engaged in the case took exception to this proceeding, on the ground that there was no proof that Quoy was a believer in Christianity. His Worship put the quietus on that objection by pointing out that the interpreter re joiced in the Christian name of Thomas. The man of law, however, proclaimed him self still as great a doubter as Thomas Didymus. Quoy was then interrogated as to his belief. He said that if he did what was wrong, all sorts of evil would befall him. “ But in this world or the next 1" inquired the magistrate. “In this world : I know of no other,” answered the China man. The countenance of the irrepressi ble objecting lawyer brightened up ; it was evident that he was sure he had scored a point. But again he was doomed to disappointment. Mr. Laishley carried the day by remarking he was convinced that if the same question were put to half the educated men in England, no satis factory answer would be obtained “ that they would not admit their belief in a huge furnace of fire and brimstone await ing the arrival of every human being when he shuffled off this mortal coil.” Finally, the services of Mr. Thomas Quoy were thankfully accepted by all parties concerned,

Body Found.— The body of a man be longing to H.M.S. Cormorant has been found floating in Auckland harbor. Ho has been missing some time, and was supposed to have deserted. Totara.— Some totara telegraph poles that had been in the ground in the .North Island for over ten years, when lifted last week showed not a sign of decay, but were as fresh and sound as when put in.

The Auckland Smuggling Case. —Mrs. Sarah Bostock, who was fined LIOO for breach of the Customs’ Regulations, was unable to pay the fine, and was removed to Mount Eden Gaol to undergo the alter native of six weeks’ imprisonment.

Government Aid. The length to which some people go in depending upon the Government of the day to do e', ery thing is well illustrated by the following story, which comes from Victoria: —A lecturer on surgery at the Melbourne University, whilst lately summing up the results of the season’s lectures, is said to have deplored the scarcity of dead bodies. “But now,” he added, “as there has been a change of Ministry, we may hope for better things !” A poor compliment, indeed, to Mr. Service. An Audience. —The correspondent at Inglewood of the Taranaki Herald goes into figures over the audience that listened recently to Colonel Trimble, M.H.R. His statistics are as follows :—There were present about 150 men, 10 bull-dogs, 5 cattle dogs, and 200 fleas, the latter get ting admitted in a surreptitious kind of way, concealed in the coats of the dogs, and, as soon as admitted, quitting thoss animals and distributing themselves amongst the assembly.

Polite Literature. The Wanganui Herald, the Hon. John Ballance’s paper, says of Major Willis, whose seat for Rangitikei is now under contest, that his course of labor in the House would not have taxed the strength of a “diabetic” patient. The Chronicle, published in Wanganui, gives the credit of the very refined expression to the Hon. John, and adds that it is the custom of the said Hon. John to unmistakeably point out the op ponent he assails in his columns, and then bespatter him with the filth of a spiteful and illiterate Yahoo.

Native Affairs. —People are ac customed to the alarmist telegrams of the Lyttelton Times penny-a-line at “ the front,” and won’t feel very much shaken when they read his last telegram : —There is noting new on the Plains. The Con stabulary having abandoned the road that ended in the swamp, and advanced by the beach track, are now engaged pushing forward with a dray track. As they ad vance the natives continue to occupy the land the rear and build whares. The local Government organs say that the nest few days will test the issue of peace or war. Mr. Bryce has said that any rebel lion can be stamped out in three weeks.

Who’d Have Thought It.— Our big brother at the Cathedral city appears to transgress the rules of newspaper etiquette with the same impunity as other journals of the colony who do not claim to occupy such an exalted position as the journal in question. The Wellington Evening Post devotes the following local for the benefit of the Lyttelton Times : —“ There has been rather a paucity of nows in the South lately, and the Lyttelton Times has been driven to quoting largely from the Wellington journals principally the Evening Post. No one can of course object to this, but our contemporary might have the honesty to acknowledge the source from which it gets its information. In one issue recently, no fewer than three extracts were thus taken from us without acknowledgment, and on the Monday the Times cooly appropriated a sub-leader on the loss of the Yingorla. We certainly expected better things from a paper of the standing of the Lyttelton Times.”

A Female Fight in San Francisco. —Miss Wise and Miss Downing are two young women who unhappily loved one man, by name Mr. Young. The rivalry led to frequent ebulitions of anger and jealousy between the two, who even came to blows in the presence of the favoured swain. He, it appears, did not fully realise which he was the most partial to, but temporising, ho convinced each that she alone enslaved his heart. One even ing in a ball room, while dancing with Miss Wise, Miss Downing walked up to the couple and insisted upon her rival giving up her partner ; this Miss Wise re fused to do, whereupon Miss Downing shrieked and fell in a lit on the floor. The next day Miss Downing wrote and asked Miss Wise to visit her, which the latter did, and upon entering the house Miss Downing took up a club and flew upon her rival, who, retreating to the yard, picked up a pitchfork, and returned the salute. Mows on the head and shoulders from the club, and gashes on the hands and breast from the pitchfork, followed with terrible rapidity, until the two belli gerents fell insensible. So they were found and picked up, but it is feared that neither will recover. Each calls for the delinquent Young, who has wisely made himself scarce in the vicinity, and left for parts unknown. The whole neighbour hood is excited over the affair. How Charity is Dispensed. —There is reason to fear, from what appears in the Wellington press, that the benevolent institution of, that city is, by its indiscreet system of relief, creating as well as reliev ing pauperism. One member of the com mittee has got so disgusted at last at the misuse of public money on unworthy objects of charity that he ceased to attend its sittings, and sent a note explaining his reasons. In the first case he mentions a Mrs. H , who was living in adultery, yet was continuing to receive rations, rent, and meanwhile living an immoral life. Another case was that of a woman in whose apartments, on being visited, were found odours of spirits, which were satisfac torily accounted for owing to the doctor having -ordered her a diet of biscuits steeped in brandy !” A third case was that of a notorious loafer getting rations for self and family. The rations were at last stopped when the woman tried to got jams, etc., in lieu of bread and beef. In a fourth case, a woman was receiving help while her daughter was receiving music lessons. Another instance adduced was that of a professional prostitute being helped until the police interfered. He concludes his letter thus :—“ I am constanlty told that unworthy persons are being helped, and in the face of the grow ing demands on the City Treasurer made by the benevolent committee, I fear nothing but the criticism of the press will check the growing evil.” If the instances given above are a fair sample of the distribution of charity at Wellington, it is not to be wondered at that LIOO a-week is needed to relieve the “dis tressed. ”

THE BOROUGH DRAINAGE.

A remark made by the Chairman of the County Council at the last meeting of that body dispels some doubt that has hitherto existed in the minds of some as to the power of the Borough Council to utilise any portion of the County’s grant of £5,000 for purposes of drainage, as well as for purposes of water supply. Mr. Bullock pointed out that, though the in troduction of a water supply to the Borough was an indispensable work, drainage as a means of getting rid of the water after it had fulfilled its mission was equally necessary ; and he asked the Chairman to settle the question, whether any part of the L 5,000 granted by the County to the Borough could be utilised for drainage. The Chairman replied that no doubt of a drainage scheme being part of a water system had ever been entertained by him, and so far as the fund would go in the direction of drainage it would be perfectly right to use it. As our readers arc aware, a few days will see the water scheme now under construction, and a stream running down our channels, so that channelling will be a work imperative to be undertaken. Over the cost of the iron pipes now on hand and stored by the Borough, there still remains to the credit of the Water Supply Fund some £SOO, and the answer of the Chairman of the County to Mr. Bullock virtually gives the Borough control of this sum for channelling at once. Doubtless the Borough will set about channelling work immediately, trading upon the funds which have thus become available, and we may hope to see a good many unpleasant gutters sweetened. Besides, though the water scheme now in progress is looked upon as only a tem porary one, there are good reasons for lielieving that its permanency is not so much a myth as smie believe, and if it should be allowed to continue for a few years, then it might be advisable, after disposing of the iron pipes, to devote the proceeds to the completion of all the channelling necessary in the township. In any case, the better financial position that has recently found the Borough Council holds out a hope that a large portion of much wanted channelling work will soon be taken in hand.

A ST. PETERSBURGH ADVENTURE.

One evening Maria Ascharowna, the wife of a distinguished State official, was driving homewards from a party through the dimly-lighted Ssarotnaj street, in St. Petersburg!!, when she suddenly felt her self grasped from behind, and, turning round, beheld with horror Satan himself, “ in his habit as he lived,” perched at the back of the sledge, gnashing his teeth ferociously, and glaring at her with his gleaming eyes. Screaming to the saints for protection, she clutched her isvostchick round the waist and clung desperately to him, while the Evil One climbed into her place in the sledge, and drew her towards him with such irresistible force that, after a brief struggle, she found her self, to her inconceivable consternation, actually seated in the Enemy of Man kind’s lap. Fortunately at this moment a policeman hove in sight, whereupon the ivsostchik, scarcely less frightened than his mistress, pulled up, and the gorodovoi promptly conveyed Lucifer to the lock up. It is painful to relate that the in fernal potentate was found to bo so drunk that he was unable to explain his extra ordinary conduct, or to give any satisfac tory account of himself. Next morning, however, sobered by a night’s repose in the watch-house, he confessed himself to be one Mr. Michael Spilantieff, the son of a wealthy Petersburg merchant, and stated that, having assumed the garb of Satan, with a view to attending a masque rade, ho had dined with some joyous com panions, indulged in too copious libations, and sallied forth into' the public streets. Further his remembrance extended not. It is to be hoped the especial patron of the forger’s guild did not defraud Russian justice by paying his flue in spurious notes.

ALMOST BURIED ALIVE.

A strange story came to the ears of a Sentinel reporter recently, which had been related to a group of men at one of our hotels. The gentleman who related the narrath e was immediately hunted up and asked to repeat it. He seemed willing to do this ; but on learning that it was for publication, he requested that it be not given to the public, assigning a reason therefor. On account of the fact that it might possibly injure his business, and that he might be embarrassed by strangers calling on him who would read the incident, we omit his name, as well as the place where he is stopping. He said that in 1877, when the first yellow fever ap peared in the city of Memphis, he was there on business. He had been there for several weeks, and then first experienced a drowsy sensation. This was followed in a week or ten days by the fever in all its fury, which rendered him unconscious. He lay for some time in this condition, his life being in a precarious state. After a time he seemed to be overcome by the disease, and gradually grew weaker, until at last all pulsation had stopped and the breathing was no longer apparent. At that time it was the custom to hurry the corpse to the graveyard without any cere mony. He was placed in a rude box and hurried away to the cemetery, followed by a single friend. On the way to the grave, however, this friend felt a conviction that he was not dead, and ordered the little procession to stop. The box was taken back to the place of start ing, and his body again placed on a cot. After a few hours of patient watching, a slight movement of the face and upper portions of the body was observed. An examination was made of the pulse, which was found to be faintly beating, while respiration was apparent. It a few hours more the gentleman was aroused, and in less than thirty-six hours he was sitting up. He recovered rapidly, and in' the course of a few days was able to get up and move around. Meanwhile the Associ ated Press dispatches had contained an account of his death from the fever, and his family in New York City, and one son, working on the Bee Line Road, had mourned for him as one gone from the face of the earth. After his recovery he went to Texas, and from thence he crossed over info Mexico. He was gone on this trip about two. months, during which time he wrote to his rela tives. He soon afterwards came North, as the quarantine against Southern traffic and travel was raised, and eventu ally landed in this city, where he met his son, who was as much rejoiced at the meeting as if his father had been raised from the dead. It was learned that his letters had been miscarried, and he wrote at once to New York, again announcing his recovery. The gentleman who told this strange story is a man of powerful frame. His weight used to be 215 pounds but it will not now exceed 197, which leaves him yet a very hearty, robust man. He has had several very narrow escapes, one of which was an accident to a runaway wagon at which time he suffered the breaking of an arm, leg and several ribs. The doctors said he would always be a lame man, blit that was where they were mistaken. He is about fifty years of age, talks in a beautifully modulated tone, and is a very intelligent and pleasant person age in social relations. ... He said he was satisfied that numbers ’of persons were not dead who were buried in the yellow fever districts of the South, but had con tinued until interment in a comatose state. And the moral of this may be : Be sure you are right, then go ahead, especially in the matter of human burials. — Indiano polis Sentinel *

THE NEXT EUROPEAN WAR.

A strange little pamphlet has just made its appearance in Berlin, written in the ingeniously prophetic style of the his torian who described the Battle of Dork ing. The author, who evidently com bines the special information of the soldier with the culture of the man of ters, entitles his sketch “ The Campaign of Germany against Russia and Prance in the year 1880-1, written in 1931, on the 50th anniversary af the Battle of Warsaw.” In June of the year 1880, begins the chronic ler, political complications had gone so far that, on the 10th of that month, declara tions of war on the part of Russia and France were delivered at the Courts of Vienna and Berlin. With inimitable ap pearance of real'ty and mastery of geogra phical and strategical details, the writer then describes the course of hostilities on the Russo-German frontier, the interven tion of Italy in favor of the Frauco-Rus sian alliance, the campaign in Alsace-Lor raine, the espousal by England of the cause of Germany and Austria, the fight ing, the counter marching, and the final overthrow of the triple offensive eolation, causing in France the deposition of the Dictator, Gambetta, and the election of Prince Napoleon as President of the Re public. The latter, with the consent of the Chambers, enters into peace negotia tions with Germany, France declares him self again willing to sanction the cession of Alsace-Lorraine, and promises to pay an indemnity of 12 milliards, as well as agree to a general European disarmament. — Times.

TELEGRAPHIC.

LATEST FROM EUROPE,

{By cable /tom Reuter's Agency.) London, May 7.

The Channel Squadron has returned from a cruise in search of the missing training ship Atalanta. The mission has proved to be fruitless. [The above telegram, after the disap pointing information that Commordore Wilson had received no information of the Atalanta’s safety, leaves the matter where it was, and we now fear the worst regarding the vessel and her crew.] London, May 8. The total quantity of wheat afloat for Great Britain is 1,950,000 qrs. - Best Australian beef tallow, 325. fid.; best mutton tallow, 345.; copra, Ll 7. At the wool sales yesterday, 8,500 bales were offered, making a total of 104,400 bales catalogued since the opening. The tone of the market has a slightly improved tendency. Hides had a fair demand for most descriptions. The Board of Trade return of exports and imports for the last month show a de cided improvement. Meat importation is seriously occupy ing public attention. A prospectus has been issued for the establishment of a Colonial Fresh Meat Company, with a capital of L 200,000, half of which has already been issued. It is expected that the Company will commence operations immediately.

Sir William Vernon Harcourt has been defeated in his second election contest, which took place at Oxford. Constantinople, May 7.

The assassion of Colonel Commeroff, late attache to the Russian Embassy, has been sentenced to death.

LATEST ENGLISH NEWS.

[Via Australia and the Bluff.] London, April 29. Earl Granville, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, has reassured the Aus trian Ambassador in London of the friendly feeling of the Government towards Austria, with a view to more effectually calming the irritation produced by Mr. Gladstone’s speech. It is currently expected that Mr. Glad stone intends reducing the 3 per cents, to 2o' per cent., and that he will propose the abolition of the income tax. May 3. The Pall Mall Gazette has changed ownership, and will henceforth appear as a liberal paper. Mr. Frederick Green wood, the editor, and the whole of the staff have declined to remain under the altered conditions, and intend starting a new organ. May 1. Earl Cowper, K.G., has been appointed Viceroy of Ireland, and proceeds imme diately to Dublin to enter on his duties. The Royal British Commission 'in Lon don has undertaken to make all necessary provisions for the representation of British exhibitors to the Melbourne International Exhibition. Sir Cunliffe Owen, who represented British interests at the Paris Exhibition, has been appointed Executive Com missioner.’ Mr. George Collins Levey, secretary of the Melbourne International Exhibition, has left England for Melbourne by the Lusitania. May 3. General Sir Donald Stewart having completed his arrangements for the security of the British position at Ghuznee, has proceeded to Cabul. On arrival there, he is senior to General Sir F. S. Roberts, and, acting in accordance with [instructions from the Viceroy, he assumes the supreme command of the operations in Afghanistan, superseding General Roberts. Disquieting intelligence has been re ceived concerning the fidelity of the Maharajah of Cashmere, Grave suspi cion has been aroused by the discovery of facts which indicate that attempts have been made by Russian emissaries to tamper with this ruler, and there is reason to believe that the Maharajah has been to some extent implicated in Russian in trigue. April 28. The Duke of Marlborough, Viceroy of, Ireland, has vacated his office in due course, owing to the change of Govern- v ment. His Grace and the Duchess, his wife, having rendered themselves ex tremely popular with the Irish people, were accorded an enthusiastic ovation on the occasion of their taking their depar ture from Dublin. They were presented w ith addresses by the city corporation and the representatives of the principal public institutions, expressive of the deepest gratitude and esteem, more especially in connection with the steps taken by the Duchess of Marlborough for the relief of the famine stricken peasantry in the ■western districts of Ireland. A general meeting of the Orient Stea S Company was held to-day, when a sati 3 - factory report was submitted, and th e usual dividend declared. The chairman congratulated the shareholders on the success of the operations of the company for the year, and considered that their trade with the Australian colonies showed every sign of increasing with the im proved prospects of business. It was in tended to double the capital of the com pany, thus raising the amount to L 7,000,000, and also fit up their steamers with the necessary machinery for convey ing from the colony to the Home cargoes of animals preserved by tjJH freezing process. Intelligence has been received from • India of another defeat of the hostile Afghans. The British troops, under the command of General Ross, were attacked by a large body of Afghans, near the vil lage of Sydabad. The fight lasted several hours, but the superior arms and discipline of the British soldiers prevailed. The enemy was repulsed and compelled to re tire, leaving over 1200 dead on the field# Abdulrahman has opened negotiations

THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN, TUESDAY, MAY 11, 1880.



MOUNT SOMERS RAILWAY. NOTICE. A PUBLIC MEETING will be held at the Mount Somers School-room, at 6 p.m., on SATURDAY, May 15th, to protest against the alteration of the above line, as it appears to be the inten tion of the Government not to bring the line to Mount Somers at all. All persons interested in the above line are par ticularly requested to attend. 830o*



NOTICE TO FARMERS. PJIHE undersigned will be prepared to treat with farmers and others in Ashbur ton, every Wednesday and Saturday, for the PURCHASE of GRAIN, or SHIP MENT on ACCOUNT of GROWERS. JOSEPH CLARK. February 28, 1880. 550g* rjIHE NEW ZEALAND CLOTHING FACTORY’S GARMENTS FOR MEN’S AND BOYS’ WEAR. Fit Better Look Better Wear Better Arc Better Cut Are Better Made Are Better Shrunk, And therefore give more satisfaction than any other goods offered to the oublic. Testified to by their Thousands of Cus tomers who purchase constantly at the NEW ZEALAND CLOTHING FAC TORY’S BRANCHES, Now Established in Dunedin Invercargill Oamaru Timaru Ashburton XjYTTELTON Christchurch Wellington Nelson AVanganui New Plymouth Napier Thames Auckland A SINGLE GARMENT AT WHOLESALE PRICE. N.B.— Our New AVintcr Manufactures are now ready. “TRY THE N.Z. OVERCOAT.” SHIRTS, HATS, and HOSIERY, of every description at WHOLESALE Prices. ASHBURTON BRANCH— East Street. Wm. sparroav, Manager.



MESSRS. H. MATSON AND CO., H AUCTIONEERS, &c., OLD FORTNIGHTLY STOCK SALES at Ashburton and Timvakl. Next sale at the TINWALD YARDS, on TUESDAY, April 27, 1880. C. PERCY COX, 270* Agent, Ashburton.