modities, which are retailed to members at cost price.” The great advantage the fanner has in being a member of the Grange is that when he wishes to realise on his crops he can ensure cash for it, whereas if ho sells in his own homo market he must part with his produce to the speculator or middleman, who buys simply to re-sell at a profit. “If they can by their astuteness realise a profit upon their investment they' should not be condemned as tradesmen.” The middleman bny's separately, but puts all his purchases and ships them in one lot, and, bSung his own disbursing agent, solely derives the profit of his labor. It is just in this manner that the Grange acts for the farmer, with the difference that the profit which goes into the middleman’s pocket goes into the pocket of the farmer instead. Another similar prosperous union has been started with success, and is known as the “Sovereigns of Industry.’’ “ Its members maintain that the true desideratum is to raise the quality and quantity of every sort of nscfnl produc tion to the maximum, and to reduce the cost both of creation and distribution to the minimum ; they also urge that the master principal of a true civilisation must be the direct application cl labor to the production of the goods of life, and that an end must be put to the enormous profits exacted by the distributors of goods, who create no value, but get rich of the earnings of productive labor. ” It is some what upon these principles, and with a view to the accomplishments of these ends, that we see the establishment of mutual or co-operative stores. Mark the success which they have attained, and also the secret of that success, viz., by simply buy ing for cash and selling for cash. No ex pensive account books to keep, and no bad debts. The principles upon which a farmers’ bank should be established may be thus tersely described. No one would deny the very great want that is felt of a bank ing institution devoted to the agricultural interest ; no argument is required to demonstrate the pressing necessity for its immediate establishment. There was last year 40,000 holdings in the colony of Victoria alone, cultivating over 1,250,000 acres, the produce of which, excluding live stock, was valued at L 5,574,239. In the whole of Australia there are 4,511,745 acres under tillage, so that the bank would have a large field to work upon. The Scotch cash credit should be adopted, so that instead of discounting a farmer’s bill for three or six months, leaving him at the mercy of the bank when it falls due, should the money market bapen to be tight, every advance should be granted by a cash credit on the management being satis fied, not only by the borrower as to the alleged value of his freehold or lease hold security, but also by a report, after personal examination of it, by one of the bank’s inspectors ; such cash credit not to be withdrawn until after that year’s harvest had been garnered, say the month of February in each year, when all advances made .during the past season would be subject to an adjustment, and fresh arrangements entered into with any borrower who wished a renewal of his ad vance, or any portion thereof, until after the following harvest. This arrangement to be more or less continuous so long as the security amply covers the advance. Selectors who have nearly completed their term of probation should also be aisisted to a moderate extent, provided their im provements were of a substantial and permanent nature. Every farmer, and those connected with the farming interest, should be specially appealed to for their cordial assistance, as the success of the hrALmeans success to agriculture. They sho», therefore, particularly at this j unmire, put their shoulders to the wheel as one man, and by subscribing, one and all liberally, for shares, give indubitable evidence of their thorough confidence in the bank; and there will be but little difficulty in attracting, not only in these colonies, but from England, all the capital needed to relieve the strain now felt so sorely by the agriculturists in consequence of the tightness of money here, while it is so plentiful at home. Were the bank to be started before the close of the year the deposit should only be 10s. per share, and no calls made until after harvest. In order to keep clown the ex penses of the bank at the outset, and at the same time afford the utmost facilities for accommodating the bank’s customers without unnecessary de lay, which might cause serious incon venience or lead to disastrous results, there should at present only be estab lished the head office in Melbourne, but there should be an officer resident in the centre of each agricultural settlement, who would inspect and report (without delay) upon the security offered, and thus enable the management to give a prompt reply to every application for an advance. Kerang, Horsham, Benalla, East Charl ton, Taralgon, Coleraine, Shepparton, Donald, and other similar centres, should be chosen as the head-quarters of these offices. Arrangements should be made to obtain money on fixed deposits in London, and the capital thus produced, it may be an ticipated, could be let out here at an ad vance of from 2 to 3 per cent, on the rate given for it. In the present plethoric state of the London money market, there would be no obstacle to securing sufficient capital to meet the requirements of the farmers here. To demonstrate how pro fitable are the investments in shares in similar institutions, it is only necessary to peruse the sworn returns of the banks doing business in Victoria, to learn that on an aggregate paid-up capital of L 9,094,335, the dividends average 10 17- 26tbs per cent. If a bank were estab lished upon these principles, and the farmers ceuld only he got to be unanimous on the question of subscribing for shares, and would put down at least LlO each, there would from the 40,000 farmers of Victoria be raised at least half a million of money. This, with the money which would be subscribed by the capitalists of Victoria, would be amply sufficient to ad mit of arrangements being made for the importation of some of that capital which is offered on the London Stock Exchange at from Ito U per cent. It is aggravat ing to read (viewing the depressed state of financial affairs in this, country) that there is air unprecedented abundance of money in London just now waiting for investments, and that there is far more offering than anybody wants. How gladly would be welcomed this superfluity of cash, for which we are languishing so ter ribly. , . And now, gentlemen, if I have been somewhat lengthy in my address. I hope you will attribute it to the very deep interest I take in this movement. And now one word in closing. Let these farmers unions he living realities, and not mere bundles of dry sticks —a mere assem blage of men bound hand and foot by rules and red tape to nonentity. If you mean to succeed, you must let the life blood of thought and action have full scope, and must not be trammelled by carping objectors at every step, that you must not tread on cither this subject or that matter. As for politics, they must come in for a large share of Ayour consideration and attentive discus ■ sion, or at every step you take for im provement you will be stopped by this bar rier. To prosper you must farm exten sively, as they do in South Australia and America. To farm extensively import the latest scientific means of saving labor, and utilise the hundreds of laborers in England ; and to do this successfully, you must grasp the broad tree of politics and make it subservient to your welfare. Re member that “ Heaven helps those who help themselves,” and that “ those who would be free must thepiselves strike the first blow.”

ASHBURTON RACING CLUB. The annual meeting of the Ashburton Racing Club was held at Quill’s Hotel on Siturday evening. There was a very small attendance. Mr. Fooks was voted to the chair. committee’s report. “Gentlemen, —I am instructed by the Committee to report to you as follows • At the last general meeting, held on Aug. 7tli, 1879, you will recollect that considerable doubts existed in the minds of the Club as to the wisdom of holding a meeting this season, inconsequence of the financial depression existing, and after much deliberation you finally resolved to risk it, leaving all details in the hands of the Committee. They, after considering the question carefully, resolved upon giving the same amount of money for prizes as at the meeting field tfie previous year, but made some slight alterations in the division of the prizes. Tfie result has been, as the Hon. Treasurer will iufoim you in his report, a finan cial success, and two days of very fair sport was provided for the pub lic. Several protests were entered at the meeting, but all have been settled to the satisfaction of the stewards and Com mittee, the principal one having boon referred to the 0. J. Club for decision. The expenses for improvements on the ground this year have been light. The Club arc to be congratulated on having, after many efforts on tbs part of the Com mittee, succeeded in obtaining a ten years’ lease of the racecourse, on very liberal terms, from the County Council, being LlO per annum, such rent to be expended in plantations on the course. One subject for the Club to consider at this meeting is the best method of leasing the ground.— I have, &c., James Wilkie, Hon. Sec. The Chairman, addressingthe Secretary, stated that he had great pleasure in handing him a cheque for LlO 10s. He was sorry that the Club were not in a position to give a larger amount, but trusted that Mr. Wilkie would accept the amount not so much on account of its value, but as a mark of the very high es'cem in which he is held by the Club. He also stated that he had much pleas ire in testifying to the ability displayed by Mr. Wilkie in his arduous duties. treasurer's statement. Mr. S. Saunders, Hon. Treasurer, read the audited financial statement as follows, which was adopted ; RECEIPTS. £ s. a. By Balance brought forward 5 3 9 ~ Due from F. H. Digby, Esq 2G 8 0 Annual subscriptions, 50 at £2 2s 105 0 0 ~ Nominations, acceptances, ’ &c. 125 4 5 ~ Subscript ion from C. P. Cox, Esq., 1 1 0 ~ Sale of privileges — £ s. d. Sports 12 0 0 Gate ... ••• 55 0 0 Booths 92 0 0 Messrs Acland Campbell and Co’s, account 13 10 0 ~ Collected at Grand Stand, &c 5 8 0 410 15 2 By Balance— Due from F. H. Digby, Esq. 20 8 0 Cash ... ... 13 10 0 Bank of New Zealand ... 14 13 10 To collect — Confectioner’s booth ... 8 0 0 Do ... 5 0 0 Sale of cards ... 0 0 0 EXPENDITURE. To Secretary’s potty cash ... Gl3 0 ~ Treasurer’s do 10 0 ” _ 7 13 0 ~ Printing and advertising— “ Guardian ” & “Herald” ... 31 G 4 " Lyttelton Times” ... 617 4 “Press” ... 3 G 0 ~ Friedlauder Bros., grass seed, &c— ... G 18 9 ~ Collector’s commission ... 40 11 ~ Labor on course 6 1G 0 ~ Stakes paid 300 5 0 ~ Loan from S. Saunders re funded 20 0 0 ~ Balance 54 11 10 440 15 2 Mr. Saunders stated that his business engagements would not permit of his holding the position of Treasurer after the present meeting, and he begged to resign. ' The meeting was unanimous in request ing Mr. Saunders to continue in the position he had so long satisfactorily filled, but being firm in his intention his resignation was accepted with regret, and a vote of thanks passed for the efficient manner in which the accounts had been kept. Mr. Saunders then proposed, and Mr. Wilkie seconded, that Mr. Fooks bo elected Treasurer. Carried. Mr. Wilkie then tendered his resigna tion as Secretary, and after some discus sion he undertook the duties till a succesor could be elected. It was resolved to call for tenders for leasing the racecourse for a term of years. One tenth of the first 3’ear’s rent to be paid on signing the lease. A vote of thanks to the retiring officers and the Chairman concluded the meeting.

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Monday, Jan. 12. (Before Mr. F. Guinness, R.M.) OBTAINING MONEY UNDER FALSE PRETENCES. Alexander Kelly was again brought up on this charge. The evidence in this case had chiefly been taken at a previous sit ting, and the case had been adjourned to admit of the production of a witness. In the absence of Mr. Harris the defence was undertaken by Mr. Stringer. Accused, after beeiug cautioned made a statement. He said he met Mr. Blair in July last. Accused was then putting in a crop for himself some fourteen miles from Rakaia. After the crop was in he looked out for more land for cropping, as his team was idle. Shortly after ho had an offer of 150 acres at Cannon’s. Meantime the land had been leased by a man at Cficrt sey of Cannon, who bad let half of it to another party. Paton offered accused his half, and led him to believe the other party would let him have his share. Told Baton that Blair had offered to go in with accused if he took the whole lot. Saw Blair, who said he would go in. Went to Christchurch and saw Mr. Cannon. Took the whole of the land. Returned and took tfie ground. Blair and accused arranged about putting in a crop—Blair to find teams to put in his share and -licensed also to find a team. Two days later accused sent a team on to the ground, and Rickards, a farmer sent teams to do Blair’s portion. Ultimately arranged with Rickards to plough Blair’s 75 acres, accused to plough the same extent in return for Rickards. The three teams worked away until McKer row and Co. asked for a lien over accused’s crop at Kyle. Should have stated that an offer was made by accused to Blair to divide the paddock or take it in one lot. Mann asked for a lieu over the crop as the Bank was pushing for security, but Mann did not then get the

lion. A few clays afterwards asked Blair if he would bo able to look after his share of the land, and ho replied that after paying Ifickards ho did not think he would have much money left. Told him Mann and Buchanan had promised further advances if any wore required. This was before the lien was given. Told Blair that if ho included Ins share of the ground in the lieu, would bo responsible for funds during the harvest, and a settle ing up could he made when the grain was sold. Blair left everything to accused. Promised to sign the lieu the following day. Went to Christchurch to raise money the day after the conversation took place. A grain merchant advised doing without a lien till just before harvest, and arrange ments could bo made to carry on dining that harvest. Came back to Rakaia the same night and signed the lien to Mann and M‘Kcrrow. Gave the lien to Mann as the Bank wanted security. Mann and M'Kcrrow prepare 1 the lien, and they were told that money was wanted for present purposes —about L4O or LSO. They said that would be all right if the lieu were signed. M'Kcrrow declined to be responsible for the L6O, and they went to the house together to see Mr. Mann, who promised the money next morning if accused signed the lien—the money to bo paid to accused’s account at the Bank. The lieu was consequently signed. M'Korrow said he was perfectly satisfied with the security. M'Korrow asked for a lien over the horses and- dray, but was refused. Next evening told Blair at the farm what had been done, and that they wanted a hill of sale over the horses after the lien had been signed. Blair said aensed had done right. Some days after wards Rickards came to the farm to sec how things were doing, and accused told him ho had better give him a written agreement of paatnership, as he had no security, and accused asked Rickards, to witness the agreement. At this time accused had no lease of the ground though it had been paid for. Gave Blair a written agreement the day after the crop was in. A week later accused came to live at Ashburton, and nothing further was heard of the matter till Blair wanted to buy the wheat crop. George Rickard, farmer, knew both ac cused and Blair Remembered agreeing to plough land for Blair—Cameron’s section partly cropped by' Blair and Kelly. Went to plough in September. Knew they were putting the crop in together. Was to plough and harrow Blair’s land for 10s. an acre—there were 75 acres of it. Blair has paid part of the money, and is working out the remainder, which per haps may bo done now. Agreed to help Kelly with the land, and did about 25 acres of ploughing. Heard a conversa tion on the ground between the two parties to the effect that they should put all the land in together and got a lien over it. Knew that Kelly gave a lien over the crop, but could not say when the know ledge was gained. Kelly said so himself. Counsel then addressed the Bench, and his Worship found accused guilty and sentenced him to one month’s hard labor. Notice of appeal was given.

WANT OF DRAINAGE.

The Borough Council are notoriously' short of funds, and such being the case they are not very powerful to do anything in the direction of improving the drainage of the town. This is to be regretted for several reasons, but more especially that the lower parts of the town are made a depot for all the sewage of the upper parts. At last meeting of the Council a deputation appeared, and stated a griev ance regarding Burnett Street that has been so frequently stated, without remedy applied, the sufferers must bo pretty well heart-sick with hope deferred. But not only are the residents in the immediate vicinity of the source of the nuisance sufferers by the faultiness of the drain, but all along the line of the street where the channel is supposed to run the inhabi tants arc subjected to the disagreeable and dangerous influence of the rotting sewage, until the Town Belt is reached. In the street itself, to some extent — though to bo sure a very limited one—the slight fall helps to conduct a certain por tion of the offensive liquid away ; but at the Town Bolt the fall ceases, and as a result the residents there are treated to an accumulation of (as a correspondent bluntly and perhaps somewhat hyperboli cally put it last week), ‘‘ a discharge at their doors of all the sewage of tfie town.” The injustice is at once apparent of making one portion of the town the depot of the liquid refuse of all the others, and it is to be hoped that some steps will be taken to remedy the evil. Some time ago a raid was made by the then Inspector of Nuisances upon the hotel and boarding-house keepers with a view to abate the nuisance in some measure, but the prosecution fell through owing to the badly prepared state of the evidence adduced, and the miscarriage loft things in statu quo. Ever since, com plaints have been made of the state of the clrinage, but more especially that of Burnett street, which, from its low-lying position, is perhaps the most difficult street in the town to keep sweet in the absence of the outfall drain of which wo heard so much some time ago, hut memories of the Council’s discussions on it are now only called up by the smell its absence regales us with. There can be no doubt as to where the nuisance in Burnett street takes its rise, and until that is stopped, or the outfall drain made, the greviance complained of must con tinue. Tfie proprietor of the Somerset Hotel, in a letter to tfie Council, pointed out that every day he sent a large volume of clean water down the Burnett street channel, and otherwise did his best to purify it. Had the outfall drain been in working order this flushing would be in valuable, but, as it is, tire flushing is an addition to the grievance of the Town Bolt residents, for it gives volume to a stream of sewage that might not other wise be persuaded to travel more than a chain or two, and as there is really no out let, the flushing, while it may help the dwellers in the "street, is an injury to those at tfie end of it. Whatever the consequences, some thing must be done with the drainage if the town is to preserve its good name for health, and already the number of bouses in Burnett street that have been empty this summer show iu what esteem that locality is held. An in jury is being done to the Burnett street property' that sooner or later proprietors will kick against, and they have no more right to bo saddled with tiie filth of East street than the Town Belt has to be made the depot of the township’s sewage. In fact, so far as justice is concerned, unless an outfall and flushing are provided they would be acting as fairly by others as others are acting by them were they to dam the channels, and force back upon the originators of the nuisance the sewage that is forced down upon them. We trust action of some sort will be taken early. If the channels can by any possibility be put to rights and a free course provided for the sewage away from everybody, danger will be removed, and the present nuisance abated. This is the duty of the Council, and we hope they will make a move in that direction at the first avail able opportunity, even if it be only by some temporary if efficient make shift until they are in a position to lay down a per manent scheme.

CHISPA’S LETTER.

(From the Ashbmton Herald, January 17.) “I am not yet so bald that you can sec my brains. ” —Long eel low. I had occasion last week to refer to the pleasantries so frequently occurring among the legal profession in Court. The at mosphere is still clouded there and tfie importation of a legal luminary from the metropolis this week didn’t make the “ courtesies of tfie profession ” a bit more courteous. The venerable Bench was bounced the other day into giving two de cisions in one case, and a member of the bar politely' informed a “ learned brother ” that he was ‘' telling a deliberate false hood,” and characterised another state ment as being “absolutely false.” The Christchurch lawyer informed our local cock of the walk that he “ objected to be interrupted by this bullying gentleman,” while all through a long sitting they were constantly giving lessons to each other. If I might be allowed to suggest a motto for the Ashburton Courthouse, I would say', judging from the week’s experience that “ You’re another” would ;vt bo an inappropriate one. There seems to bi a doubt now as to how a man should be de scribed when he appears to answer a charge. It seems he can be referred to as “ prisoner,” which is objectionable un less he has boon found guilty ; and there seems to be a sort of descending scale of epithets such as “ accused,” “ defend ant,’.’ and “ gentleman before the bar.” It all depends on what you go up for, my friend, what you will be called when you get before the Court. I see the Fire Brigade intend shortly to. go in for a sumptuous blow out, and to do due honor to the occasion they have made up their minds, pending the arrival of the uniforms now so long overdue from the Borough Council, to go to the extrava gance of an clevcntcen-shilling French peaked cap each, to distinguish them from ordinary mortals. If they scud old Chispa a cheap ticket, he will honor these gallant firemen with his presence and patronage. Auction sales arc, generally speaking, dull items to dilate upon ; but I wont to one in a country' district a few day's ago, where the census taker would have had a good chance of filling in the whole popu lation within a radius of ton miles —man, woman, and child, horse, dog, and coun try where born, all at one “ fell swoop.” That last expies-fion is a poetical one, I believe, but not being a poet, I take it for granted it is at least classical. I suppose Shakespeare, or Voltaire, Homer, or Joe Ivess, or some of these ancient cusses we hear lecturers rampaging and lecturing about, invented it, but I don’t know what it means. If they would convert it by the change of a couple of letters, and call it a “full sweep,” then I could under stand it to mean pairing with half-a crown, with the probability of getting two-and-sixpence back. But Chispa is not much up to classics nor poetry, but he understands human nature ; at least, lie thinks he does. These country dis tricts show how the climate affects the individual. For instance, at a sale in the metropolis, that is, Ash burton, you will find, gentle reader, that people keep one eym on an item to be sold, another on the auctioneer, and both wandering around the audience to find out who was going for the same bargain. This kind of thing gets intensified when the combatants for the “ bargain” happen to be of the softer sex, and one of them has what is called by courtesy'an obliquity of vision, which expression, when boiled clown is in plain English a “squint.” These kind of contests are always a good line for Chispa, as the combatants, when they bid against one another, generally seem to have a good idea of the depth of each other’s pockets, and look for an auc tion as a test of the financial resources of each other. I may be wrong, you know, but I judge by Mrs. C. and her next door neighbor ; and if they meet at an auction room, and a leaky pannikin is put up for public competition, both these females will go for that tin structure down to their last threepenny bit, and Chispa’s weekly' income lias precious little left for beef steak and onions on Saturday night. They conduct auctions differently in tfie country though. There they go in for a good skinful of whisky before they start, and then they bid. The extent of their bids could bo judged by the happy smile on the physiognomy of the auctioneer, and the self-satisfied look of the owner of the goods being disposed of. The items “sacri ficed ” at the country sale I started with in this paragraph, were of a varied des cription. One swagger went for a mat tress, and was so zealous of its safe keep ing that he hung it round his neck, but the mattress and the whisky combined wore too much for his legs, and in the straggle which ensued the mattress got the best of it, and Mr. Swagger came to the ground, whereupon another festive purchaser ripped up the bod and put the swagman inside of his purchase. But why dilate ? They spent their money, and the auctioneer attained his object. But the vision of that old “tight” shepherd who bought a box of cigars and was in a fog as to whether they were for eating or not, still causes me a little grin. The companionship of adversity passed in tfie day's of our ancestors into a proverb, and the same feelings of the old Adam are still exiatant in our midst. Whilst tire borough was rolling in wealth, or what was just as good, had good credit at the bank, everything went “ merry as a mar riage bell,” and the Councillors gave vent to their ideas in forcible language, and the differences of opinion were duly ventilated, leading occasionally to some tolerably “high falutin,” Now, however, a change has come o’er the spirit of the dream, and cash and credit having both vanished into thin air, the harmony prevailing at the meetings is quite delightful to see. Nothing occurred last meeting night to disturb the exquisite politeness of the councillors to each other, except a small “ tiff ”on the subject of a Fire Brigade well opposite the “ Guardian ” office, which the sage of the Councillors, Mr. St. Hill, clesciibed as an “octopus.” That, we believe, is a kind, of fish with good sticking propensities, and a large number of foolers. Probably the former reminded the Councillor of the glue-pot, and the latter of his tendency for fishing out grievances. Another matter was brought up —the annoyance caused by the circus being pitched in close contiguity to the residence of one of our Reverends. It was too bad altogether of Chiarini to peg his section out on a Sunday alongside a parsonage, but as the acrobats and clowns were not so well acquainted with the residence of the clergymen as Ash burton residents are, it would perhaps bo advisable in the future to warn Chiarini and his dogs not to bark, at least on a Sun day. Council discussions are sometimes amusing, and occasionally bring out a little joke. Fancy one dryly humorous Borough Father wanting to know when that bye-law was to come into operation that prevented “ dogs from barking.” Chispa.

MERV.

Some interesting details relative to Merv and its chief are published by the Vienna “ Frcmclenblatt ■— “ The city consists of an immense wall or fortifica tion, inside which arc about 2000 houses, 9000 touts, and several mosques. Tfie Sirdar (Prince) has five palaces there, three of which are used as Government offices There is also in Merv a small quarter for the Jews, separated by a wall from the rest of the city. The present Sirdar, Isdigar Khan, is a man of fifty, more frequently seated on the back of a horse than on his throne, for he is con stantly occupied in pillaging excursions on the side of Persia and the Russian pos sessions on the banks of the Caspian Sea. This does not prevent him from being fond of poetry, for in his suite are always a Persian poet and several bards, who amuse him of an evening by singing and playing the harp. Besides, Isdigar Khan is him self the author of several Turkish and Persian poems, in which he celebrates brigandage as a chivalrous pursuit. Tfie Prince’s revenue is estimated at 500,000 roubles, arising principally from the sale of prisoners and boot}'. There is even a special bazaar in Merv, where only Per sian, Russian, &c., prisoners are sold as slaves. All the male inhabitants in the country, from their fourteenth year till they are seventy, are liable to military service. Consequently, the Prince can easily bring 80,000 men into the field. For cciflurics the people of Merv have carried on against the Russians and Per sians, without interruption, the ‘ Dschi had’ (holy war), and they believe them selves authorised to commit all sorts of cruelties or outrages against these two infidel nations.”

LIMEJUICE V. ALCOHOL.

There are viable signs of no uncertain kind (says the “ Lancet”) that alcohol, as a beverage, is not likely' in future to have quite its own way' even in the Metropolis. Coffee-taverns and coffee-tavern companies are being established now at a rapid rate, and, as far as wo can judge, have worked vcr.y successfully'. But before these places were much thought of—i. e. , about two years ago—those who looked about them might have observed in the windows and at the bars of most public-houses, eating houses, and ginshopa, more or loss con spicuous advertisements of several varieties of s- >-callcd lime juice beverages. We have at tfie present moment before us examples of several of this kind, and there is in doubt that particularly during the warmer months (though these by the way, are now few and far between), lime juice and its components constitute among the metropolitan public an exceedingly popu lar drink. Most people have had, or think they have had, at one time of life some variety of cutaneous affection, which often takes the convenient synonym of scurvy'. And as the latter disease was not many years since much written and talked about in connection with the mercantile marine, and still more, two years ago, in connection with the Royal Navy, we can not be much surprised at the success of those who endeavor for commercial pur poses to promote the sale of such drinks. It seems, however, that they do not moot with the unqualified approval of publicans, or rather of distillers and brewers. The former are now absolutely compelled to keep them, to sell them, and to advertise them. But, if we are correctly informed, the poor man’s friend in the shape of the licensed victualler, depreciates the imbi bition of lime-juice in any form whatever. He sells it because the inevitable law of commerce—i. e., of supply and demand— compels him to do so. But he will toll the individual who asks for a glass, that it promotes acidity of the stomach, that it deranges the kidneys, congests the liver, corrodes the intestinal canal, and so on, and then the customer is told that ho had better keep to the old glass of “bitter,” or “ gin,” etc. Being tolerably certain that the reports as to this sort of gossip are substantially correct, wo counsel the public to turn a deaf ear to such elaborate and and ignorant nonsense, and to drink their limejnice whenever and wherever they list. There are with this, as with other liquids, pure and unadulterated varieties, and as to this matter they must, of course, use their own judgement. But they may be assured that, as a rule, lime juice is. particularly during the summer, a far more wholesome drink than any form of alcohol, and that, say an ounce or two of the pure juice in a tumbler of really cold water, sweetened to taste, is about the pleasantest beverage that can be taken when the thermometer is over 05 degrees or 70 degrees Farenheit. We commend this drink to the coffee-tavern companies, but recommend them to procure the best West India limsjuice, as more wholesome than any mixture containing other ingre dients.

THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN, TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 1880.



Postponement. —The tea meeting to wel come the Rev. A. J. Smith to his new charge, as pastor of thePrimitiveMethodistchapelf has been postponed from this evening till February 3rd. Tickets purchased for the former will ho available for the latter.



Buooy Accident. —Mr. 0. E. Fooks, while driving along the north-east town belt on Saturday met with a slight ac cident. The marc he was driving took exception to 'something connected with the vehicle, and commenced an on slaught on it with her heels. The at tack resulted in her demolition of the shafts, and some minor fractures.



Meetings. LONGBEAOH HOAD DISTRICT. IN consequence of the Annual Meeting of the Longbeach ratepayers, adver tised to have boon held on WEDNESDAY, the 7th inst., having lapsed through non attendance at 12 o’clock noon, I HEREBY CALL A MEETING of the Ratepayers of theLongbeach Road District to be held at the Road Board office on FRIDAY, the 23rd inst., at the hour of 12 o’clock noon, when nominations will be received of per sons duly qualified to fill the Three extra ordinary vacancies on the Board, in the room of Messrs. Clark, Taylor, and Wright. A poll, if required, will bo taken after the nomination, closing at 4 o’clock p. in. This mooting will now supei’sedo the adjourned Annual Meeting called for Wednesday, the 14th inst. JOHN GRIGG, Chairman. Longhead), Bth January, 1880. 917a—371 a Tenders. A BARE CHANCE. mENDERS are invited for LEASING, for a term of two years, the ASH BURTON RACECOURSE, consisting of 146 acres of first-class land, within a mile of the Ashburton Railway Station. Tenders will be received till SATUR DAY, Jan. 31, at 5 p.m, The terms are very liberal, and all particulars can be obtained at the “ Guardian” office, on application to JAMES WILKIE, 409 g Eton. Secretary. TENDERS. mENDERS WANTED for STOOK -1 ING, LOADING, and STACKING 800 acres crop on Hart’s Run, and 500 acres on Longboach, also TYING about 280 acres oats. Tenders to be sent to the undersigned not later than TUESDAY, January 20th. Contractors will have the privilege of rroiim with the threshing machines. b ° JOSEPH CLARK, 74g0- Tinwald. THRESHING. TENDERS are invited for' THRESH ING 5000 acres of Grain. Specification can be seen at the office of 3COg SAUNDERS BROTHERS. Tb CULLEN, GENERAL CARRIER and FORWARDING AGENT, Burnett street, Ashburton. Trains at tended daily, and all orders promptly at tended to. 4COg



Wanted. VISTANTED, by Married Couple, EM- Vv PLOY MEN Ton Farm. Man can work machine, and wife cook. Apply HERALD REGISTRY. 9 i 5 WANTEf , by a young person, a SITUATION as Housemaid or Nurse. Apply M. M., Office of this paper. 397 G HARVESTING. WANTED, TENDERS for the entire HARVESTING of 1600 Acres on the Laghmor Estate, of which quantity 400 Acres have to be tied by hand. Ten ders will be received up to SATURDAY, 24th instant. For particulars apply to 399 a DONALD M‘LEAN. SHEEP. WANTED— To PURCHASE 5000 Sound Mouthed Merinos or Cross breds, in lots. Apply to SAUNDERS BROS. 313 Ashburton. 'ANTED—STOCK for GRAZING. Good stream of water running through the paddock. Terms liberal. Full particulars on application to G. COX, 351 g Wakanui. ANTED KNOWN, that Envelopes and Notepaper can be obtained, wholesale or retail, at unusually low rates at the “ Herald ” Office, East-street North. G 42 Gazette in Bankruptcy. V. R. mHE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN § (County Agricultural and Sporting Recorder) is a GAZETTE for all Notices under The Debtors and Creditors Acts. Public Notices. ASHBURTON AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION. Atrial of reapers & binders Will be held in Mr. Hay T. Smith’s Paddock, opposite Messrs. Saunders’ Mill, Ashburton, on WEDNESDAY, 28tii INST. There will he two classes, one for String, and the other for Wire Binders —a GOLD MEDAL will be awarded for the best machine in each class. GEORGE JAMESON, 40Ga Secretary. CAUTION. ANY Person found removing Timber from the swamps in the Hinds, part of the Laghmor Estate, or trespassing thereon, after this date, will be PRO SECUTED. DONALD M'LEAN. January 10th, 1880. 3Slg THE EDUCATION BOARD OF THE DISTRICT OF NORTH CANTER BURY. ELECTION OF COMMITTEE. THE Board, in pursuance of power in that behalf conferred by “The Education Act, 1877,” (section 63) hereby directs that a Public Meeting of the house holders in every school district through out the Education District of North Can terbury to be hold on MONDAY, the twenty-sixth day of January, one thou sand eight hundred and eighty, at seven o’clock in the evening, for the election in each district of seven householders (sec tion 63) to form the Committee for such district for the year ending with the fourth Monday in January next year. The place of meeting shall he the schoolhouse in each district which is pro vided with a schoolhouse, and this is understood to mean the main schoolhonsa in any district which has more than one school. In the districts in which schools are not yet built, the places of meeting shall be as follows : .Aylesbury—House of Mr. William Bladder. Cambridge—House of Mr. Joseph Megson. Flemington—Wheatstone Hotel. Kir wee—Kirwee Hotel. Loburn North—House of Mr. J. A. Cunningham. The Board further directs that the first meeting of each School Committee be held in the place appointed for the elec tion, and immediately after the election upon the same evening. The Board requests the Chairman of each public meeting to make to the Board, immediately after the election, a return of the names of the several householders elected to form the Committee, and re commends that each Chairman of Com mittee report his own election as soon as possible. J. V. COLBORNE TEEL, Secretary. Christchurch, 9th Jan., 1830. 377 g MOUNT SOMERS ROAD BOARD. NOTIFICATION OF VALUATION LIST. nnAKS NOTICE—The VALUATION | LIST for the Mount Somess Road District for the year 1880 will bo OPEN FOR INSPECTION from 15th January to 15th February, 1830, at John Hood’s Hotel, Mount Somers. All OBJECTIONS thereto must be left at the Road Board Office, Mount Somers, on or before the 15th day of February, addressed to the Judge of the Assessment Court; and a Copy of every such Objection must bo left at the Road Board Office, Mount Somers, addsessed to the Chairman of the Board, not less than Seven Days before the next sitting of the said Court. JAMES FRASER, I Clerk to the Mount Somers I 404 g Road Board. LONGBEACH ROAD BOARD. »11HE VALUATION LIST for the JL LONGBEACH ROAD DISTRICT will be open for inspection at the Road Board Office, Longbeach Road, till FEB RUARY 15th, 1880, and all OBJEC TIONS thereto must be left at the Road Board Office, Longbeach, on or before the 15th February, 1880, addressed to the Assessment Court ; and a Copy of every such objection must be left at the Road Board Office Longbeach not less than Seven Days before the next sitting of the said Court. WILLIAM CUTHBERT, Clerk to the Longbeach 401 g Road Board. WAKANUI ROAD BOARD. THE VALUATION LIST for the WAKANUI ROAD DISTRICT will be open for inspection at the Road Board Office, Ashburton, till FEBRUARY 15th, 1880, and all OBJECTIONS thereto must be left at the Road Board Office, Ashbur ton, on or before the 15th February, 1880, addressed to the Assessment Court; and a Copy of every such objection must be left at the Road Board Office, Ashbur ton not less than Seven Days before the next sitting of the said Court. C. E. FOOKS & SON, Surveyors to the Wakanui 402 a Road Board.



Public Notices. Public Notices. /TR. FRANCIS PHILIP O’REILLY, Barrister, Solicitor, & Conveyancer, TANG RED STREET, ASHBURTON, Next Messrs. Orr and Co.’s. 3G2g TINWALD STORE. JAMES ESCOTT, GENERAL STOREKEEPER, IRONMONGER, DRAPER, &c., &c., &c. 390 g SPECIAL NOTICE. JpROFESSOR WALLENBERG, Oculist, Aurist, and Specialist (From Europe.) May be consulted upon all Diseases of the Eye, Ear, and Throat, Deafness, Noises in the Head, Defective Sight, Cataracts, Amaurosis, Opthalmia, Gutta- Serena, Loss of the Eyelashes, Inflamma tion, and all Diseases of the Eye, Ear, and Throat, treated upon new and scien tific principles. PROFESSOR WALLENBERG. HAS ARRIVED IN ASHBURTON, And may be Consulted at his Consulting Rooms at MR. THOS. QUILL’S COMMERCIAL HOTEL, For TEN 10 DAYS’ ONLY. OPINIONS OF THE PRESS. Blindness and Dearness. (“ Oamaru Mail,” Dec. 15.) Professor Wallenburg is still kept busy with patients. We on Saturday received a visit from two persons upon whom lie had operated. Their names are Mr. Nicholas Power and Mr. James McGrath, both of Waimate. The first-mentioned had been deaf in one ear for 14 years. On Wednesday last he visited the doctor, and obtained some relief. On Thursday he was perfectly cured, a grass seed and an accumulation of skin which had gat thered around it having been extracted. He told us that he could hear better with the ear that had been operated upon than he could with the other. The last men tioned visited the doctor at the same time. He was slightly deaf in the left and totally deaf in the right ear. A growth having been extracted from the right ear, he entirely recovered his hearing. He told us that he could hear his own voice— a thing that he had not done for 16 years. The case of Mr. Alexander Aitchison is worth chronicling. He had been totally deaf in one ear for four years and slightly affected in the other. He is now perfectly restored, and was so gratified that he to day introduced a suffering friend to the doctor. Mr. Aitchison tells us that he could only hear his watch ticking by means of the diseased ear by pressing it tightly to it. Now, ho can hear it at a distance of a foot, although his ear is stopped with wadding. (“Oamaru Mail,” Dec. 16.) To the Editor. Sir, —About Professor Wallenburg and his cures. lam glad that in previous issues you have called attention to the work and remarkable success of the Pro fessor in a few clays of his residence in this town. I only just wish to say that I can confirm the truthfulness of several of the cases mentioned by you, for I have seen the patients myself. I would like to urge upon the people of Oamaru and neighborhood the importance of having any affection of those parts of the body which he specially treats attended to at once, or when he has gone they will regret that they did not avail themselves of his skill. Such men as he are a blessing to humanity. Hoping this may lead to the relief of some sufferer or sufferers, I am, &c., Chas. E. Barley. (“ Oamaru Mail,” Dec. 22.) Mr. James Gibson, a shepherd employed at Station Peak, called upon us tins morn ing, and requested us to bear testimony to the fact that he lias been cured of almost total deafness by Professor Wallenburg. He had been more or less deaf for 30 years, but for the last 20 years his hearing had been getting gradually worse. Ten clays ago Mr. Gibscn placed himself under the treatment of the Professor, and has so far recovered that he experiences no diffi culty in hearing ordinaiy conversation. At the same time Professor Wallenburg introduced to us Mr. William McKenzie, of Kakanui. He had been so deaf for 13 years that he had been unable to hear ordinary sounds. On Saturday last he became a patient of the Professor’s, and obtained immediate relief. His hearing is now as perfect as could he desired.£ ( <: Oamaru Mail,” Dec. 2D.) To the Editor. Sir, —Permit me through your paper to direct the attention of the public to the following. At the request of a member of my con gregation, unable to pay, and suffering with eyes nearly blind and inflamed many years, I applied to Professor Wallenburg for advice and treatment gratis. He, wiib generosity and kindness readily granted the favor. I made the applica tion because I had learned from other clergymen that the professor is ever ready to give his services to the poor whon asked to do so by any person on whose honesty he can rely on being assured that no deception is being practised on him. This person was under the care of several medical men, but without any beneficial result. Professor Wallenburg has had the case under treatment for about ten days, and now the eyes are perfectly well, and the person is likely to be able to earn his livelihood, to the great delight of all his friends, whose lasting gratitude Pro fessor Wallenburg has earned. I know of my knowledge three others who bene fitted very much by the treatment of the worthy Professor. I write this letter without the request of any one ; but I consider it a duty owing to the Professor’s kindnesss ; and I recommend those suffering in eye or ear to apply to him whilst they have the present favorable opportunity. I hereby tender my best thanks to Professor Wallenburg for his charity to the poor. —I am, &c., Wm. Coleman, Roman Catholic Clergyman. The Eye and Bar. —Professor Wallen burg is effecting some raarmollous cures in cases of blindness and deafness. At his invitation we visited the consulting rooms at the Albion Hotel, yesterday morning, when we conversed with two or threo out of a total of about thirty patients present. The first case brought under notice was that of James Robertson, of Morton Mains, who was suffering feonx heavy films in both eyes. He assured us that for the past six years he had suffered acutely, and during for years of that period he had been under medical treat ment without receiving any benefit—-in fact he went from bad to worse. Placing himself under Professor Wallenburg’s treatment he specdly came - round, and yesterday could distinctly see a hair at the ordinary reading distance, .Richard At kinson, of Invercargill, who had been treated in Dunedin and Melbourne for impaired eye-sight, als bore testimony to the Professor’s skill. He had been totally blind of one eye, the other being consider ably affected, but could now distinguish the time on a clock a couple of chains off. Mrs. W. Jerrett, of Riverton, was the next patient introduced. She stated that she had been suffering from deafness for the last six years, and during that time her husband had expended something like LIGO in endeavoring to effect a cure. Under Professor Wallenburg’s treatment she had so far recovered her hearing that she could without difficulty hear a watch ticking. H. N. Bates was the next patient consulted ; he had been totally deaf of one ear for 'fourteen years, the deafness arising from an attack of scarlet fever. In England his case was regarded as a hopeless one, and this was the more serious since the remaining ear was com mencing to sympathise with the affected one. He had only been under the Profes sor’s treatment a few days, and could now hear perfectly well. Constable Buchanan also states that the occulist has succeeded id curing him of partial deafnes. These are a few patients indiscriminately singled out from the patients in the consulting room, and they certainly go to show that the Professor is thoroughly up to his busi ness. At present he has 75 patients under treatment. We would strongly urge all who are afflicted with blindness or deafness to pay this oculist a visit, and at once, since his stay hero is limited. “ Southland Times,” Nov. 25, 1879. (From “ North Otago Times,” Oamaru, Dec. 18, 1879.) There would seem to he some founda tion for the merits claimed for Professor Walleuhurg’s treatment of diseases of the eye and car, if we may judge by the re sults of several cases that have fallen under our notice. These are the days of discoveries, and possibly the Professor may have come across some special remedy for the disease of the eye and ear, or he may only bo an intelligent, sharp sighted man, better able than the generality of his fellows to see where the evil he would cure is best to be grappled with. At any rate, several long-standing cases which have only been under his treatment for a week are already be ginning to show good signs of total cure, and are really worthy of some notice by an impartial observer. The first of these is that of James Beale, who was formerly of the Cape Mounted Rifles, and lost the sight of one eye 14 years ago in Africa, and who was treated in vain by several army doctors when there, and by some medical practitioners in Weymouth, Eng land. About a week ago he came to the Professor totally blind with one eye, and partially so with the other, which had begun to suffer in sympathy. He is now able to read small print with either eye, and in a few days, judging faom ap pearances, will be completely cured. Another case is that of a son of Andrew Meldrum, a baker, of Oamaru. This hoy, who has been partially blind for several years, and lias been operated upon and treated without any beneficial effect by several New Zealand professional men, applied to the Professor about a week ago, and can now begin to see again very fairly, and is to all intents and purposes perfectly cured. Mrs. Keuahan’s case is an interesting one, both for the rapidity and the completeness of the cure of a most painful and seemingly hopeless malady. This lady, when she applied to the Professor, was afflicted by the most violent inflammation of the right eye, which was swollen as big as an egg, and continually discharging an offensive mat ter. She was in great agony, and had not slept for move than a week. The sight was completely gone, and worse than all, the other eye beginning to show signs of suffering from a like disorder. Sage medicos, who had attended her from the commencement of the com plaint with a slight inflammation caused by a cold, began to beg her to make up her mind to lose both eyes, as no cure could be found. However, she is doing well now, at all events, wilh the swelling reduced, and the sight partially restored in the one eye, and the other as well as ever it was. George Gordon, a man of 79 years of age, who was almost entirely deaf hut a few days ago, can now hear words spoken in a low voice from the other side of the room, while the two children of Mi\ Townsend, who have suffered from deaf ness for a long time, can now hear the tick of a watch. Those cases are cer tainly interesting, as effectual cures of old standing diseases, after some of them have defied all the skill of the general practitioner, and whether the cure is duo to the remedy or the matter of treat ment it is equally worthy of praise. Timaru has contributed its quota of tes timonials to the skill in eye and ear cases of Professor Wallenburg. Since his ar rival here, a few days ago, his consulting rooms at the Grosvenor Hotel have been heseiged with patients. An idea of the number of cases treated may be formed when we mention that on visiting his apartments about 9 o’clock this morning we found them thronged. From 6 a.m. he had been busily at work, and during the three hours upwards of fifty cases had been treated. The best guarantee of the specialist’s success is that the * living wit nesses are both numerous and well known. During our visit, which only lasted a few minutes, several cases of restored vision wore introduced to our notice. One was the son of the landlord of the _ Masonic hotel, at St. Andrews, whose right eye, through the stab of a penknife, was rendered totally blind about three weeks ago. Medical advice was sought, and the lad was ordered to he confined in a dark room ; but the Professor, without subject ing him to any ordeal of the kind, or any painful operation restored his sight in the short space of twenty-four hours. The lad caii now read the finest type with his injured organ. Another hoy named Edgier, from Temuka, has his sight in process of perfect restoration, after groping his way in the dark and suffering from cataract for the last three years. Ho received the attention of several surgeons, but after one or two consultations lie isnowsofarrecoveredthat he can road with but slight difficulty, and the Professor assures us that in a few days he will he able to see perfectly. Chiarini’s Circus has contributed two cases, the patients, one of whom is one of the most accomplished of the lady performers, re maining behind for the purpose of under going Professor Wallenburg’s treatment. Henry Kent, a young man who tells us he has been nearly blind from his infancy, after a six months’ sojourn in the St. George’s Hospital, London, without ob taining relief, demonstrated the efficacy of the Professor’s treatment, by reading an extract from the “ Otago Daily Times ” in our presence. Lastly two or three cases of chronic deafness were brought under our attention which by dint of steaming, syringing, and operating, had been effectually overcome. The sceptical who arc apt to run away, with the idea that every specialist is a charlatan, need only pay a visit to the Professor’s consult ing rooms, and their impressions will be at once removed.—“ South Canterbury Times,” Saturday, January 10th, o 88( Lr/«