SHIPPING.

PORT or LYTTELTON.

Arrived. Yesterday.

Jane Douglas, s.s., from Kaikoura and Wellington. Lyttelton, p.s., from Wellington. To-day. Hawea, s.s., from the North. Sailed. Yesterday. Tui, s.s., for Kaikoura. Oreti, s.s., for Wellington. Jane Douglas, s.s., for Kaikoura.

SHIPPING TELEGRAMS.

Wellington, Yesterday

Arrived —Ringarooma, from Melbourne and Hobart Town, via the South ; Hawea, from Picton and Nelson.

Sailed —Ringarooma, s.s., for Auckland, via East Coast.

Westport, Yesterday.

The following vessels, coal laden, have sailed from Westport—Grafton, for Wel lington ; Star of the South, for Hokitika ; and Nelson, for New Plymouth. Sydney, Yesterday. Sailed —Hero, for Auckland.

COMMERCIAL.

Ashburton Retail List.

Butter, inferior to best, 1? lb, 6d to Scl. Eggs, F dozen, is. Cheese, prime quality, F lt>, 6d to Sd. Bacon, pi hue smoked, F lb, lod to Is. flams, in cloth, F lh, is id. Flour, in bags, F lootb, 13s. Oatmeal, F 25'lb, 4s. Lard, F Ib, yd.'

MAIL NOTICES.

Mails close at the Chief Post Office, Christchurch, for the following places (subject to necessary alterations) as under;— Monday. December 20. For Chatham Islands, per Omaha, at 2 p.m. ; guard s van, 2.40 p.tn. train. Tuesday, December 21. For Otago and Australian Colonies, per Tararua, at 1.50 p. m. ; late fee letters, 2.10 p.m. ; guard’s van, 2.40 p.m. train. For Northern Ports, per Wanaka, at 1.50 p.m. ; late foe letters, .2.10 p.m. ; guard’s van, 2.40 p.m. train. Friday, December 31. For the United Kingdom, via San Fran cisco, &c., as under Money orders and registered letters, at 5 p.m.; books and newspapers, at 9 p.m.; ordinary letters, at 10 p.m. A supplementary mail will be closed at 7 p-m. on Saturday, January, 1, 1881. Late foe letters may be posted in the guard’s van attached to the 8.30 p.m. train on Saturday, January 1.

DAILY MEMORANDA.

AUCTION SALES. Tuesday, December 21. J. T. Ford and Co., at the Ashburton Yards—Sheep and Cattle. Friday, December 24. Mr. T. Bullock—Usual Weekly Sale. Friday, December 31. Mr. T. Bullock, at his rooms, East street —Freehold and Leasehold Property. Two o’clock.

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

MEETINGS, AMUSEMENTS, Ac. To-Nigut, Saturday, December IS. Amateur Dramatic dub —Rehearsal of Christinas Piece.

Monday, December 20. Fire Brigade, Meeting, at the Council Chambers, at 8 p.m. Tuesday, December 21. Degree Temple, Fortnightly Meeting, Templar Hall, at 8 p. in. Tuesday, January 4. Longbeach Road Board—Annual Meeting of Ratepayers, Road Board Office, at 12 noon.

■Wednesday, January 5. County Council, at the County Council Chambers, at 11 o’clock.

The Ashburton Guardian. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1880.

TOWN EDITION. {lssued at 5 p.m]

Wakandi Sports. —A meeting is called for this evening, in the Wakanui School room, to discuss the advisabloness of hold ing sports in that district on New Year s Day.

Boat Accident. —Two members of a prospecting party were drowned yesterday in Mackay’s creek, near Westport, by the upsetting cf a canoe, and Samuel Jen kins and Alexander Waddell were drowned.

Longbeach Road District.— The an nual meeting of tho Longbeach Road Dis trict ratepayers will be held at the Board’s office, on Tuesday, tho 4th of January, commencing at noon. The business will lie princially to elect three members of the Board in place of Messrs. Grigg, Dawson, and Wright, who retire by rotation, but are eligible for re-election. Lho balance sheet, 0 &c. , will also bo considered with other matters.

Compositors’ Strike. — A strike in the Lyttelton Times office seems to have con siderably disorganised matters in that establishment. The paper appears to-day without any leading article, without any thing like the usual quantity of reading matter, and with every plan possible taken advantage of to fill up. _ Only on two of tho eight pages does reading matter appear, and the whole issue bears evidence of the straits the paper has been put to to come out. It is expected, however, that in a day or two the difficulty will be got .over.

The Precipice Accident at Thu Tjju, —An Auckland telegram says il The police boat has returned from Tiri ■Tiri with the body of young Leith, which was found at the base of the cliff, sadly •disfigured. Two attempts by sea and ■one by x’opes over the cliff to search for •the body proved unsuccessful after twenty-four hours’ labor. A fourth at tempt suceeded, although the boat was swamped and narrowly escaped destruc tion, and the police boat’s crew and the light-house keeper were in jeopardy of being hemmed in by the sea at the base of the cliff. ”

Amateur Dramatic Club. —The Ama teur Dramatic Club hold;; a rehearsal to night of the Christmas peices. Winslow Cup. —We may remind those who are wavering in regard to making entries for the Winslow Cup that the entries close on Monday—so they had better look up.

Lord Derby on the Punishment op Juvenile Offenders. Lord Derby, addressing a meeting at Manchester on Tuesday night on the punishment of juvenile offenders, expressed himself as opposed to the view that corporal punish ment'. should be the only substitute for imprisonment in their case. The points ho more immediately urged were that there should be no imprisonment for boys under 14 years of age, an extended power of moderate corporal punishment up to that age, and a separate place of deten tion for boys, so as not to mark them with the gaol stigma.

Professor Blaokie on Sunday Ob servance.—Professor Blackio writes in a contemporary; —The Sabbath, as the Christian Lord’s Day, is not infringed by any amount of rational recreation, so long as sufficient time is reserved for those re ligious services and exercises, both public and private, for the practice of which the day was specially set apart by the eaily Church. The supposed inconsistency be tween religious exercises in the morning and innocent recreation of a Sunday, is purely a Scottish fancy, altogether unsup ported either by the tradition of the Christian Churches, or by the conditions of'a well-constituted human nature, and resulted practically in the artifical creation of an awful sort of piety, which, by the erection of a sombre wall or partition be tween devout feeling and natural gaiety, has a tendency to make religion odious to the young and Christianity ridiculous to the wise.

New Zealand Parchment. —We have received samples of parchment made at the Nelson Steam Wool Works by Mr. James Bettany. The samples are equal, and in the case of the better class ones superior to anj’’ parchment imported, while the manufacturer informs us that he can pioduce parchment of any quality, and at prices far lower than that paid for English parchment. This is certainly an industry that, properly carried on and managed, ought to succeed in New Zea land, where sheep skins are so plentiful. There is a very large quantity of parch ment used in this colony, and we feel confident that, with such specimens of the colonial made article before us, there ought not to come from beyond sea a single sheet. We may add that wo have compared Mr. Bettany’s_ skins with a number lying by ns, imported from Home, and in every case the Nelson parchment is superior.

CABLE NEWS.

LATEST FROM EUROPE.

{Pa ReutePs Pgency.) A Dangerous Shift. London, Dec. IG. The barque Melanesia, 1,224 tons, which left Port Piric, South Australia, on September 23rd, for England, has put into Pernambuco, Brazil, for re stowage of cargo, which had badly shifted. Owing to the danger she was in, part of the cargo was thrown over board before reaching Pernambuco. A Complete Understanding.

News has been received that the ne gotiations which have been proceeding at Pekin between M. Butzow, the Rus sian Mininster, and the Chinese Go vernment, for the settlement of the questions in dispute in regard to the Kuldja territory, are progressing satisfac torily. The deliberations of the Rus sian and Chinese delegates have as sumed a most peaceable phase, and it is considered that there is every pro spect of a complete understanding being arrived at by the two countries. The Bank Reserve. The total reserve in notes and bullion in the Bank of England, is 1.14,250,000. Consols have further declined, and are now again quoted at par. Adelaide wheat, ex warehouse, 503. 6d. ; New Zealand wheat, ex ship, remains at 445. There is a fair demand for most descrip tions. Australian hides are at prices generally about one-eighth of a penny lower. Frozen Meat Question. London, Dec. 17.

The arrival of the Orient steamship from Australia with a shipment of Australian fresh meat was made by the owners of the Orient steamers the occa sion of a grand luncheon on board the vessel to-day, when various dishes were served, consisting of imported meat. A number of guests were invited, includ ing many leading colonists. Sir Julius Vogel, Sir Arthur Blylh, Mr. Stanton, and Sir D. Cooper were present, and made speeches on the occasion. Sir Daniel Cooper advised steps being taken to steadily develope a trade in fresh meat from the colonies without attempting to force its sale in the Lon don market. More Troops for Ireland-

Notwithstanding large additions which have recently been made to the forces in Ireland, the imperial authori ties in that country have asked for further reinforcements in the disturbed districts, and more troops are accord ingly to be sent from England without delay.

To be Knighted. It is announced that Messrs. Watson and Hughes will be knighted.

AUSTRALIAN.

(Per Reuter's Agency.) Political.

Melbourne, Dec. 17.

At a Cabinet Council held to-day it was resolved to ask members to pass supplies and then adjourn for a fort night, otherwise the House will sit daily during Christmas week.

The Markets. Adelaide, Dec. 17. Wheat per bushel, 4s. 6d., old; Ade laide wheat, new, 3s. 3d. The tone of wheat is generally quiet. Adelaide flour, Lio 155.; country, L 9 10s. Freight to London by sailing vessel, 505.; freight to United Kingdom, 505.; height to the United Kingdom from outports, 525. 6d. Sydney, Dec. 17. Produce and other markets un changed. Not True. A number of working men, who arrived at Newcastle from New Zea land by recent vessels, state that the colony is in a very depressed condition, and that hundreds are waiting a chance to quit.

NEW ZEALAND

(Per Press Association,) To Artists. Auckland, To-day. The Auckland Society of Arts will offer prims for competition throughout the colony.

Died in Gaol. A Maori named Thaka, under sentence in the gaol, died from bronchitis. A Female Evangelist. A female evangelist has arrived, and preaches to-morrow. Mr. Proctor. Mr. Proctor’s lecture was largely at tended. Rival Working Men’s Champions. Garrad, the labor agitator, held a meeting last night, but was unsuccessful. He was severely handled by a rival working men’s champion. The Judical Changing. Dunedin, To-day. The Chief Justice and Judge Gillies alternately take Judge Williams’ circuits while the latter is on leave of absen. a. A Prisoner to the Rescue. At Port Chalmers yesterday, a prisoner named Edwards, employed on the hulk, was instrumental in saving a girl from drowning in the harbor.

THE TIMARU REGATTA.

(By Telegraph.)

[from our own correspondent.] Timaru, To-day.

The Regatta, which was postp med from Thursday, took place to-day. The weather was beautiful, and th<; sea favorable for the races. The beach is lined with spectators. The following races have been decided up to 3 p.ni. : Landing Service Race, three nudes. Harbor Board service ... x Timaru service ... ... 2 George street service... ... 3 Time— 30 minutes. Amateur Four-oared Race, two and a-half miles. Timaru Boating Club ... 1 Reid’s Titania ... ... 2 Time—ls minutes. Scullers’ Race. Duncan and Bell competed, the former winning easily. Champion Race, four miles. First prize, L2O ; second, L 6. Bradley’s Zebra ... ... t Coll is’ Pinafore ... ... 2 Won by nearly a mile.

CHISPA’S LETTER.

“ I am not yet so bald that you can see my brains. ”~LoNGFiiLLO\v.

My procession has so completely flabber gastered me that I don’t feel equal t • writ ing much this week. Let me give my thanks and the thanks of old Chanie to all who helped.in the shift, to the lender of the section, and to all to whom thanks are due and, having done that, 1 shall bottle up for another week. Chispa. how ever, has to express regret that after the legitimate business of the removal was over, there should have been a second pro cession which was never contemplated, and in which some very unwise .and in judicious things were said and done, and Chispa would like to state that when the old man’s house was deposited on the new site that his object was accomplished, and the

Subsequent proceedings interested him no more.

One for the cockatoos. A family from Graham’s road came in yesterday to see the show. The mother was a portly female, and her chickens weie all around her. They assembled at the electric light engine, “What’s that, mother,” said young Betsy Jane. “ Oh, girl, don't you know ? That’s a combine for threshing out the gas !”

But before I sluifc up, let use calm my ecstacies and make reference t > a subject that a swimming lawyer is always bothering me about. Wo have now a stream of water flowing through the township, and a splendid little river in the domain, but still there is no provi sion made for bathing. Is there any possibility of making a “ ducking” pond of one or other of the deep places 1 It would not be difficult to cover one of those in, so that a dozen or so at a time of our young men—and old ones too, for that matter—may have a plunge, and a stretch of their fins. The thing is worth con sidering, and the engineers of the borough may perhaps be induced to turn their attention to it.

I like cheek, it’s a sort of second genius. Just after the conclusion of the show last night I overheard a conversa tion that tickled me. It was between an Ashburton resident of a year’s standing and one of the show “ bosses,” and the subject of it was the “ tribe of Comanche Indians ” who had just finished their war dance and song. (By the way a local composer says ho will get up the son:.; and music for the Fire Brigade Carnival. The words are “Co, na, wa, no, too, but he can’t give the English. Neither can I, can you ?) The Ashburton man wished to know whether the showman was aware of the fact that those gorgeous Ju lians were born in Dublin, and had travelled the old country as “ wild ” North Ameri cans for the last ever so long. The ques tion was so astounding that the showman’s lower jaw fell six inches ; but it came up again with a loud snap, when he heard the local man add that he (the local man) had taken the money at the door of the penny shows at which the exhibitions had .been held. There was very nearly a fight. Chispa.

THE CIRCUS.

Tho evening performance at the Circus last night was patronised by as dense a crowd of Ashburton humanity as ever collected before in one space, and we do not believe we are far out in saying that 2,500 people paid for seats in the circus. There were various causes that might- have operated to prevent many people turning out to see a show of this description. A strong nor’-wester blow all day, making the journey to town exceedingly uucoiur fortable to tho country folks, and then the prices of admission were high and repre sented a big hole in the purse of a family man if he were inclined to treat his olive branches, especially if these were nume rous, and then the times recently have not been the most prosperous. I;, is a sign, however, that the ebb tide is well on the turn when so many of our settlers rolled up to an exhibition of the kind we are now noticing. Regarding the nor’- wester we may add that it was just as troublesome to the circus people as it could possibly have been to the visitors, and during its greatest force yesterday afternoon the canvas of all the tents more or less suffered. We noticed the tents in our yesterday’s issue, but it was not until evening, when the crowd filled the circus, that their capacity for giving accom modation was shown, and when all the seats were filled up the great canvas amphitheatre had a very imposing ap pearance indeed. Still there -was a wide space left between the ring and the tiers of seats, and we are told that that this could have utilised in a quarter of an hour, had it been necessary, and seats placed up to the margin of the circle. The first tent entered contained the menagerie. It was a large one, and comprised most of the wild animals that residents in civilised countries liketo look at occasionally. There were lions in plenty, tigers, leopard;., the rhinoceros, hyenas, monkeys, and so forth, while the always interesting elephants and camels, tame and docile, were present in considerable force. From the menagerie

tent a passage way admitted to the circus proper, and the- usual gorgeous pageant opened the performance. All the eques trian strength was utilised to make this effective, and what with the fine horses, the fine drosses of the riders, and the presence amongst them of camels and elephants, gaily caparisoned, the pageant was quite Oriental in its imposing grandeur. The last of the cavalcade had scarcely disappeared when Mr. George Conklin introduced the trained elephants, the performances of which were certainly extraordinary for such unwieldy animals. Then came the wonderful bicycle act on a tight rope of Mdllo. Adelaide, and Messrs. Murtz and Dunbar. One of these gentlemen rode a bicyle along the rope while a trapeze hung from the wheel, and gave his companions an opportunity to display some wonderful feats of gymnas tics upon it. Then came in some dozen or so high loapers, who kept the ring alive with their nimblencss and elasticity. In quick succession their performances wore followed by Conklin's performances in the lion’s don—daring in the extreme. What he did we have most!v seen done before, but it is seldom that a lion-tamer at tempts as Conklin did the hazardous ven tare of tantalising the animals by ottering them a piece of meat, and then withdraw ing it from their jaws just as they had secured it. Two well - trained horses were then introduced, and their contribution to the programme was cer tainly an interesting one. We may here stop to remark that it is in the training of their horses that Cole’s people seem to excel—in fact that is the only point of excellence they .show over other travelling circuses that the colony has scon. At a later period of the evening the six trained stallions introduced showed what the horse can be brought to do, and the in telligence ho can display. The whole six seemed to know exactly what was said to them, what each was required to do, and each did it when he was told. They came out in succession to the call of their names—as Duke, Sultan, Emperor, &c.— and went through their individual per formances most wonderfully, and without any necessity whatever for the whip—a good feature in their training. But the crowning success was achieved when trainer Organ made each horse actually sit down on a stool, like schoolboys in a class. The riding was not above ordin ary circus equestrianism. Wonda Cooke’s was very commonplace, but. that of the others was fair. The horizontal bar per formance was good as was also thebalance ing trapeze act of Millie Tumour. Leaving out O’Dale Stevens’ wonderful globe balancing act, which certainly was wonderful, the rest of the exhibition was not up to what we should expect in “ the greatest show on earth." The clowns were only average, and gave nothing new The circus did not keep faith in its promises not to •‘peddle” for the clown’s trashy song books were hawked about during the evening, as well as tickets for the side show, which was not of much account. The side show opened after the circus was over, and about 200 people entered it. A man with very little flesh on his bones was exhibited, two dwarfs wore also shown, —smart little chaps for their 31 inches, and pleasant little men withal—an educated pig, of course ; a boa constrictor ; a magi cian that would bo eclipsed by many a street wizard at Home ; a musical wonder who plays on seven instruments at once; several Comanche Indians, who go through a war dance with a very great effort to refrain from laughing ; and several singers of trashy negro songs. The side show was assuredly a sell, but it added LlO or L2O to the day’s takings, and that of course is some thing. Our notice of the show would be incomplete did we not refer to the work ing of the electric light. It is so thoroughly under control, that a light equal to day light is secured, while no undue dazzling of the eyes is entailed, audits effect last night was a most pleasing one indeed. The light is worked by an engine a few yards from the menagerie, and the wires are

taken all over the show whore the light is wanted. In an hour after the crowd had loft the ground, no sign of the circus was loft, so rapid arc the company’s move ments, and as soon as everything was fairly bundled up and packed, the long special train was speeding on its way to Tirnaru.

SPORTING.

The Wellington Chip- Wellington', Dec. 17. The following acceptances were received last night for the Wellington Cup ; —Foul Play, !)st ; Betrayer, Bst 31b ; Natator, Bst 11b ; Volunteer, Bst; Hailstorm, 7st 01b ; Libeller, 7st 4lb ; Grand Duchess, 7st 3lb; Virginia Water, 7st 31b ; llandwick, 7st 11b ; Venus Transit, 7st lib ; Badsworth, 7st ; Lady Emma, 7st ; Norseman, 7st ; Governor, Ost 121 b ; On Dit, fist 81b ; Sir George, Ost Gib ; Luna, Ost 51b ; Mischief, Ost 21b ; Dan, Gib 11b ; Satellite, ast 131 b. In consequence of the top weight not ac cepting, all weights have been raised 11b.

Death of a Naval Veteran.

Readers of Home news will doubt less remember noticing a paragraph in in the last mail summary announcing the death of James Coull, the veteran who steered the Shannon in her en counter with the Chesapeke in 1813. The Montrose Review, just to hand, a paper published in the old man’s native place, gives an account of Coull’s life, and, as the account is interesting, in asmuch as it gives a good picture of the days of the press gang and the old wooden walls of England, we publish the article in extenso : On Friday morning, October 1, Quarter master James Coull was found dead in bis bed. On the previous day James had been iu his usual health, and spent a good part of the day in company with some old “salts.” In the evening he complained to his niece of being unwell, but went to bed as usual, and was found cold and stiff, having been dead for some hours. The deceased seaman was born in 1780, and, if his life had been spared till the 7fh January next, he would have been ninety five years of age. d ames was a native of the fishing village of Ferry den, in which, for ages, the Coulls have been many. At the early age of eight years he began his seafaring life as cabin boy on board the Christina, brig, of Montrose. When some years older ho was bound an apprentice to the brig Concord, of Montrose, a port to which few brigs belonged in the end of last century, the flax trade with Russia not being then, it may be said, begun. While serving in the Concord, and the vessel lying at Copenhagen, the pressgang seized the apprentice boy Coull and took him to the Centaur, line-of-battle ship, of seventy - four guns. The famous and terrible battle of Copenhagen quickly fol lowed this, and James Coull, sixteen years of age, took part in the action, The year 1802 brought peace, and James, being a pressed apprentice, received his liberty, and, returning to Montrose again, found his old ship, the Concord. The peace was a short one, .and so was Janies Coull’s liberty, for, when the Concord was lying at the Nore, he was again pressed, and taken a second time on board of the Centaur, ship of war. The subject of our memoir had soon to fight another battle, even the ever-memorable one of Trafalgar, fought in 1805, when Coull had become an able saman, and a veteran one. We must pause, and ask whether he has left alive a naval seaman iu Scotland who fought at Copenhagen and Trafalgar 1 The one battle was fought about eighty years ago, and the other seventy-five ; and

where, it may ho asked, is the old tar alive who was in these battles and can spin yarns upon them such as we have hear! from James Coull ? It was not his custom to say much about the taking of Batavia, in Java, or about skirmishing, but when the battle of the Shannon and Ohesapeke was mentioned to him he at once became young, and fought the battle “o’er again.” The battle, as is well known, was fought in 1813, and it certainly was Greek meeting Greek, for the Americans believed themselves more than a match for Urn British on the sea, ship for ship and gun for gun. James Coull was a volunteer in the Shannon, which had a thorougiy trained crew, and her commander, Captain Broke, sent a challenge to the Ohesapeke into Boston Harbor. Before it reached the American captain, the Ohesapeke was seen coin ing slowly out, prepared for action with t’-e British frigate The man at the helm of the Shannon, as she bore down on the enemy, was Jas. Coull, skilful at his post, and, let us say, no sheepshank of a sea man. Tall, broad chested, deep-muscled, stronar, and lithe of limb, there a man stood of indomitable courage, a vctei’an in war at sea. The battle, a bloody one, lasted only fifteen minutes, when the Ohesapeke was in the hands of the British. A withering fire came from marines on her tops, down upon the Shannon, from the first of the action. A bullet entered the wrist of the dauntless helmsman and came out near his elbow, but Coull kept hold of his wheel until the vessels were broadside on and lashed together. Then the Ohesapeke was boarded, and, in a hand-to-hand fight on her deck, James Coull received a scalp wound which bled so profusely as almost to blind him, biff, as James was wont to say, I still kept at the Americans to show them what British seamen could do, and did so till the enemy surrendered. James Coull, by the loss of his hand, which had to be amputated, became a dis abled seamen when thirty years of age, and was discharged with a pension of LIG a year, a small one for a quarter-master who lost his hand in a sea fight that will be ever honorable to the British Navy. About fifteen years ago, or when he was over eighty years of age, Ll 3 12s. was added to his pension. The hand lost at the holm of the Shannon gave place to one that James called a “ summer-won fellow ” —a knob of hardwood with an iron hook in it. This was whore his left hand should have boon, and with his right hand he was no trifler. The writer has seen him beat fifty men in a ship in throw ing the deep-sea lead. His one arm had more than the strength of two common ones, and with it and his deck, as he called it, could be a master cook at sea, which he was for many years. He crossed the Atlantic fourteen times as cook, be sides which he was for twenty years cook in Montrose whalers. James Couil was 'physically a noble specimen of a man, and, being trained in the Mercantile Marine, he was in youth a perfect prize to a pressgaug, seventy or eighty years ago. His portrait, taken by Mr. James Irvine, is said to have attracted much attention in the Edinburgh Academy Exhibition, and well it might, for, as the writer saw him in his prime, half a century ago, he seemed to have been born a prince among men. He compelled respect, and he deserved it, for he was in disposition kind and ready to help, with all the generosity of a British seaman. On Monday, October 4, the mortal remains of the veteran were interred with naval and military honors, in St. Peter’s Burying-ground. The staff of the F. and K. Militia and a number of the Coastguard were present, as well as a large concourse of the general public. The coffin was borne on the shoulders of men of the Coastguard, the F. and K., with muskets reversed, walking on either side. The band was in front, playing the Dead March in “ Saul,” and the service was most impressively read at the grave. After which three volleys were fired over the grave by the firing party. Thus has passed away from us one of the old men who connected the past with the present.

THE CHIMNEY CORNER.

• ❖ PATIENT KITTY. [ Continued ,] “ What do I care for the Messrs. Hallands ?” she broke forth. “ What do I know of them that I should believe it night because they say so, although the sun is shining ? I do know Fred. He is good and honest, generous and kind. If j'our employers called your sister a thief, would you believe them then ? It would be more likely to be true than this is. It is they who are thieves, for they have stolen his good name.” I could not have dreamed that there was such force and fury in Kilty’s gentle nature as shone forth in her looks and tone; she did not spare even my self.

“ You are a coward, and not worthy of such a friend, Frank. If I had been in your place, I would have said, ‘ You lie ! you lie ! ’ ” “ My darling, calm yourself,” said I, as gently as I could, for I really feared that, in her extreme excitement, she would do herself some serious mischief. “Itis a question of proof and fact. If a man confesses to a crime, there is an end to all doubts.”

“ Let him confess it to me,” cried she ; “ let him tell me with his own lips, ‘ I have falsified n;y father’s accounts. I have robbed the men who gave me bread.” And not even then would I say ‘ I believe it.’ I would say, ‘You are mad, and know not what you say. ’ ” It was idle, of course, to reason with her after this, and I did not attempt to do so. I spoke of the probability of Raynor’s writ ing to her himself before he left England ; for I had made up my mind, in spite of Mb Halland’s advice, to ask him to do sq. It was clear that no hand but his could open her eyes ; and he was bound —alas ! I could no longer say “in honor ” —but in com mon humanity, to release her from her engagement.

“If he writes to say he is innocent,” said I, “ then I will believe him, though you and I should be the only persons to do so.” “ He will not do that,” answered the girl; “ for he will know that I shall take his innocence for granted.”

And so the matter was left. In the letter I addressed to Frederic Raynor, I adjured him to make a clean breast of the matter in which he stood ac cused, for my sister’s sake. If he was guiltless he had only to say so, and we two at least wouldcontinue to hold him innocent, (hough all the world should be on the other side. But if he had really disgraced himself, was it not his duty to confess it to us, that time might erase his image from my sister’s heart, and leave it open to the reception of an other? I put all this in as gentle lan guage as I could, consistently with Kitty’s interest, but I felt they were hard terms. It was humiliation enough that he had already owned his crime to his employers, without my constituting

myself his father-confessor;"Slid it must be added after that affair of the music hall I had not the confidence in Ins word which I now professed. His reply was of an evasive nature ; he did not write to Kitty at ail ; and only these few words to me, with neither commencement nor signature ; “ Kitty is quite free, and may her next choice be a less unhappy one. God bless you both.” Of course this was tantamount to an acknowledgement of his crime ; but it was not precisely so, which .1 thought cruel. 1 saw that my poor sister was not even yet convinced by it; so, with out saying one word to her, I went down to Clapham tiiat very evening to see Frederic face to face. He had set off to Liverpool to go on board ship an hour before I arrived; and on my ask ing to see his father I was informed that Jacob Raynor was too ill to speak with any one. it. Under no circumstances, it is pro bable, would the firm have prosecuted Fred; but the defalcations of which he had been guilty were not very serious, and only extended over eighteen months or so. They were discovered quite accidentally by Mr. Halland ; though, had it been other wise—that is, if Mr. Raynor himself had found it out —I did not believe lie would have concealed his son’s de pravity for an instant. It shocked me to think that each of those “ windfalls,” of which the unhappy young fellow used to talk so lightly, had probably been a successful fraud upon his em ployers, and I no longer won dered at the haggard and weary looks which had accompanied his in troduction to crime. I should have desired Kitty to return those little pre sents to her, which I felt had not been his to give, but that, in the first place, my lips were sealed upon all concern ing him, and secondly, I knew these relics of her lost love were her greatest treasures. I never saw them, but when 1 came upon her suddenly sometimes, she would lock her little desk, and rise from it with such a look as a devotee might wear caught on her knees (by one of another faith) before a shrine. She did not mope nor show by any out ward signs that her young hopes were withered; she even redoubled her solicitude, always great for my home comfort; but I felt that life in her case was no longer a blessing to be enjoyed, but a long tedious road to be trodden with a burden, only to be laid down on that last milestone which stands at the head of our graves. Of course I hoped otherwise at first, that the poor girl would gradually forget the man who had thus trodden out the well-spring of her youth and happiness; but in the end I could come to no other conclu sion.

In less than a year, though still comely, Kitty had lost the good looks which belong to girlhood, and only needed the garb of the pious sisterhood to enrol her with those who have given up the world and affianced themselves to Heaven. Instead of the work which she had so assiduously pursued for love’s sake, she now gave up her leisure time to ministrations among the poor.

It was more than a month after his son’s catastrophe before Mr. Jacob Raynor reappeared at the office, and when he did so he was scarcely recog nizable. His hair, which had been iron gray, was now become snow white ; his erect form was bowed, and instead of looking those who spoke with him in the face, he studiously kept his eyes averted from them, and generally fixed upon the ground. There was no need to speak of the disgrace that his only son had inflicted on him, for it could be read in his face, in his voice, and even in his very movements, which, heretofore somewhat stiff and pompous, had become vague and shambling. For my own part, I confess (though I could not but pity him) his presence was even less agreeable to me than before, though it had no longer any fears for me; he never asked us for subscriptions to this or that benevolent object now; never found fault with our caligraphy ; never administered little private lectures of his own, or invited us to attend his private ones. But I could not forget that if this man had been less unyield ing in the matter of his son’s affections, less stern in forbidding him both com panionship and correspondence with the object of them, Fred would never have gone so fatally astray. He had, it is true, acted within his rights as a father, but he had exercised them, as it seemed to me, in a manner inconsistent with those professions of kindliness and good wilt to all men, of the genuineness of which I was st'll far from doubting. Indeed, one of the most painful features of his case was that his occupation in the way of public well-doing seemed to have gone simply through lack, not of will, but of “ heart ” for it; his back-bone, as one of my fellow-clerks expressed it, appeared to have slipped out and left him limp, yet with no one to lean on ; and it was rumored that at home he would now sit for hours muttering to himself and staring at the wall. He did his office work notwithstanding with his usual mechanical exactness, so that there was no need for his em ployers to extend to him the indulgence which would certainly not have been wanting, however inadequately he might have served them.

Neither they nor their subordinates ever ventured to speak to him concern ing his son, but it was somehow gene rally understood that the old man was saving all he could, and sending it from time to time across the seas for the benefit of the unhappy exile. I had no doubt that, now his expenses in the way of public charity had ceased, these savings were considerable; but I took no account of them in connection with my poor sister; if Frederic Raynor had grown ever so prosperous, whether by his own exertions or by his father’s help, I could not have welcomed him as a brother-in-law; and I should have been sorry to hear of his' return to England, because I knew Kitty loved him still. My affec tion for my sister must be my excuse for any hardness I may seem to have shown toward buy former friend; and indeed, by reason of the change I saw in her, and of the indignation I ex perienced on beholding it, my very employment with Halland Brothers had become distasteful to me, from its con nection with her misfortune, Other wise I had reason to be more than, satisfied with the behavior of the firm, who (doubtless fromwhat I had told!

them on that unhappy day, though they, never referred to it) had become un expectedly alive to my merits, and con ferred upon me considerable promotion. When I brought her the good news Kitty congratulated me much more warmly than I had expected ; it seemed to me that there was a certain unplea santness in deriving prosperity from a source which, however indirectly, had been the ruin of her happiness; but her characteristic unselfishness (as I supposed) prevented the dear girl from looking on the matter with a jaundiced eye, but rather regarded it as the natural rewards of good desert. About four years after poor Fred’s departure, during which time not one word had dropped concerning him from his father’s lips, an important change took place in the office. It had been, as I have mentioned, the custom ever since its establishment for one at least of the members of the firm to reside on the business premises, and they had up to this time been in habited by the younger Mr. Halland ; but circumstances now occurred (and very unexpected they were —namely, his marriage) which took him else where.

Mr. Jacob Raynor was thereupon re quested to take his place, and certainly in a veiy gratifying way. In order to keep up the rule of the. house he was to take possession as resident partner —a considerable sum, amounting, indeed, to L 2,000, being paid over to him at the same time as his necessary qualifi cation^ Indifferent as he had long become to most matters, this seemed to rouse the old man from his lethargy, though, curiously enough, without producing any exultation. He seemed to be im pressed by the magnitude of his new responsibility rather than - by its advan tages, and went, about with a more thoughtful face than ever, although his manner was no longer so absent and dreamy as heretofore. By his promo tion a step was gained by all the juniors, and for my part I found myself the second clerk, the duties of which post brought me into immediate con tact with the principals. Accordingly, on the very morning after Mr. Raynor had taken possession I was the first to go into his private room (lately oc cupied by Mr. Halland junior) with the usual pile of office letters. This apart ment was on the ground floor, but separated from the rest of the premises by a long stone passage, and ensured an absolute privacy for all business interviews. I did not much relish my new employment, on account of its bringing me into connection with Mr. Raynor ; but if I had known what was to come of it, I would rather have been a junior all my days than have gone through such an experience. The first object that met my eyes as I entered the parlor, as it was called, was the new partner sitting in his chair, with his head fallen forward on the desk before him in a pool of blood ; a pistol was clutched in his right hand, with which he had, with terrible literal ness, blown his brains out, for they were scattered on the opposite wall. (7 o be continued. )

THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1880.



Special Advertisements. HE BEST VALUE MEN’S AND BOYS’ CLOTHING Clothing Factory, Which can be purchased at their Detail Branches, all over New Zealand. A SINGLE GARMENT AT THE W HOLES ALE PRICE. Thousands of the discerning customers testify that the New Zealand Clothing Factory’s Garments are the Very Best Value for Ready Money. EAST STRE ET . READY MONEY IS THE MANUFACTURED BY THE NEW ZEALAND Ashburton Branch : WM. SPARROW, Vsl* Manager.



Holloway’s Ointment and Pills.— Rheumatic Pains, Tic-Doloreaux,—These dis cases are unfortunately very prevalent in this country, and are frequently most distressing, sometimes for years baffling all medical skill to alleviate the sufferings of the victim. Inno case have Holloway’s Ointment and Pills failed to produce a cure. The Ointment produces a peculiar and soothing influence over the nerves and muscles, relaxing spasms and subduing pain. The attack soon becomes milder and the intervals between the paroxysms longer; until they cease altogether. The Pills restore the body from a weak and debilitated condition to a state of health and strength. Persons bedridden for months with rheumatic pains and dwellings, after using the Ointment have been cured in an incredible short period.— Advt, Wanted. WANTED —To take Charge of one or two Children, in a comfortable home. To any one with children wish ing to take a situation, this affords an opportunity for them to do so. Apply, Office of this Paper. 771 TXT ANTED—A BOY, from twelve to Y\ thirteen, able to ride or drive ; with good references. Apply, Matson, Cox, A Co., Ashburton. 765 WANTED, an APPRENTICE; also an IMPROVER. Apply J. Mbeoh, Cabinetmaker, &c. 758 WANTED —A good General SER VANT. Apply, Office of this Paper. ’ 752 ANTED—TENDERS for TYING and STOCKING about 200 acres wheat, oats, and barley. Tenders to close on THURSDAY, Dec. 30. The lowest or any tender not necessarily accepted, Apply, Matson, Cox, & Co., Ashburton. 764 'ANTED KNOWN, That HENRY’S PORTRAIT ROOMS, Saunders’ Buildings, East street, Ashburton, are open DAILY, from 9 a.m. till 5 p.m. Portraits taken in any weather. Great Reduction in Price. 606 WANTED KNOWN—That a Church of England minister’s wife writes that she saves Ten Shillings a Fortnight by using Harper Twelvetrees’ Villa Washer, Wringer, and Mangier, com bined ; and, although she permits no rubbing, the clothes are beautifully white, and much cleaner than when done by hand, while the saving in mending has been astonishing. Sold by J. HERN, Range Maker and Importer, corner of Manchester and Tuam streets, Christ church ; Price—£9 10s. 700 WANTED ‘KNOWN! SOMERSET LIYERY AND STABLES. BAIT JW. M'RAE bogs to inform the , public that he lias taken the above Stables from Mr. Bossenberg, and is making extensive repairs. Buggies and saddle horses on hire. Lowest prices and best attention. ■ . 908c—2860 WANTED KNOWN —Just arrived from England—Christmas, New Year, and Birthday Cards. New Zealand Illustrated Annual, Young Ladies’ Jour nal, and Bow Bells, Is. 6d. each. Family Herald and Family Reader, Is. each, and all other Magazines supplied at Christ church Prices. Colonial and European Newspapers, School Books, Stationery, &c. A visit solicited. L. F, Andrewes, East street, near Lancaster’s Butchery. 527 Money. MONEY TO LEND. fjHRUST MONEYS—£2,OOO, £4OO, and b £250. These sums are now ready for investment on real security, at current rates of interest. A F. P. OREILLY, 899c-226g Solicitor, Tanered street.'



Meatings- DRAMATIC CLUB, REHEARSAL for Christmas PeicesTO NIGHT. Pull attendance requested. S. E. POYNTZ, 772* Hon. Sec. Fire brigade.—a full meet ing will be held at the COUNCIL CHAMBERS at Eight p.m. on MONDAY Evening. Plain clothes. No excuses (iccßnisd * ■ f--' ■■■• 766 JAMES WILKIE Captain. Ir\ n rn unity • degree .U. IX. J. . TEMPLE-. The next meeting will be held on TUESDAY NEXT, the 21st inst, at 8 pin., in the. Templar Hall. Third degree. Thomas Williams, D.T. 7G2 LONGBEACH ROAD DISTRICT. IVTOTICE is hereby given that the AN- Xl NUAL MEETING of Ratepayers of this district will be held at the Road Board Office, on TUESDAY, the 4th day of JANUARY next, commencing at the hour of Twelve o’clock noon. Business will be to receive Annual Balance-Sheet, and Statement of Expendi ture, &c.; to discuss district matters gene rally, and to nominate and elect three per sons to serve as members of the Board, in the places of Messrs. Grigg (Chairman), Dawson, and Wright, who retire in rota tion, but are eligible for re-election. A Poll will be taken after the nomina tion, if required, closing at 4 o’clock p.m. W. CUTHBERT, Returning Officer. Longbeach Road, 17th Dec., 1880. 773 Amusements rjl OW N ' HAL L, ASHBURTON. ■*" WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22. j ■ Positively for this night only ! FIRST APPEARANCE of PROFESSOR AND MADAME , Haselmayer, In their latest and unrivalled sensations. ; Now playing at the Princess , Theatre, Dunedin, to crowded and fashionable audiences. A chaste and refined Enter tainment. Professor Haselmayer, the Prince of Wizards, will introduce the most astounding Illusions of the nine- : teenth century, including PSYCHO, the- ; Mysterious Cabinet, the Wonderful Drum, the Stylocarfe, Educated Birds: apd - Mice, &c., &c. This is a delightful Entertainment for , Ladies and Children. Prices —3a., 25., and Is. 774 R. W. GARY, Manager. Lost. £1 Eeward. LOST, from Wakanui, on Monday, November Ist, One Chestnut HACK, branded HD on the left shoulder, with hollow back. Last seen in- the direction of Barrhill.—Anyone returning * him to Frieolander Bros, will receive the above Reward. 437 . For Sale. FOR SALE, BY TENDER. 1 THE GOODWILL and PLANT of a first-class LIVERY STABLE, to gether with a Line of Royal Mail Coaches • in full running order. Tenders are invited for the purchase of a Coaching and Livery Business, carrying the Royal Mails between the Orari Rail way Station and the Waihi Bush, via Geraldine, together with all necessary plant, including Two Coaches, capable of carrying twenty-five passengers each; Double and Single Buggies, Brake i, Twelve superior Horses, Harness, &c. There is an opening for an enterprising man, seldom to be met with. The busi- v ness has been established five years, and has been, and is, steadily increasing. Satisfactory reasons given for disposal. ; Tenders to close at NOON on DECEM BER 31st, 1880, to be endorsed “ Tenders for Coaching Business,” and forwarded to the undersigned, from whom all particu lars may be obtained. POYNTZ & CO., Ashburton ;• '--r Or, KENNEDY & CARTER, Proprietors, 628 Geraldine. - Poyntz & Co. HAVE FOR SALE, on advantageous and easy terms of payment, the following . TOWN AND SUBURBAN PROPERTIES : A good five-roomed House, on quarter acre of land, within three or four chains of the East Town Belt. A compact four-roomed House, with one acre of land, well fenced.- ; Three quarters of an acre laid down as a paddock. A nice four-roomed House on half-acre ; of land, near the Gas" Works, well finished throughout. Town Sections, 742, 743, 465, 466, 467. Town Section 711, upon which is erected a capital four-roomed House fitted with every convenience. . A two-roomed House, with outbuild ings, on a quarter acre, well fenced and planted, on N. E. Belt. r MONEY for investment* on approved in security,'in sums of £6O and upwards, at current rates i . :99ft1.-,. Public Notices. JMPORTANT TO _ FARMERS. Osborne Harvesting Osborne Harvester and Binder, to bind with both string and wire, price L7O. V Ditto ditto, with iron road wheel, and patent lifting apparatus,.' price L 75. • String attachments to fit on old wire Binders, price L 6 IQs. N.B. —No charge for fitting if sent to our store. Osborne No. 6 Side Delivery Reapers * ’ and Mowers. Osborne No. 6 Tilter or Back Delivery Reapers and Mowers. Osborne No. 5 Mowers. EXTRAS FOR ALL THE ABOVE . MACHINES KEPT IN • STOCK. Sole Agents in New Zealand— fur ROBERT WILKIN & CO., ■ . > New Zealand Wool Stores, 624 Christchurch. ' ; McDongairs Carbolic Sheep Dip : IS the Best and Safest in the. Market. , <. A true specific for Scab, instantly destroying Ticks, Lice, and all Insects, effectually cleansing and stimulating the growth of the Fleece. . ... Sold in 101 b. and 201 b. tins, and 501 b. kegs, by ' ■ ' ROBERT WILKIN. & CO., New Zealand Wool Stores,- 627 Christchurch. .; ; . .v, , DO you Want the News of the Day.. Read the ASHBURTON GuaumaK. Price, One Penny.