SHIPPING.

POET OF LYTTELTON. Arrived. Yesterday. Torea, schooner, from Whangarei. Saxon, schooner, from Auckland. To-day. Rotorua, s.s., from Wellington. Oreti, 8.5., from Wellington. Taiaroa, s.s., from Port Chalmers. Sailed. Yesterday. Amaranth, schooner, for Timarn. SHIPPING TELEGRAMS. Tauranga, Yesterday. Arrived —Lady Jocelyn, ship, 92 chiys out from London. She brings a number of settlers for Mr. Vesey Stewart’s special settlement. The passengers are all well. Wellington, yesterday. Sailed—Hermione, ship, for London, with a cargo valued at L 84,873. Dunedin, To-day. Arrived —At the Heads, Piako, ship, from. London, all well. Bluff, Yesterday. Arrived —Te Anau, s.s., from Mel bourne. ~ , Sydney, Y sterday. Arrived —Rotomabma. s. s., .rom Auck land

MAIL NOTICES.

Mails close at the Chief Post Office, Christchurch, for the following places (subject to necessary alterations) as under: —

Wednesday, January 4. For Cape Town, per Ocean Ranger (for specially addressed letters only), at 11.15 a.m. ; late fee letters, 11.30 a.m. ; guard’s van, 12 noon train. For Chatham Islands, per Island Lily, at 7.30 a.m.

For Otago and Australian Colonies, via the Bluff, per Te Anau, at 4.20 p.m. ; late fee letters at 435 p.m. ; guard’s van, 5.25 p.m. train.

Mails close at the Ashburton Post Office, as follows: — For Christchurch and North at 5.30 a. m. 10 a.m., and 5 p.m., daily. For Chertsey Rakaia, &c., at 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily. For Dunedin, Tinwald, Winslow, Hinds, Coldstream, Rangitata, Orari, Winchester, and Geraldine, at 10 a.m. daily. For Temuka, at 6 a.m. and 10 a.m., daily. For Timaru and South, at 6 a.m., 10 a.m., and 420 p.m., daily. For Greenstreet, Ashburton Forks, Mount Somers, and Ashburton Gorge, on Tuesdays and Fr'days, at 10.30 a m. For Ashton, Waterton and Longbeach, at 430 p.m. daily. For Wakanui, Flgin, Seafield, Row land, and Ky’e, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, at 6 a-m.

Mails arrive at the Ashburton Post Office—

From Christchurch and Rakaia at 10.25 a.m., 435 p.m., and 7.50 p.m. From .Chertsey, &c. at 10.25 a.m. daily. From Dunedin and intermediate places at 5.35 p. u. daily. From Temuka and Timaru at 10.15 a. m. 5.36 p.m., and 8.15 p.m. daily. From Greenstreet, Ashburton Forks, Mount Somers, and Ashburton Gorge on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 3 p. m. From Ashton, Waterton, and Long beach at 10 a.m. daily. From Elg’n, Wakanui, Seafield, Row land and Kyle, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, at 4 p.m. W. St. G. Douglas, Postmaster.

DAILY MEMORANDA.

AUCTION SALES. Saturday, January 8. Mr. T. Bullock, at his rooms, East street —Freehold and Leasehold Property. Two o’clock. MEETINGS, AMUSEMENTS, &c. To-Night, Tuesday, January 4. Horticultural Society, Meeting of Com mittee, at Jacobson and Eyton’s Office, at 8 p.m. Degree Temple, Fortnightly Meeting, Templar Hall, at 8 p. ra. Longbeach Road Board—Annual Meeting of Ratepayers, Road Board Office, at 12 noon. To-morrow, Wednesday, January 5. County Council, at the County Council Chambers', at 11 o’clock. Thursday, January G. Mount Somors Road Board Annual Meeting of Ratepayers, Schoolhonse. Mount Somers, at 12 noon. Wakanui Road District —Annual Meeting of Ratepayers, at the office of the Agri cultural and Pastoral Association Show Grbunds, at 12 noon. ‘ Monday, January 10, Borough Council, at Borough Council Chambers, at 7 o’clock.

TRAVELLERS’ GUIDE.

Trains Leave Ashburton for Christ church and intermediate stations at G a.m., 10.30 a.m., and (Express) 5.48 p.m.

Trains Leave Ashburton fob Timaru and South, at 7 am., 10.36 a.m. (Ex press), and 450 p.m.—the latter pro ceeding no farther than Timaru. Trains Arrive at Ashburton from Christchurch at 10 24 a.m. (Express), 435p.m., and 7.50 p.m. Trains Arrive at Ashburton from Timaru and South at 10.15 a.m., 5.34 p.m. (Express), and 8.15 p.m.

NOTICE TO ADVERTISERS.

All orders for insertion of advertise ments must be written legibly on the face of the advertisement. When no order is given the advertisement will be inserted until countermanded, and charged accord ingly- All notices of Births, Marriages, or Deaths must he accompanied by the sig nature of the sender, as a guarantee of good faith.

All advertisements and business letters to be addressed The Manager ; literary communications should be addressed to The Editor.

The Ashburton Guardian. TUESDAY, JANUARY 4, 1881. The Plains Water Supply.

TOWN EDITION. [lssued at 5 p.w.]

The work in connection with the Plains water supply scheme will be completed at a far earlier date than was anticipated by the farmers most likely to be benefitted by it. The initiative part of the scheme—viz., the dam and weir —was out of the contractor’s hands some six weeks ago ; and the next part, which consisted of something over a mile 'of a concrete water-race, about three feet six inches in depth, and two feet six inches wide, has been con structed by day labor for the County Council, under the supervision of Mr. Weymouth Roberts, who returned to town this morning, and reported the completion of his task. Mr. Roberts’ part has been executed in an exceed ingly fhort space of time, considering the amount of work involved, and the expedition is mainly due to the excep tionally fine weather experienced during the progress of the work, and the well known energy and capability of the “ boss ”in seeing a job through. Fol lowing down from the end of the con crete race, which is something over a mile in length, an open channel of an average width of fourteen feet and a depth of eighteen inches, will convey the Pudding Hill stream to Chapman’s creek, and in this creek the water flows for seven miles to Methven. The open channel and the work in connection with clearing the creek, etc., are now in hand, and will probably be finished at the end of the current month. From Methven to a poinr about two miles north of Dromore station, what is known as the trial race has been virtually com pleted by those energetic contractors, Messrs. John Devery and James Quig ley. We can therefore safely prophecy to our readers living on the Wakanui Plains that—making due allowance for absorption in the shingly ground and the evaporation that must be expe rienced—within six weeks or so a living stream will be running through the driest part of the plains, where water was never known to run before. Each and everyone connected with the de velopment of the scheme are to bo congratulated on the quality of the work done, and the rapidity with which it has been pushed forward, and in this connection the Chairman of the County Council has been very prominent in his endeavors to forward the scheme, and deserves special credit. Mr. E. G. Wright, from his special knowledge of the work required by the scheme, has been exceedingly useful; but the County's thanks are more directly due to him for hiz labors in Parliament in connection with the Act under which the scheme has been started, and doubtless his high reputation as an engineer was not without ts weight on the minds of members of the House, and materially helped the passage of the Bill, by securing the confidence of Parliament. Eying to bis hand as an engineer, Mr. Wright has taken great personal interest in the scheme, and has several times been on the ground in person. Of course the credit of origi nation and development lies with Mr, Baxter, the County Engineer, whose every available day since the initiation, has been devoted to the work which now promises so well to be a signal success. Before closing, we may just add that the contractors concerned seem to have gone into the work with as much enthusiasm, and been as pains taking over it, as though it had been their own property. The works we have been describing are of course only the initiative ones of the future water supply, but will be of immense benefit during the harvest season, as water can then be carted from the race to farms near Dromore and Chertsey—a most important item during the threshing sea son. The distribution of the water is a development of the scheme which will place a running stream on or near every farm in the plains, and we can venture to predict that when this becomes a fact—doubtless within the next twelve months—Ashburton will begin a new era of prosperity. It will then be possible to rear horned cattle on plains where they cannot now exist, and in view of an almost certain frozen meat trade between New Zealand and the London market this possibility is a very pleasing prospect.

“ A Womast Alone.” —To-day’a portion of tlie story at present running in the Guardian is hold over. Masonic. —Masons are reminded of the installation of officers of tlie Somerset Lodge on Thursday evening. The in stalling officer is R.WJXD-G.M. Thomp son, and the usual banquet takes place at the close. JRakaia Road Board. —From our re port of the Rakaia Road Board meeting yesterday, it will be seen that Messrs. Allan, Mackie, and Coster were re-elected to the membership of the Board. Tffb Building Society. The usual monthly meeting of the Building Society was held to-day, and subscriptions may be paid at Mr. Bullock’s office this evening up to half-past eight. Mount Hutt Road Board Election. —Messrs Jackson, Pannett, andAlington have been returned unopposed for the vacancies in the Mount Hutt Road Board.

The High School. —Tenders are n vited for the necessary fittings, Ac., of the Ashburton High School, and it is ex pected, the school will open after the Christinas holidays. , The Flower Show. — A meeting of the Horticultural Society’s committee is to be held to-night, to make arrangements for the Flower Show. The meeting is an important one, and every member of the committee should be present. The Rakaia Concealment of Binth CaseA— The girl Brimmicomb was sen tenced by his Honor Judge Johnston, to six months’ imprisonment, having been found guilty of the crime with which she was charged.

Cricket. —Ashburton Borough C.C, V. Tinwald C.C. —A ma*ch was played yesterday between the abo”e Clubs, on the ground of the latter at Tinwald, and re sulted iu a victory for the home clu'o by 33 runs. The following is the score, Tinwald, first innings, 59 ; second, 52 ; Ashburton Borough, first innings, 38; second, 40. The oMy double figures ob tained were Beeves (22) in the second innings for Tinwald ; and Barker (lo) in ;he first, and Hosking (10) in the set md, for Ashburton. The fielding and hoc ling were fair. At the Tinwald Hotel a first class luncl’ton was supplied by Host Scott, and the Tinwald players treated their opponents with great hospitality.

Cameron’s Sweep. —ln the multiplicity of sweeps that have been held durin; the past month or two a considerable number of pound notes and half-sovereigns save left this district to fatten the pockets'of the “consulting engineers.” It is pleas ing to know, however, that there is a probability of one prize of LSOO returning to Ashburton through the win of Grand Flaneur in the Melbourne Chan (non Race. One of our most prominent 3-oni faces, with other friends, joined in par. uer ship in one of Cameron’s “books,’ and were lucky enough to hold the number which represented Grand Flaneur. 1 * was currently reported in town that Mr. P 'ole, of the Hinds, held the winning ticket, and the rumor crept into a local contem porary as a fact. On investigation we find, however, that Mr. Poole drew a blank.

The Fatal Fiee ax Blenheim.—An inquest was held yesterday at Blenheim, on the remains of the unfortunate woman, Mrs. Daike, who was burned to death <m Saturday morning, as reported in yester day’s Guardian : —The principal evidence was given by Daike, who stated that he and his wife were intoxicated when they went to bed. When he was awakened by the noise of the fire in the back room, he got up. He took his wife to the front door, told her to open the door amt run out. He did not open the door as she had plenty of time herself ; but ho returned to the bedroom to throw out what ho co uld. Believing that his wife had escaped, ho got through the window, and did not xuow she was missingl until the house was so far burnt that nothing could be saved. Other evidence went to show that the Daikes lived on good terms, and the jury returned a verdict “ That there was no evidence to show how the fire originated.”

A Caution to Theseassers. — A case was heard in the R.M. Court to-day, which will be interesting to those con nected with the Racing Club. It wilt per haps be remembered that the Racing Club leased from the Upper Ashburton (load Board the gravel reserve opposite Thom son's corner, at the racecourse. This re serve has always been a thorn in the side of the Club, on account of “ economical ” patrons preferring to hang up their horses upon it, to taking them inside the gates, and paying gate money. The economical ones were many, and their multitude when a race was being run was dangerous to the live fences surrounding the course. To extract the thorn we have referred to, the lease was taken by the Club, and at the last trotting meeting the students of economy were there in force. They were ignorant, how ever, of tho meaning this leasing had, and they innocently tethered on the reserve as before. Down came the secre tary and swept away a troop of the horses, taking them inside the gates and handing them over to the poundkeeper, who was inside. Before the horses were released the pound fees had to be paid, ami gate money was also charged. To-day Mr. Spencer Stephens sued the said secretary, Mr- Wilkie, for L 5 damages, but after Inarlngplaintiff’s evidence the Magistrate, with a bland smile, said plaintiff had no business on tho reserve, .and gave judg ment for defendant, less the sum of 2s. Cd., gate money, which the latter had paid into Co'-rt, plaintiff having t ' pay all expenses. Elgin School Treat. —Early on New Year’s Day the children, with their parents, who reside in the Elgin district, together wi:h some few visitors, met at the School hou.fje. The children found that the ;oom of theiv daily avocation had been turned into a bazaar by soipe good Santa Ciaus. There were dozens of beautiful and useful things:—Pocket knives, books, china mugs, humming tops, cricket balls, soft balls, miniature tea sets, china tea ser vices and dolls, sufficient for every girl and boy to have two gifts each. Mr. S. Scott opened the programme by -asprang on the pipes. The children then went tlpough the first part of their athletic sports very creditably, and showing that many of them had had some training. Running High Jump—Thomas Junes, 1 ; Thomas Cochrane, 2. Boys’ (over eight) Plat Race, 200 yards—John Innea, 1 ; Thomas Innes, 2. Boys’ (under eight) Flat Race, 100 yards—Allan Moffat, 1 ; A. T. Cox, 2. Girls’ (over eight) Flat Race, 100 yards— Mary Skillen, 1 ; Ellen Hoaten,2. Girls’ (under eight) Flat Race, 50 yards—M. J. Junes, I; Annie Skillen, 2. Sack Race— William Lamb, 1 ; Frank Cox, 2. Long Jump—Thomas Cb°h rane ) 1' Thomas Innes, 2. Three-legged Rice—Frederick Cox and Thomas Innes, 1 ; .fohq Junes and Thomas Cochrane, 2. Blindfold llace —Lizzie Moffat, 1 ; Thomas Cochrane, 2 Hop, Step, and Jump—Thomas Innes, 1 ; John Innes, 2 ; Frederick Cox, 3. Skip ping—Ellen Hoaten, 1 ; Lizzie Moffat, 2. While the above sports were going on the ladies were busy preparing refreshments and making tea, Mr. O. Digby had given a splendid piece of corned beef for sand wiches, and other good things wore in abundance. After a hearty meal had been partaken of by all present, the whole of the children, numbering nearly eiuhty, each drew from a bag two tickets, num bers on which entitled them to two gifts possessing corresponding numbers. When this, the most pleasant part of the day’s proceedings, had been concluded the .children resumed the sports. Then came the distribution of sweetmeats, tarts, buns and biscuits ; and, after a good tea, every one returned to their homes laden with their gifts, and happy both with them and their day’s enjoyment—the weather hav ing also been most propitious.

CABLE NEWS.

LATEST FROM EUROPE.

{Per Putter's Agency?) The Bfisuto Trouble. Capetown, dan. 3,

Intelligence has bgep received that the Boers in. the Orange P-jvef Free State threaten to join in the rebellion in the Transvaal, though no actual outbreak has yet occurred. Communication be'ween the Tran; vaal and Natal is now completely cut off by the Boers, and no news has therefore been received from the seat of hostili ties for some days.

The “ Sick Man’s ’’ Troubles. Constantinople, Jan. 3. It has transpired that the Porte has declined lo arbitrate for the settlement of the Greece frontier question, and has now made a proposal to the Powers that a conference should be held at Stamboul, to which Greece should send delegates as well as the Powers and Turkey. New Zealand Scrip. London, Jan, 1. New Zealand securities—Five per cent 10-40 Loan, 103 ; Five per cent. 1889 Loan, 107

AUSTRALIAN.

{Pet Renter’s Agency.) The Cricket Match- Melbourne, Jan. 3. The cricket match between the Aus tralian Eleven and the combined team was resumed to-day. The latter con tinued their innings, and were all dis posed of for 99 runs. The Australian Eleven then went in for their second innings, and were all out for 185 runs. The following is the individual score : Blackham, 1.b.w., 6 ; A. Bannerman, caught by the bowler, 11 ; Murdoch, caught, 39 ; Spofforth, caught by the bowler, 4 • M'D-mnell, caught by the bowler, 36 : Slight, run out, 4; Bon nor, caught, 13; Boyle, caught by the bowler, 4; Palmer, 1.b.w., 2 3 Groube, caught, 19; Alexander, not out, 43; extras, 4. The combined team then went in for their second innings, and’ when the stumps were drawn for the daw had lost four wickets for 40 runs. Illness of Bishop Barker. Sydney, Jan. 3. Bishop Barker has had a severe attack of paralysis, and prayers were offered up yesterday in all the churches for his recovery. His Lordship has decidedly improved to-day. A Mutinous Crew- Sydney, To-day The crew of the New Ireland coloniz ing steamer Menil have been insubor dinate, and allege now that they were insufficiently fed. The captain ap pealed to the authorities, but they have declined to interfere on the ground that there is no Siberian Consul here. The crew is composed mostly of Malays and Chinese, who have come ashore in a body, and refused to re-embark.

NEW ZEALAND

(Per Press Association.) The Property Assessment. Napier, To-day. The number of objections to the Pro perty Assessment is 139, and arise prin cipally from the assessed having sold out since the assessment was made. The number of persons holding property above the value of LSOO is 900, and the esti mated amount the tax will produce within Hawkes Bay Assessment District is L 16,000. A Neglectful “Uncle.” Wellington, To-day. At the Magistrate’s Court, Morris Hyams, pawnbroker, was lined L 5 for neglecting to enter in his book particulars of a watch pledged with him. Gold. Dunedin, To-day. The Gladstone Company, at Macetown, crushed 147 tons, yielding 316 ounces. A Bow on the Wakatipu. At the Port Police Court seven seamen on the Wakatipu were charged with refuse ing to obey orders, and were sentenced to four weeks’ imprisonment, the punish ment to be mitigated if they went on board.

THE TEMPLETON SHOOTING CASE.

(By Telegraph.) Christchurch, To-day. William Kerison, who was deliber atey siiot by Walter Pringle Gibson .on Christmas eve, died in the Hospital this morning. Kerison had persuaded his sister, who had been cohabiting with Gibson, the leave the latter, and this is believed to be the cause of the shoot ing. Gibson is in custody.

THE SITUATION IN IRELAND.

[By Cable.] London, Jan. 3. The Times, in a leading article to day, states that the Coercion Bjll ? which Government intend to introdu.ce, will propose the suspension of the Habeas Qappuf Act, and the suspension of trial by jnry Jn Ireland, and will, more over, restrict the sale and possession of arms.

A Tiger-tamer Torn to Pieces.

Mr. G. A. Courtney, proprietor and manager of the Zoological Circus bear ing his name, wrote from San Domingo, W. 1., Sept. x 6, as under; —“ Last night at 10 o’clock the well-known lion tamer, Herr Elijah Lengel, of Phila delphia Pa-j entered the den of Brazilian tigers attached to tips circus, and had nearly conduced his performance \vith them when he made a false step, and one of the tigers caught him by the head and neck, and in less than five seconds he was torn to pieces. His jugular vein was cut, his ear on the right completely eaten off, and his body was a mags of mangled flesh and bones. The tent was densely packed with people,, and the scene that followed it is jmpos-1 sible to describe. The guard and also a few private individuals commenced firing with rifles and revolvers at the tiger, and soon killed it, thereby enab ling the attaches to drag the body of Lengel through the compartment. The remaining living tiger at once fell upon the dead animal in the presence of the audience, and tore it to fragments. No pen can describe the horror of the scene. Mr. Lengel’s remains were burned to-day (16th) at one o’clock, and were followed to the grave by the whole company and a large concourse of citizens, who manifested their deep sympathy at this terrible misfortune.”

THE SUPREME COURT.

A LOVER IN HOT WATER. At the Supreme Court yesterday, Char lotte, Wright and Charlotte Scarborough ■ were charged with assaulting one W. H- Hossiter at Akaroa, on the the 24th November, by throwing hot water over him. It appeared from the evidence that Hossiter had been courting Mrs. Scarborough, more, however, for her money than her charms. He had been received with a certain amount of favor to begin with, but his attentions had soured considerably upon the fair one, and had become particularly distasteful to Mrs. Wright (Mrs. Scarborough’s niece). The former was in the garden, hanging out clothes on the occasion of Rossitev’s visit on the 24th November. She enticed him into the wash house, and then soused him with hot water. The water was not very hot, but its heat was more real than was the affection of Hossiter for Mrs. Scar borough, and out of the sousing, the case before his Honor arose. His Honor said the affair was a most trumpery one, and the magistrate who allowed it to go to the Supreme Court, simply did not know his duty. It would have to go to the jury, however ; and the jury returned a verdict of “Guilty.” His Honor dressed down Hossiter most scathingly—calling him a mean, despicable fellow, who would not be allowed any expenses. He had annoyed the women with a view to obtain money, and had lied in the witness box. The women had received muck provoca tion, but they had no right to take the law into their own hands. They would be sent to prison with ha? d labor, for one day. THE METUVEN FORGERY CASE Herman Cooper, the man who was re mitted from Ashburton on a charge of forging Mr. Robert Patton's signature to a cheque for Ll 3 45., and refused to give his name, signing simply the word “ Edward,” was found guilty, and sent to prison for eighteen months. LARCENY FROM A DWELLING. William Smith, for stealing goods from a dwelling at Lyttelton was sent to prison for eighteen months, and Robert Grant got twelve months for a theft of Ll 5 from a house at Sydenham. BURGLARY James Robinson alius Pearce was found guilty of breaking open a bouse and steal ing therefrom. He got three years, and Alfred Forest was acquitted of a similar offence, alleged to have been committed in Lyttelton. UNLAWFULLY WOUNDING. The White Hart Hotel stabbing case was heard. The prisoner Charles John ston was found guilty of wounding Mathew Charles Shepherd, but under great provocation, and sentence was de ferred till this morning. CONCEALMENT OF BIRTH. The Grand Jury found a true bill against Sarah JBrimniicoinb for concealment of birtli. [By Telegraph.] Christchurch, To-day. Charles Johnston, for stabbing, was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, and Samuel Mayfield, for forgery, to two years. Sarah Brimmicomb, for conceal ment of birth, got six months’ imprison ment, and George Nome was acquitted of a charge of indecent assault. For horse stealing, Peter Hayland was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, and a further six months for prison breaking.

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

ASHBH RTON. —To-day. (Before Mr, Nugent Wood, R. VI.) DRUNK. A first offender was find fis. for being drunk. LARCENY. Edward Fitzgerald was charged with the larceny from a till of El 3s, fid. Stephens, waiter at the Somerset, said that on Saturday prisoner was in tho bar, and, in tho temporary absence of witness, went to the till and stole the money. Ho was caught in the act by witness. Prisoner said he had never been in Court before, and was drunk when the offence charged against him was com mitted. He was sent to Addington gaol for fourteen days. STRAY CATTLE. George Kidd was charged with allowing a cow and calf to wander at large in Cameron street on the 18th December. Mr. Kidd said the animals ran in the Domain paddock, which ho rented, and they were brought from the paddock home to be milked, and then taken back again. Brown, the Borough foreman, said the ahimals had fed on the road for an hour. Mr. Kidd was fined 6s. and costs. John Hepburn was charged with allow ing a cow to be at large in Burnett street. He pled not guilty. The Foreman Brown was again the witness, and swore to find ing tho cow in Burnett street. Mr. Hep burn said Brown was'in tho habit of hunt ing the cows, and would go tho length of taking them out of the yard. His Worship said it was evident tho qqw wasn’t taken but of tho yard this time, and accused woe fined 55., and 7s. costs. Accused should complain to the Borough Council if Browp took his qows from Ijig yard. " i

.CIVIL CASES. M‘Ooo v. Poyptz and Co —Mr. Ferry man, of the firm of Pgynt# an cl Go., apr plied for an adjournment, as, owing to the Supremo Court being now in session in Christchurch, their solicitor was un able to attend. His Worship granted an adjournment till Friday, costa L 3 11s., to be paid by defendants. Stephens v. Wilkie.—Claim L 5. Tliis case was for the illegal impounding of a horse on tho racecourse. Mr O’Reilly for plaintiff; Mr. Branson for defendant. Spencer Stephens deponed that on tho ,10th December, lie had attended the trotting matches, and had tethered his horse on the shingle reserve. The animal was taken to the‘saddling paddock and a charge was mafic gf 4s. ,Gd. for impound ing and damages. Ho had brought the action in consequence, and he had to walk two miles to the pound to get his horse. He estimated the wrong done to him at L 5.

By Mr. Bransoh—l paid 4s. fid. to the poundkeeper. Knew tho poundkeeper had tho horse on the course, and I did not tender any money to him until 1 went to the pound. His Worship said he had no sympathy with plaintiff as he had tied his horse on land he had no right to. Judgment would be given for the 2s. fid. paid into court, plaintiff to pay costs. Welsh v. Murray. Adjourned till Fii day. . McLeod v. Mutch. Adjourned till Friday.

ALFORD FOREST.

(from OUR OWN CORRESi’ONDENT.)

The annual Main School treat took place on Tuesday last, the weather being favorable for the sports, with the excep tion of a little wind. Swings for the girls and cricket for the boys were enjoyed until two o’clock, when racing commenced for dress pieces, hats, stockings for the girls, anl hats, shirts, boxes of collars, and pocket knives for the boys. These useful articles were supplemented by mis cellaneous toys, lollies, and biscuits, and much amusement was caused by the three* legged race and jumping in sacks. At four o'clock the children had tea, and afterwards their friends, justice being done to the good things bountifully pio vided. Then came the chief events of the day, namely, giving away the prizes for the past year by the master, Mr. Henry Knight, who took occasion to call atten tion to the necessity for parents to en courage children in their home work, more especially in arithmetic, which was gene rally carelessly passed over in favor of more congenial work. Handsome prizes were then given to each child, hymns and songs were creditably sung, and the day terminated with a dance in the school room for the parents and friends. Thus ended a happy holiday. The Side School treat took place a week previous, prizes being given according to merit A large gathering of friends as sembled, and the mistress, Miss Somerset, received great praise for her complete provision for the amusement and enter tainment of all. Games, dancing, Ac., were heartily indulged in ; and by the number of little ones hi arms this promises to become a most papulous neighborhood. In the absence of the chairman, Mr. Knight gave away the prizes, calling ear nestly upon the parents to assist the chil dren in every way possible, especially in home work, and earnestly asking the children to remember when they had done schooling they had only commenced their education, also to show greater obedi ence and respect to parents at home than they did to their teachers. The toys not arriving, their division was postponed until the re-opening of the school. Danc ing was kept up till an early hour, and everyone seemed delighted.

A thunderstorm of unusual severity broke over the district on the 39th inst , accompanied by excessively vivid light ning. Hail of large size covered tlie ground to the depth of three inches. Happily the storm was confined to this locality, which has very little cropping, but had it extended to the plains great injury would have ensued.

South Rakaia Road Board.

The annual meeting of ratepayers was held at the Board Office, South Rakaia, on Monday, for the purpose of electing three members to serve on the Board, in the place of Messrs. C. N. Mackie, E. S. Coster, and W. L. Allan. There was not a large attendance, and Messrs. C. N. Mackie, E, S. Coster, and W. L. Allan, being, the only gentlemen nominated, were declared duly elected. After the election, there was a somewhat increased attendance. CHAIRMAN’S B-BPOIIT FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31sT DECEMBER, 1880. The Chairman read as follows : “ To the ratepayers of the South Rakaia Road District; Gentlemen, —I have much pleasure, at the close of another year, in submitting a statement of accounts, show ing receipts and expenditure fur the year 1880, and also the balance-sheet, which, I venture to hope, will prove satisfactory. You will observe, gentlemen, by examin ing the balance-sheet, that the Board has a considerable amount of money to its credit in the bank on fixed deposit. This may be looked upon by some as a mistake ; bpt, in the opinion of the Board, the conservation of its funds is a matter of the utmost importance, and one of the objects it has always aimed at without, of course, neglecting necessary works in the district. There are several very strong reasons for this policy of conservation, one of which is that the road districts of Can terbury have received their lasc penny from the public purse, which will compel them, when the funds now in their pos session are expended, to levy rates in order to carry out any works required to bo done There can be no doubt that had a rate been struck it must have pressed somewhat heavily upon the fanners of this district, during the late very depressed state of the country, and oven now would do so, but supposing tho funds had been expended, and tliis might very easily have been dune, what sort of position would the dis ti ict be in at the present time ! I mav state that the Government issued circulars to the several Road Boards, intimating that there wore a g.oat number of unem ployed, and hoping that employment could be given, Some Boards, I daresay wore putting in baud largo works and could respond by taking on extra men, but the Board Board of this district could not sec its way to give employment to outsiders, when a number of men re siding in the district were out of work. Any ease of this kind occurring in the dis trict the Board has always boon willing to moot, and bus done so in every case brought to it's notice. The idea, to my mi ml, of expending largo sums of money in doing unnecessary work for the sake of giving employipent to outsiders is most impolitic in the case of a Road Board. Tho only source of revenue for tho future, as I stated before, will bo by means of rates, and I venture to hope, that when that time comes the people will be in a position to meet all demands upon them without much difficulty. I may state that the interest accruing upon the fixed de posits has boon very considerable, amounting to upwards of Laoo per annum. A summary of all works exe cuted and in hand at the present time will be laid bcf. re you. I have to report that the Board applied to the Govern ment for the throe chain old railway reserve, for planting purposes, which has been conceded, subject to an act of Parlia ment being passed vesting it in the Board. This reserve has been ploughed, sown with gums, and fenced, and should prove a great boon to tho district in a few years. Two sections have also been granted for planting purposes, between tho township and Sodtown, and the Board has bad them sown with grass and fenced in. I have to report also that the old planta tion has been thinned, and also gaps missed charing first sowing have been filled up, the Board having had upwards of two thousand holes dug and gam seeds sown. This jn a few years will be a magnificent plantation. J may here state that the Road Board lias recommended the Go vernment to vest this plantation, as being contiguous to the recreation ground, in tho South Rakaia Domain Board, believing that Board to be the proper body to have the management of jt. The Board is erecting a powerful windmill and pump on the site of the old pump in the yard, which should prove of great advantage to the farmers in the grain season, and also (by means of a supply of water contained in tanks to be erected for the purpose) to the township in case of fire. I now wish to state, gentlemen, that tho Road Board has always acceded to any request for roads in any portion of the district where really required, of course taking into con- | sideratiou the amount of traffic, and | the number of people who are likely to be i benefited, and is always ready to consider : any petition or tetter sent iii , wifh this object in view ; and I would suggest , again, as J did last year, the advisability |

of the residents in any portion of the district making known to the Board, by petitions or otherwise, any work required to be done, and should it be a necessary work, and a benefit to a majority of residents in that part of the district, it will be done. In conclusion, gentlemen, 1 have to congratulate you upon the pros pect of better times, which we may safely presume are in store for this district as as well as for the colony of New Zealand as a whole, and, on behalf of the Road Board, I wish you a happy and prosperous new year.—-I have, &c., C. N. Maoeie, Chairman South Rakaia Road Board.”

Length of road formed only, 81 miles 45 i chains ; length of roads formed and shingled, 49 miles 49| chains. Statement of Receipts and Expenditure of the South Rakaia Road Board for the year ending 31st December, 1880. Keuch’TS. £ $. d. £ s . d. To credit of cur rent account Ist January, iSSo 4,150 17 II ~ Deposit fixed 8,000 o o — 12,105 17 II ~ Interest ... 645 6 4 ~ Ren’ 109 3 o ~ Incidental re ceipts... ... 27 17 5 ~ General Go vernment ... 2,241 iS 6 ~ Plantation ... 159 15 9 ~ Mount Hull Road board ... 64 5 4 *5,399 4 3 Extendi tore. By new roads and works 1,258 5 5 ~ Maintenance 492 o 9 ~ Expenses, general ... 200 2 7 ~ Rakaia town ship 78 19 II ~ Clerk’s salary 250 o o „ Plant 17 13 4 ~ Advcr t i s i n g and printing ... 58 II 8 , Cottages, re pairs to ... 6 17 o ~ Land account 87 11 6 ~ Plantations ... 370 9 o ~ Fixed uepo.dts 3,500 o o ~ Balance in Bank, Ist Jan., 1881 9,075 19 2 15,402 10 4 Less cheque outstanding ... 361 , IS-399 4 3 It was resolved that the chairman’s report and the balance sheet be received and adopted. Mr. 1C B. Passmore said there was one matter which he wished to bring before the meeting, and that was that the Board did not seem to take any interest in his part of the district. He felt quite confident that not one of the members knew anything of its wants. Ho was strongly in favor of the district being divided into wards. Ho would be sorry to see the district split up, but he wished ■to see justice done to all parts of the district. He would move—“ That the South Rakaia Road District be divided into wards, so that each part should have its fair share in the distribution of funds ” There being no seconder, the motion lapsed. After passing the usual votes of thanks the meeting terminated.

CORRESPONDENCE.

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

A HINT TO THE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

To the Editor. Sir, —Permit me, through the columns of your paper to call the attention of the Borough Council to the fact that there are a few ratepayers in Havelock street west, who have no desire to be consigned to the County Hospital with broken limbs, neither do they wish to have a case for special damages against the Council, becan.se they know that body can't afford it just now. The Council are therefore most affectionately requested to cover a channel which they recently opened, and which has been in a most dangerous state for more than a week, nt the corner of Havelock and West streets.—l am, &c., West Enq.

THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN, TUESDAY, JANUARY 4, 1881.



Special Advertisements- T H E MEN’S BEST VALUE FOE READY MONEY IS THE AND BOYS’ CLOTHING MAKDFACXI7BEO BY THE NEW ZEALAND Clothing Factory, WLidi can be purchased at their Retail Branches, all over New Zealand. A SINGLE GARMENT AT THE WHOLESALE PRICE. Thousands of the discerning customers testify that the New Zealand Clothing Factory’s Garments are the Verv Best Value for Ready Money. Ashboeton Beanch EA ST STR El, . . WM, SPARROW, ygj* Manager. "OORMS PRINTED —“To Let" and Jj “ For Sale ” —can be obtained at the Gpabdiak Office ■ THfe ASHBURTON GUARDIAN published every evening. PRICE— ONE PENNY. ADVERTISERS are reminded that A the ASHBURTON GUARDIAN commands the LARGEST CIRCULA TION in the Borough and Suburbs, and ' the prices for advertisements are very '-reasonable. ANTED.— THE GUARDIAN tells jour Wants for Is.—cash. ! ! l ?.‘a "■



Special Advertisements. 0. -Carstens ■ &■ Go. (liATK WksTOn’s), PROSPECT BUILDINGS, mOBACCONIST, FANCY GOODS, 1. AND STATIONERY. Meerschaum Pipes, G.B.D. Pipes Nailrod, Twist, and Vanity Fair Tobacco Musical Instruments, etc., etc. Haircutting, Shaving and Shampooing. EAST STREET, ASHBURTON. 520*



An OijiiQ newspaper speaks of a man being bruised By the “gu’phatic gesture of a mule^’ 1 The man whoso works arp the most im perishable is th e circus c,lo\Vu. The jokes of the first clown are as bright wit|h use to-day as they were a hupdfpd yh% p # a jf°- The painter 7,. is ill, A journajl sn_- nouuced the thing in saying that is stats caused great disquiet to his friends “ Hacriati! ” cried if. (a skeptic), “then he owes them money, does he ] ’’



Charcoal for Burns. —Charcoal, laid flat while cold on a burn, causes the pain to abate immediately ; by leaving it on for an hour the burn seems almost healed when the burn is superficial. The Infectiousness of Scarlatina. — A Dublin boy returned home from a school in England which had been closed through an outbreak of scarlatina. After his return home a dress was brought into the house to be sent to a lady in Belfast. The boy's jnothpr was taken ill of scarla tina aftei’ the dress, had been sent away, and the young lady to 'whoin the dress was sent died of |,carlatihA‘ ’ The bdy 'did not catch the disease himself, hujt he brought blip spefts h°W e > hd<\ote£ bis mother, and the latter transmitted t% poison in the dress she sent to her friend.



Holloway's Fills.— Let the Sick take heed.— The stomach is the commissariat of the physical system. It furnishes the material sus tenance of every organ. If disordered, the whole body languishes ; but however ,-everely it may be affected, its tone and vigor may a' >v. ys be restored by a course of these irresis tib'e rills; biliousness, indigcs'ion, liv.-com plaints, and other disord . s ot the stomach can easily be cured by the use of Holloway’s Pills. Thousar -Is r .test this assertion, and no sufferer who has ever ttied them will deny their su preme efficacy. In every case of stomach dis ease, from cite mild :st case of ilispepsia to the disorder of both liver and stomach from the nausea of the fr ;e liver to the vor.-' ‘ng accom panying ulcerated stomachs, these I’ : , s :.nme die eiy relieve, and by perseverance effectually cure. —Ai)vr. Wanted. Ilf ANTED, a VV Apply Family Hortu.. 'ood general SERVANT, it once to Butler's 5G9 \\TANTED, a SERVANT GIRL, for a > Y farm near town. Apply, Office of this paper. 870 TAN TED W VAST. paper. good General SER- Apply, Office of this 855 /'NOOK—WANTED a SITUATION as V_y Cook in an Hotel, on a Station, op largo farm. A good bread hand, and thoroughly competent in every respect. Apply, Office of this Paper. 865 WA N T E D—Watches, Clocks, and Jewellery of all sorts to REPAIR, Lowest Charges. PARKER, Watch maker. Private House, directly opposite the Public School. 837 WANTED 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. GOG ANTED KNOWN—Just arrived from England—Christmas, Now Year, and Birthday Cards. New Zealand Illustrated Annual, Young Ladies’ Jour nal, and Bow Bolls, Is. Gd. each. Family Herald and Family Reader, Is. each, and all other Magazines supplied at Christ church Prices. Colonial and European Newspapers, School Books, Stationery,Ac. A visit solicited. L. R. Anpbewes, East street, near Lancaster’s Butctiery. 527 VAT ANTED KNOWN—That a Church VV 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 lias 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 LIVERY AND BAIT STABLES. JW. M‘RAE bogs to inform the , public that he has taken the above Stables from Mr. Bossenberg, and is making extensive repairs. Buggies ajid saddlg horses on hire. Lowest prices and best 1 attention. B{j2



Meetings. This Evening. 10.G.T.— Unity DEGREE TEMPLE, . SECOND DEGREE MEETING on TUESDAY EVENING, at 8 o’clock, at the Templar Hall. Thomas Williams, D.T. 834 This Evening. Horticultural soci et y, MEETING ofthTCOMMITTEE of the above is hereby convened at Messrs. Jacobsen and Eyton’s office, on DAY EVENING, January 4th, at Bp.m. Business : To make arrangements for the forth coming Flower Show. A full meeting requested. S. E. POYNTZ, 840 Hon. Sea



ROAD DISTRICT. T The ANNUAL MEETING of Rate payers will bo held at ihe office of the Agricultural and Pastoral Association (show grounds) on THURSDAY, the 6th day of January, 1831, at 12 noon, to receive financial statement, etc., and to ELECT THREE MEMBERS in the room of Messrs. H. T. Winter, Hugo Friedlander, and Joseph Hunt, who retire by ballot, but are eligible for re election. A Poll, if demanded, will be taken on the same day, closing at 6 p.m. CHAS. C. FOOKS, Returning Officer. Ashburton, Dec. 21st, 1880. 787 Lost. LOST yesterday, between the Post Office and St. Stephen’s Church, a se tof C H ARMS. Finder will be rewarded on leaving same at Office of this Paper. - 862 Blue GREYHOUND pup, and rough-haired COLLIE PUP. The finder will be rewarded on returning either to Mr. James M'AvaV, Longbeach, or Mr. S. Saunders, Ashburton. 863 Gazette in Bankruptcy. Y. R.



OTICE— The Ashburton Guardian is a Gazette for all notices under the Debtors and Creditors Adt V. R. In the District Court of Christchurch, Holubn at Ashburton. In the matter of the Debtors and Creditors Act, and of the bankruptcy of JOSEPH BRYANT, of Long beach, farmer. I HEREBY call a meeting of the credi tors or the above-named bankrupt at the office of Mr. O’Reilly, solicitor, Tancred street, Ashburton, on SATUR DAY, the eighth instant, at 11 o’clock a. in., to consider the bankrupt’s applica tion for his discharge. Dated this 3rd day of January, 1881. FRED. PAYITT, Trustee. F. P. O’Reilly, Solicitor for the Bankrupt. 866 Public Notices.



fT| HANKS. —The parents qf the little X boy. JAMES HEFFQRI}, ryas killecj at the Rakaia Railway Statjon, on Friday last, desire to return their sincere thaqks to those frien4s, aqd Messrs. 0. Lake an 4 Q- Hardy, ryho qq kindly befriended therq in their bereave: merit. George and HA.ifN.wq HqFfOßi), Pupanui. 86f COUNTY COUNCIL. TtLE DOG REGISTRATION ACT, 1880. Under the provisions of the above Act, the Ashburton County Council hereby notify that the following persons have been appointed by it as Dog Registrars for 1881 for the Districts set forth opposite their names. Collars can be obtained at the Registra tion Offices hereafter mentioned. Appointments to date from Ist January, 1831



By order, P. MAINWARING, Clerk. Ashburton, Dec. 28th, 1880. 843 FARMERS ! FARMERS ! FARMERS I R. McKERROW AND Gq., Gash Purchasers qf 'Vfoql, Qraifl, and all kinds of Farm Prqduqe, and arq also prepared to make Liberal CASH ADVANCES on the above placed iu their hands either for sale pr shipment $o tlje English or Colonial Markets. A Large Stock of Oornsacks, Wool packs, &c,, fur sale at lowest current prices. R.-McKERROW & CO., GRAIN MERCHANTS, RAKAIA. CO [CARO.] fJIHEODORE B. JACOBSEN, ARCHITECT. Note office— HEREFORD STREET, WEgJ^,