SHIPPING.

PORT OF LYTTELTON. Arrived. Yesterday. Clio, schooner, from Waitapu. Onward, schooner, from Wellington. To-day. Hawea, s.s., from Wellington. Arawata, s.s., from Port Chalmers. Sailed. Yesterday. Grafton, s.s., for Timaru and Oamaru. ■ To-day. Hawea, s.s., tor Port Chalmers, via Akaroa. SHIPPING TELEGRAMS. Wellington, Yesterday. . Arrived Hawea, from Picton and Nelson ; Penguin, from the South. : i e - Timaru, Yesterday. ;'Arrived—Kate' McGregor, from Auck land. ; ' Sailed—Owake, for the West Coast. - ; ■ ; ■ > ; - p ollx Chalmers, Yesterday; ’ Arrived—Rotorua, from the North ; Mabel, barque, from New York. London, Feb. 1. " lAirived Waimea, from the Bluff; Waitangi, from Lyttelton ; Loch Doon, from Auckland.

MAIL NOTICES.

•/- Slftija close at the Chief Post Office, Christchurch, for the following places .(subject to necessary alterations) as "under , ‘ . . Friday, February 4. , For. Northern ports and Australian Qolomes, per Wakatipu, at 1.40 p.m.; late fee letters, 2 p.m. ; guard’s van, 2.30 p.m. train. r Tuesday, February 8. For the United Kingdom, via Brindisi, &c., per Te Anau. Mails close at the Ashburton Post Office, fcs’Mldws 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. apd .5 p.m. daily. ! • ; F6r Dunedin, Tinwald, Winslow, Hinds, Coldstream, Rangitata, Orari, Winchester, and Geraldine, at 10 a.m. daily. " l For Tevauka, at G a.m. and 10 a.m., daily. , , ‘ For Timaru and South, at 6 a.m., 10 a.m., and 4.20 p.m., daily. For Greenstreet, Ashburton Forks, Mount Somers, and Ashburton Gorge, on Tuesdays and Fridays, at 10.30 a m. For Ashton, Waterton and Longheach, at 4.30 p.m. daily. • ‘For Wakanui, Elgin, Seafield, New ‘land, and Kyle, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, at G a.m. Mails arrive at the Ashburton Post Office— v■-( From Christchurch and Rakaia at 10.25 ft.m., 4.35 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.iiL daily. Fr»m Temuka and Timaru at 10.15 a. m. 5.35 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. :'.Frpm Ashton,- Waterton, and Long beach at 10 a.m. daily. From Elgin, Wakanui, Seafield, New and, and Kyle, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, at 4 p.m; W. St. G. Douglas, Postmaster.

DAILY MEMORANDA.

AUCTION SALES. Saturday, February 5. Mr: Alfred Harrison, at his Yards— Contractor’s Plant. 12 o’clock.- [See advertisement.] \ Quill and'Go. —Usual Weekly Sale. »,-• ■" -, - Tuesday, February 8. Davies arid Winter—T. S. Nos. 332 and .. .334, Rakaia. ETINGS, AMUSEMENTS, &c. Thursday, February 10. Templar Hall Company^—Annual Meet ing, Templar Hall, 8 p.m.

TRAVELLERS’ GUIDE.

rJjßUifsj Leave Ashburton for Ohrist kikmußCH and intermediate stations at 6 a.m.; 10.30 a.m., and (Express) 5.48 , -p.m. - ; . TaAiiss Leave Ashburton for Timaru ‘South,’ at 7 a.m., 10.36 a.m. (Ex press), and 450 p.m. —the latter pro -c&ding no farther than Timaru. Trains Arrive at Ashburton from Christchurch at 10 24 a. m. (Express), 435p.m., arid 7.50 p.m. Arrive at Ashrurton from ■’ Timaru and. South at 10.15 a.m., 5.34 r ; 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 be accompanied by the sig nature of the sender, as a guarantee of good faith. All advertisements and business letters to be addressed The Manager ; literary communications should be addressed to The Editor.

TOWN EDITION. [lssued at 5 p. m. ] The Ashburton Guardian. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1881. Sanitary.

Sickness now prevails to an alarming extent in and around Ashburton, and the death rate has been unusually large, eight persons having died last month in the township from dysentery alone. That the unusually hot weather has had to do with the prevailing bad health is, of course, at once admitted, but hot weather is always to be ex pected in the summer, and residents should be prepared for it. But this preparation should be going on all the year round, and should consist of care ful attention paid to the cleanliness of their homes and the immediate vicinity of them. When people are lax in this particular, arid allow all sorts of slops to be thrown about their yards, permit refuse heaps to accumulate near their pumps, and neglect to have offal and other perishable matter buried, so that it may assimilate with the soil, and be beyond the reach of the hot sun’s in fluence, and thus be prevented from pol luting the atmosphere, it can only be expected that danger to health will follow. It is worthy of remark that an epidemic arising from a polluted atmo sphere or impure water is always most prevalent and fatal where the ordinary attentions to sanitary requirements have been neglected, and nature always does assert herself, and brings her own punish ment on those who infringe her laws. At the meeting of the Wakanui Road Board some sad tales were told of neglect by suburban residents of the most apparent and necessary attention to sanitary requirements, and when such a state of things exists as those pointed out by Messrs. Mayo and Winter it is not to be wondered at that the drinking water of the people be comes polluted with filth, and the soil around their dwellings gives off noxious exhalations. We have always con tended that, with due care ob served in regard to sanitary mat ters our underground water supply should last for many years in a suffi ciently pure slate to be safe and harm less. But when the settlers themselves defy all sanitary laws, and, in the face of 'a knowledge that their drinking water flows so near the surface, do nothing to prevent impurities reaching it, but do their best, by carelessness and thoughtlessness in their habits, to adulterate it with impurities, they will soon render it useless for domestic purposes. On this subject of the water supply it has been asserted that the introduction of the water from the Domain to the town has much to do with the sickness, and the fact is referred to that the channels after aday’s flow are covered with a green slimy fungus as a proof. It is said by some that from the Domain the wells have received a large accession of water, and with this accession a share of the fungus with which it is said to teem. This may or may not have to do with the sickness, butr-i't has to be remembered also that the water is taken from the river, and there are hundreds of people who use „the river water alone, without any filtration through the domain shingle,, and we have heard no complaints fro# them. No, we must seek for the ciuse of the dysentery, now prevalent, SL its true and self apparent source—-the pollution of the soil in the immediate vicinity of wells and dwellings ; and we are glad to find that the Wakanui Board is of this opinion, and are taking urgent steps to move in the matter. They have voted a salary of Li a-week for the services of an Inspector of Nuisances, and have in view co-opera tion with the Borough Council in in stituting a thorough and searching inspection of the town and suburbs. The matter will be brought up on Monday evening at the Borough Council, and no doubt the Board will find ready allies in- the members of the Corporation. The, Upper Ashburton Board will also be approached, as a portion of the suburbs is in that district. Meanwhile, seeing the case is urgent, we hope that every attention will be paid by settlers to keeping their places clean, and' guarding against sickness by preserving the air they breathe, and the water they drink, from communication with im purities that need not, with due atten tion, exist at all.

Lxcensino Bench. —The next sitting of the Licensing Commissioners for the County will be held at the Courthouse on Tuesday, March 1. Gold Prospects in Hawke’s Bay.—A piece of quartz brought into Napier froni the Norsewood district some time since, was accidentally broken on Monday, and showed rich gold. The quartz was in the possession of an old miner, but he never expected it to be auriferous. The Bird Show. —The committee of the Poultry, Pigeon, and Canary Society met in the offices of Messrs. Saunders, last night, when it was decided to hold the first exhibition on the 7th May, and a meeting was fixed to be held in a fort night or so to consider the prize schedule, which will include twenty-eight poultry classes ; twenty of pigeons; and about twenty in song birds. Drunks.. —His Worship the Mayor sat to-day to dispose of several cases of drunkenness. Peter Kennedy had been twelve times previously convicted, but “wouldn’t be up again, sir, for some time. ” He was sent to gaol for 48 hours. George Harris Dobson was very penitent, and would have got ofT, but for the fact that “ the police keep a record of these things, you know,” and his conviction in May, 1879, gave the lie to his assurance that he had never been in Court before. He was sent to prison for 24 hours, unless he could find LI to pay the amount he had been fined. John Dooley wasn’t drunk, but ill. He was fined 10s., or 24 hours’ imprisonment, for his illness. J. 0. Gfobdridge, alias Taylor, was accused of the Tarcetty of a carriage lamp, and was remanded.

Telegraphic. —The land lines fn .n Natal to Cape Territory are interrnptc.a.

Expensive Weed. —At Oamaru three young men were fined by the Collector of Customs on Tuesday three times the value of some tobacco they had brought ashore from a vessel lying in the roadstead. A lenient view was taken of the matter, ~s there was evidently no intention to smuggle. Shocking Accident at a Factory. A fatal accident occurred at Guthrie and Larnach’s factory, Dunedin, yesterday afternoon. Thomas Jeffrey, a young m; n, got entangled in one of the belts, and death was instantaneous, his brains being dashed out, and one leg torn from iiis body. The Deceased Wife's Sister Bill. — At the meeting of the Auckland Pres bytery yesterday, Mr. McCallum inquired whether, if a man married his deceased wife’s sister, or if a minister solemnised such marriages, they would be committ ug an offence against the Church. Although the confession of faith appeared to t->n demn such unions, he had nob been i'do to find any such sanction in tire Bible or such prohibition. The Rev. R. -Somer ville explained that as the Bill had ,'ot obtained the Royal assent the Gem. ml Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Otago and Southland had passed a resolu tion against it. Rakaia Railway Station. The Rakuia old railway passenger station iris now been entirely removed. The p- t form has been demolished, and the off css have been removed to Lauriston, on ne Methven railway line. The new p ,s ---seuger station is situated at the juncf on of the Methven railway with the n iin south line, at the south end of the to-.in ship, whither the Post and Telegraph Offices have also been removed. The in convenience of the position to which the latter offices in particular have been re moved is very much felt by the general public, especially by ladies and children, as those offices can only be approached by scrambling over the railway lines.

The Seamen’s Strike. —The strike of seamen at Wellington is causing some An noyance to owners of steamers there. The steamer Manawatu was ready to leave for Wanganui on Thursday evening, out at the last moment the crew refused to proceed to sea unless the demands of he Seamen’s Union were complied with. The men were given into custody, and wore charged to-day with refusing duty. Tlr-ee of the Huia’s crew also refused duty, and were treated in a similar manner. The steamer, however, was enabled to sail for her destination, having made up her crow, from the seamen of the ship Antares low in port. The crow of the steamer Palea are also out on strike. The owners of the steamers 'state that they have determined not to comply with the demands of the Union. The steamer Go-Ahead shipped a fresh crew and sailed last evening.

Rakaia School Committee.— The usual monthly meeting of the South Commit tee,was held in the schoolroom on Tuesday evening. Present Messrs. Hardy (chairman), Sharp, Gaarder, Kem'de, Byrne, Bowler, and Davies, and the secretary. The tender of Mrs. Mordie for cleaning the school for Ll2 per annum was accepted. The chairman was re quested to write to the Board, ashing them to proceed with the enlargement of the school without delay. The master’s report was read and received. It was re solved that the chairman and any one member of the committee be authorised to sign cheques. It was resolved that when all the nominations to vacancies in the Board of Education have been published, this Committee ballot for the necessary number. With reference to an application from the Good Templars for the use of the schoolroom, it was resolved that until the resolution of last year against letting the schoolroom be re scinded, the application cannot be received. Accounts to the amount of LI ss. were passed for payment, and the committee adjourned. Fashionable Scandals. —The ladies who order gorgeous costumes from the great Paris establishments do not always pay for the same, and scandalous develop ments are likely to happen at any time. Worth, for instance, has refused to make another article for a certain noble English lady, whose husband isoneof the wealthiest men in England, because he cannot col lect the amount owing him, now over L 20,000. One fair luminary of the second empire died owing Mr. W. some 50,000 dols. One day there came to the Com pagnie des Indes (the great lace and India shawl warehouse of the Rue Richelieu) a certain noble duchess with a set of point lace flounces that she wished to have altered. The courteous salesman took her directions very quietly, but when they were ended he remarked : ‘ ‘ Before we alter your lace do you not think that you had better pay for it V' The bill had been standing for over seven years. Marriage Laws in Switzerland.— The facility with which a divorce may be obtained under the new Swiss marriage law is causing some discussion. Notably, Professor Naville has devoted several pages to the subject in an article in the Bibliotheque Universelle, published at Lausanne. Under the new law, which came into force in 1874, the formalities accompanying the solemnisation of a mar riage are cut down to the lowest possible point. When both parties are 20 years of age, not only is it unnecessary to ask the consent of the parents, but it is even un necessary to acquaint them with what is going on. The bonds of matrimony being so lightly put on, it follows —at least this is the theory—that they should be lightly put off. It is not necessary, it would seem, to fyid grounds for a divorce. If a couple agree to demand it the cause is as good atfgained, the law having power to declare a divorce whenever “the con tinuation of the common life is incomput able with the nature of the marriage.” This vague condition of things is not made better by the provision that if none of the enumerated grounds for divorce exist, still, if the conjugal bond is in any way seriously prejudiced, the courts of law can pronounce for divorce or separation.

CABLE NEWS.

LATEST FROM EUROPE.

(Per Reuter’s Agency.) Commercial. London, Feb. 1. Consols remain at New Zealand securities were at last quota tions, viz., five per cent. 10.40 Loan, 102 ; five per cent. 1889 Loan, four and a half per cent. 1879-1904 Loan, Adelaide wheat, ex ware house, 50s. ; Adelaide flour, ex ware house, '34s. ; New Zealand wheat, ex ship, 445. Australian tallow is un changed. The Norfolk Outward Bound for Lyttelton. London, Feb. 2. The steamship Norfolk left Ply mouth yesterday for Lyttelton.

AUSTRALIAN.

(Pet Reuter's Agency.) New Zealand at the Exhibition- Melbourne, Feb. 2. The following Exhibition awards were 'announced to-day :—R. W. B.irt lett, for views of New Zealand and portraits-, W. Collier, Napier, for photographs ; Mn Travers, Wellington, for photbgraphs; Han well Williams, Greymoilth, for photographs; Marshall

and Copeland, Dunedin, and Royse, Stead and Co., Christchurch, for malt.

NEW ZEALAND.

(Per Press Association.) Gold in the South. Dunedin, Today-. A correspondent of the Otago Daily Times reports the discovery of a reef at the Long Valley, Serpentine district. The stone is thickly impregnated with gold. Drowned. A man named Barner Callan, of Gallo way station, was drowned while crossing the Manuherika. He had been drinking heavily. The Union Company and,their Engineers. At a meeting of the Marine Engineers last night, it was decided that the pro posed sliding scale of the Union Company was unfair to the men, who will leave the vessels as soon as they can do so legally, rather than submit to the proposed classi fication. ‘‘ Much Ado About Nothing.” Invercargill, To-day. At a meeting of &t. Paul’s Presbyterian Church last evening, it was decided that instrumental music should be introduced. The intrument was not named, but it was understood to be the organ. One speaker, opposed to the char ge, moved—“ That a cornet bo employed,” which led to a sug gestion to introduce tire bagpipes also. One of the advocates for music said that instruments such as the harp and trump were associated with Heaven, but there was no mention of any in the Bible as con nected wit h the “ other place,” and only one instrument was mentioned in profane writings—the bagpipes.

THE COERCION BILL.

A Long Sitting of the Commons. The Obstructives at Work. Scenes in the House and Violent Language. The Speaker Threatens Punishment. John Bright indulges in Plain Talk and Threatens Plain Dealing. The House Still Sitting. (By Cable.) London, Feb. 1. The House of Commons has been sitting for the last twenty-four hours on the Irish Coercion Bill. There have been innumerable motions for adjourn ment by the Irish members, but all have been negatived. Scandalous scenes have occurred in the House, and most violent language has been indulged in by the obstruc tionists. The Speaker has warned them that their action was verging on wiltul obstruction, which could be punished by the House. Mr. John Bright made a speech, in the course of which be character ised the conduct of the Irish members as a gross insult to the House and to the Government, and stated that the latter would shortly apply a remedy for such obstruction as was being pursued. The debate still pro ceeds. LATER INTELLIGENCE. Great Disorder in the House—The Debate Stopped by the Speaker. Stampede of the Irish Members. The First Reading Passed. London, Feb. 2. At ten a.m. to-day, owing to the scandalous scenes which continued to occur in the House, the Speaker put a stop to the debate. A great disturb ance thereupon ensued, and did not cease until the Irish members left the House in a body. There being still a quorum present, the Coercion Bill was then read a first time, and the second reading will be taken at noon to-day.

Incredible Inhumanity.

A case of inhumanity, almost in credible in its grossness, was heard at the Bristol Assizes recently. Thomas Ames, 23, laborer, was indicted for the murder of Albert Edward Miles, at Bath, in August last. Deceased, a boy nine years old, met his death in a lock on the Kennett and Avon canal. He clambered down the lock gales, and began fishing. On returning up the gates his foot slipped, and he fell into the water. The prisoner was standing on the side of the lock, and saw the deceased struggling in the water about seven feet deep. Some one shouted to him to jump in, and he re plied, “ Let the little get out the best’ way he can.” His cries, however, reached two boys, named Vowles and Hillier, who, pulling off their jackets as they ran to the lock, immediately jumped in, caught the deceased, and held his head above the water by taking an arm each, and swam towards the gates, intending to hold on by them, or swim into the river. Cn their way they called to prisoner to throw them some poles which were on the bank. He did not reply, but began to close the lock gates upon the three boys. Although their progress to the river was thus stopped, they still hoped to save the de ceased by clinging to the bottom of the lock gates, but to their horror they saw the prisoner take a winch and begin to raise the hatchways. A woman shouted, “For God’s sake don’t ; you’ll drown all three.” Prisoner only laughed, and went on raising the hatch ways. The sudden rush of water washed the deceased out of the hands of his rescuers, and.they with difficulty saved themselves. The body was found sucked under close to the hatchway.- Prisoner was found “ Guilty of man slaughter,” and sentence was deferred. The Judge, High Sheriff, and Bari raised a subscription to show their ap preciation of Vowles and Hillier’s bravery, and the sum of three pounds was handed to each of them.

SPORTING.

WELLINGTON SUMMER MEETING. First Day — Thursday, Feb. 3. [by telegraph.] Wellington, To-day. The races to-day were but poorly at tended, not above 2,000 people being on the course. The going was very hard. The sport commenced with the Maiden Plate of 50 soys. Entrance 3 sovs. For all horses that have never won a sweepstake or plate of the value of 25 sovs. previous to entry. Weight for age. One milo and a half. The Governor ... ... ... ... 1 Bads worth ... ... ... ... 2 Comus ... 3 Time—2mins. 47secs. Betting—Even on Badsworth. There was very little speculation .on this event. Coming into the straight, Miss Domett fell, .and her rider, Williams, had his col larbone broken. Hurdle Race of 50 so ,r s. Entrance 3 sovs. About two miles and a half, over eight flights of hurdles. Weight for age. Clarance ... ... ... ... ••• 1 Agent ... ... ... ... ••• 2 Only two started. It was a grand finish. Wellington Cup of 400 sovs. Second horse to receive 30 sovs. from the stakes. Two miles. The winner of any handicap race of the value of 200 sovs. after declaration of weights, to carry 71bs. extra ; of two or more such races, lOlbs. extra ; of any handicap race of the value of 100 sovs. to carry 51bs. extra; of two or much races, 81bs. extra. Natator ... ... ... ... ••• 1 Libeller 2 Won easily.

Wakanui Road Board.

The usual monthly of the Wakanui Road Board was held in the Moore street room to-day, the following mem bers being present —Messrs. Hugo Friedlander (Chairman) Earle, Brown, and Mayo. CORRESPONEDNCE. A petition from ratepayers on the Wakanui road was read, asking that five chains of road between sections 74-85 and 72-87 be shingled. As the road did not belong to the Board, never having been dedicated, the request could not be granted. T. Trevurza applied for an extension of time for the completion of his con tract. Applicant was allowed till the 30th April, on the motion of Mr. J. Brown. An extension of time till the 31st of March was granted to Peter Stuart, for the completion of his con tract.

A letter from the County Council enclosed cheque for LBl 18s. 2d., as a refund to the Board for drainage work performed by the Beard, but objected to any further payment of unauthorised expenditure. A vote of thanks was passed to the County Council for the water supply that body had inaugurated, which was calculated to be of great benefit to the district. A vote of thanks for the County’s invitation to the opening ceremony was also passed. J. Kilgour applied to have well-pipe driven on the land he occupied from the Board. The matter was referred to the Overseer, yjth power to act. M.‘C. C. Fooks was recommended to the County Council as dog registrar for. the Wakanui district. surveyor’s report.

The Surveyor reported as follows : Buckley's Road, Fanning and Metalling from Side Drains.— ‘The contractor has been unable to finish this before harvest. I here is about eight or ten days’ work to do. Wakanui Tcnvnship Road, Formation.. —The contractor has been obliged to leave this work in order to reap his own crop. There is about seven days’ work to do. About 45 chains of this ioad has been metalled. Boundary Road. —The contractor is pro ceeding with this work. The Valuation List for the year iSSI has been completed. Fooks and Son, Surveyors. The Surveyor reported that the settlers on the Rakaia side of the Boundary road strongly objected to the drains that had been run alongside the newly made road there. The South Rakaia Board also objected, and the clerk of that body had interviewed the Wakanui Chairman on the subject. It was resolved to leave the matter in the hands of the Surveyor and the Chair man, with power to act. THE PUBLIC HEALTH ACT. The Chairman drew the attention of the Board to the state of health of the district. Dj’sentery had been very pre valent in the town and suburbs, and he thought the powers given under the Public Health Act should be exercised, and that the Board should co operate with the Borough Council in such measures as may be taken to preserve health.

The Surveyor said that the drainage was very bad on some of the Treyorton roads, which were not dedicated, and water lay .about and. stagnated. While the roads were not dedicated they could not be taken over. „ Mr. Winter said understood that some of the the Trevortpn district had neither ■ pjts nor pans to their closets. ? ' Mr. Mayo confirmed the surveyor’s statement as to the drainage of Trevor ton, and added that there was careless ness manifested by many of the settlers. Not only did the state of affairs exist mentioned by Mf. Winter, but the closets were in many cases placed along side the wells, and slops were thrown about everywhere. The Chairman read a portion of the Public Health Act defining the powers of the Board as a Board of Health, and suggested entering into an arrangement with the Borough Council, and with the neighboring Road Boards, whereby an inspector of nuisances, who would devote his whole time to the work, would be appointed. Some discussion took place on the subject, and ultimately it was decided that the Board contribute at the rate of Li per week for three months for the services of an inspector of nuisances, •in conjunction with the Borough, and the Borough Council be written to to that effect.' ■ • A special meeting for Tuesday next was fixed to be held, for the purpose of confirming. such appointment of an officer as the Borough may make. MISCELLANEOUS. Several accounts were passed for payment. .„ ■ ~ : The valuation roll was laid on the table, showing a rateable value of pro perty in. the district of about L 25,000, which, was considered very satisfactory, arid the roll was adopted. It was decided to have a plan of the suburban; roads drawn-ifor the use Of the Board,

Our Bankruptcy Fiasco.

News of the World. Sir Henry James has an opportunity of distinguishing himself as the author of a Bankruptcy Bill, if he will only lay down one principle —the interest of the public. We have had several Bankruptcy Acts, which have been in tended to benefit creditors, debtors, solicitors, and accountants in succes sion, and they have all failed. The cause of failure is not far to seek. When one Bill made a bankruptcy too expensive, creditors and debtors con curred in agreeing upon a composition. When a Bill, like that of 1861, was made too favorable to debtors, bank ruptcy became fashionable, and now creditors appear inclined to-abandon all hope of a dividend out of assets which are generally only found suffici ent to pay the costs. The principle of the Acts of 1842 and 1849 was that a bankrupt should make an application in public for a certificate of conformity, and thus the opportunity was created by which the conduct of the bankrupt in contracting his debts and disposing of his effects could be questioned. That wholesome principle should be restored. It may be all very well for a majority of creditors to accept a com position and to register their resolution to do so, and so far as the distribution of assets go nothing can be more equitable. It ( is a very different matter when a creditor in a minority has a just cause of complaint against a bank rupt. The debts of a bankrupt may be considerable; he may owe his family a good deal of money, and his trade creditors may have supplied ■all the assets. Once when two creditors, who had just sent in their goods to a trader who had declared his insolvency, made a reasonable application for the return of their goods, the bankrupt replied, “Oh, but if I give you them back I should have nothing for a dividend !” This is really the principle upon which many men proceed when they find themselves in the entrance to’ Basing hall street. Noav a reasonable check would be that when an agreement had been made between a bankrupt and his creditors he should give notice to every creditor of his intention to apply to the County Court Judge for a certificate that his" conduct had been that of an honesty straightforward trader. It should be in the power of the- Judge to deal out an .original jurisdiction as to the costs, which now amount to a scandal greater than ever occurred in the administration of this branch of our jurisprudence. We have imitated unsuccessfuly the practice of the Scotch system, but the result has been to reveal very sadly that there is a wide distinction between the profes sional morality of London and Edin burgh, and the contrast is not to the credit of England. When we come, however, to that question we are bound to remember there are other profes sional classes to whom the same criticism applies in England, and some allowance ought to be made accordingly. We ought not, however, to be deprived of a good bankruptcy law merely be cause* accountants have so closely fol lowed the example of the bar in the matter of pay. Law will soon be .too great a luxur}'.

THE CHIMNEY CORNER.

ON THE VOYAGE OUT-

They had been married three weeks, and were now in London, making pre parations for a long voyage out to India, via the Cape. We are speaking of twenty years ago, when the overland route to India; was an expensive luxury not always within the means of a young couple who had to live on their pay, as the saying goes. Dick Munro was a young Indian civilian, who had come home on a year’s sick leave, and had fallen in love three months before its expiration, with Annie Moveton, whom he riia'rried on the shortest wooing and wedding that a man in his senses could well risk. But he had no misgivings, for love is pro verbially so full of faith that at no time of his life is a man such a true be liever as when he flings himself into matrimony, allured thither by his affec tions.

And this had been the case with Dick and Annie, who loved at first sight, and pursued their impressions with such hot haste that they found themselves married before they had qiiite realised that they had met. Of course, in his wife’s eyes, Dick was the finest, handsomest, noblest creature the universe could produce. He was some thing of all these, but not to the ex tent of his young wife’s imaginings. Dick, on the other hand, was not quite so carried away by his ideas about his wife, for he knew that the world con tained far prettier women; but none, he felt, were kinder or truer than she. And so this reckless pair had better grounds than the’majority for taking the future on trust, and chancing happi ness.

Dinner was laid, and Annie was was watching for her husband’s return from a window of a first-floor apartment in a street off Bakei street. She had not long to wait; presently a fine, manly looking fellow, with open countenance, and soft expressive eyes, came bound ing up the stairs, at the top of which he was met by a very adoring little wife. “it’s all square, little woman,” he exclaimed, kissing her. “ I have secured a capital cabin on the upper deck, off the cuddy. There are very few names down as yet, so I had my pick —No. io. And now let me have some thing to eat, for I am as hungry as a hunter.” Saying this he disappeared toiprepare for dinner, while his wife rang to have it served quickly. “It’s one of Green’s best ships,” said . Dick,' after they had been seated at table some little time, and his hunger allowed him to talk. “ I wish I could have taken you overland; but I never bargained for getting married; when I came.home; so the first few months j went ahead extravagantly, and spent such lot of money that it is just a chance I had funds 'enough too carry us back 1 round the Cape even,” “I am content,” said Annie. “So long as I arp with you I- don’t pare where I am ;” for the good, little soul was full of admiration, arid gratitude tO’ Dick for the happiness he had bestowed ripoti her, a periniless girl,‘by’falling in love and marrying her.

“ I should like to have taken you overland,” reiterated Dick ; “ the trip is so much jollier, so much more life going on and places to be seen. But there is no use regretting; and a voyage round the Cape is hot so bad after all, if you have a good ship and nice people on board.”

“ Of course it isn’t,” said Annie, pre pared to find everything delightful. “ The cabin is only ten feet square. I say, little woman, it will be a good test of affection to live together in such close quarters for four months,” re marked Dick, with a smile.” Annie smiled back, saying; “ I think we shall stand it.” “ There’s only a plank between us and the next cabin ; we shall have to remember this, and keep our voices down to whispering pitch.” “ The better to hear what our neigh bors are saying,” cried Annie, making light of the last disadvantage that her husband had to offer. As soon as dinner was over, smoking began ; for Annie, like Sarah of old, called her husband lord, and forbade him nothing. In fact, if ever a man was in danger of becoming spoiled it was Dick Munro. Only he was a good fellow, and knew when he was well off. He felt supremely so at that moment, sitting in a comfortable easy chair, smoking an unlimited number of cigarettes, with a dear little wife sitting on a low stool very near, chatting and laughing in her brightest vein to amuse him. Presently they grew confidential They had married in such a hurry that they had everything to learn of each other except the cardinal fact of their mutual fondness. But now they could take matters easily, and tell each other interesting reminiscences of their past lives. “And tell me, Dick,” Annie lowering her voice, and drawing nearer as she spoke. “ Were you ever in love before you saw me ? ” Dick took the cigarette from his lips and puffed aside a cloud of smoke without replying, as though he wanted to evade the enquiry. But Annie was persistent, and demanded an answer. “ What do you want to know for ? You should no be inquisitive, Mrs. Annie,” was his reply, as he smiled. “ Inquisitive ! Why, Dick, I feel as If I’d like to know every day of your life since you were born. That’s be cause I love you.” She looked up in his face with such ender pleading that Dick—softest earted of men where a woman was in u estion—could not resist her.

“ Why, Annie, Samson must have given in to you, you know so well how to coax. What is it, then, you want to find out ?” “ If you were ever in love, you know, before you saw me ? ” “ Yes ; scores of times, with every pretty girl I met.” “ That is not what I mean. I know you are a flirt, you need not tell 'me that; but were you ever engaged—to be married* so that—Oh, Dick, I might have lost you. Answer me seriously, yes or no ? ” “Seriously, then, yes,” “Ah ! who to ? ” she cried, a pang of jealousy shooting through her heart, and, unconcealed, showing itself in her eyes. “ There; now, lam a fool. I ought not to have told you,!’ cried Dick; who had read in her face, what she was feeling. 1 Dick thought that he would rather say nothing more, ; but Annie kept pleading, and although he would rather have left, the story of his first love un told, knowing that his affections were now wholly placed on the woman at his side, he at last yielded to her en treaties, but his common sense told him such old stories are better left undis turbed in their graves. Any dragging up of the old dead bones is sure to cover us with unpleasant dust Dick felt all this, but Annie’s influence over came everything, and he told her. “ Well, and what was she like, Dick ? I must know.” “ She was a beautiful creature —tall, thin, with glorious eyes and dark hair.” “ And how was it you did not marry her ?” came more faintly from Ahnid, and she contrasted her own fancied homeliness with the picture he had drawn.

Dick, puffing away at his cigarette, his mind busy raking- up the ashes of a dead love to amuse -the living, did not mark the rapid changes on his wife’s face, nor did he see how every word he let fall Was being gathered and garnered in her heart and memory. • “Why didn’t I marry her ?” answered Dick. “For a very goodvreason. I couldn’t.” :* “ Why, hadn’t you money enough ?” “ It was not a question of money at all. We were engaged for a year, and then —” “ And then—?” asked Annie eagerly. “It was broken off,” said Dick slowly, with face averted, and an ab stract air that appeared to watch the career of each puff of smoke. “ Were you sorry ? Did you part loving her, loving each other ? Answer me, Dick, darling, Dick !” “ Yes, Annie; it was an awful time. There, I don’t want to remember any thing more about it. It is all over now, and I am married to the best-little woman in the word —and, Annie, I

wouldn’t change her if I could.” With this assurance, Dick flung away the end of his cigarette, and put his arm round Annie, who nestled close to his side. “ And where is she, Dick ?” she con tinued, by no means satisfied until she had heard everything. “ In England, I believe. She came home for her health.” *' Had she a pretty name ?” “ Nov, now, Mrs. Inquisitive,.you are wanting to know too much.” “ But you will tell me, darling Dick,” she cried, bribing him with several kisses. “ Well, I suppose there is no great harm in your knowing her name,” he said carelessly. “ Then tell it to me.” “ You darling inquisitive torment 1 It is too bad of you to rifle a man of all his secrets in this undefended way. Her name, then, if you must/know it, was Adelaide Braind. J and she was; the 1 daughter of the Judge, mychief.” . A fortnight later, Dick and his wife j had wished their friends good-by, and | were on board the Magnolia 1 , ■ whose j was flying to announce tflaV j she was gutting jtyay. jtp sail that; evening. ‘ ‘ : 'j'

Annie was 'pleased with her cabin # and its arrangements, which were all | that an outfitter’s ingenuity could de- | vise to promote space and comfort | under extreme difficulties. On deck all was confusion. Groups n of friends gathered here and there to see the last of each other for many years, were talking eagerly. The Doc tor of the ship came up to Annie and Dick, and introduced himself by offer- , ing her his field glasses. Dick and the Doctor entered intoconversationjwhite Annie amused herself by watclfing the novel scene before her.- Passengers coming—some - • being-.-hoisted=r.up«on board* from the boats in a. barreLwhjch hrd been converted into a chair, while others made use of. the r ladder at., the ship’s side. The vesselNvis toWil at 7 o’clock that evening. The Captain and pilot were both oil board. The chief was trying the wind by a feather peh nant. The second officer was Jiving orders about ropes here and sails there’. Everyone seemed alive with interest. The afternoon wore on, aiid the' ship was to sail in an hour’s time, Dick and Annie had gone down to the cuddy, where most of the pas sengers, some with friends,!/had as sembled for a cup of tea. The Doctpy had attached himself to them, arid’wtfe amusing Annie by telling her the names of those fellow passengers he,knew. ' “That’s Mrs. Blundell, wife of Col. . Blundell, and her two girls, andthe | other lady is Mrs Macpherson—and i her two daughters,” said the doctor in a ■ whisper,- MT-vi j. “ Indeed,” said- Annie* rwho fining her tea flavorless, was glad to take a [ survey of the six Wutinan beings scaled j opposite. ’ L In the meantime.a commotion was \ going on patsid&V'.'litoro j were evidently, ' | on board. ..iffulmiflinA. “It’s No. 9 and No. 11 cabinsat last,” said the steward. L : -'Jf “ Each -side" Of ouls,* whispered . | Annie to Dick- “I’m see who they are.” She would liked |o have risen, but she was sitting .wjttt ;»gr back to the cuddy door, and did not j feel sufficiently: at so many strangers' to leave Dick’s side. So she waited, keeping, hep, attention j alive until they should pass inta their cabin. , • (To de.continued.) *T

THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1881.



Special Advertisements dOMLMEßOlAL AND FANCY STATIONERY, 1 : n The Undersigned has opened up a NEW -ASSORTMENT of the above. Cream, Blue, and Hand - made Notepapers; Ruled, Plain, .Fancy, and Repp ditto. Good Business Envelopes, No. 7, Court, Albert, Queen, Tinted, Repp, and others. Pens Gllott’s, Mitchell’s, Brandauer and.Co.’s Inks—Stephen’s Blue Black, Walkden’s Black and Colored, Antonine, Copying, &c. Workboxes, Albums, Books, &c. , ii. m. Jones, STATIONERY AND FANCY GOODS ,3 DEPOT, East Street and Baking Squab®, 710 The best value FOB READY HONEY * ’ ' IS THE MEN’S 1 AND BOYS’ CLOTHING MANUFACTURED BY '% THE NEW ZEALAND Clothing Factory, “ Which can be purchased at their Retail .Branches, all over New Zealand. .A SINGLE GARMENT AT THE -n; ; WHOLESALE PRICE. - ■■ ‘ ‘Thousands of the discerning customers testify that the New Zealand Clothing 'Factory's Garments are the Very Best Widtle for Reddy Money. , ■ Ashburton Branch ; EA S T STRE ET . WM. SPARROW, 751* Manager. O, ,Carstens & Co. ' (Late Weston’s), -;:i i Prospect buildings, TOBACCONIST/ FANCY GOODS, Z * AND STATIONERY. CO7 s, G.B.D. Pipes i l Twist, and. Vanity Fair t r Musical Instruments, etq., etc. HMrcutlihg, ■ Shaving - and Shainpooing. ,-EAST- STREET, ASHBURTON 520* W published every .evening, giving every day’® news, jKto.wiet hoilr of going ,lo press. Thisis : better than buying a ‘sixpenny 1 Veefcly. !



HOLLOWAY’S Pills. —The extraordinary change of temperature prevailing in our climate is extremely trying to the, delicate-chested, the weak and nervous. . All troubled by these afflictions sHould resolve to resort to the strengthening and icgulating medicine immedi ately they perceive in themselves discomfort of that feeling of restlessness which betokens dis ordered digestion and defective secretion of bile. One of Holloway’s Pills taken About noon and followed at bed-time by a dose suffi ciently large to act apperiently will speedily recruit the faulty functions, and restore order throughout the whole system. A treatment so safe in operation and so successful in result should b$ known and practised when, from cold and sundry other CAUse.S, ; disease i? at tempting to gain a vexatious footing. Advi',



Wanted. WANTED, Contract COOK, . for a Threshing- Machine. Apply} Office of this Paper. 43* m Cl A N T E HORSES and DRIVERS’ ibil Reapers. A.pply; ; ■” : r 41a -SAUNDERS BROTHERS..!. WANTED, ■' immediately, o '‘several TEAMS, for carting grain. For particulars, af>ply to GbtrLtoAttoGAMKSON. WANTED —A Young Woman, as General SERVANT. Apply, Office of this Paper« > - r /•» y y / WANTED, a smart BOY to look after coach-horses. Apply to T. Cotton. 'i ■ Ji'iill/. 32* XTTANTED, Watches, Clocks, and VV Jewellery, of all.eorts.tto Repair Gold and steel Watch-hands /all desert tions of Brooch-pins, al at 6d. each. Pxrkek, Watchmaker, direptJy opposite Pab|i<j Schoph y , .. , WANTED TO SELL Twenty-five SECTIONS, Wakanpi Road. Apply to Patching,* Tetit-maker, East Street. 898



VTTANTED KNOWN, That HENRY’S YV PORTRAIT ROOMS, .Saunders’ Buildings, East Street, Ashb'drton, fto open DAILY, from 9 a.m. till 5 pfn*. Portraits taken in aay‘ weatheri V. Great Reduction in. WANTBE* KNOWN-rrThe Largest and Best Stfobk bf Saddlert is to be found at theshopiof-S. STEPHENS, Tinwald. Good strong Cart. Collars from 135.; Cart 1 Winkers] ' Bs. ( > 83/; ''Plough Back-bands* 6s, .cash ;. Cart Saddles and Breecheris/ from 505.-;vßeaping /Mafenina Pole Straps, 2s. Partners will make a great saving hy buying pf Sr Stephens, Saddler, Tinwald. TTTANTED KNOWN. Ashburton V\ REGISTRY OFFICE for Male and Female Servants. — L, F. Andrew®* begs to inform the public of; Ashburtoa and surrounding districts that he his opened the above. Male , and.,female Ser"arits of all classes J pibviadd." ’Em ployers requiring servants, and aH ; persbnA with good recommendations, -who are in want of situations, yare requested to apply to L. F. Andkewes, Labor Agent, Bo(n|- seller,, ajuji Stationer, Ea^t that she saves Ten. Shillings ,a' Fortnight by using Harper Yilla Washer, Wringer, and Mangier, com bined ; and, although sherpermUa no rubbing, the clothes are beadtifullyJwhite, and much cleaner than when done by hand, while the saving in been astonishing. Sold by J. Range Maker and. Importer, comer of Manchester and Tuam streets, Christ church; Price —£0 10s. 700



WANTED KNOWN. SOMERSET IIIVERhh STABLES. JW. M'RAE begs to inform tw # public that Tie has taken the ibove Stables from - Mr. Boasenbacg, ftMLrWn making extensive repairs. „ Buggies a&d *saddle : hdraer Lowest prices and best attention. 852 ITTANTED KNOWN~tfhat- Visiting Vy Cards, plain- or mourning, cap- hi obtained printed in various styles, at the “ Guardian” office, opposite the Railway Station. ...... • = T) : A SHBURTON -: TEMPLAR COMPANY [Limited]. HALL The ANNUAL MEETING of Share holders , in - the above pompany - will • bo held, at the* Templar Hdll, dn TBfURa- DAY Evening, j 10th, at Eight p.m. To receive Directors! Report and Balance Sheet;. Election of tn 42a W. H. %om vJ _ a sLiJWS ii. IMPOUNDEIX Jaundfcaf : Mill,' one Grey* shod hll round ; no visible blind..? i HasoAireleased sa#** Poundkeepef. on o£ before i 40a J