SHIPPING.

PORT OP LYTTELTON. Arrived. Saturday. St. Kilda, 8. s., from Wanganui. Dunedin, schooner, from Invercargill. Yesterday. Grafton, s.s., from Timaru. Jane Douglas, s. s., from Kaikoura. Robin Hood, brig, from Newcastle. Ocean Bird, ketch, from Nelson. Sailed. Saturday. Wanaka, s.s., for Wellington and northern ports, at- Hilda, 5.8., for Dunedin. SHIPPING TELEGRAMS. ’ ■ ”• Wellington, Saturday. Arrived— Wakatipu, from the South ; : ',Star ! of’the South, from Oamaru. •/is" galled- I —Wakatipu, for Sydney, of-trmr:.. Timaru, Yesterday. -’Arrived—Grafton, from Oamaru; W. C. Wentworth, from Newcastle, after a ■' 'atdriny passage, losing boats, water tanks ■ ** ‘ ;; Sailed —Grafton, for northern ports; '''; Examiner, for Greymouth Port Chalmers, Saturday. r r Arrived—Defiance, brigantine, from : Wellington. _

MAIL NOTICES.

Mails close at the Chief Post Office, ... Christchurch, for the following places (subject to necessary alterations) as under : ' _♦.,.f ; Tuesday, February 8. For .the United Kingdom, via Brindisi (for specially addressed correspondence - only). Continent of Europe, Point de .Gaße, ; India, the East, China, Japan, Aden, Mauritius, Natal, Cape of Good ;Hope, Suez, the Mediterranean Ports, .. and Australian Colonies, per Te Anau, at VLSP p.m.; late fee letters at 1.45 p.m. Mails close at the Ashburton Post Office, as follows : ’For Christchurch and North at 5.30a.m. . IQ a-m., and 5 p.m., daily. ’■_ For Chertsey Rakaia, &c., at 10 a.m. .’and.s 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 Sonth, at 6 a. m., 10 a.mi, and 4.20 p.m,, daily. For Greenstreet, Ashburton Forks, Mount Somers, and Ashburton Gorge, on Tuesdays and Fridays, at 10.30 a.m. - t For Ashton, Waterton and Longbeach, ‘it 4.30 p. in. daily. For Wakanui, Elgin, Seafield, New land, and Kyle, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, at 6 a. m.

.! i Mails arrive at the Ashburton Post Office— From Christchurch and Rakaia at 10.25 a. m., 4.35 p.m., and 7.50 p.m. From Chertaey, &c. at 10.25 a.m. daily. From Dunedin and intermediate places at 5.35 p.m. daily. From 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. From Ashton, Waterton, and Long beach at 10 a.m. daily. t ' 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. Tuesday, February 8. Davies and Winter—T. S. Nos. 332 and 334,Rakaia. . MEETINGS, AMUSEMENTS, &c. Thursday, February 10. Templar Hall Company—Annual Meet ing, Templar Hall, 8 p.m.

TRAVELLERS’ GUIDE.

Trains Leave Ashburton fob Christ church and intermediate stations at 6 ;.‘ua.in., 10.30 a.m., and (Express) 5.48 “ p.m. .Trains Leave Ashburton fob Timaru .and South, at 7 a.m., 10.36 a.m. (El s' ' press), and 4.60 p. m. —the latter pro ceeding no farther than Timaru. ■Trains ■ Arrive at Ashburton from Christchurch at 10 24 a.m. (Express), 4.35 p.m., and 7.50 p.m. Trlins Arrive at Ashrurton from TntARU and South at 10.15 a.m., 5.34 r J : : p.m. (Express), and 8.15 p.m.

The Ashburton Guardian. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1881.

TOWN EDITION \lssued at 5 p. m. ]

Borough Council. —The usual meet ing of the Borough Council will be held in the Chambers this evening. The Land Commission. —Captain Skut has been appointed chief surveyor to the West Coast Land Commission, and will for the present be stationed at Hawera. The Rejected Ones —The candidates for the Auckland Education Board whose nominations were rejected intend to apply to the Supreme Court for a mandamus to compel the Board to receive their nomina tions. Abusive Language. —A man named Terence M‘Guire was to-day fined L2, or three days’ imprisonment, for using abusive language towards Mr. John Carter, Tinwald. The Mayor was the magistrate. Alleged Rcbbert from the Person. —To-day Constable Rouse brought up from Rakaia a swagger who is accused of stealing L 5 from the person of a resident near Methven. The case will be heard shortly. The County Waterworks. —The scour ing in the open channel is going on to a great extent, and steps are being taken to counteract it. To-day the body of water coming down has been greatly reduced— purposely' we presume—but in some parts of the channel where the fall is pretty heavy the scouring is very deep. The Assessment Courts. —Elsewhere the times and places are given at which the Assessment Courts for hearing objec tions to valuations will be held. It will be observed that the Court for the borough and that for Wakanui will be held on the same day—Tuesday, Bth March—in the Court-house, the former at 10 a.m., the latter at noon.

A Land Hitch. —From Gisborne we learn that the Native Land Court, pre sided over by Judges Heal and O’Brien, has refused to vest the freehold of Powawa block in three trustees, instead of in fifty or sixty native owners who had signed a deed of trust to the three trustees. On the application of Mr. Rees, a case has been stated for the decision of the Supreme Court, and Mr. Rees goes to Wellington to bring it to a speedy issue if possible, as the passengers by the Lady Jocelyn want to settle on the block. “To Men Only.” —Yesterday after noon the Rev. Mr. Pym held a service for men only in St. Stephens Church, and his very earnest and stirring appeal for the cause of Christ was listened to with deep attention by a considerable congre gation of men of all classes and denomina tions. The Church was crowded at both the other services of the day, aud we are glad to learn that Mr. Pym’s ministrai tions are highly popular in Ashburton, and that during his stay he has been instrumental in doing a vast amount of good. The Local Industries Exhibition.— Every day makes the projected Exhibition more and more popular, and increases the demands for space, so that the prospects are, an exhibition really worth attending, and calculated to confer the benefits hoped for from it, is likely to be held. The energetic Secretary is leaving no stone unturned, and the Railway authorities have been communicated with, with a view to securing the concession of having the exhibits from a distance carried free. It is to be hoped that this concession will be given. Racing. —The settling for the Welling, ton races takes place to-day, when the fol lowing amounts will be paid : —Hon. W. Robinson, L 351105. ; Mr. Walters, L 223 ss. ; Mr. H. Lunn, Lllß 15s. ; Mr. Vallance, L7l, ss. ; Mr. Hereford, L 49 10s. ; Mr. Butler, L 47105. ; Mr. Clutham, L2B 10s. j Mr. Hill, L 23 15s. ; Mr. Crosbie, L 23 15s. ; Mr. Redwood, L 23 15s. ; total, L 961 10s. The following handicap has been declared for the Dun edin hurdle race :—Agent, 12st; Clarence list 121 b ; Littlejohn, lOstOlb ; Waikari, 10st; Milo, lOst; Artful Joe, 9st 101 b ; Sailor Boy, Bst 91b ; Carrigeen, Bst 91b.

The Austkallians at Wellington.— The result of Saturday’s cricket at Wel lington’was that the home 23 made 82 the highest individual score being 11, and the extras 21. The Australians had .lost Groube for only 2, and Murdoch and M‘Donnell for 0 each, and for the loss of these three 64 had been scored, Spofibrth having 26 to his credit, and Slight 28 when time was called. Our telegrams to-day says.;—The match was resumed at 12i 45 to-day Spofibrth and Slight at the wickets, White in the 6eld instead of Blackham, who met with an accident last night, injuring his foot) When the score stood at 79 Spofibrth ci £ Armitage to mid on, where it was held, and Jarvis followed. The score at 1.30 was—Spojffortb, caught, 32 ; Slight, not out, 39; Jarvis, pot out, 11; total, 4 wickets for 98. A further telegram gives the score at the lunch adjournment Slight, Lh.w., h Armitage, 40* Jarvty iii»‘t" : Gut, 2 ; Boyle, c Houghton, fo Francis, 8. Total, 117-

Fire at Syd'^Hham. —An unoccupied house at Sydenham was destroyed by fire at five o’clock this morning. It was insured for Llso in the Sun office.

Legs. —On Saturday, at Invercargill, young Scott concluded the feat of walking 112 miles in twenty-four hours. He put bn a capital spurt at finish, and came in two,minutes before the stipulated time. A' Reproving Conscience. The Colonial Treasurer has received a letter from Hokitika, signed “ Catholic,” in closing three LI notes (conscience money), due to the public revenue for some -'mio past. A Fatal Throw. —A fatal accident happened at Wairaka (Otago) on Thurs day. A daughter of Mr. S. Macintosh, aged fifteen, was thrown from her horse, and her foot being caught in the stirrup, she was dragged a considerable distance. She died an hour after from concussion of the brain.

Church Parade. —Some 12 members of the Cavalry and over 30 of the Rifles paraded yesterday, and marched to St. Stephen’s Church, where an excellent dis course was delivered by the Rev. C. M. Pym on the very appropriate subject— “ Under which banner The Rifles were under the command of Color-Sergt. Dolman, and the Cavalry under Sergeant Scott.

A Boil Over. —A large two-storey de tached wooden building in Invercargill was destroyed by fire on Saturday, the immediate cause of the conflagration being theboiling over of an inflammable composi tion melting on the fire. The building was occupied by Mr. Thomas, a furniture dealer, and Mr. Cooper, a jeweller. All interested were insured. Three Children Burned to Death. —On Friday night a fire, attended with fatal results, occurred at Newtown (Wel lington) at ten o’clock, the house occupied by Charles Whittington, a driver, Veing destroyed, and his three children, Herbert Christopher Whittington, Sarah Oliver Whittington, and Milly Whittington, aged six years, three years, and ten months respectively, burnt to death. Mrs. Whit tington put the children to bed early in the evening, and came to town, her hus band remaining in the house. He left the building about an hour later to meet his wife. On their return, and when near home, there was a strong smell of fire. Whittington ran to the house, and dis covered that the back portion was on fire. He gained admission but was unabl j to reach the children. The fire by this time had a firm hold, and all efforts to rescue the children were unavailing. Great ex citement prevailed amongst the spectators when it was known that the children were in the burning building. Whittington states that everything was safe when he left, and no lights were left burning, but a few sticks of wood were burning in the kitchen fireplace. It is not known how the fire originated, but it is thought that it must have been caused by the fire in the kitchen. The remains were found at mid night. The boy was not much burnt, only the trunk of the eldest girl was found, and nearly all traces of the infant were destroyed by the fire. Whittington saved nothing, and being uninsured is a heavy loser. The building, which was totally consumed, was owned by Mr. Sutherland, and it is not known if it was insured. The inquest to-day (we learn by telegraph) revealed nothing, and the verdict was— “ Accidentally Burned.” But a rider was added, calling on the Corporation to erect the firebell, which has been lying on the ground, near the station, for many months.

CABLE NEWS.

LATEST FROM EUROPE.

(Ptr Reuter's Agency.) The Reserve of Wealth. London, Feb. 3. The total reserve of notes and bullion in the Bank of England is L 14,125,000. The Wool Sales. The next series of wool sales opens on the 15th inst The arrivals to date for the auction amount to 190,000 bales, the total probable quantity to be offered amounting to 300,000 bales. Arrested for Sedition- Michal Davitt, who recently returned from America, where he had estab lished branches of the Land League, has been arrested in Ireland for sedi tion. Mr. Parnell Issues a Manifesto. Mr. Parnell has issued a manifesto, in which he urges bis followers to act with calmness, and promises to renew the fight against the Coercion Bill in Parliament. Wheat and Tallow. The total quantity of wheat afloat for Great Britain is 2,490,000 quarters. Australian tallow —best beef, 345. 6d ; best mutton, 395. Our Securities. Four and a Half per Cent New Zea land Loan is quoted to-day at ex dividend. The Ashantees. The Daily News publishes, a tele gram stating that the Ashantees threaten to make war against the settlers and natives in the British colony of Sierra Leone, on the west coast of Africa. Telegrams further state that in conse quence of the attitude of the Ashantees, detachments of the xst West India Regiment, stationed at Freetown, have been ordered to proceed to Bonder to oppose any attack. Sent Back to the Hulks. London, Feb. 5. It has been decided by the authori ties that Michael Davitt, the League agitator, who was arrested yesterday, shall complete the term of penal servi tude to which he was sentenced some time ago.

NEW ZEALAND

(Pec Press Association.) Gold Find at the Tiki. Auckland, To-day. Rich specimens have been obtained from some ot the mines in the Tiki dis trict, Coromandel goldfields, which are likely to cause a rush to that district. The New Zealand Timber Company, which holds a large estate there, advertise it as open for mining leases on most liberal Supposed Incendiarism. Wellington, To-day. The police received a telegram last night stating that the stabling of the Marquis of Normanby Hotel, Carterton, was des troyed by fire on Saturday night, and that an attempt had been made to fire the hotel. The stable and coach house wore insured for Xj3oo. One .house was.burnt, and the hotel and Public Hall were saved with difficulty. Gold at Nelson. Nelson, To-day. Several lease applications been granted in the Warden’s Court, at Colling wood, fop claims at Mount Arthur, the reefs there will bp thoroughly tested, and the work pressed on. J)ry Hector’s re port on the stone from these reefs gives over 14ozs. of gold to the ton, ' Alleged Suicide. Dunedin, To-day.

H. P.’ Jones, licensee of the Grand Pacific Hotel, >vas frowned whilst bathing

in the surf at Ocean Beach this morning. He is supposed to have committed suicide in consequence of monetary difficulties. The bailiffs had been in the house since Friday. The body has not yet --been re covered. , Gambling.-:'; 5 At the City Court, Thomson, of the Racecourse Hotel, was fined- sa. for .per mitting throwing dice for drinks'.in his licensed house. Embezzlement. Moritzson has been committed for trial on three charges of embezzlement.

THE IRISH QUESTION IN PARLIAMENT.

(By Cable.) London, Feb. 4. The expulsion of Mr. Parnell and his followers from the House of Com-, mons last night was proposed by Mr. Gladstone, who moved that their ex pulsion, and nothing less, would suffice to restore order. The motion was carried, and the Speaker gave orders that the obstructors should be expelled. An unexampled scene of tumult and disorder ensued. Many members, who were ordered to retire, resisted the officers of the House. Mr. Gillon opposed them violently,and wasforcibly expelled. Finally all the obstructors left the Chamber, and order was re stored.

Shortly after the Irish obstructors had been expelled, the House discussed Mr. Gladstone’s resolution, that a majority of three-fourths voting for the passage of a motion of u urgency” should suffice to give the Speaker supreme control. The motion was slightly modified and adopted. The Coercion Bill was then declared “ urgent,” in order that the Speaker should have full power to put down any obstruction to its discussion, and the debate was resumed. The House is still sitting Later. The sitting of the House of Com mons was closed this afternoon, the debate on the Irish Coercion Bill being further postponed. The proceedings after the expulsion of the Irish obstruc tionists were of an orderly character.

CHISPA’S LETTER.

“ I am not yet so bald that you Can see my brains,’’—Longfellow. Of course I went down to see the Australian match. I don’t know liow many bricks I had had shied at me during the week, for daring to hint at the pos sibility, let alone certainty, of Canterbury being ignominiously thrashed. I had been courageous enough to suggest that twenty two was the correct number that should have been pitted against the men of the sunny south, and because I did so, I was set down as a duffer who didn’t know what he- was talking about, and a fellow who didn’t know what good cricket was when I saw it. If I had known anything what ever of what cricket ought to be I would never have held the great guns of Canter bury light. Well, I was very sad, of course, over how I was used, and as the game began to take the shape which you know it did, and resulted so disastrously for the great guns aforesaid, 1 very naturally felt like a martyr. But I made a discovery that, startled me. The real reason why twenty-two were not put on was just simply that they didn’t have the men, and another seven of such players as made the eggs would have made the beating a worse one than that given to Invercargill. Did you ever see Spofforth bowl? Just take four of the arms away from an Althouse windmill, let the remaining two have a rapid turn, and you have a fair illustration. By the way, on Monday afternoon, just when Billy Frith was about to deliver one of his swiftest ones to Murdoch, he was thrown off his chump, and the whole crowd felt a sudden shake. We all thought it was an earthquake, but on inquiry we found that it was only the earth trembling after an after-dinner spill that an Ashburton equestrian suffered up at the Pudding Hill affair. No wonder the earth shook.

It is not an unusual thing for a landlord to unroof his house when he wants to get rid of a tenant that doesn’t suit him, but we don’t hear every day of a parson at that trick. Some time ago a godly parson from an adjoining district tried the trick on at a certain farm in this county. He was accompanied by one of the godly men of his congregation, and when the two came to the house they found the tenant absent, and only the wife and children at home. Fearing a row should the stalwart farmer arrive during the unroofing, they scoured the district, and recruited a number of swaggers at two bobjjan hour to do any fighting that may be necessary. Previous to beginning the work of demolition the godly man, dropped on his knees and prayed for a blessing on the work he was about to do ; that in all “thy servant’s” outgoings and incomings “ thy servant’s” right hand would beheld, and his heart strengthened ; with the audacious petition added that the divine will would be pleased L o bless the basket and ihe store of the poor chap, his wife and little ones, whom he was about to leave without a roof over his head, and whose goods and chattels he was to sell by auction to the highest bidder. “ Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”

A new word is always worth securing. One of our loading men has a reputation for coining new fragments of language, and his latest success is in regard to the hot weather. One of these stinging hot days now prevalent he describes as the “ heatiest ” he had ever experienced.

It is amazing how little will throw a brand of discord into a well-regulated and affectionate family. A loving couple who are musically inclined were taking it coolly one evening last week. The hus band reclined on the sofa, while the wife of his bosom tried to soothe him to sleep with her best efforts at instrumentalism as represented by her “ rend ”-ition of the Dead March in Saul. He smoked and read, or tided to read ; but the heat was too intense, and he was just hovering on the border of Dreamland, thanks to the soporific tendencies of his.spouse’s music. The southern window was wide open, but no wind worth the name stirred the

“bosom of the palpitating air.” The little dog was barking outside—he often did that—so there was nothing extra ordinary in that proceeding. Suddenly a sheep from a passing mob, which the little dog had been manfully chasing, made a rush | for the window ; got its forelegs and head well in ; uttered a loud “ ba-a-a saw the ornamental smoking cap of the almost sleeper, and dashed off again. The sweet angel who was performing the Dead March neither saw nor heard the movements of the sheep, but she heard the “ ba-ara,” and nothing will convince her even now that the cry did not come from the throat of her lord and master; • There is War in that house, and lam afraid a big millinery account will have tP. ;b$ said bufflTUithe feelings of the angelic player , can be soothed sufficiently to allow her eyes to look "love' upon those of her unfortunate husband] '. 1

The members of the Ministry are be ginning to find that the sweets of office are ; not unmixed; and the;representatives of the Government who were very nearly

treated to a Captain Barry oyation, at Invercargill last Saturday will not,readily forget their visit. In the plenitude of its power the Hall Ministry dared to ignore the outciy made by the Southlandefs about their railway time-table, and as a result, when tWo members of that Govern ment wete, bold’ enough to visit Invercar gill they were treated in a manner scarcely less delightful -than that poor old Barry received. The lesson is one Ministers will remember, for it teaches that, though a small parish like Invercargill may be nothing in the State, it can become some thing when rotten eggs are handy.

;A thirsty soul by the express going North last week jumped off the train and tapped an Ashburton resident on the shoulder. “ Your name is W ” “ Yes, but I cannot remember you, though.” “ You ought to ; I owe you. five pounds, and I will sendyoua P. 0.0. when Iget.to Christchurch, if you will give me your ad dress.” Mr. W—p— was delighted, and hurried the thirsty oneinto therefreshment rooms, where a big brandy was swallowed, W paying. In a minute the train started, and W now makes the dis covery that there are many ways of get ting a drink. The five pound P. 0.0. has not yet been sent.

";jRe the dysentery scare. A man whose red hose tells its own story is perfectly lunatic in his rage against the flow from the, Domain He says it stinks, and that he can smell it everywhere. Pouring out the vials of his wrath to one of our able-bodied con stables, who has pinned his faith to the channel water as the salvation of the town, he was told by the man in blue that a gentleman whose only acquaintance with water was when it was mixed with brandy couldn’t be accepted as an authority on the question of whether the channel water stunk or not. Later in the day, the man of powerful nose had a glass of brandy offered to him, diluted with a contribution from the channel. He quaffed it with a closing smack, and praised the flavor. An hour after he was told how lie had been fooled. He is very quiet now on the subject of channel aqua.

The essence of war is violence, but so far as our 'local warriors are concerned the only violence ns yet developed has been to harrow up the musical feelings of the public at large by the exertions of the Brass Band. Church parades have become fashionable of late, and the two local bodies of soldiers who guard our hearths and homes have taken a religious fit lately. I reckon the reason they turn out is the same reason that the female population attend divine service, viz., to show their new bonnets, &c. The bran new uniforms are certainly very capti vating, and the mutual admiration which each member feels for his next file is truly interesting. In connection with this sub ject, a lunatic has delivered himself as follows : There was a young Sergeant, named Scott, With his sword he was certainly not A duffer to play, Nor yet run away ; And as swordsman he first honors got. Another young Sergeant, named Dolman, At stump speeches is tiuly a droll one, He’s an excellent drill, _ The result.of his skill Is that half a corps is now made a whole one. Chispa.

Care of Clothing.

The care of clothing, to be easy, must be habitual. The hardest part is informing the habit, and this cannot tod early in life be formed. Most children love to make mud pies and play in the dirt generally, and give little heed to keeping themselves clean. This is all well enough at times, and they should be indulged in their mud pies provided they are dressed for the work. But it is “ poor folksy” in the last de gree to allow a child to play in the dirt with nice clothes on, or to permit a young person to dress inappropriately while at work. It is ' vastly easier to change a good coat for a poor one than to restore to its pristine condition a soiled coat. It is vastly easier to put on a pair of overalls than it is to sponge thoroughly a pair of pantaloons. But the worst of it is that those who neglect to change the coat and to pnt on the overall neglect also the sponging and cleansing processes, and let dust gather and spots remain. A clothes brush, a wisp broom, a bottle of ammonia, a sponge, a hand brush, a cake of erasive soap, a vial of alcohol, should form part of the furnishings of every toilet. : After all dust has been removed from cloth ing, spots may be taken put of black cloth with the hand brush dipped in a mixture of equal parts of ammonia, alcohol, and water. This will brighten as well as cleanse. Benzine is useful in removing grease spots. Spots of grease may be removed from colored silks by putting on them raw starch made into a paste with water. Dust is best removed from silk by a soft flannel, from velvet with a brush made specially for the purpose. If hats and bonnets when taken from the head are brushed and put away in boxes and covered up, instead of being laid down anywhere, they will last fresh a long time. Shawls and all articles that may be folded should be folded when taken from the person in their original creases and laid away. Cloaks should be hung up in place, gloves pulled out lengthwise, wrapped in tissue paper, and laid away, laces smoothed out nicely and folded, if requisite, so that they will come out of the box new and fresh when needed again, A strip of old black broad cloth, four or five inches wide, rolled up tightly and sewed to keep the roll in place, is better than a sponge or a cloth for cleansing black and dark colored clothes. Whatever lint comes from it in, rubbing is black and does not show. When black clothes are washed, as they may often be previous to making over, fresh, clean water should be used, and they should be pressed" on the wrong side before being quite dry. If washed in water previously used for white clothing, they will be covered with lint. In securing clothing against moths, if linen is, used for wrappings, no moth will molest. Paper bags are equally good if they are perfectly tight, and so are trunks and boxes closed so tightly that no crevice is left open for the entrance of the moth or fly. As the moth loves darkness, it t fjirill, not molest even furs hung up in light rooms open to air and sunshine.

THE CHIMNEY CORNER.

THE CHILD WITNESS. The Arnolds lived in the old brown house which you may noticed at the right of the road just as you enter the village of L , Pennsylvania, from the south, The house stands back about ten rods from the road, among peach and apple trees, and the path running up from the gate is bor dered with pinks and moss. I should not speak so confidently; it is 'five years since I saw the village or the house, and perhaps the awful tragedy enacted under the moss-covered roof one night may have kept the house tenantlessj arid allowed time to tumble it down.

One day, in answer to a telegram sent from the nearest railroad station to L , a matter of a dozen miles, I rode into the quaint old village on the top of the stage, and at once reported myself to the town authorities. Every inhabitant of the village, even to the ragged urchins sitting on the tavern porch, carried a grave face and talked in whispers. Had I not known a double murder had ' been committed the night before, I could have read some news almost as bad by glancing at the faces of the townspeople. While I was eating my supper at the only hotel, the town clerk and the pre sident of the village sat opposite and told me . the story. It seemed that Arnold, who was nearly sixty years old, had two sons in another part of the State, and, wishing to divide up fhis property before ” his death, had a few days before the murder disposed of a farm and some manufacturing interests in Pittsburg, realizing several thousand dollars in cash. He intended visiting the sons and dividing the money be tween them, but had placed it in the village bank until he should be ready to go. Mrs. Arnold was old and grey headed, and the : couple, would have been all alone had it not been for little Jack, as he was called, a child four years' old. The child had been aban doned by a woman passing through the. village, and the Arnolds had taken it for company ; in fact, had made pro vision to adopt it. The night before, at nine o’clock, a citizen had seen Arnold at his gate smoking a pipe. No one heard any alarm from the house during the night, but about sunrise little Jack crept down into the village, his night-gown red with blood, and told the first one he met, “Somebody had hit grandpa and grandma on the head with an axe.” There \vas an investigation, and the aged couple were found at the house dead and terribly mutilated. The old man’s head was nearly.split in two, and Mrs. Arnold had a horrible wound on the temple, which had caused death instantly. "The child was not in the least injured, but seemed to have been badly frightened. This was the gist of the story I got while eating, but I found that none -of the sensational points had been over drawn when I reached the house. The corpses had been, the subject of inquest, and had been washed and placed in coffins, but the rooms had not been dis turbed. A‘constable had been present all the time to see that any clue that might have been left of the murderer should not be, erased by careless hands or feet.

The room where the tragedy oc curred was a double bed-room on the ground floor. It contained two beds, one of which was occupied by ihe old lady alone and the other ,by the old man and little Jack. The murderer had come in at the back door, bringing along the axe from the wood-pile. He had passed into the bed-room, lighted a candle which stood on the stand, and had been some time in the room before using the weapon. I knew this because the top drawer of the old bureau was pulled out, its contents were tumbled, over, and there were no.'bloody finger marks on anything. The other drawers were daubed with blood, showing that he searched these after the murder.

Something had roused the old man from his sleep. He had started to get out of bed when struck by an axe. The old lady had just heard the noise when the cruel implement descended on her head, the positions in which the bodies were found bearing out my theory. The night had been chilly, and probably little Jack snugged down under the quilts and thus escaped harm, though as afterwards shown he had been a silent witness of part of the pro ceedings. The murderer made a thorough search of the house, taking his time about it. He had first felt under the old man’s pillow tor money and then under Mrs. Arnold’s, daubing his fingers with blood and leaving marks on the pillows. I counted five different places where he rested his left hand on the pillows while searching with his right, and in every case there were only four daubs or spots. ’ There should have been five. He would not put four fingers down and hold up his thumb. No; the thumb on the left hand was missing—cut off at least at the first joint. •This was a clue, and all my subse quent investigations proved that I was correct in believing so. There was another thing. The man had torn up the carpet of the bed-room in several places; and had got out the Bible and looked between its covers j; had taken down and searched’the clothing in the closet, and had been so cool and thorough in his search that I kneiv. he was no ordinary offender. A common thief would have fled after committing murder, or at most stopped only long enough to search the bureau. Who ever the man was, he had not secured a dollar in money. He had, however, taken away an old-fashioned gold watch belonging to Arnold, which was out of repair, and chiefly preserved as an heirloom. A dozen.(persons. oocld identify the watch, if found, and here was something which might prove a good clue. I did not (expect to get much (out of the boy, owing to his youth. Taking him on my knee I made his acquaint ance, gave hirhisome pennies, arid then asked hipr what he saw. “You see,” began the child, very gravely, “T heard grandpa talking and getting up, and then I saw a big robber jump up (and hit hihr with' the 1 axe. ; Then grandpa fell dowri arid’ the- big •niaii ‘wenfjqver and struck, grandma, he looked iti the’bureau/ Wtfie , bed, in grandpa’s box in the closet and ■

then went off, and then I went to sleep.” I dreaded to ask how the man looked, for much depended on his answer. But he was ready with his reply, and all my cross-questioning could not alter his statement. “ Big man—red collar (necktie) on —great big breast pin—red whiskers like Mr. Jackson there-shining ring on his finger —one eye almost shut up.” I tried to make little Jack believe that the murderer had black hair and was a little man, but he stuck to his story. Then one of the constables talked to him about something else for about ten minutes, and then questioned him as to the appearance of the man ; but the story was the same as told .me at first. Several of us wrote it down, and I charged the child to remember it.

I was convinced that the murderer was a stranger in that part of the coun try. No one else had seen him come or go ; no one knew the hour of his arrival or departure, and he had left no clue behind—nothing but my theory that the thumb was missing from the left; hand. , I rode out to the toll gates, but he had not been seen to pass. I questioned the stage drivers, but they could give no satisfaction. I went to the railway station, but no one -could remember having remarked the pre sence of a stranger on that night. 'ljic murderer had arrived and departed like a bird. /

I, was considerably discouraged in not striking his trail, but I was deter mined to pursue the case until there was no longer any hope, or until I had found the criminal. Visiting Pittsburg and Harrisburg I laid my plans to trap him if he tried to dispose of the watch, I wrote letters to various officials and then I could do no more. For six months I had the case uppermost in my mind, while transacting other de tective business, but I failed to find the least clue. Then one day I got a trace. I was riding on the cars of the Pen nsylvania Central railroad when I ob served an old lady shaking a gold watch in her hand and then holding it to her ear to see if it would run. Crossing over to her, I asked to look at the watch, and she handed it out with the remark :

“It isn’t much good ; but I don’t know as it ought to be. My husband paid only ten dollars for it.” I found out that her name was Allen; that she lived within a dozen miles of where the Arnolds had been murdered; that on the morning after the murder, as near as she could remember, her husband had purchased the watch from a traveller on the highway who was looking for work and out of money. She remembered that the man was a large man, had red hair and full beard of the same color, but could not say that she had observed anything sus picious in his actions. I found by questioning that the stranger had continued on the road to the west, and that if he kept on he must have struck the railroad after an hour’s travelling. I was convinced that this was the murderer, and that he had made a long journey on the highway in order to baffle pursuit and hide his trail.

But it was little comfort to know it, as so many months had passed that the man might now be in Europe, or underground. I took the lady’s ad dress, and allowed her to retain the watch, which I knew had belonged to the Arnolds, and again I lost the case for several months. I wrote over fifty letters, travelled three or four thousand miles on the lookout for a big man, and nothing came of it. But one day, on approaching the village of Newfield, N. Y., by stage two suspicious-looking chaps got into the vehicle, and they were-my only company. I knew them to be “ flash ” as soon as I saw' their faces, and their talk went to prove it. I pretended to be very deaf as soon as they got in, not replying to any of their questions. I assumed the tone and voice generally used by the deaf, and held my hand to my ear and moved over, and expressed my regrets if I had offended them, saying that I could not even hear the rumble of the coach. “Good ! ” exclaimed one of the men, as I sat down at the other end of the vehicle. “ Now you can go on with your yarn.” Before proceeding, the other one called me an old fool, a thief, a robber, and various other things, closely watch-, ing my countenance to see if I could hear his words. “ The old smooth-bore is as deaf as a stone,” he remarked, having satisfied himself as to my deafness, and then he went on with a narrative which had been interrupted. I soon ascertained that they were on their way to Penfield to rob a mer chant. They had everything arranged to commit the crime the next night, and the one who had “ put up ” the plan gave all the details as to how the rob bery was to be committed, where they w'ould “ run ” to, and gave a guess as to each one’s shares.

“ What about Luke ?” inquired the the other, after the plot had been fully discussed. “Oh, Luke will be there in time,’ replied the man. “He has kept devillish shady since that business at L- , but now wants to make a haul and dig out for the Far West. You needn’t fret—we can depend upon him.”

Before we got into the village the men tried me again, but I could not hear except when they shouted into my ear, and they were sure that the conversation had been strictly private. While they put up at the hotel, I went to the house of a deputy sheriff, intending to remain concealed all the next day. I had, of course to state my business to the officer as I must have his aid, and he, the simpleton that he was, related the whole of the story to his wife- after they had retired. Thus it naturally came about that next day, while I was laying shady, but planning how to catch the burglars, the woman was retailing my plans to the neighborhood. When night came there were six of us ready to pounce upon the criminals, but there were no criminals to be found. The fellows had got wind- of the affair and were 'out, and: 1 had lost the second only reliable clue 'to the ; Arnold murder which I had been ever able to find. Spine time after this, while in the city of Rochester, 1 caught sight of a hand restipgj .90 the, windpw-sill of a horse car—a large red Jiaud. The had was

•nothing strahge, but the thumb was missing. I did not wait an instant to think. I leaped from the car, entered the other, and there sat my friends of the stage coach on either side of the owner of the hand—“ a big man with red hair .and whiskers.” They all jumped up as I entered, but I hung fast to Luke, and soon had the bracelets on him, allowing the others to get away. He had no idea who I was. and I took good care not to hinririlirWrge against him until I had .him back at

My arrival as pursuit of theborderer. hadjiirom the first been deemed hopeless. Many contended that I had frqt jpcfufed the right man, and Luke professed never to have been ih that' part of the Sfkte before. The child was several, mijes away from the village, but f 'sdint |for him. It had been a year murder. Little Jack had almost: "for gotten the, circumstances, course, the murderer had changed some ; but I had strong ib’dpes that the child would be able; to identity the man, and I was not disappointed. Waiting until' evening, I Conducted Jack into a room where f Luke a dozen citizens were sitting. The little fellow had no knowledge of what we intended, and for sorne times Aid rot see the murderer. When® he did he uttered a loud shriek, ran to rne„and exclaimed:—, , r ; -y-jr ** There’s thediig- nfan wifi* hit grand* pa and grandma !” . I Luke braved fit out to’ the last jJeven when the purchaser of the watchlestified to his identity he kept a bola ia:e,'and went to some pains to attempt to prove an alibi, but when t»ajn)y on the testimony of Little ;Jack£. r who shivered , and trembled at the:sighl/of the man, the prisoner knew that heyfcas done for, and cried out in anger : ™ “ Well, I am_ tjae man. I fsptw the boy’s eyes looking atr lire hfter I had finished the old ? uns, but I had- dfne enough, and could not kill him—£isse the brat ! I now regrefi nothings except that I did not split his head open !” And standing on. the gaHpws[ about to be launched into eternity, the man used his last moment to child witness who had - convicted him of“the awful crime. . • ,; : I JT

THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1881.



Special Advertisements. ’COMMERCIAL AND FANCY V/' STATIONERY. 1 t'‘ JElie 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 Gillott’s, Mitchell’s, Brandauer. and Co.’s Inks —Stephen’s Blue Black, Walkden’s Black and Colored, Antonina, Copying, &c. Workboxea, Albums, Books, &c. H. m. Tones, STATIONERY AND FANCY GOODS DEPOT, East Stkebt and Baking Squake. 710



READY MONEY ; IS THE MEN’S AND BOYS’ CLOTHING , , THE NEW ZEALAND .Clothing Factory, , Which can be purchased at their Retail Branches, all over New Zealand. A SINGLE GARMENT AT THE u ..! wholesale PRICE. Thousands of the discerning customers j testify that the New Zealand Clothing 1 Factory’s Garments are the Very Best Value for Ready Money. , Ashbubtoh Branch EAST'S TREET. m i tVM. SPARROW, WIRT/' !; '' ■ ’ Manager. Et»? ‘ and Go., Lichfield Street, Christchurch. g->{ RAIN BROKERS &. GENERAL K:i MERCHANTS, ji:.FARMERS GRAIN disposed of in eoy Market to best advantage.



Special Advertisements- O. Carstens & Co. (Late Weston’s), PROSPECT BUILDINGS, Tobacconist, fancy goods, 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* k SHBURTON BOROUGH COUNCIL. NOTIFICATION OF VALUATION.



TAKE NOTICE, the Valuation List for the Borough of Ashburton for the Year 1881 is now open for inspection at the Borough Council’s Office, Burnett street. All OBJECTIONS thereto must be left at the Resident Magistrate’s Court on or before the 22nd day of February, addressed to the Assessment Court for the Borough of Ashburton, and a copy of every such objection must be left at the Town Cleric’s office not less than seven days before the next sitting of the said Court. CHARLES BRADDELL, Town Clerk. Borough Council Office, 14th January, 1881. 940 BAT.T. PROGRAMME CARDS in very neat styles, with Pencils and Ribbons, printed at the Guardian Office, East street, near Railway Station. THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN PUBLISHED EVERT EVENING. PRICE ONE PENNY, ADVERTISERS are reminded that the ASHBURTON GUARDIAN commands the LARGEST CIRCULA TION in the Borough and Suburbs, and the prices for advertisements are very reasonable.



_ Holloway’s Ointment and Pills.— Multitudes suffering under a complication of disorders might obtain relief through these healing and purifying remedies, which should be employed without a day’s delay. When the weather is variaule and colds and influenzas are prevalent, this Ointment, well rubbed upon the throat and chest, gives the greatest ease,' and checks all tendency to iriflamation in the lungs and other organs. ! 'The' Pills assist the curative action of the Ointment, inasmuch as they;puriliy.the blood and iso quicken;its .cittu iaUpwthat congestionis rendered: almost im possible. Holloway’s treatment deals ; most successfully, too, with that .very .troublesome and often tedious ahimpt. the bane of thousands from overwork and fast Imng in the present day.— Advt.



Wanted. WANTED to hire—HORSES and DRIVERS for Machines. Work tocomihencdFeb. 10th. Apply, William SatopebS, Dundas, Seafield. 'p ‘ . 45t» WANTED— A Young Womanpiis General SERVANT... Anpfr, Office of this r ) «*J fiM 'KSi w Ni T TENDERS for right of REFRESH MENT STALL in the Town: Hall. during the Industrial Exhibition, on March 17, 18, and 19. Tenders to bo .’Sfent in by SATURDAY, Feb. 12, at. noon. FuU,in formation oh applicatioh to STEPHEN E. POYNTZ, 53a Hon. Sec. WANTED TO SECTIONS, Wakanui Road. Apply to Patching, TenLmaker, East Street. P 4. t s .uTL 898 WANTED KNOWN, That HENRY’S PORTRAIT [ROpMSt Buildings, East Street, Ashburton, are open DAILY, from 9 a.m. till 6 p.m. Portraits taken in any weather. Great Reduction in Price.' O | P p I j /' !4 Q®9* WANTED KNOWN—The Largest and Best StopkoL Saddlery is to be found at the shop of S. STEPHENS, Tinwald. Good strong Cart Collars from 135.; Cart Winkers," Bs. 6d.; Plough Back-bands. 6s. cash ; Cart Saddles and Breechens, from 50s.Reaping MacMne Pole Straps, 2s. Farmers will a great saying by buying of-R. Stephens, Saddler, Tinwald.* TTTANTBD KNOWtf. V\ REGISTRY: OFFICE for Male and Female Servants, —L. F. Andrewes begs to inform the ; public of Ashburton and surrounding dietrjetS] he has opened the above. ’ Male and Female Servants' df ; aU 'classes Pprovidieffi'l' Jln|- ployers requiring'servants,‘and au persons with good recommendations, who are in want of situations, are requestfedto apply to L. F. Andrbwes, Labor Agent, Book seller, and Stationer, East street. South. 527



WANTED KNOWN—That a Church of" England minister’s < Wife w#Ho| that she saves Ten- Shillings a Fortnight by using Harper. •_> Villa Washer, Wringer, and Mangier^' bined; and, although she permits*'fto rubbing, the clothes are beautifully white, and much cleaner than when; donefrbf hand, while the saving in mending has been astonishing. Sold: byj. - ; HERNj Range ' Maker arid Importer, * of Manchester and Tuairi streets,"; Christ; church ; Price—£9 10s. 700 ,WAKT^. ; , A SOMERSET LIVERY AND BAIT ■ : 7 I ) J W. M‘RAE begs tO’inform thp , public that he has taken the thrive Stables from Mr. Bosseriberg, and fil making extensive repairs. ’ - Buggies and saddle, horses on hire. Lowest prices' and best attention. 852 Meetings-; y^OCAL INDUSTRIES TION. ■mm ii The Monthly MEETING of the above will be held , at Messrs. , Jacobsen mndr Eyton’s office, on WEDNESDAY, Feb. 9th, at 8 p.m. - - - ■ r&T&a STEPHEN E. POYNTZ; C4a ;,. Hon. Sec. Tenders. F L OWE R S*H O W. TENDERS are invited for the -right, oh a CONFECTIONER'S and REFRESBI MENT STALLinthe Triira Kill bn n lid day of the Hortiririltural Society’s Show. Tenders to close on TUESDAY, Feb. 15th, at noon, addressed to the undersigned. S. E. FOYNTZ, 65a ■ , - iH; rHeaiiSrid i Public Noticds. W o T I AH CLAIMS against the must be sent iti on xw 1 l&f6re v lht ! SI# 1 February, addressed to Post. Aih- 5 burton, or they will not be recognised at* fro ;i : ■■ :-r v r;! z M Jlr Irv .i, . R - stt l . BUTLER, 60a ■! (i 7;i / 'I i\ if WeetdrSeKLi A THE GUARDIAN 1 is puDUaawl every evening, giving up. to the hour of going to press. This is better than buying a sixpenny weekly.'