SHIPPING.

PORT OF LYTTELTON. Arrived. Yesterday. Island City, barque, from Newcastle. To-day. Penguin, s.s., from Port Chalmers. Tararua, s.s., from Northern Ports. Sailed. To-day. Marlborough, ship, for London. Penguin, s.s. for the North. > SHIPPING TELEGRAMS.

Auckland, Yesterday. Arrived —Loch Dee, from London; Richard Owen and Saucy Kate, from Lyttelton; Rhoderick Dhu, from Dune din {Nightingale, from Timaru ; Wild Duck from Napier. Sailed —Sovereign, for Rarotonga. Wellington, Yesterday. Arrived— Tararua, from Auckland, via the East Coast. Sailed—Hawea, for Picton and Nelson ; Endeavor, for Oamaru. Timaru, Yesterday. Arrived —Beautiful Star and Oreti, from Lyttelton. Sailed—Oreti, for Oamaru. Port Chalmers, Yesterday. Arrived—Formosa, barque, from Lon don. Poet Chalmers, To-day. Arrived—Rotorua, s.s., from Mel bourne, via, the Bluff. Sydney, Yesterday. Arrived—rßingarooma, s. s., from Auck land. '

COMMERCIAL.

Ashburton Guardian Office, Monday afternoon. Mr T. Bullock reports for the week ending Saturday, 23rd April, as follows : —At the Bazaar, weekly sale of horses, implements, &c., on Saturday, April 16th, there was a very large attendance of country settlers and others, but the de mand for horses was again very limited. Nevertheless I succeeded in clearing a large proportion of those entered (17 in number) at the following prices, viz., draught horses —L 24 10s, L 24 10s, L 24, L2O, Ll 7 ; light harness horses and hacks —L9 10a, L 8 ss, and Ll 7. Implements— spring cart, Lll; harrows, ploughs, har ness, &c., at satisfactory prices. On the 14th inst., I held a clearing sale of cattle, sheep, horses, implements, &c., at the farm of Mr John Stevenson, near Mount Somers. There was a very good atten dance, of farmers, dealers, and others. The bidding for sheep was very spirited, and tbeyiwere sold at extreme prices. For cattle there were very few buyers, but those, sold realised satisfactory prices, as follows Springing heifers, from L7ss ; eighteen, month old steers, L 3 7s 6d; yearlings, L 3. Sheep—Lambs, 7s 3d ; ewes, 9s ; do. mixed lot, 6s 9d. Oats— Over 1,000 bushels were disposed of from Is Id to. Is 3d per bushel. On the whole the sale was a very satisfactory one. On the 20th inst., I held a clearing sale at Mr George Church's farm, Ashburton Forks, of • the ! whole of his live stock, implements, &c. There was an average attendance, and very satisfactory prices were obtained for all lota offered, as quoted below. Crossbred ewes, 8s 8d ; lambs, .6s 9d ; pigs, L2lO to LI 17s each; springing, heifers, from L 5 15s ; vearlings, LI IDs; horses —light draught, L2O, Ll 6, Ll 5, Ll 5 15s, Ll 6 ; light harness horses, Ll 3 10s ; implements—broadcast sower, LlO 10s; dray and frame, Ll 5 15s, Ll2 10s: horse-power, Ll 3 17s 6d ; roller, L 8 10s ; double-furrow plough, L 9; harrows, harness, sundries, &c., at fair prices. Saturday, 23rd inst., at the Bazaar.—Sale of horses, &c., &c. : There was.an average attendance of buyers. 19 hoVses were entered, but there being few buyerfc, I only succeeded in clearing six at about last week’s quotations; but I hope to see a better demand for horses as the season advances, as farmers have Bearcely commenced ploughing for wheat yet. Land properties : At ray monthly sale, on Saturday, 23rd inst., there was a very spirited bidding for all properties offered, which reminded one of the land sales here in 1877 and 1878, when all lots were eagerly sought after and pur chased. I trust that the cheapness of money will be the means of creating con fidence in the minds of purchasers, so that properties now in the market will soon change hands at satisfactory prices. Properties- sold to-day were as follows : Lot 8, near Tinwald (part of old Railway reserve), containing 20 acres, brought L 8 10s per acre, cash ; lots 2 and 3, East Town Belt, with two-roomed cottage thereon, realised L 12 8; town section 1159, Havelock street, brought L4B ; part of lot 45, Tancred and Allan’s sale plan, near the mill-race, Allenton, sold at L3l per acre ; two sections in Hindhope, each, L7los, L 5 sa. The whole of the above were principally sold for cash, and the prices realised were in every instance satisfactory.

DAILY MEMORANDA.

AUCTION SALES. To-morrow, Wednesday, April 27. Mr. T. Bullock, at Mr William Innis’ Farm, Wabanui —Stock, Implements, &c.; 1 o'clock. Saturday, April 30. Ban Henderson and Co., at their rooms, Saunders’ Buildings Usual Weekly Sale; 12 o’clock. MEETINGS, AMUSEMENTS, &c. To-morrow, Wednesday, April 27. Agricultural and Pastoral Association- Annual Meeting, upper room of Town HalL Thursday, April 28. Public Meeting, re the Railway Engine Shed, Town Hall, 7.30 p.m. Amateur Dramatic Club Meeting of Members, Town Hall, 7.30 p. m. Borough Cricket Club—Meeting, at Mr Andrewea’, East street, at 7.30 p.m. Monday, May 2. Borough Council, at Borough Council Chambers, at 7 o’clock. Wednesday, May 4 County Council, at the County Council Chambers, at 11 o’clock. Winchester School Committee. ,

TRAVELLERS’ GUIDE.

Trains Leave Ashburton' for Christ church and intermediate stations at 6 a.m., 10.30 a.m., and (Express) 5.48 p.m. Trains Leave Ashburton for Timaru AitD South, at 7 a.m., 10.36 a.m. (Ex 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. Trains Arrive at Ashburton from Timaru and South at 10.15 a.m., 5.34 p.m. (Express), and 8.15 p.m.

DEATH.

Stalker. —On April 25, suddenly, at Anama, William Stalker, farmer, Tin wald, son of William and Margaret Stalker, of Wigton, Cumberland, Eng land ; aged 34 years. Home papers please copy.

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prevalebit. TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 1881.

TOWN EDITION. [lssued at 4.30 p.m. j

Football. —The work of preparing the Domain ground for the ensuing football season is now proceeding. A meeting of the club will be held to-night at Messrs Fooks and Sons.

R.M. Court. —The only business before the Resident Magistrate this morning was the hearing of the civil action Hayes v, Gardiner, and in this, in the absence of the defendant, verdict was given for the plain tiff, by default, for the amount claimed— L 8 6s Bd, and costs. Inquest. —At the inquest on the man Rice Foulkes, particulars of whose suicide were published by us in our last issue, the jury returned a verdict that deceased committed suicide whilst in a state of temporary insanity.

A. and P. Association. —The annual meeting of members of the Ashburton Agricultural and Pastoral Association is announced to take place in the upper room of the Town Hall, to-morrow after noon, at three o’clock.

A Missing Chinaman. —An Auckland Press Association message informs us that the Chinese residents at that place are greatly exercised over the disappearance of a Chinaman. The police are under the impression that he has gone into the country to work. Roasted Alive. —At Pittsburg, on Feb 19, Mike Maronay, a workman, entered a core oven to get warm. Some one pushed a large truck of core in and closed the door. Maroney cried out, but the noise of the foundry drowned his voice. When the workmen opened the door they found him roasted to death.

Chinese Importation Pest. —Chinese merchants anticipate an influx of 50,000 Chinamen to Sydney during the present year. They state that the new arrivals bring little or no money, and are a heavy burden on Chinese residents. The Kenmuh Castle brought a hundred and ninety Chinese for New Zealand, and the Crusader is expected to arrive shortly with a further batch.

Amateur Dramatic Club. — A general meeting of the members of this Club is advertised for Thursday next. It is hoped that a good muster of members will be present, as business of an important cha racter will be brought before the meeting, and the final selection of a suitable piece for performance by the Club at an early date will be made.

Timaru Races. Quite a string of racers went through this morning by the express train, en route to the Timaru races, which take place on Thursday and Friday next. They included the follow ing : Mr Prince’s Hilarious and Sir Garnet, Mr Driver’s Sir Modred, Mr Butler’s Luna and The Agent, Mr Lunn’s Clarence and Johnny, Mr Chaafe’s Nau tilus, and Mr Bates’ Hilda and The Poet. Cricket Club. A meeting of the Committee of the Ashburton Cricket Club was held last evening. There was a full attendance, and Mr Andrews occupied the chair. Several accounts were passed for payment, and it was shown that, after preparing the ground for next season, the Club would have a small balance in hand. Some discussion on the subject of a new ground took place, the matter ultimately being left in the hands of a portion of the Committee, to make enquiries and report thereon. The Timaru Suicide. —A verdict that deceased committed suicide whilst in a state of temporary insanity was returned yesterday at the inquest on the young man Nathan. The following is a copy of the letter left by him : —“ 1 person alone knows the true reason of my volun tary death—l wish for what is impossible —yet without this impossibility I cannot be happy—therefore I die.—So ye wise men—bring in your verdict of insanity ; I cannot feel hurt at it. —My pulse is at 75 ; I am quite cool, but feel in a hurry to get off.—l am, as regards religious belief, a believer neither in a personal Deity nor a future state of existence.— H. L. Nathan.” The “Free Lance’’Libel Action.— Wickham, editor of the Free Lance, must be a perfect glutton in the matter of libel actions. He recently grumbled because Mr Rees has only laid some half-a-dozen indictments for libel against him, includ ing both civil and criminal actions, com plaining that W. L. R. might have made up a bakers’ dozen. Now, however, we learn that the interim since his committal has been devoted to further libelous pro ductions, and on one of which, concluding with “ We shall fight for our right to make comments on the actions of Messrs Rees and Hurst, when they affect public interest, to our last shirt and our last shilling,” Mr Rees has instituted an action, alleging that the said article is written offensively, and published for the purpose of annoyance and provocation. A Comparison. Regarding Lord Beaconsfield as an orator, a writer in Harper's Magazine makes the following comparison between the deceased states man and his two greatest living rivals in the art—Gladstone and John Bright:— “ Gladstone is unquestionably the most brilliant orator of the present day— taking voice, manner, action and all into account, as we must in judging of a public speaker ; for impetuous force, flow of varied and vivid expression, quickness in argument, depth of conviction, there is not his equal, perhaps, in any country. But to most thoughtful men, who have listened more than once to the splendid elocutionary outbursts of Mr Gladstone, and habituated themselves in a way to the magnetism of his glowing words, the calm clear eloquence of John Bright would be more convincing. Lord Beaconsfield is hardly to be ranked as an orator, but rather as a subtle statesman, who quietly rises up and presents the most masterly arguments and unexpected shafts of rhetoric with the unconcerned manner of every-day talk.” To this we may add, says a contemporary, that although as an orator Lord Beaconsfield may have had his superiors, there can be no question as to the immense amount of influence which he was always able to command —influence oftentimes of a strange, mysterious kind, that it was utterly impossible altogether to analyse or fathom. He was, in fact, as lias often been said, a perfect sphynx in his political life, and this it was perhaps which gave him a great deal of his mar vellous power as a diplomatist. His gifts in this respect have certainly never teen equalled by any statesman England has ever possessed. '

Borough Cricket Club. A general meeting of the Borough Cricket Club is called for to-morrow night, at which all members are requested to be present. Scholastic. —Master Innis, son of Mr Innis, who was recently Inspector of Fer ment Way at Ashburton, has gained dux prize in the Southland School, out of an attendance of 500. Young Innis was a pupil at the Ashburton school, and was for some weeks a pupil teacher at that institution.

Kepatomatateein. A young girl, daughter of a settler in the Oamaru dis trict, was kept from school one day re cently to assist in the potato field. When she returned to school the next morning, she handed to her teacher a note contain ing the following unique specimen of com position :—“ Kepatomataterin. ”

Sudden Death.. —A very sudden death occurred yesterday at the sale of stock held at the Anama run. Mr Bullock was standing on a dray selling a horse, when a groan was heard behind him, and on going to the back of the dray Mr William Stalker, a farmer, well known and much respected in the Winslow district, was found lying on the ground on his face. Restoratives were applied, and respiration was recovered ; but after sighing heavily two or three times he expired. As Dr. Trevor has been attend ing deceased, and treating him for heart disease for some long time since, and certified to the cause of death as em bolism, no inquest was rendered necessary. Deceased leaves a wife and large family. Fatal Accident's. A fatal accident occurred at Kaiwarra last night. An old settler at Tawa Flat, named W. Peckham, a carter, who was driving home from town, and had to ford the Kaiwarra stream, the bridge being under repair. He, however, mistook the road to the ford, and it is supposed, that in attempt ing to turn back, the horse and cart slipped over the embankment. The cart was found by two men capsized in the stream, and on search being made ,Peck ham was found underneath, life being extinct. Deceased had a nasty gash on his forehead. He leaves a wife and a large family.—A boat containing four men was capsized on Sunday evening in Brick Bay, North Shore, Auckland, being struck by a squall. Henry Drummond and Daniel O’Sullivan weie drowned. Drummond leaves a wife and three children. O’Sullivan was only recently married. James Allan and Joseph Dexgey, both single men, saved them selves by swimming ashore. The police are searching for the bodies, but so far unsuccessfully.

CABLE NEWS.

LATEST FROM EUROPE.

[per reuter’s agency.] From Algeria to Tunis- London, April 25. Intelligence has been received that a French force has crossed the frontier from Algeria into Tunis without op position. The Boer Trouble. Capetown, April 25. News is to hand from Natal chat the demeanor of the rival Boer factions in the Transvaal causes considerable anxiety. The Royal Commission to undertake the settlement of the Trans vaal question will commence its de liberations shortly.

AUSTRALIAN.

[per rbuter’s agency.] Australian Wines. Melbourne, To-day. The Committee on awards of frhte International Exhibition has awarded the Emperor of Germany’s special prize to Messrs De Castella and Rowan, of St Herbert’s vineyard, for Australian wines ; there were thirteen competitor for the prize. The Meteorological Conference. The Meteorological Conference con tinues its sittings. It has been decided to arrange for the exchange of weather telegrams between New Zealand and Australia.

John in the Coal Mines. Sydney, April 25. The miners employed in the New castle colleries have made arrangements for holding a mass meeting for the purpose of considering Chinese im migration, and the employment of Chinese labor in the coal mines. Stopped their Little Game. Sydney, To-day. The police made a successful raid last night upon a Chinese gambling house. Twenty-nine Chinamen, who were taking part in the game, were arrested.

NEW ZEALAND

[per press association.] Destructive Fire. Auckland, To-day. About half past three this morning a fire was observed at the sawmill belong ing to Jaggar and Parker, on the re claimed land at Freeman’s Bay. The fire bells rang, and soon a crowd gathered on the spot, but before being discovered the fire had obtained a firm hold on the build ing, and there was no chance of saving any part of the premises. In a short time the fire brigade was upon the ground, and began to play upon the adjoining premises and stock in the yard, with the view of preventing the fire from spreading. Tho sawmill had a large stock of timber in it, which was all destroyed. The mill and stock were worth nearly L 3,000. The fire was first seen in tho centre building, near the steam engine. Recently the premises and machinery were sold for about L 1,500, and additions have since been made. The only insurance on it is one of LSOO, in the National office, to cover the mortgage. Native Matters.

Some Hauhau natives near Huntly destroyed the fencing and felled some trees on the land of a settler named Hill, whose title they dispute, though held under Crown Grant. The occurrence has no political significance. Tawhiao’s hikaranou meeting is a failure. At no time have more than from 600 to 700 natives assembled, and there has been nothing beyond the customary feasting and nose-rubbing accomplished. An attempt was made to conceal the failure by adjourning until the middle of July. Evidently the King movement is undergoing a process of rapid disintegra tion, and if left alone will evaporate. The leading Kingite natives show a dis position to sell their land, and the Mokio natives consequently withdrew from the meeting, declaring their intention to have no more to do with the stated on good authority that if the money were available no great difficulty would be experienced in getting a railway right through the King country to New Plymouth. The Lands Court has passed another large block through, opening up 90,000 acres hitherto closed for European settle ment. Kingites come in freely to prove their title before the Court. It is esti mated that half a million of acres o* native lands beyond Cambridge, and bordering on the King territory, has been opened for settlement.

The result of the meeting of the northern natives to celebrate the signing of

the treaty of Waitangi, and the opening of Waitangi Pah, was a series of resolu tions affirming the necessity of a Maori Parliament to make laws for Maori people. In these they re-affirra their unflinching loyalty to the Queen, but the memorial declared that “ The Government of New Zealand have milked the cow that was sent by Queen Victoria as a covenent to the tribes of New Zealand. They are those who have deceived us, and that is the cause of the Maori people being so weak and oppressed in the land. This is why it is now asked that the Maori tribes shall be gathered into one sheaf. All our grievances shall be settled by this Parliament. We are to manage things concerning Maori tribes only, and not break the law. The first grievance we felt in these islands has been the pur chasing of land by the ministers who brought the gospel to New Zealand. Their mode of purchase was first seizing land, at that time having no surveyor.”

More Land. Taueanga, To-day. The Native Land Court, now sitting at Gisborne, passed the Maungata block of 190,000 acres, and the Waipu block (No. 2) of 37,000 acres, both in this district, and seld them to Mr Robert Cooper. Defaulting Ratepayers. The Tauranga County Council yester day passed a resolution to proceed to sell all absentee lands which are two years in arrears of rates. This will bring a large area of good land into the market. A Grievance.

The settlers are getting impatient at hearing nothing from the Public Works Department about the much needed Nairuni bridge. And Yet Another. Wanganui, To-day.

A fire broke out in Leslie’s plumber’s shop last night, and the building and its contents were much damaged. The in surances are—Llso on stock and tools in the North British ; L2OO on the building in the New Zealand.

Supreme Court. The Supreme Court opened yesterday. PaulDebruka, for larceny, was sentenced to 8 months, with hard labor ; William Miners, for larceny, to 18 months’ hard labor ; F. Christie, for larceny, to 12 months’ hard labor. The Grand Jury threw out the bill against Hall and his daughter, Christina Goodman, for alleged child murder, the medical evidence not being conclusive.

Direct Home Trade. Dunedin, To-day

A meeting of the Chamber of Commerce was held yesterday, to take into con sideration a letter by Mr Mackerras on the subject of direct steam communica tion with Great Britain. Mr Mackerras brought under notice the advisability of asking the Union Steam Shipping Co. to take steps for the introduction of such class of boats as would meet the require ments of the time. A considerable amount of information was collected, chiefly on importations of soft goods firms, and their desire to avail themselves of such line was shown. On the majority of imports the saving of interest would fully compensate for the higher rates of freight charged by steamer. A sub committee was appointed to wait upon the Directors of the Union Company, and ascertain how far they deem it practicable to establish a line. Found Dead.

A German, name unknown, was found lying alongside the railway, two miles from Clinton, early this morning. The deceased arrived in Clinton on Friday from Oamaru. It is not suspected he met his death by foul play.

ACCIDENT ON THE CHRIST CHURCH RAILWAY.

An accident happened on the railway last night at the Colombo street crossing (says the Press) which, but for the most fortunate chance, might have resulted fatally to several persons. It appears that Mr James Holt, of St. Asaph street, was driving into the city from Sydenham in a trap, which contained also his wife, two other females, and two children. It was nine o’clock, and the night was in tensely dark. When approaching the railway crossing at the point indicated, the road appeared clear, and Mr Holt drove fearlessly through the gates, and saw nothing near him, but w T hen little more than half-way across the lines, the vehicle was struck violently by a railway truck, and the occupants were thrown out. The train stopped immediately when the accident occurred, the engine driver at the rear of the trucks having caught sight of the carriage lamps. But for his pi-omptitude the consequences must have been dreadful oven to think of. The trap was smashed to pieces, but fortunately the occupants escaped with whole limbs. Mr Holt sustained a nasty cut on the side of his face, but was otherwise unhurt. Mrs Holt suffered more severely, being very much bruised about the head, and the other two females were bruised and con siderably shaken ; the children escaped injury. The horse was also unhurt. According to the statement of Mr Holt there was no light sufficient to show any thing moving on the crossing, and there was apparently no one engaged in shunt ing ; but to the promptitude of the engine driver he is anxious to testify. It was a most wonderful escape, and, under all the circumstances, the victims of the accident may be congratulated that it was no worse.

TERMS OF PEACE WITH THE BOERS.

The following official terms of the peace are taken from the Gape Times of the 28th March, dated Fort Amiel, 2Gth March, as transmitted by telegram from Sir Evelyn Wood to the Governor at Capetown : Terms—Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, Empress of India, has been graciously pleased to accord entire self-government, as regards interior affairs, to the Boers recently in arms, who dispersed to their homos on the 25th March, suzerain rights .accruing to Great Britain. In respect to frontier affairs, Great Britain to have control over foreign relations, together with the right of moving troops through the country in time of war ; the transfer of Government to be carried out within a period of six months. With a view to separating the Transvaal from the great Native districts lying east, and for the determination of the easterly boundaries in future, the question of territory will form part of the work of a Royal Commission, which will assemble at once. The Commission will also take into consideration measures for the protection of natives interested. Until the report of the Royal Commission is approved of by the Home Government, the Transvaal will remain under British rule ; a British Resident, with such func tions as may hereafter be approved of, to be located in 'the future capital of govern ment. Her Majesty’s Government guarantee the Boor leaders, individually and collectively, and those acting under their order, immunity from evil process of acts (sic) done in reference to the war, until self-government shall have been re corded. Tho question of compensation on either side for acts not justified by the necessities of war to be remitted to the Royal Commission, which will adjudicate as to what acts come within the meaning of justification. There shall be no molestation for political opinion on either side. The Boer leaders to co-operate with Her Majesty’s Government in bringing to justice those who committed or were directly responsible for acts contrary to the rules of civilised warfare.

SPORTING

SOUTH CANTERBURY J-C. RACES. The following are the acceptances and general entries for the South Canterbury Jockey Club races : Txmaku Cup. —Sir Modred, Hilarious, Rand wick, Natator, Libeller, Lady Emma.

S.O. J.C. Handicap. —Joker, Hilarious, Sir Garnet, Rand wick. The Poet, Libeller, Billingsgate, Lady Emma, Luna. Flying Handicap. —Joker, Hilarious, Sir Garnet, Randwick, Hilda, Libeller, Billingsgate, Lady Emma, Luna. Handicap Hurdle Race. —Sailor Boy, Winfield, Milo, Agent, Clarence. Trial Stakes, —Romeo, Sir Garnet, Joker, Nautilus, Hilda, Prophet, Seven Bells.

LATE EUROPEAN NEWS

[Per s.s. Rotorua, at the Bluff.] London, April 11. The announcement comes from JSew York of a discovery made there of a plot among the Irish Fenians in the city to murder Mr Gladstone. The project is said to have been seriously entertained and to be credited by the New York police, but here the matter is not thought to be genuine. Precautions are, how ever, being taken. An Englishman, travelling in the dis trict of Salonica (European Turkey), has been seized by brigands and carried off to the hills. They demand L 15,000 ransom, and threaten to murder the prisoner if it is not paid. The German Chancellor, Prince Bis mark, has propounded a scheme of boun ties to German shipping, to promote the encouragement of ship-building in the Empire and the extension of its com merce. The plan is similar in principle to the one recently adopted in France, and the idea meets with much support in Ger many. April 12.

Moody and Sankey have announced that they will revisit England in Septem ber next, and that after holding a series of meetings they will proceed to Ireland on a revival tour.

In Hungary the floods have been very severe, and great fears are entertained of the recurrence of another inundation of the town of Szegedin, which, about two years ago, was nearly destroyed from the same cause.

Severe shocks of earthquake are re ported to have occurred in Chili, and also in California, causing much alarm. Miss De Larame (Ouida), the well known novelist, is dead. London, April 13.

At the Land League Conference, held at Dublin, Mr Parnell showed the various defects which existed in the Land Bill of the Government, but he advocated the adoption of no special course. Mr Dillon, and numerous other delegates who are absolutely hostile to the measure, agreed to hold a convention in order to decide definitely the merits or otherwise of the Bill.

M. Waddington has proceeded to Tunis in connection with the recent dispute between the French Government in Algiers and the Bey of Tunis. At the Central Criminal Court, Mrs Susan Wells Fletcher has been sentenced to one year’s imprisonment for unlawfully obtaining jewellery, by means of false pretences, from Mrs Davies. Prisoner represented herself as a spiritualist medium, and by this means succeeded in obtaining valuable property from the prosecutrix at various times.

Mr Dillon, in addressing a meeting, condemned the Irish Land Bill now before the House of Commons, and advocated a measure of reform in refer ence to Ireland.

Outrages continue to he reported from Ireland, especially in the County of Cork. A most disorderly feeling prevails in the western Baronies, where the peasantry have attacked and severely injured a number of process servers, employed to serve the notices of eviction.

Mr Parnell is visiting some of the principal cities in England, where there i. 3 a large Irish population, in order to extend amongst them the principles of the Land League. At Manchester he addressed an assemblage of 5,000, and spoke at length on the condition of Ireland.

April 14. Lord Cranmore, a prominent landlord in the County of Mayo, and who has made himself obnoxious to the Land League by letters to the press on the Irish Land question, has more than once had his life threatened. A woman in the State of lowa announced her determination to attempt the wonderful feat of fasting for forty days, successfully performed some time since by Dr Tanner. She fasted for forty-seven days, but the result was so serious that she died from exhaustion immediately afterwards. R. W. Boyd, one of the leading English oarsmen, has replied to the challenge of Edward Trickett to row over the usual Champion course on the Thames. Boyd expresses his willingness to make the match, the contest to come off in midsummer. April 15.

Owing to the outrages committed by the Boers upon those of their countrymen who during the late war remained loyal to the British Crown, retaliatory measures have bren adopted, and a civil war in. the Trans vaal is now feared. The Pall Mall Gazette remarks in a leading article that tbs practice of per mitting political parties to control the Government departments endangers the existence of popular rule in Australia. April 17.

At a meeting of Irishmen, held at New castle, to discuss the new Land Bill, Mr Parnell, who was the principal speaker, after referring to the Bill which had been introduced in the House, said that Mr Gladstone had made a bond fide attempt to settle the question. The Governor of Candahar, who has been appointed by the Ameer Abdurrah man, entered the city yesterday, and will commence his functions forthwith.

Another engagement has taken place in Basutoland between the colonial troops and the Basutos, in which the latter were defeated with a heavy loss. April 18. A feeling of dissatisfaction prevails in Athens at the recent acceptance by the Greek Ministry of the terms offered by Turkey, and warlike motions have been passed lay the populace at a meeting. The Council of the Province of Samara, in the district of the Volga, Russia, has refused to vote a loyal address to the Czar on his accession to the throne, but de mands popular representation. Other provincial councils will probably follow tho example set by the Council of Samara. England, India, and the Dominion of Canada will be repi’esented at the mone tary conference which is to be held at Paris to-morrow, to consider the silver question.

More Sly-Grog. Charles Lewis, steward of the Te Are Club, Wellington, has been summoned for selling liquor without a license. About a fortnight ago he was fined L2O on a charge of a similar charge. Whisky for the Gods. During a recent performance at the Folly Theatre, Mr Toole, the well-known actor, and lessee of the house, ordered several pails of hot whisky-punch to be made, taken up to the gallery, and tumblers of the drink to be given to each person in that, the cheapest part of the building, so as to counteract the bitter cold of the even ing. He is, in consequence, now by far the most popular actor in London with the working classes.

LISA.

CHAPTER lll.— Continued. Then she sat in the light cart with Bebe, and made oak leaf garlands to wind round the miller’s hat and those of their boy cousins, and the rest stuck branches all round the cart and har ness. When Jacques first caught sight of the mule’s red woollen rosettes, it seemed as if behind her a green bower were coming towards him. ‘ Why did you bring these cousins ?’ he asked Lisa, in an abrupt aside, glancing with small pleasure at the lads of fifteen and sixteen who, with big oak sticks in their I hands, were giving themselves manly airs, now that the first eager chatter and welcomes were over. Then he added, trying to smile, * What do the .children mean to do with those cudgels ? Well ! all are welcome, though I only care for my Lily’s company.’ ‘ And have you not heard the strange gossip of Vaucourt ?’ she was answer ing with earnestnes, yet timidity, fear ing his ridicule, when old Armand broke in, jovial as ever; and looking so well, as Lisa fondly thought, in his Sunday clothes. ‘ Eh ! he ! keep the gossip to give relish to our meal by-and-by. Let us first see the hut, my son, and amuse ourselves finely; then we shall feast, and lastly,’ with a sly laugh, ‘ the old man will dose a little, as on most Sunday afternoons, while the young folk sit by and whisper wise things.’ So they all did as he said, and the little ones, like escaped school children, ran about helter-skelter. Jacques watched them, quietly smiling; yet the veins at times swelled in his fore head.

And Lisa ? Oh ! how happy she was !

Her kind Jacques kept close by her side, calling her attention to every thing ; to the tall poplar there, the spire among the trees, which when the sunbeams touched they knew it was time for work; the spring here that escaped from under a rock in the hill hard by the cabin. Meanwhile, she smiled, looking with such fond pride in his face.

He watdied, so like a good elder

brother, over the little ones, and laughingly asked her, who alone could control B£bd, not to let the child meddle much in the hut, since Nicholas, his comrade, had not so easy a temper as himself. •Of course,’ and Lisa held tight the little urchin’s fat hand; then asked, ‘ And where is Nicholas ?’ ‘ He has left me since some days. The forester thinks he is cross-grained, and may not return.’ ‘Ah ! but that is an unkind speech. No doubt he is only gone for a day or so to some merry-making, and is amusing himself so much he forgets coming back. Why do you laugh so ? Am I not right ?’ For Jacques’ long slit eyes were looking peculiarly at her ; and as she spoke, some inward joke seemed to tickle his fancy immensely, he laughed with such relish. But all he would say was, ‘You are always right, sweet heart. Who ever heard of the Lily of the Mill being wrong?’ Then, when they had joyously gone all round the little meadow, Manon, who domineered over her two cousins, made Pierre, the biggest, light a little fire to roast some potatoes in their brown skins. But first these had to be washed, and some of the children did this while the others gathered sticks. Lisa, meanwhile, moved among them, the sweet spirit who directed all. They laid the cloth, bleached snow white on their own mill-green, in the shade, and out of the cart were brought a big white loaf and large thin pats apiece of golden butter; fine red radishes to give all a flavor, and a tall pewter-topped jug of milk, which Manon rushed to examine with im portant care upon her brow. ‘lt had been so jolted coming up, she almost expected to see it churned.’ Then Father Arman d produced one bottle of red wine, and Jacques another. Pierre screamed that his potatoes were jumping out of their coats with heat, and merrily they all ate.

‘Hi ! ’ said Bebe, with his mouth full of bread and butter, while he grasped a mug of milk and eyed a potatoe already as his very own, ‘ but it tastes good.’ ‘ And now for our strange tale from Vaucourt,’ lustily cried the miller. ‘ Some more wine, Lisa ? You got frightened for Jacques when you heard it, my girl, but look at him now, and say whether a man with those thews and sinews in his arms—ay! and shoulders fit to carry all my sacks, is likely to be set upon by a highway tramp as was this young English doc tor?

‘ The tale goes so—if you have not already heard it. No? Well, a fort night ago a young fellow of an English man, on some foolish walking tour, was coming by the high-road through the forest—thinking of nothing. Pouf! He is attacked by two cowardly black guards—a terrible scrimmage ensues— but at last off he gets, having disabled one and had a hot tussel rolling over on the earth, whilst he and the other fought like wild beasts. He escaped, as I say, and flying on met at last with our good Cure, who, seeing him drop down in a faint, had him taken to Vaucourt. But all senses failed the youth. He lay ill, and nobody could guess who had attacked him. Only a day ago he recovered, and frightened all the womenfolk by his story.’ ‘ But had they come upon us to-day, we should have soon thrashed them, as flails do straw,’ cried Pierre, vaporing, with a sense of manliness.

‘ Pity of them if they had, and pity you have no chance of trying,’ was all Jacques said, with that queer low chuckle, which made Pierre look foolish ; for it was not the loud bluster ing mirth he best understood. ‘ But, dear Jacques,’ shyly whispered Lisa, turning her dark fawn’s eyes up to his, with some fright, ‘ they do say a girl was seen to come from the town by that same forest road —and never came back ! ’ ‘ Then perhaps she went straight on, little one; and may she like wherever she is,’ said 'Jacques, looking steadily back in her eyes. ‘ Come away and talk to me.’

For they had finished eating, and the miller was lying under a tree, smoking and lazily dreaming, being but half awake; while Pierre (because he was almost a man), could not play, laid

stretched flat beside him, with his hat over his eyes.\ Manon, careful soul, had put all the scraps back in the cart, and now, her mind relieved, was run ning with the children, playing cache cache round the stacks of winter faggots. Jacques and Lisa wandered away. ‘ Your hair is silkier and blacker than even the forester’s red-cheeked Jean nette’s —for all her pride,’ he lightly said, touching the tresses where they hid under her snow white cap; then added in a changed, more reverend tone, ‘ but your face is more like Our Lady, as I saw her once looking out from a picture in a gallery at Ghent’ So they talked and wandered a little, somewhat losing sight of the rest. -

But B£b£ wandered too. ■ It was his turn now to be hidden, and jump out like a wolf, which he liked best, for it made his little heart quake when the others surprised hint-, self from some unsuspected bush. Now he would hide far off—quite far—and be distinguished. So he trotted manfully through the trees, till of a sudden the sense of solitude overpowered him, and he re membered the—robbers. He felt inclined to cry. He would run back to Lisa and tell her he did not like it, and that Manon must hide So he did run, and his little wooden sabots seemed to drag him back in his anxiety. Here was a thicket he could not

remember; without knowing' it the child had only run deeper among the trees; but he fancied he saw a way through the branches, so pushed on, . then stopped _ . : Had Jacques been planting anything here? was his first, thought; the brown earth was so soft and scratched and turned up. But there was a hole as if ; a very great big rabbit had been work ing at its burrow-making. There were tracks on the soft mould. The child looked, then seized a stick with a deter mined air, for he would poke it far in and frighten that rabbit, perhaps make it jump out, so catch it in his chubby =- arms. He never guessed what tracks those sharp ones were, but peeped into the burrow. He did . see something that smelt nasty, and without knowing why, poor T Bebb felt rather sick; still, being full of curiosity, he went bh diligently and valiantly poking away the lose earth frbm that protruding something—saw it partly!—and, with a horrified cry, stretched out his little arras and fled, as for his little life.

CHAPTER IV. On ran little Bdb£ through the forest, trying to scream for Pierre ! Jean ! Manon ! —above all his dear protecting Lisa, but gasping for breath so much that his outcries < could not have been heard. Then the sound of Jacques’ voice, far away, calling him, caught the child’s ear ; he stopped, turned, and then tried to run in that direction, though his small knees, were flagging under him, and he stumbled as he went. Nevertheless, as Jacques’ calls came ever nearer, his courage returned a little. As the woodcutter came in sight fatigue made Bdbe run slower and slower, till at last all he could do was to drag his sabots wearily along. Jacques looked at the child, and then, stopping dead short, leant his back against a tree. ‘ Where have you been ? ’ B£bd stood panting in front of the big man, his close-cropped little. bare head, his blue eyes wide, his-sturdy short legs somewhat apart. He could get out no word, yet, however, for those hundred yards he had run, com-* bined with the fright, had left no breath in his little body. Only his round baby face looked up piteously in that of the woodcutter. ‘ What did you see ? ’

Now Bdbd could answer; he gave a final great pant, ‘ A rabbit-hole, the biggest you ever saw—and the rabbit’s tracks—so ! ’ He spread out his five little brown fingers wide, while, awe stricken, his blue eyes grew wider ringed with white.

‘ Hein ! A wolf! How I - should have cried, Beb6, had it eaten you.’ At the deep strange tone and the awful look in those dark eyes looking so queerly and close into his, B£b6, who held the woodcutter in secret but terrible dread, felt his infant heart sink within him. The corners of his rose leaf mouth curled down preparatory to a howl.

‘No noise,’ said the other. ‘ What else?’

‘ Something sticking out; nasty and ' dead ! ’ — Here terror broke down the little man’s dread of Jacques’ last command, and the childish tempest of sobs burst 4 out, while he stuffed the backs of his dimpled fists into his eyes. Such a look, as of a demoniac, came into that man’s face, that it was well for the infant his eyes never saw it.

The child’s neck was so fat and white, creased in little folds! A nervous cruel hand was gripping con vulsively—only gripping the air as yet —while it hung by its master’s side. Just then —well for Beb6, since passions are devils—just then a sweet voice, clear as the angelus, rang through the trees. ‘ Jac-que! Jac-que 1 where are you then, and have you found my Bebe safe ? ’ He caught the child fast in a grip that frightened Bebe into sudden still ness. * Listen, little one. I had a pretty dog for Lisa, but it died, and I buried it there —and the wolf came to eat it. If you tell anyone I will cut that soft little throat of yours with this sharp knife—see ! but if you are good I will give you nice comfits.’ ‘ I’ll—only—tell—Lisa,’ with one last convulsive gasp of terror that could struggle no more, and became almost idiocy at sight of that darkly imbrued hunting knife. ‘ Not Lisa, for she would cry. Not Lisa ! (To be continued.)

THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN, TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 1881.



2ST EW ZEALAND RAILWAYS. (Christchurch Section.) ashbdrton bridge blocked. TOija . pridge will be BLOCKED, for repffiM/6&ja-B/16 oh the nights of April 25th, 27th, and 29th, to 7 o’clock next mornihg in each 'case; FREDK. BACK, Traffic Manager. District Traffic Manager’s Office, Christchurch, April 22nd, 1881. lulum ’ •, : oGGa



Wanted. WANTED, by.'a loung Man, a SITUATION. Can milk, and is willing to mate himself generally useful. Apply Office of this Paper. 601 a WANTED BOARD and RESI DENCE by a single gentleman. Apply Office of this Paper. 603 a ANTED—A Family’s WASHING. Apply, Office of this paper. 178 a rANTED KNOWN That HENRY’S PORTRAIT ROOMS, Saunders’ Buildings, East street, Ash burton, are open DAILY, from 9 a. m. till sp. m. Portraits taken in any weather. Great Reduction in Price. 101 a WANTED TO SELL —PIANOS- H. J. WEEKS, Teacher of Music, Tuner, &c., has for sale the following Secondhand Piano fortes : 1 full-sized Brinsmead, £45; Bord, £25; Broadwood, £26 ; also, American Organ, 5 stops, £3O; 1 Church Harmonium 14 stops, £3O, a bargain. Pianofortes of any kind can be obtained on deferred pay ments. Dresden Model Pianos, £46 and £55. Address: Cameron street west. 86a



~\XT ANTED KNOWN. Ashburton W REGISTRY OFFICE for Male and Female Servants. —L. F. Andrewes begs to inform the public of Ashburton and surrounding districts that he has opened the above. Male and Female Servants of all classes provided. Em ployers requiring servants, and all persons with good recommendations, who are in want of situations, are requested to apply to L. F. Andkewes, Labor Agent, Book seller, and Stationer, East street, South. 208 a WANTED KNOWN SOMERSET LIVERY AND BAIT STABLES. JW, M‘RAE bogs to inform the , public that he has taken the iboye Stables from Mr. Bossenberg, and is making extensive repairs. Buggies and saddle horses on hire. Lowest prices and best attention. 853 TItrANTED THE GUARDIAN tells »V your Wants for Is., cash. Special Advertisements.



NEW ZEALAND Clothing Eactory. ASHBURTON BRANCH.



NOTE THE BRANCH ADDRESS— East Street. W. SPARROW, 369a* Branch Manager.



Encourage local enter prise, & KEEP THE MONEY IN THE PLACE. WANTED—IO,OOO customers to Pur chase 100,000 Envelopes and upwards (just arrived). 1,000, 7s 6d ; 6,000, Gs 9d per 1,000, for Cash. Pianos, Harmoniums, and American Organs for sale on deferred payments, from 30s per month. H. M. JONES, Stationer and Bookseller, East street and Barinv Square. 365 a Hayes’ rpiMBER YARDS. FIREWOOD ! FIREWOOD ! FIREWOOD ! The undersigned begs to intimate to his customers and others that he has made a very large REDUCTION in the PRICE of Firewood, and is now retailing the same at from Thirty Shillings ter Cord, in large or small quantities. ALPHEUS HAYES, Timber Merchant, East street, Ashburton. 608 a



O. Carstens & Co., (Late Weston’s), PROSPECT BUILDINGS, OBACCONIST, FANCY GOODS, AND STATIONERY. Meerschaum Pipes, G.B.D. Pipes Nailrod, Twist, and Vanity Fair Tobacco A nice assortment of Accordions, Con certinas, Flutes, Violins, Mouth Organs, and Toys of every description, direct from Home. Haircutting, Shaving and Shampooing. EAST STREET ASHBURTON. THE GUARDIAN is published everj evening, giving every day’s news, up to the hour of going to press. This is better than buying a sixpenny weekly. 527a*



Special . Advertisements. jyi’R W. M. SPACEMAN'S Offices are now in Canterbury Chambers, Here ford street, Christchurch, next Miles and Co., bavin" REMOVED from Messrs Wynn, Williams, and Deacon’s. 335 a



Holloway’s Pills. —Health or Wealth.— No sane person would hesitate an instant in the choice between these two conditions. Now is the season to secure the former either by restoring or confirming it. These Pills ex pel all impurities from the system'which fogs, foul vapours, and variable temperatures en* gender during winter ; this medicine also acts most wholesomely upon the skin by disgorging: the liver of its accumulated bile, and by ex citing the kidneys to more energetic a:tion jit increases the appetite for food and strengthens the digestive process. The stomach and liver, which most disorders originate, are fully under the control of these regenerative Fills, which act very kindly yet most efficiently on the tenderest bowels, —[Advt.]