A Youthful Parent.— A Wellington paper says :—“ Among the curiositieß of the census returns there is a case, well authenticated, of a girl nine years of age with a child two months old. The report was at first doubted at the central office when the return came in, and an investiga tion was ordered, with the result of establishing.. the tenth. The case is re garded as one of the most curious ever known.” His Repartee. —At the French Bazaar in the Albert Hall, ,a lady was dispensing tea. A solemn gentleman approached and asked the price of a cup. “ One shilling,” replied the lady, and he put down a shilling. Before handing him the cup tha. lady raised it to her lips, and observed, that the price was now a sovereign. The solemn gentleman gravely replaced his shilling with a sovereign, and said, “Be good enough to give me a clean cup.”

[For continuation of reading matter see first page.] •

SHIPPING.

PORT OF LYTTELTON. Arrived. Yesterday. Agnes Jessie, brigantine, from Hobart. To-day. Ringarooma, s.s., from Port Chalmers. Penguin, a.s., from Wellington. Sailed. Yesterday. Westport, s. s., for Oamaru. Elizabeth Curie, schooner, for Pelorus Sound. Vi! To-day. Ringorootna, s.s., for Wellington and Northern ports. Pgnguiu s.s., for Dunedin. SHAPING TELEGRAMS. ,'t, New Plymouth, Yesterday. Sailed, at 10.30—Wanaka, for Nelson •nd ports. Wellington, Yesterday. Aitived —Stella, from Southern light houses ; Hawea, from the South ; Pen guixvifrom Nelson and Picton ; Grafton and Wallace, from Nelson; Zior, schooner, from Dunedin. Port Chalmers, Yesterday. Arrived—Rotomahana, from the North; Thomas and Henry, from Kaipara. Sailed—Martha Reid, for Greymouth.

MAIL NOTICES.

TVfcO" close at the Chief Post Office for the following places (subject to the neces sary alterations) as under : ' Saturday, December 31. For the United Kingdom, via San Frah- of Europe and America, WearThdi6s, Sandwich Islands, Northern Ports! ’, of New Zealand, &c., as as follows Ordinary letters at 6.3o'plin. : late fee letters, at 7 p.in. ; books and newspapers,'at 6 jxtn. ; money order's, at 3 p.iri; | registered . letters at 5 p. m. ; 30,

DAILY MEMORANDA.

; AUCTION SALES. SaTURDAY.DeCBMBER 31. Mr. at his rooms, East street —Leasehold’ Property ; I.SO p.m. Mr TVBullock, at the Bazaar—Horses ; 1.30 p.m. Tuesday, January 3. Matson, Cox and Co., at the Ashburton Yards —Stock. Thursday, January 5. J. T. Ford and Co., at the Tinwald Yards—F#rm Stock and Plant. Tuesday, January 10. Messrs J. T. Ford & Go., at the Spread Eagle Hotel—Farm Stock and Imple ments.

MEETINGS, AMUSEMENTS, &c To-morrow,., Friday, December - 30, ; j. Somerset Lodge, Monthly Meeting, in the Masonic Hall, Tancred street, 7.30, Monday, January, 2. . Winslow Annual Raceaand Sports j. first event at 11.j%.m. : •. a Wakanui Annual Races and Sports. /p,pEap4>Y,,; January 3. Ashburton Permanent Building and In vestment Society, . Monthly Meeting, from 6.30 to 8.30 p.m. Wednesday, January 4. County Council, at the County Council Chambers, at 11 o’clock. Thursday, January 5. Wakanui Road Board—Monthly Meeting, Road Board Office, Moore street L.O.L.—Monthly Meeting, Templar Hall.

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas, et Prevalebit. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1881.

TOWN EDITION. [lssued at 430 p. m. j r

•- The Missing Returning Officers.— The Times special wiring .last night from Wellington says :—I aip told on good authority that the opinion of the Crown Law Officers is that if the Jackson’s Bay returns dJ riot come Do hhrid the Hokitika election will be null and void, arid a new writ will have to be issued- .

Police Court Items.— At the Police Court this morning, before Mr C. P. Cox, J,P., Peter Kennedy made his twentieth .appearance on the charge of drunkenness. His Worship, evidently thinking it was time Peter had a lesson given him, in , dieted, a fine of 60s,- with the alternative of seven days’ imprisonment. The money was not forthcoming. Edward Duggan, alias Donnelly, was similiarly charged. As the defendant had not made his appearance here for a considerable time, he was let off with a caution to mind what he was about. J. Elliott, who did not ap pear yesterday when called, and upon whom the Bench directed a notice to be served calling, upon him, to show cause why his bail should not be estreated, now appeared arid asked to have his case heard. When asked why he was not at the Court yester day, the man said he had fully intended being so, but had fallen asleep and did not wake up until the Court had risen. The explanation was received and the defendant was discharged with a caution. ... Mistaken Kindness. —Why will people act so absurdly at fires ?—Last night a fire, which was almost immediately suppressed/ broke out in Moore street at the cottage occupied by Mr tV. Adams. But, al though it was apparent that the fire would be quickly extinguished, yet a number of people in the place heroically commenced to ransack the larder for the bread and butter, tea and sugar, the teapot and the milk jug, and such things, and pitch them over the fence. These people were in a tremendous state of excitement, rush ing about and nearly upsetting each other in their efforts to got more tea cups and dinner plates to pitch pell mell into the garden. The consequence is that Mr Adams,is probably a greater sufferer by the mistaken kindness of these good people than he is by the fire itself. So well is this craze for reckless removal of goods understood by the Home Insurance com panies that their policies, or many of them, bear a printed notification on their backs, expressly stipulating that in the event of fire nothing is to be removed from the premises. They find it cheaper to stand the risk of having to make good any damage done by fire, than to hold them selves responsible for the damage caused by removal.

Mr McGuire’s Concert. —Mr Philip McGuire announces that he will give a concert on Thursday week at the Waka nui schoolhouse. Excursion to Dunedin. —Particulars of. the railway excursion Khnodiji, the fares and timetable, wilpbe ! found in an other column. Longbbach Road District.— A notifica tion, re the elections for the five wards of the above, will be found elsewhere. Post Office Holiday. —Monday, 2nd January, will be kept as a Post Office holiday, and the offices will open for one hour, only;, namely, from 9to 10 a.m., for sale of stamps and registration and deli very of letters. The Telegraph Office will be open from 9 to 10 a. m. and from 7.30 to 8 p.m. N. Z. Grand National.— A meeting of those interested in the above meeting is called for' Saturday afternoon, at 3 p. m., at iQuill’s Hotel.

Tussocks on Fire. —The clanging ; .of the fire-bell at half-past two this after noon caused a general rush out of doors. Smoke at the top of Cameron street, in dicated the whereabouts of the fire, which was found to proceed from the tussocks on the sections at the top of Cameron street west. Some men had been burning off the tussocks, and the fire got beyond their control. Fortunately, the fire was stamped out before any great mischief was done, the charring of a post and rail fence being about the extent of the damage. The Fire Brigade, with the large engine and twp small hand engines, were promptly on thd spot, but fortunately their services . were not required.

Race Ball. —A Race Ball in connec tion with the Winslow Annual Sports and Rapes, under the auspices of the Race- Committee, will be held in the Mr John Gragg’s grain abed, kindly placed at the dis posal of the Committee by that gentleman, on |the night of the sports.

Borough Council.— Mr Hugo Fried lander being the only candidte nominated baa been elected a member of the Council vicq Mr D. Williamson elected to the office of Mayor. -i I. O". G. T,—A meeting of the Unity Degree Temple wil be held in the Templar Hall to-night. A full attendance is re quested. ¥s**&**???' Tinwald Coal and Depot. —Mr R- S. Bean (late and Co., limited) notifies .that he has taken the coal premises of Mr Joseph Clark, and is now prepared to supply coals and firewood of the best at lowest current rates. Mr Bean is so well known in Ashburton that we have no doubt he will do well. ;

Rand Contests. —lt is suggested in a Wellington paper that, as we have had rifld, football, and cricket matches, we should now have band contests. That it hasj worked well at Home is evident from -thel fact''that one band alone (the Mel botirne Mills'brass band, Yorkshire) in seven yeftrsj earned ho less than L 2,239 in prizes for contests of this kind.

The Ashburton .Rifle Bangs.—A party, consisting of 'members of the Ash burton Rifles, is, we understand, to pro ceed to the site selected next Monday morning, at seven o’clock, for the purpose of completing the work required there, such as erecting targets, firing-platform, etc.; The work was. .commenced last Monday, but in consequdrice of time being lost; in connection witn the preliminary Tyork, very little progress was made.

' Caledonian and Athletic Gathering at Lancaster Park. —The athletic sports at Lancaster Park, Christchurch, on Monday promise to be very attractive. There are twenty-three events, including two; bicycle races, one of one mile and the other of five miles, the prizes for which are L 5, L2, and LI. There is also to be a band competition. We have little doubt that the sports will be largely patronised, for the Committee is one in whose hands the arrangements, may be expected to be perfect. Mr Fish’s Joke.—Mr Pish, of Dune din,! perpetrated a very “fishy” joke on his own name, in his last election address. He said he did not ask the Catholics for their votes—he claimed them as a light, because the elections were on a Friday, and the Catholics were known to prefer Fish on Friday. We believe that this “queer fish” received the Catholic vote, and as the contest was close, it placed him safe in Parliamentary waters. A New Chum Settler. —A story reaches the Mataura Ensign from the Waimea Plains which will bear repeating. A “ new chum ” settler having been advised to plant part of his farm with turnips this year, and to sow gorse seed along the top of a sod fence, proceeded, as he thought, to do so. The ground was accordingly prepared and the seed sown, but to his astonishment he now finds that he; will reap a rich harvest of gorse from his fields, while the sod fence is producing a first-rate turnip crop. “A Bob in.”— Jas. Meagher of the Springston Hotel was fined 40s, and or dered to produce his license for the sen tence to be endorsed upon it St the Christ church Police Courtiyeaterday, for allow ing “ shaking for drinks ” as the landlord expressed it, to take place at his house on the night of Dec. 14.

The Charge of Double Voting Against the Hon. 0. J. Pharazyn.— Charles Johnson Pharazyn was charged with having voted as an elector for the electoral district of Thorndon on Decem ber 9in two polling booths. Defendant conducted his own defence. Mr G. Allan, instructed by Mr Hay, the return ing officer, appeared for the prosecution, under the Corrupt Practices at Elections Prevention Act, 1881. The returning officers! having been exainined as to the committal of the alleged offence, defen pant made the following statement : —On the morning of December 9 I left my home and proceeded to the Tinakori road polling booth* and recorded my. vote in favor of Mr Izard ; thence I proceeded to the Charlotte street booth,‘and voted for Mr Levin. Leaving: in the direction of Te Aro.to vote there, I enquired of a con stable for the whereabouts of the polling' place, I was directed to the old New Zealand Times office. It was about It a.m. A voting paper was there given me by; the returning officer, and I retired into a dark corner and struck out a name, which I now believe to have been Mr Dwan’s. The ; other name I did not observe. I folded up the voting paper, without having observed the second name. It afterwards occurred that there were four candidates for the Te Aro election. I was thinking more of the Wellington South election, and pondering over in my mind whether I should vote for Mr Hutchison or not. I next met Mr Kebble, and in his company went to the Princess Theatre and voted for Mr Coffey. About four o’clock in the afternoon some of Mr C. Johnson’s committee sent me a message, begging that I would go and record my vote. A carriage came for me. Mrs Pharazyn sent back a message that I had already voted. I did not hear the result of the election till the following morning, when I went and congratulated Mr Johnston on his success, and thanked him for sending the carriage, although I would only have been too glad to have walked and voted for him. Mr Johnston said that i must have made some mistake, as I had come out of the wrong door. The whole matter then dawned upon mo that I had mistaken the election booth. It was careless of me, and I deserve a month’s imprisonment for committing so grave an error. (Defendant here made a few sarcastic remarks as to the conduct of the Evening Post <in alluding to the defen dant’s alleged double voting.) Defendant was then formally committed for trial, bail being allowed, in his own recognisance for L 5; .

Tenders. Tenders are invited for formation, metalling, etc., by the. Mount Sxers Road Board. Tenders amßlnvited| supply of 500 loaves of bread or' , per week.

Extension of Licenses.— Messrs Obx and Ward sat this morning as Licensing Commissioners, to receive applications from Mr Harris, Railway Hotel, Winslow, and Mr R. Patten, of the Methven Hotel, for the extension of their Licenses on January 2nd, sports day, Mr Harris’ from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Mr Patten’s from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., it being the intention of the applicants to erect booths at the Methven and Winslow sports grounds. The applications were granted; A Fatal Mistake. —An inquest was held at Gisborne yesterday, touching the death of Dr Percy, who died a day or two ago at his residence. The verdict was—“ That deceased met his death ,by accidentally taking in mistake chloroform instead of cough mixture. ” The funeral yesterday Wda " followed by a large con course of people. Plural Voting.— At the Invercargill Police Court yesterday "a! well known settler named C. R. Martin was charged with plural voting at the recent Parlia mentary election for Wallace. Accused was demanded until the sth Januray, bail being allowed, himself in L3OO, and one surety of Ll5O.

The Reporter’s Life Exposed. —Some wag tells what' he know concerning news paper reporters in the columns of the Chicago Tribune, and here is a specimen ; —“Reporters have an easy life. They seldom go to work before ten o’clock iii the morning! and are. often through with their labors by twelve o’clock at night. A man need not have a classical education in order to be a good 1 reporter, but’ he iririst be able to hustle around some, and hufiip himself where there is a big fire 1 or a" mur der. Reporters can get nearer to a fire than anybody,’ except the firemen, and the new ones do it, but the old heads at the business know better. They stand oh the corner until the fire is out, and then they get a hack atid go to the house of the man who owns the building, and ask him how much the old was worth, and i£he companies will setting it on fire. This is #heri themafj mean and does not open the door for them because he has just got out of bed, arid declines to answer questions. Reporters seldom die early. They are too tough. Perhaps some other time I may tell you more about the re porters. Many of them are married and live happily with their wives,, because they never see them except when they come homo to go to be<jl. ,A drowsy man cannot quarrel iriuch. ” A Patent Dog Killer. —Alb dogs, registered or unregistered, out at : large without a Collar, are seized in Auckland. It is usual (says the Herald) for the owners to explain that the collar has been stolen or simply taken off to give the dog a run, but such pleading is of no avail. The dogs are generally kept for ninety-six hours if valuable, but they can be disposed of in forty-eight hours if of no account. At the expiry of the notice applicants can select any of the dogs to be destroyed on paying Is a day for their maintenance, the cost of advertising and collar, or about 10s fid in all. The owner of the dog, if unregistered, is liable to a penalty of L 5, and can be proceeded against by summons. The dog kennels in which the condemned animals are kept, are two in number, 6ft by 6ft, with doors on the top, in order to prevent the escape of any when the door is opened for selec tion. The process used in destroying the dogs is that of drowning, the old system of poisoning by strychnine being found to be dangerous, and sometimes abortive through the dogs throwing up the poison taken. A 400 gallon tank being filled with water, the dogs are placed in an iron cage which is grated at the bottom, and fits easily into the tank, when it sinks steadily to the botom, being covered by about three inches of water. In this way a batch of a dozen at a time can be “worked off” peacefully and expedi tiously. Mr Goldie is somewhat enthusi* astic over his patent, and, like the inventor of the guillotine, claims to des patch his victims so quietly that they never feel troubled over the business. In fact, some of the dogs, on being removed from the submerged cage, have a puzzled expression about the face, as if they had been treated to a conundrum and had “given it up.” The carcasses of the condemned dogs are carted out to a well known orchard in one of the suburbs, where they find a resting place at the base of the peach trees, the result being, 1 it is alleged, an increase both in quantity and quality of the fruit.

Sanatorium at Rotorua.— We are glad to hear (says the New Zealand Times) that proceedings in connection with es tablishing a sanatorium’ and township at Rotorua are progressing in a moat satisfac tory manner. On Sunday last Dr Hector returned from Rotorua, where he had gone to select a site for a sanatorium, and did so without the slightest difficulty. As for the township and suburban lands, one proclamation under the Thermal Springs Act has already vbeen gazetted, and matters are so forward that Government propose to hold a'firsthand sale in March next. Too much importance cannot be attached to the extension of settlement in the Hot Springs district. Once : the place is made thoroughly inhabitable for inva-' lids, with, of course, indespensable and efficient medical attendance and super vision, the inflow of visitors from all parts will be very considerable and in creasing. Three thousand visitors per annum is a moderate estimate, and that each, on an average, will spend L2O in the district is an equally moderate assump tion. Thus the expenditure of L 60,000 per annum by visitors may be calculated on—much-of it Australian ! gold; Who dare say that the Government venture.in connection with Rotorua does not promise to prove exceedingly profitable ? Next to the settlement of the Native difficulty, we regard the utilisation of Rotorua’s re sources by the Government in the inter ests of humanity as likely to be most beneficial in its.pffecta upon the welfare of the North Island.

“Sometimes the Spirits Work,” &c.— This is how the Harbinger of Light, an Australian spiritualistic paper, “goes” for Miss Eva Fay, the so-called “ medium,” and her friends:—“ We had intimation from a San Francisco correspondent about a month since that H. Melville Fay and Anna Eva Fay were at San Francisco, the latter passing under the pseudonym of Cunningham. These people are purely traders on the credulity of the public, ap pearing either as mediums or exposers of Spiritualism, according to the tone of re ligious ideas prevalent in the places they visit. Under the heading of ‘ Australians Beware ’ we find the following in the Banner of Light for October 8, the lead ing Spiritual paper in America: —‘ Infor mation reaches us that the notorious Fay- Braddon combination (?) purpose at an early date to start from San Francisco on a tour to apd through Australia. H. Melville Fay (under an alias) and Mrs Anna Eva Fay (who we are told now pur ports to be the wife of 0. C. Braddon, the “religious” man of the troupe) are along with them, our correspondent affirms, and people of the United States, as well as England, know them pretty extensively for what they are. We sin cerely hope the Harbinger of Light , and other papers in Australia will be on the alert, and at once, on the arrival of these parties at any place in the colonies, put the public on its guard concerning them as arrant imposters, and that the Spiritual ists of that country will join in the good work of making Australia “ too hot to hold” them.’”

Amateur Dramatiq<Jß©Ob. —A meeting vllkjies place to-night dptb® above to make [lfTfangements for tn£[benefit to Mr C. Bourk. All are particularly re quested to put in an appearance. 1 Ibotting Match. — A trotting match between Farquhar M‘Kenzie’s (Ash burton) Brigham Young, and Mr George Graham’s (Dromore) Doctor’s Maid, takes place this evening at 7 o’clock. The course will be on the main road, about two miles beyond the racecourse, and the distance will be two miles. The stakes are L2O a-side.

CABLE NEWS

LATbST FROM, EUROPE.

[per reuter’s agency.] Irish Affairs. London, Dec. 28. A proclamation has been issued by the Irish executive declaring that the posting of notices to quit will hence forth be deemed a good service in the disturbed districts. The Anglo-French Treaty. Sir Charles Dilke, Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs, has left for Paris to join in the Anglo-French Treaty nego tiations which are now proceeding in that city. Joined the Majority. Obituary—Sir Robert Lusk, one o the; Lords Justices of Appeal, aged' 74.' Wool Sales. The total probable quantity of wool to be opened at ; the next including the amount held over ftdtn the last sales, is 350,000 bales'. The Khedive’s Sentiments! Cairo, Dec. 27. An Egyptian Assembly of notables met to-day, and was opened by, the Khedive, who, in a speech on the oc casion, , urged': the consideration of a moderate programme as a means of in struction towards progress.. His High ness further advocated due. respect, to the International obligation of the State. .■ Diplomatic. ! Vienna, Dec. 28. Diplomatic relations between the Austrian and Roumanian Governments have been resumed, the latter' having apologised for its policy adopted in re gard to]the navigation of the Danube.

AUSTRALIAN

[per - beutbb’s agency.]

Legislative Council Appointments. Sydney, Tprday,

, It is announced that the following gentlemen have been appointed mem* hers of the .Legislative Council of New South Wales :—Messrs Sutherland, Brodribb, Webb,; Terry, Alderson, Joseph Cadell, Mbrii, Macintosh, Lee, Sytter, Rundle, and Roberts. Another Banquet. A grand* banquet was held in honor of Sir Henry Parkes last night. Over 2,000 persons were present, and the affair was a great success. In His Shoes. It is announced that Sir John Robertson returns to the Ministry as Secretary for Lands, vice James Hoskins, and that he will perform the duties of Colonial Secretary in the ab sence of Sir Henry Parkes. Interrupted. Melbourne, Yesterday. The Australian overland telegraph line is interrupted between Port Darwin and Adelaide. A violent thunder storm and hurricane which passed over Central Australia are supposed to be the causes of the interruption. Home Letters. Arrived —P. and O. Company’s steamship Surat, with the inward mail via Suez and Brindisi, dated London, November 18 th. Shipping. Sailed, this afternoon —Te Anau, s.s., for the Bluff. A Correction. The Merchant Shipping and Under writers’ Association, through whom the original telegram was received, now report that it was the ship Portland, from Timaru to London, and not the Waipa, which went ashore at Dunkirk on the 22 nd instant.

TELEGRAMS.

[per press association.] Church Bazaar. Auckland, To-day. The bazaar in aid of the new Catholic Ohqrch his already realised L6OO, and Ll6O more are expected. A Candidate in Trouble. Gordon, one of the defeated candidates for Franklyn North, was summoned to-day for neglecting to supply a list of scruti neers employed by him during the elec tion. The Court reserved judgment. The Raid on tie-. Auckland growers- At the Police Court this morning Donald Watson, brewer, was -fined L2O, and costs L 23, for neglecting to date beer duty stamps. Several publicans were fined 20s, and* costs, for neglecting to efface the* beer duty stamps. Two or three of the prosecutions fell through, and the Customs’ solicitor gave notice of appeal. Death of a Bushman. Thames, To-day. ■ James Pergusson Grant, bushman, died suddenly. The coroner’s jury’s verdict; was “ Death from heart disease.” A Letter from Tawhiao. 1 New Plymouth, To-day.

Mr Parris has received a letter signed “ King Tawhiao,” requesting him not to listen to any of the proposals to have a Land Court at Mokau, as he (the King) is opposed to it. The Latest trom Pungarehu. Pungarehu, To-day. Oxato station was broken up yesterday; not one man was left behind. They were all transferred here. The men are still continuing the work of devastation. About 500 acres are now destroyed. Some men to-day have taken sacks with ■them to be filled with potatoes for the different company messes.

DEATH OF MR MELLISH.

A telegram from Christchurch in forms us that Mr G. L. Hellish, R.M., died at 4 o’clock this morning. He had been ill for a long time.

A SCHOONER ASHORE.

[by telegraph.] Christchurch, To-day. The schooner Elizabeth Conway is ashore at Cape Campbell, and is fast breaking-up. No lives are lost.

OBITUARY.

Mr George Lilly Mellish*:

Our telegrams to-day inform us of the decease of this gentleman, who has held the position of Resident Magis trate for Christchurch district for some years past. Mr Mellish was formerly a fcaptain in the army, and, having retired, came out here about twenty years ago, and started sheep farming in this district. He took up the run known as _Lake Heron, about thirty miles above Mount Somers. Some few years afterwards he was appointed as Resident Magistrate for the Kaiapoi and North Canterbury districts, which position he held for about twelve years. After the retirement of Mr C. C. Bowen, he was appointed for Christchurch and surrounding districts, which post he held up to the time of his death. During the last two or three years he has been suffering from ill-health, caused by over work, and his constitu tion appeared to be thoroughly under j minded. He obtained leave of absence last year for a few months, and visited Australia, after which he took his position on the Christchurch Bench, very much better in health apparently. Mr Mellish was very much respected by those who knew him, for many acts of public as well as private kindnesses; and for the manner in which his official duties were discharged, the public generally will have nothing to complain of, as in every case that came before him his careful consideration and anxiety for fair play and justice were features of his judicial administra tion. Mr Mellish leaves a wife and small family to mourn their irreparable loss.

SOUTH RAKAIA ROAD DISTRICT.

The annual general meeting of the rate payers of the district was held in the Board Office, yesterday at 10 a.m. Mr C. N. Mackie, Chairman, was the only member of the Board to put in an ap pearance, The following ratepayers were present Messrs J. Mann, A. Makaig, T. A. Winter, W. Cox, 0. Tucker, G. Shellock, C. Hardy, G. Murdoch, S. ’ Oxley, and J. Lamparde. The annual report was read containing a summary of all works executed by the Board during the past year. From this it appeared that the Board thought it ad visable to. let a great portion of repairs to roads by contract, and had tried the ex periment by letting sections of the roads for six month at per mile, to be kept in good order and repair. This system was new ,as yet, : and contractors in this district diffident in taking work of this kind, not knowing ; what to tender for. But the Board had every reason to believe that it will: be the most economical method of keeping the roads in repair, and plenty of: men found to tender for the work when it becomes better known. At the request , of a number of settlers two lines of roads have been laid off across Native Reserve No. 2058 j and the Board has taken steps in accordance with clause 21, part 2, of the Public Works Act, 1876, to acquire land for same. These roads would doubtless be of great benefit to the resi dents in the lower portion of the district. A new line of road had also been laid off through W. A. Brown’s old farm near Ohertsey, thus giving the settlers a nearer and more direct road to that township in the grain season. Several streets and footpaths had been formed in the Rakaia township, and other works executed which cannot fail to benefit the residents and improve the value of properties. The report went on to state that the dis trict possessed a water supply which is very far superior to anything that could have been achieved in the way of boring, and which the district has every reason to be proud of. The Road Board deeming this work of vast importance to the wel fare of the district, decided to grant the sum of LSOC towards the construction of crossings in connection with the water races, and great praise was due to the County Council for the very satisfactory manner in which this work is being car ried out. The district from the hills to the sea will possess one of the grandest water supply schemes in the colony of New Zealand. With reference to the damage caused to fences and property in the district by storm-water, the Mount Huit Board had, the report continued, submitted a scheme for dealing with the water, which the Rakaia Board approved provided the cost of the work was fairly divided between the'two Boards and the County Council, the latter body carrying out the work. The estimated cost of the proposed scheme was L 3,000. The following synopsis of accounts was also read Receipts and expenditure.— The receipts have been small. The in terest account, which ought to have shown LSOO 5s 4d, only shows L 175, owing-to the sum of L 7.000 not being deposited for one month after falling due, namely, from Pec. 20, 1880, to Jan. 19, 18811 It will consequently have to show in next year’s accounts. But, including this item, the receipts for the year amount to L 2,844 9s Id, and expenditure to L 2,438 17s 2d, showing with cash to cur rent account, and L 9,000 to fixed deposit account, funds in the hands o f the Board of L 10,424 18s 4d to commence the next financial year with. New roads formed during the year 1881.—There have been thirty-two miles ten chains and forty three links of new roads formed during the year 1881, a*, a total cost of L 1,667 16s 3d—this without any of the re-form ing contracts completed, or in course of completion. We have now in this dis trict 116 miles of roads formed, including about fifty miles of metalled. There have been no roads metalled during the year just expired. The amount paid for main taining roads already made in the district amounts to L 570 16s 8d for the past year. The amount expended in improvements in the Rakaia township for the twelve month amounts to LlB2 15s lOd. General Expenses —Advertising and printing is a very small item of expenditure, con sidering the amount of work done and which must necessarily be advertised for —viz., L 45 2s sd. The amount of gene ral expenses, including insurance, office, horse feed, etc , amounts to L 124 18s Id. Total for general expenses, Ll7O 0s 6d. The balance-sheet was adopted.

A NEW GAME OF BILLIARDS.

A new American game of billiards, called “ Red, White, and Blue,” is thus described : —The game consists of three pin-pool pins painted red, white, and blue, two of which are placed on the spots at each end of the billiard table, and the third one directly in the centre. Three billiard balls are used in the game, which are also red, white, and blue. The red and white balls are placed against the lower end cushion, directly at the point where the “ nails” nearest he corners are, and the player shoots with the white ball from inside the string. The privilege of the first shot is determined by throwing out small balls with numbers on them, the smallest number shooting first, and so on in rotation, always shooting with the white balls. The game consists in knocking down the blue pin with the blue ball, the refTpin with the red ball, and the' white plfl'with the white ball j |

Mu.fePa!'™’ no difference which is r|gis»gra "’adwii first. If a player knocks down a pin with a ball of a dif ferent color than the pin, he is “ bdrsted,’? and has to begin anew, no matter if he had the other two pro perly downed. Five cents is charged for each man entered, and also each “ burst”

BOWLED OUT.

A grave scandal is disturbing one of of the most substantial German societies in New York, which has a museum and a curator of its properties. This curator had two convivial friends, who were recently obliged to throw them selves upon his hosp'tality. THerules of the society forbid the harboring of strangers in the building, and at ten o’clock every night a near-sighted trustee was accustomed to make the rounds of the building. The difficulty was solved by the ingenious curator, who finally persuaded his guests to personate respectively a Poly nesian idol and a newly-arrived mum my. The Polynesian idol passed the inspection of the myopic trustee suc cessfully, but the mummy was unfor tunately taken with a violent fit of hic coughs at the very moment the inspec tor was congratulating the curator on its excellent preservation. The curator has accordingly been asked to resign.

THE ASHBUBTON GUARDIAN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1881.



TT) D. M O N K’ S ORIENTAL BILLIARD A&D REFRESHMENT SALOON is NOW OPEN DAILY. Tables by Alcock and Thurston of the highest quality. Carved in solid walnut. gSr Come and see one of the FINEST BILLIARD SALOONS In the Colony. FLEMING’S BUILDINGS, TRIANGLE Next A. Wilson, Tobacconist, 725 c Christchurch. FW ZEALAND LOAN AND MERCANTILE AGENCY COM PANY (LIMITED). AN AGENCY has this day been OPENED at Ashburton, with Mr Walter B. Moss in charge. TEMPORARY OFFICE — CORNER OF WEST AND HAVE LOCK STREETS. JOHN COOKE, Manager. Christchurch, October 1, 1881. 782 c Christmas Presents , ■ AND , NEW YEAR’S GIFTS. JUST Received, a Choice Assortment of Christmas 1 and New Year Cards, Dolls, Humming Tops, and Shell Goods in great variety. Letts’ Diaries f0r,1882 Family Reader (div. 42); Boys’ Standard (new series) ; Latest Novelties in Pipes. F. CLARK, Hairdresser and Tobacconist, Montgomery’s Buildings. 319 d O. Carstens & Co., , • (Lax* Weston’s), PROSPECT BUILDINGS, TOBACCONIST, FANCY GOODS, AND STATIONERY. Meerschaum Pipes, G.B.D. Pipes Nailrod, Twist,; and Vanity Fair ..Tobacco , A nice assortment of Accordion*, Con certinas, Flutes, Violins, Mouth Or jans, »rwl Toys of every description, direct from Home'. V Hair cutting, ■ Shaving • and Shampooing^ BAST STREET ASHBURTON. , ' 257a* P John Meech, RACTICAL CABINETMAKER, UPHOLSTERER, &c., URN ET T STREET, Opposite the Mail Office. gy Chairs, Couches, English and :}cah Chairs, Single and Double Iron jVood Bedsteads. [ kinds of Carpeting, Matting, and jth. A large assortment of Repps Iretonnes at lowest prices. Suites of itora from Ll 3 and upwards. All I of furniture re-covered and repaired 3 "very lowest prices, ttfork guaranteed and completed at iortest notice. Furniture exchanged, lighest prices given for second-hand te : the address —Cheapest House m orton, opposite Mail Office, Burnott



Wanted. WANTED— To men highest harvest bonus will be giveqSfl . r-i • , JOHN - G BIGG, \, 443 d ' Kn^eachr^ ■\T7" ANTED—NAY VIE S. Apply' at V\ the Railway Works, Little River, to Jesse Coates. 459 d WANTED— A goodgeneral SER 7 ANT. Wages £34 per annum. Apply, Miss Cax-ligan, Tancred street, Ashbur ton. j455d VjfTANTED Two MACHINES, to VV Thresh Nine Hundred (900) Acres of Wheat each. Tenders will be received by the undersigned till 7th JANUARY, 1882. Machine to find all men. 429 d H. T. WINTER. •TTTANTED KNOWN—A GRAND YY BALL will be held in Mr Clark’s Grain Store, Tinwald, on MON DAY, January 2, 1882. Tickets, 2s 6d each ; ladies free. 445 d WANTED KNOWN — Mrs Hender son, Dressmaker, Burnett street, near Catholic Church. Ladies’ Dresses made from 5s fid. Apprentices Wanted. WANTED KNOWN — If you want to Grow a splendid crop of Turnips, Purchase some of Mayo’s Bonedust. — Address F. Mayo, Hamstead Mills. 255 d WANTED KNOWN—During the Christmas Season, FRTEDLaNDER BROS, are selling NEW FRUIT, NEW FRUIT, Currants, 6£d. } Elemes, 7d ; Sultanas, 8d ; Candied Peel, Is 6d ; Best Butter. fid; and General Groceries equally cheap lor Cash. 318 d anted" KNOWN.— SPRING AND SUMMER MILLINERY, MISS VERRALL is now . Showing her First Display of .Spring Millinery- Co lombo street (opposite Cookham House.) . ■■■■; ; ■ 827 c WANTED KNOWN—That Robert Elston;, Burnett strebt, Ashburton, having procured the Newest'Apparatus, is , prepared to SWEEP CHIMNEYS at very low rates. - Any orders left at the Town Hall will receive- prompt attention. *0: : ■ 7600 Special Advertisements.



The be£t value for ready MONEY IS THE . MEN’S AND BOYS’ CLOTHING MANUFACTURED BY THE NEW ZEALAND Clothing Factory;, Which.can be, purchased at thqir. Retail Branches all over New Zealand. A SINGLE GARMENT AT THE WHOLESALE PRICE. Thousands of discerning customers testify' that" the New Zealand Clathing Factory’s Garments are the very best for ready money. Ashburton Branch ; East Street. . W. SPARROW, 692 c Branch Manager.



The compliments of the SEASON. Heads of Families, and all who wish to obtain suitable articles for Christmas Presents AND NEW YEAR’S GIFTS Are respectfully invited to inspect the unrivalled assortment of Toys, Fancy Goods, Christmas and New Year’s Cards, etc., just opened up by the undersigned. Also STATIONERY. Plain and Fancy Note Paper and Enve lopes, Account and Memorandum Books, School Books, etc. An extensive stock to select from. Schools liberally dealt with. H. M. Jones, EAST STREET AND BARING SQUARE. Pianos, Organs, Harmoniums, and all kinds of Musical Instruments on Deferred Payments. A quantity of SHEET MUSIC very cheap. 1 Lowest Prices for Cash. 293 d riS LORDSHIP’S LARDER. THE ONLY ESTABLISHMENT IN THE j - WORLD WHERE 4 GRILLED CHOP OR STEAK, !!!* ' And A (jILASS OF BASS’ ENGLISH ALE, '*’■ Can be obtained FOR ONE SHILLING. THE BEST SIENU TO CHOOSE FROM , j IN CHRISTCHUBCH, Dnejqualled Accommodation for Ladies. i _ Dinners, Banquets, Ball Suppers,. Wedding Breakfasts, and Picnics , pro vided for, in the very best possible style., 360 q W. H. MESSENGER, Purveyor. undersigned will ,be prepared, during the coming season, ,td supply' be following articles at the lowest rates REAPERS and BINDERS . EKTKAS for DO. BINDING WIRE, CORN" SACKS • TURNIP and RAPE SEEDS PLOUGH SHARES Apd all kinds of Agricultural Imple | ikeiits. , l ; FREDK. PAYITT, ci>BN Merchant, &c. , Ashburton. Agent for John Anderson, Canterbury Foundry, Christchurch; Geo. Booth and Sons,’ Importers of : Agricultural Imple ments, Christchurch; and Agent for the United Insurance Company. 150 d Back from the front.—The scare at Parihaka is over; our vo lunteers have proved themselves equal to the j occasion, and although no fighting was done, they were the “ boys” to do it had lit been required; a brush with the “ blackfellows ” was what they went for. Nevertheless they did a good deal of hard tramping up hill and down dale; and the astonishing fact is that most of them, having been provided with STOUT BOOTS from C. HAWKINS’ never-to-be excelled Boot and Shoe Warehouse, came back with their “ understandings” nearly as good as when they left this go-ahead little township. Try C. Hawkins’ Shop before you go elsewhere. 998 c WASTE PAPER for Sale, 2d'per lb., at: the Guardian Office.



F A «1 \ 450 d Special Advertisements. 1 of the ,;?owner leaving, tiife district —A four ifljbpl&eci COTTAGE, with half an • ! Acre of land, in a good position. !:; POYNTZ & CO. o T C E In order that the Staff may enjoy a little relaxation like their neighbors, The Ashburton Guardian will NOT BE PUBLISHED on MONDAY NEXT, January 2. W. H. ZOUCH. Guardian Office, Dec. 28, 1881. Tinwald coal and firewood DEPOT. K. S. Bean (Late of Montgomery and Co., Limited), Having taken the Coal Premises of Mr Joseph Clark, begs to return his thanks for the support he has received since commencing Business as above, and hopes by attention and civility, combined with the Lowest Prices, to still merit their sup port. Agent for the Springfield Coal Com pany. Coal, Firewood, Post and Rails, Stakes, etc. • , Orders taken for Bricks, Cement, Lime, Timber, etc. 467 d



MUSIC DEPOT. ASHBURTON BRANCH. Milner & Thompson Desire to inform the residents of Ash biirton and surrouhding districts that they have appointed Mr II- M. JONES their Stile Agent for this district, and invite inspection of the Instruments, Music, &c., npw, displayed in the SHOW. ROOM,’ above Mr Jonea ! Shop; > 'PIANOS by all the best makers— Broadjtvo.od, Collard and Collard, Erard, Pleyel, Bord, Challen and Sons, Ascher burg, Lipp and Sohn, Chappell, Ronisch, Bechstein, Kapp, and others. ' Sole Agent for John Brinsmead’s Gold Medal Pianos. Specialities Our Dresden Model Pianos, which took First Award of Merit at the Ashburton Exhibition, from £35 to £55. ■Harmoniums and Organs, from £7 10s to £SO.



Concertinas, > Accordians , . Violins, Flutes, and all other kinds of Brass and Stringed Instruments on hand. ; Any orders for Books, Music, or Instruments ; not in stock here can; be supplied from our Christchurch establish ment by, first train. ■ ‘The above Instruments, can be pur chased on Deferred Payment from 20s per month. ! Orders for Tuning , executed by a first-class professional. Pianos on Hire. ■ r. ■ . . ■ 770 c ITT ANTED, a Good 1 ENGINE DRIVER W to drive a Hornsby Threshing Ma chine. , None but experienced workmen need apply. S. Brown, Central Hotel, Ashburton. 471 d AVING ASHBURTON. GIVING UP BUSINESS. EVERETT BROS. Will on Saturday, December 3, commence A GREAT CLEARING SALE Of their new and well-selected Stock of GENERAL DRAPERY, And to effect a speedy clearance will, in addition to the already very low prices, offer, as an extra inducement, a DISCOUNT OF TEN PER CENT. The Shop To Let. The Fixtures, Fit tings, &c., For Sale. NOTICE TO ADVERTISERS. All orders for insertion of advertise ments must be written legibly on the face of the advertisement. When no order is given the advertisement will be inserted until countermanded, and charged accord ingly. All notices of Births, Marriages, or Deaths must be accompanied by the sig nature of the sender, as a guarantee of good faith. All advertisements and business letters to be addressed The Manager ; literary communications should be addressed to The Editor. ,



Authors are spoken of as living in at tics, because so few are able to live on their first story.



Meetings O . M E R S B T LODGE. The ReguHr Monthly MEETINGr of this Lodge will be held TO-MORROW EVENING, at 7.30, in the Hall, Tailored street. Visiting Brethren in- f vited. 1 Business—lnstallation of Officers by \ I the V.W.D.D.G.M., Bro. H. Thom- ’ son; after which a Banquet will be „ given. By order of the W.M., GEO. F. HENRY, 461 d Hon. Sac. 10. G. T.—A Meeting of the Unity * Degree Temple will be held in the Templar Hall TO-NIGHT. A full at tendance of Members requested. By order. -« 468 d DEGREE TEMPLAR. | Amateur dramatic club.— Meeting TO-NIGHT, at 7.30, at Town Hall, to make arrangements... for forthcoming Benefit for C. Bourk. All Members specially requested to be. , present. 469 d a RAND NATIONAL STEEPLE CHASE. A Meeting of Gentlemen interested in the above event will be held at Quill’s Commercial Hotel, on SAT JRDAY, Dec, 31st, at 3 p.m. 470 d RANGITATA ROAD DISTRICT. The ANNUAL MEETING of RATE PAYERS will be held at the Lismore Schoolroom, at 11 a.m. on TUESDAY, January 3rd, 1882, and an ELECTION to fill the vacancies caused by the retire ment by ballot of Messrs Trevor and Morrow (who are eligible for re-election) will be held immediately afterwards, and f the Poll, if necessary, taken between 12 ■ [_, noon and 4 p.m. on same day. J. C. BELL, Clerk to the Board. 20th Dec., 1881. 381'd jy|-OUNT SOMERS ROAD DISTRICT, The ANNUAL MEETING of RATE PAYERS will be held at the Road Board Office, Mount Somers, at 11 (Eleven) a.m. oh THURSDAY, the sth day of January, 1882. After the Election of Two Mem bers will take place to fill the vacant seats of Messrs J. E. Taylor and A. B. Peaohe,? 1 who retire by ballot, : but who are eligible for re-election. A poll, if demanded, will take place the same day, and close at 4 p.m. ' 1 C. J. WENTWORTH GOOKSON,



Returning Officer for the Mount Somera 384 d Road District. HUTT ROAD BOARD. The ANNUAL MEETING of Rate payers will be held at the Road Board Office, Methven, at 11 a.m. on THURS DAY, the sth day of January, 1882, to Elect Two Members in the place of Edward Chapman and John Avis Pannett, who retire by rotation, but who are eligible for re-election. Nominations will be received up to 12 o’clock noon. A Poll, if demanded, will be taken on Wednesday, the 11th January, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., at Sohoolhouse, Barthill, and' at the Road Board Office, Methven. W. B. COMPTON, 402 d Returning Officer. w AKANUI ROAD DISTRICT The ANNUAL MEETING of RATE PAYERS will take place at Moffat’s Mill, on JANUARY sth, 1882. Business — To receive Balance-Sheet, etc., and to Elect Two Members in the room of Messrs James Brown and David Wilson, who retire by rotation, but are eligible for re-election. A Poll, if required, will be taken im mediately after the nomination, and close at 6 p.m. C. C. FOOKS, Returning Officer. District Office, Dec. 17th, 1881. 373 d THE following ACTS, passed last Session, can be obtained at Pub lished Prices at Office of this Paper Corrupt Practices Prevention Fencing Regulation of Elections Representation Canterbury Rivers Amendment Public Reserves Property Tax Gaming and Lotteries Volunteer Property Assessment Act Amendment Licensing.