SHIPPING.

PORT OF LYTTELTON. Arrived. . SATURDAY. Stella, C.G.S., from Dunedin, via Coast lighthouses. Yesterday. Cleopatra, brigantine, from Greymonth. Sailed. Saturday. Mabel, barque, for Newcastle. Stella, C.G. S., for Wellington. Yesterday. Cutty Sark, schooner, for Auckland. Awaroa, schooner, for Greymouth. SHIPPING TELEGRAMS. Auckland, March 26. Arrived —Defiance, from Dunedin. Aratapu, from Lyttelton. Wellington, March 26. The a.B. Wakatipu has arrived from the South, and sailed for Sydney. Penguin, from Picton. Timaru, Yesterday. Sailed—Pelican, for the Coast ; Enter prise, for Wellington ; Good Templar, for Dunedin; Margaret Galbraith, ship, for London.

COMMERCIAL.

Ashburton Guardian Office. Monday afternoon. _ Mr Alfred Harrison reports of his Saturday’s sale as follows :—There were a large number of draughts and hacks entered, and a fair proportion were placed at moderate prices, from Lo to Ll 5 ; several first-class draughts being sold privately after the sale. The pigs were all sold-as follows : 1 at lls, 3at 30s, 4 at 9s, 4 at 8s 6d, 2 at 325, 6at 7s 6d. Fowls, 2s 6d to 3s per pair; ducks, 2s 9d to 3s 3s ; 1 cow, L 4 5s ; 1 dray, L 6 12s 6d ; chick wheat, Is 6d to Is 9d per bushel; barley, 2s per bushel ; carrots, L2 per ton ; onions, id per lb ; potatoes, L2 10s to L 3 10s per“tou ; apples, 5s 6d per case ; 121 b boxes tea, 23s ; cheese, 3£d to 41b per lb. There was a large attendance, and: the sale continued to a late hour.

London Wool Sales. The following telegram has been re ceived by the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, dated Lon don, March 2oth 'The sales closed firmly. The sale programme has been cur tailed by one day. The total quantity sold during past sales is 260,000 bales 160.000 bales have been taken for export; 350.000 have been held over for future disposal Combing washed, clothing washed, scoured, superior greasy and coarse washed crossbred have declined Id per lb. Superior clothing washed has declined Id to l-|d per lb., and medium and inferior greasy, coarse greasy crossbred, fine washed crossbred, and fine scoured crossbreds have declined £d to Id per lb since close of last sales. The market for fine greasy crossbred is unchanged. The next sales will com mence on the 10th May, and will include 350.000 bales fresh arrivals, and 35,000 bales old stock.

MAIL NOTICES.

Mails close at the Chief Post Office for the following places (subject to the neces sary alterations) as under : Tuesday, March 29. For Northern. Ports and Fiji Islands, per Wanaka, at 1.40 p.m,; late fee letters, 2 p.m.; guard’s van, 2.30 p.m. train. For Wellington and Northern Ports, per Wanaka, at 3.15 p.m. ; late fee letters until 3.30 p.m. ; guard’s van, Lyttelton train, 4 p.m. train. For Otago and Australian Colonies, per Te Anau, at 1.40 p.m.; late fee letters at 2 p.m.; guard’s van 2.30 p.m. ; train. The next mail for the United King dom (via San Francisco) will leave on April 23rd. Mails close at the Ashburton Post Office, as follows: — For Christchurch and North at 5.30 a. m. 10 a.m., and 5 p.m., daily. For Chertsey Rakaia, &c., at 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily. For Dunedin, Tinwald, Winslow, Hinds, Coldstream, Rangitata, Orari, Winchester, and Geraldine, at 10 a.m. daily. For Temuka, at 6 a.m. and 10 a.m., daily. For Timaru and South, at 6 a.m., 10 a.m., and 4.20 p.m., daily. For Greenstreet, Ashburton Forks, Mount Somers, and Ashburton Gorge, on Tuesdays and Fridays, at 10.30 a m. For Ashton, Waterton and Longbeach, 4.30 p.m. daily. For Wakanui, Elgin, Seafield, New land, and Kyle, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, at 6 a m. Mails arrive at the Ashburton Post Office— From Christchurch and Rakaia at 10.25 a,m,, 4.35 p.m., and 7.50 p.m. From Chertsey, &c. at 10.25 a.m. daily. From Dunedin and intermediate places at 5.35 p.m. daily. Frem Temuka and Timaru at 10.15 a.ra. 5.35 p.m., and 8.15 p.m. daily. From Greenstreet, Ashburton Forks, Mount Somers, and Ashburton Gorge on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 3 p.m. From Ashton, Waterton, and Long beach at 10 a. m. daily. From Elgin, Wakanui, Seafield, New land, and Kyle, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, at 4 p.m. W. St. G. Douglas, Postmaster.

DAILY MEMORANDA.

AUCTION SALES. To-morrow, Tuesday, March 29. J. T. Ford and Co., at the Ashburton Yards —4,600 Sheep ; 12 o’clock. Friday, April 1. Matson, Cox, and Co., at their salerooms, Ashburton—Building Sites ; 1 p. m. Matson, Cox, and Co., at their rooms, Ashburton—Valuable Freehold Farm, in the Hinds district; 12 o’clock. MEETINGS, AMUSEMENTS, &c. Monday, March 28. Ashburton Industrial Exhibition, Town Hall. To-morrow, Tuesday, March 29. Ashburton Facing Club—General Meet ing, Quill’s Hotel, 4 p.m. Thursday, March 31. Ashburton Library—Annual Meeting of Subscribers, in the Library, 8 p.m. Monday, April 4. Borough Council, at. Borough Council Chambers, at 7 o’clock. Wednesday, April 6. County Council, at the County Council Chambers, at 11 o’clock.

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prevalebit. MONDAY, MARCH 28, 1881. A Local Museum.

TOWN EDITION.

We have previously pointed out the fact that there exists an opportunity for local well-wishers to create, by united action in our midst, a source of intel lectual advancement in the matter of the establishment of a local museum, and are therefore pleased to learn that those gentlemen who have shown themselves so energetic in connection with the Industrial Exhibition have it in view, following the termination of their present duties, to make an effort in this direction. We have growing up in our midst a generation, for the intellectual improvement cf which we are alone re sponsible. If we would wish to prevent our children growing up in almost entire ignorance of Natures beauties and mysteries, it devolves upon us to pro vide means whereby such is to be obviated. That they cannot gather a sufficient idea on such subjects from the lessons received by them at public schools on National history, and the various ologies is clearly understood. Therefore having in view the in tellectual improvement, let all who can do so contribute their quota towards the nucleus of a museum in Ashburton. Not alone will the rising generation benefit thereby; we ourselves shall share the enlightenment. That we have in our midst gentlemen possessed of curios and specimens is demon strated by the number of exhibits in these classes now on view at the Indus trial Exhibition. We shall therefore be pardoned if we assert that it is the duty of these to render every assistance they can to the promoters of a museum in this town, and we rest assured they will not in this instance be found want ing. Once obtain sufficient specimens fo form the nucleus of a museum, and success is assured. Some persons entertain unfavorable opinions regarding lending any specimens they may possess on the ground of the scant care in some cases bestowed thereon, but such cannot be held as an argument in the present instances, as the names of the pro moters is a sufficient guarantee of the ex hibits being carefully attended to. Even should some remain doubtful, we say waive your objections in the interests of the public, your children, and your children’s children. The matter we feel certain could not be in better hands than of the gentlemen referred to, and we look forward to hearty co operation from all parts of the district.

Mr Bryce and Native Affairs. We have not, nor ever had a very high opinion of the capabilities of Mr Bryce as a person fit and qualified to hold a portfolio, and were not greatly surprised at the outcome of the dissen sion in the Cabinet preceding his resig nation of office. Nevertheless, in the spirit of fairplay, we must protest against such misconstructions as his utter

ances have received at the hands of a portion of the Southern press. We be- ' lieve the ex Native Minister when he states that it was, and is, his firm con viction that conciliiatory measures in dealing with the native question will be intirely ineffectual; and therefore in his resignation, he, merely acted as would any conscientious person. True the consciences of Ministers are as serted to possess greater powers of elasticity than those of ordinary mortals, but we think our readers will side with us in regarding Mr Bryce’s statements as honest and heartfelt. By the journals referred to, Mr Bryce is depicted as being a man of the most blood-thirsty type, and why all this thusness? simply because of his advo cacy of a judicious employment of power in the upholding of the authority of the law. Had the Government but supported his endeavors in the direction of a termination of the Te Whiti hum bugism, we are certain the pow-wowing in which that arrant impostor has up to the present been so successful, would have never occurred. We have as a precedent, the Indian troubles ex perienced by our American cousins, but need not travel from home for examples of the fallacy of whisky and blanket treaties. Possibly the present Ministry believe that they have suc ceeded in smothering the disturbances of the North, but we predict otherwise ; the natives are merely awaiting the op portunity for a repetition of the plough ing and other farces, which can only be" prevented by the annihilation of their head centre, Te Whiti. From post-sessional utterances as yet delivered, the future action of the Government in this matter and its immediate atten dant, that of the political prisoners, cannot be foreshadowed, but we shall await their action at the future session of Parliament with interest.

Borough Council. —A special meeting of the Ashburton Borough Council will be held this evening, at seven o’clock. Post Sessional. —Mr Gisborne, M.H.R., addressed tho electors at Ross, on Friday evening, and at the termination of his remarks, received a vote of con fidence.

An Unfortunate Firm. Messrs Guthrie and Larnach have been very un fortunate in the matter of fires during the past six months. The mill destroyed at Auckland, on Friday, is the third loss they have sustained during that period.

Excursion Fares. —The Traffic Mana ger announces by advertisement in another column that ordinary single fare tickets, issued from the 28th to the 30th inst., will be available for the return journey on the intermediate stations between Christchurch and Timaru to Ashburton up to the 31st inst.

The Waterton Shooting Accident.— The investigation of the charges against the lad Norrish for injuring Julia Munroe will be proceeded with at the Police Court to-morrow. The victim of the catastrophe is, we are glad to learn, pro gressing favourably, and is now past danger ; but little hopes arc entertained of the recovery of the use of the eye injured. R.M. Court. —This morning, before His Worship the Mayor, two old offenders, on charges of drunkenness, named Joseph Murphy and P. Kennedy, made their appearance. As Murphy had not been before the Bench for some time past, he was cautioned and dismissed on paying the costs of the case. Kennedy, however, who had put in his fifteenth appearance, was fined 40s, or in default four days’ imprisonment with hard labor.

Hays’ Art Union. —Mr Hay announces in another column that he has appointed local agents for the sale of tickets in his seventh New Zealand .art union. In these art unions the prizes are works of high art, and the results of the drawings on previous instances have always given every satisfaction to holders of tickets therein. The present art union will, if possible, be drawn at the end of next month.

Fire. — A tussock fire broke out yester day morning, at Wakanui, near the home stead of Mr Rickards, which resulted in the total destruction of a stack of oats and chafFcutter belonging to him. We believe the property was uninsured, but that the value of the damage done has been made good by the parties who accidentally caused the fire to break out. At one time it was thought impossible to save the dwelling house as the flames from the burning stack made it extremely diffi cult to keep the fire from spreading, and the greatest exertions were necessary to keep it under.

The Waitangi Treaty Monument.— Notwithstanding the resolution to the contrary, this monument was unveiled on Saturday at 4 p .m., after the whole morn ing had been wasted in discussion on the matter. Wi Katene and some others would not be present. The monument was unveiled by Marsh Brown, Kawaiti, and Hone Mohi Tawhai. After the un veiling, the tapu was removed from the Hall, by drinking wine. Apropos to the above, is the following telegram received from Auckland :—‘ ‘Mr Alexander Black is dead, aged 68. He was one of the few surviving witnesses of the celebration of the treaty of Waitangi. ” The coincidence is somewhat remarkable. Accidents. —A fatal accident occurred on board the Rotorua during her trip from Lyttleton to Wellington, on Friday. Mrs J. Clarke, steerage passenger, via San Francisco, for England, with husband and family, fell down the hatchway shortly after leaving Lyttelton. On arrival at Wellington she was taken to the hospital suffering from a broken arm and a suffusion of blood on the brain. She has remained unconscious ever since the accident, and according to latest telegrams was sinking fast, and not likely to recover.—George Ramsay, an apprentice belonging to the ship Lady Jocelyn, lying at Lyttelton, and who was holding the position of fourth officer, had his leg broken on Saturday morning by a bale of wool falling against it.—Mr. Zambia, who was mentioned by us on Saturday as having sustained serious injuries from a fall from the Queen Street Wharf, Auckland, on to the deck of a vessel, died on Friday night.

The Exhibition. —The attendance at the Industrial Exhibition on Saturday was not so large as had been expected, when the fact that it was the “ People’s Day ” is taken into consideration ; the receipts amounted to L 69 Cs. During the evening the local band performed some selections of dance music, and dis played a marked improvement in time and execution. The thanks of the Com mittee are also due to Mr Schwartz, who during the afternoon and evening gave some selections on the pianoforte in a masterly style, which were highly ap preciated by the audience. A special first award of merit has been made by the judges for the hand-made boots and shoes exhibited by T. Chambers, East street, Ashburton. The boots, &c., exhibited are a very excellent selection, and the maker must be complimented on the first class workmanship dispayed in their manufacture. Two hand-made frames for photos are now exhibited at the Hall, made by Mr Pattlo of Southbridge, with the new American fret saw. They are very neatly made, and are to be seen in the ante-room, together with the other exhibits of wood-work.

Expensive, Very.-— To protect the late Czar of Russia from the vengeance of the Nihilists during his recent journey from Livadia, 36,000 footguards and 1,700 mounted men were posted along the route, at a cost of L 15,000. The Lottery Bill.— The police in Auckland are rapidly enforcing the pro visions of this Act, and in the matter of a lottery being held to dispose of a yacht, prosecuted the promoter, Frank Whiting, who was fined L 3 and costs, or a month’s imprisonment. “Go from Home to Hear News.”— The following, which we clip from a Mel bourne publication, will, wo think, prove news to our readers :—“ Whilst coaching in New Zealand, the Australian Eleven had a narrow escape of being hurled over a precipice of 150 feet. Boyle seized the leaders, and turned their heads just in time to escape. ”

CABLE NEWS.

LATEST FROM EUROPE.

(Per Reuter's Agency.) Monetary, &c. London, March 25. Consols remain at par. The market rate of discount has been raised to 3 per cent., and is now equal with the Bank rate. Sole leather, ioi^d. The Wool Sales, The wool sale terminated to-day, and the closing catalogue comprised 2,900 bales. A belter demand was shown for most descriptions. The total quantity sold during the series was 220,000 bales. 29,000 bales have been held over for the next series. Must Not Interfere. In the House of Commons, to-day, a motion in favor of the retention of the British forces in Candahar was again under discussion, and was finally re jected by a majority of 120. In the course of the debate, this evening, the Marquis of Hartington stated in his speech that a rupture of diplomatic relations between England and Russia would result if the Government of the latter country inte r fered with the affairs of Afghanistan. The Irish Land Agitation. London, March 20. Mr Parnell is now actively engaged in the formation of a Land League in England, and is organising branches in various parts of the country through the medium of symathisers with the Irish land agitation. On the Briny. The total quantity of wheat afloat for great Britain is 2,230,000 quarters. Another Kingdom. Bucharest, March 20. The two Houses of the Roumanian Parliament, the Senate and Chamber of Deputies, have passed a resolution proclaiming the principality of Exm mania a kingdom. | Greece and Turkey. Constantinople, March 25. Negotiations ■ between the Ambas sadors df the Great Powers and the Porte fofr the settlement of the Ttirco- Greek are now virtually con- has made a offer to cede to Greece a greater extent of territory in Jhessaly than was recently offered, but has posi tively refined ■ to surrender Epirus or the Island of Crete in addition to territory iij Thessaly. The Envoys of the Powefs have accordingly referred the Porte’s decision to their respective Governments for consideration. The Terms with the Boers. Capetown, March 25. The conditions of peace which have been arranged with the Boers are re ceiving much criticism and censure at the hands of the press and the public of Natal and this colony, and consider able discontent has been expressed with the termg granted to the Boers by the British Government.

AUSTRALIAN.

(i Per Reuter’s Agency.) Ifor Auckland Bound. | Melbourne, Saturday. The German corvette Hertha sailed from this- port for Auckland on Mon day last. An Expensive Search. Superintendent Nicolson has stated before the Police Board of Enquiry that the tbtal cost of searching for the Kellys was 1,22,225.

NEW ZEALAND

(Per Press Association.) The Fire at Guthrie and Lamach’s. Auckland, Saturday. The fire at Guthrie and Larnach’s mill broke out at two o’clock yesterday morn ing. It was supposed to be purely acci dental, caused by a spark from a chimney. About 150,000 feet of sawn timber were stacked near by, and were also destroyed. Themill wasinsuredforLl,looin the South British Company ; the timber was unin sured. The estimated loss is two or three thousand pounds in excess of the in surance. The Havelock Enquiry. Blenheim, To-day. The Havelock enquiry concluded on Saturday. Mr McNab, for Firth, asked the Commissioners if they would make their decision known then. The Com missioners replied that they had to report to the Governor, and the result no doubt would shortly be made known. An Offending Civil Servant. Wellington, To-day. At the Resident Magistrate’s Court this morning, William Michael Downes was charged with illegally removing stamps from certain papers, and remanded until Friday, for the purpose of bringing up an important witness from Christchurch. A Fatal Fall. ■ Dunedin, To-day. A man named Sydney Stock fell from the mountain into lake Wakatipu early this morning, the body was recovered some hours afterwards.

A WHALER ASHORE.

(By Telegraph.) Auckland, To-day. The American whaling barque Janus, which went ashore at Awanui Heads, is reported to be a total wreck. She was twelve months out from New Bedford, with 300 barrels of oil. The vessel is lying on her beam ends, with six feet of water in her hold at low water. The masts are cut away, and the crew are dis charging the cargo. The whale oil can not be got out. Nothing is insured.

CRICKET.

ASHBURTON 0.0. v- MOUNT SOMERS 0.0, This match, which was decided in the first innings, terminated in favor of the home team by 46 runs. The visitors were very unfortunate in the early part of their first innings—the

first five wickets going down before the united efforts of Messrs Fagan and Wix for a total of 10 runs. Bain was the first to make any stand against these

troubles, but on the eve ot his entering double figures was caught by Mayo off Shury. Lovell who followed, just reached the coveted goal when he was dismissed for 10 by Fagan. The rest failed to make any stand whatever. In Ashburton’s second innings Fooks, Denshire and Fagan succeeded in reaching double scores, the two former totting up 15 a-piece and the latter 12. The last wicket fell to a total of 66, making a grand total of 161. Mount Somers followed on, the light being very bad, and lost 7 wickets for 69 runs, Potts and Robinson heading the list with 16 each. The following are the scores:—

Ashhurton C.C. —2nd innings. Barker, c Knight, b Macfarlane ... I Fooks, 1) Hood ... ... ... ... IS Denshire, b Bain ... ... ... IS Marsh, c and b Gifkin ... ... ... o Curtis, c Bain, b Hood ... ... ... 8 P'agon, c Gifkin, b Bain ... ... ... I 2 Wix, b Hood ... ... ... ... 3 Martin, c Bain, b Hood ... ... ... 3 Jcphson, not out ... ... ... ••• 5 Mayo, b Bain ... ... .. 3 Shury (sub), run out... 0 Extras ... ... ... ■•. 1 Total ... ... 66 Ist innings ... .. ... 95 Grand total 161 Mount Somers—lst nnings. Hood, b Wix 2 Knight, b W'ix ... ... .. ••• I Macfarlane, b Fagan ... ... ••• 4 Tomlinson b Fagan 1 H. Potts, b P'agan ... ... ... ... o Bain, cMayo b Shury ... ... ... 9 Lovell, b Fagan 10 Burden, c Shury, b P'agan ... o Gifkin, run out ... ... ... • ■ 2 D. Potts, c books, b Fagan 2 Cookson, not out 7 Extras n Total 49 2nd Innings. Cookson, b P'agan ... ... ••• 6 Knight, b Shury .. ... ... ••• 4 Gifkin, b Fagan 2 Tomlinson, c Eagan, b Shury 16 A. Potts, b Fagan 16 Bain, b P'agan 3 Lovell, run out ... ... ■■■ ••• 0 Dobson, not out ... ... ... •• • 3 D. Potts, thrown out Fooks ... ... 8 Si S ““ Extras 1 1 Total 69 Ist innings 49 Grand total ... .. 118

REPORTED GOLD DISCOVERY NEAR WAIMATE.

The Wat mate Times of Saturday last says :—“ We are glad to be able to announce that there appears every probability of the opening up at an early date of an important goldmining industry within a short distance vJ Waimate It appears that Mr M'Go verin, of Messrs Hardy and M'Goverin, was in the early part of this week on a visit to Pudding Hill, on the VVaihoa runga estate, and while in that neigh borhood discovered a gold-bearing reef, apparently of considerable richness. He brought up two specimens to town, which we saw yesterday in the posses sion of Messrs Cameron Bros., mer chants, Queen street. The pieces of stone are each of about the size of road metal, of bluish grey color, veined with white quartz. A portion of the casing on one face of one of the specimens is rich with gold, and specks of the pre cious metal are also to be found in the body of the stone itself; the other specimen also shows specks of gold, but of smaller size. Both specimens were shown to Mr Beetham, who, from his many years’ experience as a goldfields warden, should be an excellent judge, and who pronounces the stone to be of a most promising character, stating that a ton of stuff such as the specimens shown would yield from yoz. to Boz. of gold. The precise locality of the find has for obvious reasons not been divulged, but we should advise the finder to take the necessary steps at once to obtain the grant of a prospec tor’s claim. Possibly, too, it may not be too late to apply for the grant of a sum out of the L 2,000 voted last session for prospecting for gold, the present appropriations not expiring until the 31st inst.”

CORRESPONDENCE.

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

WHEAT SAMPLES.

To the Editor. Sir, —In your issue of March 22nd you gave an article on New Zealand grain, quoting from a circular issued by the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, showing the necessity of send ing Home nothing but the best samples, and stating that the samples of both wheat and oats received from New Zealand throughout the past year of 1880 have been most disappointing, being of a very inferior character, proving (as they say) that in too many instances old and worn out seed have been employed, and as you very properly remark, “ This is a question which requires the serious consideration of our farmers;” and further, “ That, first of all, it must be found out whether this is the cause, and the only one.” Now, sir, by your permission, I will give you a little of my experience on the subject during the last forty years. There is no doubt but what a change of seed oc casionally is beneficial if done in the right direction, but some samples of grain sown on different kinds of soil and in dif ferent localities will produce different results, just in the same way that cattle and sheep bred on very rich land in a mild climate being put on a poor, light, dry soil and in a cold bleak situation, would degenerate both in size and quality. There is no doubt but what there are other causes for samples of grain varying so much besides that of sowing the same seed on the same soil year after year. Last year I sowed a very poor looking sample of self-sown wheat, which was the third crop, but I sowed it on new land, which has produced this year one of the finest samples I have seen, thus showing that bad samples are more likely to come from worn-out land than from worn-out seed. On the other hand, some of the best crops of wheat in this district have been the second, and in some cases the third wheat crop in succes sion. This certainly speaks well for the soil, and proves that there is a very large amount of wheat producing matter in it, and properly managed will continue to produce not only as much as it does now but a great deal more. But if three wheat crops are taken out of it in succession, it cannot be expected to carry as much stock when laid down to grass as it would have done had less grain crops been taken from it. Consequently there is less chance of getting good crops when broken up next time after being down to grass. But it is well known that the harvest of 1880 was nearly all affected more or less by rust, which, no doubt, accounted for the in different samples of wheat sent to the Horae market from New Zealand last year,

and notwithstanding all that said and written on the subject, men as well as practical farmers differ in their opinions as to the cause or prevention of this much dreaded disease. There is one thing I have always observed when it is a wet cold spring, and then a change of dry hot weather sets in about December, the late sown wheat will be almost sure to get the rust. My own opinion is that owing to so much moisture the plant makes such rapid growth, and for want of more bright sunny days to harden and stiffen the straw in proportion to its growth, it becomes more suitable for the development of the insect, which no doubt is one of the causes of rust, and when the change of dry hot winds come the sap receives such a sudden check that the grain is not sufficiently filled. 1 - Hence the withered looking sample. The best ad vice I can give is to get the land well ploughed so as to secure a good seed bed, and sow with the drill when practicable, and not too late. Wheat sown after July seldom produces a good crop. As a rule, June is the best month for sowing wheat. — I am, Ac., A Plains Farmer.

A TIGER LILY : A GOLDEN ROD.

CHAPTER I.—The Two Groups. [continued.]

The brother and the sister were passing their comments and chaffing each other. As they did so, the man’s face was puckered and crumpled into more wilful lines and hollows of humor ; but in the woman’s battered, yet still quite womanly face, there were more indications of lingering youthful impulsiveness and passionate faith, hope, and charity. Gregory turned away from his glass gable whistling to his work, summarily dismissing from his mind the spectacle which the two had been contemplating, unless he had an idea of recalling it and trying to fix it as an illustration of the lust of the flesh.

Lauderdale continued pondering on the distasteful pair caught in each other’s trap, for if ever the widow lost sight of her cunning and married her minion, the world might trust him to pay his debts in two senses —like all crushed, degraded slaves, to retaliate when his day of vengeance came, in brutal frenzy and devilish cruelty.

Yet Lauderdale had some remorse where he was concerned; she was suddenly reminded by his effeminate, half effete traits of young Captain Featherstone, of whom she and Gregory used to know something, and of whose graces, weaknesses, and follies they had taken ample interest in jests and laughter up to the day of his regiment’s march out of a garrison town, the first stage of its campaign on active service, in which, at an early date, in a nameless skirmish with the crouching, savage Maoris, the dandy captain was shot dead in the scrub. Lauderdale could never again think of his locket on his breast, his glass in his eye, his drawl and his strut, without having another vision of him, stripped of his elegancies and affectations, a poor, simple young fellow of no more than three or four-and twenty, rolling on the bloody earth, clutching at the thorny bushes for lack of friendly hands to hold by, and with nothing but the night wind over a wilderness to dry the sweat breaking upon his brow and the froth bubbling from his lips. And that wide, yet close, wonderfully tender saying on hard Scotch lips, ‘ aye somebody’s body,’ would hover before her im agination. Lauderdale drew a great sigh. ‘ Greg,’ she apostrophised her com panion abruptly, ‘ surely there is no yoke so base, no bondage so bitter, no toil so hard, as that to which a man bows who thinks to get a vain, selfish woman’s goods to endow himself withal, by wooing her idle pleasure.’ Gregory looked round, and raised his bushy eyebrows and hunched his round shoulders in a little surprise. It was not often that Lauderdale’s staid and crushed-down woman’s nature rose so vehemently to the surface. 1 Laud, my daughter,’ Gregory ad dressed his two years younger sister,

•' don’t you go in for fallen men. The next thing you will be setting up a follower yourself, breaking him in as your helper and successor on a new and approved plan, just to show other independent women the proper method, kicking him, and ,getting kicked ,in turn, and ibat-would hot' suk itfy-boole af all, at all. Two are company, three none. There’s room for a pair of us, but there ain’t room for an interloper, mv chum.’

Lauderdale laughed with a whole heart and a clear conscience, and shook off the cloud shapes of vague yearning and incipient discontent and indignation which had beset her fancy. The artists were not to get rid so easily of the rampageous, rollicking widow and her pitiful prey—nor to be rid of them at all till they had cost them dear. It was afternoon at St. Boville House —the hereditary great house— stern and narrow, dark and dismal in its hard, cold stone square, with its court and its pillars bearing urns, looking as if they held in perpetuity the ashes of the old Wainwrights of St. Boville’s, and its walls bursting into a dank dew and flushing into a darker red of lichens, as though in horror and contempt of the struggling masses of rickety, garish, fantastically shaped shells of flowery villas springing up like dragon’s teeth, in a night, all round it.

At St. Boville’s House, dry David Hume had speculated acutely, summed up caustically, touched formally the dead bones of history, himself in wig and ruffles, paying homage to a great lady of the old quality. Home had ranted grandiloquent tragedy, taken lightly his deposition from the priestly office by his Presbyterian fathers, and had been bear-leader to the bravest boy and man, the tenderest, most faithful heart—which would not lie in Westminster Abbey as Lord Lynedoch, but would lie as Thomas Graham of Balgowan in Methven kirkyard, by the bride dead for half a century —in broad Scotland. St. Boville’s House re tained a faint flavor of those wonderful people. Gregory and Lauderdale Wainwright had dined, to the scandal of the snappish, over-bearing servants, at the antediluvian hour of noon, and repaired not to the gaunt, white, dimity shrouded drawing-room, but—taking advantage of the very best part of old St. Boville’s, its capabilities for life in the open air— to the terraced garden and green grassy slopes studded and bordered by big umbrageous trees descending to the

SBwmnvater. ‘There word was brought to the brother and sister that a party were at the photographic establishment wanting to be taken on the spot, de manding the instant attendance of the performers, and impatient and in dignant that such small folks as photographers should have bodily wants and think of relieving them by

dinners, while such great folks as distinguished sitters were kept waiting. So Gregory and Lauderdale turned to walk back, Gregory insisting that he would take his own time to put hinaself in [and Lauderdale expediting

him by all the means in her power. Arrived at the glass house,, Lauder? dale and Gregory found the widow, Mrs Somers, flying aboiit likea caged magpie (for already there were. littlfe

bits of white let in here and there, tor relieve the sombreness of her rustling crape and silk), stopping short to deliver ; audibly her decided opinion upon the personal appearance of the photo graphers —‘ What a scarcrowWhat a, tabby ! ’ She had with her the.aspirant to her heart, hand, and income, Mr Hopkins, trying to cool and compose her; and so heated and ruffled was he in the fruitless effort that he was con stantly fluttering his white handkerchief , out of his coat-pocket like an in effectual flag of truce, and lifting and replacing his hat on his head, the silky brown hair of which was worn and getting thin on the temples—but not with thought—as if it were a safety valve for his feverish unrest and deadly weariness. And there were Mrs Somer’s promising progeny, four jn number, the queerest, most repulsive nondescript of three long-limbed boys (if the widow were only as she gave out, she must have married from the school-room),; in frock-likes kilts with braided jackets, which might have been made for their sister, by the same dressmaker, showing long drawn out bare throats decked with crinkling neck-ribbons, and surmounted by heads having the hair divided up the centre, and curled in rows ; and of one girl wearing navvy boots, long white trousers, a regular little coat with pockets, and a sailor’s hat above short-clipped hair—the only boy among them. They had dispersed to mischief the moment they had entered the room •, had already smashed a jar and evolved an awfully Plutonic smell, and were then engaged in hunting an un happy long-haired little dog, which was their property, and that had grown querulous by human worrying,' round cameras and tables, in among half dried plates, prepared to dip it bodily in a pail of strong scid with which they were liberally sprinkling and burning the matting. * Hallo ! ’ cried Gregory, without re straint, standing still on the threshold j * I cannot understand this.’

Mrs Somers, in defence of herself and her young, attacked him with the loud volubility of a common, brawling scold ; ‘ I read an advertisement in the well-room; and I came here, like a fool, I may say, to patronize you, and found nobody.’ ‘Some patronage is so overwhelm ing,’ suggested Gregory, coolly. . ‘ The advertisement was of specimens of landscape photography to be had here,’ put in Lauderdale ; ‘ and the hours appointed for any sitters were from four to six.’

‘Oh ! I daresay; but who minds hours in attending to business, I should like to know ? I can tell you any thing else won’t do, if you wish to get on. What I wish is to be back at my house-—lvy Lodges—for tiffin at three, so you will make haste and take us at once. Charley, don’t untie your ribbon, you slovenly hobbledehoy. Missy, put on your gloves this minute, you nasty, naughty girl! you have , smeared your hands as black, as a 1 native’s. Mr Hopkins, I wonder at you, that you don’t look after the children, and prevent them making frights of themselves, when tend you wished our likenesses.’ There was a simper brought in here. “ Certainly the widow had been a wife in her Majesty’s oriental pos sessions. It reads like a libel on the land of great, gentle elephants, gliding, salaaming Hindoos, even of flower strewn heathen temples, but all such women do come from India, as all such baited, forlorn men, like her admirer; ? aie round m-seme-leamed profession— advocates without briefs, doctors with out patients, priests without cures. Mr Hopkins lifted his hat, and re placed it more helplessly than ever j glanced at Lauderdale and Gregory ■ furtive looks from eyes wandering slightly, glazed, surrounded by crows’ toes, though assuredly, he was not older than Mrs. Somer said she was.

* Upon my word, Mrs Somer, I can-,,, not help them ; they will not attend to me. Freddy, let that slide alone; Missy, put on your gloves when your mamma bids you.’ ‘ You’re a muff, Mr Hopkins, not to touch what you like,’ shouted Master Freddy. ‘ You’re an impudent, rude wretch to meddle with me,’ protested the still more demonstrative young lady. ! ‘ They don’t attend to you, naturally,’ explained Mrs Somer; * for they don’t attend to. me, not one word. There

never were such children, nor a woman so tried. I know they will live to break my heart, and bring my grey hairs in sorrow to the grave, where the grass on their angel of a father’s is not green, and he has left me alone to fight with

them,’ cried Mrs Somer, sinking into a chair in the most astounding paroxysm, actually raging, panting, quivering, whimpering 'in one breath; while of. the culprits, two turned their backs not to see mamma in one of her tantrums, and two looked on in stolid indifference. One of Mrs Somer’s idiosyncrasies was this rapid, violent change of mood. She was a creature who lived in scenes, whose native air was squalls, all the more degrading because of their petty origin. (To be continued ,)

THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN, MONDAY, MARCH 28, 1881.



Late Advertisements. MISSING FRIENDS. David and Janies McKenzie, who were in or near Hokitika in 1869, are requested to conuntmicate at once with their brother, Donald* when they wiU hear of some things to the!* advantage. Address— “ Donald McKenzie, Stanley, Beech - worth, ■Victoria. ” 443 a JCKOWN—That Visiting VV Cards, plain or mourning, can be obtained printed in various styles, at the Guardian” office, opposite the Railway Station.-



Wanted. WANTED —Private BOARD and RESIDENCE. Apply ,_ stating terms, to “H. 5.,” Office of this Paper. 439 a TIfTANTED, at once—A GIRL, about VV 15 or 16, as General Servant. Apply, Office of this Paper. 438 a WANTED— A Family’s WASHING. Apply, Office of this paper. 178 a WANTED TO SELL Twenty-five SECTIONS, Wakanui Road. Apply to Patching, Tent-maker, East Street. WANTED KNOWN —That O’Connor’s four-wheeled covered WAG GONNETTE runs between Ashburton railway station and Scott’s Tinwald Hotel at intervals every day. 441 a ANTED OWN, That HENRY’S PORTRAIT ROOMS, Saunders’ Buildings, East street, Ash burton, are Open DAILY, from 9 a.m. till 5 p.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. Address: Cameron street west. 86a WANTED KNOWN—The Largest and Best Stock of Saddlery is to be found at the shop of S. STEPHENS, Tinwald. Good strong Cart Collars from 135.; Cart Winkers, Bs. 6d.; Plough Back-bands, 6s. cash ; Cart Saddles and Breechens, from 505.; Reaping Machine Pole Straps, 2s. Farmers will make a great saving by buying of S. Stephens, Saddler, Tinwald. _____ TTTANTED KNOWN. Ashburton V\ 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. Andrewes, Labor Book seller, and Stationer, East street, South. 208 a



WANTED KNOWN—That W. E. HAY has appointed local AGENTS for his grand seventh ART UNION—4OO prizes ; beautiful paintings, and other pictures ; tickets 2s 6d. Early application necessary to prevent disap pointment. Visitors to Christchui’ch are respectfully requested to come and inspect the prizes, now on view at corner of Vic toria street, opposite Victoria bridge. See favorable notices in the Christchurch press. Tickets are obtainable at all the book-sellers and tobacconists, etc., in Ashburton. 440 a WANTED KNOWN SOMERSET LIVERY AND BAIT STABLES. JW. M'RAE bogs to inform the , public that he has taken the above Stables from Mr. Bossenberg, and is making extensive repairs. Buggies and saddle horses on hire. Lowest prices and best attention. 852 Special Advertisements. W. H. SPACEMAN’S Offices are now in Canterbury Chambers, Here ford street, Christchurch, next Miles and Co., having REMOVED from Messrs Wynn, Williams, and Deacon’s. 335 a THE BEST VALUE for READY MONEY IS THE MEN’S AND BOYS’ CLOTHING MANUFACTURED BY THE NEW ZEALAND Clothing Factory, Which can be purchased at their Retail Branches, now established all over New Zealand.



The Garments are thoroughly shrunk. The Fit and Style are perfect. The Workmanship is equal to bespoke. The Trimmings are of superior quality and strength. The Tweeds are of the very best de scription. The Stock is the largest in the Southern Hemisphere. The tall, short, lean, and stout, can be equally well fitted. The Goods are all marked in plain figures. The system of business is to exchange every article that does not give satisfac tion. And, in addition to all these advantages, you can purchase A SINGLE GARMENT AT THE WHOLESALE PRICE. J®' Mercery, Hats, Shirts, Ties, Scarves, Bags, Portmanteaux, Rugs, and Blankets, at Wholesale Prices. Thousands of the discerning customers testify that the New Zealand Clothing Factory’s Garments are the Very Best Value for Ready Money. Ashburton Branch : EAST STREET. Y/M. SPARROW, 369a* Manager. O. Carstens & Co., (Late Weston’s), PROSPECT BUILDINGS, Tobacconist, fancy goods, AND STATIONERY.



Meerschaum Pipes, G.B.D. Pipes Sfailrod, 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. 527a* First Award of Merit. JNDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION. All the CLOCKS and TIMEPIECES EXHIBITED BY Robert Murray ARE THE WORKMANSHIP OF THE EXHIBITOR. 418 a



Special Advertisements. Encourage local enter- PRISE, & KEEP THE MONEY IN THE PLACE. WANTED—IO,OOO customers to Pur chase 100,000 Envelopes and upwards. 1,000, 7s 6d ; 6,000, 6s 9d per 1,000, for Cash. 11. M. JONES, Stationer and Bookseller, East street and Baring Square. 365 a



Craighead & Co., qiAILORS AND CLOTHIERS. In thanking our friends and patrons for the liberal support which they have ac corded to us in the past, we have much pleasure in announcing that Mr Craig head, having now completely recovered, will be found at his post of duty as usual, in TANCRED STREET. We have also to intimate that we have | just received a VERY SELECT ASSORTMENT OF WINTER TWEEDS, FANCY COATINGS, &0., For the approaching season ; and, as these comprise only the VERY BEST MATERIALS in the MARKET, they need no other recommendation. (k FEW SAMPLES WILLX IBE SHOWN AT THE \ FORTHCOMING EX- V. HIBITION. / PERFECT FIT GUARANTEED. PRICES MODERATE, AS USUAL. CRAIGHEAD AND Tancred street (Next Orr and Co.’s). CO.,



Miss Yerrall Wishes to inform the Ladies of Ashbur ton and the surrounding districts that she will be at ASHBURTON the THREE DAYS of the EXHIBITION to take orders and measures for Ladies requiring Stays, Corsets, Belts, and Shoulder Straps, &c. A case of these several articles will be at the Exhibition, of Miss VerraU’s own make. For any information required apply to Mr. Thiele, Baker and Confec tioner, where Miss Yerrall will be in at tendance. COLOMBO STREET (Oposite Cookham House), Christchurch. March 10, 1881. 324 a



Ashburton industrial EXHIBITION. At the request of a large section of the Public, the Committee have decided to KEEP the Exhibition OPEN during MONDAY, TUESDAY, and WEDNES DAY of next week. MUSICAL PROGRAMME : MONDAY EVENlNG—Selections of INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC, by several Ladies and Gentlemen, and the String Band. TUESDAY—A PROMENADE CON CERT, under the direction of Horace Gates, Esq. WEDNESDAY—A PROMENADE CONCERT, arranged by H. J. Weeks, Esq. The Exhibition will close on Wednes day evening with a closing ADDRESS by the President. Admission .... One Shilling. STEPHEN E. FOYNTZ, 437 a Hon. Sec.



Holloway’s Ointment and Pills.— The finest remedies in the world for bad legs, old wounds, sores, and ulcers. If used according to directions given with them there is no wouqd, , bad legs, or ulcerous sore, however obstinate or long standing, but will yield to their healing; and curative properties. Numbers of persons who have been patients in several of the large hospitals and the care of eminent snrgeons, without deriving the slightest benefit, have been thoroughly cured by Holloway’s, Oint* ment and Pills. Fpr glandifiar swellings, tumours, scurvy, and diseases of the skin there is no medicine that can be used with so gpod in effect. In fact, in the worst forms of dis, ease, dependent upon the condition of. the , blood, these medicines, if used conjointly, .■■ ■' irresistible.