SHIPPING.

PORT OF LYTTELTON. Arrived. Yesterday, Gleaner, brigantine, from Greymouth. Esther, brigantine, from Pelorus Sound. Sailed. Yesterday. Southern Cross, s.s., for Northern Ports. SHIPPING TELEGRAMS. v. , Auckland, Yesterday. Sailed—Rotorua, for the South. Wellington, Yesterday. Arrived—Wakatipu, from Sydney. She lias been quarantined as usual. Port Chalmers, Yesterday. Arrived—Star of the Mersey and Ada 0. Owen, from Newcastle. Sailed —Southern Cross, for Auckland, via the East Coast ; Rotomahana, for Melbourne.

COMMERCIAL.

Ashbußton Guardian Office, Friday afternoon,

Owing to the holidays the grain and produce market has been exceptionally quiet, and transactions have been almost nil. A good deal of wheat for shipment baa been cleared within the last fortnight, aridholdersofsurplUsstocks will be relieved Prime samples for shipment can be bought at 4s 3d, but purchasers do not sesm in clined to operate largely at this figure, and sales can only be effected for best quality. Oats seem rather easier of sale, owing to the fall in other markets, and are now quoted at Is 8d to Is Hd, according to kind and quality of sample. For best samples of barley prices remain firm at about 3s 4d; inferior kinds, Is lOd to 2s. Best flour still remains at from LlO 10s to Lll, but only trade lots are bought at this figure, as millers are accepting less for outside orders. Ryegrass is now being sold at from 3s to 3s 9d per bushel, ac cording to quality, but prices are hardly settled yet. Wool in bags has been sold in Christchurch at from 5d to 8d per lb. The weather during the week has been very hot, windy, and dusty, and, it is feared, will have made the crops suffer on the light lands. In many places, we hear, that the late sown crops will not be worth reaping, owing to the continued dry weather. The oat crops are ripening very fast, and in about a week’s time a good many acres will have been cut in this district.

MAIL NOTICES

Mails 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 Fran cisco, Continents of Europe and America, West Indies, Sandwich Islands, Northern Ports of New Zealand, &c., as as follows : —Ordinary letters at 6.30 p.m. ; late fee letters, at 7 p.m. ; books and newspapers, at 6 p.m. ; money orders, at 3 p.m. ; registered letters at 5 p.m. ; guard’s van, 8.30 p.m. train.

DAILY MEMORANDA.

AUCTION SALES. To-morrow, Saturday, December 31. Mr. T. Bullock, at his rooms, East street —Leasehold Property ; 1.30 p. m. Mr T. Bullock, 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—Farm Stock and Plant. Tuesday, January 10. Messrs J. T. Ford & Co., at the Spread Eagle Hotel—Farm Stock and Imple ments. MEETINGS, AMUSEMENTS, &c To-night, Friday, December 30. Somerset Lodge, Monthly Meeting, in the Masonic Hall, Tancred street, 7.30. Monday, January, 2. Winslow Annual Races and Sports ; first event at 11 a.m. Wakanui Annual Races and Sports. Chertsey Annual Races and Sports. Tuesday, January 3. St John’s Lodge, Monthly Meeting, Ma sonic Hall, 7.30 p.m. 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. mbw—

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas, et Prevalebit. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1881. The People and their Amusements.

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

It has often been very correctly re marked that if we want to understand the condition of a people, we should look at them when they are at their public sports. An excellent op portunity of doing so has been afforded this season to those who have visited any of our large towns. Business of all kinds has been almost at a stand still, and business people say that they do not care about having anything to do with callers —unless it can be seen that they have something involving a good profit to offer—until the com mencement of the new year. In Christchurch the sports, the cricket matches, the croquet grounds, the river, the public gardens, the Museum, the Cathedral, the Theatre, and the numerous picnic parties have been patronised by thousands of all classes of our settlers during the week. Now all this kind of thing cannot be done without the expenditure of a con siderable sum of money, and as the “ scions of a bloated aristocracy ” certainly form only a very small pro portion of those who participate in these amusements, it really looks as if the “ horny handed sons of toil ” are not so desperately poor, or so miserably oppressed as their orators occasionally tell us they are. On the contrary, to those whose recollections of the Home Country are not yet obliterated, it looks as if the masses, particularly the skilled laborers, like the Pope in the comic song, lead a happy life here, a much happier one than they used at Home. They spend what would seem amongst the members of their class in England or Scotland large sums of money on a week’s amusements, and would be quite amused if they were asked whether they were saving up for them before hand, or if they would need to live very closely in consequence afterwards. Indeed, lavish as the Home Country Britisher is of his money for drinks at public - houses, he is a cautious, penurious man as compared with an average specimen of the colo nial Britisher. When, therefore, we find anyone publishing the experiences of a working man in a pamphlet, and telling us that he has been from the colonial Dan to Beersheba, and found the colonies a failure and a fraud, we feel rather inclined to smile at his au dacity than to weep. In fact, such a man generally tells us, as one has done lately, of so many fine chances he has had, and of so many good situations he has thrown up .on rather frivolous grounds,, that the attempt at depreciat ing the colonies carries its own refuta tion on the face of it. The colonies are not good places for poor gentlemen, for persons only accustomed to out-of the-way occupations, for literary men, for persons too old to change their modes of thought and living, and for skilled or unskilled laborers who do not care to work steadily. But for un skilled laborers, for artisans in all the commoner trades, for farmers and graziers of fair capital, the colo nies present an excellent field. Scarcely any better service could be done both to people in the Home country, and to people in the colonies at this part of the world, than to publish from time to time duly authenticated lists of the wages paid in particular trades and for unskilled labor there and here, and also underneath duly au thenticated lists of all the leading items of expense in living, there and here, so that no man could be able to complain of being misled if he came out here and was disappointed; and that on the other hand, any man of the right description might know what inducements could be honestly held out. Between the ex aggerations of one kind on the part of immigration agents, and exaggerations of the opposite kind on the part of dis appointed arrivals, who measure their prosperity not by comparing it by their mode of living at Home, bpt by some ideal formed in their imaginations, there are still all sorts of erroneous notions entertained with regard to the colonies. To look to the Govern ment to make immigrants rich or contented is palpable nonsense. They must work here as elsewhere, and not be very particular as to the sort of work. In that case, though through some accident which no man can fore see, they may fail, the odds are heavy that, if they belong to the proper classes to come out, they will succeed at least so far as to live without much anxiety, and either save some little money or be able to spend it on amusements, whichever they like.

An Old Aquaintancb.—A furiour nor’- wester sprang up at midnight last night, and howled around houses and shook doors and windows in a way to make nervous people apprehensive of being blown over in their beds. The wind died away about seven o’clock this morning, but an hour or two later re-commenced to blow with renewed vigor, and has been keeping it up ever since.

Christchurch Supreme Court. —The Criminal Session of the Supreme Court for January will open on Tuesday, Jan. 3, before His Honor Mr Justice Johnston. The following is the calendar up to date : —Donald Mark, receiving stolen property; Matthew Keen, larceny ; James Marshall and Thomas Peart, larceny ; William Wombwell Charters, forgery and embezzle ment ; Bridget Bayne, arson ; John William Crabtree, horse stealing ; Alexander M'Millan, embezzlement ; F. E. J. Hunter, breach of Marriage Act. Morgan Harper, larceny ; W. H. Sutton, indecent assault.

Blackbirds. —At Auckland, garden fruit is being greatly damaged by the Acclimatisation Society’s blackbirds.

The Christchurch Exhibition. A telegram elsewhere informs the reader that the above Exhibition will be opened on the 15th March next. Over 200 ap plications have been received from Eng land for space already, and there is every probability of the affair being a success. Some time back it was proposed that, with a view of making as creditable a show as possible, the Ashburton exhibi tors should club together and secure a small court at the Exhibition, to be called “ The Ashburton Court,” and devoted to local exhibits onlv. No applications have as yet been received from Ashburton for space, we understand, but the idea of a separate court for our exhibits has not been abandoned ; it will certainly be carried out if sufficient inducement is offered. ,j

Cricket at Mount Hutx. —A match was played on Boxing Day betwen th.e Methveii and Mount Hutt station Clubs, with the following results: —Methven, first innings, 55 ; Mount Hutt, first innings, 68. Methven, in their second innings, made 95 for four wickets, when time was called, and the match being decided by the first innings, secured Mount Hutt a victory by 13 runs. Lost. —A valuable dog of the St. Ber nard breed, imported only last week, has been lost, and Mr George Jameson, the owner, offers a reward in this issue for the recovery of the missing animal.

Ashburton Amateur Dramatic Club. —A meeting of the members of the above was held last night to consider the arrangements in connection with the pro posed benefit to Mr Chas. Bourk. There was a good attendance. It was resolved that the entertainment should take place about the beginning of February, and that the programme should consist of a couple of farces—viz., “Doing My Uncle” and “The Dead Shot.” Both pieces arc favorites, and as they have not been produced as yet in Ashburton, they ought to prove attractive. But in any case we hope, for Mr Bourk’s sake, there will be a crowded house.

Tenders. Tenders for harvesting about 880 acres wheat are invited. Apply to Mr A. Roscoe, Hinds, or to Messrs Friedlander Bros., Ashburton. Woollen Factory. —The meeting of gentlemen interested in the establishment of a woollen factory in Ashburton will take place at the Town Hall on Friday, Jan. 6, at 3 p. m. Winslow Sports. —lntending visitors to these popular sports will be glad to learn that a special train will leave Ashburton for Winslow at 11.15 a.m. on Monday, returning at 6 p.m., stopping at Tinwald if required. The Volunteer Rifle Range. —Last night the C.Y.O. targets were conveyed to the island in the river bed, preparatory to their being mounted for practice. An other fatigue party will proceed to the is land on January 2nd, and fix up some more platforms. The distances hive been pegged off, and tenders will be called shortly for the erection of the butts and the building of a high wall at the rear of the targets. Before the close of the sum mer, shooting will no doubt be going for ward.

Cricket. —The members of the Ash burton and Borough Cricket Clubs intend having a scratch match on the Domain ground next Monday, when it is hoped as many of the local players who can attend will do so.

Midnight Service. —A service will be held at St. Stephen’s Church, at eleven o’clock to-morrow night (New Year’s Eve), when the incumbent, the Rev. A. W. Hands will deliver a short address. Boots for the Million. —Mr Andrew Orr, who has just received a consignment of boots and shoes, offers to dispose of them at what seem to be a ridicuously low price ; but our readers are referred to the advertisement for particulars.

An American Farmer’s Lot. —An American paper gives the following des cription of the Western farmer;—“The average Western farmer toils hard, early and late, often depriving himself of needed rest and sleep—for what 1 To rise corn. For what 1 To feed hogs. For what ? To get money with which to buy more land. For what? To rise more corn. For what 1 To feed more hogs. For what ? To buy more land. And what does he want with more land ? Why, he wishes to rise more corn—to feed more hogs—to buy more land—to rise more corn —to feed more hogs—and in this circle he moves until the Almighty stops his hoggish proceedings.”

An Awful Death. —There are in Victoria a species of insects called by the appropriate name of bull-dog ants. The sting of these creatures is exceedingly painful, and not a little venomous. Stories are told of the blacks in the old days tying their white captives naked on bull-dog beds, and leaving them there to be stung to death, whilst the ebony skinned fiends danced around enjoying the sufferings of their victims. These narratives read more like fictions than facts,' but an incident which happened in Victoria recently tends strongly to show that there is nothing improbable in them. An old man suffering from paralysis was found by some boys in a lonely paddock, lying speechless and insensible on the ground. He was covered with bull-dog ants, even his mouth swarming with them. He had been bitten from head to foot, and having been removed to the hospital, he died without ever having recovered consciousness. The attention of the boys was first attracted by the barking of a little dog, who took that means of trying to bring aid to his unfortuate master.

Somnambulism.—A remarkable case of somnambulism (says the Melbourne Herald) in a youth suffering from bronchitis came lately under the observa tion of the medical officers at the Mel bourne Hospital. At 2 o’clock in the morning the constable on the Simpson’s road beat was startled by what he thought to be a most extraordinary apparition. An animated object dressed in a night gown was walking along the road slowly. Evidently not frightened of ghosts, the constable approached the object, and though it came in “ such questionable form,” he determined to arrest the object, and on touching it he found that it was a human being soundly asleep. In the meantime the person had awakened from his sleep, and on enquiring what he was doing at that hour in the morning in the streets, and in a semi-nude condition, the youth replied that he had been dreaming he was going somewhere on an errand. He gave the name of James Drane, fifteen years of age. The constable wanted to take the unfortunate youth home, but being unable to indicate his place of abode, the constable took him to the Melbourne Hospital, where he was admitted. It was found there that he was also suffering from bronchitis. Next morning he felt very weary and prostrate, which, according to observations made by eminent physiologists, is the usual con dition of somnambulists after a night’s adventure.

Bachelors Beware. —The following advice tendered to young men by a phil osopher who has had considerable matri monial experience, tliould be engraved in brass and displayed in every bachelor’s bedroom :—“ Young man, keep your eyes open when you are after the women. If you bite at the naked hook you are green. Is a pretty dress or form so attractive I or a pretty face even 1 Flounces, boys, are no consequence. A pretty face will grow old. Paint will wash off. The sweet smile of the flirt will give way to the scowl of the termagant. Another and a far different being will take the place of the lovely goddess who smiles and eats your sugar candy. The coquette will shine in the kitchen corner, and with the once sparkling eye and beaming countenance will look daggers at you. Beware ! Keep your eye open, boy, when you are after the women. If the dear is cross, and scolds at her mother in the back room, you may be sure you will get particular rubs all over the house. If she blushes when found at domestic duties, be sure she is of the dishrag aristocracy—little breeding, and a great deal less sense. If you marry a girl who knows nothing but to commit woman-slaughter on the piano, you have got the poorest piece of music over got up. Find one whose mind is right and then pitch in. Boy, don’t be hanging round like a sheep thief, as though you were ashamed to be seen in the day time, but walk up like a chicken to the dough pile, and ask for the article like a man. ”

Railway Arrangements. —The train arrangements for the New Year’s holidays will be found in another column.

Masonic. The installation of the W. M. and officers of the Somerset Lodge will take place this evening at the Masonic Hall, The R. W. D. D. G. M. Bro. Thomson will perform the ceremony, and visiting brethren from all parts are invited to be present. After the installation the usual banquet will be held in the refreshment room of the hall.

Extension of Licenses. —Messrs 0. P. Cox and J. Ward sat again this morning as Licensing Commissioners, to receive applications from Mr Power, of the Royal Hotel, for an extension of his license for next Monday, January 2 ; and from Mr M. Scott, of Tinwald, for an extension of license for Thursday next, January sth, the occasion of the sale by Messrs J. T. Ford and Co., of the stock and farming plant, property of the late Sir J. Cracroft Wilson. Both applications were granted. Trotting Match. —The trotting match last night, between Mr McKenzie’s Brigham Young and Mr Graham's Doctor’s Maid, for L2O a - side, resulted in an easy victory for Doctor’s Maid. A second match was talked about for to-day at four o’clock, but nothing definite was settled when we went to press. The conditions of this second race were arranged last night, when it was agreed that the mare should give the Mormon 75yds start in miles, for a fiver a-side. Police Court. —At the Police Court this morning, before C. P. Cox, J. P., and Mr R. Alcorn, J.P., John Tobin was charged under the Vagrant Act with obtaining goods by false pretences to the value of L2. The accused pleaded guilty. The facts of the case were briefly these : A few days ago the accused went to the Rakaia Hotel, and represented to Mr Kemp, the licensee, that he was working for Mr J. L. Coster. He then produceed an order upon that gentleman for L2, and upon the strength of these representations be was supplied with what he wanted. The order was in duo course presented for payment, and, in consequence, Mr Coster yesterday called at the hotel, and repudi ated any knowledge of the accused, whom he said had never worked for him, and had never received any order from him. The Bench considering the charge fully proved sentenced accused to 14 days’ im prisonment with hard labor.

The Great Eastern. I wonder what laambard Kingdom Brunei would have said could he have seen the last and most wonderful creation of his genius brought to the hammer on October 21, 1881, and actually bought in for L 30,000, The Great Eastern steamship is, in fact, too big even for this age of big things. Her tonnage is 22,000, and she could carry an army of 8,000 man comfortably, but the fact is her engines are too slow and anti quated, and the Government would be afraid to put so many eggs in one basket. One use she certainly befits, and that is the laying of Atlantic cables, but even here there is no demand. Originally she was intended for the Atlantic service and to carry 2,000 passengers, but she never obtained more than a tenth of the number, and in other respects failed as an ocean-going craft. Her size prevents her passing through the Suez Canal, and so doing any thing in the India or China trade, otherwise, perhaps, your readers might catch a glimpse of her gigantic hull even in Antipodean waters. One proposal (andnotaibad one) is to convert the monster into a floating hotel some where off Mar gate or Ramsgate, so that invalids and others might enjoy the full benefit of un adulterated ozone and iodine without the perils of mal de mer. Originally she cost nearly a million of money. Surely some enterprising capitalist will rescue her from degradation. —English Correspondent of N. Z. Times. We understand that the big steamer is about to be turned into a floating hotel. Moored in the Thames, for instance, at some-favorite part of the river she would be found a capital resort for picnic or wedding parties.

Mark- Twain on the Comet.—The cor respondent of the New York Sun, who found Mark Twain on the roof of hia house watching the comet with a long pole in hia hand, reports Mark as saying: —“ They are all wrong about the tail. I’ve ciphered on that tail until I under stand every inch of it. It’s absurd to suppose that the tail isn’t solid, and pretty tough, too. Do yon imagine that this comet could go bulging through space .at the rate of two hundred miles a minute without knocking spots out of a tail that was vapor 1 Tie a fog bank on to the rear end of the New York and Boston four o’clock express, start her off at even forty miles an hour, and see how long your fog bank will travel in company with yonr locomotive. Yet they ask us to swallow this miserable nonsense about the comet’s tail. My observations about this fellow, also of Coggia’s comet, seven years ago, convinced me that comets’ tails are fastened on tight, and are of a fibrous and durable nature, like Hartford beef steak.” “And what do you propose to do with your pole V’ “ Great Caesar ! With a tail forty-two million, miles long, three million miles thick, and tough as whip-leather, whisking about in the wake of that piratical craft every time she tacks overhead, don’t you see the necessity of keeping a cool-headed and muscular man on deck here to fend off in case the cussed thing whisks the wrong way. To the Ladies.—False ears are the latest artistic embellishment in vogue amongst the Paris ladies. The “ ugly things ” made by nature are completely put in the shade. The old saying, “ Beauty unadorned, adorned the most,” is fast giving way to the unique in ventions of the Paris artists ; or else the race of beauties have degenerated. What with false hair, false teeth, false noses, false busts and limbs, false complexions, and false eyes, it will be difficult to tell by-and-bye what part of the “human form divine,” as represented in the fashionable lady of the day, is not false. Whatever part of her body is deemed to be genuine, it will certainly not be her heart—that is as false as it possibly can be. The only matter for congratulation in all this false ness is, that it gives employment to a vast army of work people nearly all over the world. In the manufacture of these “ adornments ” intricate machinery often assists the cunning of the artist. The manufacture of glass eyes, for instance, is a very delicate process, and workshops are to be found in uimost every country. In Paris, London, and some American cities the trade is very extensive. In Chicago alone, an exchange tells us, about 1,000 glass eyes are sold every year.

CABLE NEWS

AUSTRALIAN.

[per reuter’s agency.] A Blaze. Brisbane, To-day. A serious fire, resulting in the de struction of three shops, occurred last night, in South Brisbane. The in surances include L6oo in New Zealand offices. Speculation. Melbourne, Yesterday. The following is the latest betting on the Champion Stakes, to be run on Monday, Jan. and ; —Wheatear, 5 to 2 ; Wellington, 3 to 1 ; Santa Claus, 7 to 1. The following horses are also probable starters;- —St Peter, Royal Maid, Coriolanus, Kohinoor, Commo tion, Marmora, Martindale, Somerset, and Monmouth. Christchurch Exhibition. Mr Twopenny, one of the promoters,

will leave Melbourne by the Arawata, to arrange for the opening of the Inter national Exhibition at Christchurch. March 15th has been fixed as the date for the ceremonial. Over 200 applica tions for space have already been re ceived from England by intending ex hibitors. Commodore Erskine has pro mised to take the Australian squadron to Lyttelton at an early date, and will assist at the opening ceremony. It is expected that the Exhibition will be very successful. Sworn In. Sydney, Yesterday. Sir John Robertson was sworn in to day as Secretary for Lands vice Hon. James Hoskins. Shipping. Sailed this afternoon —Pacific Mail Company’s steamship Australia, for Auckland. Sir Henry Parkes and Miss Parkes are passengers for England by her.

TELEGRAMS.

[per press association.] Out-rigger Champion Race. Auckland, To-day. An out-rigger champion race took place at Mercury Bay regatta. There were three entries, Carter and Floyd from New South Wales, and Albert White, the sculler beaten by Hearn. The distance was miles. White led at the start, but was rapidly over-hauled by Carter, who won a splendid race by several lengths. Fire. Havelock, To-day. Hutchison’s Masonic Hotel, and James Smith’s store and out-buildings were burnt down last night. Brownlie and Co’s, and Mills Bro’s. store, Fear’s Hotel, and Benemore’s had a narrow escape. The firemen worked well. The insurances are as follow ;—Hutchison’s L 50 0; Transatlantic, L3sG>>'--’!' Jijaaes Smith’s store —Victoria, LSOO-; Union,. i,Boo. The Chinese Gtoinhlers- ' A.- To-day.’ A deputation, -heaK&fL by his Worship: the Mayor, waited Minister of Justice this bringing under his notice the resolutions (previously tele graphed) passed at a public meeting relating to the imposition of the heavy fine on several Chinamen for playing fan tan. A petition to his Excellency was also presented, praying that the fine be remitted. The deputation urged that the defendants were strangers to the country, and were not aware of our customs or laws, and further, that they were not playing for gain. Mr Dick, in reply, said the police had on several occasions warned the keeper of the house of the penalties he would incur if gambling were allowed to go on. However, he would be happy to forward the petition for his Excellency’s favorable consideration. A report would be obtained from the Magistrates who convicted the Chinamen as to whether the fine was too severe, and the case would then be fully considered. He mentioned that the fine having been paid, it would be rather difficult to have it refunded.

The Writs. The Rodney writ (which has been missing) was received by the Clerk of Writs by matt this morning. The ; delay will be put right by Order in Council) .arid the irregularity in regard to the Wai kouaiti writ will also be corrected in the same way ; but it is still doubtful whether the Act will enable the Governor in Council to direct a return for Hokitika under the circumstances of the case. Tlmaru Items. Timakd, To-day. A strong nor’wester is blowing to-day, but' not violent enough to do damage. Two steamers, the Westport and the Waitaki, are alongside the wharf, held hard against it by the wind on their broadsides, but lying easily. The water supply is a great boon to the residents in the main street, where it is used plenti fully to lay the dust. r ; .. . A Step in the Bight Direction. Dunedin, To-day.

The Penguin was brought up close alongside the Rattray street wharf. She grounded slightly off Ravensbourne, but returned at full tide easily. It is generally admitted that the trip was a success, and that the money spent on the channel has been productive of 'great good. The Hon. Mr Oliver and Messrs Fergus and Pish, M.H.R.’s, spoke strongly in favor of the Board’s operations. It is expected that in three months’ time all-the inter colonial vessels will be able to come to Dunedin.

SPORTING.

AUCKLAND R.G. MEETING. Auckland, Yesterday. ' The following acceptances were received to-night : Racing Club Handicap. —Rand wick, King Quail, Maori. Yatapa, Badsworth, Tim Whiffler, Hilda, Lara, Lonehand, Paramena, Matau, Vampire, Poet, Moon stone • ” Grand Stand Handicap.—Billings gate, Maid of Honor, Randwick, Maori/ Badsworth, Othello, Hilda, Lara, Para mena, Vampire, Miss Domett, Poet, Ten ambra, Retriever.

RAILWAY DISASTER IN PRANCE.

A slow passenger train from Mon targis arrived at Charenton on the Lyons Railway, twelve minntes behind the time at which it was due. It was being shunted to allow the “ Lightning Express ” from Marseilles to pass, when the express train was approaching. Many of the passengers in the Mon targis train saw it coming, and jumped out of the carriages. The driver started his engine, but the collision could not be avoided. The engine of the “ Lightning ” train dashed into the other, and smashed four of the car riages. For some minutes afterwards the wildest confusion prevailed; but the first fright over, the railway au thorities began to organize relief. To extricate the victims was a labor of sometime. The shrieks of the injured rent the air, while their friends and fel low passengers gathered round, some weeping, others fainting, and all pale with fright and terror. Twelve dead bodies, fearfully mutilated, and about twenty injured were extricated from the wrecked carriages and conveyed to the waiting-room of the Charenton Station, where doctors were in attendance. As the work of rescue continued the victims were discovered to be more and more numerous. Nineteen persons, it is believed, were killed. The wounded are larger in number than the dead, and their injuries are, for the most part, very serious. They have been placed in the private houses, hospitals, and asylums of Charenton, and some, having been for a time kept at the sta tion, were sent to Corbel. A few also elected to return to their homes in Paris in carriages. Of these, one, a woman, died on the way. One of the railway carriages, which was smashed ' to atoms, was occupied by a musical ! Society of La.Ferte d’Alais, which was i

on its way to Brighton. These persons were nearly all either killed or hurt. The dead include two young children, one a boy and the other a girl, who were not in the same carriage, and whose bodies have not yet been claimed. It is only too probable that their parents have shared their sad fate. Some of the bodies are so mutilated that identification will be difficult It was the slow train which furnished all the victims, the passengers of the “ Lightning Express” escaping with a severe shaking. In the latter train was the brother of the King of Siam and his suite, who were in no way hurt.

CURIOSITIES OF KLEPTOMANIA.

A lady was affected with this- mono mania so strongly that, upon her trial for theft, she stated that she had such a mad longing to possess herself of everything she saw, that if she were at . church she could not refrain from stealing from the altar. Dr. Rush, the American physician, informs us that a woman who was exemplary in her obe dience to the moral law—except the eighth commandment—was so ad dicted to larceny that, when she could take nothing more valuable, she would often, at the table of a friend, secretly fill her pockets.,with bread. Lavater also states that, a doctor of medicine could not leave hisjSiatients’ rooms with out taking something away unobserved; and his wife searched his pockets and returned to their owners the knives, thimbles, scissors, &c., which her hus band abstracted. The wife of another physician had so strong a propensity to steal, that, on making purchases, she endeavored to take something away that did not belong to her; and two German countesses appear to have been guilty of the same vice. The almoner of a regiment of Prussian cuirassiers,' a well-educated man, fre quently on parade stole the handker chiefs of the officers; and one un fortunate man was so far under the in fluence of kleptomania that, being nigh unto death, he actually sacreted the snuffbox of his confessor. As to modern instances of this species off insanity, we knew a parish clergyman' who stole every article he could lay his hands on. If out at dinner he pocketed scraps of bread, table napkins, or anything. When lodging at hotels he carried off pieces ■of soap and the ends of candles mom his His larcenies beclpie so notorious that he was ultimateljp brought before the Church Courts and turned out of his living. A very recent instance of this alleged infirmity may be cited :—Re cently,at the Middlesex Sessions, before the assistant judge, Mr~P. H. Edlin, Q.C., John Green, aged 69, traveller, was indicted for having stolen a bag containing books and other articles, the property of the Rev. James Finder, of Alton, Hants. The prisoner, who was at first pleaded “ guilty of kleptomaniai/-!«,but this plea not being allowed, it wai* altered into that of not. guilty. The jury found him gu i I dT-a^nceyipus conviction having, been proved gainst ; him, he was sen tenced to 14 mbits’ , hard labor and three years’ police supervision.

A ROMANTIC CAREER.

Few ists have had so ro* mantic a career as Madame Marie. Roze. The following anecdote is only one of a ijfumber of almost equal in terest. Dicing the siege of Paris no citizen "worked harder for the defdhce than this intrepid Frenchwoman. She. organised an ambulance, and supported; it by giving concerts and dramatic performances. All the patriotic young men were in love with her, and she re ceived innumerable offers of marriage from admirers in all ranks of society. A young marquis threatened her with a terrible punishment if she did not ac cept his suit. He invited her to meet him, and swore he would permanently disfigure her if she did not come. She in the Bois de Boulogne, and jas" he spoke four commissaries of police rushed from their yilaces of conceal ment and secured him. In his pocket was',found a bottle of vitriol. But this failure did not thwart his purpose. He still vowed vengence, and iiaving es-‘ caped from prison when the was declared, might have carried out his intent if he had not been 'shot by a bne ! nigTit near Marie Roze’s "house. ‘.So ended an interesting . drama, which must have been decidedly unpleasant to the heroine.

SKILLED LABOR IN GAOLS.

Among some Parliamentary returns *iof last session, copies of which are only now coming to hand, is one called for by Mr Hutchison, showing the number of convicts in the gaols of the colony employed at trades, and the varioiis kinds of skilled and unskilled labor, suchFeftffff’being for the week ending 26th March, 1881, the last week in the past financial year. Summarised, the return gives the following particulars : —.Skilled artisans employed in prison repairs or new buildings, 25 ; unskilled laborers similarly employed, or at stone breaking or local public works, 360 j oakum-picking, 11 ; shoemakers, mak ing prison shoes, 13 ; tailors, making prison, clothing, 15; female prisoners, making and; repairing prison clothing, 14; carpenters, working on police buildings, 4; working in the prison shops, 1 cooper, 1 hammock-maker, r painter, 6 printers/ 6 assistant-printers, 1 warder (as foreman printer), 1 ma chine stocking-knitter, and 1 tinsmith. —Total, 460. The value of their work, calculated at 4s per diem for skilled laoor (except printing) and 3s for un skilled labor, amounted for the week to L 396 14s 3d, and payment received from local bodies and other sources was L 47 16s 4d. In this amount is included Ll 3 1*53 6d payment for print ing done at Lyttelton gaol, the value of printing done during the week being L 25 ns 3d, estimated on Government printer’s valuation.

THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1881.



XT' D. MONK’S ORIENTAL BILLIARD AND REFRESHMENT SALOON NOW OPEN DAILY. Tables by Alcock and Thurston of the highest quality. Carved in solid walnut. Come and see one of the FINEST BILLIARD SALOONS In the Colony. FLEMING’S BUILDINGS, TRIANGLE * Next A. Wilson, Tobacconist, 7250 Christchurch. Christmas Presents AND NEW YEAR’S GIFTS. JUST Received, a Choice Assortment of Christmas and New Year Cards, Dolls, Humming Tops, and Shell Goods in great variety. Letts’ Diaries for 1882 ; Family Reader (div. 42); Boys’ Standard (new series) ; Latest Novelties in Pipes. F. CLARK, Hairdresser and Tobacconist, Montgomery’s Buildings. 310 d John Meech, PRACTICAL CABINETMAKER, UPHOLSTERER, &c., J URN ET T STREET, Opposite the Mail Office.



Easy Chairs, Couches, English and American Chairs, Single and Double Iron pad Wood Bedsteads, f All kinds of Carpeting, Matting, and Oilcloth. A large assortment of Repps •ad Cretonnes at lowest prices. Suites of Furniture from Ll 3 and upwards. All fritida of furniture re-covered and repaired the very lowest prices. All work guaranteed and completed at the shortest notice. Furniture exchanged, wad highest prices given for second-hand Aornitare. . _ , Ifote the address—Cheapest House in Ashburton, opposite Mail Office, Burnett ftroet . *I6P,



Wanted. WANTED, for the Country, a General SERVANT. Apply to Mks Parsons, Seafield, Ashburton. 472 d TTTANTED—NAVVIES. Apply at the Railway Works, Little River, to Jesse Coates. 459 d WANTED —A goodgeueral SERVANT. Wages £34 per annum. Apply, Miss Calugan, Tancred street, Ashbur ton. 455 d ANTED, a Good ENGINE DRIVER to drive a Hornsby Threshing Ma chine. None but experienced workmen need apply. S. Brown, Central Hotel, Ashburton. 471 d TXT ANTED Shearers, Harvesters, ' Y and the public generally to know that Ready Money Richards leaves Ash burton Jan. 15 th. 474 d V>TANTED —TENDERS for HAG VV VESTING about BSO ACRES WHEAT. Tenderers to state quantity they will undertake to cut. Tenders to be in not later than TUESDAY, noon, the 3rd proximo. For full particu lars apply to AUBREY ROSCOE, Hinds, 473 d Or, FRIEDLANDER BROS. VT7 ANTED KNOWN—A GRAND W 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— Mks Hender son, Dressmaker, Burnett street, near Catholic Church. Ladies’ Dresses made from 5s 6d. Apprentices Wanted. W ANTED 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, FRIEDLaNDER BROS, are selling NEW FRUIT, NEW FRUIT, Currants, 6id ; Elemes, 7d ; Sultanas, 8d ; Candied Peel, Is 6d ; Best j Butter, 6d; and General Groceries equally cheap for Cash. 318 d



WANTED KNOWN.—SPRING AND SUMMER MILLINERY. MISS YERRALL is now Showing her First Display of Spring Millinery. Co lombo street (opposite Cookham House.) 827 c WANTED KNOWN—That Robert Elston, Burnett street, 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. Special Advertisements. O. Carstens & Co., (Late Weston’s), PROSPECT BUILDINGS, mOBACCONIST, FANCY GOODS, I AND STATIONERY. Meerschaum Pipes, G.B. D. Pipes Nailrod, Twist, and Vanity Fair Tobacco A nice assortment of Accordions, Con certinas, Flutes, Violins, Mouth Organs, and Toys of every description, direct from Home. Haircutting, Shaving and Shampooing. EAST STREET ASHBURTON. 257a* NEW 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 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. Lowest Prices for Cash. 293 d jg-IS LORDSHIP’S LARDER. THE ONLY ESTABLISHMENT IN THE WORLD WHERE A GRILLED CHOP OR STEAK, AND A GLASS OF BASS’ ENGLISH ALE, Can be obtained FOR ONE SHILLING.



THE BEST MENU TO CHOOSE FROM IN CHRISTCHUBCH. Unequalled Accommodation for Ladies. Dinners, Banquets, Ball Suppers, Wedding Breakfasts, and Picnics pro vided for, in the very best possible style. W, H. MESSENGER, 360 d Purveyor. THE undersigned will be prepared, during the coming season, to supply the following articles at the lowest rates: — REAPERS and BINDERS EXTRAS for DO. BINDING WIRE CORN SACKS TURNIP and RAPE SEEDS PLOUGH SHARES And all- kinds of Agricultural Imple ments. FREDK. PAVITT, Corn 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



Special Advertisements. F 450 d w ~0 It '.V,, S A L E BARGAIN—On account of the owner leaving the district —A four roomed COTTAGE, with half an acre of land, in a good position. POYNTZ & GO. O l r I 0 E~T 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. MUSIC DEPOT. ASHBURTON BRANCH. Milner & Thompson Desire to inform the residents of Ash burton and surrounding districts that they have appointed Mr H. M. JONES their sole Agent for this district, and invite inspection of the Instruments, Music, &c., now displayed in the SHOW ROOM, above Mr Jones’ Shop. PIANOS by all the best makers— Broadwood, 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 I 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. 770 c



GOING! GOING!! GOING!!! Eeady Money Richards la CLEARING OUT of Ashburton, January 15th. Parties requiring the CHEAPEST DRAPERY and CLOTHING' ever OFFERED had better give him a call AT ONCE AND SECURE THE BARGAINS. 118 d



ARGAINS IN BOOTS, &c. Andrew Orr Has just concluded the Purchase of a Bot of LADIES’ BOOTS, all sizes, at about HALF PRICE, which will be open for Sale SATURDAY, 3isx DECEMBER, And following Days. Ladies’ Boots, at 5s lid per pair 1 Lot Children’s, at Is per pair 1 Lot Girls, at 2s per pair A Large Consignment of Men’s HATS, at greatly Reduced Prices. Men’s Leghorn’s, at 1s each Men’s Leghorn’s, good, Is 6d Men’s Straw, splendid quality, at 3s 6d, former price, 4s 9d 21 Doz Men’s Harvesting Shirts, at Is lid 20 Doz Men’s best do, 2s 6d and 3s 6d 1 Lot Men’s Paper Collars, at 3d per box. GREAT REDUCTIONS in all Classes of GOODS. GROCERY ESTABLISHMENT, Takcrbd street, Brick Buxldixgs. SOLE AGENT for DAVIS’ VERTICAL FEED SEWING MACHINE. A £ DREW ORR, Importer, etc. Ashburton, Dec. 30, 1881. 476d*



Back from the front.—The scare at Parihaka is over; our vo lunteers have proved themselves equal to the occasion, and although no fighting was done, they were the “ boys” to do it had it been required; a brush with the “ blaekfellows ’’ 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 ’.ittle township. Try 0. Hawkins’ Shop before you go elsewhere. 9980 WANTED— A NURSE GIRL, about fourteen years of age. Fond of children. Apply to Mbs Nbate, Tanored street west. WANTED —A smart BOY, about fourteen years of age. Apply to Charles Nbate. Chemist.



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 all over New Zealand. A SINGLE GARMENT AT THE WHOLESALE PRICE. Thousands of discerning customers testify that the New Zealand Clothing Factory’s Garments are the very best for ready money. Ashburton Branch : East Street. W. SPARROW, 692 c Branch Manager. AYING 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. WANTED THE GUARDIAN tell* your Wants for Ik, cash.



The Beer Duty. —At the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, yesterday, Mr Ehrenfried, brewer, brought forward the present inconvenient way of collecting the beer duty. He said that every brewery should be considered a bond, and the working tuns guaged from time to time, after which a brewer could do as he liked with his produce. The question was post poned.