SHIPPING.

K *T •*?«-* %TT -J p r PORT OP LYTTELTON . -V Arrived. Yesterday. Loch Lomond, ship, from Melbourne. ' To-day. Rotomahana, els. , from Wellington., Wanaka, 8.8., from Port Chalmers. Sailed. ~ Yesterday. Island Gity, barque, for Newcastle. s*Bh»fton,-*.s. jfor Timaru and Oamaru. ' ‘ Jane Douglas, s.a, for Kiakoura and Wellington..;’. • ■ ■ Hill. brigantine, for Westport. owSjuCd, for Eaipara. 'Esther, brigantine, for Havelock. ai SiarPPING TELEGRAMS. OJ3 wa > ■ Auckland. Yesterday. —Hero, from Sydney. “ Wellington, Yesterday. /Arrived— Go-Ahead, from Timaru ; fitfe of*‘the South, from the South; Oreti. from'lhe‘North ; Waimea, barque, HaWes, for Picton and Nelson; Kiwi, for Napier. ;; Port Chalmers, Yesterday. Arrivedr-Estelle, ■ from Newcastle. ■ ' Sydney, Yesterday. SaUed-r-Wakatipu, ' for Wellington, on

MAIL NOTICES.

%';! | i > 1 Mail a close at" the Chief Post Office for the folloyipg places (subject to the neces . jmy alterationsyiis'tinder - - Friday, July 8. "For West Coast Sounds, per express trwqtf to with the s.s. Wallace, at Wkm.' ■' '* ~4i -t- *. Saturday, July. 16. the Uhiiea Kingdom, via San Fran ciaco. Continents of Europe and America, West indies, Sandwieli Islands, Northern Ports of New Zealand, Ac., per Wanaka, as follows :—.Ordinary letters at 6.30 p.m. ; late fed g4tter£ at > 7 p.m. ; books and at 6' p.m. ; money orders, at 3,'p.ni., ‘;‘ registered letters at 5 p.m. ; clo«e(at the Ashburton Post Office a&ffH^rch, and North at 5.30 a. m. t(dj> p. in.,, daily. Rakaia, &c., at 10a.m. idjm,,Tinwald, Winslow, Hinds, ~Rangitata, Orari, Winchester, ine, at 10 a.m. daily, mka, at 6 a.m. and 10 a.m., - dflfyT Foy Timaru and South, at 6 a.m., 10 - aAn., and 420 p.m., daily. I IFpr j Greehstteet, Ashburton Forks, Mgpnt Somers, and 'Ashburton Gorge, DU Tuesdays and Fridays, at 10.30 a m. For Ashton. Waterton and Longbeach, alnfcSram. daily. For Wakanuß Elgin, Seafield, New -I»mi "wnd Kyle, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, at € aim. Mails arrive at the Ashburton Post ■ .■ Office— ■. [From Christchurch and Rakaia at 10.25 s.rb. , 4.35 p.m., and 7.60 p.m. -From Chertaey,&c. at 10.25 a.m. and '436 p.m. daily. From Dunedin and intermediate places at-5.35p.m-daily. From 'Teinuka and Timaru at 10.15 a. m. 5.35 p.m., and 8.15 p.m. daily. From Greenstreet, Ashburton Forks, Mpunt Somers, and Ashburton Gorge and Saturdays at 3 p. m. Ashton, . Waterton, and Long beach af 10 a.m. daily. From Elgin, Wakanui, Seafield, New- Kyle, on Tdesdays, Thursdays, Satnrdays, at. 4 P-m* -

DAILY MEMORANDA.

AUCTION SALES, fs, . . . ‘ To-kobbow, : ■ - ' Wednesday, Joey 5. Mr t J: Tvess, on the premises of Mr garage i- Household Furniture and -Sfiectt } - ; 12 o’clock. ” ‘ Saturday, Joey 9. ■ Mfc.T.Bullock, at hia Rooms, East street Town and Suburban Pro perties. MEETINGS, AMUSEMENTS, &o To-night, -■ Tuesday, July 5. Horticultural Society, Monthly Meeting &t,Jacbbson and Ey ton’s office, at 8 o’clock. ' Ashburton Permanent Building and In- Ywitufent .Society, Monthly Meeting, frbm 0.30 ttfASO p.m. 1 To-mobbow, y: ’ 5 Wednesday, Juey 6. Council, at the County Council - Chambers, at;ll‘o'clock: ' Bt-Stephen’s Church, at 8 £The Thursday, July 7. L.O.L. —Monthly Meeting, Somerset Sapiple-Rooms. Lecture in the Schoolroom, Chertsey, at 8 p.m. , Ashburion labrary—Committee Meeting. Monday,, July 11. Borough Council, at Borough Council Ohambeife,at 7. o’clock. ' .;Titb3Day, Joey 12. Lecture, id the Wakanui Schoolroom, at 7.;50 p.'m. ' L. OiL.- Dinner, Somerset Hotel, 8 p.m. Ashburton School Committee.

TRAVELLERS’ GUIDE.

TflAINa IjEAVB - Ashbubton fob Chbist chuboh and intermediate stations at 6 am., 10.30 am., and (Express) 5.48 < T&MNS.LEATB AsHB.UBTON FOB TIHABU and. South, at. 7 am.,10.36 am. (Ex- ceeding no farther than Timar u. TrainsArkivb at Ashburton fbom Ohbjbyokobuh at 10 24 am. (Express), 4,35 p.m., aod r 7-60 p.m. Teams, Arbiyb at Ashburton fbom Tu r ABU ;AND South at 10.16 am., 5.34 and 8,15 p.m.

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prevalebit. TUESDAY, JULY 5, 1881. Non-Paying Railways.

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

Mr Hursthouse’s motion, upon which which the Ministry were her ten, and which provided that the landowners and other residents along the lines of non-paying railways should bear the . annual loss upon their traffic, though brought forward at the wrong time and by the wrong man, was nevertheless the right thing in itself. It was brought forward at the wrong time, for clearly if the principle which Mr Hursthouse now proposes to adopt be the right one it applied with at least equal, if not greater, force when these political rail ways were first made. For years past the colony has had to pay annually so considerable a sura in maintaining these

railways, which yield no profit at all, or next to none, that the profit on the genuine lines which were really re quired, and were not constructed by means of log-rolling, side-winds, and jobbery, has been reduced to about two per cent, or less. All this money might and ought to have been saved if Mr Hursthouse is now in the right. The proper time, as was very justly urged by the Premier, was before the construction of these lines began, for then they would not have been begun, or if begun would have been no burden to the colony at large. The correct principle of railway construction would have been known before anything was done, and no one could reasonably complain. And then, 100, Mr Hursthouse was certainly not the proper man to bring forward such a motion as that he pro posed. As Government “ whip ” in the House of Representatives, he could not properly assume the position of an independent member. It is quite true that, as even the organ of the Ministry in the seat of Government, the New Zea land Times , admits, there is no one principle upon which the present Ministry are entirely at one, siill the Government whip, whether paid or not, should receive his orders from the Premier, and in this case there was no doubt as to what was the nature of the Premier’s views, or if there had been that doubt could at once have been satis fied. A whip who upsets the coach he is driving because he thinks the pas sengers or the proprietors a lot of rub bish, is a fraud and deserves to be pun ished. If Mr Hursthouse wanted to be an independent member he could, and should have thrown up his appoint ment.

But the proposal itself was alto gether a right one. At the time when Sir Julius Vogel’s Public Works scheme was proposed it was not merely under stood, but it was also expressly stipu lated that each province should bear the cost of the interest on its own works. This, however, was adroitly evaded, and numbers of works were constructed by log-rolling, and by de ceptions of various kinds. For years past the colony has been annually paying interest on these, and the spe cially favored districts have not been paying their just debts. It is high time that this should cease, and the land lords in the districts referred to, who have profited enormously by the forma tion of these railways alongside of their own properties, should pay their just share for their maintenance. Even then they will not lose anything more than a mere fraction of what they have gained by the enhanced price of their land alongside of these railways. In a case like this their liability is not one which comes within any actual or moral statute of limitations, for the burden is one which the colony bears every year, so that it is not a bygone grievance. And it it be pleaded that the towns at both ends of these lines should also bear their proportion of the new taxa tion as well as the district alongside of which they run, we fully admit it, but then we would tax them to the full extent of their property also. They indeed have probably derived more profit than even the country districts jromtnese-worits.—-Tne-armngemem is altogether a just one for both town and country. It has also the obvious advantage that it will pre vent a repetition of such swindles as may be perpetrated in connection with the construction of other non r paying railways, for if the landowners and other property holders know that they have to pay interest on the cost of constructing non-paying railways in their own neighborhood, they will count the cost carefully beforehand, and will only indulge in the luxury when it is as abvious a benefit to them as a gravelled path from their gates to their house doors would be.

Tender Accepted. The tender of William Joice, for ploughing 100 acres of the Kaiapoi Reserve, has been accepted. Removal Notice. —Mr John Harvey, bootmaker, announces that he has re moved to new premises, next the Panama Boarding-house.

Served Him Right. —The Christchurch Telegraph states that a rumor is current that the editor of a certain Society Journal not a hundred miles from the Triangle, has been pitched bodily into a water-tank, as a penalty for some alleged insult.

Tinwald Mutual Improvement Asso ciation. — A meeting of the above asso ciation was held in the school-room on Monday evening last. Ten members were present; Mr J. Stalker (vice president) in the chair. Mr Beattie read an interesting paper on “ Mental Exercise,” after which the meeting ar ranged for a discussion on July 18, on the the three forms of Government: Limited Monarchy, Republicanism, and Despot ism.

I.O.G.T.—The weekly meeting of the Dawn of Peace Lodge was held last even ing, at which there was a very large atten dance, in expectation of the reading of Bro. Dunn’s paper on “ Pickled Tongues. ” The Lecturer handled his subject in a masterly manner, drawing special attention to the various tongues at present belonging to representives of both sexes. He detailed at length upon the gossiping, tale bearing, slandering, boasting, and flattering tongues, showing the evil effects en gendered by each, and wound up a very instructive lecture by urging the members of the Order to be careful how any of them indulged in what might appear to them the trifling frivolities incidental to any of the before named, and thus prevent any illfeoling arising among the members of the order. Bro. Dunn has kindly con sented to deliver another lecture on the Good Templar Obligation at an early date.

Supreme Court, Chkistchurch.—Bo" sides the criminal cases which were reported yesterday as having been disposed of by Justice Johnston at the Supreme Court, Christchurch, the following were heard, with the results as stated:—George Wood, charged with forging a cheque for LI Is at Ashburton, was found guilty and sen tenced to three years’ penal servitude; Thomas Miller, who pleaded guilty to forging a cheque for L 5, was sentenced to eighteen months’ imprisonment with hard labor; George Sadler, who was charged with forging an endorsement on a letter of credit, was found guilty and sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment with hard labor; William Baker, charged with steal ing a gelding, was found guilty and sen tenced to three years’ penal servitude; Mark Kenwell was charged with robbery with violence, and also with larceny, pleaded guilty on both charges, lie was sentenced to five years’ penal servitude on each charge, the sentences to be concur rent; George Thomas Lovett, charged with larceny from the person, was found guilty and sentenced to twelve months’ imprisonment with hard labor. In the case of Robert Robertson, charged with attempted suicide, the grand jury re turned no bill. The Court then ad journed.

■ Cost of Navies. Many suppose that England, spends more proportionately on liet\navy than any other of the Great Powers, but this is proved by a writer in the Edinburgh Review to be incorrect. Diviiing the annual expenditure on the navy by every ton of armoured or un armoired shipping, the result shows that in Rissia the sura spent is nearly LIOO per ten ; in France, L 5 4; in Germany, LSO ; and in Britain, L 43 18s, Smalt, but not Polite. —The Welling ton Evening Post lias the following :—A learned counsel was cross-examing a wit ness daring the hearing of a civil case at the Resident Magistrate’s Court yester day, and had occasion to ask the question “ When was it that you went insolvent ?” “ Just before you went insolvent yourself, sir.” The Court tittered, and the Magis trate interfered, informing the vitness that ho was not placed In the box to re turn rude answers. The witness said ho had not meant to be offensive, and apolo gised if he had hurt the learned counsel’s feelings. He explained that the reply he had given was meant to enable the coun sel to fix the date definitely, at which an other smile went round the Court. Union Insurance Company. The annual meeting of shareholders in the Union Insurance Company was held at Christchurch at noon to-day. The balance sheet and report wore read, showing a profit of L 25.000 on the year’s business, and recommending a dividend of 10 per cent., leaying L 12,200 to bo carried to a reserve- fund, and L 5,200 to .be carried forward to next year. The Chairman, in mooing the-adoption of the. report, said the business of the company showed an increase during the past year of L 13,400 over that of the previous year. The report and balance sheet were unani mously adopted. A resolution was carried authorising the Directors to de clare interim dividends in future. Mr L. E. Nathan called attention to the desirability of the company, separately or in conjunction with other New Zealand companies, establishing a branch office in England. The Chairman promised that the Directors would carefully consider the matter.

The Pope’s Habits. —Writing of the habits of the Pope, the Roman corres pondent of the Cologne Gazette says : “The most striking fact about him ap pears to bo the slight extent to which his character is known either by the faithful at largo or by the inmates of the Vatican. Everyone knew how Pius IX. lived; his hours were all allotted beforehand, and the same duties always per formed at the same moment. There is a, total want of this regularity in his successor. He keeps late hours, and has sometimes been found by his servants at his desk in the early morning, half dazed after writing through the night. He has all his meals served to him in the greatest privacy, is much more sparing of audiences than was Pius, and even his state secre tary and the cardinals can only see him at irregular intervals. He has set on foot a chancellory of his own, consisting of three private secretaries, and conducts his affairs wifi their aid quite indepen dently of the state secretary, and often over his head.”

The Public Seal. —The original pub lic seal of New Zealand was presented to the Colony by the Queen, and was pre sented along with the Royal Charter, which accompanied the Constitution Act of 1852. The seal is made of silver, and was intended to make impressions in wax, as was then customary. As the process of sealing documents is now entirely changed, the impression being embossed upon the parchment or paper without the use either of wax or wafers, it has been at last decided to obtain a new Colonial seal suitable for the purpose. A steel was L9O 6s. The first communication upon the subject was a despatch from Sir Hercules Robinson to Sir Michael Hicks Beach in April, 1880. A despatch dated March 17,1881, announces that the new seal has been forwarded, with a request that the old one may be returned in order to be defaced, and enclosing Royal warrant for its uses. Upon being defaced the old silver seal is to be returned, and will, we suppose, be preserved as an heirloom.

The Timaru Breakwater. —The Herald furnishes the following particulars re specting the Timaru breakwater :—The breakwater, over which so many sneers were wasted by our neighbors north of the Rangitata, and south of the Waitangi, is a solid reality. It has been thoroughly tested time after time, with the result that every succeeding heavy sea gives another certificate as to its stability. At the end of the breakwater, and for several hundred feet of its length, the depth of water is twenty-three feet at dead low water spring tides. Within the course of another month 600 feet of wharfage will be available, the contractors for the ex tension of the work having nearly com pleted driving the piles. Besides this 600 feet, four or five vessels drawing up to sixteen feet, will be able f to r be moored inside and under the shelter of the break water, and be worked by the cargo boats. A railway siding from the main yard to the wharf has been completed, and during the course of next week trucks will be loaded and unloaded from the latter. To briefly sura up the work the Timaru Harbor Board have done, we may say that in the course of a little over two years they have carried out the break water some 1,200 feet from the original high water mark; they have provided shelter for vessels drawing from seventeen to eighteen feet of water ; and they have also placed the port in a position which has enabled it to rely almost entirely on itself for its Home trade, and not on Lyttelton or Port Chalmers.

Bush Destitution and Ignorance.— Mr Hall, city missionary, writes to the Wellington Post as follows:—“ Yesterday I wandered a few miles cut of town to visit some families. When between two hills, and nearly surrounded by bush, I observed a small hut, built with bark and toitoi without any windows, and put together without the slightest pretence to architecture. Observing a girl standing close by an aperture from whence was proceeding a cloud of smoke, I ventured to approach her, and took her to be about sixteen years of age. Her ap pearance was very much like that of a sweep after he had performed his duty in a number of chimneys. Her garments were composed of the veriest rags, and of the filthiest description. Around her were three children, much younger than herself, and clat with nothing but a few tatters, all so dirty as to lead me to sup pose that they had never been washed from the time they had been tied round the little creatures’ bodies. The following replies were made by the elder gii-1 to my questions :— ‘ Can you read V —‘No.’ ‘Did you ever go to school?’ —‘ A little while, I think. ’ ‘Do you know the letters of the alphabet!’— No. ’ ‘Do you know who God is?’ —‘I don’t.’ ‘Have you ever heard of Him ?’— ‘ No.’ ‘Do you go to church ?’— ‘ No. ’ Other questions were answered in the same manner. Being anxious to see the interior of the hut, I looked inside and observed one dilapidated chair and a block of wood, which was all the furniture in that wretched abode. Three was no floor to it, but simply the earth on which it was built. I could not make out from the girl what was the occupation of her father ; but, calling on a neighbor some distance off, I learned that he and his wife went into the bush collecting fungus, which they sold to the Chinamen, and that at this employment they obtained the barest subsistence. I have seen many cases of distress in our city, but have never witnessed such wretchedness as this.”

St. John’s Lodge, t— A meeting of thi s Lodge is advertised to take place tlii 8 evening, in the Masonic Hall. Benevolent. —Up to the present, about about LI ,000 has been collected in Christ church for the families of the Revs. Richardson and Armitage, lost with the Tararua .Several subscription lists are not yet in. Church of England. — A lecture will bo delivered to-morrow evening, at St. Stephen’s Church, on the “ Translation of the Bible by Tyndale, and the subsequent revisions. ” A collection for church pur poses will be made, but admission is free. A shortened form of evening service will be held prior to the lecture, at half-past 7. Another Chance. —At the Supreme Court, Christchurch, to-day, George Thomas Hulston was charged with larceny as a bailieo from his employer. The latter recommended the prisoner to the mercy of the Court, and offered to give him employment again. His Honor said he would try an experiment, and under the circumstances mentioned, would only sentence the prisoner to hard labor for one day. Torturing a Nihilist Prisoner.—A horrible statement regarding the respited criminal Jessie Helfmann has been re ceived by her compatriots through their secret telegraph from St Petersburg. It is asserted that in order to extort from her revelations as to her accomplices, she was kept in her cell for 48 hours without bread or water. Helfmann was ap proaching her confinement, and as the period of her starvation became prolonged, she passed from fainting fit into fainting fit, until the purpose of her torturers seemed likely to be defeated by death, and some sustenance was given her.

THE ATTEMPT ON THE LIFE OF THE PRESIDENT OF AMERICA.

Critical State of the Victim. [bv cable] Washington, July 3. Deep and universal anxiety is felt throughout the States at the state of the President’s health. Tele grams have been received from all European Courts expressing sympathy with him. It now transpires that the would-be assassin Gintean was at one time a Consular officer, but was dis missed from his position. Evening. The latest bulletin regarding the President reports that his condition is unchanged. The bullet, it has been ascertained, has pierced the liver, and now lies embedded in the abdomen. From Gintean’s conduct since his ar rest it is believed he is insane. Tele grams of condolence have been re ceived by General Garfield from the Queen, Prince of Wales, and Marquis of Lome. Washington, July 4. A bulletin issued this morning re ports that President Garfield has not passed so good a night, having only dozed at intervals. He has complained of pains in the abdomen, which the doctors pronounce to be symptoms of tympanites or distention of the abdo men. London, July 4. The attempt on the life of the President of America has caused a profound sensation throughout Europe, and universal sympathy is expressed at his present precarious condition.

CABLE NEWS.

LATEST FROM EUROPE [per reuter’s agency.] Shipping. London, July 2. Arrived—Margaret Galbraith, from Timaru; Antares, from Wellington. AUSTRALIAN [per reuter’s agency.] New Judge. Melbourne, July 4. Mr Hartley Williams, who has been offered a Judgeship, accepted the honor and was sworn in to-day. Melbourne Cricket Pavilion. His Royal Highness Prince Albert Victor of Wales laid the foundation stone of the Melbourne cricket pavilion to-day. The Premier. It has transpired that at an inter view which the Hon. Graham Berry had with the Governor on Saturday he presented a memorandum asking for a dissolution of Parliament. It is, how ever, believed that his Excellency will decline to accede to the request. Agent-Generalship. It has transpired that the Govern ment have offered the Agent-General ship in London to Mr C. H. Pearson, the member for Castlemaine. Mr Pearson has, however, declined to ac cept the post. Victoria’s Revenue. Melbourne, To-day.

The Victorian returns of revenue and expenditure were issued to-day. They show the revenue for the quarter ended 30th June to have amounted to Li,336,000, being an increase of L 231,000 as compared with the corres ponding quarter of last year. The revenue for the year ended 30th June was Ls, 107,000, being an increase of L 553,000 on the year 1879-80. The customs receipts increased in the same period by 1.103,000, the railway receipts by Li 27,000, and the excise by L 215,900, the land revenue, how ever, amounts to L 549,300, being an increase of 26,000 on the year ended 30th June, 1880. A Brilliant Success. A grand concert was given at the Exhibition building last evening by the German Liedertafel Society. The Royal Princes and the Governor were present, and the attendance of the public is estimated at fully 6,000. The affair was a most brilliant success • The Revenue. Brisbane, July 4. The Queensland revenue returns for the quarter ended J une 30th, show the total receipts for the period to be L 570,000, being an increaseof Li 60,000 compared with the corresponding quarter of last year. The increase for the year is L 288,000. The receipts for Customs have increased during the quarter by Li 6,000; from stamps, £3,000; from land sales, Li 12,000; from railways, Li 1,000; and from the Post-office, Li,ooo. The revenue from miscellaneous sources also shows an increase of 1.9,000. The principal de crease during the period is in revenue from public works, and amounts to Li 5,000.

LATE EUROPEAN NEWS.

[Per s.s. ErNQAKOOMA, at the Bluff.] London, June 20. An unfortunate accident has befallen Kelly, the well-known ex-champion oars man, who accompanied Trickett to the United States. On the train approaching Saratoga, Trickett and Kelly were boxing together, when Kelly accidentally fell and broke his leg. Intelligence has been received by way of India that notwithstanding the alleged amicable settlement of the Kuldja diffi culty, the relations between Russia and China are of a very strained character. It is reported that not ’only is Russia intent upon retaining her hold upon the Kuldja Yalley, but that she has been stirring up an anti-Chinese feeling amongst the Mahometan population at Kashgar, which was recognised by the Chinese two years ago, when the kingdom was established. Russian troops are being massed upon the frontier for the purpose of entering Kashgar. A conflict with the Chinese army is imminent. These rumors, though not traceable to any authoritative source, are generally current in India, and some credit is attached thereto. A telegram coming from the United States avers that another claimant to the Tichborne estates, representing himself as the real Sir Roger, has been discovered near San Francisco, and that it is his in tention to proceed to England to prose cute his claim. Little credence is attached here to the story. Admiral D.ilrymple Hay, member for Wigton, has given notice of his intention to move, in a month’s time, a resolution affirming that, owing to the frequency of massacres in the South Seas by the natives, the safety of the lives of white men requires that the naval officers in command of her Majesty’s men-of-war on the Australian station should be given supreme authority to deal with all out rages ; and that the powers of the High Commissioner in the Pacific should to this extent bo curtailed.

London, Juno 22. It is only the Irish members _in the House of Commons who are criticising the Land Bill in committee. Mr Glad stone is conciliating the Conservatives. The Neio York Herald has published the opinion of several Irish members of the House of Commons, including those of Messrs Parnell and McCarthy, who advocate the federation of Great Bntain and her colonies with a parliament based on American principles, each colony to send representatives, and a number of British members to be reduced in propor tion to the new members returned. In the House of Commons the second reading of the Bill for the abolition of capital punishment has been negatived by a majority of 96. The census returns for the United Kingdom are now complete. The total population is 35,000,000, being 17,000,000 males, and 18,000,000 females. This shown an increase of 4,000,000 persons during the last ten years. A shocking murder of a farmer has taken place in Dublin. The House of Lords has affirmed the resolution that there is no necessity on the part of the British Government to in terfere in the Franco-Tunisian question. The United States Government, re plying to the communication from the British Government regarding the pre sence and movements of prominent Fenians in New York, states that there is no evidence that any criminal acts which have been perpetrated in the United Kingdom have been concocted by Fenians in New York.

Owing to events arising out of the French occupation of Tunis, the French and Italian Press are greatly inflamed. The

Governments of both countries are en deavoring to assuage the excitement thus caused. France threatens to seize Tripoli if the fanatic intrigues amongst the Mahommedans continue.

A comet is now visible from the Ob servatories at Greenwich (England) and Washington (United States.) Charles Dillon, the well-known actor, is dead.

London, June 24 The Chinese authorities are making strenuous efforts to place their navy on a sound basis. Application has been made to the United States Government to ap point an officer in the service who shall undertake the task of re-organisation. The request has been complied with, and a lieutenant of the United States navy has been authorised to proceed to China on this mission.

Greece has determined upon increasing her navy, and an order for the construc tion of six ironclads has been sent to France.

The hop harvest in England promises to be a very favorable one this season. Mr Parnell, who recently announced his intention of proceeding on a tour to America, has arranged to postpone his de parture till the end of the present Parlia mentary session. The attitude of France with regard to the Mohammedan state of Tripoli, nomin ally subject to Turkey, is attracting con siderable attention. The French Govern ment threatens to seize and annex the en tire territory. Prince Bismarck, who was recovering from his recent illness, has suffered a re lapse, and the state of his health is causing considerable anxiety throughout Ger many. The Albanians continue to show signs of discontent with the Turkish Govern ment. The set fire to the town of Arta, but the conflagration was suppressed be fore much damage was done, and five pre petrators of the act were arrested. The Kaffir tribes in the Transvaal are showing strong signs of discontent with the Boer Goverement, and an outbreak against their rule is considered imminent. London, June 27.

The Protectionist movement is spread ing in Germany. The advocates claim that it should be generally enforced throughout the whole of the empire. There is a strike among the nailers of Worcestershire and Staffordshire. Thirty thousand have struck for an advance of one-third on the present rate of wages.

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[Per s.s. Ringarooma, at the Bluff. Melbourne, June 29.

A Government Gazette is issued notify ing that the Reform Bill is reserved for signification of Her Majesty’s pleasure, in accordance with the course of procedure in altering the Constitution Act. The Protos has nearly finished leading frozen meat. It is expected she will sail at the end of June, with 4,000 sheep and 200 head of cattle. The steamer is chartered for one more journey from Melbourne to London. A portion of the present consignment was frozen by the Australian Ice Company, and the whole is of first-class quality. Some game also will be sent Home per Frotos. The steamer Europe will be the next employed in this traffic. The Cuzco, which arrives to-morrow, brings a large consignment of frozen fish, which will bo submitted to public auction to-morrow. The rudder of the Bacchante was un shipped on the 23rd, and taken up the river for examination and repairs. Mr Johnston, of the Tyne Foundry, con tracted for the repairs at a cost of L3OO. A scene occurred on the East Mel bourne cricket ground on the 25th, when a football match was announced between the Hotham and South Melbourne Clubs. The latter at the last moment refused to play because the Hotham members in cluded in the team a youth named Barnes, recently convicted of indecency. About 4,000 people then claimed to have their money returned. This became impossible,

and the treasurer, who received rough jostling, now offers to hand the money to the Melbourne charities. Sydney, June 29. Lieutenant King, of the schooner Renaud, reports that steps are being taken to punish the murderers of Lieu* ' tenant Bower and the boat’s crew of the Sandfly. There has been no bloodshed as yet, but the Florida chiefs are in a ‘’ great fright, and are endeavoring to catch the murderers. Bishop Selwyn has been of great service in bringing the islanders to justice. , , , The steamer Argyle struck the rocks in Clarence river on the 2oth and made a hole in her bottom. She was run ashore, but slipped off the sand and sunk in deep water with a cargo of maize. The crew and passengers were landed safely. The Marine Board found Captain Bach of the Queen of Nations, guilty .of. care lessness and drunkenness, and suspended his certificate for twelve months. The Queen of Nations has broken up and disappeared. Large quantities of wreckage have been cast ashore. The amount saved is comparatively small. There was much pilfering despite the Government officers. Adelaide, June 29. The Adelaide Exhibition is progressing: rapidly. Beckx, the Belgian Consul* an nounces that eighteen manufacturers will send samples to the Adelaide Exhibition, afterwards presenting them to the Chamber of Manufacturers.

The City of Melbourne, from Noumea, reports that the Aurora arrived from the Islands,‘bringing tidings of the massacre at Aoba. The May Queen anchored there at the end of last month. The boats when on the beach were attacked, the natives killing one white and eight blacks., News has also been received of the murder of two whites named Brett and Follett by the natives at New Britain. There is an in creasing demand that energetic steps be taken to punish the South Sea murderers. Mr Bray, in the Legislative Assembly yesterday, made a statement regarding the policy of the Government. It proposes to increase the number of Councillors from eighteen to twenty-four, reducing the term of tenure of seats from twelve to nine years, one third retiring every three years. Several of the measures are closely akin to those proposed by Mr Morgan’s late manifesto, except that they will abandon the proposed transcontinental railway by land grants, but favor the ex tension of the present line section by section. An adjournment for a week was agreed to. ■

LATE CAPE NEWS.

[Per s.s. Ringarooma at the Blott.] Capetown, June 7.

The Transvaal question has almost dropped out of notice. The Royal Com mission is supposed to be at Pretoria; but the telegraph line being down there is very little information on the subject. Matters seems to be quieting down, and trade is going back to its old channels. Most alarming rumors are continually being circulated, but may be discredited, as emanating from disappointed specula tors. The Cape Government have intro duced a scheme for the extension of the three main lines still further into the in terior, at a cost of L 5,000,000. The Bill has been read a second time, and has nearly passed through committee. The Basutos are collecting the fines in flicted on them, and submission ta Sir Hercules Robinson’s award is fully ex pected. The Customs dues in this colony shows a large increase.

THE CHRISTCHURCH JEWELLERY ROBBERY.

[by telegraph.] Dgnedin, To-day. Hughes, for the Christchurch jewellery robbery, was sentenced to two years. an old offender, for receiving the stolen property, got' five years’ penal servitude ; and Connell, for the same offence, one year.

TELEGRAMS.

[per press association.] Auckland, July 4 Bank of-New South Wales. - The Bank of New South Wales is elect ing handsome premises next the Herald office. Accident. Jas. McGough, aged 14, was killed at a quarry at Pukekohe. Leprosy. The alleged leprous Chinaman has been traced by the police. Dr Tennent certi fied that Ah Wong was suffering, not from leprosy, but strumous abscess, which had been treated by Chinese doctors. Death at the Quarantine Station. It has transpired that Mr Fanconrt, who died at the Quarantine Station, was found dead in the lavatory, the attendant having gone to sleep. The Hero’s Mails.. The Hero, from Sydney, will be qua rantined for six days. The mails have been taken to Motuihi for fumigation. Criminal Libel. Dunedin, Yesterday. The charge of criminal libel preferred by Mr Massey, town clerk, against Mr Allan, seedsman, comes on on Thursday. The alleged libel consists in a statement by Mr Allan that Mr Massey, both being interested as mortgagees in coach build ing premises in High street, offered him (Allan) a sum of money to burn the pre mises down. Another Libel Case-: A libel case is reported as likely to arise out of a petition being taken round in the Mount Ida district, praying for the re moval of Warden Robinson. A solicitor, said to be instrumental in getting up the petition, will be the defendant. Passengers and Crew of the Charles Worsley. The Government have decided to remove the passengers and crew of the Charles Worsley to the Quarantine Island, and the cargo will be discharged into lighters. Breach of Promise. Among the civil cases for the Supreme Court is an action for breach of promise. Damages of LIOO are claimed by the plain tiff, a barmaid. Numerous Drunkards. The police cells have not been so crowded since the days of the gold rush as they were last night with drunkards, <&c. Excursion Trains. The Government have agreed to run ex cursion trains at a third of single fares in connection with the Exhibition. Offer Declined. > ' The Forbury Park Company have re fused the Jockey Club’s offer to the Park for L 25,800. Shot xn a Shooting Gallery. ~ Thames, To-day. A boy named Buckley, one of a number playing in a shooting gallery, got shot in the breast and died this morning. He said a nigger in charge of the gallery pre sented a rifle at the hoys who weie teasing him. An inquest will be held this after noon. Scarlet Fever. The scarlet-fever is very prevalent,, and. the surgeons recommend the closing of public schools. , Acquitted. Dunedin, To-day. - In the Supreme Court Laurence Jamie:, son-was acquitted for robbery from the person.

THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN, TUESDAY, JULY 5, 1881.



r * Late Advertisements. QXVBB AT WAKANUL «dtare insidof the School Funds rriUjbeddiveredin the Wakanui School >At EVENING NEXT, 12m /, .. jINSTANT, ■ \l- ‘-At* 7.30_j»,m,, "By tie Rev w. Kkail. "i* v* * r ■, r ; *Sabfoct— AJSI> INSTABILITY OF c . !■»/, . Scripture examples. Twkpta, la each, may be obtained©! any mem&er ot?4he School .Committee; - A G. W. LEADLEY, 1* ‘/i'-si < Chairman. TEA will bo enlngxtext. .Tea on the fid; rjQ » are cordiall Tickets I*P jA B A'St. of 203. ; iilMiiil



Wanted. WA NTED—2O,OOO Bushels of GRAIN to Crush, at 2d per bushel. Mayo AH» Hunt. 201 c TiTANTED KNOWN—That the Under? ‘V V signed is prepared to put and keep in, ORDER GARDENS, by the day or year, at very low rates. Apply, J. Lino, Mayo’s Block. 185 c WANTED immediately—CHlCOßY DIGGERS. Apply at Works, Moore street.,, E. B. Pearce. 180 c TAT"ANTED EVERBODY to know that HORSE COVERS can be bought for 17s 6d (former price, 255), at S. Stephens’, Saddler, Tinwald. 726 a TTC7ANTED KNOWN— That A. Fakqu- W hab has leased BUTLER’S BIL LIARD SALOON, and requests a visit. Pool every evening at 9 o’clock. 93c WANTED KNOWN—That Robert Elston, Burnett street, Ashburton, having procured the Newest Apparatus, is prepared to SWEEP CHIMNEYS at ivery low rates. -Any orders left at the Town Hall will receive prompt attention. 81c WANTED KNOWN. Ashburton REGISTRY OFFICE for Male and Female Servants.—L. F. Andrewes begs to inform the public of Ashburton and surrounding districts that he haa opened the above. Male and Female Servants of all classes provided. Em ployers requiring servants and all persona with good. recommendations, who are in want of situations, are requested to apply to Xj. F. Andrewes, Labor seller and Stationer, East street South. 102 c WANTED KNOWN. —Young Ladies’ Journal, Is 7d ; Bow Bells, Is 7d; Family Reader (Monthly), Is 2d ; (Quarterly)do., 2s 2d; Family Herald, Is ; London Journal, Is 4d ; &c., &c. A large assortment of School Books and Stationery of every description. Hymn and Prayer Books, <fec., &o. Subscribers wanted for every Newspaper and Periodical published. Books, Piece Music, &c., not in stock can be supplied to order, at lowest prices. L. F. Andrewes, Bookseller, . Stationer, and General Newspaper Agent, East street South. 953 a WANTED KNOWN—That Miss Vehrall is now showing her Winter Stock of Millinery, Drapery &c. Stay and Corset Manufacturer. Dressmaking done On Premises, Colombo street, opposite Cookham House. 630 a Special Advertisements. o 0 E TENDERS will be received up till Noon on Wednesday, July 6th, for the LEASE of the BILLIARD ROOM at the Somerset Hotel Pull particulars can be obtained from R. W. SHEARMAN, 181 c Proprietor. [IHE BEST VALUE FOR BEADY MONEY is the MEN’S AND BOYS’ CLOTHING Manufactured by T H E NEW ZEALAND Clothing Factory, Which can be purchased at their Retail Branches all over New Zealand. SINGLE GARMENT AT THE WHOLESALE PRICE. THOUSANDS OF DISCERNING CUSTOMERS Testify that the New Zealand Clothing Factory’s Garments are the Very Best Value for Ready Money. Ashburton Branch : AST STREET. WM. SPARROW. Manager. T Hayes’ IMBER YARDS. Balance of Short Firewood unsold at auction sale will be SOLD CHEAP, for cash, in order to clear it. ALPHEUS HAYES. FRESH SUPPLIES of TIMBER, &c., to hand. 608 a Dr James Murdoch, j R AVING taken the House in Bur nett street, at present occupied by Mr Cambridge, Chemist, will COMMENCE PRACTICE in Ashburton, on MONDAY, 3th June, 1881. 951 a O. Carstens & Co., (Late Weston’s), PROSPECT BUILDINGS, Tobacconist, fancy goods, AND STATIONERY. Meerschaum Pipes, G.B.D. Nailrod, Twist, and VaaL. Fair Tobacco A- nice assortment of Accordions. Coa rertinas, Flutes, Violins, Mouth Organs, aid Toys of every description, direct from Some. laircutting, Shaving and Shampooing. BAST STREET ASHBURTON. 752a* US I c TUITION. M NEXT TERM commences July Ist. iessons on the Piano, Harmonium, Violin nd Flute. Pianofortes and Organs on ale. Terms to suit purchasers. Pianos nd Harmoniums tuned. D. J. WEEKS, 31a Cameron street West. URSE.—Mrs Paulino begs to in form the Ladies of Ashburton and iborhood that she receives Ladies to ie who require medical attention, ■ess —Moore street, near Presbyterian ie. 104 c John Meech, {PRACTICAL CABINETMAKER, L UPHOLSTERER; &c., IiURNETT STRE BT, Opposite the Mail Office. Iheapest House in Town for New and Secondhand Furniture. J 1 kinds of Furniture repaired or ex ' ■changed. rOOD PRICE GIVEN FOR SECOND HAND FURNITURE. Sl9 *



Special Advertisements. gPEOI AL NO TIO E. We have JUST OPENED TWO BALES of WHITE and COLORED BLANK E T S, Bought at a great discount, and which we have marked at MARVELLOUSLY LOW PRICES. Diecount of 2s allowed in every pound. EVERETT BROS., Havelock street. 822 a George St. Hill, 1 jgUILDER AND CONTRACTOR, Bdknett street, Ashburton. ’ Plans prepared and Estimates given at the lowest rates. Terms as may bo arranged, i 409 a | Pianos. Pianos. P’ lANOS, HARMONIUMS, and AMERICAN ORGANS For Sale i on deferred payments. Also, on Hire, i as may be required. (Anyone hiring an ' instrument and subsequently wishing to Purchase within six months, the amount paid for hire may be applied to purchase i of same. , H. M. JONES, Stationer and Bookseller, ’ East street and Baring Square. 4 4 A LL work and no play makes Jack I xi. a dull boy,” consequently, bear i ing the truth of this adage in mind, I Frederick Clark, > OF EAST STREET, I HAIRDRESSER, Has just imported a quantity of i NOVEL AND AMUSING GAMES ■ wherewith to while away the dragging t hours of winter nights. They meet the ’ requirements of both old and young, and , include playing cards, “ sqneezero,” Ac.; chess and draught men and boards, back gammon, dominoes, go-bang, race game, ( lotto, &c., &c. Those having favorite Authors should, \ to prevent disappointment, make their ■ selections from his large stock of NEWEST NOVELS at their earliest convenience. THE SMOKER’S FRIEND is F. C., and to preserve the right to this title he has just imported the following Brands 1 of TOBACCO : —Nail Rod, Vanity Fair, > Ruby Twist, Twist, Ac., Ac. CIGARS ; and CIGARETTES : Havanna and Cuban, l Vanity Fair Cigarettes, Ac., &c., and a large selection of novelties in PIPE WARE. Haircutting, Shaving, and Shampooing Saloon, Montgomo’-v’n Buildings. 720 a 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 Undersigned has ON SALE several parcels of choice SEED WHEAT, FREDK. PAVITT, _l69c _ East, street. SHBURTON BOOKSTALL. ON SALE. “ Canterbury Times ” and Dailies Weekly and Daily “ Press ” “ Liberty ” Dunedin “ Witness ” and “ Times” “ Timaru Herald ’’ “ Ashburton Guardian ” and “ Mail ” “ Home News” “ Australasian ” Sealey’s Pamphlet on New Zealand, Latest Novels, Ac., Ac., Ac. CHARLES HAY, 188 c Proprietor. JgONE DUST. Bone Bust ON SALE, in large or small quantities. Prices, £6 10s and £5 10s per ton. 195 c MAYO A HUNT. OTICE OF REMOVAL. JOHN HARVEY, BOOT and SHOEMAKER, Begs to intimate to his numerous friends and customers that he has removed into his new Premises, next to the Panama House, TANCRED STREET, Where he hopes to merit a fair share of public patronage. _ Every description of Boots and Shoes made to order on the shortest notice. Repairs neatly executed. 199 c RESTAURANT. MR D. LAZARUS wishes to intimate to his friends and the public of Ashburton generally that, having built a first-class BOARDING-HOUSE in dose proximity to the Railway Station, he is now pre pared to accommodate BOARDERS and TRAVELLERS on most reasonable terms. Free Supper on Opening Night, WEDNESDAY NEXT, when all are in vited to partake of the Proprietor’s hos pitality. the Address — BARING SQUARE, ASHBURTON. I9Bc ANTED KNOWN—Every descrip yV tion of Plain and Fancy Printing executed on the shortest notice, at the Guardian Office, nearly opposite the Rail way Station.



A nice old lady of our acquaintance de clares that she thinks it very strange that a little quicksilver in a glass tube can make such awful hot weather by just ris ing in it an inch or so.