SHIPPING.

PORT OF LYTTELTON. Arrived. Saturday. Tui, 8.5., from Boat Harbor. Yesterday. Emerald, ketch, from Foxton. Saxon, schooner, from Tairua. Sailed. Saturday. Penguin s.s., for Wellington. Yesterday. “ "Annie Hill, brigantine, for Qreymouth. Elibank Castle, brigantine for Gatlin’s River. ; = . SHIPPING TELEGRAMS. Bluff, Yesterday. , • The Albion left Sandridge with the N. Z. portion of the Suez mails at 2.30 p.m. on o ' the Bth instant, and arrived at Bluff ( Harborat 3 p.m. on the 13th. ~; I Wellington, Saturday. Arrived St. Kilda, from the South;

COMMERCIAL.

The English Markets. The following is Messrs. Miles Bros, and ; Co.’s, Colonial Produce Report, dated London, December 30th : Wcoh—Since the sales closed there has been a little inquiry for wool for the Home trade, ' but stocks in first hands are nearly cleared out. There is also some inquiry for Cape wool for ■ ‘America, and the arrival at Bradford of a large ■ -buyei for that market leads us to hope that an 'American demand may set itu Trade in the ■ North remains unaltered, but the stocks in dealers’ and manufacturers’ hands pro bably be found sufficient until the next sales •pen. Business on the continent is still dull, but stocks there are exceedingly low, and, as soon as business revives in France, consider able purchases of the raw material will have to be made. The arrivals for the Feb. sales to date c a re’: Newfibuth Wales and Queensland, 13,431 bales ; Victoria, 9,544 bales ; South Australia, 4,570 bales; New Zealand, 4,106 bales ; Cape, 12,232 bales. Total, 43,883 bales. And 16,000 bales old wool. ... Wheat and Flour.--As usual at this season of the year, business on our corn market is ex tremely dull, and the failure ofseveral speculators • in America has caused additional depression. Californian wheat, for prompt shipment to the ■ Doited Kingdom, has been placed at 44s 6d per JJOOlbs., c.f. and i., but sales cannot now be. effected, even at that price. Stocks of Australian wheat here are now rather limited, but holders are not inclined to meet the market freely. Several cargoes of Victorian wheat, for prompt shipment, have been sold at 46s 6d or less, and a few parcels for London at 45s 6d to 465. New Zealand wheat is not in large supply, but is, nevertheless, neglected, inconsequence of the considerable deliveries by our farmers of 1 home" grown wheat. We quote, in store : South Australian wheat, 49s to sis ; Victorian,

48s to 50s; New Zealand, long berried, 47s to 505.; average, quality 45s to 48s; inferior, 40s to 43s per 4961b5. Australian flour, 35s to 365; New Zealand, 33s to 35s per zSolbs. ; New Zealand oats, in good condition, superior, 28s to 31s; common, 21s to 25s for Imperial quarters. New Zealand barley, 32s to 42s for 4481b5., according to quality. New Zealand beans, 45s to 47s' per 504165. ; New Zealand oatmeal, Lio to Li I per ton. Tallow and Hides.—Since our last report there have been no sales of either tallow or hides, and prices, therefore, remain unchanged —viz-, very good to very fine mutton 34s fid to 365, and fair to fine beef 32s fid 1033 s 3d per cwt. . The imports of Australian tallow have since been 1,820 casks, and the stock to-day in im porters’ hands amounts to 11,420 casks. Preserved Meats.—There is very little ..doing at the present time, in tinned meats of any kind, the attention of the retail traders being turned to dried fruits. In American fresh meats only a limited business is doing at unsatisfactory prices. Bank rate, 3 per cent.

MAIL NOTICES.

Mails • close at ■ the Chief Post Office, Christchurch, for the following places (subject to necessary , alterations) as under• - Saturday, February 26. For United Kingdom, via San Fran • cisco, per Wauaka. ■ • Mails close at the Ashburton Post Office, as follows; — For Christchurch and North at 6.30 a. m. 10 a.m., and sp. 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 G a.m. and 10 a. 111., daily, : For. Timaru and South, at 6 a.m.,10 «im, and 420 p.pi., daily. For Greenstreet, Ashburton Forks, 9£ount Somers, and Ashburton Gorge, oh Tuesdays and Fridays, at 10.50 a m. For Ashtop, Waterloo and Longbeach, at 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 ’ Officb— From Christchurch and Rakaia at 10.25 a.m.,, 435 p.m., and 7.50 p.m. Fitom Chertsey, &c. at 10.25 a.m. daily. From Duhedin and intermediate places ■at 5.35 p.m. daily. ■’From Temuka and Timaru at 10.15 a.m. 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 and, and Kyle, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, at 4 p.m. W. St. G. Douglas, Postmaster,

DAILY MEMORANDA.

AUCTION SALES. To-mokbow, Tuesday, February 15. Matsou, Cox, and Co., Timvald Yards— -200. Fat and Store Pigs. , MEETINGS, AMUSEMENTS, &c. To-night, ' Monday, February 14. Amateur Dramatic Club Meeting of Members, Town Hall, 8 p. m. To-morrow, Tuesday, February 15. Horticultural Society, Meeting of Com : mittee, at Jacobson and Eyton’s Office, at 8 p.m. Thursday, February 17. Degree Temple, Extraordinary Meeting, Templar Hall, at 8 p.m. ; Monday, February 21. Borough Council, at Borough Council Chambers, at 7 o’clock. Monday, February 28. Anniversary Concert, Loyal Ashburton ~ Lodge, 1.0.0. F., Town Hall, Bp.m. Wednesday, March 2. County Council, at the County Council - r Chainberk/ at 11 o’clock.

TRAVELLERS’ GUIDE.

Trains Leave Ashburton for Christ ; church And intermediate stations at 6 m., 10.30 a.m., and (Express) 5.48 Trains Leave Ashburton for limaru VI iiirfjf South, at 7 aim., 10.36 am.- (Ex press), and 4.50 p.m.—the latter pro ceeding no farther than:Timara. Trains Arrive at Ashburton from Christchurch at 10 24 a.ni. (Express), 4.36 p.m., and 7.50 p.m. ... . fejtln*: ’ .Arrive at Ashrurton f|om *.Titiupp and at* 10,15 am., 5.34 (Express), and 8! 15p.m. • • ■J’-T:. l 1",. 1 - i

NOTICE TO ADVERTISERS.

All orders for insertion of advertise ments must be written legibly on the face of the advertisement. When no order is given the advertisement will be inserted until countermanded, and charged accord ingly. All notices of Births, Marriages, or Deaths must be accompanied by the sig nature of the sender, as a guarantee of good faith.

The Ashburton Guardian. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1881.

TOWN EDITION. [lssued at 5 p. m. ]

A Quartz Reef.— While a party of prospectors were out prospecting the Terawhiti district they came upon ah out crop of what appears to be an extensive reef of quartz. Dr. Hector visited the spot, and a few specimens were brought to town. He estimates that the stone will turn diit 3iozs. to the ton. Drunks. —Cue drunk on Saturday was let off with a caution by Mr. Nugent Wood, and another was fined ss. To-day the Mayor dealt with two in the usual manner—fine or imprisonment, according to the case—and remanded a man accused of wilful destruction of property till to morrow, when he will appear before Mr. Nugent Wood, R.M. To Correspondents. —“ J. 8.”, Meth ven>; The needle gun was; not used at the battle you mention,; as you will easily see when we state that the weapon did not come into common use until after 1864 It was.inyented by Herr von Dreyse, of Sommerda in 1841, but it was _ neglected till. Frederick William IV. took it in hand Since 1866 it has been, and we believe stil is- the popular arm of the German' nation. They certainly used it first. The Central Hotel. —The Central Hotel, which has for a length of time been conducted by Mr. Joseph Baldwin, has changed hands, and was opened last week by the new proprietor, Mr. Sam. Brown, late of Wakanui. Mr. Brown is well known in the and his good name will bring its own reward. He knows that “ good wine needs no bush,” and believing in the saying means to act upon it, so that his patrons may always depend upon a good thing at the bar and a warm welcome.

St. Valentine’s Day. —To-day is the great anniversary of love-tokens, and the postman has had as much as he could well handle in the shape of valentines. There was such a glut of missives bearing even outside evidence of their internal nature that the sorting of the mail this morning was considerably delayed. Wc have not heard, however, that many of the valen tines have - been posted without stamps. We remember some years ago, at Home, the custom of posting valentines without stamps had become such a nuisance to the Post Office officials (who always failed to recover the twopeuces), that it was found advisable to issue an order requiring all inland correspondence to be pre paid. The order was issued just before the coming of the annual valentine mad ness, and there were a good few people saved the trouble of refusing letters, the reading of which might not have been pleasant—anyhow many a witling carried to the post office a joke that was nipped in the bud and miscarried through the action of this wise order. The Weather. —The Clerk of the weather has evidently taken a holiday, and in his haste to get away has forgot to close the furnace door. Yesterday at noon the thermometer in the sun stood at just under. 120degs,, and 94degs, in the shade. To-day, in our coldest room, it stood at 84degs. at two o’clock. Ten minutes in the hot sun ran it up to lOOdegs. People generally are taking most unkindly to work to-day, and if a general weighing up were to be indulged in, we feel certain that an agency more immediate and direct in its effects than “Anti-fat” would be found to have been busy. One obese gentleman avers that since Saturday night he has shed fully a Dutch stone of his superfluous fat. A nor’wester that the barometer has been uneasy about for some time has at last come, but it is only a trifle as yet to what we have known in this dis-, trict, where the winds gently whisper to us in a dusty language that fills eyes, ears, and mouth, and impels a reply which is not the soft breathing of love. Several of our cifci?epa aro seriously considering wimthpr o* i»Ut wflj be necessary bo if irodiice the Indian punkah— ip church.

— A largely attended meeting farmers of the Southland district'; 1 wasvheld in Sloans Hall, Invercargill, •on Saturday to in augurate a Farmers’ Co-operative Associa tion for the disposal of farm produce. A provisional'directory was nominated ard a secretaiyi appointed. The enterprise may he saidAo have been’fairly started.

Fire in Auckland. —A fire broke out in Messrs. J. W. Carr and Son’s premises, Custom House street West, Auckland, on Saturday night. The top storey was used by' Mr. Carr for boat building, and the lower storey was- leased as a black smith’s shop to Messrs. Clever ard Bennett. The premises were destroyed. Carr’s loss is L2OO, uninsured. Clever and Benvieft lose all their tools and stock in-trade, and are also uninsured. A Wheelbarrow Race. —ln Decem ber last, in-San Francisco, a wheelbarrow race came off.. The time allowed was six days and six nights, and the competitors were two men and a woman. The woman homed second and won 200 dollars. Her name is Amy Howard, and she has made some good time in her day as a pedestrian. Her most famous record is 409 miles in six days, which she did in San France co city, Re-Opened. —For some time there h\s been so much sickness in Mr. Tasker’s family that it was found absolutely neces sary for him to close his butcher’s shop, and for several weeks his shutters were i a It gives us pleasure to note that he him self and all his family have sufficiency recovered to enable the business to no again resumed. We welcome him back o health and work, and commend him o his old customers, who will be wairad upon to-morrow as usual Tinwald School.— At last meeting f the Tinwald School Committee, it was : o-

solved to give the children attending too school a treat during the holidays. N<- ct Wednesday; the 16th inst., the child; m will assemble at the school at about 12 : r 1 o’clock, when a few friends will nu-et them and engage them in sports and games daring the afternoon. The com mittee have procured a lot of articles to be contended for by the little ones in races. Towards evening they will ha re tea in the schoolroom, after which tr.e school examination prizes will be dis tributed by Mr. Clark, assisted by a few other friends.

Female Barbers. —There are th?oe female barbers doing business in .'an Francisco. On this subject, “ Silverpc i ” the chatty correspondent of the Auckk id Herald says : —ln an interview I had sene time ago with the first feminine shaver who ever set up in the town, she informed me that East the business is a regular one among the fair sex, and a profitable one. I believe she is a first-rate hand herself, but she says the trouble is women won’t “stick to their trade.” They shave until they fall in love with some one, and then they throw it up. However, I don’t -.ee why it should not be encouraged, as there are too many girls unemployed, ami it would at any rate keep them out of mis chief, i.c., if anything has such a power over feeble woman.

Mr. Plimsoll and the Miners.—Mr. Plimsoll suggests that fire-damp should be withdrawn from the mines by pipes, just as the water is pumped up from the sump. He would make a sump for gas in the highest part ot the roof, and then allow the gas to escape from the workings up a vertical tube to , the sump, whence it would be pumped to the surface and employed for lighting the village. Mr. Plimsoll thinks that such a plan would give abso lute and immediate control to the manager of a pit over any gases which might be lurking in the recesses of the mine ; and he suggests that if his remedy is found useless, some scientific or philanthropise body should offer a premium of L 20,000 for the discovery of a means of entirely preventing coal-mine explosions. M. Somz4e, a Belgian Engineer, proposes to utilise the safety-lamp for revealing the presence of fire-damp in collieries. It is well known that the flame of the lamp elongates and acquires a higher calorific power when in air which contains light carburetted hydrogen,, or marsh gas. A piece of metal is so placed as to bo elongated by the .flame;' this produces electric contact, and causes a bell to ring. Plague of Rats. The Edinburgh cor respondent of the .Of ago. Daily Times says :—Sensational accounts come from Mary hill, a suburb of Glasgow, regarding an invasion of rats under which the former place is suffering. It is stated that they have suddenly swarmed into the town in thousands, filling shops, warehouses, and dwellings alike, and driving the inhabi tants well-nigh frantic. A sudden demand for rat poison has enriched the local chemists, but they are the only gainers. One tradesman,, under the pressure of a loathsome necessity, is reported to have invented a machine for capturing and killing the hated creatures, and by means of it has disposed of 13G in his shop within a fortnight, or at the rate of about 10 each day. ; It is a pity that no particu lars regarding so useful an invention have, been made public. The rats have also been seen swimming down the Kelvin on their way to Glasgow, while many more have travelled by land. It is believed the severe frosts in the early half of November, and the very stormy weather which fol lowed, have caused the rats to swarm in from the country districts. In Edinburgh I hear that rats are becoming so numerous in some .quarters as to be not only a source of disquiet, but of no small loss to house-owners, as the fact that rats are in a house causes tenants to leave, and deters others from taking their place. It is evi dent that rat extirpation presents : a promising field to a man of inventive genius. Defeat of the Australians at Wan ganui.—The match between the Austra lian players and twenty-two of Wanganui was finished on Saturday evening, and resulted in a victory for Wanganui by a run and ten wickets to fall. The appa rent declension of the Australians in their play with Nelson and Wanganui has taken everybody by surprise, and it is so diffi cult to account for that most people are inclined to look upon it with something like suspicion, and refuse to allow that the Eleven have met anything like their match at either of these two places. The almost beating at Nelson may be accounted for by the fact that play was begun an hour . after the Australians had landed from a sea voyage, : and that they were therefore in bad playing trim. They could scarcely blame the ground, f«r the Nelson Victory Square is an excellent piece of turf. At Wanganui, however, cricket is played under some disad vantages, for the. ground is none of the best. The Wellington ground is worse still, but the Australians were victorious there. At Wanganui, however, it has to be remembered that the Australians played a man short, and the want of Blackham would bo especially felt. At alt events the great players have been beaten, and, notwithstanding: the “ glorious un certainty” of the noblest game on earth, the Wanganui and Nelson players must be unreservedly allowed the honor of breaking into what appeared likely to be a triumphant march from the Dan to the Beersheba of New Zealand, and giving the Australians another reason for coming back to New Zealand to wipe ; off the memory of a defeat. Mr. Murdoch, at the Christchurch banquet, said the defeat given him by the Christchurch players on the occasion of his last visit had rankled in his heart, and he had resolved to hit hard, and give them a proper beating this . time. He did hit hard, and he did give a proper beating ; but we question if he expected to meet other two “ ranklers ” in such out of-the-way and humble places a? Nelson fnd Wanganui.

CABLE NEWS.

LATEST FROM EUROPE.

(Per Reuter's Agency.) Commercial- London, Feb.,. 11.' The total quantity of wheat afloat for the United Kingdom is 2,230,000 quarters. Australian tallow, best beef, 345.; best mutton, 375. 6d. Five percent. New Zealand 10-40 Loan, five per cent. 1889 Loan,. ioßj^; four and 7879-1904 Loan, 97. Best Scotch' pig

iron, No. x, f.o.b. in Clyde, 51s. 6d. Best Australian leather, nd. pet lb. A Fenian Plot to Destroy Windsor Oastle. The police have received information which leads to the belief|hat a -Fenian plot ’ is on foot to blow up Windsor Castle, and the return of Her Majesty to Windsor is consquently delayed. Troops for Natal. In the House of Commons Mr. Chil ders, replying to a question, said that the Government had recently made an offer to Sir George Colley of further strong: reinforcements for service against the Boers, and the offer had been accepted. Fresh bodies of troops would accordingly be sent to Natal without delay. Matched. The marriage of Baroness Burdett Coults with Mr. Ashmead Bartlett took place to-day. The Boers. Feb. 12. The latest intelligence from Natal announces that detachments of recently arrived reinforcements are rapidly pro ceeding from Durban to the Transvaal. The advanced guard has already sighted bodies of Boers to the southward of Newcastle in Natal, and skirmishes have taken place. The enemy is expected to offer a strong opposition to the advance of the British troops.

NEW ZEALAND

(Per Press Association.) Over Discipline. Wellington, To-day. An information has been laid by the Superintendent of the .Asylum against three of the female attendants for striking and ill-treating a female patient. Presentation. Invercargill, To-day. Mr. Fox, late Inspector of Police, w.as presented with a purse of sovereigns and a testimonial to-day by his Worship the Mayor and influential citizens. Harbor Board Elections. ! There is great excitement over the Harbor Board elections. There are six candidates for the seats representing the town. Spurgeon. Mr. Spurgeon preached, twice to im mense congregations. His style as a preacher, is conversational, and free from rant or twang. A Convent. Bishop Moran, at. the Catholic Churph, announced that the erection of a convent would be commenced shortly.

ACCIDENT TO THE CHARLES EDWARD.

(By Telegraph.) ; . W ESTPORT, To-day. The Charles Edward, steamer* com ing from' Greynidutli ,< struck a sunken rock of the Steeples and knocked a hole in her bottom. She steamed ahead, but the water rose in r the engine-room, and she anchored. 'There was an im penetrable fog at the time. (Vs,soon as the accident happened guns were fired. These were: heard at Westport, but nothing practical was done. The Grafton, from Greymouth, was .seen by the Charles Edward, and great endeavors made to attract her attention, but without avail. Infor mation reached Westport of- the ac cident, and the Grafton, proceeded to her assistance, and after standing by her all night, towed the disabled vessel to Westport, arriving this morning. An enquiry will be held.

Fires in Dunedin.

[by telegraph.] DuNfebiN, To-day. A fire broke out at ten minutes past 9 o’clock on Saturday night in a four roomed house, owned and occupied by Harrold, grocer, Brown street. Very little could be done on account of the scarcity of water, and just before the brigade arrived it seemed probable that Campbell's house, adjoining, would be destroyed; it, however, escaped with a scorching. The tenement in which the fire originated was, with its whole con tents completely burnt. Mr. Harrold- is at present away on a trip to Melbourne. Mrs. Harrold on Saturday night went out at half-past 8 o’clock, leaving a kerosene lamp in the back bedroom. Harrold’s house was insured in the Transatlantic for L2OO, and the furniture was insured in the same office for Ll5O. Campbell’s house was insured in the National for Ll5O. Wright’s furniture is covered by a policy in the same office for LIOO. A risk on the house in the Union expired on Ist inst. A fire which completely gutted Hudson’s flourmill, bakery, and biscuit factory, and considerably damaged a portiion of the imW Coffee Palace, broke out at twenty minutes to two on Sunday morning. , The

new Coffee Palace is built immediately in front of the old Masonic Hall. For some years this building has been occupied by Hudson as a mill, store, and factory. The general opinion, is the fire originated in the bakehouse, but on this matter there is a difference of opinion. The alarm was raised by the stableman of the City Hotel. At the time the fire broke out. there were four persons.in the Coffee,Palace--MIV S. S. Hawkins (manager), Mrs* Hawkins, and two female servants (Isabella Menzifcs and Elizabeth Boss). A boy slept-in - the room adjoining tho factory, but fully 100 feet from where the fire started. Mr. and Mrs. Hawkins occupied a room on the first flour of the Coffee Palace,-overlooking Hocken’s dwelling house, and the servants a room oh the next flat immediately'above Hawkins’ rooms. On Mrs. Hawkins’ opening, the door a volume of smoke ont.ored the room!: Tho first thing done was to rouse the servants. By this time the Fire Brigade, with the “escape,” were at the fire. All were in a short time rescued by means of the fire escape. At this time the building at the back was a mass of flame, wheat, sugar, butter, and other stock burning fiercely. Several streams of .water were soon turned |On the building, as many' as six branches being used at one time. The walls confined the flames within the building, but the water was played bn Hocken’s building, and all danger of its catching fire was rempvqd- Tho roof of the coffee palace caught fire, and was greatly damaged before the flames were checked by the water. The construe* tion of the palace aided the brigade; id keeping the fire back, as the firerpen were enabled to play upon the fire from, so many different . positions. 'By 1 about 3 o’clock the fire Was checked, and' by 4 aU dapger was oyer. ( The the f|re is a mystery! Andrew IMunfoe, fprentyp baker, was the last man known to be in

the bakehouse, and he was there at about 11.30 p.m. on Saturday, for the purpose of putting potatoes in the oyen to set a ferment on Sunday for Monday’s bread. ■ Whenheleft.-he states there was no sign of '^'\'^Kee.;c,. l rhe;firß in the kitchepk of Hie was ex tinguimd immediately after tea, land there 'wi|B nqfeßre there at known to servants. - Hawkins want over the buildings as late as 10.30 in order to see that everything was safe, and then there was no sign of fire. There was a large stock of goods in the store, and is of jrery considerable value. The coffee palace had yefy little furniture in .it, as it was hot in tended to open it for ten days, though furniture’ had" been- purchased to' the value of L 2,000, and would have been in in the. course of a few days. The furniture was not insured, but the damage .done to pro perty will be covered by about LlO, and the damage to the building is more than covered by insurance.. Five Lodges of Freemasons met in the lodge room above, the mill and factory, be sides the Royal Arch Chapter, and two Grand Lodges—one under the English and the other under the Scottish Constitution. The regalia and furniture of the lodges, including a harmonium and organ, esti mated as worth LBOO, was destroyed. The insurance oh them is about LSOO, divided between the Standard, National, and Vic toria Companies. The Grand Lodge re cords and charter are in the office of the secretary and safe. The documents of the Arch Chaper are saved, being in the cus tody of one of the officers.

Put Her Back.

The Mudborrow elders had a big spire on their meeting house, and on that spire a copper weathercock. Any change of wind under a gale this weathercock refused to indicate, there fore the Mudborrow elders advertised in the paper for tenders to take down, clean, and oil the Mudborrow weather cock. When the tenders were opened, several tradesmen ran close, 420 dolj lars, 430 dollars, and so on, up to 500 dollars, but Helicon Cobdasher’s docu ment signified his willingness to carry out the work named for 302 dollars. Helicon was a good workman, and His tender was unanimously accepted, through the lowness of the amount, and the two extra dollars |ave the Mud borrow worthies cause for much wonder ment. Helicon erected his scaffold, got down the weathercock, polished and oiled it up equal to new, and sent it up to the preacher’s house in a barrow. Down came the parson to Helicon. “ What do you mean by sending the weathercock to my house, Mr. Cobdasher ?” “ Waal, pason, I thought yu mot >vant en now he’s sorter shined up a bit. Look, fetchin’ in the best room windy, pason,” “ But, my good man, Lwe require it replaced.” “Oh ! Think of h’isting her up thar agin du yu.” “ Of course we do ! Why, man, can you be such; an idiot as to imagine we want to keep it down here?” “ Don’t get vilent, pason. You may get sum fixins on hand about as useful, but a darned site more expensiv’ to

keep.” “We expect you to replace that weathercock, Mr. Cobdasher.” •“ Kan’t say as I hankers much of the job. I’m busy about’ teown for a week or two.” “Unheard of im pertinence ! We shall compel you under the contract, sir, to replace it immediately ! ” “ Yaas, you may go your bottom piece you don’t! I ten dered tu git that ugly copper’cuss down hyar, and clean ah’ ile her arter she was hyar, but I reckon all the ink spilt on that contract don’t h’ist her a foot back agin, anyhow ! ” The preacher and elders met in solemn conclave ; several deacons coaxed, cajoled, raved and stormed at Helicon for a week, but it was of no avail. Helicon told them on their. last interview^—“ It’s ; no tarnal use yewr roarin’aroun’ hyar, gen’lemen, 250 dols. more, an’ in tew days from neow yewr copper-cropped rooster rests on the small end of that spire in sekoority.” “If we are compelled to pay to get it up, another tradesman shall do it not you,” bellowed Deacon Smitthers. “ Sartinly ! If yew wish, gen’lemen. I’ll jist git ray scaffold away tp give em room. Jonas, put the critter in the shebang, an’ four or five of you lads go down an’ shove them sticks off the spire direc’ly, an’—” My dear Mr, Cobdasher, how can anyone get up there without your scaffold ?, “Oh, it ain’t no trouble, bless yer. , Jest stick up one 0’ thar own ! ” “ Confusion ! that will cost as much as their original tender for the whole. Oh dear, dear! Properly refix that weathercock, Cob dasher, and the 256 dols. are youts.” “ K’rect, deacon. Write out the order thar. Thankye gen’lemen. That’s a splendid bird o’ your’s, you bet. It’s a credit to the place, and a bit of a debit to-the supporters of the church *but it’s a fine bird. Good day gen’lemen. Jonas, the first hand, nudged Helicon alter the “ gen’lemen ” left, and whis pered, “Say, boss, what was that odd two dollars stuck on the first tender for?” ‘*Tew cover the drinks I’m boun’ to stan’ when this yarn gits loose. Let’s git tew on account, Jonas,” /

THE CHIMNEY CORNER.

JERRY’S GRANDMOTHER.

“ There is this about it, Peggy,” said father, “ I don’t see where the money is coriilri’ from. If I could catch some of these smugglin' fellows that are run ning’ brandy into Buffalo Barricks, right under the noses of the officers, there’d be some sense in your talkin’ about goin’ off to. school. But it isn’t my luck, Peggy, to be lucky. It never was ; and since she died, I don’t see why Grand Island isn’t just as good as any other place for me.” Father swung his axe,.on his shoulder as if it was heavier than usual that morning, .and walked slowly away to his work. I tried to say good-bye or something, but I felt just as I would , had I known the island was slipping down the river right to the falls, nothing .On:earth to stop it, and talking wouldn’t help. No, I wasn't filling up to cry. I was thinking I would never cry again for anything. I would give up every thing mother taught me to hope and work, for, I rwould just fold my ; hands and sit down and be contented to live on as I was living. I would never ex pect anything better; every day in the year might be like/every other day. I would fed the pigs and the chickens ; get the breakfast, dinner and supper of pork,, .. potatoes , and bread for only father? and me ;.rtash and iron and patch ; never have anything pretty and nice; pever know, any goring; people, n§jhhkv£ J bdd& arid' riewspapers, and pretty worsteds for fancy work, nor even

shoes in the summer time, until our debts were paid. Just live—that vras all, and I was only sevetecn years old. I stamped my bare foot at the thought of it, and it was well I did, for the hens were on the bteakfast table and making „a pretty mess of things. That was in July. Mother died in the; spring. - But I can’t tell you about mother. If I begin all the rest of my story will go down stream, just as the arrow’s did I used to shoot far out in the Niagara jiver, and then guess.how long they would be in reaching the falls. We lived on the west side of Grand Island, not more than half a mile north of the Falconwood grounds. The club gave a great deal of work to father; about all we had to live on. They were clearing their grounds, you see, and it was wonderful how they

changed swamp lands into Eden. But it didn’t help me to be contented when the handsomely dressed young ladies would come right up to the door of our shanty, like the butterflies —only the butterflies didn’t make me so uncom fortable. One day when I was weed ing the onion bed, a party from the club house came up to the well for water, and I never looked out from under my sun bonnet, nor pretended to know they were there. “ I should think she would be afraid it would make her feet big to go bare footed,” one of the girls said, not mean ing that I should hear her. They all laughed. I don’t know what made me think of mother just then, but thinking of her saved me from speaking my

mind. Perhaps it was the sweet voice of that pretty girl. I looked after them as they went away. She had blue ribbons at her throat and on her hair, and the prettiest boots on her little feet. A young gentleman carried her parasol. He cut’a bouquet of my cinnamon roses without asking, and she trimmed her hat with them. It was hard weeding in the onions that morning. I could hear them laughing and singing .as they rambled in the woods. The wish that I might not always be shut out from everything got the upper hand of me. Father saw something was wrong after I had moped fot three or four days, and on the morning I am telling you of he asked me what was the matter. I told him what I was wishing for; and that was his answer—he didn’t know where the money was coming from.

There was nothing like a good row on the river when I was down-hearted. I shoved the hens out into the garden, and fed them twice as much as usual. That was like mother ; not a bit like me. Then I made the shanty as neat as I could. I fixed things every morn just as if mother might come in and look round, and dirt was sin in mother’s eyes. Father never cared nor knew how things looked. It was all the same to him whether the stove was polished or not. He thought table cloths all nonsense, and it was hard to keep him from using the curtain for a hand-towel. But for all that, if I had ever spread father’s meals on a bare table or a soiled cloth, or let the cur tains hang crooked, or swept the. dirt into the grass, or—but there is no use in talking about it. I never could have done anything mother would call poor housekeeping. Keeping things nice and tidy was a little like keeping mother with me.

I was a great overgrown girl, with anything but small hands and feet. That came perhaps of my own hard work and going barefooted. My face was brown with being out of doors and on the river in all sorts pf weather, for rny one pleasure was rowing, and I could manage a boat as well- as any body. I had a skiff of my own, mother named it “ Dancing Polly,” and she used to sit in the stern and knit or sew —hut I can’t talk about that. Father’s boat was larger than mine. He used to help the revenue officers sometimes. That was in the time of war, and there was a great deal of smuggling going on between the Canada shore and the States, and Navy and Wolf Islands, just below us was a resort of the smugglers. They were so near the falls, you see, that it was no laughing matter going there with a skiff. Grand Island was a good hiding place before the forests were cut down so much, and father bought bur little place thinking he could earn something catch ing smugglers, giving information to the revenue officer?, etc. But father never succeeded at it. The smugglers caught him once or twice and frightened him most to death. Once they set him adrift on the river without oars, but rescued him upon his saying that he would help them to hide their booty, which he did. Again they threw suspi cion on him, reported him as a smug gler, and he had hard work to clear himself. They were too shrewd for a

man like father, and there we were with that lonesome place on our hands. Mother begged him before she died to give up meddling with the outlaws and to-get off the island as soon as he could for,my sake. But father was not born to do so much alone,'and I was tired trying to think how I could get him to make the move. I am not blaming hitn, not a bit, but perhaps you know what it is to be longing to do some thing in the world, something you know you could do, only for the very one you love best, who just stands in your way without meaning to. Well, that morning I went down to my boat and pushed it off without knowing or caring where I went. I floated a while with the stream, hardly lifting my oars. I remember sitting

motionless out there on the river, and looking back to our cabin—you could hardly sep it for the trees —and wonder ing why, when the world was so big, I must live just there and die there, and never wear blue ribbons nor have dn namon roses stuck in my hat All at once I was aware of the sound of the falls. I had never heard it so plain, save in the bush after mother died. I Was afraid to look oyer my shoulder just for one minute. But there was really no danger, after all for a good oarsman like me, although such silly floating had best be ended at once. I was close to Navy Island, the resort of the smugglers. After a little hard rowing, I had fastened my boat apd had climbed up the bank into the thick wood. It was a little harbor, a, very bower of trees and vines. The birds were singing as if Peggy Herrick was the happiest girl in the world and they, must tell it to kll creation. I sat down oh a shelving rock and threw father’s old straw, l>at over my bare feet. Would I always have to go barefooted ? The birds

sang as if going barefooted was notHirig lo fret about; that was their fashion— old as the hills. What a hot, sleepy day it must be over in Buffalo, ' I thought What would the poor people in boots give to lie barefooted under the trees of Navy Island that morning ? The kingdom was all my own. I could dream a bit and then explore the place. What if I should find a well filled with bags of gold dollars ? I shall never forget how like a picture Grand Island looked as it lay there in the sunshine - , a sweet, dreamy picture. Oh! why wasn’t it the lovliest place in the world? Why did I long to escape from it, to live in the great noisy world, to be something more than Peggy Herrick was that day? I looked at the island and thought of what mother used to say : “ One must get out of this life and look at it as somebody’s else to sec the blessings it holds.” Well, if Grand Island was like my life, if my life—but I must have been half asleep, or perhaps I should have thought out something worth telling before I was startled at hearing voices, men’s voices, on the other side of the thicket behind me, and a sound like breaking the hard baked earth with pickaxes. “ I tell you, Hank," said a wheezy voice, “if we don’t get this haul into barracks before the week’s out we may as well sink it in the river.” Then followed something about “ the point,” and “Jerry,” and “dear old grand mother,” with much cursing and laughter. There were three men at least, and I soon heard enough to learn that they had keen on the island since the middle of the night before. Thoroughly frightened and hardly able

to move for a minute, I knew 1 must escape from the place as soon as possible. They were laughing at some thing about a coffin when I slipped noiselessly down the bank and into ray boat. I kept in the hiding of the trees until I could safely put out from shore. I had a hard struggle with the stiff current, but mastered it and got heme in time to have father’s dinner ready when he came in. He had finished his dinner and was filling his pipe, when I asked,

** What was it you said about brandy smuggling ?” “ There’s too many on ’em for Cap’n Bedill for onc’t Peggy. Them barracks is just afloat with Canada brandy. How the soldiers gets it nobody can tell.” “ Who lives in that little house out on the point ?” “ The “ point ” was a desolate, sandy bluff on the lake shore, not far from the river; a bleak spot, the last place in the world, one would think, for build ing a house, but then we can’t all choose where we will live you know. “ Oh, that’s Jerry Clark’s. He runs a hack at the falls. Makes lots of of money, they say. Supposin’ I run a hack, Peggy. Supposin now —” “ Does he live there on the point ? How can he and do business at the falls ? v “ Oh, Jerry lives at the falls. You wouldn’t mind stayin’ here, would you, Peggy, if I could do handsome driving a hack somwhere else ?”

“ But who lives on the point, father ? Is there anybody in that lonesome house ?” Father thought I didn’t take much interest in his affairs, and said some thing of the kind. “Jerry Clark’s grandmother lives on that point. She is a bit crazy, he says, and thinks she can’t sleep anywhere else. Her husband went down in the —the—that 42 steamboat—or was it 43 ? But of course you don’t know, Peggy.” “ Who takes care of his grandmothe?” “ Jerry is drefful kind to her ; says she can’t live much longer at the most There is a big, bouncin’ girl over there —bigger than what you are, Peggy; she was rowin’ out here on the river the other day. Cap’n Bedill happened down just then, and she hailed him and asked where she could get a good doctor for the old woman. She was took worse, she said. Then she asked the Cap’n if he knew of a good boy to help ’em over there. They are wonder fully put to it for a boy. The Cap’n sent her to Brown’s, but she didn't get one, for I see her goin’ back without any.” There ! I have forgotten to tell you about Pont. This story without Pont in it would have to be told by some body beside Peggy Herrick. I suppose that you who write cords of stories, and think nothing at all of telling longer ones than this of mine, never forget to put tilings in where they belong, and you would have told about Pont in the beginning, and not have had to pick up dropped stitches. Pont was my dog, a big brown water spaniel* He could talk with his eyes, dear old Pont, and after mother died, not right Sway, but after a while, he loved ipe just as he had loved her. He never would take to father for some reason; never followed him. Water dog that he was, he was very shy of Niagara river. That used to make me wish we could live somewhere else.

That night, when father sat smok ing his pipe under the cherry tree, I picked up heart to say : “ Father, I am thinking about going away to look for work.” “ Don’t go to Buffalo, Peggy. There’s no end of drinkin’ soldiers over there, and they make poor husbands, the best on ’em.” .1 never got angry at father. He meant well enough, but he didn’t see things as mother did. “ No, I won’t go to Buffalo. I will be back in a week. If I earn anything my week’s work will bring something handsome. ” Father puffed away, hardly hearing me. He was very tired, and the day had been hot. “ I will leave everything in good order, and you can spare me for a few days and hardly miss me, if you can get your dinners at the. club house,” He said he could, and knocking the ashes from his pipe, went in and to bed. (To be continued .)

THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1881.



’ is M Tea •M- Table in Ashburton.



Special Advertisements. • rr ANOTHIr Yttß OF SUCCESSES Commercial and fancy i STATIONERY. The Undersigned has opened up a NEW ASSORTMENT of the above. "Cream 1 , Blue, and Hand - made' ’ Notepapers ; Ruled, Plain, Fancy, and Repp ditto. Good Business Envelopes, No. 7, Court, Albert, Queen, Tinted, Repp, and others. Pens G’.llott’s, Mitchell’s, Brandauer and Co.’s Inks—“ Stephen’s Blue Black, Walkden’s Black and Colored, Antonine, Copying, Ac. Workboxes, Albums. Books, &c. h. m. Tones, STATIONERY AND FANCY GOODS DEPOT, East Street and Baring Square. 710



HE BEST VA L U E FOK 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 the discerning customers testify that the New Zealand Clothing Factory’s Garments are tue Yerv Best Value for Ready Money. Ashburton Branch EAST STREET. WM. SPARROW, 751* Manager. O. Carstens A Co. (Late Weston’s), PROSPECT BUILDINGS, Tobacconist, fancy goods, AND STATIONERY. Meerschaum Pipes, G.B.D. Pipes Nailrod, Twist, and Vanity Fair Tobacco Musical Instruments, etc., etc. Haircutting, Shaving and Shampooing. EAST STREET, ASHBURTON. A SHBURTON RACING CLUB. Tie COMMITTEE will MEET at Quill’s Hotel, on THURSDAY, 17th inst., at 4 p. m. , to elect a Secretary, and for other business. S. SAUNDERS, H2a For Secretary.



Holloway’s Ointment AMD 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 wound, 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 - surgeons, without deriving the slightest benefit, have been thoroughly cured by Holloway’s : Oint ment and Pills. For glandular swellings, tumours, scurvy, and diseases of the skin there is no ’medicine that can'be used with s'6 good in effect. ' 'ln fact, in the worst forms of dis ease, dependent upon the condition of 'tht blood,, these medicines, if used conjointly, 1 irresistible.



Wanted. V. WANTED —MARRIED COUPLE, for Maronan, without incumber* ances. Man, odd jobs ; woman to cook for men. John Carter, Grove House, Tinwald. 82a RANTED —Respectable steady Man VV to rent Billiard room. Apply, Quill’s Hotel. Ilia WANTED TO SELL —Twenty-five SECTIONS, Wakanui Road. Apply to Patchiho, Street. ' , r 898 ; ’ J;!!., -.i..' if > ' / m \%TA NTED' N 6 WN. —That W HENRY*sToin»aiirfeotHffi, Saunders’ Buildings* dE2ast»iZMtp.'.fAsh burton, are Open DAILY, from 9 b-th. till 5 p. m. Portraite taken _ *bu any weather. Great Reductibnin-Price/ 'lola tttanted music known. VV H. J. WEEKS, Teacher of Music, Tuner, &c*. , bas room for a few more Pupils fofc |he Pianoforte, Harmonium, : Violin or Singing. Terms on application. , Second hand instruments bought or sold bn cbm mission. Address—Cameron street west. WANTED KNOWN—The Largest and Best Stock of Saddlery is to be found at the shop of S. STEPHENS, Tinwald. Good strong Cart Collars frqra 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. Stkihbns, Saddler, Tinwald.



TTTANTED KNOWN. *-i- Ashburton W REGISTRY OFFICE for Mala and Female Servants.—L. F. ANDaiWfs bega to inform the public of Ashburton and surrounding districts that be has opened the above. Male and Female Servants of all classes provided. Em ployers requiting servants, and all persons with good recommendations, I who, are-in want of situations, are requested to apply to L. P. Andrkwes, Labor Agents Book seller, and Stationer, East street, South. WANTED KNOWN—That a Church of England minister’s wife .writes that she saves Ten ■ Shillings A Fortnight by using Harper Twelyetreea*. -WRla Washer, Wringer, and Mangier, cdta bined; and, although she permits no rubbing, the clothes are beautifully white, and much cleaner than when done by hand, while the saving: in mending has been astonishing. Sold by J. HERN, Range Maker and Importer, corner of Manchester and . Tuam streets, Christ church ; Price —£9 10s. 700 ■ ; : ■ i.' . WANTED KNOWN. SOMERSET LIVERY AND STABLES. SAIT JW. M‘RAB begs to inform the , public that he has taken the' vbove Stables . from Mr. Bpssenberg, .qn<| |*« making extensive repairs.' 1 fJ' 1 " .t. Buggies and saddle horses on hire. Lowest prices and best attention.’ £53 Meetings. 10.G.T— Unity DEGREE TEMPLE. , Special Meeting of 1 bird Degree Members on THURSDAY, 17th ihsi., | at 8 o’clock, at the Templar Hall, for ex traordinary business. All Third Degree members invited. Thomas Wiun+Ma, D.T. ' ' . -. i U ■> .t rlOGa



Amusements. J O. O. F., M. U. LOYAL ASHBURTON LQDGE, No. 6003. GRAND ANNIVERSARY Concert Of Vocal and Instrumental Music, Dances, and Comic Sketches, in the TOWN HALL, ASHBURTON, ON MONDAY EVENING, FEB. 28.* The Loyal Ashburton L°dge, Np. 6003, purpose celebrating their Anniversary 5 With a Concert on the above .date, arjien an ex cellent programmewill be presented.' Doors open at half-past seven ; concert at eight prompt. JOSHUA, TUCKER/ N.G. 76a R. MINNIS, Secretary. ■ 1.1 jj'l'l'u? Partnership Notice. Dissolution of fartner- SHIP. i NOTICE is hereby given that the PARTNERSHIP hitherto existing be tween us as DOCTORS has this day taro DISSOLVED by mutual consent; tgid that for the future each of us. will, carry on the practice of his profession at Ash* burton and elsewhere, separately* Notice is also given that all debts due to the late firm are hereafter to be paid to - Mr. -W. H. Zoiich, who has been authorised by js to collect same, and whose receipt for same will be a sufficient discharge. Dated this 9tbday of February, 188 L ' JAMES E. TREVOR, W. G. ROSS; Witness- . •. Gekald D. Branson, Solicitor, Ashburton. . t „ 88a



Tenders- P L 0 W E R S H TENDERS are invited for the right of a CONFECTIONER’S and REFRESH MENT STALL in the Town Hall on the day of the Horticultural Society’* Show. Tender* to close on TUESDAX,Feh. 15|h, at noon, addressed to the undersigned. *• S. E. POYNT Z, Public Notices -\T O T I 0 . E. J. TASKER is happy to announce to his customers and friends that his family having recovered from illness, hfe will RE OPEN his BUSINESS TO-MORROW (Tuesday), when his cart will call round* and he trusts his customers and friends will favor him with their liberal support as heretofore. ... ,1.09^ BOROUGH COUNCIL. . NOTmCATIOIToFVALUATION.



TAKE NOTICE, the lYalbation List for the- Borough. of A-shburtoij | for .the Year 1881 is now open for inspection kt the Borough Council’s Office, Burnett street. All OBJECTIONS thereto must be left at the Resident Magistrate’s Odirt on or before the 22nd day of February, addressed to the,Assessment Courtior the Borough of every such objection must Town Clerk’s office not less tharisbVen days before the next sitting of thp said Cour *’ charles Sb&ii&m*' ' i :! Tbwh Clbrifc | Borough Council Office/ J 'l4th January,* 1881; ' 1 ' '' * • * §4d HE GUARDIAN is'published eyery evening, giving • Wety* l dayVtwWs, up to the hour of going to press. This I better than buying a sixpenny weekly.