SHIPPING.

PORT OP LYTTELTON. Arrived. Yesterday. Go-Ahead, a.s., from Wellington. To-day. Wanaka, s.s.. from the North. Sailed. Yesterday. Tui, S.S., for Kaikoura, Wellington, and Foxton. Go-Ahead, s.s., for Wellington and Napier. Wave of Life, schooner, for Kaipara. Annie Mellmish, for Newcastle. "’'Mary Baunatyne, brigantine, for Wel lington, —Saucy Lass, schooner, for Wellington. t J ‘ SHIPPING TELEGRAMS. Auckland, Yesterday. Arrived—Loch Urr, from London ; -City ef-New York; from San Francisco. Sailed —Rotomahana, for the South. - Timaru, Yesterday. Sailed—Amaranth, for Lyttelton. P m : ■ Port Chalmers, Yesterday. .Arrived—Hawea, 5.5.,-from the North. ■ ' Bluff, Yesterday. Arrived Tararua, s.s., from Mel .bpume. ' The barque Sir Jamsetjee, bound irom Melbourne to London, put in to repair ihd crank of the pilmp, which broke on the 7th instant. ■ ' London, Jan. 13. •Arrived —Fiji, ship, from Lyttelton.

DAILY MEMORANDA.

AUCTION SALES. Tuesday, January 18. Robert Wilkin and Co., Tinwald Yardsr— Horses and Store Merino Ewes. Friday, January 21. Matson, Cox, and Co. —Horses, Wagons, . Isuggy,.lmplements, Oats, Chaff, Wool • ; : pjrbsg, 'Cheese, &c. Twelve o’clock • "sharp. MEETINGS, AMUSEMENTS, &c. To-Night, Saturday, January 15. Meeting of Ticket-holders between the Nos. 1,226 and 1,250 in Cameron’s Consultation on the Champion Race, at the Ashburton Hotel, at 7-30 p.m. Tuesday, January 18. Degree 1 Temple, Fortnightly Meeting, Templar Hall, at 8 p.m. Wednesday; January 19. Ashburton Town Hall Company, Meeting of Shareholders,-Town Hall, at 8 p.m. Monday, January 24. Borough Council, at Borough Council Chambers, at 7 o’clock. Wednesday, February 2. County Council, at the County Council Chambers, atTl o’clock.

The Ashburton Guardian. SATURDAY, JANUARY 15, 1881.

TOWN EDITION.

Calbdonion Society. —A meeting of the Caledonian Society Directors is to be held in Quill’s Hotel on Tuesday evening, to receive the annual balance sheet, and consider the annual report, Vine Culture. —During his stay in California Mr. Vesey Stewart examined the vineyards, and, impressed with the profitableness of vine-growing, he intends establishing the industry in the Bay of Plenty. Our Gold Export. —The gold exported from New Zealand in 1880 amounted to 305,2480 z., valued at L 1,227,252, as compared with 287,4640 z., valued at L 1,148,108 in 1879. The total amount exported from the colony to the end of 1880 was 9,552,1940z5., valued at L 37,380,633.

An Unsuccessful Attempt. —A man named William White attempted suicide by hanging himself to a beam in an out house at Oamaru, on Thursday night. He was, fortunately, noticed in time, and cut down iu an insensible condition. Yesterday he was committed for trial.

New Zealand at the Conference.— New Zealand is to be represented at the Intercolonial Conference now sitting at Sydney. The Premier received a cable message yesterday from Sir H. Parkes to the effect that the Conference would not conclude before the 24th or 25th instant, and it was therefore decided that Mr. Dick should proceed to Sydney by the mail boat last night. Watchmaking. —We have before re ferred to Mr. Murray’s watchmaking establishment, and only do so again because he has shown us samples of a new watch he has imported. The watches have been made to his order and to his instructions, which represent many alter ations on the old style of watch, dictated by his experience in the colony, so that he now flatters himself he nas secured a time keeper that suits the climate of Now Zea land, and the great amount of riding and other similar work that colonists have to undertake. The watches are strong, and finely finished articles, and are wonder fully low priced. Cricket. —A match was played to-day in the Domain between an eleven cricketers from the establishment of the Timaru Herald, and an eleven from the Christchurch Press. Play began at eleven o’clock, and in their first innings Timaru scored 32 against 98 made by the Christ church men. The play was very fair, and considering that both teams had worked all night on their respective papers, and done a fifty miles’ railway ride previous to playing, the men made a very credit able appearance. The team took luncheon together in the pavilion after play, Mr. Power being the purveyor. Obstructing the Police. —John Saun derson and Philip Contanch were charged to-day before the Resident Magistrate with obstructing Constable Neill in the execution of his duty. Constable Neill was attempting to apprehend a man in a house of bad fame in. East street south on Thursday last, on a charge of robbery, and while making the arrest the first named was very rowdy and troublesome, doing his best to prevent the arrest. Both prisoners were drunk. Evidence as to the obstruction was led, and Contanch was dismissed with a caution, but Saunderaon was fined LlO, or two months’ imprison ment with hard labor. ••••.. Entertainment at the Hinds.' —Last night an entertainment in celebration of the opening of the Hinds school was given in the Schoolroom. While the en tertainment was intended to mark the opening, the money realised was intended to form the nest egg of a fund for pro viding a library for the district, and the Committee are to be congratulated on the hearty way in which they have thrown themselves into the work of getting up the entertainment. The ■ performers Were mostly Ashburton friends, the majority of them ladies and gentlemen always ready to lend itheir aid in connection with country entertainments, .of the kind of last night, and well known in connection with such all over the county. The audience was large, and represented every family within eight or ten miles of the school. The Ashburton and Tinwald per formers .. being Mrs. Dunn, .. Misses Saunderaon and Corrigan, and Messrs. Gates, Craighead, Dunn, ■ Henry, and Nettleton, we need not particularise the items they contributed, being content with the remark that their. efforts were not in : any way inferior to their usual appearances. Local performers were not wanting, and we must notice the recita tions of Messrs. Williams and Edwards, and the songs of Mr. Mutton. Great help was given in the attractiveness of the programme by the pianforto playing, and the occasional songs of Mr. Chichester, the schoolmaster. At the close the usual votes of thanks were given, a more than usually hearty one being that to Mr. Shury for the loan of a piano. After the concert, the room was cleared for a dance, at which Mr. A. Bowick kindly acted as M.C., and most efficiently. We may just add that the school opens with 3Q children on the roll.

CABLE NEWS.

LATEST FROM EUROPE

(Per Reuter’s Agency.) Money and Commercial. London, Jan. 12.

The per cent New Zealand 1879- *904 loan has advanced by 1 per cent, and to-day is quoted at Bank of England , rale of discount is 3%, and the market rate 3 per cent. Adelaide flour, ex warehouse, has declined to 34s ; New Zealand wheat, ex ship, un changed 44445.; ConsoJs are unchanged at 98%.

The Scult&g Championship. j N Jan. 13. Hanlan is the-,favorite-for the race with Laycock for the sculling champion ship of the world, which takes place over the usual course on the Thames on Monday next, January 17 th. The betting is how 5 to 1 on Hanlan. Notes and Bullion. The total reserve of notes and bullion in the Bank of England is Li 2,600,000 Hides. An active demand exist- for most descriptions of Australian hides. Stop the War. A deputation from the Peace S ciety waited upon the Secretary of Star 2 for the Colonies to-day, to urge steps being_ taken to bring about the'cessation of the war in the Transvaal. Earl Kim berley, . in reply to the Speaker, said that if the Boers suspended hostilities there might be hopes of a amicable settlement, but otherwise the Govern ment \vere compelled to continue to use every endeavor to quell the rebellion, and maintain British supremacy in the colony. His lordship farther recalled to the deputation-the fad tha . the Boers possessed but a very doubtful title to a large portion of the Tran ;vaai, and had, therefore, no sound claim for independence.

Anxious to do Justice. A number of Irish Liberal members, of the House of Commons having made representations to Mr. Gladstone re garding the Bill dealing with the Irish land question, which is to be introduced; by the Government, Mr. Gladstone has replied . that he could not- give any pledges as to the extent to which the measure would go, but could give * an assurance that the Government were anxious , to do justice to both landlord and tenant. Russia’s Losses. Information has been received from Central Asia regarding the Russian campaign against the Tekk.e Turkoman tribes! The Russian force had invested Geok Tepe, when a severe engage ment took place. Fighting was des perate, and both sides suffered heavily. The Russian loss is said to have been most severe. Colliers’ Strike. London, Jan. 14. An extensive strike of coalminers has commenced in Lancashire. Forty thousand men are out of work. The Boers. ; A detached squadron ordered to the Cape will on arrival at Natal, land the Naval Brigade for service against the Boers. Chili and Peru. , Information has been received from South America that the Chilians are following up their success over the Peruvians, and have occupied Hurien. British Success. Capetown, Jan. 13. The latest news from Basutoland states that the colonial troops continue to be most successful over the rebel tribes. Several engagements have been fought, in all of which the enemy has been defeated, and large numbers (amounting to many : thousands) of their cattle have been captured.

AUSTRALIAN

[Pet Reuter's Agency.) Sale of the Wrecked Hereford. Melbourne, Jan. 14. The wreck of the ship Hereford, as it lies at Cape Patten, will be offered by auction here to-mprrow. Commercial. , Sydney, Jan. 14. Hennessy’s brandy, in bulk, ns. New Zealand wheat, 4s. 4T ; New Zealand oats, 2s. 6d. ; The Inter colonial Conference. The Inter-colonial Conference met to-day and approved the resolutions carried at the Melbourne sittings on the subject of inter-colonial legislation, viz., “ x. That warrants for the arrest of offenders issued in one colony should be good in all, and that provision should be made for anticipating by telegram the effect of such) warrants. 2, That, all processes for the recovery of debts or damages originating in any one colony, should have full effect'in all the colonies. 3.; That. warrants for the apprehension of men who have deserted their wives or children, or both, should have force and effect • in • all the colonies.” The Conference also agreed to consider a ißill drafted’ by Mr. Vale, the Victorian Attorney-General and representative at the Conference, for the establishment of an Australasian Court of Final Appeal. With a Grain of Salt. - Telegrams from Blackball have been published, stating'that Mr. Skuthorpe’s statement regarding his possession of relics of Leichardt’s party must be ac cepted with reserve. !

NEW ZEALAND

(Per Press Association.) The Governor and Sir George Grey. The Governor proceeded to Kawau on visit to Sir George Grey. It is reported Sir George Grey will make a trump card next session of the Patctva land question, and will address meetings throught the colony prior to next session.” ' i i Seizure of Ammunition. Gisborne, To-day,' ! , Considerable alarm was occasioned' last night in consequence of a seizure made by Sergeant Hnddlestbne of- 'about 5,00(j rounds of Enfield ammunitionwhich Was found in a small building belonging to a native named Reparata. The Vexed Question. t Dunedin, To-day. . The Presbyterian Synod, by thirty-four to four, carried a resolution in favor of the re-introduction of the Bible into the public schools, the committees to have power to sanction the,reading,. Liberated. .. i ; Mary Hoad, convicted of illicit distil ling, at Waihemd, for which she; Was flnbd LIOO, or, in default, one-year’s imprison ment, has been liberated,'tKe‘ fine being remitted by the Governor." : • 1 •

THE TIMARU RIOTERS.

Sentence of the Prisoners.

[By Telegraph.}

(From our own Correspondent.) ; . ; Tim aru, ,To-day. : Thomas Driscoll, Jeremiah Towers, Patrick O’Shea,: Patrick O’Connor, John Denihy, and Maurice Moynahan, who were co.lvicted -at the District Court about ten months ago of rioting, on Boxing Da'y,r : B79, appeared before Judge Ward to-day for sentence. Mr. Stout, counsel lor the defence, called p number of witnesses to character, ir.J

eluding Messrs. Wakefield and Turn bull, M.H.R.’s. The Judge said he should take into consideration the long time that had elapsed since the,, trial,; and the fact that an Orange procession had since been held without molesta tion. O’Driscoll, having promoted the disturbance by his Jetterf was' fined Lioo. The others were required to enter into their own recognisances to appear for sentence. His Honor’s concluding exordium was—“ One word before you go—Sin no more,'lest a worse thing come to you.”

THE LARD LEAGUERS.

■ A Split in the Camp. (By Cable.) London, Jan; 13. The trial of the Land Leaguers at Dublin continues. ’ Mr. MacDonogh has opened the case for the defence of the parties accused, and in the course of Ills address lie made a statement that he regarded the accusations which were brought against the Land Leaguers as being, in reality, the landlords’ in dictment against the tenants. London, Jan. 14. Mr. Shaw and fifteen other Irish members of the House of Commons have seceded from Mr. Parnell’s leadership. (By the Mail.) An immense anti-leaguers' meeting was held at Monaghan, on December Iflth, Lord Rossmore presiding. Resolutions were passed declaring that an equitable settlement of the land: question was: abso lutely necessary, a settlement giving land lords a fair rent, and tenants protection from rack rents and capricious evict nient.

“ Boycotting ” is inflexibly imposed in disaffected districts, and .is driving even well moaning people’,and many tants into’ open affiliation With;., the Leaguers. Numerous instances are given when with, police protection, .prescribed individuals could obtain uolhing in the way of labor, fool, or lodging'from the inhabitants

.In Dublin, the merchants and other citizens declare that they will not serve on juries in State trials for fear of injury to their business or murder. The local attorneys refuse to serve -eviction papers, and in one instance where' one' did serve papers, he narrowly escaped with his life, although he apologised and promised not to repeat the action. ' Winter has set in with severity, and much suffering exists among laborers on account of the scarcity of work, the League taking care of duly those who/ arc ordered to quit employment as marked men. In some cases, the League ordered landlords to put'on men to improve; their property, which in some cases lias been done. ! ■ • -I-!.: ■. : '

The Chief Justice of the Queen’s Bench, Dublin, denounced the Irish anarchy in unmeasured terms, intimating very plainly that he would enforce tholaw with the utmost rigor possible. For this language, the Chief Justice has been set upon with the utmost fury by the Leaguers in, Ire land and sympathisers in England. One man at Armagh, County Tyrone, lias been sentenced to twenty years im prisonment for shooting ,at-a , landlord’s bailiff. A man named Mulholland was shot dead, by a Leaguer named Graham, near Clonmel, when serving a writ. Graham escaped through being aided by the neighbours, but was afterwards arrested.

On December 14th, Baron Doures, pre siding at the Connaught Assizes, read a threatening letter dooming him to death should he convict any of the Leaguers. Several other Judges have received letters of a similar purport. On December 16th, the Land Leaguers issued an address condemning the outrages and sending threatening letters. ' Th§ Leaguers themselves have received threatening letters, and Parnell got one, telling him that he would be shot if he attended a certain meeting pn December 15th. ■ , .. /

Urgent orders have been issued to the troops in Dublin to hold themselves in readiness for service, and furloughs have been cancelled. The Scots Guards will reinforce the troops here, and a regiment from Gibraltar for England has been ordered to land at Cork. Magazines and depots are being established throughout the disaffected districts, with detach ments iof soldiers and constabulary to guard thorn, and for other services.

(Per s.s. Tararua, at the Bluff.) London, Doc. 27.

A confereucc-of the leading members yf the Home Rule party, has been held* hi Dublin for the purpose, of considering the policy to be pursued by the Irish mem bers in the forthcoming session of Parlia ment. If has been decided tn submit an amendment to' the Address, which shall convey a strong protest against the police being allowed to assist in the enforcement of evictions.

. > Dec 29. There has been fighting between the soldiers and street roughs in Dublin. Tile Daily Telegraph states that it is the intention of the Government to re-enact the Irish - Peace Preservation > Act,- to which will be added several powers authorising the authorities to search for and seize arms.

A very largely attended meeting of Land Leaguers was held at Loughrea. It is estimated that 30,000 persons were present, members : of ; the Irish . Land League.. The affair,- although somewhat demonstrative and tumultuous passed.off without serious disturbance.

Subscriptions from friends of the Land League are flowing in plentifully, and their /income reached the astonishingly latgC amount of LflOO sterling per day. Jan. 5;

A meeting of disaffected persons, was held at Tralee, the market town,- of County-Kerry. The police, in accordance with {the recent decision , of the Govern ment to prohibit nieetihgs'in connection with, the land question-from being hold, in disturbed districts, sut-roundered. i ; the assembled crowd and "arrested; six ring-: leaders.

. A riotous gathering having taken place at New; Brook, County Mayo, the police ■were compelled to charge the rioters ; with their bayonets, and several persons-wqre seriously wounded. r

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

ASHBURTON.— To-day. <// (Before Mr. Nugent Wood, R,.M.' r .: / , ; BOBBKKV. ' George ' Wilson, alius Douglas, „ A was charged with the larceny of LIT,' Ilia” pro perty of Frederick Neill, and also with the robbery of L 3 ffom-the df'Mrs. Hill, la Woman of bad ' •' ■•/ Frede’riclr Neill, laborer, said hh was now residing in'Ashburton. On the 13th instant, had sahum ofi L2O in hik posses sion. It was in two LlO notes on the Bank of New "Zealand. Changed one' of the notes in the HoteL t^' r bar man, E! Oughton, giving me back aLS note, four LI notes,-half a sovereign, and some silver. I put tha money into a pocket-book, and the pocket-book into the right hand pocket of a sleeved waistcoat 1 was then wearing. Prisoner Was In Shearman’s bar when I got the change. When I left, prisoner followed mo down the street to Duncan Mackenzie’s Hotel. This .was before noon., In (bo Ashburton Hotel I went into the commercial pooui'

had some drinks. I went to sleep on a’spfa, but, previous to that, prisoner was sitting on the right hand side of me. When .1 .woke up prisoner was gone. I had si dpi about half an hour perhaps. I missed all the notes from my pocket-book about eight f o’clock in the .evening. I know nothing about prisoner, and I can not say if I invited him to drink with me. By prisoner—l don’t’ know that I ever drank with you iu my life. Edward Oughtou, sworn —I am a bar man. Saw prisoner in the Somerset Hotel about eight o’clock on the morning of the 13th instant. Efe had: breakfast at the hotel. He did not pay for it. Prisoner remained at the hotel till about noon. Last witness, changed a tempound note at the hotel. I gave him amongst other change, a five-pound note, which was similar to the one produced. He put the money in his pocket. Saw another note in last witness’s pocket; which he said was another ten-pound one. Prisoner was presehf, sitting on a form when I changed the note. Neill, stayed for about half an hour, and immediately afterwardsprisoner left also. Prisoner did not spend any money while at the hotel in the morning. About 4.30 he came back, and after tea “shouted” for myself, the cook, and waiter.

- Francis O'Neill, sworn—l am boots and waiter at the Somerset Hotel. Saw pri soner at the hotel on the morniag of the 13:h. He had breakfast, hut did not pay for it. He had no money. Tho evening before, accused asked mo for some tea and a shake-down, as he was on the road look ing for a job, : He did not stop at the hotel that night. Saw accused next morning at G. 30, and he had breakfast there. On the 13th, about noon, saw the witness O’Neill in the bar, and prisoner was there at the same time. _ Neill went, away, and prisoner left immediately after wards. Prisoner came back to tea, and after tea, I saw him spending money. Later ori fn the evening, saw accused in Wadsworth’s, up-stairs. Saw him along with a young woman, who accused pri soner of robbing her. I went for Con stable Neill, as I knew he was outside.. Went back with the contable, and saw him arrest r accused on a- charge of robbery. Prisoner .was violent, and was handcuffed by Constable Neill. Saw the latter search accused, and some money was found in his trousers, pocket. Do not remember accused making any remark. William Kennedy deponed—Am a la borer, residing in Ashburton. _ Saw accused on the 13th in a chair, sitting beside prosecutor j in the commercial room of the Ashburton Hotel. Neill was sitting on a corner of the sefa, to the left of prisoner. Went to dinner, and when I returned prosecutor was laying on the sofa, apparently asleep, and prisoner still in the same position. There were three other persons in the room. All, with the ex ception- of prisoner and Neill went out when the dinner bell rang. Neill was wearing a sleeve vest with pockets in it. Saw the pocketai : -■> Anne Hill, sworn—l live at a house kept by a man named Wadsworth. Re member the night of the ,13th. . Accused came into Wadsworth’s house. First saw him in the kitchen. He was showing his money on the table. He had a ten-pound note, a five-pound nbte f and a oile-pound note. Shortly afterwards I went upstairs. Accused followed me up, and asked for the change pf.a five-pound note,, so (hat he could give liis mate some. Told him I would see and I took my purse put. Prisoner began feeling in his stocking and in his boot. He then caught hold of me, and told me I had robbed him of his money. X called for some one to go for the police and soon afterwards Constable Neill came upstairs and arrested prisoner. The handcuffs were put on- him, and he was searched by Constable Neill who found a note in his pocket. Constable Robert Neill, sworn—Re member the' night of 13th January. About 11 30 T was outside Wadsworth’s house, when ! heard a noise inside. Went round to. the back and saw Frank O'Neill. Went upstairs into the front room. Prisoner, two women, and a man named Saunderson were in the room. I said; to Mrs. Hill “Anne, what’s the matter.’, She said, “ This man (pointing to pri soner) has robbed me.” I asked her if she had got the money- back again. Prisoner' answered, “Yes.” Asked prisoner if ho had any more money' pn him, .when he -replied No.” _ Told him I should look, and searched, his trousers pockets. Accused had his - hands in his pockets, and both hands were shut. Took his left hand out of .his trousers pocket, and told'him to open his,hand. He would not, and.on my forcing it open, I found a one-pound note. Prisoner said, “ Re member, you have got LI7 of,my money.” Cabled,l the two women, and showed them that I only'had a single note. I arrested prisoner, who was very violent, and he said ho had robbed no one. Before I arrested prisoner he said that . the matter, could be squared. On the way to the police station, accused offered me a pound to let him go; 'Replied, “ Not Jo-day, baker.” Ho offered 'me B2; and asked that the handcuffs • might. be . taken off. Again declined. Prisoner then offered me LlO, and l reffiged again. At the police station fold Sergeant Felton that 1 had arrested prisoner for robbery arid violence from Mrs. Hill, and said that the accused answered-tho description of the man given by Neill, who also had been robbed. Suggested to the Sergeant that accused should be searched. Prisoner said he had no money on him, and made some other-remark which 1 cannot re member. Prisoner refused to strip, when his were taken off for him. Found a pound note in his coat pocket. Prisoner said to the’ Sergeant, “ You don’t want my boots off, do you.” ; The Sergeant said; - “ Certainly. ” In the left boot, the Sergeant found a ten pound and five pound note, produced., Accused laughed, and made some remark when the

money was taken out of his boot. By Prisoner— At the time you were in the room T only took a LI note from you. Did not find a LlO note in your pocket. I did not suggest to you that L 3 would square the matter with the girl. Prisoner—Then a policeman can swear anything. Anne Hill,rd-isallod, examined by prisoner—l heard you say to Neill you had no money. Did not hear you-accuse Neill of haying Lli> or Ll 7of yours-; ■, . Sergeant Felton, sworn—About 12 o’plpck op tha night of the 13tli hist, Constable Neill' brought prisoner hand cuffed to the lock-up. In reply to a ques tion, the Constable said he had arrested accused for robbing Ariiie'Hill, and asked me if I did not think the prisoner answered the :dbsorip(ion 'given by the man-Neill, who had been robbed, and suggested searching accused. Constable Neill, said that all the monjy he could find dm'accused was a LI note.' ’ Told the constable to search accused. Prisoner said, You lie too fast ; you have taken alTmy money.” Prisoner {asked if I, wanted his boots off, and I fold him every- - In one, of .prisoner’s; boots I found some notes. Constable Neill said, ‘‘That must be the money it just answers the description,” alluding to the money stolen frOM'Neill. * 'Prisoner laughed, ahd made a coursa rdmark in a- low : tone. He had been,drinking/and^was'about half drunk. •By accused—Do not know Who put the money irt' your boot; ' l ' .u Accused—That constable putthemoney in my boots. He took the money from, me in the house, and then put them in the boot.

Prisoner was/committed fop trial on the charge of robbing Neil, butaftef hear ing" (librSeqcirtd chsCrge/-Ihat of {robbery with violence from the person of Annie Hilh-/lii9 Worship said, there qouidhe. no. doubt ot tlm.i assault, hut. no felonious igtent was proved, and the case would he dismissed.

THE CHIMNEY CORNER.

♦ THREE SCENES IN THE LIFE OF A TRAVELLING- SHOWMAN. | A Sketch frojn Life. j SCENE THE FIRST. | THE GIANT AND KIS MANAGER. It was about six o’clock on a May evening, and I had gone out to practice at a rifle range in one of the pleasant little valleys on that great robing grassy down that, stretching from Stonehenge as far as the town of Wannirs.er, covers nearly thirty miles of Wi'tshire. The annual match for the silver cup was coming off early in June, and I wanted to make a good appearance, and try what drinking out of silver was like. It was market day in Salisbury, but my friend King had promised to ride up to the range on his return and try me at the seven hundred yards, at which, the last time, we had been ties. The down looked deliciously quiet; blackbirds singing in every great.snowy thorn-bush; a fading rainbow—the mere green and violet phantom of a rainbow;—gleamed over the distant fir plantation. Here and there a rabbit peeped out from a furze, or trotted across the range, heedless of the latest improvements in the rifle. There was only one sign of human presence, and that was a great red and yellow caravan moored on the brow a quarter of a mile off. It looked, m the rich sunset that was just then beginning, like Noah’s ark on Ararat. It was the day after Chicklade fair, and this caravan was evidently on its way back from those rural festivities. Except for that cara van the Down looked much as it had looked, I suppose, when the ancient Britions fought the. Romans there. Under the hazel stand a primrose or two still lingered ; the air Was blue arid crystalline, and smelt bf sumiiier flowers.

It was no use beginning t'o practise till old Payne, the keeper, came with the flags and, the whitewash pot, and could get behind his turf and mark ; so I threw myself down under a great flowering hawthorn, my rifle and cartridge-box at my side, and gave way to a minute or two of luxurious and delicious idleness. Suddenly a voice called out —

“ Come here, Billy, and tuck in your twopenny.” >

I looked round. It was some one behind the nearest thorn bush; . calling in a droll voice to some One in the covert. People from the,. caravan, I supposed. They could‘see me where I was, so I just rolled myself to the edge of the bush and looked round. It was- a little Robsonian man, with a droll twist.to his mouth, and a swagger of good-natured but intense self-com placency, beating his phest: and stretch ing his arms in a series of rapid poses plastiques. He wore a very dingy suit of pink' fleshings, and the other habili ments of the street acrobat, and : had a dirty spangled band round his forehead. “ Come here,. Bill,” he cried again, “ never mind those fakements, she must wait : until after business hours. Let Polly pick up her own sticks; ..she makes a slave of you, Bill: you’re too good-natured by half, and the women make a fool of you.” ,

“All right, guv’nW,” replied a thin, piping voice, and there stumbled out of the furze a huge, awkwardly-made, thin bony man, not much less than eight feet high, also dressed in fleshings; He had a deprecating, injured expression, lank dusty hair, and weak eyes, and was evidently a giant of a meek, cowed dis position, who looked upon the little man as a genius and a general, and respected .him accordingly, with ah almost feudal veneration. He carried a bundle of newly-collected sticks under his enormously long arm. f “All right, guvnor,” he said. •“ You know whatever you order I always tumbles to it, whether 1 it’s ‘ Hamlet; with a . company of three, or' the ‘ Stranger, ’ with me in Hessian , boots, and no room to flourish my pocket handkercher in. Well, what’s up now ? ” “This is up, Bill,” said the little man. “ I tell you it was the worst day as ever Thorn and Bennett knew when tfie would not let me do first tragedy business, ;and perfprvn . feats of strength in the middle of ‘ Blue Beard.’ For it very mticWAffikes ufel'iny diminutive individule, that original ginnyus aint found every day | and. the ‘Stranger’ with the double somersaults between the acts, brings down, the house and brings in the browns.” “It just do,” said the giant.' “But I ’aven’t got. the sperit as you have, Joe, and .never shall' have, through not having food enough when I was a-grow ing. There’s the missus calling.” • , ; “ And there let her call, . I want to practice that flying jum ; p,-. of,mine, Bill, so thrdw yourself into'a professibiM attitude and look out.”

The submissive giant, with none of the ferocity of his ancestors about him, bent, his back, and planted his .bony hand on,his thighs. The little‘man made a bustling scrambling run, lodged himself on the enormous creature’s back, and towing himself on to his shoulders, flung his legs round his neck. It was-not precisely what he had in tended to do evidently, but his delight ful self-complacency served him in good -stead,;.-: ; ' “ That’ll do, Bill,” he said. “ But I didn’t allow quite enough for the tak ing off having no spring in it. It’ll all come right at Warminster. Once fhbre.”

This time the little man, evidently getting a little too stout, missed entirely, and not only that, but gave the giant such a projector forward, that he toppled over on his nose. , ; Joe was enraptured with his success. “ This is how I get suggestions,” he said. good comic business. You fall, then I take you up like the clown- does 1 pantaloon, and say,- Take care of the. pieces, ’ and that’ll bring the house down. Mind that we say, ‘'lake cafe of the pieces,' Bill. Come, we’ll go to tea. Mother has got some muffins for iis. T : ' mustn’t stop; your growing,, my little tiilip.' .Pci .you know, yout part fpr.theJ Bpttle.Jmp ,’ yet ?” : “ Almost ; but I ,can’t get,; it quite right after the three hundredth line. . “ Ah, that’s because you got out playing at cards with; thosS gipsies last night, my young man, feilly, there’s sbmetinies J a Want of self-respect about you. You don’t value your profession highly'enough. But, hallo !’-* Hallo !—thft, \vas made my appearance suddenly "to the

giant and the manager, and asked them how the fair had gone off. “Tol-101, sir,” said the little man ; “ but the agricultooral poor have not sufficient admiration for the drama. ‘ Hamlet ’ in twenty minutes —my friend here as Ghost, your humble ser vant as Hamlet—did not draw, and we had to introduce double somersaults between the ghost scene and the killing the king, which is hard work, and involves changing of dress. We shall try the ‘ bottle Imp ’at Warminter ; that always pulls in the money. _lt opens with Willebald and Albert, which is the low comedy man and the juvenile ; the comic man’s line is ‘ I’ll tell your mother.’ The first act, Albert goes-—” The little talkative man stopped, because at that moment, with a rush worthy of an Indian warrior impatient for scalps, the giant William rushed into the furze, and struck furiously right and left with a stick he held in his hand. Need I tell anyone who has seen a live rabbit that the animal escaped ? “ Whv, bless me, B'll,” said the manager, “you don’t expect to catch rabbits that way ? Bill, its unworthy of your intellek," and I’m ashamed of you.” I handed my. tobacco-pouch to the manager and his protege, and they were my very good friends from taal moment. We sat down together, and I handed my pocket-flask of brandy to each of them, with an allusion to their recent exertions.

The strolling manager of the small but effective company laughed in his droll, cheery way. The exuberant vanity of the little man was delightful. “ Lor’ bless. you, sir, many’s the evening I’ve thrown sixty double somer saults, "and been as fresh as a lark at the end of it, and gone to practise rope : dancing, at. which few could top me till Blondin walked over Niagara on one leg. Billy, did you ever see one play the violin and throw a somersault at the same time as well as me ? I put it to B’lly, here, as humpire.” The giant loaded his pipe with melancholy precision, and said, “ Never one arf as well. It does me good for two days to see the governor.” “ I’m like Crib’s dog—can do a little of most things,” said the manager, squeezing the calf of his leg approv ingly, ‘‘and ’ave ’ad to do it in ray time. I don’t say that I’m much at rifle-shooting, but I can do the gun trick, and I’m pretty good at sparrers out of a trap. What do you say, Billy?”; “ I say you’re a regular A i at pigeons, sparrers, or 'apennies tossed up, and I’d' back you at forty to one as best shot put of a trap,, bar none.” “ You keep your money quiet, Billy, or you’ll have to sell your estates and move over to Bullen for change of air. And now, sir, if I might make so bold, would you gratify me and the old woman by taking a cup of tea with us in the carawan ? It’s humble, but com fortable ; neat, and not gaudy. Say the word, and Billy will run and tell Polly to put in an extra spoonful.” I assented with the greatest pleasure, and off went the good-natured but melancholy giant, as if he had had seven-league boots on, and followed by a shadow half a mile long at least. ( To be continued.)

THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN, SATURDAY, JANUARY 15, 1881.



Special Advertisements. rpo farmers and others. i-Oneof Walter A. Wood’s celebrated TWINE BINDERS will be WORKING at ASHTON, near the School, on TUES DAY, January 18th, at noon, -An expert will be in attendance to explain the work ing ; of 'Machine to farmers. POYNTZ & CO., 937 Agents. O C E W One of Walter A. Wood’s TWINE will be WORKiNG on MON- D'Aj afternoon at Mr." Chamberlain’s farm* within, one mile, of Chertsey railway station. -! An: expert will be in attendance to give. information re samo:to fanners. POYNTZ & CO., 925* Agents. eOMMERCIAL AND FANCY ;; ;-i STATIONERY The Undersigned has opened Op a NEW ASSORTMENT of the above. Cream, Slue, and Eland - made Notepapers; died. Plain, Fancy, and Repp ditto. Good Blxsineas Enyelppea, No. 7, Court, Albert/ ..QWett, Tinted; Repp, and ’ :: 1 Peris Gilloft’s, Mitchell’s, Krandaner and Co.’s. . Inks—Stephen’s Mine Efack, Walkden’s Black and Colored, Ahtdnline, - Copying, &cl '■ Workboxes, Albany Books,, &c. / H. M. JONES, stfiii&NiiisY And fancy goods depot, . r -’ Street and Basing Square. i:h& lit:,-. - ■ - ■ ' 710 AMBRIDGE’S ORANGE QUININE •v; - ; TONIC WINE, Manufactured and sold by the Proprietor for thirteen years. *' Every bottleia guaranteed to contain thirty grains of pure quinine, and is there fore a mostyal liable strengthening medi cjneik •! ■ "i SohU'in wine bottles at 4s. 6d., and •mailer site 2s; 6d. . okblT ■



bdobtained in Rakaia from Messrs. Hakdy & Co. As! ibe -best proof of the value of ah article is the readiness of others to imitate it, see that you get CAMBRIDGE'S ORANGE QUININE oj;i 01 TONIC WINE 919 ' B E S T VALUE R’lo-fcr.-.-rf. ; .FOB ; READY MONEY n? . r • '■ - -. c IS THIS . BOYS’ CLOTHING jrrtb«.'.< MANUFACTURED BY ' the NEW ZEALAND hSs. .ClotMiig Factory, ” i! can*t>e purchased at tlieir Detail Brashes, all oyer New Zealand. . GARMENT AT THE WHOLESALE PRICE. . of the, discerning customers testify .;tihat the Now Zealand Clothing 'Factory’s Garments are the Very Best Value for Ready Money. Ashburton Branch EA S T ST REE T . WM. SPARROW, U 1 Tar***' Manager. ; & Co. IwLMNGS, cyriOBACCONIST, FANCY GOODS, STATIONERY. ti'ief- ilv -> ■' ■ rrutMneiachauin Pipes, G.B;D. Pipes i -Twist; and Vanity -Fair ‘3o ii-iTohacco -^iMiiftiosllnstruments, etc., etc. i;}. ; , < . ■rßakoutting, Shaving and Shampooing. Ashburton. 620*



Special Advertisements. BURTON BOROUGH COUNCIL. NOTIFICATION OF VALUATION. TAKE NOTICE, the Valuation List for the Borough of Ashburton for the Year 1881 is now open for inspection at the Borough Council’s Office, Burnett street. All OBJECTIONS thereto must be left at the Resident Magistrate’s Court on or before the loth day of February, addressed to the Assessment Court for the Borough of Ashburton, and a copy of every sue i objection must be left at the Town Clerk’s office not less than seven days before the next sitting of the said Court. CHARLES BRADUELL, Town Clei'k. • Borough Council Office, ALEDONIAN SOCIETY.—A MEET ING of the Caledonian Society DIRECTORS will be held at Quill’s Hotel on Tuesday Evening, at half past seven o’clock. Business—To receive the balance sheet and consider the annual report. nTENDERS are invited for CUTTING 100 Acres of WHEAT, at Charing Cross. The lowest or any tender not necessarily accepted. For particulars, 14th January, 1881. 940 J. MacLEAN DUNN, 941 Hon. Sec. apply to 923 JAMES BAYLISS, Charing Cross.



A Wholesale Dismissal. —At a meet ing of the Wellington College Governors yestertlay.it was resolved—“ That with a view of re-organising the Wellington Col lege, the engagements of all the masters should terminate six months from this day.” Wanted. OTANTED, a smart LAD for kitchen V work, and make himself generally useful.. Apply at once, Ashburton Hotel, 924 ANTED—Good PLAINT SEWERS will find constant employment by applying to the Office of this Paper. 909 WANTED, a Good PLOUGHMAN, accustomed to work a Machine. Apply, Office of this Paper. 885 Apply street. ANTED TO SECTIONS. , Patching. SELL—Twenty-five Wakanui road. Tent-maker, East . 898 Wanted known—The largest and Best Stock of Saddlery in to bo found at the shop of S. STEPHENS, Tinwald. Good strong Cart Collars from 165.; Cart Winkers, Bs. 6d.; Plough Back-bands, 6s. cash ; Cart Saddles and Breecliens, from 605.; Reaping Machine Polo Straps, 2s. Fanners will make a,great saving by buying of S. Sxefhens, Saddler, Tinwald. 871 WANTED KNOWN, That HENRY’S PORTRAIT ROOMS, Saunders’ Buildings, East street, Ashburton, are open DAILY, from 9 a.m. till 5 p.ra. Portraits taken in any weather. Great Reduction in Price. 006 WANTED KNOWN—Just arrived from England—Christmas, New Year, aiid Birthday. Cards. New Zealand Illustrated Annual, Young Ladies’Jour nal, and Bow Bells, Is. 6d. each. Family Herald and Family Reader, Is. each, and all other Magazines supplied at Christ church Prices. Colonial and European Newspapers, School Books, Stationery,&c. A visit solicited. L. F. Andrewes, East street, near Lancaster’s Butchery. 527 WANTED KNOWN. SOMERSET LIVERY AND BAIT STABLES. JW. M‘RAE begs to inform the . public that ho has taken the above Stables from Mr. Bossenberg, and is making extensive repairs. Buggies and saddle horses on hire. : Lowest prices and best attention. 852 ANTED KNOWN—That Visiting Cards, plain or mourning, can ; be obtained printed in var-ious styles, at the “Guardian” office, opposite the Railway Station. ; ;: Meetings- I O.G.T.—Unity DEGREE TEMPLE, . THIRD DEGREE MEETING on TUESDAY EVENING, at 8 o’clock, at the Templar Hall. Thomas Williams, D.T. 918 O T I C E. This Evening. A Meeting of those holding tickets be tween Nos. 1,226 and 1,250, on the Mel bourne Champion Race (Cameron’s Con sultation), will be held at the Ashburton Hotel, on SATURDAY evening, the 15th iiist. ~at 7.30 p.m., when profits will be divided. T • - DUNCAN M'KENZIE, 007 Agent.



Ecclesiastical. JpEESBYTERIAN CHURCH. Services will be conducted on Sunday by C. E. Button, Esq., Barrister, late of Hokitika. 926 Public Notices. OFTH RAKAIA ROAD DISTRICT. s Notice is hereby given that ths VALU ATION ROLL of the South Rakaisßoad District for the year 1881 is now open for inspection at the Road Board office, South Rakaia, from 15th January to 15th February next. ' Any OBJECTIONS thereto must be left at the Assessment Court, South Rakaia, on or before the 15th February next, addressed to the Assessment* Court, and a copy of such objection must ' bo left at the Road Board Office, South Rakaia, not less than seven clear days before sitting of the said Court. i 5 A. MAKEIG, *. . Clerk to South Rakaia Road Board.' January 15th, 1881. 938 OUNT SOMERS ROAD BOARD. TAKE NOTICE that the VAXUATION LIST for the Mount Somers Rpad Dis trict for the year 1881 is now open for inspection, at the Road Board Office, Mount Somers. All OBJECTIONS thereto must be left at the Office, on or before February 15th, 1881, addressed to the Assessment Court, and a copy of every such objection must be left at the Road Board Office, Mount Somers, not less than seven days before the sitting of-the said Court. C. J. WENTWORTH COOKSON/ Ji., Clerk to the Mount Someiy Road Board.



OUNT SOMERS ROAD BOARD. TAKE NOTICE that the ROAD 'on Messrs. Gould and Cataeron’s Station j running from the south-east comer u’df R.S. 23518 to the south-east cornerndf R.S. 19975, is STOPPED, and-that a ROAD from said south-east corner of R.S. 23518 to the south-east .comer of R.S. 24989 has been OPENED in lieu thereof. .<**'• T By order, t. «L C. J. WENTWORTH COOKSON, JjY, Clerk to the Mount Somers 935 Road Board.; ij r Education board oFi the DISTRICT OF NORTH CANTER BURY. ■• r I ELECTION OF COMMITTEES!" : I;,-'*'.-’ I' ■':! The Board, in pursuance of power in that behalf conferred by the Education Act, 1877 (section C 4), hereby a PUBLIC MEETING of the HOUSE’ HOLDERS in every School , throughout the Education ; Difltricthjbf North Canterbury, be held. on. ,MON% DAY, the twenty-fourth day of January one thousand eight .hundred bhe, at seven o’clock In the evening, tor the Election in each District -.of, Sevy Householders (section ■ form jttfc Committee for such District for the year ending with the fourth Monday , in Jan uary next year. The place of meeting ; shall be the SCHOOLHOUSE in each District which is provided with a Sohoolhbuae, and ihiS is understood to mean the Main School house in any District which has more than one school. In the Districts in which schools are not yet built, the places of meeting shall be as follows : ■ >• j ' Fleraington—Wheatstone Hotel. Hurunui—Hurunui Hotel. Kirwee—Kirwee Hotel.’ ~ Mason’s Flat —Horsley Downs Station. - ,The Board further directs that the.firat meeting of each School Committee bedieW in the place appointed, for the elections, and immediately after the election upon the same evening, . , The Board requests the "Chairman f of each public meeting to make to the Board immediately after the election, a return of the names of the several householders elected to lorm the Committee, and recommends that each Chairman of Com mittee, report his own election as soon as possible, - , v , 4 Secretary. Christchurch, 7th Jan., 1881. 916 J. Y. COLBORNE VEEL, j\ :-.onv:oj .. .' . : i :• :-r I V I FARMERS ! FARMERS ! FARMERS 1



R. McKERROW AND CO., RE Cash. Purchasers of, Wool, Grain, and all kinds of Farm Produce, and are also prepared to make Liberal! CASH ADVANCES on the above placed in their hands either for sale or shipment to the English or Colonial Markets.. J A A T.r.rgo Stock of Cornsacks, Wool packs, Ac., for sale at lowest current Trices. R. McKERROW & CO., rain Merchant 1 !, RAKAIA. 60 MPORTANT TO FARMERS. Osborne Harvesting Machinery,;; ; I Osborne Harvester and Binder, to bind with both string and wire, 5 pricS L7O. _ _ Cl. Ditto ditto, with iron road wheel, and patent lifting apparatus, "" _ price LYS. ' ' ' String attachments to: fit on old Elvira Binders, price L 6 10s. . N. B.—No charge for fitting if sent to our store. Osborne No. 6 Side Delivery Reapers and Mowers. w f Osborne No. 6 Tilter or Back Delivery Reapers and Mowers. , Osborne No. 5 Viewers. EXTRAS FOR ALL THE' > ABOVE? MACHINES KEPT IN STOCK.;,,:-, .; Sole Agents in .New Zealand— ; ’ ROBERT WILKIN & CO., New Zealand Wool Stores, ■ 624 Christchurch. a^pugajls" TJ J\ Carbolic Sheep Dip IS the Best and Safest in the Market. A true specific for Scabpt.instanily destroyitog Ticks, Lice, and- ■ all' Insects, 1 effectually cleansing and stimulating the 1 . growth of the Fleece. Sold, in 101 b. and 201 b. todEK|lb. kegS , by ROBBRT WILKIN AiCO.j , . New Zealand Wobl Stores, | 627 ! Obristchtirsls-T j j GUPBOARD and Set bf ; FOR SALE, cheap. Apply, Office of this Paper.