SHIPPING.

PORT OF LYTTELTON. Arrived. Yesterday. St. Hilda, s. a., from Wanganui. Omaha, brigantine, from Chatham Islands. Jannett, ketch, from Waitapn. Herald, schooner, from Greymouth. Mary King, schooner, from Kaipara. Emerald, ketch, from Foxton. • , Clyde, schooner, from Akaroa. To-day. Tararua, s.s., from the South. Sailed. . . ■ Yesterday. Hawea, s.s. for Wellington and North. St. Kilda, 8.5., for Dunedin. SHIPPING TELEGRAMS. Auckland, Yesterday. Sailed— Winifred, schooner, for Suva, Fiji.; Penguin for South. . Wellington, Yesterday. 'Arrived—Saucy Lass, from Lyttelton. * Sailed—Grafton, for South ; Go-Ahead, for the'East Coast. Melbourne, Yesterday. Arrived —Arawata, s.s., from the Bluff. Sydney, Yesterday Arrived—Wakatipu, s.s., from Welling ton. Sailed —Hero, s.s., for Auckland, last night.

COMMERCIAL.

The English Markets.

The following is. Messrs. Miles Bros, and Cp-’s Colonial Produce Report, dated London, Dec. 2nd :—.

W6pl.—The fourth series of soles of colonial Wool commenced on the 23rd ult., with-an available quantity of 121,000 bales, as under, including, say 30,000 bales old wool: —Sydney and Queensland, 16,600 bales; Port Phillip, 24,000 bales ; Van Dieman’s Land, 1,100 bales; Adelaide. 9,000 bales; Swan River, 300 bales ; New Zealand, 27,000 bales; Cape, 41,000 bales; total, 121,000 bales. The attendance at the sale room hasbeengood, the demand on the part of the Home trade being active, and Germany is also taking a fair proportion, but French buyers are operating with much reserve, trade-in France being still very dull, Scoured merinos and the better description of crossbreds are to id per lb dearer than in August, while greasy wools are? bringing about the same prices as were then ruling. Anything of good length and sound staple, with light condition, is well com peted, for., Some of the new clip from Aus tralia has been offered, but being chiefly in the grease it has not brought the long prices it pro bably would have done had there been good French competition. A better business is doing in our manufacturing districts, and stocks are light. Wheat and Flour.—Owing to a speculative business, prices have fluctuated to some extent during the past fortnight, but they are now about the same as they were at the date of our last,report, and the market is not very active. Inconsequence of the unexpected closing of internal-navigation in America through frost, holders advanced their prices, but as orders de-, creased, these were not maintained. Our millers are not purchasing very freely, and stocks in the country are rather low. There hrcuiow 1,650,000 quarters of wheat on pass age to the United Kingdom, against 1,783,000 quarters this ; rime last' year. Australian cargoes on passage have been sold at S os > S IS > and 51s 3d per 48olbs, c.f.i. We quote on spot—South Australian, 51s 6d to 52s fid ; Victorian, 51s to 52 ; and New Zealand long berried, 50s to ,52s ; average quality, 465. to 49s;,and inferior, 42s to 45s per 49filbs ; Aus tralian fldur, 35s to 375, and New Zealand, 33s to 35s peraSolbs; New Zealand oats, superior, 28s to 345, and common feed, 23s to 27s per Imperial-' 'quarter; barley, 35s to 42s per 4481b5; beans, 45s to 47s per 5401b5. Tallow and Hides, —The tallow market has been- quiet, and during the fortnight about 3,480 casks have been sold out of 5,283 casks of Australian offered. Prices have declined, the present value of good to fine mutton being 34s to 35s fid, and fair to fine beef 32s fid to 33s fid. The hide market has been dull, and pn?es.are Jsd to lower. We quote New Zealand heavy, ist sXdper lb, and light and cows, S Mid to 5X per lb. Preserved' Meats.—The demand for tinned rnuttpn and beef has not been so active lately, and business has been chiefly confined to fancy descriptions. In American fresh meat a rather better business has been doing, but prices are still unsatisfactory. •

MAIL NOTICES.

Mails close at the Chief Post Office, Christchurch, for the following places (subject to necessary alterations) as under; —; ,

Thursday, January 20. For Otago and Australian Colonies, per express train (to connect with the s.s. Rotomahana, at the Bluff), at 7 a.m. Late fee letters may be posted in the travelling post’ office ran attached to the express train.

;r r For Akaroa and Otago, per Wanaka, at 11.15 a.m. ; late fee letters, at 11.30 a.m.; guard’s van, 12 noon train. . For Northern ports, and Australian Colonies, per Rotomahana, at 1.40 p.m.; late: fee letters, 2 p.m. ; guard’s van, 2.30 p-.nu train. : ■ . Saturday, January 29.

- For United Kingdom,- via San Fran cisco, per Hawea. Mails close at the Ashburton Post Office, as follows; For Christchurch and North at 5.30 a. m. 10 a.nu, and 5 p.m., daily. -■ For Ohertsey Rakaia, &c., at 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily.

For Dunedin, Tinwald, Winslow, Hinds, Coldstream, Rangitata, Orari, Winchester, and Geraldine, at Ift a. m. daily. For Temuka, at 6 a.m. and 10 a.m., daily. For Timaru and South, at 6 a.m., 10 A,in., and 4.20 p.m., daily. "VTjir Greenstreet, Ashburton Forks, ’Mbuht Somers, and Ashburton Gorge, on Tuesdays and Fridays, at 10.30 a m. For Ashton, Waterton and Longbeach, at-4.30 p. mi daily. For Wakanui, Elgin, Seafield, New land, and Kyle, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays; at 6 a.m.

iMsalfc arrive at the Ashburton Post iOfiice— j From Christchurch and Rakaia at 10.25 iiLm., 4.50 p.m., and 7.50 p.m. . FromChertsey, &c. at 10.25 a.m. daily. From Dunedin and intermediate places at 5.35 p.m. daily. / From Temuka and Timaru at 10.15 a.in, ,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.

DAILY MEMORANDA.

*" AUCTION SALES. To-moeeow, -. Jasuaey 20. Quill and Co.—Special Sale, at their and-Yards. At 12 o’clock. [See advertisement on third page.] FeiOaV, Januaey 21. tMatson, .Cox, and Co.—Horses, Wagons, Implements, Oats, Chaff, Wool r' Cheese, &c. Twelve o’clock ‘X'.i ~. ■■■

" n AMUSEMENTS, &c. “ " To-Night,, '"J Wednesday, Jangley 19. _ Club—Meeting of ‘ jV ( Meißd«trßi in side room of the Town HaDj at 8 p.m. ' Ashburton Town Hall Company, Meeting - . of. Shareholders, Town Hall, at 8 p.m. r ."3jfoin)AY, JiurtJAEY 24. > Council, at Borough Council 1 'Chambeik, ‘at 7 o’clock.

TOWN EDITION. [lssued at 5 p.m.] The Ashburton Guardian. TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 1881. An Industrial Exhibition.

The Local Industries Association of Ashburton purpose holding an Indus trial Exhibition some time within the next few months. The date has not yet been fixed, as sufficient importance attaches to the date of holding the ex hibition to make it a question not to be rashly settled. On the sth of March the Horticultural Society hold their annual Flower Show, and if the Local Industries Association are willing to content themselves with such an ex hibition as can be made in the Upper Room of the Town Hall, and possibly such portion of the hall itself as is not required for the accommodation of flowers, fruit, or vegetables, then no better opportunity can present itself than that afforded by the sth March. The time is near at hand to be sure, but it is quite long enough to afford ample opportunity for the col lection of such small exhibits as one would expect to see at such a show as an Industrial Exhibition held on the sth March in the Town Hall would be; and so far as it is possible with the limited space at the Society’s disposal in the Upper Room, the little show would be a suc cessful one, measured by attendance and financial results. But it would only be an entertainment after all, and as an aid to the objects of the Local Industries Association it would be of small account indeed. We fancy that : something more is wanted than the humble affair would be that, “ cabin’d, cribbed, confined ” in the Upper Room, divided public attention with the Flower Show; something suffi ciently large to attract visitors and leave an impression upon them; something that would tend, by displaying 1 the manufactures of the colony and its. re sources in raw material, to stir up the latent energies of our local workers, and aid in the development of ideas ; some thing, also, of sufficient magnitude that would induce local men to put forth a strong effort to show what can be got either in material or manufactures out Of our own county. We cannot expect, of course, to have such an ex hibition in Ashburton as our neigh bors in Christchurch recently had, but we might certainly hope, if the thing were energetically worked up, to have one that would be no discredit to the district in which we live, and one that would be beneficial as a technical teacher. There are many ways in which the enterprise could be made attractive, for we know many homes in the Ashburton county that are adorned with valuable works of art of every description, and if those homes were requisitioned to aid the success of the movement a really attractive thing could be made of it. Then we do not favor holding the exhibition on one day only, but we recommend, if it is to accomplish all that is wanted of it, that it extend over, say a week or more, and let it for the time being do duty as a sort of museum. We fancy the cost of thus extending the exhibition over several days would not be so very great, nor beyond what even a normal charge for would cover, while the benefits it would confer would be incal culable. Our mineral deposits are,

already well known and highly spoken of, and if a fair number of die practical men of the colony could be brought to see the higher class specimens which it would be so easy to place in the Town Hall, we believe great good would follow from this source alone, while the inducement an exhibition of some magnitude would offer as an advertising medium to m my manufacturers would have the effect of bringing some of their efforts for our working-men to look at, learn from, and compare notes with. It is not for us to dictate to the promoters of the ex hibition, but we fancy the hints we have thrown out arc worthy of consider ation. We know that the suggestion of an Industrial Exhibition was thrown out by our respected Town Clerk, naore for the Association’s consideration than to be immediately acted upon, and the Association’s thanks are due to him for the suggestion ; but we hope the ques tion of giving time for extensive arrange*, meuts with "a view to a larger exhibi tion than he hinted at will'be con sidered. It is pretty generally allowed that the future of the colony must be made by manufactures more than by the crop and the fleece; and when it is considered that in this hemisphere we have open to us com merce with some 700,000,000 people in Australasia, and among the races of Asia, that are practically as near to us as they are to our formidable rivals in America and at Home ; and that America is actually at this moment doing her very best to wrest that commerce— not from us, for we have it not- but from the great country that gave us birth, and whose prestige as the premier workshop of the world, ihe .sew World is doing her best to undermine-- - it is high time that New Zealand shook herself together and prepared to join the contest. Exhibitions of the Mel bourne and Sydney stamp show what countries can do, and though they may be costly in the extreme, yet their value to the colonies in which they have been held, cannot be estimated in money; and does it not stand to reason that in a proportionate degree a local exhibition like what has been pro posed, will show the resources of the district in which it is to be held, those of its neighbouring districts, and be followed with the same class of benefits that the greater shows of industry have left behind them ?

A Reduction.—Last year harvesters obtained in Southland 30a. a week and found. This year the rate has fallen to 255. and found. The Maori Prisoners —The Maori prisoners, numbering 149, were removed from Ripa Island to Lyttelton Gaol this morning. They were very noisy during the march through Lyttelton. A Gaelic Society.—A society is being formed in Otago which shall comprise not less than 500 gentlemen who speak the native Gaelic language of the Scotch Highlands. Four hundred names have already been received. Pedestrianism.-—The mile race between Groves, of Ashburton, and Fagan, of Christchurch, was ran off yesterday in Hagley Park, Fagan being the winner. Groves never ended, we heard the time was under five minutes. The Railway Tariff. —Last week Mr. Richardson drayed up from Christchurch the furniture of a gentleman who has lately come to reside in Southbridge. This course was adopted as it was found to be not only cheaper, but more expe ditious than conveying it by rail. What an instructive commentary on the railway tariff now in force ?—Ellesmere Guardian. The Australian Cricketers. The heavy rain of Monday night made the Invercargill pitch very heavy yesterday, and scoring was slow. The Australians finished their innings, making 200 in all. The Invercargill team then took their second innings, and managed to get to gether 74; this, added to their previous innings’ total of 43, gave them altogether 117, and a beating by one innings and 83.

The Monthly Meeting. The Press Association correspondent at New Plymouth telegraphed yesterday : —“ At the Parihaka meeting yesterday very few natives were present. Te Whiti was very reticent, and made no allusion to the Go vernment, or their proposed sale of lands at Parihaka. His attitude is that of sullen antagonism to the Government. He refrains from indicating any line of action, or from making a prophecy of coming events. Things look gloomy at Parihaka. A number of liberated pri soners were present, but Te Whiti took no notice of them, not even addressing a word of welcome, although they attended the meeting by his permission.”

The Native Minister. —A newspaper correspondent, telegraphing from Welling ton yesterday, says : —At Mr. Bryce’s re quest he was finally relieved of the charge of Native and Defence Departments to day by Mr. Rolleston, who took formal charge of both. The latest rumor outside is that the tenure of these offices will be permanent also/that on a new Minister being appointed, Mr. Rolleston will resign the portfolios of Lands and Minos, and that a re-allotment of portfolios will then take place. This is merely outside rumor, and is not given as on any authority at all. It has been pointed out that Mr. Rolleston formerly held the Under-Secre taryship of the Native Department with credit, and therefore would not be alto gether new to the special work. I merely give the report for what it is worth.

Elgin School. —The meeting adjourned from Wednesday last was held on Satur day evening m the school-house. Present —Messrs. J. Stanley Bruce (Chairman), J. Cochrane, S. Scott, H. Moffat, J. Keir, P. Innes, and T. Greenaway. The Sub- Committee appointed to examine and report upon the books accounts brought up their report. The report having been read and considered, Mr. J. Keir proposed, Mr. T. Greenaway seconded, and it was carried —“ That Messrs. J. Cochrane and P. Innes be appointed to examine and check any statements that the schoolmaster may prepare on the books accounts, and hand the same in to the Chairman within three days from this date, in order to balance the Committee’s books for audit. Accounts being passed for payment amounting to Lll 17s. 9d., the meeting adjourned. The Walter A. Wood’s Harvester. — During the last few weeks the Wood’s harvester has been qarhing golden opinions from all sorts of people in the district, frequent trials of its powers having been made oh local farms. To show that the machine’s popularity is any thing but limited to a small area of country we quote the following from the Aberdeen (Scotland) Free Press of Sept, 17, 1880 Her .. Majesty the. Queen, accompanied by Princess Beatrice and attendants, graciously attended the exhi bition of Walter A. Wood’s new reaping and’binding machine, under the auspices of Ben Reid and Co., Aberdeen, at Work on a field adjoining Lochnagar Distillery on the previous afternoon. Her Majesty closely examined the binding of the sheaves and graciously expressed her admiration of the work performed. We are informed that aS; a result of the oxhi tion a binder has been ordered for Her Majesty’s Horae Farm at Abergeldie, for mi.

Progress. —The valuation for the year shows that Auckland has gained 200 pro perties during the twelvemonths. Illicit Whisky.— Tie New Plymouth police have unearthed an illicit still in the bush near Inglewood. Rams. —Messrs. Sutton Bros., South land, send 175 Lincoln rams to the Napier ram show. Professor 13 lackie. —Professor Blackie is expected to visit New Zealand when he has “done” Canada. A La bob Tree.—A specimen of the native flowering fuschia (says an ex change) has been growing near Nelson, the stump of which measures 05 feet in circumference, and about 21£ feet across. A section was sent to the Melbourne Exhibition, and took a prize. Audit. —The following is from the Press correspondent at Wellington, and is dated yesterday :—I hear that Mr. J. E. Fitz Gerald, the Auditor-General, is pre paring a very lengthy and -exhaustive report on the systems of audit in the various Australian colonies recently visited by him during his official tour. I understand that thp. different systems j are carefully compared; so'as to, exhibit in strong relief their respective merits and demerits. .The report is looked for with much interest in official and financial circles.

Something Like a Farm.— lt will interest wheat-growers in. New Zealand to learn that the crop of wheat upon the famous farm of the Messrs. Dalrymplo,' at Dakota!), United States, will this year amount to more tljau 500.000 bushels. This will,. it>is said, make, 13,500 wagon loads of forty bushels each, and will're quire 2,1 GO freight cars, each carrying 250 bushels, to convey it to the eastern market. Placed in line, these wagon loads would extend a length of 120 miles, and the train of freight cars would occupy twelve miles of road. The farm upon which this Brobdingnagian crop is grown covers no less than 27,000 acres.

CABLE NEWS.

LATEST FROM EUROPE.

(Per Renter's Agency.) . The Sculling Championship. London, Jan. 17. It has been arranged that the match between Hanlon and Laycock shall, the state of the river permitting, take place on Saturday afternoon next, the 22nd instant. The Greek Frontier Question. London, Jan. 18. It is rumored in political circles throughout Europe that the Powers have decided to abandon the proposed arbitration on the Greek frontier quest tion.

AUSTRALIAN.

(Pet Ratters Agency.) Exhibition Awards. Melbourne, Jan. 18. The following Exhibition awards are announced Second prizes: William Forster, Christchurch, for life-saving vest ; Lyttelton Harbor Board, for model of Lyttelton Harbor, showing works and improvements; Thomas Thomson, Bluff, for model of ships’ compasses and anchors, etc., and pieis ; Eliot Warburton, of Palmerston North, for canvas boat. Third prizes: John Blackett, Wellington, for lighthouse chart; Thomas George, Dunedin, for plans and soundings of Otago Harbor ; Thomas Hargreaves, Nelson, for model of wave-power engine; Captain Holli day, Wellington, for plan of Wellington Harbor; G. H. Luxford, Wellington; model of Maori canoe ; William M'Lennon, Dunedin, working model of boat with propellor ; John Way mouth, Auckland, for models of yachts';;. A Big Dividend. Sydney. Jan. 18. The Commercial Banking Company of Sydney has declared a dividend for the half-year at the rate of per cent, per annum. The Intercolonial Conference. The Intercolonial Conference to-day adopted resolutions that a request should be sent to the Imperial autho rities that the number of vessels of the Navy in Australian waters should be increased. The resolution of the Hon. W. Morgan, Chief Secretary of South Australia, in favor of a uniform tariff for the colonies, based-on that of New South Wales, was brought forward, but on the motion of Mr v ß6rry its dis cussion was adjourned until the rest pf the programme is disposed of. The scheme for the regulation of Chinese immigration proposed by the Western Australian delegates also occupied the attention of the Conference, but no definite resolution on the subject was adopted. ,

NE W ZEALAND

(Per Press Association .) Supreme Court. Wellington, To-day. At UlO Supreme Court last night the case of Holmwood v. the Marine In surance Company was concluded at mid night. The jury returned a verdict for defendant. The Presbyterian Synod. Dunedin, To-day. The Presbyterian Synod agreed that as the Deceased Wife’s Sister Bill had not yet received the Royal assent, it would merely record its regret at passing of the Act, but did not deem it necessary to take further action. The Synod, by 2,6 to 13, carried a resolution appointing a committee to consider the whole question of union with the Northern Church, and to confer with any committee appointed by the latter. , The principal opponents were Dr. Stuart and Rev. Mr." Will. The Rev. Mr. Ryley was nominated Moderator for the ensuing year. - • Arrest. . Adolphe Moritzon, late clerk in the Standard Insurance Company* was arrested for embezzling money belonging to the Company. - Hotel Burned. Invercargill, To-day.; , The Fairfax Hotel, near ; O taut an, occupied by Thomas Price, was burned down last night. The loss is estimated at LIjBOO. Only a few things vflere saved. The insurances amount to LSOO. It is believed the fire was caused by a defective chimney. ,

THE LAND LEAGUE.

Debate in -the Commons.

Firm Attitude of Gladstone.

Defiant Speech by Parnell [By Cable.]

London, Jan. 17.

In the House of Commons to-day, the debate on the Address in Reply to the Queen’s Speech was resumed. Justin Macarthy, Home Rule mem ber for County Longford, Ireland, moved as an amendment that Govern ment should refrain from using the military to enforce ejectments of ten ants until the Land Bill was made law. He made a lengthy speechJn support of his motion.

Mr. W. E. Gladstqne in reply, said that he "deemed the proposed amendment an insult to the Throne, and an attempt to obstruct the action of .the. Govern ment. He hinted that strong measures would be taken to prevent any.such ob struction. 'L'-:

Mr. Parnell also spoke .on the motion, and in the course of his speech admitted that the ultimate object of the Land League was to secure auto nomy for Ireland. He deprecated the commission by the Leaguers of any act likely to lead to revolution, but added that the first arrest tinder a measure of coercion would be a signal for a complete repudiation of rents by the Irish tenants.

The debate lasted through the whole of the sitting, and was adjourned fill to-morrow.

THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

Meeting in Dunedin.

[by teleoraph.] Dunedin, To-day. A largo meeting was held in the Tem perance Hall last night, convened by the Bible in Schools Association, to consider the question of the introduction of Bible reading into schools. Mr. John Bathgate moved —“ That, in the opinion of this meeting, a portion of the Bible should be read daily in the public schools of the colony, subject to a time-table and con science clause.” Mr. George Bell pro posed, and the Rev. J. U. Davis seconded —“ That this meeting, impressed with the advantages offered by our present system of national education, deprecates any interference with its provisions which would tend in the direction of denomi nationalism. ” The Rev. Mr. Copland moved, as a further amendment, —“ That this meeting, while deprecating any legis lation that tends to denominationalism, is yet of opinion that a portion of the Bible should be read daily, with a time-table and conscience clause/’ After consider able confusion, Mr. Bell’s amendment was carried by nearly three to one. The Bible Association is going to convene another meeting. ,

SPORTING.

... (By Telegraph.) Napier Races. Napier, To-day. These Races were held here to-day, and proved a great success. r Maiden Plate. Rawenata ... ... ... x Algebra ... ... ... 2 Novelty bolted, and Comet was scratcaed. The Cup. Merlin x- Moanatai ... ... 2 Grand Duchess ... ... 3 Greymouth Jockey Club Races. The following are the nominations for the Greymouth Jockey Club Handicap : Rata, Whalebone, Warrigal, Talent, Morpheus, Hero, Libeller, Satellite, York, Lady Grey, Colonel, Janiers, Elfin King, Lancaster, and Native. Goldfields’ Handicap. Whalebone, Warrigal, Talent, Mor pheus, Hero, Libeller, Satellite, York, Lady Grey, Colonel, Janiers, Elfin King, Lancaster, and Native.

A Eight with a Whale,

Lord Archibald Campbell sends to the Scotsman the following account of a battle of which he was a witness, be tween a thresher, sword-fish and a whale, offßelleisle, at ,5 p.m. on Septem ber 7th. ' His Lordship, who was a passenger on board the Paruvian, writes Wheoj fairly outside Belleisle Island '(lab 51.55 N.,long. 54.51 W.), with icebergs of no great size on either bow, and fairly in the Arctic current, and the Teutonia on our starboard bow, the first officer told me he had seen twice, a large “ thresher ” fish leap clean out of the water not far from our bows. We kept a close watch near about where he had last seen the fish ; nor had we long to wait, and for the next ten minutes to a quarter of an hour we watched a tremendous fight hetweenkthis ifish and a large whale, which, evidently attacked also from below by sword-fish, was ineffectually trying to “sound” and do all in its mighty power to get away, but there was no ‘escape. The thresher, an enormous fish—reckoned by the first officer and head engineer at 30ft. in length—kept continually lashing the whale with its powerful taiVand as if not satisfied that these stunning blows had “ told,” threw itself into the air with enormous laqding.on the whale with the .most resounding' “ whacks.” The sublime and the ludicrous were strangely blended in these attacks ; the passengers and crew were all gathered at the bulwarks, fascinated by the gigantic fight. The whate turned in its agony almost belly uppermost, cast ing itself abdut .in all directidns, but there was no escape. It never got deep below the surface, which was by ,its mighty efforts into a mass of foam. The combatants went right in the teeth of the wind and the sea then running. We saw the whale in a regular “ flurry ” often, and when our straining, eyes last saw them they were as hard at it as ever, and it was the opinion of most on board that the whale was fast sickening.

Re-opening and Consecration of St. Mark’s Church, Rakaia.

This church, which has lately been in the hands of Messrs. Baker and Brown, of Ashburton, for the erection of an addition to it, was re-opened and conse crated by the Primate on Sunday. It was feared at one time that the ceremony would have to be deferred, owing to the delay in coming to hand of some of the necessary mouldings, which had to come from Dunedin, but happily this difficulty was got over, by means o' strenuous efforts on the part of the incumbent and the con tractors. The church has been lengthened to about twice its original size, giving con siderable additional sitting room in the nave, and also a spacious chancel in the transept for the choir. The trancept has not been completed, owing to insufficiency of funds,, but has been temporily boarded up. When completed, it will include a commodious vestry at one end, and an organ chamber at the other. The chancel has been separated from the nave by a screen, rather heavy in appearance, but still very pretty. This was the gift of Mr. D. G. Holmes. The altar, which is not yet in position, has been subscribed for by several members of the congregation, and promises to be a very handsome piece of workmanship. The reredos, which was erected in an incomplete state for the opening, is also very handsome, consisting of three panels, the centre pannellingcon taining a neatly carved cross in white pine with a black pine background, the letters “ Alpha and Omega,” also in white pine, are on each side of the cross. The two side pannels are plain, the board ing being .white and red pine alternately, running diagonally. The centre pannel is surmounted by a massively carved cross, at the point of which there is to be a piece of stone carving. This also has been erected by means of subscriptions raised among the congregation. The church; in the morning ; was full, many persons having come a long distance to be present at the ceremony. The prayers were read by the incumbent, the Rev. W. H. Elton,, and the lessons by the Rev. W. C. Harris, organising chaplain of the diocese. The Primate performed the consecration service, and was the preacher. The ser vice, which was plain, was joined in heartily by the congregation. The Bishop and the Rev. C. Harris were celebrants at the Communion Service. In the evening the congregation was not so large. The incumbent again read the prayers, the Bishop the lessons, and Rev. C. Harris was the preacher. The service in the evening was choral, and passed off very well, Mr. Elton intoning and Miss Cox being organist. It is confidently expected that the whole of the work will be com pleted before next Sunday.

THE CHIMNEY CORNER.

UNCLE BRIMMER. By Sherwood Bonner. It was the funniest thing thatl ever saw m my life. Cruikshank would have gloried in it. I wish I had him here to illustrate, that scene with the spirited vigor that only his dancing pencil gives. It was in Kentucky that it happened —that pleasant land of blue-grass and tobacco, and fine stock, and white teethed girls. Mabel, my sister, had married Dick Hucklestone, and they had begun life in great contentment and a little three-roomed house scarcely big enough to hold the bridal presents. But they were happy, hearty, healthy, They had two cows, ice-cream every day, a charming baby, and Uncle Brim mer. Who shall say that their cup was not full? Indeed, they thought it full before Uncle Brimmer added; him-, self thereto —a very ponderous roseleaf. He was one of our old family servants, who fondly believed that Miss Mabel and her joung husband would never be able to get on without him. He walked all the wry from Mississippi to Kentucky, with his things tied up in a meal sack, and presented himself be fore Mabel, announcing affably that he had come to “ slay on." “ But I haven’t any place for you, Uncle Brimmer,” said Mabel, divided between hospitality and embarrass ment. . ,

“ Lor’, honey, you kin jes’ tuck me aroun’ any what . I don’t take up no room.”

Mabel looked thoughtfully upon the big brown grey-whiskered old negro, whose proportions were those of a Hercules, and shook her head. “You are not a Tom Thumb, Uncle Brim mer.”

“ No, ma’am,” said he, submissive!}', “ but I’ve got his spent. Couldn’t I sleep in de kitchen, honey ?” he went on, with insinuating sweetness. “ No, indeed,” cried our young house keeper ; “ I put my foot down on any body sleeping in the kitchen.” Aunt Patsey, the cook, stood by, balancing a pan of flour on her head, one fat hand on her hip. I suspected her of a personal interest in the matter, and indeed she afterward acknowledged that she thought Uncle Brimmer’s com ing would proven “ blessin’ to her feet.” Those feet of hers had been -saved many steps through the service Of her ten-year-old daughter Nancy Palmira Kate—called Nanky Pal for short. But of late Nanky’s services had been called into requisition as a nurse, and Aunt Patsey, who was fat and scant 0’ breath, thought she had too much to do ; .and so : she viewed with evident delight the stalwart proportions of our good-natured giant from the south. “ Dar’s de IoP, Miss Mabel,” she suggested. “ It is too small, and is cluttered up with things already.-’ . “ Qh, sho, chile, dar ain’t nothin’ in dat iof’ cep’ de ’taters, an’ de'peppers, an’ de dried apples, an’ some strings o’ terbacker, an’ de broken plough,, ah’ some odds an’ ends o’ de chillen’s, an’ Lucy Crittenden’s pups. Lor’, dar ain’t nothin’ ter speak of in de lof’.” “ He can’t get in at the widow,” said Mabel, shifting her ground. “ Lemme try,” said Uncle Brimmer.

The kitchen was a, small log-cabin some distance from the house—“in good hollerin’ reach,” to quote Aunt Patsey. Above it was a low room, or loft, crowded with the miscellaneous articles enumerated. The only way ,of getting into it was from the outside. A ladder against the side of the cabin admitted one through a little window, no larger, I am sure, than that ofja railway coach,: into ; this storehouse of treasures. Nanky Pal, who was as slim as a snake,, was usually selected to fetch and carry through the small aperture. But Uncle Brimmer!

“ I’m pretty sho I kin do it,” he said, squinting up in one eye, as he took off his coat and prepared to try. We stpod ini the doorway as, he cautiously went up the ladder; and after an exciting moment he pushed himself through the window, and turning, smiled triumphantly. ';

This settled the matter. A cot bed was procured for Uncle Brimmer, and he soon became the mainstay of the family. Cheerfully avoiding all the work possible; indifferently as an ostrich eating all he could find in cup boards or highways; grimly playing hobgoblin for baby ; gaily twanging his bango on moonlight nights—memory recalls thee with a smile, Uncle Brimmer ! I can close my eyes now and recall him, big, shapeless, in distinct in the darkness, as he sat under the mulberry-tree singing, “ Wish I was in Tennessee, A-settiu’ in my cheer. Jug o’ whisky by my side, An’ arms a ,- oun’ my dear !” This was his favorite. Who shall doubt that it expressed to him all the poetry, romance, passion, of life ? After a time Uncle Brimmer fell ill, and we sent for a doctor.

Dr. Trattles Jex was the medical man of our county. He lived in Middle burn, seven miles away, and he came trotting over on a great bay horse, with a pair of saddle-bags hanging like Gilpin’s bottles, one on either side. He looked as diminutive as a monkey, perched on the tall horse’s back, and indeed he was “ a wee bit pawky body,” as was said of Tommy Moore. But, bless me ! be was as pompous and self important as though he had found the place to stand on, and could move the world with his little lever. A red handkerchief carefully pinned across his chest showed that he had lungs and a mother. His boots were polished' to the last degree. His pink and beard less face betrayed his youth; and his voice—ah ! his voice ! What a treasure it wbuld have been could he have let it ' out to masqueraders ! Whether it was just changing from that of youth to that of man, or whether, like reading and writing it “came by nature,” I can’t tell. One instant it was deep and bass, the next squeaking and soprano. No even tenor about that voice !

He held out his hand, with, “ GOCD MORNING Mrs. Hucklestone. I hope THE BABY HAS NOT HAD an attack ?” I popped into the dining-room to giggle, but little well-bred Mabel did not even smile. “Oh no,” she cried; “it is Uncle Brimmer.” The Doctor offered to see him at once. Mabel got up to lead the vay. Up to this moment I warrant it had not struck her as anything out of the way that she must invite Dr. Jex to climb a ladder and crawl through a window to get at his patient. But as she looked at him, speckless, spotless, gloved, scented, curled, then at the ladder leaning against the wall in a dis reputable, rickety sort of way, a sense of incongruity seemed borne in on her souk To add to her distress and my hilarity, we saw that Uncle Brimmer had hung out ot the window some mysterious under-rigging that he wore. Long, red, and ragged, it “ flaunted in the breeze ” as picturesquely as the American flag on the Fourth of July. “ I am afraid doctor, it will be a little awkward,” faltered Mabel; “ Uncle Brimmer is up there and she waved her lilly hand. “An’you’ll have ter clime the ladder;” put, in Nanky Pall, with a disrespectful chuckle.

I thought the little doctor gasped; but he recovered himself gallantly, and said i “AS A BOY I HAVE CLIMBED trees, and THINK I CAN ASCEND A ladder as a man ;” and he smiled he roically. We watched him. He was encum bered by the saddle-bags, but he man aged very well, and had nearly reached the top, when suddenly Uncle Brim mer’s head and shoulders protruded, giving him the look of a snail half out of its shell. “ Here’s my pulse, doctor,” he cried, blandly, extending his bared arm. “’Tain’t no place for you up here. An’ here’s my tongue.” Then out went his tongue for Dr. Jex’s inspection. ‘ The doctor settled himself on a rung of the ladder, quite willing to be met half way. Professional inquiries began, when “ A deep sound struck like a rising knell.” “ Good gracious 1” exclaimed Mabel; “ what is that ?” Nanky Pal sprang up, with distended eyes, almost letting the baby fall. Again, “Nearer, clearer, deadlier than before.” “ Sakes alive ! Miss Mabel,” cried Nanky, “ ole Mr. Simmons’ bull’s done brooke loose !”

■ She was right. A moment more, and in rushed the splendid angry beast, bel lowing, pawing the ground, shaking his evil lowered head as, if the devil were contradicting him. . Dr. Jex turned a scared face. My lord Bull caught sight ot the fluttering red rags, and charged the side of the house. And :1 gave'you my word, the next instant the ladder was knocked from under the doctor’s feet, and he was clinging frantically round the neck of Uncle Brimmer. Fearful moment.

“ PalLhim in, Uncle Brimmer—pull him in,"' sbriekfed / Mabel, /dancing about. “I can’t, honey—| can’t,” gasped the choking giant; “ I’m stuck.” .f‘ Hold me UP,” cried the doctor. BEND FOR help.” Uncle Brimmer seized him' by the arm-pits. The saddle-bags went clatter ing down, and about the head of Master Bull a cloud of quinine, calomel, Dover’s and divers other powders and pills, broke in blinding confusion. “ Aunt Patsey, go for Mr. Huckle stoneat once” called Mabel. Aunt Patsey loqked cautiously out from the kitchen door. “ Yer don’t ketch me in de .yard wid ole Simmons’ bulk," she said, with charming indepen dence.

“Then I shall send Nanky Pal.” “ If Nanky Pal goes outen dat house I’ll break every bone in her body.” Then Mabel began to beg: “ Aunt Patsey, let her go, please. I’ll give you a whole bagful of quilt pieces, and my ruby rep polonaise that you begged me for yesterday.” Aunt Patsey’s head came oyt a little further, “ An’what else ?” “ And a - ruffled pillow-sham,” said Mabel, r alpiost in tears, “ and some white sugar, and I’ll make you a hat— and that’s all. JMtno.” “ I, reckon dat’s about as much as dc chile is wuth,” - ( said the philosophic mother. Let hec go.” “ Fly ! ffly !■” cried' Mabel. ./

“I ain’t sheered,” said Nanky. "T ; ain’t : dat 1 sort. Miiramy ain’t nuthbiV

Sfiewas jes’ waitin’ ter see how much you’d give.” , Nanky’s bare legs scudded swiftly across the yard. The bull took no notice of her. He was still stamping and bellowing under that window. Uncle Brimmer and the doctor clung together, and only a convulsive kick now and then testified to the little man’s agony. “ Suppose Uncle Brimmer should let go ? ” I suggested, in a hollow whisper. “Oh, hush!” cried Mabel, “the doctor’s blood would be on our heads.” “ Or the bull’s horns.” l ' It was not far to the tobacco field, and in an incredibly short time brother John came riding in, followed by half a dozen stout negroes. With some de lightful play that gave one quite art idea of a Spanish bull-fight, his lordship was captured, and our little doctorwas assisted to the house. hj Gone was the glory of Dr. Trattles Jex. His coat was gone, his .knees grim)', his hands scratched, and he looked—yes—as if he had‘/been cry ing. ' ' A “Can you ever forgive us?’’.said Mabel, piteously. She hovefed-about him like a little mother. She made him drink two glasses of wine; she mended his coat ; she asked him if he would not like to kiss the baby. And finally a wan smile-shone on the coun tenance of Dr. Jex. For me, I felt my. face purpling, and leaving -him to Mabel, I fled with brother John to the smoke-house, where we—roared. ; ? £ Uncle Brimmef got well, and went in. to see the doctor. He returned \yitha new cravat, a cane, and several* smrffr articles of attire, : from which we in ferred that in those trying-n^pm^its when he supported the suspended doctor, that little gentleman had offered many inducements for him to hold fast When questioned, he responded chiefly with a cavernous artd mysterious; piile, only saying, “Master Hr. Jex is.a starch in or starch out, he’s de mart straight” .T-CDA And brother John,- who is somewhat acquainted with slang,; said, .with a great laugh, “ Well, old man, you had a bully chance to judge, so you must be right.” -

THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 19, 1881.



Special Advertisements. HE BEST VALUE MEN'S AND BOYS’ CLOTHING Clothing Factory, Which can bo purchased at their Retail Branches, all over New Zealand. A SINGLE GARMENT AT THE WHOLESALE PRICE. Thousands o£ the discerning customers testify that the New Zealand Clothing Factory’s Garments are the Very Best Value for Ready Money. Ashburton Branch EAST STREET. FOR READY MONEY IS THE MANUFACTURED BY THE NEW ZEALAND 751* WM SPARROW, Manager.



Commercial and fancy STATIONERY. The Undersigned has opened up a NEW ASSORTMENT of the above. Cream, Bine, and Hand - made Notepapers ; Ruled, Plain, Fancy, and Repp ditto. Good Business Envelopes, No. 7, Court, Albert, Queen, Tinted, Repp, and others. Pens Gillott’s, Mitchell’s, Brandauer and Co.’s. Inks—Stephen’s Blue Black, Walkden’s Black and Colored, Antonine, Copying, &c. Workboxes, Albums. Books, &c. H. M. JONES, STATIONERY AND FANCY GOODS DEPOT, East Street and Baring Square. 710



0. Carsfcens & Co. (Late Weston’s), i PROSPECT BUILDINGS, mOBACCONIST, FANCY GOODS, 1. 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. 520* AMONGST the questions at present agitating the public mind stands the very important one—“ Is it possible to obtain GOOD TEA 1 If not, why not ?” Echo has been answering hitherto —“ You can’t get it for love or money !” And the ladies appear to have become apathetic or despairing in consequence. But a new era has dawned on Ashburton, and the question so interesting to all, especially to the female portion of the community, is happily settled in the affirmative. Joy will spring up in many a fair besom, on being credibly informed that, now, at length, the possession of really GOOD TEA may be pm fait accompli in the short space of time it will take to go or send to H. M. CARSON’S NEW FRUIT AND ITALiAN WAREHOUSE, East street, appointed sole agent for the sale of Nelson, Moate and Co.’s now celebrated packet TEAS, carefully selected, properly blended, and last, not least, always the same. See advertise ment and handbills.



Scientific. —A doientist •'! stir's The skulls of the African negroes are doli, Choecephftlic, mesoccphalio; prognathous palthrine, and mesoseme while the Adamese are brachyoephaliO,'h\icrophalic mesogathous, meaorhine, and megaseme. ” Peruse this carefully, gentle reader, and then feel your head £9 see An Equine JDbntist.— One of the most remarkable operations in dentistry ever recorded was performed in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, recently. A boy, : who had been out for a drive, was, descending from the carriage*'when the hb«e gave a vigorous whisk of his tail, twisted the end of a hair around one of the boy’s front teeth, and pulled it out so quickly that the. lad had hardly time to feel the pain.



llolloway’s 'Pills.—lmportant for the Deljcate.—lt is [difficult to determine which is the more trying tb the human constitution—the damp, cold days of the autumn and winter,or the 'keen, dry 1 , easterly winds of springs Throughout the seasons good hen'th may be maintained by occasional doses of Holl6way ; s Pills, which purify the blood and act as whole some stimu'ants to the- skin, stomach, liver;' bowels, and kidneys. THis celebrated medicine needsbul afair trial to convince the a 1 ling and desponding that it will restore and cheer them without danger, pain, or, inconvenience, as by a timely recourse to thdm the first erring func tion may be reclaimed, suffering may be soared and life saved. —Auvt.



The Value of Advertising. —ln iHua trating the fruits of advertising, an ex* change says ;—“ A family in Florida lost their little boy and advertised foe him; in a daily paper. That very afternoon an alligator crawled up out of the swamp and died on the front door-step. In. his, stomach was found a handful of; red: haiy,. some bone buttons, a pair of boot heels,- a? glass alley, a pair of check pants, and a paper collar. The advertisement, did Wanted. -ci WANTED, for the country A YOUTH that can milk; Apply, Guardian Office. 962 WANTED— A, general SER VANT, ■ accdsldriied 1 to no washing. Apply at Mrs. F. P. O’Reilly’s, Cox Street. 963 VTT'ANTED —STATION COOK. Good V\ Baker indispensable. References required. Apply -at ’ ■ oncer ]AtK>feD Station. " ’ 958 WANTED,: a ; Girh as .General SER VANT ; must he able to milk. Apply, Office of this Paper. 954 WANTED, a Good PLOUGHMAN'/ accustomed to work a Machine. Apply, Office of this Paper. 885 Wanted; "hr PLOUGHING 800 Acres Stubble Land. Apply,, in person, ; at Longbeach, on SATURDAY, 22nd January. 955 JOHN GRIGG. WANTED-TENDERS for TYING 400 Acres (more or less) of Wheat, Oats, and Cocksfoot. 1 enders will on THURSDAY, 19th. .Further particu lars, apply to William Fraser, Tinwald ; or James W. M‘Rab, Somerset Stables, Ashburton. ' ’ 961 OTANTED, TENDERS fqr PU% YV ’ CHASE of 250 Acres LAND, six miles from Hinds, next Mr. Pye’s. Water, 20ft. Half Fenced, ' : Sixty Acres Ploughed. Terms—lo per cent, cash, 15 per cent, in twelve months, balance per arrangement. Tenders to C. Howard, Woodend, by February 10th. No tender necessarily accepted.* , ' ' ’ 944 WANTED TO. SELL—Twenfcy-fivf SECTIONS. WakanuV road: Patching, Tent-maker, Apply, street. East 898 WANTED KNOWN, That 1 HENRY’S PORTRAIT ROOMS, Saunders’ Buildings, East street,* Ashburton, are open DAILY, from 9 a.ra. till 5 p.m. Portraits taken in any weather. Great Reduction in Price. 606 WANTED KNOWN—The- LißKiffl* and Best Stock off Saddlery in to be found at the shop of S. STEPHENS,. Tinwald. Good strong Cart Collars from 155.; Cart Winkers, Bs. ,6d.; plough Back-bainds, Gs. cash ; Cart Saddles and Breechens, from 50a.; Reaping, Machine Pole Straps, 2s. Fanners • will mak| a great saving by buying of S. Saddler, Tinwald.-; ■■ wf ' 871 WANTED KNOWN. Ahburton REGISTRY OFFICE for Male and Female Servants. —L. F. Anpejswjb begs to inform the public of Msub&ftcn and surrounding districts that he has opened the above. Male and., Ffemflf Servants of all classes provided, bfreg ployers requiring secvantS; and all persons with good recommendations, who are in Want of situations, are requestfed't<JTSpplf' to L. F. Andrewes, Laboy Ageti^,r-Book seller, and Stationer, East; street, South. 627 TITANTED KNOWN—That a Church VV of England minister’s wifo T writel that she saves. Ten Shillings a Fortnight by using Harper Twelvetfees’ Villa Washer, Wringer, and Mangier, com bined ; and, although she permits upi rubbing, the clothes aye beautifully, and much cleaner,.than Whbh dimii'% hand, while the Saving in‘mending has been astonishing. Sold by J. HERN, Range Maker, and ImpOTter f / comer of Manchester and Tuani streets, Christ church; Price—-Jtl9 10s. ! J.i ;]*'• 7QO • *2 WANTED: KNOWN. SOMERSET LIVERY AND HMt STABLES. J W: MHlAEb’egs r f6:ii3cym!^ , public that he has taken the ttidVe Stables from Mr. Bossenberg, aiyd is making extensive replies.- fs,> vI. . w a Buggies and saddle horses on hire. . -Lowest prices and 'best attention. 1 85: Wanted known—Thafr: Visiting Cards,'.plain oxmohhWg*: can be obta,ined'printed b 1 .ypp/tps sty|ea»M^he VHuataian ” office, opposite the Railway Station.