SHIPPING.

PORT OP LYTTELTON. Arrived. To-day. Penguin, 5.8.; from Wellington. Tui, 8.8., from Kaikoura. Sailed. Yesterday. Circe; brigantine, for Titnaru. Telegraph, schooner, for Greymouth. Herald, schooner, for Greymouth. T. B. Taylor, schooner, for Wellington. Isabella, ketch, for Gatlin’s River. To-day. Penguin, a.a., for Akaroa and the SO»JiIU SHIPPING TELEGRAMS. 1 • ,i Auckland, Yesterday. Arrived —Anthons, from Oamaru ; Edith, from Savau ; Torea, from Savau ; Torea; schooner, from Lyttelton ; Cather ine June, from Melbourne. Sailed—Saturn, for Lyttelton. Wellington, Yesterday.

Arrived— Charles Edward, from Nel son ; Wanaka, from the South ; Penguin, from Nelson ; Isle of Erin, barque, from Glasgow ; Aspasia, from the East Coast. failed—Kiwi, for Napier; Charles Edward, for the West Coast.

MAIL NOTICES.

Mails close at the Chief Post Office, Christchurch, for the following places (subject to necessary alterations) as under: — - Friday, January 28. For Northern ports, per Te Anau, at 3.20; late fee letters, at 330 f.m. ; guard’s van, 4 p.m. train. Saturday, January 29.- For'United Kingdom, via San Fran cisco, Continents of Europe and America, West Indies, Sandwich Islands, Northern Ports.of New Zealand, &c., per Hawea, as follows:—Ordinary letters at 6.30 p.m. ; late fee letters at 7 p.m. ; books and newspapers, at 6 p. *n. ; registered letters, at 5 p.m. ; money orders at 3 p.m. ; guard’s van, 8.30 p.m. train. This mail will be ; due in Loudon on March 15th. Tuesday, February 8. For the United Kingdom, via Brindisi, &c.,,per Te Anau. Mails close at the Ashburton Post Office, as follows : For Christchurch and North at 5.30 a. m. 10 'alitt., and 5 p.m., daily. Fbr Chertsey Rakaia. Ac., at 10 a. in. and 5 p. m. daily. For Dunedin, Tinwald, Winslow, Hinds, Coldstream, Rangitata, Orari, Winchester, and Geraldine, at TO a.m. daily. For Temnka, at 6 a.m. and 10 a.m., daily. „ For Timaru and South, at 6 a.m., 10 a.m., and 420 p.m., daily. For Greenstreet, Ashburton Forks, Mount Somers, and Ashburton Gorge, on Tuesdays and Fridays, at 10.30 am. For Ashton, Waterton and Longbeach, at 4.30 p.m. daily. Fori Wakanui, Elgin, Seafield, New land, and Kyle, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays,, at 6 a.m. Mails arrive at the Ashburton Post Office—' From Christchurch and Rakaia at 10.25 a.m.', 435 p.m. , and 7.50 p.m. From Chertsey, &c. at 10.25 a.m. daily. From Dunedin and intermediate places at 5.35 p.m. daily. Er»m Temuka and Timaru at 10.15 a. in. 5.35 p.m., and 8.15 p.m. daily. From Greenstreet, Ashburton Forks, Moimt' 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. .. 7 W. St. G. Douglas, Postmaster.

DAILY MEMORANDA.

AUCTION SALES. Saturday, January 29. Mr. ; T. 'Bullock, at his Rooms, East street —Valuable Town, Suburban, and Country Properties. Two o’clock. Quili and Go.—Usual Weekly Sale. Tuesday, February 1. Quill and Co., at the County Saleyards — 700 mixed Sheep.

MEETINGS, AMUSEMENTS, &c. To-morrow, Friday, January 28. Somerset Lodge, Monthly Meeting, in the Masonic Hall, Tancred street, 7.30. Meeting of persons interested in the for mation of a Poultry, Pigeon, and Canary Society, upper room, Town Hall, 8 p.m. . Tuesday, February 1. Degree Temple, Fortnightly Meeting, Templar Hall, at 8 p.m. Wednesday, February 2. County Council, at the County Council Chambers, at 11 o’clock.

NOTICE TO ADVERTISERS.

All orders for insertion of advertise ments must be written legibly on the face of the advertisement. When no order is given the advertisement will be inserted until countermanded, and charged accord ingly. All notices of Births, Marriages, or Deaths must be accompanied by the sig nature of the sender, as a guarantee of good faith. All advertisements and business letters to be addressed The Manager ; literary communications should be addressed to The Editor.

TOWN EDITION. [lssued at 5 p. m. ] The Ashburton Guardian. THURSDAY, JANUARY 27, 1881. The State of Ireland.

The Liberal party were no sooner in power in England than they found themselves face to face with a difficulty in Ireland —a section of the people of that country having taken up a position verging on revolt. That position has now degenerated into something even worse, and a condition of things very like anarchy has been brought about. The Land League raised the agitation against landlordism, and so excited the minds of the populace that neither life nor property is safe, and agrarian out rages are more frequent and more dar ing than they have ever been before. The ease with which these outrages can be committed and the almost certainty of escape from detection, or at least from punishment, of those who are guilty of them, has become too great a temptation to the worst class of people, and under cover of the political agitation that has been fermented local ill-will and hatred fires its cowardly ambushed shots and raises its incen diary fires. The worst passions of the w r orst of the people have been aroused, and the League now finds it has all too easily raised a spirit of evil that it is powerless to allay. Tardily the Ministry have been brought to take action in the matter, but at last, owing apparently to the activity of the Hon. W. E. Forster, the Secretary for Ire land, a Coercion Bill has been intro duced, and within the next few hours we expect to hear that it has passed. The Home Rulers are obstructing to the best of their ability, and one demanded that reforms should be brought about in Ireland before coercion was tried ; another did his best to hinder the passage of a motion for urgency, and apparently forgot his Parliamentary manners so much that he was called to order several times, and eventually sus pended. It is evident that now the Liberal Government, which has always been averse to that “ spirited” policy of Disraeli, which would continually flourish the sword, have been terribly put to it by the state of Ireland, and are now at last resolved on stern measures. The needful reforms -will come, no doubt. In fact, public opinion has already recognised their necessity; but before a step in the direction of reform is taken it is ap parent that the quelling of disorder is meant, the discovery and punishment of those who have been guilty of crime, and the restoration to calm of the dis turbed country. While life and pro perty are unsafe legislation in the direction of social reform is uncalled for; but so soon as the first duty is performed by the Government, and which the state of the country demands, then the way wall be prepared for a redressing of the Irish tenants’ grievances. Late telegrams tell us that the jury who tried the Land Leaguers failed to agree, and had to be discharged. We have no doubt that the same result will again fol low, so long as the jury are empannelled from the Irish population, and if a fair and unbiassed jury is wanted—one not likely to be influenced by the feelings that so powerfully agitate the Irish breast at this moment —the trial must take elsewhere than in Ireland. We would look with suspicion on any de cision a jury would come to that had been recruited from Ireland, and in fairness both to the cause of the coun try and the men accused, we hope the venu will be changed to London, or other place where the jurymen are likely to be removed from the in fluences that at present weigh with the Irish people—where at least they will not for being jurymen have anony mously sent to their wives suggestive presents like widows’ caps.

The Next Mail for England. —Mails for the United Kingdom, &c., via San Francisco, will close at the Ashburton Post-office at ten o’clock on Saturday morning. Pbdesxrianism. Bayliss challenges John Groves to run a mile race for L 5, giving the challenger 65 yards start. On Tuesday evening we understand a walking match for L 5 a-side will come off between Hooper and Gauk rodger. The Land Boards. —At a meeting of the Oamaru County Council yesterday it was decided not to co-operate with the Wairoa Council in the matter of petition ing Parliament to make Waste Lands Boards elective, and giving County Coun cils a voice in the election. Compensation Court. —The case of Mr. Robert Wilkins’ claim of L 2,500 against the Public Works Department for dama ges sustained by the erection of the Ash burton bridge and embankment, was partly heard in the Compensation Court, Christchurch, yesterday. The claim is founded on the fact that the erection of the bridge and embankment caused a deflection in the stream, and a consequent injury to claimant’s land. The evidence given was altogether expert, and the case was adjourned to the 23rd March. The Leadley compensation case will be heard on the Wednesday following.

The Australians at Timaru.— The weather yesterday was excellent for the Timaru match, and the wicket was good. The Australians took the bat first, and their innings lasted till twenty minutes to six when their last man was out for a total of 218. Six men of the Timaru side had batted for a total of 2, when time was called . Play was resumed at noon to-day. Jarvis was wicket-keeper, and Palmer opened the bowling, which was nearly as destructive as on the previous day. At 4n m —when | )ur message left—the in- had. closed for a total of 43 runs.

Postal. —Mails for London direct, per s.s. Northumberland, close at Wellington at 5 p.m. on Monday, the 31st instant. Mails for the Australian colonies, per Tararua, at the Bluff, close to-morrow, at 11.30 a.m.

Land for the People. —The Welling ton correspondent of a contempo ary telegraphs:—“lt has been decided .hat the third extensive sale of Crown lane / on the Waimate Plains shall be helu at Hawora on the 25th, 2Gth and 28th proximo., nine thousand acres of bush laud, surveyed, with about seventy sections of 100 acres and upwards will be offered ; one-third of the area on deferred payments at L2 per acre, and the rest for cash, at upset prices from 30s. to 40a. The block lies on the west bank of the Waingongoro river, and the railway runs along the frontage, the distance from Hawera being from eight to ten miles. The railway from New Plymouth is open toEltham station, about a mile from the block, winch is to be called the Eltham block. It extends by a gradual slope to the base of Mount Egmont, and is covered with light bush, easily cleared and readily converted into good pasture. There are good roads in several directions. Besides this block, one hundred acres reserved from former sales, pending adjustment of claims now disposed of, will also be offered for sale at the upset price of L 4 per acre. Many quarter-acre sections in the townships of Mania and Opunake, and some suburban land, will be placed in the market tv the same time. A ll the above land, as v ,11 as the 5,0C3 acres in the Parihaka block, near Cape Egmont, well suited for agucul tural and pastoral settlement- Drunks. —His Worship the Mayer and Dr. Trevor sat to-day in judgment on the drunken detachment, which numbered five, all looking as seedy as possible- Ihe pioneer of the army was Frank Burn- He made no bones about it, but belieV'-d he was drunk, and was fined the customary ss. MacDonald took Burn’s place to answer a complaint against him by the stationmaster, that he had been drunk and indiscreet at the station. Mac re membered nothing about it at all, bur. two witnesses gave evidence that convicted him, and he had to pay L2. The station master complained that at present there were a large number of men who came about the station and obstructed the officers in their duty. Andrew Robertson filed up to the dock. He didn’t know anything about the charge of drunkenness. He might have been drunk. He had to pay ss. Par Petersen had been druuk in charge of horse. He admitted it and Constable Neill told how it came a oout. Par had ridden a horse furiously u; and down East street. It was an old screw of a horse, and did not answer readily '-•> the spur, but that wasn’t Par’s blame who drove the spur all he knew. A youngster was nearly run over. Par was fined 205., or 48 hours, and had to pay 5- for stabling. Michael Lynch was pick il up by Constable Neill at the Somerset door at half-past 10 last night. Michael was very wild, much excited, blasphemous and obscene in his talk, and altogether disagreeable. The Court let him off with fines of 15s. in all, or three days in quad. Skinless Oats. —The Auckland Herald says ;—“ The skinless oats, which were introduced here last year by Mr. Wren, are likely to prove very suitable for our climate. Mr. B. C. Taylor, near Buck land’s station, Pukekohe, purchased a pound of the seed from Mr. Wren fr v Is., and he has now ascertained the result of his speculation. The seeds were sown in his garden, and after being sown they were almost wholly destroyed by the house sparrows and green linnets. For a time he did not think he would be able to save even seed from what was sown. The stalks left grew to a height of about four feet, and were cut the other day. He has a large sheaf, which he expects will yield fully a bushel of well-dressed oats. So far as he can judge, the crop seems to bo fully equal to that which was sown. Ho also made an experiment with the brown Norwegian oats. About a quarter of an acre was sown with this grain, and like the other variety of oats, the crop was nearly destroyed by sparrows and linnets. So thin were the plants made that Mr. Taylor at one time intended to plough it up and put in some other crop. However, he let it alone, and the roots littered out to an enormous extent, many 7 of the roots having sent up from 40 to 50 separate stalks, each of which bore a good head of grain. The stalks grew to a height of fully six feet. From the quarter of an acre he has threshed out 23 bushels of well-dressed grain—equal to 92 bushels per acre. Presbyterian Church. —The annual general meeting of the members and ad herents of the Presbyterian Church was held last night in the Ashburton church. There were not many members present, but the attendance included one or tw» from the country. The Pastor presided, and, after devotions, the Treasurer, Mr. Gavin, read the annual financial report, which showed an income from all sources of L 515145. 4d. fortheyear. The expenditure this year included L9O of outlay that would not again occur, and as a balance of L2O still remained in the bank, and the sum of L3OO had been guaranteed by 21 gentle men by October next, to pay oft' the mortgage on the church to that amount, there would only remain at that date the mortgage of L6OO on the manse and grounds. It was calculated that within another three years that debt would be wholly liquidated, and the cause would be free of any indebtedness whatever. The Treasurer in remarking on the financial position said he was sure that no other church in the colony had such a hopeful prospect, and this was all the more encouraging that it had been brought abou f at a time when the people were not in the most prosperous state possible. The report having been adopted, and votes of thanks given to the Secretary and Treasurer, and to the retir ing Committee, the following business officers wore elected: —Finance Committee, the Elders of the Church ex officio, and Messrs. Robinson, M'Larcn, Murray, Kidd, Ross, Williamson, Baxter, Stewart, Lamb, Cochrane, Dunn, 0. Reid, Craig head, Stott, and Sargeant; Secretary, Mr. M'Laren; Treasurer, Mr. Gavin. The Pastor referred in grateful terras to the kindness of a member of the Church who had advanced the sum of L3OO at seven per cent, interest to meet the mortgagee, who wished his loan repaid, and also to the promptness with which twenty-one gentlemen had undertaken to raise L3OO between them to clear off this debt alto gether. Mr. James Croy, Waterton, desired to know if anything could be done towards establishing a weekly service in the Watcrton district. He felt sure that an impetus could be given to the cause there, a greater enthusiasm raised, and a warmer spirit fostered if a weekly service could be instituted. The Pastor replied that the matter had been in his mind, but it had not yet been before the session. He would take an early opportunity of bringing the subject before the session for consideration. : On the subject of church extension, a belief was expressed that were this harvest a satisfactory one, a church would be built at Wakanui, and the building scheme for Waterton greatly furthered. It regard to Tinwald, an offer of a site had been made by Mr. Wilkin for both church and manse, if a building costing L2OO were erected. The Tinwald Presbyterians contemplated at present putting up a church costing only Ll3O, and a committee was appointed to wait on them with a view to explaining the terms offered by Messrs. Wilkin and Carter, and also of conferring with them as to ways and means for the erection of such a building as was desirable. Some minor business was also transacted, and the meeting adjourned.

Rev. Mr. Pym’s Meeting at Tinwald. —Not to-night, but next Thursday, is the evening for Rev. Mr. Pym’s address at Tinwald.

A Lady Preacher.— Mrs. Holder, a lady from England, will preach in the Town .Hall on Sunday afternoon and evening. Tenders. —Tenders arc wanted for the new store for Messrs. Friedlander, whose intention to build we noticed in a pre vious issue.

Illicit Still.— At the Taranaki R.M. Court yesterday, Thomas Oandish was fined LSO, or six months’ imprisonment, for having in his possession an unlicensed still. The Auckland Suicide. —At the in quest on Margaret Wyatt, who committed suicide at the Auckland Lunatic Asylum, a verdict of suicide while insane was re turned.

Colonial Defence. —The Age says that during the last 25 years the sum of L 2,445 ,00 vast amount —has been wasted on thedefencos of Victoria. It adds that the land forces have al ways been a sham. The Property Tax. —There were ove a hundred appeals from Auckland tax payers against the assessment under the Property Tax, but the Board of Reviewers sustained the valuations, except in a few trifling cases. A Nice Liquor. —Lovers of fine old cognac will (observes the Ballarat Star) find little comfort in the declaration made by Mr. Henry Stevenson in his lecture, that the ingredients of the spirit named are sugar from the beet, vegetable nap tha, and sweet spirits of nitre. The Old Poet. —Tennyson attained his seventy-first birthday on August sth. A few of the intimate friends the Laureate allows himself —including Browning, Mat thew Arnold, and James R. Lowell— called on him at his London residence in King street, Mayfair. Browning recited a congratulatory ode. Jack Maori. —Mr. Parris telegraphed to the Government yesterday that the natives had commenced clearing some land across the Armed Constabulary road, outside the reserves laid off for them. On being warned to desist, they said they were acting under Te Whiti’s orders. It was not deemed necessary to take any immediate steps to eject them.

Postal Alteration. —The Suez mail steamers are now timed to leave Mel bourne on the 2nd and 16th of February and March, being two days earlier in each case than stated in the “Postal Guide” time-table. The mail to connect with the steamer leaving Melbourne on the 16th will be despatched from the Bluff on Thursday, the 10th February. A “ Lick-Spittle.” —Although English people are almost as well known to the Parisians as to Londoners, occasionally a story of the traditional hauteur of Milords and Miladies finds its way into a French newspaper. One of them stated the other day that a Milady had entered a post office to buy a stamp. Having purchased it, she turned to her maid, who was standing behind her, and made a sign. The maid at once put out her tongue, over which the Milady lightly passed the stamp, and then affixed it to her letter.

The Dull Times. Notwithstanding the dull times which have been experienced in New Zealand during the last two years or more, the deposits in the Savings Banks have undergone no diminution, but, on the contrary, have increased during the last jmar by no less a sum than L 26,394. This shows that, although numbers of the working classes have had to face actual want, others again have been able to save something from their earnings. It may bo that the increased deposits are the result of the necessity which has clearly shown itself for the practice of thrift.

Singular Accident. The Horsham Times (Victoria) records the occurrence of a singular accident at Kewell, by which a boy, nine j'ears of age, son of Mr. Wallis, lost his life. The parents having occasion to leave the premises for some time, locked the door, and, following a very common custom, put the key on the inner window sill. The little boy coming home opened the window, hut knocked the key down. He endeavored to get it, and while so engaged the window sash fell on his neck, completely pinning him down, his strength being unequal to the task of raising the window, and he could not aid himself by means of his hands. The consequence was that the weight of the sash strangled him, and he was found quite dead. Wellington Races. —The following is the latest betting on the Wellington Cup : —Natator, 2 to 1, taken and wanted ; Li beller, 4 to 1, taken ; Volunteer, 100 to 8, offered ; Badsworth, 10 to 1 offered ; Lady Emma, 5 to 1, taken ; Hailstorm, 100 to 3, offered; On Dit, 100 to 16, offered ; Sir George, 100 to 8, wanted ; The Governor, 100 to 6, offered ; Luna, 100 to 15, taken ; Mischief, 100 to 5, offered ; Don, 100 to 5 (to win 1,200), offered : Virginia Water, 100 to 30, taken ; Norseman, 10 to 1, offered ; Bandwick. 100 to 12, taken. The privileges in con nection with the meeting were sold yester day, and realised L 606, the grand stand, saddling paddock, fancy bazaar, totalisator and cards excepted.

A Terrible Position.— The Toronto Globe has the following paragraph :—The sawdust of a mill at Victoria Harbor is burned in a kiln eighty feet high, made of boiler iron. Carriers, on an endless chain, convey the refuse to a door forty feet from the ground, and dump it into the fire within. An employb named Payne, who looks after the carriers, got on one of them to go to his place at the door above. Everything went all right until ho got close to the doors, when he found that his feet were caught and he was unable to extricate himself, and that he was gradually going to meet a sure and horrible death. He managed to attract the attention of some of his companions, who stopped the machinery just as lie was entering the fiery furnace. He was severely scorched before he was rescued from his perilous position. The Snuffer. —-On the subject of snuffing a curious calculation has been loft on record by Lord Stanhope : “ Every professed, inveterate, and incurable snuff taker,” says his lordship, “ at a moderate computation takes one pinch in ten minutes. Every pinch, with the agreeable ceremony of blowing and wiping the nose and other incidental circumstances, con sumes one minute and a half. One minute and a half out of every ten, allow ing sixteen hours for a snuff-taking day, amounts to two hours and twenty-four minutes for every natural day, or one day cut of ten. One day out of every ten amounts to thirty six days and a half in a year. Hence, if wc suppose the practice to ho persisted in forty years, two entire years of the snuff-taker’s life will bo dedi cated to tickling his nose, and two more to blowing it !” Justices’ Justice.— At the Wellington Supremo Court in banco yesterday after noon Mr. Bell, on behalf of the Commis sioner of Customs, appeared to move for a rule calling upon Mr. Hutchison arid Dr. Harding, J. P. ’s to allow cause why a mandamus should not bo issued compell ing them to deliver a proper re Charles Martin, who was recently charged before them with having several unstamped boxes of cigars in his posses sion. Messrs. Hutchison and IHarding appeared in person, and urged that they had refused to fine Martin in the sum of Lloo'(as they were required to do by the Act in case of conviction) simply because it would have been outrageous on their part to have done so, seeing that the cigars in question were only worth about L2. The Chief Justice said that Justices had no right to take such a view of the matter. All they had to do was to ad minister the law as they found it. After considerable argument their Honors made a rule absolute, commanding the Justices to proceed to a proper determination.

Harbor Works. —The first stone of the New Plymouth harbor works will be laid on February 7th. A Swift Flight. —A carrier pigeon be longing to Mr. John C. Haines, of Tom’g, River, N. J., recently flew the distance of 30 miles in an air line in 24 minutes. Ten other pigeons, released at the same moment, reached homo a minute later than their leader.

CABLE NEWS.

LATEST FROM EUROPE.

(Per Renter’s Agency.) Consols. London, Jan. 26. Consols have advanced to 97^. Wheat. Adelaide wheat is now quoted at 50s, being a decline of 6d. on yesterday’s prices. A Decline. New Zealand five per cents, have suffered a decline of to 1 per cent,, and are now quoted as follows : —ro-40 loan, 102 ; 1889 loan, 107^. The Locked-Out Miners. Renewed rioting has occurred in Lancashire owing to the strike, and several serious collisions have taken place between locked-out miners and the police.

AUSTRALIAN.

(Pet Renter's Agency.) The Big Show. Melbourne, Jan. 26. It has been decided that the Ex hibition shall remain open till April 30th next. A Monster Land Speculation. A company is being formed to pur chase Mango Island, in the Fiji group. The capital will be Li,000,000. Serious Railway Accident. A serious railway accident occurred on the line near Ballarat, ,by which seven persons have been badly injured.

NEW ZEALAND

(Per Press Association.) The Auckland Grammar School. Auckland, To-day. The Board of the Grammar School Governors carried the following resolu tion, moved by Judge Fenton:—“That the Board of Governors concur in the opinion of the Royal Commission on Education, that the Head Master should be a graduate of a University.” The motion, which is levelled at the present Head Master, and is considered the first step to a complete change in the school, excited a long and animated debate, and was carried by 5 to 4. Boy Thieves.

At the Police Court to-day, a large number of boys were sentenced to whip ping, and one to three months’ imprison ment, for robbing orchards. His Excellency Offends our Dusky Brethren. The Herald states that the Governor gave great offence at Ohincmutu, by re fusing to shake hands with a Maori woman who held out her hand to him, and by resoiving, at the last moment, to stay at an hotel owned by one tribe, when preparations had been made for his enter tainment at an hotel owned by another tribe. The Governor’s Travels. Napier, To-day. His Excellency the Governor left Ohinemutu for Taupo this morning. He will arrive in Napier on Saturday even ing. In Prohibited Hours- Wellington, To-day. At the Magistrate’s Court this morning, judgment was given in the cases against the proprietors of the Commercial and the Cricketers’ Arms hotels, for Sunday trad ing, a fine of L2 and costs being inflicted in each case.

THE IRISH TROUBLE.

- Trial of the Land Leaguers. The Jury are Unable to Agree. Debate on the Coercion Bill. A Member of the Commons Suspended. A Lengthy Sitting. [By Cable.] London, Jan. 26. The trial of the Land Leaguers was concluded to-da}'. After the judge’s charge to the jury the latter retired, but after eight hours’ deliberation they were unable to agree and were then dis charged. Mr. Parnell subsequently de livered an oration to a large assemblage of people in Dublin. In the House of Commons last evening Mr. Gladstone moved than con sideration of the Irish Coercion Bill take precedence of all other business. The Home Rulers thereupon proceeded to obstruct the passage of the motion, and a stormy scene occurred. Mr. Biggar, who proved one of the most violent obstructionists, was repeatedly called to order by the Speaker, and, as he continued his disorderly conduct, he was suspended for the remainder of the sitting. The debate has now lasted many hours, but the Government are determined to pass the motion, and will make the sitting a continuous one, declining to adjourn until they gain their point.

The Age of Pads.

(Cleveland Voice.) This is an age of pads. We have the lung pad, the corn pad, the bunion pad, the foot pad, and, we understand, the ladies’ pad. Even the newspapers pad, by which means otherwise lean dispatches are made to appear fat and rosy with enterprise. Our young men pad. If this is doubted consult your tailor, and he will tell you that the the first thing your man of fashion says when order ing a suit, is, “ Be sure and put plenty of padding in.” So the tailors pad. Your baker pads when he puts in in gredients to make his bread spongy. Your shoemaker pads the soles of your shoes with brown paper if he is dis honest. Actors pad in order to make themselves presentable, and the actor who awakens the liveliest sensations of love in the breast of the susceptible maiden, whep, qnpadded, is frequently found bow-legged and ungainly. Politicians pad their speeches with promises and borrowed ideas. Preachers pad their sermons by industriously reading sermons not usually accessible to' their parishioners. Talmage pads his sermons by vigorous exercise of his legs. The Congressman pads his small abilities by employing his secretary to write his speeches. The lawyer pads his cases by the use of fictitious irrele-

Vant testimony. The journalist pads his editorials by the use ot the edi torial shears. The confectioner pads his wares by the use of adulterations. The railroad magnate pads stocks by the watering process. The banker pads his wealth by charging 8 per cent, where the legal rate is 6. The circus man pads his show by the use of gor geous posters. The grocer pads his sugar with sand. Instead of this being called the age of invention, it should straightway be christened the age of pads.

London’s Hangman

After the execution of the Rotherham murderer recently, a reporter of the Sheffield Daily Telegraph interviewed Marwood, the executioner. The report states:—

“It was a grand execution. Wood never moved even a finger,” were the first words uttered when he entered the room, where a number of persons were as sembled. “ I gave him the long drop, nine feet four inches, and he died as peacefully as a lamb.”

“ What is your reason for having such a long drop I” someone asked. Lifting up his hands and raising his eyes, he exclaimed in dramatic tones; “It is humane, and saves suffering; the man dies instantly.”

Ho had not seen Wood before he met him in the cell a few minutes before the execution, but when he did sec him he was very unfavorably impressed with his face. He thought him a cold-hearted, callous man, and was confident of his guilt. In reply to a question respecting the rope, he called for his bag. His visi tors held their breath while he slowly unfastened the leathern straps which were around it, applied the key to the lock, opened the bag, and brought out its con tents, which proved to be two ropes and a few pinioning straps. One rope, a thick one, measuring about three inches in cir cumference, was the rope which he had used round the neck, the preceding morn ing ,of the Aylesbury murderer, and with which he had also executed Wood. The other was a smaller rope, perhaps an inch in circumference. It was a curious sight to behold Marwood contemplating the ropes. He gazed upon them smilingly, fondly handling them as tenderly as a mother would handle a baby, a conoisseui a piece of rare china, a young lady a bonnet of the latest fashion.

“ This rope,” said he, holding up the thickest, “is the rope; it is made of the finest Italian hemp; it is the rope of the good old times.” Here he grew rather eloquent and earnest, and with emphasis added, “ This rope is made especially for me, and is supplied by the Government. Feel it; it is a real beauty.” The visitors felt it, but failed to see much beauty. “Don’t be frightened at it; there are no blood-stains on it ” He said this be cause it was being very closely and criti cally examined. “ I never shed blood, and never yet broke the skin of my patients.’” Speaking of his predecessors in the execution line, he said their great fault was that they did not study their profes sion scientifically. When he became the public executioner hanging was nothing but a theory, little understood; and he proceeded to explain the art of successful and “ pleasant” hanging. In the old days of a short drop a man suffered greatly, but since he inaugurated the long drop death is instantaneous and “ pleasant.” He has abolished vulgar suffocation and strangu lation. He now dislocates the neck, severs the spinal cord, and creates no pain. Death is like a flash of lightning. “ I like the reporters,” he subsequently remarked, “ and think the press ought always to bo admitted to executions. I am kept busy. I hang from twenty to thirty every year. lam not paid by salary nor by the Government. The sheriff pays me, and I am paid very well.”

He was asked what he did in his leisure hours. “ Well, I have a nice garden at Horncastle, to which I pay some atten tion. When I have business London way Igo to church. Spurgeon is my favorite preacher. I always go to hear him—he is a grand man. Sometimes Igo to hear Dr. Parker at the City Temple, and at other times I go and hear Dean Stanley. I am not a Wesleyan—l once was. I belong to the whole Church, not to any sect.”

THE CHIMNEY CORNER.

A NEW STUDY. On the 25th of August last a terrible discovery was made by the Professor of Latin and the Harp at the Wilson P’emale Seminary of Redfield, Mass. The Professor, who had been engaged in giving private instruction in the art of sitting on the front piazza to an estimable young lady of the village, was passing through the corridor to his room at a late hour, when he heard a distinct sound of revelry in Room No. 11. At first he thought it might be a hilarious burglar, but he soon heard the unmistakeable sound of feminine voices. Approaching the door softly, he listened, in the strict performance of his duty, and, in addition to hearing the sound of voices, he smelled the odour of tobacco. In these circum stances he could not but suspect the presence of surreptitious male cousins, and in his alarm of the possibility of such an invasion of the sanctity of the seminary, he took the extreme course of placing a chair near the door, climb-

ing up on it, and looking through what is popularly called the fanlight. He saw no cousins, but, to his intense horror, he found that a feminine orgie of the most reprehensible nature was in pro gress. Twelve young ladies, with their back hair down, were seated around a table, drinking cold tea and smoking cigarettes. Under the stimulating in fluence of the tea, they were talking rapidly and in an excited manner, and from time to time they burst into sub dued singing. The spectacle made the Professor turn pale, and, to a certain ex tent, made his blood run cold. He did not dare to break in among the re vellers, lost under the excitement of tea they should fall upon him and inflict fatal injuries upon his wig. Accordingly, he climbed softly down from his perch, went to his room, and in the morning told the terrible tale, together with the' names of the revellers, to the Principal. Some men, had they been in the Principal’s place, would at once have taken the severest measures. They would have summoned the offenders to their presence, loaded them with re proaches, and sent them home to their stricken parents with; the brand of cold tea and cigarettes on their foreheads. The girls would, of course, cither have sunk under the shame of their expulsion or they would have tried to drown their sorrow with more cold tea and cigarettes, and would have thus been ruined morally, socially, and in point of stomachs. The excellent Principal could not make up his mind thus to blight twelve young lives,., and, after mature deliberation, he hit upon a bet ter plan.

At prayers that evening he made; a brief speech, announcing that he con templated adding a new study to the ordinary curriculum, but that, before so doing, he desired to consult with his beloved pupils. He therefore invited the twelve young ladies whose names had been furnished to him by the Pro fessor of Latin and the Harp to meet him in his study at 7 o’clock that night. The invited girls were greatly flattered by the attention thus paid them, and they resolved to put on their best ribbons, and to wait on their beloved Principal without fail at the hour men tioned.

They did so. At 7 o’clock the twelve revellers presented themselves at the study door, and, it may be added in passing, presented an appearance which would have softened the heart of the most obdurate ruffian, unless, of course, he had been sustained by an unswerving determination to do his duty. The Principal welcomed them warmly, and they noticed with some surprise that, although the weather was hot, all the windows of the room were tightly closed. They were still more surprised when the Principal locked the door and put the key in his pocket, remarking, as he did so, that they had met for an important conference, and that he did not, propose to be interrupted. After a preliminary discussion of the weather, the Principal proceeded to business by saying that he had deter mined to introduce the Theory and Practice of Smoking as a new study. He admitted that this important branch of education had been sadly neglected at the seminary, and that he himself had not smoked for several years, but that he trusted they were one and all ready to make up for lost time. The attempt of certain ambitious students to master the art of smoking without a teacher was, he confessed, extremely creditable, and showed a strong love for study; but as he had decided to undertake the duties of a Professor of Smoking, he trusted that none of his dear young friends would try to smoke by the light of nature. So saying, he produced a large and well-filled pipe for himself and a supply of the strongest cigarettes for the young ladies, and de sired them to take their first regular lesson. With a view to stimulate com petition, he promised a reward to the girl who should smoke the greatest number of cigarettes within an hour, and an exemplary punishment to the one who should smoke the fewest. With these cheering remarks, he ordered every lady to “light up,” and putting a match to his pipe began to pour out a cloud of smoke.

The young ladies, filled with a vague dread that they had been detected in their midnight orgie, and dreading punishment therefor, did not dare to refuse to smoke. They smoked with a vigor that showed they were but little accustomed to the true method of smoking, and that speedilj filled the room with a blue cloud that momentarily grew denser. The windows being closed, no air could enter the room, and the heat aided the smoke in its deadly work. In twenty minutes Miss Sallie Smith dropped her cigarette and sank upon the sofa. Five minutes later Miss Bettie McGinnis followed her example, and at the end of forty minutes every one of the twelve, with the exception of the two occupants of the sofa, were lying on the floor, mute and limp, and, in their deadly agony, wishing they were dead. The good Principal consulting his watch, and finding that the hour for instruction had not yet ended, smoked steadily on. When the clock struck eight he laid down his pipe, and, ap parently for the first time, noticed the condition of the first class in the Theory and Practice of Smoking. He asked, with great surprise and tenderness, if anything was the matter, and if his dear young friends felt quite well, but receiv ing no answer but inarticulate groans, he opened the windows, unlocked the doors, and rung for the matron. The latter, assisted by the chamber-maids, carried the young ladies one by one to their rooms, where, during the rest of evening, they conducted themselves in a way that reminded the listener of a storm at sea, with its usual effects upon delicate passengers. It was two days before the smoking class made its ap pearance, and then the girls looked, in the expressive and figurative language of the washerwoman, as if “ they’d been wrung out and drawed through a knot hole. ”

Nothing more has been said by the Principal as to the new study, and it is understood that he has changed his mind and decided not to place it on the curriculum. No more cold tea and cigarette orgies have been held by the young ladies, and if anything is morally certain, it is that not one of the twelve revellers had the slightest desire ever again to look upon the cigarette when it is lighted.

THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 27, 1881.



Special Advertisements. Commercial and fancy STATIONERY. The Uiidersigned has opened up a NEW ASSORTMENT: of the above. Cream, Blue, 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, Brandappr • and Co. ’s. Inks—Stephen’s Walkden’s Black and Colored, Antouine, Copying, &c. Workbox.es, Albums. Books, &c. H. m. Tones, STATIONERY AND FANOF GOODS DEPOT, East Street and Baring Square. •: V ■. 710 Of- Carstens & Co. (Late Weston’s), PROSPECT BUILDINGS, Tobacconist, fancy goods, AND STATIONERY, Meerschaum Pipes, G.B.D. Pipes Nailrod, Twist, and Vanity Fair Tobacco Musical Instruments, etc., etc. Harrcutting, Shaving and Shampooing. EAST STREET, ASHBURTON. ' * 520*



T H E MEN’S BEST VALUE FOB. READY MONEY IS THE AND BOYS’ CLOTHING MANUFACTURED BY V THE NEW ZEALAND Clothing Factory, Which can be purchased at their Retail Branches, all over New Zealand. SINGLE GARMENT AT WHOLESALE PRICE. THE - Thousands of the discerning customers testify that the New Zealand Clothing Factory’s Garments are the Very Best Value for Ready Money. Ashburton Branch EAST STREET. ; ,v. OWMi SPARROW, VBl* Manager.



Special Advertisements. O R SALE. A PEERING TWINE BINDER, almost new ; has only cut a few acres, and can be seen working. Apply to 7a FRIEDLANDER BROS.



Holloway's Pills. —These Pills are more efficacious in strengthening a debilitated con stitution than any other medicine in the world. Persons of ,a nervous habit of body, and all who are suffering from weak digestive organs, or whose health has become deranged by bilious affection, disordered stomach, or liver complaints, should lose no time in giving these admirable Pills a fair trial. Coughs, colds, asthma, or shortness of breath are also within the range of the sanative powers of this very remarkable medicine. The cures effected by these Pills are not superficial or temporary, but complete any permanent. They are as mild as they efficacious, aud may be given with confidence to delicate females and young chil dren. Their action on the liver, stomach, and bowels is immediate, beneficial, and lasting, restoring order and health in every case.— I ' A DVT Tenders. E N D E R S. TENDERS are invited for BUILDING a GRAIN STORE. Plans and specifica tions may be seen at the offices of the undersigned. Tenders must be sent in not later than TUESDAY (noon), the Ist proximo. 2a FRIEDLANDER BROS.



Educational. [a, card.] Miss Steane, Teacher of music, Oxford Cottage, Rakaia. BOARDING AND DAY SCHOOL FOR GIRLS. MISS STEANE begs to thank friends for their ready response to her expressed wish to form such an Establishment in Rakaia, and to inform them she will be ready to receive Students by January 24th. Terms on application. 794



WANTED, a MASTER for the Long beach Main School. Salary, ac cording to average attendance for the present quarter, £137 15a., less 10 per cent, reduction. Applications to be sent in on or before S ATURDAY, 29th inst. JOHN GRIGG, Chairman. Longbeach, 17th January, 1881. 952 WANTED, a second HAND for a Bake-house. Apply, Office of this Paper. 4a' WANTED TO SELL Twenty-five SECTIONS, Wakanui itoul Apply to Patching, Tent-maker,, Ew»fe Street. WANTED, TENDERS for; PUR CHASE of 250 Acres LAND, six , miles from Hinds, next Mr. Pye’s. ' Water, 20ft. Half Fenced. Sixty Acres Ploughed. Terms—lo per cent. j cash, 'j 16 per cent, in twelve months, balance ; per arrangement. Tenders to 0; Howard, ; ; Woodend, by February 10th. No tender necessarily accepted. • ’s9£4.f’



WANTED KNOWN, That -HENRY’S PORTRAIT ROOMS. Saunders’ Buildings, East Street, Ashburton, are open DAILY, from 9 a.m, till 5 p.m. Portraits taken in any weather. Great Reduction in Price. . 606 WANTED KNOWN—The Largest and Best Stock of is to be found at the shop of S. STEPHENS, Tinwald. Good strung Cart Collars from 135.; Cart Winkers, Bs. 6d.; Plough Back-bands, 6s. cash; Cart Saddles and Breechens, from 605.; Pole Straps, 2s. Farmers will make; a great saving by. baying of S. Stephens, , Saddler, Tinwald. TTTANTED KNOWN. Ashburton W REGISTRY OFFICE for Male and Female Servants. —L. F. Andrews begs to inform the public of , Ashb^rto^ r . r and surrounding districts that opened the above. Male and Servants of all classes provided. Ein- ... ployers requiring servants, aud.all with good recommendations,^ a*ef in want of situations, are requested to apply to L. F. Andkewes, Labor Agent, Bpok-- ,- seller, and Stationer, East street, SoutK-



WANTED KNOWN—That a Church of England minister’s wife writes that she saves Ten Shillings a Fortnight by using Harper Twelvetrees’ . Wills Washer, Wringer, and Mangier, com*—. bined; and, although she permits no rubbing, the clothes are beautifully white, and much cleaner than when done by hand, while the saving in haa * been astonishing. Sold ,by. J. ;HERN, Range Maker and Importer, corner of Manchester and Tuam streets, Christ-, church; Price —£9 10s. . , , ;7Q(). WANTED KNOWN. . SOMERSET LIVERY AND BAIT STABLES., Lu 5 15 JW. M'RAE bogs to inform ,thpp . public that he has. takes >thh | Stables from Mr. Bossenberg, and is making extensive repairs.; Buggies and saddle horses oh hire. Lowest pricea and best attention,/ 852 WANTED. —THE GUiRDtAN tells ' your Wants for Is.—cash.



Meeting^ 'I Cl . J 1 iri 10.G.T.— Unity DEGREE TEMPLE, , Second and 1 bird - Degree' MEET ING, and Election of Officers* on TUES DAY EVENING, at 8 o’clock, at the Templar Hall..—’ Thomas WniiAMSj p.T.u ; j • - - 1 6a ‘' s iL OMERSET LODGE. The Regular Monthly MEETING of this Lodge will be held TO-MORROW (Friday) EVENING, at ?.30., in the Hall, Tancred street. Visiting Brethren in vited. By order of the W.M., , GEO. F. HENRY, / 5a ‘ Hon, Sec. mm Ecclesiastical- PRIMITIVE METHODIST SPEOIAL SERMONS.*. TOWN HALL, ASHBURTON^ Ok SUNDAY NEXT, TWO SERMONS Will be preached by Mrs. Holder, of Christchurch, recently front England. Afternoon, 2.30 ; Evening, 6.30. Collections at the close of each service. - 1000



Public Notices. Q HAL L E N. Q ~fa The undersigned hereby offers to - RHJH a ONE MILE RACE with Mr. John Groves for the sum of £5, conditionally on being allowed sixty-five yards’ start. The race to come off within the next three weeks. W. BAYLISS. January 27, 1881. [CARD.] rjIHEODORE B. JACOBS Elf, ARCHITECT. Note office— HEREFORD STREET, WEST, Christchurch 671 JMPORTANT TO FARMERS; Osborne Harvesting Machinery. Osborne Harvester and Binder, to bind | with both string and wire, price- L7O. Ditto ditto, with iron road wheel, and patent lifting apparatus, price L 75. String attachments to fit on old wire Binders, price L 6 10a. N.B.—No charge for fitting if sent to our store. Osborne No. 6 Side Delivery Reapers ’ and Mowers. Osborne No. 6 Tilter or Back Delivery Keapers and Mowers. Osborne No. 5 Mowers. EXTRAS FOR ALL THE ABOVE MACHINES KEPT IN STOCK. Sole Agents in New Zealand— ’ :! : ROBERT WILKIN CO., New Zealand Wool Stores, 624 Christchurch- ; , -i., !



McDougall’s .: ; , Carbolic Sheep Dip ’ IS the Best and Safest ip the. MacketT >T A true specific for’ Scab,' * destroying Ticks,. Licey and ; all Insects,* y\ efi'ectually cleansing and stimulating the f growth pf the Fleece. : r A. -1 i.l Sold in 101 b. and 2Qlb. tins, and 501l>* IcG£TB |)y ROBERT WltlQN & OCR, " New Zealand Wool Stores, 627 Christchurch,