SHIPPING.

PORT OF LYTTELTON. Arrived. Yesterday. Prince Eupert, ketch, from Catliu’s River. Sailed. Yesterday. Maud Graham, schooner, for New Plymouth. SHIPPING TELEGRAMS. Auckland, Yesterday. Sailed—Barque Loongana, for Hobart. Eotomahana, for the South. Wellington, Yesterday. Sailed Grafton, for the South ; Wanaka, for the North. Port Chalmers, Yesterday. Sailed —Eingarooma, for Melbourne. Sydney, Yesterday. Sailed —Arawata, for Auckland. Adelaide, Yesterday. Arrived—Orient Company’s steamship Aconcagua, from Plymouth.

COMMERCIAL.

Ashburton Retail List. Butter, inferior to best, V? lb, 8d to lod. Eggs, I? dozen, is 6d. Cheese, prime quality, $ lb, 4d to 6d. Bacon, prime smoked, lb, lod to is. flams, in cloth, b? lb, is. Flour, in bags, t? loolb, 13s. Oatmeal. $ 251 b, 4s. Lard, lb, yd. The Christchurch Corn Exchange. The following is the report for the week end ing Friday evening, the 18th inst.: — Business during the week has assumed greater proportions, and prices are, to a very great extent, determined on. The weather continues extremely favorable, and threshing operations are being proceeded with day and night. The quality of the grain coming to hand is quite up to expectation, while the average yield (with the exception of that from light lands) is up to, if not over, former years. Large quantities of grain are arriving at the country stations, so that the grain season may be said to have fairly commenced. Wheat. —Several sales have taken place during the week for parcels of first-rate quality, at from 3s 6d to 3s gd per bushel. Samples of exceptionally fine Tuscan, absolutely clean and fit for seed, will command a shade over the highest quotation. Inferior samples have been sold at 3s per bushel. Chick wheat ranges between 2s and 2s gd per bushel. Oats.—There is not much business doing. Good short milling samples will find buyers at from is 6d to is yd per bushel. Feed samples, is 3d to is sd; inferior feed samples, is to is 2d per bushel. Barley.—A few samples of the new crop are already in the market. The quality of what has been shown is fairly good, but, as a rule, thin and wanting in body. For the best malt ing samples 3s to 3s 6d is obtainable. Second rate is not very saleable. Prices nominal. Grass Seed.—A fairly good demand is ap parent. Well cleaned heavy seed will fetch from 3s to 3s 3d per bushel. Cheese and Butter.—The former is in good supply, with an almost total want of inquiry, at 3j£d to 4d per lb. The latter is tolerably plentiful. Demand sluggish, at to 6d per lb.

Auctioneers’ Report. Messrs. H. Matson and Co. report on the live stock market, &’c., for the week ending Thursday, February 17th, 1881, as follows : Yesterday’s weekly market at Addington presented the largest sppply of sheep that has been sent to hand for many months, the yards being filled from beginning to end, The entry included a large proportion of prime mutton, principally crossbred, the few lines of merinos being, for the most part, below average quality. There was a fair attendance of the trade, and, considering the large supply, competition was well maintained after the first few lots, and sales were made without much difficulty, especially in crossbreds, at what must be con sidered satisfactory prices. Values were, in some instances, a little irregular, this being in variably the case in a full market; but, taking the auction throughout, the demand was good, as, out of an entry of nearly 6,000 sheep sub mitted by ourselves, we had scarcely a line un sold, last week’s rates being, in most cases, obtained. Prime crossbred wethers brought from ns 6d to 12s 3d ; average weight, mixed lots, 9s 6d to ns ; merino wethers, 6s 6d to 7s lod The continued dry weather is sending store sheep more plentifully into the market, but up to the present time late ruling prices have in no way been affected, and good lines of two and four-tooth wethers for turnip feed ing are in strong demand. The opening up of our stubbles is sure to increase the enquiry for breeding ewes ; but as far as can be judged at present buyers will have to supply themselves from outside sources, as very few but odd lots find their way into the Addington saleyards. Good fresh-conditioned crossbred wethers (two and four-tooth) are worth 8s 6d to 9s ; mixed ages and sexes, 7s 6d to 8s; useful sound mouthed aged ewes, crossbreds, 6s to 7s, ac cording to condition ; merino ewes, 3s 6d to 6s 6d- The supply of fat lambs is falling off before the demand, and many butchers for several weeks past have been unable to meet their requirements, the best lines selling at from 8s to 9s 6d; inferior lots, 6s 6d to 7s 6d. In fat cattle the supply yesterday was again in excess of what was wanted, and trade was very dull. About two-thirds of the entry changed owners at late rates,, and the balance—includ ing a line of the best quality cattle of the day —was turned out unsold. Store cattle were penned in limited numbers, and the bulk sold at prices showing a steady decline, but even now at rates bearing a favorable comparison to the price of beef. The totals yarded for the day comprised 8,860 sheep, 378 head of cattle, and 155 pigs, of which our entry included 5,717 sheep, 283 fat lambs, 194 head of cattle, and 60 pigs. .In pigs there was an average entry and prices were unchanged. Country tales.—On Tuesday, at the Tin wald Yards, we held our usual fortnightly sale (for the Ashburton district) of live stock, &c. There was a very large number of sheep and pigs penned for the day’s requirements, cattle being in a minority. The farmers being so busily engaged harvesting there was a very small audience. Those who were there, how ever, were evidently buyers, as we cleared the whole of our entry in sheep and pigs, and only turned out 10 head of cattle unsold. \Ve con sider the sale as highly satisfactory to vendors. Our entry for the day consisted of 4,489 sheep, 259 pigs, 39 head of cattle, and 2 horses. Our principal sales of sheep were —300 merino wethers 5s 3d, 700 at 5s 4d, 250 at 5= 3d, 330 cull merino ewes at 3s 46, 550 2-tooth cross breds at 6s 2d, 318 merino ewes at 4s 6d, 286 merino ewes at 3s 6d, 250 merino wethers, fat, 7£ id to 7s 5d each, 108 merino lambs at 4s 3d, &c,, &c. In pigs we sold 96 at 245, 61 at is id, 18 at 12s, 13 at 14s, 4'at Li 4s, 7atLi os 6d, 6at Li 6s, &c. In cattle, 7at L 6 ss, 4at L 6 Ss, I at L 7 10s, 1 at L 7 15s, 20 at L 3 17s 6d, 16 at L2 19s, &c., &c.

DAILY MEMORAND,.

AUCTION SALES. Saturday, February 19. Quill and Co.—Usual Weekly Sale. Mr. T. Bullock—At Hayes’ Timber Yards, 200,000 feet of Timber ; at 11 o’clock. At his rooms, Landed Property ; at 2 o’clock. Mr. Alfred Harrison —At his rooms, Birds ; 12 o’clock. Saturday, March 12. Mr. W. J. G. Bluett, at J. T. Ford and Co. ’s Salerooms—That valuable landed property, known as Elgin. At 2 o’clock. MEETINGS, AMUSEMENTS, &c. Monday, February 21. - Borough Council, at Borough Council Chambers, at 7 o’clock. Monday, February 28. Anniversary Concert, Loyal Ashburton Lodge, 1.0.0. F., Town Hall, Bp.m. Wednesday, March 2. County Council, at the County Council Chambers, at 11 o’clock.

The Ashburton Guardian. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1881.

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

The Property Tax. —The Property Tax Reveiwers for this district sat to-day to hear objections to the assessments under the Property Tax Act. The ob jections were pretty numerous, but the appearances were not many. The objec tions were heard in private.

Accident at Chertsey. —A sad acci dent occurred to Mr. Simpson, the well known machinist, while fixing the pipes of a windmill pump on Mr. George King’s farm, at Chertsey. It appears that the accident happened through an inadvert ence on the part of the man who was lowering the pipes, 15 by which they fell upon and crushed Mr. Simpson so severely that he was dangerously injured, and last night but little hope was entertained of his recovery. This morning, however, he was slightly better. A Suspicious Case. —On Sunday last a little girl, eight years of age, named Emily Jane Moore, disappeared from her home in Christchurch, and has not since been found. She was seen last on Sunday afternoon in company with a woman, of about thirty years of age, who is described as being of dark complexion, sft. 4in. in height, medium build, and wearing a fashionable black dress, with a light straw hat, white feather, and blue lining. Two poodle dogs also accompanied the woman. The river Avon has been unsuccessfully dragged for several days, and a case of kidnapping is suspected. Descriptions of the woman and child have been sent to the police in the several districts.

Ashburton Racing Club. —The Com mittee of this Club met at Quill’s Com mercial Hotel yesterday afternoon. Pre sent—Messrs. Fooks (chairman), Jacob son, Wright, Saunders, and Carter. A letter was read from Mr. Wilkie,, resign ing his office as secretary, and it was re solved to accept the resignation, and ac cord a hearty vote of thanks to Mr. Wilkie for his past services. It was re solved to advertise for a secretary at a salary cf 5 per cent, on the gross annual receipts of the Club, applications for the office to be received up to 28th inst. Mr. Carter gave notice that at the next gene ral meeting of the Club he would propose that the question of holding steeplechases under the auspices of the Club be con sidered. It was decided to hold a general meeting of members of the Club on Tues day, March Ist, to appoint a secretary.

Totara. —The Ashburton Borough Council invite tenders for the suppl of about 60,000 totara timber, delivered at the Ashburton railway station.

Fire in Christchurch. —The kit-Men of the Victoria Hotel, Christohn>-.:h, caught fire this morning, but it was for tunately extinguished before it had at tained a good hold. Old Men’s Home. —The master of the Old Men’s Homo desires to acknowledge, with thanks, the receipt of 4s. frori a friend, and one keg of gingerbeer from Mrs. H. Britton, of Ashburton. The Australians at Napier. —The innings of the Australians .vestry lay resulted in a total score of 156 being gut together, Murdoch getting 66 of the i um ber. For nine wickets of the N pier Twenty-two, only 30 runs had been ob tained when the stumps were drawn for the day. The match to-day, we arc in formed by telegraph was put off till 2.30.

A Disputed Wager. —The decision of Dunedin Tattersall’s in re the dispute be tween Drake, a bookmaker, and W. Good ison, arising out of the last Dunedin cup, was given last night. The committo.* of the club decided in favor of Goodison, and Drake has to stump up to the time of L 1,900. Trade With Fiji.—Mr. F. W. Wii nin, vice-president of the Lcvuka Chamber of Commerce, is at present on a vis;- to Dunedin. He brings with him some samples of the principal products o; the Fijis, viz., sugars, coffee, and arrowroot, with a view of promoting trade between the colonies.

Rakaia Assessment Court.I—The, 1 —The, As sessment Court for the Road District of South Rakaia was held in the Road I iard Office, Rakaia. on Thursday, before Mr. J. Nugent Wood, judge. Mr. T A. Winter, valuator for the district, attended and effected some alterations in the ownership of several sections, but i here were no objections to the assessment Law of Divorce. —The new D'orce Bill, which has been thrice passed h ■ the New South Wales Parliament, and dis allowed by the Crown, provides for g'ving the same legal relief to the woman -s to the man. At present, while the husband has only to prove adultery again? the wife, the wife has to prove both c; .elty and adultery. Now that a clause ha: been introduced strictly limiting the opei tion of the Act to persons domiciled in New South Wales, it is probable the C rown will assent to it.

Carelessness at a Rage Meeti co.— The Post says that a curious i.-icidei s oc curred at the Wellington races. Just after the Cup race, Mr. Solomon Levy found a bag full of money (including a quantity of notes and gold) on the grand stand. He at once handed over the trea sure to thestewaids. We have not .eard to whom the money belonged, but it was ■upposed that the bag was left on the ■ iand either by an official or a bookmaker daring the excitement of the Cup race. ]was fortunate that it fell into such honest hands.

The Footpaths. —Mr. Bradley is mak ing steady progress with his asphalting contract, and has now in hand the length of footpath in front of Mr. Bullock’i: pro perty in East street, and also the si retch from the Post Office to Willis street By and by the river-bed appearance of the East street footpaths will be almost wholly removed, and the tar pavement will be come an excellent promenade. Doubtless, as the Borough gets into funds, the Baring square footpath will be done full width, which it much wants, as in its present half-and-half condition it is not very sightly. A. Warm Reception. —A correspon dent sends the following to the Lyttelton' Times :—During the harvesting operations on the station of the Hon. John Hall a few days ago, the reapers came suddenly upon a swarm of bees in the wheat. The angry insects immediately attacked the intruders, and the horses became un manageable. To set them free did not take long, and in a few moments men and animals were flying over the fplains, leaving their implements, consisting of a reaper and binder, and sundry coats and waistcoats and lunches in possession of the enemy. One of the wounded looked afterwards as if he had spent an hour with Tom Sayers.

A New Branch of Education.— A correspondent writes thus to the Bruce Standard :—Sir, —I have had brought under my notice a school not a hundred miles from Milton, where a new branch of education is taught. The schoolmaster in this delightful institute has a peculiar habit of inviting all his larger female pupils before and after school hours to a kissing match. No wonder they express such an anxiety to be off so early, as prac tice makes perfect," and they like the fun now. I would warn mothers, however, to keep an eye on this kissing man. There is no knowing how far fun of this sort might go. I have it on good authority that some of the old Committee know all about it.

Sharp Work. —The following is from the Australasian Insurance and Banicing Record of December Bth, 1880 ;—“A Card.—l take pleasure in announcing that the Ready Insurance Company of Manoeuvretown has settled and paid its loss in full (without deducting interest or accrued assessment) on my mill now burn ing. I take satisfaction in recommending this company and its agile adjuster to public patronage. The adjuster of the other companies did not arrive until the roof fell in, and owing to some failure in his baggage and a sore finger, did not get his cheque signed until the fire was nearly out. lam assured by gentlemen of respectability that these companies mean well, but greater promptitude must be observed if public confidence is to be sustained. ”

Trout. —Somewhat lengthy correspond ence appears in the Timarv, Herald on the subject of large trout. The letters pub lished are from authorities at Home on the fishery question, and the consensus of opinion amongst them appears to favor the theory that large male trout are dan gerous fellows to have in a stream, and the sooner they are netted out after they have reached four or five pounds’ weight the better for the permanency of the stream as an angling ground. Only young fish and females rise to fly, while the males favor ground bait, and as the fly is the most popular decoy with anglers, the chances are that male fish will increase, unless kept down by the net. The male fish, when they grow to some size—and they do so very rapidly in New Zealand— have a fondness for eating their own species, hence they are ruinous to the young fry, and, of course, to any hope of permanency of a stream as a fronting ground. Religious Instruction. —At a meeting of the Otago Board of Education, at Dunedin yesterday, the Bible in Schools Association wrote asking the Board to grant facilities for obtaining an expression of opinion from parents and guardians of children attending the schools, on the subject of the introduction of the Bible. Mr. Begg stated that he had been asked to explain the purpose of the association in applying to the Board. They thought that the only way of getting a general ex pression of opinion from parents was through the teachers, and they wished the Board to allow the teachers to send by the children to their parents one or two questions printed on a slip of paper. These the parents would be asked to sign and send back to the teacher to be for warded to the association. It was resolved - —“ That the Board will offer no objection to the association communicating directly with the teachers in the district, for the purpose of getting the information desired. ”

Closed. — Goodwood telegraph station will he cloied at the end of the present month. Another Tramway. —A poll of the burgesses of Auckland was taken recently on the question of the construction of a tramway, and it resulted in showing a large majority in favor of the proposal— the numbers being 317 for, and only 16 against. The Tararua Gold Robbery. —An Invercargill item says:—“An Orepuke miner, who recently visited Melbourne, has made a statement that perhaps may give a clue to the perpetrator of the Tararua gold robbery. On the day that the steamer came in he visited the room in a boarding-house occupied by one of her passengers, and found the way im peded by a carpet-bag, which he tried to move with his foot, but found it so heavy that he had to put his hand to it. Its owner, a gentlemanly-looking fellow, left in an outgoing steamer soon after the Tararua arrived, taking the carpet-bag with him.” The Protos Experiment. —A meeting of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce was held on Wednesday to meet Mr. Laby, a Victorian gentleman, and hear his experience of the process by which meat, butter, and other articles of food are preserved and exported from Australia to England. Regarding the meeting, the correspondent of the Lyttelton Times wires : —“ Mr. Laby said that a large cargo of meat was placed in the cool air chamber, and 200 tons of butter in the water tanks underneath it. The result was that both were landed perfectly fresh in London, and sold at a very large profit. The blitter cost on board s.jd. per lb., and sold in London for Is. per lb., and as the freight cost was only 3|d. a lb., it would he seen that a very large profit could be relied on. Care was necessary, however, that no bad butter was shipped, as it might have the effect of spoiling the whole lot. It was salted and packed in wattle casks, and stowed away in packages of about lOOlbs. each. The effect of this suocesiful experi ment was, to his mind, proof that before long Australia and New Zealand would have ships trading to and fro, specially fitted by owners for carrying prepared provisions to England, and this must result in a great benefit to those colonies. ”

CABLE NEWS.

LATEST FROM EUROPE.

(Per Reuter's Agency.) Money and Leather. London, Feb. 15. The market rate of discount has been reduced to 3 per cent. ; the Bank rate remains at percent. Best Austral ian leather is quoted at n^d. Opening of the Wool Sales. The opening catalogue at the wool sale to-day comprised 2,100 bales. There was a good attendance of home and foreign buyers, and the demand was fair, but prices were, as compared with the closing rates of last sales, fully one half-penny lower for greasy and one penny lowerforscouredwools. The total arrivals for the auction amount to 310,000 bales, and the probable quantity to be offered is 300,000. Mr. Parnell Interviews Rochfort and Victor Hugo. Feb. 16. The belief which has existed that Mr. Parnell had gone to Paris is now confirmed. He has been in that city for the past week, and has visited Rochfort and Victor Hugo, and had lengthy interviews with them. In the Gay Capital. Stephens, the former Fenian head centre, is now at Paris. Tampering with Letters. In the House of Commons last night, the Home Secretary, Sir William Ver non Harcourt, in reply to a question, made a statement, in the course of which he virtually admitted that letters suspected to contain treasonable cor respondence had been opened in tran sit through the post. The statement gave rise to a lengthy discussion in the House, and the press generally refer to the matter at length in their leading articles, various opinions being ex pressed as to the action of the Govern ment.

Christians and Turks. News have been received from Bey rout, in Syria, that troubles have arisen between the Christians and Turks, and several conflicts have taken place, re sulting in loss of life on both sides. Urged to Resist. Mr. Parnell has addressed a letter to the League at Dublin, in which he urges the members to maintain a pas sive attitude of resistance to the coer cive measures proposed to be adopted by the Government in Ireland, and moreover to use every means to foster the agrarian agitation of the masses, not only in Ireland but throughout Great Britain. The Boer’s Proposal. The Daily News , to-day, publishes a paragraph stating that the Government have received telegrams from Sir G. Colley containing proposals for peace by the Boers. The Daily News adds that the proposals are now being dis cussed in the Cabinet. Cutting the Wires. Capetown, Feb. 16. News comes to hand from Natal that the telegraphic wires between Newcastle and Durban have been cut by the Boers in several places. No communication, therefore, has lately been received from Sir George Colley, at Ingogo. Dutch-American Sympathy with the Boers. New York, Feb. 16. A number of Dutch-Americans re siding here and in other of the States are agitating with a view to sending assistance to the Boers in their efforts to obtain their independence in the Transvaal. Satisfactory. Berlin, Feb. 17. The German Parliament was opened to-day by the Emperor, who, in his speech on the occasion, strongly affirmed the fact that a general agree ment exists among the Great Powers to use every possible effort for the main tenance of European peace.

AUSTRALIAN.

(Per Rente*'s Agency.) Afloat. Melbourne, Feb. 17. The ship Hereford, which was wrecked on January 10th last, on Cape Patton, has been successfuly floated. A Multitude of Councillors. It is rumored here that the Govern ment intend to propose a Conference ©f both Houses of Parliament shortly for the special consideration of the Re form Bill, and in order to give an op portunity of effecting a compromise in dealing with that measure.

Military Organisation. Sydney, Feb. 17. A Commission has been appointed by the Governor to enquire into and report upon the military organisation of the colony. Good Accounts from Temora. The accounts from Temora gold fields continue to be uniformly good.

NEW ZEALAND

(Per Press Association.) Accident. Auckland, To-day. A painful accident occurred at Totah toha, Northern Wairoa. A number of telegraph poles were stacked on the top of an embankment, parallel with a public road. Five children were playing round the poles, two being seated under the bank and the other three running round, when one of them stumbled against the poles. The outside pole turned over, dropped down the bank, striking one of the children, hurting her back, and instantly killing a fine little girl, three years old, the daughter of a settler named Saunders. At the inquest the jury expressed their opinion that the Government were to blame for the careless manner in which the telegraph poles were stacked. Fever. There are twelve cases of typhoid fever and one of scarlet fever in the Auckland Hospital. A Child Drowned. Wellington, To-day. A son of Mr. Jacob Lichtscheindl, pro prietor of the Empire Hotel, aged 4 years, was found drowned this morning in the water at the rear of the hotel. It is not known how he came in the water, but it is supposed he accidentally fell off a wharf situated behind the hotel.

Otago’s Team. Dunedin, To-day. Paramor, Collison, Harris, O. Haskell, W. Crawshaw, W. Parker, G. Millington, J. Hume, Spring, H. B. Morrison, and W. Morrison, with John Leath as emer gency man, constitute the Otago Inter provincial team. Filed. Thirteen declarations of insolvency were filed this week. Auckland’s Extravagance. Several members of the Education Board yesterday appeared to be greatly astonished at the statistics furnished by Mr. Fulton, M.H.R, showing the extravagant expendi ture on school buildings, etc., in the Auckland district at the expense of Otago. The statement of the hon. gentleman was endorsed by Mr. Fergus, one of the members of the Board, who had recently made a tour through the colony. It was stated that, in Auckland, education cost for management in 1879, ss. 6|d. per scholar, against 8 jd. in|Otago. Forbury Park. The Forbury Park Company have agreed to sell their rights to a new Company, with a capital of LIO,OOO. It is intended to lay out the grounds for cricket and athletics, and to offer them to suburban municipalities as recreation grounds, and also to improve the rest of the Park.

SPORTING.

TRAINING NOTES FROM FOR BURY. [By Telegraph.] Dunedin, To-day. This morning, being the off day, no thing special was done. All business was transacted on the tan. Goodman appeared with his string, consisting of Le Loup, Sylvanus, Titania, and Playboy. Titania went by herself twice round. The mare appears to be as good as ever she was. Sylvanus and Playboy went together two miles in fine form, and both went well. Swede went round at a slow pace three times with rugs on. Cotton sent Jasper round the tan by himself. Then he sent Sunbeam, Maude, and Gingle twice round. They went fairly strong. Lady Emma went once round, and was then joined by Ledgerdemain. The filly has greatly improved since her arrival. Dod son’s three—the Castanet filly, Miss King colt, and the Envy filly, went twice round, the Castanet youngster leading her stable companion. Native Cat, with Goodman up, trotted three times round, with sweaters on. Sailor Boy w’cnt round twice, and took the hurdles twice. Scratchings. Longlands, for the Cup.

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

ASHBURTON. -To-day. (Before Mr. C. P. Cox and His Worship the Mayor.) Drunk.— Thomas Macauley was found helplessly drunk near the Somerset Hotel last night. He was fined ss. Vagrancy. —Wm. Smith had been three times within the last ten days before the Court, and had been loafing about town living on his wits, and spunging for drinks. He was fined 15s. for being drunk, with an alternative of 48 hours’ imprisonment, andonasecond charge under the Vagrancy Act, of being an idle and disorderly person, he was sent to gaol for a month.—George Wadsworth was charged with being an idle and disorderly per son within the meaning of the Vagrant Act. He denied being in this category, and said he had work to do at the Orari, where his money was invested. The Ser geant said he was the occupant of the famous lean-to, and was continually in the company of prostitutes and drunken men. He was the pimp and bully at the above-named establishment, and lived on the prostitution of his wife and other bad women. Constable Neill said the man was a regular associate of prostitutes, cofivicted thieves, and drunkards. He wa's owing about L 43 to the Burnham In dustrial School for, the support of two children he had there. Wherever the mail wen the was under the surveillance of the police, having been previously con victed of larceny. The prisoner said he had visible means of support inasmuch as his nephew at the Orari owed him Lloo,and he was willing to work at shoemaking as soon as his hand which had been injured wasbetter. Prisonerbroughtnoevidenceto prove the statements he had just made, though he had been allowed since yester day morning to do so. The Court sen tenced him to three months’ imprison ment, with hard labor.

New Use for a Lover’s Letter.

A bird’s nest made of a love letter and miscellaneous stuffing was recently picked up underneath a tree in a Cincinnati suburb. Closely interwoven with the bits of sticks and dead leaves and little tiny feathers was a little leaf from somebody’s little diary. It was weather-beaten and yellow, and on one side so worn, no doubt, by the going in and out of little red-breast, that the words, delicately written in a girl’s hand, could only here and there be de ciphered ; on one side was “ Katie; we have often spent an hour together. Will these hours he forgotten? When we part our paths will lead in different directions, Perhaps we may never again meet in this world. Shall we remember? P. 8.” On the opposite side was Katie’s reply. It began : “ Ah ! heart, so sadly broken, Cease, cease thy ranting thrill ; Those vows so falsely spoken Have clone far worse than kill. The sun has lost bis glory, The Queen of Heaven her light. So sad ” And here Katie’s verse was bitten off.

What Women Should Know.

Dr. B. W. Richardson, in a lecture delivered at the Sanitary Congress, Exeter, England, on “ Woman as a Sanitary Reformer,” opens a new field for the exercise of the female talent He advocates that ladies should be sufficiently versed in anatomy and physiology to understand the construc tion of the human frame, as well as the nature of different foods, and the methods best adapted for making them digestible and nutritious. If women understood the effect of well selected aliments on the growth of the body in youth, diseases such as rickets, with bowed legs and crooked spines, would, in the opinion of the eminent lecturer, disappear from the land. The sanitary “angel in the house” should understand the laws of ventilation as well as the methods of house-warming and the effects of heat and cold. She should also be familiar with the posi tion of the drains and knov something about the principles of drainage ; she should be able to detect the hue of wall-paper which indicates the presence of arsenic, and be sufficiently informed concerning the water supplied to the household ; to direct if necessary, how impure water may be made wholesome and potable. A knowledge of the use of disinfectants should also constitute a part of her education, and, in short, a fair information concerning the enemies of the health of the household, with the weapons which would drive them from the door, would be not the least valu able of her accomplishments.

The Dangers of Football.

The Home correspondent of the Australasian writes ;—“ A sad death from the effects of injuries received whilst playing a football match has caused a lot of correspondence to ap pear as to the expediency of further alterations in the rules of both the Association and Rugby games. The unfortunate event referred to above occurred at Southampton. In a scrim mage Mr. S. E. Gibbs, a smart young fellow of 19, was trampled on, or other wise so damaged that the lower half of his body was paralysed, and in this state he lingered about ten days and then died. The Mayor of Southamp ton has since forbidden the game to be played on any of the public lands about Southampton, whether it be playedunder Rugby or Association rules, until such rules be amended. Of course all this is absurd. To attempt to stop the national winter athletic pastime be cause someone gets killed every now and then is quite out of the question. The truth is, no laws will ever make football anything but dangerous if the players themselves will not conduct the game in a generous spirit. For a big, powerful fellow to dash a little, though game, opponent to the ground with force enough to half kill him, is, after all, a bit cowardly', even if it is ‘ the game.’ As said before, if laws be made that will deprive the game of all its dangers, they will also make it so tame that it will be deprived of all its pleasures. All that is needed is a little more consideration on the part of the players themselves. Only the other day a big match in Lancashire ended in a free fight, and although, happily, such scenes are of rare occurrence, yet, beyond doubt, players often ‘ let their angry passions rise,’ and it is then the danger to life and limb becomes a serious one.”

The Kangaroo.

In 1770, Captain Cook visited Botany Bay in the Endeavor, which had been despatched in 1768 on a scientific mission. In the course of the voyage, and while anchored in Endeavor river, an exploring and foraging party (says Good Words) returned to the ship with the news that they had seen a new and curious animal, of a mouse color, and about as large as a greyhound, which moved with surprising dexterity and swiftness. This animal was seen next day, on which occasion, also, one of the seamen brought the surprising intelli gence that he had seen the devil—this information relating to an animal which lie said had horns and wings. The animal proved to be minus the horns (which were, no doubt, its ears), but to possess wings, and appeared in the shape of a large fruit-eating bat. The new animal of the mouse color, and of the size of a greyhound, was duly seen by Captain Cook himself, who remarked its long tail, and also that it leapt like a hare or deer. On Saturday, July 14, a Mr. Gore shot one of the new animals, which was ascertained to be called “ kangaroo” by the natives, and which was likewise proved to be remarkably good eating at the voyagers’ dinner of Sunday, July 15, 1770. Such w-as the description given by Captain Cook of the now well-known kangaroo. Anti quarian researches in zoology, however, inform us that De Brunis, a Dutch tra veller, saw a kangaroo as early as 1711. This animal was kept domesticated at Batavia, and was named “ Filander,” and appears to be the species now called “ Macropus Brunii,” after its discoverer.

An Exceptional Woman.

An exceptional woman received a well-won appointment lately in New York, when Mrs. Annie E. Wilson was made inspectress of the New York Custom House. Born in the Bay of

Bengal, and reared on shipboard, she married a Boston captain when four teen years of age. For seven years this child of the ocean continued to sail the seas by her husband’s side without accident; but in 1872 their vessel was struck by a storm on the banks of New foundland. The captain, her husband, had his shoulder-blade broken by the fall of a mast, and the first mate and part of the crew were also disabled. The second mate gave way to panic. No sooner, however, had the captain been carried down, lashed on a door, to the cabin, than his wife, then a woman of one-and-twenty, hurried on deck. “ Boys,” she said, “ our lives are in danger. Let us stick together, and all of us work with a will. I will take my husband’s place, and take you to some port.” They set to work, cleared off the wreckage, manned the pumps, and succeeded in weathering the gale. After it subsided, they rigged up a jury mast, put the ship be fore the wind, and went to St. Thomas, which they reached in twenty-one days. After repairs, the indomitable woman, finding her husband was still helpless, navigated the ship to Liverpool, mak ing the voyage, without accident, in thirty days. Her husband was never able to resume work, and for seven years she kept him and her child by working as a clerk in a dry goods store. Eight months ago her husband died, and recently Secretary Sherman ap pointed Mrs. Wilson, who is not yet thirty, to an inspectorship of the New York Custom House.

The Mormons and Polygamy.

The practice of polygamy amongst the Mormons is exciting serious atten tion in the States. Ex-President Hayes expresses his opinion as follows: — It is the recognised duty and purposes of the people of the United States to suppress polygamy where it now exists in our territories, and prevent its exten sion. Faithful and zealous efforts have been made by the United States authorities in Utah to enforce the law against it. Experience has shown that the legislation on this subject, to be effective, requires executive modifica tion, and amendments. The longer action is delayed the more difficult it will be to accomplish what is desired. Prompt and decided measures are necessary. The Mormon sectarian organisation which upholds polygamy has the whole power of making and executing the local legislation of the territory. By its control of the grand and petit juries it possesses large in fluence over the administration of justice. Exercising, as the heads of this sect do, the local political power of the territory, they are able to make effective their hostility to the law of Congress on the subject of and, in fact, to prevent its enforcement. Polygamy will not be abolished if the enforcement of the law depends on those who practice it and uphold the crime. It can only be suppressed by taking away the political power of the sect which encourages and sustains it. The power of Congress to enact suit able laws to protect the territories is ample. It is not safe for half-way measures. The political power of the Mormon power is increasing. It is spreading to other territories. Wherever it goes it establishes polygamy and sectarian political power. The sanctity of marriage and the family relations are the corner-stone of our American society and civilisation. Religious liberty and the separation of Church and State are among the elementary ideas of free institutions. To re-establish the in terests and principles which polygamy and Mormonism have imperilled, and to fully re-open to intelligent and virtuous immigrants of all creeds that part of our domain which has been in a great degree closed to general immi gration by intolerant and immoral insti tutions, it is recommended that the Government of the territory of Utah be re-organised. I recommend to Con gress to provide for the Government of Utah by a Governor and Judges, or Commissioners, appointed by the Pre sident and confirmed by the Senate, or a government analogous to the Pro visional Government established for the territory north-west of Ohio by the Ordinance of 1787. If, however, it is deemed best to continue the existing form of local government, I recom mend that the right to vote, hold office, and sit on juries in the Territory of Utah be confined to those who neither practise nor uphold polygamy. If thorough measures are adopted, it is believed that within a few years the evils which now afflict Utah will be eradicated, and this territory will in good time become one of the most prosperous and attractive of the new States of the Union.

THE ASHBURTON GTJAEDIAN, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1881.



WANTED KNOW—That Cards, plain or mourning, obtained printed in various style; Guardianoffice, opposite the Station. Visiting can be s, at the Eail w ay



Special Advertisements. Reapers & Binders. R. DUNN. , REAPER AND BINDER EXPERT, Peter street, Ashburton, Wishes to notify to Farmers, Contractors, Merchants, and others that he is prepared to Adjust, Repair, and Re-paint all kinds of Reapers and Binders. Extras and Duplicates in Wood and Iron on hand. None but the best material used, and all work guaranteed. Machines examined or repaired in town or country. W. R. Dunn, Workshop, Peter street, near Wakanui road, Ashburton. Agent for SCOTT BROS.’ celebrated Leamington Cooking Ranges, Excelsior Windmills, Tomb Railings, and other Castings. PRICE LISTS ON APPLICATION, 132 a C. Ra y, Reaper and binder expert, ENGINEER, &c. The M'Oormmk, Peering, Osborne, Harvester King, and Wood’s Machines Repaired and Adjusted, in Town or Country. Engines, Combines, Pumps, &c., Re paired at very reasonable terms.



C. RA Y, East Belt, bear Wakanux Road. 100 a 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 GTlott’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 ANOTHER YEAR OF SUCCESS another



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



O. Carstens &' Co. (Late Weston’s), PROSPECT BUILDINGS, Tobacconist, fancy goods, AND 1 STATIONERY. Meerschaum Pipes; G.B.D. Pipes Jlailrod, Twist, and Vanity Fair Tobacco Musical Instruments, etc., etc. flaircutting, Shaving and Shampooing. EAST STREET, ASHBURTON. 520*



The Germans and New Zealand.— The Te Aroha Miner says: —“ A German gentleman was a passenger by the Vivid on Wednesday night, en route to Tongariro, which mountain, we believe, he proposes ascending. He has been commissioned by the German Government to report on the adaptibility of this colony as a field for Teutonic emigration. He is highly pleased with what little he has seen of this district.” Holloway’s Pills.—lt is difficult to de termine what is the more trying to health, intense cold or excessive heat, though every body knows that sudden transitions from the one to the other teem with disease, which may in most instances be staved off by an early resort to these purifying, regulating, and strengthening Pills. This well known and highly esteemed medicine affords a safe and easy remedy for almost every constitutional wrong which climates, changes, or dietetic errors can engender’ and effectually removes any veakness self-indulgent habits may have induced. In all conditions of the system bordering on discease indicated by apathy, listlessless, and restlessness, Holloway’s Pills will prove espicially serviceable in begetting a vivacity appreciated by both sound and sick. ,



Ecclesiastical. J>RESBYTERIAN CHURCH. The Rev. J. VV. CREE, of Leeston, will Preach next Sunday, Morning and Evening, in the Presbyterian Church, and at Waterton at 3 p m. 134 a Amusements- J O. O. F., M. U. LOYAL ASHBURTON LODGE, No. 6003. GRAND ANNIVERSARY Concert Of Vocal and Instrumental Music, Dances, and Comic Sketches, in the TOWN HALL, ASHBURTON, ON MONDAY EVENING, FEB. 28. The Loyal Ashburton Lodge, No. 6003, purpose celebrating their Anniversary with a Concert on the above date, when an ex cellent programme will be presented. A BaLL will take place immediately after the Concert. Doors open at half-past seven ; concert at eight prompt. JOSHUA TUCKER, N.G. 76a R. MINNIS, Secretary. Lost. £1 Eeward. LOST, in Trevorton, a POCKET CASE of SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS. Apply, Office of this Paper. 115 a TTTASTE PAPER for Sale, 3d. per lb. VV at the Guardian Office



Wanted. TTTANTED to take charge of, one or VV two CHILDREN. To inyore with children wishing to take a si-nation this would afford an opportunity for doing so. A comfortable home with moderate terms. Apply, by letter, to “A. 8.,” Office of this Paper. 129 a rjlO THE BOOT TRADE WANTED—A first-class Hand. Apply to T. Chambers, East street, Ashburton. RACING CLUB. APPLICATIONS for the office .of SECRETARY, addressed to the .Coin- , mittee, Box 12, Ashburton, will be re ceived up to 28th instant. Particulars of duties and salary may bo obtained on ap plication to the undersigned. WANTED to PURCHASE—BONES,, in any quantities. Apply, Mayo ' and Hunt, Beach road. 139 a WANTED TO SELL Twenty-five" SECTIONS, Wakanui Road. Apply to Patching, Tent-maker, East Street. , 398 ANTED KNO WN, That HENRY’S PORTRAIT ROOMS, Saunders’ Buildings, East street, Ash burton, are Open DAILY, from 9 a. in. till 5 p.m. Portraits taken in any weather. Great Reduction in Price. 101 a ANTED MUSIC KNOWN. H. J. WEEKS, Teacher of Music, Tuner, &c., has room for a few more Pupils for the Pianoforte, Harmonium, Yiolin, Flute, or . Singing. Terms on application. Second/ hand instruments bought or sold on com mission. Address —Cameron street west 131 a.—, S. SAUNDERS, Secretary, pro tem. 86a



WANTED KNOWN—The Largest and Best Stock of SaddlerY is to be found at the shop of S. STEPHENS; Tinwald. Good strong Cart Collars from ■ 135.; Cart Winkers, Bs. 6d.; Plough Back-bands. 6s. cash ; Cart Saddles and Breechens, from 505.; Reaping Machine Pole Straps, 2s. Farmers will make a great saving by buying of S. Stephens, Saddler, Tinwald. TTTA.NTED KNOWN. Ashburton VV REGISTRY OFFICE for Male and Female Servants.—L. F. Andrewes begs to inform the public of Ashburton and surrounding districts that he has opened the above. Male and Female Servants of all classes provided. Em ployers requiring servants, and all persons with good recommendations, who are in want of situations, are requested to apply to L. F. Andhewes, Labor Agent, Book seller, and Stationer, East street', South. WANTED KNOWN—That a Church of England minister’s wife writes that she saves Ten Shillings a Fortnight by using Harper Twelvetrees’ Villa 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 mending has been astonishing. Sold by J. HERN, Range Maker and Importer, corner of Manchester and Tuara streets, Christ church ; Price—£9 10s. 700 WANTED KNOWN. SOMERSET LIVERY AND BAIT STABLES. JW. M'RAE begs to inform the , public that he has taken the lb ova Stables from Mr. Bossenberg, and is making extensive repairs. Buggies and saddle horses on hire. Lowest prices and best attention.' 862 Tenders. Ashburton borough COUNCIL. TENDERS are invited for the supply of TOTARA TIMBER about 60,000 feet superficial, more or less, delivered at the Ashburton Railway Station. Specifications may be seen at. the Borough Council Offices, and tenders, en closing a guarantee deposit of ten pounds (£10), to be delivered at the Town Clerk’s Office on or before 4 o’clock p.m., on MONDAY, the 21at inst. . FOOKS & SON; 133 a Borough Engineers. To Let. rjpi O LET. A comfortable Four-Roomed T COT TAGE—bay window and verandah—in Peter street. Rent low. Apply, J. Olsen, on the premises. 116 a Por Sale. J)LAINS WATER SUPPLY. A FARM of 300 Acres, about 5 miles from Chertsey, FOR SALE, on easy terms. Apply, 126 a FRIEDLANDER BROS. Jjl O R SALE. A DEERING TWINE BINDER, almost new ; has only cut a few acres, and can be seen working. Apply to 7a FRIEDLANDER BROS.



Poyntz & Co. HAVE FOR SALE, on advantageous and easy terms of payment, the following A HIGHLY-IMPROVED Farm of 600 Acres, Within easy distance of Ashburton. Largo Dwelling-house, Stable, and all necessary Outbuildings. Running Creek through the property. MONEY for investment, on approved security, in sums of £SO and upwards, at current rates 595 Publications. The trade protection so ciety’s PRIVATE CIRCULAR (instituted 1873) gives a weekly list of Bills of Sale, Mortgages of Stock, Liens, Bankruptcies, &c., throughout New Zea land. On Monday, an “ Extra” is printed for Canterbury, containing information up to 12 o’clock on the preceding Satur day. For particulars, apply at the Office, Hobbs’ Buildings, High street, Christ-' church.—T. B. Craio, Agent for Canter bury. 816 ■ FUN AND FAROE I TSSSSJtA. rriHE GUARDIAN is on every Tea L Table in Ashburton.