SHIPPING.

PORT OF LYTTELTON. Arrived. Saturday. Prince Alfred, barquentine, from Pelorus Sound. Onward, schooner from Westport. Annabella, brig, from Mauritius, via Dunedin. Yesterday. Beautiful Star, s.s.,from Dunedin. JnmiMiloaghis, from Kaikoura, Wellington r and Poxton., - - ~ , , i f. Sailed. Saturday. Island Lily, brigantino, for Auckland. Ocean Bird,- ketch, for Anahau. Examiner, barque, for Greyraouth. Fawn, brig, for Auckland. To-day. Beautiful Star, s.s., for West Coast Ports. The cutton. Three Brothers, of N«lßbn, owned by the master, Captain We'stnlpt), while sailing down the bay on Saturday missed stays, and went ashore on the boulder bank. As a heavy sea has been running and the wind is blowing hard, she will probably become a total wreck. She is believed to be insured.

COMMERCIAL.

Guardian Office, Monday Afternoon. Mr Alfred Harrison reports for the week ending March 12th, as follows : —On Thursday, March 10th, I held a sale at Anstee’s Private boarding-house, at which all Jots - were well competed for, and tjacteAH sold for six hours, andthe‘attendance was good to the end. On Saturday, March 12th, at my yards, I disposed of several hacks at low prices. Calves, L2 each ; 7 pigs, 27s 6d each ; 5 pigs, 16s each ; 10 suckers* 9s 9d each ; 9 suckers, 9s 6d each ; geese, 8s 3d to 8s 6d per pair ; bantams, 5s per pair ; cochin china, 4s 9d per pair ; bramahs, 3s 3d per pair; .fowla for killing, Is 9d to 3s per pair Sucks, 4s 7d per pair ; cheese, 4d to s|d*r Onions, fd to l£d ; potatoes, 50s to 60s per ton ; chick feed, Is 9d per bushel. A consignment of Nelson fruit sold at fair prices, viz :--10 cases of pears, 8s to 8s 6d per case; 49 cases of apples, 5s 4d to 7s per case. There was a large attendance, and the sale was continued to a late hour.

The English Markets.

The following is Messrs Miles Bros, and Co. ’s Colonial Produce Report, dated London, January 27th : Wool. —Our wool market remains much in the same state as it was at the date of our last advices, and trade on the Conti nent is still depressed,;hut in the North a fair amount of business-is doing; The Antwerp sales of River Plate wool com menced on the 19th inst., with a moderate attendance of buyers, and .the prices ob tained showed hi some instances a decline of jd to £d per lb on last October auction rates. In consequence of the wool ships arriving; the date ; for' the opening of the next sales has not been fixed, but it will probably be the end of February. The fresh arrivals for that aeries are : New South Wales and Queensland, 20,224 bales; Victoria, 34,613 bales ; South Aus tralia, 13,313 bales ; Western Australia, 208 bales; New Zealand 4,106 bales; Cape, 30,706 bales ; total 103,170 ; and 16,000 bales old stock. Wheat and Floub. —A very limited business has been doing in- wheat during the past fortnight, communication by laud and water having been so greatly in terrupted in consequence of the severity, of thoiwefdhor that buyers will not pur. chafe) as they cannot obtain delivery of the grain, but were spot sales have been effected full prices have been paid, and the new arrivals at ports of call Have found buyers at slightly increased rates. For cargoes of new Melbourne wheat, for shipment this mouth and next, 46s 3d (wooden'ships), and 46s 6d (iron Ships), per 4801bs, have been paid c.i.f. for orders. There are . now. more than .fifty wheat' ships overdue, and the total quantity on passage-is 2;236,000 quarters, against 1,853,000 quarters in the corres ponding week of 1880. Fine samples of large New.-Zealand barley are selling well, and N.Z. oats are Is per qr dearer. We quote to-day—South Australian wheat, 50s^dtor.51s 6d ; Victorian, 50s to 51s ;. New Zealand .long berried, 48a to 51s ; average quality, 45s to 48s ; inferior, 40s to 44s per 4961 b ; Australian flour, 34s to 35a ; New Zealand 30s to 33s per 2801 b ; New Zealand oats, superior, 28s to 31s ; common feed, 21s to 255-per qr imperial; New Zealand malting barley, 32s to 42s per 4481 b ; New Zealand beans, 45s to 48s per 5041 b; New Zealand oatmeal, 190 s to 210 s per ton. .-fFP; r Hides. The tallow mariet’ has " bheiii very firm, with an extremely good demand for Australian, and mjpes. have advanced, no doubt owing to the pauiaty of the home melt. The value to-day of good to fine mutton is 35s 6d to 375, and fair to fine beef 33s 6d to -34s 4ia}’ The''safes .during the. last fort night have been about 8,050 casks, and the stock in first bands is reduced to about 4,200 casks. Hides are without alteration. Pbesbbved Meats.— There has been a fair inquiry for most descriptions of tinned meats, and several lines have been placed at late rates. In American fresh meat only a limited business has been dona., ; ; . ■ . -

DAILY MEMORANDA.

AUCTION SALES. SAirttfelTAY, March 10. 1 Mr. T. Bullock, at his Rooms, East street —Lot 124, Thompson street, Tinwald ; Trustee’s Interest in Lot 10 ; 3 Shares in the .Templar Hall Go.; 2 o’clock. Friday, April 1. Matson, Cox, and- Co., at their salerooms, Ashburton-~Building, Sites ; ; 1 p.m, ; MEETINGS, AMUSEMENTS, &c. To-morrow, Tuesday, March 15. Third Degree Temple, and Installation of Officers, Templar Hall, at,B p. in. ■' ; i "Mown ay,' March 2L ’ Borough Council, at "Borough Council Chambers, at 7 o’clock.

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas Et Prevalebit. MONDAY, MARCH 14, 1881. The Mount Somers Railway.

TOWN EDITION. [lssued at 5.15 p.m. ’J

Since the returns of the various rail ways in this colony were placed before the public, the matter of their respec tive positions as to re-productiveness has been seriously looked into by many journals, with a veiw of putting the public mind aright. When the Com missioners sent in their report, which was a very exhaustive one, the Tinwald to Mount Somers line was one of those branches which was particularly referred to as to the necessity of its completion in order to make it pay. This report stated “ that the cost would be small, and it will serve a large agricultural district, and at the same time open up a coal-mine and some stone-quarries at Mount Somers, which it may be fairly calculated will bring considerable traffic to the line.” In saying this the Com missioners did not do otherwise than make a plain and simple statement as an inducement for the further extension of the line. It certainly is a fact that as far as the line has been made it is practically uelcsss and unproductive. But why ? Because it runs for 10 miles and 60 chains alongside property owned by two or three persons. When the first question, as to the construction of the line was mooted, it was decided to take it up to Mount Somers on the north side of the Ashburton river, and so pass through a large and comparatively old settled part of the county to that which it now traverses. We are told that some time ago the Canter bury Provincial Council granted rails for its construction, to the value of 1,n,000, and that the line was to be made from the township of Ash burton straight to. Mount Somers and Alford Forest, The County Council in 1877 decided to have the line made from Tinwald, for obvious reasons. It is not difficult to understand the reason the decision was made, but it is not fair that so many of our contemporaries should characterise the line as Mr E. G. Wright’s special line and made to. lead only to his own property. Mr Wright has some portion of his property on the north side of the River Ashburton, as well as near Mount Somers, and the construction of the line, whether from Tinwald or Ashburton, would be of equal benefit to him. We are told that there is something “ particularly crooked ” about this line, and that it has not been struck out of the list of working railways but merged into the Christchurch Section. It would certainly be folly to expect a line of a little more than ten miles to be reproductive, when only two or three loaded trucks are perhaps daily taken up and down it. It has never been worked at all yet, in the proper sense of the word, and therefore no payable return can possibly be expected from the line. We would like to point out that the extension of this line was recommended by the Commission, not to serve the popula tion of 801 souls, alone, but to aug ment the traffic on the main line. As soon as the extension is carried out, about say x 5 or t 6 miles further, it will show, quite as good a return as other branch, lines, but as it is at present, it will always be worked at a loss. It now remains with the Minister of Public Works to carry out the recommendations of the Railway Commission. When this is done we shall see quite a different re turn- from this particular branch, and it certainly \Vas a mistake to have this line included in the list of working rail ways.- We do not, however, agree with some that the line has been put in the

right place, but as io miles have been made, or nearly half of its whole length, its full extension to Mount Somers should not be abandoned. It certainly is refreshing to consider the fact that 120.000 acres of agricultural, and 530.000 of good pastoral land, will be afforded improved means of communi cation, and that eight hundred and one souls will be placed within easy reach of a railway ; but to be told that the Mount Somers line was made and its extension recommended by the member for Coleridge because it leads to his properly, any more than it leads to the property of the other promoters who were interested in the line at the time the route was fixed upon by the County Council of Ashburton, is absurd.

DEATH OP THE CZAR.

Our telegrams to-day contain the intel ligence of the death of the Czar of Russia, by the explosion of a bombshell. The tele gram is dated St Petersburg, March 13th. The following is a short account of the early life of a man who, during hia latter career, cieated so much ill-feeling amongst so many of his subjects as to cause sedition and hatred to combine against him, and resulted in taking his life after repeated trials ; “ Alexander 11, the present Emperor of Rus sia, was born on April 29th, 1818, He was carefully educated by his father Nicholas, who manifested intense delight with'the manifestations of ‘ true Russian spirit ’in his son. At 16 years old, he was declared of age, made Commandant of the Lancers of the Guard, Hetman of Cossacks, first aide-de-camp of the Emperor, and was subjected to a rigid military life of parade, manceuvering, and reviewing, which seriously impaired his health. He married in 1841 Princess Maria, daughter of the Grand Duke of Darmstadt. He then applied himself to his duties as Chancellor of the University of Finland andso insinuated himself into the affection of the Finns, that their love of independence was weakened. He founded a chair of Finnish language and literature, and defrayed the expenses of remote explorations under Cygnoeus, Wallin and Castren. In 1859 he visited Southern Russia, Nicolaief, Sebastapol, Tifles, Erivan, <fec. It is said he entirely disapproved of the Crimean War. On his accession to the throne in 1855 he had two parties to conciliate, viz : —The old Muscovite party —whc were blindly zealous for war—and the more peaceable and intelligent portion of the nation. Ho pursued a course calculated to en courage both, and spoke of adhering to the policy of his ‘ illustrious ancestors,’ and at the same time concluded peace. He had always ruled with a rod of iron, and had a desire to rid internal admiris tration of its impurities and severely punished some of his functionaries as a warning to the rest. Of late years, this has been most severe, and caused the many attempts which have been taken to put an end to his life. In 185 G he granted to all Polish exiles who wove willing to express repentance for the past, per mission to return home to Poland. By a ukase in 1861 he emancipated 23,000,000 serfs. In 1865 he established election representative assemblies in the Provinces. He carried on war against the Ameer of Bokhara in 1866, and in 1873 against the Khan of Khiva. In 1879 war was carried on successfully against Turkey, and all Europe was in a great state of excitement. Other troubles fol lowed, and last, but not least, the Nihilist plots, which no doubt have caused hia destruction. His end, by many, will be regarded as just what might be expected in such an unhappy country.”

The Governor. —His Excellency Sir Arthur Gordon and suite passed through Ashburton this morning, by special train, en route to Otago and Southland. Cricket. —The gentlemen who are to play against the Geraldine Eleven, to morrow, are requested to meet at the railway station at 6.30 sharp, to-morrow morning. County Council.— A special meeting of the County Council will be held at the County Council Chambers next Monday, at 11 a.m., to consider the reception of the Governor, and other matters which may be brought before the meeting. Orchard Robbers. - The Otago Daily Times deprecates the severe sentence which the Dunedin Resident Magistrate is inflicting on youthful orchard robbers. Our Southern contemporary says:—“lf we remember rightly, Dr Stuart confesses to stealing apples when a boy. Did Mr Watt himself never steal apples ?” Abusive Language. —On Saturday, before Mr Wood, R.M., William Kermer was charged with using abusive language towards Sergeant Felton, but as the accused was in a very dilapidated and pitiable condition, the kind-hearted Felton did not press the charge. The Magistrate, after giving Kermor some good advice, lot him off with a lenient penalty of Is. Medical. —We believe that the com mittee appointed for the purpose have arranged with Dr J. H. Mackenzie, of Waikcuaiti, to commence practice in the Rakaia district. The inhabitants of the district are to be congratulated upon the prospect of having a medical man settled in their midst, as hitherto, however urgent the case, Ashburton has been the nearest spot where medical assistance was procurable by them. Arrest.— On Saturday afternoon Mr James Scott, for some years past the manager of Messrs Miles, Hassal and Co.’s estates in this County, was arrested on a warrant from Christchurch on a charge of forgery. The particulars of the case are withheld for the present. The accused was brought up at the R.M. Court this morning, but was remanded until Saturday next, bail being allowed. Mr. Ireland, counsel for the accused, said that a further remand would most likely be asked for, to enable witnesses for the defence to be present.

A Novel Address.— Post Office clerks are often abused for trifling mistakes in the sorting and delivery of letters, but really the wonder is that so few errors are committed, considering the excessive care lessness people display in directing their correspondence. Sometimes, too, the address is by no means easy to decipher, even when written with the utmost care. An instance of this kind occurred recently, in which a letter from Franco to a Wel lington resident bore the following com plicated direction : —“A Monsieur A , d Wellington ;He To Ika a Maui; Nou velle Zdlande ; Ocdanie.” It reached its destination in due course. Supposed Drowning at Sumner.— On Saturday afternoon, a young man named George Innis, an employe of Messrs Ballantyne and Co., was reported as having been drowned at Sumner. Messrs S. L. Bell and George Walker found his clothes, and also a Maori kit containing food and fruit. In his purse was 'a return ticket by Hayward’s ’bus and some cash. The clothes were found on the rocks about a mile below the town. After watching in vain for nearly an hour to see if any bather returned, they took the clothes to Patterson’s Hotel, and re ported the matter to the police. The un fortunate youth is a son of Mr George Innis, v'ho lives hear the Eastern Hotel, and it was known that he went to Sumner on Saturday for a trip. The clothes have been identified,, and there is but little doubt that the poor youth went into the water and was swept out by a wave.- Frees.

Still Another. —The prospectus <?f an other weekly “ society ” paper was issued in Wellington on Saturday. Ninety Bushels to the Acre. —Messrs Young and Smillie, Mosgiel, last week threshed a crop of wheat yielding ninety bushels to the acre. The Frozen Meat Industry.— At a meeting at Dunedin, on Saturday, it was definitely decided to form a company for tire export of frozen meat and other pro duce. The Accident on the Hawea. —The fireman named William Watson, who was injured by the machinery of the Hawea at Auckland, on Wednesday, died in the hospital on Saturday. Hard Times. —The Newcastle corres pondent of the Sydney Evening Net os states that the destitution there is appal ing. Many cases of actual want and star vation are occurring. A miner’s child lay for three days unburied, the parents being unable to afford a coffin or the funeral ex penses. Eventually a subscription among the poor neighbors was instituted, and the corpse was decently buried. The Maori “ Parliament.” —Chief Paul, of Orakei, has issued circulars convening the third Maori Parlia ment. Eighteen subjects are on the order paper, including the con fiscated lands. The Maoris are much annoyed by finding that the whole fore shore of Auckland harbor, even that opposite the native land, has been con ferred on the Harbor Board. Great pre parations are being made for the assembly.

Lecture. —A correspondent writes : A lecture on education was attempted in the Alford Forest main school on Tuesday evening last. There was a small attend ance, and after the lecturer, Mr. P. McGuire, had given his opening address, it was evident that the affair was to prove a failure. More than half the audience left the room in anything rather than an amiable mood at the disappointment. I send yon this paragraph hoping it may prove a warning to neighboring dis tricts. Being determined to squeeze all the sweetness out of the fleeting hour, several of the gentlemen were called upon te sing, and the rest of the evening was spent in harmony. Tho lecture was a complete collapse. The Duke on His Travels. —While the Duke of Manchester was travelling in Queensland, he was expected on a station, and a paddock was specially set apart for the horses of his expected retinue. His train, however, consisted only of himself and another, and by chance they rode up to this paddock and were turning their horses into it before going on to the station, when one of the men came up and asked what the sanguinary so and so did they mean by putting their bosses in there ? The Duke, with some hauteur, explained that he was the Duke of Man chester. “The Dook! the Dook! a pretty looking Dook you are ! Clar out quick, or I’ll bring the boss down on yez !” roared the bushman, who evidently thought a duke was not made of common clay. A Hint to Pugilists. —The Burlington Hawkeye gives the following parable as a hint to young men of a pugilistic turn : “ Don’t carry your pet hobby too far. Take note of the shoulders and legs of a man before you sass him. Out here on West Hill there is a goat that for three long years has butted everything and everybody the brood empire of Burlington could send, against him. He ate the circus posters before the paste was dry, and when the advan«e agent remon strated, the goat just stood up and crowded the rash man clean through the bill stand. Ho once upset a hay wagon, jammed his head through the end of a wood shed, and flattened Officer Hoefer up against’a brick house. And one day last week he wandered down into a saw mill, and butted the fly-wheel—only once. When be came down, his neck was bent. He couldn’t make a dent in a sack of meal now. Young men, be content with reasonable victories. Some day you, too, may run against a fly-wheel.”

Increase of Suicide in America.— Evidently (the New York Times says) suicide is steadily increasing in this country, especially in the large cities. This is partially owing, of course, to the rapid increase of population ; but, in dependent of that, the tendency to self destruction visibly and disproportionately grows. Many persons think that within a few years America will exceed all lands in this unfortunate regard, and others in deed hold that it has already reached the unhappy distinction. Whether it has or not cannot be positively ascertained, owing to the loose manner of collecting statistics in the United States. The newspapers show an alarming increase in this city—an increase far beyond that of the census. There are causes why suicide should be commoner here than in Europe ; notably, the higher nervous organisation of the people, the greater changes of cir cumstance, the more general proclivity to speculation, and the larger lack of per manent conditions. Race, climate, country, and social environment have much to do with self-murder, which has unquestionably been stimulated by modern civilisation, particularly by the intensity, artificiality, and feverishness of contemporaneous life.

A railway notice re fares, See., during time of the Oamaru races and St. Patrick’s Day fete at 'ltmaru, appears in another column. Mr W, H. Spackman’s offices have been removed to Canterbury .Chambers, Hereford street, Christchurch. Some persons have been obstructing the course of the Mount Harding creek, and a notice to the effect that they will be prosecuted appears to-day. Messrs Matson, Cox, and Co. advertise a sale of valuable building sites to take place at their sale-room, Ashburton, on the ist April. Grinding is suspended at the Wakanui mill for a few days, in consequence of the breaking of the axle of the .vater-wheel. A meeting of the creditors in the estate of Henry McCutcheon will be held at Mr Crisp's office on Friday next, at noon.

CABLE NEWS.

LATEST FROM EUROPE.

(Per Reuter's Agency.) The “ Claimant’s ” Appeal- London, March 11. The House of Lords has dismissed the appeal made on behalf of the con vict Thomas Castro alias Arthur Orton, against the judgment of the Court of Appeal in June last, in discharging the writ of error which it was sought to prove against the decision of the Court of Queen’s Bench in 1874 in awarding two successive sentences of penal servi tude on the two counts of the indict ment. The Armistice with the Boers. The fact of an armistice having been agreed to with the Boers in the Transvaal is receiving much adverse criticism in the Press, and in political and military circles. The impression having got abroad that the armistice was sought by the British, a complete disavowal of the statement that Sir Evelyn Wood had asked that hostilities should be suspended has been com municated to the Press by Mr Glad stone, who moreover states that although no definite information is to hand as to the exact circumstances which led to the armistice, he believes that the proposal for the same originated with President Brand of the Free State, who has for some time been using every endeavor to bring about peace. Mr Bradlangh. The Divisional Court at Westminster

has disallowed Mr Bradlaugh’s demur rer to the plaintiff’s reply to his plea in the action Clark v Bradlaugh, to re cover penalties of Lsoo each from de fendant for sitting and voting in the House of Commons without having first taken the oaths prescribed by the Act of 1866. Monetary and Commercial. Consols have risen and are now quoted at Adelaide wheat re main at 49s 6d in warehouse, and New Zealand, ex ship, at 455. Best Sydney copra, Li 5. Best Australian leather has declined to rid. The Wool Sales. At the wool sales to-day, 13,700 bales were offered. There was again a good demand. The Irish Arms Bill. In the House of Commons to-day the Irish Arms Bill was read a third time and passed* and transmitted to the House of Lords for consideration. A Costly War, It is announced that England pays five millions sterling to the Indian Go vernment as its share of the cost of the Afghan war. Appointment of Peace Commisioners* London, March 12. In the House of Commons to-day, the Right Hon W. E. Gladstone made a statement regarding the position of affairs in the Transvaal. He announced that, with a view to bring about a com plete cessation of hostilities and the permanent setdement of the difficulty, Peace Commissioners would be ap pointed in the Transvaal to undertake

negotiations with the Boers. Much Excited. Capetown, March 12. News to hand from the Orange Free State announces that the population is at the present time much excited over the state of affairs in the Transvaal, Likely to Agree. Constantinople, March 11. The negotiations which have been proceeding for the past three weeks between the Ambassadors of the Powers in this city and the Porte, with a view to determine the long-standing frontier dispute, are likely to have some result. It is now understood that there are signs that the Porte will be persuaded to agree to a conference for the settle ment of the Turko-Greek difficulty. To be Disbanded. Calcutta, March 11. Intelligence has been received from Afghanistan that the army corps which was despatched by the Ameer Abdul Rahman to Ghuznee last month as a precautionary measure against any movement on the part of Ayoub Khan, will now be disbanded, as the force is no longer required.

AUSTRALIAN.

{Per Neuter's Agency.) Murdered by Islanders. Sydney, To-day. The schooner Leslie has arrived from the Solomon Islands and reports that the master was murdered there by natives, and that a rumor was cuirent when she left that Captain Laurie, of the schooner Black Hawk, had also been murdered. Scarcity of Water. News from the Mount Brown dig gings states that the water there is ex hausted, and the population has shifted six miles. One man perished from exhaustion while proceeding to the field, and it is feared great loss of life will take place unless rain falls. Exhibition Awards. Melbourne, March 11. The following further Exhibition awards have been announced :—First order of merit—Robert Cleave (Inver cargill), P. Cunningham and Co. (Christchurch), J. Preston (Palmerston, Otago), and R. Wilkin and Co. (Christ church), for rye grasses ; E. H. (Christchurch), for linseed; Duncan and Son (Christchurch), for seeds and fescue. Second order of merit—E. H. Banks (Christchurch), Job Vile (Master ton), and W* Kelly (Papanui, Canter bury), for rye grasses; E. H. Banks (Christchurch), for buckwheat ;R. Wilkin and Co. (Christchurch), for cocksfoot. Third order of merit—Duncan and Son (Christchurch), for cocksfoot.

NEW ZEALAND.

(Per Press Association.) Maori Greviances. Auckland, To-day. The maoris have subscribed L 4,000 to cover costs of the Waitemata Hall, and to defray the costs of sending delegates to England, to lay before the Queen their grievances, which will be discussed at the approaching meeting at Orakei.

MURDER OF THE CZAR OF RUSSIA.

Blown to Atoms by the Explosion of a Bombshell. (By Cable.) St. Petersburg, March 13. The Czar of Russia was murdered to-day by the explosion of a bomb.

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT

ASHBURTON.—To-D at. (Before His Worship the Mayor.) ALLEGED FORGERY. James Scott, lately manager at the Chatmoss estate, was brought up charged with forging a receipt. Mr Ireland appeared for the accused, and asked for a remand until Saturday next, as the witnesses for the defence were not present. Sergeant Felton said that the case for the prosecution was at present in the hands of a firm of Christchurch solicitors, and the police had no objec tion to a remand. His Worship granted a remand until Saturday next, the 19th inst. Bail would be allowed as follows :—Two sureties of L 125 each, and the.accused in the sum of L 250.

Mount Somers Road Board .

The usual monthly meeting of this Board was held at the Road Board Office, Mount Somers, on Monday, Match 7th, 1881. Present—Messrs Walker, Taylor, Cameron, and Hood. In the absence of Mr Peach, Mr Walker was voted to- the Chair. NOTICE OF MOTION. The minutes of the last ordinary meet ing were read. With reference to the minutes passed at the February meeting, granting permission to Mr A. Ede to carry a .water race from Fergus stream across the road, subject to the approval of the Surveyor, Mr Taylor gave notice that he would move at the next ordinary meet ing—“ That the words the Surveyor to examine the pioposed water race and to use his discretion as to whether adjacent land owners will sustain any injury by Mr Ede’s request being granted, if he report favorably.” The Cleik was directed to send notice of the above motion to all the members seven days before the next meeting. surveyor's report. The Surveyor having been away on leave of absence, no report was presented. CORRESPONDENCE. The following correspondence was received: —

From the Ashburton County Council, forwarding amended accounts for Ash burton Bridges. The Clerk was directed to state that the balance owing by the Council to the Board is JL97 15s, aud if the Council would remit cheque for that amount, the Board will be obliged ; or if the Council prefers that each trans action should be paid for separately, to avoid a complication of accounts, the Council will forward a cheque for L 309 12s 3d, amount due for subsidy on Alford Bush Roads and half cost Taylor’s Stream Bridge connection, the Board will for ward their cheque for L2ll 17s 3d for balance on Ashburton bridges. From Messrs Branson and Parnell re accounts, &c., in McAvery’s case. From Messrs J. S. Bruce, re his account for preparing plans of a stable at Mount Somers in 1879. The Clerk was directed to inform Mr Bruce that the Board never authorised Mr Fraser (the late clerk) to order any plans to be prepared, as at that time they had not the slightest intention of putting up such a building. From Mr O’Reilly, on behalf of C. Sheppard’s trustees. The Clerk was in structed to acknowledge Mr O’Reilly’s letter, and direct the trustees to proceed with the contract at once, otherwise formal notice will be given them. From Mr William Cook asking the Board to allow his name to be struck out as co-partner in contract No. 35, Pro tective Works, Taylor’s Stream, and the name of A. Hewson in contract No. 34, Maintenance of Fords. Mr Hewson having consented to this arrangement, the Board decided to grant Mr Cook’s request. Mr Donald Forbes interviewed the Board with reference to his contract on Morrow’s road, and consented to carry out the work at once, provided the Board in flict no fine for his neglecting to carry out the work in the specified time, and also allow him to roll any boulders which can not be placed in a dray on to the side of the road. The Board consented to remit any One due, and to leave it to the surveyor’s discretion as to what stones can be left on the road. Mrs Hix interviewed the Board, and .re quested to be allowed to move into the cottage lately occupied by Carney, it being more habitable than the one she is at pre sent occupying.—Granted. THE PAT-SHEET, The pay-sheet amounting to LlO5 6s 4d having been passed for payment, the Board adjourned.

Living a Month with a Severed Head.

We have heard of the marvellous American cock which lived as well without its head as with it. Now we have the case of a man who has lived for more than a month with his head all but severed from the trunk, and this time the story is too well authenti cated to be disbelieved. The hero of it is a Frenchman, named Jules Rouchon. Recently some groans were heard proceeding from his lodgings in Paris, and when his neighbors broke open the door they found him stretched on the floor weltering in his blood, and his head almost detached from his body. He had intended to commit suicide, and with this object cut his throat with a razor. But he had failed to achieve his purpose, for still he breathed, and was conveyed to St. Antoine Hospital. To everyone’s amazement, he was stilPalive when he reached his destination, and, what is yet more surprising, he lived for more than a month after hfe entrance. His head was only held to the trunk by a thread, and the medical men who attended him consider the prolongation of his life during nearly five weeks as nothing less than phenomenal. Food was administered to him by means of a sort of funnel. During these weeks he survived he retained all his faculties, and seemed to be perfectly free from pain to the last, dying without a struggle. The body of this remarkable patient was handed over to the Faculty of Medicine for examination. —English Paper. ■■

THE WITCH OF WINDY HILL.

CHAPTER 111. “ Oh, richly fell the flaxen hair Over the maiden’s shoulders fair ! On erery feature of her face Sat radiant modesty and grace ; Her tender eyes were mild and bright, And through her robes of shadowy white The delicate outline of her form Shone like an iris through a storm. It was fair-day at the little town, or rather village, that lay nearest to Windy Hill. Fair-day, coming only once in the summer, was a great event in the neighborhood. All the girls, far and near, put on their best bravery and went off to the fair gaily, to have a pleasant day with their sweethearts, after business was over, and to be given presents or “fairings”—all but Mary Daly. Several young men had come and asked her to go, but she smilingly shook her head with a pretty refusing gesture at them all and stayed. Had her mother even been well, Mary did not care to go in Ryan’s absence to any gaiety; it was always fair-day to her only to think of him. But her mother, who had been ill since before Ryan’s absence, was not better, even rather worse that day, although the dumb girl knew it not; the mother being always anxious not to frighten her. Towards mid-day the Widow Daly called gently to her daughter, who was busy at some household work, and who was never far from the great straw chair in which the invalid dozed away her time. “ Mary dear,” she said, “ I am vexed, after all, that ye did not go to’ the fair and have a little fun like the other girls. For I see just now that my medicine-bottle is nearly empty, arid I would like to have it filled again before night.” Should she go still—and hurry;

dumb girl asked in eagetnessj' by expressive signs. “ Yes, dear, I wish you would go; apd ask the dbctor to stop and see me as he drives past the hill this afternoon —bul there is no need to hurry. Don’t go too quickly and lire yourself,” said the sick woman. And as Mary quickly put on her common straw bonnet and left the house,, the last words she heard was the affectionate entreaty again in her mother’s loving voice called “ Mind—there is no need to hurry, now, my dear one.” ’. • • ' * How could poor. there was need indegd,^ o *hs feared; that the message, about the medicine' was, j_qnly\ pretence in order to get the 'aocjrolV but above all things, the ■ 'loving ( Jplfre behind there feared frightening ■ the-® young creature, or that she anxiety qver-exert herself ? ’ less, in her eagerness to .get down to the village soon and -get the sooner . home again, Mary sped quiqldy'^feh^ fr the road. She had some fears.^or' the 1 dear good mother behind there, who

was half her world of- love,- Dennis ,r Ryan being the other half ; she was not very uneasy, but still a misgiving at times seized her. 1 ' The dumb girl walked so fast thatm little, more than an hour she was c105e. .../, to the village. Most of the people were already in the fair; still she now- - overtook one of the young men who* were reckoned among her, admirers,, and the best and truest among; thefbj John McConnell, theblacksmith,. On his surprised enquiryshe told, by r .^ 0 a few gestures, pointing homewards - and showing her medicine|bottle,|what she sought. Mary’s ways . were Indeed full of speech,, as Dennis said often. But for this) and the ex- '** treme beauty of her blue beseeching *;) eyes, and the raven’s-wing gloss of her dark hair, the dumb girl would have stood a poor chance among ; her niany/ rivals. Nevertheless, perhaps, xd&Wf the men may have thought,'with shidtfrcT; and caustic reasoning, that her affli(>’_ tion might be none to a husband, since Silence in woman is like spec chin man, " 1 ’ Deny’t who can. The crowd at the entrance to the T fair was so great that, naturally. enough/'. I MaryjDaly was glad when the black smith offered to escort .her safely through it.

Who should see them both together just then, however, hut, the carpenter's,— wife ! “ Ho,, ho ! ” thought the .crope,- “ so that young witch has come dowt( to the fair on the sly, after all, and is,, - f keeping company with John McCon- " nell while Ryan is away. And yet her mother said yesterday she nevercated' , to go anywhere till Dennis came back. , Wait now, if I don’t tell him !” , : - To Mary’s sorrow the doctor was found to be absent when she enquired ri ? at his door, and not expected back tillr the afternoon ; so what ; could be dbh£ ‘ *- but wait. McConnell tried to conafoyt- 3- her, saying she must only be patient,. and her mother would be none the worse for waiting, he was sure. 'And to spend the time he proposed that they niight just look into the show opposite. “ There’s a snake ladv who* :t ; charms three big J " them about her, and shure Sucfi a' 1 sight as a snake hasn’t been seen in Ireland’ since St. Patrick banished thef last big wan ! All the world is seeing her,” he. pleaded. Mary Daly was strongly tempted to see the great sight; and why not go ? She could ,do no good to her sick :! mother by keeping away from it. - , -, f So they, too, joined the crowd, when the carpenter’s wife spied them again, and followed them close to see whatj. fun they werd after. •- > - f)\ | The afternoon came on, and lfye pef- t v formance was just, ended,* when agig‘ | drove by. It was that of, the doctpr I i\x and on seeing Mary he stopped his horse, while she came up eagerly toasJfj him, by signs, for the physic. “ Go home, my poor girl, -as fast-tHf®*** you can,” said the doctor,} Lf?‘ lJe¥W mind the medicine. As I- drove by the— Windy Hill an hour ago I went up to see your mother, and found her very ill. Hurry back to see hefj ■there’fr'St s '.y good lass ; it’s all ye can do."’ “She’s dyin’, and ye’ve left her’lone. Shame on ye—shame upon ye,”, cried the carpenter’s wife, who was standing by. But Mary seemed hot to hear the f_-_ cruel, thoughtless words. only at the doctor’s face,' and gave a * /’ strange hoarse cry —the cry of a dumb person —then turned and ran- /vIA She heard calls behind and noises* .. r but she never stopped. , . On and on swiftly, out into the 1 ' 1 country by the steep path up young Mary sped. Thunder muttered in the distance; then a stbrixi came orf. : McConnell had foreseen this, andht asked leave to go with-Jier; now he

followed but lost sight of her at tunes . in the hills, for this track was seldom used, being dangerous froth' shaking bogs. Sometimes, bewildered, the dumb girl got among these, and had to jump from grass tussock to tussock, but her steps seemed guided by some — blessed higher Power. Slipping, ing, wet to the skin, she yet ran : 6ri < under the driving deluge, that seemed; as if it would beat to tlie ground this young thing that defied it. Jagge4 lightnings leaped down before her,, | thunder crashed through the dun sky above her head; but the terror in her mind was worse —far more awful! . . . r Would her darling, her blessed mother, be living? Would-she- hSU *-“f speak —still know her ? rrt Now Mary dragged her way by the | ’ water ditches in Ryan’s meadows, |he ** only living creature to be seen out mi. that wild weather. The Hill rose ) before her, and she tried to climb it, and twice fell flat with her face in tbp , wet grass, with exhaustion, and ;. again rose and clenched her teeth and I • t caught by bushes and branches to help herself along by the lee of the. steep hedge. At last she reached the cottage/ and stumbled wildly in over the / threshold. ; All was dark and very silent ' * *•' She gave a loving litde.dutolr.) and stopped panting. No other sound ! • Then she crept over like atJiief to' the straw arm-chajr, seeing tier mother’s figure in it; felt in the half darkness fdrfjP her hands; put her , ftthefc..J. r : quiet face. Her ■ mother wasisitting*. h dead 1 : ' r; Ah ! silent misery, r voiceless, ? dumb despair! That night, wbga the stdrrii ->• clouds rolled shone out, it looked upon a desperate . *

THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN, MONDAY, MARCH 14, 1881.



Late Advertisements. TCTOTICE TO EXHIBITORS AND iM ;; . OTHERS. - Mr Grant, Secretary to the Dunedin Industrial Exhibition, will ATTEND the. to receive. the instructions of any who may desire to FORWARD either their Ashburton ex hibits dr'othere to the Dunedin Industrial Exhibition, to be held in June and July 1881. , >;r Meanwhile, Mr Pdyntz will kindly supply necessary information re the Dunedin Exhibition. 342 a £ A SHBXJRTON KILWINNING jtV. ROYAL ARCH, S.O. at ’ i 242# w By order of the M.E.Z. J



By order of the M.E.Z.



Wanted. WANTED^— For Mrs Cape-Williamson, Newland School, a GIRL about fourteen, to assist in housework. Apply to Mrs Cabstens, Burnett street 341 a WASTED —A smart LAD, about 13 or 14 years of age, as an appren tice. Apply, Office of this Paper. WANTED— A Family’s WASHING. Apply, Office of this paper. 178 a ANTED to PURCHASE—BONES, in any quantities. Apply, Mayo and Hunt, Beach road. 130 a WANTED TO SELL Twenty-five SECTIONS, Wakanui Road. Apply to Patching, Tent-maker, East Street. 898 -ITT ANTED KNOWN That the W undersigned is now landing 100,000 feet Best Union KAURI, ex Aratapu,from Kaipara. Joshua Tucker, next Jameson and Roberts, Ashburton. 302 a WANTED KNOWN, That HENRY’S PORTRAIT ROOMS, Saundbrs’ Buildings, East street, Ash burton, are Open DAILY, from 9 a.m. till 5 p.m. Portraits taken _in any weather. Great Reduction in Price. 101 a WANTED TO SELL PIANOS. H. J. WEEKS, Teacher of Music, Tuner, &c., has for sale the following Secondhand Piano fortes : 1 full-sized Brinsmead, £45 j'Bord, £25; Broad wood, £26 ; also, American Organ, 5 stops, £3O; 1 Church Harmonium 14 stops, £3O, a bargain. Pianofortes of any kind can be obtained on deferred pay ments. Address: Cameron street west. 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. _____ ANTED KNOWN. Ashburton W REGISTRY OFFICE for Male and Female Servants.— L. F. Andre WES 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. Andrewes, Labor Book seller, and Stationer, East street, South. 208 a



WANTED KNOWN. SOMERSET LIVERY AND BAIT STABLES. JW. M'RAE begs to inform the , public that he has taken the above Stables from Mr. Bossenberg, and is making extensive repairs. Buggies and saddle horses on hire. Lowest prices and best attention. 852 IITANTED KNOWN—That Visiting vv Cards, plain or mourning, can be obtained printed in various styles, at the “Guardian’’ office, opposite the Railway Station. Special Advertisements- Commercial and fancy STATIONERY. The Undersigned has opened up a NEW ASSORTMENT of the above. Cream, Blue, and Hand - mad© Notepapers; Ruled, Plain, Fancy, and Repp ditto. Good Business Envelopes, No. 7, Court, Albert, Queen, Tinted, Repp, and others. Pens GJlott’a, Mitchell’s, Brandauer and Co.’s Inks —Stephen’s Blue Black, Walkden’s Black and Colored, Antonine, Copying, &c. Workboxes, Albums, Books, &c. JL J. . J-TO. . W W J- 1 9 STATIONERY AND FANCY GOODS East Street and Baring Square. O T I C E. Fresh arrangements having been made in connection with the “ Ashburton Guardian,” taking effect from the Ist of March instant, I have to request that all Debts owing to me as Proprietor of the said Newspaper on the 28th February ultimo, be paid to Mr S. Saunders, on my behalf. All Debts now accruing to the Proprietor of the “Guardian” will be payable to Mr W. EL Zouch. Dated this first day of March, 1881. 251 a MAX FRIEDLANDER. H. M. JONES DEPOT, 710



N o T E. Persona-willing to LEND the Exhibi tion Committee the use of GLASS CASES during the Exhihtion, for the better preservation of perishable articles, are requested to communicate at once with the undersigned. STEPHEN E. POYNTZ, 280 a Hon. Sec.



HE BEST VALUE MEN’S AND BOYS’ CLOTHING Clothing Factory, Which can be purchased at their Retail Branches, now established all over New Zealand. The Garments are thoroughly shrunk. The Fit and Style are perfect. The Workmanship is equal to bespoke. : The Trimmings are of superior quality and strength. The Tweeds are of the very beat de scription. The Stock is the largest in the Southern Hemisphere. The "tall, short, lean, and stout, can be equally well fitted. The Goods are all marked in plain figures. • The system of business is to exchange ' every article that does not give satisfac tion. . And, in addition to all these advantages, you can purchase A SINGLE GARMENT AT THE WHOLESALE PRICE. Mercery, Hats, Shirts, Ties, Scarves, Bags, Foremanteaux, Rugs, and Blankets, at Wholesale Prices. Thousands of the discerning customers testify that the New Zealand Clothing Factory’s Garments are the Very Best Value for Ready Money. FOR READY MONEY IS THE MANUFACTURED BY THE NEW ZEALAND Ashburton Branch : * EAST STREET. WM. SPARROW, , Manager. rnftlS GUARDIAN is on every Tea JL Table in Ashburton.



Special Advertisements. SHBU 11 T O IST M'V SEUM. All persons, and particularly exhibitors at the forthcoming Exhibition, who feel disposed to ASSIST in establishing a MUSEUM in Ashburton, are respectfully informed that the Committee of the Library have generously consented to appropriate a room for that purpose. Any willing to give Specimens, Works of Art, &c., will kindly communicate with the undersigned as early as possible. STEPHEN E. POYNTZ, 293 a Hon. Sec. Industrial Exhibition. O. Garstens & Co., (Late Weston’s), PROSPECT BUILDINGS, Tobacconist, fancy goods, AND STATIONERY. Meerschaum Pipes, G.B.D. Pipes Nailrod, Twist, and Vanity Fair Tobacco A nice assortment of Accordions, Con certinas, Flutes, Violins, Mouth Organs, and Toys of every description, direct from Home. flaircutting, Shaving and Shampooing. EAST STREET, ASHBURTON. 527a* J. Sherriff, Monumental mason, Manchester street south, and Bar badoes street (near the Cemetery). A large Stock of Head-Stones, Tombs and Monuments always on hand. Designs for warded on application. 323 a - 1 5 E Miss Verrall Wishes to inform the Ladies of Ashbur ton and the surrounding districts that she will be at ASHBURTON the THREE DAYS of the EXHIBITION to take orders and measures for Ladies requiring Stays, Corsets, Belts, and Shoulder Straps, &c. A case of these several articles will be at the Exhibition, of Miss Verrall’s own make. For any information required apply to Mr. Thiele, Baker and Confec tioner, where Miss Verrall will be in at tendance. COLOMBO STREET (Oposite Cookham House), Christchurch. March 10, 1881. 324 a jyjTR W. H. SPACEMAN’S Offices are now in Canterbury Chambers, Here ford street, Christchurch, next Miles and Co., having REMOVED from Messrs Wynn, Williams, and Deacon’s. 335 a



Holloway’s Ointment and Pills.— Diseases of the skin, .ringworm, scurvy, aundice, scrofula or king’s evil, sore heads, and the most inveterate skin disease to which the human frame is subject, cannot be treated with a more safe and certain remedy than Holloway’s Ointment and Pills, which act so perculiarly on the constitution and so purify the blood, that these diseases are at once eradicated from the system, and a lasting cure obtained. They are equally efficacious in the cure of tumors, bums,- scalds, glandular swellings, ulcerous wounds, rheumatism, contracted and stiff joints. These medicines operate mildly and surely. •' The cures effected by them are not temporary or apparent only, but complete and permanent.