SHIPPING.

PORT OP LYTTELTON. Arrived. Yesterday. Menuack, barque, from Newcastle. Sailed. Yesterday. Star of the South, for Wellington and West Coast. Island City, barque, for Newcastle. Prince Alfred, barqueutine, for Pelorus Sound.

SHIPPING TELEGRAMS. Auckland, Yesterday. Sailed Rotoinahana, for Sydney ; .Myrtle, for Friendly Islands. Arrived—The ship Sydenham, from tidndon, with 100 passengers ; all well. To-day. Arrived—Tc Anau, from Sydney. Wellington, Yesterday. Arrived— Sancy Lass, schooner, from Lyttelton ; Romeo, barque, from New York, via Port Chalmers ; Stag, barque, from Kaipara. Port Chalmers, Yesterday. Arrived—Rotorua, Rom Melbourne, via Bluff. ; To-day. ..> Sailed—Rotorua, s.s., for Lyttelton.

MAIL NOTICES.

Mails close at the Chief Post Office, Christchurch, for the following places (subject to necessary alterations) as under T ' Thursday, March 24. For Northern Ports, per Rotorua, at 1.40 p.m.; late fee letters, 2 p.m.; guard’s van, 2.30 p.m. train. Saturday, March 26. 'For United Kingdom, via San Fran cisco, Continents of Europe and America, West Indies, Sandwich Islands, Northern Ports of New Zealand, &c., per Wanaka, as follows: —Ordinary letters at 6.30 p.m. ; late fee letters at 7 p.m. ; books ! and- newspapers, at 6 p. in. ; registered letters, at 5 p.m. ; money orders at 3 -p;m. ; guard’s van, 8.30p.m. train. This mail will be due in London on May 10th.

Mails close at the Ashburton Post Office, as follows: — r For Christchurch and North at 5.30 a. m. 10 a.m., and 5 p.m., daily. For Chertsey Rakaia, &c., at 10 a.m. and 5 p. m. dailj-. For Dunedin, Tinwald, Winslow, Hinds, Coldstream, Rangitata, Orari, Winchester, and Geraldine, at 10 a.ra. dailj'. For Temuka, at 6 a.m. and 10 a.m., daily. • • For Timaru and South, at 6 a.m., 10 a,m., and 420 p.m,, daily. For Greenstreet, Ashburton Forks, Mount Somers, and Ashburton Gorge, on: Tuesdays and Fridays, at 10.30 a m. ,For Ashton, Waterton and Longbeach, .. 430 p.m. daily. : For Wakanui, F.lgin, Seafield, New land, and Kyle, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, at Gam.

Mails arrive at the Ashburton Post [Office 5 From Christchurch and Rakaia at 10.25 - «.m., 435 p-m., and 7.50 p. m. From Chertsey, &c. at 10.25 a.m. daily. Prom Dunedin and intermediate places at 5,35 p.m. dailj'. Freni Temuka and Timaru at 10.15 am. 5.55 p/ni,, and 8.15 p.m. dailj'. ' From’Greenstreet, Ashburton Forks, Mount Somers, and Ashburton Gorge on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 3 p.m. From Ashton, Waterton, and Long beach at 10 a ini daily. From Elgin, Wakanui, Seafield, How land, and Kyle, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, ■ and Saturdays, at 4 p. m.

DAILY MEMORANDA.

. T , AUCTION SALES. , ! . Monday, March 23. ' Mr,' W. J. G. Bluett, at the Homestead, . Elgin—Live and Dead Stock, &c.; 12 : o’clock, ' ; Friday, April 1. ' Itfalsdn, Cox, and Co. , at their salerooms, Asliblirtou—Building Sites ; 1 p. in. ' Matson, Cox, and Co., at their rooms, b 'Ashburton—Valuable Freehold Farm, : in the Hinds district; 12 o’clock. - MEETINGS, AMUSEMENTS, &c. / To -MORROW', ' ' Thursday, March 24, . parade Ashburton Rifle Volunteers, with , ’ Band, at 12 noon sharp. Ashburton Industrial Exhibition, Town Hall. ’ ’ Friday, March 25. 5 Tinwald Races and Sports—Committee jASleeting. Scott’s Hotel, 7 p.m. ;/ ‘ TuESbAY, March 29. ,'Asnt>iirt()n Racing Club—General Meet : , ; ih^,‘Qdill’s Hotel, 4 p.m. , ; Thursday, March 31. ' Ashburton, Libtaiy—Annual Meeting of t Subscribers, in the Library, 8 p.m. , . .. ' Wednesday, April C. rGoiWy Council, at the County Council ■ n \ Chambers, at ll o’clock.

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prevalebit WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23, 1881.

TOWN EDITION. [lamed at 4 p. m. J

Tub Next Mail for England. —The outward San Francisco mail will close at Ashburton on Saturdaj' morning, at ten o’clock. A supplementary mail will be despatched per express train, and close at five p.m. Late fee letters may bo posted in tlie mail van up to the time of its de parture for Christchurch. Colonel Whitmore. —This gentleman left Auckland for Sydney by the s.s. Rotomahana yesterday. Coal Discovery. —Mr Claud Moeller, who is prospecting Crown lands at Whan garoa, Auckland, announces the discovery of a valuable scam of coal there. The Kelly Reward. The Kelly Board have classified the various claims before them, and it has transpired that the capture of the Kellj's was not the result of any information given to the police, and consequently the whole LB,OOO should be distributed among Hie ten con cerned at Glenrowan. Melbourne Exhibition Catalooue.— We have lo acknowledge the receipt of the Melbourne official catalogue, of the International Exhibition. The work is a most interesting one, containing, as it does, an immense amount of valuable in formation, as well as a most complete catalogue of exhibits.

Sir Arthur Gordon. —The Governor left Queenstown yesterday morning, and reached Dunedin at half past five o’clock. He attends the Caledonian Sports at Dun edin to-daj', and will reach Timaru this evening, stopping there over night. He then proceeds to Ashburton by train, and will open the Exhibition at noon to morrow.

Bokouuh Address to Sir Arthur Gordon. —Tho address to bo given by the Borough Council to his Excellency tho Governor to-morrow has been beautifully engrossed and illuminated by Mr A. Harrison. Air. G. F. Henry, photo grapher, Saunders’ Buildings, has managed to take an excellent photograph of the ad dress, which will be on view at the In dustrial Exhibition.

Ashburton Rifle Rance.- The follow ing description of the land reserved for the Ashburton rifle range is gazetted “ All that parcel of land in the Wcsterfiold Sur vey District, Provincial District of Can terbury, containing 38 acres, more or less. Bounded—North-eastward hy the north branch of the River Ashburton ; South eastward hy Section No 0503 ; North westward by Section 0501; and South westward by the road running through the last-mentioned section ; and numbered 2490 (in red) on the ofiicial map in the Survey Office, Christchurch. For a rifle range.

The Recent Balloon Accident.— The accident which befell Lestrange’s balloon was productive of more serious consequences than was generally known. At tho time when the balloon burst a lady named Mrs Hawke and her daughter were standing on tho verandah within a few yards of where it exploded. It knocked liar down with great force, and on being picked up and taken inside it was found that Mrs Hawke, who is an elderly lady, was severely burnt on the face, the skin of the right side being charred and tho eye so severely injured that it is not ex pected she will recover her sight. Miss Hawke was slightly burned, but suffered most from the shock to her system.

The Maori “Parliament.” —At tiro Orakei Maori Parliament on Monday, Paul repeated that lie thought tho doings of To Whiti must eventually do them good. -Ho ended his address by saying that his desire was not to make laws, but rather to bring the grievances of natives before the House of Representatives at Wellington. A proposal was made to send ,a representative to England, but finally a motion by Mete King! to let it rest with the chairman was carried. A complaint was made hy a Waikato chief that Government had taken his lands, though he had remained loyal. The meeting passed a resolution condemning the conduct of Government in confiscat ing the lands of loyal natives. The fifth item referred to the fisheries and pipi banks, but a letter being read assuring all present that the matter was now in Judge Fenton’s hands, this was passed over. Tho sixth item was in reference to Land Courts. It was resolved that the native meetings should first bo hold and their sales be sent to tho Native Land Court. The seventh item was in reference to Maori members. It was unanimously agreed that the Maori members did more harm than good, and ought not to be sent to Wellington. The Chairman, in passing the next item, said :—-“ We are passing this-motion to cease selling lands, and be fore long wo shall want to sell. What are we to do ! I say, let anyone sell that thinks proper.” The item was carried unanimously. There were 130 natives present. The Mormon elders attended tho meeting, and attempted unsuccessfully to proselytise the H^tjyes,

Novel Bee Swat.ming.--A novel way of catching a swarm of bees was unin tentionally tiicd at Decatur, Miob., the other day, by a young man who is not likely to repeat the experiment if ho can help it. 11 c ran towards the swarm with a green bough in Iris hand, over which the queen bee poised, and then alighted upon his luit. In a twinkling the others fol lowed and completely covered him, being so closely knitted toge f her that ho could scarcely breathe. A box was procured, the man’s head stuck into it, and the swarm finally worked off and hived.

Another Catastrophe in a Circus. —A theatrical contributor in a southern con temporary writes;—Yet another fearful cat astrophe during a circus performance. The latest victim is Elijah Lcngel, of Phil adelphia, known as “ the lion-tamer of the Cherlsoy Circus.” 11c had given a suc cessful exhibition in the tigers’ cage before a numcrus audience, and was preparing to leave the cage when his foot slipped and he fell. One of the tigers throw itself upon him witli a roar, and in five minutes had torn the body literally to pieces. Some of the spectators had revolvers, and they fired at once upon the animal. A lucky shot killed him, and Lengol’s body could bo withdrawn through the sliding door, but at this moment the other tiger threw itself itself upon the one that had been shot, and began tearing it witli teeth and claws. One can readily believe that the horror of the scene put most of the spectators to immediate flight.

J. Hern, Manchester anti Team si reels, Christchurch, advertises a patent. washer, wrlaeer. and man dm. fa: 1.8 ios.

Tenders arc invited far the ereelh-.n of a eoltaije near Uainihrae railway sUllati, Two heifers were impa,.tided Ashlmrlan oil the 13th inst. Fried lander liras, wain il known that ihev arc now opening up a large assortment of ulsters and jackets.

CABLE NEWS.

LATEST FROM EUROPE

[Pa Renta's Agency.) Th« Wool Sales. London, March 19. At the wool sales to-day 4,000 bales were catalogued. Prices generally ruled from 10 to 15 per cent, higher. The South Sea Massacres. March 21. It has transpired that Sir Arthur Gordon and Commodore 'Wilson have communicated with the Secretary of State for the Colonics regarding the report of the Intercolonial Conference on the subject of the South Sea Island massacres, and the powers of the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific. Their letters reply warmly to the com ments of the report, which Commodore Wilson characterises as a scurrilous libel. The Commons. In the House of Commons to-day, the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone an nounced that he would make his Budget statement on the 4th proximo, and that he would introduce his Irish Land Bill on the following Thursday, the 7th. He further stated that the House would adjourn for the Easter recess on the Bth April.

AUSTRALIAN.

(Per Renters Agency.) Declaration of the Awards. Melhocune, March 22. The ceremony arranged for the official declaration of the awards took place at the Exhibition building to-day. The day was a public holiday, and there was a parade of Volunteers. Crowds of people were in the streets, and 20,000 persons visited the Exhibi tion. The weather was very hot. The address of the Commissioners an nounced that 6,941 awards in all had been made, exclusive of 581 honorable mentions. New Zealand holds a good position in the lists, with 341 awards, which were formally received by Mr John Blackwood on behalf of exhibitors from that colony. The whole cere mony passed off with aiat.

NEW ZEALAND

(Fir Pre-vi A.ixucinHuu.) A Successful Appeal. Auckland, To-day. In the appeal by the National Bank against the decision of the District Conit, at New Plymouth, Mr Justice Richmond disallowed the appeal, with costs. Railway Extension in the North. Waxuamt. To day. The extension of the railway lino from Waitotara to Wavcrley was opened on Tuesday. A public banquet was held in the afternoon, at which Mr Bryce and Mr Ball mcc, M. H. 11, ’s for the district, were present. Strong opinions in favom of the line being continued northward wore expressed by all parties. Selling a Wharf. Wm. i. inoa on , To - day. At a special meeting of the City Council, it was decided to accept the offer of the Harbor Board to pnrclnre the Queen’s "Wharf for the sum ot LG4,000. Committed for Trial. Tjmaku, To-day. William Gardner, charged, on re mand, with a robbery from Hamil ton’s boarding house, was committed for trial to-daj*. Sports. Bcxedix, To-day. Fully 4,000 people are present at the Caledonian sports in honor of the Go vernor. The weather is glorious. The Volunteer Capitation. A deputation of Volunteer officers waited on the Hon. the I'rcmior, and brought under his notice the injustice done the corps by the sudden stoppage of the capitation allowance. Mr Hall re plied that ho would consider the matter, but refused to pledge himself as to what the Government would do.

NEWS BY THE SUEZ MAIL.

[l’uu Tb Anau at Tlusselt,.] Loxoon, Feb, 11. The Marquis of Hartington lias de clared that the disclosures in the corres pondence with regard to the seizure of Cabul will not affect the resolution of the Government to abandon Candahar. The House of Commons, which as sembled at 4 o’clock on the 3isfc January, continued tiro debate on the motion of Mr Foster for leave to intro duce the Coercion Pill. They-sat unin terruptedly through the night of the Slst, all through the first, and daring the night of the Ist until 9.30 on the morning of the ‘2nd February, when the discussion was peremptorily closed by the Speaker. The Speaker pointed out crisis had arrived demanding prompt decision on the part of the chair, as the rules of the House proved powerless to ensure tire or dinary effect, and a debate on an impor tant, urgent measure was arrested by a considerable minority of members, which resorted to modes of obstruction recog nised by the House as Parliamentary. An offence against the dignity, credit and au thority of the Mouse had been seriously threatened, and it was necessary to vindi cate shorn. The .Speaker, therefore, de clined calling upon any more member,-',. The Speaker proceeded to put fho ques tion ,o the House. An amendment by Mr 1 <yons, demanding precedence for re medial legislation, was thereupon noga

tivecl by IG4 against lb. Tho Speaker i proceeded to put tho question that leave t be given to introduce the Bill, whereupon the Irish members rose to their feet, and shouted “privilege” during several minutes amidst unparalled uproar. The Irish members finally' left the House in a body. Mr Forster brought in tho Bill amidst cheering, and the first reading was passed. Mr Gladstone then gave notice of motion that if upon notice being given that tho state of busi ness was urgent, and if, on a call by the Speaker, forty’ members should support the demand for urgency by rising in their places, the Speaker shall forthwith put the question without debate, Mr. Gladstone was proceeding to address the House in support of tiio motion when ho was inter rupted by Mr Dillon, who, disregarding the order of the Speaker to resume his seat, was named and suspended. On de clining to leave tho House ho was removed by tho Sergeant-at-Arms. Mr Parnell, pursuing a similar course, was suspended, and was expelled by a .subsequent vote. Immediately 7 following this, two Parnell ites were ejected for refusing to leave the House when a division was called for by Mr Gladstone. The resolution was them adopted. Tho proceedings occupied four hours. Mr Gladstone afterwards made an eloquent and impassioned speech, one of his greatest oratorical efforts, deploring the necessity for now rules, the adoption of which had become a question of honor or dishonor, life or death for the House. The Government accepted the amend ment of Sir S. Northcote, that a Crown Minister ho required to state reasons for “ urgency’” of debate. The second read ing of the Bill occupied five sittings. They terminated on the Bth, when the second reading was passed by do!) to SG. The debate in Committee is still proceeding. Tho Speaker has laid on the table now rules for the bettor conduct of public business. They are stringent, and will effectually’ kill obstruction in the future. They introduce the foreign system of cloture on certain conditions, enabling tho Speaker to silence members guilty of con tinued irrovelance and tedious repetition. The Chilian conditions of peace are stated to be the cession of Antifagosta and surrounding districts, the surrender of the allied fleet, the payment of a war indem nity of Ld0,000,000, Peru to contribute L 20,000,000 and Bolivia L 10,000,000. Until full payment of the indemnity Chili to occupy the Callao works on its own account, the guano deposits and copper and saltpetre mines after a six years’ lease. Bombay, Feb. 25. The embarkation of rhe 14th Hussars for Natal, which was to have taken place to-day, was countermanded, pending further orders.

No steps have been taken towords the evacuation of Candahar, but a largo convoy with ammunition is reported to have loft by Candahar for Quetta recently. The census was taken throughout India on the 17th inst., and passed off very quietly.

WILFUL FIRE RAISING.

Nice Witnesses. [i;y thi.kcrai'H.] Dux el> Ix, T o- d ay. A coroner’s inquest was held yesterday at Port Chalmers touching the suspicious lire at Mansford Bay on the sth inst. The next-door neighbors swore that on the evening of the lire they heard noises in the house, as of people jump ing off a form or table, and saw a light in the parlor, where the lire broke out. Other witnesses swore that a boy named Martin M'Mahon declared to them that Pearce, the owner of the house, offered him LlO to fire the house. M'Mahou was somewhat intoxicated at the time. George Moir in his evidence said that on Feb. 21, while on the bed, ho was with M‘Mahon, who was drunk. M‘Mai ion wanted him to go mates, as ho had been offered LlO to burn a homo ; but he (M‘Mahor) intended to try to get Llo. Witness gathered the house was Pearce’s. He thought it was only the beer talking. Said, while ho was in the hospital, that he would burn any house down in those hard times for LlO. M’Mahon iu his evidence said he made the statements when drunk. He was very sorry. He know' nothing of the fire. Pearce never mooted to him to set lire to the house, but he mooted the matter to Pearce. “ That's an honest confession,” added the witness. Tlie Coroner: “You have cither wilfully perjured yourself or endeavoured to set up a theory which is very improbable—that you were so drunk as to be under an hallucination, and you quite fail to clear Pearce. You are one of tlie worst and most discredit aide witnesses that ever came into a Court.” Two witnesses swore that M’Mahon was not under the influence of drink when he made the statements. Pearce denied ever having a conversation with M‘Mahon. Ho and his family were away from the house on the night of the tiro.” The jury returned a verdict that the house was wilfully fired by some persons unknown, and that the evidence of M‘Mahon and Moir was very unsatis factory.

SPORTING.

GREmOUTH~J.C. RACES. G k kv.MouTii, Yosterday. The racing to-day was as successful us yesterday, and the events were well con tested throughout. Goldfields’ Haniucai’ of 73 sovs, 1| miles—Hero, 1 ; Elfm Ring, 2 ; York, 13. Handicap Hubiii.h Race of JO sovs, 2 miles- Kensington, I ; Whalebone, 2 ; Maori Girl, J Grey Valley Stakes (Handicap)— York, 1; Greyhound, 2 ; Ellin Ring, 3. There were nine entries, but The Field, The Tout, Warrigal, a id Rensingtou were scratched. The race was closely con tested. GREAT AUTUMN HANDICAP.

ELGIN SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

The adjourned annual meeting of house holders was held in the schoolhouac on Monday evening last. There was a good at tendauc.-. On the motion of Mr P. limes, seconded by.Mr S. Pcott, Mr J. S. Bruce was voted to the chair. The chair man read the minutes of the last annual

meeting, which were confirmed. He then road the following annual report :

On ihc I2th May last, Mr I’roudlock, for merly of Weedon School, was nominated master for this district by the Committee, and he took office on the 17th June. The Com mittee further nominated Mrs Biottdlock as sewing mistress on the 28th June, and she was duly appointed by the Board of Education. About the end of July, the Government esta blished a post-office at the schnolhouse. In August there were 45 children on the register. The school site lias been planted, a new well sunk, a gymnasium eroe'ed, and blinds pro vided to tho schoolhousc. The September quarter’s return shows 58 children belonging to the schcol, hut since that date there has been a seriou 1 falling-off in the attendance. In accordance with sections 82 and 103 of the Education Act, the accounts of the Committee for the year ending 31st December have been audited lay the auditor appointed by the Com mittee, and collided to as being correct. The Committee is of opinion that clause 64 of the Education Act requires to he altered as fol lows ‘-On the fourth Monday in the month of [amiary in each year,’’ shall read— “On the first Monday in (he month of April in each year.” Further, that cumulative voting at elections he done away with, and that clause 65 shall he in substance ns follows: —-“At every election ol a school committee every voter shall be entitled to one vote, which he may give to one or more of the candidates, as he thinks lit, up to the number ofthe committee to be elected. -J. Stam.kv Bruck, Chair man.

Air Aml row Botham moved, Mr P. Imios seconded, that the report as read bo ad >ptcd. Tho chairman then read the principal clauses in the Education Act in reference to election of committees, and called upon the electors present to nomi nate candidates. The following gentle men were then duly nominated :—Messrs Botham, Thomas Holmes, Samuel Scott, James Skillcn, Peter Tunes, John Keir, Henry Moffatt, John Cochrane, and J. S. Bruce. A poll being demanded, the same was taken strictly in accordance with the ballot, and resulted as follows :—J. S. Bruce, 21; John Cochrane, 12; A. Botham, 9 ; Thomas Holmes, 9 ; James Skillcn, 7 ; Peter Bines, G ; Henry Moffatt, 5 ; John Keir, 4 ; Samuel Scott, 4. The chairman then declared the first named five duly elected members of the Elgin School Commilteo. A Committee meeting was then hold, tit which Mr J. S.

Bruce was re-elected Chairman for the ensuing year.

OUR SYDNEY LETTER.

(From our own, Correspondent.) Sydney, March 12. The opposition co some of the votes on the Estimates has been the means of keeping the Assembly sitting till 3 a.m. for three nights this week, whilst the fourth found the Speaker in the chair at n o’clock. The first vote questioned was that of L 17,000, the amount of the award to the Milburn Creek Copper Mining Company, of which the Minister of Mines was one sixth shareholder. The land had been selected by two parties, and a former Minister of Mines put the Milburn Creek Company into possession despite the recommendation to the contrary of the District Surveyor. Three years’ work’resulted in the production of Li 4,000 worth of ore, and the Supreme Court unanimously ejected the Govern ment Jtrotegcs. The Company then petitioned the House, and a Select Committee was appointed, the report of which contained a recommendation of the claim to the favorable consideration of the Government. Ministers main tained that no other course was open to them but arbitration, whilst it was contended by many of their ordinary supporters that if any compensation were given it should be to the rightful owners of the mine, who had been deprived of 1.14,000 of their property. The item was at last carried upon divi sion. The immigration vote was another knotty point. The Govern ment proposed to reduce the sum from 1.75.000 to 1.50,000, which sum dis tributed upon the new system of half contribution would bring in about 7.000 persons to the colony. The vote was persistently opposed by the repre sentatives from the Murray districts, who averred that assisted immigration was only maintained in the interests of capitalists. The arguments raised against the system were strong, and if it had not been for a splendid speech made by Sir Henry Parkes, in which he asserted that the country could never become a great nation without.popula tion, he would probably have had to submit to a greater reduction in his estimate than L 10,000. The Govern ment propose to finish one or two Bills now in progress and then adjourn till June.

Seldom has Sydney been visited by a succession of such storms as those which raged during this week. On Wednesday morning a thunderstorm came up from the south west ; the lightning was very vivid, hut the rain fall was not great. Soon after i o’clock in the afternoon one of the most singular hailstorms ever seen in the metropolis fell. The hailstones were very large, and of an irregular shape. The largest that was measured at the Observatory was indies and weighed of an oz Several horses bolted in thc public streets, the driver of one of the vehicles having his face cut open by a hailstone. At Chippen dale, a child was swept away by the the flood waters in the street, and the body has not yet been recovered. Our new public offices are nearly finished, and when completed they will not be surpassed by any other buildings in the Southern Hemisphere. 1.6000 is the cost of the furniture and fittings in the offices of the Colonial Secretary and Minister of Public Works. At least such is the estimate of a con temporary, and as a further instance of Democratic luxuriance in this colony, I may quote a comment to the effect tint the four-poster upon which our stately Premier, Sir Henry Parkes, deigns occasionally to snore cost no less a sum than L2OO. For my part I do not grumble, being Templaristic in my ordinary life, my share of the amount is very small. Pmt if this course of life aids our worthy Premier, why not our other members ? Imagine what a grand thing it would be for the colony if such members as M'Elhone and Buchanan could he induced to retire early by the aluremcnts of a princely bed, or in other words, “to sleep more and talk less.” A coroner’s inquest has been held on the body of Miss Charlotte Fanny Bray, the young lady whose body was found literally smashed to pieces on the railway line near Redmyre Station. After a great deal of evidence had been adduced, the jury returned a verdict of suicide, and that at the time she was not in her right mind. This is another love romance. It appears she had bestowed her affections on a Mr Robberds, with whom latterly she quarrelled. This contretemps appears really to have been the cause of the rash act.

Mrs Lewis, of Glen Innes, a : WeaUliy married lady, died in Sydney whil t undergoing the operation of having a tooth drawn. Heart disease was ap parently the cause of death.

The cricket match bteween the Combined team and the Australian Eleven was concluded on Wednesday (9th inst.), it having extended over four days. The scoring throughout was not remarkably great, the total number of runs obtained only amount ing to 720 ; although, had it not been for the utter collapse of the Australian team in the second innings, the match would have been one of the heaviest scoring contests ever played in Aus tralia. At the commencement of the match the Australians were slightly tl ie favourites, but MShane spoiled tb e ' r chance by getting nine wickets in the 2nd innings for 45 runs. The result was a victory for the Combined by 246 runs. Massie for the Combined was highest scorer, 80 runs ; whilst for the Eleven, Murdoch made 65. Spofforllvs bowling was knocked about dreadfully. The latest news received from Mount Blown Diggings is somewhat assuring. The population there already number 600, and good order prevails. The diggers appear determined to prevent Chinamen participating in the rush. One IMongolian put in an appearance ; his life was immediately threatened, so he decamped rather hastily. Water is now plentiful, owing to the past heavy rains that have fallen. A rough town ship has been formed--thc usual shanty keeping goes on-—a general store, a butcher’s shop, etc. A waggon left Wilcannia for the rush, a few davs ago, with 40 diggers well furnished with stoves and mining materials. Many clerks in Government and merchants’ offices here have thrown up certainties, for the uncertainties of a goldfield ! May they be lucky ! Some alterations are now being made in the vicinity of Mrs Macquarie’s Chair, which are likely to increase the attrac tiveness of that historical spot. The battery of guns which used to frown from the slight eminence there, and the fence that surrounded it, have now been removed. The embankments have been levelled, and a smooth green sward is to take their place. From Mrs Macquarie’s Chair the finest views of the harbor are obtainable. When the point is reached, visitors have on the right a clear view of the islands, and our beautiful Heads, while to their left they see Farm Cove, and the men of-war, and the majestic Garden Palace, and Botanical Gardens. Tt has been of late a bad season for the Insurance Offices. A few days ago Messrs Redgate and Sons’ flourmills, at Woolloomooloo, were burnt to the ground, and it is ascertained that the ■ stock, portion of which was unfor tunately removed to their new premises in Liverpool street, was insured in the Union Insurance Company of New Zealand for L6OO. Then again, by • telephone from Bourke last night, it was announced that a disastrous fire had taken place there, when two large stores, sheds, and dwelling-houses, the property of Messrs Harris and Spike, wore reduced to ashes. The damage is generally estimated at 1.4,000. Messrs Harris and Spike are insured in the Standard and New Zealand Offices.

A public meeting' was numerously attended last night at .the Exchange Hotel, when it was considered what steps should be taken to recognise Mr Elias Laycock’s services in upholding the aquatic reunion of the colonies. Over L3OO was subscribed in the room. The subject of packing the benches at the Police Courts was discussed in the Legislative Assembly last night, on a motion by Sir Alfred Stephen for the production of the papers in the case of the prosecution of Martin Guest, and a very general opinion was expressed that something should be done to remedy the existing evil. Mr Darley considered that Sydney had reached that stage, which many of the large cities at Horae had reached, when we should dispense with the services of all unpaid Justices, and have stipendary Magistrates.

THE HAUNTED HOUSE.

————— CHAPTER \l.—(Continued.) I was in a high state of excitement, and with difficulty could suppress my feelings, but stood silent as the two men went round and looked into the opening thus discovered. They asked for a candle, which I presently brought them ; when we found that the recess was a small place, about five feet high and two deep, and that it was formed of solid mason-work on all sides but the front. A box large enough to fill the whole space of the bottom, was at tached to the wall by strong iron staples, as if to prevent its removal; but, curiously enough, the box itself was not locked, though supplied with a hasp and padlock. The lid was at once lifted, when we saw stuffed into it, as if hurriedly, a mass of white garment, which we found to be an old chasuble or surplice, that must have formed at one time part of the ceremonial robes of a priest. We brought it forth to the light and examined it, and there, in the garment, we found that a piece had been torn out, which was exactly fitted by the bit of white embroidered cloth which I had picked up in my bed-room the previous evening. This was evi dence indisputable that, whoever or whatever my ghostly visitor was, here at least was the garment that had been worn on that occasion : the more so, that attached to the upper part of the garment was a kind of hood which, when drawn over the head and free, would give in dim and uncertain light the grim aspect that I had seen on the previous evening. I felt within me a burning indignation that for years the peace and happiness of successive families in the house should have been destroyed by the wretched trickery of so depraved old woman, in her malicious desire to injure the young lady who owned the house, by depriving her of the income that would otherwise have been derived from it.

My first impulse was to leave things as they were in the apartment till the arrival of the old hag and confront her at once with the evidences we had dis covered of her malevolent practices ; but on a second examination of the box it was found that it contained a false bottom, easily removed, under which were found a pair of loaded pistols.’ This struck us as being scarcely in keeping with the idea that Mrs Weevil alone was cognizant of the mischievous

if«r -*•, . 'operations which had been earned on here for so many years. These were rather the weapons of a person who was both able and willing to use them should an emergency offer. And what was still more puzzling, while we had thus hr discovered the means by which the ghostly reputation of the house had been maintained, there was as yet no trace of the manner in which access was gained, cither to the bed-room which I occupied, or to any other parts of the house which had been sd mysteriously visited. In these circum stances, it was agreed at once to re place every tiling as we had except that the blacksmith, took-the precaution of drawing the charge out of both pistols, stuffing thd* barrels afterward to the required depth with paper, so that on being probed ttyey might still appear as if loaded. This done, the bed was removed back to its place, when the panneling of itself dosed as before. We then left the apartment, the door of which was, though not without some difficulty, so fastened as not readily to excite the woman’s suspicion that it had been tampered with.

1 1 viTi'i no'// two hours after noon, and Mrs Weevil might return at any moment. The two men therefore de parted, but first arranged with me that they should return after dusk, bringing the village constable along with them, to await with me the events of. the evening ; as I felt certain somehow that the “ ghost ” would again appear, with the object of driving me from the house, as other tenants had been driven before.

Like his namesake in “ Bob Roy,” the old gardener Andrew was not a very good keeper of secrets ; hence it \yas proposed that the joiner and black smith should take him along with them to the village, and keep him under sur veillance til the evening. I was glad when I saw them all out of the place, without, so far as I knew, being seen by anyone, and still more glad the ayah shortly afterwards returned with the children, as I could not help feeling timorous and alarmed? jn the house by myself, considering what we had discovered, and especially what We failed to discover, namely, how the per sons playing the ghost could obtain ac cess to different parts of the house so freely as report represented, and I had myself in one instance painfully ex perienced.

CHAPTER 111. Unl’ke her usual practice, Mrs Wfcevil did not return to the house that day till late on in the afternoon j and after she had entered her rooms I. could hear her bustling about with an activity. and noise quite unprecedented in my ex pedience of her habitsi This - father alarmed me. I was afraid she had sus pected, from qhe appearance of her rooms, notwithstanding jqqr re moving all traces of our presence, that someone had been there' in her ab sence ; and this might Be sufficient to defeat my hopes of bringing to light the trickery that had been so long and so systematically practised. But I was still more astonished when, about an hour after her return,-■ she mes sage to me by ihe ayah jthab sheiW/ished to speak to me, if I would grant her an interview. At first, I scarcely knew ~

what answer to make. Were I to re fuse to see her, this might completp the suspicion which she perhaps enter tained ; and. if I did see her, I was afraid that I might by some word or look betray the knowledge of which ' I had become possessed, I thought updh the whole I , had better see her, and answered accordingly. As she entered, the room,\yith a basket over'her arm’ 'she dropped a codftsey; and from the flow of words with whiter she at once opened TlVe i conversation, she seemed to put on a frankness of manner which I had not before ob served in any slight intercourse f had had with her,,,..... W:jri *

‘Yes, ma’am,’ she went, on. ‘ I .were just a-comin’, ma’anr/to' ! sSy as i°would be goin’ from the ’ouse for a few days; my son, as is steward to Lord B , being took very badly last night, ma’am.; and as he have no one to waft upon him, it holds as I, ma’am, as his mother, must do my dooty—yes, ma’am.’ All this she said without oned stop ping to take breath; and . I could got help observing that she was sligb'tly flurried in my presence, and seemed 1 to keep talking as much to hide her . un easiness as to enlighten me regarding her errand. I said I was very sorry to hear that her son was ill, and that it was very proper she should, ; irr the circumstances, attend to him. ‘But,’ I asked, ‘has he no servant in the house ?’ . . .

‘ Not presently,ma’am,’she answered; ‘leastways, the ’ousemaid have gone away over to Brookford for a few days to see her mother, who ustays there, ma’am—yes. ma’am ;” and she cour tesied again in the excess of her civility. {To be continued.)

THE ASHBURTON GUARMAN, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23, 1881.



The following weights wore declared last night : — st. lb La Loup ... . 0 !) Na tutor . !> 2 0 rip . 8 13 Billingsgate . 8 11 Libeller . 8 2 Sir Modrcd . 8 10 Kandwick... . 8 0 Fishook . 8 7 Volunteer... . 8 7 Titania . 7 12 Longlands... Virginia Water ... . 7 12 . 7 11 Prospero ... . 7 7 Line . 7 7 Harkaway... . 7 7 The Joker... . 7 7 On Dit • 7 0 Luna . 7 2 The Oovernor <; 8 Norseman... (i 8 Laertes . C. 0 Lady Emma . 5 13 Sylvanus ... 5 12 Waikari 5 7 Hilda 5 7 Holderness r> 7 Mischief ... 5 7 CaBtinotte Filly ... 5 7



Encourage local ENTER PRISE, & KEEP THE MONEY . IN THE PLACE. j WANTED—IO,OOO customers to Pur chase 100,000 Envelopes and upwards. 1,000, 7s Od; 6,000, 6s Od per 1,000, for Gash. H. M. JONES, .V/.’, Stationer and Bookseller, East street; and Baring Square. 365 a I JIE., BEST VALUE FOR READY MONEY IS THE AND BOYS’ CLOTHING MANUFACTURED BY THE NEW ZEALAND - Clothing Factory, Which can; be purchased at their Retail in'- . 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 best de scription. The Stock is the largest in the Southern Hemisphere. . The tall, s 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. short, lean, and stout, can be Merceiy, Hats, Shirts, Ties, "'Scarves, Bags, Portmanteaux, Rugs, and I,Blankets, at Wholesale Prices. ; ' Thousands of the discerning customers testily that the - New : Zea!and Clothing Facjtpry’s ; Garments rare the Vei-v Best A '. Value for Ready Money. Ashburton Branch : \ I fiiii ' •. * ■'WM.:SPARROW, 369a* Manager.



Wanted. WANTED Immediately, a good General SERVANT. Apply to Mrs A. Obk, Tancred street. 400 a w ANTED—A smart BOY. Apply, Millsom and Co.’s Cordial Factory. 410 a WANTED— A BOY to cook for four or five men. Apply, Office of this paper. 407 a w ANTED—A Family’s WASHING. Apply, Office of this paper. 178 a WANTED TO SELL Twenty-five SECTIONS, Wakanui Road. Apply to Patching, Tent-maker, East Street. 898 \TT ANTED KNOWN That the VV undersigned is now landing 100,000 feet Best Union KAURI, ex Aratapu,from Kaipara. Joshua Tuckek, next Jameson and Roberts, Ashburton. 302 a WANTED KNOWN,— That HENRY’S PORTRAIT ROOMS, Saunders’ 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 KNOWN—We have just opened a splendid assortment of Children’s Maids’ and Ladies’ ULSTERS; Also, a gi’oat variety of Ladies’ black cloth JACKETS, at prices not to be equalled in Ashburton. An early inspection in vited. 413 a FRIEDLANDER BROS. 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 ;'Bord, £25; Broad wood, £2G ; 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. B(3a 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. Cd.; Plough Back-bands. 6s. cash ; Cart Saddles and Bi’eechens, from 505.; Reaping Machine Pole Straps, 2s. Fanners will make a great saving by buying of S. Stephens, Saddler, Tinwald.



TTTANTED KNOWN. Ashburton V\ 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. Andrewes, Labor Agent, 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 ANTED KNOWN—That Visiting Cards, plain or mourning, can be obtained printed in various styles, at the “ Guardian ’’office, opposite the Railway Station.



Special Advertisements. 0 T I C E. Miss Yerrall 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 order's 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 Yevrall’s own make. For any information required apply to Mr. Thiele, Baker and Confec tioner, where Miss Yerrall will be in at tendance. COLOMBO STREET (Oposite Cookham House), Christchurch, March 10, 1881. 324 a



Craighead & Co. In thanking our friends and patrons for the liberal support which they have ac corded to us in the past, we have much pleasure in announcing that Mr Craig head, having now completely recovered, will be found at his post of duty as usual, in TANCRED STREET. We have also to intimate that we have Just received a VERY SELECT ASSORTMENT OF WINTER TWEEDS, FANCY COATINGS, &a., For the approaching season ; and, as these comprise only the VERY BEST MATERIALS in the MARKET, they need no other recommendation. fA FEW SAMPLES WILL _J BE SHOWN AT THE ■ ■■ i FORTHCOMING EX PERFECT FIT GUARANTEED. PRICES MODERATE, AS USUAL. CRAIGHEAD AND CO., Tancred street (Next Orr and Co.’s). T [AILORS AND CLOTHIERS. HIBITION.



0. Carstens & Co., (Late Weston’s), PROSPECT BUILDINGS, mOBACCONIST, FANCY GOODS, 1. AND STATIONERY. Meerschaum Pipes, G.B.D. Pipes Nailrod, Twist, and Vanity Fair Tobacco A nice assortment of Accordions, Com certinas, Flutes, Violins, Mouth Organs, and Toys of every description, direct from Home. flaircutting, Shaving and Shampooing. EAST STREET ASHBURTON. 527a* be OPEN on THURSDAY, the opening day of the Industrial Exhibition, in order to give parties visiting Ashburton on that day an opportunity of seeing the very fine selection of Pictures (oleographs) on view and for dale there. SAUNDERS’ BUILDINGS. 404 a



Special Advertisements. \y ASHING DAY REFORM'. THE FAMILY WASH IN FOUR HOURS Without rubbing or boilinar, saving five hours of copper firing every washing ihiy, by using Harper Twclvotrco's Patent WASHER, WHINGER & MANGLER. Three Machines in one. Price reduced from LO 10s to L 8 10s. Sold bv J. HERN, Manchester and Tium streets, 405 a Christchurch.



J. Sherriff, MO NUME NT A L M ASON, Manchester street soutli, and P>ar badocs street (near tlie Cemetery). A large Stock of Head-Stones, Tombs and Monuments always on hand. Designs for warded on application. 323 a jyj-R W. 11. SPACEMAN'S Cilices are now in Canterbury Chambers, Here ford street, Christchurch, next Miles and Co., having REMOVED from Messrs Wynn, Williams, and Deacon’s. 335 a TO SUBSCRIBERS Subscribers to this Journal are requested to communicate with the Proprietor when any delays or omissions in the Delivery of this Paper occur. W. H. ZOUCH, Proprietor. O OUR READERS. To-morrow there will bo a special SUPPLEMENT of the Guardian pub lished, containing a portrait and a des criptive account of his Excellency Sir Arthur Cordon. A full account of the opening proceedings in connection with the Exhibition and his Excellency’s reception will also be given. As- a num ber of additional copies will be printed, advertisers arc requested to send in their favors as early as possible to-morrow.



Holloway s Pills.—The blood being the cry essence of health ami life it is most essen tial that it should be thoroughly purified before the depressing influenccsof winter display'theni selves. These Pills will accomplish this puri fication in a safe and satisfactory manner, 'and nut the circulation in that desirable condition, which alone can rightly form flesh, bone,; mus ;le, nerve, and skin. Capricious weak digestions, torpid livers, and irregular bowels are corrected by this potent medicine, which may ire truly said to induce “a sane mind in "a sound body.” Holloway’s Pills possess the remarkable property of cleansing without weakening. While purifying they are strengthening and adding to those enjoyments of life which health and vigor can a}one bestow.—Advt. *



Meetings. mIN WALD RACES AND ATHLETIC X SPORTS., Members of the Committee are re quested to MEET at Scott’s Hofei on FRIDAY NIGHT next, at 7 o’clock. Urgent Business. C. JEPHSON 393 a Secretary. ’ BdacaMorial; i L ypHE MISSES HONOUR are to receive, at their residence, . Mo.oxe street, : PUPILS in Music, Singing r 'and Drawing. Terms, per quarter, subject, two guineas.. Dxawing, in every : Tuesday, from; half-past three to half-past-four, One guinea per.quartet 397»