SHIPPING.

PORT OP LYTTELTON. Arrived. Yesterday. Beautiful Star, s.s., from Westport. Iris, barque, from Newcastle. Amaranth, schooner, from Waitapu. • Spray, schooner, from Hokitika. Elizabeth Conway, schooner, Ware, from Greymouth. To-day. Hawea, s.s., from Wellington. Sailed. Yesterday. Prince Rupert, ketch, for CatlinVßiver. To-day. Hawea, s.s., for Akaroa and Dunedin. SHIPPING TELEGRAMS. Auckland, Yesterday. Sailed —Flirt, for Samoa; Arawata, for Sydney. Wellington, Yesterday. Arrived—Hawea, from Picton ; Pen guin, from the South ; Murray, from Nel son. Sailed—Kennedy, for Nelson. New Plymouth, Yesterday. Sailed —Wanaka, for Southern Ports. Bluff, Yesterday. _ Arrived—Tararua, from Melbourne, via Hobart. Port Chalmers, Yesterday. The barque Pet, for Lyttelton, was spoken off the Heads by the Plucky yesterday. Arrived Oreti, Rotomahana and Wakatipn, a.a., from the North. Sailed —Auckland, ship, for London.

DAILY MEMORANDA.

AUCTION SALES. Saturday, February 26. Mr. T. Bullock, at his Rooms, East street —Miscellaneous Goods ; two o’clock. Saturday, March 12. Mr. W. J. G. Bluett, at J. T. Ford and Co.’s Salerooms—That valuable landed property, known as Elgin. At 2 o’clock. MEETINGS, AMUSEMENTS, &c. To-morrow, Friday, February 25. Somerset Lodge, Monthly Meeting, in the Masonic Hall, Tancred street, 7.30. Caledonian Society, Annual Meeting, at Quill’s Commercial Hotel, at 7-30 p.m. Tinwald Races and Sports—Meeting of Committee, Scott’s Hotel, at 8 p.m. Monday, February 28. Anniversary Concert, Loyal Ashburton Lodge, L0.0.F., Town Hall, 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 2. County Council, at the County Council Chambers, at 11 o’clock.

The Ashburton Guardian. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1881. Rumored Fall in the Price of Grain.

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

. We are informed that a Christchurch firm of grain merchants have received cable advices from London that the grain markets at Home have a strongly downward tendency, that already wheat has fallen 2d per bushel, and that the quotations for New Zealand wheat, ex ship, are 42s 6d per quarter. Reuter’s last quotation was 445, ex ship, and Adelaide 495. The markets have been stagnant for some days past, judging from the reports per Reuter’s agency we have received, and a change was of course to be looked for, but not necessarily a heavy fall. We do not, of course, accept the information of a fall of 2d per bushel with uncompromising faith, though we shall not be astonished should it turn out to be true ; but by the end of the week we shall doubtless be in possession from Reuter of any change that is likely to have taken place. Loafers. Some time ago we referred to the trouble that many of our country friends had with “sundowners,” who come about the farms and almost take charge of the.place. Those fellows look upon the “cockatoo” as an institution for their especial benefit, and will scarcely take no for an answer when they make their demands for a meal and a shake* : dbwp. . The trouble has npt assuaged -v: In any degree, and one has only to take a look at any ot the country hotels to

see how strong m'numbers the “sun downer ” is. One publican told us recently that it was as much as he could do sometimes to keep his place from being rushed by the crowd of idle loafers who hung about his house, begging a meal, stealing it when they could, and generally sponging for liquor. But the state of affairs is no better in the town than it is in the country, and there is scarcely an unrented house that is not very densely populated of a night, if an entrance can be made at all. One old shop we know of had over a score of free sleepers in it last night, and we could place our hands on others that the social Arabs make very free use of. Even on the main street if a lobby door is left open of a night, uninvited guests make entrance and unsavory tarriance. The worst of it is that there is no chance whatever in entertaining angels unawares in these men—unless it be angels that have fallen considerably!; and from the fact that they smoke much and often and get drunk frequently, they will light matches, and are not particular as to where they throw them whey thev have got their pipes alight. The police do their best to look after the free 1 >dgers, but tht re are so many cf them, and tht'y seek for shelter in so many different places that they are not always easily dropped upon. For its size Ashburton keeps the Magistrates well supplied with cases of drunk, but be it remembered that for many a day not a single permanent resident in the township has been before the Court, so that, were it not for the floating scum of drunken loafers that sojourn for a time here and there—now in the country, now in the town —the duty of the R.M. and the Justices of the Peace would be light indeed. We would commend owners of property just now, if they would keep out unwelcome visitors, to make secure all doors and windows, and to be as particular in seeing to the shutting up of their dwel lings and outhouses as they possibly can, for the genus sundowner is a very dangerous parasite to have about.

Drowned in a Well.—A little girl named Mary Middleton was found drowned in a well on Benmore station, North Otago, on Wednesday. A Hint to School Committees. —The Sawyers’ Bay (Dunedin) School Committee have resolved to establish a class for teaching laundry work, under the direc tion of an experienced laundress. A Collapse. —ln some parts of South Australia the wheat crops are a failure this season. Thousands of acres will not be reaped at all. It is nothing for a man to travel with his reaping machine for twelve or fifteen miles, and get about a bag and a half of wheat. Assault. —A murderous assault was committed yesterday at Cambridge (Auck land) by a native named Pariki, lately from Wellington, ona half-caste named Wallace. They had a dispute about some money. The half-caste is not supposed to be fatally injured. Parika is in custody. The Australians at Auckland. —The match concluded yesterday in a draw. The Auckland men’s first innings finished for 90, and in their second innings five wickets were down for 7 when time was called. The Australians made 117 in their second innings. The Dogs.—We learn that some 58 owners of dogs that wear not the 10s badge of loyalty to the law have been nosed out by the police, and the first con venient Court day will see “ tremblings of distress ” affecting many who have hither to slept in a calm security. Cricket. —The match comm ittee of the Ashburton County Cricket Club met last evening to consider challenges from the Mount Somers and Geraldine Clubs. It was resolved to play at Mount Somers on the 3rd of Marph, and at Geraldine on the 15th. The committee would impress upon members to make the most of the remain ing time in improving themselves for the coming contests. District Court Sittings. —To-day Mr Martin received a telegram from Judge Ward, stating that *he sitting of the District Court had been changed from the Ist March to the sth ; consequently the Court will not sit on Tuesday next, but on the Saturday following. The cases set down for hearing are as under : Lake v. M'Kerrow and Mann, Rakaia, claim L 55 IGs 3d ; and M'Avey v. the Mount Somers Road Board, claim LIBB 18s, on a disputed contract. Quill’s Consultation. —The consulta tion got up by Mr. Quill on the Dunedin Cup was drawn last night in the auction rooms. There was a very large attendance, and a corresponding excitement while the drawing went on. * The arrangements gave perfect satisfaction, as far as we could see, and when all the horses had been drawn three cheers were given for the “ engineer.” Sir Modred was drawn by the holder of ticket 847, and the rest of the winning tickets will be found else where. Exhibition Committee. —The Exhibi tion Committee met in the Borough Chambers last night. There were eight members present, and Mr. Braddell pre sided. Mr. Poyntz, the Secretary, an nounced that Government had consented to carry exhibits free over the railways, and also to issue return tickets at single fares during the term of the exhibition. Mr. A. O. Aitken wrote withdrawing his tender for a refreshment stalk The Secretary explained this conduct by stat ing that Mr. Aitken had been able to engage the vacant shop in front of the hall building, and now desired to with draw from the offer he had made to the Committee. Messrs Harrison and Pavitt were empowered to make arrangements for refreshments, as it was not certain that Mr. Aitken could be held to his bargain. It was decided to order 200 copies of a certificate of merit designed at the Lyttelton Times lithographic establish ment, at a cost of L 22, the Secretary to arrange about the coloring. Mr Henry Zander was elected a member of Com mittee, and the following ladies and gentle men were appointed judges in the several departments set against their names—the Secretary to write to them asking their consent to act :—Pictures —Messrs H. Friedlander, W. C. Walker, and C. Hull; General Exhibits—Messrs Bullock, R. Friedlander, J. Ward, R. W. Shearman, J. 0. Wason, Wood and Branson; Ladies’ Work—Mesdames Bullock, Stewart, and Felton ; Machinery—Messrs Steel, Pass more, Max Friedlander, Devery, and Kidd ; Farm Produce—Messrs Stitt, Cameron, Grigg, Winter, and Hunt. The tender of the Ashburton Guardian, at L 8 2s 6d, was accepted for printing cata logues ; and amongst other business it was resolved to ask a subsidy from the County Council, and to ask Government to send an official representative to report on the Ashburton Exhibition as was done in the case of the Christchurch Exhibition. It was resolved that the Exhibition should be opened each day at noon, and to ask his Worship the Mayor to proclaim half holidays on the Thursday and Friday. The Secretary gave information that 1571 ft of table space and 690tt of wall space had already been applied for, and another 300 ft were expected to be applied for from Christchurch. When the annexe was up, it was calculated that 4000 ft of table space and 1200 ft of wall space would be available. It was decided to ask the Brass Band to play at the opening.

Crossing tbS 'Bine.— -A serious cci denfc happened last night at the Ke- mg ton railway crossing, near Dunedb A I cab, driven by one Keys, and -out ing | C. Armstrong, publican, Harry h- yo, publican, and Lyons, Fairbiirn, and Griffiths, was crossing the line j bout alf past eight, when a goods train bom I uth came up. The engine driver who ;ed, but the cab did not get out oi the ay. The horse was killed and the v- ucle damaged, but the driver was unb.irt. Mayo is not expected to live. The c aers are more or less injured. The Fire Brigade.— Last night th Fire Brigade held its usual practice. Mr Walter Dolman commanding, in the absence of the Captain. The prr :tice engaged in was engine and hr. Yet, and the men show great smarmess at their work. The substantial uni: • wins of the corps give the men quite a mihtaiy appearance, and the promptness and pre cision of their movements do not ii any way belie their appearance. Very r-oon, we believe, the contracts for the boot and trousers will be finished, and the • the uniform will be complete. The of cers complain to us that some larrikins >ave been now and again amusing theme- I ves with the alarm bells, and we are dc :red to state that the first offender caugln will be made an example of and severely punished. The Mile Race. —The mile race,' Inch was run last Wednesday in the Qoraa'a by Groves and Bayliss, left things under bled, a dead heat having been the result c the spin. To clear away the fog abou- the question of who was who betweei the leggista, it was decided to run agar last night under exactly the same condi ions. Four times round the course laid off re presented the mile to be run, and in the third round Groves began to pull L the slack he had given his opponent, an 1 the 65 yards start being wiped off, the c< .npe tition began in earnest in the last qi rter mile. This distance was run at a fair ace, showing that good stuff was in both men, and when the spurt was finished an i the travellers came home, Groves ha<’ the benefit by about three yards, more oi less. The time was about 10 seconds less than that taken last week, but the slow • ime, 5.15, is accounted for by the lumh ring nature of the ground, which makes an awkward track for competitive running. Muffs. —The muff cricket match, which is intended to be an annual event, came off in the Domain yesterday, betwee the Christchurch muffs and the Ashburton dittoes. The leading feature of muff cricket is..fun, and that went on both “ fast and furious” all day, the old youngsters enjoying themselves very heartily. As the scores are of lifts r in terest in a match of this kind we do not give them in detail, and only mcotion that Mark Scott made 25 in the Ashburton first innings and 15 in the second the other big scores being Marsh, 18. and Butler, 12. Messenger had 38 against his name for Christchurch, Garland 13. and Warner 12. The totals were—Ashburton, 72 and 50 ; Christchurch, 77 and 50, and two wickets to fall. Messrs. Maras and Groves provided lunch at the pavilion, to which the Christchurch men ware incited by their rivals, and ample justice was done to the good things, the unusual exer cise whetting healthy appetites con.cder ably. Mr. Power supplied the barley bree to the satisfaction of all, and -yhen all was over the Christchurch men 1- ft by the express.

CABLE NEWS.

LATEST FROM EUROPE

(Per Reuter's Agency.) Iron. London, Feb. 22. Galvanised iron, 26m gauge, is quoted at Ll 7. Wool. At the wool sales to-day 6,600 bales were catalogued. The tone of the sale was rather firmer for low qualities. No Confidence. Dr. M'Cabe, formerly editor of a Catholic paper in Ireland, and at present a contributor to several reviews, has issued a letter, in which he stigmatises the alliance between Mr Parnell and M. Rochfort as impious, and urges that the Catholic party can feel no confidence in Mr Parnell. Later. Dr M‘Cabe is the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin. Robbery of a Magazine at Cork. London, Feb. 23. The Daily Neivs to-day publishes information to the effect that a maga zine at Cork has been broken into, and that a large quantity of gunpowder has been taken away. Conspiritors Punished. Bombay, Feb. 22. Intelligence has been received from Kalpore that the natives who were arrested on a charge of plotting against the lives of European residents have been found guilty, and were sentenced to various terms of imprisonment.

AUSTRALIAN.

(Per Reuter's Agency.) Sugar. Melbourne, Feb. 23. Mauritius advices to the 29th inst. state that engagements of sugar for Dunedin amount to 525 tons, and for Lyttelton 200 tons, and that there is a good demand. Skuthorpe and his Dark Belies. Sydney, To-day. Skuthorpe’s brother telegraphs to Mr Dufaur that Skuthorpe has declined to give even him any information regarding Leichardt’s relics. The brother, further, expresses doubt as to the bona fides of the discovery. The Grey Range Bush. Later accounts confirm previous reports of the hopeful prospects of the goldfields at Mount Poole, in the Grty Ranges, on the western border; but at the same time it is said to be a some what risky route to the ranges. It is short of water, and rushers to the field must have some means.

NEW ZEALAND

(Per Press Association .) Fatal Accident. Timaru, To-day. An old settler at the Washdyke, named Kippenberger, was found on the road dead alongside his dray this morning. It is supposed that he fell out and was killed. The deceased’s son was killed in a similar way two years ago.

LATE CABLE NEWS.

(Pi'r s.s. Tararua at the Bluff.) London. Feb. 10. The Emperor of Russia is again re ported ill. Feb. ii. An article appeared in the World accusing the Dish members of being in the pay of the Land League, and in sinuating that their action as members of Parliament was influenced thereby. The Irish members are very indignant, and have brought the matter before the House as a question of privilege. Very severe weather has again been experienced during the week. In the midland counties of England there have been disastrous floods, which have occasioned a large amount of damage. Feb. is. The defeats which have been inflicted on the Basutos recently have made them anxious to sue for peace. Several principal chiefs have communicated with the Cape authorities their desire for an armistice, in order that some satisfactory terms of settlement may be arrived at.

The latest intelligence from Cape Coast Castle is more satisfactory. The Governor reports that the Ashantees exr hibit a more pacific feeling and that probably the difficulty will be overcome without resort to hostilities.

News has been received respecting the Cunard steamer Batavia. A vessel just arrived reports having spoken the Batavia in mid-ocean. It is supposed the delay has been caused by her machinery having broken down. The weather in the Southern States of America has been abnormally severe. Extensive floods have taken place around New Orleans, no less than five square miles in the vicinity of the city being covered with water. Trickett has definitely determined to visit Canada, with the intention of meeting Hanlan again, when he has recovered his condition. The revelation made of the Russian intrigue with the Ameer Shere Ali has not induced the Gladstone Govern ment to alter its policy with regard to Afghanistan, which includes the evacu ation of that country by the British force.

THE WAR AT THE CAPE.

(Per s.s. Tararua, at the Bluff.) Capetown. Jan. 21. The revolt in the Transvaal continues to excite earnest attention amongst the colonists. Strong feelings have been manifested, and various meetings held, at which the state of affairs has been discussed and sundry resolutions passed. The general feeling in Cape Colony among the Dutch and African population seems one of sympathy with the Boers, combined with loyalty to British rule. In the Free States sym pathy with the Boers is of an active nature, but it is hoped that armed help will not be given by the Free States to the rebels, although there is little doubt that they have assisted them with money. The sympathy with the Boers which prevailed in Natal has undergone a strong revulsion, owing to the reports of atrocities committed by them during the attack on Potchefstroom, also on the 94th Regiment. The Natal Mer cury publishes an article in which it is stated that the last spark of sympathy with the Boers has been quite obli terated, and a decided acrimony has taken its place. From Basutoland there is little to report. A series of slight engagements occurred between the Basutos and colonial forces, in which the latter were always victorious. From Transkei intelligence has been received that the Pondo Chief Beka mera says there has been enough fight ing. The official report from Captain Lambert, of the 21st Scots Fusiliers, shows that Captain Elliott, paymaster of the 94th Regiment, was brutally murdered by a Boer escort. Captain Lambert had also a very narrow escape. On January 13th a regiment of Infantry Irregulars, two hundred strong, left Capetown, and sixty more with forty mule-drivers for the Transvaal on the 14th instant. According to the cor respondents of the Natal Metcury, the Boers were forcing Englishmen, under pain of being shot instantly, to join the rebel forces.

CRICKET.

The Interprovincial Cricket Match.

(By Telegraph.) Christchurch, To-day.

The eighteenth Interprovincial Cricket Match between Canterbury and Otago began to-day on the Association Ground, Hagley Park. Of the matches already played, Canterbury has won 10, Otago, 6, and one has been drawn. The following are the names of the two teams :—Canter bury.—Messrs E. Fowler (captain), D. Ashby, E. J. Cotterill, C. Frith, W. Frith, E. T. A. Fuller, J. Fowke, M. J. Godby, J. F. Hartlmd, A. T. Redmayne, and G. Watson. Otago.—Messrs. E. T. Collin son (captain), G. Paramor, S. Leith, O. Haskell, J. Parker, W. Crawshaw, G. Millington, J. Hume, J. P. Spring, H. B. Morrison, W. Morrison. The match commenced at 12.20. The sky was cloudy, and a smart breeze was blowing. The attendance at the start was not large. Fowler, the Canterbury cap tain, won the toss and put his men in. Watson and Hartland were the first bats men, Hume and Millington Bowling. Both men batted well, Watson in particu lar driving the bowling about. 25 was reached before Hartland was caught, halting between two opinions, and bowled by Hume. His 10 included a fine leg hit for 4. Watson and Ashby took the score to 55, the former still batting well. Has kell went on to bowl in Hume’s place, and Ashby hit him clean over the flags for 6—the only time it has ever been done on this ground. The ball fell considerably over a hundred yards. Ashby was got rid of just as he was getting dangerous, run ning himself out through refusing to run for a hit by his partner. 55 2—13. Redmayne succeeded and at lunch time he and Watson were still in. Watson, who is in fine form this season, played splendidly, but he gave one easy chance to Spring at the wickets, which was not accepted. He had then made over 20. Redmayne scored very slowly, and played very shakily to Haskell’s bowling. Besides the bowlers already mentioned, Paramor was also tried, but he was pasted about a good deal by Watson. The fielding was fair, no chances save that of Watson’s were given. After lunch, Watson and Red mayne still continued to score freely. H, B. Morrison was put on to bowl, but the change has not yet come off. The score at 3.40 is— Hartland, b Hume 10 Watson, not out 80 Ashby, run out ... ... ... 13 Redmayne, not out ... ... 35 Extras ... ... ... 7 Total for 2 wickets ... 145

SPORTING.

DUNEDIN JOCKEY CLUB ANNUAL MEETING. First Day—Thursday, Feb. 24. , [By Telegraph.] Dunedin, To-day. The D.J.C. Annual Meeting com menced to-day. The weather was dull and threatening. When the bell rang for the first race there were about 3,000 persona present on the course. The first event on the programme was the Handicap Hurdle Race, of 80 sovs. The second horse to receive 10 sovs from the stakes. -Two miles and a distance, over 10 flights of hurdles, 3ft 6in high. Mr T. Foster’s hg Sailor Boy, aged, Bst 91b... ... ... ••• 1 Mr P. Butler’s ch g The Agent, aged, 12st ... ... ... ••• 2 Mr. L. Dooley’s hr g Milo, aged, 10st 3 Champagne Stakes. For two-year-olds, a sweepstakes of 10 sovs each, with 150 sovs added. Colts, Bst 101 b ; fillies, Bst 71b ; no allowance for geld ings. The second horse to receive 20 sovs from the stakes. Six furlongs. Closed with 30 subscribers. Hon. R. Campbell’s b c Somnus, Tra ducer—Hammock, Bst 101 b... ... 1 Mr Geo. Dodson’s br filly by Cassi velaunus—Envy, Bst 71b ... ... 2 Hon. R. Campbell’s br c Idalium, Traducer —Idalia, Bst 101 b ... ... 3 Time—2min 21sec.

THE TE AROHA MURDER.

[BY TRLKOBAPH. ] Grahamstown, To-day. At the R.M. Court to-day, before Mr Ken rick, RM., and Messrs Ehrenfried and W. Wilkinson, JJ.P.’., and Wikiriwhi Hau tonga, IS alive Assessor, John Procofly was charged with the wilful murder of Haraona Haora, at Te Aroha, on the 10th inst. Ser geant Thomson conducted the case for the de fence, and Mr Wilkinson aprieared to watch the case on behalf of the natives. The Resident Magistrate said—Before going on with the case, I would say I have received a subpoena to produce the depositions taken at the inquest, and to give evidence of what occurred there. In consequence of having received that sub poena I shall leave the bench. lam only sorry that the onerous and unpleasant duties of this case should have fallen upon the Justices, as the proper person to bear it is the man who is paid by Government for such work. Mr Kenrick then vacated the chair, and L. Ehrenfried, Esq., J.P., took possession. Mr Brassey said—l object to your bro ther Justice, Mr Chairman, sitting on this Bench after the scurrilous article which appeared in this morning’s paper, of which he is the editor. I ask that gentleman to leave the bench, as he must be biassed by the article in question. The article was most untruthful, and everything written in the morning paper has been wiitten in condemnr.* tion of the prisoner, in contradistinction to the Evening Star, which has been most fair in all its reports on the matter. lam surprised to see the editor of the Advertiser, after the article in question has appeared, having the audacity to sit upon the bench to hear the case. Mr. Thomson said he had made in quiry in Auckland, and there was only one gentleman merchant who understood the Russian language, but he declined to under take to interpret, inasmuch as they do not speak the Russian language, but merely patois. Mr Ehrenfried said that Mr Wilkinson was sitting on the bench, not as editor of the Advertiser, but as a Justice of the Peace. Mr. Brassey said he would again ask Mr Wilkinson if he would sit on the bench, and went on to say—lf Mr Wilkinson sits on the Bench he will do so with the full knowledge that the public of this place con sider him biassed after the article in this morn ing’s issue. I ask Mr. Wilkinson if he can, with fairness, hear the case. Mr. Wilkinson said—l am sitting on the Bench at the request of the R.M., who has been prevented from presiding in the case by counsel for the prisoner, who has been guilty of a most unwarrantable course in sending him a subpoena. Mr. Wilkinson did not leave the Bench. The evidence being given at present is the same as that given at the inquest.

Snakes and Snake-charming.

( Lloyd’s Weekly .) At the Saturday evening lectures at the Working Men’s College, Great Ormond street, Mr. Arthur Nicols, F.G.S., F.R.G.S., delivered a lecture on “Snakes and Snake-charming.” He expressed the opinion that the power of “ fascination ” supposed to be possessed by snakes was a poetic fancy. The python in the Zoological Gardens was about 2 oft. long, and weighed about four cwt. The python, in swallowing an animal, took the head first, and its mouth soon became as wide as a sack. The snake did not eat his food, but as the. American said, “ put himself out side his dinner.” Then he went to sleep, and a boa-constrictor had been said to have fasted for as long a period as thirteen months. One of the boa constrictors in Paris, which was not content with his rabbit, also bolted his blanket, but subsequently disgorged it and died. He had reason to believe that the large python in the Zoological Gardens could travel faster than a train going 25 miles an hour. Serpents had no extemal ear nor any delicate internal organisation, such as is found in the head of other animals, so that it was a mistake to suppose that they could be moved by the concord of sweet sounds. When persons saw the forked tongue of the snake, the remark was often made, “ Look at its sting,” but this tongue was harmless. Sir Joseph Fayrer has asserted his belief that in India human beings and 50,000 animals were annually destroyed by snakes, but as statistics could not be obtained from all districts the number probably did not represent the total. If the natives would cast away their supersti tion the land could soon be cleared from these destructive reptiles. Mr Nicols exposed the impostures of the Indian snake charmers, and said that many Englishmen were expert in hand ling snakes, but on one occasion a superintendent of police had the top of his finger just touched by a cobra, and he died in three hours. The charmers were in the habit of concealing trained snakes, which had been rendered harm less, about their bodies, and producing them by stealth in a manner to make one believe he was dealing with a strange snake. The poison of a snake was equally fatal even if diluted by water. A full grown cobra emitted from 6 to 13 drops of poison, and if a single drop entered the flesh nothing probably would save life. One-sixteenth of a grain of this poison would prove fatal to a dog of 17 pounds weight. With regard to the “ sea serpent,” naturalists were agreed that no such monstrous serpent as had been repre sented was possible. Some of the moderate accounts described it as a quarter of a mile long, and others several miles ; and if the mouth was in the same proportion, this supposed beast ought to, bs able to swallow a whale very comfortably. A long list of things might be given as having been

mistaken for this reptile—wreckage, floating masses of seawood, or a large congregation of birds. Although every thing was being done, up to the pre sent no remedy for a poisonous snake bite had been discovered. In reply to a question whether the flesh of snake was edible, Mr Nicols said it was good for food.

Immortality at Hand.

(N~eiv York Mercury. ) “ The last enemy that shall be de stroyed is death,” wrote St. Paul in his first Epistle to the Corinthians. The apostle presumably used the words in a spiritual sense ; but, as the theologians inform us, there are other inspired utterances in the sacred volume which, under a spiritual significance, have a substantial and carnal meaning. Since the days of Enoch’s long-lived son, Methuselah, the science of longevity has become a lost art. Here and there we occasionally meet with a shrunk and shrivelled centenarian, but patriarchs of nine hundred are as extinct as the dodo. It appears, however, from the experiments of an English scientist, that the days of extreme longevity are to be restored. Dr. Norris, a Birmingham physician, has succeeded in mastering the. chemistry of the blood of man, so that he can now manufacture it by the hogshead. Now, blood without an organism—without its red and white corpuscles—is like salt without a savor; but with healthy corpuscles, if good new blood can be supplied ad libitum , when the unaided powers of nature begin to fail and when anaemia super venes, there is no reason why the decay of the tissues may not be arrested, and the entire system rejuvenated by a steady transfusion of manufactured blood. As the London Standard re marks, 1n contemplating this astounding achievement: struck at the probable success of science in eventually conquering the last enemy that is to be destroyed.” It is not a little singular that the discovery of Dr. Norris is directly attributable to the ex haustive investigations respecting the uses of the spleen in the animal economy, which have marked the last decade. The spleen, or spongy viscus, situated near the large extremity of the stomach, being always full of a venous or dark-colored blood, was by the ancient practitioners thought to be the receptacle of the atrabalis, or mythical humor that was supposed to engender angry, peevish, and melancholy moods. Hence our dictionaries to this day are burdened with such words as spleen, spleenful, splenetic, indicating morose ness and cognate dispositions. About the beginning of the present century, a Dr. Keil enunciated a plausible theory respecting the uses of the bluish leaden colored oblong organ. “We must con sider,” said Dr. Keil, “ that the bile is composed of particles which slowly combine and unite together, and that by reason of the vicinity of the liver to the heart, and of the swift motion of the blood through the aorta, these par ticles could not in so small a time, and with so. great a velocity, have been united together, had not the blood been brought through the coats of the sto mach, intestine, and omentum, by the branches of the vena portae, to the liver. But because all these parts were not sufficient to receive all the blood which was necessary to be sent to the liver, therefore nature framed the spleen, into whose cavities the blood being poured from a small artery, moves at least as slowly as any that passes other wise to the liver; by which means the particles which compose the bile in the blood which passes through the ramus splenicus, by so long and slow a circu lation, have more chances for uniting them, which otherwise they could not have had, had they been carried by the branches of the caeliac artery directly to the liver; and, consequently, without the spleen, such a quantity of bile as is now secerned, that is, as nature requires, could not have been secerned (secreted) by the liver,” This unique theory is gravely set forth in Quincy’s Lexicon Physico-Medicum, “with many Amend ments and Additions expressive of Discoveries lately made in Europe and America; printed in 1802.” It was not until the microscope in its compound form began to take its proper place in physiological investigations that much was known respecting the blood. Harvey, in 1628, after twenty-six years’ investigation, published his discovery of the circulation of the vital fluid; but it was more than a century later that Malpighi, with a compound microscope, first witnessed the marvellous spectacle of the movement of the blood in the capillary vessel of the frog’s foot, and thus verified, by ocular demonstration, that doctrine of the passage of the blood from the smallest arteries, which had been propounded as a rational probability by the earlier philosopher. Still it was not until the second quarter of the present century —or about the period of the first London world’s fair

r— —that anything like accuracy was im ported into microscopic observations. Previous to that, one observer described the human blood-corpuscles as flattened discs resembling pieces of money; another pronounced them slightly con cave on each surface ; a third thought they were slightly convex ; a fourth be held them as highly convex; while a fifth was certain they were globular. The former prevalence of the last-named opinion is marked by the same habit that still lingers in popular phraselo logy of designing these bodies as “ blood globules.” But when the achro matic correction principle was ap plied to the microscope twenty years since, it became plain to all that the real form of blood corpuscles, when ex amined in freshly-drawn blood, is that of circular discs with slightly concave surfaces. We all heard a good deal about the peculiarity of blood corpuscles during the tedious trial of the Rev. Mr. Hayden, at New Haven, last year. Ac cording t® the estimate of Surgeon Woodward, of Washington, and Profes sor Vierardt, of Paria, a cubic inch of human blood contains upwards of eighty millions of red corpuscles, and nearly a quarter of a million of white or colorless corpuscles. The red cor puscles vary in size from the 1-55151 of an inch to i-abooth of an inch, the average of normal and healthy size being about i-33Qoth of an inch. The French investigator had examined the blood of a person afflicted with anaemia, or deficiency of the blood, in which the red corpuscles were as large as i-Ssist of an inch. Hence it usually follows that those wonderful discs, on which the

nourishing vitality of the blood de pends, are larger in persons of spare habit in old age. It follows further that if the veins and arteries could always be supplied with a sufficient quantity of blood charged with healthy corpuscles, that, barring accidents, life might be in definitely prolonged. On this point there can be no divergence of opinion. Indeed, the theory has undergone practical demonstration by a Louisiana physician during the present lustrum. “An old man of ninetj',” we are authoritatively informed, “is at once the subject of the prolonged experi ment and the still living proof of the theory that the decay of the system may be rejuvenated by a perpetual ap plication of transfusion of blood. Dr. Fraser has operated two or three times weekly, and now the old gentleman’s gait and color have wonderfully im proved, the withered appearance of his ; flesh has vanished, and he declares that he feels as strong as half a century ago. In short, five years ago there seemed every reason that he should die, while at the present hour there seems to be no reason why he should not live as long as the supply of vitalis ing blood holds out” The discovery of Dr. Norris, of Birmingham, supple ments this practical demonstration by the announcement that will suggest itself to everybody that physical immor tality is more than a mere enthusiast’s dream, and that even figments of fiction, so-called, like the “ Wandering Jew,” may receive, at the hands of the science of the future, a living exemplifi cation. It is understood that Dr. Norris has submitted his new discovery to a number of scientific experts, and that, chemically and physiologically, his “ prepared human blood ” is identical in every respect with the natural product. Before long we shall no doubt have to record a more elaborate announcement of the greatest discovery of an age unprecedently fruit ful in great discoveries.

Boiling Water in a Sheet of Paper.

Nature is publishing a serious of attractive articles on “ Physics without Apparatus.” In the latest number are given experiments for boiling water and melting lead on a piece of paper : Take a paper and fold it up, as schoolboys do, into a square box without a lid. Hang this up to a walking-stick by four threads, and support the stick upon books or other convenient props. Then a lamp or taper must be placed under this dainty cauldron. In a few minutes the water will boil. The only fear is lest the threads should catch fire and let the water spill into the lamp and over the table. The flame must, there fore, not be too large. The paper does not burn, because it is wet; and even if it resisted the wet it still would not burn through, because the heat im parted to it on one side by the flame would be very rapidly conducted away by the water on the other. Another experiment of a similar nature, but perhaps even more striking, is as fol lows : Twist up the edges of a common playing card or other bit of cardboard, so as to fashion it into a light tray. On this tray place a layer of small shot or bits of lead, and heat it over the flame of a lamp. The lead will melt, but the card will not burn. It may be charred a little round the edges, but immediately below the lead it will not be burned, for here again the lead conducts off the heat on one side as fast as it is supplied on the other.

CORRESPONDENCE.

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents.

THE MEMBER FOR THE COLE RIDGE DISTRICT.

To the Editor.

• Sir, —I think it is time that Mr Wright gave his constituents an account of his stewardship. If lam not mistaken, and the newspaper reports of the proceedings were correct, Mr Wright promised at the dinner given by the Mayor to celebrate the opening of the water supply, to ad dress the electors shortly. The intra-ses sional address is a time-honored custom; besides which the present unsatisfactory state of political affairs, makes it peculiarly necessary that the electorate should understand the views of its representative on pending political questions.—l am, &c., Elector,

THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1881



Special Advertisements. The best value FOB READY MONEY IS THE MEN’S AND BOYS’ CLOTHING MANUFACTURED BY THE NEW ZEALAND Clothing Factory, Which, can be purchased at their Retail P-—\nches, all over New Zealand. A SINGLE GARMENT AT THE WHOLESALE PRICE. Thousands of the discerning customers testify that the New Zealand Clothing Factory’s Garments are the Very Best Value for Ready Money. Ashburton Branch EAST STREET. WM. SPARROW, 751* Manager. O. Carstens & Co. (Late Weston’s), PROSPECT BUILDINGS, Tobacconist, fancy goods, AND STATIONERY. Meerschaum Pipes, G.B.D. Pipes Nailrod, Twist, and Vanity Fair Tobacco Musical Instruments, etc., etc. Haircutting, Shaving and Shampooing. BAST STREET, ASHBURTON. 520* ANOTHER YEAR OF SUCCESS COMMERCIAL AND FANCY STATIONERY. The Undersigned has opened up a NEW ASSORTMENT of the above. Cream, Blue, and Hand - made Notepapers ; Ruled, Plain, Fancy, and Repp ditto. Good Business Envelopes, No. 7, Court, Albert, Queen, Tinted, Repp, and others. Pens G'ilott’s, Mitchell’s, Brandauer and Co.’s Inks—Stephen’s Blue Black, Walkden’s Black and Colored, Antonine, Copying, &c, Workboxes, Albums. Books, &c. h. m. Tones, STATIONERY AND FANCV GOODS DEPOT, East Street and Baring Square. 710 WANTED, a GIRL, as General Servant. Apply, Office of this paper.



Holloway's Pills.—Pure Blood. —As the vital fluid, when in a healthy state, sustain and renovates every part of the living system, so, when it becomes impoverished or impure it exerts a precisely contraiy effect. It is •abundantly manifest that any medicine which does not reach the circulation can never exter minate the disease ; but any preparation capa ble of exercising a salutary influence over the blood, must with it be carried to every I’ving fibre of the frame. The lungs, heart, iivei, kidneys, and skin, all receive benefits frc ;n its more wholesome condition. Hollo way ,s puri fying Pills operate directly, powerfully, and beneficially, upon the whole mass of blood, whether venous or arterial. They strengthen the stomach, excite the liver and kidneys, expel disease, and prolong existence.—Aovx.



Frozen Meat Trade.— The Hon. R. Campbell and a few other gentlemen have issued the prospectus of a company with a capital of L 4.000, for the purpose of fitting up a vessel to take Home 4,000 sheep in a frozen condition from Oamaru. Half the capital is to be paid up in cash, and the remainder ia sheep. It is stated that the promoters have received favorable telegrams from Home with regard to the prospects of the meat trade. Everyone must wish Mr Campbell and his associates every success in their spirited venture. It only needs someone to lead the way, and the ice once broken, we are satisfied that the trade will be rapidly developed.



Amusements.



J O. O. F., M. U. LOYAL ASHBURTON LODGE, No. 6003. GRAND ANNIVERSARY Concert Of Vocal and Instrumental Music, Dances, and Comic Sketches, in the TOWN HALL, ASHBURTON, ON MONDAY EVENING, FEB. 28. The Loyal Ashburton Lodge, No. 6003, purpose celebrating their Anniversary with a Concert on the above date, when an ex cellent programme will be presented. A BaLL will take place immediately after the Concert. Doors open at half-past seven ; concert at eight prompt. JOSHUA TUCKER, N.G. 76a R. MINNIS, Secretary. To Let. TO LET, a well-finished HOUSE of Four Rooms, on East Town Bolt. Apply, Mitchell and Turner. 148 a LET, with a purchasing clause, 164 I acres of TUSSOCK LAND (broken up ready for cross ploughing) on the Cold stream run, about seven miles from the Hinds Station. Apply to Robert Gillino, at Mr. H. Smith’s Steam Turning, Carving, and Chair Works, Tuam street, opposite Montgomery’s, Christchurch.



. Wanted- W ANTED—Three SHEAREH S. Apply, John Gbigo, Longbeacli. 161 a \\T ANTED to take charge of, one or y V twp CHILDREN. To anyone with children wishing to take a situation this would afford an opportunity for doing so. A comfortable home with moderate terms. Apply, by letter, to Office of this Paper. 129 a WANTED to in any quantities. and Hunt, Beach'road. - ’ J’ I 30 a WANTED TO SELL— TispotatrfLya ~., SECTIONS, Wakanui Road. . Apply to Patching, r TfentihaS^, ; Street. 898 Wanted known,— HENRY’S PORTRAIT ROOMS, , Saunders’ Buildings, . East street, Ash* burton, are Open DAILY, from 9 sum. till 5 p.m. Portraits taken in any J weather. Great Reduction in Price. IQly*: 1 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, ;1 ditto Mornington, £4O ; 1 Cottage, Chal len and Hodgson, £3B ; Bord,. £25 ; Broadwood, £26 ; also, American Organ, 5 stops, £3O. Address: Cameron st. west. 86a '< WANTED KNOWN— The Labgest and Best Stock of Saddlery Js to be found at the shop of S. STEPHENS, Tinwald. Good strong Cart Collars from 135.; Cart Winkers, Bs. 6d.; Plough Back-bands, Gs.. cash; Cart Saddles and .. Breechens, from 605.-; Reaping* Machine Pole Straps, 2a. Farmers will-: make a great saving by buying of. Ss -Stephens,/ \ Saddler, Tinwald.



TTTANTED KNOWN. Ashburton W REGISTRY OFFICE for Male and Female Servants.—L. F. Awobkwm begs to inform the public of and surrounding districts that he hsi" ' opened the above. Male and' Female . Servants of all classes provided. ’Em- 1 ployers requiring servants, and all persona with good recommendations, who are da want of situations, are requested to apply to L. F. Andkewes, Labor Agent, Book- ' - seller, and Stationer, East* street, South. ; 627.- WANTED KNOWN—That a Church of England minister’si that she saves Ten Shillings a Fortnight by using Harper Twelvetrees’ -Villa Washer, Wringer, and Mangier,' bom bined; and, although she permits no rubbing, the clothes are beautifully white* and much cleaner than when done by hand, while the saving in mending has > i been astonishing. Sold by J. HERN, Range Maker and Importer, come? of Manchester and Tuam streets. .Christy church ; Price—£9 10s. . 700 , WANTED KNOWN. SOMERSET LIVERY AND BAIT J STABLES. JW. M'RAE begs to inform the , public that he has taken the tbove r | Stables from Mr. Bossenberg, and is *- making extensive repairs. _ Buggies and saddle horses on hire! Lowest prices and best attention. 863 Meetings.



L gOMERSET LODGE. The Regular Monthly MEETING of thia Lodge will be held TO-MORROW (Friday) EVENING, at 7.30., in the Hall,. Tancred street; Visiting Brethren irir vited. By order of the W.M., TINWALD RACES AND ATHLETIC SPORTS. A MEETING of the COMMITTEE, and persons interested, will bo held at Scott’s Hotel on FRIDAY Evening next, the 25th instant, at 8 p.m. 164 a GEO. F. HENRY, Hon. Sea C. JEPHSON, 153 a Hon. Sec. / For Sale.



Poyntz & Co. HAVE FOR SALE, on advantageous and easy terms of payment, the following A HIGHLY-IMPROVED Farm of 600 Acres, t Within easy distance of Ashburton,..; Large Dwelling-house, Stable, and‘ all necessary Outbuildings, Running Creek through the property. 1 ■ MONEY for investmentj on approved- ~, security, in sums of £SO and upwards, at current rates 595



Public Notices. Grain Season, 1881. WE are prepared to inako ■ LIBERAL CASH ADVANCES against ship ments placed in our hands. We; have. Brokers of the highest standing in _Mark\ Lane, who will give every attention to Grain consigned through us, and obtain the extreme price for all shipments Farmers may intrust ,to our care. .We,_ have also established Agencies in Liver pool, Glasgow* Hull, Dublin,and Antwerp, and we can ship to any of these markets if so required. Our charges are regulated at the lowest rates. ' ' - J P. CUNNINGHAM & CO., T 13a Christchurch. *- OTI 0 E TO FA R M ETt S. The undersigned are PURCHASERS:,; of all descriptions of GRAIN delivered at their warehouses in Lyttelton, Timaru, Oamaru and Ashburton, or at any other railway station. .1 P. CUNNINGHAM & CO,,- ; , • 14a Christchurch. i For sale by auction, AT THE -I ASHBURTON YARDS, On Ist MARCH, , RAA TWO AND FOUR TOOTH pun MERINO EWES, From Westerlield. 166 a D. OLIVER. . * FUM AND FABCE I O<W-fcllows’ 'Concert • THE GUARDIAN is ott every Tea * Table in Ashburton. WASTE PAPER for Sale, 3d. per iW at the Go ardxan Office