SHIPPING.

PORT OP LYTTELTON. ‘ Arrived. Monday. Linnet, ketch, from Pigeon Bay. Yesterday. Wave of Life, schooner, from Hoki anga. . , Wairarapa, s.s., from Sydney via Auck land and Bast Coast ports. Sailed. r . Monday. Clematis, ketch, for Pelorus Sound. Eliza Firth, brigantine, for Greymouth. Catherine, ketch, forOkain’s Bay. Yesterday. Wairarapa, s.s., for Port Chalmers. Taiaroa,,s.a., for Wellington. E. and U. Cameron, schooner, for Hickory.

MAIL NOTICES.

Mails close at the Ashburton Post Office as follows For Christchurch and North at 6 a.m. 10.30 a.m., and 5 p. m., daily. For Chertsey slakaia 3 «fec., at 10.30 a. m. and 5 p.m. daily. For Dunedin, Tinwald, Wmslow, Hinds, Coldstream, Rangitata, Orari, Winchester, and Geraldine, at 10 a.m. daily. For Temuka, at 6 a.m. and 10 a.m., dftily. * For Timaru and South,'at 6 a.m., 10 AhVi and 430 p.m., daily. ’ • For GreeUstreet, on Tuesdays and In days, at 10.30 a.m. For Ashburton Forks on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 3.30 p. m. Fot Mount Somers, on Tuesdays and Saturdays, at 6 a.m. and 430 p.m. For Mayfield, on Tuesdays and Satur days, at 6 &.m. For Ashton, Waterton and Longbeach, at’43o p.m. daily. Jblor Flemington, on Mondays, Wednes cJays; and Fridays, at 4 30 p. m. For. Wakanui, Elgin, Seaview, Seafield, Noland, and Kyle, on Tuesdays, Thurs , daya, snd Saturdays, at 6.30 a. in. ATniln arrive at the Ashburton Post Office — From Christchurch and Rakaia at 10,15 jfflSf43s p. m., and 7.20 p. m. ®om'Ohertsey, &c. at 10.15 a.m. and 435 p.m. daily. From Dunedin and intermediate places at 5.80p.m. daily. . FtOSl'TeWuka and Timaru at 10.40 a. m. 5.30 p.m., and 8 p.m. daily. . From Greenstreet, Tuesdays and Fri days, at 3 p.m. From Ashburton Forks on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 10 a. m. From Mount Somers, on Tuesdays and Saturdays, at 10.5 a.m. and 8.15 p.m. Froffi Mayfield, on Tuesdays and .-atur days/at 10.5 a.m. From Ashton, Waterton, and Long beach at 10 a.m. daily. From Flemington on Tuesdays, Thurs days, and Saturdays, at 10 a.m. From Elgin, Wakanui, Seafield, New and, and Kyle, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, at 4 p.m.

DAILY MEMORANDA.

AUCTION SALES Friday, December 8. R. Wilkin and Co., at the Ashburton County Saleyards—Bo Horses. Saturday, December 9. At T. Bullock, at the Bazaar—Horses ; 1 p.m. , Ur Alfred Harrison, at the yards— Horses, Pigs, Produce, &c.; 12 noon. Mr W. F. Allen, at his rooms, Burnett street— Horses, Pigs, Poulti General Produce, &c. ; 11.30 a. m. Tuesday, December 12. Matson, Cox and Co., at the Ashburton i* yards—Stock. Saturday, December 16. Mr. T. Bullock, at, the Bazaar, Burnett it'oet—Landed Property ; 1 o’clock. MEETINGS, AMUSEMENTS, &c To-Night, - Wednesday, December 6. Horticultural Society, Monthly Meeting, Hi M. Jones’ room, 8 p.m. ' ■ To-morrow, . Thursday, December 7. L'D la—Monthly Meeting, Templar Hall. Monday, December 11. Lecture, by the Rev. J. S. Smalley Wesleyan Church. Borough Council, at Borough Council Chambers, at 7 o’clock. Saturday, December 16. Grand Temperance Demonstration —Ath- letic Sports, Tea Meeting, and Concert. ( ;r-, Wednesday, December 20. Fancy Fair and Tea Meeting, in aid of St . Stephen’s Church—Dr Trevor’s grounds /’ ' Friday, December 29. Somerset Lodge, Monthly Meeting, n the , ' Masonic Hall, Tancred street, 7.30. ’TV"'V". Monday, January 1. .Winslow Races and Sports. ,Wl * ; Tuesday, J anuary 2. »ahburton Permanent Building and In vestment Society, Monthly Meeting, from 6.30 t0'8.30 p.m. bdnesda y, January 3. Council, at the County Council Chambers, at 11 o’clock. SaiufeDAY, January 6. Wakanui Road Board—Monthly Meeting, Road Board Office. Moore street

TRAVELLERS’ GUIDE.

Leave Ashburton for Ohrist- T' ‘ intermediate stations at 7.10 10.55 a.m., and (Express) 5.39 'p.m. -Leave Ashburton for Timaru South, at 6. 50*a. m. , 10.25 a.m. •/' (Express), and 4. 45 p. m. —the latter pro ■ cfeeding no farther than Timaru. Trains Arrive at Ashburton from Christchurch at 10 20 a.m. (Express), ; 7.4.35 p.m., and 7.20 p.ra. ' Trains Arrive at Ashburton from Timaru and South at 10.45 a.m., 5.28 p.m. (Express), and 8 p.m.

NOTICE TO ADVERTISERS.

Advertisements for The Ashburton - Guardian must be sent in not later than 3 p.m., with the number of insertions written plainly on the copy, otherwise they will be inserted until counter manded, and charged accordingly. Re place Advertisements must be supplied the day previous to that on which, they are to be inserted. Special notices can be received up to 3.30 p.m., but will bo charged double rates. All notices of Births, Marriages, or Deaths must be accompanied by the sig nature of the sender, as a guarantee of good faith. All advertisements and business letters to be addressed The Manager ; literary communications should be addressed to The Editor.

BIRTH.

Macpherson. —At Tanored street, Ashbur toD, the wife of D. Macpherson, of a son.

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas, et Prevalebit. WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 6, 1882. Cabinet Ministers on Their Travels.

Mr Walter Johnston, in his capacity as Minister of Public Works, has been “ starring it ” in the southern provinces lately. Of course he has met with the usual experiences of severe inter viewing and repeated deputation ing. In Dunedin and Invercargill especially the requests for favors—or shall we call them demands for justice? —have been urgent ; but every little stopping-place has had a fair innings. To know what to do under such cir cumstances is one of those fine arts of which a prominent public man now re quires to possess some skill. Some Ministers assume the loftily virtuous, or Junius Brutus style of reply, snub the deputationists and inform them that the Ministry will consider the matter, but can promise nothing. This answers very well with a very strong Ministry in very secure places. Others, again, adopt, as far as they can, the method of the late Lord Palmer ston, are graceful and courteous, and replete with information of every kind except the particular reply that is asked for. This is, for common purposes, the most successful style. Some few, like Mr Larnach, in the Grey Adminis tration, promise everything to every town in succession, and then take good care to be far enough away when the time comes for performing. Then, lastly there are some, like Mr John ston, who appear to be perfectly frank and liberal into the bargain ; but their words have two meanings, and the one to be acted upon is not that which is generally understood at the time. At Christchurch, in the matter of the West Coast Railway, this was practised with entire success ; but, unfortunately, the Railway Commission arrived just afterwards with a very different tale to tell, and then the deputationists had to exclaim, like Bunthorne, in “ Patience,” “ hollow, hollow, hollow ! ” There are purists in politics who contend that all this word-fencing between Ministers and constituents ought to be stopped, and that it is utterly undignified and demoralizing, and that the Ministry to a man ought under all ordinary cir cumstances to be stuck fast in their offices at Wellington, uncharmed by the voices of the charmers, charm they never so wisely. Well, we are not so sure about that. New Zealand is a wide place, about a thousand miles long, and many Cabinet Ministers until they are installed in office know next to nothing about the wants of any locality except the one in which they may hap pen to have settled. How are they to know what various parts of the colony are like, unless they look at them? Now how are they to know what the people want, unless they cross-examine them on the spot ? Even the Supreme Court Judges go on circuit to different places every few months, and it would be cer tainly inconvenient for suitors in their Courts if they were always to remain at the seat of government. Or, to take an instance still more closely analogous, in mining cases on the goldfieds nothing is more common than for the Court to be adjourned in order that all the par ties concerned may visit the spot to which the dispute refers. And it is certain that it • is the general wish of people that Cabinet Ministers should visit the various localities under their jurisdiction from time to time. Sir Charles Duffy, who made use of these visitations more copiously than any other Cabinet Minister in Victoria, be fore or since, always retained a large share of the popularity he acquired in the remote parts of the colony, by his eagerness to get information, and his readiness to afford it to others. The Argus condemned him strongly, but there is no doubt that the people at large liked it. It has certainly had one great advantage. It has enabled him on his return to his own country to de liver the most instructive lectures on Victoria that have ever yet been given by any returned colonist. Of course, it very frequently, in fact almost always happens, that at some places Ministers are asked to promise what is not in their power to grant. They are sometimes

required to state that such and such a sum of money will be placed on the estimates for repairing a court-house, or improving a harbor, or making a rail way line. Such requisitions should at once be refused, because the subjects are properly within the sole adjudica tion and control of Parliament, not of any particular minister. But, on the other hand, a Minister may often find a new light thrown on some subject with which he is imperfectly acquainted previously by people on the spot, and in that case he may take notes and promise enquiry. Or, without com promising himself at all, he may give information as to the times and circum stances of changes coming into opera tion, or of works being begun, which information may be of great utility to be known in the locality where the en quiry is made. These are matters usually within his own'control, and sub ject to his own convenience, and it may be very advisable the public should know what he personally intends to do. On the whole, we should not like to see the custom of Ministers visiting various parts of the colony abolished, but it would be better for the country if they were more reticent of definite promises than they sometimes are.

The Dunedin Police and the “Act.”

—The Dunedin police yesterday secured convictions for raffling horses, and intend proceeding against the managers of the Benevolent Carnival for holding lotteries. Cricket. To-morrow and Friday a match will be played between a team selected from the local Banks and eleven town players, principally chosen from the Ashburton Cricket Club. Play will com mence each day at 4 p. in. Memoranda. —Messrs Andrewes Bros, announce that they have just opened up a choice lot of Christmas goods.—Messrs D. Macpherson and C>. announce that they will, on Monday 11th inst., re-open the City Butchery establishment, and will be prepared to supply prime meat.

Homeward and Australian Mails. — Mails for Australian Colonies, United Kingdom, etc., via Hobart, will close at the Bluff, per s.s. Wairarapa, on Friday, at noon. —Mails for the United Kingdom, etc., per s.s. Sorrento, via Suez Canal, will close at Port Chalmers to-morrow (7th) at 11 a.m.

Auckland v. Canterbury. —The match Auckland y. Canterbury termina-ed yes terday, and resulted in a win for the Can terbury team by 27 runs. The opposing teams appears to have been very equally matched on the whole, although the Northerners are admitted to be stronger in some departments of the game than the Christchurch men. The Aucklanders have gone to We lington, where they play on Friday and Saturday. Banquet to Archibald Forbes. —Mr Archibald Forbes was banquetted last night at Dunedin, the affair being under the auspicies of the Caledonian Society. Between 60 and 70 were present, in cluding many of the leading residents. Mr Bathgate proposed the toast of the even ing in a happy speech, referring to the many gifted men of the Forbes family for generations past. Mr Forbes, in reply, made a humorous speech, which was greatly applauded.

The Burning of the Milton Pottery Works. —Concerning the fire at Milton Pottery Works yesterday’s Bruce Herald says : —" It was at first considered by some that the fire breaking out where it did could only have been the work of an incendiary, but we have since learnt that a quantity of wet straw had been lying in the shed for some weeks. This would, undoubtedly, heat, and as fresh straw was placed upon it the previous day this may have caused the fire. Nothing can be known for certain as to the intentions of the Company until the directors meet, but it is most probable that temporary appli ances will be put up, so that as many of the hands may be employed as possible, and the works kept from remaining at a standstill.

Sunflower Culture. —“ Ango-Austra lian ” in the European Mail writes :—A curious industrial project has just been brought under my notice. This is no thing less than planting sunflowers in some at present rather unproductive lands in the Thames Valley. One of the main objects of the present scheme is to obtain oil—one acre of sunflowers usually yielding fifty bushels of seeds and each bushel a gallon of excellent oil. It happens, moreover, that the sunflower supplies the best bee food in the world, and as in New Zealand and certain parts of the Austral continent bees abound, it might be worth while, perhaps, to jtake the hint and combine bee keeping with oil culture. The two pursuits would surely be very profitable if systematically carried out. Not long ago, in San Diego, California, one bee master raised six thousand pounds’ weight of sound mercan tile honey in a single year. The sun flower, by the way, is, I believe, really indigenous to Central America, and there frequently attains the amazing height of 20ft, and forms a conspicuous and splendid object even in the midst of the startling flora of that subtropical region.

The new Governor of Western Aus tralia.—ln our cablegrams this evening we notice with pleasure that an old Can terbury resident, Mr F. N. Broome, who arrived here in 1857, hut returned to England in 1869, has been pr to the governorship of Western Australia. Mr Frederick Napier Broome occupied a sheep station in the Malvern district, near the Waimakariri river, for some years, and it was at this spot his wife, Lady Barker wrote her work, “Station Life in New Zealand.” Mr Broome, during his residence in Canterbury, wrote several poems, which commanded no little atten tion from the literary world. He also took an active interest in literary work, contributing a number of well written articles to tho London Times and other journals This resulted in his getting an important office in the former influential paper, which he immediately left New Zealand to fill. We take the following from the “ Men of the Time “ Broome, Frederick Napier, son of tho late Rev. F. Broome, rector of Adderley, Hampshire, was born in Canada in 1842, and emigrated to Canterbury, New Zea land, in 1857. Visiting England in 1864, he married Lady Barker, returned to his sheep station in New Zealand tho follow ing year, but in 1869 came back to Eng land. Almost immediately on his arrival in London, Mr Broome was employed on the Times, and was for five years one of the special correspondents of that journal, which he represented in Russia at the marriage of tho Duke of Edinburgh. He has hold the posts of Secretary t > the Committee tor the completion of St Paul’s Cathedral, also to tho Royal Commission on unaeaworthy ships. He has contri buted prose and verse to the “ Cornhill,” “Macmillan,” and other magazines, and has published two vols. of poetry “Poems from New Zealand, 1868,” and “ I'he Stranger of Scriphos, 1869.” In February, 1875, Mr Broome was appointed Colonial Secretary of Natal, and in Feb ruary, 1878, Colonial Secretary of the Island of Mauritius.” This makes the second Canterbury sheep owner and run holder who has been appointed to tho offi.e of Governor of Western Australia, Mr A. Weld, at one time a resident of Canterbury, having filled that office. What makes Mr Broome’s appointment more pleasing is the fact that he is a self taught man, and has risen through great energy to his present proud position. Wo hope he may long enjoy it.

Jem Mace and Slade;— Jetn Mace and Slade, after giving a boxing exhibition in the Theatre Royal, left Auckland by the mail steamer for San Francisco. Sunstroke. —Two cases of sunstroke occurred at Queenstown a few days ago, one being attended with fatal results. In both children were the sufferers, and and the one that succumbed was aged ten years.

The Spiritualistic Healer. —Milner Stephen, Spiritualist, arrived at Auckland from Sydney by the Australia. He in tends lecturing on his alleged healing powers. This man created quite a furore in Sydney, and his door was daily be seiged by hundreds of the lame, halt, and blind who professed, many of them, at least, to derive great benefit from his ‘‘laying on of hands.” A Thrifty Man. —The fallowing shows what may be done by “ turning every thing to account,” as the old adage says. The liangitikei Advocate mentions that Mr Wm. McDougal, who has taken up land in the Kiwitea, when the road line was felled and cleared, sowed grass seed on it, and had such a fine crop that he cut the grass and saved the seed, the re sult being that he had enough seed to sow 30 acres of land. Bicycling. —Messrs H. A. LeCren and D. G. Moore, two young bicyclists of Timaru, says the Herald, last Thursday took a trip to Oamaru and back on wheels. They started about 2 a.m., and running against the wind, reached Oamaru at 11 o’clock. They started back at half-past 2, and reached St Andrew’s about half-past 8, and it being then dark, they finished the journey homeward in an.express. The distance “cycled,” about 95 miles, is a very good day’s journey.

A Jockey Amongst the Ladies.— At a ladies’ hack parade on a recent afternoon at the Blenheim Show, some amusement was caused, so says the local Times, when it was discovered that one of the lady riders was not a lady at all, but a well known jockey, who had donned female attire in order to enter for the competition. Any student of anatomy could see at a glance that the jockey referred to did not represent the female form divine, but there were very many present who re garded him as a very swarthy, awkward descendant of Eve. Carbolic Acid as a Cure tor Con sumption.—We clip the following from a Melbourne exchange :—“A gentleman suffering from consumption, and being annoyed greatly by mosquitos, placed pure carbolic acid at his be iside. It not only proved a protection against them, but it is reported it had a very benefi.ial effect on his lungs. The remedy is so simple that anyone afflicted with this disease would o well to give it a trial. The carbolic vapor inhaled destroyed the bacilli. Carbolic acid possesses many valuable properties, probably many not yet recognised practically.”

The Murder Near Auckland. —The inquest on the body of Ellen Crowley was held yesterday at Whitefoord Park Tuna nga creek, near Auckland, by Captain Kellop, Mr Hesketh watched the case for the prisoner, who was present under police escort. The evidence of the daugh ter wont to show that the affair was the result of sudden frenzy on her father’s part. Hesketh’s cross-examination of the witness was to set up the plea of tem porary insanity. Some of the jurors wanted t) aid a rider of temporary in sanity, but the coroner told them it was not a question for their consideration. A ver dict of “ Wilful murder ” was returned. A Powerful Mushroom: —A striking instance of the enormous power of cell growth is given by Public Opinion, as hav ing occurred a short time since in a grain elevator at Buffalo, New York State. “ The asphalte flooring was over a foot thick, in two layers. The upper layer was seven inches thick, laid hot, rolled down, and thoroughly cooled four years ago. Below was an old floor of tar and gravel six inches thick. A curious bulge in the floor was first noticed, covering about a square foot. In six hours the floor was burst open, and a perfectly formed mushroom, with a stem two inches through, and a very wide cap, made Us appearance. Elsewhere the floor is smooth and unbroken.” Sale of Crown Lands. —The last num ber of the Government Gazette contains a notification respecting a sale of Crown lands at the Town Hall, Ashburton, on Tuesday, 16th January, from which it appears that upon the above date between 30 and 40 sections in the town of Ash burton, of about 1 rood each, will be sub mitted to auction, the upset price aver aging Ll2 per lot. A number of rood sections in the township of Orari (upset price L 7 10a), suburban land at Orari, land on the north bank of the Rangitata, and deferred payment land, Rangitata and Tinwald, will also be offered at the same time ; and on 17 th January, at Messrs Davies and Co. ’s salerooms, Rakaia, two 1 rood sections, township of Rakaia will be submitted, the upset price being Ll2 10s ; also three lots, township of Horndnn, and 17 sections ranging from 2 to 5 acres each ; suburban laud, Rakaia; and five 5 acre sections, deferred payment land, Rakaia village settlement.

Postage Stamvs. —We have received from the proprietor, Mr D. A. Viudin, of Sydney, the first number of the New South Wales Philatelist {a. quarterly journal for stamp collectors), a neatly got up little eight-page publication, full of interesting matter for those whose hobby lies in the direction of amassing postage stamps. The pursuit would appear to be a popular one, according to the journal under notice for the editor tells us—“As evidence of the spread of philately, there are at pre sent published to my knowledge 8 papers in Great Britain, 16 in the United States, 1 in Brazil, 1 in Chili, 2 in Columbia, 4 in Canada, 2 in France, 1 in Switzerland, 2 in Denmark, 1 in Spain, 1 in lloumania, 7 in Austria, 10 in Germany, 3 in Bel gium, 1 in Japan, and 1 in Russia, making a total of 60 published in 9 different lan guages. Of stamp papers that have not survived to date, there are over 500.” We must confess that until we saw the Philatelist we had no conception that stamp collecting occupied such a dignified position as it would appear to ■ njoy. Hero is an extract quoted by the Philate list, from the Court Journal: —“Stamp collecting is not at all confined to school boys, but has a la ge number of votaries of every age in all known quarters of the globe. South American Republics and distant colonies have as ardent collec’ors as Europe, while every capital and many important cities have their Philatelic So cieties. There is as much difference be tween a collection of high order and that of a schoolboy, as there would be were the object entomology or numismatics. The vast amount of labor and research given to the subject by leading amateurs would astonish anyone who held it as a trivial pursuit, eg, ‘ The postage, and telegraph stamps of Great Britain,’ lately issued by our President, Mr F. A. Phil brick, under the auspices of the London Philatelic Society. Many collectors spend hundreds annually, and LI,OOO to L 1,500 is not a big price for a collection. One collection recently brought LB,OOO, and there is one existing far more valuable. A fairly good collection, such as now, would number 30,000 specimens. Last year L 240 was given for two stamps, issue value Id and 2d, postmarked, and issued in Mauritius in 1849. After this, old china is of small account.” We once heard of a man whose hobby was collect ing turnpike tickets, and had in our igno rance hardly ranked old postage stamps much higher than the literature of the “ pike.” We know better now. Still, wo fancy we should think twice or even thrice before parting witli L 240 for a couple of obsolete letter stamps.

ShOW.-c— A list of special private prizes in connection with the approaching Summer 'Floorer Show will elsewhere; : ' Rifles. —Ten members of the Company mustered, at the rifle range this raoinihg at fiVie o’clock, and v > are glad to notice that the shooting showed an improvement on previous records. Cap tain Douglas and Sergeant Vaughan were top scorers with 41 points each, Private. J. Leitch being next with 36. Coming to Ashburton. — We are glad to learn that definite arrangements have been made for the appearance in Ashbur ton, for one night; of the king of war correspondents, Archibald Forbes. A resident in town got a telegram yesterday announcing that Mr Forbes would lecture hero on the night of the 15th inst.

Cheap Beer. —The latest freak of the Melbourne larrikins is to victimise the Carlton Brewery by abstracting ale there from without going through the process of paying for it. They have rigged up a syphon of a somewhat ingenious kind, which they insert at night time through one of the open places in the wall into one of the casks in the interior. The beer is thus drawn off, and the thieves have thus been enabled to obtain a supply of liquor without much difficulty.

Ashburton Licensing Committee.— The quarterly meeting of this Committee was held to-day at Tinwald. Present— Messrs H. T. Winter, D. McLean, W. H. Zouch, and J. Iveas. Mr Winter, in the absence of Mr Grigg, was voted to the chair. The police report of the licen sed houses in the district was read and found satisfactory. The transfer of the Waterton Hotel from Patrick O’Shan nasaey to John Mager was confirmed. An account for the rent of the hall was passed, and the Committee adjourned.

Free Passes fob School Children Wanted. —A deputation from the Dune din School Committee waited on the Hon. Mr Johnston yesterday asking that once a year school children should be granted a free railway ticket into the country for the benefit of their health and to visit their friends. Mr Johnston, in reply, said all concessions made in connection with educational matters must be done by the Minister of ; Education. He ’ (Mr Johnston) sit there simply as a carrier’, and if the Minister of Education desired to issue free railway passes to anyone, all he had to do was to apply to him for them, and get them on paying for them. The matter was beyond his province.

A Touch of the Gold Fever in Wel lington. was quite a flutter, in town on Monday, says the Wellington Times of Friday last, about the Empire Gold Mine, a newly-opened claim at Tera whiti. At quite an early hour a well known sharebroker was making anxious inquiries for Empire stock, much to the astonishment of shareholders, no one on the directory, of the Umpire company having received late intimation from the mine manager of any find, good, bad, or indifferent, in the workings. We believe the industrious sharebroker found his re ward in securing some four thousand shares from unwitting holders, at prices varying from L2O the thousand to Is 6d per share. As the day waned, however, prices stiffened, and shortly after sunset the mine manager (Mr Hewitt) made his appearance at the office of Mr Ladd, the legal manager, with a parcel of very good specimens, and the gratifying information that the lode had widened out to 4 feet, and was showing good golden stone. He was quite astonished to hear of the excite ment in town, as he was under the impres sion that no one knew of the find but himself, but at the same time remarked that he noticed the stone he had left in the tunnel on Saturday night had been turned over, and some of it, apparently, abstracted. Also, he observed some people about the claim yesterday after noon, and his suspicions being excited ;he hurried into town and reported progress to the directory. He was,, however, too late to avert the “ having ” of two or three shareholders taken off their guard. That, however, is about the extent of the raid. The stock is now well held, and we believe that the utmost dispatch will be used to put machinery on the ground, and make the Empire mine pay its way. This news is very gratifying, as it shows that the Terawhiti goldfield is likely to come to the front after all as a substantial pro ducer. The Empire claim is situated on the face of a steep hill, the base of which is washed by Cook Strait; Ohau Bay is just beyond it. It is about three miles from the Albion claim. The specimens brought in by the manager showed gold freely, whilst the stone was of a very su perior character.

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Melbouenb, Nov. 30. Sir William Jervois is now on a visit to the Governor. The University have appointed five new Professors. Sir W. J. and Mr Joseph Clark have been banq netted by the Council of Trinity College, in recognition of their magnificent donations. Sydney, Nov. 30. Great excitement is caused by tho elec tions, and there is a generd impression that Government will not secure a majority in the new House. The criminal Cunningham was executed at Goulbourn on Wednesday. He was quite callous to the last, and cursed the Queen horribly. No clergymen were pre sent. Valuable city properties were offered for sale on the 20th, Punch’s, corner Pitt and King streets, being passed in at L 31,000, and Hoffman’s store in Pitt ■treat at L 45,000. > ■ ■ Operations on the Austral are sus pended owing to a cablegram received from London. The Board intended pumping the vessel out by hydraulic pro cess. A meeting of tho Church of England clergy passed a resolution in favor of open air preaching to the masses where neces sary and practicable. The amount owing by Saber and Com pany in this colony amounts to about L 6,000, Adelaide, Nov. 30. Mr J. H. Angus has sold some of his northern runs to a company, the price paid being from L 300,000 to L 350,000.

THE MURDER NEAR AUCKLAND.

The Inquest. [by telegraph.] Auckland, To-day. Tho inquest on Mrs Crowley took place yesterday, at Whitefoord Park Farm. Mr Hesketh watched the procoedin s on behalf of the prisoner, who seemed the least interested person in the Court. His manner was listless and indifferent. He seated himself on the hob of the fireplace, and did not move for hours or manifest the slightest comprehension of what was transpiring. Towards the close, appar ently wearied of the sitting posture he had assumed, he stood up. A pitiful object he seemed to be : his manner absent, his features pale, and set off by his dark scrubby whiskers, their pallor seemed greater. The evidence of Crowley’s daughter, Mr Frater, and others waa taken. Several witnesses gave evidence to the effect that since the fall prisoner sustained a fortnight ago his manner had been stranger. One witness, •Ambrose Trust, deposed to the change in his manner as well as looks. He did not seem to be as lively as he was before, or so communicative, but appeared depressed and to have lost his spirits. “He was generally very communicative with me,” said this witness, “ when we met, but he

was not V(T on this occasion It appeared * to me that the man’s health was failing, - and that he had suffered some shockJ Ten days ago I advised him to sea a doc tor, and this was repeated during the week, and again was repeated last Saturday by Mr Frater, Mr Hack, and myself. Dr. Fitzgerald, who ex amined the body of the murdered woman, ’ deposed that there was a large wound on the right temple, a triangular wound four inches wide and five inches long, extend ing deep into the base of the brain close v to that over the right eye, there was an -ether triangular wound four inches wide and four inches deep, also into thO base of the brain. The whole of the orbit of the right eye was gone, and the forehead wtt& r . smashed to bits. The roof of the mouth, the upper jaws on both sides and the teeth were gone. : The lower j»w was i gone on both sides, and there was not a whole tooth r in Iter head. All were smashed to powder. The first wound would cause instant death. The others were given after she was dead. : After a verdict pf “ Wilful murder ” had been re turned, the prisoner had an interview “ 1 with his daughter, and the former subsa-;. quently made provision for the daughter’s maintenance. " , ’ f

THE TRANSIT OF VENUS.

To-morrow the much-talked of frajasit' of Venus across the sun’s disc will take place. In practical astronomy, remarks an exchange, the standard of measure ment used is the sun’s distance from the ! earth ; and by the aid of this astronomi cal yard-measure, as' it has been teemed, the relative distances of the planets, and fixed stars are gauged, and various calcu lations are made. It will be readily under- ■ stood, therefore, that astronomers have’ ’ been, and still are, specially anxious that their standard of measurement should be unmistakably known, and that every op portunity for testing its accuracy Should be taken advantage of. For this purpose (determining the sun’s average distance)* the passing of Venus between us' and the?*-, sun affords us the most reliable means of obtaining the necessary data. The first recorded observation oF ,( the transit of Venus took place December 4, 1639, the next on June 5, 1671, the next on June 3rd, 1769, and after to-morrow there will be no transit until June 7, 2004, another taking place on June 5, 2012. Therefore this is the last oppor tunity that the present dwellers on the earth will have of witnessing the transit of fenus. We are told that “ The whole duration of the transit will not be visible in this colony. The external contact at ingress takes place at Ih. 46min, ISsecs. a.m., New Zealand mean time, and con sequently when the sun rises the transit of Venus across the sun's disc will be in progress. What observers stationed fh Australia and New Zealand have to direct their attention to is the internal contact at egress, that is to say when the outer edges of both the sun and the planet pear to coincide. This takes place at. ’ about 7h. 21miu. 46sec., and the external contact at 7b. 42min. dsec. on the morn ing of Thursday. ” We have keard that a card perforated with a fine needle makes an excellent medium through which to watch the sun, and is preferable for that purpose, to smoked glass.

CETEWAYO AND THE TEE TOTALLERS.

Cetewayo received at his residence in London a deputation from the Na tional Temperance League, whose ob ject was to urge upon the Zulu monarch the desirability of discouraging the use of intoxicants in Zululand. Cetewayo, speaking through his interpreter, replied that as a nation his people were abste mious, and were not accustomed to partake of spirituous liquors. The beer which they used, and which was actu ally a food, was like gruel, and not like intoxicants, which were death. There was an order or proclamation issued tjy him that spirits should not be introduced or allowed to enter his country, and t he proclamation would certainly be made on his return. I think, however, added Cetewayo, that the right place to shut the door is the side from which the spirits come. It is no good shutting the door on my side, for I have no distilleries, and I think the proper way would be for you to tell the Govern ment to assist my placing restrictions upon the introduction of spiritiouS liquors into my country, because bor der people may transgress and disre gard the law without my knowledge. Really, the sable ruler added, the pro per places of restriction are at the boun daries of ray territory. The deputation thanked the monarch, and withdrew. >

THE FRENCH PRISON SYSTEM.

Writing of French houses of cor rection, the Cornhill states that the “ prisoners are allowed to smoke in Parisian gaols, and a very sensible pro vision this is, for it prevents the illicit traffic in tobacco which brings so many prisoners and warders to trouble in Eng lish prisons, and it also supplies a ready means of punishing a refractory prisoner. Frenchmen decline to admit that order cannot be kept in a gaol without corporal punishment. As a rule French prisoners behave ex ceedingly well, because they know that they can greatly alleviate the hardships of their position by so doing. For a first offence, a man’s tobacco and wine will be cut off for a week; for a second he may be forbidden to purchase any thing at the canteen for a month; if he perseveres in his folly he will be pro hibited from working, that is, from earning money, and will be locked up in a cell to endure the misery of utter solitude and idleness. If this severe measure fails and the man becomes ob streperous, he will be straight-waist coated and put into a dark padded cell, where he may scream and kick at th« walls to his heart’s content. To these rational methods of coercion the most stubborn natures generally yield. It must be confessed, however, that there are certain desperate characters who delight in giving trouble, and who, un tamed by repeated punishment will often commit murderous assaults upon warders, chaplain, or governor out of sheer bravado. It would really be a mercy to flog these men, for a timely infliction of the lash would frighten them into good behaviour, and often save them from the worse fate of life long reclusion. There are no cranks or treadwheels in French prisons. These barbarous methods for wasting the energies of men in unprofitable labor are condemned by the good sense of a people who hold that it is for the public interest as well as the good of the prisoners themselves the men in confinement should be so employed as to make them understand the blessed ness of honest labor. In their treat ment of untried prisoners, too, the French are much more humane than we. What can be more cruel and foolish than to force an untried man, who may be innocent, to spend several months in complete idleness, as is done

THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 188*2.



CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR CARDS —A Large and Splendid Assortment ; -comprising all the Newest Designs in Great Variety.— Andrewes Bros., Book sellers, Stationers, etc., East street south, Ashburton. d 6 YOU WANT GOOD and ' , STRONG FURNITURE, ■ ti i i GO TO DAVIS’S -CHEAP FURNITURE AND BED- Mvh'H ding MANUFACTORY, EAST STREET SOUTH, ■>!'' ASHBURTON. YAUnf-'" ' - ■ ■ :■ " , ■■ ™?|jiVEßy article Sold at Christchurch n J-J and guaranteed best of material and workmanship. FUNERALS ■ losimir & COMFLETEX.T FOBNIBHSDj



Wanted WANTED —A Strong BOY for Black smith’s shop. Apply Office of this Paper. 30n WANTED, for a Station—A good SHEPHERD, with dogs ; also a COOK.— Jameson and Roberts. d 4 WANTED, by a steady and energetic man, a SITUATION of trust in an office, or any capacity. References to be seen at the Office of this Paper. n 29 WANTED TENDERS—For SINK ING a SHAFT 34ft. Apply at once, S. Hafdley, East street. d 4 -TYTANTED—Everybody to buy CAN VV TERBDRY CO MIC A LMANAC, to be had of J. C. Duncan and Agents everywhere. n 24 WANTED EVERYBODY to know that Hayes and Co.’s is the Cheapest House in Town for CLOTHING and DRAPERY. an 12 WANTED KNOWN Friedlander Bros.’ is the cheapest house in town for first-class Drapery. 10 per cent, discount, or 2s off every £ for cash. d 5 WANTED -TENDERS for Cutting- Tying (with twine or flax), Stook, ing, and Carting into Stack or to Machine about 50 Acres of GRASS, within two miles of Ashburton. JAMESON & ROBERTS, Ashburton. Tenders must be sent in on or before SATURDAY, 9th inst. d 5 WANTED —The Ladies of Ashburton to inspect my Large and Well selected Stock ofFANCY STATIONERY, BOOKS, NEW MUSIC, Etc., all at Dunedin prices. GEO. F. HENRY, an 5 Saunders’ Buildings. TTT'aNTED KNOWN—That Robert V\ Elston, Burnett street, Ashbur ton, having procured the newest appara tus, is prepared to Sweep Chimneys at very low rales. Any orders left at the Town Hall will receive prompt attention. ANTED KNOWN. That BONEDUST, specially prepared for drilling with carrots, mangolds, etc., can be obtained from the undersigned. F. MAYO, Hampstead Bone Mills. ANTED KNOWN—It is Mr Lan caster’s intention to extend his Bread Business, and he wishes his cus tomers to know he has secured Mr Thomas Hicks to manage that branch. A Cart will be run with Bread alone, independent of the other Two Carta, which will con tinue to run as before. The name of Mr Hicks will be a sufficient guara tee that, under his management, Bread of unex ceptionable quality will be turned out of the FREETRADE BAKERY, East street — R. Lancaster, Proprietor. 240



Special Advertisements. CLEARING SALE. CHEAP BOOTS AND SHOES, C. HAWKINS Invites his friends and the public to in spect his large stock of and Shoes, at sweeping prices. C. HAWKINS, Ashburton and Tinwald. N.B. —All Accounts owing to the above must be settled at once. QHRISTMAS PRESENTS. JUST OPENED UP, A Large and Choice Selection of FANCY GOODS TOYS PRIZE BOOKS. &c., &c., &c. Andrewes Bros., BOOKSELLERS, STATIONERS, &c. East street south, Ashburton. n!5 XETTS’ DTARIE >, Office and Pocket, J for 1883. JOSEPH COOK’S LECTURES. B~ IBLES, CHURCH SERVICES and PRAYER-BOOKS. CRICKETING MATERIAL— Gloves, Footballs, etc. FIRE SCREENS, Stove Ornaments, jold and Silver Shavings. ELOPHONES. MELOPHOSES.— The newest and most wonderful Musical Instrument before the public— far surpassing the Orguinette in Utility, Sweetness Tone, and Price. Any child can play it. mHE PICTORIAL HISTORY OP THE WORLD, just issued by the National Publishing Company of America, Contains a vast amount of information, admirably printeo, profusely illustrated, and handsomely bound. Subscribers wanted. ACCOUNT BOOKS— Various Sizes and Descriptions.



s 0 HOOL BOOKS And Requisites. NVELOPBS, Business, Official, and Fancy, Toys, fancy goods, WOOLS. CREWEL PIANOS, HARMON. VMS, ORGANS AND MUSIC. H YMNS (Ancient and Modern), Wes leyan and Presbyterian HYMN BOOKS. Foolscap and account sales paper. N O T E PAPE Various Sizes and Qualities. R, H. M. Jones, BURNETT ST. & BARING SQUARE. Bookbinding Executed in All Branches. Great OF A LARGE SALVAGE STOCK OF FURNITURE! FURNITURE! Furniture ! Also, a large quantity of NEW and SECOND-HAND FURNI TURE-CHEAP. All kinds of Turnery, Carving, &c. Bedroom and Drawing-room Suites, John Meech, BURNETT STREET, Ashburton. Showrooms —Next Bullock’s Arcade Workshop—Next Mail



Special Advertisements. fJIRY THE NEW ZEALAND Clothing Factory For every article of MEN’S, YOUTHS’ AND BOYS’ CLOTHING, SHIPPING AND TRAVELLING OUTFITS ; Also for CHOICE NEW GOODS In HATS, HOSIERY, SHIRTS, TIES, PORTMANTEAUX, RUGS, BLANKETS, &o. HIGHEST AWARD AND SPECIAL HONORARY MENTION At DUNEDIN INDUSTRIAL EXHI BITION ; Also, .TWO PRIZE MEDALS AND SPECIAL CERTIFICATE Awarded at CHRISTCHURCH EXHIBITION. Seventeen Retail Branches now open in the Colony. A SINGLE ARTICLE AT THE WHOLESALE PRICE. Ashburton Branch: east street. W. SPARROW, Manager. sl9 QOAL. COAL. COAL. We have now IN STOCK, ex Con ference, a large supply of the Old Lambton Coal. This is the BEST HOUSE COAL imported. 18n TUCKER, RESTELL & CO.



■vrOTICE TO BLACKSMITHS, iM BREWERS, AND OTHERS. Just landed, ex Mary Campbell, from Greymouth, a supply of the CELEBRATED Brunner Coal, The best procurable for blacksmith and steam purposes. n 27 TUCKER, RESTELL A CO.



We have now IN STOCK and for sale, ex vessels from Kaipara, a large assort ment of DRESSED AND UNDRESSED Kauri Timber, including sizes to suit all requirements of the Building Trade. WELL - SEASONED TIMBER for Joiners and Cabinetmakers. Also, from Foxton, ex Awaroa and Forest Queen, Totaral Black Pine, of the best quality to be obtained. 021 TUCKER, RESTELL & CO.



N OTICE TO FARMERS. THE NEW ZEALAND GRAIN AGENCY AND MERCANTILE COM PANY, LIMITED, Are supplying Woolpacks, Full size and three-quarters, at LOW RATES. LIBERAL Cash Advances ON GROWING CROPS, AND ON LARGE or SMALL CLIPS of WOOL, At LOW RATES of Interest. They are also Sole Agents for Messrs Samuelson and Sons’ new REAPER & TWINE BINDER. Mr Ernest Samuelson, during his recent visit to New Zealand, was present at most of the reaper and binder trials, and the experience he then gained has enabled his firm to incorporate the latest English and American improvements in the Machines they are sending us for next season. We ha-e every confidence in recommending them as the most DURABLE, COMPLETE, & SIMPLE Machines yet manufactured. G. STEAD, Managing Director. P. CUNNINGHAM, Consulting Director. W. HORNE, 12au Agent, Ashburton.



The Smith Organ, Made expressly for churches, very strong and plain case, twenty stopi, octave couplers, grand swell, twenty-nine pedal notes of two tegisters (equal to fifty-eight notes), double exhausting bellows (to blow by hand for full power, but a foot lever can be used for the soft organ'. Altogether a complete powerful church organ at a comparative small cost, and combining the stops and swells of the pipe organ coating four times the amount. Any ordinary player can use this organ. Guaranteed for five years. These organs are imported at special low prices for churches, and sold on terms to suit customers. Organs exchanged if not satisfactory. Further particulars from H. J. WEKKS. MUSIC SELLER, ASHBURTON. Agent for C. Begg & Co. Importers, Government publications. District Court Rules, Land Transfer Handy-Book and Acts, Joint Stock Com panies Acts, &0., on Sale at Office of this Paper^



Special Advertisements. The mutual fire & marine INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW ZEALAND. The undersigned beg to intimate that the above Company has started Business in Ashburton, and that they have been appointed Agents, and are now prepared to receive proposals for INSURANCE. Premiums at a Discount of 25 per cent, off past current rates, o 2 TUCKER, RESTELL & CO. mHE SCOTTISH IMPERIAL IN .L SURANCE COMPANY. Head Office; 151, West George street, Glasgow. Capital ... £1,000,000 FIRE RISKS taken at lowest current rates. Claims promptly settled here. W. R. BOYLE, n 7 Agent, Ashburton.



Thomas Taylor, ■jgAKER AND CONFECTIONER, East street. WEDDI N G CAKE S To Order. Manufacturer of CIDER AND OTHER CORDIALS,