SHIPPING.

TORT OP LYTTELTON.

Arrived. Yesterday. Vision, brig, from Kaipara. Wakatu, a.s., from BtatHarbor. Pelican, brigantine, from Kaipara. Antelope, cutter, from Akaroa. Dove, cutter, fromAkaroa. Gipsy, ketch, from 4,karq^. ' To-day. s,s. ,from Port Chalmers.. Hawes,. s.s.yjfroTn Port Chalmers. Sailed. ... , , Yesterday.: , Wakatu, s. s., for Boat Harbor.

SHIPPING TELEGRAMS. ‘ ! ' Auckland, Yesterday. SjiiJed-r-'Pclen for Kew York; Columbia, fo^NapierTSy re ß»^ Ol l^ 'llaipara. ... . 'Wellington, Yesterday. Arrived—On ward, schooner, from Grey fdutK: Wanaka, from the. South ; Hawea, j om Nelson' arid Picton; G<v Ahead, from Spier; Wakatipu, from Sydney, r j -sad , Greymouth, Yesterday.' The Grafton sailed North this evening, i Timaru, Yesterday. Arrived—-Magellan Cloud, from Auck-| land. • ' ■ ' T , Sailed—Jane Anderson, for Wellington. | Mi. 7 is, Dunedin, Yesterday. Arriy ed'—Ringarooma, from Melbourne,; ®AWa*M, from the North; Annie Wilson, from Kaipara. : ’ r --’ f ■■

MAIL NOTICES.

Mails close at the Ashburton Post Office as follows ; . i For 1 Christchurch and North at 6 a.m. 10.30 a,to.j and 5 p.m., daily. __'Por Chertsey Rakaia, &c., at 10.30 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily. ■'Vfit Duhedin, Tjnwald, Winslow, Hinds, deldstream, Eangitata, Orari, -And; Geraldine, at 10 s.m. daily. For Temuka, at 6 a.m. and 10 a.m., daily. ■ For Timaru, and South, at 6 a.m., 10 a. m. , and 430 p. m., daily. For Greenstreet, on Tuesdays and Fri . rdays, at 10.30 a. m. ~ For Ashburton Forks on Wednesdays 6 and Saturdays at 330 p.m. •‘ !!i Fdr ‘ Mount Somers; on Tuesdays and c Saturdays, at 6 a.m. and 430 p.m. -sK:For Mayfield, on Tuesdays and Satur gdaya, at 6 a. m. For Ashton, Waterton and Longbeadi, “lrtr49o p.m. daily. For Flemington, on Mondays, Wednes “ flays; and Fridays, at43op.ua. • ( AFs>r:-Wakanui, F.lgin, Seaview, Seafield; Newland, and Kyle, on Tuesdays, Thurs days, and Saturdays, at 6.30 a.m.

Mails arrive at. the r Aahburton Post Office — ; _ I and Rakaia at 10.15 i.m., 4.35 p.m., ahdtf.2o p.m. From Ohertsey, &cv at 10.15 a.m. and 4,35 p.m. dailyjtKA.r:-o ! l I ; Frdm Dunedin and intermediate places SiSO p.m. daily. From Temujka and Timara at 10.40 a. m. 6.30 p.m., and-8 daily.' ; From Gifeenstreet,. Tuesdays and Fri days, at 3 p.m. From Ashburton Forks on Wednesdays TmdSaturdayaat 10 a.m. From Mount Somers, on Tuesdays and Saturdays, at 10.5 a. m. and 8.15 p. m. From Mayfield, on Tuesdays and batur htfiaysi ‘at 10.5 a.m. From Ashton, Waterton,. and Long heach at 10 a. m s daily. - ■ i From Flemington>on Tuesdays, Thurs bodaly*} and Saturdays, at 10 a. m. '* From Elgin, Wakanui, Seafield, .’New and, and Kyle, oh Tuesdays, Thursdays, ~-»nd»aturdays, at 4.p.m.

DAILY MEMORANDA.

AUCTION SALES ; Friday, December 22. ' j Matson, Cpx, and Co., at Tinarald—Tim beirj Ironmongery,- &c,; It-a.ro. ! Saturday; December 23. I Matson, ‘ Cpx, and Go,, at their Bazaar+- Lauded Property,/ Agricultural Imple n*(di»ts; Horsfes, Cows, Pigs, Poultry, Sundries, &c.; 11.30 a. m. ; V | Mi Bidlo’c I ',' :«■' Bazaar —Horses, Standing Crop of Wheat and Oats •/ 1 p.m. knd'Combine, &c. j 1.80 p.'m. " - -■. ’ , . 1 ,Mr. Alfred Harrison; at the 1 yards— ’Horses, Pigs, Produce, &c.; 12 noon. Mr W. F. Allen,- at "his rooms,’ Burnett ftfeet—Horses. Pigs, Poult> General Produce, - THUitsDAY, December 28. J. T. Ford ahd Co.’, at-the Homestead of Mv John-Blfi'ck, farmer; Wakanui; — Contractors Plant ; ll 'a.m.' ' Tuesday, Jakcary 2. : r ' ’ j '"''Matson ,' CJox and Go., at the Ashburton Yards—Stock.

-- MEETINGS, AMUSEMENTS, &o ' To-Night, | B-'.i .'.[r:-.-):, Thursday, December 21. School.. i-u Tuesday, December 26.■ ■ ■ ‘ £ ‘''V-i[f?aledoniari Society— Annual -Sports Gathering, Society’s Grounds, North 'Belt. ■ lui L;o.’ti.—Ball, Town Hall. : , South Eakaiaßkces and Sports. Mo'unt Somers Baoes and Sports. r -rn. . ;c - - p KI piY, December 29. "’T'-ffem&set Bodge, Monthly‘Meeting,* n the 0 * " a: Marinnin Hall, Tancred J street, 7.80. a aa::ti -ikoNDATV'January 4.. v Winjiipy BacSa, and Sports. ’ WaKßnni Races* and Sports, v-i i;. .Tuesday, January 2. »shburton Permanent Building and In i' , yestmpnt Society, Monthly Meeting, iroin 6.30 to 8.30 p. m. Wednesday, January 3. • County Council, at the County Council Chambers, at 11 o’clock. Thursday, January 4-. L.o;L!—Monthly Meeting,Templar Hall. . . Saturday, January 6. *Wakanui Road-Board —Monthly Meeting, OfScei f Mooito street • '

TRAVELLERS' GUIDE.

jijftUH?.'. LEAVE ASHBURTON JOB OHEJ3T i9(fi k OflTOßC(Hand intermediajtp stations at 7.10 T- -1Ci.55 a.m., and (Express) 5.39 ‘ p.m. . ; Trains Leave Ashburton for Timaru ;t. •; cand South, at 6.50 a.m., 10.25, a.m. ' e o i ■ (Express), and 4.45 p. m. —the latter pro ceeding no farther than Timaru. . s Trains , Arrive at Ashburton . from Christchurch at 10 20 a.m. (Express), ' 4.35 p.m., and 7.20 p.m. Trains Arrive at Ashburton from * 1( . Timaru and South at 10.45 a.m., 5.28 ’ ‘p.m. (Express), and 8 p.m.

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prevalebit. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1882.

Harvesting. —Various parties adver tise in this issue for tenders for harvest* ing.

A Fatal Fight.—News to hand by the Wakatipu from Sydney states that a little boy has died from injuries caused by his being induced to fight another boy at North Shore, and was afterwards thrown ifito the Water, causing peri tonitis.'* The Late Joseph Saunders. —At the inquest at Wellington, yesterday on the body of Joseph Saunders, senior, who was found dead in the harbor on Tuesday last, a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence wai returned, viz., “ That death resulted from drowning whilst suffering from an apopletic fit.”

Property Tax Statements.—As some misunderstanding exists as to the date on which property tax statements should be rendered, we have been requested to state that, in reply to a query from Mr Wilkie, the Commissioner telegraphs that the time for rendering statements expire! yesterday, and owners should send them in at once.

Detective Kirby. —Detective Kirby returned to Timaru from Melbourne yes terday, bringing Patrick Kyan, his wife and daughter, arrested there on a charge of conspiring to defraud creditors. De tective Kirby it was who was instrumental in the capture of Shepherd. He is un doubtedly “ getting his name up ” as an active and intelligent officer.

Government Land Sale at Pats a.— The Government land sale at Patea yes terday did not attract many peop’e: Ten lots were taken up on deferred payments in Momahaki block at prices ranging from LI to L 9 ss, according to size and quality. (Jaah lands sold readily, and whenever th?re was anything good offered competi tion was brisk. About 40 lots were sold from LI to L 8 5a per acre.

An Auckland Divorce Case. — k tele gram from Auckland says The Auck land divorce case of J. S. Willcocka and, Forder was fixed yesterday by Judge Gillies for the ensuing civil sittings. The petitioner is a tea-dealer, and the co-re spondert a clerk. The scandal was first dealt with by Good Templars, Mr and Mrs Willcocks taking partin an entertain ment given by the Sir Henry Havelock and other Lodges.

A Dangerous Delicacy. —Pome half dozen youngsters in one of the suburbs of Dunedin were seized with vomiting yester day after eating between them three penny worth of Persian lolly, a compound which is being retailed at the street corners by a Turkish-looking individual. It is supposed that it must have contained some poisonous material, or at any rate something too strong for the stomachs of colonial youths. Probably the police will prevent its sale until it is analysed.

The Suspected Murder at Auck land. —Acting upon permission given by the Presbyterian cemetery trustees, Su perintendent Thomson had the bodies of the late Hugh A. Hamilton and his infant child dis interred yesterday morning and conveyed to the morgue. Dr Gnldgbro m>de ah examination, there being also present Dr Walker and Dr Dawson, Superintendent Thomson, Detectives Strathern and Walker, and the under taker who interred the bodies. The press requested permission to attend the ex amination, but were refused admission. The body of Hamilton was in an advanced state of decomposition. The preliminary stages of the examination disclosed facts that have not even been suspected, and that will, when made public, intensify the painful interest which is concentrated upon the case. The fracture of the skull was found to be more extensive* and serious than had been anticipated.

Christmas Song. —The music and words of “ Our New Zealand Christmas Song ” has been beautifully photographed, cabinet size, with a pretty view of Otago Harbor, encircled with ears of corn and flowers. The following is the chorus of the song : “ A merry Christmas may it be, And that from shore to shore ; May plenty reign within your hall, And grace stand at your door.” This beautifully-executed card is got up for Is, obtainable at H. J. Weeks’ Music Depot, Tancred street, where there is to be seen a fine collec tion of pianos by Brinsmead and other well-known makers ; also, the famous Smith American organs. 88,000 of these organs having been sold is a sufficient guarantee. The celebrated pianoforte tuner, Herr Otto Schweers, will pay his regular visit very shortly to attend to cus tomers only. Orders can be sent to the Music Depot.—[Auvr.] Sir Julius Yogbl. —Sir Sulius Vogel was entertained at a banquet last evening at the Garrison Hall, Dunedin. The Mayor of Dumdin presided, and between 200 and 300 gentlemen sat down to dinner. Of course speech-making was the order of the evening, and Sir Julius made a tolerably lengthy speech. Referring to the immigration policy, he said that in speaking at a banquet in Melbourne the other night, he had stated that he be lieved that New Z -aland as a whole, had made veiy fair progress during the time of its colonisation, but he did not con sider that the Australasian Colonies as a whole, were so far forward or developed or were so prosperous as they ought to be, and he attributed the cause to the fact that they had not maintained immigra tion. He had been told that the working classes objected to immigration, but speaking from old recollections he had found the working men in this colony were sufficiently intelligent, and it the question was properly placed before them and it was explained that, while immigra tion would bring more competition into labor market, it would also bring at the same time a larger demand for labor with it, their opposition would cease. Newspaper Enterprise. —Just now, says the Figaro, speaking of the Egyptian war, by the best available route the Lon don dailies have to pay seven shillings and twopence per word for their telegrams. The lowest average of the daily papers is one thousand pounds per week ; and the Standard account is probably much higher. Newspaper correspondents cannot tele graph in " skeleton ” from the seat of war. Even in full their messages are likely to be supervised ; while a "skeleton” tele gram would stand no chance. In the ordinary way, " great battle is about to be fought at Jericho. The general has gone to the front with the brigade of Guards,” would figure across the wires as " Great battle—directly—Jericho—Gene ral gone with Guards,” thirteen words being saved out of twenty-two. But in Egypt, except from certain leading cen tres, this is impossible. Even taking the " skeletons ” with the full telegrams, a column of leaded messages in a daily paper averages from two hundred to two hundred and fifty pounds. Had the Egyptian war lasted a ye if, the total sum spent, altogether extra from ordinary ex penses, wool 1 have amounted to upwards of fifty thousand pounds. War is a bene fit to a rising paper which needs to make its name, but it is a dead loss to an esta blished journal. Newspaper managers have refused to send some of the best of their long-winded men, and have pre ferred to rely for their war telegrams on correspondents who possess not only en terprise hut business tact. The leading provincial dailies arrange with the Lon don dailies for " first editions.” In Scot land both the Glasgow Herald and the Scotsman send engines along the line be tween Glasgow and Edinburgh very early in the morning. The Glasgow Herald has the sight of all the Standard telegrams as they come in at night, the Scotsman of all the telegrams in the Daily Telegraph. These are quoted to the various news papers, but large sums are paid annually for an early yiew of the telegrams. ,

Found man named John Molvoy was found dead in a watercloset at the back of .the South Star Hotel at Blenheim yesterday. An inquest will be hdd. V

Acknowledgment. —The master pf the Ashburton Home wishes to acknowledge, with thanks the receipt of 501bs floiSr, fruit, etc., for Christmas pudding, from Messrs Friedlander Bros., 2s 6d from “ A Friend,” and LI from “Farm Laborer/’ towards the Christmas treat for the in mates.

Domestic Servants. —At yesterday’s meeting of the Geraldine County Council Mr Talbot referred to the scarcity of domestic servants in the district. He feared immigration at present was not supplying this very necessary want. He suggested memorialising Government, and asking them to depute a lady ho go Home for the purpose of picking out suitable girls. He believed 4,000 or 5,000 girls might easily be got, and the country could easily absorb that number. The Council authorised the Clerk to write to the Colonial Secretary on the subject.

Concert by the Christchurch Cathe dral Choir.— We understand that the Rev W. H. Elton, preconter of Christ church Cathedral, is taking twenty mem bers of the Cathedral choir —seven men and thirteen boys—to Dunedin for a fortnight’s holiday. In order to defray expenses he intends to hold a series of concerts at the principle centres of popu lation. The first of the series will be at Ashburton on Monday, January 8, at the Town Hall. All who have heard the Cathedral choir sing will be sure of a good programme excellently rendered.

Sunday School Gathering. The fourth annual gathering will take place on the last Sabbath of the year, in the Town Hall,land is expected to be the largest yet held in Ashburton. The total number of children will exceed 700, and the follow ing schools will be represented :— Anglican Church: Ashburton, Tinwald, Elgin, 250 ; Wesleyan: Ashburton, 140; Presbyterian; Ashburton, Tinwald, Flemington, Waka nui, 217 : Primitive Methodist : Ashbur ton and Seafield, 84 ; Unsectarian, 56. The service will be presided over by Mr Fooks, and the Revs. O. Standage, A. M. Beattie, E. Scott, and J. Nixon will take part, and it is expected that the service of praise will be very good, in a musical sense that is.

Eccentric Elopements. —Some in genious and paintaking statistician has recently taken the trouble to compile a table of the eccentric elopements of the past six months. The season he describes as having been “ active and spasmodic.” Here are a few of them. An elopements at Louisville was frustrated by a small boy, who with a well-directed snowball knocked off the Coachman’s hat. while he was re covering his hat, the train the unhappy couple, were endeavoring to reach started, and the pursuing parents came up. In Illinois a young lady ran away barefooted; h t lover insisted upon stopping to buy a pair of shoes. The delay proved fatal. A lover at Winona was so impetuous that he did not even wait for the young lady’s consent, but lassoed her as she was going to church, and was dragging her away to a justice’s oflics when help arrived. England does not figure very largely, though we find one case in which a man was eccentric enough to run off with his mother-tn-law. At Batavia, FruderickL. Jackson,aged forty-nine, ran away .with his father-in-law’s second wife, a young woman, leaving his own spouse, whom he had shot in the face, rendering her totally blind, and who had been supported, with his family, by her father. One elopement ended in a tragic manner. The lady was pursued by her mother down the railroad track. The old lady, in her excitement, failed to notice the approach of a locomot ive, which ran over her and killed her. A man hailing from Wisconsin eloped with his employer’s wife, and left the following note for che bereaved husband:" I have tookedyour woman; but you are welcum to my last week’s wages, which I didn’t draw; and I hoap that squares things. ” The Fancy Fair. —The Fancy Fair at Dr; Trevor’s ground yesterday, was a very great success. Between 500 and 600 people partook of tea in the big tent, which was no sooner empty -of one crowd of visitors than it was immediately filled with another. In the evening three bands were playing, viz , the Ashburton brass band, the Excelsior brass band, and the Church of England drum and fife band. After tea dancing was indulged in, and while some twenty couples were tripping it merrily to the excellent music, others were engaged in the ever popular pas imes of " kiss-in-tho-ring,” lawn tennis, etc., etc. Thus the time passed away as if by mage until the display of; fireworks took place, Messrs W. EL Zouch and Northey officiating. While the crackers and wheels and rockets were blazing the band was playing, and fully 600 people were strolling about the grounds, which at this time were bril liantly illuminated by torchlights, the stalls being hung with Chinese The scene at this time reminded the old Londoners of " Oretnorne ” —Cremorne on a small scale, of course, without the vulgarity that was wont to ,ma k that place of public resort. About 11 o’clock the " National Anthem ” was played, and the united bands marched home by torch light, followed by a goodly number of the visitors. Notwithstanding the fact that the grounds were thrown open to all sorts of people—for there was nothing like ex clusiveness—the utmost good order pre vailed, and not a tree or shrub was in jured. Dr. and Mrs Trevor worked hard to make the affair a success, and their efforts were ably seconded by the ladies and gentlemen whose names appeared in our last issue. The Rev. Mr Scott, spared no pains to make everything go off well. It is gratifying to learn that all this trouble has not been thrown away, for the pro ceeds of the fete amount to the satisfactory sum of Ll2i, clear profit, which will be devoted to liquidating the debt on St. Stephen’s Church.

Holloway's Ointment and Pills.— Outward Infirmities. Before the discovery o these remedies many case of sores, ulcers, &c., were pronounced to be hopelessly incurable, because the treatment pursued tended to de stroy the strength it was incompetent to preserve, and to exasperate the symptoms it was inadequate to remove. Holloway’s Pills exert the most wholesome powers over the un healthy flesh or skin, without debarring the patient from fresh air and exercise, and thus the constitutional vigor is husbanded while the most malignant ulcers, abscesses, and skin diseases are in process of cure. Both Oint ment and Pills make the blood richer and piner, instead of permitting it to fall into that poor and watery stale so fatal to many abodng under chronic ulcerations —[Advt.]

DISTRICT PRIZE FIRING.

The following are the scores for the animal Government rifle prizes, those under 40 points being omitted. It will be seen that the Ashburton men acquitted themselves with credit, their totals com paring very favorably with the Christ church and Temuka companies : Lieut, Finlay, Temuka ... 64 points. Private Irvine, Ashburton ... 62 ~ Sergeant Guy, Temuka ... 56 . ~ Sergeant Jessop, Ashburton... 55 ~ Private 0. Smith, Temuka ... 54 ~ Corporal Andrews, Ashburton 52 ~ Captain Douglas, Ashburton... 62. ~ Private K. Franks, Temuka,..; 51 ~ Corporal Smith, Temuka ... 51 ~ Sergeant Smith, Temuka ~. 49 ~ Lieut. Francis, Christchurch 49; Private Parkin, Ashburton ... : .48 ~ Private Nicholas. Temuka ! 47 ~ Private Watt, Temuka ... 45j ~ Private C. Francks, Temuka ~£8; . Corporal Hobbs, Temuka ... „ti4Jrr j OoloihSergeaat Patker, Christ-. [ church 40 ~

WOODSTOCK.

[prom our own correspondent. ] Rimu, Dec. 18.

/The long continued dry weather we have experienced stopped nealv all wdfrk for several weeks, but the rain we got on the Ist and 2nd of this month sup plied sufficient water to wash out nearly all the paddocks, and work went on briskly again for a week or two, when the dry weather once more stopped operations for a few days. However, on the 16th it started raining and still steadily continues, with every prospect of a week’s rain. All the paddocks which were ready have washed up, and plenty of water is run ning to waste. There is a heavy flood in the Hokitika river. The water has. risen fully five feet (perpendicular), and spreads from bank to hank.

During the first of the dry weather the miners lit fires in alt direction to clear the scrub from around their camps, * but as the bush was very dry and the; wind occasionally rather high, the fires in many cases get quite beyond control, and several parties were burned out, while* many others had very narrow escapes. > “Yours truly” was among the “burnt; outs,” and that accounts for his long! silence, for which he must apologise. ; The rush for water made things quite! lively for a short time. A certaip party had been promised the water, but it; did not arrive, whereupon one of the! party turned someone else’s water intp their flume, and sat on the guage-box with a tomahawk in his hand until the paddock was washed, defying the Water-race pro prietor to turn the water off, saying “ He had been promised the water, and ,he meant to have it.” ■

Some of the paddocks sluiced last time; gave splendid returns, the result being:— 1 Sander’s and party, who got 45 ounces from 80 loads of dirt; another party got 40 ounces from the same amount of dirt.: Lincoln and party got Sidwts. to the load, while White and party and Camping-and party got only 2dwts. to the load. | Since the warm weather set in the mos-- quitos have been making things pretty lively at night, and without a good mos quito curtain sleep is out of the question. One poor lady at the Kokatai told me that when her husband first selected land ,in the bush, two years ago, the mosquitoes used to torment them to such an except, not only at night but also during the day, that she has many a time sat down and had a good cry, feeling utterly wretched—- her arms and face being swelled to twice their natural size from the stings of these little tormentors. So troublesome •were these small pests that her husband was on the point of giving up the land and leaving the district, but as the land got cleared of the bush the nuisance gradually abated. All work on the diggings -will bp sus pended from Christmas to the New Year, that week being strictly observed as a holiday. '

ALFORD FOREST.

[prom our own correspondent.] Springburn, Dec.’ 18. •

Prom the first and at all times I have 1 strongly advocated the union of Alford 1 Forest and Mount Somers. I did so when L the formation of a debating society was : mooted,; and on all subsequent bccassions 1 until I fe’.t convinced that there existed an undercurrent, strong enough: I am' sorry to say, to paralyze all such action,; i and although I will be glad at all times to do my best to obtain the end; I have always advocated, viz, a close union be tween Mount Somora and Alford Forest, I am net willing to ignore that a c rres ‘ pondent ought to have much broader views than to call the world the small circle where his residence happens to be., 1 My letter of the 10th ult., re the visit of ’ the Minister of Public Works to the Mount Somers township has given offence 1 I am sorry to say. Yet I cannot see in 1 it anything but facts candi ily written. That some of the influential people of Mount Somers care little where the rail way station is as long as it is within easy walking distance of their homes is a fact. Others have broader views I am glad- to say, and many I hope are well convinced that iwifcljout the assistance of the • Alford; 1 Forest trade, the Tinwald-Mount" Somers railway will never pay, my opinions coin -1 cides with theirs. Once, since the rail way was opened the unlucky thought oc curred to me to get some goods by rail, but never will I do such a foolish thing again. Firstly, one runs the risk of send : ing a dray to Anama, and if through’ an oversight on the part of the good, people of Ashburton the goods, have .been de layed, the dray comes back, empty. Journey No. 1. On the following Satur day you make up your mind to ride over and see if the goods are really there hefor3 you send the dray agdn. Journey No. 2. If they are there, it’ is'. airace back home, and except in Samoqtenit is impossible to have the goods brought to Alford Forest in any thing. Sike decent time, Again, as there is no station master- and the goods -iwe In , the trucks it is a matter of importance to know that the sender in Ashburton • is careful in labelling all the goods, also, that the labels are securely fixed. On" the memorable occasion above alluded to, amongst other thin. a I expected half a ton of flour, two mats of sugar and four hanks of sewing twine, and I never was so near loading another man’s goods as I was that day. In one of the trucks I found flour, sugar, and twine— the last article attracted my attention, and as no labels were attached and my name was on the truck, I should cer tainly ha r e loaded them if other articles, a cheese amongst the rest, had not cansad me to search further—and at last, I did discover my flour, and sugar, all in the guard’s van with the other articles I ex pected. To prevent mistakes, I strongly advise everybody to have their goods securely labelled. On the day iri question the morning would have led any one to expects fine day; however, towards three o’clock, clouds began to gather, and it rained during the night. A base contain ing a sewing -machine and pthbr, articles easily damaged, by rain water .was put I suppose under the shed when the goods were landed, but when I went-to load it certainly was ori the platform, but net underthe shed, and as it was not water-tight the goods would have been undoubtedly damaged if they Had not been carried away the same day. 1 mention this, not to ventilate a personal grievance, or to blame the guard or any one else ; I men tion it to point out the hardship the Alford Forest people labor under if they receive goods by rail, and must labor under, so long as the line ends in that deserted spot, “Anama.” Would we now, we people of Alford Forest, be greatly benefited if the terminus was at the Mount Somers township ?—well, a little ! a very little ! The b ilk of the Forest trade is timber, # the bulk of the goods traffic by the Mount Somers railway will be for many a long year confined to export. The amount of traffic from Ash burton to Mount Somers or the Fore-.t will be confined to stores, a few bales of sacks, coils of wire, etc. The drays, therefore, will have to go to the .station loaded, and come back empty. Now any one who knows the district is well aware that from the Forest to the Mount Somers township the road is all up hill. There fore, as a natural consequence, it is down; i hill fr m Mount Somers to Bowyer’s ] stream, and even if there was only one ( station, and that station,somewhere about Bowyer's . stream, the , Mount Somers , people would hCti be laboring under su h great disadvantages I —they w "uld bo 1

about three miles from. the station; whilst the people living at the extreme end of the Forest towards Meth* ven would still be at least six miles from the terminus. Oh, Truth, thou . art beautiful indeed, but when thou art naked thou becomes offensive indeed •; and I wrote the naked truth, therefore my letter gave offence. But the' 'Alford Forest people, I am happy to say, never thought of interfering with the station being opened at or near Mount, Somers'; all they want is to have one at such a dis tance that .it can be available for their traffic. In the same letter I warned the Forest- people to be on their guard., I brought to their recollection the Methven- Rakaia railway. ‘ Dan anyone, unbiased, deny that when the Company was formed a positive promise was made that the rail way Should come as far. as Goss’ crossing certainly, and ultimately to Mount Somers;—but, to Goss’ crossing, it. was to come at all events. The line is even sur veyed, but there is no more talk of push ing the line-further than, Afotfatfa. - .The Company is. anxious to . levy the tax;ea, although they have broken their pledge ; .and’why .should not w h ath as.ta ke n place in the past take place again T Why, |ifslr having obtained all the support possible from fiiMf terminus handy to the township of Mount Somers, should not the Mount S6m6rs people, as others have done, before, say, “ We have gained our point—good folks, go and do likewise if you can !’ ’ No, I repeat what I stated in my letter of 'the XOth Ndveai ber, I see no valid reason 16 recall I accused no one, 1 only warned the Forest people,,and I wqrn them again. Only those whp think, themselves selfish ehough to serve their own private ihterbffta iri stead of those of the district. ait, large • tala. /take offence. The Straightforward broad views man will accept with good grace what is -palpable to-all, and I fear the landowners of olir district will, find the JRakaia-Methvan Railway a palpable over sight on their part. However, a public writer must expect more kicks than sugar plums ; but I wish it to berhnderstood by all - that although I am ,-.a, paid correspon dent, my line of conduct has never been pointed out to' m«—from' first to last 1 i-have been unfettered—and for-what I .wrote lam alone answerable. ’ And what I did write I Would’write , again. The man who has not the pluck to uphold his opiniona has no- business to put pen to -paper. -This I write with the view ...of clearing myself in theeyoa pf the Mount Somers people, certainly not ’ with the idea of insinuating myself into the* good graces of the JSprin’gbaru pr, Alford Forest people. Ido not write for them on im portaafi subjects more than I do for the Mount Somera inhabitants. I write for the* interests of the district' at large, and will do so to the end of the journey. Should I see the interests of the Mount Somers people taken undue advantage of, I would most certainly do my best, and. ' that ia little enough, to protest against It. However, I am glad to have to acknow ledge that in this matter they have been indefatigable', and should we succeed by united efforts’ to obtain a Station at M6unt Somers and at Bowyer’s stream, I have no doubt iiiahy a laugh we shall’enjoy, over our little squabbles, and be better friends . than ever.

SEIZED BY AN OCTOPUS.

Another, octopus story ccgiies from Flakbourne. Mr Vavasour, a well known settler in Taranaki,, was re cently a visitor to that district, and being at the boat harbor, determined upon having a bathe in the sea. The water was clear and deep, and after enjoying a swim he was returning to the shore, and had just placed his hands on a ledge of rock which runs out sea ward, and was about to leave the water, when a cold arm was swiftly thrown over his shoulder, and the ex tremity as quickly fixed on to his chest with a grip somewhat resembling that .of a cupping glass. Almost simultaneously a second; arm en circled his waist and obtained an equally strong hold> and immediately he felt himself being dragged down wards, and then he knew that he was in the embrace of a powerful octopus or “ devil fish.” He was in a'idesper-' ate plight, for he had nofoothold, and -all that he had to oppose to this terrible tugging jrom the depths of the sea was the comparatively powerless hold which his hands had on .the rocks. However, he did not lose his presence of mind, but-called out to a shepherd who had been Jiis companion and was standing not far off, and he, without a moment’s. loss of time, ran to his assistance, saw at a glance what was the matter, and drawing his sheath knife stooped down from the ledge of the rock and severed, first one, and then the other of the arms of this horrible mongter of the deep, and thus released Mr Vavasour, who in another minute or two must have succumbed: After so .narrow an escape most men would have had enough of a devil fish for one day, at least. But not so Mr'Vava sour. After a few minutes’ rest he became curious to know what had become of his late enemy, and peering over the sid£ of the rock, he saw him lying sick and sorry from the loss of two arms at the bottom of the sea. Mr Vavasour is a splendid diver, and a strong swimmer, and without a mo ment’s hesitation he determined to become the aggressor where he had so nearly been the victim. Having obtained a hook and a rope from the boat-station, he with these plunged into the water, cautiously approached the brute, whose recent experiences of cold steel had produced a most depressing effect upon him, and contrived to run the hook into his gelatinous body, and having secured a firm hold, he returned to the rock, and, with the aid of the shepherd, who had been viewing the proceedings with astonishment not unmixed with alarm, succeeded in dragging the mon ster ashore. Satisfied with thus Having had his revenge, he did not make any minute examination of his vanquished foe, but describes the body as being some four feet across, and the suckers “as big as my hand.”

AN AUCKLAND CLAIMANT TO AN ENGLISH PEERAGE.

A short time ago a cable message from London announced that a Near Zealand claimant for the Derwentwater Estates (now in Chancery) had ap peared'upon the scene. The claimant - has just gone to England. , He has been for years residing in this ,;fcolony. ' He is a painter .and glazier by trade, J and ran away from home and has been \ absent from England’ twenty six years, during which time he has (for reasons ; which he explains) nevfer written to his mother, who thought he was drowned. The case, therefore, bears some points , of resemblance to the celebrated Tich* J borne case, the identification: iof the claimant by his mother being a pre liminary step to further proceedings. The following paragraph connected with the claim is taken from the York*

THE ASHBURTON .GOABDIAN, THURSDAY, -DEpjMBER pi, 1882.



We have now IN STOCK and for sale, . ex vessels from a large assort ,d - 'DRESSED AND UNDRESSED ; Kauri Timber, d g’sizes to suit all requirements of ♦ £9 '-*«Die' Bdildiiig Trade. ; ; J« 8 ' M ' SEASONED TIMBER r ;V 7 -Jdifi’era and Cabinetmakers. iff iff , i.,,. - ■ •/! s>..: ; for ;rr ,r., Ebxtbn, ! ex Awaroa and ‘‘V ' Rorbst Queen, # Pine, W‘ts<f'hest quality to bo obtp^ned.,^ ' ' " iSa ' ks * jl C2l TUCKER, RESTELL & CO.



Wanted WANTED— A FARM HAND* ac customed to horses,' to drive a reaper and binder. Good; to $ com petent hand. Apply., / Jahesqit and* Roberts. ’ v d2o' WANTED— -A SITUATION, by a competent man, as driver of an engine with oditabine; etc. Home and colonial experiences. Apply, W. Whjn ray, P. 6, , Masterton, North Island. dl6 WANTED— TENDERS for Cutting, Stocking, and Stacking 323 acres of Wheat oh the Mount Hutt Estate. Par ticulars may be obtained at Messrs Mor gan and- HibbsV Methven. The lowest or any tender not necessarily accepted. 191 WANTED KNOWN—That A. ORR is selling Best Currants, 6d per lb; Splendid Tea; 2s and 2s 6d. Every article equally as cheap. dl9 TXJANTED KNOWN-That Robert Vy Elston, Burnett street, Ashbur ton, having procured the newest appara tus, is prepared to Sweep Chimneys at. very low rates. Any orders left at the Town Hall will receive prompt attention. 760 c ANT.ED. KNOWN.. w That BONEDUST, specially prepared for drilling with carrots, mangolds, etc., can be Obtained from the undersigned. F. MAYO, Hampstead Bone Mills. WANTED KNOWN—The Leicester Boot Warehouse, Burnett street, is the cheapest shop in Ashburton for Boots and Shoes. Ladies Boots from 6a 6d per pair ; Ladies’ Prunella, 7s 6d per pair; great variety of Infants’, lid per pair ; Men’s Balmorals, 12s 6d per pair ; Men’s Bluchers, 8s 6d ; Men’s Shoes, 10s 6d; Coy’s strong nailed Laceups, 6s 6d. Repairs neatly executed. J. G. GREEN & CO., 20d Burnett street. WANTED 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 Broad alone, independent of.the other Two Carts, which will con tinue to run as before. The name of Mr Hicks will be a'sufficient guarantee that, under his management, Bread of unex ceptionable quality will be turned out of the PREETRADE BAKERY, East street —R. Lancaster, Propiinter. 240



Special Advertisements. CHRISTMAS & NEW- YEAR CARDS —A Large and Splendid Assortment, comprising all the Newest Designs in Great Variety. — Andkbwes Bros. , Book sellers, Stationers, etc.. East street south, Ashburton d 6 SAM DEL SON’S PRIZE SHEAF TWINE BINDER & HARVESTER THE NEW ZEALAND GRAIN AGENCY AND MERCANTILE COM PANY, LIMITED, ' Have landing, ex Marlborough, their first shipment of the bamuelson PRIZE TWINE BINDER AND HARVESTER. The Machines, which are now being list sold, have many material improve ments on the one exhibited by Messrs SamueLon last season. Among others we may mention especially the ' NEW AND STRONG MAIN GEAR FRAME CHAIN LIFTING GEAR ON TRA VELLING WHEEL RAISING AND LOWERING GEAR ’ FOR GRAIN WHEEL PATENT OILING ARRANGE - . - -MENTS FOR DRIVING-WHEEL IMPROVED SHIFTING REEL. These, combined with the lightness of draught, lowness of cut, simplicity of con struction, and strength of material, render the machine the_ moat complete offered this season. . The Binder is simple and easy to oper ate and automatic, making sheaves regular in size and with perfect separation and good shape, with secure knot. : Messrs Samuelaon, in perfecting this machine, have avoided complication, and have carefully studied extreme simplicity and facility of adjustment. An expert from Messrs Samuelson’s Factory is now on the way out. and will arrive in New Zealand early in December, so as co be present to render his services during next harvest. Early application is necessary to avoid disappointment in securing a machine. ' G. G. STEAD, Managing Director, P. CUNNINGHAM, ■: Consulting Director. W. HORNE, 12au Agerit, Ashburton.



cr ALE Gi RE A T S r 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 Office,



F YOU WANT GOOD AND STRONG FURNITURE, GO TO DAVIS'S CHEAP FURNITURE AND BED DING MANUFACTORY, BAST STREET SOUTH, ASHBURTON. fjYVERY article- Sold at Christchurch ' A-i Prices and guaranteed bast of material and workmanship. FUNERALS CHEAPLY & COMPLETELY FCKNISHEDI bIO



Social Advertisements. I W'I I * 1 ’• 1 *■ ' —— —— [With an apology to Green’s Shade.] CHEAP BOOTS AND SHOES.—The BIG SHOP in East Street, Ash burton, jasl been opened with an entirely IfBW " STOCK ’ of English; Foreign, and Colonial-made BOOTS and SHOES, which will be sold at my usual LOW PRICES, which have given such satisfaction in Tinwald and else where. —O. HAWKINS, “ Munstb t” Warehouse, Ashburton ; also at Tin wald.



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.



"VTOTICE TO BLACKSMITHS, i-V BREWERS, AND OTHERS. Just lat ded, ex Mary Campbell, from Greyraouth, a supply of the CELEBRATED JBrimner Coal, The best procurable for blacksmith and steam purposes. n 27 TUCKER, RESTELL & CO.



fpRY 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, &c. 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, Manages. b!9 g AYE YOUR GRAIN AND PURCHASE Walter A. Wood’s | TWINE REAPER AND BINDER, Which obtained the FIRST PRIZE and GOLD MEDAL against all comers at the TRIAL held last season in Christ church, under the auspices of tha Canter bury A. and P. Association. This Machine combines Lightness of Draught, Simplicity of Ease of Management, Durability, and with Quantity and Quality of Work. FOR SALE— Second-hand GRASS-STRIPPER, FOR SALE - Second-hand McCormick REAPERS and BINDERS. FOR SALE— Four-horse DRAY. FOR SALE— A WAGONETTE, in capital order. FOR SALE— An Eight-horse-power ENGINE, by Clayton and Shattleworlh, in good order. FOR SALE COMBINE, by Marshall. ON SALE BINDER TWINE, WIRE, and OIL, at current rates. Poyntz & Go., AGENTS.



'Special Advertisements. ' V *' nPECIAL NOTICE TO THE INHABITANTS OF ASH BURTON AND SURROUNDING DISTRICTS. G. R. West and Co., MUSIC AND PIANOFORTE WAREHOUSEMEN, Princes street, Dunedin, Hava great pleasure in announcing that it is their intention to cater for the Music loving population of Ashburton in such a mamer as has never before been at tempted. Messrs G. R. West & Co. are the Largest Direct Importers of PIANOS, ORGANS, HARMONIUMS, BRASS, WIND, AND STRINGED INSTRUMENTS In the Colony, and a large and varied stock of the above can always be found. Mr G. R. West, being at present in England, is shipping direct to Dunedin all the latest novelties in MUSIC ! MUSIC ! ! MUSIC !! ! And the firm respectfully solicit a call from their friends, teachers, and the public in general to inspect their magnifi cent stock of Music, personally selected.



THE SCOTTISH IMPERIAL in 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. PRESENTS. JUST OPENED UP, A Large and Choice Selection of FANCY GOODS TOYS PRIZE BOOKS. <fto., &c., &c. Andrewes Bros., BOOKSELLERS, STATIONERS, &c. East street south, Ashburton. nls



JEL M. Jones’ OMPLIMENTS TO ALL; And desires to call special attention to the following items, which have been carefully selected for the coming Festive Season : BOOKS! BOOKS!! REWARD, PRESENTATION, and PRIZE BOOKS. NEW VOLUMES— Boys’ Own Annual Girls’ Own Annual Infants’ Magazine, &c., &c. POETS— VARIOUS Authors ; Sir Walter Scott’s Works, new edition, complete. TOYS ! TOYS !! TOYS !!! GREAT VARIETY—in Wood, Tin, China, and Indiarubber. DOLLS ! DOLLS !! DOLLS !! ! ALL SIZ J 'S—From one inch to two feet—ih Wood, Rag, China, Composition, etc. FANCY GOODS ! FANCY GOODS ! A NICE SELECTION of the above, suitable for Christmas Presents and New Year Gifts. 7S2S~ ALL the above Goods are offered at Chatterbox Child's Companion the LOWEST Possible Prices for CASH. A LIBERAL DISCOUNT allowed to schools on parcels of Toys, Books, etc.



PIANOS, ORGANS, BRASS, and STRINGED INSTRUMENTS ON DEFERRED PAYMENTS. H. M. JONES, BURNETT ST. & BARING SQUARE. 13d rpHE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN. •: PRICE— ONE PENNY. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. Advertisers are reminded that The Ashburton Guardian is the ONLY DAILY PAPER published between Christchurch and Timaru, and com mands a LARGER CIRCULATION throughout the County of Ashburton than any other Journal. The Ashburton Guardian circulates largely in the Town and Suburbs, and also in Rakaia, Chertsey, Seafield, Meth ven, Alford Forest, Mount Somers, Wakanui, Longbeach, Ashburton Forks, Tinwald, Winslow, Waterton, an every part of the County of Ashburton within the reach of postal communicat thus being the best genet al as well as local medium for Advertising.



Thomas Taylor, JgAKER AND CONFE'JTIONEE, East .street, WE DDIJNG CAKES To Order. Manufacturer of CIDER AND OTHER CORDIALS,



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 bo received up to 3.30 p.m., but will be 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 lettota to be addressed The Manager ; literary communications should be addressed to The Editor.