SHIPPING.

PORT OP LYTTELTON. Arrived. Yesterday. Saucy Lass, schooner, from Wellington. . Boon Belle, ketch, from Gatlin’s River. Cutty Sark, schooner, from Pelorua Sound Silver Lining, barquentine, from New York. Forest Queen, ketch, from Foxton. Minnie, ketch, from Little Akaloa. Kestrel, ketch, from Pigeon Bay. To-day. ' 'Waitaki, s.s., from Wellington. Sailed. Yesterday. Wakatu, s.s., for Wellington, Courier, ketch, for Pigeon Bay.

MAIL NOTICES.

Mails close at the Ashburton Post Office U follows : For Christchurch and North at 6 a.m. 10.30 a.m., and 5 p.m., daily. For Chertsey Rakaia, &c., at 10.30 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily. For Dunedin, Tinwald, Winslow, Hinds, Coldstream, Rangitata, Orari, Winchester, and Geraldine, at 10 a.m. daily. For Temuka, at 6 a.m. and 10 a.m., For Timaru and South, at 6 a.m., 10 *.m., and 4.30 p.m., daily. . . For Greenstreet, on Tuesdays and Fri days, at 10.30 a. m. ' . For Ashburton Forks on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 3 30 p.m. For Mount Somers, on Tuesdays and Saturdays, at 6 a.m. and 4.30 p.m. For Mayfield, on Tuesdays and Satur days, at 6 a.m. For Ashton, Waterton and Longbeach, »t 4.30 p.m. daily. For Flemington, on Mondays, Wednes ' 'flays, and Fridays, at 4,30 p. m. - ‘For Wakanui, Elgin, Seaview, Seafield, : ''Newland, and Kyle, on Tuesdays, Thurs days, and Saturdays, at 6.30 a-m. -■ ' Mails arrive at the Ashburton Post From Christchurch and Rakaia at 10.15 a.m., 4.35 p.m., and 7.20 p.m.^ . rw From Chertsey, &c. at 10.15 a.m. and J j 1.35 p.m. daily. ~ . , iwu From Dunedin and intermediate places at 6.30 p.m. daily. From Temuka 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. ttt . , 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 From Mayfield, on Tuesdays and Satur 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 To-morrow, Friday, December 8. R. Wilkin and Co., at the Tinwald Sale yards—Horses and Cows. Saturday, December 9. Matson, Cox, and Co., at Tattersall’s, Burnett street—Produce ; 11.30 a. m. Ox 'xi. Bullock, at the Bazaar —Horses ; 1 p.m. Hr Allred Harrison, at the yards— Horses, Pigs, Produce, &c.; 12 noon. Mr W. F. Allen, at his rooms, Burnett street—Horses, Pigs, Poult> General Produce, Src. ; 11.30 a. m. Tuesday, December 12. Matson, Cox and Co., at the Ashburton yards—Stock. Saturday, December 16. Mr. T. Bullock, at the Burnett ctreet —Landed Property ; 1 o’clock. MEETINGS, AMUSEMENTS, &c ' To-Night, Thursday, December 7. L.O.L.—Monthly Meeting, Templar Hall. Monday, December 11. Lecture, by the Rev. J. S. Smalley Wesleyan Church. Boro.uah Council, at Borough Council Chambers, at 7 o’clock Saturday, December 16. Grand Temperance Demonstration —Ath- letic Sports, Tea Meeting, and Concert. , 1 Wednesday, December 20. Fahey 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. Monday, January 1. ,rr "Winslow Races and Sports. -I - Tuesday, January 2. kshburton Permanent Building and In -1 r vestment Society, Monthly Meeting, from 6.30 to 8.30 p.m. t -: Wednesday, January 3. County Council, at the County Council Chambers, at 11 o’clock. J A Saturday, January 6. Wakanui Road Board—Monthly Meeting, Road Board Office, Moore street

TRAVELLERS’ GUIDE.

Trains Leave Ashburton for Christ- J • church and intermediate stations at 7.10 a. m„, 10.55 a.m., and (Express) 5.39 . p.m. ‘ Trains Leave Ashburton for Timaru ■ (> and South, at 6.50 a.m., 10.25 a.m. * ■ (Express),and 4.45 p.m.—the latter pro ■■ ■ ceeding no farther than Timaru. - 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 Timaru and South at 10.45 a.m., 5.28 i■ 4 p.m. (Express), and 8 p.m.

NOTICE TO ADVERTISERS.

Advertisements for The A'shburton 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 he inserted. Special notices can be 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 letters to bo addressed The Manager ; literary communications should be addressed to The Editor.

The Ashburton Grardian. Magna est Veritas, et Prevalebit. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1882. The Sentence on the Rebel, Arabi Pasha.

At first sight there seems something rather farcical in the result of the Egyp tian imbroglio. The rebel, Arabi Pasha, after having got up a revolution in his country in order to increase the pay of himself and his fellow army officers, after having attempted to depose his master, the Khedive, and subsequently tried to murder him; after having caused two of the greatest nations in the world—England and France—to send a military expedition to Egypt, at a cost to the former country of £4,000,000 ; after having destroyed enormous quantities of foreign pro perty and put numerous foreigners to death, besides setting fire to Alexandria, has been solemnly put on his trial, found guilty, and nominally sentenced to death, but with a distinct under standing that the sentence is not to be carried out, but only that he is to be exiled to some place not indicated, and that he is to retain his sword, titles, and honors. Well might a spectator exclaim, with Desdemona, “ Oh, most lame and impotent conclusion!” In the eves of the Egyptians, probably, it would seem as if the result of the sharp tussle was one of England scoring the odd trick, and honors being divided. Still, it is difficult to see what else could be done. After we had sent an army to Egypt it transpired that Arabi, though personally only a low, unprin cipled, thieving cut-throat, was all the while an agent of the Sultan of Turkey, and in the course of the struggle was acknowledged by the Khedive as his agent too. Letters, purporting to be in the Sultan’s handwriting, have been produced, showing that Arabi was fully authorised by him to organise a rebel lion in Egypt ; and though the Sultan has since denied that the handwriting is his, there can be little doubt, from his whole conduct, and especially from the decorations he admitted he sent to Arabi after the massacre of Alexandria, that that denial was a mere subterfuge. If, therefore, the Sultan was the princi pal in the matter of rebellion, it would look small and mean indeed to wreak vengeance on the mere agent, whilst his master was not even censured, far less punished. But beside the Sultan the Khedive also had acknowledged him as his subordinate in the hostilities against Great Britain, for one of the reasons alleged by the Khedive for pro claiming him a rebel was that he had not used due energy in opposing the British capture of Alexandria. Now, it is very certain that Arabi is no sub ject of ours, and as he has acted there fore by the orders either of the Sultan or the Khedive, or both. So far as we are concerned, Arabi is no rebel, but only a foreign officer in arms against us. If we are to go to war any further, then, it must not be against Arabi, but against either Turkey or Egypt. As regards the former, we should be, in that case, in the position of a person who brings a heavy equity suit against one who has long since been declared insolvent, and has not a shilling’s worth of available assets in case we were to win. And it is not at all so certain that we should win. Almost to a certainty Turkey would be assisted in any war against England by Russia, perhaps also by either Austria, France, or Italy. Against such a combination it would be foolish indeed to wage an unnecessary war. The game would not be worth the candle. On the other hand, if we consider Egypt culpable, a war in that country would mean only a destruction of our property. Our Government owns .£4,000,000 worth of shares in the Suez Canal, and

it is asserted that outside of that, Egypt' owes to provide British capitalists about 000,000 more. Egypt also, like Turkey, is for the present insol vent, and to injure her would be cer tainly to cut off our nose to spite our own face. On the whole “ the best thing to do is to grin and bear ” our Egyptian loss. We are, unfortunately, entangled in Egyptian affairs, and re cent events have shown the wisdom of Lord Palmerston in opposing the con struction of the Suez Canal in the first instance, and the shallowness and in discretion of Lord Beaconsfield in com mitting Great Britain to the purchase of the Suez Canal shares. We had to go to war lately, not as some people suppose because Englishmen had been killed, and English property destroyed, and certainly mt to acquire additional territory, but to protect life and pro perty from further injury, to maintain our position as the largest shareholders in the Canal, and most of all to keep open the highway to India and Aus tralasia. These objects we shall actually have accomplished by the war. We shall also have shown the Turks and Arabs, who form the domi nant class in Egypt, in a very decisive manner that we can fight on either sea or land, and even Arabi Pasha will probably now admit that we gave, him and friends two very sound thrashings, one at Alexandria, and another and still better at Tel-el-Kebir. It is very likely that as Arabi has simply been exiled without any place being men tioned as that to which he will be for warded, that he will be sent to the usual destination of the Egyptian exiles—the Soudan. And as just now there is a fanatical Mohammadan prophet, who is conducting a rebellion against Egypt, and is starting on his own hook as the Muslim Messiah, the exile may conveniently offer his vote and interest to the new candidate for Khedival honors. Meantime, notwithstanding the apparent lightness of Arabi’s sen tence, Great Britain will have got in the main what she wanted —the sup pression of an Egyptian rebellion, the command of the Suez Canal, and a free road for her traffic eastward. Consider ing the objects gained, perhaps the ex pense incurred can scarcely be re garded as very heavy.

From Melbourne to Adelaide. —The colonies of Victoria and South Australia have agreed to complete the overland railway which will connect Melbourne and Adelaide. The cost will be about L 1,000,000, and the work will occupy more than a year. Beware op Colored Stockings.—A very bad case of blood poisoning has oc curred in Greymouth. A girl named Whitmore cut her foot, and the wound became poisoned by her stockings, which were of a brilliant color. Her head and limbs are swelled abnormally, and her life is despaired of.

Memoranda. —Messrs Robert Wilkin and Co. notify their second wool sale of the season, to take place at their New Zealand Wool Stores at 11 a. m., on Tues day, 19th inst.—The N.Z.L.M.A. Com pany will hold its second wool sale on Wednesday, 20th inst., at the Christ church Wool and Grain Warehouse. Illicit Distillation. —The Wellington illicit distillation cases were concluded in the Magistrate’s Court last evening. Wil liam Thompson and Thomas Morgan, who were arrested in town with forty gallons of whisky in their possession, were each fined LIOO, or in default two months’ imprison ment. George Taylor, upon whose farm at Pahautanui the still was discovered, was mulcted in a fine of L2OO, or six months’ imprisonment. The charge against Thomas Taylor, a part owner of the farm was withdrawn. Tinwald School Committee. —A meet ing of the above was held on Tuesday evening last. Present—Messrs Clark, Lewis Ennis, Tep -ett, Smith, Jones, and Jephson. The inability of the Committee to defray the incidentals and expenses this quarter was apparent, and it was thought advisable to petition the Board of Educa tion again to pay some part of the heavy expenses incurred during the change of masters. The master reported that the children throughout the school were most irregular, and he hoped that after the holidays a decided improvement would take place. The holidays were fixed for four weeks, dating from December 21st, 1882, to January 23rd, 1813. On the ending.of 21st inst., the Committee in tend holding an entertainment, consisting of the following :—Distribution of prizes, concert, and entertainment, in which the Georgia Darkies will take part. A ball, at which a full band will attend, and re freshments be provided. The proceeds will be devoted to the Treat and Prize Fund.

A Comedian’s Reminiscences. —Johnny Hall, the popular comedian, has been amusing the Wellinsrtonians with his re miniscences. the Wellington Times de scribes the lecture as irresistibly funny. “ Talking to his audience in a conversa tional style,” says our contemporary, “ he told them that he was born in Liverpool, and left the parental roof at the early age of nine to join an opera company, his principal duty being to blacken his face and carry on a casket in one of the pieces produced by them. He then joined a company of strolling players, who played at the various fairs, performing fi.-e-act drsmas in twenty minutes and panto mimes in a quarter of an hour. He after wards found his way to America, where he had a very varied experience, and then visited Sydney, where he arrived with three halfpence, but made a big “ rise ” by dancing jigs in publichouses. He then related his Victorian and New Zealand experiences, the narration being rsplete with humor from beginning to end. Several old identities among the audience enjoyed the story of how he appeared as the “Fire King” at an entertainmert given at Mansill's Gardens, Wellington, in 1859.

Accidents. —Thos. Stanton, employed on Longboach Station, met with a pain ful accident on Sunday. He was return ing from church with a friend, both being mounted, when the friend’s horse sud denly kicked out, striking Stanton on the shin bone causing him intense pain. It seems marvellous that he escaped without a broken leg. He was brought into town and is now an inmate of the hospital where he is making satisfactory progress towards recovery.—Jas. Duckworth, a shepherd, also employed at Longbeach, was thrown from his horse on Tuesday, and dragged for some distance by the stirrup. He was insensible when picked up, and remained unconscious for twenty hours. He was found to have sustained a severe cut across the temple. He is now in the hospital doing well.—On Tuesday evening a little boy seven years of age, a son of Mr Davis, farmer, Lismore, fell off his brother’s back while playing, and dis located his elbow. He was taken to the hospital yesterday, and will soon, it is hoped, bo able to return, cured, to his home. Fortunately none of these acci dents are very serious, although doubtless they all occasioned much pain and incon venience,—Mr Moses Hamilton, farmer, near Anama, who tumbled into the river bed near his place some weeks ago and btoke his thigh, and who has been in the hospital ever since, is rapidly approaching convalescence, we are glad to learn, and will soon be about again as usual. '

Edgin'. —At the fclose .of the School Committee meeting held last night at ■Elgin a discussion tdok place in reference to the starting of a cheese and butter fac tory in the district. Mr Letham was ap pointed to wait upon Mr James Brown, of Wakanui, and ask him to call a meet ing at an early date to consider the ad visability of taking the necessary steps to further the object in view. Hunt v Sir Arthur Gordon.—Appli cation was made to Mr Justice Richmond in Chambers at Wellington yesterday by Mr H. D. Bell, counsel for the defendant, for the appointment of a commission to t;:k<! the evidence of the British Consul at Samoa in the case of Mr W. J. Hunt v Sir Arthur Gordon. Mr Edward Shaw appeared on behalf of the plaintiff and opposed the granting of the application. After argument on both sides, his Honor agreed to the appointment of a commis sion, on condition that Mr Shaw was allo wed the liberty of reviewing the order made by producing evidence.

The Minister for Public Works.— Th Son. Walter Johnston, Minister for Public Works, is expected in Ashburton on Saturday morning, when he will pro ceed to Mount Somers with a view to determining the route of the remaining portion of the line He will be accom panied by the members of the County Council and a number of leading resi dents. The party will probably leave by a special train for the hills, quitting Ash burton shortly after 11 a.m. Mr Jonnston can only pay us a flying visit, for we ob serve that he is due in Christchurch on Monday, where he will attend a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce. Elgin School Committee. The monthly meeting of the Elgin School Committee was held last night. Present —Messrs John Cochrane (Chairman), Lotham, Scott, D. Cochrane, and T. Tre vurza. The Chairman stated that Mrs King had commenced her duties as mis iress on the 2nd November, and that he had obtained the articles asked for at the last meeting. It was resolved that Christmas, Boxing, and New Year’s Days be observed as holidays, and that the In spector be asked to grade three or four of the children in each class for awards of prizes. The teacher was granted the use of the schoolroom for the meeting in aid the Sunday school. Salaries amounting to L2l 3s 2d were passed for payment and the Committee adjourned. A Prison Holiday. —On Thursday last, in commemoration of the Prince of Wales' Birthday (says the Argus), a general holi day was granted to the prisoners at the penal establishment, Pentridge, and in the afternoon a musical entertainment, lasting over two hours, was given by them in one of the large messrooms. The progrMinme comprised about thirty-four selections of popular glees, ballads, comic songs, and recitations, which were all given by ama teur performers, selected from amongst the prisoners, of whom about 400 were present. Accompaniments on the organ were played by a prisoner. The glees were rendered by the Church of England, Wes leyan, and Roman Catholic choirs. The performance concluded with “ God Save the Queen,” sung by the whole assem blage, and before the prisoners dispersed to their cells the Inspector-General, who, together with the Assistant Superinten dent and members of ther respective families, were present throughout, spoke in complimentary terms of the perform-

ance. A Pleasant Place. — A letter from an outlandish place named Bourall, a short hundred miles from Sydney, gives a rather striking account of the state of matters in that locality. It is a township of some 500 inhabitants, who, it would seem, have at least their fair share of disagreeables. Lizards and a legion of other harmless creeping creatures, are perpetually getting into everything, and making one shudder at every step. But there are besides snakes in abundance which are not harmless ; indeed, unless prev mtive measures are instantly adapted, a bite from one of these means a certain and horrible death. To provide against such a contingency every household has in readiness a sha l p knife, a bottle con taining a certain lotion, and a good supply of brandy. The first is to cut out imme diately the part bitten ; the second to rub into the part after the knife has done its duty ; the third is to be drunk of until intoxication supervenes. If this speedily takes place the sufferer is saved ; if not, he dies inevitably. These nice creatures (the snake >, not the inhabitants) are sometimes as much as seven or eight feet long. Bourall,

we should say, is one of the places not to go to. Caledonian Society. — A meeting of directors of the above society was held last, evening, at Quill’s Hotel. Present— Mr M. Stitt (in the chair), and Messrs M. Friedlander, R. Friedlander, C. Reid, VV. Anderson, D. McKenzie, J. Wilkie, G. Kidd, S. Saunders, and the secretary, Mr J. 0, Duncan. It was moved by Mr 0. Reid, seconded bv Mr VV. Anderson, and carried—“ That Mr R. Friedlander be appointed a director vice Mr J. Stanley Bruce, left the district.” It was resolved that the privileges in connection with the ensuing annual sports meeting be disposed of as follows: —Gates to be held by the society, the secret .ry to arrange to have the right of erecting publican’s booth, confectioner’s booth, sports and cards sold by auction. It was then moved by Mr Sam Saunders, seconded by Mr D. McKenzie, and canied —“That Messrs C. Reid, VV. Anderson, and G. Kidd be appointed a sports ground committee.” The advertising of programme was left in the hands of the secretary and treasurer. The charges for admission were fixed as follows; —Foot passengers, Is each; horse and trap, Is; two horses and trap, 2s; saddle horse, Is; passengers. Is. It was further resolved that members, together with trap and horses, be admitted free. A sum having been voted, on the motion of Mr Wilkie, seconded by Mr Anderson, to provide sports for children, and several accounts passed for payment, the meeting terminated. Interesting Bankrupts. —Mr Wra, A. Berry, who filed his schedule a few days ago, says the Wanganui Chronicle, called a first meeting of creditors on Wednesday afternoon last. The debtor (who is, we believe, a carpenter) filed 1 is liabilities at L3O 13s fid, and his assets at nothing whatever. His creditors, evidently not wishing to waste time as well as lose moir y, did not attend the meeting, and the District Court has now to appoint a trustee. If there can be found a certifi cated accountant in bankruptcy to whom it is easy to extract something from no thing, no doubt Mr Berry’s assets will be administered—otherwise there will be no trustee as well as no estate, and the debtor will wait the throe years named in the Act and be fully discharged as a matter of course. Mr Berry is well acquainted with this mode of freeing oneself of liabilities, having gone through it at least once before. As the circumstances illustrate the beauti ful Bankruptcy law of ■ ew Zealand, we will record them. This debtor filed his schedule on the 6th October, 1879, re turning his liabilities as L 234, and his assets at nothing. He discreetly avoided applying to the Court for his discharge, and quietly waited the three years, be coming a free man quite as a matter of course. Encouraged by the success of that experiment he is now trying it again, and there can be liotle doubt that he will at tain to the same result, and that as easily. Another carpenter, one Thomas Eastbury, has recently taken the benefit of the Act, and, while ho shows the large sum of Lll7 duo to his creditors, the assets are nil in this case also. There will not be much competition among the commission agents or accountants for poor Mr East bury’s estate.

V'tx —• ■ % Wae#noi Spißteow Club —A meeting of thej members of the above Club is called, for Saturday, at 4 p.m., at the Mail office. , Mtt Archibald Fobs; 3. —Mr Smythe, the agent for the grdat wait correspondent, has telegraphed that Mr ‘Forbes w. >jt be'able £0 lecture here «n the 15th inst., butf intendß giving a course of two lectures directly after his visit to the Cathedral City. This will probably make h s visit to Ashburton a'Week or so later than originally intended.

Holloway’s Pills. —lnvalids distracted by indigestion and discouraged in their search for its remedy should make trial of this never failing medicine. A lady, long a martyr to dyspeptic tortures, writes that Holloway’s Pills made her feel as if a burden had been taken off her. Her spirits, formerly low, have greatly improved ; her capricious appetite has given place to healthy hunger ; her dull, sick headache has departed, and gradually so mar vellous a change has been effected, that she is altogether a new creature, and again fit for her duties. These Pills may be administered with safety to the most delicate. They never act harshly, nor do ,they ever induce weakness ; they rightly direct deranged, and control ex cessive action.

ASHBURTON RACING CLUB.

The general half-yearly meeting of the above was held at Quill’s, on Tuesday evening, Mr R. Friedlander in the chair. The secretary reported the financial posi tion of the Club to be satisfactory. Through the assistance of Mr E. G. w right, M. H. R., the racecourse reserve had been vested in trustees for the pur poses of the Club. L 331 12s 9d had been expended on permanent improvements to the course, and a highly successful two days’ Spring Meeting had been held, for which a programme of L4BO had been subscribed. Some other matters were also dealt with. The report was adopted. The statement of accounts showed, credit balance, season 1881-82, LSI 14s 2d; sub scriptions, L 105; rent ac •ount, Ll 3 os; sale rules, 14s; nominations, L 145; quali fications, Ll2 12s; acceptances, L 76; pri vileges, L 283 2s 3d; totalisator, L 193 ss; gale hack, Ll2; total, L 892 12s sd; and debtor, sowing account, L9O Os 7d; plant j ing account, L 3 10s 6d; buildings and im provements, L 238 la Bd;* charges account, Lsl 8s 8d; advertising and printing, L 35 15s 9d ; stakes, L 454 10s; balance in credit, Ll 9 5s 3d ; total, L 892 12s sd. The statement was adopted. Some dis cussion ensued as to the holding of the next Grand National meeting in Ashbur ton, IVfr Simpson expressing himself in favor of an Autumn meeting, under the auspices of the Racing Club, in preference to the Grand National meeting taking place here. Ultimately it wasresolved— “Thatthe question of holding the Grand National Steeplechase Meeting or an Autumn Meeting, and all arrangements in connec tion therewith, to bo relegated to the General Committee to decide upon.” A meeting; of the stewards of the Club was held the same evening to enquire into the running of the horse Steel Dust in the Selling Hack Race on the last day of the Spring Meeting. Evidence having been taken, it was resolved—“ That having considered the evidence and hav ing seen the race, the stewards are dis satisfied with the running of Steel Dust in the Selling Hack Race, and declare all bets on the horse for that race off.” —“That the horse be disqualified from running at any of the Club's race meet ings for a term of 12 months from date of race referred to, and that J. Warner, the rider of Steel Dust, be censured - ”

A LUXURY FROM THE SOUTH SEAS.

Inquiries have recently been made as to the possibility,of procuring a sup ply of the South Sea luxury known as beche-de-mer in London, but none of our enterprising merchants seems to have yet added this article to his list of imports. Possibly the forthcoming In ternational Fisheries Exhibition will afford an opportunity for introducing the British public to this little-known article—little known, at least, out of the South Sea Islands, China, Japan, and the Malay Archipelago. The beche-de-mer is a large marine “ slug,” so called, of the I folothuria family, of a dark brown color, and measuring sometimes as much as two feet in length and six inches in width. It is doubt ful, however, if many of such giants as this are left for the demand for these creatures in China alone is so great that every known locality in which they are produced is regularly “ fished ’’ all the year round. The mode of capture is either to spear the animals on a long pointed stick, or to dive below the surface and collect them in a basket, while in some cases a trawl or dredge has been used with some success for the purpose. The “ slugs” are then either dried in the sun or thrown into a cauldron of boiling water, and afterwards spit open, cleaned, and stewed for half an hour, and then dried over a slow fire. Though called a “ slug” the creature is no slug at all, being endowed with eight or ten small feet, and resembling a huge woodlouse rather than the slim)’-, slippery creatures to which the name is properly applied. If it is ever to take that place, as a nourishing delicacy, which its fame in the East would seem to entitle it to take, its ordinary name of “ sea-slug ” must be dropped, and the less repulsive name of “ trepang,” by which it is commercially known in the East, sub stituted for it. Our French neighbors, who enjoy snail soup and frogs’ hind legs, might take to the novelty more readily than fastidious Englishmen.— The Colonies and India.

SECRET MARRIAGES IN NEW YORK.

[“Detroit free press.”] The Badger case, which has just been settled by compromise in New York, is very remarkable in its char acter, the facts being as follows: Jacob Badger recently died in his seventy-sixth year. He was a rich old bachelor, and had for many years been at the head of an opulent shipping house. His heirs proceeded to divide the property, when a claim was made by a woman, who asserted her dower right as his widow. For thirty-five years she and “ John Baker ” had held connubial relations, their homes being in Brooklyn. “ Baker ” had always conducted himself in an exemplaty manner, providing liberally, and enjoy ing the respect of the neighborhood. Every day he went to New York and returned at night, and this uniform life was only terminated by his sudden de mise. It was then learned that “John Baker,” of Brooklyn, and Jacob Badger. of New York, were one and the same, and the woman was allowed a dower of 42,000 dollars. New York contains many such instances, which find protection in that mantle which a great city throws over society. I well remember the flour dealer, Daniel Angerine, who always passed for a bachelor. After his death, however, it was found that he had a family, which had only known ,

him under a false name. I. was also acquainted with another bachelor busi ness man (the late H. N, Ferris), who kept hjs residence a secret from even his clerks. Every morning he ap peared at the store, and at night he left, but no one knew whither he went, and his employees became so ac customed to this that it ceased to be a matter of comment. Eventually Ferris was taken ill and died, and it was then discovered that he had a private establishment in an obscure street, far up town. R. G. Schuyler, formerly the noted railway contractor, also passed for a bachelor, until his failure brought out the fact that he had a wife and family, in which he had long been known by the name of Spicer. I could mention a man of wealth, and of high family, who passes in the fifth avenue circles as a bachelor, but his friends have long been convinced that he has a wife somewhere in the city; Some of these secret marriages occur in the following manner :—Young men see the impossi bility of supporting those helpless, high toned city girls, who want a fashionable establishment, and hence/ going from one extreme to another, they will some times marry the daughters of their washerwoman, simply because the latter can take care of themselves. As . sqch a marriage would distress their friends, they keep it secret, and pass for bache lors, being thus enabled to retain their position in society. Such are .among the strange features in metropolitan life. No man, however, can say he marries below his station if his wife, however humble, is of decent character, and possesses intelligence. That false notion concerning men marrying be neath them, has led to a vast exten| of mischief.

EXTRAORDINARY GAME OF BILLIARDS.

[“daily news.”] On the evening of October 15 the match between the well-known profes sionals, W. Mitchell and W. J. Peall, was continued at the Black Horse, Rathbone Place, Oxford street, and resulted in the most extraordinary play ever witnessed. At the conclusion of the play on the previous night the full scores were —Peall 2,188, Mitchell 987, the latter having contributed 216, and being left on the spot. Soon after the appointed time Mitchell continued his break, but, breaking down at the third hazard, he only added six to his own overnight total, bringing the full score to 222, and the game to Peall 2,188, Mitchell 993. The former again proved to be in his best form, and with splendid breaks of 67 '(l2 spots), 96 (29 spots), 417 (106 and 9 spots), 374 {123 spots), more than held his own up to the interval, up to which time he had only succeeded in making 58 as his highest break, the full scores being—Peall 3,385, Mitchell, ,11175. On play being resumed the former still continued to have matters all his own way, and with further additions of 126 (39 spots), and a grand 330 (105 spots), he brought his full score to 3,730, as against 1,202. Then followed a wonderful break, as Mitchell worked his way to the spot at 1,207, and did not cease disposing of the red until he had contributed the magnificent break of 1,055, which included no fewer that 350 consecutive spot strokes. This surpasses the 936 made by Wil liam Cook some years since by 119. Mitchell concluded this grand break with a double baulk, on which the mar ker called the game—Peall 3,730, to Mitchell 2,257. On the former giving a miss, Mitchell was again busy at the spot, and at the call' of time his un finished break 230 (73 spots), and the full game was—Peall 3,736 Mitchell 2,488, the latter being still well set on the spot. In Peall’s break of 374 there were no fewer than 66 consecu tive screw-back strokes.

“GIVIS” ON MELBOURNE CUP “SWEEPS.”

After a battle, the cries of the wounded; after a “ national fete ” Jike the Melbourne Cup day, the plaintive pipings of “ pigeons ” who have been plucked ! The Melbourne papers, under the head of “ Missing Friends,” contain dozens of advertisements like the following :—“ Will the two gentle men who made the sweeps on the Hill, Cup day, on the Kensington Stakes, pay the money to C. N., because they are known. Address, C. Numa, Pal merston place, Carlton.” The “gentle man who made up a Lx sweep from Grand Stand, Maiden Plate,” is ear nestly requested to communicate with several anxious inquirers. The “ gen tleman holder Cup sweep, Hill,” is “ wanting,” and is mildly entreated to “please advertise.” The drawer of Assyrian in “ Cup sweep near the Stand” wants to know where he can get his money, and will “ feel obliged ” if the unknown sweepist would pay over Liß to the proprietor of the Albion Hotel. There was a sweep “ under the wire, Hill,” another “ rear of Grand Stand,” another at “ scratching board, Hill,” another “ on the lawn, opposite Press tent,” in all of which the sweep ing seems to have been simply yet tho roughly done. In each case the sweep holder received a number of pound notes, thrust upon him by (enthusiastic innocents, then disappeared in the crowd and quietly swept off the, lot. The contributors are now advertising for the stakeholders, under the designa tion of “ Missing Friends !” The ease with which a fool and his money are parted is great at any time ; on Cup day, it seems, the operation becomes ridiculously easy. Fools who want to part ” and cannot be happy until;they have parted, throng the course in thou sands, and the sweepist harvests his pound notes as fast as he can rake them in. There is no fool so perfect in his vocation as the gambling fool. It is useless to legislate against gambling whilst public opinion is as it is, but something more might be done to wards putting down sweeps. Fools who want to get rid of their pound notes should be made to content themselves with such facilities as are afforded by the totalisator. The totalisator at any rate can’t run away.

CABLE NEWS.

LATEST FROM EUROPE.

[kEUTBB’S TELEGRAMS —COPYRIGHT.] The Postmaster General. London, Deo. 5. The critical state of the lion. Henry

THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER, 7, 1882.



: mHE SCOTTISH IMPERIAL IN- X 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. r F YOU WANT GOOD AND STRONG FURNITURE, GO TO DAVIS’S CHEAP FURNITURE AND BED ' DING MANUFACTORY, BAST STREET SOUTH, ASHBURTON. OYERY article Sold at Christchurch JGi Prices and guaranteed best of material and workmanship. FUNERALS CHEAPLY & COMPLETELY FURNISHED



Wanted WANTED— A Strong BOY for Black smith’s shop. Apply Office of this Paper. 30n 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 TO HIRE, with view to Purchase —A COB HORSE, to go in Saddle and Harness. Apply, on Sa turday next, December 9, 1882, from 2 to 4 p.m., to Singer Manufacturing Co , Moore street, Ashburton. d 5 Wanted known-—w o have just Opened a splendid assortment of Ladies’ and Children’s Boots and Shoes, in the latest shapes and styles. Fried lander Bros. 6d Wanted known fribdlander Bros. are Selling Crewdson’s Calicoes at 3s lid per dozen; Colored Dress Lustres, 7s 3d ; Black do, 7s lid per dozen, for cash —Bargains. 6d XX7"ANTED —Everybody to buy OAN VV TERBURY COMIC ALMANAC, 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. au 12 WANTED KSOWN 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), Stock, 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 ofFANC? STATIONERY, BOOKS, NEW MUSIC, Etc., all at Dunedin prices. GEO. F. HENRY, au 5 Saundere’ Buildings. TT/ANTED KNOWN—That Robert V\ 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. 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 hie 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 FREETRADE BAKERY, East street. —R. Lancaster, Proprietor. 240 Special Advertisements.



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



TETTs’ DIARIES, Office and Pocket, J for 1883. JOSEPH COOK'S LECTURES. IBLES, CHURCH SERVICES~and PRAYER-BOOK v CRICKETING MATERIA L Gloves, Footballs, ere. Flß'fl SCREENS, Stove Ornaments, •Sold and Silver Shavings. ELOPHONES. MELOPHONES.— 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. HE PICTORIAL HISTORY OF THE WOULD, 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. C H 0 O L HOOKS And Requisites. E~ N V E L O f* E~s; Business, Official, and Fancy. Toys, fancy goods, crewel WOOLS. P‘ lANOS, HAR\IM AND MUSIC. HYMNS (Ancient and Modern), Wes leyan and Presbyterian HYMN BOOKS. Foolscap and account sales PAPER. VT 0 T E P A P E R, Various Sizes and Qualities. JEL M. Jones, BURNETT ST. & BARING SQUARE. Bookbinding Executed in All Branches.



V Great s OF A LARGE SALVAGE STOCK L E FURNITURE! FURNITURE! Furniture ! Also, a large quantity of NEW and SECOND-HAND FURNI TURE-CHEAP. All kinds of Turnery, Carving, &c. Redroom and Drawing-room Suites. John Meech, BURNETT STREET, Ashburton. Showrooms—Next Bullock’s Arcade Workshop—Next Mail )ffice.



rjIHE GUARDIAN is published every X evening, giving every day 'i sts, up to the hour of going to press. This is better than buying a sixpenny weekly.



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 INS ORANGE. Premiums at a Discount of 25 per cent, off past current rates. o 2 TUCKER, RESTELL & CO. rjIRY 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, Manager. b!9 QOAL, COAL. COAL. Wa 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, -1M 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 & 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 rhe reaper and binder trials, and the experience ho 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 Direct r. P, CUNNINGHAM, Consulting Director. W. HORNE, 12au Agent, Ashburton. NOTICE TO THE INHABITANTS OP ASH BURTON AND SURROUNDING DISTRICTS. G. R. West and Co., MUSIC AND PIANOFORTE WAREHOUSEMEN, Princes street, Dunedin, Have great pleasure in announcing that they have appointed MrG. F. HENRY, of Saunders’ Buildings, East Street, Asbur ton, as their Sole Agent and Representa tive in this district, and that it is their intention to cater for the Music-loving population of Ashburton in such a man ier as has never before been attempted. Messrs *G. R. West & Co. are the Largest Direct Importers of



PIANOS. ORGANS, HARMONIUMS, BRASS, VVfND, AND STRINGED INSTRUMENTS In the Colony, and a large and varied stock of the above will always be found at their Agent’s Depot. Mr G. R. West, being at present in England, is shipping direct to Dunedin all the latest novelties in MUSIC ! MUSIC ! ! MUSIC !! ! And G. F. Henry respectfully solicits a call frcm his friends, teachers, and the public in general to inspect his magnificent stock of Music, personally selected by himself in Dunedin. In connection with the above, we have retained the services of Miss Gates (organist of St. Stephen’s Church) who will be in attendance daily from 10 a.m. till 5 p.m., to receive Pupils for the Piano, Organ, and Harrtionium. Terms on application. SAUNDERS’ BUILDINGS, East Stkebt, Ashburton.



Special Advertisements. CHRISTMAS A NEW YEAR CARDS —A Large and Splendid Assortment, comprising all the Newest Designs in Great Variety.— Andre wes Bros., Book sellers, Stationers, etc., East street south, Ashburton. d 6 AT CLEARING SALE. CHEAP BOOTS AND SHOES. C. HAWKINS Invites his friends and the public to in spect his large stock of Boots and Shoes, at sweeping prices, HAWKINS. Ashburton and T inward. N.B. —AW Accounts owing to the above must be settled at once.



o E. 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.



Thomas Taylor, JgAKER AND CONFECTIONER, East street. WEDDING CAKES To Order. Manufacturer of CIDER AND OTHER CORDIALS,