SHIPPING.

!! PORT OP LYTTELTON. Arrived. , Yesterday. J Grafton, s.s., from Wellington. To-day. Wakatipu, a.a., from Port Chalmers, Sailed. Yestbrpay. Grafton, a.s., for Timaru and Oamaru. SHIPPING TELEGRAMS. Auckland, Yesterday. .liTho City of Sydney arrived this after* noon, and left in the evening for San Francisco. Wellington, Yesterday. Arrived—Mahinapua, from the South ; Tin, from Kaikoura; Zior, schooner, from Dunedin. Sailed—Mahinapua, for Auckland via the East Coast. Timaru, Yesterday. Arrived—Waitaki and Go-Ahead, from Dunedin. , Sailed—lsabella, for Dunedin ; Taiaroa, for Auckland and Fiji; Waitiki, for v-.Oamaru ; Go-Ahead, for Lyttelton. Dunedin; Yesterday. Arrived—Manapouri, from Melbourne yia the Bluff.

COMMERCIAL.

Ashburton Guardian Office, Wednesday Afternoon. Messrs Matson, Cox and Co. held their Usual fortnightly sale of stock at the Ashburton Yards yesterday, the l8:h inst., when they had the following entries, viz. 1-1,293 sheep, 46 Pigs, IS head of cattle. This was the smallest sale held for a long time, and prices were -weaker than for several sales. We quitted - sheep as follows 1—125 fat crossbred, 12s ; 35 rdo., 13s; 36 do., 13s 6d ; 352 do., 12s 6d; 100 do., 133; 251 merino wethers, 10s ; 185 merino ewes, 4s 4d (stores); 159 merino wethers, 4s gd (stores); 45 crossbred wethers, " os od (stores). Pigs—32 pigs, Li 4s 6d ; 7 do., 19s ; 7 do., 20s. Cattle—Fat heifer, Ls '6s ; store steers, L 3 25; 5 calves, Li ss, Li as. and Li 3s. The bidding throughout the sa]e was dull in the extreme, and for cattle * 1 very few bids were made, but in sheep nearly every line was sold after the sale at fair prices. Good merino ewes, in lamb, are still enquired for, and we could place several lines at good prices. •

MAIL NOTICES.

• Mails close at the Ashburton Post Office as follows : For Christchurch and North at 6.30 a. m. 10.30 a. til, and 5 p.m., daily. For Chertsey Rakaia, &c., at 10.30 a. ra. and 5 p.m. daily. 1 For Dunedin, Tinwald, Winslow, Hinds, Coldstream, Rangitata, Orari, Winchester, tnd Geraldine, at 10 a.m. daily. For Temuka, at 6.30 a.m. and 10 a.m., aily. For Timaru and South, at 6.30 a.m., 10 a.m., and 480 p.m., daily. For Greenstreet, Ashburton Forks, Mount Somers, and Ashburton Gorge, win Tuesdays and Fridays, at 10.30 a.m. F or Ashton, Waterton and Longbeach, »t 4.30 p.m. daily. For BTemington, on Mondays, Wednes days, and Fridays, at 430 p. m. For Wakanui, Elgin, Seafield, New hmd, and Kyle, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, at 6.30 a. m. Klml* arrive at the Ashburton Post Office— Prom Christchurch and Rakaia at 10.25 440 p.m., and 7.50 p.m. From Chertsey, &c. at 10.25 a.m. and - A - iA r- , at 5.35 p.m. daily. From Temuka and Timaru at 10.50 a. m. 5.35 p.m., and 8.15 p.m. daily. From Greenstreet, Ashburton Forks, Mount Somers, and * Ashburton Gorge on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 3 p.m. From Ashton, Waterton, and Long heach 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. W. St. G. Douglas, Postmaster

DAILY MEMORANDA.

AUCTION SALES Saturday, July 22. Mr T. Bullock, at the Bazaar—Horses ; ' L3O p.m. Mr. Alfred Harrison, at his yards— Horses, Pigs, Produce, &c.; 12 noon. Tuesday, August 1. Matson, Cox and Co., at the Tinwald Yards—Stock. MEETINGS, AMUSEMENTS, Ac Friday, July 21. Ashburton Racing Club—Annual General Meeting, Quill’s Hotel, 8 p.m. Ashburton Poultry, Pigeon, and Canary f "Association—Annual Exhibition, Town JffalL Monday, July 24 Borough' Council, at Borough Council Chambers, at 7 o’clock. <; 1 Tuesday, July 25. Meeting to consider the Railway Tariff— Town Hall, 8 p. m. Tuesday, August 1. Ashburton Permanent Building and In vestment Society, Monthly Meeting, from 6.30 to 8.30 p.m. Wednesday, August 2. Ccunty Council, at the County Council Chambers, at 11 o’clock. Saturday, August 5. Wakanui Road Board—Monthly Meeting, Road Board Office, Moore street

NOTICE TO ADVERTISERS.

. Advertisements for The AsubuHton Guar bi an must be sfent in hot later than 3 p v 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 bo inserted. Special notices can be received up to 3.30 p.m. for insertion over the Leader, 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 be addressed The Manager ; literary communications should be addressed to The Editor.

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas, et Prevalebit. WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 1882. The Railway Tariff Question.

TOWN EDITION. f lssued at 4.20 p.m. i

We are pleased to find that the New Zealand Farmers’ Co-operative Associa tion at Christchurch have taken up the question of the railway tariff for colo nial produce, with a view to its reduc tion. As a preliminary step the Asso ciation has lately been issuing printed circulars, one of whicli it has sent to each of the various road boards, borough councils, and county councils within the district of North Canter bury, inviting the assistance and co operation of the before-mentioned bodies in effecting the object aimed at. In the Ashburton county the appeal has met with a hearty response, and doubt less it has been received with equal favor elsewhere, for the question is one that affects all alike whose business ne cessitates the use of the rail to convey their produce to a distance for shipping or other purposes. The circular re ferred to states that “ there is a strong feeling growing up amongst the far mers of Canterbury against their pro duce being taxed (by high rates of carriage) to pay for unprofitable rail ways existing in other parts of New Zealand. Compared with the rates ruling on articles of export in other countries, the expense of getting his produce to a seaport is heavily handi capping the farmer here, and, after careful consideration, the directors of this Association are of opinion that, to be more on a par with producers else where, the rates of carriage on all co lonial produce ought to be somewhat as follows -.—Three shillings per ton for the first twelve miles, and one penny per ton per mile for each mile after. This would doubtless Introduce a system of differential rates.” In order that the concession suggested may be fully understood by our readers, we may mention that the present tariff for the carriage of grain up to thirteen miles is at the rate of four shillings and a penny per ton, twopence per ton for each additional mile up to thirty-nine seen that the proposed reduction, if it is effected, will be a very impor tant one for the farmer, who now finds the gilt taken off his ginger bread to an alarming extent by the Railway Department. It is to be hoped that the present movement may bring about the introduction of the dif ferential rates, as referred to in the cir cular before us. It is a notorious fact that the Canterbury railways pay ex ceedingly well, and it is a very great hardship that this island should be called upon to make good the deficit caused by the non-payable character of some of the North Island lines. Let us look at the matter from another standpoint. Suppose, for the sake of argument, that the Government, in addition to our railways, “ ran ” our grocery stores, for example, to the ex clusion of private enterprise in that most necessary line of business— would it not be a monstrous injustice that we, in this island, should be asked to pay ten shillings per pound for our tea merely because the North Island stores were so badly distributed over the country, and involved so great an out lay to maintain, that they could not show a balance on the right side of the ledger? And yet the injustice would be no greater in the one case than it ts in the other. As the grain tariff now stands the farmer has undoubtedly reasonable grounds for grumbling. Be cause “ political railways ” and other useless lines exist in the North that is no reason why we, in the South Island, should be made to suffer pecuniary loss. Under these circumstances it is very satisfactory to learn that the County Council, thanks to the Co operative Society’s circular, has called a public meeting for an early date to consider the tariff question, and we trust that the resolutions passed at that meeting may materially assist in bring ing about the much-needed reform.

Wanted—A Resident Magistrate.

“ Settler’s ” letter, which appeared in our last issue, once more directs public attention to the urgent need in this town of a Resident Magistrate. Ever since Mr Wood’s departure for fresh Magisterial fields, now considerably more than six months ago, we have possessed only a fractional part, so to speak, of a Resident Magistrate, the periodical visits of Mr Beswick count for little. This is not Mr Beswick’s fault. He has quite enough to do at Timaru, where there is a sitting of the Magistrate’s Court three or four days in the week, and sometimes oftener, and at most of which he is expected to preside. Then this hard-worked gentleman has to put in an appearance on certain days at Temuka and Geral dine, and fills up his time by attending inquests, occasional fire enquiries, etc. What wonder that Ashburton has to suffer, and that the cases of suitors, as our correspondent remarks who, may possibly have ccme with their witnesses longdistances.areoften either adjourned or left to be adjudicated upon by a bench ot Justices? The Justices themselves no doubt feel the absence of a Resi dent Magistrate as keenly as anyone. To business men time is money, and they must frequently find the encroach ment on their time a very great incon venience. The honor of attaching J.P. to one’s name is hardly compensated for by the sacrifice of time demanded of our Justices since the Government thought fit to deprive us of the services

of d Resident Magistrate. When Mr Wood left Us it was understood that the arrangement with Mr Beswick to visit us once a week was a merely tem porary one ; in this, as it appears, how ever, we reckoned without our host. Attention has been so frequently drawn to the necessity that exists in Ashbur ton for a Resident Magistrate that we trust the Government will see the ex pediency of appointing -one with the least possible delay. As the matter is one of so much public importance, we should be glad to see it taken up by the public themselves.

Hunt Club. The hounds will meet to morrow at 2 p. m., at Mr J. Corbett’s, Digby’s bridge. Longbeach Road District.—A meet ing of the ratepayers of the above district is called for Friday, August 4th, at 3 p.m., at the Road Board Office, Longbeach road. For further particulars see adver tisement.

Bravo Willowby !—We learn tha

Benjamin Harris Low, a pupil of the Willowby school, who has for two years carried off the principal prizes, has been successful in obtaining a scholarship in class B. at the recent examination in Christchurch, and will probably attend the Ashburton High School during the currency of the scholarship—a period of two years.

Suspected Conspiracy. —The Welling ton Magistrate’s Court was yesterday occupied all day hearing a charge pre ferred against James Jonathan Adams, his wife, and their young daughter, who were the principal witnesses in a case of a young man named L mghurst, convicted in 1880 for committing rape on the last named, for maliciously conspiring to con vict Longhurst. The case was expected to last over to-day.

Out of Season. —Notwithstanding the

sharp frosts and piercing winds experi enced during the last few weeks, there must be some sheltered but yet sunny spots in Ashburton which are proof against the severities of our Southern winters. This morning we had brought under our notice a strawberry plant upon which was a cluster of ripening fruit, and in the centre a large ripe strawberry nestled most temptingly. The plant was grown in the garden of Mr Crosby, at Trevorton, who informed our representa tive that the only care that had been taken with this and other like plants was that during the frosty nights cabbage leaves had been laid over them.

Police. —At the Court this morning, before bis Worship the Mayor, Alexander Clarke was charged with forging and littering a cheque for L 3. Sergeant Felton said the facts of the case were that the accused hid cashed the cheque pro duce 1. It here the name of one Isaac

Osborn (a contractor residing at the Hinds) but the signature was not that of Mr Osborn. He (Sergeant Felton) would ask for a remand until Friday, but had no objection to the accused being liberated on bail in the meantime, so long as sub stantial bail was fixed. The accused was remanded to Friday accordingly, his Wor ship intimating that he would accept bail, accused in LIOO, and two sureties of LSO each.

Died of Want. —Truth is stranger than fiction. A London paper says : —“ Mr Joseph Saunders, a writer of plays, on whom an inquest has just been held, could he have conceived many situations as dramatic as his own death, he would pro miserable room in Stepney which he had occupied for the last five years. With part of his body lying under the bed stead, in his left hand he held his pipe, his pen being close to his right hand. The room contained an old table and a bedr stead ; no mattress, no bed-clothing was to be seen. There was no food ; seven pence half-penny was all the money in his possession. An unfinished drama on “Drink” was open on the table. He had died of starvation.”

Gisborne Manners. —Gisborne must be a sweet place, says an exchange. The inhabitants there are so little given to the social courtesies which distinguish civi lised from savage life, that when some member of the community accidentally happens to be polite to a lady the uncom mon fact is chronicled in the newspaper. In a late issue of the Poverty Bay Stan dard it is actually set down as an out-of the-way occurrence worthy of commen dation, that a young gentleman gave up his seat at a public entertainment to a lady who could not find sitting room. We hardly know which to admire most— the polite act, apparently so foreign to Poverty Bay instinct, or the state of the

social atmosphere where such an occur rence is considered unique enough to “ point a moral” in a newspaper. Police Statistics. —The annual report on the New Zealand Constabulary force was presented to the Assembly last night. Colonel Reader states that in the police branch, out of a total strength of 445, there have been 59 changes during the year, viz—by resignation and completion of service, 38 ; by discharge, 5 ; on com pensation, 4 ; by desertion, 1 ; by dis missal, 9 ; by death, 2. New police

stations have been erected at Te Aroha (Auckland) and Havelock (Napier), and those at Greytown and Manutahi have

been re-opened. An additional constable has been given to Invercargill, Masterton,

Wellington, and Hawera, and two to Christchurch The proportion of officers to constables on the 31st March was 1 to

40 ; of police in boroughs to population (comprising Europeans, Chinese, and half-castes) —Timaru, 1 to 356 ; Hokitika, Ito 371.; New Plymouth, Ito 473 ; Auckland, Ito 490 ; Christchurch, 1 to 490 ; Wanganui, 1 to 516 ; Dunedin, 1 to 625 ; Napier, 1 to 639 ; Wellington, 1 to 663 ; Nelson, 1 to 752 ; Invercargill, 1 to 872. The proportion throughout the

colony wj»B Ito 1084. In Brisbane it is 1 to 1,022; throughout the colony, 1 to 425. In Sydney, Ito 633 ; throughout the colony, Ito 609. In Melbourne, 1 to 609 ; throughout the colony, 1 to 774. In Adelaide, Ito 375 ; throughout the colony, Ito 745. There has been a decrease of 943 general offences in the North Island, and of 249 in the South, giving a total throughout the colony of 1,202. The offenders return of the North Island for the year 1881, shows 7,566 offences reported, 220 offences committed for trial, 5,240 summarily con victed, and 1,382 discharged, as against in 1880, 8,520 offences reported, 309 of fenders committed for trial, 6,159 sum marily convicted, and 1,611 discharged. The return of the South Island for 1881, shows 9,068 offences reported, 249 of fenders committed for trial, 682 sum marily convicted, and 1,260 discharged, as against in 1880, 9,317 offences reported, 280 offenders committed for trial, 7,056 summarily con victed, and 1,308 discharged. Th conduct of the force, with a few ex ceptions, has been very good ; and that both officers and men have been zealous

in t,he discharge or their duties is amply shown by the criminal statistics of the year. The last report showed the strength of the reserve branch to have been 717 of all ranks on the 31st March, 1881. By the sth November following, in conse quence of the threatening attitude of the Natives on the West Coast, the strength was increased to 1,088, of whom 828 were located in the Taranaki district, under Lieut.-Col. Roberts, N.Z.O. After the investment of Parihaka and the removal of To Whiti and Tohu to New Plymouth

the force was reduced, so that by the 3ist Mai-ch, 1882, the number of all ranks .tood at 967.

Ringwood Farm. The approaching sale of the Ringwood farm, Ashburton Forks, is announced in our advertising columns. Messrs J. T. Ford and Co. are the auctioneers, and the sale takes place on August Ist. Coursing. — A coursing match will be run at the Upper Rangitata on the 21st inst. There will be two events—the Ran gitata Cup and the Members’ Plate. En tries will be accepted up to 10 o’clock on the day of the match. Bankrupts. —From Dunedin we learn that Davidson and Conyers have called a meeting of their creditors, and assigned their estate to Messrs Houghton and Stronach, the principal creditors. The debt due to the National Bank amounts to seventeen or eighteen thousand, and those of the other creditors about L 4,000. Poultry, Pigeon, and Canary Show. Entries for the above show closed with the Secretary last night, the total number of entries in all classes is 279, of which 152 are of poultry alone. Entries have been received from Christchurch, Timaru, Rolleston, Rakaia, and many other places. Nearly all the admission tickets in connection with the prize distribution have now been sold, and early application for the remainder should be made to the Secretary. The poultry will be staged in in the main hall, and the canaries and oigeons in the upper room. In order to render the affair as attractive as possible musical selections will probably bo played at short intervals daring both evenings of the show. We are in a position to state that the exhibition will be a good one, and have no donbt it will be as well pat ronised as it deserves to be. Further particulars appear in our advertising columns.

The Frozen Meat Trade.— The New Zealand and Australian Land Company furnish the following particulars received by the Suez mail, as to the sale of their cargo of frozen meat per ship Dunedin. The vessel arrived in the London docks on the 24th of May, and on the 2nd of June about half the cargo had been sold at an average of nearly 6£d per lb. The sheep same out of their bags as bright as new killed mutton, and were declared by the Smithfield salesmen to be simply per fection, and worth 9d per lb if not frozen. The lambs were greatly appreciated, fetching 7d to 7£d per lb. The very heavy sheep shipped by Mr Shand at tracted much attention, but only realised 5d per lb. One of the sheep turned the scale at 1801 bs, and the Londoners could scarcely be brought to believe that such weights could be obtained without arti ficial feeding. One hundred sheep were sent every night to Glasgow, and realised rather more than in London, about 6jd for mutton, and for lamb. At the same time, the Scotch butchers complained of the weights being too heavy for them. The pigs were considered quite as good as English pigs, and averaged 6|d per lb. It is satisfactory to know that the sales men declare that there could not be any improvement in the method of slaughter ing and sending the cargo Home, and that the greatest credit is due to those who superintended operations here, and to Captain Whitson. Political Gossip. —The Press special at Wellington wiring from that city last evening says ; —The debate on the second reading of the Land Bill has now occu pied four nights, and the discussion still proceeds vigorously, and yet I am told on all hands that there is not the remotest chance of the Bill getting beyond the second reading. General dullness still prevails, and is likely to last. Judging from appearances, there is not much pro spect of a regular battle—l mean, of course* j” -i.—po of a want of confi- JdnCQ motion) or fchat Could stand on that footing. I have been posi tively assured only to-day by several members of the Opposition party that all ideas in this direction have been definitely abandoned for the session, in view of the impossibility of effecting any satisfactory understanding between the two parties opposed to the present Government. The Greyites and the Montgomeryites seem wholly irreconcileable, and as their sole object appears to be to turn out Ministers and jump into their seats, it is not very likely that an amalgamation will be brought about unless any unexpected slip on the part of the Government should offer a basis of adverse action, which I do not anticipate. The session, unlike its predecessors, will probably pass by for once without a no-confidence debate or vote. lam inclined to think it will also pass by (like too many of its predecessors) with very little practical results achieved. My impression for some time has been that little will be done beyond passing the estimates, the Land Bill, and such of the Consolidated Bills and formal measures as a e unopposed. The session entered to day on its third month, and, with the ex ception of passing the West Coast Peace Preservation Act, next to nothing has been done. There is a very faint prospect of improvement in this respect. To sum up, I believe Ministers are safe, but that they will carry very few of their measures, and that the first session of the new Par liament will prove a deplorably barren ono.

CABLE NEWS.

LATEST FROM EUROPE.

[pkh kbutkr’s AOKNCV. 1 A Bad Look Out for the Mails. London, July 16. The Sorata sailed to-day for Austra lia. The commander protested against receiving the mails without notice. He declared he had no accommodation for them, the ship being already full. The mails, therefore, remain on deck, covered with tarpaulin. The Maori Deputation. London, July 17. The Maori deputation, bearing a petition addressed to the Queen, were to-day granted an interview by Earl Kimberley, and were introduced to his Lordship by the Right Rev. A. B. Sutter, Bishop of Nelson. Sydney Taiwhanga and Hori Mangihaka ex plained at length the grievances of the natives of New Zealand, and presented their petition. The Secretary of State for the Colonies stated, in reply, that he could only transmit the memorial to the Government of New Zealand, and request the opinion of the Colonial Executive as to the allegations made by the petitioners. Cold Meat. A portion of the cargo of frozen mutton ex steamship Orient, was sold b}' auction to-day, and realised an aver age of per lb. Peaceful John. In the House of Commons to-day the Right Hon. John Bright explained that he disagreed with his former colleagues on the Government benches solely with regard to the policy they had decided upon pursuing in connection with the Egyptian question.

AUSTRALIAN.

[per keutek’s agency,] A Commotion. Albany, Yesterday. The P. and O. steamship Ravenna, with the inward mails via Suez and Brindisi, dated London, June i6ih, ar rived in King George’s Sound this morning, London advices pi that date

to hand by the mail state that the con signment of mutton, ex ship Dunedin, from New Zealand, caused considerable excitement in the Home markets. The quality of the meat was excellent, prime parts of carcases being sold by retail butchers at tod per pound. When the mail left an angry contro versy was proceeding in metropolitan journals between landed proprietors whose interests are endangered, and butchers, with regard to the price of meat and the facility which the rapid development of the frozen provision trade affords to persons of limited in come to obtain colonial meat of good quality at reasonable prices.

TELEGRAMS.

[per press association.] Winiata. Auckland, To-day. Pukurutu, Sullivan’s murderer, is much alarmed at Winiata’s capture. Winiata strenuously protests his innocence, stating the blood seen on his clothes was that of a flatfish he had speared the night preced ing the murder. Refused. Wellington, To-day. At the Supreme Court, in bmco, this morning, his Honor refused the applica tion of Mr De Lautour to be admitted a barrister of the Supreme Court. Titokowaru’s Reception by bis People. The Evening Post’s Normanby corre spondent telegraphs that Titokowaru was heartily welcomed on his return to his pah at Okaiwa yesterday : about 20 Euro peans and 200 natives were present. A feast of pigs and lampreys was served up. Titokowaru appeared greatly pleased at the visit of the Europeans. He said that they would see that the gathering had no political signification. Temporary Insanity. Blenheim, To-day.

At the inquest yesterday on the body of one Campbell, who shot himself through the head on Saturday, a verdict was re turned that deceased shot himself during a fit of temporary insanity. Coursing. Timaru, To-day.

Waterloo Cup. First ties : Bonnie Scotland beat Miss Lucy ; Snowflight beat Obey; Courtship beat Flora Mclvor; Seafield beat Yashti; Banshee beat Mag nolia.

The Oamaru Tragedy. Oamaru, To-day.

The murder case against Alexander Beattie was continued to day. The evi dence given was that the prisoner had, on the 10th of June, told a man named Gal lie, that that he had been up to his house on the night of the 10th, and that he had found his clothing ready for him, and saw something shirting made up. Evidence was also given that Beattie had been seen coming down from the Coal Pit gully, where the body was found, on Wednesday night, with a light, and that when he got within 150 yards of the main road he blew out the light and went with the geese. Dunedin Supreme Court. Dunedin, To-day.

Judge Williams, in his charge to the Grand Jury, referred -only to the cases on the calender, which were of an ordinary character. Philip Waldeman, convicted last session of arson at Queenstown, and whose case had been reserved from the Appeal Court, was sentenced to seven years’, and Thomas Hodgetts who pleaded guilty of larceny, got two yo rood for the Flames. Three wooden houses in Grosvenor street, Kensington, were burned down last night. The fire broke out in the store of S. Mewhinney, containing seven rooms, and fanned by a fresh breeze, the flames spread rapidly. The shop of R. Ray, butcher, and the dwelling of J. Sut ton, were also destroyed. Ray’s premises were insured in the Standard office for LIOO. Sutton was uninsured. Mrs Burns, whose furniture was greatly dam aged by removal, was insured in the Stan dard office for L2OO.

THE WAR IN EGYPT.

LATEST FROM THE SEAT OP WAR Egypt to be Occupied by a British Force. More Troops for Egypt. The Khedive Approves. Sir Archibald Alison Protects the Canal. [by cable.] [per reutbr’s agency.] London, July 17. The issue of Admiral Seymour’s mani festo, announcing his intention to restore order, and the steps which are being taken for the equipment of troops in India, are believed to denote that Egypt is to be occupied by a British force. Bombay, July 17. Orders have been issued by the Indian Government for the immediate equipment of a considerable force of troops for Egypt, and it is expected that they will be des patched at an early date. Alexandria, July 17. Admiral Seymour has issued a mani festo announcing that he intends to taka stringent measures for the restoration of order in the city. The Khedive has intimated his approval of the measures proposed *o be taken by the Admiral.

Major-General Sir Archibald Alison has arrived with the last detachment of troops from Malta, and has been appointed to the command of the force which is being organised for the protection of the Suez Canal. VERY LATEST. Arrival of More British Troops. The Calm After the Storm- Arabia Movements. The Egyptian Premier Disavows the Rebel Chief. The Sultan and the Powers. [by cable.] [PER REUTEr’.S AGENCY.] Alexandria, July 18. The arrival of the transports from Eng land and Malta has increased the number of English troops here to 6,009. The force is now ashore and has been placed under the command of Sir Archibald Alison. The city is now quite calm, and the fires have entirely ceased. Confidence is being rapidly restored, and the public offices are being re-opened. Information is to hand that Arabi is still at Kafradowar with a portion of the Egyptian army, who are engaged in form ing an entrenched position. Eagheb Pasha, the Egyptian Premier, has written a letter to Admiral Seymour completely disavowing Arabi, Constantinople, July 17. There are now hopeful signs that the Sultan is disposed to accept the indenti cal note of the great Powers, and to agree to the request made to him that the force of the Turkish troops should occupy Egypt.

LOWER HEATHCOTE SCHOOL SCANDAL.

[by TELEGRAPH.] [from OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Christchurch, To-day. An official enquiry was held yester day morning, before Dr. Giles, R.M., at the Lower Heathcote school, into tpe circumstances that led to the dis missal by the School Committee of the Rev. G. Wilks, the late head-master of the school. The reason alleged for the dismissal was that the rev, gentleman had spread malicious reports about re specting Mr Davis, Chairman of the School Committee. The inquiry ter minated at noon to-day, Dr, Giles in timated that he would send in his re port to the Government, and no doubt the Board of Education would learn the result in due time.

EUROPEAN ITEMS.

London, July 6. Another Fenian murder is reported from Dublin, the victim being a man who at one time belonged to the Fenian brotherhood, but who seceded from it, and thereby incurred the hatred of the organisation which has compassed his death. Some very severe hailstorms have been experienced in Switzerland. The crops have suffered greatly in consequence, and in some districts have been totally de stroyed. In consequence of the increasing num ber of undetected murders the Govern ment have decided to employ bloodhounds to track the perpetrators of future out rages in Ireland. The Russian Government have sent a special envoy to Oabul to negotiate with Abdul Rahman for the concession of special commercial privileges to Russian subjects. The French military authorities have re-introduced into the army the use of the drum, which was discontinued some time ago. > ' The hostilities which broke out in 1879 between Chili and the United Re publics of Bolivia and Peru, have now terminated, the Chilians having evacuated Peru.

Disputes have again arisen respecting the exact boundaries of Northern Afghan istan, which were defined by Earl Gran ville in Oct., 1872. It has been agreed to refer their demarcation to the joint deci sion of England and Russia. Irish riots of a serious character have broken out in various parts of the coun try At Tredegar, Monmouthshire, the artillery have had to be called out, and they are now engaged in quelling the dis turbances.

The Times, in a leading article on the fiscal systems in force in the different Australian colonies, disputes the state ments of Mr Jeffray in respect to the commercial supremacy of Victoria.

PARLIAMENTARY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL Tuesday, July 13. LAW PRACTITIONERS ACT. The second reading was carried, and the Bill was referred to a Select Com mittee, it being understood that in deal ing with it they would take also the Statute Revision Commission’s and Sir George Grey’s Bills on the same subject, and put what portions of each they think desirable into it. EIGHT HOURS BILL. The Hon. Mr M‘Lean moved the second reading of the Eight Hours Bill. A large number of members spoke against it, contending that it could do no possible good, and if it had any effect at all it would be a mischievous one, as disturbing the present relations between employers and employed. The Bill was thrown out by 17 to 9. The Council adjourned at 5 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Tuesday, July 18. The House met at 2.30 p.m. NEW BILL A Bill intituled the Auckland Univer sity Bill was received by message from the Governor.

QUESTIONS. In reply to questions it was stated that Government could not give a decided answer as to altering survey regulations, to have the side and back lir.es of bush sections cut and pegged before sale. It would be done where necessary. It would be unwise to legalise the lines of private surveyors.—Government did not intend to bring in any Bill enabling part of one borough to sever its connection in order to incorporate with another more conveni ently situated. Such an alteration might be desired, but it was impossible to make it this session. The Government also did not propose to select the area of town districts under the Act of 1881.

1 Some engines had been sent from Inver ■ cargill to Christchurch for repairs, as the 1 workshops at Hillside, Dunedin, were un able to overtake the work required of them.—When the Government had called for tenders for the manufacture of rail way rolling stock in the colony the coat was found to be prohibitive.—The rail way employees on the Brunner line were paid according to a scale which had not been affected by the 10 per cent, reduc tion. They received L 5 per cent, gold fields allowance.—Government would con sider the propriety of offering a bonus for the first 100 tons of wattle bark, suitable for tanning purposes, grown in the colony. —Government would arrange for a station master being stationed at the station on north bank of Selwyn river at least during the grain season.—Government considered the Volunteer Land Claims Commisioners had adhered to the terms of their com mission in the enquiry they had con ducted. FIRST READING. The Gisborne Harbor Board Bill, in troduced by Mr Macdonald, was read the first time. LAND BILL. The debate on the Land Bill was con tinued. Col. Trimble spoke in favor of the Bill. It was an experimental measure, to be applied only to a limited extent, until its value was tested. That was one of its great beauties. It only proposed to add another to the existing systems of dealing with the public estate. So long as a sufficiently secure tenure was obtained it mattered little whether the land was free hold or leasehold. The proposed lease hold tenure was, ho thought, absolutely perfect. There was only a very small percentage of defaulters amongst the de ferred payment settlers. There were only about COO out of 10.000, and all the com plaints came from one part of the colony. He was of opinion that the Bill would do good. Several alterations might be made in committee. Ha would give the Bill his very cordial support. Mr Hutchison was desirous of expres sing his gratification at the introduction of the Bill. If worked well the Bill would have very beneficent results, per haps more than the promoter anticipated. Mr Peacock would express his entire disapproval of the Bill if made applicable to the whole of the colony, but was recon ciled to the Bill to some extent as it was only to bo partial in its operation. Ho would vote for the second reading of the Bill, but in committee would endeavor to effect an alteration.

Mr Shepherd said that as the Hill stood he regretted that it had been brought down. It was unsound, unjust, and un

workable. It was certain it dould never get through the Hodse in its present state. P\ Mr Stevens warmly supported the gene* ral principle of the Bill, although all the details were not perfect. ■ Mr Shrimski favored the Bill, and Mr Turnbull condemned it. ; ' At 12 40 Mr Bracken moved the adjournment of the debate, and the House rose.

MR BRIGHT’S RESIGNATION.

The Dunedin Star says, the with drawal of Mr Bright from the Glad stone Ministry cannot be regarded as a disapproval on his part of their gene ral policy. Consistently with the re ligious opinions of the Christian sect of which he is a member, he could not retain his Ministerial position, as the Society of Friends hold all war to, be unlawful. He must therefore aban don one party or the other, and he has conscientiously by. his resignation, protested against the de struction of Alexandria by withdrawing from a Ministry by whom it was autho rised. While the Empire thus loses the administrative services of so able and conscientious a man, the foreign policy of the Government will be strengthened by the admission of one whose views on the legality of war are more elastic than Mr Bright’s. It is unfortunate for Mr Gladstone that, with aims tending in the direction of the abolition of war and the sacred ness of human life, he has by force of circumstances been compelled to sanction, both in Egypt, Ireland, and other parts of the world, courses of procedure that he would gladly have avoided. It is plain that mankind have not.yet developed sufficiently from the primeval type to accept the doctrine of universal peace. Gladstone’s efforts to establish a tribunal for the decision of national disputes, and Bright’s pro tests against war, though ridiculed, by the unthinking, are seed cast .into the ground, which wasted on the stony and down-trodden ways, will develope into practical statesmanship, though long : after those able men have reste i from their labors.

ON THE SPREE.

[“tuapbka times.”] A rather good story is told of a party of excursionists who left this dis trict a short time ago on a visit to dhe metropolis of Otago. It is said that on arriving in the city they began r to enjoy themselves in a variety of ways, visiting the many places of interest for which Dunedin is famous, indulging in a bit of quiet gossip with their city ac quaintances, and not forgetting to give zest to the proceedings by payingdue de votions at the shrine of Bacchus. After spending the greater part of the day in this manner, and getting half-seas over, they were reminded that they were not at home in the City of Mud, but in the City of the Lyceum, Museum, and Freethought Association, upon which they made a struggle for the railway station, much after the fashion of a gallant fleet of ships ing to weather Cape Horn. Arriving at the station, they tumbled into a carriage bound for the South. Soon after the departure of the train ft stertorous noise was heard in one of the carriages, sufficient to drown the noise of the engine, and at every station those on the platform might be heard enquiring if a cargo of hogs were being conveyed in second-class rail way carriages. This state of affairs lasted until the arrival of the train at Balclutha. On being aroused, and, enquiries made as to their destination, it was found that they had been travel ing a considerable distance in the wrong direction. There was nothing left but to make the besr of a mistake. The party of excursionists have now all arrived here, although some of them were nearly a week longer on the pas sage than they expected. The parties have now resolved to join the Good Templars.

THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 1882.



BOOTS. WINTER BOOTS. 0. HAWKINS, Bootmaker, East street, Ashburton, and Tinwald, has just received a large assortment of Strong and Useful Boots for this season of the year, which he is selling at Christchurch prices. 998 e



gUPPORT LOCAL INDUSTRY. John Meech, CABINETMAKER & UPHOLSTERER, Begs to invite his friends to inspect his large stock of New and Second-hand Fur niture, consisting of Drawing-room and Bedroom Suites Chiffoniers Book Cases Wardrobes Cheats of Drawers Tables Wash Stands Wood and Iron Bedsteads Cote, Cradles Perambulators And everything required in household urnjshing at the very lowest prices. Practical workmen kept for all kinds of repairs. Furniture bought, and high prices given. furniture lent, on weekly and monthly payineotß JOHN MEECH, '. Svtn'll BTB * ■ ..Opposite the Mail Office.



Wanted WANTED KNOWN—LAST WEEK. The American Gem Studio will CLOSE on SATURDAY, 29th inst. Por traits Is per dozen. Opposite the Mail office. jl 17 WANTED KNOWN—That the best place to get Short Firewood and the best Coals (delivered) is from Hayes’ Coal and Wood Yard, East street. 6b9e ANTED KNOWN—That Robert Elston, Burnett street, Ashburton, having procured the Newest Apparatus, is prepared to SWEEP CHIMNEYS at very low rates. Any orders left at the Town Hall will receive prompt attention. WANTED Known—The late Proprie tress of the A 1 Restaurant has Removed to those new and commodious premises of Mr Quill’s, Wills street, now called the London Dining Rooms, ad joining Elz Bros., Coach Builders, and to cope with dull times she is now offering BOARD and LODGING at 18a per week ; BOARD only, 13s. Meals at all hours. 663 e Special Advertisements. mHE LATEST NOVELTY FROM 1 PARIS. THE WONDERFUL ANTI* POPIJIKUMPTUARI. On being wound up, it flies round and round upwards in the air, ascending to an immense height, flapping its wings in the most life-like manner. Price Is Od. ANDREWKS BROS., Booksellers, Stationers, etc., East street south. 334 e lANOS. Wanted Seen, two DRE - DEN MODELS, good as new, con siderably UNDER COST. H. J. Weeks’ Music Depot, Tancred street. LANDED.— Wanted Known, having cleared out a number of Pianos lately, new Pianos and Organs Just Landed. H. J. Weeks’ Music Depot. Exhibition. Wanted Musioai public to know that very fine Piano and American Organ have been purchased from the Exhibition. Open to-morrow, i H. J. Weeks, Music Seller.



Matchmakers i EWELLERS ft ID . The Celebrated American Waltham Watches, in sterling hunting cases, from £3 10s. N.B. —None genuine unless en graved “ Waltham, Mass.” on movement. Rotherham’s Celebrated English Levers, from £5 10s. A’l Watches Examined, Timed, and Guaranteed Two Tears. —O, —tX. Owy (Late Weston’s), PROSPECT BUILDINGS, Tobacconist, fancy goods AND STATIONERY. Meerschaum Pi '.as, G.D. D. Pipes Nailrod, Twist, and Vanity Fair Tobacco A nice assortment of Accordions, Ci n eertinas, Flutes, Violins, Mouth Or :ans, and Toys of every description, direct from Home. Haircutting, Shaving and Shampooing. EAST STREET ASH RURTON. SCHOOL BOOKS. SCHOOL STATIONERY. SCHOOL COMMITTEES SUPPLIED. Foolscap from 10a per Ream, Cash. Envelopes ~ 6s 6d per 1,000 ~ Note Paper, Five Quires, la „ A GOOD ASSORTMENT of Ledgers, Cash, Day Books, and Ledger Books IN STOCK, Toys Fancy Goods, Crewel Wools, &c. JEL M. Jones. Stationer and Bookseller, The best value for ready MONEY IS THE MEN’S AND BOYS’ CLOTHING Manufactured BY THE NEW ZEALAND Clothing Factory, Which can be purchased at their Retail Branches all over New Zealand. A SINGLE GARMENT AT THE WHOLESALE PRICE. Thousands of discerning customers testify that the New Zealand Clothing Factory’s Garments are the very beat for READY MONEY. Ashburton Branch: EAST STREET. W, SPARROW, Manager. 6920 THE NEW ZEALAND GRAIN AGENCY AND MERCANTILE COMPANY, LIMITED. AAA TO LEND, in sums of £50,000 £3 o o



And upwards, on the security of Freehold Property, at Lowest Current Rates. ADVANCES to FARMERS are also made on Growing CROPS of Grain ; and also on Growing Clips of WOOL. Seed Wheat, Oats, and Barley supplied to farmers on most favorable terms. They have Fop-Sale at Lowest Rates— FEED OATS CHICK WHEAT FLOUR, BRAN. & SHARPS CEMENT. AK E~ NOTICE. Everett Brothers Are still in Ashburton, and are SELLING AS CHEAP AS EVER. Special : CALICOES FLANNELS WIFCEYS, and DRESS STUFFS. B Alto A IKS IN LADIES’ ULSTERS, COSTUMES, and WINTER SKIRTS. We have still a Large Stock of MEN’S SHIRTS, HATS, HOSIERY, &c. Note the address ; EVERETT BROS., street, Next Auction Rooms, WILLIAM HORNE. 518 e Agent.



Business Mem:. —Attention is directed to Mr J. T. Brown’s announcement in our advertising columns. The advertiser is prepared to supply timber of all kinds and coals at lowest current rates. He algo has fencing wire, iron, cement, etc., landing. Mr Brown’s office is in Taam street, Christchurch. A Business Man.—jA Master ton man* advertises a concert, to be by a gift distribution of furniture, valued at L 226. The admission is to be a guinea. . He evidently wishes to dispose of hig chattels by lottery, and has adopted tins novel meatn of evading the stringent pro. visions of the Gaming and Lotteries Act. Captain Jackson Barry. —Captain W. J. Barry has delivered nine lectures at Auckland and the Thames. On one oc casion he was honored by the presence of ' three Maori chiefs on the stage beside him, also an old whaler whom he had met on this coast so long ago as 1335. The Captain is pushing on to the King coun try to interview Tawhiao and show him the Queen’s letter. Rather Mixed. —A lady who was in', want of a servant, and had advertised for one, heard a ring at the bell, and on the door being opened a young woman pre sented herself. “Please ma’am, Iv’e come after the place.” “ Oh, indeed. Do you attend any place of worship on Sundays?” “Yes, ma’am, always.” “Ani, pray, to what denomination do you belong?” “Please ma’am, Ido not belong to any denomination, I always goes to where the family goes. lam a family servant, ma’am. What place do you go to, ma’am ? ” The lady said she went to St. Paul’s. “Oh ! ” exclaimed • the applicant, delightedly, “ I’ve always been longing to hear St. Paul preach. ” Holloway’s Pi lls. —Health or Wealth. No sane person would hesitate an instant in the choice between these two conditions. Now is the season to secure the former either by restoring or confirming it. These Pills ex-, pel all impurities from the system which fogs, foul vapours, and variable temperatures en gender during winter ; this medicine also acts most wholesomely upon the skin by disgorging the liver of its accumulated bile, and by ex citing the kidneys to more energetic action ;it increases the appetite for food and strengthens the digestive process. The stomach and liver, which most disorders originate, are fully under the control of these regenerative Pills, which act very kindly y e t most efficiently on the tende- vst bowe’s. —[Advi:.]



New Advertisements. pOISON NOTICE. After this date POISON will be laid on sections 15838, 15839, 16213, 16124 (Brown’s Farm), at Ohertaey. I BALFOUR. Ohertsey, 19th July, 1882. jll9 THE HOUNDS will MEET TO-MOR ROW, at 2 p.m., at Mr John Cor bett's, Diaby’s Bridge. F. SHURY, Hon. Sec.