SHIPPING.

>OKT OF LYTTELTON, Arrived. . Yesterday. Kawatiri, s. s., from Westport. Ware of Life, schooner, from Pelorua ■folunCdfcr, schooner, from Le Son’s Baj. ; SHIPPING TELEGRAMS. Auckland, Yesterday. Sailed Manapouri, for] Melbourne, Tisk-theSouthenv ports. Wellington, Yesterday. Arrived —Hauroto, fi;om Sydney. Dunedin, Yeateiuuy.

Arrived—Te Anau, from Melbourne, via the South; Si Kilda, from Grey mouth ; Taiaroa, from the North; Go- Ahead, from; Wellington. ~ _ Sailed—’llololoß, for ; the North; Te Anau, for Auckland, ,via Bast Coast.

COMMERCIAL.

“ ' Ashburton Guardian Office, 'h-mh't' i; ■■ Saturday afternoon. Messrs ’Miles and Co. (per J. T. Ford) re port on the live stock market, etc., for the week ending, Friday, May Addington market , was. again heavily'supplied with fat sheep on Wednesday last, arid &e duality of the bulk of the entries was undeniable. We quote 2%d per lb for prime mutton, such as one magnificent line of crqnbKds sent forward by Pelham Jones, Esq. wnroTwonld' be hard to beat anywhere. Mer ino ewes were in little demand, most farmers having-now purchased all they require for the seaddUi M Beef we quote at 22s fid per loolbs for best quality. Store cattle were not much enquired ,fpr,. and. there is no improvement in values',/ Pig? are ;still good property, and prices coqmuVaboutihe same.. The total numbers of yarded wefe-HJI42 sheep, 468 head ofciStle,'abd 2dt pigs. Our entries Were on accptiMt' ; of’ the Chatmoss Estate; the Cold strodh: Estate, Messrs F. M. Foster, Pelham Minlove, T. H. Parkinson, W. B. CUtrktfoa, J. Roberts, J. A. Pannet, Mere ditftWilson, jjames Gough, J. F. Rudd, and others, t . Mr, .- Pelham Jones’ crossbreds, un doubtedly ithe best quality in the market, rrtK.fri.ifc allround. The Coldstream cross breds, second only to those quoted, but larger, also. revised- 16s. A ; line from the Chatmoss «Sfe»in first-rate condition, brought 15s! iMr E.'wfenloW’s Consignment sold at 15s gd. Other lines In a&ortJance. Pigs we sold at 13s and 15s up 'to 58s each, average about 30s. Cattle, equal to our quotations.—Tinwald ; At thitf Matket on Tuesday last, we had a large entnTpT jsai classes of stock. We sold on ac- 'A. E. Peache, Mowbray, Chisnall, Denshire, F‘. M: Foster, C. J. Har per, W. Rutherford, Collinson Bros., and the HonJtW. S? Peter. Mutton seemed to be in ofreqhicements, but we quote' 2#d per lb for first quality. Beef was also in limited de- lq% prices obtained.' We'should cent, below recent returns. A§Mitl‘Jti. per roolb may be quoted as an average.' 1 .No, enquiry for store cattle. .*■ tore sheepudull of sale; ewes in best demand, but, unless in lamb, very difficult to quit.—Sheep skins, hides, fat and tallow : On Friday , (post poned from the usual; Thursday, on account of Her Majesty’s birthday), we held onr usual sale. We mtd a somewhat small entry, attri butahitf ( fro idoubt to. the holiday. Butchers’ CFdB&KdSROId at 2S ltd, 3s 3d, 3sßd, 3snd, an<hnp{tO!4s fid ;;-ditto merinos, from 2s 3d to 4s 3d. Rough fat, well saved, sold at from to 2jtd. An especially good line of tallow realised 3%d per lb. Hides, un changed; for sound, and for damaged being still ruling rates. Calfskins areriirthesame figures. Thb following is the Christchurch Com Ex clutnge ...report for the week ending Friday evening, the 25th instant: —Business during thd"Week has been- of a most limited character, v -values in nearly all lines practically unchanged. —Wheat!; Good sound Tuscan, 4s 5d to 4s fid per pushel, f.o.b. Other wheats range from 4s 3d to 4s .$d per bushel, f.0.b.; broken whfeat; fit for milling, 3s 3d to 3s fid per bushel* delivered -in Christchurch; chick wheat from as fid Jo 3s. — Oats : Bright milling samples 2s 2s 2d per bushel, f.o.b. ; feed? quality* is gd to is lid, f.o.b.—Barley"; Prime malting samples, 4s 4d to 4s yd per bushel; feed quality, and second quality malt mg, id.* to; 3s; fid par bushel, delivered in ChmKhiu^.—Grass seed : There is no en enquiiy at present ; farmers’ samples, fairly wen cleaned, will command 3s fid to 33 gd bushel; machine dressed 4s to 4s 2d haspyet been.transacted, 32s fid to 35 s at conniry "Stations-being the nominal values.— : Bc*BS- ,*nd PeaS : The former are not very salable, but sales have, been effected at 3s fid th'eTktter vary from 3s 3d to 3s gd £,o:l>.—Cheese and Butter : Jd to s}4d for the former; ;the latter is to, is id per lb.

DAILY MEMORANDA.

w^)«.t.;.,^ troTlON . sales , - May 30. Mr W. B. Mobs, at his Sale' Booms— Fruit and Forest Trees, &c., at noon. ■ljiiit ; 1 ' .Fbiday* June 1. Matron, Cox and 00., at Waterton Farm, Live and Dead Stock ; at 12 noon. ' Thursday, June 7. Matron, Ooxand Co., at Waterton—Town Sections, Farm, Live and D. ad Stock, &C., at 11 o’clock sharp. Robert Wilkin'and Go., at the Tiriwald SalftsYardsr —Surplus Stock, Farm Im : PlfflfWfo.?* 0 - MEETINGS. AMUSEMENTS, &c Friday, May 25. Somerset Lodge, Monthly Meeting, in the Mawnic Hall, Tancred street, 7.30. Town Hall—“ tattle Treasure” Comedy B Company, at 8 p.m. 1 . , Monday, May 28. Borohgh’ J Council, at Borough Council Ohwnb^n, ; *at 7 o’olock. . Oppec, Aahburton Boad Board District— General election of members ; nomina tion May 27th, polling day 7th day of ; Jnne. 771 m-MbHitfAT,'-JtFNB A;/ Ashburton Borough—Annual Licensing meeting for Borough, June 4th. Wednesday, June 6. Resident Magistrate’s Court, Ashburton— Annual Licensing meeting for Ashbur ton district, June 6th.

TRAVELLERS' GUIDE.

TRAINS iFOB Christ church and intermediate stations at 7.10 ■.m., 10.65 a.m., and (Express) 6.39 P-iP- 'J Trains Leave Ashburton nor Timaku and South, at 6.50 a.m., 10,25 a.m. (Express), and 4. 45 p.m.—the latter pro ceeding nofaiiher than Timaru. Trains , Arrive at Ashburton from Christchurch at 10 20 a.m. (Express), 436 p.m., and 7.20 p.m. Trains Arrive at Ashburton from Tixaruand South at 10.45 a.m., 5.28 p.m. (Express), and 8 p.m.

NOTICE TO ADVERTISERS.

Advertisements for The Asoettrton Guardian must be sent' in not Lior than 3 p.m , with the number of insertion, written plainly on the copy, otherwise they will be inserted until counter manded, and charged accordingly. Re place Advertisements must be supplied the day previous to that on which they are to be inserted. Special notices can be received up to 3.30 p.m,, but will 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. SATURDAY, MAY 26, 1883. Our Bankruptcy Laws.

It would appear from the positive assurances of those who profess to be in the secrets of the Cabinet that the Government do really intend to intro duce a Bankruptcy Bill into the General Assembly next session. A similar promise has been made during the last two or three years just about the commencement of the session, but the pressing exigencies of political affairs —the annual struggle of the Ministry for existence—has caused the Bankruptcy Bill to be put off to a more convenient season. Between the ses sions the various Chambers of Com merce have been in full blast over the subject of bankruptcy, and been pass ing long series of contradictory resolu tions, almost the sole point of agree ment between the different Chambers being the necessity of making the bankruptcy laws more stringent. And while the crude and one-sided nature of many of the proposals made fay the Chambers is apt to provoke a smile, seeing that these bodies, as a rule, re gard the wholesale creditor as the only being who possesses any rights worth considering, yet we heartily concur with the Chambers.that the existing bank ruptcy law is far too lenient towards the debtor. It offers no terrors whatever to the insolvent, however deeply involved he may be, however dishonest his conduct, provided he has only kept outside the boundaries of the criminal law. He may even have stepped within the boundaries and still file his schedule with unfaltering hand, if only he has been wise enough to get rid ot the whole of his property; be cause, if he has done that, his creditors are little likely to put their hands into their pockets for the purpose of paying the expenses of a prosecution, and in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred he will go scot free. A facetious sort of document, issued from the office of the Department of Justice, adorns the walls of the different Courthouses in the colony, informing all and sundry that the costs of prosecutions under the Fraudulent Debtors Act are payable out of the fraudulent debtors’ estates. This is all very well in its way, but it would be more interesting to creditors and probably more conducive to the ends of justice, if creditors were told that the Government would defray the costs of such prosecutions, when the funds of the estate run short. We really do not see why the Government should not pay these expenses. If a man steals a watch he is prosecuted at the public expense, but if he defrauds his creditors out of hundreds, or per haps thousands of pounds, they are required to bear the costs of the prosecution themselves. The cause of the distinction made between the two cases is one of those legal conundrums which the ordinary mind is quite unable to solve. When a debtor is being pressed by,his creditors for payment of his account, it is the commonest thing possible for the debtor to say, “ If you sue me I shall file.” He holds “ the Act ” in terrorem over the head of his creditor, and the latter usually surren ders at discretion. In former times, and in other lands, the creditor used to threaten his debtor with “ the Act.” We are now at the Antipodes, and have reversed the old order of things. The Bankruptcy Court was formerly a place of purgatory, where men suffered real punishment for their financial sins; in New Zealand we have made it a land of rest for the weary, whence, after a few forms and ceremonies have been gone through, which, under ordinary circumstances," can be managed in a few weeks, the refugee can emerge freed from his financial burdens, and with scarcely an unpleasant thought to trouble him. We cannot think that a bankruptcy law can be framed on a sound basis when a debtor is able to use it as an ordinary weapon of defence against his creditors. The Bankruptcy Court should be a place which no man would willingly have anything to do with. It should not be a matter of course that a man filing a schedule containing on the one side a long list of debts, and on the other no assets, should get his dis charge without any questions asked. This, we believe, to be the radical de fect of the present Act. In most Bank ruptcy Acts it has been required that the debtor’s estate should pay so much in the pound, to entitle him to his 'dis charge; otherwise the debtor has been called upon to show cause why his discharge should be granted; whereas, under the New Zealand law as it stands, a bank rupt can get his discharge without pay ing a farthing of dividend, and no creditor can prevent him, unless he proves that the bankrupt has been guilty of fraud, or has kept no books or done some one of those things which the Court thinks sufficient to warrant it in suspending the ordqr pf discharge. In other words, the spirit of the Act is carried out and the onus of proof de volved from the debtor to the creditor. This is essentially vicious. The ob vious policy of a bankruptcy law should be to bring the affairs of a into the Bankruptcy Court as soon as he is fairly insolvent, so that the creditors may get as large a dividend as possible; but our law offers a distinct encouragement to every insolvent to carry on as Jopg us he can, and waste his estate in trying to recover himself, until at last there is nothing left for anybody. It would be more just to creditors and no hardship to debtors if a rule were made that an order of discharge should not issue i

lentil the bankrupt had paid 6s 8d in' the unless he could show special reasons to the contrary. A dividend of six shillings and eightpence in the pound from an insolvent estate repre sents property of a much larger amonut in a solvent estate, owing to the sacri fice which is often made of a bankrupt’s property : on the other hand, a man whose affairs are in such a condition that his assets would not- realise more than 6s 8d in the £ of his debts, even at a forced sale, ought clearly, in jus tice to his creditors, to go into the Bankruptcy Court without delay. There are, of course, cases where men, by sudden misfortune, are brought to ruin; but the saving clause we have proposed, under which the Court would be empowered to grant an order of discharge even if a smaller dividend than 6s 8d in the £ were paid or no dividend at all, would cover all such exceptional cases, and prevent hardship being inflicted upon persons who had got into difficulties through no fault of their own.

It is suggested that a testimonial should be got up to Sir G. M. O’Rorke, in recog nition of his services in obtaining a Uni versity for Auckland. The chess tournament, in Dunedin, by living figures dressed in character, was a great success, the hall being crowded, and the whole imposing spectacle passed off with a hitch. It is understood an action will be im mediately commenced in the Supreme Court to compel the Otago Land Board to issue the licenses in the recent sale of deferred payment land at Straih-Taieri. The Building Committee of the St. Stephen’s Sunday school have resolved to call for tenders as speedily as possible for the erection of a suitable building on the Church reserve. Alternate tenders for wood and brick will be invited.

The Governor and party leave Auck land to-day, per Hinemoa, for Gisborne and Napier, en route for Wellington. The whole of the Volunteer force has been ordered to parade as a guard of honor.

Charles Adams, arrested on Thursday on a charge of larceny, escaped from the Auckland lock-up early yesterday morn ing. He climbed up the closet roof, thence to the roof of the buildings, and dropped into the street. There are four charges against him. A deputation interviewed the West Coast Railway Commissicn at Christ church yesterday, and gave the approxi mate annual consumption of coal and timber in Canterbury, from data furnished by the Collector of Customs. The timber was shown to be 20,355,800 f t; laths and shingles, 327,800 ; and sleepers, 42,804 ; besides seven cargoes from Tasmania, particulars of which, were not supplied ; coal, 90,000 tons. Subscriptions towards the piaiuforte for the Old Men’s Home are slowly coming in, Ll 5 10s 9d is the amount at present in hand or promised. This sum is composed as follows : —Collected by Mr Harris, L 5 10s 9d ; Mr George Gould, L 5 ; Mrs Charles Clark, LI; Mr Joseph Clark, LI; Mr Samuel Barker, LI; Hon. J. B. A. Acland, LI; and Dr Trevor, LI. About Ll 7 more is required to purchase an instrument which Messrs Friedlander Bros, have very generously offered to supply at cost price.

The football match between the Inver cargill team and the Dunedin Football Club came on Thursday at Dunedin on a very sloppy ground. At the start the Dunedin team were the favorites, but before many minutes’ play were over it became evident the teams were very evenly matched. Spills were very fre quent, and afforded amusement to on lookers. In the first spell the Dunedin secured a couple of marks, but Taiaroa failed to kick a goal on either occasion. After the last try, by very smart work Invercargill worked the leather down to their opponent’s goal. Before Dunedin had realised the position they had secured a touch, but no goal was kicked. In the second spell Dunedin made determined efforts to win, but every inch of ground was contested. Just before time was called Dunedin secured a touch-down, but no goal was kicked, and the match ended in a tie.

A meeting of the Ashburton Coursing Club was held last evening at the Somer set Hotel, when there was a large atten dance of members. The stakes in the Birthday meeting were paid over to the owners of the winning dogs, and all other accounts iu connection with that event were settled. It was resolved that the last coursing meeting of the season should bo held on July 11, and that it should be open to dogs from all districts, the en trance fee for the all-aged being fixed at L2 2s, and for the puppies at LI Is. A cordial vote of thanks was passed to the Hon. John McLean and Mr Donald McLean, for the permission so kindly given to the Club to course on the Lag mhoijestate. It was also decided to request Mr Chatteris to act as judge at the next meeting. 'the Club is in a very good financial position, having a balance to their credit of over Ll2, after paying off all outstanding liabilities. ■ In a tent erected opposite the railway station, Mr John Dewe gave an exhibition of his powers as a horse-tamer last even ing. There was a limited attendance, probably owing to the want of publicity given to the announcement of the visit. Mr Dewe gave a long account of his sys tem of horse-taming, which he said was characterised by kindness and persuasion, no methods which could be considered cruel being resorted to. The animal operated on last evening was not an un broken colt, but Mr Dewe assured those present that it was none the less difficult to handle. He then proceeded to place straps round the fore legs of the horse, which quietly submitted to the operation, and after a struggle it lay down. The experiment was interesting enough, but the audience was evidently of opinion that it did not prove much, as the horse was already broken in. Mr Dewe, how ever, announced that he would this after noon try hia system upon a colt that had never been handled previously, and he assured the people assembled that he would be successful in taming the animal in a very short space of time. Some of the Westmeath’s immigrants left Auckland for the Thames on Thursday. They complain very bitterly of the im position they were in a number of in- to before leaving Eng land. They complain that a regular sys tem of blackmail levying was practised on them while waiting in the Barra ks at Plymouth, They state they were not allowed to leave the depot in that port upon any consideration, a truck shop being set up inside, at which they are bound to purchase such things as only j were necessary before going from the ves sel. Another fraud Which they are in dignant concerning consisted in some offi cious individual overhauling all their packages, and insisting that the passengers could not be allowed to take with them for the voyage anything in the shape of extras, which they had provided to sup plement what the ship allowed them. These plpcials declared it was against all rule to allow these comforts to go on board, and in consequence many of the passengers were deprived (robbed, they s?y) of many little matters which, while not very" valuable jh tfreipselyes, would have been deemed a treat during their long voyage ; the things were loft, per force, behind at Plymouth, and b .camo the property of the harpies who prey upon inexperienced immigrant*.

gr ' f J Among the list of ' gentlemen awarded ,tjie hqgora which are customarily distri fou ed on the Queen’s Birthday, the name of Professor von Haast occurs. That gentleman will now be privileged to write the letters O.M.G. after his name

It is notified in a Gazette published last night that his Excellency the Governor has summoned the Hon. Jas. C. Rich mond, of Nelson, and John Willis Barni coat, Esq., of Nelson, to the Legislative Council or New Zealand. Another candidate for the Bruce seat has come forward, Mr John McNeil, Mayor of West Harbor, being mentioned as likely to stand. He contested Dun edin Central at the /last election. Mr Horace Bastings was requested to stand, but declined.

A meeting of Thompson, Strang and Company’s (of Dunedin) err 1 ; L ora was held yesterday morning. The liabilities are L 12,161, of which L 1,601 are due to

Home firms. The assets are estimated at L 14,703. It was agreed to assign the es tate to Mr Young, of Messrs Sargood’s, and Mt Strathan, of Messrs Butter worth Bros.

A young man named James Hagan, who

was out shooting at the Upper Suit on Tuesday, in company with another youth, is missing. He separated from his friend in search of pigeons, and has not since been seen. .Search parties are still out. The youth who went with Hagan into the bush declined to accompany either party, and some comment has been excited in the township by his action. Hagan, who is about sixteen years of age, is a good woods man, and hardly likely to starve to death in the bush, almost every foot of which he is well acquainted with. A presentation was made to Mr Wheeler on the 18th inst by the Willowby singing class, over which he presides. It con sisted of a very handsome family Bible, a metronome, and b&ton for use in the class. As his instructions last year were given gratis it was only reasonable that some sign of appreciation of his efficient services should be forthcoming. The testimonial was handed over by Mr Chapman, accom panied by appropriate remarks, and Mr Wheeler suitably replied. The class com menced the season’s practice on Wednes day evening last. There was a marked falling off in the attendance at the Town Hall last night, when the Little Treasure Company gave their second performance. The items of the previous night were repeated, both the comedy and the farce being appre ciated. The local topical song specially hit the fancy of the audience, and the in terpolated ditty in the second act was loudly re-demanded. To night there will be a complete change of programme, Miss Amy Horton appearing in a round of her

famous impersonations, and Messrs Crook and Horrace contributing special items, the whole to conclude with a farce. The entertainment promises to be an excellent one, and we expect to see a crowded house.

The private residence of Dr Lemon, Superintendent of Telegraphs at Welling ton, was successfully illuminated with electric light on Thursday night, this being the first private house in the colony into which this light has been introduced. The apparatus used consists of Siemens’s shunt dynam >, which will run twenty-five lights each light 20-candle power, and will accommodate itself to every lamp which is cut out or inserted. Swann’s incandescent lamp is the one em ployed in the present instance. The plant has been specially imported by Dr Lemon at a coat of a little over L2OO, and, with the exception of regulating the engine (one-horse power) indicated, the whole has been fitted uo by Dr Lemon himself. It is believed that thj I'ght will be found quite as cheap as gas. Dr Lemon con siders that the Siemens’ dynamo machine is the most powerful generator in the market. A gas engine is employed to drive the machinery.

At a meeting of the Auckland Board of Education, tho Chairman said the Graf ton School Committee now reported on the charges brought against Mr Talbot, of this school, and forwarded evidence. The report had a tendency to exonerate Mr Talbot. He thought the best thing they could do would be to refer the evidence to a Committee of the Board to report upon. Mr Goldie thought the Board should make the charges public, i t might be thought these charges were of immorality, whereas they were not. The Chairman said there were other matters in the report besides Mr Kennedy’s charge, and whether they were against him or not, the preliminary consideration of the evidence should be by a Com mittee of the Board. Mr Dargaville objected to these charges being allowed to hang over Mr Talbot’s head. He could ay the evidence entirely disproved the main charge by Mr Kennedy. The motion for the appointment of a Com mittee was agreed tc. Mr Dargaville was proposed to act, but he declined, on the grounds that ho had very strong convic tions that Mr Talbot was being persecuted. Mr Moss said he had a strong conviction that Mr Talbot was being persecuted. Messrs Luke, Hibbs, McKenzie, Goldie, and the Chairman were appointed a Com mute. Some discussion then took place on the master for the Grafton school. The matter was deferred till after the re port of the Committee on Mr Talbot's case was received. Mr Moss drew attention to the important influence that had been exercised on the last election by a wide awake and powerful Society. Mr Goldie said this was the first year the Orange So ciety had taken action > egarding the elec tion, hut the Grafton election was not in fluenced by the Society. All the mem bers at present on the Committee had been there for three, two, or one year, and the last was a recent arrival there. The Chairman of the Ashburton Cheese and Butter Factory has received the fol lowing communication from the Colonial Treasurer, in answer to a deputation, which waited on Major Atkinson when he was here ;—“ >ir, —Referring to ths ad dress which I had the honor to receive from the Ashburton Cheese and Butter Factory Company, Limited, upon my re-

cent visit to tha factory, in which certain representations were made of the hard ships the Company suffers from the nature of the conditions imposed upon competi tors for the bonus offered by the Govern-

ment for the production of cheese and butter on a large scale, I have the honor to inform you that since my return to Wellington I have brought the subject under the consideration of toy colleagues, and the conclusion arrived at by the Go vernment is, that sale of the products in question in local markets is not the object the Government had in. view in offering the bonus, as there are numbers of far mers who have generally kept the market supplied without any bonus whatever, Tre object aimed at is the creation of an export trade in articles which could be made here to a much larger extent than would be required for local consumption. IVJoreover, if the manufacture of the arti cles under the American system without the condition of export were all that is wanted, the New Zealand and Australian' Land Company is already in advance of the Ashburton Cheese and Butter Factory Company, having, in December, 1881, made a claim for the bonus, but withdrew it partly because of the condition of sale in a foreign market; stating, however, that their claim was withdrawn only in respect of the bonus then offered and not for that now advertised. From these re marks you will gather that the Govern ment do hot, I regret to say, think it de sirable to make any alterations in the terms upon which the bonus is offered in the direction desired by your Company.— I have the honor to be, etc., D. A, Atkin son.”

So as t«o as pduible to get rid of tuna small bir<Ja mrosanoe, the County Council has rsso ved : to distribute poisoned grain to suoo.farmers as require it, instead of selling ib-'ap was at first in tended. A notificaticmjto that effect will be found in another column. •

Encouraging reports continue t) be received 'ht Gisborne from the South Pacific Petroleum Company’s works. The Poverty Bay jSenzfd .protests against the Christchurch shareholders prohibiting the Southern Cross Cornea- y’a manager .from furnishing information to the local press for the information "of local shareholders. A curious story is told by'the Mel bourne correspondent of theHawke’s Bay Herald. A boy, aged ten, became des perately enamoured of a 1 ull grown bur lesque actress in that city, and, to prove his devotion, he stole a valuable locket and chain, and waited at the stage door to present it to the object of his adoration. Before accepting the gift, the lady’s curi osity prompted her to inquire who had sent it, and the gushing declaration which followed must have astonished her. The Bench ordered the boy to be severely flogged by his father. Writing of the recent election on the West Coast, the Inangahua Times re marks :—The figures at the last election were—Weston, 739 ; Reeves, . 516; McLean, 59 —making a total of 1,314 The total number of votes polled on this occasion was larger than was expected, and gives a good index to the interest felt in the contest. It will be seen that Mr Wakefield obtained majorities at five out of the eight polling places in the Grey Valley, the total votes in that portion of the electorate being—Wakefield, 415 ; Shaw, 343. It is also worthy of cote, as accounting in a great way for the dis parity in the voting at Orwell Creek and Little Grey, that Mr Wakefield did not visit the latter place at all, owing to prea auie of time, and was only in Orwell Creek twice, and then at night time, and there fore had no opportunity of meeting the electors privately. A considerable number of the members of the Legislative Council and the House of Representatives^and leading mercan tile men, in response to-the ‘Mayor’s invitation, met at Wellington yesterday, to consider the action of the Canterbury Railway League in seeking to divert the money voted for the extension northward of the Middle Island Trunk Railway to s line to the West Coast. The Mayor quoted at length from, the proceedings of the League, and /the': meeting was ad dressed at length by Mr Travers and Sir W’ Pitzherbert. The latter insisted that any diversion of the ifaoney allocated for ihe extension of the Main Trunk Railway would be a scandalous breach of.public faith. It was bn-the- strength’of-a’tlunk line from Invercargill to the Bay of Islands that the public works scheme, and its debt of twenty-two millions 1 were accepted by the people of the colony, and no deviation frpm this should per mitted, On the motion of his 1 Worship the Mayor, seconded by the Hon. John Martin, the following, resolution unanimously agreed to: “That* any diversion of the funds allocated to the construction of the Middle Island Main Trunk line would be improper, and at variance with the general scheme of public work ’’ On the motion of Mr Duthie, seconded by Mr N. Reid, it was resolved to send copies _of the resolution to each member of the* Legislature j»nd 'Govern ment.

The Sydney Morning Herald, in an article referring to the singular outburst of violent crime which has been witnessed in Australasia recently, says “We can sum up a list of crimes committed within the last month such as have seldom in modern times shocked, and injured, and insulted humanity. We have seen cases of cruel murder followed by determined suicide, of rash murder co'umittfed • by’ a girl—we have teen schoolboys plotting to wreck trains and destroy many human lives ; youths shooting men jdpwnbeV cause ‘ they were alive,’ dr because it was better fun than rabbit shooting ; also a father mutilating his son with a square of cedar board; and we h’Sve heard of the larrikin element—insolent, obscene, of fensive, and in - maqy cases .practically triumphant. ' The law,” it' proceeds, “ may do its best, and should and must do its best; but there is touch to be done which is as far beyond any legislation as is religious conviction or sceptical denial. Certain it is that we have not looked.tp,

our schools enough. We have not recog nised that we must teach morality as we teach aritmetic ; that the child and the man is one-side i and eccentric Without it ; as likely to break off at a tangent, and with much annpyance and destruction to others accomplish ,its own ruin, as to move with regularity upon the broad social plane,: rising or progressing by legitimate paces in equitable ways. The State must look to its schools in the mat ter ; and, taught by many terrible ’ ex amples, surely the people might be expected to look to their homes,” We learn from our WillOwby correspon dent that there was a large gathering of the children and their friends on the 18th inst., the occasion'Jhsing the , distribution of prizes ani the ' school treat. A large number of prizes were distributed to the winners in various genres and races which were indulged'in.' The tea, provided by Mesdames Dalton, Gray, Grice, Hayman, Hawkins, Heasley, Horsey, hfanson, McKenzie, Smithies, and Low, was an excellent one. On returning to the schoolroom, after a ranpible in the moon light, an entertainment was given. The chair was taken by Mr S. S. Chapman. The singing class of the district, under the guidance of Mr Wheeler, its leader, gave some selections, and recitations also occupied a very conspicuous place, there being a keen competition for two prizes kindly given by Mr 0. Martin, of Wins low. Messrs Harding (of FJeraington), and Mr Aitken, junr., acted as judges, and confessed themselves very much gratified by the excellent way the pieces were recited. It was somewhat difficult to award the prizes, which were, however, carried off by Sarah A. Hayman and Elsie Low. There were standard, good conduct, best attendance, and great progress prizes; also prizes for needle work. They were awarded as follows :—Moses Hawkins, 1 ; Emily Hayman, 2—in Standard V. Frank Ha wkins, 1; Alice Hawkins, 2—in IV. Rhoda Osborne, 1; Mary Smith, 2; Margaret Low, 3; Harry Hayman and William Grice, equal for 4 —in 111. Thomas Hayman, 1; Annie Williams, 2 ; Isabel Martin, 3 ; Elsie Low, 4—in 11. Frank Grey, 1 ; Sarah Parish, 2 , Charles Beach, 3—in I. Betsy Grice and George Grice, best attendance. Sarah A. Hay man and Moses Hawkius, best conduct. The sewing prizes were distributed to the following ; —Standard V—S. Low, 1 ; S. Hayman. 2. Standard IV.—A. Hawkins, 1. Standard lII.—R. Osborne, 1 ; Mary Smith, 2. Standard ll.—Ada Smithies, 1 ; Anna Wilson, 2 ; Isabel Martin, 3. Standard I. hate Smithie l , 1 ; A. Heasley, 2. The Inspector’s report was read, and iu it he stated that “ the re sults showed the same careful instruction as in former years.” Votes of thanks to all concerned terminated the proceedings. Holloway’s Ointment ancf. Pills combine both sanitive and sanative powers in a {high degree—by the former term is understood their ability to preserve health, by the latter their capability to restore health. With these reme dies at h«nd no invalid need be at fault to guide himself or herself safely through the many trials to which everyone is subjected during our long and ofttimes inclement winters. Coughs, colds, ulcerated throats, diptheria, whooping cough, can be successfully treated by well rubbing this Ointment upon the chest, and by taking the Pills. During damp foggy weatherasthmaticalsufter'efs will experience the utmost possible relief frqtn the inunction of the ointment on all tender chested persons will save endless misery by adopting this treatment. —[Advt.]

OFFICIAL IGNORANCE.

(The World.) ’ ; The map of the world has always been the weak point of English Minis ters, whose rule extends over so large a section of its surface. When Lord Palmerston was for the first lime appointed a Secretary of State, he ran over the papers which a subor- - dinate placed before him, and after looking as puzzled as that: jaunty statesman possibly could, remarked that “ Now we will have a look at the atlas, and see where all these places are.” The old Duke of Newcastle was quite delighted when told that Cape Breton was an island—for •“ the* ' Kiing would-be so glad to bear’it*” -4 and declared with an oath -4 that “ Annapolis must be Tde- •• fended,” though he was compelled to ask in an undertone, “where,the • deuce Annapolis was?” A Secretary, we believe still living, when 1 asked to sanction better mail communi-.y tion between Victoria and Tasmania, 4 * / suggested, as, he glanced at. .one. Jpfr those small scale maps by Lord Salisbury, that it would be beb : ter to “ throw a bridge over ” Bass Straits, “ and we can guarantee' the , f loan.” Another statesman, was for lohg under th£ belief that Victoria was <• arj island ; a second that Vancouver Is land was invested by tigers. The same,., r gentleman proposed putting the;'. New South Wales convicts on Cockatoo Island—a spot so small that it would barely give them standing room. It is still common to receive letters for “Met bourne addressed South Australia, aud it was a daily subject tor jeering in \ British' Columbia that members of Barr ‘ ~j liament who discussed the San question had hardly the remotest idea of the locality about which they were talking.. ■. 'Daring- the Traw£ vaaf war—-so it is affirmed in ~ South Africa—an admiral on the __ station was directed not .to bombard .. POtchefstroom, which happens to btj- J 400 miles in the interior; and it is not surprising to hear that ‘a Government which sent vessels to the Baltic of such ■ a draught that they could hot Apsf6acK v * within bombarding range of'Gronstadt forced an irate old, commodore to ; blaspheme “My Lords,” when they suggested that, in view of the disturbed condition of Germany, the fleet had VI better anchor off Frankfort-on-the- -i- Main. Shakespeare, we know, con sidered Bohemia an island, as did Greene in treating the same storyi' 1 which is the basis of “ Winter’s Tale,” and the old Danish' Folkedigter always - spieaki ng of Bohmerland as lying. i>y; thiestormy sea. ?■.-

SPORTING.

[ WAIMATB STEEPLECHASES. S The following acceptances have been received for the principal event of the l 1 Waimate Steeplechase meeting ou t June * I Ist: . I*. SDi. I Waijiatb Steeplechase Handicap. at. lb. . at. lb. Clarence ... 12 11 Milo >. ...10 .8. x Canard . ...12 5 Barbary... 10 8 \ , Bateman (late Com mis- ir. Katerfelto) ... 11 0 Sio no r : ; ■ , Kosciusko ... 10 10 (late Dex- . « ‘ Wildboy ...10 10 ter) ...10 4 } W a verley 10. 0 t Quamby is the only non-acceplpc ,pf those nominated. ' Hack Steeplechase. x The following are the entries for this £ event. ~ Mr W. S. At milage’s Black Doctor .'. , Mr W. S. Armitage’s lota . J ’ Mr B. Duncan’s Venus ’ ''j ■ : Mr H. Hunt’s Saracen ! Mr if. Simon’s Ivanhoe c - Mr M. O’B ien, jun.’a Marvel -•> > } Mr M. Sherwin, jun.’s Encore ■ _ : The weights in this event- are not to be ’ j leisthan lOat. : TE AWAMUTU RACE 3 3 4 3 , [bt telegraph] b Auckland,' To-day, " * The following are the results of this _ 1 meeting;- . ; f 1 1 Hubdlbs. ‘ Baku ... ... 1 ■*-*■ r : Sportsman ... ... ... 2 3 Maiden Plate. Welcome Day 1 ; . Charlie ... ... ... 2 * TeAwamutu : Handicap. ', j .. Rewi ... ... ... '' 1, ' . ? j ; Welcome Day ... ... 2 ;, -r Moonstone ... ,3 ’ J 1 Waikato Stakes. 1 Victoria ... ... ;.. 1 Fisherboy ... ... ... 2 . 1 Publicans’ Puesb. ; " .v-'icdT J Bewi, ... ... ... 1; Larry ... 3; i. ic. v

CABLE NEWS.

! r ATbST FROM EUROPE '■ CrKUTEr’s TELEGRAMS —COPYKI&HT. ] New Guinea- London, May 25. The Daily News, in a leading article' this morning, announces that it has reason to believe that in the event ol . the'annexation of New Guinea being 1 decided upon, it will be undertaken by the Imperial Government, and will not be left to the colonies. ? The Wax in Madagascar. ; * - In the House of Commons last night, Lord E. Fitzmaurice stated, in reply to a question, that the town of Majaoga, in Madagascar, had been bombarded by the French gunboats for six hours before it was surrendered by the Hovas, and that the defenders had' ( suffered a heavy loss. Jl , . : Pahis, May 24. ; ‘ J Despatches from the commandant of;' . the French expedition to Madagascar ; i have been received reporting that he ; has captured the Hovas’ military posts in Sakalava country, and occupied the ijr Custom House at Majanga, a town at the mouth of the Ikupa, a river on the north-west coast of the island.' The road to Antananarivo, the capital, has • been secured by the troops, and great excitement prevails among the natives in consequence of the attitude of the. French. England and Mexico. « -London, May. ~;-r In the House of Common? taday, i Lord E. Fitzmaurice, Under-Secretary for; Foreign Affairs, stated,in i reply *lq «'*» ’ a question, that resumption of friendly relations with the Mexicah Government 1 was impending. ' / ’ ■ , The Troubles in Zulnland. The Hon. Evelyn Ashley, Under- Secretary for the Colonies, replying to a question regarding the intention of : -u*i* the Government in view of the recent j fighting which occurred between Cetij-'j-d' wayo and certain of the Zulu Kingites, ' - announced that the Government *6bld abstain, from interference in ZululaipfbiT at this juncture. V. ' = .'* ■

THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN, SATURDAY, MAY

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M CASH PURCHASER :*; Bright milling Oats, IN ANY QUANTITY. , ... ... i ALBERT ROBERTS, 768 West street. -VTNW . WORK, “THE ROYAL PATH OP LIFE : or, Aims and Aids io SttCcess and Happiness," illus trated with Steel Engravings, in differ ent hjqflfogy; Also, a beautiful selection of EASIER QAROS. J Andrewes Bros. , Booksellers and Stationers, Bast street Sonth. Ashburton. 77 ~ 1 ' - : ANTED KNOWN. That BONSDUST, specially prepared f«r drilling with carrots, mangolds, etc., or nktWi ,-u. f av : af»AY tt) Hampstead Bene Mills.



Wanted WANTED Known—lf you want to Buy a Cheap Parcel of Drapery, well-selected goods, everything marked with a small profit, go to H. 0. Seqeks, Compton’s Buildings, Moore street (oppo site Friedlander Bros.) 1159 WANTED Known— Green & Co. have the Largest and Cheapest Stock of Boots and Shoes in Ashburton. J. 6. Green & Co., Liecester Boot Warehouse, N.B.—Don’t forget the Corner Shop in East and Burnett Streets. 1169 WANTED Known That - Messrs. Green & Co. have Removed into the Corner Shop, lately occupied by G. J. Martin, Butcher. 1170 WANTED KNOWN— Hayes and Co. have a lot of EMPTY OASES for sale. Arcade Shops. au!2 XT/"ANTED: KNOWN—That Robert yV 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. Terms cash. 7600 WANTED Known—At the Ashburton Branch of Litt’e Dust Pan, corner of East and Barnett, streets A LL goods are sold at Dunedin prices. Special value in China, Glass, Crockery, Brush and Tinware, CLOCKS, Accordions, Toys, Fancy Goods, Stationery, Baskets, Scraps and Scrap Albums, being bankrupt stocks. W. H. Ronayne. WILL be sold less than original cost. Family Bibles, Church Services, and School Books, your own prices.— Little Dust Pan. 1224 Special Advertisements. MR LAURENCE OXLEY has been Appointed Agent for the Ashbur ton Guardian at South Rakaia. ■ AND FOR SALE The UNDERSIGNED have received instructions from the Owner to SELL BY PRIVATE TREATY, All that COMPACT BLOCK OF LAND on the Acton Station ESTATE, SOUTH RAKAIA, Being SECTIONS 31767, 31758, and 31759, Containing 1099 ACRES. . : The block has been SPECIALLY SELECTED by the Proprietor, and is thoroughly adapted for farming purposes, the adjoin ing sections having this season grown some of the HEAVIEST CROPS ON THE PLAINS. Only a small instalment on the pur chase is required to be paid, the balance to remain on mortgage at 6Jr per cent, for a term of years as may be agreed on. We have aIso,FOR SALE an Improved Farm Containing 1026 ACRES. Situated close to Ealing Rilway Station, and well watered. For further particulars apply to THE NEW ZEALAND GRAIN AGENCY AND MERCANTILE COM PANY, LIMITED. Christchurch or Ashburton. 12au



AND TOWNS SEND ARE CASH BUYERS OF - WHEAT OATS B\RLEY . GRASS SEED Agents for A. Moore & Co. ROBINSON AND TOWNSHEND, Havelock street. 229 THE NEW ZEALAND Clothing Factory HAVE spared no effort to place before the public a MOST COMPLETE ASSORTMENT OF NEW WINTER MANUFACTURES ; Comprising all the latest styles in MEN’S & BOY’S CLOTHING Manufactured from the best qualities and newest Designs in COLONIAL, SCOTCH, BRITISH, AND CONTINENTAL TWEEDS. The large and increased trade has en abled the Proprietary to offer their cus tomers still further advantages than hitherto, and THIS SEASON’S GOODS, upon inspection, will be found CHEAPER THAN EVER. A SINGLE GARMENT AT WHOLESALE PRICE. SHIRTS, HATS, HOSIERY, and every requisite at Wholesale Prices. Nineteen Branches now open in New Zealand. Agents for the Unrivalled WERTHEIM SEWING MACHINES Ashburton Branch ; BAST STREET, gPECIAL NOTICE, TO THE INHABITANTS OF ASH BURTON AND SURROUNDING DISTRICTS. GL R. West and Co., MUSIC AND PIANOFORTE WAREHOUSEMEN, Princes street, Dunedin Have great pleasure in announcing that it is their intention to cater for the Music loving population of Ashburton in such a man aer 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 1! ! And the firm respectfully solicit a call from theiv friends, teachers, and the public in general to inspect their magnifi cent stock of Music, personally selected. . ■' 1 d!4



Coro Sacks, loweatjmarket rates. Special Advertisements. X AM A CASH PUR CHASER, AT HIGHEST MARKET RATES, of WHEAT OATS GRASS SEED BARLEY Fanners wishing to SHIP THBi OWN AC COUNT can got information as to Cost, Freight, etc., by applying to JOSEPH CLARK, 267 Ashburton & Tinwald. Corn Sacks, lowest market rates.



Money ! Money! ! The equitable investment COMPANY OF NtfW ZEALAND, limited, are prepared, through their agent, J. C. Dun'Jan, Bast street, to LEND MONEY on Ashburton approved free hold or leasehold pr.-perty, repayable by either monthly, quarterly, half-yearly, or yearly instalments, or for a fixed period. The Company are also open to DIS COUNT BILLS. J. C. DUNCAN, 883 Agent, East street.



STATIONERY OF EVERY DE SCRIPTION. Account Books Ink—from small to largest jars School Books —School Committees sup plied at lowest rates Latest Novelties in all kinds of Fancy Goods, Toys, &c. All the Home Journals, Magazines, and Papers by every mail. Subscribers wauted for any Magazine or Paper published. Andrewes Bros., BOOKSELLERS, STATIONERY, &c., East street South Ashburton. nls



F YOU WANT GOOD AND STRONG FURNITURE, GO TO DAVIS’S OHEAP FURNITURE AND RED DING MANUFACTORY, EAST STREET SOUTH, ASHBURTON. tjIVERY article Sold at Christchurch Prices and guaranteed bes. of -naterial and workmanship.



FUNERALS CHEAPLY & COMPLETELY FURNISHED _______ JBL. M. Jones’ COUNT BOOKS. NEW VOLUMES— Boys’ Own Annual Girls’ Own Annual Chatterbox Child’s Companion Infants’ Magazine, &c., &c. POE IS VARIOUS Authors ; Sir Walter Scott’s Works, new edition, complete. TOYS ! TOYS !! TOYS !!! GREAT VARIETY—in Wood, Tin, China, a tA Indiarubbor. GOOD BUSINESS Envelopes. SEC SHILLINGS PER THOUSAND CASH. A Bargain. Good Second-hand PI ANETT i’., £2O. FANCY GOODS ! FANCY GOODS ! A NICE SELECTION of the above now in stock. %Sr ALL the abort Goods are offered at the LOWEST Possible Prices for CASH. A LIBERAL DISCOUNT allowed to schools on parcels of Toys, Books, etc. SECOND-HAND Pianos, In good order, £ls, £2O, 22 10a, 25. H. M. JONES, BURNETT ST. & BARING SQUARE. 13d PORTING. I have just received my season’s stock of Guns of every description, and respectfully invite an inspection. Double Breech-loaders from L 5 6s. Double and Single Muzzle-loaders at all prices. Decoy Ducks. Duck Calls. Game Bags. Cartridge Belts and Bags. Field Glasses. Loading Machines, etc., etc. New Season’s POWDER, Curtis and Harvey’s, and Pigou, Wilkes i and Lawrence’s—very best quality. ; Newcastle Chilled Shot, all aijzes. Cartridges, Cartridge Cases, Wads. And every shooting requisite. Being the largest importer of Guns and and Ammunition in New Zealand, and every Gun being made to my own order, intending purchasers cannot do better than communicate with me. HOS. G. ROWLEY, 630 Gunsmith, Timeru. ip H E/ H OWNERS of A R V E S T. THRESHING MA CHINES are reminded that Receipt and Delivery Books for Machines are printed expeditiously and cheaply at the Office of this Paper, next Tattersall’s, West stree' , Ashburton. 83