SHIPPING.

Y j f J»ORT OF LYTTELTON. Arrived. a -, . . . Yesterday. Colestia, barque, from Westport. ' Sailed . f Yesterday. "Wanaka, as., for Wellington. Mthinspua;" a a., for Wellington and West Coast ports. B*jp»infflsrbarque, for Greymouth. SHIPPING TELEGRAMS. Auoiland, from London, with jgasuQesra ; Southern OpCi . mission sohooner/Irom, Norfolk Island. gaotiKt ,i‘ • j WiauHOTOK, Yesterday. Arrived—Wanaka, from Lyttelton j South. .. ■

COMMERCIAL.

itfjilr; .-'*o nnr, ■■toJ"#'— ■—— t -vtii-i AfPVf&VW Guardian Office,. Monday Afternoon. Mr T, Bullock reports of the Horse Market for the week ending April 14 : At the Balsiaffi ‘Burnett street, on Saturday, there was krjjjcetitry of horses,, and very few count) y settlers in attendance, consequently rather a dullsaie was experienced. The entries for the day numbered amongst which was a large number ofthree-y ear-old unbroken colts very scitahteifon farm/work j but. biddings were lan guid, and most of them were turned out un sold.* Medium sold as follows, viz., fijAAljASl to Ll 3; three-year-old colt, of a Bpituegcriptiqn, Ll 6 10s; backs, L 6 to Ly; scmti&M*.-£sl6W as L 3.

DAILY MEMORANDA.

JIAIC AUCTION SALES Tuesday, Aran. 17. Matson, Coy and Co., at the Ashburton ;; Yards—?3tock. ■MEETINGS, AMUSEMENTS, Ao Monday, Arait 16. Meeting of Owners of Land—Wheatstone sHot3» .8 p.h». Uts.l “Wednesday Apbii. 18. AXhhurton Racing Club—Autumn Meet oiap - First Day. no!in..s 'Thursday, Aran. 19. Ckeesviatid Butter Factory Company— Extraordinary General Meeting, 3 p. ms , ir- KH May- 1." flinty Council—Annual Meeting, at the I Chambers, at tl a. m

MAIL NOTICES.

at the Ashburton Post Office Pot Christchurch and North at 6 a. m. 10.30 B^,. and 5 pTm,, daily. . FwOherfsey Rakaia, &c., at 10.30 a. m. and 5 p.ni? daily. , ForDtmedin, Tinwald, Winslow, Hinds, Orarii, Winchester, ara.€(£raldine, at 10 a. m. daily. ,^PW y ttmidbt: : at 6 Am. and 10 Am., ;y- : ‘ Pot Tinuuru and South - , ’ at 6 a.m., 10 *.m., and 430 p.m., daily. For Qreenatreet and Ashburton Forks, an Wednesdays j and Saturdays, at 3.30 * MpuntriSomers, on Tuesdays and Satur<|ays,at6 a.m. and 4.30 p.tn. -For Mayfield, on Tuesdays and ‘Satur days,. a t 6 a,m. T'or *«h*en, Waterton and Longbeach, *For , on Mondays, Wednes days, tindFridays, at 4.80 p. m. -jgy*'Wakantii, Elgin, Seaview, Seafield, andltylh, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, at 6.30 a.rn. Far Newl&nds, on Tuesdays and Fri days at 10. 30 a. m.

Mt<l« arrive at the Ashburton Post Christchurch and Rakaia at 10.15 J(;in., : afid 7.20 p.m. Ohertsey, &a at 10.15 a-m. and Duniadin and intermediate places at 5.30 p.m. daily.. Pkpgy Tepuika and Timarn at IQ. 40 a. m. 6.90 pm.) andß p.m. daily. Prom Greenatreet and .. Ashburton Forks, Wednesdays and Saturdays, at 10 '"‘ u ‘ ' ' , '■ FrdniMount Somers, on Tuesdays and at 10.5 a.m. and 8.15 p.m. Mayfield, on Tuesdays and SSatur dayslM ift.fia.ni. ftfcmvAahton, Waterton, and Long beaihafc lQa.m. daily. FrpmFlemington on Tuesdays, Thors- at 10 a.m.. .Elgin, Wakanui, Seafield, and KyjS,' tod" Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sat mS^Wfc‘p.m. on Tuesdays and Fri days, at 9.30 a. m.;,

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prevalebit. MONDAY, APRIL 16, 1883. The Salvation Army.

Fanaticism shows itself in many forms, but we question it there has ever been a more eccentric exhibition of pietism than is seen in the doings of the Salva tion Army. The success of “General” Booth and the enormous following that he has obtained would have been more a matter of wonder if something very similar had not taken place Moody and Sankey started on their mission. Were it not that by far the greater majority of the inhabitants of the world were governed rather by their emotions than by their reason such an organisation as the Salvation Army would not exist a day. But how ever rational minds must condemn an institution whose proceedings are no thing more nor less than a wanton and vulgar burlesque on true religion, it is impossible to blind our eyes to the fact that among a very large class of people it is viewed with favor. Even orthodox clergymen are to be found who hesitate to condemn the movement, on the ground that the lower classes are more easily got at by the means adopted by the Salvationists than is possible in any other way. This is a melancholy confession of impotence on the part of the church, but as the late Archbishop of Canterbury favored this view of the matter, it must be regarded as only too well founded. Notwithstanding all the persuasion that is used to attain this end, it is found impossible to induce the London “rough” to attend a church, and, it is argued, if he is to be taught religion at all it must be upon a lower basis, fitted to his limited intelligence. This seems to us to be the only reason that the Salvation Army hafe for existing, and we must confess we think it a very very inadequate, if not an utterly false one. The question arises; Can the unhealthy excitement created by the absolutely meaningless eccentricities indulged in by these fanatics do any possible good ? The so called conversions that are made by appealing to the merely sensual emo tions of man cannot be lasting, and the re-action which must inevitably follow in due course will render things worse than they were before. In England we find that this re-action is already com mencing, and a rival organisation called the Skeleton Army has compelled “ General Booth ” and his followers to desist from marching through the streets in procession, in order to prevent a breach of the peace. It was perhaps the knowledge that the power ot his Army was waning that induced the “ Commander-in-Chief” to send emis saries to other lands. So far it cannot be said that this attempt to spread the principles of the Salvation Army has been attended with perfect success. In Geneva the people would not have the Army at any price, and albeit we cannot agree with the brutal manner in which they prosecuted the two young ladies who ventured to spread their new gospel, we do not condemn them for removing a nuisance. The people of Bombay dealt summarily with the emissaries in India, a “major” and some eighteen officers of minor rank having been sent to gaol. Dur ing the last fortnight the Army has made a descent upon New Zealand, Dunedin and Auckland being their head quarters. In the former place the proceedings appear to have been tolerably orderly so far, but we learn by telegraph to-day that in the northern city the larrikins made an attack on the hall and seriously assaulted the “ cap tain” who is conducting proceedings there. A strong objection to the visit of the Army to this colony, aprfrt alto gether from the religious aspect of the question, is that it offers a distinct en couragement to larrikins to indulge in

their propensity for creating a dis turbance. For this reason alorte, the 311- thorities should put an end to the blas phemous and degrading mummeries, as the scene that took place in Auckland will be sure to be repeated in every city where the Salvation Army emis saries may set their feet.

EN PASSANT.

There is always some amusement to be obtained from the details of an election campaign, and the contest that is about to take place for the Inanga hua seat promises to be no exception to this rule. « From all accounts, it would appear that Mr Edward Wake field has been remarkably well received throughout the district, but there is yet time for the tide to turn against him, and, as we said the other day, he would be a rash man who would venture to predict the result. Up to the time of writing we have not heard that the other candidate has addressed the electors, but a perusal of the local journals shows us that he is not want ing in friends, who are ready to fight his battle during his unavoidable absence. One newspaper in particular has taken up the cudgels on behalf of Mr Shaw, and the manner in which the editor proceeds to crush Mr Wakefield is amusing. He says, in effect, “ You good people of the West Coast must not be led away by what you hear this gentleman say. He is pleasant and well-spoken enough, but the opinion of those who know him better than you do is not the same as yours ; ” and then he proceeds to ransack the back numbers of Hansard to prove his posi tion, It will not be necessary to do more than refer to two of the extracts given, namely, those from speeches de livered in 1879 by Mr Turnbull and Mr Macandrew. To quote an opinion of a member’s ability uttered nearly four years ago, especially in the case of a young man like Mr Wakefield, is not exactly disingenuous, but let that pass. The present member for Timaru, on the occasion in question, compared Mr Wakefield to Canning, for the purpose of pointing at him a virulent and unjust attack made by the Rev. Sydney Smith upon that statesman. “ Every school boy knows ” that the witty Canon of St Paul’s was a strong party man, and he lived in a time when party warfare was carried bn with far more brutal weapons than are used in this our day. “ Providence has made him a light-jesting paragraph man, and that he will remain to his dying day. When he is jocular, he is strong; when he is serious he is like Samson in a wig;” so wrote Peter Plymley in his celebrated letters, and it was these words that Mr Turnbull con sidered applicable to Mr Wakefield. The latter gentleman is too accustomed to dealing hard knocks himself to be profoundly affected by this rather clumsy sarcasm, but the utterance is not without interest as showing the quality of the mind of the member for Timaru, who is a type of a very large class. That Sydney Smith’s estimate of Canning’s genius was a totally false one is recognised by all who have studied the subject, but at the same time, as was pointed out by a celebrated essayist in commenting upon this very passage in the “ Plymley Letters,” it gives “ point and currency to the very objections . . . which always were and will be urged against any wit or man of genius who has the misfortune to startle dulness from its self com placency.” How many people are there, for example, who deny that the late Lord Beaconsfield possessed any of the qualities of the statesmen, for no other reason than that his speeches were full of epigram and wit. It need scarcely be said that Mr Macandrew looks upon Mr Wakefield in very much the same light as does Mr Turnbull. This, however, may be excused on the score of nationality, as Scotchmen have from time immemorial been intolerant of jests except of the grimmest kind. There is an old journalistic story that, to our mind, will apply to the member for Port Chal mers. It happened that an editor of a Scotch newspaper of surpassing dulness suddenly awakened up to the fact that his circulation.was falling away, and that it was necessary to impart some “ life” to his columns. Accord ingly he engaged a young man as an assistant, who would provide the lighter matter, the editor giving as his reason that “ for his pairt he jocked wi’ deefi culty.” Mr Macandrew not only “jocks wi’ deeficulty,” but he evidently looks upon anyone who possesses wit with suspicion. To him it is an unknown quantity, and accordingly to be dis trusted. The opinions of the . mem bers for Timaru and Port Chalmers notwithstanding, we hope to see Mr Wakefield returned, if for no other rea son than that his speeches will serve to relieve the monotony of Parliamentary proceedings. But there are other and better reasons for us wishing to see him succeed in the contest that is about to be fought. He is not only a skilful orator but he has also shown that he possesses the, more solid qualities that go to make a statesman —strong com mon sense and keen business ca pacities.

It is, we believe, an axiom among historians that when the same incident is recorded as having happened to two different people at different times it is to be dismissed as incredible. Thus the little anecdotes that in times gone by constituted the chief charm of history to children have been declared to be apocryphal by ?uch unfeeling seekers after truth as Messrs Freeman, Froude, and Green, William Tell, i,t seems, never performed the feat of shooting an apple off the head of his youthful son, any more than did the Good King Alfred let the cakes burn in the neatherd’s cottage, and consequently was not soundly abused by the country man’s wife. We never believed much in history, but we must own that we derive a certain amount of satisfaction from the fact that we were born at a period when “Mangnall’sQuestions” was received as gospel, and when as yet the modern school of historians had no existence. But if the axiom referred to holds goods in that lower branch of history which may be called social anecdotage, we are afraid that our pre sent Governor must be convicted of sometimes drawing onhisjimagjnationfor his facts. That little story about the jug that Sir William Jervois told the other day at Auckland, and which that picker-up of unconsidered trifles, the local

Press agent, kindly telegraphed all over the colony, has belonged to the stock in-trade of a celebrated comedian in London for a good many years. We do not know how often we have heard the inimitable Toole tell this anecdote, but he always spoke of it as a personal experience, the interlocutors being a master mechanic and his employee, while the Governor said the incident occurred in the army. As both ver sions cannot be correct we suppose we must dismiss the story as fallacious. So is another of our cherished illusions demolished. Bat if the anecdote is not true, it is, at any rate, as the Italians say, ben ttovato. To a man who possessess such conscientious ideas as to his duty as does Si William Jervois, the position of Governor of a colony like New Zealand is not in all respects an enviable one. During his tour he has had to visit a large number of places, at each of which he was ex pected to deliver appropriate addresses. How well he has acquitted himself the record of his journeyings, as published in the press, shows, but, though he has never found himself in the position of the people in his anecdote and at a loss what to say, his self-imposed task must have entailed a vast quantity of labor. To be obliged to listen to the intermin able string of addresses, saying the same thing in almost the same words, must be a wearisome business. Still, Sir William has never faltered. He said kind things to the Christchurch people about their com mercial prosperity, he gave Dunedin some good advice about that trouble some harbor, and compared Invercargill to Adelaide; while his reply to ad dresses presented in the minor towns showed that he had studied the subject well before he started, so that he might not tread on the toes of those little corporations whose sense of their own importance is out of all proportion to their size. In one of his “ Roundabout Papers” Thackeray draws a pathetic picture of a Lord Mayor who had to go through the hospitable duty of en tertaining people while suffering from a raging toothache. Although, so far as we are aware, Sir William Jervois does not suffer from ill-health, no doubt he has to endure as much mentally as the civic dignitary did physically. To Be bored by those long wearisome addresses, and yet wear a smiling face, is not an enviable posi tion ; and the Governor deserves our sympathy for what he has to go through as much as he does our ad miration for the manner he acquits himself.

A farm in North Taiari has changed hands at the long price of L 33 10s per acre.

Mr Laishley, the new Chairman of the Auckland Board of Education, has an nounced as his new platform that the Board and the School Committees shall rule, and not the Board officials. The company formed to work the tail ings in the celebrated Gabriel’s Gully, Tuapeka, where Gabriel Reid first dis covered gold iu 1861, is doing well. Its returns for the last fortnight was 70oz. The following are the tenders for the Hillsborough station contract, on the Christchurch and Lyttelton branch :—Ac cepted—W. Swanson, Christchurch, L 712. Declined—P; Hyndmarch, Christchurch, L 764;; Greig and Hunter, Christchurch, LBOI ; F. Greig, L 1,094 ; T. Anderson, Christchurch, L 1,450.

The yacht Diamond, while sailing down the Wellington harbor on Saturday after noon, was struck by a sudden squall and capsized. Those on board were Messrs Simpson and Bishop, and also a lad aged ten, the son of Mr Harris, proprietor of the New Zealand Times. . All three were rescued, though young Harris, who was kept afloat by Mr Simpson, was insensible when taken on board a boat that put off to their assistance. After careful treatment, however, he came to, and is now quite well.

The inquest on the Dane named Hen rich Longford, who shot himself on Wed nesday, was held on Saturday. The wife, after giving details of the occurrence, said she had been having some words with her husband about a young woman whom he kept company and corresponded with, and she supposed he was troubled iu his mind in consequence. She blamed the woman for the trouble, for ho was a very quiet man. The night deceased shot himself witness accused him of writing to this woman, and told him if he did not atop corresponding with her she (witness) would leave him. He promised not to write to her any more. The jury returned a ver dict to the effect that the deceased com .mitted suicide while in a state of temporary nsanity. The total eclipse of the sun on the 6th May will last six minutes, and a longer one will probably not occur within the next 100 years. It will be partially visible in many places, but few will see it in its entirety, as its path lies almost entirely through the ocean, touching land no where but at a little island in the South Pacific called Caroline Island, which is out of the track of any established com merce or travel. The French Govern ment has determined to send an expedi tion to that island ; it is almost certain an American party will go thither, and it is more than probable that a grand inter national gathering of astronomers will take place at Caroline Island to take part in this scientific quest. In the course of a speech delivered in Auckland on the occasion of a trip round the harbor on Friday, His Excellency the Governor said that he had often heard of the harbor of Auckland, i f s splendid position and its magnificent capabilities, and he had also in like manner heard of the beautiful scenery about Auckland, and it was no figure of speech to say that the reality was far beyond anything he anticipated. He considered that Auck land was one of the finest ha bora in the world. He also noticed with approval the foresight shown in the plan of the dock, which was capable of as much extension as may be desired. He was likewise glad to see so many industries set aflo it in this harbor. He instance! the Sugar Refining Com pany established there and the Meat Freezing Company which was about to commence operations. Seeing the posi tion that Auckland occupied in respect to Australia and the rest of New Zealand, taking these facts in conjunction with its splendid harbor, and looking at its posi tion in relation to the South' Sea Jslands, and also the admirable position which makes it so advantage mi as a naval sta tion, His Excellency considered it to be impossible—and posterity will be able to judge whether he was exaggerating or not —to foretell how high would be the ulti mate destiny of the splendid harbor and city of Auckland. The whole party pro ceeded to visit Mount Victoria (the signal station). Most minutely did his Excel lency enquire into the bearings and nam '8 of all the different headlands and islands that lay stretched out before him to sea ward, making frequent reference to charts to assist him in his enquiries, and after making himself master of the position, he said that the North Head could be made into a very strong point of defence against any hostile movement against Auckland from tne se»wsrcl ; but in his mind, Mount Victoria was the strategical position of the greatest value. " ,

Theis*aieri racep.had'tto be postponed, on Saturday, owing to the bad weather. , Mr 1 J. Tait writies to us, aa follows : “ Permit me to correct 'a wrong report, which appears in your issue of the 13th, regarding the issue of the Poppy Stakes on Thursday My dog ( Mai den Ci y) Was not scratched, as you state, but divided the stakes with Eundoora and Kiss me Quick. ”

A telegram from Victoria, British Columbia, which appears in a San Fran cisco paper, states that the workmen are getting out T timbers for the construction of an floating cannery and fish oil refinery.' ft will be 140 feet long, with 32 feet beam, and depth of hold eight feet amidships and nine feet forward and aft. Powerful ma chinery to propel the raft and capacious tanks and retorts for use in refining the oil and cooking the fish are already built. The vessel was to be launched and ready for action by April, and to haake her first foray among,the oolachams on the north west coast. These fish are rich in oil, and make excellent guano. After the oola chams, the lordly salmon intere-ta in the vicinity of the Waost and Skeena rivers will be attended to. Later in the season the establishment will be moved to the mouth of the Fraser river.

At the last meeting of the Nelson Board of Education the Inspector reported on his visit to the board’s school at Karamea as follows : On visiting the schoolroom I found the door locked, the children being taught in the master’s house. A member of the School Committee con sented to unlock the school door, on the condition that he should retain the key, to which I agreed, preferring this course to breaking open the door, the only alter native open to me. I then examined the 21 children present, the result being in every respect satisfactory. On my return from a visit to the Promised Land, after the examination of the Karamea school was over, I found the school door again locked, it being ap parently the intention of the School Committee to exclude the scholars so long as the Board retain in office the present master, with .whom, ;theiy difference jKehtaj to jbo irreconcileable. " The Board ren! solved t j remove the master from this particular school. The “ Promised Land ” referred to is.the name of an ad joining district, of a most unpromising nature.

We (Thames Advertiser) have seen a letter addressed’ Mr v iAs:thur Mills, M.P., London, to a relative of his resid ing here, from which the following is an extract am : much ;to lyou for sending mo the newspaper. I had already received several copies of other papers giving Sheehan’s letters."and com ments thereon. I need hardly say that all his personalities are beneath my notice, and all'the ‘ facta ’ are lies; f ( hbver travelled anywhere at his expense, and never partook of even a bit of bread of his providing. The ! billy dccakidn on which I had the misfortune to travel with him waa.in a public conveyance, paying my owii fare, from Ohiriemutu to a Vangi at Te Ngae, and there saw him making some seven or eight Maori women drunk with whisky. They were dancing round him, and he was talking"to them in Maori. Afterwards, on our return home, ha packed the inside of the coach with Maori girls, with whom he seemed to be on very familiar terms. J was myself on the box, and, fortunately for me, saw nothing of the man afterwards.” It must have the heart o

that genial smiling knight of the hammer, Mr S. D. Nathan, to see such a number of people at his opening sale of C. R. Church’s drapery stock last Saturday. He commenced by depreoat.ng the unchris tian like motives which had actuated some interested persons in the place—as he had heard a rumor to the effect that- the ' sale was a reserved one. He could assure them it was nothing of the sort, as he had positive instructions to sell at;' apy price, and at once proceeded to put this to the test. It would have brought tears to the eye a of the manufacturers, had they seen how the slaughtered article after ' article without the slightest compunction. The sale will be continuedr in Havelock street all this' w ek at auction prices, anct on Saturday next Mr Nathan will again sell by auction entirely, without reserve, as Mr G. R. OfIURCa is determined to take no thing back to Christchurch.— [Advt.] “ Stop, ” gentle reader, and look out, not for : the engine, but for the best and cheapest Furniture Warehouse in this town. Do you want “ a table or a chair,” “ both warranted to wear,” then only buy within your reach, by patronising Mister Meech. Drawing room suites in repp and cretonne, fancy chairs, sofas, and tables, carpets, Venetian blinds, general household furnishings at extremely moderate prices, Fashionable and extremely comfortable Armchairs (the Grandmother’s included) made tp order and in stock. Meech’s Furniture Warehouse, Burnett street, Ashburton. — [Advt.]' : •*••• - Holloway’s Pills. —The chiefest wonder of modem times.—This incon)parabl$ f njedicine increases the appetite, Strengthens the’stbinach, cleanses the liver, corrects biliousness, prevents flatulency, purifes the system, invigorates the nerves, and re-instatessound-health. The enormous demand for th'ese Pills throughout the globe astonishes everybody, and a single trial convinces the most sceptical that no medicine equals Holloway’s Pills in its ability to remove all complaints incidental to the human race They are a blessing to the afflicted, and a boon to all that labour under internal or external disease. The purification of the blood, removal of all restraint from the secretive organs, and gentle aperitive action.arp the prolific sources of the extensive curative range of Hollo.way’s Pills. [Advt.]

THE DIAMOND FIELDS.

[by obb special correspondent. ]

Having heard that Mr Jacobsen and a party of three others from Christchurch had proceeded to arid camped in the vici nity of the long talked of Canterbury diamond fields, curiosity prompted me to visit Alford Forest, partly with a View of ascertaining the feelings of the residents in the district on the supposed existence of diamonds in their midst, and partly with a view of visiting the prospectors’ camp and havi ig a chat with Mr Jacob sen and his fed >w diamond seekers. On arriving at the Forest I found the peace ful inhabitants still pursuing the verj even tenor of their way, and apparently equally as much interested in the falling of trees and sp’itting them into posts and, rails, as though they were in total ignorance of having toiled and slept and toiled again year after year close to the very mouth of a huge crater that had ages ago cast forth from° its fiery depths millions of ready made wealth that might be had by any and everyone who chos • to stoop and exa mine the myriads of stones that have been anathematised times cut of number by travellers and residents in the neighbor hood of the foot of the hills. I had heard and seen it paragraphed that con siderable excitement prevailed owing to the supposed discovery of diamonds in the dis trict, and arrived at my journey’s end fully prepared to hear nothing but' diamond conversation. I was doomed, however, to disappointment in this direction, and so far from any ex itement prevailing, not a sod was to be seen, the only apparent si®n of light being the faint glimmer of a dim light outside Bo wick’s Hotel, just sufficiently luminous to come within the requirements of that excellent enactment so rigidly enforced by the Licensing Committees. True, the hills were enve loped in dense clouds, ana it had_ just commenced to rain as it only can rain at Alford Forest. Besides this, it was rather late at night, and the diamond seekers and all those interested in the finding of such precious gems were doubtless in their beds dreaming of the bril.iant future that was then opening up before thetn. It rained incessantly throughout the following day,

and my visit to the camp had to be post poned. On the next morning ! started in company with two others; and after following up and crossing Taylor’s stream several times, we came opposite Fried lander’s stone quarry, and on a rising bit of ground in a snug nook to the left of the quarry the prospectors’ camp was seed, and shortly afterwards reached by myself and companions. Mr Jacobsen and bis party had evidently gone out for the day and left no trace behind as to the • direc tion they had taken. After an hour’s fruitless search we quenched our disap pointment with the contents of a pocket flask and returned to the township. Here we learned that a number of specimens had been brought down the previous day, and had that morning been sent to Christchurch ,tt> be thoroughly tested- by an expert iu the matter of precious stones. On the following" morning I was at the camp shortly after seven, and found. Mr Jacobsen and his comrades busily fortify ing themselves for the coming day’s work. After sharing with them a hearty , meal, Mr Jacobsen showed me the specimens he had found during’ the twb : or three days i he had been at work, and ho and. two .of. his companions were in such high-glee and spoke so enthusiastically of the enormous wealth they had discovered as to leave no ' shadow of doubt that they at least . thoroughly believed that the .igonbk! thfey I had gathered were true diamonds. 1 ' don't know whether it was the result of !my early rising that morning, my diwri,- ■ pation of the night j murky atmosphere that thewpdrftlded -the hills, or my utter ignorance of what a rough diamond should resemble, but somehow I never looked Upoh/dm-, ■ monds -with a less jealous eye or lesaldrigf ing to become possessed of the little’gena; ' ;Mr Jacobson, Mr Wickes, and Mr Wibber j expatiated on their brilliancy value, and lent me a microscope tbTSx famine them more closely. Still; T 'could •only see as through a glass darkly. ahdtfie’ iflery zeal of a diamond fever -wouldh 'neither rise in my breast nor could I suffi-’ ciently remove the, film. £lO9l ,lny eyes to see anything more resefnbling What I had [always thought to be diamonds than a , [ plrece of very'' clear kauri girth. This - fourth one of tbs prospecting quartette seemed to regard the diamonds with rnarked indifference ; but ! accounted for ‘this by learning that he was an old West Coast digger, and, probably, he had long since-had the rough .-edges; takonpffxtbe pleasant novelty of finding small thing! of great price. I gladly accepted an In-" vitation to accompany the party, that day to, their head works, but it came on to rain and' our Operations were confined to with* £n a short distance of the• camper tHere I found myself busily breaking stones with Marge hammer, and with a little tuition from the three who had accompanied soon- began to find specunena,ancLißtbe - Course of an hour or so went back to the cajnp- with my pockets "full, of., stones,*' bristling with what Jacobsen believes to be diamonds. The rain vras now coming flown pretty heavily,' and’ after spending half an hour in pleasant chat, I left, laden <m , both aides, and rode away bsyak, L Gilp'n-like, to. the township. Thegem*! * pioneer of the" Canterbury diamond. .fields again expressed his firm conviction 1 that he had discovered untold wealth,_but Stated he would advise others & wnit thO q result of the specimens that were then. -) being tested in Christchurch, The pectors are said to be determined to loaye.;, no atone unturned till they have satisficed the Government that they are finding true diamonds, and are satisfied that before many weeks the whole district will be proclaimed a diamond field. ;.-:-Should they ‘ follow up this determination to the letter, may heaven send them a speedy, safe, and profitable -deliv*- ■ erance from their arduous task, for-the ) number of stones that one’s horse has to X stumble over even in going to the camp: ) would keep a whole army, .employed turn-, X ing for many a weary month, and what? ■ ever may be the result of Mr Jacobsen's . present labor he certainly deserves geestt ! credit for the persistent way in Which he has worked and followed the search up for the past six years, anfi, diamonds or no diamonds, the present small expedition will doubtless call public attention to the ( undoubted mineral resources of the com- - paratively little knoWn district ofAlford* Forest. Should what they* art finding prove to be diamonds, there will- very soon be a large population in thaV neigh-, borhood, for there would undoubtedly sufficient then not only to make the for tunes of thousands, but to ’connect the Mount Somers and MethveUrailway,build the much needed traffic bridge over the Ash- 1 burton, construct the West Goastrailway,',' and then leave plenty to pay off the. - English national debt and afterwards re*; .- lieve the whole o! the distress inJreland,X for nearly every stone one kicks over is full of the little gems Mr Jacobsen, -is : treasuring up as diamonds." ’ Should'the result of the test be favorable'-the Awo tents now so conspicuous on theleaaeh'old> property ■of Mr Ivan Rankin OorhelittS ' 7 Cunningham Graham will soon be’h|d hundreds of others, for tpvoh a rush would set in as was never known smeethedays when Captain Cook first let loose on'half shores the progenitors *of the herd of swine now inhabiting the vicinity of Pudding Hill. ~ ~ "

SPORTING.

CABLE NEWS.

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[bbutbr’s tklegrams—copyright.] The Queen. London, April 14 _ It is announced that the will leav6 Windsor Castle' for Osborne on Tuesday next. ■ Owing to_ therecentp activity among the Fenians in England

THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN, MONDAY, APRIL 16, 1883.



ASHBURTON AUTUlf N MEETING. - The following accepta|icos N fdr these races were, received pn S»tjir4ay mg. ' Handicap Hurdle Race. Two miles. at lb at lb Qaambv ... 11 9 Captain ... ■ 9 0 Katerfelto... 10 0 Levant ... 9 0 Psyche ... 10 0 Young Dio- Barbary ... 9 8 medes ... 8 7 District Setting Race. One mile. Canary ...” 8 7 Polly 7 10 Shepherdess 8 0 Idalia 7 10 Nimrod ... 8 0 Lady Flo- 7 10 Pearl ... 7 10 rence I Fishhook ... 7 7 District Welter Handicap. One mile and a half. 10 0 Katerfelto... 11 7 Tricksy ... Shepherdess 10 7 Idalia ;... 10 0 Nimrod ... 10 6 Ashburton Autumn Handicap. One mile and three-quarters. Luna ... 8 10 Maichione s a 6 5 Trumpeter 8 6 Kiel ... Sou Wester 8 0 Roseneath ... 6 0 County Hurdle Race. One mile anq*. a half. Katerfelto... 12 7 1 Alma 10\ 0 Captain ... 11 10 J Chester 10 0, Canary ... 10 4- j Shepherdess 9 12 Brush ... 10 2 | Flying Handicap. Three-quarters of a m le. - -• Luna ... 8 12 Marchiones a Psyche ... 8 0 Niel .6 7 Sou’ - Wester 7 10 Lady Harris 6 7 Trumpeter... 7 9 Lady Ellen 6 3; Jbmet ... 7 3 Forest King 6 0 !Ros6ii6&th • • • 6 0 Handicap Steeplechase. Three - miles? - Canard ... 12 7 Rattler ... 8 & Quamby ... 11 10 Levant ... 9 P Katerfelto., t 10 12 Young Dio* Kosciusko... 10 3 medes ,,,. 9 0



ij GUIDE. iHunw Leave Ashburton for Cbbist- OHUEOHand intermediate stations at 7.10 am., 10.55 am., and, (Express) 5.39 p.m. Trains Leave Ashburton toe Timaeu and South, .at 6.50 am., 10.25 am. (Express),and 4.45 p.m.—the latter pro ceeding nofartlier than Timaru. Ta*B»;'ABEIVE. AT ASHBURTON PEOM. at 10 20, a. m. (Express), £rop.m., and 7.20 p.m. Tbains ijEEiva at Ashburton from Timaetj and South at 10.45 am., 5.28 and 8 p.m.



A N D F OR SALE ThaioDNDERSIGNED have received nstfrfWtiß&nl ; fft>tt> the Owner to 1 BELLBY PRIVATE TREATY, All that COMPACT BLOCK OF LAND I'll .n nl. ;!'':«athe ■ - Acton Station ESTATE, SODTH RAKAIA, Being SECTIONS 31758, and 31759, “IpojifcMning 1099 acre s. .r ;i v : The block has been SPECIALLY SELECTED by the Proprietor, and is thoroughly adapted for firming purposes, the adjoin ing aeo^ox: Behaving this season grown ; some of the HEAVIEST CROPS ON THE PLAINS. Only & small instalment on the pur chase is required to be paid, the balance to remain,on mortgage at 6j per cent, for a term of years as may be agreed on. ji n Weuhaye also FOB SALE an Improved Farm Containing U!,, ‘ '1026 ACRES, Situated close to Ealing Railway Station, ■ we ll watered. iJaS*i •- ■: For farther particulars apply to THE iNBW ZEALAND GRAIN AGKNcY AND MERCANTILE COM PANY, LIMITED. Christchurch or Ashburton. 12au m - “ THE ROYAL PATH OF'LIFE; or,’ Aims and .Aids tq«Swcess: »nd: Happiness," JUus : leafed with Steel Engravings, in differ mi Mnd’Pgf Also, a beautiful selection . of BSStSk dARDS. 1 Ahdbbwm Baoa;, Booksellers i,asdrStatioders, East -street: South, Aahbnrtpn. 77



Wanted WANTED, immediately, APPREN TICES to the Dressmaking. Andrew Ore. 759 W Paper. ANTED- WASHING by the day or at home. Apply Office of this WANTED KNOWN— Hates and Co. have a lot of EMPTY CASES for sale. Arcade Shops. aul2 TXT' ANTED KNOWN —A NIGHT Vy SCHOOL will be held in Saun ders’ Buildings on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, from 7 to 9 p m., commenc ing on MONDAY, 9th instant. Terms— -2s 6d per week, payable in advance. W. Adams 707 WANTED KNOWN—That Robert EIiSTON, Burnett street, Ashbur i 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. 760 c WANTED KNOWN, that we have a large stock of GUNS (Breech and Muzzle Loading), Gun Implements, Cart ridge Cases and Bags, Powder, Shot, Caps, Wads, Shot Bags and Bells, Powder Flasks, and other sporting requisites, which we are offering below cost.— Friedlander Bros. 610 ANTED KNOWN, i That BONEDUST, specially prepared ‘for drilling with carrots, mangolds, etc., can be obtained from the undersigned. F. MAYO, Hampstead Bone Mills. WANTED KNOWN—J. C. Duncan Agent, East street, Ashburton, brgs to inform everybody that he is now a Licensed Broker under the Land Transfer Act, and is prepared to com plete transfers, ekecute mortgages, etc., at schedule rates, and with every possible i) aanof An Jjar-MONEY INVESTED. 285 LOANS NEGOTIATED.-®^



WANTED the Public to know that they can purchase on deferred payment one of Singer's celebrated SEW ING MACHINES. They are cheaper, mote durable, and will do a greater variety of work than any other kind of sewing machine. They have been awarded up wards of 300 First Class Prizes (gold and silver medals, cups, etc.) Sewing Ma chines .of all' kinds; bought, sold, or exchanged, and repaired. Lessons given given free of charge to purchasers at their own homes. Moore Street, Ash burton. 100



Special Advertisements. I'HE 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 i AT WHOLESALE TRICE. 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 : EAST STREET. Roberts, Paxton & Co. CHRISTCHURCH, CASH PURCHASERS OP WHEAT BEANS BAREEV PEaS OATS COCKSFOOT AND RYE GRASS SEED. They supply farmers with the best quality LARGE CORNSACKS, at the Lowest Market Rates, AND WILL MAKE LIBERAL CASH ADVANCES against grain placed in their hands for shipment to London or elsewhere. ROBERTS, PAXTON & 00.. (137, Manchester street, Christchurch Or their Agent,— ALBERT ROBERTS, 278 Ashburton,



Corn Sacks, lowest market rates. J AM A CASH PUR CHASER, AT HIGHEST MARKET RATES, of WHEAT OATS GRASS SEED BARLEY Farmers wishing to SHIP OM THEIR OWN AC COUNT can get information as to Cost, Freight, etc., by applying to JOSEPH CLARK, 267 Ashburton & Tinwald. Corn Sacks, lowest market rates.



A M 0A S H PURCHASER .63 BRIGHT MILLING Oats, IN ANY QUANTITY. ALBERT ROBERTS, - „W*»i atreet.



Special Advertisements. H. M. Jones’ a 0 COUNT BOOKS. NEW VOLUMES — Boys’ Own Annual Girls’ Own Annual Chatterbox Child's Companon Infants’ Magazine, &c., &c. POETS— VARIOUS Authors ; Sir Walter Scott’s Works, new edition, complete. TOYS! TOYS!! TOYS!!! GREAT VARIETY— in Wood, Tin, China, ar A Indiarubber. GOOD BUSINESS Envelopes. SIX SHILLINGS PER THOUSAND CASH. A BARGAIN. Good Second-hand PIANETTE, £2O. FANCY GOODS! FANCY GOODS ! A NICE SELECTION of the above now in stock. ALL the above 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 10s, 25. H. M. JONES, BURNETT ST. & BARING SQUARE. 13d m sir* l



Milner & Thompson Ashburton, H. M. JONES, Agent. PIPE ORGANS. —Especially suitable for Churches. Far superior to any Reed Organ near the price for richness sud purity of tone, volume of sound, and durability of construction. Price—£l2o. REED ORGANS.—By Smith and Co., Mason and Hamlin, Wood and Co., Esby and (> , New England Company, and Clougu and Warner, —from £l2 12a. PIANOS. —Brinsmead and Sons, Broadwood, Collard and Collard, Erard, Pleyel and others, Dresden Model, and German and French manufacturers, with 11 latest improvements. DEFERRED PAYMENTS. Wholesale an* 1 Retail. ol



F YOU WANT GOOD AND STRONG FURNITURE, GO TO DAYI-S’S CHEAP. FURNITUREAND BED DING MANUFACTORY, EAST STREET SOUTH, ASHBURTON. VERY article Sold at Christchurch Prices and guaranteed bes. of material and workmanship. F UNEEALB CHEAPLY & COMPLETELY FCRNISHEI



STATIONERY OF EYERY 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 wanted for any Magazine or Paper published.. Andrewes Bros., BOOKSELLERS, STATIONERY, &c., East street South. Ashburton. n!5



CHEAP BOOKS AND STATION ERY.—CasseII’s Popular Educator, new edition, six separate volumes, 4s 5d ; Chambers’s Journal, 8s 6d ; Leisure Hour, 8s 6d ; Sunday at Home, 8s 6i ; also, a large stock of the most popular literature of the day, as cheap as any house in the colony. Envelopes, 5s 6d per 1;000, cash. A vary liberal discount allowed to schools, committees, etc.—R. Bkvan, Stationer, Bookseller, etc , Saunders’ Buildings. Observe —next shop to Quill’s Hotel.



PORTING. I have just received my season’s stock of of every description, and respectfully invite an inspection. Double Breech-loaders from L 5 ss. 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, Ourtis and Harvey’s, and Pigou, Wilkes and Lawrence’s—very best quality. Newcastle Chilled Shot, all sizes. Cartridges, Cartridge Cases, Wads. And every shooting requisite. Being the largest importer of Guns and and Ammunition in New Zealand, and every Guifbeing made to my own order, intending purchasers cannot do better than communicate with me. Guns 630 THOS. G. ROWLEY, Gunsmith, Timaru.



CJROWN LANDS GUIDE (No. 5, f Latest Edition) on sale at)|Offioe of this papery



Special Advertisements. IVTATIONAL 'GE AND AGENCY COMPANY OF NEW ZEALAND (LIMITED). TO FARMERS AND OTHERS. We are prepared to receive Wheat, Oats, Barley, Beans, Peas, Rye Grass, Cocksfoot, and Dairy Produce for ship ment to London, Continental, and Aus tralian market*, or for disposal in local markets, and where required will make Liberal Advances against same. Farmers and others who favor us with their business may depend upon the utmost care and attention being exerci ed in handling thoir produce, and also upon receiving prompt returns. In all the Au stralian Colonies we h ive made special and complete arrangements for the disposal of Grain and Produce generally, and we shall be glad to furnish full information to any of our friends who think of trying those markets. Freights to the United King dom have been arranged by us on favor able terms, and shippers will receive full benefits of the lowest ruling rates of freight. We have made large additions to our Commodious Stores at Addington, where we are prepared to receive Grain, etc., on Storage at lowest current rates, making Liberal Advances if necessary. Cornsacks, large size (48 by 26), full weights, supplied, on application, at cur rent prices. Full information obtainable at our offices, 214, Cashel street, Christchurch. 269 GEORGE KING, Manager.



JJOBINSON AND TOWNSHEND ARE CASH BUYERS OF WHEAT OATS B\RLEY GRASS SEED Agents for A. Moore & Co. ROBINSON AND TOWNSHEND, Havelock street. 229 NOTICE TO ADVERTISERS. Advertisements for The Ashburton Guardian must be sent in not later 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 lett ts to be addressed The Manager ; literary communications should be addressed to The Editor.