SHIPPING.

?ORT OP LYTTELTON. Arrived. Yesterday. Stella, 0.G.5., from Wellington, on a lighthouse cruise. Wairarapa, s.a., from Sydney, via Auckland and way ports. ■ . Scottish Admiral, barque, from Bna bane. Hawea, s.s., from Port Chalmers. “""“WKdttr; B.S. , from Kaikoura and Wei* lington. ■■ , * * Sailed. i jili'iiiiwMiiiinri ir» Y-ESTERIJAT. ' Wakatu, as., for Kaikoura and Wel lington. VHkireaj ks., for Wellington. Wairarapa, p.a., for Melbourne, via South.'' " V : ' , , ymPPTWfI TELEGRAMS. Auckland, Yesterday. ■ Arcived- Hinemoa and Sarah Pile, • frj>m Timaru. . • . . - Sailed—Southern Cross, for the South. ■j Wellington, Yesterday. * Arrived Annie Melhuiah, barque, from Newcastle; Kennedy, from Nelson and . the West Coast. " Sa^ed— Wakatipu, for the South; Kan garoo, for WeApprfc; Kennedy, for Nelson and West Coast. .

COMMERCIAL.

AsHBukTON Guardian Office, Wednesday afternoon. The New Zealand loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited (per Mr E. G. Staveley, auctioneer), report on Tinwald sale on 25th Sept. Sheep : A small number only yarded, and a dull sale throughout, with an atfiaoidtuaoe' hardly 'up; ’to the average. Fat Several pens of hogget?, and ewes, and lambs bnt turned out unsold, no passing in 1 stores under the hammer. Pigs Breeding sows were the ;pnly entry, and - DrbUght frona L2 2s 6d- to Lz js 6a, — Cattle: A large riuihber yarded, but we can record ho- improvement in : demand, though wfetCWere'sCld realised up' to fete quotations. Fat cows and heifers I#S LS *7 S 6d, L 5 s°, L 7 -lOS, and Lio 155.. Bullocks in forward con dition, §d. Dairy cowsup to L 7. ■ rOry hfeifersi L 3 ißs. Store steers, IA to 147 S 6d. Many cattle were passed in, including several lines of useful steers in fair

DAILY MEMORANDA.

AUCTION SALES ' Saturday, September 29. IfrlThqs. Bullockv at the Arcade, Burnett ..Street —Clydesdale V TliV.iL Bullock. at the Railway Station Boats and ilaila,; <&c. . ; , at his rßooma Jaixrniture and Effects. Satordat) sOctober 5. Matson, _C6i, and Co., at their rooms— ‘B9 aer6'FaTm. - * - fU' -y f, OPprsbatj; October'9; and Co., at ; the Tinwald Sards—Stock.' - meetings; amusements. &c ■ ' :i; FktDAY, September 28. IMgdiMonthly Meeting, in the •Masonic Hall,Tdncred street, 7.30. “ ' ’ September 29. Timaru Agricultural and Pastoral Asso ciation—Annual Horae Parade. r ,, .Monday, October 1. Borough ;: Council, at Borough Council at 7 o’clock. .— l —Whbkb&dat, October 3. Ashburton County Council —at Council iQluunbers; 11 Am. : - . jXI Saturday, October 6. Ashburton Agricultural and Pastoral Asaicintion —Horae Parade. j? .’ r ov .ms nr. If ; Ashburtqn Agricultural and Pastoral Association— Annual Show.

DEATH.

Reid—On Wednesday morning, 26th Sep tember, 1883, at Kermode street, Ash burton, James Reid, aged 75 years.

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas Et Prevalebit. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1883. The Ashburton Mayoralty.

That the present Mayor of Ashbur ton has, during his term of office, acted in such a manner as to warrant the good opinion expressed in the requisition presented to him, will be generally ad mitted. He has presided over the de liberations of the Council with impar-

tiality, and although it has been asserted in certain quarters that some portions ot the Borough have been better at tended to than others, we do not think that, so far as Mr Williamson is concerned, criticism of this kind could be justified. Such complaints, how ever, are inevitable, and it is one of the penalties to be paid even by those who hold positions of minor greatness that they must make up their minds to sub mit to misrepresentations of their most well-meant actions. We may say there fore that, as Mr Williamson has in

the past shown himself capable of carry ing out the duties appertaining to the office of Mayor satisfactorily, there can be no doubt that he would be equally successful in the future. But while we have no objection to Mr Williamson personally, we emphatically believe in theprinciple that the office should be a rolling one, unless it can be shown that there is but a single gentleman in the community capable of holding the posi tion. The present Mayor has already been in the chair for two consecutive years, and it would perhaps have been wiser if he had stood aside on this occasion and declined to accede to the request of the seventy-eight ratepayers who wish to see him returned again. If the allegation of a correspondent whose letter- we published yesterday be true, some of the signatures to the document in question were not obtained in the most straightforward manner ; but put ting this aside, the fact remains that the number of burgesses signing the petition represent a very small per centages the voters in the Borough. So far there is no sign of any opposition being made to Mr Williamson, but there is plenty of time before the elec tion comes off for more than one can didate to enter the lists. The difficulty in these matters is to find anybody willing to give their time to the duties attaching to a purely honorary office, but we should be sorry to think that there is so little public spirit in Ash burton that no gentleman will come forward to contest the seat with the pre sent occupant. It is a dangerous, and at the same time a false, principle to enunciate, that there can exist neces sary men ; that when a vacancy occurs in any office, from the lowest to the highest, it cannot be filled by some person equally as satisfactorily as by his predecessor. Should Mr Williamson be allowed to have what is called in sporting phraseology a “ walk-over,” it will be a tacit admission that of all the people of Ashburton he alone possesses the necessary qualifications for a good Mayor. Much as we admire his past conduct, and we are quite at one with the requisitionists in this matter, we question whether his best friends would go that length. Another reason why we should pre fer to see a change is that if an office like that, of the Mayor is allowed to remain in the.hands of one person for a lengthened period, an impression is pretty certain to get abroad that-the management of municipal affairs is in the power of a clique. Nothing is further from our thoughts than to hint that Mr Williamson has not acted for the good of the community during his occupancy of the chair, but unfortu nately the suspicion we have alluded to is in nowise governed by logic. Praise for his past actions we can freely accord to the present Mayor, but we fail to see in this a reason why the ratepayers should not be afforded an opportunity of determining whether or not one equally worthy of their confi dence cannot be -found willing to undertake the responsibilities of the office. If Mr Williamson is again returned we shall not, grumble, but it will be far more satisfactory if he gains a victory over an opponent worthy of his steel, instead of being elected without a contest of any kind. It is to be hoped that sufficient interest in the question will be roused to induce another candidate to come forward, so that the election may be decided by the burgesses as a whole, instead of by a small minority of seventy-eight rate payers.

The Licensing .Committee for Rangiora and Mandeville have granted a license to Lees, of the Royal Hotel, at Woodend, which was refused at the annual meeting. The New Zealand, Shipping Company

are advised by cable that their chartered steamer lonic left Plymouth on the 22nd inst. for Wellington and . Lyttelton, with a large number of passengers and a full cargo.

The Hawke's Bay Herald’s Woodville correspondent writes, that In sinking a well at Woodville, the borers brought up broken quartz containing gold. Steps are to be taken to test the value of the discovery. The steamer Fenatanton will complete

her loading to-day. She takes 5971 frozen sheep Home. The British Queen, which arrives early in October, i? expected to take 9,000.

The Hawke’s Bay Heralcl tells the follow ing story of a biter bit;—A Mr Flynn, an old identity, and small storekeeper, sometime since had a confounded nuisance of his in the shape of a straying mare and foal impounded, by order of Mr W, Rath bone. Mr Flynn paid the releasement money, and resolved to keep his eyes open. On a recent Sunday two of Mr Rathbone's horses were being driven to paddock when they skittishly broke away, and as the Fates would have it, ran into Mr Flynn’s paddock. This was a chance

the owner of the mare and foal did not neglect, and although the driver of the horses went on the land to get the stray ing animals off, ho was ordered to * de par-r-rt ’ unless he would pay 5s per head poundage fees. He ‘ depar-r-r-ted,’ and the horses were afterwards led to the pound by Mr Flynn. The above came out in evidence when the case was heard, Mr Flynn naively admitting that he would hot have impounded the horses had they not belonged to the ‘ un-neighbor like neighbor who poundpd-"my Folly.’ Ho was informed that his apt of impound ing was illegal, and that he must pay the 10s demanded for pound fees and paid under protest, together with 19a expenses and a lawyer’s fee.”

There was another large attendance at the To”wn Hall last evening, when the gospel mission was continued. Mr Wright delivered an address,- and he was assisted j in his ministration by the Rev. A. M. ■] Beattie. The singing of hymns as usual ( formed a special feature of the service. ( Young men are particularly invited to be present this evening. , A firing party of the Ashburton Rifles went out to-day to the butts, and the fol lowing scores were made :—Private J. Leitoli, 52; Private G, Parkin, 51; Private Andrewes, 48 ; Corp. Dunn, 37 ; Private Fyfield, 28 ; Trooper Chambers, 23, The ranges were 2.0, 300, 500, and 600 yard?, seven rounds at each, and throughout the firing Trooper Chambers used his cavalry rifle, which wi 1 account for his compara* tively small score. A strong wind blew Mross the ranges which rather interfered vftth the shooting. The party was in charge of Corp. Dunn. The London correspondent of the Man chester Guardian says;—Colonel Fosbery created a sensation at a lecture he gave to an assembly of officers, small-arm inven tors, and other experts on Friday at the Royal United Service Institute, by ml denly drawing from its place of hiding, under the table, a wonderful new gun which he had just brought from Lidge. He called it a “baby electric gun.” It looked like a pretty carbine, but it had no mechanism and c >uld not possibly go off until connected up to the source of electric force. That done, it could be fired with amazing rapidity, 104 roundshaving a few days before been fired from it by its inven tor, M. Lidge,intwommutes. 001. Fosbery fired two rounds with infinitesimal powder charges. He had prepared himself by secreting under his vest a small circuit of wire and putting on a banderole, support ing what looked like a two-ounce phial, but was in fact an electric accumulator, with sufficient stored-up energy to dia ; charge 2,000 rounds. The cartridges . were very innocent looking mites, and ’ contained no detonating substances nothing, in fact, but simply powder and r a wad. The opinion was expressed by ' various speakers that the electric gun 1 must once more revolutionise the mahu -5 facture of small arms within a brief ; period.

Certain continental people look with anything but approval on the exploits of Mr Henry M. Stanley in Africa. That gentleman, they say, not satisfied with his fame as an explorer and the money he receives as the agent of the International committee, is setting up as a monarch. He has already signed treaties with King Jongo de Selo and the Sovereign of Man ganya. In exchange for the promise of an annual pension of sundry pieces of cloth, he has obtained from these poten tates the right to trade and settle in the country, and to demand the services of any laborer he may require. The privi lege of framing such contracts is restricted to governing Powers alone, and thus, by a stroke of his pen, the ex-correspondent of a New York paper constitutes himself a monarch. Stanley the First on ducts himself as if “ native, and to the manner born has his body guard of Zanzibarians armed with breech-loaders, and sways it over the natives autocratic ally. The Italic is witty at the expense of the new industry ; but there is a lurk ing annoyance nnder the jocularity. Ber nadette was the son. of an advocate, and Murat of an innkeeper ; Bonaparte was a subaltern of artillery ; but it has been re seev d for the last quarter of nineteenth century to Constitute the press a nursery of Royalty. We trust from his place on the banks of the Congo the ruler who has exchanged the pencil for the sceptre will exhibit to his neighbors a pattern of mild ness and justice. This is what comes of pioneering and opening up new trade routes.

An official notice has been published that the L 6,000 voted by Parliament for distribution to public libraries will be dis tributed at the end of January next, and claims to participate in the grant must be sent to the Secretary for Education, Wel lington, before January 22nd. Every public library, maintained either by rates or subscriptions and voluntary contribu tions, will be entit'dd to a share, provided that the income for the year has not been less than L2, and that admission to the library, if within a borough, is open to the public free of charge. A form, copies of which may be obtained from the Secretaries of Education Boards, is to be filled up, and declared true before a Justice of the Peace, showing the income of the institution, for library purposes only, for the year 1883, or for the last financial year of the institution, with audited statement of ac counts attached. The distribution will not be made in proportion to the incomes of the several libraries, but a nominal ad dition of X 25 will be made to the amount

of each income, and the vote divided in proportion to the amounts as thus aug mented. This arrangement will give the smaller libraries an advantage over the larger ones, and no library is to receive more than LSO, which also works in favor of the smaller ones. There is some am biguity in the notice as regards freedom of admission. In the explanatory part of of the notice it is statedevery library will be entitled to share “ provided that admis sions to the library, if within a borough, Is open to the public free of charge,” whilst in the form of declaration the words are, “ by the rules of the institu tion admission to the reading-room is open to the public free of charge.” ■ To say nothing of the abaurditty in the last sen tence, of “admission” being open, re marks the Timaru Herald, why are li braries distinguished from reading-rooms, and a provision made regarding one and a declaration required regarding the other ? The Sydney Morning Herald is in re ceipt of an interesting letter from a gen tleman who for years resided in the Malay Archipelago, and giving some particulars with regard to the scene of the recent volcanic eruptions. He states that in a letter, dated 14th August last, from a friend in Java, he learns that the heat

at the time was very great in the island, the thermometer not having been so for the past seven years. The barometer was exceedingly low, ranging from 28-40 to 29deg. 't he native population were in fear of a volcanic disturbance and were

uneasy, but the Europeans were not in clined to lay any stress upon this appre hension of danger. The Merapi, one of the highest volcanic mountains, and near Saerabaja, the next city to Batavia in importance, was smoking densely for a few weeks previous to the letter being written. Of Anjer, he says it is the only .‘•iport in the Strait of Sunda. Here ships from Europe and America with coals and petroleum for China and Japan and the Molucca Islands, call for orders. There are about 5,000 Malays, 3,000 Sumatrese and Madurase, 2,000 Arabs, and Chinese population, but very few Europeans. The vessels calling an Anjer lie out in the roads (Straits of Sunda), there being no harbor. The anchorage is very bad, on account of the strong current or tide. The island Cracator, or, as it is sometimes spelt, Krakat>a, lies in the centre of the straits, but it is not'inhabited, on account of tha dangerous volcanoes upon it. M. d’Almeida, when travelling through Java, referring to a dancing girl whose per formance he witnessed in Batavia, says : —“ She was a plain-looking woman, with a face of ordinary Javanese type, c Jirse features, high cheek bones, and a very ’arge mouth disfigured with black teeth, which, however, they consider a mark of beauty.” Out correspondent says, on the contrary, that it is not the custom of Javanese women to blacken their teeth ; that he only found this fashion among one tribe Its the interior part of Borneo. The Javanese women, however, break out their front tooth when they marry.

ASHBURTON CRICKET CLUB.

Last evening a very well attendee! meet ing of gentlemen interested in cricket was ’ held at Messrs Matson, Cox and Co.’s offices for the purpose of electing officers, adopting report and balance-sheet, etc. Mr 0. Percy Cox, President, was in the chair, and stated the object of the meet ing. He referred to the satisfactory ter mination of last season’s cricket, and hoped that the coming season would be as successful. He regretted that both the Secretary and Treasurer (Messrs Pixley and Castelli) were absent from the meet ing, but, as they were aware, they had left the district soon after the close of last season, and their absence would no doubt bo badly felt by the Club. He would now read the report and' balance-sheet which had been prepared by the Secre tary, Mr Pixley. In making this their fourth annual report, your Committee have much pleasure in congratulating the Ashburton Cricket Club on the marked and substantial improve ment in the position of the Club, especi ally in two or three particulars men tioned in last year’s annual report. But while some of the difficulties then alluded to are, your Committee believe, most successfully overcome for the’ensuing season, they must not omit to refer to one which unfortunately was not wholly overcome last year, which they hope will this year be vigorously dealt with by their successors, and especially the acting officials of the Club, and that is the number of paying members of the Club. We find that of the nominal list of 93 members, 55 only paid their subscriptions, and while this was an actual increase of 15 on the numbers of the previous year, and also a larger proportion of the nominal members on the list, yet we feel sure that many of those being old cricketers and members of the Club who played but did not pay, would have done so had the sub scriptions been systematically looked after early in the season. 2. The main difficulty the Club had to contend with last year,, viz., the

want of a good ground has, we be lieve, been entirely overcome by the ground prepared by the Ashburton Cricket and Ath letic Sports Ground Company, which promises to be one of the prettiest and best grounds to be found anywhere, and we trust our successors in office will have no difficulty in arranging' terms with that Company for the use of the ground, which will be mutually satisfactory, viz., in effecting a considerable reduction in cost of maintenance to this Club, while yet making a return to the Company which will enable it to maintain the ground in perfect order for cricket and athletic purposes. As some misapprehension appears to exist as to the extent and suitability of this ground for cricketing purposes, it may not be amiss to state here that it is rather larger than the cele brated Kennington Oval at Home, and about one acre smaller than the enclosed space at Lancaster Park—that being a little over seven acres and this not quite six. Over 2,000 yards of good soil having been carted on to the ground, and the drainage perfect, while the supply of water for irrigation purposes is un limited, and can be turned on over the ground whenever required, it will, we think, be seen that all the conditions of a perfect ground are provided in this case. During the past season your Club was fairly successful, having won nine matches and lost five, an average which we hope may be improved on,' now that there will be what there has never hitherto been a good ground to field on. Your Committee would suggest that in electing officers for the ensuing season, the Captain, Secretary and Treasurer should, if possible, be all resident in Ashburton, and that they should also form the match selection Committee, that, being thus within reach of one another, and also having all the executive power of details, etc., in their own hands, they may act more in unison for the welfare of the Club, and without that uncertainty and confu sion which a division of authority frequently entails. A statement of the financial po-ition of the Club is attached, by which it will be seen that while a small sum is owing, which may now be met by this year’s subscriptions, yet the assets of the Club proposed to be taken over by the Company will about cover this, leaving the financial position of the Club better for the ensuing year than it has been for many years. After some discussion on various matters in connection with the assets and liabili ties of the Olub, on the motion of the President, seconded by Mr W. Gundry, the report and balance-sheet as read were adoptedjunauimously. Dr Leahy moved, Mr Douglas seconded —“ That the names of the members who. had paid their subscriptions, and these who had not be read.”—Carried. The President explained that a great many gentlemen had never Been asked for

their subscriptions, and hence the reason for them not having yet paid. This would now be attended to, and he felt sure that the Club would be in a very much better financial position shortly, especially as the new ground would be ready for this season.

The President read two letters, one from the Wellington Cricket Club and one from the Borough Cricket Club, both of which were referred to the incoming Com mittee.

On the motion of Mr Douglas, seconded by Mr S. Saunders, Mr 0. P. Cox was unanimously elected President. Mr Wroughton proposed, Mr S. Saun ders seconded—“ That Mr E. G. Wright, M. H. R., bo Vice-President. ” —Carried unanimously. Mr 'J. A. Caygill was elected lion secretary ; Mr C. P. Cox, hon treasurer ; Mr David Thomas, captain ; and the fol lowing were elected a Committee : Messrs A. Fooks, S. Saunders, A. . Curtis, A. Hutchison, Simpson, Wroughton and Dr Leahy. The Committee decided to meet this afternoon to arrange details in connection with the Olub.

After passing votes of thanks to the re tiring officers and Committee the meeting adjourned.

JOTTINGS PROM A TRAVELLER’S JOURNAL.

[SPEC!4LLT WRITTEN FOR “ THE ASHBURTON p GUARDIAN. ”] 5 CHAPTER XVII.— Concluded, t The Place of St. Peter’s Martyrdom— i A Legend—Resting Place of the t Ark—A Sacred Relic— Superstition , Rebuke*. i Returning to the city I stopped at ho r Church of St. Pietro Montario, built by ) Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain, on the i traditional site of the martyrdom of St. i Peter. In the chapels attached to the . church are some pictures painted on stone

by Sebastian del Piombo from drawingi by Michael Angelo. But the chief in terest centres in the Tompietto, a domec building supported by sixteen Doric columns, erected over the very spot on which the cross of St. Peter is said to have stood. The legend runs thus Peter arrived at the place of execution, and besought the officers to allow him to be crucified with his head downwards. “I am not worthy,” said the Apostle, “to suffer in the same manner as my divine Master. I have preached the cross of Christ, have borne it on my heart, and its marks upon my body by sufferings and mortifications, and now I am happy in the prospect of dying on the cross. But my Master looked towards the Heaven, whiih by his death he opened to me. I, a sinner formed from dust and about to return to dust, ought rather to look on the earth as unworthy to raise my eyes to Heaven.” In addi» tion to this it is said by some of the old chroniclers that the Ararat on which Noah’s ark, the emblem of the church, rested after the waters of the deluge sub sided, was not a mountain in Armenia, but Mount Srniculum at Rome, and that Peter’s cross was raised upon the very spot whereon the progenitor of tha new races of men set his foot as he stepped from the ark. Thus the rock on which the ship of salration remained standing, and the rock on which the church is built, are brought into relation with each other.

Indubitably there is a round hole in the I centre of the floor of the Tempietto, and I the old Monk who acted as conductor I assured me with evident conviction, that 1 the heel of the cross was inserted in this I hole 1 To confirm it, he took a ptaff, I armed at the end with a tin scoop, which I he thrust to the bottom of the hole andi brought up some yellow dust. “ This,’*! said he, “ is part of the wood of the cross, 1 and you must preserve it as a sacred I relic.” “ But,” interposed I, “ are you quite sure that Peter ever visited Rome % The | Scriptures are silent on the subject, and for various reasons, and from indirect bqt cogent incidental testimony, it is very questionable whether the Apostle ever saw the city of Rome. ” I wish there had been an artist at hand to depict the look of astonishment and horror with which the old man regarded me. He made no reply, but hurried me out of the building as if my presence were a profanation. I smiled at his super stition; and as he would not take my, proffered hand, with a good humored nod bade him farewell. Victor.

SPORTING.

HAWKE’S BAY RACES. The following entries and final pay ments were received on Monday night by the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Glub for the Spring Meeting:— Maiden Plate (entries) Esoopefca, Heretannga, Kuni, Snider, Fear Sot, Comet, Badames, Waewaitika, Oberon, I and .Jacob Briar. - Hawke’s Bat Guineas (final payments) —Esoopeta, Winifred, Snider, Musket, Maid of Athol, Marjory, Javelin, NgHOy> Jacob Briar, Scratch, Oberon, Satof, I Sybil. I Hurdles (final payment*)—Lonehand, I Loch Lomond,- Reform, Wild Dayroll, A. IG.,1 G., Lady Bab, Doubtful, Heretaunga, I Fear Hot, Juliet, Waawaitika, Pastimo^‘ I Spring Handicap (final payments)— I Mischief, Tim Whiffler, Leonora, lieo- I nata, Kalo, Kingask, The Laird, Lon*- I hand, Tankee, Bangipo, Scud, Marjory. I Flying Handicap (final payments)—? | Mischief, Leonora, Ealo, Kingask, Bo- I bina, Yankee, Radames, Rangipo, Koni, I Oberon, Carmen, Scud, Marjory. Y

GENERAL TOM THUMB.

People who are now middle aged, writes I a London correspondent of a content- I porary, can remember the extraordinary I furore created by this much advertised I protegd of Bacnum. I very well recollect I seeing him at the Pavilion at Brighton I whilst at school there, and hearing him I sing some, then popular, song in a little, r squeaking voice. Looking back, it seems | rather strange now that so much excite-1, ment should have been caused over a poor I abortion of nature like the “ General,” I especially as dwarfs never have been so I very uncommon. In ' days not so long I gone by there was always the dwarf in I company with the giant, the pig-faced I baby, and the fat woman at the public I fairs in the old country towns, whilst his- j tory abounds with notorious men of dimi- I nutive stature who played sometimes I great parts in their country’s history. I Headers of Sir; Walter Scott will remember I Sir Geoffrey Hudson, who was served up I in a fie to please Henrietta Maria, and I whose nature was so fiery that he fought I two duels, in one of which he killed his I man ; and it was also reported that he I once had a desperate encounter with a I fierce game cock, in which the cook by no 1 means had the worst of it. There was I also Richebourg, who died in 1858, ninety I years of age, and only twenty-three inches high. He served his country as a king’s messenger to the Orleans family, and it is said o'ten passed in and out of Paris as an infant in swaddling clobber, 1 carrying secret despatches wrapped up in his dress. Besides, the streets of every great city always can show some dwarfish specimens of humanity; I myself have seen a score such during years of resi- 1 dence in this metropolis who might have equalled the- mannikin of New England. However, Tom Thumb or Chares E. Stratton as he was christened, certainly “fetched the public.” His earnings mounted up to LIOO a day, and often more. At Rugby, a little provincial town, ho took Ll6O a day, and he was oven favored with an invitation to Buckingham Palace. But there is one episode in connection with his career which | can never be forgotten. In the very ; same building in which the Barnum show , was taking place, a great painter was ex ’ hibiting his last work, making one last effort to get the generous : help of the dia . criminating public, before starvation and s misery could do their worst. But in vain he persevered, he held out till he could stay no longer, and at last in desperate madness poor Haydon laid violent hands upon himself. Just before the fatal deed was done, he wrote in his diary words which, as the Standard remarks, will be remembered long after hia rival is forgot ten. “They rush by thousands to see Tom Thumb—they push, they fight, they scream, they faint, they cry help -and mur der; they see my bills and caravan, but - they do not read them, their eyes aro upon them, but their sense is gone. It is an ' insanity, a ‘rabiea furor,’ a dream of which L I could not have believed England could ' Have been guilty.’ 12,000 crowded to see the dwarf, but only 130 went in to 1 see the great picture of the “ Banishment of Aristides." However, painter and dwarf have now alike paid the debt of nature, and whilst one has left behind im ! perishable fame, the other will be speedily forgotten, and each succeeding age will easily produce a rival to eclipse him. Though the “ General ” married a fitting helpmate, it is eminently to know that they have left behind them no progeny ; and, indeed, the question arises whether such unions ought ever to be per mitted. It is worthy to notice that the little man died of apoplexy, a complaint to which such as he are not often subject. Generally dwarfs live to a great ag6, whilst giants are, on the other hand, usually {short-lived.

CORRESPONDENCE.

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents.

MR WEIGHT AND THE MOUNT SOMERS LINE.

To the Editor.

Sib,—l cannot allow the storm of abuse and misrepresentation which is being directed against the member for Ashbur ton to go on accumulating without raising my feeble voice iii defence. I would ask, Sir, what Is the “ head and front ” of Mr Wright’s offending 1 It is simply this : He will not pander to the narrow minds of the Ashburton hucksters who cannot see over the Town Belt. They evidently think it will benefit them greatly if they can get the colony to construct a line to Alford Forest. Then there is a hornet's nest of stake splitters at Alford Forest who labor under the delusion that their bit of scrubby birch is something. of colonial importance, when in reality it is very much like the precious stones, etc., found there—“ very deceptive.” Now, Mr Wright’s fault is that he takes a colonial view of things instead of a nar row local one. The cowardly insinuation that Mr Wright is actuated by selfish

t motives in his action in getting a Com , mission appointed can only arise iron pure ignorance of the position of Mi Wright’s freehold land, and the poaitior : of the present line of railway ; or it maj arise from a still more despicable source— “ deadly malice unrepenting.” Much ia made by some of the Committee appointed by the County Council at Mr Wright’s instance to examine and report on the beat route. I would ask Are the maligners of Mr Wright in of the facts? How many of that Commission visited the district en that occasion to the south of the line? Honest, well-meaning men, but at the same time profoundly ignorant on the subject, have stated that the land on the south would not grow a (cabbage. Now,'the real truth js there is more good land on the south than on the north, and Mr Wright’s detractors are afraid for their lives that it should be found out. Hence their deadly hatred to any further enquiry. Sir, I ask what has brought the colony to its present state of semi-bankruptcy? Just the very thing that the howlers in the Ashburton electorate are wanting, viz., the construction of an unprofitable work. I for one say, all honor*to a man who will stand fast to his principles'in spite of popular clamor. There are too few of Mr Wright’s stamp in the House of Representatives. He will be respected and remembered when the popularity hunters are forgotten.—lam, etc., . I James MoSwigoan. I Hinds,-September 24, 1883. J

CABLE NEWS.

LATEST FROM EUROPE. [Center's telegrams—COPYßlGHT. J Monetary and Commercial. London, Sept Consols have advanced fa and -sms'* now quoted at io6j£. 'New Zealand, securities are quoted to-day as lows :—Five per cent 10-40 Loan, 103 yi ; Five per - cent ~ 1889- LqW, 106; Four and a-half per chntiSf79- 1904 Loan, I Four per cent in scribed stock, iooj£. .The . market rate of discount has and is now per cent. The Bank rate is 3/4- The grain market rshows;a& upward tendency. . Adelaide wheat, eau. store, has advanced to 45s 6d ; Zealand do. remains at 46S to the coast cargoes of New Zealand* Wheat are quoted at 44s ilaide floury ex store, 335... Australian tallow—Best beef, 40s 6d; besLmntloil,; 41 & : ■ '• -y} The Wool Sales. 1 ha 3 : At to-day’s wool sale the catalogue comprised 106,606 bales. The"tone of the sales again firm. , „ I The Woolwich Explosion- oht London, Sept 2A .f., Explosions at the Woolwich continued without intenms- I sion for upwards -of an hour,; SOfrfJf of I the rockets travelling for miles, out in I the majority of qases.Uttleor no damage I was done by them. It I the explosion of the factory WM lcd- 1 {dental, - ’1? ' I Defeat of Idle French.. ,; r I A telegram which has been receufifd from Zanaibar reports that figbtiug has I taken place between the Hovss and I the French troops in Madagascar. • ’pie I former made an attack on the position I occupied by .the French oh ■ the West I {sic) Coast of the Island, and after I stubborn fighting, lasting several hour^ I the French were driven from their pod* I tion with considerable loss.

AUSTRALIAN.

[rKOTBE’S rBIEOEAMS— coptmokt.] ; The Bank Bobbery. Melbourne, Yeeterday. i The balance of the bars of.’gold stolen from the'Commercial Bank of Australia was discovered to-day buried in the earth at Mordialldc, fifteen miles south-east of this city. The locality was indicated by the prisoner Corbet. An Execution. The prisoner BuitiSj who was' Sen tenced to death for the murder of Michael Quinlivan i a tBBo, was exe cuted to-day. ' ; The Markets. . The Melbourne Manager- of the National Mortgage and Agency Com pany of New Zealand,* Limited,.tepbtts of the local grain market as follows The wheat market is depressed.;- ship ping parcels, 4s rod; fowls’wheat, 3s gd. to 4s 4d; malting'barter, js tn‘s# gd; market sluggish; New Zealand oats, are in fair demand; feeding sorts are worth 3s to 3s 2d ; milling do, 3s ad to 3s 3d; New Zealand oats, under ? bond, 2s 2d to 2s sd. --irl [Received Sept 26; 12.20 p.m.] A Secession. ; . Mkibodene, To-day,... At the meeting pf the nmmbcjrs the Scots Church labt evening it was 'dfcjv cided to secede from the Presbyterian ; Church of Victoria and revert .to the position previous to the Act of Union.

TELEGRAMS.

[per press association. ] Post Sessional. Auckland, To-cmj. Mr Seymour George addressed the jilSOv j tors of Rodney at Mahurangi yesternight. ’ He received a unanimous vote .of -confirm* dence, and announced his again standing, • A Threatened Law Suit. - Mr J. 0. Ellis, of Newcastle, owner of the barque Gazelle, and one of the largest shipowners in New South .Wales, has in structed Mr Speed, a solicitor here, to , ; take steps to apply to have the recent decision of the Supreme Court reversed in the Court of Appeal. Mr.EUi* *■ a Mem ber of the Legislative Assembly of Naw South' Wales, and feels hurt by the impn. ;;ir tation of smuggling, which he oonsioMß ,

. attaches itself to him so long as thasqip. ,' is held by the New Zealand Government, . . and he intends to apply to the Vnry , | Council before he will acknowledge the right of the colony to take forcible pos session of property belonging to an inno cent owner, for an act which the otr&er cannot possibly: either prevent or guard against. Mr Speed has been instructed to retain Mr Hesketb of this city, who '7 will also be assisted by Mr Stoat, ofDaq- . ’ ediu. , ‘ ; Released- ,/ Auckland, To-day. The Doric’s passengers were released from quarantine to-day. . ? Fire. ■ ‘ vT’’ 1 Ddnbdjn, To?day. A six-roomed house in Albany streflfc occupied by James Grant, was burned down at midnight. The furniture wat insured in the Norwich Union Office for LIOO. The Dummyism Question. At the Land Board to-day M^tn; ~ Pearsall and Youngs, the applicant! for f. a Strath-Taieri sections, writing from Tear' mania, protest against the ‘finding's of the Dummyism Committee, rpaintaimng that the land they purchased for their owq > use and benefit. They ask the Board td * issue licenses to them, and state their willingness to pay rent. urr j.;| ■ ■ .rnrsrjrsngA To restore nerve and brain "waste, nothing equal; Hop Bitters, Believe this* Sea**} ADVT.J

XHB ASHBURTON GUARDIAN, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1883.



mQRB£ LE.A T. THIS OFFIOE. The New Bankruptcy Bill, - 1883. The Chattel Securities Act Amendment. - Etc , Ftc., Etc. 'ORSEOARDS neatly and cheaply the QoAKDUirofSce. r .. YOU WANT GOOD AND fTRONG FURNITURE, GO TO fMi DAVIS’S .imcAP FURNITURE AND BED iA DIN® MANUFACTORY, di- > , EAST STREET SOUTH, ASHBURTON. CVYERY article Sold at Christchurch, JL-i Peicbb and giiranteed bes. of 'naterial and workmanship. FUNERAL'S SEW ZEALAND CtotbingFactory AYE spared no effort to place before - the public a



MOST COMPLETE ASSORTMENT •' -rim- ■ NEW WINTER MANUFACTURES Comprising ail Ihe latest styles in MEN’S & BOY’S CLOTHING Manufactured from the best qualities and r-,. 'Ji newest Designs in - COLONIAL, SCOTCH, BRITISH, AND CONTINENTAL TWEEDS. The large and . increased trade has en abled the Proprietary to offer their cos tome*»,;.stai ■ further advantages than hitherto,.and ; THIS SEASON’S GOODS, upon inspection, will be found CHEAPER THAN EVER. A SINGLE GARMENT AT WHOLESALE PKXCE. SHIRTS, HATS, HOSIERY, and every requisite at Wholesale Prices. Nineteen branches now open in New Zealand. Agents for the Unrivalled SOWING * MACHINES jmßiaaeh ; : ; '



Wanted WANTED Known— Beit Fresh Butter one shilling* per lb.—Fbiedlandek Bros. 9 596 WANTED, at once, a General SER VANT. Apply, Mrs Clinton Baddelst, Wakanui road. 9 599 WANTED— An active LA.D to ride and carry orders. Apply James Taskbe, Ashburton. 9 593 W’ ANTED KNOWN —Two Ladies would find a comfdrtab'e resi dence, with use of piano.—Mrs G. H. Thompson. Tancred street, near Arcade. 1443 WANTED, for the country, a LAD to milk and make himself gener ally useful. Apply to Albert Roberts, West street, Ashburton 9 589 WANTED KNOWN—That Robert 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—That in conse quence of the rapid increase of business, John Moison, Impermeable Bootmaker, has been compelled to get a large stock of Boots of a superior quality in the town in order to meets the demands of his customers, and those who may pur chase from him will find no deception as !to price or quality. As J. M. has gained the public trust in the past by doing best work and fit, combined with neatness and style, he intends even to make greater exertions in the future. Fowler’s Build ings, Tancred street (opposite Arcade), Ashburton. 7 207



XTTANTED KNOWN—That Mr Dan W Lea’s Gymnasium is the only place for real amusement; admittance free. Every kind of amusement to be ob tained on the premises calculated to please the general public—American Bowls, Skittles, Shooting, Boxing, Fencing, Horizontal Bar, Trapeze, etc. Temper-} ance Drinks, Cigars, etc. Tickets — monthly. 2s 6d, for use of Horizontal Bar, Trapeze, Single-sticks, Dumb-bells, Indian Clubs, etc. Dan Lea is always at his post to give lesions in Boxing, lesson £1 per month, or according to arrangement. 1344 Special Advertisements. Relief from cough in five MINUTES, -r- Bonnington’s Peg fOßAli OxYMEL OF CaBBAOEEN OB IBISH Moss (Registered).—The most certain and speedy remedy for disorders of the Chest and Lungs. May be obtained at most of the Storekeepers and Chemists throughout the Province. Sold every where. —George Bonnington, Christchurch. A NDREW E S B R O Are now selling everything at a S. GREAT SACRIFICE, For Cash. 77 CLEARING SALE. QREAT FOR ONE MONTH ONLY, Commencing Saturday, August 18th. STATIONER!, FANCY GOODS, TOYS, Em A GREAT REDUCTION IN THE PRICES OF ALL OUR GOODS. An Inspection Solicited. Andrewes Bros., BOOKSELLERS, STATIONERS, &c., East street South Ashburton. n!5



b $ $ |.- a- | S :• ® ’ Vi ft* M« 9 D •? g. s § =■ t § S. 8 £ s Q gt W 3 S- < o ® .CO o o tel CO o o SECTION No 25234, SEAFIELD tzj Vj s M a: H » £ *1 & ° ta 09 H Dimant and Coe, ABE Now Showing thoir first parcels of SUMMER GOODS, Comprising, Trimmed and UuntrimmedHats, Laces, Prints, Plain and Fancy Sateens, Galeteas, Dresstuffs, Mens’ and Boys Clothing, Shirts Also, A splendid assortment of Mens’, Ladies’, and Childrens’ Boots and Shoes. All marked in plain figures, and offered at prices to, compete with any house in Christchurch or Dunedin. TIOTOEIA HOUSE, Lower end East street, DIMANT AND COE, Ready Money Drapers, Clothiers, etc. 9528



Apply, THE NEW ZEALAND GRAIN AGENCY AND MERCAN TILE COMPANY, LIMITED. . Wm. HORNE, 12 au Agent, Special Bargains. gELLING OFF, MUST BE SOLD. Drawing-room Suites in splendid Vel vet, walnut side-board with marble top Small Tables in all patterns of walnut, etc Real Leather Dining-room Suites, in mahogany, and side-boards to match Every class of Furniture. Utensils of every kind for House Furnishing. Must be sold, as I want to CLEAR OFF all my large and varied Stock. Joim Meech, FURNITURE WAREHOUSE, Burnett street. 9 4Ai



Special Advertisements. INTRODUCTION OF TELE PARCEL SYSTEM. Fashion House, Cashel street, Christchurch, Great success has been acWieyed in the Old Country by the introduction of the “ Numbered Parcel System,” for the supply ard purchase of useful household drapery, thousands of parcels being for warded to the order of distant customers upon the distinct understanding that any article not proving satisfactory to the pur chaser, the money in all cases to be re turned. This system is now being intro dgcedby E. O. Brown & Co., FASHION HOUSE, Chkistchhboh. The splendid stock of General Drapery in all departments has been purchased by B. C. Brown and Co., from the Trustees in the Estate of the late firm of Craig and Smyth, at a very large discount off cost for cash. Thus articles sold under cost price leave a good margin of profit for the vendor, while giving unsurpassed value to the purchaser. In all parcels we stake our reputation on the values, and, as suggested above, re turn the money in all cases where the article is not satisfactory. Our No. 1,20 s Dress Parcel, contains — Worth 3 £ s. d.



1 dress piece (12 yds) any shade, French costume cloth ... 0 18 6 l£ good velveteen to match dress 0 5 6 3 yds silesia, for linings ... 0 1 10 2 doz new oxydised buttons, to match ... .... 0 16 1 pair warm lined fur-top spring cuff gloves ... ... ... 02 6 £1 9 10 OurSNo. 2,30 a household parcel; contains — _ Worth 1 pair good medium size blan kets . 1 0 0 1 good honeycomb quilt... ... 012 6 8 yds good wincey . ... ... 05 0 1 pair good strong’ corsets, any . size ... ... ••• ... 0 5 0 £2 2 6 Our No. 3, dress parcel for £2, contains— Worth 1 dress piece (10 yds) celebrated Empress black velveteen ... 1 7 6 3 yds good silesia for lining ... 0 2 0 2 doz new style oxydised buttons 0 16 1 handsome striped winter skirt 0 9 6 1 durable silk umbrella, paragon frame ... ... 0 8 0 1 choice silk chenille scarf ... 0 3 11 £2 12 5 Our No. 4, Ladies’ parcel for £2, , contains— Worth 1 dress piece (12 yds) French check costume cloth ... ...1 1 0 3 yds silesia lining for same '0 2 0 2 doz choice buttons, to match dress ... ... ... ... 0 1 6 I good warm Ladies’tweed ulster 0 17 6 1 black quilted alpaca skirt ... 010 0 1 white or colored wool wrap ... 0 5 6 1 pair lisle lined fur-top spring cuff gloves 0 2 0 £2 19 6 Our No. 5, household parcel for £2 10s, contains— Worth 1 pair large size good witney blankets 1 10 6 1 nice large size good honeycomb quilt 0 14 6 1 pair good heavy white sheets 0 9 6 6 good value honeycomb towels 0 4 0 6 yds heavy Welsh flannel ... 0 8 0



£3 6 6 Our No. 6, family parcel for £3, contains— Usual price 12 yds super Roslyn flannel (pure wool) ••• 0 18 0 24 yds splendid white calico, heavy make 0 13 0 24 yds good strong brown or grey wincey ... 0 14 0 6 yds tartan plaid 0 6 6 6 yds good brow% holland ... 0 4 6 12 yds hemp carpet, dark stripe 0 7 0 6 pair Girls’ or Women’s warm winter hose ... 0 7 6 4 large unbleached Turkish rowels ... O' 4 9 £3 15 3 Our No. (7, mourning parcel for £2 10s, contains— Worth 10 yds good black French cash mere ... 1 6 2 yds 4x4 celebrated rainproof crape 0 9 6 1 good black alpaca or sateen skirt 0 14 C 2 pairs Ladies’ black hose ... 0 3 0 1 pair Ladies’ two-button choice black kid gloves 0 4 6 £ doz Ladies’ cambric handker chiefs, in fancy box ... ... 0 5 6



£2 19 6 Our No. 8, furnishing parcel for , £lO, contains — . Worth 20 yds nice pattern good tapestry carpet ... 3 6 0 1 nice pattern hearthrug, to match ... ... 0 16 6 1 pair handsome lace curtains ... 0 14 6 1 pair medium lace curtains ... 010 0 2 pair full size good white sheets 0 18 6 1 pair full size good witney blan kets ... ... ... ... 1 10 0 1 pair medium good witney blan kets 10 0 1 full size white honeycomb or toilet quilt 0 14 0 1 choice pattern wool tablecover 0 15 6 j 2 white Turkish bath towels ...0 3 0 1 6 white or unbleached honey comb towels 0 4 6 2 white antimacassars ... ... 0 2 0 2 white toilet covers ... ... 0 4 0 6 yds linen check glass cloth ... 0 6 0 1 superior white linsa tablecloth 011 6 £ll 15 0 Our No. 1, wedding parcel for £4, contains— Worth 1 dress (12 yds) pretty shade in cashmere 1 17 6 2 yds pretty shade in satin, to match 0 13 6 1 dress (12 yds) good costume cloth ... 110 2 yds rich colored velveteen, to



match . 0 7 0 6 yds good silesia ... ... 0 6 0 3 doz buttons, to match dresses 0 2 0 8 yds braid, to. match dresses ... 0 0 8 1 pair two-button first choice tinted or white kid gloves ... 0 5 0 6 Ladies’ linen collars ... ... 0 3 0 6 Ladies’ linen handkerchiefs ... 0 5 6 3 pairs Ladies’nice hose... ... 0 4 6 £5 6 8 Our No. 2, wedding parcel for £lO, contains — A very complete trousseau. Our No. 9, Ladies’ (half-price) parcel for L 5, contains— Usual price I Ladies’ handsome mantle ... 217 6 I'Ladiea’ beautiful real sable muff and collarette ... ... ... 4 10 0 1 Ladies’ quilted satin skirt ... 1 0 0 1 fashionable tweed ulster, in leading shades ••• 1 10 0 £9 17 6 A problem whereby Ladies may stay at home and order their drapery in perfect confidence. Just try one parcel and see what you will save. Remember—Cash returned at ones for any article returned in good condition. Samples post free on application to any part of New Zealand. In ordering any of these parcels, it is sufficient to quote number and name of parcel only. P. 0.0. made payable to E O. BROWN & CO., Fashion House, Christchurch* 1863