SHIPPING.

»ORT OF LYTTELTON. Arrived. Saturday, Rotorua, a.a., from^Manukau]and way porta. Wakatu, a.a., from Kaikoura and Wel lington. Wenona, barque, from Newcastle. Sailed. ' ■"••■■■■ ■ Saturday, Rotorua, as., for Wellington. Wave of Life, schooner, from Have lock* Iris, barque, for Newcastle. .... Yesterday. ■Wakatu. 8.8.,' for Kaikoura and Wel lington.

COMMERCIAL.

Ashburton Guardian Office,

i■ Monday afternoon, Alfred Harrison reports his weekly sale as follows Saturday, Sept. 29 : Horses, very few sold ; cows were enquired for, and most of those yarded sold. Pigs sold at high prices, every pen being cleared ; weaners, 7s fid to 9s od; porkers, 12s to 18s. Calves, 2s6d tp 10s. Produce—B.D. potatoes, 50s to 55s per ton ; kidneys (a fine sample), 70s per ton; carrots, 25s ; chick wheat, is fid to 2s fid per bushel; tea, 21s guaranteed. A large quantity of fruit, viz, 50 cases apples, sold from $s to 11s per case, A quantity of furniture sold very well There was a good attendance, Mr T, Bullock reports of the Horse Market for the week ending Saturday, September 29: — There was an average attendance of fanners and others, but only a small entry of horses, which consisted chiefly of hacks, a number of which I sold from L 4 to Lio 10s. There are several .inquiries for good useful horses, b\it at present there are very few coming for ward: "Prierious to the horse sale, I sold 17 trucksq£ firewood, posts, rails, etc., at the fol lowing prices, viz:—Firewood, from22s to 24s per cord, posts and rails, from L 3 5 s to L$ per truck.—landed properties : During the week I sold town sections No. 426 and 427, for LIOS each, two sections in Tinwald (extension) for 1,255; ok?, lot; 1, containing U acre, Mrs M'Leah’s' land, on which is erected a small cottage of two rooms, for LSO. These prices may be considered satisfactory, as it is very difficult td sell property at, present.

DAILY MEMORANDA.

AUCTION SALES Satokday, October 6.

Matson, Cox, and Co., at their rooms— -89 acre Farm. Messrs Matson, Cox and Co., at Tatter- Ball’s—^TqwnSectiona. Mr Thos. Bullock, at the Arcade, Burnett Streetr—Town Section.

Tuesday, October -9. . Cox and )Co., at the Tinwald Tarda-—Stock.

* MEETINGS. AMUSEMENTS, &c . ' This Evening. Borough Council, at Borough Council Chambers, at Wednesday, October s. Ashburton County Council —at Council Chambers; 11 a. no. EEibAT, October 5. Ashburton Agricultural and Pastoral Asso ciation—Meeting of Committee, at the : Anade Chambers, at 3 p.m. Saturday, October 6. Ashburton. Agricultural and Pastoral Association —Horse Parade. Wednesday, November 14. Ashburton Agricultural and Pastoral .! Association —Annual Show.

MAIL NOTICES.

Mails dose at the Ashburton Post Office ai'fallows:—

For Christchurch and North at 6 a.m. 10.30 a.m., and 5 p.m., daily. . ForChertaey Rakaia,&c., at 10.30 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily. Fop DhxTedih, Tinwald, Winslow, Hinds, Rangitata, Orari, Winchester, and Geraldine, at 10 a. m. daily. '■For' Temuta, at 6 s.m. and 10 a.m.,

For Timara and South, at 6 a.m., 10 .For Greenstreet and Ashburton Forks, on Wednesdays and Saturdays, at 3.30 ptm. .For Mount Somers, on Tuesdays and Saturdays, at 6 and 430 p.m. Foe Mayfield, on Tuesdays and Satur days, at 6 a.m. •. For Ashton, Waterton and Longbeach, at 430 p.m. daily. For Flemington, on Mondays, Wednes days, and Fridays, at 430 p. m. For Wakanui, Elgin, Seaview, Seafiold, and Kyle, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, at 6,30 a. m. For Newlands, on- Tuesdays and Fri days at 10.30 a.m.

BIRTH.

Elliott —On Sept. 30th, at her residence, Alford Forest road, Ashburton, the wife of Samuel Elliott, of a daughter.

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas Et Prevalebit. MONDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1883. Our Annexation Representatives.

The New Zealand Government was rather behindhand 11 in answering the request of Mr Service, the Premier of Victoria, to join the Conference to be held next month in Sydney, for the purpose of discussing the annexation question; but since it became known that two representatives were to be sent, speculation has been rife as to who would be chosen. It was reported that the choice of the Ministry had fallen upon the Hon Thomas Dick and tne Hon Richard Oliver, but this was regarded by most people as a mere canard, coined “ out of the wealth of the wonderful brain ” of that inscrut able class of journalists, the Parliamen tary correspondent. Messrs Dick and Oliver make very tolerable heads of departments, but tor the Government to send them as representatives of New Zealand to an intercolonial Conference would have been something very like a slight to the Victorian Premier, who has taken up the affair with such enthusiastic earnestness. In fact, it would have been tantamount to faying that the annexation question was re garded as of little moment to this colony, and that we had sent two Ministers to take part in the Confer ence who had no special knowledge of the matter, and whose presence would be absolutely useless. The name of Sir George Grey was also mentioned by Dame Rumor, and the only objec tion to him would have been that his ideas on B this, as on most other subjects, are theoretical rather than .practical. The Government, however, have put an end to all speculation hy the announce ment that the present' Premier, the Hon Major Atkinson, and the Hon Frederick Whitaker have been chosen, and we venture to say that this choice will be applauded by politicians of all shades of opinion. The late Premier has for many years been one of the most prominent figures in New Zealand politics, and his utterances in the Conference will have great weight. It is generally believed that Mr Whitaker does not attach much im portance to the schemes of annexation that have been promulgated; that, in fact, he looks upon the Confer ence as simply useless. Even if this surmise be correct, it will make little or no difference, while it may be an advantage inasmuch as it will tend to check the ultra-enthusiasm shown by some of the annexation advocates in Australia, notably by Mr Service himself. In a Parliament consisting mainly of amateur legislators and theorists with impossible fads, Mr Whitaker stands eminent among the very few statesmen worthy of the name in New Zealand, and there is cause for congratulation that he has. decided to take a position that he can fill so worthily. Major Atkinson’s practical mind and knowledge of finance, this latter being one of the most important elements of the question, will further strengthen the Conference, and we may be certain that the interests of the colony will be well looked after by the representatives chosen. That the result of the Conference will be a reversal of the decision given by the Home authorities, we feel pretty sure. The able memorandum drawn up by Sir Dillon Bell, and signed by the Agents-General of the colonies in terested puls the question so clearly from every point of view that the curt and cold reply of Earl Derby is diffi cult to understood, unless the summary sent by Reuter does not fairly repre sent what was said. The English press comment adversely upon that reply, and it is evident now the matter has been fully stated and the intentions of the colonies enunciated, that a change of opinion has taken place. The most ■forcible argument in our favor is cer tainly the fact of France intending to deport her criminals to islands in close proximity to our shores, and this is the point that the Secretary tor the Colonies seems to ignore almost (entirely. The Conference will no doubt lay especial stress on this particular, and with a strong public opinion in our favor at Home to back us up, we may rely that Lord Derby will be forced to accede to our wishes. It need not be said that the proceedings of the Conference will be watched with interest throughout Aus tralasia, as all the colonies recognise that the question is of vital importance to our future welfare.

William Best, who had his arm broken about a week ago at Springfield, is pro gressing favorably in the Hospital.

Onr Rakaia correspondent telegraphs: —A man named Thomas Corkhill while bathing was drowned on Sunday at the Kyle beach. His mate who tried to save him had a narrow escape. A man named Georgs Reid was re ceived into the Hospital on Saturday afternoon suffering from a broken leg, he having been kicked by a horse at Long beach.

The vital statistics of Ashburton for the past month are as follows ;—Births, 27 ; deaths, 10; and marriages, 4. Ihe following were registered during the quar ter ending September 30 : —Births, 88 ; deaths, 24 ; marriages, 10. The following entire Clydesdale horses were sold at Ohristchuroh on Saturday:— Pride of Scotland (imported), 180 guinea?; Young Vanquisher (imported), 430 guineas; Ivanhoe, 55 guineas; Clydesdale Hero, 27| guineas. The following are the Hospital returns for the month of September ;—No. of patients in thedlospital on ihe Ist Sept., 12 ; admitted during the month, 9 ; dis charged, 8 : remaining on the 30th, 11 ; deaths, 2 ; No. treated during the month, 21. A Wanganui settler was charged on Saturday with failing to take reasonable precautions to clean a flock of infected sheep after receiving notice from the In spector to do so. The defendant was fined 3d each on 120 sheep and costs. An information has ‘bean laid, and a warrant Issued, against Te Aropetera, the Maori Chief who interfered with Thorpe’s survey at Murimotu. Two constables left Wanganui for the latter country on Satur daymorning to endeavor to execute the warrant.

The usual big gooseberry competition, which has now become an annual institu tion here, will be held as usual in January. Many of last year’s competi tors said that if they had thought of it earlier in the season they would have easily beaten the winner by pruning the bushes ; and as this is the time to prune for large fruit, it would be well if intend ing competitors take warning in time About noop on Saturday an altercation took place in Dunedin, which has caused some excitement. Mr Ashcroft, a journalist, when coming out of the Post ffice, deemed a remark made by Mr Smith, solicitor, standing there with a friend, to be insulting. Mr Ashcroft asked Mr Smith to repeat the remark, and, on doing so, the former struck him with a stick he was carrying, but the friend succeeded in preventing further hostilities.

Our Rakaia correspondent writes : Notwithstanding the ve y uninviting wea ther of Friday night, a fair number turned up on Saturday to play in the match Married v. Single, bub not enough. Sides were • chosen by Messrs Lyttelton and Oxley, and in spite of the sloppy state of the ground and a heavy hail storm lasting some 15 minutes, a good and close game wai contested, Mr Lyttelton’s party winning by five runs. Some very good style was displayed by Messrs Eeid, Lyttelton, Dixon and Wilkinson. The body of a mail named Patrick Moran was found lying in a drain on the Longbeach estate on Saturday. The de ceased was subject to fits, and it is sur mised that he was seized with one while working on the edge of the drain. Moran went .to work at the usual time on Satur day morning, and as he did not return at the dinner hour his mate went in search of him, and discovered hia body about 5 o’clock in the afternoon, one mile and a quarter from the place where he had been at work. An inquest was held to-day at Scott’s Hotel, Tinwald, before Dr Trevor, coroner, and a jury, of which S. Corrigan was foreman. After evidence was taken a verdict of found drowned was returned.

The quarterly meeting of the Rakaia vestry was held at the Parsonage on Fri day. Present—Rev Chambers and Messrs C. N. Mackie, Chapman, Allington and Dixon. Mr O. S. Mackie wrote tender ing his resignation, as he was about to visit the old country. Mr R. Davies also tendered hia resignation, as he was leaving the district. Both 'were accepted with regret. It was decided not to fill the vacancies on the vestry until a larger meeting of members cniild be in atten dance. It was resolved to endeavor to have the amount of insurances on some of the churches in the district reduced. After disposing of some other routine business the meeting adjourned, with a vote of thanks to the Chairman. The Otogo Cricket Association met on Saturday evening’ It was mentioned that during the coming season two teams, one the Incognito from Sydney, and another from Tasmania, would be likely to visit Dunedin. The prospects of the coming season are excellent, as nearly all Clubs in and around Dunedin have intimated their intention of joining. In answer to letters forwarded ,to Melbourne and other large colonial towns particulars re garding the various grounds were received, and went to show that Dunedin has the least area of public grounds used for cricket, and that every other city was more liberally by their . Corporations. Mr Maitland was re-elected President, and Messrs Cohen and Rose Vice-Presi dents.

The Right Hon W. E. Baxter, in his address at the fifteenth annual Congress of delegates from co-operative societies in Great Britain and Ireland, held in Edin burgh, spoke of the deliverance by co operation of so many from “ the fancy profits of the credit system.” He said further that “ during the ten years, 1872 to 1881, the societies in this enlightened part of the world—(laughter) —had done a business amounting to 1>24,303,662, and made a profit of E 2,107,401, which with reference to the share capital employed, gave a dividend of 65 per cent per annum, or more than double that which bad been realised by their friends on the other side of the Tweed. Debt was the bane of the nation—(hear, hear)--the curse of the landowners, so held down by mortgages as to be so only in name, as well as of artisans who had books with all the petty tradesmen around. They could not, of course, get rid of credit altogether; it had its advantages in mercantile affairs ; but in the ordiuary transactions of domestic life it ought to have no place, and it would surely go out when co-operation came in.” (Applause). The wrestling match between George Robertson (the present champion in the Bcrder style) and Joseph Strong took place at the Dunedin Caledonian Society’s ground on Saturday afternoon. A stake of LIOO and the Society's championship belt depended upon the issue. Strong stripped a little over fourteen stone, whilst Robertson, the halt-caste, nearly turned the scale at seventeen stone. The first fall occupied a lot of time, as the men were very cautious about getting a hold. The first lime they locked after an obstinate tussle, Strong wriggled out of his opponent’s grip and claimed a fall, on the grounds that the latter had broken his hold. The judges, however, disallowed it, and on closing again Robert son got the best grip, and after a few moments of intense excitement, cross buttooked his antagonist. After a long interval for rest the men again met, and once more the superior strength of the half-caste proved too much for his more scientific opponent, and thus won the first two falls, and was declared the winner. A good deal of amusement was caused by “ Captain ” Jackson Barry, who, at the close of the match, stripped and tried a fall with the gigantic champion. The latter literally sat down after a fictitious struggle, and allowed the gallant ‘ ‘ Cap tain ” the honor of a victory.

Duncan Carmichael was acquitted o£ horse stealing. Maud Hamilton was con victed of robbery from the person. Sen tence was deferred.

The Fall Mall Gazette observes :—“ A book on banking in Australia is pub lished by Messrs Blades, East, and Blades. It summarises the statistics and traces the growih of banking in the Aus tralian colonies in a very useful manner. The author, who is evidently acquainted with the interior of the working of at least one of the Banks concerned, speaks very well of those which have survived and pro pered, as most of them have. The original idea of Australian Banks was to employ the capital which seamed over abundant in Eng and in Australia, where it was deficient. On the whole, it has been a practical success, but at first there were great risks; and even now the state of banking and indeed of other business in Australia varies widely every few years. The author avers that, as a rule, losses have faced and not hidden, and that the Banks are now reaping the fruits of a long course of judicious management. He even states that the losses they have incurred are quite small when compared with the losses sustained by" Banks in London, the provinces, or Scotland ; and finally he states that the history of the Eastern Banks cannot stand comparison with the Australian, as only a few of the Eastern Banks now survive out of sixteen or seventeen established. It will not bo forgotten that Australia and Australian Banks have respectively produced and dealt in an appreciated article—gold— and have been lucky in so doing. That they have avoided ruinous lock-ups in wool, land, etc., is due to caution and skill.”

A correspondent who recently visited a Maori pah in the Rangitikei district thus discourses on the manners and customs of the natives :—“|l enteredfthe room in re sponse to a deep bass growl, in English, of ‘ Coma in.’ The atmosphere was some thing oppressive, the room was filled with tobacco smoke; about seven or eight Maoris were lying around on the floor, some on blankets, others on the are boards, all smoking vigorously. Having settle ! my business, I was glad to escape into the open air. Here a different kind of suffocating smell greeted my riVstrils— a frowsy smell of steam from a boiler full of dirty clothes, which were being washed by an old Maori woman who squatted on the ground beside the boiler. Close along side was another wrinkled aboriginal of the feminine gender, apparently making bread, and a few feet from her was a third woman engaged in a maternal operation which I call ‘ prospecting.’ Squatted on the grass, like her neighbors, she had in her lap a girl’s head, back part uppermost, the rest of the girl’s body being stretched on the ground at full length. Industriously the old woman went about her work of ‘prospecting,’ and frequent were her ‘ finds.’ Her eyes glis tened as she came across the ‘ color,’ and tenderly but firmly she grasped the pre cious ‘ nuggets ’ (between her thumb and finger, which moved to and from jher mouth to the girl’s head. This was rather a sickening spectacle, but on inquiry I found that the Maoris go on this prin ciple— ‘ I kainga ahau ete kutu, narira I kaingo te kutu e ahau,’ which, to the ob servant reader it will be sufficient trans lation to 'say, ‘ He eat me, therefore I eat him.’ ” i

The Timaru Hera'd gives the following account of a very unseemly squabble, terminating in the arrest of the two offen ders, which took place on the Market Reserve yesterday afternoon :—Shortly after two o’cl ;ck a Mr Graham, who does, not believe in the Salvation Army, mounted a four-wheeled timber waggon on the Reserve, having also used it the

previous Sunday to deliver an address from. This wagon had previously been used as a “chariot” by the Salvation Army. Some little time after Mr Graham had taken up hia position the Army ar rived on the Reserve in full force, and Captain Smith requested Mr Graham to get down, which the latter refused to do.

Capt. Smith then mounted the “ chariot” and pushed Mr Graham oft, causing him to fall ’into a pool of muddy water. Tho latter again mounted the vehicle, only to be again turned off, after a scuffle. He was proceeding to make a third attempt, when Con stable Daily interfered, and arrested the two combatants on a charge of committing a breach of the peace and marched them off to the lock-up. They were subse quently bailed out, to appear at the Resi dent Magistrate’s Court at eleven o’clock

this morning. The spectacle was an amusing one to the larrikins, and an un pleasant one to those who respect the' Sabbath as a day of peace, a day of rest, and in the true sense of the word a holy day. As regards the merits of the case itself, we, of course, cannot express an opinion until it has come before the Court. We do feelj this though, that it is high time the old wagon was removed from its present resting place, and steps taken to allow people residing in the vicinity of the reserve to enjoy quietness on Sunday afternoon, and not have their ears saluted lime after time with the beating of drums, tbe blaring of trumpets and the screeching of tin whistles. A little more of this sort of thing and parents who regar i religion as a solemn reality will find, despite all their en deavors to counteract the tendency, thair little children looking upon it as one of the most ridiculous and amusing things in existence, far more comical indeed than a Christy Minstrel farce. The Marlborough Express has inspected the model of a very ingenious wind motor made by Mr John Smith, and Mr Jones, in his employ. It consists of a large wind wheel of twenty-six blades, connected with a governor and fan, which appears at first sight to be the usual regulating fan. To convey a somewhat approximate idea of the machine to our readers, wo will attempt to describe its action briefly. On the wind wheel revolving, each revolution lifts a connected crank, which in turn raises a rod working a pump, or any other machin ery to which such motive power can be applied. The wheal will work this piston rod up to a certain power ; beyond that, however, in order to provide against too great an increase of the number of strokes caused by the impingement of a heavy gale on the wheel, there is a governing fan behind, which, when the wind exceeds the maximum velocity re quired, carries the wheel side on to the breeze. The regulating fan at the back, by a clever yet simple contrivance, swings round parallel with the line of the wheel and the governor, and the wind then not having so large a surface to play upon, the awheel maintains its uniform speed. On the wind lessening, the governor falls back to its proper place, and the wheel automatically again faces the bre.ze. Messrs Smith and Jones have taken steps to have the machine patented, and an idea of the value of the invention may be gathered from the fact that already nine persons who have seen the model at work have ordered windmills of the same class to be erected on their properties. The first of these orders is a wheel which will be 14ft in diameter, and will stand 25ft high. It is estimated to lift at the rate of 6,000 gallons of water daily from an ar tesian well.

BEAUTY BOUGHT IN SHOPS.

It is a question whether beauty, like goodness, must not necessarily be genuine in order to be admirable. The climax of this theorj is reached when the old lady of 85, the aged patroness of many charlatans, is heldup to admiration be cause —at a little distance—she would pass for 30. Proudly her “ makers up ” point out how this effect is produced ; her hair is false, her skin is enamelled— besides being “tightened” to prevent wrinkles —her eyelashes are stained, her figure is “made.” She is false all over. .Now, is this admirable? Would net a little honest oldago and ugliness be more agreeable? Be this as it may, it is not very importatp. When a lady has reached the mature age of 85 her appearance troubles no one very much, except her grandchildren. But when it comes to the woman whom you love, or might love if you were quite certain that she was genu ine, the case is different. It is bad to know that your dear Angela must sleep in corsets, or she never, never could attain to the fashionable waist; it is sad to think of the inevitable results on her poor little feet of those Louis Quinze hdels, which make her pretty boots look so bewitching. Figure to yourself what it must feel like to take your beauty-sleep with a pajr of pincers on your nose. That pret|| did fashioned expression has now talmra new and dreadful mean ing. Any one who desires to possess the “ Mrs Langtry nose ” has but to sleep in torment for a week or two and the great result is obtained. If the figure of the would-be beauty is not as lovely as she wishes, “ the ooatomical corset-maker ” will (Supply her with- a nocturnal squeez ing apparatus which will “ fine her down” by degrees. It her stature is too low' for beauty, she may remedy this by wearing what is mildly called an “ appliance in the days of the Inquisition it would pro bably have been classed as an instrument of torture. This appliance squeezes and stretches all the lower part of the body, and its use is said not to interfere with the comfort of one’s beauty-sleep. Once ena melled, always enamelled. The professed beauty can only afford to be yellow, “grey, and uncurled ” in secret. She finds herself precipitated on the downward path. It is just as well,. having once begun to attend to the matter, to perfect her beauty. Why not make use of the mar vels of modern inventiveness —re-model her ears, her nose and her finger-tips ? It is difficult to say why she should not carry her theory out to the full.—London World.

PROFESSOR TYNDALL AND CAPT. WEBB’S DEATH.

In a letter published in the Standard, Professor Tyndall says:—“The rapids proper of Niagara occur above the-fall, where,-for a mile or so, the water comes galloping and tumbling down before it takes its final leap over the edge of the. cataract. Below the cataract the river flows through a deep gorge, which has been excavated by the river. At some distance down there is a ferry between the American and Canadian sides. Lower still there is a suspension bridge for foot passengers, while about two miles below the fall the river is spanned by the rail way suspension bridge. Between the ferry and this bridge the river Niagara flows unruffled, but below the suspension bridge the gorge narrows, and the rapidity and turbulence of the water increase. For a certain distance the width cannot be more than 300 ft, and here occurs what may be called ‘ the whirlpool rapids,' which are not to be confounded with the rapids above the fall. It was through the whirlpool rapids that poor Captain Webb had to steer his way. It is im possible to describe the wild fury of the waters at this place. ‘I he river boils and leaps in the moat frantic manner, the most extraordinary effect being produced when two waves so coalesce that the united forces of both toss the crest of the compounded billow, shivered into liquid spherules, high in air. In the middle of the river no man could live, and we are informed that Captain Webb avoided the middle. But the tossing everywhere is terrific. Lower down the river suddenly bends nearly at a right formed the whirlpool from which the lower rapids derive their name. - The river strikes the bank opposed to it with tremendous force, and is thereby thrown into gyratory motion. Here, it is said, Captain Webb lost his life. I do not think a powerful swimmer, with his wits about him need have come to grief in the whirlpool itself. But how any man could hare kept his senses intact amid the bat tering and tossing of the whirlpool rapids it is difficult to imagine, it was probably the exhaustion of his power among the rapids that rendered the mighty swimmer unable to escape from the whirlpool."

INCREASE OF DIVORCE.

San Francisco Courts grant an average of one divorce a day. Ihis is a bad show ing, but it is believed that it does not exhibit the full extent of the evil, owing to the practice of many attorneys and divorce! bureaux in instituting proceed ings in outside counties in order to avoid publicity, or for other reasons best known to themselves. Furthermore the number of divorces granted is steadily increasing, and in a greater rati > than the increase of population. A growing laxity in popular ideas concerning the saeredness of the marriage tie is an acknowledged and dan gerous feature of the times. The explana tion that a new country and unsettled state of society are accountable for the prevalence of divorce in the West is in sufficient, because it has been proved over and over again that among the worst sin ners in this respect are the New England States, where society is neither new nor unsettled. The origin of the trouble is a growing inclination to treat marriage as merely a civil contract, dissoluble at the option of the parties. No State has gone the length of formally enacting that a marriage may be dissolved at the pleasure of the parties honored by if, but in an indirect (way that*has be come the effect of the existing laws. Not to mentio i divorces fcr incompatibility of disposition, which are followed by some States, the law permitting absolute divorce for desertion and numerous other causes, in the absence of proper precautions against collusion, can be, and are, daily taken advantage of. to procure separation, with liberty to marry again, by parties whose only excuse is that they have tired of one another. This fact is patent, and a demand would go up for a speedy cor rection of the abuse were it not that society is coming to look with complacency upon the theory of marriage which re gards it as a relation terminable at pleasure. It is this idea of marriage as a contract which forms the kernel of mis chief. A contract is dissolved by the con sent of the parties to it, and why should marriage constitute on exception to the rule? °That is the inquiry constantly heard, either in so many words or im plied in the general tone of discussion. This conception of contract as applied to marriage is fundamentally wrong and does no end of mischief, and therefore we take pleasure in quoting what a good legal authority says on the subject, showing that marriage is something more than a civil contract: “Marriage is a civil status, existing in one man and one woman legally united for life for those civil and social purposes which are based in the distinction of sex. its source is the law of nature, whence it-has flowed into the municipal law of every civilised country and into the general law of nations. And since it can only exist in pairs, and since bo persons are compelled to, but all who

are capable are permitted to assume it, marriage maybe said to proceed from a. civil contract between one man and one t woman of the needful physical and civil capacity. While the contract remains executory that is, an agreement jto marry—it differs in no essential: particu lars from other civil contracts. But when the contract becomes executed in what the law regards as a valid marriage, its. nature as a contract is merged in thehighor nature of the status. And though the new rela tion may retain some similitudes to re mind us of its origin, the contract does in truth no longer exist, but the parties are governed by the law of husband-aod wife.”

THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND EDUCATION. “

When under examination before the Victorian Education Commission, Arch deacon Slattery* whose uncompromising! attitude towards the State systam of'edu cation in Victoria is well-known, v: was asked if the attendance of Roman Catho lic children at State schools affected the parents; in their relation to warfU'ithe Church? ir* . He replied : If the attendance of toe chi dren was entirely voluntary, and not a matter of necessity, as it might bq m certain eases, then the parents would :bb considered as being rebellions, and guilty of disobedience and sin. If there was not a Catholic school within a reasooatolS distance, the parents, being compelled by i law to send their children to some school, would iu that case be under a moral neces sity. If, however, a Catholicparenteent his children to a State school without a reasonable excuse, I nx a priest,- would consider it my duty to refuse him the sacrament —to deny him absolution, *3 WO term it. Scholars coma of age and voluntarily attending State schools would be debarred from the aaciameni of matri mony. It would be possible fra a priest to marry them under certain circumstances but they would be married in a.state of sip, having been denied absolution. Practically, a good Catholic who was dis obedient in the aspect we speakofwobld be debarred from the sacrament bf matejk mony. If a Catholic was notoriously pAtf Bistent in opposition to the. Churohhy sending his children to' the State sehool and died, I think it would be the duty the Catholic priests to refuse him Chris tian burial. Every word I say is bf value; Vou will have noticed that I said “ notori ously persis ent.” Theological opinions require to be stated accurately. , . The Chairman : We have evidence that there are some Catholics acting as teachers in State schools. What position MO th« placed in by so acting as regards the Church? ; ;I; ;ifi

Archdeacon Slattery : None- at ’ aU.- They are not reprobated in any way. It is the system of teaching as ;aifeotiof£ the children that is condemned. The teachers are only discharging an official duty, for which they are duly paid. Catholic teachers may Officiate in State schools withoutany injurious effect to themselves. Tf, however j they encouraged Catholic children ttTjjo; there they wonld be guilty of abrimeoriiiii. If they acted only negatively with regard to Catholic children they found in’ the schools they would be committing no wrong. I was here in 1866 when a previous. Royal Commission was issued. So' far as Iro* member, there was no representative of the Catholic Church on that Commission. So far as my memory serves me, I Chink that none of the clergy gave evidence be fore that Royal Commission, bat I believe some of the laity did. I?At a later period in the examination the Archdeacon said : In order that yon may understand the position of the priests, parents and children, it may be woll_ to inform you that the whole of the action and teaching of the Catholic Chnroh on this subject is based upon the 48th pro position of the syllabus issued by Pins nr. in 1864. The proposition, reads thus: —Catholics may approve of a system of educating youth unconnected with, the Catholic faith and the power of the Church, and which regards the knowledge of merely natural things, and only, 6r*at least primarily, the ends of earthly social life.” That proposition, as so worded, is reprobated, proscribed and condemned by the Holy Father, and the Holy Father * exhorts and commands'all the ‘ faithful priests and laity to reprobate, proscribe and condemn the same. It is-upon that condemnation of the Holy See 'that all oar teaching is based. So you'see wo have no discretion in the matter at aIL It is a matter of absolute duty .that we should teach what we do on the'subject.

NEW SHIPPING ARRANGEMENTS.

[by teibqbaph.

Dunedin, To-day.

The Union Company contemplate a weekly s'ervice to Sydney via Auckland, for which purpose the Arawata Is being overhauled. The Takapuna is expected to commence running in the ; middle of November. She is to run between Lyttelton and the Mannkan via Welling ton and Taranaki, only connectingat Ly ttelton with the express train, making three trips each fortnight. She leaves Lyttelton on Sundays, Thursdays and Mondays, and the Manakau on the inter vening Mondays, Saturdays and Thurs days, occupying 40 hours on the passage. Special conditions attach to travelling by her. No increase is to bomadeon the present ordinary single fares, but return tickets will not be issued, nor will'Bhe b* available for passengers holding through tickets or forwarding passes. The Company intend to introduce a Haslam refrigerating machine on one ef .their steamers, so that dairy produce cajtfc be carried between New Zealand and the Australian colonies. They intend _to being out boat capable of storing from 3,000 to 4,000 carcases of sheep in a frozen state, and so enable coastal towns to send stock to any port where a vessel is loading frozen meat fer the Lon don market.

CRIMINAL SESSIONS.

Wellington.

[by telegraph.] Wellington, To-day. 1 The criminal sessions of the Supreme Court opened before Judge Richmond this morning. Nine cases are on forbear ing, but none of them of a serious charac ter. The charge to the Grand Jury oc cupied only three or four minutes, no re marks of any importance being made. Christchurch. Christchurch, To-day. The criminal sessions of the Supreme Court opened this morning, hir Justice Johnston, in his charge, congratulated the Grand Jury on the lightness of the : calendar, which he said was one of the lightest he had known since he had pro-, sided at the Court. There were only six ■ persons charged, though some of the of fences were of a serious nature. He Was ■ sorry to see the offence of forgery again on the sheet, there being no less than fire charges of this nature against one in dividual. ■ .-■«»* Dunedin. Dunedin, To-day. > 4 Tiie criminal sessions opened Judge Williams, in his charge,' said the Grand Jury had only a few oases to con-. sider, and none of them presented any special difficulties. With respect, to .the : case against the boys Roy, charged with firing guns at a passing train and killing a man on the engine, it did not which boy had fired the fatal shot, but ’ the circumstance that it was fired by one of them would justify a true bill being re turned against betb.

THE ASHBUBTON GUARDIAN, MONDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1883.



THE GUARDIAN is published every evening, giving every day’s news, Up to the hoar of going to press. This is better that* baying a sixpenny weekly.



Special Bargains. gELLUTG OFF, MUST BE SOLD. Drawing-room Suites in splendid Yel vet, walnut side-board with marble „ top Small Tables in all patterns of walnut, etc, Beal Leather Dining-room Suites, in mahogany, and side-boards to match BveryfelawofFurniture. Uteriailsof every kind for House Famishing. Most be sold, ss I want to CLEAR OFF ; -all my large, and varied Stock. Joim Meech, FURNITURE WAREHOUSE, Burnett street. 9 484



F ' YOU WANT GOOD AND STRONG FURNITURE, GO TO DAVIS’S dHBAP FURNITURE AND BED DING MANUFACTORY, VAST 'S TBEET # S OUT H, . ASHBURTON. |SVItRY article Sold at Christchurch Hi Fjuobs and guaranteed bes. of •eaterialand workmanship.



Wanted WANTED KNOWN—That Robert Elston, Burnett street, Ashbur ton, having procured the newest appara tus, is prepared to Sweep Chimneys at very low rales. Any orders left at the Town Hall will receive prompt attention. Terms cash. 760 c 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. Jias 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 WANTED KNOWN—That Mr Dan 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 Horizofital Bar, Trapeze, Single-sticks, Dumb-bells, Indian Clubs, etc. Dan Lea is always at his post to give lessons in Boxing, lesson £1 per month, or according to arrangement. 1344 Special Advertisements. •pOR SALE AT THIS OFFICE. The New Bankruptcy Bill, 1883. The Chattel Securities Act Amendment. Etc Etc., Etc. Relief from cough in five MINUTES. Bonnington’s Pec toral Oxymel of Carrageen or Irish 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 Bonninqton, Christchurch.



A NDEBWES BROS. Are now selling everything at a GREAT SACRIFICE, For Cash. 77



FOR ONE MONTH ONLY, Commencing Saturday, August 18th. STATIONER!, FANCY GOODS, TOYS, Em A GREAT REDUCTION PRICES OF ALL OUR GOODS. An Inspection Solicited. Andrewes Bros., BOOKSELLERS, STATIONERS, &0., East street South Ashburton, nls in the



Dimant and Coe, A EE Now Showing their 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. Ail goods marked in plSin figures, and offered at prices to compete with any house in Christchurch or Dunedin. VICTORIA HOUSE, Lower end East street, DIMANT AND COE, Ready Money Drapers, Clothiers, etc. 9528



THE HEW ZEALAND GRAIN AGENCY AND MEROAN TILE COMPANY, LIMITED, JJ A V E FOR SALE A VERY COMPLETE Threshing Plant, By Eansome —almost equal to new, and for which terms are specially easy. Also, SEED OATS AND BARLEY RYE GRASS - NEW CLOVER SEEDS WOOLPACKS, Em, Era All at lowest current rates. Wm. HORNE, 12 au Agent.



THE NEW ZEALAND Clothing Factory HAY £ spared no effort to place before the public a MOST COMPLETE ASSORTMENT OF NEW WINTER MANUFACTURES Comprising all the latest styles in MEN’S & BOV’S CLOTHING Manufactured from the best qualities and newest Designs in COLONIAL, SCOTCH, BRITISH, AND CONTINENTAL TWEEDS. The largo 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. mL. A SINGLE GARMENT AT WHOLESALE FKJCE. 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,



Special Advertisement?. INTRODUCTION OF THE PARCEL SYSTEM. Fashion House, Cashel street, Christchurch. Great success has been achieved 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 duced by E. 0. Brown & Co., FASHION HOUSE, Christchurch. The splendid stock of General Drapery in all departments has been purchased by E. 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 ? £ s. d.



1 dress piece (12 yds) any shade, French costume cloth ... 0 18 l£ good velveteen to match dross 0 5 3 yds silesia, for linings ... 0 I 2 doz new oxydised buttons, to match ... ... ... ... 0 1 1 pair warm lined fur-top spring cuff gloves ... ... ... 0 2



£1 9 10 Our ; No. 2,30 a household parcel, contains — Worth 1 pair good medium size blan kets ... ... 10 0 1 good honeycomb quilt... ... 012 6 8 yds good wincey 0 5 0 1 pair good strong corsets, any size ... ... ... ... 0 6 0



£2 2 6 Our No. 3, dresa 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 dpz 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 ydssilesia lining for same ... 0 2 0 2 doz choice buttons, to match dress ... • 0 1 6 1 good warm Ladies’ tweed ulster 0 17 .6 1 black quilted alpaca skirt ... 010 0 1 white or colored wool wrap ... 0 6 6 1 pair lisle lined fur-top spring cuff gloves ... ... ... 02 0 £2 19 6 Our No. 5, household parcel for £2 10s, contains— Worth 1 pair largo size good witney blankets 1 10 6 1 nice large size good honeycomb quilt ... ... ... ... 014 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 ... ... ... 013 0 24 yds good strong brown or grey wincey ... 0 14 0 6 yds tartan plaid ... ... 0 6 6 6 yds good brown holland ... 0 4 6 12 yds hemp carpet, dark stripe 0 7 0 6 pair Girls’ or Women’s warm winter hose ... ... ... 076 4 largo unbleached Turkish towels ... 0 4 9



£3 15 3 Our No. j 7, mourning parcel for £2 10a, 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 6 2 pairs Ladies’ black hose ... 0 3 0 1 pair Ladies’ two-button choice black kid gloves 0 4 6 it doz Ladies’ cambric handker chiefs, in fancy box 0 6 6 £2 19 6 Our No. 8, furnishing parcel for £lO, contains— Worth 20 yds nice pattern good tapestry carpet ... ... ... ... 3 5 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 ... ... ... ... 1 0 0 1 full size white honeycomb or toilet quilt 0 14 0 1 choice pattern wool tabieoover 0 15 6 2 white Turkish bath towels ... 0 3 0 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 linen tablecloth 0 11 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 1 I 0 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 6 6 3 pairs Ladies’nice hose... ... 0 4 G £5 5 8 Our No, 2, wedding parcel for £lO, contains— Avery complete trousseau. Our No. 9, Ladies’ (half-price) parcel for L 5, contains— Osual price 1 Ladies’ handsome mantle ... 217 6 1 Ladies’ 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 80. BROWN & CO., Fashion House, Christchurch, 1808



Special Advertisements. ira W Milner & Thompson Ashburton, H. M. JONES, Agent. : PIPE ORGANS.—Especially suitable for Churches. Far superior to any Reed Organ near the price for richness and purity of tone, volume of sound, and durability of onstruction. Price —Ll2O. REED ORGANS.—By Smith and Co., Mason and Hamlin, Weed and Co., Easby and Co., New England Company and Clough and Warner—from LI 212 s. PIANOS. Brinsmead and Sons, BroadAiood, Collard and Collard, Erard, Pleyel and others. Dresden Model, and German and French raanufacturs, with teat improvements. jßffl- DEFERRED PAYMENTS Wholesale and Retail.



“Rough on Rats,”—Clears out rats, mice, roaches, flies, ants, bed-bugs, beetles, insects, skunks, jack-rabbits, gophers. 7j£d. Drug gists. Moses, Moss and Co., Sydney, General Agents. f



Weakness and sickness changed to health and strength with Hop Bitters always. See.— [Advt.] Nothing purifies and enriches the blood and destroys all poisons in the system like Hop Bitters. Head.—[Advt.] Mother Swan’.-. Worm Syrup —lnfallible, tasteless, harmless, cathartic ; tor feverishness, restlessness, worms, constipation,, is at drug gists. Moses, Moss and Co,, Sydney, General Agents. 2