SHIPPING..

PORT OP LYTTELTON. Arrived. Saturday. Eln!;arooma, a s., froin Port Chalmers. Endeavor, brigantine, from Tairua. Dragon, barque, from Capetown. Rotorua, a s., from Manukau and way ports, Rotomahana, s.s., from Melbourne via . Sou h. Sailed. Saturday. _ Otaki, ship, for London Ringarooma, a s., for Wellington. Rotorua, a.s., for Dunedin. Rotomahana, s.s., for Sydney via Auck land and East Coast. Glauous, 8.5., for the Bluff. SHIPPING TELEGRAMS. Du.nedin Yesterday. Arrived Wanaka, from Timaru ; Beautiful Star, from Oamaru ; Welcome, from Kaipara; Kokanui, from Invercai- gill;. Rotorua and Charles R. Lewis, from Lyttelton.

COMMERCIAL.

Ashburton Guardian Office, Friday afternoon. Mr T. Bullock reports on the horse market for the week ending Saturday, November 29; 28 horses were y arded for the day’.- sale, a large proportion of which were of rather an inferior description, consequently biddings were not nearly so spirited as at the previous Saturday s sale. Fcr anything like young useful draughts there were buyers, but they declined to pur chase aged and inferior horses even at low figures, and a 1 r£.er cumbsr than usual were turned out unsold. Out of the total entry of 28 only 9 were sold at the following prices Medium draughts, Lio ros to L 24 ; aged and inferior, L 3 up to L?; hacks, from 12 15s; mec ium, up to L 8 ; light harness horses, L 7 to LB. 2 second-hand McCormic reapers and binders brought Ll2 ios and Ll 3 respec tively; spring can, Ll 6.

DAILY MEMORANDA.

AUCTION SALES. Tuesday, December 2. Messrs Matson, Cox and 0)., at the Tinwald Saleyarda—Stock MEETINGS, AMUSEMENTS, Exc. Monday, December 1 Masonic Hall—lnstallation of Officers cf Thistle Lodge, at 5 o’clock Templar Ball, Tinwald—i rao Lecture, at 8 o’clock Wednesday, December 3 St Andrew’s Church, Tinwald—Anniver sary Festival Thursday, December 4 Loyal Orange Lodge—Monthly Meeting, in the new Orange Hall, at 7.30,p.m. Saturday, December 6. /Takanui Road Board, at Koad Board office, Moore street, at 10.30 a.m. Monday, December 8 Borough Council, at Borough Council Chambers, at 7. Tobsday, December 16 •St Stephen’s Church—Garden Party in the Parsonage grounds Fbiday, December 26. Loyal Orange Lodge—Concert and Ball in the Town Hall Frihay, January 6 isnburton County Council —At Council Chambers, 11 a. m.

MAIL NOTICES.

Mails dose at the Ashburton Poat O Lee follows; — For Christchurch and North at 6 a. m. 10.30 a.m., and 5 p.m., daily. For Chertsey Bakaia, &0., at 10.30 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily. For Dunedin, Tinwald, Winslow, Hinds, Coldstream, Rallgitata, Orari, Winchester, and. Geraldine, at 10 a. m. daily. If or Temuka, at 6 a. m. and 10 a.m., For Tinman and South, at 6 a.m., 10 «.m., and 4.30 p.m., daily. For Greenstreet and Ashburton Forks, Wednesdays and Saturdays, at 10.46 a.m. For Wakanui, Elgin, Sea view, Seafield, >«nd Kyle, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, at 6.30 a.m. For itount Somers, on Tuesdays and . aturdays, at 6 a.m. and 4.30 p.m. For Mayfield, on Tuesdays and Satur days, at 6 a.m. For Ash tea, Waterton and Longbeach, at 4.30 p.m. daily. For Flemington, on Mondays, Wednes days, and Fridays, at 4.30 p. m. For Newlands, on Tuesdays and Fri days at 10.30 a.m.

MARRIAGE.

Bland—Watson— On December la*, at St. Stephen’s Church, by the Rev E. A. Scott, William Bland, of Orton Green, farmer, to Emily, daughter of George Watson, farmer, West-Field Wold-Newton, Yorkshire, England.

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prevalebit. MONDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1884. "What has Canterbury Gained?

When Sir Julius Vogel returned to the colony those who believed in him welcomed his advent as presaging the dawn of a new era of prosperity for New Zealand. In his earlier speeches, prior to the general election, the pre sent Colonial Treasurer was constantly reminding us that the evils we were suffering from were more apparent than real. He preached the gospel of con fidence in the future, and he certainly seems to have caused people to look at patters from a less lugubrious point of view than they had been accustomed to do for some time past. We admit that the constant croaker is not a pleasant person to associate with, even if he has reason on his side, and if Sir Julius could remove him from our midst he would be entitled to our thanks. That he has not entirely succeeded in ac complishing this is undeniably true; but the voice of the pessimist is not so plainly heard in the land as it was some months ago. There are still men who profess to believe that New Zealand is rapidly going to the dogs, and that nothing short of a miracle can save her from ultimate and utter ruin, but these have dwindled down to a small minority. On the other hand it is by no means certain that the sudden re-action which has taken place has not carried us too far in the oppo site direction. Rose-colored spectacles are very pleasant to look through, but they are apt to be deceptive, and the hope we are enjoying so complacently may prove to be telling an only too flattering tale. The deus ex machina. theory, which has caused so many people to worship Sir Julius Vogel as a sort of fetish, has unquestionably its dangerous side, and the optimism that is so prevalent in this colony just now is liable to make men put too much confidence in one statesman, and thus lose that self-reliance which is the chief factor of progress. The Trea surer may, and indeed has, done much to encourage a healthier feel ing in public affairs, but whether individually we are better off than we were before his arrival is an open ques tion, So far, it cannot be said that Canterbury has benefited to any extent from the legislation of last ses sion. There is just the chance that the West Coast Railway may be coreir raenced ere long, although we have strong doubts as to whether a private company will be found ready to under take the work under the conditions of the Act. These doubts are strengthened by the fact that both the Minister for Public Works and Mr Holmes re cently stated that if private enterprise could not be induced to construct the line it must be done by the Govern ment. We do not believe for an in stant that a majority in the House would agree to the latter alternative, and that the suggestion should have been made proves that one result of

the confidence in the future instilled

into his supporters by the Colonia Treasurer is to engender a spirit ol recklessness. The line would no doubl

benefit this part of the colony, but it is not so urgentlv required as to warrant the floating of a special loan for its con struction, nor do we fancy any Govern ment will be found willing to submit such a proposal to Parliament. There is, how ever, another matter more closely affect ing this Province, concerning which we

had a right to expect some action would be taken before this, but we have been disappointed. We refer to the burden laid upon the Canterbury far mers by the„ATKiNSON Government in the shape of an increased grain tariff. At the election this was made a crucial question, and it is not 100 much to say that not a single one of our present members would have gained his seat had he not been “ sound ” on this point. Sir Julius Vogel, .in his Ash burton speech, expressed himself very strongly in regard to the injustice meted out to Canterbury, and the Hon E. Richardson went

to Parliament pledged to sup port a reduction m the tariff. In spite of this we find that absolutely no thing has been done, although the har vest is close at hand. The Minister for Public Works hqs not only become lukewarm on the question, but from the answer he gave to the deputation

from the Chamber of Commerce wind waited on him the other day, he ha evidently arrived at the conclusion tha no immediate change can be made. I may be that the colony is all the bette for the upspringing of an optimbtii feeling of confidence, but when \v< come to consider what are the tangible results of the session to Canterbury, we confess that we should have preferred the far more momentous question oi

the grain tariff being satisfactorily settled to the rather problematical benefit conferred by the passing of the West Coast Railway Act.

Take Hop Billers three limes a day, and you will have no doctors’ bills to pay, J36Q«—» Ayvj.]

The steamer Coptic, Captain K'dley. from London, arrived at Port Chalmers, at 11 a. m , on Saturday, bringing 3,000 tons of cargo and 293 passengers, all in good health. Only one death occurred, that of an infant, aged six months. Among 'the passengers are seventy-three single women nominated immigrants. Her draught of water on crossing the bar was 21ft Sin forward and 21ft Sin aft.

Her passage has occupied forty-four days eight hours. The passengers have pre sented ietitimonials to Captain Kidley and the officers.

Th.u legality of certain delegates to vote at the Auckland Cricket Association meet ing on Thursday will be raised at a special meeting to be held to-day to consider the m itter. '!>ere is still a probability that an Auckland cricket team will be sent south during the holidays. A charge of indecent assault preferred against Abraham Ridings, late Congrega tion clergyman, M&ungaturoto, came up for hearing at Auckland on Saturday. Superintendent Thompson said he had received a tslegram from that district, stating that live distinct charges of a similar nature, with ample evidence, had been laid against the prisoner, who was remanded till Tuesday, The bail was en-

larged. Captain Sutter, member for Gladstone addressed bis constituents at Pleaaan Point on Saturday evening, and received a unanimous vote of thanks. He gave his reasons for supporting the Government District Railways and other Bills. The barquentine Jasper, Captain Stan nard which arrived at Port Chalmers yesterday, thirty-eight days from Mauri tius, with a cargo of sugar and aloe fibre, reports that on November 4th she en countered a fearful hurricane from the south-west, which blew several sails to pieces and did other damage. A sea broke on board hurling Captain Stannard across the decks against the starboard bulwarks, and seriously bruising his left leg, from the effect of which he has not yet recovered. At 9am. on the sth an other sea broke on board and washed Mr Houghton, the mate, overboard. Tho ship was brought to the wind and every effort made to save him, but without avail. So violent was the storm that fears were entertained that the vessel would founder. Oil bags were put out to the windward and proved of great assistance, and the ship ran under the lee of St. Paul’s Island for shelter. At the second annual meeting of the South Canterbury Fre?zing and Refriger ating Company on Saturday the report of the Directors was unanimously adopted containing a recommendation that the buildings and plant f r freezing be erected without further delay. It ia probable that an order for machinery will be cabled Home. The Company have a site of sixty-one acres near town fronting on the railway and on the sea. They have put down a well sixty-three feet deep yielding a tested supply of 120,000 gallons per day. Three thousand two hundred and ninety two shares of 15 each have been taken up.

The Gatlin’s River Railway is to be completed on the South Molyneux road without delay, and the Public Works De partment have received instructions to accept the lowest of the tenders sent in some time ago for the work. A five-roomed house belonging to Staff- Sergeant Harrison, of the Dunedin Volun teer Force, was totally destroyed by fire at an early hour on Saturday morning. The house was insured in the Standard Office for L2OO. The annual treat in connection with the Ashton Sunday School was he'd on Fri day last in a- paddock near the beach. The weather was all fhat could be desired, and at an early hour the children with their teachers parents and friends, numbering about 120, were in attendance At mid day all were regaled with tea and cakes in abundance, which : had been supplied by Mesdames Bell, Shearer, Taylor, McCon nell and Oroy. The children afterwards took part in racing and jumping contests, some of which created much amusement, good prizes being given in etch event. Cricket and other amusements formed also a very prominent pa?t of the pro gramme. The sports concluded, the Rev Mr Blake in a few well-chosen remarks presented the children with their prizes, consisting of books according to their metit. Each child received a volume, and also a number of special prizes were awarded by the teachers. Three cheers were then given for Mr Blake, Mr Brambly (thesuperintendent), the teachers and Mr Ashton, the last mentioned having kindly placed his field at the disposal of tfie teachers. Later on the company sat down to an excellent tea, after which cheers were given for the ladies who had provided the good things, and a similar compliment having been paid to the visi tors the party broke up, having enjoyed a very-pleasant day’s outing. Wo ha»e been requested by the Secre tary, Mr G. J. Shaw, to remind horse o wners that the nominations for the Ash burton Summer Races close this evening, at the Commercial Hotel at 9 o’clock.

Mr P. E. Hubbard, the travelling agent of the Colonial Mutual Life As surance Society, is at present in Ashbur ton. This Society has been established on the lines of certain American com panies and works on what is known as the tontine system.

The following are the Hospital returns for the month of November :—ln Hospital on the Ist of the month, G ; admitted during the rponth, 10 ; discharged, G ; remaining in the Hospital, Ist December, 10,

The steward of the Hospital wishes to acknowledge a quantity of flowers received from the mistress and pupils of the Girls’ High School. The following are the vital statistics for Ashburton for the month of November: Births, 30 ; marriages, 4 ; deaths, 6.

The members of the Midland Cricket Club have decided to erect a memorial cross over the grave of their late captain, George Watson, and also to start a sub scription for the widow and family, who are in somewhat straitened circumstances. Coughs, Colds, Bronchitis, etc., are quickly cured by using Baxter’s ‘‘Lung Preserver.’’ This old-established medicine is pleasant to the palate, and highly extolled by members of the medical and clerical profession. Read ad vertisement. August Flower.—The most miserable beings in the world are those suffering from dyspepsia and liver complaint. More than 75 per cent of the people are afflicted with these two diseases and their effects 5 such as sour Stomach, sick headache, habitual costiveness, palpitation of the heart, heartburn, waterbrash, gnawing and burning pains at the pit of the stomach, yellow skin, coated tongue and dis agreeable taste in the mouth, coming qp of food after eating, low spirits, etc. Go to your druggist and get a bqttle of august flower. This valuable medicine has cured thousands and thousands of sufferers, and is known in all civilised countries. Two doses will relieve you. It costs only 3s 6d a bottle. Sample bottles, 6d.—[Advt. Christmas presents free of charge.—Last year wc are informed that over 9,000 presents were given away during December and the early part of January by 11. E, MAy & Co,, The Hall, Christchurch. flps year they are doing the sqiqe, and this is how they do it ; Every customer is presented with a ticket equal to 10 per cent, on the amount spent by them, 30 that if you spend Lio you can choose anything up to Li, if L 5 is spent a los present will be given, if L 3 a 6, present, if u.l a 2s present, but if you only spend One ' Shilling you will get something. And every ime you come duri g this month of December ind up to January the 6th you will get a pre qtit, Jf you do not wish tq spend a lot of qoncy in one day : s shopping you can get your ickets for what you have spent, and so un ach time you come, and then get one really landsonjc tiling equal iq value to all the tickets ou hoi 1 I Advt. 1

We hear on good authority that there is a probability of a root and grain show being held here in the month of May under the auspices of the A. ant P. Asso ciation.

We are informed that Dr A. H. Bur ton, now on a tour through the Australa sian Colonies, intends to atop at Ashbur ton on his way fc'outh for the purpose of giving a gospel reading or lecture on Wednesday evening.

Yesterday afternoon the Itev James Hill, of Lyttelton, delivered a Very im pressive sermon at the Masonic Hall to a large congregation. The rev gentleman chose for his text, 1 Corinthians, xiii, 4 —“Charity suffereth long and is kind.” He alluded to the pure form of religious duty which Masonry inculcated, and spoke of the many deeds of charity which the Home Lodges were continually doing to alleviate the distress of the widows and the orphans and distressed brethren. In a forcible way the speaker explained the ob jects of a secret society banded to do good to their fellow men, and in no way trying to interfere with other societies, whosesecrets were mainly to overthrow or harass those who were opposed to them in creed or politics. Masonry had for its guide the Book of Life, and so long as Masons studied that volume of Sacred Writ there would be no fear of the attacks made by outside's against an institution which had existed thousands of years before many religi us societies were formed. In con clusion he exhorted Irs hearers to bear in mind that the closing days of another year of their existence were fast approaching, and before the green “ sprig of acacia ” was cast on their tomb, let it remind them of the necessity of wearing the “ green and comely ” in their hearts until called from their earthly labors. The choir, under the leadership of Bro. J. McLean Dunn, rendered the musical service very appropriately, and Miss Kidd presided at the organ with her usual ability. The offertory, which amounted to L 4 10s, was devoted to the Masonic benevolent fund.

Holloways Ointment and Pills. — Outward Infirmities.—Before the discovery of these remedies many case of sores, ulcers, &c,, were pronounced to be hopelessly incurable, because the treatment pursued*tended to de stroy the strength it was incompetent to preserve, and to exasperate the symptoms it was inadequate to remove. Holloway’s Pills exert the most wholesome powers over the un healthy flesh or skin, without debarring, the patient from fresh air and exercise, and thus the constitutional vigor is husbanded while the most malignant ulcers, abscesses, and skin diseases are in process of cure. Both Oint ment and Pills make the blood richer and puier, instead of permitting it to fall into that poor and watery stale so fatal to many laboring under chronic ulcerations —[Advt.]

LICENSING COMMITTEE.

Ashburton.

The Licensing Committee for the Ash burton Borough met at the Courthouse to day. Present—Messrs I). Thomas (chair man), R. Alcorn, S. Saunders and T. Sealy. Police Report —Sergeant Felton re ported favorably upon the licensed houses within the Borough. Transfer. —G. E. Milner applied for a confirmation of the transfer of the license of the Central Hotel to himself from J. Beecher.—Mr Crisp appeared for the ap plicant, and Mr Purnell, for the Official Assignee, opposed.—lt appeared from the evidence adduced that three days prior to Beecher’s bankruptcy ha had, on the ad vice of Mr Joynt, solicitor for Stenning, the holder of a bill of sale over the trans ferer’s furniture and stock, transferred his licence to tiie present applicant. He had received no consideration for the transfer, and it was allegtdby the counsel for the Assignee that it had been fraudu lently made to deprive the estate of its

value.—Mr Crisp submitted that Mr Pur nell, as counsel for the Official Assignee, had no locus standi before the Committee, but Mr Purnell having replied, the' <3om mittee ruled against Mr Crisp's conten tion.—Evidence having been taken in support of the facts a lengthy atgument ensued between the counsel engaged, and the Committee ultimately adjourned the application for 14 days. Burning Lights. —Mr Quill, on behalf of himself and other licensees, asked to be excused from keeping lights burning in front of their premises beyond licensed hours. Consideration of this application was also at jour ed.

CHURCH PARADE.

The Ashburton Volunteers held their quarterly Chqrch parade yesterday. To the number of 46 the Volunteers, with the Band, paraded in front of the Post Office at ten o’clock. After the usual preliminaries of proving the company, etc, the company marched to the Presbyterian Church, where the men were accommo dated with specially reserved seats, and a few of the vocalists among them having been invited by the organist tonk places in the choir. The Rev James Hill, of Lyttelton, conducted the service, and

choosing for his subject the passage in the story of the Centurion of the Italian band, where the officer is referred to as ‘‘a devout soldier,” he proceeded to point out that devoutneas was not at all incom patible with a soldier’s life. The wars of recent years had disclosed some noble examples of Christian piety in the British army, and the very fact that the men now before him came to worship God as a company of soldiers showed that a man could be both a soldier of the Cross and a soldier of the Queen. He granted there was great irreligiousness in the British army, but the existence of irreligioueness did

not at all imply that religion in the ranks was impossible. He commended the Volunteers for assuming the position of citizen soldiers, and mentioned three things that called them together. These were “ defence, discipline, and loyalty.” In reference to defence he spoke of th peculiar circumstances of this colony, and was pleased to notice the spirit which animated the Volunteers, whose enrol ment put the colony in a state of prepared ness for war, no matter from what source it might come. He urged them, in this connection, to be prepare! with equal courage and determination to fight the enemies of their souls ; to guard against vice and sin of every kind, and to defend their spiritual citadel against the assaults of the wicked one. Similarly did he aptly refer to thj necessity for training and dis cipline, and urged obedience to the laws and precepts of the Great Captain of their salvation. As discipline in the ranks was imperative, so also was discipline in life if a man were to ba good and happy. Loyalty was one of the motives that brought men to the ranks of the Volunteers. In no reign had the subjects of a sovereign had better reason to pray “ God save the Queen ” than had the subjects of Her gracious Maj sty. But they had a higher sovereign than the Queen—the King of kings, tho Lard God Almighty. While they were faithful to then* earthly sove reign he urged them not to forget their loyalty to God their Maker and Christ their RqJeeiqer. Thro.qgho.nt the ser mon was fqll of sound Christian advice and instruction, and the Volunteers paid marked attention to the precepts given to thorn so lucidly and so forcibly by the rev. gentleman. Suitable hymns were sung during the service, and at the con clusion the man marched back to the Post Office for dismissal.

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT

ASHBURTON.— To-day. v _______ a (Before H. 0. S. Baddeley, Esq., R.M.) Vagrancy. —Antonio Ca'iari, on re- 1 maud, was charged wi*h having no visible* ! lawful means of support. Constable 1 Burke deposed that the accused had been c wandering about the Lauriston, Chertsey, 3 Kyle and Seafield districts, begging food, c and decliuing*to work for leas than 20a a 1 day. Witness had arrested him in an empty stable at Lauriaton. The accuse ’ ' was ordered* to be imprisoned for 2 months 1 with hard labor. Disorderly Persons. Grace Kent, Elizabeth Smith, and Mary Bennett were charged with having no visible lawful means of support. —Mr Branson appeared for the accused, and called the following evidence in refutation of the charge.— Alfred Hooper deposed that the accused Grace Kent owned a well furnished cot tage at Sydenham. Witness was engaged to marry Mary Bennett.—Cross-examined by Sergeant Felton : Grace Kent’s house at Sydenham was reputed to be a brothel. Witness called there about twice a week. He had known the accused about seven months. They were all known as women of ill-fame.. —John Hancock said that he knew the accused. Grace Kent owned a well furnished house, and the other two accused lived with her. Wit ness had co-habited with Grace Kent for about four months. The house bore a good character. It was known as a brothel. —Constable Smart said that by direction of Sergeant Felton he had visited a house known as the “ lean-too,” and had found the three accused there in company with four young men. Witness knew Mary Bennett, she was a prostitute. (At this stage Mary Bennett fainted, and was removed from the Court, a delay of some minutes occurring before the accused was sufficiently recovered to permit of the en -1 quiry being resumed.) —Sergeant Felton 1 produced a lengthy record against Mary Bennett, but said that the other two ■ accused were not known to the police.— f Mary Bennett was ordered -to bo impri > soned for three weeks, and Grace Kent > and Elizabeth Smith for two weeks. Chimney on Fire—John Hoskins ad- mitted a charge of having the chimney of s his house on fire, and was cautioned and dismissed. e Drunkenness —Andrew Gray, who said s he was not decently drunk, but did not e feel very strongly on the point, was fined a 20s and costs, with the usual alternative, t- Threatening Language —Sam. Elliott d was charged with having used threatening lt language calculated to provoke a breach y of the peace, towards Robert Cullen.—Mr Crisp appeared for the complainant.—The complainant said that he had gone to the railway van to obtain the luggage of a customer, and the accused had accosted him and threatened to break his neck. Robert Cooper corroborated the evidence of the complainant.—The accused, who >- pleaded guilty, said that he had a long *- standing quarrel with the complainant.— I C. The accused was fined 20s and costs. |

WHAT PROTECTION HAS DONE FOR AMERICA.

The state of trade in the United States is so bad, notwithstanding a more than usually abundant harvest, that it can scarcely fail to communicate a strong im petus to the Freetrade movement, which is rapidly gaining ground in the Western States. Manufacturers, especially those whose industries are heavily protected, are shutting down their mills. In Penn sylvania half the ironworks and glass fac-

tories have been closed. The Edgar Steel Company, which employs 5,000 men, has given notice to its operatives that they must either accept a reduction of wages or the works will be stopped. In Pitts burg, the great manufacturing centre of the S ate, there are, it is estimated, as many as 4,000 tenements which have been vacated by their recent occupants, owing to their inability to pay rent for them. So great, indeed, is the poverty, and so urgent the distress which prevails in that city, that at the close of the financial half year the poorhouse officials had pretty well exhausted the sum appropriated for the relief cf the destitute during the cur rent twelve months, leaving the second half of the year unprovided for The de pression in the steel and iron trade has become almost chronic. Eleven years

ago Mr Powell, superintendent of the Clifton Ironworks, declared that “ the entire rolling-mill, nail factory, and

foundry interests of the West were comr pletely paralysed and rendered unprodac tive.” in nine years, he said, protection bad augmented the cost of production 60 per cent.; not only so, but it had in creased importations, and had permanently enfeebled the industry. At that time fully one-third of the American furnaces were out of blast; and in the following year, namely in 1874, the trade journal of the Iron and -steel Manufacturers’ Associa tion announced that half a million of workmen were out of employment, 200,000 of whom were iron-workers, coal and ore miners, and mechanics and laborers connected with this branch of in dustry. In March, 1876, the. President of the Iron and Steel Association of Penn sylvania addressed a memorial to Con gress, in which he stated that “ one-half the furnaces and rolling-mills in the country were standing idle ; ’ that iron

master after iron master was failing, and that the wages of iron-workers were neces sarily reduced so low that they and their families cauld scarcely escape destitution and starvation.” Eight years previously the Hon John Covode, one of the pro tectionist representatives of Pennsylvania in Congress, had publicly declared that “American workmen were in deeper dis-

tress than ever before in the history of the country and since then, writes Mr T, 6. Shearm ui, in the ‘September number |of North American , lievietv, “we have

gone through still mire distressing and disastrous periods, lasting froth 1873 to 1878, and from 1832 to 1884, until to-day multitudes of protected American miners and mechanics are working for 50c or 80c (2s to 3s 4d) a day, without steady employment at those rates. The average rate of wages in American cotton mills, in proportion to the number of hours of work, is actually less than it is in England, and in many large branches of protected industry the rate of wages has fallen almost to the starvation point” In fact, £ merican manufacturers are sim ply repeating the unhappy experience of the Mother Country from 1815 to 1846, while her principal industries were under the ban and blight of Protection. As a matter of course, the depression spoken of above hashed a most injurious effect on the retail trade of the United States, where the failures during the drat six months of the present year have been abnormally numerous, while those of Great Britain for the same period have been only 2,368, as compared with 6,662 for the first half of 1880. Several towns and country banks in America have sue [ combed to the pressure of the times ; i and the collapse of a great manufacturing firm l;ke that of Stafford and 00., who have been losing money by their cotton mills at Fall River and Rhode Island for the last two years, and of the house of Burger, Hurlbut, and Livingston, an old sugar-refining firm in New York, was ex pected to be followed by the fall of many other establishments of equal magnitude. But the most alarming feature of the Commercial and manufacturing crisis in the United States is the probability of its being followed by a serious calamity in the grain trade. For, while it is stated that wheat is cheaper in Chicago than it J has been for a quarter of a century jpast, it is also cheaper in England than it has been for the last hundred years. In the former market it is 22 cents a bushel less than it was a twelvemonth ago ; and we

read of a railroad oar of winter wheat, some 4 what out of condition, having been told at 43 cents per bushel. From this had to be deducted 85 cents for freight, leaving 10 cents (or sd) for the grower, out of which he had to pay commission and other incidental expenses. As for the time'to come, American wheat will be exposed year by year to an increasingly active competition with that cf India, where wheat can be grown, as has beon*sliown by i r Hunter, at Is 6d a bushel, and where there are thousands of square miles I of fertile soil, which ’would spoediljfbo brought under cultivation: if native farmer could calculate upon from 16s to 18s per quarter for his produce. .■ •. Let the cry of agricultural distress oboe be raised in the Central and Western I States of America, and the people of that country will make short work with the I tariff. Already, as we learn from the' I letter of Mr Bookwalter, of Springfield, I Ohio, manufacturer of agricultural maohi- I nery, published iu the Pall Mall Gazette, I the Freotrade doctrine has rooted itself Iso deep'y in the popular mind in that I part of the Union that whole commnnj- I ties are already as much for Freetrade as I Great Britain herself. There are at least 24,030,000 of the population engaged in 1 agricultural pursuits, he tells us, and for I every LlO invested in manufac tures, there are L9O ~ invested in land, I while the mainstay of the railways, which I have cost L 1,400,000,000 sterling, is the 1 traffic in grain. Bence, when the battle I comes to be fought out, there Will be an 11 immense preponderance of strength arrayed LI on the side of commercial freedom. At t I present, it appears, the American farmers , I are taxed £o the extent of L 120,000,000 , I a-year in order to provide the protected , I industries with L? 0,000,000, and it is , I suggested that it would be better to pen* s I sion off the whole of the privileged manu , I facturers and their workmen than to snb- I I mit to the existing system of spoliation.— T Argus.

SPORTING.

AUCKLAND BAOES. [by telegraph.] Auckland, To-day. King Arthhr ia scratched for the Auck land Steeoleohase. Black Rose is now first favorite at 7 to 1, and the bookmakers are chary about laying him. WELLINGTON SPRING MEETING. The final events of the above meeting resulted as follows ; St. Andrew’s Handicap, of 100 sovs; miles. Mr Tancred’s Administrator, 7st 101 b -1 Mr T. Hill’s Speculation (late Hippo* damia), 75161 b ... ... ... 2 Mr D. Campion’s Armourerj 7st 101 b 3 Minerva, Bayard, Refrigerator, and Witiora also ran. The Poet and Ugly Buck were scratched. For the Local Handicap of 25 sots, Mr F. Park s Potaka beat six others. The dividend was L2 6s. The Hack Race was won by Germaine* The dividend was L2 7s. Consolation Rack. Mr Campion’s Armourer, 7st 41b ... 1 Mr Hill’s The Slave, 7st 71b 2 Mr Tancred’s First Water, fist 91b ... 3 Poet (Sat 101 b) and Normanby (Bst) also ran. DUNEDIN J.O. SPRING MEETING. The following are the final results of Saturday’s meeting;— Selling (two year-olds) Race of 100 sots; colts, Sat 51b ; fillies, Sat. Four fur longs. Mr Seymour’s b c Cheap Jack, fist . 121 b ... 1 Mr P. Butler’s br o Strenuous, Sst 51b 2 Mr J. Stephenson's b o Eveitun Lad, 7at 12ib ... ... ... ... 3 Six others started, including the Hon.. George McLean’s Lady Gertrude. The Handicap Time Trot of 120 sovs was won by Mr Wise's Pretty Jane, with fiOaecs start, Oliver, an American horse,' who started at scratch, being second. Time, dmin 25aeo. The Helling Race of 40 sovs was won by Mr Mortimer’s Blue Jacket, fiat 71b, with Mr Stephenson's - Hazard, fiat 81b, second. Shbino Handicap of 80 sovs. One mile. Hon. G. McLean’s oh f Lady .Evelyn, 3yra, 7st 2ib ... I ' Mr Brown’s b m Molly Bawn, 6yra, fist 31b ... 2- Blue Jacket (fiat 31b). Bubina, (7st 101 b), and Talebearer (fiat 101 b), also ’ran, To-Day’s Baces. [by telegraph.] Racegodsee To-day. The weather is dull and threatening, " but the attendance is good. The follow* ing are the results : Hunter’s Plate, a handicap of 70 sovs. miles. Ravenswood, lOst s!b ... ... ' ... 1 Glenara, Oat 71b 2

Lin wood, 9st 12 b ... ... ... 3 Magic (list 21b), Trapper (lOst 101 b), Little John (9st 101 b), Gang Awa (Bit 101 b) also started. Won by half a length. Trapper, when holding a good position and looking a likely winner, fell at the last hurdle, but Cotton, hie rider, escaped, without injury. Time— Smins ISsecs. Betting—s to 2 Ravenswoed, 3 to Z Trapper and Glenan, 6 to 1 the rest. President's Handicap of 200 sovs. A. mile and a quarter. Mr D. O’Brien’s Kubina, 7st 71b (Stratford) 1 Mr Stephenson’s Taiaroa, 7st 121 b (Rudings) 2 Hon. G. McLean’s Lady Evelyn, fist 12lb (Myers) 2 Betting—2 to lon Taiaroa. A good start was effected, and passing the stand the first time Taiaroa and Lady - Evelyn were on terms, with Rubina a length in the rear. At the back of the course Taiaroa was a clear length ahead of Lady Evelyn, with Rubina apparently tailing off. Just before entering the straight, Stratford called on the Canter bury representative and, coming full of running, she soon had both the other horses settled, and won by a clear length. Time—2min 16sec. Novel Rage, of 70 sovs. One mile and a distance. ~ Haaard, 7st 121 b 1 Trapper, 85t71b... ... ... ... 2 Won comfortably. Grand Stand Handicap. Taiaroa, Bit 11b ... ... 1 Molly Bawn, fist 21b 2 Billy, 7st 71b 3 A wretched start, Molly Bawn getting away lengths ahead of any other.

CABLE NEWS.

LATEST FROM EUROPE.

[BSDTKB’s IKLIOBAMS COPYRIGHT. I The Situation. at the Gape. London, November 29. A despatch has been received from Sir Hercules Robinson, Governor of the Cape Colony, in reference to the recent settlement at Bechuanaland. His Excellency states that the Cape colonists generally disapprove of the settlement, and that the action of the Ministry in offering favorable terms to the Boer raiders is warmly criticised by the public press. * The Congo Conference. Berlin, November 29. The Conference on the Congo 4ues tion is still holding its sittings here. The proceedings have been harmonious

THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN, MONDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1884.



Wanted. A IN TED—Married Co Man to bo a good all roun Slight encumberance no ob; SON, Epperston Farm, Him W ANTED Known—H, the Cheapest Hons First-class Drapery and Mi thing marked with a small Buildings, East street. WANTED Known —A. < for cash at the foil prices :—Tea, rare value, pe tea, per lb la 3d, extra ( sugar, per lb 3d ; currant! raisins, per lb 6d ; tapioca, white ; sago, par lb 3d ; apei sauce, per bottle 6d ; rice, b WANTED Known Sugar, 3£d; Keroset 501 b Flour, 4s 9d ; Oysters 8d; Biscuits. 3d ; a got Is Cd. J. McGregor, Tan WANTED Known—Fr are daily despatche our own boat, now fishing i mere. Delivery guarantee hours from time of catchin received at my shop will b executed on arrival of the Paok, East street, Aahburt ANTED KNOWN—B etc., Town Hall, Ashburto companies and others visit should communicate wii Orders by post or teleg attended to. VTTANTED Known—l VV That Hayes and C a few desperate lines of wit, Ladies’ Leather, Shooters, Pegged, 10s ; sides, 9a, and a lot of odd be cleared at once. where no other ha; Bill Poster, Theai



TXOMESTIC pattern depot. Mrs Hodge, DRAPER AND DRESSMAKER, ~B!abt Sxbbbt, near Lancaster's butchery. REGISTRY OFFICE For Female Servants. 7 1413 ADMISSION FREE.—There are several subjects agitating just now the publ c mind, and need not be enumerated: These all, however, retire before the all engrossing ques tion, Where can we procure good tea? Many fortunate persons have set this question at rest by purchasing the favorite blends of Nelson, Moate and Co,; but many have not done so, and, consequently, their minds are_ still un settled, and a feeling of unrest prevai's. The remedy is easy and certain. Give me a call. Admission ree 1 Great variety of well-chosen goods in stock, too numerous to particularise, ahd all to be sold at the lowest possible prices for cash or monthly accounts. H. M. Carson, Grocery r Fruit and Italian Warehouse, between the two banks, wholesale and retail agent for Nelson Moate and Co.’s pure blended teas, in packets and boxes. A. Tapper, SAWMILLER TIMBER, AND IRON MERCHANT, East street, Ashburton, Has decided to Sell Oee His Large Stock of TIMBER | BUILDING GATES & IRON I MATERIALS FENCING WIRE, &o. at greatly Reduced Prices, As he is retiring from business, therefore ANY REASONABLE OFFER WILL NOT BE REFUSED. Stock must bo cleared off by December Hlst- H. W. BARRETT, Manager.



Dimant and Coe, ARE authorised LOCAL AGENTS for Singer's SEWING M A OHINfiS, and are prepared to receive PAYMENTS and afford all information in connection therewith. Treadle and Hand Machines on Time Payments. A supply if Machine extras on hand. CORNER EAST AND TANCRBD STREETS, ASHBURTON. 11 2181



NEW BOOKS. NEW FANCY GOODS. NEW STATIONERY. NEW TOYS. PRIZE BOOKS, Etc. of Nasr Zealand Scenery. A beautiful assortment of goods suitable for presents. Andrewes Bros., Booksellers, Stationers, &c. f EAST STREET, SOUTH, Ashburton.



REDUCTIONS. The Undersigned have For Sale REDUCTIONS at Reduced Prices : Timber. Timber. Timber. Coal. Coal. Coal. Firewood. Firewood. Firewood. Stakes. Stakes. Stakes. Posts. Posts. Posts. Hurdles. Hurdles. Hurdles. Inspection invited. MACPHERSON, FILMER AND CO. (late A. Hayes), TIMBER & COAL MERCHANTS, East street. W. H. C LLIN3, Manager, Ashburton.



I VTBW BOOKS ! NEW BOOKS ! ! |.J>BW BOOKS! and I CHRISTMAS CARDS ! Now in. Popular Encyclopedia (14 vols); Colo nies and Dependencies, by T. S, Cotton ; Local Government, by M. D. Chalmers ; Treasury of Sciences, Biographical, Work shop Appliances, Systematic Mineralogy, Electricity and Magnetism, Strength 01 Material; Vanity Fair, by Thackery ; The JSewcomes ; English Men of Letters— Bacon, Cowper, Dickens, Defoe ; Journal of the Plague Year, Plays from MolitSre, The Prince Mioharelli; Pedigree of Man, by Hoeckel; India, the Law and the People, by Caird ; Gilbert on Banking ; The Asaommoir, by Emile Zola ; Medi eval History, by Chambers; Cassell’s Family Magazine, Irish Pleasantry and Fun, English Scenery (6 vols), Countries of the World (6 vols), Peoples of the World (4 vols). All Round the World (2 vols), The Book of Health, Family Phy sician ; Animal Life, by Wright; The Technical Educator, Popular Educator, Mon of the Time, Family Herald (half year vol), How the Poor Live. Thomas F. Farley, BOOKSELLER, ASHBURTON.



Special Advertisements. OTHERHAM WATCHES Fr- m £5 10s. AT6HMAKCRS EWELLERS V I'S



CHEAP STATIONERY FOR THE PEOPLE. Superfine note paper, 5s per ream Cream laid envelopes, 6a per IXO3 Foolscap (unequalled value), la per quire CHEAP BOOKS, Standard works by various authors. CHRISTMAS CARDS. Beautifully Colored New Zealand Scenery From 3d and upwards. TOYS, FANCY GOODS, &c., In great variety from Id and upwards. B. Bevan, BOOKSELLER, STATIONER, Etc., (Next shop to Quill’s Hotel).



25 Branches Now Open 25 j THE NEW ZEALAND Clothing Factory Are now Showing NEWEST STYLES in SPRING Jfc SUMMER CLOTHING, Manufactured from the renowned Wear Resisting MOSGIEL TWEEDS. The fit and workmanship of every gar ment is undoubtedly unsurpassed, while the large production and increased busi ness enables the proprietors to offer special advantages as to price. Men’s, Boys’ and Children’s Clothing in every variety at Wholesale Prices. Shirts, Hats, Hosiery, Blankets, Rugs, Portmanteaux, and every requisite at WHOLESALE PRICES. Note the address NEW ZEALAND CLOTHING FACTORY, EAST STREET, Ashburton 25 Branches Now Open 25



DAVIS’S Cheap Clearing Sale NOW ON. £ a. d. Bedroom furnished complete for 6 6 0 Chest of 5 drawers, for ... 2 0 0 Suites in Leather, for ... ... 14 0 0 Suites in Hair, for 14 0 0 Every other article equally cheap. Must be Sold to make room for our CONSTANT MANUFACTURE OF FURNITURE of all kinds. W. DAVIS, Cabinet-maker and Upholsterer, EAST STREET SOUT , Ashburton 9 1729



Look out for special ANNOUNCEMENT from H. E. May & Co In a few days. Presents to every Customer.



1884. Victoria House. 1885. q PEING AN b SUMMER SEASON. Prints, Dress Stuffs, Costumes, Trimmings, Fancy Tib', Hosiery, Millinery, Men’s, Boys’, and Youths’ Clothing, Shirts (assorted), Hats, &c., &0., Of newest designs, super-excellent makes, and durability, selected and offered for the especial purpose of well and worthily recommending Victoria House as pre-eminent for variety, quality, liberality, and incomparable value. jsg' Ladies’, Men’s, and Children's BOOTS, &d ,at “ eill again ’ pijcps. Patterns of Hc-Ijn, Mosgeil, and Kaiapoi TWEEDS received weekly, from whioh Men # Youths, Boys’ Garments are promptly made to measure, fit, finish, and fashion perfect. Charges strictly reasonable. Dimant and Coe. Ready-Money Drapers, Clothiers, &o, East and Tanored streets in premises I lately occupied by Qrr and Co. |



Special Advertisements. NEW TWEEDS ! SUMMER SUITS. Perfect Fit NEW TWEEDS! SUMMER SUITS. Guaranteed in the latest or any style that may bo required. Cralghr-ad & Co., MERC BUNT T \ ILO RS, WE have much pleasure in announcing to our friends and patrons, and all who may feel interested in the general ogress of our times that we hare just coived a splendid assortment of Tweeds, Coatings, Serges, etc., etc., of the beat juality and latest designs—suitable for the season we are now entering. All Goods Supplied at LOWEST CASH PRICES. CRAIGHEAD & 00., Tancred street, Ashburton.



We know that there is nothing on earth equa > Hop, Bitters as a family medicine. Lool ir.—[Aon.] Catarrh of thr Bladder.— Stingmj ritation, inflammation, all kidney and simila miplainls, cured by “ Buchu-paiLa,” Th< ,Z. Drug Co., General Agents. 3