COMMERCIAL.

Ashburton Guardian Office, Saturday afternoon. Messrs Friedlander Bros, report this after noon upon the grain market :—Not many transactions have taken place in the grain trade, with the exception of a few lines in mill ing oats, which were purchased to execute Orders. As soon as these are filled we expect to see the values in this cereal drop u sym pathy with the Sydney market, where oats have receded 4d per bushel since our last re report. We regret to state that some of the samples which have been offered prove that the damage by the late rain to the wheat crops will be greater than was anticipated. Other samples again are not fit for shipment, and farmers would do well if they would allow their wheat to remain in sUck for a little be fore threshing. Our are Wheat ; 2s 6d per bushel for prime milling ; sprouted, about is lod to 2s. Barley ; malting, from 3s 6d to 3s pd ; feed, about ispd. Oats : Bright milling, is 6s to Is 8d ; feed, from is id to IS 4d, according to sample. Grass seed ;Up to 3s, according to quality.

DAILY MEMORANDA.

AUCTION SALES. Tub-dat, March 24 Messrs Matson, Cox and Cj.,**at the Tinwald Saleyards—Stock Thursday, March 26 Messrs Miles and Co , at the Tinwald Yards—Sheep Messrs Matson, G'X and Co , at the Tinwald Yards—Sht ep MEETINGS, AMUSEMENTS, Etc. This Evening Football Club—Meeting at Quill’s hotel, at 7-30 Monday, March 23 Borough Council, at Borough Council Chambers, at 7 30 Wednesday, March 25 Ashburton Building and Investment So ciaty—Annual Meeting, Arcade Cham bers, at 3 o’clock .Oddfellows’ Hall—Miss Wa d and Com pany, at 8 o’clock Orange Hall—Star of the East, I. O. G. T., meeting at 8 o’clock Thursday, March 26 YinwaldSaleyards— Annui 1 Ham and Ewe Fair Friday, March 27. Ashburton County Council—At Council Chambers, 11a.m.

METEOROLOGICAL READINGS.

The following are the meteorological readings at Alford . tation for the week ending Friday, Vlarch 20. 1885: --

SAMOAN ANNEXATION.

♦ (By Tel* graph ) Wellington, To-day. The Act passed by the Samoan Govern ment annexing that island to New Zea land, provides “ That all the preliminary expenses shall (be paid out of unauthor ised expenditure, pending a vote of the New Zea and Parliament for the purpose of giving immediate effect to the annexa tion of these our islands to New Zealand. As the Samoan Government has no funds or revenue of its own the Bill shall taka effect from the date of King M dietoa’s signature and seal and give effect to the annexation of a Samoan Is land in accordance with the Annexat on Bill passed in It 83 by the New Zealand Parliament, or to any Bill that it may be necessary to pass by ihe New Z 9 aland Pa'liament to give effect to the Bill and annexation and for the better Govern ment of the Samoan Islands and of the Sampan people.” It was signed and sealed on the 9th of February, 1885, by Selu, the Secretary and Clerk to the Upper and Lower Houses of Parliament; Manati (His x mark), Speaker of the Samoan Parliament; and Malietoa, King of Samoa.

NOTES FROM SOUTHLAND.

[by d. b.]

ie As our harvest has now fairly started 0 perhaps your many readers may be in , terested by a brief account of agricultural prospects here—the western district of e Southland. Reapers and binders can now be seen on every side in full operation, d There being such a variety of opinion as e to the respective merits of the different 1 machines, they are all employed, and the ,’ t large supply has considerably reduced the prices that prevailed some years ago. 6 The New Zealander (Reid and Gray) ' whica 1 believe is equal to any machine e in the field, can ho bought for L 55, a price :, not long since charge for the old Samuel > son’s side delivery; but notwithstanding the reasonable price at which the colonial " machine is offered, farmers still largely ?, patronise the imported implements, 1 thereby injuring thsmselvOß and crippling > the enterprise of the locd mat!"' ‘ - factarers. To advance the old worn . out arguments for protection against ) free trade is one thing, but to pay away ! our earnings to a foreign country for I articles that can be manufactured here as cheaply and well by our sons and J daughters is another and one which, sooner or later, must engage our earnest 1 consideration. Wo have had a very s favorable spring and a ‘‘dripping” sum mer, and consequently wherever the land is suitable and properly cultivated, the crops are good. Taking the whole of the New River flat from Henmore to the Estuary, a distance of about forty miles, it may safely be said that the crops are magnificent: those of Messrs and J. Shand and J. I. Sutton, the proprietors of which are now buoy gathering ■ them, are equal to'any I baye ever seen. The weather, too, so far has bet?n parti- , cularly favorable for harvest operations, ] and hundreds of stacks are being built daily. The average yield of wheat on ' 1 expected to bp from 40 to 50 thisli.k. - and the quality of the t bushels per auto, ' <• remarkably 1 grain already thresheu .. '"Urrv- f good. In crossing recently from „ owen Estate, the property of Mr J. B j: Sutton, to the Aparima or Jacob’s river, a distance of 20 miles, I found a large acreage of the land in the vicinity of Spar F Bush to be of rather inferior quality; at b least the appearance of the crops now jg growing in that locality do not indicate a very genial soil. However, I am of opinion that if sub-soiled this land would b be second to none in the district; the d; natural drainage is good. A few miles pi from Spar Bush I came to a large valley tv known as the Waimatukn Flat, where the s land is of the moat fertile description and Pj has produced phenomenal cr 'ps The farmers in this locality, of whom a num !‘er are deferred payment settlers, have ( Q had much to contend with. The land di being formerly swamp required natych T draining, and there were great quantities a n of fi 'X and rushes to clear, but happily cr many of them are now enjoying the frifit ( yc of their labors iq the shape' of abuqdfnt l b«

crops of wheat, oats and crass seed, the latter yielding as high aa 70 bushels per acre. I may state that land highly im proved capable of bearing such crops can bo bought here at from L 6 to LIO per acre on very easy terms. Mr Vvilliam r>a'e, who is well known in your district, having been engaged in farming on the “ Plains,” bought a farm of 400 acres last week at Lfi an acre. The land, which was formerly swamp, is partly drained, all fenced, some 100 acres ploughed, and carries a dwelling - house equal in every respect, to the Ashburton Parsonage or the Central Hotel. Mr W Thomson, late of Waterton, and Messrs W. and 13. Saunders, late of Ashburton, have also purchased farms ' a short distance from Mr Dale’s recent acquisition ; they are all , reclaimed swamp land. Mr Thomson has I just cut a crop of about 100 acres, which, i I have no hesitation in saying, is the best crop he ever grew. I found Mr Wm. Saunders busy cutting a small crop of Tuscan wheat, which gave promise of a splendid yield, fully 40 bushels to the acre. His barley is also good, and his oats, standing considerably higher than your correspondent, equal to anything in the district. Daring Dale, the farm of Mr B. Saunders, was purchased by that gentleman about eighteen months ago, and at that time, being a deep swamp, was barely safe to cross on foot. Now, how ever, three large drains six feet wide and three feet deep have had the effect for which the were designed, horses and drays can be taken over any part of the property with ease. Mr Saunders, as sisted by Mr T. Hunt, also from your district, has ploughed a considerable acreage during the past summer, and with the aid of a few cross drains the whole of the holding could be brought undercultivation, when it would, nodoubt, rank as one of the best grazing farms in the colony. Leaving the Waimatuku Flat, I passed through that fertile track of country known as the Limestone Plains, a name given to it from the fact that it rests on limestone rock, which may be seen cropping through the surface in places The farmers here devote their attention chiefly to grass and turnips, and as a result they have made comfortable homes. Grain growing here, aa well as in Ashburton, has not been an unvarying success—too often when attempted upon a large scale it has been a lamentable fail ure. For several years past the Five Rivers and Merrivalo Estates have annu ally grown cereals to the extent of about 5.000 acres each, but now the price of grain having fallen so low and there not being a corresponding reduction in the cost of cultivation the proprietors Messrs Ellis Bros, are sowing down their land to grass. *he crops on the Bayswaler estate are, aa usual, very good. They comprise 2,200 acres oats, 400 acres bar ley and 490 acres wheat, the whole esti mated to yield an average of 40 bushels to the acre But notwithstanding this satis factory result the proprietors of the estate, Messrs Snrth and Kingswel), have sown down the area now under crop with Eng lish grass. Harvest operations here are carried on with vigor, and no time is lost in sending the grain to market. There are three threshing mills at work bagging 3.000 bushels daily, and the roads are lined with teams carrying grain from here and elsewhere to the Otautau railway sta tion. In the Bayswater district Mr Ed ridge has a farm of about vO3 acres in extent ; the proprietor, with very evident and natural satisfaction, called my atten tion to a splendid crop of Timothy grass —SO acres From this paddock last year, Mr Eldridge sold upwards of 20 tons of seed, and although the present is the third crop in su cession, it promises to be quite equal if net superior to any of its prede cessors. Next c«ne the celebrated Glad field estate, which I see is advertised in your paper. It "curtains 11,000 acres of the very best agricul ural land, all flat, well drained and intersected by good roads. 7,000 acres of the estate have been cropped, all of which, with the exception of 200 acres now leased for one crop, have recently been sown down with grass and turnips. Mr J. O. McArdell, < n behalf of the British and New Zealand Mortgage and Agency Company, has been instructed to sell about 3,000 acres of this splendid property. The sale will take place in Invercargill on 4th April, and 1 am assured that only nominal reserves have been placed upon the sections. Buyers now are few and far between, and I have opportunities to know that it is intended to realise even at a sacrifice. Consequently, I would recommend every farmer in Ashburton to attend this sale, as I am confident that opportunities to buy grand sections of 50 acres and upwards will occur, and those persons for tunate enough to secure the bar gains will never regret their visit to Southland. The Company repre sented by Mr McArdell is a substantial and liberal one, and although I have not the terms advertised at hand just now, 1 am sure any straightforward, practical farmer would have no difficulty in arrang ing money matters with the genial auc tioneer—the only seller, by the way, who can dispute the pride of place with your Mr John Matson. A really good public

school under the charge of an efficient teacher is within half a mile of the pro perty, and the spiritual wan-s of the neighborhood are attended to by by per iodical visits from different clergymen. The Gladfield estate adjoins the rising deferred payment township of Drummond Twelve months ago Drummond had no existence, except, perhaps, on the map, but now the embryo city can boast of an

hotel, a general store, a sad ler’s shop and a score of dwelling houses, all occu pied, and when the school just applied for is erected Drummond will be no mean town. Speaking of the respective merits and demerits of the different parts of New •Zealand, it must now be generally ad mitted that the pdr::_ has ariived Southland will have her say and can many special advantages. A few years ago large fortunes were predicted for the Canterbury, and particularly the Aahbqr ton, producers of grain, but one misfor tune and another have fallen upon the Canterbury farmers until many of them have been compelled to seek freih fields and pastures new. Scores of them have found what they sought in Southland, and are now settled upon our fertile plains “ where the grass grows green,” and with industry and frugality promise to build up homes which will be a joy to themselves and an inheritance and strength to posterity. In my next letter I will, with your permission, give full particulars of Otautau, '.Vaikola, and Vyray’s Bush, where there are a number of Ashburton immigrants settled and pros pering.

LOANS FOR IMPROVEMENT OP LANDS.

Sir Julius Vogel hag handed to the ' press the following sketch of a measure which would i»ive effect to his remarks on Wednesday evening concerning the ob taining money cheaply for loans in small amounts for improving lands. He wishes it to be understood that the Government have not decided on introducing the mea sure. It i 8 one to which there may b;> great opposition, and it remains to be seen if there is, on the other hand, a stronger desire to support it. The lish Government have for a long period lent money for land improvements, b'jt under conditions applicable principally to Urge estates, whilst the proposed measure deals only with small ones : A Company authorised by Parliament may apply to the Governor from time to time to guarantee debentures to an amount not exceeding the amount author ised by Parliament to be borrowed by

iuch Company. . 1 The debentures shall have a currency ' of not exceeding forty years. ' 2 The rate guaranteed shall not exceed ' 4| per cent, and shall be such rate as will 1 return clear of expenses about par. 3 The proceeds of such debentures ' shall be paid to the account of the Go vernment, who shall be responsible to the : iompany for interest up to the date of ' the money being employed, at the rate paid to the Government for interest od its balances in London by the Govern ment bankers, and also for the cost, if any, of placing the money at command in New Zealand. 4 The Company may lend any part of the money, in sums not exceeding L3O 0, on the security of freehold land, at a rate I Dot exceeding 5| per cent, subject to the following conditions. (a) The money may be lent on land al ready improved or occupied, or it may be lent for the purpose of improving land, and for the erection of farmers' dwellings. (b) If the money is lent upon land al ready improved, the amount lent must not exceed two-thirds of the value, certified by two valuators, from time to time appointed and ap proved by the Colonial Treasurer and Public Trustee - (c) If the money js lent for projected improvem nts, the amount must not exceed two-thirds of the value which the said land will have, with the im provements when completed, certified by two valuators as before. (d) When money is lea: for projected improvements, it must be paid from time to time, as the improvements are effected, as certified by the two valu ators. (e) Before paying the moneys aforesaid, a solicitor, approved by the Colonial Treasurer and Public Trustee, shall certify that a first mortgage ia satis factorily executed in favor of the Public Tiustee, as joint trustee for the Government and the Company, but with the p wer to the Company to.collect and enforce the payment of interest. (/) When any loan on mortgage is paid off, the money to be deposited, as in the case of when first borrowed., and to be available for fresh isßue. (</) If the Governor is called on to pay any sum of the amount guaranteed, and the Company fail to repay it within six months, the Governor to appoint directors, who may, as they think fit, either wind up the Com pany or carry it on if they are able to discharge the liabilities due to the Government. (h) The Company borrowing shall leave an amount of uncalled capital suffi cient to cover the amount of the de bentures guaranteed by the Govern ment. If the Company also borrow on debentures unguaranteed by the I Government, the amount of such de debentures, together with those guaranteed by the Government, shall not exceed the unc tiled capital. (i) If, under the above clauses, the Go vernor has to appoint Directors, one half of such Directors shall be share holders, but the Chairman shall be appelated by the Governor, and he need not be a shareholder, and shall have a casting besides a deliberative vote. (7c) The Company may make a condi tion of its loans the payment -of a sinking fund,, in which case the said sinking fund shall be payable to the Public Trustee, and be invested by him in securities approved by the Coljnial Treasurer. 5. The Company also lend by way of . terminable annuity any of the money ob tained from the guaranteed debentures to holders of land purchased from the Crown on deferred payments, and lands takea up under the conditions of special settlements, provided such loans are only for projected improvements ; and the pro visions of sub-sections C and D shall apply thereto, provided that the two-thirds mentioned in sub-section C shall read as one half ; and provided farther that the amount lent shall not exceed four-fifths of the cost of such improvements. Loans under this clause shall be subject to so much of the other conditions contained in the subsections of the last preceding clause as, mutatis mubxndis, are applicable thereto, and shall be further subject to the following conditions: (a) The improvements must be for dwelling houses or for substantial agricultural improvements, the nature of which shall be defined in the Bill. (b) Liability created shall be a first charge on the land. (c) In case of default in the payment of interest or sinking fund (if a»y) the Company shall give notice of such default to the Land Board for the district within which the land Is situ ated. The Xiwd Board shall take such steps as it would in the case of failure to pay the instalments on de ferred payments. (d) If the Land Board requires that the Crown resume possession the land shall remain charged with the lia bility, and steps shall be taken to recover the same ; «r if the arrears with interest are discharged the loan may continue on the original condi tions.

WAKANUI ROAD BOARD.

A special meeting of the Wakanui Road Board was held at the Board’s office, Moore street, this morning, to consider a letter received from the Longbeach Road Board, enclosing resolutions adopted by that body'at its last meeting in reference to the rate proposed to be levied upon the Longbeach, Wakanui and Upper Ashbur ton Road Boards by the County Council, trith regard to the construction of the Ashburton road bridge. Present —Messrs j Mayo (chairtnan). Bruce, Walsh and Cole. The Chairman stated the pmpose for which he had called the Board together. The County Council had announced its intention to ?trike ft rate upon the dis trict towards the construction of a bridge, which would be of no more value to them than it would to other districts which was exempt from the operations of the rate. He asked the Clerk to read the letter and resolutions transmitted by the Longbeach Road Board. The Olork read the letter received fr< m the Longbeach Road Board, which re_ quested the co-operation of the Wakanui ttnard in opposing the proposals -rAWw made by the Committee ot mo , C'- 1 unoil. Tae text of the resolutions on- ■ v osvd yerjj published in our last Mon- j day’s issue. I Mr' Walsh asked that the injustice £ wftich would be suffered by tip Rhfd 5

Boards enumerated might be pointed oafr#* At present he could see none. mSO Mr Megson said that the other bridges constructed by the County Council, and which were referred to iu the report of the Committee, almoet solely benefitted the adjacent Road Boards and the Council waa quite justified in asking them to oon tributa But those circumstances were not parallel to the case in point. The proposed road bri 'g9 waa on the Main £outh_road, and like the Rangitara bridge fahould be constructed from the County funds. He thought, too, that the Com mittee which had reported to the Council I had travelled beyond its commission. It was appointed me/ely to meet the Borough Council and discuss the questions of plans and the Borough's contribution. It should have reported to the Council on those subjects and left the Finance Com* mittee to deal with the question of funds. He would then have availed himself aa a County Councillor of an ODDortunity to

iiscuas the fiance proposals. Mr Walsh said they could not dictate bo the Council how its business should be conducted. He took it that the business of the meeting was to disousa the pro priety of concurring with the resolutions forwarded by the Longbeach Board. The bridge having been shown to be a county work he thought the Council should not require a special contribution from parti cular Road Boirds. The Chairman pointed out that the Rangitata and Llakai i Road Board district which would receive quite as much benefit from the bridge as Wakanui, were not asked to pay a spec al rate. Mr Bruce thought the ratepayers of Wakanui would have no objection to sob scribe their fair share towards the con struction of the bridge, but they should not be asked to pay a special rate while other districts equally interested were exempt. Mr Megson remarked that in his opinion the Tinwald Town Board district, not bein? liable for county rates,- should be required to make a special contribution towards the cost of the bridge, but the other bodies indicated should certain'y not b '■ taxed for the purpose- On the motion of Mr Walsh, seconded by Mr Bruce, it was resolved—" That this Board adopt the resolutions passed by the Longbeach Road Board with re ference to the traffic bridge, and autho rise its Chairman to co-operate with the Chairmen of the other Boards in oppos ing the proposals of tne County Council, and also to communicate with the mem bers representing these road districts in the Council for assistance in opposing the said proposals." BRIDGE SMITH'S ROAD. The Clerk reported that verbally Mr Brown, on oeha'f of Mr O. W. Turner, had expressed his desire to avoid litiga tion in respect to the erection of a br dge across the creek on Smith's road, and had stated that the proprietor of the Canter bury Mills would be prepared to pay one third of the cost of such bridge. Mr Tur ner was of opinion that the County Coun cil should contribute towards the cost of the bridge. Mr Megson did not think it at all pro bable that the County Council would make a contribution towards the work. However, the matter could not be dis cussed until they had scmthing in writing from Mr Turner. The Chairman concurred with Mr Meg son as to the necessity of having some thing in writing from Mr Turner before dealing with the matter. He suggested that it should be deferred until tb,e next ordinary meeting of the Board. The suggestion of the Chairman was adopted, and after arranging that the next ordinary meeting should take plaoe on Friday, April' 11th, the Board ad journed.

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prevalebit SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 1885. The Anglo-Russian Complication.

A week ago the world appeared to be upon the threshold of a great war —a war that threatened to involve every important Power in Europe, and to disturb the long immunity from military aggression enjoyed by the Bri tish colonies. To-day there are indica tions, perhaps not assurances, that the Anglo-Russian complication is capable of pacific solution. We never seriously contemplated that Prince Bismarck’s colonising enterprise would lead to hos tilities between England and Germany; the relative geographical positions of the two'countries and their mutual interest in the preservation of peace are the best guarantees we could have for the con tinuance of their present friendly rela tions. France could hardly resist the vortex of an European War, and her present overtures to China for peace are significant, but recollecting the very cordial assurances recently exchanged between her diplomatists and those of Germany, and the hbsence of any casus belli between her and England, it is difficult to predict occupation for her arms, but in the present temper of France it does not follow that her arms will not be employed. As regards Russia, we do not suppose that anyone will attri bute her present hesitancy in ‘Afghanis tan to friendly considerations towards England. Either it is a ruse to strengthen her position, a strategic feint, or, which in our opinion is more probable, she has discovered that the time for attack is not opportune. She nay have mistaken the Teutonic blunt ness of Prince Bismarck for the fore runner of estrangement if not actual hostilities between England and Ger many; she may have thought India ripe for revolt; and she may have credited all the English press has had to say of England’s military and naval decay. But she has found that blunt as the German’s are they are far to astute to fight for a shadow, that even the Hin- haye not been impressed with the magnanimity of the Russian Govern ment'and possess some w.ellrgrounded suspicion that the fire is not preferable to the /f”’ n 2 Pan. The linglish Press, too, may have Russia. It must indeed be difficult for the '*f!, , s CoV^e mind to comprehend a constitu tion which provided for the complete freedom of the subject, and quite impossible for it to fathom the latitude given to the Press. It probably mistook the venerable limes, the Standard, and Pall Mall Gazette for audacious Socialistic organs, seeking the overthrow of the Empire by a revelation of its diminished power. But Russia has recognised, none too soon for her own safety, that the British Empire is still intact and powerful, and the Russian troops will probably be withdrawn from Afghanistan with what grace they may, and her designs upon India will be postponed to a more fitting season.

Mr Joseph Ivess, J P., presided at the Resident Magistrate’s Court this morning and dealt with the following cases :—Geo. Cox, for having been drunk while in charge of a horse, was fined 40s and costs, with the alternative of 60 hours’ imprison --xnt.—J, Franklin, a very old offender, nj '-- . drunk in East street, was for having ■ w { t jj alternative of fined 60s and costa, 7 days’ imprisonment. The third annual meeting of the Can* terbury Frozen Meat Company was held in Christchurch yesterday. Mr John Grigg, chairman of the Board of Directors, presided. The statement of accounts showed a net profit of L 2.937 14s Id as the result of the year’s operations, and the report, which was adopted, recom mended a dividend of 8 per cent , and a transfer of sufficient to the reserve fund to raise it to L 2.000. In another column appears notes from Southland, contributed by a Southland farmer, who for some time was resident in the Longbeach district. Drowsiness, biliousness, pains and aches, and ague, Mop Bitters always cures if nia eby American Co. Read. Tic-Doloureux, Toothache, or any other neuralgic pain speedily yields to Baxter’s Anti Neuralgic Pills. “ Bucmj-t'AiiiA.”—Quick, complete cure, all annoying kidney, bladder, and urinary diseases. I truggisls. The N.Z. Drug Co. j General Agents. 2 I 'I hat husband of mine is three times the I | man he was before he began using “ Wells | Health Kenewcr.” Druggists. The N,Z j • Drug Co., General Agents. 2 j'

Mr James Ashbury, ex MP. for ci Brighton, England, who recently gained la some colonial notoriety by an address to ai the Kingite natives, has purchased from p Messrs Ellis Bros the estate, h Southland, comprising 26,399 acres of a< freehold, for about L150,00J. Some par- T uculara of this property appear in “ Notes h from Southland” contributed to this “ issue. w At a special meeting of the Wabanui '* Road Board, held this morning, the reso- >' lutiuns in reference to the Road Bridge c rate, adopted by the Longbeach Road e Board at its last meeting, were endorsed. 0 Messrs Craighead and Co., in a charac- ' teristic advertisement appearing in this k issue, announce that although war is still 1 uncertain, we should be prepared for any emergency. ! A meeting of gentlemen interested in j the formation of a Football Club for Ash- j burton, will be held at Quill’s Hotel, this evening at 7,30. The annual general meeting of the Ash burton County Hunt Olub will bo held at Quill’s Hotel, on Tuesday, March Sis*’, at 8 p. m. A cablegram received this afternoon announces that a severe engagement near SuaUira took place yesterday between the English troops and the rebels under CLman Digna. The rebels were com pletely defeated and driven from all their positions w-th heavy loss. Mr Thomas Bullock offered a number of town sections and other properties for sale at the Arcade this afternoon. The only sale effected was that of Ashburton T.S. 837 at L3B. It is probable that the proposed excur sion train from Ashburton to Christchurch 1 and Lyttelton will, as recommended by His Worship the Mayor, run on April 7th or Btb, but the precise date is not yet * fixed. [ The Committee of the Tinwald Race 1 Meeting will meet at Scott’s Hotel this evening at 8 o’clock. To-day we had the pleasure of examin t ing the clock recently erected by Mr Mur- T ray over his place of business in East street. A description of the time-piece J will appear in slate" issue. Hop Bitters gives good digestion, active . liver, good circulation and buoyant spirits, t, Get the only genuine American’s Go’s. 1 Reid. , “ Rough on Rats.” —Clears out rats, mice, roaches, flies, nnts, b« 1-bugs, beetles, insects, skunks, jack rabbits, gophers. Druggists, - The N.Z. :> 1 " Go., General Agents. 2 Ai other unfortunate.—Again we must draw , the attention of our readers to the fact that a ,£2,424 stock of Clothing and General Dra pery, in the estate of Dennis O’Connell, tra - oing in Lyttelton and Cristchurch, now bank rupt, was purchased by H. E. May & Co., of _ the Hall, High street, for £954, or only a little over one-third of its value. H. E. M. and Co. are now selling it at half the marked price, which surely ought to seenre a speedy O clearance.

SPORTING.

GERALDINE RACES. The following are the nominations lor the Geraldine Autumn Meeting : Hurdle Race, of 50 bots 2 miles. Mr Reeves’ b g Pirate Mr H. Piper’s Ravenswood Messrs M. and C. Hobbs’ Borderman Mr T. Sheehan’s Master Agnes Mr R. Henry’s Faust Mr P. Russell’s Presto (late Ton’ll do) Mr J. Bell’s Marquis Messrs M. and O. Hobbs' Moody Mr J. Clancy’s All Fours Mr J. Dooley’s Hector Mr M. Sherwin’a Mokarakaza Mr J. Forward’s Royalty Mr J. Higgins’ Secretary Mr J. Meikle'a Ben H. Mr Agnew’s Unit Mr Agoew’s Donald Autumn Handicap, of 75 sort, 1$ miles; Mr J. E. Pilbrow’s Mata. Mr R. Alexander’s Oranmer Mr T. Quill’s Princess Royal Mr T. Quill’s Grand Duke Mr P. Butler’s Tim Whiffler Mr P. Butler’s Talebearer Messrs M. and 0. Hobbs’ Borderman Mr P. Russell’s Silver Queen Mr W. Weston’s Conundrum Mr D. Denoon’s Vinco Gang Forward Handicap, of 100 sots j about three miles. Mr P. Jones’s Waverly' Hon R. Rodney’s Barrington Mr H. Piper’s Ravenswbod Mr Kerr’s Linwood J Messrs M. and 0. Hobbs’ Moody Mr R. Henry’s Faust Mr J. Dooley’s Hector Mr R. S. Button’s >tar Mr F. Warner’s Black Prince (late Cab bage Tree) Mr J. Meikle’s Hen H. Mr Agnaw’s Donald Handicap Hurdles, of 40 sovs; one mile and a half. Mr 0. J. Hawdon’s Othello (late Mok hanna) Mr Reeves’ Pirate Mr R. Rodney’s Cardinal Mr H. Piper’s Ravenswood Mr T. Sheenan’a Master Agnep Mr R. Henry’s Faust 1 ■ f Mr P. Russell’a Presto (late Ton’ll Do) Mr J. Bell’s Marqnis ‘ ' 1 Messrs M. and 0. Hobbs’s Borderman Messrs M. and O. Hobbs’s fiinorust Mr J. H. Lunn’s Rally Mr W. Russell’s Silver Queen Mr W. Sherwin’a Mokarakara Mr W. Wgston’s Conundrum Mr D. I enooh’s Video. Tally-ho Handicap, of 76 sovs. miles. Mr P. Jones’s Waverley Hon B.' Rodney’s Barrington Mr H. Piper’s Ravenswood Mr Kerr’s Linwobd ' Messrs M. end 0. Hobbs’s Moody Mr R. Henry’s Paipt Mr J. Barker’s Wang Mr d. Dooley’s Hector Mr S. Button’s Star Mr Werofr’s Black Prince (late Cab bage Tree) Mr J. Meikle’s Ben H,

THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN, SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 1885.



Shade 1 1 Date. Min. Max. 1 Max. | Observations. Mch 14 56. 65. 70 Nor-west wind „ 15 56. 66. 132. Fine, nor-'west wind .. 16 53- 65 132. Showers „ 17 50. 60. 132. Showers ,, 18 51. 62. 82. Overcast „ 19 53- 68. 132. Fine ,, 20 57. 1 75. 146. Fine



- Wanted- WANTED —A Steward for the Ash burton Club. pply, stating re muneration required, to the Secretary on or before Wednesday, the 25th instant J J Robertson, Secretary. 3 419 7 ANTED—A Workman for deeper- W ing drains. Apply at once to L'd wa'-d Wright. 3 4^7 ‘ ANTED —By a young genfem.n, VY Hoard and Lodging in a respect able family. Apply i-y letter, stating terms, to is.A.F , Box 2. Ashburton. WANTED Known —Furnished apart ments for two ladies or two gentlemen, with or without Board. Apply Office of this Paper. 3 4!2



TTTANTED Known—Before buying V\ Dress Materials, Ulsters, Jackets, Dolmans, Millinery, etc , call and inspect our stock. The cheapest first-class Drapery and Millinery Establishment in Ashburton —H. 0. Seders, ealya’ Buildings, East Street. REAT Reductions for Cash at Jones vX an d Bradshaw’s. Good oaten sheaf chaff from 50a per ton, Is fid per bag ; prime oat straw chaff 35a per ton, 9d per bag ; now oatmeal 4s per bag ; good cheese 5d per lb ; ffour, bran, sharps, and chickwbeat at very cheap rates. 7"ANTED Known Wertheim Pew ing Machines can be had on Time Payments at the New Zealand Clothing I Factoiy’s Branch, East street, Ashburton ' 2 276 GLORIOUS NEWS. Andrew Ork will give away on Saturday 100 pairs men’s boots at 6a 9d ; 60 pairs can vas slippers at 2a 6d ; 30 pairs cricketing boots at 6s 6d ; 100 pairs Kaiapoi trousers at 11s fid—every article at half-price. VIST ANTED Known—Fresh Flounders » » are daily despatched direct from our own boat, now fisbing at Lake Elles mere. Delivery guaranteed within eight hours from time of catching. All orders received at my shop will be immediately executed on "arrival of the train. W. O. Paor, East street, Ashburton. 11 2161



SKILFUL SURGICAL OPERATION The American Ambassador at Vienna, Mr Kasson, has la ely forwarded to his Govern ment an interesting a count of a remarkable surg’cal operation lately performed by Profes sor Billroth, of Vienna, which, wonderful to tell, cons : sted in the removal of a portion of the human stomach, involving nearly one-third of the organ—and, strange to say, the patient recovered —the only surgical operation of thn Icind ever performed, Ihe disease for which this opera'ion was performed \va- cancer of the Stomach, attended with the foliowingsymptoms: —The appetite is quite poor. There is a peculiar indescribable distress in the stomach, a feeling that has been described as a faint *• all gone” sensation; a sticky slime collects about the teeth, especially in t e morning, ac companied by an unpleasant taste. Food fails to satisfy this peculiar faint sensation ; but, on the contrary, it appears to aggravate the f cl ing. The eyes are sunke >, tinged with yellow ; the hands and feet become cold and sticky—-a cod perspiration. The sufferers feel tired all the time, and sleep does not seem to give rest. After a time the patient becomes nervous and irritable, gloomy, his mind filled with evil fore bodings. When rising suddenly from a recum bent position there is a dizziness, a whistling sensation, and he is obliged to grasp something firm to keep from falling. The bowels costive, the skin dry z r.d hot at times ; the blood be cming thick and stagnant, and does not circu late p operly. After a time the patient spits ,»p food soon after eating, somet mes in a sour and fermented condition, somst'mes sweetish to the taste. Oftentimes the-e is a pa'pi tat ion of the heart, and the patient fears he may have heart disease. Towards the last the patient is unable to retain any food whatever, as the opening in the intestines becomes close, or nearly so. Although this disease is indeed alarming, sufferers with the abov -named symptoms should not feel nervous, for nine hundred and niuetv-Bine cases out of a thou sand ha'e no cancer, but simply dyspepsia, a disease easily removed if treated in a proper ■ manner. The safest and best remedy for the - disease is Seigel s Cnr.-live Syrup, a vegetable preparation so'd by all chemists and medicine vendors throughout the world, and by •he pro prietors, - 3 . J. White <Limited), 17, Farring don road, London, E.C.; or the wholesale agents Keniplhorne, Prosser and Co/s ew Zealand JDritf Company (Limited). Dunedin, Chiistchurch, Wellington, and Auck and. lins Syrup strikes at the I'ery foundation of the disease, and drives it, root ail.d branch, out ot the system. „ , St. Mary street, Peterbor6L’" n ' November 29th, 188 1. Sir,- It gives me great pleas ire to inform you of the benefit I have received from eigel’s Syrup. I have been troubled for years with dyspepsia; but after a few doses of the Syrup, I found relief, and after tak ng two bottles of It I feel quite cured. I am, Sir, yours truly, William Brent.



It :s Es n I a 11 t. d S g e LS ir h n •e is e >r d d e a Special Advertisements. jQOMESTIO PATTERN DEPOT Mrs Hodg^ DRAPER AND DRESSMAKER, East Street, near Lancaster’s butchery. Ladies’ Dresses and Underclothing made at the shortest notice. R E •I S T Y OFFICE For Female Servant*. 7 1413 SELLING OFF FANCY GOODS, TOYS, BOOKS, STATIONARY, &c. Must be sold - even if at a loss To Suit everybody at prices that cannot be beaten. Andrewes Bros., Booksellers, Stationers, &c. , Ashburton Dimant and Coe, ARE authorised LOCAL AGENTS for Singer’s SEWING M A OHINES, and are prepared to receive PAYMENTS and afford all information in connection therewith, Treadle and Hand Machines on Time Payments. A supply cf Machine extras on hand. CORNER EAST AND TANORED STREETS, ASHBURTON. 11 2181 BOOKSELLER AND stati6's r - Cut ery, Jewellery, Concertinas, and Fancy Goods Dealer. BEVAN Young Ladies' Journals (Feb. No.) for Is 3i. Subscribers wanted. Country stores supplied at special rates. SAUNDERS’ BUILDING Next Quill’s Hotel. R. Bevan B. Bevan U, Bevan R. Bevan R. Bevan R. Bevan R. Bevan R, Bevan R. Bevan R Bevan R. Bevan R. Bevan R, Bevan R. Bevan R. Bevan R. Bevan R. Bevan R. Bevan R. Bevan R. Bevan R. Bevan R. Bevan R. Bevan R. Bevan R. Bevan Read, mark, learn and INWARDLY DIGEST, and to accomplish the above feat, visit my estab lishment, and lighten your inward gloom by appeasing your appetite for the beauti ful bv inspecting the most delightfully ; i;r T STIO EASTER CARDS \ ...r imposed into *»hburlo»(di™i tom Hoii.e). You at. then .V spect the contents of a large case , personally selected, and just received. 1 be ieve it was Lord iVolseley who said (he happens to be the moat popular man of the day, and one must squeeze a little popularity into advertisements), “ A man who aspires to great heights should read incessantly, and never forget his news papers;’ and I say the same! Read! Real ! Read ! When both you and my self will be considerably benefited. Not having room to give a detailed list of the contents of my shelves, I can only finish by saying--Come and see for yourselves, and if you are disappointed come again.— Nothing like Perseverance ! Thomas F. Farley’s, BOOKSELLER AND STATIONER, Saunders’ Buildings, East St., Ashburton.



Mr A. J. White September 8 b, 1883. Dear Sir,— l find the sale of Seigel’s Syrup steadily increasing. All who have tried it speak very highly of its medicinal virtues ; one customer describes it as a “ Godsend to dys peptic people.” I always recommend it with confidence. Faithfully yours, (Signed) Vincent A, Wills, Che j ist-dentist, Merthyr Tydvil. To Mr A. J. White. , , Seigel’s Operating PUs are the best family physic that has ever been discovered. They cleanse the bowels from all irritating sub stances, and leave them in a healthy condition. They cure costiveness. Preston, September 21st, 1883. My Dear Sir, —Your Syrup and Pil's are still very popular with my customers, many saying they are the best family medic.nes pos ible. The other day P customer came for two bottles of Syrup anil said “Mother Seigel had saved the life of his wife, and he added, “one of these bottles lam senf?. ,o g fifteen miles away to a friend who is very ill. ■1 b ave much faith in it.” The sale keeps up wonderfully, in fact, one would fancy almost that the people were be ginning to breakfast, dine, and sup on Mother Seigel’s Syrup, the demand is so constant and the satisfaction so great. I am, dear Hr, yours faithfully, (Signed) W. Bowker, To A. J. White, Escj. Spanish Town, Jamaica, West Indies, Oct. 24, 1882. Dear Sir,—I write to inform you that I have



VT/ANTED Known—Boots ! Boots 1 V\ That Hayes and Co. are Clearing a few desperate lines of Boots, etc., to wit, Ladies’ Leather, 4s 6d; Men’s Shooters, Pegged, 10s ; Men’s Elastic sides, 9s, and a lot of odd lines that must be cleared at once. 7 1278 WANTED Known—Umbrellas at Is lid, six doz Buttons for Is, China Matting at 6d, Ladies’ Hose at 6d, Cor sets at 2a 3d, Shirting at 4£d, Towels 3£d, 36-inch Oilcloth 9d, Camisoles Is 4d. Am>bkw Obr’s Cheap Sale 2 185 WANTED KNOWN—Robert Elston, Bill Poster, Theatrical Agent, etc., Town Hall, Ashburton. Theatrical companies and others visiting Ashburton should communicate with the above. Orders by post or telegram promptly attended to. 769



derived great benefit from “ Seigel’s Syrup. For some years I have suffered from liver com plaint, with its many and varied concomitan evils, so that my life was a perpetual mis vy Twelve months ago I was induced to tr; Seigel’s Syrup, and although rather sceptical having tried so many reputed infallible feme dies, 1 determined to give it at least a fair trial In two or three days 1 felt coa: iderably better and now at the end of twelve months (hav rq continued taking it) I am glad to s y that J am a different being altogether. t is said o pertain pens that they ‘ come as a boon and r doubt tri? truthfulness of the statement. 1 car say truly however, that ifeigtl’s Syrup ha come as a ‘ boon < ' a blessing to me. ] have recommended it to .'‘ ev ? ral fellow-sufferer, from this distressing compiai.?*; a ! ll ~ tllelr teiU ' mony is quite in accordance wn„ aI X. ° wn ' Gratitude for lb* benefit I h ve deriveu e excel ent preparation, prompts me to fur jsh you with this unsolicited testimonial. I am dear Sir, Yours ever grate ully, (Signed) Carey 15. Berry, Baptist Missionary. A. J. White, Esq. llensingham, Whitehaven, ifi, iS?2. Mr A. J. Wi ite—l ear Sir, I was for some time afflicUd with pi e-, and was adyised to give Mother ei x'■ S»ni;» i Sri 1, which I did. lami ow Ic.p ; ■ ■■•tv tliat it has re stored me tocviitpu-ii hc-li.i -1 remain, yours respectfully, § Jo. n H. Eightfoot.



Special Advertisements. rjpHE LONDON AND LANCASHIRE Fire Insurance Co. We have much pleasure in informing the public of Ashburton that Mks-ks WILDING - , LEWIS & CASTGILL have been appointed AGENTS for the above Company in the Ashburton Dis trict. I 1 All ri.;ks taken at lowest, current rates. • LEWIS & GOULD, 3 328 General Agents for Canterbury.



TIMBER. TIMBER. TIMBER. TO FA.RMRRS and Others about to Build—Bay your timber from the Producers at Imt cost and Save Money. To Housekeepers who wish to have the satisfaction of burning Good Coal— We are now landing, n s.a. Tekapo, PRIME NEWCASTLE COAL, which will bo sold at Lowest Bates. Every Requisite for the Building Trade kept in StocH, and Building supplied throughout. Farmers would do well to call and obtain quotations. MACPHERSON, FILMER AND CO. (late A. Hayes). TIMBER, COAL & WOOD MEROH ANTS, East street, Ashburton.



26 Branches Now Open 25 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. SL'-rts, Hats, Hosiery, Blankets, Rugs, Portmanteaux, and every requisite * at WHOLESALE PRICES. Note the address— NEW Z E iLAND CLOTHING Factory EAST STREET, Ashburton 25 Branches Now Open 25



-tjf Davis s gURPLUS STOCK OF FURNITURE Now selling off at HALF-PRICE. Mast be sold to make room for NEW STOCK. Parties about to Furnish will SAVE 50 Pbk Cent. BY PUCHASING AT W. DAVIS’S FURNITURE WAREHOUSE, EAST STREET SOUTH, Ashburton 9 1729



LIST, Women’s Lisle Gloves, 4-buttons, 4Jd. 47 Men’s Tweed Sac Suits, 27s 6J, now 17s 6d. -A 37 Boys’ au~ Youths' Trouser Suits, 20s, now 12s 6d, 34 Pairs Men’s ’rouaers and Vests, Bargain, 10s lid. Small Boys’ Tunic Suits, cheap, 6s lid. .50 Dozen Men’s Socks, s£d. 75 Dozen Men’s Merino Socks, a#d. Men’s Hard Felt Hats, New Goods, 6a 6d, now la lid, 200 Dozen Turkey Hed Handkerchiefs, 3jd. H. E. May & Co.,



Victoria House. A.SON sale COMMENCING ON JANUARY 16xh, FOR FIVE WEEKS ONLY. & OONTINOING REMARKABLE REALITIES ! GLARING SEDUCTIONS ! ! p£- For CWipcing proof and Special Prices See Windows'^ Dimant and Coe, BBiDY-MONBY DRAPERS, CLOTHIERS, &v., In premises lately occupied by Orr and Co., Coro |Eaat and l aiuued otre ASHBURTON,



Special Advertisements. Groceries CHEAPER THAN EVER AT JAMES McGREGOR’3, FAItCIIKD i^TBLEr. Sugars—English Cut Loaf K d per lb Rest White Cryste.,, Sjd per lb Best Snowdrop, 4d per lb (Reductions by the ma;) Teas, la 3d, la 6d. 2s, 2s 6d, and 2s 9d Box Tea from 12s 6d per box | Canterbury Cakes, lOd each. Rico, S I Mixed Biscuits, 61 Lunch Biscuits, 3d Currants, 61 Raisins, 7d Now Figs, Is per hex Best Sago, 3d New Muscatels, la 6d Oysters, 6d Cairn’s Marmalade, 8d Peacock’s Jams, 6jd Herrings, 7d Keiller’a Marmalade, 9d Salmon, 8d Cheese, 6d per lb English Pickles, 8d Other articles equally cheap, JAMES McGREGOR, Tancred Street. 12 2342



WAR WITH RUSSIA.—At the Pre , sent juncture it would be difficult for any one exe pt a prophet o£ the highest rank to say whether or not the present negotiations between England and Russia will lead to a general European war, or whether they will end in smoke. The absence of full information as to what is transpiring between the two countries may indicate that the political breeze is blowing harmlessly past ; or, it may be the awful silence which generally precedes a storm. In either case, we ought to be prepared for the worst. If a general war breaks out the price of nearly every article of commerce will rise. Among other commodities wool and labor will go up. Now is the time, therefore, to lay in a stock of clothing, before the general ad* vanoe begins. In order that we may not be caught napping we have just purchased a Splendid Assortment of Winter Tweeds and other materials necessary to a well equipped tailoring establishment, which we are prepared to offer at unusually low prices for cash. Regarding stylo and fit, it is almost needless for us to repeat what everybody knows, viz , that by our scien tific mode of cutting, and the care exer cised by us in fitting the figure, a mis-fit is an impossibility.—Cr.ughbad and Co., Merchant Tailors, Tancred street.



Indigestion and Liver Complaints.—For these complaints Baxter’s Compound Quinine Bills have proved a specific, acting powerfully OP the Jiyer aqd mildly on the storaaph, Sold •very where, or post free from J. Baxter, >-• . ' Christchurch, for 10 or 44 stamps. Chemist, v.- „ “Rouugh on Don’t Die in the Hoc caches, Rats ” clears out rats, mice, beetles, -. bed-bugs, flies, ants, insects, moles, jack rabbits, gophers. The N.Z. Drug Co., General Agents. 1 August Flower. —The most miserable beings in the world are those suffering from dyspepsia and liver complaint. More than 7£ per cent of the people are afflicted with these two diseases and their effects ; such as sour stomach, sick headache, habitual costiveness, palpitation of the heart, heart burn, waterbrash, gnawing and burning pains at the pit of the stomach, yellow skin, coated tongue and dis agreeable taste in the mouth, coming up of food‘after’ eatirig, low spirits, etc. Go to your I druggist and get a bottle pf 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 fid a bottle. Sample bottles, fid,—[Advt,



Holloways Pills,— Nervous Debility,— No part of the human machine requires more watching than the nervous system— upon it hangs health and life itself. These pills are the best regulators and strengtheners of the nerves, and ths safest general purifiers* sea. headache, giddiness, numbness, and men tal apathy yield to them. They dispatch m a summary manner those distressing dyspeptic symptoms, stomachic pains, fulness at the pit of the stomach, abdominal distension, and over come both capricious appetites and confined bowels—the commonly accompanying signs of or deranged nervous power. Hollo way’s Pills are particularly recommciuwi to persons of studious and sedentary habits, who gradually sink into a nervous and debilitated state, unless some such restorative be occa Stonally taken. ■—£ Allyt.}