COMMERCIAL.

Ashburton Guardian Office, Thursday afternoon.

Messrs Miles and Co, (Mr J. T. Ford, auc tioneer) report on the live stock market at Ashburton, for the week ending March 3rd, as follows:—The usual fortnightly market was held at the Ashburton ( ounty Saleyards on Tuesday, 3rd instant, when a limited number stock—sheep and cattle—met a still more limited number of buyers, and we have again to record a very slow sale. There were very few fatslieep, and the few sold brought about 2d per lb, In store sheep—old merino ewes brought from 3s 6d to 4s 6d; merino wethers from a back station 4s each; and first-cross .lambs from to 8s 2d each the latter a very good line. Fat cattle; Very good sold at Shout 17s fid per loolb. Of stores there were but few yarded, and very little business done. As a whole bnr sales were above quotations. Privately we have sold during the week 2,000 two-tooth crossbred ewes at 12s 6deach ; 250 two-tooth crossbred ewes at 12s; also, 2,000 station merino wethers at 4s qd each. If the weather e’eats sufficiently to enable the farmers to harvest their crops, we expect to see a marked improvement in the value of store sheep—both crossbreds and merinos—as the stubbles are full of feed, and there are every where good fields of turnips, g : ving promise of an abundant crop. Should the delegates of the different Freezing Companies, who meet in Christchurch this, week, be. able to induce shipping agents to reduce their freight charges, it wul enable farmers to ship frozen meat with a certainty of profit, and to a large extent make up to them'that which is now being lost in the production of grain.

DAILY MEMORANDA.

AUCTION SALES. Saturday, March 7. Mr Hew. Bullock, at the Arcade, Burnett itreet—Horses and Sundries . Tdysdat, March 10 Hearn Mataon, Oox and 0),, at the Tinwald Saleyarda—Stock MEETINGS, AMUSEMENTS, Exo. Thursday, March 5 ' Orange Lodge—Regular Monthly meeting in the New Orange Hall; 7.30 p.m. Saturday, March 7. Afakanni Road Board, at Road Board office, Moore street,-at 10.30 a.m. Monday, March 0. Borough Oonnoil, at Borough Council Chambers, at 7.30 Tdbsday, March 10. Ashburton School Committee —Monthly Meeting, in the Schoolroom, at 7. SO Wbdnjtsday, March 11 Orange Hall— Star of the East, 1.0.G.T., meeting at 8 o’clock Friday, March 13. Lonbgeaoh Road Board' at Road Board Office.

Monday, Mabch 16 Arcade Chambers —Star of Ashburton, U.A.0.D., at 8 o’clock T hoesdat, Mabch 26 Ilovald Saleyards—Annual Ram and Ewe Fair

Fkioat, Mabch 27. iohtmrton County Council; —At Connci Chambers, 11 a. m.

NOTICE TO ADVERTISERS.

Advertisements for The Ashbueton OttabdlaN must be sent in not later than 8 p.m,, with the number of insertion, written plainly on the copy, otherwise they will be inserted until counter manded, and charged accordingly. Re place Advertisements must be supplied the day previous to that on which they are to Wthsected. . , Special notices can be received up to Ri3o p.m., but will be charged double rates. AB notices of Births, Marriages, or Deaths must be accompanied by the sig nature of the sender, as a guarantee of good faith. All advertiaemen ta and business letters «o be addressed The Manager ; literary communications should be addressed to The Editor.

MAIL NOTICES.

Mails close at the Ashburton Post Office fellows

For Christchurch and North at 6 a.m. 10.30 a.nu, end 5 p.m., daily. Fbr Chertseyßakaia, &c.» at 10.30 a.m. *nd6p.m, daily. v For Dunedin, Tinwald, Winslow, Hinds, Coldstream, Rangitata, Orari, Winchester, and Geraldine, at 10 a.m. daily. For Temuka, at 6 ».m. and 10 a.m., For Timaru and South, at 6 a.m., 10 *.m., and 4.30 p.m., daily. For Greenstreet and Ashburton Forks, Wednesdays and Saturdays, at 10.45 a.m. k . For Wakanui, Elgin, Seaview, Seafield, Kyle, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, at 6.30 a.m- For Mount Somers, on Tuesdays and aturdays, at 6 a.m. and 4.30 p.m. For Mayfield, on Tuesdays and Satur iays, at 6 a-m. For .Ashten, Waterton and Longbeaoh, at 4.30_p.r0. daily. For Flemington, on Mondays, Wednes days, and Fridays, at 4.30 p,m. For Newlanda, on Tuesdays and Fri days at 10.30 a-m.

Mails arrive At the Ashburton Post From Christchurch and Rakaia at 10.15 a,m, 4.35 p.m., and 7.20 puna. From Chertsey, &o. at 10.15 a.m. and 4.85 p.m- daily. From Dunedin and intermediate places at 5.3? -mo. daily. Frosu. Temuka and Timaru at 10.40 a-m. U. 40 p.m., and 8 p.m. daily. From Greenstreet and Ashburton Forks,, Wednesdays and Saturdays, at 10 *.m.

for. Mount Somers and Ashburton Gorge, oil Tuesdays and Saturdays, at 6 a.m. and 4 39 p.m., and on Wednesdays al 5 p.m. From Mayfield, on Tuesdays and Satur days, at 10 a. m. From Ashton, Waterton, and Long beachat 10 a.m. daily. From Newlanda, on Tnesdays and Fri days, at 2.30 p.m. From Flemxngton on Tuesdays, Thurs day*, “ d From Elgi^vWakanm, Seafield, and Kyle OQ. ; Thursdays, m 4 Sat- -

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas, et Praevalebit. THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 1885.

The funeral of the late Mr W. H. Oram, proprietor of the Royal Hotel, who died suddenly at Dunedin on Saturday, took place in Christchurch yesterday. The hearse was preceded by a large number of members <f the Masonic Order, and was followed by a tram of fifty carriages. In the six days go-as-you-please match recently decided in Dancdin, A. Fosse, the Ashburton competitor, held second place (74 miles 3 laps) at the conclusion of the first day. The distance (75 miles 14 laps) covered by Rayner, the first man, is the best yet done for twelve hours in the colony. The ordinary monthly meeting of the Tinwald School Committee will be held this evening. Messrs Wilding, Lewis and Oaygill have been appointed agents in Ashburton for the London and Lancashire Fire In surance Company. Candidates for the Mount Mutt Licens ing Committee must be nominated to the Returning Officer, Mr F. Mainwaring, at the Road Board Office, Methven, before noon, to morrow.

Tha usual practice of the Western Fire Brigade was held last evening. There was a good attendance, and the members were put through a aeries of exercises by the superintendent, Lieu enant W. B. Dolman. The regular monthly meeting of the Brigade will be held on Wednesday next, when business of importance will be considered. It is reported that Mr Blackett, the Engineer-in-Chief, a ill shortly retite from the public service on his pension, and that he will be succeeded by Mr 0. Y. O’Connor, at present Under-Secretary of the Public Works Department. The following are the acreages planted by the Canterbury Plantation Board within the Count} of Ashburton :—Waka nui Road District, 78 acres ; Upper Ash burton Road District, 270 acres ; Mount Somers Road District, 190 acres ; Long beach Road District, 128 acres ; Rangi tata Road District, 85 acres. A meeting of the Excursion Sports Committee was here at Messrs Matson,

Cox and Go’s office last evening for the purpose of receiving the Treasurer's bal ance-sheet. The total receipts were shown to have been L 52 16s 6d, including L 37 Oa 6i taken at the gates, and the expen-

diture to have been L 47 7s 2d, leaving a credit in hand of L 5 8a 4d. A cordial vote of thanks was accorded to his Wor ship the Mayor for the very valuable assistance he had gi on to the Committee, and the gratuitous services of tha Lyttel ton Orphanage Band were acknowledged in a similar manner.

The Loyal Jrange Lodge will meet this evening at 7.30. The adjourned annual meeting of the shareholders of the Canterbury Tramway Company was held in Christchurch last evening. The report of the Directors showed a surplus of L 1,630. It was de cided to place L 1,518 to the temporary reserve account, and issue 4,928 new shares among the present shareholders. The Directors were empowered to trans fer from the reserve fund from time to

time amounts equal t) 14s per share on the existing shares when the new shares re issued, that is, practically each share holder on paying 6a will receive a new share of 20s paid up.

The very unfavorable harvest weather of the past ten dajs appears to have been general throughout the Canterbury dis trict, and considerable damage to crops is apprehended. It is reported that many crops around Christchurch and Timaru have commenced to sprout. The ordinary monthly meeting of the Longbeach Koad Board will be held at the Board’s office, Longbeaoh, to-morrow. Tenders ace invited for lease of part of reserve No 1251 adjoining the County Saleyards, for cattle market purposes only.

Notice is given in this issue that at the next ordinary meeting of the bounty Council to be held on Friday 27th inst., a special order constituting the Anaina Road Board < istrict will be con sidered. At the same meeting a similar order dissolving the present Mount Somers Road Board, and ordering the election of a new Board will be con sidered. 'A Melbourne weekly is responsible for the following It is reported on good authority that a certain large shipping firm are desirous of placing six of their largest ocean steamai s for excursion trips to London, so that all may have an oppor tunity of visiting the International Exhi bition at cheap rates. It is proposed that

first-class tickets only be issued, and at

the rate of L 25 for return tickets avail able for two mouths, the only condition imposed being that the agents should be guaranteed five hundred passengers for each steamer.

Mr Vanderbilt, on coming into posses sion of General Grant’s property as

security for his loan of 160,000d01s to the General, offarfed to present the whole of it to Mrs Grant, who, however, declined the gift.

Mr Thomas Bullock, J.P., presided at the Resident Magistrate’s Court this morning.—James Patterson, for drunken ness, was fined 10s and costs, with the alternative of 24 hours’ imprisonment. John Burke O’Brien was charged with a breach of the Police Offences Act, 1884, m attempting to impose upon W. Rowse, of the Canterbury Hotel, Methven, with a forged note. From the evidence adduced it appeared that the accused had endered a “ Wanaka ” note to Rowse in payment for two drinks. Rowse at once detected the forgery, and caused accused to be arrested. The accused alleged that a swagger had handed him the note to change, and that he was innocent of any fraudulent intent; he was, however, sen tenced to three months’ imprisonment with hard labor.

ilia Worship the Mayor and the Chair man and Engineer of the County Council left .Ashburton by the 10.65 train this morning en route for Wellington, where they will interview the Minister of Public Works, in respect to the Ashburton road bridge.

Wo ace given to understand that 13 members of the late Ashburton Volunteer Fire Brigade will volunteer for service in the new Brigade. Lazy and dull feelings always preceed sick ness, which nothing but Hop Bitters will banish. Read.— [Advt.] Another 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 ding in Lyttelton and Cristchurch, now bank rupt, was purchased by H. E. May & Co., of the Hall, High street, for £954, or only a uttle over one-third of its value. H. £. M. and Co. are now selling it at half the marked price, which surely ought to secure a speedy clearance.

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 eating, low spirits, etc. Go to your druggist and get a bottle 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,[Advt,

A telegram we hare received from Christchurch to day saya : —Very heavy rain fell here last night, the downpour being so great at one time as to rouse people from their sleep, and excite of a waterspout. This morning the rain ceased, but the weather is still dull and threatening. The annual distribution of prizes in connection with the St Stephen’s Sunday School took place in the schoolroom on Sunday in the presence of a number of the parents. The IlevE. A. Scott dellvcr?d an impressive address, exhorting the children to be regular in their attendance at school,.and diligent in their studies of the Scriptures. Mr R S. Bean (deputy superintendent) expressed a hope that parents would supplement the work of the teachers. The following is the prize list ; —Boys—Attendance prizes : W. Porter, Arthur Prichard, Alfred Piichard —Class 1; T. Hancox, 1; H. Fooks, 2. —Class 2: H. Mills, 1; F. Hancox, 2; W. Mills, 3.—Class 3 ; J. Carter, 1; J. Parker, 2 —Class 5: P, Prichard, 1; F. Slee, 2; J. Knight, 3 ; W. Mills, 4; P. Prichard, special.— Class 6: J. Scott, 1; J. Hancox and W. Scott (equal), 2; F. Clayton and P. Cookson (equal), 3 ; H. Ede, special.— Class 7: G. Pass, 1, J Baigent, 2 ; J. White, 3.—Class 8 ; 0. White, 1; G. Foulke, 2; W. Cooper, 3 ; B. Soott and W. Powell, specials.—Class 9 : J. Cooper, 1; 0. Fowke, 2 —Girls ; Bible class—A Gates, I; M. Fowler, 2; J. Ruddioic, 3. —Class 1: E. Prichard, 1; 8. Permain, A, Beare and A. Pass (equal), 2 ; A. Car ter, 3 —Class 2 : M. Pass, 1 ; A. Fooks and H. Choate (equal), 2 ; E. Ede, 3. Class 3: R. Worner, 1; S. Barber, 2; B. |Taylor, 3; R. Worner and S. Barber, special. Class 4: B. Hyde, 1 ; M. Fooks, 2; E. Hyde and M. Bennett, special.—Class S ; A. Miles, 1; A. Andrews, 2; F. Wright, 3 ; A. Jones, A. Andrews, specials.—Class 6 : M. Andrews, 1; A. Felton, 2; E. Bean and E. Welsh, specials.—Class 7: B. Ful ler, 1; L. Pass and L Bagient, equal 2 ; M. Leeaon, special—Class 8: E Miles, 1; M. Miles, 2; G. Hyde, 3; E. Bradley and A. Slee, specials. Now that it has become so common to paint everything red, it might not be *a bad idea to idea to decorate some news papers with a carmine hue. They never will be read otherwise. —Public Opinion. “ Have you corns?” blandly asked the corn-plaster peddler at the busy man’s elbow; “Yes, I’m supplied,” answered the busy man, withput looking up. We know that there is nothing on earth equal to Hop Bitters as a family medicine. Look for. —[Advt.] Skinny Men.—“ Wells’ Health Renewer , restores health and vigor, cures dyspepsia, itn potence, debility, The N.Z. Drug Co. General'Agents. _ * Indigestion and Liver Complaints.—For these complaints Baxter’s Compound Quinine Pills have proved a specific, acting powerfully on the liver and mildly on the stomach. Sold 1 everywhere, or post free from J. Baxter, Chemist, Christchurch, for 19 r>r 44 stamps.

ASHBURTON WESLEYAN BAND OF HOPE.

The tea and entertainment, in celebra tion of the Wesleyan Band of Hope anni versary held at the Cameron street Church last night, were an unqualified success. The arrangements for the tea meeting were faultless, and those who attended the entertainment in anticipation of a pleasant evening’s enjoyment could not bo in any way disappointed. Over 150 persons sat down to tea, and from the fact that about one-half of thbse were children, it will be easily understood that the ladies who pre sided at tha tables wery kept busily em ployed. All the visitors, however, ap peared well satisfied, not only with the “ bill of fare ” provided by the Committee but with the.evident desire to make every guest feel comfortable and at home. The Rev. O, H. Standage took the chair at the subsequent meeting, and after devotional exercises, gave a short address. After stating that the occasion was essentially a “ children’s night,” he expressed his pleasure at seeing so many adult representatives from all the sister churches in Ashburton. Referring to the Sand of Hope, the Chairman said its progress and prosperity were self-evident in view of the large number present that evening, and the enthusiasm existing generally among the Society’s members. This satisfactory state was duo in no small measure to the energetic and genial Secretary, ,Mr Frank Steel. The membership stood at ninety, with an average attendance of sixty at the fortnightly meetings. “After briefly referring to tempe.ance work generally. Mr Standage brought hia address to a close, and the choir gave the song and chorus “ Work away.” Miss Maggie Meyenberg recited very pleasingly “Do the right,” and a duett, with chorus, en titled ‘ 1 Homo ” was so excellently ren dered as to narrowly escape an encore. Mr Kil worth followed with an address, premising his remarks by giving a cordial invitation to young people generally to attach themselves to the Band of Hope. Referring to what had been said about “defeat” in connection with Licensing Committee elections, he thought no such word should find a place in the temper ance vocabulary, when they saw so many young folks being educated in total absti nence principles. Several of the diminu tive members of the Society than sang “ Little ones,” which was only a partial success, and at this period of the enter tainment, an Interesting item of the pro gramme took place. The Chairman, on behalf of the members of the Band of Hope, presented Miss Potter with two handsomely bound volumes streams’’.and “The Band of Hope Melo dist.” As organist of the Society, Miss Potter’s services are highly appreciated, and the presentation was an expression of this sentiment. Several children were then the recipients of illuminated certifi cates, neatly framed, being rewards for regular attendance. The rest of the even ing was taken up with recitations and

music, Messrs Murray (2), Steel (2), Martin, Fleaher, and Uhapman, rendering good service under the former heading, aud a song by Miss Atkinson was much appreciated. Mr Gamble deserves credit for the manner in which the musi-

cal portion of the programme was carried out, and the difficulty in accompanying soloists on the organ was in a great mea sure overcome by Mias Potter’s careful and expressive manipulation of the instru ment. The proceedings were Drought to a close shortly after nine o'clock, before which, however, Mr J. E. Buchanan in a racy speech proposed votes of thanks to the ladies, etc., which, of course, were carried very heartily.

The Bad and Worthless

are never imitated or counterfeited. This is es pecially true of a family medicine, and it is positive proof that the remedy imitated is of the highest value. As soon as it has been tested and proved by the whole world that Hop Bitters was the purest, best, and most valuable family medicine on earth, many imitations sprung up and began to steal the notices in which the press and the people of the country bad expressed the merits of H. 8., and in every way trying to induce su‘lering invalids to use their stuff instead, expecting to make money on the credit ana g«;>d name of H. B. Many others started nostrums put up in simi lar style to H. 8,, with variously devised names in which the word V Hop ” or “Hops ” were used in a way to induce people to believe theyjwere the same as Hop Bitters, AH such prefWded remedies or cures, no matter what their style or name is, and especially those with the word “ Hop ” or “ Hops ” in their name or in any way connected with them or their name, are imitations or counterfeits. Beware of them. Touch none of them. Use nothing but genuine American Hop Bitters, with a bunch or cluster of green Hops on the white label, and Dr Soule’s name blown in the ' glass. Trust nothing else. Druggists and | chemists are warned against dealing in imita | tioos <■ x counterfeits, 4

THE THREATENED INVASION OF INDIA.

(“St. James’s Bddobx.”)

Certain articles entitled “Indian Dan gers ” lately appeared in this journal, to warn our fellow-countrymen of a state of things more threatening than any that disturbed them. The revelation amounted to this: that, in the judgment of the most authoratative and most responsible ser vants of the Crown in India, Russia is preparing for a grand advance upon cer tain objective points, whence an invasion of India could be made with comparative ease, and probably in the midst of a re bellion. Men who only a little while ago would have smiled at the fear of disaffec tion are now of opinion that (to use the language of one of the coolest shrewdest, and most distinguished of Indian officials) “as events march, it seems quite upon 1 the cards that in a year or two we may be I in the thick of a storm to which that of 1 1867 was a joke.” And why is an out break feared ? Because of another and I more imminent danger—a determinate I Russian advance, in great and well-pre pared force, upon the frontiers- of India. And then we showed that while the de- I sign is unquestionable, the means exist, I and the opportunity has arrived.

The means are obvious from the facl

that, even supposing Russia had to watch the German and Austrian jfrontiers with 900.000 troops of all arms, she could spare as many as 200,000. men for opera tions in the diceialcm of India. Of that number no smalls portion already occupy advantageous points of departure ; and, according to a detailed estimate made by a most competent military authority, Russia can in from *0 to lO& daya ad vance 95,000 regular troops intlKpositions of the utmost importance, from|%hioh we could hardly hope to dislodge her. 95.000 regulars, with at least 100,000 more in reserve; and a horde of “native ’ troops into the bargain ! As for the op i portunity, we further pointed out that it is to be found in the coincidence of the | following circumstances. To the know ledge of the Russians, of course, dur Go vernment have made no effective prepara tion of any kindfwhatever. The Indian army is much below its nominal strength, and cannot be recruited in anything like an adequate way without the adoption of measures from which our Government have already shrunk so long, as a matter of principle, that the possibilities of attack are far ahead of the possibilities of defence. Our Government and our little army are embarrassed by Egypt and the Soudan. Turkey might have made a formidable diversion against the Czar if our alliance with her had remained unkroken ; his Majesty is relieved of all anxiety on that score. The ' hree Emperor alliance is restored, and England is shut out from the friendship her sagacious rulers re jected with insult ; therefore bargaining with the other Emperors is possible now to the Russian Emperor—possible, if not already settled. And that is not all. Afghanistan is in the hands of a man who was once a pensioner of the Cztr, and whom the Czar can the more certainly buy because he might otherwise upset him by favouring his riyal. Then there are our difficulties with the native princes of India—difficulties of which the Russian Government knows much more than the people of England do. - And lastly there is the stir of discontent in India; the feeling that wo know our star is falling before that of Russia; and there is the'readinesa of tens of thousands of warlike men in India to rise against us, for that sharo of the plunder which of course will be well promised; in some cases, has been. Since we were able to declare that every word of this could be justified on the authority of not one or two but four or five of the greatest soldiers and adminis trators in India, we were spared the usual cry of “ Alarmist ” : a title we are proud to say we earned long ago on every field where the empire is subjected to humilia tion now, or confronted with danger. But, what is more, within a few weeks the moat positive evidence in support of our warning came in both from Central Asia and from Russia itself. The way in which Sir Peter Lnmsden’s mission has been treated Is about as significant as any thing in its way could possibly be. Sneaked into Afghan Turcomania, as if its business were to sue for peace from a conqueror, this unfortunate gentleman’s mission has been treated with the most open and deliberate discourtesy. He is there upon the fool’s errand of agreeing upon a boundary to the Russian advance : an agreement which we all know would not bind the Russian for a day, if it were agreed upon. But Russia chooses to show that she is in no hurry even to gratify the British Government with a paper understanding which both parties are aware would be worth less the week after it was signed. The officer who was to have met our En voy started for St Petersburg only to spend a few weeks with his family, while Sir Peter and bis escort are»kickiug their heels in “ winter quarters." It is no ac cidental insult this—it cannot be ; and the question that prises from it is whether the Russian Government is not leaving itself at liberty to send Sir Peter homo again without his bit of paper even. One thing we know, that he found Russian troops in actul possession of Afghan ter ritory. He found the Czar’s outposts far in advance of any boundary that could be defined without admitting them iuto Af ghanistan itself; in positions which yet more clearly indicate the design of do minating the whole country. Soon after wards the Russian newspapers came oat with that audacious latter of General So boleff's (which could not have appeared without official consent), in which the in vasion of India was discussed at great length as a comparatively easy task now, especially as the people would naturally take occasion to mutiny. Meantime we hear that certain Russian agents are resi dent at Cabul by the side of the Ameer, who is the Czar’s tool and our pensioner. It is while affairs are in this position as between ourselves and Russia that the English press is all for “ taking our own course ’’ here and there without regard to any Three Emperor alliances, and in de fiance of the Germans, the French, and everybody else. Mere absurdity. The plain fact is that oar Government have got us into this position; they dare not move, whatever happens, against the

Powers whom they wouldlhave for foes, for fear of what would befall them at the hands of their civilising friend the Ozar. Signal given, and in a few weeks twenty thousand men would be in possession of Herat; a few weeks more, and a hundred thousand Russian regulars, with hordes of Turkomans, would be over the Afghan frontier. While as for oyr provident rulers, they are aware that they could oppose such an advance with no more than 10,000 Englishmen and 40,000 Sepoys. This is the total: there would be no reserves.

PRINCE ALBERT VICTOR AND MR GLADSTONE.

Prince Albert Victor received the fol lowing letter from Mr Gladstone on the attainment of his majority ;—Hawarden Castle, January 7. Sir, —As the oldest among the confidential servants of Her Majesty, 1 cannot allow the anniversary to pass without notice, which will to-mor row bring your Royal Highness to full age, and thus mark an important epoch in your life. The hopes and intentions of those whose lives lie, like mine, in the past are of little moment; but they have seen much, and what they have seen sug gests much for the future. There lies before your' Royal Highness in prospect the occupation, 1 trust at a distant date, of a throne which, to me at least, appears the most illustrious in the world, from its history and associations, from its legal basis, from the weight of the cares it brings, from the loyal love of the people, and from the unparalleled opportunities it gives, In so many ways and in so many regions, of doing good to the almost countless numbers whom the Almighty has placed beneath the sceptre of Eng land, I fervently desire and pray—and there cannot be a more animating prayer

—that your Royal Highness may ever grow in the principles of coudubt, and may be adorned with all the qualities, which correspond with this great and noble vocation. And, Sir, if sovereignty has been relieved by our modern institu tions of some of its burdens, it still, 1 be lieve, remains true that there has been no period of the world’s history at which successors to the Monarchy could more efficaciously contribute to the stability of a great historic system, dependent even more upon love than upon strength, by devotion to their duties, and by a bright example to the country. This re sult we have happily been permitted to see, and other generations will, I trust, witness it anew. Heaitily desiring that in the life of your Royal Highness every private and personal may be joined with every public blessing, 1 have the honor to remain, Sir, your Royal Highness’s most dutiful and faithful servant, W. £. Gladstone. Mr Gladstone received the following re ply from Prince Albert Victor:—Sand ringham, Norfolk, Friday, January 9th, 1885. —Dear Mr Gladstone, — I wish I were better able to answer your very kind letter—conveying, as it does, not only the beat of good wishes, but carrying with them^reffactions on the past and advice for the future, for which I wish to thank you. 1 assure you the letter shall have that attention which words from yourself must deserve. It admirably describes much which demands my moat earnest thought on this, perhaps, the moat im portant birthday of my life. Believe me, £ am very grateful for your rememberance of me this day, and that, amongst the many offerings which have reached me, 1 prize nothing mo r e than the letter you have so kindly written, for which pray ac cept my most sincere thanks. 1 am glad to believe that your health is restored, and I trust your many friends will have no cause for renewed anxiety on your be half. With my most kind remembrances to Mrs Gladstone, believe me, yours very sincerely. Albert Victor.

THE ACQUITTAL OF MADAME CLOVIS HUGUES.

The French jury, who after a short deliberation ” acquitted Madame Clovis Hug ties, have put by their verdict a fresh gloss oa the theory which affarms that killing may be no murder. The wife of the “ poet-deputy ” admitted her guilt. She owned to having premeditated the act, and even intimated that her deter mination to effect it was confirmed by the look of contempt which her victim oast upon her as she passed oat of Court on the occasion when she shot him. The incident from first to last throws a sugges tive light upon social conditions in France. Some two years ago the deceased Morin circulated or published certain statements reflecting on the character of Madame Huguea. He was cited into Court, and, the libel having been proved, was sentenced to a term of imprisonment. The dilatory character of British law is still a favorite theme of certain critics among us, who ate in the (habit of con trasting unfavorably the pace of the insu lar Themis or Nemesis, according as the civil or the criminal code ia in question, with what they would have us to believe to be the short, sharp, and decisive method of the Coda Napoleon. The case of “ Hugues v Morin ” may be cited in em phatic contradiction of the argument that justice moves in this country with a lame and tardy foot as contrasted with her rate of movement on the other aide of the English Channel. They do not order these matters better in France. Madame Hugues obtained her verdict against Morin, but the defendant, by the simple expedient of pleas in arrest of judgment and the life, succeeded in postponing the penalty imposed upon him up to the date when the plaintiff took the law into her own hands, and by a coup de pistolet satis fied the vengeance which tne tribunals had failed to gratify. The motive on which the lady acted was not the original offence, but, as she alleged, a series of acts which repeated it. She says that Morin, after the verdict had been ob tained against him, persecuted her with letters and documents containing foul allegations against her, and that, exasper ated beyond endurance by the uncertain course of the law, which threatened to defraud her of the reparation to which she was entitled, she saw no option but to vindicate her affronted honour with her own hands. —Morning Advertiser , Jan. 10.

FROZEN MEAT.

[Br Telegraph. ] Christchurch:, To-day. At the Frozen Meat Conference to-day delegates were present from all the meat freezing companies in the colony. It was unanimously resolved that l£d per lb and 10 per cent primage was the highest rate of freight that the trade could at present afford, and members of the Conference expressed a hope that no difficulty would be experienced in getting shipping companies to meet these Aiews. Terms of shipment were dis cussed, and several matters of detail fixed upon in this respect should be made so as to have Shipping Companies directly interested in delivering cargoes in Lon don in good condition, by having part of the freight payable in London. The fol lowing resolution was also carried: “ That this Conference is of opinion that in consequence of the present system of Belling frozen meat in England, it is ab solutely necessary in the interests of sheep farmers steps should be taken to arrange for disposal of the meat in a more satisfactory manner, therefore, in order to place trade on a more satisfactory footing it is highly desirable that consignees in London should elect from their number a

committee for the purpose of con trolling and regulating all matters in connection with the disposal of meat and that the Directors of the Canterbury Company and the New Zealand Refrig erating Company of Dunedin be requested to take steps to induce shippers hereto give necessary instructions to their re spective consignees, and to draw up a memorandum setting forth in detail the nature of action to be taken and re muneration to be paid to said committee of consignees. Farther, ’it is suggested that a suitable person ehould be sent Home to facilitate the organisation of a committee of consignees, and, if neces sary, to remain there, carrying out view* of conference. All expanses to be m.tde a pro rata charge on all meat passing through the hands of the committee.”

SPORTING.

AUSTRALIAN OUF.

(From the “ Lyttelton Times.”)

Auckland, Last Night* A private telegram received to-day gives the following as the horses left in for the Australian Cup, to be con on Thursday:— st lb st lb WelcomaJaok 9 6 Hilltop ... 710 Off Color ... 810 Sheet Anchor 7 6 Sardius ... 8 6 Helene ... 7 3 Goriolanus ... 8 5 Brown & Rose 612 David ... 712 Coronet ... 611 Silver King... 712 Acolyte ... 6 8 Sir Garnet... 711 Minerva ... 6.7 Ringwood ... 711 Stornoway ... 6 0 Melbourne quotations are ; Even money Coronet 7 to 1 agst Acolyte, Stiver King and Ringwood 8 1 Brown and Rose and Sheet Anchor . . 10—1 —— the others. '* '

Owners of horses are reminded that ac ceptances and entries for the Heathcote March meeting close at the Wharf Hotel, Woolston, at 9 p. m. to-night. ' WANGANUI 'ftOBS.

(By Telegraph.)’ Wanganui, To-day. Derby, of LOO sovs. Mr Butler’s Fuaileer ... (Derrift) 1 Mr Scott's Parvenu ... ... ... 2 Mr Gentry’s Fay ... 3 Derritt rode a waiting race, and won by half a length, Totalisator dividend inside LI Ids, outside LI 11s. Hurdle Race, of 70 sovs ; 2J miles. Mr Scott’s Scrutineer _... ! Mr Proffitt’s Maccaroni 2 Mr Harrison’s Druid ... ... 3

A good race, won by half «- length. Time—smin l7seo. Dividend—inside L 3 6s, outside L2 19s. Sapling Stakes, of 50 aovs ; three quarters of a mile. Mr Redwood’s Alpine Rose,..(Clifford) , 1 Mr Douglas’s Bonny Blink (Sutherland) .8 Mr Butler’s Strenuous .... (Derritt) 3 Won as liked by Alpine Rose. Time, Imin 20 l-sth secs. Dividend- Inside, L2 10s; outside, L 3 3s.

CABLE NEWS.

LATEST FROM EUROPE.

[rKUTBR’s TBLBGRAMB—OOPTB»HT.) Shipping. London, March 3.

Arrived, at Plymouth Orient R.M.S. Austral, from Melbourne (Jan. 23). '

The steamer Braemar, bound from Glasgow to Fort Chalmers, which was dismasted and put into Stornoway has been towed to Greenock for re pairs. Monetary and .Commercial. Consols have declined to New Zealand securities are unchanged. Colonial breadstuffs—-Adelaide wheat, 365; Adelaide flour, 255; New Zealand wheat, 28s to 345 ; all ex store. Tal low, Australian, average quality, 33Sfor beef; 34s for mutton. The stock of tallow in London to-day is -17,300 casks. J

Mutton. ' The mutton, ex steamship Garonne, arrived in good condition. The Mel bourne portion of the meat is realising to d, and that from Sydney 4<i

Russian Advance on Afghanistan. In the House of Lords to-day Earl Granville stated that Government had received information that the Russians in Central Asia have occupied ' Zulfifca Pass, in the Hindu Koosh mountains, and advanced within a few miles of Panjdeh, in Afghanistan. Sit Peter Lumsden, British Commissioner on the frontier question, had advised the Afghans to resist any further advance on the part of the Russians. His Lordship added that Government have urged the Russian Government to order its commanders.to halt and' make no further encroachments on Afghan territory. German Colonisation.

Bkbun, MarbhS.

It is announced that Germany has assumed a protectorate over the terri tory hitherto held by the Colonising Society, to the westward of Zanzibar, oa the African coast.

(Received March 5,11 a.m.) Anglo Herman Commission. London, March 4

The Anglo-German Commission. ..to adjudicate upon the claims of German subjects in Fiji and upon the working of the Western Pacific Bill, will assem ble without delay. J. B. Thornton, Colonial Secretary' at Fiji, will act as the British Commission. Strained Relations.

Diplomatic relations between Eng' land and Germany are at present some what strained in consequence of the contents of the English Blue Book and the German White Book re colonial affairs recently issued. Bismarck, it is understood, complains of the publica tion in the Blue Book of a report of an interview which took place, between . himself and Sir Edward Malet, the British Ambassador, and a telegram from Berlin states that the Deutsche Zpitung, referring to the English Blue Book, says the publication of the inter view was malevolent and can only put an end to all confidential parleying. [Received March 6,3 p.m.] The President.

Washington, March 4.

President Cleveland delivered an in? augural message to Congress to-day, on assuming office. His speech reaffirms the principle of Munroe doctrine, and urges avoidance of entangling alliances with the other countries, and recom mends reform of the Civil Service and granting of equality of freedom, repres sion of polygamy' and exclusion of Chinese from the United States.

AUSTRALIAN

(KEDTER’s TKLKGRAMS—COPYRIGHT. ) The Governor. Adelaide, Yesterday. Sir William Jervois arrived here to? day from hfelboqme. (Received March 5,11 a.jn.) The Mails- Adelaide, To-day. Arrived—Orient R.M.S. Potosi, with English mails (January 30). Shipping. Melbourne, To-day. Sailed, this afternoon—s.s. Waibora, for the Bluff.

THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN, THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 1885.



Groceries # CHEAPER THAN EVER , AT james McGregor’S, Xakobxd Street. Kwgawi —English Cat Loaf, 5d per lb Best White Crystal, per lb Best Snowdrop, 4d per lb - (Redactions by the mat) Tmb, 1b 3d, la 6d, 2a, 2a' 6d, and 2s 9d Box Tea from 12s 6d per box Canterbury Oakes, lOd each. Rice* 3d Mixed Biscuits, 6d Ltmcbßiiooits, 3d Oarrants, «d Bajsin*.7d Hew »»aw- la oer box Best Sago, Sd , «»“». fid »a - J«ns. 6|d Herrings, 7d Kailler’s Marmalade, 9d Salmon, 8d Cheese, 6d pep II English Pickka, 8d Oibe* articles equally cheap. JAM S McGREGOR, Street, 12 2342



Wanted. WANT ED—A good General Servant; one who can milk preferred. Apply WANTED —A good General Black smith ; must he a good Shoer. Apply, at once, to Geobob Tait, Black smith, Wakanui. 2 29(j TTfTANTED Known—Before buying Vt Dress Materials, Dlstera, Jackets, Dolmans, Millinery, etc , call and inspect our stock. The cheapest first-class Drapery and Millinery Establishment in Ashburton —H, 0. Seqees, ealys’ Buildings, East Street. WANTED Known—Wertheim Sew-| ing Machines can be had on Time Payments at the New Zealand Clothing Factory’s Branch, East street, Ashburton. WANTED Known Mangling done. Mrs Manhirb, North east Belt. LOEIOUS NEWS. Andrew Oke will give away on Saturday ICO pairs men’s boots at 6s 9d ; 60 pairs can vas slippers at 2s 6d ; SO pairs cricketing boots-at 6s 6d ; 100 pairs Kaiapoi trousers at 11a 6d—every article at half-price. office of this paper. 3 218 2 276 2 263 2 237



W ANTED 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 B£d, 36-inch Oilcloth 9d, Calicoes Is Id. Andrew Obr's Cheap Sale 2 185 VK7ANTED Known—Fresh Flounders » * are daily despatched direct from oar own boat, now fishing at Lake Elles mere. Delivery guaranteed within eight hours from time of catching. All orders received at'my shop will be immediate!; executed on arrival of the train. W. O. Page, East street, Ashburton. 11 2151 WANTED KNOWN— Robert Elston, Bill Poster, Theatrical Aqbnt, eta, Town Hall, Ashburton. Theatrical companies and others visiting Ashburton should communicate with the above. Orders by post or telegram promptly attended to. 760 ANTED Known —Boots ! Boots 1 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 Removed.— Jones and Bradshaw, Corn and Chaff Dealers, have removed to the large premises in Havelock street nearly oppo site Mr A- Harrison’s auction rooms (lately occupied by Messrs Robinson and Townsend), where they will be better able to comply with the demands of their trade. Jones and Jueadshaw. WANTED Known—o. Hawkin’s, of Tinwald, having decided to com pete with either Christchurch or Ashbur ton, in price and quility of Boots, will, Ist January, 1886, Sell for Cash Only, at the following reduced rates :—Men’s Harvest Bluchers, tips and nailed, 6s 9d; Shooter Boots, 10s 3d; Women’s Strong Lace Boots, 8s 6d ; Leather Elastic, 9a 6d; Children’s ail reduced from Is per pair. Motto—“ Small Pro fits and Quick Returns.” 0. Haw kin's, Boot and Shoemaker. 12 2393



Special Advertisements. NOTICE TO PATIENTS Dr. sohwarzbach, m.d., Specialist on Diseases of the Eye, Ear and Throat, Clarendon Hotel, Christ church. Hours—from 10 to 1. The Doctor will remain until about the middle of March, and will accept no serious cases for treatment at the end of his stay.



iDimant and Coe, ARE authorised LOCAL AGENTS for Singer’s SEWING MA OHINES, and are prepared to receive PAYMENTS and afford all information in connection therewith. Treadle and Hand Machines on Time Payments. A supply of Machine extras on hand. CORNER EAST AND TANCRED STREETS, ASHBCRTON. 11 2181



E. Sevan, WHOLESALE & RETAIL STATIONER Bookseller, Toys and Fancy Goods Dealer. Concertinas, Accordians, Jewellery, Cut* lery, Tobacconists’ Sundries, etc. Country Stores supplied at special rates. NOTICE : Young Ladies Journals supplied to Re gular Subscribers at Is 3d, Subscribers wanted. ' Note the address— SAUNDERS’ BUILDINGS, (Next Shop to Quill’s Hotel.)



TO my readers and the reading public. Just to hand,—New Books.—Black Foodie, by Anstey ; Our Old Nobility ; The Cuckoo Clock, by Mrs Molesworth ; We Two, by Edna Doyal; Poverty, by Platt; I Say No, by Wilkie Collins; John Bull’s Womankind, by author of John Bull and bia Island; The Jilt, by Charles Re>de; Good Stories of Man and other Animals, by Charles Reade; Vesteged, by Geo. P. Camming; Pages in Waiting, by Edmund Yates; Notes on Ingersoll, by Rev L. A. Lambert, Roman Catholic Jesuit; My Own Child, by Florence Marry at t; Life, Opinions, and Table Talk of Dr Johnson; American Society Novels; Inspiration; A Clerical Lympocium; Bos well’s Life of Johnson; Magna Charts Stories; Taming Down without Banting ; Money and Mechanism of Exchange, by S. Jevons; John Holdsworth’s Chief Mate; My Watch Below, by W, O. Rus sel; The Wonder of Nature; Death Shot, by Reed; How to live upon la per Week; Stories of Waterloo; Secrets of Success ; How to Read Character; Christmas Number of Good ward’s Chrystal Stories ; Longman’s Magazine; The Book of the Beginnings, by R. H. Newton; Mistletoe Bough; 160 Illustrated London Graphics, latest copies, to be sold cheap at Thomas F. Farley’s* PRINTER, BOOKSELLER, AND STATIONER, Saunders’ Buildings, Ashbubton



Special Advertisements. SELLING OEE FANCY GOODS, TOYS, BOOKS, STATION! RY, Ac. Must be sold— even if at a loss YALSSTINItd ALENIINKp To Suit everybody at prices that cannot be beaten. I Andrewes Bros., Booksellers, Stationers, &0., Ashburton.



NOTICE TO CONSUMERS OF COAL, THE undersigned are now landing, ex 8.9 Hauroto, the Best N ewcastle Coal Imported for the season A TRIAL SOLICITED They have also added to their stocks of Building Materials the following lines, viz, V.D.L Timber and Palings Kauri Timber, Flooring and Lining Roofing Iron, Doors and Sashes Lime, Cement, Fencing Materials, &c,, And every requisite for the trade. MAOPHBRSON, FILMBR AND CO. (late A. Hayes), SAWMILLERS, TIMBER, COAL, AND FIREWOOD MERCHANTS. East street, Ashburton.



25 Branches Now Open 25 THE NEW~ ZEALAND Clothing Factory Are now Showing NEWEST STYLES in SPRING & 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 gURPLUS STOCK OF FURNITURE Now selliag off at HALF-PRICE. Must be sold to make room for NEW STOCK. Parties about to Furnish will SAVE 50 Pjsk Obnt. BY PUOHASING AT W. DAVIS’S FURNITURE WAREHOUSE, BAST STREET SOUTH, Ashburton 9 1729



pEBRUARY LIST, H.E. May & Co., THE HALL.



Victoria House. Season sale commencing on January i6xh. & continuing FOR FIVE WEEKS ONLY. REMARKABLE REALITIES! GLARING REDUCTIONS ! 1 JSS'For Convincing proof and Special Prices See Windows'®^ Diman t and Coe, REiDY-MONEY DRAPERS, CLOTHIERS, &0., In premises lately occupied by Orr and Co., Corn East and Tailored lira ASHBURTON,



Holloways Ointment and Pills.— Diseases of the Bowels. —A remedy, which has been tested and proved in a thousand dif [ ferent ways, capable of eradiating poisonous taints from ulcers and healing them up, merits a trial of its capacity for extracting the internal corruptions from the bdwels. On rubbing Ifolloway’s Ointment repeatedly on the abdo men a rash appears, apd as it thickens the aivine irritability gubgifles. Acting as a deri vative, this unguent draws to the surface, re leases the tender intestines from all acrid mat ters, and prevents inflammation, dysentery, and piles, for which blistering was the old fashioned, though successful treatment, no a- ) from its painfulness fallen into disuse, the dis- , covery of this Ointment having proclaimed a j remedy possessing equally derivative, yet. ner- I fectly painless powers.—[Advt. 1



Don’t Die in the House. “ Rouugh|on I Rats ” clears out rats, mice, beetles, nadtesij v bed-bugs,' flie£, Turn, ihsect£ ntoles,' jack* rabbits,' gophers. The N.£. T)fug Co.j General Agents. ~l i Wells’ “Rough on Corus.” 1 Ask for Wells’ Rough on Cot* lß '” Quick, relief, complete, permanent cure. Corns, warts, bunions. The N.Z. Drug Co., General Agents, |