DAILY MEMORANDA

MEETINGS, AMUSEMENTS Etc Thursday, December 23 Ashburton Cheese and Batter Factory Company Meeting in the Arcade Chambers at 2 o’clock Monday, December 27 i,o,L ;—Annual Concert and Ball Monday, December 27 borough Council, at Borough Council Chambers at 7.30 .Wednesday, December 29. ffahannl School—Meeting of Ratepayers ~ ' Friday, December 31 Oddfellows’ Hall—“ False Colors ”at 8 ock

RAILWAY TIME TABLE

Truss Arrive at Ashburton— From Christ" * torch and the North, at 10.15 a.m. (express), #.85 p.m., and 7.10 p.m. From Timaru, 10.45 a.m. From Dunedin and South, 5.27 (express). From Mount Somers, 10.6 UD Trains Leavr Ashburton —For Christ, horoh and North, at 7.10 a.m., 10.55 a.m., An 5.37 p.m. (express). For Dunedin and South, 10.25 a.m. (express). For Timarn, S p.m. For Meant Somers, 5.5 p.m.

THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN.

From and after the 30th November, 1886, the terms of Subscription to this journal will be follows, viz.:— IT PAID IN ADVANCE ! Per Quarter.. 6s 6d, bv post, 9s 6d - f Half-year 12s od, by post, 18a 6d • • „ Year .. 4s Od by post, 37a- Od nr booked : Per Quarter.. 7s 6d, by post, 10s 9d ~ Half-year 15s Od, by post, 21s 6d „ Year .. 30s Od, by post, 43s Od

Birt Marriage, and Death Notices, if paid Tor at the time of insertion, 2s 6d each rimps may be sent as payment); if booked, each. v PRESENT SUBSCRIBERS MAY ft KNEW THEIR SUBSCRIPTIONS AT THE OLD RATES. Announcements of Births, Deaths and Marriages sent for publication from the country districts, require to bo verified by the signa ture of tbs person sending the notice.

MAIL NOTICES.

alalia close at the Ashburton Post Office ' follows; — ' For Christchurch and North at 6 a.m 0.30 a.m., and 5 p.m., daily. ' For Chertaey Rakaia, &c., at 10.30 a. m tnd 6 p.m. daily. For Dunedin, Tinwald, Winslow, Hinds, joldstream, Rangitata, Orarl, Winchester, wd Geraldine, at 10 a. m. daily. ForTemuka, at 10 a.m. and 4.30 p.m Wly. for Timara and South, at 10 a. a., and 1180 p.m., daily. For Greenstreet, on Wednesdays and ’ turdays, at 10.46 a.m. For Wakanul, Elgin, Seavlew, Seafield, id Kyle, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and turdays, at 6.30 a. m. For Mount Somers, daily at 4.30 p.m ' For Mayfield and Ruapuna, on Mon days and Thursdays, at 4.30 p.m. - For Ashton, Waterton and Longbeach, 4.30 p.m. daily. > -For Memlngton, on Mondays, Wednes fays,and Fridays, at 4.30 p.m. For Newlands, on Tuesdays and Frl at 10.30 a.m. arrive at the Ashburton Post IBce— From Christchurch and Rakaia at 10.16 '.m., 4.35 p.m., and 7.20 p.m. From Ohertsey, &o, at 10.15 s and ,35 p.m. daily. • From Dunedin and Intermediate places ’■s.3° *vm. daily. t From Temuka and Timaru at 10.40 a. m p 5.30 p.m daily. From . Greenstreet, Wednesdays and Saturdays, at 10 a.m. From Mount Somers, dally at 10.5 i m. From Mayfield and Ruapuna, on Wed Besdays and Saturdays, at 10.6 a.m. From Ashton, Waterton, and Long each at 10 a. m. daily. ’ From Newlands, on Tuesdays and Frl ,at 2.30 p.m. From Flemington on Tuesdays, Thors days, and Saturdays, at 10a.m.

The Ashburton Guardian. Manga est Veritas et Prævalebit WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1886. DEFERRED PAYMENT SETTLE MENT IN HAWKES BAY.

We had been under the impression that the wave of depression which has nearly submerged the rest of New Zea land had scarcely touched Hawkes Bay, and that indeed that favored district was in a highly prosperous condition. It would, nowever, appear from a recent article in the Napier Daily Telegraph that our northern friends have not been so exceptionally fortunate as we had supposed, that journal informing its readers that “ the effect of the depressed condition of the world at large has been marked in Hawke’s Bay by the number of bank ruptcies. Year by year these fatal evidences of the tightness of money and low values of produce have in creased in number. In 1884 only eighteen persons were compelled to yield to the pressure of the times. In the following year twenty-six filed their schedules and sought the protection of the Act. This year the bankruptcies have reached the astonishing number of forty-eight, and there is another for night to elapse before the close of the twelve months. The worst feature of the majority of the failures is that the assets of the estates are either nil, or are unavailable.” So far there is nothing very exceptional in the state of affairs recorded by the Telegraph. We have indeed got so used to that sort of thing “ down south ” that we may even say that there is nothing at rll remark able in it. But our contemporary goes on to say that “ there is another bad feature in the list of bankrupts, which is that the most rf them are deferred-payment settlers ana laborers. That deferred-payment settlers should be forced into the Bankruptcy Court is not surprising, considering the absurd anxiety manifested by the present Go vernment to induce people to go upon the land. All sorts of facilities are offered to all comers desirious of mak ing a home for themselves, with the re sult that the land gets into the occupa tion of persons without money or ex perience, who, after some years of hard work, to which they are quite unsuited, which makes it all the harder for them, are compelled at last to yield to the pressure of creditors. In many cases, however, they manage to hang on to the land for a sufficient period to enable them to save it from being included in their assets, assigning it to their wives or children. The so-called liberality of our land law* is doing an immense amount of mischief, for it is the means of putting the wrong people on the land. The profitable occupation of land is all that the State is concerned in ; but when the State fusses itself in planting penniless people on ground which they can make no good use of a positive harm is done to the colony. It does not seem to be sufficiently borne in mind that the occupation of land demands a capital in proportion to the acreage to be brought into cultivation, and that it is just as financially criminal toenter on land without means asitisfor a person to start in business or open a shop without money. We venture to think that unless there is some modi fication of the Land Act, in respect of deferred-payment and village settle ments, by which the possession of a certain amount of capital must be proved before an application for land can be entertained, we shall have not only a plentiful crop of bankruptcies, but untilled lands in the hands of the wives of uncertificated bankrupts.” It is evident from the foregoing that the Telegraph has no great sympathy with the cause of settlement, or it would not characterise the anxiety of the present Government to induce people to “go upon the land” as “ absurd,” but, while we admit that its remarks are to a certain extent correct, we do not agree that in all cases the possession of capital should be insisted upon. Under the homestead system, for instance, there are numbers of men whose capital consists solely of their own energies, who can successfully found homes for themselves and their families on land given to them by the State for that purpose. That system is, however, only applicable to certain parts of the colony and, for Canteibury and the the greater part of Otago at anyrate, the Village Settlement system by means of Associations, under the pi in recently formulated by Mr Ballance, will better meet the requirements of the case, and will not be open to the objections of the Telegraph, as under it the indi vidual settlers will have to pay down one-fourth of the purchase price of the land, and in respect of the remainder will have to pay by way of rental a t&te of interest so low as to be no serious tax upon their energies, a condition of things which will not be productive of the failures and bankruptcies which the Telegraph deplores.

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The annual distribution of prizes in con nection with the High School will take place to-morrow at 11 o’clock. We are reques ed by the Rev Father Chastagnon to state that on Christmas Day the services in the Catholic Church, Asbbur. ton?will be at the same hours as on Sundays, also that on Sunday, 26th inst., Mass will bo celebra t’d atR ikaia, and vespers at Ashbur ton ; and that on New Year’s Day there will be Mass at Metbveo, at 10 a.m. Inspeotor Broham, in charge of the South Canterbury police, was in Ashburton to-day. An inquest was held at 9 o’clock this morn* ing before Mr H. C. S. Baddeley, Coroner, and a jury of six, of whom Mr J. Cahill wai chosen foreman, touching the death of Annie Jeff, who was killed by being thrown oft a horse on Monday evening. The evidence of Dr Trevor was to the effect that tho base of the skull was fractured, and be believed the neck was also broken, but this he could not definitely ascertain without a xwst mortem examination. Such examination, however, he did not deem necessary, as the other injuries were sufficient in themselves to cause death. A verdict in accordance with the medical testimony was returned. Rsefton is going in for electric lighting at a cost of £IBOO.

At present the British army in Ireland numbers nearly 44,000 officers and mem. The New Zealand Iron and Steel Company, Limited, is to be voluntarily wound up. The first railway contract in China has been secured by an English firm. It is lor the construction of a line between Tamsni and Leelung, in northern Formosa. Attention is directed to an advertisement in another column from the proprietors of the Canterbury Times, relating to a lithographed supplement of views of the early days, which it is intended to publish with the Christmas number of this popular weekly. A lad named Meggina has been killed by lightning while in charge of a load of hay near Tarlea (S.A.). His two horses were also killed, and the hay and wagon were burned. They are evidently going in largely in Auckland for women printers, the Evening Bell of last evening containing the following advertisement: “Wanted, ten or twelve young girls (respectably connected) to learn Printing. Preference given to those who have passed sixth standard, and have not been engaged in otjjer employment.—Apply, Even ing Bell Office.” The Maoris in the Wanganui district seem to be going in for sheep-farming, the Herald stating that they have brought down by the Tnhua a large quantity of wool from the up river districts. This they have disposed of at prices they consider satisfactory to Messrs Hogan and Co. From this sale they will receive about £6OO, a sum of money they seem highly gratified to get hold of, especially as they have not yet got the lengths of liens, etc., hut they get the whole of the proceeds. The London correspondent of the Christ church Press writes: Another batch of recidmstcs have recently left France for New Caledonia. They are said to be a set of ruffians of the lowest and most pronounced type, and, strange to say, a considerable per oentage of them are women. Thus it is that tho British possessions in Australasia are being cursed with impunity by the continued intro motion of this pernicious element in their very midst, and it is unaccountable that all protests appear to be unavailable. Tho greatest nourishing tonic, appetizer, strengthener and curative on earth. Hop Bitters made only by American Co. See

SPORTING.

Auckland, December 21. Mr Evett dt cared the following weights last evening : Christmas Handicap, one mile and a qu-iter. st lb I st lb Tniquoise... 9 7 Victoria ... 7 4 Artillery ... 8 0 Libeller ... 7 3 Cog ... 7 12 Oremorne ... 7 0 Wupift ... *7 8 Lady Norah 7 0 Fr endship 7 6 Rowl ... 612 T«m;ro ... 7 A Ante ... 612 Mitrailleuse 7 5 Backless ... 6 7 Silvet Prince 7 5 Okato ... 6 7 Oaterby ... 7 5 Reproach ... C 7 Handicap Hurdles, two mi'es and a quarter, st lb st lb Master Agnes 12 0 M'gnosla ... 10 0 Bello ... 11 12 Manala ... 912 Guy Fawkes 11 8 Coral ... 910 Silvio ... 10 8 Omata - ... 910 Tiger ... 10 5 Magnifier ... 9 0 CHRISTCHURCH RACES. Christchurch, December 22. Sierra's weight in the Craven Stakes should be 6it 101 b, In the Welter Apropos was weighted in place of Puck, whoae weight is 9it olb. Gem, Bst 71b, was omitted.

CRICKET.

ENGLISHMEN v AUSTRALIANS. [rkuter’s telegrams—copyright ] Melbourne, December 21 The cricket match, Shaw and Lily white s team v the Australian Eleven, was co'itiuued to-Jay. The Englishmen who yesterday had lost c'ght wickets for 191. resumed their innings, which closed for 201. Lohmmn, 0 ... ... ... 14 Scotton, b 39 Sherwin, not out 1 Being in a minority of 83 the visitors had to follow on, and when atumps wore drawn had lust nine wickets for 227.

INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

[pEB PBESS ASSOCIATION,] AuckliANP, December 21. Tin po'iiir have recovered the whole of the money stolen from the Ohaewal post office. Sraie was found in a paddock and under stones Wkiaington, December 21. IV- sveni„g Press his evening says “ Jfc ha» come to our knowledge that Sir Julius Vogel has represented, or caused it to be represented, to the Imperial Gove nmeut that It would be highly acceptable to colonists it, on the aus picious occasion of the Jubilee year of Her Majesty’s reign, the dignity of Knighthood were conferred on a dis tinguished journalist In each colony. Before leaving tor Auckland thia evening, hovaret, Sir Julius V°t®l absolutely denied any .connection with tfys suggested koirhthood «f journalists. Be states .that nelih' r directly nor indirectly ha,a h» written or spoken about the and declares that ho never ove» beard it men tioned or discussed. He considers the whole affair a puce fabrication, J

MAGISTERIAL.

ASHBURTON—TUESDAY. (Before Mr H C. S Bindery and Mi' P. Th in is, J y ) ALtEOKD LARCENY The hea i >g or th - oh ri« o' 1 vcMiy agamst T*re ick 'Wim.i. war oj--cl’lce > w.i went to P'O'S yes erd vy : The xtmmav.--a < f >1 lam Nichola* was r“Riimod. In aavo i*‘ r- o)rt 5 'ft !-ie suoiuions w»s issued wisnw m« the aroused who invited hi.a to hs offi When they arrived the e the aecns >■ asked witness if ha woo d withdraw th charge if he were pud what it cst him, Witt.ee-. repded t'n-t he tu thing t do with the niat-ter ml • t.a ! i had pvaet cut o f hia hand An used hen tor k wit ness to Mr Pulloak'a cßce. where in rop’y tr Fu-rlmm, Mr .Bullock said he could offcir uo advice. Oe understood that M; Wilding was acting f.r wines and he was fu> proper person to whi m >o go. Ho also said that Ferriraau should have taken action before the charge was laid when the accused replied that ha did not think witness would have done what

he had. Witness replied that he did not think he could do anything as the matter was in the bands of the police- The accused then said " would you if you could ” T > this witness replied tha’ it rest’d with Mr WT-ding. The accused asked witness now in ch he was “ out ” ~ver the mater—meaning how much money :ad ho on'. showed him a bill ho had lo p iy, a-nd also p int-d out that aerr jsiio had charged him £3 10s for a por.ion of t'>a m-ohmo that oma d be got in Chris church for £2 The accused said ho would refund tho .:oi. The ex penses were then reckoned up uni came to £lO 10». Accused sake! how much Mr Wiidiug’s fee would be, adding that, he did not suppose i* would he more then £lO , and this amnui the would pi; . ' o

accused said he adrairtud taking toe knotter ofl the mvihme hot corrected himself by adding that it was by hi'- inaruc ions that It W4i tak-n off but he did not know “ for why.” Witness said that scoused knew the ma'ter had been advertised an 1 that it was witness's. f >n Saturday evening the accused said to witness “ C»n’t you get o it of the way for that day.” Witness replied that he could not do such a thing. Declined to go with accused to see the Act, say Ins that he had no occasion to hide, and that If anyone needed to hide it was accused Accused replied, “ For you it means only hiding for one day but for me it means to go away aUngeth r ” -T e witness wis orose-txamlned by Mr Purnell at some length but nothing material wa elicited -John Hunt, farmer, was called to give evidence as to Perrlman and Nicholas getting the kn tier from his farm, but it appeared that he knew noth ing of the transao’ion, it hong hts brother who gave the article In qutsion to Nicho las The witness I" cross examination by Mr Purnell «aid h« 'y authorised the accused to sell a reaping machine upon c munission The machine was sold after having b- en in Forrim m’n possession

for about a month There was a knotter upon it. Witne-is could not swear if lha produced was the same, lie could not swear .0 an> of that year’s knottara, they being all so much alike - ! homas Bullock, auctioneer, stated that Nicholas and Ferric an had machines in bis store in West -tr«et Portions of these machines were taken away, and witness offered a reward of £2O fur the conviction if the offender Fnrriman was aware of this In reply ti dr'Purnell, the witness said that the doors 0? th- store were not in a very .good state —John Bland, in the employ of Mr Bullock. ;,ave evidence as

to parts of the informant's reaping machines being taken away, on adver tisement offering a reward for th > convic tion of the offender, w:;a inserted in the local papers Of this the accused knew, and ho said that hecoult tell who took the things away from the Arcade, but lie didn’t want to become aa infer ner. (This witness corroborated the evidence of

Nichols as to the accused’s a mission that ho had jtaken the knotter). — After the suramins had been served accused asked witness to see Nicholas and try to got him to withdraw th charge. He said he w aid pay anything there was to pay in connection wiih the matter. —By U" 1 Pa mil ;-The acoas-d had nojerted that he alno had lost things out cf the Bto>-o. —John Wilhams bought a reaper and binder from the accused. Remember Nicholas and C notable Renter coining to hie piao ' with u search warrai t and taking possession of a knotter. Wit ness told accused of the circumatao|(| and he pave him a new knotter saying that he did not wish to see witness ln oonvenle ced. (This witness wa asked to see if ho could find certain marks on the knotter which the informant said were file marks and his me ms of identi fication. The witness could see no such marks and only wh»t ho took to be the result of wear aad tear.—The Bench, at t >ls stage, intimated that they also could see no file marks on the knotter )- This

was the case for the police In opening the ewe for hla client Mr Parnell made a lengthy and a >le address In favor of the accused. He rc-oapitulated the history of the reaper and binder wh'oh had been bought by Nicholas from Ferriman and said that when the first knotter broke, Nichol s who was in the middle of harvest came to Ferriman and begged him vers hard to borrow another for him. Mr Ferrio an said he would see what ho conM do- Mr Hunt had at that time just finished reaping and to hi u they went He agreed to part with his knotter on con dition that Ferriman should give him a new one and, in case that new one would not suit that he should get his old one. On .heae conditions Nicholas got Hunt’s knotter, Subsequently Ferrman sent a new knotter to Mr Hunt to. replace that which had been lent but this it was f nnd would not suit at all, and Mr Hum

naturally called upon Mr Ferriroan in pursuance < i the agreement made to get Lsck the old one. Nicholas' machine was at that lime standing In Mr Bullock’s store in West street and Fen iman removed the k<,otier, sending it d wn to Hunt’s and getting back hunt’s new knotter which he placed on Nicholas’ machine. What had become of the new one the deferc did not know; thoprf sumption waa that someone had taken t from the store which was ia an open condition and at that time a aum er of thin s wo^emi-S'd from machh es, M>: Burnell claimed that ail the de ecce had to shew to clear them selves of the present charge was that agreement he had mentioned was made. Even if the Court decided that proper precaoilons had not been exercised in re-

placing the new knorter that was merely matter for a civil aotl ■». He regrett- d that hi; client was preceded from giving evidence because were ho allowed t > do so the nutter would be speedily cleared up. T< e accused o< uld put a very difi' nm face 00 the offers which it bad beat alleged by the informant he had made to have UlO matter settle'’. There were no overtures to “hide.” and although the accused had expressed a desire to pay, sooner than the case should be gone on with, that was merely to keep it out of Court, because a charge of such a nature was bound to injure the standi ig of any business man, wtootherlt was proved ornot. —The following evidence was called : —Henry Hunt remberod Ferrlman and

ft iohola* coming to his farm about two years av-o In regard to a reaper. W&oess had post finished reaping. Witness agreed to lend Nicholas his knotter on condition that he should net a new one in place of it or if that did not suit to get tba ohj one back. Nikolas took the knotted away. Ferrhnan sent down a new one to witness several months after wards bat it did not suit. la pursuance Of the Agreement witness called li^ou

Ferrlman to replace the old one and it wan sent down soon nf'erwsr >e- —Th s wi'nesa also filled to see the file marie* “ii (he kuotte wh ch the Inf -rmitu cUlm-l were there . Alfred M ilford remembered Ferr man sending him to Mun’s with a kn-itt r livt year Tie ko- ter was no old one —Henry Hu t recillid said th ' b« hi lieved the new hiio ier had been aunt back to Ferrimao’s.— Photnis -ealy g-v evidence as to the good character f .be •ceased. - The B -nch after a brief retire ment r -viewed the evidence a.;, d sn-is ied r.lus c-.°p The Court then ro»o. A h id R U HT..)N— W K D N T ES DAY. (B fo'.- Mr H. r’ S B-’deiey, f.*) DbUNKEVNESS A fi at offender was fined 10s and with the usual alternative. LUNACY A man suffering Horn lunacy was, oo the coitificato of two nvdical rnen, com mittod to the Snnryside Asvhim

CALEDONIAN SOCIETY’S SPORTS.

The following handicaps have been declared in connection with the Caledonian Society’s annual meeting, which takes place on Monday next: Half-Mile Handicap Flat Each. T Hobbs scr A Dalgleish syds EJ. Waiting ~ J. Dalgleish , J. F aser ~ J. Johns 15yds W. Hobbs syda J. Lewis 35yds Handicap Mile Flat Bace T. Hobbs scr J Daleleish 10 yds R. J. Whiting „ J. J dins 30yds J Fraser ~ W Walker 70yds A. Daltfleish 10yds ' pen Handicap Hurdle Race T. Hobbs scr J. Johns Byds W Hobbs 2yds F. Betts 10yds J. Frase ■ 3yds H Milner ]'r 16yds A. Dalgleish syds Grand Handicap Flat Rack. 100yds 220yds 440yds W. Hobbs scr scr scr J. Fraser ~ ~ ~ A. Dalgleish 2yds 4yds 6yds J. Daluleish 2yds 4yds 6yds W. Peiks syds 12yds 20y.!s F. Betts syds 12) ds 20 yds J. Johns 6yds 10yda 15.- ds J Lewis * Syils 15yds 25yds F. Tasker Byds 15yds 25y<e D. McKenzie Byds 15yds 25yds W. J. Band oo 9yds 15yds 25yds

THE KEILAWARRA COLLISION

Sydnbv. December 17 The enquiry by the Marine card m o the Keilawarra collision is proceeding. The chief officer of the Keilawarra in bis evidence stated that there were five boats on the vessel properly fitted up. Th*-v were rushed. The officers were told off for each boat. The crew did not rush any of the boats. The crew obeyed the officers so far as he saw, and the men did everything they could to save life, bie never saw 'he captain af«er tho sh p was struck. The witness Sav- d himse f with a lifebuoy which had not been taken off the cleats in front cf the bridge. The man at the wheel at the tme of the collision heard the 1o k out man make a report to the c'oie' office-*, and the n-xt thing was an order lo go a'tero, the t he heard “ Hard a port.” Bif 're thd. iha chief (-fitter s*id he onui i smell smoke It was only a sh ut tme between the

giving 'he order to hard » port and the crashing of toe ship’. Ho saw n i hiog ahead, and hsird no wh’.s’le from either boat. It was not a dark ui.-;'*, as he cmild be seen a good d'stancs tway. Tee look out man, who was on the br'dge. reported what he th-nwht ei'her sm ike or lan ito the chief ' ffirer ! ha latter said it was sai' ka He c-"ild sen Eo -moke. The c.plain subs qualify cune on deck and give the order “ Hirl a port. aw the capiaiu teuoh the string aud heard the widitle. Be heard no whistle from the other boat. The first he saw f tto- Helen Nicoll was when she struck the Keilawarra. None of the other witnesses belongin/ to this s e -mer stated Hut no lights Were seen before the collision. Captain Fraser, of the Helen Nicoll,

said the evening was moderately clear, with a moderate breezs from the 111 E. He was in th = cabin at the time, and heard the hell go two, which mean that there was a light on the starboard bow. The next thing was the second officer c»l ing him, saying, ‘ Oh God, Ciptain Fraser, there is a fallow coming right into us.” Ho rush'd to the tele^rapi*o stop ho ship. Their conr e had been previously south, The KeiUwarra cut across her bows almost eastwardly. H he+rd no whistle whatever blown at the time of the collision. He could not tell how he was steering. Two passengers were in his cabin, but there was no card playing and no drink When he heard the two bells denoting a light on the starboard bow he did not leave his cabin. The second officer was on deck, and had been on duty twelve or fifteen hours. Only ten bodies have been f- und, and they are not reco n : °ed.

ADDINGTON LIVE STOCK MARKET

There was a ver> email supply in every department at the Addington Yards yes terday, and trade was so dud that even this small market was cleared with diffi culty, and some lines of sheep were with drawn. Cattle.—The entries of fat cattle were all from local graziers, and included some nice quality though of light weight. Steers and heifers of this description sold at £5 10s to £7 10s * head, equal t 21 par 100 b; secondary qualit> sol from 17s 6J t o 2o'. An exceptionally fine Hereford heifer, grazed by Mr Garforth, br light £lO- Fat calves sold well at from 15s to 35j, according to weight Store cattle were in very dull demand, bnt the selection offered was not of a description to base definite values upon. Yearlings of fair condition may be quo'ed at Sss a head ; two-year old*, £3 10s to £3 ; three-year-olds, £i to £5 Da ry stock met with n> eiquirj, and the few sold realised low rates.

Sheep,—Some quite exceptional linos of fit sheep gra-ed the market, the palm being quite borne by a consignment of magnificent seven-eights merino we'bets from Mr Leonard White's Raknia Dow s Estate, of which Mr T Gray, Armagh street, b.c*ma the purchaser, at the substantial but not exorbitant figure, con sidering *ho quality, of 19-t fid. Cither pens from this esta<e sold »t 15a 6J, 13a, and 13s fid. Messrs 0. Harris and 0. De ring being ihe purchasers. Of almost equal excellence were the Acton cross bred wethers, which went to a fretztr at 13a 3d. A pen of wonderfully well-fed Hampshire Down cross wethers from Messrs Dudley and Northey’s estate, the perfection of mutton, fell to the bid of Hr W. H. Cooper, Armagh street at 16s and were iot d-at at the money ; and the

Rao coarse Hill cross-breds, uf the usual banriful quality, were also che»>p to Mesa s Hopkins and Co. at 11s. It< fact, prices all round were even lower than last week. Good marketable cross-bred wethers sold at 8s t> 10s, merino 5- to 6a, being equal to Ijd to 1J per 1> for good but mt specf.l muctoi, while secondary sometimes failed to reach Id per lb Fat lamhs fetched about last week’s values, namely fis to 9s each for good qua ity. Store sheep were fairly enquired for, and some good lines of yofing croaa-breda changed hands at fu 1 currout rates. Hoggets, mixed sex as, ■old to tue aggregate of abo’ut 800. at 3s 3d to 4i 9d, the latter quotation >eing realised for a nice Una from letup'axn A good line of 2 and 4-toolh wethers brought Gs. Pigs.—Not the slightest Interest was taken In the sale, and prices were very low sqdjrre^uiar.

THE CLEANEST PLACES IN THE WORLD.

Least 1 ke ordinary mortals, and moat !;ke be ngi of rome h glter sphere, are the irihahir-itite ~f th- tit !"» 'o-n >f Hroek, in 'I"' 1 - H->e f say-‘here, . lean *n -s i-xairtr] ro a c:h c*, O' rather i) us * ■Te p*>r»<e-i'oijr f the d »y —a colt —and th j O i yis vr r-hipped by his v >ta riei, mt s aer*-a*'i or u certain intervals, >ut f very tn nut • J the d ry. S»!--r the town ■■«:! you are immediately steppe by a ouxom Duchwiman who nin« r o i-i i-t ynr an I■ffr *yi u with the ’io-a - t -qta im !, v e- pa r f airsw over hoHs o pro- n y .ii fr-nno suing the wre pav.-m u with u.-i.l , r dn-tn from nn it w .rhi You -irf la 8 oak and mil'*, do as the !? roeifans do Bn - are you n Broek ? Yon look around and become conscious of the sirr.nee sensation of hav ing *’seen a’l this befo-q.” which wa a’l hare < xoerienced at t'roes, and which always Iwv. s such a puzziog uusst’tSsd fe din in the mind In - bit case, however,

no abstruse metaphysical reasoning is needed to explain tbe feeling of famili arity with which wa regard the scene. liThete hare you seen garden palings painted blue, and tranks of trees a bright yellow I Where have you seen stables without a speck of dirt, with enter*ld greea mangers and crime n-red walls i Why su’eiy la ths - dear old box of toys, which lasted, alas ! each a little time, but W’licu n> soch a .icurca of unmingled j -y, u. til ihb lilt.!* 4 s.Tuooy trees io ttbeir hra'ichi-s, he armors their armi and lege aid, in fine, n if *h 4 whole hex became * collect'*.>i of disjecta membra of no use wha ever, save, ..ko the mummy at the - nypt au feast, to remind us tbat time levels all. ’’ “ Eureka ! ” yon cry out in delight, “ It’s Uka my old box of bniidine'toys 1 ” aod certainly the funny little farmers, and tbe prim little houses and the quan t llttia streets, are not one whit more funny, more prim, and more quaict than the streets and houses with th-Jp plump and homely inhabitants of the most original of tne mauy original towns of Ht'Jlsnd. Harmony, as far as colours are cm c-rned, is a science unknown in Broek. Simplicity seems to be tbe first and last law of their artistic nature, and accord- Ingly, a bright yellow shutter is edged with a thick band of b'ue, with a bar of r«d across it for p’easing variety, or yellow trees alternate with b'ue ones in novel not to say peculiar grouping But all this time we are in tbe street. It is true we can se> from the outside, t-m stables with their Dutch c>ws, whose tails are fastened to a ring in the ceiling, !en by sweeping the floor they may be come aoiied, though from the look of the spotless pavement oven that seems an im pose bility Like Oliver Twist, however, wa want more inside, and, accordingly, we pre eat our I t er of introduction, and proceed to visit tbe nterior of one of the houajj, wh’se exterior is like an archi tect,’* nightmare’

We enter a h"UH which is a miracle of pur ty. the first impression of a BmeW ip priori* far from pleasing, owing to the heterogeneous character tf the o j-olw which cover the walls, tables, and curb a more iei urelyview discloses such marvels of constant and lovir-g cares in keeping every corner free from soil, that a mranger is struck with admiration, an! though the coll- ction of objec s is of a character to drive one of our modern ‘ as ■'hates ” ravin' mad, still an ordinary mtnd would be too occupied ia praising, to h iv* rim- to blama th i bad tasto shown to a codection of maaniogless objects ill assorted and bidiy contrasted. F'-r here are shells, mode’s of ships, china vis s and oops, little spinning wheals, mirrors—all tied no with little hows of ribbons, and mus in —aud, shads

(f Turner ! rii'tu es, the perspective of which reaemoles no'h'.jq n the world so mi’ch as tha* fora ms j .ke of Hogarth, in wh' h he has vi luted every law «f draa ing. Bat ev ry nail shines like silv-r or gold ; every little gimorack is ns bright aa when It left the maker's hands ; the fire place lined with little d' If-tiea seems to know nothin? so dirty as smok“ ; In fact, even if yon enter the house in the spirit that the man wert into (he conservatory to look for weed", you will fail to find • speck of dirt or a trace of dust.

And how is this s’ate of things ob tained ? Well, wh"n I saw the collection of brushes for thefl >of, brushes for the walla, tiny sponges for the corners, toy- I*ke rakes and scrapers, slender little splints for the chance grain of dost that may have eluded the housewife’s watchful eye, or become lodged between the brioka or tiles ; when I snv. the powdered whit ing for the paint, the leathers for th*> glass, the snowy white floor cloths, *h« gay. feather brushes, one surprise gave way to another, and I wandercdlncw, not how the things were kept clean bat how the time was found to do what every Inet'ior will show is a thing of universal custom.

Thare is a well-known story that this pasxon for the ultra <lean(inesi had developed to each an absorbing degree that the women neglected their religions duties, for the more congenial occupation of keeping their booses e’ean. Nor sre. the male inhabitants of .Break far behind' their wives They concentrate their, attention on ’heir gardens, and here we aba 1 ! find to what extremes a most sober - and phlegmatic nation can occasionally go. a phenomenon which has never been better exemplified than in the famous I'nllpomanla of the seventeenth century. We shall find within an area of a few. rqusre yards,'lit<le snmmerhouses, Indian tF-mp’as, Swiss chalets, si the banks of „ 1 t'le canals, a few inches wide spanned - by gaily painted lit le bridges, with here and th re a toy steamer, or a mimic flock of t’-n geese. Here Is a flower-bed sur rounded by a border of colored pebbles, and there clumps of yew or box, trimmed to repreant all kinds of fantastic fieutoa. All these may be seen la Broek. Those who have not the time to mske tha journey may see all these and many more wonders in the Broek Boose at the end of

the Yondel Park, in Amsterdam, where there is an exact model of a bouse such as Is described here Adjoining 5 « a quaint Dutch garden, with its walks and mosaics of ft'inea and shells, all in the real old Inartistic fashion. The presiding genius of tb's garden Is a dear white-haired old man, who follows o’ose to your heals as joo recklessly entangle yourself In the labyrinth of the muza. end who chuckles to himself as he witnesses your discom fiture when you find ycuwelf confronted bv a ghastly-loosing wooden hr in it, who rods at you as you enter h‘B cell. Turn ing to beat a half-frightened half-atnnsed retreat, you find yi'ur egress stopped 1)y hundreds of streams that Interpose a watery barrier between you and the outer worl i. Your quiet <ld guide comes to you re-cue, or, in other words, stops the machinery that his set the different wonders in motion, and presents y<>u ta return for his well-earned honorarium with a few leaves of quitrefoil—the four-leved Shamrock—hoping you may find » fire- 1 oared spray the symbol of perfect hapri >ess May you be so fortu nate. Tit Bits

THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN, WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 22, 1886



Score:— Barlop, b ... 12 Barnes, c 13 ‘ -hrewthury, o 62 Read, c 38 Soottnn, run out 3 Bates, b ... Ml 21 Briggs. o ... • •# 7 Gann, o • •• 26 Flowers, c ... • •• 5 Lohmnna, not out 18 Sherwin, not out 3



C HAWKINS, Bootmaker, Tinwald , has just received a good assortment of BOOTS AND SHOES for the Summer Season, all of which will be no d at piices not to be rubbed out in Ashburun. Early call solicited. 11°96 XTT anted known \fy THAT MRS STRIBLING HAS REMOVED from old premises in Burnett street (next to the Arcade), to the PANAMA BOARDING-HOUSE, TANCBEH BTBEKT (Lately occupied by Mr Lucas). 8°537 TOWLE’S PKNNYP-OY 4 L AND STEEL PILLS FOR FEMALES Quickly correct all irregularities, and relieve the distressing symptoms so pre valent with the sex. Boxes Is l§d and la 9d, of all Chemists and Patent Medicine Vendors. t repared only by The Lincoln and Midland Counties Drug Co., Lincoln, 1 ngland. Wholesale of all the Wholesale Houses. Beware of Imitations. EOR COUGHS, COLD'S Bronchitis. Asthma, Coryza, Influenza, Con sumption, &c. KAY’S COMPOUND OF LINSEED, Aniseed, Senega, Squill, Tola, &o with Ohlorodyne. KAY’S COMPOUND, a demulcent expectorant, for Coughs, Golds, and Chest Complaints. EAY’S COMPOUND, for Coughs, and ‘-Golds,: is equally serviceable for Horses and Cattle. KAY’S TIC PILLS, a specific In Neuralgia, Face-ache, Ac. Con tains Quinine, Iron, &c. COAGULINE. —Cement for Broken Articles, Sold Everywhere. Sole Makers :—KAY BROS., Stock ort, England,



HEW ZEALAND CLOTHING FACTORY The new goods for the SUMMER SEASON ARB now opened out. The Stock is THE LARGEST & BEST SELECTED IN THE TOWN, And the variety of Style and Patterns in Men’s, Youths’, and Boys’ Clothing leaves nothing to be desired. Thousands of Men’s and Boys Suits, newest styles. Trousers and Trousers and Vests manufactured of New Zealand Tweeds. Every garment warranted shrunk Overcoats, Waterproof Coats and Leggings in great variety Hats, comprising every new style worn Children’s Jersey Suits, Children’s Men pf-War Suits Gentlemen's Hosiery, Scarves; Oxford Regatta and White Shirts Bugs, Portmanteaus, and Travelling Bags The celebrated WEBTHEIM SEWING MACHINE. Time Payments. N.Z, CLOTHING FACTORY, East Stbxbt,



Wanted. WASTED KNOWN.— Washing and .dangling done either by the day or dozen. Mangling 2d per dozen.— Address en application at “Guardian’ Office. 880 FURNITURE— To meet the limes, W. DAVIS, Cabinetmaker, East street, Ashburton, is now selling Furniture of all kinds cheaper than ever. Chest of Drawers, £1 5s ; Spring Couches, £1 ss. Exery other article equally cheap. All new furniture at second-hand pnee. 804 WANTED a respectable person as Groom and Gardener. Apply to Max. Feiedlander,



WANTED the Public to purchase theii Fancy Goods, Toys, &c , from H M. JoNdS. J( gT ' PEN ED— Choice assortment of New Spring Dre-a .-tuffs, Prints, Millenry, etc. -he cheapest House in town for first class goods. Dressmaking on the premises. fl. 0. Segues, Mel ford House. rrT ANTED CASH.—New Currants, W Bid ; Valencia-, 6d; Sultanas, 7d ; Elemes, 7d ; Muscatels, Is 6d ; lslb boxes New Figs, 8d ; White Sugar, 2£d. Jas. MoGbegob, opposite the Arcade. \\ 7 ANTED known that J Heseltine W Saddler, Ac., Burnett street, Ashburton, and at Finwald, is SELLING SAUDLERY CHEAPER. THAN EVER Large Stock to select from. Reaper and Binder Canvasses made and repaired at lowest prices. Cash paid for Horsehair in any quantity. Note the address Next Bullock’s Arcade, Burnett street, Ashburton. 12J1 Special Advertisements. THE ASHBURTON WOOLLEN MANUFACTURING COMPANY Is prepared to PURCHASE for CASH, SHEEPSKINS and all kinds of WOOL, in large or small quantities. 12°2



W. F. HANNAFOED, (Barnett street, opposite “ Mail” Office) TINSMITH AND METAL-PLATE WORKER, rrrISHITS to inform the public of Vy Ashburton an-i the surrounding districts that he keeps in stock or can MANUFACTURE TO ORDER all do scriptions of TINWARE for FARM or DAIRY purposes; also, all REPAIRS of any nature promptly executed in a skilful manner. All gocds sold at lowest remunerative prices A Trial solicited HORSE-HAIR and BEESWAX bought in any quauli 3 forCaSH. 11 73



rv< TO STAND THIS SEASON AT ASHBURTON, And Travel the Surrounding Districts, The Thoroughbred Horse, Kingfisher. For Pedigree see cards Terms—For one mare, £3 3a. A reduction will be made for three or more mares, the property of one owner. First class padd cks for mares at Is per week Groomage fee, ss, payable at first service. E. COOKSON, Proprietor, Livery Stables, Asbburtn, WHITE, CAVGILL, & CO., BARRISTERS AND SOLICITORS, J. W. WHITE, Notary Public.



]Vj OTIOF is hereby given that the •*-N undersigned, Messrs Whitb aW) O. (Whit® Smithson, and Raymond), of Timaru, and John A. Caygill, of Ash burton, have ihis day entered Into Partnership as Barristers and Solicitors, at Ashburton, under the style of “White, Caygill and Co.” Mr J. W. White, will attend the sittings of the Courts at Ash urton. WHITE & CO., JOHN A. CAYGILL. Money to lend in any sums on approved freehold security. Offices: Bullock’s Arcade 10*803 WILDING AND LEWIS, gARBISTERS AND J^OIIOITORS. p. wiTdtng, Botaky Public. Offices: Next “Mail” Office, Burnett st., Ashburton. Mr Wildi v s will attend the sittings of the Ashburton Courts on Tuesday and Fridays, and may be consulted personally on these days. The firm is now represented in Ash burton by Mr Clayton, an English Solicitor of considerable experience, who will be in daily attendance at the Office to receive instructions and confer with dents. *IOO 8



MOUNT SOMERS COAL PIT. COAL CAN NOW BE TTAT) AT THE ABOVE PIT ♦ FOR JjUQHT SHILLINGS PER TON, Or in Ashburton at SEVENTEEN SHILLINGS PER TON, By the Truck. FOB CASH O:nLY. E. F. WRIGHT. MESSRS TUCKER" AND RESTSLL | Agents lo.Ashburton. I o*3l I



Victoria House. HOLIDAY 'SEASON, 1886-87 SECOND ANNUAL GIFT DISTRIBUTION, comprising elegant Works of Art in Bohemian and Bulgarian Pain'ed Vases, Glass Water Jugs, and Crystal Flower Stands, Ac. GIFT COUPONS now being issued to Purchasers. DIMANT AND COE, GENERAL DRAPER', CLOTHIERS, &c., Corner East and Tancred streets, Ashburton.



Special advertisements. FOR Reliable Goods AT MODERATE PRICES, OUR & ALCORN ARE U napproachable. THE PREMIER STOCKS



ASHBURTON, DRAPERY, CLOTHING, BOOTS AND SHOES. CARPETS (NEW DESIGNS.) Christinas Cards. CHRISTMAS ANDREW YEAR CARDS AND PRESENTATION PRIZE BOOKS AND NEW GOODS Suitable for CHRISTMAS 4 NEW TEAR PRESENTS. H. J. WOOD AND CO. BOOKSELLERS & STATIONERS, (Late T. F. Farley) FRIKDLANDER’S BUILDINGS.



IN our New Season, 1886-7. Christmas and New Year Cards, are included the PIUZE DE IGNS from the following celebrated publishing firms of London Paris, Vienna, Now York, and Boston ; Baphael Tuck and Sons Marcus Ward and Co. Thomas do la Rue and 00. Hildesheimer and Faulkner John Walker and Co. Eyre and Spottiswoode Marion and Co. L. Prang and Co , Boston, U.S. And several other Publishers, Comprising SEVERAL THOUSAND PRIZE DESIGNS. Wo have received pers.s. Arawa and s.s Aornngi, ELEVEN CASKS OP NEW BOOKS Specially ordered for the Christmas Season, comprising the Latest Publica tions of the renowned Publishers —Cassell and Co ; Thos. Nelson and Sons; Kent ledge ; Warne ; Partridge; Griffith, Farren, Okeden, and, Welch ; Marcos Ward and Co ; and several English and American firms. And SEVENTEEN CASES OF NEW GOODS, Specially selected by our Home Agents for the ( hrietmas Season, Comprising Cabinets, Russian l eather Desks and Writing Case-, Photo. Album# in great variety of the m- st elegant designs, Writing and Scrap Albums, Netr Zealand Fern Albums, Photo. Frames in silk plash and morocco, Workboxes and Desks Purses, Card Ca«es' Pocket Books, and every description of Fancy Stationery.



H.J.WOOD&CO. STATIONERS’ HALL, Friedlanders’ Buildings, Ashbnrton. Gr. L, Beath & Co. £IOOO 0 s 0 D sth ANNUM DISTRIBUTION OF CHRISTMAS GIFTS To-Day. To-Day. To-Day ON AND AFTER TO-DAY every Customer will re ceive a Ticket with each Purchase, entitling the holder to select any Present of the value stated on the ticket, which will amount to about one-eighth of the purchase money.



G. L. BEATH & CO., Argyle House, CASH EL STREET, CHRISTCHURCH,



0 STAND THIS Si?ASON : And visit the surrounding neighborhood The Thoroughbred Stallion Johnny Faulkner. Pedigree : He is by St. AlVians, out of Impudence, by Peter Wilkins, out of Prudence by Jersey, out of Black Sail by Wanderer, out o* Fairy (imp.) (For tabulated pedigree see cards) Terms : £lO 10a for thoroughbred mares. £5 5s for half-bred mares. Also, the Thoroughbred Stallion By Messenger, out of Kate O'Shane, Will stand at Netherby Farm, and travel he districts of Ashburton, Methven, Mount Somers, and Alford Forest, Terms: £310; guarantees,£s 6s. Season, Ist January, 1887. Guarantees, Ist Juiy, 1887. 1 AT NETHERBY FARM, ASHBURTON, Rouser, 9635 L MARKET, Proprietr t



It i 3 impossible to nmgia long sick or out of health where Americaß|Co/s Hop Bitters are ueetl. See Rnetber



The Colonial Treasurer has just received a telegram from <the Agent-General informing him that the actuaries engaged in investigat ing the profits of the last quinqnennial period pf the government Insurance department find there is a surplus of £245,315, whereof they recommend for division £150,000. The Agent-General adds that the actuaries find the results much better than they expected. The investigation has shown that nearly 25 f ec cent, of the whole assets are surplus lauds*