The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1887. CHRISTMAS, 1887.

Christmas ! What a charm there is about the word, so familiar to a Chris tian's ear ! How it recalls reminiscences of the events which took place at this festive season, years and years ago, when those who have now passed away, used to charm and please with their kindly and genial greetings ! Yes, once again, the revolving year has brought us round to the joyous, blessed Christmastide. Throughout universal Christendom Christmas Day is regarded as the highest and greatest festival of the year. Cbristmastide is a season when people endeavor, and m the great majority of instances success fully endeavour, to forget the cankering cases and anxieties of every day life. It Is a festival when, m accord with the dictates of that infinite love which found expression m the stupendous event which the daycommemorates, our higher nature seems absolutely to revel only m kindly deeds. It is a season when our higher nature loves to give free scope to those noble and generous feelings what we are glad to think, did not suffer extinction at Tha p a 11, It is a season when our less fortunate fellow mortals, the sick and afflicted, the widow and orphan, the aged and infirm are compassionately remembered and each one does, his or her, little best to ameliorate their life's sad or bitter journey. What a pity it is that such a bles.se.4 season, so fruitful m good and generous deed? could not be prolonged the year through I But suph can never be the case. What is falsely termed " the great battle of life," demands all our care, all our attention, and all our energies. Then let us be thankful that by mutual consent there is annually a brief truce, and let us all endeavour to turn that short truce to the blesjfc 3£count. In concluding our usual Christmas a^Je we shall adhere to the time honored custot^ and wish our readers, one and all, A Murry Christmas AND A Happy New Year.

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

In consequence of Obi-tßtgia,3 Day falling on Sunday this year, Monday will bo &a a holiday at tho Ashburton Publishing Com pany's OOQcea, and the " Guardian " will not bo issued. Tho " Mail " g/il) be published as Usual on Tuesday. The J3flnJi of New South Walos wjill ope» a Branch m Aehbui-ton about the first week m January m premises belonging to Mr JJullock (nearly opposite the " Mail " ofiice), pending the erection of new b#nk baildiogs on tfto vacant section adjoining the Arcade. The Master of the Home desires to aeknowj ledge, with thanks, the receipt of a qtmntity of cake from the Chairman of the Hampatead Committee, strawberries from Mr Smith, and from Mr Hepburn, for the use of tha in&iateg. We know that thera is n^thi^ oo cajth equal to American Co.'s pop, Bittgjrs, as a wily wedioiDe, Look /or

Our readers are reminded of the Cale donian Sports to be held on Monday, on the Society's grounds. A large audienoe assembled m the Oddfel lows' Hall last evening, on the oooasion ol the first and only appearanoe of the Majeronis here. The piece selected was " The Foundry Master," a drama wnich gave the powerful ompany plenty of scope for the display of their talent. In a former issue we gave a description of the plot of tho piece, which is | founded on Ohnet's novel, " Leß Maitre des Forges." The representation last evening was a most suooeasful one, all of the per formers taking their parts m a manner that left nothing to be desired. Signora Majeroni as Olaire, gave a most finished representation of the character, her acting being powerful and realigtio, while Signor Majeroni, to whom fell the part of Phillips Derblay, sustained the role m a talented manner. The other performers went through their parts with care and precision, the play passing off m a style that unfortunately we do not often witness. It is to be regretted that Ash burtonians have not another opportunity of witnessing this talented Company. At a meeting of the Charitable Aid Board, the following tenders for supplies to the Ashburton Home were aocepted : — Meat, James Tasker; milk John Hepburn fuel, Restell and Co. bread, W. Bryant; drugs, A. Kamnitzer ; groceries and medical comforts, H. Zander and Co: ; boots, Ohianall and Stewart ; olothing and bedding, Andrew Orr ; interments Thomas Gates. At the annual meeting of the Borough Council Mr H. Friedlander was reported to have said that the County Counoil had only evied th? ordinary rates during the last three years, whereas it should have been two rates. At the R.M. Court this morning before Messrs Aloorn and Thomas J.P.'b two lade named J. H. Shears and Samuel Northey, former inmates of the Burnham Industrial School, were charged with having stolen £4 15s m cash from the pockets of Samuel McSaveney, a man employed on the Spring field Station, Methven. The accused pleaded guilty, and were each ordered to be imprisoned for two monthß. The Benoh made a farther order that the goods which the culprits had pnrchased with the stolen money should be handed oVer to McSaveney. A firßt offender, for drunkenness, was fined 5s with the usual alternative. As Christmas Day and New Year's Day will fall on Sundays, the following holiday arrangements have been made by the Post and Telegraph Department : — Monday, 2Gth mat., will be observed as a close holiiay, but the Telegraph Office will be open from nine a.m. till tea a.m. and from seven p.m. till eight p.m. On Tuesday, 27th inst., the Post Office will be open m all branches from nine a.m. till ten a.m., and for Telegraph business again from Beven p.m. till eight p.m., and the letter carriers will make one delivery of letters commencing at eight a.m. Monday, 2nd January, will be a close holiday, but the Telegraph Office will be open from nine a.m. till ten a.m. and from seven p.m. tilL eight p.m. Mails will be despatched and received by the early morning trains eaoh day, and country mails will run as usual but will be closed at G. 30 a.m. The •« Wanganui Herald " giveß the follow ing •• proof of ignorance " :— During the Court sittings we heard a good story of a certain Judge's associate, of course not either of those who come to Wanganui. During a gambling case His Honor wanted to know what " yankee grab " was, and one of the counsel -jrafereed liini^ to JJia-asaQeiate for an explanation, but that gentleman professed entire ignorance of tho game. However, the lawyer was provided with a dioe-box, and the neoessary "bones," and he forthwith proceeded to enlighten the Judge. He threw out, and up came a six, five, and three. He was picking up the five and three, when he was rather astonished to hear the associate who was interested m the gams, remark •' leave the five." The Judge smiled, and the associate, finding he had put his foot m it, hastily withdrew, and was seen m Court no more that dity, Particulars were recently published of a fearful tragedy m a Sussex village, where the vicar, the Rev William Farley, w*s murdered apparently i a moat deliberate fashion by bia curate, the Roy Arthur Cooper, who cut his throat before the eyes of Mrs Farley, The oase, remarks the " Otago Daily Times," possesses considerable interest to many m New Zealand, as learn from an Home paper that the vicar's wife, before Bbc beoame Mrs Parley, was the widow" of the late Lieutenant. Colonel Moule, who was first Commissioner , of the combined Armed Constabulary and Police of New Zealand, and was well known ; throughout the coloDy. The Rev Mr Farley was a man of about 73 years of age at the j time of his death, and had been married three times, Hia marriage with Mrs Louisa Moule took place m September, 1881, tho lady being the junior by many years. The crime created a great sensation, and the accused (the Rev Arthur Cooper) has been committed for trial for wilful murder. The Governor of Tasmania, Sir R. Hamil. ton, hooked m the Huon river a magnificent specimen of the salmonidro, the particular kjndpqt being stated. It was a noble fish, 3.5 J- inches m length, 2G inches m girth, and 1-2 inohes m depth, tho weight being 2Qlbs. It is said to be the largest acclimatised fish caught m Tasmanian waters . It was presented to the museum. The peasants of a village m the district of Insar, Russia, recently resolved to murder their landlord's steward, which deoision they carried out. Thirty of them were tried for tho crime, when fourteen were sentenced to be hanged, while the elders of the village and tho Mayor wore sentenced, some of them to three and a half years' and others to three years' hard labor, for neglect of duty. Four teen of the peasants indioted were acquitted. The Queen has |issued an order, says 11 Truth," that the Jubilee medal, of which about a thousand have been given away, is to »cnk above all war medals, and it is always ,to be worn on those full-dress occasions when ! ordinary rneduls are tjf riptcr. j For many years ship-building on tho Clyde has not been bo slack as at present. In the four ship-building yards m Whiteinoh, a suburb of Glasgow, thoro is not a Blngle ship on stocks. This has'not oocuried for twenty, seven years. On the 17th iust. two hundred men were discharged from tho shipbuilding j yard of Mosßrs Caird and Co., Grennock, The Manchester Ship Canal, the consruc fjop o* which has just been begun, ia one of those great engineering feats so characteristic of the present age. fhe objectpi the scheme is practically to make Manchester a The actual Jengtji of the canal. is 21 milea. Jn making it jb will be necessary to remove fivfi railway bridges), wiib the consequent diversion of the lin,es, and a canal vindupt, Tho cost of tb.e work is 'estimated at £5,009,009, and thp parliamentary expense^ alone were about £2.90,Q0 L Q. The firm o Rothschild have agreed tp raise the money. As showiDg the Interest taken m Manchester m tho sohemo, it may be mentioned, that ft p^pqv wsa started to speoialJy advocate the ioußtructico cMhc canal,

THE WEATHER.

The following ia the meteorological report at Alford Station for the week ending Docemfaer 23rd, 1887 :—

SPORTING.

MOUNT SOMERS KAOES. Tha following are the acceptances :— Mount Somkbs Gup. Nero Forester Lotto Sqnlb Wild Boga Maid of Athens Miss Amy Handicap Hurdles. Nero Olssie . Bqalb Maid of Athens Wild Pogg

TINWALD LIVE STOCK MARKET

Messrs H. Mntaon and 00, report upon the Live Stock Market for the week ending Daoembg* 20:h, aa follorrn :— On Tuesday, at the Tinwald Yards, we held oar usual W9akly aaleof aheep, cattle, «nd pigs. There was only a medium entry, comprising about 2500 sheep and 90 head of cattle. The attendance waa not up to the average, and a dull tone prevailed throughout the Bale, more especially m cattle The prices realised ace as follows :— Fat crossbred ewes, 6a to 7a 4d ; crossbred ewes and wethers, 8s Id ; store crossbred (two and four tooth(, 6s lOi ; ditto wethers, 7a 8i ; ohorn ewea and lambs, 6« 6d, 7a Bj, and 81 j ditto m the woo), 10a 61 ; mixed four-tooth mecinoß, 4s, In fat cattle— Holfers, £3 5z to £4 7b 6d ; cows, £4 5j to £5 16a. In stores there U very little Improvement.

TINWALD SCHOOL.

ITho following is tho Inspector's report on the Tinwald School : —

Per cent age of poeaeß 50 48. Por contago of failures 1451 Per centageon class subjeotß 51 '25, Additional marks, 73. Staff and Distribution.— S. 6—3 Mr G, Culverhouse, master. 8 2 Mr Rees Williams, let year pupil teacher. 8 1 and P. Miasli. Bishop, mißtreca? General Remarks. — The results of. the examination are very good , The subjects of the " pass" and additional groups have received very satisfactory treatment, and jin the "class" group the work is dis tinctly promising. The discipline is good. P. and SI, — These classes have been very well taught on the whole. Reading, writing and druwing are very good j spelling, arithmetic aud object lessons vt w^r'r* The oral counting 1 m th * j preparatory gTvTßron m urny mooerate. Ss 2—6 — The work of these classes beftra all the marks of careful and intelli gent teaching. The writing is not so etrong as the other subjects. L. B, Wood, Inspector.

REAPER AND BINDER TRIAL.

The first field trial of a Reaper and Binder for this season took place yesterday •tflfc Harvey 'a farm near Drumore, thema ehineexhibitod being one of Aoltman and Oo'a " Bdokeye " folding Binder Harves ters, and the crop oat a fairly heavy one of oata, which though very early ; yet being oat for fodder only, were very green ! and therefore bo much heavier for a j maohlne to harvest. The Buckeye was drawn by two of Mr Harvey's horaea j easily, one of the advantages of thia machine being the very light draught compared with some other makers of Reapers and Binders, and this should cause the Buckeye to become a favorite on the plains where, m some caaes, large areas of crop tarn out light In the straw. The attendance of farmers at this trial was very fair, and the opinion of those present was greatly In favor of the machine, the various improvements made In the machine being explained by the driver ; of those apodal mention may be made of the folding action of the binder whtoh m about three minutes oan be uaahlpped from its working position and placed against the eleratoro. This, for travelling and going through gatee, etc., la a great advantage. Then >he ohaln and away bar for the knife, are done away with, a direct acting pitman doing the work very satisfactorily. Again, the finger bar and platform canvas are diffe rently arranged to other machlnos. This alteration, with another improve ment m the better belt, oanßea the sheaves to be delivered very equarely and lof uniform siz*. The machine has also a bundle or Bheaf-carrler, operated by the [ drivers foot m a simple and direct manner thia saving a good deal of labor to ' the atooklng especially where the crop is thin and light, The Appleby patent knotter la used with a Bpeclal deßlgn of catch, which is not subject to wear as m other cases. This worked well, but the twine used at this trial proved very in fprlor and so caused several delays m iho cutting, by twists and breakagco m tyiDg. Of coarse this was not any fault of either j machine or driver. Mr D. Thomas is the' local agent for the " Baokeye," and was on the ground yesterday and aold the maohlne used m the trial to a well-known j plains farmer, who expressed the opinion that this maohlne would be found very suitable for the Aahburton county orops, and when the season la farther advanced and the grain crops are ready for cutting and another trial ia given no doobt this opinion will be a general one, and the " Buckeye " be seen on many farms doing its work smoothly, quickly and economi cally. "

THE MARKETS.

Fbuteb's Telegrams— -Copyright) Adelaide, December 22, Arrived, Messageries Maritimes Sala zine, from Marseilles via Mauritius. She brings Mauritius advices to December Bth, under which date Messrs Ireland Fraser report as follows :— The weather has been favorable, but the season's crops will not exceed 95,000 tons. The market is active. Engagements during the month include 250 tons for Christ church ; clearances include 406 tons for Christchurch, and 505 tons for Dune din. .Freights to Australia are 18s to 23s per ton ; New Zealand, 26s to 275. Exchange on New Zealand 60 days bank credit, 35% per cent. The stock of sugar m hand is 38,000 tons, and the exports this season to New Zealand to date amount to 2729 tons. Melbourne, December 22. At the weekly wool sales oi the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited held to-day, 3500 bales were offered, the bulk of which was sold at satisfactory prices. Com petition was animated, and the market was very firm, prices beiog fully equal to laist week's rates. Greasy merino realised nd per lb; lambs, iij^d; crossbreds, iod ,• washed, i4^d ; scoured, i6d. London, Daoerober 22. I Consols are quoted at 101^. New Zealand four per cents, firmly maintain I last prices quoted. Tallow and bread stuffs are without alteration. The bank rate is 4 per cent, and market rate 3 per cent. The weekly returns of the Bank of England published to-day show the total reserve m notes and bullion to be .£12,800,000, a decrease of £40,000 during the week. The proportion of reserve to liabilities is 45 per cent or 1 per cent, below last week. There are further reductions m the French beet crop to -the extent of 70,000 tons. It is reported that the markets are stimulated m consequence 1 of the German January shipments beiog quoted. at r6s. March shipments are 3d more. Sydney, Deoember 23. New Zealand wheat has declined id to 2d per bushel, and now realises 2s iod to 3s ad. New Zealand oats con tinue at late rates, viz., is iod to 2s 2d per bushel. Maize is somewhat easier, 3s 6d to 3s iod per 561 b being asked. Adelaide, December 23. Old wheat is worth 3 s 6d per bushel • new wheat is quoted at 3s 3d to 3 s 4 d per bushel, being an advance of 2d on last week's prices. At out-ports old wheat fetches 3s 5d to 3s 6d per bushel, but generally speaking the tone of the market is quiet. Adelaide town flour is quoted at £ 9 to £ 9 * s per ton; country brands, £8 5s to A 103 per ton. **

INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS

1 mi. t> Auckland, December 22. Ihe Retrenchment Committee Qf the I Board of Education submitted a report, lohowlng the estimated redaction In the Board a income for the current year at I £7678, whilßt a redaction of expenditure is estimated at £4075. Thia will leave a deScioocy of £3003, which the Committee recommend should be made up by lighten- Ing the expenditure m email sohoolß, reducing the scale of granting to Com lutWorornnd frrubinrrtneausr-TtiH report however, was merely received, and the Committee are to sit Bgaln. va mm A J A .? RA £aA, December 23. ! Uidmnnd Kelly haa boen arreßted at Opotoki on six charges of stealing mail bags and destroying letters. Aoonsed waa one of the carriers between Opotiki and Tauranga. A reef showing gold freely haa been diDOovered near Mount Edgeoombe JVbuington, December 23. Daring the year over 3500 civil salts and nearly 2GOO criminal oaaes have been dealt with In the R.M. Court. BLENHEiar, December 23. Fresh cases of scab have been dis covered at Birch Hill Station, the pro perty of the Loan and Mercantile Com pany. One solitary hogget crossed the Wairau river getting into the home paddock In rather an unaccountable way, The station has been declared infected. Every poealble precaution waa taken by the Inspector of that eub-divlalon. Government are going employ men to specially scour the back country where scabby cheep have come from, and it la hoped the infection will be stamped oat very coon. In cases brought against the Salvation Army for obstructing a thoroughfare and wilfully annoying an inhabitant by beat ing a big dram, the Resident Magistrate gave judgment to day, clearly lay[ Dg down that In the absence of by-laws passed by the Boroagh Council, whloh had ample powera to deal with all B uch matters, it was not fata duty to strain and twiat the law to suit particular cas3B, He dismissed the charge. Nelson, December 23. From the Wakatu mine, Owen, 134z 7dwtß retorted gold have been obtained for the month 'e crushing. The mine will probably not resume crushing for a month: but the Enterprise mine will start crush on the 3rd January. Sir Jameo Hector will visit the Owen m a wesk'a time and examine the tailings, etc. Chri«tchukoh, December 23 At one this itftcrnoon. a lire brake out m Baynes' Broa. grain store m Manches ter street, which waa destroyed with the adjoining store, occupied by Robinson Broa The building belonged to Creke, an absentee, and wis insured m the Uniou for £500, Bnyne's machinery for £300, and tho stock for £100 m the Colonial. Very little was saved, Robin son's stock was uninsured. The fire b gau upataira m Baynes' store. Pdnemn, December 23. At tho Dock Truat meeting to-day, Mr fclder, who went home to float a loan gave m his report. He stated that he had' made arrangements to float it at par when the Hiirbor Board's circular opposing it get into circulation. All arrangements had then to be broken off. and ho had to alartanew. Ho eventually succeeded m placing the loan with a good firm, but the price is only £90.

THE WORK OF THE SESSION

+ Wellington, Deoember 23, Parliament Bat forky-foar dayß, the average befog 7 hours 34 rainatea ; of thla 217 hoarß were before midnight and 66 hours 30 minuteß after ; 511 petitions were presented, of which 429 were from HJuropoana aad 82 from Maorlp. The nnmber of pubHo Bills which originated In the H.uae was 122, and those brought from the Oounoll 10. Nine Bills were dropped m the Cjnncil and 73 m the &ouße. The schedule of Aota whloh passed both Houses is as follows : — PUBLIC ACTS. Appropriation. Australasian Naval Defence. Building Societies Ac^ 1880, Amend ment, Civil Service Refor.a Aot Amendment, Fleheiaa Conservation Act, 1884, Amendment. Government Loana to Local Bodies Act Amendment. Government Railways. Governor's Salary and Allowance Aot Amendment. (Reserved). r *r Ioc !& re r at Sq PP Iv (No 1), Imprest Supply (No 2), Imprest Supply (No 3). L^nd Aot Amendment. Local Bodlea Finance and Powers Aot. 1885, Amendment, Midland Railway Contract. Mining Aot Amendment. Ministers' Salaries and Allowances. Municipal Corporation Aot Amend ment. New Zealand Loan. Order m Council Validation, Parliamentary Honorarium 'and Prlvl legpa Act, 1884, Amendment. Pharmacy Act Amendment. Propjrty Tax. Poblic Bodies Powers. Pablio Revennea (No. 2) Public Revenues (No. 3). PubHo Works Aot Amend ai 3a t, Pab)lc Works Appropriation. Representation Act Amendment. Sheep Amendment. Sounds County Hoßpiul Representa- Wellington College and Girla' High Sohool, . Weatland and Nelson Native Reserves. West Ooaot Settlement Reservea' Aot Amendment. LOCAL ACTS. Akaroa Borough Counoil Reaetvea Vest- Ing and Reclamation; Ohriatchnroh Diatrlot Drainage Act, 1875, Amendment (No. 2). Ohrlstchnroh Drainage Board's Re serves Sale and Exchange. Ohristchnrch Hoapltal; Gißborne Harbor Board Act. 1884, Amondtnenh GisborDQ High School Act, 1885, Amendment (No 2). Hammond Fenolng Claims Compensa tion. Inveroargill Waterworks Reaerve. Napier Harbor Board Amendment and Endowment Improvement. New Plymouth Borough and Harbor Board Street and Reserve Bxohange. New Plymouth Reoreatlon and Race oonree Reserve. Ojiataro Harbor Board Loan. Olago Harbor Board Act, 1883, Amend ment. Pukekohe Borough. Taranaki West Licensing District, ( Walrarapa North County Oounoll Em powering. ! PWVAIE ACTS. i Ohrlatchuroh Property Trust (Canter bory.) Phoanix Assufanoe Company of London. Weaieyan Methodist, Church Property xrust.

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

rkuibr's tblegb>ms— coprmaHT,]

SENTENCE ON A PRIEST.

London, December 22. Father Ryan has been sentenced to a month's imprisonment for inciting tenants to withhold payment of their rents.

THE WELSH GOLD MINES.

Mr Pritchard Morgan, m a letter to the "Times," pledges to devote the whole of the wealth derived from the Welsh mines to national purposes, after providing for his family. I

SCULLING MATCH.

Ross and Bubear will row a match on the Tharaas m February for the championship of England .

NEW MAIL STEAMERS.

Fairfield and Co. are about to build three vessels of three thousand tons each for the Vancouver-Japan Line of mail steamers. The Russian Press contend that the country shonld not desist from arma ments m Poland until her claims to recover paramount influence m Bul garia are admitted by the Powers. Rumors are current that Prince Ferdinand will abdicate.

A NEW LOAN.

A disappearing gun, built by Arm strong arid Co, to the order of the Victorian Government was tried on Tuesday last. The trial was a com plete success.

THE CROWN PRINCE.

Berlin, December 22. Advices from San Remo state that the health of his Imperial Highness the Crown Prince is improving, and that the inflammation of the larynx is de creasing.

MELBOURNE EXHIBITION.

Paris, Deoembar 22. The French Ministry have decided that France shall be represented at tbe Melbourne Centennial Exhibition pro vided the time for receiving exhibits is extended to Marh ist

AUSTRALIAN.

[reUTER'S TELEGRAMS — COPYRIGHT. ]

NEW SOUTH WALES PARLIAMENT.

Sydney, Deoembor 23. The Ne«v South Wales Parliament stands adjourned until February 7th.

A DENIAL.

Mbiißouknb, December 23. Mr Dowries has written to the Press denying the truth of the report that he intends resjgn'ing. v "

NAVAL DEFENCE.

• Ihe Premier, Mr Gillies, has written to the Governments of other colonies, suggesting simultaneous action should be taken requesting the British authori ties to commence the construction of the Federal Australian Fleet without waiting for the 'passing of the Naval Defence Bill by Queensland. ' j

THE BOTTOMLESS JUG

— ♦ _ X iv a iT ifc hanging "P In the kitchen, of a thrifty, healthy, stordy fawner la Oxford county, Malae-a bottomless jag. The b oB t saw that the curions thing ooghttn y ye , and smiled. " You are wondering what that jug ia haoglrg up there for with its bottom knocked out," he oaid. »My wife, per napa can tell you the story better than I can | bat she la basbfal and I ain't, so I'll tOll it, 1 My father, aa you are probably aware, owDed this faim before mo, He lived to a good old age, worked hard all hia life, never squandered money, waa » oautious trader, and a good calculator ; and, as men were accounted m hia day and generation, he waa a temperate man I was the youogeat boy ; and when the old" man wao ready to go—and ha knew li the otbera agreed that Blnce I had stayed at home and taken care of the old folks the farm should be mine, and to me it was willed. I had been married then three years. . -1 Well, father died— mother had cone three years before— and left the farm to me, with a mortgage on It for two thonaand dollars, I'd never thought of It before. I said to Mollie my wife • '"Mollte, look here, Here father* had this farm In Us first strength of soil with all its magnificent timber, and his six boys as they grew np, equal to so many men to help him ; and he worked hard, worked early and late, and yet look at It ! A mortgage of two thomand dollars. What can I do ? " • And I went to that, jug— lt had a bottom to It then — and toofc a good stiff drink of old Melford rum from it. ' I noticed a curious look on the face o! my wife just then, and I asked her what she thought of It, for I supposed she waa thinking of what I'd been talking about. And bo she waa, for she said • ' » Charles I've thought of this a great deal, and I've thought of a way m wbioh I believe I can clear this mortgage off before five years are ended." • Says I : ! ' " Moliie, tell me how you'll do it?" •She thought for a while, and then aaid, with a fanny twinkling In her bine eyes — says Bhe : 1 " Charlie, you mast promise me fchli, and promiae me solemnly and naoredly ' Promiae me that you will never brine I home for the purpose of drinking for a beverage, at any time, any more aplrlta than you can bring m that; old jag—the jag your father has naed ever since I knew him, and which yoa have usftl since he has done with it." 1 Well, I knew father uaed onoe m a while, especially In haying time, and In winter when we were at work In the woods, to get an old gallon jug filled ; io> I thought that she meant that I should never buy more than two q a arts at a time. I thought It over, and after a little while told her that I would agree to It. r ♦"Now mind," said she, "y on are never to bring home any more spirits than you oan bring m that Identical j ax?* And I gave her the promise. •And before I went to bed that nfehfc I took the laHt pall at that jag. As I was turning out for a sort of nightotn Mollie looked up, an da ay sane : "Charlie have you got a drop left ?" ■ ' There was jast about a drop left. We'd have to get it filled on the mor row. Then Bhe said, if I had no objee. tlon», ahe would drink that last drop with me. I shall never forget how she !f ld i\u th ?i '?■' ? r °P |M *°»ever" I tipped the old jug bottom op, and eofc about a great spoonful, and Mollle ufd that waa enough. She took the torn bier and poured a few droops of hot water into it, and a bit of sugar, and then ehe tinkled her glass against mine, iu*t aa she'd seen us boys do, when we'd been drinking to good luck, and laytfne': " Hero b to the old brown jog ]" .« Sakea i alive ! I thought to myself that poor Mollie had been drinking more of the rum than wae good for her. and I tell you it kind of out me to the heart. I forgot all about how many times *ihVd seen me when my tongue wbb thicker than it ought to be, and my legs not so steady as good legs ought to be ; but I ™rl n0 £ in K Bt l ? ra ? k the bailment ?S? ° ld r brown Jag "-and let It go. 'Well, I went oat after that, and -did my ohores, and then went to bed • and and the last thing I saii before leaving the kitchen— this very room where we now sit — was : « " We'l! have the old brown jag filled tomorrow." J c « And then I went off to bed. And I have remembered ever since that I went to bed that night, as I had done hundreds I of times before, with a buzzing m my I head that a healthy man ought 'not to have; I did think of it then, nor had I i ever thought of it before, but I'vi thooiht of It a good many times since, and have 1 thought of it with wonder and awe ■ Well, I got up the next morning and did my work at the barn, tben^ame In and ate my breakfast, but not with aoch an appetite as a farmer ought to nave and I could not think then that my *nn e ! tite had begun to fail. Howevi? I ata breakfast, and then went out anSiiltched up the old marej for, to toll the plain truth, I was feeling m the .need of a glass of spirits, and I hadn't a drop m the house. I was In a hurry to get to the village. I hitched up and came m for the jng. 1 wont for It m the old cupboard and took it out, and— ' Did you ever break through the thin ice on a snapping cold day, and find yourself In an Inat«nt, over your head m freezing water ? Because that is the way I felt at that moment. The jug was there but the bottom waa gone. Mollie had taken a sharp chiael and a hammer, and with a skill that might have done oredlt to a master workman, ahe had dipped the bottom clean out of the jug without even cracking the edges of the aides. I looked at the jug, and then ehe burst ont. , She spoke, O, I had never heard anything like \l ! i N °' oou r h ?l e * h6ard aQ y tWng like it Bince; She said : , 1 r> Oharlea, that'a where the morfccaize on this farm oame from ! It was brojght home within that jug— two quarts at a lime J And there's whera your; white, clean akin, «»nd your clear, pretty eyes are going; And m tbat jug, my huaband, your appetite is going also, O, let It be aa it ia, dear heart 1 And remember yonr promise I' 1 . * % And then ehe threw her arms around my neok and burat Into tears, She oould Bpeak no more. 'And there was no need. My eyes were opened as though by magic. In a tlogta minute the whole scene paaaed before me. I saw all the mortgages on all the farms m oar neighborhood ; and I thought where the money had gone. The very last mortgage father had ever made was to a bill held against him by the man who had filled thia jag for years ! Yep, T saw as it paasod bbfore me— a fettering pfpfora' of mm ! rum 1 rum !— debt } debt ] debt I and m the end, death ] Arid I returned my Mollie'a klas, and said I ; r ' " Mollie, my cvy j, 1.l keep the prom iao ! I will, ao help me heaven 1" ' And I have kept it. In leea than five yeare. as Mollio had said, the mortgage was cleared off ; ray appetite oftine baok to me ; and now we've got a few ihouaahc dollars at interest. There hangs the old jast aa we hung it on that" day; and from that time there hasn't been a 'drop of Bpirits brought Into the houge" far & beverage which that bottomless iv» wouldn't hold. . 6 "'Dear old jag 1 We mean to keep It and hand it dowu to our cbliarea lor 1h« lesson it oan give them— a leeaon of life-. " of a hfe happy, peaceful, proßpewuß and blesaed !'. . " And aa \\q ceaaod epeaklng, his wife. with her arm drawn tenderly around thQ neok of her youugeat boy, murmured ft forfepfc am?n,

THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1887



High ~^ " Date. Shade. m State of weather, low ihigh Sun. Saturday 49- 78* 135- Pine, E. ' Sunday 49' 79- 1-14- Fine, E. Monday 44* 89 1 145- Fine, N.E. to W. Tuesday 52- 77- 97- Fine, S.W. Wed'day 46- 89- 140- Fine, S.E. Thur'day 48- 73- 130- Fine, N.E. Friday 40- 84- H6- Fine, SE.



72 "B +>* *o - 111 t I 1 I | « fl * * S, VI. 2 0 0 3 0~~ ■ S. V. 7 0 0 16 S. IV. 14 3 1 2 8 S. HI. 15 2 0 3 10 8. 11. H 1 1 1 11 S. I. 21 3 0 0 18 P, 32 0 0 0 0 Total 105 9 2 9~~ 63 I



Heating's Powder destroys both moths, fleaa beetles, and all other inseots, while quite harmless <q domestic animals. In extermi- nating beetles, the suocess of thja po^dey is extraqrjjinary. Jt ia nerfeotly clean m anpli- cation. See tUe attiole you purphaß Koatingls, as imitationa avp noxipus and peffcotuat Sold n tina, 6q, Is, and 3d Gd aacb, by all cb^njiste,



The best medicine known ia SANDER and SONS' EUCALYPTI EXTRACT. Tost its eminent powerful effects m coughs, colds, influenza, etc— the relief ia instantaneous. Thousands give the most gratifying testimony." His Majesty the King of Italy, 1 and medical syndicates all over the globo, are its patrons. Read the official reports that accompany each bottle. We have no occasion to offer rewards m proof of the genuineness of our references. The official reports of medioal olinica nnd universities, the official communication of the Consul-Gfeneral for Italy at Melbourne; the dipfoma-' awarded international Exhibition, Amsterdam— all these are authentio doom ments, and, as such, not open to doubt. We add here epitome of oue of the various cases treated by Sjegen, M.J)., Professor, etc.; Burning of the right hand through the exj I plosion of a small oil stove. The epidermis op the yplar and palmey side of the band of the thii'ly-year-old patient was completely separated' aiid lifted up as far as the joint of the hand. The likewise lifted nails wore hanging Iqose, and half of phalanx of the nail of the middle finger was ooalod. Thg vroundfi thus epntract'ed healed m throe week's ! under daify applipations of Euoalyptio Extract | dfr'oßsfng.' The patient hep retained the fujl |ngep|>ejf^»Dd,-(4dvt.) |



The " Palmerston Times " states that a nondesoript animal, captured near Dunback, has been on view. It has a ferret-looking head and a Bymmetrically-shaped body, with a long tail, resembling m appearanoe the Australian opossum, The animal has a beautiful coat of fur. The general belief is that it is a cross between a ferret and a rabbit Holloway's Ointkent and Pivls.— A fre- (jjuoni cause of gout aud rheumatism is the inflammatory eiate of the blood, attended with bad digestion and general debility, A few does of the Pills taken iti time are an effective preventive against gout and rheuma- tism. Anyone who has an artaok of either should use Holloway's Qintmept also, th§ powerful action of which, combined with the operation" of the Pilie, muat fnfalliblv oHedt a sure. These Pills apt directly on the blood, ! whiph they purify and improve; ' Having once subdued the seyerfty of these aiseases, p.erse- Voran.oo wjth the gintmeu|i, after foniejiting tbo affected joints nthJj warm brjnjj, wjjl speedily relax alj gtjgqegß ana preverji pny perw«B«ntooßUg«tJoa,



Wanted. SANTA Claua is coming ; lar^e and varied Toys, and Fancy Goods, su<t- able for the occasion. — H. M. Jones. 12 106 WANTED on a Station situation by Married Couple, no encumbrance. Man as general hand— can milk, kill, &c. Wife good cook and laundress. Apply Mrs Randall, Ashburton. 12*148 WANTED Known.— Monday and Tuesday being holidays the Cheap Sale of the Bankrupt StccV of A C. j Phiohabd is postponed to Wednesday, the 28th inst. My Establishment will be closed Monday and Tuesday. — Andrew Obk 12 145 DOLLS! Dolls 1! Dolls 1 !! m great variety, breakable and nnbreikablo, Wood, Wax, China, Indiarubber, Id to 20s,— H, M. Jones. 12 107 BOOKS suitable frr prr sodls and prizes. Photo Albums, la to 50s ; Photo Frames, 6d to 12s 6d. Best possiblo value m all lines. — H. M. Jones 12 108 CO>:E and see the Is tables I Come and see the 6d tables ! Oorne one, come all, come early.— H. M, Jones. 12 109 T A DIES' Bag*, Purses, Work Boxes, \_J Desks, b'crap Albums, Japanese Cabinets and Brackets, Glove and Hand- kerchief Boxes — H. M. Jo.yes. 12 110 "VTEW premises will bo opened m a day Xl or two.— H. M. Jones. 12 111 WANTED Everyone to see the ONE SHILLING box of choice Christ- mas and Yew Year Cards. Envelopes in- cluded.—H. U, Seqers, Melford Bouse. P BINTS, Prints, — Just opened a splen- did assortment of Prints, Ginghams, Zeph3rs, &c, Great variety to choose from.—H. O. Seoebs, Jfelford House. "TTTANTED Known. —That HAVES Vy and CO. have a Bplendid lot %f White Embroidery Robes at 14s, worth 21s. I7IOR SALE—A lot of Empty Caeca, T cheap.— H. 0. Segers, Melford House. ANTED Known.— For Sate, Blue Gum, Stringy Bark, Peppermint Gum, Red Gum, and Silver Wattle Tree Seeds, locally grown, and fayed this Season j also Turnip Seeds, just arrived, ex s.s. Rimutaka. —J. Scaly and Co., Seedsmen. Eaet Street. llfGl WANTED CASH — Moir's Ontmeal 251bs, 2s 6d ; Sperm Candles, 5d ; Coffee and Milk, la per tin} Cocoa and Milk, 1* per tin ; Vestas, 5d per doz ; Cornflour, 4i per 1b j tin Fruits, Is ; Crookery, Ironmongery, oto. — At James MoGregob's, Tancrod Stroot, opposite Arcade. WANTED Known— To the Ladien of Ashburton &nd Barroundfng districts, that an experienced monthly Nurse is deairous of engagement, Good references can be given. Address — Mrs Hill, Peter Street, Ashbnrton. 11 18 WANTED KNOWN — Oleographs Scenery, and Catholic Subjects Cathollo Cards, good variety m Scraps Novelties m Ponwipers, Crewel Woola and Bilks, Knitting Cotton, Colorod Crotchet Cotton, Transfers, Tinsel Ballß, dr., &0., at Mas Manuire's Fancy Repository, Saundsrs' Buildings; "TTTANTED. Known— Wellß sank, with YV pump and pipe found and fixed, from £2 10s upwards. All klnda of pumpa, Rangaa and house-Bmith work fixed or repaired, Ghlraneyu swept and ranger cleared, 3?. Keglstera Ib 6d each. addroas, H. Dudley, Moore street, Aeh- burton n £2



JOHN OER & CO.'S GREAT CHEAP SALE —or— SUMMER STOCK, DKAPEBY, CLOTHING, MILLINEEY, MANTLES, &c. Commences on WEDNESDAY, December 28th. ABTONISHIN6 BARGAINS NOTE I— The Great Sale for the Season ii at John Orr and Co.'s J.G.KESTELL&CO, (f.ATE TUCKER & RESTfiLL), Timber and Coal Merchants, WEST STREET, HAVE made freeh arrangements for supplies of all classes of TIMBER Bequisite for Building Purposes "of > Ashburton. Regular Deliveries from Southland, con- sisting of—- Red and White Pines, And from Thames, Havejock, and other Northern Ports of Best Dressed Floorings and Linings, The Quality of the Milling being such as will give entire satisfaction. A Cargo of ASSORTED TIMBER, RED AND WHITE PINES and MATA', just received ex "Alert." A LARGE ASSORTMENT OF KAURI, FLOORING. LINING, BBELVINGS, MOULDINGS, SKIRTINGS, ARCHITRAVES. Kept under cover and m good order, dry and seasoned. TOTAfiA and BLACK PINE of all sizes—the very be#i— co uitg from the Terawera Saw MillH. Just taken into stock ex " Lnngutone V- GALVANIBED IRON, Orb Brand, .SHEET LEAD, ZINC, CEMENT. Fencing Wire, (l>arbod and pain), Boiled Raw Oil and Cuetor Oil. Bod »nd White Lead, NEWCASTLE, WESTPOIIT AND MOUNT SOMERS COAL Always m «tock and delivered at any Railway Station at lowest possible quotation 1 . Tow.* Okdebs Bbcjjivk ?ao.«:i AxTBKTIOif. AGENTS FOR Northern Fire Assurauce Co i Colonial Mutual Life Aesociation Mr E. F. Wright's Mount SomerH coal a. G. RESfELL 6 CO. ,



THE A6HBUBTON WOOLLEN MANUFACTURING COMPY. (Limited.) deposits EECEIVED m large or email flams at the following Rates of Interest :- Six per cent It fixed for 6 months. Seven pec cent <f fixed for 12 monthi if. SEMPLE, Q#s§ Secret»iy« X: McCallum FAMILY GROCER AND TEA DEALEB, FOWLER'S BUILDINGS, TANCRED STBEEP, HAS DOW m Stock a Large and Very Super'or lot of Goods for the Christmas Trade. Also, — NEW FRUITS. SEW FRUITS. Also,— Jost unpacked, a lot of Useful Crockery, cheap and well- assorted. Note thb Addbibs : — R McCallum, GROCER, &c. TANCRED STREET. wTHTPaget.: BLACKSMITH, HORSE-SHOER, WHEELWRIGHT, AUD GENERAL SMITH, Boknett Stbekt, next " Mall " Office, BEGS to announce (hit he has taken over the Coach Building and Wheel* wright Branch, lately carried on by H. Peat, and will continue all branches of the »Sfv» Wlneas as before. All kinds of Soggteif Dtays, or Carts made and re* £ftired. Agrloaltaral Implements repaired Horses Shod with skill and care. ,„ ~W. H. PAGET. TRY KTRKPATEICK'S JAM. CAUTION. |WTONE is genuine nnlees our name is I™ «tair.pel on each tin, and hna our Regiatered Trale Mai-:, " Loro We eon, $70 tbe laboK TRY JiKIEKPATBICK'S: TOMATO SAUCE. THE moatideliciouß flavor'ng{for Gold Htafty Ghops] Steaks,. Soups Gravies &n &c. Wool Season, 1887-88. "IX7 E tre prepared to make LIBERAL TT CASH ADTANCBS against Large or SMALL Clip* of Wool, whether in- tended for Sale In ASHBUKTON OR ELSE- WHERE. J.We;baTemade mo«t satisfactory arrange 6 nentsfor) 6 J SHIPPING OLIBNT3' WOOL, If prlcen realised m Ashborton are not oooildered eatiefaotory. It Is our Intention to hold PERIODICAL WOOL SALES Throughout the Season, Of which due notice will be given, and ft* oar GRAIN STORE, which was con- structed with due regard to LIGHT, will be EMPTY, we shall have an opportunity of displaying the Wool to the very best •dTßßtage, wfaioh ihouia be a dlsidentam to the Seller, Charges exactly the same as Chrlstohnrohj Jfarirera, oomult yonc beat fntere ts, acd Sell, locally, there by sa ing J ailway Freight Woolsacks ANiijTwiNii O»T1 BEST QUA4JTY SDPPLIED. Bt MAXSOW & CO,



ALBEET KOBEETS o as foe sale,— Clovers, — [M£, WHITE, COWGrEASS, ALSYKE, and TEEFOIL. RYEGRASS, COCKSFOOT, and RAPE, Golden Tares, Cape Barley, EEBD PEAS, SEED OAab(variouß kinds), CRUSHED BEANS PLOUGH SHABES COOPER'S SHEEP DIP, Acknowledged to be THE BEST IN THE MARKET