The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. TUESDAY, AUGUST 30, 1887.

At the annual meeting of the Canter bury Chamber of Commerce, President Mr John Cooke, the General Manager ot the New Zealund Loan and Mer cantile Agency Company, m moving the adoption of the report took occasion to review various topics of general interest to the commercial community, and m doing so localised his remarks as far as it was possible to do so. In comparing our commercial position at the present time with that we occupied r a year ago, he submitted a table of the relative values of our principal natural products then and now. This table is very instructive showing as it does at a glance what articles have improved and what have declined m value during the twelve months. We are sorry to notice that while only three articles — barley, cocksfoot and wool show improved value — a great majority have de creased very materially. Wheat shows a diminished value to the extent of od ; oats, fdj potatoes, 15s per ton; flour, 20s j Butter, id ; cheese, 26. ; ryegrass, is 8d Sheep are stationary, but cattle exhibit a falling off of 9s per ioolbs; wool stands at a halfpenny better while tallow shows a decrease of 5 s and frozen mutton id a lb. The most serious amount represented by the reduction is m frozen meat, but this is more than made up by the increased value of wool. With such great depreciation m value we cannot wonder that trade is not very buoyant or active. As the President observed M the spending power of the producter being seriously curtailed and nothing but the natural increase of population having taken place thegeneral trader and manufacturer experience restricted demand for their wares and they m turn are forced to economise alike m their domestic and business concerns." One would imagine from the fore going that it would be futile to look for any "silver lining" to this dark cloud of depreciation m values of our staple of exports. Nearly every item m the table wears a somibre mantie. There is only one ray of comfort that we can discover m perusing the President's remarks. It is this that, while as a rule prices have fallen, production has increased m afar greater ratio. This is noticeably the case with regard to wool, and m the case of Canterbury particularly so. The increase m the exports of wool is remarkable, and Canterbury has at length practically overtaken Otago, which fora long time held the premier position. The total quantity exported has risen from i4,4i0,0001bs m 1881 to 27,516,601^3 m 1886 for Canterbury, the correspond ing figures for Otago being 21,898,670 lbs and 37,528,816. There is another cheering fact; while wool has so greatly increased m spite of the half million sheep slaughtered for export every year, from all parts of this island reports go to show that the growing clip this season will be vtry heavy.

LOCAL AD GENERAL.

Mr W. Palmer addressed the electors at Dorio on Friday evening. There was a good attendance, and a Tote of thanks was acoorded the candidate. A largely Bigned requisition has been sent to Sir George Grey, ashing him to speak m Ashburton. It is very probable that Sir George will accept the invitation. The freezing maohinery ordered by the Wellington Meat Export Company from Haßlam and Co., Derby, some time ago, ar rived by the Tongariro. The Glebe Island abattoir! have cost the Government £161,060 since thoir establish* tnent, and show a balance to credit at against working expenie* of botween £5000 and £6000. Hooper's Specialty Comedy Company open m the Oddf ellowß' Hall this evening for a «ftaoa of two nighto. Our exchanges speak of the Company »n the highest terms of oom mondation, and it seem* fe> J? aye been doing Buocessful business, both m this colony and m Australia. After the surfeit of politiAe: people are experiencing just now, a pleasant relaxation, suoh as Hooper's Company eeemi capable of affording, Bhoold be very accept able. HoiiLowat's Ointment and Ptt&s.-*-Ooughfl, Influenza. — The soothing properties ot these medicaments render them well worthy of trial m all diseases of the respiratory organs. la common colda and influenza the pills taken internally and the ointment rubbed over the chest and throat are exceedingly efficacious. When influenza is epidemio this treatment is the easiest, safeit, and surest. Holloway'a Pills purify tht blood, remove all obstacles to its free circulation through the lungs, rsUeye i]ie ovpr-gorgod air-tubes, and render respiration free, tftthpnt reduoing the Btrongth, irritating the nerviJf, D* depressing the spirits; Buoharo the ready means of aioaning from suffering when afflicted with colds, coughs, bronchitis, and other chest aoiii plaintfi, by which the health oS so many is seriously and permanently iojuied ia moa,t opuntrien,

We are deßlred to call the speoial attention of the residents at Pendarves to the faot that Mr Buxton will address the eleotors there on Thursday evening, Sept. Ist, instead of on the following Tuesday as previously announced m error. Our readers' attention is direoted to an advertisement referring to a Coffee Supper to be held to-morrow evening at the Temperance Olub. We have been requested to state that this entertainment, as well as the olub itself, is quite undenominational, and that the founders intend to-morrow night to nominate a Com mittee of members for the future working of the institution. An election for a Borough Councillor has been proceeding to-day. The gentlemen nominated aro Messrs A. Roberts and G. F. Soott. Bather more than the ordinary amount of interest is manifested m the elec tion and totes seemed to drop m pretty thickly. During the afternoon a ooaoh and four placarded as the Committee room of one of the candidates was driven about town and caused a little mild excitement, a couple of home m tha hands of stout-lunnged members of the Committee making a great din. The result of the oleotion will be declared about a quarter to seven this morning. The weekly session ef the Dawn of Peace Lodge, 1.0. G.T., was held last evening m founders' . Buildings, when there was a good attendance. After the aeual business was gone through, the Lodge went into harmony. The meeting was cloned m due form by Bro Hardley, W.CT.., after which a Degree Meeting was held, when the beautiful Degree of Fidelity was oonferred on four members. The inquest on the body of the man|Henry Miller who was found dead m a water race at Springfield on Sunday morning was held at Methven this afternoon, when a verdiot m acoordanoe with the evidence was returned. We have received information from the Telegraph Department that the Port Darwin line is interrupted. The second of the Sooial Gatherings m connection with St. Stephen's Church will be held m the Church Sohoolroom on Thursday •vening next at 8 p.m. /The final coursing matoh m connection with the Ashburton Coursing Club takes plaoe at Longbeach on Friday. Entries oloae at Mr W. Zander's on Thursday next. The London correspondent of the " Western Daily Mail " tells a story whioh is going about regarding six Scotch bailieß who came up to tiwn to present an address of congratulation to Her Majesty. They asked, he says, what they had to do on entering the Queen's presenoo, and were told they should kiss hands. Thereupon Bailie No. 1, as he solemnly stalked past the Throne, raised hie hand to his mouth and blew Her Majesty a kiss. The remaining five followed suit, till the Queen had a fit of the heartiest laughter she had enjoyed for a long time. More bridges are contemplated at this date than ever before m the history of the oountry (says the "Australasian and South Ameri can"). Two are projected aoross the Hudson ; six aoross the Mississippi ; two aoross the Missouri; a 10,000,000 dollar bridge aoross the Potomac, 4650 feet long; besides a multitude of smaller bridges. The bridge works are overrun with work, and bridge iron makers are unable to accept all the business offered. Four bridge-building works are projected and an expansion of mill oapaoity is going on, A very ourioua suggestion has been made by an Austrian savant, named M. Kergovatz, Instead of either the ordinary inhumation, oremation, or embalming as a moans ot dis posing of the dead, he proposing galvano* plasty. After having oovered the dead body with a layer of plumbago, it is immersed m A bath. Copper being expensive, zinc may be substituted by those who aro poor. On the other hand, gold or silver oould be used for the rioh. By prolonging the bath our dead friends could be transformed into statues of their natural size. A New South Wales legislator said the other day that the land question there was m a worse position than m Ireland. It is expected that the appronching Mel bourne Cup meeting will attract a great many New Zealanders to Fleming ton. The new electoral roll for Wairarapa oon tains 2113 nam«s, that for Foxton 1141 names, and that for Rangitikei 1686 names. The " Lyttelton Times " says : Tha resig nation of the Marine Portfolio by Mr Larnaoh is a step m the retrenchment announced m the Financial Statement by Sir Julias Yogel. The Thames police are taking vigorous steps to put a stop to youthful profanity m the public etreets. It would be a good thing if all members of the force followed the example. A cable haß been laid from Gaps York, Northern Queensland, to Thursday Island, and a station is opsned there at Messrs Maedonald and Paterson's. The rate is fixed at 10s 6d for the first ton words, and 1b for each extra word. It will be well for persons who have the handling of much money to be specially on ' their guard against spurious coins, beoause there are at present a number of half sovereigns m circulation whioh are not genuine. " Rough 'on Itch."—" Rough on Itohi cures Bkin humors, eruptions, ring worm' tetter, salt rheum, frosted feet, ohilblains itob, ivy poison barber's itofa. 3

MENAGERIE ACCIDENTS.

A Paris correspondent says not a week passes without some horrible accident m a menagerie. On Saturday a tamer named Agop, who was making hie beasts perform before a largo crowd at tho fair of Bourges, was suddenly knocked down by a blow from tho paw of ono of the animals. Half of the unfortunate man's skull was snapped off almost instantaneously by the terrible brute, and bis spinal column was cracked m twain as though it had been a dry twig. This is the most appalling of any of the menagerie accidents which have occurred for a long time, either m Paris or the provinces. It is quite probable, however, that Paris may yet be startled by a similar atrocity, if amateur lion tamers or hysterical females be allowed to enter the dens of wild beasts. The experiments on the hypnotised woman who entered the cage at the Folia Berge*rea have already Joeen detailed ; but they were eclipsed on Saturday" by iho performance of a demimondalne, woo actually entered ono of the cages mM, Bidel's menagerie at Neuillo, and kept a Jion m momentary quietude by the mag netic force ojE M tyo lovely black «yei." Luckily tho doping venture of fchp dark eyed dumczal did not last long, anql she escaped without having left her limbs m tho mouth of the ex-monarch of $he forests called Sultan . osr exploit was vociferously cheered by a cFowd i^ mashers who bad expressly attended to see the strange spectacle.

THE ASHBURTON SEAT.

MR PUR?EM, AT ALFOKD FOREST i

Mr Paroll addressed a large meeting of electou m the Schoolroom, Alford Forest, tli room being filled. Mr W. T. Ghapmai waa voted to the chair. Mr Purroll spoke for nearly two hoara upon the jrlnolpul topics of the -Say, and was liatena to with great atteutloo. In reph to questions, the candidate eaid he *« m favor of a tax upon un improved iaada, held by absentees and others. Ie preferred a Property Tax <o a Land T<x; moreover, it would be neces sary to sippleraent a Land Tax by an Inoome Tx, m order to raise as much revenue a waa now obtained from the Property Tax, and to catch persons whose money w« not invested m land. He ooneiderdC the present scale of Resident Magistrate* Court foea excessive and it ought to be reduced. He did not think the Empie was ripe for Federation; Ira perUl Feceration was something to be | worked 07 to by degrees, and if it was hurried, iistead of binding the Empire together, the result would be that the Empire tnald fall to pieces. * Mr Janes Rowe moved a vote of con fidence mMr Parnell, which was seoonded by Mr J. H. Ross, and carried un»nl moualy t The prcoeedingt terminated with the asual ooopliment to the oh air.

MBBUXTONAT WAKANUI.

THE RANGITATA SEAT.

Mr But on addressed a large meeting of electors on Monday evening m the Schoolrcono, Wakanui. Mr James Brown was vot«d to the chair, and introduced t!i« speaker m a few words, asking the audienca to give him a fair hearing. The eddresß was a resumi of the Ash burton one, with a few exceptions. In speaking of the pay of Civil servants, he said ha wan one when the eltction began, receiving tbe large salary of about four pence a day, which he hud to resign on account of being a candidate. If the eleotors expected him to come fawning round them for voteß they would be mistaken ; he did not think it was manly or straightforward to do so much button holm; as some were doing If returned, he promised to do his best for tbe welfare of tie people generally, and especially to watch the industrial classes' interests. A largo number of questions wore asked and answered, apparently satis factorily to moßt present, Mr Megoon moved a rery hearty vo^e of thanks to Mr Buxton, saying he had known him for many years, and he (Mr Buxton) was a perfectly honest and straightforward man, one whom the eleotors could trust their interest to m Parliiment. He also urged every man to uso bis vote and influence to promote tbe best interests of the masses. He (Mr Megson) spoke as an old politician of 50 year 6 standing, and he reconnted some of bis etrly experiences. Mr Oasis had much pleasure In second ing the motion, adding that he had known Mr Buxton for many yeara and had every confidence m him. Me Leadley said ha had pleasure m supporting tha motion. He said that more men of Mr Button's stamp were wanted m the House— more of their own class, the farmers. There had always been too many lawyers and newspaper men m the past consequently it was not fairly a House of Representatives. The motion wai carried unanimously* A vote of thanks te the chair termina ted tke meeting.

TO-DAY'S TELEGRAMS.

Another Auckland Fire

Auckland August 30. At 4 am to day a eeven-roomed hoase Wood (street, Ponsonby, owned and occupied by E. Wood Bold wai burned down with the whole of the contents. Wood field was alone inthehoaae the family befnpr away, be and was aroused, when the fire was well advanced, by the people outside. He escaped with eorae difficulty. The house and furniture were Insured bat In what office is unknown. A later telegram says : — lnsurance! m the Pon ■onby fire, house £500, on the Norwich Union. Stable £30 m the Equitable ; furniture £170 m the*same office Enforced Retrenchment. Tauranga, August 30. Owing to receipt of a letter from the Comptroller-General calling on the Boroagh Council to pay up the overdraft above the legal limit, the Council hare decided to reduce the salary of the Town Clerk and to dispense with the services of the Engineer and Inspector of Nuisances, and m other ways to oar tail the expenditure. Damages. Napibr, Angast 30, The R.M. to.dayf?»ve judgment against the Hanke's Bay County Oounoll m a olaim for £40 damages for loss of a horse, and damage to a dray and harness, oaased through Improper repairs to a road after damage by floods; The flood scoured oat a hole m the road. This was filled with fascines and left without covering. Ihe horse got among them, plunged about, and killed itself. Spaiting. Silence, New 7ealand Cup favorite, pulled up lame yesterday after a gallop. Rabbit Exterminator. Blenheim, August 80. Another euooessful trial of Stenhonse •nd Smith's: rabbit exterminator has been held. Inspector Blundell, of the Sheep Department, wai present and there ware large orowds of spectators. The effect of sulphuric aold gsa generated by the maobine is most deadly. Several inquiries from different parts of the colony have been reoelved by the m ren to jr. Archbishop Redwood Archbishop Kedwood will be presented with an address from the Catholics of Mtrlborough next Sunday. His niece will be married on Thursday to Mr Vavasour, manager for Clifford and Wills Flaxboarne station. The yoang lady Is the eldest daughter of Thos Kedwood Death. Otjnkdik, August 30. Captain Eussoll, Lloyd's surveyor at this port, died to-day.

THE STRENGTH OF SNAILS.

Perceiving a oommon eaail, Helix aspersa, crawling op ]the window blind one evening, it ocourred'to me to try what It could draw up perpendicularly. Accordingly, 1 attaohed jfco iti shell four reels pf oof. top, fastened one after the other, Qntll I ascertained that a greater load would exceed the limit of Its strength, I then weighed the entire load, and found tfiat It weighed 21 ounoes, whilst the snail weighed only f ounce. Thus It was able to lift perpendicularly nine times iti weight. I then made an experiment with a larger snail, weighing one-tbird of an ourlDO) ths lead befog composed chiefly of the same material " ay the last;, but bo placed aa to be drawn m a borfyontal < position on the table. Reels of cotton to ' the number of 12 were fattened to It, with a pair of icissors, a sorew-driyer, . a k«y, and $ knife ? weighing altogether 37 ounce*, or 6$ times tfte wejght of the snail; ' The same " snalj, wpen placed on the oelllng, was ablo ' to travel with a weight of four ounoes suspended from jits ■hell. X next tried Jt on a piece of common thread, smpended and hanglpg loose, with another snail of his own weight, which It carried up the thread with apparent ease. After this I tried it on a single horsehair strained In a horizon tal position, but It hud then enough to do to orawl over thlß narrow bridge without a load.— E. Biadford, m ZoAoglti, it

THE BULGARIAN THRONE

* ; |REUT«R T B TELEGRAMS— COPYRIGHT.]

London, August 28. Prince Ferdinand occupies an iso lated position, and bis haughty manners displease the Bulgarians. A political deadlock is impending. The Czar has violently reproached Prince Ferdinand with a breach of the Treaty of Berlin, and the Sultan has addressed him m similar but more moderate terms. The Porte is yielding to Russia. Germany and France are likely to agree to the proposal that a Russian General, with full powers, shDuld accompany Artin Effendi on his mission to Bulgaria.

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

[reuter's tblegrams— copyright.]

MINING COMPANY.

London, August 28. A new Queensland Mining Company, to work the Baugh-Henksman's patent, is announced, with a capital of £ ioo,ooo.

MISSIONS.

The Pope urges the Propaganda to forestall the Protestant missionary organisations, m accepting the offer of the New South Wales Government of 350,000 acres of land to any mission having for its object the civilisation of the natives.

EARL CARNARVON.

The Earl of Carnarvon has sailed for the Cape, where he tranships into the Coptic, bound for New Zealand.

THE NEW HEBRIDES.

One of the terms of agreement be tween France and England regarding the New Hebrides is that the flag shall be a tricolor below the red. I

TRANSFERRED.

It is expected that Dr Krauel, German Consul-General at Sydney, will be designated German resident at Morocco.

ALLEGED PLOT.

A report has been circulated, but not confirmed, that a Nihilist disguised as an officer fired twice at the Czar, and twice perforated his sleeve.

THE FRENCH ARMY.

The Toulouse army corps will be mobilised on September 13th, for the purpose of military experiments.

YACHTING DISASTER.

A squall capsized a yacht at Ilfra combe, and fifteen of those on board were drowned.

RUSSIAN LOAN.

London, August 27. It is rumored that a Russian loan of six million roubles is being floated m Paris.

THE IRISH LEAGUE.

A meeting of Liberals discussed the proclamation of the Irish League, A number of prominent men were present: A resolution was proposed that the actions of the League were wholly un impeachable, that its efforts tended to the extinction of abnormal crime, and that this meeting offers the League moral and practical support m resisting the proclamation. After discussion the motion was carried, with the omission of the word unimpeachable.

AUSTRALIAN.

I [bbdter's telborams— ooptbioht.]

QUEENSLAND POLITICS.

.BRISBANE, AngUßt 30. It is announced that Mr Dutton, has been appointed Minister of Public Works and Mines, vacant by the death of Mr Miles. It is at present uncer tain whether the Colonial Treastirership, vacant by the resignation of MrDickson, on, will be filled. Political parties are bestirring them selves for the forthcoming election, and the contests are likely to be keen.

INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

Auckland, August 29. On Saturday, at Onehunga, the Gairloch hod discharged a cargo of sheep, when a train which was on the wharf at the time ran through the flock, killing and maiming several of the sheep. It is understood that legal proceedings will probably bo the result. It is understood that Mr Evett has communicated with the Auckland Bating Club, declining to hold the post of handicapper on the amended terms sub - mitted to him. H.M.S. Opal left early this morning for Samoa. She will thence proceed to the New Hebrides and oa to Sydney. The Stella on her return voyage from the Kermadec Group has gone to Kaipara harbor, and will probably arrive at Onehunga to-morrow. WjcixmaxoN, August 29. A hairdresser named Soorge \yilliams was arrested this afternoon charged with alleged rape on a girl aged 11 yeais. Dunedin, August 20. John Cuddy died very suddenly to day, it is supposed from heart disease. He had retired about a year ago on a pension after aervice m the Deeds Begistry Office. It is proposed to introduce a labor test here m connection with persons obtaining assistance from the Benevolent Committee Applicants on receiving assistance will be asked to do work equivalent to the relief. John Mathieson, iaaaranoe agent, was committed for trial to-day for robbing and assaulting a Chinaman. He met the Chinaman who Is a' hawker, on the road and asked to see his license, demanding £1 lit the same time. The Chinaman was rather alow m complying, when Mathle son ejtruojs: him and knopked his goods about, John eventually handing over lOi to ge.t rid of him, but taking a good look bo an to Identify him; and £hen Informing the police. Greymouth, August 20. At a meeting of the Harbor Board this evening, the owners of the tug Westland demanded £10,500 for it. The offer was referred to the Worlra Committee, but it is not likely the Board will bay at that prioo or at all near it. Id reply ., to an application of the Board as to the amount for which the tog proprietor would fur nish daily soundings of the bar, they offered to do it for £30 pc? month. The B. oard, after consideration, agreed to give £25 per month, the ggreemontjto be terminable at a month's notice 1 ! paptain Connor, formerly faster o ( the oleamer Maori, an 4at present Aottng-harbormaafcer was appointed Harbormaster. There were five applicants,

THE GOVERNMENT AND RAILWAY EMPLOYEES.

The following telegram has been handed to us for publication : — ; August 27th 1887. To Hon. fir J. Vogol, Christchurcb, — Rumored that Kail way Department has issued circular forbidding employees to vote. Please contradict Should not Go vernment set example to private em ployees by notifying that leave will be given to employees on polling day with out deduction wages for sufficient time to enable them to record their votes. Have wired Premier to Bume effect. "Wm. J Steward.

Christchurch, August 29th To Major Steward, — Bumor about circular forbidding rail* way employees to vote not true. They will be allowed, as they were before, to vote, and to have reasonable time wichout deduction of wageß, to reoord their votes. Mr Richardson informed me to above effect, and it meets the viewa'you express, Jumps Yogel.

THE APPROACHING ELECTIONS.

[bedtbr— copyright. l

London, August JS7. Sir Robert Stout baa written a letter to Sir Dillon Bell, Agent-General, m which he abates he expects that his Government Drill be defeated.

Napier, August 30. Nominations (or Napier 16th ; Waipawa and Woodvllle 17th. Wellington, August 29. On receipt of tbe cable message, stating that the Premier had written to Sir Dillon Ball, expecting defeat, the Frees Associa tion communicated with the Government and this afternoon received a reply from Sir Robert Stout. Be denies the truth of the telegram, and states that he never wrote to tbe Agent-General cffiolally on the onbjoot. He sent Sir Dillon Bell a' private letter, Informing him of the events of the soßßion and the appeal to the country, when he told him it wai impossible to predict what would happen . Both aides were confident of success, but the Government would be defend if the peiple listened to the abuse of the Opposition Press. Sir Robert is amaod tbat the contents of a private letter, even la a garbled form and utterly Incorrect, should be made public.

THE BLENHEIM FIRE.

Blenheim, August 30. Mr Riohard Winter, editor of the " Marlborough Times," died thfs evening at the Walrau Hospital from mortification caused by injaries received at the latu fire At a special meeting of the Borough Council, held thia evening, a resolution ir bb moved by his Worship the Mayor and carried unanimously that it was with sin cere regret they heard cf the death of Mr Riohard Winter, editor of the " Marl borough Tlmeß." The Mayor referred to the deceased gentlemtn m feeling terms, and hie remarks were supported by every Councillor. Hia death has cast quite a gloom over the town. His funeral takes place at 2 p.m. at the Catholic Cemetery. He was universally respected throughout the district by all classee of the community. Telegrams have been received here from Mr Ballance and Sir J. Yogel, the former expressing deep regret at death of so able a man aa Mr Winter, and the latter asking that a wreath should be placed on the coffin as a mark of his appreoacion of the worth of the deceased. The funeral takes place this afternoon.

CHRISTCHURCH ITEMS

Christchobch, August 29 At a meeting of the Canterbury College Board of Governors this afternoon, the following resolution was carried, and it decided to forward a copy to Lady Von Haast : — " That the Board desires to place on record its high appreciation of the eminent services rendered by Sir J. Yon Haast m his capacity of Director of the Canterbury Museum, and deplores the loss it has sustained m being deprived of those eeivioes. In the Police Court to day, Ada Gilbert, Richard Chamberlain, William Manders, and Frank O'Noill, were committed (or trial on a charge of breaking into and Bteitling from Gabites draper's shop last Wednesday night. Copt. J. W. Francis, Adjutant of the Ist Canterbury Battalion of Volunteers, has been gazetted to the majority rendered vacant bj the resignation of Major Wolfe. No officer of the Canterbury contingent better deserves promotion than Major Francis, who haß held a commission m Canterbury longer than any other officer m the province, with the sole exception of Colonel . Lean. He was for many years Lieut, of the City Guards, and has for the. past two years acted as Adjutant of tbe Battalion, so he is qualified by ample experience to fill h : s new post. The body of a man, apparently drowned, was found on the Waimakiriri river bank, near the outfall of Stewart's Gully. The body is supposed to be that of Henry Firmis, who suddenly left his home m Kaiapoi on May 21st last, and has not since been heard of. He waß supposed to have committed suicide from expres sions he made, and the police, for a time after, made a diligent search of the river and banks without avail. The nominations for Christchurch South are fixed for Sept. 16th ; Kaiapoi, 17th; Heathcote and Ashley, 19th.

AUCTIONEERS' REPORT

Alfred Harrison reports his weekly Bale ending Saturday, 27th August, as fol lows :— Cattle,— Cows, close to calving, £5 to £Q ; Btores. 29s 6(1, £2, and up to £4 17b 6d. ' ! Pros.— Slips, 4s 3d, 5s 9d, 7s to 9a 6d ; \ porkers, 14b to 17b 6i. Fowls, 2s, 2a 7d to 6s pair ; ducks. 3s 6d. Produce. — Wheat, 2s to 2s 6d per bußhel ; oats, 1b 7d to 2s per bushel ; l>erw«»nts, 25s to 40s ; carrots, Is 9d to 2s ; sharps, 7s ; bran, 4s 3d ; onions, Id, ljd and l£d per lb ; carcase pork, 2£d, 3d and. 3Jd ; mutton, l|d to If d ; bacon hams, 2d to 4d lb ; tea, 14s. Implements. — Dray, £7 ; D,F. plough, £5 ; barrows, 12s to 15s ; trap and har ness, £15 ; saddles, harness, etc, etc , niarket jiates. M '' A large quantity of furniture and effects, carpenters' ' tools, etc., sold remarkably well. '

THE GREAT PROBLEM OF THE MAR FUTURE.

(" Nineteenth Centary. J ') The population of Great Britain ia at the present moment being added to at the rate of at least 1000 persona a day, or m the words of the Registrar-General, "it reoeives every ten years an accestrion equal to the whole population of London." In connection with this enormous growth two points deserve to be noted. The disproportion of the sexes, m itself a serious evil, is slowly but steadily increas ing The distribution of the population is undergoing a sensible chagge. The towns (except where some special cause is at work) are everywhere growing. " The rural population is either standing still or actually diminishing. The metropolis alone receives every week an addition of more than 1000 persons, and the cry H v Still they come V' In the case of London, and of other large cities the *' natural increment " is swelled by the crowds who pour into them from every part of the world . Most of these immigrants are un skilled workpeople, or bring what craft they possess to an enormously overstocked • market. It does not require the harrowing realism of Mr George Sims or the plotare* sque pen of Mr Walter Besanfc to prote ■ that where, as m the East End of London- the supply of workers ia constantly over-' ' >■ taking the supply of work, wages will bar driven down to starvation point. When we hear of women working all day and half Ihe night ia order to earn 3d or 44 by making a pair of trousers, and 24 by i making a pair of full sized sheets and i having to find the " extras " for them | aeives— when we are told ihat Id U oon sidered a handsome remuneration foff filling 144 boxes of raoifer matohea— w» are tempted to ask :~-Is this life I Is. It i the kind of exlstenoe Into which any , reasonable being would, if he or sht ware. . giveu any choice m the tnatter, desire to •■ be born ? Yet there are myriads of one countrymen and countrywomen whole only proapeot to eioape from suoh an ex* : iatenoe Is the workhouse or the grave, I am not speaking now of that destitution ? which springs from temporary deprenioft of trade, or of that whioh Is perhapa inßeparable from every state of human society, but of that whioh is directly due to the fact that 50,000 persons an huddled together m a locality where ; there is not work or room for half that ' number. ' ' >

FROZEN MEAT.

j The "Ljttelton Times " Home correi pondent says : —Mr Brown harbean mak ing a toar throughout the Northern and , : Midland Ooantieo, calling at the chief I centres of population, with a yiew to, effeotlng arrangements for a direct sapply of frozen ma tton to the large batoheri of., the districts. Praotleally Mr Brown half completed his preparations for establishing three depots In London,. Liverpool, and G'aßgoT, fecm whioh botoberi m tht adjoining dlstriots will be able to reoelve sap plies of meat twice a week, they will undertake to dispose of a oertaift fixed minimum, and will pay an average prloe of 5d per 1b for mutton and a penny or twopence more per lb for lamb. Then prlcea, Mr Brown declares, will give m distinct advantage to conßlgnori, for they will not have to pay out of them the various obarges to middlemen, agenti, salesmen, and others, which obtain uuder the present system. He estimate! that the oontraots he had entered into will" abiorb something like ten thousand oarcasea a week, and of course he enter tains hope that the trade will develop. When he geti back to New Zealand he will arrange with the refrigerating com panies In Otago, Canterbury, and Napier, to supply the requisite, number of car* caeis, .

A MAN BLOWN TO PIECES

A torrible aooldent (says the Lillydala . correspondent of the ''Melbourne Age," writing on the 11th lnafc.) was reported from Healesvilla this morning, Yesterday a man named Rtißaell, employed on the Watti River extension of the waterworks was working In a shaft some 60 feat in ' depth. Having put m a oharge for blast* ■■ ing, he gave the order to the man m oharge on the curf »cc to pull up. Aftef being hanled about 20 feet up the shaft he gave the order to lower. The whim was reversed, and the bucket lowered* the man m obarge shouting down the shaft to know If all was right. Ht received no answer, and suddenly the blast exploded. Another man then went down, and found Russell literally blown to pieces. The bucket, It seems, did not <• reach the bottom m descending, and It is Burmised that Russell either fell oat of the bucket, or he had not got Into it when he gave the order to pull up,

TRAGIC SUICIDE.

Tiro ladles, aged respectively 69 and 52, committed suicide on Saturday, July 2, under the moot tragic cireamatineM. The younger of the two was married and loot her husbind some years ago* She then begged her tlder unmarried sister to live with her. In the course of time, the grief of tha widow turned her head, and she beesme mad, and was placed la an asylum. Last Christmas she was ra* leased as perfectly cured. On Saturday morning tbe two sisters took a cab and drove to the foot of the Kablenberg , where it rlßes abruptly out of the Danube. Having dismissed the cab they were seen sauntering along the bank. Shortly after a railway guard saw a female figure float ing on the water. He took a boat and succeeded In getting it out. He then discovered that a second woman was fastened with cords to the baok cf the first. The woman at the top waa only unconßolous, and soon reoorered, bat the other was dead. While this was being ascertained, the woman who had been saved ran to the river and threw herself m again, but was agajn reioaec}. The woman saved was the. mad plstefr $hi shock has again affected her brain, ana she has been nent back to the asylum*

THE OLDEST NEWSPAPER IN THE WORLD.

16 (a generally believed that "Ths Times ' (of London) and the " Gas«Ue dt Franco" (of Paris) are the cldeit paptrs m existence, bat this appears to be a mlßtake. The honor belongs to the) .^ Chinese, who posseas a journal started ' nearly a thousand yevra ago: Its name is the " glng-Pan. " It wa« foqndtfd, says a learned bibllophlak, In the year 911 of the Christian era. At first it wm published at irregular periods, but In 136 L it became a weekly. In 1804 it underwent another transformation and appeared daily. It ooeU a halfpenny, and Issues three editions. The morning edition, printed on yellow napjjr. if devoted to oommerce j the noon edition printed on white piper, contains ofliial acts and misoelianeou3 news ; while tht evening edition, printed on red paper, is taken up with political information and leading articles. Is is edited by six members of the Academy of Solenoe, and the total sale of the three edition! Is 14,000 copies. 1 - •» Ma _ aa^ a _ aa _ a>llau 4

THB ASHBUBTOJS GUARDIAN, TUESDAY, AUGUST 80, 1887



Wanted PRESBYTERIAN OHUBCH, BAKAIA. fTIHE Annual Tea Meeting of the above I Church will take place m the Town Hall, on THURSDAY, September Ist. Tea at 6 p.m. Entertainment at 8. Addresses by Ministers and othere. Music by the Cheir. "TTT ANTED Known— Final Clearing W Sale of tho balance of oar Win- ter Drapery. This being oar Clearing oat Sale, Goods will be Cheap for Oaah only. — H. O. Seoer3. Melford -House. ANTED known that HAVES & CO. have Large Stocks on hand. For further particulars flee new advertisement m this issue. . . . . "VTT ANTED Known— Our Great Sole W ia now on, come and jadge for yourselves. —H. C. JSkqbbs, Melford House. " WANTJSD Known.— Ladieß' Black Cloth Mantles we are celling at 8b 6d and 5s 6d. The wholesale prices of these goods were 10s lid and 13s 6d. (Juet opened . Come and secure one. ) — About 300 Ladies' and Maids' Jackets and Ulsters, newest kinds, at ridiculous prices. Great Caoh Sale, Melford Hoase. WASTED CASH — Moir's Oatmeal 251b5,2s 9d ; LingFisii, 5d ; Dried Apples 4d ; 21b Tinß Beit Honey, lOd ; Vestas, 5d per doz.; Sperm Candles, 5d ; Tin Fruits, Is ; Cutting do. Is 6d.— James MoGbmob, Tancred Street, opposite Arcade. ' WANTED KNOWN — Oleographs, Scenery, and Oatholio Subjects Catholic Cards, good variety m Scraps; Novelties m Penwipers, Crewel Wools and Silks, Knitting Cotton, Colored Crotchet Cotton, Transfers, Tinsel Balls, Ac, &c, at Mrs Manhibk's Fancy Repository, Saundars' Buildings.



That furred tonguo.ifcd^tfstrn'jr/ mouth and miserable 1 feeling, feay you 1 need Ataa'ribM Go.'s Hop Bitters.- $cad and boliero ' ' :s ' Asthmft, Kroac^tjs. U|ediQal testimony sftte that other medioino is ao effectual m the oora of these dangerous maladies. One liozenge alone give ease, one or two at bedtime ensure* rest. For roliering difficulty breathing they are invaluable. They ooutain no opium nor any violent drug. Sold by Qbamuts m Tioi la lii and 2b Od eaob,



We olfp [the folio, wingimportant testimonial from Jibe" fliawarra Mercury " (N.S.W.j, on the 30th Maroh. It needs no comment :—; "Mr John Loveday, of the Bulli Mountain, writes to us that after suffering for four years with acute gravel, he has experienced almost complete relief by ÜBing Sander and Sons' Euoalypti Extraot. He says seeing the said Extraot advertised m the "Illawarra Mercury," his intense suffering induced him to obtain a bottle ot ihe medicine from Mr Hocking, bhemißt, of this town, and' that 'the use of it gave him great relief at one. He ' states that between the 10th instant, when he obtained the first bottle of the extraot, and on the' 19tli the ijee of that 'medioine continued to affbrd faim''i;ejiof, tp'whjoli tie had ijeen a stranger for 1 four years. H* toveday writos blsq tb^fc he haS found the Euoalypti Extraot a cure for rheumatism as well as gravel. He requests that ua to publish thia information through the <* Mercury." We have muoh pleasure m complying with Mr Loveday'e request, whoso word cannot be doubted, and who can have no objeot m view other than a pure desiro ip boQeftt sufierios bumapity,"«p.(Advt),



"Bovan on Corns."— Ask for Wells c " Bough on Corns." Quick relief, complete, v permanent ourr. Come, warts bunions, 3 i jfaemistp »»i dru^iptß, t



" Bocho-Paiba."— Quick, complete cure, all annoying kidney, bladder, and urinary ( SiVet^'es. At ob^mists and druggists. Kemp. , thorne, ProsßerJlaod C 0.,1 A^snttf, Chriit. i flhujph, '" '■ ""■ c • ••■'•• (



1 PARTNERSHIP NOTICE. TT O; CRAIGHEAD has great plea .J3 , sure m intimatiog to the Publio ,| of Ashburton and surronnding districts I that be has admitted Edwin G. Crnighead I into partnership with him, and that the ; business will for the future be carried on under the btyle or firm of H and E, Craiqhejld ' "DEFERRING to the above, H. and E. Jtii Cbaighead beg to announce to the Public of Aahturton and surrounding districts that they have just lately received a large assortment of English and Colonial Tweeds, Worsted Coatings, Ac, suitable for the present Season, and hope by strict attention to business, first-claeß lit and workmanship, to merit a continuance of that patronage so liberally bestowed upon their predecessors, H. & E. CRAIQHEAD, • Tailors, 6 2 Tnncred Btreet, Ashbnrton. TTTANTED Known. —That Andrew YY Orr will during the next ttw weeks offer the whole of his Surplus Stock of Drapeiy, Clothing, and Boots at an immense reduction. "TTTANTED Knows. —That A. Orr is V V now selling Ladies' Jackets at 5s lid to 7s 6d. One lot Ladies' Ulsters, fashionable shape, 6s 9d and 6b 9d. TTTANTED Known.— That Fingering YY is 2s per hank. Ladies' Hnao, 4d to lOd per pair. Gloves at half price, China Matting, 6d.— A. Orr's Cheap Sale, WANJPED Known.— A 1 big lot of Ladies' Bootß, nice quality, it 9d ; Children's Bpoii, Is to 2s 6d ; Gents Boots, 7s 6d to lls 6d ; Gents Shoes at 3s lld.—A. Orr. WANTED Known .—Brussels Carpet at half price (being overstocked) Tapestry Carpets greatly reduced. One i Lot of Remnants of Dress Goods at yonr own prices. White Calico at 2s 6d per doz. — A. Orr'a Sale. "\TTANTED Known.— Boys' Suits, 3s V V Hd ; Jersey Suits, 2s 6d ; Men'B Suits, splendid quality, 30s ; Shirti, Is lid ; Men's Hate greatly reduced. —A. Orr'a Cheap gale. "TTTANTED Known. — Dressmaking YY Department is now admirably worked ; style and fitting giving the very highest satisfaction.-- Andrew Orr.



TO riSUERS. "RAZIERB, AND OTHERS. TO LET for Grazing for Six Months, from Ist Beptemb»r, about 57 Acres of tb« bttt land m the District, within 10 mmntes walk of the Ashburton Post Offitfb. Apply t« B. M. OUTHBERTSOtf, Solicitor, Havelock street. , R. S. BEAN, COAL AND FIREWOOD MERCHANT, BEGS to inform his Friends that ho is iast discharging some of the celebrated KAITANGATA COAL " CHEAPER and FAR CLEANEK than NJWCABX LK COAL. Ais»,— MALTERN, WESTTORT, AND NEW- GASTUE COAL, Katapoi Potatoes, *c, ~ S. BEAN, West street. TRY KIEKPATEICK'S NEW SEASON'S JAM. SPECIAL NOTICE. XTIRKPATRICK'S NEW SEASON'S ly JAM is made from NELSON GBOWN FRUIT, and boiled within a few hours after the frnit has been gathered. It thus retamei most of the natural flaTor of the fresh fruit. KIBKPATRICK'S NEW SEASON'S JAM Is the most delicious preserve m tke market. Do not be persuaded to buy cheap and Inferi brands Jam, the remains of old stock, which mutt bo sold at any price, but ASK for KIRKPATBICK'S NEW SEASON JAM, and see that you get it; THE BEST IS ALWAYS THE CHEAPEST. Kirkpataiok's New Season am 1 the beat.| (CAUTION None is genuine unless our name is tamped on «ach tin, and has our ( .«gtfttcred Tra£* Mark "Lord Nelßon' ' rfc helabol. 6 Kirkpatrick&Co. HANUFACTUREES, ElftON 1



.^j m.i .... . . k ■ = — - RtHI PREMIER COLONIAL COMPANY CANTERBURY BRANCH. BjgTA*Lii"'!.D8 jgTA*Lii"'!.D \m^^^^ggop^^OMnAi I iooo,oo % \-f* rrr.o 'inaiu Yof Shareholders FIRR AND MARINE RISKS, ALSO RISKS ON GROWING CROPS ACCEPTED AT THE LOWEST CURRENT RATES. George Jameson, ▲GENT, ASHBURTON FIRE! FIRE! FIRE! THGJWHOLB OF TBK 8 A L;|V AG E STOCK OF THE Timaru Woollen Factory * Hae been bought by aoAebbnnon Finn for CASH, MTivmir..T. aadITUBHSB having made the above purchase, will offer tb» whole STOOK • to the Athbnjrtoh and BangiUta Electors, and their "Wires and Families, at raoh prices m eu only b« beHered by a personal intorriew with the firm, and an insertion of the goods •BMUeIYOB. mmmmm^ Kow haa come the chance for EVE&YOKB to encourage NJEW ZEALAND INDUSTRIES, And that too, with benefit to themMlrea also. I fee ab*re Grand Lot ©! GOODS wiU be «npacked and open for BALE on THURSDA* KBXT, when «mr "Windowß will show what m»rrollouB BARGAINS can be had m TWEEDS FLANNELS, RUGS, MAUDS, BLANKETS, SUITS, CLOTHING, &c, &c, JLU through the FIBB FIEND at Timara. Qnotetionafttf^misleading, COKE ! SEE II and^be CONYINOED. MITCHELI7& TUEKER, TANCRE.D STREET. ALBERT ROBERTS HAS FOR SALE,— Clovers,— BED, WHITE, COWGRABS, ALSYKE, andJTREFOIL. RYEGRASS, COCKSFOOT, akd RAPE. Golden Tares, Cape Barley, REED PEAB, BBED OAT& (various feinda), ORDSHED]BEANS PLOUGH|BHABES. COOPER'S SHEEP DIP, Acknowledged to be • THE BEST IN THE MARKET.