The Ashbutron Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY,FEBRUARY 4,1888. THE CALIFORNIAN THISTLE,

Although it is only recently that our agriculturists have begun to take the ala m at the prospect of having to tako vigorous measures to prevent the Cnlifornian thistle from getting a firm hold iv this country, there is reason to believe to at it has years ngo fpuntj its wajr into JNew Zealand and thoroughly established itself m various localities. For example, we observe that at the recent meeting of the Waitaki County Council it was stated that this thiatlo had been growing m the Kakanui diß trictior 1C years, and that there was a patch of 20 acres thickly imfested with it on Mr Teschemaker's property. It was also stated, as showing to* what a depth its rootß penetrate, that m sinking a well it had been found that these reached to a depth of 10 feet from tliei surface. All this only goes to show how necessary it k that strenuous efforts should be put forth to prevent the spreading of this pest, which lias wrought so much mischief elsewhere, particularly m Tasmania. Pome useful information «6 to how best to deal with it is supplied m & report laid before the recent Stock Conference at Sydney by Mr Tabart, Chief Inspector of fttook for that colony, whose business it is to administer the Tasmanian £alifornian 'i hisfcle Act, from •which report the following are extracts : -»»" There were now ia Tasmania 1&00 acre* #f 1*0,4 covered .with Calif^nian thistles. It wso sunilar tQ the tcoteh thistle, but the centre root weut down to a depth of B or 10 feet, and laterals wtwtforowft vfo Xfcen » ploygbJD^

if a email particle of this thistle was moved by the plough another pjaot sprang up. They considered it do« predated the value of land 75 per cent. It could, how ver, be got rid of, and the plan for this was constant cultiva tion. Thus, if anyone had an acre of Galifornian thistle, he should, upon its first appearance m the- spring, start hoeing at one corner on a Monday morning and finish at the other on -aturday night, as by preventing the leaf (which is the lung of the plant), from appearing above the ground it will soon be destroyed. The thistle was introduced m seed oats from America, and there were how 300 acres of Cali fornian thistle on the property where those oats were sown. There had been passed a law m Tasmania, compelling all owners or occupiers of land to pre vent the thistle i'rora blossoming. Fail ing that, owners were liable to be prose cuted, there being a peoalty attached to to the extent of £20. There was no other way of eradicating the thistle ex cept by constant cutting «... I It only requires a repetition of the energf and perseverance displayed by Mr Joseph Bar wick, of the Tea Tree, who has eradicated upwards of nine acres, and Mr Charles Matthews, who has de troyed thirty-four patches of thistles m five years. Mr Earl has also exterminated about five acres of Cali* fornian thistles. He informs me that he purchased the ground he now occupies, containing about seven acres, four years since. At that time it was literally one mass of thistles, and he has now the satisfaction of knowing he has extermi nated this weed by constantly keeping the ground moving. He made the work reproductive, for during the operation the land produced vegetables and straw berries m abundance during the season. The ground is now planted out as an orchard. Tin's work has been accom plished m three years. Mr fiarle tells me the work of extermination cost him £7 per acre, but now with his increased experience, he thinks that he could un dertake to destroy thistles from any land for half that sum. Mr T. Morrisby entered into an arrangement with Mr Earl to destroy sixty- two rods of thistles, with the pleasing result that after two seasons, work the few thistles that remained were small, but with one more season's work these few stragglers totally disappeared, Last season the ground was cropped ; not one thistle made its appearance. After this practical and satisfactory test, Mr Morrisby laid himself out to eradicate a large area he had m a paddock of six acres, and by constant attention, and working the land thoroughly and sys tematically, he had the satisfaction .of seeing the land cleared m two seasons. One psddock of Mr Morrisby's that has been laid down m grass for thirteen years still has these thistles growing but they are spindly, showing that grassing the land weakens the thistle, but will not eradicate it. A few other practical gentlemen have eradicated large areas. > These gentlemen assert, without fear of contradiction, that what they have done others oan do by persistently hoeing the laud once a week, thus destroying the lungs of the plant. This method will, m most cases, destroy the weed m one, and certainly m two, seasons." No doubt the pro spcct of so much persistent hand labor is fiujtklwfe but m- pkaeing one, Jjgt those farmers who have the thistle upon their lands will do well to remember that this is eminently a case m which the lesson taught by tho ancient proverb about a stitch m time should bo applied, for while on their first appear ance a few isolated plants can by per* sistent attention be got rid of without and appreciable outlay of money, if they are suffered to spread they will soon monopolise large areas of ground and their eradication will become an exceed ingly troublesome and costly matter.

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A friendly criqket matoh waa played on Friday afternoon between the Borough and Hampstead schools, the latter winnfng by 98 runs and 5 wickets. The "New Zealand Times " states that Mr M'Kay, assistant.geologißt,isin still the Waira. rapa proseeating inTestigationi m eonneetion with the recent discovery of gold-bearing atone. Mr M'Ksy is now camping at a place called the Gone, m the heart of the ranges. He has sent down a number of speoimens obtained m the looality, whioh have nob yet been analysed. It may interest some of our readers who are engaged m pastoral pursuits, to itarn that there will be a publio trial of one of Wolseley'g sheep shearing machines at Ote* kaike woolshed on Wednesday next, Bth iaat. The train leaving Timaru at 7.30 a.m., will conneot with a speoial frftin from Oamara at Fukouri Junotion, reaching Otekaike at 12.15 p.m., and returning at 4 15 p.m. m tim.o to oatch the return train to Tim&ru. Then is also to be a publio trial of the machine on Tuesday, 14th inst., m Ohristohurob, at the stores of the N.Z.L. and M.A. Company, Durham street, at 2 o'olook p.m. With referenoe to the blunder whioh baa occurred m the Loan Act of last sesiion the Wellington correspondent of the " Press " says that " If Ministers thought it necessary to float tbo New Million Loan m London at an earlier date than is now proposed, they jrould call Parliament together at once, and have the error reotified, but they sco no reason for taking so extreme a step, and are quite satisfied that all the publio interests will be adequately served by allowing the matter to stand over until next eeasion, held m the ordinary course." The one dark spot m Bishop Selwyns | diocese, is Qpa, (Leper's Island), where the French Government allow their traders to sell to the natives guns, amunitiou aud rum. Consequently disorder reigns, and, to use the Bishop's own words, they are shooting one another right and left. The Martinborough co-respondent of a Wairarapa paper ohronioles the birth of an abnormally small Maori baby. He says "It is a bright little thing, weighing only a pound and a half, its length being seven inohesl I am not joking ; that is oorreok weight ani measurement, and as I held the wee thing m one of my hands, for I did not need both, I can testify to the faot, and also that, the child, to all appearances, is m the best of health. It has red hair and is dark m complexion— quite a little native, and has 'astonished' the other natives down this way. It feeds at tijie breast and takes arrowroot like any other mortal just ushered into this stajte* of exißt'< enoe, and kicks and squalls and crows m quite a lively manner."

At the R.M. Court this morning, before Mr R. Aloorn, J.P., two first offenders for drunken ness were fined 5s and costs, with the uiaal Iternative. The nominations for Licensing Committees m the county are fixed as follows, at the hour of noon m eaoh case, viz. : — Ashburton District, Feb. 13th ; Upper Ashburton, Feb. 14th ; and Mount Somers, Fab. 15th ; and the elections for the following dates and places :— Ashburton Distriot, Feb. 22nd, at rialeyards Office, Tinwald ; Upper Ashbnrton, J Feb. 23rd, at Miss Bishop's Sore, Alford Forest Road; Mount Somers, Feb. 24th, at Road Board Offioe, Mount Somera. The Welcome Gold-mining Company, Reef* ton, has proved a grand speculation to share holders. The time of formation and registra tion oeourred m 1875 on the 21th April and 20th August respectively. The Company consists of 15,000 Bhares of £1 each, The actual capital called up is £3750 or at the rate of 5s per share. The total amount of dividends declared foots up to £110,250, which has given eaoh sharo £7 7s, or a profit of £7 2s on an original outlay of ss. According to the " Tuapeka Times " the Canadian lady dootor now practising m Dunedin, is reported to have effected a marvellous cure of blindness. Margaret Drysdale, a young woman 22 yean of age, and who had been blind Binee she was 12 years old, was persuaded to allow the lady dootor to try her skill. The Canadian lady through her interpreter, stated that she could not guarantee Buscess m euoh an exception ally difficult ease. She began operations, and 15 minutes later the young woman fell on her knew, and kissing her hand, called down the blessings of the Almighty npon the head of the dootor. The ease is oroating great excite ment among the medical profession as the Canadian offered any dootor £200 to oure the girl m four weeks. It is said that " if you play on an aooordeon near an oyster, the oyster will open its shell." Whether this is because it wants to listen, or is looking for a ohanos to escape, is not known. We find the following m an exchange :— " The blacks m the far west of Queensland are taking to smoking opium. The Chinese storekeepers ought to be prevented from sailing the vile stuff to aboriginals, as it is far worse for them than the grog they used to get m the old days," Old gentleman (putting a few questions) : "Now, boys— ah— can any of you tell me what commandment Adam broke when he took the forbidden fruit 1" Small Boholar (like a shot): "Please, sir, th'worn't no commandments then, At 1" Questioner sits corrected. Lord Egremont is sending some acorns out to New Zealand from a historic oak tree m Gowdray Park, Sussex. Under this oak tree —which is believed to date back to the Norman Period—Queen Elizabeth onoe stood and shot a buok. The acorns are to be planted m the Auckland Park and Domain. The Panama Canal will bring the Atlantio side of the United States praotioally 3000 miles nearer to the Australian frontier. The exact distance then between New York and Auckland will be by the Panama Canal 8649 miles, whereaß, at present, by the shortest route, Capo Horn, it is 11,860 miles ; by the Cape of Good Hope, 14,505 ; and by the Suez Canal, 14,637. The Queen's latest grand -daughter, the child of Princess Beatrice ia to be christened Victoria Alberta Julia. In London alone about 400 people are burnt to death every year through accidents ~with petroleum lstsy«r — \u25a0\u25a0 \u25a0 \u25a0 . Dating from London December 16 the cor* respondent of the " Otago Daily Times " says :— There is a quantity of fine New Zea land butter m the market, whioh is being held for Is per lb ; 100s per ewt haa already been refused. No. 10 of Leslie's " Parliamentary Por traits," to hand, contains pen and pencil •ketohea of Mr R. H. J. Beeves, and Major Hamlin, M.H.R. The letterpress descrip tions are good, but the drawings are not likenesses. Major Hamlin'e is the better of the two, but neither is at all satisfactory. No. 18 of " Hansard " has arrived. There is yet another to come to hand to complete the reoord of the session. The Governmsnt Printer is unusually dilatory this time. Ano her fine take of trout m the now famous Hall's Creek is reported, Mr Bestham, R.M., having captured on Thursday evening, m a couple of hours, six magnificent fun grossing 6llba, the largest weighing lSJlba, ! and the smallest 81bs. The fish were all m j Bplendid condition. In noting that nearly all the Auokland ehurohea, recognising the need for ratrenoh* ment, have reduoed tha salaries of their ministers, an exchange remarks :•—•• This is where retrenchment usually begins. When a man begins to feel the pressure of hard times he only makes an offering to the Lord of a threepenny instead of a fourpenny bit as previously." We clip the following important testimonial from the « Illawana Merourry " (N.S.W.) of the 30th March. It needs no oommont :— " Mr John Loveday, of the Bulli Mountain, writes to us that after suxfcring for four years with acute gravel, he has experienced almost complete relief by using Sander and Sons' Euoalypti Extract. He says seeing the eaid Extract advertised m the ' Illawarra oleroury,' his intense suffering induced him to obtain a bottle o! the medicine from Mr Hoaking, ohemist, of this town, and that the use of it gave him great relief at onoe, He states that between the 10th Maroh instant, when he obtained the first bottle of the extract, and the 19th, the use of that medicine continued to afford him relief, to whioh he had been a stranger for four years. Mr Loveday writes aleo that he has found the Euoalypti Extraot a cure for rheumatism as well as gravel. He requests us to publish thin information through tho \u2666Mercury.' We have much pleasure m complying with Mr Loveday's request, whose ' word cannot be doubted, and who can have no objeot m view other than a pure desire to benefit suffering humanity,"— (Advt. a

A HINT FOROUR ALFORD FOREST FRIENDS

Those who are convlnoed that valuable deposits of tin will yet be opened up at Alford Forest may be glad of the Informa tion oontailed In the following paragraph, whioh li dipped trom the Wellington "Post":— A very attractive offer hai been mtde to mining companies and olalmholdere In New Zealand. The Globe Milling Company, London, undertakes to treat any paroel of ore or tilling! whioh may be consigned to them, the prooeacTs to be equally divided between them and the shippers, after the cost of oceati freight ha* been deducted. The Government have alio Inoreaied the faollltles for seeding the staff Home, by effaring tn carry it over the railways of the colony to the port of shipment free of cost Any clafiuholdar, therefore, who is anxious to get bib ore treated by the most approved upplianoes m the British metropolis, has only to plaoe it at a rail. w»y station, and It will be takeo off his hands, foi warded to London, and treated, I

'FRISCO MAIL NEWS

(Per Mabipoba.)

GENERAL SUMMARY. (Dates to January 12th.) Ringold Cooper, an American forger, waß bi rested m Paris on January 12th on an extradition warrant for forgery on the London and Westminster Bank, by whioh he realised £3600. The death of Bonamy Price, MA., Pro* fessor of politioal economy m Oxford Univer sity, wad announced m the London papers of January Bth. fie was 80 years old. , In a collision between the steamers Short* ham and Oatirah, off Dover, the former was sunk and seven persons drowned. The London " Daily News' " eorrespon* dent at Constantinople wrote on January Bth : — " The Porte learns that Lord Salisbury has informed the German Government that if war shall be ocoasioned by an attempt of Russia to occupy Bulgaria, England will Bend two squadrons to the Black Sea." The remains of Napoleon 111, and hit son, the Prince Imperial, were removed from Ghislehurst to Farnborough on January 9th. They will be deposited m the mausoleum ereoted by the ex-Empress Eugenic. Trouble has occurred among the orofters of Argash, m Invernesshire, Scotland. Landless crofters,, to the number of one thousand, drove the sheep off the farms and offered a determined resistance to the police. Troops were sent to the scene on January Bth, and numbers were wounded on both sides, and many crofters were arrested. On the 4th of January the Prince of Wales took pains to deny a story that he was a member of the Smith-Kilrain banquet com mittee. A fight has been arranged between Jaok Burke, the Australian champion, and Kilrain the American bruiser. On January 2nd the " London Times " celebrated the 100 th anniversary of its foun dation. Numerous New Year honors were conferred by Queen Victoria, Among the persons dis- j tinguised were Sir Cbaß. Warren, Commis sioner of Metropolitan Police, who wan made j a 0.8., and Mr Browning (Mr Balfour's seo retary), who became a companion of the same order. It is announced that Mr Parnell will re sume the active leadership of the Irish party Borne time during January, and will summon a meeting of bis colleagues. The Crown Prince of Greeoe will visit Lon don m May, to be formally betrothed to ibis cousin, Princess Victoria ot Wales. The friends of Sir Charles Dilke are agita ting a proposition that ,a seat must be found for him m Parliament. En route to Italy, Mr Gladstone, the ex* Premier, indulged m some utterances, during his speech at Dover, about Protection that Bre exoiting a certain amount of uneasiness among tils Freetrade friends. At Florence on Ist January, he was the recipient of a grand demonstration and serenade. He after* wards received a deputation of oitizens, who expressed the admiration of the liberal democracy of Italy for the ex-Premier's politioal achievements. Mr Gladstone, who responded m Italian, thanked them for their kind wishes. The Italian papers of the 2nd say the distinguished visitor will treat with the Vatican for its support m the efforts being made to obtain autonomy for Ireland. Returns issued by the British Board ot Trade, on January 9th, show that the im ports for the month preceding were increased by £3,162,600, a3 compared with the corres* ponding month m 1886, and that the exports for the came month had increased £3,260,000. i It is proposed to devote the surplus of the Women's Jubilee Offering to founding an in* otitution m London for the maintenance and education of nurses to attend poor people m their homes. There will be branohea m the principal oities of the realm. A son of the Oomte de Paris and a son of the Duo de Cbartres have joined the Russian army. Prinoa Ferdinand has deolared ha will rather die on the battlefield than abdicate the Bulgarian Throne. It 18 reported from Russia (January 10th) that negotiations have been begun for the construction of three great Russo-Chinese railways between Semipalatinsks and Shang hai, between Olerta and Pekin, and between Eiakhta and Pekin. A Franco-Belgium banking syndicate is - Bucfclnga ul&kj jlbio 1 tuuvjoooluu from thej Government for tho construction of napttta conduits from Baku to Batoum with the right of exporting naptha products duty free. The Counoil of the Empire and firms interested m the naptha trade oppose the concession, but Government favora the idea, hoping it is aaid to Qontraot a loan m exchange.

THE PANAMA CANAL.

The Panama Canal Company has arranged with the Credit Lyonnaiie to provide the enterprise with fands until the issue of new obligations. The London " Standard's " cor. respondent, writing from Paris on December 29th says :— " In an interview to-day with Senor Mateas, the Colombian Minister do olareft that neither by threats or cajolsry would hit Government be induced to allow the Americana to have anything to do with the Canal. Even if De Lesseps failed to complete the work they would rather do without the Canal than see America oom plete it.

THE AMERICAN WOOL DUTY.

& Convention of wool men and flook masters was convened at Washington on January 11th. The growers and dealeri are united m opposition to President Cleveland's proposed reduction of the duty on wool, but manufacturers are lukewarm. 0. Delano, President of the Wool-growers' Association, has issued an address to flock* masters m the United States to use their influence against Mr Cleveland's Freetrade views aa contained m the last Presidential tariff message. The wool-masters number about 1,000,000 voters, and give employment to about 1,000,000 more,

IRISH AFFAIRS.

Speoial police protection has been accorded Mr Balfour. The Prisons Board has ordered that Father Matthew Byan, who is m prison under the Grimes Act, be permitted to wear bis own ol&tbea and underwear. The League receipts from Amarioa, wbioh have been very email since 1885, are still falling oil. The Privy Oounoil, at a meeting on Jan. 2nd, resolved to suppress the League m Lon> don, and thus cripple the central executive. Gullimore, the plan of campaign leader on the Kingston estate, was arrested on Jan. 2, on a change of inoiting. The tenants of this estate, held a meeting on the same day, Mr Condon presiding, and adopted resolutions declaring the Land Commisnioner's reduc tions of judicial rents inadequate, and that there would continue to be plan of campaign until the evioted tenants were re-inßtated, and that they would appeal for greater re duotions. Lord Olanricardo is engaged m wholesale eviction? out of revenge for the oastigation he got and revenge for the libel sui+. On 3rd January he applied for 150 writs, and has logded£soooto his agent's credit at the bank, to enable him to carry on the war. Bad and bloody work is anticipated if troops are to be sent to aid the landlord. The incarceration of Mr Blunt iv Galway, Jan. 6th, immediately after the sentence, was attended by a fracas between the people and the poliae, m whioh swords and batons were freely used. Mr Shaw Lefevre arrived at Balinaelo on the -7th, and made a speech protesting against Mr Blunts imprisonment. William Law, M.F. for the east division of Cork, was arrested on Jan. 7th on a charge of making a Boditious speech at Watorgrass Hill on Deo. 4th. He was admitted to bail. The demonstrations m honor of Mr Sulli van, ex-Lord Mayor of Dublin, and Mr O'Brien, on their release from prison, and their return to London, wero organised on a groat aoale.

AMERICAN ITEMS;

One hundred destitute Turks, a new class erf immigrants, were landed at Uaatle Garden, New York, on December 24th. The Booiftlists have secured complete oon trol of the JSnightg of. Labor organisation m Chicago, outvoting the Conservative members by 8 to 1. Summervllla, South Carolina, was again visited by earthquake, Jan. 12th. The shook was felt throughout the State and Georgia, I inspiring the utmost terror. Daring the entire year of 1887 the debt of the United States was diminished by 111,701,600d015, the largest reduo'iouo being made m June and November, when payment! on that account aggregated 16,852,000301 l »B.die,888 ) O00dolB W pigtiTel7.

A Bill has been introduced into the New ) York Legislature, which provides that no person, allged to bi insane shall be committed to a lunatic asylum, publio or private, except after trial before a jury. It was framed by the Society for Promoting the Welfare of the Insane. •, New York papers are pal lishing glowing accounts abou r . di3ooveriea of gold m Trans* > vaal, So th Africa. The oorrespondeats say that California and Australia m 'heir flush times will be eclipsed by the discoveries and output of gold m the South Afrioan country, and that at no distant date. An exodm of German Socialists to Amerioa I is looked for daring the month of January, 1 1888. The movement will be made under pressure from Bismarok, who is doing his beßt to stamp oat socialism m the Fatherland. Suoh an immigration will probably lead to nome speoial legislation by the United State! Congress. J. H. Stiggles, an American capitalist, pro* poses to build a railway from Quebeo to the east coast of Labradc r, and place a fleet of fast vessels on the Atlantic He thinks this would solve the question of quiok transit to and from Europe, claiming that the passage could be made from Labrador to England m three and a half days. Fifty millions of dollars are required to build the Tehnantepeo ship railway. As this sum oannot, except with difficulty, be raised m the United States, a Commissioner is now on his way to London with a view of inducing capitalists there to subscribe a portion. The Company will be run under a oharter obtained from the State of New York. I The last spike m the Overhnd railway traok oonneoting Oregon with California, was driven eir-©eeeraber-17th at Ashland, Oregon. At 5.3 p.m., as so m as the first blow of a silver sledge was to a golden spike, the bells and steam whittles along the coast and m San Franoisoo— 4oo miles away— gave forth joyful Bounds. This result was aohieved by electrioal connection previously made.

THE WRECK OF THE MAY QUEEN.

[Peb Press Association.]

Ohristohuroh, February 4. Tbe Ooort of inquiry Into the lose of the May Qaeen gave judgment to-day. It ooDiidere the oooorrenoa was occasioned by an error of judgment of the pilot m standing too oloee to the shore. The Baoch expressed regret that the functions of pilot eh on Id be entrusted to any person who hat not been charged with tb* oare of tquare-rigged ihlpa. Although, In tbe present oaie, they would not be justified In assumlog that the wreok wae oamed by the abaenoe of the tug, whloh wan employed m carrying malli to Pigeon Bty there was to doubt that had the tag been available the O»pt of *he barqae wonld have directed her to be employed and avoided the accident. Finally, they recommended that their certificates be be returned to all parties. No order was made as to cost*.

SPORTING.

W.K.O, MKifITIHG. (PBB FBKBS ASSOCIATION,) Wellington, Februarys. There was apain lovely weather for the \u25a0ooond day of the W.R.O, Satnmer Meeting LOCAL HANDICAP. Smooth \u0084, l Voltigeur , ... 2 Fabrication ..3 Hubdlbb Handicap, of 70 hovb ; aeoond horse 10 mv. About 2 miles. Jim 1 Reputation , ,„ 2 F.eebootar ... , 3 Hack Hubdles, of 15 sow. Johnny ... 1 Olond ... ,2 HaHlcore ... 3

FIRES.

Frr .Press Association.)

Auoklikd, February 4. A fircfaV I 30 tnis morning, at Edin burgh street, destroyed a four-roomed house, owned and oooupled by J, A. Boyle It w*« insured m the London I and Lanoaihire for £100, the furniture for £100 m the Victoria. . Thahks, February 4. A fire at Brown street, at 4 o'clock this morning, began m Casley'a bakehouse. The premises ocoupled by Oasley, Minnls, Green, and Cane, and Vidalea' stables were completely destroyed. Gasley and Mlnnla* houoea were Insured for £100 and £50 m the Norwich Union The rest were uninsured. Oasley'a loss of stock and furniture amounts to £160. The total loss is estimated to exceed £500 The origin Is unknown. Wbllxngton, February 4. Three fires broke out In the City this morning, all wttbin »a hour of each other. The first outbreak was In Old Custom House street at a few minuter before midnight, when a block of one atorled buildings, oooupled by Davidson (turner and j >lner), F. Witty (acoount ant), W*llls (chalnnalrerX Btaplea (toot* faotory), and Geary (blaok«mlth), were discovered on fire. The fliraos spread rapidly , and soon had a firm hold of the building About half-past one another fire broke out In the shop of Leffcr, boot and shoemaker, Willis street, The fltmen were extinguished without the assistance of the Brigade. At two o'olook the fire bells again rang out an alarm, the out break this time being In Joh% Beok's timber yard, Dlxon strent. The fhmes rapidly spread through the whole mill, completely devastating the premlier. Ba sides the mill two small one-storied cot tages and some out-buildluga m Taranalri place, and another house In Leeds street, were gutted, lnaaranoes ate not yet known.

INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS

Pjtb Press Association.]

Wellington, February 3 A despatch from the Secretary of State for the Colonies is published la the •' Gazette " tonight thit her M»jesty has been pleased to approve that members of the late Ministry be allowed to retain the title r f Honorable within the colony of .'New Zealand. A proclamation from the New South Wales Government appears m thu "Gozstte" to.nlght. It deol&rw that there being reason to believe that scab exists m this colony and Western Australia, no sheep, fodder, of fittings used for sheep •hall be imported or Introduced into that colony for a farther period of twelve months from 5 h January from cither of the oolonibß mentioned. The Eirl and Countess of Carnarvon, now m Australia, will not viilt New ZeaUni on this oooaslon, bat hope at a later date to visit this colony. The Wesleyan Conference resumed Its sitting to-day. The business, however, was merely routine, being oonnued to the reading of the journal. Votes of thanks were then passed to the President and other officers, after which the Cjnferenoe session of 1888 was brought to a close The next' Conference is to be held at Dunedln, Christohuboh, February 3. About 3 this afternoon Wm. Harding, sttbleman at Delamaln'a stables, was killed by being kicked m the breast by a horse which he was harnessing. He leaves a wife and several children. Dunkdiw, February 3y Arrangements are being made for fjo'at- Ing the Walpori Antimony Mining Com pany In the London market. A heavy ga'e, whloh commenced at midnight on Thursday and lasted nearly all day, did some damage m town to fenoei and shop windows. One old building m Walker s'reet was completely djmjojlabod. At Milton some twenty tepi'dfi floor mill staok was blown down The oroni have suffered to some extent. Veißpls In hirbor received no daptge.fg

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

HOME AND FOREIGN

(PKK PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

THE COPPER RING.

Lot«Doif. February j. It is reported here thai the copper ring are operating extensively m anti mony.

PACIFIC TRADING COMPANY.

A Company termed the Pacific. Islands Trading Company, witti a ' capital of has been re* gistered. The object of the Company ,. is to purchase the island business of Messrs Henderson and Macfarlan*, Auckland. „\u25a0\u25a0

LORD BRASSEY ON FEDERA TION.

Lord Bra&sey has addressed a public meeting at Cambridge on the subject of Federation. He expatiated on itt mutual advantages, but declared that a specific scheme at present would be premature, and held that it would be a much better policy to pave the way by a comprehensive discussion of the whole question. \u25a0;\u25a0\u25a0?

THE SHIPPING RING.

At a private meeting, at which t66 exporters were present, a Committee was appointed to devise metns to break up the existing shipping monopoly ring. Great complaint* were made ol the persistent favoritism displayed by.certaln companies m the matter of shipping goods. It was proposed to abandon the agreement existing between shippers and the several companies, and to deal freely with all shipping Hoes. rj:

THE ENGLISH LABOR MARKET

A deputation waited on the Marquis of Salisbury to-day m reference to the puestion of immigration and also to ask the Government to devise means to protect the labor market from foreigners, The Premier m reply said he regretted the Government were unable to assist persons to emigrate, and that m regard to the second requeet of the deputation it would be a most difficult matter to interfere with the influx of foreigners.

MELBOURNE EXHIBITION.

The " Times" urges the owners of valuable pictures to lend them for ex hibition at the Melbourne Centennial Exhibition. . ; ; '

THE DISTRESS IN LONDON.

A deputation including Cardinal Manning nnd the Anglican Bishop of Hereford, waited on the Marquis of Salisbury, and asked that the Govern ment should take some steps to relieve the distress existing among the poor of London. The Premier was * very guarded m his reply, but expressed much sympathy with the object of the deputa* tion, He promised that enquiry should be made into the cause of the distress, with a view to the alleviation of the condition of the poor.

THE TRALEE MURDER

Dublin, Fobruary 2. As a result of the investigations of the detectives into the murder of a . boy cotted farmer at Tralee, it is expected that the murderers will be identified*

A BRILLIANT RECEPTION.

The Rt. Hon. John Morley and Lord Ripon, were accorded a brilliant reten tion, on the occasion of their arrival m this city last night. They were escorted trom the landing place by a tremendoui crowd of people bearing torches. In the course of a speech addressed to the crowd, Mr Morley declared that the Irish outlook was less promising.

THE SUGAR BOUNTIES.

Brussels, February 2. The sugar manufacturers m a petition to the Government, support the view expressed by the Belgian Premier that the abolition of the sugar bounties should be either universally adopted by the countries interested, or that the system should continue as *t preieot.

THE WAR IN ABYSSINIA.

Mabsowah, Febroasy 1. The Italians have made Soati the bate of operations for their flying columns. News reached here to-day from the Italian encampment that the outposts hid signalled to the main body that the Abyssinian forces were on the point* of attacking them. The news created a great sensation here, and further inteiiigence is eagerly awaittd.

THE RUSSIAN LOAN.

Amsterdam, February 2. A Russian Loan of 15,000,000 roubles has been offered m this city.

RUSSIAN EMBASSY.

Constantinople, February S. The Porte expresses satisfaction at the appointment by Russia of Kaizira Bey, as the representative of ?1 the. Russian Court at Sofia.

AUDIENCE WITH THE POPE.

•- Rome, February 2. The Irish pilgrims had an audience with His Holiness the Pope. In the course of his remarks addressed to the pilgrims, His Holiness urged them to respect the law m Ireland.

THE FISHERIES QUESTION.

WABHDforoif, February 2. There are indications that Canada is receding from the extreme position she had taken up io respect to the fisheries dispute. ,

TRB CROWN PRINCE.

San Remo, February 3. Professor Virchow has again made a minute examination of the throat of the Crown Prince, and is now satisfied that there is nothing seriously waong, and no cause for the slightest alarm*

RUSSIA ACTIVE.

St. Piitbesburq, February 2. Great activity is still manifested m military matters, and 'daily meetings are being held here.

A COLONIAL MUSICIAN.

Vienna, February 2. •! Miss Florence Mantsmeyeri of Mel bourne, has taken the musical world here perfectly by storm. In conse quence of the wonderful success of h§r public performances she has been re quested tc perform her own composi tions before the Imperial family; and for tbii purposs the 'palace saloon hai b«en placed at her disposal.

THE ABHBPBTON GUARDIAN, SATURDAY, FEBBUABY 4, 1888



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WxfiLs' Haib Balsam.— lf grey restores to original color. An elegant dressing, soften B and beautifies. No oil pr grease. A Tonip Restorative. Stops hair booaing 'ajt* 9t*fioftfct&f, cloiaee?, b*&]s jotlD, ' ' £



Wanted. WANTED Known.— lf Joseph Brnce cat In on Peter Williams he will lear of something to big advantage. 1 173 WANTED Known— Another lot of Oeap Goods jait opened. Nan's Veiling, 6£d yard ; long Our tains, 2* lid pair. Snrplos Stock Cbmpany. 2 14 "TT7" ANTED Known— For sale, Oanli- YV flower, Broooli, B*roo'e, 8»voy PUnti of all kinds, and ai I import my $ae<?a from »wo of* the leading London Seed Merchants, I Am tare they will gWe complete satisfaction,— Jambs Portbe, Allenton. * 2 15 "TTALENTINES, Valentines, comic and V, sentimental. Good rariety ; choice designs ; varyoheap. See window new premises — H. M. Jonas. O9X NEW PIANOS, £35. . Iron 3jOO frame ; trichord ; bright tone. Gocd, useful instruments. — H, M. Joxies WANTED to Sell -A tf'irat-oiass Piano 1 grand action. Cash or terms very liberal. Apply Hayes nnd Co. WANTED Kiown.— Just openad, a good assortment of Cretonnes, Uoooa Mattings, China Mattings, Oil- cloth*, Oarpetlngs, etc, cheap.— B. 0. Seqbrs, Meiford House _^ WANTbiU UAWH, — Moir'fl Oatmeal 251b5,2s 6d ; Sperm Candles, 5d ; Ooffae and Milk, Is per tin; Coooa and i Milk, Is per tin ; Vestas, 5d per doa ; Corn flour, 43 per 1b ; tin Fruits, Is ; Crockery, Ironmongery, eta. — At Jambs MoGregob's, Tancrdd Street, opposite Arcade. "\irANTED Known.— W© are tho VV cheapest House In town, to bay first-class Drapery, Boots, and Shoes, etc. Lot if Ladles BUok Jerseys, grind ralue H. 0, SEQgna, Melfor<f Honwe. BOOTS. Boots,— We are now shewing a first class lot of Ladle* and Gents Boots and Shoes ; 850 pairs to chooio from, very cheap.— H 0. Seoers, Meiford Hocsa. ______ ,___,.__ WANTED KNOWN — Oleographs Scenery, and Catholic Rubjectß Catholic Cards, good variety m Scraps Novelties m Penwipers, Crowel Wools and Bilks, Knitting Cotton, Colored Crotchet Cotton, Transfers, Tinsel Balls, Ac., &0., at jlEa Manhibb's Fancy Repository, Saundara' Buildings WANTED Known— To the Ladie» of Ashburton snd snrronnding districts, that an experienced monthly Nurie is deslroas of engagement. Good references oan be given. Addreia— Mm Hill. Peter Street. Ashbnrton. 11 18 \ If ANTED Known— Wells nnnk, with VV pomp and pipe found and fixed, from £2 10s upwards All kinds of pomps, Ranges and honse-smith work fixed or repaired. Chimneys swept and ranger cleaned, 3s. Registers Is 6d each All orders pnnctnaMy attended to. Note address, B. Dudley, Moore street, Ash- barton, 11 22 THE ABHBURTON GUARDIAN. From and after the 30th November, 1886, the terms of Subscription to thiß journal will be follows, viz. : — ir PAID IK ADVANCE ! Per Quarter.. 6a 61, by post, 03 6d „ Half-year 12a 6d, by post, 18a 6d „ Year .. 24s Od, by poat, 87s Od IT BOOKED Per Quarter. . 7b 6d, by poat, 10s 9d „ Half-year 15s Od, by post, 21s 6d „ Year .. 80a Od, by post, 48a Od Birth, Marriage, and Death Notices, if paid for at the time of insertion, 2s 6d each (etamps may be sent as payment) ; if booked, is aaob. Announcements of Births, Deaths and Marriages eeut, for publfSstfun~~(rom the country districts require to be verified by the signature of the person Bending the notice. DIARY . Moon's Snn Sim tfoon Moon ago at Jan.— Feb. Rises. Sots. Rues Beta, noonday p.m. am. 28 Saturday ... 4.58 7.28 C.62 3.43 14 20 Puuday -.. 5.0 7.27 7.38 4.44 16 30 Monday .. 6.1 7.26 8.16 560 IS 31 Tuesday .. 5.2 7.26 8.48 668 17 1 "Wednesday.. 6.3 7.24 0.23 8,11 18 3 Thursday .. 6.4 7.23 9.54 9.21 19 3 Friday.. .. 8.8 7.31 10.28 10,84 80 MOONMOHT EVBKIKOS. The Moon at 8 daya otd shines till about 8 o'clock. The Moon at 6 days old shines till about half-past 10 o'olook. The Moon at 8 days old shines till nearly 1 o'clock m the morning. The Moon at 12 days old shines from eundown till about 4 \d the morning. The Moon at 15 days old is full, and shines all night. The Moon at 18 days old rises about 9 p.m. and shines till morniDg. The Moon at 21 days old rises about 11 a.m. and shines till morning. The Moon at 24 days old rises about 2 a.m. and Bbinestill morning, Tba Moon at 27 days old rises about 4 a.m. and shines till ennrise. TO OUR BAKAIA SUBSCRIBERS. 1 \ 1 T"E desire to intimate that from and VV aftor let January, 1888. 8U«- SORIBEKB to this journal will OBTAIN THEIR OOPIFia AT THE STOBHJ OF MR C. HAUDY.



THE LARGEST STOCK "IT COLONIAL CLOTHING- IN THE ASHKTJRTON COUNTY. A SPECIAL LINE OF / Ashburton Tweed Suits at 47s 61 Kaiapoi Tweed Trousers 10s 6d Harvesters Moleskins from 5s lid MITCHELIT& TURNER TAKCRED STREET. \u25a0^"ALBBIiT EOBERTS BAS ?OR SALE,— Gorns&cks LARGE BIZB AND FDLL weight. SEAMING TWINE TN A»T QUANTITY, Clovers,— BED, WHITE, COWGRASS, ALBYKE, and TREFOIL. RYEGBAS*ViCOCKSFOOT f j» RAPE. A&CHOR Binding Wire and very best Binder Twine. Golden Tares, Cape Barley, COOPER'S SHEEP DIP, THE STANDARD FIRE & MARINE INSURANCE COMPANY OF BEW ZEALAND. WITH UNLIMITED LIABILITY OF SHAREHOLDERS. CAPITAL— £I,OOOJOOO STERLING. HEAD OFFICE 7 DUNEDtN. INSURERS have the most undoubted Security under this Gorapanj's Poliotoi together with an assurance of Prompt and Liberal Settlement of Claims. FIRE and MARINE* lUBKS accepted oa all descriptions of Property and Merchandise, also Crop, Stack, and Machine Rißks at Lowest Rates of Premiuoi. Fidelity of Persons holding situations of trust guaranteed. OFFICE : HEREFORD STREET, OHRISTOHUBOH. (Opposite Bank of New Zealand. ) ' ARCHIBALD SCOTT, Manager for Canterbury. ALBEET BOBEUTS, 15 AGENT, ASHBURTON P j 3 IS B*B Si M S* Ms IriS IWiS-pii pl 6 k i* furs is LOM RUSSIAN HEMP TWINE, COLONIAL MANUFACTURE. 4-Ply (Green Label), 900 feet to the Pounl. THE Undersigned asks the npecial attention of FARMERS and OONTR\OTOr b to this article as one of the choapost and best T W [MSS ever put on ihe markot I hare adfocated this class of TWINE for years, eimply beciune I considnr it th most economical any farmer can use. Farmers will find th's TWINE of . UNIFOBM THiCKfTESS, STRENGTH, and LENGTH, enroogbont. It will work Bucce»efully on any mate of Binder. It will ran farther, and do more work at ale s cost, aad tie tnore grain than any twine I know of. Tin will be clear to erervonea* mind who coasiders that, running as it does, 900 feet to the ponnd meat .—THEE QUARTERS OF A MILE IN A bHuL,. and MORE THAN 19 MILES PER OWT. Every Ball b»s a Greop Ticket with name on,twith s gnaraatee that it rans 900 feet to the pound. MANILLA TWINE OF B?ST QUi LITY. SHAKESPEARE ! j ! "To gild refined gold to paint the lily, To throw a perfume on the violet, To smooth the ic6 or add another hue Unto the rainbow ; or with taper-light To seek the beauteous eye of heaven ; to garnish. To advertise the well-known "Wood's It's wasteful and ridiculous excess !" " King Joaar," Act IV, Scene 2 ASK FOB i vVALTBR A.WOOD'B BINDEB, | A^DTAKB NO OTHER? :';. - SALES FOR iM^m MACHINES, F. FEBBIMAN,' A»Hurton. _, For Sale,-* 2 SBOOND-HAWD TWINE M^OOBMIOK j second vLahu i^fi^k Woods "J vuMvogHAjruwfßß' Mooobmicks mm ' \u25a0"*-