THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN.

From and after the 30th November, 1886, the terms of Subscription to this journal will be follows, viz. : — IF PAID IN ADVANCE : Per Quarter.. (is 6d, by post, 9a 6d „ Half-year 12a 6d, by post, 18s 6d „ Year . . 24a Od, by post, 87s Od f booked; Per Quarter.. 7s 6d, by post, 10a 9d „ Half-year 15a Od, by poet, 21s 6d „ Year .. 30s Od, by post, 43s Od Birth, Marriage, and Death Notices, if paid for at the time of insertion, 2s 6d each (Btamps may be sent as payment) ; If booked, 4a each. Announcements of Births, Deaths and Marriages senc for publication from the country districts require to be verified by the signature of the erson sending the notioe.

DIARY.

Moonlight Evenings.

The Moon at 3 days old shines till about 8 o'clock.

The Moon at 6 days old shines till about half-past 10 o'clock.

The Moon at 8 days old shines till nearly 1 o'clock m the morning. The Moon at 12 days old shines from sundown till about 4 m 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 morning 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 shinestill morning. The Moon at 27 days old risea about 4 a.m. and ehineß till sunrise.

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY, JANUARY 7, 1888. GENERAL SCHAW'S REPORT.

The reporUof Major-General Schaw upon the Defences of the Colony bears evidence that that officer has gone very fully and carefully into the whole question. It is pleasing to find, upon {he testimony of so distinguished an authority,, that the expenditure incurred m fortifying the four principal ports has produced very satisfactory results, for the General writes.^ 1 ' I cannot re frain from congratulating the colony on the good progress which has been made m providing the needful fortifications and war material, and on the oppor tunity which is now being embraced of so organising its defence forces as to make full use of the material defences provided. It is specially satisfactory to note that all the new guns which have been received m the colony up to date are already mounted, instead of being left uselessly m store. In this essential .particular of mounted modern guns 'New Zealand holds the first place ajnong the 4u sl * a J a ?J3P colonies." Later on he says, " the compjetjpn of the defences 90 well begun is, however, of urgent Jmpor lance, lest the large sums already spent should prove use less, like an insurance policy whi^h has been allowed to lapse, so that, when the castastrophe arises previous ex penditure has been thrown away." As regards the Colonial Forces General Schaw recommends the formation of a Coast Brigade embracing the pi esent Per manent Force and consisting of artillery, and torpedo men, supported by a field force of rifles and mounted infantry, and is of opinion that the pumber of

paid volunteers can be considerably re duced. The strength of the necessary field force, including all arms, he fixes at 2,520, to be divided as follows, viz. —Auckland 698, Wellington, Lyttelton and Dunedin 610 each. These, with * Coast Brigade of 332 of the Per manent Force and 902 Volunteers, would make up a total of 3754 men of ill branches, being the force which is estimated to be required for the de tence at the four principal ports. For the minor ports of Nelson, Westporf, Greymouth, Bluff, Oamaru, Timaru, Napier, Gisborne, New Plymouth and Wanganui, the General considers that a total force of 560 Volunteers would suffice, and that these should be honorary volunteers, i.e., not m receipt of capitation. We do not quarrel with his further suggestion that the 3000 cadets, whose capitation is now charged to defence, should be paid out of the Education vote, as it is not a matter of consequence from what precise source the money comes, though we see no advantage to accrue from thu3 changing the mode of charging the expenditure, but we do think thaj, the policy ot dis banding fully half of our present Volunteer force, including nearly all the country corps, which will be the necessary outcome of the adoption of the General's recommendations, is a very misiaken one. True, a saying of so-ne .£12,000 a ye?r may be effected thereby, but it will be a highly un popular saving, and we venture to think a very unwise one. Our Volunteers are just now getting into a very satisfactory condition of efficiency, and whatever! may be done m the matter of carrying out the recommendations made m re gard to the reorganisation of the Per manent Force and the formation of a Coast Brigade, we hope that the Defence Minister will, as regards the Volunteers' other than those of the four ports, be content to leave \u2666them un touched — m a word, to leave well alone.

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

ggMr W. N. Blair, OE,, is contributing a series of desoriptive articles on the " Gold Lakes of New Zealand" to the "Anglo- New Zealander."

A fire started m the Alford Forest Bush on Sunday last, caused, it is supposed, by a spark from a traotion engine. Owing to the close approaoh of the flames it was found necessary to remove the furniture out of the houses of Beveral of the settlers. Great damage will be caused by the fire, Messrs Cooper and Rowe being heavy losers.

Mr R D. Borne, of the Invercargill Cyoling Club, who has undertaken the rather ambitious feat of piloting his machine from the Cathedral City to the first-named town, passed through ABhbuxton to«day en route. He left Christohuroh at 1 p.m. yesterday, and made Rakaia at 6 p.m. Resting there for the night ho again took the road at 8.30 this morning, arriving at Ashburton at 11. He eft here at 1 p.m. and expects to reaoh Timaru to-night. He finds the roads heavy bo far, owing to patohes of loose shingle and water-raoe crossings. The distance, 369 miles, will be the longest continuous lun ever taken by a New Zealand wheelman.

The Taranaki Maoris prediot an unusually wet summer, there being something remark able about the flowering of the flax plant this season.

It is reported that a valuable gold discovery has been made at Eamerunga, 10 miles from Cairns, Queensland. A man, who was Bink ng a well, reports that when he bad gone 26ft he got lOdwts to. the, dish.

It is barely 20 years sinoe the most profit able days of English farming. In 1867 m the best wheat-growing districts of the eastern counties, land was m such demand that it was difficult for would-be tenants to obtain farms. In that year a land agent m Ipswioh received no fewer than 120 applications m three days for one farm ; next year it may be out of cultivation.

The river Tay has at length yielded up its greatest salmon. It is a fish whioh has bsen seen more than onoe, and was netted two years ago, only, however, to escape. Those who then caught it thought it would weigh 80 -b, but its ascertained weight is 61b more. It is probably the heaviest fish of the salmon kind ever caught m the United Kingdom.

Here is an advertisement that is appearing m the Utah papers :— ' Wanted information of John Edmund Kettle, aged 26, formerly of London, England, latterly of Salt Lake City, by the undersigned, Marietta Kettle, Rosa V. Kettle, Lillian O. Kettle, Katherine X Kettle, Mattie S. Kettle, Susan T. Kettle, Fannie B. Kettle, Constance O. Kettle, Margaret A. Kettle, and Julia A. Kettle, all of Salt Lake City.' Apparently these Kettles are all boil ing ; at anyrate, it will be pretty hot for John Edmund if he is caught.

The King of the Belgians has lately invested £1,100,000 m the purohase of estates m Hungary and Austria. They are nominally to beoome the property of his sons-in-law, the Crown Prince of Austria and Prince Phillip of Saxe Ooburg Gotha, but it is generally believed that this step has been taken m view of possible mishaps. The late Kiog invested largely both m England and Ameria, and his son has followed m his steps, and has oonsidarably increased the stores accumulated by his provident sire.

The Hon Robert Campbell sends to the " Otago Daily Times " a copy of a Letter which he has written to the Premier, urging the need of extending the Hakateramea Jine of railway to a furthor distaoce 6f 20 miles on the land grant Bystem, nnder Bimilar conditions to that proposed for the Otago Central. He says that he " feels sure this (the Hakateramea) railway is as necessary and would be as profitable to the colony as any yet thought of," and hints that if similar eowaeasi^ns ba granted there may be found public-spirited pitisenß m the distriot willing to entjer into a ooritraqt.

The best medicine ia Sander, and Sons' Eucalypti Extract. Test its eminent power ful effects m coughs, colds, influenza, etc— the relief is instantaneous. Thousands oiye the moat gratifying testimony. His .1 Majesty the King of Italy and medical syndicates all over the globe are its patrons. Read the official reports that nocompany oaoh bottle. We have no occasion to offer rewards m proof of the genuineness of our references. The official reports of medioal clinics Ind univer sities, the offioioial communication of the Consul-General for Italy at Melbourne • the diploma awarded International Exhibition Amsterdam— all these are authentic docu ments, and, as such, not open to doubt We add here epitome of one of the various oases ireajtod at the chnio of Sohultz, M.D Pro. fesaor: e\e.~-ff U. 8., 24 years old ; conges tional a-b«toiß on'th* thigh. Incisions ia made m two places. Although Liatar'a dressing was applied, the secretion became, two days latfljr, very copious, and had adopted a foetid, deoorap.oßttdah&raoter. The temperature rose enormously. In consequent* the dressing was removed, and on ft 8 place were made during the day-time repeated (rrigationSh Eucalypti Extract. The offensive Her dis appeared very soon, the fever abated within the lapse of several weeks. In this instance

The Longbeaoh school was examined by Mr Wood on November 30, and his report, just to hand, shows the following result .— Presented, 43 ; absent, 1 ; exoepted, 2 ; failed, 12 ; passed, 28. Percentage of paß3es, 4242. Percentage of failures, 30-00. Ganeral Remarks : The sobool has passed a very fait examination on the whole. In the lower department the work was done with aaouracy and fair intelligence. Spelling, arithmetic and writing were good ; drawing and object lessons were wanting m respect to quantity rather than quality. Reading was faulty m articulation. The geography of Standard II was only moderately known. In the upper department the instruction has been faithful though there was no striking merit pre sented m the treatment of any of the subjects. Io the pass group, reading, arith metic, grammar and dictation were on the whole very fair. Writ : ng showed passable quality. Composition was poor m Standard 111, but fair with the higher Standards. The results m class and additional subjeots are slightly below a fair average. The discipline is very fair.

Prince Victor Napoleon has issued a manifesto, m whioh he Btateß that Parlia mentary Govdrnment ia falling under the weight of public contempt, and that the Bonapartists will restore to Franoe her past grandeur.

A woman who fell from the Holyhead express reoently literally escaped within an inoh of her life. When aha was pioked up it was found that a passenger train had out off a portion of her hair.

Among the many proofs of the «• strained relations" of Germany and Bussia is the fact that restaurants on the frontier, patronised largely by Russian soldiers, often display placards saying " Here no Prussians are served with meat or drink/ and many of the shops m the large Russian oities announce that no German goods are sold there.

The «• Oamaru Mail " gives the following instance of the how-not*to-do-it method of railway management :— The other day, an officer, who occupies a position a grade lower than that oocupied by Mr Lowe, sent a man from Waipahi to some place north of Oamaru to paint a Btation, whilst he aIBO, by way of compensation perhaps, sent a man from this district co paint a station at Waipahi.

What Bhould turn out to be a thriving industry was commenced at Ngaire, m Taranaki, on November 21st, This is a faotory, at whioh butter is to be made on a wholesale scale for export to England. There are two oream separators at work whioh will extract the oream from 400 gallons of milk per hour. The factory has been opened and is owned by a Chinaman named Chow Chung, who deserves great credit for his enterprise. The faotory has, Bince its opening, put out about three-quarters of a ton of butter per day.

Circumstances seem likely to be more foroible than arguments m bringing about a ohange m the fiscal polioy of Great Britain.* The Marquis of Hartford, speaking aißinton, neat Stratford-on-Avon, the subject being agricultural depression, said he could conceive no other remedy for the ruin whioh stared England m the face except the imposition of & Bmall duty on imported flour and wheat* If a laborer had to pay Qi or Is more a week for his bread, he would reooiva at least 3a per week more wages. Wheat wbb being grown at a loss, with the inevitable result that the land was going out of cultivation and many laborers being discharged.

Holloway's Ointment and Pills. — Travel lers and emigrants. — Those who orosß the seas change the climate but they do not change the constitution. The altered con di'iona of life, the exigencies of travel and other cauBCB render the traveller and emigrant peculiarly liable to diseases and accidents when far from efficient medical aid. With these associated remedies at hand they may be said to have a physioian always at their call, and they may be per am that situations will be constantly arising m which they will require a ready resource m time of need The directions for use whioh acoompany each box and pot of Holloway's Fills and Ointment are written m plain and simple language, and are pplioable m all oases.

THE EUROPEAN SITUATION

(Per Press association.)

St Petersburg, January 6. The Russian papers express a friendly tone towards Germany, and it is considered that peace between the two countries has been secured.

Vienna, January 6. The Emperor Francis Joseph tele graphs to Prince Frederick Wilhelrn that European affairs will soon be settled.

DISASTROUS FLOODS IN CHINA

TERRIBLE LOSS OF LIFE.

GREAT DESTITUTION.

[Per Press AesooiATiON.]

Shanghai, January 5. The river Hoangno having over flowed its banks inundated the sur rounding country. One hundred thousand persons are reported to be d'owned,and two millions are rendered homeless, and are m a state of starva tion.

M. PASTEUR TO THE RESCUE

[P.BR PKESS ASSOCIATION.]

Paris, January 5 M. Pasteur has conducted a success ful experiment demonstrating his method of exterminating rabbits by means of inoculation. A piece ot land, 8 hectares (19 acres) m extent, was enclosed, and populated with rabbits. In the middle warren a number of rabbits inoculated with a virulent disease were liberated, and within a (evr hours the whole of the animals m tbe enclosure were dead.

THE MARKETS.

(Ban Press Association.)

EoNfION, January 5 Tallow is quoted at 34s to 255. German beet sugar at 15s 9d. Hides are m demand from 4}id. Frozen meat is dull with a slight decline.

Melbou&ne JdDaary 6 Breadstuff's are steady. Wheat is quoted at js s>£d. The flour market unchanged. For feed grains there is a fair sale, ranging from 2s to 2s o.d; maize, 3s 7d. Adelaide, January 6. Wheat is quoted at 3s 2d. Flour is quiet, prices ranging from £8 to £9, j Oats, 2s lod. Sydney, January 6. Oats, 2s ro 2,3 3d ; maize, 4s. Butter is dull, factoiy, 6d to 7d per Ib. New Zealand bams, iid to js; bacon, gd/' ' ' ' '' • j

ASHBURTON WOOL SALES.

MESSRS MILES AND §0.

m Messrs Miles and 00. (per J T. Ford, auc tioneer), report on th«ir second wool sale, held m conjunction wkh Mr Geo. Jameson, at the Orange Hall, Burnett street, on Fri day, 6'h January, 1888 : — Owing to a misunderstanding as to the hour of Bile, there was a division among buyers, which militated somewhat against value*. While disolaiming any blama attaching ro ourselves m this ma ter, we still regret, tha occurrence, and allirm that, m order to es tablish annual wool Bales at Aahbur on, which is to a large extent favorable to growers, there should be perfect unison among the wool brokers, and every lot sub mitted to buyers m a perfectly bona, fide manner.

Our catalogue oomprised some 2G2 bales, which we disposed of, wi h few withdrawals, at the following prices : — DM, half-bred ewe, 1 at 7£d ; DM, half bred ewe (merino), lat 7J-J ; DM, merino, 1 at G£d ; MV, merino, 1 at 7jd ; 17, merino, I at 7d ; RP, black wool, 1 at 6f d ; RP, crossbred. lat7f d ; 17, crossbred, lat 7f d ; 17. crossbred (with 12 black fleeces), 1 at 6£d; RP, crossbred ewe (1 bale with 11 Southdown ram fleeoes), 5 at 8d ; RP, three-quarter bred Lincoln cro3s, 3 at 8d ; RP, three-quar ter-bred Leicester orosß, 3at 8d ; KD, half bred hogget, 3at 8d ; T over R, do, 4 at 8d ; 0 over M, half-bred ewe, 3at 7| J ; HC, half bred hogget, 3at 7|d ; T, do, 6 at 74i ; 17 over MO, crossbred, 50 at 8| J ; 17 over MO, Southdown, 6 at B£d; 17 over MO, three quarter-bred, 8 at 7£d ; 28. merino, 3 at 7£J ; Bquare, do, 3at 7£d ; D over w , half-breu, 3 at 7£d ; XO, hall-bred hogget, 2at 7£d ; 23, Ist cross ewe, 10 at 7Jd ; 2*, merino ewa, 2 at 7Jd ; 33, half-bred hogget, 3 at 7fd ; 33, hall-ored ewe, sa. 8d ; HE conjoined, do, 4 at BJd ; 0 within circle, merino, 2 at 7^d ; ÜB, merino, 2at 7d ; ÜB, crossbred (No. 3 bale contains 5 bia'ck fleeces and 5 ram fleeces), 3 at ad ; RL, half-bred hogget, 4 at 7£d ; RL, rneriuo, 1 at 7d ; 0 Between two horizontal bars, merino, 1 at 7d ; C between two horizontal bars, half-bred Southdown, 2 at 7|d ; G between two horizontal bars, half bred ewe, 4 at BJd ; 0 between two horizon tal bars, half-brea Leicester hogget, 5 at 7£d ; MV, half and three quarter-bred, 1 at 7fd ; MV, half-bred hogget, 1 at 7?d; MV, half bred ewe, lat 7£ J ; TE, merino, 3at 6|d ; TE. three-quarter-bred, Leicester hogga, 1 at 7*d; TE, half-brbd hogget, 2 at 7^d; Haokthorne, looks, 2 at 3£d ; Haokthorne, pieoeß (discolored), 2 at 6d ; Haokthorne, do, 6 at 6jd ; Hackthorne, merino (olothing), 4 at 9d ; Hackthorue, do (combing), 20 at 9d ; 37, half-bred, 1 at 7£d ; 3,_,, rams wool, 1 at 6£d ; 0 within square, half-bred, 2 at 7|d ; 0, merino, 1 at 7£d ; TI, Is. cross hogget, lat 9d ; 0 7/10, do, 4 at 8d ; C 11/12, Jst oross owe, 2at 8d ; TE, bellies and pieces, 1 at 4^; HE conjoined, locks, 1 at 3|d; IS, pieoes, 1 at 2d; 17, iocks, 2 at 3}d,; MR, bellies, 2at 5 ; RP, bellies and pieces, 2at sd; Z3, looks, 1 2|d ; Zs, bellies, 1 at 5 ; RP, looks, lat 3£d ; C over M, pieces, lat s£d ; 0 within square, merino pieces, lat sjd ; 0 within square, half-bred pieces, lat 4a ; 0 within two horizontal bars, bellies, 1 at 5d ; 0 within two horizontal bars, pieces, 1 at 5Jd ; 0 within two horizontal bars, locks, 1 at 2Jd ; 3U, do, 1 at 2f d ; B, cross bred, 2at BJ. And a quanti-yof bag.wool.

MESSRS FRIEDLANDER BROS.

Messrs Friedlander Bro3. report oa the above sales as follows ; — We submitted an excellent catalogue of 280 balea of wool, besides locks and pieces. There was a large attendance of buyers, both foreign and looal, but through an error of the sate being advertised to take place at 11 a m. ins cad of 1 p.m., some of the buyers declined to compete unless the sale took place at the advertised hour. Now, while ad mitting that these buyers had reasonable grounds for complaint, we think that they showed very bad grace indeed m refusing to consent to th*» adjournment of tuo hour of sale, especially after every possible apology had been tendered id them In justice to our clientp, we could not s»art the sale before all the buyers had valued the wool. To this, under these, to us, unpleasant circumstances, we were obliged to adhere, and a; though we had to withdraw a good many lotß during the sale, we are pteased to say that with the ex ception of one solitary line, as the details of the sale will showrare piaced privately every bale of wool at full y^ktation, thus showing that we at leaßt did noFE&orince our clients' interests, and did ful\ and every justice to their wool. So far as ; our ca;alogue is oon oerned, weconsijer that .the sale passed off very successfully, the pri«3s realised being (taking the heavier condition of the wool, caused by the very hot weatijei, whioh we hava had ainoe the laßt Ashburton sales, into considerai ion) about a halfpenny " per pound m advance of last sales The following are the particulars of our oatilogue : — H and triangle, mer.no, 2 at 7£d; H and triangle, Down oroaß ewe, 1 at 7Ad; Ptf, merino, 1 at 7Jd ; hook over D, half-bred, 3J at 7£d ; hook over D, ihree-quarter bred, 1} at 7d; 000, half-bred, lat 7|d ; EF, lat oroBS hogget, 1 at 7£d ; half-oirole over MG, half-bred ewe, 4 at 7£d; RF, merino, 8 at 7£d ; S and three dots, merino, 3£ at 7gd ; B and three dote, Ist cross hogget and ewe, 24 at 8d ; R/0, merino, 6 at 7|d ; R/(J, cross bred ewe, 2 at 7£d ; R/0, bel ies, 1 at sd ; R/0, pieces, lat 3d ; M7, merino, 3£ at 7Jd ; M 7, orossbred and rams, 1 at 7d ; M 7, hulf bred hogget, 11 at 8d ; RX, 2nd cross ewe, 3 at 7£d ; RX, Ist oross ewe, 14 at B£d ; DO, 2nd cross pieces, 1 at 3|d j DO. Ist oross pieoes, 1 at s£d ; DO, rums, 1 fadge at 6d ; MF conjoined within square, Hampshire Down ewe, 1 at 8d ; MF conjoined wiihin square, orossbred wether, 2at 7£d ; MF con joined within square, rams, 1 at 6Jd; MF oon jofned within square, Lincoln hogget, 1 at 7d* MF conjoined within square, Liuooln ewe, 5 at 6Jd; MF conjoined within square,"half bred ewe, sat 7|d ; J reversed 30/35, oross bred hogget, m bale 35 6 merino lleeces, 6 at 7id ; J reversed 28/29, half-bred wether, 2 at 7id ; J reversed 36, lat pieces, 1 at 4Jd ; J reversed 37, pieces and about £ looks' at bottom, lat 3d ; V wheel 1/8, merino, 8 at 7fd ; V wheel 9, rams, 1 at 6£d ; 0 over I over C, orossbred hogget and ewe, 12 at 8d • J through H, three-quarter-bred, 2 at 7Ad • G ovet G, crossbred matted, 2at 6|d ; star within 0 1/5, quarter-back hoggeti merino and Leiooster crossbred, sat 8d; star wi'hin 0 6/12, do ewe, 7 at 8d ; star within 0 13/16 2nd oross ewe, 4 at 7£d ; RP 1 & H, orossbred ewe and wether (bale 1 has 8 merino fleeces) 2 at 7£d ; RP 2/5, Down cross hogget, 4 at 7£d; WP, Ist oross ewe, sat 8d ; WP, Ist oross hogget, 3 at 8d ; WP, half bred hogget 2at 7£d ; RS 2/6, half-bred hoggec and wether, 4£ at 7Jd ; RS 1, part merino and part half-bred, 1 at 7d ; 12 over HM 1/4, half-trod 4at 8d ; 12 over HM 5, meriuo, A at 75d • triangle over S 10/14, crossbred hogget, 5 at 8d j triangle over S 1/8, half-bred ewe (bale 8 hogget), 8 at 8d ; iriaugle over S 9, croßbbred ewe, latßd ; triangle over j3 17, half-bred ewe and ram, 1 at 7&d; Maltese cross, merino and 9 crossbred tleeces, 1 at 7id • 63 merino, 4at 7f d ; 63, orossbred, 3 at 7W •' 0 over H, half-bred, 2 at 7id; G over Or' merino, 7gd ; RX, ram, 1 at 6jjd j H, hoggerj 1 at 7Jd ; MF conjoined within square, oross bred, 1 fadge at 6fd; MF conjoined within square, blaok wool, 1 fadga at 7d ; HW con joined, crossbred wool, 1 bag at s*d ; DH, crossbred wool, 3at 7d ; crescent, blaok wool, lat6d; oresoent, crossbred wool, 4. at 6£d ; S and three dots, blaok wool, lat 61 ; MF oonjoined within square, merino wool, 3 at 6d; MF conjoined within square, crossbred wool, 3at 6 £d ; MF conjoined wichin square, dead wool, 1 at sd; W over star, crosaorei wool, lat 6Jd; P, crossbred wool, 3 at 6d ; V, merino wool, 1 at 7§d ; star within o,' black wool, 1 at Oi ; Maltese cross, orossbred wool, I at6d; 12 over HM, crossbred wool, 1 at sd; 12 over HM, pieoes, 2 at id; J through H, croasbred wool, ] at sd ; FR, rams wool, 1 at 6d • RS, bellies, 1 fadge at 3£d ; WP, beliies, and 2 rams fleeces, 1 bale at ii'^d ; MR, bellies, 1 at 4Jd ; KD, do, 1 fadgo at 4£d ; Mrj, bellies, 1 bale at 4^d ; 8 and three dote, bellies, 3 at 4>£d ; MF conjoined within square, be.lies and pieoes, 2 at 4>£d; FR, locks, 1 fadge at 3d; RX, pieoes, 1 bale at4^d; triangle over S, do, 1 a<- 2^d ; triangle over S, bellies, lat 4>£d ; star within 0, looks and pieces, 1 at 3?d; FR, bellies (merino). 1 at 5Ud«

gD, pieces, 1 fadge at 3d ; G over G, do, 6 bales at 3d. Bags : - O()O, pieces, 2 at 3d ; RC, pieoes and bellies, 2 at 3U ; W over star pieoes, lat 2Jd ; DO, do, lat 3d; Maltese Cross, do, 3 ai. 3d ; WP, lock*, lat l^d • 12 o^ r iS M^ P o cCc8 'a 2 , J" 2d; 3 d ' lock3 ' 2 «» 13 ; *3k d J °' 3 o ac 3^ d "• J thr °ugh H, do, lat 3d ; KD, do, 2at 2-^d ; RS, do, 1 at lVd • S and' three dotß, do, 6* at 2>^d ; oresoenvdo iat2^d; JoverD/pleces, 2at2^d ; Joyur D, looks, 1 at 1 j£d ; 0 over 6, do, I at Id :

MESSRS H. MATSON AND CO.

Messrs H. Matson and Co. report upon the second wool sale of the season for Ashburton, held yesterday, as follows :—The various salesmen oata ogued about 800 bales, most of which was disposed of at rates fully equal to last sales. Our catalogue.oonwated of 277 bales and 68 bags of wool, locks and pieoes, and 300 sheepskins, which were cleared at prices indica ed below. Woolly sheepskins realised sd, 4Jcl, and inferior ditto 3£d per In. Highest price realised by us for cross bred woo! was for Mr A. Ma farlane's, A ford Forest, which realised 9.1, Singletree B*d, and a Ranj>itata Island client B}d. O.ving to a misunderstanding amongst some of the buyers concerning the time of starting several of them refrained from bidding, thus forcing sa esmen to protect their clients' interests, which they did right manfully ER crossbred, 3 at 7£d ; ER, merino ewe, 1 at 7d; GO, crossbred, I at 6M ; CD, crossbred, well skirted, 1 at Id • f l w Oßß i l 2 d| v ,?•' 7 * d; JG ' merino ewe, 1 at 7d; ME bellies and pieoes, 1 at 4Jd; ME, looks, 1 at 2Jd; D-B, pieces, 1 at 4J : rl, ? ro^ ed> 4at 7 £ d 5 D - B » Ist cross, 5 5L7* ; — conjoined, 2nd oross, 1 at 8d ; I\V conjoined, crossbred, 2 at 8d- GP crossbred, 3 at 7d; RB over bar, orossbred ho ßßet, sat 7|d : JB, orossbred wether, sat 7§i; JB, 1 crossbred hogget, 1 orossbred hogget and ewe, 1 orossbred ewe, at 7Sd ; WB, crossbred hogget, 2 at7fi; J>r, looks and pieoes, lat 2J I ; Dy, pieces, lat4i \u25a0 ; Dy, quarter-back hogget, 1 at 8i ; Dy, Ist cross Shropshire hogget, 4 at 8d; Dy, oross bred hogget, 12 at 8d; shepherd's crook, half-brea hogget, very heavily skirted, 5 at 8£<1; shepherd's orook, half-bred wether, very heavily Bkirted, 10 at Bid ; shep herd's orook, half-bred ewe, very heavily skir ed, 9 at B£d ; shepherd's orook, pieces, 4 at ssd ; shepherd's crook, 'ocks, 1 at 3d • R, crossbred hogget (No. 14 bale, 5 rams' fleeces m front, heavily skirted), 6 at 8d; R, crossbred ewe (heavily skirted,, 5 at 8d • R crossbred wether (heavily skirted), 3 at 8d ; R, pieces, 2at sd ; R, looks, 1 at 3d ; HH, crossbred, 5 at 7Jd ; HH, crossbred, 2 at 6£d ; WG, crossbred ewp, 2 at 7d ; WM, down hogget, 2 7fd ; G2, cross jred, 3 a> 7id ; GB, crossbred hogget, sat 7gd ; GB, orosa. bred wether, 12 at 7£d ; GB, orossbred ewe, 2 a 7Jd ; GB, merino ewe, 2 at 7£d ; GB, mixed wool, lat 7d ; GB, pieces, 2at 5d • GB, locks, 1 at 2£d ; HWP, Ist cross ewe. 8 i at 7|d ; HWP, Southdown cross, 5 at 7£d • HWP, pieces, 2 at sd ; HWP, locks, 1 at 2| i ; JW, crossbred ewe, 1 at 7d ; TD, merino ewe, 2at 7J3 ; TD, Ist oross hogget, , 2 at 7£d ; HD, quarterbaok hogget, 2d at 8d ; HD, merino, lat 7Ji ; balloon, merino ewe, 2 at 7Jd ; bHlloon, 2 orossbred hogget, 1 crossbred ewe. 1 mixed hogget and ewe, 4 at 7£d ; KA, orossbred wether, 1 bale and 1 bag at 7£d ; SB, lst cross, lat 7£d ; AJH, cross bred hogget, 3at 7£d ; AJH, crossbred ewe, 2at 7£d ; 18. half-bred ewe, 12 at B£d ; ME, locks and pieces, 2 at 2Jd ; F over A, half-' bred wether, 11 at 9d ; F over A, half-bred ewe, sat 9d ; P over A, merino ewe, 3 at 7Jd; Pover A, merino hogget, 1 at7fd; P over A, pieces, 4 at s|d ; P over A, looks, 1 at 2£d. Bag3— HD, bellies, 3 at 4Jd ; bal lot, pieces, 3 at 3sd ; balloon, rams, 1 at 4£d ; JO, crossbred and black, lat 4£d ; JO, pieces, 1 at ljd ; RB, crossbred, 2 at 6d ; RB, pieoes, 2 at 3£d ; JQ, merino, lat sd ; JQ, dead wool, 1 at 2d ; WG, bellies, 1 at 4d • WG, looks, lat id ; HWP, wool, 1 at sd ; DB, looks, 5 at 2d ; D-B, dead wool, 1 at 2£d ; W. btaok wool, 1 at 4d ; W, pieoes, 4 at 4 jd ; HH, pieoes, lat3d ; C 2 pieoes, lat 2d; 02, mixed wool, 1 bale at s^d ; OD, pieces, 1 bag at 2£ i ; CD, wool, lat s|d ; S, cross bred, 1 at s£d ; S, merino, lat sd ; S, dead wool, 1 at 3d; ER, rams, 1 at sd; ER, pieces, 2 at 4d ; TD, rama, 1 at 4|d; TD, blaok wool, 1 at 4Jd ; TD, pieoes, 2 at 3d ; HR, crossbred hogget, 1 at s|d ; HR, rams lat 4$ d ; WM, pieces, 1 at l£d ; JO, looks, 1 at 2Jd; MG, crossbred, 2 at 6Jd ; MG, merino. 2 at 6d ; SB, pieces, 2 at 4d ; 88, looks, 1 at 2id| AJH, bellies, 4 at 4d'f 2" --locka at l^d ; 1 crosshrod aud black at 4§d ; JW, bellies, 1 at 4d; ME, dead wool, 3 at 4id ; ME, locks, 2 a- 2| ; ME, black, 1 at s£d ; 2 crossbred and 1 black fleece, s|d ; JS, crossbred, 3 at 5d ; JS, merino, 2 at 5Jd ; MB, do, 2at 6d ; MB, orossbred. lat sid ; 1, do, 2 4£d ; 2, do, 3at 2£l ; 3, do, lat Id.

HATCHING MACHINE TOE BABIES.

("P..1! iv.airG.^ZHte:") " " It may not be generally known that at.:hing machines h»ve recently been introduce I m theP»na iyingin hoapluls fur the saving of infanta prematurely born or otherwise tLfbient m vitilhj. The pyatem appears to have been emln ntly aucoeaafnl. The ohj*ct of th» machine is to supply the weak little things with the heat neceasary to attain to strength and maturity New-born babies, »c s>hing from 2 b to 2§ b. instead of 4|lo. the average weight, and which were condemned 10 early death, have, been pUcaii m theae machines, and m a short fcloae they have o »me out atrony and healthy. The apparatus is similar to tta egt-hatchng machine. It is | t , the form of a Urga wooden box divided into two<j mpartmenta ; one is filled with warm water, and the o her contains a basket lm d with wadding Into which the infant is depi.ai cd. The lid is supplied with a glasa p\ne to enable tho move ments of thelitrta iama«e to be watched The machine ib under the oonstant sur veillance of a nurse, who reports to the mod-oal director the various phases o» inoubailon. Dr. Plnard, of the Lari b >iaura Hoapital, aad Dootor Tariiier of the Maternite, have several of those machines working under their oare at the present minions

SALVATIONISTS IN TROUBLE.

" AMnofleua ? ' m the "New Zaaland Mall" tells the following atory about a party of Salvationists who were going for a little jaunt m a dog-oart which, and likewise tho horae, had been loaned by a Bympathlsing acquaintance They didn't get far through, for disturbed m hU " innar.ta " by the poksd boneta of the women, or the scarlet Bhirt frouta of the men, tha horae deolinod to make an off >rt. Well, one would have thought -that the oooupantß of the vebiole would have re cours d to prayer, or psalmody to Btima iate 'he brute. Not a bit of it though. The driver, a proper dfao<ple of blood and thandsr, apolied the common remady Tho horae atood the whacking fo? a tim* and thon backed into tho gutter ; harder fell the whacks, and thoroughly ronaed aud <urele?a of the oiinta behind him. tha horae began to kick and did&'t stop nntil h a had kicked every mothe-'a eon and daaghtar of 'em out of the trap and tha trap to piccea, or next doer to it. Thai the ousted ones gathered themaelvta together to consider the poai« tlon, und one of 'era suddenly bethought him of a note that had beon cent by the ownar of the turn out ; and had been overlooked. Ie waa now pornaed and the oon'entß were of the moat portentous kind. It ran somewhat as follows, "Be careful of tho lioaa ; don't go near hia head m the atable or he'll bite lik"e thunder, and tako oar* of hia heala, for he is a b>ute to kick. And whatdver you do, don't whip him when m harnean or he'll commenoa to kick and won't stop nnt.il thf re'a nothing behind Mm to kick at " "0 i, gracioua Lord !" mo>ned tha readot "if we had only n.ad this baforo," There waa a heap of o >nipenaulon staring them m the face, hrmaea, toru cloth, s, and a demolished dogcart. They oonoluded they'd been "had."

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

(per press association.)

SIR CHARLES DILKE.

London, January 5, Sir Charles Dilke, speaking at Ham mersmith, said he hoped to completely vindicate his honor m a court of law. It is not his intention to re-enter politico at present. , -.r

BRITISH COALING STATIONS.

Mr E. Stanhope, speaking at St. Piley, deprecated the publication of Lord Brassey's letter on British coaling stations and defences until such time as the report of the Commissioners, who were inquiring into the stations already fortified, was received. He considered it unnecessary to fortify Port Darwin.

SALE OF ARMS TO NATIVES.

A blue book issued shows that America is the chief obstacle to the international prohibition of the sale of arms and alcohol to the Pacific natives.

THE VICTORIAN LOAN.

Ii is announced Victoria will not borrow again this year. The Vie tori on loan is quoted at a premium of 4 per cent. It is expected that it will be floated at

AUSTRALIAN FRUIT.

The Army and Navy Stores have arranged to import 100 cases fort. uightly of Victoria apples and pears.

GALE ON THE IRISH COAST.

A tremendous gale has been experi ence on the Irish coast, and many small vessels are reported to have been lost.

PANIC IN A THEATRE,

An alarm of fire was raised m the Edinburgh Theatre last night, and a panic ensued^ Many persons were crushed and injured m the blocked exits]

THE WINCHESTER ELECTION.

Mr Richard Mors (Unionist) has been returned by a maj6rity of 585 over Mr P. VanderbyJ, the Liberal candidate.

THE FRENCH ELECTIONS.

Paws, January 5. Instead of winning several seats m the Senatorial elections the Repub licans have lost four to the Conserva tives.

THE FRENCH MINISTRY.

Admiral Krantz has been appointed Minister of Marine, and M. Felix Faure Under-Secretary for the Colonies.

FAILURES IN PARIS.

\u25baSeveral failures have occurred here consequent on over speculation m copper. The liabilities amount to thirty million francs.

THE PAPAL JUBILEE.

Rome, January 6, A grand Papal mass was celebrated at St. Peter's to-day, and 20,000 pil grims who were present made repeated cries oL« Long live the Pope and King."

ABOLITION OF DUTIES.

Buenos Ayrks, January 5. The Argentine Republic have abolished export duties to the amount of two million dollars on wool and other produce.

AMERICA AND CANADA.

Kbw York, January 6. A Bill for promoting a Customs Union with Canada has been intro duced into Congress.

RICH GOLDFIELDS AT THE CAPE.

Oapktown, January 4, Mr Murray, a member of the staff of the " Cape Times," has travelled from Johannesburg to Swazilland m twenty tour days, the quickest on record. He reports that the quartz reefs recently discovered there are very rich, m many cases yielding 10 oz to the ton, and never less that i oz. The reefs are practically inexhaustible.

AUSTRALIAN.

[PEB PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

PACIFIC CABLE.

'Melboubnb, January 6. In Home commercial circles it is considered that the construction of a Pacific cable is hopeless, unless Imperially subsidised, but the pro moters are sanguine of success. An Admiralty vessel will shortly be sent to make the necessary survey.

INTER COLONIAL SHOW.

An inter-colonial show is to be held as an adjunct to the exhibition.

THE PRINCE OF WALES SILVER WEDDING.

The Premier considers it undesir able to take any official action respect ing the proposal to make a colonial present to the Prince of Wales'on the occasion of his silver wedding.

LAND LEAGUE IN SYDNEY,

Svdnb*, January 6. At a crowded meeting held to-night it was decided to form a Lantf Nationalist League.

LARRIKINISM.

The City Corporation propose lo light the parks and squares m Sydney m order to assist m the repression of larrikinisrn. \u25a0 *

SYDNEY TRAMWAYS.

The Government contemplate hand ing the tramways over to private enterprise.

AN OVERLADEN VESSEL.

BEteBANB, January 6, It is asserted that the ship Geo. Thornton, which recently foundered on the Northern Coast, was overladen.

THB ASHBUBTOR OUABJPIAN, SATUBDAY, JANUARY 7, j«sß



Moon's Sun Sun Moon Moon age at January. Rises. Sets. Rises Sets, noonday p.m. pm. 7 Saturday ... 4,32 7.41 * « 0.43 23 ajn. ' 8 Sunday .. 4.34 7.40 0.22 1.54 21 9 Monday .. 4. -6 7.40 0.86 3.6 25 10 Tuesday .. 4.36 7.49 1.38 416 28 11 Wednesday.. 4.37 7.39 2.21 525 27 12 Thursday .. 4.8J1 7.X9 3.11 6.20 28 13 Friday.. .. 4.40 7.39 4.9 7.27 29



The only safe and sure cure for Gravel or Urinary troubles is Amerioan Co. 'a Hon Bitters. Prove it. Read Keating'a Powder destroys both moths, flea beetles, and all other insects, while quit* harmless to domestic animate. In extermi nating beetles, the suooess of this powder is extraordinary. It is perfeotly olean m appli- oation. See the artiole you fiurobap f • Keating's ; as imitations are noxiouir and



An immense drainage work undertaken by the Russian Government contemplates the recovery of the vast region known as the Pinak Marshes, m the north-west of Russia, near the bord rs of Gallioia, and which hitherto has prevented communication, not only between the Russian districts on either side, but also between Russia and Austro- Germany. Up to the present time about 4,000,000 aorea have been reclaimed by means of the construction of several thousand miles of ditches and of canals at broad as to be navigable for barges of several hundred tons burden 5 and the task of >ho present year comprises the drainage of 350,000 acres. "Ropqh on Gatarbh" corrects offensive cciors at once. Complete cure of worst chronic cases ; blbo unequaled as garglg for diphtheria, PQ«f throat, foul breath; r 4



"Bstjgh on Pilbb." — Why suffer piles mmediate relieif and complete cure guaranteed. Ask for «• Bough on Pileß." Sure oaro for itching, protruding, bleeding, or a? form 9* pH°'' i



TO OUR RAKAIA SUBSCRIBERS. \ \ TE> deßire to intimate that from and VV after let January, 1888. BUh5- S !HIBERB to thiß journal will OBTAIN THEIR COPIES AT THE STORE OF MR C. HaKDY.



"TTTANTaD Known-Weils Bunki with VV pump and pipe found and fixed, from £2 10s upwards All kinds of pomps, Ranges and house-smith work fixed or repaired. Chimneys swept and ranger oleanei, 3j. Registers lfi6d each All orders punctnaHy attended to I<ote address, B. Dudley, Moore street, Aoh- bnrton, H 22



Melford House Sale.— H. O. Segers.



f¥7 ANTED KNOWN — Oleographf, V> Bcenery, and Catiiolic Hubjecte Catholic Cards, good variety m Scraps Novelties m Penwipers, Crewel Wools and Biiks, Knitting Cotton, Colored Crotchet Cotton, Transfer*, Tinsel Balle, <S,c, &c, at Am Manhibb's F»noy Saund9rs' Buildings



WANTKD CASH — Moir'a Oatmeal 251bs, 2b 6d ; Sperm Candles, 6d ; Ooffae and Milk, Is per tin; Cocoa and Milk, Is per tin j Vcataa, 5d per doz ; Oorr-flour, 4-i per lb j tin Fruits, Is; Crooke'y, Ironmongery, eti>. — At Jamb* McGreoob's, Tancred Str«et, opposite Arcadp.



Sale at Melford House.-H. O. Segers.



WANTED Known. -For Sale, Blue Gum, Stringy Bark, Peppermint Gum, Bed Gam, and Silver Wattle Tree Seeds, locally grown, and caved this Seasjn ; ako Turnip Seeds, just arrived, ex 8.8 Rimutaka. —J. Scaly and C 0... Seedsmen, Eaet Street. Ht6l



V IT ANTED Known— Board and Resi V V denoe for one Gentleman oom- fortable bedroom end use of pitting room, only one other Boarder. Address— A. B "Guardian Office. 1 \\



WANTED Knoiru— To the Ladies of Aahburton end surrounding districts, that an experienced monthly Nursa is deatrous of engagement. Good references oan be given. Address— Mrs Hill. Peter Street, Ashbarton. 11 18



rTTANTBD on a Station situation by VV Married Couple, no encumbrance. Mau as general h*ud — oan milk, kill, etc. Wife good oook and laundress. Aoply, — Mes Kandall, Ashburton. 12J148



\k^ ANTED X OW&.— lhe Surplu VV Stock Company's Great Olcarii.g Sale of Drapery and Clothing, will com menoe on Saturday, January Bth, io premises lately occupied by A. 0. Pnohard, Eaet t-'tieet, Aehburtoa. 122



Segers' Great Sale.— Melford House.



WANTKD Kuown— That HAVES ad CO. have a splendid lot of Wnite Embroidery Robes at 143, worth 21b.



Wanted. WANTED a Gi»l to waist m hoaeebol < duties. Apoiy to Mbs Wm. T Hobbs, Princes street, near (Jasworka.



TRY iKKPATfiICK'S JAM. CAUTION. I jVT ONEjjtief genuine unless our name is jJM stamped ongaf-li tiu, and hoa our ftegiatered iraJe Ma. V« " 1-ora We'son, oa th.|!ab.l TRY KIEKPATEICK'S| TOMATO! ISAtp. THR mcst^d«licious flavoring tot \Qold Meats, Chops Steaki, Soops'j Gravies,



GREAT SALE 09 Bankrupt-Stocky or Drapery, Clothing, AND BOOTS. ANDREW ORR hating Fecured the Btook of A. 0. PRIOHARD at a great reduction from Invoioe Cost, will offer it to the Public on WEDNESDAY, DEC 28th, At Unheard of Prices. TUESDAY, the 27th DEC. v m ANDREW ORR.



A CARD, i Miss Carson, TEACHER OF MUSIC, (PIANOFORTE AND OKGAN), BUBNBTT STBEBT, 12 101 Proctor & Co., WHOLESALE AND RETAIL CABH GROCERS, &o , BEG to announce to the inhabitants of Auhburton and Surrounding Dis- tricts, that we have just landed our Chrißtmos Goo^h, and as we buy largely forCKSH, we are m a position to SkLL '.beaper than any of the other Houses m T^wn. w e have also a large a r d varied HtocV ot CROCKERY and IRONMON- GERY, which we are disposing of lat PRIOtB that will defy competition. N.B.— See windows for Presents io bs given away at XMAS. Please note the Address,— BULLOCK'S ARCADE, Burnett Btreet.



. m PAPERHANGINGS! PAPERHANGINGS ! I THE Under* igned have jost opened up a splendid ntßortment of I PAPERBANGING3, 6CKIM, TAPES, .TACKS, IAMO.-1 * WINDOW A GLASS;(aII sizes). W A B LEAD, PAINTS, OILS, VABNIttHES, OOLOBB, DRYERS, TURPEisTINE &o, J«at;!anding, a splendid lot of Hcuae Coal,ex«Hauroto.' f McCallum & ?Co , BON, TIMBER, AND (COAL MER- CHANTS,* IMPORTERS. Agents for TITAN and TBI PLF X BTRAINJOR& .12*103



MANILLA BINDER TWINE I HAVE secured a quantity of the same make of Twine as Rave bo much satisfaction last Season, and as Quality is ihtt true Economy m the Haivest Field, farmers will consnlfc their own interests by securing a sufficient nj ply early, as it is likely to be scare* this Season. KOBERT ALCOBN, Importer and General Merchant.



MAXWELLS PATENT SPRING PADS. GIVE your Saddler orders to line your old Collars and Saddles with MAXWELL'S PATENT BPRINQ PAD 3. Tbey keep the ihonlder cool. Testimonials coming m freely. Everyone is giving satlßf action. NO MOBE SOReTsHOULDERS AND BAOKB. Very good for newly broken m horses. Fplendid thing io Biding Saddles Aak year Had-iler to thow you th°ra, and explain t* yon how they are put m. One Trial will prove It. To be bad from all Saddlers I*9



£gf» LOOK HERE! .Jgg THE PBEMTER TAILOR, Town Hall, TS making Tweed Suits m first class style X &° m *:2 10s Od. Troußer» from 18a 6d (Bpecialty). Heavy Caddie Tweed Suits, £4 Os Od, GENTS' OWN MATERIAL MADE UP. Trousers, 7s 6d £Sac Saita, 355 ; Pagets, <oi, Tinuu Cash* town~"hall, EAST BTKEET.



F. H.yod SCHOENEBER6, FRENCH POLISHER. CABINETMAKER, UPHOLSTERER, AND UNDERTAKE*, HAS opened In Premises (next W. Patching) East street, md hopes to receive a fair share of public support, being prepared to M*KE FORN.TUR/ way design to order at OBRISTCHUKCH BATES. Pianos ard Furniture re- poltahed at very tow rates.



Al TENT DEPOT. PO'CONNFLL (la c of Cbristchuroi), wishes to make known to his f-iends, and • the poblic m general, that he h*s comma -ced business at Moore Sbreef. Ashburton, ss iBNT, TABPaULIN, bOi»SE COVtB, FLAG *nd OILSKIN Manufacturer P. O'CON NELL'S experience of 20 y?arfi m the trade is a sufficient guarantee that all work entrusted to him. will receive prompt attention. N.B.— Orders by post or otherwise promptly acteuded to. Rots the Addbbss,— P. O'COOTELL, Al TENT DEPOT, Moore Street, Ashbur on, Opposite FBIEDLANDEB BBOTHBRS. lf2l .-,:-i.-- m ..." ALBEET KOBERTS BAS FOR SALE,— Glovers, — . bed, white, cowgrass, alsyke, an» trefoil. RYEGKASS^COCKSFOOT, asd RAPfi. Golden Tares, Cape Barley, f^BSD rEAF, SEED OATb (vnrion* hinds), ORbSHED BEANS PLOUGH BHABEB COOPER'S SHEEP DIP, Aokßr^leig^d to ht> THE BEST IN THE MARKET