THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN.

From and after the 30th November, 1886, the terma of Subscription to this journal will be follows, viz. : — ''\u25a0"" IV PAID IN ADTANCK : Per Quarter.. 6a d, by post, 9a 6d |\u0084 Half-year 12s 6d, by post, 18a 6d „ Year .. 24s Od, by post, 37s Od r booked Per Quarter.. 7b 6d, by post, 10s 9d „ Half-year 15s Od, by post, 21s 6d „ Year . . 303 Od, by post, 43s Od Birth, Marriage, and Death Notioeß, if paid for at the time of insertion, 2s 6d each, (stamps may be sent as payment) ; if booked, is each. . Announcements of Births, Deaths and Marriages sent for. publication from the country districts require to bo verified by the signature of the eraon sending the notios.

Moonlight Evenings. The Moon at 3 days old Bhines 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 ths 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 ahinea 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 shinesti 11 morning- . The Moon at 27 daya old rises about 4 a.m. and shines till sunrise.

DIARY .

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 1888. WINDY WELLINGTON.

Although, to our own experience and knowledge, Ashburton can do a little m the way of " raising the wind " — in he literal and not figurative sense of course, the latter m these times is out of the question altogether — yet if the yarns ot old identities are to be taken toithout salt, there is a sad falling off m our climatic or meteorological capacities. For we have been told that m dat s gone by people had to anchor their houses down, and that "Colonial Palaces" drifted before the fierce noi'westers like feathers, and were strewn like sentry-boxes all along the VVakanui road ; that ploughed fields were stripped of their soil, many inches deep, and that, fences were easily ridden over by means of the earth banked up against them, and much more of the same sort. It blows now occasionally rather more than a trifle, but our proud pre-eminence m this way has gone, unregretted perhaps., but gone unmistakably. Yet the glory has i not wholly departed from Israel, it has only charged its location, and now rests with great splendour upon the regions round about the Empire City, or, to be more precise, a few milss north of it, the exact locality being Pigeon Bush, a charming little spot m the neighborhood of Featherston. There rude Boreas (is it Boreas by-the-bye ? well we don't know from what precise " airt the win' doth biaw") but anyhow, a wind of some kind and undoubiedly of unmistakable < rudeness, has !#MerUy been playing up the most extraordinary prapkg, selecting as its favorite shuttle- cocks such email deer as railway carriages and hurling them about like mere unconsid,ered trifles. When it comes to picking up trucks loaded down with the very respectable weight of 5 tons each, and, worse still, passenger traini with their living freight, and sending them bolui bolus off the rail?, things are .

getting to a pitch of liveliness that may | very fittingly be described as deadly. I We could understand a violent gust, j pouring down one of those funnel-like gorges on the Rimutaka, sending a railway train or anything else spinning down to the depths below, but though, this has been done,, its recurrence has been guarded against by a solid pro tecting fence of heavy timber oln both sides, but what is be done when on apiece of level line m tolerably, open country, it is necessary to guard -against a travelling train being literally blown away, we don't know. AH we do know is that when we next have to travel northwards from the Empire City, we shall go by steamer if we can, and if noi| then we shall try to pick out a calm day for our journey. By-the-bye it may be added that the windjne&s of Wellington is proverbial and with a cause, for though it has recently taken a fresh development, instances of its well-known characteristic are histori cal. For example, the " Evening Press " has just cited a case m point, which occurred so loqgago ago as lß43* when, are told, a ; flat-bottomed boat lying on the beach at Te Aro was lifted up bodily by a gust of wind and carried along m the air like a balloon for some distance, when it was dropped exactly .opposite the Ship Hotel, and fell upon a lady who was passing, with a fatal result. Things must have been bad enough then, aearly fifty years ago, but if they go on as they have been doing lately nobody will know when he may not have a big locomotive under full steam hurled through his dining-room window. We used to grumble at a few loads of shingle being pelted at us, but it is evident that We are well off as compared with the unfortunate folks who reside m the sylvan and otherwise pleasant regions of Feather ston. Let us be thankful for small mercies.

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The adjourned annual meeting of the Caledonian Society will be held to-morrow evening. The man who would rob a churoh has long been regarded as the champion mean thief, though he who would draw the naila out of a ooffin rune him pretty olobq. But we have dropped upon a epeoimen m Ashburton who is even meaner still. We mentioned the other day that some idiots, who indulged in.silly and mißohievoua freaks on New Year's Eve, amused themselveß inter alia by overturning certain small edifices, euphemistically de. soribed as "inelegant but useful." Will it be believed that on restoring one of these to its proper position, it was discovered that that portion of the fittings which is manir. featured by the plumber, had been abstracted and removed to other premises, bo sb to save the cost of purchasing a new article of the same kind. To rob a blind man of his dinner is playing it pretty low down, but to purloin the contents of a— well, say Colonial Palaoe, is about the meanest trick we ever heard of. A smart shock of earthquake; at times varying between 1.15 and 1.20 a.m. on Thursday, 19th instant, ig reported to have been felt at Greymouth, Rangiora, Kaiapoi, and Christchuroh. The apparent direction was from north to south. Messrs A. Harrison, D. Thomas, R. Alcorn, D. MoLean, F. T. Mayo, A. Orr, J. Grig?; and T. Scaly, were to-day nominated as a' Licensing Committee for the Borough of Ashburton. An election for five of the above named candidates will be held on Monday, January 30th. This morning, m the Resident Magis trate's Court, before Major Steward, J.P., James Finn, an old offender, was fined 20s, with the alternative of 48 hours' imprison* ment, for being drunk and disorderly. Another man, who made his first appearance on a similar charge, was fined 6s. The North Canterbury Education Board at its meeting on Thursday, decided to die* pense with the services of the prinoipal of the normal school and of the drill instructor. It was also decided to discontinue the ex. penditure of £330 per annum m connection with the normal eohool for art training. We have had the pleasure of inspecting speoimena of the art of ivory-type paintiDg of which Professor F. A. Brookes is bo able an exponent, and can honestly Bay that they are really works of art. Among them are portraits of His. Excellency the Governor and the Most Rev the Primate, both of which are not only remarkably faithful likenesses, but finished paintings, faultless m every detail. Mr Brookes has a large number of beautiful works m ivory-type and Poonah painting, which he proposes to dispose of by Art Union, ihere being 26 prizes of value varying from 12 guineas to 30s. Tickets may be obtained from Messrs Wood and Co., stationers, and and at Mr H. G. Flower's, confeotioner. Trade is reviving m Adelaide, and the prospeot is said to be most encouraging. Prince Albert Victor will start on a tour through India about the middle of January. Since the discovery of petroleum 53,000 wells have been drilled m Pennsylvania and the adjacent oil territory. A potato disease has made its appearance m the Terara (New South Waleß) district, where it is making extensive ravages. A giant female figure to serve as a light* house is proposed to bo erected on Sydney Heads m commemoration of the centenary of New South Waleß, after the fashion of Bartholdi's Btatne of Liberty m New York harbor. It is somewhat singular that Washington drew his last breath m the7a*£ hour, of the last day, of the last week, of. the last month, of the last year, of ihe last century. He; died on Saturday night, twelve o'olook, Deo. '< 81st, 1799. Some cynic adds that he was the lost man of bis kind m America. Mr Pyke is working energetically m the \u25a0matter of the Otago Central Railway. He ponfidently expects that his Bill for construct ing the line under the land grant system will becomje law next session, and it is said that es soon as the rjght moment arrives he will foe prepared wjth an influential syndicate ip tarry out the work. J. M. Bailey, onoe famous as the wit of the " Danbury News," has faded from the hhumorr r ous world, and is now an actor m a daily repeated domeßtio tragedy. His wife is insane and demands his entire attention. He must dress her and arrange her hair, and attend to all her wants. She is like a child, and he gives her all hia affaotion, time, and atten tion, His devotion is described as something keroie. ThY applications for passages to the W«st Coast Soands of New Zealand having baen so numerous, the Union Steamship Company have arranged to run a third trip should a sufficient number book, leaving Port Chalmers on the 31st inst. or Feb. Ist. The programms of amuaemonts, etc., provided for those whf may go will be on ths samt liberal sail* as. that which has been so uacotssfully oarrted out 19 to ia connsctfou wfth, fte frit. t

THE FEDERAL COUNCIL.

(Pbr Pubss Association.)

Hobaht January 19. At the Federal Council a ; Bill pro viding for the bringing of pearl fishers of Queensland under the control of the } Government 'of the colony, was read a } second time; : Hitherto the fishers • have disclaimed the authority of the colony. jßlr Lee Steere, who repi esents Western Australia, said a similar Bill I was ' urgently needed for Western ' Australia, but no action was taken. '- The federal quarantine question and the Chinese question were discussed. All the representatives favored legisla tion on the subject, but recognised they could do nothing advantageously until all the colonies were federated. At the Federal Council to-day, the Queensland fishery proposals were ap proved and passed. The next sitting of the Council has been fixed for February 10th, 1889, and it willadjourn to-morrow.

THE FIRE AT SEA.

SERIOUS CHARGES.

(Per Press Association.)

- . Stonct, Jannary 19 The survivors of the American ship J. T. Berry arrived here to-day; T hey complain bitterley of the ill-treatment received by the crew oi the ill-fated vessel at the hands of the captain and chief officer. They assert that the men who are now missing were cruelly abandoned to their fate. It appears that before the fire occurred a member of the ship's company had been en gaged below painting tanks, which necessitated his using'- a light, ' and there may possibly be some connection between this circumstance and the origin of the fire. When the fire was first discovered, and be/ore it had assumed any dimensions, the starboard boat was hurriedly launched, the sur vivors entered it and cut the painter, leaving the port boat for the remainder of the crew. The explosion which tore up the docks had not then^oc curred, but the fire had enveloped the port boat, and rendered it useless. Moreover it was not possible at any time after the outbreak of the fire to launch it, owing to the intense heat, so that it is believed that the : other unfortunates never left the ship but perished with her. The fact that the captain and first mate were m the same boat is already unfavorably com mented on.

CORN EXCHANGE.

The following ; s the Corn Exchange re port for the week ending Friday, January 20th 1888:- Old stocks of wheat are now being placed on the market m considerable quantities, but finding no bnyerß, holders are arranging for shipping to London on their own account. Freights have har dened dnring the week, and space can be obtained m very limited quantities The oat harvest is becoming general, aud the early-sown barley has also engaged at «.i --tion Wheat will not not be ready for har vest 'tig m largo quantities for a f w days, a'though several of the earlier dis tricts have numerous paddocks m stook. The general reports from country districts aro favorable to growers, and should favorable weather continue we may expeot grain of good quality, Whkat -Several shipments have been made to London, which greatly helps to clear our market, and local millers have been more inclined to operate at the slightly lower rates that have been ruling during the week. Pearl and Hunter's find buyers for prime lines at 3s 2d, and Tuscan at 3s Id. Second quality is very quiet at 3s, and whole chicken wheat com mands 2s lOd to 2s lid ; broken, 2s 6d to 2sßd. Oats — A few Bales have transpired at Is 8d for good short feed Milling are very scarce, and are worth Is lOd ; inferio? descriptions are dull at Is 6d. JKyegrass (Sied— Very few sales hare transpired. Bolder are expecting an ad vance m the autumn, but buyers, owing to the large atooks held from last year, ore tardy about operating. Prices re | main at Is 9d to 2s 6d for farmers' lots. i CookptoOt— No new seed is yet offering i 'It is expected .that there will be a fair average yield, and there will be a fairly satisfactory speculation. Dairy Produce — Doth butter and cheese have been largely shipped to London m steamers, but there are still considerable quantities offering loo»lly ; little business, however, eventuates. Butter, prime, is quoted at sd, and cheese from 3d to 3sd. The above quotations are those paid to farmers and delivered f.o.b. Lyttelton, sacks extra*

INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS

GisbornEj January 19. The heating of Wl Pero'o eleotion petition was conducted. Plaintiff's counsel admitted that agency had not been established r« the Wairoa charge. The Oourt alts at Napier on Saturday to hear Taapo, Hastings, and Rotorua charges .New Plymouth, January 19. An inquest was commenced thia morning on the body of Clements, who died m the hospital from exhaustion after the ampa- j tatlon of hit leg. The body was exhnmed, and viewed by the jury. The reason for holding the inquest is that Clements, who was m the employ of the Hawera County Coanoll, wai sinking a weli at Walngongoro with a onpply engine work ing a stoneorushar. Oa being lowered the Bp'ndle became detached from the triooh, and Clements wai precipitated to the bottom of the hole breaking his ankle. Ho was brought to the Hospital, and after trying to set the limb the surgeons amputated it, bub the man died after the operation. The inquest is being held to «69 if anyone was to blame for the aooident which resulted In bis death. The inquest was adjourned till Monday next m order to see what witnesses it would be neceimiry to call. 4 :, Dunbdin, January 19. The City Counoii was engaged for nearly four hours this evening considering the Bpeoial reports on the theatre and other places of amusement, and when they adjourned only two of the clauses had been dealt with, bomo.of the prooeedlags were rather Hfely, points of fader being continually raised and oharges of stone* walling made. The boy Gordon who ijgnred m Court yesterday as the victim of an assault by his adopted father, was brought up to-day »s having no lawful me,»os of support, and | o >m uitted to the Industrial School. The adopted parent refused to have anything to do with the boy, whom he brought from Londonderry, Ireland, '\u25a0\u25a0 '-EiiUFS 1 , January 19. Androw Auderson, a Swedish sailor, aged f .)rty six, wa* found dead m tbe bush alongside th* Bluff reeorvoic to-d »?. The •iua of death is not known. Hh was dlf«harged from the ship. Warrior Q leen, at Sonodin, m IS 7O. Sj far as is known decaafnd purposed shipping, to London by the X rdalo from here. I r < i« euppossrt he came from Winton with Ihat Intention, At one time he was p^roer 0< f cotter tra4log on Lak« W»B|Jf»,

THE EUROPEAN SITUATION

(rBB. PBESS ASSOCIATION,)

Paris, January 18 The French press are making violent attacks on Italy. The Bourse is depressed. Vienna, J»nn»ry 18. The Austrians are much incensed at { the German official press suggesting 1 that peace can only, be preserved by Austria conceding the demands of Russia. There is a growing desire that Count Andrassy should replace "Count ; Kalnoky as Minister of Foreign Affairs. Constantinople, January 18 The Sultan has issued orders to have the defences of Adrianople completed immediately. Rome, January 18. The Consulate difficulty was a trifling diplomatic quarrel arising out of an j Italian magistrate attempting to seize belonging to the French 'Consulate at Florence, but it has since been increased by the violence of the French Press, until M. Flourens demanded redress, threatening to vin dicate' the honor fand interests of France.

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

HOME AND FOREIGN.

(PER PKE63 ABSOIATION.)

A "BLIZZARD."

Bin Francisco, Janmry 18 Reports from Dakota give terrible particulars of the devastation caused by the "blizzard? m that country, no less than two hundred persons having lost their lives.

THE TRAFALGAR SQUARE RIOTS.

London, Jarmiry 18 The trial of Mr R. C. Graham, M.P. for North-west Lanarkshire, and Burns, the socialist leader, for making use of seditious language at a meeting m Trafalgar Square on November 13th, has been concluded, and each of the accused sentenced to six weeks, without hard labor.

SENTENCE ON AN M.P.

Mr W. J. Lane, M. P. for East Cork, has been sentenced to one month's im prisonment on a charge of intimidating.

MR SPURGEON'S SECESSION. The Baptist Union has accepted the resignation of the Rev. MrSpurgeon.

SIR M. HICKS BEACH.

S r Michael Hicks Beach speaking at Clutton said that Ireland must first be convinced that the supremacy of the British Parliament must be maintained and then the Government must con sider the Irish problem with boldness and sympathy. He favored the adop tion of a system of local government when order had been restored, arid the placing of members on an equality with those of Scotland m settling local affairs. He also expressed bis willingness to re-enter the Cabinet whenever he was required

SALMON OVA.

Mr Thos. Brady takes a shipment of salmon ova to Tasmania, and will pay a visit to New Zealand

THE NEW HEBRIDES.

Sir Charles Dilke has privately stated that France will only evacuate the New Hebrides on condition that she is allowed a hand m Egyptian affairs.

ENGLAND AND THE VATICAN.

The British Government have urged tha Pope to disavow sympathy with Mr Parnell and his reprobate League. The Pope, m reply, has advised the Govern ment to exercise patience, and trusts that a more satisfactory state of affairs will soon be arrived at.

The Cabinet will submit a Bill for the reform of county government next session.

THE CROFTER TROUBLE.

Glasgow, January 18. Eleven ctofters arrested last week at Lewis have been acquitted despite the declaration of the Judge that such a verdict would tend to have a bad effect on society. The verdict has created a good deal of amazement. The crofters threaten to clear the deer out of all the forests m Lewis.

LORD CHAS BERESFORD.

London, January 19. • ; Lord Charles Beresford has resigned hia position as a Lord of the Admiralty,

AUSTRALIAN.

[PKR PRESS ASSOCIATION ]

NEW SOUTH WALES.

Sydney, January 19. The Emperor of China has forwarded a number of presents to his Excellency the Governor, Sir Henry Parkes, and other gentlemen m recognition of the hospitable reception accorded to the Chinese Commissioners on their recent fisit'to New South Wales. h meeting of Netf Z-alanders, held last night, was attended by aboul jpo persons.. Resolutions were passed m favor of protection} and condemning Major Atkinson's Government for shelving the tariff question last sesson. Resolutions were also passed calling upon the Colonial Treasurer of New Zealand, to make the fiscal policy of the colony ihe first business this year, aod asking him to substitute a land and income tax for a property tax. The swollen corpse of a man has been discovered m the city water-supply basin. From appearances it has been immersed four days. Further deaths have been reported from sunstroke. The heat yesterday was 101 m the shade here, and m the country \ 14. The Postal Conference met here to day, but no business was' transacted beyond the election of a Chairman, Mr Roberts being chosen for that position.

QUEENSLAND.

Brisbane, January 19. Two deaths have occurred here from sunstroke. The heat was 117 m the shade to-day.

A PERPLEXING FAMILY

Mr L. Oflbornf, of this city, mirried its grandfather's second wife, und they, hive a Bon. Given thia sltapla -stated ooent, and a number of ppoullar family relationshipa may be dedncad. For exj; \mple, Me Osborne Is % grandchild of h\V> f wife. His son being a{so a' eon of hi^ (Osborne's) grandmother#? la to his; own father. Osboitfie becomes a brother to his uncles and aqnts,-. and also a step father t > them The boy, being the child of Oaborne as a -grandadn, is thereby, a great-grandson of his own mother, while bis father may rejoice m the title of great grandfather to his own ohildr Thus the boy beoomes a grandanole to bimaelf and his parents* great-grandohlld. Osborne is the boy 'o father and great-Rrflndfather at the same time, and being the husband of his own grandmother enjoys the dls jtinotion of being his own grandfather as jwell. Oaborne'a mother married a mao in.tmed Blake, and his sister married a brother-in-law of her own mother, Henry j Blake. Oaborne's sister beoomes a sister to her own mother. Mrs Blake, being jOhorne'i! mother, Is grandmother to 'Oaborne'i ion. The l»tter, however^ being a son of the wife of Mrs Blake's father-in-law, la therefore a brother to hit grandmother, and grandanole to bis grandmother's sister, the daughter who married Mr> Blake's brother-in-law. He also is her nephew, as the son of her brother. Osborne Is the younger Mrs Blake's grandfather as well as her brother Thus her nephew, Osborne's son, be ocmei nncla to his aunt, being a son of her grandmother. Thlj .series of relation ships may be likewise traced almost iniefinltely. The family are happy and contenteJj and live as pleasantly as though ih'ee peculiar family tie* Wtre.not present.— Madison ( Wis.) Journal.

A CHANNEL BRIDGE

The following details of a proposed bridge across the English Channel are taken from a French contemporary ;r- The " Kvenement " of Octob.-r 25 : : b states that a sohems for the < r ction of saoh abridge is m active consideration on the other side of the water. At the head of the projeot is Admiral Clove* and acting m connection with him are these well known engineers — Massrs Hersent, Fowler, and Baker ; the two latter repre senting Englaqd In the matter. .The piano have already bjen prepared, and they are at preaeat being exafaioed by skilled engineers at the Oreusbt Works. As the consel superieur des ponies it ehausses Is not unfavorable to the scheme, i as soon as the plans are approved active measures, it is expected, will be shortly begun. It la estimated that the cost will be somewhat about £40,C00,000, and tbe time required before it can be completed | seven years or more. Tho course pro posed to be taken for the bridge .is from I Jranaux CEn I, a lttle place on the French coait oetwesn Ambleteusa and I Oape G.le-Vert, to Filkstone, on the English side, a distance cf about 22 miles. Not tha shortest, but the shallowest line will be chosen. Tae depth of the Channel Is o. mmm 1 ' supposed to be muoh graator than iis reaaty. Thero we two «hi\llowß between Oran-aux CE» s an^ Folkestone, where the deptn iB on./ about 20ft. They are named tho Colbert and the Warne, and they will of course make a material difference m laying the founda tions and huge piles which will be required for this gigantic Btructure. From the French coast to the first of these shallows the depth is about 160 ft., and from the .other shallow to Folkestone about 100 ft The bridge will have two slight beoda, the first deviating a little to reach the Warne, the other falling back to reach Folkestone . The piles required ar«j blocks of concrets and m soary, IGOft long by 100 ft .broad, and will be placed at intervals of about 550 yds These measurements sound enormous, but it U stated to be quite possible that they may have to be Increased to give the bridge a st ength capable of bearing a weight of 25,000 tons. The oauisway of the bridge *»11 be about 100 ft above the sea level, so that vessels of any sizss may be able to pass beneath it. It will be 100 ft wide, and be divided into four Hoes for traia service, as well as way for foot passengers. Signal boxes and elidings will be placed along the whole length at equal distances. The bridge will be illuminated by electric light, each pile having a powerful eleotrip , light, attached to it, os well as fog horns and aUrm balls for use m foggy weather. Such are the outline . details of this enormous undertaking, which the projec tors state they have full oonfidsnoe will be before long carried ont.

FATAL PRACTICAL JOKE

I A singular charge of murder hn been I preferred against Henry Harklns an ! employee m a wool-washing works on the I banks of the Yarra, (Victoria ). He bad I come to the works la a drunken state after the dinner hour one day last week, and the manager, Mr NettletoD, would not allow him to start work, He, however remained about the premises indulging m practioa) jokes at the jxpenseof his fellow workmnn, culm I anting In hit throwing one of them, John Wantoni, bodily off a floating platform into the river. The man rose to the surface once only, und was afterwards aeen no more Wantom 1 was unable to ewim and hia fellow work men, who witnened ths cooarrenoe, were unable to save him, Harkens stood on tbe platform until Waniotu sank the second time, and then walked away. Tie deceased was a man 48 years 'of age, married and with four ohlldren, fiarkeni had no animosity against him, and simply seamed to be oerrying oat what he re garded as an excellent praotioal joke. He was drunk when arrested, and after he got sober expressed great oontrition at his deed.

LO.RD BEACONSFIELD'S FRENCH

The following story ia told by the London correspondent of the "'Man chester Guardian" of Lord Beaeonsfi «ld •ad Lord Ampthlll. The latter'a tact,, aays the correspondent, was skilfully employed at the opening of the Congress of Berlin !n 1878, m a delicate matter which taxed it to the utmost.. Oo the evening before' the Congress was to be opened Lord Rowton (thn Mr Montague Oo.rry, and Lord Beaconefield'a private Boorotary) cnvae to Lord Odd- &nssel, bb our Ambassador a till w&a, and begged his assistance m a difficult task, \u25a0 Lord Baaconsfield fancied he could speak French j this was a delusion. Accent, syntax, gramm*r--all were faulty, and as* he had prepared an elaborate French speeoh for tbe opening of the. Congress, the results b&de fair to : be deplorable. f We shall bethelaughing stookof Earopo, 1 ' cried the despairing ;.seoretary. " Pray try what you can do with the chief We dare not approach hini on sach a BUbj'ect." Lord Odo at once entered into thf humor of the situation. He went to the great man and said,. "We hear* a dreadful rumor that you are going to speak m French to-morrow. No one can 4o it better than you ; but then aU the.Congress; can doit equally well. Bat there is one thing which only you m »]1 Berlin can do —you, alone can make a really fiae English speeoh. All the ambassadors are counting on the intellectual treat of hearing English spoken by its great living master. Do not disappoint them." Much impressed by this view. Lord Beaconefield oonsented to change his plan. The Oon flfreas was duly addressed m English, add th ) linguistic honor of Great Britain was «av»d. - . .-, .\u25a0\u25a0\u25a0 '.; : \u25a0:\u25a0•\u25a0 -\ , \u25a0

It is said .that the .wheat crop about Gam* totige will a wage 40 bWbela to the tore, -

THE RAGE FOR TALISMANS.

It ia the fashion to have a fethh— pnethmg to love, to cbich, to swear by MJreanj on, to talk to, to reason with, ana to worship as nothing mortal 01 .mater, al is worshipped Jt m ay be a button^.thoutaehanfc, picked up from \u25a0the marble slab m a Tnrkish bath • a bangle .found m a street car with aa indecipherable monogram on ooe side and a date o n the other, m whioh caee there will be fatality m the letters and luck m ,he nnmner , csmbioe them aa one may. Such thm ?8 as daggers, old coins, m»d stones, oyster pearls, ocean pebbhs, nuggets, petrified objeots, opal^ amethySta!* ana comehans are dearly prized, and m jewels, old designs, such as wingi. claw" B RW». foijs cnb.es, and the like* obtained pr purchased under elrunge circumstances. " • Mrs Langtry wears on one of her lone apering fingers a turquoise as big and beautifal as the gem Shyldok mourned for XhQ ring and she are inseparable. There is never a glove so snag; that it cannot be coaxed over the solitaire, and on the stage* when it might be considered poor taste to * wear it _m view, the Btone is turned? toward* the palm, or dropped m the boHom of her bodioe.- . \u0084.,, : .. : \u0084 % \ Mme.. Cayalozzi; has a email • ivory oruoifix, the gift of her dying mother, who bade her cherish it with reverence, -and burn a taper before it whenever way Beemed dark and dreary. (In her stateroom on 4he ocean mid' iwinds and wild waves' have no terror ior her. while burns the sacred diaper \u25a0at the foot of the ivery cross, and in*} ;tbe theatre no earthly power could induce her to go before the footlights until her devotions had been made. . Her husband, Charles Mapleson, has ceased to laugh at her, and almost believes thit the light 'of ' the cross and the tiny dip light her pretty feet through the intricacies of the dance. Sarah Bemhatdt ban an antique girdle : made of medallions, on whioh are the. signs of', the -zodiac m superb chasing, The zone was a gift from Napoleon, who received it from Abdallah Bey; of Egypt.' She is never without it ; sometimes it is worn about her dress and sometimes 1 about her neck. It holds the gathers of* house and Btage dresses and enoircles her> night robe. A Bide from the worship of the girdle, she loves a knife, "because it cuts and is true " In all her great under takings she ke^ps a blade m her hand or before ber eyes as a reminder that failsre can be mended but never made perfect * \u25a0 Mary Andereoa loves a pearl, because it ia pure and cold. Oampanini pins his faith to a prune and there is no tim? ia. the year when the atone .or fruit of the black, sticky confection may not be found m his vest pocket. Ellen Terry 'b : fetish ia a bottle with 'a paper stopper, J which i» never empty because the cork remains. Mmc Patti likes the ivy, because it clings and is poieonoua, and the leaf is a favorite design with her. ' '

THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM.

News oomea. from Rangltf fret that the Star cf Bethlehem has been Been by an observer In that district A surveyor writing from that locality to » friend m Auckland, s»ys :— " By-the-way, have any of you eeen the star that ia travelling ; baf ore the inn. three hoars and a quarter t We hive seen It for the past week or so quite bright all day. Seen from tho upper part of the Rangitikei River on , December 2, it was trarelling three hoars and a quarter before that «un, and we hara aeon it pretty well ever alnoe. Rather a strange thing, is It not, to iea a star when the bud la out 1" As no doubt we shall aoon all behaving a look at It, the following f rotn. the "Scientific American" ahonld be read with Interest : The history of the so-called. Star of Bathlehem ia brief y this : Tycho Brahe a Danish astronomer, discovered, m the year 1672. an apparently new star near Gaph m CJassiopea. When-first -seen,- In November, it hod attained the firat magnl. tnde. It Increased rapidly m brillianoy, i until it rivalled Yeaue, and wan visible at noonday. . It began to diminish In bright' ness m December, and continued to fad* away until the following May, when It disappeared from view. Forty yeara later, when the telescope was Invented, n amall telescopic star was i fonnd close to the spot where the i wonderful star was seen. It la still there, and Is probably the same. It Is now classed among variable stars, and is. - therefore liable to bleaa forth at any time m the same extraordinary manner. After i classifying the otar bb a variable, the next > thing to be done was to find out its ; variability. Astronomical records were searched, and it was ascertained thai about the years 1263 and 950 bright stars suddenly appeared near the Bame quarter of the heavens. It was, therefore olaul* Bed as a variable, with a period of about 309 yeara. Counting baok three periods : from 956, the exact period being uncertain, the ata? may have appeared near the time of the Christian era. Some imaginative oboerver, for this 1 reason, ohrlsteoed it the Star of Bethlehem, and wlthsoarce the shadow of a foundation the name has adhered to it aver.iince. It Is also known as the Pilgrim' Star, and amongst astronomers «s the star of 1672 I? the star be a variable, with a period approximating to 308 years, It, is now dua and liab'e to bant forth into sadden brilliancy at any time. No oelestlal event • would be mcra welcome to astronomer The Rclentifij world would be wild with excitement over the substantiation of an Ingenious theory and the confirmation of its hopes. Its first appearance, its exaot position In the heavens, its phanpes, from da; to day, would be telegraphed all over the oountry and minutely daaoribed m the journals of the d»y. The advent of a comet, spanning tbe sky from thetanlth to the horizon, would be of no account m comparison <flth the bUilnjt star 1 Meantime the telesooplo star near Oaph In Oasslopea shows no signs of any oomlng disturbance, and observers must wait patiently for developementß, rememh'erlng that tbe outburst will be sadden, if .\t oome. ' J ' ~" """' " : --i ;:-\; Jt is generally considered that, the.ex traordinary changes of light m stars, like that of 1672, are canoed by sadden oat barat of glowing hydrogen gas, whloh by its own light and by heating up the whole surface of the star oanses the immense increase In brillianoy. The spots, faouf» and rosy protuberances o a the sun give bomo Idea, on a small scale, of what may be going on m other suns on a much larger scale. Fortunetely tha. new ; or temporary stars observed by terrettrl&l astronomers number only about twent four, an infinitesimal number when com* pared with the boundless millions of stars that shine with nearly nnohanglrig brightness. The probability is, therefore small that our sun will be added to 'the Ist of blazing stars. He will probably shine (or millions of years to oome, as he has ahone pi millions of years ia the past and if observed from othe* suns a&l* systems will be classed as a variable, wltfc a period* of about eleven years* corre*. ponding to the cycle of sun spots; '" "

THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN, FBI DAY, JANUARY 20, 1888



Moon's Sun Sun Moon Moon age at January, Rises. Sets. Rises beta, noonday mil. pm. 14 Saturday ... 4.41 7.38 8.10 BIS 0 16 Sunday .. 4.42 7.38 6.14 8.68 1 16 Monday .. 4.43 7.37 7.17 P. 35 2 17 fuoiday .. 4.45 7.36 8.20 10.6 S 18 Wednesday.. 4.46 7.36 9.20 10.34 4 19 Thursday .. 4.47 7.35 10.21 10.69 5 20 Friday .. .. 4.48 7.34 11.19 11.25 6



Don't phyaio, for it weakens and d«st rOVB ' but use Hop Bitters that builds up I (T ake none but American Co.'s). Rtad. Keating'B Powder destroys both moths, fleas beetles, and all other insects while quite harmless to domestic animals. In external nating beetles, the sucotss of this powder is •xtraordinary. It is perfsotly clean m applU cation. See the article you purohas is .Boating's as imitation^ are noxious and »ueff«etual.: Sold b i faol, 6d,l |/ aod 2b 6d 6»o1j, by all cboßjißf • ~* - J \u25a0\u25a0• .



There are more cares made with American Co.'a Uop bitters than aU other tn.edioin.es, See flags and all. i \u0084 HotLoWAt's Puts.— Weakening weather.—. The sultry summer days strain the nerves of the feeble and decrepit, and diaelse may evenSuate unless some restorative, such as these purifying Pills; be found to oorreot the disordering tendency, Holloway'a medioina gives potency to the nervous syßtem, which is the source of all vital movements, and presides ver avery action which maintains the growth and well-being of the body. No one can over estimate the necessity of keeping the nerves well strung, or the ease with whioh these Pills accomplish that end. They are the mo3t unfailing antidotes to indigestion, irr>gular circulation, palpitation, eiok headaohe, and coetiveness, and have therefore att lined th» argesi sale aa3 highosi reputation >•



TO OUR RAKAIA SUBSCRIBERS. \u25a0\u25a0\u25a0.\u25a0 \u25a0 . . « "TlTE desire to intimate that from and W after Ut January, 1888. BUii- SOBIBERB to this journal will OBTAIN THEIR COPIKB AT TJHE STORE OF MR C. HABDY.



Wanted. WANTED— Man Cot k for Men's Hut . Must be a go^d Baker— C. H. JowDiKg, Coldgtream. l 117 \\! ANTED Known— Bald win'a Finger- VV ing Yarn iJi 9i lb,.iadiea Hcaa l|d pair, at Surplus Stock Company's ;re»t;Sala. 1 118 OpANI?ED ; to Sell t injb-class Piano, W grand action. Cash or terms very i'berai. Apply Hayes and Cfi. WANTKD a strong, active ladaboat 14 years of age, for the Machin Room Apply, this evening after 6 o'clock or to-morrow after 2 p.m at •* Mail " and v Guardian" Office Segers' Great Sale.—Meliord House. * WANTED Known. -for Bale, Blue Gum, Stringy Bark, Peppermint Onm, Kcd Gum, and Silver Wattle Tree S?edß, locally grown, and i-av*<d this Seasan : also Tnrnip Soodß, just arrived, ex b.s- Kimuiaki. — J. Sbalt and Co. , Setdameo. Eaet Htreet. Ilt6l Sale at Melford House.— H. 0. Segera. /••" " .. ""'\u25a0 - - \u25a0?\u25a0"% r^ 117 ANTED OAStt^- Mloir'a- Oatmeali VV 2albe,2s 6d ; Sperm Candles, 5d ; Coffee and Milk, Is per tin; Cocoa and Milk, Is par tin ; Vrstas, 5d per doz ; Cornflour, 4i per lb ; tin Fraita, Is ; Crockery, Ironmongery, etn. — At James McGrbqoq's, Tanerad Stroet, opposite Arcade. Melford House Sale.— H. O. Segers. __ WANTED KNOWN — Oleographs Scenery, and I ' Catholic Rnbjectfl Catholic Cards, good variety m Ftarnp* Noveltios m Penwipera, Crewel Wools and Bilks, Knitting Cotton, Colored Crotchet Cotton, Transfers, Tinsel Balls, &c, &c, at .dBS Manhibb'b Fancy Jtlepoaitory, Saund9ra' Building*; WANTED Known— To the Ladies of Aihburton tnd enrronndtng districts, that *v experienced monthly Nuree Is desirous of engagement. Good references can be given. Address— Mbs Bill, Peter Street. Aabbnrton. 11 18 WANTED Known— Wells sunk, with pump and pipe found and 6zed, from £2 10s upwards AH kinds of pump?, Ranges and house-smith work fixed or repnired. Ohiranoyt iwept -and ranger cleaned,^. Rpglaters le6d eaoh AH orders punctually attended to. JNote address, B. Dudley, Moore street, Anh- buHon. 11 22



FOIt SALE. ON Aooonnt of the Tmstees of the hte Waltbr Harthbi*,— RiS 1549 », South Rakala, comprising 400 acres, inolodtog the growing crop of Wh#a f . : > Furtb.tr particulars m»y be obtained from OHAS, W. TURNER, L»nd and Eitate Agent, 12 28 South Rakftia. Proctor & Co.j WHOLESALE AND RETAIL GAbH GROCERS, &a , BE9 to announce to the inhabitants of Ashburton and Surrounding Dis- tricts, that we bar) just landed our Christinas Goods, and as we buy largely for C VSH, we are m a position to SELL Cheaper than any of the other Houses m Town. We hava also a large and varied Stock ot CROCKERY and IRONMON- GERY, wbioh we are disposing of (at PRIOLB that will defy competition. N.B.— Be» windows for Presents to be given away at XMAB. Please note tie Addrers, — BULLOCK'S ARCADE, Burnett Streei. NEW ADVERTISEMENT. THE COMING- X \u25a0 GREAT SALE | Bankrupt Stocky OF Drapery, Clothing, AND BOOTS. ANDREW ORR haying secured the Stock of A. O PRICE &RD at a great reduction from Invoice Coat, will offer it to the Publio oa WEDNESDAY, DEC. 28th, At U^»;»rd »f Prk«t CT Remember TUESDAY, tbo 27tk DEC. ATiDBEW OKB, r



F.H.Yon SCHOEHEBERG, FRENCH POLISHER. CABINETMAKER, UPHOLSTERER, AND UNDERTAKER, HAB opened In Premises (next W. Patching) East street, and hopes to receive a fair share of publio support, being prepared to MAKB FURNITURE any design to order at OHRISTCHUKCB RATES. Pianoi ard Farniture re- polished at very low rates. WANTED KNOWN. . AT I. SALEK AND COs., Licensed Pawnbrokers, East Street, A FIRST-CLASS Watcbmihr and A Jeweller is employed on the Premises. Watche* cleaned and repaired, and every description of Jewellery made and repaired at LOWEST CHRIBTOHURCH PRICES. OS WATCHES CLEANED OS GLASSES, 6d ; HANDS, 9d. WATERED RX'S repaired from 2s 6d. N.B,— Waterbnry's reduced from 13s 6c to 12s. II 124 MANILLA BINDER TWINE I HAVE secured a quantity of the same make of Twine as gave sc much satisfaction last Season, and at quality is the true Economy m thf Xarvest Field, farmers will consult theii - *n interest! by securing a sufficient apply early, aa it is likely to be scare* nla Season. EOBERT ALCOM, importer and General Merchant, TO FARMERS AMD OTHERS The CMstcharch Finance CO (LIMITED.) CAPITAL £50,000 REGISTERED OFFICE— B Cathedra Pqnare, CHRISTCHURCB. mHIS COMPANY is moking'CibH X ADVANCE 8 on GROWING OKOPH, WOOL, LIVE AND DEAD STOCK , FABM PRODUCE of erery description, and any other Class of Security For particulars apply to THOMAS BUI LOCK, 12 86 Aootieneer, Asbburton. PAPERHANGINGS! PAPERHANGINGS 1 1 rE Underaignei have just opened up a splendid assortment PAPERHANGINGS, SCRIM, TAPES, TACKS, Also,— WINDOW GLASS (all sizes). W & R LEAD, PAINTS, OILS VARNIbHES, COLORS, DRYERS, TURPENTINE &o, Just landing, a splendid lot of Htusa |Coal,ex"Haaroto." McCallum & Co , $£9N. TTMBER, AND COAL MER CHANTS, Jb IMPORTERS. Agents for TITAN and TRIPLEX STRAINERS, 13*103



VICTORIA__ HOUSE. DIMAISTT AND COE \ HAVE extreme pratificaiion n announcing their Third Annual Distribution of B-onli'ul, TTg=»fnl, Rare and VaiuaVe Works of Art, which comprise,— . GLASB SUGAR BASINS, COLORED, PLATN, AND ENGRAVED WATER * jUGB, BDTTER DISHES, &0., Ac, to Uash Purchasers of Parcels to tho ralw of 8 2&J, 405, and up*ar^B. . '\u25a0%'\u25a0 COUPONS ABE NOW BEIHQ ISSUED. GIFTS ARE HXHIBITED IN WINDOWS. 1 _ DIM ANT <fe OOE General Drapers and Clothiers, EAST AND TAKCRED STREETS. 12 22 ~~ALBEKT iiOBEHTe RAB FOR SALE,— Corn sacks LAR * E gIZB AND FULL waiaaT. 8BAMIN« TWIKB TN ANY <BUA»TIiy 4 CIiOVBRSj — BED, WHITE, 00WGBAS8, ALSYKE, and TREFOIL. RYEGBABB, COCKSFOOT, ahd RAPi}.. ANCHOB Binding "Wire and very best Binder Twine. \ Golden Tares, Gape Barley, COOPERS SHEEP DIP,