The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. FRIDAY, MAROH 23, 1888. LOCAL AND GENERAL

We remiod our readers that the annual meeting m connection with the British and Foreign Bible Society takes plaoe this evening m St. Stephen's 3choolroom, when addresses will be delivered by the Rev Mr Robjohns and other gentlemen.

Owners are reminded that nominations for the Autumn Meeting of the Ashburton Raoing Olub must be m tho handß of tbe Secretary by 0 Jp.m. on Tuesday next, the 27th instant.

No. 16 of Leslie's Parliamentary Portraits to band oontains a fairly good likeness of Mr W. B. Perceval, rhomber for Christohuroh South, and a libellous oarioature of Mr W. O. Smith, member for Woodville, whioh oven his own mother oould not reoogniso.

The annual meeting of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association was held on Tbursday'night. Mr John Deans was elected preiident. Tho JCommittoe's report showed that £3334 had been rocoived during the year, and £7022 expendod, inoluding £4115 on the now grounds. The bank over draft was £3G95. The association numbers 141 life and 304 annual members.

The annual ram fair, under the auspices of tho Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association, was hold on Thursday. The ontriesnumberod 2144,88810813274 last year. Tho general quality was good, but prices did not run vory high.

The following team haa boon chosen to represent Canterbury m tbo ooming match with Lillywhito'a English eleven :— E. P. Barnes, W. J. Crawshaw, L. A. Cuff, D. Dunlop, J. Fowko, W. Frith, O. Garrard, It, D. Barman, R. Halley, A. Labatt, H. R. Mathias, R. B. Mathiau, F. A. Maodonald, H. | Ofjior, W. P. Reeves, H. M. Qeevos, W. Stud holmo, and F. Wilding. The team is strong m bowling and fielding, but its batting form ii not muoh above tho average. A farmer named Cornelius Grady, living i near Queanbeyan, while riding along tho i railway line was overtaken by tho mail train. His horse was cut from under him, and h_> was thrown with great force on to the buffer plats of tho ongine. Grady had his neok broken, and death must have beon instanta neous. Nothing was known of tho aooident till the engine steamed into Quoanboyan with Grady's body m froflt of the engine. '• itooau on Ptf.ES."— Why s«#er Piles '} Im mediate rolie and complete cure ga.uranteed. Ask for "Rough on Piles." Sure oure for itching, protruding, bleeding, or any form of pilas

It is said that there are at least 1400 dif* | ferent forms of religion m the world. A year ago a Peoria lady, who iB something of a talkor, looked m her stooking to see what Santa Glaus had brought her. Her husband had promised hor an appropriate present. In it sho found a smoked tongue with a Btring tied around it. This yoar it wbb hor turn to get her husband a present of something he needed. When he awakened one morning he found his socks filled with ohloride of lime. Jubl at the present the lady ifl ahead.

Aooording to an Eastern paper, at Rook, well, Georgina, one Thursday Mrs James Smith gave birth to twin boys ; on the foi. lowing Friday Mrs William Smith presented her husband with a boy and a girl ; and on Sunday, Mrs George Smith, tho wife cf the third married brother, completed the soven by giving birth to three daughters.

The " Auckland 801 l " sarcastically says :— «• The Russian Court havo gone into mourn ing for the dead Emperor. This will give them time to get a good army ready, then they will try to knook the stuffing out of Germany. France sends a message of con (jlolenoe, but keeps her finger on the trigge r all the same,"

A sad oase of religious hallucination came before the Newcastle (N.S.W.) polioe Court the other day. Jeremiah Endean, a resi dent of Stook ton, haß been m the habit, of attending the Salvation Army meetings. During the last fortnight be has been labour, ing under delUEtionß, the latest being that he had been commanded to oiler up his son m saorifioe, as Abraham did Isaac, and he threatened to take his life. He was deolared by the medioal men to be insane, and was sent to Gladesville. Endean is a fine-looking man of determined appearance.

•• The great American deer-stalker," Mr Wynans, now controls 230,000 aores of deer forest m Scotland, and employs several hundred keepers.

One of the cleverest planned robberies yet reported was frustrated m Melbourne last week. A German named Gillivad disposed of Borne property at Riohmond for Borne hundreds of pounds, and being afraid of the banks deoided to keep the money m his house for safety. Towards evening a young man knooked at the door and told Mrs Gillivad that her husband had been injured while at work at Ooburg, and was m tho hospital. The wife started off, but on arriving at tbe hospital she was surprised to find that her husband was not there. Going home she met hor husband, and both hurried to the house together, and on arriving there found the plaoe completely ransaokod, the burglars leaving nothing unturned to find the large

sum of money whioh was evidently the object of tbeir search, as nothing olso was taken

away. Mrs Gillivad had, howover, before taking hor departure transferrod the money to hor pocket, and so tho burglars wore frustrated.

QgTho " Hamburger Korrospondent " says that tho King of Sweden and Norway flatly refused either to congratulate Leo XIII. upon his jubilee or to send him a present. A Swedish diplomatist was interviewed by tho Jubilee Committee and entreated to do his utmost to prevail upon the Swedish Govern ment to expostulate vuth tho King. It seems, however, that the Government heartily seconded the stalwart, old-fashioned Protostantism of its master. •* Our King is the monaroh of a Protestant nation," is said to have been tho oi.icial reply from Stockholm, " and he sees no causo and feols no obligation to render honour to the Pope."

On the 2Gth Jan.; the " Detroit Free Press " informed its readers — "Johnny Jones, the financial king of New Zealand lives at Dunedin, and his wealth runs up into millions, and tho greator parfcVf it was made m steamboating. He is a native and once earned soant wages as an oarsman on a ferry boat," . As nearly 20 years have elapsed eince tho death of this " financial king," the "Daily Times " thinks it might reasonably be expeoted that whoever supplied tbe information would bo] aware of tbe fact.

A telegram tp Brisbano from Thursday Island reports a tragio inoidept there. Onfa recent Saturday afternoon Captain Ifcirby, a very old Straits navigator, was m the bar of tbe Thursday Island Hotol with Douglas, the engineer of the Albatross. The latter was inspeoting a Japanese sabre, and playfully pointed it towards Captain Ruby's broast. Captain- Kirby jokingly presented his b r £ast to the blade, but m doing so pressed with unintentional fojreo against tbe weapon, whioh, boing as sharp as a ragov, penetrated four inches and sovored the main artery. Death ocourrod m three minutes afterwards. Douglas haa been arrested pending an enquiry.

In the month of September last, the Hoang Ho, or Yellow Biver, broke its artiSoial banks •n tho province of Honan and deluged 1500 villages, destroying an immense number of inhabitants and rendering a still larger number homeless and destitute. The expense of repairing the damage and safely confining tho river at that point is estimated at £500,000; about as muoh (says tho '« Evening Press ") as wo havo spent lately m New Zealand m our efforts to frighten away the Russians and Frenoh. But instoad of borrowing tho moDey as we havo dono, and fastening on tho people a burden of £25,000 a year for ever, the Chinese aro raising it at no cost |to tho people at all, by a monster sale of rank, t^tloft $nd jjeoorations. The assortment is largo, varied an<jt att^fltiye. Many of tho artioles offered are of groat yaiju?, but there ara olso numberless very neat decorations adaptod to persons of humble means. In short, almost any gopt ql distinction may bo had, from a marijuisato to ' the right to wear a feather or a button, while literary and soientifio honours havo beon prepared to suit all tastes and circumstances. Tho ohief business, howover, is expeoted to be done m an entirely now rank of nobility, whioh, boing oroated fqr this oooasion only is sure to be m groat demand, and js nriped accordingly. All goods aro marked m plain figures, and a reduotion is made on taking a quantity. When tho laßt mptf loft China tho salo had just oomnjenoed and w&s prooeodiug with groat spirit. Tho wholo amount of £500,000 was likely to bo oleared m a few weeks, and meanwhile oontraots have been let for the works on the Hoang Uo,

THE EMPEROR FREDERICK

[per press assooiationJ.

London, Maroh 21, The Prince of Wales, from the sur roundings, is convinced that the Em peror Frederick's malady must prove fatal. The Queen has received Baron , Voulve as special envoy of the Emperor Frederick. Bkri,in, March 22. Tbe Emperor's health is much better, and the general indications of the disease from which he is suffering give hope that a decided improvement has taken place.

DEATH OF ANOTHER M.L.C.

\u25a0>aa pkkss association.]

Auokland, March 22. lion J. Williamson, M.LC, died this afternoon at 3.16 at h _ residence, th°. Pa'i Onohunga, He suffered from valvular disease of tho heart, whioh caused his death. Eo was a native of Belfast, Ireland, born m 1814, came to tbe colony m 1840, and entered into business with the late Mr Orurumer. During the Waikato war, Mr Williamson, m conjunc tion with late Mr W. Buokland and Mr J. S. t Macfarlano, entered into extensive oomm.Bsariat contracts, whioh turned out a success. Abont ten yerrs ago ho bought tho Pahi Estate from Mr T. .Russell, and him since resided there. He wbb one of the original founders of the Bank of New Zealand and tho New Zealand Insurance Company. He also hud taken great interest m tho Loan and Mercantile Agency, m which he was a li»rge share holder. Of the two former institutions ho had beon a leading Direotor for many years, ond had filled the office of Chairman of Directors m the Bank. He eat ia the General Assembly for Oity West from 1862 to 1860, and m 1870 took his seat m the Legislative Council.

THE SEA CLIFF ASYLUM ENQUIRY.

(Pku Psess Association.;

Wellington, Maroh 22. Tho report of the Koyal Oommiflsiouers on the Seaoliff Asylum has been presented to the Governor. The Commissioners state that the building (a m a very un satisfactory condition, partly through neglect to drain the site, and partly through defects fn construction. They consider the arobiteot blamable for not Insisting on drainage if he really deemed it essential, aud blame the Publio Works Department for pacing no attention to tho architect's application, or Sir James Hoctor's warning on this point. The building is not m an absolutely dangerous state, but a o'ote watch on the progress of fho settl. ment of the building (which is still going on) will he impera tive. The commisaioners consider that the excessive settling io duo to the lack of good drainage. Tho foundations are inadequate, a serious doparture having been made from tho contract plan," This departure was a Borious error of judg ment on tho part of the architect and inspector, tho architect being the person responsible. Tho commissioners advise the sito to be thoroushly drained, and tho faulty parts pulled down undrobuiit.''

CORRESPONDENCE.

We do not hold ourselves responsible for th opinions expressed by our correspondents.

GAS.

TO THB EDITOR

Sir. —I am sorry to trouble you. but by | inperting the following, you will do the gas consumers of Ashburton a good turn. As you kpow, we are paying a vory big price for our gas ; and we aro getting a very inferior gas for our money. The directors are getting a good dividend out of tho Company, and I think thty ought to supply us with a fair light. This even ng after having lit tho gas m my sittiDg-roora, I had to wait 20 minutes bofore I oould soo to do some writing, and you must exruso the illog.bili'y of this on account of iho bud light Hut it is not only In my plaoe ; m every shop m AHbburt.on you hoar the same oompla : nt. Now the dauee of tjjis bad gaß ie, I am informed on good authority, tfre use of ooko and tar and not sufficient coal to make good gas. Ac thore are tricks m all trades, I suppose this is nne of the Gas Company's. But, air, as winter is comiog on ns and ye sjiall want more gas, I think we, as gas consumers, ot)ght to see that we got good gos lor our money, and if not, then 1 think tho gaß onßumers opi>ht to call a jneeting and send a deputation to the Gas Company &nd try and arrange for a better light, and ff tj.is Company cannot do it, it will pay us to start a fresh company for oureelves, but only Uy our pipes to the more populated part of the town, and not spend £150 m gas robins from JJust street to East Rolt. I am, etc., Bad Gas.

INTERPOVINCIAL NEWS

[Par Truss Association.]

Auckland, March 22,

Professor Thomas left for Wellington to-day, m response to a request from Iho Government that ho should mako enquiries rospocti.-ft a ooi fc. m diaoiiso (liat has broken out amongst tho rabbits at Wairarapa. ** Wellington, March 22 A deputation from Westport arrived tp-day tfl ixrgo on iho Government the necessity of rqndqrfnjj assistanco m repairing the Buffer rpfd . A. W. Blako and Henry Himli/.g have been cotnuiilted for trial for illegally pawning law book.-, a wig and a gown, the property of Mr J, W t Middleton'. Hnmlirig, ono of tho accused, has lajcj a*} information against Mr Middloton, charging him with perjury An action was brought m the Supremo Court to-day, boforo Mr Juetica Rich mond and a jury of twelvo, m which Nopora Tiki, an aboriginal chief residing 9t MjUDgfthag, Wairarnpa, suod Wm. P. Allon, of C«fl.tert.oft, Btorejceeper, for alleged malicious prosecution.' Tho defondant admitted that he laid the informations aguioat plaintiff, but denied that )>o la^d them falsely or maliciously. After hearing evidence ai)id counsel, the Court gave judgment for tfto defendant with ootts, Ddjucdin, Maroh 22. At tho PoliuQ Ooujt today, throo lads, about twelvo yoars of ago, were charged with assaulting another lad. It appoars there is a feud botwoen boys attending tho primary schools and tho High fc'choo', tho boy nssuulted belonging to tho latter In addition to rojoiving v beating, ho was stuck with tho blade of a knifo m tho log. Tho Bench dismissed the case, remarking that if schoolmasters were allowed to give a boy a good flogging when he deserved it without being iv four of being brought up to tho l*oliod Court for aa assault, thero would be loss bf this sort of thing heard of*

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

HOME AND FOREIGN

(PF.R PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

THE UPPER HOUSE.

London Maroh 20.

In the House of Lords the Marquis of Salisbury approved of the system of life peers, but deprecated the abolition of the hereditary principle m the Upper House.

FEDERATION LEAGUE.

London, March 22.

Lord Rosebery, presiding at a meet- 1 ing of tbe Federation League, stated i thaa the Defence Committee, of which Lord Brassey had been elected Presi dent, would shortly make a report to the League. Lord Rosebery urged the importance ot securing the safety of colonial interests m the event of war, and thought it more important at the present juncture to cultivate sym pathy with colonial aims than to give colonists seats m the British Parlia ment. He thought it would be difficult for any man to say whether within the next decade Home or Colonial in fluence would predominate m the British Empire. Lord Brassey, m the course of a speech on the occasion, said that during his recent tour of the Australian colonies he had conversed with the leading public men of Aus tralia on the aims and aspects of the Federation Leagne, and he had been assured by the Premier and Chief Secretary of Victoria that Colonial Ministers approved the policy of the League. Lord Stanley also spoke, and srrongly advocated the desirableness of giving the colonies direct representation m the British Parliament.

SILVER MINING.

The Rockwell Silver Mining Com pany of Australia is registered with a capital of ,£175,000

GENERAL BOULANGER.

Pabis, Maroh 20, Owing to General Boulanger's defiant attitude it has been decided to adopt fresh measures against him. Pabis, Maroh 22. The extreme left m the Chamber of Deputies are opposing the movement against General Boulanger. M. Tirad has announced that the General's al leged breaches of diciplioe will be immediately investigated by a military Court of Enquiry.

General Boulanger has withdrawn from the contest for the Marseilles seat and for other elections, for which he waa nominated by his sympathisers.

THE STOCKS CONVERSION BILL

London, Maroh 21. The Conversion Bill has been passed through Committee.

FRANCE AND ITALY.

Rome, Maroh 21

The " Esercito Italiano," the official military organ, states that the prompt defensive measures taken by the Itah n Government has been the means of averting a French attack, which was contemplated on Spezzia and Genoa early m the month.

IRISH AFFAIRS.

London, March 22.

Mr J. Powell Williams, M.P. for Birmingham, moved an amendment m the House of Commons to the eftect that all debts owing by tenants m Ireland should be dealt with on the same basis ag it. was proposed to deal with the arrears of rent due. The amendment was carried (lost?) by 128 to 243. Mr Parnell's Irish Land Bill has been rejected on the motion for, its second reading.

AUSTRALIAN RUBIES,

McDonald, ol South Australian ruby mining celebrity, will form a company with the object of thoroughly exploring Central Australia for rubies and other precious stones, It is reported that the capital of the company will be

MELTON ELECTION.

TheMarquis of Granby, a Tory, has been returned unopposed for Melton.

AUSTRALIAN.

(pBR press association.)

NEW SOUTH WALES.

Sydney, Maroh 22 The man Carroll who stated he was the perpetratur of the Eltham murder has been released from custody m con sequence of the receipt of a cable message from the authorities of Scot land Yard intimating that he could not be the murderer Upon being released from custody Carroll remarked that he had had a very narrow escape, and that for the future the best thing he could do would be to keep away from drink and hold his tongue.

The search for the bodies of the three men and a boy who are supposed to have been drowned m Botany Bay last Sunday has proved futile up to the present.

Several more tram accidents have occurred recently. This morning a man was knocked jfyvyn |™ a tram motor and killed. ' "' Two other Corporations Jiave dis covered frayd? by tbeir officers. A warrant has been issued for the arrest of the Bourke Town Clerk m conse quence of defalcations which have been discovered m his accounts. At another place it has been found that* payments have been made three times over for work. The Engineer m the latter case js suspected of complicity m the fraud.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

Adblaidr, March 22. The Moonta copper mines, owing to the repent rise m shares, now show a working profit of The Government intend to solicit joint action on the part of the colonies m asking the Imperial Government to legislate to prevent Chinese coming to Australia at all.

AN EXTRAORDINARY FAMILY

[Phu Press Association.!

Ounbdin, Maroh 22. An enquiry was ht>ld at Lnwrence to- j day regarding a fire at Waltahuna by ] wbioh a house, the property of Thomas Soott, was destroyed. The evidence waß of a most rx'raordlnary character. Some goods hid been found planted In a hay- Btaok, and among them a family bibls, m whioh was an album. Thomas Saott, the owner of the bible, oould not swear to it being his when produoad In Court His son went even further and would not swear to his. own photograph. Every artlo'o produoed ho said w.,s liko what thoy had, but he oould not say if it waa theirs. Ho would not swear to a volunteer o-vp being hfs The daughter was also troubled with forgetfulnoss, and it waß not till the Coroner threatened repeatedly to commit her to gaol that she could be Induced to remember. The constable described a large number of articles found m the haystack, lnolodlng a gun, a violin, boxes, etc , The constable on finding the plant handed the gun and violin to Scott to lay down safely while he was on the stack, but when he oame down thoy were gone. AH three of Scott 'a family swore they hid not seen these artiolds. The enquiry was going on whon tb© Telegraph Office olooed.

ADDINGTON LIVE STOCK MARKET.

There was beautiful weather on Wednesday and large entries of all olaases of stook, while the attendance was above the average. Fat Cattle— A very heavy entry, quality on the whole not firot rate, but here and there some very prime lines of steers and heifers. The market opened dull, and throughout wa3 very dragging, and values ruled low, say at about last week _ prioes, oheaper if anything. Steers sold at from £5 2s 6d to £7 ; heifers and fat oows, from £3 5s to £6 10s, being at from 15s to 17s 6d per 1001 b, according to quality.

Store Cattle— The entry was made up principally of small lines, mostly young. A pen or two of two-year-old steers were good sorts, but competition was dull and sales at auotion were few, values remaining unaltered. Dairt Cattle— A large number yarded, business not very brisk. Fat Sheep- A large entry, a few excep tionally good linos being on offer, but a large proportion were but~seoond and third-rate. Market opened fairly well, and throughout business was done at about last week's values, crossbred wethers sold at from 8s to 9s 6d, an exceptionally superior line of orossbreds being passed m at Us 3d. Crossbred ewes realised from 5s to 8s Bd, merino wethers from 3s 4d to 6s 4d, being from ljd to If d per lb, ac cording to the quality. Fat Lambs— A large entry, demand fairly good, best Borts sold at from 6a to 7a 9d, others 3s to Gs>6d. Stobb Sheep— A large number offering, a good portion orossbred ewes of various ages. The domand was fairly aotivo, most if not all lines being quitted. Good young breeding ewes sold at from 5s GA to 6s 6d, aged ditto 3s to 4s.

Pios — A moderate entry; demand very good; lato va!uo3 maintained.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY.

As the annual meeting m connection with this Sooioty takes plaoe this evening m St. Stephen's Schoolroom, the following acoount of the Sooiety's operations will be of interest to many of our readers : —

Apart from all ecclesiastical, theologioal, and even national distinctions, the translation and distribution of the Holy Scripturoß with out noto or oommont is an object of the deepest interest. This was evidenced by the visit of tho Orion tal Congress to the Library of tho Biblo Society during their sittings m London. Never had Buoh a babel of tongues echoed within its walls. Englishmen, Ameri cans, Frenchmen, Germans, Italians, mitred Syrians, and turbaned Indians,— whom tbe study of languages had brought together— left tho Institution with the oonviotion that the Word of God is indeed a living force m tho world, reaohing mens' hearts and influencing their lives as no merely human book oould do.

Eighty-yeara ago witnessed the birth of this Sooiety, whose inoome is now about £200,000, and whose objeot is to provide the Soriptures for the millions who are outßide the pale of Christendom as well as for thogewho are nominally within it. While the venerable Christian Knowledge Sooiety issues the Bible, entire or m part, m only twelve languages ; and the Soottish Bible Sooiety m very few European languages, the British and Foreign Bible Sooiety haa published it m nearly two hundred and seventy-nine languages and versions, and is ever multiplying its transla tions. Through its instrumentality, direotly more than one hundred million oopies of the Holy Book havo, witbin the the last eighty, threo years,- been oiroulated m all the ooun tries of Europe ; m the prinoipal Asiatic and Afrioan nations; m Madagascar; m the South Paoifio Islands; m South .America, Mexico, Labrador, etc., and through the British oolonies.

It is the ohief link whioh unites the Austra lian apd New Zealand ohurohes with the missionary institutions of our fatherland, and bindß together m ono common worif all Pro testant communities, without compromising Jiheir peculiar ecclesiastical organisations. The narration of its operations and triumphs illustrates the divine authority of the Bible, its adaptation to enlighten and elevate all nations, and excites that true missionary spirit whioh is the antidote to sectarianism and worldjiness, and the precursor and indica tion of a revived (Jhuroh. Never was the world so open for the distribution of the Bible as now, and never did the Bible Sooiety need more enlarged sympathy and corporation. Tbe reports of tho Society provo that tho Word of God has lost none of its anolent power. The Parent Committee and its several auxiliaries throughout these colonies, there fore, invito prompt and hearty aid m promot ing the sucoess of the Book and its Missions. Amid the many looal and denominational olaims which aro clamorous for help, the Bible Sooiety pre-eminently stands before the ohurohos more ns their benefactor than their beneficiary, and justly pleads—" Freely yo have reoeived, therefore freely give." Tho Bishop of Exotor, as reported m " Tho • Timeß " of Ootober 29. juetly affirmed what has been repeatedly deolared by the Aroh bishopß and other loading members of the Episoopal Bench—" that of all the Booieties whioh were doing God's work m the world, it would be difficult to find one the value of which oould be pet side by side with that of €hb Bible' Society. The work* of the Sooiety would ultimately tontf more than any other, not only to spread God's truth m the world, but also unite m oloaer bonds all who acknow ledge that truth.!' It is the privilege and boast of the Church that she has a Society like this— a Sooiety whioh exists m oonneotion with no other work— whose objoot is to light the Lamp of Life m the oottage of the English peasant, and m the wigwam of the Indian ; m the re fined home of the Frenchman, and m tho hut of tho South Sea Islander ; a Society whiob, by the grandeur of tho results it has produoed, the nobility of spiiit it displays, and tlie Christian love by'whioh ita movements are animated, may booome one of tho 'strongest witnesses m favor of tho superiority and supremacy of the Soripturos. Tho New Zealand Auxiliaries are ;— l, Auokland, with Branoh Societies at Waikato, Gisborne, Waipu, Onehunga, Opotiki, Otahuhu, Thames, Tauranga, Whangarei ; 2, Canterbury, with branches at Ashburton, Kaiapoi, Lyttelton, Oxford, Rangiora, Temuka. limaru, Waimato ; 3, Greyroouth ; 4, Hawko'B Bay ; 5, Hokitika ; 6, Nelson ; 7, Sou bland; 8, Taranaki; 9, Wanganui ; 10, Wellington. In Otago tho agent is welcomed at the prinoipal towns, but they partly sup port tho Scotch National Bible Sooiety.

THE MARKETS.

(Per Pbbss Association.)

London, Maroh 21. . New Zealand five per cents ;£ios 105, Inscribed 15s. The market rate of discount is xft per cent, and the Bank rate 2 per cent. Meat is firm and advancing. Tin, ss. Flour and off-coast wheat show no changes. Leather, lod to io*_d.

Sydney, Maroh 22. New Zealand potatoes, 65s to 70s j onions, 60s to 625; new maize, 2s to 2s 3d ; oats, bright feed, 2s to 2s 2d ; railing, 2s 3d; New Zealand Bran, 6^d to 7d ; pollard, 8d ; chickwheat, 2s 6d to 2s 8d; peas, 3s 6d; best butter, od to iod; cheese, plentiful; loaf, 4^d to sd ; hams.New Zealand, is to is id; bacon, g}_6.

The New Zealand Loan and Mer cantile Agency Company, Limited, have received the following cable advice from London, March 21st : — Wheat—The market is quiet New Zealaud average is worth 33 s 6d per 4961b5. The quotation for the New Zealand new crop f.a.q., ci.f. to arrive is nominally 30s 66. New Zealand Hemp— The market is quiet. Medium quality is worth los per ton.

SPORTING.

DUNEDIN RACES.

(Pbr Press Association.)

Dr/NBDIN, Maroh 23. There la fine weather for the D.J.'O. Anniversary meeting, but the attendance Is poor. Folio vr me are the results :— Hurdle Race of GOsova ; one mile and a half. Dunlnoe, lOat 61b ... (G. Smith) 1 Garibaldi, list 101 b ... (J Cotton) 2 Trapper, lOat 41b ... (J. Poole) 3 Gariboldl was a hot favorite foe thli race. Trapper tailed off half mile from the home hurdle ; Dimluoa oleared the last hurdle with a slight advantage and In tha rnn homo fairly outpaced the favorite, on whom the weight told;

. Dividend, £6 iii. Time, 3mln sseo. Anniversary Handicap, of # 100 bovb j one mile and a quarter* Apropos, Bstl2lb ... ... (Price) 1 La Rose, Bst (Chapman) 2 Snapshot, Bst 91b ... (MoDonald) 3 Captain Webster. 7at 101 b (Sharp) 0 Sbifnal was scratched. Time, 2mini 15seoB.

La Kose was quickest to get away, and led till tho distanoe poat was reached, when Price gave Goodman's mare her head and she simply romped m. Divi dends, £2 and £1 16s Selling Racb of 40 sovb ; one mile and a distanoe. Mokola, 6st 13lba ... ... 1 Gold Dust, sst 131 b 2 St Agnes, B_t lit 3 Only three bJump ted. Woo easily. Time. 2_nlns sa jo. Dividend— £l l2s 63.

LATEST CABLE NEWS.

BY jSLEOTRIO TBLKOttAPfI —OOPYBiaHTj (PER PRESS AS3OOIALION.) [Received March 23nd, 10.45 a.m.]

PARCELS POST.

London, Maroh 22. The Orient Company has made an offer to Mr Raikes, Postmaster-General, to carry parcels at twopence. This will mean a sixpenny rate to the public.

THE MELBOURNE EXHIBITION

France will display a large number of education exhibits at the Melbourne Exhibition,

THE GARTER.

The Marquis of Londonderry, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland has been invested with the Order of the Garter.

(Received Maroh 23, 1 p.m J

BODY FOUND.

Sydney, Maroh 23. The body of Henn, one of the occu pants of the boat which capsized m Botany Bay on Sunday, has been found and there is now no doubt that all the men were drowned.

THE SYDNEY FRAUDS.

A metropolian board embracing the city and suburbs have taken over the control of the water and sewage systems. Much surprise is occasioned by Government appointing as engineer and officers, three of the men suspended by the Mayor for allowing frauds to be perpetrated. In connection with the frauds, the city solicitors state that a criminal prosecution will ' be taken against one of those who signed fraudulent vouchers, but the matter is at present m abeyance.

GRASS FIRES.

Grass fires still continue and it is strongly suspected that they are being, purposely started because of the high wages paid for extinguishing them.

A NEW RAILWAY TRUCK.

A new truck has been invented by a railway hand, of lighter draught and greater capacity, and which, it is ex pected, will save 40 per cent m haulage. The invention has been adopted by the Minister of Works, and some hundreds mining, fever is of unprecedented magni have been ordered,

AUSTRALIAN TIMBER.

A delegate, under the patronage qf Government, is going home with speci mens of Australian timber, for the pur pose of endeavoring to establish a tride m that article.

THE SYDNEY CUP.

Carlyon is favorite for the Sydney Cup at 4 to 1. There is very little bet ting doing,

PACIFIC CABLE.

Hobart, March 23. H.M.S, Geria has been ordered to survey portion of the Pacific cable route.

CLEARING HOUSE

Mklboubnb, Maroh 23. The Claring House returns this year show twenty four millions over clear ances to March 12 th than last year. The weekly clearance owing to the tude:

OBITUARY.

Obituary— ln England, Lachlan McKinnin, one of the proprietors of the " Melbourne Argus." lll_: _

IHE ABHBUBTON GUARDIAN, FRIDAY, MARCH 23, tBBB



THE ASHBURTON GUABDIAN. From and after the 80th November, 1886, the terms of Subscription to this journal will Qbe ab follows, viz. : — IF PAID IN ADVANCE '. Per Quarter. . 6s 6d, by poßt, 9a 6d „ Half-year 12a 6d, by post, 18s 6d „ Year .. 24s Od, by post, 87s Od IV UOOKBD Per Quarter.. . 7a 6d, by post, 10a 9d „ Half-year 15s Od, by post, 21s 6d „ Year .. 80s Od, by post, 43a Od Birth, Marriage, and Death Notices, if paid for at the time of insertion, 2s Od each (stamps may be aent as payment) ; if booked, 4s eaoh. Announcements of Births, Deaths and Marriages sent for publication from the country districts require to bo verified by the signature of the person sending the notioe. ' DIABY. ——————————— -~-~- Mixm'iJ , Snn Sun Moon Moon ago at March. lUecs, Bets. Uiscs acts, uoomlny a.m. p.m. ID Monday \u0084 C.5 0.12 11.48 0.62 C p.m. 10.31 20 Tuesday .. 0 5 <U0 045 11.17 7 21 Wcdnosdny.. 0.7 6.9 J.3j) • \u2666 8 22 Thursday .. 6.0 0.7 2.31 a.m. 0 23 Friday.. .. 0.10 0.8 3.19 0.0 10 34 Rnturdny ... 0.11 6.3 4.1 1.7 11 25 Bundfty .. 0.13 6.1 4.40 218 12 (Moonlight Evenings. The Moon at 8 daya old (shines till about 8 o'clock. The Moon at 6 days old shines till about half-past 10 o'clock. xiio Muon at a days old shines till nearly o'olook m the morning. The Moon at 12 daya old shines from Bundown till about 4 m the morning. The Moon at 16 days old ia full, and ebines all night. The Moon at 18 days old rises about 0 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 sbinestill morning, The Moon at 27 days old rises about 4 a.m. and shines till Bunrise.



The yield of corn m the United States this year is at tho rato of a fraotion under 2b bushels per aero. The total yield fa 1,453,000,000 bushels. The quality ia said td bo muoh below the average,' aud so is tha' quantity of merchantable grain, ' ' '



Mr Haynes, M.P., has laid before the Protnier ot Now South Wales a proposal for a vote of from £25,000 to £30,000, on pound for pound prinoiplo, for the establishment of butter ' factorial, m tho inland districts. Sir Henry Parkoa is favourable to the proposal, and promised, if possible, to get the GovernJ ment to carry it out. _ Old men tottering round|from rheumatism Jndney trouble, or any weakness will be made almost new by using Amerioan Oo.'s Hop ' Jpittejrfe freely. Jte a( j r



Hollowat-'b Piu-S.-Enfeeblod Existenoo —This modicino ombracos every attribute required m a general and domestio remedy. It overturns tho foundations of disease laid by defeotive food and impure air. In obstruc- tions or congestions of the liver, lungs, bowels, or an? other organs, thoso pills are specially serviceable and? eminently oucooßfjfpl. Tlißy Bhould bo kept m readiness m every family, being a modioino of inoomparable utility for young persona, especially those of feeblo oon< Btitutions. Thoy never cause pain or irritate tho most sensitive nerveß or most tender bowelo. Holloway's Pills are tho best-known purifiers of the blood, tho most aotive pro- meters Of absdrptlon and seoretion, whereby all poisonous "and 'obnoxious partiolo£.' are removed from both tsolidg hnd fluids; '



Koating's Powder destroys both moths, fleas, booties, and all othor insoots, while quite harmless tp doraeptio animals. In extermi- nating beetles, the _suoot_m) of. th'H powder is extraordinary. It is perfectly olean iii appli- oation. Sco tho artiole you purohaße is Keating as imitations are noxious arid ineffectual. Sold m tins, Cd, Is, and 2a d &aob, b all ohenustp.



Wo olip tho following important testimonial ! from tho " Illawarra Merourry " (N.S.W.) of tho 30th Maroh. It needs no oomment:— "Mr John Loveday, of tho Bulli Mountain, writes to us that after sufiering for four years with aoute gravel, ho has experienced almost ooraplete relief by using Sandor and Sons' Euoalyptj Extraot. He sayß seeing the said Extraot advertised m tho ' Illawarra Moroury,' his intense suffering induced him to obtain a bottle of the medioine from Mr Iloaking, ohomist, of thiß town, and that tbo tfso 0/ it gave him groat relief at onoo. He Btates tha between tho 10th Maroh instant, when he ofyafne/J the first bottlo of the extract, and tho 14) th, the ijaie gf that medioine oohtinued to afford hira'rbliof, t.9 whioh he had been a stranger for four years." 'Mr Loveday writes also that ho has found the Eucalypti Extraot a euro for rheumatism as viell as gravel, lie requests us to publish this information through the * Mercury.' Wo havo muoh pleasure m complying with Mr Loveday's request, whose word oannot be doubted, and ! ,wno oanjbayp no objeot m viow other than a < pure desire to BUj?oriDg humanity."— jAdYtf ' —..«.«». .. . *



Wanted. " WANTED— About Eighteen Acres of ' Stubble Ploughed. Apply, Jameb Tabkkr. 3 152 WANTED Known— £o,r,oo legs mut- ton, la 61 a pair. The Friend of the People, G. Catks. 1 155 WANTBD Known— Remember Baptist Anniveraary Te* ond Musical Soiree on Good Friday, 30th March. YnSPICOTION INVITED— All good" I. marked m plain fignrea. No ono ' pressed to buy. Oome and see. H. M Jones. GREAT Bargaina. Everything greatly reduoed. Oome and judge for your- selves. — H. O. Seders, Melford House. WANTED Known— l have scoured a largo lot of Men's and Boys' Mole Trousers, good quality, at a very low prioe, now on sale at the Ashburton Clothing Mart. — R. Alookn, Saunders' Buildings. COME one, come all, and oar prir^ will astonish everybody — W* O. StCGBRS. IT^ANTED to Sell— A i irat-olasß Piano W grand action. Cash or terms very liberal. Apply Haybb and 00. ALL oar first'olass genuine Drapery, Boots, Clothing, eto,, we are now selling ac ridiculous prices. Only come and see.— H. 0. Segeiib, Melford House. WANTBD CASH— Moir'a Oatmeal (25lba), 2a 6d ; Sperm Candles, 5d ; Oofleo and Milk, Is per tin ; Ooooa and Milk, 1» per tin j Vestas, 5d per doz; Cornflour, 4i per lb ; tin Fruits, la : Crockery, Ironmonery, etc., at Jamks McGregor's, Tailored Street, opposite Arcade. ~\\ /"ANTED -Everyone to oome and VV see the nicest lot of Glass, Ohlna, •nd Earthenware ever shown m Ashbor> ton, and ihe Cheapest ever landed m New Zealand. Imported direct from the Manufacturers. — Robert Alcorn, Saun- ders' Buildings. 3*ll WANTED KNOWN — Oleographs Scenery, and Catholio Subject* Catholio Cards, good variety m Scraps Novelties m Penwipers, Crewel Wools and Silke, Knitting Cotton, Colored Crotchet Cotton, Transfers, Tinsel Balls, Ac, &c, at __Ibs JtfANHiBE'B Fancy Repository, .Saunders' Buildings,}



joaaammammmmtmmmmmmwmmmammammmmmmmmm*aaammmmmm^ DIPPING SEASON, 1888. BROOKE'S "Perfect" Sheep Dip. IS THE BEST FOR THE WOOL, AS PROVED BY PRACTICAL TEST^. PREPARED m acoordanco with the latest advancements m ohemistry as applied to the Woollen Manufacturing Industry. It is a deoided Improvement on the old i fashioned dips aud only rcqalres a trial to prove Its superiority. At the late Sheep- j dipping Competition, conducted by the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Assoola- \ tlon, the Kaiapoi Wool'cn Oo , on beh»lf of the Ass'.olath.n, for wool dyeing. and #aneral manufacturing purposes, awarded the. first placo to BfQt.ko'a " Perfect" Sheep .^Dlp ; m fset, Brooke's Dip was the only one that actually itr>prov9d tho wool m this Important rprpeot, tho nnJippsd wool being seoond, whilst all the others were more or leu diicol 'red. The Association »lso pronounced BROOKE'S "PERFECT" SHEEP DIP to be.sopetlor to the Zialandia, Little's, Hatch s, Cooper's and McDougall's, and also to leave the wool In better condition than Thornm' Dip. Brooku'u Dip having oon- arbttcntly been proved to be better then the Er.gl.sh Dip*, your practical support of tbe colonial article is respectfully solicited. To ensure Brooko's Dip being ncore tboroughly lasting m lt» good effeots, m future it wi'l be sent ont 20 per cent stronger freeof exira charge. Proportions for use —One Gallon of Dip to 100 Gallons to wstcr Mixes readily with oold water ; does not require stirring w^ile dipping. Remsrkab'y emollient, leaving the wo-d In perfeot condition, without the sllghtes' •tain frouMhe firt>t day of Dipplnp. ' Concentrated In composition to reduce cost ol oarrioge, arid put up m a portable handy form for vie, it is also one of the cheapest Dips tn the Market. REDUCED PRICE : 14s per tin, to make 200 gallons wash ; 70s ppr esse, oon« taloing 5 tlnß, to mike 1000 Gallons ; 65s per oase for not less than 5 cases. Packages free. _a lu F. MAKEIG, Agent, Ashburton %.!'\u25a0\u25a0\u25a0' * ' ' ' i \u25a0 \u25a0 _— . \u25a0 GEORGE JAMESON. WEST STREET, HAS FOR SALE,— Rye Corn, Rye Coin, Rye Corn/ Gre\stone Turnip Seed, Whitestone Turnip Seed, Little's Sheep Dip, Thomas' Sheep Dip. AGENT FOB— New Zealand Firo and Marino Insurance Company. a, i Rinks ot GROWING CROPS or STACKS accepted at lowest current rate*, CASH PURCHABER OF WHEAT, OATS, and BARLEY. 2 Dissolution of Partnership. £5000 WORTff OF HARDWARE £500( ALT COST BARGAINS REAL. BARGAINS, Monster Bargains! Important Cheap Sale of Builders Requisites, House Furnishing and General Ironmongery, Oockery and Glassware, m consequence of the Dissolution of Parlncrsnip of th« firm of HENRY ZANDER & 00. THE UNDERSIGNED, having purchased the extensive business is under necespity fof making a large and spesdy REDUCTION, at a sacrifice, ol the STOCKS m the above DEPARTMENTS, to effect which a large DISCOUNT will be allowed on all CASH PURCHASES for the next three months j also extra special reductions on many lines m which I am overstocked Anyone who is dubious of my ability to compete with Christchurch prices, will please pay an early visit to my STORE and test the prices, when their doubts will vanish like the morning dew; Come and let your pockets be lightened and allow your hearts to delight at the LOW PRICES all GOODS are being offered at. Come one, come all, and judge fot yourselves, and do not spend your money at places, where there are no bony fide sales, but mere advertisements, quoting prices which are never adhered to, and simply delude the public. The STOCKS m the varions DEPARTMENTS an large and w ell selected, beihg im- ported direct from the jb'nglish, American, and Continental Markets, and which I intend selling at prices hithetto unheard of m Ashburton I am also anxious to take part m the continu ous struggle for business which is now being Carried on m this town, and to BEAT THE TIMES AND COMPETITION, I have made substantial reductions m the Grocery and Provision Departments, and will SELL at better aticle at a LOWER PRICE than anyone m Ashburton— for CASH NOTE :— Sale will commence on SATURDAY next. Come eady and make your selections; ' HENRYjiANDER AGENCIES i SUN FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY ' CANTON MARINE INSURANCE COMPANY NATIONAL MUTUAL LIFE ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALASIA. THE STANDARD FIRE & MARINE INSURANCE COMPANY OP NEW ZEALAND. WITH UNLIMITED LIABILITY OF SHAREHOLDERS. CAPITAI^£I,OOO7OOO STERLING. HEAD OFFICET DUNEDIN. INSURERS have tho most undoubted Security under thia Company's Policies^ together with an assurance of Prompt and Liberal Settlement of Claim*. FIRE and MARINE RISKS accepted on ali descriptions of Property and Merchandise alao Crop, Stack, and Maohine Risks at Lowest J-taton of Premium. Fidelity of Persons holding situations of trust guaranteed. OFFICER HEREFORD BTREET, CHRISTOHUROH. (Opposite Bank^of New Zealand.) ARCHIBALD SCOTT, Manager for Canterbury. ALBEET BOBEIITS, 16 AGENT, ASHBURTON ALBEKT JROBEKTS, BAS FOE SALE,— Cornsacks LABQE PISSE AND FDLL weight. SEAMING TWINK Id ANY QUANTITY. «. , , \u25a0 Clovers, — , BED, WHITE, COWGRASS, ALSYKE. and TREFOIL. RYEGRASS, COCKSFOOT, and RAPE. ANCHOR Binding "Wite and very best Binder Twine. Golden fares, Cape Barley. , COOPER'S' SHEEP DIP.