THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN.

From and after the 30th November, 1886, the terms of Subscription to this journal will be followi, viz. :— It PAU> V* JLOVAKCS : Per Quarter. . 6s 6d, by post, 9s 6d „ Half-year 12s 6d, by post, 18s 6d „ Year .. 24s od, by poet, 37b Od IF BOOKED Per Quarter. . 7s 6d, by post, 10a 9d „ Half-year 15a Od, by post, 21s 6d „ Year .. 30s Od, by post, 433 Od Birth, Marriage, and Death Notices, if paid for at the time of insertion, 2s 6d each (stamps may be sent as payment) ; if booked, " 4s eaoh. Announcements cf Births, Deaths and Marriages sent for publication from the country districts require to be verified by the r signature of the person sending the notice.

DIARY.

Moonlight Evenings.

The Moon at 8 days old sbinei till abonl 8 o'clock. The Moon at 6 days old shints 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 shinei all night. The Moon at 1 8 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 ehinesii 11 morning. j The Moon at 27 days old rises about 4 a.m. / and shines till sunrise.

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY, 25, 1888. "DRUNK AND DISORDERLY."

How many hundreds, nay thousands, of times we read the words which head this article m the newspapers of the colony — nay how many thousands of times have we written and printed them ourselves, and how sad it is to think what it all means. It means that not a day passes but men, aye and some times (though, thank God ! less frequently) women too, have to appear m our Police Courts to answer the charge of offending against society and the Queen's peace, through ll putting an enemy m their mouths to steal awap their brains," nay to steal away not only brains but heart and soul too. Let any thoughtful man visit one of our local palaces of justice but for an hour and he will find food for much reflec- Ition and much sadness of thought. That greyheaded old fellow who steps into the deck with the ghsstly mark of a. cut upon his soddetvlooking features, the effect of a fall against the kerbstone while m a state of helpless intoxication, with his unkempt hair, his bloodshot eyes and his dirty hands and garments, was once a tradesman m a respectable way of business with a wife and family around him — and now what has he of all these? His wife dead of a broken heart, his family scattered, bis business gone years ago and himself a wanderer m the colony from station to station and town to town, doing an odd job only now and then and spending every halfpenny that he ever gets m the drink that has worked his ruin. That low lived looking, heavy-eyed, swollen featured young man who comes forward next to answer the like charge of •'drunk and disorderly" was only a few years ago an undergraduate of an English University ; he is the son of a clergyman and has been brought up, with 'tender care, but alas with too much indulgence. He came out to a neigh boring colony with a few hundreds less . than fiv-e years ago. He got among low and fast companions, be squandered his cash, he gambled and drank, and sank lower and lower, and the otjjer i day he found bis way orer to New Zea land with the Uit few pbupi&s of his last remittance. And ever since then he hai been drink jng^-drinktog til! he is on

the verge of the horrors, and it is a pity that he can't be " sent up " for a couple of years instead of a couple of. day*, so that he might be weaned of the terrible appetite that is fast hurrying, him to a drunkard's grave. And these are only a couple of sketches from among the hundreds of familiar pictures presented to the reporter's eye m the Police Couit every day. What a terrible state of things it is ! And what a happy country this fair land might be, nay, how happy every country might be as compared with what it now is, if only the vice of excessive drinking could be stamped out. Whj the money that is thrown away every day m this manner would more than pay for every item for which the people are now taxed, and if only what is paid away for intoxicants could be placed m a National Bank the whole cosl of government and of all the conveniencies of our civilisation could be defrayed out of it, and still a hand some dividend be left for the deposi tors. Will such a great reform ac this ever come about? Will people ever learn the folly of the drinking habits of society ? Well, we don't know, but we are glad to think that there is some hope of it, and we feel sure that if tTfrybody saw as much of the misery of every day life which is the direct result of intemperate habits as does the Police Court reporter, there would forthwith be an earnest and united effort to bring abont a remedy.

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The fire-bell rang just an we were going to press (3.50 p.m.), bat it was of course too late to obtain any partionliars. We eommenoe m this itsae an interesting story of the rescue of a London waif by Dr Bernado, the philanthropic founder of the Homes for Destitute Children, to whose work we propose ehortly to refer m our leading columns. It ib headed " Saved from a Grime." It has transpired that the amount of £10 was oolleoted for the testimonial to Miss Kidd, and presented to her at the annual meeting of the Presbyterian Ghuroh on Wed nesday evening. A violent nor'wester has been blowing all day, and m all probability a great deal of damage will be done to the ripe standing orops, and much grain be lost through being blown out of the ear.. A good many months ago it was reported that Mr Jaoobsen had discovered tin ore m praotioally inexhaustible quantity at Alford Foreßt. From tests which have recently been made there is not the slightest doubt that the ore will yield handsomely, for although the tests were of a most primitive nature, a large percentage of metal was obtained. The lawn tennis tournament was continued at the Domain yesterday m the presence of \u25a0 considerable number of spectators, Messrs A. Fooks and Oliver meeting Messrs 0. G. Pooks and Caygill, the latter reoeiving half 15. The former won the first three sets, but not without some hard fighting, the first set being 6—B, but the Beoond and third being B—s each. There were a great proportion of vantage games throughout the three sets, and the victors several times won on the final stroke. The game will be continued to-day at 4 o'olook, and as to-morrow will praotioally be observed as a holiday the court will be kept going nearly the whole of the day. The looal polioe were the viotihu of a \u25a0light " soil" yesterday. A telegram tt*3 received stating that a man' had passed' through Dunsandel on his way to Athburton who answered to the description of Nilson, a Finnish Bailor, who a few days ago stabbed a fellow countryman on board the barque Elizabeth Graham, and immediately after* wards absconded. Constables Smart and Casey proceeded towards Ohertsey and fell m with their man, but he was not the individual " wanted," although he bore some re semblance to the latter. There was no doubt as to his identity, beoause one of the constables who intercepted him had per formed the offioe of " running him m " a \u25a0hort time ago. The man was very wroth at the manner m which he had been bailed up by policemen throughout his journey, and he will probably remember for some time the annoyanoe his unfortunate resemblance to the Finnish sailor, of knife-using pro pensities, caused him. This morning before the Mayor, Mr. A. Harrison, Martha Dstaell was oharged with the wilful murder of her son, Thomas Black stock Dalzell, at Bakaia, on Deo. 29th. On the application of the police a remand to February Ist was granted. The woman was removed to Addington this morning, Dr Tweed having certified that she was suffi ciently recovered to be removed. Since the traxio oocurrenoe sho has been m the charge of the polioe, who are therefore responsible for her safety, except, of course, so far a9 it was affected by the natural course of things. She was at first removed to the Ashbnrton Hospital, as being the nearest institution where she could reoeive efficient medical treatment, but now having progressed so far towards reoovery it is not deemed advisable to allow her to remain longer here, as it is impossible to say what the consequences might be when she gains full consciousness of the terrible deed she has aommitted. The authorities, therefore, thought it neoessary to remove her to Addington, where there are conveniences for the reoeption of oases suoh as hers. She was accordingly sent thither by the 11 o'clock train this morning m charge of Sergt Felton and Mrs Felton, the gaoler and matron of the local gaol. Everything neoessary to avoid publicity was observed ; the woman was taken m a oab from the Hospital to the cattle siding on the railway where a carriage awaited her, which was afterwards shunted on to the train, and few, if any, of the persona on the station knew of (he woman being taken away,

Wa are m receipt of a copy of " The J Illustrated Australian News," New Zealand I

Edition, which has taken the plaoe of " The ** Illustrated New Zealand News," formerly published by Mr R. T, Whealer, Dunedin, > whioh ceased publication last October. The " Illustrated Australian " is m the familia? ol form ef the " Illustrated London News," and p 3 printed upon toned paper. The number for l S the current month contains among New n Zealand I lustrations & picture of the lying- c< in.atate of the late Wi Tako Ngatata, M.0.L., P and a well-executed view of a landscape near ° Taupiri, Waikato. There is a good selection * of reading |matter, and altogether the paper well deserves Bupport. Those desiring to a aubsaribe may do ho on application to Mr H. * M. Jones, stationer. * Several of the Tauranga farmers estimates c the yield of their orops of wheat and oats at ' between 30 and 40 bushels to the aore. . { A Ballarat firm offers to exterminate spar- < rows m South Australia for £5000, the money ' to be payable when the soheme is proved , effective. ( The editor of "London Truth" receives ] each year from some unknown benefaotor a , quantity of bright new sixpences for Christmas < distribution among the London workhouses ' and infirmaries. Last year tin number of ] coins was 10,000. The " Auckland Bell " says :— " Under an ( outer varnish of sanotity, aloaked by much pretence of religious observance, probably < more dishonesty, corruption, and deliberate villainy prevails m this tity than m any oom- : munity of equal size on the faoe of the earth." Thi •• Waikato News" states on the authority of loonl flour millers that wheat m that district will this season rule at 2s 9d to 8s per bushel. The value of th« Waikato wheat rop at 12s per Back is estimated at £80,000. The average will be 26 bushels. At the recent Crystal Palace Poultry Show r there were some 3350 pens, of fowls, 8000 pens i of pigeons, and 256 pens of rabbits exhibited. c The following are a few of tha prices for 5 which some of the birds were Bold:—Black > red game pullet £31 10s ; Dorking oook, £21 ; y Hamburg oook, £20 ; Brahma ocok, £11 ; j black-red game hen, £10 ; Langshan oookereJ, I £10; Dorking hen. £10; Plymouth liook oookerelß, £10. Out of thirty lots Bold, not one was below 5 guineas, L The venomous snakes of India show no f Bign of becoming scarcer. Last year, of a total of 22,905 human beings killed by wild : beasts, no less than 20,667 are known to have fallen victims to snake bites. A war of extermination is being carried on with some suooess m the Bombay Presidency, where | rewards were paid for the death of nearly 800,000 serpents, and m the Punjaub 50,000 f were disposed of. The other divisions did not do so well, and the result is seen m an ' increased death rate from snake-bites m both 9 Madras and Bengal. Europeans rarely suffer harm from snakes, the boots protecting their feet, which is the part of the body most * frequently struck by snakes. HOLLOWAT'S OIKTMBST iND PILLB.— OoUghS, a Influenza. — The soothing properties of these '• medicaments render them well worthy of f trial m all diseases of the respiratory organs. t In common oolda and Influenza the Pills, . take internally, and the Ointment rubbed 1 over the chest and throat, are exceedingly J efficacious. When iofluenaa is epidemic, i this treatment is the easiest, softest, and surest. Holloway's Pills purify the blood, ! remove all obataoles to its free oiroulalion through the lungs, relieve the over-gorged f air- tube b, and render respiration free, with. f out reduoing the strength, irritating the j nerves, or depressing the spirits ; such are the ready meant of escaping from suffering when afflicted with colds, coughs, bronchitis, 1 and- other chest complaints, by which the 2 b&wh of io tn»ny U eerirntly and poemiK \u0084 neSuy injured m moot countries.

INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS

[pbr Pans Association.]

Auckland, January 24. The final stage of the p/oeeedlnga m connection with the ferry-boat racing on November 9th has at lant been reached. The H«bor Board's solicitors have given the opinion that the evidenoe given at the enquiry is not euffioient to warrant pro* oeedlngs against the offending parties, and the Board have resolved to let the matter drcp.

i WAiraANUij January 24. Oaptaia SoraervUle has determined In thb event of obtaining from New South Wale* a saffiolent namber of Martial* Henry riflri, to extend for • fortnight the time of the New Zealand Rifle Atßooiatlon Meeting, The Captain hai not heard yet whether sufficient rifles can bshkd, and U greatly tarprlaed at the delay of New South Walei m replying to the Premier.

Wellington, January 24 Government have finally decided to s«H the Ministerial residence*, and tenders bis oa'led for their pnrohate. Th« annual report of the Wellington Gas Company recommends a dividend of 7£ per oont. An interim dividend of the same amount was paid m July

Hokitika, January 4 Four more silver mining leases of one hundred aores each were applied for at the Land Ofiioe to-day.

Dunkdin, January 24. The Catlln'a River Hotel and contents were destroyed by fire on Monday morn lng, the inmates only e«c»plng In their nightdresses. Incendiarism Is inspected, as the fire apparently began at the outside of the building. There was no insurance. Fur stealing and smuggling tobaooo from the Tongariro, William Barman was fined £1 16j, and tho cook of the Bteamer was finad £5 for s'eallng a'ores, the Benoh letting him off lightly as he had a wife and family,

AUCTIONEER'S REPORT

Mr Peter Williams (for JTriedlander Bros. ) reports for the week ending Tues day, 24th January, JBBB : —

On Saturday, the 2iBtinst. $ we held oar weekly sale of horses at our East Street Horse Basraar There was a large attend ance of farmers and others, with a fair demand for useful draughts for harvest work* The entry consisted of 33 horsep, mostly draughts, the majority of which we sold at the following prices ; — On ac count Mr William Gilmour, of Greenpark, 6 firat-olas« draught geldings, all 4-year olds, at £17, £17 10s, £19, £20, £23 10», and £31 ; also 2 mares same age at £20 and £26 ; on accotmt of other vendors, good useful stamp of draughts at £15, £15^0s, £18 and £19 ; inferior do at £6 10s to £9 10s ; pood harness mare at £14: hacks at £4 to £4 10s. Implbmbnts— Farm dray, £12 10s. roDMßY— Ducks. 3s 6d per pair j fowli, 2s per pair. Pkodoce — Derwents, 3s per bag ; kid neys, id per lb ; chiofc wheat. 2s 6d per bushel ; oats, Is 8d per bushel ; oatmeal, 2s Od per bag ; tea, 12s 6d per box ; fc tac n, 3d per lb ; mutton, IJ4 per lb ; ehe n se, 3d per lb. Furniture and sundries at fair prices ' At; the Ashburton yards on Tuesday, the 24th fnst., the entry was the \u25a0malleHt we have had for come considerable time, only 589 aheap and 36 head of cattle came forward. The attendance, owiog to the harvest, wat very small. The fol lowing are ]the' prices obtained j— Fat crossbred ewes, £s 9d, 6o 2d to 6i 63 ; fat Southdown lamb's, 5s Id j 2-tooth first cross, 5-) ; 2 tooth crosebreds, 6s §d. Cattle— Fat heifers, £3, £3 9s 6d. £3 17«, £i ) fat CPWP ; & IH, &i U 6d, f 5 Si 64. ,

SAVED FROM A CRIME

INCIDENTS IN THE LIFE OF A WAIF AND STRAY. * Bt T. J. Babnardo, F.R.O.S.Ed. Twenty years ago Govent Garden was one fmy "happy bunting grounds." The naasket was then less carefully watohed than m later years. It was no unusual thing to find there, when the shades of night had fallen, numbers of homeless boys and girls who had contrived a she ter for themselves within its precincts, m the empty barrels, hampers, or oarts which were arranged m orderly fashion at the extreme ends, or which lay m confusion nearer the great faotors' stalls. The beadle of the market at that time was a functionary somewhat advanoed m years. He was, moreover, afflicted with rheumatism; so that, although he was exceedingly Bhrewd and quiok, m a general way, to disoern the contrivances adopted by the street children to elude his vigilance, yet he was not unfre quently deceived by the cunning which these town gamins developed m their hand-to-mouth existenoe. At times I have eeen the feeble old man, whom, m virtae of his infirmity, they irreverently oalled "Joe Dot-and-go-one," sarrounded by a crowd of boys and girls, danoing at a safe distance from bis etiok, and endeavouring to irritate him by calling him names or dwelling upon his peculiarities. This' was, of oonrae, only when poor Old Joe, aB he was called familiarly about the markets, had one of his bad bouts of rheumatism on. At other times he could step around briskly •nough, and woe betide the unfortunate youngater who got within reach of his offioial eanel I frequently mot Old Jot on my midnight rounds, and wai not long m discovering that, m spite of the irascibility whioh his decrepi tude and the children's pranki continually provoked, he had at bottom a really kind heart. Many and many a poor ohild he brought under my notice as being quits friendless and alone about the market, and it was through his good offices that I suooeeded m taking not a few of these to the shelter of our " Homes for Boys and Girls." On one occasion, however, about the date when this story opens, I reaohod Oovent Garden, after a short absence, late on a i winter's evening, and was met by a young military-looking man m the fall glory of a new beadle's uniform. On inquiry, I found that poor Old Joe was dead, and that the smart stalwart beadle who stood before me reigned m his stead. Of him, after a brief chat, I inquired, " Well, have you seen many youngsters about here to-night? I mean boys and girls of my sort?" The beadle \u25a0hook his head somewhat boastfully, I thought, as he replied, " Cstoh 'em oomin' about here when I'm on the ground. I guesa they knows better I At any rate, you're welcome to all you can find. I expect you won't have a heavy load 1" Wishing him good-night, or rather goo3 morn ing, for it was then past midnight, the little guide whom I had ohartered and myself continued our slow walk through the market, looking here and there searchingly at the old acoustomed spots, peeping ioto oarts, climbing over huge piles of vegetable baskets, or upturning a dozen hampers m quest of home less street waifs : but m vain. Wnether the terror of the new beadle had really saffioed to drive off the young habitues of the place, or whether the old adage was perhaps being fulfilled m his case, that «• a new broom \u25a0weeps olean," I could not say; but after half an hour's patient but fruitless searoh we were leaving the market, when my steps were arrested by a remark whioh fell from the lips of my boy guide. We were at the time on that side of Oovent Garden Market opposite to Evans's, but further west, and the whole oorner was at that hour quite m the shade. " That's a fine lay up there, Sir," said my young companion, pointing with his hand. "It 'ud just fit a young feller like me first rate once't I was op, for no bobby 'd ever get up there,. l'm sure, aud I don't think many of 'em would think of lookin' at it." I well knew the shrewdness ot my little guide, for I had recently experienced the value of trusting to his keener eyesight ; so I paused to examine again more carefully the object to whioh he pointed, and of whioh he Bpoke. This was what I saw : An open-air stall of the simplest Bort had been oonatruoted of rough boards to expose fruit or vegetables for salo. The roof consisted of three or four boards laid across a plank whioh ran along the front, and was supported at each corner by what looked like a broom-handle resting, m its turn, upon an' up-turned apple barreTT This roof would probably keep the rays of the sun from whatever was exposed m the stall, or from the vendor, but it seemed of so fragile a character that one would never think of examining it twioe when searohing for home less children. But my little guide saw what had escaped my notioa. Across the planks that formed the roof, but somewhat behind, lay an Orange Trunk— one of those frail and comparatively shallow boxes, consisting of thin boards, some six inohes m depth, but varying m length from three fest to five, which contain the golden fruit from Spain and Florida. The box m question was one of the longer sort, twelve inohes wide and eigh teen deep by about five feet long; still it looked so shallow, and the roof so fragile, that I would have passed it by even when painted out to me bad I not been assured by my really clever guide that suoh lads as he would often be glad of suoh a shelter if they could but reach it safely. At all events there the box was : and our next question was, How were we to get at it ? To olimb up was impossible. The shortest way would be to pull out carefully the broom handles whioh formed the front pillars, and \u25a0o to bring the whole down upon our uplifted hand* raised to support the longitudinal plank. No Booner said than done ; but we had miscalculated our strength, for when we had removed the broom handles, the weight of the orange box brought the entire row of planks abqut our ears, and then, ere we could Btop it, the whole rolled to the ground with a great noise, in volving, of course, the rapid descent of the orange box and its contents. Its contents ? Yes ; for ere the commotion we had created bad quite ceased, out of it there leapt, vigorously rubbing his eyes, with a look of guilty amazement, a lad who had, as my guide euspeotea, aotually chosen that odd dormitory ao as to be securely undisturbed through the night, Even then I noticed that, instead of lying m the open box, whioh would have exposed him to possible oold and wet, he had had the good sense to lie down upon the planks with his feet drawn up, and then to pull tlie case over him bottom upwards, , whioh thus served to shelter him, as well as to Boreen him from observation 1 The boy was on his feet m an instant, ready to dart off; but my bull's-eye lantern was quickly turntd on, and I grasped him kindly but firmly by the shoulder. When th« flash of light from my lantern first fell upon his face, the youngster, imagining that I was either a guardian of the night or the beadle of the market, was loud m his protestations of innocence and requests to be allowed to go home ; but a few minutes showed him that he had nothing to fear, and I learned enough, even m that baßty oolloquy, to know that be was just suoh a obild as T was m searoh of —a genuine homeless boy, one of the Isbmaels of eooiety, an Arab of the streets, a gutter child, to use the soornful phrase whioh is employed by bo many to sweep up suoh as he ; one, m short, who lived on, the Btreetß and hj the streets, I had taken the usual precaution of carry ing m my pocket a few slioes of a very tempting oako, and after one of these bad been transferred to and eagerly devoured by my young captive, be had little hesitation m accepting my offers of assistance, as soon as I had explained to him who I was, where I came from, and why I had disturbed his slumbers. By this time we were all so tired that I lost no further time m turning my face eastward, and without more ado conducting my new acquisition to the Stepney Home. The appearance of the lad waa eminently oaloulated to awaken both sympathy and interest. He was very slim and thin for his eleven years ; he bore a haU-starved ex pression on bis wan face, and bad soaroely a rag upon him worthy of the name of olothes. His feet were perfeotly bare. His features, however, presented bo great a contrast to the type generally found upon the streets that I felt sure I was either upon the brink of some discovery or that the lad I had just found was an altogether exceptional speoimen of the genus " Street Arab." His hair, which was of a fair, almost flaxen, oolor, hung m tangled masses about his head and face, 'but could not conceal the lofty, well-fchaped forehead or the ardhed eyebrows enoiroling the most wonder ful orbs I had ever observed m a ohild of the streets. His faoe'was deeply pallid and bis oheeks were drawn in',~ buf this was evi dently from cold, exposure; and want of nourishment. His nose, straight Btid regularly i , formed, inoreasid tbe aUrietfrjaees of & face <

that was already somewhat remarkable for good looks. Then there was the sweetest

little mouth conceivable, within whioh there shone pearly white toeth of regular shape, while his well-formed chin relieved, by its squareness and decisive charaoter, the other wise somewhat effeminate look of the upper part of his pretty faoe. His expression, whioh was strikingly open and honest-looking, spoke of a charaoter that was candid and ingenuous, and I may at once say that his subsequent, career did no!- belie this conclusion

His story, repeated to me the next day at leisure, was a most pathetic and suggestive one. It appears he had never known his father, but had always lived, together with an older brother and sister, with his mother m a poor street m the parish of St George's Southwark. His mother was a confirmed

thief, and she bad always brought up her children m dishonest ways. She was too ' cunning herself ever to run muoh risk of detection, being more a companion and abettor of criminals than an aotive agent. But the police had long suspected her, and the boy told me that often they had stopped him and his brother on the streets when they were living together, and asked them ques tions whioh indicated that their suspicions wera aroused, not only as regards the mother, but also as regards all her ohildrtn. Suoh snipioions were not groundless. The elder boy and girl had gradually fallen into the groove of the mother's evil life, and had developed m the coarse of time into expert yonng thieves. At first, my boy, whose name was George, had naturally obeyed his mother, and robbed the oheap shops and markets of goods exposed and not well watohed, but as he grew older he exhibited more and more re* pugnanoe to this course of life, till at length ha boldly refused to oontinu* any longer as a thief.

It seems almost incredible that a yonng child, at that time not quite nine years of age, who had, moreover, never had any pre vious instruction m honest ways, who had had no religious teaching of any sort whatever, who had never onoe attended a day sohool or a Sunday sohool, and who had not at any time been inside a pla'oe of worship, should have set up for himself a code of morals higher than the standard around him, and be eon* tent to bring down upon his unfortunate head the physical consequences of disobedienoe, when to yield would have been, apparently, so much more easy and almost more natural. But so it was m poor Goorge'a cage, for nofch. ing oame out more clearly than that he had resisted, frequently and definitely his mother's cunning advances and his brother's florae suggestions. He at length ezperienoed from their united hands suob a succession of un merciful beatings, that, when only a little past his ninth year, he fled from the wretched room whioh he had hitherto always called home, and betook himself to a street life, aver keep* ing a wary eye upon the movements of his mother and brother, careful never to plaoe himßelt again within their reaoh ! Home is embalmed m the hearts of thousands, charged with memories of all -that is holiest and loveliest on earth. But to escape from it was, m George's case, the only hope for the .batter self within him, while its memories were theme alone of vice and sin, of degrada tion and negleot.

(To be continued )

NEW ZEALAND ALLIANCE.

[Pan Pbess Association.]

Wblmnoion, January 24. The Conference of the Naw Zealand Temporanoa Alliance haa oonoladed Its •tttings The following resolution was oarried : —" That this Oonferenoe of repre santatives from the different Lodges of the colony enleavor to seoare the appoint ment of Committees for the actvanoement of prohibition m the colony, and earnestly urge their friends ,n each licensing dis trict to form meetings and secure votes In favor of no increase of lioenses m the coming local option contests."

THE POSTAL CONFERENCE

(P*R Pa«S3 ASSOCIATION.)

Sydney, January 24 The work of the Postal Conference to-day was confined to hearing Mr Rowen, on behalf of the Pacific Cable Company. Tiic repieseuisilivcs of ibe Eastern Extension Cable Company state that the price, ,£120,000, at which it was stated the Company was prepared to sell the cable between Australia add New Zealand is wrong, and that the real price at which the line was offered is ;£i 50,000.

WESLEYAN CONFERENCE.

(«SB *BHBS ASSOCIATION.)

Wrllington, January 24, The Stationing Committee of the Wes- Jeyaa Conference sat this morning. Fra ternal greetings were received, and recip rocated from the Primitive Methodist and United Methodist Churches. The second reading of the station sheet oc upled the Conference m the a f ternoon. Feverul amendments were proposed, and the sheet re-committed to Committee, the second reading to be taken on Wednesday morn ing. Revs A. 0. Lawry, B P. Roth well, and T. J. Wallis passed unanimously the third year of their probation, and Rwb T. A. Joughin and J. Blight m the first year. Rev T. W. Newbold was per mitted to retire for the present on account of ill health His examination was highly satisfactory, and much regret was expressed at his temporary retirement In the evening session the Rjv Griffiths was ordained to the office anc* work of a Christian minister. The Rev Mr Oliver, ox- President of the Conference, delivered the charge.

A WELLINGTON LIBEL CASE

(Peb Pbbss Association.)

Wellington, January 24. The proprietors of the " Evening Post " were defendants m an action for libel, which was heard m the Supreme Court to-day. The plaintiff, John Martin, late licensee of the City Hotel, sought to recover £1000 damages for injury alleged to hare been sustained m consequence of tho publication of an article m the 11 Post " of the Bth November last, with reference to the death of the wfo of plaintiff, who committed suicide m that month. Plaintiff alleged that the article imputed to him that be was a man devoid of ordinary humanity; th&t plaintiff was an habitual druukard ; that plaintiff was not a proper person to hold a publican's lioenee ; that he was callous, besotted with drink, of drunken habits, devoid of humanity, and an unfit person to be a licensed publican ; that the publi cation was false and malicious, and defamatory of plaintiff ; that, m conse quence, plaintiff's interest m the City iJotel was depreciated, and tho plaintiff otherwise injured m bis business, Defen. dant* admitted publication, but denied that the words of the article had any other or further meaning than the ordinary and natural meaning of such words, or that plaintiff had sustained any special damago. The proceedings m connection with the inquest were then set out, and it was pleaded that the matter was' one of public interest, that tho article was fair and honest oomment upon the evidecoe, and that it was published without defamatory . intent. Defendants further pleaded that the articie was and is true m substance and m fact, according to the true and natural meaning of the words, and that the report of the proceedings at the inquest and publication thereof was made fairly and bonafidt for the public good, without any sinister or malicious motive, and in' the bona fide, belief of the truth thereof, and of every part thereof. After an hour's consideration the' special jury gave a verdict for defendants, with cbsta on the highest scale.

THE BROKEN HILL MINE.

[Pan Pbibs Aisooiatioh.J

MuLBOUBine, January 24 The Broken Hill South Silver Mine Company have intensified the mining excitement by their having tapped the great lode. Shares which had formely been quoted at 24s have risen m value cc j£io, »hus adding at one stroke a million and a half to the value of the mine.

IRISH AFFAIRS

(rXR PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

m DcrßLur, January 22. O Brien's release from gaol was "" made the occasion of great rejoicings ia various parts of the country, bonfires and illuminations being carried out on an extensive scale. Banquets have been arranged for at Cork and other towna, and a monster meeting is announced to '\u25a0''\u25a0 be held, at Kilrush. The authorities ~ J have decided to prohibit the meeting. \u25a0' liomoow, January 23. Mr Cox, M.P. for East Clare, who was summoned to appear at Ennis on a charge of attending meetings whioh had besn proclaimed, failed to appear and has been arrested here.

THE MARKETS.

[P«R PEB3I AWWOUTIOW]

Lokdoh, January 23. No sales are reported of Australian wheat cargoes. The European beet root crop is estimated to yield 2,300,000 tons. Consols, 102*4. The English wheat market has declined 6d. The American market has an upward. ten* dency. The Antwerp wool sales have opened at a general adrance of from idtoi^d.

The market rate of discount is i# per cent, the Bank rate 3 per cent. New Zealand inscribed stock is quoted at £99,

m JBbisbakx, January 23. A rise m quotations for sugar is ex* pected before the end of the month*

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

HOME AND FOREIGN.

(PER PRESS A8800UTI0H.)

THE SUGAR QUESTION.

London, January 22. Baron De Worms has gone to Brus* eels, with the object of inducing the Belgian Government not to object to refining sugar m bond.

LORD RANDOLPH CHURCHILL

Lord Randolph Churchill and wife are now on their return from Russia. They will visit Berlin and Paris on their way.

THE RABBIT PEST.

London. January 23. Sir F. D. Bell will have an interview with M. Pasteur, relative to the risk of chicken cholera affecting other animals.

THE BASS COMPANY.

The capital of the Company to take orer Bass' Brewery has been subscribgd fifteenfold. _

COLLISION IN THE CHANNEL.

Loiudon, January 24. The Celtic Chief, bound to Albany, came into collision with and sank a German barque m the Bristol Channel. The crew were saved. The Celtic Chief sustained but little injury, and returned to Falmoutb.

THE PANAMA CANAL.

n-r j -r p Aßis, January 22, M. de Lesseps will endeavor to in duce the Chamber of Deputies to grant money for the Panama Canal works before the appeal to the public.

ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION.

Pabis, Jtnuwy 23, : While Louise Michel was addressing a meeting of Anarchists at Havre* she was shot at twice, and seriously wounded. The would-be assassin was arrested. - • January 24. The wounds which Louise Michel received while addressing the meeting at Havre are not so serious as at first supposed.

ANOTHER DIFFICULTY.

Madbid, Jantury 23. The Spanish are organising a force of 25,000 men. The cause for this action is supposed to be owing to a difficulty with prance respecting affairs m Morocco.

THE ST. LOUIS MURDER.

Saw Francisco, January 23. Th? final appeal of Maxwell, who murdered Freller some eighteen months ago, and has been confined m gaol under sentence of death, has resulted fruitlessly, and he will now be executed*

AUSTRALIAN.

[M» PRBSS AS3OOUTION.]

NEW SOUTH WALES.

fc ydnet, January 24. A statement has been published that the German New Guinea Company has already paid a dividend, but. it is ridiculed;

The press generally condemns the Burke-Foley exhibition.

Mr D. Simpson, formerly Harbor Engineer m Dunedin, was picked up m an unconscious state m Pitt street last night, and died shortly after being admitted to the Hospital. The ceremony of unveiling the statue of Her Majesty the Queen, which was made by J. E. Boebm, R.A., was performed by Lady Carrington to* day m the presence of an immense crowd of spectators. The Governors of the several colonies were present, and brief speeches were delivered by Lord Carington and Sir Henry P,arkes? The unveiling of the statue "of Her Majesty the Queen took 1 place m t!he presence of thirty to forty thousand people. The proceedings were ex? tremely br»£f and very orderly. *"

VICTORIA.

Mklboubne, January 24. The " Age" advocates m the interests of farmers an additional import duty on fat stock imported into Victoria.

THE A3HBPBTON QPABJPIAN, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 1888





Moon's Snn Sun Moon Moon age at Janury. Rise*. Set*. Bices Sets, noonday p«ni. P.m. Si Saturday ... 4.49 7.38 0.17 11.61 7 7i Sunday .. 4.50 7.8J Ll4 • * 8 am. S3 Monday .. *.52 7.31 3.16 0.18 fl U Taesi&y .. 4.63 7.31 t.U 0.47 10 26 Wednesday.. 4.84 7.50 .4.12 132 11 SI Thnnday .. 4.8S 7.39 6.» 9.2 12 27 Friday.. .. 4.67 7.28 6.3 2.49 IS



The codlin moth is busy m Hamilton orcharde. Those who sprayed their trees with Paris green are not, however, sufferers. The best medicine known is SANDER and SONS' EUCALYPTI EXTBAOT. Test ita omjnpnt powerful effeots m coughs, oolda influenaa, etc—the relief is instantaneous. Thousands give the moat gratifying testimony. Hit jMajesty the King of Italy, and medioal Byndioates all over the globe, are its patrons. Read the official reports that acoouapany eaoh bottle. We haye no occasion to offer rewards m proof of the genuineness of our references. I The official reports of medioal clinics and universities, the official communication of the Consul-Gferieral for lialy at Melbourne; the diploma awarded International Exhibition, i Amsterdam—all these are authentio doou-. ments, and, as each, not open to doubt. We add here epitome of one of the various oases treated by Siegen, M.D., Professor, etc • Burning of the right hand through the ex- jplopion of a small oil stove. The epidermis On the yjOlar and palmer side of the hand of the thirfy-year-ol^ patient was'completely separated and lifted up as far as the joint of the hand. Th.c likewise lifted nails wcr/ij banging loose, and half of the phalanx of the naJJ of the middle finger was coaled. The wounds thus contracted healed m three week's uaaerdafly ipp%ajtionß of Eucalyptio Extraot * dressing. The patient bag retained the foil > BB«of falblDd.wfAdYt.) ' I I



" n ,van on OoKK3.' T -^-Ask~"for Wen's "Uiu,,i' on Corns." 4 Qaiot relief, ooraplete, per,*i)*!ient care. ' Coraa, warti^buhjooF, At



Koating'a Powder destibye both mothl, fell beetles, and all other ineeofcs while fOitjk harmless to domeetia animals. In exterau Dating beetles, the eucoees of this powdw U extraordinary. It ib perfectly olean m ftppli« oation. Sea the aniole yon porobtis^fi Keating'a as imitations are nosions •>$ ineffectual. Sold m tine, 6d, I*, and 2s $9 e»oh, by all cbewist > . "



TO OUR RAKAIA SUBSCK'BERS. ~W TE, doßi're to intimate that from and VV aftor let January, 1888, SUB- SCRIBERS to this journal will OBTAIN THEIR COPIES AT THE STORHS OP MR O. HAKDY.



Wanted. \ \J ANTED a strong, aetite lad about W 14 years of age, tot the Machine Boom. Apply this evening after 6 o'clock or to-morrow after 2 p.m. at " Mail " Bad " Guardian " Office. WANTED to Sell— A F irsfc-olass Piano, grand action. Cash or terms very liberal. Apply Hates and Oi>. Segers' Great Sale.— Melford louse. WANTED Known.— For Sale, Blue Gum, Stringy Bark, Peppermint Gnm, Bed Gam, and Silver Wattle Tree SeeJe, locally grown, and saved this Season ; also Turnip Seeds, just arrived, ex s.s. Bimntaka. —J. Sbixy and Co., Seedsmen, Eaet Street. 11+61 Sale at Melford House.— H. O. Segera. WANTED OASH — Moir'o Oatmeal 251ba, 2s 6d ; Sperm Candles, 6d ; Coffee and Milk, Is per tin; Ooooa and Milk, la per tin ; Yestaa, 5d per doz ; Cornfloor, 4d per lb ; tin Fruits, Is ; Crockery, Ironmongery, eta. — At Jambs MoGregob's, Tnncrod Stroet, opposite A* cade. Melford House Sale.— H. O. Segera. ANTED KNOW JS — Oieo^rapn* Scenery, and " Catholic Rnbjectn j Cathollo Cards, good variety m Borapß Novelties m Penwipers, Crewel Wools and Silks, Knitting Cotton, Colored Crotchet Cotton, Transfers, Tinsel Balls, Ac, Ac, at MBS Manhibi's Fancy Repository, Saundore' Buildings,? W* ANTED Known— To the Ladit* of Aehburton tnd innronndlng dli^rlots, that an experienced monthly Nnree Is desiroas of engagement. Good references can be given. Addren — Mutt Hill. Peter Street. Ashbnrton. 11 18 \\T ANTED Known— Wells sank, with W pnrap and pipe found and fixed, from £2 10s npwards. All kinds of pnmpa, Ranges and home-smith work fixed or repaired. Chimneys swept and ranger oleaned, 3s. Registers Is 6d each. All orders punctna'ly attended to. Note address, B. Dudley, Moore street, Anh> bnrton. 11 22



GREAT CLEARING SALE OF FURNITURE, &c, &c. PICKFORD AND UJSTDRILL HAVING received notios to qnit thoir Prases, m consequence ©? the land bemg at once reqnirei for New «mldi:ii»s 'aye decided te hold a CHEAP SALE of all tbeir Large Stocfe, consisting • ~- FDBNITuRW m variety, HANDSOME CHESTS DRAWERS, CaEFFIONERS, IKON AND WOOD BEDSTEADS, Choice TOILET WAR**, 2 Gases FENBERB AND FIRE IRONS, BEDDING, OB >OKERY AND GLASSWARE at prices that mast effect a Clearance m ONE MONTH. EC- M- JONES- THE Revo'ution of time has brought ne to another CRISIS m the History of Life cnlminati gin the arrival of SANTA GLAUS, who is expeoted here between the 24th and 25th in3t T.i afford a proper end fitting reception of the above mentioned distinguished visitor, the undersigned has procured from the best Market a LARGE and VARIED assortment of STATIONERY, BOOKS, TOYS, FANOY QOODS, ©LASS and BASKETWABE, OBNAMENTB, and other GOODS too namtroui to particularise. OPENING OV NEW PREMISES. In order to extend and facilitate Business, the' Proprietor has erected large and oommodioas premises adjoining the Somerset Hotel, East Street, wbioh will be opened temporarily for the XMA3 tiacto COME AND SEE THE Is TABLES 1 OOMK AND SEE THE to TABLE? All (' oods marked m plain figures at lowest possible prioos. COME ONE t COME ALL ! ! COME EARLY TO AVOID THE ORUB*'« SCHOOLS LIBERALLY DEALT WITH. SMALL PROFITS, LARGE AND QUICK RETURNS is the MOTTO of the Proprietor. 12 9 ALBEET EOBERTg BAS FOR SALE,— Cora sacks LARGR SIZE AND FULL wbi g ht - SEAMING TWINE *N ANY QUANTITY. Clovers, — EED, WHITE, COWGRASS, ALSYKE, and TREFOIL. RYEGRA6B, COCKSFOOT, ahd RAPID. ANCHOR Binding Wire and yery best Binder Twine. Golden Tares, Cape Barley, COOPER'S SHEEP DIP, THE STANDARD FIRE & MARINE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW ZEALAND. WITH UNLIMITED LIABILITY OF SHAREHOLDERS. CAPITAL— £I,OOO^OOO STERLING. HEAD OFFICE"? DUNEDIN. TNSURERB have the most undoubted Security under this Company's Policies X together with an assurance of Prompt and Liberal Settlement of Claimi. f FIRE and MARINE RISKS accepted on all descriptions of Property and Merchandise, also Crop, Stack, and Machine Bisks at Lowest Kates of Pmniutn. Fidelity of Persons holding situations of tract guaranteed. OFFICE s HEREFOBD BTBEF.T, OHRISTOHUBCH. (Opposite Dank'of New Zealand ) AKOHIBALD fcOOTT, Manager for Canterbury, ALBEET ROBEBTS, 1 5 AGENT, ASHBURTON LONG RUSSIAN HEMP TWINE, COLONIAL MANUFACTUBE. 4-Ply (Green Label), 900 feet to the P«nnd. THE Undersigned asks the special attention of FARMERS and CONTRACTOR to this arliele ac one of the cheapest and best TWINES ever pat oi the mnrkei . I hare advocated this class of TWINE for years, simply because I consider it th most economical any farmer can use. Farmers will find this TWiNE ©£ U3STFOKM THICKNESS, STRENGTH, and LENGTH, throughout. It will work successfully on any make of Binder. It will run farther aDd do more work at a let s cost, and tib mare grain than any twine I know of. Thi wi:l be clear to ereryones' mind who considers that, running as it does. 900 feet to the pound means— THREE QUARTERS OF A MILE IN A BALL, and MORE THAN 19 MILES PER CWT. Every Ball brg a Greon Ticket with name on, with a guarantee that it inns 800 feet to the pound. MANILLA TWINE OF BEST QUALITY. SHAKESPEARE ! ! ! "To gild refined gold to paint the lily, To throw a perfume on the violet, To smooth the ice or add another hue Unto the rainbow ; or with taper-light To seek the beauteous eye of heaven ; to garnish, To advertise the well-known Wood's It's wasteful and ridiculous excess !" " King John," Act IV, Scene 2 ABK F R WALTER A. WOO D'S BINDER, AKD TAKE NO OTHBSI. SALES FOR 1886^651 MACHINES. F. lEKRIMAN, Aj&tartoc For "bale,— J SIOOKKMANI)|TWmJBMoOORMIOK\ J SEOONI>;HAN»#rWINI WOOD 3 •^ SECOND HIND WIRJSj|MoCORVIOKS ' jf. FIFBIMAW,