THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN.

From and after the 80th November, 1886, the terms of Subscription to this journal will be as follows, viz. : — W PUD IN ADVANCE I Per Quarter. . 6s 6d, by post, 9s 6d „ Half-year 12s 6d, by post, 18s 6d „ Year .. 2<ts Od, by post, 37s Od IF BOOKED Per Quarter.. 7s 6d, by poßt, 10s 9d „ Half-year 15s Od, by post, 21s 6d „ Year .. 80s Od, by post, 43s 0d Birth, Marriage, and Death Notices, if paid for at the time of insertion, 2s 6d eaoh (stamps may be sent as payment) ; if booked, 4s eaoh. Announcements of Births, Deaths and Marriages sent for publication from the country distriots require to be verified by the signature of the person sending the notioe.

DIARY.

IMOONLIGHT EVENINGS.

The Moon at 8 days old shines till about 8 o'olook. The Moon at 6 days old shines till about balf-paßt 10 o'olook. The Moon at 8 days old shines till nearly 1 o'olcok m the morning. The Moon at 12 days old shines from sundowns ill about 4 m the morning. The Moon at 15 days old is full, and shines ttli ulglll. The Moon at 18 days old rises about 9 p.m. and shines till morning. The Moon at 21 days old rises about 11 a.m. and shines till morning. The Moon at 24 days old rises about 2 a.m. and shines till morning. I The Moon at 27 days old rises about 4 a.m. j and shines till sunrise. \u25a0 j

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1888. WANTED A LEADER.

A few sessions ago the hoardings of the Empire City were scribbled over with the words " Wanted a Policy," and it would seem that the legend will have soon to be replaced by the words " Wanted a Leader." The Government side has one for the time being m Sir Harry Atkinson, bufc if the rumor be true that he is likely to be Sir John Hairs successor m tho Agency- General the time is not far distant when the Government party will need to cast about for some one whom they can agree to follow. But it may be supposed that Her Majesty's Opposition are m still worse case, and that with Sir Robert Stout relegated to private life and Sir J. Yogel m England they will next session be pretty much like sheep without a shepherd. That is one view of the case, no doubt, but wa fancy that it will not prove to be quite a correct one, for though it may bo difficult to predicate how matters will eventuate we are of opinion that the temporary absence of Hr Julius, removing as it will the stumbling block that the removal of an Atkinson Government necessarily im plied another Vogelian administration, will admit of members ranging them selves according to their political principles, and the result may not im probably be that Ministers will be confronted by a much more united and powerful Opposition. If this should prove to be the case, the Party will not bo long m finding a Leader. Who that leader may be it is impossible to foresee. It might very well be Mr Ballance if ho will consent to keep his land nation alisation ideas m abeyance, for on most other points his views are 60u&4 and practical, while his abilities are unques tioned. One thing is certain and that is that every effort must be put forth to i secure two things next session, namely that tlio adnimstr#(,ion of the lands shall bo such as will pjroi&oto the cause of settlement, and that a policy o£ encouraging and developing local in dustries and manufactures shall bo given effect to. If that implies, as perhaps it does, the necessity of a change of Government, the Opposition must accept that responsibility and, no doubt, jjrill be prepared to do so. Meantime we do I not by any means regard the position as a less favorable one than that of last aeßflion— rather the reverse.

LUGALAND AND GENERAL

There was a complete change of weather on Sunday quite a wintry dim ate succeeding to the fine summer temperature of the WBek a In the afternoon the sky was heavily olouded over, and about four o'olook an unusually heavy thunderstorm with a deluge of rain eet m, the thunder and lightning being con tinuous for nearly two hours. Heavy Bhowers continued to fall at intervals during the night » which was followed by a cold and showery day.

There is a treat m store for the Ashburton publio as we are given to understand that Miss Amy Sherwin, better known as "The Taemanian Nightingale," has made arrange ments with the lessee of the Oddfellows' Hall to appear here for two nights — 17th and 19th Maroh. |

At the B.M. Court this morning, before M r T. Bullock, J.P., two first offenders were fined ss, with the usual alternative, for drunken* ness. — Donald Brien was fined 10a for a similar offence.— A. Hewett was oharged with travelling on the railway without a ticket. On the application of the police a remand was granted. A Kaffir on the South Afrioan diamond fields was sußpeoted of being m possession o* tih'out diamonds, and was pursued by officers of the law. When they had come up with him he had just shot one of his oxen. They proceeded to searoh him. They ransacked his scanty olothing ; they combed his woolly hair: they tried all the usual prooeses, but never a diamond did they find, and finally they had to retire discomfited. Then the old Kaffir proceeded to pick out from the dead ox's caroase all the diamonds with whioh bis gun had been loaded, and whioh he had fired into the unfortunate beast when he saw tho officers approaching. A strange Beot has sprung up m one of th provinoes m Spain. The prophetess dis pensed entirely with clothes, whioh led to a proseoution. The devotees, who injured themselves to represent the marks of the Oruoifixion, and burned nearly all their world* ly possessions, are also being prosecuted.

Opponents of the prize ring m England propose to introduce a bill m Parliament for* bidding the publication m newspapers of prize fight reports. A joker lately declared that a blind man, by taking something from the break-table, re* covered bis sight. What did he take? He took a tea-cup and saucer (saw.sir). Miss Maribel Greenwood's name has travelled afar, it would seem, for she reoently received a communication from Alma Tadema, the famous painter, expressing a deßire to paint her portrait. In consequenoo of the improved wool markets reoently many grazing framers along the West Coaßt of the North Island are giving up cattle and going m for Bheep, whioh yield a muoh greater profit. The Wellington correspondent of the 41 Auckland Herald " writes :— " It is stated that the direct steamers are fitting up large cooling chambers to facilitate the export of cheese and butter. In one case the demand for space was so great that they had to fit up a part of the ship intended for frozen mutton for the use of farmers making considerable shipments of dairy produce."

A farmer m Bangitikei is said to have cleared £4 an aore (over 100 aores) with a crop of grass seed this Beason. It is also Baid that there will be a very valuable export o* grass (oooksfoot and long fesone) from North Wellington and Hawke's Bay during the present month, &n tnnuuutitii guutiuuiou, intersscea m me Manawatu country, has informed a ooirospon dent of the " New Zealand Herald " that the Hessian fly has made its appearanoe there, and is doing a great deal of damage He saw one orop of oats whioh was damaged to such an extent that the cattle had been turned into it. This orop covered part of 200 acres. The remedy proposed is to out the oats high up, leaving a long stubble, whioh is to be burnt off and the land ploughed. In the German Empire, where vaooination m infancy and re-vaooination at the age of 12 have bden obligatory sinae 1874, there were m 1886, only 155 deaths from small-pox m a population of over 47,000,000. In Denmark dairying is taught as a trade, boys being apprenticed for that purpose. They are not only taught the points and characteristics of stook, and all the improved modes of making butter and cheese, but schools are established where spient'fio know* ledge of dairying is also imparted. Certain!? the Most Effective MEDICINE m the world is SANDER and SONS' EUCALYPTI EXTRACT. Test its eminent powerful effeots m Coughs, Colds, Influenza, etc, ; the relief is instantaneous. Thousands give the most gratifying testimony. Read this certificate : — " 24th April, 1885.— Messrs Sander and Sons,— lt is with the greatest of pleasure that I testify to the excellence of your Eucalypti Extract. Having had inflam mation on the bone of the leg, which came on after a s.evere attaok of low fev6r, I was attended by Dr J. Boyd, who had made strenuous efforts to save my leg, bnt without success. He found it necessary to amptuate my limb. Having heard m the meantime of the wonderful cures worked by the Euoalypti Extract, I obtained a bott3e,and the extract had not been applied more than an hour when I began to feel greatly relieved. After apply. *g the extract every four hourß for nine or ten days I wsb out of all danger. I would persuade all who may be affeoted with any suoh disease to give the Euoalypti Extraot a trial, and I am convinced that they will fin A it the most wonderful of medjoines,— Youra eto., E. J. Cuhnow, Wattle street, Sandhurst. — (Advt. . c

A VOLUNTEER SCANDAL,

[PER PRESS ,iS3()CXATI3N.J

Auckland, February 17. Major-General Whitmore is making enquirios with respect to the nalsoouduot of a. number of Naval Volunteers at the opening of tha Calliope Dock. A booth was BBtabllahed near the Dook for the sale of spirits, a liquor permit not having been 'btained. Six casks of beer were aunt from this booth for the nse of the crews of the two warahips m dook, but tha commanders would not allow the casks to ba taken on board. This beer afterwards camo into the hando of the Naval Volun teers, many of whom inbibad freely, and going to the luncheon-shod matters began io get lively. Glbbbbb were smashed and other property damaged and the men mady for the Btoreroom where the drlak was placed, but the place had be?n barrioaded 'the police wore called m and two or them sustained injuries, m en deavoring to olear the building. The , volunteers who wore intoxicated had been dismissed from their duty with srmi m their possession, and serious result* might have ensued, had not the police Interfered *nd quelled it\9 disturbance. The naval ffio-'.ra aay the volunteers were compelled ' t \u25a0 pay train and ttearner fares at Point, and were allowed to walk aboat i all day witborn'rofreibment of toy kind, ' of oourae the six barrels of beer ware tapped by themselves. i

IRISH AFFAIRS

PROPOSED HOME RULE BILL.

(per press association.)

Lomdun, February 16. Sir George Otto Trevelyan, speaking at Edinburgh, stated that the intro duction into Parliament of a measure dealing with Home Rule might be ex pected this session, and it would con tain some of the intentions of the Bill introduced by Mr Gladstone on Aoirl Bth, 1886 *

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

HOME AND FOREIGN

(PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

THE FISHERIES DISPUTE,

Ottawa, February 17. Sir Charles Tupper agrees with the treaty entered into between the United States and Canada regarding the limits of the fishery boundaries, aad he con siders the decision is a fair and reason able one. The treaty will probably be ratified immediately atter the election ot the United States President.

A NEW MINING COMPANY.

London, February 17. The Champion Gold and Silver Mining Company of New Zealand will be shortly announced.

CRICKET.

ENGLISHMEN V N.S WALES

(PSR PRESS AHSOC/Imoif.)

t Kydnby, February 18, The cricket match between New South Wales and Verm-n'a team was resumed to-day. The weather was fino, and there waß « »ir attendance. The Eoglifihmtn who had on the previous day loot six wickets for 297, continued their inning, which closed for 377. Rawlin nude 39 and Attewell 25. Turner was the most successful bowler for the New South Welshmen, taking five wickets. In their first innings the local team have lost seven wickets for 144. Banner man 33, Turner 27, and Burtoa 16. The most noticeable feature of the day's play wae the excellent fielding of the hmrlish men. °

VIOTORIA V SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Adelaide, February 18. The intercolonial cricket match, Victoria v South Australia, commenced here yes terday. Tho visitors went first to the wickets, and were ciapoaod of for IGB rans The principal acorea were Mollwraith, 88 ; Trott, 30. Griffon took eight wickets The local team at the close of the day's play had lost three wiokets for 116 runs. Griffen was not out; for 48, Waller Giffen 30, Lyons, 27. The weather was fine and the wiokets good, but the attendance was poor. At the adjournment for lunch to-day m Ihe cnoket match between Viotoria and South Australia, the latter had nude 246. Giffen, not out, 120 ; Godfrey, 52.

INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS

[PER PREBB ASSOCIATION. J

Auckland, February 19, The paiseDgera quarantined on the arrival of the Marlposa were released to-lay.

Wbiunqton, February 18. The Chief Surveyor at Auokland tele graph* th.it the firn i a gtill raging In the northern portion of the Pahlpuhl forest and he fear* It will not be extinguished' without heavy rain. It Is reported that the Hessian fly has made Its appearanoe among crops m Nelson and Marlborough

Several members of the torpedo force have «ooe to Auckland to take instruction re working the Whlteh«ad torpedo from Ihe torpedo Instructor of the Nelson. Mr W. Seed, who goes to Melbourne to advance the olalms of New Zealand to Inoreasß of sp«oe at the Centennial Exhibition, left for Sydney last night Oaptaln Whitney, of the Auokland Cartridge Paotory, la here interviewing Government with a view of obtaining certain commission. The matter will be placed before the Cabinet.

Sydney Taiwhanga, M.H P., has paid th« amount of his debt, and been released from custody.

Dunbdin, Febrimy 18 Sir Julias Yogel leaves for England by the Aoran«i from Wellington on March Bth, and not by the lonlo from Lyttehon. He will not address hia constituents before leaving, but will resign tho leadership o* the Opposition, which [c la expected will he offered to Mr Ballance, unless Sir R. Stout re enters political life. The ex treasurer will be away six months. Messrs Peterson and MoLeod, one of the oldest establ{sh«d grooery firms, have had to aiooumb. The firm's statement shows their liabilities to ba £15,335, -nd their assets £9080, a deficiency of £6224. To unsecured creditor* £7389 Is dv*, and to •eoured oreditors £7638 The principal unsecured creditors are Messrs Greet; and Oo , £1144 ; Turnbull and 00. (Welling ton), £522 ; Neill and 00. Limited, £606

THE CODLIN MOTH

On the objeot of this pest Mr Marphy who has jast| retarned from a visit to Tasmania says :— •" The Oodlln moth la worse than the thistle. I mast tell you that the growiog of applos and pears baa almost been abandoned m North Taamanji » on aooonnt of the Oodlln moth. One man whose orchard I visited who need to get 2000 bushels every year only gets 200 now. Bat the moth pan be dealt with too, and, like the thistle, perseverance and energy will get rid of it Bat the effort mast be general Everybody most .make It. A man I know, by acute observation of the « habits of the beast,' manages to deal with it. He oarefal'y scrapes his apple trees smooth with a little tnai.gaUr bo rape r, oaoh aa they use for oleauing the bottoms of \u25a0hips and boats, and fastens a band of linen and ra«s m the Brat fork. The grab, deprived of his nataral cover In the roughnesses of the bark, shelters under these; The rags are simply taken off onoa a fortnight and destroyed.. A little piece of board laid on the ground at the foot of the tree will effect the game end, and tins full of vinegar and sugar hung about the orchard , attract the moths as well. In short, if others do what you do, you need not fear the moth. And the Government are taking extreme measures' to ensure that everyone doss iot. ' v On my way homo, at a place 30 miles north of Auckland, I visited an orchard, whose ojyner had just discovered that It was infested with -the Oodliu moth. He waa m great (rouble, as his living depended on hia apples. And what I told him of the ravages the moth bad made In Tasmania only frightened him still more .

11 Bat I am beginning to gather an Im pression that possibly it may never be a aerions trouble to Ha here In Canterbury, la North Tasmania it ia Inactive ejeoept on sultry o7?!>iagß. Cold a d heavy tviada destroy it m large But, of course, m the JSforttj lai\ad it win £::* a partoaiatly upnM h-.me "

THE MARKETS.

(PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

.London, February 17. The prices for wheat are unchanged, but the market is drooping." Off coast cargoes realised from 33s to 343. At the Colonial wool auctions to-day 15,000 bales were offered, of which 2500 were withdrawn. Prices show from five to 10 per cent decline on the rates obtained at the commencement of the series.

SPORTING.

FOJRBURY NOTE 3.

[PER PBES9 ASSOCIATION J

Dunedin, February 20." There was winter weather at Forbury this morning. Artillery did a good gallop of two miles ; Torrent the same, the last six furlongs with the < leur-de- Lys gelding. Gipsy King a remarkably strong spin with Count d' Oraay and ChantiUy, and Snapshot shaped indifferently witu Garibaldi Quibblo wont moderately well m a two mile gal op. Bt Glair had the best of Captain Cook m a fast spin over the Cup distance. Tetford a splendid gallop of two miles, Kuby and ISpring aton were not fully extended.

HORSE MARKET

Mr T. Bullock reports for the fortnight ending Saturday, February 18th : — There tt&b only a small entry of horses, and very few farmers present at the sile on Saturday 11th, consequently litt'e • usinens waß done. On Saturday, the 18ih, there was again a very limited attenrlanc^. 19 horses were br^a ht forward for the day 'a sa c, and, with few exceptions, an iofeiior lot. Out of the 19 enter, d, 9 were sold as follows, viz :— Medium draughts, 4 and 6 years old, £21 10a, £22 ; age.l, £5 to £9, acoordiag to description ; hacks, t'4 6a to £7 sa ; inferior, £2 IBs to £3. Biddings throughout the sale were slow.

Previous to the usual horse sale I offered a number of town propsrfciea, for which it was difficult to obtain a bid, and only succeeded m selling T.S 825, Cox street, containing £ acre with two brick houses erected thereon, and which only realised the low figure of £100.

A STRANGE STORY.

The " Press" saya that a peculiar affair his occurred within the laat few days at New Brighton, and the excitement caused among the population of the little sea side resort will long be remembered, The circamatanoasas detailed are aa follow* : — A. Mrs Burt who keepa an artificial flower and fancy gooda shop m Viotoria atreot, went down on Monday Ipst to New Brighton for a change as ahe was not very well, and ahe there rented a email house. She askod a neighbor, Mrs Parker to go down and stay with her. Mrs Parker consented and accompanied Mrs Bart, also taking with her two children, an infant, and a little boy named Willie, aged two and a half years, with her. Mr Parker who is m the employ of Mr Watt, provision merchant, Viatoria street, re mained at home, On Thursday night Mra Burt had a dream She dreamt that the little boy, WilUe Parker, waa lost on the Sandhills, and that ha was covered up m the sand with a lot of white paper about him The dream was of great length. She woke up and fell asleep again, when the dream recurred. She then alao dreamt that a butcher rode up to the door with the nhlld on the Baddlo m front oi him. She told Mra Parker In the night about the dream. Next morning after getting up, Mrs Burt had occasion to HO ootaide, and she called to Mrs Parker and said, *' There ia the man passing now; there ia the butcher," and pointing to a man who was ridlug by, added, "that ia the man who brought the child back to the house," They spoke several times during the d*y abou* the dream, and Mrs Burt told Mrß Parker to w&roh the oh -Id, as aho was suspicious that something was going to happen to him. On Saturday morning Mrs Burt returned by the eUjht o'olook tram to Ohriatohuroh, intending to let Mr Parker go down to New Brighton •nd atay with his wife till M- nday, at the house was too email to bold all of them Before leaving Mrs Burt again warned Mrs Parker to be careful about the child. Nothing eventful hap pened till about two o'clook In the afternoon, when the boy, who had been playing on the sandhills, suddenly din appeared. He was last seen playing near a plaoe called the Look-out, not far from the hou«e where hla mother wae staying. An alarm was at once given and \u25a0earoh parties were organised to hunt for the missing child. Ia a chivalrous and sommandable manner the whole male population of New Brighton toge<her with a considerable part of the female portion turned out to lend assistance m the search The aandhllla and surrounding country were explored but m vain A. telephone message was then sent to the Police Station, Ohristohnroh, and men were despatched by the hat tram to New \u25a0Brighton, and they assisted m the search. But still no trace could be got of the little wanderer. There was not the slightest clue. Then it was suggested that be mfcht have got Into the river. Men were aooordiDgly sent down from Ohristohurch yesterday (Sunday) with drags, and assisted by a number of people, the river was dragged but with fruitless results. laspeotor Pender also proceeded to New Brighton by tram and search parties were again organised and despatched m various directions but, as before, without suooeas. At>d now comes the most remarkable part of the affair. About half-past one m the afternoon a man named Pattrlok, who keepe a bntoher's shop m Vlotorla street, and wbp Is staying at New Brighton with his family, found the child on the sandhills, about three miles northward from the house from which It was lost. He was on horseback, and rode up to the door of the house. Mrs Burt, who had gone baok to New Brighton, after hearing- of the loss of the child, at onqe recognieed Mr Pattrick as the man she had seen m her dream. The only differ ence she noticed was that the man she flaw had on a pair of breeches, while Mr Pattrick wae wearing a pair of trousers There are some curious circumstances con nected with the finding of the child. The Impression on some people's mind is that the child had been taken away by some one. After its recovery a number of persona went to see the spot where it was picked up by Mr Pattrick. A peouliar coincidence is that the child had not suffered m any way, nor did it even appear to bs hungry, thougn it wub missing for twenty four hours. Mrs Burt, who, by the way, belongs to the Salvation Army, claimß to b£ m communioatipn with the '• spirits," She frequently expressed the opinion that the child was " over there/' 1 pointing m the diraction m which it was afterwards found. It mpy also be mentioned that subsequent to the child's disappearance and before its recovery, ! Mrs Burfc frequently repeated her dream to different peruona, among- whom were tha police The whole matter is at present a nfystery, and one can only conjecture at \u25a0! the probable rotation. ; I

THE HESSIAN FLY AND THE CALIFORNIAN THISTLE

Under the heading (i peutfs and theh remedy" the "Advocate" writes; — Rangltlkel la jast now threatened with aerloua trouble owing to the Influx oi> the «eßslan fly and the Calif ornlan thistle. The question la one whioh pecuniarily concerns landownera and oocupiera, and to them should be relegated tho ooßt of dealing with It, I moat be dealt with on the co-operative principle, for Individual efiorta would be valueless. To reference to the Hessian fly, we observe that Sit James Hector haa suggested that the only means of getting; rid of the peat is that the ground where the eggs of the fly have been laid should be ploughed deep with a speolally-prepared plough, there betog a suitable one at the Agricultural College, Lincoln, He has asked the Government ta place this plough at the disposal of the settlers whose land la attacked by the fly. Sir Jaccei Heotor, K.0.M.G., Govern ment Scientist, eto , etc., might just aa well have pat forward as a remedy that somebody should be asked to go over the ground with » garden rake. In the name of common sense what would be the value of one plough to deal with the extent of territory effected ? The very idea of the thing Is enough to make t'^e historic sphinx burot her sides with laugh-er. If the difficultly is to be grappled within a sensible manner, there most be a Urge number of ploughs promptly mad on the model of tbe solitary one now at the Lincoln Agrloul- 1 tural College, and they must be plaoed at the disposal of the Rangltikel settlers with instraoiiena how to uae them. The question of who Is to bear the cost must remain wLh the settlers themaelven. At all events, it (s quite manifest that it would be absolute tolly for any individual settler to attempt to deal with the pest on his awn account la fact, the notion woutd be as absurd as Dr Heotor's one plongh to turn over thousands of aores of land In a single season. We do n<t think there ia any provision m the exist ing statutes emp iwerina the Government to deal with this business In tbe same way as it has bee a dealt with m one or more of tbe other colonies m Australasia. Bat should the pest prove wide-spread, as it seems very likeJy, Parliament will probably, next session, pass a measure dealing with it, and that other new plague — tue O«lif ornlan thistle. This latter pest has already obtained a pretty firm hold. Down Parewanui way the Oalifornfan thtstlee are abundant. Tn the level laad tn the Paraek »retu district we have heard of one settlor who has fully half an acre of his holding covered with them. la the hill ODUotry of Paraekareta they have, along one of tbe raoafc important road linea, got an extensve footing. Now, to the Paraekaretu settlers this Oalifor ilan thistle business means a very great deal. The thistle may be grappled with easily enough m level country, but orce let it get up amongst the Faraekareta hills and scrub, and it will be as bad to get rid of as tbe scab iv the hill country of Marl borough, where It has lingered for years after it had been extinguished m every other part of the colony. la conclusion, we may lay that whilst we would strongly urge prompt and oombined action should the matter be aa serious aa some people think, yet the greatest caution eliould be exercised m obtaining definite information. Some of tho largest and most experienced farmers m Rapgltlkel allege that what Dr Heotor calls the Heaalan fly has been In this distrlot from tan to fifteen years j others of them again maintain that the principal damage has been done to the wheat crops by the long continued bigh winds.

WELSH VINEYARD.

The experiment initiated by the Marquis of But , and ably carried out by his Lordship's head gardener, Mr A, Pettigrew, of growing vine.B in the ope.i air, with the idea of competing with the French vineyards, if not quite a pecuniary Buccese, is by no means a failure. Par from it, or it would net have to be chronicled that the vineyard v der notice is to be considerably enlarged, and another established hs soon as possible. For the benefit of those who may not have noticed what has been previously published on thi* subject, it should he stated that Castle Cooh is Welsh for Red Castle, and is situated about fivo miles from Cardiff Oawtlo, one of the Marquis of Bute's country residences. The bite was selected by the noble Marquis, and fully approved of by his gardener, after the latter had been on an instructive tour is France. It is on high ground m a beautiful locality, and is sheltered by hills and woods from north, east, and west winds. The soi , about Ift m depth, coneiats principally of red clayey loam, with numerous atones interspersed, this resting on mountain limestone rock. Evidently it suits the vines, for ihey could not well be m a more healthy state. They «re all planted 3ft apart c teh way, j^nd angled, and as noue of the plants a<e more than 4ft high, they do not undnly shade each other. All are annually cut down to within two joints of their last starting points, and most of them are allowed to form about four leading growths, whioh, neatly tied to strong stakes, are Btopped when near the top of the stakes, and have all lateral growth cut away as it is formed. The grapes are m Bmall clusters, va'ying m number from six to twelve bunohes, the topmoat of them not being more that 18in from the ground. They might probably ripen better at times if produced at a greater height from the ground ; but It 1b found that the Heavy overhanglug leaves serve to proteot the fruit from both cold rains and frost. Several varieties have been tried, all pro. cured from French vineyards, bat the Gamay Wolr, or Blaok Gamay, io the only reliable one, and this at its beat is only fit for making Into wine, for which pur* poae all are grown. Two acres of vine have been established about twelve years, and the vintage of 1837 will be by far the heaviest yet aeoqred. The vintage jn the year I§Bl was a very good one j then followed two comparative failures In 1884 four hogs heads of wine were made j In 188Bf three hogsheads ; tn 1886 two hogsheads j and. unless unforeseen oiroamat^noes prevent It, there will be about eight nogaheada made this year, Thia does not partake of the character of " home-made " wine ; on the contrary, good aothoritiea liken it to the best " still " champagne. In order to thoroughly test its marketable value, much of the earliest made wine has bean aold, and that made m 1881 realiaad 60s per dczni qnarts. The 1884 vintage will shortly be bottled off, and, it Is thought, will eolipae any previous efforts. Nor is Oaatle Oooh the only spot In this oountry where grapes for making into wine could be suooessfully grown. Eventually the Marquis of Bate will have eight acres of viueß at the Syanbrldge Vineyard, situated close to the Bristol Channel (Oas.le o<sh buing four miles distant), and there aYe plenty of equally suitable positions In tfcj

AMONG THE CROPS.

Starting from Ashbncton, and going to wards the sea, the first crops noticed are thoae of Messrs Chalmers Bros., wko have some splendid paddocks of Tuscan wheat that will average 50 buahela of golden grain per acre when threshed, the grain having bef n safely stacked without a drop of rain since it waa oat. This lust remark will apply to moat of the grain crops In tha Wakannl and Seafield districts, except la those oaaoH where the farmers have ran the risk of threshing from the Btook, a praotioe that has its advantages perhaps, aa regards cheapness and saving m labor, bat it cannot be said to add to the good name of a district for grain growing, as farmers and millers are unanimous Iv placing a higher value on grain that has matured In the stack bdfore threshing. So hr, this year has been yery favorable to tha stook threshers, bat the praotioe should be put a Btop to by all who can do so, and the windy weather now ex perienced, if followed by rain to any extent, will give a large amount of extra labor m re-Btooklng, as great numbers of atooks hare been blown over this season... some paddooks having the appearance of never having been stooked at all. Mesars Harrison, D.Ooohrane, Jamleson, andM. Millar, have heavy crops of grain, princi pally wheat., the Tuscan variety largely predominating this season In the Wakanat district, this being partly oansed by the very wet wintfir, delaying the sowing of winter wheat, till the season boo»me too late for it, so spring wheat had to be vown instead, m many oases turning out grand I crops, both of grain and straw. Mr Wm. Ooohrane suffered by flood water to snob an extent that a portion of his land had to be left uaoropped for the season, and some that waa sown oame up very patofcy m placeer, bnt where the land wai dear of water very heavy crops have been gathered mby him. The river road la now m a very bad state, and not fit for wheeled traffio at all ; m fact, It » fenced off and marked "dangerous." However, the traveller In saddle oan get along all right at present, not without traspsssing though, for In some parts the road, and also a considerable amount of land is gone for good and all, and only for the temporary protective works latley completed t> large stream would bo flawing down through the farms to the sea. The new River Board just about to be constituted will need to take prompt action and deal vigorously with the river water, or they will find the present embankment and grolna following the forme* ones, as tht riverbed m this locality, In gome places Is evidently above the level of the oountry on the north bank, the deposit of shingle from the river above, appearing to ao cumulate la thla parttonlar portion of tha Ashburton river, oausing the stream of water to be thrown against the bankt, Instead of flowing down a mora dlreot course towards the sea. Messrs Adams S. Thomas, Wm. Brown and D, Leddy! . In this locality, have heavy crops of grain, most of which is now m staok m splendid order, bnt probably the paddoak that will beat the record thla year, m thU part of Wakannl, for returns when the oombine has told its tale, will be Mr D Fitz gerald's, at the river side. This la oarry- Ing a crop of Velvet chaff wheat, that should run about 60 bushels per acre, tha atooke baing beautifully eveu, heavy, and vety thick upon the ground,, and although the Btraw Is not so long as some crops grown this year m the district, st|ll tha return from tbls paddook will probably not be beaten by any, Mr James Gooh* rane's 120 acres wheat will average 40 bushels probably, and Hassrs S. Brown, D. Wilson, P. Lownie, W. J. Wilson and James Wilson have 700 or 800 acres of wheat and oats, whloh will return good averages. Some of the last-named far mers oats, threshed from stocks, are giving 37 bushels, though they suffered a good deal from the wind, both before ripening and after they were ready for the maohine Messrs D Fitzgerald, Geo* Ooe, Geo Cole, Mrs Smith' and- F. J. Rickards have a large area of good land under orop th?H season, some of which ia expected to yield up to 50 bushels wheat and 30 to 40 of oats. Mrs M Gibson has about 850 acne, principally under wheat J this will average 35 bushels per acre, and it ia intended to thresh this orop from the et ok Keturning towards tne. sohoo the crops of MraJno. Bennett, Messrs D. Johuston, John Brown and Edwin Thomas come under review. They are all on good land, and Bom< portion of this subj^ot to flood water, Mr Jobn Brown suffering severely m this respeot, he estimating that about 50 acres of crop and surfaca land on his farm have been washed awaysinoe lust year. Mr Thomas has already milled some of this year's wheat, hia own grow ing and threshing, and the bread from this flour made by Mr Bryant chows that the quality of the Wakanui flour is even superior to last year's. Taking the main road to the beach, the. crops of Messrs Ohaß. Hill, Jas Brown, T. Trevurza and M. Wilson come under notice, totalling about 400 aorea averaging 30 to 35 bushels. The last named farmer is threshing from the stook a grand ssmpJe of Tuscan, his combine being fittfd with Stalker's patent feeder, whioh waa running very satis factorily ;in f acf, allowing the maohine to runfin a wind that would prevent work if t he w.? YeS ~ ere fed b y hand - Messrs J&. Wilson, Geo. Coe, and McOleary have about 1200 aofes m orop m this part of the distriot, all wheat and oats, some of which will run up to 50 bushels per acr« for whe»t, and 30 buahela for oats? Acrosß the creek and near the sea coaat the farms of Messrs T. Wilson, Jno. Oorbett, P. Stewart, T. Walsh and Jaa, Jumieson are carrying very heavy orons of gram, over 650 aores being now Fn stubble all the oarting finished, exoent where the crop is being threshed from the stooks, and these paddocks will turn out from 40 to 50 bushels per aore, not a bad return for the; owners, even With the prospect of low prices for grain ruling this season. On the other side of the road from these farms lies the property of Mr S, Wright, who also has some heavy crons* on land nearer the sea, he having cut m all about 180 acres of wheat and 8Q acres of oats, which will probably run about 85 bushels of wbeat and 40 bushels of oats per aore. Mr Wright has set a veuv commendable example to farmors gener* ally m the way he has planted trees on his property, hiej; freehold of several bunded acres being bounded on three sides by well grown plantations of gum« and other fast-growing trees ; the house which is very commodious and well finished, being also surrounded by thick foliage. Consequently the garden has flourished also, the apple trees fa particular looking very healthy, and some bearing heavy crops of fruit (although generally j speaking this year is a very poor one for the apple orop). Mr Wright has also got a very good water supply both for stock and homestead, a water-race supplying a small reservoir m a paddook above the house, to which the liquid is carried by pipes. Altogether this property might well serve as a model to some property owners m this count/. The Wakanti homestead blook, formerly held by Mesarfc Sandroy and Blacklerj' is ander grass-this year, but has' been let for three years to tfrKeiiy, who intends placing a good portion under crop next year,; Mr N« Fitzgerald has some good land m this vioinity, and has threshed from the Btook I one of bis paddocks gave 65 bujheje P aj «*e •{ purple sW T'USGan, and' that/ too ? very good grain. . . A J Messrs Sinclair and Dyn.es, aero« tta rqaJ have nearly 2$ acres, «$ wilPrun from '2o to 30 buehels par .ore, some of this having been very ltte down Messrs Leadley and I. <M. Tbomp son have eaoh 300 acres wheat and 70 aores oats • they are both threshing fro* the stook, the fortnor expects to average 3Qbn|hj],wh^u°46Qfo p|t« bltlf

<THB ABHBPBTON GUARDIAN, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1888



Moon's Sun Bun Moon Moon age at February. Rises. Sets. Rieos Bets, noonday a.m. p.m. 18 Saturday ... 6.25 7.2 11.3 10,19 6 p.m. 10 45 10 Sunday .. 5.27 7.0 0. 11.18 7 SO Monday .. 5.28 6.59 1.0 11.66 8 31 Tuesday .. 5.29 6.68 1.59 * * 0 23 Wednesday.. 6.31 6.57 256 a.m. 10 33 Thursday .. 5.32 6.65 8.80 0.&7 11 24 Friday.. .. 5.33 8.54 4.41 I.SB 12



HoiiowAx's Pills —Teachings of Experi. enoe.—The united testimony of thousands, extending over more than forty years, most strongly reoommeods these Pills as the best purifiers, the mildest aperientß, aad the Burest restoratives. They never prove delusive, or give merely temporary relief, bufe attack all ailments of the. stomach, lun«a, heart, bead, and bowels m the only safe and legitimate way, by depurating the blood, and so eradj, oatinQ tbQ.sa.4mjpur]t;leß. whiqh are thq, .souvoa and 'OonstituentS' of almost every -disease, fpejr medioal efllaaoy is wonderful m re. dewing enfeebled constitutions. Their aotion 3mbraoes all that is desirable m a" houaehold medipine. They expel every noxious and affete matter; and thus the strength is



Skinny Men.—' Wella' JJealth Ifonniyer,' restores health and vigor, cures Dyspepsia, | impotence, Sexual Debility. At'tohomiats and druKbie??- Kempthorne, Proaaer and Co., : agents, Ohriatohuroh Mqre health, sunshine and joy m Amerioan



For general debility and prostration Hop



Wells' Haib Balsam.— lf grey restores to original oolor. An elegant dressing, softens and beautises. Ipp pil or grease. A Tonfc Restorative. Stops hair coming off ! trppettJOPP, timW) W» H9llp> J *w w .



Beating's Powder destroys both moths, fleap, beetles, and all other inseots, while quite harmless to domeatio animals. In sxtermi. nating beetles, the eaooeas of (hit powder ib extraordinary. It is perfectly clean inappii- cation. See the artiola yon purchase iB Keating as imitations are noxious and ineffectual. Sold m tine, Qi, i», M d 2b d



Wantett- WAITED gome kind Ph?mou adopt a Baby Boy 8 raonthe old Address, "A.B"ffiooof th'aP-MHH 2R5 \I r ANTED 4J), oe or four good ** Umtdl^fl,— ,-pply to H IT Weight, Wii-dermere. 2J74 VrfANTED to Sell -A ?' irstolae* Piano »» grand action. Cash or terms very liberal. Apply Hayes and Co. * f^i RE AT Bars-ninn. Every' hi'g greatly i \JX latticed. Oome stnd jaclge f.r yoar- eelren.— H. 0. Seobks, Melford House. WANTbi) UABH — Moire Oatmeal, 251bs, 2a 6d ; Sperm Oandlee, 5d ; Ooffee and Milk, Is per tin; Ooooa and Milk, la per tin ; Vcataa, 5d per doz ; Cornflour, 4i per 1b ; tin Fruits, Is ; Orookery, Ironmongery, etc. — At J AMBg MoQkeoob's, Tanored Street, opposite Arcade. COMB one, oome all, and oar prices will aitonhsh everybody •— B. 0. Skoeiw. WANTED Known— To the Ladies of A«hburton snd •nrroandlng districts, that an experienced monthly Nurse is desirous of engagement. Good references can be given. Address — Mrs Hill, Peter Street. ABhbnrton. 11 18 ALL onr first-oliss genome Drapery, Boots, Clothing, etc., we are now selling at rldiouloas prices. Only come and see.— fl. 0. Seobes, Melford House. WANTED KNOWN - Oleographa Scenery, and Catholio Rubjectfi Catholic Cards, good variety m Scraps Novelties m Penwipers, Crewel Wools and Hilka, Knitting Cotton, Colored Crotchet Cotton, Transfers, Tinsel Ballß, Ac., &c, at jlbs Manhibb's Fwcy Repository, Saunders' Buildinß»3



A. Harrison. AUred Harrison, dTOOK AND ESTATE AGENT aSsu VALUATOR. SATURDAY SALE at 12 o'clook sh» p -Horses, Cattle, Piga, Prodaoa »nd Merchandise FOR BALB- Farming Implementa, and Vehicle* o all kiods constantly m Yards on view for Sa ( e. Olearing Sales held m Town or Country as required, and most liberal terms arranged with both Buyers and Sellers. Bents collected, and the business of absentees managed with oare Valuation made of Properties or Mer. chandisa on easy terms, A4\ antes made instantlj on Goods delivered at the Stored for Sale ••«rt for the Norton Union Fire li> ; mranoe Company { Agent for Hie < •tUTuAL LIFE ASaOOIATION O < AUSTRALASIA '



£20 KEWAKL 1 , IN .consequence of the amount of Poaching going on m the Creeks on the Lagmhor Estate, the above reward wui be paid to anyone siring information that will lead to a conviction. From this date ISO ONE will te per- mitted to fish m the Creeks on tfie Lftgmbor Estate. 11*58 DONALD MoLEAN. fNOW BEMQVED 5 TO SAWDERS' BUILDINGS. & AJXXKN



DIMAtfT AND COB TITAVING deotded npon retiring from business at the XX end 01 the present month (PEBROARY), baveito respcctfu :y requ^t that all AGGOHNTS will be paid OB or before the 27tb inut,, atter whioh date the tame mast, of a neo^ssity, ba left m the hinds of a dcUeo.or. AhbortoD, February 6sh, 1888, DIMANT AND COE. THE LARGEST STOCK OF COLONIAL CLOTHING INj THE; ASHBURTQN COUNTY. A SPECIAL LINE OF ASHBUBTON TWEED SUITS AT 47s 6d KAIAPOI TWEED TKOUSERB 10s 6d HABVEBTEES' MOLESKINS FBOM Ssjlld MITCHELL & TURNER ' TANORED STREET. GEORGE JAMESON. Wool and Grain Merchant, HAS FOR SALE,— feEEDo for Autumn Sowing, CAPE BAELKY, BYE, CLOVERS, TURNIPS, eto SHEEP DIP THOMAS> and LITTLE'S, PLOUGH SHARES, OILS, and STORES of all kinds, COORNSAOKS AND BEAMING TWINE, AGENT FOR— New Zealand Fire and Marine Insurance Company. Risks on;GROWING CROPS or STACKS accepted at lowestfonrrent rates CASH PURCHASES OF WHEAT, OATS and BARLEY. 2*3 ALBERT ROBERTS BAS FOR SALE,— Corn sacks LARGB Blzg a **d full weight. SEAMING TWINE;TN ANY to QUA»TirY. Clovers, — bed, White, cowgrass, alsyke, and trefoil. RYEGRABB, COCKSFOOT, jhd RAPjw. ANCHORJBmding Wire and very best Binder Twine. Golden Tares, Cape Barley, TOPPER'S SBEEP DIP , THE STANDARD FIRE & MARINE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW ZEALAND. WITH UNLIMITED LIABILITY OP SHARBHOLDEBB. CAPITAL— £I,^OOO STEKLINO. HEAD OFFICeT DUNEDIN. INBURERB have tfce most undoubted Security under this Company's Policies* together with an assurance of Prompt and Liberal Settlement of Claims. FIKJ3 and MABINK KlbKs accepted on all descriptions of PropertyTnd Merchandise also Crop, Stack, and Machine Risks at Lowest Kates of Premium. Fidelity of Persons holding situations of trust guaranteed. OFFICE : HERRFOBD BTREKT, CHRrSTOHUROH (Opposite Bank of New Zealand.) AUCHIi-.AI.D .<CO IT, Manatjer £<>r Canterbury. AL.BEET EOBEIITS, 6 AGENT, ASHBURTON