The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 1888. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A report of harvest proapects m this district, and other reading, matter will be found on the fourth page of this issue. The following have been picked to repre sent Otago m the crioket matoh against Canterbury .--Beck, Bell, Csrsons, Downed, Harper (Captain), Harris, Hope, McFarlane, Niven, Parker and Rajnor ; emergencies-- Grieve and Drabble. Bell is lame, and his place is likely to be taken by Grieve. The absence ot C. Frith, who is bowling m good form, vlll be .severely felt. The more pacific the C^ar grows the more men and ruds he Bonds to the frontier. Dr Carr, Roman Catholio Archbishop of Melbourne, will probably pay a visit to New Zealand m about a month's time. I The Government of New South Wales have | received no fewer than 388 inventions for the ; des'ruction of rabbits from claimants of the £30,000 bonus. Mr W. Lees, of Sydney, has issued a i challenge offering to back Charlie Samuel*, the Queensland aboriginal, against any man m the world for £500, to ran either 150 or 250 yards. Few men woald attempt to dry dampened gunpowder m a kitchen stove. A man m Canada did. His a ffl io ted family would be ad of any information as to his where. bouts. It is estimated that there are at present 0,000 men engaged m the seareb for gum on he North Island gumfinlds. The supply is n consequence much m excess of the mand A man m the suburbs bought a ferocious watch dog tbe other day. He oame home lata that night. Hid wife says that his trousers can't be mended. The dog's Bkin is for sale cheap. The man m question hopes to be able to eit down m a few weeks. Wjßi_ra' Haib Bu_SAM.T-If grey restores to original color An elegant dressing, softens and beautifies. No oil or grease. A Tonic Bestorative, Stops b«(ir soming out ; trengthfni, cle»o«s, heals scalp. %

The San Francisco mail doses at Ashbur men Friday next, at 5 p.m. Money orders inst be obtained before 10 a.m. At the Borough Council meeting last night _ rhen a number of aooounts m connection \ \ rith ths Fire Brigades were being considered, | £ 3r Williamson said that he thought the I ' 3ommirtee whioh had been appointed to 1 ' inquire into the subjeot of retrenchment, ( night with advantage ascertain whether an ] imalgamation of the two brigades were feasible. If such proved to be the oase, a large annual saving to the burgesses would result, Tbe safety of the traffic bridge is greatly threatened by reason of swaggers camping at the south end, immediately under the structure. Fires have been lighted m very close proximity to ths gorse and willow fascine work against the last ow of piles, and these fasoines being very dry and inflam mable, the result if they took fire oan be imagined. In addition the gentry who make this spot their camping ground are helping themselves pretty freely, we understand, to the fascines, whioh they use for firewood, and, if this sort of thing oontinuc, m a short time all the protective work will be gone. The matter wsb brought under tbe notice of the Borough Counoil last evening, but nothing definite was decided upon. Tha house et the south end of the bridge, formerly occupied by the bridge keeper, is now m the possession of a number of swaggers, and a number of empty tenements ia the borough afford shelter to a great many of the " float ing population." A good deal of di3euseion m regard to the Fire Brigade and Ihe question of fire preven tion took place at tbe Borough Counoil last night. One man sent m a bill for seven \u25a0hillings, five of whioh were for ringing the ball, and two for work done on the occasion of the fire m the plantation at the Old Men's Home, and the Brigade forwarded to tbe Counoil a list of men who expeoted to be paid for services rendered by them at the fire on the North East Belt. Cr Soott said the Brigade looked upon these claims as very improper ones, and considered a very bad spirit was shown when men would not assist m saving property from destruction without expecting payment for any little work they might do. Tho Brigade had itself refused to sanction the passing of the amounts olaimed, but had referred tho men to the Counoil. Members of the Counoil entirely agreed with the views of the Brigade as expressed by Cr Soott. The man who wanted seven shillings was paid for ringing the bell, but tbe Counoil deolined to sanction bis claim for work done The long list of olaimants m connection with the Belt fire was referred to the Hampstead

Town Board, as the house destroyed was m that body's distriot.

A new Irish servant, being asked wbe.her

his master was within, replied, " No." " When will he return ?•' " Oh, he did not say when he will oome m ; he only told me to say he was out." The population of the Bengal Preßidenoy is 66,991.456 ; that of the Bombay Presidency 10,454,414 ; yet tbe oivil oharges for govern ing the former are only £2,276,794, whilst those of the latter are £1.748,665. 1 Did not the sight of the boundleflß blue sea, bearing on Ub bosom white-winged fleets of commerce, fill you with emotion ?* « Yes ? replied the traveller, 'at first it did; but after a while it didn't fill me with anything. It sorter emptied me.' \u25a0The stomaoh of one of the 20 horses which succumbed to some mysterious disease m the Winton distriot has been forwarded to Prof.

BU*)> lmxr-mmmlrmimr--i+-10-im;sjxitnxiCt—Utai tho

animals were Buffering from ergot poisoning, aa it is abundant m the district, not only on natural grasses but also on the tussock. We (" N.Z Country Journal *') have it on good authority that fruit-growing has been abandoned m some of the contral districts of Otago, m consequence of the prohibitive railway charge, whioh from one inland district is as muoh as 8s per ease to Dunedin* Borne growers have actually rooted up their trees m disgust. «• The Graham boys report a hags swallow, ing. They say two king snakes undertook to Bwallow a ground rattle. One commenced at his head, and tbe other at his tail. They \u25a0wallowed until they met, and then swal* lowed eaoh other." That's all easy enongb, the difficulty is to swallow the yarn. Writing of the snooeßßorship to the Agency- General for New Zealand the " Wanganui Herald" Bays: — The claimant that has probably the best ohanoe is Sir John Hall. He has the experience and qualification.? necessary to make a very fair Agent- General, and we believe he will receive the offer of the appointmont, and accept it. Mc Rolleston's name baß beon mentioned, but as he is a veritable " baby m finance," he may be out of the running; Acoording to the " Now Zealand Times," Hawke's Bay is the most prosperous part by far of the whole colony. True, that cash is somewhat scanty, and money not spent aB freely as heretofore, yet tho whole district is alive, aotive, and thriving. Moreover, the land, though somewhat mortgaged, is not flooded— is not drowned, with debt. Areas of land, too, that were looked npon as second class are every year growing more and more grass, and are evidently fit to rank m the first olasß. Hawke's Bay folk, too, have not spent their money gambling m gold and coal mines ; neither have they lost money m Bham local industries. Consequently unlike tbe rest of the colony, Hawke's Bay is only slightly feeling that commercial depression which has bo grievously wounded other dis trlots. A California miner, having amassed quite a fortune, was returning by Bhip to New York to re-visit old friends and to find himself a wife. A young woman on board tho ship, Kerving m the capacity of nursery governess to the family of a merchant on board, pleased him muoh by her ne#t an.(J modest appear ance. He therefore introduced hjpjaolf one day, and broke the ioo ot his purpose with one reoklesa plunge;— " Madame, my name ib , my parents and family reside m New Hampshire ; I have property amounting to 200,000 dollars, and expeot to engage io business m . lam a perfectly temperate man, and I oan give you good references to testify co my general upright oharaoter. 1 am unman ied and want a wife; will you marry me ? " The lady took m the oharaoter of her suitor at onoe. " Thank you," said she, "I will," and on landing thoy were forthwith married.

LAWN TENNIS.

On Saturday aft- moon, though the I weatbor was unpleasant on account of tho J nor'-weßter, a numerous attendance, es poo : ally of the fair sex, who evinced con siderable interest m the games, witnessed tho completion of the first round of the doublei«, when Caygill and C. C, Fookf. f met E. Simpson and P\ Field, and Crisp and Strange mot W. Simpson and J Ifooks. The Brat-mentioned resulted m rather an easy win for Pooks and Caygill, who were rather too much for ther yonngnr opponents, tho first sets being 6—l and 6—3 In the third set a hotter Btand was made, and it looked once ob if rimpson and Fie'd would pull it off, but tho "oldoneB" were not to be deniod, and eventually won the result being 6 — i. Crisp and Strange suoceoded m beating their opponents after four well fought sets, the first two going to them, 6—2 and 6—4. The third, whioh w^s the best con tested of the lot, was won by Simpson and Fooks, 6—5. In the fourth the tables were a^ain tnrned, Crisp and hia partner proving victorious, the game being 6-3 At 6 o'clock a Btart was made m the singles, We.ton owing 15, meeting Strange receiving 15. Only one sot was played, a sharp shower from the nor'-west making the Court too heavy for a continuance fitraDge succeeded m lowering Weston'* colors, the game being 6—4. Some very pretty play was witntsaed lv the set. The tournamest will be conti naei j a t 4 p m on Tuesday.

ASHBURTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

A speofal meeting of the Borough Council was held at their Chamber*, Baring Squaro, last evening. Present — His Worship the Mayor, and Coucclllort H. Fried'ander, Williamson, Scott, Scaly, Boberts, Reid, and Tucker,

The absence of Or Thomas waß apologised for, The purpose for whioh the special meeting was called was to oonsldor a petition which hnd been received from eleven lessees of Borough reserves, asking the Counoil to take sjrae steps to reduce the rents they were paying, and whic they complained of as excessive. They \u25a0aid the hardships of their position would bo greatly Increased shortly, by reason of a clause In their lease providing for a rise of 50 per oent. m their rent at the expiration of seven years. When they took the seotlnni times were good, and they had expeoted the property wou'd increase m value, but, Instead, the reverse had been the oase.

The Mayor said that the Council had no power to Interfere with the rents under the Municipal Corporations Act, but Bnch authority was given In the Local Bodies Powers Aot 1887. Bafore, however, they could proceed under tho latter measure they would, however, have to adopt the Aot, and obtain permission by an Order-In-Oouncll authorising them to take advantage of Its provisions. Cr H. Frledlander asked, If they adopted the Aot, would it be retrospective — oould they deal with leases made before the adoption of the Aot by the Council. Tho Mayor thought they would have that power. ,He read Clause 10 of the Aot. Cr Frledlander thought It open to question whether the Mayor's Interpreta tion of the Act was the oorreot one.

Cr Taoker said tbat he was under 'he impression the Act had been brought m m order to provide means to afford relief to Government tenants, who were oom pTalnlng, and It bad been also decided at tie same time to give local bodies tbe power to deal with the matter of their tenants' leases.

Or Frledlander thought It would be advisable to find out if the Act really gave the Council power. He advooatsd taking the solicitor's opinion whether if they adopted the Act It would be retro apmmUmm- _... ... __.._... Or Williamson s»ld that It appeared to him that nnder the Aofc the leases wonld have to be oancelled by mutual consent, and fresh arrangements made. Or Reid advocated referring the whole question to a Committee.

Or Tucker moved the adoption, of tne Local Bodies Powers Act, and that the Governor be requested to issue an Order-ln-Oonncll as required by law. The motion was carried.

ORDINARY MEETING.

The business of the ordinary meeting was then prooeoded with. Or R. Fried lander took his seat.

' mayor's ST_.T*MBNT, The Mayor said that the debit balanoe _ at the Bank was £1532 19a lOd. Tne •mounts which hid been reoelved since last meeting were— Earth, £6 10s ; culverts, ' £1 10s ; refund cost stamping lease, 5s * i Oounty Council's share of fire at the i bridge, £1 12s 6d ; water supply, £2 ; excise Ho »"se, temporary transfer, £2 14s ; lloensei, £2 ; dog licenses. £3 ; rents of reserves. £2 7s; rates, 1887, £2 9». Total, £25 7s 6d. The amount of rates remaining uncollected was £36 2s 2d, OOREEBPONDSNCI, Letteri were read— (l) From Crown Lands Offioe asking for Informitiou re garding Borough reserves.— -Mr R. Frled lander objeoted to the return being sup plied free, because It Involved a great deal of trouble. The Government had discon tinued much of Its assistance to local bodies, and he would move that the Information be supplied provided the Government paid for the clerical labor required. — Or Soott seconded. — The motion was lost, aod It was decided that the Olerk should elve the information asked for. — (2) From the Oounty Council enolosiog its proportion of cost of putting out fire on bridge. The Council also asked for the Borough's share of certain repairs effected to the deokiag of tbe bridge. — Amount passed.— (3) From the County Council agreeing to Fire In spector's suggestion that buckets should be plaoed on the bridge. — Or H. Frledlander said that ho had promised the County Counoil's Engineer that the Borough's foreman would attend to placing buckets on the bridge. — Or Frledlandsr's action was approved ,—(3) From tha Manager of Union Bank stating that he had referred the matter of rednctlon of Interest on the Council's overdraft to the chief effioor, and would Inform tbe Oounoli aa to tbe nature of tSe|reply when It was received. faix'onelf.n of|tlme to report was granted the Finance Committee.— (s) From Mr Neate, m reference to one of the Coun cil's reserves. — Received. — (6) Mr W. Mitchell on a similar subject. — Re ferred to the Reserves Committee. engineer's rkport The Engineer's teport mainly referred to work done by tbe itbor gang. In ac oordanoe with the uau.l plan at this time of the year, all tha men, with the excep tion of five, had reoalved nottoe that their services wonld bo temporarily dispensed with. OOMMIITBBB RFPORTSf The Reserves Committee and Fire Brigade Committees submitted reports. The latter Committee said that it oon* templated meeting the Brigade m regard to some suggestions made by that body. It also suggested that to save the plantations from fire, the long grass growing round the trees should be out, Tbe suggestion In regard to grass In plan tations was referred to the Works Cora- '• mittee with power to act* ' The J?ire Brigade reported the occurrence ] of a gre m plantation on Alford Fdjrest ! Road. The expenses were £? I*. A fire had also occurred on the North East Belt, and a four-roomed house was de- I stroyed. The expenses at the latter fire • ' amounted to £L s>, and the Brigade asked I , the Oounoli to tako into consideration the | ] payment of several men who worked to i popp'f tbo b*»d ptmpi t ltb water, [

It was dooidod tbat the amounts be paid, tho Hampstead Town Board to be applied to for a refund of the latter one, the question of payment of workers to ba also referred to the Town Board. The Brigade also complained of the ' Ineffiolenoy of the ringing gear of the fireball. i

Master referred to tha Fice Brigade Committee.

BETRB3OBMENT. Parsu*nt to notico, Or H. Frledlander moved- "That a Committee consisting of the Mayor and Ors Williamson, Bealy, Thnma'j, Soott and the mover bo appointed to look Into the CounoU'a finances, and ascertain what savings, if any, o»n be effected." He said that m moving m this direction he felt a certain amount of diffideno % , as ho thought the motion would Havo better come from" the Mayor, who at a recent public meeting had made certain remarks as regarded the expenditure of the Council. Either those remarks were not justified, or if they were, the Council was m duty bound to look into Its sxpenditure and Rea what saving could be made. He might say he was not m tho hall at thg tiraa when the Mayor rasde tha remarks he had referred to, and he on'y judged of them by what he had beard and read m the newspapers. The proposed Cjmmitteo's duty would ba to look into the Council's finances, and if thiy were living beyond their means or wasting money then thoy would have to \u25a0top doing so. Ur Raid seconded tho motion. He did not expect that any great savings could be made, but they should retrench wherover they could. Tho Mayor said that he had been a little misunderstood as to what he had said at the meeting. He had advocated oare being oxercised and economy used wl.erever practicable. He had n>t pointed ! out any specific course of action, but had urged the necessity of economy wnerever possible. He supported tho appointment of the. Committee, because il might be the meant of doing good . Other Councillors having spoken, the motion was carried. SALVAGE COBPH, The Mayor brought up the question of the formation of a salvage corps, the desirability of such an institution having oeen evidenced at the late fire. Tho matter was referred to the Fire Brigade Committee. » S.W. CBNTEH_i_fcY. Or Reid said he had been deiirod to isk whether a holiday would be declared on Thursday next, tbe day of the cele bration of tbe N.S.W. Centenary. The Counoil decided that the proper course would be If the burgesses desired a holiday to get up a requisition. LICENSES. Two kerosene licenses were granted. FAYMBNTS , Accounts amounting to £82 19j lOi were passed for payment.

THE EUROPEAN SITUATION

(PBR KUSSS ASSOCIATION.)

Bkblix, January 20. Replying to the address from the President of the Prussian Diet, the Emperor William said he expected peace to be maintained despite the present uncertainty. He explained that the increase m the Landwehr was imperative owing to the enlarged armaments of the neighboring powers. The extra expenditure on this account would exceed two hundred million florins.

Bbrltk, January 22, The " Kolnische Zeitung" states that Russia meditates a descent on Turkey on the pretext of enforcing payment of the indemnity, and that Constantinople wilL be ajpproached by way of Asia Minor. Tne same paper also states that the French Squadron is preparing I at Toulon, doubtless with the intention of assisting Russia.

St. Petersburg, January 22. Pesiitent rumors are current thai Government have urged the paymenl of the Erzeroum indemnity.

IRISH AFFAIRS

(PER PRB3B ASSOCIATION.)

Dublin, January 20. Two priests have been summoned for participating m a riot and inciting thereto.

O'Brien's health has broken down, and his medical attendant orders his removal to the South of France. O'Brien refuses to go if permitted, stating that he is no coward, and de spite his infirmity will stand by all his countrymen to the bitter end.

Dublin, January 22. O'Brien addressed a large crowd m this city. He corroborated the state ment made by Mr Wilfred Blunt, that he (O'Brien) never expected to emerge alive from the prison. He said he ex pected to be imprisoned shortly, and declared the Crimes Act would fail to suppress a single branch of the Land League.

The "Daily Chronicle" states the reluctance of the Pope to interfere m Irish Affairs arises from a letter written by Cardinal Manning stating that both the disaffected English and Irish were Catholics.

THE POSTAL CONFERENCE

(Per Press Association.)

j Sydney, January 23. I The Postal Conference met again to day, when the representatives of the Eastern Extension Cable Company were m attendance and laid their pro posals respecting cable charges before the members. The Compeny m their statement declare they have lost ;£iS,oqo since the New Zealand Government withdrew the grant of a subsidy, and that they would be willing to sell the cable to that colony for ;£ 1 20,000, guaranteeing the cable m good workirg condition, and would provide for najntaining it for a defined periodj alternatively they are willing to agree to redice the rates if a stated yearly reverie is guaranteed, or if they are banded fie land line charges col lected by thftiolonies. Mr Rowan who, represents t& Pacific Cable Company' will lay hs proposals before the Conference to-morrow, and then Sir William Fitaerbert will, on behalf of the New Zealand Government, lay down their proposals. Resolutions were passe< to-day favoring inter colonial posil notes, and the parcel post system was recommended, the price to besd per pound with a minimum of rod. It was suggested thai each clony should adopt the system when sasi ble.

INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS

{Pjbr Pbbss -Association.)

Auckland, January 23. A man named Mark Spratt was found dead m a paddock at Mount Eden this morning. He had gone there to work, and was suddenly taken ill and died m a short time.

Christchuroh, January 23 On Saturday afternoon Rett's sswmlll at Viewhill, together with a house and a stable belonging to Plaskett, and a qaan tlty of bubh, was destroyed by fire. The township of Oxford was endangered about the same time by a fire whioh started i" Weld's bush. Rain coming on about 3 o'clock ohecked the flimeo and prevented further damage. None of the buildings destroyed were insured.

The report on the annual valuation of the City states the value Of rateable pro perty to be £228,899, an iuoreasa of £11,000 on the valuation of last year. The Lighting Committee of the City Counoil have been authorised to invite taudars fur lighting the City by eleotriclty. It was stated that the Com mi t tee had already had an offer which would furnish eight times as much light ai the present gas system at a cost of several hundreds a year less,

Inybro-Veoill, January 23, At the Primitive Methodist Conference this morning fraternal greetings were re ceived from the Free Methodist Con* ferenoe, and from the Melbourne Primi tive Methodist Oonferenoe, The first reading of the stations (• as follows :— New Plymouth, Clover ; Wellington Ist, Nixon, Dumbell (supernumerary), and Hunter (trnpernunmary) ; Wellington 2nd, Spotter ; Auckland Ist, Smith, one from England, and Long (supernumerary) ; Auckland 2nd, Ward ; lnveroarglll, Guy, and Harris (o g.) ; lnveroarglll Bouth, Potter (oondidate)j Timaru, Woolasi ; Chrlstchuroh, layoock ; Thames, Lyon j Greeadale, P. W. Jones ; Ashburton, T E. Junes (w.l.p ) ; Geraldine, Dean ; Manawatu, Olphlrt ; Dunedin, Sharp and Clements • Oamaru, Boothroyd ; Wal mate, supply.

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

HOME AND FOREIGN.

(per press association.)

MARRIAGE WITH DECEASED WIFE'S SISTER.

London, January 20. Mr Octavius V. Morgan, M.P. for Battersea, has prepared a Bill to vali date m England colonial marriages with a deceased wife's sister*.

THE SOCIALISTIC CONVIC TIONS.

The "Pall Mall Gazette" m ao article trenchantly and uncompromis ingly comments on the recent Socialistic convictions, which are characterised as a travesty on justice and a triumph of despotism, and which, if not protested against, will mean farewell to constitu tional liberties.

FATAL FIRE.

By a fire which occurred at Hounds ditch last night, four lives were losl and five persons seriously injured.

THE RABBIT QUESTION.

Sir Dillon Bell is about to proceed to Paris, at the invitation of M. Pasteur, to have a consultation on the rabbit question with him.

ANTARCTIC EXPLORATION.

The Treasury are of opinion that the proposed Antarctic expedition would profit science very little, and that it would merely be the pioneer of a more complete and costly one.

MELBOURNE EXHIBITION.

Washington, January 20. The vote for the official representa tion of the United States at the Mel bourne Centennial Exhibition was passed by the Lower House.

ITALY AND ABYSSINIA.

Rous, January 20. Another brigade are under orders to proceed to Massowah.

TAX ON SALT.

Oalcotta, January 20. The Governor-General, by an Order in-Council, has raised the tax on salt to two rupees eight annas (3s) per maand (8alb).

OSMAN DIGNA.

Souakim. January 21. Osman Digna, at the head of 3000 men, has driven a body of friendlies into the mountains.

A SHOCKING SUICIDE.

London, January 23. A terrible suicide is reported from Falmomb. Rear-Admiral L. H. Ver sturme rtpeatedly plunged a red-hot poker into his abdomen, and died m great agony. He had been staying m Falmouth under the care of Iriends and although a Grange manner was noticed, a suicidal tendency was not suspected.

AUSTRALIAN.

[ran press association.]

VICTORIA.

Melbourne. January 28. The « Argus " defends the Federal Council from the remarlcs of The " Times," and points to that and other English papers which have condemned New South Wales' attitude ia naming the colony Australia as unpatriotic. Tfte "Argus" contends that the Federal Council was instituted rather for con ference on intercolonial subjects than for legislation, but the latter avoids the delay requisite for Imperial inter ference, as evinced by the promptitude with which Queensland has got control of the pearl fisheries.

Mr Deakin has refused to bring back those arrested for being concerned m the Gourlay jewel robbery, and ajso the pecessary witnesses, at the public ex pense, as it would be a bad precedent. The cost would be about ;£6Bo, and Gourlay is unable to bear the (expense himself.

NEW SOUTH WALES.

| Sydney, January 23 The speculation m silvermining stock still continues. The shares m the Broken Hill Central Company, which a few weeks ago were quoted m shillings have rapidly advanced m vaiue, and to day made a jump of £* per share. They are no* quoted at over -£ii. The Broken Hill South Company- kfe even still higher thap that, arid aje stjfi increasing. Mining stock all rotjod js improving.

Hiring the centenary week it \_ pro l- > -d to issue provisions by ticket to 10.000 of the poor m , the cfty, The ouaiUer is scouted a* being too large,

HORRIBLE DISCOVERY AT SEA.

The latest Amprlcan despatches, which were landed at Queenstown from tbe s.s. Germanic, state that the eohooner Her man Babson (Captain Charles Laptop) has arrived m port from the Banks. laptaln Lawton reported finding a yaoht ->n her beam ends with eight dead men In mr osbln. His story Is as follows : -We eft for the Grand Banks about the middle if August, reaching Cape Breton on Ist September, when a big gale came up. and *-b were driven out to sea. When about 200 miles east of Caps Breton we sighted . vessel at nightfall. It was blowing very hard, so we oould not board her, out we Baw her mast was oarried away »nd dragged m the water on the starboard side, The sail was still on the m*st, showing It had been oaarled away by foroe. The next morning we boarded her. A gala had struck the sloop, splitting hee open by wrenohing the mm. oat. In the aabln, whioh was half fall of water, were the bodies of eight men who had seem* Ingly died from starvation, as their bodies were badly emaciated. The sloop was the St. Pierre Island, and had a log-book *ept m Frenoh, which showed that she •ad left the port on July 28. The log was kept until the latter part of August, ifter whioh there was no reoord. He had no means of taking oare of the bodies, md so left them m the aabln. The iloop carried 14 men and six dorlei, The dories had all been oarried away. He cannot tall what became of the othef lis men, bnt thinks they were drowned*

A ROMANTIC MARRIAGE.

The following aooount of a romantic marriage between Miss Ellen Arthur Potts, a niece of the late President irthur, and James Robertson Blsokle, of the well-known Glasgow publishing bouts* ippears In the "Brooklyn Eagle " :— 14 Miss Potts was a relative of his step mother, and come as a sohoolglrl to Qlas« <ow to be educated, living m his father'i home. He fell m love with her promptly, and they were provisionally engaged owing r.o her youth. Upon her return to tha united States she was for some time tha devoted nurse of her dying grandfather, tnd after his death was attaoked with fever as a result of her fatigue. While still convalescent, the great earthquake hat shook Charleston to pieces oame to Savannah, and the shook and terror acting upon her enfeebled nerves entirely destroyed her sight. The specialists when consulted declared that the oase was hope* less, and she muat reslim herself to life r g bllndnen . Upon this painful verdict •he wrote to her finances releasing bin from the engagement, and resigned her* ielf to darkness and loneliness for the rest of ber life. The manly jonng 8ootohm»n, however, refused to submit. He took the nsxt steamer for this oountry, and on arriving deolared that he loved and wonld marry her whether she ever regained her sight or not- Stimulated by this unex pected happiness, she at onoe began to mend, and with the restoration of her general health her eyes began to Improve, and now she has as bright a pair of brown ones as are to be seen anywhere, and no one can see further into a millstone than she. They were maraipd, and will return to Sootland some time In November.

PRISON LIFE AT NOUMEA

An Interesting acoonnt of the present atatas of notorious French criminals m New Oaledoril* has been fomijhed by an official who has just returned from that penal oolony. Tbe most respectable, aa well as the senior of all the convlo's, Is Berczovski, the Pole who fired at the Emp&ror .Alexander II during the Paris Exhibition of 1867. Frequent applica tions have been made for the liberation of Barezjvßkl, but they have »U been refused. He is now In the Island of Nou, where he ocoupies a little room apart from all the bad characters, and has even a small garden for himself. He roami about the Island, whioh is one- fourth of the size of Paris, at his own sweet will, and his oondnot has always been Irre proaohable, He reoslves a large quantity of newspaper?, books, and pamphlets from tbe different countries by every mail. Berezovskl Is now old and feeble to an extreme degree. Of a different class are Giles and Abadle, the murderers of the Paris grcoer Luoerlo. These worthies are employed as street scavengers at Noumea, and their occupation is looked upon by their companions m penal servi tude, as a good one, for It Is easy, and also enables them to pick up bits of tobaooo and various odds and ends. Includ ing occasional alms. Pel, who poisoned his servant at Montreull, and then burned her remains In a stove, died In the beginning of the year, ai well aa Moyaux, who murdered his own daughter. Guiohard, who murded a bank mes. senger at Marseilles, is doing well ai a store oWrk, and hopes one day, If not to get to Australia, at least to settle down m New Caledonia as a colonist. One of the most comfortable and thriving of the oonviots is Fenayrou, the ohemist of the Boulevard Malesherbes who led the lover of his wife into an ambush at Ohatou and then murdered h'm In a most atrocious manner. This orlmtnal has passed through the various categories until ho arrived among tbe first-olasa criminal*. He has a sharo m a farm whioh he and hie wife superintend, and bo has under his orders some of the lower o ass of criminals. Hie life sentenoe has been commuted to one of twenty yean. The Doctor who was condemned last year for having sent poisoned game to a colleague, Is giving satisfaction to the oolony and hopes to be able to attain the j privileges accorded to Fenayrou. On the whole the eduoated criminals, even those who are undergoing sentences for serious orlmeß, are highly spoken of by the Governor of Noumea, and the ' most unmitigated ratioals are the Parib gamlni and the brutish peasants or laborers, most of whom are murderers. Every year a certain number of these have to be shot down by the warder*. The official who neer his revolver against the oonviots is tried as a formality by a o )urt-martial and acquitted. The number of convicts is ten thousand or more, and there are m addition 240 female convicts who, hotrpver, were sent out to Noumea of their own aooord from tbe'Maisou O.ri trale of Paris for the purpose of marrying first-class misdemeanants. These women are supervised by nonp, There are on tbe island 600 warders. The number of first-pUss conviots amount to 1<)P0, and some of them, like Fenayrou, have been allowed to send for their wives. The State furnish e j them with agricultural Implements, food, and eyep a few heaq of oattle, when they are permitted to begin firming, and they generally contrive to do well. Another class apart from all the others, Is composed of skilled tradesmen and mechanics, musicians and even aotors. ! These have a savings bank of their own, a kind of o T ub, and are almost too prosperous for conviots. The bandsmen are said to be as good as many regimental performers, and they play programmes tf select muslo before the Governor's mansion twice a week, besides giving occasional conoertf. From this it will be eeen that the life of many conviote is far better than that whioh is led by thousands In the slums of Parts, and it lo no wonder thai; Baca being the" pjse, ' numerous^ trans gressors against ihe law of the land," including those who commit the most terrible prlines, Bhould view with longing and delight, the'r despatch to New Caledonia by the plemept n>%ndat* of ttg President of the Republic.— P<jrU Ipttef I^udou" Telegraph. "

THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN, TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 1888



Eo.LJ^OWAT'b OjNTJjtBNT AND PlLLS.— Coughs, Influenza.— -The soothing properties of these medicaments render them well worthy of trial iv all diseases of the respiratory organs. Ifl common oolds and Influenza the Pills', tako internally, and the Ointment rubbed oyer tbe chest and throat, are exceedingly efficacious. When influenza is Apjdorpio, this treatment is the easiest, softest, and surese. Holloway's Pills purify the blood, remove all obstacles to its free circulation through the lungs, relieve the over-gorged air-tubes, and render respiration free, wjth. out reducing the strength, irritating the nerves, or depressing tbe spirits ; suob are the ready means of escaping fnra euflering when afflioted with colds, coughs, bronobitis, and other chest oomplainte, by whioh the health of so many is seriously and perma* Botfly injurjed io mcit countries,



&our stpmaoj bad breath, indigeslion, and headache eaßilJured by Hdp Bitters. Take none but Amerah. " '• •"* Keatjng's Potor destroys both moths, fleas beetles, and aliother inseots while quite j hornless to doiestio anjmals. Jn ext.ej.mij pafjug beetles, te success of this powd'ef is extraordinary. ;is perfeotly clean 19 aypli, oaton. See tl artiole you purohas io I Keiting's. as. ittatious are noxious and ! iueftotual. Soli n tine, <?d c snd 2i 6d , •*, by ftU cboogt



TO OUB RAKAIA SUBSCRIBERS. I \ \ TE, desire to intimate that from and VV aftor let January, 1888. SUB- SORIBERSto this journal will OBTAIN THKIR COPIES AT TOE STORI3 OF MR C. HABDY.



Wanted. I ANTED—A. Youth orer I* years of I " ago, for Iho Spinning Depart- ment. Apply, Bluuoer, Woollen Fao t«>ry j 1 125 , WANTED Known — Flannelettes 4sd * yard ; bilesias, 2| 1 yard ; Strong c Tick, 4srt yard at Surplus Stook Company 1 * r 01e<ringb:ale. 1 139 , "YTTANTED a strong, ect'Te lad about i VV 14 years of age, for the Maohlne i Room. Apply this evening after 6 o'olook ) or tomorrow after 2 p.m. at " Mall " , •ni " Guardian •' Office. "i i WANTED to Sell— A b irat-olass Piano, grand action. Cash or terms very liberal. Apply Haybb and Co. Segers' Great SalB.— Melford House. WANTED Known. -For Sale, Blue Gnro, Bfcringy Bark, Peppermint Gum, Red Gnm, and Silver Wattle Tree Seeds, locally grown, and saved thie I Boaaon ; also Turnip Seeds, just arrived, , ex s.a. Bimntaka. — J. Bba.ly and Co., » Seedsmen. Eaet Street. llfCl Sale at Melford House.— H. 0. Segers. WANTED CASH — Moir'a Oatmeal v 251bs, 2b 6d ; Sperm Candles, 6d ; Coffee and Milk, Is per tin; Ooooa and Milk, la per tin ; Vestas, 5d per doz ; Cornflour, 44 per 1b ; tin Fruit*, 1b ; Crockery, Ironmongery, eta.— At Jambs McGregor's, Tancred Street, opposite Arcade. Melford House Sale.— H. 0. Segers. ANTED KNOWN — Oleographs Scenery, and "Catholic Subjects Cathollo Cards, good variety m Scraps Novelties m Penwipers, Crewel Wools and Silks, Knitting Cotton, Colored Crotchet Cotton, Transfers, Tinsel Balls, 4c., &0., at jlbs Manhibb's Fancy Repository, Saundsrs' Buildings? WANTED Known—To the Ladies of Aehburton and surrounding districts, that an experlenoed monthly Nuru is deoirous of engagement. Good references can be given. Address — Mrs Hill, Peter Street. Anhborton. 11 18 "TTTANTKD Known— Wells sunk, with W pomp and pipe found and fixed, from £2 10b upwards. All kinds of pump*, Ranges and house Bmith work fixed or repairod. Chimneys swept and ranger cleaned, 3s. Registers 1b 6d each. AH orders punctually attended to. Note address, H. Dudley, Moore street, Aih- t-nrton. 1122 THE ASHBURTON QUABDIAN. From and after the 30th November, 1886, the : terms of Snbieription to thiß journal will be follows, via. : — I? PAID IN ADVANCE ! Per Quarter.. 6s d, by post, Oa 6d "" J,, Half-year 12a 6d, by pout, 18a 6d „ Year .. 24s Od, by post, S7s Od r bookbo Per Quarterf. 7a 6d, by po«r, 10a 9d r „ Half-year 15s Od, by post, 21s 6d ,> Tear .. 30s Od, by post, 43s Od Birth, Marriage, and Death Notioes, if paid for at the time of insertion, 2s 0d eaoh (stamps may be Bent as payment) ; if booked, 4s eaob. Announcements of Births, Deaths and Marriages sent for publication from the oountry districts require to be verified by the \u25a0ignature of the erson sending the notioe. DIARY. C Moon's San Sun Mom Moon ago «t January. Rims- Bete. Bi c« Beta, noonday pja. p.m. 91 Baturd»T ... <.49 r.ss o.it ii.si r 23 Sunday .. 4.50 7.32 1.14 • " S urn. S3 Monday .. 4.53 7J2 2.1S 018 t 24 Tuesday .. 4.63 7.ai 3.H 0.47 10 26 Wetfnendfly . . 4.54 7.80 4.12 182 11 SI Thursday .. 4.5S 7.29 t.9 J. 2 12 27 Friday.. .. 4.87 7.28 6.3 2.48 13 Moonlight Eteninos. The Moon tit S days old shines till about 8 o'olook. The Moon at 6 days old shines till about half-past 10 o'olook. The Moon at 8 days old shines till nearly 1 o'clock m the morning. The Moon at 12 days old shinea from sundown till about 4 m the morning. The Moon at 15 days old is full, and shines all night. The Moon at 18 days old rises about 9 p.m. and shines till morning. The Moon at 21 days old rises about 11 a.m. and Bhines till morning. The Moon at 24 dajs old rises about 2 a.m. and ebinestt 11 morning. The Moon at 27 days old rises about 4 a.m. and shines till sunrise.



GREAT CLEARING SALE OF i FURNITURE, &c, &c '\u25a0 I r PICKFORD AND UNDRILL HAVING received nol ice to quit their Prem T ses, m eonsequenoe of the land being at once require! for New Bui'dings. have decided to hold a CHEAP SALE ' of all their L*rge Stock, conti^t'ng o — ' FUKNITuRh- m variety, HANDSOME OHI'STS DRAWERS, O 7EFFTONERB, IRON AND WO >D BEDvSTBADS. Choioa TOILKT WAR*.. 2 Cases FENDERS AND FIRS IRONS, BEDDING, CR >OKERY AND GLASSWAR& at prices that must effect a Clearance m ONE MONTH. H- M- JOIST ES» THE Revocation of tims has brought na to another OBISIS In the History of Lifa culminating m the arrival of SANTA CL ADS, who is expected here betwesn the 24th and "_6th inst. T> afford a proper and fitting reception of the above mentioned distinguished visitor, the undersigned has procured from the best Market a LARGE and.VARIE.) assortment of STATIONERY, BOOKS, TOYS, FANCY GOODS, GLABS and BASKETWABE, ORNAMENTS, and other GOODS too numerous to particularise. OPENING OF NEW PREMISES. In order to extend and facilitate Business, the Proprietor has erected large and commodious premises adjoining the Somerset Hotel, East Street, which will bo opened temporarily for the XMAS tiade COME AND SEE THE Is TABLES 1 COME AND SEE THE fin TABLES All I" oods marked m plain figures at lowest possible prices. COME ONE ! COME ALL t i COME EARLY TO AVOID THE ORUBK, SCHOOLS LIBERALLY DEALT WITH. SMALL PROFITS, LARGE AND QUICK RETURNS is the MOTTO of the Proprietor. 12 9 I ~ ~ - I I _\u25a0-.-\u25a0--_- N T _ .in.-. . | „.., _\u0084.- , , ._. ' ALBEET ROBERTS HAS FOR SALE,— Corn sacks LARGE PIZE AND FULL weight. SEAMING TWINE TN ANY QUANTITY. Clovers,— REP, WHITE, COWGRASS, ALSYKE, and TREFOIL. RYEGRASS, COCKSFOOT, asd RAP hi. ANCHOR Binding Wire and very best Binder Twine. Golden Tares, Cape Barley, COOPER'S SHEEP DIP, _-. \u0084 \u25a0 , ___\u25a0___\u25a0\u25a0 .._\u25a0_\u25a0., ,______.,.\u25a0\u25a0 \u0084 . . . . i 1 1 - - ... - _ THE STANDARD FIRE & MARINE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEVT ZEALAND. WITH UNLIMITED LIABILIT? OF SHAREHOLDERS. CAPITAL~£I,OOO7OOO STERLING. HEAD OFFICE"? DUNEDIN. IMBURERB have tha most undouhted Security under this Company's Policies together with an assurance of Prompt and Liberal Settlement of Claims. FIRE and MARINE RIbKS accepted oo aU descriptions of Property and Merchandise, also Crop, Stack, and Machine Risks at Lowest hateci of Premium. Fidelity of Persons holding situations of trußt guaranteed. OFFICE : HEREFORD BTREF.T, CHRTSTOHUROH. (Opposite Bank .of New Zealand ) ARCHIBALD i-COTT, Manager for Canterbu-y. ALBEET EOBEETS, 1 5 AGENT, ASHBURTON LONG RUSSIAN HEMP TWINE, COLONIAL MANUFACTURE. 4-Ply (Green Label), 900 feet to the Pound. • fpHE Undersigned aßks the special attention of FARMERS and CONTRACTOR I. to this article as one of the cheapest and best T VV INE3 ever put oi the marke 1 . I have advocated this class of TWINE for years, simply beciuse I onsider it th Most economical any farmer can use. Farmers will find ths TWiNE of UNIFORM THICKNESS, STRENGTH, and LENGTH, throughout. It will work Buccesefnl.'y on any make of Binder. It will run further and do more work at a lehs coat, and tio more grain than any twine I know of. Thi' wiil be clear to everyones' mind who coasiders that, running as it does, 800 feet to the pound means— THREE Q CARPERS OV A MILE IN A BALL, and MORE THAN 19 MILES PER OWT. Every Ball h 7 s a Gre.n Ticket with iame on, with a guarantee that it runs 900 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 eyo of heaven ; to garnish, To advertise the well-known Wood's It's wasteful and ridiculous excess !" "King John," Act IV, Scene 2 ASK FOR VV T ALTER A.WOOD'S BINDER, AND TAKE NO OTHER. SALES FOR ttO"«J7 MACHINES. F. FERRIMAN, A&Vrctotv For bale,— J SECONDiHANDJTWIWE MoCORMIOK J SECOND JUNDJJT WINE ,WOOD,S SfcCONDSHAND WIRE MoOORMICK3 F. FEPRIMAN,