MARRIAGE.

Dalley—Emery.—On Augusi 7, at Man chester Street North, Christchurch, by John Edwards, Joseph, second son of Mr H. Dalley, Ashburton, to ■jEdie Jane, third daughter of Mr*R. g:Emery, Cranmer Square, Christchurch.

DEATH.

Kkeley—On Sunday, August 10th, at L^his residence, Hampstead, Edward H|Keeley, aged 37.

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna et Veritas et Prævalebit. MONDAY, AUGUST 11, 1890. STATE RETRENCHMENT.

Ministerial insincerity m the matter of public retrenchment is strikingly illustrated by proceedings now taking place m Committee of Supply. The Ministry are fighting tooth and nail to have the Estimates passed as originally brought down, and when this is found to be impracticable, the country is treated to the spectacle of Cabinet Ministers pleading piteously to Govern ment supporters, " Skinflints," Opposi tion, and "Independents" to deduct as little as possible from certain high salaried officials, who are notoriously over-paid^ Ministers were elected to their positions on the distinct under standing that public expenditure was to be curtailed. This pledge was given and was kept for a time, but, on the eve of an election, and with a view to catching the working-man's vote, the Government hare turned a political ■omersault, and would now pose before the country as the champions of the underpaid Civil Servant. Salaries previously cut down are recommended to be raised again, and a, decided effort is being made to force the Retrench ment Party into a false position. They are made to appear as the enemy instead of the friend of the poorly-paid Civil Servant ; and they are the enemies of that class of Servant only who draw princely incomes for doing next to nothing. The working man, however, be he a Civil Servant or otherwise, is not the fool he appeared to be a few years ago, and is sufficiently educated to distinguish between those who are his friends and those who are his foes. He will therefore be able to appreciate at its true value the sincerity of a Ministry who have cut down the salaries or dispensed with reasonably-paid Civil Servants, and have left a small army of over-paid Civil Service barnacles untouched. We think the coming election will prove this, and we look hopefully for ward to see the majority of those who are now supporting the Government to maintain lavish expenditure rejected by the various constituencies.

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Mr Toomey has withdrawn froifi the field m the Timaru election contest. An ingenious Aucklander has patented a machine for cleaning boot?. A wife-beater m Auckland named Samuel Grccnrod has been sentenced to two months' imprisonment for his brutality. A Gorman doctor lias discovered thai coffee destroys microbes. All that he ex perimented upon with it were killed. Sir (t. Grey wants the Legislature to enact fiat all leading articles m the newspapers shall bear the name of the writers. The Molyneux river is at present running pretty high—fully 12ft or loft above its ordinary level § " Taxation ; The present system a system of robbery by science," was the title of a lecture delivered by Mr W. McLean before the Wellington Union Debating Society. A young man who has lately been bush felling m the Poluuigintn^ihaJ received ad vices that the sum of £8,000.is lying iti wait for him. The paper on which the Bank of England notes arc printed is made of new linen or cotton, and a note will support a weight of 3151bs before it is sized. Waiter (who has just received payment of the bill): " Beg pardon, sir ; but this don't include the waiter." Mr Shaycobs : "Of course it don't, ma tear ; but then I didn't eat the vaiter ! " Electric traction is said to be fairly booni- I ing m London. In a few weeks n line of omnibuses run by electricity is to be started. Tliey will be driven by storage batteries, and have a seating capacity for 26 passengers. Mr D. Thomas has been appointed agent for Redwood's blight specific m this district and has a stock of the material now on hand. Orchadists and gardeners are invited to in spect the testimonials already given as to the efficacy of the specific. Mr Hall-Jones addressed the Timaru electors on Saturday evening. He declared himself a freetrader, m favor of the present State system of education, a land and income tax m preference to the property-tax, and declared against party Government. It is no use telling you to look pleasant, said the photographer to the pretty young lady, as he prepared to unmask his camera, for you cannot look anything else than pleasant. And this observation so pleased her that she smiled all over, md the picture was a great success. A Dunedin policy-holder wants to know how much of the Government Life Insurance funds are invested under mortgages m pro perties that are not worth the money m the market. He refers, for an example, to the hotel and other properties at Blenheim, brought m the other day at £20,000 by the mortgagees —the Government Life Insurance Association. A message to the "Daily Times" says that a dispute has taken place at the Allan dale coal mine, Shag Point, the carters having struck work m consequence of the bad state of the road between the mine and the rail way station. On Tuesday the miners were ! all discharged, doubtless m consequence,nnd it is already m the air that the next few days may reveal further developments, I Tobacco must be a profitable crop m Egypt, as it bears a tax of. £30 an acre, as the equivalent of an import duty of Is 3d per pound on foreign tobacco. The tobacco ■ revenue m Egypt is £450,000. Sir Charles Dilke recommends the Indian Government to levy similar special duties on tobacco, and such taxes, it is estimated, would yield be tween throe and four millions a year. Messrs Millar and Gibbs (Federated Sea men's Union), Andrews and Lomas (Amal gamated Miners' and Laborers' Union), D. P. Fisher and Brown (Federated Wharf Laborers' Union), at present constitute the Executive of the Maritime Council, but the railway servants and other organisations are affiliated thereto, and it is intended to shortly enlarge the representation on the Council. It is said that the Queen is m the habi* of of keeping rooms which have been occupied by deceased persons locked up. The apart njceiits at Claremont, m which the Princess Charlotte died more than 70 years ago, are closed, and nobody js allowed to use them. Prince Albert's apartments at Windsor, Osborne, and Balmoral are all kept precisely as they were when he was alive; and on the wall m the room m which he died there is a feablet with an inscription recording the fact that "this apartment was the scene of his demise." .John Brown's rooms at Windsor have also beeii closed since: his death, and marked with a large brass sign, with aa inscription commemorating his virtues Rod deploring his death, *

His Excellency the Governor has appointed Mr Joseph Batty to be a member of the Mount Hutt Licensing Committee, vice Mr Julian Jackson. For tha senior civil service examination m January, 1891, the period of literature will be that between 1800 and 1850, and the special books Milton's "Samson Agonistes " and Shelley's " Prometheus Unbound." The annual Point to Point Steeplechase to finish up the hunting season will be held on Wednesday. Entries will be take up to twelve noon on the day of the race. The sub-Committee have decided on a very good course, and we hope to see a good field. The horses will be started on their journey at about 3.30 p.m. rapid increase of crime m Prance is causing grave apprehension among think ing people, and gave the Archbishop of Rheiins a text for the Lenten discourses which have created such a sensation among our neighbours. It appears that the annual average of criminality has increased three fold since 1870, and the average of juvenile criminals fourfold. Suicidal mania is also spreading, the number of suicides having more than doubled m 10 years. Sir Wilfrid Lawson gave his opinion of both the Government Licensing Bill and Lord Randolph's as well. "We cannot support the former because it creates a pros pective value m the license," he said. "On that we light As to the noble lord's faith as a local optionist I am reminded of the American who said—'l am m favour of the Maine law, but against ita enforcement.' That is Lord Randolph all over." Major Steward wrote a letter to ■' the Dummyism Committee demanding that persons employed on the Levels station should be summoned and examined with regard to certain alleged acts of dummyism m that locality. Mr John M'Kenzie nioved that this course be adopted, but Mr Rhodes moved as an amendment that the inquiry should be general, and that alleged dummies from every part of the colony should be summoned for examination. This was carried unanimously. The owners of sheep m the colony are classified as follows :—Owning under 500 head, 7054 persons; 800 and under 1000 sheep, 1381 persons; 1000 and under 2000 sheep, 826 persona ; 2000 and under 5000 sheep, 597 persons; 5000 and under 10,000 sheep, 277 persons; 10,000 and under 20,000 sheep, 239 persons; 20,000 and upwards, 151 persons. The total number of sheep being for 1889, 15,423,328 owned by 10,525 persons. The Russian eats, on an average, once every two hours. The climate and custom require such frequent meals, the digestion of which is aideel by frequent draughts of vatka and tea. Vatka is the Russian whisky, made from potatoes and rye. It is fiery and colorless, and is generally flavored with some extract Hke vanilla or orange. It is drunk from small cups that hold perhaps half a gill. Vatka and tea are the inseparable ac- ] companiments of friendly as well as of busj« ness, intercourse m the country of the Czar. Professor Bruehl, the most active apostle of Darwinism m Austria, was until lately m the habit of delivering gratis lectures on anatomy. The clericals, m their organ, the Vaterland, lately raised the cry that the pro fessor was undermining the Christian faith, and repeated their warning so often that the Minister of Public Instruction summoned the college of university profesaora to decide whether they were or were not dangeroiu from a religious point of view. Professsor Bruehl was informed by the rector that there was nothing to prevent him from con tinuing his lectures. A couple of Scotchmen settled m Cau'ida were out on a trapping excursion, and came to a cavity where they knew there was a young bear. It was arranged that ono should crawl into the hole and capure it, while the other kept guard outside. Accordingly this was acted upon ; but the she bear put m an appearance when tho guard was unprepared, and he had barely time to grip the brute by tho attachment which does duty for tail as it was entering its lair. Presently, from the interior came the enquiry, '' \ V hat's that that's stopping light, Donald ':" to which was shouted the reply, " Man, if the tail break;, yell sune ken." Jackson and party, the real discoverers of the M.'ihakipawa goldfield, have (sv>» tie Havelock correspondent of the "Times") never received ore penny from (hs Govern ment. A bonus of £500 was promised for the discovery of any gold-field, half to be found by the local body on the adoption of certain regulations, the other half to be paid from the consolidated fund. The local body m tliis instance, viz., the Pclorous Road Board, refuse to adopt the regulations owing to want of funds, and consequently the pros pectors, who went through all kinds of hardships, receive nothing. Considering that something like 40,000 ounces have been unearthed, and a permanent field found em ploying over 300 miners, he considers that the Government should do something, and if necessary have the regulatione amended t A case just tried at Leeds furnishes another instance of the utterly vicious system of " tipping " m business which we have so often condcmined. The head dyer m a Bradford firm, who was entrusted with the buying of the drugs for his branch of the business, arranged with a Leeds drysalter that the goods should be invoiced much above the market value, and that the excess should be divided between them. In this way, it is alleged, the Bradford firm was defrauded of large sums. The jury took a long time to make up their minds, but eventually brought m a verdict of guilty, and the buyer was sentenced to nine months' and the seller to three months' imprisonment. The system has been defended m many quarters, on the ground that business cannot otherwise bo done, but a few such sentences will bring home to those who resort to it that it has it« risks, and will strengthen the hands of those who set their faces against this demoralising practice. —Exchange. Tht bog* medicine is Sander and §»«»' Euc&lpyti Extract. Test it§ eminent power ful effect* m coughs, coldi, influenea, etc.— the relief ia instantaneous. Thousands give the most gratifying testimony. His Majetty the King of Italy and medical syndicate! all over the world are its patrons. Rend the official reports that accompany each bottle. We have no occasion to offer reward* m proof of the genuineness 'of our refere»oes. The official reports of medical clinics and univer sities, the official communications of th« Consul-General for Italy at Melbourne : the diploma awarded International Exhibition, Amsterdam—all these are authentic docu ments, and, as such, not open to doubt. We add here epitome of one of the various cases treated at the clinic of Schultz, M.D. Pro fessor, etc.—•" C. 8., 24 years old; conges tional abscess on the thigh. Incisions made m two places. Although Lister's dressing was applied, the secretion became, two days later, very copious, and had adopted a foetid decomposed character. The temperature rose enormously. In consequence the dressing wa§ removed and m ita place were made during the day-time repeated irrigations with Eucalypti Extract. The offensive faster dis appeared very soon, the fever abated within a few days, and the patient recovered after the lapse of several weeks. In this instance we must not lose sight of the fact that the latter treatment saved the patient's life." (Advfc.) 3 There is now to be seen m the shop window of Messrs J Seujy and Co., East street, a collection of apples showing some of the sorts grown at the Nurseries, Riverbank, that will repay inspection by any one who contemplates planting fruit plants. There are upwards of fifty dif ferent kinds shown, all valuable, long keeping sorts. For size, color, and general excellence they are by far the inest that have been shown m Ashburton his season—CA lv Hollo way's Pills.—Weary of Life.— Derangement of the liver is one of the mos efficient causes of dangerous disease, and the most prolific source of those melancholy fore bodings which are worse than death itself. A few doses of these noted pills act magically m dispelling low spirits, and repelling the covert attacks made on the nerves by exces sive heat, impure atmosphere, overindul gence, or exhausting excitement. The shattered constitution may derive benefit from Holloway's Pills, which will regulate disordered action, brace the nerves, increase f the energy of the intellectual faculties, and revive the failing memory. By attentively studying the instructions for taking these pills, an explicitly putting them m practice, the most desponding will soon feel confident of a perfect recovery,

TELEGRAPHIC

HOME AND FOREIGN.

[per press association.] London, August 8 to 10. The Cardifl strike has been settled, the employers having given way to the demands of the men. The Vienna correspondent of the " Times " says that thousands of Jews are leaving Russia and emigrating to Brazil and Algeria. Tcvarcij The imports of the United Kingdom for the month of July show a decrease m value of .£2,200,000, aa compared with the corresponding month m 1889. The Mayor of Limerick and several members of the Corporation have been expelled from the Irish League for re fusing to support the resolution pledg ing confidence m John Dillon m his dispute with Bishop O'Dwyer. ; Mi Henry George has been enter tained at a banquet at Ohinford, and m the course of his speech he stated that the single tax was progressing m Australia, but he found protection a strong obstacle to it. In answer to a question m the House of Commons to-day, Baron de Worms stated that the Government had received despatches from Queens land on the question of the separation of the northern portion of the colony, but considered that the present time was inopportune to come to a decision m the matter. The Army Service corps at Chatham refused to parade, and retired to barracks and locked themselves up m a store room. The ringleaders of the mutiny were sentencad to imprisonment for a month. The men allege that they are overworked, and an enquiry is to be made into their charges, The men engaged on the Cardiff Railway refuse to ratify the agreement come to between the leaders of the agi | tation and the Secretary of the Railway Company that 240 hours should con stitute a month's work, and that over time be paid over fifteen hours. Her Majesty the Queen, m replying to a sympathetic farewell from the residents of Heligoland, expresses thanks for their loyal sentiments, and states she is convinced that the Emperor of Germany will promote the prosperity of the Island. ■ Heligoland was formally handed over on Sunday to Von Boetticher, and the German Secretary of State for the in terior, and the English and German flags were hoisted alongside one another Mr Barcley, the Governor of Heligo land, took his departure to-day amid great enthusiam, extreme regret being expressed at his departure. Prior to his departure the Governor was enter tained at a banquet and salutes were fired as .he left the shore. The South Wales food supply is para lysed, and hundreds are engaged pick eting the railways to prevent blacklegs from working. The Directors of the Railway Company have decided to re sume the running of trains on Tuesday under strong police protection. The employers of labor m South Wales have united, and it is expected that the strike will be protracted. The Cardiff railway hands insist on ten hour.-;, and the shunters and signal men on eight hours. The dockers and seamen are supporting the railway men and the strike is being organised by Mr Tellett. Lloyds have presented Captain Bright, of the ship Beltana, with £100 m recognition of his services m saving the ship from destruction on her voyage from Port Augusta to London. The Beltana left Port Augusta on the 22nd November, and when m sight of Anti podes Island it was discovered that the vessel was on fire,. A vain endeavor was made to discover the locality of the fire ; all the hatches were then closed and the vessel headed for Lyttelton, where she arrived on the 16th December, and after a couple of day' hard work m Lyttelton harbor the fire was subdued. After re-loading, the Beltana sailed for London. Guatemala, August 9. A state of anarchy reigns, and the President, General Don M. L. Barretas, has fled. The American Minister has taken refuge on the American warship. Pretoria, August 8. The Volksaad, by 29 to 10, has rati fied the Swaziland independence, and preparations are being made to enter into a Customs Union.

AUSTRALIAN

Melbourne, August 9. Six members of the Pastoralists' Union have subscribed £1000 each to provide a fund for importing labor. The captain, mate, and ten of the crew of the ship Carlisle have been landed at Woodside. They report that they were wrecked on Kent Group on Wednesday night. A boat containing eight of the crew is missing. Hobart, August 9. Notice has been given of a motion that the public works proposals are unsatisfactory. The Government in tend to treat it as a vote of want of confidence. Sydney, August 10. Mr Best, the organist, having re covered from his recent severe illness, the inauguration of the new organ m the Centennial Hall took place. There was a very large attendance, and the performance was a great success. The Rev Charles Clark to-day preached, a sermon, the proceeds of which were to go to charitable pur poses. The church was crowded, some 4000 to 5000 being present. The announcement that the organ would not be played was received with hisses. At a meeting of railway men. reso lutions were carried protesting against the dismissal of 600 hands who were employed on the permanent way, and the work being given to contractors. As the dismissal was likely to lead to serious trouble, ar interview was sought with the Chief Commissioner, Mr Eddy, who explained that the arrangement was not permanent, and as opportunity arose the men would be re-engaged. Brisbane, August, 10. The new Cabinet formed by Sir S. W. Griffith is as follows:—Chief Secre tary and Attorney-General, Sir S. W. Griffith ; Colonial Treasurer, Sir Thos. Mcllwraith; Secretary for Railways and Public Works, Mr T. Unmack; Secretary for Public Lands and Agri culture, Mr R. S Cowley; Secretary for Mines and Postmaster-General, Mr W, O. Hodgkinson j Colonial Sec

retary and Minister of Education, Mr Horace Tozer. Mr W. H. C. Wilson will lead the Council without portfolio, and Mr Byrnes has been appointed to a seat m the Council as Solicitor- General.

INTERPROVINCIAL

Auckland, August 8. The steamer Rose Casey, bound for Coromandel, and the paddle steamer Tainui, from Waikika, collided outside the harbour, off Motuihi Island, to-night. The bow*of the Rose Casey struck the Tainui on the paddle box and sponson, shattering them. The Rose Casey had a couple of plates torn away. The crew and passengers of the Tainui are safe. Dunedin, August 9. Mr Merriless died from injuries received at the fire at Taieri beach. The insurance is only £140.

Amazons in Action.

A New York Tribune special cable from Paris says a firm of Rouen has received from a traveller, who is actually at Koto nan, a letter, under date of the sth March, containing the following particulars about the attack by the Dahomians :— During the last few days there had been about fifteen sharpshooters wounded. Something was expected, but gradually •the watchfulness had become rather weak. The consequence was that the sentinels were fast asleep at half-past five m the morning when the Dahomians advanced m snakelike glidings. They surprised the sentinels, and cut off their heads. In the same manner the watchman of the battery was butchered. The artillery quarter master endeavoured to defend himself, bub an amazon, a fine girl of sixteen, stabbed him with a poinard and cut his throat. The same fate happened to a brigadier, and also to a non-commissioned officer of artillery. Meanwhile the alarm had been given. The Senegalese riflemen arrived on the run and swept off the first ranks of the Dahomians. The bold young amazon was caught, thrown to the ground, and her neck cut. At the same moment Governor Boyatt signalled to the gun boat at anchor just off the battlefield. Immediately a hailstorm of bombs and Hotchkiss balls rained over the Dahomians and caused them to take flight to the underbrush, leaving from 500 to 600 of their people on the ground. The Amazons still constitute the best part oi the Dahomian army. This corps of about 2500 women is mainly recruited from yonng girls of the best families of Dahomey, designed by the caprice of the king for military service. They live m barracks like regular soldiers and are sworn to perpetual virginity. Neverthe less one-third of the amazon corps is com posed of immoral women, whose lives have been spared on condition of their enlist ment, and of quarrelsome wives, com plained of by their husbands to the King, who is only too glad to make use of their fighting humor by incorporating all these female demons into his army. , One company of the amazon regiment bears the name of " Razor Virgins," be cause they are armed with razors sft. long, which are temble weapons m Afri can fights, and are used m time of peace to decapitate men sentenced to death by the Dahomian King, who also uses his amassons as public executioners. Another company is named ' The Big Muskets," each woman soldier being accompanied by a slave, who carries a heavy flintlock. The " Sure to Kill " company is formed of the best sharpshooters. There are also "carbineers" and "bayonet " com panies. The " arrow-bearers "■ is com posed of girls too young yeb for actual lighting, but who are employed as re connoitring parties and m the ambulance corps.

The Argentine Republic.

[per pkbss association.] Buexos Ayres, August 9. The loan about to be issued by the Argentine Republic will probably amount to 100,000,000 pesos (about £20,000,000.) The premium on gold continues to recede, and is now quoted at 125. Since the formation of the new Cabinet confidence m the country has been revived. London, August 9. Dr Carlos Pelligrini, the new Pre sident of the Argentine Republic, is a cousin of the late John Bright,

MAGISTERIAL.

ASHBURTON-MONDAY.

(Before Messrs Donald Williamson and Alfred Harrison, J.P's.) Drunkenness—John Kemp, accused of having been drunk on August 8, had not sufficiently recovered, and was remanded until Wednesday. A first offender was dealt with m the usual way. Peter Kennedy, pleaded guilty to having been drunk m Havelock street on Sunday, at 2 p.m. On the understanding that he would at once go back to his work at Methven he was dismissed. Lunacy.—A female lunatic was com mitted to Sunnyside Asylum on the certificates of Drs Trevor and Tweed.

The Markets.

[per tress association.] London, August 8. Australian wheat, ex warehouse, 37s 6d to 38s ; New Zealand long berried, ex warehouse, 375. The wheat market generally is firm and steady. London, August 10. The Antwerp wool sales take place be tween August 18th and 23rd inclusive, and 19,000 bales will be offered, including 6000 from Australia.

A Courageous Act.

A courageous act, which should not be unrecognised, was performed on Tuesday morning by George T. Dennis %nd Thomas Duffy. Dennis is the proprietor of a wood and coal yard m York street, South Mel bourne, and on Tuesday morning, at about half-past 8 o'clock, Duffy, an employe" m the wood yard, noticed smoke issuing from a large two-store building adjoining the yard, occupied by J. H. Disney, greengrocer. Mr Disney, who is a moulder engaged at Johnson's foundry, had gone to work sometime previously, and Mrs Disney had gone to market to get a fresh stock of goods. Knowing these circumstances, and believing that the Disney's little children were alone m the burning house Dennis at once decided to enter it at the back. While he ran for an axe with which to break m the door, Thomas Duffy rushed at it with all his force, and as it yielded let himself into the house. Dennis then came up, and the two went up stairs, and though nearly stifled with smoke,' made their way to the bedroom, where they found two children—one a little boy about four years of age and the other a girl of under two years. The little boy was endeavouring to make his way out of the room, but the girl was lying on the floor m a semi-conscious state, her tongue profcuding and scarcely able to breathe. The children were then handed over to the care of a neighbor, and Mr Dennis des patched Thomas Duffy m his delivery cart to alarm thefiremanand bring back thereel. Meanwhile he and James Duffy, another of'

his employe's, got water into the room with a garden hose, and kept the flamis down and confined to the bedroom until the arrival of the firemen ; soon after which the fire was totally extinguished before much damage was done. The commendable promptness with which Dennis and his men acted was not only the means of saving the two children from a terrible death, but was also the means of saving the destruction of the house and its contents, not least of which was the sum of £170 concealed m the bedroom. — " Melbourne Argus."

CORRESPONDENCE.

[We do not hold ourselves responsible for the expressed by our correspondents.

LOCAL OPTION.

: TO THE EDITOR. I Sir, —Allow me to inform "Moderation" that Mr Walker was accused (through the Press) of breaking his promise before he went to Wellingten, and that was at the time he was holding his meetings m Ashburton and neighbourhood, and at none of those meetings did he take the trouble to explain, or refer to the Local Option Bill m any shape or form what whatever.—l am, etc., John Marsden.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—-Can you inform me if the In spector of Slaughter-houses for Ash burton is m any way responsible for the condition of meat exposed for sale by auction m this town? If so he should have inspected a carcase of pork offered for sale on Saturday last m Ashburton, and not only condemned the lot as totally unfit for food, but taken immediate steps to punish the offending owner who endeavoured to palm off such stuff as I refer to on the public here. The mutton at the same place would hardly pass muster at either Belfast or Islington freezing works, and the excuse perhaps ready that " this line is for dog's meat" will not hold good as regards the " pork," as it is well-known even dogs won't eat that, even if good meat, much less such rubbish as above noted.—l am etc., Wallaby.

Good News four Farmers.

Ib has been calculated—with the present population of the United States, and its rate of increase—that five years will see the export of wheat from that country at an end. The local market there is grow ing faster than the wheat fields are ex tending. The supply of meat will also bis curtailed trom the same causes, and these coming changes can hardly be other than beneficial to New Zealand farmers and graziers. The Review of Reviews of June last deals with the same subject as follows:— The real economic question which underlies Irish agitation is the fall m the value of land caused by the excessive competition of American produce. Whether or not Irish land legislation succeeds depends entirely upon whether or not the value of Irish land has touched bottom. As long as the American far mer can put his beef m the English market at a lower figure per pound than the Irish farmer can produce it, there is no hope of any tranquility m Ireland. But the moment American produce rises m value, that moment the tide will begin- to turn. The present lull m Ireland is muci; more due to the prices of _meat m the Chicago market than bo all the legis lation of the Imperial Parliament. But it ■is not only m Ireland that American com petition has revolutionised the conditions of agriculture. There is probably not a county m England m which there are not farms idle ab this moment and landlords at the brink of ruin because of the impossibi lity of producing meat and wheat at pay ing prices, m face of the cheap produce of the American f rairie. Hence I am in clined to regard Mr 0, Wood Da vis's papers m the Forum of April and May as being quite the most important from an econo mic point of view of any m the periodicals under review this month. Mr Wood Devis sets forth with a great display of statistical information that American competition, so far as wheat and meat are concerned, is on its last legs, and m a very short time America will actually have to import wheat to feed her own population! For years past, he points out, the Ameri can farmer has been almost driven to bankruptcy by the excessive production of cereals, and stock. He calculates that it requires an acre and a quarter to produce the agricultural product consumed at home or exported abroad. During the last fourteen years so mush land has been brought under cultivation that the average per head rose to 3| m 1883, and it was the crops of the surplus quarter acre which flooded the home and foreign markets. In 1888, however, this average per head had falien from 3"51 to 336, and the process thus begun will proceed till m 1894 there will only be 3 acres pet head, owing to the natural increase of the population. If the American people con tinue to require the product of 3J acres each, they will have to make an annual addition of 6,000,000 acres at least to keep pace with the natural increment of population. For years past tne annual additions have been less than 3,000,000 of acres. Mr Davis's conclusions are as follows:— "If the computation of the area re quired per capita be correct, and if the Department of Agriculture has nob under estimated the area employed m growing stapla crops, domestic consumption will absorb the entire product of cereals, potatoes, and hay within five years from January, 1890, and thereafter agricultural exports will consist almost wholly of tobacco, cotton, and animal products, the volume of which will shrink as con stantly, if not m the same degree, as home consumption increases. An equali sation of the supply of the various staples will readily follow from the application of corn and wheat fields to the growth of such products as may, from time to time, be m most urgent demand. Meantime, prices will steadily advance. " To most people it would probably ap pear absurd to suggest that well within ten years it may be found necessary to import large quantities of wheat to feed the ever-increasing population ; but such will be the logical sequence of the necessity of employing wheat fields m the growth of other staples, and of the ex haustion o.f the material from which farms are developed. " Assuming the substantial correctness of the estimates of area by the Depart ment of Agriculture, and that home re quirements will be such as to employ 3*15 acres per capita, bhe answer to bhe ques tion, When will the farmer be prosperous? resolves itself into a calculation as simple as the following :— Acres. Acres. January, 1894, a population of 72,000,000 will require m staple crops an area of 226,800,000 Area now em ployed m grow ing such crops 211,000,000 Additions to be made to such area m four years 12,000,000 223,000,000 Acreage deficit Jan., .1894 ... 3,800,000 " This deficit should be sufficient to neutralise any possible under-esfciinate of the a-rea now m cultivation. " Does not the evidence adduced show

that before this decade is half spent, all the products of the farm will be required at good prices, that lands will appreciate greatly m value, and that the American farmer will enter upon an era of pro sperity, the unlimited continuance of which is assured by the exhaustion of the arable areas V —Exchange.

The Austro-Hungarian Throne.

The marriage of the Archduchess Val eric, whose union with the Archduke Francis Salvator has been announced, was preceded on June 15th by a most important function. In the presence of the Imperial family, the Imperial notary, and other high notables she renounced her right of succession to the Austro- Hungarian throne. The Emperor has now only two children living, the Arch duchess Griselda, and the Archduchess Valeric. The elder daughter went through a similar renunciation of her rights previous to her marriage. Their chance of succession to the regal authority was, however, somewhat remote, aa what is known as the Pragmatic Sanction pro vides that only m case of failure of the male line shall women succeed m their order of connection with the throne. There are several of the male line who would succeed before either of the Emperor's daughters, the husband of Archduchess Valeric being #ne of them. It is hard to predict what may happen, however, m the royal family of Austria. There has been an epidemic of renuncia tion among theni by one means er another. The suicide of the Crown Prince was followed by the renunciation of right of succession on the part of the Archduke Karl Ludwig. Again, m October, of last year, Archduke John petitioned to be allowed to lay down his rank and titles, and sailed away m his yacht as plain Mr Johann Orth.

Serious Charge Against the Bank of New Zealand.

The following is a verbatim report of a passage m Mr Saunders' speech contain ing his charges against the Bank of New Zealand, and which have excited much interest and talk m the lobbies:—" I say that no man ought to have any right to sit on those benches, or to administer the government of this country, and under take to deal on our behalf with the Bank of New Zealand, unless he was entirely free from all restraint and all obligation to that bank. I know ifc has been said to i night, and I regret to hear it said, that the Bank of New Ze viand would use its influence improperly with any member of the Government. I think that when once a man is placed m such a position as some of the members of this Government are admitted to be placed m with regard to the bank, and become under a deep ob ligation m their transactions with the bank, we can really hardly know how far they are influenced by feelings of depen dence or gratitude. Nor can they even be sure themselves that such feelings have no influence on their Ministerial duties. However, it is a very painful position, and I may illustrate what I mean by a circumstance that, I think, bears very strongly upon this case and which, I think, will show you, sir, and this House that I have the best reasons i for saying that the Bank of New Zealand is not above using its influence when it is m a position to do so. Ib is about eleven years ago that I thought myself a wealthy, affluent man one day, and the next day I had not a farthing left m the world. Fortunately I was m no one's debt, and I owed nothing to the Bank. But un fortunately one of my sons was m some degree connected with the Bank, and m some degree under its thumb. I think it was on some occasion m this House when a question came before it m connection with the purchase of some of our district railways. Mr Driver was m the House at • the time, and was supposed to represent the Bank of New Zealand. He came to me, knowing my circumstances—how deep my sympathies were for my sou, and how much that son was just then at the mercy of the Bank—and told me that the Bank wished me to vote m a certain direction, tsaid that if I -had to vote m the direc tion the Bank wished I would resign my seat to-morrow, as I would never betray a constituency by my pretending to represent it when really I only repre sented the Bank of New Zealand. The next day I saw about 20 notes come int« this chamber. One was handed to me, and the rest were handed around the House. I opened mine, and found it was a message to the same effect—that the Bank wished me to vote m a certain direction, and ] never felt so much humiliated. I sat down to consider whether I ought to resign my seat or not; but I never considered for a moment whether I ought to obey that note or not. This shows m the most practical manner that the Bank is not above using its in fluence. If it was worth their while to stoop so low for my insignificant vote, is it likely that they would bring no influence to bear on Ministers which •hould put hundreds of thousands of our money into their hands 1 How unlikely then is it that the Government^ the majo rity of whom seem to have been under some obligation to the Bank, were the members to act on the part of the country m the same independent manner as they should have done. I want to know nothing more. I believe that three mem bers of the Government either are or have been m the hands of the Bank, and if they are not m its hands now, they are out of its hand simply through obligation to the bank, and they are not m a position to sit on those benches."

WAKANUI SCHOOL.

A meeting of this Committee was held on Thursday evening last. Present— Messrs Stewart (chairman), Cole, Hill, Brown, and Leddy. The chairman reported that he had the necessary trees planted to fill up the gaps m the plantation, and that he had got a further supply of coal and firewood for both schools.—Approved. The master's report on the main school was read, which showed the number on the roll to be 95, and the average attend ance 59. The average attendance was considered very unsatisfactory, and much to be re gretted as with better attendance averag ing not less than 71 the teaching staff would be entitled to the assistance of a pupil readier. The chairman said the number on the roll at the Side school was 17, and the average attendance 13. Letters—From the Board of Education confirming the appointment of Mrs T. Pitt sewing mistress to the Side school, as had been recommended by the Com mittee.—From the Board of Education giving information respecting the VII Standard to the following effect: That there was no VII Standard, that as chil dren could not be presented m a Standard ; they had already passed it become therefore necessary that these who had passed the VI should be called the VII; that such ■ pupils should be allowed to make themselves thoroughly efficient m all the subjects mentioned m the syllabus of the VI Standard ; that subjects to be taught outside of the sylla bus were very much at the discretion of the master, but algebra and Euclid might be taught; that the Board did not ap prove of a master devoting much of his time to teaching subjects outside of the standard regulations. Several small matters were left m the hand of Mr Brown to attend to. The, meeting fchen adjourned, ' ' '*'

THE ASHBtTETOtf GUARDIAN, MONDAY, AUGUST 11, 1800.



"Wanted. CASH Advertisements under this heading not exceeding SIXTEEN WORDS 1/-. Addresses may be left at this Office. TTTANTED—GeneraI Servant-; must V \ have good refer encea. Apply Mrs Huuo Fkibdlandisk, Burnett street. 8 73 BTOP That Cough-FloweVs "Cough Drops are the best—sue that the name m stamped on every one. H. G. Flower, Confectioner, East street. T7IXPERIENCED Housemaid requires jQj Engagement, town or country ; business house preferred. Address H.M., '' Mail " Office. 8t67 "ORESENTS. -If you want good value _L for money go to Melford House. Extra value now being given away m presents. Everything marked cheap.— H. C. Seokrs. - . ANTED KNOWN—The Strong- V y Wear Boot for Men, Women and j Childr«n can only be had at W. H. Collier's. B" OOTS, BOOTS.— 4' Keep y»ur feet Dry and save Doctor's Bills. 1 have a splendid Stock m now. Try my Double-soled Shooters. Every pair Guaranteed. Robbrt Alcorn, Ashbur-, ton Clothing Mart, Saunders' Buildings. ANTED Known.—For cheap Drapery, Millinery, Boots, Clothing, <fee., go to Melford House. Good substantial presents now giving away.—H. 0. Segers, WANTED every man m the County to have a suit of the Ashbur to Tweedi.—Robert Alcorn, Ashburton Clothing Mart, Saunder's Buildings. "Y7WERY Customer will receive a JQi handsome present by purchasing their Drapery. Millinery, Clothing, Ac, at Melford House. Cheapest House m town for first-class Drapery. —H. C. Sbobrji. c WANTED KNOWN.—A lot of Ladien Cloth and Tweed Jackets, considerably under usual cost price.— W. H. Collier, "The Corner."



"THECOUNTY." ( f"pHE Proprietors of "The County" _L Haircutting Saloon and Tobacco and Cigar Emporium, Prospect 15uildingf«, Have to announce their commencement of business. BEST ART. BF.ST QUALITY IN EVERY BRANCH, And perfection all round. lIAII* CUTTING-, 6d. ! 7 155 NOTICE.— Anyone found Tres passing m pursuit of game or otherwise on the Riversdale Estato «n and after this date will be prosecuted. J. R. WILLIAMS. Riversda'e, 24th May 5 176 TINVVALD COAL AND FIREWOOD DEPOT JA /CLOTHIER begs to , XV» V J intimate fchat he has opened a retail produce store at Tin trald, and ha» for sale —Flour, Bran, ihantt, Chiokwheat, Feed Oata, Oaten SW, and Straw Chaff, Potatoes, et*. Ako Prime Household Coal«, ASHBURTON PRICBS. TTh a rlbs "T> raddbll Licensed Landbroker and Valuator nder "The Land Transfer Act, 1885 ESTATE, HOUSB, LAND, AND GENERAL COMMISSION AGENT. j Office-Burnett Street, Next to "Mail 1 omm .11 I -111 ■ I ——- BOOKS— Thoasands of Books of every kind, inclading books on History, Travels, Seienee, Religion, Fiction, &c. *P. Aoooant Books and Stationery of erety discriprion. A chenp line of En velopes at da per thousand. Fancy Golds, inelndinf Albums, Photo Frames, Writing Gteea, Work Boxes, Purses, Ladies' Hand Bags, Games and Pussies. Music—A large Stock. Pianos, Accordians, Violins, Oraieetinas, *«• All Goods reduced for Cash. L. F. ANDREWES A CO. Stationers' Hall



WANTED Known —The Cheapes Shop to buy Tinware and Gal vanised Iron goods m Ashbarton, is at W. F. Hannaford's, Burnett Street. A arge stock kept on hand. Tin and Iron ■ware goods made and repaired with des patch Public Notices. MRS S. T I M M O has removed from the Lyttelton Boarding House to those more commodi ous and central premises, Panama House, Where friends, old and new, will be wel comed Accommodation tor boarders a reduced rates. Meals prepwed mMr Timmo'n waII known style. Meals per week, lls ; Board and lodg ings, 17* 6d ; one meal daily per week, 3 ' 6d N THE 2 NEW ZEALAND GLOTHIIG FACTORY Half Yearly STOCK-TAKING -NOW ON.- REDUCTIONS fN EVERY DEPARTMENT. The" Celebrated Wert'iein New Hi<,'h~ arm Sewing'Machinea o:i easy Time T< iy mentej CW* H. WEBBER, ~T7> Manager JJ



G G T R R A GREAT R A A G T fP SALE AT "The Corner " 120 Men's and Youths' Suits from the Ashburton, Wellington, Timaru, Oamaru and Morgiel Mills, being Hold at a DISCOUNT of 5 s IN 20 s A. let of Ladies' .Jackets and Ulsters at Half-price. IKS JACKETS for >7S ftD Jl'J I f)QS JACKETS for ~>Cf A special line of best quality Umbrellas. 1O S A^uMBIIELLASfor(3 s 6 D 1 OS (I® UMBRELLAS for *7S gD "t\T r 1 "7^ OLL IE R VV H. UOLLIER, " TI: I]E floftNEfr" C*EKD WHEAT axt> OATS O FOR SALE. TUSCAN WHEAT. PEARL WHEAT. VELVET CHAFF, etc. Also WHITE LAMMAS TUSCAN CANADIAN OATS. DANISH OATS. DUN OATS. SUPERIOR QUALITY FOR SEED JOHN G. RESTELL, 7J150 WEST STREET. A NDREW ARR'S JOL NDREW L/RR S , GREAT fy jj anjnual sue r. OK H M j DRAPERY * t» > H CLOTHING \ 4 WOTS Will Cemmencfc W Saturday, July sth The Ri-oatest BARGAINS ever .seen m A.slibmon. $- SEE xiANDBILLS. ? i , I ANDREW ORR. 3



'AiTiiCUT TCEITH WJTH-TEET« THE CHRISTCHURCH DENTAL SURGERY, Corner of Cashel and High streets. S. M" 1" AND Co: SURGEON DENTIST And at Dunedin and Westport WE have gained the FIRST AWARD fit the Dunodin Exhibition for Arfcifici.il Dentures and Mechanical Appli ances for the Mouth, and it i.i with the greatest confidence that we guarantee the highest class work and perfect fit at the most moderate cost A Single Artificial Tooth, 10s. Complete Set — Upper and Lower— temporary and permanent, £10 10s. Natural, Dutiable, Comfortable Artificial Teeth Replaced Temporarily al most immediately after the extraction of decayed teeth or stumps without extra cc or charge. Arrangements can bo made for part or monthly payments. ADMINISTERING NITROUS OXIDE CtAS several times daily for the past ten yearfl, we fearlessly assert that extraction of teeth under its influence is perfectly painless and positively safe F.ee for Administration, ss. Extraction, 2s 6d. Artificial Tcetfe and Dentures made other dentists repaired or remodelled small cost. Hourr of ttc"dance— 9 a.m. to 6 p.ls



It will be m the recollection of the public Unit my collection of apples shown m Mr Clayton's shop m East street, being sixty-six varieties, and also those which took two first awards at the Dunedin Exhibition and various other places, was pronounced to be the largest and best ever shown i» the Asli burton county. I won Id draw their atten tion m advertisement elsewhere. As only work on blight-proof stocks than which no other stocks can be relied upon, the roots o my apple trees do not rerjniro to be washed before sending out. James Porter, nursery* man, Alleoton,— Advt