The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit FRIDAY, MAY 30, 1890. " THANKS AND CONFIDENCE."

We are in the midst of. a flood of pre-sessional speeches, an unusually large number of members having this, year delayed calling their constituents together until within a few days of the re-assembling Parliament, and. being now busily . engaged in unburdening themselves of their views upon the doings and leav ings-undone of last session, and I the probable subjects of. consideration or legislation in the session that is to come. Probably the cause of the post-' ponement, in so large a number of in stances, and until so late, a period, of the usual intersessional interview be L tween member and constituents, 'has been the fact that there was very little done' last session which is worth talk ing about, and because it was on\y a day or two ago that Ministers, by the mou]th of Mr Fergus, gave any indica tion of the measures it was intended to propose when the. House meets again. But whether 1 or nol this be the true solution of the 1 unusual num ber . of" pre-sessional, as com pared with. - post-sessional speeches, the fact remains that we have;this season' an exceptional abundance of the former. " Better late than never" is a common.' saying, and we are' not prepared to deny . that' under all. the circumstances " better late than early" J may, perhaps, ,be an equally,. sound maxim. Speeches many, at anyrate, ~we are having, and speeches in which there is so wide 1 a diversity of view upon public questions, that- it is very nearly a case of "qitot homines tot sententice." Indeed there is the widest possible range of; choice laid before the electors- as to- policy, and the curious fact is noticeable that either every member has arranged to gauge precisely the. set' of public opinion in his own particular district, or the con stituencies are given to paying com pliments, which have no particular force or meaning. For whatever be his views—and ' one honorable member differs as widely fronil some other honorable members as widely as the poles are asunder—each and all inevi tably is accorded a vote of " thanks and confidence." Some people seem to attach a great deal of weight to the carrying of such a vote, but when gentlemen who advocate a loan, and gentlemen who denounce borrowing in any shape whatever; gentlemen who .urge a policy of State immigration, and gentlemen who declare that such a policy would be the next thing to treason; gentlemen who desire to abolish the Property-tax, and gentle men who declare that it cannot be abolished; gentlemen who urge the amendment of our educational system, and gentlemen who call upon the people to resist its being touched in any particular; gentlemen who believe in an Australasian Federation (includ ing New £Jealand) ? and gentlemen who strenuously maintain that Hew Zea land's only safety is. in paddling her own canoe j gentlemen who Avant more Protection, and gentlemen, with whom Freetrade is a shibboleth, —-when each and all of these severally obtains a vote of thanks and confidence—we cannot help thinking that these resolu tions, which are so carefully telegraphed far and w-idp. ftr9 peally only good natured compliments, arid that 'they ar nob only no, guide as to the real senti ments of the electorates, but that there is absolutely nothing in them.

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The cable informs us tha| Stanley is en' gaged to Dorothy Tennent, an artist." . Cardinal Manning's '*Silver Jubilee' takes place" in June, >

Pjipmjllier Broussardj of Louisiana, aged J)l, has just: njapriqd a, lt^ly somewhat over 50. It is his second marriage.

Mr Pratt, 11,I 1, member for the Southern Maori elQcl,ovaj;e,, will be again a, ca.ndid.ate, for that seat against all comers.

Wild pigs appear to be plentiful in some parts of North Canterbury. 1 The manager of White Eock Station, North Loburnj calls fqr tQndqra for killing 1000. ;

.Noticft appears in tjho "Ga/ettq" that Captain William Sparrow, Lieutenant 'R. M. Cuthbertson, and Lieutenant E. J. Paul, late of the Ashburton Guards, have been trans ferred to the unattached active list.

A Queensland prisoner awaiting tqa.l on a charge of false pretences, saved the life of the constable whp arrested him, and he again distinguished himself by saving a boy from drowing, . '.

Lord Salisbury's rest at Devonshire set him up, but an English paper remarks that there is no disguising the fact that the Prime Minister's increasing size gives great anxiety to his friends, and his disinclination to tnke exetcisa adds to it, He now weighs over 18 stone.

" Uncle James," said a Boston young lady who was spending a few days in the country, "is that chicken by the gate a Brahma?" "No," replied Uncle James, "he's a Leghorn." "Why, certainly, to he sure," said the young lady ; "how stupid of me ! I can see the horns on his ancles."

The European Mail of the 18th April has the following marriage announcement: — " April 16th, at St Simon's Church, Cadogan gquare, London, Frederick. Fitchett, LL.D., and M.H.R. for Dunedin Central, N.Z., to Lina Valeric Blain, eldest daughter of John Blain, of Moore street, Cadogan square, London," ,

A Wellington Press Association telegram states that the estimated population, ex clusive of Maoris of the colony on 31st March was 622, SB6, being an increase of 2607 on the total at the end of • December, 1889. The Maori population is fixed at 41,909, making a grand total for the Colony of 664,755 souls. '

Mr Thomas Mackenzie, M.H.R., in the course of an interview with the reporter of the Auckland " Herald," stated that during his stay in London he saw Sir Julius Vogcl, Avho can now walk about. Sir Julius was in good health and, Mr Mackenzie; addod, may be expected out in the colony in a few months.

It is stated in Berlin that the success of Jlje scheme for sending out a German Float ing Exhibition is assured, and German ship builders have been invited to compete for the construction of the palatial vessel in which it will be established. It will be 570 feet long, 70 feet beam, and 45 feet depth of hold, and will take about a year to build. Bremerhaven will be the port of departure

A correspondent of the " Standard " states that a limpet jonce captured a hare. < This feat was accomplished at a part of the north ern coast'of Scotland on a dry warm day in summer. The limpet's shell was a t little removed from the face of the lower portion of the rock, when a hare approachec 1, and, observing the moist, flesh of the mullusc,. endeavoured to moisten its tongue by con tact with the watery-looking morsel. In stantly the limpet closed on to the' rock, pinning the hare fast by its tongue. A man at a short distance observed, the whole incident, and running forward, seized the hare, killed it? and took it homo to hi 3 ftUiily,

Several frost-fish have been captured at Timaru during the past few days; and the local fishermen' are making good hauls of flounders and soles.

The racehorse Cadogan, with the mares Ethel, Nonsense, Siesta, Helena, La Mode, Caprice, Maritana, Albana, and Doris were shipped to Sydney by the Hauroto yester day.

Mrs Frances Hodgson Burnett is said to be writing a book of which her younger son, Lionel, is the hero, Lionel is as much a wonder as an enfant terrible as is his brother in the opposite role. We are requested to remind our readers that the Rink will be open to-morrow (Satur day) as usual; after which it will be closed (ill Thursday week, June 10th. Private <:l:ib'i or jnrli<-> requiring the use of the' building should make application to the Manager three days beforehand. ;■s&£■s

At a meeting of the Christchurch Acclim atisation Society heldon Thursday it was resolved to take steps to inquire -into the question of re-importing 'partridges, also as to the species most suitable to Canterbury; also to make enquiries as to the possibility of obtaining the black* opossum from South land or Tasmania.

The following marriage notice appears in the"Timaru Herald ":—On May 28thj at St. Mary's Church, Geraldine, by the Eev James Preston, Thomas Lawson, Hart, of Winchester, second son of the late John Gibbs Hart, of Christchurch, to Emily Rose, second daughter of William Hawke, Lingo-, dells, Geraldine. -,- ■?.

An old lady in New Haven died the other night and left 2000dols to "James Brown, Stonington," and when James was notified five of him appeared to claim the cash. As she did not particularise the James she wanted to make happy, they will have to divide the money between them.

The blue ageratum, which is cherished in England as a border flower, was introduced into Ceylon by an English lady, where it spread so rapidly, running wild in the island that it now costs more than £250; 000 annually to keep it down in the coffee plantatations.

The " Berliner Boersen Courier " has an advertisement of which the following is a translation:—"Noblemen and officials of high,rank (in military or civil service) who want to marry very rich, intelligent American ladies should address the firm named balow. Ladies with fortunes up to £4,000,000 can be selected. Strict secrecy guaranteed. Photos and details at disposal of gentlemen*"

We have long been accustomed to associate any new development of electric traction with America, but a scheme is on foot in St Petersburg which, if carried out, •will certainly leave America far in the rear. It is proposed to have a railway entirely worked .by electricity, connecting St Peters burg with Archangel, spanning the wide stretch of country that lies between the Baltic and tlie White Sea. The project is said to be backed by Archangel interests, and the name of Siemens and Co, is connected with the enterprise. Tne plan is to furnish Ihe current from a series of generating stations distributed along the line. The distance is something over 500 miles, and the estimated cost a little over £3000 per mile, including rolling stock. - , ' ,

Chinese belles and dandies are often to be seen with the nails projecting from an inch to an inch and a half beyond the finger-tips ; and these unseemly appendages are pared and tended with the,-utmost dare, and are regarded with pride and gratification by their happy possessors. But it is in Siam, in Aimam, and, in Chocin China that this extraordinary custom is carried to its greatest development. The nobles in Annani, for instance, permit their nails to grow to such a length that the hands are absolutely useless for any practical purpose. The nails on the second, third, and fourth fingers attain a length of from four to nearly five inches. They arc straight, with a slight inward curve, and present the appearance of immense claws or talous.

A pathetic little story hag just come ta light in Pennsylvania, though the actors have '' laiq fo,r a contury dead." , A cave has been discovered containing a skeleton. A green glass bottle stood by its side. Inside the bottle was a faded ntanus-oript addressed to Miss Virginia' Randolph, of Richmond, Vir ginia, The writer, Arthur L. Carrington, in 1778, during the War of Independence, was cut off by the British and took refuge in a, cave. Some shots from the enemy brought down a huge stone overhanging the cavQ, and

adft him. prisoner

hjslast love-letter. ■ n -Hicnmoiid the following ■ ■ ■■[■■■ :. .■■ .'.'be read on a moss-grown stonel—"Died of a broken heart, on Marcli 1, 1780, Virginia Randolph, aged 21 years and nine days."

From accounts received in Paris it appears, that leprosy is spreading in New Caledonia in a most alarming manner, Of 40,000 I^anak^ ;»o, f;ewer than 5000 are described as suffering from, the terrible disease. Till quite recently the public authorities had not taken any measures to, prevent! it from •spreading; i"*+«'>Tv +-i.vitii;b""'li"" +''l''nl ''"*''." ■lm,ve'been. ■■!•. .■ I ■!.■■'■■ <■■ ■ i ".■ .1, : ■ Dumbea 8,^., '. ' ,- ■' ■■ "ii ■.' ": .'.»-' * spot known as the Pic dcs Marts. Every inhabitant recognised as ft leper by the Medical Commission is to bo confined in one of these Jeper oolonies. The correspondent of.tho "Dix Neuvieme Siecle"declares that this measure has been delayed too long to prove of any great use, and that it is not properly applied. Three Eujoneans have already been attacked, lay #ii». incurable disease,

Henry Labouchere, M.P*i and editor of "Truth," has ]-- J - T:n~.rti? ~.vA interesting history. Born '•>., I. ■. " <:. :-i K'l!, he was educated at Eton and Cambridge. Leaving college he set out on his travels, and arrived at Mexico, where heiell in love with a lady of the circus. He joined the company and became a sort of Quida hero. Growing tired of this lif.e, he went to the United States, and found his way to St Paul; Minnesota, then a cluster of shanties about which the Chippewa Indians roamed. Becoming fasci nated by their wild, roving life, he hunted with them for six months. He next brought would up in New York, where he thought he |go into the vir 1"!""^-" ~::^^~:' He became atVaohod to ■i ■ !! :■ ' '. . . " .'■■ -Washing-

ton, but at the-end of two years lie was dis missed for enlisting' American; citizens for the Crimean War at'the same J time with Compton, the British Minister. He next appeared at St Petersburg, then at Constan tinople. Finally he became a journalist and c a, member of 'Parliament for ' North hampton,* -

The "Sydney Morning Herald" of May 13th says :—The trade .between tins port and New Zealand has taken another spiirt.; Two vessels, whose aggregate 'tonnage is nearly 5000 tons, yesterday came into .port,-fijiled with oats, wheat, and potntoes. nnrl ,i «iilinp vessel also arrived with a s-imik: 1 cfiigo. lint, the increased passenger-traffic is remarkable, even when the reduced rate of fares is taken into account. Last night, following close upon a steamer which had called at all ports, the Tekapo arrived here with upwards of 300 passengers on, board, equally-divided in the first and second classes.' A, word of warning whs lately sounded in Auckland to those who, tempted by the low fare ? thought of leaving Sydney to try their fortune in the northernmost province of New Zealand. It was stated that many persons had arrived in Auckland from Sydney in search of. employment, and were wofully disappointed. If the 300 passengers by the steamer which arrived here last night may be accepted as an ■—"■ •'' xl— going on, not only are ■ ■ i- : ■ returning to Sydney, but a seriousVxodus of population is taking place from New Zealand. • >

The Newfoundland Difficulty.

ATTITUDE OF THE FRENCH

GOVERNMENT.

[PER PBEBB ASSOCIATION,

Pabisj May 29,

M. .Ribot, Minister of -Foreign AfiairsV doubts the truth of ■'the state ment that French warships had landed a party of marines at St George's Hay, Newfoundland, in order to force the Jh'itLsh fishermen to remove their- nets. The Minister appeiirs desirous of enter ing into diplomatic negotiations with the view of an amicable settlement of the difficulty.

TELEGRAPHIC

HOME AND FOREIGN. v

[per press association.]

London, May 28 and 29. Mrs O'Shea denies any misconduct On her part.

The reductions in the cable tariff will probably begin in January next.

The steamer Ashleigh Brook, wrecked on Dassen Island,-near Cape town, was in ballast, and ,had no cargo on board:

The, General, Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland merely censured the Key Mr Dodds for his statements respecting the cardinal doctrines, i

' Captain" Casati, informed Jan. inter viewer that he should refuse' to enter the German service if the offer were made him. He upholds Stanley, and considers Emm a myster *

Mr' Jenaer, cashier at the Hind marsh branch of the National Bank of Australasia, has surrended himself to the London police and admits having embezzled £400, the morieys of; the Bank. He was brought before the magistrate and rema'ndech

Mr ¥. Abigail, formerly Minister of Mines in Sir H. Parkes' Cabinet, writing to "The Times," protests against Mr Gladstone ascribing the ex clusion of Chinese from New South Wales to protectionists. The well known authoress " Tasma " also writes defending the exclusion . of Asiatics. She asserts that the colonists equally dread both their virtues and their vices

The passengers by the Dacca * are loud iii their praise of the conduct of the officers, and also of Captain Almond, of the P. and O. Company who was a- passenger. The '? Daily ]$Fews" endorses r their eulpgium, -and comments on the wonderful calmness of .the emigrants. Some men who? at tempted to rush the boats were stopped by Captain Suckling. l Threats were made to shoot the f first, one who^ em barked before the women.

Berlin, May 28. ■ Herr. Steubel, German Consul at Samoa, has been appointed i to Shanghai.- ' ' :

Washington, May 28.

The Senate rejected the motion by Mr Blair, that England be requested ;to. .withdraw her warships and dis mantle her forts in American waters.

x Sofia, May 28. The Public Prosecutor demanded that Panitza should be sentenced to death if found guilty., The case for the defence has been opened. Paris, May 28. . Rochef ort admits that Boulangism is dormant for the. present, but asserts that the friendship between Germany and Russia would ensure its revival.

- M. Secretan, Manager of the Societe" dcs Metaux, who was indicted for de claring a fictitious dividend, has been sentenced to six months' imprisonment, and ordered to pay a fine of 10,000 francs.

AUSTRALIAN

[per press association] *

Sydney, May 29. At Newcastle to-day a small harbor steamer, with 800 bags of grain- and produce on board, which had been lightered from the s.s. Manapouri, capsized and sank.

. Melbourne, Ma.y 23. "" The charges against the auditors of thd Premier Permanent Building Society are based 'on statements by the liquidatoi*, that the accounts ;have been unduly inflated in order to deceive the public. The sum of £20,000 .has apparently vanished altogether.

INTERPROVINCIAL.

PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.

Auckland, May 29. * An ?Australfein tourist staying at the Star Hotel reports" that'he has-been robbed of £100, taken from his iroom during his absence. A man named Salvador Vos, a West Indian, employed at the Royal Mail Hotel as-night porter, cut his throat to-day,,but not; fatally, and is now out of danger. The act is attributed to jealousy. i The annual report of ■ the Auckland I Fibre Company shows a neb profit of £4589. Of this £1855 has been devoted ton' reduction of the profit and loss debit balance, and £200 to the special account for repairs. : T. Sullivan, who recently won the Amateur Sculling Championship of the Colony; intends tio proceed to Sydney to enter on a sculling career. He will be trained by Matterson. Sullivan, who is an Aucklander, has resigned his position in the Torpedo Corps. Wellington, May 29.

The ( commission of Captain ', John Stevens, of the Rangitikei Cavalry Volun teers, ,has been cancelled for t absenting himself from the colony Hvithpu't leave. £unedin, May ,29. The Pharmacy Board invite the co operation of the Associations of Auckland and Ohristchurch in passing a Pharmacy and Sale of Poisons Bill this session. [ Port Chalmers, May 29.; • Sailed—Nairnsliire, for London with 12 passengers, and the largest cargo which ever left this port; consisting of 1167 bales of wool, 579 do flax, 56 do sheepskins, 238 do rabbit skins, 6 do hare, .21 do *> basils, 12,460 sacks wheat and oats, 102 sacks peas, 5 sacks -flour, 63 casks tallow, 18 casks peltsj 3537 cases preserved meats, 424 cases" cheese, 55 cases kidneys, 54 packages sundries,' 250 hides, 20 calf skins, 20,966 carcases mutton. ■:  ■ ;

Consolidation of <JLocal Loan.s.

Tlie Hon. T. Fergus writes to the Dunedin " Star," denying that in his Q;, i :■>■'■■■• ".-:■! ]■ re the consolidation '■'■■.' I ■■■!!■■ ' us he had any idea of including past loans. He goes on to say —"My remarks applied entirely to future loans to be raised for the purpose of paying off local bodies' debentures as they become due. My contention ''was that if some method could be devised whereby these loans, when they fall due, could be re-issued at a less figure ifc would be a judicious step, but I again say that I never wished to say, nor have I, so far as I can see, said anything to lead anyone to imagine that the colony would take over all the loans at present existing. It would be absurd to suppose that we would do so, for a mere intimation to that 'effect would cause the debentures to rise con siderably in value, and it would be im | possible to pbtain them at a price that would justify the ! transaction, in other I,words tjier^e would be little or no saving l-to the- local: bodies,. The Government never hud any idea of taking up local bodies 1 loans in the manner I am charged with desiring to do. If I could only save tlie.se local bodies 2i to 3 per cent 1 would gladly do so. That this can be dono without any colonial guarantee [ believe, but for my own park T would have no hesitation whatever, after due and careful investigation, to the Government giving a

guarantee, as in the cases of the Westport and Grey Harbor Boards, which through such guarantee* obtained their money at 4 per cent. ■ ; ,

My Am Countrie.

(From "New Poems by a New Writer.")

0 tendril of ivy and tangle of tree, Wild are the banks of my am countrie ! The sun is sinking low in the west.

A golden ball o'er the mountain crest; Shafts of light pierce the moorland's breast Wild are the banks of my am countrie.'

,£* purple,of heather and silver of sea. Bright are the hues of my am countrie ! A fairy knight rides out of the wold ; A lady's sleeve round his helm is rolled; -.*''•'. His coal-black charger is shod with gold. - , ' - ■ ■.■ Bright are the hues of my\ain jpountrie.

0 ripple of streamletand murmur of bee, Sweet are thesounds in my am countrie! He throws me, passing, a glance

?. .remote; :'' v" A wandering lark in the clouds afloat Has stabbed my soul with, its tender < v note, v " ' , Sweet are the sounds in my ain'countrie.

0 shadow of pinewood; and, silence^ of lea', ■, . . -■' ''■'.'"■ Cold falls the dew in my. am countrie ! The lovelight fades in the amber sky.- And grey mists over the forest fly j We are alone, my heart and I. _ . ". Cold falls the dew in my am countrie.,

The Czar's Recent Illness.

A. special correspondent at St. Peters burg^ telegraphs to. the "Daily Tele graph":—" The Emperor has .been suddenly taken ill. The person deputed to kill, the Czar was a. naval officer ot aristocratic family, who had returned from four years' obligatory service at sea about) a twelvemonth ago. , His mother and re latives live in Moscow. He had lodgings in that part of St. Petersburg which is called the Vassili Ostroff. ,' He went into Society occasionally, and conducted him self so as to disarm suspicion ; indeed, so slight was the prima facie evidence of the truth of his confession that the authorities at first looked upon it as the ravings of a man of disordered intellect. No papers compromising any of his comrades have been discovered, though there are un mistakable traces of voluminous docu ments having been destroyed 1 before his death. It is not true —as at. first stated—that he poisoned himself. He asphyxiated himself by sleeping in a small bedroom where charcoal in considerable quantities was burning. In the letter he left he distinctly refuses to repudiate the ideas in the name of which he conspired against the Czar, and states that he can not fulfil the task laid upon him because he has not the heart to,compromise his unoffending relatives, ,whcr : have falways treated him with affection, and whose good name he is aiufipus not to stain. The matter is being .up/ v and ho obitiiary notice of a marine officer has appeared in any of the newspapers as yet."

The Sugar Cane.

INTERESTING SCIENTIFIC DIS-

CO VERY.

Much interest is evinced in. scientific circles by a discovery which has just been made at Kow, near London, by Mr D. Morris, the assistant director. Hitherto the sugar cane has been produced from cuttings or slips exclusively, as no one knew that there were such things as seeds in the plant. After a long search Mr' Morris lias 'at last discovered that each cane produces a number of seeds, from which it is possible to grow: a variety df improved canes, and it is anticipated that, by cross fertilisation and selection of the best seeds, a considerable increase will be made in the yield of sugar in' the tropical plantations. He instances the case of beet, which, when first introduced \ for sugar growing purposes, yielded only about 6 p^er .cent, but. now; by the method of: selection of proper seeds, produces about 18 or 20 per. cent of saccharine juice. The seeds 6f tlie' cane have 'been discovered in the anicle or flowery head of the cane, and the difficulty of finding them has been increased by the similiarity of the glumes and the havis. It was only by the aid of a powerful microscope that the tiny seeds werri detected, and a number of plants were exhibited at the last meeting of the Linneean Society, with the seeds attached. At Kew Gardens there are some plants about nine inches high, which have been grown from seed obtained from cane from the Bar badqes. The' discovery,; \ it, is believed, will tend to drive beet sugar but of the market.

An Amazon of Dahomey.

For choice one would prefer not to pro miscuously meet on a dark night arid in'a lonely lane, such a creature of the softer sex as an Amazon of the Ring of -Dahomey is described as being. The archers give promise of proving the best of the bunch but it probably would nob pay to trifle | ydth'everi their young affections. Mi de Wailly, a former French colonist, of Wes,-: tern Africa, says that two=-thirds of the' military females are recruited from the ranks of' girls who have 'been snatched from the bosom of their families at a ten der age. The- others are women who have been guilty of marital infidelity, and in order to expiate their transgressions shoulder arms and march to the wars. One battalion of• the Amazons carry aloft a colossal razor with which they terrify the enemies of their monarch in battle. This ugly and formidable weapon is used in times of peace,for chopping off the heads of condemned, prisoners. -Another; battalion carry large gunsi and behind each Amazon ( is a slave, who acts as, powder-monkey,,'land?/keeps the women-warriors supplied with ammu nition. The Champion markswomen of the Amazons are a specially trained corps, and are called the "Sure to-kills." Next in order come the car bineers, the bayonet-wielders, the ele phant-hunters and finally the young and coquettish corps of Amazon archers who—too young and dainty for heavy work—are employed in action as aides-de camp, scouts, or stretcher-carriers. In all, the Amazons number 2500 women. ,A harem of such creatures would be a lively sort of a place to live in. -1 V "<■.."

IRISH AFFAIRS.

DEPUTATION TO MR GLAD-

STONE.

[PEE PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

•London, May 27.* The Hussars drew their sabres and charged crowds in Cashel and its vici nity. The police also used their batons vigorously. Many persons were seri ously wounded, and amongst' those who came in for,,the attentions, of the police were Messrs Dillon and O'Brien,

London, May 28. Mr Gladstone, replying to the Irish deputation which waited on him at Ilawiirdcn, saidjthe threo persons killed sit Mitchcllstown were innocent victims, wantonly and ruthlessly murdered. An exhaustive enquiry into the cir cumstances had been refused by the Coa ernnient. He condemned England or allowing evictions to be carried out.

Colonial Industries.

RETURN OF MR THOS. MACKENZIE M.H.R., FOR CLUTHA;

INTERESTING INTERVIEWi

Among the passengers by the Mariposa mail steamer from San Francisco was- Mr Thomas Mackenzie,'M-.H.R, for C!n!:i:i. Otago, returning from a tour in Europe] which he had made in company .with Dr Fitchett, M.H.R." for Dunedin Central. On his arrival in Auckland he was inter viewed by.a representative of the "New Zealand Herald ' from whose account of what transpired we take the following:^— NEW ZEALAND FLAX MARKET .AND. SISAL. On getting to London 11 went' on; with my investigation as .to the conditions of the flax and dairy prSduce markets, and I received a communication from the Hon. Captain Russell on the subject. I found that although flax had fallen, it hadj only done so in proportion.to other produce.. I called on a number of firms, and the gene ral opinion'wasthat. New Zealand flax hacl taken a firm^position injthe London market, and that 1 although'a fall had then occurred, it would bViyery unwise to dis continue the export of It./how that it has been thoroughly introduced and es ..tablished'^ if.bther fibres rose in price, New Zealand., flax would also rise pro-, pprtionally. In^ fact, some,. brokers thought if the flax'were well joreparedit would, if. (anything^* Approach slightly nearer to 'the 1 vahie of, nianilla. If the flax fell out of the London market, the -brokers said there ;would.; be great' diffi culty in re-establishing it. I !»was glad tojearn from some of, thejn ; ;that the get up of some jpf the shipments of 1 New> Zealand flax was improving.] Un doubtedly sisalCjs a formidable jrivaty and I have brought back !to,the colony with me specimens of the plant ancUqf il tl{e pre pared , fibre. On going, .to Amelica-'"I looked into the, matter and consulted ra number of the brokers. I. "} They ') thought that though the cultivation of sisal was -increasing,,the demand more than? kept pace with production. To show th<J pro gress of the sisal industry, they gave me a-few figures. In 1868 there were' 9Q90 bales, in 1878 it had jumped to 6p,000, and by 1888 had increased to 240,000, bales. It was held in London by], some authorities that sisal could be grown at a price which would block New Zealand flax out of both the London and American markets. I pressed the American brokers closely upon this point, and they said sisal could not be grown at the price quoted in London, namely £12 per ton. They, said that although there had been a greatly increased'area'of land put into sisal during thTe past year, it would take three] years' to be ready fdrcuttirig, ;an<Las the crop had been recklessly *6u# down for the fancy prices ruling a few months ago, it was improbable that the immediate supply would be quite so heavy. Newi Zea landers will have to bear in mind that flax was cut out of the American market about twenty years ago, and such a con tingency is still possible. !

|' '. ' : pw ZEALAND FROZEN MUTTON; \' ' \ ;Qiirthe voyage between Alexandria arid Brindisi we met some half dozen members pfftherßritishi House of Commons,' who Wjbrefalso; travelling, and had a chat with them" over the Trades Marks Act. In Egypt and Italy, in our travels, we noticed | that the meat was marked officially by j certain brands or marks, as a guarantee that it was good for human consumption. We pointed out to them that in England La Plata mutton was sold for New Zealand and r Wew- Zealand for English mutton. This 1" was unfair alike to the English customers and the Few Zealand producers. We asked them if the Trades Marks Act came again before the House of Commons would they move, in .the direction of, labelling or •marking- frozen ..mutton arriving in the London' market with . the name'ofthe country from/which it came, They protected by the Act'the'English artisan against the German frauds who manufactured cutlery and. marked it with the names of Sheffield firms, and why should they- not .protect, their kith, ,and kin across the sea against'the tricks of those , engaged in the-South..American, meat trade 1 I called- in London, upon Messrs' J. S. Fritter arid; Sons, of Leaden- hall Market.: ,Their premises are almost eutirely,devoted to the sale of New Zea land frozen mutton and beef., I was told the prejudices against the"; imported articlewere rapidly disappearing. :Num b'ers 'of heads of families bought it, and took it home to their families, without say ing it was New Zealand mutton, with the result that the people could not tell the difference between that article and gobd English mutton. I frequently, I when visiting private families, partook of New Zealand frozen mutton and could not tell the difference from English mutton] :" ' ' DAIRY PRODUCE MARKETS—BUTTER.

I went through a dozen different 1 pre mises in Tooley-street, Mincing Lane, and other, places where Danish, -Normandy/ j American,^ and; 'New l Zealandfjb^utter is ! disposed'of. ;I tasted 'v&'rious' grades of butter, the traders kindly opening!casks for me. They pointed out to' me various J defects in New Zealand butter which pie dented iits' 1 coming up to the sample, required in England, as also the; best modes of packing. Pond's butter p4cka£e: was undoubtedly the best, but was «nly I,available fc* fh> very best butter, as the price made it prohibitory for the inferior classes. The traders told him the butter should be uniform in quality and in 601b kegs or : casks,. - They do not like butter In'tubs.''; The casks should have gal-' I yanised hoops to protect from 'rust; stencil plates should be used for marking; rbutter should be free from mottle;; the quantity of salt desired in London is 3 per cent;, not more, but if the butter is doubtful 4 per cent should be used. ] The Liverpool people, on the other hand^ want a larger percentage of salt in the butter. Danish butter, was almost free from salt. The" butter .-should, be sent to arrive- dn^ March or early in April. No rolls should beisent,! or "tinned \ butter^-: There! is a good market for superior butter, but in ferior butter should not be shipped on any "account. ; .' •' r

CHEESE. ; Cheese is a safe thing all the year round, and keeps after arrival, whereas butter falls off very quickly after the keg.?is opened. The favourite, cheese is the

Cheddar, of a mild, mellow, and " salvy"; quality. It must be free from mottle, and not too strong. As to weight, there was a difference of opinion among the different brokers, some preferring from 50 to 60, others from 70 to 801bs. The present shape of the New Zealand cheese and mode of packing are fairly satisfac; tory. Among the cheeses I tasted, jand I tasted a number of them, the best were from the Clutha Valley. The top' price in April last for New Zealand was 665, which best American was bringing. English Cheddar was 60s to 70s. ; New Zealand was quite capable by improved making of coming up to these figures. A number of people in the colonies! have; been sending Home skim milk cheese, which is a terrible mistake, as it weakens the reputation-of colonial cheese. BRITISH IGNORANCE OF NEW ZEALAND.

The ignorance, of the British people of New Zealand is generally to be regretted not merely of the working classes^but' of the middle class and commercial; men. Even! on the' London Stock Exchange,' there .were,shrewd', educated men, dealing in New Zealand stock every day, who are utterly ignorant of the financial position and resources of the colony. All they knew was, that New Zealand owed close'

on £40,000,000 of money, and was a dependency of the British Empire..' They had a dim conception that most:of the loans had been frittered away in Maori

wars, but n firm conviction that the

interest v;is paid out of the borrowed

money. Some of them were not aware, till told, that the railways and telegraphs were owned by the State, and. represented

nearly half the whole national debt. It: 'wquld tend greatly to disabuse the English people of a lot of foolish notions and ;>:■■ :■■:■.■■. ■ ottfivnima: New Zealand were ! ■■- i ■ i(, :!.i'i .i: i > prepare and-publish. A CHEAP PAMPHLET OR OFFICIAL HANDBOOK setting forth concisely, and in a popular, in'-ellHbVfoi'ni. the true financial position • >i' ;::■ i-M->!iv. its liabilities and assets, ami showing the amount expended on railways, telegraphs, surveys, roads, and bridges, lighthouses, etc., since the establishment of responsible government, It should show alsor the excesTctf over imports, which is -giving^ great satisfaction to the English capitalists, as indicating that the excess is. eithei^ going to pay- past indebtedness; of'-jb^'i future requirements.,., A /brief 'outline J,should also be given of our timber and mining industries, ,etc., iind also-illustrate with some' ' accounts ,views' 'of our Hot Lftke and' So'u'therii Alps'scenery, and maps of the, various, tourist.- routes of travel. A pamphlet or small handbook of that description^ of' a'portable size for carrying in tte ppisket, Bhduld be^continu ally distributed pri all the direct steamers, the Peninsular and Orientihin^.Oriqiit lines t6 ( passeng^rsj and at the leading-London and ' American '';hjotieis^ Ui: Tiii 'expense would be :all' recouped to the-Colonial Treasurer^ through a thousand different t rills,'in, 7.other ways, 'either by inducing mbi;e desirable persons to or through the expenditure of an increased number of tourists in the country.

The Labor Troubles.

! ! [PJER PRESSI ASa^^Tf^K.]

<j .-,!," / r <■> . JSerun, May 28. ' T^e Emp^ror'hwl^uminori^f* a Con ference 'of Traded and invites the advice of. English delegates relative to the '.formation of an? Operatives StaWAdvisory^ -'"" !""-t ■■•'■> i , A (  .^LiJNiJTON^Mfay 30. Unless'a compromise can be arrived at between r the tramway employees and owners/ tlie^ dispute lmU probably end in a.strike. The Trades and Labor Council have taken the "matter in hand and are toying to arrange ttyvy u , if! w^ ,

Life on the Kermadecs.

a Mr Thomas; Bell formerly ,a IJepr Zea land colonist but who' has been living at Sunday; Island for the ;last t^flre^ye years, has, placed his :diary at ;the disposal of the "Auckland-Star." Evidently the island is anything but a desirable. ph\ce to live! in, among numerous inconveniences—to apply to them a very*mild term^-being irie presence* of swarms to? rate,? 1 which ate all his potatoes and other! seedsKa^fast as they were r put into the ground. "At last" 'he'says #*-&'■ despair, I dug up a seed bed irr~front of our dwelling, and 7filled it with" the lait 1 •ofo'our pump kin, marrow,"'and-'melon seeds. Bound this I made T fires at night, and sat alongside^ thelini stick "in hand, for a ■ week, until they-sho wed above the ground, when they- were safest Durittg^his time ifc rained alnwet continuously, ■ and 1 had the greatest difficulty- in keepintj the, fire goiiig/ 5 However^whett^tlle'^ttuints were strong enough,' 1! carefully planted them out, one at 1 a time F in; the clearing, where they, grew all right.,, I thought I liad out- .. wittedthe ra'ts/buill was mistaken. When: .theflowers appeared on the pumpkins they devored the ovaty'of all:43ie female ones ;' marrows the^sa'irie;.';' The melons, however, .they left, urifcouched"until ;Ttliey,had at-' tairied the size of orangeS^whetf they dis appeared like magic.i • Out of, nearly two . acres Of iriaize, .only about twelve plants escaped. I tried to 1 save tUi seed from these byjputting the,few ; tins J/had over ,them; but, r it-was ,4tute u.s^^Bjft; I did not get a single? grain of maize from it, nor had we, any on the; island, for^.ti^o years afterwards. At this r time the rats had in-

creased to > s,uch, an extent as to 4 be, '*-. almost ■ , , indescribable. iThejrswarmedoyefusinbed, and we had .to take refuge in the )patakv.: Towards,, evening, the .ground^in the > neighborhood-pf our "dweUingi seemed to be a moving mass, of .rats. dis-' turbed, they darted into some large heaps ,of jpumicejstone thathad-been gathered off ' ihe;land}by,former*residents. ,{l'_'yraa at a., loss at first tp.'knp^r.what^such vast:/'" numbers of rats could find to .'eat, until gqing into the, bush, I observed the ; * ground rooted up* ii i many places, seem- : ingly < -for .jearth . worms; rpAcres ■ were rooted up in "this manner, resembling pig- <■ rooting on a small scale.,. These rat« were alive wlth^fteaß, I'which' soon made up for ■ the absence of sand flies, and^osquitoes.

TO-DAY'S TELEGRAMS

1 [PEE PRESS' ASSOCIATIok.jJ*

.• t' •!<■''! :\! iU,: 1 ■"" ' ' i 7." f!V ='JI C-'fl

"/ The; JocVey^jDlab Jia,Yel/iwfi^d to re mov.e, .the. aU^ualificationoi^f J-J^oblem. The matter of the northern owners was further postponed^; affcerj cjonsideration of the lengthy letter of:,J|rfc)^h»ndicapper. Mr Gpllan/telegraphs that he has left his interests in Mr Stead's hands.

The Christchurch Drain age Board.

In the Supreme'Cburtaii action is being .brought thrpughVche Solicitor^General (by the relation' of T. H. 'Ho plans/v Christ church Drainage .Board. ..The,.claimant asks that the : aefendaiits'" be; 'ordered to prepare true statements-"'; of J account for 1888 and 188# j 'BfepJcins alleges that the Brard'q.statements for^these, years are in coiTecVnTLanyit^msbeingleft'oiit, and that. the balance sheet.for 1889 should include £1444 owing in*'re^pe^t, of contracts in progress, etc. _ He also, alleges .that cer tain appropriationsin'reapexstiojEthe loan sinking fund have Jnbtrbeen invested, and that no provision is t made for compound interest, which would have been earned had the money been inveatedas it should haVebeen:';;; )r-\ a\ xr~ .•'•- u { \

A Breach of Promise Case

At the BiririinarHam Assizeia, on March

25, i before^ Baron! Huddleafcori/ Frances Jennie Day recovered £2500 from Morris Roberts for breach of promise of mar* riage. 7 The Mai lasted three dam and disclosed, some etartlii^f' factß.i: iTlie de fendant, who was formerly a pugilist, is a well-khowau publican of and 'a man of means.' iThey«ngu]aHty.,of the case >as that it ■was an action for breach of promise against a married man, Roberts wasr-liyjngv■japarjb^from. his wife, and the' allegation T?y the" plaintiff was that she-waspled; byj the;; defendant to be lieve that his .first y e' was dead. She then'married him.^ Inlthe course of time defendant treated her with violence, and 1 finally she hadTto'_sieek pSnshirelfcif. The , defence" &■■ dekifil thkt# plaintiff was led to believe that defendant's wife was dead, *tnd:it 'wasl asserted that he made no representation by which she was de-

ceived; Li theibox'fthe defendant made a number of-serious*'allegations^ against the plaintiff. V The^ jurj^ .djvided the damages •as follows :*-£yEsreach of; promise, £700; for the fraudjwhiCh prevented the plaintiff from disooveringi or -ascertaining her rights, yglOOO: for tfte'assauft; £700; and for slander, £10Q.f*" ol:-l-s>$, :

THE ASHBUR^OIfI Gt?A»RDIAK, FBIDAY, MAY 30, 1890.



Public Notices. ' THE MIRROR,' A HIGH-CLASS Weekly, Social Political, Literary, and Dramatic paper, to be published every FRIDAY, price 3d, by the Centennial Printing and Publishing Company, Limited, Melbourne Place, Russell Street, Melbourne LOW VITALITY DR CHURCHILL'S Syrup of Hypophosphite of Lime prescribed by the faculty for the cure of Consumption, Chronic Cough and General Debility. It contains two of the principal ingre dients necessary for building up the Human Frame, and which are considered deficient in the above complaints, viz M JHhoitphnua and Lime. It cannot be too highly recommended for Delicat Childre Dr Churchill'B Compound Syrup o HYPOPHOSPHITES Is real Brain Food, and in cases of Muscular and Nervous Exhaustion has acquired a world-wide reputation. Each bottle bears Dr Churchill's signature Price, 4fr. Prepared only by SWANN fIHEMIST WANN L/HEMIS.T, Pue Castiglione, Paris. WTHOUTTEETH WJTMvTEExB THE CHRISTCHURCH DENTAL SURGERY, Corner of Cashel and High streets.



Q "U-TEKS AND /*lO. SURGEON DENTISTS. And at Dunedin and Westport. WE have gained the FIRST AWARD i at the Dunedin Exhibition forj Artificial Dentures and Mechanical Appli ances for the Mouth, and it is with the greatest confidence that we guarantee the highest class work and perfect fit at the most moderate cost. i ' A Single Artificial Tooth, lOsl Complete Set — Upper and Lower temporary and permanent, £10 10s. H ATT7RAI-, Durable, Oobifortable Artificial Teeth Replaced Temporarily al most immediately after the ■ extraction of decayed teeth or stumps without extra fee or charge., Arrangements can be made for part or monthly payments. ADMINISTERING NITROUS OXIDE GAS several times daily for the past ten years, we fearlessly assert that extraction of teeth under its influence is perfectly painless and positively safe Fee for Administration, ss. Extraction, 2s 6d. Artificial Teeth and Dentures made by other dentists repaired or remodelled at small cost. of attendance—9 a.m. to 6 p.m. WM, SPARROW TAILOR AND MEN'S MERCER



EAST STREET MITCHELT J&- rnURNEO JTCHELJU <X> ±URNEXi DRAPERS CLOTHIEES \ ETC., EC. j HAVE very great pleasure in dir ecting the attention of" their numerous friends and customers, to their very fine Sf,ock of Winter Drapery, now fully opened out. ; BLANKETS FLANNELS ...WINTER DRESSES HOSIERY and GLOVES I MEN'S and BOYS' OVERCOATS j TWEEDS SUITS SHIRTS PANTS and SOX I In endless variety. PRICES will bear comparison with any quota on, and as for QUALITY t is an undisputed fact j that M. & T. keep I a first-class article. I I MI T C TTEL JT At, mUR NE Q itchellj ix 1 urnelA, KAIA PO I HOUSE, | T :KCKEDfrT EFT. ASHBURTON.



"Wanted. i^us/i Advnrtis i meats under this heading, n exceeding H words, ONE SHILLIAr G '(Idreswx m.iy be lejt at thin Office \ SHBURTON Lodge 1.0. G.T. A ./v. good muster is requested to meet the Grand Secretary to-night. —T. Welch, C.T. 6 205 JUST opened, a few ladies plush jackets, newest shapes, very cheap. —H. 0. Sbgebs, Melford House. t Als r.JiJ Anown.—A special pur- V ? chase of choice Ladies' Hats at a desperate price.—W. H. Collier. 4t130 TOP THAT COUGH! By using Flower's Cough Drops. Guarantee efficacious. Can only be obtained at H G. Flower's, Confectioner, East Street. 3 191 ANTED .every man m the County to have a suit of the Ashburton Tweeds.—Robert Alcorn, Ashburton Clothing Mart, Saunder's Buildings. , , ANTED KNOWN—The "Strong X s Wear " Boot is the best for Men, Ladies, and Children.—W. H. Collier, 'The Corner." ANTED KNOWN.—The Cheapest House in Ashburton ,to . buy Drapery, Millinery, Clothing, Boots,,etc., is H. C. Segers, Melford House. rpHE Patent Candle Extinguisher can ._L be Set to Extinguish at any time required ; it will save insurance premiums ' your house and your life, price Is ; Sole Agent for Ashburton.—it. Alcorn, Saunders 1 Buildings - ' ANTED Known — One hundred -and fifty Ladies' and Children's Ulsters bought a great bargain (good qualities), now. selling very cheap —H. C. Segers. Melford House. ANTED Known— The Cheapest > Shop to buy Tinware: and Gal vanised Iron goods in Ashburton, lis -at W. F. Hannaford's, Burnett Street.' A large stock kept on hand. Tin and Iron ware goods made and repaired with dcs patch Public Notices.



THE UNDERSIGNED having secured a large .block of Good Bush Land at Alford Forest, are now prepared to supply Farmers, Contractors" and others with any quantity of fencing materials, viz : Heart Posts,- Heart Stakes, Sheep yard Rails, . Straining Posts, and also Firewood. Delivery can be had at a very convenient place, or Orders may be sent by rail from Springburn Railway Station. GREEN BROS., : 5+173 Springburn Post Office* VH HARLES "OR ADD ELL Licensed Landbroker and Valuator .nder "The Land Transfer Act, 1885. ESTATE, HOUSE, LAND,' AND GENERAL COMMISSION AGENT, j Office—Burnett Street, Next to "Mail' Office. i NOTICE TO ADVERTISERS. j OWING to the earlier hour at which it is now necessary to go to press, Advertisements to be in time for the FIRST EDITION of the •' Guardian," must be delivered at the Office not later than 2 p,m. REPLACE Advertisements cannot be guaranteed insertion, unless sent in on the day previous to that on which they are intended to appear. RINK !H PAKS" rpilE Rj n k w m be open TO j_ MORROW (Saturday) as us ml. Speci.il arrangements made for private Clubs. BRASS BAND specially engaged for the season. R. ELSTON, 5 159 Manager. ASHBURTON COAL & FIREWOOD DEPOT. ID Q ~X> EA N, OAL & FIREWOOD MERCHANT OATS BHA.N CHA.FJ? ETC ETC. ---• ;■■'■ ":,- j;:>j&^ JOHN. "A/TO IS ON OHN .M_OISO ; N HAS NOW REMOVED to the TOWN HALL BUILDINGS, nd having had considerable Alterations made, the premises are now Complete for is business. STOCK is large and season able and for sale at his usual Low Rates. H3P" Repair;l Promptly Attended To JOHN MOISONT TMPORTANT "VTOTICE J.MPORTANT iM OTICE MESSRS HALLENSIBINBROS & CO, Proprietors of the NEW ZEALAND CLOTHING FACTORY ■AT ASHBURTON Invercargill, Gore, Milton, Oamaru, _ Timaru, 1 Dunedin, Christchurch, Hoki tika, Greymouth, Reefton, Westport, Nelson, Wellington, Napior, Hastings, Waipawa, Gisborne, Palmerston North, Wanganui, Hawera, New Plymouth, Thames and Auckland, 1 Have arranged to FLOAT THEIR BUSINESS INTO A COMPANY, be registered under "The Companies Act 1882, It is a part of the arrangement that / STOCKS shall be REDUCED by £50,000 before the 15th of June next. 'To effect this the Managers of the vari ous Branches throughout the colony have been instructed, in addition to marking out the Goods at Low Prices, to allow 5 per cent on all cash sales amounting to £1 and upwards. This excellent opportunity of buying goods should not be overlooked, especi ally as it is a well-known fact that the Manufactures of the New Zealand Cloth in<* Factory are Superior to Anything in the Market. The sale at the Ashburton Branch is under the management of Mit W. H- Webber,



' ■ Thereisriow.tobeseenin the shop window - of Messrs J. Scaly and C 0.,: East .'street, a collection of apples showing some of the sorts grown at tlie nurseries, Rivcrbank, that will repay inspection by any one who contem plates planting fruit plants. There are upwards of fifty'different kinds shown, all .ralnublc, long keeping sorts. For sue, color,' and general excellence they are by far the finest that have been shown in AahbutfQQ ' this season,— (Advfc,) ■. .