The Ashburton Guardian. Magna et Veritas et Prævalebit. TUESDAY, JULY 22, 1890. SETTLEMENT OF THE LAND.

Land for settlement is being eagerly taken up in all parts of the colony. Competition for small grazing runs and small agricultural holdings is keen ; and the majority of those who compete are a most desirable class of settler. Unfortunately there is grave room to fear that the competitors do not meet upon an equal footing, and that the hoim fide applicant has his chances of securing a slice of the public estate greatly reduced by the process of " dummying" applications. Several applications, in the name of different individuals, are put in for one or more allotments, and all these are on behalf of one individual. The individual him self is debarred from applying, owing to the land regulations, but he sends his creatures forward, and is, we fear, too often successful in thus driving a coach-and-four through the land laws. The small pastoralist or agriculturist is thus kept off the land, and while the name of the purchaser or lessee appears as John Brown, a shepherd, the real holder is a neighbouring squatter, a Banking institution, a Land and Mortgage Association, or similar insti tution. The names and occupations of those who are now taking up land is no guide to the class of persons who are availing themselves to the fullest extent of the manner in which the public estate is being slaughtered. The Government, however, point with pride to the fact that the land is being disposed of in small areas and to small holders, totally ignoring the fact that the reputed buyers, in too many cases, are but the creatures of their employers or friends. The large land-holders, financial institutions, land and mortgage companies, are, it would seem, determined to filch the public estate at any cost, and grooms, shep herds, servants, sisters, cousins, and aunts are put forward to do the work the principals dare not undertake themselves. At the sale of small holdings at Timaru on Friday last competition was so keen that the auc tioneer, so says a contemporary, was compelled to pause, and ask those present not to become excited or offer more than the actual, value of the land submitted. At that sale 3764 acres were disposed of in eleven lots, and the New Zealand and Australian Land Company acquired 1074 acres (two allotments) while a gentleman named A. Hayes secured four allot ments totalling 1539 acres. Of the 3764 acres offered, therefore, two pur chasers secured 2613 acres, leaving only 1151 acres to be divided among five other buyers, one of whom alone secured an allotment of 520 acres. The foregoing land, being an Educa tion Reserve, was offered in the open market, and buyers were not hampered by stringent settlement conditions. After the sale above referred to of the Education Reserve at Hakatercmea, 20,600 acres situated in the same locality were submitted, being divided into eight small grazing runs. Tiie runs were from 1005 acres up to 3862 acres, and were disposed of at, iv almost every case, double the upset price. The purchasers are variously described as shepherds, farmers, graziers, contractors, etc., and each purchaser only secured one allotment. If the purchasers in the latter case are buyers on their own account, we have here a direct evidence of the popularity of the small-grazing run system, a system which the present Minister of Lands freely condemn?. Only ojie . purchaser secured his allotment at the upset price, a fact which is significant of the keen competition at the sale, and the consequent disappointment of many unsuccessful applicants. The latter fact is also a clear indication of the value put upon the public estate by practical pastoralists and agricul turists, and is a clear refutation of the Ministerial statement that only second and third-rate land is now in the hands of the Government for disposal. What object the Government and ■Government supporters can have in depreciating the value of the public estate we are at a loss to understand. If the depreciatory statements are made with the intention of keeping the people off the land, the procedure is not a success, as the numerous appli cations prove ; if, on the other hand, ridiculously low values are placed upon the land with the object of allowing it to fall into the hands of large holders, we are pleased to see that competition in the open market is compelling land buyers and speculators to pay a good figure for the monopoly which they seek to hold.

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wife (reading an account of a wedding)— Why does the father always give away the bride? Husband —To reduce expenses, of course. At Timaru yesterday the lease for twelve years of the Criterion Hotel, Timaru, and Pleasant Point Hotel were sold by order of the mortgagees. The "Auckland Herald" says:—There marks made by Mr M'Millan will be read with assent over the colony. The property tax is no doubt driving money and people nut of the country, and is really far more injurious to the poor than to the rich.. The Grand National Meeting is not excit ing the usual interest in Christchurch. Ahna is doing good work, and is a strong favorite for the big steeplechase. Ixion and Erin-go- Bragli did a capital gallopjyesterday morning, and are most fancied for the Grand National ■ Hurdles. Leonardo and Darnley look stale ; the former pulled up lame, and the latter persistently refused to jump schooling fencee. Squib, Daddy Longlcgs, and Little Arthur are reported well, but have not yet arrived. Sir Maurice made a favorable im pression. Yesterday afternoon at Christchurch Detective O'Connor arrested F. Marsland Hadfiekl, charged with forging the name of William Goodwin to a cheque for £(58 Us s<l, which he gave to Mr Light, of Lewsey, Light, and Co., at the beginning of this month. The cheque was on the Bank of New South Wales, where Goodwin had an account, but was not honored, as the signa ture was unlike the original. Subsequently Hadfield called at the Bank and presented another cheque signed " William Goodwin " for £3f) l()s. This was also returned marked "Signature unlike." When arrested Hacl fickl had another cheque drawn out for 1 £57 17s 3d, to which a siniilar signature was appended In experiments carried out on the agri cultural plots at Port Fairy, Victoria, re cently, several acres of land were dressed with 3 cwt. of superphosphate and 2 cwt. of nitrate of soda, and sown with mangel wurzcls. The ground was carefully at tended after sowing and yielded 44 tous 11' cwt. of mangel wm<jejs p?r acre.

hop Jnlius is «% \route for the West Coast. An average of 26,000 letters are posted without addresses in England every year. The formation of a Lodge for females is under consideration by Orangemen in the Ashburton district. The Ashburton portion of the San Fran cisco mail came south in to-day's express, and was deliverad during the afternoon. Mr E. G. Kerr, proprietor of the ("Timaru Herald ") will be a candidate at the election to be held to fill the vacancy in the repre sentation of Timaru. Mr E. Timaru Rhodes, D. M. Ross (Mayor), and others are also mentioned as likely to contest the electorate. The " Berlin Post" publishes an alarmist article, entitled " Public Opinion in Europe,' which is directed to show that a rupture between Germany and Russia is inevitable. It concludes in these words:—"The day will come when Europe will enquire ' Who is it that continually menaces the peace? 1 and then it will not be difficult to prove to Russia, by the plainest of facts, that she alone is culpable. A slight inprovement is noticeable in the water supply from such of the pipe wells in the Borough as have not failed from the recent drought. The riae in the flow is attributed by some to the recent rainfall and to the coating of snow on the hills; but there are still many of the wells in the town yielding no water at all. Scientific people go the length of saying that it may be years perhaps before the underground flow will be sufficiently abundant to supply the wells that have failed. A Christchurch exchange says :—Four of the biggest artillerymen in the New Zealand service, probably in any service, are stationed at Lyttelton. Some time ago they were all in one squad, that detailed for duty at Ripa Island. The average height of that squad was 6ft sim, and their average weight 15st 61b. The shortest man of the four is 6ft 2in in height, and the tallest 6ft 9in. The lightest of the squad weighs I4st 21b, and the heaviest, who is also the tallest, turns the scale at over 17st. According to the " Akaroa Mail, through the intervention of the member for Akaroa, the Minister for Defence has communicated with Admiral Lord C. Scott, who has arranged that the whole fleet in Australian waters is to be in Akaroa Harbour on the 10th of August for the purpose of assisting in any celebration that may be held to commemorate the hoisting of the British flag at Akaroa. Mr M'Gregor, M.H.R., is also endeavouring to induce the Govern ment to assist in the erection of a suitable memorial on the site where the flag was hoisted. When at Akaroa Bishop Julius spoke of the church hymn-book at present used, and said there were only twenty or thirty hymns in the whole collection that were worthy of being sung. Such hymns as "Hark! the Herald Angels Sing," for instance, were rubbish. Who ever heard the herald angels sing ? Most of the hymns were trash, the one about " pearly gates " and so forth was utter nonsense. How different from " Abide with Me," which appealed so naturally to the heart. A working man named Joshua Proctor, who has lived in the neighbourhood of Stacksteads, near Manchester, for about 24 years is, it is reported, about to come into a fortune of £20,000. The money was left by two uncles some 60 years ago. One of the uncles was Admiral Blezzard, and the other a Joshu Blezzard, a horse doctor. They were never married. It; appears that this money was to be left to Mr Proctor on con dition that he was named Joshua, and his parents took very great care that this was done. By the steamer Dorunda there arrived at Plymouth on May IS (says a London ex change) six passengers and nine of the crew of the steamer Quctta. They gave further thrilling details of the catastrophe. A saloon passenger who perished was on his way home to inherit a fortune of £55,000. He had for some months been working as a labourer at 20s a week. He was refused a passage, as the ship was full. He however induced the company to give him a berth on payment of £20. A Mr Worthall states that hjs wife jumped from the quarter-deck into the sea, and he followed her with their child in his arms. He never saw his wife ugain, and while in the water he was seized by a coloured man, and in the struggle his child was drowned. Mice this year, says the Port Pirie corres pondent of the "Adelaide Observer," have been a perfect plague. They abound in hundreds of thousands, and the damage done by them is considerable. One farmer in formed me that his haj stack was literally alive wiuh them, and that they were rapfdly destroying it. Mr Matthew, of Lower Broughton, laid poison the week before last round his house and sheds, the result being that last week lie counted 2000 dead. Recently Mr Mild waters caught seventy-five in a zinc-lined bran case at his farm at Telowie. Mr A. Harris noticed mice running in and out of the nozzle of his large black smith's bellows. He put a bag over it, worked the handle, and blew out sixty-seven. It is hoped that the recent rains, which have been general throughout the district, will help to exterminate them. Many ingenious traps have been made by farmers for catching the obnoxious rodents in large numbers. A Parliamentary return has been issued showing the number of outbreaks of pleuro pneumonia in the district of each local authority in Great Britain during each of the last three years, the number of diseased and healthy animals slaughtered, find the sums paid as compensation, after deducting any receipts for salvage. The number of outbreaks reported in the United Kingdom in 1886 was 907 ; the number of diseased cattle slaughtered, 3,54(5; healthy, but in contact, 2,042; net compensation paid for diseased animals, £25,096 ; healthy animals,£ll,l4l, marking a total net com pensation of £36,826. In 1887 the figures under the same heads were: Outbreaks, 861; slaughtered diseased, 3,195 ; healthy, 3,614 ; net compensation, £45,158; and for 1888, outbreaks, 703; slaughtered diseased, 2,059 ; healthy 10,745; compensation, £81,950. Few people have any conception of the enormous extent of the work.", of Lord Armstrong at Newcastle-upon-Tyne. They have a frontage of over a mile, densely crowded with different workshops, new buildings are continually being added, and, in addition, there are some works in Italy. Thirteen thonsand workmen are employed— a number sufficient to form an ordinary-sized town ; of these 3000 work in the shipyard, wero some magnificent vessels have been built. In the largest of our Government factories, Woolwich Arsenal, 15,000 men find employment. It was from here that H.M.S. Victoria was launched during fchc jubilee year. The enormous sum of £20,000 is paid weekly in wages, and. to prevent any chance of robbery at night, the amount is conveyed from the bank at 11 o'clock on. Saturday morning, and is paid to the n^en at I o'clock on the same day. There are six pay offices in all, 2000 men on an average being paid at each. Lord Armstrong's business is now a limited liability company, and when the shares were offered to the public they were snatched up directly. A £100 share is now worth £2000, and last year a dividend of 11 per cent was paid to the shareholders. It has been rumoured that the Government has lately been endeavouring to purchase the concern.

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of the Ashburton Borough Council was held last night. Present—His Worship the Mayor (pre siding), and Crs Williamson, Friedlancler, Keir, Flower, Scott and Brooke. FINANCE. . The Mayor stated that the bank over draft now stood at £1089 15s 2d, and that the income from all sources since last meeting had been £317 7s, £187 10s of which was an instalment of Government subsidy. CORRESPONDENCE. The Paymaster General wrote advising payment of £18710s subsidy. Mr W. E. Dolman wrote regarding the drainage of the Fire Brigade cottage. Mr T. Brad ford wrote asking for a bridge over the Winter's road race. The Paymaster- Ger.eral'sletter was acknowledged, and Mr Dolman's was referred to the Works Committee. Mr T. Bradford's request for a bridge was granted. engineers' report. The Engineers' report dealt almost wholly with the work of the labor gang, and was adopted in whole. DOG COLLARS. The Mayor was of opinion that there were too many dogs in the borough not paying registration fees. He might per haps be accused of having a mania in this direction, but he felt assured they were not doing their duty to their neighbors by allowing so many dogs to go unregistered. In answer to a question the Clerk said that only sixty had been registered this year as against 120 last year. It was decided to make the same arrangement this year with the police that had been made last year. RATES IN ARREAR. It was decided to advertise that all rates in arrear after a fortnight be sued for. CHANNELLING. Or Friedlander drew the Engineer's attention to the state of the newly laid channelling in Burnett street, and Or Keir also mentioned Cameron street as being faulty. The Mayor said the work of channelling was always done too late in the year. STREET CROSSINGS. Cr Friedlander drew attention to the bad state of the street crossings in some of the more frequented parts of the town, and moved that the question of making footpaths at the crossings be referred to the Works Committee. Cr Brooke seconded, and the motion was carried. Cr Flower suggested communicating with Wellington', City Council for infor mation on the subject of wood pavements. Cr Williamson moved that meantime some shingle be put down on the crossings to form a high and dry foot way, which motion was carried. BROKEN METAL. Cr Keir moved the motion previously given notice of by him to procure a supply of broken metal for the purpose of street metalling in the borough. He pointed out the superiority of macadam over whole shingle, and thought thirty 'or forty tons of boulders should be procured, to be broken by hand. Cr Brooke seconded. Cr Friedlandar was willing to allow that broken metal was the better material for road making, but the cost was too much. The last time they had bought broken metal they had paid 6s 6d per yard, while for shingle they had only to pay Is per yard. The Mayor said the question was simply one of cost, and in view of that he favored shingle. Cr Williamson said the matter had been thrashed out at that Council years ago. One of the greatest difficulties in the way was that of procuring boulders to make macadam out of. He favored shingling iv the winter. Cr Flower favored the getting of a few loads of broken metal as nn experiment. Cr Keir strongly urged making an ex periment, and ultimately it was decided to macadamise the boulders the Council had in stock—some twenty yards—and that tenders be called for breakiug them up. RESERVES. Cr Keir moved " That Messrs Orr and Duncan be informed that while this Council is aware that the rents of their reserves are out of all proportion to present valuj, the Council having dis covered that the reductions made in the rents of Messrs Steel and Brown were an injustice to the ratepayers and to the other tenants, cannot agree to any further reductions." Cr Friedlander seconded the motion pro fo •ma and stigmatised it as a gross piece of impertinence, and a direct insult to the Reserves Committee who had given great consideration to the Reserves question. If Cr Keir had not been connected with one of the firms mentioned, the Council would have heard nothing about this matter. Cr Keir failed to see where the imper tinence came in. The Mayor would point out that very easily. Cr Keir was a young member of the Council, and the Reserves Committee and the older Crs with them had after full consideration, done what they had done. Did he fancy they were going to stultify themselves by passing a motion of this : kind. Cr Keir in reply said he did not expect : the motion to be carried, and he only ! wished it to be put on record. It was ( easy to get up a show of virtuous in- ! dignation about his being an employee of ! one of the firms, but that did not alter 1 the fact that the firms had not been \ justly dealt with. i The matter then dropped. ' accounts. •' Several accounts were passed for pay- J ment, and the Council adjourned. '

DOMAIN BOARD.

The Council then sat as a Domain Board, but the business done was only formal.

TRACTION ENGINE TRAFFIC.

Correspondence on the subject of the regulation of the traffic of traction engines upon public roads having recently appeared in our columns, it will be of interest to many of our readers to learn that the subject has not escaped the notice of our legislators n Parliament assembled. Before referring to the proposals for legislation on this subject now under considera tion of the House of Representatives, let us premise that on the one hand it is evident that traction engines are bound to come into more extensive use, and that, in the interest of farmers, it is not desirable that that any vexatious or unnecessary restrictions should be imposed as to their use of public roads ; and that, on the other hand, the probable increasing frequency of traffic renders it imperative that due pro vision be made for the public safety. To this latter end bye-laws have been passed by the County Council in pursuance of the powers conferred by the Counties Act, 1885, but through a curious oversight in the passing of the Municipal Corporations Act of the same year no provision was made for allowing Municipal authorities to make regulations on this subject. Hence it follows that, while the Act may be, and to some extent is controlled upon County roads, traction engines may pass through any street in a crowded city at any hour, and in any way without let or hindrance. To remedy

this oversight the member for Waimate (Major Steward) has introduced a Bill, " The Municipal Corporations Act, 1876, Amendment Act, No. 2," which proposes to enact as follows, viz :— "The Council may from time to time make, alter, or repeal bye-laws for regulating the times when, and the conditions on which traction engines may be allowed to pass along any street or road without the borough, and to impose penalties for the breach of said bye-laws." If this Bill becomes law, one very necessary point will be gained, but that alone will not fulfil all that is required. As regards the traffic on the county roads, the bye laws of our own county, at any rate, are anything but all that could be desired, and even were they perfect, it would still be desirable that better provision should be made for their enforcement. We are, there fore, glad to learn that Messrs Walker and Steward have taken advantage of the fact of the introduction of the Police Offences Act Amendment Bill to wait upon the Colonial Secretary, and urge that provision be made in. that Bill for the regulation of traction engine traffic. The result has been, as we see by the Order Paper, that Captain Russell has given notice to I move the addition in Committee of the following clause :—(5) Section 4 of the principal Act shall be amended by the additions of the following new subsec tions :—" (13) Any person who, being in charge of any traction engine, shall propel, or cause the same to be pro pelled along or over any public road, highway, street, or bridge, unless the engine shall be accompanied by two men at the least, whose function it shall be to keep a constant look-out both in front of and behind the engine for horses and vehicles which may be approaching, and assist them in passing the engine in safety; (14) who, being in charge of any traction engine, as aforesaid, shall, upon being signalled by the rider or driver of any horse or vehicle to stop such engine, fail so to do, or who, if it hall appear to the rider or driver of any horse or vehicle meeting or over taking such engine, of difficulty in assingthe same, shall fail to forthwith stop and render all possible assistance ; (15) whu shall propel any traction engine, or cause the same to be pro pelled, upon, along, or over any public road, highway, street, or bridge, » tween sunset and sunrise, unless the engine shall carry as a signal a red light showing both in front and behind j (16) who shall propel, or cause to be propelled, any traction engine along or over any public road, street, or highway, unless the said engine shall have painted in plain and legible letters upon some conspicuous part of the offside the full name and address of the makers of the engine, and in counties and boroughs where provision is made by local bye-laws for the registration of such engines, unless the said engine shall have painted upon i some conspicuous part thereof in plain and legible figures of not less than six inches in length, the registered number of such engine." If the foregoing clauses and subsections be added to the Bill, not only will the regulations be made sufficiently stringent to. secure the public safety without being oppres sive as towards the owners of traction engines, but it will become the duty of the police to see that the law is en forced—in itself no mean advantage as compared with the present position of affairs in regard to this matter.

A Pulpit Criticism of "Looking Backward."

Preaching at Dunedin lately on the Communistic experiment in the early Church at .Jerusalem, the Rev A. R. Fitchett said that it was necessary to the success of an experiment of this nature that all who took part in it should be equally animated by the spirit of unsel fish devotion to the common good. For a time this seems to have been so in the Jerusalem Church. Its members "sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men as every man had need." As long as the enthusiasm of brotherly love generated at the Pentecost endured, "the whole multitude were of one heart and soul, neither said any of them that aught of things that he possessed was his own, but they had all things common." There are indications in the history, how ever, that the self sacrifice demanded by Communism was not manifested in equal degree by all. Consider the import of the Ananias and Sapphira inefdent, and of the " murmuring " that arose inone section of the church against the other "because their widows were neglected in the daily min istration." Evidently the strain which the system put on selfish human nature was I severe. Ifcisindispensabletotheexistencejof a Communistic society that all its members should be true to the same lofty ideal— utter self-effacement. Failing that, such a society must become. the prey of the idler, the loafer, the impostor. Possibly this was the fate of the Communistic ; society at Jerusalem. We know at any rate that it did not continue, and that before disappearing it fell into great poverty, for we read of a relief fund raised in the Gentile churches for its benefit. We have recently had presented to us a glowing picture of human society reconstructed on Communistic principles. Nobody has any money, yet everybody is rich ; nobody is idle, yet everybody has abundant leisure ; nobody takes thought for the morrow, because the material well being of everybody is assured from the cradle to the grave. This fascinating picture is to be realised, not by kindling again in men's hearts the spiritual enthu siasm and devoted self-sacrifice of Apos tolic Christianity, but by means merely of certain political and economic changes, men themselves remaining as they are. All property is to be thrown into a common fund ; the nation is to be formed into one vast joint stock company, all the shareholders in which will contribute equally—by serving a fixed term in the "industrial army," and will receive an equal dividend —namely, provision for all their wants'. But before we can reach this equality it is clear that the rich must be stripped.of the advantages of wealth and leisure that they now possess, either surrendering them voluntarily or being deprived by force. In " Looking Backward" the j idea of a resort to force is repudiated. | The writer sees quite well that there s j could be no stability in an order of society | based upon the redistribution of wealth by violence. Class hatreds would con tinue, and what had once been the prize of revolution might become so again. The writer supposes that the rich "will surrender their wealth voluntarily, in duced thereto by the ordinary motives:of self-interest, in combination with such sentiments of general benevolence as are native to us all. C«uld any supposition be wilder 1 A rich man, whose life is now spent in idleness and self-indulgence —a round of the club, the opera, the ball room, hunting, shooting, luxurious travel, —agreeably varied by such public duties as yield their own reward by ministering to his vanity or ambition ; this man is to I

ep down from his position of privilege, and take his place in the ranks of the industrial army by the side, perhaps, of the laborers who used to till Inn lands, he and they receiving precisely the same remuneration. To expect of men as we know them this heroic self-sacrifice is to expect grapes of thorns and figs of thistles. There is, indeed, the promise to the world of a regenerated and reconstructed human society, in which all men shall be brothers, but it can only come when all men have learned the spirit of brotherhood in the school of Christ. Given a whole nation filled with this spirit, as, for a time, the Communistic Christians at Jerusalem were filled with it, and the ideal commonwealth of "Looking Backward" might be realised, but assuredly on no other conditions. Socialism desires Christian results without Christian methods— the fruit without the tree. The Cross of Christ represents the sacrifice of one for all, the individual for the society, and this, in its highest forms and best living examples, has always been practical Christianity. But note the con trast with Socialism. Christianity teaches the sacrifice of the individual for the society; Socialism, on the contrary, seeks to employ the whole force of organised society to secure the selfish ends of the individnal. The difference is vital; it can hardly be doubted along which line lies the true hope for the world.

Parliamentary Grossip.

[by special telegram from our own correspondent.]

Wellington, July 21. Mr Verrall's Bill for the eradication of political lawyers is as follows :—"Where' as it is expedient to simplify legislation and to cheapen costs of litigation, and of mortgage conveyance and transmission of land, no barrister or solicitor in active practice within one year of a general or of a. casual election shall be eligible to be nominated, or to be elected for any seat in the House of Representatives." ' It is possible that a Bill which the Government have promised to introduce, providing for the representation of sea men, will also make provision for Parlia mentary election, nominations being written instead of oral. It will be re membered that a deputation waited upon the Hon. Mr Hislop with reference to this subject a week or two ago. Mr Downie Stuart, who has just re turned from Dunedin, telegraphed to Government while in that city, that there is a strong feeling there against the policy (which is alluded to as one of ob struction) of the Opposition, and against a second session ; also advising Govern ment to hold firm, and assuring them that their recent manifesto is satisfactory. The Factories and Shop Hours Bill completely revolutionises the law relating to factories and shops. A factory or work room is defined as any office, build ing, or place in which any number of Chinese or six or more persons of any other race are eaiployed or any other place where steam or mechanical power is used. Any place in which only the ■members of one family are employed without steam or other power, and any place where the employment is carried on for less than three consecutive months in the year, is expressly excluded from the definition. Power is given to the Gover nor to divide the colony into districts and to appoint inspectors.of factories, work rooms and workshops, as well as medical authorities, for tho purposes of the Act. The registration of factories is made com pulsory, and penalties are provided for the conduct of unregistered factories. Careful provision is made as to the sani tary state of all work places, with especial precaution against overcrowding. Except in newspaper offices, no person under 18 and no woman is (except on Saturdays, half-holidays, or when tho Col. Secretary deems rive exigencies'of trade require it) to be employed for more than five hours without an interval of at least; half an hour for a meal. The taking of meals in workrooms is forbidden, and owners of all but the smallest factories are required to provide special eating rooms. Bakehouses, and one or two other industries, are specially dealt with. An age is prescribed below which no person can be employed in respect to any occupation which tends to the shortening of life in manufacturing trades ; for instance no female and no mule under 16 is to be allowed to work more than 48 hours in a week, while 14 is the minimum age for factory or work room employment. No person under 16 is to be employed unless a medical authority has certified his or her fitness to perform the daily quota of work. Boys under 14 and girls under 16 are not to be permitted to work before 6 a.m., or after 6 p.m. in printing offices. No boys under 16 and no girls under 18 are to work at type-setting more than eight hours, and night work is only to be done by such on the condition that for twelve hours before and twelve hours after it, they are to be off duty. All women and all lads under 18 are to have holidays on Christmas Day, New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, the Queen's Birthday, and all public holidays proclaimed by the Governor, besides a half-holiday every Saturday, beginning from 2 o'clock. In any city, borough, or town district where a Saturday half holiday would be inconvenient, local authority may substitute some other working day. The provision made for the regulation of shop hours enacts that all shops are to close at 7 p.m. on five days of the week and 10 p.m. on Saturdays and on the eve of public holidays. The exceptions to this rule are the businesses of booksellers and news agents, chemists, coffee houses, confectioners, eating houses, restaurants, fruit aud vegetable shops, fish and oyster shops, or tobac conists' shops. The number of hours for which women or lads are to be employed weekly is to be restricted except in the case of the shopkeeper's family. An im portant provision is that which says that if any person is killed or suffers bodily injury in consequence of the neglect; to properly fence machinery, the occupier of the factory is to be liable to a penalty not exceeding £100, the whole or any part of which may be applied by the Colonial Secretary to the benefit of the sufferer or his family. Parents are to be finable for allowing their children to work in contra vention of the Act..

Tile Markets.

By cable from London we have market a'lvices from July 14 bo July 19bh, as under :— •i GRAIN. The market for wheat on the 18th was depressed, says a Loan and Mercantile . cable, and New Zealand average and lorig berried, were worth respectively 36s and 37s 6d per 4961b5. A Press Association cable of the same date quotes New Zea land long berried firm at 375. Oats on the 17th were quoted—heavy at 28s 6d, ordinary 225. The quantity of wheat t and flour afloat for the United Kingdom is 2,297,000 quarters.; for the Continent, 704,000 quarters. The estimated Ameri can visible supply is 18,592,000 bushels. WOOL. 1 On July 16, competition at wool sales was very keen, and merinos, except very faulty scoured, realised prices fully on a par with those ruling at the close of last sales, and in many instances fetched higher prices. Crossbreds had an up ward tendency. On the 17th the wool market was excited, and prices for merinos were 5 per cent, higher than those ruling at the close of the May series. The Loan and Mercantile wool cable of July 18, runs :—Since the date of our last tele gram (Bth July) medium to superior greasy merino, medium and good scoured I and washed merino, coarse and fine greasy

crossbred, and superior greasy lambs have advanced |-d per 11). Other descriptions are unchanged. There is more spirit amongst buyers. The total quantity ■catn'o^ied to date is 235,000 bales, of whiuii 14,000 bales have been withdrawn. The Press Association cabled on the i9th that wool was unchanged. FROZEN MEAT. On July 17 the Press Association quoted New Zealand mutton at 4|d; lamb, shd ; beef, hind quarters, 3|d, fore quarters 2d. On the 18th the Loan and Mercantile cable was to the effect that the mutton market- had a downward tendency. Canterbury and Wellington mutton was worth respectively 4|d and 4M per Ib. Canterbury lamb was worth s|d per lb. For New Zealand IKeef there was a rather befster demand, with quota tions unchanged since last telegram. MONETARY. The total amount of reserve in the Bank of England, on July 18, was £11,716,000. The proportion of reserve to liabilities was 34.72. Consols 96|, New Zealand 4 per cent inscribed stock 104$, 3| do»94£. ■'■-.. MISSGEI/LANBOUS. By latest advices, tallow was in, good [demand, with fine mutton tallow" at 26s 6d, and good/beef at 25s 3d per cwt. Medium N.Z. flax was quoted at £17 per .: Messrs Sclanders and Co., of Christ church, have just received advices from their agents at Poochow, dated 19th inst, informing them of the departure of the s.s. Guthrie with the first of the new season's teas for New Zealand. She comes via Sydney. They report " this season's crop not so nice in leaf, but strong, rich, and serviceable in liquor."

CRICKET.

[per press association]

(Received July 21, 7.30 p.m.) London, July 19. The cricket match, Surrey v. Aus tralians, began at the Oval on Thursday. The latter went in first, and were all out for 184. Lock wood took four wickets for 27. Surrey made 227 in the first innings. In the second innings the Australians had lost six wickets for 96 runs. The match was drawn. Mr S. M. J. Woods, captain of the Cambridge Eleven^ will assist the Aus tralians in the match against England. Lord Harris is urging the team to visit) ndia.

Flies and. Their Habits.

The horse-fly is the most cruel and blood-thirsty of the entire family. He is armed with a most formidable weapon, which consists of four lancets, so sharp and strong that they will penetrate leather. When not in use they are nicely j folded away in a sucker. He makes his | appearance in summer, and may often be seen in the vicinity of small streams of water. He is said to subsist in part upon an airy diet, and to pass his life harm lessly. Not so the female, for she is armed with six lancets, with which she bleeds both cattle and horses, and evert human beings. She lays her eggs in moist places, and after they are hatched into footless maggots, they make all necessary journeys by stretching and closing the segments of their bodies, their heads being supplied by two hooks by which they get their food. In process of time this maggot goes down into moist earth, where it reposes for some weeks, after which it bursts the pupa case, and comes forth a large black fly, armed and equipped like its predecessors. The sewer and cess-pool fly resemble each bther in their habits, with a single exception—the former lives in cleaner water and has a less complicated ap paratus. The female lays her eggs where theymay be readied by the filthyfluid. The youn? are soon hatched, and may be seen floating on the water and taking in all its bad qualities. They die if placed in clean water. They dart swiftly about and go down for the space of a minute, but are obliged to rise to breathe, In the course of time they seek a dry place, and after their wings have grown, emerge .regular flies like their parents, ready to repeat their filthy, but useful work. We can form only, a vague idea how greatly we are indebted to those loathsome insects as scavengers. >■?.•■

The World Filling Up.

A London cable message to the New York papers says :—" The statement that only about 100,000 square miles of land suitable for settlement by emigrants re mains in the United States has come like a revelation to Englishmen, most of whom have been clinging to the belief that America was only half settled as well as only partially civilised. The statement referred to has just been made before a select committee of the House of Com mons on colonisation, together with the announcement that in Australia there are 500,000 square miles, and in Manitoba 400,000 suitable for colonising purposes. The records show that since 1815 12,500,000 people have left the United Kingdom ; of these 9,000,000 since 1853, of whom 7,000,000 were of British and Irish origin. Two-thirds of these" emi grants went to the United States, whose population,.: if it increased in the same ratio as in the past 100 years, would be at the end of another 100 years 1,000,000,000, or about 500 persons per square mile of habitable portions of the country. . JSince 1876 against 3,050,000 British people who have emigrated there have been not quite 1,000,000 immigrants into this country. The total immigration has. amounted to about one-hali: the excess of births over deaths. This array of figures has con vinced the Committee that emigration from the British Isles is no longer as desirable as formerly, and the Committee will recommend in their report that stimu lated and assisted emigration be discon tinued except to Australia."

A New Zealander Abroad.

Miss Kate Marsden, who is just about starting on a leper crusade in Russia, was for some time superintendent of the Wellington Hospital. Interviewed by a " Pall Mall Gazette " tnan the other day Miss Marsden explained—" That whilst at Wellington some friends interested her in the ease of the miners of the South Island, many of whom live several days* journey away from any place where they can get medical assistance in cases of accident. You can imagine what a man's sufferings muEit be if he breaks or injures a limb, and has to remain unattended to for days and days till a doctor is brought to him, or till he is taken a long journey to where the nearest medical man lives. In order to enable them to help them selves and each other ■ till medical. assist ance can be obtained, I went among the miners all over the island and gave am bulance lectures. It was a strange ex perience. Sometimes I had to travel four or five days to get to them ; then* 1 gave my lecture, sat with them by their camp fire, slept in a tent which they had specially put up for me, and rode off again next day to another place. On similar tours I saw a great deal of leprosy among the Maoris,: and a few months,' ago I came home fcoysogland, thinking to go to Mblottai and tliere make further studies of the disease. I should tell you that my final object has always been, and still is, to study leprosy and its various treatments as thoroughly: as possible, and then to go to India' to organise the care of lepers, who, in many cases are terribly neglected. Soon after reaching London I went to the Hawaiian Consul, Bond street, to see what assisttfocs

THE ASHBTTBTQ^ GUARDIAN, TUESDAY, JULY 22, 1890.



SANDER AND SONS' EUCALYPTI EXTRACT.—In protection of the world wide fame our manufacture has acquired all over the globe, we publish the following:— Hazard, M.D., Professor of General Patho logy and Diseases of the Mind and Nervous System, says in an editorial published in the " Clinical Record " :—" We have examined half-a-dozen specimens of different manufac tures ; the preparation of Sander and Sons was the only one that proved to be reliable and corresponding to scientific tests." Another concoction called " Refined Extract of Eucalyptus" has made its appearance since. This product stands, according toDr Owen, foremost in causing injurious effects. That gentleman communicates, at a meeting of the Medical Society of Victoria, that a child living at Fitzroy became most seriously indisposed through its use. In another case a lady states on the strength 61 statutory declaration that she suffered cruelly fFom the effects of the same concoction. Tq guard the high reputation of our manufacture we feel warranted in exposing the above facts, \u\ desires the public to exercise care ami precaution when buying, SANDER and SONS—(Advt.) 7



j Wanted^ __ CASH Aertisementa under this heading not exceeding SIXTEEN WORDS 1/-. Addresses may be left at this Office. VV/ANTED, a General Servant for * V the country. For arldress, apply "Mail Office." 7125 F!OR SALE.—Good younjj Cow ; time up ; good milker. Apply Mrs Sim, Carter's Terrace, Tinwnld. 7 11 DANCE on Wednesday Night next, Orange Hall. Commence at eight. Gentlemen, Is; Ladies free. 7 114 "ti ANTED KNOWN—The Strong- VV Wear Boot for Men, Women and Children can only be Imd at W. H. Collier's. BOOTS, BOOTS.—"Keep your feel Dry and save Doctor's Bills. I have a splendid Stock in now. Try my Double-aoled Shooters. Every pair Guaranteed. Robert Alcorn, Ashbur ton Clothing Mart, Saunders' Buildings. I JUST opened, ft few ladies plush jackets, newest shapes, very cheap. —H. C. Segers, Melford House. \ t I ' ANTED every man in the County VV to have a suit of the Ashburton Tweeds. —Robert Alcokn, Ashburton Clotliing Mart, Saunder's Buildings. TUST Received—Over one ton English t) and Continental Confectionery. Own make as usual fresh daily.—H.G. Flower, Confectioner, East street. ANTED KNOWN.~The Cheapest House in Ashburtcn to buy Drapery, Millinery, Clothing, Boots, etc., is H. C. Segkrs, Melford House. i ~v\/ ANTED KNOWN^-A lot of VV Ladies Cloth and Tweed Jackets, considerably under usual cost price,— W. H. Collier, *' The Corner." ANTED" Known —One lumdred and fifty Ladies' and Children's Ulsters bought a great bargain (good qualities), now selling very cheap—H. C. Segkrs. Melford House. WANTED Known—The Cheapest Shop to buy Tinware and Gal vanised Iron goods in Ashburton, is at W. F. Hannaford's, Burnett Street. A arge stock kept on hand. Tin and Iron ware goods made «'md repaired with des^ patch Public Notices. BOOKS— Thousands of Books of every kind, including books on History, Travels, Science, Religion, Fiction, «fee, tfec. Account Books and Stationery of every discription. A cheap line of En velopes at 5s per thousand. Fancy Goods, including Albums, Photo Frames, Writing Cases, Work Boxes, Purses, Ladies' Hand Bags, Games and Puzzles. Music—A large Stock. Pianos, Accordians, Violins, Concetinas, &c. All Goods reduced for Cash. L. F. ANDREWES & CO. Stationers' Hall LOW CLIFF ESTATE. '"TENDERS are invited for making I about 80 chains of large scoop drains. For particulars apply to J. R. BjJODIE, 7 81 Managor. BAPTIST CHURCH. mHE REV. THOMAS SPURGEON JL will hold Evangelistic Services in th(3 Odt'fellows' Hall, commencing on SUNDAY, 3rd August. Services, morn ing, 11a.m. ; evening, (>.':>o p.m. J. W. SAWLE, 7.101) Pastor. IN THIS Z N E W ZEAL A N D CLOTHIH FACTORY Half Yearly Stock-taking -NOW ON - REDUCTIONS IN EVERY DEPARTMENT. The Celebrated Werthcin New High arm Sewing Machines on easy Time pay ments. f\ W H. WEBBER, TT^ V. J Manager JL 1 WITHOUT 'TCclTti WJTM-tEETH ; THE CHRISTCHURCH DENTAL SURGERY, Corner of Cashel and High streets. Q "A/TYERS AND /"^O. SURGEON DENTISTS. And at Dunedin and Westport. WE have gainelthe FIRST AWARD at the Dunedin Exhibition for Artificial Dentures and Mechanical Appli ances for the Mouth, find it is 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, Dukaisle, Comfortable ArtitickJ Teeth. Replaced Temporarily al most immediately after the extraction of decayed teeth i>r stumps without extra cc or charge. Arrangements can be made for part or monthly payments. ADMINISTERING NITROUS OXIDE >IAS several times daily for the past ten years, we fearlessly assort that extraction of teeth under its influence is perfectly painless and positively safe Fee for Administration, ss. Extraction, 2s Cd. Arfciiicinl Teeth and Dentures made by othor dentists repaired or Remodelled at small cost. Hgyrs of ttendauge—9 a.m. to 6 p,m



VTOTICE.— Anyone found Tres- 1 J\j passing in pursuit of game or otherwise on the Riversdale Estate on and after this date will be prosecuted, .f. It. WILLIAMS. Riversda'e, 21th May. 5 176 SEALYS FRUIT TREES ~f NLUDIN Apples, Peara, Plums, tai jl Cherries, Peaches, Apricots, Nec« oi ines, and all other fruits. The merit all the varieties have been subjected to severe teat* during the lasts 15 years, and the stock is now admitted to be the Largest and Choicest in Canterbury, probably in the colony, to select from, all warranted, and at your own prices. SEALY'S FOREST TREES Of all kinds, innumerable in quantity, well-grown and hardy—all kinds, all sizes, all priceo. SEALY'S ORNAMENTAL TREES, &c Choice in quality, numerous in quantity. SEALY'S MACROCARPA. Tens of thousands in number. A large quantity specially grown for fencing at Tery low prices. SEALY'S ROSES Endless in variety and choicest in quality. SEALY'S CATALOGUES Forwarded free to any address on application. Note.—l will only be responsible for Trees ordered direct from the Nursery or through Mbssbs J. Scaly and Co. THOS. SEALY, Nurserym an, Riverbank, Aahburton. JOHN ORR & Co. ARE OFFERING GRAND VALUE in the Following Leading Lines OF GENERAL IRONMONGERY, ET Ex "Rimutaka," And Other Late Arrivals. 4 Casks Saucepans, Boilers and Kettles 4 Casks Lamps, Globes and Chimneys 1 Ca?e Table Knives, Forks, Spoons 3 Casks Plough and Trace Chains. 80 Tins White Lead. 40 Tins Red Lead. 120 Drums Raw and Roiled Oil. Paints and Varnishes of all kinds. 5 Bales Wall Papers. 50 Register Grates from 14s 6d to £5. Ranges, Stoves, at all prices. 8 Cases Wringers and Mangles. 50 Sets Fire Irons from 5s to 3Cs. 50 Fenders from 6s to £5. 25 Tons Bar and Sheet Iron. 1 Ton Bolts and Nuts, all size% Leather Portmanteaus and Trunks. Leather Belting, 1| to 6in. Manilla and Flax Rope, l£ to Sin. ? 35 Coils Plough Lines. 2 Cases Mould Boards. 5 Casks Hornshy's Plough Slipres (new pattern.) 3 Cask* Ransom's Plough Shares. 3 Casks Buggy Springs and Axles. 1 Cask Carriage Lamps. 20 Kegs Blue Stone. 10 Cases New Iron Bedsteads. 10 TONS CLOVER SEEDS. 100 Kegs Wire Nails. 20 Kegs Fencing Staples. 200 Coils Steel Fencing Wire, 80 Coils Barb Wire. 1 Bale Seaming Twine. 2 Cwt Bobit Mettle. 25 Bundles Spades and Forks. 3 Packages Screws, Locks and Hinges. 2 Cases Saws, Chisels and Planes. 10 Cases Axes and Picks. 4 Cases Gorse Knives. 10 Cases Pick Axe and Hammer Handles. 2 Cases Hammers. 2 Bales Door Mats. 10 Orafces China and Earthemvar s, includ- New Toilet Dinner, Tea and Dessert Ware. Some of these are really beautiful goods. 150 Cases Oils, including Valvoline, Lubrolinc, Caster, Colza, Olive Lard and Neatsfoot—this can all had in any quantity. 150 Cases KEROSENE, Light of th Age ; the very best. GROCERY DEPARTMENT WILL Always bo found STOCKED . with GOODS of First Class QUALITY, —Including— Indian Ceylon and China TEAS, Mauritius Sugar, Crushed Loaf Svgar t Pure Coffee, Candles, Oatmeal, Rollitt and Go's. Flour, Butter from Mr John Grigg s Famous Dairy. JOHN ORR AND Co. t IMPORTERS. A NDREW ARR'S XX ndrew \Jmi s GREAT m M ** £ ANNUAL SALE \ OF €5 IS j DRAPERY j rt y > *% CLOTHING j j. ;-" AND > fc| .BOOTS g Will Commence Saturday, July 6th ! & The greatest BARGAINS ever seen in Ash!*uron. Ac SEE iIANDBILLS. ? ANDREW ORR. t, t I ym