Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. FRIDAY, JANUARY 10. 1890. TAXING NEWSPAPERS.

The Railway Commissioners appear to be determined to make their adminis tration as vexatious and annoying to the public as possible. Not only are they deaf to all suggestions an to how beßt to serre the convenience of settlers in the way of train times, fares, etc., bat they have insisted upon carrying into effect the threatened tax upon newspapers— for that is what it amounts to. From and after the first of the current month all newspapers, sent by rail, whether for warded singly or in bundles, have to bear stamps to the minimum value of a half penny and twopence respectively, that is to say parcels are carried at rates rang ing from 2d upwards, while single copies thrown off by the guards have to carry a stamp each. In the latter case the impost is equal to a charge of 50 per cent on the price. of a penny paper, and means that subscribers who gat their papers delivered in this way must be asked to pay- 13s a year more. This will also mean that in a good many cases the country settler will stop his paper to the inconvenience and often loss of himself and to the certain loss of the newspaper proprietor. Now why should all this be ? If the railways can not do without the paltry revenue desir able from this source, they must be in a bad way indeed, and even were that revenue ten times what it will be, it would be dearly bought at the cost of , the annoyance and inconvenience which will result. It iB indeed a curious com mentary upon the supposed progressive ness of the times that the railways should in this particular fail to serve the public as well as did the coaches thirty years ago. la the days of Cobb and Co papers were always carried free, and thrown off at various places by the drivers with a regularity which has never been equalled by the guards of the trains, and until now they have been carried by f the railway free, with one single excep tion, That exception was an attempt a j few years ago to inaugurate the syßtem of charging, now again proposed, but it was speedily abandoned. We see that] Mr Maxwell, writing to the " Timaru Herald " takes credit for its abandon ment on that occasion ; but if that be so we should like to know whether it was owing to his counsels or to those of the chief Commissioner (Mr M'Kerrow) that it has now been re-imposed. If the former, then Mr Maxwell is certainly not too ingenuous, and if the latter, then «ye can only say that we are astounded at so plain a proof of Mr M'Kerrow's failure to guard tha public in terests. The carrying of the news papers involves no appreciable extra weight of haulage and so cannot conduce to the increased wear and tear of the lines, and as it practically costs the Department nothing, there is no reason why the charge should be insisted on, while as to the trifling trouble of deliv ery surely the fact should be a sufficient quidproquo that guards, engine-drivers and stationmasters are almost invariably supplied with free newspapers, that is to gay they have been hitherto but it cannot be expected that this free supply will be continued while the new impost is insisted upon. The administration of the Commissioners has been animad verted upon by the press througtoat New Zealand and has now, indeed, few defenders, and it really looks as if in stead of taking this in good part, and mending their ways, the Commissioners were bent upon punishing those whom they cannot silence.

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Erapp uses 3000 tone of coal and ooke daily. It will require 40,000 oensua takers to gather the statistics for the United States census in 1390. Mr Thomas G. Shearman estimates that' there are 31,000 persons in the United States who own three-fifths of the total wealth of the country.

As the result of mining by electricity, it has been proved that ten men oan accomplish with the eleotrioal drill what it requires 100 men to do by older methods,'

The Earl of Euaton, whose name is before the public just now, used to be a boundary rider on the estate pf Sir Thomas Elder in South Australia, and wag afterwards asßogi ate to Chief Justice Way.

A very common error is to suppose that birds sleep with the head beneath the wing. No bird ever Bleeps so; tho head is turned round and laid upon the baok, where it is Often oonoealed by feathers.

The memory of Frederick Konig, the in ventor of the quiok printing press—an invention which was first put to use in England—is to be commemorated by a mono meno at Eisleben, his native place.

We have muoh pleasure in acknowledging a oopy of a vote of thanks passed by the annual general meeting oi the subscribers to the Meohanioß Institute, Timarn, for the free supply of the •• Guardian " during the past year.

We have to acknowledge the receipt of Part VI of the Statistics of New Zealand,' 1888, from the Government Printer. This can, however, uoaroely be regarded as great promp titude seeing that they are now more than a twelvemonth old.

The AtohducheßS Stephanie of Austria is an accomplished artist, and is now busy drawing illustrations for the completion of her late husband'a work, •' Austria«Hungtry in Word and Picture." She has just finished three charming views in Lower Austria,

Among the best customers for Swiss watohes ib the United States, although the industry is largely developed in Amerioa. Germany takes about 17,000,000 franc*' worth of Swiss watohes annually, Great Britain 13,000,000 franc*, and France 6,500,000 francs.

Ohristia Is the name of the new material for surgical bandages' It is simply a strong light paper chemically treated in the bath— to trie touch it feels like india-rubber, and is perfectly waterproof, ft ha 3 incorporated in ics composition valuable antiseptic and medical qualifies.

The French Government has oonvened at the Exhibition a congress to consider the subjeot of Sunday observance in its relation to the health and welfare of the people. The Co-operation has been invited'of a number of gentlemen acquainted with the subjeot from various oouatriea.

Judge (to darkey witness): Do yon know the nature of an oath ? " Witness : " Sah ? " —Judge : " Do yon undeicstand what you are Ito swear to ? " Witness: " Yes, Sah. I'm to swar to tell de tiut." —Judge: "And what ' will happen if you do not tell it ? " Witness: I ««j 'epcots our Bide 'ill win de oase, Sah."

Fouf 'ore in southern Bussia is all power ful A man """Jlfodto a judge in Odessa for a writ to oompVl his i*oghter to leave the house, beoaase when she salute'u !"* P"6!?, 1! ehe did not bo* to them. He said he wou.u withdraw his application it ehe would ask pardon and make the regular obeisance. The girl agreed. She asked pardon; but when she bowed the father oried, "Lower. Down ! wi'b your head ! down below the girdle I" , She replied, " I won't bend as low as that, not if I have to leave the house." The judge therefore ordered her to leave, but aha gave >t> finally »q4 faowid faw be»4 to tfa« girdle, I

One death from sunstroke was recorded in Now Zealand during the month of November.

The Anniversary Day popular sports held at Christohuroh resulted in a profit of £288.

A Roman aqueduct has been lately cleaned and put in order at Sabelies, Spain, and now Eupplies the town with water.

Queen Victoria's pet dog h a Yorkshire terrier tbat weighs two and three quarter pounds and oost 75d015. .

Mr Sinolair, of New South Wales, the olaimant to the Caithness peerage, was oashier to a London firm for thirty years before goiDg to Australia.

In the recent autumn manoeuvres in Germany the fortifying of an entrenched position with barbed wire fencing was found to be very efficacious.

A plague of monkeys afflicts Tanjore, in Southern India. The creatures do so muoh mißohief that an offioial monkey catcher receives a rupee for eaoh monkey captured.

Mr Gladstone, in a letter to a Beckenham correspondent, says:—" The principle of local option ia one which I\iew with muoh favour, and I wiah to see it reasonably and promptly tried.

The Empress of Germany is said to wear on her shoulder at Court fetes a magnifioent agraffe in diamonds which belonged to Napoleon I, and which was attached to his hat at Waterloo.

The sheep slaughtered last year at Belfast Freezing Works numbered 227,995. This number is less than in the previous year, but would have been 50 per cent greater bad il not been for the fire at the works.

A boy named Maoey, aged seven, fell into the water off^the steamer wharf on Thursday at Lyttelton. A Bailor of the Opal named Harry Wall jumped in and rescued him, keeping him afloat till both were hauled ashore by a line.

A man named George Alexander, wanted by the polioe for some time on a charge of robbery with violenoe, was arre&ted by Detective Neill at Christohuroh on Thursday evening. He and another man are aooused of robbing a man named William Qrenera of a cheque for £14.

During a representation in the theatre a* Perpignan, France, recently an eleotrio wire feeding the light in the auditorium broke and left the audience in darkness. The eleotrio discharges from the end ot the wire injured quite a number, and a panio ensued, during whioh the interior of the house was badly wr<2oked.

An Auckland gentleman has reoeived a curiously addressed letter. It cornea from Germany, the land of accuraoy and deep learning, and eminates from the firm of " Paul Buss, Berlin W., Friedrich Strasso, 109." It reads as follows:—•• Mr , Auok land; New Sseland, Nodh America." A Ghsrißiehuroh gentreman reoeived by tbe laat mail a communication from New York, ad dressed "Ohrietohuroh, Auckland, Australia.'

A Boston watchmaker recently had a rar« task. It was the putting in order of two watohes, each of whioh had cost £500. The case of eaoh of these watohes is pure gold, and its works number full; 400 pieces. Oa the larger dial there are four smaller dials, one showing by a diagram ol the eky the ohanges of the moon, a seoond dial eaoh month, a third dial the day of the month, and a fourth dial the day of the week.

A gentleman now in Tallabasse who has travelled all over, the world says he saw one little trick the Japanese had he was anxious to understacd. He saw a gardener who had a plot of ground some twenty yards square whioh was laid out after the plans of a farm of hundreds of acree, There were trees of all kinds, but by some secret process they were dwarfed to a height of a few inches and kept at that for any lerjgth of time. People bought the trees as novel ies, but they immediately commenced to grow. The gardener refused to divulge his secret, saying if he did so he would be beheaded. Strata gem also failed to discover it, and the Japanese are yet the only people who oan make trees mature in miniature.

The " Cosmopolitan Magazine *' of New York enumerates some of the richest heitessea in the United States. Among these are Miss Mary Garrett, who is worth about £2 500,000; Miss Jenny Flood, £4,000,000; Miss Daisy Stevens and Miss Annie CuuiDg, eaoh worth £2,000,000; Mrs Fair, £800,000; Mrs Hetty Green, £4,000,000; Mrs Astor, £1,600,000; Mrs Andrew Coffin, £1,000,000; and Mrs Marshall Roberta and Mrs Moses Taylor, eaoh worth £4,000,000, These ladies are widows. It is unnecessary to add that there are soorsß of impoverished prinoes, duVee, marquises, and barons on tbe Conti nent of Europe, who are quite ready to barter tbe oldest of titles for each maguifiaent dowries.

A shocking fatal aooident happened at tho Bendigo raoes lately when the steepleohaso waa being run. Wild Dog and Salford were leading, Salford being ridden by a jockey named Arthur Franois Newlaods. Salford, when rising to the jump, struok tbe top rail heavily with both fore feet. He turned & complete somersault and the jockey wan crushed beneath him. A constable who wan close at hand at onoe went up and found him to be dead. Singular to say the bridlo was wound twice round Newland's left leg, Fortunately the horße, which was unhurt, only moved a few yards and waß quietly grazing. It was found that Newlanda' chest was completely crushed and the baok of hill skull broken in, so death must have been instantaneous.

The annual treat and distribution of prizes of the Aahburton Presbyterian Church Sunday Sohool was postponed from New Year's Day in oonsequenoe of the wet weather, which coming on at noon paused the dispersal of the children and teachers from the Manse grounds, where they had assembled, Sow ever, arrangements were made afresh, and on Wednesday afternoon they again mustered, and with a number of parents and friendu eDjoyed the afternoon at the Manse. Ten and refreshments for all were bountifully provided, and games usual to such gatherings were indulged in till dusk set in, all appear ing to have enjoyed themselves very muoh, and the eoholars in particular agreeably pleased at tbe wind up of tba treat with such pleasant weather and surroundings,

The "Wellington Evening Post' 1 having offered the sum of 30 guineas in prizes fox poems in commemoration of the jubilee of New Zealand no lesß than ninety poems wera sent in. These were referred to Mr J. E. Fitzgerald in accordance with whose award the first prige, 15 guineas, goes to Mr H. L. James, Parliamentary Library, Wellington; the Beeond, 10 guineas, to Mr Charles lumbers, Telegraph Department, Dunedin, and tha third. 5 guineas, to Mr Edward Tregear, Park Street, Wellington. Of these three poems Mr Filzgerald writes that he had great dipculty in making a ohoioe, their merit was so equal. Mr Fitzgerald has also marked eight other poems, bearing the respective" mottoes, " Hceo studia obteotant," "Kowhai/ "Ora et labore," "8.A." (blank verse), "Bavmsworth," "Quisque," Old Pioneer," unsl ('7ranz Jaoobus," a« being worthy of publication, and "indicating a very fair amount of poetio power power and feeling latent amongst us." Two, at anyrate, of th« ninety poems were from thosa sent in over the nanyities de glume of ''Kowhai" and "Quisque" having been written by Major Sieward. The names of tbe pthej writers will doubtless shortly transpire.

TO-DAY'S TELEGRAMS

'MB PBBBS ASSOCIATION.

Lucky Men LmNEDiN January 10 A party of six local tradesmen, who inreated la one Sydney Consultation have received advioe tbat ihoy have drawn the winner of the C*riiogton Stakas, They share £4725,

ENGLAND AND PORTUGAL

(PBE ffi»B3 ASSOCIATION.)

tORDON, Jsnanry 8 Lord Salisbury regards the late de itaila famished of Major Pinto'e raid as merely an expansion of the accounts of the original incident. He has demanded that Portugal should instruct her officers to maintain the status quo on the : Zambesi. Portugal ie willing to comply, provided similar ingtructions are given to English officers. BbbXilN, Jaua»ryß. The opinion obtains in diplomatic circles here that the Portuguese Govern ment will eventually disavow the action j of Major Pinto in the Zambesi, and seek to obtain a convention of the European Powers to determine the question of Portuguese rights in that region, if unable to effect a satisfactory settlement with England. (Received January 10 ( 0.26 p.m. Lordov, January 9 British warships are leaving for Zan zibar separately with sealed orders.

FORTY FACTS ABOUT MR GLADSTONE.

A correspondent of an English news paper writss:— •'Let as follow steadily the lights of experience and be convinced that He who preserved us daring the past will also be sufficient to sustain as daring all the laagers of the future," So spoke M ' Gladstone In the Commons, when advo cating a measure he had previously and earnestly oppoeed, It is this lanoti. monious stylo, combined with bis' vondroni word-spinning powers, uhlcb has prodaoad so ntupefylDg »a lnfatutatlon in tbe minds of Englishmen—su <nf»tata tion which lalis the conscience and daadena It, tha wblie it blinds its victims to the comeqaencea of its ao's. A Bradhugh may *revi c religion snd morality—he causes tbe ennscieuo to shrink ia horro from hla doot'ines A Chamberlain m«y proposo bluntly nobemes of oonfisontlon and theft—the proposal forocs tho oon science iDt) aotloa against them; bat a Gladstone, with crafty sophistries, cmql ■doal special pleadings, and Invertebrate qua I6oitions, be^nlles Vbe rearoo, be iumbs tbe Qcmclecots, and gains his point by the aid of a subtlety like onto that of tbe Serpent In Eden. I will adop 1. tbe maxim I b»ve quoted, and by It oondemn htm as nrjfi't to be trusted by Überty. -lovlng EngUehmen. If the " lights of exp9rleaoe" are to guide ob, the following forty faota nil nolde as Into tho opinion that Mi Ultdatone U not .a_ n»an of principle, bat a m*o of principle!— prlnolpfes mtde to order, as and when nquired:— 1 He oi p^acd the admission of Jews to Parliament.

2. And admitted tbpm. 3. He opposed grants to Maynootb College. 4 And granted them.

5. He opposed the admission of Dis senter* to universities, 6. And admitted them.

7. He opp .eed tha "on-Ohrlstisnlslng" of Parllement. 8 And strove to admit Bradtaogh. 9. He opposed tbe repeal of tbe Corn Laws.

10. And supported repeal. 11. He advocated retention of duties on imported mana'acutes, 12. And opposed them. 13 H j opposed the loterfeienee of the State wl'h OTurcb property. 14 And himself afterwards litetfered therewl.b.

15. He opposed Disestablishment In Iceland.

16, And h'tmelf disestablished. 17. He favoured freedom of oontraot. - 18. And destroyed freedom of ooHtiaofc. 19. He opposed the ''Three F's," 20. Aid adopted the v Three Fa." 21. He advocated coercion. 22. And opposed it. , 23. He promised Gordon assistance i wJ;eo wanted. 24. And wi:bheldit. I 25. He has decried household suffrage. 26. And has voted for it. 27. fle pledged himself to protect loyal j natives in Africa. 28. And deserted them t 29 He pledged himsalf to maintain tbe Queen's supremacy in the Transvaal, 30. And sacrificed her supremacy. 31 He deolured church property " sacred" to purposes of religion 32. Aad appropriated it to other uses.

33 He pronouno id the appropriation of church property to be "desecration " 34. And " deseorated " it, 35 He bianded Parnell as a traitor.

36 And employed him to pat down disorder in Ireland.

37. H« opposed the repeal of tho null tax

38. And repeaUd it. 39 Pc promts, d to appoint impartial men as fixers of fair rents in Ireland, 40. And appointed, amongst others, Land Leaguers and eleotion agents.

LATEST CABLE NEWS.

JBY KLKOXBIO TELEGRAPH OOPYBIOHT.J

(PEK PSEBB ASSOCIATION;)

(Reoefved January 10. 0 26 p.m.)

ANOTHER STRIKE.

London, Jtuuary 9. Fonr hundred employees in a. tea warehouse at the East India docks have struck against the employment of non-unionists.

WATERSPOUT.

A waterspout at Nankio, China, flooded the Yangtsekiang. Hundreds of people were drowned.

BANQUET TO STANLEY.

The Americans in London will give a banquet to Stanley, and present him with a silk American tflag, and*£a massive silver shield, pourtraying his most notable exploits.

>, (Received January 10, 1,15 p.m.) •■

MAIL SERVICE.

SydxeY. January 10 Government will shortly deal with the whole question of the mail service between the colonies and America.

RUST.

Adelaide Jmaary 10, The damage caused by rust in {his Colony \s estimated at a million sterling.

VICTORIAN WHEAT YIELD.

Melpoukmi. Janosiy 10. The wheat yield of Victoria is esti? mated at nearly 12,000,000 bushels, -* • »Bi.ooo bushels over! an increase oj. ,»-„ —»«»inn 1 the previous year. This compui«.._ . , includes a million bushels of shrivelled t graic j

THE MARKETS

(PBB PBBSS ABBOOIATION.J

Sydney, January 9.

The first wool sales of t!he year opened to-d»p, when 9400 bales were offered, of which oTer 7000 were sold. Inferior gi-eaey realised Bd, good greasy llfd, good washed Is 4|d, superior scoured^ Is 9£d. As compared with the Mel bourne sales these prices show an ad- Vance of a half-penny on all descriptions.

UNDER THE INFLUENCE-A BARBER'S STORY.

"A fanny thing oocur?ed the othar dny," said a barber, as he was patting the fiatshlng tooohea on a Saturday even ing hair-cut;. "A fellow cam* to be shaved who was somewhat under tba i.flaaaca ol: Intoxiotnts- He took hfs 1 p'aae in the abalr, and all proceeded well uatil I had shaved one side of his fiioa, wbea be stopped me. ' Hold od, I want this tblug explained.' I ftiked him what was the matter, aad be repUedj 'There's a £7 on my oheeif, and you h»vo saaved tbe luther and whlskara off, bat the fly dlda't 010ve, Now what's tae matter with him?' ! [ told him there w»s no fly on hfs face, but be pointed to tbe m^rcor and said, • Tou think I oau't see him, bat I o»n,' I a»ued to tbe glass, and there stood the £1/ on tba mirror, end in soon a position, mat, from nay oastomar's range of vision, It seemed to be on hi-i cheek. He after wards said that h j had felt that fl/ tiokllng aim all the time, and wondeted how I could sh»ve under It and not oat ill legs off.'

NEW ZEALAND SCENERY

" Tekmaohua," tba gifted writer for tbe "At 4UI" who is at present aopplyicg that journal with most Interesting articles en New Zealand, holds that tbe Government ul this ooloay sbooJa provde every f»oilify lor T'kttlDg oar anrivelled eaenery. He rhen asks:—"ls it the basinets of tbe Government to provide this? It It is tbe business of the Government to develop nil the resources of tbe ooun'ry, tha iniver In most certainly yen. And it Is a <m.tter of ooost*nt wonder to me tbat these resources have been neglected go long. It la not the ansoaled peaks I met a They are but tbe beaaona by wblob tbe 3it bold mariners will steer. Help t h.em across first, and a mighty fl et will soon aumo sailing in tbeir wake. Aad I would u»y', help the others lv any and every possible Wity. Sabiidise steamships, oat iown railway fares, make tracks to every like sad every mountain, and every nest of 1 ijlory amongst these hills ( ft^katipu) 1 j would e«y and with ail ear&eßtaess, and not without some practical knowledge— This ii your exhibition ; herd is your bo d and pernment advertisement to thi world. This will aome day give to you all that tho alps and tbe hkea have given to Switzerland and the Tyrol, Melbourne will by and-by have more need of the couio of an alpine tour than London or Paris. Melbourne in this year, did sbe koow of your glory and of the ussy means by which it mlgbt be reached, would flood year land with tourists. And herself would greatiy gain thereby. And here is a note for those who manege the larger affairs of New Zealand. It ia quoted fro<n the " Argas "of 23 cd Pecem b,r, ' Lest week upwards cf 900 passengers left Melbourne for tbe lasmamai} prrts.' And Tasmania Is not quite like New Zealand. But then we should want yon to land us st tbe Bluff in three days and a half, to run us on to Wakatipa in aootaer four hours, and to have a tew little matters prepare i for our arrival,"

MAGISTERIAL.

ASHBUK rON-THURSDAy.

(Before Mr O. A. Wray, R.M. and Mr O'Shea Lawlor J.P.) OIVIIi OASES.

Bond vJ. Fitzgerald and others, claim £14 17a 8d Mr Purnell for plaint fE, \ir Ctisp for defendants, Nellan end Oaeey. Fitzgerald did not appear and i was slated that be had chared out soma tima ago after lift n.^ the mo7iey for the contract on which be w* ihi ds'enrUnts were engaged —The plaiui, lThsving given evidence was cross-examined by Mr Crisp at considerable length with a view to elicit that be had locked to Fitzgerald solely for payment,—Mrs Bond gavo corroborative evidence— R. M, Oathbeit son stated what took place at an inter view between the plain i iff, and Oasey «nd Neil an.—Mr Otisp opened tbe oase for the defence and called iiichard Nellan who denied that he and o*Bry had been in partnership with Fitzgerald. They were working for him, and the goodß were obtained on his account. Until Fi zgerald had oleared out witness and Oasey were never acked for payment. It was tbe usual cuitom for the contrac tor to deduot each man's share of tbe goodsacoonat fr>m his wages; bu th-y bad net received any wages from Fitz gerald.—By Mr Purnell: Witoess never told Bond tha he was in patne ship with Fitzgerald, Witness thought that he was in partnership until Fitagerald bolted. At that time he expected that he, Oasey and Fitzgerald would settle the account between them. The arrange ment was that the expsnsas should be defrayed out of the proceeds of the oon traot and the balance devided amoug them.--Oaßey said that Fitzgerald was responsible.—Tbo Bench gave judgment In respect to the goods supplied to the camp at which Neilan and Oasey htd been working, the amouat being £8 6s Id.

f. and R. Morgan v Turnbull, claim £11 2s 53. Mr Octhbeitaon for plaint ff, Mr O >re" ifoc the defendant. Part of the oUim ~waa on account olt a dishonored cheque. This had been drawn by a third person, and paid to the defendant, who, without endorsing It, had giver* It to the plaintiff. Mf Core submitted that de fendant not,havlng endorsed the cheque, an aotlon against him did not lie- The Magistrate reserved his deolaloa on the point lulled. Evidence having been taken the easa was adjourned for a week, the Magistrate expressing a hope that it would be settled la the meantime. Aihbmioa County Ooanoil v Thomas Jones, olilm £119j 61. Mr Parnell for the plaintiffs. The claim was for expenses incurred in clearing oat a watee race cunning through property occupied by tbe defendant The clscumbtauoes of the o«se were somewhat peouiiar. It appeared that enclosed in one of defendant's p»ddocks was a small section which did not belong to him. This fact had not been dla oovered till reotnily, defendant has oo oupled the land and paid rates on it for years, believing it to ba his property. Part of the water cetoe ran through this section and defendant objected to psy for tbe bteantag on the groand that the laud was not hja, Evidence was led to show that the race had been cleaned at de fendant's request t>nd that he had made use of the small section, Mx Puraell sob mlttefl that defendant was liable ts ocoopier, and tbe Bench sgroelDg with this view gava judgment for tbe Oouuoll P. Graoe vJ. R. Corrtgsn, claim £11 19i8d. Mr Com for plaintiff, MrOuth btrteon for defendant. Judgment for plaintiff fcr £2 9j 9d. Execution w»a ordered to be stayed for a week' to silow of a c:Oss aotiou being taken, ' I The Court then rose.

WHO OWNS THE LAND IN AMERICA ?

Who own« the laid la the lETnltrd Stateß 1 Why, the oitfz na do, or bhoo d —would be the natural reply. But un fortonateiy it (a not altogether co. So ma f the b^oft lands In the country era >wned by alien landlords. Nsafiy 22,000 000 ftores of land are owned by men who own elleglacoe to other govern ments. To be exact, there are 21,241,900 tores of land under the direct control »cd management of thirty foreign individual* oc oompanUu. There are 2,720,983 aotea of land in Maiaaohacetts, bo thst the men llrlug in other ooctrlei, and 07>tng alegtauoe to other powers owa land enoagh to mak> about ten states like MwßHchusettß, more than the h Ie £ New England, more land than some Kovornmeat; owa to support a king. The largest amount of land owned by any one man or corporation ia < waed by a foreign oorporatlon oatied the Holland Land Company. Talk abont alien land lords in Ireland! Theie is tw:ca as mnoh land owned by aliens in the United Stat38 as theie is ownad by Englishman in Ireland. Think of it in more than 22.000 aores of land owned by men in Europe.

TELEGRAPHIC. HOME AND FOREIGN.

(PsbPbISS AsSOOIAIiOH.)

REVENUE RETURNS.

London. Jinaary 8. The revenue returns show thai the value of the year's imports increased by and the exports by ,£14,000,000, as compared with the returns for the previous year.

FEDERATION.

The Marquis of Lome considers a Federal army essential to the safety of the Australasian colonies. He also suggests that New South Wales should co-operate with England! in framing an Imperial tariff for articles producible within the E\npire.

The federation deputation to the Premier has been adjourned sine die.

IRISH LAND COMMISSION.

Judge Milligan, Recorder of Derry, has retired from the Royal Commission on Irish land, appointed in 1886. He disagrees with the excessive rents fixed in order to assist landlords whan the question of purchase ultimately comes on.

THE IRISH DELEGATES.

It is stated in a Wellington letter to the " Times" that the loyalists in New Zealand are denouncing Mr Dillon.

RUSSIA AND BULGARIA.

The Pi ess, commenting on Russia's official protest against the Bulgarian million loan, on the ground that it is a breach of the treaty of Berlin, call atlentioa to the fact that .Russia is arming forces at Batoura.

THE PARNELL LIBEL ACTION.

The action brought by Mr C. S. Parnell agaiast the " Times" for pub lishing the letters forged by Pigott will be commenced next week.

THE PARNELL DIVORCE CASE.

Mr Paroell denies that he is guilty of any improper conduct, as alleged in the documents filed in the action for divorce brought by Captain O'Shea against his wife.

THE SCARCITY OF GOLD.

The Bank of England has declined a loan of gold offered by the Bank of France.

DOWAGER EMPRESS AUGUSTA.

Dowager Empress Augusta will be buried on Saturday. The Prince of Wales will represent Queen Victoria on the occasion.

THE CHARLEROI MINERS.

Brussels, January 8. The Cbarleroi miners who are out oa strike are becoming very excited, and have assumed a menacing attitude.

BISMARCK AND THE EMPEROR

Berlin January 8. Bismarck attempted to suppress tbe Emperor's alarmist speech to the gar rison of Berlio.

THE RAILWAY LATE-LETTER BOX

Somebody connected with our New Zea land railways is either a boru humourist or elee it anxious to dieouiage " late let<ei) " If you take your stand ne«r iho guard's van on the platform jast before the north funeral—l beg pardon, the uorth express —starts you wHriaes a (onoy eight, enter old gaffer, bad head and rubicund face. Watch him charge fran tiaally up and down the traio and bedew every carriage with his perspiration in his anxiety to fiad the carefnllyhidden box. *'Hi 1 guard I Where the deuce 1b that letter box?' "In there," says the guard, pointing to the van. Away rushes tka gaffer, but a£s: an interval of mingled Bearolt %n<*' profanity comes back to efobrue his htnds in the guard's goro. He can't find the b:x, not he. Luckily, the goard has vamoosed, and a bystander, who has solved the puzzle, takeu pity on the old man and shows him where the box is hidden. Then oomei an cffioa boy fall pelt, the late lottei in his hand. He Is more fortunate, and finds tbe box witb less diffiouity. He posts bis letter. Goodness ! what » hideous yell! " What's the matter my little man ? What hort you V '"I was p p-poatlng (aniff) a letter «n' the b-b box (sniff) nearly took the top of my fingers off Oaooo !" " Ab, yei!" remarks the feu»id, " It has got a way of jamming down on people's fingers," ' And he grins as he thinks how a small portloa of the revenge be owes the pabllo has been paid Bat retribution Is at b»nd r Ba ware, false guard t A dainty little maiden, with a jaunty little bat, trips down the p'atform ell smiles to tost that letter to "Charlie." Gradually a look of distress takea the place of fcbo smtle as the finds that ehe can't fiad the )e:ter box. She sees the guard, and with a touchlngy seductive little glance reduoeu that (.u»rd to a state of abject slavery, and he praaees off, his heart beating 250 to the mlnuie, to poat the letter for her. Does he get the thanks he expects ? Not mac i. Qaoe the letter Is safely In tbe b.x and tbe appealing look vanishes after the smile, and tbe little vixan gives the poor gn&>d such a rating lor having so Btopid a box that tbe poor fellow has gloomy thoughts •bout entering a monastery. Mo al— Why can't a plain, sensible letter-box be put on the train?—Battetfly In Danedla •♦Herald."

THE INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC

(FSB PRKBB 4B3OOUTIOM )

Bebxth, J«no«?y 8, The Empress Augusts expired peace fully, the immediate cause of death being paralysis of the lungs. Wfcta it was found her strength wa» fa'Jiig, the Imperial family wete ajwmbied. The Empresn Frederick it tA Home, bat Bhe will be able to return in time for the funeral. * LoirDoir, January B*. Prince George and Princess Viotoria of Wales are suffering from infiaenea.^ Sixtesn hundred postmen are .laid aside by the epidemic, and their places have b»en filled by boys, and much delay is consequently experienced in the delivery of mails. Many of the police smd tramway employees are also suffer in& from the disease, which, how ever, has not assumed a severe type'in England. '  The statement that Prince George and Princess Viotoria of Wales, have been attacked by influenza" is denied. ' Vienna, Jud a»ry 8. Half the population of the city is prostrated by influenza.

SOUTH RAKAIA ROAD BOARD

The asaal monthly meeting of the South IRaktla Road Boaid waa held on Thursday. Preiant: Messrs Ljtteltoa, Stringf Hotr, MoLeaa and Pf :ro!t. ? la the abienoa of the Uhairman Ml Lyttelton presided.

The ro'urnlog officer slated that Mr Pyorofl), the only candidate nominated had beem alected a m"mb«f of the Board la plao« of Mr Mulligan who had rattened. The oletk reported as to the condition ef the 'radons roids tn the dltkrlot and on other matters. Larger qaantttlei of attall birds egga were ooming in than had arat previously been the ou9. Tha manage* of the Ne* Zealand and Australian Land Oompiny bad deeMnei to «!go "the Initemnty In the matt r of Aadtnou'a hod until he had ooaiulted bli ■olldtor.

Theolerkwaa Instraotid to oharga the Ooantj' Ononell 5i pat day for the work done od water race oroaitaga or £24 lOj in all. , , -

The qaaatlon of letting plantations wm deferred till next meeting In tha abaenoa of the Ohstrman. v '"-

The bilanc j to oredit of oar rent account at dtto w»3 stated to baJBl? 17j. and the deposits woold not f*U In tilt February 2.

On iibe motion of Mr Ly ttelton aeoondad ,by M? MoLean, the o!erkw»s loaroetad to mat: i air»agamenta with the Manage! of the Bank of Na*r Zealaod for en orar drafc to miet present reqolrementa.

L dlaoasston arose Id referenoe to the contractors employed by the Boatd and U wm d olded to give con tractor T. Going noilce to finish Btr«iob*,o'a road before Ftbra>ry6tb or tht extract woold be cancelled and tbe foil panaltlei luflioted.

Mr Btiiigfellow spoke atrongly against one contractor being allowed a anznbaf of coutracte and taking his own tima to finlih the work. It wa* very unfau toother cos r xctcra and he hoped.it would be con sidered in future. The contractor should have finished S rach me road by JauoVy Ist and had had lota of time to complete his work since the middle of November,

Mr Sheehan asked for three week* leave of absence to harvest A. month was granted, Contractors Brown and MoAnalty, and the contractor on the Kyle rotd also received a month to go hat- Vesting. . - •---::• Mr F, Windsor aiked psrmiiifoa Went cocksfoot off the roads, giving the Board one quarterns payment. Tht offer wm accepted- P ana of gravel pita were raoeived and the clerk was iratruct«d to tike;the neosaoa'-y atepi for tranafera to the Board* Account! amounting to £165 were parsed for payment *nd the Board ad-> journod,

INTERPROVINCIAL.

[Pir Prkss association] ! Napier, Janaary 9. The Borough Council last night received [ntimiticn that a sum of £8 8s expended in the re option of Lord Ooilow had bean disallowed _by th 3 Auditor. No action was tnken in the matter. At War'pawa, a Native woman was fined £3 and £1 costs for slander. The libel consisted in saying that another woman winkud at a shearer. : Wiuinoton, January 9. Tho "Gazette" to-day oontaioa a notification of tbe receipt of a proolama* ton by the Govurnor of Sooth Australia, prohibiting the importation of New Z;al oad sheep into that O3lony. At tho Keßident Magistrate's Oonrt thil afternoon an application was made on behalf of a prize w.nner In tho Ohrtit church Baby tihow to have Donnelly, the promoter of the show, and also of tb« chow held here duriog the last two Says, held to bail, there being reason to believe tint lie oqniemplated leaving the ,oo oay by the Atawa to avoid payment., A warramt was ate rdingly ieesed, and the bailiff prooaeded aboard the Arawa, which was lying ia the stream, and found Donnelly oa board. He satisfied theolaim, and (she steamer ehortly afterwards took her departure for London, The prise awardi in the baby show held he.*e wen to have bee a announced to-night, and a number of anxious mothers and a large asiemblage of .the publio waited oabidt the Bkatlng Biuk where tha show had . been held, but the door* were not opened. Dchkdqi, January 9 Information has reiched town that Mr James Dude was aocldontally killed near Wcdderburn, He waa traveller for Thomson and 00., aerated water manu faomirers, and leaves a widow and" ftmQy of se^en, grown up. --.-^

A RUSSIAN LOVE SUIT

The St Petersburg correspondent of the " Loiadon Dally Telegraph" writes :— ♦ A Vity oarloas law suit will be heard In » few days In one of the. lew oourts of Warsaw, whloh might be made the basis of nn Interesting novel It in all about • swallow-tall ooat, which Mi L, an inhabi tant of the anoteat aaplUt of Poland, ordered of a well known tailor, and whloh for a covenanted anmwMtjbe delivered punciiaaUy by a certain day. The tailor, however, like moit Busihn tailora and tradesmen) failed to keep his" word, aad delivered the garment the day after th'Jtftrm fixed, when it proved, ai Russians Bay, as aeaaonabie ; a» mustard after supper. Mr L. not only refuted to pay 1;ho stipulated earn, but oammenoed proceeding against the tailor for very heavy damages for the momontoai and lamentable remits of his dllatori, nn©H; and hereby h«ngs the tale, $ErL alleges in his 6tat)ment of olaim that he r qaired (he swallow-tailed coat to qualify him i;o appaar at a large eveniog party given by the parents of the lady of hia heart, wbose hand be intended to form allyitolioit in the oomie of the evening during the valee, the qa#drille, or the mazaika. Unprovided with the magio evening dress, he was in t!ha sad predicament of the guest in the parable 'who had not on a wedding garment; I but, 'ffieer than that person, b^ > did not pqt ia an appearance, Meanwhile, • the otbei fei'ow,' t»kiog a mean advantage of him, wen, »od flaw, smd conquered; proposed, wus a^o pted, and is now the cbrriiihed bridegroom of. the beantifol H ion Tho-OQjrt h nay? called on to estimate 1 in roubles and oopecks t l>e extent of th<» loss ioflioted on the confiding Mr l»« b; hj| diUtory taUoi! iM W Iw^

TEH ASHBTTRTON GUARDIAN, FRIDAY JANTJARY 10, 1890. «



NB W ZEALAND OLOTHJNGr FACTORY ate showing for the Boliday Season the most exteneive variety In the District of BoyB f, Youtba', and GS£ our IWanotaotuke. This Season's productions will be fonnd to excel in Fit, Style, »od Quality, and »*"SSSSaMBOH. TAILORING DEPARTMENT. We we prepared to supply a thorough Good Bait SELECT YOTJR OWN TAILOR from £3 Tos. Trousers to measure from 18s 8d; or if we forward your measure to our Tailoring iLatablishment in Dnnedln we Srill make a well-fitting Suit from £210s; Trousern to measure from 16b 9d. Nothing but the beßt materiali mcd, and perfect fit guaranteed in every Garment we undertake, Tht most POPULAR and EOONO MIOAL Establishment to bay your Shirts, HATS, T*EB, BRACKS, RUG 3, and PORTMATBAUB. PEE OUBIriNDQWB, INSPECT OTJB STOCK JLad jadge for yonmlvet, NEW ZEALAND Clothing Factory. W. H. WEBBER, Mwsger, OBEY TALLEY COAL. 3000 TONS — SOLD WEEKLY. — f B the Cleanest, Best, and most economi- I cal, effecting a saving of 20 per oont. 311 any other Coal to be had. biased by the New Zealand bhippmg /9mpany, New Zealand Government Mid all the principal Factories and ttas /#rki in the Colony. For THBA-SBING MACHINE purposes it is unequalled for quality and effect tO Per Cent Saved by its For particulars apply to W.H.COLLINS&CO.I TIMBER ' AND Timber and Coa MERCHANTS EAST STREET, ABHBURTOK - 6PBmO & SUMMEB, 1889 WM. SPARROW, TAILOR AND MEBCKU, JUST OPENED, | ALARGS and Varied Auortment of' Qenttomao's bhlrta, Hats, So»tfi, NEW SEASON'S TWEEDS AND COATINGS, A luge and well seleotod Stock to ohooie torn. £HE TAILOBING DEPARTMENT • under tbe Management of Mb T. Kebk vho has had Large experience as GUTTER the prttolpul T*lloricg KatabllhmeDts Chrlstohurob, Perfect Fit and Worlmanthip Guaranteed WM. SPARROW Eait Stieet GHBISTMAS GIFTS. W. W. SPENCER IN addition to the Great Bargains he is now offering tot Ohrialmag and New Tear, will give every Customer spend ing 5s and upwards » PRESENT. White Calicoes 3s 6d a dozen Grey Ca looea 2s lid a dozen Scarlet Flannel Bsd a yard Stammer Dress Goods 6|d Zephyr cloths in all oolora Pink, Grey, light Blue at 5Jd White Towels 3}d eaoh Double Width White Twill Sheeting li MEN'S TWEED SUITS, 18a 6d Men's Tweed Trouieie, 6s lid Boys and fbuths' Colored Moles 2» lid Men's Colored Molos 6s lid BOOTS BOOJTB. Men's Blaoberi 6s lid, Shooters 10s 6d Women's leather Elastic Bide Boots, 4f lid The best Talue in BOOTS to be had in Ashbuxton AT W. W. Spencer's THE ABOADE. P.S. REMEMBER ever* Ctutomer pending 5t trill recelv valuable tma\



Wanted Known Cash Advertisements under tbU head ing, not exceeding 16 words, Onß Shilling. Addresses may Deleft at this Office. WANTED TO LET.-A 6 roomed house, ooraei of Peter Street and P,fC. Belt, teat. Ba. Apply W. 0. Page, Baet street. 1 71 WANTED to Let 2 or 3 Private Bed rooms with Bitting room it require). One mihnte'a walk from Railway Station For addreis apply " Guardian " Offioo. __ 3|69 WANTED Station Oook; must be a good bafeor, Apply to Edward BttC, at Scott's Stables, between 12 and 1 p.m. Saturday, January, 11th. I 68 MBS K&NNDD7 and Miss Cameron Moore Street—Teachers of Scientific Dress-catling. Bodies cat and fi ted. Dressmaking in all its brandies. Biding habltu a speciality. 12 69 MANILLA Binder Twine, machine oil, and ulre. Time U money on the harvest field—the beak li the cheapest. —R. Aioobn, Saandcra Buildings. TjIUBROIDSRIES—Fe» good Erobroiy JCi deries marked oheap gv to Malforu Houie. We have a Urge ana splendid assortment to choose from.—H, 0. Seobb's Melford House* WANTED Known.—" Strong-wear, Boots for Ladles, Men and Children can only be obtained at W. JU Ooxjjsb's, EDNKSDAf Half-Holiday. Piesee shop early. Wednesday we close at 1 p.m.—H. 0. Smubbs, Melford Home. -TITANTSD KNOWN —My Specia W Make of Ladles' 4 clasp Kid Gloves, "The Aehburtonian," braided backß, Sa 6d perp»ir.—W; H. Colubb WANTED every man in tne County to have a Salt of the AsbbartoD Tweede.—Robbbt Alcobn, Ash burton , Clothing Mart, Saonderß' BulldiDga. MILLINERY— If you want o ohooee I from a large stock of trimmed anc antrlmmed hats ted bonnets go to Mel ford House A lot of children's Qalate^ straws from 6d to 2a, very obeap'-—fl. 0. Beoebs, Melford Honse. WANTED, Everyone to Know—Taat J. MOI3ON bas now In stock » arge and varied assortment of BOOTS AND SHOES for the Spring and Summei Seaeon. Gentlemen's, Ladles', aud Chil dren's, both Imported and OolooUl; aisr EIS OWN MAKE, which CANNOT BE SURPASSED for Stylo, P,t, Qa»Uty and Neatness, combined with VERY REASONABLE PRICES. All repairs ezeonted promptly and with nettneiß. IQtl 3 NEW GOOD Si Ci TATIONERY, Fancy Goods, Music k5 &c New Serial Volamee New Books for Piizes or Presentationi Subsortbers wanted for any Magazine o Newspaper published. Diaries for 1890 All Woods Blduced in Price dutiiog tbit month, L. P. ANDBBWES & CO. Public Notices. SPEOIAL NOTICE. ON and after MONDAY, 13th J«cy we purpose doting at 3 p.m. in itt^sd of 9 p.m. aa haretofore. Eatatday and Sunday hours as niiua). (36) ASHBDBTON DETJ» CO. IJSB 0. M, BROOKE, Viiiiamson and Preece LONDON AND BIRMINGHAM —TAILORS— HABIT M&KBBB, &c, H^VE REMOVED to their Neve a:-' O.mmodious plaoe of Bu?iaess in EAST BTBBET, ASHBURTON, (Lately oooupied by Johh Oki & Co. Special attantion to Livery and MUitar Uniforms IN BASKSUPTOr. In the District Cooit of Ashburton (being a Local Court of Bank ruptcy), bolden at Aebburton. lithe matier of "The Bankruptcy Act, 1883," and the Acts ttnend iDg the same, NOTIOE fa hereby given tbat J sbph Clabk, of Tlnwald, Grain Mer ohaor, has this dty been ar ju-J ca^ed n bankrup', and that the first meeting of Creditors wIH be held la the Datrlc Courthoasp, Aahbarton, on MONDAY, January 13th, 1890, at 2 o'olcok in the afternoon. Dated tbla 9.h day of January* 1890. J. 0 BELL, Deputy Ofla Ul Aod^oee. DDNCAN, OOTfEBIL 7., and MARTIN, i;j;7o Solicitors fcr Debtor. CLEAEIM SALE AT uThe Corner/ THEB'iLANOE OF THE SRASOS'S STOCK ALL BEDUOkD Bid Prints for 4|d 15d Dreas Goods lor BJd 6d Frillings for Id 3i Sunbonnets for la lid Straw Hate, half piico 50? Suite for 35s CALL EARLY AND SEOVRE BARGAINS, W. H. COLLIER ."Tie Corner."



SANDER and SONS' EUCALYPTI EX TRACT.—In protection ol the worldwide fame our manufacture has acquired all over the globe, we publish the following:—Hazard, M.D., Professor of general Pathology and Diseases of thei Mind and'Neryoua System, says in an editorial published ih the*-('Ol|nijaql Beoord:"—" We have examined half-a-doseu specimens of different manufactures; thß preparation of Sander and Sons waß the only one tbat proved to be reliable and correspond ing to scientific tests." Another concoction called " Refined Extract of Eucalyptus " has" made its appearance since. This product standß, according to J)r 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 oase a lady tates on tbe strength of statutory declaration hat she Buffered oruelly from the effects of the same concootion. To guard the high of our manufacture we feel repuii»... —naing the above facts, and warranted m ex^. w ~, a „a preoau . desire the publio to exercise oaio _. ~~ .. - tion when buying. SANDER and SONtt— , Advt. j [ Rough CN Catarrh.—Corrects offensive] todors at once. Complete cure of worst chronic' cases; also unequaled as gargle for diphtheria i i throat foul breath * * I



Wuua' Hai BAjiauw.—H gray, restores to original color. An elegant dressing, soften ana ;;;::!!:•• Noollßw .**** *j°™ Bostorative, Stops hair coming Qu>,«J. "°



Keating's Cough Lozenges cure Cough I Asthma, Bronchitis, Medical! testimony states that no other medicine is so effectual in the cure i qf these T dangerous maladies, One Lo?enge a.lone gives ease, one or two at and time ensures rest, For relieving difficulty in breathing they are invaluable, Thfejr contain no opium nor any violent drug, Sold by nil W b f