NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS

F.B.L. asks, .'"lf an editor (speaking | generally) would refuse either a report or a letter for insertion if written on both sides of the paper." It is usual to notify that correspondence for pub lication must be written on one side of the paper only, because it is highly in-' convenient for the printer when the reverse is the case. Not infrequently correspondents quite ignore this, at the risk of course of their communications not being printed. For ourselves, in ■ the case ef-reports,' or even of letters when the subject is of public interest, we have often to put up with incon venience, rather than disappoint our readers or our correspondents,-and so also we think .do. our. contemporaries generally.

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 1890. PARTY GOVERNMENT.

The sooner it is admitted that party government, as carried out in New Zealand,,is*, ,what it undoubtedly is, an utter failure the sooner shall we attain ] to a-more healthy condition of things political. We might indeed say, and say with truth,' that in other colonies ; —Victoria for instance—nay, in the ■Mother- Country -itself, from-.whose in stitutions our o^jn are adapted, govern ment by party has proved itself played out and' effete—^in a. w6rd that it has become an anachronism, but need not go further afield than our own colony, to see that ty is .cumbrous, ineffective, costly, and mischievous. To have a proper system of 'party.-government we must first have clearly defined parties, "actual , not imaginary party lines, and that is precisely what 'we have not. If there be, Liberals and Conservatives, i.e., if these words have for us any meaning, at all, then there are Liberals .in the so-cajled Conservative party, and Conservatives in the so-called Liberal , party, more liberal or more conservative perhaps than the leaders of the parties known by those names. Then lines of division cross and re-cross like the .threads of a spider's web, and no set of men can be> found to agree together upon anything like an all-round policy, every question -which' comes up if it were dealt with on its merits involving an entirely fresh sorting of the cards in the political pack. On a given question it is easy to find men, on opposite sides of the House more nearly agreed than men on the same side, and members of "the rank and file in the same party who differ more widely than do the leaders of opposite parties,' Take recent utter-ances of party ieaders in proof. Major Atkinson declares that it won't do to go in for further borrowing for the present—so does Mr Ballance; Major Atkinson, believes i in payment by results to schoools other than state schools—so does Mr Ball ance. Major Atkinson professes to believe in the policy of settling the lands of the colony, Mr Ballance certainly believes in it, and so on, over a number of question^, "What then is the difference—simply that of adminis tration, the extent to which either may be trusted to carry out what he pro fesses, plus the question of fitness for the conduct of any particular depart ment of Government. Obviously under circumstances such as these the House should be free to choose from out of its' whole number, without regard to fictitious party- divisions, the men in its opipion best fitted and niost thoroughly, to be trusted, for the several de partments, and this is what could and would be clone if the present stupid system of so-called Party Government [ were put an end to. Then also, and not till then, -will every measure Avhich. • (jomca before the House be disou'ssed on its merits and accepted, amended, or rejected according to the intelligent views of a majority representing a preponderance of opinion, not a riiere preponderance of votes brought into ihe lobby under the' whip and-withoiit respect to the merits of the simple issue; and then, and not till then, will < the votes of hon. members clearly, plainly, and unmistakably indicate their real views, opinions and> objeqts. Then also, and not till then shall we see the disappearance from our political arena of that miserable intrigue, obstruction,;! and' purposeless, * though sometimes' purposed, waste of time which are a reproach and a disgrace, not to'one Parliament only but to alLParliaments in which the wretched and demoralising etish yclept "Party Government".'still holds sway. \

LOCAL AND GENERAL

He : '' I love you more than tongue can tell!" She (thoughtfully) : "Suppose you put it in writin»g, George."

The Gospel of Matthew has been published in the Fiot tongue of the Lower Congo by Mr Wcsllind.

The number of people who. live in boats about Canton is estimated to be 100,000. Some put it at 230,000.

" Now, Richard why did the Israelites make a golden calf?" "Why, 'cause,'they dindn't have enough gold to make a cow, Is'poae." I

Latin Professor. —"Decline 'food' in Latin." Hearty Pupil.—" Excuse me, sir, but I would rather not, if it's, the same to

you."

The 'colony's drink bill for 1889 was £1,996,286, showing a decrease of £44,615 from tbftt of the previous year, the figures for which were £2,040,901. : The Brow'n-Potter-Bellew combination, piloted by Mr Lohr, make an early descent on New Zealand'; and George Rignold will visit us in the summer. Jt appears that Mr Henry George has r.ob yet glyen up all idea of visiting New Zealand, and the Single Tux Society has asked the Wellington City Council to give h ima public reception if he comes. A number of sportsmen, including some Victorian visitors, had a splendid day's dee*.' shooting on the Blue Mountains recently.. Two fine stags were shot, one of them being brought to Lawronce. At the Sydney Wesleyan Conference the Rev jQporge'Brown was re-appointed Special Commiasi/ongr at Tonga for another yeai\ The Tongan Committee is composed of representatives from t)}£ four Conferences. It appears that the furniture used in the library scene at the representation of Little Lord Fauntleroy on Monday evening was obtained from Messrs Pickford and Undrill of this town, and not from Christchurch j as we j,vere informed,

The "Zoo-" at Washington wfvs infested with:rats, and how to get rid of them had long been a perplexing question. Traps were used, but nothing would tempfc the rodents to enter." In a storeroom drawer was placed a quantity of sunflower seeds, used as food for some of the "birds. Into this drawer the rats gnawed their way—a fact wijich Jotl to an , experiment with them for bait in the traps. The result was that the rats could not ho kep 1; out. A trap, which appeared crowded with six or eight rats, Yru,s found bomo mornings to bold 15.

Cabs are now running in Paris which 1 j automatically register the distance traversed, ! I and indicate the fare which the rider has to i pay. A schoolmistress under the Nelson Board | who has been teaching thirty-four years, has I just been discharged, with a year's leave, on i full pay, £140. ■ ■ The huge Winter Palace at St. Petersburg will accommodate 6000 persons. Like all Russian palaces, it is a mixture of splendour and shabbiness, luxury and discomfort. I The Mataura Ensign is informed that five tons of cheese from the Mataura factory has, realised in London no less than 50s per -cwt. The product was shipped as ordinary cargo. < John Hudson/of Patea (Taranaki), has applied; foT.a patent for a mechanical appa ratus for nursing infantsj to lie called "Hudson's Baby-Jumper." The unsophisticated Maori is in the march of civilisation. Hukaki Waretiu, of'Hawke's Bay, has filed, with, liabilities, chiefly with , storekeepers in Hprowhenua, £157, andi assefs nil ' 1

To-morrow being Ascension Day the-HolY pommunion will be administered in' St- Stephen's Church at 8.30 a.m. At'7.3o p.m there will be evening service at which the Rev R. F. Garbett will preach., ,  , , The Right Rev Bishop Juliua will,arrive in Ashburton on Saturday, and will probably address a public meeting the same evening. He 1 will also officiate on Sfc: Stephen's Church on Sunday next. Lady Dilke declares that after sixteen years' experience in.the work of. organising unions,' shVhas''c'bme t6"the Jp6sitiv'e conclu sion that working women cannot organise themselves.

At a meeting of shareholders in the Com mercial Bank of Australia, which"' is in liquidation, it was stated .that, the,total losses of the .Bank were £600,000; whiqh is nearly double what was estimated when the Institution first collapsed. It is intended to make a fresh call of £2 per share.

At the inquest on the body of Agnes Driver it transpired that on Sunday week deceased went to the Purakanui cliffs. Her hat blew off, and in making an • J effprt to catch it she tripped ,over a vine, and fell a distance of 200 ft. A verdict of accidental death was returned. """

We have to thank the publishers for a copy of the May number of Zealandia. The ' • Mark of Cain " is continued, and the essays in the current number are "Byron's Domestic Pieces "by "5.D.," and "Women's Work in the World," by. " Egeriu.". -

The Hawera paper's correspondent says that in the Kaupokonui district' the peach trees seem to be wholly recovered from the disease which threatened their wholesale! extinction some time ago, and next year^we may expect crops of this luscious fruit in as great abundance as ever. - j

The United States correspondent of the "Dunedin Star" says:—Of the presbyteries who have taken action on the question of revision qf the Confession thus far, thirty nine are in favour and fifteen against. ' The discussion is becoming intensely interesting sometimes sharp, but fraternal and in the be3t of humor.

A very successful meeting in support of early closing was held at Sydenhain on Tuesday evening, the meeting pledging itself to suppqrt thelSarly Closing Association's r.v.-.■..■. r. .... .:.,} ..'  carrying unanimously a '■ >■■'■••■• " '■: i'iv- that a legislative enact ment should be passed to close retail shops at 6 p.m., and to compel all employers of labor to give their employees a weekly half holiday

The estate of the late Mr David Berry, of Coolangatta, in New South Wales, estimated to be worth over £2,000,000, will shortly form the subject of a lawsuit. Mr Berry, having no near relatives, bequeathed the bulk of his property to a distant relation named Hay ; but upon an application- for probate being made, an equally distant relation named Simpson lodge! a caveat on fie ground that at the time the will was made the testator was not of sound and disposing'mind.

Says the " Bruce Herald " : Among other instances of magnificent yields this season we may mention that Mr H.L. Johnson, of : ' ' ' 1 bushels of sparrow ■ ■■' ' ■ ■ " which five years ago it would not have been possible to drive a bullock. This marvellous return is solely due to the drainage scheme which was carried out some time ago, Mr J.A. Duthie also has threshed o,u,fe- from His Lovell's Plat crops 80 bii3]\bls from one paddock and 100 fvom another.

The weather in Scotland during March waß remarkably favorable for the lambing. The crop of lambs is proving a very ful one in general, and a remarkable case of heavy cropping is recorded. In the choice flock of Border Leicesters belonging to Mr Matthew Ridley, Peel : Well, -eighteen ewes produced forty-five lambs — one had four lambs, nine ewes had three lambs each, six had 'two. lambs each, < and two ewes had one lamb each ; and in every case bath ewes and lambs were doing splendidly. The quadruplets were sired by the £100 Mertounram, whioh-Mr Ridley purchased at the Kelso Ram Sales in September last.

Writing of the Premier the "Wellington correspondent of the "Otago Daily Times " says :—Sir Harry, though not so robust as his friends could desire to see him, is believed' to be quite able to meet Parliament and to perform all the functions that will be required of him in the short and light session which the Government hope to have. He will no doubt take his Parliamentary leadership as easily as. possible, and will be represented by one or another'of his colleagues, except on special:occasicps, 1 but both' .he and his. col-" leagues are convinced that be will be equal to all reasonable calls, upon his energies, and; no idea of his retirement the' session" has been entertained for one moment.

The, Queen of Great Britain is now sover eign over a continent*,''loo peninsulas*,*' 500 promontories, 1000 lakes., 2000" rivers, 'and 10,000 islands. She' wavfe's- Her- hand;and 900,000 warriors march to battle to - conquer or die. She bends her head,-and at';the signal 1000 ships of war and 100,000 sailors perform her bidding on; the ocean! She walks upon the earth arid 300,000,000 human beings feel the least pressure of her foo£. The Assyrian Empire was, hot so powerful. t;-.- r--i'. .-■»• ■ ■Empire .was'not so much .:. i•■ -panish' Empire wa'snotso 1' widely diffused. The Roman was weak in comparison, and Grcce was as a small village. •

A sensational affair occurred the other morr:" v: A V- -■* ■■ -. _.. Melbourne. A woman was : ■ : i." : <>•.,: : a; road, wheeling a perambulator containing her two children, when a horse came alorig.at good speed. He made a '.furious; tush at. the -woman ; and, endeavoured to bite her, and then jumped the perambulator. As he-(passed over he kicked out viciously and striking the pera'm bulatbr smashed it to pieces, scattering the children in different directions. They were picked up and attended to and-it was found that although no bones were broken severe shock had been sustained. In the case of one child this was so bad that its death for hours yras r momentarily expected. The horse was a young one v- -' -'il- - .-1 f y ■ harness put on fop the fjrst ■■!■.-. =..!.■.■■_• been left standing in a paddock, had jumped the fen and galloped off in fear. At the kind invitation of Mr and Mr 3 Makeig and Mr Wiggins a genuine treat was afforded to a large number of persons, young and old, in the shape of a magic lantern- entertainment at St. Stephen's Sclioolrooiii last evening. The slides were manipulated by Mr Wiggins, who first throw upon tho sqreen a series of excellent illustrations of the scenas.and situations of George R, Sims' poem *?The Lifeboat," which was read by Major {Steward. Then followed a capital seriea of views of London,' Mr Alfred Harrison kindly officiating as lecturer, after which Ingoldby's " Vulgar-, Boy " was read, while the counterfeit pre sentment of the characters was thrown upon the sheet. To this succeeded some excellent pictures "of ' the scenery upon the Thames from its source, to its mouth, and after these the touching poem, beautifully illustrated on the canvas, '.'Curfew must not ring to-night." Next came a mimber. of'exquisite reproductions ol statuary, after which the story of "Sam,arid the Elephant" was pictorially displayed, and tin's and .a: number of comic slides evoked: shouts of laughter from the juveniles" pre sent. A V- 1"-^-'-— r.i-r"V"W .'-,-.-> a portrait of her *i ■■. ■.. :, "i iq legend "Good Night" appropriately' closed a very delightful hour and a half, a hearty vote of thanks, proposed by the Rev Mr } Scott, being tendered by the audience to heir kind entertainers.

TELEGRAPHIC.

HOME AND FOREIGN.

[per press association.]

\ London, May 12. It is stated the trance-like disease known as La Nona has been ascer tained to be a form^of neuros.

It is believed the vigorous action on the part of the Agents-General at the Paris Telegraph Conference will secure a'reduction of the charge" for ordinary cablegrams to,the colonies to 5s per word/ Mr Henniker-Heaton is press ing- the"' Government to support the reduction. :

New York, May 12.! Cyclones passed over Ohio and other parts of America. ..Immense damage was done to property, but the loss of life was small.

Constantinople,' May 12,

Dj evdet Pasha,, Minister; of, Justice, has been dismissed from,office.at the instance 0* Germany.. ..  n ',. '/'

, .., ; • ..Berlin^ May ; l2.. It is rumored that Yon Capriyi, Chancellor, intends to resign, the reason'being that the tortuous mazes of diplomacy are foreign' to' his character. ; '";"■-..-,,/.,'.■ '' '• ''.SoFiA^May 12.J The indictment preferred against Major Panitza, who is accused of taking part in the conspiracy to dethrone Prince Ferdinand, implicates the, Russian Minister at Bucharest in the plot.' ' ' - ' • :

The Markets.

[per press association^ ] ■

. .: . . Sydney* May 13.' Wheat,: chick feed, 2s 7'd to 2s lOd; milling softs, 3s' 4s. to 3s'9d; oats, feed ing' sorts, 2s to 2s' 2d ; seed, 2s 3d ; potatoes, .New.Zealand, £2 ,K)s to £3 10s per . ton ;,, onions,. £4, 55,;- 'butter,, dairy made, 6d to Bd, factory made'9d to lOd ; cheese, loaf, 4d to 5d ; bacon, New Zea land cured, B£d to 9d ; hams, New Zea land, lOdto.ls: •';:''.■;

Melbourne, May 13| Wheat, ,3s 9d jT-o'ats, stout 3s ; barley, 3s lOd.

■-' . /-m 1 ') Adelaide, May 13; Wheat. is firm at 3s Bjd ,- oats, New Zealand grown, 2s lOd ;

INTERPROVINCIAL.

'.'' [#EB IPBESS ASSOCIATION. ]

, Auckland, May 13;. * A second shipment of frozen fish fr.om bhis colony to New South Wales was made to-day. The consignment was about twenty tons and about half of ,it is from Auckland. *

Wellington, May 13

In the Appeal Court this afternoon, the argument in the Te Kooti case was con cluded, their Honors reserving judgment. :' The Hiitt County Council have struck a rates , of in the £ to supply the deficiency in the' county income caused by the abolition of toll gates. The Agent-General will represent New Zealand at the Telegraph Conference at Paris.

The Scotia wont out this morning to pick up the cable, the weather having cleared.

Blenheim, May 13,

An adopted child, five weeks old, the daughter of a woman named Henderson, Wellington, died at Picton on Saturday from emaciation. It had a day or two before been sent to Piclon in care of the stewardess of the steamer, and though, carefully nourished died as above. At tlia inquest _ a verdict ( of ," Death from natural causes " was- returned.' The' juiy censured the persons w.ho sent it over in such a condition.

Nelson, May 13.

Last night a man named Robt. Gross, a resident of Motueka, when passing the Post Office there fell, and before he could be carried home expired. The cause was heart disease.

A considerable quantity of hops is being shipped from here

k , J Duwedin, May 13. The Art J Gallery Committee have resolved to purchase a third picture, entitled "Kirkwall, Orkney." The sub scriptions now amount to ciose upon £500. Two interesting cases will be heard in the Supreme Court next week. One is an action for divorce, the petitioner being the daughter of a well-known citizen. The parties, it is stated, have only been married a few months. In the other action £500 is claimed for breach of promise of marriage and seduction. The defendant is a sebtler at Gore, where the plaintiff was employed as a milliner.

Resulf of a Trance.

]pbr'.pk.ess association.]

"^ ' .~" Nelson, May 13. - -IVjrs Davy,- a- resident) of Motueka, went into a;trance,^last Sunday, and remained in that condition for forty-eight hours. On recovering consciousness, her reason had gone, and suicidal mania, was exhibited With difficulty-* she was prevented from injuring her children,- "and. this afternoon she was committed to the Nelson Asylum.

Lismore School.

DISTRIBUTION OF PRIZES,

Ori.Monday/May 6th, 0. J. Harper, Esq., .distributecl the prizes to. the children of the above school. "In his.'introductory remarks he, f told the ' children of" the pleasure it'gave him to be','present at this time for such a "'purpose. ' It was the custom of ,this - school to give a prize to each child, but he was sorry to say that sometimes. in the . past they had not .deserved ' what J they? received ; however, •on* this-'occasion-lie- 1 Vis 5 glad that every .one.-jbhoroughly deserved their awards; for.tWe Inspector's report showed that they had worked hard and' had done well. ! He hoped that ■ tins year they would do quite as well, or if possible - even better. Every child then received a prize, after which the following extra prizes were distributed :—William Paterson dux • of the school, , Walter Hill for sports; William Paterson Ist for school examina tion, Rowland Hill 2nd.

A Bridge Question.

> [PER MUSSS ASSOCIATION.]

Timaru, May 14.

The Ger'aldine County Council to-day received notice of a writ of mandamus, applied for this month on behalf of certain ratepayers to compel the Council to reconstruct and maintain for general traffic the Lower Pareora bridges, which has been useless for some years, and was proposed to be repaired sufficiently for stock only. - :

Wrongs to be Righted in Russia.

MADAME TSHEBRIKOVA'S LETTER

TO THE.TZAR.

A few days ago (writes a correspondent of the "Times") a despatch from St. Petersburg announced that the Tzar had received a threatening letter from a woman named Tshebrikova, and it further stated thab a copy of this letter had been sent to each of the' Ministers. The event has caused considerable sensation, as its author is a lady who enjoyed a highrepu tation in political circles. Madame Tshe brikova is about 50 years old, and for the last 20 years has been known for her writ ings on women's questions arid on educa tional subjects. The brilliant position Madame Tshebrikova occupied is now sacrificed by this one letter. Her action is all the more remarkable as Madame

Tshebrikova had no relations with the Russian revolutionary party; she wrote spontaneously, and her letter was not due

to any suggestions from the Nihilists. Madame Tshebrikova went to Paris, there composed her epistle, and then boldly took it herself back to Russia, caused it to be delivered, and awaited the conse quences. Madame Tshebrikova has,' of course, been arrested ; and it is this dis play of self-sacrifice and of civic courage which is.likely to cause as much effect as what the letter itself contains. The document will, therefore, in its:' way, be come historical. The following are the more important passages :— Tour Majesty,—The laws of my country punish free speech. All that is honorable in Russia is condemned to see thought persecuted by an . arbitrary Administra tion. We witness the moral and physical massacre of youth, the spoliation and flagellation of a people condemned, to re main speechless.' But liberty, Sire, is'the primordial necessity of a people, and sooner or later the hour will come when the citizens, having, under this tutelage, exhausted their patience, wili raise their voices and then your authory will have to yield. -■'■■ ...

There are also in the lives of individuals moments when they are ashamed of their silence, and, thenf they dare to risk all that is dear to them ; so as to say, to the' person who holds in his hands all-the, power and all the strength, the person who could put an end to so much evil and so much shame :—"Look at what you are doing, either consciously or not." NOT ORDER BUT ANARCHY. After showing that all guarantee against" the arbitrary conduct.of the functionaries has been abolished,. Madame, Tshebrikova exclaims:— - ■ .. : / " i

What I say to you is no fable, as your lacquais- and Ministers ■would have you believe ; it is the truth. Tolstoi himself did not wish to suppresa the village jnstices of the peace ; and to your initi ative is attributed the abolition of this last remaining guarantee the peasants possessed. What, were you able Sire, to burden your own conscience with such a measure—you who know not what life, the people led ? Do you imagine that because you are an, anointed Sovereign you are a divinity possessing knowledge of all things? If you could, Sire, like the Sovereign in" the fable, pass invisibly, over the tdwns and' villages, so as to know what life the Rus sian people live, you would see its misery, you would see how the Governors bring up the soldiers to shoot down the peasants and the workmen. You would see that f order, maintained by thousands ofsoldiers, by legions of functionaries, by an army of spies, that order in the name of which every word of protestation is suppressed, that this is not order at all, but a state of administrative anarchy.

DECORATIONS V. THE HOPE ANjU GIBBET.

After enumerating,' at length, all the measures taken against education in the schools Mclme. Tshebrikova speaks of the censure and persecution of the Press, and proceeds:— „ . , The experience of the past reign and

your own experience must have demon strated to your Majesty that the policy of persecution does not'attain its object! The' day will come whon the persecution of tlie right of thought will seem as the,memory , of a bad dream ; but I fear that the advent of such a day will, be accompanied with flames aftd ' floods of.. blood. The whole of your system pushes those who are dissatisfied into the camp of (the revo lutionists, even those who feel a strong and natural repulsion,for all ideas of blood and violence. For one imprudent word, for a revolutionary print often taken out of mere curiosity, a young man, a mere child, is declared to be a political criminal. I We have political criminals who are only 14 years old, who are consigned to cellular confinement. The Government that rules 100,000,000 people trembles before child ren. In our country people are sent for 12 years to Eastern Siberia for offences which in Austria would be punished by two weeks' simple imprisonment. The youth of, the 1 country thus-trampled, upon be comered revolutionists. I have k horror of bloodshed, no matter who may be the victim; but when, for the spilling _of blood, we find that on one "side de corations are .distributed, and on the other is 'the rope and the "gibbet,' it is easy to understand the synipa thies of young, enthusiastic, arid heroic" youths. By the., side of , the. -Draco nian punishments inflicted by the tribunals we have also the punishments by adminis trative order. By this latter -the Government gets 4 rid of its enemies against* whom there is, 'insufficient proof. A man is killed, not because there are established proofs against, him, but because.police functionaries are inwardly^ convinced of his guilt; arid such'corivic- 1 tion is based on the reports of spies, compared by';','the\liigher <\f unctibriaries themselves to "a source of troubled waters." This is the way orders',of deportation are drawn up:—"Though there are no .proofs on\whiclv\ to ..cqndemn-

, still he is exiled to——l^J" 1 These warrants will be transmitted ,to> posterity,. and it is said that your Majesty's signa ture is affixed to to such orders. ... HOW ASSASSINS ARE .MANUFACTURED.;

The political prisoners areHhe'victims Of arbitrary conduct which, at times as .sumes ian absolutely savage ■ character. The Minister Tolstoi was himself alarmed by the extent of the spoliations and mas sacres. Every prison gaoler, every etnpe officer, may without danger to himself, rob, strike, martyrise the unfortunate prisoners, the poor women and children. The lower falls a stone the greater the shock ; thus each order of repression descending lower and lower in the administrative hierarchy augments pro gressively in its destructive force and falls on defenceless victims. All their com plaints are useless. The victims protest by voluntary starvation, or by some act of violence, which is often an act of folly. All these measures of terrorism, which commence wi,fch exile under administra tive order and end by the gibbet, do not effect the object for.which they were intended. The nuriiber of political criminals will increase every day.. The imagination of the young people will become accustomed to the idea of exile to the executions, and their number will go on increasing, because the cause of these political offences is firmly, rooted in our political and social condition. A Govern ment which- defends itself by means that are condemned by all public moral senti-. ment, such as exile by administrative .order, spies., flogging, the gibbet, and bloodshed, itself teaches to the revolution ists the Jesuitical, principle that ■ the object justifies the means. Where the victims of autocracy die by the thousand where people are flogged to death with impunity-,, an ardent feeling of commisera tion will always bring into existence those who are wijling to seek revenge.

HOW SALVATION MAY BU FOUND, The policy of Nicholas I. cost Russia a heavy price. Your Majesty's reforms

make Russia go backward towards this lugubrious epoch. The lessons taught by the' Crimean campaign compelled your father to alter the policy of Nicholas I. Is an equally cruel lesson necessary to lay bare the rottenness of a similar state of affairs ?

Your salvation depends on your return to the reforms commenced by your father. Freedom of speech, 1 inviolability, of the person, the freedom of meeting, publicity given to all trials, education widely acces sible to all, the suppression of arbitrary administrations, and the convocation of Zeniskisobor,'or National Parliaments—in this is salvation. One word from you, and we shall have in Russia a pacific revolution which will constitute a lumin ous page of history. Should you, however,', desire to leave in the history of your country a sinister blot, you will not hear the malediction of posterity, but your children will hear it, and what; a horrible legacy you will have left them. You are, sire, one of the most powerful monarchs, of the world ; I am but an atom among a crowd of millions, of beings similar -to myself whose fate is in your hands. And yefc my conscience, my right, my duty as a Russian woman compels me to'speak out what is on my mind, and to say what I had to say

CRICKET.

AUSTRALIANS V WARWICKSHIRE.

PER PRESS" ASSOCIATION;

"' London, May 12. In the crjcket match against Warwick shire at Birmingham to-day, : :the Austra lians went in and were all disposed off for 89. Murdoch was.bowled after scoring.4?

Buffalo Bill in Rome.

THE COWBOYS AS HORSE- \ j

BREAKERS.

.All Rome was excited to-day (March 4) over the trial of Buffalo Bill's cowboys on wild ..horses furnished 1 by the Duke of Sermoneta, For several days the Roman authorities have been superintending:the erection of extra > barriers. to keep < the savage steeds from reaching the-audience.- The animals came from the Duke's famous herd in,the Pontine marshes, and he;de clared that.no cowboy on earth could iide one. The cowboys laughed at the boast. Then the Duke dared them to mount jone of six. Every man, woman, and child in Rome expected that two or three men would be killed .in the experiment. Over 2000 .carriages, were driven to the.Patri di Castello, and an audience of 20,000 people braved a: dripping,'rain. ■ Lord Dufferin and many, other diplomatists were present in the special tribunal. - Two of the wild horses were driven into the arena. They had neither saddle nor bridle. Buffalo Bill announced that they would be con quered in five minutes. In a moment the cowboys had lassoed, saddled, bridled, and, mounted. the horses. The animals leaped 'in the air, writhed, bucked, and reared madly in vain. In five minutes they were ridden easily around, while 1 the 'crowd, unmindful of the rain, roared and shrieked with'delight. Buffalo Bill now dares any Roman to ride his bucking bronchos.

FATHER IGNATIUS.

Father Ignatius, whose death has been reported, was as fine a specimen of "the good man gone wrong " as could be found in all England. He was the son of a London merchant, who had no sympathy with his eccentricities. The Rev Joseph Leicester Lyne, in his earlier years, was an East End curate, but he soon con ceived the idea of reviving monasticisni in the Church of England, and to that idea he clung with extraordinary tenacity in spite of a multitude of difficulties and' discouragements. His . monastery ; was first located at Norwich, then in the Isle of Wight, then at Laleham (Surrey), and finally he settled down in the heart of the Black Mountains on the border of Here •• fordshire arid Brecon. .'He. called his establishment Llanthony, Abbey, though it is five or six miles, away from that grand old ruin. , In this, quiet retreat he and one or two of his entourage, on one occasion, were' favoured * with an ecstatic vision of the Virgin Mary; I should say that he was exactly the kind of man to whom such visions would appear. Occasionally he would emerge from his retirement to conduct- a "mission" in London or some great town, his discourses, which were full of rhetorical fervour, being a strange mixture of Catholicism and Evangelicalism. In spite of his monastic vagaries, he gained no little popularity among the people of South Wales, and at the meeting of the National Eisteddfod at Brecon last autumn, where he was one of the specially' selected, orators,; he received quite an ovation.: .Had Jie beeri.content<tb' submit to ecclesiastical discipline and to abandon' his project of reviving the order of St. Benedict, he might have become one of the,.-foremost- mission preachers of the Anglican Church". As it is his work will [probably die with him.

The Floods in New South Wales.

Among other pastoralists holding land in the flooded country in New South Wales is Mr fC.;M. Officer; SM.L.A., who owns Kallara. In writing to a friend in' Hamilton he says: —"What terrible, losses in Queensland and New South' Wales caused by' the'flooding of the rivers! Two of my friends have lost 106,000 sheep;,be£ween them. The total losses of stock cannot be estimated yet, but it is supposed they will amount to nearly 2,000,000 sheep, besides cattle. So far as'l know Lam not an actual loser by flood^ but indirectly by overcrowding I' may lose. However, I feel thankful to have escaped (a great catastrophe.' On the Kallara run the water is out about 25 miles from the river banks. Three years I ago there was a run near Walgett on the Darling 'starved out," and the owner ruined by drought. On the same run 36,000 sheep have been drowned. Who, after this, will say that squatting is not risky ¥'

Barnum and the Pharaohs

Barnum contributes to the "American! Review " an article embodying some of his ideas as a showman for the world's fair* He says:—What novel feature would I propose (for the world's fail") ? Now, I will present the fair committee with one of my ideas—an idea that might bring me in a million in money. In the museum at Boolak, in Egypt, lie the mummified corpses of Rameses 11., the Pharaoh of the Exodus, with that of his daughter, the saviour of Moses, and other less dis tinguished'of the royal Egyptian family of that era. I had authorised an agent to' offer the Egyptian Government as much as 100,000 dollars to allow me to exhibib i those remains in Europe and the United States. I will relinquish my right of priority of claim in the idea to the faff. committee. Let them obtain' the loan" of these mortuary relics from the ■Egyptian i Government,. and allow* the Khedive to send his own soldiers to guard the coffins. Think of the stupendous-* ness oftlie incongruity! To exhibit to" thepeople of thejnineteenth century; iin a country,not discovered until 2000' or 3000 years after his death, the corpse of: that king of whom we have the earliest record ! Consider, too, that the corpse is so perfectly preserved after thousands of years in the tomb that its. features are almost perfect; so perfect that every man, woman, and child who looks upon the mummy may know the countenance of the ' despot who exortod so groat an influence ,

upon tlio history of the world. - And- 2 might be a useful thought, to this g'jiioraiiou, proud of its scientific and mcchiinical triumjihs, to bear in mind that the Jirt that embalmed the body of Barneses so perfectly is lost, with a great, many others that were known to remote antiquity. ,

AN ABSCONDER.

[per press association.] ,

Dunedin, May 14.

William Sanderson, who i# referred to in a paragraph yesterday \. about, divorce proceedings, was. arrested [JkstJ night. Meditating a clearance for San Francisco he had,been winding up liis bjusinesSj and 'when "'arrested had: over £i2CK)O oh'him. He carried bnT business in Moray place as a fruit importer.' '■■<<,-. ■ i ry£/[ '" '.:'■•'' '>: V' '"-"•'{'■ 'j "■' V.'V;;' f"L»fcer. Sanderson'was brought up at the Polict Court and remanded ,till } Friday-^bail being allowed, himself in' £1000 anfl two sureties of £500, each., Bfc; Fraser^who defends,, - denies that his client intended leaving fche Colony,\ and saiclVtha^ the proceedings .were ' instituted. at,/'the t in stance of; Mrs. Sanderson's; father fa a commercial' speculation .!''yitn'Vjyieir to extorting nioney. ■ '''/., "'< V<> '

Hypnotism in India.

In an article on hypnotism'as practiced • by Indian fakirs, the following is sjiven as being related on the: authority.- of Colonel.JenkinSj then stationed at Luck now :—" In 1877, aparty of fakirs, visited the colonel's quarters and gave* an exhibi-, tion of almost; superhuman powers. The old man threw himself while in a. sitting or*rather asquatti^ptoatuhfifinto a trance, and; his assistants: proceeded to. , place his tongue far back in his mouth. Then they, swathed.J&i: body with. 1 band ages, as a mummy,-is]prepared ioiLthe^. tomb. They filled his earuj.ieyefl^mouth, •<■• and nostrils-with paste,,and bandaged his ■ * face and neck, arms and chest, as they had done-\the- lpwerf part of the body. When this was done he was turned over - to the colonel .Mind you, all this had i been done in the presence of the colonel. and his officers. There (wacand coWd be no (deception in, it. j, rl!> j/[* J^i^i The colonel hatLhad a deep hole dug ia the bftrrack yard; and;into, this he* placed ;' the bandaged fakir, after first putting him', into a box,; sheathed with metal; jafid her metically sealed.:-; The^earth was spread over this box,, and the grave was placed under^guard of.asquadjpffloldijßrßj Every second of the time, day and night, for forty days the grave- was ■under^guard. - The > box ?could Wot'i-have"; Been meddled , with by-any human being i and TiftTe es caped detection. At the end of that' periodvtKefbox'-wfe.exhYimedand opened, '■>"'. the body was unswathed^ and a woman ibreathed'-upon. her face and(fSjteed.her | hands over^the limbs',- and, precisely as I | have described before, the-man came to '• life, apparently none<- the* worse for his long burial. How much longer he could have remained; underground' of' 'course I cannot tell. All Lknow is that'ne cer tainly, was buried, and remainted there forty days without'air, food^or drink. '' -

A Base Ingrate.

A sergeant of the line in'tKe"course of a graphic account.of the ; battle o^, Tel-el- ' Kebir relates the following incident: The \: first wounded man rattendedjt^ was ah r Egyptian whose moans were pitepus,. and ! -< on examination ,1 found him 'severely v v wounded in the belly; 'I poured' Borneo eau de Cologne down.his.throat and used ', } my own surgical-bandage" to' bind up his w wound so as to keep:the fliesj frota. it. Then I lit a cigarette, put it in his~mouth placed more beside him,,and gave him a drink of water. He kissed my hand and muttered something about: ,^ Allah." I - had not left him. far .when,-I,.heard the crack of a rifle, and ;a bullet whizzed by . my ear. , Looking round I 'stiff thejunoke ' of. the shot drifting, away front,whew, my • ->' -wounded man lay, .and noticedv.that he was quietly taking aim at me again.^ He \ had time.to fire a secondshot, wbichalso missed me,' before I reached him,, and I ; had no compunction in driving the, life out of him with. my: bayonet; remarking to myself as I took the weapon out of him* for the last time : " You won't come that game any more, you ungrateful brute V . Many such instainces'.bf this 'treacherous hate occurred.

A Wonderful Escape.

A remarkable-falTof, a mine^dotm 100 metres of., shaft. (333ft> , mthout^'feeing killed 'is; recorded, by M. Reunjeaia in 'the,."Bulletinde Tlndustrie itinfode." Wbrking,with hzs 'brother iii'-a gjOlery which issued, on -the, shaft;,, Ke forgot the direction in'which he was.'puisWg a truck,, so .it-went over and he after it, falhng into some m«d^th about, 3in. of water.' He seems neither £6 Tiave struck aii 7 l ?f,, tne.-T oo<i debris >; northe Bides of the shaft, and he shbwedVhp when he, was .helpednout ty his brother after about ten! minutes. He could not, how.eyer,.recall;any of his imprearions th-.^'fall-i;>lt appears, strange that he should' have escaped simple Suffocation( and,loss pf T coiiscrous^esß ( during a time sufficjent.^p.r.therwate*;^ -iave drowned him., x\ lJ\~-/'- -~fi,. -'li-

LATEST NEWS.

[per press association .], r

THE BOURKE FLOOD.

(Received May'l4l *fl

Relief parties who WrV'at work during^the .floods in Culgoa river, near Bourke, have returned. They have rescued seyeral, people who., had Jfreen living,' in; trees, for !-three' weM^and found one family .who had taken re fuge on a- 'raft,;, "'" i"

THE PREMIER BUILDING SOCIETY.

, r ;■'"- V : >'.'-, ■ MEiBbuBNE,| vMay 14. ■ MrDow, the' Minister.of Agricul ture, who is to be ojia,rgedia gompany with directors of- the Premier, Building Association tojtlefraud, has resigned his office, but the Cabinet has refused: to, accept the resignation,

THE COMMERCIAL BANK LOTTERY.

, , , x '• AbELATDf, ]&ayi4. The idea of distributing the assets of the f Gomme^cial.Bank of Australia on the lottery^rinciple^has been aban doned. ■ \i }•,''; ; ■ i f , fi,» ,'.

New Plymouth Murder.

[PER PBESB.ASSOCIATION J

.. Nbw,Plxjiq^h, May 13. ■ The inquest concerning 'the murder afc the Recreation -Ground was continued to day. . ." '. ,;'.' v "'';■'," ' "■'•-"■ i Sergeant Duffin flatly^ontridiclecl the •' evidence .of the'^ness T Maher/who gave evidence in; favor fof '.tihe "prisoqer'J to the . effect that he saw'^tlie; decease^ alive between 1 arid.2p.m.; on.llth\Aprfll-'&he theory of the prosecution istl^ Wfoiloney was .murdered, between 11a.m. 1 aM 12. * Prisoner's counsel, it is) expected* Vill set up an'dlili, .relying on .the evidence/that Malbriey Was seen alive at;2p.m. Uiider cross-examinatioiij Sergeant'Duffiri sottejcl that he did not. search. house the day that the bodyjvras found, nor did. . he do so for two days Afterwards. A man - nafyed Carnell.had charge of the bouse on Behalf'of the police. Darby Claffey, re-callod, stated that; b| *

THE ASBBUBTON fetTAHDIAN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 1800.



MiLNEk <fc THOMP^ON.^" ' GREAT PATBMT TONING DEVICE - BY WHICH A PIANO STANDS PERMANENTLY IN TUNE AFTER THE STRINGSARE ONCE STRETCHED p. ia the BEST PATENT EVER DISC UVERED FOR PIANOS, AND WILL LAST ' 200 YEABs. A SPECIAL First Award has just been given to the Firm by the Jurors at the Dunedin Exhibition, — AL50—....,,. . . A First Award for G:and Pianos. A First Award for Cottage Pianos, Or Three First Awards being the highest possible distinction that could be gained. The t, Prices of our Two Models as exhibited at the Exhibition are respectively 60 and 70 guineas, but we have Pianos with Iron Frames from £30, any of which can be purchased on Two Years' Hire Purchase System, &c. H M. JOtfES,' ....... A&ENT. ■•■ •'



O, \i Seymour SURGEON DENTIST, 215, Colombo Street (new Buildings near, Corner of Gloucester Street.) ESTABLISHED 1869 SCALE OF CHARGES : Extraction. 2s 6d per tooth; Fillings, 6s per tooth. A reduction made where a number require attending . ARTIFICIAL TEETH . The charges for Artificial Teeth are made with a view to strict economy, regulated by-such circumstances as cases presenb, or such materials as patients prefer. Par ticulars given on application. Consulta tion free. Nitrous Oxide Laughing Gas) administered when required. Attendance , 9».m. to6p.m 215, Colombo Street, Christchuboh. 8 16



Wanted. Cask Advertisements under this heading, not exceeding 16 words, ONE SZ/7A Q Addresnesmaybeleftatthis Offiot TDHOTO Albums from 6s to 60s; Plush JL goods, Brackets, Mirrors, Ladies Cabinets, Scent cases etc., Leather writ ing cases, Purses, Pocket books etc., — H. M. Jones. -■'*'. TOP THAT COUGH! By using Flower's Cough Drops. Guaranteeg efficacious. Can only be obtained at H. G. Flower's, Confectioner, East- Street. > 3 191 ~T)INE BRANCHES (for firewood) 5s iL a load on the ground or 7s 6d delivered,—H. C: Segers. WANTED Known.—A special pur chase of choice Ladies' Hats at a desperate price.—W. H. Collier. . 4t130 YTTANTED every man m the County V V to have a suit of thje Ashburton Tweeds.—Robert' Alcorn, .Ashburton Clothing Mart, Saunder's Buildings. i^ANTED KNpWNT-The "Strong ■** Wear'rßoot'isthe ; best for Men,, Ladies, and Children.-r*-W. HoCollier, • 'The Corner." .-_.;■ , .!. ; ,....- :: ; : : VfJ ANTED KNOWN.—The Cheapest VV -House in Ashburton .to buy Drapery, Millinery," Clothing, Boots, etc.,' is H. C. Segers, Melford House. TTTANTED Known —One hundred VV and fifty Ladies'and Children's Ulsters bought a great bargain (good qualities), how selling very cheap—H. 0. Segers. Melford House. /;,!,■; '"PHE Patent Candle Extinguisher can JL' be Set to Extinguish at any time required ; it will save insurance premiums your house and your life, price Is; Sol© Agent fpr . Ashburton.—R. Alcorn, Saunders' Buildings. WANTED Known—The Cheapest Shop to buy. Tinware and Gal; vanised Iron goods' in Ashbarton, is at W. F. Hannaford's, Burnett Street. - A large stock kept on hand. Tin and Iron ware goods made and repaired with dcs patch I-üblic Notices.



TOJW NE N D S Bilious and Liver Pills CURE Nervousness, Headache, Acidity, Heart rn, Pains between the Shoulders, Pa of the Heart, Interrupted Sleep,' Harassing Dreams, Tendency to start, to be Frightened, Spasms, Flatulence, Cos iveness, Skin Eruptions, Impure Blood, tnd Bilious Disorders. Price—ls and 2s 6d. By post free for 30 stairps. W. P. TOWNEND, Pharmaceutical Chemist, 183 Colombo Street, Christchurch. PHOGRAPHERS, 218, High Street, Christchurch



' SELLING OFF : PREVIOUS TO STOCK-TAKING. BOOKS, Stationery, Fancy Goods,' Music, etc., at Greatly Reduced Prices, for Cash. N,Z. Jubilee Chronicle L. F. ANDREWES & CO ASHBURTON~HIGH~SCEOOL7~" Established 1881. TDUPIL of both sexes are taught the I elements of a liberal educttion. Special subjects of study may be pur sued where circumstances require a de parture from the ordinary school course. Head Master : Mr J. E. Buchanan. Ist 8.A., (London), per term Fee for pupils over 12 years of age ... ... ... £3 3 0 Fee for pupils under 12 years of age , ... 2 9 0 Music (extra) 110 The School year is divided into three terms. All fees are payable in advance. r\ h a r l c s'tsTbTdlTe l l • Licensed Landbroker and Valuator nder "The Land Transfer Act, 1885. ESTATE, HOUSE, LAND, AND GENERAL COMMISSION AGENT. Office—Burnett Street, Next to " Mail' Office. ___ ■ LOW VITALITY.



DR CHURCHILL'S Syrup of Hypophosphite of Lime prescribed by the faculty for the cure of Consumption, > Chronic Cough and General Debility. It contains two of the principal ingre dients necessary for building up the Human Frame, and which are considered deficient in'the above .complaints, viz., HwsphotiiH and Lime. It cannot be too hi<*hlyreebmmended for Delicate Childre Dr Churchill's Compound Syrup o HYPOPHOSPHITES la real. Brain Food, and in cases of Muscular and Nervous Exhaustion has acquired a world-wide reputation. Each bottle bears Dr Churchill's signature Price, 4fr. Prepared only by BWANN 'r\ HE MIST WANN VJHEMIST, P p astiglione, Fa THE UhRISTCHUROH DENTAL SURGERY, Coitter of Cashel and High streets. Q -jV/TYERS AND /~10. :■ SURGEON DENTISTS. And at Dunedin and Westport. 0.. * | -TTTE have gained the FIRST AWARD | W at the Dunedin Exliibition for Artificial Dentures and Mechanical Appli ances for the Mouth, and it is with the greatest confidence that we guarantee the highest class work and perfect fit at the most moderate cost. A Single-Artificial Tooth, 10s. Complete Set — Upper and' ■, Lower temporary and permanent, £10 10s. Natural, Durable, Cojifoiitablk Artificial Teeth Replaced Temporarily al most immediately after the extraction of decayed teeth or stumps without extra «c or charge. Arrangements can be made for part or monthly payments. ADMINISTERING NITROUS OXIDE GAS several times daily for the past ten •ears, we fearlessly assert that extraction f teeth under its influence is perfectly alnless and positively safe Fee for Administration, ss. Extraction, 2s 6d. Artificial Teeth and Dentures made by ther dentists repaired or remodelled at mall cost. Houis o: attendance— 9 a.m. to 6 p,m



■NOTICE"TO "ADVERTISERS. * OWING to the earlier hour at which it is now necessary to go to press, Advertisements to be in time for thfe FIRST EDITION of the •' Guardian," must be delivered at the Office not later than 2 p.m. .



REPLACE Advertisements cannot be guaranteed insertion, unless sent in on the day previous to that on •which they are intended to appear. TM P (fRTXIfT ~\T 0 TIU E, Important iM otice. MESSRS HALLENSTEINBROS & CO, Proprietors of fche NEW ZEALAND CLOTHING FACTORY AT DUNEDIN, . Jnvercargill, Gore, Milton, Oamaru, Timaru, Ashburton, Christchurch, Hoki* tika, Greymouth, Reefton, Westporl-, Nelson, Wellington, Napier, Easting?, Waipawa, Gisborne, Palmer.-ston North, | Wanganui,-Hawera, New Plymouth,. Thames and Auckland, Have arranged to FLOAT THEIR BUSINESS INTO A !-. . , .COMPANY, To be registered under " The Companies Act 1882." It is a part of the arrangement that STOCKS shall be REDUCED by £50,000 before the 15th of June next. To effect this the Managers of the vari ous Branches throughout the colony have been instructed, in addition to marking out the Goods at Low Prices, to allow. 5 per cent on all cash sales amounting to £1 and upwards. This excellent opportunity of buying goods should not be overlooked, especi iilly as it is a well-known fact that the Manufactures of the New Zealand Cloth ing Factory are Superior to Anything in the Market. Thy sale at the Ashburton Branch is under jjie management of Mil W. H. Webber.



Wl. SPARROW, TAILOR AND MEN'S MERCER i EAST STREET.



Holloway's Pills. — Prevision. —As autumn treads on winter, slender, delicate, and palefaced youths become lisiless, languid, .and deMlitatod unless ad alterative, com bined with some tonic, be. administered ; to quicken their enfeebled organs. This pre cise' requirement is supplied by these noted Pills, which can and" will accomplish all that is wanted provided that the printed instruc tions surronnding them meet with scrupulous ristention.,. HqllowW's. Pills are especially I adapted to apply the medical wants of youth because his medicine acts gehtly, thqujgh surely at a purifier, regulator, alterative, tonic, and mild aperiegt A very few doses of these Pills will convince any discouraged invalid that his cure lies in his own hands, and a little persoverance only is demanded for its completion