The Ashburton Guardian. Magna et Veritas et Prævalebit. THURSDAY, JULY 17, 1890. HOW SETTLEMENT HAS PROGRESSED.

The return furnished by the Pro perty Tax Commissioner m regard to areas held by freeholders m the Colony is instructive. Several of our con temporaries have printed the list m extenso, and from these we compile the following particulars:- —Two hundred persons own areas of la>nd ranging from 10,000 to 140,000 acres each. The Property Tax value, as dis} tingui&hed from the marketable value, of these holdings fluctuates between £10,000 (the lowest) to £331,338 (the highest). Tne total acreage owned by the 200 persons referred to is 5,027,808 acres, the net Property Tax valuation (as given by the owners for this purpose) being £11,070,670. In ad dition to the foregoing private free holders, thirty-three Banks, Loan and Mortgage Associations, Land Com panies, etc., own land as follows:— Colonial Real Estate Acres Value Company 10,!;i36 £34,751 Dixon Investment ... 12,771 i 17,629 Moorabooland Timboon Estate 10,141 14,012 National Mortgage Ag'y 14,018 60,373 WaikatoCoal 15,129 ' 16,868 Wharekawa Coal ... 12,138 6,569 Wanganui Loan ... 12,951 3.237 Colonial Bank 12,191 30,775 National Bank ... 13,501 26,967 Bank of Australasia ... 15,210 21,835 B. andN.Z. Mortgage... 27,512 .50,610 Coloniallnvestment Ag'y 22,632 67,853 Bank New South Wales 21,632 61,165 N. Z. (Native Land Settle ment .« ... 22,888 14,242 Nelson Brothers ... 23,299 130,917 Otago and Southland Investment ... 31,300 77,665 Morton Mains Estate... 32,463 53,967 Assets Company ... 39,110 29,037 Scottish and N.Z. In vestment 32,478 75,869 Maraitai Land 43,,503 8,688 N.Z. Mortgage Invest ment 42,221 73,243 N.Z, Trust and Loan ... 43,667 105,438 R.Campbell and Sons... 71,484 161,498 TaitapuCoal ... ... 88,350 11,040 WaikatoLand 84,783 215,931 Auckland Agricultural 102,177 140,351 N.Z. Agricultural ... 151,137 240,977 Thames Valley Land ... 176,008 97,726 N.Z.LoanandMercantile 215,000 418,132 N.Z. and Australian Land 239,800 1,055,277 Kauri Timber 165 :1 436 157,402 Wellington and Mana watu Railway ... 179,329 247,698 Bank of New Zealand... 262,954 594,427 The foregoing particulars will give a fair idea to the electors how the land has been "settled" hitherto m ~New Zealand. The land laws of the colony have been availed of by the large holders to keep back the bona fide settlement of industrious hus bandry on the soil, and these laws hare recently been so amended and mutilated that the above landed proprietors maj', witli impunity, add more acres to their already large holdings. The small capitalist or.industrious settler, mean while, cannot get land to settle upon, and is leaving the colony m disgust. Our population, already limited, is be coming less, and each one that leaves the colony also leaves a greater burden of taxatiou to be borne by those who remain. All or nearly all the best lands of the colony are included m the above holdings, and Parliament has now a scheme under consideration for purchasing Native land.s and road ing the country leading to and from the lands already slaughtered m lai*ge and small quantities to landed comapnies and earth-hungry speculators. Are the electors of the colony willing that this pernicious monopoly of land shall continue, and that those who have already too much shall be allowed to acquire more 1 That is the question to which each elector will require to give n decided " yes ' or "no " at the ap proaching election. The question of retrenchment is important, but is not, as interested persons womld have the people believe, all-important* Re trenchment, without a drastic altera tion m the land laws which will pre vent any further lands falling into the hands of speculators and companies, cannot bring back prosperity to the colony. The difference between the Government and the Opposition is clearly apparent. The former with the aid of the |Skinflint party, would save the colony by cutting down services and salaries, whatever the public inconvenience or injustice, while the Opposition, willing to retrench, are also willing to indicate m what direc tion this is to be done; but what is much more important, would also make liberal provision for those who have no land to get some, and prevent those who have too much from getting any more-

LOCAL AND GENERAL

As will be seen by advertisement elsewhere \ a meeting of the Early Closing Association is called for to-morrow evening at Mrs Pearson's room, Triangle, when all members are urged to attend. Mr Bret Harte has a reputation amongst London literary men of being by far the most careful penman of them all. He writes his stories!on ordinary note pciper, and no matter if it is the last word on the slip, should he smear it, or form a letter wrongly, the whole goes into the waste paper basket and is re written. It is asserted that shingle bank& are accumulating outside of Timaru Harbor. The banks are being formed by the travelling j shingle, and the Harbor Board have under consideration a proposal to put the dredge to work to clear away the obstructions before they attain sufficient magnitude to impede navigation. The first concert of the Ashburton Choral ' Society is announced for Wednesday even ing, August 13th. The Society now num bers some forty members. The rehearsals are being well attended, and much interest is shown m the progress and welfare of the Society. The programme of the first concert will include glees, ballads, trios, duets, and instrumental selections. The congregation of St Saviour's, Syden- ! ham, crowded their church to the doors last evening upon the occasion of the first visit to the parish of the Right Rev Bishop Julius. The service was conducted by the incumbent, the Rev H. B. Cocks, and an in novation was introduced, inasmuch as the first and second lessons were read by the Rev P. R. Mo'nro, a Presbyterian minister, and the Rev. L. M. Isitt, pastor of the Sydenham Wesleyan Church, both of whom were clad m surplices. Important auction sales will be held at the Land Office, Timaru, to morrow morning. In the Hitkateramea district sections A to X, situated within the educational reserve num ber 1574, and ranging m area from 14 acres to 870 acres will be offered fora tenure of seven years, the upset annual rental per acre ranging from 6d to Is 6d. In the Waimate county parts of the . Waimate station and Station Peak runs will be offered for sale, the acreage vaiying from 5800 to 12,500 acres, and fche rental from £105 to £225,

An Oamaru resident has been reduned from 14 stone to 10 stone by la grippe. The sparrow nuisance is less m Invercar gill than it has been for the last two or three years. A proposal is before the New Zealand Parliament to heat railway carriages for long journeys. A Wellington telegram of last evening's date informs us that Sir Robert Stout left the Empire City for the South that afternoon. The Ashburton School Committee have decided to ask Mr John Lambie to deliver his lecture, on his recent trip round the world, m aid of the school prize fund. Owners are reminded that nominations for the Ashburton Hunt Club Steeplechases must be sent m to the Honorary Secretary, Commercial Hotel, before 9 p.m. on Satixrday next. So favorable a critic as the " Auckland Herald" asserts that "Ministers have put their backs to the wall, and are determined to resist, those measure* which alone can stop the outflow of population." Intelligence has been received from Eng land that a syndicate, with a capital of £20,000, has been formed to develop the mineral resources of the colony of Western Australia. Lord Cottesloe, the eldest peer of the realm, recently attained the great age of 92 years. The only other nonagenarian peer is the Earl of Albemarle, who is m his 91st year. After all the outcry, we learn by telegraph that Arthur Clampetfc, alias Sullivan, who returned from London by the Ruapehu on Monday night, is not going to Christchurch, but left Wellington yesterday for Sydney m the steamer Wakatipu. Major Thomas Harward, of Brooklyn, celebrated his 101 st birthday lately. He is the oldest shipbuilder m America, and a veteran of 1812. He has never used j tobacco nor intoxicating liquor. His faculties are unmimpaired, and he still at tends to business. The Inspector's report, of the result of a recent surprise visit to the Ashburton School, is very satisfactory, giving much credit to Mr Mayne, the headmaster, and his staff, and paying a high compliment to Miss Grant for the satisfactory state of the Infant School. Miss Grant has only been a short time m charge of the school. The adjourned meeting last evening to discuss the half-holiday was not a success. About a dozen employers and several em- Eloyees mustered m the Arcade Chambers, ut after some desultory discussion, without a chairman, it was decided to adjourn the meeting to Wednesday afternoon next at 3.30, when it is hoped the West street merchants will make it convenient to attend. It is proposed to have a railway entirely ! worked by electricity connecting St. Peters burg with Archangel; and spanning a wide stretch of country between the Baltic and the White Sea. The project is said to be backed by Archangel interests, and the name of Siemens and Co. is connected with the enterprise. The plan is to furnish the current from a series of generating stations distributed along ;the line. The distance is something over 500 miles,and the estimated cost a little over £3000 per mile, including rolling-stock. The opening meeting of the Ashburton Draughts Club was held last night m Mrs Pearson's room, Triangle, when about a dozen members attended, and spent two hours m close attention to the game. The preliminary meeting was held m the same place on Saturday evening when the follow ing office bearers were elected :—President— Mr J. C. Duncan ; Vice-Presidents—Messrs G. R. Anderson and J. L. Higgs ; Secretary —Mr W. Masson ; Treasurer—MrT. Welch; Committee—Messrs J. A. Lciteh, John Craighead, C. Spray, and James Steele, The Ulub now numbers twenty-one members. Talk of the richness of Otago river beds (says the " Inangahua Times"). A private dredging party at work on the Buller river, near Fern Flat, recently lodged m tho Colonial Bank, Reefton, 230z of gold as the product of last week's work. The pirty is a small one of fiVe or six men, and their dredge onty lifts 15 tons of stuff daily, yet m this small way of working the yield gives the party £15 per man per week. For the whole time they have had the dredge at work their earnings have averaged £10 per man per M reck. This is something like suc cessful mining. Every ton of stuff raised from the river bed thus returns £1 worth of gold, which is the average of several months' work. The "Pall Mall Gazette" has the fellow ing:—"One of the richest women m Aus tralia arrived m London last week. She is a young widow with a fortune, it is said, of £25,000 a year, and her story illustrates what ' a gold mine' is the Broken Hill Silver Mine m New South Wales. The lady's hus band paid £120 for certain shares m this mine. When he died a short time ago the shares were comparatively valueless, and he thought he was leaving his, wife and young family m destitution. Shortly after his death the shares rose suddenly to a price so marvellous that the widow sold a half of her shares for £190,000, and is now receiving £25,000 a year." Burglaries on an extensive scale, it would appear, are not confined to Christchurch and Auckland only. The " Wellington Post" of .Saturday says :—The residence of the Rev. Mr Redstone was broken into yesterday afternoou, m the absence of the family. It seems, however, that the housebreaker was disturbed m his operations, for although he thoroughly ransacked the drawers and boxes, the only booty he seems to have secured is 11s worth of silver, which has disappeared. A little more diligent search, however, would have brought to light about £11 worth of jewellery belonging to Mrs Redstone, which the intruder very narrowly missed." Clampett, on arrival m the colony by the Ruapehu, wrote the following letter to the "Wellington Evening Press :—"Sir, —My sole intention is to make a public apology m the near future. For this reason I have crossed the ocean, and hope by my life and ability to prove to the community of New Zealand an advantage m my own profession.. I shall return the amount of my passage to the gentlemen who have been so anxious for my return, with many thanks. I regretted leaving the colony, and I trust that the future will tell better things. God forbid that I should ever experience a repetition of the past.—Yours respectfully, Arthur G. Clampett, alias G. T. Sullivan."—lt is stated that a gentleman m Christchurch is prepared with evidence which he considers sufficient to justify proceedings being taken against Clampett for false pretences, and he intends to institute proceedings immediately upon Clampett's arrival m the City of the Plains. Mr T. N. Fitzgerald, one of the honorary surgeons of the Melbourne Hospital, when giving his evidence before the Charity Com mission, said .that the hospital was the worst he had ever been m. It was badly con structed and ventilated, and was often m a septic condition. It was only by the greatest expenditure,that the place could be kept m anything like decent order. Every time the soil was disturbed there was an outbreak of erysipelas or some other disease, and the want of pure air prevented the wounds of patients healing. Latterly he found that cuts made by his knife had become gangren ous. Several deaths had occurred from septic poisoning, and he frequently had advised patients who had to undergo opera tions not to go into the hospital on account of the risk they would run. He had a case not long ago m which he made an incision m a man's thigh to let out some blood from a main artery, and the patient at once got blood poisoning and died. The Hospital Committee are of course indignant that such statements should be made.

At a recent Salvaiton Army demonstration m Wellington three " Soldiers," dressed as prisoners, took part. The men had gyves on their wrists, and were manacled together by means of a chain. The trio, who were attired m the orthodox dress of convicts with the broad arrow on their backs, were three officers who, for conscience sake and street preaching according to their own light, and for obstructing the thoroughfares according to the law of the coutry, had been incar cerated m the common gaols of Westport, Timaru, and Ashburton. Invercargill having got a high-pressure water supply, the wells which were sunk m the main streets m the early days for fire prevention supplies are being filled up. " The weeds and refuse from the streets are being utilised for filling up purposes, with a layer of clay two or three feet deep on the top, and a covering of metal to make a sound surface." After the weeds and refuse have had time to decay we shall probably hear of the "sound surface" and two or three burgesses and a cart or two dropping several feet into corporation pitfalls. The blessing of freedom, like some other blessings, visits the world m an almost im penetrable disguise. The emancipated slaves of Brazil are reported to be starving. They have been dismissed from the plantations by the masters, who prefer, since they have to pay for labor, to hire workmen who are worth their wages, and the joyous, idle Quashee is driven away to make room ior the enterprising Italian. The unhappy freedmen are congregated m the towns, a veritable fesx vrbana, unemployed and hardly asking for employment, but quite ready for a riot and not averse from blood letting. Major Murrry, m a lecture recently de livered m Glasgow, said that when Cassar invaded Britain he so highly appreciated the valour of the Caledonians that he formed from among them a legion which was sent to Palestine, quartered m the Castle of Antonia, m Jerusalem, and supplied the Temple Guard. From this he dednced as a prob ability that the soldiers who were selecttd to watch over the sepulchre of Jesus Christ were Scots-men. Hence comes the appellation of " Pilate's Guards " borne by the Royal Scots as the descendants of the old Caledonian legionaries. It is to be hoped (remarks a contemporary) for the credit of orthodox Scotland that none of those soldiers took part m the persecution of the Saviour, m which we are told some of the military engaged, and that the worst which can be said of them was that they kept watch over the sepulchre. A circumstance has lately come to light which (says the "Argus") seems to indicate that begging from door to door is remarkably remunerative. Some little time ago a man named Patrick Cotter was arrested at Beech worth for being a vagrant, he having been a nuisance to the residents of that town^ owing to the persistent manner m which he sought alms from the residents. The local Court sentenced him to six months' imprisonment. On his clothes being searched, deposit receipts on banks m various parts of the colony were found m them, representing m all £843 which he had, judging from the dates men tioned on the receipts, collected m the course of his wanderings during the preced ing eleven months. Ballarat and Geelong £<wmed to have been the places which he frequented the most and from which he received the largest amount of donations. The Penal department has cashed one of the deposit receipts and deducted the cost en tailed on it for keeping Cotter duriug the six months of his imprisonment. The best medicine is Sander and Sons' Eucalpyti Extract. Test its eminent power ful effects m coughs, colds, influenzci, etc.— the relief is instantaneous. Thousands give the most gratifying testimony. His Majesty the King of Italy and medical syndicates all over the world are its patrons. Read ths official reports that accompany each bottle. We have no occasion to offer rewards m proof of the genuineness of our references. The official reports of medical clinics and univer sities, the official communications of the Consul-General for Italy at Melbourne; the diploma awarded International Exhibition, Amsterdam—all these are authentic docu ments, and, as such, not open to doubt. W. add here epitome of one of the various caseis treated at the clinic of Schultz, M.D. Pro fessor, etc.—" C. 8., 24 years old; conges tional abscess on the thigh. Incisions made m two places. Although Lister's dressing was applied, the secretion became, two days later, very copious, and had adopted a foetid decomposed character. The temperature rose enormously. In consequence the dressing was removed and m its place were made during the day-time repeated irrigations witfli Eucalypti Extract. The offensive foeterjdis appeared very soon, the fever abated within a few days, and the patient recovered after the lapse of several weeks. In this instance we must not lose sight of the fact that the latter treatment saved the patient's life." (Advt.) 3

INTERPROVINCIAL

[per press association ] Auckland, July 16. Colin McDonald, third officer pf the Wairarapa, and P. H. Thompson, carpen ter, were each fined £5. or one month's imprisonment, for smuggling 30 yards of blue serge from a vessel last night whilsit lying at the railway wharf. Miss Julia Knight, of Auckland, who sang at the Dunedin Exhibition, has se cured one of the leading engagements on Nellie Stewart's Opera Company now m Sydney. The Company comes to New Zealand before Christmas. At a meeting of the Auckland branch of the New Zealand Rifle Association,a proposal to hold a meeting at the end of February was approved of. ; A Storemen's Union has been formed!, and the Slaughtermen's Union have for mulated their demands upon the master butchers. Killing bullocks is to be raised from Is to 3s each, sheep from 2|d to 4d, No wages men allowed ; all hands to be on piece work. Butchers' clerks ask from £2 10s to £3 10s, according to duties. Peter Wilson was committed for trial to-day for stealing water pipes from the Newton Borough Council. At a meeting of the Auckland branch of the N,Z. Rifle Association the proposal to hold the meeting at the end of February was approved of. . Norman McLeod, of Devonport, died while eating his breakfast. The cause was heart disease. He was a married man. An aged woman, named Helen Walker, a charwoman, was arrested on a charge of stealing silver spoons. Fifty pawn tickets for various articles were found m her dwelling. She states she is the sister of an English, rector. Wellington, July 16. A double shock of earthquake, pro longed, but not violent, was experienced here at 9.30 this morning. Its direction was from east to west. Timaru, July 16. I The return of the shipping trade for the first half of this year is 50,500 tons, an in crease of 11,000 tons on any previous first half year. The Harbor Board to-day discussed, m committee, some opinions expressed by Mr O'Connor, Marine Engineer, and, as a result, ordered soundings to be taken out side the Harbor. Donebin, July 16. The Benevolent Trustees have the same difficulty m hand as recenty occurred m Auckland. A warder from the Seacliff Asylum brought four patients to the Chairman the other day. They had been discarged from the Asyium, and as they were unable to work the warder requested that they might be admitted to the In stitution. The Chairman declined to re ceive them until he consulted the other members, and the patients, three men and one woman, were taken charge of by the Gaol and Hospital Chaplain. Dr King, who was present at the meeting, said the patients could not be taken back as they were no longer fit to be kept m the Asylum. It was decided to bring the matter before the Charitable Aid Board to-morrow, opinion being divided as to whether they should bo received or not,

Addington Stock Market.

Christchttrch, July 16. *■ The weather was stormy and uncom fortable, despite which there was a con siderable amount of business done. Stoke Shiep.—-About two thousand five hundred were yarded, of which most were sold at good prices. Four and six-tooth crossbred ewes m lamb sold at from 7s 8d to 10s lOd. A line of two-tooths brought 14s. Some crossbred lambs brought 8s 6d, and a line of merino ewes (crocks) m lamb only realised 2s 9d, while some forward merino wethers brought 8s 6d. Fat Sheep.—Over four thousand were yarded, and the general average was good. Prices remained firm throughout for primest sorts, up to 23s being obtained for best quality, the general average being; from 19s to £1 per head for crossbred sheep, while some good sorts of merinos were disposed of at 16s 6d. Fat Cattle.—A hundred and forty nine head were yarded, of which the greater portion was prime beef, which re alised from 18s to 22s 6d per lOOlbs. There was a good demand throughout. Store Cattle.—There were only sixty nine head of mixed sorts entered, and the sale was limited, many, lines being with drawn. ; Pigs.—About three hundred head were yarded, of which the greater portion were light baconers, for which there was an active demand at prices about equivalent o late quotations. '■'' '

THE POLITICAL PROSPECT.

The long debate which was brought to a close on Tuesday evening, far from being a waste of time, has been, and ■■■will be, of great value to the country. Taken altogether, it has been a most exhaustive discussion, and has been characterised by the ablest speeches that have occurred during the life-time of the present Parliament; and the "Hansard" report will form the' armoury from which the weapons for fighting the next electoral campaign will be largely taken. The debate has ranged over every topic connected either with the legislative or financial proposals of the Government, or with their past administration, or with the aims and objects of the Opposition, and the speeches on both sides—-but more particularly those of Opposition speakers—havebeenincisivein criticism and full of valuable information., The House, too, may be congratulated on j the high tone which has marked a long and sometimes warm discussion. It had, however, been quite sufficiently protracted, and the country, as well as hori. members, must be glad that it has at last come to an end. The long skirmish of the debate was soon suc ceeded by a trial of strength upon Wo issues, both of which involved the affirmation of the need for a' con j tinuance of the retrenchment policy, and the result showed that almost the entire House, Ministers excepted, is determined that, instead of imposing additional taxation, equilibrium as between revenue and expenditure shall be obtained by curtailingthe latter. The effort of Mr Ballance and his party was to secure this object m the best way, by reducing the estimates m respect of services which can be dispensed with, or votes which may be reduced with the least public inconvenience; but that effort was defeated by the united efforts of the Government party, m alliance with the section of ten or eleren members whp.have been dubbed the ''Skinflints," and of whoii Mr Monk is apparently the = chosen leader. The result is that, while the 1 eduction of the estimates by £50,000 has been affirmed, it has been left to the Go vernment to effect the reduction m such manner as they think fit. Whether the Government will do this m such a way as to command the ap proval o c the House and the country' remains no be seen. The present position has been brought about by a process of negotiation such as Auck land members seem to be special adepts m, arid; while it represents to some extent a win for the Govern ment, there is room to think that such a victory may prove worse; for them m the long run than defeat, purchased, as it has been, at the cost of Ministers and their party having to vote against their own Estimates. \

Parliamentary Gossip.

' [by telegram from our c»!ra COBRESPONDENT.] • Wellington, July 16. The Select Committee which is enquiring into Mr Hutchison's charges against Ministers met again this morning with closed doors, even members of the Legis lature being excluded. Nothing can be ascertained through any official channels as to the nature of their deliberations, every member of the Committee being bound m honor to observe the strictest secrecy as to the result of this morning's deliberations. The parties, being unable to agree upon clearly defined issues, they will take the whole of Mr Hutchison's speech m the Financial debate as the basis of their enquiries. As yet no evidence has been taken. ■'

CORRESPONDENCE.

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

THE WELLINGTON POISONING CASE.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—Your leader of yesterday on the sad and fatal case of poisoning, which recently occurred m Wellington, is one that is calculated to needlessly alarm the public, and perhaps, as you state " there may have been extenuating circumstances with which you are not familiar," you will be good enough to allow me to supply them. My informant, I might add, is a well-known chemist who was on the spot at the time. Mr Fitzgerald, the chemist, who dis pensed the fatal dose, has been, for many years m business m Wellington,; from which place he went to England; pre viously disposing of his business, and re turning with the intention of recommenc ing. To save time he brought with him a bottle of solution of strychnine—a ' medicine m frequent use, but one that is never imported, but always made as re quired, for it only consists of a few grains of strychnine m a large quantity of water. It is alleged that a former assistant filled | the shop bottle wliich should have con tained morphia from this bottle containing the strychnine—both liquids being the same m appearance, viz., colorless. I think Mr Fitzgerald is deserving of synv pathy rather than censure for the misfor tune, and as nothing was proven to con nect the assistant with the error he could hardly have been censured either, A case of this kind is one wholly out of the common, and could not be likely to recur. In all well regulated establishments poisons are not kept on shelves aniong other bottles as the public may think, bHtyas a safeguard, they are

placed by themselves m a " poison cup board," under lock and key. Therefore to accidentally poison a patient by hap hazardly picking up the wrong bottle is a thing well nigh impossible with a careful dispenser. Sir George Grey's measure to attempt to enforce prescriptions being written m plain English is open to serious objections, which I need not here explain. Chemists are naturally jealous of their professional reputations, and only last week nineteen of our number signed a petition protest ing against the action of the Christchurch Hospital Board m appointing m dispenser to that institution a youth who had not completed his apprenticeship or passed any examination. Fearing 1 have alrendy treßpaased too much on your space.—l am, etc., J. M. Cambridge.

The Curse of Government by Party.

(James S. Little, m the Circle.) It seems to me that party government has come to be a vehicle for self-seekers' ambition. It is a snaro and an entiqated delusion. Political programmes'of party are sriai.'es also. True, men: should owe allegiance to measures, not to party, and every government should be content to champion one important measure, and only one at a time. ' A Government should come m to pass a certain measure, and it dbould pass it and have done wibh it; if it be able to pass other measures all very well, but members should be elected to pass or oppose one measure only} and be free to jicb jusb as they may choose as to any future measures submitted to them. Thus all honest men could divide upon a distinct issue, which issue being decided, they would be free to. ...follow- their old chief or oppose him. May be this could never he, because men are nofc archangels, and, moreover, too many members of Parliament are m no sense patriots, while some are mere place-hunters. But we must try fco get a little nearer to this ideal; a government "by"'brag'and shout cannot be tolerated for ever. If that hateful fiend party could be slain, political warfare might be carried on. under far less,debasing conditions. In, every political struggle there would be a nearer approach to true unity on either side, instead of a false and forced cohesion of chance particles. A party man dis oovers his; advocacy ;is compelled to measures distasteful or even hateful to him. If he break with his party, and join the opposing camp, the same lot will be his fate. To be minus party is, under the present baneful system, to be minus political influence. Party allegiance re sults m a want of force and heartiness m political life. A man compelled against his will, to vote, and to think m the same way as his leader, is a man robbed of the power to use his faculties. What is the result of this blighting influence but a political dead-lock ? Let us revert, as Sir Bartle Frere once said, to earlier, simpler, and purer methods. We have had enough of government by party. Th c system has become corrupted afc its very root—for concessions to rebellion and rank intoler ance are ten thousand times worse, and more to be deplored, than were all the abuses the Reform Bill of 1832 swept away. Our present system of govern ment is eating into .the very, marrow of our national life; it is making all men think with the cynic, that the very words, patriotism, honor, truth, earnestness, and the like should be relegated to a glossary of obsolete phrases. Life-lcng allegiance and subordination to a party, or to a chief, mean, to the thinking man life-long intellectual en slavement, for the thoughts of men are diverse It is impossible to conceive of a man, not being a drone or a half-witted nonentity, who can find himself m accord with the views of any party or chief whatsoever, upon all points. There must be some different planks m his platform. Political principle under the party sys tem comes to mean political dishonesty. Smothered insubordination and half hearted political action are the inevitable products of this accursed Jegacyof party gwemment., seeing tliat no man can giv« heart-whole help to measures he secretly despises. We are all Liberals or Conservatives, even our little children, as Mr Gilbert has so humorously said. Nor do grown men know any better than little children why they are Liberals or Conservatives ; as a matte): of fact there is no -real nor satisfactory meaning m the-, terma. Do away with party government and make grand measures a worthier "line of cleavage," and we should strangle out of existence a whole army of political crocheters. The stings and bites of such can make life very unpleasant, while it too often happens that their very number and persistency threaten to ob struct j our. further progress altogether. Let these politicals of the village go to their local boards and fight out their differences, and let us have an imperial Parliament—swept of the advocates of follies which may fitly be compared to old women's nightmare, or the conceits of the 'nurseryi' ..' ! ■-■ 'r\' ' C' ) \'-\ It is an undoubted fact that our political procedure, not qur; political life,lis, much m the same way as are oux^ |religiouH . systernß-~-a very different thing j let me add, from our, religious life-r-tottering to its grave jit is more than festered and rotten, it is m its death throes.

LITERATURE.

Writing of the tendency m the present age of young men to acquire all their in formation from short text-books, an American writer says :— '" Compare one of these smart young men with the erudite scholars of the pait generation—the men whose work was as close and perfect as a bit of Japanese enamel—who have chapter and verse for every assertion, and could put their fingers on references and quotations of which our model young lion knows about as much as he does of Chinese-j-R'nd then measure the distance of the downward step that literature has made. What was once solid heart-of-oak is now the flimsiest veneer. What : was once mastery of fhe whole subject is: now a quick study, a book of well-chosen ex tracts, and a serviceable memory when called on. That which was,once a grave and honourable profession/ has now degenerated into a noisy, pushing, selfr advertising trade ; and he" who would teach is not always abreast of those whom he undertakes to instruct. ; The classics are discarded for personal gossip; the continuity to be found m history runs intone sand out of which a new political fad is built; the human nature w^ich has never varied m essence from inV'earliest times up to mow is glibly supposed to be undergoing a transformation which will enable men to -stand" on their heads and talk. with, their,heejs; the golden apple . has become', til te ''purry pone,'' and the democratic ',- wave has covered the garden of the He'sp^rides witH. ifud and slhrie. Literature is not tile profe«sion it was when, practised by the learned gentlemen and scholars of the past generation, and it dojjs. not confer the same dignity—because thfjiß&ijdard of self respect has fallenjike tRe standard of qualifications—because Dulcamara has displaced Bacon, and Dr Maiygold is the best representative of a philosopher the Kink and file of ■ modern literature can show.

THE ASHBURTON GUAEDIAN, THtIRSDAY, JULY 17, 1890.



There k now to be seen m the shop window of Messes J. Scaly and Co., East street, a collection of apples showing some of the sorts grown at;the mirserieSj/Rivterl»nl?QWiat will repay inspection by :alxy one w|io|contem platea planting fruit plants., rjjjhfere are upwards of fifty different kin^sjshown, all valuable, long-keeping sorts. • color, and general excellence they are by far the finest that have been shown iv Aihburtoft this ae»wn.—(Advt.)' iJIH:'J --*^/*



It will be m the recollection of the public that my collection of apples shown m Mr Clayton's shop m East street, being sixty-six varieties, and also those which took two first awards at the Dunedin Exhibition and various other places, was pronounced to be the largest and best ever shown m the Ash burton county. 1 would draw their atten tion my advertisement elsewhere. As only work on blight-proof stocks than which no other stocks can be relied upon, the roots of my apple trees do not require to be washed before sending out. James Porter, nursery man, AUeaton.— Advt.)



Wonted. CASH Advertisements under this heading, not exceeding SIXTEEN WORDS, 1/-. Addresses may be left at this Office. \ V 7 ANTING engagement, athoroughly V V domesticated Lady help, and an experienced housemaid. Mrs Adams, Registry Office, Saunders' Buildings. 7 89 "Tl7 ANTED—A few Flax cutters and VV smart boys. Apply at once, H. Gifford Moore, Tinwald. 7 87 " "TXT HEN you're tired and weary, VV A comfort you will find, In " Carson's fresh ground Coffee," The richest of its kind. 7 85 ,;* ANTED KNOWN—The Strong *■■'*' Wear Boot for Men, Women and Children can only be had at W. H. Collier's. BOOTS, BOOTS.—"Keep your feet ' Dry and save Doctor's Bills. I have a splendid Stock in now. Try my Double-soled Shooters. Every pair Guaranteed. Rober,t Alcorn, Ash bur ton Clothing Mart, Saunders' Buildings. JUST opened, a few ladies plush jackets, newest shapes, very cheap, —H. C. Segers, Melford House. WANTED every man m the County to have a, suit of the Ashburton Tweeds.—Robert Alcorn, Ashburton Clothing Mart, Saunder's Buildings. TUST Received—Over one ton English t) and Continental Confectionery. Own make as usual fresh daily.—H.G. Flower, Confectioner, East street. TXT ANTED KNOWN.—The Cheapest W House in Ashburtrn to buy Drapery, Millinery, Clothing, Boots, etc., is H. C. Seoers, Melford House. TT/~ANTED KNOWN.—A lot of *■'' Ladies Cloth and Tweed Jackets, considerably under usual cost price.— W. H. Collier, "The Corner." v\ / ANTED Known — One hundred W and fifty Ladies' and Children's Ulsters bought a great bargain (good qualities), now selling very cheap —H. C. Segers. Melford House. ANTED Known —The Cheapest Shop to buy Tinware and Gal vanised Iron goods in Ashburton, is a* jW. F. Hannaforu's, Burnett Street. A arge stock kept on hand. Tin and Iron ware goods made and repaired with des^ patch Public Notices. . , MRS S. TIMMO has removed from the Lyttelton Boarding House to those more commodi ous and central premises, Panama House, Where friend-, old and new, will be wel comed. Accommodation tor boarders at reduced rates. Meals prepared in Mr 4 Tinnno's well known style. ' 7 53 BOOKS— Thousands of Books of every kind, including books on History, i Travels, Science, Religion, Fiction, &c, &c. Account Books and Stationery of every discription. A cheap line of En velopes at 5s per thousand. Fancy Goods, including Albums, Photo Frames, Writing Cases, Work Boxes, Purses, Ladies' Hand Bags, Games and Puzzles. Music—A large Stock. Pianos, Accordians, Violins, Concetinas, &c. All Goods reduced for Cash. L. F. ANDREWES & CO. Stationers' Hall. J]\ IHLi Z_" ! NEW ZEALAND jULulliulu . nUjlUfu j FOR OYBECOATS AND WATERPROOFS. CHEAPEST and BEST HOUSE in the District. HEALTH and COMFORT FOR 30/- The Celebrated Werthein New His?h arm Sewing Machines on easy Time pay ments? /H W H. WEBBER, XH l_ j Manager _U WITHOUT TIITU . WJIH-XEElfi _ THE CHBISTCHURCH DENTAL SURGERY, Corner of Cashel and High streets. Q M YERS AND C* 0' SURGEON DENTISTS. And at Dunedin and Westport. WE have gained the FIRST AWARD at the Dunedin Exhibition 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, Comfortable Artificial Teeth Replaced Temporarily al most immediately after the extraction of decayed teeth or stumps without extra cc or charge. Arrangements can be made for part or i monthly payments. I ADMINISTERING NITROUS OXIDE „*AS several times daily for the past ten years, we fearlessly assert that extraction of teeth under its influence is perfectly painless and positively .safe Fee for Administration, ss. Extraction, 2s fid. Artificial Teeth and Dentures made by other dentists repaired or remodelled at small coat. Hours of ttendancer-8 a.m. to 6 p,m, i



ruoiic Fotlces. SEEDS, PLANTS, &o TREES. TREES. TREES. fA B ain tender my best thanks to my numerous Customers and Correspon dents for the support I have received from them, and assure them that I shall still conduct my Business in the future as 1 have in the past, and all orders by post r otherwise will receive .ny prompt atten tion.. My Apple Trees are all-worked on the blight proof stock, and are clean and well grown ; also Pears, Plums, Cherries, Apricots, and all kinds of small Fruits. T have one of the largest stock of Forest Trees in Canterbury, about 40,000 Larch, two years old, 40,000 do. one year old, and 100,000 Pinus Insignia, one and two years old. Cupressus Macroearpa, I have a grand line. I make this a speciality. All my seedlings have been transplanted, being equal to those in boxes. I have •ibout 100,000 one and two years old, also Roses and Fancy Shrubs in great variety. All trees supplied and planted by m^ will be guaranteed for 12 months. Cata logue sent post free on application. JAMES "D°RTEB AMES JL OUTER, NURSERYMAN and SEEDSMAN, AxjLE N T O N ASHBURTO* ASHBURTON COUNTY HUNT_CLUJ3. ANNUAL STEEPLECHASES npo be held on the Racecourse, Ash- JL burton, on HEIIIIMUPSI6J9O Patrons —Hon. John McLean, Matthew Stitt. President—.John Grigg. ; Vice-Presidents—G. 11. Alington,'W. B. Denshire, Dr Leahy, D. McLean, W. C. Walker, M.H.R. Stewards—G. H. Alington, J, C. N. Grigg, Dr Leahy, H. G. Moore, W. P. Chapman, J. Jamieson, D. McKendry, G. A. Buckley, H. H. Wright, W. Rollit. Judge—M. Stitfc. Starter—D. Thomas.' Clerk of the Course—A. Hewson. Clerk of the Scales—A. J. Kelly. Handicappers—Dr Leahy, M. Scott F. Russell. PROGRAMME. 1. The Hunters' Hurdle Race, a handicap of 15 soys ; second horse tc receive 3 soys from the stake. For .qualified hunters the property of members of *)he Ashburton Cr.unty Hunt Club. Maiden riders allowed 71bs, Nomination, 10s : acceptance, ss. About two miles ; over eight flights of hurcles, about 3 feet 6inches high. 2 Hunt Club Cup Steeplechase, a handicap of 30 so\s ; second horse to receive 3 soys and third horse to receive 2 .soys from the stake. Open to all qualified hunters, the property of members of any recognised Hunt Club. Minimum weight, lOst. Maiden riders allowed 71bs. Nomination, 15s ; acceptance, 15s. About three miles, over such jumps and course .as the Stewards shall direct. N.B.— The winner of this race to have the option of receiving the prize in a piece of plate or in specie. 3. Hack Rack, of 10 s jvs, no weight under lOst. For horses that have never been nominated for a handicap or any classic race. Post entry 10.-,, to go to the fund. Throe quarters of a mile on the flat. 4. Maidkn. Steeplechase Plate, of 15 soys ; second hov.se to receive 3 soys from the stake. For qualified hunters the property of members of the Ashburton County Hunt Clubj that have never won an advertised steeple chase. Weight for age. Maiden riders allowed 71bs. Entrance 15s. About two miles. 5. Ladies' Bracelet Handicap, of 20 soys ; the first horse to receive a bracelet of the value of 15 soys , the second horse to receive a bracelet of the value of 5 soys. Open to all qualified hunters, the property of members of any recognised Hunt Club. A high weight handicap. Gentlemen riders. Maiden rider allowed 71b. Horses before starting for this race must qualify over a flight of hurdles in front of the stand to the satisfaction, of the Stewards. All horses to be nominated by ladies. Nomination, 10s ; acceptance, 10s. About two miles on the flat. 6 Consolation Steeplechase, a handicap of 10 soys. Nomination 10s, to be made to the Secretary immediately after the Ladies' Bracelet is run ; acceptance free, to be notified to the Secretary within 10 minutes of the declaration of the weights. About one mile and a half. GENERAL RULES. No entry will be received for any of the Races except upon this condition :—That all disputes and objections arising out of the racing shall be decided by a majority of the Stewards present, or those whom they may appoint. Their decisions upon all points connected with the carrying out of this Programme shall be final. All entries to be sealed and addressed to the Secretary, Ashburton, entrance money enclosed, with the name, age at the time of entvy, name of owner, pedi gree, and performances of the horse, and colors of the rider. Entries by telegram must be confirmed by writing at the earliest opportunity. No nomination or acceptance will be received on any pretence whatever after the hour named, and unless accompanied by the necessary amount in cash. All horses must be ridden in colors. A qualified hunter shall mean any horsp that has been fairly hunted at least three times with any reco%nised pack of hounds during the season 1890, and the Master's certificate of qualification must be pro duced at the scales. Gentlemen riders. Names must be pent in to the Secretary on or before 2nd August for the approval of the Com mittee . . Five per cent will be deducted from all winnings towards the expenses of the Course. The Committee reserve to themselves the right of refusing any entry, and in the event of bad weather of postponing the meeting from day to day or for any longer period. The Races will be run under the Rules of Ilacins: and the New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase Rules in all cases where they apply. NOMINATIONS &c Nominationß to be accompanied by fees name, age, awl description of the horse iind colors of ruler, and in the hands of he Secretary not later than 9 p.m. on ATURDAY, July 19th, 1890. Weights will be declared on MONDAY .July 28th, 1890 Acceptances must be made to th Secretary not l.it«r than 9 P.m. on tf ATURD ?IY, August; 2nd, 1890? B J. FOOKS, Son Secretary]



VTOTICE—AII Persons found Tress- JLN passing m pursuit of game or otherwise on the Riversdale Estate on and after this date will be prosecuted. J. R. WILLIAMS. River»d.i?e, 24 th May. 5 176 SEALY'S FRUIT TREES TNL7T; sT Vt)!)!, Po:us, Plums, - _i_, Cherries, Peaches, Apricots, Nectar ines, and all other fruits. The merits of all the varieties have been subjected to severe testa during the last 15 years, and the stock is now admitted to be the Largest and Choicest m Canterbury, probably m the colony, to select from, all warranted, and at your own prices. ' SEALY'S FOREST TREES Of all kinds, innumerable m quantity, well-grown and hardy—all kinds, all sizes, all prices. SEALY'S ORNAMENTAL TREES, &c Choice m quality, numerous m quantity. SEALY'S MACROCARPA. Tens of thousands m number. A\ large quantity specially grown for fencing at very low prices. SEALY'S ROSES Endleßs m variety and choicest m quality. SEALY'S CATALOGUES Forwarded free to any address on * application. Kote.—l will only be responsible for j Trees ordered direct from the Nursery or j through Meßbrs J. Sbaly and Co. THOS.~SEALY, , Nurserym an, 1 Riverbank, Ashburton. JOHN ORR & Co. ARE OFFERING GRAND VALUE m the Followiug Leading Lines OF GENERAL IRONMONGERY, ET Ex "Rimutaka." And Other Late Arrivals. 4 Casks Saucepans, Boilers and Kettles A Casks Lamps, Globes and Chimneys 1 Case Table Knives, Forks, Spoons. 3 Casks Plough and Trace Chains. 80 Tins White Lead. 40 Tins Red Lead. 120 Drums Raw and Roiled Oil. Paints and Varnishes of ail kinds. 5 Bales Wall Papers. 50 Register Grates from 14s 6d to £5. Ranges, Stoves, at all prices. 8 Cases Wringers and Mangles. 50 Sets Fire Irons from 5s to 3Cs. 50 Fenders from 6s to £5. 25 Tons Bar and Sheet Iron. 1 Ton Bolts and Nuts, all sizes. Leather Portmanteaus and Trunks. Leather Belting, 1| to 6in. Manilla and Flax Rope, 1| to Sin. 35 Coils Plough Lines. 2 Cases Mould Boards. 5 Casks Hornsby's Plough Shares (new pattern.) 3 Cask» Ransom's Plough Shares. 3 Casks Buggy Springs and Axles. 1 Cask Carriage Lamps. 20 Kegs Blue Stone. 10 Cases New Iron Bedsteads. 10 TONS CLOVER SEEDS. 100 Kegs Wire Nails. 20 Kegs Fencing Staples. 200 Coils Steel Fencing Wire, 80 Coils Barb Wire. 1 Bale Seaming Twine. 2 Cwt Bobit Mettle. 25 Bundles Spades and Forks. 3 Packages Screws. Locks and Hinges. 2 Cases Saws, Chisels and Planes. 10 Cases Axes and Picks. 4 Cases Gorse Knives. 10 Cases Pick Axe and Hammer Handles. 2 Cases Hammers. 2 Bales Door Mats. 10 Crates China and Earthenware, includ- New Toilet Dinner, Tea aiid Dessert Ware. Some of these are really beautiful trends. 150 Cases Oils, including Valvoline, Lubroline, Caster, Colza, Olive Lard and Neatsfoot—this can all had m any quantity. 150 Cases KEROSENE, Light of th Age ; the very best. GROCERY DEPARTMENT WILL Always bo found STOCKED with GOODS of First Class QUALITY, —Including— Indian Ceylon and China TEAS, Mauritius Sugar, Crushed Loaf Sugar, Pure Coffee, Candles, Oatmeal, Rollifct and Cos. Flour, Butter from Mr John Griyg s Famous Dairy. JOHN Ode AND CO, IMPORTERS. A NDREW ARR'S II. NDREW \JB,II S . GREAT ™ m jj ANNUAL SALE op £3 DRAPERY M & I H CLOTHING r V <i MOOTS fi v £2. W___ Commence w H Saturday, July sth J^ The greatest BARGAINS *^j ever seen m Ashkuron. $ SEE HANDBILLS. ? ANDREW ORR. * p—_—ni-j-taiumw-lWiy " mi inniiriiiiiii mini i m «