The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas Et Prævalebit. FRIDAY, AUGUST 15, 1890. CUTTING DOWN THE ESTIMATES.

The Retrenchment Paity deserve every praise for the earnest manner in which they have set about their self imposed task to cut down the Esti mates. Their labors up to the present have borne good fruit, and thousands of pounds of useless expenditure have been saved to the country. The Ministry, under pressure, promised to reduce the Estimates by £50,000 if allowed to do so in their own way, and at their own time. The Retrenchment Party were not satisfied with the con ditions of this promise, In the Public Works Statement and Financial State ment, the Ministry let it be rery clearly known that any further curtail : ment of expenditure must come off the Public Services, the Education vote in particular being hinted at. In face of this clearly defined indication, the Retrenchment Party, having first com pelled the Government to promise a retrenchment of £50,000, undertook to dictate also when, where, and how the Government should save this sum. Notwithstanding Government protest, the public economy party have shown the country that the amount named can be saved without impairing the efficiency of publi* services, or dispensing with any of the commercial or educational advantages at present enjoyed, and which have cost the ratepayers much money to pr»cur«. It has been proved to a de monstration, during the cutting down of the public estimates, that not £50,000 but £100,000 per annum may be saved from administration of the public services while the serrices them selves may remain untouched. Nearly all the public services are over manned, and the officers are cVsr-salaried. In the retrenchment effected by the Atkinson Government the rank and file of public servants, whose salaries vary from £400 downwards, have been the greatest sufferers, while officers in receipt of from £500 to £1000 a year, and at whose suggestion the subordi nates have been reduced, have remained almost untouched. This, the retrench ment party rightly consider, is a gross injustice, and what the Government have refused to do, the House has determined shall be done. Already large and substantial reductions have been made in Committee of Supply, and high-salaried officers and Minis terial friends are, in consequence, in high dudgeon. Strong efforts are being made by Ministers and Govern ment supporters to damage the Retrenchment Party by making them appear as obstructionists; but the feeble public response to this view of the situation may be taken as an indication of the drift of public opinion on the question. The electors of the country are satisfied that the Retrench ment Party are actuated by a sincere desire to curtail public expenditure, and if the Government dared to appeal to the electors at the present juncture on this issue the result would be, we feel convinced, a crushing defeat. Ministerial sincerity on the question of retrenchment has been tried and found wanting. The only idea of a State policy which the present Ministry have is to transfer the burden of public services and requirements from the Colonial Treasury directly on to the shoulders of the taxpayers. If the taxpayers are not willing to bear the burden, then, so say the Govern ment, the services must be dispensed with. It does not seem to have suggested itself to Ministers that the cost of administration may be con siderably cheapened, and that without doing any further injury than cutting down the salaries of public officers who have for years been drawing princely incomes at the expense of an over-taxed colony. The Opposition deserve all credit for teaching the Government this lesson, and the forthcoming elec tion will, we have no doubt, prove to the party that their services are fully appreciated.

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Rink de Paris will be open to-morrow afternoon and evening ass usual. The Presbyterian Choir have m prac tice for prodijcciojl m about a fortnight the tuneful cantata of ((Davic]/ 1 The "Beauty of Bath" is the name of an early potato, which, quoting Mr A. W. Bandell's advertisement m this issue, yielded last season over 17 tons to the acre on Mr D^herty's land at Tinwald, and fifty pounds of ths seed gave thirteen and three-quarter bags of sotmd tubers. On the same land, during t)i9 same season, blue Derwents yielded just the ss*,n>s $s the £asy Beaujfcy of Bath. In twenty-one of the large London ceme teries more than a million and a quarter bodies have been interred during the last half-century m less than 300 acres of ground. At Broiupton more than 150,000 bodies have been laffj. j]} about 28 acres ; at the Cainber weii jGei^teity fM^rds of 80,000 have been interred-yi 10 or Jf tyar/if ♦#!"< Lambeth the total is wore than lO^OOOi^i iis^i> f< acres; and at the Faddiftgtop Cemetery ,tlie -burials have numbered more tUu 80,000 iij abput 8 acres, say 10,000 to an ac>*e, Mr Maycock, of Ormondvillc, recently discovered a weasel killing kittens, three of which he found were dead. An attempt was made to Idll fche weasel, but it was too quick and got 'away. $o*l^ jtlea of the trouble these little pests will Witt *&c #.ear future may be gathered from the ahoyp. jkaiiibs will be the next victims, and the very people wiM naffer lppst who have been instrumental m fntrod»;c-u}.g %? weasel into the country. Should the stoat W wtMyl ,«yer obtain a foot ing m the bush all attenips «u> 5%?.6# &i,i'mmg must prove futile. The notion Mwfe ground that the weasel is protected i»i Hawke's Boy, but as a, fact this is nofc so. The I4o|iqii was brought before the Rabbit "Bush Advocate."

The English language was used in a recent troaty between Russia and China. The entire Catholic population of the United States is put at 8,277,039. A petition in support of the Shop Hours Bill 13 being largely signed in Oamaru. ' The barque Anglo-Norman left Oamaru on Thursday for London with 10,300 sacks of grain. The vine beara three kinds of fruit: The first, pleasure; the second, intoxication; and the third, remorse. Biamark says the discontent of capitalists is much more dangerous than the discontent of workmen. -i The first Russian "Temperance^ Society" has just opened head-q.uarters at St. Peters burg under high patronage. Emperor William has summoned a con ference of eminent scholars to discus 3 the Bubject of a fixed uniform German ortho graphy. Mr Henry Goldney Baker has been elected unopposed for the Mount Hutt Riding of the County Council, supplying the vacancy caused by Mr Julian Jackson's retirement. A Western paper supplies this beautiful simile : " You might as well try to Bhampoo an elephant with a thimbleful of soapsuds as attempt to do business and ignore advertis ing." After a rapid decline in numbers the first half of this century, the Quakers are slightly increasing in Great Britain and gaining quite fast in America, largely by accession from other religious bodies. According to a recent report from Mexico, at the census of last year of the city of Mexico and federal district, out of a popula tion of 451,246 only 171,246 were returned as able to read and write. Mr T. McKenzie is to ask the Minister of Agriculture whether the Government wil this session amend the Slaughterhouse Act ( in the direction of permitting farmers to kill pigs for market without taking out a license. It has been authoritatively stated in Wel lington that from four to seven per cent, of the cattle slaughtered there are known to be suffering from cancer and tuberculosis, which complaints, it is said, are known to be pre valent in other parts of the colony amongst the animals. It is reported from Palermo that a rich banker, Signor Filippo Arrigoni, of Trapani; and his son and servants, with whom he was travelling in Sicily, have been carried off by a gang of bandits, who had clad themselves as carabinieri, and that a ransom of £10,000 has been exacted. The Canadian Government has granted the contract for the conveyance of mails between Canada and Great Britain to the Allan Line for another year, after which there is to be a new and very much faster service under a contract for ten yeara, at about £100,000 a year. ' In the event of a European outbreak, Great Britain would be able to send to sea at a month's notice 44 modern battle-ships and belted cruisers to cope, in case of neces sity, with France's 23, Russia's 15, Germany's 12, or Italy's 10; so that no possible com bination of any two of the great Powers would place England at a disadvantage, It is reported from Zanzibar that in th* action brought by the Emm Pasha Relic' Committee against Tippoo Tib, for breach of contract and resultant loss to Mr Stanley's expedition, Mr Cracknall, the Consular judge, haß ordered substituted service of the notice for hearing, which is fixed for six months hence. The damages are placed at £10,000. The first settlement in Western Australia was in 1826. Iv that year a detachment of the 39th Regiment and some 50 convicts, were sent from Sydney to form a station at Albany, in King George's Sound. \ A few years later this pioneer settlement was transferred to what is now called Rocking-* ham, a short distance south of the present port of Frcmantle, on the west coast. A Russian Commission of four members, among whom are M. Dournovo, Minister of the interior, and M. yon Plehwe, his assistant, is at present drawing up a Hill for the regulation of the position of the Jews in Russia. It is "stated that the measure scarcely meets the wishes cf the Jewish element; it is, on the contrary, conceived in a spirit of opposition to their desires re garding the solution of the question. At a meeting in Nelson it was laid down as one of the duties that the Farmers' Asso ciation should communicate with the markets of the world, and find out the true value of produce and obtain it. Farmers had to contend with droughts and other drawbacks over which they had no control, but they had control over the disposal of produce, and they should see that they got the market value of what they grow.

In America the authorities itre making efforts to suppress narrow tires', on street vehicles. It is asserted that the present narrow tire cuts up the public roads, causing vast expenditure, and is no lighter for haul age than a tire twice the width. Eor traffic on unmade roads the broad tire is unquestion ably superior, as the weight of the load will sink the narrow tire deep into the soil over which the broad tire would pass safely. At Wakamii last night there was a good attendance at the Wesleyan Jubilee meeting the Rev. J. N. Buttle presiding. Addresses were delivered by Revs Luxford, Morley and the Chairman. The collection inclusive of promises, totalled £15. During the evening the choir, under the conductorship d Mr Bateman, rendered very creditably several musical selections. The services this evening will take place m the Wesleyan Clurch, Cameron street. Tea meeting at 6 p.m., after which addresses will be delivered by ministers and laymen. A very satisfactory meeting of th« local " Patience" Company was held last night, no less than fifteen female voices being present, and a fair sprinkling of males. The cast of characters is not yet complete, but the parts will be filled up perhaps by next meeting. Owing to the difficulty that has been experi enced m finding qrchestral seqres jn the colony a slighj delay hasj qecured m getting the orchestra to work, but the work of pre paring scores for thirteen instruments has been undertaken by tlje leader of the orchestra, Mr R. Wood, an<T these are ex pected to be ready by next meeting, so that no time will be lost m this direction, A correspondent to a Wellington journal signing himself "Lancer" has stated that .Colonel Hume is to be commended for truth fully and fearlessly showing to the taxpapers .of the''colony fcbaj, |ho large sum the New 2fcq.laud Rjifle Association is drawing annually from the Ooyepninenfc is not being wholly expended, as it should be, m attempting to make these meetings the Wimbledon of New Zealand, but rather to provide an annuity for certain persons.. This statement Captain Somerville deems it his duty to contradict lnttsVjemchatically., and he proceeds to say, m justice io Oolo^el IJume that the report does not convey tins cpiistr^iion ," Lancer'? would put upon it, whom, howeVer, the Captain will no£ bandy words wi^li, biitenclos ing a balance-sheet d the intercolonial mating & 'the editor, says:—"The grant from ffarijameut iwt /<#* H raS $ sP ecia« one of £1000 (previously £500)'.' O'ufr of this the Defence Department received £336 3s Sd. The prizes m money alone came to £1763, and the medab and shield purchased' specially for tlie meeting came to £140, ma&Jng a totai of £1900 spent m prizes. TEi's, I thinfc* i% # sufficient answer to. 1 Lancer's.' iiisanuaticws a? M> being misappropriated. 1 am not awavs of an§r person receiving an annuity from tlmAssp:-, oJation, and can say atxtlioratively that 'iWe'f? i^ot a particle of truth m the state- As the wliirl of time has again ushered m the busy spring, and .to be prepared to supply the requirements of Nature and of their WnwOßg patrons, Messrs J. Scaly and Co. have' completed tliejr selection of seeds, which are of the choicest c^uaiity obtainable,, and which include clovers, turnips, maw*, gjQl43 ? carrots, rape, perennial ryegrass,, cocksfoot, >ilpp)ianb sweed, garden, and, flower seeds m endless yavities, and garden | recjiiisities of every description. For jbhe convenience of patrons who cannot make their purchases during the day the premises will be open to nine p.m. on Saturday even ings on and after the 16«h August. J. Scaly and Co. have also empty tanks for sale.— (Advt.) . , ■

New Zealand Finance.

(From the London " Statist.") According to the revenue returns of New Zealand for the financial year ended March 31st, particulars of which only ar rived by last mail,, that colony has at length emerged from one of the longest and most severe periods of depression to which it. has ever- been subjected. It ought to be explained at the outset that, as with monetary crises which have over taken more than one Australasian colony, the cloud which has so long overshadowed the development and public credit of New Zealand is due to reckless borrowing of English money, and the squandering of it on public works, some of which have proved as unproductive as they were needless. It was modestly proposed to add ten millions Bterling to her Government Debt m 1870. Since that date, however, no less than thirty millions have been added. For upwards of fain years the steady influx of British capital created a structure of false prosperity m the colony, accom panied with such wild speculative manias and extravagant forms of living as have re cently been witnessed elsewhere m Austra lasia. New Zealand, like South Australia, has done penance for her folly; and comes but of the trial stronger, more self-reliant, and more prudent for the discipline she has undergone, while Victoria and Queensland have just suffered a temporary check to their material progress, conse quent upon the commission of similar faults; and it is to be hoped that m their case an effect not less wholesome inf»y ensud.; An almost invariable index of the condition of any well-established colony being abnormal, is that its imports largely and persistently exceed its ex ports ; and as regards New Zealand m 1874, m the heyday of rash borrowing and lavish expenditure, such was the course of events. In that year the im ports amounted to £8,373,111, against exports reaching only £5,433,600. On the other hand, for the last year the imports did not exceed £5,998,224, and for the present year they will not exceed £6,270,000. So that, compared with fifteen yearS ago, the imports are two millions less. But the increase m ex ports m that interval is atill more marked than the (shrinkage m imports. This year the exports are valued at £9,714,513. The significance of these figures is emphasised when they are viewed m relation to population. In 1873, with ■ 295,946 inhabitants, goods to the value of £6,332,295 were imported, being at the rate of £21 7s lid per head. In '. 1889, with more than double the popula tion, the amount of imports is actually : smaller ; the natural inference being that increased efforts were made m the interim to supply local wants from internal sources. While the Pactolus of easily-gotten loans flowed from England, and wasteful public expenditure followed, people withdrew from productive industries m the country and thronged the towns m the expectation of benefiting by the free circulation of Government money and the gambling m property directly resulting from that cause. For some years past, however, during which the colony has been right ing itself, imports have been almost stationary. When we turn to the exports, the tri umph of a frugal Government policy-be comes strikingly apparent. The aggregate export values as. given above for the year ending m March last show a million and a half m excess of exports m the previous year, and an advance m round numbers of three and a half millions m excess of im ports. It is some considerable time since New Zealand has felt justified m coming as a borrower into the English markofc, and the Government are so fully satisfied m every respect with the result of the colony being thrown for a time completely upon its own resources for the development of enterprise and the production of wealth, that they seem disinclined for the moment to augment further their indebtedness to British lenders. It would be well if they could inoculate with this honourable in tention neighbouring colonies whose ap parent expansion is mainly due to bor rowed capital. It is not a little surprising that m the revenue returns the customs should be about £50,000 below the esti mate, especially as the imports had for so long been comparatively at a standstill, owing partially to the rigid economy m living practised by all classes of com munity, and partly to the evasion of duties which Protectionist tendencies m the New Zealand Parliament have, of late, inordinately. The public accounts exhibit a surplus of £115,974, which it is hoped, may be em ployed, m relieving taxation, that tillers of the soil may be encouraged to improve their holdings and thus increase the wealth of the State. We are unwilling to indulge the remotest suspicion that the surplus m New Zealand should turn out to. be ill usory, as happened a few months since with respect to a surplus affirmed by the Victorian Treasurer to exist m his .Bud get. In any case, fche faot may be im plicitly accepted that New Zealand, with a population of 600,000, has exported m 12 months produce amounting to about £10,000,0C0. This contrasts most favour ably with Victoria, which boasts double the number of inhabitants, whose exports for the Bame period were only £13,000,000, a considerable portion consisting of goods re-exported. So that it is more than doubtfttf if the hoi\ci fide exports of Vic torianiindustry exceeds the 1 actual value of New Zealand exports. It is plain that I by liquidating lier adverse trade balance and the interest payable on her public debt m England, she sayes m exchange as well as makes a profit pn what she buys with the proceeds of what sha exports.

Josh Billings on Hens.

The b^st time tew. sett a hen iz when J^e hen 15 ready. I leant tell yqu what the best b'i'eed iz, but the Shanghai' \i the meanest, It kosts more to board one than it duz a stage hoss, ani you might az well undertake tew fat a fanning mill, runnin oats thru it. There aint no profit m keep ing a hen for his eggs, if he lazes less than one a day. Hens are long lived if they d»n't kontract a throat disease ; there iz a great menny goze to pot every year by thfs mellfjrikolly di^ea^e. | leant mj egg zacly how topipk out a good hqn, but az a general thing the long-eared ones I kiio are the least apt to scratch up the garden. Eggs packed m equal parts of salt and lime water, with the other end down, will keep from 30 to 40 years if they are not dis turbed. Fresh beef stake iz good for hens; I suppose i o,r 5 pounds a day would be awl a hen would need, at nrst aion.4.' I shaU be happee to advize you anj' time on the hen question, and take pay for my advize m eggs.

Lord Hartington and Fe male Politicians.

! |.. L .-I' Speaking on Wednesday at the second annual meeting of the Women's Unionist Association m London, Lord Harbington salflhe^id' n'ot'kiiQ» r if}}fitheij hp p'xposeel himself to a charge of inconsistent^ m being present that afternoon, for he ha.d never *-aken an active part m what were called women's rights, nor had he ever voted for the admission of women to the Partttwnentajy franchise, At the same time ho would say that no one could deny that there was a very large number of women more fitted for the exercise of 'franchise than was the case with' a great number of men. \i he hesitated to vote for the admission- of women to the fran chise, the reason which prompted him tp do so were exclusively of a'"practipal character. They must all admit that although the men might not be wiser, they were, at all events, stronger than women, and he did entertain some doubt whether >men would, m an important crisis, con

sent to be governed by women. He doubted fery much, whether, if a ques tion should arise m which the strong opinion of the majority of men were to be overruled by the assistance of a majority of women's votes, he apprehended that the only consequences would be that Par liamentary government would receive another check, and the system of repre sentative government would be still further discredited than, he regretted to say, some recent occurrences had already discredited it. At the same time, there could be no doubt whatever that women did and ought to exercise great influence, although it might be an indirect influence m politics. The want of pos session of suffrage did not prevent won^en from exercising any of those means t>f in fluencing the electorate which could be exercised by any man. Speaking of the iljgitation on the Local Taxation Bill, he held that it was ridiculous to contend that the great question of compensation m relation to this' subject could be seriously affected, much less could be finally disposed of, by a clause m a bill which dealt with a great many other subjects, and which simply enabled local authorities at their own discretion to purchase licenses for the purpose of the extinction of licenses which had already a recognised value m the market—licenses the yalue of which was recognised by the Government for purposes of taxation, licenses which had already been acquired by local authorities for the purposes of public improvement •fc th« price to which he had referted.

Size of Heads and Brain- Power.

In an article m jfche " Popular Science Monthly," Dr M: A. Sl>arr s^ys that "there are many interesting facts which make one believe that the greater the extent of brain surface m man, or, to put it a little differently," the more the folds and deeper the cresses between them, the greater is the 'tnan's mental power ; and just here it becomes apparent that to judge of the extent of the entire brain surface by the size of the head, or by the extent of the superficial, irregular surface which is covered by the skull, without any regard to the number of folds of their depth, is to fall into an absurd error; and here we bea;m to see how baseless the old phrenology Teally is. For a little brain with many deep folds may really, when spread out, have a larger surface than a large brain with a few shallow folds, and a so-called bump or elevation on the apparent surface of the organ, even if it produce a corres ponding elevation on the head, which it frequently fails to .dp, :>will indicate nothing regarding the number of folds or the depth of the creases which lie about it, so that it may be stated without hesitation that from the size or shape of the! head no conclusion whatever can be made as to the extent of surface of the brain, and consequently no conclusion can be reached regarding the mental capacity." In short it is not the size of brain that is the guage of power, but the number and extent of the convolutions.

What is Repartee!

Repartee is a sudden;flash. 1: It is turn ing a current of thought Hi an opposite direction. It is the upsetting of a train of thoughts. It is really >dbforminj a thought. Repartee is a case where one speaker makes a plain statement, aimed m a certain direction, which a hta'er collides with and reverses so as to shoot straight back at the speaker. ---" What I want," said a pompous orator, aiming at his antagonist, "is good com mon sense." *' Exactly," was the whispered reply, "That's just what you need." Repartee is often very unkind, but its unkindness is excusable when the person indulging m it has been attacked. For instance, Abernethy, the famous surgeon, swore violently at a poor Irish pavior who had piled .some paving-stones on the Doctor's sidewalk. "Remove them!—away with them!" screamed Abernethy, with an oath. . "But wliere" shall I take them to?" asked Pat. "To hell with them!" exclaimed the doctor. " Hadn't I better take them to heaven? Sure, and they'd be more out of your honor's way there, said Pat," as he leaned on his spade. An instance of Unkind repartee is re corded of Charles Lamb. One day a loving mother brought* her beautiful golden-haired baby m to dinner m her arms. She w^s very proud of her I sweet babe, and, holding it up with pride and joy m her eyes, she said : .'" j " Mr' Lamb how do you like babies ?" <k I like em boiled, madam—boiled !" Of course that mother never loved Mr Lamb after that. The finest piece of repartee m the Eng lish language is the instance where two Irishmen were walking under the gibbet of Newgate. Looking up at the gibbet, one of them remarked : ! " Ah, Pat, where would you be if the I gibbet had done its duty V \ "Faith, Flannagan," said Pat, "and I'd be walking London—**»K alone ?" That is f> fine bit of repartee attributed to Douglas Jerrold : • "Have you seen my 'Descent Into Hell V " inquired an author, a great bore, who had written a book with a ijiery title, "No," replied Douglas Jerrojd^ I should like to."

TELEGRAPHIC

HOME AND FOREIGN.

[PEtt PRESS ASSOCIATION.] L/MjfEio.Bf, August 13 to 14, The potato disease ha^ made its appearance m Ayrshire. Potato disease is spreading. The estimated yield will only be one-fourth of the average,' and fears of a famine are increasing. The Public Works Department have been requested to afford relief, The <{ Financial ISfewis" says Queens land investors have nothing to fear from the change of Ministry, Sir S- Griffith having earned the right to be regarded as safe. The Anglo-Portuguese agreement will be> signed to-day. The Australians play the (x^ntlenien of Inglaud at Lord's on September Bth, for the.benefit of the cricketers' fund, Maokih, August 14, Qh,qlefa }s declining, St. Petersburg, August 14. The " Novoe Vrehiya " predicts iin-: portant political results from the Ger i man Emperor's interview with the Czar. Paris, August 14. ■ M. Ribot is examining a scheme for: £he pQ^struptjon qf an international railway from Algiers to Capetown. Phylloxera has appeared m the? Marlw! and Rhine districts. „ \ Soha, August 13. It is stated that ex-Prince Alexander, (has adopted ch.ild>en of Jklajor Panitza, sho,t for^easoA. "-■... Bujsifos AW««,^AugUHt:i4. Uneasiness is still felK jai' the posi tion of affairs m Argentine. Hong Koiw, Augt^t 14. QPhfi Qhamber of Commerce has pro tested against the proposed Chinese Convention. . B*RLijf, August 13. The fortifications of Heligoland will cost a million an,d a half sterling.

Rome, August 13. Mass, m memory of the late Cardinal Newman, was celebrated m the Pope's private chapel. Nbw York, August 13. War between San Salvador and Honduras seems imminent.

AUSTRALIAN.

Sydney; • August Hi. In reference to thei Pacific Mitil Company's action against New South Wales, Mr D. O'Connor, Postmaster- General, states that neither Govern ment is at fault, and the Company has only itself to blame. The contract provided that New South Wales might withdraw at three mdntW notice. The Company signed the contract with the full knowledge that New South Wales might withdraw and they might hare to carry on the service with the New Zealand subsidy alone. The Company had nothing to do with any arrangements made by New South Wales with New; Zealand as the sole contributing colony.

INTERPROVINCIAL

' , AUCKLAND, AugUSt 14. _ At the Chamber of Commerce a resolu tion was carried, emphatically protesting against the manner iii which the Govern-! ment have treated the resolution of the chamber m support of Mr Vaile's railway: system, and against the manner' m which the petition from the Auckland district m: favour of that scheme has also been treated. . • Wellington, August 14.  | The new proprietors of the tramway !ard considering the advisability of getting' electric motors m place of horses. The driver of the rear engine on the train which met with the accident at John sonville on Tuesday has been suspended by the company. • . . The City Council have decided to mdopfc Messrs Cuthberfc and Fergusson a drainage scheme, and to raise a loan of £160,00(0 for the purpose. Of this, 11,000 will be repaid to the account, being the cost of sewors already laid, which will form part of the system. The outfall of the drain age is to be directly into the sea m Cook Strait. Bishop Julius returns to Christchurch from the West Coast on Saturday. A boy named George Ingram, 12 years of age, fell down stairs at the Provincial Hotel this evening. He dislocated his right hip joint and fractured his right thigh. He is m a critical condition. Christchurch, August 14. The Rev J. W. Lewis, president of* the Wesleyan Conference, has received from Dr Kelynach, a copy of a letter from the High Commissioner, stating that the King of Tonga and the higher chiefs appear firmly attached to their Free Church, and that any indications of attack upon it would be; followed by determined re sistance. The High Commissioner believes that all Ohurch ; differences may be com posed by tact and consideration, and tha the Kin? andmembers of the Free Church would ■ return to 1 connection with the Australasian Conference if the Wesleyan Church m Tonga were governed" locally by a Tongan Conference as proposed by the Rev George Brown m 1889. Dr Kelynack suggests that the Wesleyans of New Zealand should follow the example of those of Sydney, and make a collection for Tongan exiles. The first instalments the petition m favor of the Labor Bills was sent to Mr W. B. Perceval at Wellington to-day. It' bears 861 signatures, which were obtained m two days. Dunedin, August 14. A burglary and robbery of about £100 has been committed at the Dunedin Savings Bank. The. robbers are still at large. At the Police Court to-day Howorth, a baker, was prosficutel by the Bakers' Society for selling bread of short weight. He was fined 20s and costs. John McClusker has been arrested on a charge of attempted rape on a woman, who is said to shave lately come from, the country. . :

PARLIAMENTARY

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 14. • Th Council met at 2.30 p.m. ' LAW OF LIBEL BILL. . The Law of Libel Bfll was read a third time and passed. • • •

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

A STONEWALL. Mr Goldie moved to reduce the vote by £250 (£SO off the salary Under-Sec retary and £240 representing the salary of. a new officer, the Deputy-Registrar of Patents).— Lost by 13 to 16. Ml? Monk moved a reduction of £100, as a protest against the violation of prin ciple, by the transferring of officers of th> Public Works Department to the Patent Office.—Lost by 12 to If, • Mr Fish, remarking that the time had now arrayed, for decisive action, moved thM the chairman leave the chair, and spoke for three hours. After the galleries were cleared the discussion on the item Justice Department j £1260 was continued. ... ■ The proposed increase of £25 ten the under-secretary was struck o^ and the ; vote as amended was passed. . The_ item, Ofawn; L^w- Officers, £;21^5,> w^s passed:, ': :'—;'.; < ,■: ■■-," i ; At 4.50 a.m. the motion to'report pro-; gress was carried by 22 to 6, and the House adjourned till 2.30 p.m. The House met at 2.30 p.m. LAW OK LIBEL BILE. The Law of Libel' Bill was received from the Legislative Council, and, re,as a first time. ■ BILLS PASSED. The Borough of Deyonport Empowering and Endowment Bill, Wellington School; of Design Bill, Auckland Harbor Board Empowering Bill, Timafu Charitable Aid Institution "Vesting Bill, Tuakit6tso arid Kaitangata Lakes Bill, Palmerston North Reserves Bill, and Kihrkihi Cemetery Reserves Leasing Bill, were committed, read a third time, arid passed. , ' l [ : , QUESTIONS. Replying 1 to questions ,ifc was stated that there was nothing m the Rating Act which would exempt volunteer drill sheds from taxation ; that the Government were not about to appoint' four lieutenants to the Permanent Artillery ; that the Gov ernment had not yet received 5 iumcient; information to enable t^iein, , ,to, sfytte whether they would give' facilities for passing this session the Strikes and Arbitration Bill, but they would care-; fully consider the matter; that the Government was not aware whether any < friendly societies had applied, to .have their accounts audited by the "Audit De partment, but it was impossible with the i present staff that the Audit • Department could undertake this extra work, more es-, pecial^y as the House had lately largely ' reduced the vote for this department, ! that the Government were doing their best to preserve from sale all natural curiosities m the shape of hots or mineral, springy but that it was difficult "m many cases to do so, and at the same time facilitate settlement. The House rose at 5j30 p.m. ,;'•■■•■! The. House resumed at 7.30 p.m. INTERCEPTING SUPPLY. On the motion that the House go into Committee, of Supply Mr Taylor moved as an amendment/ th^t the Government

should take the necessary Bteps to obtain a permanent location for the legislative capital of the colony, by purchasing 1500 acres of land on the Canterbury plains, to be laid oiifc as a township. , The amendment was lost without dis cusbion, by 36 to 29. COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY. The House went into Committee of Supply for consideration of the estimates. Departments—Supreme Court —L 7575. Mr Fish moved fco reduce this vote by £915, being the amount of the salaries on the Deputy Registrars at Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin. —Lost by 36 to 34. Mr Fish then moved a reduction of £815.—The voting being equal, the Chairman gave his casting vote m favor of, the "Noes." Mr T. Thompson moved that the vot6 bo reduced by £590, being Lhe amount o^ clerks' salaries at Auckland, Wellington/ Dunedin, and Christchurch, and the increase of £35 m the salary. of the Registrar at Wellington. The amendment was carried by 36 to 33. - X Bankruptcy.—£7os3.—Mr T. Thomp son moved to reduce this vote by £645. i The reduction of £646 was lost by 83 to 31. Captain Russell said that hef should accept a total reduction pn the vote of £445, including a reduction of £25 from each of the Official Assignees.—The total vote as reduced by £445 was passed. District, Resident Magistrates, and Wardens', Courts—£43 : 9B2. , Mr, Fish moved to reduce the vote, by £1015, including the striking off all increases over £'300, and £50 off the Resident Magistrates at Auckland, Gis borne, Wellington, Christchurch, Kaiapoi, Timaru, Greymouth, and Dunedin, £25 off the Resident Magistrate at Oamaru, £400 off the item travelling expenses and mileage, £11,860. .The total vote as reduced by £650 was ; passed on thft voices.l Prisons—£4o,6ls. Mr Fish moved a reduction of £1965. Mr Fish's motion was lost by 20 to 16. Mr T. Thompson moved to reduce tlw vote by £150.0, leaving it to the Minister to exercise his own discretion as to the direction m which to make it. ; The reduction of £1500 was agreed to on the voices, the Minister concurring;"!i Miscellaneous Service—£32sß.'' ; - Mr Gdldie moved a reduction of contin gencies, £3000, by £500. • .; ; ; The motion was agreed to. Progress was reported; and the House rose at 1 a.m.

LABOR QUESTIONS

[pee press association.] r London, August, 13. The strikes m South Wales affect 70,000 people. The prospects of an agreement being arrived at are improving. , '■ Rioting, followed by a strike, has occurred among workmen m the quar ries on Mr Parnell's estates. Signal boxes have been burned by the strikers to prevent the lines being worked. The Royal Engineers have blen asked to work the railways. London, August 14. The Postmaster-General has r»in -1 stated fifty postmen. t . The Dublin and Wexford railway strike lias collapsed. Losses by the Cardiff strikes are estimated already at a quarter of a million.' Military have been despatched to Birmingham. Melbourne, August 14. The marine officers and shipowners have a conference to-morrow.

THE WHITCOMBE AND TOMBS DIFFICULTY.

There are no further developments m the dispute between Whitcombe and, Tombs iand the Maritime Council. .No word has been received, by the, firm that the carpenters had been again called out Of their shop m Dunedin. , . = •' It waa .rumored m ChristQhurch yester day that the Maritime Councl do not intend to "carry out the general boycott, but that they have another course of action which will,' they consider, effect their purpose without the necessity for a strike or the involving of a large number of people m trouble and distress. What this line of action is cannot be ascertained from the leaders of the labor movement m Christchuroh.

LATEST FROM DUNEDIN.

Dunedin, August 14. There is, no news of a reliable nature regarding the action which the Maritime Council will take m the dispute with Whitcombe and Tombs. All kinds of rumors are; (flying about. ■ It is certain that the Maritime Council regard the firm's last letter, refusing arbitration,, us final. The general opinion is that if there is to be a strike the sooner it is settled the* better, as the, present uncertainty; is worrying to. business men. . ' It was generally stated to-day that there were dissensions among the labor party as to tho. course to be adopted, and it w^a freely reported; that Mr J. A» Millar had resigned the Secretaryship of the Maritime Council. It is reported that the wharf laborers at the Bluft* have been notified to prepare for a strike to-morrow. This action is Supposed to be taken m view of the de partureof the Taieri from that "port ftir Newcastle, as it is well known that she intends to load coal there. A " Times' " representative, having waited on Mr Millar late to-nijjht, he waa authorised to contradict the statement that Mr Millar intended to resign the Secretaryship of the Maritipje Council, and also to contradict the statement that the wharf laborers at the Bluff would strike m the morning.

The " Otago Daily Times" of yesterdaf says ihf* 'A good deal of a .uneasiness was felt m commercial and other circles yesterday as to the situation. The belief was everywhere expressed that the crisis has now arrived, and the probabilities ;of the course of action to be pursued by the Maritime Council were much discussed. Nothing has been allowed to leak out as to what this course of action may be-~Mr Millar and the authorities of the labor party being very reticent as ta their in tentions ; but the impression gained ground during the day that the Unions will not resort to extremes without trying other means of settlement, and, m any i case, not until everything is m readiness for striking the blow.. It is regarded as improbably, therefore, that for a few days at least there will be any startling change m the situation. The carpenters resumed ,work m the morning, but were with drawn at midday by the instructions of the President aad Secretary of the Bra'ld : ing Trades* Union, backed :up by the ; authority of the Maritime Council and the Trades and Labor Council. : During the afternoon the contractor (Mr Halt) him self worked on for ao how or two, bofc then discontinued, stating that he could not get on without his. men, and that he was not inclined to engage non-Union workmen, • several of whom are said to have applied for employment. A couple of" non-Union painters renamed at work until 5 p.m., by which time they had the name of the firm painted up across the front of tike shop. "It is understood tl\at Ml 1 Mfljar

TH$ ASHBtJBTOK GUARDIAN, FRIDAY, AtJGtTST IS, 1800.



Board, butxwt passed.— SANDER AP> mW EUCALYPTI EXTRACT.—In .proteetlqH ,£t #$ worjjl wide fame our manufacture has acqwpeti iuii ovt* aha j'lobe, we publish the following :— Hazard", #f,tt.. Professor of General Patho logy and Diseases »f .the Mind and Nervous System, says m an editofia^ pihlished m the "■Clinical Record" :—" We Ijavfe fcw#i»ed half ftrdozen specimens of different manuw«< tures; tfa* preparation of Sander and Sons was the only one ifefjt proved to be reliable and corresponding &,> _tests.'-' Another concoction called " Refill Jf^tract of " ha.s made its appearftuce since. This product sta,nds, according to Dr Owen, foremost m fusing injurious effects'! That wentleman 'communawlwi, #* a meeting of tiie Medical Society of Victoria, ji^a|, a child llviMg at Fitarpy became most s>r.}o,usiy indisposed tlu-ougji its use. In another case a lady states on tiie strength of statutory declaration that she suffered cruelly from ihc effects of the same concoction, fo guard the high reputation of our manufypture w,e feel warranted fli exposing the above facts, and desires the ,pnl»l}fl to exercise cat:e aM precaution when buying, SANDER a«« ;iOSJ"—XAdvt.) • ' 7 ■■



Wanted. CASH Advertisements under thia heading not exceeding SIXTEEN WORDS 1/-. Addresses may be left at this Office. "PINKDE PARIS—To-morrow after- I Is noon find Evening the Rink will be open as usual.—R. Elston, Manager. 1 8 92 "| EXPERIENCED Housemaid requires Jtli Engagement, town or country ; busin is house preferred. Address H.M., " Mail " Office. 8t67 TOP That Cough—Flower's Cough Drops are the best—see that the name is stamped on every one. H. G. Flower, Confectioner, Eaat street. "ORESENTS. -If you want good value \ for money go to Melford House. Extra value now being given away m presents. Everything marked cheap.— H. C. Segkrs. ~T\, ANTED KNOWN—The Strong- VV Wear Boot for Men, Women and Children can only be had at W. H. Collier's. . \ T 7 ANTED Known.—Mrs Anderson, VV Washerwoman, Peter Street, is prepared to do washing at la per dozen, starching extra ; Blankets Is per pair.— Wanted, a good Washerwoman to assist. Good wages given. Must be a first-class hand. 8 91 OOTS, BOOTS.—" Keep your feefc Dry and save Doctor's Bills. I have a splendid Stock m now. Try my Double-soled Shooters. Every pair Guaranteed. Robbrt Alcorn, Ashbur ton Clothing Mart, Saunders' Buildings. WANTED Known.—For cheap Drapery, Millinery, Boots, Clothing, &c, go to Melford House. Good substantial presents now giving away.—H. C. Segers. ANTED every man m the County to have a suit of the Ashburto Tweed*. —Robert Alcorn, Ashburton Clothing Mart, Saunder's Buildings. TJWERY Customer will receive a JD_ handsome present by purchasing their Drapery. Millinery, Clothing, &c, at Melford House. Cheapest House m town for first-class Drapery. —H. C. Segers. 117 ANTED KNOWN.-A lot of V* Ladies Cloth and Tweed Jackets, considerably under usual cosfc price.— W. H. Collier, "The Corner." WANTED Known—The Cheapes Shop to buy Tinware and Gal vanised Iron goods m Ashburton, is at W. F. Hannaford's, Burnett Street. A argo stock kept on hand. Tin and Iron ware goods made and repaired with dcs patch jf noiio Notices. R~S 8. T I M MO has removed from the Lyttelton Boarding House to those more commodi ous and central premises, Panama House, Where friends, old and new, will be wel comed Accommodation tor boarders a reduced rates. Meals prepared mMr Tin 1 row's wrU kn«wn style. Meals per weok, lls ; Board and loclg ings, 17» 6d ; one meal daily per weok, 3 6d SPECIAL NOTICE CALL AND SEE THE GRAND DISPLAY OF BOYS', YOUTHS', AND MEN'S CLOTHING, MERCERY, HOSIERY, BLANKETS, RUGS, FLANNELS, HATS, AND CAPS, &c. npHE, largest and best assorted Stock m 1 the District to select from, which for Value, Variety, and excellence of Manu facture, we stand unrivalled. WATERPROOF COATS AND OILSKINS, Our own manufacture, a specialty. SOLE AGENTS for Wertheim's latest and improved HAND and TREADLE SEWING MACHINES. NEW ZEAIAND CLOTHING FACTORY W. H. WEBBER, Manager. ■AiTHCUt TEETH *VJTM.\ff6TJJ THE CHRISTCHURCH DENTAL SURGERY, Corner of CJ/isUeJ and High streets. s. m yeTs aj}l) cs SURGEON DENTIST Ajnd at Dunedin and Westport TTTE We gained the FIRST AWARD VV at die 'Dun«<ttn. Exhibition for Artificial Den.tur.es and MeGlvsutfcnJ Appli ances for the Mouth, and it is wMi ihe greatest confidence that we guarantee the highest class work a«*l perfect fit at the laosifc moderate cost A Single Artificial Tooth, 10s. Complete Set ~- Upper ;md Lower temporary and permanent, £10 10s. Natural, Durable, Comfortable Artificial Teeth. Replaced Tmnporfu-ily al most immediately after the extraction of decayed tectu or stumps without extra cc or charge. Arrangements can be made for part ©s* monthly payments,. ADMINISTERING NITROUS OXIDE CrAS several times daily for tlie past ten years, we fearlessly assert that extraction of teeth under its influence is perfectly '■ painless and positively safe Fee for Administration, Ds. i Extraction, 2s 6d. Artificial Teeth and Dentures made other dentists repaired or remodelle 1 small cost, i



nHARLES-pRADDILLj Licensed Landbroker and Valuator nder "The Land Transfer Act, 1885 ESTATE, HOUoE, LAND, AND GENERAL COMMISSION AGENT. Ofßce -Burnett Street, "Next to "Mail' Office T> E D WOOD'S TJATENT * Blight Specific Ib NON-POISONOUS, contains neither arsenic nor sulphato of copper ; is not only perfectly harmless to trees, but excites growth. Ik is a CERTAIN CURE for scale, American blight, codlin moth, &c., &c, where used systemicatally. The MOST effectual time to USE IT is IN WINTER, when the trees are bare. The Inventor has NUMEROUS TESTI MONIALS from those who have CLEANSED THEIR ORCHARDS. CANTERBURY AGENTS— Wholesale—MALlNG and Co., Limited. Local Agent —D. THOMAS, Wast Street, Ashimrton. Price, 3a 6d per Gallon. Reduction on quantities. 8J69 Full Directions Supplied. rpHB Proprietors of " Thi County " _L Haircutting Saloon «nd Tobacco and Cigar Emporium, Prospect BiiilcUnsf** Hare to an»«nnce their commencement of business. BIST ART. *BWST QUALITY IN ETBRT BRANCH, And perfection all ro»ni. HAIR CUXXINC*, Od^ "V"] OTICE. — Anyon* found Tres- J\| passing m pursuit of gam« «r otherwise on bh« Rirorsdalo Estat* on and after this data will b« pr»secßt«d. J. R. WILLIAMS. Rirersdale, 24th May 5 176 . _ ~ - X B A GBB A T BAA G T V. SALE AT " The Oobneb " 120 Men's and Youths' Suits from the Ashburton, Wellington, Timaru, Onmarii and Morgiel Mills, being sold at a DISCOUNT of 5 s IN 20 s lot of Ladiea' Jackets and Ulsters at Half-price. -J KS JACKETS for QD 9 r\S .1 AC RETS for ~^QS A special line of best quality Umbrellas. in s r D uMBiiELLASf!sr 6 s 6 D «)S f*V UMBRELLAS for >7S gD ~l IT (7 "7^ OLLIEU W . !'$ . VOLLI ER, "THE COBNEK." OEID WHEAT and OATS FOR SALE. TUSCAN WHEAT. PEARL WHEAT. VELVET CHAFF, &c. Also WHITE LAMMAS TUSCAN CANADIAN OATS. DANISH OATS. DUN OATS. SUPERIOR QUALITI FOR SEED JOHN G. RESTELL, 7J160 WEST STREET. A NDREW i^wRR'S .£X NDREW V/RR S , GREAT £ S > 5 ANNUAL SALE OF C ¥ 5 j DRAPERY m H CLOTHING I- \" m AND 4 ROOTS , Will Commencb W Saturday, July sth *^ a * The greatest BARGAINS ©* ever ?een m Ashbuion. )aj ac SEE HANDBILLS. ? , ANDREW ORR. >