The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Vertas et Prævalebit. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1890. THE COMMISSIONERS AND THE HALLWAY SERVANTS.

The extraordinary attitude of the Railway Commissioners towards the railway employes at the present critical period is cause for public uneasiness. The Railway Servants Union recently held a meeting, at which certain mem bers expressed themselves strongly on the alleged partisan attitude taken up by the Commissioners m regard to the Maritime strike. Press reporters were admitted to the meeting referred to, and a brief summary of the pro ceedings was published m the daily papers. The Railway Commissioners forthwith singled out the principal speakers, and drafted an apology which was so worded that the men, if they had a spark of manliness or honor m them,, could not help refusing to sign, and authorised the local authorities to " carpet" the offenders m Christchurch. The Commissioners well knew that the members of the Railway Servants Union aimed at would not sign the apology drafted, and that dismissal would follow this refusal. The men could not enter into the obli gations sought to be imposed and at the same time remain members of their Union, and their withdrawal from the Union would practically mean its total abolishment. If the Commissioners have any forethought or foresight, they must realise that, m acting as they have done, it is a direct challenge to all the men to go out on strike, and thus close up the railways, or at least put the railways m the same position as the present unsatisfactory shipping arrangements. The result of such a strike would be most far-reaching m its effects, and the present partial paralysis of trade would be greatly in tensified, if not rendered entirely com plete. Ever since the present unfortu nate Maritime strike has commenced an uneasy public feeling has prevailed lest the railway servants should be come involved, and the land as well as sea traffic become blocked. Forseeing the disastrous consequences likely to follow on such a step being taken, a number of influential public men have used their influence with the Commissioners and railway servants, and everything, up to within the past few days, pointed m the direction of peaceable relations existing between the Commissioners and the State's employees. The present action of the Commissioners, however, has com pletetely altered the complexion of affairs, and the threatened danger of a gigantic railway strike is again brought unpleasantly near. The four men, who hold important offices m their Union, have refused to sign the apology written out for them, or to enter into any arrangement with the Commissioners whereby they will be denied the right of combination for the redress or ventilation of grievances. As n consequence of this action the men have been discharged, and unless Parliamentary pressure is immediately brought to bear to procure their rein statement, the country, we fear, is within measurable distance of ;i rail way strike. Are the people, of New Zealand—the farmers and producers, the travelling public, manufacturers, and the vast army of wage-earners employed m reproductive industries— prepared for this 1 Such astrike means, if it means anything at all, that for a time at least, be the period long or short, famine prices will rule for the actual necessaries of life; that bitter chan hatred and feelings will be engendered and perpetuated ; that our social and commercial system will be turned topsy tnrvey, and that loss and suffering will result to almost everyone m the colony. "Whatever object the Commissioners may have m thus inviting and promoting a railway strike at this juncture, and however opportune the time may be for their purpose, we must, on behalf of the public, protest that the country has enough worry and irritation over the Maritime dispute, without having this increased tenfold. The Attorney- General, m the Legislative Council the other day, admitted the right of the Civil Service to combjne for their own protection, and, m answer io ft question, granted them full liberty of speech. The Railway Commissioners, however, appear determined to deny this same right to the railway sewfrnfcs-»~another class of Civil servants—and it jremaints to be seen whether the Commissioners will be backed up by the Government m this, the latest of their many eccentiie actions.

LOCAL AND GENERAL

There are 86 general holidays timxi^ijont the year m Russia. The Clirjsfcchnreh Charitable Aid Board intend to giv<s « Month's notice to tiie. orphanage staff. The Governor notifies iris approval #f jt-he dislmndment of the Hampden #ud Otepopo Rifle Volunteers. Mr Arthur Towsey has, we hear, ihf&vw ijp his appointment m Melbourne, and wiil mitiAJn m Dunedin. Lady : Bir, foil should introduce a little change m your style of dancing. Gent How do you mean, rasuieijomselle? Lady: You might occasionally step, f^iiiy Ipft foot; the ngiifc one has had enough. Messrs {jojUfcbrough, Mort, and Co., of Sydney, telegraph as follows to a private' iiim mC'hristclmrGkvT^'.Oa.ts Is 8d to 2s Id, incize #s 7d, blue Ijerwent p^fcpps 00s. : Market collide!," Suburban Board Sclwoj inspector—Well, the only fault I have to fyiA with your teacher is that he is too loquacious, JVjfcmbcr of the School Hoard—Maybe, mayb*:, aiy; but our idea is that he talks too much with his mott&b, Pasiw 'iYireh mahwlicts the statement regarding the alleged ",see)*(j " at the Auck land Tabernacle oji Sunday' (tiv^ning. He points out that whilst lie deftimWl boy cotting, he expressed regret and ptw-u that such a method haxl to Jjts to. Tho sum paid Mr Stanley by his pub-1 liflhers, it is now said, was ifUG^ftrf), and not' double that amount, as at iirat sJated. This, of course, covers nil rights and all possibilities, present and prospective. The explorer's publishiei's did very well out of his former works. Members {says a contejnpoty) am rwb un frequently " \at m" by coiistjtu«u,ts w\w \ think they have tine right to frank letters !to their representatives by writing on them i the mystic legend, " On public service only. "\ On these letters the unfortunate M,H.R.'sj < liwe to pay double rates, and they do no -; with a very bad grace indeed. In many < cases inem'i*ijra have to [spend £15 to £20 a ] session on sta«p? for letters m reply to 1 constituents. • t

The fire bell has now been shifted from ! the old site at the Triangle to the tur et at the Fire Brigade utation. In the event of the mail resolutions being affirmed, the Union Company will be pre pared to place the Monowai on the San Francisco service m place of the Zcalandia. Says the Woodville paper:—Mr J. J. Ford has a veritable curiosity m the shape of a sixpenny coupon m circulation m the old days m Auckland. Sixpences were scarce, and the business firms issued these so that when they had amounted to the value of a crown or half a soverign they were paid. The,.one-in..Mr Murphy's possession was issued by the firm of R. D. Graham, and reads " on presentation of ten of these notes we promise to pay the bearer the sum of five shillings and sixpen .•.' The supplementary Estimates are for a total charge of £50,304 on the consolidated fund, and £7987 on the Public Works Fund. The principal items are: £950 Audit Depart ment, being amount struck off the ordinary Estimates and replaced ; £300 for salary of resident at Raratonga; £500 Tasmanian Ex hibition ; £385, telegraph and telephone ex tension ; £4000, proportion cost of erection of light-house at the Snares; £1000 for dis charged and aged imbeciles; £5000, to provide working men's schools at the four centres; road to open up Pukipuhi field £750; Kumara sludge channel accident, £500; purchase Lyttelton Harbor Board's shed, £10,000 ; compassionate allowance widow of j Constable M'Leod, shot at Dargarville, £349. ] In a comparison of the public ferment per vading at the French Revoluticnaiy period and now m respect of labor, the "Advocate" says :—;" The strikes'we heair of now are but the premonitory symptoms—the dropping fire caused by the driving m of the pickets of the capitalist army. On the one side will be a party able to dominate and close every branch of production and distribution, and on the other side a section of society m ! possession of unprecedented wealth and j ability for passive defence. The threats of a great lock-out m Australia portend the struggle: the British steamship owners, with their seventy or eighty millions of ca pital, also contribute to the signs of the times. So do the unions by their agressiveness. And when the struggle comes, whoever may be the victors, even if there is no bloodshed, there will be Buffering as widesperead and universal as there has not been, and will not be, till the horrors of the Apocalypse are launched upon the world. Colonel " Bob " liigersoll would never be suspepted of being a respecter of persons. His legal protege was Judge Puterbaugh, then a Judge of the circuit court at Peoria, Illinois. Upon one occasion, while the Judge was engaged m fining a 'spactor for contempt of court, Judge Ingersoll offered some gratuitous advice, which was resented with some show of indignation. Ingersoll retaliated by hinting that when the court was fishing m a political way after the ermine he had not been so chary about ac cepting advice. This warmed the old man up m earnest and he at once imposed upon the presumptuous advocate a fine of lOdol. Ingersoll fumbled m his pocket for a moment, then waiked up to the bar with outstretched hand, and said "Puterbaugh, lend ma lOdol." The stern expression of the judge never relaxed for an instant. Turning to the clerk, he said: "Mr Clerk, let the record show that Mr Ingersoll's fine is re mitted. Peoria County can better afford to lose lOdol. than I can." " Time was that when the brains were out the man would die," but we are changing all that. The"Kyneton (Victoria) Observer" reports that a young man named Cook recently met with an accident to his head at the South Russell's mine, and a piece of his skull two inches long and one inch broad on the left side was completely knocked out. Through tins aperture lately the brain has commenced to extrude until it attained the size of a shut fist. This development is termed hernia of the brain. Tho mass was composed purely ot" brain tissue. Its removal which, as may be imagined, was a dangerous and delicate matter, was safely accomplished by Mr Duncan, with the 'able co-operation of Dva Ryan and Smith. When subsequently weighed it was found to be exactly two ounces. The patient, we learn on inquiry, was doing well. Hove, then, is a young man with two ounces of his brain completely gone, and with whose mental and physical state his medical attendants are satisfied. The future developments of this exceedingly interesting case will be watched with keen interest, not only from its unusual nature, but from the wide spread commiseration felt, for the unfortunate sufferer. The Albury correspondent of the".Sydney Morning Herald " writes:—An extraordinary story reached here from a man named Edward Thompson, formerly a resident of this town. Thompson, it appears, was camped with his wife and two young children m the bush. Tha elder of the children, who is three years old, had been m the habit of playing with a pet pig. One morning the child >yas missed, and a search was forthwith instituted, the father and some other men scouring the bush m all directions ; the search party continued their labors all day, and the whole of the night, without coming upon any traces of the missing infant, and m view of the very inclement weather of late prevailing;, small hopes were entertained of finding the child alive. Early next morning, however, the searchers were rewarded by the discovery of the chilil quite comfortably asleep on a bed of leaves, evidently made by the pig, under a hop bush. The pig was near the child, and seemingly on guard over it, as it resented m a practical fashion any attempt to interfere with its charge; and it was with some difficulty that the father suc ceeded m obtaining possession of the youngster. Finally, when tho father rode away homeward with the child m his arms, the pig followed at his horse's heels all the wav back to the camp.

PARLIAMENTRY

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11. The Council met at "2.30 p.m. THE OATHS BILL. The amendments made m the Oaths Bill hy the House of Representatives were disagreed with. BILLS PASSED. The Mining Companies Act Amend ment Bill was read a second time and passed without amendment. -. The Mines Act Amendment Bill was considered m Committee and passed without amendments. SCHOOL COMMITTEES ELHCTION BILL. The second reading of the School Com mittees Election Bill was moved by Mr Stevens. Dr Pollen moved that it be read this day six months. The second reading was carried by 17 to 9,  , The Council resumed at 7 30 p.m. WESTPOKT-NGAKAWAtT. Mr Stevens moved the second reading cf the Westport-Ngakawau Railway Bill. Mr Shrimski opposed, the Bill. Mr McLean said that considering the position which he held m the Union Com pany, he would not vote either way. At the same time he declared that the com pany had nothing to do with the West Coast Coal companies. Dr. Pollen opposed the Bill. Mr Buckley strongly opposed the Bill, which he characterised as iniquitous, and hoped those interested would not vote on the measure. The second reading was carried by 14 to 7. . . THE SCHOOL COMMITTEES ELECTION BILL. The Council went into Committee on the School Committees Election Bill which was passed without amendment, read a third time, and passed. The Council rose at 9.55 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House met at 2.30 p.m. LIVR STOCK AND RABBIT COMMITTBB3 1 REPORT. Mr Lance brought up the report of the Joint Live Stock and Rabbit Committee. In speaking to the report he said with reference to the rabbit question that the pest was now probably causing an annual loss to the colony equivalent to the amount of interest on the national debt, and he urged that steps should be taken to do a gre.it deal more towards its extermination than was done at present. Mr Mackenzie (Waihemo) expressed the opinion that the whole administration of the Rabbit Department was a complete farce. He moved an addition to the report that it be referred to the Govern ment with a request that stronger measures be adopted for the eradication tf the rabbit pesb. After a lengthy discussion, m which a great many members took part, Mr Mackenzie's amendment was carried on the voices, and the report, with the amendment, was ordered to be jlaid on the table. The House rose at 5.30 p.m. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. THE DISMISSAL OF RAILWAY EMPLOYEES. Mr Mitchelson, said that, m accordance with the promise he had made to the House on the previous evening, he had placed himself m communication with the Railway Commissioners with respect to the dismissal of four railway employees at Christchurch, and had obtained a memorandum on the subject. He moved that the memorandum should lie on the table and be printed. [The memorandum shortly reviewed the circumstances which led up to the dismissal of men at West port, Lyttelton, and Christchurch, and included a copy' of the several circulars which the Commissioners had addressed to their men during the recent crisis. The report of the meeting held at Christ church at which the four men, Elvinos, Winter, Owens, and Newton, wore con cerned, was also attached to the communi cation.] Mr Ballance said that this was a very important question, and he should pro pose that the memorandum be printed at once, and be circulated before the House met to-morrow, so that a discussion might take place on it. The Commissioners were no doubt servants of the House, and members had a perfect right to criticise their actions, Several other members having spoken, Mr Mitchelson said that he regretted that any debate had taken place at this stage- He had no objection to the memorandum being printed at once, but he could not say at present whether the Government would set apart any time for its considera tion. He should inform the House de finitely of the decision of the Government on the matter at half-past two next day. THE MACQUAMUE ISLANDS. Mr Mitchelson moved that an address be presented to Her Majesty the Queen, praying that the Macquarrie Islands and the adjacent isles may be annexed to New Zealand. Mr Fraser asked whether any liabilities were to be taken over with the islands. Mr Feigus said there were no liabilities. In reply to Mr Marchant, Mr Fergus said it would be utterly impossible at present to do anything m the direction of preserving sea lions, seals, and penguins, at the Macquarrie Islands, as it would be several months before the Government j could obtain possession of the islands. Mr Kerr asked what they wanted to protect sea lions for, as those animals were m the habit of eating men. Mr Smith said that if they ate men, perhaps they could send the gentleman from Invercargill who had caused all the trouble m connection with the seals to that place.—-(Mr Fish : Or the Railway Commissioners.) Sir George Grey hoped that the Govern ment would take some action with respect to seals and penguins, as he understood that prepaivitions were now being made for their destruction. The motion was agreed to. MIDLAND!RAILWAY' CONTRACT BILL. The Midland Railway Contract Bill was read a third time and passed by 51 to 12. instillation bill, The Distillation Amendment Bill was read a third time and passed by 39 to 19. THE ESTIMATES. On the resolution from the Committee of Supply being reported, Mr Mitchelson said that the principal motive of ths Government m replacing the items which had been struck off was that some mem bers considered an injustice had been done by attacking the salaries of some of tim officers whose cases had been first dealt with." It wa.s therefore considered that the House should have the oppor tunity of reconsidering the matter.. He did not propose to recommit the items upon £k& estimates, bu*" when the Supple mentary Estimates were considered the Minister m charge of "each Department would move that the total amount which was set down weuld be redupe.d by the .amount of the reductions previously made! It would, however, be vrise to reconsider the Audit vote, and if the House would allow that item to be restored, he would promise on behalf of the Government that whqn the Royal Commission to enquire, into the Civil Service was appointed, tlje. Audit Depart ment would be the iir/jt qne. dealt with, and if the Commission thought that the Department could be reduced, the Government would do so. Mr G'oMie mid that after the statement made by the Minister, ho jjrquld not movp the motion ho had given nptice of. Mr Ballance desired to congratulate the Government pn the course which they had decided on, and he was glad to per ceive they had seen th§ error'of th<ri|r

ways. He was sorry, however, to see 1 thafc the Government were determined to stick to the Audit Department, and he expressed the opinion that the reduction made m that vote was more called for than m any other Department m the service, and it would m no way interfere with the efficiency of the Department. He also wished to give the Government notice that he intended to oppose several items on the Supplementary Estimates strenuously, and he thought that those estimates could be reduced" by £20,000. Mr Fisher said the Government had re treated over this matter, and their action was by no' means dignified: On the con trary it was disgraceful. . , Mr Fish said that he felt proud of his action this sessiou, and added that if, he had been supported by his party the estimates would have been reduced by £80,000 instead of £40,000. Mr Seddon asserted that the reason for the Government taking the stand they had assumed over the Supplementary Esti mates was that they were afraid of suffer ing a defeat on Mr Goldie's motion of censure. After some discussion the resolutions from the Committee of Supply were read by the clerk. On the vote for the Audit Department being reached, Mr Mitchelson moved that the vote be re-oommitted m order that the £950 which had been struck off should be restored. Mr Moss moved as ah amendment — " That m the opinion of the opinion of the House the Government were not justified m filling the vacant office of Assistant Controller and Auditor, entail ing a needless statutory life charge of £809 to the revenues of the colony." The voting resulted as follows :—Ayes —(for recommittal) 28; Noes—(for Mr Moss' amendment) 28. . The Speaker gave his casting vote with the Ayes, and the amendment was lost. On the question being put for the re committal of the item, Audife Department, the motion was lost by 29 to 28. The remaining resolutions were then reported, and the House rose at 1 a.m. till 11 next day.

Marriage Rejoicings.

The rejoicings at the wedding of Mr .1. W. Bishop with Miss Lizzie Small, of Graham's Boad, were on a scale not usual among the farmers of this county. The parents of the young couple,, being old and well-known settlers, who by their sterling qualities have gained the respect and esteem of all their neighbours and made troops of friends, had. to arrange for the entertainment of a host of guests, and every invitation issued was accepted. There were at the wedding feast friends from the four corners of the country, and from many odd corners of other counties as well. The bridal party arrived from'church at about one o'clock and were received by a knot of friends at the gate, Mr John Gilmour reviving the old Scotch custom of " riding the braize," that is leaving the procession and putting his horse to its utmost speed, so that he should reach the house first and be first to offer a cup of welcome to the couple at their own door. The bride was arrayed m a dress of sage silk, trimmed with tulle fastened on the shoulder and taken to the Waist, whence ib was draped with orange blossoms, formin aj a graceful sash. Tog ue to match, with gloves of cream color, and ornaments of heavy gold, the gift of the bridegroom. Her travelling dress was of fawn cash mere with plush to match, and cape of the same material, with plush yoke. The bridesmaids' dresses were of a uniform character, with only slight deviations. Miss Nelly Bishop's was. of nun's veiling, electric blue, V front of cream silk, with hat of fawn lace, trimmed with a pretty wreath- of New Zealand bush flowers, Mended with morning glory, Miss Mary Bishop wore a similar dress, trimmed with blue and white, and a hat of white straw trimmed with cream ribbon and wild ro.scs. Miss M. A. Small's , dress was of the prevailing tone among the brides maids with a slight deviation as to trim ing, which was of blue silk to match and boAvs of ribbon clasped with a buckle of cut steel. Miss Martha Small's dress was a replica of her sister's, while little Maggie Small appeared m a fairy like dress of embroidered muslin, with pink sash and sleeves, and carry ing a wreath and basket of flowers —the whole admirably suited to her tender years. Mrs J. Bishop wore a fawn dress of cashmere, Avith black silk mantle, and bonnet trimmed with fawn silk lace, feathers, and ribbon. Mrs John Small also wore a dress of fawn cashmere, black silk mantle, with slate bonnet, and salmon pink feathers. At the dinner, the usual toasts were proposed, and congratulatory speeches deKvered by the Mayor, Father Chas tagnon, Messrs A. H. Shury, Brick, Gilmour, and others THE PRESENTS. The east sitting room was set aside for the reception and display of the presents, of which the following is a list with their donors: — Two handsome vases—Mrs Walter Soal. Table cloth and dOyley—Mrs Gray. Salver, with knives, forks, andjspoons— Mrs Stoddart. Glass jug and glass—Mrs Smith. Vases—Mrs Shearer. Cheese dish and marmalade jar—Mr and Mrs Quinn. Clock and Lamp—Mr Vernon Smith. Vases—Mrs D, Ryan. Porcelain jars—Mrs VV. C. Davis. Looking glass —Mrs Fitzgerald, Two toilet vases—Miss Buckley. Two vases—Mr- Kerns. Pair plaques—Miss M.Jjßishop. Set jugs—Miss McDonald. Pair saltcellars and spoons—Mrs Cole. .Handbell—Mrs Zander. Cruet stand —Mr D. Toshach. Set china —Mrs P. Devane. Pair vases—Mrs Ashton. Set china—Mrs J. Gilmour. Glass vases —Mi is Stewart. Chee.se stand—Mrs Brankin. Breakfast cruet—Miss Taylor. Social Encyclopoedia (handsomely bound)—Mr Bryant. Salad bowl—Mrs M. Scott. Pair vases ajid cheese. 'sfcand-?-Miss Gilmowr, Toilet set—Mrs McConnell. Set china—Mrs W. Soal. Butter dish—Mr A. H. Shury. Silver-mounted carving set—Mrs Butler Silver teapot—Mrs Henry. Egg stand—Miss B. Brown. Lamp arid album—Mr Buckley. Teapot and fruit dish—Miss Shaw. Album—Miss Cosgrove. Shade of flowers—Miss McDonald. Set carvers—Mr J. L. Brown. Set carvers—Mr G; Body. Napery—Mrs Rothery. Set tea trays—Mrs Healey. Silver fruit set, m case, and butter dish—Miss M. Fay. Candlesticks—Misses Scott. . j Tablecover—Mrs Wood. ! Rug—Mr Denis McKendry. Set embroidered pillows—Mrs Bishop. Tea cosy—Miss N". Bishop. Pair picture frames—Mr Segers. Water bottle—Miss Pritchard. Butterdish—Miss Keeley, Fruit dish—Miss Bishop. Silver mounted biscuit barrel—Mr Hugo Friedlander. v Set of cake dishes—Miss Madden. Japanese fans, handsomely ornaniented with silver filagree—Mrs Smith. . The bride's bouquet was the gift of His Worship the Mayor of Ashburton. Dancing began m the evening m t^e lan c floored marquee m the garden, and \va,s kept up till daylight;

It is reported" that "the sum of £20,000 per week has been promised by the labor organisations of the various colonies towards he strike funds,; i ..;" *

A Thrilling Exoerience.

I onco let a professional swordsman cut apples m two while I held them on my head and on the palm of my hand, and 111 never do it again. The experience is too thrilling for the plain citizen who is not military m his tastes. I was with a show when the regular assistant of the swordsman went on a strike. The swords man was m a dreadful fume as he thought of disappointing the crowd of spectators that night. He came behind the scenes at rehearsal and called for a volunteer. !'l'll give £5 to, the man who will hold the apple for me," he said. No one volunteered, and I daringly pufc m my oar. "I'll do ib if you give mearehesrsal." * No rehearsal," he said emphatically ; " it will shatter your nerves so that you'll tremble like an aspen leaf when you come out at the performance." So, when night came I went out, the upper part of my body covered with a thin silk vest. It was. cold, anyway, and I trembled abominably. He saw ifc, but said nothing to me. Iheld the apple on my extended hand: it shook. I could feel it shaking, and I felt ashamed, but I couldn t control the nervousness. I turned away my head ; he made a few rapid feints and I knew by tha applause that the apple had fallen. I didn't feel the blade at all as it cut through. Then I knelt down and he pufc another apple on my neck. I knew this was really dangerous, for if his hand slipped he might decapitate me. I shut my eyes. In a second, which seemed an hour to me, I felt a thin cold line touch my neck, and there was more applause. In that instant I thought of Madame Ro land and the guillotine, and came near fainting. He told me to get up and I followed him off the stage, feeding rather dazed, to the dressing room; jt thought I must be cut, the touch of the steel had been so plainly felt, but the looking glass showed me that there was not a mark on me. But; I was awfully pale. ■ The next night we got a regular man to' hold the apple.

United States Railway Servants.

The United States National' Bureau s report, on railway services./ shows the whole number of railway corporations m the country to be 1718; total mileage of trucks, 156,4000; total number of •mployeea, 689,912. For the purposes of special investigation sixty,, lines were chosen, which run from ona section to another far removed. The aumber of employees on the linespelecfced is 241,910. OI these 224,570 are hired by the day or by the month, the:others by the trip, the mile, by contract, or by commission ; 25 per cent, have work the entire year through, about 50 per cent, have -work less than half the year, and 25 per cent. w»rk about a month or less m the year. One-fourth of the employees receive from one to three dollars a day as wages. Some few of the corporations have some regard for their employees by affording them opportunity for gaining technical education. Two hundred and sixty-six corporations retain disabled men m their employ; a very, few give. half pay to superannuates, or provide them- light duties ;a few provide club reading rooms at terminal points and where the main shops are situated ; some contribute to relief funds, encourage co-operation, in surance, and hospital facilities. The general tone of the report shows a ten dency upward m respect to time em ployed, wages received, general intelli gence, temperate habits, and mutual goodwill of employer and employed.

A Duel With Potatoes.

(" Leeds Mercury.") In County Carlow, Ireland, an aggrieved member of a certain congregation, declin ing to accept his'parson's assurance that he was nob one of tho set of miserable sinners rather, pointedly referred to m the Sunday sermon, challenged his vicar to personal, combat, and offered him his choice of weapons. The challenge was j accepted, the clergyman, declining, how ever, to use .such secular arms as swords or pistols, but expressing his willingness to try a novel kind of ammunition—i.e., raw potatoes—to be used as. missiles, the bigger the better. Tin-morning on which the novel duel commenced was as raw as the potatoes, which lay m heaps by the side of each com batant. The potatoes were to be thrown alternately. The challenger commenced and missed. The clergyman, aiming calmly and scientifically, raised with his first shot a bump upon his opponent's forehead al most as-large as the missile which Caused it. The layman promptly losb his temper, and aimed wildly and recklessly, hitting the second and missing the vicar with great regularity. The vicar, feeling that he could aftord to be magnanimous, put down his potatoe, advanced to his ag grieved parishioner, held out his hand, and said, "C«me, Mr OR., I think we're a couple of idiots. Let us shake hands and be friends, and utilize these vegetables for a more peaceful purpose at dinner to night." , ;■

Henry Irving.

"There was onoe," says Mr Henry Irving, " an actor named Joe Robins, who had been beguiled into the profession from a comfortable business by the too flattering •stimate which his friends ex pressed of his performance as a clown m an amateur burlesque. Joe did not be come a great actor, but managed to make his savings m commerce eke out his very small salaries. He had taken the precaution to pro vide himself, on entering the theatrical professsion, with a large stock of shirts, collars, handkerchiefs, stockings, and underclothing. But he was a large hearted man, and his desire to help his needy friends considerably reduced his store haberdashery. Once he had a part m a Christmas pantomine, He dressed with other poor actors, and he saw how thinly some of them were clad when they stripped before him to put on their stage costumes. For one poor fellow especially his heart ached. In the depth of a very cold winter he was shivering m a suit of very light summer underclothing, and whenever Joe looked at him, the warm flannel under garments snugly packed away m an extra trunk weighed upon his mind. Joe thought the matter over, and deter mined to give the actors who dressed with him a Christmas dinner. It waß literally a dinner upon underclothing ; for most of the shirts and other garments which Joe had cherished so long' went to ;he pawnbrokers to provide the money for the meal. Tl}e. guest ß assembled womptly, for nobody else is ever so hungry as a hungry actor. The dinner was to be served at Joe's lodgings, and before it was placed upon the table, Joe beckoned his friend with the gauze underclothes into a bedroom and, pointing to a chair, silently with drew. On that chair l}ung » B qfc o f under . wear which had been JoS pride It was of a comfortable scarlet: color : it was thick, warm, and heavy; it fitted the poor actor as ,f it had been manu factured especially to hi s measure 'He put it on, and «s the flaming garments encased lm limbs, he feltVw to glowing within him with gratitudJ to dear Joe Robins, The actor never knew-or if he kiW he never could remember— what he had for chnner on that Christmas, afternoon. He revelled 1,1 the luxury of warm gar ments, The mat bwf was nothing to'

ham, m comparison with the comfort «f. his undervesfc. Proud, happy, warm, and comfortable, he felfc little inclination to eat, but sat quietly, and thanked Providence and Joe. Robins with all his heart." "You seem to enter, into that poor actor's feelings very sympathetically^", observed the gentleman >to whom this story was told, as Mr Irving paused. " I have good reason to do so," replied Mr Irving, with his .gentjle, sunshiny smile," " for I was that poor actor."

TELEGRAPHIC.

HOME AND FOREIGN.

[pbk firass association.]

London, September 10. Messrs O'Brien and Dillon visit the United States m October. The Assaye is posted as missing. The sentence on All6n, one of the Egeria mutineers,.-has b«en reduced to two years' imprisonment, and to he{ dismissed from the service! The other. sentences have no,t been altered. Tyser, m opposition to the shipping ring, loads the Maori King at 30s per ton for Adelaide, Melbourne, and: Sydney, with special facilities for Ger man shipments. German shipowners | threaten to retaliate. * ! The Imperial Treasury is prepared i to subsidise' a direct mail service, to | New Zealand * but no basis of agree-1 ment will he' suggested pending the | return of Mr Goschen and the settle ment of the San Francisco mail con tract. . •

AUSTRALIAN.

Sydnbt. September 11. j A man named RadclifFe, formerly ai clergyman m Christchtirch, New Zea land, has been committed, for trial for robbery.. : Some anxiety is felt for Sir H. Parkes, who is sufieririg from aii old wound m the. heel caused fay, his recenc accident. Brisbane, September ■• 12. * The httll of the QUetta sold for £500, and the cargo for jJI'OO. Both were purchased by a Thursday Island Syndicate.

INTERPROVINCIAL

; . Auckland, September" 11. ' A gum digger, named Fred. Young, hai committed suicide near Kaikohe, Bay of Islands, by taking poison. ; The officers of the Baptist .Tabernacle had an interview to-night with Pastor Birch regarding the recent events at that church. No decision was arrived at, however, when the meeting adjourned till this evening. i Two mining'companies, one to work the Kuoahina, at Kuoahina, and the other the' Souvenir, at Thames, were formed to-day. The Souvenir starts With a credit balance of £300. ■' The trial of the charge of murder against Henry Funcke was proceeded with to-day at the Supreme Court, when the whole of the evidence, for the prosecution wais heard. Mr Tdle's 'cross-examination was directed towards establishing a basis for defence that accused was insariej and: not accountable for the deed. The case for the defence will be heard to-morrow. ; During the trial, the two men, Mor'os and Stoddarfc, who fired; at and woundefi the prisoner on Mangawhare wharf beforje his capture, were 'sternly/ cautioned by Mr Jusiice Conolly, who told them that if they had killed Funcke they would have been tried for murder. They wei*e within twenty yards of accused when they fired at him. The barque Devonport, which left for Lyttelton two days ago, put. back into port to-day through stress of weather, k heavy gale has been blowing since Tuesday evening, and a number of ressels are detained m port. A man named Richard Garrett, mate of a small steamer, has been blown out to sea from the Thames m a dingy, and is believed to have been drowned. * ■■■.■■■-. '. Napier, September 11. The charge of obtaining money under false pretences, preferred against Wil loughby Brassey, a solicitor,- was heard to-day, but the Resident Magistrate reserved his decision.

French Workmen.

Madame Darmesteter (better known to English readers as Miss Mary Robinson) has an article m the " Fortnightly " upon the condition of the French workman of the 14i!>h century, as compared with his position m the present. She shows con clusively that as far as the working man is concerned, the "good old times" is strictly appropriate, and entirely confirms, m re spect to France the conclusion at which Professor Thorold Rogers arrived m respect to England-^-namely, that the second half of the 14th century and the first twenty years of the 15th were years of a prosperity for working people that have never been equalled since. Madame Darmesteter shows that the modern Parisian workman earns about £73 12s a year; arid spends it all. The mediaeval man earned £45 a year, and spent (including heavy direct taxes and subscription *6 his confraternity) £15 16s 6d, leaving a surplus of £28 11s 7d. Etis "food and lighting" cost £7 14s 8d as against £12'; his clothing 7s lOd, as against £6. The modern working man will do well to observe how strong an organisation, of industry accompanied this prosperity. The organisation died out, and, as Professor Rogers says, " Every thing is dearer since then—everything except the price of labor.

Labor Questions.

[wai press association.]

London, September 10. The Admiralty are preventing the dockers from blockading Southamp ton. The steamer Rangitata is loading coal at Cardiff for New Zealand. Mr Mills, manager.of the Union Shipping Company, sails for New Ze aland by the Orient on September 21st. Mann has postponed the interview which Wiis; to have (been' • typ to.day with representatives of Shipping Com panies connected with the Australian traqle. ,-, . The total amount of money remitted to Australia so far is under £6500. Only the Unions have subscribed. The Union Steamship Company threaten to remove their works from Southampton to London if the strike succeeds, ; Sydney, September 11. Arrived—Jubilee. She will be dis charged by Unionists. Two thousand more mjners, whose fourteen days' notioe is up, came out to-day, swelling the number on strike at Newcastle to 7000. The strikers a,re; greatly m need of funds,, ■;■ The'-Dorunda's firemen and seamen have resumed work, and the charges of desertion have been withdrawn. * The Labor Committee intend to send delegates to London to rouse the sympathy of the dockers and other i Unions, i'

The Engineers' Conference has come to a satisfactory conclusion. An in crease of wages was granted, and the question of the right of reporting to owner's was modified. Improved ac commodation for men was conceded. The miners of Wollongong have resolved to request the Maritime body to call out the Queensland miners, alleging that the fact of their supply ing non-Uuion vessels with coal weak ens the cause of the New South Wales miners. ... , HoisAiiT, September ii. ■The Tasmania .Com pany's cooks a.id stewards are re joining. I'uisßANE, September 11. ; A further contingent of -officers and stewards have returned to lA their vessels. London, September 11. The arrival of soldiery was received with much hooting at .South^ni^top, accompanied by threats of rescuing the prisoners, but no actual conflict occurred. There are 500 troops m town, and two gunboatsaacr } c co-operating. The Royal Mail Steaittship'lJompany locked itte employees up: for/safety. All the shipping industries federating. The Protection of Laborers Bill has been withdrawn, Melboukne, September 12. Strike matters are quiet. S»rw*l Union stokers have returned to the gasworks. London, September 12. The ,fire brigade drenched (the . crowd 1) at Southampton. The soldiers cleared the streets, and are guarding the docks to prevent picketing, jackets patrol the harbor m boats to prevent ship's being meddled with. The dockers are willing to accept 5d per hour by day and 6d at night, but the. masters decline to exclude n'on unionists. •• > . . , It is doubtful whether the London Executive will support the strike.» '

THE SITUATION IN LYTTELTON.

Work on the ships: m -Port was being carried on as usual yesterday. , Tliere is no sign; pi' any further disturbance! The sheds were,.being worked m delivering grain for shipment. ; .'.'", .-. Yesterday morning twelve of the strikers were arrested as being implicated.in. fche disturbances at the Gladstone Pier and Wilson's rpad, and were taken m charge at the Police' Station. They were marched down under a strong guard to rhe 9.35 train to proceed to Christchurch to be dealt with before the R, M. All the wharf labjrers ori strike were'cleared from jbho street by their own "men, and everything passed off quietly. • '■ ' Thei s.s.'Wak'atu arrived m port from Wellington, via Kaikotira, f'with a non union crew, her old crew having gone out m Wellington. She 'disfih&*gesi = her in ward cargo, and proceeded last night to the Empire/City^ via 5 coastal' stations, at 7.45 o'clock.: '■,-■■': ■ ■• -;••<■ \ <,'■. .-,..., - t , : The wharves were very clear, and no interference was;made wifcknoia-unionwts; working about the sheds at alll " ['\ r . Work f*t the-Doric progress^! very satisfactorily, and Ijl^e Iree^ing ". hulk, Edwin Fojc, is noV alongside th« steamer to put mutton oh board; ' ' A number of Permanent Artillery men went to Christchurch by the 12.40 train^ ;to do police duty here. ■ » }■?■■ , ifhe sailors and firemeh on boafd'felte s.s. Jane Dougjas Jeft the vessel to-day by order of the uftiont. Arrangements have been made to supply the places of th& strikers. '■'■■ ■■■-'• ■';{'':■] ■•'."/' The Camtoian! Monarch • now haß>: 8600 sacks of grain on bdard.";The bulk of her cargo and'fiafc of the Northern Monarch's is liow oh^tlie railway line. The * latter vessel,hasf now -3900 sacks on Ibard for Home, and some 150 lons cif 4alti ?to be discharged here. Her agents expect to ha, ye her ready for sea by Monday next. The Northern Monarch is being loaded by non-union labor,. as , all ?her' ctew ftkve cleared out from her.

We ("Press") hear on. very good authority that two non-Unionisfe wha came from Ashburton last Monday t» work at the ship did not turn up on the; Tuesday. ; They had been paid £1 a piece* by the strikers to keep away.

Wellington, September 11. The Directors of the Petone Woollen Company decided to close fche mills from to-morrow owing to the want of fuel and the labor difficulty. At the usual parade of the Wellington* Naval Brigade, Japtain Duncan, under instructions from head-quarters, informed the men that they were to hold them selves m readiness for service if necessary during the present labor difficulty. Other companies will, it is understood, be simi larly informed. : An unfortunate affair • happened on board the Union Company's steamer Aus tralia tins afternoon. • It appears, that a man named William Henry Gerard, who had been working ashore, went on board the vessel, and it is alleged us&f mating language to a young mah named Robert S. Allan, one of the fre,e crew. Allan, who was working near the hatehj^lold Gerard to leave, but he declined, and Allan shoved him. Gerard staggered! back a foot or two, and striking the ©om^ bing of the hatch was precipitated dow» the hold. The injured man was taken fco» the hospital suffering from a severe scalp wound, and it is feared a couple of ribs are| broken. Allan was arrested on a charge of assault, but immediately bailed out. Dunedin, September 1L A meeting of over seventy officers was held tin's afternoon at which a scheme for the_ promotion of a Co-operative Steamship Company, was diseassed and favorably entertained. Several letters of sympathy were read from unexpected sources, but the members were confident that it would be some time before they would require' to have recourse to the offers of pecuniary assistance. The. actions of two officers, who were alleged to havfr made overtures for appointments under the Association, and are now employed by the Union Company, w,e.r<9 discussed .with a great deal of warmth/

Latest Telegrams.

(Received September 12, 10.25 a.m.)  t ( London, Sept. 11. Delegates from the Textile opera tives, who threatened to withdraw from the Trades Congress owing to the compulsory eight hours' proposal hav ing been oarried, have decided to defer withdrawal until the annual meeting of members of their Unions. t»t tt Melboukkb, September 12. MrH. Champion has left for Sydney, and will do his best to bring about an understanding, probably to the extent of proposing a truce on the following lines :—« That the different bodies now oh. strike agree to return to work, irrespective, of the question of Union or non-Union men being employed, also without any demand that all who left work should be taken back, and that men be content to fill present vacancies; further, that work shall continue for three months on such conditions as before the strike, and if, at the end of that period the parties are unable to settle the dispute, the matter should be. referred, to a Con

THE ASHBtTRTOff GUARDIAN, EtttDA?, SEPTEMBER 12, 1800.



Ifyi,LowAY's Ointment axu fills. — , Colds, .(toughs, Shortness of Breath.—-These maladies .reqiiice parly and unremitting i attention, for if negteCfL«4 #hey often end m lasthma, bronchitis, or .equs/taMpfcifln. Tlie ointment well rubbed upon ,tlve o,hesfc m<l back, |>ejiotratiug the skin, is absorbed and carried dii'aiitly t,o the lungs, whence it expels all impurities, ,Al,l the blood m the body is perpetually paasia^ J?)irough tlie Jungs, and there all' noxious parftcW tid ing p) disease can be quickly, thoroughly, and pcrniiut^iif ly neutralised, rendered harm less, or cjocted f ronj t)>e system. HolJoway's Ointment and Pills pcrteeiV accomplish this ■purification.; and through tli,c ir>^v4 f-hus cleajjjsed (the influence of ,these .wpnderfui medieaineiiw caches the remotest part .of the human body, tuid -tfea cujes all diseased action, whether internal or extern^



The " BrunnerNews " has been authorita tively informed that negotiations are m pro gress between the Miners and Laborers' Association and the holders of a large coal lease near Greymouth for a co-operative partnership and the immediate working of tlie coal, the latter providing tho necessary capital for the mine machinery and material for the tramway t while the Association will provide the whole of the labor. Fifty men from Dejiniston and fifty men from Brunner ton are to commence work at onpe ; and if the present stoppage continues not less than 200 of the miners will be employed. One hundred experienced navTies from the Midland Railway works are ready to give a month's labor towards the imdertaking. 'Jiy* best medicine is Sander and Sons Eucaipyti iixtr^ct. Test its eminent power ful effects m 'opiighs, wlds, influenza, 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 tiie official' repost# fchat accompany each bottle. We have no occasion to offer rewards m proof of the genuineness of our references. The (flicial reports of medical clinics and univer sities, tlio ottioial communications pf thp, Consul-General for ftaly at Melbourne ; the diploma awarded International Exhibition, Amsterdam—all these are authentic docu ments, and, as such, not open to doubt. We add here epitome of one of the various cases iws&ksd at the clinic of Schultz, M.D. Pro fessor, «ic-—"C. 8.,24 years old; conge* tional abscess i^ the thigh. Incisions made m two places.' Alt-hough Lister's dressing was applied, the secretion became, iy/o days later, very copious, and had adopted a foetid decomposed character. The temperature rose enormously, |w consequence the dressing was removed suid ifi ifx place were made during the day-time repeated irrigations with %ijft*4ypti Extract. The offensive iwtvv <ik appeared very soon, the fever abated within a few clays, ami .the patient recovered after i the lapse of sevemi wec^s- Xn this instance i we must not lose sight of jkfre fact that the ; latter treatment saved the patent's life." ' I ! Advt.) , 3 I



Wanted. ♦ ' CASH Advertisements under this heading not execwlin SIXTEEN WORD'S 1/-. Addresses may be loft at fchis Oflice. FOR SALE.—Blue gum branches, 5s per load : apples from 2d per lb ; »luo some good Denvent potatoes. Apply, E. Stemibxs, Trevorton. 9*59 STOP That Cough—Flower's Cough Drops are thebest—see that the n*mo m stamped on every one. H. G. Jlowbr, Confectioner, East street. \fTANTED Known.—Ladies' "Hose", VY with Silk Toea and Heels, Is Gd pair. Only to-be obtained at "The CORNBtt." BOOTS, BOOTS. "Keep your feet Dry and save Doctor's Bills. I hare a splendid Stock m now. Try ny Double-soled Shooters. Every pair Guaranteed. Robert Alcobn, Ashbur ton Clothin? Mart, Saunders' Buildings. "ORESENTS. -If you want good value JL for money go to Melford House. Extra value now being given away m presents. Everything marked cheap. — H. C. Skgbrs. WANTED KNOWN—The Strong- Wear Boot for Men, Women and Children can only be had at W. H. Collibk'3. W" ANTED Known.—For cheap Drapery, Millinery, Boots, Clothing, &c., go to Melford House. Good substantial presents now giving away.—H. C. Segkbs. ___ W~ ANTED every man m the County to have a suit of the Ashburto Tweeds.—Robert Alcokn, Ashburton Clothing Mart, Saunder'.s Buildings. Tin VERY Customer will receive a JQj handsome present by purchasing their Drapery. Millinery, Clothing, &c, at Melford House. Cheapest House m town for first-class Drapery. —H. C. Sbqebs W- ANTED Known—The Cheapest Shop to buy Tinware and Gal vanised Iron goods m Ashburton, is at W. F. Hannaford's, Burnett Street. A arge stock kept on hand. Tin and Iron "ware goods made and repaired with dcs patch. m pxio Notices. SEED BARLEY. TjlOR SALE, Carter's Prolific and other Jj varieties. GEO. JAMESON, 9JBI Ashburton and Rakaia. "ashburton high school, third term, 1890. "OUPJLR will re-assemble onMONDAY JT Next, 15th ins)., at 9.30 a.m. J. E. BUCHANAN. Ashburton, September 9, 1890. 9§51 DARKEST Africa, cheap edition, at » few ("ays ; orders m advance m reduced prices. New Books, NeAv Stationery, New Fancy Goods and Novelties all at reduced prices. Large assortment of New Music of every descrip tion. Pianos on hire and for sale on terms. Orders received for Book-binding of every kind.—L. F. Andrbwes & Co. JAMES BAKER, TIMBER MERCHANT, HAVELOCK STREET, Oitositk Harbison's Auction Mart, "Of AS IN STOCK Large Supplies of— Building Timber, .Stakes and Posts, Galvanised Corrugated Iron, Builders Ironmongery, Turnery, Furniturf, and Fancy Goods IN ENDLESS VARIETY. FURNITURE MADE TO ORDER IN ANY DESIGN AT SHORTEST NOTICE. 9 49 SPECIAL_ NOTICE CALL AND SEE THE GRAND DISPLAY OF BOYS' YOUTHS', AND MEN ri CLOTHING MERCERY, HOSIERY, BLANKETS, RUGS, FLANNELS, HATS, AND CAPS, &c. rpHE. largest and best assorted Stock m 1 the District to select from, which for Value, Variety, and excellence of Manu- ] facture, we stand unrivalled. ~~ MEASURE T\EPARTMENTS EASURE J-/EPARTMENTS NEW TWEEDS AND COATINGS For the approaching Season To Hand. SOLE AGENTS for Werfcheim'.s latest and improved HAND and TREADLE SEWING MACHINES. NEW ZEAIAND CLOTHING FACTORY W. M WEBBER, Manngei'i The National Mutual Life Association o Australasia. ACJUMULATED FUNDS EXCEED £1,000,000. POLICIES IN FORCE EXCEED £6,000,000. The First Office m the world to intro duce NON-FORFEITURE PRINCIPLE. AND Protect the interest of its Policy-holders by keeping Policies m force out of J Surrender Values when the Premiums wt;re not paid by the Assured. Profits Divided Every Three Years, ALL PROFITS BELONG TO MEMBERS, 9J46