The Ashburton Guardian. Magna et Veritas et Prævalebit. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1890. RETRENCHMENT.

P record ings of the House m Com mittee oi Supply di-iVMay n true eco noraic.il spirit. The Government Esti mates are being closely and critically overhauled, and important reductions have been made m the salaries of high by paid Government officials. There is an utter absence of parsimony m this procedure, as, even with the reductions made m salaries of £500 and orer, public servants will be liberally paid for their services. The costly and elaborate Civil Service of New Zealand is beyond the require ments of the colony, and the expense is greater than can be borne. The rank and tile of the service are not overpaid—m fact it is notorious that telegraph operators, post office clerks, and similar officials are shamefully underpaid, and have been so for years— buttheheadsof department, upon whose ipse dixit the public Estimates have hitherto been passed without murmur, are very much over-estimated and over paid. ■;. It has heretofore been a feature of the Estimates every year , that substantial increases have been recommended m cases -where substantial salaries were already being paid. The same tiling has occurred m the present instance, but the retrenchment party m the House have set their faces firmly against this pernicious system, and while all, or nearly all proposed in creases have been distinctly refused, the petitioners have, m addition, had their salaries reduced. In fact the House has forcibly taken the Estimates out of the hands of the Ministry, and from the control of heads of depart ment, and claim the right to regulate expenditure. Civil Service reform was urgently needed. The Govern ment refused to effect this reform, and also refused to make room for those who were willing to do ,so. The House hjjd therefore no option but to take the matter m its own hands, and effect the needful reductions. This useful work is being carried on m a determined and unflagging manner m the face of Government opposition and Civil Service intrigue. As a result of this heroic work on the part of the retrenchment section of the House the Estimates are being cut down by thousands of pounds, and the public services of the country will remain practically unimpaired. Therefore, if the present session has been otherwise barren, the first step m a most impor tant matter has been taken, as from henceforward the members of the House will become directly responsible to the ratepayers for extravagant public expenditure m the Civil Service. The eyes of the taxpayers are upon membors of the House, and the pro ceedings m Commitee of Supply have had a new interest attached to them which augurs well for future economic administration.

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Members of the public service m Oamaru have decided to join the Public Service Association.

There are 900 languages and »000 dia lects.

The sun yields 800,000 times the light o; the moon.

The population of the earth doubles itsel: m 260 years.

Some thirty miners and others left Dunedin yesterday for Coal Island diggings and other spots near Preservation Inlet.

An American paper has the following item of news :—" The Maori women of New Zea land are killing themselves trying to wear corsets, since they have seen them on the missionary women. "

I)r More Madden, of Dublin, who has collected remarkable eases of hereditary tendency to drink, advocates ligal inter ference to remove children from the custody of habitually drunken parents.

Tenders are invited by the Ashburton County Council for two contracts on the Anama water race. The work includes earthwork, 4£ miles race, 2 fords, fltiming at Hinds river, etc. Particulars will be found m advertisement.

The " Tcmuka Leader" thinks that a strong Ministry could be formed by the following combination ; —Sir Robert Stout, Messrs Ballance, liolleston, J, McKenzie, Moss, W. P. Reeves, and Major Steward, and thinks this combination far more proba ble than any of those suggested by the prophets.

There is a new use for hypnotism—namely, s a remedy for habitual drunkenness The drunkard, after being hypnotised, is informed that ardent spirits are nasty and the object of his particular hatred. If this m repeated two or three times the habit of thought be comes so fixed that the drunkard cannot bring himself to cltink a drop of spirits.

A meeting of the executive of the Canter bury and Midland Educational Institutes on Saturday passed the following resolution • —" That it is the opinion of this meeting that a union of teachers already exists under the name of the New Zealand Educational Institute, but that ifc is advisable that the platform of the institute bo modified so as to provide for the better protection of the interests of teachers."

The position of capital and labor is very forcibly put m an illustration appearing m the Sdyney Bulletin of the loth August. Tin.c jsccne is a deep chasm, over which is placed a ftayrow plank, m the middle of which a umH at fnjincnse rotundity of person and a capitalist {»&&§ $ muscular man of the true laboring type, ii^oognising the position, the capitalist remarks,"" $,cc here, my n;an, one of us must either go back or else lie doyrn and lee the other walk over him. Ifaw, which of us shall it be ? " And that is just the q\ytnbti/))i at present, remarks the *' Bulletin,"

The mosf' remarkable short line ol railway hi the word is probably the submerged railway at Onton, xifiar Bilbao. It runs down an evenly slopitig #Jkw j» double line to a distance of 650 fcefc, a»A I>W hi&'U con structed by a .Spanish engineer (of fete® /wle purpose of facilitating the shipment of of(,n r The only «&y }» a massive iron tower, oti wheels m th« ffantoG of a pyramid, rising seventy feet from jtfoa track. Upon the platform of this tow<4* $¥>■ fives are placed, and thus they are conveyed : t,9 jt/ip vessel — : the pyramidal car, whose wheels ai'.C 8 under water, returning automatically as §9°" as its cargo has been n»ecU»j»ic»lly shot into the ship's hold.

A party of six Chinese obtained 1 OOoz of gold for eight weeks' work at Round Hill diggings, near Riverton. The claim had been sold to the Chinese at a low figure, as its owner considered he had worked it out.

The San Francisco mail closes at Ashburton on Friday next at 6.20 p.m. Money orders must be taken not later than 3 p.m.

The following are the returns for the Ashburton Hospital during the month of August: -In Hospital on Ist of month, 12; admitted during month, 12 ; discharged, 15 ; remaining m Hospital on Ist September, 9.

For the first five months of the present financial year the Customs revenue shows a surplus of £12,000 over the Treasurer's estimate. The exact figures are:—Cus toms surplus, £12,400; beer deficit, £1500 ; increase, £10,900.

The Master of the Ashburton Hospital desires to acknowledge, with thanks, the receipt of flowers, fruit, and periodicals from Mesdames Lea, Baxter, Bishop, and Colyer, and Miss F. Orr, and a chest warmer and jelly from Mr Steel, Alford Forest road.

What will the outcome and solution of all this be ? For steamboat companies to lay up their vessels and stop their trade mean 3 ruin m a very short time. These vessels are enor mously costly, and to throw them out of work for any considerable period must cause great loss m large sums of money earning no interest. The shareholders m these com panies will not stick to their interests. Some of them will be compelled to sell their shares for whatever they can get, whil« others will sell ta avoid the chance of furthe loss. The directors, we presume, will feel it their duty to retain their interests, but they will find that they are sacrificing them selves for people who are doing the best they can for themselves individually.— (" Auckland Herald.")

An amusing incident took place the other day on the Franco-Italian frontier. The summer manoeuvres are going on simulta neously m France and Italy, and the officers of the two countries come within sight of one another near the boundary line. Civilities are exchanged, and it was arranged that the French ana Italian officers should breakfast together. This, however, led to difficulties. The French officers could not cross into Italy, nor could the Italians enter France. Finally, the matter was arranged by placing the table over a cord which marked the boundary. The French officers sat on one side and the Italians on the other. After the dessert, toasts were drunk to the union of the Latin races.

About the middle of July last year Mr Benjamin Nelson Bowden, son of the Rev Bowden, of Nelson, mysteriously disappeared from Richmond Park run, Karaka district, Auckland. Notwithstanding an exhaustive search by the police and the settlers, no thing has ever been elicited to throw lighten the four questions propounded—Had he been murdered? Had he committed suicide? Had he met with a fatal accident ? Had he pusposely but secretly left the district ? The relatives have just printed a pamphlet m which they recount all the circumstances of the mysterious affair m the hope that anyone perusing it may forward any information they may have subsequently gathered, and which they think may through light upon the mystery, and are also offering rewards for evidence.

M. Olivier, a member of the French society of Aeronauts, has just died under circum stances of a peculiar nature. On Sunday even ing he ascended m a balloon from the Buttes-Chaumont, navigating the air being at the present time a fashionable craze with certain Parisians. Through defective construction, the basket for the aeronaut—a tall young man— was brought too close to the balloon, the gas inside being allowed to escape right upon his head through an aperature that ought to have been closed. M. Olivier felt so much inconvience from this that m twenty minutes he decended at Noisy-le-Sec. Next day he became ill, and on Tuesday night he died. The doctors who attended him declare that death was due to blood-poisoning, through having inhaled too much of the gas which escaped from the balloon.

Mr D. H. Puttie, of Blenheim, has taken out a patent which he thinks is evidently designed to revolutionise the New Zealand hemp industry. The fibre is extracted just as it is m the blade, without damage, and tha ibeing so, it will be the strongest fibre m the world ; but this is undoubtedly the smallest gain about it, as, the fibre being extracted that way, i t is of course a beauti ful white filament, no bleaching or field work of any kind being required, and the fibre being^entirc, the consequence must be that there will be no tow. But apart from these several qualities, it can be produced for one half or so of the present process, and about one third of the motive power is all that is repuired compared with that at present repuired.

At the last meeting of the French Academy of Science a most interesting paper was read by Professor Verneuil on the subject of a novel surgical operation performed by Pro fessor Lannclongue. At the Children's Hospital was a little idiot girl of four years of age. Her head was not more than one* third the normal size ; she could not stand, never smiled, and seemed not to take the slightest interest m what was passing around her. M. Lannclongue decided to try the efleet of an operation which would give more room to the brain. He made an incision m the skull along the medium line, extending from the frontal suture to the occipital suture, and removed part of the substance o: the skull of the left side. The operation took place on May 9th, and from June 15th the child began to walk, play with her doll, and, m fact, behave like an intelligent child. M. Verneuil paid a visit to the child, who ia a subject of great interest to all the doctors and medical students. Recently Dr Laimelongiie performed a similar opera tion upon another child, and it is hoped that the result will be equally satisfactory,

Capt. Jorgensen, who designed and sailed the sectional life boat Storm King from Loiir don tr Adelaide,was banqueted by his fellow countrymen at that port, and m thanking them for the reception they had given him and his mate, said that he thought that they had said to many good things about them, but it was better to be called a brave man than be called a caward. When he started on his trip he thought that many people might think it a foolhardy adventure, but he wanted ]to demonstrate the efficiency of the lifeboat. The lifeboats at person bin use on passenger ships would be ql little value off the Cape of Good Hope, for although they might keep afloat they could not hold pro visions and provide shelter. Many a ship wrecked person had died for want of shelter, but m the Storm King ample provision m this respect was a main feature. Although he and his mate had navigated the vessel tt» Australia alone that was only to prove that she could be worked very easily, and not that she could not carry more. She would accommodate 120 persons, and hold enough provisions to maintain them nil for a fort night. He had considerable difficulty m gcttiiig In's idea taken up, but now they had plainly demonstrated its utility m the voyage to Australia. —The Storm King is built up of tanks whicty may be used for ♦ irrying water on the deck of a .vessel. It is 30 teet long; 4ft Oiu deep ; Bft beam and weights three tons. It is decked, manholes being provided m which men can stand to pull oars. The rig is l#ng sail and jigger. Ths bottom of each tank is double, the space }?ejbw/e.eti being ayilable far frgsh water, whioh s,\ho apis as bajlast.

THE WEATHER.

ALFORD STATION The following is the Meteorological Re port for the week ending August 31, 1890 :— I

Shade. High Date. —'■ m State of weather Low. High Sun. Monday ... 26* 58- 115" Fine, calm. Tuesday ... 27' 60" 128' „ S.E. Wednesday 30' 61* US' „ E. Thursday... 34- 70' 132-Showers, N.W. Friday ... 42' 67* 123"Fine, calm. Saturday ... 32- 64- 120" „ E. Sunday ... 28* 69' 123' „ W. i I "Rainfall during August, Alford Forest, 3*lß inches ; Alford Station, 1 "50 inches.

The Sea.

Dawn is dim on the dark soft water, Soft and passionate, dark and sweet; Love's own self was the deep sea's daughter, Fair and flawless from face to feet; Hailed of all when the world was golden, Loved of all lovers whose names beholden Thrill men's eyes as with light of olden Days more glad than their flight was fleet. So they sang ; but for men that love her, I Souls that hear not her word m vain, Earth beside her and heaven aboVe her Seem but shadows that wax. and wane. Softer than sleep's are the sea's caresses, Kinder than love's that betrays and blesses ; Blither than spring's when her flowerful tresses Shake forth sunlight and shine with rain.

All the strength of the waves that perish Swells beneath me and laughs and sighs, Sighs for love of the life they cherish, Laughs to know that it lives and dies : Dies for joy of its life and lives, Thrilled with joy that its brief death gives, Death whose laugh or whose breath for gives Change that bids it subside and rise. Algernon Charles Swinburne.

Different Languages.

It is computed that at the opening of the present century there were about 21,000,000 people who spoke the English tongue. The French-speaking people at that time numbered about 3.1,600,000, and the Germans exceeded 30,000,000. The Russian tongue was spoken by nearly 31,000,000, and the Spanish by more than, 26,000,000. Even the Italians had three fourths as large a constituency as the English, and the Portuguese three-eighths. Of the the 162,000,000 people, or there abouts, who are estimated to have been using these seven languages m the year 1801, the English people were less fchan 13 per cent., while the Spanish were 16, the Germans 184, the Russians 189, and the French 196. This aggregate popula tion has now grown to 400,000,000, of which the English-speaking people num ber close upon 125,000,000. From 13 per cent, the English advanced to 31 per cent. The French speech is now used by about 70,000,000, the Spanish by 40,000.000, the Russian by 70,000,000, the Italian by about 30,000,000, and the Portuguese by about 13,000,000. The English language is now used by nearly twice as many people as any of- the others, and this re lative growth is almost sure to continue, English has taken as its own the North American continent, and nearly tlio whole of Australasia. North America alone will soon have 100,000,000 of English-speaking people, while there are 40,000,000 m Great Britain and Ireland. In South Africa and India also the language is vastly extending.

English Farm Notes.

FAILURE OF THE ENGLISH CROPS. [ENGLISH CORRESPONDENT " AUCKLAND' HERAJ-D."] London, July 12. Since my List letter was written we have had floods of rain, probably more than has ever before been recorded for the first twelve days m July. In the first week of the month one rain lasted for twenty six hours without intermission, and more or less has fallen every day. The temperature, as is usual under these cir cumstances, has been abnormally low for the time of year, and the grain crops have had one of the worst fructifying periods ever known. They were just coming fully into ear when all the best of thorn were laid flat, to be rained upon and kept down for nearly a fortnight. It is a regular catastrophe, and to a great extent it is irrecoverable. A good yield of grain m proportion to straw, at least as far as wheat, barley, and oats are concerned, is now impossible, however favorable the weather of the rest of the season may be. Hot sunshine and drought might help the laid corn up partially, and enable ib to develop the grain to a considerable ex tent ; bub too much damage has been done already to be repaired by any amount of sunshine, and we must write down the splendid prospects of a month back by about twenty per cent, m my opinion. Up to the time of writing, moreover, there are no signs of settled weather, and another week of rain would half spoil the white straw crops, Even those not laid, because not heavy enough to go down after a fortnight's wet weather, are more or less injured, We never yet had a good harvest after a wet summer, and the present season has been the wettest Aye have experienced since the "black year," 1879. But I should say that more than three-fourths of the fields of corn m the country are laid more or less, and fully one-half badly. No thing but shrivelled grain can be produced crops laid before the ears had begun to fill, and kept down for a couple of weeks. It is grievous to see the magnificent crops wrecked as they are. Even beans, which usuaMy stand any quantity of rain that we get, are m many cases down, the soil being ho. like a bog that there was no firmness to hojd up the heavy stalks when the wjnd was high. The hay qrop, too, has boen badly injured m quality, and m many places made mere muck. Root crops promise well, and peas and beans may "turn out well on the whole ; but potatoes are getting diseased. It is sad to have such a bad account to give of the farm outlook here. The only consolation our f trmers have is that the catastrophe which has come upon them has been general also throughout the Continent of Europe ; so that prices are likely to rise m consequence. Wheat Jips ajrendy gone up about 2s a quarter' sjnee the end of June, and there js every reason to expect a further advance unless favorable weather comes at once, for harvest has commenced m several European countries, which makes jbhe prolonged rajnfalj alj the more serious. ' '

CRICKET

[per press association.]

(Received September 3, 10.30 a.m.) London, September 2. In the match Australians v North of England, the latter are out for 75, Ferris took seven wickets for 35. In the second innings of Australians have lost one wicket for 20. The latter made 134 m their first innings.

CORRESPONDENCE.

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

PRICE OF MEAT.

TO THE EDITOR,

Sir, —Strikes seem to be all the go. The butchers have just struck for higher prices, and give notice that beef will be up to td and steak 7£d per ft, not to speak of a charge of 10 per cent, added if accounts are not paid m fourteen days. Now considering that 8001 b. beasts were sold m the yard to-day for £5 ss, and fat cows for less, and the pick of the sheep were sold for 12s 6d, average weight about 60ft, which, after deducting skins, tallow ("sinking offal" is, I think, the term) leaves them at about 7s per 60ib, it is almost time customers had a strike ; and unless some butcher comes forward and sells meat at a reasonable price I shall be prepared to start a co operative butchery, and, I may add, a great many families will be prepared ,to join.—-I am, etc., Father of a Family. Aflhburton, Sept. 2. 1890.

A. New Constitution.

(" Evening Star.';

Mr Vincent Pyke having come to the conclusion that there is something "rctten m the State of Denmark," has formulated suggestions for constitutional reform which are well worthy of consideration, and may not impossibly, we think, com mend themselves—in part, at least —to the people who are about sick of the present state of things m respect to parliamentary government. Session after session useful legislation is impeded through party struggles, and the tactics of faction are unscrupulously used to defeat the policy and embarrass the ad ministration of the Ministers of the Crown. Professional politicians, un scrupulous andf presumptuous, seem to takft charge of the House, and do their utmost to bring representative institutions into contempt. The groundwork of Mr Pyke's scheme is the re-establishment of the provincial system under a somewhat different set of conditions. He proposes that the Colony shall be divided into districts, each con sisting of three or more of the present counties, and that m each district there shall be a district council, to be elected by persons on the roll for the House of Representatives: every council to elect the executive of the district—to wit, a | president, chairman of committees, treasurer, and such other officers as may be deemed expedient; and to appropriate ! their remuneration out of current revenue. The councils are to have supreme powers i of legislation and administration m regard to "charitable aid, licensing, the sale of liquors, auctioneers, and slaughtering of .sheep and cattle, public health, rabbit nuisance, and all matters of social I economy, all powers under the pro vincial ordinances still m fcrce, diseased cvttie, codlin moth ;" and to have the control and management of all public works and bridges, the police, and police gaols. Ev«ty council is further to be the Education Board for the district, and is to receive m this connection what ever capitation money may be voted by the General Assembly m proportion to die number of children m average atten dance. Most important, however, as an entire subversal of things as they are, is the proposal t» vest m the district councils '' the sole power of levying a district tax whether as a property tax, land tax, or land or income tax." The councils, furthermore, "may pass such laws, sub ject to the power of districts allowed by the Governor, as may be necessary for the effectual carrying out of their functions ; but the Governor may veto any such law by notice published m the " Gazette."

The Supreme Legislature necessarily would require to be reconstituted. The Legislative Council, it is proposed, should consist of forty-five members— thirty-six to be appointed by the district councils, two by each Council and nine by the Executive Council, i.e., the Governor and the general Executive ; the term of office to be six years ; and no person is to be appointed or nominated unless he has been a Minister of the Crown for at least three years, or a member of the House of Representatives for at least seven years. The House of Representatives is to re tain its present functions, but neither branch of the Legislature is to tread upon the powers specifically vested m the dis trict councils.

t Very radical reform, much upon the lines suggested by Major Steward, is proposed m the constitution of the General Executive ; and this possibly, m the light of recent events and the con fusion brought about by the abuse of parliamentary government under the present system, may generally commend itself to public opinion. The Executive is to consist of seven paid Ministers, who are to be appointed as follows:—On a day prescribed by the Governor, being " some day not less than one week and not more than fourteen days after the first meeting of Parliament, or after the election of members of the House of Representatives, both Houses shall meet as one House and appoint by ballot the seven members of the Executive." Every member is to hold office for the term of three years, unless removed by the Governor or disqualified ; and m the event of any vacancy, an appointment is to be made by the Governor, to be valid only till Parliament meets and proceeds to till up the same by election,

PARLIAMENTARY

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2,

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

The Council met at 2.30 p.m. BILLS PASSED. The Government Life Insurance Bill was passed through Committee, read a third time, and passed. BOROUGH OF BRUNNERTON ENABLING BILL. The debate on the second reading of the Borough of Brunnerfcon Enabling' Bill was adjourned till next day. The Council rose at 4,15 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Several motions to reduce the item " public schools " were lost. Eventually the Minister agreed to a reduction of £500, and progress was reported. DISPUTED PAIRS. On the motion for adjournment Mr Ward raised a discussion on the question of pairs, which was proceeding when the IJouse was counted out at 4 a.m. ' ' Tftp RJSipORJ ON PUMMYISM. The £J6use pietat 2.3p p.m. Mr Fulton brought up the report of the^ Waiste. Lands Committee on tho question of dummyism. The report was to the effept that tfie evidence adduced before the Committee showed conpjusively that the Land Act had m a number of casps been evaded by means of false declarations made with » view to dummying, and n

sieir opinion it was the duty of the Government to take steps to enforce the law. They recommended that the Government should take proceedings m any case where evidence was obtainable. Mr Richardson said that the Govern ment would take every possible step m their power to deal with any cases of dummyism brought to their notice. THE PRIMAGE DUTY. Mr Ballance asked the Acting-Premier why instructions had not been issued to the Collector of Customs to cease collect ing the primage duty after the end of August as promised by the Government. Mr Mitchelson said that there were two reasons for this having been done. One was that the Government wished the Estimate to be first disposed of m order to ascertain what reductions would be made m them ; the second reason was a more serious one—that owing to the lamentable labor difficulty now existing m the colony the Government feared that the revenue would seriously suffer, and it might be necessary for them to ask the House for authority to collect the primage duty till the 31st March; If not, they might have to face a large deficit next year. He should, however, be able to ask for authority to collect the duty up to 'the end of September only. THE STRIKE. : Replying to Mr Joyce, as to whether the Government had received any in formation as to the allegations respecting the fitness of the crew on the steamer Tekapo at Lytteltpn, bound to Australia, Mr Mitchelsou said that he could only repeat what had been said yesterday by the Minister for Justice, namely, that the Government had instructed the Custom House officials throughout the colony to see that the law was properly adminis tered and that steamers were sufficiently manned. INTERCEPTING SUPPLY. On the motion for going into Com mittee of Supply, an amendment, moved by Sir George Grey, that the Government should name a day for the discussion of the federation proposals, waa lost on the voices. COMMITTEE OF.SUPPLY. The House then went into Committee of Supply for consideration of the Esti mates. Native schools—£2ooo. On ihe motion of Mr Thompson (Auck land North) this item was reduced by £900. Institution for deaf mu*-es —£8000. The item was struck out by 36 to 15. Government domains —£1000. '* The item was reduced by £100. Treasury Department—£64ls. Mr Ballance moved to reduce the vote for the Secretary tothe Treasury, £740, by £150, and assistant secretary and account ant, £500, by £100. The motion was agreed to., Friendly Societies' Registry Office— £1445. Carried. Property Tax Department—£696o. Mr Thompson (Marsden) moved to strike out the salary of the Commissioner, £600. The motion was lost on the voices. The salary of the Deputy Commissioner, £465, and the chief clerk, £390, were each reduced by £15. The total vate was then passed as reduced. The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. The House resumed ab 7.30 p.m. Legislative Council—£l6so. Carried. House of Representatives — £3987. Carried. General expenses —£8998,, A lengthy discussion took place on the question of the librarianship. ; Mr Seddon moved a reduction of £50 as an indication by the House that Mr James, who now held the position of librarian, be librarian till next session. The Speaker said that he should agree to a reduction, of £50 from the librarian's .salary, leaving'it to the library committee to deal with it. The motion was agreed to. Mr Seddon moved that the salary of the second assistant, 1 £150, be reduced by £1, as an indication that the appointment of permanent librarian be held over till next session. The motion was carried, and the vote passed as reduced. Stamp Department—£436o. Carried. Lands and Deeds Registry—£l6,B2s. Reduced by £65, the amount of in creases m salaries over £200. Native Lands Department: Land Court —£20,436. Reduced by £500. Miscellaneous servicOs—£l7so. Agreed to. Progress was reported, and the House rose at 12.45 a.m.

Labor Questions

[per tress association.]

Syjdnby, September 2. At a meeting attended by 1500 em* ployers and leading business men this atternoon, the following resolutions ■were passed unanimously, with marked enthusiasm:—That the time has ar rived when it is absolutely necessary that all employers of labor, capitalists, and others directly or indirectly in terested, should form themselves into an association for mutual defence; that this meeting approves of the for mation of an Employers' Defence Com mittee of Australasia, and that a com mittee be appointed to draft a scheme and invite co-operation m all the colonies; that it is desirable that all employers not members of the union at once join, and that all interested directly or indirectly be called upon to express their sympathy m a practical manner . that as the shipowners and others connected with maritime labor are fighting the battle of all employers against aggressive unionism, it is agreed to subscribe to a fund to assist them ; that this meeting condemns the system of boycott practised by the representa tives of the Trades Unions, not only against employers but also against union and non-union fellow-workmen, as a violation of personal liberty, and antagonistic to the best interests of the Australasian colonies." The unionists boarded the German shipChemnitzto-day,andturnedthenon- Union labourers ashore 1 neck and crop, several of them receiving rather nasty falls, A howling mob surrounded the steamship Rodanto about to sail for Brisbane, and stuck up cabs going to the steamer, The occupants were then cross-exainined a,s to whether they were a portion of the crew engaged to take the ship away. Some who refused to give the information asked for -were unceremoniously dragged from their vehicles, and had to, seek refuge m flight, The Miners' Conference have decided to call out all the Illawarra miners but to allow the Lithgow miners to continue. The public will therefore be dependent entirely on the latter mine. A restriction has been placed upon Illawarra m order to prevent the in tended supply of tjoaj to ships manned with crewp. Four strikers were to-day charged with breaking their contracts by leav ing the employ of the Lanxbswool Store, and were fined £%0 each and posts, qp m default fourteen days imprisonment. The men had been receiving £3 6s per

week, and Is 9d per hour overtime. In their defence the men said that they dared not refuse the mandate of the Union. • At a meeting of the Association of Colliers it was decided to ■ close the mines indefinitely. Messrs Dalgety and Company have engaged sufficient labourers at £3 os per week to carry on. the wool ex portation. Mblbotjenk, September 2. A force of mounted men and foot police are protecting the labourers who are discharging the Union Com pany's Monowai. Londou, September 1 and 2. The Dockers' Unions at all the sea ports m Great Britain, are subscribing m aid of the Australian strikers, ahd it is expected that the amount raised will surpass that sent from the colonies during the dock strikes m London. At the Liverpool Trades Congress a motion by Mr Burns expressed sympathy with the men on strike m Australia, and urged all the Unions'to collect money for their assistance and to impress upon the public the necessity for subscribing. The Engineers' Society propose a levy of 5s per week m aid of the Australian strikers. The United Labor Council will discuss to-morrow the question of rendering pecuniary assistance. The Trades Congress at Liverpool is attended by 460 delegates, represent ing 1,500,000 Unionists. : The Dockers' Union have decided to make a levy on their members of Is per week m aid of the Australian strikers. The other unions will wait for a time m order to ascertain if the support is sufficient before making a levy. The stevedores, however, hare agreed to a levy of 5s per week. Washington, September 1. Congress has forbidden the importa tion of contract labor. Chicago, September 2. Eight thousand carpenters m the city have struck, demanding an in crease of wages. Brisbane, September 2. Arrived—Union Company's steamer Rosamond from Napier with produce. The market is now pretty, well stocked and prices are falling. ■ The steamer Balumba is discharging with her own Union crew assisted by non-union wharf laborers, with the full approval of the Secretary of the Sea men's Union. Auckland, September 2. The lumpers discharging the ship Wai tanjd struck this afternoon, as retaliation upon the warehousemen for sending their hands down last night to discharge the Australia. The Huntly coal miners are all out because of the refusal of the directors to pledge themselves not to supply coal to the Union Company. A mine owners' meet ing is now being held, but it is private. The Auckland branch of the Amalga mated Society of Railway Servants have resolved to act according to the instruc tions of their executive m the present struggle, and to support the Maritime Council morally and financially to the utmost extent". They demand the rein statement of the men suspended at Lyttelton and Westport. Napier, September 2. The Waihora was tendered without difficulty to-day with volunteer labour. There was a large crowd, but no dis turbance, the wharf labourers looking on m perfect good humour. To-night the wharf labourers and • other unionists marched m procession to the Gaiety Theatre, where a large meeting was held. The speeches ■ delivered were with one exception moderate m tone, and an attempt to introduce politics was sup pressed. Resolutions were passed sympa thising with those involved m the. present labour trouble, promising moral and financial' support, and approving of the action of the Maritime Council. About £15 was subscribed m the room. Wanganui, September 2. The Waverley Farmers' Union passed a resolution to the effect that m the event of the railway employees refusing duty, the settlers here offer their services to keep the line open m this district. The railway servants meet to-mprrow evening to decide whether they "Sill go out on strike if called upon. The individual feeling is that they risk all if they come out, but will have to do so if called upon by the Maritime Council. There is likely to be a great divergence of opinion at the meeting, Wellington, September 2, In an interview with the local Press Mr George McLean denied that there was any truth m the statement that the company was under-manning their bo»ta, The risk was too great to permit it. Asked whether the Union Company would cut loose from Australia if the men did, he said such a proposal might come first from the unions, and if it did he he would be willing to lay it before the Owners' Association. The com pany had no quarrel with anyone* and would be quite willing to take the officers and men back, so long as there were vacancies, In any settlement being arrived at now there would have to be some modifications m the demands of the unions, which meant constantly increasing wages and would eventually land the company m the same position as the Grey Valley mines. He believed the officers, if left to themselves, would be back to* morrow. It is understood that the railway hands have decided to go out if the executive insist on the suspended men being re instated, and the Commissioners refuse. The Railway Commissioners have deter mined that those employees who break the terms of Lheir engagements, and re fuse to perform railway duties as pro vided under the rules and regulations which they have formally undertaken to observe, shall be dismissed from the service. The directors of the Gear Meat Com pany have decided to continue supplying the Union Company's steamers with meat at all hazards. The Riiilway Commissioners h»re issued the following rule under which the plate layers and others are engaged and work on the railways. The rule provides that every person will, as far as practicable, hare specific duties assigned to him, but when required he shall do any other du,tiea which the business of the railways require. The Commissioners state that, acting under this rule the platelayers, "for many years past, on exceptional occasions, have been called on to load and handle goods, and there is nothing un qsual m the present emergency m their h.avins' been requested to do what is purely railway business." A number of High School boys have been engaged lumping on the wharves to chij. The circumstance was referred to | with derision at the mass meeting on fche reclaimed land this afternoon. In the event of the Railway Servants Executive calling out members of the society, Mr McKorrow is confident that a su,fnoienb number of employees will stand by the Commissioners to enable them to carry on a reduced service, and he says that a large number of applications for employment have been received, by the Commissioners, Wbstkkrt, September 2. A local butcher is being boycotted by the union because he assisted the Union Company's boats to coal,

The seamen paid off from the Mahina pun, left by the Charles Edward to-nighfc for Wellington. The Navals' band played them to the wharf, where a large crowd assembled. Christchubch, September 2. About 800 men altogether are on strike i Lyttelton. No sailing ships are being worked. Clerks from the Union Bank at Christ church are loading the Coke. At 10.30 a.m. the cooks, stewards, bakers, and butchers on the Union Com pany's steamers came Out to a man. The manager of the railway asked the clerks to stand by the Commissioners, but they derlftrjd, \nd a general strike of the railway I,rinds is on the cards. At ILmgina at a meeting of farmers it was stated that volunteers would get Is 3d per hour for eight hours, and 2s 6d Ml hdur overtime. ' Nelson and Moate have givan their hands notice that they may have to dispense with their services. rJ he third katch of permanent hands, including the tally clerks, storemen, and others, who were working at the Tekapo, were, called out. One railway man, a storeman, stayed! Clerks and farm hands are now working m the trucks. A large meeting of the Chamber of Commerce this afternoon passed the following motion.:_" That an urgent telegram be sent to the Commissioners of Railways, stating that the Chamber,, while regretting the circumstances which com pel them to take action, are prepared to nnd labor to carry on the trade at Lyttel ton, provided that the Commissioners are prepared to continue to deliver cargo alongside vessels m port, and that the Chamber will be glad of any Urgent reply on this point, to>enable them to make ouch arrangements as are necessary to prevent a stoppage of the crade at Lyttelton." The telegram was sent off and a committee were appointed to make arrangements for carrying out the resolution. Several more offers of assistance to load ships have been made by farmers. Other business firms have given notice to their hands on account of the stoppage m trade. ■ .-.....• The Union Bank clerks. loading the Colac did very good work. At 3.30 p.m. she left the wharf and anchored m the stream. Her crew left her at 7.30 p.m. One of the railway men on strike has stated that if they had been treated with a little more consideration by the officials at Lyttelton the result might possibly have been different; but he thought that it was time something was done when clerks were ordered into trucks under the threat of knowing the consequences if they refused, notwithstanding the state ment of the Commissioners that each man was to be kept at his usual employment. . The Jubilee arrived thifc afternoon. Union men went aboard io work the cargo. Platelayers from .' Christchurch were put into the trucks by the station master. They went m apparently un willingly, and were at once called out by the union officers. They came out afc once, and mesmbers of the Wharf Laborers' Uniqn took their places. The railway men called out were given to un derstand that they were suspended when they left work. It is stated that cooks and stewards have been engaged to fill the places of those who came out. . The Kaikoura .lias .finished loading. Very good order is being preserved. Oamarit, September 2. A meeting of the local branch of th« Railway Servants' Union was held to night, at which it was decided to ballot concerning a strike to-morrow. The following resolution was carried :-*-'* That the meeting 1 regrets and resents the action of the Railway Commissioners m regard to forcing members of the railway service to take the place of union wharf, men out on strike, thus setting the Railway Union at defiance by compelling its members to work on ships and wharves from which their fellow unionists have been with drawn m order to maintain and advance the interests of labor," The general opinion was that the Commissioners were trying to foroe on a strike for some reason or other. Dtjnedin, September. ,2. All ia.quiet at the city wharves to-day. In reference to Mr Millar's "statement that the Te Anau sailed .with': sixteen hands all told, fourteen of .whom were clerks out of the Union Company's office, the. Collector of Customs here certifies that fifty men were shipped, a large majority of whom showed by the produc tion of certificates and discharges that they were competent for the situations for whioh they had shipped. The ballot of cooks and stewards re suited m favour of the men deciding to come out on strike. The crews of the Harbour Board tugs were to-day instructed to give the usual notice to leave. Mr Justice Williams and Sir Robert Stout have consented to act with the Mayor m trying to effect a settlement of the dispute. At a meeting of the Butchers' Union It was resolved to give the contractor for supplying meat to the Union Company twenty-four hours' notice that all butchers will refrain from handling any meat for the company's boats. The Tailoresses' Union to-night decided to vote £50 for the strike defence fund. It is stated that an attempt will be made to boycott Donald Reid and Co.'s auction sales.

Latest Telegrams.

(Received September 3, 10.30 a.m.) London, September 2. At a meeting attended by sixty shipowners, a Union was established and a resolution of sympathy with Australian shipowners was passed warmly approving of their action m resisting the strikers. The "Times" says the Trades Con gress represents two types of Unionists^ It is improbable that the older Unions will respond to the Australian appeal, notwithstanding Burns' ludicrously in correct account of the struggle. Still the Congress is formally pledged to support the gigantic strike, if limited ex clusively to Unions. Apologists of the latter confess they have no grievance as to hours, wages, or piecework, (Received Sepfei 3, 11.15 a.m.) Sydney. September, 3. The Finance Committee of the Labor Defence Council are formulating a scheme for the formation of a Trades Union Bank. They state the object is to prevent their opponents fighting them with their own money. Melbourne, Sept. 3. The Trades Hall is urging slaughter men to strike. Plenty of non-union laborers are offering.

Auckland, September 3. Tilings are quiet m town. The steamers m port are the ' Wairarapa and Arawata. The Australia left for East Coast and Wellington to-day, A man named Johnson has been fined forty shillings and costs at the Police Court to-day for inciting the crowd to break down the barricade on the wharf. There is a general strike m the Waikato coal mines. The Taupiri Re serve, Taupiri Extended, Taupiri, Ralph Huntley, Miranda, and Waikato Coal Companies* mines are being closed. Be tween four and five hundred miners are idle. It is stated that the Frozen Meat Company are m a difficulty through the supply of coal running short m the factory, where there is a quantity of frozen meat stored for shipment Home. They are endeavoring to obtain, fresh supplies,

TKTC ASHEUETON GUAKDIAN, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBEE 3, 1890.



As the whirl of time has fl-gain ushpred m the busy spring, and to he prepared tQ supply the requirements of Nature and of their numerous patrons, Messrs J. Scaly and Co. have completed tlnir selection of seeds, which are of the choicest quality obtainable, and which include clovers, turnips, mangolds, carrots, rape, perennial ryegrasa, cocksfoot, elephant sweed, garden, and flower seeds m endless varieties, and garden requisites of every description. For the convenience of patrons who' (iaimot make their purchases during the day the pi'emis'es will be opeu to nine p.m. on Saturday evjbn ngs on and aftevihe 16thAugust.—Advt. ' tSeAF FORTY YEARS r The ab JL/ scrij ti.on of a simple remedy, by which a poyiiplQtc cvre <if (h >fries* a 0 npisfifj iii the fiead, pf Forty Y,g;\v.s' Stand ing hft3 jusfc been effected; >vj]j. jje qefip FREE tc anyone who applies to j, H Nicholson, 175 William Street, Mel bourne, ' i



We clip the frdUwifig Wipp?'^l?l^ t.estimo' nial from the Illawarra Mwwy " (If.. >S. V> T. of the 30th March. It needs no comment :• — '•Mr John Loveday, of the Bulli Mountain, writes to us that after suffering for four yeara with acute gravel, he has experienced almost comply idhi by using Sander and Sonse ;Eucai.yp\tic J£xi«v^. Hfl says:—'' Seeing tha laid Extract advertised JA ill? ' Ulawarr < his iiuense suffering liniuc^ Hjr}' to phte-bl .a bottle pf tjie ! metlic'ine fvoxp. Mr Ifoslcing, 4#m.ist, of'; this town, aii'd the use of j,t gtwtf' Jiim great 'relief at onea, He states that betw,^,7 JOth March Inst., jyheiii J,ie obtained -tlie first bottl^bf the extract and tl\g. 19th, the .«s,e ,of .th^b laedici-jae cojitiivbi^tjl Jl^ hbn xeli^ef, to whicU Ue had hcoii a atraiigt*- fer four years. Mr Lov&d&y writes also ;ttat \\o \i§a fomid the Eucalypti ttxU'*Wi q (W? &P rlieuniatom as well as gravel. He iF«<^st3^istp PiU : b}j» this information through the' Mwcury.' have much pleasure m complying with Mr Loveday's request, whose -word cannot be doubted, and who can have no object m view l oMier than a pure desire to benefit suffering luwuu^ty.!—r(Advt.' 2



Hollo way's Piix«—The flreait |s Te<jd— The blood is the life, and on its purity our health as well as our exifteuce depends} These pills throughly cleanse the vjtal fluid from all contaminations, and by that jin<ians strengthen and invigorate the whole system, healthily stimulate sluggish organs, repress oi/#r-excited action, and establish the eir cuiai&on and secretions throughout evety part of ti«e body. The balsamic nature of Hollay's "Pilk exercises marvelous power m giving tone to.c!^;jjitated and nervous con vS'iatwtions. These jiijis remove all ob ■sfcrufcttieHS, both m the ;\>o;*'e]fl and elsewere, •acid a*e,, ■»« that accoun , mu&i Kpnght after for poomoting regularity of action ifri young fewales and .delicate persons .who .tott? uatu raily woa'J^ or feT.e f rqju some cause be come 89



Wanted. CASH Advertisements under this heading not exceeding SIXTEEN WORDS 1/-. Addresios may 1m left at this Office. YOUNG Ladies' Joimiaf for Septem ber. Ths Ferns of New Zealand, now work ; Hypnotism, and other new books by the Mail.—lT. M. Jones. XPXPERIEiSrOED Cook wants en I U wrwuent on Farm or Station, go-! Baker. Apply "Cook," "Mail , Office. _£_3 STOP That Cough—Flower's Cough Drops are thebest—see that the nnrne is stamped on every one. H. G. Flower, Confectioner, East street. T3RESENTS.~-If you want good value JL for money go to Melford House. Extra value now being given away m S resents. Everything marked cheap.— [. C. Segerh. . A ANTED" KNOWN—The Strong- VV Wear Boot for Men, Women and Children can only be had at W. H. Collier's. - OUTS, BOOTH. "Keep your f c Dry and save Doctors Bills. I have a splendid Stock m now. Try ny Double-soled Shooters. Every pair Guaranteed. Robert Alcorn, Ashbur ton Clothing Mart. Saunders' Buildings. \i / ANTED Known.—For cheap VV Drapery, Millinery, Boots, Clothing, «!fcc, go to Melford House. Good substantial presents now giving away.—H. C. Skqers. ANTED every man m the County to have a suit of the Ashburto Tweedi. —Robert Alcorn, Ashburton Clothing Mart, Saunder's Buildings. EVERY Customer will receive a handsome present by purchasing their Drapery, Millinery, Clothing, Ac, at Melford House. Cheapest House m town for first-class Drapery. —H. C. &KGKRB ANTED KNOWN.—A lot of Ladies Cloth and Tweed Jackets, considerably under usual cost price.— W. H. Collier, "The Corner." ANTED Known—The Cheapest Shop to buy Tinware and Gal vanised Iron goods m Ashbarton, 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 I j Public Notices TENDERS. "TTTANTED Tenders for Breaking up W 400 Acres of Tussock Land m one or two lots, alongside the Ashburton . iver, near Ananm. Particulars can be obtained from the Undersigned, and Tenders to be sent m by noon on the Bth September. H. H. WRIGHT, g+lß4 Windermere. ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL. rpENDERS are invited for Water race, _L Anama, m two contracts. jf 0# i,—Earthwork, 4k miles race, anti and 2 fords. No. 2.—Fluminf,', Hinds river, etc., 160 lineal feet. Specifications, etc., at Council office. Tenders, addressed to Chairman, to b( sent m 11 o'clock, sth September By order, WILLIAM BAXTER, 9^13 . County Engineer. SPECIAL_ NOTICE CALL AND SEE THE GRAND DISPLAY OF BOYS' YOUTHS', AND MEN ri CLOTHING MERCERY, HOSIERY, BLANKETS, RUGS, FLANNELS, HATS, AND CAPS, &c. THE laroest and best assorted Stock m the District to select from, which for Vnluc, Variety, and excellence of Manu facture, we stand unrivalled. MEASURE TNEPARTMENTS easube Departments NEW TWEEDS AND COATINGS For the approaching Season To Hand. SOLE AGENTS for Wertheim's latest and improvedHAND and TREADLE SEWING MACHINES. NEW ZEAIA N\D CLOTHING FACTORY W. H. WEBBER, Manager, ANDREW ARB'S NDREW V/RR s > GREAT r» jj ANJNUAL SAIE OF €5 <" S DRAPERI B < * > H CLOTHING a AND * n 4 "OOTS. 2 . N Will C©n,mencb W Saturday, July sth The greatest BARGAINS I ever seen ip Ashburon. |bj X SEE HANDBILLS. ? , I ANDREW Oftß.l* :