The Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit FRIDAY, JUNE 6, 1890. THE CABINET AND THE HON MR FERGUS.

It is an open political secret that Ministers view the Hon. Mr Fergus' speech at Queenstown with disfavor ! This is the latest political rumor, and coming, as it does, from the Press A&sociation, it is doubtless correct. Prior to this Minister's address, it will be remembered, the Press agents in the confidence of the Government let it be freely known that the Govern ment policy was to be divulged at Queenstown by Mr Fergus. The honored Minister of Public Works travelled in state to Queenstown, ac companied by a special telegraph ope rator, seyoral newspapers' reporters, and others; and the country looked forward anxiously and hopefully for the result, The Government had been so long without n policy that it was quite refreshing to learn that their backs had become stiffened, and that they were prepared to lay down o ie, and stand or fall by it. The mountain was in labor, however,» and only brought forth a tiny little mouse. When the speech had been delivered it was hard todistinguish whether Mr Fer gus expressed the policy of the Govern ment, or merely gave utterance to his own individual opinions as member for Wakatipu. It was made sufficiently clear, nevertheless, that Mr Fergus Iwd been authorised by his colleague-; to make known the leading planks in the Ministerial programme, and it now comes as a rude shock that these, same colleagues repudiate the official utter ance. Surely the Minister for Publjc Works did not take it upon himself to make known the Government policy without being authorised to do so ! We are aware that the outspokenness of this Minister on former occasions has caused his colleagues some trouble, but it was publicly believed that he had been sufficiently educated in the art of " fencing " deputations from the public, and the public themselves, to be able to keep silent upon matters which the Cabinet wished to keep secret, To such a state of perfection in this art had Mr Fergus reached that it caused no surprise that he should be put forward as the Government mouth piece. Now, however, it would appear that the Ministry only took advantage of Mr Fergus' reputation for political indiscretion in order to shirk re sponsibility for any portion of the Ministerial programme that did not find favor with the electors, Mi- Fergus was, no doubt, led to believe, and the country was also led to believe, that the Queenstown speech was official; but the Ministry, finding that their sub rosa borrowing proposals, the perpetuation of the present system of taxation and disposal of lands, and other "planks" in their feeble platform did not tickle the public ear, have re solved to throw their colleague over rather than stand true to their colors. It has been no surprise, since the present Government took office, to find the Ministry coming down to the House with proposals of various de scriptions, and afterwards withdrawing them after finding that they were un popular with the people's representa tives. These tactics were a distinct characteristic of the Ministry. But it was at least expected that, in order to save themselves, tke members of the Cabinet would not repudiate the utter ances of, and practically throw over, a colleague; this more especially when the said colleague had been put for ward by themselves as the Ministerial mouthpiece. The present occupants of the Benches have been guilty of many peculiar public actions during their tenure of office, but the repudiation of their policy after it has been publicly expounded is the most peculiar of all.

Mr Walker met the electors at Alford Forest on Thursday evening in theJSchool room, Mr Chapman i» the chair, Kf^wit-h ---standing the wet evenj»g there was a good attendance. Mr Walkers speech .dealt mainly with the subjects already touched upon. After answering a few questions Hr Fagan proposed, and Mr M.cFarlane seconded, a hearty vote of thanks a&d confidence, which was carried. The usual vote of thanks th§ ebajj: terminated the proceedings,

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The laws of Wyoming" repuire equal pay for equal work </O men and women as school teachers. Mr Bellamy has made 10,000 dollars by " Looking Backward." The Empress of Austria, who was said to be drifting into confirmed melancholia, has, been much benefited by the massage treat ment (hand friction and knsading). Mr T. Spurgeon, late of the Baptist Tabernacle, Auckland, has arrived at the Bluff to commence an evangelical tour of the Colony. , . The • Yankees have introduced *a new word into their ever-increasing vocabulary. "Electrocution" is the abbreviation „of execution by electricity. =£^S ' I

New potatoes were shown last week in Dunedin by Mr G. Matthews, of Moray place. The first seed was planted in September and dug in December, planted. again in February and lifted last weelt. A Napier contemporary expresses surprise at what it terms " the brazen-faced cheek " of the Minister of Mines in making such a statement to his constituents as that the colony is rapidly increasing in population. In 1851 the white population of the Aus tralian colonies was about 240,000, with an annual trade of £6,000,000: whilst at the close of 1888 the population had reached 3,678,046, and the revenue £27,240,565. London Engineer says there is no pro perly recorded /instances of a locomotive ever having attained a greater speed than 80 miles an hour, and quotes Charles R. Martin as saying tbat'higher speed is mythical.

■ Savings- banks' are rapidly increasing in popularity in India., - On the 31st March last year they numbered 6237, an increase of 85 from the previous year, with a correspond ing increase in deposits.

A petrified tree was found recently in a coal mine at Osnabruck, Germany. The trunk is almost four feet-through, and the roots cover a surface about 15 feet square. The tree lias been set up in a special room in the Berlin School of Mines. The."Mataura Ensign is responsible for the following :'—'.' A refined young lady, inflamed with philanthropy, went as a nurse in the puntidin Hospital, , and the first job they gave her to do wa3 to wash the body of a.dead Chinaman 1." The '•' Illustrated Sydney News " for May contains some well-executed ■ sketches in South Australia, the Egeria Court Martial, Sketches at the Sydney School of Arts, the Haunt of the Lyre Bird, and the usual number of other illustrations,

Coal was first discovered in New South Wales by some fisherman in 1796. The first sale of coal there was 44 tons to an American, vessel in 1801. The total output of coal from the Newcastle mines up to the end of 1887 was 39,994,907 tons, valued at £13,699,110. A lecturer at Auckland the other day, while admitting that New Zealanders had one of the finest countries to live in on the face of the earth, urged that it would be well for the people of the colony to pay honest politicians double, rather than have some impure villains to make' a great nation's laws. Raw"' youths are employed hi sending off trains, in shunting, signalling, in managing the traffic on single lines of rail, and in other capacities where only men of tried experience should be employed, is the serious allegation against the' Railway Commissioners by the Railway aad Tramway Service Association of Sydney. The Mormons are gradually deserting Utah. Two thousand families have left within the last two years. One syndicate has bought an immense tract of land in the State af Chihuahua, Mexico, and hither they go. They find that the Edmunds' IaAV will eventually stop tiie practice of polygamy, and as they are bound to that faith they will go where there is no restraint upon them.

The Empress Eugenic is as much of a rcr cluse as though she were a nun, All day long she sits in her sunny parlour at Ghisle liursfc, with a tablet in her lap, sketching or writing for a memorial she is preparing for publication. The book will ooniaip. the letters of the late Napoleon and Prince, the proceeds from which will go to the fuii'l for the relief of the widows of the war of 1870. Mr R. Turnbull will, it is stated, be unopposed for Tun-iru at the forthcoming general election. Mr Turnbull has repre sented the district; for twelve years, and has recently boon presented by his constituents with an illuminated address and a substantial purse of sov6roigns in recognition of his public services. His health is so far improved that he will be able to proceed to Wellington this session, The following account of the effects of forest denudation in Russia should prove interesting, which we would do well to proiit by in time :—Scarcely any snow has fallen in Russia this winter, and the fact is regarded as an alarming one by the culti vators of the soil, as it will probably involve the destruction both of the grain and root crops. The phenomenon is attributed to the diminished evaporation, which ha 3 resulted from the demolition of the forests which formerly covered enormous areas of Russia in Europe. This has not only led to a greatly decreased rainfall, but tluj riyers Volga, Dniva, and Dneiper are annually shrinking in volume, and they are neither of them navigable for so many mile's as they once were. Sydney P. Hoben, a, student at Leipsig, who hails from Auckland, writes a letter to the " Ackland Herald," in which the follow ing interesting paragraph occurs :—Luigi Arditi the other day told me the story of "II Bacio," His father was 25, and poor, when he took this with two other composi tions to Ricordi, the great Milan publisher. Ricordi would accept none of them, and in despair the young composer went home and ca§t two of his cherished creations into the fire, and &tood by watching their destruction. "II Bacio "was the U>icd, aijd having spared it, Arditi worried Ricordi so nnioli tljat he at last gave him £5 for it. Within a week it \ya,s selling by thousands as fast as it could be turned oivt, but the #5 was all poor Arditi ever got for it beyond the fame it brought him. Some years afterwards ho was in a magnificent music shop in Pari3, and com plimented the proprietor on his possession. " Ah," he replied, " I built this place on ' II Bacio.' " - I w;as in a small music shop with Arditi this week and bought -i copy for 2d. The Vestry of St. John's Church Roslyn, have replied' to the Bishop's recent letter, giving his decision regarding the use of a processional cross and other articles to which objection is taken. They assort that the removal had been, agreed to as a com promise, and the voting showed that the majority were against their use. With vegard to the Vestry having no right to remove them without the Bishop's consent, the Vestry contend that there is nothing in the canons co give tl]? Bishop any right of sanction, but, on the other haijd, a diocesan statute makes the matter the duty "of the Churchwardens. The Vestry deny that in restoring the article^ they submitted to his authojity, and'they say' that had the Bishop ordered their permanent removal a reunion of the parishioners would have been the result. They assert that it is illogical to suppose thajb articles which arc so objection able to some a/? to prevent their attending church if used on 'ordinary Sundays, will noi be objectionable on festivals and the following Sundays, and that if this were the only alternative it "would be wjscr to use them continuously, when 'probably people might become accustomed to them. But there is another alternative, that is, the permanent removal of the articles, a course which'they hold is the only one to restore peace. The letter also paints out that the, Bishop wa3 misinformed with respect t° other matters.

JJqj-loway's Fills.-- Weary of Life.— Derangement fif #!° liver is one °^ ttic nioct efficient causes of dangerous c]jsease, and the most prolific source of those melancholy forebodings which ar,e worse than death itself. A'fow dosep of these noted !■'" ' ( ' '"v in dispelling low points, (..■■; ! covert attacks made on the jm'vgs by exces sive heat, impure atmosphere, ovei'-iiulul gence, or exhausting excitement. The shattered cotistitution may derive benefit ifCfi}} Holloway's Pills, wliich will regulate cUsordora *t'itU>p ; brace the nerves, increase the energy'of ,the iutellcctii^ -faculties, and revive the failing memory. ' !By attentively studying the instructions for taking these pills, and explicitly putting them in practice, tlie most desponding will soon feel confident cf perfect recovery.

The Rink will be open on Saturday even ing as usual, with the band in attendance.

In the Dublin Rolls Court on Thursday, April 15th, Mr Arthur Knox Maloney was declared entitled to the paternal estates in County Clare, as eldest surviving son of Mr Henry Gonne Maloney. He had been separated from his family in early life through an estrangement, and had led a wandering career, being a sailor, a gold miner, and a labourer in New Zealand. From a boy's composition in the New York " Herald " : —" A hen is an animal made by fche creator of the universe, which is covered with feathers and has a bill. The hen stands on two feet except when ihe is tired, and then stands on one and eats corn with her bill. Wli- :■ i \ 11.-,I 1.-, ii i' ■ "!■■« n.rl. ■ sit 3 down to lay, am. '.■■. ■■ -'.i. 1.; •■: ■■*■■ ■ ■■■■ lays down to set. 'The hen's eggs "are good to eat unless they have been set on."

Sir John Millais is suffering from a weak ness, of sight which can only be described as "long sight." His power of distinguish ing near objects having deteriorated, he has to with' brushes a yard long, which interferes with the delicate work, necessary for portraiture. His portrait for this year, the subject being Mr Gladstone with a child on his knee, is said not to be one of' his best efforts. On the other hand, power of landscape painting is unaffected. .The financial,condition of Rome and of the rest of Italy at the present moment is almost desperate. , Failures are taking place, hourly and among the most ramarkable is that of Prince Borghese, the head of that great house which has royal and imperial alliances, the ( sisfcer of Napoleen I having been a Princess :Borghese. Another Princess was the Lady Gwendoline Talbot, whilst the present lady is a member of the illustrious house of

Li, Rochefoucald. The Prince haa lo3t £1,000,000 in building speculations. You can easily stop a cow or horse from jumping fences when out at pasture in this way:—-Put a strap, with a ring on it,

.around the near foreleg, above the knee, and a surcingle or belt with a ring around the body. Then,by a short strap or piece of rope, attach the two rings so as to; make a harni less.yefc perfectly effective hobble. Halter pulling in the stall may be effectually and easily broken. Put a slip-noosed rope around the body, lead the end of it between ■the animal's forelegs up through" the halter, s and make ifa fast to the manger. When the horse jumps back the rope will catch him and bring him forward. It will not be long before you cannot make him jump back. The acquisition of land for the purpose of settlement (says the "Wellington Post") ia already sufficiently difficult and the land laws sufficiently repellent to would-be settlers;" but the proposal to issue land bonds would

interpose fresh barriers to.settlement, and. prove fatal to all chance of the adoption of a really liberal and attractive system of land administration. The audacity of a Govern ment which cannot or will-not sell or settle the vast areas of land already at its free disposal, proposing to buy up on a large scale the lands now in the hands of the- Banks and land and mortgage and loan companies, is absolutely astounding. Read ing between the lines it bears a most suspicious appearance, as if the Government desired to step'in on behalf of the public to relieve the Bank of New Zealand of itg globo property, and perform the functions of an Assets Company. This might be a very good arrangement for the commmercial body or.bodios interested, but it would be a ruin ously bad one for the colony. Mr Jellicoe, solicitor, of Wellington, made some strong remarks during the hearing of a sheep stealing case at Wellington on the 4tli instant. Contrasting the position of the prisoner, as a poor man, with that of the prosecutor, as a rich one, he insinuated that the latter was a friend of the Feilding Justices, by whom prisoner was committed for trial, and went on to say that it was to be regretted that in the lower courts of this colony a person who had the longest purse or the most influence generally Avon his cases, because he generally managed to have a friend on the Bench, as Mr Riddiford had

ill thi3 case. His Honor the Chief Justice interrupted the learned counsel's address with a remark that he could not prevent such things being put to the jury, but they certainly ought not to be said. Mr Jellicoo : Well, I'm only speaking from my own ex perience. I'm not asking the jury to pay the slightest regard to my experience, because they have been in the colony longer than I piave, and have put up v/ifch these things very much longer than I have.

TO-DAY'S TELEGRAMS

PER PRESS ASSOCIATION,

2?3«c XSaHway k«>rvant*. GmusTonußCH, Juno 6. The Canterbury Branch Society of the railway servants voted for federating with the Maritime Council— r For, 861 ; against, 4 ; informal, 1.

Supreme Court.

[pee tress association.]

Wellington, June 4,

At tlie Supreme Court, Richard Hicks of Hawera, for forging a prommissory note was admitted to 12 months probation, and ordered to pay £10, costs of the prosecution,

STOKERS' AT SEA.

The stokci'!i on board one of the groat ocean steameis work four hours a,t a stretch, in a temperature ranging from 120deg. to 180deg. The quarters are close, "and they must take care that while feeding one furnace their arms are not burned on the one behind them. Ventila tion is furnished.through a shaft reaching down' to the middle, of their quarters. Each stoker tends four furnaces, &pend : ing perhaps two or three minutes'at each, then dashes to the air pipe tp take his turn at cooling off, and waits for anqtiier call to his furnace. When the watch is over tlie men go perspiring through long cold passages to the forer castle, where they turn in for eight hours. One man, 28 years old, who was inter viewed by a reporter, had been employed at the furnaces since he was 14 years old.

He weighed 1801b, and, was ruddy an 4 seemingly happy. He confessed the work was terribly hard; but" came hardest to those who did not follow it regularly. ' But if we get plently to eat,' lip i^aul, ' .and take care of ourselves^ we are all right. .Here's a mate of mine, nearly 70 years old wlio has been a stoker all his life, and cm do as good work as I can. Stokers never have the consumptiqn., and I rarely catch cold. The' grog has fjeen knocked off on the English and American lines, because the men got drunk too often and the grog die] them much harm. When I used to take my grog, I'd work like a lion while the effect" lasted. I?d throw in my coals like a giant, and not mind the heat a bit, but when it worked off, as ifc did in a very few minutes, I was that weak that a child could upset mo. Take a man dead drunk before the fires and the heat wpuld sober him'off in half-an-hour or give him stroke of apop] ▼

TELEGRAPHIC. HOME AND FOREIGN.

[per press association.]

London, June 4 and 6. The captain and crew of the Dacca have arrived at Plymouth. " Truth" says that Prince George of Wales will be created Duke of Sussex shortly.

The personality of the late Marquis of Normanby has been proved at under £600.

Sir F. D. Bell denies the statement that he is parleying with France' and Germany for a reduction of cable rates.

At a meeting on the land question Mr Davitt defended Henry George against an attack made on his princi ples by Mr Gladstone. '

Paris, June 4. The Duke of Orleans intends to pro ceed to England after his release. He is at present at Basle; in Switzerland.

The Marquis of Mores, who was ar rested in May on a charge of inciting the army to join the Anarchists,. has been sentenced to three months' im prisonment for sedition.

Toronto, June 4. Rogers oflers to make a match between O'Connor and Hanlan for a thousand dollars aside.

St. Petersburg, June 5. The Russian Government has decided not to demand the surrender of Kalop koff, the Russian merchant, .who was found guilty of complicity in the Pa nitza conspiracy.

Arrival of the Coptic.

[per press association.]

Wellington, June 6,

The Coptic arrived at 11.30 last night from London; via way ports. Captain Kempion reports having experienced a terriffic gale arid sea on the 25th ult., and never before experienced. such un favorable winds as from the Equator. The voyage, from Plymouth to Wellington occupied 46 days 20 hours 22 minutes, actual steaming time 45 days 6 hours 22. minutes.

The Labor Troubles.

[per press association.]

London, June 5

The Salvation Army is starting labo» bureaux for the purpose of registering unemployed. It is intended, if possible, to establish co-operative farms and work shops.

Auckland, June 5. The fiallot amongst the railway servants in this district on the question of resort ing to extreme measures in the dispute with-the Railway Commissioners, resulted sis follows :—For, 349 ; against, 10. A ballot was also taken on the question of the federation of the Society of Railway Servants with the Maritime Council, and. showed the following results —For, 351; against, 8

Wellington, June 5.

The Conference between the Marine Officers 1 Association and the steamship owners will probably be held on the 19bh hist., having been held over until the arrival of the Hon George McLean, Chair man of the Union Company. A Carpenters' Union has been formed, and close on 200 names have already been subscribed. All the tailoring firms have given ad hesion to the movement to close their establishments at 6 p.m. on five days in the week and at 9 p.m. on Saturdays. The Committee of the Canterbury branch of the Hail way Servants Society met last night. A vote of the branch was taken on the question of federation with the Maritime Council, the result being—For 856, agaiust 4, informal 1.

INTERPROVINCIAL.

[i'JSK. TB.ESS ASSOCIATION.]

Auckland, June 5,

The Auckland Gas Company have de clined all liability in regard to the alleged error four years ago in the valuation of their property by which a sum of £800 has been lost to the city.

Mr Edmonds, who was killed at Hamil ton by a fall from a horse, came to the Waikato from Canterbury four years ago. He leaves a wife and eight children, most of whom are grown up.

The brig Wild Wave, water-logged at Kaipara, was seized by the Northern River Steam Navigation Company, in satisfaction of a claim for salvage, the warrant of a seizure being issued by the Vice-Admiralty Court. Arrangements were made for tfye settlement of the claim,

At the Supreme Court to-day the man named Joseph Henning Way, who had been cook at one of the city hotels, was sentenced to penal servitude for life for an unnatural offence. Mr Justice Connolly told the prisoner that some time ago the crime qf which he stood convicted was punishable with death. Henry McQuarry received a sentence of twelve months' hard labor for forgery.

Wellington, June 5

A movement is on foot among the grocers and wholesale merchants for re pressing the practice qf cutting the trade, which it is asserted generally ends in fehose. gelling at low prices finding their Avay to the Bankruptcy Cpurfc. To further their ends the grocers have formed an Association.

At the Supreme Court John Scully, for unlawfully wounding Catherine Walsh at Palmerston North, was sentenced to, nine months' hard labor. Albert Brimble, charged with criminal assault on a child, did not appear, and ;s believed to have goije to S.an His Honor ordered that- ' his" recognisances be entreated. The charge of perjury against Burton is to be heard to-morrow.

Dunedijj, June 5,

The criminal sessions of the Supreme Court were concluded to-day, when George Cowan, on a charge of attempted rape on a young girl, was sentenced to ten years' penal servitude, this being the second sentence of that term inflicted.

The Shah's Wife.

Tho wife of the Shah of Persia is now in Vienna, whither she came to consult eminent oculists. She is forty-five years old anil of a rather delioatc form, ai}d }ost her right eye some four years "ago'from glaucoma. The disease made its appear: ance in lier left eye, also, about three months ago, and she was strongly advised to como to Europe and, dbtajn the best treatment to be had. She refused to make the journey, however, until her right was-entirely gone.

Society is greatly excited over the cir cumstances attending her visit. When tho' day for the .operation' arrived (ihe, plashing of "Western customs* and Eastern prejudices occasioned several curious scenes. Three eunuchs of the lady's suite insisting on remaining in the room, and almost assaulted the" occulist when he asked the lady to remove her veil, "" The eunuchs proposed that the. veil should be cut around the eye where it was necessary to see that organ, but nowhere else. The Persian Minister and the eunuchs had tq bo removed,by forpQ before t]\e operation could be proceeded with. T>he eunuchs fought savagely, "and it will now be their duty to report to the Shah the indignity to which- his Avife has been subjected, and which according to Persian aw is punishable by death,

A Night Adventure in St. Paul's.

We colonials, on the whole, I think, have more appreciation of St. Paul's Cathedral than any other of the London sights. Coming over from Australia for a six months' visit, one of the first things I promised myself was to see St. Paul's. ] I felt it impossible to go back and face my friends if I could not say that I had seen the metropolitan cathedral. First one thing intervened, and then another, until my last day in England had been reached. That last day I had kept clear of engage-1 ments purposely, but unfortunately aj telegram arrived in the morning sum moning •me to Norwich, and ifc was 8 o'clock in the evening before 1 reached Liverpool street on the return. journey. Now, I was bound to start for Brindisi the next day, and it seemed as if it were to be my fate to miss the last chance of seeing St. Paul's. Still I was determined, and a fast hansom put me down at the corner of St. Paul's Churchyard. ' - As I stood on the pavement looking up at the giant dome, the "clock struck 9. The j sun had set, and ■'high overhead the golden ball and cross stood out against the sky, still burnished by the evening glow. The traffic had slackened, there were but few j pedestrians, and an occasional cab crawled by. The city seemed to sleep, and Sfci Paul's was closely fastened up. Was I doomed only to see the outside ? Bending back my neck and gazing upwards, I saw that about the great golden ball was a tracery as of cobwebs, and men like flies .were crawling about. Stout scaffolding and cables, they were, no doubt, but from the street they appeared but trifling.- After quickly walking round in vain, search of an open door, I came to the end of the south transept; I spied a light. .^Presently I heard a door softly close, and a-grey headed old .verger opened the iron grills. With all-the eloquence of which I am I master, I entreated him to let me into the [sacred fane. He hesitated and shook his r.head.

'Very well,' he said, 'it is against the rules, but, as you say, it's a long way from . Australia; I'll let you in- if you don't mind stopping inside for an hour. I shall return then, but I must lock the

door behind me. Do you wish to go inside V

Thanking him warmly, I said, 'Cer tainly, yes.' I got under the great dome which hung like a luminous cloud above, full of hazy, uncertain shadows, a faint circle of light flitting round the huge piers—white figures gleaming here and there in shadowy recesses, marble warriors j heroes, and statesmen. •■". - Under the dome in the great openipace was a vast crowd of chairs, rush-bottomed, lashed'together in rows looking eastwards. Choosing one of the most central of these I safe down and began to dream, peopling the area with a vast invisible congregation. In soft, long-drawn cadence, the bells of St Paul's tolled.out the hour of 10. I had been in the place an hour. I felt chilled and numbed. I walked briskly up and clown an avenue between the chairs. I had seen enough, and wanted to get away from the scene of shadows. Looking upwards, a faint circle of light marked the soaring vault, and just above !my head I saw a rope hanging down from the vast height above. Then I remem bered the spider-webs I had seen outside above the ball and cross, and as I stood and listened I heard' faint sounds "of hammering and knocking. Men were at work hundreds of feet above ; lights shone here and there, twinkling like stars.

In years gone by I used to be a famous gymnast, and the sight of the rope hang ing above me pub me in mind of niy for mer prowess. How many times, I won dered, could I, hanging on the rope, draw my.chin up to my knuckles 1 1 leapt up and caughfc the rope. Once, twice, thrice. Drawing myself up and down until I grew tired, I stretched myself, ex pecting to reach the ground with my toes. But I could not. Glancing below me I saw that the flooring had vanished from under me. I was swinging suspended by my hands high up towards the dome ! If I had dropped at that momant I might have been safe, but I hesitated, and was lost. Slowly and steadily the rope was being wound up. I shut my eyes. There I swung, a tiny human speck half way betweed heaven and earth. My muscles were wearied with the load. I made huge efforts to grasp the rope with my feet also, but impossible,- I could not do it. I could, therefore, only lr Id on.

I was now on a level with the plinth that surmounts the great arches of the dome ; the colossal fresco figures seemed rto mock my agony. I must be half way up now —could I hold on to the end? But to my despair I now saw that the seeming dome was a false one, above which rose the real conical roof another 100 ft or more, and that through a vast round orifice, the sham dome, the rope was to ascend to the uppermost peak. In that moment of torture I saw that my fate was inevitable ; my muscles now were relaxing, my grasp would fail, in another minute I must fall and be dashed to pieces! Confused thoughts whirled through my brain. In my mind's eye I saw the plains of grass, herds, and

flocks in my far-off home. My limbs were relaxed, my senses almost deserted me. Voices, I thought, were calling me. I was slipping, slipping, slipping, and-^-I fell.

' How do you feel now, sir ?' was whispered close to my ear. Was it possible ? Was I still alivQ ? Yes, my brain was conscious. Bub my frame ? shattered, no doubt; a mere human wreck. I only dared to use my eye, an 4 yet I had

no feeling of pain. An old man was bending over me ; he had a wineglass in his hand. A candle by his. side formed a little chamber of light about us, '* Am I knocked all to pieces? Do say.' I whispered. ' I don't think so, sir, you are not hurt a bit. Bless you sir, you only fell about 3ft.' I stretched out my arms ; they were all right, and my legs were sound.' ' How is this ?' I said, sitting up and looking about me. ' I thought. I was carried up intq the. dome ?' ' so you w,ere. You'd have been a dead man by this, "but just jn the nick of time I came back". I don't suppose I should have noticed you because of the light, byt I ca.uglit sight of your body against the gilding, and then you giye a sorfc of moan. Says I, * There's death here if I don't think of something at once. Then I recollected hearing that the workmen chaps whistled three times when they wanted the rope lowered, so I piped away, and the rope began to come down. I fshouted to you, to hold on, and keep your heart up, but' you diwfc seem to hear anything. " When your; feet came within a yard of the floor you quivered ajicl fell in $ dead faint. But what; were you about" to let tyieni draw you up like that V I explained my gymnastic feats. 'Oh, I see, you sh.qok the rope. That's the signal to pull up," and up they'pulled. The men are work ing double shifts now, and in a hurry to get finished. When'l left St. Paul's Cathedral that

evening I felt weak and nerveless, as if I

j had gone through a long jlln.e,ss, I b^aye, I written this; fcr.ua and untarnished aoeount j of my mishap as an outlet to my feelings, j I did not talk much about St. Paul's when I 1 returned to the Antipodes.

COUNTY COUNCIL..

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Ashburton County Council was held to day. Present- W. .C. Walker, Esq., M.H.R., (Chairman), and Messrs E. Gj Wright, E. S. Coster, James Brown (Netherby), Win. McMillan, and C. J. Harper.

chairman's statement. The Chairman's statement ran as fol lows :—

The Assistant Engineer applies for a, further cheque of £100 towards the re pairs that are being carried out at the t Rakaia Gorge bridge. He also furnishes for the Council's information' particulars'* of the sums paid and to be paid on ac count of these repairs.—The Mount Hutt Road Board asks for a refund of £109 5s 7d, which sum has been expended on bhe cutting and approaches to the Rakaia Gorge bridge in this county by that Board.; —The Water Supply Committee have met( and considered suggestions made by the the Selwyn County Council for a bill pro posed to be prepared dealing with water races and irrigation, and the suggestions made by that Committee will.be c'placed• before the Council, to-day for its conside ration. -The proposed clauses as agreed to by the Committee, as prepared by the Council's solicitor, are placed on the table.—The amount of £814 13s. has'been paid on account of water charges due Ist; May, 1888, \ leaving £50' 5s outstanding for water charges due Ist May, 1889, £638 16s 7d has been paid, £21910s being stilTcollectable. The sum of £1803 16s. 3d,.for rates due- 2nd January, has been-| remitted.—The answer from the-Govern-! ment, in reply, to the Council's application; for grant of money-on account of the' lands sold lately, being-enhanced in value by the water races, will be 'read'to-day. '

WATER RACE ARREARS,

In reply to Mr Wright,' the Clerk said? the £50 odd of water race arrears men-] tioned in the Chairman's statement would; not be relegated to the list of bad, debts,; but would all be collected. . '

ENGINEER'S REPORT. ; The. Engineer's report was read as follows:— '•■;-- ;

Plains Water Supply: Tffis;fservice is, being kept up as well as the present con-; dition of the races admits of,- but" it is of • much importance ■ that the half-yearly' overhauTshbuld not be further postponed.. There is a- good at the various' sources, and there will now be nodifli- : culty in charging .the races again after; clearing operations have been completed. Threshing operations for the most part are now completed, and the season is at hand when more severe frosts may be ex-; pected which would prevent the work being efficiently done-^-for allJof which reasons the clearing should be commenced on Tuesday -week, giving the settlers notice by advertisement in the meantime. I met Mr Goldney Baker as to the works about which he interviewed the Council at last meeting, and arranged as to what would be done. With reference to the question of, flood water entering the race in the vicinity of the flume, it seems- to me that this may be obviated to some ex tent by passing it into the creek by a short shoot on the nipper side of the race, at a cost of about £6V As to the question of encroachment of creek towards the race • after it passes the flume, there, does hot seem to have been much change there for some years, Land if future floods should cause danger it might be advisable to cut through the narrow neck of land in the creek bed opposite the point referred to ; but to initiate a system of groins would be a hazardous operation.' I have prepared sections in triplicate of Chapman's creek for the purpose of djeeds of easement, and have also, wibh, the consent of the parties interested, fixed the summer and winter levels of water in concrete channel. The junction between El and E2 races at Lower Acton. has now been , completed. The settlers on Reserve 1466 near Rakaia have not yet provided the funds necessary; for the construction of this race,, which is therefore meantime in abeyance.

Races, Ashburton Forks : As requested I met the various owners, and arranged for the extension of race. '■_ from Green street's school to join the race, formerly, made at Grayley's, the upper end of which, including intake, was, some time ago, cut off by encroachment of North Branch of Ashburton River. The owners are mak ing the unfinished portions from Winch more road downwards, and they ask the Council to make the flumes and other works from the terminus of present race at Greenstreet's school to Winchmore road. They agree to defray cost of same, which I estimate at £20. Mr Robert Anderson would receive a service from the branch now supplying Mr Oliver's property, and the extension of it beyond Mr Anderson's property would, if such extension was likely to be called for, be a matter for future arrangement.

Races near Bush—Taylor's Stream : I have marked, off the Jines of these races, to suit the consenting parties, -in Ithe. only manner which seemed feasible, in the. circumstances, and work will be com menced forthwith.

Ashburton-Rangitata Water Supply : This service is pretty satisfactory, but the necessity for an early overhaul of the races applies here, as well as to the Rakaia Plains., As to the race authorised by the Hon. W. S." Peter, 1 I have taken snch levels as are nece,ssary, arjd will call tenders for same as soon as sections and plan of flume over river is prepared. Having examined the? riverbed, above the headworkg at South Ashburton river, I find it would be advisable to supplement the willow planting there to some extent, by putting in about 2500 stakes at such points as they r would be likely to .grow. The present.plantation extends,, more or less, to about 50 chains above the. dam, but an area of about two acres further up might in parts be profitably planted also with say 5000 willows, and I have written to the Commissioner of Crown Lands to inquire whether that place is available f.gr purposes' of river protection, $he re-' arrangement; of fencing w.ould simply be an additional .length of about 20" chains, 'and the total 'cost of- planting and fencing would probably be about £50,

County vPlantationSj-^As requested I have prepared for the information of the Blanting Committee, a report on the present condition of these plantations. Upper Rangitata Bridge.—The fencing and clearing of cutting South approach have now been finished.

Auxiliary Water Supply for Plains.— As requested by the Council, I have care fully examined the AshburfsQH Forks district for the purpose of suggesthig the safest and cheapest method of securing an auxiliary supply of 'water from South Branch for benefit of district, north of As,hbiirtiQn in dry seasons.. I now beg to submit the accompanying plan which will tend to elucidate my views on this sub ject. The temporary connection which has been available during the last three months extends from point A; in South Ashburton River to H at North Branch, a distance of 4| miles. With the excep tion of a short cutting at B, and the widening of- an ai'tificial cu.t between E W<JF (tog^hej? extending to about 30 chains in length), the whole distance may be described as an ; old natural .water, course, varying in, width from half chain to two chains, the depth qf channel in river-bed from. B to, I? being about 3 fee,t, while frorft P to 3 the depths vary from 4 to 8 f eeb'. Having taken levels over the greater part of this water course, I find the declivity is fairly uniform, the grade being about 1 in 200 or 26 feet per mile. The volume of water brought down it this season has averaged J.B,QOQ gallons per minute, and with this flow there is no sign whatever of instability on any part of the course. There is therefore, al ready, an almost entirely natural channel o itablished between the two rivers, and *o no other connection can compete with this on the score of cheapness so far a«

/egards cost of construction. A com paratively ismall expenditure, and some modifications at the inlet, would suffice to rendor ia reasonably safe during the dry portions of the season, when, only, it would require to be in operation. At present, by a temporary dam and embank- . ment, the water is trained down the river bank from A to B, and nb small cost - could bo lob to I, where I should prefer to have the water led our, near S.W. corner of R.S. 21077. This' would diminish the length on which river en croachment could affect the initial portion of ,•. channel, and this is the element of-danger there, though it would be at least, equally, great on any other'portion of the. river bed in that," lbcalitjrPfWH*. inlet sluices at I, and regulating sluices at ".. E,' where the main High -terrace, is wet, and with-,, judicious willow .planting aV' these points, I.consider.theidamagewnidii has been takiilg 1 place for yearn, from ' this point downwards . through R.S. 21039 (where much .good land has been swept away), - would be lessened ratKer .than increased; bfecause, as "the river works inwards ■ Jnr the, low shingly liver . bed. and above' this poinfc^it would,-sif guarded; near E, ehoot outwards more towards'the centre of the sriv'er.;;''Near>F the creek- is now in somewhat dangerous proximity to the ' river^,-;but j a short deviation therje woUld'suffice to-'-'place -it. on a more' permanent line. The works which would be required -in-the place, supposing the supply to be kept up temporarily on.the.present footing, would be the introduction, of'sluices, at B and E, the securirig the ford,(!and; erection of a sheep bridge for .public .road..at.,Gr, and . bhe strengtheriing^and jbxtending* of some embankments between C arid'F, the. cost of these being about "£^., and ..If a nejr charuiel Were made, from I to C Sand sluice placed at* I instead of B^the^iffarther cost would be about £20:~ t should estimate the annuial cost^ of maintenance: for-the . ' period' this service would' be likely f fee required (say three.m^nths.every;year)-8t £25, the greater'part df which would be for temporary works in training chailnfljin river bed. -SV as to keep jup a, suppjp at _ the point of intake, and this would be re quired whether the" works at inlet are of a temporary or a more permanent character. I may also state that an expendittir€fßf about £10 woiilii suffice to rcurtail sfcne widtftti^of , water way in many~"places in Q'Shea^s creek where the water spreads "consider ably. : lam therefore of t opinion thaj; bo "•. far as' construction' 'is. concerned '■< an ex penditure of-£BO would^TendirMihe work- • ing of the proposed connection reasonably safe' The annual expense foi* 'mainten ance might from one year-to another according, to the action of, the riv«r during . freshets,; but I should^ reckon £25^, as aboyej a fair.. estimate. ,So far then t I have gone .on the assumption that-the present permits from the owners along "tihe line of water would be available from time to time as occasion required, and so far as I can ascertain,, there would not be much difficulty in making such;an arrangement,-.: especially,, ;asf- the y owners after seeing the working; of theKScheme ;. this season seem to be satisfied that jw bad effects on property would .ensue. - rif * however, ; 'the should-: desire/ to acquire the freehold of this water-course the question would assume a totally different aspect, as the land would,have to be purr chased under 'Public -WorksJ Act and* it a cosi ; of ' not ■ less., ;prob^ibly! then $500, while a further expenditure of £500 would have to incurred in accommodation bridges and other works, and the course water of that portion of river bed neat the intake would have to be systematically undertaken. • If'- the. question"..resolves itself into one of land purchase,, it might be worth considering the route' indicatifctT by red pencil line as ah alternative oiie,' though taking into account ithe cost Jof construction of an entirely new "channel, and. most awkward .severances/on ,'thlat .line I could not recommend it.,' . As'jtothe utilizing the supply which is discharged 1 from O'Shea's creek into, th« river, there is no suitable ground'in that "locality for fliuning the north, branch,, but'a* portion of the supply" might be led out again on the north bank near Winchmore for the purpose of an auxiliary supply^ for the plains, the larger part remaining to supply the Wakanui creek, the borough and mill, the auxiliary channel to Seafield, and the Wakanui Flat district, "or in other words the same districts it served this season. The percolation in the river-bed this autumn has been very great indeed, being abut 35 per cent from O'Shea's to inlet at Wakanui creek, a distance, of 8. miles. This is hot surprising, seeing that wells 40ffc deep near the, river bank have this season become quite dry, andthis circum stance of riyer-bed percolation could only be obviated by the construction "of a new channel or channels .removed from th@ river-bed, but these would be costly, and would somehow, have to connect with Wakanui" creek in; prder: to (Conserve the' existing interests' on that water" course, This objection, .so far as lengths of channels'^and-cost was con cerned, would apply in-sgreater measure for; auxiliaries' led out' froin'i'the natiftal^ volume of, the : North Branch' fiat^ soW point higher up the .pUtos,/. >;Thtel*e',!are several miportant^ interests' attached ;,to the Wakanui creek supply, and.unless these, are left out'of the calculation'l'can 'not' see' that the supply ifor that creek in dry seasons can bo kept up, except very 'partially, otherwise than from the South . Branch, • The proposed auxiliary supply from Winchmore might be mwie ,of ivery considerable benefit'-for all the lower portion of the plains* and the' ordinary ~ supply in the North ...Branch- would be, . sufficient (^lotig with; present 1 require ments) to feed it for at least eight months every year, that is: to say during the time' the supply from the South Branch was shut off, and the existing > race, supplies above Winchmore could, theti be dis- \ tributedto better purpose fdr "the uppe^ districts. In connection with fch|s mattef I m^| stake also that the supply available, from the South Branch In sudh'a" season as this is a somewhat limited quantity. If another volume equal to that proposed to be taken from it for the" auxQiary; supply of the Rakaia plains were to be drawn from the. same.'-souroe. for the* supply of the Ashburton-Rangitata. dis tricts, there would be barely sufficient left to reach the sea, and ,unless/ripariana rights are to be entirely extinguished, it ':, becomes a serious question as to how far these rivers which shrink so very much in _'■ dry seasons can be drawn .upon for in creased summer supplies, ;aa their ; mini mqin. yields (except) an 1' lntormeetingf system is esfeab|isfye4) ( mQs,fc «lwaj« repre-, •-■ ---sent something more than thVmwamuni supply for the water races. Springs and Wells : As requested by '. you, I have, for some time" past"|l>een^ collecting information with reaped "to I;h'e varying levels of under-ground supplies fpr wells, etc., in Various portions of county, and"will make further investiga" tions and report next month, \ THE QALF-THiAKiY OVBRaAUii,

\ It was decided to CQiauwnoe. the usual . half-yearly overhaul of the races on the - 17th inst., the water tQ ho turned off on that dace, starting on the Rakaia side of the county, • ', •; " j MR GOIiDNEY BAKER'S" REQUESTS. - , I Mi' McMillan objected to the making 6t the short shoot referred;.- to -py> ~ the ".;■ Engineer, to relieve Mr Gdldnej Baker of a certain proportion of flood water h t-. iiow had .to receive* and which he thoughtr in fairness should be, .sent intio the *H jacent dry. creek.- Mr McMillan claimed I tliafc the property* adjoining Mr, Baker^*; should not be swamped with flood waterT torelieve Mr Baker.. .'-^, ,', ,',., i,, 1 ,->|f/j '-\ The Engineer did not think that tfig small amount. of .floodwater to ', ,h£ js**%^ into the diy creek shouJ4 J raise ]■■ tKeT general question of .ftoodwater, ,afc • thia . juncture. ' The : flume, - iin* |l<irttinary seasons, carried the race supply only, bvA in flood seasons it wag filled to oYvdtovipg ;

THE ASHBtJ&TOK &T7ARDIAK, FRIDAY, JUNE 6, 1890.



Wanted. I Cash Adwriixmente under this headina. not \ exeeedino 16 words, ONE 81TILLZAG j Addrcziesmiy hr, lit t.t th-'.t Ofji • ■ JUST opened, a few ladies plush jackets, newest shapes, very cheap. H. C. Segers, Melford Hou3e. WAN ' JLJ jinown.—A special pur chase of choice Ladies' Hats at a desperate price.—W. H. Collier. 4+130 ABKEST AFRlCA.—Stanley's new book. Cheap edition to arrive shortly. First supply limited. Orders wanted.—L. F. Andbewes & Co. 620 YTTANTED every man m the County VV to have a suit of the Ashburton Tweeds. —Robert Alcorn, Ashburton Clothing Mart, Saunder's Buildings. ) XirANTED KNOWN—The " Strong » YV Wear " Boot is the best for Men, Ladies, and Children.—W. H. Collier, 'The Corner." WANTED KNOWN.—The Cheapest House in Ashburton 'to buy Drapery, Millinery, Clothing, Boots, etc., ' is H. C. Segers, Melford House. i STOP THAT COUGH! By using Flower's Cough Drops. Guarantee efficacious. Can only be obtained at H G. Flower's, Confectioner, East Street. 3 191 fipHE Patent Candle Extinguisher can JL be Set to Extinguish at any time required ; it will save insurance premiums your house and your life, price Is ; Sole Agent for Ashburton.—R. Alcorn, Saunders' Buildings ANTED~Known — One hundred and fifty Ladies' and Children's Ulsters bought a great bargain (good qualities), now selling very cheap —H. C. Seqers. Melford House. WANTED Known —The Cheapest Shop to buy Tinware and Gal vanised Iron goods in Ashbarton, is at W. F. Hannaford's, Burnett Street. A large stock kept on hand. Tin and Iron •ware goods made and repaired with dcs patchy '



Fublio Notices. L"~ OST—Near Oddfellows' Hall, an Ex hibition .. Silver Brooch, finder please return to " Mail" Office. 6*35 WM. SPARROW TAILOR AND MEN'S MERCER EAST STPvEIi! Ar.'fiCUT TIIEITH WITH TEETU the cnRiSToHURCH dental •SDJiaSRY, 0 ;zov of C.-ishel and High streets.



MYERS AND /~\o. SURGEON DENTISTS. And at Dunedin and Westport. WE have gained the FIRST AWARD at the Dunedin Exhibition for Artificial Dentures and Mechanical Appli ances for the Mouth, and it is wh.li the greatest confidence that we guarantee the highest class work and perfect fit at the most moderate cost. A Single Artificial Tooth, 10s. Ov.plete S ' -Upper and Lower — temporary ai . permanent, £10 10s. Natural, Disable, Comfortable Artificial Teeth Replaced Temporarily al most immediately after the extraction of decayed teeth or stumps without extra fee or charge. Arrangements can be made for part or monthly payments. ADMINISTERING NITROUS OXIDE 3AS several times daily for the past ten years, we fearlessly assert that extraction of teeth under its influence is perfectly painless and positively safe Fee for Administration, ss. Extraction, 2s Gd. Aitificial Teeth and Dentures made by other dentists repaired or remodelled at small cost. Hours of attendance —9 a.m. to 6 p.m. 0. M BROOKE, PRESCRIBES FOR LA GTVPPF, COUGHS, COLDS, And other Common Ailments. AND in future will be in personal attendance at "The Dispensary ' from 9a.m. to 6 p.m., and from 7 to 8 p.m. Sundays—Afternoon, 2 to 3; Evening, 1 to 8.30. The Ashburton Doctors prescriptio accurately dispensed by C. M. BROOKE. TEETH CAREFULLY EXTRACTED. A Large Stock of the best COD LIVER OIL, CHEST PROTECTORS, and other Requisites for the season. Orders by Post j^omptly attended to. C M. BIiOOKE THE DISPENSARY, EAST STREET, ASHBURTON



MUST BE SOLD. PREVIOUS TOSTOJK-TAKING. • SURPLUS stock of Books, Stationery, Fancy Goods etc., at GREATLY REDUCED PRICES. A lot of music at half price. Hundreds of back numbers o" Periodicals and Xmas Papers with colored illustrations at half price. Sale now on. L. F. ANDREWES & CO. Stationers' Hall. TMPORTANT .~\TO-TICE Important IN otice MESSRS HALLENSIEINBROS & CO, Proprietors of the NEW ZEALAND CLOTHING FACTORY AT ASHBURTON Invorcargill, Gore, Milton, Oamaru, Timaru, Dunedin, Christchurch, Hoki tika, Greymouth, Reefton, Westport, Nelson, Wellington, Napier, .Hastings, Waipawa, Gisborne, Palmerston North, Wanganui, Hawera, New Plymouth, Thames and Auckland, Have arranged to FLOAT THEIR BUSINESS INTO A COMPANY, To be registered under " The .Companies - Act 1882 It is a part of the arrangement that STOCKS shall be REDUCED by £50,000 before the 15th of Jurie next To effect this the Managers of the vari ous Branches throughout the colony have j been instructed, in 'addition to marking - out the Goods at Low Prices, to allow 5 per cent on all cash' sales amounting to £1 and upwards. This excellent rrir-nrfur-ih- nf buying goods should hot W. <.v<!!<vi'-:v<;.- especi ally as it is a well-known fact that the Manufactures of the New Zealand' Cloth ing Factory are Superior to Anything in the Market.



The sale at the Ashburton Branch under the management of Mr W.'l Webbbk.



SANDER AND SONS' EUCALYPTI EXTRACT.—In protection of the world wi-.le fame our manufacture lias acquired all over the globe, we publish the following :— Hazard, M.D., Professor of General Patho logy and Diseases of the Mind and Nervous System, says in an editorial published in the "Clinical Record": —"We have examined half-a-dozen specimens of different manufac tures ; the preparation of Sander and Sons was the only one that proved to be reliable and corresponding to scientific tests." Another concoction called "Refined Extract of Eucalyptus" has made its appearance since. This product stands, according to Dr Owen, foremost in causing injurious effects. That gentleman communicates, at a meeting of the Medical Society of Victoria, that a child living at Fitzvoy became most seriously indisposed through its use. In anteoer case a lady states on the strength of statutory declaration that she suffered cruelly from the effects of the same concoction. To guard' tho liigh reputation of our manufacture we feel warranted in exposing the, above facts, and desire the public to exercise cars ana precaution when buying. SANDER and SONS.—(Advtj 7



j It is said the awyers' clerks in, Greymp_uth ' are. forming a Union, and agitating for more ! holidays and higher pay. • There is now to be seen in the shop window of Messrs J. Scaly and Co., East street, a collection of apples showing some of the sorts ■ grown at the nurseries, Riverbank, tha.t will l'opay inspection by any one who contem plates planting fruit plants. There are upwards of fifty diffei'ent kinds shown, all valuable, long keeping sorts. For size, color, and general excellence they arc by far the finest that have been shown in Ashburton the season.—(Advt