The Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. FRIDAY, JUNE 20, 1890. THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.

The fourth session of the tenth Parliament of New Zealand was opened yesterday with the customary vague and indefinite speech from the Throne. The difference between the speech of yesterday and its many predecessors, lies in the fact that, in the introductory portion, it is stamped with the individuality of the new Governor, and expressess the opinions of His Excellency rather than those of Ms advisers. The Earl of Onslow, in travelling through New Zealand, has done so with his eyes well open, and he is therefore in a position to speak on the subject of the present condition of the Colony from the standpoint of an observant outsider. The Governor's impression of New Zealand and its people is highly favourable, and is eloquently expressed its the sentence : "I have been greatly pleased with the abundance of its resources, with the beauty of its scenery, and the enter prise and industry of its inhabitants." This opinion coming, as it does, direct from the Queen's representative him self, and not filtered, through" his advisers, is of much more value than the usual run of such official utter ances, and its effect should be to further stimulate colonists to make our "resources and beautiful scenery" more attractive by wise Government and laws ; and, in addition, it should assist to stay the outflow of population, and bring about that voluntary stream of immigration so much needed. His Excellency paid a well-merited compli ment to the inhabitants of Otago for their enterprise in carrying to a successful issue the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition; and the " Gentlemen of the Legislative Council and House of Representatives" can well afford to take a lesson from the Otago example set them, and discard once and for all the " stand-still" policy which it hasbecomefashionableamongst a large proportion of their number to preach. The " advised " portion of the Governor's speech is even more vague and indefinite—if that were possible— than those which have previously emanated from the Atkinson Cabinet. Passing mention is made of an increase in the volume of exports, a suppo sitious decrease in private indebted ness, and an increase in deposits in Savings Banks, and the satisfactory settlement (?) of the waste land of the Cro\vn,and also the good results (?) that have followed the " liberalising " of the land laws. Of the future Ministerial land policy there is little or no indica tion, save a hint that Government intend to open up roads to the lands recently disposed of, and, if possible, acquire more Native lands for similar disposal—we cannot say settlement, as, in the light of recent revelations, the word is inapplicable. As to where the money is to come from to purchase roads and buy. more Native land for disposal by lottery, nothing is stated, but it would appear that, after all, the Hon. Mr Fergus' repudiated scheme for borrowing, sub rosa, for this pur pose is not far off the mark ; although he was, no doubt, guilty of letting the cat out of the bag sooner than was intended. In regard to education it is openly stated that, for two years at least (it may be for ever), extra school houses and other public buildings will be a charge upon revenue. This would appear to mean that the cost of future schoolhouses, etc,, are to be shouldered as directly as possible on fclje people, and any large increase will there fore mean extra taxation. The

remainder of tl-e policy •of the Government, as sjiadowed forth in th& Gubernatorial deliverance, lies injfche direction of Civil service j?eform ; amending the \&yr relating to the quali fication and registration of electors, and providing for the issue of electoral rights ; amending the Hospitals and Charitable Aid Acts; amending the Counties Act; and altering and con solidating the law of Bankruptcy. The whole programme is not a very elaborate one, and we suspect no one will be very much disappointed. The Atkinson Ministry was placed on the Benches to give effect to the purely departmental work of cutting down salaries and effecting other simple re trenchments. Having accomplished this fairly well, the Cabinet has proved itself unequal to any other task, and Ministers have retained thoir portfolios on the xuiicrance of all parlie3 in the House, principally because no other Parly was sulHcieutly consoli dated to take up the reins. Creative faculty the Atkinson Combination never had, and, having saved a few poundsjtheir work was done, and their services could veil have been dispensed with long :igo, and a more progressive) party put in power—particularly as regards the- ftdnjinistration of the public estate, iu»d tJja re-inspiriug of public confidence in the vitally of the Colony.

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Sir (i. M. O'Rorke is a strong advocate for colonial federation.

Mr Feldwick, of Invercargill, favors the imposition of an Income-tax.

Kind words are like babl heads —they can never dye. A Japan---' 1 .<."- 7; ■'■■ :■ !o develop exten' sivc coal i!-!:\ :: \«-.- ':■■■ i. Japan.

Mr R. K. Twopcny will b«n Ciindidatc for Duuedin City in the J'rotcotion interest.

Sir Robert Stout will deliver an addre^in the Oainaru I'ublic J-Iji] 1 on Monday night on the political topics of the day.

William O'Urien, M.1., has boon engaged io the daughter of M. Hafl'alovitch, a l\ivi fcian iui'.uicicr.

Germany's; new Chancellor is a great smoker, ami, like Disinarck, an immoderate quarter of beer.

It co--ts Great Britain £709,0;.)!) annually for caliirics and allowances lo the royal family.

A Hebrew convert to Christianity is labouring with success among the 30,000 resident Jews in Jerusalem.

The English people are grumbling because nearly ever member of the royal family is on a tour of the Continent.

Mr Gladstone says lie is opposed to the nationalisalion of land. He does not sec how the State could be a good and capable landlord.

O.ic effect of the proposed now cable rates will be that in future the charge for private mcjsiigi-K will be <")o 'Jd pur word, instead of 0a id us hiihvrto.

The discovery of a superior quality of coal is reported from the Bay of Islands.

A remarkable double funeral took place recently at Cwnbran, Wales, the deceased being a man and his wife, named Mumford, aged respectively 75 and 76. They had been married over fifty years, were ill together, died within a few hours of each other, and were buried in the same grave.

Pleasant Point settlers have decided to approach Parliament in favor of a village settlement near the township. Failing assistance from Parliament a suggestion has been made to purchase from private holders, and lay out a settlement, on the 21 acre lot principle.

The recent persecution of the Jews in Vienna became so dangerous to all shop keepers that the city recently appeared covered with such signs as " I am a Chtistian Tradesman." "Christian Brandy Shop," " Christian Cheesemonger," " Christian Old Clothes Shop."

The Executive of the Farmers' Union are inviting expressions of opinion from the farmers' clubs in Otago on the advisability of New Zealand federating with Australia if intercolonial freetrade is granted, and also aB to the Bupport.which farmers will give a farmers' co-operative company.

A remarkable result of Russian influenza is recorded by the authorities of the Massa chusetts insane asylum. In seven cases the patients, thiough having la grippe, were restored to .reason, and in each case the details are thoroughly vouched for by the medical attendants.

"George," she whispered, softly, "mark yonder breadth of cloud, stretching to the utmost part of the heavens —a boundless, infinite sea of nothingness." "Nothingness I" he echoed. " Why, goodness gracious, Maria, there's a quart of rain in every square foot of that there cloud."

The extent and resources of the British Empire may be realised when it is stated Ithat it is nearly three times the size of JSurope and only 1,000,000 acres less than Africa. At least a fifth of the world's popu lation are British subjects, and close upon one-half of the trade of the whole is in their hands.

"I don't think it is chimerical," said the Emperor William to Jules Simon, " to beleve that wars may one day cease. The time appears to be coming when even wars between two nations single-handed will give place to wars between groups of nations— that is, between Continent and Continent. But after that I daresay the Continents will take refuge in peace."

There is a curious stone about which very little is ever heard. It is called the "Alex* andrite," in honour of Alexander of Russia, who was very fond of them. In the day time they resemble an emerald, except that they are somewhat darker, but at night they are a deep purplish red. They are found in India, and like all rare stones vary much in size.

Another unhappy victim of matrimonial infelicity has been given away by the wife of his bosom. He was a Norfolk man, and",he advertised in the papers a few days ago that he would not be responsible for any debts contracted by his wife. The fair one responded by an advestisement in the fol lowing words :—"Mary Johnson, of——, Norfolk, couldn't, if she tried, obtain credit •in Martin Jonnson's name, he being too well known for anyone to trust him."

A married woman in Sydney recently took a terrible revenge upon a Sydney bar maid. She caught her husband talking to the girl, and suddenly threw a bottle of vitroil over them. The man oscaped, but the acid took a terrible effect upon the girl. Her eyesight was totally destroyed,- and she is disfigured almost beyond recognition. The woman was charged with the offence, but a remand had to be granted on account of the injuries to the victim.

The Khanate of Bokhara was lately 'visited by an epidemic that carried off thou- M nds of victims. The A-neer consequently issued an edict enjoining upon all the in habitants to whitewash their houses inside and "out, under a penalty of receiving 30 strokes. The result was that the disease Avas stamped out, and the Russian general, Ainienkotf, on whose advice the decree had been issued, was proclaimed the saviour of the country. I hear (says a London correspondent) of a remarkable romance. A woman, lately a convict, has married the chaplain of one of the homo county gaols. The clergyman in question was a widower with a large family, and the wedding only became known through an official of tne penal department complaining that the wife had not reported herself on the iicket-of-loavo. In conse quence of the fact coming out the clergy man lus asked for and been appointed to another prison in the North of England.

Sir T. Eanionde executed a novel commis sion immediately on arrival Home. A young lady in Sydney waited on him while there, ami said that her father (recently deceased) was in debt to Richard Pigott to the extent of one sovereign. On his deathbed he ex pressed a strong desire that this debt should be paid, and ehe handed Sir Thomas a sovereign for that purpose. He gave the money to Mr Luboucherg, who added it to the fund which he raised for the benefit of Pigott's children.

I'Ho " Sydney Morning Herald," of the 10th instant, has the following:—" The interest taken in tho fish importations from New Zealand was shown by the numbers of per sons who made inquiry yesterday on board the steamer Mararoaas to whether a further shipment had arrived. She has brought both fish and game in her refrigerators. The lot comprises the following fine varieties :— Blue cod, trumpeter, salmon, trout, wario, soles, floundgrs, butterfish, dorys, schnapper, kawhai, kippers, and smoked fish ; and the game consists of pheasants, quail, wild pjgsons, kakas, etc.

Hearing a noiso under their bed in the middle of .the nighc—" There is something under die bed,' said the man to his wife. '' Most likely it is the dog,'" wns thn reply, " JJut it might be a robber," thought the hu.sb.ind. "Just put your hand under the bod," was his wife 8 advice ;''if it is Carlo ho will lick your hand," The man did a he was told, and the- buglsir, who had over heard the conversation, began at once to lick the proffered hand most assiduously, The couple went olf to sleep, but next morning ihoy fouu-.l little left that was worth carrying away,

"News was brought to Kingston (.South Australia) that a man, apparently in a dying stale, was lying in the bcrub at JNlarcollat, thirty-five miles distant. A trooper having all night,'returned to Kingston at cla\ break on Sunday, June I, bringing with him 1 lie sick man, who wad found to be Allen khUh'thdu', who go mysteriously disappeared from !Nar>'ac()f(toon'7£'l AJa 2\- Tne w"1" dorer left his homo apparently' owiug hi being in depressed spirits from inability to sloop, FToping to die, he went straight to an empty iiut J it; ii ].'!?iely par of the desert, fifteen inilcs from ilifi Jjpan icst residence. lie entered the hut, m.iclo a W wjlji (juni leaves, closed the door, and lay down without fw;<] or watw for 2.1 d»ys. Mentally Mr Kobc'rt fcon is perfectly n'.)»m\, and considering the terrible privations whiui| !;(• endured from c<;ld, limiger, and thirst, he 1b woitdi»-fuliy v, ell. His Mm met him at Kingston and took him by train to JJarracootc Hospital.

The Christchurch members of the Railway Servants' Society purpose entertaining their delegates at dinner on their return from Wellington. The championship of the Skating Rink takes place to-morrow evening.

The shingle accumulation at the Napier breakwater is said to be rapidly decreasing, owing to the angle at which the work has been laid out.

It is stated that Major Gudgeon, Commis sioner of Police, is to be appointed a Native Land Court Judge, and that lie will be suc ceeded by Lieut-Colonel Hume, who also retains the present office of Inspector of Prisons.'.. / ■

The Westpoft'iOfficial Assignee, owing to a clerical error of £100 in adding up. some credit balances in a statement of claims, sued a sister-in-law of the bankrupt on Thursday for the amount, and was non suited.

Last evening Mr" A. H. Shury, with Mr H. Pilbrow, one or two others, and a number of small boys, went out to the high gorse fences near the Racecourse, and in something less than two hours and a half netted 280 linnets and sparrows. The nets used, of which there were four, were the bat's wing folding nete, made by Mr Shury himself. They are certainly most efficient sparrow nets, and with sparrows at 4s 2d per 100 heads ought to be worth investing in by some of our sporting lads. *

At the Police Court this morning, before Mr Alfred Harrison, J.P., John Burke was sent for 72 hours to gaol for drunkenness.— J. E. Hyde Harris, arrested on a warrant from Blenheim, was remanded to that place, on a charge of obtaining goods under false pretences.—A prohibition order for 12 months over Ashburfcon County was issued against James O'Connell.—The accused Harris was arrested on the railway station, as he came off the express. He was allowed bail, him self in £200 and two sureties of £100 each.

The financial affairs of Fiji seem satis factory, to judge by the returns of 1889, which are just to hand. The receipts and estimates realised £63,722, while the ex penditure amounted to £57,710, leaving a surplus of £6012. Customs duties and Harbor dues are below the estimated receipts by £150, but stamps showed an excess of £650. It is rumored that the surplus will be appropriated towards refunding to civil servants the deductions made from their salaries during the last two years under Sir Charles Mitchell's retrenchment scheme.

Recently Sir Henry Parkes was questioned in the New South Wales Assembly regard ing the unemployed, the Government having been asked to find shelter in the drillshsd for a number of persons said to be unem ployed. He had complied with the request, but comparatively few persons had sought shelter., Of those who applied it was ascer tained that 5 came from Scotland,. 23 from Ireland, 20 from England,.! from Italy, 2 from Germany, 9 from America, 2 from Tasmania, 10 from South Australia, 20 from New Zealand, 33 from Queensland, 63 from Victoria—(laughter, and cries of "Oh !") —" and only 25 belonged to the 1 population of New South Wales.

Board of Education.

A b the usual meeting of the Board a Education for North Canterbery, held in "CJuistchurch qn Thursday, the following items of business, of local interest, came up, and are extracted from the reports of the meeting published by the Christchurch daily papers :—

BUILDINGS COMMITTEE. The Buildings Committee reported, inter a'ia as follows :—Alforcl Forest.— Tho School Committee represented the urgent need of a new building. It was rasolved—"That when funds were avail able a new schoolroom should be builfc." Winchmove.—The Committee asked that some member of the Board should visit the district, and decide as to its require ments. Mr Wright undertook to make enquiries. The Committee also dealt with several minor requirements at Ashburton Forks, Longbeach, Springburn, Kyle, Ashton, Lismore and Charing Cross, The,report was adopted. APPOINTMENTS,

The Appointments Committee, of whom Mr Alfred Saunders is Chairman, reported the following amongst other business :— Ashton, —The letter from Mr Gilmour, referred by the Board to the Appoint ments Committee, was considered, and the following resolution agreed to:—"That Mr Gilmour be informed that the Board of Education sympathises with him in his affliction for the loss of his son, and agrees with him that more caution should have been taken in admitting a pupil so evi dently suffering from disease so serious as that complained of by him. At the same time the Board hopes that Mr Gilmour will nyree that it is not desirable to inflict further pajn on those who have already sufl'urod sy much, by any formal investiga tion of such a painful result of conduct that carries no suspicion of wilful injury to anyono." ]t was resolved to send, a circular to teachers in charge of

schools, calling their attention to tho necessity of exercising the greatest cau tion against tho admission of children .:**"» :-:i..." *"'■■ ■•!* any infectious disease.

'['.•■. !■■:!■■■.'■!:'.( appointment was male; Chatmoss (temporary school near Long beach), Mr.l. Sinclair, mustoi". Inspection reports were received from Dr Anderson on ltakaia, Chortsey, Ashburton, 11amp stead, Wakanui, Flemington, Winch niore. These reports so far as they apply to teachers, are upon the whole satisfac tory, and none of them demand any special action from the Board. Mr Mayne Tins happily restored the Ashburton school to that satisfactory condition from which it had so completely fallen for some years before his appointment, and haa thus more than justified the change of head master, which the Board effected with so much and" prolonged opposition from former Committees of tho school. Notice was received from the Department that liio certificate of Mr Cape-Williamson had been canceled- rjP')ere being, according to the last quarterly return, only four girls ou the Mayficld school roll in ttundiul I or upwards, it was resolved that the appointment; of a sewing mistress could not be approved.

SCHOOL JiOQKS. The Committee appointed to inquire into .7i»i report on the question of ini forjnity of .school books in the schools under tho Bowl, made their report, The following is mi extract: —lfi was resolved —" That a circular letter bo addrussod to tho head teacher of each school in the .North Canterbury district, requsting him \,o furnish a detailed tfst of all books in use for the classes under his charge ; thafc the Secretary compile from such returns a statement showing tho number of children now being taught from each book, ar.d that the Inspectors be requested to indicate the books out- of the total number to which they.give the preference," The Committee then adjourned till the returns and statements called for should be in readiness.

TJia report wiw received and udoptedt

The "Gold Fever"in Madagascar.

A correspondent of the "Standard" who has returned to Madagascar after an absence of three years, found gold, and scarcely anything but gold, the topic of the day. Writing from Antananarivo on February 28th, the correspondent says :— I had not been many hours at Tamatave ere I saw practical evidence of the belief of this. I found the town overrun with poor emigrants, chiefiy from Mauritius and Bourbon, and every incoming steamer adding to the number. The last French mail boat arrived ere my departure fqtf the capital, and brought over 120 men, women, and children, most of whom were almost penniless. Such a flotsam and jetsam of helpless humanity I have seldom seen. They are under the impression i they have come to an Eldorado; but "it does not take long after landing here to find out our mistake. Fortunately for these adventures; food is plentiful and cheap, especially in the country, and they can live on very little. On ray jour ney to the capital I passed a .poor fellow on the tramp to the goldfields of Maeratanariyo, on the west coast. He told me he had heard so often the cry of "Gold, heaps of,gold, being found, and only waiting for the getting "sin.Mada gascar, he had been tempted to come and try his luck. He had formerly been in the police force of Mauritius, and being outjj of employment, he was advised to Frove what ne had heard so much about, should imagine him to be almost penni less, as he lived just as the natives do, and lodged amongst them in the villages he passed through. He was a fine, good looking fellow, and I felt sorry for the hardships he was undergoing, and was glad to assist him with some of my spare provisions. But these are not the people required here as yet. What the country greatly needs is a number of experienced Australian and Transvaal diggers, with their strength and knowledge of the situa tion, to come and make a good headway for others to follow.

Concerning the location and distribu-l tion of the gold there are numberless stories of places in various parts of the country; and I was shown a fine speci men from near Tamatave, 1 on the East Coast. Some enthusiasts are ready to believe that the island will prove another Eldorado. People, are making large pur chases. An Englishman who has just arrived at the capital from the country told me that on his journey up he saw thousands of natives working gold in various places on account of the Govern ment. It is forced labor, and they have not only to work on .week days but on Sundays, too. Children even are taken from the schools for this work. I myself went out to the west of the capital, about 15 miles, yeßterday, to a place where the Government have been working gold—

operations are suspended at present—to see where they have been working, and I collected a grain of gold after washing a little earth on a plate. in a stream close by. There are signs everywhere of the riches to be gathered from the earth of this fine virgin country. The Madagascar Government is bound to open up the island. They are, of course, much in need of money, the . French disturbance having impoverished them to a great ex tent,

I' had not been long at the capital ere I noticed what had similarly struck me on landing at Tamatave—namely, that the French influence is making, itself very strongly felt in those towns, which, after, the earnest labors of our English and other Protestant missionaries for so many years, must be a disheartening spectacle to them. One very noticeable change is in the slave market. Formerly not m< Vi than 20, or at most 3Q, slaves were ever exposed there for pale, and transactions took place in such a quiet way that they were not noticed ; indeed, the natives -appeared ashamed to acknowledge com plicity in slave-trading. But when I .^visited the market the other day over 200 slaves of both sexes, men, women, and

■ children, were on offer, and there was libtle or no reluctance on the part of the owners to quote prices. Dancing, also, in European fashion is now the order- of the day. The French Resident gives

balls, inviting the Malagasy aristocracy, the" Prime Minister and the Queen's Ladies-in-Waiting taking a very active part, and' giving balls themselves in return.

Experimenting with Human Nature.

Count Alexis Loronboff, a Russian nobleman who resides at Volhynia, pos sesses a medical diploma as well as a title, and in virtue of the former has been per forming a series of experiments which landed him as a defendant in a criminal prosecution. The Count was anxious to tind out how and in what way the human race would develop itself, if entirely bereft of all instruction, influence or ex ample. Accordingly he purchased half a dozen infants about two years old from their peasant parents (who were only to glad to effect the sale), and confined each '• purchase "in a small room by itself. A deaf and dumb nurse was engaged to wash the children, who, though plentifully with food, were left unclothed, never heard the sound of a human jvoice—ex cept their own, and were in all respects treated as if they'were caged animals.

As the years rolled on the results of the experiment were duly noted by Count Alexis LoronbofF. The children "howled and snarled " like dogs, and "fell upon their food in a ravenous manner." All ideas of decency were of course absent; and they were getting to bo something more than children, when someone re vealed tho particulars of their Joxistoncc to the authorities, and a prosecution fol lowed. Strange to say, the Count was acquitted, as the court decided that no actual cruelty had been practised ; but the experiments liavo ceased, and others are taking placo (by order of tho court), which have for their purport the civilis ing and education of tho unfortunate victims of the Count's scientific research ; and, according to latest reports, the pro gross made in this direction is dishearton ingly slow.

The Wave-Power System

Mr Thomas A. Bond, the inventor of the wave.-power system at Ocean Grove, New Jersey whore gales suspended from piles are used to develop power from the action of the waves, has a farm in Virginia, near Washington. Tv a recent conversation ■with a reporter of the "Washington Post,'' Mr Bond said : '■ We used those gates last, year to raise salt water to use for sprinkling purposes. The pressure averaged from 5001b to 8001b to the square inch, I know these power gates are pos sibilities, and, while they may not have created "wonder, they certainly have created surprise that anything so .simple should not have been used before, i believe that within five years all the little fresh water lakes along the Jersoy coast will be changed into salt water and kept so by the motive power of the waves. At present they arc little better than open sewers, receiving their supply from the swampy land adjoining the towns in which tho lakes have been artiticially made, Wesloy Lake, at Ocean Grove, in so foul that but few of the resi dents avail themselves of its boating pleasures. To make it a saltwater body would add ]00,000dols to tho value of tho oiby. The neer future will find the streets. in all the seashore cities sprinkled with salt water. Id costs practically nothing, and is more effective m laying the dust. As to electric lighting by this power, the direct power from the waves is not a steady one. Last year I developed from

one wooden gate a power equalling the rais ing of 60001bs 3ft every six seconds, some days I could raise 20,000 in six seconds, and other days but very little. The most satisfactory result is that so far no storm has displaced the gate." Mr Bond had a .photograph of a large lemon-shaped float, which had never been adjusted. It is made of iron, and will weigh 40001bs when in the water. Work will be begun shortly on the new device, and 40001bs lifting force will be developed from the ordinary swells of the ocean against the gate.

Disapearance of a Moun tain.

[per press association.]

San 7 Francisco, : June 18.

Mount Shasta, a famous peak in the North of California, over 13,00Q feet in height, has vanished. The catas trophe is attributed to volcanic agency.

INTERPROVINCIAL.

PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.

Auckland, June 19.

A young girl of eighteen, named Mahon, was found dead in her,room at Hamil ton. She had suffered much from, epileptic fits, and had evidently been seized whilst praying, as her rosary beads were found in her hands.

A man named Crawford has been ar rested at Frankton on a charge of setting fire to a cottage, which was burnt there. A land and estate agent named W. L. Mitchell has disappeared By the steamer for San Francisco.

Wanganui, June 19,

At the meeting of settlers at Stratford en Tuesday, it was resolved that the Government be requested to survey a road across the Mangaire and Mangaotaki block to connect with the road now surveyed through the Bokokura block, and cut up the Government land adjoining the road for small settlements. Delegates were appointed. to,, proceed to Wellington to interview the Government, and explain the position.

. Major Kemp has received a telegram to-day from Mr Lewis, Under-Secretary, that Te Kooti with 200 followers, had left Taupo, intending to come to Wangauui, Major Kemp at once sent men to stop Te Kooti from coming, and telegraphed to Mr Lewis that Te Kooti would not come beyond Murimotu as he had sent messen gers to stop him. Wellington, June 19.

: The Government intend to make a sug gestion to the Honse in favor joining the cable guarantee. By a fire at Eketahuna Thompson's livery stables were destroyed, also a por tion of Parson's hotel. The former were uninsured ; the latter being issued for £ICOO.

Certificates of awards gained at the Melbourne Exhibition by this ' colony have been received, and are being distri buted by Sir James Hector, New Zealand Executive Commissioner.

Dunedin, June 19,

A fatal accident occurred at Henley on Tuesday. David Gray, an insurance agent, while riding along the ,road was thrown from his horse and: received in juries, from which he died on the follow ing day.

CORRESPONDENCE.

We do not hold ourselves responsible for th c opinions expressed by our correspondents.

SHEEP FEEDING.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Would you kindly grant me space in your much read-columns to ask Mr Oliver for some further information on one or two of the statements he has made in his articles on the "feeding of sheep," which appeared in the ''Mail" recently. In Mr Herring's letter, pub lished by Mr Oliver, it is shown that the manure from one sheep, fed on turnips and oaten chaff, during a period of 16 weeks, would be worth 2os in the succeeding corn crops! There surely must be some error in this. Mr Oliver states how much it would cost to feed a sheep of a given weight for three months on oats and chaff, and shows a serious loss to the farmer, if such a course were followed. Would he let us know what a farmer ought to do, who had no other description of food to give them? Mr Oliver evidently does not believe that it would pay to give oats to common store sheep ; what other kind of sheep does he believe it would pay to give oats to ? Mr Oliver's long and varied experience amongst sheep makes him a very fit person to seek information from, as to what kind of enclosures are best for carrying on three or four feeding experi ments alongside of each other, but separate one from the other.. lam sure if he would kindly give his opinion for such trials, it would "be very interesting reading for the farmers.—l am, etc., Joseph Batty. Cairnbrae. June 19th, 1890.

South African Goldfields.

The New Zealand "Herald" says:— "We wish to draw the attention of our readers and thoso who may be seeking " fresh fields and pastures new," to the following extract from a private letter received from Natal, • South Africa, by an old colonist to a relative now residing in Now Zealand, viz.—"l would strongly advise you to give up all idea of leaving New Zealand for here at present. The goldfields in South Africa arc very different to what tho Australian diggings were in their earlier days. In Australia tho gold was found without much labor. In Africa it is only in the quartz, and the aver age find in a ton of quartz (which is about a cart-load) and haß to be then crushed, ground, and sifted very fine, then washed, and after all their labor on it, if they can only realise about two ounces of gold it is as much as they can expect, and do not grumble. I am informed that tho pioneers who went to Barborton and Johannesberg were very sanguine, and built a large town in each place, but we have heard lately that there is much distress and want of employment in both towns. When it was explained to me that the cost and labor of obtaining about 2oz of gold was more than the precious metal would realise 1 felt thankful I had not advised you to return and try your" luck here, 1*001)10 without means should not attempt to como hero, as most of the subordinate labor is performed by natives, who (lock thoro from all parts, and. In dians also who have been long domiciled in Natal."

Holloway's Ointment akd Pills.— Rlieumatif-m and rheumatic gout are the most dreaded of all diseases, because their victims know that they arc safe at no season and at no ago secure. Ilolloway's Ointment, after fomentation of the painful parts, gives greater relief than .any other application ; but it must be dilligcntly used 'to obtain this de sirable result. It haa been highly com mended by rhucmatic subjects of all ages and of both soxes, for rendering their attacks less frequent and less vigorous, and for re pressing the sour perspirations and soothing tho nerves. In many cases Holloway's Oint ment and Pills have proved the greatest blessings in removing rheumatism and rheumatic gout which haa assailed person previously an tho primo of lifo

The Otago Knights of Lal>or will petition Parliament to abolish protective duties, and legislate so as to prevent State lauds falling into the hands oi the wealthy.

TELEGRAPHIC.

HOME AND FOREIGN,

[PER PfcESS ASSOCIATION.]

London, June 18. Sir J. Boehem's medallion of the late "W. B. Dalley will be unveiled at St. Paul's in July. Mr Goschen has been persuaded to reconsider the cable question, and this time it is hoped he will return a more favorable answer.

After a four day's hearing, the ,_.case of Miss Wiedemann v R. Walpole has come to a conclusion, r ■ The defendant sought to establish the position that the plaintiff was an adventuress. A detective employed by him, however, supported Miss Wiedeman's case, but, neverthaless, the jury disagreed, and could not arrive at a. verdict.

Vienna, June 18. Count Kalnoky is indisposed.. Paris, June 19. France is issuing a Three Per Cent Loan of seven hundred million francs (£28,000,000)

Cairo, June 19 Smallpox is prevalent in Egypt.

The Anglo-German Agreement.

[PXB PXESS ASSOCIATION^

London, June 18. Opinions of the Press vary as to the cession of the Heligoland. . The " St James 1 Gazette" considers England has made a bad bargain. The "Pall Mall Gazette" calls it a shameful transaction. The " Star" stigmatises the Premier as a traitor, and the "Chronicle" speaks of it as ignominious. London, June 19. Mr Gladstone opposes the cession of Heligoland. The German Press is jubilant. The French Press considers it c degrading arrangement; " ' ■"' v

The Cholera Outbreak.

[per press association.]

« Madrid, June 18. Thirteen deaths from cholera are reported at Puebla. Madrid, June 19. The cholera is decreasing.

PARLIAMENTARY

[per press association.]

THURSDAY.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

AFTERNOON SITTING.

,The House met at 1.50 p.m. THE SPEECH. A message was received from the Legis lative Council requiring the attention of members to hear the Governor's speech. ----- - NEW MEMBERS. On the House resuming, Mr Bryce, member for Waipa, and the Hon. Mr i Hislop, member for Oamaru, took the I oath and their seats. - . RESIGNATION OF THE CLERK.

The Speaker said he desired to inform the House that after the rising of Parlia ment la«t year he had received a letter from Major Campbell tendering his resig nation of his office of Clerk of Parliament, which he ha?! held for thirty-five years. Major Campbell also desired to express Ms grateful thanks to the Speaker and mem bers of the Housejror the kindness and con sideration that had always been Bhown him during his long tenure of office. The Speaker, in making the announcement, said he wished to make a few remarks: Major Campbell had served the House for a period of thirty-five years before any of the present members had taken their seats. When he (Major Campbell) commenced his duties in 1864 he had few precedents to guide him, but he was always most painstaking and ac curate, and he .(Sir G. M. O'Rorke) thought the journals of the House would bear favorable comparison with the public records of the other colonies. He hoped Major Campbell would long enjoy that retirement from service which he was so well entitled to. He further wished to inform the House that in consequence of Major Campbell's resignation, he had recommended to the Government that Mr Friend, who had served the House for twenty-seven-years as Clerk Assistant, should be appointed to the vacancy, and that Mr Otterson, with a service of seven teen years,' should receive the office of Clerk Assistant. The Government had accepted both these. recommendations, and the appointments had been made accordingly. Sir H. Atkinson gave notice to move on Tuesday • next that ■ the Speaker be re quested to convey to Major Campbell, on behalf of the House, its acknowledgement of his long and valuable services during the last thirty-five years, and its apprecia tion of the advice and assistance which he was at all times willing to render to the members of the House in the conduct of their business.

THE PROPERTY TAX. Mr Taylor gave notice to move that the property tax is inimical to the best inter ests of the people ; that it retarded the settlement of the land, prevented the in vestment of capital and the establishment of industries. . ADDRESS IN REPLY. Mr Tanner gave notice that he would next day move tho Address in Reply to the Governor's speech. CLAIMS OF OLD SOLDIERS.

Replying to Mr Taylor, Captain Russell said he had not lost sight of tho interests of the old soldiers and volunteers during tho recess, and he had given instructions to the various Crown Lands Commissioners to push on their inquiries into those claims as quickly as possible. He hoped to be able to an nounce something more definite before the close of the session.

WANT-OF-CONFIDBJTCK MOTION,

The Hon E. Mitchelson moved the adjournment of the House at 3 p.m.

Sir G. Grey said he had an amendment to propose. He contended that it was the duty of tho Government to at once advise the Governor to dissolve the present Parliament, and to assure his Excellency that full supplies would be granted in order to carry on the public business till the meeting of the new Parliament, which might be in about six weeks' time. He strongly condemned the action of tho Government for keeping themselves in

office without adopting such a step as that he proposed. He then moved—"That the House forthwith resolve itself into Committee for tho purpose of drawing up a humble petition to the Governor, praying him to dissolve Parliament, and to cause writs to be issued for the election of a now Parliament; that the House also assure his Excellency that ample provision would be made for the public service till the meeting of the new Parliament." He said ho had brought forward his amend ment without consultation with anybody, and he hoped the House would support him in it..

The Speaker ruled that an amendment of that kind could not be made on a motion for adjourning the House. Mr Taylor said that Sir G. Grey's con tention was fair and just, and, he was

astonished at the Government introducing, anything of a debateable character which ■ tlifi country would have to decide in a few

months. . _, -, . Mr Fisher complained that Ssir U. t»rey had not, token members into his.confi dence over this amendment, and said they were all taken by surprise by it. As to the question whether a dissolution was required or not he said emphatically that the country did require it, and that a dis solution should have taken place twelve months ago. He should support the amendment.

./The Speaker in reply to Mr Oadman said the amendment w»s npfc Ijefore the House afcjpresent. .. . Tlie" House rbae at'frffl) p.'m;^"

CRICKET.

AUSTRALIANS V PLAYERS.,

[PER PBJBSS ASSOCIATION.]

(Received June 20,.12.10p.HL). %,'/ London, June W. ---> The cricket match,. Players,* Austra lians, began at Lord's to:day, thi& weaiber being line and the .wicket in fai^condi-. tion. Burn and Charletoh are uot"pl»y insf. The Players went in first, and have lost three wickets for 158 runs, the prin-J cipal being Ulyett, 40^ Gunn (not oub) 45, and Maurice Read' 33. "Chatter ton was stumped .by Blackham^and Shrewsbury being ill, his place in the team was taken by Carney. v' "'- -; The Englisn press, referring to recent matches with the Australians, consider that the team is collapsing. '

The Consumption of Physic

"We are," says a coutemporary, i{ a physic-taking race. A patent medicine is a vastly better property than, say, a real estate in Ireland.", Proprietors of pills found colleges, endow hospitals, and die millionaires. Very curious revelations do statistics furnish 'ill re lation to the pills consumed in-the United Kingdom. It is .estimated ,b^ a recognised authority that no leas than 178 tons of pills are made annually, sufficient to fill 36 ordinary railway trucks, and so making a train, load quiring two powerful engines todnwr it. This eatimate is f based upon the actual number of pills-sold every day by the correspondent of a paper en titled the "Chejnist and Druggist," the total being the extraordinary number of 5,643,960 -■ piUs ■: daily ecri^ ; sumed hy ttia population of England, Wales, and Scotland: r . . •.*.

LATEST CABLE NEWS

HOME AND FOREIGN.

[*ER PRESS ASSOCIiTI6NiI t t^i (Received June 20,; 12:10 p.m.) 0 ° SPORTING. . % "."'y-Z .. , lioijdok, JuifeltJ. 1" ;,.!At Ascot to-day the, Gold, Cup was won by : Gold, Philomel. 2,';Yiwistes

.: THE HOME POLICE ± The memforeofthe police force claim the right to retire after^aS^yewat^ service with pension equal to two-thirds of pay. •" ' •:- '.' : ':'••'■'Jf :

INGENIOUS FINANCIAL PROPOSAL.

The " Australian Trading ; World " suggests the consolidation of a portion of the Australasian debts at .a rate of £10 per head into federal three per. cent, consols, jointly ■ and severally secured by perpetuity, and ~so7~coii stituted an acceptable medium 'to the Trustees Investment Bill. /"Th§ Times" considers the suggestion in genious, and says it.can be;effected without difficulty. ; 5

THE CESSION OF HELIGOLAND TO GERMANY.

• (Received June 20 ■12.20 n.m^ •.

Berlin, June 19 The Germans are extremely jubilant at the cession of Heligoland. General yon Caprivi has received from the Emperor the Order of the Black Eagle. . . London, June 19. It is considered unlikely that mem bers of the Opposition will oppose the settlement arrived at between England and Germany with regard r to - East Africa: ' ' l ""':l

THE BULGARIAN THRONE.

■ y-.;'-■ , Sbm,lJune 19. A Bulgarian note forwarded to the Sultan makes a final appeal to. Turkey to sanction the "election of Prince Ferdinand to the throne" of Bulgaria.

THE AMERICAN TARIFF.

Washington, June 19. The Finace Committee has reported McKinley's Tariff Bill to the with only slight change in duty; on wool. ...

AUSTRALIAN.

[PER PRISS ASSOCIATION.]

(Received* June 20, Ip.m.) THE SEAMEN'S UNION,,

Sydney, Jun«2o.

At the Seamen's Union Conference a proposition to increase the entrance fee to live guineas, with; monthly contribution of two shilling* and six pence, was rejected by a large majority.

THE CABLE QUESTION.

Mklboubvk, June 20.

.The Premier has received a cable* gram from Sir Graham Berry In reference to an interview, between the Agents-General and Mr ooschen in connection with the cable guarantee. It states that while Mr Goschen personally would like to meet the views of the colonies, he hesitated to create a precedent of Government subsidising cable companies. Moreover, he was afraid if the proposed arrangement was carried out, it might delay the pro jected Pacific cable. He promised to give further consideration to the subject before intimating the final decision of Government.

THE WRECK OF THE DACCA.

Brisbane, June 20,

A passenger who was on board -,the steamer Dacca, wrecked in the Red Sea, has arrived here and can give no reason for the disaster, as the sun waß shining brightly at the time the 1 vessel struck, and they could see for miles around. A large number of the passengers were landed in their night clothc3,and the surrounding water was literally swarming with sharks. The firemen belonging to the steamer be haved badly after the accident, and several of them who*were suspected of stealing money belonging to pasvenoers were taken before the court at'" Art Said, and sentenced to terms of im prisonment,

THU ASHBURTON ffiTAKDIAff, f BID AY, JUNE 20, IS9O.



fv WANTED ir C*sh Advertuments under tnu headini, not tK emeeeiing 16 noris, OiVE 8 SID Ll.\ & X;,' Aiireiisvnui hs'.-tt i l f-'i-'t )t.



WANTED at once, a Good General .Servant. Apply "Guardian" Office. 6 116



WANTED to let Gorse Cutting at Maronan, Clearwell, Hackthorne, C.J. Harper. 6*98



"XITANTED Known.—A big lot of VV Remnants to be sold very cheap at W. W. Spencer and Co.'s, The Arcade. 6 117



I k£\i | PAIRS of Men's Tweed Trousers & W 10s 6d, reduced to 6s lid at W. W. Spencer and Co's, The Arcade. 6 118



*\ CU~\f\ YARDS of Winter Dress X OVJVJ Tweeds 10£ d, reduced to 74d at W. W. Spencer and Co. s, The Arcade. 6 119



JUST opened, a few ladies plush jackets, newest shapes, very cheap. -—H. C. Seqbrs, Melford House.



WA£T.I.J!«I jinown.—A special pur chase of choice Ladies Hats at a desperate price.—W. H. Collier. 4+130



WANTED every man m the County to have a suit of the Ashburton Tweeds.—Robbrt Azcorn, Ashburton Clothing Mart, Saunder's Buildings.



'\\ T ANTED KNOWN.—The Cheapest VY House in Ashburton to buy Drapery, Millinery, Clothing, Boots, etc., is H. C. Segbrs, Melford House.



fTMIE Patent Candle Extinguisher can I be Set to Extinguish at any time required ; it will save insurance premiums your house and your life, price Is; Sole ▲gent for Ashburton.—K. Alcorn, Sounders' Buildings __



WANTED KNOWN.—A lot of Ladies Cloth and Tweed Jackets, considerably under usual cost price-— W. H. Collier, "The Corner."



t v aJSTED Known — One hundred VV and fifty Ladies' and Children's Ulsters bought a great bargain (good qualities), now selling very cheap —H. C. Sbgers.-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 des. patch _



STOP THAT COUGH! By using . Flower's Cough Drops. Guaranteed efficacious. Can only be obtained at H. G. Flowmi's, Confectioner, East Street. 3 191



/""tHEAP Cash Sale now on atCCatr t V_/ son's Ironmongery, Brushware, Glass, China, •nd Earthenware at Auction Prices. All kinds of Produce taken in exchange. 6 5



FIRST-CLASS AMERICAN ORGAN NEW. AN Opportunity offers to obtain one of Cornish's celebrated American Organs on exceedingly favorable terms. Height 45 inches, Length 46 inches, width 23 inches. Five Octaves, 14 "stops, 2 octave couplers, and 2 knee swells. Above can be supplied direct from the Manufactures at considerably less than usual price. Apply " Mail" and " Guar di/m ' Office. 5 20



THIS SPACE BESEKVED - VOX, XH£ NEW ZEALAND Clothing Factory's NEW ADVERTISEMENT



WITHOUT TCELTH WITHTEETtf THE CHRISTCHURCH DENTAL SURGERY, Corner of Cashel and High streets. S. M™ AND C a SURGEON DENTISTS. And at Dunedin and Westport. "YTTE have gained the FIRST AWARD VV At the Dunedin Exhibition for Artificial Dentures and Mechanical Appli ances for the Mouth, and it is with the greatest confidence that we guarantee the highest class work and perfect fit at the most moderate cost. A Single Artificial Tooth, 10s. Complete Set — Upper and Lower temporary and permanent, £10 10.«. Natural, Durable, Comfortable Artificial Teeth Replaced Temporarily al most immediately after the extraction of decayed teeth or stumps without extra fe« or charge. Arrangements can he male for part or monthly payments. ADMINISTERING NITROUS OXIDE GrAS several times daily for the past ten years, ire fearlessly assert that extraction •f teeth under its influence is perfectly painless and positively s;ife'J Fee for Administration, ss. Extraction, 2s 6d. Artificial Teeth and Dentures made by the? dentists repaired of remodelled at null cost. i Hours of attendance—9 am> to 8 p,m



It >rill be in the recollection f.f llw; public that my collection of apples shown in Mr Ulayttm's .shop in Ka«-.l street, being siMy-six viiru-lies, and also those which took two first awards al ihc Duncdiu Inhibition and various, other plains, was pronounced to bo the largest and best evei 1 shown in the Ash burloii county. 1 would draw ilmij alrcn t ion my advertisement el&cwliere. As only work on blight-proof sfcjcks than which i\ other stocks can be relied upon, the roots of my apple trees do not, require to be washed before sending out. . .lamos Porter, nurpcry man, Allenton,---(>\dvt,)



"I H DJSAFNESSIXCUIUBLE?—.I. 11. I Nicholson, of 375 "William &Lr«ut, Melbourne, lias pioved otherwise by making a complete cure of Deafness and JSoises in the Head of over 40 Years' Standing by a simple remedy and with out the use of any''clap-trap'" ,so called electro-medication treatment, A full description of this remedy which has cured thousands of other cases of long ■standing, will bo sen I FIIISE on applica tion



The best medicine known is SANDER and SONS' EUCALYPTI EXTRACT. Test its eminent powerful effects in coughs, colds, influenza, etc. —the relief is instantaneous. Thousands give the most gratifying testi mony. His Majesty the King of Italy, and medical syndicates all over the globe are its patrons, head the official reports that accom pany each bottle. Mosler, M.D., Professor 'University, Griefswald, reports : — The Eucalypti Extract proved magnificently suc cessful in very severe contusions, bruises, spiains, wounds, scaldings, broken ribs, and limbs. ("Medical Journal," N.0,v., 1881.) In diseasos of the kidneys, either active con? gestion or suppression, (urcemai) or albumi nuria, dropsy, lithargy, nothing will equal in it 3 action Eucalypti Extract. Doses, five to six drops, Mosler, M.D., Professor, University, Griefswald, reports:—Diphthe-. ria. Tonsils continually coherent presenting ulcers with white exudats. Cured in four teen days. Surgical Clinic of Prof. M'lntyre, College of Physici;. 1 . ■■■' <a-:: 1,. 1- "■■!". ■ Louis —Scirrhus of !!:•■■■ \\\ ■■■ i \\: -



ypti Extract employed. No swelling, heat, or discoloration. Cured in fourreeii days, --(Advt.) ' 4