Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 1890. THE LAND ACT.

Although within the past few years the land laws of the colony hav6 been greatly simplified, and in some respects materially improved, it has become abundantly evident that there is still much room for reform. .The system of disposing of the land by public auction, which at one time obtained, led to many and grave abuses, and the system of tender by which it was superseded, though less objectionable in its results, was attended by somewhat similar evils though in a minor degree. On the whole, the present system of ballot is perhaps the best, but as at present con ducted it is found that this also is by no means perfect, the large number of dummy applications operating to the disadvantage of the bona fide selector. Again, there is reason to believe that there are not only numerous dummy applicants, but that there are a good many dummy occupiers, and it is un doubtedly very desirable that some means should be found of doing away with, or at anyrate, minimising these evils. Under thega circumstances the Land Board of the Wellington Provincial District has done wisely and well by putting itself in communication with the Land Depart ment of Victoria, the result beu-g the receipt of a lengthy communication from Mr W. Black, the Surveyor-General of that colony, in which the remedy for the evils of our -New Zealand system is plainly indicated, "The writer (says the " Post") has gone very fally into the whole question and explained the former and present methods of dealing with the lands of the Crown in Victoria. His letter shows that when the free seleotion system was first adopted, the successful applicant was deter mined by ballot in the manner in vogue in New Zealand, the result being that dummyism was rampant, regular organisations were formed, who travelled over the country wherever land was available,_ stuffing the ballot boxes wittifictitious names,thus reducing to a minimum the chances of bona fide selectors} and in this way much of the best lands of Victoria passed into the binds of speculator and capitalists. The Land Act of 1869 was passed to cope with the evil. Local Land Boards were first appointed, who enquired into the bonafides of all applicants for land, and whether the applications should be granted or refused ; applicants attended before the Boards aod were questioned as to their means, occupations, and circum stances, and rival applicants were allowed to question each other, and in this way the Boards were able to form a pretty ! good idea as to who was bona fide and who was not, and made their recom mendations to the Minister of Lands, with whom the final decision rested. A strict watch was kept upon the conduct of the selector, and if it was found that he was not complying with the residential and other conditions of his license, and if doubts were created as to his bona fides, he was at once brought before the local Land Board to show cause why his license should not be cancelled. If the result was unfavorable to the selector he was barred from selecting again. The present Bystem under %\lq Land .Act in Victoria consists of leaseholds, sales by auction are restricted almost entirely to town lands, but purchase by deferred payments to the extent of 320 acres is provided for, and it is anticipated that under this system settlement will be pro moted on liberal terms, the eyes of the country will not be picked out, and it will secure the reversion of a large proportion of the lands to another generation. The Act also provides for prompt and bona fide residence, and the Minister wields almost arbitrary power. An ad mirable summary of Mr Black's com munication was laid before the Land Board by the Chief Commissioner (Mr J. W. A. Marchant) who said that that gentleman's exposition of the Victorian regulations pointed to the conclusion that by choosing the selector, enforcing residence, withholding the Crown grant, limiting freehold selection, and carefully controlling all dealings by way of transfer, mortgage, etc., Victoria possesses a system which is declared to work with satisfactory results,.and to have almost extinguished dummyism." The Wbl lington Board has we see very properly conveyed its thanks to Mr Black for the information afforded and it is to be hoped that it will follow the matter up with the Goyernment with a view to obtaining amendments of tjie Land Act [^ the direction indicated,

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

During Ihe Iset 80 years 8,000,000 people have died of phthisis in France. Two hundred men are, it U stated to be employed on the Stewart Island tin mines. A ohild at Kiama, Viotoria, has died from paralysis, caused by seeing a " ghost" ex hibited in a joke. In the Wiloannia district, N.S.W., tha thermometer has been op to 110 in the shade lately. The total weight of batter shipped from New Plymouth .breakwater last month was 89 tons, 19owte, lqr, 161b. ft Two inebriates (first offenders) were brought before Mr J. O'Shea Lawlor, at the B.M. Count this morning, and discharged with a oaution. With the last month of the old year also went eeveral of the oldest of the Nelson settlers to that bourne from whence old settlers never return. Eight persons in all paEßed away whose agea totalled 619 years. Halifax, Nova Sootia, was never so com pletely fortified as at present. The work is so extensive as to give the impression that Great Britain etpeote a war in which Halifax is to play an important part. The "Kangitikei Advocate" records an instance of a hundred bushels to the acre crop of oats being almost ruined by sparrows. ' The H Obroniole " also hears that they are playfog hayoa witQ BOrne wheat oro Ps near Wanganuf. It is Baid that a gentleman of great scienti^p ability is experimenting upon a large variety of fibrous plants in this colony, with a view of ascertaining whether any of them can be made to yield sufficient to render their manipulation commercially profitable* The Bay of Plenty 't Times " says ;—" The orops in the Tauranga district are ripening rapidly, and Borne of the Maori farmer* have commenced harvesting. The wheat looks well, is clean, and Bbould average over 30 bushels per acre,"

The "Lyttelton Times" says that Mr Thomas Arthur, who ia leaving the station mastership at Ashburton to assume charge of the D medin station, is to be succeeded by Mr Stevenson, who has hitherto been in oharge of the Featherstoce railway station, Wellington Proviaoe. According to the " Ohroniole " the latest rumour is that a well-known publio dignitary is likely to oome forward at the nest election to oppose the present sitting member for the town of Wanganui (Hon Mr Ballanoe). He is, the " Ohroniole " is told, likely tojreaeive a large amount of support. ( A correspondent of the Bay of Plenty "Times" at Rotorua says: -uThere appears, still to be some slight voloanio activity about the summit of larawera. On Saturday after noon a slender column of steam was noticed asoending to a height of about 1000 feet and becoming dissipated in the oourse of ten minutes." An American paper has the following :— " A German dootor has made an alarming discovery about cancer. The disease attacked a tame rat in his possession, and, having no qualms of conscience about vivisection, he tried, suooessfally to inoculate two others with it, they taking the disease in its malig nant form," A strange action is pending before the court at Spandau, in Prussia. Erauts, the common hangman, has written and published a sensa tional novel entitled " The Exeoutionor o! Borlin;" and in it he introduces his own wife as the paramour of his assistant, whom he mentions by name; The wife has pro ceeded against her husband for defamation of character. The Japanese never punish anyone fo esoaping from prison. They hold that it is the natural right of everyone to exert his ingenuity for regaining his liberty, and, when re-taken, no harshness is used in his oonveyanoe baok or subsequent detention. If there be blame anywhere, it rests with thoße who suffered him to escape through .remiss neßsin vigilance. Portuguese papers just reoeived state that the late King died in the arms of the Qaeen, who kissed his lips as he breathed his last sigb, Th n tarniag to Dom Carlos she said, "Le Roi est mart! Vive le Boi ! " Having embraced the young King, she exolaimed," I bless you as a sovereign, and I wish you may be as good a King as you havejalways been a good son." At a meeting of the Borough Sohool Com mittee held last; evening Miss Mary A. Grant, at present head mistress of the Waimate District High Sohool, was elected to the position of head mistreiß to the Ashbur ton Borough Infant Sohool. It was deoided to give the children a treat at the end of February, and Messrs Bean, Banger, Paul, and Graighead were appointed a Committee to arrange for a oonoert to be held early in February for the purpose of raising fundei. Ohristohnroh papers report that another old identity has paßßed away in the person of the Rev Thomas Biohard Fisher, who died at his residence, Ootswold House, Lincoln road, on Sunday, the 12inst., at the ripe old age of eighty three years. During [his long life Mr Fisher saw and conversed with no less than Bix generations of his family, and he haß left behind him four ohildren, twenty seven grand-ohildren, and five great grand children, in all thirty-six descendants to perpetuate, if they will, the many estimable qualities of their sire, The six nigbtß* bioyole contest in the Palace Bink, Ghristohuroh, ended on Saturday night, resulting as follows:—0. B. Wilson, Pioneer, 197 miles 1500 yards, first; F, B. Pannell, Touring Club, 195 miles 880 yards, second; M. Last, Australian, 184 miles 880 yards, third ; W. H. Langdown, Pioneer, 153 miles 1634 yards, fourth. None of the other com petitors finished. Langdown rode for only five nights, not starting till last Tuesday. The men rode two hours eaob night. There was a large attendance on Saturday. One of the leading men in the Midland Railway Company's work at Derby, who has been in receipt of a salary of £700 per annum, with immediate prospect of promotion, has just resigned his position solely in order to become a lay-assistant in coDueotion with the Southwark Wealeyan Mission. He has for some time carried on mission work amongst the railway workmen at Derby at his own expense, and will now be in oharge of a mission ohapel at Rodney road, in the borough, with a Rftlnry ono-oinh or nno-ooToiHli Of trial whioh he reoeived from the Midland Bail way Company. The " Melbourne Age " of a reoent date has a lament on the high price of meat in Melbourne. It deolares that in London it is possible to buy meat quite as [cheaply as in the Viotorian oapital, and that while English prices are falling the Viotorian ones are Bteadily on the rise. In Melbourne, it says, it is not an outside quotation to oharge 6£d pfS lb for sirloin of beef, and lOd for rump steak. Some of the leading butchers, indeed, oharge more. " And this," it adds, "in a colony whioh Mr Hayter tells us supports 1,300,000 head of cattle and 10,600,000 head of sheep, aud offers a prao i oally free market to the 6,662,747 head of oattle and 69,055,250 head of sheep of Australia*" The project of.S bridge aoroas the English Channel is beginning to take definite shape. Its practicability i 3 acknowledged by engineers of the highest eminence both in Franoe and England, and the route to he taken has been pretty well deoided on. It will commenoe Dear Cape Gris-Naz and end near Folkstone, and advantage will be taken of two masses of rook, known as the Varne and the Oolbart, lying in mid.ohannel about a mile apart, and not more than twenty feet below the sea level at low water, to build two of the piers upon. The cost of the undertaking is es imated at very little less than forty millions sterling, about one.third of what the Crimean war cost the two nations. The Pioneer, in an artiole giving an acoou t of a voyage to India a century ago, says :— "A well authenticated story is told of a lovely girl whose charms had ' waved hot youth to deeds of blood," and who, learning (hat three of her devoted admirers had deoided on a oombat a outranoe when the vessel should reach the Cape, sent for them to the oabin and then addressed them :' Is it geally true that you have fallen out on my aocoUiif, and are going to fight when we arrive at daps Town ?' The culprits hung their beads in tel-tale silence, and she wen; on, 'You silly boys, why should you endanger your lives and break your mother'r hearts over bu h a trifle ? Oome, now, shake bgnds lid make friends, and I'll marry all three of you, whioh pledge the deadlineßß of the Calcutta climate a hundred years ago enabled her to fulfil to the letter." A shooking domestia tragedy is reported from Debreczin, in Huugary. Some time ago a young man named Joseph Morioz, a sergeant in the Hungarian army and the son of well-to-do parents, killed bis lather, owing to the litter's ill treatment of his wife and daughter. Morioz was arrested, tried, nnd sentenoed to death, and since then his mother and sister have made the most desperate efforts to obtain the pardon of the youth, the rcoik.r even obtaining an audience of the Emjeror, whom she implored to exeroiee ths royal olemenoy, declaring that neither she nor her daughter could outlive the disgrace of the exeoution of her sod. The Emperor, how ever, felt himself unable to intervene in the matter, and Joseph Morioz will accordingly be executed. Realising this, and apparently rendered beside themselves with grief, the mother and daughter resolved to die, and they carried their intention into exeoution, the daughter first ahootmg her mothoi- dead, then taking her own life.

LAND FOR SETTLEMENT.

Each successive Administration, in a constitutionally-governed country, has its peculiar raison d'etre, and the present New Zealand Ministry un doubtedly owes its existence to the " roar for retrenchment." It has accomplished the task for which it was called into being, more or less perfectly—as indeed must hare any set of men who should have taken office at that particular juncture, but appears to be in danger of considering economy the "be-all" of its existence to the imminent danger of its provicg the "end-all" also. For, necessary as was retrenchment, and necessary as is economy, retrenchment and economy alone are not by any means the whole duty of the Ministry of a young ana progressive country. Even some measure of extravagance, if there be at the same time progress, may be less mischievous than economy without any progress at all, and there can be no real progress without the extension of settlement. Yet the extension of settle ment does not appear to be in the least sympathised with by the Minister whose special duty it should be to promote it —we mean of course the Minister for Lands. It is, we regret to see, with the greatest difficulty that he can be prevailed upon to open land for settle ment, preferring apparently that the Crown should have to deal with a few tenants of large estates than with many tenants or owners of small ones. In May next over a quarter of a million of acres withheld for settlement at the last tun sales will be available for settlement —that is to say can be made so by the Minister, but up to this moment (and we are getting into the middle of January) there is no official information before the public as to what blocks and sections will be open for application or at what price or rental. Again as regards certain runs which have long been required for smaller holdings—we refer to the Station Peak property—it appears that it is intended to cut up only 10,000 acres, and to offer the small runs into which that area is divided only on a three years' tenure. This will shut out a number of intending settlers altogether, and will also result either in the area cut up being let at so low a rental as will be ÜBed as an argument against cutting up the public estate, or in its falling back into the hands of the present leeeees. An in dication meeting has been held about this matter at the Kurow, at which Mr Duncan, M.H.R., and a large number ot settlers were present. At that meeting Mr Dasler said that " the time had come when they would not go cringing, begging, and praying to the Minister of Lands for the rune to be cut up ; the time had come when they should demand it. No matter what the land was that had been thrown open for settlement,it had been taken up at a good paying price to the Government. Be sides, the land now was thoroughly settled. That had been the experience of the ELurow run settlement, which run was thrown upon the market in paltry 2000-acre blocks, and thore were three, four, six, and eight applicants for the one section. For the last section of 142 acres, to be ballotted for next Wednes day in Dunedin, there would be up wards of a dozen applications ; he held seven in his pocket to take with him to Dunedin next Monday. Now they were to get 10,000 acres of Station Peak, but they wanted the whole of it ; 10,000 acres was quite inadequate to the re quirements of the district. The land belonged, to the people, and they should demand Station Peak as their rights." He went on to show what benefits had followed the breaking up of the Kurow run. "lhat run with other runs was held by a company at one time, and that company's shareholders lived out of the country, only having a manager at £1500 a year. All the money the station earned went Home ; but Messrs Chapmaa, Rutherford, Hille Bros., Smith, and a few others now held that run in smaller areas ; all lived upon the land, and kept their money in the colony. Moreover^ all these men had households, and individually did more good to the colony than all the shareholders of the company that formerly held the run. That was how they wanted to have Station Peak dealt with, and they would have it, Was not the question of the day ' What will we do with our boys ?' He had seven sons, and he wanted the land opened up in order that he might settle them upon it, and keep them in the country ; otherwise they would leave the colony and go where they could get land easily. Others would do likewise, and therefore the colony would come to have less people instead of having an increasing and prosperous population, which there would be were the lands of the colony such as Station Peak avail able for settlement." The following resolution was carried unanimously, " That in order to meet the requirements of honajide settlers, this meeting desires to again urge upon the Government the imperative necessity of having land in South Canterbury open for settlement, and this meeting demand as their right as citizens, and on the principle of the land belonging to the people, that the whole of Station Peak and Studholme Station, comprising in all 45,000 acres, be thrown open for settlement on deferred payment, perpetual lease, and small grazing run systems of tenure." An appeal was made for the support and assistance of the people of Oamaru and Waimate, and we heartily hope that the conjoint efforts of the Eurow, Oamaru and Waimate people will be successful But whilei the present Minister of Lands is in office, we are by no means sanguine about it, for he is only too ready to believe that every piece of land asked to be thrown open is "unfit for settlement." He holds that vis* apparently in this case, notwithstanding that Mr Duncan who knows every inch of the land, and all the Kurow settlers declare to the con trary; The fact is, y,e believe, that a very much larger awf of Crown land in Canterbury is fit for settlement nay even for agricultural settlement, than many people suppose. Writing upon this subject our Oamaru namesake has the following :—" Mr Robert Sharpe, of Eakaseeamea, brought iuto our office to-day several stools of wheat which he procured from a crop belonging to Mr Job. a Grant, situated within 2f miles, as the crow flies, of the summit of Mount Domett. These stools each contain about. 8,0 heads, all pf which bear a strong and healthy' appearance. It ip Mr Sharpe's intention to place in potp - these samples of what can bs grown on J those of our lands ' unfit for settlement,' I and send them to the Exhibition, soj thai they may be open to the view ofj the world. Mr bharpe also tell» up that he ye§fard»y bought! for fetttog'

purposes from the same farm, a number of four-looth sheep, some of which are up to 701bs weight. These sheep were brought up on the ground improved with clover and cocksfoot, surface sown. Not bad for land ' unfit for settlement.' We must add that last year, on the land from which the several stools of wheat were gathered by Mr Sharp, Mr John Oirant raised a crop of wheat so that he might test the wheat-producing 1 capa bilities of land at an altitude from 1600 to 1800 feet above the sea level. The result was 53 bushels to the acre, as can be attested by settlers who have a personal knowledge of the fact. The foregoing proofs of what the land that has of late years been taken for settle ment from the runs in the Upper Waitaki District is capable of affords additional evidence that the settlers are better judges of the quality and capa bility of the country than the political muddlers and jugglers, and that, in every case where land was demanded, there has been a dishonest attempt to stifle a righteous clamour by means of gross misrepresentation in Ministerial' quarters. Mr Dasler stated at last night's meeting that no land had been opened up except through compulsion, and that is quite true. There would have been none of the prosperous settle ments in the Upper Waitaki if the hands of the Ministries of which Sir H. Atkinson has been the leading light had not been forced. Sir Harry's stateman ship is a notch above anything so com mon as land settlement; it aims at the fullest possible development of a'great and glorious taxing system."

THe MARKETS

(FKK PRIBB AS8O0IATI0N.)

(Received January 14, 0.26 p.m.) London, January 13, Three months bills, 4£. > Tallow, medium mutton, 25s 3d : beef, 23s 9d. Sheepskins show a slight decline. English wheat market lifeless, Conti nental firmer, American changing a little for the worse. Colonial oats average 22s 6d ; beans, 355; peas, 83s 6d.

THE CROPS.

Oar South Haicaia correspondent write! : Taking the district es a vhole tbe harvest this y^ar promisee to yield, parhapa • ightly bettir results thau iaat. There is a very large area ander xr»!n oaltlvatlon, •ad the rrop* ranga from ixjelleat to bad. Not od y h&ve t'ae beav/ nor' w» Bier dona considerable dtmagp at a ed timO) bat the grab has beau busy in ru«Dy padd<>oks. Theocmpte of wheat ihitye»r should be very good, and the yield loma thlDg like t verity five basbeis per »ore, Very little barley is grown, and there la no pi'oipeot of ai>thing like a heavy yield. There are some exoellent cri.pa of otts, end soma aoaroaly wo;th harvesting. Tcpnlps as a rale are a fullae, bat it Is to be hopad th>t the aeoond and third sowings will have better r.Bult?. F^ed Is very so tree, and nothing Jbut a thorough soaking cf rata will havo any bancficUl efEeoc on the psstnres. The heavy a intbeßly wind last week did some little damage to the oropa. broking and Jajfnj > hem a good deal. Fralt trees and garden staffs generally suft red to a large extent, For a radiaa of e«y foar miles, there has not bma auj rain to apeak of for a long timo, and we appear to have only got the tail end of the showers which appear from rsp rta to have fallen o's-where. A oouple of days steady downponr would be ma ah «pprcolated by farmers and others Id this d'strlrt.

THE USE OF THE CANE

The Wel.ington "Press" gives publioity to * casj that illustrates the danger cf the too free use of the <nne In poblfo schools A Wellington schoolboy, aged thirteen, In the ilih standard, was Id Februvy 1889, oimd by en assistant maater beoause he failed >n his grammar ixoroisa, The oaniag was given on the right hand, the blown f aims; »-vo?n ih° top of the joint on the thamu, ihojoiut swelled, and beoame ezeeediogly painful, but at first little or do notice was taken of !*, Time weat od, until five or b!i weak* ef tee the punishment the limb wis ao bad thit the poor child coald not move It, and eoaroely cUred move hh hand or arm. He was taken to Dr dole, who advised that he should go to the Hospital and have tbe thumb lanced, as the bone had been bruised by a heavy bow, This waa done, ha thumb was opened and the bone laid bare and soraped, the r/oor lad suffering great agony all tbe while. Thfr, however, did not glva the alighteat relief, and the master who bad administered the thrash ing was sent for; Ha expressed great sorrow and regret thai auoh Injury should result from his panUhment, »nd advised the lad'o fathei to take the >ufterer to Dr Fell, This waa doae, and Dr Fell, upoa examlnat!oo, foand that tbe bono paat tbe joint in the thumb was dead, and If allowed to remain would mortify the other bone, There was no othei ooume open therefore, bat to have tbe bone removed, and this was done. The thumb is io* healing, but the lad, If not crippl d w.ll be earloosly looonven'eneed for life, and has buffered near'y a whole year of feir ful agony.

INTERPROVINCIAL

[Pjbb Press Association!

Auckland, January 13. A m»n nam^d McGlynn, who ded to day at Hantley, was aapposed to be 107 year* old Ha fought in the btre ni Waterloo, A. jmrneyrmn Bikers Union has been formed In Auckland, and will be sffi iated to the Trades and Labour Ooanoll. Mr W*. Smith bas Been appointed President. The Ohildren of Mary of St Benedict's parltih have present d a paraaof sovereigns and an Illumlndttd address to Fathei O'SuiUlvao, who U leaving on a violt to Ireland. Wellington, January 13 The postal authorities bave received no Inform ttlon respecting the destruction of the icktla by fire in Nebraska, but think theru is little reason to doubt that the mail) destroyed are those wbioh were O'.mlug from Geeot Bfltnln, and whtab were tfue In the colony on tha Ist of nex month . it le feared that tbo walk des troyod are bags containing letters only. The police constables tent to the Chat ham Islands to •salat In the collection of the dog tax retcrned this miming. They report that the Natives are *U1 disinclined to pay the tax. ' ViotorU, Tasmania, Soulh Aaitrillp, and Western Aus'rall* have j lined the ParooU System, and transmission begin* on February Ist, The oibet colonies are not yet prepared to come Id. The rate from New Zealand to the first threa will be a minimum of Is 2d for 2!bi or under, end sfd for every mddttloptl pooad up to HlbA. To Western Australia'4l exra will be charged. :

FEDERATION CONFERENCE.

JPJBB PKHBB ASSOCIATION. 1

BTDN«V, Jaooa-y 13. All the colonies have accepted the time and place proposed for the Federa tion. Conference in Melbourne.

EAST STREET HORSE MARKET.

WILLIAMS AND BLAND. Messrs Williams and Bland report having heli their weekly sale of horses on Saturday, nth January. There was another very large entry for the day, viz., 43 horses out of which we managed to dispose of 16. The bidding on the whole was anything but spirited, except for the good young sorts. The farmers have made up their minds they will not have old horses. We could have sold more young ones, but our entry consisted mostly of aged horses. We quote 5 to 8 year old eeldings, good sorts, £zz, £22, £18, £20 ios ; aged, do, £i}t £16 ios, .£l4: unbroken colts and fillies, ,£l4 ; medium draughts, £17 ios, £16 ios; hacks, £7, £$ ; crocks, £2. The entire horse Rantin Rcbin, j£n. McCormick reaper and,binder, £16; dray, £$. iVbduce— Wheat chaff, £2 per ton j oat sheaf, old, i potatoes, !£d per lb; bran, 4s pet bag ; sharps, 7s per bag.

TELEGRAPHIC. HOME AND FOREIGN.

(Fib Pbbss Association,)

LABOR TROUBLES.

London, January 12. The lock-out of men from tea ware houses has been settled. A compro mise was arranged. The London Trades Unions advise pecuniary help should be afforded to gas strikers. They also condemn the Government for supporting the Company with the aid of police. Tbe Unions have decided to sup port the voting of subsidies to the gas stokers on strike.

WRONGFUL ARREST.

The action for wrongful arrest brought by Thompson (the man who was supposed to be a deserter from the Calliope,) against Captain Woodward, of H.M.S. Duke of Wellington, has been compromised.

ENGLISH POLITICS.

London, Jan. 13 The London edition of the " New York Herald " states on authority that Parliament will be dissolved it soon as Mr Goschen's budget is passed.

MARQUIS OF HARTINGTON.

The Marquis of Hartington is suf fering a uevere attack of congestion of the lungs, brought on by neglecting a cold. The Marquis of Hartington is im proving.

INFLUENZA.

Influenza is decreasing.

OBITUARY.

Mrs Fitigeorge, wife of the Duke of Cambridge, is dead.

PARNELL COMMISSION.

The report of the Parnell Commis sion is complete and in print. It will be presented to the Speaker at the opening of the session.

A BRITISH CONSUL INSULTED

Poet Au Pbinob, J»nnary 12. The Haytians have insulted the British Consul in this towo.

THE GOVERNOR OF SENEGAL.

Paris, Jnaary 13. The Governor of Senegal, who was recently captured by the King of Dahomey, has been released.

DEATH OF A LEPER IN LONDON

At a meeting of the Committee of Works of St Gaorge'a (Hinover Square) Vestry, r.-cently, the dea h of a lepar In St George's noiplUl w<\« reported. Dr Oor field, the medical officer of health foe the diitriot, iiu making hit nsnal monthly re port, sUtud that the deceased man w»i formerly n aoldfev in the Madras Prest dency, ami It In presumed that the disease was contracted during his residence there, He first presented himself at St George's Hospital in Angast 1888, and on the nature of his complaint being dlaooverei he was admitted. He remained In the hospital till Fdbiuary of last ye«r, when he took hlli disohtrge, bat presented him self again for admijtion In May, and ulti mately died on July 17,1889. The death was duly certified by the hospital ant url tlei, and ihere Is seild. to be no donbt that It was due to leprosy, Mr Dovary, a member of tbe board, expressed surprise thit the na»n was kepi bo long in the hospital. Dr Oorfiald said that this was piobftbly iJae to tha rarlt/ of this disease In England, the dootois being ghd to keep anoh a o»ie under their notlop f ac that they could stndy It Tha faot of there being a pattern goffering from leprony fn the hospital appears to have been kept an abaolate neoret till his <?esth.

OOR AIN FOUK FAR AWA.'

The following lines are taken from a Scotch paper received by last mail:— Dinna think that we forget ye, Tho' ye're Jar awa' feae hame, For we siften think aboot ye, An' we mention aft yer name. An' we mind y r fay rite stories, An 1 we sing yer fav'rite sarms, An' we lo'e the things ye liket When ye nest it here amang's.

Oh ! thae weary leagues o' water, An* thae dreary miles o' land That ha' pairtit ye sac sairly Frae auld Scotland's sturdy strand. Could they only ken the achin' • O' the herts that lo'e ye here, They wai bring ye mony a token O' affection deep and an' dear. Oh 1 thae years that gang sa: slowly An' ihiie years that winna come, Cou^d they only feel the tremblin' O' the lips that maun be dumb, They wad bring us sune thegither, An 1 gar joy burn warm an 1 bricht, An' mak' sunshine whaur there's sorrow, An' mak' gledness whaur there's nicht, Ah 1 we kentoa hoo we lo'ed ye Till we let ye 'ging awa', An' ye kenna hoo we miss ye When we mind o' ye ava'; But we daurna think ower muckle Or we couldna thole tfye pain, But'be siifre whae'er forsakes ye Yell be dear aye to yer am. May the sun o 1 Heaven smile on ye, An' mak' a' yer wanderta's swe«t; May the Guide be aye aside ye, To be surety to yer feet; May the smile o' Love aye cheer ye, An' gi« gledness to yer life J An' may 13e wha gieg a' guidness Mak 1 yer days wi' blessins rife. 1 t>,B. Mackie. B.echin.

DISTRICT COURT.

ASHBURfON -TUESDAY.

(Before Hi.i Hoi^or Dii-taat Judge Ward,)

! CIVIL SITTINGS. Watts v. Kate & Oabtib, Gleiuij £11.7. , la this case John Smart Watts, of As> buron, Engineer, iued Albert Kaye and Dalby Garter, traUog together aa Kaye and Carter, of Ohriiitehurch, M.eioha&ts, for the mra of £117, as damages for *Ueged wrongful dismissal. The plaintiffs case, as set fort lin hi statement of claim and his counsel's open* Ing, was that he had been employed at the Canterbury Boiler Flour Mtlli, nt Aahbnrtoa, of which the defendants were proprtetore, »s night engineer, at a salary of £2 get we k, and the right to oooapy a cot age belonging to tho defendants. On or cbouc No ?ember 30th plaint ff vat dli< missed, as he alleges, wrongfoily,, and wi.lhout Bnffi.'ient notice, and he claimed £117 SB dama^os fur tuoh wrongful dis missal, being at th* race of £2 per week for 52 weeks an) 5a per week for .'rent of the c iitage foe the same period. ''''"* The defendants denied all the material aUepratioas of the plaintiff For a farther dafunoe, the; said that plaintiff was en tit cid to one week's notice only, and that snoh notloe waa given him that on Not, 29 h plaintiff wan guilty of mlioondnot In tbat he slept at his post while In chtrge of the engine*, and consequently defendant! weru entitled to dlsohsrge him without any notice whatever ; and that on Deoem* ber 2 p'alnt ff wilfully abiented hlmielf from his employmsnt wl hout leave Of reasonable ezense. this being pleaded M a further jcstlfioatlon for dlioharge with out not oe. Mr i, W. White, of Timsru, with him Mr Oathbertson foi plaintiff, Mr W. P. Oowllshaw, of Ohrlstohuroh, for the defendant!. The following were sworn In as a jury: 0 Dlgby, R Galloway, H. Billot, Gt Miller, Me White having opened for the plaintiff. - • . '■ ; Mr Oowllsbaw submitted that it had not been di o'osed by either th* pleading! or the opening tbab plaintiff was entitled to more than a week's notice, and this It was admitted he had reoetved. There was no oace, then, to go before Court, -v After argument, Mr White said that be would prove the feet in evidence. The plaintiff J. S. Watt', said that he was an engineer cf considerable experleces. After oomlng to New Zsaland he was en* g«ged to work at the Asbburtoq Floor Mills by Me Brown, the manager for the present defendants, but who was then manager for 0. W. Tnraer. The tsuai wore £2 per wet k and the u»a of a cottage and garde a. ThU was* in 1887, and ha oon inaed in the work till toe. p:esant defendants bought the mill. The ifresh arraogemeal had been made with plaintiff by the defendants. Witness was paid monthly. On November 30 Mr Brown came into the boiler house; and said 'Johnl an going to m»ke an alteration in the boiler home." Witness asked what it was aad he replied "I am going to «lv 9 yoa a week,s notloe." Be a.so satd ha would give witness bis money In advance so as to ti?e him time to look ronnd for another j ib. Witness asked Mr B.owo his reason, and ha replied that witness waa to atk himself the question. Oa the fallowing Monday wl!nets stopped out till ten o'oloofc beoaoia Kilworth -the day englaeer owed him a onnple of hours which witness had previously worked for him. This arrangement by wh'.oh tha day and eight ecgicears obliged each ( ther on oooaslon, bad been bbce;ved for rears, and Sir Brown was aware of It. On the followfng day Mr Brown asked td'aess why ho did not turn up In time, and witness replied that «s Kilworth owed owed htm a couple of hours be thoaght he mlgh as well stop out and tike it,off as he bad got a week's notice, Mr Browa told witness to ome Into tha offios and get his cheque. Witoen thai went back ti 1 relieved at eight o'clock In the morning when Mr Brown told him there wis no ooosslon for him to come baok again. Witness bad not been able to obtain acy employment slhoe. He had tried. Previous to his leaving he wrote a letter to K«ye and Oatter ex pressing surprise at being dismissed with out a reason being givan, and asking'the firm to enqulte Into the matter. c He rsoelved a reply sating tbat his letter had been fotwirded to Mr Brown far expla nation, and that If they though!; be had just cause for onmpUlnt t^ey would make enquiry, bat V not they would not Inter fare as they had every confidence in Mr Brown. Witness then Instructed his eolicltor,~Mr Outhberteon, to wtlte to the defendants, and reoeived a reply stating that he was dismissed because he slept at his post while in oharge of tha engines. Witness denied having slept at bis post, and the letter was the first intimation he had of su rh an acousatlon being made against him. . By Mr Oowllshaw : It was the usual pr»ot(ce when an englaeer wanted anothsr to work pirt of his time to give him notice, On the Monday night spoken of be had not notified Kilworth a< bebad not seen him He was sent for that night, and came after having something to eat; Remember Mr Brown oomlng In one nlahi when witce°s was sitting down. Witness's eyes were not shut. Brown tolj witness that the steam w<is going down, and witness said he had as muoh as he required. This was about five o'clock in the morning, Mr Brown asked if witaeis often went to sleep that way, and he replied tbat he had not been asleep Witness was reclining^ on the bench in the room smoking. He did not see Mr Brown come Into the room. By Mr White: Tbis took plaoe six weeks before Mr Brown dismteted witness. Mr Brown never referred to the matter again. Witness had bis breakfast In the engine room before Mr Brown came In, and he was smoking then. There was a good deal of o isa In the engine room and wines* could net hear anyone oomlng in. From the pusMon be was In he eoaid not »cc any one coming Id the door. He denied having been asleep. He had 60 b of steam op when Mr Brown ipoce to him. That wai the osufl pressure for the work at that time of the morning. Wai, Harrington had worked at the mill as packer during part of the time when Watts was there. Was frequently brought Into contact with Watts, and never found him inattentive to his duties or asleep. If snob hid been the ease witness would have known of It by the speed of the mvshlnery. Never heard any complaints made by Mr Brown. This was the plaintiff's o»s>. Mr Oowllflhaw submit ed that the plaintiff mutt be ncn-sulted. It was quite clear from the evidence that the utmost the plaintiff was entitled to was a week's wagov. He had beea treated with liberality, having reoeived a week's, wages in addMon to his notice. Mr White replied and saM that toe fact of the wages being paid monthly, showed tbat the engagement was not a weekly one. His Honor ruled that It was quite dear that the agreement was for a oertain rati of wages per week, to be paid monthly. Mr White said that his client deollnad to be non suited. " . His Honor consequently directed tha jury to bring In a Versiiot for the de fendants. ' •*■'

Judgment £jr defendants ftgeordtogly. MoPhsbi^v v TqoiuHOir, olilm £2Eu If) this ess) «J*|. MoPiitrgon, of Rtkaia, Üb' fer, posd tfohn Thpmpaon, of Hik»U 4 milkm-r, for he turn of £2fi aa d-magei fo» Q9K>L n u'lcjfted fate jrd- qj^llploai worcl« Qonc?»DiD g p! *ht|ff whlali drf w&*n{ h«d spokea 9 d pabl!»hed. Thet* wordt weie m followi s—"Soottie (nMuilng Mm plfclntifl), I cll4 w\ tWok io« wwMßin

THE A" HBTTRTON GUARDIAN, TOESCAY JANUARY 14, 1890.



NB W ZEALAND OLOTHING FACTORY are showing for the Boliday Season the most extensive variety in the District of Boys', Youths', and Gents' Clothing. ALL OUR •-WN MANUFACTURE. This Season's productit-r.s will be found to excel in Fit, Style, aud Quality, and ) prices will bear favorable COMPARISON. TAILORING DEPARTHEST. We are prepared to supply a thorough Good Suit SELECT YOUR OWN TAILOR, from £310 a. Trousers to measure from 18a 8d : or if we forward your measure to our Tailoring Establishment in Dauedin we Till make a welt-fitting Suit from £210s; Trousers to measure from 16a 9d Nothing but the beet materials uaed, and psifect fit guaranteed in every Garment we undertake.



The moßt POPULAR and EOONO MIOAL Establishment to buy your Shirts, HATS, T'ES, BRAOBS, RUGS, and PORTMATEAUS. FEE OUbTwINDOWS, NBPEOT OUB STOCK jodg* for younelves, NEW ZEALAND Clothing factory. W. H. WjEBBEB, Manager,



6PBING & BTJMMEB, 1889 WM. SPARROW, TAILOR AND MKKCBF, JUST OPENED, A LARGE *nd Varied Assortmsnt of Gtntlamen'a bhlrts, Hafe, Scarfs. NEW SEASON'S TWEBDS ASD COATINGS. A laige and well selected Stook to ohooie; yon. /HIS TAILORING DEPARTMENT ■ undei the Management of Mb T. Km* Vho has bad Large experience ai GUTTER the principal Tailoring EiUblibmenu Chrlstoburoh, Perfect Fit and Workmamhip Guaranteed WM. SPARROW East Stieat



CHRISTMAS GIFTS. W. W. SPENCER IN addition to the Great Bargains he ie novr ofEeriDg for Chriatiaaa and New Te§r, will give every Ouatomcr spend ing 5s and upwards a PRESENT. White o<iJ:ooee 3s 6i * dozsn Grey On icoes 2s lid a dozen Soarlat Flannel B|d a ya»d Butrimer Drees Oooda 6|d Zephyf cloths in all colors Pink, Grey, Light Blue at s£d White Towels 3}d each j Doable Width White Twill Sheeting ii j MEN'B TWEED SUITS, 18s 6d I Men's Tweed Tron^ern, 6s lid ! Youth* 1 Colored Moles 2s lid j Mhq's ol>>r d v!o es 6« lid BOOTS BOOTS. Hen's Blooben 6a lid, Shooter 10i 6d Women's Leather Elastic Side Boot?, 4s lid The best vilae in BOOTS to bs had in Aihburton AT W, W< Spencer's THE AKCAOE. P.S. REMEMBER every Customer pending 5s will reoeb valuable resent



GREY VALLEY COAL. 3000 TONS — SOLD WEEKLY, — NEWCASTLE COAL SUPPLIES COMING TO HAND. WESTPOBT COAL REGULAR SHIPMENTS



IHR ASHING MACHINE Proprietora jmrl Firmers ahould apply, immediately particulars to W.H.COLLINS&CO. TIMBER AND Coal Merchants BASr BTREST ASHBUR7ON



Wanted Known, Cash Advertisements under thl* head ing. not exceeding 16 words, ONE Shilling. Addresses may belefbat this Office. BKMEMBEJft tee Wednesday Half- Holiday. Customer* please shop early. 1 94 yr\7 ANTED—A GoodGe.cr^l Servant; y i references requited. & country pul pirefeired,—Apply Mbs Randill 1*93 WANTED to Let 2 or 3 Private Bed rooms with bitting room if requ rd. One minute's walk from Bail way Station. For address apply <l Guardian " Office. 1J69 MANILLA. Binder Twine, maohlne . oil, and wire. Time Is money on the harvest field—the belt Is the cheapest. —R. Aioobn, Saandera Buildings. TTTANTfiD Known.—" Strong-wear, YV Boots for Ladies, Men and Children can only be obtained at W. H Oglmbr's,



Mm KBNNttD? and Mis* Osmeroa Moore Street—Teacher* of Soientific Dreesi-cutting. Bodies oat and fi ted. Dreafimakiug in all its branches. Riding habits a speciality. 12 69 WEDNESDAY Half-Holiday. Pieaee •bop early. Wednesday we close it 1 p m.—H. 0. Segbbs, Melfotd Home. TOUBROIDERIES—Foi good Smbroiy MvJ deriei marked cheap fey io Melforo SLouie. We have a large aba splendid »«io- tment to oboose from.—H, 0. Sbgbr's Melford House. ■Y\7ANTED KNOWN —My Bpecia VV Make of Ladies' 4 clasp Eid Qlov(M, " The Ainburtoniao," braided baoko, 3b 6d per p»ir.—W. H, Collies, W' ANTED every man in tne County, to have a Salt of the Ashbarton Tweeds.—Robert Aloobit, Ashboirtoii Clothing Mart, Ssanders' Buildings. MILLINERY— If you want o chooie from a large itock of tilmmed aod ontrlmmed hats and bonnets go te Mel ford Houm. A lot of children*! Oalate* straws from 6d to 2i, very cheap'--H. 0. Smbbs, Melford Hoase. "TTTANTE 'J, Everyone to Know—That VV J. MOISON baa now In stock * arge and varied asooitraent of BOOT* AND SHOES for the Spring and Summer Season, Gentlemen's, Ladles', aud Ohif dren'a, both Imported and Ool^nUl; \ '<»' HIS OWN MAKE, whloh OANN )T BE SURPASSED f r Style, Fit, Q i«l ty and Neatness, combined with VEH> | REASONABLE PRIOE3. - j Alii repalra executed prompt? and with j neattiotfl. lOtl



NEW GOODS. STATIONERY, Fancy Goods, Mustc &o New Serial Volumes. .New Books for Prizes Ot Presentation* Subscribers wanted for any Magazine o Newtipaper published. Diaries for 1890 All Woods Bbdwxd in Price during thib month. L. F. ANDBSWES & CO. TENDERS. ABB Inrlted for Harvesting one hundred and twenty Acres (mm or hint) of O«op, Tenders oloie od SATURDAY, 13 h January. Apply to E. H, DOBSON, Waipnne, 1 65 Liwollnv, Hlnda.



Charles jjraddbl Licensed L&ndbroker and "Valuator undsr " The Land Transfer Act, 1886 ESTATE HOUB& LAND, AND GENEBAL COMMISSION AGENT OFFICE— Burnett Stbekt, Nc*l "Mail" Office t 6



W'B can offer Farmera and cthcj wishing to ship GRAIN OR WOOL 10 LONDON, Spaco at current raf#s. Early applica tions Is necessary. We make N0» CHAKGE FOR COMMISSION and Advance* aro made free of interest. FBIEDLANDEB BROS. Williamson and Preece LONDON AND BIBMINGHAM —.TAILOBg—. HABIT MAE^S, &0., H4VE REMOVED to their New a; '* 0- mmodiuue place of Badness in EAST STREET, ASEBURTON, (Lately oocupied by John Ok* & 00. Special attantion to Livery and Militar Vniforws.



CLEARING SALE AT "The Corner-" THEB*LANOEOF THE SSASOK'B STOCK ALL BEDUOM) B£d Priatß for 4f 1 lijd DroEB Goods tor B£d 6d FriUings for Id ; 3i SnnboQQotß for la lid fcltraw Hats, balf p:ice 50a Saite for 35a



CALL fEARLY AND SECURE BARGAINS- W. H. COLLIER ."Jiie tar."



Curing the last two deoadee the deprecia tion in tha value of Frenob Jsnded propsyty has hflfcti some Hung surprising■ In the year 1869 thi value of landed property in France waa c^u^ted at £97 600,000, an! at thr pr.B-nf incmpnt ?t rf-66,400,000. htnoo a lons :if £31,200,000 in the course of the Jaes tw^ny jeara. Tuo oaujo ul Uua state of things is aeoribed to low prices, resulting Jrom tbeoopifetitioa 0< lon^a prg^uotion,



The best medicine known io SANDBS and SONS' EUCALYPTI EXTBAOT. Test its eminent powerful effects in oougba, colds, influenza, 6*S.-—the relief is instantaneous. Thousands give the most gratifying testimony, His liajtfflty the Eing of Italy, and medical syndicates ajl over ilii glpbe are its patrons, Bead the offioial'reportß that aooop^papy each bottle. Mosler, M.J)., Prof. Ppiyersity Greifswald, reports:—The Eucalypti Extract proved magnificently successful In very severe contusions, bruises, sprains, wounds, scalds ings, broken ribs, and limbs. (" Medical journal," Nov., 1881.) In diseases of the kidneys, either aotive congestion or suppress sion, (urceinia) pr albuminuriji, dropsy, lithargy, nothing will equal in its aotion Eucalypti Extraot. Doses, sto 8 drops, Moßler, MD., Prof., University, Greifswald, reports:—Diphtheria. Ton-ils continually coherent presenting uloers with white exudats. Oured in fourteen days, Surgical Clinic of i Prof M'.lntyrej < 'ollege of Physicians and ' St. Louie— Boirrhue of Breast;--' Excision Eucul.?pti Extraot eniployeci. Nc swelling, heat, or discoloration, Curedin) fourteen dfty ,—(AdTt.) 4 I



The best Remedy for Indigestion.— NoKiON's Camomile Pills are confidently recommended as a simple remedy for indiges tion, which is the of nearly all the diseases to which we are subject. Norton's plls, with justice called '' " Nature'^ stengthener ii the human stomach." act as a powerful top ie and gfcntle aperient, are mild in their opei< lion, and safe under any circuma stances* Scld in bottles at is I %d, as M by «il «odlcine v §n<Jovs »ifo«gho«l the wo "



Keating*s Cough Lozenges cure Cough Asthma, Bronchitis, Medical testimony states that no other medicine is so effectual in the cure of tliese ' dangerous maladies, One Lozenge alone gives ease, one or two at ancf time ensures rest, For;'(«lieving difficulty iij breathing they are invaluable, They contain no opium nor an* violent drag, Sold byj all gbtmiitiat «i %i »nd2i6d«Kb,