The Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit FRIDAY, MAY 23, 1890. LOCAL AND GENERAL

i Monday next will be observed as a close r holiday in honor of Her Majesty's birthday. The Scotia has completed the repairs to the Cook's Strait cable. On Sunday next Eev Father Chastagnon will celebrate Mass at Rakaia at 10.30 a.m. Vespers at Ashburton at the usual hour. The Antarctic expedition in 1890 under the auspices of the Geographical Society of Australasia will cost £10,000. The employees of Chaffey Brothers at the Victorian Irrigation Settlements have struck for eight hours and Union rate of pay. The Napier doctors report 177 cases of la. grippe, of which 113 liavo occurred tliis ironth. The Dunedin bootmakers and other leather workers will in future work 8 hours per day instead" of 8i or 9 as formerly. A run on the Melbourne' Savings Bank caused some sensation, but the movement has ■ abated. The Premier announced that the run was unwarranted. The Christchurch . Operative Bakers' Association has decided to give notice that if the Union's terms are not complied with within a week the employees will go out on strike. Belgium has 5500 schools, but 136,000 drink shops. For public instructien it spends" 15,000,000 francs; for "intoxicating liquor, 135,000,000. ' " In a drunken brawl at Patea a watch maker named Oberg has had a finger pulled completely off by two men with whom he had been quarreling. • , ; Two hundred pounds damages have been given against the proprietor of the Criterion Theatre, Pitt street, Sydney, for opening the building on a Sunday. " ' There is a new Eiffel Tower on the banks of the Neva, near St Petersburg, constructed ontirely of 10,000 blocks of ice, with restau rants, observation platforms and other attrac tions. It is 150 feet high. A well-known London; member of the Society of Friends has just given the sum of £25,000 to be applied—one fifth to establish and the remainder to endow a convalescent home for children at the seaside. The sparrow plague is making itself felt in England. In Northamptonshire the farmers are offering rewards for their destruc tion. Fourpence per dozen is paid for the heads of old birds and 2d for those of young ones. I Kirkham was fifth in the Newmarket Stakes,, in which twelve horses started, Mr White's colt retained third place for a mile, ! but died away at the finish. Time, 2min 12 1-sthsec. The "Sportsman" considers ! that his running on this occassion disposes . of his chances for the Derby. i The Rev Father Rolland, of Reef ton, who ' followed the fortunes of the soldiery in the ! early Maori wars, and who is now in \ advanced years, was taken suddenly ill while, in the performance qf his prie3tly functions, and is now in a state of health i which causes his parishioners great anxiety. The President of the Stockton-on-Tees Chamber of Commerce, speaking at the annual meeting of that body, said that the j Teeside salt field now covered an area of 11 Sfxuai'O miles, averaging 70ft in thickness In some piaoua the stratum was 100 ft thick, J and there every acre contained 200,000 tons o f salt. There was suincent aalt in the , district to supply the whole world for SOO j e-irs. We clip the following from the " Norther » Ensign," a paper published at Wick, Caith ness :—Councillor D. Dunn received last week a carcase of New Zealand lamb —sent in a vessel lirted with refrigerators—from Mr Peter C4ow, a Caithnessman, and now of Waipukarau, New Zealand. The carcase looked as frosh as if it had been dressed the day before, and Mi' Gunn's friends, among whom he generously distributed samples of the consignment, can testify to the beautiful quality of the meat. i The late Sultun of Zauzibar imagined that he was a groater personage than any other on this earth, and the only man not bom to die. He was so sure of this that he had big plans laid for 2,000 years ahead. When he found that he was going to die he was ao ; ,' cut up about it that he hastened his end by j ' many da,ya, and to get even with something i or somebody hr, lia<l sjx of his court physi- j . cians beheaded. j '• The Auckland Riilv/ay Reform Lciguo have adopted a petition to P ' . that the Government Railw o . has been most unsatisfactory, and that it be at once repealed, and an unconditional trial be givon of the stage system of railway administratiln on the whole or a considerable portion of the railways of New Zealand. The petition is to be circulated throughout | the colony foi signature. I At the Dunedin Court on Wednesday five • cases out of twenty-one summonses issued in ' connection with the strike at the Shag Point I mine, were heard, and in all but one case 1 ejectment warrants were issued, with costs I 18s, the defendants being ordered to vacate j the houses occupied by Saturday- In one case, on account of the illness of the wife, the defendant was granted till June 21. The remainder of the cases were adjourned till Tuesday. The men intend, when ejected, to pitch tentsorputup huts on the foreshore, and watch the course of events. A Home paper writes :—lt is pleasant to remember, at the time of Bismark's de parture into the country, how very fond he is of living nature in any form or shape. He knows every treo on his estates, watches the rookeries with unfailing interest, delights in walking among the fields and the woods, where he looks for his favorite flower, the pink heather bells. He knows the name and history of every one of the la]>orer3 on his estates, and, talking of an old cow herd, ho said once, " When he comes into my miflil J think of the heather and meadow flowers." At a meeting of electors of the new Bay of Islands constituency, held to determine upon a platform for the coming elections, resslu tions were passed in favour of retrenchment and against borrowing or any increase of taxation ; in favour of tho abolition of the Property tax and the substitution of a J;and and (if necessary) Income tax ; of the present system of education ; of a trial of Vaile's rail way scheme ; of granting of further powers to local bodies ; of the introduction of the American system of collecting taxes, and also a resolution urging that the land of the, Colony should be reserved for actual settlers. The " N.Z. Times;) says :-r~Tho Mauawatu Gorge Railway is now fast approaching completion, and Avill be opened in about three or four months' time. The big iron bridge over the Pohangina js finished as far as the bridge itself is concerned, but the ■ approaches have yet to bo made. All the tunnels in the Gorge are through. In fact, all the way from Woodville to Palmerston there seems very little to be done, merely the finishing off a very big work. It is pleasing to know that this long delayed work will be ready for the next spring and sum mer traffic, whi-gsh m\\ at once be very large. Says the "Mastertou Star";—A most amusing incident bearing on the servant girl l difficulty recently transpired in a townslnp not a hundred miles from Masterton. It appears that thfc maternal guardian of a certain bright domestic was suffering from an attack of la, grippe, and the girl in a pathetic tone of voice implored her mistress to allow her a iew hours' furlough to visit her "ma," who she had every reason to believe was nigh unto death. Considering the serious surroundings of the case, the mistress, as a matter .at course, granted her consent, and the doiuesljc left in a hurried manner. Now it so happened that tho mistress in question had occasion to drop in to the skating rink at an advanced hour before returning home. The"feelings of the domestic, who was waltzing around with a skatorial artist of tho opposite sex, may be ' more easily imagined than described, when ! she beheld amongst the admiring spectators . the stately form of her charitable mistress. What occurre' '. . ", we cannot j . .say, but we . '.- ■ -is now a < Yflcaucy in that household for a domestic,

An Adelaide parson, has failed with liabi lities rcschsng £10,000 and assets just about half that amoimt. He attributes his woes to gambling in shares and buying a brewery, The Dimedhi Harbor Board having decided to grant six sections of their endowment for the piirposes of a Technological Museum, and the Government having granted £1000 | for that object, the proposal is likely to be carried out. The Christchurch correspondent of the "Catholic Times" thus refers to Bishop Julius:—" The new Bishop is not only a fluent and polished speaker, gifted with the courage of his own strong and deep convic tions, and also with that good gift of a keen sense of humor, but he is evidently a man of broad sympathies, warm and generous heart, and intensely in earnest. There is plenty of work for him in tllis city of Christchurch There arc, as he himself has said, "plenty of platforms on which we can all work side by side, ia the cause, for instance, of purity, temperance and general morality," and.here Catholics will be only too glad to meet and co-operate with him." A romantic story of the elopement and :■-■.-:■■■■ •' - - ■—• Vom Notre Dame College, ■' >• ..■ , ■ ■ . has just come to light Sister Margaret -Mary was the name which . Cora la Thaimne assumed two years ago, when she took the black veil and became a teacher in Notre Dame College, which is opposite the old mission Dolores Church, in the suburbs. Her father is a French florist, and .she has two sisters, one married. The unmarried sister, Berthe, was recently engaged to Charles Perkins, an iron moulder. Berthe and her betrothed paid several visits to Cora, and young Perkins seemed greatly struck with the nun. Berthe noticed this infatuation, and they quarrelled on the day the three went together to inspect the new house which Perkins was furnishing for his intended bride.' Berthe's jealousy flamed out, and she asked him to decide between them. He chose the mm, and the younger sister acquiesced. One stormy night the convent sisters found that Margaret Mary .had dis appeared. They could get no clue to her, but at last she was found in the new cottage with her husband. Prom his story and that of the sister it seemed Cora obtained a dis pensation from the Mother Superior releasing her from her vows, and also one from the Archbishop. They kept her secret. They were married, and, after a brief honeymoon, returned to the house that had been furnished for the younger sister.

Masonic Installat

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Christqhurch, May 23. At St. Augustine's Masonic hall last evening there was a large attendance of Masons, on the occasion of the installation of W. Bro. Charles Lbuissonj as District Grand Master for Canterbury under the Scottish constitution. The installing officer was the R.W.D.G.M. of Otago; and Southland (S.C.), Bro. James Gore of Dunedin, who was attended by his officers, assistance being rendered by Bros. G. G, Graham, W.D.G.M., Auck land (E.G.); Bro. T. S. Graham, D.G.M., Otago and Southland (8.C.); Bro. P. Cunningham, D.D.G.M.,' Canterbury, (E.C), and his officers.

New Plymouth Murder.

The telegrams received regarding the above are not worth publishing in full. The gist of the evidence taken yesterday was that it went to show that the prisoner had made false statements as to where he procured his boots and drawers.

PER PRESS ASSOCIATION

New Plymouth; May 23. Mxr, Hickman, wife of a policeman at Puugarehu, has been giving evidence all the morning as to the day she saw Wil son's cart in front of the restaurant. She says it \yas Thursday morning. The Crown Prosecutor being ill, the inquest was adjournQd for tun days. One of the jurymen is also laid up.

A Kleptomaniac.

(PER TRESS ASSOCIATION.)

Dunedin, May 23. Amy Bock, a'ias Ida Bennett, al;as Laing, whose history is not unknown to the police authorities, consequent on her appearance some tv/o years ago as a kleptomaniac, was committed for trial for obtaining £22 by false pretences from a money lender. Accused admitted her guilt. , •

TO-DAY'S TELEGRAMS.

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lff«-a,yy at Sura. Auckland, May 25. Arrived—Maud Graham froriiLyfctelton, after a very stormy passage. The crew used all their kerosene in pouring over board to break the sea and hove to several times with a sea anchor out. Southern Cross Pejniloum Comiiany, CniusTCHURCH, May 23; ' In Chambers this morning' His Honor Judge Denniston made an order for the winding up of the Southern Cross Petroleum Company. • 3Tiie B»iimMlli» Art C^allo.vy. Dunedin, May 22. The Mayor has given a second subscrip tion of £25, and Mr John Sidey one of £20 to tlje Art Gallery fund. In conse quence of these, additional donations the committee have decided to purchase "A November Pastoral " by Mackay.

CRICKET.

AUSTRALIANS v SURREY.

[l'Eit PRESS-ASSOCIATION.]

(Received May 23, noon,) LoBfDON, May 22. Tho Australians began their match against the Surrey eleven at Kensington Oval to-day. The weather was fine, and there was a large attendance of the public. The Home team went to the wickets first, and had run up a score of 200 before they were all disposed of. Slujter made 10, Abel 25, and Maurice Read 40.

The Postal Conference.

PER, PItESS ASSOCIATION.

(Received May 23, 12.30 p.m.) Adelaide, May 23. The Postal Conference opened yes terday. The Hon. J. H. Gordon, who was elected President, regretted the absence of a representative from New Zealand. Ho .announced that South' i Australia would adopt the postal re ductions, and thought that the Cable Company had shown a bold and generous policy which the Colonies would do well to encourage. New Zealand, he considered, should assist her neighbors by contributing to the subsidy and great Britain should also [join. He explained that the proposed reductions in the cable tariff would involve a loss on the South Australian land lines of £16,000 pei'annum, and as the colony was not in a position to bear that burden the amount should be apportioned among the other colo^u'e^, A motion was carried recommending the various Governments to increase the limit of single money orders to L2O. A notice of motion, giving effect to Sir John Pender's proposals was tabled,' also that in any future mail contracts across the Pacific Ocean -NeAv Zealand should arrange for other colonies pay ing similar poundage, rates to New Zealand to those paid by non-contract ing colonies for Suez route, each des patching country or colony paying all charges to destination,

PARLIAMENT OUT OF SESSION.

HON T. FERGUS AT QUEENSTOWN.

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Quebnstown, May 22. ' The Hon. T. Fergus addressed his con stituents in the Town Hall this evening, the Mayor occupying the chair. He said he would not detain them with a review of the past session, as nothing had been said by the.members of the Opposition in the shape of criticism that required ah | answer. '■ l . ■ \ ': ' FINANCE. After devoting some time to a reply to the attack by Mr Fisher, M.H.R., on the financial administration, he said he had the pleasure of congratulating the meeting on another surplus, a little larger than .that on which he congratulated them"last year. The Government, after meeting I every legitimate claim, were able to pre sent a balance sheet showing to the good £115,174, which had been arrived at with out undue straining, and ■ ' ■■'!1:' ' ■i;-'!:::"; ; the fact that the newly .'■ i- •[>■■ i t i:"»i -i not provide within £49,000 of the Esti mates, the railways, on the contrary, yielding £63,340 beyond the estimate. The task of Government was still a difficult one, and he did not think there was much chance of the impost being reduced. ' No doubt some charges, as buildings, must be transferred from the Loan to the Consoli dated Account, and there was the fact that throughout New Zealand the popu lation was increasir-7 "^ rir-:rlly, -t l. tl-* ---advantaees of the - !:■■' ■ >■■:>■.■. ■■■.■ ■, so largely utilisec".. ;':v :\u v .n..iv.y required a considerable amount of-money for the erection of schools. Before they could remit taxation they must provide for all •v *V" r,:- t:-ir: '-n the Loan Fund, and th>-". -'i-". '■ :.■".■■ : for school build ings. It was the intention of Government to ask the sanction of Parliament to set apart a sum of money, at least, this year, probably for two or three years, to enable them to overtake the school buildings re quirements of the colony, especially in some parts of the North Island. It might be well also to provide at the same time for the extension of Lunatic Asylums. He was largely of opinion that the time had arrived for a proper classification of the'inmates, and for the drafting of those who had to be kept as in gaols into estab lishments of that kind. • The Government thought that some portion of the revenue should be devoted for a little time at least to this purpose. INCIDENCE OF TAXATION. 1' A noticeable feature of all the speeches of late had been that there was no talk whatever about the change in the inci dence of taxation. Mr Ballance claimed exemptionsfor agricultural improvements, but Sir R. Stout at Oamaru carefully ab stained from any reference to the inci dence. He believed that these gentlemen when in office had it brought home to them that it was impossible, witb. any change, that the public creditor could be satisfied and the service of the Colony be discharged. It would be exceedingly absurd to make a change. He disliked the property tax as much as any member of the Opposition, but he saw no other course at present for the Colony to pay its way. Those who talked about a land and income tax forgot that the bulk of taxation at present fell oii land, as out of the total of £354,000 paid in property tax at least half was paid by peoplo utilising land for agricultural, pastoral or dairying purposes. BORROWING BY LOCAL BODIES. Passing on to the question of the burdens of the colony he said that a debt which, to him, was just as much colonial debt as the thirty-seven millions owing to the British lender was the considerable quantity of local debt. Local bodies in the colony had borrowed £5,000,000, for ; which they paid sums varying from 4 to 7 per cent. ■ The average rate was £5 9s 6d, and .the r total- annual payment £272,530. He had always thought it a great pity that local bodies were taxed so heavily for the accommodation received, which was required for necessary works, and Mr Westgarth when in the colonies had pointed oflt that by a consolidation of local government loans a saving of 1, 2, ---or even 3 per cent might be made upon present rates. Supposing by consoli dating these loans at 4 per cent, a saving would be effected of £73,450. In addition to these were loans of £332,715, being money borrowed from four Government departments. He did not advocate that increased facilities should be allowed local bodies to borrow, but he maintained that it would be the height of folly to allow local institutions within the colony to be bled at the rate of 1, 2 or 3 per cent niore. than they would have to pay if the loans were put on a more satisfactory footing, and it was the duty of Government to see if something could be done by which in future borrowing loans should be issued with such restrictions that local,bodies could obtain accommodation on more reasonable terms than at present, The question of; indebtedness of-local bodies had been brought home with considerable force in view of the fact that the New Plymouth Harbor Board had been unable to meet its interest on the Home market,, and thab there was further , danger of the Gisborne Harbor. Board making default. .It was certain that if one and another of the local bodies made default the fact would operate on colonial stocks, and 1 would also restrain people' at' home from ■ having anything to do with our invest ments, and prevent that stream of desir able immigration that was needed. If they could do anything at all to ease the minds of people at .Home, or to ease the municipal taxpayer of the! colony :from an undue burden of payment of interest, it would be a wise and statesmanlike action. LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT. The question of local borrowing led up - to the whole ■ question of local .sell governmont, He was strongly of opinion that local self-.govennent was grossly overdone in the colony, with the result that useless expenditure was heaped up. His own opinion was that a great many Licensing Committees throughout the colony might be done away with, as they were doing infinitely worse than under the old system. Government had under consideration a measure for the amalga mation of some bodies on the West Coast, and in any other similarly affected districts, giving them greater power than at the present time and enabling them to put their finances on a more sound and proper basis. - SETTLEMENT OF THE LAND. One subject of considerable importance was that of settlement of the people on the land. The colony had'a grand estate yet in the hands of the Crown and of the Natives, and the question was how best to bring under occupation those lands that were fit for settlement. Since the passing of the late Native Bills a dispo sition had be.en shown by the Natives to bring their lands through the Court, and thus being enabled to "deal with them. He was of opinion it was a great pity the Crown ever gave up the sole right to purchase Native lands, and had ever allowed land jobbers and sharks to enter into competition,. but Government were of opinion that the time had arrived when they should use every endeavor to secure as much of the land as possible when it came on the market. The question was how to obtain money. Government had resolved, orit had been resolved for .them, that they should-not borrow,. but - they thought the thing could be managed by the creation, by the Treasury of land de bentures on the security of such Native l lands as were already.'acquired,; and on the security of lands.about to be acquired. These debentures to be issued . iri the colony, made available as investments to colonists, and made a first charge on the land wlioh .sold or -settled. There Av ras no other way except to go on the London markets, which they did not intend to do, i

at present at all events In connection with the Native lands and Crown lands 1 already acquired came the question of the roading of the lands. Government thought they saw bheir way to raise the necessary money for this in a somewhat similar method to that proposed to raise money for the acquisition of lands—by creation of roads debentures, to be an additional charge on the land, which, when sur veyed, would be valued by a competent valuer. It was a very gratifying fact that land was going off well in the colony, es pecially on perpetual lease, but Govern . menttßought a great deal more must be done to open land for settlement. Con siderable areas were being held unpro fitably, having fallen into the hands of land and mortgage companies from mort gagors who had been unable to meet en gagements. They could not blind them, selves to the fact that these lands were injuriously affecting the prosperity of New Zealand. He would be the last, to consent to legislation that would.rob those who obtained land in a legitimate manner, • but; he was of .'opinion- that while the colony should do nothing toinjure them, they should do nothing toinjure the colony. The question arose, Jiow was it possible, in fairness to the. Companies, to get these lands settled, and how was it best in'; the interests of the colony—whether by addi tional taxation in order to get " bursting, up," or, as he thought .preferable; by State acquisition, after a reasonable time had been given to realise 1 He was not prepared to say. /.Government had some time ago put £10,000 on the estimates for the acquisition of property for village settlement. The vote was struck out, but whys should they not go further and take, up considerable quantities of this land,'* rendering it fruitful and profitable. -That was ■ a question that would have to be faced. He did not refer in these remarks to lands that had been acquired by Land Companies for the.purpose of development by agricultural or pastoral pursuits. There were a number of other questions that must force themselves on attention during the incoming session, or in the coming Parliament. Among.these was ohe ques tion of ,' CHARITABLE AID. . " Concerning which' Government were entirely convinced that the measure in troduced last year was a fair, equitable and just solution of the difficulty. A question of some importance on the gold fields was that of the ; GOLD DUTY. He had long been of opinion that the existence of this duty was a relic of bar barism, and he thought the time had come when it should be abolished, and a more just[ duty substituted.- If they were to adopt to some extent the suggestion made at the Miners' Conference in Dunedin, it seemed to him they would overtake the difficulty. Twelve thousand acres were held under miners' rights, a good deal being held by speculators purely for shepherding purposes. If the minimum annual value were put on each claim, and local bodies were authorised to rate up to that; value, they could and would, force speculators to contribute to the revenue,, and;miners would be relieved of an annual payment, which he believed to be. inde fensible. Besides, they should; allow all Mining Companies to be rated "ordinarily under the property tax. CIVIL SERVICE REFOBSI. Government had been trying \,o effect the classification of the Civil service and bring it into workable lines, taking depart ment by department. The first Depart-' ment they had taken was that of Post and-. Telegraphs, in which officers were paid more poorly than in any other, and ifa was the intention of Government to submit a classification of this department, which would raise the salaries of all the smaller poorly paid offioers, and put them in classes, where they would rise accord ! ing to service and merit year by year, without the interposition of Parliament. He was of opinion that some classification Should similarly be made of the teaching profession, and he would like to see teachers made civil servants. This sub ject was engaging the attention of the Government. FEDERATION. Regarding federation, he said he would begin to believe in federation, and to believe that other colonies were sincere in a desire for federation, when they, began to take off instead of putting on taxes oh our natural products. Till some disposition of that kind was- shown he would think the question of federation was very much "in the air," He con cluded by inviting the careful attention of electors to these questions, which they must ultimately decide. :At the conclusion of the address a vote o,f .confidence in Mr Fergus was unani mously passed.

Drifting Down the River.

Mary A. Fobd (Una). Drifting down the shining river, Where the sunbeams glance and quiver. On the rippling waves so swiftly Dancing onward to the sea ; As they glide in ceaseless motion ' To "the broad unfathomed ocean, What a lesson in their journey, Do they whisper unto me ! Down broad and deeper river— On whose wavelets we can never Sail but once—for never backward O'er its surface may we go — Do we float, perhaps unshrinking, Often heedless and unthinking, Where the, boundless endless ocean Qf Eternity doth flow. With our' hopeful eye 3 turned, sunward We are looking onward,' onward For a glimpse of that bright Eden Lost while yet the world was young ; For wq fancy that it glimmers Where the shining water'shimmers Like a gate of pearl before us By the hand of distance hung. . 'Mong its far off purple shadows Do we picture flowery meadows-^ Bright elysian fields of beauty, Where we hope to pause and rest; , But how oft we find- them cheating, ' Empty visions, false and fleeting As the magic cities rising From the water's misty breast. When at last our kaven Hearing, All its beauty disappearing, We but find a barren desert On the sea's rough stormy verge j All its fruits to ashes turning, All its valleys bare and burning, the white wings of its angels But the foam-wreaths on the surge. Naught is real, naught is lasting Save that world to which we're hasting Over Time's swift flowing river j And for rest we seek in vain Till we reach the golden portal Never crossed by foot of mortal, And our life bark's wrecked and shattered Ne'er to breast the waves again, —" New York Freeman's Journal." j

A New Expedition to Africa.

Arrangements are in a forward state for a new expeditiqn to the D,ark Continent. It will start from London early in May, but though that port is selected for the start, and much of the equipment of the party has been arranged for in London, the expedition had its birth in Sweden, and will be manned by Svyedes. The leader of the new crusade is Mr Nils Johann Zachrissen. His plan is, says the London correspondent of the Liver; pool ."Daily Post," to proceed from Mozambique to the north-east of Lake Tanganyika, in the neighborhood of Ujiji, »nd thence to the Victoria Nyanza, erecting on the way between Ujiji and the Nyanza, I a series of stations as a means of suppros

sing the slave trade. He has engaged a body of a hundred Swedish artisans, who have bound themselves to accompany him on a three years' expedition. In addition to the Swedes, some 1500 native carriers will be required. Zachrissen's plan of campaign is a happy mingling of mission ary work and warfare against slavery. A peculiarity of the crusade is that the Swedish artisans will not receive any money payment, but at the end of their three years' service they will be entitled to an allotment of land, and may open trade with the natives. So far-from taking any money from the. subscription, each workman, before he starts, will deposit a sum of £25, to go toward meeting the expenses of sending him back* in case he should fail through ill-health.

Victorian Parliament.

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- '■ • - / Melbourne, May 22. Mr Munro moved a vote of want of confidence as an amendment to. the Address-in-Reply. The House ad-, journed until Tuesday. , •'' . ,

The Imperial Parliament

•" Speaking .of Ms experiences in England during his recent visit to 'engineer the Victorian Divorce .Bill, Mr ShieLp re marked to an interviwer :—Nothing that I have seen or heard in the House of Commons has made me think disparag ingly of the Australian Legislatures. To tell the truth, I was somewhat disap pointed with the .House of Commons. My expectations were raised too high. While they have much better and more finished, they", have prosier and duller, though more correct speakers than ours. With some individual exceptions, the general style of Parliamentary spealdng at Home is wanting in animation and. emphasis, and in variety of intona; tion and gesture. The matter is much (better,-but the manner of delivery is worse than with us. Hence their speeches are better to read than to hear. In the matter of attendance, our Assembly is 1 more punctual, and relatively fuller throughout the sittings. It seems to m c that nothing short of an earthquake will make the average Englishman postpone for a mimxte his luncheon or dinner. On the Parnell report, when Mr Gladstone was making one of his historic' speeches, I saw from 15 to 20 members leave the chamber, and when Sir Michael Hicks-Beach rose to reply, a house over 500 strong thinned away to about 40, and this, too, on the first night of a great debate. Cuisine and empty stomachs beat orating and duty hollow. . ."

Agricultural Returns.

[PEK PKESS ASSOCIATION.]

Wellington, May 22. The complete agricultural returns are published in the "Gazette." The total number of holdings is 38,178, an increase of 243] in the year. The area of wheat decreased by 26,292 acres,-the total being 335,861 acres, producing 8,448,506 bushels. The area of oats increased by 58,846 .acres; from 367,225 to 428,071, the yield being 13,673,584 bushels. Barley shows a small decrease. - The acreage was 42,402 acres, the yield 1,342,823 bushels. There were 30,577 acres of potatoes, pro ducing 159,729 tons. There were 352,903 acres in turnips or rape and 45,889 in hay, yielding 65,476 tons, 5820 tons less than last year; 25 acres of tobacco yielded, 11,3701b dried by hand. In garden there were 8568 acres, in orchard 15,771, and in plantations of forest trees 28,928. There are 197 ensilage stacks in the colony. The return of cattle gives 762,358, Auckland having 190,000, Wel lington 152,000 Otago 142,000, Taranaki 99,000, and Canterbury 88,000.

The Railway Servants

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Wellington, May 23 The Railway Commissioners have issued a circular to the employees to the effect that they are prepared to give the neces sary leave, arid" pay reasonable travelling expenses to delegates from among them selves, who may visit Wellington to set forth their grievances. The Commissioners to-day wrote to the Executive of the Railway Employees' Society expressing their willingness to receive a deputation from the Society to discuss the matters in dispute.

The Oldest Tree in the World.

With an antiquity rivalling, if not ex ceeding that of the pyramids of -Egypt, and a reputation scarcely .inferior,, it is remarkable how little notice has been taken of the death of the ctolossal dragon tree of Orotava. The gigantio hoary headed, vegetable veteran died almost sud denly a few years ago', and may be said like the deacon's old masterpiece, to have gone to pieces all at once—all at once and nothing first—ju,s.t £s .bubbles when they burst," * After a babyhood of cen turies, decades of maturity and a decadence of ages,- it does seem pitiable that the departure of this wonder of fhe world should have evoked little, or no c^piment. When Alonzo de Lugo, the conqueror of Teneriffe, came to Orotava in 1493 he spared the tree, but, scandalised .at the profane mysteries which'had taken place in its interior, he converted its. hollow ness into a chapel of rholy\niass.-- Hum boldt in 1799 gives its height as " appear ing about 50 or 60 feet, and its circum, ferenoe near the roots at 45 fee,t, and the diameter of the trunk at 1Q feet from the ground' is still 12 English feet," and he computed its age a.t 10,000 years. . The opening was "so large'-that a; table was placed in it round which 14 persons could seat Ijhemselves, and a stairqaae in the in terior conducted the visitor up to the height whence the branches sprang. Slow, indeed, must have been its growth, for 400 years after the visit of the first navi gators Le Dru measured the tree most carefully, proving that during that long period the increase had only been one foot at the base, the other dimensions being practically identical. The old tree, moderately credited with 6000 years of I life, has gone the way of all trees, but most felicitously the Marquisa del Sanzal has planted on its exact site a seedling derived from its most ancient progenitor, and this youngster is now a healthy plant some 4 feet high, looking, in shape only," exactjv like a fine long garret, lightly stuck in the ground by its taper end and surmounted by a crown of sword-shaped leaves,

TELEGRAPHIC.

HOM:q AND FOREIGN".

[pee press association.]

London, May 34 §2, The Union Steamship Oompany's new boat, the Tayiuni, wag launched yesterday.. "  s The statement that the Prince of Wales intends to visit Ireland next week is denied. The owners of the Dacca are reticent about the circumstances attending the loss of the vessel, A rigid enquiry , will be instituted. The Canadian Pacific Railway Comr pany has bought an interest in the Commercial Cable Company, with the object, it is believed, of forwarding the ' Australian cable soheme.

Mr Siauley speaking at a banque given by the London Chamber of Coin merce/said that if England continued to yield to Germany's demands in Africa he should advise the British East Africa Company to withdraw. A blue book containing papers relat ing to the Western Australian Consti tution Bill is published. The " Standard," commenting on its con tents, insists that alienation of the fee simple shall ..be. stopped, .and,- the ua-. -»« earned increment of the land reserved „-, for the community. ; X-, ■•? , n , „ . Paris, May ; .,2l.' ?r <^. The French, Government.has signecL; y, the Egyptian convention. ;. { Sofia, May 21. Panitza admits the plot to' deposed ? Prince Ferdinand, but denies the com plicity of Russia. ■  ,  ._, OttaW^ May 22.. rp It is reported negotiations regarding a > the Behring Strait fisheries have failed. \}'''" Canadian sealers go out armed. \ •<,.<■' '\<^, ,■. ■ ■ , :BEELiN, ( ;May;2l.\.;. :^i;i Ypn Caprivi relaxes thet'estriction:":^ upon travel in .Alsace, but the pass-i \t,-*, port' system is not to be altogether"^ abolished. '':, iti; "' ' ' -.- A sensation "was caused^ in^Jjhe^^. Reichstag by Go'vernmen^ declining*" . the present increased army vote. This - r action is regarded as the precursor of '"' , increased demands: " ' .;-».>. ;  Buenos Ayrbs, ; , May 21j Riots have > taken place,. at Puerto Alagre in the Argentine Republic. Troops'were called out and'firedOon :'I the mob, killing twenty-six and wound ing forty-one. . ' . t „, ' ' • * '- ■,-«. /jfi.t-

A Nihilist Trial.

In the grey, dull light *jf the approach ing morning (the verdict was to be given ab 2.30 a.m.) the-court-room'- looked *, strangely oppressive. Six candles, in silver candle-sticks, glimmering upon the - judges' table,.gaye it a lugubrious funereal f aspect. The closely-packed -people -if ere J' '-. almost-silent.; From the prisoners'-b6S*Jirs'i hum of suppressed voices came. The . , prisoners knew.that after the''sentence'^ they would be separated. They tried tp v , profit by the short time they .were to be: J together. Judging: -by the unbroken, rapid bilk, they were in good spirits. But the public could-not see ■ any of-'themV^Siß'', - they sat all six on wooden benches, sur-., rounded.-by .twelve gondarmcs with drawn *■ swords' on their shoulders. 'The^crowd ■■ ; outside the building, which the Bleepy/"' and exhausted policemen now left to.take care of itself, 'was rieitherjo patient' nor so calm. They represented the, most, turn bul^nt section of the population": "As a; part of thefloiterers, 'tired of the long wait* . ing,: withdrew, they were • broughj; into closer contact. A'handkerchief was raised at one of the windows.. A y.erdictl'f,-j shouted a voice "in the "crowcl. Distantly,'! all noise ceased,' and'thjl crowd pressed, forward.- . "" . ,„''/'.'■-/y Within, the voice of the usher was, anW " nouncing the last scene of the shameless farce. The tribunal was" about to enter and read the ; sentence^ A silence ; as <t oj death f«U upon the many headed crowd. One could almost hear the beating p(, so i A many hearts—some in agony of fear, some in the excitement of dramatic..tension. fj s One "by one the six members of,,thaY 3 tribunal appeared upon, the platform be hind the long table lit by the six candles. Their troubled, worn-out looks were' sug gestive rather of a great villainy fust ■ committed with full knowledge than of a */ : stern, though painful, duty/fulnlfed. The '"■-£■ six prisoners who faced them" were - certainly the calmer and more dignified of the two groups. They also rosefrom their - i seats when the tribunal was announced/ and now stood in full view, v • •• ■ •■-*. "'i " All eyes were riveted on the presiding •'—' judge, who, a white sheet of paper L in £tis '■]'■ •! hands, was about to=utter thefatal words, "; •: In,a voice of an unusually high pitch; he | 7;^ read the preamble,- which seemed to last'< -J« an eternity. At last the words of the sentence were uttered, sending an electric '-'■'•• thrill throughout the audience;- The;name;'■'; of Boris canitt first, followed by a~lbw mumbling, to which nobody paid attention- >-.■ it was "the eriumeration.of his. "offences/ J Then a short- pause land the: sentence-*-' death ! Though no one expected him to be spared, the word n feU upon strained nerves like the blow, of a hammer. Yasily's name followed with.a, mumb]ing{r less irksome, |or it was shorter,' and then ' another blow of the, hammer —death,! j.'{"; The nerves shiver,, but hold good. The V third on the roll is Zina, whose fate hap ;. been the most discussed, because themost; V; uncertain,, «The silence .deepened—iafeP-, ft or death ? life or death ? all asked in their ; hearts, whilst the~ hammer rjs,es higher.i. , and higher; then suspense,: and again ik'fi* falls with a crash—death !* A sigh, gathering into a groan, ran through $he hall.- All, even the most prejudicfcdlO. turned their eyes with unmixed'-ajmipathy upon that young, noble, beautiful woman standing so> calmly .• and-, modestly. Most had expected that'as a wpman^s^e-wpnid^^ be .spared. "The"", three." remaining prisoners were, so little oompromised,{they would be let off with a, nominal punish ment. The mumbling affised ttp^-Bqtr. chardy's name, > which came7;next,jjwa« J£o such as to lull the inattentive audience to complete tranquility. ,Mos.fc, people- ;•,>' ceased to listen altogether, wKen sud denly a suspiOious quivering in-':the4 : ;'i judge's" voice, a short pause, and '■ tHftivf^ sentence —death!—resounded amidstLuni-'" " versal stupefaction. A wonderful ""*' ha!" escaped as ; though -.they <were V whetbot 1 they had riot misheard. "Many thanks, gentlemen:judges. !'j the of the condemned man resounds sneeringly. The judge had not the courage tc; call the;"/.;: prisoner to order, arid,.pretending^^not W Li. near, hastened on to the following name. * It was that of the elder sister^ Dudoroy. This time the publio "with strained attention, all-, the curcumlocition ; - and windings of. the olumsy summing-up \ of offences. There was- ,the; same - treacherous prolixify and abstruseness in ; the statement of motives^ Soineplirases -)', sounded ugly—doubts, alternated with } hopes, irritating men's nerves^ the ,ex-^, .„ tremity. The hammer was^hangirig in l! the air, now rising, nowsinkirig, and then rising again. Then the .blow was struck. , TJ at last; 'it was^—death 1 { ['- ,' ' ?".,""'".*:;:;,' i/r- The,' suppressed passion burst forth, '- • v On a sudden, shrieks, hysterical, cries of „,. women, groaiis, and curses filled theVair, - People jumped upon their seats, shouting ~J and gesticulating, as if they had.^gdae . mad on a sudden. It was a scene of disorder such as had, never before been witnessed within those walls. A good lady in the second tow —rthe wife pf~>the chairman of the Board—fainted from her' ' excitement. Upon the Bench the 1 disorder and confusion was hardly.less thanumqng—, . the public. The ' presiding; jvdge, .the^ '" paleness of shame on his face, "strove 'to' face the storm. He failed .completely. He wished that the public should remain and listen to the encl.of,hia, _ paper, which trenibled in . his. hand.. 3. Th,e sixtji of the prisoners, the younger „ of the sisters Dudoroy, in consideration of \-_ t her.youth, was condemned-7-Tiot.to death"' !'.' as, : the • prosecutor had .1 asked^but to -''f\ fifteen years'penal servitude.' They had; '; offered this sop to their ' slavish. 1 coni.'V;" sciences, and they wished their vact^ofV' -T courage to be'iriad,©,known, i But in tlfa r> , general uproar nobody ",ccpld catbh jonej J./ word of wKat was read,' 1 A^ youhlginan.''^"* opened the window, and, leaning ab.lft, ilr shouted to the people in the*street—/i To '-.'.' death! All seute^ed to death t":A^ threatening yell whs heard from the crowd, ; below, Sojne among the, representatives of the " loyal )'elg'meritftliought thjit,the crowd were about to storm the place,; and that they would be massacred wfo>tefi»V>|

IBE ASHBTTBfOft GUARDIAN, FRIDAY, MAY 23, 1890.



Public Notices j THE MIRROR,' I A HIGH-CLASS Weekly, Social Political, Literary, and Dramatic paper, to be published every FRIDAY, price 3d, by the Centennial Printing and Publishing Company, Limited, Melbourne Place, Ruspell Street, Melbourne LOW VITALITY DR CHURCHILL'S Syrup of Hypophosphite of Lime prescribed by the faculty for the cure of Consumption, Chronic Cough and General Debility. It contains two of the principal ingre dients necessary for building up the Hunan Frame, and which are considered deficient in the above complaints, viz., Phosphorus and Lime. It cannot be too kighly recommended for Delicat Childre , Dr Churchill's Compound Syrup o HYPOPHOSPHITES Is real Brain Food, and in cases of Muscular and Nervous Exhaustion has acquired a world-wide reputation. Each bottle bears Dr Churchill's signature Price, 4fr. Prepared only by SWANN fIHEMIST WANN UHEMIST, Pue Castiglione, Paris. VWTHOUrTEETH WJTM.TEET« THE CHRISTCHURCH DENTAL SURGERY, Corner of Cashel and High streets. QJ -JV/TYERS AND /~10. SURGEON DENTISTS, And at Dunedin and Westport. "TT7E have Sained the FrRST. 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 10s. Natural, Durable, Comfortable Artificial Teeth Replaced Temporarily al most immediately after the extraction of decayed teeth or stumps without extra fee or charge. Arrangements can be made for part or monthly payments. ADMINISTERING NITROUS OXIDE GAS several times daily for the past ten years, we fearlessly assert that extraction o teeth under its influence is perfectly painless and positively safe Fee for Administration, ss. Extraction, 2s 6d. Artificial Teeth and Dentures made by other dentists repaired or remodelled at small cost. "Tours of attendance —9 a.m. to 6 p.m. . m sparrow TAILOR AND MEN'S MERCER bAST STREET T MPORTANT ~\T O TIC E Important JLN otice MESSRS HALLENSfEINBROS & CO, Proprietors of the NEW ZEALAND CLOTHING FACTORY AT ASHBURTON Invercargill, Gore, Milton, Oamaru, Timaru, - Dunedin, Christchurch, Hoki tika, Greymouth, Reefton, Westport, Nelson, Wellington, Napier, Hastings, Waipawa, Gisborne, Palmerston North, Wanganui, Hawera, New Plymouth, Thames and Auckland, Have arranged to FLOAT THEIR BUSINESS INTO A COMPANY, To be registered under " The Companies Act 1882. It is a part of the arrangement th.\t TOCKS shall be REDUCED by £50,000 before the 15th of June next To effect this the Managers of the vari ous Branches throughout the colony have been instructed, in addition to marking' out the Goods at Low Prices, to allow 5 per cent on all cash sales amounting to £1 and upwards. This excellent opportunity of buying ds should not be overlooked, especi lly as it is a well-known fact that the Manufactures of the New Zealand Cloth ing Factory are Superior to Anything in the Market. The sale at the Ashburton Branch is under the management of Mr W. H. Webber,



Wanted. Cash Adotirtisommts wider thu- headinn, not exceeding 16 worth, ONE BHILLIA O Addresses may lc kit at this Ofw "ANTED a First-class Butcher at once. Apply John Gbigg^ Long boach. 5 IG4 TDINE BLANCHES (for firewood)~6s _L a load on the ground or 7s 6d,* delivered.—H. C. Segers. * \\f ANTED Known.—A special pur- V V chase of choice Ladies' Hats at a desperate price.—W. H. Collier. 4t130 "Tl7 ANTED,—Two Boarders in private VV family. Terms, 15s per week. Apply '-'A.0.," Mail Office. ■_ WANTED useful Girls as mother's helps; also General Servants town and country.—Mits Adams, Registry Office, Sounders' Buildings. 5 161 TOP THAT COUGH! By using Flower's Cough Drops. Guarantceg efficacious. Can only be obtained at H I G. Flower's, Confectioner, East Street. 3_191 ANTED every man m the County. to have a suit of the Ashburton Tweeds.—Robert Alcorn, Ashburfcon Clothing Mart, Saunder's Buildings. ANTED KNOWN—The "Strong Wear " Boot is the best for Men, Ladies, and Children.—W. H. Collier, 'The Corner." ANTED KNOWN.—The Cheapest House in Ashburton to buy Drapery, Millinery, Clothing, Boots, etc., is H; C. Segers, Melford House. ANTED Known —One hundred and fifty Ladies' and Children's Ulsbers bought a great bargain (good qualities), now selling very cheap—H. C. Segers. Melford House. r I ''HE Patent Candle Extinguisher can JL be Set to Extinguish at any time required ; it will save insurance premiums your house and your life, ■ price Is ; Sole Agent for Ashburton.—R. Alcorn, Saunders' Buildings ANTED Known— The Cheapest ■ Shop to buy Tinware and Gal vanised Iron goods in Ashbarton, is at W. F. Hannaford's, .Burnett Street. A large stock kept on hand. Tin and Iron ware goods made and repaired • with dcs patch Public Notices. STRAYED from Valetta, a Bay.Trap Gelding, good stamp, had a new cover on. Expenses will be paid and a suitable reward given on delivery to BARNES $ SMITH 5 Builders, Ashburton. QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY HOLIDAY. I THE Queen's Birthday falling this year '■ upon a Saturday, the Burgesses of I Ashburton are respectfully invited to ob- '' serve MONDAY, the 26th, as a Holiday in j Her Majesty's honor, ; D. THOMAS, 5J138 Mayor. | mEMPLAR HALL, De Loree's Uni- JL versal Panorama, Paris Exhibition i Eiffel Tower 1000 ft high, The Kelly Ganf, ' the Australian Ironclad Bush Rangers, Conjuring Tricks, etc. Doors open at 7.30. Commence at 8 p.n\ Admission Is, Children Gd, 5 102 >INK TAE TJAFvTS. UNK UE I AiILS, , HP HE Rink will bo open TO-MORROW ' _1_ (Saturday) at the usu.il prices. Special arrangements made for private Clubs. BRASS BAN.D, specially engaged for the season. R. ELSTON, 5 159 Manager, j LONGBEACH ROAD DISTRICT. rpENDERS are invited for,— Making Drain and Forming Track on Windermere Road, about CO ■ chains. Particulars afc our <>ffiee. Tenders close MONDAY, June 2nd, 1890, at 11 a.m. fooks & son, ; 5 163 District Surveyors. ASHBURTON HIGH SCHOOL. , Established 1881. "OUPIL of both sexes are laugh tljo 1 elements of a libei'al educttion. Special subjects of study may be pur sued where circumstances require a de parture from the ordinary school course. Head Master : Mr J. E. Buchanan. Ist 8.A., (London), i per term I Fee for pupils over 12 years of age £3 3 0 Fee for pupils under 12 years I of age 2 9 0 j Music (extra) 1 1 Oj The School year is divided into three j terms. All fees are payable in advance. HHARLES "OE-ADDELL Licensed Landbroker and Valuator nder "The Land Transfer Act, 1885. ESTATE, HOUSE, LAND, AND GENERAL COMMISSION AGENT. Office—Burnett Street, Next to "Mail' Office. NOTICE TCf ADVERTISERS. OWING to the earlier hour at which ifc is now necessary to go to press, Advertisements to be in time for the FIRST EDITION of the ''Guardian," must be delivered at the Office not later than 2 p.m. REPLACE Advertisements cannot be guaranteed insertion, unless sent in on the day previous to that on which they are intended to appear. SEEDS, PLANTS, etc TUBES. TEEES. TEEES. I Again tender 'my best thanks to my numerous Customers and Correspon dents for the support I have received from thorn, and assure them that I shall still conduct my Business in the future as I have in the past, and all orders by post or otherwise will receive my prompt atten tion. My Apple Trees are all worked on the blight proof stock, and arc clean and well grown ; also Pears, Plums, Cherries, Apricots, and all kinds of small Fruits. I have one of the largest stock of Forest Trees in Canterbury, about 40,000 Larch, two years old, 40,000 do. one year old, and 100,000 Pin us Insignis, one and two years old. Cupressus, Macrocarpa, I have a grand line. I make this.a speciality. All my seedlings have been transplanted, being equal to those in boxes. I hay about 100,000 one and two years old, also Roses and Fancy Shrubs in great variety. All trees supplied and planted by me will be guaranteed for 12 months. Cata logue sent post free on application. JAMES X)ORTER AMES JLORTERj NURSERYMAN and SEEDSMAN, ALLEN TON ASHBURTON