The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. MONDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1890. LABOUR SETTLEMENTS.

The proposal iutiated by Major (Steward, supported by Mr Perceval, the late Mr Turnbul, Dr Hodgkinsoa, Mr Cowan, and others, for the estab lishment m agricultural districts of labor settlements, appears to be now certain to be carried into effect < "It will be remembered that three sessions, ago a deputation of some sixteen to i twenty members from both sides rf the House interviewed the Premier mi. , the subject, and pointed out the neccs- > sity of acquiring small blocks of priva.e ] land for the purpose m districts wheie there is no Crown land available. Tie result was that the Government cant*! down with a proposal for a vote bt j £10,000 for the purpose of tentatively] trying the experiment. The vote \va« carried m Committee' of the Whob> \ against considerable opposition, bifci;■! was defeated on the report to tht.; House by a majority of two. The' session before last the Govern- j merit were urged to renew the attempt, but without success, an<i last session the matter was postponed until after the general election. Had Sir H. Atkinson's Ministry met the - new House a renewal of the proposal of 1888 might certainly have been looked for, as a prominent feature of his manifesto to the electors of Egmont and of the colony was a declaration that his Government were of opinion that a measure m this, direction was an absolute necessity, and that they were prepared to propose a vote of from £10,000 to £20,000 for the en suing financial year. There appears to be now no doubt that the Atkinson Administration are beaten and as, if this be admitted, it follows that they must-resign^ and that Mr Ballance will be called upon to form a new Ministry, it is satisfactory to note that he also stands pledged to submit a similar proposal. That this is the case, will be seen by the following which we clip from his own organ (" The Wanganui Herald") of the 27th November last:—" One of the first duties of a Liberal administration would be to in troduce legislation to provide latud for the location of the ' working classes. This is one of the points of the Liberal charter, and must be dealt with. The purchase of land near to towns where there are no Crown lands, and the settlement of it m small areas, so as to give every man a chance of acquir ing a homestead, is necessary to restore prosperity and retain our population. The Crown lainds. avail able are at a distance from the centres of population, and, except iin some farored places, are not adapted for village settlements. It is saarl that great care will be necessary to prevent abuses. We admit it, .'*nd think every safeguard should be provided un the Bill. Safeguards can. be provided, however, without any difficulty. The trust funds which are now- b»ing invested^ for the benefit of: landed monopolists have onJy to be turned into their proper channels to provide homes for. the people. The security will be undoubted, and a, new race-.0l settlers will be created. Thousands of homes may thus be established m the suburbs of our towns and cit.ves, and a large class of people will become possessed of the strongest reasons, against leaving the country."

LOCAL AND GENERAL

fchLawn tennis, English papers report, is I owing decided signs of decay. | At Mdntichiari batteries of artillery using smokeless powder kept up a fire ifor half ;m' hour without their position being discovered. It is a fact established upon the autho rity of travellers m different parts of tide world that stammering is almost* tmknovm among savage tribes. The Russian Court officials are* preparing a programme for a national celebration oi the silver wedding of the Czar, 'rhibh occurs on November 9, 1891. The total loss of rpopulatuon m New Zealand by the excess of emigration over immigration, for the nine months ended 30th. September was 3552 persons. The stream of lava flowing down the south-eastern sido of Vesuvius ; advances slowly and majestically, and is said to be a beautiful spectacle from the observatory at Pompeii. There is a prospect that the Duk:« of Cum berland will accept the Guclph fund and will renounce his rights to the throne of Hanover and Brunswick m favour of Prussia. An oil well has been opened ati Findlay, Ohio, which flowed over 1000 barrels the first hour, and m seven hours filled 6340 barrels. This breaks the record rf oil wells m Ohio, if not m the world. There are now 120 women m tlte Berlin telephone exchanges. It has been decided to use only women m the future, as it has baen found their voices are much w jore audi ble then men's, owing to the highe v pitch. The Paris tailors are organising (against the swallow-tailed black coat foi: dinners theatres, concerts, etc. They intend to introduce a garment of lively colours, with silk linings, embroidery and brass buttons. Physician (with ear to patimit's chest): "There is a curious swelling ov«r the region of the heart, sir, which mn&t be reduceif at once." Patient (anxiously): "IThat swelling is my pocket book, doctor. Please don't reduce that too much." It is gratifying to notice that the Customs revenue for the last eight months shows an excess of £23,188 4s 10il over the Colonial Treasurer's estimate. The total amount collected m the period is £1,009,854 18s 2d, as against an estimate of £986,666 13s 4d. The old rumour-is.again revived of a pos sible union of Portugal with Spain, thus bringing the whole Iberian Peninsula under' one government. It is a favourite project of the liberal, anti-monarchical people of the two countt ies. The first prize m the £50,000 sweep on the Melbourne Cup was won by Miss Muir, Melbourne, who has hitherto followed" the avocation of a barmaid but who will soon, no doubt, blossom into ti, lady of fashion with the £25,000 which Carbine's victory has brought her. The little King of Spain h; AS been relieved from the attendance of his nurse when he holds his levees. He sits on a throne, with his mother on a chair beside him When a noted cccesiastic paid hia respects recently the King exclaimed, amid general conster nation : "Mamma ! Ugly man !" Clergymen with large families seem, to be numerous m England. So many of them are unable to support themselves that a com mittee has been for gome time at, work relieving their distress. Among a large number of cases reported are those of a curate with eight children under eight years ! of age and a stipend of £126 a year; a vicar i with five young children with an annual income of £100; a vicar with nix children , under 15 years of age and an annual income of £134 and a house; a vicar with eight children under 18 years of ago and £117^ annual income; a curate with six young children and a stipend of £120 ; a vicar with eleven children under 15 years of age and an ftuuutil income of £189,

Mr H. R. Richmond, bother of Judge Richmond, died at Christchurch on Sun day. He arrived m New Zealand 1850, and practised as a bai istor'tatd a jlicitor at New Plymouth. He was well known m other parts of the colony, and had been ailing for sometime. 'fhe harvest m coining very early this year. , Mr Cjrill, of Wakamii, cut to-day ;i paddock of oats . which will yield, if threshed, about thirty busheln. The, cutting wna done by a new Brantford machine purchased by Mr Cavill this season, and M'hich worked witlio.it a hitch. Mr Cavill .is veiy pleased with his purchase, nnd confidently recommends theUrantfordtonny farmer m need of a machine. It ia truly astonishing what trifling matters cause a- mishap, the latest case that has come under our (" Tiirrengowor Times") notice being that of an old resident on M.ildon, who, during an attack of sneezing, fractured one ot h\f> rilw. The medical m:m who attended to thve case say 3it ia the first of the kind he has ever heard of. A recumbent statue of the late Prince Imperial has been placed m the Church of Chislehurst, m which his remains were, de posited until removed with those of his father to the mausoleum erected by the ex- Empress at Farnborough. An inscription states that the " pious, noble, and chivalrous Prince fell iv England's cause." A case has occurred at Kyabram m which; it is alleged that a father has be^n., toying to poison his son by placing poison on roast meat. Some of.this was given to a dog, which died i« about live minutes. For tunately the man tasted the meat, and spat it out, but not before some clTeet- had been produced upon him, necessitating medical aid being called m. ; There seems to be a singular nnfairness says the " Church News " m charging Cus toms duty on Suuday schcol pictorial cards. iTefc this is done 1 to tlie tune of 25 per cent. k\ 7ha,t is worse, the leather cases m which ■liters and hymns are enclosed arc also i,x ed ; The books aite free, but the covers ife assailed under' the heading of fancy go-!»•" ", / ■ ' T he annual report on tho railways of Soiith Aia tralia shows that, excluding th«j Northern Tut itory line, they have yielded a net profit fr t he year of .over £500,000, which is equi- Vile) it to a percentage of s'o'i upon the total . capital expended m construction. Not ody therefore has interest been paid on the none y borrowed, but a substantial return j his been made to the general revenue, i Mf': George'Vandirbilt is building Ijimsel* i ton ntry house m .North Carolina, which vil 1 mve cost upwards of £250,000 by the lime that it is decorated and furnished. The ite iss on the slope of * richly-wooded lull .nd ;i early m the centre of an estate of 6090 cres, which Mr Vatiderb.ilt purchased a few ;rars ago: He is also going Jo build large Stablt r, where lie will carry oh stock-raising ai an, extensive scale. An. eKteiordinary case of hydrophobia has I jnst > x.;cured at St Paul, Minnesota. Some lime back a cow wa!s'badly 1 bitten "by a dog suffering from rabies. The animal sub sequently went into convulsions, and the ira'tb>ers of the family to whom milk'from licr .ht A been supplied were, on drinking some cf it, affected m a similar manner. An ex jeiim ent with the milk was tried upon a cfog, • with the result that the animal went na/t on the spot rHt ere is something very healthy-looking about the returns of railway revenue. It vi\l be remembered that m their report to Tart iameut the Railway Commissioners esti nafeed the profits {or the current year at JilC.,ooo leks than those earned last year, the absence of the Exhibition traffic been duly taiken into account. Up to the present stage however"., ho far from there being any falling off, the profits'now shown on the books of (lie department are £10,000 more thau those accumulate hI up to the corresponding month 11st year. A cricket 1 team called the Ashburt.on • "Rovers intenxl to make a short tour.in the Smtf.i leaving' Ashburton on the sth January n<xt\ and playing", fche following Clubs, viz. : -t-Waihi Crossing, Temnka, Timaru, Welmate, and (j'-craldiue. county.' The Rovers will play All Comers on Wednesday next m the AsHburton Domain play to coin raenoe at 3"p.ni. «h»i,q>. A mutch against *He Tenuika CrickeC'Club has been arranged to take place here on the 16th" instant. The j'aames of the Ashbiirtort' team will be pub-' lished later on. It is estimated (says tho "Army and Navy Gazette ") that there are now no less i than 145 different kinds of guns m the Tiritish service, and 65 kinds are m use m the navy. With few exceptions each gun Jias its separate ammunition and more than ■one kind of projectile, added to which there tire now several kinds of torpedoes and torpedo discharge tube 3. If some sort of trouble does not arise over this matter m war time it will be a wonder. It is very ciscessary that there should be no delay m Winging about an alteration for the better ii» this respect. The latest British Parliamentary returns o.ti the subject of estates reverting to the Crown contains a summary of the receipts suid t«e expenditure of the Treasury solicitor •during the year 1880 m the administeration •of these* estates, by reason of the owners dying int estate Avithout known heirs, illegi mate, or .from lapsed legacies, etc. The total amount received during the year was no less than £98, 759. The balance m hand at the commencement of the year were £343,551, ac.d after vai'ious payments (including £15,000 on account of "Crown's share of estates" and * 103,673 for grants out of estates to successful claimants), the balances m. hand at the clo«e of the year were £141,495. IDr Wilkinson, of .Sydney,recently returned fro m Germany, where .he spent two years m Dr Koch's laboratory, says cf his late teacher :—"From'what I know of the doctor I have absolute faith m him. No one who haa followed his work so closely as I have dome could help being impressed with the tho. rough honesty of the man and the tharoghness of his work. He has never yet beeli proved to be wrong m anything, and he has accomplished much. lam certain that if there is any man m the scientific world who can be believed m itl is Dr Koch. Medi'caljmen have great faith m him, and he is cc rtaiuly the leading man m scientific ciecla3. It was known that he was engaged m no ordinary work, for he was working for six: months with closed doors, and would not let- ancy one near him while so engaged.

Mutiny at Sea.

It is a very rare thing indeed for a ,' British crew to act m the way sworn to by Captain Sprott, of the four-masted ship Eusemero. Briefly ib appears that on the voyage of the ship to Colombo the men refused duty. In his evidence the captain doscrihed the scene as follows : —After tho chief officer had reported the mutter lie called them aft and asked them collectively and individually fco bend thr-> sail, but they refused. Ke then asked both Avatchos if tlioy had any iireanns about them or dangerous weapons, and they said they had none. Some sheath knives and some carpenters' tools were found m the forecastle,- arid they'we're taken aft. Witness again ordered both watches to bend the sail, but they refused. Seeing they were ml such a defiant spirit, he ordered the officers to go forward again and lake the provisions out of t.lie forecastle and bring them aft, and he ordcrad the two watchestn remain aft. A few miii utes afterwards, however, all hands made *a rush forward, two men named William' Thomas and M'AUister leading. Witness and the chief ofnceVshouted to them three times to come back, bub they paid no attention, seeing which the chief officer coverfedThomas with his revolver, andwitj ness covered M'Allisfcer. As the men ditl not stop on being called a third time, the chief officer fired and. wounded the man Thomas. The shot was only intended to intimidate the man ; the chief officer did j not mean to shoot Thomas. Thomas *ell at once, when the men stopped, and allj except M'AUister, returned afr.. Witness called to him : " If you don'c come affc I'll fire nt you ," and M'Allister then came aft; but at his request he wiif .'allowed to go back to the wounded man Thomas and assist him. As the men would not turn to, witness and the chief officer took all their sheath-knives from them, and ordered them forward into tho forecastle,! and not to como abaft the deck-house at their "peril.. Five hands '(foreigners), then returned to their duty, but the rest of the men (seventeen m all) remained m the forecastle for three days. On August. 2G he and the officers m consultation thought it better to imprison the ring leaders, a*)d they were brought aft 'separately,.put m irons, and confined m the sail locker. During the chvee days the men were off duty the weather was very squally, and the ship was m danger all the time of being dismasted, for there wero not enough hands to take m sail nnd work the ship. He had at that time only the officers, the carpenter, the cook, the steward, four bo 3's, aud four seamen to work the ship. Seventeen hands were off duty for three days. The men were tried at/Colombo, and sentenced to terms of imprisonment.

IRISH AFFAIRS.

[PER PRESS

SCENES AT PARNELLITE • MEETINGS. ,

[I'EK PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

London, December 6. Mr Parnell declares that iv any .event-he- will not resign his seat m the House of Commons, and will retain control of the, large floating balance of the Irish funds. Mr Glad stone lias declined to intervene m the question of th« leadership, but saw the members of tho deputation and Com mittee alone. After the meeting of Liberal leaders, Mr Gladstone ad dressed a letter to the Committee' stating that he was willing to negotiate for a new leader who would have the same footing and confidence aa Mr Parnell enjoyed at Hawarden. At a meeting of the Irish Party, on Mr Gladstone's letter being read, the majority cheered; loudly. A strong debate ensued, Mr Parnell's friends striving to prevent a final decision being arrived at. Mr Sexton, amid prolonged cheering, declared that if the final decision was delayed for a longer period than three hours the majority would meet apart and depo.se Mr Parnell from the leadership. This statement led to a scene of great ex citement. At a meeting of the Irish Party to-day, Mr W. Abraham, M. P. for Limerick West, moved that Mr Par nell should vacate the chair. As Mr Justin McCarthy was handing up the resolution, Mr Parnell struck him on the hand, aiid snatching the paper, tore up the resolution amid intense excitement. Young M'Carthy, who hitherto has supported Mr Parnell, denounced him for having insulted his father, and declared Mr Parnell ■was an enemy to his country. Mr Parnell refused to put the motion, and asked, "Whops master of Ireland 1 Gladstone?" Mr Haaley retorted, <• Whoie mistress is Kitty O'Shea T Mr Parnell replied, " You cowardly scoundrel, to insult a lady m the presence of Irish gentle men." Thereupon forty-five of those present proceeded to another room and elected Mr Justin M'Carthy chairman. I Mr Healy proposed a resolution declar ing that the Irish party must remain independent, and would never accept a scheme of Home Rule unless it was one that would satisfy the Irish people. The result of the meeting was conveyed to Mr Gladstone, who exclaimed, '• Thank God, Home Rule is saved." Mr M'Carthy's party will issue a manifesto to-morrow. London December 7. After the majority of Irish members had withdrawn to another room the minority passed a vote of confidence m Mr Parnell. Mr Gladstone has declined to give specific pledges to legislate only on lines acceptable to the Irish people.

Volanic Eruption.

A telegram from Granada (Nicaragua) via New York, says:—" The great volcano of Mombacho, whicli has been •xtincfc from centuries, is showing active signs of eruption, and the people are m daily dread lest the crater should open aud bury the town. The inhabi tants are leaving m thousands—the population, which a week before amounted to 15,000, being reduced to 3000. The houses, mostly one storey abodes, are all injured by the cracking of the walls, and even the masonry of snch substantial structures as churches ! etc., has also suffered. On Sunday' ! there were ■ felt the tremblings of an | incipient earthquake, and on Monday there was a severe shock, which caused the cracked houses to fall at Managua, Massaya, Rivas, and other cities, some of them 60 miles distant from Mom bacho. The Government lias been run ning trains from the district as rapidly as possible, Two hundre:! soldiers have been sent here from Managua for the purpose of keeping order] the whole town being m great confusion. There have been several great landslips from the peak of Mombacho, but nobody has been injured.

The roller-skating mania has just broken out m J^wtjon again,

The Late Sydney Taiwhaga.

Writing of the Lite member for tho Northern Maori electoivtl district tho " New Zealand Herald" says :--" Sydney managed to make himself felt m Parlia ment during the ljisb three sessions, especially m proving his ability as a " stonewaller " m connection with nativo and other 75111s which lie disapproved. He has undoubtedly worked hard for what he was m the habit of terming "my poor Maori people." In the present elections he was so confident that all the natives were m sympathy with him that, feeling certain of return for hL> old seat, he also , contested the Bast Coast native electorate. All through last session he was m bad health, and* the work of electioneering seems to have been too much for him*. Taiwhanga's friends are anxious that he should be buried at Rotorua, and Mr Ho worth lias asked tho Government to give directions that this shall he clone. Taiwhauga was born a), Kaikoho, Bay of Islands, and was about 50 years of agi*. How,is educated m Auckland, and while residing there was fcauitht carpentering. He displayed quite an aptitude fur the fcrmlo, and m after years lie erected several substantial bridges m various parts of the Auckland district, Later on ho started a school m the Bay of Islands for the purpose of imparting a knowledge of the English language to' the natives children, -and while he was so engaged he married a. widow with several children, who had just arrived froni Home. The union was not a happy one, and after several years the couple parted. Two children (boys) were born to them, and both the sons, together with another son, the issue of a former marriage with a Maori woman, who died when "he was a; young man, are at present m Wellington.; Taiwhanga also learned the art of survey ing, and we are informed that the Puhi puhi forest was surveyed by him under contract with the Government. A num ber of years ago he visited England, and presented a petition to the Queen from the Maoris relative to land matters." Sydney died, it will be remembered, while the returns of the polls were coming m, and was re elected by a large majority.

Amusing Elopement Scene at Liverpool.

Still another adventure thus*- be ac credited to the Atlantic, and a victory to one of her greyhounds. Some weeks ago a man and his'wife, with their infant child, sailtid from Liverpool to New York," and there lived m apartments some little time. At the end'ofa'not very length ened period, however, the husband \ endeavoured to give his wife the slip, .aud after manoeuvring to that end for a "day or two he effected 'his purpose. The deserted wife, however,, made diligent .search, and found her erring spouse had taken passage by the Guion steamer .Wyoming, which left" New ' York on Tuesday last week, and had basely left her and her child behind. Nor did this sum 'up the error of his ways, for he was accompanied by some other woman whom the wife got to. hear. There was no steamer leaving New York till the following day, but the determined woman disposed of what portables she could spare, took passage by the Majestic, and landed iv Liverpool on Wednesday. The Wyoming, being an older and slowed boat, did not reach the bar till Friday night, when the tug Spendthrift weut off to meet her. and on board the tender was the plucky wife. When the tug drew up alongside the Wyoming, the fugitives were greatly sur prised to discover that they were found, and had lost the race m which all un consciously they had been competitors. There was no disturbance of any kind, but the .successful pursuer, who is a tall, muscular-looking woman, inarched hei partner aboard the tug, and then learned that his partner was accompanied by her mother. On arriving at the landing-stage the first wife descended the gangway, calling to her husband, "come on, and bring her mother." Then was seen the novel spectacle of the three women, and the apparently disappointed man, march ing peacefully up, town to a lodging secured by the courageous and strong willed woman, who had so ingeniously taken her opportunity and overtaken her spouse.

SOUTHLAND.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

For fche last fortnight or so the weather has been beautiful, [and agricultural work is proceeding satisfactorily ; but for nearly two months previous to "that the weather was most wretched. Day after day noth ing but rain, hail, and sleet, and on the hill country m itch snow fell.' And talk about wind ! lam sure that those resid ing near the Rakaia gorge never felt any thing like it, quite a hurricane—nor'woster, sou'wester, or any other direction, all the same, though the young crops sustained the most damage from the south-west. Nearly all the orchards are ruined for this season, and there was more grass on the pastures two months ago than there is now. However, should the present good weather continue, things will soon right themselves again. In reference to the election I'might say that we m the Wallace county-had four candidates to pick from, the firth, Mr Joyce, having changed his mind. Mr Mackintosh, who has been returned, is strongly m favour of federation, abolish ing the Upper House, wishes to have a coalition Government, and to do away with the Property Tax, substituting m its place an Income Tax. He is an advocate of further retrenchment, and supports the Private Schools Bill. He is against sell ing the railways,'and considers thet they should be run for the benefit of the community, regardless of profit.

South Rakaia Sports and Races.

A' meeting of the committee was held on Saturday, and a good deal of busiuess got through. The Secretary reported re ceiving the following entries for the Saddle Trot:— 1 Mr Steel's Marigold, Mr Osborne's Tolahthe, Mr Primmer's York, Mr Hood's ' Polly, Mr Shcllock's Tommy Dodd, Mr Gordon s •' On Strike," Mr George's j Aspasia, Mr S. Kemp's Mouse. Handicappers were appointed, and the, Secretary was instructed to advertise the handicaps inTuesday's Ashburton "Mail," Acceptances for the Trot close at eight o'clock cm Saturday, together with entries for the other horse ruces, and all athletic j events. Weather permitting there is every promise of a good day's amusement, and m the evening there will be a ball m the Town Hall, music to be provided by Messrs Gates and Ward, of Ashburton. The publican's booth, right to sell cards, »ndthe refreshment booth, realised £18 17s Gd; ':"•■■■'

A curious calculation of the amount of food consumed m alifetimeof seventy years lias recently been made by a French savant, who says that the aver age epicure of "threescore and ten will have consumed 30 oxen, 200 sheep, 100 calves, 200 lambs, 50 pigs, 220 fowls, 1000 fish of different kinds, 30,000 oysters, 5475 pounds of vegetables, 243 pounds of butter, 24,000 eggs, and four tons of bread, besides several hogs heads of wine, tea, coffee, etc. This enormous amount of food will wei^h but little short of 40 tons,, ° j

TELEGRAPHIC.

HOME AND FOREIGN.

[i'Bll FRKSH ASSOCIATION.]

Paris, December 5. Pasteur has discjveied a preventa tivo for tubercle. Uerlin, December 5. The announcement - that Dr Koch has discovered cures for diphtheria and .tetanus is confirmed. London, December 6. The trade returns for November .show the imports to have decreased by .£-4,200,000, and the exports show a'decrease of £1,250,000. New Zealand rabbitakin* hay« de clined Id, and Australian from Id to 2d. Baron de Worms, Political Secre j tary to the Colonial Office, m referring to the charges made by the Sydney Presbytery, that kidnapping was being carried on m the Pacific, said there had been no violation of Protec tion Acts, and that if there had been an. infringement'"of" any regulation, the Government of Queensland must deal with the matter. The Shipping Federation will in demnify the New Zealand Shipping 'Company, the Shaw, Savill and Albion "Company, and the British India Company, against loss through the action of the Labor Council m boy cotting them. The Firemen and Dockers' Unions remain neutral. The Labor Council has ordered the New Zealand Shipping Company, Shaw, Savill and Albion Company, and British India Company, to be 'boy cotted for shipping sailors on board instead of at their offices. Mr Justice lloomer. to-day granted an injunction applied for by neighbors against the Pelican Club* on the ground of the nuisance arising from the music and boxing which go on m the pre : mises, and also from the rowdy mobs that assemble. Berlin, December 6. The Berlin merchants have decided to found a German-Australian Bank 'and< Export Company, with branches m Australia.

AUSTRALIAN.

Sydney, December 7- Mr 11. W. Crick, member for Mao quarie West, who was expelled from the House of Assembly owing to his conduct during the debate m Com mittee of Supply on the night of November 12, has been re-elected for >the same constituency. . ' - Melbourne, December 7- At the bicycle carnival yesterday, the Inter-Club Plate, of two miles, was won by Kellow after a splendid race, Twentyman second and Heminfif third. Time — smin 11 BmsBAN.E, December 7 \ The risks of New Zealand Insurance Companies on Benjamin Bros.' premises destroyed by lire this morning are— South British LI6OO, New Zealand LISOO, National LIOOO, Equitable LSOO. :M 'Arthur's insurances m New Zea land offtces on the stock, which was largely damaged m yesterday's fire, were—United LIOOO, Standard LISOO Rational L2OOO, New Zealand L2OOO. (j>n the building — New Zealand ]|(6500. It is now estimated that the tptal damage amounts to L 70,000. Five firemen were injured by falling walls. -

INTERPROVINCIAL

New Plymouth, December (5. A German settlor on the mountain road ; near Ingleweod shot himself through thri head this morning. Gisbohxk, December 6. An elderly man named Simpson John ston remained at Ormond till a late hour 'drinking. After the election he left for hpme on a fiiiiky horse,and was picked up this morning dead from concussion of the brain. Napier, December 7. : Messrs Peter Dinwiddie, the publisher, and R. T. Walker, the editoi, of the "■Hawke's Bay Herald," have been sum moned to answer a charge of criminal libel m connection • wifch letters on elec- * toral matters which appeared m that paper. The " Herald " promises some lively revelations when the case is hoard next Thursday. Wellington, December 7. The case of manslaughter against Sam Coy and Tom Hung begins at the Supreme Oourt to-morrow. Sir Robert' Sfcoutand' Mr W; A. Coates defend the accused. Wellington, December 6. - A case of impersonation is reported m connection iiith the city elections, and it is understood proceedings will be in stituted.

A Reporter's Trick.

FUN AT THE EXPENSE OF AN ENGLISH LEGISLATOR.

There are some excellent stories of newspaper adventures and incidents m. the book on "English, Reporting," written by John Pendleton. Among the most amusing pranks played by reporters, the.practical joke played on his colleagues by Peter Finnerty, the old-time parliamentary reporter, re mains one of the best on record, arid, though often told, deserves to be told again. The special, victim m this case was a re porter named Morgan O'Sullivan, who, feeling too drowsy during a dull debate to keep his eyes open, asked Finnerty to snpply him with any important speeches made during his nap, and then went to sleep. When he awoke. Finnerty gravely informed him that dur ing his nap there had been an important ' speech delivered by Mr Wilberforc© on the virtue of the Irish potato. Morgan. never pausing to think that the subject had a suggestion of the ludicrous, would not be pacified until the speech . bad been dictated to him by Finnertjjr This speech, entirely Finnerty's con coction, made Wilberforce say : " Had it been my lot to be born and reared m Ireland, where my food would have consisted principally of the potato— the most nutritious and salubrious root —-instead of being the poor, infirm, stunted creature you, sir, and honorable gentleman, new behold me, I should have been a tall, stout, athletic man,, and able to carry an enormous weight > I hold that root to be invaluable, an<£: the man who first cultivated it m Ireland I regard as a benefac tor of the first magnitude to his, country," Morgan took all this ix\ and so delighted was he with the speech that he gave it to his col leagues, with the result that next morning every paper of note (except Finnerty's paper, the "Morning Chronicle ") had this ama/ing report p£

THE A§HBUBTON GrUAfrDlAff. MONDAY, DECEMBER 8, ISOO.



Statutory Declaration.—l. Franz Raabef, Ir mbark, Sandhurst, m the colony of Vic tos :ia,- Australia, do solemnly and sincerely de 3l*re that on the 25th June, 1877, my son Ah 'jretl, six years of age, was accidentally hur ii with an axe on his knee. lat once took all i pal'us to secure medical assistance. How ever, .m spite of all .efforts, on''the 27th Au gust. 1877, the opinion was given by I)r Mi icgilli' vray that an amputation of the injjured I;mb had become imperative, m order to save Hie. At this juncture I called en MJessrs Sander and Sons; procuring some of t'neir Kxtr.aet of Eucalyptus Globulus, and l*y the application of the same I had too f satisfaction of seeing my eon wfihin a fort night out of all danger, and to»-day he is recovered.. I may just add that it was when the crisis Ifiad been reached that the Extract referred to« was first applied, and I make this ! m'lemn declaration, etc. Franz Raaise, i Declared at Sandhurst, m the colony foi i Victoria, Australia, this seventeenth day of October, one thousand eight hundred and aerenty-se' ren, before me, MoritzCohn, J. P. —.Adrt.) 6 Tlllt BjIST REMKDY TOR iNTOOKSniON. — Norton's Camomile Pills are confidrtlyo recommended as a simple . remedy efl Indigesti< m, which is the cause of nearly al the disc? uses to which we are subject. j Norton's Pima, with justice called the " Natural* jStrengthener of the Human Stomach, " act as a powerful tonic and gentle ! aperient, are* niild m their operation, and 1 safe un(*i«r any circumstances. Sold m bottles, nt Is 'JJd, 2s 9d, 11s, by all medicine vendors throughout the world. HOPE FOR THE DEAF. k Person cured of deafness and noises il. m the Head of long standing, by a simple Bemedy, will be glad to forward a. description of it free to anyone who applies. The most as tonishiaiff cures luive lately been effected by the same remedy. Address: Nicholson, 17f Street, M^l ; . bourne, *' '



WANTED CASH Advertisements under this ■ •■■-lie.-ulirH* nofc.excc'dm SIXTEEN WORDS . A l/-» Addresses maybe left tit this OfliceV TTTANTED a~godd GeiiemFServant". y* Apply Mrs Seg«rs. W~lkl^^~Known~Cia^Ta^dl^^ Fn i r for Weskyan Buildi n» F v nd. Old Town Hall. Friday-"ami Saturday, December Ifl and 20. 12 AIST E D Known. — The naua meeting of the Heljmiate Division, Sons of Temperance,' will not be hel I tliis evening. T^~r^FjYiri:l^^oinent by VV . Shearers' Cook. Veil known man. Apply Office this paper. 12+89 W? ANTED Two Furnished Rooms North end preferred. Terms innstlemodemte. —Apply F.D 5 8. " Mail" Office. . ' 12 41-' A MEXICAN Ico Cream.! American Dl Ice Cream d;»ily at H. G. Flower's, Gonfftc'fcionm". Ice ke[it< m .stock. V x .' ANTEDKnown -Ladies Stocking V'V with Silk Toes and Heels In bl.ick and colors. Is 6d per pair.—W. H. COLLIER. B" OOT.S, BOU'iV. Keep' you 4 feet Dry and save Doctor's Bills, have a splendid Stock m now. Try my Double-soled Shooters. Every pair Guaranteed. Robert Alcoru, 1 Ashbur r-oh. Clothing Mart, Saunders' Buildings. ttTANTED Known. - ForDressStufts VV Prints, «fee., Trimmings to match go to Melford House. Best value m town. —H. C Segers WA NTED Known—The " Strong wear " Boot is the bent for Men, a dies and Children.—W, H. Collier. WANTED Known~^For Sheeting s Tabiings, Calicoes, Quilts, Towels, Table Napkins, Tray Cloths, D'Oyleys &c, k» to AlclfordHou.se.—H. C. Segehs WANTED every man m tlio County to have a suit of the Ashburton TweC'ls.—RoßMtiT At.ooijn, Ashburton Clothing Mart, Saunder's Buildings. ANTED Known.—For tirst-cla^ Millinery and Drapery (marked cheap) go to Melford House. New Good v t opened.— H.C. Seueks. "TTTANTIiI^^ VV Shop to iniy Tinware and Gal vanise 1 Iron goods m Ashburton, is at W. F. H<vxxai'oki»'s, Burnett Street. A arge s':ock kenfron hand. Tin and Iron ware goods made and repaired with des patrh. Public Notices. WOOL SHIP FOE LONDON f%H%. HP HE MAGNIFICENT IRON SHIP "CARBET CASTLE," 1585 Tons Register, 100 Al, Will bu despatched from Lyttelton for ; LONDON DIRECT, about the middle cf December. Cargo carried at lowest current rates. Early application for space is neccs sary. fV>r further particulars as to rate of freight, etc , apply to 1113 FRIEDLANDEii BROS. Coal. T~;HAVE JUST RECEIVED IJ?TO .1 I STOCK A SMALL LOT OF VERY SUPERIOR NEWCASTLE COAL Which I can sell at considerably re* ducfed rates. ; WESTPORT COAL new, coming, to baud. On Hand. Monomers, kaitangata, axd SHAG POINT COAL. John G. Restell, ■ 12 28 L Salek and Co. (Next Bank New Zealand) WaTOHMAKKBS AXl> ,JE WELLE It P. Lowest Cilristchurch Prices as usual. prS WATCHES CLEANED and C[S t) guaranteed 12 months. tj PEBBLE, Pantascopic, and Crystal hpectacles. Sights tested free. •Several good second-hand R other am and Other English LEVERS very cheap and and guaranteed. A SPEClALTY.—Rotheram's English Levers EXPRESSLY made to OUP OWN ORDER, The best and most reliable timekeeper m the world. Every descrip tion of Gold and Silver Jewellery made up or neatly repaired. I. SALEK AND CO, 12t32 Next Bank Now Zealand. Spring and Summer, 1890. TRY THE NEW ZEALAND CLOTHING FACTORY FOR Men's Colonial TWEED SUITS, Boys' and Youths' Colonel TWEED ; SUITS. HATS.—We keep the Largest and Best Selection Hats made to measure. SUITS MADE TO MEASURE. Best workmanship put m every garment, and a perfect lit guaranteed. Large Selection of Boys' Knicker Suits. Ties, Shirts, Collars, Braces, itc, m Latest Fashion Mid Style. Bkst Value for Cash m District N E V(7 /, EA J AND CLOTHING FACTORY AgtiiiL for the Wonderful Wertheim I Machines W. II WEBBER Manager-



] j FOR SALE. I TWELVE McCORMICK WIRE I BINDERS. All m perfect work ing order. CHE A P 10*144 FRIEDLANDER BROS. SIT \G POINT COAL. n~TEIIS superior Coal, for household am?l .1. .steam purposes, can now be obtained from Messkr J. G. Rkstbll, W. IJ. Collins & 00,, and .R. S. Beax m any 1 quantity. Special quotations for truck oncls. This Coal is perfectly safe m u>ingj leaving no live ashes or soot, and is very cleanly niul economical for household purposes, having great heat and lasting power W. H. WILLIAM-, 10S18 Manager Slag Point, Mine. , JAMES BAKER^ TIMBER MERCHANT, HAVELOCK STREET Opposite Haiikinoxs Auction Mart, fITAS IN STOCK Large Supplies of— Building Timber, Stakes and Posts, Galvanised Corrugated Iron, Builders Ironmongery, Turnery, Furniture, and Fancy Goods IN ENDLESS VARIETY. URNITURE MADE TO ORDER IN ANY DESIGN AT SHORTEST NOTICE Sole Agent m Ashburton for Cleg;? s Perambulators. INTo>v Slurvringy— \ FASHIONABLE LOT /"V. OF Spring & Summer Goods. THE LATEST I^ASHIOF, REASONABLE PRICES, GOOD FIT, axd WORKMANSHIP, ought to ensure a ready sale for these Goods. ttoniv Karly Klitt avoid The Xtftisli tit Xnuis. Our Customers may depend upon our promise that their orders will be finished up to time. H. & E. TrAIGHEAD, TANCRED STREET ASHBURTON TllWllOipjll CIUB. ANNUAL MEETING. TO BE HELD on the RACECOURSE, TINWALI), on Thursday, January 1, IS9I. Pbksidknt—l)r Tweed. Vice-Phesiokxts— Messrs 1). McLean, and C. M. Stmoliey. JcncK—MrM. »Stit>. Stewards—Messrs J. Begg, G. James, M. Scott, I). Thomas, M. Stitt, C. M. Strachey, H. 11. Wright, E. Gates, and Dr Tweed. Clkkk ok thk CoiriiKK—Mr B. Hanks. Clerk of the Stalks—Mr A. J. Kelly Startkr—Mr 1). Thomas. TIiKASTTHKU—MI' M. Scott. Handioaiu'KH—'Mr J. Cresswell. First Race to Start at 12,30 p.m. (Approved by the Committee of the Canter miry Jockey Club.) ■1.— Handicap Hurdle Rack, of 20 soys ; nomination, 10s : acceptance, 10s. The second horse to receive 3 soys out of th« stake Over six flights of hurdles about 3ft Gin high. One mile untl a half 2.—Maiden Plate, of 15 soys; entrance, 355. The second horse to receive 2 soys out of the stake. Weight forage. One mile. .'J.—Tiswald C'rp Handicap, of 45 "soys : nomination, 1 soy: acceptance, I soy. The second horse to receive f> soys and the third horse to receive 2 soys out of the stake. One mile and a half. 4.—Tiswald Handicap Tun: Trot, of 25 soys; nomination, 10s ; acceptance, 10s. The second horse td receive 5 soys out of the stake. Weight not lesa .than lOst. About three miles'] R.—Wkltkr HaxniOAr, of 25 soys ; nomina tion, 10s ; acceptance, 10s. The second horse to receive 5 soys out of the stake. One mile. 6. —Novel Race, of 20 soys. Winner ti> become the property of the Club, and to be sold by auction. The" amount re alised above 10 soys to be divided between the Club and the second horse. Entrance 10s, on night of general entry. Weight Bst. Any overweight to be! declared. Six furlongs. 7 —Flyixu Handicap, of 25 soys; nomina tion, 10s : acceptance, 10s. The second horse to receive 5 soys out of the stake. The winner of Tinwald Cup or Welter Handicap to carry 71b penalty In the event of a horse winning both the fore going events such horse to carry lOlbs penalty. Six furlongs B—Consolationß—Consolation Handicap, of 15 soys. The second horse to receive 2 soys out of the stake. Nomination, 10s ; to be made to the Secretary immediately after the Flying Handicap is run ; acceptance free, to be notified within five minutes of the declaration of weights. Six fur longs. 9.— Hurry Scurry (if time permit) of 10 soys; entrance, 10s. For horses that have never won public money. Catch weights. Hulf a mile. RULES AND REGULATIONS. 1. The meeting will be held under the Rules of Racing. The Trotting race under the rules of the New Zealand Trotting Association, 2. No entry will be received except on the condition that all claims, disputes, and objections arising out of the racing, shall be decided by the Stewards, or whom they may appoint. Their decision on all points con nected with the carrying out of this pro gramme to be fina 3. The races are open to any horse, com monly resident m the district from the Ist October, 1890, to the date of meeting, and owned by a person who has resided m the district for the same period. 4. Tlie district above mentionrd is bounded on the north by the Sehvyn River, and on the south by the Opihi River. 5. Five per cent, will be deducted from the gross of all moneys payable m accord ance with this programme, for the expenses of the course. 6. All nomination and accejtiuies fees to co to the funds of the Club NOMINATIONS Nominations for Hurdle, Tinwald Cup, Trot, Welter, and Flying Handicaps, accom panied by fee, name, age, description, and performances of horse, and colours of rider, must be m writing and m the hands of the Secretary at Scott's Hotel, Tinwald, not later than 9 on SATURDAY, December the 13th, IS9O WEIGHTS. Weight Mill be declared on or about December 2"th ACCEPTANCES. Acceptances for Handicaps, and Notnin i , ions for Maiden Plate and Novel Race must be m the hands of the Secretary, at Scott's Hotel, Tinwald, not later than 9 p.m. on MONDAY December 99th, 1890 X J, lOOKS Hon. Sec



IMPORTANT PUBLIC NO TIC X KAIAPOI HOTTS32 AGAIN TO THE FRONT. MITCHELL C> mURNKR ITCHELL Ou i URNER DESIRE to inform their numerous CiiKtomers *nnl the public m general, that after careful ami mature w.naideration they have decided to have m future the WHOLE OF THEIR CLOTHING CUT, MADE AND FINISH HI) ON THE EXACT LINEvS OP TAILOR MADE GOODS, As this will involve the outlay of Hard Cash to a large amount, they trust tie numerous and material advantages given to ALL THOSE m want of Really GOOD CLOTHING will be so palpable that MITCHELL AND TORNER will at once largely increase their already Extensive Clothing BiuuneHs, by the adop tion of the above alteration m the .style of their Manufactured A rtiele.s. ITCHELJ_J OC IURNEXi EAIAPOI HOUSE. W. ZANDER, FISHING TACKLE AND TOBACCONIST'S DEPOT, PRKMIKK LaPIKS* AND Gk>;Ts' HaIRDRESSING Establishment, ,j:V EAST STREET. I'HE Fishing Season being now m full swing, I beg to call the attention of all anglers to my Large Stock of all requisites for the s|:orfc. Every class of Rods, Baits. Flies:, Minnows, Lines, Hooks, etc., &c, m xtock at loAvest rates. My Tobacconist's Stock is replete with all the leading Brands m Tobaccos, Cigars, &c. Also, high class Pipes and Fancy Goods of every description. Tennis and Cricketing Materials m great variety for the coming season. Having made a change m my Hair dressintr Saloon, I beg to announce that I have engaged a First-class Artist from one of the best Establishments m Dunedin. He has had 27 years' experience at Home and m the colony. The Saloon is renovated, and now has Two Chairs. Ornamental Hair Work of every de^crip tion, as Wigs, Plaits, Coils, Braei'lets. Watch Guards, itc, made up on the premises at short notice. Haircutting, Shaving, or Shampooing onlytfcT tU —■■■I—- —m ■ I.in mm. I n ■■■nwn. n->— — I-....—i.i.iii.nn.11.-. . i.i.i 111- ..ii-.....- FIRST DISPLAY OF Spring Goods, • * NT)R E W ARR J.\ KDRKW ijßlt I Snovr showing a Beautiful Selection of MILLINERY, MANTLES, PRINTS, GINGHAMS, NEW DRESS GOODS.' BEIGE'S FRENCH CHECKS, RIBBONS, FLOWERS, ETC. 2 CASES of Ladies! French BOOTS and SHOES Direct om France. ANDREW ORR. WOOL. WOOL TPHE UNDERSIGNED IS PRE- X PARED TO MAKE LIBER.IL CASH ADVANCES On the Coming Season s Clip of W 0 O I, FREE OF COMMISSION. INTEREST AT LOWEST CURRENT RATES. GROWERS have the Choice of Selling either at the ASHBURTON WOOL SALES, or m CHRISTCHURCH, or SHIPPING. 1 Shall Hold REGULAR SALES LURING THE SEASON, having arranged with the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Aoenay Company, Limited, to act AS MV-FINANCIAL AciKNTS AND AuOTIONKKRS. Every care and attention will be used m displaying, properly lotting, classi fying, and valuing the W oi. Accouift Sales will be rendered by the New Zealand Loan raid Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, with their usual promptitude. WOOLPACKS, TWINE, etc., At Lowest Current Rates. John G. Restell WOOL STORES ■ WEST STREET, ASBBUFJCK" i