MARRIAGE.

STONB-WARD.~-On November 4th, at the Avonside Church, Christchurch, by the Rev. Pascoe, Thomas Stonb, of Chriafc church, to Matilda, youngestdaughrer of Joseph Ward, of Ashburton.

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1890. BABY FARMING.

The recent prosecutions m the Dunedin Police Court under the pro visions of the Children's Protection Act, passed last session, will serve as a salutary warning to baby farmers that they cannot pursue their nefarioxis calling with impunity m New Zealand. From the evidence submitted it trans pired that a woman named Myra , Smith was m the habit of advertising m the Press for children for adoption, ; and accepting a lump sum of L 8 or L 4 j to relieve the parent or parents of all I further responsibility. Having secured a large number of children by this means, a system of wholesale cruelty and starvation was practised—the children being criminally ill-treated and neglected, with an object only too transparent [on the surface. When the police made a raid on the house occupied by the woman Smith they found the place m a moist filthy con dition. Three children T/ere huddlsd to gether m a small, dark, ill-venti lated room, the abominable stench of which was pregnat>t with disease germs; the unfortunate children were scantily clothed, and, judging by their ema ciated forms, had often been denied the bare necessaries of life, and m one or two instances the infant sufferers were covered with bruises and sores, bearing unmistable evidence that, m addition to criminal neglect, there had also been physical cruelty—altogether a most revolting,horrible picture, and one which, we feel sure, is not common m this or the neighboring colonies. Such cases are known to the police authorities m large cities -where the evils of congested population are ram pant ; but even m the largest cities it would be hard to find a case where more revolting inhumanity could be | shown than m the case of the woman Smith. It is satisfactory tbat, during last session, legislation was passed whereby persons guilty of such offences can lbe rigorously dealt with, the Children's Protection Act providing that any person found guilty of wilful neglect, cruelty, or abandonment of a child shall be liable to a penalty of £100, or two years' imprisonment; or on a summary conviction, a fine of £50, or three months' imprisonment. In addition to this, it is provided, ] should it be proven that the accused is interested financially m the death of a child, the maximum fine may be made as high as £200. This being so, and the case being so clear against the woman Smith, it is astonishing that the convicting Magistrate did not send the accused for trial, instead of summarily convicting, and inflicting only three months' imprisonment. A more glaring case will certainly never come before the Courts; as, m addi tion to the children found m the house m the condition described, there are ugly rumors afloat that children have disappeared mysteriously ' from the woman's house, and have not been heard of since, while others have been traced to the custody of persons scattered all over New Zealand. How ever, being the first conviction under the Act, the accused doubtless got th® benefit of undeserved leniency, and it is to be hoped,the lesson will cause her to amend her ways when; again set at liberty. One noticeable defect m the Act has been brought out m this re volting case, and it is this: That parents who hand over the custody of their offspring to persons of the Myra Smith class may do so with impunity, and not be held m any way responsible for after consequences. There is gross criminal neglect on the part of parents and custodians who hand over children; to the tendermercies of baby farmers; and it is but just that they should also be held re sponsible for their share of guilt. -If there weje no caijeless and heartless parents there would be no trade for monsters of the Myra Smith order, and any legislation which permits the former to escape is defective. The Act passed last session is a most useful and Imniane piece of legislation, bat it re

quires amending m this particular— that any person handing over the custody of children to the care of baby farmers shall be compelled, for a stated period, to exercise supervision, and take all reasonable precautions to see that the children so handed over j»re carefully attended to, . Failing this necessary precaution, the parent so offending should be treated as an ac complice. This is the more necessary m a colony where, we have good reason to believe, it is a practice -with some Charitable Aid Boards to "board out" children. The later fact, combined, with the callousness of parents and custodians of children m getting rid of them at the cheapest and most con | venient figure, is calculated to raise up m. ,th© cqlpny the most aggravated form of $abjr farming. { If this iniqui tous system is to be prevented from getting a firm footing m-the colony, the evil must be attacked at.the fountain head, as well as m detail.

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A syndicate of wealthy Fferich Jews has offered £40,000 for the Hebrew Bible m the Vatican. . ' The number of vessels passing through the Suez Canal at night by means ol the electric ght is increasing with extraordinary ra pidity. . . During the forced inarch of a Bavarian regiment 170 men fell from sunstroke. About 20 died. Germany is determined to Christianise the Africans. Two new Maxim guns have been bought for service m the interior. It is estimated that the potato crop of the United States will bo short 100,000,000 bushels, and the European crop 230j000,0p0 bushels. ' The aeronaut Blondeau, well known m Italy, was killed the other day by being knocked against a rock during a very rapid descent from his balloon at Ragusa, Sicily. ' Wednesday, the 19th November, will be ' observed as a half-holiday m Ashburton-*- Cup day of the Ashburwm Racing Club's spring meeting. Another appeal will shortly be made to the English Home Secretary, Mr Matih'ewi, to restore Mrs Maybrick, the uUagcd murderess, to liberty and her children.* Lord Tennyson entertained the young Duchess of Albany at luncheon on his eighty - first birthday, and confided to her that, uespite his old age, he hoped soon to give the world one morj poem. < On and after October Ist, the Emperor ;of Germany will publish a newspaper, to be inspired directly by himself, and to be the official exponent of his views on all subjects —military, civil, and political/ Recent very trustworthy calculations the population of the Chinese Empire by Russian authorities reckon it at 3^2,000,000, and the annual increase at Not one m 10,000 ever heard of the teligion of Jesus Christ. ■; > Th» service m the AsnDurtori Presby terian Church on Sunday morning next will be conducted by Mr John Reith, jthe agent of the New Zealand Bible, Tract,: and Book Society, who is at present visiting Ashbur ton m the interest of the Society. ; * , ; We have been asked to call special atten tion to an important Bale (if seventy Berk shire sows m farrow to pedigree boats; many of the sows also having pedigrees. t .The.sale will be held m the Tinwald Yards on Tuesday next, as originally advertised by Mr D. Thomas. According to the best authority among mercantile agencies and trades unions, New York city has a population of 180,000 wives widows, and spinsters, who are actively engaged m business—independent, self-sup porting; responsible women. In Brazil, under the Empire, the franchise was founded upon an income qualification. The new system prescribes only an educa tional qualification. The voter must be abl« to read and write. About (X) per cent, of the population is illiterate. , The Duke of Fife started life with an enormous fortune, to which he has steadily added. Everything that he touches seems to turn to gold. Stock m a London trust company purchased by him some yeara ago at £30 per share is now quoted at £9000 per share. ' The new coal discoveries m the vicinity of Tacoma are now m a fair vraf of attracting the attention of capitalist's, and during the past week an English syndicate has been found to purchase the French Brothers' mine at that place. An expert has arrived from New York at the property, and it is expected that a sale will be made immediately for £30,009. . * . V At his election meeting m Carterton, Mr Bunny was asked if he was m favor of stoats and weasels. His reply was :"Is it likely a 'bunny' would approve of stoats and weasels ?~-(Roars of laughter). There are stoats and weasels outside of the animals we call stoats and weasels, and they are doing their best to get rid of ' Bunny ,' but they won't do it.—(Laughter), ■ The second Christchurch .wool sale of the season having been fixed fpr the same date as that on which the first Ashburton wool sale was to have been held, viz., Friday, 28th November, m order that the two sales may not clash Ashburton selling brokers notify elsewhere that the first Ash burton wool sale will take place on Thurs day, December 4th, at 2 p.m. A full-dress rehearsal of tlie Opera ''Patience" took place last night, and was a pronounced success. The ladies are to be specially congratulated upon their sing ing, and the splendid appearance of their dresses, which are very elaborate and most becoming. The Dragoon Guards have also a decidedly soldierlike style m their effective uniforms, and everything bids fair to a finished performaace, It is said with all the feverish restlessness and the apparent instability of the young Emperor of Germany he is possessed of one fixed idea, and that is the maintenance of the supremacy of the Empire m Europe. He wants the twentieth century to be known as the German century, and he is especially anxious, it is understood, to t>ring about an alliance between the two nations, Great Britian and Germany, which have the same Teutonic origin. Hbe '■'■ Marlborough Express," referring to the manifesto, say:—The manifesto is, as we all unfortunately know, the production of a sick man, it is the hope of a sick Govern ment, thrown like a bone to a hungry dog, at a sick colony, and indeed has so sickly an air about it altogether that the sooner it receives its happy despatch by, consignment to the waste-paper basket m the memories of I the electors the better for all concerned.

The train arrangements m connection with the Ashbnrton Races are published m the advertising columns of this issue. Thoperformance of "Ashore andAfloaf'by the Druids' company of amateurs takes place on Tuesday and Wednesday, 18th and 19th November. The members of the com pany have been m h;\rd study for three months, and the rehearsals have been frequent, so that members are well up m their respective parts. Con , sidering the charitable object of the enter tainment there ought to be good attendances. Mr T. ' Bullock (instructed by Messrs Friedlander Bros.) submitted the Ashburton Racing Club's privileges to auction m the Arcade on Thursday afternoon. Tlio luncheon room and grand stand bar at £10 per day, and the publican's booth under shilling stand at £11 per day, were pur chased by Mr J. Henry. Mr J. Ranger pur chased the confectioner's booth at £3 10s per day, and Mr P. Crum the shilling stand at £1 5s day, and right of sports at 15s pcr 1 day.

WAS IT PROVIDENCE OR ACCIDENT!

Did the finding of that article save the man's life? That w the question. Is there a divinity that shapes our ends 1 or are events but a mere series of accidents which may happen to one person as well as another. Are the experiences that compose our lives links m a chain, or loose grains of sand? As you answer these questions, as you take the one side or the other,; so is your faith ; you are a materialist or a believer m Providence. We now propose to relate a story m illus tration of this problem which may have some effect m arousing those who have always thought themselves the subject of blind chance. The following facts are fully vouched for, and resemble occur rences m the lives of multitudes. Several years ago Griffith Jones was a policeman at Holyhead, V/ales. He had a family consisting of a wife and live young children to take care of. Holy head is on St. George's (or the Irish) Channel, and is open to terrific gales that so often gather on those dangerous waters and beat with violence opon the coast. Jones' "post" or " beat 'Aextended back into the country, over bleak, wind-swept hills. He had to walk through this region m all weathers, day or night. He was often out m winter nights, m cold and darkness, exposed to the storms that drive m from the sea. .Ah such times the wife listened to the rattling windows, .arid prayed that the husband and father might take no harm m the wild tempest. .This was hard lines, but m the family (though they were poor enough) thare was still health and comparative comfort. But m a bad storm the policeman caught a heavy cold, Homo remedies failed to cure it, and the officer sent, to his old physician at A bertfraw for medicine. It did no good. Jones' right side grew ''queer"and painful. The doctor s-iid it was the liver, and he was right; but correct opinions don't cure disease. His head troubled him, too, and he was often' so giddy he could hardly walk; " I am so tired and weary," he would say, "I don't know what makes me. I, try to rest and sleep, but get up just as dead tired as when I go to bed." Then worse came. He sat down to his tabled but revolted from his food ; appetite was gone, There was a curious feeling at the stomach; it was cold, dull, and miserable, like a furnace which contains nothing but ashes and cinders. A nasty and nauseous kind of gas or wind came up into his throat, like the effluvia from a tomb. His wife called his attention to the ghastly yellow colour of his eyes and skin, and once m a while he would have a spell of palpitation of the heart that made him afraid of falling dead—perhaps m some lonely place. In spite of it all, however, Policeman Jones kept on duty as much as ever he could. Of course. So would any honest, plucky man. But he slept fitfully, with bad dreams. He cried out sometimes with the terror of them, and the frightened children said, "Is papa going to die?" He was, and is, one of the most patient and loving of men, yet now he was cross and surly to his family. Then something new developed. There came a pain under us left shoulder blade ; his wrists and knees grew swcllen and painful; this was rheumatism, caused, the doctors said, by the undigested and fermented food having poisoned the blood. Kidney and bladder complaint followed -for they also are merely symptoms of indigestion and dyspepsia. Tfco policeman now felt he must give up, and, if he did, then what Me could foresee nothing H u .fc destitution JSowwecometo the event which sug" gested the question with which this short history begins : Was it an accident or Was it a link m a saving chain T Enter ing the Holyhead station house one clay «1, depressed, weak, and miserable, he saw a little pamphlet under the table. tie i picked it up and began to read it. In a few .moments his mind was rivetted upon itepups. In clear, plain language he tfound his own case fully described, just as though the book had been written for him and for him alone. It named a cure for all his ailments, a medicine called Mother Seigel's Curative Syrup. The plain honesty of the statements won his confidence. He procured half-a-dozen bottles through Mr Henry Wilson, of the Drug Hall, Holyhead. Takmg it he 1 began to improve, and all his aches and pains vanished m a few weeks. This was August, 1879. Ten years have passed, but not a, sign or sympton of his ailment has returned. Mr Jones entered upon a more lucrative business, and wher ever goes he spreads the fame of fceigels Syrup, and insists that the glimpse of the book on the table settled the point as to whether he should go under the sod or be the strong new man he has been ever since

COMMERCIAL.

THE MARKETS

[per tress association]

(Received November 14, 8 p.m.) ' London, November 13. ( Irozfin -beef is one farthing dearer. ' Quotations for .frpzon mutton and lamb are unchanged. New Zealand hemp is m poor demand. : About 20.") bales have.been*sold at i a decline of £3 per ton. After, the sale prices recovered. . The Bank of England has now regained thorough control of the money market. Heavy sales of consols have been effected. New York, November 13. The money market Is still feverish. Syxwß-r;- November 14. '" Fine rains have fallen throughout the colony, and an unusually good season is predicted. The maize crop m the North will be. very heavy, but wheat m the same part is largely affected with rust. Grass hoppers are causing great destruction out est> and the railway was stopped for several hoiiri through the insects on the line. Lite pelf; is moving down the Murrambidgee m clouds.

WHO SPILT THE MILE!

Notwithstanding the proverbial use lessnesg- of crying over spilt milk we find politicians, many m, the Pt*ess, on the platform, and m the street carry ing out that identical operation m respect to the large amount of the indebtedness of the Colony, about which we had a word or two to say ourselves m our last issue. No doubt there has been an enormous amount of money borrowed, and alas, we fear by no means a small sum wasted, and the object of those who lament the latter j would be nothing but praiseworthy were it simply to.point out the mistakes of the past with a view to preventing their repetition m the future. But m only too many instances that is not the object at all, but to try to make capital as against the Liberal party, and to discredit the Liberal leaders' with the electors. It is very glibly assumed, nay, more often roundly asserted, that the financial troubles of the Colony are all or nearly all charge^ able to that side of the House, and the saddle is thus coolly put upon the wrong horse. Now, m orderjthat our readers may be able to reverse that operation and put the saddle on the right on^ we w tfi ay^i ourselves of a few facts concisely put together by " a leading member of the Legislative Council" and contributed \to the Wanganui « Herald." The authority; cited says:— • ' ; '' Among the many reproaches cast by the soi disant 'Conservative' pyrty ipf New Zealand at ita opponents w the 'Liberal' side, one is that the latter involved the finances of the colony by its extravagant expenditure. Let; us examine this charge. In 1870 was born, the Public Works and Immigration policy. Twenty years have elapsed since then. Of these twenty years the Liberals have held office five and the Conservatives fifteen. Sir G. Grey'a Govern ment lived two years, and on taking office wns allowed to borrow 3£ millions,' one million of which had been anticipated, and borrowed m advance—half from the Bank of New South Wales, half from the Bank of New Zealand —and spent by the ppufinuous Ministry. 2| alone was spoilt, therefore, by the Grey Ministry. v • "The Skmt-Vogel Government borrowed four millions and lived three years; having m all spent three millions. ' "In all, therefore, out of say 34 millions the Liberal party is answerable for s£. "Now, of 34 millions how mudh remains? All this remnant was spent by the, economical Conservatives who never got the, finances of the colony into a mess—according to their own showing. ' " Each time Sir H. Atkinson has returned to office hs has endeavoured to make capital out of the supposed extravagance of his pre decessors, but each time he has been unseated he has spent more than his successors. After Sir G. Grey was unseated, Sir Harry .Atkin son purposely Jeft finance to: drift. He obtained a loan of five millions, made a panr speech (October, 1879) which shook ourr>J|lit m London, and there floated his loan on terms by which five millions were borrowed, but we became liable for (six. This was probably the worst piece of finance the colony lias known since Reader Wood's exploit of 1863. "After the defeat of the Stout-Vogcl Government, Sir Harry, "who had railed against further taxationjwhen iii opposition, calmly adopted the taxation proposals of- the Government he succeeded, and added to them retrenchment m small salaries, which! was more cruelly and widely "felt than any relief it afforded to the colonial finances justified. Directly, he did not raise a large loan cis m his former Ministerial days. Btit it will be foutnd hat, indirectly, he/ didj succeed m getting hold of a very considerable amount of loan money, at alt events mdre than the. StoutVogel Government. .:....,[• ' ' "Now Conservatives and Liberals are only men. Sir H. Atkinson has placed.it on record that he holds it to be, when m office, ihis first duty,to keep his party; m power ; Jhis second to the colony. ! And truly the, Continuous and all other Ministries he has been connected with, have so exclusively used loan money to reward support, that the Liberal party may be excused for thinking that a considerable balance has been run up, and is due to those who, though supporting the other side, are nevertheless as good settlers as those who prefer the Conservative' faction. "As a fact, four-fijths of the colonial debt since 1870 has been incurred, or rather spent, by Sir H. Atkinson's party, and the absurd reiteration of the chaJßjjje*W extravagance against those who differ with his opinions, are wanton mis-statements of facts."

TELEGRAPHIC.

HOME AND FOREIGN.

[per press association. ]

London, JSiovember pL3 and 14. Stanley refrains from taking counted action agaihst '■■:■ Major ' Barttelot's friends. Mr Gladstone is too busy with political matters to assist General 1 Booth m his colonising scheme. The dockers approve of the General's plan. "The Times," this morning, pub lishes the affidavit of Assoa Farm, w,ho was interpreter to the Stanley e'xpend tion m, Africa. In this ghastly, details of Major .Barttelot's cruelty are given, And the dharge against Jatnieson- is re iterated. ' London, Noyeiaber 13. Ihe Departmental Committee deal ing with the expiry of European com mercial treaties with Great Britain has invited the various Agents-General to submit a statement setting forth whether the colonies wish to partici- I pate m the renewals. ', UThA 5Sa nU? bßr'ef: PerSOnS On board H.M.S. Serpent was 179 of whom only three were saved. ' TW appeal case AX Foy v Musgrove, Collector of Customs m Victoria began to-day. A special Court was selected to Jicar the case, the Judges bang the Lorf High Chancellor (Lord Hakbury) Lord Herchell, Lord J McNaughton, Lord Hobhouse, Sir, j Barnes Peacock, Sir Richard Couch, • MrCharlesL. Shand, Sir HoraceDayey Q.C., and Hon H. J. Wrixon. The Attorney-General of Victoria, who ap* i

pearod for the appellants (Victoria Government), contended that. the Colonial Court ought to have declined to enquire into the authority cf the Government, or held it was an exercise of the Queen's prerogative.. The action of the collector and also of the Com missioner of Customs was neither ordered nor ratified by the Government nor the Queen, nor was it justified by Act of Parliament-. The Collector of Customs ought' to have accepted'the LlO poll-tax. The case is proceeding. ■■-■ . NswYork, November 13. btanley delivered a lecture here last I night, but the speaker was inaudible ' .owing to,the constant interruptions. He was understood to' say that other startling disclosures would shortly fol low. • . Berlin, November 13. In the course of his speech at the opening of the Prussian Diet, the Em peror William declared peace with all nations.: . '' ' : T)r Koch promises to disclose his method of consumption cure at a lec ture to be given on the 27th inst. . The betroihal of the Princess Mar guerite of Germany to the Prince ol Naples is announced.

AUSTRALIAN

Mewouruk, November 14. James Mirams has been found guilty on a charge of falsification of th« books of the Premier Permanent Building Association. William Doherty (the Secretary) and two others were ac quitted on this charge. Mirams was admitted to bail,, pending his trial for -conspiracy. Ore thousand wharf laborers have resolved to return to work on Monday at the masters'.terms.

INTERPROVINCIAL

t'l--! AtrcraaifD; November 15. Sir George Grey is seriously indisposed, and his medical advisers haves ordered that he must nob see visitors. The Baptist Union have passed » resolution affirming the desirableness of, selected passages of Scripture to be read m primary scnools, and the inculcation of the ten commandments. The Auckland Ministers' Association s moving Government to prevent the send ing of i 'liquor from this colony 'to Rara torigai ■-....• ■. ;.',>; Wellington, November 15. The Secretary of the Chamber of Com 'hierce has received a letter from the: general manager of the Union iCompany stating that Auckland will continue to be: thp port of: call m this colony foir the San yraiicisQO mail steamers. ; ( During the passage 'of thd barque Lutterworth, from London, an apprentice named Hugh Curtis wa/s. washed from the | forecastle head during a gale and was drdvvned. "''•'" The. local ...Federated Trades Union Council have had a united discussion on : the question of reconstructing Unionism. The following motion will be considered at next-meeting :—'.♦ ThaD this Council is of opinion that a Joint Committee should be appointed m eachV city of the colony, delegative annually by Employers* Asso ciations on the, one part and the Tiadeis Council on the other, for the purpose of arbitrating on all differences which may occur,- and affecting trades connected with either body, and by conciliatory methods prevent strikes." . . • A peculiar assault case is reported from Featherston. On Tuesday night an in dignation meeting of those who had j given orders for the Picturesque Atlas of Australasia was held, and the delivering agent was invited to attendy 'as some challenged the genuiness of the signa tures. The agent wont to fetch hia order book, and on returning he assarts ho was suddenly seized, ji sack" thrown over his head and securely roped, his book taken from him, along with various documents, including cheques, etc,, the latter being found near the scene of the outrage next morning ; also that he had £9 stolen from him, find a seven chamber revolver (loaded).. Detective Herbert has gone up to investigate the matter. , The Union Company's steamer Taicri, which left here on 9th October, arrived at Calcutta on the 11th inst. She only lost six horses oat of 235. Invercakgili,, November 14. This morning John Brown, one of the partners m a flax mill at Fortification, beyond Mataura, while showing a new man how to feed thf scutcher^ allowed his own hand to be drawn m J The arm was lacerated to above the elbow. The place is a long way from % medical man, and although Dr Stockwell attended as soon is possible, Brown died m the train, from loss of blood and the shock. He was a young man, and has relatives living m Strath Taieri.

South Rakaia Road Board.

The ordinary monthly meeting was held on Thursday; ' Present—Messrs Coster > (chairman) Lyttselton, Stringfellow, Mc- Lean and Vucetich.' I • The Clerk reported on matters generally, all the contracts Were .being carried > out satisfactorily. Levels i had been taken for Foley to take: water on the road and the work was. finished without; interfering with the traffic, j ' ■' ' ' It was reported that 8400 kmall birds' eggs m this-district were paid for lasts ytojy and on the motion of Mr Lytljeltpn itwas resolved to pay 2s per 190 for eggs and heads this year. ; Arrancerilents , were made if or clearing round thepinef m fche plantations at 2s 9d per 100. The! Chairman of the County Council wrote agreeing. tp shopping the road through Ruml Section 7129 and forwarding certificate to that iffect. It was resolved to take the necessary steps for completing the stoppage of the road, and that Mr Oxley he requested to act as valuator' for the Board,; -■ ■ • ; ■> '' The Auditor General forwarded* an account for £2 for auditing the Board's 1 accounts. A letter was received from the Aah burfcon Hospital authorities relative to - a number of Rakaia residents who had received attention m. the Chrigtchurch Hospital and asking if the Board would endeavour, to collect the amount, £42 16s. Ihe matter was left m the hands. of the Chairman. , . Mr L. Fordhain wrote declining to act any, longer as bondsman for G. Shellock, the poundkeeper. Mr Vucetich wrote enclosing plan of Bushy Park .road, and stating that he had taken measurements which clearly showed that the road was unsafe for traffic ; he ■ had gone to considerable trouble over the two miles examined, and had used a straightedge and footrule. He proposed that the two miles be formed, metalled, and blended. The proposition was not seconded and therefore lapsed. Mr McLean moved that half a mile be formed and metalled vhere required most, seconded by Mr Stringfellow and carried. It was resolved that the deepest ruts should fca filled up by the maintenance contractor... Mr Vucetich reported on the ■Chprtsey boundary road and' the Kyle road; he was of opinion that the work was not carried out properly. There had not been half a yard of shingle put on per chain for tfys p*st three years ; he con sidered the Board was wr^ig m accepting the lowest tenders, and then not com" pelhng thfem to cany out the specifica tions. He was of opinion that the Board threw away somt? £12 or £U every yeai-

on the boundary road alone. Ho hope the contractor had not been paiJ. , The Clerk stated that the cheque had bean paid on recaipl;. of a letter from Mr Shingfollow, who had also inspected the road, to the effect that very good work hud been done. Mr Vticetich stater! that his opinion was that the cleric had no right to pay .over the money until he had heard from both members who had beon auked to examine the road, After considerable discussion the matter dropped. Mr McLean wrote recommending that Mc- Anulfy bo paid for'his contract work. ■ Mr JFfcwhftt waited on'the'BoiiwfMvith a petition from the Village settlers pointing out what iworks they required. It bore 62 signatures. The settlers were of opinion that some !£2OOO was" due from the Land Board. , The clerk produced a statement showing that, up to July, 1888; £4313 8s 7d had been collected by the Land Bqard. The Board had received on the settlers' accounr £678 14a"8d only. The matter was left to the sub-Commit tee to enquire into 'fully and report to uext meeting. It waa resolved to tussock Barker's and Normanby roads. . Mr Jameson forwarded cheque for £36 Id for timber sold. It was resolved to called for tenders for making some improvements on the road running between Harrison's and Morrow's. Accounts for £125 11s 4d were passed for payment, and the members met as a Cemetery .Board and then adjourned.

Ashburton Live Stock Market.

Messrs Miles and Co. (per MrGeo, Jame son), report: A shburton County Saleyards, Tuesday, 11th November.- The entry for the day's sale comprised about 4000 sheep and 50 head of cattle;.' There was a good attendance, and as the late rains have im proved the pastures many of the innne i diate settlors are desirous of increasing their flocks. Competition yraa therefore brisk, and almost every line .cleared at full rates, showing no., decline'in values. The few lines of fat slieep brought m were sold at ■ abnorinaljy high prices. Fat merino ewes m wool 11s 6d each, shorn do Bs, crossbred hoq;geter 14s lOd to lls 4d, down to 10s and 9s 9d, crossbred ewes and lambs 12s 9d to 13s 9d, crossbred four-tooths mixed sexes 15*, merino ewes with lambs at foot 9s 9d, 10s 2d, up to 10s 7d for ewes, lambs given m. Cattle—Fat cows and heifers, light weights, brought from £4 10s to £510s each, dry cows 38s to 40s each, fifteen months' cattle 22s 6d to 275. ' ' < Privately during fche week we have sold 1230 for export. • • ' \ SKIN; SAtE. Mr Geo 1 * Jameson'reports:—On Friday, 14th November,, I. held my , usual fort nightly sale; the entry comprised about 1600 skins. ■ The following are the prices realised :>- Butchers' crossbreds, 4s9d, ss, 5s 4d, 5s 6d; do merino, 4s, 4s 3d, 4s 2d, 3s 9d ;'farmers' crossbreds, 2s, 2s 6d, 2s 6d, 3s, up to 4s Id ; do merino, la 6d to 5s Id. _ ■ " RAKAIASALE. I held my monthly sale at Rakaia on Thursday, 13th November. There was a good attendance of farmers and others, and a fair entry of sundries as well as a quantity of furniture, sold on account of the Rev. Collins,. all of which brought fair prices. . „

THE ELECTIOS.

Mr Humphreys, addressed an orderly meeting m St Luke's School, Christ church, last night. About 209 were present. Hb advocated careful adminis tration, abstinence from borrowing, was not m favor of any alterat.io*n m tho in cidence of taxation, urged that dummyistn m land should be put down, but that ex treme caution should be exercised m the resumption of private lands for settle meat, and. considered that.the present education system should be maintained intact. He favored the principle of Unionism. He^received.a'nearly unani mous vote of thankij for hig speech and services m the House. Mr R. M. Taylor addressed a meeting at gfc Alban'a Jast night. He condemned the . Government for having exceeded authorised expenditure, ■ supported a graduated Land and Income .Tax and a tax on absentees. He received a unanimousjvote of thanks and confidence.

MR PURNELL AT LONGBEACH.

Mr Purnell. addressed the electors at the Lon& beach schoolhouse last night. Some 30 or 40 persons were present, and Mr A. Protheroe' was voted .to the chair. Mr Purnell, who wn* cordially received, dealt chiefly; ,with , the Property Tax, Educacion, and Land question, passing over much of the ground covered by his Ashburton speech. Mr Purnell said he did not understand why so many working men advocated the abolition of the Property Tax and the' substitution of a Land and Income Tax m its .place, seeing that very few working men paid any Property Tax, while if a' Land Tax were imposed, all those of their number who owned a section of land might find them selves called jupon to contribute towards it. Mr Sawle, at Ashburton, had affirmed that 36,167,920 acres of Crown lands had been sold to the public, and upon this assumption, proceeded to calculate what a land tax upon that area would pro luce. Now, the official returns, which every body read for themselves, showed that; instead of .3^,167,920 acres, only 13,275,350 acres of Crown land had been sold from the foundation of the colony up to thft 31st March last, '4nji on the same date 1,829,696 acres of Crown lands were held by the public on settlement condi tions, making together 15,105,045 acres of taxable lands j m. other words, con siderably less than ono; half Lhe area assumed-by Mr Sawle to be taxable. Consequently, the whole, fabric of Mr Sawle's calculations fell to the ground. As to the amount of revenue which could be raised by means of a Lato<J and Income Tax, the only estimate • worth considering was that of the Colonial Treasurer, who not only possessed great financial ex perience, but had all the Government records open to him< .Now the Treasurer calculated that 'only*. 30214,000 could be raised m this manner, and as £355,000 was required, the Customs dutios would have to be increased,-atad*perhaps other taxation imposed to 'make up the de ficiency. He'(Mr Purnell) regretted to find that a number o£ electors seemed dis posed to run after fads of various des criptions, but hoped tdey would devote themselves to the practical task of choosing a suitable man to represent the consti tuency. Mr- Purnell was attentively listened to and aat down amidst applause. '■'■ A number of questions were asked of the candidate, chiefly relating to edu cational matters. Mr 1 purnell said he thought; that education Reserves ought not to be letjh^arge blocks, but should be atibdivided where suitable into small areas and let to working fanners. II grants-in-ai^ were given to private schools for secular results, those schools should be open to Gor eminent inspectorsin the same manner as the public schools. He was m favor of purchasing, blocks of land out of lai^e estates which were not cultivated, and cutting them ujp for settlement. He thought tho prohibitionists laid too much stress'upon the question of compensation, as public-house property had greatly depreciated m value during the last few years, and before a prohibition law could come into force m any district the majo* rity of the inhabitants of the district must be total abstainers, which would tend still further to reduce tho value of the. hottlf

THE ASHBTTRTON GUARDIAN, SATUBDAY, NOYEJMBER 15, 1890.



The well-known drama "Ashore and Afloat," by G H. Hazlewoocl—which had a run of 150 nights m London ou account of it being so full of life incidents and scenic effects, will be given by the Druids on Tuesday and Wedneaelay, 18th and 19th, m aid of the widow and children of the late Bro Keeley. Mrs J. J. Kennedy; and Misa May Hartle, two well-known professional actresses ! will arrive by the first train on Monday to take part m the final rehearsal. The manager hasspared no time nortroubletoget the piece proper.ly staged, and he has also, studied the price of admission, bo that all can lend a helping hand m a deserving cause. A large attendance is fully expected. SANDER AND SONS' EUCALYPTI EXTRACT.—In protection of the world wide fame our manufacture has acquired all over the globe, we publish the following:—; Hazard, M.D., Professor of General Patho-: logy and Diseases of the Mind and Nervous System, says m an editorial published m the "Clinical Record " :—" We have examined half-a-dozen specimens of different manufac tures ; the preparation of Sander and Sons waa the only one that proved to be reliable and' corresponding ,to scientific tests." Another concoction called " Refined Extract of Eucalyptus" has made its appearance since. This product stands, according to Dr Owen, foremost m causing injurious effects •That gentleman communicates, at a meeting of the Medical Society of Victoria, that a child living at Fitzroy became most seriously indisposed through its use. In another case a lady states on the strength of statutory declaration thai she suffered cruelly from the effecto. of the same concoction. To guard the high reputation of our manufacture we eel warranted m expo-ing the above facts, and desires the public to exercise care and precaution when buying, SANDER and SON fc (Advt.) 7



HOPE. FOR THE DEAF, A Person cured of deafness and noises O, m the' Head' of long standings' by a simple Remedy, will be glad to forward a description of it free to anyone who applies. The most as tonishing cures have lately been effected by the same remedy. Address: Nicholson, 175 William Street, Mel bourne,



The Waipawa correspondent of the "Telegraph" says:—"Lieutenant Stairs, R.E., one of Stanley's companions, was for some eighteen months a ehainman for Mr W. Hallett, surveyor, m the Seventy Mile Bush. At the end of that period he went home to qualify for the army, hoping to join the Egyptian expedition.. He passed all his exams, with credit, and then applied to Stanley, and was appointed m due course. His further career is narrated m Mr Stanley's entrancing book." The "Napier Telegraph" says r-^Wehave passed through a. fortnight of what may be termed dissipation^ and nobody has gone through the Bankruptcy Court. We have t had a circus that took away every penny of ! £700; we have had five days';racing, during which a good £15,000. to £20,000 was put through the totalisator; we- have had an amateur performance running four nights to at least ±'76 houses, and we are asked ,to believe ourselves penniless wretohes. , Sir John Hall addresses l«tfcors o the Ellesmere district at Doric, onHfre 19th, Pendarves on the 20th ; and Lauriston on the 21st. Mr James Brown speaks at Hampstead on Tuesday, 18th, at Tinwald on Friday following, and: at Ashburton Forks on.Wednesday, Mr j'> WiiSawle holds a meeting at Flemington on Tuesday, and another at Wakaniii on Wednesday. Mr W, C. Walker speaks on Monday, 17th, at Wakariui, and at Longbeach school on W^nesday. a 19th ( Mr E. G. Wright speaks to-night atWillowby, and, »t BM> Xueid»yf



WANTED ' CASH Advertisements under this «rc;l <Ji2s -otoxctsedin SIXTEEN • WORDS 1/-. Addresses maf be left at 1 this Office AMERICANIce Cream! AnieHcan Ice Cream daily at H. G. Flower's, Confectioner.' Ice kept m stock. WANTED at once, "Apprentices to the Dressmaking. Apply Misses > Morrison and Holloway, Tancred Street. 11*84 V\ j ANTEp—SitUiition for a young V * girl (listht work preferred). Aoply by letter. Address "J.C.," "Mail' OlSoe^Asjiburton. U 56 WAKTED a young cnim to adopt.  eferences Biven- Address,] 'Mater," c this paper. 11 71 { WANTED Tfrwwn^Tl^ " Strong-' wear " Boot is the best for Men, _adies_and Children.—W. H. Collier. WASTEDKnmviT^Ladies Stockings with Silk Toes and Heels m black and colors. Is 6d per pair.—VV. H. Collirr. BOOTS, BQOTH."" ''Keep youi feet Dry and save Doctor's Bills, have a splendid Stock m now. Try my Double-soled Shooters. Every pair Guaranteed. Robert Alcorn, Ashbur ton_Clothinp Mart, Saunders' Buildings. tITANTEDKnown:': ForDressStuffs, V V Prints, <fee., Trimmings to match go to Melford House. Best value m town.—H. C Segbrs. ANTED Known —for Sheetings" | Tabling*, Calicoes, Quilts, Towels, ! Table Napkins, Tray Cloths, D'Oyleys, &c., go to Melford House.—H. C. Segers. WANTED every man m the County to have a suit of the Ashburton Tweeds.—Robert Axcorn, Ashburton Clothing Mart, Saunder's Buildings. 117 ANTED Known.—For first-class YV Millinery and Drapery (marked cheap) go to Melford House. New Goods ust opened.— H.C. Segers. AT7 ANWdHkITo^ZTt^ VV 'Shop to buy Tinware and Gal vanised Iron goods m Ashburton, is at W. P. Hannafort»'s, Burnett Street. A argo stock kept on hand. Tin and Iron ware goods made and repaired with cles patch.



LOW VITALITY , ' ' DR CHURCHILL'S I Syrup of Hypophoaphite of Lime , prescribed by the faculty for i the cure of Consumption, Chrome Cough and General Debility. It contains two of the principal ingre dients necessary'for building up the Human Frame, and which are considered' deficient m the Above complaints, viz., Phitxphgrn» and !.t<nw. It cannot be too \ highly recommended for Delicak Childre Dr Churchill's Compound Syrup o HYPOPHOSPHITES Is real Brain Food, and m cases of Muscular and Nervous' Exhaustion has acquired a world-wide reputation. Eaoh hot tin bears Dr CHarchill's"signature Price, 4fr Prepared only bjr BWANN nHEMIST WAKN UHEMIST, Fue Gastiglione Paris FISHING SFASON, 1890. FISHIjnG TACKLE, F, L E Hi G 1890 H CTA 1891 TUST arrived, ex "DORIC " from best t) English and American Manufac turers a large and well assorted stock of all Fishing requisites. Rods, Lines, Reels, Minnows, Flies, Gaft Hooka, single, double and treble, Mountings, assorted Hooks; Waterproof Stockings, India Rubbererack proofGum Boots, water proof Fish Bags In great variety, including latest pat- j terns. Every article of the season at, lowest prices. ' Fishing Licenses can now be obtained j rom me. ALSO.—New Stock of CRICKETING and TENNIS MATERIALS. W. ZANDER, Direct Importer Fishing Tackle. Tobbacconist and Fancy Goods. Ladies and Gentlemen's 'Haird rowing' **alof> JAMES BAKER, TIMBER MERCHANT, HAVELOCK STREET Opposite Harbisons Auction Mart, TTAS 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 Clcge; s Perambulators. i i i Wm. SPARROW TAILOR M H R C E R. EAST BTBF-RT.- Spring and Summer, 1890. TRY THE NEW ZEALAND CLOTHING FACTOBY FOR Men's Colonial TWEED SUITS, Boys' and Youths' Coloniy] TWEED SUITS. HATS.—We keep the Largest and Best Selection. Hats made to measure.! SUITS MADE TO MEASURE. Besh workmanship put m every garment, nd a perfect fit guaranteed. Large Selection of Boys' Knicker Suits. Ties, Shirts, 'Dollar*, Braces, &c., m Latest Fashion t.nd htyle. , Best Valxtb fok Cash ik District N E Z EJA I A N D CLOTHIM NY. H WEBBER



fpHE NEW ZEALAND BIBLE, I ± TRACT, AND BOOK SOCIETY, ar topened FOIc A FEW DATS m the Shop m East Street, lately occupied by John Orb & Co , with a ltu-se stock of . EVANGELICAL LITERATURE. JOHN REITH, 11+34 . Agent,,,. KJi»A'iii\u o JK>\VJDJbfL debtroy ___ BUGS, FLEAS, , MOTHS BEETLES, and all other insects, white quit* harmless to domestic airiijials. In exterminating Beetlesthesuccess of thie powder is extraordinary. It is perfectly clean m npjilicntion. See the article ' - you purchase ifi " KEATING'S," as imi tatiotm are nokious and ineffectual. Sold n Tina, 6d, Is, and 2s 6d each, hy al hrnv«*K. ■...,-. •> -* • ■. " i '*""': RAKA I A ANNUAL SPORTS & RACES. (Approved by Canterbury Jockey Club and New Zealand Trotting Association.) To fee held m the Domain, on BOXING DAY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26th, 1890. President—D. G. Holmes. Vice-President —T. E. Upton, E. S. Coster, W. L. Allan and VV. M. Lyttelton. Judge—W. M. Lyttelton. Starter of Horse Races—T. . E. Upton. Clerk of the Course-r-R. Kemp. Clerk of the Scales—-T. Dowling. Judges of Athletics—W. L. Allan, E. H, Hughes, and J. Kemp. Starters of Athletics—C. A. C. Hardy, and R. Story. Treasurer—W. B. Dixon. Secretary — L. Oxley. Stewards—C. A C. Hardy, JkFrimmer, J. Kemp, A. Rowntree, J. Wilkinson, A» Makeig, and W. Hood, IHpRSiEfIR, AGES. • First Race to start at 12 (Tclqek, 1. Hurdlk Rack of 10 soys. Over six flights of hurdles, 3ft Sin high, and two brush jumps; second horse to receive 1 ■ov from the stake. About two miles. ; Entrance, 10s. Td start at 12 o'clock noon. , ; 2. Flying Stakes, of 7 soys. About f-mile. Second horse to receive 1 soy from the •■ ■ stake. Entrance, 7s. To start at 1 p.m. 3. Ladies' Puksk, of 10 soys. About If mile. Second horse to receive 1 sot from the stake. -Entrance, 103. To be entered by ladies. To start, at 2 p.m. 4. Handicap Saddle Trot (distance behind scratch) of 10 soys. About three miies. Horses breaking must pull imme diately and go, and toot to the satisfac tion of the Stewards, or be disqualified. Second horse to receive 1 soy from the stake. Nomination, 7s 6d ; acceptance, 2s 6d To start at 3 p.m. Farmers' Plate, of 10 soys. About 1 irile and a half. Second horse to re ceive 1 soy from the stake, Entrance, 10». To start at 3.40 p.rn 6. HURRY Scurry, a sweepstake of 10s ; each, with 1 soy added. Once round the course. Catch weights. No winner of any of the above events allowed to start. Post entries. To start at 4.30 : Jftill. ■■;:■■■ '' . ' ' R U L E S. 1. The Meeting will be held xmderthe roles of racing. 2. All events to be confined to the South Rakaia and Mount Hutt Road Board Dis tricts, and six miles north of the Rakaia river, and ten miles west and live miles east of the railway line. 3. Weights for all races except otherwise specificd—lOstfor three-year-olds, list for four-year-olds, and list 71b for 5, 6, and aged. ■■■ : : . ' ■ : •■ 4. No horse that has won more than £10 I m one event will be allowed to compete m any race. 5. The races are open to any horse com monly resident m the prescribed district from the Ist October, 1890, and OM-ned by a perßon who has resided m the said district during the same period. 6. Nominations for the Saddle Trot with fee of 7s 6d each, age, description, and per- j formance of the horse, must be deposited ! with the Secretary at Rakaia, not later than ! 8 p.m. on Saturday, December 6th, 1890. Acceptances and general entries, together ' With fees, by 8 p.m. on Saturday, December | 13th; In all cases the names, fees, colors, i and ages of horses, and colors of riders must accompany nominations, 7- All protests must be given m writing to the Secretary within thirty minutes after the race has been run, together with the sum of £1, which shall be forfeited if, m the opinion of the Stewards, the protest is frivolous. 8. No. entry will be received unless all the above conditions-are complied with, and on the condition that all disputes, claims, and objections arising out of tli«j racing shall be decided by the Stewards or wiioin-'they may j appoint. Their decision on all points to be filial. The Stewards reserve the right to hold over the stoke until sfitisfierl that the qualification of entry is correct and the omio of proof shall lie with the owner. Also to postpone the races if necessary through wet weather. 9. ■ The winner of any flat race, competing; ai other events, will be required to carry a penalty of 71 bs. 10. Any prize not claimed within seven days from the day of the races will be forfeited and go to the fline's. 11. All races will be starterl punctually the advertised hour. SPORTS. To commence at 10.30 punctually. 1. Men's 100 yds Race (handicap), Ist prize L 2, 2nd prize LI. 2. Boys' Race (under 15 years) 200 yds (han ,, dicap), Ist prize 10s, 2nd prize os, 3rd prize 2s 6d. Entrance free. I 3. Men's 440 yds Race (handicap), Ist prize 12, 2nd prize LI 4. S,' »gle Women s Race 100 yds (handicap), B ltrancefree. Ist prize LI, 2nd prize 10s. 5. Men's Hurdle Race 200 yds, (handicap) over 10 flights of hurdlec, 3ft high, Ist prize L 2, 2nd prize LI. 6. Girls' Race (under 14 years) 100 yds (handicap). Entrance free. Ist prize 10), 2nd prize os, 3rd pjriza 2s 6d. 7. Men's Mile Race (handicap), Ist prize Ll 10s, 2nd prize Ll. 8. Married Women's Race 50yds (handicap). . Entrance free. Ist prize Ll, 2nd prize 10s. i 9 Sack Race 100 yds, Ist prize Ll, 2nd ' prize 10s. 10. Consolation Race lOOyda Entrance free. Ist prize Ll. R uTe S. I—Entrancel—Entrance lees for all events, not other wise^ specified, 2s 6(1 each. 2—A llevents confined to the same district as for horse races. 3—No second prize will be given unless three or more compete. 4—The Stewards reserve the right to alter the order of events. Nominations for Men's 100 yds, 400 yds, mile race, hnrdle and sack races, must be lodged with the Secretary, before 8 p.m. on SATURDAY, 13th December. All other events post entry. Admission to Ground—ls for each adult, and Is for each horse, competing or other wise. The Burnlmm Brass Band will play during the day. Refreshments and other amusements on the ground. No games of chiince permitted. A BALL will be held m the evening m the Eakaia Town Hall—Dancing to com monce at 9 p.m. Admission, Gentlemen, 2s 61; ladies, Free. Children not admitted. 11 i*? AURENCE OXLEY, Secretary. ABSOLUTE fROTEOTION AGAINST FIRE Manufacturers of ULCAN PAINT. ',■■' • .■ ' Aftiv ■. .; v . ,v SOTERIA. Absolute protection againstoxtem,on of fire. oler cards and tost shingles with instruc tions and proofs of on materials furnished?