NOTICE TO CORRESPONDENTS.

[G. V.—The publication of your letter would not further the interests of the cause you advocate,]

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas Et Prævalebit. MONDAY, AUGUST 18, 1890. STOATS AND WEASELS.

Stoats and weasels, the natural enemy of the rabbit, are being intro duced into the colony m a wholesale manner, and at great cost to the State. Each stoat or weasel landed costs the taxpayers £2 or £2 5s } and as the ex penditure is still going on, it may be advisable to pause and ask whether it is advisable to rid the colony of one pest by introducing another. During the recent discussion which took place m the House, the Minister of Lauds gave it as his opinion that the colony would do well if ten times the amount of money were expended yearly m buying stoats and weasels; but the country's representatives do not appear to hare endorsed this view. A sum of £1000 remained unexpended of a previous vote, and a disposition was shown to prevent this balance being spent. Members shook their heads gravely, and the Tote was passed reluctantly. It is gradually dawning upon the country that though the rabbits are a pest, the pest is not an unmixed evil. The skins of rabbits' are a valuable article of export, but the vermin being introduced for the rabbits' destruction have no commercial value, are vicious and destructive, and when the rabbit is exterminated will attack lambs, poultry, and game, and every living inhabitant of the field and forest. Already numerous complaints are being heard from different parts of the colony m regard to the depreda tions of ferrets, which have not hesitated to attack even sleeping infants and children, and generally prefer the farmer's poultry to the farmer's enemy, the rabbit. These murmurs will sooner or later take a more decided form when the vermin now being recklessly introduced overspread the land, and ere long Parliament will be petitioned, and taxpayers will be heavily taxed, to suppress a pest ten times more formidable than the harm less rabbit, which disappears as close settlement advances. By the means at present m use, —placing the re sponsibility upon owners of land to keep their holding> free from rabbits, — the rabbit evil is abating. Complaints of the ravages of rabbits are now less frequent, and travellers through the infested districts all agree m the opinion that " bunny" is slowly but surely disappearing. In face of this evidence it is sheer mad ness to persist m overrunning the country with stoats and weasels, and similar vermin. Large land-owners m the southern part of this island and m the North Island, find it irksome to engage a few rabbiters for several months m the year m order to com ply with the conditions of rabbit suppression ; but that is no reason why tlie colony should import, at great expense, a pest which it will cost a mint of money to exterminate, and which will do more damage to flocks and poultry m the immediate future than colonists now dream of. In the growing of wool and mutton there is not so great an expenditure m labour that holders cannot afford to continue on the present; slow and sure system of keeping the rabbit evil under by means of trapping and poison. Bj these means rabbit-skins and fur are turned to commercial advantage, but under the system of destruction by means of stoats and weasels these ■valuable articles of export are des troyed, and the country is over run with a class of vermin which is likely to prove a thorn m the side of agriculturalists and pastoralists.

LOCAL AND GENERAL

I There will bp skating at the Rink to morrow evening as usual. A Government Inspection Parade of the Aahburton Rifles and Cadets will be held on Tuesday evening at seven o'clock. Major Itfewall, the District Adjutant, will be present, A good muster is particularly requested. At a meeting of the Aslibijrton Trotting Club Committee held 011 Saturday evening, Mr J, G. Restell m the chair, a draft pro gramme for the first meeting was submitted and approved. The question of course and ,'. date of meeting was held over, but it was understood the fixture would be for a date earlp m October. The stakes amount to £110, The House of Representatives of the United States has a Five Minute Rule which provides that a general debate is closed by order of the Hoii££ any member shall be allowed to speak five minutes to explain any amendment he may offer, anxi there sh&U \)& yq fiiythor debate thereon. This prevents useless ob struction. A public meeting, called by advertisement, was held m the Orange Hall on Saturday afternoon to hear an address by Mr George Hutchinson, isse,tti'etsry to the recently formed Farmers' Union G.taua, J?pr>duce, and Finance Company. The meefcuig way o*U}itya)|y called for tlie Arcade £!han»bers, h)it $je 'rofyn was found too small for the large' attendance. Mr E. Watkins was called to tije chajr, and the prospectus of the Company having been j circulated, Mr Hutchinson, m a lenthy speech, went through the clauses categori cally, explaining them very fully. He stated that, -iuiwi/ig the proposal made to farmers m Ashhurtou fey $£r John Orr, m regard to the establishment of a, iiy^erative Associa tion, the Provisional i#re'e',tow£ f{f the Union had not intended to approach Ashimi'. i#n. But within the previous two days \ several W^rs had been received from farmers i 1 urging ,the '3W.re^i"§ to come to Ashburton. In .response t;o t>\tyift'hpfy* £Jje Directors; ia*4 $cut Jiirn -to hold th'^t meeting, c ; close of $}& 'ndfyvgaii the Secretary'answered such questions && ,w,ere p.ut to liiiii,'' 'and invited intending members xjf the .Union to ; put down their names. The iuvilaf/iiju was fairly responded to m the room, and wo aie given to understand that a large number of s^l'cs were applied for before Mr Hutchin son left iov Christehureu.

An Auckland resident, Mr Scott, has com pleted his 101 st year. The Caledonian Railway is about to build a new station m Princes-street, Edinburgh, at a cost of nearly £90,000. Since 1851 the value of the gold raised m the Australasian colonies has reached the stupendous amount of £21,600,000. As many as 990,816 sheep skins were sent out from Victoria last year, and it is pro posed to put on Id per skin duty. A boy 9 years of age was actually charged at Collingwood, Victoria, the other day with stealing from Another boy a marble of the value of 9d. As he had been chastised by his parents he was discharged. A great rush for land is taking place m Western Australia m consequence of the falling-in of the leasehold areas of the eastern division. Many of the applicants are from Victoria and South Australia. The latest report as to Sir Robert Stout's probable return to politics is that if he again stands for Parliament he will contest the, Oamaru seat now held by the Minister of Education. Since the Egmont Farmers' Union has been m existence it has gradually spread, and set tlers find that m shipping their wool, &c-,' Home through the Union, they now save 4 per cent, through doing without middlemen. A lode of silver ore has been discovered m the bed of the river Donetz, m South Russia, which is said to contain forty-five per cent of the pure metal. Mining •ngin eers have been despatched to the spot to make further investigations. The pitiful spectacle was witnessed m Auckland on a recent Saturday evening of four young lads ranging m age from 14 to 16 reeling through the streets under the in fluence of liquor, the two youngest being the most advanced m liquor. Camphor has gone up m price to 3s 6d per lb m Europe, the explanation being that it is being used for smokeless powder. A counter suggestion is that a camphor ring has been formed, and holders are awaiting a further rise. The "Mail" states that the stock of wheat held m store m Oamaru at the pre sent time is considerably under what it was last year. Aggregating the totals supplied by the various merchants, the stookn re present about 79,000 sacks. Mr and Mrs Wrathall gave a "house warming " on Monday last m the School room, Methven. About sixty guests were present, and a thoroughly enjoyable evening was spent, dancing being kept up with great spirit till about 3 a.m., when, after express ing their i?ood wishes for the health and happiness of Mr and Mrs Wrathall, the party broke up. In Queensland there i 8 one policeman to every 425 people, and they cost 8s l£d for every inhabitant ; m South Australia, one to every 844, cost, 5s 3£d; New South Wales one to every 716, cost 5s 2£d ; Victoria, one to every 769, costing 4s 10£ d; while m New Zealand there is only one to every 1346, costing 2s IOJd per head of population. The "Wellington Post's" Kutnara corres pondent telegraphs to that paper that Bishop Julius, who has returned to Kumara from Jackson's Bay, had a narrow escape from being drowned when rounding the Bluff south of the Waiho river, which he crossed m flood. He was thrown from his horse, but after a desperate struggle reached the shore. An unnamed hero is the second engineer of the Atlantic liner City of Paris, who, during the recent breakdown, plunged into the engine-room when all the space not occu pied by the rapidly rising water was filled with scalding steam, and shut off the power from the broken eugines that were pounding the ship to pieces. He did this, and saved more than a thousand lives at the imminent risk of his own. An accident, Avhich might have terminated fatally, occurred on Saturday night. As the Salvation Army were returning, m pro cession, to their Barracks, m Havelock strcet, 1 a man on horseback rode into the procession, knocking several of the females down, but fortunately without tiny serious result. Reckless riding through the streets is becoming a common occurrence, and a caution is urgently required. According to the estimate made m LSSO there are 100,000 gipsies m Turkey, 250,000 m Roumania (which has been the chief home of the i';icc since the fall of the Roman Em pire), 25,000 m Servia, 10,000 m Bosnia, 10,000 m Austria, 196,00,0 m Hungary, 250,000 m Poland and Russia, 34,000 m Ger many and Italy, 40,000 m Spain, fIOOO m France, and 20,000 m Great Britain. The gipsies have undoubtedly deconded from an ancient mixed race of Indians and Egyptians. At a wood-cutting contest m Victoria the conditions were that the competitors were to cut and split five feet firewood for a day of eight hours ; all wood to be cut from standing timber ; no tree to be cut less than ten inches m diameter ; the man cutting the greatest number of tons m the above time to be de clared the winner. The wood was carted and stacked m two separate stocks «*ch cutter finding a man to stack his opponent's wood. The result was as follows:—John Grey, lfty tons ; Arthur Johnson, 9\ tons. Miss Saunders, who is ."severing her con nection, with the Hampstead Episcopal Sunday School, was, on Sunday afternoon,' the recipient of a handsomely bound illus trated volume, the gift of the students m the Bible Class. The presentation was made by Mm Scott (Superintendent of the School), who referred m suitable terms to the valuable and nelf-deiryjug efforts of Miss Saunders as a teacher m the scljoql, and as a member of the church, and expressed regret that the school was about to lose th« active services of a teacher who had won the love and esteem qf the scholars. The newspapers, of the colony have re peatedfar yarned tjheir rqaders against investing mqney M* 0$ *f Sidney Jockey Turf Olub's " consultations, The (* CJjub " has been denounced not only as a swindle and its agent m Sydney a humbug, but it has, along with these, been pointed out that investments of this nature, being illegal m this colony, people who will invest m spite of all common sense advice, should only do so m the sister colonies through some friend they know and can trust. In the face of warnings repeated just as often as its cnieulaps fH)l) car? the " Club " still continues to issue tnem, a^d soattec j?ht;iT| broadcast over New Zealand. Circulars seem to be > sent to every person whose name appears on the directory, and the post office officials ! have many a handful of trouble with them, as the directory is not always the highest authority for a man's address. This whole- J sale distribution by post means a very con siderable outlay of money, and the infe-ence is nai.jfrjjuji' fhaf the plub must have many victims m frh> 'colon. y,'-q£lfer.vj'js^ j>lje expense j would not be covered. ' ' I The murder of Constable Mcljeodby a drunken passenger on a river steamer m the Auckland Province has raised the question as to why licenses for the sale of liquor on short voyages should nob be discontinued. At present every little smoke tub travelling between ports a few miles apart is licensed to sqll intoxicating liquor, and that under the' very 1 worst "possible conditions. On land every place m VvhiclvllcjiibY m dwjieusea is subject to regulations of a strict" character, and the authorities whose duty it is to see that tfhese regulations are complied with, are neverfy.'raway, 'Then again 1 on shore those to whom the dose society ojt diiinkejji aiid quarrelsome men' is" 'clejbestfiij 1 'm&y <' soon le^ve jbJi'ej'Ji'* company. But on a' steadier there is ''absolutely" »'o authoritative super vision of the ba.v, Men ape aiifii\ to drink to excess, and sober people have no means of escape from the proximity of their undesirable fellow passengers. It has been suggested that no passenger steamer trading between ports less than 100 miles apart khoyjd be granted- a license for the' sale of intoxicating ti^uurs, and this suggestion will recommend itself to ihd waJQrity of those who have to use the steamers, "-'fixchwige, Hollo way's' Pills.—-Nervousness and wan£ of Energy.—When first the nerves feel* uustt'uug. and listlessness supplants energy, the time"has Gomp to take some siicli alterative as Holloway's Villa to MtSjtwty a disorder from developing itsejf into a disease. These excellent pills correct all m>4igulftrities and weaknesses. They act so kindly'/yst &# .energetically on the 1 functions of digestion aitd'asssiimlatrwi, that the whole body is revived, the blood rendered puEfci;, while the muscles become firmer and .Stronger/ and the nervous and absorbent system ai'e invigorated. These pills are suitable for all classes and all ages." They have a most marvellous effect on persons who are out of condition ; they soon rectify whatever is m fault, restore strength to the body and. confidence to thfe mind.

TELEGRAPHIC HOME AND FOREIGN.

[per press association]

London, August 15. In the House of Commons to-day Mr A. J. Balfour, Secretary for Ire land, m reply to a question stated that the potato famine m Ireland had come on the Gorernment unexpectedly, but he thought the Poor Law (Ireland), sufficiently provided for distress. London, August 16. The Directors' Liability Bill was the last measure squeezed through both Houses. The amendments made by the House of Lords, which it was thought would kill the measure, were i modified. [ Many Bishops, P,eers, and old Anglican friends will attend the funeral of Cardinal Newman. The Earl of Jersey has been created Grand Cross of St. Michael and St. George. The Duke of Clarenqe has had a second attack of fever, and it is believed that the disease is the result of his Indian tour, from which he only recently returned. At a meeting of shareholders of the New Zealand Antimony Company a resolution was carried removing Sir Walter Buller from the directorate. Russia is arranging for a railway loan of 15,000,000 roubles. In commenting on the diplomatic relations with the United States Government re the Behring Sea fisheries dispute, the English Press generally applaud the action of the Marquis of Salisbury and the firmness that was shown by him. The " Standard," while admitting that the position is not without misgivings, considers that England cannot sur render the Canadian rights to those waters. A despatch sent by the Marquis of Salisbury to the United States Govern ment on August 2nd refutes and dis allows Mr Blame's proposals that the question be referred to arbitration. Sofia, August 15. j Prince Ferdinand has returned to the city. Cairo, August 15. Cholera has broken out here, but at present is nothing serious. Washington, August 15. Robbers derailed a train on the Baltimore-Ohio railway, killing three persons and injuring many. Guatemala, August 15. General Egeta has again defeated the rebels under General Rivas. Honduras has massed 150,000 troops on the Guatemala frontier. Buenos Ayrks, August 15. The Minister of Finance has agreed to a fresh paper issue. The premium on gold has receded to 172. ; An examination of the books show that the National Bank has lent to friends of President Celman a sum of 30,000,000d015.

INTERPROVINCIAL

Wellington, August 17. A A public meeting will be held on Tuesday evening to discuss the Chinese question, and addresses will be delivered by Sir George Grey, Mr George .Hutchi aon, the Rev J. Berry, and the officers of the Federated Trades Council. Resolu tions will be proposed, affirming "that the practically free admission .of Chinese into this colony is likely to lead to grave complications <fa social and financial character at no distant date, and should be prohibited by law; that restricted competition of cheap Chinese labor with free European labor is a serious injury to every true citizen, and that the residence | of a number of Chinese m our midst is apt to prove demoralising m the highest degree." If these resolutions are carried an endeavor will probably be made to give political effect to them. The result of a trial crushing from the Red Mercury mine at the new Kuaotunu goldfield, was at the rate of 3 ozs of re torted gold to the ton for 18 tons. News was received this morning that a new reef has been cut m fehe low level, showing gold freely. There is great excitement on Change, Red Mercurys selling at 4s 9d to 6s ; Try flukes, 14s 6d to 15s, and all other Kuaptunu scrip has jumped con siderably. The success of the field is considered assured. DuisfEMN, August 17. The detectiyes succeeded last night m running to, earth two men suspected of the robbery of a cash box containing £100 from the Dunedin Savings Bank, The men, who gave their names as James Henry Wilson, and Frederick Wilson, are strangers, and only recently arrived. ;|rom Mejb,qurn.ej They are of respectable ap pearance, though dressed somewhat loudly. A third man is wanted, and though the detectives say nothing, there i* a shrewd suspicion that the men were concerned m some robbery m Australia. Mr Smith, the manager of the Savings Bank, has identified them as the two who were at the bank. One asked for chauged, while the other slipped round to the side c|oor, an.d l*i\oo r k6,a iSherjpj, at tracted' the manager's 'attention, while the other secured the cash box from the desk at the counter and bolted. At Cromwell, Brown and "Ewing's traveller was fined under the new by-law for exhibiting samples for sale. Mr Wood imposed a nominal penalty, but in timated that m future cases he would im pose a higher penalty. The maximum is £5, " ' " i

CRICKET.

[IM3R I'IiKSS ASSOCIATION,)

London, August 16. In the University match the Australians made 131 m the first innings, Charlton being not out with 24. Having to follow on, they made a splendid stand, and with one wi^et down the score stood at 118. At the end of £he day's play Barrett and Murdoch Were'b'otji: not out'with @1 and 50 respectively. • - ■ > The weather was showery, and although the i^ioVet was fyad at the start, it im proved clurin'g '£he 'day. " ' ' ■ ' : ' ' " "'' ''"L'oifiiqN., Augusp 17. In the match agfjlt^t fch«< Universities, Murdoch declared the second innings of the Australians closed when the score stood at 300 for the loss of only five wickets. The Universities eleven re quiring 119 runs to win, commenced their second innings by stonewalling, and after . two hours' play had lost two wickets for j ]]%, Llewellyn and Hawk being not out with # anc| U. '' In the secona innings of the Australians the principal scorers were' Barrett 96, Murdoth 69, Charlton (not out) 34, Trott % - _____ I

Capital and Labor.

(By A. Lee Smith, Dunedin.)

As the industrial forces are clearly destined to be largely influenced by the principles of unionism, it is manifestly desirable that the economic aspect of the question involved by the term capital v. labor should receive attention, and be examined with a view of .ascertaining the | real issues between the two opposing interests, and, if possible, of defining the natural conditions which must ultimately rule as the supreme arbiters between the two. In the first place it should be ob viously recognised that there is not the slightest necessity for the alarm and panic which have apparently taken hold of the minds of some employers during the late remarkable development. It should be possible to view the whole movement with no greater concern than is given to any of the several economic disturbances which, m these times, are so common by reason of the changed conditions which constantly affect industrial organisations. It is probable, no doubt, that the sudden and unexpected demands of labor may have a temporary disorganising effect on the current operations of traders, manufacturers, and others, but even this is m most cases being mini mised by the recognition which the unions are generally disposed to give to existing engagements. There need, how ever, be no apprehension of any perma nent disadvantage to the interests of employers through unionism, because, by the law of industrial equipoise, the divi sion of the proceeds of the joint efforts of employer and employe will—allowing for other affecting conditions, —sooner or later proceed m the same proportions as those ruling before the existence of unions. Some businesses will permit of increased remuneration, others will not ; m the former it will be the publicj not the employer, who will pay it; m the latter, no attempt to obtain more than natural conditions will warrant can m the long run be successful. , ; A few remarks on the propositions here advanced may possibly give rise to discus sion and tend to elucidation of some points of the industrial problem that, amid the general excitement, are ap parently being overlooked. Under any circumstances, the sooner a mutual recognition of the possibilities that lie within the reach of both interests is arrived at the more advantageous it will be for the general welfare. There is one aspect of the subject that first requires some notice. It is the changed position which capital now occupies as an industrial factor to that which it formerly did. But for the fact that it is a convenient form of expres sion, which, by traditional usage, indicates two interests, supposed by many to be naturally antagonistic to each other, the term capital V labour, should be abandoned m favour of that of mental labour v physical labour. It is'quite a fallacy to suppose that capital m itself constitutes a and overpowering influence m the hands of business men, or that its possession is inimical to the interests of labour. In the major portion of the industrial world capital has suffered a gradual dethronement from the powerful position it once occupied. There are, no doubt, some instances m which, by the nature of the business—and distinctly making for the general welfare,—large permanent investments necessiarily carry a preponderating influence, bub m these cases participation m the advantage is attainable by the smallest investor—to wit, m bank, insurance, steamship shares, •fee., &o. Several causes have contributed to wards this change. Primarily, of course, it is due to the enormous excess of pro duction over consumption which has cha racterised the industrial efforts of recent times. This excess being collected and thereafter represented by the various systems of modern finanoe and credit, has afforded facilities and opportunity for widening the circle of business to an ex tent that formerly did not exist. In this way has arisen the large competition we now witness, the cutting down of the power which capital possessed when it was more exclusively held, and the in stallation of good business, ability as the chief factor m the production of profitable, results. Concurrently with this there has been a continual forcing upwards of the working classes by the refining effects of education, aided by the relief from the lowest forms'of drudgery which mechanical' appliances have supplied, with the final result that large numbers aye constantly stepping forward with more or less com petency to take their places m the em ployers' ranks. Capital, therefore, by reason of this competition has be come much more difficult to pro fitably handle; and its mere possession, unsupported by good business power, not only is of no great advantage, but very often is a source pi quick disaster. The continuous falling out from the employers' ranks by unsuccessful combatants indi cates, and indeed proves, the narrow margin that obtains between success and failure, and theoonsitanfcaooessionof fresh rivals affords the best guarantee against abnormal profits inanyand every business. Failures now bear a much larger propor tion to successes than formerly, and this fact alone gives proof of the diminishing average return of profits all round. In almost every branch there are traders carrying on with soarceiy any personal capital, being, what may be termed mental wage earners. In such cases any increased charges, on their business. must either b,e. met h,j- a corresponding, levy, on. fch© community they serve, or if by reason of competition that is impossible, by an equivalent abstraction from their own wage, when there would result a tendency to less competition m those businesses, leading eventually to such a position as would enable the survivors to exact the nec,es« j sary contribution from the p^h^io.. It will thus be seen, that ti»e extraction is not m_ade frqin," tlie employer's capita,!, but either wholly from, the general community or partly from it and partly frqm, the wages of tho,se who employ the.capital of oth^rsj Keeping m view the foregoing con siderations, and applying the principle they point to as a guide to investigation, let two concrete cases be taken as Illustra tions of the probable effect of the union movement. As Protection plays—and most likely will continue to do so-~an \m portant p^rfc m shaping the course of our industries, jfc is as well tq take i;ts in fluence into'account. Let the first case, therefore, represent the^ bearing of union ism on the circumstance^ of a'protected industry, Uere, |t may he observed, there a.r}se,s, th,e, possibility of a larger differential rate of wages, between those paid m this instance and those m a non protected one. Given a loyalty suf ficiently intense to secure one class .of employes from aggression by any other, there is no reason why those m a protected business should not enforce continually increasing wages up to the lo : rgef,t po^nfe permitted b^ the, a^naui^ of the*duty. im pqse^. ■Musi unionism might be made a very powerful weapon for the advantage of an exclusive class. Apart, however, from his individual loss as a member of the community pflyhxg m,ore for certain re quirements through the above cause, the employer as an employer, would not suffer, simply for the reasons mentioned m the preceding paragraph. It is pos sible that when the highest point had been reached, where further a,dvj\npQ wss impossible, thqre mjghfc b e no'margin, but this w.ould soon rectify itself by the self-adjusting action of non-remunerative occupation to the employer, and then would follow a backing down to the point admitting this. Secondly, take a qase, where the business jq jm.fcyss.ibte of'

protection, one dependent on outside values—say, farming for instance. Here again, irrespective, of the capital engaged, any enforced levy of extra wages must be derived from increased returns, and if j the world's market does not permit of this, then ifc must follow that the in creased charges cannot be maintained ; for large numbers of farmers are them selves but wage earners, with no personal | resources from which the increased wages could be drawn. Such must be the inevitable outcome, and the results, ek cept possibly for a very temporary period, will m no wise affect the permanent relations of capital, employer, and em ploye. There will be a general " passing on" of the charges until the adjusting point is reached which gives each accord ing to his capacity. The great and indeed paramount advan tage which unionism, however, will confer on labor will be the protection afforded against arbitrary and harsh treatment by unscrupulous employers. All employers who have recognised the social duty of consideration to those who are not so well off as themselves will look with satisfac tion on the prospect that m future they will not be placed at a disadvantage by the unfair exactions of some competitors. But when all this is achieved, and a general settling down of all unionists into their places has been accomplished, it must be manifest that a large residuum of what may be termed "catch labor" will be left out. Further, there will be the widow and the orphan, to whom unionism will be but a name. Consideration for these classes will have to.be taken into account, and it will be interesting to see m what form it will display itself. The march forward of social regeneration has been going on for some time; it is now being accelerated, and m the hurry of the movement it should not be overlooked that there will necessarily be many who, by reason of intellectual, moral, and physical deficien cies, will not be able to keep pace with their fellows. It must be to the cultiva tion of a more tolerant class feeling, a higher estimate of social duty, that we must look for the prompting whereby employer and unionist alike will be brought to recognise the claims of those who cannot help themselves.

Mount Hutt Road Board

The usual monthly meeting of the above Board was held on Thursday, August 14. Present—Messrs Cameron, Brown, and Hibbs. In the absence of Mr McMillan, Mr Cameron was voted to the chair,. Letters of apology for absence were read' from Messrs McMillan and Johnston. It was decided to call for tenders forj repairs to the West Coast road, Broompark' road, and Highbank road ; also to have repairs made on the Chertsey road. Mr Knight applied for permission to put up posts m front of his store for tying up horses.— Granted. It was resolved to give notice that con tractors would not be allowed to camp on i the roads without permission of the Board. , Tenders were accepted for the following works : —Railway road, Blackburn Bros, at 3s per chain for formation ; Alford Forest road—re-shingling, J. Black, Is 5d per yard. The consideration of the tender for making ford and drain on Gunn's upper road was deferred. The i question of ,re-shin«ling the West Coast '■•road and repairs on. the Back Track was held over. It was resolved to repair the ford on the creek near Mr Gunn's. Correspondence was read—From the Sydenhain Borough, re rates on reserve —Received. From the Ashburton County Council, re shingle reserves. Id was re solved to ask the County Council to plant reserves 1395! and 34324, From the same,, re storm water on the Lyndhurst- Cairnhrae road. The clerk was instructed to supply the information required. From the Treasury, advising payment of balance of subsidy—Received. From the Chief Surveyor, re Black -Hill Track- Received. From W. Gerard, covering rates. Resolved that receipt of Mr Gerard's letter be acknowledged. It' was decided to invite tenders for for leasing the Recreation Reserve. Accounts amounting to £2018s 3d were passed for payment.

The Weather.

ALFORD STATION

Xh.6, fallow-ing is the Meteorological R« port for,the week ending August 17, 1890 :—

LABOR QUESTIONS.

[per pkess association.]

, LONIHMS, August Fifty thousand of the n^en out m Sonth Wales have veined work and it is expected that a compromise will be arranged, with the Cardiff dockers, ( The coal trade of Portsmouth is , paralysed wingta the strike of porters a,ndi carriers, New York, August 15. The settlement of the difficulty of the New York Central has not yet been completed, but is dragging slq\vly. along.

MINERS LEAVING THE WEST COAST.

Grbymouth, August 17. Coal miners are, beginning fc> "laave the distri,ct v A few days ago several left by steamer. Yesfterdajf five sfear.t©d overland for S.pri.ngfi.eld,, their ultimate destination being New, South Wales. Thirty more are expected to leave overland on Mon day morning.

Dunbdix. August 16.. At a meeting of the Dun.e<lin Typo graphical Association, a, letter was re ceived from Mx Millar asking the members to, endeavor to the'besjb of their ability to prevent the use of Whiteombe and Tombs' publications, m the schools.

MAGISTERIAL.

ASHBURTON—MONDAT.

(Before Messrs Donald Williamson, and Thomas Bullock, J.P's,), Drunkenness.— Henry, Stotfth, Whp had been locked up on Saturday, and had been let out on, HsKviii was fined ss. Destroying Trees.—William, B^ce, land Charles Jones, two.very s»waU boys, i pleaded guilty to haying destroyed two trees m i\\v ibniaw o» the 15th August. H, W. Oharltoft, the Domain caretaker, said he-found the boys tearing cabbage trees to pieces to get at the hearts to eat the "cabbage." The Domain Boa,«} did not press for a penalty, but ycsjshed it known by parents tha,t bptfe boys and girls had been t,rottMjesoft&e of late m the Domain, ar\c^ c]mv a good deal of mischief. The, police galve ohe two boys good characters, and the Bench, after warning them and parents generally that the Domain most be protected ajid, fckatsuch offences as the boys ha,d pleaded guilty to, might be punished w^th, a fine of £5, dis missed thp lads. ■■" :'. ,' STTRAY CATTLE. ' <■ ■ Thomas M'llroy, Patrick Gvtipe, m<k F^

Keller were dealt with m the usual way for allowing cattle tosstrainy—m the two latter cases on the railway line at w. TIK KETTLIKG Isaac Price, Daniel Jeffries, James Nolan, William Higgins, Percy Cookson, Harold Edwards, Samuel Crooks, Thomas Rooke, John Phelps, Thomas Leeson, Thomas Allan, John McKee, William Hodgson, Robert Boyle, Oliver Crum, Leslie M 'Donald, Joseph Baker, Henry Dudley, William Stanley, Sydney Worner, Charles Johnston, Thomas Kane, John Kane, and William Price were charged with having, on the 3Cth July, . thrown missiles and destroyed property, 1 and also with having disturbed an j inhabitant by making a noise out side his dwelling—m other words, they were accused of having, iit I colonial talk " tin-kettled a newly made Benedict." The twenty-four lads were ■ ranged up m a half-circle m the Court ? room, and all promptly pleaded guilty to the charge of " tih-kettling," but all, with equal promptness, denied the missile throwing. Constable Smart asked liberty to withdraw the charge against the lads. < of throwing missiles.—Samuel Hardleyy tinsmith, said that on the 30th July, his son got married. At about 7 p.m. a large crowd of boys' assembled at the house and made a great row on kerosene tins and other things. Witness said he did not; object to the boys' row, so long as they kept on the road, but they came about the house, and were rude. The knocker had to be taken off the door to, pre-* vent the boys keeping up the annoy ance. The lads had. food sent out to them two or three times, but they would not go awAy, and witness sent for the police. He had no idea of prosecuting the boys when he sent for the police, only wished them sent away. Could ,'nob identify any of the lads. Several neigh* bors gave evidence as to the row, which was kept up for two hours. The police said there had been a good many com plaints made m regard to the larrikinism indulged m m the outskirts of the town. The Bench said the boys would be con victed and discharged, but hoped it would be a warning both to the boys and to the parents. ; The Court then rose.

The SANFRANCISCO MAIL GENERAL SUMMARY OF NEWS.

(Dates from Europe up to July 26th.)

Auckiasd, August 17. Mr Chaplin, Minister of Agriculture, delivered an address at Lincoln Agricul tural Show, on July 24th, m the course of which he said that the recent rise m the prices of agricultural products was due to the advance m the price of silver m consequence of the passage of the Silver Bill by the national legislature of the United States. , " The Canadian-Pacific Railroad Company offered on the London Stock Exchange, oh July 21st, £1,000,000 4 per cent per petual bonds. A cablegram on July 17th, reports an increase of mould and vermin m staae of the English hop plantations. EMimates received m New York show a probable shortage of a quarter to a third m Ger many, and of half m the resfc of the Con tinent, compared with last year. In the week ending July 20th, there were further ravages by potato blight m Ireland, ' The Rev. Dr. Lymsj of Castlehaven, m the Diocese of Ross, Cork, writing on. July 17fcl», said that m all the town land of his parish bordering on the sea, the failure of the potato crop was complete-. He added that -m places further inland the state of things was not altogether so bad, but that, m ;'a continuance of dry weather it would be absolutely impossible to save, any crop. He says :—" I feel quite bewildered as I apprehend the consequences that are likely to ensue from this failure of the potato crop here. I see. nothing less than starvation staring those unhappy farmers m the face. Distressing: reports have also come from other districts-, of Cork, limerick, Kerry, and Water ford. Since they were received the weather has been wetter than ever, ; ancE the blight has spread to a frightful extent.. A despatch from London, dated* July > 20th, speaks of the heaviest rainfall known m any one week since 1878. ; l|ie pecuniary loss to farmers is something terrible. Between Shepertori and London, there were hundreds of acres of meadows m which the cocked hay was four-fifths under water. Two bright hot days m the middle of the week revived hopes that, after all, the wheat crops might be sared m something not t»o far below the average^ orop, but subsequent tropical rains aad Arctic temperature have disappointed the* hopes. There is likely to be th«j urorst crop since the disaster of 1879. » The stock of English whe»ib, is, now all but exhausted, and undev JeJto, influence of this and the disheartening prospects of the growing ciftf*^ prices had advanced about another Is per quarter during the wee&.. The same news comes from the Continent, but some are disposed to disbelieve itl Russia has no durable crops. A despatch dated Paris, July 25tih, says that: the orops throughout France, except m the section east of the Rhone, have been destroyed by incessant rains. The losses are estimated at. over 500,000,000 francs.' Dealers m grain dis count the scarcity, and the price of bread is rising. A despatch, from Berlin, July 6th, reports tkais the inability of Major Wisseman to return to Africa is due to taking morphine, a habit that he con tracted during long service m the Dark Continent. He suffered from insomnia to such an extent that he was obliged to use morphine. The Belgian Congo State Company, are about to send a new expedition to Congo State for exploration purposes. Ifcis to consist of seven Europeans, 150 native soldiers, and a great number of carriers. The object is to explore the source of the rivers that water that country, and to find the truth of the reported existence of a great body of water called Lake Uru, ! supposed to be m the interior of Congo State. The explorers will follow a route hitherto untrodden by white men. Ex-King Milan, of JServia, thinking his. divorce absolute, has contracted, ifcis said, a marriage with a very rich young Ameri can lady, who will pay his debfes amount ing to £600,000. Four women were arrested on board 1 tht* steamship Majestic at Qoeenstown, from New York, on July %X^K and on being searched their bustles.were found crammed with tea, tobacco,, spirits^ and other con traband goods. The enormous size of these adjuncts to their dress, attracted the | attention of the Customs; officers. I Jeannie Hugo, grandchild of Victor Hugo, was betrothed to Leon Daudet, son of Atphonso Daudet, on July 20th. i Lord 1 Wolseley has recently written a ; letter to a friend at Baltimore, m which he says i— "The closer the bonds of union between the Mother Country and her child, U»e United States, the better will it be for our race, and indeed for civilisation. Those who rant; about the causes of quarrel between us are not friends of either nation or to humanity. There must never be war between us, no matter how much either or bofch may be egged on by those who* hate the English race and would therefore.like to see m at one another's throats. We feel quite as proud of the United States as any of its people can be. Its honor and its reputa tion are as dear to us as they can be *o> those on the other side of the- Atlantic. I rejoice ajbove- all things to tMnfcthwfc the mutual respect we have always, had for one another is now maturing into sincere and mutual affection."

THE ASHBtttiTOK &UABDIAN, MONDAY, AtTGtTST 18, 1800.



■ Shade. I

High in Sun.

Date. I

State of weather

Monday' ... Tuesday v Wedinesdiiy Thursday.., Friday Saturday ... Sunday ..,

Low. High 33- 53 --- 55 --- 55 --- 57 --27' 57" 29- 59 --- 67 --!

ÜB' ; no in- no- -11- -7-109" 120-

Fine 8, to E« Fine Calm. „." N.E.  calm

„ N.W.

>J >S



There is now to be seen m the shop window of Messrs J Scaly and Co., East street, a collection of apples showing some of the sorts grown at the Nurseries, EiyGFb,aj}k-j that will repay inspection by any one who contemplates pjwtmg frujt plants. There are upwards' of fifty dif ferent kinds s|xown, all valuable, long keeping sorts. For size, color, and general excellence tfiey are by far the finest that have been shown m Ashburton this season—(Adv ,



We clip tlie following important testimo nial from the ''411awaia> " (N.S. W.) pf the 30th March. It needs no ayit if-ent :— I '.• Hi' Jphn Loveday, of the Biilli MotajUui. ' writes isss} that after suffering for four years( ; with acute gr&v^ -he has experienced almoafc complete relief by vl4^ Sander and Souse Eucalyptic Extract. He'says ; -,:' «en.ing tha said Extract advertised m the ' JHawa r 4.j;' itfercury,' his intense suffering induced him to oirtanii? a bottle of the medicine from Mr Hosking, c^mist, of this town, and. that the uqe of jit gav^him great relief at once. He states that b(V£We<^ JOtli March wst., when he obtained ,the t'lvsiimxMit^i £]}c: .ex.t**cfc, and the 19th, the use of' that j medicine to aflCord him relief, to which he had'been 4, (stranger for lour years. Mr Loveday writes also .fcua£ Ije lias found fcVc Eucalypti Extract -i cure for.ph^u^aiism as -wkil as gravel. He requests us to publish ; .this informtttipn through the ' Mercury.' We j have much plea»u*fl m complying with Mr Loveday's request, wiiosij word cannot .be .doubted, and who can have no object j?) view other,than a pure desire tp benefit sufferii/g jjumanity. y—(Advt." ' 2



NEW Z E A I A N D CLOTHING FACTORY W, H. WEBBER, Manager.



•JViTIiQUT 'iIUUi WiTM.TEET« JPHE CHRISTCHURCH DENTAL HVMWIIY, Comer of Gftshe} »nd ffigk *tmßt>n- C? "TV/TYEBft AND 00. SURGEON DENTIST MH flt Dunedin and Westport WEkw gi&w! the FIRST AWARD at the J>ui«Kifß. Exhibition for Artsficaai Dentures and Mcci^jj.ical Appli ances for tlji« Moutjh, and it 1,3 -yskk tlie greatest <3oniljdeii«fe fchat we guarantee tite highest class -woric *mj perfect fit at the j m sst moderate 6os.t 1 A Single Artificial Tooth, If}*, j Complete Set — Upper and Lower— j temporal and permanent, £10 10s. ' Natural, Ijuft^jsLK, CoMi-'om'AnLß | A.rtinci;vl Teeth. Repjae^d Temporarily al most immediately after the extraction i of decayed teeth or stumps without exti'a I cc or charge, i Arrangements can he xa&de for part or monthly payments. ADMINISTERING NITROUS OXIDE JtAS several times daily for the past ten years, we fearlessly assert that eKtat-ction of teeth under its influence is jjerfecjbjy painloss and posiitirejy sjfife Fee for Adsainistration., m, Extraction, 2s 6d. Artificial Teeth »d.(l Deutuues anade by other dentists repaired w runiodejled at auixll cost,



r?iDiic Notices. MR S S. T I M M 0 has removed from the Lyttelton Boarding House to those more commodi ous and central premises, Panama House, Where friend.*, old and new, will be wel comed Accommodation tor boarders a reduced rate??. Meals prepared mMr Tiirmo'f* Wl^ll kn#Avn style. Meals per week, lls ; Board and lodg ings, 17n fid ; one meal daily per week, 3 (id SPECIAL NOTICE CALL AND SEE THE GRAND DISPLAY OF BOYS', YOUTHS', AND MEN'S ; CLOTHING, MERCERY, HOSIERY, BLANKETS, RUGS, FLANNELS, BATS. AND CAPS, 'Sec. TfHE largest and hesfc assorted. Stock m I the District to select from, which for Value, Variety, and excellence of Manu facture, we stand unrivalled, WATERPROOF COATS AND OILSKINS, | Our own manufacture, a specialty, SOLE AGENTS for Wertheim's latest and improved HAND and TREADLE SEWING MACHINES.



BOOTS, BOOTS.—"Keep your fee Dry and save Doctor's Bills. I have a splendid Stock m now. Try my Double-soled Shooters. Every pair Guaranteed, Robert Alcorn, Ashbur ton Clothin!? Mart, Saunders' Buildings. WANTED Known.—For cheap Drapery, Millinery, Boots, Clothing, &c, go to Melford House. Good substantial present? now giving away.—H. C. Segers. WANTED every man m the County to have a suit of the Ashburto Tweeds.—Robert Alcorn, Ashburton Clothing Mart, Saunder's Buildings. "TTWERY Customer will receive a JQi handsome present by purchasing their Drapery. Millinery, Clothing, &c, at Melford House. Cheapest House m town for first-class Drapery. —H. 0. Segers. AiSTED KNOWN.—A loiTo"f Ladies Cloth and Tweed Jackets, considerably under usual cost piice.-— W. H. Collier, "The Corner." WANTED Known — The Cheapea Shop to buy Tinware and Gal vanised Iron goods m Ashbarton, is at W. F. Hannafori/s, Burnett Street. A urge stock kept on hand. Tin and Iron ware goods made and repaired with dcs patch



Wanted. CASH Advertisements under this heading not exceeding SIXTEEN WORDS 1/-. Addresses maybe left, at this Office. T~i 7 "ANTED—A Ploughman. "Apply ' k to Mr Thomas, Ashburton. 8 101 INKING.—Tho Rink willJ)e~open 1 as usual To-morrow Night.— R. Elston, Manager. 8 108 j:l TAN TED—Good Feed Oats, Chick- V V wheat, and good Derwent Pota toes : cash.—R. S. Bean, West street. 8 107 WANTED, by a young lady, comfort able board and residence ; use of piano required, ipply "M," "Mail" 1 Office. 8 103 WAJNTED a smart Boy for ofßce, one Avith previous experience pre ferred. Apply Frieblander Bros. 8104 TOP That Cough—Flower's Cough Drops nre tho best—see that the name is stamped on every one. H. G. Flower, Confectioner, East street. "PRESENTS. -If you want good value Jl for money go to Melford House. Extra ralue now being given away m presents. Everything marked cheap.— H. C. Seoers. v » ANTED KNOWN—The Stroiig- W Wear Boot for Men, Women and Children can only b« had at W. H. Collier's.



AN Opportunity offers to obtain one of Cornish's celebrated American Organs on exceedingly favorable terms- Height 45 inches, Length 46 inches, width 23 inches. Five Octaves, 14 stops, 2 octave couplers, and 2 knee swells. Above can be supplied direct from the Manufactures at considerably less than usual price. Apply " Mail" and " Guar. di&ft Office. ___________ _ "g Gr T RR A I G RE A T R A A G T T SAL E AT " The Ooenbb " 120 Men's and Youths' Suits from the Ash burton, Wellington, Timaru, Oamaru and Morgiol Mills, being sold at a DISCOUNT of 5 s IN 20 s A lot of Ladies' Jackets and Ulsters at Half-price. H frS JACKETS for JS QD 9QS JACKETS for QS A speci.il line of best quality Umbrellas. 1O S f* D UMBRELLAS for gS gD 1 CIS f*T> UMBRELLAS for /TS fiD X-imi U • XJ ~\ XT If 7^ °LL IB R "THE 00RNEB."



TINWALD COAL AND FIREWOOD DEPOT JA /"ILOTHIER begs to , x\." V-^ intimate that he has opened a retail produce store at Tin ■wald, and has for sale—Flour, Bran, Sharps, Chickwheat, Feed Oats, Oaten Sheaf, and Straw Chaff, Potatoes, etc. Also Prime Household Coals, ASHBURTON PRICES. «THE COUNTY." mHE Proprietors of "The County" \ Haircutting Saloon and Tobacco and Cigar Emporium, Prospect Building*, Have to announce-their commencement of business. BEST ART. "BEST QUALITY IN EVERY BRANCH, And perfection all round. HAIR, CUTTING, 6d. 7 155 N* OTICE. — Anyone found Tres passing m pursuit of game er otherwise on the Riversdale Estate ©n and after this date will b« prosecuted. J. R. WILLIAMS. Riversdale, 24th May J> 176 FIRST-CLASS AMERICAN ORGAN NEW,



" s NDREW ARB'S Z\NDREW IJRRS GREAT rm 5- S Z ANJMUAL SAi,E \ Of C H % j DRAPERY mi m ■ * !■» CLOTHING j j. J" AND 4 moTS *- Will Con»menoe w W Saturday, July sth ( ™ The greatest BARGAINS ever seen ir Ashburon. |n£ » SEE HANDBILLS. ? , ANDREW ORR. . "SEEJS S~" £E E D§. J VEGETABLE SEEDS. EARLY SF.ED POTATOES,— Including « THE BEAUTY OF BATH," Which last season produced on Mr Doherty's land, Tinwald, the enormous yield of some thing over SEVENTEEN TONS PER ACRE. TTIFTY POUNDS (SOlbs) of "The JP Beauty of Bath" Seed produced TBI'&TEEN and THREE-QUARTER BAGS of Super!) Potatoes. A. W. RANDELL FRUITGEOWEB, &c. ? ASHBURTON. 593



MISS ELSIE LACK, OF TIMARU, "TTTILL Commence Tuition of Piano W and Singin ;■ m Ashburton on MONDAY, 25th August Intending 'Pupils ksnclly leave their J^V'^'H. M. Jones' Mumo Warelv-.-ii-..;. BJbB J b -TOOOK.:-' Th.Mis^uh oi' '!.;■.■■ >ivH of every I "y kiiul, iuuiiuluitf books on History Travels, Science, Religion, Fiction, &c, &c. Account Books and Stationery of every discription. A cheap line of En velopes at 5s per thousand. Fancy Go xls, including Albums, Photo Frames, Writing Cases, Work Boxes, Purses, Ladies' Hand Bags, Games and Puzzles. Music—A large Stock. Pianos, Accordians, Violins, Concetinas, &c. All Goods reduced for Cash. L. F. ANDREWES & CO- Stationers' Hall