The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit THURSDAY, MAY 22, 1890. TRACTION ENGINES AND THE TRAFFIC BRIDGE.

The County Council appeal's to have determined to vigorously enforce the Ashburton traffic bridge by-laws in re gai'd to the use of the bridge by trac tion engines, no less than three charges [ of haying-crossed the bridge at irregular. \ hours, and under circumstances con trary to'-the provisions of the by-laws, having > been before the Resident Magistrate to-day. The traction engine proprietors seem to think that all diffi culty-about" the bridge would disappear were they allowed, to ford the river •between the two bridges. As is well known, scarcely one of the many engines and combines in use in the Forks' district 'during the threshing season ever .uses Digby's bridge, but boldly crosses the' ri^er at the ford. Three years ago' three large engines— one for Mr . Weymouth Roberts, an other for Mr John Grigg, and a third for a Temuka proprietor—were brought up to Ashburton from Christchurch, and travelled on the roads on -their own wheels. The Selwyn and the Rakaia were forded as they came without any casualty, and without losing any time, the engines ploughing through the water and push ing on as though they had been on a hard road. "Willows are planted on the banks of the river "at the Ashburton traffic bridge, but were gateways made for the entrance " and exit of the engines, a ford between the bridges would be availed of. in nearly every instance, and much trouble to the engineers would be saved, the county officers relieved' of their labors to a great extent, and the danger to wheeled traffic reduced to a niinimum, as well as removing the interruption to it that must necessarily follow the extensive use of the bridge by traction engines. The matter of making a practicable ford deserves the prompt and favorable consideration of the County Council.

LOCAL AND GENERAL

At Seafield, E, M. Ayrton lias been ap, pointed to take charge of the Post Offiice- A shooting-match—Married v Single Mem bers of the Ashburton Rifle Club—is to come off on Monday next. Competitors to assemble at the river-bed at 9 a,m, Messrs Palliser and Jones, of Timaru, are the successful tenderers for the next section of the Napier breakwater, the amount being nearly £30,000. Mrs FitzGeorge's will has been proved. The personal estate amounts to £12,763 13s, and is bequeathed mainly to her sons, the FitzGeorges. The Duke of Cambridge and General Bateson are the executors The Revds Morley and Berry have been appointed by the Wesleyan Conference New Zealand delegates to the (Ecumenical Methodist Council in America next year. The Conference passed a resolution con demning the Victorian Divorce Bill. "After all" remarked the student of Sciiptnre, "Samson was the greatest dramatic actor who ev&r lived." •' Plow 0o yon make that out?" queried the listener, "Why, no man," explained the speaker, " ever brought dow.n the house as he did." With reference to the article " Frcm B\r to Barracks " published in our last issue. The Editor of the " War Cry" informs the " Press " that the Mr Turton in char£ o of the Prison Gate Brigade in Auckland is Mr James Turton, not Mr G. K. Turton. The latter gentleman did belong to the Army in Gis borne, but has since left for Sydney. Yesterday J. Johnston, a Kaiapoi fisher man, and his mafe took the Norval cutter a couple of miles outside the Bar, and with hand lines succeeded in a few hours in catch ing over three hundred-weight of fish, amongst which were over ninety fine rock cod, three hapuka, one of which weighed bsween seventy andeighty pounds, lar o e ling, sting ray, et". At the Patent Office in Wellington Mr Job Os'xmie, of Christchurch, applied for letters patent for well-sinking apparatus. Mr Danlcs, of Christchurch, objected, on the ground that a description of a similiar in vention had boen published in the Colony ; and in support of his argument he produced an encyclopaedia of well sinking issued in America, in which was a machine similar in many respects to Mr Osborne's. The Patent Officer overruled the objection, and granted the application. We see by the " Leader's " report that the good folk of Geraldine gave Bishop Julius a magnificent reception, very pleasing features of which were the facts that the united choirs of the Episcopalian, Presbyterian, and Primitive Methodist Churches took part in the proceedings, and that speeches of i welcome were made by the ministers of all ! those denominations, while Rev Father j Treacy (R.C.) sent an apology for unavoid- j able absence. Addresses were presented by j the vestry and members of the English Church and by the local lodge of Oddfellows, the Bishop making an eloquent speech in reply. Dr Thornton, the Bishop of Ballarat, at the opening of the Church of England Assembly advocated the observance of a reasonable Sunday. Tn speaking of Sunday observance the bishop said he had long avowed the opinion that there would be far more advantage than evil in the opening of museums, art galleries and libraries to the public on the Lord's day under cautious regulations. He would even incline to the running of one Sunday train both ways on the railways lines to meet the emergencies of human life, but would deplore anything which would impair the general flavour of calm resting which should mark the day as distinct from a week day. The capital investigated in Government irrigation enterprises in the North-western Provinces of India is about £5,000,000. The revenue received for the use of the water yields three-and-one-third to four-and-one-half per cent interest on this sum annually above all expenses. About" 8000 villages or farming settlements receive water from 35,000 out lets in the distributions of the five main canals ' Tire cost of maintaining the system is from forty cents to one dollar per acre annually averaging seventy-one cents per aero in JBB7. The value of the crops raised that year on the irrigated lands was 22,000,000 dollars, of which sixty per cent was in wheat. The canal system has }>een wonderfully | developed in the past twelve years, and now represents nearly twice sjs much invested capital as in IS7O. We clip the following important test imo nial from the '' Illawarra Mercury " (N. S. W.) ' .of the 30th March. It needs no comment:— ] '■Mr John I. n . f " "H,illi Mountain, i writes to .us ■ . . ■ for four years with acute gravel, he has experienced almost complete relief by using Sander and Sons' T " ■■'■ V.\'~~, \ TT says :—"Seeingthe s , ! ! ",\ ■ in tho ' Illawarra Mercury,' his intense suffering induced him to obtain a bottle of the medicine from Mr Hosking, chemist, of this town, and that the use of it gave him great relief at once. Ho states' that between 10th March inst., when he obtained the first bottle of the extract, and .the 19th, the use of that medicine continued to afford him relief, to which he had been a stranger for four years. Mr Loveday writes also that he has found the Eucalypti Extract a cure for rheumatism as well as gravel. He requests us to publish this information through tho 'Mercury.' We; Jwvn much pleasure m complying A\iih Mr f,o\-f:<tay'.s roiijii'il, whoae word cii'mol !;e / do'iblu.-i, mid who can have no object ia view other iliiin a pure desire to benefit siideriny Jjiiiniiuily."—(Advf) 2

The skias of stoats, weasels, and ferrets are coming into great demand at Home for glove making and tobacco pouches. The assassination of Alexander 11. of -, Russia is to be commemorated at St. Peters- , burg by the erection of a magnificent church , on the spot where the tragedy took place. { The imports of sugar to New South Wales , last year amounted to 20,000 more tons than , in 18S8, and to 17,000 tons more than the ( average of the preceding three years. > ( The first Ingleside meeting of the Ashbur- j ton Caledonian Society for the present ] season, will be held on Friday, 30th inst., at ■ 8 p.m.; and is expected to prove a° very en- j joyable one. - , The result of the ballot in the Timaru j branch of the Railway-Employees' Society, . on the question whether extreme measures j shall be resorted to if necessary in the dis pute with the Commissioners, was—Ayes, 146; Noes, 3. : . "- A shooting match for two good serviceable draught horses—highest scorer to take his choice, next highest to take the other—will - be fired at the Upper^angitata Bridge on Monday next, May 26th. Range 200 yards. Rifles and ammunition provided. Some South American cities claim a very rapid growth. The City of Manizales, in Antioquia, Colombia, which has only been established forty years has now a population of 200,000. At a Sunday school a teacher asked a little boy if he knew what the expression " sowing tares" meant. "Course 1 does," he said, pointing to his little breeches; "there's a tear as mother sewed. I teared it sliding down a hill. It is stated that the arrangements entered into for Mr Toole's visit to New Zealand have fallen through. It is understood how ever, that we shall at no distant date have a visit from Miss Nellie Stewart, and the " Paul Jones " company ; and that Mr Lohr has undertaken the pilotage of Mrs Brown Potter through New Zealand. "Any good shootin' on your farm?" asked the hunter of the farmer. " Splendid," replied the granger, "there is a wind-mill man down in the clover meadow, a book agent up at the house, a candidate out in the barn, and two tramps down in the stock yard., Climb right over the fence, load both barrels and sail in." If the Civil Service Bill passes, Govern ment intend (says a Wellington telegram of last night's date), to re-classify the whole of the Departments. If it does not, other provision will be made for classifying'one of the largest and worst paid Departments, which is badly in want of such organisation. The Governor has been advised that the Queen has conferred on the Hon..Morgan S.. Grace, M.L.C , the Companionship of the order of St. Michael and St. George. This honor was recommended by Sir Wm.'Jervois in 1887, in recognition of Dr. Grace's services as head of the Military Medical Department of'the oolony during war times A number of medical men waited on the Mayor of Christ church yesterday, and urged the advisableness of again bringing the Conta gious Diseases Act into operation there. They asserted that its suspension had seriously affected the health and the mortality of the, city. The Mayor promised to bring the matter before the City Council. At a meeting of the Spalding Guardians it was reported that rats ran over the patients lying in the fever wards. The other evening several were seen in the Exchange Hall, Spalding, much to the alarm of the ladies, whilst Canon Barker was addressing a temper ance gathering. On farms in the south of the county the animals are being killed by hundreds. Reporting on the flooded districts on the , Darling a correspondent of the "Argus" says:—A gentleman who has just arrired from Silverton reports that the country from j there to Tilpa is in a frightful state for want ■of gr.iss. Rabbits can be seen in millions in 1 many places, and the grass has no time to get a start before all the young shoots are , nipped off by the rabbits or grasshoppers. The carriage of dairy produce is to receive ' special attention at the hands of the Victo rian Railway Commissioners next summer. Thirty or forty refrigerating cars, constructed on the style of the most approved American , oars, are now being made, a d will be ready 1 for use next summer ; the provision of cool I storage at countiy stations will, as promised, be also in readiness by that time. A receiving ', store for dairy produce is to be erected at ! Melbourne, but this will not be ready by the ; summer. * ! The Catholic laity of Christchurch have drawn up an address to the P.ope, to be presented by Bishop Grimes on his visit to Rome. It expresses admiration for the work of Bishop Grimes and Archbishop Redwood, satisfaction at the progress of the Catholic Church throughout Australasia, and the j growing influence of the Catholic Press in New Zealand, and hopes that his Holiness may be spared to witness the restoration of the temporal power. I The Grand Jury in the Court of General '• Sessions at New York on March 25th handed in a presentment declaring the sheriffs office to be a disgrace to the city and a shame to : civilisation. The document states that the [ shrievalty has been and is now a tainted and . corrupt office, and has been brought into public scaudal and infamy ; that its manage ment has been, and is, mercenary, slovenly, and wholly indecent; and that no confidence attaches to its acts. The Grand Jury further recommend that the sheriff be made a salaried ' officer, The strictures contained in the pre sentment refer both to the sheriff and his employees. i The following instance of superstition Is 'given by 'E.A.K,' describing in Temple { Bar the " Ways of the East."—One day an I English magistrate was paying a visit to a ' Hindoo gentleman, who was an old friend of his, in the course of which he happened to yawn; to his astonishment up jumped the Rnjah as if galvanised, and began furiously snapping his fingers in startling proximity to his face. Observing his visitor's look of unfeigned surprise, he explained that this was done to scare away the devils, who might otherwise seize the opportunity to jump down his throat. The National Scripture Education League in Victoria intend to vigorously carry on their agitation in favor of having the Bible read in the State schools as part of the school curriculum, or else to have the selec tion of Scripture extracts known as the Irish National Scripture Lesson Books, used, the proposal of the League being that this work shall be done by the teachers outside of the four hours reserved by the Education Act for secular Instruction, but Avithin the ordi nary school hours. It is proposed to cover the country with organisations, modelled on. those of the temperance body, and to make the question a test one at elections, and the League believe that they can get condidates to come forward to- support this reform. The Timaru Harbor Board yosterday en dorsed the recommendation of the Engineer, Mr Marchant, that shingle be allowed to accumulate south of breakwater to 1000 feet from the root, before taking any steps to remove it. It is now (on sea bottom) 600 feet out. The point fixed is 430 feet inshore of the curve. The annual growth is now about 50 feet. Mr Marchant anticipates this rate will be much reduced by the stronger surf in deep water. The Board reviewed the scale of salaries, and reduced the ■Engineer from £300 to £170, while no constructive works- are in hand. The Board . passed a resolution congratulating® their j ! solicitors, Messrs Perry and Perry, on sue- I, ' ceeding in the Shaw-Savill case before the Privy Council, and thanking them for the care shown in ■ ■. I■■ ': '; '■■■■. T: difference to the '.'. " ■.-.■■ losing is about £45,000. HOLLOWAY'S PIH,S AND OINTMENT.—GIad tidings.—Some constitutions have a tendency to rheumatism, and are throughout the year borne down by its protracted torture. Let such sufferers bathe the affected parts with warm brine, and afterwards rub in this soothing ointment. They will find it the best means of lessening their agony, and, assisted by Hollo way's Pills, the surest Avay of overcoming their disease. More need not be sail than to request a few days' trial of this safe anc 1 soothing treatment, by which the disease Will ultimately be completely swept away. I'miih (hat would innkcagin.nl shudder are n«sunj;i'd without '.lillk-ully by ; IFolloway'ri <:a->y and inexpensive rcncilies, which comfort by moderating the throbbing V • rcssulsaud calming the excited nerves.

East Street Horse Market.

Bland arid Humphery3 report for the week ending 20th May:—Saturday's entry consistsd > 27 horses. The demand, was again rather slack. However, we sold a fair proportion of the better sorts at good values. A 6-year-old draught gelding brought £22 10s; two 3-year olds, £18, £15 ; aged draught mares and geldings, £14, £14 ss, £15. £12 10s, £7 and £5 10s. We sold a number of old hacks at low prices. We had buyers present for a few good young horses, but could not supply them. Sundries—Oats, 4s 6d per sack ; straw chaff, £2 per ton; potatoes, 2s lOd to 3s 6d per sack ; onions, ifd-per lb ; carrots, 3s per bag ; bran,, 4s '6d; sharps, 5s 6d ; £rap, £13; gun, «£2 10s.' !

TINWALD YARDS.

There was an average entry of sh6ep yarded, and most of the lots realised values equal to late quotations. We sold the following lines :—Crqssbred lambs,, 9s 6d, Bs, 5s 4d; merino lambs, 3s 9cl; crossbred ewes, 7s Bd. We sold privately a line- of merino wethers at 5s 6d. The cattle trade was very dull indeed ; in fact the butchers seemed quite indifferent whether they bought or not. 'We sub mitted 15 head of very prime steers and heifers, which had to be passed in ; but we subsequently sold privately 11 head at £4 15s to £5; cows,- 60s co £3 ; bacon pigs, 31s 6d, 325, 32s 6d.

Addington Live Stock Market.

[per press association.] Christchurch, May 21. Store Sheep.—There being only a small entry the sale was soon over. 'A good demand existed for sheep fit to be placed on turnips for topping up for fattening, with the result that a rise.of from 7d to 8d a head on former quotations was obtained. Some forward two-tooth mixed crossbreds realised 12s 3d. Mixed ages ewes sold at from 8s 6d to 8s lid ; young merino wethers, 4s ; and lambs from 7s fc> 9s 6d. • . Fat Lambs.—About 1300 lambs were entered in the fat pens, of which a fair proportion were prime freezers, for which a good demand existed. Some realbeauties fetched from 16s to 16s 9d, while'a special line of them were bought at 20s 3d. ; Fat Sheep.—There was a moderate entry of fat sheep, principally crossbred ewes. Some of these were of very prime quality, and led to considerable compe tition amongst the trade. - There were very few pens of freezing wethers, which, however, appeared to maintain their value, some prime pens realising upto 32s 6d a head, while anything approaching the quality necessary for export went well into double figures. Fat' Cattle. —Of 175 head yarded, there were not many of really prime beef. The demand was very slack. Of those disposed of, the price had to submit to a reduction equal to about Is to Is 6d per hundred,, while inferior quality was very dull of sale. There was a general feeling of uncertainty pervading the market, in consequence of a report that some of the primest beef from the North Island would be on offer next week, added to this, stocks have been pretty good lately aud butchers are fairly supplied. Store Cattle.—The entry of store cattle was limited chiefly to dry cows and a few lines of young stock, for which the prices obtained were unsatisfactory. Pigs. — There was another immense entry of pigs, including baconers and porkers. In spite of the new arrange ment, the sale of pigs did not conclude till nearly five o'clock. Prices for baconers wore slightly better than last week, in consequence- of a fresh demand for any hing of a good quality from-a new s jurce.

CRICKET.

AUSTRALIANS v OXFORD UNIVER SITY. [per press association.] London, May 20. The match between the Australians and Oxford University was finished to-day. The weather was showery and the wfeket sloppy. The University in their second innings only made 53. The batting was very tame, and only one batsman reached double figures. Turner altogether secured 4 wickets for 45 ; Chaiifcon 7 for 32 ; and Fergus 4 for 45. The Australians won in one innings with 61 to spare.

Importation of Fruit.

[per press association.] Wellington, May 21. A deputation from the auctioneers waited on the Secretary of Customs to day protesting against the increase of duty on fruit. Hitherto importers have paid—on oranges, 5s per case ; lemons, 7s ; apples, 4s ; and the Customs now propose to increase duties as follows:— Oranges, 10s; lemons, 12s ; apples, Bs. After discussion, it was arranged that importers should summit returns of their sales for the last six months to' the Customs, and that in future duty should be paid on the actual values realised during that period.

Petone Woollen Mills.

[per press association.] Wellington, May 21. The long standing dispute between the Woollen Company and their hands was settled to-day. At a conference between the Directors, the Trades and Labor Council, and the Maritime Council, the Directoi's agreed to take back at once 40 or 50 of the operatives now out, mostly young people, and make room for others by discharging hands, where there are several members of one family engaged, married with husbands in full work, etc. This is to be done in favor of the opera tives now out, who are badly in want of work. Both Unions are to be disbanded, and a new one formed. The arrangement was accepted as satisfactory by all parties.

The Railway Servants.

[per press association.] Wellington, May 21. The Railway Commissioners deny the statements of Mr W. J. Edwards, secre tary to the Railway Employees' Society Executive, published on Saturday, that a guard was dismissed because the bottom of a rotten butter box fell out when he was carrying it, and state that the man was discharged more than a year ago because he had misrepresented matters when he was called upon for an explana tion. The Commissioners add that the statement that men are being discharged in all directions is also incorrect.

BACON CURING.

For once a community of farmers have had their eyes opened to one of the directions in which their interests lie, and have followed that direction ; let us hope the guidance they elect to follow will lead them aright. There is no more disunited body in the colony than the farmers, whereas, if they only knew it, and acted upon the knowledge, instead of " letting things slide" as they do, they could control the whole business of the colony. Such is their numerical strength, that, were they to exert ii, in solid combination, t-hoy could easily have a largo majority in parliament; they would bo indepen dent of the middleman in tho disposal

of their produce; they could, if theyV chose to combine to do so, rise above the influence of companies and of merchants, be their own exporters and importers, and instead of being, as many of them complain of being now, the milch cows, for all the rest of the I population, they might be the lords of the soil indeed, and the very masters of , the colony. But somehow it is veiy rarely indeed that farmers do unite, and when they do the union does not t always seem to be very well cemented. ' Whether they are suspicious of each 'other, or lack the ability to manage vthings, we cannot say, but many of their projects have had anything but happy endings. "We have one instance though in which the elements of good manage ment have been found among .them, and the affair, handled - with tact and business acumen, has resulted in a live and profitable concern; Farming readers will at once recognise the Farmers' Co-operative Association in Christchurch as the organisation. to which we refer. But it. took a long time to screw the bucolicf courage to thfe sticking place—to arrive at the point from which the successful history of that Association started. Once in, however, the farmer usually hangs on to the clubs he joins; and not infre quently, thanks to his clinging charac teristic, a project that had two or three times been on the brink of failure has been pulled through. The Flemington Factory is a case in point, and now that it is wholly in the hands of farmers it is doing very well. The Flemington farmers are standing aghast at the miserable prices they are offered for their pigs. We are aware of one case in which as much money was offered six or eight weeks ago for the young pigs in a farmer's yard as he had to accept at Addington a fortnight ago for them as porkers. In the innocence of his heart, he thought at least double the money could be obtained after they had been fattened for the market, and his disappointment was of the deepest when he faced the result. Like other communities, or sections of the com munity, the farmers are, however, gradually being educated up to the "Union idea, and as an evidence of the educating process, the Longbeach farmers have decided to turn their pigs into bacon on their own account, and wait for a market instead of rushing them pell-mell into Addington yards, glutting the market, giving butchers and curers a chance they are anything but loth to jump at, and coming back with a cash result the reverse of consoling. By this system of co operative curing they open a large market for themselves that was before closed to them, for the :simple reason that, having only pigs-to sell, and no convenience for curing in large quantities, owners of fairly numerous herds of swine were at the mercy of the uncertain fluctuations of the pig market. Twopence a pound for. pork is surely over cheap for grain-fed meat, and the farmers are wise to decline to sell at that figure, seeing that they can do better by setting the factory to | work under a competent curer, and seeking a market elsewhere for the cured product. That sucli a market is not far off, the advertisement quoted by Mr Anderson at the Flemington meeting—" 22,0001bs of New Zealand bacon wanted for Sydney"—is con vincing proof. " Under a competent curer," we said. This is all important and'at the very outset the management will have to be careful to select a man of tried and proved ability, or the very first step in the project may be fatal; but from the course the Directors are ' following, viz., allowing practical men like the heads of the Belfast Factory to select a curer for them—there is every likelihood that the project will not be ruined by heedless plunging; while the earnestness shown in connec tion with the whole project augurs well for judicious arrangements, steady work, undeterred by trifling obstacles, and ultimate complete success.

CABLE RATES.

L PER VRESS ASSOCIATION.] (Received May 21, 8 p.m.) Sydney, May 21. The "Sydney Morning Herald" commends Sir J. Pender's proposals for reduction of cable rates, and thinks, on the basis of his modified scheme, an agreement satisfactory to all parties might easily be arrived at.

TELEGRAPHIC.

HOME AND FOREIGN. [PER PIIESS ASSOCIATION.] London, May 20 and 21.. The Prince of Wales will pay a pri vate visit to Ireland on May 26. Mr Ritchier has introduced a Bill to improve artisans' and laborers' dwel lings. It is reported that Lord Wolseley succeeds Sir F. Roberts as Coimnander in-Chief in India. It is rumored that Mr Parnell has offei-ed Mr James Dalton of Sydney the vacancy for West Donegal. - Government has agreed to grant a Committee to enquire, intolthe financial relations of England, Ireland and Scotland. Stanley denies the statement that he had continual quarrels with Emm previous to arriving at Bagamoyo. There the latter began to estrange himself. It is reported that Stanley advocates the transport of American negroes to the "Upper Congo. The J great explorer's marriage will be cele brated in Westminster Abbey.' The following Birthday honours are announced : —Colonel Sargood, of Vic toria, to be K.C.M.G,; Dr Grace, New Zealand, and Mr W. Russell, Govern ment Astronomer, New South Wales, to be C.M.G.'s. It is stated that the ! reason why so few birthday honours are announced is that it is intended to confer a large number next year in connection with Federation, Suez, May 20. The weather was fine and clear when the Dacca struck. Admirable order was maintained. There were a dozen saloon passengers and one hundred and seven emigrants, mostly girls, on board. The officers and crew were only taken off the steamer just in time. One life was lost. New York, May 21. The Washington correspondent of the " Standard " states that President Harrison is likely to veto the Silver Rill. .IiUIUN, .May L'l). The Reichstag lias agreed to subsi dise steamers to East Africa. '

During a riot among Prussian miners the military were called Oufc Five men were killed and many wounded. The German Minister of War de clared that, the French military - es tablishment 'is superior to that of Germany by twenty-four battalions, i Brussels, May 21. . ( i At the International Miners' Con-' gress 265,000 men, chiefly British, were represented. • Mr;. John... Burt presided. " Cabul, May 20. «"' It is stated that Iskander Khan,, the Persian Governor, and formerly a Russian- colonial,.: is inciting ;the Afghans to revolt;-^ %£,...•. *siuca . Paris, May 20.;-' •; The Boulangists have formed a Re publican Revisionand Socialist League. ,c The Telegraph/<3onference by a large majority,"-rejected- Germany's proposal for a ,uni vers'al^.telegraph Ji;ate be-, tween European countries. -The sub ject will be rerived at ciKef next Conference. ■ .-News has heen received that the French troops captured Onesbogan, killing all the garrison, composed of Soudanese. The French loss ; was seventeen killed and^ thjrty-two wounded. (This affair probably arises out of the recent occupation, of Tajurrah on the Red Sea by the French.) . " ■/ ■ . '

Sir R. Stout on Federation

! ♦■—r- Following is- the report gif^n- by the " Southland Times" of the address on the subject of '.'Federation?' delivered last week at Invercargill by Sir Robert Stout:—Sir 'Robert Stout, who was re ceived with' applause, began by saying that in speaking on so wide a question he would probably have to refer to a number of authors, and as he would not quote them as he went along and so encumber his lecture, he would simply ask his hearers not to take as original everything he said. It had been well said that every' period of time had its own political ques-. tions to answer; the questions which were agitating the public mind sixty years ago were not the questions of to-day. Sixty years ago the questions considered most important were what were known as the five points of the Charter, namely, man hood suffrage, vote by ballot, annual parliaments, payment of members, and equal electoral districts.' Most of these objects had now been obtained, and yet it was felt that at least just as many reforms were required now. He quoted some of the items of the present .radical pro gramme in Britain, his object being! to show that what was being demanded there as well as in France, Germany and other European countries, was not so much poli tical as social reform. And along with the. movement for improved social legislation another was going on, a movement towards the centralisation. of politicals power and political activity. This move ment was apparent in several countries of Europe and in the United States, and in fact it was not necessary to go out of New Zealand to notice the setting of the current in favor of the centralisation of political power. They had seen here the abolition of the Provincial system, and' now they heard the cry for Federation. Seeing that this cry was in the air it would be as well to consider what Feder ation meant. • Freeman, in his History of Federation, described ib as a compromise between two systems of Government, between large and small states, a union of stat 3s in which each retained indepen-, dent power tv» 'deal with the matters which affected it alone, while questions affecting - the whole were dealt with by a general government. • Each state must be in dependent and sovereign within its own territory. For the purpose of seeing what Federal Governments had done he would refer to ancient Greece, and in modern times to Switzerland, the United States and Canada, omitting mention of the German States because their system was not considered a true type.of Feder ation. He then described at length and'in detail the systems of government-in the countries named, the constitution of the different legislative bodies, the methods of their election, their functions and powers, and, in the case of Switzer land the beneficial results which had been attendant on the system. Federation meant, he said, that all the countries uniting for the purpose of federal govern ment would have to give up a portion of their local rule, and, necessarily a portion of their local revenue. He was not going to take any side that evening on the question of Australasian Federation, but he wished to point out that if they went in for it they would have to give up for instaflee the control of- the customs, the post office, and the railways, and they would have a Parliament sitting some where in Australia for three or four months a year dealing with general ques tions. One of the main reasons given for Federation was that there must be a Fede ral army for the protection of the colonies, that Australasia has reached such a stage of life that it ought to be able to protect itself from foreign foes. He hoped he would not be wandering outside the sub ject if he said he thought the best protec tive union they could have was an even firmer and closer union with the Old Country. He quoted an eloquent descrip tion of3ritain by. a r French author, and said that when a Frenchman could say such things about it, the inhabitants of this new country should not try and sever the union and the associations which at present existed. He. did not think they all truly appreciated, what was meant by political reform, or .what the object of all reform was. As he understood it, the object of all reform was to .make afbetter race j not only to make those happy who were here but to create what had been termed a perfect man. Their object in. political reform should be to produce men physically, morally, and intellectually, superior to those who preceded them, to raise in fact the level of humanity. This could not be done where the object of a nation's life was simply to gain wealth. It was true that without wealth there was no leisure, and without leisure none of the fine arts of life ; but still at the same time, the object of all government should be to raise mankind to an ideal state, There were many ways in which the constitution of this country might be improved, and he would tell the audience what he would, if he could, make it like. The colony would be divided into nineteen districts, ten in the South Island "and nine in the North. Each of these ..would be. given the power of electing a' council* as it pleased, it having the poVer to fix its own franchise. These councils would have power to deal with all local matters, with education, the policy, public health, and public works, and to levy taxes to meet their own expenditure. Each would also have the power to send two members to the Legislative Council or Upper House, to which body the Government would be entitled to appoint say seven gentlemen who had rendered notable public services or would otherwise be desirable members.. Then he would also have a National Assembly, elected by the people, and representing equal electoral districts. This would practically be a return to the old provincial system, with greater powers to the provincial coun cils, and he advocated the system because they would not get able political repre sentatives until the people were politically educated. If they compared the House of Representatives now with what it wtis in the provincial days Lhoy woujd find that, id wan then, when tho public were able to draw trained public men from the provincial councils, greatly superior to

what ii was now. Under the pro fine a system a far keener and more intelligent intciesl-. was taken in politics than was shown to-day. What they now Wiled in New Zealand, was the decentralisation of the government, and the political education of the people, and he strongly advised that before thinking of Australasian Federation the residents of this country should endeavor to obtain I the. reform so necessary to their well-being and progress. When this was accom plished they might go to the other.side and tea the people of - Aastaralui^hew to . manage their affairs. If New: Zealand . was to fulfil its destiny its; inhabitants would have .to try and.ntforjai th^. own political and. social /systems .Srercy The. present form 'of , government required great consideration ; question after ques tion came to-.the surface .and-.there^ had never bejßn any proper ...solution, of' the problem of local'government 1. The ques tion, he thought, "was whether,, they,could not get in ,';New'Zealand,' a^'sy&telh. of federal government which-would be. more efficient than the governmeht.liad Tbie^n in thei, past. . As, citizens'"'ofNNcrw r Zea-, land they should' rem'einberj that b they had quite enough to dp to" attepd to their own affairs. Tliey shbuld not run away with the. idea thatr:'Fede ration was higTily desirable ' because they would get their oats into' Australia 2d to 6d cheaper ; there was^ something higher and greater for a nation'to" do than that. They must consider that they were ! called upon to do something higher for „ the race, that was to come after them; they must be laying down the lines upon which the nation was to progress in wealth, power and intelleotaskl ability. They could have alliances with their neighbours, with Britain, Canada, and! the,"United State's and still preserve their own national life and fulfil-their high destiny. This could not be done, however,,. Sunless they took up the question of political r reform now, and he thought they would: »pt bo doing their duty unless they kept before ' them that New Zealand as a nation had a 1 destiny to fulfil, .andjthat. they as citizens ■ ought to try and make it one of the noblest ; nations of the-earth.—(Continued ap* ■ plause.)

LATEST CABLE NEWS.

. ," .[PER PRESS ASSpCIATIQN.j,. (Received May 22,; 12.-25 p.m.)

A BACKSLIDER.

A.BAGKSLIPE^O Sydney, May 22. A painful scamlai--has7justv;been "disclosed; here. v) One toff the .leading Presbyterian ministers and a moderator of Synods. i^ accused of two „' intimate relations with members of his - .congregation,' and divorce proceedings are being instituted. The deiinquin.tr-; proceeded to New, Zealand-in the early part of "the month, ' anxPis believed to have joined the R.M.S.. Alaineda at ■Auckland for] San Francisco.,^./r •

OPENING OF THE VIGTORIAN PARLIAMENT.

At the opening of' Parliament the Speech from the .Thrqne^cqngratulated the Colony on its' marked prosperity, and referred to federation,, theY move- " ment in favor of which was not due y to the danger. feared from any; foreign foe or possible international embaifess- ' ments, but came of itself. A number of measures of industrial concern are promised. ' ~ '.. 'I. (Received May 22^ 0.30 t>.x£)>

THE NEWMARKET STAKES.

Lowdon, May 21. At the Newarket second Spring meeting to-day, the Newmarket Stakes were won by the Duke of Portland's Memoir, the Duke of Westminster's . Blue Green second, Baron de Roths child Le Nord.third. •:. --i

GOVERNORSHIP OF QUEENS LAND.

" Truth " asserts that Sir. Henry Normal, Governor of, Queensland/ has arranged to remain anbther-year. '

THE MARKETS.

The total quantity of wheat and flour afloat for.the United Kingdom is 2,850,000 quarters, and focthe^Opnti nent 880,000 quarters. ■ The American visible- supply is estimatedl: at 24,688,000 bushels. ■ r'-'-i*

Items From Poris.

: ■■♦ > ■ m.k ;\ (FEOM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT,) THE LARGEST FRENCH-BUILT STEAMER. The largest; vessel eyerjbuUt? in France, the Touraine, was launched at St\Nazaire the other day. This; splendid boat, built for the Cbmpagnie Generate Transatlan tique in the Penhbuet ship-yard, is 557 ft in length, 67ft in width,- and draws 23ft of water. She,will run in the postal service, between Havre- and New York. Her triple expansion engines will be of 1200 horse-power. The- jaujich was suc cessfully accomplished^"in the presence of a great number pf spectators. . ,••, A NOVEL STRIKE,) •: ■' ,- } A strike has broken out "at Ablain St. . Nazaire, near Avras,- in a -curious and little known industry. 1 About ti hun dred women employed in gathering flints have struck for an increase of 10 per cent in their wages.; The strikersrare making very merry and promenadingthe village, dancing and singing, ;with a band at the head of the procession; pocket-handker chiefs and aprons have; peen converted into banners, t and one t evening; ttiejpro ceedings wound up with a balL The strike is not expected to last long. BACTERIA IN MILK. _ M. Miguel has been devoting hi» atten tion to the subject pf b&^ria"/irifm!lk. He found in^a'^st're^en^t^t^'thajbin a cubic centimeteef of )rnilk,~ that is "to say, twenty .drops,' ;the're -^eije 1 9000 bacteria upon its arrival rat tfte*;laborat<iry, two hours after leaving tfie "cowV /TKe)tiumber increasedprogi'eSßiy^.yrnour bynoutkintil nine hours after, when the had' reached 120,000, Twenty=five hours afte* they amounted to 50,000,000. > ajn- anotlier^ex periment where th^temperature'of tKemilk was 25 degrees there were 200,000,000, ipid that which had ifeen kept at 35 degrees contained 180,000,600. „"-, A.T-ASTINa WOMAN,;' There is now living at Bourdellier, in the Dordogne,a you|^ woman named Borumier, who is called the "fasting woman," and" whoj it is re ported, has eaten nothing" for -nine -years past. All sorts of stories.are told of this singular person. It is alleged,that.her fast began with a pilgrimage,,'commanded in a dream, to 57 churches iti the Pengon district, and that she. by .degrees gave up eating altogether: Whatever may be the real truth in regard to. this womap, it. is certain that ahe has been strictly watched during the. past fortnight, and ; ?has certainly taken no food. - She;:simjSly rinses her mouth with wateiy but swallows none. ' A few days 'ago Marie was- very weak, and Dr Lofor, yho attended'her, , was anxious about heK '■ • She'hajs. How ever, completely recovered without taking food or medicine. she is -sham ming for^^ ulterior purpiQsesijremain&, to be seen. Itia to be'hopedf however^ that; she will not meet with the'-fate! df-tfie. Welsh fasting girlpwho was carefully watched by scientific men, ih'ibrderw Bee that sh() received no nbiirishment, with the resuit-thiit she died of starvation. riiESUTI 'lOVB, The annual banquet of French toy^ makers hay just been held. M, J\49|

IBC?. * ASHBURTON GUARftIAN, THURSDAY, MAY 22, 1800.



Public Notices. j THE MIRROR,' \ A HIGH-CLASS Weekly, Social' ' Political, Literary, and Dramatic aper, to be published every FRIDAY, price 3d, by the Centennial Printing and •Publishing Company, LimiteH, Melbourne lace, Russell Street, Melbourne "TOWIITALITY DR CHURCHILL'S Syrup of Hypophosphite of Lime prescribed by the faculty for the cure of Consumption, Chronic Cough and General Debility. Tt contains two of the principal ingre- I dients necessary for building up the Humf n Frame, and which are considered deficient in the above complaints, viz., J hospital its and L^mv. It cannot be too highly recommended for Delicat Childre Dr Churchill's Compound Syrup o HYPOPHOSPHITES la real Brain Food, and in cases of Muscular and Nervous Exhaustion has acquired a world-wide reputation. Each bottle bears Dr Churchill's signature 7 Price, 4fr. Prepared only by SWANN /CHEMIST WANK ijHEMIST, Fue Castiglione, Paris. VWTHQUTTEELTH WJTM-tEETU THE CHRISTCHURCH DENTAL SURGERY, Corner of Cashel and High streets. n ny/TYERS and r\o. SURGEON DENTISTS. And at Dunedin and Westport. WE have gained the FIRST AWARD at the Dunedin Exhibition for Artificial Dentures and Mechanical Appli ances for the Mouth, and it is with the greatest confidence that we guarantee the highest class work and perfect fit at the most moderate cost. A Single Artificial Tooth, 10s. Complete Set — Upper and Lower temporary and permanent, £10 10s. Natural, Durable, Comfortable Artificial Teeth Replaced Temporarily al most immediately after the extraction of decayed teeth or stumps without extra fee or charge. Arrangements can be made for part or monthly payments. ADMINISTERING NITROUS OXIDE' GAS several times daily for the past ten years, we fearlessly assert that extraction o teeth under \tk influence is perfectly painless and positively safe Fee for Administration, ss. Extraction, 2s 6d. Artificial Teeth and Dentures made by j other dentists repaired dr remodelled at ■, small cost.. "flours of attendance—9 a.m. to 6 p.m. WM. SPARROW TAILOR AND MEN'S- MERCER UJLBT STREET i MPORTANT TVT OTI C E .Important i_N otice MESSRS HALLENSTEINBROS & CO, Proprietors of the NEW ZEALAND CLOTHING FACTOR*^ AT ASHBURTON Invercargill, Gore, Milton, Oamavu, Timaru, Dunedin, Christchurch, Hoki tika, Greymouth, Reefton, Westport, Nelson, Wellington, Napier, Hastings, Waipawa, Gisborne, Palmerston North, Wanganui, Hawera, New Plymouth, | Thames and Auckland, j Have arranged to I FLOAT THEIR BUSINESS INTO A COMPANY, To be registered under " The Companies Act 1882. . It is a part of the arrangement that . TOCKS shall be REDUCED by £50,000 before the 15th of June next*) To effect this the Managers of tho vari ous Branches throughout tho colony have been instructed, in addition to marking out the Goods at Low Prices, to allow 5 per cent on all cash sales amounting to £1 and upwards. This excellent opportunity of buying ds should not be overlooked, especi lly as it is a well-known fact that-, the Manufactures of the New Zealand Clol.ii ng Factory are Superior to Anything in he Market. The sali at the Ashburton Branch is under ths v anagement of Mil W. H. Webber.



Wanted. f , Cask Advit'isementK under this heading, not exceeding WwoHs, ONE BHILLIA& 'tldresses may be left at tJbli O.'fir' ""DINE BRANCHES (for firewood) 5s : L- a load on the ground or 7s 6d delivered.—H. C. Segers. ': i _ - : n • '. ANTED Known.—A special pur- V V chase of choice Ladies' Hats at. a desperate price.—W. H. Collier. 4t130 WANTED, —Two Boarders in private family. Terms, 15s per week. c Apply " A.C.," Mail Office. STOP THAT COUGH! By using \ Flower's Cough Drops. Guaranteeg * efficacious. Can only be obtained at H, ( G. Flower's, Confectioner, East Street 1 3 191 \ ANTED every man in the County 1 to have a suit of the Ashburton ] Tweeds.—"Robert Alcorn, .Ashlourton Clothing Mart, Saunder's Buildings. ( ii ANTED-KNOWN—The "Strong ■ >X Wear " Boot is the best for Men, •] Ladies, and Children. —W. H. Collier, i 'The Corner." 1\ / ANTED KNOWN.—The Cheapest VV House in Ashburton to buy Drapery, Millinery, Clothing, Boots, etc., is H. C. Segers, Melford House. ANTED Known —One hundred and fifty Ladies' and Children's Ulsters bought a great bargain (good qualities), now selling very cheap —H. C. Segers. Melford House. ri"MELE Patent Candle Extinguisher can JL be Set to Extinguish at any time required ; it will save insurance premiums your house and, your life, price Is ; Sole Agent for Ashburton. —R. Alcorn, Saunders' Buildings . WANTED Known—The Cheapest Shop to buy Tinware and Gal vanised Iron goods m Ashburton, is at W. F. Hannaford's, Burnett Street. A large stock kept on hand. Tin and Iron ware goods made and repaired with dcs patch Public Notices. _O QpT (~\ { \ To lend on approved c& jU tJ \J V ) freehold security. JOHN C. CORR, Barrister & Solicitor ■ Burnett St Ashburton. ' STRAYED from Valetta, 6, Bay Trap Gelding, good stamp, had a new cover on. Expenses will be paid and a suitable reward giyen on delivery to BARNES & SMITH' 5 Builders, Ashburton. r i "'HE Friends of the late' Mr Thomas i Harrison, are respectfully informed that his funeral will move from his late • residence, North Belt road, Allenton, on ' SUNDAY, 25th inst., at 1.30 p.m., for ■ the Ashburton Cemetery. » BAKER BROS., > 5§143. . Undertaker, ASHBURTON HIGH SCHOOL.' Established 1881. "TDUPIL of both sexes are laugh the I elements of a liberal educttion. Special subjects of study may be pur l sued where circumstances require a de i parture from the ordinary school course. Head Master ; Mr .1. E. Buchanan. Ist 8.A., (London), per term Fee for jrapils over 12 years " of age £3 3 0 3 Fee for pupils under 12 years i of age 2 9 0 i Music (extra) ... 1 1 0 r The School year is divided into three terms. All fee.s are payable in advance. (^ HARLES p^ADDELL Licensed Landbroker and Valuator ri nder "The Land Transfer Act, 1885. ESTATE, HOUSE, LAND, AND GENERAL COMMISSION AGENT. - Office—Burnett Street, Next to " Mail' Office. NOTICE TO ADVERTISERS. OWING to the earlier hour at which it is now necessaiy to go to press, Advertisements to be in time for the FIRST EDITION of the -'Guardian," must be delivered at the Office not later than 2 p.m. REPLACE Advertisements cannot be guaranteed insertion, unless sent in on the day previous to that on which they are intended to appear. ■ C. M BROOKE, PRESCRIBES FOR LA GR'Pi'J', COUGHS, COLDS, And other Common Ailments. AND in future wiil be in personal attendance at "The Dispensary" from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and from 7 to 8 p.m. Sundays—Afternoon, 2 to 3; Evening, 7 to 8.30. The Ashburton Doctors prescriptions accurately dispensed by C. M. BROOKE. TEETH CAREFULLY EXTRACTED. A Large Stock of the best COD LIVER OIL, CHEST PROTECTORS, mid other Requisites for the season. Orders by Post promptly attended to. THE DISPENSARY, EAST STREET, ASHBURTON. SEEDS, PLANTS, &c TREES. TKEES. TEBES. I Again tender my best thanks to my numerous Customers and Correspon dents for the support I have received from them, and assure them that I shall still conduct my Business in the future as I have in the past, and all orders by post or otherwise will receive my prompt; atten tion. My Apple Trees are all worked on the blight proof stock, and arc clean and well grown ; also Pears, Plums, Cherries, Apricots, and all kinds of .small Fruits. I have one of the largest stock of Forest Trees in Canterbury, about 40,000 Larch, two years old, 40,000 do. one year old, and 100,000 Pinua lnsignis, one and two years old. Cuprossus, Macrocarpa, I have a grand line. 1 make this .a speciality. All my seedlings have been transplanted, being equal to those in boxes. I hay about 100,000 one and two years old, also Roses and Fancy Slirubs in great variety. All trees supplied and planted by me will be guaranteed for 12 months. Cata logue sent post free on application. TAMES 'DORTER J AMES JT OUTER, NURSERYMAN" and SEEDSMAN, A L L 10 N T T O N ASUJiUHTU^