The Ashburton Guardian. Magna et Veritas et Prævalebit. THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 1890. THE HUTCHISON CHARGES.

The spirit shown by the Opposition members of the Hutchison Charges Committee will commend "itself to the electors of the colony. Ap pointed by the House, m con junction with a preponderance : o£ Government supporters, to make an important investigation into the rela tions between the Government and the Bank of New Zealand, they entered upon their duties with every intention of doing so. Finding themselves hampered and impeded at every turn, however, and the scope of their inves tigations narrowed down to perfunctory limits, the Opposition member! very properly aiked to be released from a position which they could no longer hold with dignity. In this action they were upheld by the independent chair man of the Committee, who also ten dered his resignation, as a protest against the course pursued by the Bank and the Govamment m screen ing themselves behind » technical objection to prevent the investigation taking place. Ministers, with much warmth, and just a shade of bombast, professed themselves most anxious to hold an enquiry'; appointed a Com mittee for the purpose; but the inquiry had scarcely commenced before every convenient impediment was placed m the way. No other result than the resignation of the Committee m a body could be looked for under such condi tions, but the expected resignation did not take place. Only a section of the Committee resigned, the remainder, by their silence, signifying their willing ; ness to proceed m any course the Government might direct. The majority of the Committee having resigned, it has been placed beyond the power of the minority to proceed, and the Government, of the three courses open to them, are not likely to take advan tage of the one to pack the Committee with their own supporters, whose re port, they well know, could not be worth the paper it would be written upon. The Ministry have tried one alternative course open to them, viz., to induce Mr Hutchison to reiterate his charges outside the House, and they would then proceed against him for libel m the Law Courts. This Mr Hutchison very properly declined to do. He has been appointed by his constituents to represent them m the House, and to use his beat efforts on behalf of the colony. Neither his constituents nor the colony Avill there fore expect him to lay himself open to personal loss or inconvenience when carrying out his functions as a member of the House. His charges may or may not be true. They may be untrue, yet based upon a misconception. But even allowing thfi latter to be the case, he was quito within his rights as ft mem ber of the House m giving utterance to his convictions as the people's re presentative. Ho is not called upon to make the charges outside the House, and would !>(>- foolish to do so. What has occurred m the House would be simply repeated m the Law Courts, viz., technical objections would be taken to prevent evidence being admitted, and the decision of the Court would be given only upon the meagre evidence submitted, and which a Parliamentary Committee has already declared to be in sufficient upon which to bring up a report. The " come outside and hare it out" challenge on the part of the Government is not dignified, and can serve no useful public purpose. The third course opm* to the Government is the only legitimate one, namely, to appoint a Royal Commission, and if this is done the Commission should be as independent as possible, and thoroughly free from relations with the financial institution concerned or with the Government.

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The list of bilk on the order Paper has now crept up to 61. The Hon. Mr Mitchelson has given notice to introduce the Licensing Prohibition Bill. It took seven years to make a handker chief for which the $mj>reßß of Russia paid £1000. Three German naval officers were recently sentenced to imprisonment for accepting bribes. The "Printer's Album" says the type setting machine will not supplant the com positor. Russia has ordered from St Etienne, France, smokeless powder cartridges to supply 1,000,000 rifles, Antwerp is on the decline, Hamburg and Rotterdam are drawing otF its commerce by lower port charges. Baldheailed men are so numerous m Chicago that a male audience m that city is said to look, when viewed from above, like a cobble-stone pavement. Anna C. Brackett, who seems to know, says the side-saddle was introduced m Eng land by Anna of Bohemia, who was de fqrmcd, and who married Richard 11. A man named pharlesGray, m the employ of Mr AfthttV frW?avd, Wmton, fell dead while at wovk on Monday mopning. The deceased was f)8 yoars old, aijd Ijad been a sufferer from heart disosj.Bft, Mr Bruce wants the Minister of Lands during the recess to consider the advisability of placing the small grazing runhoklers on a similar footing to the holders of perpetual leases when they so desire. A meeting will be held on Tuesday after ft.o.on next, at the Orange Hall, at 3 p.m., to fuct^pr consider the question of establish ing a Farmers' £o- t opcrative Association m ABhburton. I The following arc the returns a the Asb burton Hospital for July :—ln Hospital Ist of month, 9; admitted during month, 14 ; discharged, 9 ; died, 2; remaining m hospital 1$ August, 12. Ai y. fHtytinz of the Committee of the Canterbufy ,J</%esr fjlub yesterday after- I noon Mr A. Boylfc ?yas anpflinfpd starter. ! The appointment of secretary was deferi.^u, fp.eijJi applications to be invited. The jUafron of the 4shb'jrton Hospital desires to aaiiMWlfityc, wfth thanks, receipt of flowers and fiiufc from Mrs Lea, books and periodicals from Mesdanies Pafctroan, Bishop, and Manning, and Messrs Qolyer and Matthews, for the use of the Inmates, The Lytlelton lumpers held a meeting last night and decided to stand by the Mari time Council m the dispute with Messrs i Whiteombc and Tombs, resolving not to hv.}i\]p any of the firm's goods after that day. T~he h- <i.v,cy River Argus " says :—" It will I not bo long b'enufi f-here will be a coal | famine m Greymouth. '*'li# coal yards are empty, and nine-tenths of the popuiatny are either short of coal or without it altogether.' The position, disagreeable as it is even now', I ;jj likely to be aggravated if all we hear is ii;V-fe. 'j.t is reported, though the accuracy of t;he 's-ka^iieNfi f.s open to doubt, that the pivbl.io will 'Ivj prohijjito) tyoin getting coal from tVestporf. U thai 'sHujuiil i# sp fhe public will be placed i» il fjueer pmUca ment."

Auckland bakers have resolved to boycott any miller who supplies flour to bakers who attempt to undersell others. A man whose name is supposed to be Clark was drowned at Lyttelfcon on Wednesday night. He fell off the Ruapehu's ladder when going on beard. Mr J. M. Toomey addressed the electorate of Timaru on Wednesday evening, and declared himself an out-and-out supporter of the party led by the Hon Mr Ballance. In the House on Wednesday the Estimates were again under discussion, and were re duced by some £3000 m the Lands Depart ment, notwithstanding that the Minister of Lands fought hard against any reduction being made. ....,...,. The Auditor-General having surcharged the Napier borough council with £8 8s spent m. the reception of Lord Onslow, the council last night voted that sum to the mayor by way of salary, and he will hand it back as a refund of the surcharge. From a person who was at Timaru on Wednesday, we ("North Otago Times") learn that for a section of 450 acres of land adjacent to Station Peak, the Canterbury Land Board received 51 applications. A number of sections of land ranging from small areas up to 484 acres were open for selection at Timaru yesterday. Mr Justice Denniston gave judgement at Christchurch yesterday for the defendants m Stowell v. Geraldine County Council. The action was brought to compel the council to restore Pareora bridge as it was before fall ing into disrepair. He thought that plain tin's had failed to show any ground for interference by the Court with the discretion, admittedly honestly exercised, of defendants as to the traffic requirements of the bridge m question. In our market report of yesterday's Addington sale will be found a line of sheep quoted at 34s 6d per head. These sheep, which were crossbred wethers, were bred by Mr D. McKendry, of Cairnbrae, and :have so far put up a record m value which will take a lot of beating. They were estimated to turn the scale at about 1401 b each, and would not be bought for freezing purposes, but rather taken by the Cnrist.ehurch butchers for show mutton m their shops- An accident happened to Mr A. Dawson as he was walking from the Somerset Hotel right-of-way to Scott'a stables yesterday afternoon. He was going for his horse and trap, and appears to have tripped, and m falling his foot doubled up under him, causing a bad break of both bones of the right leg just above the ankle. The same leg had been broken on a previous occasion. Mr Dawson was carried into the Somerset Hotel by some bystanders, and was attended to until Dr Tweed arrived, who set the injured limb. The remains of the late Mr. A. J. Howell, who died somewhat suddenly on Saturday morning after only a few days' illness, were interred at the Rakaia Cemetery on Tuesday. Deceased was highly respected m the district, and being always ready to do a kindly action will be much missed. Great sympathy is felt for his widow and family. In spite of the bitterly cold weather a large number attended the funeral, amongst whom Were many members of the Masonic fraternity,. deceased being an officer of the Rakaia Lodge, and taking great interest therein. The service m the church and at the grave vras conducted by tho Rev H. Collins, and the Masonic funeral service was road by the W.M. Bro C. A. C. Hardy. The "Figaro" says:—"The madness of modern Paris springs from intemperance and ' over pressure,' but chiefly from alcoholic excess. In 15 years alcoholic insanity has nearly doubled amongst men, and h;is more than doubled amongst won-en. 'Over pressure, alone will not explain the increase of progressive general paralysis of the imuuic, and its continual augmentation h m <;viile«it relation with increasing intemperance. Dr Gamier states that alcoholic hmsiiry m more and more taking forms that are violr.nt and dangerous to life. It is alcohol which m the great purveyor for the iusame asylums, and is the enemy agaiiist whom, above nil others, it is necessary that we should dcfoixl ourselves." Commenting on the death of Lord Ham inond, " Atlas," m tho " Worl-I." recall* the good story aliout his accession to "Jn; tii:'r\ In 1874 Mr Gladstone offered him a. '•bar onetcy " by telegraph, but by some mir; chance the word got changed m transmission to " barony,''and before it could be rectified Mr Hammond gratefully accepted tliß proffered Peerage. In order not to di^vipnmn'., so old and faithful a servant to the public, Mr Gladstone induced the Queen to act us if no miatfika had occurred,and Lord Hammond never learned till long afte* 1 how much h was indebted to the, careless telegraphist. The anecdote, "Atlas"adds, would have been more probable if Mr Gladstone had not elevated the Civil Service by enobling Lords Cottosloe, Thring, and Lingea. That combination of labor to force capita.l to recognise its necessities are not of recent date there are ample records to prove, far back as 1823 the spinners of Scotland took the following oath, which is certainly us extreme as any unionistic measure of the present day;—"l, A. 15., do voluntarily swear, m the presence of Almighty God, and before these witnesses, that I will execute with zeal and alacrity, as far as m me lias, every task or injunction which tho majority my brethren shall impose upon me m further ance of our common welfare, as the chastise ment of knobs, assassination of oppression and tyrannical masters, or the demolition of shops that shall be deemed incorrigible ; also that I will cheerfully contribute to the support of my brethren who shall lose their work m consequence of these exertions against tyranny, or renounce it m resistance to a reduction m wages." There is now on view at the music ware house of Messrs Milner and Thompson a splendid cabinet of New Zealand woods, intended as a wedding gift from the Irish men of Mew £ealai}d to Mr Win. O'Brien, M.P. The cabinet is surmounted by a looking-glass, and m the front has a shield with the following inscription : —'' A wedding gift from a few friends and Irish men, Christchuich, Canterbury, New Zea land." The gift, which was procured from Mr A. J. White, is the more appropriate inasmuch as it comprises a representative collection of I^ew Zealand woods. These are limn, tptara knot, totara bog, totara treo, moko,, hqlicria, ngaiq, rewa,rewa, puketoa, red matipa and kahikatea. The cabinet is a splendid specimen of cabinet maker's work, and will, no doubt, be highly prized by the recipient. Ifc may be noted that Messrs Macnamara and Lonargan have been most active m collecting for the object. —" Christchutch Press." A Mr Watson, writing to an Australian paper says:—The fear that labor, Avhen thoroughly organised, will become arrogant and agressive is groundless. Those days are gone when might was considered right, and iij. its place, lias arisen tfyat spirit of justice and equity to all, which is throbbing m the hear-ts 'of tr up loveps of humanity. If freedom of contract wepe to be allowed, unionism would be practically dead. Tho reason, m my opinion, is this: Suppose a man was wanted for a job, two men apply, one has no one to keep but himself, the other is married and has a young family to keep. Could not the single man offer his services, say at 25s a week and live on it, 'vhile for the other to ac cept such would be no better than starvation. The union does not say to the single man that lie should not get as much as the married. It is their ohn private business, Freedom of contract, therefore, would practically make it a crime for a toiler to get married.

SPORTING

ASHBURTON COUNTY HUNT CLUB. ANNUAL STEEPLECHASE MEETING. Pateons—Hon. John McLean, Matthew Stitt. President—John Grigg. Vice-presidents — G. H. Alington,W. B. Denshire, Dr Leahy, D. McLean W. C. Walker, M.H.R. Stewards—G. H. Alington, J, C. N. Grigg, Dr Leahy, H. G. Moore, W. P. Chapman, J. Jamison, D. McKendry, G. A. Buckley, H. H. Wright, W. Rollit. Judge—M. Stitt. Starter—D. Thomas. Clerk op the Course—A. Hewson. Clerk of the Scales—A. J. Kelly. Handicappers—Dr Leahy, M. Scott, F. Russell. Maiden Steeplechase Plate, of 15 soys ; second horse to receive 3 soys from the stake. About two miles. 46 Mr G. Murray-Aynsley's b g Glen, by Day Dawn out of a Peter Flat mare, aged, 12st 31b ... (Owner) 1 48 Mr W. Christie's Glentui, aged, 12st31b ... (Allen) 2 14 Mr E. G. Crisp's eh g Beaufort, aged, 12st 31b (Ross) 3 Dividend—£2 6s. • Glen got away first, with Beufort close up to him. The two led for a consider able portion of the way down to the stand. Here, after taking the brush, Blackwood fell. The horse came right over the running track fence, leaving his rider outside. Picking himself up, how ever, Welsh scrambled through, got his horse, remounted, and covering the jumps between, went off m pursuit of the other three, who by this time had nearly reached the sod wall. This was negotiated cor rectly by all, as was the jump at the back of the course. At the north corner all the three leaders were about together and at the last jump Beaufort fell, leaving the race to be ridden out by Glen and Glennn. The Mount Hutt horse had it well m hand, and when asked showed a fair turn ■of foot, GJentui failing, under the whip, I to get on level terms with him, and Glen ran m a winner by three-quarters of a length. Beaufort finished, but Blackwood didn't. Ladies' Bracelet Handicap, of 20 soys ; the first horse to receive a bracelet of the value of 15 soys , the second horse to receive a bracelet of the value of 5 soys. About two miles on the flat. 14 Miss Bond's gr g Enterprise— Duntrbon, out of an Arab mare, aged, 12st ... (Mr Claridge) 1 35 Miss E. T. Osborne's b m Sorella, syrs, 12st 111 b ... (Mr Pitt) 2 1 Mrs S. Brown's b g jiilmarnoek, syrs, lOst (Mr Lewis) 3 41 Miss A. Patterson's b m Inchkeith, syrs, 105t121b... (Mr Patterson) 0 Snapshot 24, Rob Roy 37, Morok 9, Hetty 12, and Tommy 0, also ran. Dividend, £9 3s ; Time, 3min 58secs. Tne race was a somewhat anxious one for a time, Inchkeith keeping a strong lead right up to the back of the courße, and until the north corner was reached. Here she began to fag, and Sorella, En terprise, and Kilmarnock all passed, her, Enterprise immediately went to the front and led all the waj down the straight, Sorella following, and Kilmarnock next, with Inchkeith fourth. In this order liicy passed the stand, Enterprise about a length ahead of Sorella, Kilmarnock a third ■on sufferance. The Consolation Steeplechase of 10 soys. was won. by The Mount, Pioneer second.

Addington Stock Market.

i. . *~ . CintisTCHUittH, August 6. respite the inclemency of the weather the attendance afc the market was good and the entry of stock, particularly of fafc sheep, heavy. The sale was carried out briskly. Stoiu: Shebp.—There was a good entry, and an excellent demand for good sorts. Aged crossbred ewes m lamb brought up to 10s 7d ; some lines of good quality cross breds, four and nix-tooth, sold at 9s 8d to 13s 7d ; some two-tooths, same kind, re alised 14s 9d. Every line was sold freely, including a considerable number of aged merino wethers, which brought up to 7» 2d. Fat Sheep,—Over 6000 were yarded, and butchers were able to supply them selves with any kind they required, bufc the price remained firm, No mutton de serving the name was sold at less than 2|d per lb, while for some specially prime ,lines as much as 3ld per lb, net weight was p»id. A small but exceptionally fine line of hoggets from Ashburton realised up to 34s 6d but these were undoubtedly the heaviest sheep ever seen m Addington yards. Fat Cattlb.—The entry of beef was nmall, and there was nothing representing first quality. The demand, however, was good and up to 24s per 1001 b was pro cured for best quality sold, while the general average of that submitted went from 21s to 22s 6d. Pigs.—The entry was smaller- than re^ cently, and til] Jots offered realised fully

WOMAN SUFFRAGE.

The ladies had quite a field night m Parliament on Tuesday, the entire evening sitting being taken up with the debate on Sir John Hall's motion to confer the franchise upon the members of the gentler half of humanity. The member for Selwyn, with knightly courtesy, championed the cause of the sex with a gallantry that would have done credit to the days of romance and chivalry," when m joust and tournament mail-clad warriors entered the lists to do battle for the guerdon of the smiles of noble dames and fair damosels. Sooth to say, too, he made out a strong argumentative case, which,, though assaulted at all points, very well with stoo4 attack. There were, of/ cou.r§e, menders ungaljant enough to declare that woman may not be trusted to exercise a vote because her brain averages five ounces less m weight than the brain of a man, but they were answered at : once by the reply that quality is of more importance than quantity m the matter of brains, as m regard to other things; that as to intellectual capacity, while there is differentiation as between men ancl jyornp}), t>hpr.€< i§ nqt ift relation to the latter hnj inferiority; and, further, that heart and conscience count for more than brain, and that m these respects woman has the best of it. Among tne ppponpnts $hos,e Qcpupied, thp s^i'Oiigest/iudepd fchfj only tenable position, wliQ urged that so sweeping a change should not be made m advance of public opinion, and who contended, as we think truly, that the ladies themselves do not as yet desire to have the franchise, the few exceptions to the contrary only proving the rule. It was, however, pretty generally admitted that a vote should, m fair ness, be given to spinsters and widows possessed of the requisite property qualifications, and tywl, we fancy, Avill be the extent of the alteration of the existing law, notwithstanding the fact that the; motion for the enfranchise ment of] the entire sex was carried by, the large majority ot 24,

PARLIAMENTARY

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 6.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. CONDUCT OF COURT BUSINESS. Sir Frederick Whitaker, replying to Mr Reynolds, said that the Government could not control the manner m which Judges conducted the business m the courts. The courts were open to the public, but chamber business was conducted m private. If the Government interfered with the Judges they would be told to mind their own business. AUCKLAND HOSPITAL RESERVES BILL. The Auckland Hospital Reserves Bill was read a second iime. The Council adjourned at 2.40 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House met at 2.30 p.m. BILLS PASSED. The Patea Harbour Board Bill, Otago School Commissioners Empowering Bill, Waipu County Bill, and the Omaka Re creation Reserve Bills were committed, read a third time, and passed. BILL REFERRED' The Gisborne Harbour Act, 1884, Amendment Bill was referred to the Public Accounts Committee. BILL DISCHARGED. The Lyttelton Harbour Board Land Act Amendment Bill was discharged from the Order Paper. ALLEGES DUMMYISJI. Mr Fulton brought up the report of the Waste Lands Committee on a charge of dummysim preferred by Mr Duncan, the member for Waitaki, against Mr Thomas McKenzie, member for Clutha. The re port was to the effect that the charges against Mr McKenzie were disbroved. j Mr Rhodes, as one of the Committee, thought it unfair of Mr Duncan to allow such a serious charge against Mr McKenzie to remain for such a long period. He should have retracted the charge when he found that he had been misled. The Committee had gone very fully into the matter, and had found that there was neither gridironing nor dum myism on Mr McKenzie's part. Mr Duncan retorted that the Com mittee had not gone fully into the papers connected with this matter. The charges he had made he considered were con clusively proved with the exception of dummyism which he had made inad vertently, and had no intention of doing. After some discussion the report was ordered to lie on the table. INTERCEPTING SUPPLY. On the motion that the- House go into Committee of Supply, Mr Reeves (Inanga hua) moved an amendment affirming the necessity for a change m the inci dence of taxation m the direction of re moving the duties on tea, sugar, and other necessaries of life, and removing and altering all duties that press un equally on the working classes, the aboli tion of the Property-tax, and the imposi tion of an Income-tax on absentees, or a graduated Incline tax on all incomes m the colony over £300j>e'r annum, and a Land-tax on a sliding scale. The amendment was put and negatived without discussion, and the House went into Committee of Supply for considera tion of the Estimates. COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY. Crown Lands Department—£lß,2oo. Mr Fish moved to reduce by £50 the salary of the Commissioner of Crown Lands of Nelson and Westland, £450. Mr Grimmond moved that the* vota be struck out altogether. The discussion was interrupted by the 5.30 p.m. adjournment. The House resumed at, 7.30 p.m. During the course of the discussion which ensued on the motion for striking out the vote £450, for the Nelson Crown Lands Commissioner, Mr Richardson stated'that the ■Committee m their zeal for economy were going m exactly the opposite direction. If this officer's salary were struck'out an officer would have to be appointed to perform im duties, and no saving would be effected, but the reverse, as the officer was entitled to a large re tiring allowance. ' ■■>- The motion for omitting the- item was curried by 37 to 32. Dr Fitchett moved that the item, £500, Commissioner of Crown Lands, Dunedin, be struck out. Mr Perceval suggested that the Vote be reduced by £5 as an indication that this officer should not be re-appointed. Mr Richardson agreed to that. Mr Perceval moved that the vote be reduced by £1, which was agreed to on the voices, the motion to strike out the vote being lost. Mr Thompson (Auckland North) moved to strike out the item contribution to vote "mines" Invercargill, £115. Ths motion was agreed to. Mr Lawry moved to reduced the item £6500, for travelling expenses, advertising rent of offices, and extra clerical assistance by £1000. The reduction was agreed to. A motion to strike out the vote of £500 expenses to maintain the thermal springs at the Hammer plains was lost, at also was a motion to reduce the item by £100. Survey department £72,378 Mr Fish moved that the item, "Surveyor- General £750" be reduced by £100 Mr Richardson said if the Committee pursued that course they wonld make themselves ridiculons m the eyes of the <JK>untry, Mr Perceval explained that he would vote for this and all other reductions m order to force the Civil Service classifica tion. He felt satisfied that the proper way was amalgamation, not reduction, but he hoped the Committee would reduce large as well as small salaries so that classification of the Civil Service would be forced on the Government. Mr Peacock accused, Mr Fish of acting m a haphazard manner m moving his reductions. Mr Fish repudiated this and said every one of those gentlemen whose salaries they were trying to reduce would, not obtain as much money m nriva,te 'business, Mr Thompson (Auckland North) moved that the reduction be £50 instead of £100, After a long discussion Mr Fish altered his motion to one to reduce the salary by £50 instead of £100, and this was carried by 30 to 25. Mr Richardson appealed to the Com mittee if it was desirous of keeping open Crown lands for .settlement to deal liberally with the survey vote. He asked the Committee to let that vote go m one block, and he was quite prepared to, g^ve an assurance th^t lie sl),o:ii]d; take off all increases qh s-ijarioc over £200. On the motion of Mr Fish, the salary of the superintendent of the head office, was reduced by £25, and the item eight chief surveyors at £3885, by £200. The two chief surveyors (Otago, and Nelson), £950 were reduped' £25 each ; th,e ten chief draughtsmen by £30, and forty-five assistant draughtsmen by £35. Several other items were attacked, but without success, and the total vote for the Survey Department was reduced from £72,378 to £71,985, and passed. Mr Seddon moved to report progress. This was agreed to. The House rose at 1.20 a.m.

Bridal Veils.

In Poland the bride's eyes are covered with a veil, and she is led blindfolded to all the doors of her new home. In days gone by the Polish bride went to church preceded by her lady friends attired m long red veils. After the service, her mouth was anointed with honey, and her eyes blindfolded with her veil, and she was thus led to her home. In some parts of Russia, on the evening of the wedding day, a feast celebrates the event, when the bride wears a veil, and she is separated from her husband at the table by a curtain. In the Christian Church of AbyssinU, the wife has to wear a black veil as a covering for her face for six weeks. In modern Egypt a woman ip never seen by her future husband until after the marriage ceremony and she is always veiled. A Jewish bride's Veil covers not only her face, but her whole body. Layard,in his "Nineveh and Babylon,""describes a marriage ceremony, near Nimroud, when the bride covered from head to foot by a tbick veil, was es courted to the bridegroom's house. On arrival there she was placed behind a curtain m a darkened room for three days while the guests feasted. After three days had elapsed the bridegroom was allowed to approach her. In Turkey a bride m al ways veiled eight days before her marriage and she is not to be seen otherwise) even before the relations of her intended hus band. In Greece, m the early part of this century, the bride wore a long trans parent veil, which entirely concealed her features. Her veil was taken off when she arrived at the bridegroom's house.

The Argentine Republic.

The Argentine Republic has had for some years what is called m the vernacular a *' glorious time," and it is now going through the saddening but instructive pro cess of paying for the innumerable follies which were committed during that period. A perfect Gulf Stream of riches, has been flowing across the Atlantic from Europe, raising the value of. land, increasing the apparent riches of the people, and tempt ing the whole community into a carnival of speculation. There are three distinct ways m which foreign money has been introduced into the colony, and all of them have been used to the fullest extent. The CentraLGovernment of the Argentine Federation has to pay nearly three mil lions every year m interest alone. The provincial governments are plunged m a debt as deep as the River Plate, and private investments from abroad have been large and numerous. Altogether, according to the correspon dent of the " London Times," who writes a careful and thoughtful letter on. the aubjeci, the whole indebtedness of the Argentine Republic to Europe amounts at least to £150,000,000, and should probably be* put at a higher figure. The interest on such a silm must be an extremely heavy charge, even to a country which claims that its resources are "boundless." But this interest charge does not represent the full extent of the Argentine difficulties, for the situation has been complicated by the utter reck lessness of the financial .system. The banks have been permitted an almost unlimited issue of paper money, and the result of scattering paper dollars broad cast without much regard to the bank reserves, has simply been to inflate the speculation m land to a height which was never dreamt of oven m the few months of the Melbourne land boom. But although values increased and men grew rich on paper, it was necessary to pay the interest, not m paper dollars,, but m gold, and this grew harder and harder as the speculation increased. Then came the collapse, for gold had to be obtained at any price, and the premium upon the precious metal rose a short time ago'to 215 per cent, which means that the un fortunate Argentine had to' pay 215 of the paper dollars, which he had regarded as wealth, m ordor to purchase 100 dollars m gold. The inevitable conse quence followed. Speculation ceased, business came to a standstill, employment became scarce, and some of the banks have failed.to pay dividends. For the moment a revolution was feared m Bueiios. Ayres, but a change of Ministry was made, and the people were persuaded that their true interest lay m trusting .to a gradual recovery. The new Minister of Finance has' the reputation of great ability. He has been aided by the fact of an unusually good season for the pastoral and agricultural industries, which form the mainstay of the Republic and also by large immigrations of hard-working and thrifty laborers, who are always adding to the products of the country and increasing its exports. The premium on gold has now fallen to 148 per cent., and, if it can be reduced to 100, the " Times " correspondent declares that the railways will 'pay intorest, and that the position will be fairly sound. In the meantime the Minister of Finance is determined to maintain the credit of the Central Govern ment, and asserts that he is m a position to meet every engagement. If this be the ca»e,relief will gradually come, but the Argentines have had a rough awakening from their dreams, and a hard day's work evidently lies £ before them.— v Austra lasian. '

A Moment of Peril.

The following story comes from India, and told by an English officer who w^s stationed at Tonngoo :—" It was during the -wet monsoon. We were sitting aver our coffee, when a young lieutenant called out, ' I feel something creeping up my right; leg.' I niay mention that white canvas trousers are worn for the sake of cpolness. An old officer present told the young fellow not to stir, but sit perfectly quiet, adding that it was no. doubt a snake, and that, if he were to, change his position, he might b ; e fatally bitten. The young fellosw behaved with much nerve. His face, became a shade paler, but he took the advice given and remained quiet. He told us ma, low .voice that the creature, whatever it was, could not get past his knee, and that it had coiled itself around his leg, Not knowing how the affair might end, the colonel sent to town for a snake-charmer. Two of fche worthies soon made their ap-. pearance—one with a reed-pipe somewhat resembling a flageolet, the "other bearing a basket with flaps to^ it.. The basket with one flap up, ism set down behind, the yp.ujig officer's chair, the bearer squatting beside it. The other officers made room, for the charmers. The musician com menced to play a low, soft n\e,lo,c\y on his pipe, monotonous but pleading* In a few minutes the head of the reptile was seen to peep oufc of; the young officer's trousers and softer nodding jt about a little, peeping, time with the cadence of the music the snake slowly wriggled itself free from the young man's leg "and glided towards [ the piper. The music now became fast 1 and wild, the snake keeping time with it until with a rapid sharp movement, the man on the floor caught the snake by the neck, thus forcing his jaws apart., $^'o-.. ducing a steel instrument $$,$ operate? ' pulled the poison-bag- out with a dexter ous jerk, then threVlhe snake into the basket;, and shutdown-the flap. On r& ---| calving a rew rupees, the charii\e,i> made' a low obeisance and retired with their, prize. The snake £iwed to be a cobra, di capello, or hosr«ftect snake, about eighteen' iiie>»fj."i m length. After the reptile Ifrftd; i withdrawn from about his leg the yourur I fellow would have fainted from the reac ■ tion, but an old. ©.ffteer had a tumbler of fyraiyly iwly, which ho made the youth swallow. This restorative soon put him to rights, although I don't suppose he for got the incident for sonje time."

The Markets.

[per press association.]

London, August 5. New Zealand Estate Company's de bentures are quoted at 2 per cent dis count. The public have been allotted 70 per cent. Tallow—Best beef, 24s to 25s ; best mutton, 25s 6d to 265. New Zealand mutton, prime selected, averages 4^d per lb. Oxhides^d to 3|d. Sugar—German beet, 13s 6d; Java, 15s 9d.

TO-DAY'S TELEGRAMS

[per press association.] VI r<*. Wellington, Angait 7. James McDowell's residence at Oriental Bay, was burnt down last night. Mrs McDowell dropped a kerosene lamp, which burst and set the room On fir*. Little was saved. The house was built a year ago at a cost of £1060. Insurance : £600 on the house, £400 on the furniture m this Phoenix. Loss about £800.

CORRESPONDENCE.

[We do not hold ourselves responsible for th« opinions expressed by our correspondents.

THE TEMPERANCE CAUSE.

TO THB EDITOR. Sir, —Will you kindly insert, a few lines m your valuable paper >c the meet ing m the Oddfellows' Hall last Friday evening. I was greatly surprised when I read m your Saturday's issue that Mr Glover had thrown out insinuations against the hon. member for Ashburton, but I was more surprised to find that no person m the audience stood up fco defend Mr Walker. No doubt they thought it best to treat the charge of inconsistency with silent contempt. Not so, however, with the meeting the following evening at Flemington. Mr Glover here again at tacked Mr Walker, but I am proud to say there was a man m that audience who stood up and nobly defended the member for the district. With all due respect to ,Mr Glover m the noble work he is en gaged in—the suppression of the Liquor Traffic—he should endeavor to exercise more discretion and he would provoke lew antagonism to the temperance cause.—l am, etc., Bltjr Ribbon.

THE WHITCOMBE AND TOMBS DIFFICULTY.

TO THE EDITOB,

Siu,-r-I wish to endorse the remarks of Mr It. Alcorn as published In your yester day's issue respecting the telegram seni to Messrs Whitcombe and Tombs. It would appear that the employers of Ashbnrton had been consulted and to a man had authorised the sending of the above mentioned telegram. As far as I am aware such has not been the case, and if the consultation referred to had taken place, I feel sure the decision of the em ployers would have been quite tha reverse.—l am etc,, Employee*

THE DRINK TRAFFIC AND THE A. & P. SOCIETY.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—l was very glad to see the decided stand taken by some members of the A. and P. Society at the annual meeting of the Society held on Tuesday last, against the encroachments of the drink traffic m connection with the work of the Society. It ■ only requires the repetition of such. seen*e& as"were mentioned ait* tlie to secure the complete smashing'up of a Society which is calculated to do.much useful work m a community like thiafc, I wbuld'respectfully submit to: the Commit tee anc 1 members of the Society "whether "the granting'of. facilities for the sale and use of strong drink can m any way be brought within the scope of the operations of any A. and P. Society. There are scores of pledged abstainers and temper ance workers m connection with the Society, and I would appeal'fab* them that if they wish to conserve the Society to dc its proper work, keep the drink out of it.. —I am, etc., J. Newman Buttle,.

MAGISTERIAL.

ASHBURTON-THTJjffiSDAY. TBefore C. A. Wrap, Jhq M R.M.J • ■,"•-. , ." LUNACY. Alexander Reid,' the old man who was remanded last week for inquiries as to his sanity, was committed to the Lunatic Asylum, on the certificates of Drs Trevor and Tweed. OBSCENE LANGUAGB. . John Broker was cnarged with having used obscene language m the public street the previous evening. The offence wasl- committed m front of the Orange Hall, m whiph. building a dance was being held. Evidence was given by W. J. Hamptont and; Constable Smart. The accused wae pjiiy eighteen years of age, and the Magistrate gave him a severe reprimand arid dismissed him. ■ .; A SHARPER. James White was accused of having fraudently appropriated to hia own use 10s entrusted to him by John O'Grady to, place on the totalisator, bub had failed fco account for his share of the proceeds- John O'Grady, a farmer, living mar Winchmore, wns at the racecourse- om Wednesday and gave accused baff a. sovereign to place on The Mount m the-i totalisator m the Consolation Race- There was a dividend of £2" on TJhes Mount, but accused did not come to Ihe= totalisator for it. At the railway statiom accused refused to return the money.— James Marr, billiard room keeper, said he heard accused arrange with O'Grady about a ticket, and saw him receive O'Grady's half sovereign. Saw accused pulled out of the train by O'Grady. The Magistrate said the theft %as a mean and impudent one, and accused who was evidently a man who foMowed race meetings and made & living by his wits, was lucky m not b^big; sent to prison far six months. He w«s sent to gaol for fourteen days and ordered to make restitution to John O'Gr»dy. CIVIL CASES. Oit and Co. v Knight claim £2 7s sd— judgment by default. ' Jameson v Candy, claim £7010s J.d — adjourned for a {oitnight.

The Influence of Women in the Future.

The risQ-t'of women—who form the majority of the race m most civilised countries—to supreme power m the near future is certain. Whether one looks at? : it with hope or with despair, one has to> ; recognise it. For, my own part I find it ian unfailing source of hope. One cannot. ; help feeling that along the purely mascu line line no striking social advance is; likely: to be made. Men ara idealists,, in> se'stfch of wealth usually, sometimes of artistic visions ; they, have little capacity/ for social organisation. It is sonttjtintes said that the fundamental inferiority of Women is shown by the very few surpass ing women of genius m the world's history. In. their anxiety to combat this argument

THE ASHBtJBTOX GUARDIAN, THURSDAY, AtJGrUST ?, 1890.



There is now to be seen m the shoW window of Messrs J Scaly and Co,, .feast street, a collection a£ 'apples showing some of the sorts grown at the Nurseries". Biverbank, that will repay inspection byi any one who contemplates planting fruit plants. There are upwards of fifty dif ferent kinds 'shown, all valuable^ 'kmo keeping sorts. For s^e, ' color, and genera], excellence, they are by fa,r the' finest that )i^ve been shown m Ashburton' his seasoni—(A if



SANDER AND SONS' EUCALYPTI EXTRACT. —In protection of the 'world wide fame our manufacture has acquired all over the globe, we publish the following : —- Hazai'd, if.l)., lfyofessor of (icijeral Patho- Ipgy and Dispapfis pf thp Mind and Nervous System, says m an editorial publishpd m the '' Clinical Rpcord " :-—" We have examined half-a-dozen specimens of different manufac tures : tiio preparation qf Sandpr and Sons was the only one that proved to bo reliable and corresponding to scientific tests." Another concoction called " Refined Extract of Eucalyptus" has made its appearance since. This product stands, according to Dr Owen, foremost m causing injurious effects. That gentleman communicates, at a meeting of the Medical Society of Victoria, that a child living at Fitzroy became most seriouslyl indisposed through its use. In another case a'; Itidy states on the strength of statutory declaration that she suffered crftelly from the effects of the same concoction. "To-gtiard the high reputation of our manufacture 'we f jel warranted m exposing the above facts, a^iid desires the public to exercise care and S-eeaution when buying, SANDER 11114 O^.~-(Adv^ *"• • ■ 7



•AiTilCuf TCEITH WJT.M-TEETW THE CHEISTCHURCH DENTAL BCBGERY, Comer of Ciwjliel md High streets. s. m™ a*d a SURGEON DENTIST j And at Dunedin and Westport WE Iwve gained the FIRST AWARD ht tikis Dunedin Exhibition for Artificial DeNttt«ws*w4 Mechanical Appli ance* for the Mouth, and it m wjth the greatest confidence that we g«a«i#i*e jbhc higluat class work and perfect fit #t felt"? most moderate cost A Single Artificial Tooth, 10s, Complete Set — Upper and Lower-— lonporary and permanent, £10 10*. Natukal, Durable, Comfortable Artificial Tcctl 1. Replaced Temporarily al aiotsfc immediately after the extraction of decayed teeth or stumps without extra cc or charge. Arrangement."! can be MMwltf for part or monthly payments. ADMINISTERING NITROUS OXIDE s*AK several times daily for the past ten years, we fojr]e«sly assert that extraction of teeth under \tn jin/luence is perfectly painless and positively wfa] Fee for Administration, ss, Extraction, 2b 6cL Artiiici.il Teeth and Dentures made other dentists repaired or remodelled small eoKt. I Hour.* of ttendance—U a.m. to o' p.ls



. , ANTED KNOWN—The Strong- VV Wear Boot for Men, Women and Children can only be had at W. H. Collihr's. OOTS, BOOTS.—" Keep your feet Dry and sara Doctor's Bills. I have a splendid Stock m now. Try my Double-soled Shooters. Every pair Guaranteed. Robert Ai-corx, Ashbur ton Clothing Mart, SnunderV Buildings. ' ANTED Known.—For cheap Drapery, Millinery, Boots, Clothing, &c, go to Melford House. Good substantial presents now giving away.—H. C. Seoeks. \ 1 / ANTED every man m the County YV to have a suit of the Ashburto Tweeds.—Rokkrt Alcoun, Asliburton Clothing Mart, Saundcr's Buildings. | j 1.VERY Customer will receive a X)J handsome present by purchasing their Drapery. Millinery, Clothing, &c, at Melford House. Cheapest House m town for first-class Drapery. • — H. C. Skgkks. Ladies Cloth and Tweed Jackets, considerably undo 1 usual co.st price— W. il. Collikh, "The Corner." t<gß>ninmM—nimi iiwiii'iwiinwMMMWiiwij—iwiimiwiwiwiii"-" 1 X IsP THE Z NEW ZEAJAND CLOTHING FACTORY Half Yearly STOCK-TAKING 2"\OW ON.- REOUIGTIONS IN EVERY DEPARTMENT. The Celebrated Werthein New Hitch arm Sewiug Machines on easy Time »ny menti; f-\ W H. WEBBER, Til V. J Manager JD



-TYPRWJRITERS- To Save Tinie is to Lengthen Life. VXT J. ALEXANDER will interview the Business Public of Asliburton, and solicit the favour of their inspection of various Writing Machines. He carries samples of the New Model Crandall, The Crown, and the Hammond. He also sells for the Centennial Manu facturing Co. their Copying Books and Ink. Letters written with the Centennial Ink, copy m the Centennial Copying JtJook without the use of Press, Brush, Mois ture Pad, or Water. Address— W. J. ALEXANDER, Typewriter Agent, 8 50 Somerset Hotel. Wanted. CASH Advertisements under this heading »ol exceeding SIXTEEN WORDS 1/-. Addresses may be loffcftfc this Offioe. TOP~That Cough—Flower's Cough Drops are thebest—see that the name is stamped on every one. H. G. Flowek, Confectioner, East street. Qf\ VOLUMES by various popular O\J authors just added to my Cir celating Library. Quarterly subscription, 3s 6d.—H. M. Jokbs. W" ESLEYAN Church Jubilee.—All Services on Sunday next m connection with above. Public meetings next week. 8*46 XPERIENCED Housemaid requires engagement, town or country; business house preferred. Address H.M., " Mail " Office. 843 WANTED to Sell, some Good Seed Tuscan ; also some Cape Barley. Apply J. McQuilkii*, Willowby. "PRESENTS. -If you wantio^d value I for money go to Melford House. Extra value now being given away m presents. Everything marked cheap.— H. C. Segkrs.



VTOTIOE.— Anyone found Tres- y JiS passing m pursuit of game «r therwise on th« Riversdale Estate •» »d after this date will be prosecuted. J. Tl. WILLIAMS. River ß da:e, 24th May 5 176 TIN MALI) COAL AND FIREWOOD DEPOT JA /~>LOTHIER begs to /y_- V J intimate that he hM opened % retail produce store »t Tin wald, and has for sale—Flour, Bran, Sharps, Chickwheat, Feed Oats, Oaten Sh«af, and Straw Chaff, Potatoes, etc. Also Prime Household Coah, ASHBURTON PRICES. H A RL ES ~T> R A D D ELL licensed L»ndbroker and Valuator nder "The Land Transfer Act, 1885 ESTATE, HOUSE, LAND, AND GENERAL COMMISSION AGENT. Office -Burnett Street, Next to " Mail' Offit* OOKS^ThousandTol Books of every kind, including books on Hi»k>ry, T?*vtl«, Sei«ne«, Religion, Fiction, Ac. 4se, Aoeounk Books and Stationery of oroff ifcwslptijxi. A cheap line of Bn velop«« »t 5* per thousand. Fancy (roods, including Albnms, Photo Frames, Writing (W Work Boxes, Purses, Ladies Hand Bh», G»m«» and P«>«le8- M™}°— A krta Stock, Pianos, Accordians, Violins, Concetinas, &o. All Goods reduced for °*8h" L. F. ANDREVTES & CO. Stationers' Hall '■ w'thecounty? " THE 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 G G T EBA GBE A T JAA G T T SALE AT " The Cornkb " 120 Men's and Youths' Suits from the Asliburtoi), Wellington, Timaru, Onmaru and Morgiel Mills, being cold afc a DISCOUNT of 5 s "* 20 s lot «f Ladies' Jackets and Ulsters at Half-price. -j ts ' JACKETS for QD £) AS JAC RETS for A ppeoinl line of bent quality Umbrellas. 10 s fi D UMBRELLAS f>r (} s 6 D •jOS /»D UMBRELLAS for gD "» \ T t : "7 OLLIKR V'V . :' . \V OLLI ER, "THE OnBNER." QEED WHE AT an d[O ATS kJ FOR SALE. TUSCAN WHEAT. PEARL WHEAT. VELVET CHAFF, Ac. Also WHITE LAMMAS TUSCAN! i CANADIAN OATS. ! DANISH OATS. DUN OATS, j SUPERIOR QUALITY FOR SEED i JOHN G. RESTELL, | 7+150 WEST STREET. . \ NDREW ARR'S £1 NDREW U&K » . GREAT m . i a *| £ AKJNUAL SAIE of . £5 j H S j DRAPERY to S3 ;» ■» CLOTHING AND «- MOTS " ■ Will Commence w W Saturday, July sth pg) _ fe 2jJ i *- Thr sji-of-itcst. jiARCiAINS i over scon m. A.shburoj*. ?.*] m SEE ? j , j ANDREW ORR.