MAIL NOTICE

The Letter-box will be cleared for de spatch of correspondence from this office to the under-mentioned places, on and after Ist January, 1891, as follows :— For Christchurch and North, daily 6.30 a.m., 3.15 p.m,, 6.20 p.m. ; and on Mon days, Wednesdays, and Fridays, at 10.30 a.m. ; Chertsey and Rakaia, daily, 6.30 a.m., 3.15 p.m., 6.20 p.m. ; Methven, daily, 3.15 p.m. ; Dunsandel and Burn ham, daily, 3.15 p.m., 6.20 p.m. ; Selwyn, daily, 6.20 p.m. ; Dromore, daily, 6.30 a.m. ; Tinwald, Winslow, Hinds, and Tcmuka, daily, 10.30 a.m. ; and on Tues days, Thursdays, and Saturdays, 3.15 p.m. ; Willowby and Eiffelton, Tuesdays, Thursdays, ami Saturdays, 10.30 a.m. ; Lismore, Tuesdays and Fridays, 10.30 urn. ; Geraldine, daily, 10.30 a.m. ; Titnaru, daily, 10.30 a.m., 12.30 p.m. ; and on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Satur days, 3.15 p.m. ; Oamaru, Dunedin, and Sciith, daily, 12.30 p.m. ; Green street, and Ashburton Forks, Tuesdays, Thurs days, and Saturdays, 6.30 a.m. ; Winch more, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Satur days. 6.30 a.m. ; Mount Somers, Springburn. and Alford Forest, daily, 4 p.m., Mayiicld, and Ruapuna, Mondays and Thursdays, 4 p.m. ; Wheatstone, Ashton, Waterton, and Longbeach, daily, 4.30 p.m. ; Flemington, Mondays, Wed nesdays, and Fridays, 4.30 p.m. ; New land, Tuesdays and Fridays, 11 n..m. ; Elgin, Wakanui, Seaview, Seaiield, and Kyle, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Satur days, 6.30 a.m. N.B. —Letters containing anything of value should be handed to the Postmaster to be registered. Letters containing coin, if posted un registered, will be compulsorily registered and charged double registration fee.

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1890. LAND-OWNING COMPANIES.

Among a batch of Parliamentary papers just to hand is a Return to the motion of Mr Hutchinson giving the. names of the several land, loan and banking companies returned under the last property-assessment valuation as owners or trustees of land m the Colony, showing the area and value of such lands. From this we find that the Bank of New Zealand at that date held a total acreage of 288,738 acres, re turned as of the value of L 1,108,683,,108,683, m which the Bank was interested as owner to the amount of L 996,823, the lessees' interest m certain of the lands being only L50,00Q. These figures are exclusive of those set clown opposite the name of the " Assets Company " (which we take to mean the Olobo Assets Company), which are, acres 47,633, value L 51,088. The Bank of New South Wales figures for 25,920 acres, value L205,267—in which lessees' interest is only L 70 0; the Colonial Bank of New Zealand for 12,030 acres, valued at L 177,845 ; the National Bank of New Zealand for 12,600 acres, valued at L 141,601 ; the Bank of Australasia for 17,934 acres, valued at £109,348; and the Union Bank of Australia for 676 acres only, nearly all town properties, valued at L 124,383. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company is Mb ] clown as owner or trustee of no Jess than 405,287 acres, returned to the property-tax at a total value of L 650,297, of which only L 48,200 re presents lessees'interest, the Company's valuation as owner being L 584,244. Then comes the New Zealand and Australian Land Company with an acreage of 241,544, valued at £1,063,410; the Kauri Timber Com pany with an acreage of 380,183 valued at £345,566 (less than £1 an acre); the New Zealand Agricultural Com-r pany with 151,137 acres, valued at £240,977 ; Robert Campbell and Sons (Limited), acres 143,710, value £185,028 ; the British and New Zea- < land Mortgage and Agency Company, *cw 303,124, valuation £76,491 ; the ■ AueHaryjL Agricultural Company, acres j 102,182, yfeafcfon. £141,113; tliej Colonial Investment and Agency Com-1 puny, acres -22,769, yainutiou £^,. r ? 4G;j New ZeaJfind Mortgage and Invest-j ment Assoeiatiofl, acres 43,222, valu ation £9WiG i Now Zealand Trust and Loan Company, acres 43,265, valuation, £122,203; New Zealand Thames Valley Land Company, lima J. 95,328, valuation £97,726; Otago ftwdt &<M(ithlftnd Investment Com pany, acres, S 1^8 2f,.y«,1»/ation L 99,365 ; / Scottish and New ZeaW<t J#?/e,?tment i Company, acres, 32,71!), valuation'

L 93,189 ; Waikato Land Association, acres, 84,777, valuation L 215,931 ; Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company, acres,, 169,329, valuation L 455,160; Naseby Pastoral Invest ment Company, acres, 37,973, valua tion. 1129,940 ; Morton Mains Estate Company, acres, 32.465, valuation L54,G57 ;., Maraetai Land Company, acres, 43,503, valuation LB6BB ; Moora bool and Timboon Estates Co., acres, 10,142, valuation L 14,012 ; Land and Loan Company of New Zealand, acres, 9759, valuation L 34,074 ; Dixon In vestment Company, acres, 12,771, valuation L17,G29 ; Australian and New Zealand Mortgage Company, acres, 5980, valuation L 20,417. The return of course includes a number of other company owners of land, though the figures dealt with are comparatively small, but from a study of the above the startling fact comes out that twenty-eight Banking, Loan or Laud Companies own together no less an area of the lands of the colony than 2,906,301 acres, upon which the property-tax valuation is L 5,970,227.,970,227.

LOCAL AND GENERAL

With this issue we present our subscribers with our sheet Almanac for 1891. The Rev Father Chastagnon will celebrate Mass at Methven on Sunday next, and Vespers at Ashburton at the usual hour. It is stated that steps will be taken to up set the Inangahua election, on the ground of personation, In Great Britain one-fourth of all those who live to be sixty-five years old are m the poorhouse. You may say what you will about pictures of astonishment, but you just ought to see a frog try to jump into a pool of water that is frozen over. He does not say much, but what he does say can be relied upon. Everyone 1 is much struck with the dim inution m the size of the Prince of Wales since he went to Homburg. He is looking so much thinner and better that it has been a general subject of conversation. " Look here, Fritz, why don't you make up to the little Fraulein ? Go m and win man ! Ton my life she's a pearl." Fritz (sulkily): " That may be, but I can't put up with the mother o' pearl. A service of carrier pigeons between Zanzi bar and the more important posts of the in terior is being organised. Preliminary trials have given very satisfactory results, and it is intended to establish a chain of posts, 30 miles apart, between Lake Nyanza and the coast. It is estimated that a pigeon will cover the whole distance m six hours. Growers of tomatoes will regret to hear that the insect known as ahmrodes vapvr arium has made its appearance among plants m the Auckland district. The '' New Zealand Herald " says.that^the insect bores"into the leaf, and then "turns into a small white fly. It must be dealt with'by kerosene solution applied with a syringe. The Italian Alpine Club will shortly con struct what will oe the highest human'habi tation m Europe, on the highest peak of the Alps, and will call the same " Amadeus," m memory of the deceased prince. The St Barnard height i 5*2,472 metres, Mezzogjorno 2870 metres, but the new structure will be placed at a height of 4000 metres. A telegram from Patea dated December 30 says: While Mr A. Atkinson, son of the Premier, was driving some lady friends m a carriage this afternoon, the horse bolted, and the king-bolt came out. Mr Atkinson, m endeavouring to hold the horse, was pulled over the wheels, and had one of hi i shoulders dislocated. No danger is anticipated. A popular Scottish clergyman was one day preaching m a rural church, and after the sermon he walked home with a member of the congregation, who was a farmer. Being afterwards asked what he thought of the minister, he emphatically declared that " he kent simply naething." "Wad ye believe it," he added, " the gowk said to me on the road home, ' that'a a line liold o' barley o' yours,' when it wasna barley ava, but aits ♦ " " Two miles and a half of frogs !" On the Great South Road, Manukau, Auckland, one day last week there were thousands upon thousands of little green frogs, the f Kissing of every cart or trap crushing lundreds. The talk of tli3 settlers was that they thought the old days had returned for some crime committed by the electors of Manukau. The frogs came from the swamps around Otnhuhu, and were evidently making for new pastures. It is stated that carbonic acid (or rather | carbonic anhydride) is now employed as the refrigerating agent m vessels engaged m the frozen meat tJade. Brine is cooled by the expanding gas, and is circulated through pipes. The steamer Highland Chief, which was fitted m this way by Messrs J. and E. Hs.ll, of Dartford, has recently arrived m the Liverpool Docks from the River Plate with a cargo of 39,000 carcases of mutton, all m splendid condition, and it is stated that the coal consumption for working the refrigerat ing machinery amounted to one-fifth of what it would have been under the old system. A sensational trial is now proceeding before the Court of Assizes at St. Peters burg. Baron Noldi, belonging to one of the first families of the aristocracy of Cour land, is accused of forgery and of appro • priating a sum of more than 2,000,000 roubles. The wife of the accused has been to Spala and threw herself at the feet of the Empress imploring pardon for her husband, but all m vaift, for the Czar is ' inflexible. More than 500 witnesses will be called, and it is said that high personages who surround the Czar will be proved to have been implicated m the affair. It is probable that fresh arrests will be made. As a sportsman was returning by train to Paris with a bag of partridges, a fellow traveller on the Eastern of France Railway said to him, " I can carry your game m the pockets of my overcoat, it won't attract .the attention of the Octroi officials, and you will escape all duty. This overture w*n accepted, but on arriving m Paris the sportsman dis covered that he had been victimised, m as much as the too friendly passenger disap. peared with his booty. He laid a complaint against the thief, but the Commissioner of Police drew up a report against the sports man himself, who is to be prosecuted for de frauding the Octroi. A traveller thus compares London and Paris. Paris is straight, I/mdon is crooked. The Parisian cabman gits m front, the London cabman sits behind. The Parisian cabman take 3 the right, the London cabman the left. Paris is compact, London is scattered. In Paris the windows open like doors, m 'London, they fall like guillotines. In Parjs the Vpnetian blinds are outside, m London they are inside. In Paris everyone has Uis ooti'-oieiyo, m London everyone has i his latchkey. In Paris tho soldier has a blue jacket and red trousers, m London he has a red jacket and blue trousers. Paris is gay, London is grave. Paris walks, London runs. Paris eats, London devours. A Canadian Pacific express train, with the Karl and Countess of Aberdeen aboard, ran into a hard of cattle sixty miles from Winni peg. The engine arid the luggage and express cars and three emigrant carriages were (thrown off the line; but the dining and /sleeping car 3of tho Earl and Countess of Aberdeen remained on the line. Several persons were injured but no one was killed. Both Lord and Lady Aberdeen wore badly shaken, but were otherwise unin j ared. After the accident his lordship went about dis pensing stimulants and assisting the wounded, and the Countess made several sketches of the wreck while it was being | cleared. Iron houses are now coming into fashion m Prussia, and the first one has just been erected at .Trier (Treves). Walls, roof, stair cases, and the principal doors are all of iron. li js a house o| three stories, situated m the B,ruck,en3trays(j, ami as far as architectural appeareuce goes, ifc' has a very nobje elpva : j jfcion, The walls arc made of iron plates ajul I (the poqf of sheet iron, and rqds of T-iron ! ti&e thp place of Joists and rafters. Qnly : the flooring ajjc) tl>a doors of communication are of wood, it bsifig thought i\y4 HHr' rm Woul4 be too heavy for doors which are muclj. used. The cost is stated to bs HQ ff|Q»P than it would be if stone, brick ami mor-tap had been used, and it has this great advantage-* fcfcat repairs, will be almost nil,

We are requested to call attention to a I new advertisement by Mr John Oit which \ will be found m this issue. This being New Year's 'Eve, the usual minnight service will be held m nt Stephen's Clinrch, commencing at a quarter past eleven o'clock. Mr G. F. Andrews, one of the candidates for the vacant seat on the Borough Council, invites the burgesses to meet him at the Templar Hall on Friday evening at 8 o'clock. The twenty-second National Cat Show was held on October 21st and 22nd at the Crystal Palace. The varieties ranged m origin from the Manx to far Japan, and m price from £1 to £100- apropos of which detail it may bo of interest to note that the average price ol one of these Exhibition cats is said to be about £15- The entries numbered between five and six hundred. To-day the Catholic Chapel was well filled, the occasion being the funeral mass of the late Mr Thomas Edward Madden, a eon of Mr Patrick Madden, of Fairfield, who died on the 28th instant, at the early age of seventeen years. Very Rev Father Ch&stagnon celebrated Mass, on the comple tion of which a procession of between sixty and seventy vehicle loads of settlers followed I the hearse to thejgrave, where the Very Rev Father completed the ser/ice, and at once went off to Rakaia to discharge the same sad duly for the late Mrs Coffey. We are pleared to learn that, the Ashbur ton Swimming Club is almost an accom plished fact, Mr Alfred Harrison having the names of some twenty gentlemen who have signified their intention of joining. To form the Club and complete the necessary details a meeting is advertised for Wednes day, 7th January, at Mr Harrison's Auction Room, when no doubt there will be a good attendance. In connection with the above a seventy-five yards Handicap Swimming Race will take place on the 14th January, for which a large number of competitors have entered. Professor Lichtwark gave another lesson to kis Asliburton class yesterday. The fir»t horse dealt with was the Laghmor two-year old, a blank colt which the Professor had handled the week before. The colt had, m the first instance, been driven m from the paddock, and had. never been handled before m its life. It was subdued m its first lesaon i and rendered thoroughly docile. The ques tion was raised—will it be equally docile m a week hence ? The Profesoor was willing to put it to the teat, and the colt wasi taken back to its old quarters and the associations that had been around it since it was foaled. It was again brought m on the occassion of the pupils' second lesson, and again handled with the most signal success. After dealing with the black two-year-old colt, the Pro fessor essayed a handsome bay three-year old gelding. He was a little surly from the beginning, but the Professor devoted an hour and a half to him, taking the oppor tunity, while he was manipulating the colt, to fully explain and illustrate his system, showing the beat time to accustom the horse to being saddled, to being mounted slowly as an old man would mount, or fast as a young man would take the saddle ; showing .how to teach a horse to lead, how to follow, and how to come at its owner's call. Through out, the Professor's teaching was done with out the least display of temper on his own part, and any. display on the part of Hie hor3e was met with firmness, but kindly withal, and the animal was not long m dis covering that m the breaker, if he had a master, he also had a friend.

A Shameful Affiar

"Man's inhumanity to man" (says the Melbourne "Telegraph") was exem plified m the conduct of the skipper of the American barque G. L. Weatford. It would be difficult to find a worse instance of criminal greed or laziness. There were 200 Polynesian workmen of Hono lulu Avhose contracts had expired, and they had to be returned to their homes m the Banks, Torres, and other islands. They had been at work m the Sandwich Islands for eleven to seventeen years. Whether they served of their own free will or under compulsion .we need not in quire. That they were looking forward joyfully to a reunion with their kith and kin m their native isles there is no reason to doubt. That the captain of the G.L. Westford was paid to take them to their,, homos is also clear ; and he sailed from Honolulu with his human freight. What followed % On the high seas, away from controlling authority, the captain became a law unto himself. He had got his money for the job, and as no one would care a straw for the " niggers," he would ciump them at the first convenient place and find another payable cargo. This would save time and make money, and as for the laborers—well, what was their business. So he called m at Havannah Harbor, m the New Hebrides, and, find ing no war vessel present, unloaded his human cargo there despite the remon strance of the European settlers. Thus cruelly defrauding the Polynesians by landing them six. or seven hundred miles from their hornet.—with fire arms to fight the Natives or kill each other —it did not matter which—he sailed for other climes. It was fortunate for the laborers that there were Europeans on the island to take them under their pro tecting wing, otherwise ere now they would probably have been killed and eaten. How and when they are to reach their homes is a question that will pro bably be solved by the intervention of the British or French naval authorities ; but that will not be enough. The civilised world ought to call loudly for the ade quate punishment of a man who treats brother-men—helplessly m his power — with contemptible meanness and callous cruelty.

The Rocklands Station Sticking-up Case.

The " Otago Daily Times " of Tuesday has the following:—On Friday afternoon, at about 1 o'clock, a hut on what is known as Finnegand Farm, belonging to Mr Shaw, which is tenanted by three men working on the farm, was entered by a man named *1 ohn Campbell, alias Christie, alias Crawford. A Mr Lindsay subse quently saw him taking some clothing from the hut, and called the attention of Mr Marshall, the manager of the farm, to the fact. The latter at once went m the direction of the hut, and told the man to take the things back, but instead of doing as he was told, the man took an axe that was at the hut, and said he would brain Mr Marshall if he interfered with him, The man then n^ade off, and Mr Marshall went to Balclutha and informed the police of what had taken place, Mounted con stable Boddam, from Dunedin, who was m Balclutha at the time, immediately pro ceeded m pursuit of the man, and was followed by Inspector Moore. The con^ stable succeeded m discovering the culprit at about 10 o'clock near a haystack, about three miles from Balclutha, and he had a quantity of the stolen property with him. When the constable searched him, he found that he had also m his possession a six-chambered revolver, and a field-glass, which has since been identified as the one aken from Rockland Station en the 12th inst, by the men who committed the robbery there under arms. The man, as was stated m our columns yesterday, was?, on the morning after his capture, brought before the bench at Balclutha and sen tenced to six months' imprisonment on three separate charges of larceny from the hut. Yesterday he was charged at the City Police Court with being implicated m the robbery at Rockland Station. Th« case was, however, remanded till TuesJJ day week, on the application of Inspector Moore. '

TELEGRAPHIC.

HOME AND FOREIGN

[PEE, PKESS ASSOCIATION.] London, December 29 and 30. Mr T. Richardson, M.P. for Hartle pool, is dead, aged sixty-nine. Mr Gladstone unveiled the fountain at Hawarden m com mem oration of his eighty-first birthday. He received an enormous number of congratulations on the occasion. The statement that shots had been fired into the 1 Bishop of Killaloe's house is denied ; also the reported in tention of the White Star .and Cunard j lines to place steamers on the line be tween Liverpool and Australia. Washington, December 29. The Indian rising is collapsing, and the tribes most deeply implicated are submitting. Berlin, December, 30. Two patients treated for lupus by the Koch process have been discharged from a Bologna Hospital cured, but at St. Petersburg two deaths have oc curred.

AUSRALIAN.

Melbourne, December 30. The ship Kelton has arrived from Rio Janeiro with the captain, mate, and five seamen suffering from small ,pox. The vessel was caught by a squall and went ashore while proceeding to the quarantine station, but is m no danger. Sydney, December 30. A warrant has been issued for the arrest of the manager of the Pad dington branch (Sydney suburban) of the English and Scottish Chartered Bank. It is believed he sailed by the last San Francisco steamer. The defalcations are expected to reach several thousands.

INTERPROVINCIAL

[per press association.] Wellington, December 30. Wiremu Wharepu died m the gaol yes terday. Deceased was under going a life sentence for a murder committed at the Chatham Islands ton years ago, and had been ailing for the past six years from a complication of diseases. Verdict—"Death from natural causes." At a conference of delegates from the various branches of the Knights of Labor m the North Island it was resolved to form a Provincial District Assembly During a picnic of the Manawatu Railway Company's employees three weeks ago a narrow escape from collision between two trains took place. An inquiry by the Company into the circumstances has led to tho dismissal of the driver of the engine attached to the down train. The Minister for Lands has received a telegram from Mr Smith, M.H.R. tor I New Plymouth, Btating that a senrn of coal has been found at TJrenui, ten miles north of the Waitnra river. The discovery is regarded as of some importance, and Government have decided to send an expert to report. Dunedin, December 30. The ethnological and technological collection, which was intended for the Working Men's College if Parliament had voted the necessary funds to assist m pur chasing the main portion of the Exhibition building, has been added to the Museum, and is to be thrown open to the public on New Year's Day. Invercaroill, December 30. Petitions to the Governor against the calls to the Legislative Council hae been m circulation here since Saturday, and have been eagerly and numerously signed. They already bear some hundreds of names.

A Ghostly Gathering

TII9 black list of prospective absentees, voluntary and involuntary, at the open ing of the New Parliament is quite mel ancholy reading. No less than forty-one European members will " no come back again," to say nothing of poor Sydney, who has been finally elevated. There is a legend at Home that, on the night be fore a new Parliament assembles, the ghosts of those members of the preceding Parliament who died during its progress meet and Iv »ld high debate m the House of Commons. Fortunately our 41 ex-mem bers are all " alive and kicking "—some of them no doubt, kicking hard against the pricks. But one would like to be m the gallery if they should meet on the eve of the next opening. For the last time the stately and familiar figure of Sir Maurice O'Jtorke —outcast of a stupid constituency—would fill the chair. For the last time Sir George Grey would lend the glamour of his presence to the floor, and move the first and last reading of the Law Practitioners Bill. Mr Ormond would lecture on the decadence of things m general and Parliament m particular ; while Mr Larnach would rise to ask the Speaker "if he ever heard of a man called Earnshaw, for he was blessed if he ever did till a month ago." Dr Fitchett would recite aversion of "Brief life is here our portion," m Greek iambics; while the Hon. E. Richardson inaudibly read an old Public Works Statement. Mr Allen would doubtless deliver a lay sermon on the fickleness of popular favor ; and Mr Ross would appear as ever, to be having a private view of the beatific vision. Mr Downie Stewart be moans the inaccuracies and impossibilities which must characterise Acts of Parlia ment passed without the benefit of his in dustrious watchfulness, until the attention of the mournful assembly is suddenly arrested by the sound of long drawn sobs, and J. C. Brown and dear old Vincent are discovered weeping neck on neck, as though their very hearts would break. Then, as morning shows its approach, the whole body of forty-one rise to their feet, give one united prolonged howl, and (after the benediction front Mr James Fulton) sorrowfully disperse,—Dunedin " Star,"

Political Items

[PEK PKESS ASSOCIATION.]

Wellington, December 30,

The Governmeut intend, if they remain m office, to introduce again next session the Bankruptcy Bill, which was read a first time last session.

Captain Russell is also determined to persevere with his Defence scheme if he has a seat m the Cabinet. He contended himself with outlining his proposals m the last Parliament, but intends to put them, on the next opportunity, into practical shape, and take the scheme to a vote.

The Wellington correspondent of the " Lyttelton Times " says :—The question of the Agent-Generalship is the talk of political circles for the moment. The latest phase of the discussion with the man-in-the-street is that this question blocks the Government hopelessly, as it does not see how to solve the problem m the desired way. This points to a recon struction of the Cabinet m some way, but m what way nobody seems to know. It seems at present clear, therefore, if any thing cm be, sa^d to be'clear, that Minis ters 'wojll not resign >^hen. Parliament ifneets, The following is from, to-day's "Lyttel ton Times " ; —lt is probable that Sir H. Atkinson will return tq Wellington cm Friday nes&. Jfehatf proposed paying «

visit to Dunedin, going there to day, but it is hardly likely that this ntentiori will be carried out. An interview m refer ence to the unemployed, which had been arranged for yesterday, fell through owing to Sir Harry's weak state of health.

The Weather

ALFORD STATION The following, is the Meteorological report for the M reek ending December 28th, 1890:— __^

Babyland.

There's a wonderful country we all of us know, Where the strangest things talk and th* queerest things grow, Where the Fairies and Brownies guard everything nice, And delight the small children with charm ing advice; Where there's nobody rich, yet there's nobody poor, For all are content, light of heart and secure, . And the name o? thiß country where these things we see, Is innocent Babyland, land of the wee. I lived m this Babyland, long years ago, (We all of us lived there at some time, you know, But somebody kept me, one morning, from play, And took me to school, as they called it, that day, . I sang as I went, for I guessed nothing j then, And thought myself wise with my book and my pen. Ah ! little I knew as I danced on m glee, That I had left Babyland, land of the wee. They taught me to read and they taught me to write, Then filled my head bo that it thought m the night; I wanted to go back to Babyland then, And have no more bother of thinking again; try as I would to remember the way, 'Twas lost and forgotten forever that day; For none may return once they leave it, and see Their innocent Babyland, land of the wee. Oh ! little folks living m Babyland now, Sing with the birds as they sing on the bough, Dance with the blossoms that dance at your feet, Laugh with each other wherever you meet; Sleep, and m dreaming know naught of the care Kept far away from your Babyland fair ; Know that your happiest hours rausfc be While you are at play m your land of the wee.

Latest Parisan Fashions.

(FUCXI OUR OWN COBRES.PONDJSNT.)

Antique silks, satins, and flowered crocatelles will be at a premium this winter, and any lady having eighteenth century stuffs lying aside would d» well to utilise them m the long waistcoats that are to be so fashionable, as are old lace jabots and dainty frills that will cover the hands as the winter months draw along. A small bow of black moire*, tied under the chin, no matter th.fi color oi the gown or waistcoat, will be the latest of the elegant for the coming season. In the centre of the bow may be placed a jewelled lace pin m old-fashioned mount, or a tiny miniature set with diamonds. Past-century sc.*rfpins, with charm and small pin attached thereto, will be indis pensable with the full-frilled jabots, to give the air of the fifteenth Louis period. Small bonnets not quite so tinjr as hereto fore, and large hats, quite as big if not bigger than ever, share public favor. The latter, m beaver, felt and velvet, sometimes chiselled or stamped, have rather low crowm and broad brims. The brim, caught up tightly at the back with bunches of velvet bows, wings, small birds, ostrich tips, or velvet blossoms, lightly arranged, which, after en circling the crown, finish on the front beneath another tuft-like trim ming, corresponding to the high standing one at the back, only smaller. Little toque hats of plush or velvet are still trimmed partly at the back with plumes, and have a narrow border of real white last, oftentimes turning down upon the brim, others have narrow "cords " of fur, or what is more popular still, a fingerwidth of ostrich feather trimming outlining the shape. Pearl bonnets are the latest nouveauUs seen at the theatres, entire shapes being made of row upon row of beads m the neat Httle capote form so becoming to most faces. Grey pearl bonnets with a little dark velvet, green, dahlia, or nut bronze, are simply exquisite, narrow strings of velvet to match tying them on. Dress fabrics this season are of pleasanter wear than ever, the manufac turers having remembered that the most hygienic clothing consists m that which ensures the maximum of heat to the human body combined with the minimum' of weight to be dragged along by same. And the homespuns, heather mixtures, woolly plaids, and soft sheeny-faced cloths have never been so carefully woven with an eye to woman's comfort as this season. The "Oriza" Perfumery is still the most recherchb of the capital, the essences of that house are a marvel of sweetness and delicacy. In the real beaumonde no other perfume is tolerated, and the "Essence Oriza of the Czar " has made quite a fureur. Paris, October 31, 1890.

Notes for Fruitgrowers.

According to an American authority, strawberries will send their roots from twenty to thirty inches into the ground if it is made very rich and well forked to that depth. Mulching with well-rotted forest leaves, says the writer, saves all necessity for watering, and with the ground prepared and fertilized m this manner the plants will be sure to produce larger, more, and better coloured berries. This is not guess work, but the teaching of practice and experience, An American exchange is responsible for the following : " A resident of Erie P., has a little farm containing about on« ---thirteenth of an acre. On it he has eight peach trees ; which this year produced five bushels ; two quince trees, one-and-a-half bushel; one plum tree, half bushel j four grape-vines, three of whicl^ gave' 220 pounds, and one too young to bear ; one pear tree, two bushels. His strawberry bed gave four bushels of berries. In addition to these fruits he raised all the vegetables except potatoes needed m his family. A correspondent sends th,e Town and Country Journal th,©, following \ the treatment of aiojk peach trees.-81b of common salt and lib of saltpetre dia- I solved m four quarts of water. Take one ! pint for each tree over six years old, and apply with, a brush to the b*rk afleofeed Let it thoroughly, noafc |,i j by doing so the worm witf he destroyed. To ™ otect the whole of the orchard take the same mixture m » dry state, well mixed, anct

strew two buihels to the acre. This pro cess will increase the growth of the fruit, will destroy the worm, and also prevent the yellow blight.

SPORTING.

TINWALD RACES

The following are, " White Choker's " tips for to-morrow's races :—Hurdles— Cymaro 1. Marmion 2, Inchkeith 3. Maiden Pkfcel-Coning* 1, Coinage 2, The Ganger 3. Tinwald Cup-^*Liberator 1, Breadalbane 2, Don 3. Novel Race —Goldfinch 1, Duchess of Albany 2. Welter Handicap—Ben 1, Kinc; ot Ulster 2, Tit Willow 3." Trot—Cascade 1, O n Strike 2, Wakanui 3. Flying Handicap —Breadalbane 1, Ben 2, Kilmaraock 3.

LABOR TROUBLES.

(per. press association.) London, December 29 to 30. The railway strike is stopping sup plies of meat and perishable goods from Scotland for London. The miners at Kilmarnock have joined the strike. The Glasgow free laborers are being intimidated. The London and South-Western Company's men are returning. The North British is the worst off, but the passenger traffic on all the three Nor thern lines has much improved. Non-Unionists who joined the incre ment are dissatisfied at not receiving strike pay, and are returning to work. A sharp skirmish took place at! Motherwell between the police and, pickets who were preventing engine I drivers resuming work. The Blanty»e miners have struck out of sympathy with the railway men. The railway strike is collapsing. The Directors of the Companies affected refuse to re-employ many of their old hands. A National Union of Clerks is being formed.

CORRESPONDENCE.

We do not hold ourselves responsible -for the opinions expressed by our correspondents.)

BOROUGH COUNCIL ELECTION.

TO TH£ EDITOR. Sir,-May I, through your valuable columns, request the ratepayers to take steps for having a public meeting called to allow the four candidates for a seat m oW Borough Council to express their opinions before the election on matters generally affecting the town. I think this is very necessary at the present time. —I am etc.. Dog Tax.

THE COUNTY WATER-RACES

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—l see by your issue of to-day that a motion proposed m the County Council by Mr Harper as follows : " That; m the opinion of this Committee the Council take over the maintenance of all races within the County from the Ist January, 1891," was lost, apparently owing to the belief that the opposition of ratepayers would;.be ■ general. I do net believe that the opposition would be so ! strong as many suppose. It would not be surprising if two sections of ratepayers opjectcd to this charge, viz., those who , live near the upper water-race system, and ; those who dislike any form of expenditure whether remunerative or not; the former because they receive quite sufficient water for their own needs irrespec tive of the state of the water-races, *tid th** latter because they see that if the Council take the matter m hand they will I be compelled to pay their share. For the last two autumns farmers between the Hinds and Rangitata rivers have been unable to depend on a constant supply of water m the terminal races. If a race is likely to run dry at the very time it its most needed, it is practically useless, and it seems unfair that m such cases the owner should be rated on the same basis as his more favorably-situated neighbours above, by whose neglect he probably suffers. Judging by my own district, I believe that the proper cleaning of races is very much neglected, and either the ranger is to blame, or, as is probably the case, h« has a greater mileage to attend to than can be effectively done by any one man. The question i«-Do the Council intend to compel the proper yearly cleaning of races ? If so, and they vigorously enforce it, as suggested by Mr Priedlander, I am convinced it would cost the ratepayers more, and would be less effectively clone than if it were made the sole duty of a staff of specialists under the Council. Cleaning races is really skilled labor. At present the work is generally done spasmodically and badly, and often not afc all. Under the Council it would be to the interest of ratepayers to see that their races were thoroughly cleaned as they would be charged the same whether the work were well or ill done. Should the Coun cil take over the maintenance of races the tax will be a direct one ; if they enforce the proper cleaning by the owners them selves it will be a much heavier, but indirect, tax. As there is generally more opposition to direct than indirect taxa tion, even if really lighter, it may possibly repeat itself m this matter. Thanking you for your sp:.#e, I am etc., John Studholme, jr. Coldstream December, 30 1890.

THE MARKETS.

[per press association.]

(Received December 31, 10.25 a.m.) Sydney, December 31. Wheat, chick feed, 3s 4d• milling, 3s lOd to 4s ; oats, feeding, 2s ; potatoes, £5 to £5 10s; onions, £4 10s to £5; butter, dairy-made" 6d, separator-made 7d, factory-made 8d j cheese, loaf size, s§d ; bacon, machine-cured, sid to 6d ; hand-cured, 6d to 7£d; New Zealand, 9d to 9§d ; hams, New Zealand, Is. Melbourne, December 31. Wheat, 3s 7d to 3s 7£d. Adelaide, December 31. Wheat, 3s 8d to 3a Bid;. oats. New Zealand, good feeding, m bond, 2s Id to 2s 2d ; stocks are heavy ; barley, Cape, 2s 3d to 2s 6d ; English, malting, 2s. 6<i to 4a. '

TO-DAY'S TELEGRAMS

[I*ER PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

Dry Sen«»M«, Timaru, December 31. The rainfall here during the last twelve months totalled 15*10 inches, and for the previous year 15*04 inches j e&eh about half the ordinary average.

Latest Cable News

HOME AND FOREIGN.

[per press association.]

(Received December 30, 10.40 a.m.)

PORT OF ZANZIBAR.

London, December 30. England has declared Zanzibar a free port.

FAILURE.

Mr Duhedat, Chairman of the Dublin Stoo^ Exchange, has failed with liabi lities amounting to a quarter of a mßlion.

WINTRY WEATHER.

Sever© frost continues m England

and on the Continent. A heavy fog if i still hanging over London, and the sun .! has not been visible for 30 days.

TREMENDOUS FIRE IN LONDON.

An enormous tire has broken out m the I dock of buildings between Queen Victoria and Thames streets. Bur nett's and Churches warehouses are on tire, and fifty engines are sngaged ia suppressing the conflagration.

IRISH AFFAIRS.

Paris, December 30. -Farnell and O'JBrien are discussing terms, and it ia believed Parnell is dis posed to retire from the present Par h« nient if re-elected leader of the party.

THE INDIAN WAR.

New York ' December 30. While 1000 Indiana were being dis armed at Nebraska they suddenly attacked and killed 20 of the cavalry. A desperate fight ensued, resulting m the destruction of the Indians.

AUSTRALIAN

SHIPOWNERS' ASSOCIATION.

[Received December 31. 11 ».m.l

rru m- Sydnky, December 31. me sailing-ship owners are forming an Association on similar lines to the steam-ship owners. The wharf laborers will admit non unionists as members of the wharf laborers union without payment of entrance fee until February Ist.

SMALLPOX.

Melbourne, December 31. The whole of the crew of the ship Kelton had smallpox and during the voyage from Rio one of the men succumbed to the disease.

DIPHTHERIA AND TYPHOID.

lhere has been a marked decrease m the number of cases of typhoid fever and diphtheria m the city as compared with the records of preceding years. This is partly due to the cool weather which has been experienced during the summer months.

HOT WEATHER.

Brisbane, December 31. Intense heat has prevailed here during the past week. The weather bureau forecasts stormy, weather as imminent from the North-West West and South-West, with rough seas between Wilson's promontory Gabo Island and the Bluff.

WEST AUSTRALIAN PARLIA MENT.

Pbeth, December 31. Parliament under the new constitu tion was formally opened yesterday. Sir J. GL Lec-Steure was elected Speaker. An adjournment was agreed to till January 20th, pending the re-election of two members who have been elected to form the new Ministry.

AUSTRALIAN MAN-OF-WAR.

Albany, December 31. Arrived Australian warship Saida.

An Architectural Mar vel.

The Masonic Temple, says a Chicago paper, will bo an architectural marvel, towering up 20 stories. The roof will be 275 feet above the street grade. The structure, m addition to being a magnifi cent ornament to Chicago, will be the highest m the world. The ground apace it covers has a frontage of 170 feet on State-street and 114 feet on Randolph. All the arts of the present century will be employed to embellish its interior and give it an attractive exterior, and no ex pense will be spared to make it one of the most, if not the most complete structure m existence. No less than 2,000,000d0U will be expended m its construction. The exterior facing of the first two stories will be of granite and those above of ashen gray brick and terra-cjtta. The struc ture will be entirely of steel and abso* lately fireproof, ho far as material and the - skill of man can make it. The grand entrance will be from State street, 42 feet m height, and 28 feet m. width, with a tessellated Roman floor of novel design. This will lead into a rotunda having an area of 3,700 square feet and open to the extreme height of the building finished up to the 275-foot roof with plate-glass and white polished marble. At the rear of the rotunda will be elevators, eighteen m number, arranged m a semi-circle. These elevators will have a total carrying capacity of 40,000 to 45,000 passengere dailyYThree of them will be used for transporting visitors and sight-seers to the observatory, where a beautiful pavilion garden will relieve the eye after the grand panorama of the city and the surrounding lake and country scenery have been viewed. In the . roof parlour refreshments will be served and an orchestra discourse music. Vie novel feature of the interior will be the plan of having retail shops located on several floors. It will be an experi i ment here, but merchants have already applied for storerooms, and we sanguine they will meet with decided favour among the people of Chicago and vicinity. la the basement will be the largest restaur ant m the city. It will be finished elabo rately m marble. An ornate staircase * ill lead into the basement. On the first floor will be spacious waiting-rooms. All the stores facing State and Randolph, streets will have entrances from *>«, rotunda. ' . The floors of the building wil» nofc i^ numbered as m ordinary «fc«w,i««w one of these corridors or avenues, as it L propose^ to can themt Bfcores and officeß ™v be rented. As there are to be no arbitrarypartitions m the building, lessees: can have rooms of any dimension, vary ingfrom lOx 14 to 60x 100, largeenough for a cigar stand or a pretentious shopping; emporium. Above the sixteenth story the floors will be devoted to the use of the Masonic Order. Tbe seventeenth and eighteenth floors will be occupied by the Masonic rooms and a drill ball large enough to seat 1500 people. A gallery will extend around the large hall. 9|ln addition to several hundred offices, the building will contain over 100 lodge rooms, some of them having seating capacity for over 1000 people,' and will be superbly decorated. It is expected that the temple will beready for formal dedication by May 1, 1892.

f jjl ASHBUBTON GUARDIAN, WEDNESDAY; DECEMBER 31, 1890



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Holloway's Pillb. -Changes of tempera. ture and weather frequently upset persons who are most carefal of their health and particular m their diet. These corrective purifying and gentle aperient pill, are the best remedy for all defective action of the digestiveprgaßs. They 'augment the appetite, ■trengthen the stomach, correct biliousness* and carry off all that is noxious from thL system. Holloway's Pills are composed. % fr rare balsams, unmixed with bwer^niSfar and on that account are peculiaruTweli' adapted for the young, delicate, «*«Fa«d ~ Aa this priceless medicine has iauned> fern» m the past so will it prq*£Ti, m t h«, future by its renovatinc wfr invigoratinii qualities, and the in^psstyUity of i> doing



HOPE FOR THE DEAF A person cured ofdeafness and noise s m the. Head of lqng standing, by a simple Remedy, will b.c. glad to forward a description o^ it free to. anyone who applies., The most tqnishjng quccs hq-ye. lately been, effected. hy the game remedy-. Address: -Nicholson", 175 William Street, Mcl bourne'



"XI U VV Q~H UVI Nt .In o w O.h owi nOr A FASHIONABLE LOT OF Spring & Summer Goods. THE LATEST FASHION, REASONABLE PRICES, GOOD FIT and WORKMANSHIP, ought to ensure a ready sale for those Goods. Come Ertrlr, Ami tivolil. . Tlie JEtaisli iitXma*. Our Customers may depend upon ..ur \ promise that their orders will be finished up to time. ■I. & 13. Craijrfieitri, TANCRED STREET, ASHBURTON. A DANCE will be held m the Orange Hall, To-Morrow JN'ight, Jnn. Ist. Gents, 2s 6d j ladiea free. 13 105 TSHBURTON~SWIMMIInGIC!LUB. A MEETING of those interested m the formation of the above pro posed Swimming Club, will be held m Mr Alfred Harrison's Auction Kooms, at 8 p.m. on WEDNESDAY, 7th Jan., 1891. 12J.03 _____ ST. STEPHEN'S CHURCH, ASHBURTON. NEW YEAR'S EVE, 1890. SERVICE TO-NIGHT at 11.15 p.m. 12 104 10i R E W A R D. T" OST m Ashburton on Tuesday one I J Sheep Dog, black with tan legs, white breast and white on right shoulder, tan dcts over each eye. Answers to name of "Sp»rk." Finder rewarded on application to Mrs Randell, Town Hall, or WILLIAM HARRISON, 12J200 South Rakaia. ANTED Tenders for the erection of a Corrugated Iron Fence at the Cemetery. Specifications may bo seen at the office of Mr J. Ward, Chairman of the Board, to whom tenders must be for warded before 12 o'clock on FRIDAY, th« 2nd January, 1891. 111 180



Wanted CASH Advertisements under this headimr not exce«din SIXTEEN WORDS 1/-. Addresses may be left at this Office 1 GTIf ANDREWS invites the i VY « A Borough Ratepayers to meet him m the Templar Hall on FRI DAY, January 2nd, at 8 p.m. 12 202 "ANTED to sell, small" billiard Table, complete, price nine pounds.—Apply Jamksßakbr, Furniture Warehouse, Havelock Street. 12 190 LOST on Winchmore Road a Brass Cap. Oblige by returning to Steel and Soar, West Street. 12 201 W' ANTED—Raspberries and BJacK currants m auy quantity for cash. Stephen Bros., Market House. 12 199 ~/T~MERICAN Ice Cream ! American J\. Ice Cream daily at H. G. Flower's, Confectioner. Ice kept m stock. ' 11/ ANTED Known -Ladies Stocking \\ with Silk Toes and Heels m black and colors. Is 6cl per pair.—W. H. CaixiKß. ; ANTED Known.- ForD*re«« Stuffs Prints- <fee, Trimmings, to match, go to Melford House. Best value m town. Christmas presents nowgiviiig away.—H. C. SsftKßs^ t iTANTED KnownT—For Sheetings W Tablings, Calicoes, Quilt*, Towels Table Napkins, Tray Cloths, D'Oyleys, Ac, goto Melford House. Presents to every purchaser.—H. C Sbgers. "ORESENTS. —We are now trivintr i presents to every purchaser of Orapery, Clothing, Boots, and cheapest house/in town,—H. C. Segers, Melford House. _, 'yfTANTED Known—The "Strong Jy wear " Boot is the best for Men attics and Children.—W. H. Coj-w^k. W .ANTED every man m the County to have a suit of the Ashburfcoh Tweeds.—-Sobert Arx'ony, Ashburton Clothing Msttt, Saunder's BuikTJDga. —j^^fj~-f^ n< j Vm _"The Cheapest Shop to f«V Tinware and Ofil ranir-ed Iron goods it* Ashbarton, is at IV. F. Kannakout)^, IZmmbt Street. A »n(e stock kept on hand, fin And Jror. WwJrn £oodß nuwle and repaired with des patch j _^. B" OOfgTBOOTS\ you* feet Dry ah 4 Have Doctor's Bills. !lw<reJi .spiendwt S-fcock m now. Try my .i^tißlifle-soled Slw^feiv. Every pair G-warMweod. Robktct At/soijN, Ashbur- CloAJaui? Mart, S.-vunders* Psiilclhn'S, (



■ ...— ■, - nummnfrt——r»"»ii i .'*Hdnw*Hd James Baker TIMBER MERCHANT, HAVELOCK STREET Opposite Harrison's Auction Mart, TTAS IN STOCK Large Supplies of— Building Timber Stakes and Posts, Galvanised Corrugated Iron, Builders Ironmongery, Turnery. Furniture and Fancy Goods IN ENDLESS VARIETY. FURNITURE MADE TO ORDER IN ANY DESIGN AT SHORTEST NOTICE. S«le Agent m Ashburton for Clegg's Perambulators. HNIHII BARGAII. A NDREW r\ RR HAS opened up a Splendid Show OF New Goods IN ALL DEPARTMENTS. Beautiful Assortment OF FANCY GOODS, Suitable for Presents. LADIES', GENTS', and CHILDREN'S Boots and Shoes GREATLY REDUCED. ANDREW ORR. Spring and Summer, 1890. BUY YOUR CLOTHING FROM THE NEW ZEALAND CLOTHING FACTORY Men's Colonial TWEED SUITS. Boys' and Youths' Colonel TWEED SUITS at prices to suit everybody. HATS.—We keep the Largest and Best Selection Hats made to measure. SUITS MADE TO MEASURE. Beat workmanship put m every garment, and a perfect fit guaranteed. Large Selection of Boys' Knicker Suits. Ties, Shirts, Collars, Braces. &c. 5 m Latest Fashion slid Style. Bust Vat,ue for Cash m District JE'f Z E A I A N D CLOTHING FACTORY Agent for the Wonderful Wertheim Sewing Machines W. H WEBBER Manar;eri