The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 1890. FEDERATION.

The Federation movement does not appear to interest the majority of New Zealanderstoanygreatextent. Colonists generally appear to think, whether Federation takes place or not among the Australian Colonies, the question is outside the domain of practical politics in New Zealand. Our insular position renders it almost an impossi bility that any system of Legislative or Executive Government can be de vised which will permit of our affairs being managed by anyone so well as by ourselves. A' Federal Executive, sitting in Australia, under no con cervable conditions at present could give satisfaction to New Zealand. This appears to be the firm belief of nine-tenths of New Zealanders, and the pregress of the Federation move ment in the neighbouring colonies is therefore watched curiously, rather than from the standpoint, of its pos sible' or probable effect upon this colony. New Zealand, at her own desire, and with the. tacit ccmsent of the Federating colonies,.has decided.to hold aloof from the movement. But the question is, nevertheless, one of serious importance to our farmers and dairy producers. - Should the Aus tralian Federation movement be worked out to a successful issue—and of this there appears |to be little doubt— New Zealand will suffer in a greater or lesser degree by having a grain and produce market close to her own door wholly or partially closed. The most hopeful of those who trust to the magnanimous promises of the promoters of this mpvemebt cannot fail to realise that, if the Australian Federated Colonies adopt a prohibition Protective tariff against the whole world, New Zealand will not be exceptionally treated. Having been offered the opportunity to federate, and having refused to do so, what is more natural than that Australian farmers, manu facturers, and artisians will take steps to protect themselves against New Zealand competition as well as other outside competition. If, for ex ample, South" Australia, as a mem ber of the Federal Union, urges that her farmers are being injured by the competition of New Zealand farmers in Australian ports, what is more likely than that Customs machinery will be put in opera tion to shut New Zealand out? Although it is quite true that the Federal movement has arisen, in large measure, in order to 2 }ut an end to the intercolonial Avar of tariffs, there is no guarantee, that, if it suits the interests of Federal Australia to do so, a Protective tariff will not be the basis of operation against outsider?. This phase of the large question of Australian Federation, although a somewhat narrow one when compared with more important principles in volved, requires to be looked fairly and squarely in the face, and when this is done New Zealanders will regret that their insular position prevents them from joining with Australia in building up a r« Lion, and this regret will be all the greater because, in the initiatory stages of the movement, there is a possibility that the friendly commercial relations between ourselves and our neighbors will become less cordial than heretofore. Retaliatory tariffs be tween New Zealand and her neighbors in<iy, it is true, in the future result with equal disadvantage on both sides; but at present, however, disagreeable the confession may be, Australia can better afford to dispense with the New Zealand market for her for fruit and wines than New Zealand can afford to dispense with the Australian markets for her grain and dairy produce, The united population of the colonies at the present time is nearly four millions, and of this number New Zealand can only boast of 600,000. Can we afford to be shut out from commercial intercourse with the re mainder of the Australasian popula tion? This is a question which will assume great magnitude should the first step of the proposed Federation be in the direction of protecting Aus tralian manufactures, grain, and pro duce against New Zealand competition, and it is perhaps, to be regretted that; New Zealand, through her representa tives, withdrew at so early a stage from the movement, and before the full importance of this aspect of the question had been forced upon the people. The New Zealand delegates, by associating themselves with Federa tion up to a certain point, could at least have succeeded in obtaining a more distinct pledge than the Q:ie implied that she would be treated ex ceptionally, and their counsel would, no doubt, have had some influence in shaping the policy of the Union.

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Stanley says that if he had not relieved Emm Bey the latter would now be a common slave in Khartoum. A Jewish conference is to meet to con sider the Anti-Semitic contest going on in Russia and Germany, The Duke of Bedford has spent £20,000 in trying to make cremation popular in England, but so far without suacess, Mr Oswell Livingstone, last surviving son of the great African missionary, died in January. The " Auckland Star " says the Calliope Dock, from a pecuniary point of view, is another Taranaki breakwater—a mighty hole for the burial of borrowed money. During the. past year it is officially com puted that 10.000 persons have emigrated from the Government of Vilna, Russia, chiefly to America. The German people are said to be de manding a reduction in the size of the army. The Emperor, however, is strongly opposed to such a move. Iceland fisherman now carry oil regularly a«*a means of smoothing the waves and enabling them to continue at work in weather in which heretofore their boats could not have lived. In the villages of Northamptonshire a fund has been started from which to pay four pence per dozen for the heads of sparrows, whose damage to the crops has become un bearable. Alfred Reynolds, captain of the Salvation Army, was ftt Dudley sent to gaol for seven days for refusing to pay a fine of 2s for obstruction. Germany has been lmich astonished at learning that every single one of her ships is antiquated, and, in fact, that every ship the country has was old when it was on the stocks,

We remind those interested that a meeting of the Asbburbon Literary and Debating Society takes place this evening at the Templar Hall afc eight o'clock.

The immigration and emigration returns for the colony for May show the arrivals to have been 990, and the departures 1850, leavingl a balance against the colony of 860.

We were slightly m error in stating in our notice of the recent land sales that Mr W. T. Lill was the purchaser of Mr M. Mahoney's Raheen farm at Willowby. The purchaser was Mr Jonathan Sowden, of Dunsandel, and the agent Mr Bullock.

At the eight-hours demonstration dinner in Melbourne, ex-Councillor Cain asserted that, as a matter of fact, it must be admit ted that although the eight hours system was concreted in Melbourne, it was origi nated prior to 1856 in New Zealand.

It is charged in London that the Salva tion Army there has pursued a systematic and successful scheme to obtain property by taking advantage of the sudden enthusiasm for the cause by disciples, who are induced to part with their possessions to their subse quent bitter regret.

A cyclist was accidently shot near Market Dray ton by a Bportsman who mistook his cap rising just above the hedge for a bird. The cyclist received 26 shots, mostly in his head, and was laid up for three months. At the Birmingham-assizes he was awarded £175 damages.

A gentleman in-London; has just been granted a divorce, his wife having married twice since he led her to the altar. A short time ago the three husbands confronted the lady in the Divorce Court, when the second and third marriages were dissolved. She has now been deprived of her third husband.

- One early result af Prince Bismark's re tirement : (saya " Truth ") will be a recon ciliation between the Emperor William and the Duke of Cumberland, who will obtain the three millions of King George's private fortune which the Prussian Government seized in 1866.

Messrs L. F. Andrewea and Co. have a large stock of " Le Figaro Illustre " (English edition, 1887-88), which they are selling at the exceptionally low price of 2s 6d per copy. "Le Figaro Illustre "is the foremost of French pictorial publications, and the English retail price is 3s 6d, while the colinial price is 5s

Belgian farmers have liecome alarmed at the way in which the frogs are being ex terminated by French pot hunters, and have petitioned the King to forbid killing frogs during certain months of the year, as is done with other game. The farmers re gard the frogs as valuable slug and insect destroyers.

When one of the men of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, named Edward Perry, was exer cising with a breech-loading gun in the barracks of Loughrea, and another soldier, named Matthews, was giving him the word of command, the gun discharged, and the contents blew off part of Matthews' head. The men did not know that the gun was loaded.

M. Chamberlain, the " colaborator" of M. Pasteur, assisted by M. M. Cadeac and Meunier, it is reported, have just completed experiments to show that the essence of cinnamon destroys the bacilli of typhoid fever in twelve hours. The same pre paration diffused in living rooms would be equally efficacious in the destruction of morbid gems.

The Rink season is now in full swing once more in Ashburton, and there was a good attendance on Thursday evening at the Rink. The ladies seem to be much better up in the art of skating than tho gentlemen, who could do with a little more practice. A fancy dress Carnival is to be put oil the boards as soon as possible. Four entries were taken for the championship, which takes place on the 26th instant.

Apropos of the trial of Keir and Hunt's potato digger, the following advertisement published by the Minister of Agriculture for Victoria —Mr John L. Dow—may be read with interest by local inventors and others : —Reward for an Improvkd Machixe for Digging Potatoes^ — A sum of £250 is offered as a reward for the invention of an improved machine for efficiently, cheaply, and rapidly digging, without injury, and placing in rows or heaps, potatoes ready for bagging. Intending competitors must give notice in writing of intention to compete not later than the 20th October, 1890, to the Secretary for Agriculture, Melbourne, from whom full particulars may be obtained.

At a meeting of shop assistants and others held last evening at Mrs Pearson's rooms, Triangle, to consider the re-establishing of the Wednesday half holiday in Ashburton, although the meeting was not altogether a representative one, yet a good number rolled* up, and several apologies were received from assistants. It was decided to ask the sympathy and counsel of employers to aid this movement, and in order to carry out this suggestion it was proposed that the Rev Mr. Scott, Mr Collier, and Mr Segers be asked to wait upon the business houses and elicit their opinions. Mr H. H. Stephens, who accepted the office of secretary pro tern., was instructed to inform those gentlemen of the Avishes of the meeting, which was then adjourned until further notice.

The programme at the usual fortnightly meeting of the Ashburton Presbyterian Church Musical and Literary Society last evening consisted of music, songs, read ings, and recitations. These were given by members and friends, aim the audience was a good one; Several new members were elected, and Mr W. Craighead filled the chair in the absence of the President. Piano sqlos were gi\;en by Misses Orr and Grubb, a flute solo by Mr Dowell, songs by Misses Smith and Kidd, and Messrs Lane, Kersel, Milli^-, McGninness, E. Craighead, and Flower. Mr William Malcolm, gave, a very interesting and amusing Scotch reading, Mr Lewis recited "Mary Queen of Scots," and Mr Potter " Lady Godiva." Both these pieces were given with good effect and fine elocu tion. Miss Kidd kindly acted as pianist for the various singers, and altogether a very pleasant evening was passed by all,

The London newspapers have been lately full of great events to take place in the future, manyjof them of a startling character and all crowded into so short a space of time as to afford enough sensation for anybody. During the next 11 years we are to lose India and Ireland, while Europe will change her 23 kingdoms into 10. In 1892 Napoleon (can it be poor old "Plon Plon?") is to become King of the Greeks and make a seven years' covenant with the Jews—which is not a pleasant commercial look out. On sth March, 1896, no less than a gross of thou sands of Christians (144,000) will be carried up alive into the skies, notwithstanding which manifestation " millions of them will be massacred (by Plon Plon) during the 1260 days from August 1897, to January, 1901." In April of that year, perhaps on the Ist of April, there will arrive the millennium. All this and more is prophesied by the daily papers, in their advertisement columns, through the agency of an encerprising and far-sighted divine. He has revised all the dates, from the usual sources, and may be credited with having selected a more strik ing programe than any of his predecessors in the same line of business. All that is want ing is illustrations. v.One would like to see pourtrayed tlie Red Horse of Universal War (coloured) and the Flights of Scorpion Locusts which will positively (though not "by desire ") make their appearance in 1896.

Statutory Declaration. —I, Franz Raabe, Ironbark, Sandhurst, in the colony of Vic toria, Australia, do solemnly and sincerely declare that on the 25th June, 1877, my son Alfred, six years of age", was accidentally hurt with an axe on his knee. lat once took all pains to secure medical assistance. How ever, hi spite of all efforts, on ' the 27th August, 1877, the opinion was given by Dr Macgillivray that an amputation of the injured limb had become imperative, in order to save life. At this juncture I called on Messrs Sander and Sous, procuring some of their Extract of Eucalyptus Globulus, and by the application of the same I had the satisfaction of seeing my son within a fort night o\it of all danger, and to;day he is recovered. I may just add that it was when the crisis had been reached that th& Extract referred to was first applied, and I make this solemn declaration, etc.—Franz Raajje. Declared at Sandhurst, in the colony o, Victoria, Australia, this seventeenth day of October, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven, before me, Moritz Colin, J.pj —(AclYfc.) 6 "

CORRESPONDENCE.

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

SHEEP DOGS.

TO THE EDITOR.

'Sir, —We are perfectly certain (my mate and I) that Mr Herring's letter has not been replied to ere this by practical shepherds, simply because shepherds have been waiting to see it done by abler hands. We regret thatTa reply has not been sent to you by abler pens than ours. On the general principle that one can have too much of anything—even liberty uncon trolled by law and reason would cease to be liberty—we agree with Mr Herring that there is no necessity for any shep herd to have a following of dogs as numer ous as a pack of hounds. Granted that Mr Herring may have been put to incon venience, and may even have suffered loss through too many dogs coming upon his farm ; granted also that there are shep herds incapable of training dogs or keep ing trained ones under control; granted, moreover, that some are selfish enough to care nothing at all about the mischief their dogs may do to neighbors, ao long as they themselves escape the conse quences—these reasons are not sufficient to warrant a sweeping condemnation. of what Mr Herring calls "horrid dogs" in general. What would muaterers do with out their dogs ? Could mustering be done at all without dogs ? It ia all very well I for Mr Herring, sheep farming on flat country, to cry out against shepherds and their dogß, but did he ever have any prac tical experience of shepherding on the upper ranges ? Did he ever find himself in such country, with a large mob locked in a rocky crevice? Would two dogs suffice him there ? In such country, too, did b.6 ever find himself with only a pannikin or so of oatmeal left for rations, and so dependent on his dogs to run down wekas for his own and their food 1 He instances Mr McMillan's ability to muster the Mesopotamia country with only two dogs per shepherd. No doubt Mr Mc- Millan believes what he told Mr Herring. Perhaps Mr Herring will pardon your present correspondents —themselves musterers —for taking the story with the proverbial grain of salt. Practical men know that mustering cannot be done with either comfort or expedition on high country without at least three dogs—and we contend for no more. But dogs do not last for ever, and the places of the old dogs must be supplied by young ones, and these must be trained. Then, again, we often have to leave good dogs that have become footsore in work ing over stony country, and these we sometimes get back ; but sometimes we don't. Still, the work must go on If the driver is to make a living.

Cs Mr Herring prepared to tell us that he could so manage a large" flock of sheep without a dog that, like the Scriptural sheep, they would know his voice and follow him ? We hardly think he could. The days of the sheep kings who rose and saluted the rising sun, and offered morn ing sacrifices upon rural altars are in the very far past, and sheep are - not now led, but driven, and there must be enough dogs for the flock. There are men in this Colony, as well as at Home, who have grown grey at the work of tending sheep, and they would no more think of being without the "shepherds' friend" than they would be without their daily bread. With all due deference to Mr Herring and his acknowledged sheep wisdom, we take ttfo liberty of believiug jbluifc our sheep wis dom—so far as working sheep on the road is concerned—is as great as hjs own, gained as it is by practical experience, and while we regret the existence of the sel fish, the brutal, and the careless among shepherds, as we do the existence of such people among all classps of men—sheep farmers included —we still claim ; that no good shepherd can do his work' properly among large mobs of sheep in difficult country without at least three dogs.—We are, etc., Two Shepherds.

The Labor Troubles.

[per press association.]

London, June 12,

Mr Cecil Raikes, Postmaster-General, has (suspended and imposed a fin& on one hundred postmen who attended the Union meeting. The decision has caused a great commotion at the Central Post Office. . Paris, June 12. Six thousand miners at St Etienne, a town in the Department of Loire, have gone out on strike. Auckland, 12. The Lumpers' Union have objected to the coaling of the Union Company's steamers at Russell by Maoris, who were lately engaged for this work. When the Maoris came alongside the Tarawera, which was about to coal, the purser informed them that their services were not required. Oamaru, June 12. Steps are to be taken to form a Laborers and Trades' Union here. TimAßtr, .] une 12. A check occurred to-day in the working of the New Zealand Company's ship Abercarn. The ship commenced to dis charge 600 tons of ballast with the crew, when the wharf laborers gave notice they would not empty the trucks nor load the vessel if the crew, worked. The ballast agent and master gave way, and the laborers set to work in the afternoon. The laborers claim they should work the ballast, as this is straightforward, while in stowing cargo, there is much broken time.

A Distinguished Engine- Driver.

"Atticus" in the "Leader," writes:— " Colonial Governors have commonly shown a disposition to make themselves useful whenever afforded a chance ; but in rospect to driving they have, as a rule, preferred a four-in-hand to a locomotive, Earl Kintore has just set a different example. Last Friday week, at Gawler, the first complete locomotive turned out in South Australia was given its initiatory spin, and Hia Excellency was the driver. The engine was gaily decorated, of course, and after traversing the Gawler streets from the workshop where it was erected to the railway station under the Governor's guidance, was hitched in front of the train containing a bevy of invited guests, and sped over some twenty-five miles of the metropolis. Some of the passengers would perhaps have preferred a less, aristocratic driver, but His Excel lency is no amateur. At the Gawler banquet he informed his audience that he had been connected with railway work, one way or another, all his life, and claimed to know a little about it. He referred to the day, in his earliar career, when clad in a white working jacket, he was put under tuition in a railway shop, since which time he has enjoyed ample opportunities of getting on friendly terms with engines. His Excellency is reported to have handled the locomotive on the journey to Adelaide like a professional, and we shall probably shortly hear of his being elected an honorary member of the local engine drivers union. It is aot every Governor that knows a trade by which he could earn a livelihood if the worst came to the worst.'

There is now to be seen in the shop window of Messrs J. Scaly and Co., East street, a collection of apples showing some of the sorts grpwn at the nurseries, Eiverbank, that will repay inspection by any one who contem plates planting fruit plants. There are upwards of fifty different kinds shown, all valuable, long keeping sorts. J(1or size, color, and general excellence they arc by far the finest tha,t have been shown in Ashbui'tou fch

Ashburton Live Stock Market.

Mr D. Thomas (late of Matson Cox and C 0.,) reports upon the live stock market for the Ashburton district, for the week ending June 12th, as follows :—On Tues day, at the Ashburton Yards, I held my usual weekly sale of sheep, cattle, and pigs. There was a total entry for the day of 7600 sheep, 26 head of cattle, and 2 pigs, of which I sold 3546 sheep, and 7 head of cattle. The attendance of buyers was quite up to the average, but bidding was rather slack, and several lines were passed in unsold. I am glad to notice that a better demand is springing up for good lines of crossbred and merino owes, which have been somewhat neglected for some time past. The following were the prices realised:—For medium fat cross bred ewes, 8s 9d to 9s ; merino ewes, 4s 8i to 5s 6d ; boilers, 2s to 2s 6d. I also sold privately, 3000 2-tooth crossbred ewes and wethers, and 1000 merino ewes in lamb, at satisfactory prices. In cattle a very poor market, with prices rather below last sale.

The Egyptian Question.

[per press association.]

Paris, June 11,

M. Ribot, Minister of Foreign Affairs, speaking in the Chamber of Deputies, said that order had now been completely established in Egypt, and it was time England fulfilled her promise and withdrew her troops from the country.

A Gang of Horse Thieves.

In Arkansas a gang of horse thieves had for the chief assistant a young woman, a bleached blonde ' Sorrel Sue.' She was given this name because she always rode a sorrel horse. Her horse womanship and dashing manner brought her many admirers. Two of her admirers fought, one was killed, and the survivor was severely wounded; A surgeon who was sent for mistook the direction, and walked into the cabin occupied by ' Sorrel Sue.' Before he could be put out he saw certain things which aroused his sus picions. These he reported to the sheriff who with a posse of police surrounded the den of horse thieves, capturing Sue and two of her gang. The sheriff found a horse enveloped in a jacket made out of rubber coats, being treated to a sulphur vapor bath. The appliances were very ingenious, and worked very well. A black or bay horse would be stolen and run into the bleachery. Alter its color was changed and its tail and mane trimmed, the disguise became so pronounced that without any great risk the animal could be taken in daylight through the very district from which it had I been stolen. It was Sue's business not only to superintend the bleaching, but also to ride the animal out of the country.

An Alarming Discovery.

PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

Sydney, June 12,

Government's attention has been drawn to the state of the potato, carrot, parsnip, and peach tree roots, which are infected with insects, and are likely to become a national calamity. The pest is identified as similar to that Avhich devastated large tracts of the best country in Germany and also caused serious damage to crops

in America.

INTERPROVINCIAL.

[per press association.]

Auckland, June 12,

A Chinaman named Ching was nomi nated as a member of the Lake School Committee, but the Chairman declined to accept the nomination.

An old settler named George Simpkins, who arrived at the Bay of Islands in 1840 and was present at the war with Hone Heke, died at Whakatane on Tuesday.

The police have secured lodgings for Mrs James and her children, and intend sending them back to Whangarei by the next steamer. Mrs James has her mother there, but she is destitute, and unable to take charge of her daughter and the three children.

Intimation 4ias been given by Tawhiao to the Natives at Dargaville that he intends to visit that district, and a large meeting is to be held on the occasion.

A man named Patrick Maher, aged about forty years, was found dead to-day in a house in Lome street.

Samuel' Turtle, a well-known share broker, lies at the Hospital in a precarious condition, having fallen down the stairs of the .Masonic Hotel and fractured his skull. ' Sir George Grey left for Wellington to-day. The schooner Fleetwing has been seized in satisfaction of a bottomry bond ob tained at New Caledonia for repairs. The bailiffs are on board. Wellington, June 12. Advices were received here by the last English mail that Arthur Knox Malony, formerly a miner of Otago, who proceeded to Ireland some two years ago to claim some valuable family estates, has been successful. The Government have decided to pro pose in the House to make an offer to liquidators of the East Coast Settlement foible land required by it. The amount suggested, however, will not be large, as was hoped in some quarters. ' It is understood that Mr J. C. Gavin, i who at present holda the position of Secretary to the Treasury, will be pro moted to the post of Assistant Auditor- General, recently vacated by Mr Batkin ; and Mr J. B. Heywood, Assistant Secre- j tary and Accountant, will succeed Mr I Gavin,

CRICKET.

AUSTRALIANS v NOTTINGHAM.

[per press association.]

(Received June 13,. 12.30 p.m.) London, June 12. There is fine weather and a fast wicket for the match Australians v Notts county, which was begun at Nottingham to-day. The Home team went first to the wickets, and have lost one wicket for 61 runs.

It will be in the recollection of the public that my collection of, apples shown in Mr Clayton's shop in East street, being sixty-six varieties, and a,lso those which took two first awards at the Dunedin Exhibition and various other places, was pronounced to be the largest and best ever shown in the Ash burton county. I would draw then atten tion my advertisement elsewhere. As , 'only work on blight-proof stocks than which n other stocks can be relied upon, the roots of my apple trees do nob require to be washed before sending out. James Porter,"nursery man, Allenton,—(Advt.)

Holloway's Pills.—lnvalids stractedcl by indigestion and discouraged in their search for its remedy should make a trial of this never-failing medicine. A lady, long a martyr to dyspeptic tortures, writes that Holloway's Pills made her feel as if a bufden had been taken off her. Her spirits, formerly low, have greatly improved; her capricious appetite has given place to healthy hunger ; '■ her dull, sick headache has departed, and gradually so maryellous a change been effected that she is altogether a new creature, and again fit for her duties. These pills may be administered witli safety to the most ' delicate. They never act harshly, nor do they . ever induce weakness; they rightly dileot ' dci'angcd, a d control excessive, action, I

The African Question.

[PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

Berlin, June 11

Bismarck, in the course of an inter view, said there was no need for England and Germany to come into collision in Africa. Lord Salisbury was wiser than Stanley.

London, June 11. Parleying between England and Germany over the East African ques tion has been abandoned pending pertain concessions being granted.

A Catholic on the Education Question.

At St Joseph's Cathedral, Dunedin, on Sunday evening, Bishop Moran, in the course of his discourse, referred to the education question, and in the course of his remarks said: —

There are some people to be still found in this country who hold that as Govern ment has established a secular system of education of which Catholics may avail themselves if they please, Catholics have consequently no reason to complain of being obliged to contribute to the support of this system on the ground that they do not avail themselves of it. These gentlemen say the public'schools are as open to Catholics as to all others, and it is their own fault if they do not enter in as well as others. - This is one of the few secularist arguments of former days that still lives ; whilst other arguments, such as the police arguments, have' been long ago abandoned. This one too ought to.be, •given up: it Is no more valid than the abandoned ones... In the old bad penal days the Protestant, churches, to the maintenance of which Catholics were compelled to contribute, were open to Catholics as well as to all others, and their not using them was entirely voluntary on their part, and for this reason many held that no in justice was done to Catholics in com pelling them • to pay tithes to the Anglican parson. This species of reasoning has long since been given up, and is now re garded as the mere subterfuge of bigotry and tyranny. But what is the difference in the case of churches and that of schools? To compel men to pay for a church in which they do nob believe is regarded as an interference with religious liberty, and, therefore, not to be thought of. But in the eyes of Catholics t6 compel men .to pay for the maintenance of* a system of education which they believe to be dan gerous to faith and morals is equally opposed to religious liberty. Catholics look upon the system of education in this country as an attack on their religious liberty, and as no less edious, and oppre sive, and unjust, than the tithe system against which they so long and fiercely contended, and over which they in the end gained a complete victory. If Catho lics could, with a safe conscience, avail themselves of the public schools, they would gladly do so. Does any man sup pose that it is for mere opposition sake they annaally make great sacrifices of money, time, and labor in an effort to provide Catholic schools for their own children ? If such a man exists, he must be a curiosity indeed. Catholics can no more accept the public school system of this colony than they can accept the Anglican or Presbyterian Church system ; and consequently it is tyranny, injustice,' and an invasion of their religious liberty to compel them fco contribute to the main tenance of this system. For this reason it is that they demand, in the shape of a subsidy, an equitable equivalent ior -the sums abstracted from them in support of it. They have justice and equity and the principle of religious liberty on their side cirying out for the concession of what they ask, to say nothing of the policy of such a concession. These opponents,j3oncerning whose objection I have already spoken, ate not our only opponents. There are, it appears, some high-souled and com prehensive statesmen amongst us, who, realising the injustice done to Catholics by the puMic school system, nevertheless refuse us redress on the principle that an injustice may and ought to be done when the public good demands it. There is some extraordinary confusion of ideas here. The old and universally ac-. cepted principle formerly, and in less advanced times, recognised by. all pub licists was fiat justitia ruat 'ccelum. Our idea is that no matter what the conse quence, justice should in all cases and under all circumstances be done. Justice is an imperative and an inexorable virtue, a breach of which can never .be allowable ; s,nd we have yet to learn how the public good or any good can be promoted by injustice. On the contrary, there is nothing, and can be nothing, bo injurious and so destructive to the public good as injustice—nothing so fatal to order, con tentment, good government, and pro sperity. . Then,, again,; who» are. these ■gentlemen who set. up to pronounce infallibly as to what consti-. tutes the public goodi These gentle men tell us in effect that the public good of New Zealand requires a system-of godless education, demands that in public schools children should be taught to ignore the existence of God, of Christ, of, the church, of the Ten Commandments; of even natural religion, and the history: of religion in all times and all countries. The public good of New Zealand must -be a strange thing—a comical requisite.!. I suppose there 1, are some statesmen in .England and Scotland—of course Ireland is not to be considered, —some few states men in Canada, Germany, and Austria, to say nothing of the secondry States of the Old Worid. But these statesmen do not think that in the systems of educa tion in these countries—which are all based on religion and in which Catholic schools are recognised by the State and at least aided—there is anything detrimental to tlie public good. On the contrary, it is precisely because experience haa ■ taught them that the public good is best promoted by religious education and by doing even-handed justice to all on the education question that they are unani mous in upholding these systems. Is there anything in the atmosphere of New Zealand that so revolutionises human nature that what is found to be necessary elsewhere is positively injurious here ? So far as I can judge, the only difference is that there is less common sense and more blind, unmeaning bigotry here than else where. But the third, and crowning objection is that if Catholic schools are treated justly and Catholic taxpayers get some value for their money the present public school system will be destroyed. I do not .think such a result wquld follow. The experience of England, Scotland, Ireland, Canada, and the continental States before alluded to confirms me in this con- Tiction. But admitting for argument sake that such a result would follow, 'what of it ? Are the people of New Zealand ao poor in intellectual resources as to be unable to devise a just and equitable system of education 1 Is no other system but a godless one —a system full of injustice, and which requires^ according to the uni versal conviction, numerous amendments —possible to the people of New Zealand ? Are the people of this country content to be written down as stupids,' and incapable of devising any other system than that which now lies so heavily on the country 1

Great Fire In Russia.

EIGHTEEN THOUSAND PEOPLE

HOMELESS

[per press association.]

Astrakhan, Juno 11,

Terrible fires, attended with serious loss of life and great destruction to pro perty, have occurred in the Ural dis trict. One thousand houses were burnt, forty persons perished, in. the flames, and 18,000 people have been rendered homeless. - .

Inoculation, for Pleuro.

Writing to a friend in, Scotland, Mr Walter Gamson, Norley;.Thargomindale, an Australian stockowner, . gives the following account of his experience of pleuro and inoculation:—Pleuro broke out here very suddenly in ,1886, .owing, I believe, to infection got from travelling cattle, as a good many of the stores were full of it. After losing over 1Q0& head I set to work to inoculate, and stopped it - almost immediately. We put 1 through some 29,000 in a month sinice I. have inoculated my "weaners," until lately, when the supply of virus failed. How ever, I have sent to Brisbane to get. the prepared virus, and if it acts<l will let you. know,, The plan we '- take is, when the beast is at the proper stage shoot him in the head 1." If you fire behind tJie^fchpulder the blood will get mixed with the virus, making it useless. The animal must be bled well, as if it were for beef. Cut the hide; from the second to the "fifth *ffo and skin quite close to the ribs, then cut and throw back the second, third, fourth, and fifth -nbs, : and -you- have the lungs exposed. If the- beast is at the proper stage the'; lung will be streaked all over, with a light yellow fluid, the color of sherry or salad oil. You will also find this liquid round the lung, and probably, some sticking to the ribs, con gealed, but which becomes liquid when shaken in a bottle, and does not congeal again. Cut the lung in"' thin slices into some. vessel, af terwards^put the slices into fine muslin or calico'and squeeze the remaining virus , the: liquid* from round the lung and on the ribs,as well. ,-After it has been well strained it''is reaiiy for use. Should you wish to" keep .some part of the fluid, strain through rough powdered charcoal, afterwards passing it/ through muslin. But - the' bottles, used J to store it must be' perfectly clean. Use "'black bottles,. with stoppers, to exclude.light as well as air, if' f possible^ We bury it, but . I can't say .it . keeps well here. >. In applying; the matter, we use both the. seton and; the knife. I prefer the former. 'f With unskilled hands it is much safer. -We use an inoculating needle with either worsted or , twine soaked in virus and passed into theouter side of the tail, abbut:2£ to 13 inches from point, taking care to drawv blood. The whole thing is very simple,- but cattleoper ated upon require watching, as occasion ally the tails require cutting off;-; If the virus prepared in Brisbane acts, 1 *I will have every calf branded and inoculated. I have now 32,000 head of cattle* here and not a sign of pleuro in the herd, 1 so I have substantial cause to believe in inoculation, though some cattlemen tell you it is no use. I have done it "ever since I began to work amongst cattle, and always found it act beneficially.

An Island Massacre

Some months ago we heard by cable message from Australia of the massacre at Minatotfca Island, on the New Guinea coast, of the crew of the cutter Ysabel. The sad news, has since been fully con firmed, and the particulars published in the Australian papers. The massacre took place as long back. as August last year. When the cutter, arrived' at the island, the natives at first seemed friendly, but one day, as a party on shore were re turning to the vessel, they^ were set upon by a horde of natives and murdered. Those on board the cutter tried to escape by slipping their anchor, and running out to sea, but the wind failed them,, and six heavy war proas dashedalongside,andthe crew, to a man, were exterminated.- The bodies were afterwards eaten, and the heads exposed on posts. The victims of the massacre were Captain John. Cundee Warltere^iged 29, who leaves W widow and two children ; Mr W. E. Hope, unmarriedj aged 42: Mr Hodley Cottrell, unmarried, aged s}or; and Mr:WVE. Fitz gerald Spencer, a nephew oiEarl Spencer, aged 28, ,probahly unmarred;. and two Australian aboriginals.' Captain John Strachan, of the schooner Enyy;j has, been j. twice to Minatotta since the massacre oc curred, and has ascertained every detail from the natives ; themselves,, beings well acquainted with their language.;,? Captain Strachan also ; swears to having.-.-seen a peculiar gold seal ring, known to h»ve been ,worn by Capt.-WarHJers, ;on,i^he^and of the Raj ah; of Mmaj»tte'siayorite^ife.; This ring he has promised, if possible; ife>.ipro-. cure on. his return.. M.M-S., Cordelia waa sent • to,.Dutch«New^: GuiiieavjtltJblKwko searching enquiries, -. butrjißa-oTirtMJied, having failed to get any intelligence of the Ysabel. Thelizzieandthe Elseaj^from Cooktown, are also missirig/and ■ •re'^up posed to; have jmet the sam^ fa^e as the Ysabel at two Islands called Skirwa and Feloma, nob 20 ; miles from Minatotta. The number of their' crews has not yet been ascertained. ,,_..,„„,. ■,

LEPERS.

Mr Jonathan Hutchison, one; of > the Society of Friends, has taken a great in terest in the treatment of lepers, and he' has enunciated a theory that their disease is caused by a too exclusively fish diet. He points out that.; the places where leprosy is indigenous are either on theses coast or in proximity to r rivers or lakes. He considers the evidence, certain that the poison producing the disease gains access to the body in the form of food, and this must be .fish, including molluces, crusta ceans, and all living denizens of water, both salt and fresh. It seems to him very probable that fish, caught in the warm waters of the tropics, are more dangerous than those from Arctic or temperate seas, and that all kinds of preserved, .or, salted fish, or fish in a.partial state of decompose-; tion are more risky than those which are fresh andsound. The j theory looks" like i one that has been evolved jfrom, the- inner consciousness of its author. rt He has jbeen answered by a Hindu, who says he knows" several persons in India belonging to the. Brahmin ca.stg, who are the subjects of t&e disease, and Brahmins as a class are pure . vegetarians,, .and'do'not,;eat fish. He •*■ positively declares that tliese lepers never . ate,fish in their lives. The s.tatements of < the, Hindu may be accepted^JjufJevi* dence, while those of the theorist are mere fancifes. No doubt particular kinds x of diet may'have k. predisposing influence, but the disease-isjinfec^qupy- and there is no need .to loot for any othpr cause! /They . disease does not,,spreacl where,the pre disposing influences areabsent.; Itshould be .quite possible to stamp out,the disease wherever the Government, is disposed'to . undertake the task,', provided, of . that arrangements" are made. for lafletiat ingfche miseries of those who must be sufferers aslong as "they live. • j . JF 'Z r

TMfi ASHBUETOtf fttJARIMAN, FEIDAY, JTOE 13, 1600.



Public Notices. tmp'ortant" \totioe Important iM otice MESSRS HALLENSrEINBROS & CO, Proprietors of the NEW ZEALAND CLOTHING FACTORY AT ASHBURTON Invercargill, Gore, Milton, Onmaru, Timaru, Dunedin, Christchurch, Hoki tika, Greymouth, Reefton, Westport, Kelson, Wellington, Napier, Hastings, Waipawa, Gisborne, Palmerston North, Wanganui, Hawera, New Plymouth, Thames and Auckland, Have arranged to FLOAT THEIR BUSINESS INTO A COMPANY, To be registered under " The Companies Act 1882 It is a part of the arrangement that STOCKS shall be REDUCED "by £50,000 • before the 15th of June next To effect this the Managers of the vari- Branches throughout the colony have been instructed, in addition to marking out the Goods at Low Prices, to allow 5 per cent on all cash sales amounting to £1 and upwards. . This excellent opportunity of buying oods should not be overlooked, especi ally as it is a well-known fact that the Manufactures of the New Zealand Cloth ing Factory are Superior to Anything in the Market. The sale at the Ashburton Branch is under the management of Mr W. H. WjBBEK. WM. SPARROW TAILOR AND 'WEN'S MERCER EAST STREE PI fit UWThQUTTtEIIH WITM-TEEtS THE CHRISTCHURCH DENTAL SURGERY, Corner of Cashel and High streets. O IV/TYERS AND S^O. SURGEON DENTISTS. And at Dunedin and Westporfc. WE have gained the FIRST AWARD at the Dunedin Exhibition for Artificial Dentures and Mechanical Appli ances for the Mouth, and it is with the greatest confidence that we guarantee the highest class work and perfect fit at the ost moderate cost. A Single Artificial Tooth, 10s. Complete Set — Upper and Lower— temporary and permanent, £10 10s. Naturai, Durable, Comfortable Artificial Teeth Replaced Temporarily al most immediately after the extraction of decayed teeth or stumps without extra fee or charge. Arrangements can be made for part or monthly payments. ADMINISTERING NITROUS OXIDE GAS several times daily for the past ten years, we fearlessly assert that extraction of teeth under its influence is perfectly painless and positively safe Fee for Administration, ss. Extraction, 2s 6d. Artificial Teeth and Dentures made by •ther dentiste repaired or remodelled at small cost. Hours of attendance —9 a.m. to 6 p.m IF YOU WANT GENUINE VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY, TRY W W SPBNCEfCS HE is now offering the best value .. ever had in Ashburton. A large and well assorted stock of DRAPERY, CLOTHING, AND BOOTS Flannel Is a yard. Good heavy dress tweeds all colors B|d per yard. Winter Homespuns 7^d. Cashmeres and Merinos in all colors at very low prices. Blankets, in grey, white, and blue, a\ very low prices. ..., Quilts, calicos, flannels, hollands, and shirtings, Cheaper than ever. Double width white sheeting 7^d. Mens, boys, and youths suits. Soil' '-* shirts, and hats at prices before neve, known. BOOTS, BOOTS, BOOTS. The cheapest Boots and the Best Boots • ever had in Ashburton are at WPW. SPENDER'S THE ARCADE. ' Men's Bluchers 6s lid. Men's shooters 10s 6d. Children's p lent leather slippers, shoes and boots. Extra value very cheap. Ihe best school boots for boys and f iris in Ashburton at W. W. SPENCER'S ARCADE, ASHBURTON



■ WANTED Cash Adowtismeiits under tn-i* keadino, nc£ emoeeding 16 words, ONE SRILLI.\ G Addrrvsearmy be It ft at thli Offi-'' JUST opened, a few ladies plush jackets, newest shapes, very cheap. —H. C. Segers, Melford House. ■i 4 ' AJN ' iLJ Anown.—A special pur * * chase of choice Ladies' Hata at a desperate price.—W. H. Collier. 4t130 ANTED KNOWN.—A few, best quality, Sealette Jackets at Half Price, 25s 6d each.—W. H;* Collier, ' The Corner." 6_64 WANTED to Sell,—Good Mangolds in large or small lots. —Apply to Chas. Doherty, Graham's Road, Tin wald. 6 62 TOP THAT COUGH! By using Flower's Cough Drops. Guaranteed efficacious. Can only be obtained at H. G. Flower's, Confectioner, East Street. 3 191 WANTED every man m the County to have a suit of the Ashburton Tweeds.—Robert Alcorn, Ashburton Clothing Mart, Saunder's Buildings. • ANTED KNOWN.—A lot of Ladies Cloth and Tweed Jackets,, considerably under usual cost price.— W. H. Collier, "The Corner." "rTTANTED KNOWN.—The Cheapest VV House in Ashburton to buy Drapery, Millinery, Clothing, Boots, etc., is H. C. Segers, Melford House. nr^HE Patent Candle Extinguisher can _1_ be Set to Extinguish at any time required ; it will save insurance premiums your.house and your. life, price Is ; Sole Agent for Ashburton.—R. Alcorn, Saunders' Buildings ANTED Known —One hundred and fifty Ladies' and Children' Ulsters bought a great bargain (good! qualities), now selling very cheap—H. C. Segers. Melford House. WANTED Known—The Cheapest Shop to buy Tinware and Gal vanised Iron goods in Ashburton, is at W. F. Hannaford's, Burnett Street. A large stock kept on hand. Tin and Iron ware goods made and repaired with dcs patch rrr ANTED KNOWN.—Mrs M. L. V V Eliassow and Miss Henlt, (late of the D.LC. Christchurch), have com menced business as Milliners and Dress makers, in East Street, two doors from Mr Sbqers. Ladies favoring them with orders will find them carefully carried out and the work executed in the latest style. A perfect fit guaranteed. Charges moderate. 6 46 Public Notices. DANCING CLASS. A DANCING CLASS will be held in the Waterton Library every FRI DAY Evening, commencing from Friday NEXT, the 13th inst. 6 47 "^TOTICE— All persons found Trespas J_\| sing in pursuit of game or other wise on the Riversdale Estate on and after this date will be prosecuted. J. E. WILLIAMS. Riversdale, 24th May. 5 176 LOWCLIFF ESTATE. ~" fT^ENDERS are invited for clearing JL about 250 acres. Tenders received till SATURDAY, sth July. J. R. BRODIE, 6J33 Manager. SALE OF BOOKS, STATIONERY, &c, At L. F. ANDRE WES AND Co.'s. OUR Stock being far too large we are determined to reduce same by Selling Off at Greatly Reduced Prices for CASH only. A discount of 4s in the £. A large stock of Music at less than half price. Inspection invited. L. F. ANDREWES & CO. Stationers' Hall. RINK D£ PARIS TO-MORROW SATURDAY. Entries for the Championship open. Maypole practice. Skaters wishing to take part in same are requested to attend To-morrow nighfe. R. ELSTON, 5 159 Manager. mISCH'S Mail Coach runs from Alfor JL Forest Hotel to Springbuun R-vilway Station daily, leaving the Forest at 7 a.m. and arriving at Springburn in time for the train to Ash burton ASHBURTON LITERARY AND DEBATING SOCIETY. * j IHOSE interested in above are re- JL quested to meet at the Templar Hall, FRIDAY NEXT at 8 p.m., to arrange for holding meetings and to receive Balance Sheet. 6 53 FIRST-CLASS AMERICAN ORGAN, NEW. AN Opportunity offers to obtain one of Cornish's celebrated American Organs on exceedingly favorable terms. Height 45 inches, Length 46 inches, width 23 inches. Five Octaves, 14 stops, 8 octave couplers, and 2 knee swells. Above can' be supplied direct from the Manufactures at considerably less than usual price. Apply " Mail" and " Guar dian" Office. o 201 John G. Restell, GENERAL MERCHANT WEST STREET, ASHBURTON HAS now in Stock, and is prepared to sell at Lowest Current Rates, — Building Material of all descriptions, consisting of— Red and White PINES Boards and Scantlings, Black PINE, TOTARA, KAURI Shelvings, Lining and Flooring. YD.L, Timber for Bridge Work, also for Hurdle and Gate-making. sft and 6ft PALINGS. Galvanised IRON, Lysaght's Orb, the best Iron manufactured. CEMENT, LIME, etc., WIRE, Barbed and Plain, and Fencing Staples, Posts, Stakes, Strainers C O~A Ij ' Best NEWCASTLE* COALBROOKDALE, And MOUNT SOMERS. Horse Feed—OATS, whole OATS, crushed Oaten Sheaf CHAFF Bran, etc. Also, — Sharps for Pig Feed, and a quantity of Barley, whole or crushed. STATION AND FARM STORES * Consisting of Sugar, Candles, and Groceries, in who. c' sale lots, and the Celebrated CEYLON AND INDIAN TEA In its imported s f-ate' Not Blended



The Justice Department have issued a circular in which it recommends its officers not to buy any stamps from agents, and so save the commission, which is hardly sufiv, cient to be discovered under a powerful nUcroscope. The circular says,:—" In cases wiicre cash has to bo accepted, the stamps, without delay, bo purchased from a Deputy Commissioner or from the Post Office, and nob from a private dealer." This is hard on the private dealers. Is this Frectrade or Protection?



Prince Bismarck possesses no fewe* than one. hundred and three decoration!,' of which fourteen are set in diamonds of £{**t jH^aft> He does, "not belong to any English" Okw> nor ia he a knight of the St. Stephen of Hungary, which is the Emperor of Au«tri» • great order; but the late Czar gave him tn« St. Andrew, which is the first Order to Russin, and his diamond B{ar/boloDginf «l tbisOrd worth £10,000 " *