BIRTH.

Scliultz. —On January 28, at Waterton, the wife of Charles Schultz, of a son.

DEATH.

Eawle—On February 16th, at the Somer ' set Hotel, George Ea»le, aged 52 years.

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1891. ATHLETICS.

It is hot m ' frozen mutton alone that New Zealand leads the way among the nations of the Southern Hemi sphere. We quote after the Athletic contests at Auckland, as did Bishop Julius after the Caristchurch Show, the enquiry of old " How much is a man better than a sheep 1 " Many will be inclined to esteem the pre eminence we have displayed both m Sydney and m Auckland m athletic sports^ more highly than the position which, by the energy of our farmers and merchants, we occupy as a supplier of food for the hungry millions at Home. \Ye will not weigh the question, but will grant all due honor to those who have built up our newest and most promising industry, and will contend that the youths who have dis tinguished themselves so highly m the Athletic field also deserve well of their country. It is an old and true saying that Britain's conquests were won on the playgrounds of her public schools, and though there is here no greater foe than the difficulties which stand m the. way of our national progress, the saying applies with force to " young New Zealand." Nothing can augur better for the future of a country than the growing up of its young men m a robust, active condition *of mind and body that will hereafter qualify and enable them to take their share of the responsibilities of maturer manhood m this still young country. From time to time complaints arise of the undue interest taken m some |sports—football m particular. The complaints are not unfounded ; £but tli^y apply,. not to the healthy participation and interept m the game which is seen m New Zealand, but to the unhealthy, gambling instinct which dominates the vast crowds who are onlookers m Melbourne and some p'arta of England, not on c m a hund red of whom ' 'ever took an active part m the game. In New Zealand, or at any rate m Canterbury, the complaint is rather of too little interest being taken m out door sports. Football alone attracts spectators, and our footballers have proved themselves worthy antagonists for first-class English players. Cricket, on the other hand, is neglected by spectators, and has dwindled down to a level below mediociity. Running and cycling are the subjects of very en couraging interest, and the result is 1 seen m the successes of the representa tives of these branches of sport when pitted JJJagainst opponent from the Colonies or Provinces. Let it be understood that rather than see our cricket, football or sports grounds sur rounded by a crowd whose sole interest is the sordid one of gambling, ws would see therzi deserted altogether; buf we do wish to see. more facilities and en couragement given to our boys and. youths to engage m the healthful exer cise,? which will tend to make good men of them. The colony is rich m individual athletes who can hold their Own m any part of the world, but collectively it must be admitted that physical training is neglected. At some of oui v Jfigh Schools and Colleges, where a master may have bgen a cricketer or an athlete, a sort of perfunctory interest may be taken m some game or other, but the mass of aefrpol boys are entirely neglected. Even w!wp a few gymnastic appli anC* are PFOV-idgd their proper use is ief<Tunknowri, and'.^ joo* f ]l0I»e'/* is extremely doubtful v ty.9*'^*. many hundreds that attend tne ioc\? schools, has ever been shewn how to hold; a bat. In similar schools m England, cricket would be enthusi astically played, and matches ; with i <j»tiier schools would stimulate the spirit j of emulation, which should be a charac teristic of every boy. We rejoice to see encouragement given to swimming, »nd trust this small beginning will be the precursor of a more healthy state of physical education., -The Colony has done well by the development- of i its slieep j let it »ot neglect its men.' 1

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The R.M.S. Kaikoura from New Zealand arrived at Rio Janeiro on Friday, all well. ! An English paper states that the Princess of Wales has intimated thac nothing he sub mitted for her inspection or that of her daughters i:i which birds are used as a trim ming. The Fielding " Star " works off the follow ing l~~" As there are four newspapers work ing hard against Mr McSuire m his contest for the Egtnont seat, his victory niny be looked upon as certain. In the par.titioa of Africa:by,the European Powers, France has-aecured 2,300,000 square miles, against 1,90#,00Q? oWiie'tf' by limit Britain, 1,030,000 by Germany, and' 775,000 liy i'Portoga^<;^M\iclrof^Fifattiße J& il'.i()'ossfei&siong 1' are m the western part of the .Sahara. Mr H. McElrea o'fHampstead brought to our office on Saturday four American Alpha potatoes grown m his garden. The tubers weigh—the largestllll Boz ; the next lib loz; and the two smaller 14oz, and 12oz respec tively—or, m. all,, 4^bsj,lpz.: s : Under the will' of -the late Allan Fraacr, his castle ts..Hospitalfield, Arbroath, Scot land, will become a monasfcery:for a brother hood of painters, sculptors, and literary men, and a trial school for young artists, who will be bound to study art for a term of years; Never waste time by telling people what a lot of good things you have done. In the first place, they won't believe you; and m the seebnd, place, they are waiting for a chance to tell you What a lot 1 of good things they have done themselves. ' The gradual disappearance of fair hair is now ascribed to th 6 liver, for a"sufferer bays : "Heaven sent US golden-haired women m the olden times: -and'the devil sent us cooks m modern .tithes.-'''. The'cooks are responsible for disordered livers, and the livers are res ponsible for the dark hair." Wedding presents'have-become such a tax m the United Scates that efforts are being made to check the burden. When a fashion able couple were married lately their cards of invitation tto the wedding contained the injunction "no presents," distinctly inscribed m the lower lelt-hand corner. Since the accession of Queen Victoria the Royal Family has ccfst, the nation £^622,623. Nfearty 42f,00p,00Q has been spent m main tairiing the state and household and filling the privy purse of the Queen. The Prince of; Wales has drawn from the nation up to the present day about £3,300,000. An English mechanic and an . English millionaire have different food and drink and amusements and manners. A French million aire and French mechanic dine about the same hour, drink wine, play billiards and cards, and address and are addressed m much the sanje fashion, f Here the two lives are m different worlds; there one isu, cheap exam pier—no^ an imitation —of the other. A cable message received from San Fran cisco by the Union .Company.slates that the R.M.S. Monowai, which left San Francisco on the 7th instant, with the English mails tc 24th January, had returned to port owing to her thrust block haying carried, away when 650 miles' out. ItS'was expected that the new shaft would be fitted and the steamei resume her voyage on the 22nd instant. The London,correspondent of- the Dunedin " Star " writes :—'* The subject bf a possible change m the Agent-Generalship has cropped up again with the news of the result of the New Zealand elections. -Every one is 'hoping that the long-looked-for day of Sir b\ 1). I Bell's retirement has at last dawned. No doubt Sir Fraiieis did understand something of New Zealand affairs years ago, but his knowledge of the colony and colpnists of to day is of the vaguest. The method of preserving fruit for which th<J medal of the Royal Horticultural Society, England, was awarded is as follows :—Pick the fruit from-the stalks ; put them into the bottles*; put one drachm of alum into four gallons of boiling water, let it stand till it k cold. Then, fill the bottles and bung them tight; put them into a boiler of cold watei and heat it to 176deg., then tie the mouths of the jara over with bladder and seal them. A gigantic stag m Muckross Forest near Killarncy, which had come to be regarded as what Oarlyle would have termed "an un canny and quasi-infernal object," and which has been the mark of many rifles, was shot recently by Lord Mayo. The creature had a magnificent head of. 14 points, and its " clean " weight is said to have been nearly 29 stone, m which base it must be about the heaviest stag that has ever been killed either m Scotland or m Ireiaud. At the ITampstead School Committee meeting on Friday night Messrs Wright and Walker were voted for m the Education Board election. A Committee comprising Messrs .Orr, Smitli, Crooks, and the master was appointed to make arrangements for the annual treat. Applications for pupil teacher ships were received, and the Committee decided to recommend Charles Allison and Florence Bell. The other business was loutine. The members present were— Messrs ■ Orr (Chairman) Smith, Crooks, Hoare, and Baker. We have to acknowledge receipt of No. XI. of the New Zealand Crown Lands .Guide, issued from the Government Printing Office; price one shilling. It is an exceed ingly useful publication, containing all the necessary information for those wishing to purchaiseland, and is corrected up to the very latest-dates. It givesl full particulars as to the different modes of obtaining land, valuable statistics^ a digest of the Land Laws, and an excellent map of the colony indicating the locality of the various blocks .open for settlement. The Appeal Court has dismissed the appeal lodged against the order of the Court below for, the production',jn.: the Whitaker-Hutchi son case of the private bank accounts of Sir H. Atkinson and Mr Mitehelsou, on the ground that m the alleged libel against Sir P. Whitaker, a confederacy between the parties as members of the Government m improper procedure, is charged, and the accounts m question may be pertinent to the issue. Mr Hutchison thus gains the point for Which he was contending, and the appellant is, saddled with the costs of the appeal. Some idea of the irftportance of the Baring family may be gathered from che fact that two of Lord ReveMoke's daughters are mar ried to Viscount Castleross and the Hon. Robert Spencer, and that last year his son, the Hon. John Baring, was suggested as a very likely candidate for the hand of the Princess Maud of Wales ; that the eldest son of Lord Northbi-ook is M.P. for North Bed ford, and that the Northbrooks are con nected with the noble families of Sturt (Lord Alington), Boyle (Earl of Cork), and Howard (Earl of Efiingliam) by marriage; and that the Ashburtons are connected by marriage with the Earl of -Sandwich, Earl of Galloway, Lord'Digby, Marquis of Northampton, and Due tie Bassano. An; apt allusion was made by the Rev W. Gillies at the Presbyterian Assembly last week; The Rev Mr Monro, of Auckland, took exception to what he considered was a vote of censure upon himself for delay m furnishing certain reports. The mattei was being seriously taken up by the others, when the unpleasantness which seemed to be rising was aptly turned aside by the Rev Mr Gillies drawing the attention of the House to a mottd on one of the stained windows of the Provincial Council Chamber (m which the Assembly sat) which ran, " Censure is the tax a man pays to the public for being eminent." The whole meeting, including Mr Monro himself, was immediately thrown into good humor and the matter dropped. When does a heifer become, a cow ? The question has never been absolutely decided, and it cannot be said to have been settled, evenf.Qr. Canada, by tf dqcisjiqn recently given m a GanailiajrfJQurj; qf" Justice., An ' exhibitor sent three female cattle over'three , o > "* °* a Se t0 tue, °^ass 0!' C(WS over that *%?*l IL f^lbh Fat Stock Show, and they Se^eVted by Indent and Vice- Proficient of the Cl-lp'i CluJ °11 H" S^und Hut the) ttne not com-., .is they r l'l not Ind ,i calf The cxlubitoi !>iouj,M t \nacr;oi tui dim.it',e«, iuml jh" .lud<,e druded v\ his f,i\oi, bccuibc, he wid, '' Ww define-* ..' cow a cj an .mmul wit!' o calf, Out "v iph thcfcininineof the bovme spoon ■*,' Vfu as ti.i. (Limition n any gmdo, > jcmale of a.c bo\i k '})C(.j( .i uiy old I, a )iV} rll Ui then v i,o *■ mli liiii o ,i^ o liuf^ ,) a "- Xc Wtii (loin I'cvi-ttrii'lcv . b'^uiad^fli i ,i ! je if(.) Lal- p.i'su'* m l thud nU i i ( u.ltq ' tyle ■hwa ow» i

The vital statistics for Ashburton for January are—Littlis, 25; deaths, IS; mar riages, 1. This morning's *'Times" says that Dr Ro-:s, a former resident m Canterbury, and well known m sporting circles, is at present onavibic to Christchurch. The Rev, P. Nbrrie, of Auckland, con .iuulcl bot!i set vices m the Ashburton Presbyterian Church on Sunday, and the afternoon service at Wakanui. The rev. gentleman's sermons were listened, to at both places, and at all the services, by good con yieg.ilions. The proposal that was set on foot during the Kxhibition to establish a Working Men's College m Dunedin lus now been' dropped, the chief reason being the refusal of the last Parliament to grant £JOOO m aid of the object. The committee that had charge of the matter, promise, however, that they will keep the institution steadily m view. The tournament of the New Zealand Howling Association, which ba,s been held m (Jhribtchurch last week, concluded on Friday. Thu Taieri Club won the Champion Rink Tournament, with the Caledonian Chib as runner-up ; the Roslyn Club won the North v South match, with the Caledonian Club as runner-up ; and Mr O. 8. White, of Milton, won the championship m the singMianded tournament. The gatheringwas most success ful throughout, until the last hour or two, when heavy rain fell. ■ Mrs Hayes, wife of the ex-President of the United States, always declared that a per fectly adequate substitute for liquor, when reeded as a stimulant, could be found m hot milk, and after any cold or wetting she gave this m place of wine or whisky,/which others would have considered necessary. This is, by the way, a custom of Mrs Cleveland's also, who discovered after the fatigues and many long and wearisome receptions which she was obliged to pas 3 through, standing for hoars on her feet and shaking hands with hundreds of people, that nothing would restore her so quickly as a cupful of boiling milk. The following will play m the match on Wednesday between the Wesleyan and County Cricket Clubs :—Rev J. N, Buttle, Messrs Johnson, Andrews, (2) Bonnington, Gamble, Undrill, Murray, Purchase, Owen, and Buchanan (3). County: Rev E. A. Scott, Messrs Cuthber.tson, Makeig, Simpson, Dixon, Sawle, Bell, Kidd, Russell, McLean, Davis, Audrewes (2), and Denshire. Play will commence at 2.30 sharp, if possible, and ( m order that the match may be played out the gentlemen above mentioned are re quested to be punctual. If it is practicable, the ladies will have much pleasure m provid ing'tea. At Auckland on Saturday Sir George Grey spoke into the phonograph exhibited there the following message for Edison, the inventor :—" Auckland, February 14th, 1891. —Professor Archibald has kindly given me the opportunity of sending you a message. ' I wish to speak words of encouragement to &o 'great a discoverer, who has overcome such vast difficulties, and so constantly labored for the good of all. Ido thisfbykelling you <■ that we m New Zealand constantly think of you, and regard with esteem aud gratitude one who has rendered such vast services'to mankind. I Hope yet to make your acquaint ance, and tell you personally how strongly 1 and my friends feel the gratitude We owe to you. —Yours truly, George Grey."

The Union Steamship Companj are having two sister ships to the Tavinni built,'and these arc expected to arrive m the colony about July. The capacity of each will be abput 1250 tons. The vessel for the Fjji &e\v Zealand trade is being built 1 tiy/Denhy Bros, of Dumbarton, and is to be called the Ovtilaii. The new boat for the Sarnoan trade will be called the Upotu, and is being built by' Fleming and Ferguson of paisley. The ■dvalau brings with her new boilers and engines for the Wakatipu. These are quadruple extension of the most modern typo. The Company have, decided to take up permanent runmng between N&w Zealand and Calcutta. The special steamer which has been chartered loads m Calcutta m June, and returns from New Zealand with a load of horses m. August; but next year ix, is intended to build a vessel of 4500 tons capacity, which Will be specially designed and fitted for the Eastern trade. Mr James Mills 'managing director of the U.S.S. Co. r has addressed a letter to'Mr D. P. Fisher, Secretary of the Federated Trades Council, Wellington, m Which he says :'■■ —" I am; afraid there is nothing to be gained by ouis discussing the question whether it is or is riot the case that members of the Seamen's arid Firemen's Unions have been refused em ployment m our service; simply because they were members. We have been perfectly sincere m our intentions to give -them and those who are not members of their body the same chances of employment as. vacancies arise, and it would liavre been a; pleasure to us to have continued to do so, had the Union men left our free men alone, and been content to give their loyal services to their employers. I am sorry, however, to say that, either of their own dpsire or by the instructions of their leaders, a large number' of reinstated Union men have forgotten their loyalty to the Company and set themselves to sow discontent among the fr.ee men. We feel it forced upon us to decide that future vacancies m our service shall be filled up from those outside the Union, and this we hope to accomplish to a very large extent from the ranks of. the young men growing up m our midsiti niany of whom are oaly too anxious to get into our employ." The prize of a pretty wife (trousseau found), the expenses of>the honeymoon, imd £100 a year for life, which Mr Pearson, of "Pearson's Weekly," has tendered for corn- 5 petition to his readers, m creating; quite an excitement amongst the middle classes, especially m the North of England, where papers of this description chiefly circulate. The editor tells me application's come iivat the rate of fifty ,jper post. The best port, of masculine competitors are doctors, curates, and schoolmasters, the girls being m the' main either behind counters or governesses. Amongst the ,male competitors Mi- Pearson discovered a widower with nine children and a gay old " geeser" of sixty, who' justified his letter by declaring he felt barely forty, avid was satisfied he'd make a more satisfac' tory husband than nine ous of ten youngsters. Mr Pearson has already sifted down the thousands of answers and photos to about one hundred men and fifty girls. A com mittee will take these m hand and the lucky bride will then be selected. Six eligible for the post of bridegroom,have next to be chosen, and'introduced m turn to the fair demoiselle. She must either take one or retire from the contest m favor of lady No. 2 on the committee's list.

Early Race-Making.

[BY OUll OWN HHPOKTER.] . While taking a keen interest m the question of irrigation as one affecting the interests of Ashburton agriculturists and pa&turaliKts, I take an equally keen interest m the little matter* historical of the county. , Mr Wm. L. Allan, of Acton, m his letter m these columns of February 3, made some reference to Ihe irrigation experiments at W esterfield nAd at Alford Station. With all due respect to the late Mr Charles Reed—whose flowing Water races did much to induce member*, of f lie County Council, who favored another scheme, to adopt the open race system — it is only fair that the facts of the case m regard to Mr Foster Nixon's experiments should be put on record. So that I should get the true statement of affairs I interviewed Mr C. E. Fooks, the Borough Engineer, on the subject, and. this is what, he told me : — 1"In 1867," said Mr Fooks, "I was engaged laying out water,, races for sheep washing, and m other professional work, for Mr Foster Nixon, then manager of the Alford aad Clunt Hills Stations. I was requested by'him to ascertain if a run of water could be taken into some very dry stony . paddocks- from a small creek that runs near the homestead—not the river as Mr Allan says. Finding that it could be done, a race of about a mile or a mile and a quarter m length was cufc.» On its completion, some experiments m the way of irrigation were made on a paddock m which the stones were m larger proportion than the soil. The principal lesson that we learned was that Aye had not a sufficient quantity of water at command ; and the greater part of what we had was*, conducted into some better grassed paddocks nearer the woolshed and homestead. , These experiments, if they can be called such, were only carried ■ out while I was y »t Alford or ift the , neighborhood I—perhapsl —perhaps a month or six | weeks. A few months afterwards, to the best of my recollection, the cveek, or the • race, was silted up by a freshet m the river, and only a dribble of water could be sent on to the paddocks. lam speaking from memory, and cannot be exact as to dates, but I am pretty certain as to facts. Mr Heed, of Westerfield, saw this water race on several oscasions, and hal also seen some work I had laid out for him at Longbeach for Mr Grigg. ,'He consulted me m 1868 as to the practicability of watering his run from certain creeks m the riverbed of the south branch of the Ashburton. ,The Westerfield run was then subdivided into six or eight paddocks, fronpi most of which the sheep had to be taken for periodical visits' to the water — I either to the Ashburton riverbed or to the Hinds. In the latter there was occasion ally no water, so that the problem I was asked to solve was, into how many of the paddocks the water could be brought. ! The race I was able, to,-lay .out was i about I nine or ten miles m length, extending from the Ashburton river terrace to the , Hinds, and would have given the stock m all the paddocks on the run, but one, access to water. ■ ; "At the date m which I am speaking, 18G8, and for some years afterwards, there was an utter scepticism as to the possibility of carrying water m ordinary channels on the purface of the Canterbury plains, hot only m the mind of the general public, but; engineer.? and others who ought to have known better held the same opinion. Bearing this m mind, it must not be wonderod at' that Mr Reed hesitated for twelve months to carry out, che work ; but m 1869 he made a contract for about five or six miles of the race, and 1 m a month or two the water reached' the centre of the, Westerfield run.. Being, allowed to spread over the ground, or find ■its way down the natural depressions it made a very respectable Attempt at form ing a swamp, with rushed arid other semi aquatic plants m the middle of the sfcoriy plain. Some time, afterwards, Mr i ßeed engaged.me to inprease: the supply by tapping some other creeks, and it was: when they had been done that he took ( . the water into the orchard and other paddocks hoar the homestead for irri gation. With this work I had nothing to do." . .'-'■ From the above it will be seen that the race making experiments took their rise with Mr Foster Nixon, and that Mr Reed happily took a lesson from what he suw at Alford—a lesson that has been valuable to the whole county.

CORRESPONDENCE.

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

IRRIGATION.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —I am pleased to see Mr Allan still writing on the subject of irrigation. He seems to be ojjposecl, ,to, it. A good honest opposition i. helps to bring many things to light that might not otherwise be known, or be known too late; besides, it shows that a man has spirit enough to stand up'against what he believes to be wrong. Mr Ajlan has«,not, to myipeeming, £iv»en us anything very feaWgible m proof of his assertion that stock will not eat irrigated grass, jl am conscious that my stock will and do eat irrigated grass, and if Mr Allan's do not, then al|'l.can say is that he must have abundance ?of feed that has not been helped to grow by irriga tion. '. . . l/: . Mr Allan says the cry for irrigation comes from the farmers south of the Ash,. burton .river. I quite ftgree with him that farmers south of the Ashburton river are crying out for irrigation ; but if lie reads his paper he will find that there are some north 1 of the AshburtOn have a liking for it too, and have had to pay for i% as well. Jn Ashburton la,st Saturday a gentleman told m.c that m consequence of a webd getting into his race it over flowed, and his sheep soon found out that irrigated grass was good ; and that gentle man is not from the South but tho North, I heard a most respectable man say that he had a lot of sheep with no feed left. He would have had to suffer a groat loss through the fall m the market if an accident had not happened by which his raoe got blocked, and before the> ob struction was discovered übout forty acres were under water. I don't think it A?ill be any very great trouble to Mr Oliver to r show Mr Alla]i how to make two jiOiuids of wool grow where only one grew before if we cau only get what will * make our gsass grow-—via.,: 'irrigation. .' I will ijbb take it; upon me tp say there is plenty of water, because I am nos engineer; but I believe Cioun,ty Engineer says therp, is plenty. Ift'any (jase, \et-us fyav.e what, there 'is,'and let us do as 1,3' doiie m. both North'and South Devon—keep the paddocks we can water for meadows j and that will very greatly httlptomake the ■wilderness blossom as the rose, as Mr Allan desires. T do not see where the great cost of irrigation is to come m. I^et ttvevjr farmer make his raoe isu'ge enough ;ifc his own Qxpcjiso. W-'the Councif do, the other p?rb and sond down a^l tl^Q watyr availably. Let the former^ y,sfr \\\ turn as much as thov voqwre, uo long <»8 enough is left m the race for man" and beast. Each man will then bo his own judge of whether it will pay or not. Mr Allan has said his side is willing to aid us m the matter of expense, and I think now is, fte time to ask the Council U\ s,\ &ta.rt, —X am, o{-a, s WhAUm Lakgdojt, Wesfccrfield.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir,—l have read with intc^fe the correspondence ix\, your ttolurnns on ii-ri g^tion, wqu^d like to add my testi mony %) ; that oif; other practical farmers who have already written. Cornwall, my

native county, has one of tho moistest' climates m the world. On thofarm where I was born I have attended t6 the water ing of two meadows, and have grown grass on them that I can scarcely describe — eight to ten tons per acre. In your issue of the 5Hi February, Mr Allan says that, if Mr Olivor can put him m the way of growing two poumis of wool where one grew before, or get a penny per pound more for it, Mr Oliver, will be a great, benefactor. That the m;m who could make two i .-lades of grass grow ■where only one grow before was a public- benefactor was said by a greater than either Mr Allan or myself; but lam positive that the man who has access to a pleutiful supply s,of .Water could make a million blades of grass grow where nothing grows now. I think the two pounds of wool will be safe, but the penny per lb will depend on the quality and the market — not on the quan tity. The County Council s experimental farm was never cxpecied to prove a financial success. It showed that by irriga tion splendid turnips, mangolds, carrots and clover could be grown on a bank of shingle, and with that result the county is satisfied. Mr Allan may as well tell us that after such a long drought a duck, it it got into tho water, would drown, as to say that stock will not eat the grass that has been flooded. Being luxuriant m growth, it can't be otherwise when there is only a bunch to a foot of ground ; but with plenty of water farmers would sow double the quantity of seed, and the pastures would be much finer m growth. From Mr Allan's letter I should say he has had with water. Had he had experience he would not have written as he has done. He has evi dently been irrigating the land and graz ing at the same time, which is bad both m practice and m theory.- I can quote plenty of authorities as to the benefits of irrigation — Sir Humphrey Davy and Henry Stephens, F.Ii.'S.E., for instance —bub Mr A Han, asked for the opinion of farmers, and as a practical farmer I will give my own. - ■ • • ' In the first place, we have a white grub that does much damage to both grass and cereals. Water will clear the land of this pest, and this riddance itself would be worth a lot of money Jo the county. Secondly, irrigation will regulate our market, as farmers would not have to sell their sheep at a sacrifice for want ,ot feed. I must admit there will be a little diffi culty m getting the water evenly over the land. But had Mr Wright's scheme been carried out the plains farmers would have had high pressure ; nothing to do but screw on the hose, and a splendid artifi cial shower over high places, as well as low ; would have been at their command. "Sou hear of the farmer being set down as a fool for not going m for irrigation, but he m not so big a fool as at first sight he looks. "Burnt child (treads the fire.','' When the water races were made first they took m all the large, estates,- and the races that run through • them were :conr' sti'ueked out of the general fund. ■ When smaller men wanted water they, had to pay half cost of construction. Later on, they had to pay full cost—i suppose because the last were so much smaller men. This is the secret that the whole thing hangs fire on. The farmers .have not confidence m the County Council.. As ; one farmer put ifc, the large estates will be benefited first, regardless of .cost. The holders will sell out, and myself and other bonafide tettlers will be left to pay the piper. I should be very glad to get a supply of Water for my farm. I would willingly give £1 per annum for every acre I could get water on, as I have lost more than that m losing my grass tor the last three years.—l am, etc , Isaac Sakgent.

MAGISTERIAL

SOUm iIAKAIA-FRIDAY. (Before Messrs L. Oxley. W. L. Allan*, and J. M. Ritchie, J.P.'s.) Hakd Cases.—Thomas Kelly, alias King, alias Liverpool Jack was charged with being drunk, with assaulting Joseph Vincent and Patrick Laffy, and with using disgusting and obscene language m a public place. From the evidence of several witnesses it was shown that the assaults were most cowardly and unpro voked, and the victims bore marks that will not disappear for some time. It took four men to get accused to the lock up, and the language used on the railway platjform was of a most filthy and dis graceful character. The record of previous convictions was bad, and accused was not long out after serving three months. For being drunk accused was committed for 48 houi-M, for assaulting Vincent 14 days, assaulting Laffy 14 days, and for the obscene language six months hard labor. Sentences to be cumulative, Joseph Clarkson, alias Kelly, a mate of the previous accused,' received 48 hours for being drunk ; and lot resisting' the police and others m the execution of their duty when arresting Liverpool Jack and thre tening'them, he received 6ne mon ,' hard labor. . ■ '■

ASHBURTON-SATURDAY.

(Bbforeß.'Alqoim.-and D. Williamson i ''■"■*" j.p.'5.)..;.

} DRUNKENNESS,. John- Thatcher, yiha was suffering from excessive drinking, and gave evidence' of approaching delirium ti emei]s,' was re manded till Monday. . ILLEGALLY ON PREMISES, John 0 Loar.y and Daniel Monihan were 1 sent for forty-eight hours to < gaol for; having been found illegally m the stable' of the Central Hotel on the night of February 13th, O Leary was also charged with vagrancy, hut the charge was dis missed. _ 

ASHBURTON-MONDAY.

DuraKEXNEss. — William Mulligan, Hugh Shaw, and Daniel Ryan were charged with having been drunk m E&s<! street on Saturday night, and dealt- with m the usual way. The charge against Ryan was withdrawn, $ee*»g that he had .been m the Hospital since Saturday, having, v;hse. being taken to the station drunk, fallen on the kerb and put out his shoulder. William Thompson was charged with the same offence aggravated by disorderly conduct, usij'\£f obscene language, and resisting the constable who arrested him, ilfe said ha knew nothing ■it afl »Df.u% the disorderly behaviour. ±*lie constable gave evjdfy»ei» to the ,effect that he had me* him m the street oh Saturday nig^fc very drunk, and,.when 1 arresting him, he used very bad language, and violently resisted the arrest.' The Serecant said he had cautioned the maa on the street, and told him to go, home. He was drunk then, and wh.cn he was brought to the Station 'm a cab he was veyy violent. For the drunkenness and Resisting the constable he was fined 255,' and the charge of using obscene lan.«*Tjajje was departed from. James Gall, his second offence within & month, was also charged with drunken* ness, and further with being «a idle and disorderly person yt\i\ no visible lawful means of suppori. &q]\ j s hotter known by thow^iie^<The Badger," and hivs t\ faafy Jong memorandum of previous convioiicns attached to his nanfte on the ehnrao sheet. He pleaded guilty to being drunk, but denied th.c charge of vagrancy? The Sergeant f%u(k the man had no money when Uv> was looked up a week ago, ajr«d $i& had managed to jr C t muddl§<i every night since his relent-. had been loaiing at the bars win' since. A good many men ],^u» recently been locked ap. They Uad come into town with cheques, and knocked them down w^th, w v ond^f ul j

 pidicy. It was for this man to show , iv he managed to make a living and to I get drunk at" the bars m the absence of means. He was sent to gaol for forty eight hours for drunkenness, and three days for vagrancy. ILLEGALLY ON PttEMTSES. John Thatcher was ch-irged with having been found by night without lawful ex cuse m the stable of the Central hotel i He had been remanded iroin the 14th February, on which occasion he answered to the wrong name. lie had now beeß. forty-eight hours m custody, having been remanded to. recover from the effects of his -excess. The Magistrate discharged him with a caution, ..',..-.. ,'. ■**■*., .. -~

TELEGRAPHIC

HOME AND FOREIGN.

(PER MIJSSB ASSOCIATION.)' '■'' *- / Ottawa, i February 13. The Tories have virtually abandoned their reciprocity proposals, and now" rely on a protective tariff and loyalty to England. Washington, February 13.  President Harrison has received a deputation from the Indian tribe* who ' were concerned m the recent rising. ! The Indians declared to Mr Harrison that women and children were shot down by the troops after a flag of truce had been hoisted, arid children were butchered after assurances were given by officers commanding troops that their lives would be spared.: Kome, February 13. , Signor Rudini, the new premier, intends to effect economy m the public,. service to the amount of forty million lire (about £1,600,000).,, - ,• . ,i London, February 13. ; Baron Oscar Dickson, an influential i Gothenburg merchant, expresses sur prise that Australia has not provided £5000 m aid of an Antarctic expedi tion, and states that he himself will •be responsible for another, £10,000,- Baron Nord eliskj old has definitely agreed to take command of an, expedi- • . tion. The Labor -Unions at Cardiff are without funds to continue the struggle.,, The dockers' leaders are parleying with the Shipping Federationj and ;t, is expected that a compromise well be effected as. far as the ports of London ; d,nd Cardiff are concerned. News has been received that the ship West Lothian, which left Sydney. for London on December 17, put into Pernambuco with cargo on fire, .. ■ . The" Times," m "referring to Lord Salisbury's answer toLord Dunraven, .. believes it to be rational, but considers if a close political and commercial union resulted from a tariff embracing the whole empire there is much to say ix favor of facing economic sacrifices. London, February 14. The New Zealand Government hare announced the conversion of the re maining stocks on which a high rate of interest is being paid into Three and, » Half per Cents., to be carried on part passu with existing loans. The loans for conversion are £491,100 Six Per Cents., redeemable m 1891, £64,500 Five per Cents., redeemable m 1893, and £313,800 of old provincial loans, redeemable between 1893 and 1896. It is reported that on the expiry of Lord Charles Scott's command, as ' Admiral of the Australian Station, he will be succeeded by Admiral Steven son, m H.M.S. Blake, 12 guns, with Prince George of Wales as Commander. ', It is stated that the demand made by Mr Parnell for an absolute pledge that the control of the police m Ireland ♦vould be conceded at an early date, prevented an amicable settlement of, the leadership. . ■ ' :- i Messrs Dillon and O'Brien will servo' ' their sentence m Clonmel Gaol, Tip perary. They met with a poor recep tion on their arrival m Dublin. ,  , The Executive Council of thft Snip ping Federation to-day discussed the proposals submitted by the Federated Unions. They agreed that preference, should: notl be given to non-Union men, and that seamen should sign on at the, Mercantile Marine Office, provide#thafe ''''"'" the. Sailors' Union was not}. to,, have ft. ; ■■. .• .monopoly, and also that the men en gaged, kept their. .T.W. > " Council declined to agree to a proposal that all free labor at present eriiployecT ! should be discharged. The Shipping Federation, will- issue: ft tt*hlfest6r throughout the conntry on Monday  A man believed to" be ■"TmSIT&e' 1''1'1 Ripper" has beenarrested .pn>»^arge ;. , of having ©bmmitted the murder of a woman m the, WhifceohafHil: district yesterday. The accused was seen m company with the murdered; woman* • and| there is a puantity of blood on his clothes* ..,■.. ".■,, -.'? /' -.'; ;"' The cargo of the ship West Lothian, from Sydney to London, which i put V: into Pernambuco, is only slightly damaged by fire, but& portion^ W-ft" ' will; have to be dischargee!, m order to execute repairs to. the ■ vessel f : . '■■ The total amount of applications, for :the South : AustmKah loaii' was £455,400 and the. balance has been, .. withdrawn. ' ' Washington, February ,-, >ii « The Senate has laid a«ide the Cony, right Bill, . .... - :y • ;r; Washington^ February 15. [ The death is announced of Gerieral IW.IW. T.Sherman; aged HI St. Johns. February 14:' " ; Tn the House af Assembly a motion was carried protesting against Great Britain hesitating to ratify tnei'ltka-", ) pj-ocity treaty entered into, between ' Newfoundland and the United States. Valparaiso, Februaiy .14.. -4 ■ It is. reported that the towns of Pisagua and Iquique have been bom bardecl by the insurge»ts, and r thatj,; th«y are now, m, fl»i»es. The blockade of Valparaiso has. been raised^ . . . ; . Valpariso, jFebroary 15. In an engagement between the Government troops and insurgents at > -. r v Tarapaka the fprmer were defeated.

AUSTRALIAN.

' , . . S.ywnky* February 14, The Government have issued 700 invitations to a Federal banquet to be, i- ■•'. given to the delegates and others m the Centennial Hall on the evening of Maroh 2nd. The invitations Jiave,, been issued >to the mayors of the metro politan cities m t?ie colonies, members of the Legislature m New Souths ;■• Walos^ judges Q&th© Supreme Court, , w*val and military officere, the profes sion of the. TOversit>% and leading ■' ! = citizenX ■■« - , ( .^. Sir HcvQules. Kobinsou, Avriting "'W'-; ;'. Henry Ba^es on tlie question of^ 5" ' Federation* considsrs that the customs, tariff mk oilier difficult points must b^

TFfl ASHBUBTON GUARDIAN, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1891



Holloway's Pills. — Nervousness and want of Energy.--; When first the nerves feel nnstrong, and listWsness supplants energy the time has come to take soiiie such alternate as Hollow's Pills to restraiii a disorder from developing itself into a disease. These ex col! ent Pills correct all i rregularities and weak ness. : They act so kindly, yet so energetically on the functions of digestion and assimilation that the whole body is revived, the blood rendered richer and purer, while the muscles become firmer and stronger, and the nervous and absorbent systems are invigorated; These Pills are suitable fay all classes and all ages, They have a most marvellous? effect on persons who are out of condition'; they soon rectify whatever is m fault,' restore strength to the body and c6nfidenee,to the mind.' ! ; We clip the following important testimo nio,l from the ". Iliaviirrii Mercury "■{N.S.W ) of t'ae 30th March. It needs no comment •— <Mr John Loveday, of the Bulli Mdimtaino writes to us that after suffering for four years with acute gravel, he has experienced almost complete relief by using Sander and .Sons' I Eucafyptic Extract.; He says :—" jSeei jig the said JiJxtraet advertised m the < Tllawarra l ? |s^^||•H^se^s^ffb,riug. J, iiiducetf' hini «## a \ ttl- ni "^dicme 1 from , MV: Jfosking, choinisfc, af this, town, and that thei use of it gave himgreiat.rolbf at once., He states that between 10th March , inst., when he obtained the first bottle of the extract, and the 19th, the use of that Biediciue continued! to afford him relief- <o wliich he had been a stranger for four years Mr LpY^day writes also that he has found $ib fcuqalyptt h owi:e foi:'*heuhi£ttism | fcswefl as gßivol, T-^'rcfqifestsu'sto pubTisti [ this Information through tho ' Mercury.' \Ve i have inucjj pleasure m coniu]vi;f™ *-^' -'•■. loveday s request, whose word cannot be i doubted, and who c;i.n have itp object iv visi^i oth^th*n a pure dfishe tq ;fcen4isuffk-in^!



cr.s.s -co, J IMißmi u.s.s., co UNION STEAMSHIP COMPANY OF NEW ZEALAND, Limited. • ;The Company's Steamers have now re sumed timetable running to. #11 ports. THEEXCURSION SEASON WILL CONTINUE TILL 31stMARCH. GEO. JAMESON, Agent, Ashburton.



THE DOMESTIC PAPER PATTERNS OF NEW YORK. M R ST.O I» M WISHES to inform her many Friends and Customers thafe ■ she has the Agency of the above celebrated Patterns, that by each San Francisco Mail will RECEIVE NEW ONES. —Also- •BXl£pe STYLE," ;.,-,. .... Biiee 3d -Monthly. THIS BIJOU ART NEEDLEWORK DUPOT, 4 Morten's Buildings, Opposite Bank New Zealand, C H RISTCHURCH. ■ 2 30 (j, JD AWCETT JJoDDS SURGEON DENTIST, Address :—Courk Chambers, above Mr j3. M. Jones Stationer, East Street. Vrivate Residence, Tancred Street, \ Three doors below Masonic Hftll.



Wanted TT7 /1m TT The Treasurfir VV »\ '• JL • LJ • will be m attend ance on Wednesday afternoon to receive members'annual fee. 2§82 nnRY the Great Drapery Sale now on X at H. C. Segbrs. "PRESENTS. —All holders of .-Eckels XT will oblige by bringing them mas soon as possible.- H. C. Seoers, Melford House. /"^OGLING and invigorating Ico Cream Kj as made by H. G. Flower, Coll fectioner, East Street. WANTED Known —Some special lines m choice Dress Goods at very low prices showing at " The Corner." WANTED Known—The "Strong wear " Boot is the best for Mens ■jadies* and Children.—-W. H. Colliek. QEGERS'' Clearing Sale m all Depart O ments now on. One trial solicited. — Melford House. YT7"ANTED every man m the County V V to have a suit of the Ashburton Tweeds.—Robert Aj<cokn, Ashburton Clothing Mart, Saunder's Buildings. OOTS, BOOT^. "Keep you*' feet Dry and save Doctor's Bills, have a splendid "Stock m now. Try my Double-soled Shooters. Every pair Guaranteed. Robert Alcorn, Ashbur- Wn. 71 / ANTED Known— The, Cheapest 'V V Shop to buy Tinware and Gal vanised Iron goods m Ashburton, is at W. F. Hannaford's, Burnett Street. A arge stock kept on hand. Tin and Iron ware goods made and repaired with des patcn, VXALENTINES ! VALENTINES J at V L. F k Anckewes & Co; Just opened up a Large and Varied Assort ment to suit everybody. Sale of Surplus Stock shortly when Books, Stationery, Fancy Goods, &c, &c, will be offered at GREAT REDUCTIONS. L F. ANDREWEB & Co. rublio Notices. MONEY TO CEWdT IVTONEY to Lend at LOW RATES OF INTEREST, on Mortgage of FREE. HOLD PROPERTY, m sums of £100 TO^sooo For ■ further particulars apply to the Postmaster, Ashburton, or to J. 0. PRUDHOE, District Agent. Government Insurance Office.  Christchurch. WIIH.T£ET« "AYs HOJT TCETB CHRISrCHCROH DENTAL SURGERY. Corner of Cashel and High streets S. M™ AND C? SURGEON DENTIST And at Dunedin and Westport iTTE have gained iht FIRST AWARD VV "* the Dunediii Exhibition fcr Artificial Dentures and Mechanical Appli ances for the Mouth, and it is with the greatest confidence that ye guarantee the highest class work and perfect fit at the most moderate cos A Single Artificial Tooth, 10s. Comple Set — Upper and Lower— temporary and permanent, £10 10s. Natural, Durable, Comfortable Artificial Teeth Replaced Temporarily al most immediately after the extraction of decayed teeth or stumps without extra ep or charge. Arrangements can be made for part or monthly payments. • A DMINISTERING NITROUS OXIDE otAS 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 other dentists repaired or remodelled at small cost /GENTLEMEN requiring the very VJ latest fashion m FLEXIBLE HATS (all colors) will find a choice stock at the New Zealand Clothing Factory. WHITE and Fancy Scarfs, White and Striped Vests, Tennis Shiris. buttoned and laced fronts, all colors, at the New Zealand Clothing Factory. QUMMER Merino and Gauze Merino KJ Undershirts, with long or short sleeves, at the New Zealand Clothing Factory. WASHING Derby Ties 6d each, six for 2s 6d. Increasing demand for these at the New Zealand Clothing Factory. BOYS' School Suits, well fitting, durable, and moderate m price at the New Zealand Clothing Factory. AGENTS for the Wonderful New High Arm " Wnrtheim " Sewing Machines. Latest improvements, new appliances, noiseless motion, increased advantages. A LL who have used the " Wertheim ' jl\- New [High Arm sewing machine, proclaim it to be the most perfect sewiny machine yet produced. Inspection invifc:;d. '\TE w ZEALAND CLOTHING JIN FACTOB V, the leading Hat, Cap, and Clothing Manufacturers, EAST STREET, A BHBUBTON 1. A.s;j?t for the Wonderful Werthoim Sewing Machine W. H. WEBBER, , Manager. Mr W. F. Thgmpsikh SURGEON "TAENTIS'T, URGEON JJENTIST, 218 HIGH STREET, CHRTSTCHURCH Hours—lo a.m. £o 5 p.m. H&vJOg purchased Dr N. A. Neelby's Dental Praptici?, MR THOMPSON may be 3£rf«toylill '"'lO ftk >vy ssdrp- .2 11



* John Orr & Co. INVITE THE ATTENTION OP -FARMERS To their Largo and Varied Stocks of all clauses of Goods, suitable lor the Harvest Field. 1000 Bales. Binding TWINE, Crown Brand 250 Bales Manilla Binding TWINE Machine Extras and Fittings 100 Cases Binding WIRE, White Oros 100 Cases Castor Oil Leather Belting, l^in to 6in \alvoline and Lubroline Oil ;. Lard and Olive Oil Cylinder Oil Perforated Zinc, 3/32]to|7/8 Seaming Twine McCormiok Binders The agents of thej^McCormick . reapers and binders have just received news of a very exciting trial at TamwOrth (N.S.W.) on "Saturday, December 6. The prize competed for was the Society's medal, which was offered to the machines exhibited at their Show ; but m order to have a successful trial they m addition offered » prize of ten guineas, open to all comers. Both prizes were gained by the McCormick, which was awarded the full maximum number of points. This was the first time this season where the winner at any trial m Australia obtained the full number of points under each heading. The McCormick also gained first prize at Stawell (Victoria) beating the Massey, Hornsby, and Deering. John Orr & Go. THE COIONIAL IfflltE COKPAIf. OF H¥ XEAUII (FIRE AND MARINE ) fT HE Business of this Company has ! been TRANSFERRED to the COMMERCIAL UNION ASSURANCE COMPANY, Limited, of London, by •whom, through the varioUvS Branches and Agencies m New Zealand, all accounts owing to and by and all losses under the Colonial Insurance Company's policies will be settled m future. F.ALLEN, General Manager. Wellington, New Zealand, December 11th, 1890. THE COMMERCIAL UNION ASSUR ANCE COMPANY- (Lisoted) Established 1861. Incorporated under Act of Parliament, 7 and 8 Vie, Cap. 110. Head Office : 19 and: 20 Comhill, \ London Capital fully subscribed ... £2,500,000 Total Invested Funds ... 2,351,707 Total Annual Nett Income... 1,132,239 HEAP OFFICE F3E NEW ZEALAND : Lambton Quay, Wellington. With Local Boards of Advice m Australia and New Zealand. General Manager for New Zealand : FRANK ALLEN, J P. Every description of Fire nd Marine Insurance effected afc LOWEST CUBEENT EATES CUFF & GRAHAM, Managers for Canterbury, Christchurch. Aghnts for Ashbukton JPRIEJXLANDER BROS]] 22 Massey-Toronto Light. Binder " ' __^3 LIGHTEST IN DRAFT. SUREST TO TIE. EASIEST TO MANAGE" SWIFTEST TO CUT, THE LONGEST LIVEDJ 3iost scientifically ;made Stationary Axle and] Raise and Lower Style 5, 6, and 7 KEET CUTS. Of the latter only very fow*on hand. £2000 • Worth of Extras m Stock, which wil be supplied to farmers at manufacturer's prices at any time DAY OR NIGHT. FRIEJPLANDER BROS-