The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 1891. THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.

The Speech from the Throne was short and to the point. The most im pressive feature is what it does not say. Not a word is said regarding the position of the Colony, and it may from this bo safely assumed that the glow ing statement presented to his Ex cellency by the ex-Treasurer is not accepted as completely accurate by his present advisers. The intimation that the Government propose to make an exhaustive enquiry into the financial condition of the Colony conveys a pretty plain indication that the " suitable recess " that will be asked for will be ol considerable duration, and bears out the opinion of well-in formed individuals at the seat of Government that the adjournment or prorogation will be for two or three months. The reduction of expenditure without impairing the efficiency of the public service was a " plank " m the platform of a large majority of the members of the House. That it may be carried out is a " consummation devoutly to be wished." This clause probably includes the long wished-for Civil Service reform—which has been one of the promised measures of every recent Government. The defects m the existing Land Laws are too glaring not to be recognised and their reform promised, and bona fide settlers will rejoice at the question being taken up by a Ministry several of whose members have done their cause yeoman service m the past. A Department of Agriculture has long been agitated for by members of Parliament and others who took a prominent interest m the welfare of the farming com munity, foremost among whom Avas Mr J. D. Lance, the ex-member for Cheviot, whose services are unfortuna tely lost to th« present Parliament. A series of labor Bills, more practicable, we trust, than those of the late Go vernment, will be bi*ought forward; and the development of our mineral resources and the furtherance of mining interests will also have Minis terial attention. The programme is, not a long one, but it coucides with the expressed requirements of the country, and if carried out will be a most creditable session's work. Other measures, Ministerial and otherwise, will no doubt come forward, but the subjects calling for the iirst attention are Finance, Land and Labor, and m this order the Governor's advisers have placed them m his speech.

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The London Wool Sales have opened firm. We arc glad to see Mr Alfred Curtis again amongst us, looking fresh and well after his holiday m ths North Island. The ram on Monday interrupted harvesting but the breeze yesterday soon made reaping possible. Some rather bad attacks of rust are nofcicable m the crops. Next Saturday the afternoon train from Cliristchurch to Ashburton will not start until ft.2o p.m. to enable visitors to the Christ-church Summer Races to return home the arune night. The train from Rakairt to Methven the same evening will start iwi hour and ten litimites later than time-table time. Machine proprietor!) and others interested will have an opportunity to-moivow of in specting Maindonald's patent self feeder m work on Mr J. W. Hamptun's combine at Mr R. Mclntvre's farm noar Digby's bridge. This new feeder has been worked last season m the Eyreton ami Oust districts and the machine exhibited to-morrow has the latest improvements, which are said to prove very effective. At "the Police Court this morning, before Messrs Thomas and Harrison, <) ui.-tiocs of the Peace, Neil McNeil, a tine sample of muscular Christianity, was sent to gaol for, m all, :?even days. McNeil had got very drunk, had used very obscene language, and used his huge strength to resist the police. He kicked Constable Smart m the mouth while he was being put into the cell, and was altogether a rough subject. In the box he could not be brought to believe that he had been the bad boy the police had made him out to be, but the Bench accepted the official evidence and sentenced him as above stated. A change has taken place m the proprietor ship of theold established Ashburton Bakery, East Street. Mr Charles Grubb .having transferred the business to his father, Mr J. 0. Grubb, who was the manager of the hnsiness when it was run as the Ashbnrton Bread Company. Mr Charles Grubb has purchased a brer.d and biscuit factory m Palmerston North, and has removed there. While the many friends of Mr Charles Grubb will regret his departure from Ash burton, they will wish him every success m the North Island, aud will be glad to know of the return of Mr J. C. Grubb and his family from Christchurch. The Rev Charles Clark delivered his tenth and last lecture m Dunedin on Friday even ing to a thronged audience, many being unable to gain admission. Never before m i the history of New Zealand has one man succee led m drawing crowded .audiences for ten evenings m succession, a feat which goes to prove conclusively that Mr Clark is quite as good or better than ever. The gifted lecturer's voice, memory, and histrionic powers enable him to illustrate the various phases of his subject m a manner aa near perfection as possible. Mr Clark may be assured of a warm welcome and due appre ciation from his old friends m Ashburton as well as from those! who will take the oppor tunity of listening to him for the first time. A meeting of working men was hell at Lyttelton on Saturday night to consider the rules suggested by the sub-committee of the Canterbury Stevedores' Association. The men were atked for expressions of opinion aud any suggestions for the proposed altera tion of rules provided for the body to be started and be called " Lyttelton Lumpers' and Stevedores' Association," to include all competent workmen m Lyttelton, aud pro vide for a -committee of management to consist of three person's nominated by employers and three by workmen; the assciation to be disaffiliated from the Mari time Council or any other such body. The meeting agreed to the rules m the main, and suggested one or two minor matters by which the position between masters and men could be placed on a better footing. Only members of the proposed association will be employed, and the rules provide for a sick and accident fund to be started by a donation of £50 from the employers and kept going by donations of 1 s per month from the men. The first round of the lawn tennis tourna ment was concluded on Thursday afternoon laal by an exciting match between Mr Percy Cox (scratch) and Mr W. G. Rocs receiving 15—Mr Rees winning by one stroke ; sep'-e, 80—79. Mr Rollitt having retired, his opponent, Mr Simpson, received a bye. The second round commenced on Saturday after noon by Mr E. B. Simpson (scratch) meeting Mr A. Buchanan receiving 15—the former winning rather easily by 10 points. Mr H. Westoii (scratch) against Mr W. G. Rces receiving 15, was next played, the score keeping vary even till 53 all was called, when Mr Westoii went ahead and won by 80 to 59. The last match of the round resulted m •i win for Mr H Curtis, who, receiving 10 points from his opponent, Mr W. I-toss, won by exactly that number to the good. The draw for the third round resulted m Mr E. Ij. Simpson [scratch) meets Mr H. Curtis receiving 25; Mr H. Weston a bye. The first named play during the week, the final taking place on Saturday afternoon next, when a tough struggle is anticipated for the trophy.

Sheep stealing has broken out again m North Canterbury. From one fleck .several hundreds aro said to be missing. The postal authorities hare jus* completed arrangements for establishing telephonic communication betweenGeraldiueand Wood bury. Mr Benbow, for many years with Messrs Levin and Co., has been appointed Manager of the South British Insurance Company, vice Mr A. Boardiran, resigned. Mr Smith Ellis has again pressed his clam upon the Victorian Government for the re ward of £10,000 offered for the discovery of a specific for the cure of rust m wheat. Three tourists to Rotorua ascended Mount Tarawera the other d;vy, and they declared they had lit their pipes by means of heat m the mountain a few inches below the sur face* The Auckland Harbour Board are to receive at their next meeting a deputation who wish to interview them regarding the increased tariff for wharfage of Hour, bran, and sharps. Mr Goldie proposes to form or join a Middle Party, which will compel any Government that'may be formed to go m for retrenchment, no borrowing, and abolition of the property tax According to a northern exchange, the young man Frank Williams, who was recently drowned m the Goulburn River, Victoria, is a son of Mr George Williams, secretary of the Dnnedin Coursing Club.' Last year the most important trust was the Bread Union m London. It took m all the important bakers 27 m number, m the metiopolis. The failure and entire dissolu tion of the trust has been announced. Similar combinations are not unknown m Canterbury. A gigantic alligator at Sydney Aquarium' pined a great deal and went off his tucker but the trustees brought a plump juicy boy and dangled him above the alligator's upper lip until the mouth of the weary captive began to relax and his taste for food returned to him. An Auckland telegram says that it is understood that the Harbour Board intend retracing their steps with respect to specially taxing southern produce by differential harbour rates. Their reconsideration of the question is attributed to the coments of the local and southern press upon the impost. Mr Maxwell has undertaken to submit to his colleagues of the Railway Board a request made by Messrs Taylor and Tanner, M.H.R.'s, that m removing railway em ployees from one part of the colony to another, the personal convenience of the men as to nearness to their homes shall be studied. An extraordinary incident occured during a run with the hounds of Sir W. W. Wynn \in North Wales. In passing a cottage the fox suddenly found himself among a lob of fowls. Regardless of possible consequences he snatched up one of the birds and carried it m his mouth to the end of the run, and was killed wiHi the bird m his mouth. Agitation is being raised m the Auckland district against the clauses of the Sheep Act enforcing branding shorn sheep before they j leave the wool shed or branding yard, and lambs before they are four months old. If the Northern fanners suffer by sheep stealing as some of their Canterbury brethren have done they would sing to a different tune. The score of 46, out of a possible 50, made m the Champion Match at the Rifle Associa tion meeting on Monday, at a small target, by Stitt, of the Wellington Navals, and A. Balliugar, of the Wellington Guards, has been the subject of favorable comment m shooting cinsies, and the Victorians and - Captain Somerville credit these competitors with having accomplished a feat that, con '' jgidcring the surrounding circumstances, has W/ijly been surpassed south of the line. t A Hmthoni paper reports, with an un oiiUcd for 4?r of surprise, that a photo «raph?.r took portraits of seven M.H.R.'s ajid' sent them U. ,i,n eminent English phvsiognomisfc with the .explanation that tlw'v H-ere the .seven last murderers hanged m thcV»lft»ies. The reply was that six of them weyoevidently irreclaimable ruffians, And th« odd am, "though showing possi bilities of better tiMtfi, had been brutalised Jiy vile associations. This seems to be '<xMni»«-nearer accuracy thai? could be mi: ss&uahie expected, Th.X BUS* UJJSIKDV FOR Ilv T»IOESTIQN T -~ Norton's Caiuourfte Tills are confidently recommended as «, .simple remedy for Intlif'esiioi). which is tiiexKMJse of nearly all the diseases to which w<? W (subjects ; ! Nokto.vs Viu^, with justice called tw 'Natural Strengthener of the Human f.H'Joniaeh," act as a powerful tonic and gentle l;f>,V^»^;jt. are mild m their operation, and ■ '^iiifn ,\p,v<p'i' any circumstances. Sold m l:Wt>fe ■•VtVs ?i>'v 2s 9(1 > Us, by all medicine

THE MARKETS.

[PEK PKBSB ASSOCIATION.] [Received January 18, 11.10 a.m.] Sydney, January 28. Wheat, cluck, 3s 2d to 3s 3d, milling, 3s 9d to 3a lOd ; oats, Is lOd to 2s ; maize, 3s 8d to 3s 9d ; bailey, Cape, 2s 6d, Eng lish feeding, 3s ; bran, 7M ; pollard, Bid; peas, blue Prussian, 4s ; potatoes, £3 15s to £4 10s; onions, £5 ; butter, dairy made, 7d, separator, Bd, factory made, 9d ; cheese, loaf size, s|d ; bacon, machine cured, 4d to srl, hand cured, 6d to 7kl, New Zealand cured, 9d to 9|d ; ham's, New Zealand, lid to Is. Melbourne, January 28. Wheat, 3s 7d ; flour, stone make, £7 10s to £8, roller makes, £8 10s to £9 ; oats, Calcutta, Is9d, stout quality, 2s Bkl to 2s 10M ; maize, 3s 3d ; barley, cape, Is 9d j bran, Bid to 9d. "Adklaide, January 28. Wheat, firm, 3s Bid; flour, stone makes, £7 10s to £8, roller, £810s to £1), oats range up to 3s ; barley, malting, 3s to 4s 8d"; bran, 9d ; pollard, B|d ; sugai, best whites, £23 ss.

TO-DAY'S TELEGRAMS

[per pkes.s association.] Auckland, January 28. The Sylvia Park estate was offered for sale by auction to-day and bought m by the mortgagees, the New Zealand and River Plate' 3>nd Mortgage Company, for £10,000. A tMvtifr*. Th,e Sydney representatives to take part "m the New Zealand championship meeting arrjved this morning by the r'?e i A mm. !?«trol««iiHi. JJew Fi-ymouth. «?anuaiy 28. The prospectors have sunlj: to a depth of 200 feet at the petroleum works, and < come on strong indications of oil, The I • saad tiikm out ia impregnated., i

The Mercer Harvester.

Yesterday an exhibition of the Mercer harvester at work took place on the farm of Mr William Cochrane, Wakanui road. The Mercer harvester h;is only been in troduced to New Zealand this season, and but very recently to Australia. Messrs Reid and Ciray, the well-known southern impleuvjut makers, are agents m JNew Zealand for the machine, which is the manufacture of a Canadian Company, and the trial vras arranged for by Mr Taylor, Rbid and Gray's manager hero. Tho machine was m charge of Mr Robert. Gray, of fcl'.e agent firm, and was driven by ..Mr Watson, of Riccarton, and this team supplied by Mr William Fleming of- Ashburfcon. The light draught of the machine rendered more thrm two horsei* unnecessary. The crop was very light as compared with what tho same paeldbck has produced m previous years, but per haps it was as good, as the main run of crops unfortunately, am this season. Running to from say fifteen to twenty bushels, thin, light m ear and short m. straw, the work the crop offered to tho machine was not such as to show the latter at its best, and a slight accident to the grain shedder just after 'opening out put the earlier work done m a bad light as exhibition trial work. A delay of about an hour took place to make the necessary repnare, and the cutting after wards done wits quite as good as we have been accustomed to nee. The trial was witnessed by a very fair nnmber of farmers, who made close and critical examinations of the mechanism. The great specialty of the Mercer is the fact that no canvases are used m its working, and this feature is described thus by the makers :—"' The method of the Mercer for conveying and elevating grain to the knotter, which has entirely and so successfully done away with all 1, canvas, consists of two series of rakes attached to sprocket chains, the teeth of the conveyor rakes passing up through, slots from below, an cl those of the ele vating rakes down through the slots from above. The teeth" of the elevating rakes after delivering the strain to the packers withdraw from the slots and return by the action of the sprocket chains to which they are attached to the conveyor table." Certainly to be able to dispense with canvas elevators i:< a, great advantage, ai.cl the time is, perhaps, not very far oft' when this will be accomplished through out the whole range of harvesting machinery. The Mercer is at least a step m that direction.

Upper Ashburton Road Board.

The usual monthly meeting of this Board was J.iekl m the Board's office, Timrald, on Monday, January 28th, 1891. Present — Mess™ McLean (chairman), Sargent, aud Stitfc. Correspondence was read us follows :— From a iraniher of residents near Chertsey, asking t'ae Board to apply to the railway' authorities for a railway crossing to connect with South "Road near G. Campbell's (settler) section. The matter was held over as the member for the Ward was not present.--From the Resident Engineer, New Zealand iiail ways, stating that should the crossing be applied focr and granted by the Com missioners the cost would be .some £65.— From the Receiver of Land Revenue, stating that the sum of £167 14s Id had been plac«:d to the Board's credit with the Union Bank of Australia, feeing thirds of receipts derived from perpetual lease and deferred payment rents. —From Mr A. Wilson, stating that a nuisance existed on the .creek on a farm near Laahmor, formerly known as Potts', and asking the Board to look into the matter. The Clerk, -was instructed to write to>th6 owners of tie property asking them to have the nuisance removed. Mr Sfcitt stated that he had given Messrs* Capon Bros, permission to make a water race ford across the road near their property. The Board concurred m what he had done. The Clerk's report was received. Be Jackson's Road leading into the South Branch of the River Ashburton, which is dangerous owing to the river having washed away part of the Terrace, it was resolved to call for tenders to make a cutting into the river safe for wheel traffic. Accounts amounting fco £10 19s Id were passed for payment and the Board adjourned.

PARLIAMENTARY.

[PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] "W Ellington, January 27, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met'at 2 p.m. THE I'KIVILEGES OF PARLIAMENT. The Speaker reported that he had waited on his Excellency the Governor, and claimed the usual privileges on behalf of the House. The Speaker repeated his grateful acknowledgements of the honor which the House had done him by placing him m the chair. TAKING THE OATH. Mr T. McKenzie and Mr BucHand were sworn m. THE MINISTRY. After attending the other Chamber fee hear the Governor's Speech, Mr Ballance announced the formation of the new Ministry, and read the list already g yen. I Mr Ward would have charge of the Post and Telegraph Department, and the vacant Portfolio would bo filled m a day or two. THE EGMONT SEA I. The Speaker was directed to issue a writ for the Egmont seat, vacated by Sir Harry Atkinson. PETITION. A petition was presented by Mr Kelly and raad, relative to the position of Native lands. NOTICES. Uv Fergus gave notice to ask the Government what steps they intended to tale to cany on the construction of the Oasco Central Railway. Mr Rees gave notice of an address of sympathy with Sir George Grey on his eiiforcxl retirement from public life. Mr Ballance gave notice to move on he n«xt sitting clay that Mr W. C. Smith bo appointed Chairman of Com mittees. Mr Fish gave notico of motion, travers lin'g the Governor's action m the recent appointments to the Legislative Council. The Speaker said that he would have to look into the matter before he could all^w such a notice to appear on the Order Paper. His present opinion wa's that the motion could not be put. Mr Palmer gave notice to move the Address m Reply to-morrow. QUESTION. Mr Bryce asked what was the meaning of "a suitable recess," a term used m the Governor's speech. ,Mr Ball nice said that he would explain to-morrow. The House rose at 3.30 p.m. till to morrow.

Lord Carrington on Australia.

(per pkjsss association.) London, January 27. The' c was a large attendance at the Colonial Institute to-day to hear Lord C&rrington read his paper on Australia. Among those present were the Prince of Wales, who presided, Lord Gran ville, and Lord Knutsford. Lord Carrington said Imperial Federation was a beautiful and suggestive pro posal, but there were many difficulties! m the way. It would be better to draw the colonies to England with cords of love, leaving them to their own ways. The old system of in terference m internal affairs should cease. The spirit of nationalism was strongly increasing, and the move ment was influenced by pressure from without, by the policy of Great Britain and by the varying independent action of the colonies. The Chinese and New Guinea questions were specially men tioned. He expressed the hope that Sir H. Parkes would preside at the coming Federal Convention. His courage, eloquence, and statesmanship showed he was a man born to shape the destinies of a growing country. Nationalism need not im pair the loyalty of the colonies. When once Australian federation was completed England would have an easy task to influence the national feeling m her favor. Colonials knew ''England would regard the invasion of Australia as she would the landing of a foreign army m Kent, and Eugland would aid Australia, even if Canada objected. England would not ask for the consent of Australia before sending cruisers flying the white ensign to the Bay of Fundy or Behring Sea. To enable colonists to feel they belong to the British community colonial Judges ought oo be appointed on the v Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, Chief Justices ought to receive life Peerages, the title of Honorable ought to be recognised everywhere, and due pre cedence allotted to Governors, Bishops, and Judges. Statesmen should be Privy Councillors. The Order of St. Michael and St. George ought not to become a foreign legion with a colonial division. He advised reciprocity be tween the English and colonial bar,, and the extension of facilities for the investment of trust funds 1. The debt of New South Wales was small com pared with the vast wealth of the colony. Many private railway com panies m England had less mileage than New South Wales with larger capital and greater amount of indebted ness than Australia. He mentioned the Soudan contingent and the assist ance rendered to the dockers as in stances of the impulsive interference of the colonists with the struggles of the Empire. At the conclusion of Lord Carring ton's paper Lord Knutsford, m moving a vote of thanks to the Prince of Wales for presiding, said he agreed with every thing m the paper except the prominence given to the "Brisbane Courier's" criticism asserting the gross incapacity of the Colonial ofh'ca. He dwelt at length on the ceaseless .sympathy and interest displayed m the colonies by his Royal Highness. Earl Granville seconded tJie motion which was carried by acclamation. In replying, the Prince of Wales said he was glad to welcome the return of the friend of a life time after his successful administration m the colo nies. Referring to the paper he said it was most interesting, and though the colonies wished to remain independent and free he was glad to see they re membered from whence they came, and also that they recognised that their interests were identical with those of Great Britain. The " Times" reviewing the paper considers that Lord Carrington's expe dients are not more tangible than Imperial federation, but colonists are too reasonable to exhibit undignified ultra-sensitiveness, and Great Britain has no time to make a fuss over trivialities.

SPORTING.

LOCAL NOTES.

There have been some changes lately afc Mr L. Markey's Xetherby stud. The two-year-old chestnut colt Tom Field, by Johnny Faulkner—The Fly, has gone to Mr D. O'Brien's,. Riccarton, preparatory to going to Australia, and will be followed by others. Mr D. O'Brien's Aquarius, by Apremont— Waterwitcb, and the brood mares Waterwitch, by Camden—Mermaid, (with a tine colt foal by Tasman), and I Vanity, by Totara, from a Traducer mare, have arrived at the farm. Aquarius is to be tried over hurdles after he has had a sufficient spell, and the two mares have joined the stud. Old Waterwitch met with a nasty accident at Hornby, when j being put into the horso-box, getting down between the stage and the box and cutting and bruising her legs and head badly. There have been many complaints about the want of proper arrangements trucking valuable horses, and it is to be hoped that the matter will now have attention. The mare is getting over it all right. The young stock at the farm look well, and Johnny Faulkner has had a good season. The recent successes of Prime Warden, by A premont—Miss Kate (full brother to Sultan), have given great pleasure to all friends of Mr E. Gates, the Grove Farm studmaster, by whom he was bred. None of Miss Kate's earlier stock have been so successful m their three-year-old career. Mr Grigg has her two-year-old, a fine filly by Johnny Faulkner ; and her yearl ing, a colt by Le Loip is doing well at Grove Farm, where she has a very fine filly fodl at foot by the same sire. This season she visited .the famous Musket horse Maxim.

MUSKET'S REMAINS.

It has always been a subject of much wondering comment by visitors and others to Auckland (says the " Herald"), that no effort, has been made here to have the same honours done to the remains of Musket, as were, accorded to Traducer m Christchurch, and Sir Hercules m Sydney. The skeletons of both these equine heroes, whose glory however did not equal that of the defunct pride of Sylvia Park, were preserved entire, and are now jealously guarded as valuable memen toes. This cannot be accomplished m regard to Musket, as his frame was divided, and many portions are now miss ing. The only remains which are r,j»;v intact are his head and skin, and it is understood that these are to be shortly offered for puolic sale. If this intention J.S carried into effect a stigma of. ingrati tude will sijrely rest upon the' sporting fraternity of Auckland, and it certainly behoves ail concerned to make an effort to have these last 'relics of the mighty, sire suitably preserved" m 'spine of our loca.l public institutions, The' proverfy '

" Le roi est rnorf — vive le roi," is certainly a true one m regard to Musket, but that the last of the remains of the horse whose stock have raised the reputation of this colony to its present high pitch, should possibly find their resting-place on the hearth of the back parlour of some public house decidedly appears to savour of sacrilege, to say nothing of ungratefulness.

TELEGRAPHIC.

HOME AND FOREIGN

PER PHEhS ASSOCIATION] London, January 26. At a meeting m Edinburgh ifc was determined to supply funds freely m, support of the striker,*. ) A quantity of goods and minerals lying uncovered at Calderbank Station were set on fire by the ignition of the stock of paraffin. Mr Matthews promised a deputation of ship owners 'to provide police pro-, tection m order to prevent disturb ances, and drafts of constables will be detailed immediately for duty. The practice of co-operation among the dockers is growing. It is found that wages are higher rand the work is got through more quickly. In the House of Commons, Mr Matthews, Home Secretary, m answer to a question, stated that he was quite satisfied with the manner m which the inquest an the Duke of Bedford had been conducted. Mr W. H. Smith is considering the propriety of inviting the Colonies to confer with the Imperial Government on the question of establishing a Customs TJnion, with the view to the protection of trade, and on Imperial defence. Berlin, January 26, The German Government intend to place a gunboat on the Zambesi, and give moral support to England.

AUSTRALIAN

Brisbane, January 27* Nearly inches of rain have fallen m some parts of Queensland since January Ist.

INTERPROVINCIAL

- Auckland, January 27. JamesConway, a well-known footballer,' who represented Auckland m matches with England, Canterbury, and Otago, is dead. His funeral, which took place to day, was attended by many members of the Athletic Clubs. Th« Auckland Liberal Association have passed a motion congratulating the Ministry, and hoping that no time will be lost m passing a land tax. Wellington. January 27. H.M.S. Curacoa leaves for Auckland on Friday, when she will meet the flagship. Mr Blair is recovering again. The rain and ewe fair ah the'Hutt to-day was largerly attended. Prices were good, Mr Menlove of Oamaru, ob , tamed the best price, 40 guineas, for a Lincoln stud ram. The Hun W. J. M. Larnach was married this afternoon to Miss Constance Doßathe Brandon, eldest daughter of the late Hon A. Deßathe Brandon, M.L.C. Th c price obtained for the yacht Maritana was £300. , Nelson, January 27. A case which excited considerable interest was heard m the R.M. Court to day, the "Picturesque Atlas" Company being the plaintiffs. The defence was that the defendant verbally agreed for only a portion of the work. Mr Tumbull, R.M., gave judgment for plaintiffs for the full amount and costs, basiug his judg ment on the decision of Mr Justice Williams afc Dunedin, and. also on his belief that the weight of evidence was on plaintiffs side, Dunkdin, January 27. In the report of the Directors of the Westport Coal Company, it is stated that the profit and loss account, after deduct ing expenses, &c, shows a profit of £1102, which, with the balance of £'7290 brought forward, makes a total to credit of £8392. The profit made during the first six months of the year was satisfactory, and if the second had been equally satisfactory the Company wouid have paid a fair dividend, but the strike cost the Company fully £20,003. Under theae circum stances, and the probable necessity of ex penditure on Granite Creek property, the Directors recommend that the balance be carried forward. Bishop Moran has received a cable message sta'jn^ that Archbishop Carr, of Melbourne, Bishop Moor, of Ballarat, and Dr Higgins, auxiliary Bishop of Sydney, left for New Zealand to-day. Invercabgill, January 27. John Henry Lewis, alias Frederick Blythe, and John Williams, alias Allen, were charged, on remand, with escaping from custody ac Milforcl Sound. At the close of the evidence for the prosecution, Lewis, m reply to the usual question, said, "All I have, to say is that the authorities over us were much to blame for my escape, knowing that I had made a previous attempt a short time before at Lyttelton. There was only one warder looking after the prisoners I was with at the time, and he had no uniform and no arms whatever. ' The place was quite open for any prisoner to escape without any attempt bsitfg made to stop him." Allen reserved his statement. Both prisoners were committed for trial at the nexc sitting of the Supreme Court, open ing on the 10th February.

CORRESPONDENCE.

•■ -♦ j We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expiessed by our correspondents.)

IRRIGATION.

TO TIIK EDITOR. ; Sir,—l am extremely glad to see that so many correspondents are taking advan tage of the columns of your excellent paper to ventilate their views on the all absorbing question of irrigation. Of course there is sure to be a good deal to say on both sides of the question, and there have already appeared two good letters m your paper m favor of the scheme; one from "Cosmopolitan" and another from Mr Langdon, But there is/ another writer m the field, namely,' '■Plains Farmer," whose ideas are very much opposed to irrigation. However, I believe that m consequence of harvest' work pressing on him at this season of the. year, he must have written rather hastily, because m his first letter he admits that irrigating our gardens or small paddocks near the homestead for stock would pay ; but m his second letter, when replying to Mr Langdon, he says that he has always found that where a race overflowed and the grass come away stock would not look at it, even when the rest of the pad dock was bare of feed. He then follows by telling us that the experience of a! beach farmer was to the effect that stock! do not care for the grass on fond over winch water has been allowed to run I V.et for all this he says that if the Council will give hnn water he is wsing to give! any practical rn^n t^oainderet^dMrriea-l turn Iqs per acre if he will irrigate lot); acres grass la.nd, and 10,0 acres turnips for, him. Tins sounds well, and " Bkii^ tae^ cannot he such ft f^-

"Plains Farmer" is nob m favor of Mr' Baxter being sent to Victoria just now for irrigation information, believing, if I understand him aright, that some accident would happen the County Council coach, and other dire calamities befal those left behind. I am, for other reasons, also opposed to the engineer being sent to A' ictoria for the information we require, as I am pertain he could gain ten times i!) ore information on irrigation mattery if; lie. v/ere sent to California. I ain^ confi dent thf.it the letter written by li Cosmo pqlitan " is correct,from first to last, and if lie could kindly publish another on the same subject, .giving further particulars, he would bo conferring a favor on us all. "Plains Farmer" thinks that the " checks " mentioned by " Cosmopolitan" would obstruct reaping—another letter from " Cosmopolitan " would, I am con vinced, expose the fallacy, of this belief. We use, I believe; the same description of agricultural implements here that are used m America, and if they can sow and reap their irrigated farms m that country we could certainly do the same here, and vve may depend upon it thai; the system of irrigation approved of and adopted by the farmers of California is the best m the world for large areas, and would just be ■the tiling for us. The irrigation m Vic toria can only as yet be called a garden irrigation as compared with that of Cali fornia ; and, finally, whatever knowledge of irrigation they have got m Victoria had, m the first place, to come from America. Mr Baxter's trip to California would, no doubt, entail a little expense, which perhaps the County Council would not feel justified m incurring, but if the Council gives ihe amount of cost of trip to Victoria, I believe I am right m saying, on behalf of myself and the whole body of the advocates of irrigation, that the rest could be raised by subscription. Indeed, I believe that even, our opposition friends would give a pound with pleasure for so good a cause. ■■'■■. '' Plains Fanner " thinks that few of the other plains farmers know anything about irrigation, except what they may have I gained by stealing water from the races. He is a little out here again, as I-can assure him that every year from 1877 to 1883 inclusive T irrigated over 500 acres of grass land on Westerfield. and was able to administer the free gift pf heaven bountifully to the land without either having to commit theft or employ an engineer. Now, as I washable to do this by what we term "rule of thumb," who can set limits to the great things attainable when science guides ? I may state that the water I used was fetched from the Ash burton river through channels cut origi nally by that grand pioneer settler, the late Mr Charles Reed, long before the County Council had an existence. It is hardly necessary for me, to enlarge on the magnificent green fields and good sheep to be seen on Westerfield m the days I speak of the facts Avere known t > multi tudes. My plan was to run every flock on the station through the yards once a month, and at such times to draft off any few sheep that did not appear to be thriving, and give them abundance of clean, sweet, irrigated, English grass during the dry months, and the conse quence Avas that all stock met the keen colds of winter m good plump condition, which enabled them-in place of dying by hundreds during the winter and spring months —to frisk about and kick up their hepls m defiance of old Boreas. Tn 1882, Mr Pounds, who was then managing for Dalgetty and Co., Christ church, called at Westerfield one Satur day afternoon, and expressed a wish to see my irrigating arrangements, as he was about to start irrigating works for Dal gel.ty and Co., on the Balmoral estate, I think he said, Well, as he had to go the length of Mr Harper's on Sunday "after noon, I had the water laid on on Sunday morning, and gratified him Avith one of the niosb pleasant sights an old Victorian (Mr Pounds Avas from Geelong) could possibly see, namely, abundance of beauti ful fresh water spreading out m all directions over the grass before his eyes. As 1 bad only to have the original races cleaned out, and, m some places enlarged, I cannot say what the cost of making them Avould amount to, but as for spreading the" water on the land, Iliad the sole direction of it from first to last, and can safely affirm that the cost per acre, taking one year Avith another, amounted only to a mere nominal sum. Of course, I kneAv the use of a spirit level, and also that water Avould run down hill. So with this modicum of knowledge at my commend, and a lad to drive a pair of horses, with a single furrow plough, I could do all the irrigation I wanted. I was not over anxious to place A'/ater on every part of a paddock. On that point my views are coincident Avith those of Mr Langdon, namely, that it is alway desir able to leave a few dry spots m every irrigated paddock, to serve as camping places for stock. "Plains Farmer" appears confident that the formation of the plains will be an obstacle m the way of irrigation; lam not sure Avhether he uses the term '' for mation " m its geological sense or merely m reference to the surface configuration. If he uses it m its geological and proper sense, then I will try to show him that he is making a serious mistake. I assert that there could not be found, within the length and breadth of the British Empire, a place better suited for irrigation than the Ashburton plains, and the reason why is simply because nature has, m her labours of thousands of centuries, pro vided for all the underground drainage, and she is'now making an offer of all her labours to the settlers of this county, free, if they choose to accept of it. It is a Avell established fact that irrigation, to be effective, must, absolutely, have either natural or artificial drainage—that is, underground drainage, m addition ta any thing that may be done on the surface. We have all been digging hales under races that have riW on uninterruptedly for periods of considerable length, and have come to the conclusion that there can be no percolation. The truth is that there is percolation, where races are cut through bars of shingle, but through course of time they get silted up, and re main watertight till disturbed again. It is a very different thing, however, plough ing land six or seven inches''deep for crops, from cuttingj races *°V water from 18 to 24 ijnohes. The former, m most instances, leaves undisturbed a bed com posed of more or less clay immediately below the furrow. The latter cuts clear through all the mould, right through the incoherent shingle subsoil; sq that we cannot judge of tjjj\e amount of percolation from races.. Irrigation Avithout percola tion would simply" be useless. " Mechi" says on this subject:—" The greater amount of water we can pass through »»i? soil, the greater will be its fertility, be cause the ammonia £md oarbonic acid, supplied by nature Avithout cost, will be proportionately increased." If precedents Avere necessary to convince us of the value of irrigation, they are to be had m abund ance. As far as the knowledge of the learned can penetrate into the misty past, Egypt was a great nation, and how avss it that she could m such a climate always provide food enough to support, tho millions after millions, of human beings that were bo^n. and died there? Any school V&>, can answer the question It avas solely due to the fact that tfto annual overflowing of the Nile irrigated a large portion of her land, tiit ancient Romans must also hnvu known the value of irri gation, because Virgil says-~,A*rhen speak ing of agricultiy.il natters :—•< What shall I say of hw ho y immediately n6ter sowng liw i*«tl, iuv,««<r»a the land, and ' loveis, (h& heaps <\ c 'wvon sand ; then on i,the sown corn iNves the stream and duello rills? And when the field is j scorched with raging heat, th.© herbs all ' dying j lo ! from the, forw $a hilly tra^

•to docoys the torrent, which falling down the smooth roclts awaken the hoarse murmur, ami with gurgling (streams allays the thirsty land?." iJ.-fora the conquest of Peru arid northern Chili by* the Spaniards, the Indians practised imtrafcion very exten sively on the slopes and m the valleys of ihe Andes. Iti onnupetion with which (hoy executed .--nrne or the most marvel lous (Hiyiiiueriiig works m the world ; some of which consisted of tunnels cut for lourr «li.stances rhrough hills of solid rock, and that without the assistance of ei&her iron or gunpowder. " 'Dav.vhi," while (Mi his voyage round the -.v-o,ld, travelled ft -/ood tlivtl m Chili and Peru, and s-ays of .some: pans of Central Chili: — "From the liiitural slope to seaward of thesu plains they are very easily irrigated, and ut consequence singularly fertile. Without thi.s. process the land would ' produce scarcely anything, for during the whole summer the sky is cloudless." When speaking of the valley of Quillata, lie says:—"Each landowner m the valley possesses a certain portion of hill ginnery, where his half wild cattle, m con siderablenumbers, manage to find s .ifticiert pasture. Once every year there is a grand * rodeo' (muster) when all the cattle are driven down, counted and marked, and a cert*in number separated to be fattened on the irrigated fields ; wheat is extensively cultivated, and a good deal of Indian corn. The orchards produce an overflowing abundance of peaches, fins and grapes." Then of Copiapo, a place m Northern Chili, the same authority says :— (i Ruin «* often as it falls, which is about once m every two or three years, m a groat advantage, because the cattle and mules can for some time afterwards find a little pasture on the mountains, but without snow on the Andes desolation exists throughout th« valley. This year there was plenty oi" water, and every man irrigated his ground as much as ho chose, but it has frequently been necessary to post soldiers at the sluices to see that each estate took only itp proper allowance during so many ho.urs m the week." A Scotch authority says of irrigation :— " The object to be obtained is to flood the land at pleasure m such a manner as to maintain an incessant shallow now or trickling amongst the blades of the herbage. To give the surface the re quisite inclination m every part, to design, and lay out the carriers which bring the water, aud the intervening drains, which convey away the spent floods, aticordius? to the levels of the land, and have the water under perfect command, require very considerable knowledge and judg ment. " The water is to run m the months of October, November, December and January, from fifteen to twenty days aba time, with intervals of five ov,.six days for the ground to dry and air. ." The question as to what water is suit able or not for the purpose, is also one of some difficulty." ; , It is not the above description of irrigation the settlers are at present m eager to have established—what they want is summer irrigation, m short to be able to give their crops and grans, • lands, fche necessary moisture to carry them on m a healthy robust condition tla-ough dry seasons. Now, science has established tha fact that the presence of water m plants is. absolutely necessary to. their existence.' It not only acts as a food constituent itself, but is also .required for the con veyance of the several elements of plant iood from outside coining m by the roots and leaving by the leaves as pure water', llus being the case, it,makes fche subject of irrigation one of great importance; calling, .at the present;, time, for all tfae attention the of this county can bestow upon it, but m doinc this we must bear m mind that at "least five ■seasons out of every eleven have sufficient rainfall, and I would imagine, from obser vations extending over sixteen years, that; there is » parallel of elevation above which irrigation can seldom ever be nue-lcd, the rainfall m tbat region beiu« so much m excess of what falls lower down, lho opinions of Messrs Peter, Walker, Herring, and Cr.rn.n-on would be valuable on this point. It would undoubtedly be a great boon to every one placed oa the light lands ot the county to be ahfc to irrigate a portion ot his laud every year, but at the same tune it must not be assumed that all and every kind of land wiU give wonderful returns if treated only to a few water ings to assist summer vegetation. Many places would, however, derive great benefit from winter irrigation fora few; seasons, because it is certain that the turbid wate^ on its way over and through the soil, would leave % most valuable deposit of sediment, m addition to a certain amount of ammonia and carbonic acid which would tell up fo a few years, and leave the land so treated very much unproved m productiveness. That irrigation would be a good thing, and that it can. be established, are the convictions arrived at by the majority I am sure, but the vital question, will it pay, remains to be answered after long and careful Calculations by competent engi neers.—-I am, &c, ,„, , D. Oliver. Chelmsford, January 23, 1891.

Hampstead Town Board.

A meeting of the Rampstead Town Board wasjiejd on Monday evening; Present-Messrs Andrews (Chairman) Meaclem, Crooks, and McElrea The T^ £ 2 w»« «dere4 to be paid to the Auditor-General for the audit of accounts, tor 1889, Ihe paymaster^General wrote advistng payment of £3 on account of finess under.the Dog Registration Act.* The ' Uerk stated he had received the written- I consent cf certain owners to sign a trans fer of undedicated roads. Mr H. Fawcett who had paid a year's rent of Reserve 1415, rented by him, wrote a»kin<» for » reduction. It was decided tofo*e£»o tb'« rent for the sis; months up to Mnrch'? i 1891, provided Mr Pawcebt mid 2JT' twelve months up to September JL irqa bat hi any case to call for tendr» from March 1, 1891. Th.Olerk waa^^uS to draw up m agreement eiub o d y in« the condiUc*»s of. lease. Geor^ c Addia was anpointed scavenger to fJie Board The Clerk was instructed fe o sue for'outstand mg rates, A rate of Jd m the £on the rateable valiie of property m the town 88?^' Pay*ble «n February 20, 1891, Accounts to the amount of £3 4s 4d were passed, and the Board ad journed. ■ : ■ ■

Latest Cable News

HOME AND FOREIGN.

[per press association J (Received January 28,10.40 a.m,) NEW JUDGE. ™ •;,'«■' -r"'" LoNDOK 'January 2?. ?* r Jv H; Je«^ Q.C, has been ap pomted Judge of the probate, Divorce and Admiralty Court, vice Sir James Hannen appointed to the Judicial Cojnmxtte« of the Privy. Council

FISCAL FEDERATION.

In the House of Commons, T (ifl ,' w H. Smith, m reply to a quest' / r * by Mr Howa^ Vincent sr' if f^ ked of very high policy wer/ matters* with convening the CoW^ ected to discuss fiseaf matter* Em Plre *

TAHITI AND AMERICA

It is report^ tlm TaiKfas ;

TtilS AHttIJUftTON GUARDIAN, WEDNESDAY, JAtfUARt 28,. 1891,



Wanted CASH Acl ertisements under this heading not exceeding SIXTEEN WORDS 1/-. Addresses may be left at this Oft'wm TRY the Great Drapery Sale now on at H. C. Segeish. ■ ANTED an intelligent Boy to learn the Watchmaking. Apply Andrew Black, Watchmaker, East Street. 1 1(51 T3RESRNTS.— All holders of Tickets \. will oblige by bringing them m jib noon as possible. - H. C. Sbgeks, Molford House. COOLING and invigorating Ico Cream as made by H. G. Flower, Con fectioner, East Street. WANTjSD Known — Some special lines m choice Dress Goods at verylow pricea showing at " The. Corner." WANTKD —In a private house three Gentlemen Boarders. Privato sitting rooms. Central situation. Ad dress d " Mail ""Office. 1 154 VI7 ANTED Known—The " Shrong- V V wear" Boot is the best for Mens Lacliea and Children.—W. H. Collier. S~ EGERS' Clearing Sale m all Depart ments now on. One trial solicited. •- Melford House. WANTED KNOWN.—Misses Morri son and Holloway'n workrooms will be closed until the 9th February. Any orders loft at Mrs McGregors, Tancred Street, will be attended to. 1 157 U; ANTED Known —The Cheapest Shop to buy Tinware and Gal Tanised Iron goods m Ashbarton, is at W. F. Hans-.vpori/s, Burnett Street. A nrge stock kept on hand. Tin and Iron ware goods made and repaired with des patch . ANTED" every man m the County to have a suit of the Ashburton Tweeds.—Robkkt Alcokn, Ashburton Clothing Mart, Saunder's Buildings. "pOOTS, BOOTS'. "Keep you.- feet J3 Dry Mid save Doctor's Bills, have a splendid Stock m now. Try my Double-aoled Shooters. Every pair Guaranteed. Robert Alcoiun, Ashbur ton. LONGBEACII BOAP BOARD. 1 NOTICE. ALL Riites unpaid oy 31st January will be sued for. 1^63 BY ORDER DOG COLLARS. pOLLxVRS can be obtained at my office \j Ashburton. J. C. BELL, Registrar, 1 155 Hampstead Town District. MONEY TO LEND. lITONEY to Lend at LOW RATES OF INTEREST, on Mortgage of FREE HOLD PROPERTY, m sums of £100 TO_;£5000 For further particulars apply to the Postmaster, Ashburton, or to J. C. PRUDHOE, District Assent. Government Insurance Office. Chriatchuroh. A-.KMT TCi:ii! WITH T£ET« Chris rcficßcn dental SURGERY, Corner of Ciishel and High streets S. M™~ s AND Co SURGEON DENTIST And at Dunedin \vA Westport WE have gained tin FIRST AWARD 1 the Dunedin Exhibition for 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 lit 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 cc or charge. Arrangements can be made for part or monthly payments. ADMINISTERING NITROUS OXIDE 3AS 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 Gd. Artificial Teeth and Dentures made by other dentists repaired or remodelled at small cost STOCK-TAKING. REDUCTIONS 1$ ALL DEPARTMENTS For one Month. N E V 7 % E A T A N D CLOTHING FACTORY V4V»i,ffflrtWWonderful Woithoim Rawing Machine"".' Miiua^er j i



The best medicine known is SANDER and SONS EUCALPTI EXTRACT. Test m eminent powerful effects m coughs, golds, inllucnza, etc.—the relief is instantaneous. Thousands give the most gratifying testi mony His Majesty the King of Italy, and medical syndicates all over the globe, are its patrons. Read the official reports that accompany each bottle. We have no occa sion to offer rewards m proof of the genuine ness of our references, The official reports of medical clinics and universities, tha official communication of the Consul-General for Italy at Melbourne; the diploma awarded International Exhibition, Amsterdam—all these are authentic documents, and, as such, not open to doubt. We add here epitome of one of the various cases treated by Siegent M.D , Professor, etc. Burning of the right hand through the explosion of a small oil stove. The epidermis on the volar ami palmer side of the hand of th« thirty-year old patient was completely separated* and lifted up as far as the joint of the hand. The likewise lifted nails were hanging Ioos« and half of the phalnax of the nail of the middle finger was coal d. The wounds thus contracted healed m three weeks uwder daily application of Eucalypt Extract dressing. The pat ent has retained th« full use of the hand •—(Advt.) 1



Holloway's Ointment and Pills. — Travellers to and 'from distant climes would lo well to bear m mind that these changes tnd the altered diet and surroundings ■of fieir lives entail manifold risks to health. Occasions arc sure to arise m which they will j&ed a remedy such as these renowned pills aid ointment, and no traveller by land or st? should ever fail to have a supply at hand. f I'ien he may truly be said to have apysieian a ways at his «all for the various emergencies £ travel. Ghilja and fevers should ty} irQinptly treated, and the printed directions .houid be carefully studied at the comnvence .-nent of any illness, for Holloway's remedies Ufl be safely usetj m a)l gjjnja^es,