DEATH.

Reid.—On 10th inst. at his parent's residence, Wills Street, James, the infant son of William and Charlotte Reid.

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY, JANUARY 10, 1891. ELECTION PETITIONS.

Two of ttie members returned at the recent general election have had their seats challenged, namely, Mr R. Reeves the elect of Inangahua, and Mr Joyce, the so far successful candidate for the electorate of Akaroa. As regards the former, the election presented some re markable features. Both candidates stood in the Opposition interest, and Mr Reeves, who was the sitting mem ber in last Parliament, was, on the declaration of the poll, in a minority of one, the numbers being—Drake 1111, Reeves 1110. Then followed a scrutiny, with the result that nine votes were deducted from Mr Drake, leaving his total 1102, and seven from Mr Reeves, leaving his total 1103, thus reversing the position, and mak ing him the elected member by a majority of one. But Mr Drake and his friends allege that there were cer tain irregularities in connection with the election, and will, it is believed, attempt to prove that there were cases of personation, and have accordingly lodged a petition against Mr Reeves' return. In the Akaroa case it will be remembered that the borough of Lyt telton was, on this occasion, included in the electorate so-named. There were three candidates—Messrs Joyce, McGregor, and Barnett—who polled as follows, viz,—Joyce 754, McGregor 647, Barnett 143, Mr Joyce being thus elected by a majority of 107. In all, it will be seen that 1544 electors voted out of a total roll of 2043. But while the law required that, as the the electorate contained a borough (Lyttelton) specially named as one of those the inclusion of which or any part of which requires the keeping open of the poll at all booths through out the electorate until 7 p.m., and as this seems to have been unaccountably overlooked by the Returning Officer, who closed all the booths outside of Lyttelton at 6 p.m., Mr McGregor and his friends dispute the validity of the whole business, and contend that had the other 499 electors, who did not vote, been afforded the opportunity of the extra hour the result might have been reversed. Hence the petition. It is of course impossible to say what view the $uj»p©m« Court may take of the matter, but it is, quite on the cards— •in the Lyttelton-Akaroa g^e at any rate—that the proceedings may be declared null and YQJd, in which case another election will be nQcpssary. In the meantime, however, the proceed ings taken or pending will have effect upon the political situation, Parliament can only take cognisance in the meantime of the official returns to the writs, and both members will be entitled to be s tvorn in and to take their seats «,id pff epntinue fco act as duly elected roem.Wi?£ $'fs}l *ne Election Petitions (3ouv,fc sftftii' .have, decided—if it do so decide—-that they were not duly elected.

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The earth contains 1,400,000,000 people. There we in London at the present time one lady lanscape gardener, one lady stock broker, and one lady dentist. The recorder of Portsmouth sentenced a woman of 65 years of age to seven ye:u-a penal servitude for stealing a second-hand skirt. Mailsfor Australian Colonies, India, China, United Kingdom stud Continent of Europe, per To Anau via Sydney, close at Auckland on Wednesday 14th, at 3 p.m. Due in London February 24th. » Steps will shortly betaken in Wellington, to form a Company, with a capital of £5000, to erect swimming baths in that city on fa.ii extensive scale. The river Waimakarivi is encroaching seriously on the North. Road, near White's Bridge. There is no danger to Chriatehurch, but considerable to the road and railway. The repairs will cost about £500. ; Yesterday the Customs authorities at Lyttleton found that five cases of, apples from Sydney, per the Hauroto, wereinfeatorl with codlin moth, and .ordered them to be destroyed. The little King of Spain was reproved the other day for desiring to play with some dirty children on the beach. His mother said it was undignified for a king to be seen in such company, whereupon he replied he did not want to be a king, he wanted to be a child. ; The Lords' Committee have decided to recommend that the height of buildings in London should not exceed ninety feet. It was explained that the London County Council Bill was intended to put a stop to such monstrosities as Queen Anne's Mansions j which are 140 ft. high. i The latest papers from Tonquin announce' the arrival there of a portable cathedral. It was imported from the town of Kesup, and is of iron. It arrived in 834 packages, and is to be 180 feet long, 65 feet broad, and 50 feet high. It is said that a native convert is bearing the whole expense of the edifice. Fifty years ago there were probably not more than from 90,000 to 100,000 acres of fruit-land in Great Britian. In 1872, the date of the first reliable record, it had in creased to nearly 170,000 acres; and Mr Whitehead, a well-known authority, esti mates the present acreage at about 214,000 acres. As an instance of the power of habit Dr Kerr tells us what must be the most astonishing on record. The wife of a Baptist minister, acquired a liking for Epsom salts. She began at an early age with a small quantity, gradually increasing the dose until, at her death in her 90th year, she arrived at the generous allowance of a pound and aVnalf per tliem. The fire bell sounded an alarm yesterday afternoon about five o'clock, the Borough Council's plantation on the terrace by the river bed on Alford Forest road having been discovered to be on fire. Both engines.came out promptly, and the Brigade set to work with a willj and soon extinguished the fire. Only a few trees are likely to be lost of the number round the roots of which the under growth was burned. , t Yesterday the Mayor of Christchnrch inspected the Queen street side channels, some of which drew forth censure from the jury at the inquest on the child Hall. He found matters not so bad as represented, the channels being of concrete, with more than average flushing power. They had not been swept for some llays, and the Mayor ordered this to be done immediately, and the grass and weeds along the edges to be cut. Dr Vickersheimer, an analytical chemist, of Berlin, has invented a fluid for preserving purposes. The bodies of the late Emperor William and the Empress Augusta are stated to be preserved by an injection of this liquid. Dr Vickersheimer has now extended his ex-, periments to the preservation of animals, and they are said to have been very'successful.' A hiu'e shot six weeks before, and preserved by means of his fluid, has been declared equal tc|i resh meat Marshal Deodoro da Fonscca has done away with the last vestige of slavery in; Brazil. On the 28th of November last, the anniversary of the issue of the Emancipation Liws of 1871 and 1805, hundreds of former slaves still undergoing long sentences under the exceptional law of 10th June 1835 received a full amnesty. This law had for its object the punishment of the slaves for crimes and offences against the misters and the members of their families It was a very severe measure, and was much abused. The marshal calls his amnesty merely an act of reparation—not one of grace. This according to a clever Paris Society paper, is how our game of football strikeis the intelligent foreigner. ." I went," says he " to the Biackheath on Saturday to observe the game, so essentially Britannic, of foot ball. This is what I saw :—The players pre cipitated themselves furiously upon each other; arms and legs were instantly dis located ; collar-bones broken; children of tender years limped off the field with fatal injuries and all around were weeping mothers and distracted fathers tending their bruised and battered offspring. Anon the game w&s resumed amid howls and execrations from all sides; fragments of clothing, and of h»ir and skin, torn ruthlessly from the heads and bodies of the rivals, strewed the field. It was a terrible and affecting spectacle ! I turned away with tears in my eyes." According to the Perseveranza of Milan, important sponge-banks have been lately discovered close to the island of Lampedum, on the southern coast of Sicily. These de posits of sponges extend over a surface of from 15 to 18 marine leagues, and are sit uated about an equal distance from the south-eastern extremity of the island. The smallest depth above these banks is 75 feet; the greatest depth is from 112 to 116 feel,' At the lesser depths rock is met with, oil which the sponge grows } at greater depths a sandy soil is found. All varieties of sponge are discovered here, including those which are in the greatest commercial re quest, and they are easy to obtain. Greek and Italian Teasels have already proceeded to Lampedusa to take advantage of the discovery. ,

Mr W. H. Rule a member of the Ashbur ton Rifle Club and Pte. S. Salek of the Ash btiTton Volunteers, will be competitors at the New Zealand Rifle Association's meeting, which is to be held at Napier, commencing on the 20th inst. Canterbury will be well represented by Waimate, Ashburton, Christ church and Rangiora men. We hope to see the Canterbury team have the honor of again winning the District Challenge Cup, as they did last year Pte, Salek being the only South Canterbury man picked foy the team. Our local men have been unfortunate regarding amnnition, there being none aviable for practice until last Wednesday when a case of it which had been delayed in Lyttelton since tb,e 19 th December only reached Ashburton then. We have been shown a copy of the programme for the JS9I meeting, and it is gqod enough to attractfi large'nuniber of competitors. We hope to see our lqcal representatives well to the foi'e notwithstanding they have only a week left for practising. Southern competitors go by steamer from Lyttelton to Wellington, thence overland to Napier by coach and rail. The meeting lasts about a week.

COUNTY COUNCIL.

Tho following conclude? our report ot yesterday's mooting : - WIDENING'THE MAIN RACES. Mr Wright moved the motion of which he had given notice as follows :—"That bhe Engineer be instructed to call for. tenders for widening the arterial race from the south branch of the Ashburton, sufficiently to enable it to carry one-half more water than it now carries, and-that the subsidiary channels be proportionately enlarged wherever necessary to carry a good supply of water throughout the water race system. He said the motion should commend itself to the members of the Council. All arrangements had been made, both as rearards the arterial races and the subsidiary ones There were many applications from settlers in several localities, which could not be grant?d un less this extra supply were brought down. The Engineer had estimated the cost at £500 ; but supposing it to be £1000, the expenditure would "be well re paid. He had asked the Engineer to prepare the following figures, which would »peak for themselves. Rakaia Plains Water Supply.—Mileage, 500; total debt, September 30, 1890, £3000; debt per mile, £7; annual revenue, £1650 ; annual expenditure, £950;' annual surplus, £700 ; years to extinguish debt as from May 1891, five, or with interest, six and a-half years. Rangitata Plains Water Supply.—Mileage, 300; ■ debt September 30, 1890, £1000; debt a per mile, £3 6s 8d ; annual revenue, £960 ; annual expenditure, ; £480 ; annual surplus, £480; years to extinguish, one. ' The dates of extinction of debts are taken from May 1891, as the previous year's rates will not be fully collected till that date. The above is, also exclusive of interest on debt which would corres pondingly lengthen the periods. Mr Brown seconded the motion. Any motion that would help to bring the 1 water of those rivers over the plains would always gain his support. Mr Friedlander had opposed any in crease of their overdraft over these races. He would do so again that day. It was not legal to anticipate their rates for three years, nor for anj time, and if Mr Wright, who was now going to Welling ton to represent them in the General Assembly, could move Parliament to make it legal to raise loans to wipe off over drafts, he would be able to do some good. But he (the speaker) would not be one to favor any increase of overdraft to bring down more water.

Messrs Coster and Grigg having spoken against the motion, Mr Harper moved the following amend ment—" That the subsidiary channels in the lower portion of the Ashburton- Rangitata district extending upwards to the present main arterial races, be restored to their original width, to enable the races to be multiplied as required by the settlers." He had contended in commit tee that the main arterial races were fully capable of carrying all the water the Council required, and that what was wanted was to have the subsidiary races properly cleared out to their original width, and then they would carry all the water the main r-ices could give them. His amendment would nob mean any thing like the cost of Mr Wright's pro posal.

The Chairman seconded the amend ment. Mr Friedlander had given the amend ment close consideration durinsj the luncheon adjournment. It appeared to him that the amendment was an attempt to get in the thin edge of the wedge again of a resolution that was negatived a few days ago at that Board, which, had it been carried, would have meant the Council taking over the maintenance of the whole system of-races. -He would oppose the ■amendment, and as Mr Brown had said, if this amendment was necessary the officers of the Council were not doing their duty. Mr Wright could not favor the amend ment. There was a portion of the race system that was not attended* to by the owners interested, and there was a portion tlisit was properly •- attended to. This amendment would have the effect of letting off the settlers who hid not attended to their races. The amendment was losb on the voices, and Mr Wright spoke in reply as the mover of the original motion, contending that there was no legal difficulty in the way of making the expenditure he proposed, i He was only asking the Council' to en dorse the credit of the south side settlers a« had been done on'the north.

Tho motion was then put to the vote, and was lost by tive to three. VILLAGE SETTLEMENT SUPPLY. Mr Wright moved as follows, pursuant to notice:—"That the Engineer be in structed to make a survey and estimate of the cost of a new water race to supply water to the Village Settlers in blocks 1 and 2, Rakaia." He supported this motion in a few words. Mr Coster seconded, and the motion was carried. HAMPSTEAD TOWN DISTRICT SUPPLY. Mr Brown moved, pursuant to notice, a resolution to provide a water supply for the Hampstead Town District. Mr Brown urged the necessity of giving this supply. The town district of Hamp stead was one rising rapidly in importance and increasing in population, Mr Wright seconded, pointing out that the Council raised rates in Hampstead as well as in Tinwald, and the town district was entitled to have the supply asked for. The Chairman read the last Committee s repoi-t on the subjpet of a supply for Hampstead.

Mr Friedlander detailed what negotia tions had been carried on on the subject between the Borough Council and the Hampstead settlers. The motion was not carried. THE KANGBKS 1 WORK. Mr Wright moved—" That the water rangers be instructed to hand in monthly a list of all cases of obstruction to, or overflow from the water races, observed by them during the month, stating the causes of such obstruction or over flow, aqd giving the number of the rural section and the name of the oc cupier in each case." It had been hinted—with what ground he could not say—that the rangers were afraid to do their duty, w-ere afraid to. report the true state of the waiter races.. The adoption of such a resolution as th^s would deprive the rangers of any choice in the matter, Already the notice of motion had clone good, for several oases of tampering were that day before the Council. Mr Grigg seconded. Mr Harper strongly opposed the publi cation of people's names who might happen to have their races impeded. The motion was carried. IRRIGATION DATA.

Mr Wright, pursuant to notice, moved— V That the Engineer be instructed tore port as to the cost of a complete system of irrigation for that part of the county lying between the Ashburton and Rakaia rivers, and extending from the vicinity of Merhven to the sea. The estimate to be based on the assumption %$ the \fcholg «f the' >v^ter! 'required shall be obtained from tlie Rakaia." Mr Wright said that every third or fourth man you met in Canterbury said " Why don't you go in for irrigation 1 The district is so admirably adapted for irrigation."_ There was a considerable amount of ignorance existing about irri gation, and he moved this motion with the object of setting the Engineer to work to supply data that would enable the settlers to see for themselves what the work of irrigation woitld cost. The, ijnainqpii |$d h.^4 ssQUi^vex^eriiSnce' m Irrigation ox» tho Irrigation Farm, Mjiny

people talked at random about irrigation, bub he wished the ratepayers to bs in possession of all the needful facts about it, so that when an important scheme was : required to be voted upon by the rate payers'they would know exactly .what they were doing. Mr Wright quoted some of the Victorian results of irrigation, aid hoped the resolution he moved would be carried. Mr Brown seconded the motion. On the suggestion of Mr d-rigg, the motion was amended to read ;is above printed. , '■■,■ Mr Friedlander would like the district from the hills to the main line to be added to the motion—the supply to come from the Rangitata. Mr Harper would eupporb the resolu tion, and trusted Mr Wright would add the words suggested by Mr Fredlandw. Mr McMillan said the settlers in the upper district did not want irrigation. Mr Wright was aware that those settlers had on a previous occasion voted against a scheme for irrigation, but they might have changed their minds since then, and it was the Council's duty to give them all proper data. The resolution was carried. Mr Friedlander moved, pursuant to notice—"That with a view of practically testing the results of irrigation in New Zealand, and the Canterbury Plains in particular, this Council ask the Govern ment to place a sum of money on the Estimates during the coming session as a bonus towards the encouragement of a complete irrigation system."

After some discussion the motion was lost. NOTICES OP MOTION. Mr Wright to move—" That the Engineer be instructed to proceed to Victoria and inspect the principal'works of irrigation in that colony before drawing up his report on the cost of irrigating the district between the Ashburton and the Rakaia." • Mr Harper to move—" That the "water races in the Ashburton-Rangitata district be so improved that all the applications for new races can be granted; also a supply of water for irrigating smaU areas for garden purposes." Mr Friedlander to move —" That the Engineer be instructed to report as to the [ cost of a complete system of irrigation for that part of the county lying between the south branch of the Ashburton and Rangitata, and extending from the vicinity of Shepherd's Bush and Anama estate to the main south line of railway. ' LICENSES. The Engineer was appointed Inspector of slaughter houses, and ■several licenses were x'enewed. MB, -F. CASS'S CLAIM. Mr Brown read his report on this matter which had been referred to him, and after a short discussion the subject was held over until all parties could be communicated with. PAYMENTS. Accounts to the amount of £500 were passed for payment. NEXT MEETING. The next ordinary meeting was fixed for Monday, 9th February.

Corn Exchange Report.

The following is the Corn Exchange Report for week ending Friday, January 9 : —Harvest operations are now in full swing, cind it is to be hoped that our farmer friends will not come out so bad as reported from several districts. Wiihat—ln wheat a few transactions have taken place, the only demand being by local millers. Oats have met with a fair enquiry, more particularly milling sorts. Barley—Malting barley, as stated in our previous reports, is now hi a narrow channel, and finds buyers at quotations. Grass Sued—Rye—A few linea of new seed have been offered on the market, but tho prices asked by the growers did. not meet the views of purchasers, while our Southern friends are quoting, lower rates. Cocksfoot—No threshed samples are on the market, but the quality may be said to be fairly good, but opening prices are not settled. Dairy Produce—No material change can be noted. Quotations are as follows: — Wheat, Tuscan, 3s 7d; Pearl, 3s 3d to 3s Gd; Hunter's, 3s 4cl; second quality, 3s; broken, 2s 6d to 2s 9d. Oats, milling, Is 8d to Is 9d ; hort feed, Is 7d; inferior kinds, Is 5d to Is 6d. Barley, prime malting, 3s 3d ; medium, 2s 6d* feed, Is 9d to ls.lOd, Rye Grass, town dressed, 4s 6d ; farmers' parcels, 3a to 4s. Dairy Produce, butter, factory make, 7d to 8d ; farmers' salting, 6d. The above prices are those paid to farmers for delivery f.o.b. Lybtelton. Sacks extra.

Messrs Friedlander Bros, beg to report upon the Live Stock Market for the week ending January 9th,as follows :—Theentries of all classes of stock were small, and the attendance only limited, with prices varying about the same as last week. No doubt small markets will be the rule during the approaching harvest, and prices for store, stock will remain stationary until the pad docks now occupied by the crops can be utilised for stubble feed. At present the strongest enquiry exists for fat sheep and lambs for freezing pur poses, and we can secure fulleat market value for suitable lines.

Dr Barnardo's Homes.

A meeting convened by his Worship the Mayor with the view to an effort to assist the above deserving institution took place last evening in the Borough Chamber I}.;1}.; Among those present were the Mayor and Mrs Friedlander, tlie Rev A. Blake, Major Steward, Messrs Braddell, Collins, R. Fried lander, and Purnell.

In opening the proceedings the Mayor, who presided, said that what had already appeared in the local papers sufficiently explained the object of the meeting, and the little pamphlets which were issued from year to year by Dr Barnardo had been read by almost everybody—man, woman, and child. The noble work which was carried on by Dr Barnardo was not surpassed by any similar enterprise in its claims on public support, and that support should take a practical shape. He then read the circular referred tq by ourselves in a recent article, and draw attention to the fact that 17,000 odd children had been saved from death or worse than death, and said that the very small percentage of those who had turned out failures—less than 2 per cent—showed that the work was carried on with a great deal of wisdom as well as perseverance. He suggested that- a, Ootmmittee should be formed to assist in obtaining subscriptions, and that it should be a permanent Com mittee, meeting at stated times, and being elected from year to year,

After some remarks by Mr Piimell, Major Steward, and Mr Braddell, the Rev. A. Blake expressed great pleasure in being present that evening. They had already their local organisations in connection with the Bible Society and other institutions, but that presided over by Dr Barnardo was one equally deserving of their support. A number of the settlers in the district were in receipt from time to time of Dr Barnardo's publications, and many had had their hearts touched by the records they contained, and had assisted in their own way. Indeed, in the Tinwald district they had had one young lady who had been going round for 1 subscriptions for the Homes for some two ojr three years past, but he wcmld g^Uy/aee an organised effort n^ade,, anc^ .&ugge»^ed that many might b,s wiUnig'tiisubscrib,e if they knew, where and to. whom, to. fo^wnr^ their contributions. B;e had «.q doubt that other engagements had prevented other ministers from being present at that meeting, and was sure that all would be glad'that attention' was being drawn to the claims of so deserv ing a work as that of Dr Barnardo, the meetings in London in connection with which were year by year of increasing interest. He agreed with the Chairman that the very small percentage of failures proved the excellence erf ifee isaipuig afforded in. the Homes;, the. children and young p.sojpile, #&&. taygfot traces, and le.wue,o iq tak> an i^teje^t hi them, numbers who went in indolent coming out active and industrious, an 4 eagerly applying themselves'

to the learning of handicrafts such as those of shoeniakiug, brushmaking, etc. He Raw that in Christchurch some people had been con Iri bating in response to the appeal of Dr Barnardo at the Christmas time of good '■heer and abundance, and ho hoped the people of the Ashburton district would do likewise) as aid was especially-needed m view of the severity of the winter at Home. After some further discussion it was resolved that those present form themselves into an auxiliary Committee, with power to add to tlieiv number, and Mr Braddell having been appoint*:l Hon. Secretary, and His Worship the Mayor Hon. Treasurer, it was resolved to adjourn until Friday evening next, at eight o'clock, and a vote of thanks to the Chair man, closed the proceed ings- "

CORRESPONDENCE.

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

THE IRRIGATION SCHEME.

TO THE EDITOB. Sib,—Surely Mr E. G-. Wright's success at the late election contest .must have upset his hoad. I see from your report • of the last Council meeting that he proposed that the Engineer report on the cost of irrigating the Plains. Now, sir, I have a faint recollection of Mr Wright threatening the Council with all sorts of penalties if they increased the ; wa^er supply on the Rangitata Plains ; because he said the percolation from the races was swamping the land along the seaboard. What does Mr Wright expect to take place when he introduces irrigation, if his ! theory some time ago was correct that the races were causing the water on the swamps to rise % Irrigation will ruin half tile country. But I hardly think Mr Wright is serious in his proposal; I think Mr Friedlander and he are only having a lark: with the ratepayers, or perhaps they are bidding for a little cheap popularity. I wonder if Mr Wright recollects when he stumped the country with a map as bisj as a blanket, and tried to make us believe that a water supply for the Plains could only be got through pipes; and if it had not been for some very stiff opposition his scheme met with at Rakaia, notably from Mr Wm. White, I believe something like £100,000 would have been squandered. I hardly think Mr Wright ever forgave the Fakaia people for the opposition they showed to his pet pipe scheme. But be thai as it may, a number of the ratepayers look with suspicion on any water scheHfe of Mr Wright's now. A lot has been said and written about irrigating our Plains for some time past by business men and newspaper editors men that I should say do not know any thing about it. I would have some faith in the scheme if a few good practical farmers would say something in favor of it. I do not consider the farm the Council experimented upon was anything to go by. If the Council had taken an average Plains farm of 500 acres, and not a patch of level land without a depression in it, and grown say a hundred acres of every crop the average Plains farmer grows, viz., wheat, oats, barley, etc., that would have been something to go by. I never yet made out how the Irrigation Farm paid the Council. Did nob Mr Wright object to it being carried on owing to the loss the Council sustained thereby % Sir, I am confident irrigation will not pay in our day ; on our light shingly soil it would cost more to irrigate an acre than we would make out of it. I reckon it is only grass land that would .'derive any benefit. I consider it could be impossible to irrigate land under crop ; ifc would foe like pouring water into a sieve. To gi/o a wheat field anything like, an even watering the channels would require to be only a few feet apart, so to irrigate his grain fields a fanner would require to plough up about half of his crop in making channels. Irrigation, I make no doubt, will pay here wHten we have a population as numerous as Belgium and other thickly populated countries, but in our day, or as long as the land is held in large blocks, ifc will only pay us in as far as running the water over our gardens, or perhaps a small paddock for stock near our home steads. I am confident. Mr Wright or Mr Friedlander could no more irrigate an average Plains farm than they could fly, or make a railway to the moon.—l am, etc., A.Plain's Farmer.

OBITUARY.

It is our sad duty to chronicle the death at his residence, Chertsey, on Wednesday last of Mr David Todd, master of the State school in that township. Mr Todd died at the comparatively early age of forty-seven, a victim to consumption. He had been ailing for a long time, and although his death can hardly be said to have been unlooked for, it came some what earlier thim Had been expeoted by deceased's family. Mr Todd came to the colony twenty-three years ago, and all his time in New Zealand has been spent in teaching. He has held the position of master of the Chertsey school for nine or ten years, and as a teacher has always been spoken of as faithful and loyal to his duties, and a lover of his work. He was educated in Glasgow, with a view to following the profession of a teacher, and although ha was but a youth when he left Home, was not without a good record at that early date. Mr Todd was also a musician of great ability, being master of several instruments, and notably the violoncello. The deceased leaves a wife and family of eight children.

Items from Paris.

(FE#M OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

COS 1? OE PARLIAMENTS. According to the " Graulois" the dearest Parliament in the world is that of France, the two chambers annually coat-, ing 18,145,082 francs. Next jn order come the Parliaments of Spajn 2^219,205 francs ; Italy, 2.150,000 francs ; Austria, 1,810,627 francs; England, 1,298,000 franca ; Belgium, 900,124 francs; and Portugal 753,000 francs. The German Reichstag costs only 479,087 francs, COST OF SWEEPING TBB PARIS STREETS. The estimates for the, sweeping of the Paris, streets next year amount to the respectable figure of 6,585,000 francs. The watering of the thoroughfares and the cleaning away of the snow in winter represent an annual cost of 6,515,000 francs. About half the expenditure is met by the State and the Department of the Seine, the remainder being raised by means of a special tax on property owners. MURDER WILL OUT. A prisoner, who was in a hospital ward in Paris, was seized with violent hysterics a few days ago, and, in order to crjia her nerves, she was drugged ancl pjofr to sleep. During her slumber, ah* gave a narrative of a mu.rd.er j^ which she appeared to hay* p^rtfcflpated. On waking up she was toldojf what had ooourred. She turned pale and looked troubled, but finally admitted that the story was true. 1 The police were then communicated with, and an inquiry immediately instituted. TWO REVOLUTIONARIES. The Commissary of Police f,o* Pantin was waited upon a day «r two ago, by two starving men, named Jpris^hj^, aa4 Bella Parish, who stated that, t'aey had come all the way c*n, %>Jb froiu, Butk-Pesth. They were, p.ifhi^ers, who wore being hunted dpvitn oi^ apcoiuVs r«f their revolutionary socialist i(^«\s, mv\ they assured the Commissary that they had riot eaten a crumb of bread for two days.. He gave thoin a dinner and placed a room at their disposal, and they subsequently cpntrayyed thejr journey to P^ri^ " ■i '

WOMEN IS MEN'S ATTIRE.

A divided skirt, or something.analogous to it, is the latest novelty on which the Frorch League for the emancipation r»f woman has set its heart, and to v/liicii ifc would willinsjly set its s-a.l. li-n, the Prefecture nf Police has to be reckoned with, inn; much as it declin ;s to ;i;Uuic of any radical change as from men's to women's attire, unless absolutely uee«:s • sary and duly phnwn by medical certifi cate. An exception fcp ,tbi&rulfrjias been made in the cases of Mme. Dieuhfoy, the explorer, who accomoanied her husband in all his travels; Rosa'Bonh»ur, M>»r gueri.tq Ballanger,, and an artiste of Hie Comedie Francaise who was anxious to take part in a shooting excursion. There are only ten women in Paris or in the provinces who are allowed to wear mascu line attire The c include a person who could not be distinguished in features from a man, a woman who is regularly employed as a house painter, another woman wearing a full beard,, who w»s for some time on viow'at the Eden Theatre : two pemons suffering from malformation, and one who would look absolutely ridi culous if dressed in accordance with the  traditions of her sex. For) somewhat similar reasons, coupled with a physical infirmity, a hawker of potatoes in the outskirts of Paris has, for some years past, ; been allowed to wear female attire.

A Relic of the Bushrang ing Days.

A strange discovery has been made at a romantic nook iv the vicinity of tha Goulburn River, in New South Wales. A farmer named Campbell, who resides at IJalrami, has a housekeeper, and her son, . a boy of tender years, was attracted to a cave in the search, of hens' eggs;: While searching the retreat he found a large salad oil bottle,, in which there was a -wooden' plug. The bottle appeared to be stuffed with some material, and, upon the trader submitting it to the inspection of adult*, it was discovered that it contained a large number of bank notes, which had been pushed tightly into their receptacle and owing to damp, it is supposed, had with time been formed into a pulpy mass. The bottle and contents were brought into Mus wellbrook and placed in the care of Mr J. W. Humphries, of Messrs M) Campbell, & Co. That gentleman, by steaming the mass (the original portion was broken in two in tran sit) was enabled to separate seven halves of five pound Commercial Bank notes in a fairly good state of preservation, the printing and numbers being perfectly legible. The pulpy bundles contain probably fifty notes in all ; but it is impossible at present to tell their value. The find is supposed to have been a plant of the notorious Thunder* bolt, who was known to inhabit the cave where the money was found, a half-caste woman who had lived with the outlaw having died in the cavern. The money must have been lying in the cave for 1 up wards of a quarter of a century, and the matter is exciting considerable interest.

IRISH AFFAIRS.

SURRENDER OF MR O'BRIEN.

(per pkess

London, Jantnuy 9. Mr W, O'Brien, who was sentenced to six months' imprisonment in October last for inciting tenants at Tipperary ' not to pay rent, but escaped to»Franc» and the United States, has now sur rendered himself to the authorities.

Dr. Koch's Discovery.

PROFESSOK VIRCHOWg OPINION. (PEK i>R£BS ASSOCIATION.) . } Berlin January 8. Professor Virchow, the celebrated German anatomist and anthropologist, is sceptical of the success o£ Dr Koch's lymph. He states that twenty-one cases of tubercolosis treated by Dr. Koch's method ended fatally, and con siders that many more experiments, will be necessary before the lymph becomes effectual.

The Indian Rising.

REPORTED BURNING OF A. CITY. TER PPvESS ASSOCIATION] Washington, January 8 and 9. General Miles, who commands at Pine Ridge, is hopeful that the In dians will surrender without further bloodshed. . It is reported that the Shoahones tribe has captured and burnt the city of Podtttello in Idaho State.

TO-DAY'S TELEGRAMS

[per press association.]

Aa«*h«p Mall (ferric*. ' Wellington, January 10. The Government have received advices from the agent at 'Frisco of, the United States Postal Department pointing to the* probable passage of a Tonnage Bill devot ing a subsidy of £60,000 per annwn to -a. fortnightly mail service to New Zetland or £30,000 for a monthly service. The. President in his address dwelt strongly on the necessity of Congress stirring in the matter. ' Effect* »f tk« ]>r«»ag-ht. Christchukch, January 10V An cftect of the long spell of dry weather is that many plantations in Can terbury begin to show signs «& not stand ing the drought much longer. On the plains scoresof pinm imignis are withered off, and others o» the verge of being ruined. lieutenant Anderson has reason to aspect that 27 men will leave hen to compete at the Rifle meeting at Napier Wool fthlp Vr !,•■*•■. * Oamaru, January 10. Cleared at Customs, barque Rakaia, for London, with a cargo of wool, oats, and barley, valued ac £54,000. She sails with, the first favorable slant of wind.

Reported Revolution in Chill.

[per press association.]

Washington, Joattary 9. A rumor is current that a revolution has broken out in the Republic pf Chili, owing t<j the President, Don Jose M. Bajraaceda, refusing to con* vene the K&tjonal Congress.

THE MARKETS.

[PKE, PRESS ASSOCIATION J [Received January ICU. 10.20 a.m.J Lokmht, January 9. Three month's tajfts are quoted at 2f per cent. Cpusek 96 J ; New Zealand four per een,t inscribed stock 106 j three (Wet a half per cents 94J. ¥Ibr New Zealand wheat' on passage sellers are asking 37s 6d but buyer* I will' not give more than 375. Cantor- Ifcury mutton 4-l-|6th." Wellington,. [ditto 3 13-16 th. Canterbury Umb.*|d. Colonial oats, fine quality, average 26r 6d, beans 31s 6d, South. Australian wheat 395, marke^, fiwneri

A Dtmedin telegram saya that the Com mittee of the Attiaacs have rcaolved to nominate five candidates for the Licens ing Ben«h next moqth pledged to refuse til

TOT ASKBtTRTON GUAKDIAN, SATCTRBAT, JAi^tTARf I<V 1891



SANDER AND SONS' EUCALYPTI EXTRACT.—In protection of the world wide fame our manufacture has acquired all ! over the globe, we publish the following: Hazard, M.D., Professor of General Patho logy and Diseases of the Mind and Nervous System, says in an editorial published in the " Clinical Record ":—" We have examined half-a-dozen specimens of different manufac tures ; the preparation of Sander and Sons was iljjß only one that proved to be reliable and corresponding tq snient^c |ests." Another cqhcQclion called {' KemMJd Kxtnaqi; of Eucalyptus" has made its appearance sine#, fhis product stands, according tq l)c Owen, foremost in causing injurious effects That gentleman communicates, at a meeting of the Medical Society of Victoria, that a child living at Fitzroy became most seriously indisposed through its use. In another case a lady states on the strength of statutory declaration that she suffered cruelly from the effects of the same concoction. To guard rhe high reputation of our manufacture we j»pl warranted in expo ing the above facts, a,%4 %i}f£C3 thg public to exercise care and preuautioir wlieii jbuying, &4NI}JjjR, jy»>d ON 4 (Advt«) s ' ''"■'- 7



Wanted WANTED -Apprentices to the Dressmaking. Apply Miss E. McDonnell, Dressmaker, Saumlers' Buildings. 1|55 fpRY the Gr«at: Drapery Sale now on JL at H. C. Segeks. O£T DISPOSIT~WaTiteI to idlTl o-Jk) roomed House with half acre of land. Very easy terms. Apply 11. M. Jones. , l 34 WA.NT.iSD Known —Some tspocial lines in choice Orenw Goods «t very low prices showing at " The Corner." AOTED^inT^^ wear" Boot is the best for Men adies and Children.—W. H. Coluek. WANTED every man in the Comity to have a suit of the Ashburton, ■Tweods.—Robert At.cokk, Ashbiu-ton j Clothing Mart, Saunder's Buildings. J EGER^ToiearTng' Hale in alfDeparC ments now on. One trial solicited. Melford House. Aln^Fl^rvm"-— TJie Oh^apast Shop fco buy Tinware, and Gal •vanised Iron goods in Ashbarton, is at VV. F. Ha-NNApord's, Burnett Street. A arge stock kept on hand. Tin and Iror. ware goods made and repaired with des patch. (JOTS,"BOOTH. "Keep you.- feet Dry and save Doctor's Bills, have a splendid Stock in now. Try my Double-aoled,, Shooters. Every pair Guaranteed. Robert ATjCOKN, Ashbur- Qon Clothint' Mart, Sounders' Buildings. ELFORD~House Sale now on. We only ask one visit.—H. C. SBgkks. /"POOLING and invigorating Ice Cream V^ as made by H. G. Flower, Con fectioner, East Street. Spring and Summer, 1890. BUY YOUR CLOTHING ; FROM THE NEW ZEALAND' .CLOTHING FACTOBY Men's Colonial TWEED SUITS. Boys' and Youths' Colonel TWEED SUITS at prices to suit everybody. H\T3.— W) kos) fc'ii Lu??Mfc and Best Selection Hats made to measure. SUITS MADE TO MEASURE. Best workmanship put in every garment, and a perfect fit guaranteed. Large Selection of Boys' Knicker Suits. Ties, Shirts, Collars, Braces, &c., in L vtest Fashion &nd Style. Bkst Value jfor Cash in Distkict NEW IE A T A « D CLOTHING FACTOR 4sfet»t for the Wonderful Werfcheim Sewing Machines' «V. H. WEBBER Mannj-^i",



WANTED, Tenders for Stooking and 1 f Forking 270 Acres (more or less) of Wheat. Particulars at Mr R. Alcorn's Store, where tenders may be left, or from tho undersigned. Tenders closu FRIDAY nighfc, January 16th. G. W.LEADLEY, 1?45 WakanuJ. Ladies! Ladies! WHOLESALE DRAPERY HOUSES IN GRKAT TROUBLE THIS SEASON WITH IMMENCE SURPLUS IMPORTATIONS OF SUMMET) fIOODQ U M M E Jtt VX O O D D —THEREFORE— We have made an Extensive Purchase of French Muslins, Zephyrs, Ginghams, r ETC., EMC. WHICH ARE NOW ON VIEW AX ' MITCHELL Q_ rnURNER'S, ITCHELL OO X URNER'S, KAIAPOI HOUSE. 0 o T o o Look Out ANDREW ORR'S CHEAP SALE The Greatest Bargains ever ofterecl in the history of Ashburtor. Particulars in a few days. ANDREW ORR 00 00 00 00 00000 O O 00000 0000000 0000000 the mm mum mm of sew mun (FIRE AND MARINE) '"PHE Business of this Company has i been TRANSFERRED to the COMMERCIAL UNION ASSURANCE COMPANY, Limited, of London, by whom, through the various Branches and Agencies in New Zealand, all accounts owing to and by and all losses under the Colonial Insurance Company's policies will be settled in future. F. ALLEN, General Manager. Wellington, New Zealand, December 11th, 1890. j THE COMMERCIAL UNION ASSUR ANCE COMPANY, (Limited) Established 1861. Incorporated under Act of Parliament, 7 and 8 Vie, Cap. 110. Head Office : 19 and 20 Cornhill, London Capital fully subscribed ... £2,500,000 Total Invested Funds ... 2,351,707 Total Annual Nett Income... 1,132,239 HEAD OFFICE rrm NEW ZEALAND : Lambton Quay, Wellington. With Local Boards of Advice in Australia and New Zealand. General Manager for New Zealand : FRANK ALLEN, J P. Every description of Fire nd Marine Insurance effected at LOWEST CURRENT RATES CUFF &12RAHAM, Managers for Canterbury, Christchurch. AOFNTS FOR ASHBURTON : •FRIBDLANDER BROS 22 FIRST. FIRST. FIRST. A T the LARGEST FIELD TRIAL Held in Australia this Season The Brantford £^- WAS PLACED FIRST, defeating seven other machines. THIS IS GENUINE. THE ONLY STRING BINDER THAT CAN CUT AND TIE GRASS SEED TESTIMONIAL. I have cut with & fit Brantford Binder purchased last .season, *bout seven acres of ryegrass for seed. The crop was arerxr short and thin, being on litrlit ground. 1 The machine did its work nerfectly, both cutting, biadfng and tyiii<» without a hitch., and I consider fch.© Bran*ford the lw»b ,on the marker, and the .only machine {&!• to ta,Qkle light crop of grass l*|lQi GsOKGECOia



(jT. Jb AWOETT IJODDS SURGEON DENTIST, Adpkehs :—Court Chambers, above Mr H. M. Jonoft Stationer, East Street, .'rivate Residence, Tancred Street. Tnree doors below Masonic Hull. NEW YEAR GIFTS. NEW YEAR CARDS AND BOOKLETS. NEW ANNUAL VOLUMES and BOOKS for Prizes and Presentations. NEW FANCY GOODS, .fee., &v h F. ANDREWES & Co. John Orr & Co. INVITE THE ATTENTION Of FARMERS V To their Large and Varied Stocks of all classes of Goods, suitable for the Harvest Field. 1000 Bales Binding TWINE, Crown Brand 250 Bales Manilla Binding TWINE ;$ • Machine Extras and Fittings 100 Cases Binding WIRE, White Cros 100 Cases Castor Oil Leather Belting, ljin to 6in "Valvoline and Lubroline Oil Lard and Olive Oil Cylinder Oil Perforated Zinc,.3/32 to 7/8 S*«ming Twine McGormiQk Binders. The agents of the McCormick reapers »nd binders have just received news of n. very exciting trial" at Tarn worth (N.S.W.) on Saturday, December 6. The prixe competed for was the Society's medal, "which was offered to the machines exhibited at their Show ; but in order to ! have a successful trial they in addition offered a prize of ten guineas, open to all comers. Both prizes wtjre gained by the McCormick, which wjis awarded tho full maximum number of points. This was the first time this season whore the winner at any trial in 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, ■ A USTRALTAN MUTUAL PROVI . J\. DENT SOCIETY Established 1849. FOR LIFE ASSURANCE ON THE MUTUAL PRINCIPLE. NEW ZEALAND BRANCH HEAD OFFICE—CUSTOM HOUSE QUAY, WELLINGTON. LOCAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Hon. Morgan S. Grace, C.M.G., M.D., M.L.C. (Chairman). Charles John Johnston, Esq. (Deputy- Chairman). Alfred de Bathe Brandon, Esq. The Hon. EI ward Richardson, C.M.G., M.H.ii. Nicholas Reid, Esq. ANNUAL INCOME SXCEEDS £1,625.000 STERLING. INVESTED FUNDS EXCEED £9,000,000 STERLING, REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD AS 3UKE WITH THIS SOCIETY: IT is the only Colonial Life Office giving Annual Bonuses, reducing the net cost of Assurance to the Lowest Possible Limit. It is the old largest, wealthiest, and most prosperous Mutual Life Office in the Southern Hemisphere. ITS Bonuses are larger than those of Any other Life Office of similar age in &uy other part of the world. The Society has distributed amongst its members upwards of £4,060,000 in Cash Bonuses, representing Reversionary Bonuses exceeding £8,000,000 sterling. AFTER making unusualamplereserves, the Cash Surplus for division for the year 1889 wis £420,484, a larger amount of profit ihan has ever been realised or divided in one year by any other office of the British Empire. THE Society issued 11,664 New Policies during the year 1889, assuring £3,679,459, with new Premiums amounts* ing to £133,411. The Society Offers UNDOUBTED SECURITY, LIBERALITY, PROFIT IDS investments in New Zealand securi ties are £1,273,514. «nd all the surplus Branch accumulations are invested in the Colony, thus makirg it essentially jt THOROUGHLY COLONIAL INSTITUTION. BE CABEFUL YOU SELECT THIS SOCIETY. AND DO NOT BE DECEIVED BY THE SIMILARITY OF NAME OF SOME OF THE YOUNGEE AUSTRA LIAN OFFICES. EDWARD W, jLOWE, Resident Se«*efc»rT..H Christen uroli District Office, W. B. HERRY, »kt:. .itAienejr Clerk,