MAIL NOTICE.

SATURDAY, AUUUSI "I'l. Mails close for South America, United Kingdom, and Continent of Europe, per Coptic, on Saturday next, 22nd instant, at -6.30 «.m. Postage to the United, Kingdom 2£d per \wi. This mail will be due m London on October 3, 1891^

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 1891. THE RAILWAY ZONE SYSTEM.

The zonal fare system, which Mr Samuel Vaile it. so persistent m his efforts to gain the adoption of on-the New Zealand Railways , came m : for notice m the recent report of the Railway Commissioners, showing that they have given this important question some consideration. They are, of course, opposed to the system, and they ,believe that there is some confusion of ideas on the part of its advocates, They dispute the assertion that there is any gain to the public m the system itself ; the public gain is m the reduc tion of fares which lias generally accompanied ohe adoption of the zone system, but which :s entirely independent of it. The zone sys tem, they say, is "merely the mechanical part of dealing with ticket issues and fares, and we should not gain by its adoption. The subject which has been confused with it is the amount of the fares charged, and the question of whether this should be uni form or diminishing, according to distance," Mr Vaile's proposed scale of fares is said to be lower than that of any of the zonal systems m Europe, and his system altogether has many, points of difference. The Commissioners explain that the reduction m fares is made on the principle of a diminishing charge for increasing distances, effected gener ally by adopting a fixed charge per zone, the zones increasing m length the further they are from the initial start ing point. In Hungary the zone lengths are based on the square roots of the distance from the starting point. A fare table might also be made by adopting a gradually diminishing charge per zone, with a fixed. length of zone. The Commissioners clearly show that they have no faith m Mr Vaile's arguments and figures, and still hold the firm belief that the adoption of his system would result m a very great deficit for a time at least. Mr Vaile has retorted to the Commissioners that he is a better judge than they of the probable effect'of a change m railway rates! He says that the question at issue is purely " a board room, a com mercial, and financial one," and none of the Commissioners has had a commer cial or financial training ; and he asks -—" How could we possibly expect men without this training to successfully manage a commercial institution involving the employment of a capital of over £15,000,000?" The question is very much to the point, but we are bound to the present Commissioners for some time yefc, and it is needless to discuss their quali fications ; Mr Vaile quotes instances which show that he lias been remark ably correct m his estimates of .the effect of previous alterations m the railway tariffs... Mr Vaile also contends that the Commissioners by circulating papers asserting that the Austrian is a sounder and better system than the Hungarian—the former having resulted m a small loss while the former has proved a great financial success —con clusively proves that they do not m the slightest degree comprehend the principles on which a stage system to be successful must be based. We con sider that M.r Vaile has established a strong case for his system to be tried, beginning with the passenger traffic.. If it should prove a failure the loss cannot be heavy, and if it sbould re sult successfully Mr Vaile will be de-< serving of substantial reward. It is quite evident that the present system of railway working is susceptible of very material reform.

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The ft.M.S. Tongariro has arrived at Plymouth with' her cargo of frozen meat m good condition. ' ■ Horse flesh would seem to be at a discount at Waipowa, Hawke's Bay, where a mob of 29 horses, mostly young and unbroken, only realised £40, some of the animals being knocked down at seven shillings each. The Stewards of the Ashburton County Hunt Club Race Meeting met to-day at noon and decided, m consequence of the heavy rain, to postpone racing until to morrow. The Stewards will meet at the. Commercial Hotel at ten o'clock to-morrow to consider whether the races shall be held to-morrow or further postponed. Amongst the visitors to Wellington is Mr J. C. Firth, formerly of Auckland, who after having seen the principal legislative assemblies of the world speaks m high praise of the Parliament of New Zealand, which, m his opinion compares not un favorably with even the British House of Commons. He says there is m the New Zealand Legislature an air of manliness and good feeling, and the debating power ;isj able and direct, to Six years ago a man m New Jersey left by will 12;000dol to Mr Henry George for the dissemination of " single , tax " literature. The will was. contested, and, of course, gol into the hands of the lawyers, who have had a six years' wrangle over its contents. As; a result Mr George has finally received 318dol, and the heirs to the estate 296d01. The remainder—i.e., ll,'3B6dol—has gone to the lawyers. A good illustration, says an American paper, of " Progress and Poverty " —except from the legal standpoint, . "There arc many worse ways of making a living apparently (says our Melbourne cor respondent) than by taking to billiards as a profession, since the receipts of Mr John Roberts for last week's exhibition at the I Athenauun were no less than £860, of which he gives one-fourth (£215) to the Floods Relief Fund. I think that a very great many people would- be equally generous upon the same terms. I will certainly myself willingly guarantee £215 weekly to any charitable'iiistitutiou whatever if m return I am guaranteed three times as much for myself." We have received from Mr A. D. Willis, Wanganui, a number of his recent art publications of Maori subjects. The principal is " The Latest ■Scandal " a well executed chroino-lithograph of an ancient story-teller narrating with animated gestures sonje very amusing circumstance to a group outside a wh'ari, A booklet, ''The Land of the Mpa,",. a poem by M. E. M. Montgomery, with sketfljes by "G. 5.," is one of the most beautifully got up colonial productions that we have seen. A number of Christmas and other cards, mostly humorous, are; also excellent spjecimei^ of MV Willis' jjart-painting. Mr' if. M. J one's lias a stojek of the works. They are sure to become popular for souvenirs or for sending to friends at Home. ■ Ask foi< Ninjao Hy.slop, and Co.'s " Imperial " new seasons Pare Cteylon and Indian Tsas. Special prices (Advt,)

t rthe sitting of the District Court m ! nkruptcy at New Plymouth last week it as state'!, on behalf of the Deputy Official Assignee, that all necessary steps had been taken m connection with Te Whiti's bank ruptcy. He, however, had treated the i matter with contempt-. His Honor com- j meuted on the bankrupt's conduct, which lie held to be contempt of Court, for which he was liable to be committed. Natives were am enable to the same laws as Europeans, j He considered Te Whiti should bfi called on. j to show ctiufse why lio should not be com milled for contempt ot" Con.-t. It was under stood that this step should betaken. The assets of this notorious chief appear to be principally p.-u-t interest m blocks of land, which the assignee was very doubtful would he of -my value to the'creditors. Our Melbourne correspondent writes : — Jusd now, when Mr Blackett, the (Go vernment onalyst, has fetched the Mel bourne brewers out of the mire by report- , ing that adulteration was unknown to them and that they use nothing but sugar, malt, ' hops, and wholesome bitters m the manu facture of beer, a couple of country brewers must go and spoil the whole business by getting fined for .having cocculns indicus and grains of Paradise m their posse* >ion. It is an open secret that the immensely strong brewing interest had determined if possible to overthrow Mr Graham, the Minister of Agriculture, as a kind of warning to the Ministry. It is now his turn to laugh and theirs to look bothered since among them thej have proved his ease. Mr Blackett had to state that they used from thirty to fifty-five per cent of sugar instead of malt, and the country brewers have proved that the use of chemicals is not unknown. As a matter of fact the advertisements, in 1 the '-'Brewery Trade Journal"' were enough to prove m themselves that some brewers must use plenty of-chemicals since people do not offer such things systematically year after year if there is' no market. Writing on July 28, our Melbourne cor respondent says: —The failure of the Imperial Bank is not m itself particularly disastrous, inasmuch as the shareholders who reaped large profits during its first two or three years of its short existence, will lose very little, and the depositors nothing, at all. A man who has received three or four dividends of ten to fifteen per cent is not held to be ruined if he ultimately only gets back six teen shillings m the pound of his original investment. But the event is looked upon as the forerunner.of similar crashes, and it is not expected that many of the smaller institutionswhichspeculatedinrealestat) "w ill survive. The large profits they declared during the "Boom" time were based upon highly sanguine estimates of profits. AU mfc remaining allotments m an estate, of which a portion had been sold at auction, ■were valued at the price which the lots sold had realised, and no -allowancewas made either for the possibility that the balance would have to be sold at a lower figure, or that the purchasers might relinquish their bargains. Both these events have happened m very many instances, and the larger banks which had allowed overdrafts tq the smaller ones.are row beginning to squeeze with disastrous results. They held their hands until the Investment Banks and speculative Building Societies had squeezed their customers to the last shilling, and then they came down with a sledge hammer force upon them. The results will be very tremendous and a wide spread smash, We clip the following important. testimo nial from the " Iliawarra Mercury ' (N.S.W ) of the 30th March. It needs no comment:— " Mr John Loveday, of the Bulli Mountains writes to us that after suffering for four years with acute gravel, he has experienced almost "complete relief by using Sander and Sons' Eucalyptic Extract. He says :—" Seeing the Said "Extract advertised m the ' Illawarra Mercury,' his intense suffering induced him to obtain a bottle of the medicine from Mr Hosking, chemist, of this town, and that the use of it gave him great relief at once. He states that between 10th March m st., when he obtained the first bottle of the extract, and the 19th, the use of that medicine continued to afford him relief, to which he had been a stranger for four years. Mr Loveday writes also that lie has found the Eucalypti Extract %cur© for rheumatism as well as gravel, He, requests us to .publish fchis information through the' Mercury.' We have much pleasure m complying with Mr Loveday's request, whose word cannot be doubted, and who can have' no object m view other than a pure desire to benefit suffering humanity. "—(Advt,) §•

Addington Stock Market

MB D. THOMAS.

Mr D. "Thomas reports upon the live stock market m the Ash burton district for the week ending A uousc 21, 1891, as follows, viz. :—On Tuesday m the Tin w<. 11 yards the usual weekly sale cf live stock was held. The attendance of farmers and others interested was above the average, and although biddings wore not so keen as they have been, still, when the dry weather and the shortness of feed at this tim*= of the year coupled with exceedingly heavy catalogues of stock submitted is taken into account, the clearance made by the various auctioneers must be considered as highly satisfactory, and clearly proves what I have so often reiterated : that for some reason or other the bulk of the land m this county is understocked. In fact we have hot; got the class of sheep "re quired, and should the approach mo; spring produce plenty of grass we shall see what we shall see.. The totals yarded for the day comprised 6876 sheep, 53 head of cattle, and five pigs, of which my entry consisted of 4592 sheep (every one of which was sold), 33 head of cattle, and two pigs. Nothing really prime m fat sheep was brought forward except a fe>y merino wethers and 70 crossbreds, but there were several good lines of crossbred and merino graaers, crossbred hogge!a and merino ewes m Jamb, all of whicii lines sold at values which compare favor ably with Christchurch rates. My princi pal sales were as follows, viz.—so fat crossbreds, 15s Id : 56 fat merino wethers, 12s 6d ; 55 fat merino wethers, 9s 4d ; 234 fa', merino wethers, 10s 6d ; 36 2 tooth crossbreds, lla 9d ; 175 cull 2 arid 4-toDth crossbreds, 10s 4d ; 133 fat cross bred 2-tooths, 15s lOd ; 70 fat crossbreds, 16s ; 510 crossbred hoggets, 10s 9d ; 450 fat 2-tooths, 15s Hd ; 240 fat crossb: eels, 17s ; 29 cull merino wethers, 7s ; 88 cull lambs, 4s 2d ; 53 cull crossbred ewes m lamb, 6s fid ; 73 cull merino ewes, broken mouth, 3s Id ; 150 merino ewes m lamb, 7s 8,1 ; 80 merino ewes m. lamb, 7s 6d ; 332 merino wethers, 8s 3d to 8s 6d ; 110 ■neiino ewes m lamb, 8s 2d ; 186 merino ewes m lamb, 7s 6d ; 840 merino ewe_s, 7s 6d ; 210 cull crossbred hoggets, 7s 4d ; 700 merino ewes m lamb, 6s 6d ; 10 rams, ss, etc., etc. In cattle—l sold fat cattle at-£5 ? £6-12ft.'6.d, and £8; springers, 2at £2 10s, I aj; £410s, lat£4 7s 6d, j aud 1 at £5 ; 8 young cattle 18 months jat. 40s.each ; 12 yearlings at 12s 6cl each ;; 3 calves at 6s Bel each ; 1 old cow, £1 ss, etc., etc. In pigs—l sold two porkersiat 16s each. • On Thursday on the farm lately occu pied by'Mr A> Frisby, Ash burton Forlts, I held a mosfc successful clearing sale,of live and dead stock. There was a large attendance, and spirited bidding was tihe the rule, resulting' m everything being sold at satisfactory prices. Draught horses realised.JEi, £17, £2 10.3, £11, £18, £11 10s, and £20 each ; trap horio, £6 10a j ■ waggon, £11 ; harness, £1 Ms, £2 Is, ■£3l£s 6d, £2 2s tid/ £2 10a ; D ¥ ploughs, £4 10s, £4 ss, £7 5s ; four leaf harrows, £3 ; disc harrows, £7 ; roller, £10 5s ; drill, £13 ; drays, £3, £6 ; horse power chaff cutter, £11 ; cattle, two at £3 10d, two at £4 7s 6d ; calves, two'at 15s :polled Angus bull, £110s ; draught filly by Kelvin rising two, £23 ; filly by Salisbury, £11 ; "Jack," racer, £5 10s ; 2-year-olds by Black wood Abdallah, 2 at £7, 1 each at £6, £5 19s, £4 10s ; otfier young horses from £3 to £4 ; sundries at good prices. >

Countess 2s, Duchess 2s 4d, Princcs42s Bd, Empress 3-s, These Teas are free from ay ixness of astringcsne/y Teas free from any excess of astringency [ Southßritish Tea Company's pure blends* AU^tore papery,

FARM NOTES.

It is affirmed "thai, the large quantity of snails which .appear m the chalk pastures after rain, ami which are devoured by the hhuep ilong with the short sweet herbage on which both feed, have a considerable share m imparting that peculiar flavour to wluch-Soublidovm mutton owes so much of its celebrity. Some interesting .statistics are furnished m relackJh to the parasitical inhabitants of cheese. A svviss schola has taken a census, and finds by microscopic examina tion that one gramme of Gruyere cheese contains no fewer than 90,000 so-called microbes. This prodigious colony m 70 diys multiplied to a tribe of 800,000. A piece of cheese of a few poun Is .weight upon our tables m^y, therefore, contain more microbe inhabitants than there are human inhabitants m the' ivhole world, On June 23 the Agricultural Depart ment of Washington, U.S.Ai, made a preliminary experiment m the production of a raintall. A. balloon was sent up into the clouds, where it exploded with great violence, Later m the evening a down pour of rain occurred, but whether this was due to the explosion remains.to be determined. The Department will repeat the experiment; on a larger scale. Californish prairie grass is proving to ' be one of the most valuable fodder plants foi Southern Queensland, affording, as it does, abundant nutritious feed during the winter months. Bur, although it is a winter grass, it flourished abundantly during a moist summer. It is an exceed ingly hardy grass, a good seeder, and is perennial, and- has a great advantage over lucerne m that it grows abundantly on a light soil totally unsuited to ' the deep rooting lucerne plant. "Bruni," aFter quoting m the "Aus tralasi&n " Mr Foster's scheme of ear marks to defeatthesheep-stealer, says :— "These precautions would doubtless be beneficial m many ways, and might be preventive of much sheep-stealing. It has often astonished reie that m Victoria we have no register for ear-marks and brands for sheep. Above all, "the rogue's ear-mark," namely, cutting an ear off close to the head, should be the sub ject of a- heavy penalty imposed on all who use it." : Many of the sheep runs on the hills'of Dumfriesshire, Scotland, have been in vaded by hordes of mice, The hills have been m many places riddled by them, and large stretches are literally srarming with them. They ares much larger than ordinary field mice, approacliitig alniost to the size of fairly-grown rats. To the grass the mice have done almost incalcul able injury; They tear the plants up from the roots, thus rendering further growth impossible, Their existence is attributed to the destruction of the wild birds which prey on such vermin, these birds being mercilessly shot and trapped by the .keepers on. the ground that they destroy the eggs and young of grouse and other game birds. . The following is the treatment of cheese prior to shipment recommended by a scientific expert : —"There is no way of avoiding damage to cheese on a lon» voyage, as for instance from New Zealand or Australia to Sngland, unless some sort of quarantine is established at the port of shipment, Consignments of sued pro duce ought to be placed m a ■ 000 l store, the temperature of Which should be maintained at 45 deg, Fahr., for at least a fortnight before the shipment and .should be under such conditions that the cheese can bo inspected daily. Then it might be hoped that such cheese as possessed inherent yice might develop un mistakeable signs of deterioration previous to close packing on b :-u*d ship. Cheese possesses man eminent degree the con stituents, necessary to set up all kinds of fermentation, London, June, 1891."

Our Melbourne correspondent whites ;— " A gratifying sign of Colonial progress is the growing importance attached to irri gation. And when the enterprise assumes" the character of co-operation*—-the workers being the proprietors of the venture—the. benefits aiisingffcherefrom are greatly en hanced. I notice that such a company has just been formed under the title of ' Co-operative Irrigation and Mercantile Society of Australasia,' the operations of which promise to be rather extensive. The capital of the Society is to he £100,000 m shares of £2 each, payable one shilling on application, one shilling on allotment and the balance m payments of one shilling per month—no member to hold more than 200 sharesi I understand however, that m. view of the unlimited field for operations the amount of the capital may be largely increased. The advantages offered to thrifty people by irrigation colonies, such as it is proposed to found; cannot be set forth m a brief notice of this sort, but I shall from time to time make such mention of it as the importance of the subject deserves."

Speaking at a repent meeting of the West Riding Chamber of Agriculture on the use of lime and lime refuse, Professor Muir, the newly-appointed professor of agriculture at. the Yorkshire College, said the quantity of lime to be used, on land depended upon' circumstances, s )ma land requiring more lime than others. The quantity used varied with the depth of the soil, and sour and badly-drained land required much heavier drew.i :-, of lime than better-drained land. Arable land also required heavier dressings of lime than pasture land. Generally speaking, the best practice was to use a little lini and often, m preference co heavy dress ings at rare intervals. An average dress ing was equivalent to ten bushels of lime per year, four tons every tenth year, or two tons every fifth year. : Lime when mixed with soil combined, with oilier pro perties, destroyed the acids and sweetened and purified it. It also exerted a useful influence m making ingredients m the soil move available. It further made land more open, and rendered ifc more easy to work, and it enabled plants to retain more water than on unlinc'ed land.

The evolution of a new breed of cattle is occupying the attention of stockowners m the United States. The American Polled Cattle Association has issued a circular calling upon breeders of cattle to unite. The objects of the association ajre to improve and encourage the breedingbf American cattle, to fix polled character istic features, and to establish and main tain a,herd book of polled cattlp. The secretary thus describes the objects of the association, which are sufficiently ambi tious and revolutionary:—"All breeeders, feeders, and dairymen will admit at once that polled cattle are more docile and tractable than those with horns ; and ex perience teaches us that we can, by usiiig polled animals which sire at bur command, and by judicious breeding and selecting, breed a' strain of polled cattle with a near approach and equal to the breed of our choice ; and at this day and age of the world's progress "ifc" musb be admitted by all that* Horns on cattle are unnecessary and dangerous, jeopardising •the liyes aijcl comfort o$ r,i\iiw*M as well-as human .beings. . We would therefore ur<*e upon the American breeders ;of ■patfcle that ifelvey begin a .system of breeding a strain of, polled cattle with a type and characteristics of the breed lof their qhoice. Ifc can be done m a few years' time by using polled animals at. our command, and by judicious selecting and breeding wo can have herds qi polled shorthorns, Hereford*, Je^eyg, etc,|

equal to thoir honied ancestors." If nothing more, this movement is surely the highest testimony possible to <he Aber •lem-Aiigusbi-eod of cattle. It will be ji iong timo before any new breed without horns can be established that will beac the " Noddies " we have already. The Minister for Mines and-Agriculture of New South WalQs recently accepted hn'er., for a series <-f deep artuMrn I'oiiiiif.j upon the trc veiling stock rout.es :ij dillerent portions of the colony, with a now i:o{, only to the provision of an ample supply of water for travelling t,tock, liuc al;,o to explore the country, geologically for puldic information. Th« sites of the barings have been subaiitteJ. to the Government geologist and have been approved by him. The success that has atten led boring operations m Queensland mtkl m certain portions of New South Wales has been encouraging, : and m several instances the flow obtained was enormous; notably at Earcaldine and) Charleville. There is a prospect of a like success attending the efforts of-'the con tractors for the New South Wales bores. A telegram has bneu received m the department from Mr Grainger Barton, the manager of the Petrolia .Boring Company, contractors for some of the Government borings, announcing that a flow of 2,000,000 gal per diem has been tapped at the Native Dog bore, about forty-five miles from Bourke, on the Bourke- Barringun road, at a comparatively shallow depth; A flow of 4S,ooogal per diem was met with at 375 ft, and on proceeding a few feet deeper the large flow reported was struck. Ib is not intended to allow this, large supply to rim to waste, but to regulate it or shut it off entirely as may be deemed necessary. A special valve has been constructed for the above purpose. It is the intention of the Minister for Mines to subject the water to analysis with a view of deter mining its suitability for irrigation purposes. In his annual report on the village settlements m the Auckland district, Mr 11. P. Cavanagh states that he considers the progress made by the settlers during the year to be very satisfactory, and this is shown by the general improvements, the increase of stock, and the amount of land aided to their holdings. "The amount of advances this-year," says Mr Cavanagh, "is much less than m any previous year. This looks as if the settlers are m a better position or more self-stlpporting, but the real reason is that they are compelled to leave their homes and srimetirc.es go great distances to obtain employment to enable them to support their families, or to obtain money to buy stock, consequently the improve ments for which advances are made are not so great as m previous years ; still m the various settlements there is work done of value to the settlers representing a great deal of time and labor, and may be claimed as general improvements, but for which no advances are made. At the same time cultivations on some sections are not so good as could be desired; "This to some extent may be owing to the sections being mostly bush, which requires (m the absence of capital) a great deal of time, manual labor, and perseverance to obtain remunerative re turns. I notice that the settlers who can manage to work a great part of their time on their sections are doing well, and will do better than those settlers who are al most continually working away from home. The-former may not earn so much money m wages, but they are improving then sections, and their produce helps to support them when they obtain ocoasiotial employment., but it takes all the money tbe latter may earn to support themselves and families whilst their sections are not being improved, and yield them lit!le or nothing." The total area now occupied as a direct result of the ,yi]lage settlement system m addition Iq the village liome «tcads still held is 7087 acres. It is evi dent that there, is now m occupation a lvi ger area of land than there would have been-if all the village settlers had. re mained on their holdings,

POLITICAL.

(,FROM OUR PARLIAMENTARY' COKKES PONDENT.)

Wellington, August 20. Private members who desired to get through business to day were sadly disappointed, though (he House and the occupants of the galleries enjoyed a rather exciting episode m the shape of a battle royal between the Minister of Defence and his predecessor. The occasion was the.rejection by the Petitions Committee of the petition of Lieut-Colonel Humfrey, late Under-Secretary for Defence, who had been retired, and who now prayed for redress and compensation!; The report brought Captain Russell to his legs to move the adjournment of the House m a speech growing more and more impassioned every moment. The late Minister denounced the dismissal as tyranny, and traced it to the Minister's hostility towards Lieut-Colonel Humfrey because he had refused to promote a torpedo .man who had a ''record of drunkenness against him. The Captain grew violent, and. holding, up papers, accused the Minister of submitting mendacious documents t(> fche House, m making this* serious charge he flung the papers on the floor, and bitterly re proached the Minister, sit tinge down pale and agitated man unusual degree. The Minister had listened with calmness, but when his assailant sat down Mr Seddon rose with an air of confidence; and step by step he demolished the indictment of Captain Russell, and declared that the dismissal of Lieu tenant-Colonel Humfrey w.as not h s own act at all, b\jt wart decided, upon by the Cabinet before the torpedo man affair had occurred. : Ho further proved that the torpedo-man was highly qualified, and was recommended for pro motion by his commanding officer. Captain Russell had made more than one violent <I. tack upon Mv Seddon and the Ministers, saying once a "king can make noblemen:.but God niakes< gentlemen," and Mv Seddon replying stigmatised these v iterances and the business of bringing down the papers as theatrical. Passing on from declaration to vindication, the Minister continue j,' growing momentarily warmer, to hurl back the statements made and to demolish the arguments. "Captain Russell once or twice interjected a pro test, but Mr Seddon, pausing m his wrathful speech, said " the lion, gentle man is under lash, let him who has essayed %o inflict severe chastisement no\? take his punishment UUe:a :m»n.?' This remark evoked applause from all sides jof the Hou.se, a good deal of it being in voluntarily. In scathing terms he charged Captain Russell with branding the ex* torpedo-man as a, drunkard, and with maliciously impugning his (Mr S,e.ddon*sj veracity ; and m closing the Minister rose to fiory eloquence, an:l decLired that as an Englishman he would administer his de partment without fear or favor. The was most exciting, particular];/ when tho Minister charged Captain Russell, with expending, more than two or three days after Parliament rose (on the eve <.f his Ministry going out), a sum of £3000 on the Polhill riflu range, Atkinson, and Co, being the vgndorsj. The Captain writhed and firmed "shame," but the Minister went on ruthlessly. His spcecii made a profound sensation, such as has never been experienced m the House befo.ro during this session. One or two other members chinivij m afterwards, but when the two loaders had roared interest m the affair was.at an end. ---

True econon\y,. .Ta piurdhafe CtoiiteFfi lea for fewQ shillings. Free from any ex- j of astringenoy, »

PARLIAMENTARY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

(I'EK I'EESS ASSOCIATION]

Wellington, August 20. The Council met afc 2.30. SECOND PEADINOS. Ihe River Boards Bill, the Public Revenues Bill, and the."Selectors Revalua tion Bill, were read <i second tinu. DISTILLATION BILL. The Distillation Act Amendment Bill was committed, read a third "time° r and passed.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House met at 2.30 p.m. COLONEL HUMFREY'S CASH. Move than an hour and a half's discus sion took place on the report of the Public Petitions Committee on the petition of Colonel Hutnfroy, late Uuder-Secretary for Defence. The Committee found tliat the petitioner had nob been wrongly re tired from office, but that his services had been dispensed with on the score of economy, Caplain Russell asserted that Colonel Hurafrey had been dismissed by the pre sent Minister of Defence had been dis , missed because he remonstrated with the Minister for having ordered that a torpedo man, who had been discharged from the corps for drunkenness, should be rein stated. Mr Seduop said that it was notorious that the late Under-Secretary for Defence was one of the most extravagant officers m the service, and declared that he had been dismissed for no other reason than that of economy. By dispensing with Colonel Humfrey and appointing Colonel Hume acting Under-Secretary there iiiad been a clear saving of the salary of the Under-Secretary. > - ' > Captain Russell remarked that he had been informed or. good authority that Ministers had s fated that they knew nothing about Colonel Humfrey's - dis missal. Mr Seddon said that all he had to do to refute that statement was tv refer the honorable gentleman to Cabinet Ministers on the matter. The report was finally ordered to be laid on the table. - • LOCAL BILLS. Several local Bills was passed through thfeir final stages. A STANDING GRIEVANCE COMMISSION. A motion by Mr McGuire, affirming: the desirableness of setting up a special com mission to enquire and report on all cases of standing grievance which remain un settled from year to year with a view of their final disposal, was lost on the voices.

IAMU SETTLEMENT. Mr O'Gonor moved that it is desirable that large blocks of suitable land should be set aside and placed under competent management where, under proper regula tions, persons might combine to clear, cultivate, and improve the land,- and re ceive instruction m the practice of suit able industries. - , The Premier expressed his sympathy with the spirit of the motion. Ihe debate was interrupted by the 5.?0 p.m. adjournment. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. LAW PRACTITIONERS BILL. The House went into Committee on' Sir George Grey's Law Practitioners. Bill, Mr R. Thompson moved to amend it so as to provide for the admission of women to the legal profession. Mr Rees, as a piactising lawyer, sup ported the amendment. v , - .• bir George Grey accepted the ayrtrhd rnent. Mr Guinness said that he would vote for the amendment, an he believed' it would ultimately have the effect of killing the-Bill. ■ ' ■ .r The amendment was agreed to. m'^ Mr Guinness moved that the ■ptovisjjbn, admitting persons to the legal profession without payment of a foe, b? reversed; ■Sir George Grey said tfcat he could not agree to this proposition. • Mr Reeves thought that this was one of the most important points m the Bill, and if Sir George Grey gave way on it, ho might as well drop the whole measure. Mr Se<Mon contended that if the amend ment were adopted the scope of the Bill would be greatly limited. * '"* After further discussion the amendment was lost on the voices, ' - Mr Guinness moved a new clause to -the effect that no person be entitled to be admitted as a solicitor or practice as a solicitor unless he has served articles with a solicitor for three years. ;.« The motion was lost by 40 to 15. ii The Bill was reported; read a tihjrd time, and passed. *"*< BOOK PURCHASERS* PROTECTION BILL. The Book Purchasers' Protection Bill passed through Committee without amend ment, .FBIENELY SOCIETIES' ACT AMENDMENT BILL. The Friendly Societies' Act Amendment Bill was considered m Committee. . , Mr Rees moved an addition to clause 2, making the measure retrospective m re gard to the formation of associations'; or societies, Mr James Mills hoped that the Com mittee would not agree to this amend ment, Mr Earnshaw said that ifc was absolutely necessary that the Bill should be retro spective. It was' because of a benefit society formed by the Union Steamship Company that this BUI was required, Wl speaking as a strong Unionist ho must say that working men could never berid their heads to such organisations as had been set up by this company, even at the risk of revolution. Mr James Mills said that most of the men m the employ of the company viewed with favour the formation of this benefit society. Sir George Grey contended that it the' intentions of large companies and capital ists to form these benefit societies were allowed to be carried out, men, would be reduced to a state of slavery. After further discussion Mr Kees' amendment was agreed to on the voices. It was deoided that societies formed amongst employers be also brought under the operation of the Act, and a new pro vision was inserted m clause 2, that/the Act should only apply to the ordinary, purposes of benefit societies such as pro viding a sick fund, death fund, super annuation fund, etc. . ■ Clause4—Society not to be undtr ehe control of any employer. Mr James Mills moved a proviso to the effect that employers contributing to the funds of the society shall be allowed to have seats on the committee'of manage ment, , - - '•■ Vl ' Sir Geprge Grey asked those who were supporting him m his endeavour to ob tain protection for labor- to stand by him and resist Mr Mills' amendment. Mr Rolleston could not understand how such a reasonable proposal could be ob jected to. Mr Rees could not see how .Mr Mill's proposal could be eacjripd out without! in terfering with the independence of the. n.en on the committee. The Premier thought, tjiat Sir George Grey should not accept theamendment. No employer could sit on the "committee without having undue influence, and that would undoubtedly affect the inde pendence of the men. ! Mr Mills contended that if an employer had a seat on the committee he wouM riot bo able to do anything very dreadful. Tho amendment was lost by .9 to 27, .and the clause added to the Bill. • That portion of clause 5 which imposed a penalty of six months' imprisonment for forming « society m CQqtrftveutiQty qf

JBB ASHfrCMX)N OUAftl)lAff, ffBID AJT. ATJfITTST 2i, 1891.



Public Notice sj CQ ■ >> I i_ v -4 7\ , O | S p o So a- H O (3 nfl Missis 4 n 9 ci I 5. M W 5 £ | -« o X p a o eh , 8,2 <d hi I rt k *~^ U , . ©. ■



Holloway's Pills.—Teaching of Ex perience.—The united testimony of thous" ands, extending over forty years, most stroiigly recommends these Pills as the best purifiers, the mildest aperients, and the surest restoratives. They never prove delusive, or give merely temporary relief, but attack all ailments of the stomach, lujfgs. heart, and bowels m the onlj safe and legitimate way, by depurating the blood, and so eradicating those impurities which are the source and constituent of almost every <dUs,ea,se. Their medicinal efficacy is wonderful ijj penoyatin^j enfeebled constitu tions. Their .a.i'tion embrace^ all that is desirable m a household medicine. f| Jhe^ expel every noxious and effete matter $ and thus the strength is nurtured and the energies stimulated, Ninian Hyslop, and Oo.'s "Imperial I'Ceylon and Indian Teas are direct from the Tea Plantations,—(Advt)



WANTED Known—H. Dudley will sink Deep Wells and supply Cylinder Pumps and Piping, and guaran tee water to surface at 3s Gd per foot. — H. Dudley, Moore Street. 6§54 J^HEAP READING for all Classes — V_y Hundreds of Back Numbers of Monthly and Quarterly Periodicals at Half Price. Several volumes, of Standard Works at Cost Price to reduce our Large Stock. Photo and Scrap Albums, Photo Frames —L. F, AjojREWES & Co., Stationers' Hall.



ROSLYN, Mosgiel, Kaiapoi, and Ash burton Tweed Suits made to |my order from selected patterns. Long and narrow and short and wide as well as ordinary sizes from 40s cash. Robert Alcorn, Ash burton Clothing Mart, Saundors' Buildings. rHO Meet the Times.—l am supplying JL Galvanised Iron Tanks from 30, upwards, warranted for twenty years, Force pumps, deep well cylinders of all descriptions. Inspection invited.— .J. \V. Hardley, Eas street. (5J201 i i\'/ ANTlilD Known.—l have a large V V stock of Tin and Ironware Goods to select from. Register Grates, Stoves, Portable Boilers, Spouting and Ridging kept m stock. —J. W. Hardley, East 'treet. 6|202



WANTED Known—b. W. Alcorn will feel obliged if all accounts owing are paid within fourteen days. /~^ LORIOUS News.—Just purchased a \JC Dunediu Warehouseman's Stock of 90 Pieces French Cashmeres and.Merinos at less than half price. Will to sold during the cheap sale at Is 10|d ; regular price 3s 9c1.-t-Andre\v Orr. ANTED Known-Girls' Boots~2<j lid, Ladies' French Shoes 3s J Id, Gents' Shoes 5s 6d; at Andrew Orr's Cheap Sale. 6 214 WANTED Known.—That for quality, assortment, and price see Andrew Orr's large; stock of Millinery, Clothing, and Boots. No presents, no bribes, but good value.—Andrew Orr ALL Wool Colonial Tweed Suits to measure ; fit and workmanship guaranteed ; from 52s 6.1 cash. Robert Alcorn, Ashburton Clothing Marl, Saunders' Buildings-.



WANTED Known.—Having com pleted the alteration of premises we are opening with a genuine cheap sale. Come and see. H. C. Segkks, Melford House. WANTED Known.—Call and secure bargains^ of Winter Drapery at the Greab'Sale afc W. 11. Collier's, " i'lie Corner." WAN Tju v Known—A Melford House Sale will be a genuine Cheap one, it will be to your advantage to call early.—H. C. Segbks, Melford House. EXTENSION of Premises. Cheap j Sale now on at the openina of new Snop. Come and judge for yourselves. H. C. Segees. ■ LPINEST Cod Liver Oil. ChesTand JU Lung Protectors. Chilblain lini menfcs.- Bkooke, Chemist, Ashburton.



Wanted, OASHftA^er.tise'nen*.s under ctrs headm#no;fc:oxeriddinj SIXTEEN WORDS ifc Addresses may be ... Ij'ft at this Oif'ce. W ANTED Known. — Blankets and Flannels great bargains at Andrew Orr s. ' WANT.E IT Known.—Greivb~"cTearlng Sale at "The Corner" of Drapeiy, Clothing, and Boots.—W. H. Collier. T OST on Wednesday last near Odd- JLj fellows' Halt an overcoat cape. Kindly return to Borough Council Offices. 8 131 WANIED, every man m tno district to order a Kaiapoi or Roslyn Tweed Suit. Also, Bo3's' Suits and Genls' Overcoats m great variety.—Andrew Ore,. TCE Ciexm off Cough drops on. Un, _j_ doubtedly Hie best. 11.* G. Flower* Confectioner East Street. WANTED -KNOWN".—J have for Sale all kinds Seed and Feed Oats, Oaten Sheaf and Straw Chaff, at lowest current rates.—J. Heseltine, Ashburton and Tinwald. BJUB



N.Z. LOAN AND MERCANTILE AGENCY COMPANY, CEYLON AND INDIAN TEA ASSO CIATION, AVELING & PORTER'S TRACTION ENGINES. BUCKEYE REAPER AND BINDER. AUCTIONEER, GENERAL COMMISSION, AND FINANCIAL AGENT. Loans on Freehold Securities. Bills of Sale and Lieus Arranged. Grain and Produce Broker, ETC. ETC. ETC. OFFICES at the Ashburton Arcade. GRAIN STORE, Corner of Havelock ' , and West Streete. COAL YARD, (where orders may still be left), at the Old Premises, West Struct.



JOHN fiiiSf 1 A G E NT F O R,— UNION FIRE AND MARINE IN SU RANGE COMPANY,



! CIGAR DIVAN AND FANCY GOODS EMPORIUM. HARRY FRIEDLANDER has re ceived a large consignment of j New Goods m all Departments, and while thanking both old and neve patrons for the hearty support accorded to him since eoommencing Business, would take this opportunity to XXyiVK IHAPiIOTIOI Every kind of Tobacco known to users the weed of the very best quality pro curable m the American Markets. A full Stock of Pipes to suit bvery taste, and an abundant supply of Smokers' Requisites. CIGARS of the rery best Brands; also CIGARETTES of every description, in cluding the latest "Temple Bar." II AIItJOItJESS t *«■ Is Practised m our Saloon as an Art, and Ladies and Gentlemen will find that the taste and skill of an ab Professor are at heir service. Examination of our samples of Hair ork will bear out this statement. Licensed to Sell STAMPS. SALONS DU COIFFURE EAST STREET.



THE STANDARD Fire «§c M.o.i*in.e Insurance OF NEW ZEALAND. With Unlimited Liability of Shareholders. CAPITAL-JE1,000,000-STE RUNG. FIRE and Marine Risks accepted on all descriptions of Property and Merchandise; also Crop, Stack, and Machine Risks at Lowest Rales of Premium. Fidelity o? Persons Holding Situ a- Itions of Trust Guaranteed. ARCHIBALD SCOTT, Manager for Canterbury. ROBERT ALCORN, Agent, 114 Saunders'Buildings, Ashburton.. ■ Trees. Trees. rTIHE undersigned has much pleasure m JL offering a large stock of the follow ing trees, plants, etc., which are now ready for planting:—Apples are all twice gratted on blight proof stocks and guaranteed to keep clear of the woolly aphis blight on roots. Apples, Apricots, Cherries, Peaches, Pears, Plums and Quinces of all leading varities ; Goose- j berries and Currants ; Grape-Vines of the best varieties. Pinus Insignia, 1 and 2 year old,' Larch 1, 2, and 3-year-old, Pinus Laricis, Abies White Spruce, Norway Spruce, Menzicsii; also 100,000 Macrocarpa 1 year, a grand line ; and 30,000 2 years transplanted, the best m the district. Come and see for yourselves. All kinds of ornamental Trees and Shrubs, Roses, Camellias, Rhododendrons, Jas mines, Honeysuckles, Araucaria Im bricata, etc. Also the newest and leading varieties m Chrysanthemums. N.B. Orders may be left with Mr W. C. Davis or Mr R. Alcorn, East street. All ordeis by post shall receive my prompt attention. Catalogues on application" JAMES PORTER, Clifton Nursery, Allenton Ashburton.



MoNJbiYJX) Li END. TiyTONEY to Lend at LOW RATES OF INTEREST, on Mortgage of FREII HOLD PROPERTY, m sums of £100 TO_jßsooo ?or further particulars apply to the Postmaster, Ashburton, or to J. C. PRUDHOE, District Agent. Government Insurance Office. Christchurch.



THE ART NEEDLEWORK AND F\NCY REPOSITORY, (CONTAINS the Latest Novelties m J Fancy and Artistic Needlework direct from Homt. In addition to the above Mrs Adams : Has opened special Lines m APRONS, PINAFORES, Ladies', Children's and Infants' CLOTHING. SOCKS and STOCKINGS knitted by latest improved Knitting Machine. Agent for Mesdames ' Weigel and Butterick's cut paper patterns, and for the Eclipse Dye Works. Registry Office for Servants. EAST STREET, ASHBURTON*



Public Notices. WANTED Known.—J. Nicholas (late with J. Moison) Bootmaker, h«s opened m shop late T. Chambers, East street All orders for Boots and Shoes, or repairs, will-be promptly executed at moderate charges. A'trial solicited. 7 165 TfTILLIAM /"^i AItDNER; V\ ILLIAM VTA RUNE R, GRAHAM S ROAD, T J N "W A. L X>. —HAS FOR SALE— JPOXiIIJSX «Sc FHUIf fREES JN GREAT VARIETY. PLANTING DONE AS USUAL. Also 3ii Hand Clioiee Cabbajsro Plantn' Now ready for Planting Out. 7



Clover Seed, /CHOICE /QUALITY or COW 0 RjA S S, RE D, WHIT E, AND ALSIKE €1,0 VEKW, W LANDING ex "RANGATIRA." PRICES WITHJ3AMPLES ON APPLICATION.! Jolm Orr & Co.



fTHE ASHBURTON FURNITURE WAREHOUSE OF PICKFORD ft/HRUI, 111 Tancred Street IS replete with Superior Furniture m the newest designs, made from well seasoned New Zealand and imported Timbers. Carpets, Mattings, Floor Cloths, Linoleums, Rugs, and Door Mats of superior quality and great variety m stock. FURNITURE made to order m any design, and warranted to give satisfaction. A good selection of Cretonnes, Tapes tries, and Leathers for Upholstering. Suites, Chairs, Couches, &c, always on hand. BEDSTEADS AND BEDDING. Buyers, please call andinspect our Large and Choice Stocks. Venetian Blinds made and repaired with promptitude. 6|Bl



jnew business, ' new management, new goods; a long felt want supplied. James M. c gregor, Has Opened a Tobacconist's Shop m Oke's Buildings, East Stbeet, with a LARGE and V Alt [ED ASSORT MENT of NEW GOODS, comprising Pipes, Tobaccos, Cigars, Cigarettes, and Smokers' requisites generally. Note.—This is not a Ten or Twelve years' collection of antiquated odds and ends, the balance of an old stock. The HAIR-DRESSING SALOON is .Tifchout doubt che best appointed m South Canterbury YOUK PATRONAGE SOLICITED. James McGregor, 1§127 Orr's Building*, East Street



[a card.] IX. Clifford Mbore, lOIK.ITOH, THE ARCADE, As It bnr to n. \ ~~ 7§U2 t. g. Rusmir~ BARRI9TER and SOLICITOR, CHRXII-rCHIJRCIf. Branch Office—East Strket, ASIIBUBTOM (Near H. Zander's.) 6 157



BOOTS. BEWARE of Cheap Advertising. No one can give Twenty for Ten Shillings. French and Colonial Ex perience and finished tiadesmanship is the guarantee of my success and oldest shop m Ashburton. A* m the pa^t, more able m future to maintain my indisputable qualified reputation for neatness and quality fetid cheapness m comparison to so called Bootmakers. All kinds o f Boots and Shoes kept, and repairing done jceatly afc once.—J. M. Moison, Town Hall Shop, East street.



THE MERCANTILE FINANCE AND AGENCY COMPANY (Limited OF CHRISTCHURCH. Incorporated under the Provisions of the Companies Act, 1882. Registered Office— MORTEN'S BUILDINGS, CHRISTCHURCH. rpiHTS Company is prepared to advance JL money on Freehold Property, m Large or Small Sums, at Current Rates of Interest; also, upon the Security of Bills of Sale, Mortgages of Stock, Wool and Agricultural Liens, and Personal Property generally. For further particulars, apply to T G. RUSSELL, Solicitor, Christchurch, Or to the Branch Office of the Company, East Stkbet, ASHBURION. 186



Public Notices. <T * * ~»~ » * it * * FOR * 1 SPEEDY CURE CONSULT .DR. T.EASTOE ABBOTT, 19 QUEEN'S WALK g {Opposite Town Hall),' |» MELBOURNE. »