The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 1891. LOCAL AND GENERAL

Easter Snnday can never occur earlier than March 22nd nor later, than April 25th. A dealer m artificial limbs says that 300,000 Americans have lost one or both legs. Information has been received that Dr VV. Q. Grace will captain the English cricket ing team about to visit Australia. At Napier on Saturday Duncan C. Ross threw the light hammer, Blb3, 180tt 3in, which is «aid to be the world's record. Mr and Mrs Hardy, of Rakaia, are on their way home after a trip to Auckland and the North Island lakes. The Emperor William still refuses to recognise the social status of journalists, whom he has designated as " Press vagabonds, who poison public opinion." A number of Taranaki natives have been summoned by the dog tax collector to appear at the Court aa owners of unregis tered dogs. The enormous and unprecedented aggre gate of 821 racers have been entered for the Washington Park stakes of 1891, at Chicago. * The Women's Christian Temperance Union at Detroit, Mich., decided that the drinking of ginger ale, ginger beer, home-made wine, root beer, and raspberry syrup "violates the pledge." The flax industry m the Wairarapa is now almost at a stand still. Compared with last year comparatively no fibre is being exported. This is consequent upon the low price ob tained for the article m the Home market- The nominal rulera of three European nations to-day are children. Spain has a a baby King, Set* via a boy monarch, and Princess Wilhelmina, a little girl of ten, frail and delicate, now becomes the right ful sovereign of Holland, under the regency of her mother. Trie Canadian Government have deter mined to educate their fanners m the art of improving the produce of their dairies and so fitting them to cut m and obtain a share of the £10,000,000 Great Britain yearly spends on butter importation. They have decided to establish a dairy school m each parish of the Dominion. A brutal outrage is reported from Rocky Hall, near Candelo, New South Wales. An old man, named Mark Southwell, was drinking m cDmpany with two young men, named Thompson and Ryan, and after they had got him almost intoxicated, they saturated his clothes with rum and then set fire to them. He was so dreadfully burnt tlr\t his life is despaired of. A little girl named Stewart was accidently killed at Wagga. She and a brother, who is a few years older, and several children were playing at the residence of the girl'a father at Orangetrec Point, when a loaded cadet rifle while being moved about by her brother was discharged, and tho bullet entered the girl's /shoulder, shattering the bone and killing her instantly. The " Estates Gazette " reports that the return of sales of real estate, etc., for the year ending December 31, 1890, had been £4,287,111, as compared with £4,304,954 for tho year ISB9, thus showing a decrease of £17,843, and also a falling off as regards the year 1888, when the amount registered was £4,447,840. Landed property showed an improvement, although the average was not so high as m 1889, when land averaged over ,£SO per acre, as compared with about £41 per acre fot> the past year, Ameetingof the committee of the AbhburtoD County Hunt Club took place on Saturday, Mr C. W rough ton m the chair. Arrange ments were made for the meets for the season, and the Secretary and Treasurer were empowered to alter dates and places when found necessary. The same officers were appointed to operate on the Banking Account; with whom also it was left to arrange as to certain claims against the Club for damage to fences. The Auckland correspondence of the " Otago Daily Times " telegraphs that Mr D. Arrow, of the Thames, at present at Rotorua, has had an interview wit^h Te Kooti and made him the following offer : That he will pay him £500 if he will go on a 12 months' trip on exhibition throughout the Australian colonies with his wives, four of a bodyguard, and a Native interpreter j all expenses to be paid by Mr Arrow, who will also agree to insure Te Kooti's life for £3000. Te Kooti has promised to consider the offer and give an answer m a day or two. Nominations are invited by Mr John Curtis, Wakanui Road, of candidates for the office of Synodsman m the Christchurch Diocesian Synod. Under the present statute Synodsmen are elected for a period of four years. Any registered church member has the right of nomination. One Synodsm-in is allotted to the parish of Ashburton. Nomi nations must be handed to Me Curtis or left at his residence before 4 p.m. on April 10. If at that hour no nominations are received he is authorised to receive them on the same evening at the St Stephen's Schoolroom at 7.30 p.m It is not, perhaps, generally known that the Resident Magistrate's Court opens on Thursday's for business at 10.45 a.m. Many people seem to have an impression that eleven o'clock is the time, and this impression may possibly have arisen from the fact that the minor police cases are taken first, and not infrequently last until past eleven o'clock, and are then followed by the civil cases. To-day, there wjis only one police case—a first offender for driinkpnnegsr-rgo. that before eleven o'clock almost the whole cause list had been called over, with scarcely a response from parties engaged. The Magi strate, however, was good enough to put those cases m which "no appearance, your worship,' had b^en returned by the Court orderly at the bottom of tlje lisfc, and at eleven o'clock they were resumed, and busi ness proceeded. Litigants would do well to make a note of the fact that the Court sits at 10.45 a.m., otherwise they may find their causes struck out altogether for non-appear ance. The Easter holidays this year, as a result of the light harvest, embrace a greater num - ber of days than usual. The Banks, County Council and Borough Council, offices, Solicitors' offices, Grain Stores, and Black smiths.', Implement Makers and Coach builders' shops will be closed from this evening until Tuesday morning. This will afford many an opportunity of going away for the holidays, and plenty of inducements ••ire afforded :—-The Volunteer Encampment at Oamaru (to which the Ashburton Rifles . go by special train about midnight); the cheap fares to Dunedin and the South by '• the ordinary trains and a special leaving here i at 10.50 to-night; the Races at Christclmrch j on Monday and Tuesday, which promise to ■ be very interesting, and for which the train " arrangements admit of visitors returning to < Ashburton after the Qpnclusipn of each '. days' racing ; Bazaar at Tinwakl on Monday j ] Baptist Church Tea and Public Meeting , to-morrow evening, and Anniversary Sermons by Rev A, jDewdney on Sunday ; Primitive Methodist Church Re-opening Services on Sunday, Tea and Public Meet ing on Monday, and Bazaar on Tuesday j and shooting, fishing, and picnics (weather f permitting) give facilities to all for caking : tlieiv pleasure m their gun way. - ?

Latest Cable News

Home and Foreign.

[per press association.]

(Recgived March 26, 10.30 a.m.)

THE CHILIAN CIVIL WAR.

Valparaiso, March 25. The insurgents have captured Auto fagasta, and now control two-.tb.irds of the Chilian revenue,

THE GERMAN CENSUS.

Berlin, March 25. The census which has recently been taken shows the population of Germany to be forty-nine and a half millions.

IRISH AFFAIRS.

London, March 25. Parnell asserts that Maurice Healey is m collusion with the Unionists to defeat Jrim at Cork. " the Times " m referring to Pa,r nell's refusal to apply for the Chiltern Hundreds considers he is seeking to shuffle out of the contest with Healey,

LARGE DEFICIT.

The shareholders of the Anglo- Australian Printing and Publishing Union, Limited,. are endeavoring to make Mr Horatio Bottomley, the managing director, liable for a sum of £90,000 which has disappeared.

AUSTRALI AN.

(Received March 26, 11 a.m.) FEDERATION. Melbourne, March 26. Mr- MunrOj the Premier, who has returned from Sydney owing to the sudden death of Mr Langridge, Chief- Secretary for Victoria, m the course of an interview, said the outlook for a successful termination of the National Convention was not promising, as he believes the constitution will be such as neither New South Wales nor Vic toria will accept.

EXPLORATION.

Adelaide, March 26. A transcontinental exploring expedi tion has been arranged to leave Peake m a fortnight, and proposes to be absent for twelve months, during which time it will endeavor to fill the blanks m the maps of Central Australia. Mr Lindsay, of Adelaide, will have charge of the expedition ; Dr. Elliott, of Townsville, goes as botanist; Mr Helms, of Sydney , as naturalist: and Mr Str§iqh, of Adelaide, as geologist,

[Received March 26, 11.20 a.m.]

THE MINERS' STRIKE.

Newcastle, March 26, The miners here have voted 4J2OQ m aid of the Peumston miners.

MAGISTERIAL.

ASHBURTOiM—TEURSDAY,

.. (Before Mr 0. A. Wray, R.M.) Drunkenness.-— A.first offender was dismissed with a caution. Civil Cases.—Restell v. Madden, £24 12s 6d ; Meaclym v. Madden, £10 10s ; Orr v. Stephens £16 6s-6d—^judgment for plaintiff by default m each case. Wilkinson v. Dawson £10 17s 6d., Mr Purnell for plaintiff. Judgmeut for plain tiff by default. Mercantile Finance & Agency Co V. John -Orr, £40. la thiscise, which waslieardlastCourtday, Mr Russell I for the Company and Mr Purnell for the ! defendant—His Worship i'ave judgment for £13 18s 6cl. and costs, £7 6s 7d.'

IRISH AFFAIRS.

(per press association.)

London, March 25. The Pope, m the course of an inter view with the Archbishop of Dublin, advised the Irish clergy to maintain opposition to Mr Parnell. Mr Parnell declines Mr Healey's challenge to resign on the ground that he fears his opponents intend to circum vent him by underhand means.

The Vendetta.

[PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

New Orleans, March 24. Two men have been indicted on a charge of bribing the jury m the recent trials of the Sicilian assassins. Rome, March 25. The Italian Government is demand ing the punishment of the New Orleans lyhchers. (Received March 26, 10.30 a.m.) New York, March 25. The Governor of Louisiana admits that three of the Sicilians lynched m New Orleans were probably Italian subjects. -

Baby Farming.

[per press association.]

Invercargill, March 25. A sonsafciojial affair is reported from Winton. It is alleged that a woman resident there has been noticed to leave her borne on several occasions, generally returning with a baby. The other clay a child m her keeping died, and as it had not been attended by a doctor, the police made inquiries, and on visiting her home found thirteen children mit The inquest on the dead infant is being held to-day, but their being no telegraphic communi cation with Witjton at night, the nature of the evidence a^d the result, if any, is unknown here.

Newfoundland Difficulty.

(per press association.)

London, March 24. It is reported that if a plebiscite were taken seven-eighthy of the people of Newfoundland would vote for an nexation to the United States. The enforcement of the treaty with France is likely to be resisted, unless a regi ment of British troops is despatched to coerce the colony. (Received March 26, 10.30 a.m.) St .John's, March 25. The Government of Newfoundland are strictly enforcing the terms of the Bait Act.

Fire Brigades Conference

The Fire Brigades Conference closed its sittings to-day. Lieutenant Smith, Christchurch, was re elccttd President fqr third term, and sub-Superintendent Gil bert, of Napier, Secretary, Captain Cummin was appointed delegate to the Municipal Conference at Wellington. A suggestion was made that a premium should bo paid by the members to form an accident and insurance fund, and the matter is to be referred to the executive of the Association. It was decided to hold next Conference at Christchurch. The visiting delegates were taken for a trip round the harbor m the afternoon, and entertained m the evening at a banquet.

POLITICAL NOTES.

(per vnms association.)

Wellington, March 25. The Oommissioiibrs enquiring into the working of the Public Trust Office find it necessary to take the evidence of agents and others outside of Wellington, and arc communicating with the Government, asking whether such persons are to be summoned to Wellington, or whether the powers of the Commission can be enlarged to enable the Commissioners* to take evidence elsewhere. In the recent interview with the depu tation from the .New Zealand Educational Institute, the Minister for Education did not commit himself to the statement that m the case of the adoption of freedom qf classification it would necessitate a larger staff of teachers. Mr Reeves merely asked the opinion of the delegates on the matter, and undertook to carefully con sider the subject. The Minister is of opinion that m allowing teachers freedom of classification it would nob be necessary to increase the staff.

THE NEW ELECTORAL BILL.

In an article on " the Electoral Law,' which appeared m our issue of the 10th instant, we pointed out several par ticulars m respect to which amend ment is greatly needed. We showed fch^t the " one-nian-one-vot^e " principle does not at present apply to by elections, and that logically the same limitation should have effect m regard to such elections as well as to the general elections, We also insisted upon the necessity for some better system of purging the rolls than now exists, and suggested that this should be effected by striking off after every election for any district the names of all electors who did not vote thereat, and by requiring every Registrar of Deaths to send to the Registrar of Electors for his district notice of the registry qf every death ofi » male adult with a view to the latter's name being forthwith removed from the roll, We are now glad to see, by a precis of the Bill which lias been drafted for the consideration of the Cabinet, supplied by the own correspondent of the " Otago Daily Times," that the points we indicated as above have been pro vided for. The new Bill will be a con solidating measure, comprising nearly the whole law on the subject and re pealing wholly eight or nine presently existing Acts, and Amending Acts, and also part of " the Representation Act Amendment Act, 1889." Among the repealed Aots are the Maori Represen tation Acts, for the reason that it will be proposed -by the new Bill that m future, so long as. the special represen*

nation of the Natives is continued, Natives shall be allowed to vote for ;heir own representatives only, and not tor European members. The Act of 1890 is also to berepealedand the " one man-one-vote" provision re-enacted m | m amended form so as to make it apply to by-elections. This it is be lievod willnotbe proposed to be effected eichcr by abolishing the property quali fication or by prescribing that at a by-election only resident electors can vote, but by providing that no elector can be registered upon more than one roll. "He may choose whether he will register on a residence qualifica tion m one district or on a freehold m another, but he will not be able to do both." As regards the intended pro visions with a view to purging the rolls, we learn that the methods which we advocated as the most feasible, are precisely those which have been adopted, the correspondent above re ferred to writing as follows:—"A quarterly revision of the electoral roll will take, place before the local resident magistrate, who will be specially charged with the duty of holding courts for the purpose, and who will be required also to hold a special revision court after every general election for an important purpose to be mentioned later. The! ocal registrars of births and deaths will be required to report to the registrars of electors all deaths registered m their districts, and the registrars of electors will be required at once to expunge from the rolls the names of persons whose decease is thus reported to them. The police report cases of absence from the colony or removal from districts which come under their notice, and the rolls will be amended accordingly, notice having first been sent to the elector concerned, whose failure to reply will cause judg ment to go against him by default. Here comes m one of the important new provisions. It is that twelve months continuous absence from the colony shall preclude the retention of such absentee's name on the roll. His absence being satisfactory proved, his name will be struck out, and if he desires it to be replaced he must register again m the ordinary way. A second very important new provision is that a penalty will be imposed for negligence to record a vote at a general election. The penalty will not be that of corporal death, as m ancient Greece, but of qtiasi political death—viz., dis enf ranchisement pro tern. The name of every elector who shall not have voted at a general election will be expunged from the roll at the special revision court held immediately thereafter (and already referred to), but the disenfran chised elector may at or.cc apply for registration m the usual way. Persons already registered on two or more rolls when the Act comes into force will have to choose upon which roll their names shall be retained, only one being per mitted." The great majority of the public will be glad to learn that the Government have no intention of pro posing the adoption of the " Hare system " or any other " fancy " method for securing minority representation, and to judge from the foregoing intend to submit a sensible practical Bill, which will be a vast improvement upon the existing law, and which will, we hope, be placed upon the statute-booK during the forthcoming session.

The Shearers' Agitation.

[per press association.]

Brisbane, March 25, A force of mounted infantry and troopers effeoted the arrest of fifteen shearers, including several members of the Executive. One of the latter tried to get rid of a number of : papers by throwing them into a crowd of Unionists when arrested. The troopers drove the mob back with their swords and recovered the documents, which are said to be of great public import ance. They are are said to incriminate many persons and reveal a plot of a sensational character. The situation is increasing m serious ness, and Unionists are nocking from all parts towards Barealdine, Colonel French proceeds \vest imme diately with reinforcements, [Received March 26, 11,20 a.m.] Brisbane, March 26, In addition to those arrested yester day fche polioe took possession of the Unionist office at Barcaldihe and arrested the members of the Strike Committee and the Secretary of the Laborers' Union on charges of con spiracy. Colonel French, commandant of the forces, who is about to proceed to the disturbed district, will take with him : 130 men, a field battery and Qatling gun. The Secretary of the Laborers' Union is m communication with the Government of Western Australia, asking whether they are prepared tq assist 5000 bush workers to take up land m that colony with a view of establishing co-operative colonies.

Bankers' Reserves.

Speaking at Leeds recently, Mr Gos chen, Chancellor of the Exchequer, wont very fully into the causes which ruined Barings m November last and have re duced Lord Revelstoke, the present head of the house, from a millionaire to *| beggar dependent for his, means of liveli hood upon an annuity of £2000 given him by the other members of his family. Mr Goschen said that an that occasion Grea,t Britain narrowly escaped a terrible finan cial crisis, caused partially by the fact that, although London was the financial capital of the world, the reserves of gold m the Bank of England were far too low, being only £24,000,000, as compared with the Bank of France, which had m gold and silver £95,000,000, the Bank ©f Ger many £40,000,000, and the United States Treasury andNationalßanks£l4l,oo.o,oQo. But the amount of gold m the h,ands of the public was variously, estimated a.fc from £65,0.00,000 to £110,000,000, and be m, tended, if possible, to get s,otn,e of that gold into the bank by the issue of bank notes of a smaller denomination than £5, The £20,000,000 which he hoped to obtain m this, way could be regarded as a second reserve, and would never be touched ex oept on an emergency, tie had not made up his mind about the value of these notes. £2, £1, and 10a had a 1! been sug gested, but he was m communication with the" Bank of England on the question, and hoped co come very shortly to some decision,

FREEMASONRY.

There are a very great number of Free masons who are quite unaware oi the object for which the, order of Freemasonry was formed, but everyone, Freemason or nub, who has watched the public proces sions of tt\e Order muat be aware that the

most important feature of all is the open Bible which everyone can see as the pro- ■ cession marches along. Sir Robert Stout is not a Bible believer ; the Grind Orient commenced m atheistic France does not believe m the Bibie. Freemasonry is intimately connected with the Old Testa ment history of the Bible, therefore a man who does not believe that history utterly fails m realising what the outcome of' Freemasonry will be. Freemasons h:ive ■ a solemn and world-important duty to perform—no less, it is said, than to locate the position of the Ark of the Covenant, and recover it. Sir Robert Stout no doubt would deny that there ever was such an:ark, and if there was, it had not the miraculous properties attributed to it m the Bible. There are many who believe, and much correspondence .has taken place m some English papers, that eventually this ark will be unearthed at Tara, m Ireland. At present, however, the spot indicated is specially protected by an Act passed by the British Parlia ment, and until that is repealed or amended no steps can be taken to prove the truth.or falsity of the suggestion. In the annals of. the Four Masters m the old Irish legends and m the old Irish poetry, the place where several things taken out of Solomon's Temple are deposited, is given, with, the dimensions and other details of the place concealing them.— "Auckland Star."

SPORTINHG.

C.J.C. AUTUMN MEETING.

By lasb night's express the racehorses Occident, Manner, Blizzard; Conjuror, and Dormeur, with Messrs Waddell, Goodman, and. Guinness m charge, parsed through to Riccarton for the O.J.C. Autumn Meeting.

THE MARKETS.

[PEK PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

(Received March 26, 10.15 a.m.) London, March 25. The total quantity of wheat and flour aflbStfor the United Kingdom is 2,900,C00 quarters, and for the Continentl,372,ooo quarters.

The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Ageticy Company, Limited, have received the following cable message, dated Lon don, 24th March : — The wheat marked is active owing to increased Continentalcomp.-tithn. Quo tations are unchanged since last tele gram. "

Addington Stock Market.

Christchurch, March 25. The weather was all that could be de sired, and there was a good attendance. The entry of. stock was large. Store Shkbp.—From. 6000 to 7000 were yarded, including nearly all classes. The leading lines were crossbred ewes, which did not meet so steady a niauket as recently, though some of very good quality and condition soli well. Forward condition maiden ewes brought 13s. Sound mouthed ewes sold at 10s 2d, 11s, up to 11s 3d, and aged ewes from 7s to 9s 2d. One line of crossbred lambs, m poor condition, brought 6s sd. Sb:re merino wethers sold at 5s 2d. Fat Lambs —There were nearly IXOO yarded, but the quality was uneven. Prime freezers were bought for that pur pose, but values were from Is to Is Gd a ; head less than last week's quotations, the general price given being from 9s tolls 6d. Fat Sheep. —About 4000 were yarded, of which there were some of good quality, but there was an absence of heavy weight wethers. Crossbied ewes sold well, and some lines of merinos brought very good prices ; but the market as a whole, showed a tendency-to fall. The change from last week's values, however, ishardly quotable; Fat Cattle.—lsß head of nice sorts were sold, nearly all finding a market at slightly better rates than have existed lately, Best steer and heifer beef was fully i9a per lOOlbs, Store Cattle,—There were only ninety-eight head of stores yarded, most of which were old cowa and a few head of yearlings! The demand was small with a dratxgging sale. ' Pigs.—The entry was not large, and the sales were unimportant.

CORRESPONDENCE.

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

THE FORKS SHEEP WORRYING CASE.

TO THE EDITOR, Sir, I have your kind permission to let the public, through the medium of your columns, know some as yet unpub lished facts concerning the late sheep worrying case, m which I was one of the defendants. My reasons for again bring ing the matter into publicity are, that— —-Firat, I find the sympathy of the people generally is with the plaintiff; secondly, because considering the evidence I had for the defence, I think His Worship gave a most unjust refusal m not grantins a re-hearing of the case. When I decided to defend my case, I felt I was safe m S3 doing, tor I had three witnesses to prove that my dog was at hom.e during the time Subton was supposed to be hunting after 14m,; But th,e evidence they gave was ignored, while that of Sutton and his witness Green was evidently considered infallible. It would soem that His Wor ship actually regarded both myself and them as a lot of unmitigated liars. Then again, His Worship refused to grant me a re-hearing, and also saddled Corbett and me with another claimed by Sutton's counsel for opposing a re-hearing. Had I been granted a re-hearing, I was pre pared to prove not only the innocence of mydog. but I wouldhave brought lour wit nesses co prove that Sutton arid Green had r no dogs m vjew fop a great part of the journey an,d that they rode slowly, at the rate of about two miles an hour, i/wifeh. no dogs m view ; whereas plaintiff and his witness swore that they did not lose ajghb of the dogs at all. In the next place I would have proved by three witnesses that Green and Sutton both got off their horses and stood together with Corbett for at least twelve minutes during which time there was no black dog \u view at all. In the evidence before the Court both Green and. Sußton swore that Green did not dismount at Corbett's but kept watch on the black dog. Thus I would have brought se vein-Witnesses to prove errors m the evidence on behalf of the plaintiff, and also, three to prove that my dog was at home all the time, I am indeed sorry I did not appeal m time tQ a,, higher Oourfc, I qonsidev that I have beon victimised t;o the extent of ten pounds innocently and refused redress.— lam, etc., Robert Akuerson. Gr6bns treet, March 23. [We have been obliged to omit oerbain passages which appears iv our corres pondent's M.S,, the publication of which would have probably induced further litigation of another sort.— Ei>. "Mail,"]

THE SWIMMING CLUB.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — A letter appeared m your estimable paper last- evening signed " Waiting," reflecting"on the delay of the Captain of the Ash burton Amateur Swimming Club. The public to which lie appeals will perhaps be a little surprised to hear that the writer was Mr E. Higgins, one of the Committee of the said Clut\

a nd J think the public will agree v. iih me hat the next time he lws anything to -ay it would be more manly of him to say iton Committee, instead of coming to the Committee meeting as h<; did on the very cUy tiie letter appeared, and sitting as if butter would noc melt m Ivs mouth. — I am, etc., Alhred Habkjson. P.S.—ln fixipg the authorship of the letter signed " Waiting " upon Mr Hig'_'ins, I m;iy add that Ido so on the authority of tluit gentleman himself, who, when taxed with it, admitted the fac*.

Mining Enterprise.

A correspondent, knowing my keen interest m legitimate mining, calls my attention U> tine truly magnificent opera tions of the jjiiheridge Gold Mining Com pany (Queensland) as described m the London " Economist." The account, too long to quote, may be summarised- m a few sentences, It seems that the Ether idge Company was put on the London market three years ago—capital £70,000, of which 45,000 m cash and Bhares went to "the vendor." Note the steps m its subsequent history :— 1. Floats the Canadian Company, capi tal £70,000 (same directors) for the pur pose of selling to it five acres of land; price, £50,000 iii cash and shires. 2. Floats tlie Elektroh*Mount Com pany, same directors again, same capital, same object, same price,,same everything. 3. Sells to the two subsidiary companies five more acres of land for £20,000. As the result of these brilliant transac tions, shares m the Etheridse ran up to 200 per cent, premium, " at which price," says the "Economist," " the people be hind the scenes unloaded freely." 4. The three companies ama'gamate— out of which hocus-pocus emerges the United Etheridge Company, with a capi tal of £550,000 ! 5. The British investor having been sufficiently exploited, the directors, merely for forms sake, begin a little practical mining on the company's pro perty m Queensland. Result of two year's work : Expenditure, £33,814 ; earnings, £4310. 6. Present value of the property: 550,000 20s shares at Is (their market price), £27,500. Amount paid for it by the British investor, as estimated by the "Economist," £400,000. With what admiration,; envy, and water ing of the mouth will our local company promoters read this wondrous, story! How poor and petty m comparison our best achievements here—the Nenthorn reefs, for example, or the Kanarau dredges! How much have the Otago people been induced to put into mining vanities during the last two years ? Perhaps £250,000, and to get that out of them has necessitated the inventing of some 40 or 50 separate companies. Tha grand simplicity of the Queensland Ebheridge, with its half a million sterling at one fell swoop, puts us utterly to shame.—Civis.

"A Quiet Life."

A Home paper tells the following tale of "a quiet life" : —A young woman married and went to live at the country residence of her husband. Her health was not good, and it was decided that she should spend a year m strict retirement, At the end oi: six months, however, she returned to town, declaring that sujh a quiet life was more than she could endure. If appears that during that timo she had had 37 different sei-vants, one of whom was discharged for an attempt to set the house on fire white intoxicated, and one for an attempt to rob the plato closet, while half a dozen more were sent away for violent quarrela m their part of the establishment. The lady's molher-in-law had been thrown from a carriage at the foob of the lawn and injured- fatally ; htsr sister-jn-law had come to make a visit and had improved the opportunity by running away with a man whom she had been for bidden to marry. The time had furfclher been broken m upon by visits of the six bridesmaids of the hostess, who invited them m pairs for two weeks each, and then asked a few men to meet them, lest it should be dull. A gale had blown down an oak so near the house that its branches dashed m tho drawing room windows, and the, fables had been struck by lightning and burned to the ground. " And such a quiet life," the young lady said, con cluding her account, " was too much for me."

Mr Copley's Visit.

Th© Hon. Mr Copley, the South Aus tralian Minister of Lands, reached Sydney on his return journey from New Zealand a few days a<;o, and was interviewed as to his impressions. Briefly generalising the results of his visit, Mr Copley consider* that the success or otherwise of home steads depends greatly upon the class of individuals placed upon the hind. He feels, however, before expressing himself more definitely, that he must classify the. voluminous information which ho has collected, and must discuss tho whole question with his colleagues. Apart from the special purpose of hia mission he made general inquiries concerning the land system of New Zealand, where, as m South Australia, many different schemes have been tried during late years, tlm consequence being that land was now held under varying and rather confusing tenures, an additional difficulty being met with on account or the old provincial system which prevailed previous, to the establishment of the present central Government. New Zealand itself, jhe j considers, has so|inany varied and produc tive resources, that under judicious management it certainly should be-suc cessful. He was astonished at the, wonderful development of the frozen meat trade, which has made such gratify ing progress that: it has not only substantially increased the colony's ex-, ports, but has induced a rapid increase m stock, and has given a decided im petus to the working of land formerly nob properly employed. In the course of his trip frequenl. references were made try New Zealanders to the desirableness of establishing reciprocal tradQ relations between the colonies. Mi? Copley par ticularly observed instances m New Zea land of the unwise policy of restricting commercial relations with Australia, and was strongly impressed with the convic tiqn that a judiciously arranged reciprocal trade would be of mutual benefit to Australia and New Zealand. A note worthy instance of the baneful operation of the present system was evidenced by the fact that whilst 1 graces were selling ab a nominal prioQ m $out;h Australia, and could easily be sent to New Zealand, that oolony absolutely prohibits their importa tion, and consequently remains poorly supplied with comparatively inferior fruity at prices which vary from Is a pound m Auckland to 3s on the West Coast, la the same way such a high tariff is placed on wines of Anstralian manufacture that the consumption must be small, and the wine produced by New Zoalanders, partly from hoc houi-,e grapes, is comparatively indifferent m quality and inadequate m quantity, A number of public men had expressed a general but guarded and indefinite wish for more satisfactory reci procal customs arrangements, even aparb from general federation.— t{ Otago Daily Times'"• correspondent;.

TO-DAY'S TELEGRAMS.

(PER PKBSS ASSOCSATIOJJ.).

vv n. ' ©REYjroura, STartli 36. lJift Prohibition Company's operation at the JMtball qo»1 ka^ yesterday r<*.

TFTE ASHBURTON GT7ABPIAK, THURSDAY, MABCH 26, 1891



To Subscribers}. | To-morrow being Good Friday, the " Guardian " will NOT BE PUBLISHED, j To Axivei*tiserss. Advertisements ordered for Friday's "Guardian," which have already been received, appear to-day; any received too late for this issue will be inserted on Saturday. , The "Mail % and "Guardian " Office will be open to-morrow evening from 7 to 9.



Water Ifcace Obstruction. RAKAIA PLAINS WATER SUPPLY DISTRICT. The following five the " Waste race Obstruction and Waste sheets " of Rangers Morrison and Fawcett, la;d before the County Council at last meeting :-•• Occupier. Owner. R.S. Race. Date. Extent of Waste, &c. M. McAvey ....Village Settlement, Springfield F ...Feb. 7...Overgrown (now m good order) (Engineer's note —This was put right without delay.) BankofN.Z. 26711 C ...Jan. 13...Overgrown (now m good order) (Engineer 1* note—Wrote Manager and matter! attended to at once. J Johnß*ker...Williamßobinson 26548 EB...Jan. 26...P0nd Service. (Engineer's note—This was only granted temporarily."! f Instructed Ranger to have it shut off, supply \_ Was by plough furrow nearly a mile long and | almost obliterated.) J ASHBURTON AND RAKAIA PLAINS WATER~ SUPPLY DISTRICT. Ocenpier. Owner. R.S. Race. Date. Extent of Waste* tee. 8. Burnard High School Board...Res. 1120 R...Jan. 3...Cut put m bank of face for (Engineer's note —Treated by Council) irrigating. J. Oabcrne Education (Lochhead, Mgr) Reserve Res. 1115 E2...Jan. 19...Haass dirty, one-fourth water (Engineer's note—l wrote to Manager \ wasting. who put water right.) / W. M. Lyttelton W. M.Lyttelton 5821 El...Feb. 6...Caused by race m R.S. 7129, being Engineer's note—This took place through^ m contracted state and backing blockage of outlet m Acton property. water on to Lyttelton 'a land. Race After some little delay and negotiations, ■ m 7129 Acton property, clearances were made m both, pro perties. J Defective Ford (Pendarves) D ...Feb. 7...8ank on side of ford broken , ' (Engineer's note—Cut by heavy traffic, put\ right next day). / N.Z.&A.L.Co.,V Res. 1113 E2...Feb. ©...Caused by too much water on W. L. Allan, j-Education main race from Rakaia river. Manager, J Reserve (Engineer's note—Caused by extra pressure onl gate at intake while river was high andj- Hushing of channel was being executed.) j S. Thomas...S. Thomas R ...Feb. 13...Pigs destroyed portion of race (Engineer's note—Leakages stopped and further \ repairs m progress.) / , _, f- R. Mclntyre Education " ■ ■ "*- Reserve Res. 1112 ...Feb. 16..,5t0ck breaking sides of race. (Engineer's note—Race being new earthwork \ easily disturbed, Has been made good.) / Broken Culvert (Dromore) 8.. Feb. 16...Ddeking of Culvert broken. (Engineer's note—Repairs have been executed.) Carter, E. S. Coster, E. S. 26107 E6...Feb. 23...Race over-grown and dirty. (Engineer's note—ls being attended to.)



The Kakanui enquiry has been adjourned J to April.7. To-morrow being Good Friday there will be services m St. Stephen's Church at 11 a.m. and 7.30 p.m., and at 3 p.m. for children. En. route for the Oamaru Volunteer Gamp, a special train to-day went through at half past, two, carrying the men and horses of the C.V.C. and the Canterbury Mounted Rifles. On the sam train were four field meoes be longing to the Christohurch and Lyttelton i Batteries of Artillery. In a case before the R.M. Court to-day, & merchant m town, who was plaintiff m a , debt recovery case, sent his book-keeper with authority to appear for him. The Magistrate accepted the book-keeper as his employer's. deputy, but pointed out that the simple fact of having other business to attend to was not sufficient Reason fora man doing his court business by deputy, and intimated that he" would not,accept a proxy of that kind again, as a man's Court business should bY his first business; - ' The Queen of Roumania, during her re cent sojourn m England, visited a needle factory. While watching the work one of the men asked her majesty for a single hair from her head. The queen granted his rer quest, with a smile. The man who was engaged m cutting the eyes m the needles, placed the hair under:;the drill of his machine, bored a hole m it, drew a fine silk thread through the hole and then pre sented it to the astonished queen. During the list few days, says the Mcl : bourne " Age," the Chief Clerk of the , Police Department of Victoria has turned up the records of murders committed m this colony for the purpose of ascertaining the number of such crimes m which the murderers are still at large. Dating from the first " Gazette " obtainable, m February, 1853, it appears that there are approxi mately ninety-four murders, extending over thirty-seven years, for which the criminals have not been brought to justice. These figures do not include infanticides nor aboriginal murders. The latest move amongst those lodges of Freemasons that have seceded from their 1 parent constitutions and formed the so-called Grand Lodge of New Zealand, is to nominate His Excellency Lord Ouslow as Grand Master for the ensuing year. As the Grand Lodge of England, of which Lord Onslow is an officer, declines to recognise the schis matic body, it is unlikely that he will forfeit his status by accepting the nomination. The seceding lodges are m a distinct minority, but what they lack m numbers they appear to possess m persistency, and evidently will, lose no opportunity and spare no means of any sort, m the endeavour to usurp the position of rulers of the craft mAI ew Zea land. The Committee of the Amateur Swimming i Club met last night, the Captain, Mr A. Harrison, m the chair, when a quantity of business m connection with the late swim ming matches was disposed of. A sub-com mittee was appointed to get m the trophies and subscriptions due with all speed, and arrange for a meeting for the formal pre sentation of the prizes at the earliest possi ble date. A number of accounts were passed for payment, and when the balance is struck a satisfactory sum will be available for im provements at the swimming baths, etc, which it ts intended to effect as soon as possible/ The Best Remedy fob, I'ardigestion — Norton's Camomile Pills are confidently recommended as a simple remedy for Indigestion, which is the cause of nearly all the diseases to whicn we are subjects Norton's Pills, with justice called the ' Natural Rtrengthener of the Human Stomach," act as a powerful tonic and gentle aperient, are mild m their operation, and afe under any circumstances. Sold iv bottles, at Is l|d, 2s 9d, 11s, by all medicine vendors thronghovt the wo Id Statutory Declaration.—l. Franz Raabe, Ironbark, Sandhurst, m the colony of Vic toria, Australia, do solemnly and sincerely declare that on the 25th June, 1877, my son Alfred, six years of age, was accidentally hurt with an axe on his knee. lat once took all pains to secure medical assistance. How ever, m spite of all efforts, on the 27th August, 1877, the opinion was given by I)r Macgillivray that an amputation of the injured limb had become imperative, m order to save life. At this juncture I called en Messrs Sander and Sons, procuring some of their Extract of Eucalyptus Globulus, and by the application of the same I had too satisfaction of seeing my son within a fort night out of all' danger, and to-day he is recovered. I may just add that it was when the crisis had been reached that the Extract referred to was first applied, and I make this 3olemu declaration, etc, Franz R.aabe, Declared at Sandhurst, m the colony fo4 Victoriaj Australia, this seventeenth day of October, one thousand eight hundred and »evonty-seven, before me, MoritzCohn, J.P., -(Advt.) 6



Wanteu CASH Advertisements under tlus heading not exceeding SIXTEEN WORDS 1/-. Addresses maf be left at this Offm* LOST, between Ashburton and New lands, Pocket-book, containing valuables. Finder rewarded on leaving at this office. - 3t 159 EASTER Cards and Booklets, now sellitig at greatly reduced prices, at L. F. Andrewes & Co , Stationers' Hall. 3 175___ "TT7 ANTED Known.—Mrs J. Buch- YV anan has opened as Fruiterer and Confectioner, next Messrs John Orr and Co.^ East Street. WANTED Known. —If you want good value for your money go to Melford House. Cheapest first-class Drapery m town.—H. C. Segers, Melford House. ini7ANTF,D Known.-— t*/e are now VV opening all our new Winter Goods m Drapery, Millinery, Clothing, Boots, &c.—H. C. Seqbrs, Melford Housu. W~A NTED Known.—Cheapest House m town for First-class Di apery. Millinery, Clothing, Boots, &c—H. C. . Sjsoers, Melford House. , /POOLING and invigorating Ice Cream \_y as made by H. G. Flower, Con fectioner, East Street. ANTED Known.—Mrs J. Bucn- V V anan, Fruiterer and Conf ectiont r. Tea and coffee at all hours ; hot luncheon on Saturdays, 12 to 2. Next Messrs J. Orr and Co'f, E;iat Street. WANTED Known — Some special lines m choice Dress Goods at very low prices showing at " The Corner." WANTED every man m the County to have a suit of the Ashburton Tweeds.—Robert Alcorn, Ashburton Clothing Mart, Saundor's Buildings. ANTED Known—The " StronsT wear " Boot is the best for Mens i Vidies and Children.—W. H. Coixiek. /""I LASS, Earthenware, and China, I \JT direct from the Manufacturers.— Robert Alcorn, Toa Warehouse and Ashburton Clothing Mart, Saunders' ' Buildings. I T OOK OUT! LOOK OUT! Don't | .J_J forget grand Bicycle Races, Easter ' Monday, Domain Track. New Zealand 1 champions competing. 3 125 ( VJ'OW ON^rAt^Stahone^^Half, I J_\ Great Sale of Surplus Stock ' of Hooks, Stationery, Fancy Goods Music, etc. Great reductions for cash, for one month only. Hundreds of books at less than English price. At L. F. Andrewes & Co.'s, Stationers Hall. WANTED Known—The Cheapest Shop fco buy Tinware and Gal vanised Iron goods m Ashburton, is at W. F. Hannaford's, Burnett Street. A arge stock kept on hand. Tin and Iror. ware goods made and repaired with des patch . WANTED Known.—T. Johnson has taken one of Mr Bullock's shops m Wakanui Road, near Post Office, to be known as the Temperance Store. He is . prepared to sell all kinds of Fruit and Confectionery ; good Bacon, Hams, Pota toes, Onions, &c. All kinds of summer drinks very cheap. Sparkling Chamoagne Cider, 3d per quart. 3§109 • fr» v:h ■!■■■»■—i—■■ urn l l _ii ii ijmjijiiiiw «■ iduiiiii m_i| iia«j NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN C auxuwht, lsoi. F 0 F C IV. X. _ O.__ JF. F c, T. TTTSTCapa, Shirts, Pyjamas, F C II Sleeping Suits, Collars and j-, Cuffs, made to order at the New * r fiALAyp Clothing Factory, p q OOFT Felt Hats, Hani Felt F C O Hats, Tweed Hats, 'Varsity p Q and other Caps, splendid variety, F C at the New Zealand Clothing F C FACTORy, F 0 "r ADIES 1 and Gents' Water- J _I_J proofs, made to measure, j, A choice lot of patterns to select, p q from, at the New Zealand Cloth- -p q ing Factory. p C TTOYS' Suits, m Sailor, Fritz, F C _I 3 Guard, and Ajax shapes, F 1 C nicely made^ Coat and Knickerd F ■ c, lined throughout, from 10s 6d, at the F y, New Zealand C<.o rnjjiNrr Factory. * » q f^ ENTS' Tweed Slufs 355, f 1 C vT Gents' Tweed Trousers 9s p ! C 6d, all our own make; thorough F G good value at the New Zealand F C Clotiiiko Factory, F O W/ERTHEIM New High Ann y, VV Sewing Machines are the best i, pin the wo»*id. The most simple, L p most durable, most noiseless, best p ' q finished and lightest running Sew- j? 1 q ing Machine m the market. New p 1 Q Zealand Clothing Factory Agents F 0 /^'iSXTJjBMLKN'S "Bilk and F C \J~ Washing Scarfs m immense F v iriety, Riding Gloves, Braces m * p Ambulance, Argosy and Impe ai i p (ixnv,- designs), at the New Zealand p q Clothixg Factoky. p C iTTEN'S and Boys' Suits made F ■ C iVJL to measure ;first classfit and F C workmanship guaranteed m every F C garment we undertake. AYe invite F 9. inspection, comparison, patronage. £ C ■'-— r (j nr«w ic»-iiii«i««i y ■ M'tf/MI&'i&WIWZZZIZ SJZZZZZZZZZ



Public Notices. Wheat. Oats. /"XftDiSRS just received for Prime TUSCAN, PEARL, & HUNTERS Also for large quantity good SECONDS WHEAT, tind heavy MILLING OATS. —HIGHEST PRICES.— 3 m JOHN G. RESTELL. EXTENSION OF IT. W. IPKXIKII 4c C»'i Great Clearing Sale. Bfting heavily overstocked, and m order to make room for a shipment of Goods which we have landing from Home m about a fortnight., yre have made Greater Reductions than ever. All Wool, colonial flannel, 10|d, 4-ply fingering wool, all colors, Is lid; Calicos 2s 3d the doz ; Dress Goods 4id; Washing Prints, 2|d, 3|d, and 4kl ; Washing Muslin n 2s lid the doz ; Towels, 3Jd j jlj each ; a very large Towel 9£d, H Rnow 6|d ; very good Ticking, ft . 6d: double width Sheeting, H C 7|d; heavy v^hite Linen Twill H 0 Sheeting, ll|d ; heavy cotton Shirting, s£d; Cretonnes, 4|d ; l (2 Men's woollen Sox, 1 l|d; Boys' p n Braces, 4d ; Men's Braces, 8d ; M <] Men's Regatta Shirts, 2s lid ; Men's good Tweed Suits. 22s Q  6d ; Boys' Tweed Suits from L Y\ 4s lid ; Men's colored Moles X H 7s 6d, now 5s lid ; Boys' do. H ffi 2s lid. BGOTS. BOOTS. £j ti Men's Bluchers, 6s 6d ; Men's ]]} colonial made Shooters, 9s lid; Boys' strong Boots very cheap. Women's strong Elastics, 6s 9d; Girls' and Maids' Kid Elastic Sides and Button Boots 2s lid.. 3s lid, &nd 4s 6d at IT. W. SPJEffCJER * Co'« THE ARCADE. N.B.—We have this day purchased a Traveller's Set of Samples at a discount of 50 per cent. If you want a real bargain now is your chance. 'The~A~rcafle. W/-T».T£ET« ' AfiHQtiT TCETW CHRISIOHCROH DENTAL SURGERY, Corner of Cashel and High streets S. M YE¥i AND Co SURGEON DENTIST And at Dunedin ani Westporfc (TTE have gained thi FIRST AWARD W " the Dunedin Exhibition fcr Artificial Dentures and Mechanical Appli ances for the Mouth, and it is with the greatest confidence that ye guarantee the highest class work and perfect fit at; the most moderate cos A Single Artificial Tooth, 10s. Comple Set — Upper and Lower— temporary and permanent, £10 10s. Natural, Durable, Comfortable 4irtifici.il Teeth Replaced Temporarily al .mosfc immediately after the extraction of decayed teeth or stumps without extra •c or charge. Arrangements can he made for part or monthly payments. ADMINISTERING NITROUS OXIDE oSAiS several times daily for the past ten yearn, we fearlessly assert that extraction of teeth under its influence is perfectly I'ftrnteiw and positively safe] Fee for Administration, ss. Extraction, 2s Cd. Artificial 'A'^wth and Dentures, made by Other denfcjj^f Repaired or iwuxl^toi 'fat »w*H cost;