The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1891. POLITICAL CONSISTENCY.

An additional reason for care m the selection of the men whom it is in tended to. nominate as Legislative Coun cillors has been supplied by the atti tude of the Hon. Mr Pharazyn towards a section of the Lower House, as expressed m his speech at the Christ church show luncheon. Here we may say that although Mr Pharazyn dis claims it, there is not the slightest doubt that the odious comparison was distinctly made; it is quite possible, indeed probable, that the unfortunate expression was blundered into, but it was none the less uttered. The Oppo sition newspapers, of course, have not omitted to remind their readers that Mr Pharazyn was appointed to the Council by a Liberal Government— the Stout-Vogel administration—and it i 3 sought to fix the responsibility for hi* utterances upon the present Liberal Ministry. Mr Pharazyn indisputably did receive his appointment at the hands of the Stout-Vogel Ministry, and so did several other members of the Upper House, who, at the time of their appointment, were regarded as Libsrais, though now some of them are no longer to be counted as con sistent members of that pnrty, and others cannot be counted upon as supporters of either or any political party. Of the latter is Mr Pharazyn, and to endeavor to hold Mr Ballance responsible for anything that so inscrutable an individual may say or do is absurd. Mr Pharazyn spoke for the Legislative Council, and if he did not express the feelings of that august body, he should be called to account by them. But that an hon. gentleman who received his appoint ment as a supporter of certain principles should abandon those prin ciples, and refer m auch terms to those who are loyal to them is another matter, and, as we have premised, must induce greater care than ever that new appointments are made only of those whose loyalty is undoubted, they must be men who will not be influenced by their new surroundings, and who will steadily and intelligently support Liberal legislation. A seat m the Council must cease tobe looked upon as a reward for services rendered to the country m any non-political capacity— even m the Agent-Generalship. 'Jhe Council is a political body, and appoin tees must be selected according to their political qualifications. It has been suggested that Sir Dillon Bell should be appointed, but he is an avowed Conservative, and would without doubt oppose many of the Government mea sures, so that the proposal to give him a seat m the Council cannot be regarded seriously. His reward—and he has (imply earned one —must be of a dif ferent and non-political nature.

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A Puhipuhi miner won £3000 m a Sydney sweep on the Melbourne Cup. An expenditure of £11,500 on the statue to be erected m Sydney m memory of Governor Phillip has been sanctioned. According to one of the New Zealand Alliance representatives, there js on the Heat Coast ol the South Island one hotel lo every 105 of the population. A young woman named Eliza, Victoria Harper committed suicide m East Rich mond, Melbourne, by cutting her throat with a pair of scissors. A chinaman named Chow Chow, who kept a small store at Kumara, died recently at the hospital there, leaving it £200 or £300. Some of the Auckland member* of the House, says the " Wangamii Chronicle," are said to be favorable to a reconstruction of the Ministry. Messrs H. Knight, D. Symes, H. Martin, L Binder, and E. B. Cooper, are appointed trustees of the Alford Forest Cemetery of ten acres, being part of section 2479, Many m this district will be sorry to learn that Mi Alfred Piper, the landlord of the Racecourse Hotel, Riccarton, died on Tues day morning somewhat suddenly, from influenza. Several of the members of the Count} Council are either themselves ill with la grippe, or have it m their families, so that a quorum for the special meeting to-day could not be secured, and the meeting lapsed. Says the " Manawatu Standard " :—One of the assessors of property m this district informs us that nearly every settler m the district will be exempt from taxation under the new proposals. It is reported (says the Timaru •• Herald ") that Messrs Stiidholme and Wigley's estate on the Opuha is to be divided, Mr Wigley taking one-third, including the homestead, and Mr Studholme the other two-thirds. The other night, says the Foxton "Herald' Mr Ellis, of Motoa, had fie unpleasant notice that a stoat was about, by finding twenty seven young Pekin ducks killed. He had, however, as the undertakers say, the mournful satisfaction of killing that stoat. The '• Taranaki Herald" of November 19 reports: —An East Indian native, who has been living with the Maoris for the past three years, is now isolated m a cottage at the back of the Hospital, as he is afflicted with that dreaded scourge leprosy. The man came m from the Mangaone settlement about a week ago, and shicc then has been isolated by order of the Hospital authorities m the cottage referred to. The Borough Council met representatives of the Cycling Club and the Caledonian Society on the sports ground m the Domain on Tuesday afternoon m connection with the 100 yards track. The track was inspected and several modjs oi dealing with it sug gested and discussed. It was ultimately decided to provide a straight fl »t 100 yards sprinting ground. The Works Committee meet to-day to consider the carrying out of the decision. The Bank of New Zealand Estates Com-. pany, m pursuance of the general policy agreed upon when the Company was formed about twelve monthsago, havecommenced the realisation of their assets m real earnest. In the South Island they will offer for sale, m the early part of next year, m Marl borough, Canterbury, and Otagc, properties to the extent of 334,014 acres of freehold and leasehold land, with 212,000 sheep, ateo cattle, horses, etc. Eucalyptus oil is being warmly recom mended as a preventative of influenza, and as a remedy for the troublesome ailment. It is also an excellent disinfective m febrile diseases. If taken m small doses m plenty of sugar it is rather pleasant than otherwise, and children don't object to repetitions. An English doctor, one of whose children fell sick of scarlet fever, kept the other three m the same room, and dose-1 all with eucalyptus oil, also sprinkling it about the beds. The child made a good recovery, and none of the others took the disease. The Wairarapa "Star "of a late date contains the following:—Some of the original Masterton-Mangahao special settlers who left this district a few years ago with little more than bheir clothes on their b icks are said to have comfortable homes aud land which, if offered for sale, would readily fetch £1000 without a hoof. One of them, writing to a friend m Masterton, states that lie averages about £4 a week from his butter. Cream separators are being supplied by certain enterprising Wellington firms on the time-payment system, and 7-H is readily given for the butter. Besides this the settlers receive as much as 18s per head for sheep and fat lamb.*, and altogether their prospects arc most encouraging. Mr .1. R. S-jott informs the " Otago Daily Times" that about one-half of the 11 umber of shearers who, engaged by him, proceeded to Queensland at the time of the strike there, have returned to New Zealand, and the majority of them have already obtained employment m sheds m this colony. The men (with whose work the Queensland masters expressed great satisfac tion) earned large cheques, and the only cause for complaint they had was the heavy expense to which they were put on their return m getting from the stations on.which they had been employed to a seaport, as much as £12 and £14 being the cost per man of the trip overland from Townsville to Sydney. Some of the shearers propose to remain m Queensland, and many others talk of going over next season. The inclement weather yesterday even ing interfered to some extent with the attendance at the anniversary tea meeting m connection wich the Wesleyan Sunday School, but the after meeting was better attended, the weather having somewhat cleared up. The singing of the children at the after meeting was the prime feature, and the young people acquitted themselves very well indeed. In one of the pieces, an anthem to the words of the hymn " Onward, Christian Soldiers," a euphonium solo was introduced and beautifully given by Mr Marsden, Solos were given by Mr and Mrs Flower,. Mrs Gamble, Miss Steel, and Miss Ethel Alcoru — names that only require mention as a guarantee of the excellence of the rendering. On the success of the musical part of the whole anniversary season Mr Gamble has to be heartily complimented, and this the congregation did not forget to do m the usual vote of thanks. Rev S. Lawry, the pastor of the church, was the only speaker,

Suicidal Determination.

Seldom has more determination been displayed under difficulties, remarks the Paris correspondent of the London "Daily Telegraph," than that just exhibited by a draughtsman who. having resolved on "shuffling oft' this nr>rtal coil," set to work to carry out his fell design with an amount cf energy which, if utilised m a better cause, might have led him on to competence and possibly to fame. Hav ing, made, up .his mind to put an end to his days, ho selected ..hanging ;is the most practical mode of executing his programme. Accordingly, attaching a rope to a peg m the. wall'of hiu bedroom, he suspended himself thereto. The rope, however, was the worse for wear, and it broke ere he had breathed his last. This experience rather cooled his ardour, but he returned to the charge with a pan of charcoal. Here, again, his plan was frustrated owirg to the accidental fracture of a pane of glass. A police official, to whom the circumstances of these two attempts; at self-Jestraction had been reported, sent for the draughts man and earnestly implored him to accept the omen, and to abandon his sinister project. But he refused to be guided by these kind counsels, and declared that he would be more successful on the next occasion, and that a couple of stabs m the region of the h^art would soon settle the question for good. He kept his word, at least m part, for a few days afterwards he was taken to the Hotel Dieu apparently m a dying state. Siugular to relate, the man recovered rapidly, and m a fort night he was once more at home, again revolving m his mind the best method of killing himself. Having tried hanging, suffocation and the knife without any definite result, the would-be suicide next turned his attention to poison. He swallowed a quantity of phosphorus, but the prompt appearance on the scene of a chemist, who,administered a strong anti dote, again sived him. The draughts man, however, would not. yield, so deeply rooted was his determination to n.«ake away with himself, and after having been baffled four times he su ceeded at the fifth attempt with a preparation of chloro form and bichloiide of mercury, and expired m atrocious suffering.

A Dangerous Man.

The following particulars of a case referred to m aLondon cablegram will be interesting:—-Charles Grantj alias Le Grand and French Colonel, a tall well dressed man, of military appearance, was arrested on September 26. He described himself as an engineer, and had not been long out of gaol. The letters he wrote to Mrs Baldock, an invalid, and Baroness Balsover, were of a frightful character. Writ:en with red ink, they contained a demand for £500, failing complianca with which the writer threatened to dash out his victims' brains with dynamite. After a warning that serious consequences would follow any attempt to communicate with the police, whose faculties wer?, evidently limited, as shown by their failure to trace the murderer of seven women m White , chapel, the letter went on- " Understand I am firmly determined to have it or your life. If you estimate your life so low that you would not pay £509, then I must leave you to your own reflection. Do not believe that it is my intention to blow your brains out with a revolver : that in deed would be a madman's work. No lrsidam ; a thin cake of dynamite placed between some moist fulminate of silver, the whole placed beneath the doormat and the fi'ior upon which you have to pass, or under your s?at m church, or even under the cushion of your carriage, will iin ' mediately explode the moment the weight of your body comes upon it. and dash you lo pieces. I hove senr a letter like tliis to nine other ladies, for the purpose that, if you do not pvy I will dash your brains out, and you will then serve to the others as an example of what they will have to expect ■ it they do not pay up." Mrs Baldock'rf son-in-law communicated with the police, and a decoy advertise ment was inserted, that the request wouli be complied with. Jiufc Grant was suspicious, and wrote a second letter to Mrs Baldock's daughter saying that he was satisfied that the lady was m treacherous communication wit'i the police, and that if the money was not sent he would certainly find means to kill her. The police succeeded m tracing Grant or Grand and he was arrested. He used very threatening language to the detective, stating that if he had seen him before he would have blown his (the detective's) brains out. He also promised that as soon as he was released he would put six inches of cold steel into the detective's back, and while the train was drawing up at the railway station he made a sudden atteirpt to push tho .letective under the train. He had with him a leather bag containing a revolver, a brass knuckle duster, and a metal whistle. At his lodgings were found a parcel of gun powder, two bottles containing fluid, and a cigar box fitted with two very powerful springs like an infernal machine. The contrivance was exhibited and worked m court, and occasioned considerable bensa tion.

Cure for Grass Grub.

Our farmer*will hay? to lookout or 44 the grub " will eat them out, as the rabbit did the squatter m Central Ofcago. This year there hare been great com plaints of the mischief done by " the grub," and there can be no doubt at all that the pest is increasing. A Waitohi farmer has described to us an experiment which proved to be a great success m re ducing the numbers of the brown hum ming beetle, whose larva is the "grub" so destructive is the pastures. The J,eetlo.s are now on the wing every even ing, and our informant on these three evenings tried an experiment he had heard of, to catch some of them. He made a bright fire of gorse cuttings about dusk, when the hum of the beetles was heard all rou.id, and was encouraged the first time by finding about a bushel of them Hy into the smoke and flame and drop round the fire. About as many were got on t'.ie second night. Both of these were warm and bright evening*). Last evening (Sun If y) the sky was heavily overcast and a strong cold wind was blow ing. The fire was lit again, but with little hope of success on such a night, yet the, beetles were seen coming towards the fire i from all directions like swarming bees, and once m it or over it they were blown to leeward and fell m a thick train several yards long. They did not continue to come 1 luckily for more than twenty minutes, but m that short time at least four bushels of beetles were smothering one another on the ground, m a drifted layer one to two inches deep. It is not unlikely that the comparative dark ness of the evening made the light of the fire more bright and attrac tive. Our informant thinks the beetles are " pairing" just now, and as that is the season when they are most actively on the wing, now is the time to ''go for them " with fires of gorse cuttings, of kerosene, of anything that will burn brightly, and with any simple means for dealing destruction to those which escape serious injury by the flames and smoke. Four bushels m half an hour by one small bonfire was a good haul, and if every farmer tried this plan, with anything like equal success, they would find it the most p ofitable of the year's lab >urs. We had previously heard it advocated that a law should be passed to compel farmers to do this. Better than a law would be the en couragement of successful -practice, and the example above described ought to be encouraging enough. A bushel of bugs | slain means many a bushel of grubs saved. I —l«Tia»aru.Jfer»W« '

LADIES' COLUMN.

The reason why so few marriages sir* happy is because young ladies spend their time m making nets, not m making cage*. -"Swift."

Green Gooseberry Jelly.—Put water m wi h the berries -about half-way.- up the pan if the latter is tilled with fruit. * Boil to a }iulp, then strain through a flannel ba^', allowing the juice to run all night. Allow lib sugar to every pound of juice, and boil for twenty-five minutes, nor stirring after it has come to a boil. Cover tin jars with linen, using boiled starch m preference to paste.

at a recent meeting of the Women's Press Club, m Washington, a very im portant topic came up for discussion. Every member was interested m it. vVheu Miss Helen. Watorsc n rose, silence and expectation settled upon the assembly. She put the whole matter right m a few clear, crisp, logical remarks. As Miss Waterson took her seat again, there came a still, small voice from the admiring group behind her. It was intended for a whisper, but it penetrated every nook and corner of the room. It said: "H«'len, who made that dress you have on?" . 1...,:,-:

Madge(in "Truth") says:—Two or three week ago I was surprised to see a young lady lounging outside the Royal Pavilion at the Naval Exhibition smoking a cigarette. It was a Saturday evening, the place was crowded, but the young lady was enjoying her after-dinner smoke with a perfect sense of freedom. She was one of the young Princesses of Wales, and she fingered her cigarette with an ease that told of considerable experience. After this it is not surprising to be told that the Princess of Walessherself enjoys a cigarette, and that'afc tile Royal table ladies habitually smoke." j

[ When Mr Silas Truncknwcker, 1 the American millionaire, startled New York by fitting the culinary department of his new 'mansion with a solid silver kitchen range, his neighbour, Mr Ogden Golet, not to be outdone, had his town house fitted throughout with silver water pipes. And now, such is the force of emulation m Hie States, th*t yet another millionaire (he " struck ile " about four years ago)*is having a specially ma>sive silver four-poster made to his ord«r. After this the Chicago dame who, m spite jof professional warnings, insisted on having a, silver-gilt grand piano manufactured i for her drawing-room, will have to take a I back seat. - * : =■;

Some of the contributors to the ladies' p iges of the London " Society " journals must be peculiar ladies. One of them writes the following :— A question which one h-is often wished the etiquette books would settle is the proper behaviour on being caught "m a lie. This would in terest persons of both sexes. It is the custom of one woman to j>lay a brave hand on such occasions. " I've found out that lie you told about me," said an iratt. person to her one day. "Have you? Really?" she promptly answered. •'Which one?" This is sure to stagger. But it takes nerve to do it. Another person—a man, this time—had an ac quaintance rush m upon him one day like a cyclone "Look here, you rascal you," he shouted, "you've been lying about me!" "Then thank your lucky stars, man, that I haven't told the truth about you," answered the other, coolly. Jt was a woman next time. Another woman had said to her : "Is it, possible that you have been lyinjr ■to me?" "Lying, my dear child? Lying.? Why, I ani self confessed and self-approved the worst liar m the world. I have iiad a great many tinins to: you. If I hadn't lied all the years of my life religiously and con scientiously I should have been untrue to all my friends and all the obligations that life has brought to me " Gail Hamilton somewhere tells this story about a friend of Mr Lincoln, who, m the first conven tion that nominated Mr Lincoln for the presidency, had both worked and spoken vvilh great effect for Mr Lincoln. After wards, m thanking him for his enthusiasm, Mr Lincoln said to him: !* But I am afraid, Colonel, that when you spoke for me you prevaricated just a little." " Pre varicated, Mr Lincoln ? " said the other ; "prevaricated? Why I lied like the devil!" : >

At a time when New Zealand is being exercised over the enfranchisement of women, Mr Frederic Harrison\s views on the subject may be interesting (writes a London correspondent.) Addressing a meeting of positivists the other night, he said that the true function of woman was to educate not only children but men ; to train to a higher civilisation, not the rising gene-.ation merely, but the actual society, and to do this by utilising the spirit of education, of self-restraint, of self-sacrifice, of fidelity, and of purity. ■In body, mind, feeling, and character [ women were by nature designed to play a different part to that of men, and all the differences which characterised the sexes pointed to a part for women which was personal and not general, domestic and not public ; working by direct contact and not by remote suggestion, working through the imagination rather than through rea son, by the heart rather than by the head, There was m woman a like intelligence, activity and passion, like and co-ordinate but not identical, with that of man, equally valuable but not equal by measure, and this worked best m the home—that was to say, the sphere m which women acted at their highest was the family, and the side on which they were strongest was affection. The cry m the present day for the emancipation of women, for complete freedom for every adult individual, male or female, for the abolition of all restraints preventing a*iy adult living his or her own life at his or her private will—such anarchic cries involved the destruction of every social institution, and of every virtue. The htate, the church, the nation, industry, social organisation, and law all rested upon fixed rules, which were a standing contra diction of this clf.im of universal, personal liberty from restraint. Society implied the control of individual licence, and the claim was one for absolute individual licence. Women mu«t choose either to be women oi 1 abortive men. When men and women started as competitors m the same fierce race, as rivals and opponents in stead of companions and help-mates, with the same habits, the same ambitions, the same engrossing toil, and the same public lives, women would have disappeared. Society would then consist of individuals distinguised physiologically as horses and dogs were, into male and female speci mens ; family would nuan groups of those who chose to live m common, and home would mean places where the groups collected for shelter. The family was the resl social unit. Wha*; society had to do was to promote the good of the family, and m the family woman was as com pletely supreme as was the man m the State; and for all moral purposes the family was more beautiful, more useful, than the State. To ktep the family true, refined, affectionate, faithful, was a grander task than to govern the State ; and it was a task which needed the whole energies and the entire life of woman. To mix up so sacred a duty with the prosser occupations of poli tics and trade was to unfit her for it as completely as if the priest were to embark m the business of a money-lender. That such prijiary social truths as these were ever forgotten at all was one of the por tents of this age of scepticism, of mammon worship and vainglory. The priest of to day was to > often willing to go with the times, and it might be left hereafter to

I the religion of humanity to- defend the C piimeval institutions of society and to honour the old-world image of woman as a being relieved from the harder tasks of industry, from the defence, the mainten ance, and the management of the State, m order that she might s^fc herself to train up each generation to be worthier than the last,/.and might make each.home m some .seus'6-fche heaven of peace Jo'neai'th. < j

TELEGRAPHIC.

HOME AND FOREIGN

[per press association.

BLACKMAILER CONVICTED.

London, November 22. Grant, a Dane, has been found guilty of blackmailing various titled ladies ih England by threatening to murder them. Sentence has been deferred.

IRISH AFFAIRS. -.:, , London, November 23, Mr^Davitt appeals to Mr Jackson, the new Secretary for Ireland; to re lease the dynamiters now in gaoL « Mr John . Redmond alleges that their treatment in prison is horrible and in human. . Mr Balfour contends that Home Rule would absolutely ruin the Protes tants in Ireland. • ELECTIONS. Mr W. L. Jackson, Chief Secretary for Ireland, has been refelected. The Hon. Mr Stuart (Unionist) and Mr Glynn have been nominated for the Dorset seat L9NI/0N WATER. The " Chronicle " says that London is, paying every year a million more than it v ojught for the worst water supply in Europe. It expresses a hope i that Loid Carrington will lead the party of progress in the London County Council.

FRANCE AND RUSSIA.

Pauls, November 23. M\ de Giers and M, Ribot have had a conference. " Figaro " says that thley share moderately peaceful ideas on foreign affairs.

CHILIAN AFFAIRS.

"Valpabaiso, November 23. The Chilian Government is effecting the gradual withdrawal of the paper issue and reducing the Army and Navy. , .

AUSTRALIAN.

THE LATE MR LEWIS. Sydney, November 24. TiThe remains of Mr T. W: Lewis were buried yesterday, but to-day were exhumed and forwarded to Wel lington.

NAVAL COURT MARTIAL.

A court martial m connection with the accident to 11.M.5. Boomerang found that Mr Gowder, chief engine room artificer, was to blame, and he was reduced to the rank of engine room artificer and his long service hledal forfeited.

INTERPROVINCIAL.

Auckland, November 24. " The ' labor' party m Que.^n have sentii request to Sir George Grey to visit that colony before the next general e'ect'ion' there. " " ' , The.steamer Wairarapa, from Sydney, brought 167 passengers, 137 of whom are for Auckland,'and the remainder for the South. Among^c those who returned were a number of old ex-Aucklanders s including some mechanics, who have evidently found life m Australia less profitable than they had first imagined it to be. News from Australia says that many ex-New Zealanders are walking the streets of Sydney and Melbourne without work or provided with only occasiunal employment ab miserable wages. Wellington, November 24. The Council of the New Zealand Insti tute of Jcurrialifits have decided to communicate with the Postmaster-General, urging the discontinuance of flimsy paper for general use for Press telegraphic messages. ; Dunedin, November 24. John Warren, for many years chief steward of the Takapuna, died of influenza. The funeral of the late Mr James Fulton, M.L.C., took place at Outram to-day, and was largely attended by townspeople and Tsieri farmers. The Hon, R. J. Seddon represented the Government, and there was a number of members of both Houses. The school children sang a hymn, at the grave..

SUPREME COURT.

(ITOS, PKESS ASSOCIATION.) Chbistohurch, November 24. The jury, after an hour's retirement;, returned a verdicc of Not Guilty against Joe Dicks, and he was discharged. Joseph Capstick, an old offender, was found guilty of attempting to steal goods, the property of Alexander Scott, from the residence of George Stokes, and was sentenced to twelve months' imprison ment, Dunbdin, November 24. At the Supreme Court to-day Alexander McNaughton claimed £200 damages from Timothy Keats for alleged slander m call ing him a thief. Mr Justice Williams gave a verdict for £5 and costs. He said if the case had stopped at; an angry inter view when the accusation of dishonesty was made m the presence of two school buys, the damages would have been nomi nal, but as an apology was declined and justification pleaded, judgment was given for an amount that would carry costs.

The Jews in Palestine.

When Nehemiah came to Jerusalem he found grievous complaints against the Jews that they had become mortgagees of the peasant lands; but it must be remembered that the class that returned with Ezra was not an agricultural class— the Babylonians had left the vine dressers and tillers of the soil m their own country when they took away captive the priests princes, and merchants of Judah ; and it is notable, from cruciform tablets of sales that the Jews were trading m Babylon m land, slaves, and houses even during their captivity and m later times. In the same way the Jews who about 1880 fled to Palestine, and invaded Jerusalem, made a living by becoming middlemen between the peasants airi. their customers m the cities. Half a century ago it is said ! that fchece were not above 8000 Jews m i Palestine ;. at the present moment their numbers are reckoned at not less than 100,000, of whom some 15,000 are settled m or close to Jerusalem, representing nearly half of the present population of the town Mo^t of the newcomers arrived m a state bordering oii destitu tion ; but have m a few years so increased their means as to be able to buy land and found building clubs, which have raised long streets of houses where there was once nothing but rock to be seen. The arrangement for inhabiting such houses is curious, since the contributors drew lota {injopg themselves for the first

, tenancy. Io is now stat' din the Jewish press that the erection of 4000 houses is contemplated along the southern road whijh leads to Bethlehem, The main difficulty m such building is the water supply: for -Jerusalem possesses only one very indifferent spring;, and its in habitwits are mainly dependent on rain water^-cisterns. "This is a very ancient ■.question, and one which m Pilate's time :the Romans solved by making two long aqueducts from the springs of Etam and from other fountains south of Bethlehem; but these have been allowed to fall into ruins—the lower one enly from time to time, when mended, bringing water to the Temple enclosure, while the upper channel has been entirely deserted. An English company has, however, of late proposed to remedy this defect —although ifc may be doubted if the available sup plies will be sufficient for a largely-in creased population.—Major C. R< Condor, R..E., m Black wood's Magazine. \

Commercial Supremacy of England.

For some time past (sajs the "Home News ") the cry has been'uTtered that the commercial supremacy of England is m danger. Pessimists, indeed, have gone so'farasto say that the industrkl. pro gress of the country is a| a standstill, that foreign Powers are overtaking the trade of Great Britain. There is no reason whatever for these dismal forebodings. England is still, and always has been, m the forefront of industrial Jprogress,; nor need she fear as yet the rivalry of aay nation. People there are who declare that Germany has made - successful efforts m wresting the world's trade., ffomfthis country. The Germans have certainly been our most formidable competi tors. They have pushed their trade m every quarter of the globe, and their merchants have shown patience and enter prise. It will be-a comfort then to certain people to read the last annual report of the German Chambers of Commerce. " The trade of Great Britain, having cen turies of strenuous labour and struggle be hind it, is row so supreme that the hope hitherto entertained of overtaking it must soon be surrendered ; for tho present all effort must be concentrated'on retaining the advance made by Germany m every branch of tra<?e and industry within the last twenty years." There is a full and frank confession. The German mercantile marine comes next to that of England, but afc what a distance ! The tonnage of the former is about One and a quarter millions, that of the latter about seven and a half millions. "The trade between Great Britain and her colonies alone equals the total export trade of the Ger man Empire." ■

New South Wales Politics.

Mr Dibbs, the Premier of New South Wr.les, addressed the electors of Murrum bid^ee on November 4, and announced the policy of the Government. Re said the late Government resigned, not because of any hostile attitude of the Labor paity, but because the colony had been worked so long on the Freetrade system that the policy had worked its own ruin. Speak ing m regard to Federation, Mr Dibbs said he was not an enthusiast on the matter like the Attorney-General, but when they came to talk it over they foiind .that there was very lit*le difference between them, and ho eventually a-^ked Mr Barton to take charge of the whole mater. The understanding on the subject was that the present Bill should be fully discussed, and any amendments proposed by the House should be raferied with the measure, to a new convention. Ou the fiscal quest on, Mr Dibbs Said: that lie would tell the people plainly that the G.ivernrhPnt would force tho policy of Lof -re P.a.i ...a.m, t uid if un successful would go back to the people to enable them to say whether the policy w. s right or wrong. Mr Dibbs said that the late Government had announced that at the end of fche year there would be a sur plus of from £400,000 to £600.000^ but instead of that being the case, lie believed that there would be a deficiency of £300,000. The loan fund was practically disposed of. The Government would ask Parliament to pass in*-o law a measure^ of electoral reform, giving one man one vote. Then they proposed to deal with a Courts of Conciliation Bill, after which the Esti mates and fiscal reform, would be pro ceeded with.

MELBOURNE NOTES

(from our correspondent.) j There are seven or eight distinct parties m our Legislative Assembly at the present moment, all with various points at which they are ready to meet their fellows, and a'l with nvuiy more upon which they cannot agree. They are all alike m one thing, which is chat they are not by any means too anxious to present themselves before their constitueets, and m aiother, which is their desperate search for a party cry with which to arouse the electors. The dual vote won't do, because at the very outset and m every constituency it appeals to a minority only. Whan the dual vote members seek re-election their 'cry will practically be "Put us m power, and the minority shall rule. A hundred thousand freeholders shall cast as many votes as two hundred thousand people who. are. not freeholders." That won't do.

But the great difficulty m the way is that of the Railway Management 'Bill, which nobody likes to touch, and yst nobody dares to leave. It is perfectly well known that the deficiency for the present year will probably amount to the astounding sum of £450,000. The traffic returns are falling off rapidly, for people hare not the money to travel. Yet the Commissioners decline to obey the direc tion of the Ministers to take off trains and reduce traffic. They profess them selves ready to obey any specific directions of which Ministers will take the responsi bility, or to take directions from Parlia -1 ment. Ministers on their side maintain that the Commissioners were expressly appointed to put an end to Ministerial management. They further point out that unless the expenditure is reduced they will be unable to meet it. No one m Parliament likes to back the contu macious attitude of the Commissioners, for any member of Parliament may be m, 'the Ministry to-morrow and may feeL fearfully embarrassed when the Com missioners send m demands for money. On the other hand, no one likes the Ministerial Bill, and the result is a deadlock. A most pressing question has be<Mi suddenly brought to light by the active interference of the Municipal Councils m the politics of the country. These Councils are expressly non-political and it would be quite competent for either branch of the Legislature *o refuse to re ceive their petitions against the new one man-one-vote Bill, on the ground that they cannot be recognised as having the right to address the House m their cor porate capacity on any political question. I But a great many of them have addressed '■the Council against the Bill, and a great many more have declined to do so. The prime mover m the business is Mr John I Keys, M.P., who is also Secretary to the Dandenong Shire Council. He has sent round a circular to petition and many of them have done so. The result will be a thorough overhauling of the wholesubject. General Booth's return to Melbourne has not created anything like the success for which his followers looked and longed. A large number of people went to his opening day on Saturday—twelve thous and the newspapers say, buf that is a mistake as the building would not hold them. At any rate there was a large

number/ ,and the General shook hands with a lot of them and took an hour over the process. But sight seeing m this country does not mean subscriptions, and it is an open secret that the General is annoyed at the very slight effect his visit lias had on the fortunes of the Army: His violent declaration that Iho Salvation Army would proceed with the work — that is the planting out of Darkest Eng land colonies m Australia—if all Aus tralia rose up m opposition, created just as little laughter ; and laughter is fatal to any movement which depends upon e.i thusinsm.

A great shock has been aiven to Mr FitzGibbon by the rebuff his loan pro posals have received upon the London Stock Exchange. The calm advice to postpone the two million loan of the Board ofWorksiora year has aroused his utmost indignation. Ho do3s not appear to understand that the re fusal to lend the money is, the direct outcomeef the constant diatribes which ho and thuse he^wjorks with level against the democratic institutions of the country. They are fond of insisting firstly that Trades Ball rules everything, and secondly that Trades Hall is dis honest. The natural conclusion is that it is not safe to lend money to a country dominated by Trades Hall. The real truth is that the power of the Trades Hall is very small indeed. A fourth of the male population are engaged m handi craft industries but at the outside the Trades Hall could not return more than eight or nine members, a tenth of the whole. Nor did any one ever hear of a working man's association that broke faith'with creditors. The hasty denun ciations of one FitzGibbon will do more harm than the action of the scores of thousands of Trades Hall folk.

Mr Stanley has left us after taking a clear thousand pounds m four nights at the Opera House. He has proved himself a truly great lecturer, mj&d, modest* and calm m tone and clear i% statement and forcible m hisdispiay* of facts. His best lecture was decidedly that m which he described his journey through the Dark Continent for the exploration of the Congo. The Livingstone lecture was tco .old, Emm Pasha lecture too much occupied with debatable facts and the discourse on the foundation of the Congo State a statistical exposition of good work done, cleverly put together but un doubtedly dry. The discourse on the exploration of the Congo ia on the contrary, a really admirable piece of des cription which draws enormous interest from the undoubted fact that the quiet, white haired, bronzed, thick set, medium sized, elderly gentleman who tells the story did the work himself.

THE MARKETS.

[pee press association"*-]

London, November 23. The wheat market is hardening.

LONDON WOOL SALES

(Received November 25, 11.25 a.m.) Lokdox, November 24. The wool sales opened to-day, when 10,700 bales were offered. There was a full attendance, of buyers and competition was .spirited; but there was only slight, enquiry for crossbreds, buyers beins; m favor of meriao.s, part of which were dinposed of at iive per sent below the prices ruling at rliu September aeries and at the samel, figure. (Received .November 25, 11.35 a.m.) Sydxkv, November 25. Wool i" m quod demand. Urea^y merino, 7M to Bkl ; washed, 10|d ; scoured, lli'd. Mblboiuxk, November 25. Tho wool market is firm. Merino greasy combings, 9Ad to lid ; superior irrensy muiino, Is to Is Id ; crossbicds to ls|'L ' ; (Received .November 25, noon.) Sydney. November 25. Wheat, chick, 4s 4d ; milhiu,', New ZsalanJ, ss; local. 5s 6d. Flour, stone made, £11 to £12 ; roller, £12 10a to £13. Oats, 2s 2d to 2s 3d. Maize, 2* 2d to 2s 3d. Barley, Gape, 2s 4d ; English, 3-, nominal, Bran, lOd. Pollard, ~ 9&d. Peas, Prussian blue, 3s to 3s 6d. Pota toes, new, £3; old crop, unsaleable. Onions, £5. Butter, dairy made, 8d; factory, 9d. Cheese, 4d to 6d, Bacon, (?d to 7d ; New Zealand, 8d ; hams New Zealand, lOd to lid, Melbourne, November 25. : Wheat, 5s 4£d. Oats, Algerian, 2s Id ; Danish, 2s 2kl; stout, 2s 7d to 2s B£d. ' Barley, 2s 4id. Peas, 2s 4d. Adelaide* November 25. Wheat, 4s 9d, nominal. Flour, stone made. £10 5d to £10 15s ; roller, £115s to £1115s. Oats, New Zealand, 2s 3d to 2? 4d. Barley, Cape, 2s 9d to 3s 6d ; English. 3s 6d to ss. Bran, Is Id. Pollard, Is Id. -

The Kurow Fire.

(per press association.) Oamaru, November 24. At the inquest held yesterday atKurow touching the recent conflagration, the Jury returned a verdict that the origin of the lire was purely accidental.

The Brazilian Revolu tion.

PEACE RESTORED.

(per press association,) Rio he Janeiro, November 23. Bahia and Pernarnbuco are arming, with a view to revolting. General Allison has left the city with a force m transports, to engage the rebels at Eio Grande. Six ships belonging to the Junta are guarding the entrance to the river. It is rumored that the in surgents are preparing to capture Eestero, m the island of St Catherina, for the sake of the harbor. A rising has broken out here against General Fonseca, who has abdicated. General .]?. Peirqton, the Vice-Presi dent, along with the temporary Govern ment which succeeded m dethroning the Emperor Doin Pedro, are at the head of aftairs. . November 24. The navy revolted and captured the arsenal. One person was killed. The officers demanded the resignation of General Pieroton. It is expected that Congress will be recalled. There is mild enthusiasm m the city at the action of the officers. General Fon seca's newspapers have been destroyed. London, November 24. Brazilian Five per Cents fell 1 per cent, and Jfour per Cents \ per cent.! [Received November 25, 10.3Qa.in. J Rio de Janeiro, November 24* Marshal Fonseca was surprised at the revolt, and complied with the demand that lie should resign peaceably, m order to avert a civil war and prevent a panic m the city. The army is quiet. The Cabinet has resigned. The siege of the city by the navy has been raised, and the populace are re joicing at the oloae of the reigu of terror, As expected the entire country will recognise General F. Pieroton, the \ Vice-President, as Chief of the Govern-1 ment, I

LATEST CABLE NEWS.

HJME AND FOREIGN.

(PER PRKSS ASSOCIATION )

(Received November 25, 10.30 a.m.)

DISASTROUS CYCLONE IN AMERICA.

New .York, November 24. A cyclone and waterspout struck the city of Washington, killing seven people. A gasometer was struck by lightning and burnt to the ground. The balustrade on the White House was blown down, and went crashing through the roof of the building. The damage m the city is at one hundred thousand dollars.

Baltimore also suffered severely from the cyclone.

(Received November 25, 11 a.m.)

THE STRIKERS.

Paris, Novemiwr 24. Four thousand miners at Courriers captured and greatly injured the Tiven mine before the troops expelled them. Two attempts were made to blow up the colliery tramway at Lens with dynamite, but the cavalry charged the crowd and despersed them. The Municipal Council has voted the miners twelve thousand francs.

THE EUROPEAN SITUATION.

The visit of M. de Giers, Russian Minister for foreign affairs; evoked little enthusiasm m Paris. The object of his visit to Berlin is to alky'the feelings of Emperor William, and pare the way for improved relations between Russia and Germany.

THE SPANISH GOVERNMENT.

Madrid, November 24 Henbor Del Canovas has succeeded m reconstructing the Cabinet, but Hie new Ministry is considered weak.

THE JEWS.

St. Petersburg, November 24. An enormous number of Jews •were baptised at Warsaw to avoid banish ment, ■ • ■••;. ;■■;.■".'■ ;■: ; :'::

(Received November 25, 11.25 a.m.)

CYCLONE IN SIAM.

Calcutta, November 24. A cyclone destroyed the towns of Chaiga arid Bandon, m Siaui, three hundred persons being killed.

EUROPEAN SITUATION.

Vienna, November 24. It is reported that the Emperor Francis suggested to the Emperor William of Germany, King Humbert of Italy and the Czar of Russia, that they should agree co a cessation of armaments during October.

THE INFLUENZA.

Thirty thousand persons were at tacked by influenza m Lernberg.

GALE AT SEA.

London, November 24. H.M.S. Swinger has arrived at Plymouth. She was hove to for fifty five hours iti a gale off Gibraltar.

CHEAP POSTAGE.

The uniform rate of one half-penny for every two ounces on books,; news papers and patterns, between Great Britain and the Colonies, comes into operation m January.

(Received November 25, 2.15 rf.m.)

DEATH OF LORD LYTTON.

Paris, November 24. Lord Lytton, the British Ambassa dor, died suddenly to-day from heart disease.

AUSTRALIAN.

(Received November 25. 11 35 k.&\.\

THE DEPRESSION.

MBLBOtrRNB, November 25. The Metropolitan Gas Company has informed its employees that it must re duce their wages by sixpence per day. The Company has been compelled to take this step owing to the depression.

THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN AGENT-GENERALSHIP.

Adelaide, November 25. The Government intend to appoint Sir J. C. Bray, Agent-General for the colony.

THE TASMANIAN EXHIBITION.

Hobart, November 25. Launceston is crowded with visitors who intend being present at the open ing of the Exhibition, which takes place to-morrow.

TO-DAY'S TELEGRAMS.

PER PRKSB ASSOCIATION. Th« t*lct«r*»4«e Atlas. Mastbrton, November 25. The Justices of the Peace gave judg ment for defendant with full costs m the case Bowerman Bros v Riddle. The Bench held that the signature on the con tract was not that of defendant. The signature on the patron list was obtained by fraudulent misrepresentation. Ap plication for leave* to appeal was refused. <hic»r<» X *ltl lit turn. DfNEPix, November 25. Mr Seddon this morning met a deputa tion of commercial men and explained the intentions and desires of the Government i concerning the representation of New Zealand at the Chicngo Exhibition. It was resolved " Thafc m the opinion of this meeting it will be of great benefit to th« colony if its natural product*, especially, should be represented at the Chicago World's Fair." The matter now stand ■ remitted back to the Chamber of Com merce to consult other bodies.

tfHE ASHBtJRTON dtTARDIAft : WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2|, I89i;



Thk Best Rembdy vovt Indjgkstiojj— Norton's Camomile Pills are confidenty recommended as a simple remedy for Indigestion, which is the cause of nearly all the diseases to which we are subjects Norton's Pills, with justice called the .'Natural Strcngthener of. the Hainan Stomach," act as a powerful tonic and gentle perient, are mild m their operation, and' safe under any circumstances. Sold m bottles, at Is l^d, 2s 9d, Us, by all medicine vendors throughout the world. ".Keatinu's Powder" destroys Bugs Fleas, Moths, Beetles, and all other insects, whilst quite harmless to domestic anhrals. In; exterminating Beetles the success of this .powder is extraordinary. It is .perfectly clean m application. See the article you purchase is. "Keating's," as imitations are noxious and ineffectual. Sold' m Tins,6 d, Is, and 2s 6d each, by all chemists. iS'inian Myslop and Co-s v Imperial" pure Ceylor and Indian. Teas are the best m the market.—/Advt.) True economy To purchase Countess Tea for two shillings. Free fron. any ex oess of astringericy Teas free from atty excess ofastringency South British Tea Company's pare blends All storekeepers Countess 2s, Duchess 2s 4d, Princess 2s Bd, Kinpress 3s. These Teas are freejfxoq) any excess of astringency,



\\ c clip the following important testimo nial from the " Illawarra 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 Hoskiug, chemist, of this town, and that the use of it gave him great .relief at once. He states that between 10th March iust., 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 he has found the Eucalypti Extract t cure for rheumatism as well as gravel. He requests us to publish this 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.) 2 Hoi.no ways Pills.—Pure Blood.—When the blood is pure, its circulation calm and equable, and the nerves well strung, we are well. These pills possess a marvellous power m securing these essentials of health by purifying, regulating, and strengthening tlie fluids and solids. Holloway's Pills can be confidently recommended to all persons suffering from disordered digestion, or worried by nervous fancies, or neuralgic pains. They correct acidity and heart-bum, dispel sick headache, quicken the action ot the liver, and net as alteratives and gentle aperients. The weak and delicate may .take them without fear. Holloway's Pills are eminently serviceable to invalids of irritable constitutions, as they raise the action of every organ to its natural stun jard, and universally exercise a calming ami sedative



Many exhibitors ;»t the hite Ashbuiton Show, were doubtless disappointed m lot winning prizes. A jticfcuro vjilub lO.s is given away with every Fifty Shillings' wtirth ot Wuvburtun's C.iu't lij Jiu:it



Wanted ! CASH Advertisements under this heading not exceeding SIXTEEN WORDS 1/-. Addresses may be lfftat this Office. •TyANTED Known—That I am a *" buyer of Fresh Eggs.—Adams, Saunders' Buildings. 11 148 WANTED— Board and Lodging by a young man, within two minutes' walk of Railway Station. Apply by letter, M.X.0., " Mail" Office. 11 147 ANTED, a large attendance at the Open Lodge and Uoffee Supper, Templar Hall, Thursday next at 8 p.m. Admission, 6d. 11 150 VT/ ANTED Known—A special line of y^ Cashmeres, all shades, now sailing at Is per yard. \Vhite Blankets 5s lid per pair.—H. C. Segkrs, Melford House. - ICE Cream ready at all hours, during the'summer months at Flower's. Cou^h Drops as usual—H. G. Flower, East street. WANTED Known. -At "The Corner'i now selling Ladie&' French Shops. 5a lid. See them.—W-H. Collkbb; WANTED Known—A Beautiful Line of French Dress Goods, double width, Is 10|d ; origin&l value, 4s. —H, C. Seoers, Melford House. BROOKE'S Carbolised Scaly Blight Cure is the best of all, bar none. ANTED KNOWN, a special lot of Hearth Rugs at Is lid, 2s 6d and 2s lid ; worth about doable. VV. H. Collier. ALL Wool Colonial Tweed Suits to measure; fit and workmanship guaranceed; from 50s cash. Robert Alcorn, Ashburton Clothing Mart, Saunders' Buildings. BHEKP SHEARS. Having secured a Stock of the celebrated 8.8.A., and as there are very few m the Colony, Shearers are requested to call early.— Robert Alcdrn, Saunders' Buildings. WANTED Known — Being over stocked m Cornets, we have re cuced every pair. Ladies from Is 6d Cheapest house m town. —H. C. Skgkrs, Melford House. _____-_ — WAIXTETpTKNOWN genuine Cleariiig Sale is going on and the Boots are going out Best value yet offered, ten per cent for cash, the very best work and repairing done at once at J. M. Moron's lown Hall, East Street. WANTED Known.—l have a large stock of Tin and Ironware Goods to selrct from. Register Grates, Stoves, Portable Boilers, Spouting and Ridging kept m stock.—-J. W. Hardley, East • treet. 6J202 TPO Meet the Times.—l am supplying 1 Galvanised Iron Tanks from 30d upwards, warranted for twenty years, Force pumps, deep well cylinders of all descriptions. Inspscticn invited.— J. VV. Hardley, Ea3 street. 6|201 MONEY TO LEND, upon Freehold security, m sums to suit bor rowers. Small amounts can be repaid by instalments, if so desired. Apply to Mr C. W. Pcknell, Solicitor, Mont gomery's Buildings. 9 130 WANTED Known.—H. Bairstow has opsued those premises m East street next J. Orr and Co., as a Furniture Warehouse. Latest designs m Vienna Chairs, and Iron Bedsteads on vbw. Having a good stock of well seasoned figured Rimu and Kauri, lie is pr- pared to take orders for Furniture to any design. Inspection incited. 11+61