The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. MONDAY, JUNE 1, 1891. THE MIDLAND RAILWAY.

Our readers and the people of Can terbury and West-land generally will hail with satisfaction tl>e announce ment that the .ditFerences between the Government and the Midland Railway Company have been finally settled. The Minister of Public Works dropped, as we contended he should, the claim for the £300 for building the bridge which the deviation at Laks Brunner rendered necessary; but the basis of settlement, which we publish m another column, shows that fliftierences on other ooiats than that existed between the parties. Foremost among these was the sluggish manner m which the works were being proceeded with at parts of the line where there was no cause for delay, and the .Hspb-sition shown by the Company to strain the letter of their contract with the Go vernment to the utmost m their own interests. The Company Ims now agreed to deposit the tangible security of cash for tho clue carrying out of its obligations, and has undertaken to call for tenders immediately for further stages of the line. The con tract system contended for by Mr Seddon i.s thus conceded by th« Com pany, and we have no doubt this great work will now proceed without further hitch.

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Latest cable advices report continued firmness m the wheat market. Mr E. F. Wright, Mount Somer3, writes : —I see a paragraph m your paper stating that some swede turnips were grown at Greenstreet weighing from 8 to lOlbs. Mr James Austin, of Winchester, has several swedes weighing 181bs each, which were grown m the crop drilled m with lime. Russia deals very despotically with labor agitatois. Jfcorty-six members of the Polish ! working men's party ha^e just been con demned at Warsaw —and condemned with out any sort of trial. Au accusation was prepared, submitted to three high officials, and being strong enough m its wording, they pronounced judgment. According- to law anyone condemned on this sort of trixl can be sentenced to " not more than " five years m Siberia or two and a half years' imprison ment. Even Russians complain of this work ing mens' case, because seven of the men were sentenced to more than two and a half years's imprisonment. The dog tax collector for the Wallace County Council, m a report says:—" I would suggest that instead of striking a rate, if you would go prospecting m the Long wood or elsewhere, and strike a good rich quartz reef and thereby raise sufficient funds to con struct rotds and bridges, pay salaries, and m short to carry out all functions of the council you would glad the heart of every ratepayer and the showers of blessings falling around would quickly clothe with blooming daisies your now thorny path. Be it also known to your council that there are several individuals m the Otautan riding who are as cunning us foxes, and who would barter away their souls for half a crown, and your humble servant is waiting for instructions from your council to brii># said individuals before his Honor Justice Rawson." A CLible message has been received m Ciiristcharch announcing the death, m London, of Captain Hayter, cf thfc Rollesby Station, Burkes Pass. He went home a few months ago for the purpose of under going a surgical operation, and the presump tion is that he has succumbed. Captain Hayter was widely known and much re speutod m Cuitcrbiuy. He was, before taking up his residence here, first lieutenant of the licisilii-k, one of her Majesty's ships of war on the Australian station, Qn retiring *ron the sea he took to sheep farm ing, first at Hopefield, Aimiri, and subse quently at Rollcsby. Captain Hayter was a member of the Diocesan 8yno«, and took an active interest m Church matters.

It is not ganerally known that there positively exists a marked line between C'a 1 ala and the United States. Most people pupposc the line to be imaginary. But the fact 13 the boundary is distinctly marked from Lake Michigan to the Pacific by cairns, pillars of iron, earth mounds, and timber clearings. There are nearly 400 of these marks between the Lake of Woods and the foot of the Rocky Moun tains. The British have placed one post every two miles, ami the United States have alternated between the posts. The posts are made of east iron, and m their faces are the words : " Convention of London. October 20, 1818." Where the line crosses through lakes, small moun tains of stones have been built, rising Bft or 10ft above the level of high water mark. In the forest, the line is defined by felling trees, making q< clearing for the spaeg of a rod wide. Mr J, Fulton, of Rangiora, who has just returned from Tasmania, tells the "Press"— " I have travelled .with some Broken Hill men, who had been investigating the country and they think very favourably of .the future of the field. I did not see the Zeolandia claim, but heard of it, and undoubtedly there is a lode m the area, I beard it well spoken of but it will bo some tim.e before }t ct(,t) be developed. It lies on the }^orth-east; of Dundas. It is one of the farthest out claims, and is about tcu miles from Zeelun. There is a good bit of capital now invested at Zee han. Tha quantity of ore is practically m . exhaustible, so far as favourable surface m dications show, but until the railway js com pleted not much can be done," Over £124,308 is the annual cost of th c House of Commons, after a deduction o^ £22,000 received m fees. The Speaker's salary, which is charged to the Consoli dated Fund, is £5000, and the pension of the late Speaker i 3 £4000. The other salaries and allowances m the Speaker's department mount up to between £8000 and £9000. The Chairman of Ways and Means receives £2500. The Clerk of the House has £2000 and an ofjjcial residence, and the salaries and allowances qjf hii department make the figure mount up to nearly £24,000. Then the department of the Sergeant-at-arms cost about £11,000, his own emolunent being £1200, besides an official residence.

We regret to learn tl^al Sergeant. Molier, who has for some lime been laid down with typhoid fever, is m a vejiy critical state. Tlie regular monthly meeting of the Ladies Orange Lodge, No J5, was held m the Orange Hall Burnett Street, on Thursday evening. One member was iniated into the Order and four proposed for membership. i The Royal Botanic Society of England has kept a careful record of the sunshine that -fell on the gardens m Regents Park London, last year. Out of a possible 4453 hours the "beauteous eye of heaven" was visible during 1092. Referring to the inf mnation that a seoop ful of flour will pnl out flanys arising from a broken kerosene lamp, a contemporary remarks that m the works where paraffin (kerosene) i.3 made sand is used for the same purpose, and as the people employed m the industry should know what is best it may be taken for grunted that it also is a prompt ex tinguisher of kerosene flames. Some ploughmen on a farm m the Kaitungafor district worked ou :i recent Sunday during the absence of the owner ; and on enquiries being subsequently made as to their reason it came out that they had lost count of the day of the week and were under Mio impression that it was Saturday. It is not stated whether they kept holiday on the succeeding Monday or not. General Sherman was once asked by an interviewer if he had any antipathies. " Yes, sir," replied the General, " there is one man L would eagerly put to a painful death It is the oiifi who composed •Marching through Georgia!' That tune lias pursued me all over the world, till it lias become my night mare—till a homicidal mania comes over me every time I see a band-leader rise his baton." ' The proprietors of the Orrery and Tellu rian, who have just finished a successful season m Ashburton, left to-day en route for Christohurch. As a proof of the genuine ness of cheir exhibition, we may mention that during their stay here the attendance kept steadily increasing until the final even ing, when there was scarcely accommodation for their visitors. We predict for them a most successful tour. The Liverpool "Star"has caused some thing of a sensation by attacking the Man chester canal enterprise as an impracticable one, and giving some startling facts to up hold its assertions. It declares that an un foreseen obstacle has been encountered m the shape of a huge deposit of rock at the entrance, involving the cost of excavating 400,000 cubic yards of solid granite. This would add a round £1,000,000 to the cost of the work above the current estimates. The " Star" accordingly predicts the collapse of the scheme. The Clutha Leader states that owing to the slight accident to the express train at Waipuhi on Wednesday the stationinaster, who is al?o telegraphist, was kept busy m ; the station yard and could not attend to the wires, whereupon the Hon J. G. Ward, who was a passenger by the train, at once took his place m the office, receiving and dis patching the messages with the utmost promptitude. We question if many Post-_ master-generals have ever been able to stop ! a gap m this practical manner. Mr Henry Hooper, of Alford Forest Road, has lately received news from Australia, that his son John, who for some time past has been working with the Salvation Army at Ballar.it, and also at the same time studying for the ministry, had received a public wel come and reception into the Methodist Church, and had been stationed at Sand hurst. On ' the ReT J. ■ Hooper's dc-pxrhire from Ballfirat with his wife, for Sandhurst, a number of their friends assembled to wish them God speed m their new sphere of labor. The "Waimate Times" has been informed that over twenty residents m the Waihao district have not been included m the recent census returns. If some ca es the census papers were left and have never been called for since they were filled up, and m others, no census enumerator had be ju near the place. This is attributed to the sub-enumerators who wore a pointed being mincquaincd with the district. In others districts show a similar state of affairs, there will be no difficulty m accounting for the missing eight thousand of the population which the Registrar General says he cannot, account for. Despatches from Port of Spain, Trinidad, slate that some time ago Mr Kaufmaim, a mjne-owner m tho Goldfield,s of British Guiana,' discovered a diamond mine, m whioh he collected 638 stones. He sent tlietn to an expert m London for analysis, and has just received news to the effect that out of the entire number only five stones ai'o of no value, t'-ie remaining tift) being gonuine diamonds of purest water, Mr Kaufmanu is now taking steps to work the mine, and lias formed a syndicate for the purpose. Lord Gormanston, the Governur British Guiania, m a speech at the opening of the Legisla ture referred to the diamonds as open ing up a new and unrivalled source of prosperity for the colony. The great co-operative stores of the metro polis (writes the London correspondent oHhe " Argus ") have always something interesting to say at the annual meetings. The Army and Navy Stores, Westminster, has just paid a dividend of 100 per cent. Its sales last year umountcd to a gross sum of £2,700,000; the profits (gross) were £2!) 1,000, anil, after paying £189,000 m the way of working ex penses, therq was £104,000 of clear .revenue! ft is probable that tljc Civil Service Associa tion could tell a similar if not a belter tale. The poor West End shopkeeper may well groan. He had his day before the "stores" came into existence, and plucked the public m BJiameltsas fashion. He js paying for it now and ho does not like it. The London "Freemason of April 18, has the following:—"We are very pleased to note that the Grand Lodge of Maryland (Bro T. J. Shryock, G.M.) accepted the »e ---port of the Committee on Correspondence, submitted by Bro K. T. Schultz, the chair man, m favor of not recognising the so called '(jrau'l L/jdgeof New Zealand,'(because of the reasjqns stated), b,ut to 'defer the subject awating further developments.' Bro Schultz declares that out of 148 lodges 58 have with held their assent, and thus he styles the secedei'3 'the majority,' According to the careful report prepaid by B,ros tjaiqea. and Ncill, tho Prov Grand Secretaries* at ijunedin for the English and Scottish Grand Lodges respectively, o^lyuU have seceded out of 148 so thai the new creation termed the 'Grand Lodge of JSew Zealand' is m the minority, and those lodges who remain under the Grand Lodges of England, Ireland, and Soot land are m the majority. It is well to bear this fact m mind, the official report of which bens date Ist October, 1890."

Capt Jackson Barry (writes an Auckland correspondent) has returned to town from the fting Country, bringing along with him upwapds q£ qf s^eyimpnp qi tjn qiiej, which have tyeon exhibited|on Change, He reports having secured from the Native chiefs an area of one and a half mile of land. To complete the block three-quarters of a mile more will be required, but as the latter is not through the Land Court yet, he is about proceeding to Wellington to interview Ministers on the subject, and ascertain what can be done under the circumstances. The qre j.s sajd to flho,\y a percentage of at le;isf 80, and to air appearance thVlind promises to be.an important one. The Captain's own description of the locality is that there is a mountain of the ore, and although the locality is rough and outlandish, with no great trouble it could be rendered perfectly accessible. He brings written credential from the Chief Rcwi m token of the good will shown by the Natives and their chiefs to the project. When matters are satisfac tory arranged, Captain Barry proposes to proceed to England to raise the capital requisite for developing the find. On the iouWy ty the Jvin# nfcry ue lne^ witna» accident tq' !)ia Knee, but is ntjiy fiuilti recovered, and, as he himself puts it, is " perfectly good for another twenty years," IfquunvAv's Ointmknt axo I'ij.ls.— The attention of all sufferers ■is drawn to ttyqsg well-known remedies, for they possess cjonspicuqiie advantages as a jyli^ble aid m all those emergencies to which' trayel lers, emigrants, and sailors are so eapecidlly liable. They have been largely patronized by wayfarers by land sea, and, m fact, by all glasses of the community, to their very fpeit 'adyantago, pills ape be^q^tj. aU oubt op? of the most remedies ! ever discovered for cases of obstinate consti pation, confirmed indigestion, anil colic, ofinplaints \yhich are engendered by ex jiosiire aijid fiiuegular feeding, 'iM)§ oiufmeii^ be found of the very greafcesfc" service m cases of piles, abcesses, trysjpelas, aijd a|| Jlinds of Jqcalulccnitious. ' I

IRRIGATION.

PUBLIC MEETfNtt OF RATE PAYERS. I IRRIGATION DECIDED UPON. The meeting of county ratepayers on Saturday at the Orange Hall, called by the County Council co consider the irri gation question, was very largely at tended by the farmers and landowners of the district. Mr W. C. Walker, Chairman of the County Council, occupied the chair, sup ported by Messrs- E G. Wright. C. J. Harpnr, J. (Jrigg, Hugo Friedlander, E.S Coster, D. Cameron and James Brown, members of the Council, and Mr W. Baxter, the County Engineer, was also present. Mr Walker said the County Council had called the meeting as a first step to wards increasing the water supply. The Council had gone a& far as they could with Mie limited supply at their command. They had been fortunate m having n. river like the Ashburtotiy which had be«n very easily tapped, and with the supply ob tained from it they had been able to do a good deal. But they now felt the need for an increased supply, and for obtaining 'tc from a, river that would give a larger supply than could possibly be obtained from the *Hhburton. A scheme had been submitted ,by the Engineer two years ago, from tlio Rakaia, which would have given a full supply to the people m the lower part of the county, and se^ free all that was available m the existing scheme for the supply of the people m the upper districts. That -scheme had not been accepted by the ratepayers when asked to vote for it at the ballot box. We had, however, lived two years since then* and had experienced two years of drought, and tbe Engineer did not now, with that ! two years'experience, put. so much de penden.ee on the Ashburton river. Those [ two years of drought had been two years of trial, and their lessons pointed to the necessity for tapping a larger source of supply. He (the Chairman) would not then touch upon the question of whether irrigation should be adopted, or only means taken to increase the ordinary water supply of the races. Discussion of that question he would leave to the speakers who were to follow. The rate payers had now had the practical experi ence of*wo dry seasons before them, and the questions for them to decide now were—did they want nioro water, and where was it to come from ? Were they men enough to say thej- wanted water, and were prepared to get it m. He thought they were. He had been m countries where irrigation was practiced, and from what he had seen m these countries and here, he had formed the belief that irrigation had a great future before it. Irrigation would enable each farmer to have a garden round his home stead, to beautify m many ways his holding, and so bring himself and his family under those beneficent influences which so greatly help to make life worth living. He had no idea that the settlers of the Ashburton county wished to live a money-grubbing life, which was a low life ; but he believed they desired to have pleasant homes and beautiful surround ings. With irrigation all this would be quite as possible here as on Kaiapoi Island or the Taieri Plains. Sentiment had a good deal to do with the happiness of lile, and he believed that, irrigation would tend greatly to those beneficent influences. He was of the party who had gone up a few days ago to the Waimaka ■riri, and had assisted m inaugurating the aew supply there. This was the first case m which one of the big rivers had been tapped. We had as yet tapped only the Ashburton—not a large river, and one that;'was.-.very easily tapped—and the limit of its supply having been reached we must now go to one of the larger rivers, One whoso supply is permanent, never-failing, abundant, and get from it what would fertilise the land. Ho was not enthusiastic enough to endeavor to introduce what he did not believe m, nor what he Hnew the ratepayers did not believe m ; but those meetings, of which the present was the first, had been arranged to gefc fcho ratepayers to think over the schemes of r.upply that had been submitted to them m the Engineer's reports. The Council desired to. carry the ratepayers along with them, and believed they wdu'd be ablo to do so, if the ratepayers would seriously and practically th'nk over the subject, and assist the Council to gefc what was ".vanted m the matter of v water supply. He would now ask Mr E. G. Wright to move the first resolution. MrWriiht said the resolution he had been asked to move ran as follows :—

: "That this meeting, having' hail placed before it the several rcpoils of the County Engineer on the question of Irrigating the Aghburlon-Bakaia plain?!, desires to. express its opinion that a system of irrigation is desirable." That resolution, was wide enough, and fche subject they had to discuss was also wide, The fixture welfare of the county would be very much promoted by a reasonable system of irrigation, bub much would depend on how the question was handled. If they proposed to rush into a heavy expenditure, theratepaye»ir.i.jht shelve matters for an indefinite time. The County Engineer had reported twice on this subjent, His first report con tained only a moderate proposal to supply certain areas on the plan at acost of 2sto3s per acre. His proposals did not then meet with favor ; but t>ince that report was submitted lnauy settlers had. been clamqring fqv wafer Avhile others had poopipoohed tho matter. If iq la.st report contained a larger proposal, and that re porfe was only recently published. This proposal was to take water from the Ba kaia. where the terraces were high, rang ing from 50ft at Lavington to 500 ft at the gorge, and perhaps the estimated cost of his* scheme may have had the effect of damp ing the enthusiasm of many. The pro posal m the Original scheme was to supply Irrigation Districts 1 and 2 at a cost of not more than JKJ.6,QQQ, In any gase f,l}e oayite} gpst woii|i{ have been cirijy aboijf; 2s per go.re.. In regard to the first scheme, which was calculated to irrigate 150,000 acres a!; a cost of about 2s por aero, it could hardly be ex pected that the settlers m the district to bs s«rvcd by it would vi>be for the kfcer costing 8s per acre. It was now for the settlers to say what was the best scheme tonpikea t-tay,b with. Itjt then} 'begin wifh the least costly, and go on by (fe rrets to the irrigation of all" tlje land }n the county worth irrigating,'. Those who had studied Mv Buster's report would see that a large oust would be incurred., for head works. The Engineer's inquiries had dissipated the idea that to bring the water from tno Bakaia to these plains was an A.B.C. matter. The bed of the river was 50 feet below the terrace at Lavingfcoii, and an expenditure of about £'38,500 would be required for head wprjff and. t;u.nn,g}ling. if §\e% cotyld gut w.ater to 'fchq plains without in curring this heavy expenditure for head works and tunnelling, everyone would allow that it ought to be done. He had his own r'ewM an this matter, and m giv; ing p^-m-esijion tq then} I*Q asked them to uud^istancl that they were simply his own and that m expressing them he s-'poke only for himself, and not for the Council Hc| hou?ht the better plan would be to modify My Ba>;tev'a twq so^emca so as to avail thenvselves of the sources of supply m bosh reports. TJ'ie be^t source of supply for No. 1 area was m tlie neighborhood of the Bakaia |jwnslnp, i\\\<\ from|:h:s a latge number of settlers could be sup pliea at a co^t of 2s per acre.," He would" advocate first dealing with $o. 1| and then su|)|jly4hg No. % taking thq supply I

higher up, having the water of the Aali- j burton supplemented by water from fche , Rakaia. Mr Wright then read from Mr Baxter's'reportas follows :—" The scheme I formerly reported on for fche iirigition of this ami of about 150,000 acres, com prising Nos] and 2 districts, was (o have cost about £16,000 only, but it wt n sub ject to the following drawbacks :—First, —The full supply frcm the South Ath burton River would not have been avail able at all times, as the drought of the last two years has clearly proved. I shall refer to this deficiency more fully when bringing up my report on the Ashbufton- Rangitala Irrigation Scheme. The South Ashburton River could probably be sup plemented from the water-shed at Lake Heron, but meantime I must consider the Rakaia River as the sole source of supply." Since that had been written Mr Baxter had visited Lake Heron, and found that water from the Lake could be diverted into the Ashburton at a cost of £4000 This got over one of the major difficulties m attempting to get water over the Rakaia terrace. The water at'the Upper Ashburton Bridg* was from 100 to 200 feet higher than m the Rakaia at the Gorge, and this gave the ad vantage of one or two hundred feet m height fcr purposes of distribution. Had the water m the Ashburton river held out there would have been no difficulty at all about the matter ; but Jib had not done so, and to supplement it by water from Lake Heron (ojie, of the sources of the Rakaia) would enable them to bring.th« water ; of the Rakaia down the Ashburtcn riverbed to about Winclimore, and Mien turn it out on to the plains without touching the Rakaia river terraces at all, and so avoid an cxpendi tureof £38,500 m surmounting the terrace at Lavington. This was his idea of modifi cation of the schemes. It would no doubt be said by those on the lower reaches ot the Ashburton who feared floods that there was danger m that direction; bub m answer to them he would say "that the Lake Heron wafer would only be turned on when wanted, and never be allowed to augment ordinary, floods. The settlers south of the Ashburton river would no doubb say—We want the water m •'the Ashburton river for our selves. No doubt. But the Lake Heron water was Rakaia river water, so that no wrong would be done. ' He had now dealt with the question of how to obviate the excessive coat of dealing with the Rakaia liver as a source of supply, by means of tunnelling- the terraces. There were four or five points that had to bo considered m dealing witii bhe question of irrigation. These were —rainfall, temperaturq, the quality of the land to be irrigal* 1 the nature of the products to be rais d, and the cost. Many people were led by what they had heard was done m I other parts of the world, such as California and Mildura, to expect very great results. The rainfall m California was as low as 4in m some places, and not over 12in. or 14in. tl.rjughout the irrigation area. Irrigation had increased the value of land there m many cases ten, twenty, atid thirty fold. The land was good and the sun was powerful, and those districts afforded the best field ptisible for showi: g tie aivantages of irrigation. Mildura, too, had good land and a hot sun, with a rainfall which, if not perhaps deficientoverthe whole year, was deficient when most wanted. In both these places the settlers were abls to get large returns m fruit and grapes from vejy small areas. We, m Ashburton, had not the sunshine necessary for products of this kind, and so could not hope to go m for vineyards. Then, the extension of irrigation decreased the temperature, and m placas m California it had been ascertained that the general tem perature had Wen reduced by ten degrees. In a large trn«t of the Ashburton, county die soil vas not nearly so rich as m Cali fornia, so that they cou?d not look for California or Mild urn results. 'Vhat they would havo to look to here would be, not the growing of tropical or semi tropical plants, but plants for fodder and root crops, and on this basis get some idea of what they might expect as a return for their outlay before they went to the ballot box. His Lake Heron idea would irrigate 160,000 acres at a probable cost of 2s 6d per acre, but these figures did not include the cost of distribution over the farms. There 'were a few thou sand acres on the Rakaia plains that were very easy of irrigation no doubt; but much of the plains land would necesi}i; tate supplementary work on the part of the farmers themselves. Waile the county was restricted to the cultivation of only a limited range of plants, labor was restricted ; bub if they could extend the plant range they would be able to employ more labor, and so provide employment for their children that were growing up. In concluding, he would point out that the resolution he proposed committed them to nothing but simply affirming the principle of irrigation. Mr John Gngg seconded resolution. He was nqfc good at figures, so that he would neither shake their nerves nor con fute their minds with them. But the fact was they were all suffering from a sore disease, if he might be allowed the simile, and they were calling m the aid of the Council as a doctor, to find out how best to remedy the evil. The best remedy for the evils of drought had been fouad to be the imgation' of these plains, and the (Council had called that meeting to see whether the people would have more water or not. He felt that the Ctaunty Council could be fairly trusted to select t the best s.ghein i e; but nothing could bo 4one until the full sanction of the rate payers had been obtained, ijo not Understand how W$ single settler eouW ftbjeob to irrigation, but expected, that everyone would have said to the Council 1 —Go m and do the very best you ca.j. The members of the Council had no personal interest m irrigation, had. no axe to grind, and were only desirous of doing their best for their fellow men. Leaving out Wakanui, and a few other favored part 6of the county, the land was only worth a very low rental j but he believed that irrigation, would" treble the of all $h»t land. Mr G'rigg. then quoted the instance of the Council's irri gation farm, which had been rented at 2s 6d an acre, and dear at that before they began their imgation experiment, and it was now cheap at a rental ot 10s 6cl an acre. What, then, if every farm, m the same condition m which tlw irrigation farm, was fcQ begin w}th, could be so treated a£ t^e cost 'uidica.te.ct by Mr Baxter'?' Irrigated landcarried fqur or five times tfie nuniber «f sheep that land did that was not irrigated, aj.id he advised them to adapt irrigation, as an e,a.«y method of making their forfcur.es. They ought not to hesitate, but; make up their minds nfc once and tell the County Council to do their best. Mr Wright had spoken to them on the subject already and had thought a great deal upon it. He could could pledge the whole Council and Mr Wright to do the very, b.est fcljey (.quid m this matter, ag they? had already done with the water races. Twelve hundred miles of water races, for an expenditure of about £30,000! There was no other such repult m all the I-landi of the cplony. He had experimented m irrigation himself, andhad>eenftlilstolrrigatoapaddockof3oo acres'. That paddock had carried threeorfour limes more than any other paddock of like extentinLongbeach,astheresu|to£theex- ! perimerit. He home feosee m threeor four I ye^ns eve,ry aore of land m the county J brought under tfye influence of irrigation i (Applause.) * ', Mr James Bpwn rose $o move an amendments. The Lavingtoii scheme had j beon brought hurriedly before the I ineetmg That was the fi,i^fc time reafc tfhatMffWnghtlu^ had afl'opposite, ■ftf srcrting oh ftp scheme, ana it would, M»ve keen f.aj fettw fy<4 Woro confide-

ration been given to it than it had re ceived boforo it came before that meeting Mr Brown then proceeded to attack the Engineer's report as to the depth of the five waterings he proposed to give the land—2| inches -and said the land should be watered to a depth of four or five indies. He would move as an amend ment :— " That of all the schemes for incieising the Water supply between the Ashburton and Kafcaia rivers, this meeting is of opinion lliat the plan proposer! by Mr Baxter m the months of June and July last is the best, us it will provide sufficient water from the bouth branch, at a cost of £4000, to supply ]50 additional miles of water races and enable the Council to relieve the irany cases of great inconvenience and hardships from the want of water during the dry season.*' This was quite as open as the main question of irrigation. He proposed to borrow £4000, the cost suggested by! Mr Baxter to bring from the South Ash burtcn water 10 supply another 150 milesof races. Mr Wright's suggestion to tap Lake Heron was only another part of the same scheme, and the one he now proposed they should accept, with Lake Heron tapped, would give 150 miles more races at a cost of £4000 for tapping and £4000 for bringing it m from tho South Ash burton. iMr Brown continuing to spe*k to his amendment was interrupted by several voices, claiming that no scheme was before the meeting. The Chairman said the friends of irrigation had nothing to fear from any action Mr Brown was likely to take, as it wcwld not be against irrigation. Mr Megson said the question the meet ing had before it was whether the principle of irrigation was to be affirmed. He did not believe Mr Brown was speak ing the minds of the people he repre sented, ani twitted him with movin<*an amendment on a motion to which the amendment had no relation. ; : Mr Murdoch Bruco urged' the introduce tion of a scheme that would give abund, ance of drinking wat*r, and what was over could be sold for irrigation purposes to such as cared to buy it. Mr Leadley thought ther>, was no cohesion among the Councillors them selves as_to ari Opinion of which scheme was S e b£ st If tlie schemes .suggested by Mr Brown and Mr Wrighfc^were amalgamated^ he believed (hey would <*et! a good scheme, fle thought the time was premature as yet for irrigation.' lnere had been no demand for it from the ratepayers of the county. It had only been the subject of street talk, but what was really wanted was a permanent supply for stock. If M^ • Bro«vn> and;'%r: Wright s schemes were adopted and urn-ed, he believed the settlers would be dad to pay an annual charge on £8000 or x' 9090. t , f ..  Mr S. Hardley was quite con vinced the time was ripe for irrigation. He had been brought up on seventeen acres of land m Cambridgeshire, on which a large family was raised ; but it was only by irrigation that the results he quoted at some length could have been reached^ Among frequent - interruption's' he spoke of the benefits to be derived from irriga tion here, more especially m the increased growth of clover tor stock, and urged the adoption of some system of irrigation. Mr Hugo Fiiedlandor thought' Mr Hardley should have been more patiently glistened to, as he had iieen giving, them "much practical information. He regretted tho turn the debate had taken. The question before the meeting was as Mr Megson had put it, find Mr Wright's speed; would have been better m order had he delivered it m relation to the schemes that wnro uibsequently to be Th^y .-Ul know bettor than to expect the same results here that weve obtained m California and Mildurn, but lie had been m the county since it first began to lie settled. He "had seen the farms cut. up and reclaimed from the tussock, and during that time he had seen sun enough to dry up the p:iddocks m November. With irrigation they could always keep fernl for thei»; stock, and not have to sacrifice them because they could ni longer feed them. He instanced the shingle tract at tho freezing works at ■Islington *s a proof of th e value of irriga tion m nuking almost valueless kmf a \ aluable producing medium. Mr Leadley had said there was no scheme before the meeting. They did not como there with a scheme ; it was neither the time nor the place to say what scheme should be adopted. The County Council would choose a scheme and submit it to the rate payers, who nt the ballot box would accept or reject it, I» regard to Mr Brown's amendment, it had not found a seconder m that large meeting, and th«t fact spoke for itself. Mr Allan, Diomore, said he had been many years m the district, and if he could get irrigation at Is per acre of annual cost he would be able to sit rent free. With him, it had always been dry m November, December, and January • but if he had irrigation he co*:ld have green feed all the I year round, and would be able to grow as good crops as they could at WaMmrfW Longbeach—at anyrat© ha could' keip more than doub]© cr treble the number (if sheep, Jf they could get plenty of t clover, to grow they could' fatten lambs, and it was the men who ©ould do that who made the profit, Mr John Lainbiej Kyle, regretted that no Oftfca had been given by any of tKe speakers. With the Chairman .he believed m the beautiful} bttfc they were not there to dea,l with the beautiful, but with the more practical sentiment of pounds, shillings, and pence. The Chair man Imd gtvun no data; nor had Mr Gnag, who, m mentioning the 300 acres he had irrigated, had omitted to say what fhe work Upcl cost him., Mr Grijjg—Not more than Is 6d per aero, - i Mr Lambie—Very well. But they wanted more than that even. It might have been a paddoc^ for instance, that was very osvsy to irrigate. It was just as I oosily to irrigate poor as rich land. Then, m regard to what Mr Wright had said about irrigation lowering the temperature. If the general temperature were to be levered by ton degrees* they would be a* bad as m Southland. He favored the : general idea of irrisralion, and would vote for the resolution, b,ut he would have preferred tha.t more data had been given. Mr Lowe—Who. spoke as a stranger to the^district, and. apologised for doing so, sain lie had had experience of irrigation « « "lumei'» district m Australia. Mr \\ right had mentioned five premises m hinaddresi, but an important point had been omitted—the source of the supply— whether there was any fertilising element m it. In the Wiiniuera district, watering to the depth of five inches was considered plenty. Tho resolution was th.cji wt am? carried unanimously. My, l{ngu i*riedlaiider , v «s pleased tho principle was carried. He was hs much interested m these plains as anyone, nnd if irrigation were to be tqo. oostfy he would suffer financially as much as any. What was no,w tv bo done was to ask the Council to proceed with the necessary steps to carry out the principle that had been affirmed. It would, h© necessary to raise a loan; li«fc «mt could not be done until s\ scheme had been sanctioned hj. the ratepayers, so that th<jre W>UiM! be plenty of time to approve ov- otherwise any scheme <rhat i^ay bp submitted^ and | ley equltl iherofore'all safoly vote fqr the .resolution hu now moved :—i " That the necqss^i*jj <*tepp be taken to define au irrigation district tftgi T « eti'fcot to t]^3 foreeoiiy^ reso^utio^v'^ Mr. Harper' seoundea the resolution. vfQK- «U knew he had been an arden supporter of irrigation for years, lie was now pleased and proud tc, sea so, many of \w colleagues mwM W \h, iflm, ,

He had thought it would be fifteen yearn before any progress cou'd be made with the practical realisation of his irrigation dream. After a reference to the succ«<s of the irrigaton farm, as showing how successfully clover and roots could could be.grown with the aid of irrigition, he said that production would be more than doubled. In reply to the stranger friend who had fipokon, he said it had been well ascertained that a strong fertilizing ele ment existed m the sources of our supply. They had oa the one side of them a snow river Mid on the other a rain river. IVy Mr Wright's scheme it would be possible to mix r,he solution. He asked th^r^ate payere l;o give the Council the "aid of all their sympathies and all their energies. The Chairman explained that these re solutions did not bind the ratepayers to anything they did not wish. Under the Act, throe meetings of the Council had to 1 be held to confirm every step taken, so i that there was plenty of time for 3 obiui deration, and nothing practical conld be done until they had asked sanction by vote of the ratepayers. Mr J. R. Colyer bore out the remarks of Mr Hardley and the stranger from the Wimmera. He had been m California and had aeon the work done there, and there had been better results upon light: than heavy land. He hoped they would not be content with, any vcheniu that did not include Abundance of vater." Figns of impatience began to' be mani fested by the audience, and Mr Brown began to speak,: but was 'interrupted by the noise. The Chairman onked for a hearing for Mr Brown; but that gentle man left the room without waiting for the quietness that followed. The resolution was then put and carried. A vote of thanks to the; Chairman con cluded the proceedings.

In Re Irrigation.

Now lisicon young New JSealanders,' ti ., Now listen well to mci For yours the fairest Island home In all the Southern sea ! Isles richly dowered by iNaturc's God, Most beautiful, most fair, ' But needing energy and brains' " ; To cull their treasures rare! [ l ? '"■ '{ It needs the Patriot's fervent lave ,' , That British hearts sustains ! ' " Endurance strong of that gi[»ftkrace Whose blood is m your veins I It needs, economy and work Contempt for selfish ease ! It needs goodwill among all ranks Not, this or fliat to fclease i ?\ <4T A truce to politics and creed ! A truce to party strife ! Let all combine to nourish ■well O Our Nations budding life. » -i- 1 What injures one must injure all, We must agree, God knows 1, If we would see the virgin wilds ( Forth blossom like the rose. ' 0 Northern gr.;ves ! Q< fern-clad hills t ! Beneath so bright a-RUn - : Who would not labor for your fruit a So worthy to be woii I--'- ■■''■' ':- -0 Southern mountains, grassy plants J O land of vapid streams ! What untold treasures m you He, ' ; Surpassing wildest dreaniA ! !•' | ■ . \ . A '''■ Oft as I watch the arid plains : - ' Wl.ilo swift the train flies by, ' k And mark the settler's labor lost, The tear-diop'dinis my eye ! pJTear ftftet- year of i Atient !iope-: j That ondcth ia despair, >' ■■ ■ iWhile what should crown his rndastry;, ! lTnsoaght, unused, fls w» ■ there! • ' •Fok see ho;v everj- fresh brings down • Rich .soil tj dress his fields, ■ ' ! That, carried out m rapid flood, - Its wealth to Ocean yields L But aught that's worth the viuoiusr, friends, Deuiaiuls some sacrifice, And labor of a love that awks Nu grasping haggling price, Some tlion must hard-cni-ncrl. money qicc, And some must give Vneir toil ' ' If we would see more nappy homes Arise upon o u 1 soil. Engrave ia golden letters Ukh 1 One 'arord: *• C6-ope»te ;" ■ No man need want for work or bread 1 Kyou will "Irrigate!" i ZaraL

MAGISTERIAL.

; AS BBURTOS— MONDAY. ''.'. ' (Before Messrs D. Williamson auilJLlfred' Harnson % JLP.'s.v Drunkbxnbss,—A first offender was dealt with m th<* mm! way. Hugh Shaw, for having; been drunk m 13ast street or Saturday* was fined 10s and eo*jss, or.ifrur days* imprisonment, h week being allowed m which to pay the fine, »s the man had work to go to, and was vei-y penitent. Matthew Patterson;was charged witJi having been drunk m East street on Saturday night, with resisting Constable Cleary m the execution of his duty, and with assaulting the Constable. Patterson pleaded guilty, to the.first and second charges, liut denied the asaault. Evidence^ was given to tlie effect that while drunk he had been annoying the Salvation Army, and that he had used vile language while the Constable was arresting him. and had gujnerallj been very violent;. The Bench said they were sorry to see a young; man like the prisoner m the dock, and m response to his request for leniency, and having regard to the promises of amend ment h* bad given thorn, ho would bo lined ds for the, drunkenness and 20s for resisting the Constable, or go. to prison for seven days. .Tallies Gill, an old offender, against whow several convictions for dis urderly andriotoroconduct were recorded, as well as assault, pleaded guilty to drunkenness, using obscene language, and resisting Constable McGiH. Ha was sentenced to seven days on the charge of resisting the polico, and on the, otW charges convictions without punuhraenta. were enterod up.

SPRINGBURN.

Oa Wednesday last Springbum w«» en fete m connection with the marriage of Miss Syme, which took pkee at th« residence of. the bride 1* foiheiy Mr Da rid Ssyme, of Jnvernu»y, The happy brid«» trrojm was \\r K. A. Jago, second son of Mr .T, =\Y. Jiigo, of Dunedin. Mr and. Mra -J. W. Jago t and Mr James Jqga were' present nt the event, Ma.njr of Miss byme's. neighbors and frie»kt», bofch nwrriei and sin^c t asaciubletl t<* tdion their gbod will to Bride and Bmie«room on tlig «ii«i)icions eveul. W^ldittt; Iv&Mnta wftre numeral h'^ valuable' and consisted of articles of use and ornament. Vhe. Qprenwny w.r nerforuiea by the Rev VV. tfiiu> VS on, who receuUy l^elt} the pasfcorsvbe of the Pre^bytwiwii Church at Hj^Hd.:" district*. f U eX°?V nt m thorough Springs bum «jile, fch'e numerous guests enjoyed • the evening's amusements until it was nol longer evening the wish m all he»rt« * being that Mi witl Mrs Jago's married llf« n>»BW } x>» $<mg and happy 6n«. On Friday week several ladies »nd[ flfc'iew of the district called at tho »d*xJl Ht thres o'clock, ostensibly to h«r the school cluldrenVihK, «a |Uoy wore being taiulit m tluvfc specialHMbject »t tiiat hour^ " «en the s^ngwas ovaroertainpaKelK were pwxlucedv Mrh^» were found to ccm ww * silvei' teftpofc, a handsome' china tea-set m w yt e an d gold and pink fened> aiKl h cut glass su?ar basih jind tmtcv a^h. Mrs T. B. McIUo wdloi

THE ASHBtJBTON GtTJJtBlAtf, TONBAiT. «JtJOT, I "JBBL



! The best medicine known is SANDER anil SONS' EUCALYPTI EXTRACT. Test its eminent powerful effects m coughs, cokls, influenza, etc.— the yeftef is instantaneous. Thousands give the most gratifying testi mony. His Majesty the King of Italy, anil medical syndicates all over the globe are its patrons, head the official reports that accoir - pany each bottle. Mosler, M.D., Professor University, Griefswald, reports : — The Eucalypti Extract proved magnificently suc cessful m very severe contusions, bruises, sprains, wound?, scaldings, broken ribs, and limbs. ("Medical Journal," Nov., 1881 )<1 In diseases of the kidneys, cither active con" gestkm ov suppression, (imemai) or albutni, miria, dropsy, lithargy, nothing will equal m its action Eucalypti iixtraot, Poses five to six drops. Hosier, M.D., Professor, '.University, Grief swald, reiwrts :—Diphthe ria. Tonsils continually .coherent presenting uk'gi'S with white exudan'ts. jCured m four teen days, ftiiraoal Clinic of Prof. H'Jntyre, College of Physicians (jn<J Surgeons, St. Louia —iScirrhus of Bieasfc— Jijxqislon Kuca lypti Extract employed. No swelling, heat, or discolonition. Cured m fourteen days. -Advt 4 Tm-: Bj;st Rkmedy fok Indioestiok— Norton's Camomile PjJJs ftr§ confidenty recommended as a simple iumody fop Indigestion, which is the cause of nearly alj the diseases to whicn we are subjects Norton's Pills, with justice called the ' Natural Strengthened of the Human Stomach," agj, as a powerfuj and gentle pericuit, aie mild m tfyeff ppecatiou, an 4 afe under any circumstances. Sold |n bottles, at Is l|d, 2s 9d, ljs, i>yallmedicipQ Q»styf thrp««l»9Vti the wo, Ji (



Public Notices Gentlemen's WATERPROOF*. A N immense STOCK to select from. ALL OUR OWN MAKE, SEWN THROUGHOUT AND EVERY GARMENT WARRANTED ALSO GARMENTS OF EVERY DESCRIPTION MADE TO ORDER. NEW ZEALAND CLOTHING FACTORY GENTLEMEN'S lIIX*, HOSIERY. SCARFS, etc., NEW GOODS, LATEST FASHIONS, JUST OPENED. pi ATS, CAPS, SHIRTS, PYJAMAS MADE TO ORDER. New Tweeds and Coatings for Measure Suits to hand. Inspection Respectfully Solicited. NEW ZEALAND CLOTHING FAOTOBY WiTM^TiETrt Without teeth CHRIS roUCROH DENTAL SURGERY. Corner of Oashel and High streets S, M"" AND C - SURGEON DENTIST And at Dunedin ani Westport fTTK have gained the FIRST AWARD VV at the Dunedin Exhibition for Artificial Dentures and Mechanical Appli ances for the Mouth, and it is with the greatest confidence that v, re guarantee the highest class work and perfect fit at the most moderate cost A Single Artificial Tooth, 10s. Complete Set — Upper and Lower— temporary and permanent, £10 10s. Natural, Durable, Comfortable Artificial Teeth Replaced Temporarily al .nost immediately after the extraction of decayed teeth or stumps without extra fee or charge. Arrangements can be made for part or f monthly payments. ADMINISTERING NITROUS OXIDE ofAiS several times daily for the past ten years, we fearlessly assert that extraction of teeth under its influence is perfectly iviiniess and positively safe. Fee for Administi'atian ss, Extraction, 2a Cd, Artificial Teeth and Dentures made by other dentists repaired or remodelled at i mall fOiif^



Wttnted_ \ | ANTED.—A Good General Black '- *' smith, for constant work. Apply Tait's Forgo, Wakanui. 6| 1 WANTED.— One or two Boarders. Ttirms, 15$ per week. - Apply Mrs Knight, Cameron street, West, Ash burton. 6 9 COME iti crowds to Baud of Hope Musical Entertainment at Wesleyan ! Church, Wednesday nkxt, 7 p.m. 6 8 O3T.—On Sunday, 31sfe May, a J BlaJi and Tan English Terrier Pup. Finder will be rewarded on re turning to W. ,h Hampton, Tancred street: & "TCE Cream off. Cough drops on. Un _L doubtedly the best. H. G. Flower, Confectioner, East Street. WANTED Known—The "Strong wear " Boot is the best for Mens •jadies and Children.—W. H. Collier. WANTED Known— Some special lines m choice Dress Goods at very low prices showing at " The Corner." WANTED Known-Old Spoons and Forks Electro-plated and made equal to new at 15s per dozen all round. A. Black, Jeweller, East Street, 4 150 WANTED Known.—lt you want good value for your money go to Melford House. Cheapest first-class Drapery m town.—H. C. Seoers, Melford House JUST opened a choice lot of Ladie-> Plush Jackets, newest shapes, Als a new lot of Ladies' Pelerines and Boss —H. C. Skgbrs, Melford House. Tl 7 ANTED Known.—V7e are now VV opening all our new Winter Goods m. Drapery, Millinery, Clothing, Boots, «&c—H. C. Segebh, Melford House. ("^TLASS, "jiarthenware, and China, JT direct from the Manufacturers.— Robert Alookn, Tea Warehouse and Ashburton Clothing Mart, Saunders Buildings. im , , J^________________.__^_M —_—_^__ W tt»_i WANTED every man m the County to have a suit of the Ashburton Tweeds.—Rorekt Alcorn, Ashburton Clothing Mart, Saunder's Buildings. TTANDBOMK Presents given away _f~X, m June. Now g'ving tickets to every purchaser of 5s and upwards of Drapery, Millinery, Clothing, Boots, etc. —H Sbgeks, Melford House ANTED KNOWN—C. M. Brooke is now m personal attendance at the Dispensary. The doctors' prescrip tions accurately made up. Largest stock m New Zealand of disinfectants on hand. s|lsJ NEW GAMES -Tiddledy Winks, Reversi, Snickem, and others, Fresh Supplies of The Minors' Right. The Squatter's Dream, Robbery Under Arms. A Colonial Reformer, TuH after Supper, Three Men m a Boat, and hundreds of others. NEW MUSIC— Vocal and Instrumental. —L. F. Andhewes and Co.



Public Notices. LONGBIijApH. COACH. ON and after MONDAY, 6th April, the Longbeach Coach will leave the Ashburton Post Office at 4 p.m. ; instead of at 5 p.m. as formerly. It. R. BROWNE 4 28 . '...'■ Coachman. Mount' Somers LimeT MR. JAMES AUSTIN, WINCBKSTRR, SAYS — The Lime 1 bought was used with Turnips, and I have the best crop of Hybrid and Swedes that I ever h»d,: notwithstinding the very bad season for that crop. I sowed the Lime with a Duncan Drill, and had no difficulty mso doing. Where any unusual quantity of Lime was spilt, I notice the roots are much larger than el-ewhere. I am now using Lime m sowing wheat, ('hoping thereby to avoid the ravages of the grub, which I»est is very destructive this season. MR JOHN G3IGG, LONOBBAWIj Says—The lime I use! last year was only for rape m peat land and for fruit trees. For the latter the benefit was very great but for the rape all the crop was so superb that 1 could not see any difference. But there is no doubt of its value on peat soils and on cold clays. I shall take a larger quantity than I have ordered. MR G. T. SMITH, Nurseryman, Ashburton, Says—l am pleased to inform you that lam quite satisfied from experiments I made m liming land for fruic tree* that grand results follow, the fruit being larger, more abundant, and the color per fect ; also the lime keeps m check the slug and grub. For growing clover with irrigation the result is simply marvellous, the clover being of a luxuriant green. In short, I consider lime and irrigation £?o hand m hand with perfect husbandry. He finishes by saying he intends to keep on using Mount Somers lime from time to time. MR F. WILDING. (For the Styx Apple Co.) Says-The lime used at the Styx Orchard had an excellent effect upon the soil. The trees bore well and were unusually free from insect pests of every kind. MR W. T. SMITH, Spkingburn, Says—He limed strips m two old grass paddocks which had been down to grass twn yenr-j, and m l>oth cases it renewed the pasture on these strips, a vigorous growth of clover and rye grass appearing m each strip. MR ANDREW MacFARLANE, Springbttkn, Says-Helimedsomegrassland eighteen months ago this summer. He shut it up for hay, and m two cuttings took off four t«ms more grass per acre off limed ground ; than the non-limed. MR JOHNSTON, Hakatere Says—He limed a piece ot a grass paddock which had been down four years, shut it up for hay this summer, and the limed ground by weight gave nearly'three t'mesas much grass as the non-limed. MR JOHN HOOD, Mount Somers, Says—He limed 60 acres with 1| ton of lime to the acre ; ho drilled m turnips with lewt of superphosphate per acre on 2§ acres of it m November, and had equal to the best crop he ever had. About 1| acre he did nor, lime, but drilled m the-j turnips with superphosphate, and m com* parison it.is a very poor crop. The re mainder of the GO^cres he treated like the 25, but owinc; to the excessively dry i season, although thick enough on Hie ground and free from blight, the turnips have not grown to any s»ize. MR RANDALL, OF ASHBURTOX, Says—-He limed a strip m a paddock at an outlay of £2 an acre, 18 months ago ; the remainder of the paddock he treated with artificial manures to the value of £3 an acre ; planted the Whole with potatoes' and the whole crop was about equal. This last Spring ho put part of it m potatoes and part m mangels ; the potatoes on artificially manured land gave 8 ton 12 cwt per acre, potatoes on limed l;ind 10 ton 19 cwt per acre. The mangels with artificial manures gave 38 tons to the acre, and on limed land 68 tons to the acre. MR JOSEPH TUCKER g a y S __Through jjniing he has grown from ten to twelve tons of potatoes on i land which would not grow potatoes before. MR 3. T. BURNKT, ot Kaiapoi, gays—By liming laiid to the extent of II tan of lime to the acre he has been able to grow one-third more potatoes of much superior quality on limed land. He has sent me two samples to verify his statement, which are on view at the New Zealand Cloching Factory. I have many other testimonials of a ' like character, E, F. WRIGHT, 5J223 Mount Somers. «<THE OOKKEE." W. H. Collier Is Showing a very fine assortment of Ladies', Gentlemen's, aivl Children's Clothing suitable for present wear. MILLINERY— All the Choicest Novelties DRESS GOODS— A Special Line of • Heavy Dress Cloth 10|d per yard PLUoHES— For " Millinery and Dress Trimmings • • ' from 2s lid per yard FUR PELERINES—In various Furs from 2s lid FUR MUFFS— From 4s 6d each PINAFORES— A quantity at 6d, worth Is 6d CORSETS — A Special Line at 3s 6d FLANNELS— From Bkl \uv yar BLANKETS— From 10s 6d per pair MANTLES and ULSTEKS— Newest stye? for Ladies and Children REAL SEALETTE JACKETS — From 32s 6d BOyS' SUITS— In great variety MEN'S SUITS— Special Value, from 25s MENS TROUSERS— English Saddle Twoed 9s Gd MEN'S OVERCOATS- Heavy Pilot Cloth with Capes 355, worth 55s Als'), —The Balance of an Assigned Wholesale Warehouse Stock at Astonishingly Low Prices. w. h. "collier