THE ASHBURTON MAIL.

From and after the 30th November, 1886, the terms of subscription to this Journal will be as follows, viz:— IF PAID IN ADVANCE. l'cr Quarter ... (is 6il, by post 7s 6d „ Half-year... J2s Od, by post 14s Od „ Year 20s Od, by post 2Ga Od It' HOOKED. Per Quarter ... Ga (id, by post 8s Od  Half-year... 13s Od, by post 16s Od  Year... ... 2(!s Od, by post 32s Od llirth, Marriage, and Death Notices, if p.iid for .it the time of insertion, 2s 6;1 each ; iJ booked, 4s each. Stamps may be sent as payment,

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas Et Prævalebit. TUESDAY, JANUARY 13, 1891. OCEAN PENNY POSTAGE.

Ridiculed in the present day as Row land Hill, the founder of the inland penny postage system was in liis, Mr Henniker-Heaton has yet, like his predecessor in the advocacy of reform, scored a victory over official pre judice and obstinacy. True, a universal penny ocean postage rate has not yet been achieved, but it is manifestly com ing, and a very long step towards it has been taken in the reduction which came into effect with the first of the current year as between Great Britain and Australasia. But Mr Henniker- Heaton and those who support his enlightened and liberal views will not rest content we may be sure with an advance towards the goal at which they are aiming, but will be encouraged to persevere until theultimateobjectof a universal penny rate is obtained. In the " Review of Reviews " is an article by Mr Henniker-Heaton on the sub ject, in which he replies, as it appears to us very conclusively, to the objection taken by the Postmaster-General at the Jubilee postal dinner that the colonies, especially India, and Austra lasia did not show a sufficient v area of productivity," in other words that there was not " a reasonable pro bability of their furnishing corres pondence enough to make a penny rateremunerative." He (Mr Henniker- Heaton) gives figures which he claims, " give eloquent reputation to this doubt" and asks "if the 5d and 6d rates," hitherto obtaining, "have not been able to prevent the rising of the tide (of correspondence) what may we look for when the flood-gates are ( opened by the institution of the penny rate V He finds that there is on the average an increase in the volume of correspondence that „ reaches Great Britain of about 100 per cent in ten years —in some cases 300 per cent., and adduces the following statistics in proof of his statement:— "In 1880 the United States and Canada sent to England 5,093,000 letters, and in 1889 10,456,000 letters —an increase of 100 per cent. During those ten years the increase of ouv domestic correspondence was only 40 per cent. "In 1871-72 India sent to the United Kingdom 1,360,000 letters, and in 1888 3,245,000 letters. The total number of all articles sent to and received from India through the post in 1871-72 was 4,728,503. In 1888-89 no less than 17,042,721 articles were exchanged. "In 1880 the number of letters sent from the Gape of Good Hope to England was 476,000. In 1888 no less than 896,000 letters were de spatched from that colony to England. "In 1879 New South Wales de spatched 369,000 letters to England, and received 488,000 letters from us." "In 1888 Ne-vt South Wales de spatched 724,000 letters to Eigland, and received in return 1,130,000 letters. "In 1880 Victoria despatched 474,000 letters to and received 528,000 letters from England. In 1888 Vic toria despatched 806,000 letters to and received 931,000 letters from England. " In 1874 South Australia received 336,000 articles from, and despatched 230,000 to, England. In 1883 Sonth Australia received 706,000 articles by post from, and despatched 583,000 to, England. The increase in letters from 1880 to 1889 amounts to over 100 per cent. "In 1879 Queensland exchanged 324,000 letters with England, and in 1883 622,000. In 1879 Queensland despatched 108,000 letters to England, and in 1889 460,000 letters. " The returns from the minor colo nies show in nearly every case an in crease of from 100 to 300 per cent, in the ten years' correspondence with England." These figures show how rapid and enormous has been the expansion of the volume of correspondence under, and notwithstanding the high rate of 6d per letter, and it is only reasonable to believe that that expansion would be immensely accelerated and increased under a penny rate. Proof of this is supplied by the fact that the first mail from Victoria to England at the 2£d rate despatched a fewdays ago showed an increase of 50 per cent, upon the number usually despatched under the old tariff. That a penny ocean postage is now within measurable reach of at tainment we have not the smallest doubt, and that there is room for a revision of the outrageously high subsidies now paid to steamers for carrying the mails Mr Heaton goes on to show, by instancing as regards the service between England and New York that while the British Government pays £1000 per trip one way the United States Government only pays £500 per trip the other way. He further says—and with this extract we for the present conclude our re ference to this interesting subject.— " Another fact, to the importance of which our postal magnates are blind or indifferent, must now be related. We have heard a good deal of the desire of the United States to absorb or annex Canada ; of the M'Kinley Bill, which is to force the Dominion to join the Union; and of the unswerving loyalty of ,the Canadians. I found that years ago the American Government quietly concluded a convention with the Ottawa Government under which American citizens could sen 4 a letter weighing one ounce thousands ofj ; miles, say from New York to the; i farthest corner of the British Dominion of Canada, by rail, for one penny. The Canadians can tfaetnsei'/eg spnd a letter to any part of the United .Statist |pr less jbban. l|d, a rate which will i shortly be reduced to one penny. The nataral .GQiiseauence lias been the crea- ; tieui ©f a vast 'cort'espoi^dance between " -* Gdttiitjrfes, and jbhe weldjug fit \ the twv ""sirs oj£ e^mi^erpjal #n<J innumerable iuu. -- .^ "^^ £o r personal interests binding * ■'•-*<..! gether. I had ocular proof of tiuo on counting the mailbags destined for the United States, and lying in the post offices at Ottawa, Montreal, and elsewhere. How does our post office meet and counteract this insidious attempt, by means of the penny post, to sap Canadian loyalty and secure the Canadian markets % Why, by enforcing a 2M rate on every letter sent from

tkis country to Canada, There is also a penny service from any part of the United States to Mexico, and thus there is already, to our prejudice, an international penny post throughout North America, It cannot be too clearly understood that the real ob stacle to the itnmediate realisation of the great measure of Imperial penny postage is simply the sensitive amour propre of two or three high officials, who have committed themselves to pre mature and uncompromising hostility to a reform urgently demanded by the whole of the Anglo-Saxon Press, and essential to the happiness and the pros perity of the Empire."

LOCAL AND GENERAL

London has 15,000 sandwich men. Paper plates are being used in some of the London restaurants. Of the 7915 public school teachers in Min nesota 6111 are women. The number of missionarystations in Africa now exceeds five hundred. The words abstemious and facetious are said to be the only ones in the English laugnago that contain all ths vowels in their regular order. A school-girl, a plumber, and a railway signalman received certificates of "dis tinction" at a recent Oxford University ex amination. The manufacture of cotton goods in Ceylon has for the last few years made remarkable progress. The island promises to become as dangerous a rival to India as in the cultiva tion of tea. The " Press " says that the police have secured a little more evidence in connection with the infanticide case, brithave asyesbeen unable to find the body of the child. A Dunedin Press Association telegram states that there is a prospect of a firm in which the well-known firm of Rothschilds are interested, starting meat freezing works, probably at Milton. The brethren of the Thistle Lodge are reminded by advertisement of the usua monthly meeting to be held on 15th January, and particular attention is called to the hour at which the Lodge is requested to assemble. A young American led a blushing girl into the presence of the Reverend Dr Carpenter. "We want to be married," he said ; " are you the Reverend Mr Carpenter?" "Yes," replied the genial minister, " Carpenter and joiner." During her voyage of 25 days from Calcutta to New York, the Timandra ran through four hurricanes. Oil bags hung over the bows, sides, and stern saved the ship, as Captain Mowatt verily beMeves. ■: Aii English company with large capital has bought the petroleum fields near Payta, in Peru, andfexpects to be able to furnish oil enough for the whole of South America, Aus tralia., China and Japan. Immense tank ships are being built for the business. A* syndicate has been formed for the pur chase of the most important Scotch tweed mills. It is hoped that by economies result ing from the combination, the gooJs can be exported to the United States in un diminished quantities despite the new tariff. It is reported in Vienna that the hered itary Prince of Wakleck-Pyrmont, only brother of the Duchess of Albany and Prince Maximilian of Baden, nephew and heir pre sumptive of the Grand Duke, will seek a bride in England. The French Minister of Marine has ordered the immediate construction of a submarine vessel which will be larger than any hitherto attempted in any country. This vessel we are told by a Paris authority, is to bo called the Sirene. Its length is to be 131 ft. There appears to have been a mistake in our 1 istßakaiaPolice report. MrPatrickO'Malley -writes to say there was only one charge agaiiist Kirn of allowing cattle to be at large —the two cases that were withdrawn being against two other residents of Dromore. Shan Daulet, a Moslem fanatic, is preach ing a holy war in Afghanistan for the ex pulsion of the Russians from Central Asia. He is creating much excitement among the Mohammedans of that region, anil has many adherents, who have armed themselves with the..intention of following his banner and attacking the Russians). The fastest bird on the wing is the swift* which has been known to attain a speed of 200 miles an hour. It feeds exclusively on insects, which it captures while flying. The speed of the swallow, which comes next to that of the swift, is usually sixty miles an hour, but sometimes goes as high as ninety miles an hour. Barber: " Your hair is very thin on the top, sir." Customer (savagely): "Yes, and your nose is a little: bit on one side, your left eye has a decided cast, your mouth is no shape at all—a mere gash, your legs are bowed, and your back has an incipent hump. Now you can continue your remarks on my personal appearence!" But the barber didn't. Christchurch papers report that Messra H. Matson and Co., associated with the National Mortgage and Agency Company, have nego tiated the sale of the Lake Coleridge Station, comprising 2457 acres of freehold and 53,954 acres of leasehold land, together with 18,000 sheep, to Mr John Mnrchison, an adjoining squatter, for £13,000 cash. Our readers are reminded that to-night the Company travelling under Joe Sinclair's able management, open in the Oddfellows' Hall. The programme is varied and most attrac tive, and most of the performers, who are all clever, are new to New Zealand, Besides, the admission money is " million price 9 " —a consideration in these time 3. The Bellringers are said to be exceptionally good, indeed all the musical items are spoken of in terms of .high commendation, and the acrobatic per formances as marvellously clever. The Company have been drawing splendid houses elsewhere and will w<j have no doubt repeat the experience here. The Rev A. Blake in the course of his sermon at Tinwald and Plemington on Sunday, taking for his text the parable of the lost sheep, took occasion to draw atten tion to the movement now on foot in the district to assist in raising funds for the work carried on by Dr Barnardo among the waifsand strays of London, strongly com mending it to the support of all Christian people. We remind our readers that an adjourned meeting of the recently formed Committee takes place at 8 o'clock on Friday evenijng at the Borongh Chambers. The Chilian newspapers call attention to an incident which took place in the apart ments of the President on the occasion of a reception, when all the Corps Diplomatique were present. One Thomson, who had been sent out by the " Times " as a special corres pondent, was presented to Mr. Patrick Egan, the United States Minister to Chili by an attache of the Chili Foreign Office, and declined in a marked manner to recognise the presentation. Qn the attache apologis ing to 1 Mr Egan for having bean the cauae of his having been insulted by a guest of the President, the United States Minister re plied. " The man has injured himself ; a gentleman would not insult me, a black guard CQ.uld not. " We clip ths following important testimo nial from the " Illawari'a JVfergury " (S".S. W ©f the 30th March. It needs no comment i—, •Mr John Loveday, of the Bulli Mountaino writes torts that after sufferingfor four years S/iih a-nite gravel, he has experienced almost complete yglief by using Sander and Sons' Eucalyptic ISxtvabfc. H& $ftys':—" Seeing the said Extract advertised in th« * "il^warra his intense suffering induced him to obtain a bottle of the medicine froni Mr Hosting, chemist, of this town, and jfctyat' ifche' ijas f£ f£ gave him. great relief at once. He states tl\s,t fyetw'^u JJQjbh March jgis£. ? w-heii he obtained thelfrsi feoSbiWpf itlie '■--*«. jffifl $te lsH}i £he use 4f that extw -*«ttiiij4 &*s?s Ijw reUeJfj to medicine co^.. ' -w**|gi|^uryears, which he had been asstrafe.n fe . * ***«c iGiijjd Mr Loveday writes also that he 14 .. the Eucalypti Extract % cure for rheumatism as well as gravel. He requests us to publish this information through the' Mercury.' We have much pleasure in complying with Mr Lovedayjs request, whose word cannot b« doubted, and who can have no object in view other than a pure desire to benefit suffering humanity."—(Advt.) %

ROAD BOARDS.

LONGBEACH.

The monthly meeting of the Longbeach Road Board was held on Monday, January sfch. Present: —Messrs Bishop (in the chair), Horsey, and Wilson. CORRESPONDENCE. Small Birds' Nuisance.—From the Upper Ashburfcon Road Board informing this Board that 2s per hundred was the price agreed upon to be paid for the eggs and heads of small birds. Hospital Expenses.—From the Ash burton County Council with reference to expenses incurred by a resident of the i district for treatment at the Christchurch hospital. The matter was left in the I hands of the Clerks to make enquiries. Alteration in Valuation Roll.—From Mr W. Badger asking that his name should be put on the Valuation Roll for sections he had purchased at Wheatstone. Agreed to. From Mr William Angove on the same subject. Agreed to. Extension of Time. — From Mr T. Blackburn asking for an extension; of time to complete his contract on the Longbeach road. As the contract was in No. 5 Ward the matter was left in the hands of the Chairmau of the Board to decide. surveyors' report. The Surveyors' report was read as follows:—

Road along Railway Line.—We have inspected the Road along the Railway line from Tinwald to Windermere, and would recommend that the piece from the boundary of the Tinwald Town District to Winslow should be ploughed along the South West side between the metal and the side track, and in some places that the side should be reformed similar to the piece opposite the Tinwald saleyards. The cost we estimate would be from 4s to 6s per chain. With reference to the pi^ce between Winslow and Windermere we do not think it would be advisable to under take any work until proper outlets are made through the paddocks below the road, as at present the crossings on the road are lower than the natural outlets, consequently the water cannot get off the road. In any case to make a good track we think the road will require reforming. Works.—As instructed at last meeting we called for tenders for works as follows : Shingling part of Shepherd's _ road, making drain on the same road, shingling parts of Longbeach Road, shingling from side drain, part of Boundary road, and making drain in same road opposite Re serve 737, and in each case the lowest tender was accepted The contracts, with the exception of Shepherd's road, are being proceeded with. The shingling of parts of Terrace road and Osborne's road has been completed. Maintenance.—The maintenance man's diary lies on the table for y6ur inspection. Clause I.—Resolved to call for tenders for work as suggested, to be in by next meeting.

BOUNDARY ROAD. The matter of making crossings on Boundary road, opposite Reserve 737, was left in the hands of the member for the Ward and the Surveyors. board's offices. It was resolved to call for tenders for next meeting for painting the Board's buildings at Eiffelton. RATKS. Resolved to notify that all rates unpaid by the 3ist. January will be sued for. LONOBEACH ROAD. Resolved to call for tenders for plough ing one side of metalling and reforming theprn'iion of the Longbcach road from Willowby to Church street. Griffith's road, Resolved to call for tenders for making ford across creek on Griffith's road. ACCOUNTS. After passing accounts the Board ad journed. ' ;, . ■

WAKANUI.

The monthly meeting of the Wakanui Road Board was held on Saturday, January 3rd. Present—Messrs Bruce (chairman), Megaon, and Johnston. FORDS ON RIVER RO^D. The Surveyors reported the steps they had taken in the matter of the two fords male across the River Road without the sanction or" the Board; it was also re ported that two other fords nearer the breach of the. river were in a very bad state and dangerous for traffic.—lt was resolved, "That notice be sent to the occupiers of land who made the fords, giving them a week's notice to construct the fords to the satisfaction of the Board's surveyors, or the Board will take steps to have the work done and charge them with the cost of the same." CORRESPONDENCE. Perpetual Leases.—From the Receiver of Land Revenue, advising the Board of the payment of £45 16s sd, being thirds of receipts derived from Reserves 264 and 2165. i Alteration in Valuation Roll.—From !Mr W. J. Parker, asking that his name should be taken off the Valuation Roll in respect of Section 26729, and that, of Henry Margetts substituted.—Agreed to. surveyors' report. The Surveyors' Report was read as follows:— *

1. Christie's Road.— The formation of part of this road from Charing Cross has been completed. 2. Shingling Beach Roikl.—The metal liner of the Beach Road below the Wakanui School has been completed. We had a short piece of the School Road, as far as the chapel and the approach to the school, shingled by the same contractor. 3. Gravel Reserve.—We have had the gravel pic on the corner of Winter's and Ohertsey Road fenced in, as instructed at last meeting. 4. Maintenance. -— The maintenance man's diary lies on the table for your inspection, The report was adopted, GORSE ON ROAD 3. 'It was resolved—" That notices to grub gorse on roads be extended for three months to allow the occupiers of land, who had received notice, to get in their harvest, and that if not done at the end of that time the Board will take steps to have the work done and charge the occu- i piers of land with die cost of same with- j out any further notice."

BEACH KOAD. . Mr Johnston gave notice that he trould move at the next meeting of the Board "That No. 3 Ward contribute one-fourth of the cost of the maintenance of tho Beach Road from Trevor's Road to the junction with Corbitt's Road." NEXT MEETING. ; It was resolved—"That the Board at its rising adjourn till the first Saturday in. March.' . ... . Accounts. After passing accounts the Board ad journed. ■

DAIEY EXPORTS.

Very satisfactory i)ew§ indeed is tot hand of the results of shipments of butter to the London market by the Coptic from New Zealand; dairy butter, i.e.' farmer*', parcels, having j realjisejql mom Jg4s tq 96s per cwt., aiid factory-made Gutter lO6s to 112s. Even this, however, was not the top figure, a shipment by the New Zealand Ijfaipy, Association having ranged from 113s tQ % I §k,' ancf a few ptyq.'fii? k§gs going a§ higfr as 118s, or wi'&in £, ff^ctfoi} of l^|d per lb. This demori : •--^**;t^-^iu^yk? th§t ii ii scnti^.. * it« ■"•bity b,utte? possible to plact; • ••' W&iq9 gpft on the London market m^. *"* dition ; that when this is done it will command a ready market at a remunerative price j. and that butter

made on the factory system sells bettor 1 and piys better than that made by individual dairymen. It is only a question of time—and we think a very short time—before New Zealand will occupy an important position as a source of supply for the English market, and we are glad to notice that there is every indication of this Colony being able to compete with Continental sources of supply. Mr Henry Iteyuoids, to whom we referred in a recent article as having gone Home in connection with the dairy industry, has returned to London from a visit to the Danish dairies and butter factories, and informs the Home correspondent of the "•' Dunedin Evening Star " that he has been agreeably surprised to find that New Zealanders are much more to the front in their knowledge of dairy farming than he had been led to be lieve. The samples of butter which Mr Reynolds has had sent to him from New Zealand, the correspondent adds, have turned out most satisfactorily. The following are reports on same :— "The sample packages are to hand, and are in very line condition, cleaner and in more perfect order than any Danish or Irish I ever saw. The quality is good, but for flavor finest Danish or Irish stands higher." Another report states that "the sample packages -.vere of first rate quality, and such as we think will gradually make its way on this mar ket, and eventually sell at nearly the prices ot finest Danish, providing we ould always depend on regularity in arriving and quality uniform with the same packages." How immense a market is open to us in the United Kingdom is shown by the fact that during the first three months of 1890 the value of the imports of dairy produce reached £8,262,265 — over £90,000 per day. Last year Denmark alonesuppliedEngland with 79,000,000 pounds of butter, over 40 per cent of the total import into the United King dom coming from that country. -New Zealand's contribution to the same market in the same year was only 2,363,088 pounds, or just about one thirty-fourth of the amount imported from Denmark, and even of that amount a large proportion was of in ferior quality. That there is room for an enormous development of a profit able export trade is now absolutely certain, and we look for the rapid growth of the dairying industry as a necessary consequence.

CORRESPONDENCE.

TO THE EDITOR

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

The Irrigation Question

TO THE EDITOR. Silt,—l have read the letter in yo'uv issue of Saturday by "Plains Farmer," and entirely disagree with him oti many points, bat will only notice that part in which he says that to irrigate a crop you must plough water furrows every few feet apart. Far from this being the case, th? year before last I was enabled, through the means of a private race, to put about one-third of a fifty-acre paddock of oats underwater, using no extra cuttings, but by simply guiding with a spade where necessary. The result was very noticeable, the irrigated part yielding at least twice the weight of threshed grairi.—l ani, etc., Small Plains Farmer.

TO THE EDITOR

Sir, —The above matter is exercising the mintfe of a large number of people in this county at present, and although I was glad to see "Plains Farmer" had a letter in your issue of Saturday last, because it shows attention is being given to the subject, still I was sorry to observe he has come to a wrong conclusion. It is evident he lias visited the Irrigation Farm, and while he says "1 do not consider the farm the Council experimented upon was anything to go by," it is perfectly plain he hasformed his opinions from what he saw there. He also makes quite unreservedly the statements "I am confident irrigation will not pay in our day; on our light shingly soil it would coat more to irrigate an acre than we would\ make out of it;"' and "To give a wheat field anything like an even watering the channels would require to be only a few feet apart, so to irrigate his grain fields a farmer would require to plough itp half his crop in,' making channels." ; In reply to these very confident state r ments, I shall make some with greater confii dence to the contrary, because I have seen' the Irrigation Farm, and also large irriga-' tion works in Fresno, Tulnare, and Kern Counties^ California, extending over scores of thousands of acres, and, from my observa tions, can justly say that irrigation, willpay in, our day on, our ligld soil, and that channels would not require to be only a few feet apart; in fact they are not required at all in the way "Plains Farmer" speaks ■ about. He has made his remarks without giving his reasons, and would pin his faith upon the opinion of a few good practical farmers, which opinion would doubtless be of small value unless they had had an opportunity of studying irrigation under favorable circumstances, which I contend is not possible here, as proved by the fact that one of our County Councillors wishes to send Mr Baxter, County Engineer, to Victoria to get fuller information on so: important a subject, and I hope when the proposal comes before the Council it will be given effect to unanimously. Hut let us; "return to our muttons." Will irrigatjen pay here? Emphatically yes. At the Irrigation Farm I have seen clover growing which, wlun lifted to its full length, was over six feet in height, and that too in the autumn when grass under ordinary circum? stances was withered up and almost gone, which is proof indisputable of the effect of water on grass land. The benefit ia ad mitted by "Plains Fanner" to a certain extent so far as grass land is concerned, but he does not think the return will compen sate for the outlay, a point where 1 differ from him. The benefit of water being admitted, it cannot be disputed that grass land properly irrigated and grazed would at the lowest estimate carry two sheep per acre more Then as to the cost of irrigation, 1 by a proper system I may say that, with our exceptional facilities, it should not cost more than one shilling per acre, and judging by other irrigation works already men tioned, where the advantages were not greater than here, it would probably be done at fourpence per acre, for their estimate was one shilling at the start, but upon actual trial it came to the lower figure. In this connection it is right to say that on the large works I have referred, to, the main ditches and canals, as well as the smaller ones, had to be inspected constantly on account of the chipmunks, gophers, and other burrowing animals, causing breaches in the side where there was a " fill." We here should be free from repairs of that kind. On these grounds, I take it, any practical fanner will admit that if he gets his land to cany two slieep per acre more py irrigation at the cost of one shilling he will be a large gainer, bfoause the wool from two sheep extra represents At present prices Bs, without counting the mutfcoj,, and fhisoytra return he gets, say, at the greatest expanse oi'ohe ■hilling per acre, leaving a net profit of seven shillings per acre, and his two sheep into the bargain to fatten just when the water will' 4o the most gocjft oji Vb£ l&iid.- - Jp this estimate I have' put "the highest probable cost of irrigation properly carried out, and the increased parrying capacity of the' land ,■ at the iqw«s{j, fflr J ,iin m;jtg certain jt wi}l carry more than twq sif«e.p extra. ICrbiH the, tewjjQiflg I [.huj'k'any re.atQiiable,' person will ■*-—*ian will J}iy qgr.c. !'Plains say iri-is~. " *—« his i'enjarjis largely Farmer " no doubt Dct^^ —*•«£• of upoa h» observation of the *>/»»■.,.

irrigation adopted at om* Irrigation Farm, 'out I think it is not f.iir on his part to -.-alculate the cost of irrigation on a large and •jo'oipiute scale in expert hands by the result of an experiment on a small scale in the hands of those who have no special knowledge of -ucli wo; I]-:. From my observations of irrigation on a large scale, I have found fchat iustea-1 of channels being required "a few feet apart," as slated by "Plains Fanner," to jriveii -.v!><:;it field a proper watering^ the very opposite is required—viz,, ridges, ny fecimica.liy speaking, "checks." at proper levels arc thrown np, thewator is blocked iv (he supply ditch, and when it is high enough the side "of the ditch is cut, the water ruiia over the field until it reaches the check, which restrains it and'backs'it upuutil that particular piece of land has had sufficient water, and so the work goes on like clock work. This surface irrigation is quite a different thing to that adopted at the Irrigation Farm, where the system tried was that of "sub-irrigation," which is always considered by experts the mo3t costly, because it benefits so little land, is slow in operation, and requires a greater expendi ture of time and money ; in fact it is only used in exceptional cases, whereas by the surface system with "checks" the cost ia trifling in comparison, and an immensely greater area can be attended to by a few hands. Now, from this it is pretty clear that the farmer would not require to plough up about half his crop in making channels " a statement of "Plains Farmer" which, if accepted without question, would do untold damage when the matter is put to the vote, as it will be before long. It is only two or three weeks ago that a fanner said to me "I have two thousand acres of land near Dromore, and I wish I could get my land irrigated. I would willingly pay one shilling per acre for it, for 1 am certain I should make seventeen shillings per acre clear profit." This is fiorn a farmer who has been fairly successful, and I endorse his judgment on the matter. If irrigation is gone on with here on a proper and complete system, as I hope and believe it. will, "Plains Farmer "will be one of the first to change his opinion with regard to its paying, and he, with most others who are now opposed to it, will be surprised that it was not instituted years ago. lam quite satisfied that grain will be grown to greater advan tage on the Plains when irrigation is in full swing, and as years go on the yield will increase as the land is heartened up by it. It certainly seems to me that it is a down right piece of negligence to allow the waters of the Rakaia, Ashburton, and Rangitata rivers to run to waste in the ocean, when the whole country might by their use be carrying at least twice the number of xtock, and I do not know whether the fanners here cannot,, or mill not, gee the advantage Providence has placed in their reach.. In conclusion, it is only fair to myself and the public generally to say that I am neither a business man, newspaper editor, nor an interested party in any way, but on the other hand am perfectly unbiassed, as I doli't own a foot of land in Canterbury, and would like to see the " greatest good result to the greatest number." As I have written from a purely irrigation point of view, the political aspect of " Plains Farmer's " letter requires no notice.from me.—l am, etc., Cosmopolitan.

Sir, —I would be pleased if you would allow me to say a few words on irrigation. In Saturday's issue, "A Plains Fanner" says he would have some faith in an irriga tion scheme if a few practical farmers would say something in its favor. I think I can claim to be somewhat at least of a practical farmer, and I would like to give my experi ence. I have not, where I was brought up in North Devonshire, seen grain crops irri gated, but we always watered for grass; and we didn't have the splendid rivers lyiiig to our hand there that are available in Ash burton county. In North Devon, I have seed fields where water was not to be got *juite burnt up; others, where irrigation was applied, were green aud hearty ana the stock looking splendid, while others were laid up for mowing, as my young back knew many many a time by the ache. Now, what have I seen since I came to New Zealand ? The County Council's irrigation farm ought to convince any one of the valne of irrigation, although I have always said it would have been better if oue farmer in each district could have had the use of the water, and then his neighbors could have, seen the result. Hundreds never went so far as Elgin. I offered the County Council 10s an acre for water for five acres, but could not get it, and I am willing to give it now, for I am certain the irrigated hve : acres .would have borne more this year than fifty sores unirrigated. I applied for this privilege wholly and solely for the use of my horses and cows, as I hate to see horses and cows in poor condition. My horses and cows are now rolling fat, but I only manage this by giving them plenty of acres to feed on, such as they arc. Two years ago, a friend of mine had a small farm of 200 acres, and on it there was a paddock of -.bout eight acres, known locally as the ''shingle pit paddock." A small private race ran through the farm, and by the side of this paddock—which latter was completely run out of grass, and looked so barren that a shingle, sheep could not have lived upon it. I advised mm to turn what little water was running in the race into the paddock. He did so, flooding a little more than half the paddock several times. The grass came up as thick as a mat, and far better than I expected. Next year he put the paddock into wheat, and on every inch of ground where the water had been, the wheat was strong and healthy; where the water had not been, the plaints were sickly and weak. I should have much liked to have seen the crops of the two parts stacked separately, as I believe there would have been a difference of more, than 100 per cent, per acre in the yields. That experiment convinced me that irrigation was good for grain. I should like to get some of the race water analysed, as I believe it contains some fertilising element that is neither in the land nor in the rainfall. I have heard people say there is nothing like the natural rainfall. I differ from them in this. Take, for instance, some seasons we have experienced, There was a good rain, fall, and when the ground was warm the. grass shot up fast, but it looked thin and spindly. Take a spot, however, where there had been a leakage in a race for a night, and then observe the great strong plant that folhwed, and how the grass thickened so that no bare spots were visible. A month ago, I was overhauling my races. One race Was very deep and wide; and Sfl that I should be able to get at the middle of the race to pall out the growth, I let gut a small stream to enable me to work mom easily. The small stream ran for about ten minutes until I hadifiniaMd,' but the water had crept four chains. This was on' the Friday. Ou-Sunday, Mr D. McKendry and myself took a walk down the paddock to see about some sheep, feed, and we both' re marked upon the eagerness with which the sheep made for that bit of green feed. The clover and grass had' thickened up so that you would have thought I had put four times the quantity of seed there that had been put on any other acre.. And I now say this—that, if you put.-10s worth! of crass seed and clover to the acre without irriga tion, you won't have as good a sole pf grass as you would with 5». worth of. seed wtfft irrigation. I have often heard people say "You don't sow seed thick enough. But thick sowing is a mistake, for if you overdo it, one plant starves, the other on light, dry land. I Tiave a paddock now thick with clover, and- some of my neighbors hav-$ plenty of grass and clover; because we iiavb not stocked' the'paddocks';; but if we'liacl stocked with, sheep, hoW would thoee pad docks have.been looking now? And if we laul had irrigation how would they ji&ve looked? In the latter case the paddocks would H*ve been eaten "down several times, wid,there Wquld have been *tiiy b«it;«r graaiand^yer than we have now. A> to, 'turnips, w,e generally sow theuToh Ida ground;'ii3d.it is seldom we get a stfikc. ' We all know that i if a turnip does strike, and getsi into the four-leaf; it shades its owi» root front the' iieat, and gets a chance. '■ I think if were allowed \q "-us;* the water!we wouM be sqt§ to get turnips; for we conW. ttlriiUhe w»tei; over the ground and give it a fcoaking; anA then, according to the strcntsfth of our.teams and j)l6uglis,we could, put hi the turnwfc while the," grenud was tUnyp,, auc} keep, On until the padilock was fimsiliqd. For, We land in grass, HipDOse you had tujo paddocw —bnc. «<# itTJga^cf, 'As'sdfin its th* Kq'tsun and bcqp3hii,g-'n6r;wearers ?qaV hold q! if, you knqw there would not *fefe mubh left fq£ feed, and what was not «»ten wquW b§ withered up, dried, and dead, On the Qthej? iWi jmjjjwl) paUdook, you wou^ {jftYf

THE ABHBURTON OTABDIAN, TOSSDAY, JANUABY 13, 1861,



Spring and Summer, 1890. BUY YOUR CLOTHING FROM THE NEW ZEALAND CLOTHING FACTORY Men's Colonial TWEED SUITS, Boys' and Youths' Colonel TWEED SUITS at prices to suit everybody. H\.T3.- Wj kd3p fchs Largeib aud ; Btest Selection Hats made to measure. SUITfi MADE~TO MEASURE. Best workmanship put in every garment, and a perfect fit guaranteed, T ~ —"c Selection of Boys'Knicker Suits, hv 1™ o. '"f"- Collars, Braces, &c.> in Ties, Shu.., - Latest Fashion h.nu . v Bust Vat.uk fok O^ssh ta t District N E TV Z E A T A N D CLOTHING FACTORY \<*e»t for the Wonderful Werthcim Sewing Machines j -V. H 7VK/BBER Manager



| i o T o o Look Oat FOR ANiREW ORR'S CHEAP SALE The Greatest Bargains ever ottered in the history of Ashburton. Particulars in a few days. ANDREW ORR oo o o oo o o 00000 o o 00000 0000000 0000000



Public Koti.es. Ladies! Ladies! WHOLESALE DRAPERY HOUSES IN GREAT TROUBLE THIS SEASON WITH IMMENCE SURPLUS IMPORTATIONS OF Bummb |3 _h oodq ummeXv uoodD —therefore - We have made an Extensive Purchase of French Muslins, Zephyrs, - Ginghams, ETC., EMC. WHICH ARE NOW ON VIEW AX MITCHELL C> rpURNiOR'S, ITCHELL 65 I URNKR'S, RAIAPOI HOUSE.



Wanted __ ! CASH AdJTrfosenie-us*" under this heading not exceeding SIXTEEN WORDS 1/-. Addresses may be left ;;t this Office i COMFORTABLE Board avid Lodging \.J for two gentlemen, three or four minutes walk from business centre. — Apply "Mail Office." 1 G6 \ f TANTED, a daily Governess. Apply VV A 8.U., office of this paper. 159 /^6T>LING and invigorating Ice Cream \J us made by H. G. Flower, Con fectioner, East .Street. f jißY~the Great Drapery Sale now on X at H. C. Sboehs. ___ ANT_D Known — Some special lines in choice Dress Goods at j very low prices showing at " The Corner." \ \ / ANTED Known—The "Strong VV wear " Boot is the best for Men adies and Children.—W. H. Collier. * WANTED every man m the County to have a suit of the Ashburton Tweeds.—Robert Alcorn, Ashburton Clothing Mart, Saundor's Buildings. QEGERS' Clearing Sale in all Depart- O ments now on. One trial solicited. Melford House. _____ \ l / ANTE!) Known -^The Cheapest VV Shop to buy Tinware and Gal] vanised Iron goods in Ashbarton, is at W. F. Hannaford's, Burnett Street. A arge stock kept on hand. Tin and Iror. ware goods made and repaired with des patch. ELFORD House~Sale now on. We only ask one visit.— H. C. SegeK3. BOOTS, BOOTS. " Keep you.- feet Dry and save Doctor's Bills, have a splendid Stock in now. Try my Double-soled Shooters. Every pair Guaranteed. Robert Alcorn, Ashbur ?on Clothing Mart, Saunders' Buildings.



A USTRALIAN MUTUAL PROVI _£\. DENT SOCIETY Established 1849. FOR LIFE ASSURANCE ON THE MUTUAL PRINCIPLE. NEW ZEALAND BRANCH HEAD OFFICE—CUSTOM HOUSE QUAY, WELLINGTON. LOCAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS : Hon. Morgan S. Grace, C.M.G., M.D., M.L.C. (Chairman). Charles John Johnston, Esq. (Deputy- Chairman). Alfred de Bathe Brandon, Esq. The Hon. Eiward Richardson, C.M.G., M.H.tt. Nicholas Reid, Esq. ANNUAL INCOME EXCEEDS £1,625.000 STERLING. INVESTED FUNDS EXCEED £9,000,000 STERLING, REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD AS SURE WITH THIS SOCIETY: IT is the only Colonial Life Office giving Annual Bonuses, reducing the net cost of Assurance to the Lowest Possible Limit. It is the old largest, wealthiest, and most prosperous Mutual Life Office in the Southern Hemisphere. ITS Bonuses are larger than those of any other Life Office of similar age in ai.y other part of the world. The Society has distributed amongst its members upwards of £4,050,000 in Cash Bonuses, representing Reversionary Bonuses exceeding £8,000,000 sterling. AFTER making unusual ample reserves, the Cash Surplus for division for the year 1889 was £426,494, a larger amount of profit than has ever been realised or divided in one year by any other office of the British Empire. THE Society issued 11,664 New Policies during the year 1889, assuring £3,679,459, with new Premiums amount ing to £183,411. The Society Offers UNDOUBTED SECURITY, LIBERALITY, PROFIT ITS mve&tments in New Zealand securi ties arc £1,273,514. and all the surplus Branch accumulations are invested in the Colony, thus making it essentially a thoroughly colonial institution. be careful you select this society, and ix) not be deceived 7*y the similarity of name of som7 °*" the younger austra' lian offio*::: EDWARD W. .b^VJ5> . Resident, Secretary. Chrifetcliurch District Office, W. H. I»ERRY, roker, HAffcncy Clerk. Local B ZANDER.



Joim Orr & Co. INVITE THE ATTENTION OF FARMERS To their Large and Varied Stocks of till classes of Goods, suitable for the Harvest Field. 1000 Bales Binding TWINE, Crown Brand 250 Bales Manilla Binding TWINE Machine Extras and Fittings 100 Cases Binding WIRE, White Croa 100 Cases Castor Oil Leather Belting, l_in to 6in Valvoline and Lubroline Oil Lard and Olive Oil Cylinder Oil Perforated Zinc, 3/32 to 7/8 Seaming Twine McCormiek Binders. The agents of the McCormiek reapers and binders have just received news of a very exciting trial at Tarn worth (N.S.W.) on Saturday, December 6. The prize competed for was the Society's medal, which was offered to the machines exhibited at their Show ; but in order to have a successful trial they in addition offered a prize of ten guineas, open to all comers. Both prizes were gained by the McCormiek, which was awarded the full maximum number of points. This was the first time this season where tlio winner at any trial in Australia obtained the full number of points under each heading. The McCormiek also gained first prise at Stawell (Victoria) beating the Massey, Hornsby, and Deering. John Orr & Go.



FJRST. FIRST. FIRST, A T the LARGEST FIELD TRIAL Huu) in Australia this Season The Brant ford WAS PLACED FIRST, defeating seven other machines. THIS IS GENUINE. THE ONLY STRING BINDER THAT CAN CUT AND TIE GRASS SEFf> "TESTIMONiAI™ I huvc cut with a 7ft Brar.tford Binder purchased last season, about seven a^res of ryegmss for seed. The crop wa.s very short and thin, 1 o'ng on liglit ground. The machine did its work perfectly, both cutting, binding find tying without a Intel*, anl I consider the BrantfoH the best on the market, and the only machine fit U> tackle lii»ht crop of 12*101 " ' Gbotjob Coir.



THE COLONIAL ITOIPI COMPANY OF lEW ZEALAND (FIRE AND MARINE ) fT*HE Business of this Company has I been TRANSFERRED to the COMMFRCIAL UNION ASSURANCE COMPANY, Limited, of London, by whom, through the various Branches and Agencies in Now Zealand, all accounts owing to and by and all losses under the Colonial Insurance Company's policies will be settled in future. F. ALLEN, General Manager. Wellington, New Zealand, December 11th, 1890. THE COMMERCIAITuNION ASSUR. ANCE COMPANY, (Limitkp) Established 1861. Incorporated under Act of Parliament, 7 and 8 Vie, Cap. 110. Head Office : 19 and 20 Cornhill, London Capital fully subscribed ... £2,500,000 Total Invested Funds ... 2,351,707 Total Annual Nett Income... 1,132,239 HEAD OFFICE fmi NEW ZEALAND: Lnmbton Quay, Wellington. With Local Boards of Advice in Australia and New Zealand. General Manager for New Zealand * FRANK ALLEN, J P. Every description of Fire nd Marine Insurance effected at IiOWESTCURBEffT BATES CUFF & GRAHAM, Managers for Canterbury, Christchurch. Agi^ntb roR Ashburton : FRIEDLANDER BROS 22



3sfEW YEAR GIFTS. ) NEW YEAR CARDS AND ! BOOKLETS. NEW ANNUAL VOLUMES and BOOKS for Prizes and Presentations. NEW FANCY GOODS, ' ,c\, &r L F. ANDREWES & Co. GL -li AWCETT JDoDDS SURGEON DENTIST, Address : —Court Chambers, above Mr H. M. Jones Stationer, East Street. private Residence, Timer ed Street, Tree doors below Masonic EMI. Massey-Toronto Lp Binik LIGHTEST IN DRAFT. SUREST TO TIE. EASIEST TO MANAGE. SWIFTEST TO CUT. THE LONGEST LIVED.} MOST SCIENTIFICALLY MADE Stationary Axle Raise and Lower Style 5, 6, and 7 FEET CUTS. Of the latter only very few on hand. £2000 V T jrth of Extras in Stock, which wil be supplied to farmers at manufacturer's prices at any time , DAY OR NIGHT. FRIEDLANDER BROS "TV rOTWHSTANDING continueto c - ports ot the success ot other Machines, THEDEERIM ALL STEEL TWINE BINDER, Having, during the last two Seasons, secured upwards of 60 PRIZES In the Australasian Colonies. Tho Machine a:? now offered is a marvel of SIMPLICITY, STRENGTH, and DURABILITY. Actual experience proving that THE DEERING Requires fewer extra parts than any Machine in the field. The Undersigned has now on hand a LARGE ASSORTMENT of duplicates (extras), and is the efore ready for emer gencies. Twines, Oils Corn Sacks, &c. WOOL. STORES 21th December, 1890.