The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Vertas et Prævalebit. THURSDAY, APRIL 30,1891. LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Rev Francis Knowles, of Christ ehureh, will conduct Divine Service in the Dromore Schoolroom on Sunday next, the 3rd May, at three p.m. The hounds met at Mr J. O'Grady's, VVinclimore, yesterday, but owing to the small attendance, and the heavy rain coming on, the pack returned to the kennels with out throwing off. Speaking recently in London the Duke of Westminster said that on apart of his estate he had shut up 37 out of 45 puhlichouses in the district. He intended to continue the work in other parts as the leases expired. Mr B. M Murphy, clerk in the employ of the Union Steamship Company at Christ church, died yesterday morning, having been taken ill the previous day. He was formerly purser in the Company's service, the last vessel he was on being the Takapuna. Dv Koch's lymph was administered yester day to v, female patient in the Obristchurch Hospital. The patient is twenty years old, and in the early stage of phthisis. The lymph will be tried in a case of chronic lupus before of end of the week. Three burgesses of Brunner out of'a roll or 380 voted at the local option poll—all for an increase of licenses. The Greymouth " Star" says that a large proportion of bur gesses are teetotallers but they failed to vote, and the three who did exercise: their privilege had almost to be dragged to the polling booth. Mr Hulkc of Wellington, who was called as a,n expert witness for the defence at the Shelly B?iy inquest, caused, says the "Times" much amusement by his replies to Mr Jellicoe at the beginning of his cross-examination by the learned counsel. Mr Jellicoe, whose evident w«sh was to bring the witness into ridicule, asked Mr Hulke what trade he first followed. Well replied the witness, my first vocation was sucking—(laughter): —I then leara learnt pquawling—(renewed laughter—and then I took to crawling. This last announcement was received with roars, and Mr Jellicoe had to change his ground. There is a stcry that a farmer whj had lost some cows was.fully persuaded that he had himself been attacked by the epidemic. Forthwith he consulted his own medical man, who tried to laugh him out of the notion, but to no purpose. The farmer then went off to an old well-known practitioner, who, being a bit of a wag, and seeing how matters were, entered minutely into the details of the case, expressed his con currence with the patient's views, and told him he could cure him. He then wrote a prescription, sealed it up, and told the farmer to go to a certain druggist in the next pottery town. The farmer lost no time in going with tho prescription,^but was some what startled when the druggist showed him | the formula, which ran thus: "This man has got the cattle plague ; take him into the back yard and shoot him, according to Act of Parliament." There is no need of saying that this was a " perfect cure." A most enjoyable evening was spent at Coldstream on Saturday evening last on the occasion of the harvest home of Messrs Wright and Fountain, contractors, who are. dissolving partnership, they having been occupied on the estate for several years. Mr Wright leaves for Western Australia shortly and carries with him the good wishes of many friends in the district. Mr Frank Saunderson catered on the occasion satisfactorily. There was a large gathering, and Mr Cross, the popular station clerk and storekeeper, in a neat speech made apologies for several persons from Hinds'and district, who, from the inclemency of the weat[ ier " were unable to attend. After dinner tne usual loyal and patriotic toasts were hon ol . e ,j < "The squatting interests" were prop ose d by Mr Cross, and responded to by Mr W. Stevens; "Contractors," by Mr T. Gibb- Adam, responded to Mr B. Fountain and Vlr W. Wright. Other toasts were also given and honored, and the pleasure of the evening was enhanced by Mr George Tilson singing the medley "Castles in the air;" Mr Alec Allan's recitation from Shakespeare, given with gre:tt effect; and Mr Robert Nicholas' song "On the booze." Tnesa wore followed by quadrille.*, Scotch dancing, songs, etc. The fun was kept up till an early hour. Our Melbourne correspondent writes : — A misunderstanding has arisen respecting the laying of the foundation stone of a monument to be raised to commemorate the uiccess of the Eight Hours' movement. It was thought fitting that the Mayor of Mel bourne phouM lay the foundation ttone. The " Mayor of Melbourne" is Mr M, Lang, and Mr Lang is a partner in the firm of Messrs P. G. Dixou a-.id Co., and P. G, Dixon and Co have not adopted the eight hours' system in conducting their aerated water business. So the Mayor of Melbourne was objected to at Trades' Hall on Friday night, whereupon His Worship wrote to the President of the Eight Hours' Committee, reminding him that he had not sought the honor, and that he had merely (Ossented to perform [th; ceremony out of personal r<gird to the President himself. He therefore respectfully withdrew the consent he had given to act. He added'—"Though I am in favour of Trades Unionism, and also for eight hours for a day's work, I am not in favour of them run mad, and am strongly of opinion that the latter cannot be applied to all kinds of occupation." And surely his-Worship is right. One proof of the narrow-mindedness of the Trades Hall people is that they are seemingly unable to separate a public "func tionary, acting in his official gapacity, from the same man when acting as a private man. The more sensible amongst them are asking the Mayor to reconsider his decision. The absurdity of the method of endeavour ing to ensure that " the truth, the whole trut'.i, and nothing but the truth" shall be elicited by memse of kissing the Bible is (says a contemporary) very often pointed out, and many amusing illustrations of it are con stantly occuring in courts. At Oooktown, Queensland, the other day, a man who pro fessed to be a dovout Catholic objected to be sworn on a Protestant Bible. There was un fortunately no Douay version of the Scrip tures in Court, and the magistrate suggested that perhaps the witness had one in his swag, but he had ijqfc. Inquiries were made in the vicinity of the OoHct, but without success. At last a happy thought struck the magi strate. He ordered that a cross should bo cut out of paper and stuck on the Protestant version. The constable objected to this. He said he was a Jew, and did not care to manu facture crosses for Christians, and, besides, the newspaper provided to cut the cross out of was so frightfully sceptical in its religious opinions that no person having once kissed or read it could be depended upon to tell the truth. A reporter offered one of his slips, but as he represented the paper in question, that was declined. Last of all, another con stable, who was not a Catholic, got a pair of shears from the swag of one of the prisoners, cut a cross from a sheet of foolscap, stuck it on h\ie B,ible, and the man was sworn. His evidence was that he knew nothing whatever about the case ! Of course, the, moral of all this is that kissing the Bible, or any version of it, or any other book, is all a farce. If a man will not tell the truth without such a fomiajity lie will not with it.

The s.s. Tekapo advertised to leave for Sydney from Lyttebon to-day has been detained until to-morrow and will sail on the arrival of the midday train. David Caro, wine and spirit merchant, Christchurch, died this morning. He ar-. rived in Canterbury in 1862. Ho was a prominent member of thfe Jewish congrega tion and was niuch liked for his kindness of heart and charitable disposition. The "North Otago Timea" is informed that one of. the large colonial land companies has received insl ructions from Home to put all available land under wheat crop this year. It is therefore evident that at Home the prospects of'high prices ruling for wheat next year are veiy encouraging. When the celebrated painting of Adam and Eve in the Garden was on exhibition, Mr M.Nab was taken to see them, and was asked his opinion. "I think no great things of the painter," said t!ie great gardener, "Why, man, Eve's tempting Adam with a pippin of a variety that wa^na-known until about 20 years ago. ' The Wellington li Post" says :—lt is cur rently reported, and| on apparently good authority, that the recently appointed Chief Inspector of Stock has received a guarantee of three years' employment at £500 v year with 15s per diem travelling expenses, and it is added that he is about to become closely related to the Hon the Minister of Linds by marriage. A proposal has been made in Melbourne to offer the unsubscribed million of the Vic torian loan to the Victorian investor in £25 or £50 debentures at a discount of 5 per cent. The proposal is received with'much favour, as being a, good investment for local capital, and likely to teach the British investor a much-needed lesson. What is held to be the best record in tele graphy was made last week (says a Marl borough paper) between Blenheim and Wellington, the operators being Messrs W. Hale (Blenheim) and C. Canavan (Wel ington). In an hour they put through 104 complete messages; the previous record standing at 96. On Monday last this record was broken by Messrs Esson (Wellington) and Tovey (Wanganui) who succeeded in transmitting 115 complete messages within the hour; during the previous hour they recorded 87 messages, making an average of 101 per hour, thus establishing a New Zealand record that any telegraphist might well be proud of, and the feat is one well worth recording. When the phonograph was being exhibited in Wellington the Premier, at the request of Mr McMahon delivered the following speech to the phonograph: "It is now about eighteen years since I witnessed a phono graph, then in its first stage of development, . and to be thought of as a scientific toy. It remained for Mr Edison to bring the instru ment to its present state of perfection,. and to excite the hopes of the civilised world that it may take its place among the useful arts, and contribute to the happiness of man kind. In the fine arts its place is already fixed.., What photography has done for pre serving and popularising the expressions of the human face, the phonograph is destined to do for the human voice, and I can imagine the time is not far distant when it will be equally popular and universal, and that when we see the face of the orator, the preacher or the musician we shall want to know, through the phonograph, in what manner he gave expression to his thoughts and arts, in order to enable us to form a complete idea of his personality and po'ver. Mr Edison, in en larging the possibility of human instruction and enjoyment, has made civilisation itself his debtor, and for this though poor in thanks, I thank him.--John Ballance, March 20." Most of the public men of the colony have, spoken into the instrument, and the repro duction of their remarks will form a feature of the exhibition to-night and to-morrow night.

SCHOOL COMMITTEE ELECTIONS.

There has been more than usual interest displayed this year in the elections of School Committees, as well because of the action taken by the Labor Union in regard to the school books question, as of the changes introduced in regard to the conduct of the elections by.." The School Com mittees Election Act " of* last year,. The result of the first trial of the new system is that it has worked well in the country districts, but not satisfac torily, at least in one particular, in some of the large centres of population, viz., Christchureh, Auckland, Dunedin, and Oainaru. General satisfaction j has been expressed at the abolition of the cumulative vote, and there is no doubt whatever that the provision made for pre-nomination of candidates has proved an advantage. The vexed question of " What is a householder 1 " has also been fairly well settled, though perhaps it might even yet b« still more clearly defined, and were it not for sections 6, 7, and 8 of the Act no complaint would we think have been heard in any quarter, These are the clauses which make provision for votes being recorded prior to the meeting of householders, thus enabling persons who may beunable conveniently fco a^nd the meeting to send in their votes to the Chairman or deposit them in a ballot box. The provisions in question had their origin in the diffi culty which used to arise, in the large cities, owing to the many hundreds of persons attending at a householders' meeting, and the long time necessarily required for taking their votes at the meeting—in one case that we re member, in Dunedin, midnight being reached before all the votes were re corded. The object of the clauses in question was not only to give facility for all householders to vote, including those who could not attend ox\. the night of the meeting, but also to save tie time of the meeting by the recording of votes beforehand But t was manifestly necessary to guard against the possibility of anyone voting both before the meeting and at the meeting, hence the provision for making a list of those who have voted earlier in the clay, so that ballot papers should not be issued at the meeting to such persons if present. Yet it is just here that another difficulty has been found in practice to have arisen, viz., that so many persons have av^ilgd themselves of the opportunity of voting during the day that the work of compiling the list has consumed as much time as would have been re quired to record all the votes at the meeting. This part of the Act will therefore evidently need amendment next session, either by providing that in school districts situated within boroughs, when a poll is inquired, all the votes shall be placed in the ballot box before the hour of meeting, and no votes taken at the meeting itself, or by abandoning the attempt to enable householders to vote at any other tjme than at the meeting as was formerly the case. We are almost inclined to think that the latter will be the better course, though if that be the case we opine that ft will not be long before a demand is made foe a better system of election, similar to that which obtains in the case of other local bodies. The trouble is jbhat to conduct the, elections in the method proscribed .by '?The Local Bqdies Eiecticms Act" would necessarily involve considerable ex pense, which neither the Committees nor the Boards would be able to afford, unless indeed special provision were j made in the case of the citjes and i larger boroughs paly. :

The Utopia Disadter.

The British anchor line steamer Utopia, from Italian ports, bound ro New York with 700 Italian emigrants aboard, cams into collission on March 17 with tlie British.'ironclad Anson, anchored in Gib raltar Bay, and nank soon afier. A south east gale was blowing at ih) lime, a:*d many women and children Were drownsd. The officers of bhe Utopia say they will never ftirgec iho scenes that, followed the collision. The Italians were thrown into a state of complete panic. They yelled ■frantically, and fought madly to reach the forecastle. A few of the married men brought their wives wiih them, but the majority acted more like beasbs than men. The forecastle and rigging were soon crowded, and the vessel began to settle down. Presently an explosiou occurred vvich a deafeninu report in tho forecastle, j killing many and throwing others into th^ sea. Luckily the masts held, and re mained somo yards above the water as the vessel touched the bottom. From forty to fifty persons were rescued from the musts. Peterson, the Swedish quarter master of the Utopia, says after the collision he was surrounded by a terrible mass of human beings fighting their way desperately and savagely, regardless of. sex or age, towards the boats. Men, women ai\d children tumbled over each other ill that, terrible fight for a chance of Escape- from drowning. The mosfc distressing incidents occurred. When the Utopia, with a tinal. desperate lurch, sank fhe'drew hundreds of living persons down with her. Many of those who had sprung into the sea as they saw she could not float many minutes longer were then drawn down in the awful whirlpool caused, by the Utopia's disappearance. Some came t« che surface again for a few moments, but before sink ing finally ethers more lucky were able to cling to pieces of wreckage, floating spars, oars,; gratings, hatches, boats, life belts, &c, and this kept.'them above till rescued by the warships' boats ; but as is usual in such cases the weaker succumbed the more readily. Shrieking, praying women sank to rise no mor« with tef rifled offspring clasped to their breasts, Children clung to their parents so des perately as in several cases to cause the death of both, where they might have escaped had better judgment been used. The officers and seameu of the British ironclads Rodney and Aiidon, and the Swedish man-of-war Freiga worked like heroes to save the struggling passengers of the Utopia, and through their manly efforts hundreds of lives were saved. The Ansbn's boats were lowered immediately after the collision, as were also boats from the other vessels, a-jcl the ironclads turned their- powerful electric search lights on the scene of disaster to assist the rescuers. On shore the news of the disaster spread quickly. Enormous crowds gathered on the parade and great excite ment prevailed. The sea was so heavy that the boats of the rescuers could not with satety approach the wreck, so they were compelled to lie bo leeward where they rescued the people as they were swept from the decks. As the U.opia's bows settled down a terrible scene was witnessed from the boats. Those still on board the sinking steamer made a rush in a mass to lhe fore-rigging, struggling for their lives and vainly seeking places of refuge. Twenty minutes later the fore castle was submerged, and a large number of people gathered then 1, who had not dared to leap overboard with the hope of being picked up by the boats, and who had failed in their efforts to ascen 1 the rigging, were carried away by the waves. A steam pinnace rescued all the others who had taken refuge m the main ringing, but the last ones vrave not taken oil" till uii/von o'clock as. night. While the pinnace belonging to fche British iro.jclad Immorta ne was engaged in tho work of rescue her screw fouled, and t>he drifted on the rocks. Two of her sailors were drowned, but the remainder were rescued. The total number of lives lost is now placed at 576. Petersen, the Swedish quartermaster, who had been steering the Utopia a short time before the collision, says that just before the vessels came together he went be?ow. While there he f.jk the shock of the collision and rushed 1 from below, bub before he reached the miin-deck the Utopia had gone broadside upon the spar of the Anson's ram. The commander of the Utopia, Captain McKegnie, according to Peterseu, was on the steamship bridge until the last moment. Petersen adds t,hab as the Utopia was crushed by the Alison's rani, he clambered up the davits of one of the steamship boats, and cut the ropes lu-lding ib. He had no bime, how ever, to lower the boafe away, as the bows of the Utopia had passed beneath the warship, and ib was evident the passenger steamer was rapidjy sinking. Soon after the boats of the Ansqn having been promptly lowered, one of the men-of war's cutters ran alongside the Utopia, and Peterson manage A to jump into her. One poor woman who was rescued by the Anson's blue jackets went raving mad when she was oonvinced her children was drowned. There were similar distressing; incidents by the score.

An Extraordinary Appetite.

I A negro named Vitreo has been puzzling large audiences in England, Vitreo was ; encompassed by the spectators. There was nob a movement that could have escaped observation, and every suggested test or scrutiny was instantly submitted to with the utmost cheerfulness, and with similar readiness were a,ll questions answered, What is it Vitreo does ? He stan Is at a table upon which various comestible, according to his idea of a larder, are arranged. He begins with a handful or two of sawdust which he eats with apparent relish. The second course is a few bites out of a lump of coal. The mouthfuls are masticated and swallowed. This is child's play, however. Needing something more substantial, Vifcreo takes up a wine-glass, bites a mouthful out of it, chews it up and gets it down with no effort of deglutition. The next course is an oyster shell, and a terribly tough one it was yesterday. Ib follows the other things. By way of variety, a mouthful of very roughly powdered china—a plate broken into quite small pieces, but still not (strictly speaking) powdered—is dis posed of, and then Vitreo takes a mouth ful or two of an ordinary oil lamp chimney-glass, which he cheAvs and swallow?. He drinks a few tumblers of water during the meal. All things, he says, taste alike to him, which in other words, is that he has not the sense of(: taste. Many medical men examined him yesterday. There was no laceration of the moth or gullet. Vitreo afterwards, with naked feet, danced and capered about on an area of rough botfclo 'glass smashed with a hammer. Its edges^and jagged points made no inrpression on his tough" skjn. Some of tl^e spectators thought the sharp edges had been'rubbed down, whereupon a lob of the glass was broken smaller before their eyes. That bhe thing is genuine there cannot be a doubt, nor can there that it is most marvellous —" London Sportsman."

School Committees' Elections.

WAKANUI.

There was a large attendance of house holders,-^nd all semed to take much interest in the. business of the meeting. On the motion of M • James Brown, Mr P. Stewart, the Chairman of Committee, was voted to the chair, and read a very full report of the business done during the year. The report referred to the attendance,.and stated that the number, on the roll at the main school was 97, and the average attendance 60. Although the Inspector's report showed that the pro gress of the children in the upper depart ments was not what parents had a right to expec', yefc there Avas considerable improvement in the general tone of the school under the new master, and more satisfactory results may be looked,for at next examination. The master of the side school had sent in his resignation, and would leave at the end of May. One great drawback to progress at the mai . ■school was the irregular attendance. The Chairman urged on parents the importance of keeping thbir children regularly at school, and said tbit was absolutely necessary to give both children and teachers a chance. The Commit tie was aware that much of the irregular attendance was* owing to the long aistance that many of the children had to travel, but fco remedy this, resolutions would be submitted to the meeting, recommending the erection of another school in the Houbhern side of the district (Riverside). The Co'iitnittee, he said, were unanimous as to the need of another school, the erec tion of which should be no longer delayed. He was not able •to go into details in m>ney. matters, as the books had not been returned from the auditor ; but he might say that both schools had just received a supply of fuel, and when paid for, and all other debts, there would be a balance of about £12 to the credit of the incidental account. To the credit of | the sports fund there was a balance of ten shillings. Mr Stewart then moved the adoption of the report. He stated that the Committee had not recommended any schoolsite, neither had they recommended a district school, The Board were wait ing an expression of opinion from the meeting. He read a note from the Board respecting the school site. On the matter of the master of the side school having, been absent without leave considerable discussion took place, and explanations on both sides (the master's and the Committee's) followed, to the better understanding of all. The adop tion of the report was unanimously agreed t0.... . . The Chairman read over the names of the new Committee (which have appeared in our columns), and declared them duly elected. M r Brown moved : '' That this meeting is of opinion that the number of childrer in the southern side of'"the district, and outside a radius of two miles from the main school, is such as to render the erection of another school absolutely necessary ; that tV-e most suitable place for the school, and. where it would be of the greatest public benefit, would be somewhere near the eastern corner of restrve No. 739, and fronting on Gibson's road ; that it be a recommendation to the Committee to use every endeavor to have the proposed school erected as soon as possible. Mi- Brown said the proposi tions were self evident to everyone, and required no words from him in their support. He' thought a side .school would be best at first, and should the attend ance warrant it the»-e- wuull be no diffi culty in having a district denned. Mr D. Johnstone said that he had been trying for years to get a school erected at Riverside, but owing to insufficient funds or some other reason, the Board had done nothing. As for the number of children, he could give tlruu'the names of• thirty seven of school age in the locality mentioned. Only twenty-five would be taken off the roll at the main school, leaving seven y-two, quite sufficient for the teaching staff. The motion was put to the meeting and unanimously agreed to. A vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the meeting. The newly elected Committee met im mediately after, when Mr Brown was elected Chairman and Treasurer. He also undertook the duties of Clerk, on two sub Committees being appointed tj visit and attend to the necessary works. It was resolved "That the Committee heartily endorse the resolutions, as to the proposed school, passed at the annual meeting, and forward th<nn to the Board of Education; that the Committee meet on the first Thursday of each month at 7 p.m."

WINCHMORE.

The following candidates, being the only nominations," and the exaot number required to form a Committee, were declared elected:—Wm. Green, James Johnston, Robert Miller, Wm. O'Grady, George Robertson,' M. Rooney, Wm. SuttDi!. The Committe's report and balance sheet were submitted and adopted, and the usual votes of thanks were passed. Mr It. Miller was re-elected Chairman of the Committee.

New Zealand Stocks.

(P_lt VKESS ASSOCIATION.)

Wellington, April 28. The Government received a communi cation to-day from the Agent-General in London with leference to (he fall in New Zealand stocks. The Agent-General states-that this decline cannot be attri buted to New Zealand alone, as all the colonial stocks are more or less disturbed from the following causes :—The state of finances in the Argentine Republic ; in crease of reserve held by tbe Bank of England ; uncertainty of Baring Bros.' securities ; the failure of the Victorian loan; and collapse of tho syndicate system. ■

Addngton Stock Market.

: «, Chkistchuech, \pril 29. The wintry weather that set in to-day somewhat shortened the supply in several sections f fif the market, but brought a marked increase of bacon pigs. Stoke Sheep.—The sale of store sheep was nothing like as brisk as at recent sales, the demand being confined to good turnip sheep, for which there is "still enquiry. Of 3600 offered, several lines of aged breeding ewes were withdrawn. The sales effected comprised crossbred ■ lambs, which were all cleared at 7s 6d to 9s 6d, forming the greater proportion of the entry. Crossbred ewes, with sound mouths, sold at 8s 6d to 8s 8d ; and a' line of young ewes, in forward condition, brought lls 3d. Some two and four tooths, mixed sexes, sold at 12s 2d. One line of aged ewes brought 5s 6d. Merino wethers, in forward condition, sold at 7s, *?s 6d, and some old ewes at 2s Bel and 3s 94. Fat Sheep.—About 4500 were penned, ' of which there Mere very few prime: crossbred sheep, the majority being light J weight crossbred ewes and wethers." Best 1 wethers and maiden ewes brought from 14s 6d to 19,3 3d. Some crossbred wethers reached 17s, 9,d. Lighter weight ewes sold from 9s to 12s. There were fewer merinqs for gale than usual, and these brought from 7s §cl to 10s 9d. Fat Lamb^.—The season for lambs being over, there were very few yarded, 'and,'.the demand for them was so small that more than half wore withdrawn, and he sales were unimportant. Pat Cattle.—Of 182 head yarded, the beet gold up to, £7 7s 6d, or epaj to lss

'to 19s pur 1001 r ; but the general averagt of the sale was considerably below that qu.-ility. Old cows were hard to dispose of at ;u)y p;ice. Store Cattle.—The wile of store catile was soon over, as the quantity was small and demand slack. Only, those compelled to quit their .stock did so, at unsatisfactory prices. A lino of nine monthh-old c lives sold at £1 for freezing, being in g'ted condition. SoMie eighteen moiiths-old steers brought £2 'Is, and a line of mixed acres, scarcely as old, sold at £1 17». ■■Cows''sold at a variety of i prices. The demand for dairy cows was not so good, as the quality of those entered was not up to standard. Puss.—A large entry of bacon pigs—all the pig yards and lamb pens being filled, and .several sheep pens had'to-be' utilised for them.. There were over 600, with only a few porkers amongst them. The weather that" prevailed during the sale, the late hour at which it was held, and the immense. supply, caused a drop in values equal to about 2.s to 3s a head on bacon pigs, which were all bought for instant slaughter.

CORRESPONDENCE.

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

THE HAMPSTEAD SCHOOL COM MITTEE ELECTION THE OLD AND THE NEW COMMITTEES.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, —The result of the Hampstead School Committee election for this yep r must have given great satisfaction to a large section of householders, and,, particularly, to the teaching staff of the school. The election of several gentlemen well versed its. educational matters, men of brains and business, speaks well for the better management of the school's affairs than has obtained for several years past. At the outset Imay say that it is no use mincing matters, as it is well known that neither the businessof the late Com mittee conducted at their meetings, nor their relations with .the school, parsed, oft' harmoniously.. As no' one appears io think the matter worth criticising I will risk a few remarks on the subject myself. In the first place the householders have had to generally accept rumours as the only knowledge they could glean of the Committee's management of affairs. . For the last two yeaiß the reports in the "Guardim" of the Committee meetings and the business transacted thereat have been so few and far between and so meagre, that the public could get • only a very scant knowledge of their doings. 1 don't know who was responsible for this deficiency, but 1 think if regular and fuller reports had been published the Committee would have worked in betler faith with the public. In looking through the late Chairman's report for last year I notice several omissions which certainly ought to have been recorded in it. I allude to the discharge from the school of the two head female teachers, and their almost immediate reappointment. It seemed to be a piece of extraordinary business, but their discharge was I be lieve given on the recommendation of the Committee ; whatever the fault of the teachers may have been, it was appaieritiy of a very trivial nature, as the .Board of .Education had no hesitation in re appointing them at its first meei/ihg.: Con sidering that these two highly respectable young womun had aged mothers relying on them for their support, and kn»wu to all the Oomn i te-j, the recommendations sent to the Board for their discharge, appears to have ben a reckless and cruel piece of work. This case will show how impor tant it is in School Committee elections to select only good and thoughtful men. Souio years ago the persecution of the female teachers of the school by. certain members of the Committee was disgrace ful, and was at the time a positive menace and hindrance to'the'progress, of the school. Here I may remark that I am greatly mistaken if only a few years ago there was not a man on the Hampstead School Committee that could neither read nor write. Now, imagine a first-class master, with a thoroughly efficient staft, to be dictated to, or be obliged to act by the deliberations of such a man. Why, Mr Editor, it is preposterous to think of it in these enlightened times. The question of the relations «i teachers in the school serving on the Committee has been a vexed one here for many years, and it would appear in some instances to answer the relations or parents very v/ell. For instance, so long as the late chair man's (Mr Andrew Orr) daughter was a teacher in our school, he took an active interest in its management. But as soon as Miss Orr was able, through the ex cellent, teaching of the head master, to pass hef examination with credit and leave the school for a "higher sphere," Mr Orr's interest in the school appears to Luxe flagged, and he, I suppose, did not seek re-election. In the report of the election meeting I notice a remark by the Secretary (Mr .1; C. Bell), to the effect that the complaints about the school " were not outaide " j if not, I can con-' scientiously say that all that is required I w«uld be to name such to the headmaster, Mr Malcolm, when they would be imme diately remedied. I however, think, that the complaints are neither outside nor inside the school, they appear to have. existed more in the school's medium Committee), than elsewhere, but doubt less the new Committee will shortly remedy all discrepancies. In regard to the last appointment of a pupil teacher, I would like to ask Mr Orr if such was done with the full know ledge and consent of the Committee, and "why. was not the selection made from the school ? as it is manifestly of importance and credit to such institutions to be able to select an advanced scholar belonging to the school to fill th.c p»st.—l am, etc., W. W. Smith. Hampstead, April 28th, 1891. [Wehave excised from ourcorrespondent's letter, two passages'which appear to us to exceed the limits of fair criticism. — : Ifo."- ■ ■ •: ■ ■: : : ■■ :■ > ■ '

Licensing Elections.

(PEK PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

Auckland, April 29. The nominations of candidates for the Licensing Committees for Auckland North, Auckland East, Auckland South, Ponson'by, Karangahapev arid Foxton I road were received 5 to-day; arid in all fchjjse, districts the elections are to be. fought on prohibition principles, candi -1 dates pledged to prohibition, as well as candidates who are moderate, having been nominated. The elections will there Fore be regarded as the most important of any held here since the. present Act came into force. They are to take place on May 6. E>unedin, April' 29. ; The Boslyn Licensing Committee to night decided that at the annual meeting notice would be given to the licensees tint at the end of twelve months it. was not intended to grant any further licenses.

TELEGRAPHIC.

Home and Foreign.

(per press association.)

London. April 28. F.ev Robert Roberts has been elected President of the Baptist Union. It is reported that 2000 llussian Jews are emigrating to England and Australia. -^ ■ -"-* The Australian cruiser .Boomerang left for Portsmouth; where she will juvnit the., arrival of' the rest of the squadron. General Booth propose* to expend his legacy of .£70,000 or. a grand salva tion temple. . , The Queen has conferred the garter on the n u ke of Rutland -(formerly Lord John Manners.) It is probable the stevedores will strike on May 4th on the ground that they find it impossible to work with the Shipping Federation, n The operatives at ManninghamMills, near Bradford, have struck work. London, April 29. Lord Salisbury has offered to legis late in the direction of preventing British vessels from sealing in Beh ring's Sea for a period of two years, on condition that the United States and Russia take similar, steps with regard to their vessels. Sir Charles Dilke devotes Ah article in th« " Forum " to a discussion of the Constitution framed % the late Federal Convention in Sydney. Paris, April 28. The Portuguese loan of ten millions on the security of the tobacco monopoly was only half subscribed. The census returns show an increase of 50,000 in the population in Paris. Capetown, . April. 28. The Portuguese officers at Delagoa Bay brutally assaulted Messrs Pawley and Colquhoun, of the British Chartered Company. The British Consul cables that the lives of English men at Delagoa Bay are unsafe. Naples, April 28. Several men have been arrested in Naples for inciting the troops to revolt on May Day. Washington, April 28. The hearing of the Sayward appeal case has been postponed till October. Belgrade April 28. , Ex-King Milan has left for Paris. Brussels, April 28. The National Federation of Belgium has joined the German miners in a pro posal for a general strike for eight hours per day. Valparaiso, April 28. The rebel cruiser AconcAgua. fought with the torpedo fle«t for four and a half hours, and eventually escaped to Caldera. She was struck seven times, but the damage sustained was not of a serious nature. It is reported that the insurgents are parleying for peace. The report that the rebel ship Hus can"had sunk after being struck by a torpedo is denied. New York, April 28. Four hundred and fifty Sicilians have arrived in New Orleans from Palermo. It is believed they are emissaries of the Mafia to avenge the recent lynching. Many of the Sici lians have been arrested for carrying arms. St. Petersburg, April 29. Considerable pressure having been brought to bear, Russia has consulted to the reduction in the cable rates. Calcutta, April 29. News has been received that General Graham attacked a body of Manipuris, one thousand strong, who were en trenched, and blocked their retreat. Severe hand to hand fighting ensued, and two hundred Manipuris were killed. Among the wounded on the British side were Captain Drury and Lieutenants Grant, Cox, and Carnegy. Judge Fulton of Bombay has been appointed judicial commissioners for Burmah. Rome, April 29. The damage caused by the explosion of gundowder at the magazine on Thursday last is estimated at £400,000.

AUSTRALIAN.

... , Sydney. April 29. All the patients whom Dr -Wilkin son has been treating witL Koch's tuberculine show signs of improvement, and have much increased in weight. He says he has nY hesitation in giving the treatment in suitable cases. Experts have frequently expressed the opinion that swamp rice would not grow in the colony; but a Manning River farmer has succeeded in culti vating a splendid sample which is estimated to yield sixty bushels to the acre. It is not known whether it will be suitable for household" purposes, but it will certainly make excellent poultry feed. . . ■• Adelaide, April 29. Hie quarantine restrictions placed on vessels arriving from Colombo, owing to the prevalence of smallpox there, -have? been removed. j Bbisbaste, April 29. oeveral Unionists, on a charge of aiding and abetting the leaders in the recent riots, hate been sentenced to terms of imprisonment ranging from two .to three months. ,;, At the trial of the Peak Down rioters, at Rockhampton, a panel of 2,0 jurors was exhausted without getting a jury.

INTERPROVINCIAL.

Wbstjport, April-»& A telegram was received at four p.m. by the harbor master from Mokihinui, to the effect that the steamer Lawrence had broken her backhand a,very heavy sea. was running. ' Every effort to float the vessel wfts useless. It is now considered that the vessel will become a total wreck. No particulars have been received M to cargo ofrwew. The steamer was insured for £2000 in the New Zealand Insurance Company, and reinsured as follows :— South British, £500; National, £250; *- a[ lOliiF mon ' £25° 5 Brifeish »»<* Oolq mal, £2oO; and New South Wales Cor poration, £25Q. Her cargq of coal ww uninsured.

Tiff ASBBtraTON qiTA_tD_Aff, THURSDAY, AMJIL 30, .1891



Houx)way?B Pills.—Enfeebled txistence. —J ins medicine embraces every attributa required in a general and domestic remedy. It overturns the foundations of disease laid by defective food and impure air. In obstuictions or congestions of the liver lungs, bowels, or any other organs^ these pills are especially serviceable an J eminently succeed. They should be kept in readi ness in every family, being a -medicine of mcompxrable utility for young persons, especially those of feeble constitutions, They ■never cause pain or irritate the most sen. isitive nerves or most tender .bowels. iiql oway s PUls are the best known purifiers [ oi tlic blood, the most active promoter* of , absorption and secretion, whereby all poisono is and obnoxious particles art re, move.4 from both solid* and fliudi,



M>.' C. Y. O'Connor, Marine Engineer for the colony, retires from the pnblfc service in New Zealand, having been appointecl Chief Eiiginter for Western Australia. Sweating's Cough Lozengks cures Cottgh Asthma, Bronchitis, Medical testimony states that nq other medicine is so effectual ' in the cure of those, duvgerous maladtes One Lozenge alone gives ease, one or two at bedtime eusuaes rest. For,relieving difficulty I of breathing they are invaluable. They firm*. taia no opium nor any violent drug. &>id by all Chemists, m tins, Js l*d and 2s 9d



Thk Best Remedy i?qr Ixdkjestion — Norton's Camqmite Pills are confidently recommended as a simple remedy for Indigestion, which is the cause of nearly all the diseases 10 whion we are subject NoßTqx-s Pisxs, with justice called the 'Natural Rtrengthener of the Human Stomach,'' act as a pqwerfut tonic and gentle perient, are mild in their operation, and afe under any circumstances. Sold in bottles, at Is lid, 2s 9d, lls, by all medicine >§ndoj,s throughowt the WO ld'j



W« clip the followijig important testimo aial from the " Ill^warpa Mercury '(N.S.W , of tiie 30th March, Ifc needs iio comment :— ' Mr John Loveday, of the Bulli Mountains writes to us that after suffering for four years with acute gravel, lie has experienced almost complete relief by using Sander and Sen 3' Bucaty ijtic Extract. He says :—'' Seeing the said Kx'trac* iuiyt.riispd in the 'Illawarn Mercury,' his intense kift^iujg induced him to obtain a bottle of the raecilcmjj from Mr Hosking, chemist, of this town, and jth&l fchft use of it gave him great relief at ,once. Ho states" tliat between 10th March inst., when he obtained |hg first bottle of the extract, and tlifi 19th, the use of that medicine continued to afford him relief, to Tylu'ch he had been a stranger for four years. MV Loved ay writes also that he has foiiud the Ejji ;alyptl ExtpftcJ: 1 cure for rheumatism as well as gravel. He requests us to publish SMs information through the ' Mercury.' We have much pleasure in complying with Mr Lweday's fequcst, whose word cannot be doubted, and wlj-p ca;i have np object in view other than a puve destyg to benefit §uffen'nj Juunanitv. "—(A4vt,) %



ruDlic Notices. SUITS 70 MEASURE rnHE Largeat Stock of X TWEEDS ever shown in Ashburton to choos'J from. QUALITY AND FIT GUARANTEED CoTne and sec the prices! ASHBURTOA CLOTHING MART. 3A.UNDEAS BUILDINGS T*. AITcORN SOMERSET LIVERY STABLES JOHN NEWMAN, Pbopmbtor. "ipHESE old established and favorite I. central Livery Stables are now my hands, and it will be my constan effort to again bring their business into he front rank, and make these stables what their position and accommodation warrant them — THE PREMIER LIVERY STABLES of the Ashburton County. Buggies Traps, Saddle Hors&s, etc., al alwa t n hire, with skilful drivers ready the shortest notice. Open or Close Carriages for Wedding or other parties. Cabs at any hour, day or night. LOOSE BOXES for stallions and race horses. Country customers are guaran teed every accommodation at the lowest current rates JOHN NEWMAN, Proprietor. U.S.S CO pBM| U.S.S., CO IT UMON STEAMSHIP COMPANY OF -NEW ZEALAND, Limited Steamers sail as under :—• Prom LYTTELTON TO Wellington , Daily, except Sunday (Tuesdays and Saturdays 10 p.m.; other days, 5 p,rn,) Dunedij].,. Tues., Thurs., and Friday. Nelson ... Tuo.s., Tlnu\s., and Sat, Onehungfi .., Every Thursday, Auckl.xp.d via Ea.«t Coast lti TJmrsda Melbourne... Tuesday, Sydney via Auckland ... Every alternate Thursday. Sydney via, Cook's Strait ... Fortnightly. Pas engois in-iy be booked fco Holiarh, Melbourne, Sydney, and all New Zealand [ ports at the office of { GEO. .JAMESON, ; Agent, AsbkuiHwi.



_^_ Wanted j CASH Advertisements under i.vis ' beading not exceeding SIXTEEN WORDS 1/-. Addresses may bt» Wtat his Office. \\' ANTED, a good General Servant V for Hotel, Apply \ Tinwald Hotel. . 4 22° "\7~OUR Character Read and Future JL • foretold:by Palmist from Dunedin Exhibition. East Street, two doors from Hoult'3. 4 261 /POOLING and invigorating Ice Cream \J as made by H. G. Flower, Con fectioner, East Street. WANTED Known—The' "Strong wear " Boot is the best for Mens \jadies and Children.—W. H. Collier. , A .' ANTjSD ; Known — Some special \ V lines in choice Dress Goods at very low prices showing at (f Hie Corner." ANTED Known—That AndrbwOsb is offering 80 Ladies Sealette Jackets, newest styles, at moderate prices. 4§53 WANTED Known—Old Spooiis and Forks Electro-plated and made equal to new at 15s per dozen all round. A. Black, Jeweller, East Street. 4 150 L-MNERyT— Specially selected Paris styles in Hats and Bonnets. Mrs Gates has just returned from Sydney with all the latest ideas in Millinery.— Andrew Orr. 4 154 WANTED Known.—Mrs J. Buch anan has opened as Fruiterer and Confectioner, next Messrs John Orr and Co., East Street. WAiNTED Known.—lt you want good value for your money go to Melford House. Cheapest first-class Drapery in town. —H. C. Segers, Melford House WANTED Known.—Mrs J. Buch anan, Fruiterer and Confectioner. Tea and coffee at all hours ; hot luncheon on Saturdays, 12 to 2. Next Messrs J. Orr and Co's, East Street. JUST opened a choice lot of Ladies _l Plush Jackets, newest shapes. Also a new lot of Ladies' Pelerines and Boas. —H. C. Segehs, Melford House. WANTED Known—That Andrew Orr is appointed agent for the cele brated Standard Boots. Every pair guaranteed. 4*54 WANTED Known — That Andrew Orr is offering at a treat reduction 250 pairs of best Kaiapoi and Roslyn Blankets, contracted for when wool was at its lowest price. 4§52 TV7ANTRD Known.—"'c are nowj VV opening all our new Winter Goods in Drapery, Millinery, Clothing, Boots, &c. —fl. 0. Segehs, Melford Housu. WJ ANTED every man in the County to have a suit of the Ashburton Tweeds.—Robert Alcorn, Ashburton Clothing Mart, Saunder's Buildings. /~1 LASS, Earthenware, and China, \X direct from the Manufacturers.— Robert Alcorn, Tea Warehouse and Ashburton Clothing Mart, Saunders' Buildings. , LOCAL INDUSTRY. -Gents' Suits made to order from £3 10s. Ladies Dress Tweeds, double-width Kaiapoi made, beautiful goods at 4s 6d. Six yards to the dress.—Andrew Orr. 4 155 s %. ANTED KNOWN, that the 1 Foresters' Social will be-held 'l! the Oddfellows Hn 1 on Wednesday, May 13th. Tickets as usual. D. Amos, Secretary. 4 25^ rTANDSOME Presents given away LjL in June. Now giving tickets to every purchaser of 5s and upwards of Drapery, Millinery,, Clothing, Boots, etc. —H. O. Segers, Melford House /""> H_TP SALE of Surplus Stock will '. J be continued for this vonth only. B oks, Stationery, Fancy Goods, Music, etc.. at Wholesale Prices to eilect a clear ance. Subscribers wanted for monthly parts of Leisure Hour, Quiver, (isir dener'sMagazine, American .Agriculturist, English Mechanic, and others. —L. F. Andrewes & Co.



Pubic Notices. MuNEY jlTLenlx7 TITONEY to Lend at LOW RATES OF INTEREST, on Mortgage of FRE_ HOLD PROPERTY, in sums of £100 TOJBSOOO For further particulars apply to the Postmaster, Ashhurton, or to J. C. PRUDHOE, ■■■_ District Agent. Government Insurance Oflice. Chrint church. FOIV KALE. TJYE CORN CAPE BARLEY, TARES, RAPE, This is the time for sowing. WANTED TO PURCHASE— Last Season's Heavy Canadian OATS, 'JOHN G. RKSTELL. WJTM.TJEETB AfIHOUT TEETH CHRISfOHCRCH DENTAL SURGERY, Corner of Oashel and High streets S. M"" AND CS SURGEON DENTIST . And at Dunedin and Westport (TTE 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:e 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 most immediately after the extraction of decayed teeth or stumps without extra fee or charge. Arrangements can be made for part or monthly payments. ADMINISTERING NITROUS OXIDE 3AS Beveral times daily for the past ten years, we fearlessly assert that extraction of teeth under its influence is perfectly painless and positively safe. Fee for Administration ss, Extraction, 2a Od. Artificial Teeth and Denture* made by other dontists repaired or remodelled at small rtnut Stephens Bros., MARKET HOUSE. NOTICE TO OUR crRTOMFRS AND THE PUBLIC. OWING to the demand being greatly in excess of our supply last season for the Patent Double Refined XX RO SEN E, we two made special arrange ments this year with the shippers for regular consignments during the winter mouths. The first we have just landed, AND IS NOW IN STOCK. It has many advantages over the ordinary Kerosene, and has no rival for Household Purposes, being perfectly pure, gives a mellow brilliant light, will not dazzle or affect the eye, is almost, odourless, much more economical, absolutely safe, therefore dispenses with all risk in handling and danger in using where there are Children. We have also all kinds of ENGLISH CANDLES in stock including— STEARINE, SPERM, PARRAFIN, WAX, etc. Special quotations for Boxes, Cases, and Lapge Parcels. N.B.—All goods purchased.from us can 'be returned if not satisfactory. Satisfac tion being our motto. STEPIIEMS BROS. MARKET HOUSE. AUTUMN, 1891. LATEST NOVELTIES IN ALL DEPARTMENTS STOW ON VIEW AT THE NEW ZEALAND CLOTHING FACTORY rpYBRYTHTNG new. New Shirt?, jQI New Underolotning, New Scarfs and Bows, New Flats, New Suits for Men, New Suits for Boys, Everything new and of the LATEST FASHIONS. N.'.w Tweeds and Coatings for Measure Suits to h-iud. Inspection Respectfully Solicited, NEW ZEALAND CLOTHING FAOT RY « \V 11. WEBBER, Manager