BIRTH.

Bond. -At Ashburton, on 26th May, the wife of W. E. Bond, Wheatstone, of a daughter.

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. TUESDAY, MAY 26, 1891. THE EDUCATION QUESTION.

The members of the Educational In stitute of North Canterbury have con sidered and adopted what may be best termed a "deliverance" upon the " New Zealand Herald " article. It »s a rather peculiar document. It begins with the assertion that "the article, while containing a modicum of truth, consists mainly of gross exaggerations and unfair comparisons and inferences, and is manifestly written by one who hits strong prejudices against the system." A number of decidedly shadowy reasons are given m support of this view, but the strength of the arguments used is materially detracted from by the subsequent admission that " the ' Herald' has pointed out one or two defects m the working of our system. There is no doubt that an immense amount of time is spent m compelling children to learn minute matters, which they need never learn at all fcut for the dreadful examina tion?. There are thousands of ques tions which any inspector may ask, and some of which they all ask, which no child ought to be expected to answer correctly." Some suggestions are made as to the best means of remedying these defects, which, coming from such a quarter, ir.ust be regarded as " expert opinion," wr.d accorded due considera* tion. The various interpretations o£ the standards area great difficulty m the way of systematic teaching, and ther* is no doubt some approach to uniformity m this respectis necessary. The matter of punctual and regular attendance is also of great importance, and it must be recognised that some means must be adopted and enforced m Order to secure an improvement m this direction. " The system says the report ia nominally compulsory, practically it is not. Teach< rs ate made responsible} for pupils who attend less than half the time the school has been open during the year. This we think is unjust both to teachers and the pupils. If the syllabus is considered to supply a fair year's work, the teacher ought not to be expected to pass pupils w'lo have attended less than four-fifths of the time the school has been open." Sq strong is the feeling of the Institute on this point that it is recommendsd that the compulsory clauses of the Act should be enforced by the police. No one passing through the streets during school-time can fail to be struck with the number of c ildren seen about who ought to be at school, and whether by the employment of truant officers or by instructing the police to take the neces mryaction those childrenshou4d be made lo take tie benefit of the education which the State provides for them. We think that the standards might be greatly simplified ; that the system of education would be improved by the introduction of more teaching of a technical oha?;ad<er into the syllabus ; and we are decidedly of th.c qpinion that a lai'ge quantity of the teaching power which is expended m order to able the scholars to pass the inspectors' examinations is simply wasted. Many of the questions asked are such as very few well-informed men woufd be ex p t :ed t) be able to answer, and tha knowledge thus crammed into the pupils is of no use whatever to them or anybody else. The " article " has been well criticised, and the early future will show that its publication has been the means of bringiug about many necessary reforms.

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Rio Janeiro has a canibal who, m a recent ramble, killed four people and ate them all. He is now enjoying durance vile and in digestion. Mr 0. Y. O'Connor's engagement wit!} the West Australian Government is foe five years, and hia salary includes JEJQOO per year and travelling expenses. The Wanganui "Chronicle" —In February last butter was selling m San Francisco at 2s per lb. Colonial butter makers would perhaps find it to their interest' to test this market for themselves. One of the Gladstone family, Mr A. J. Gladstone, a nephew of the G. O. M., has been visiting Napier. He is now at the Hot Lakes. The (l Southland. Times " is authority for the statement that m the Lakes district this season the ground was " black with magnificent plums going to waste " through the inability of the local orchardists to find a market. A farm laborer m Kent is making money by his cleverness m catching stoats alive. He gets 7s 6d a head from an Australian agent, who. is actjug for tlje Nfjw South VVale3 Government He has proved very successful, Mr W. J, Grother's store, dwelling-house, and stables, at Cust, were destroyed by fire yestepday morning, with all the stock and furniture. The logs is estimated at £JJOOQ, which is partially covered by insurance— £400 m the Union Office; £500 m the Imperial; £'500 m the Liverpool and London and Globe ; and £200 m the Victoria. A man bought an estate m Ireland recently. He was of small stature, we are told, and very thin and wiry looking, When he wen| down to see the plac«, the tenants turned out to inspect the new landlord, and, after his departure began to discuss him. " Well, Pa£, what do you think of the new land lord? 1' "o.h. uegorra, not much ! Why,'thai little gossoon wquld be as hard to shoot as a jack-snipe!" Few well authenticated cases of extxcine old »ge are found to compare with Mq.tb.er Bennett, who live* near Cfreenvillg, hi 'Ala bama, and whose age, by that best of wit nesses, the family Bible, is 115 years. She did not unite with any church until m her 112 th year, and was then immersed, accord ing to Baptist rite 3, by a young minister scarcely 22 years of age. According to the "Chronicle" there are unmistakeablc signs that the benign rays of a new and prosperous day are shedding fheir lighi'oVTO the vown qf Wangaijui. The business people look as if they had sqine thing to do; landed property, which a"few. months ago was unsaleable, now finds ready purchasers; there is no* an unoccupied house* m the Borough, and most important'of all, there are few idle- men to be seen m the streets. In the Fire Brigades Bill, which it is pro-, posed jto introduce rjo^t session, it is" provided that all insurance cG.mpaiflesi do,lng business m a cify or borough '.shall p=iy annually a sum npt exceeding one-tliira of ♦he amount paid hy the city 'of "borough council during the year for fire prevention.- Provided that the payment shall nofc exceed a rate of 1£ per cent of the premium received iv respect of the year less the amount of all; reinsurances paid m respect of property on' which such premiums have been, reared.

On Sunday the Messrs Jaine, Longbeach, m the course of a ramble by the seaside there, came across a dead fur seal. The animal measured six feet long, and four feet across the shoulders, and weighed several hundred weight. The body and skin were mft state of good preservation, so that the seal !4d not been long dead. It is stated that the"report as to the un soundness of the Tasmanian Apples landed at San Francisco from the Monowai was due to their having been stored alongside the boiler, is incorrect, as the holds m which the fruit was stowed are separated from the boiler* by a coal bunker. The fruit which came from Hobart, it is alleged, was badly packed. The apples and onions shipped at Auckland were landed m excellent order. Some time ago when athtne WainuirQ> mata says the "Hutt andPe'toneChronicle," Mr Alfred Sykes, of PetfUie, observed traces of what he considered to be petroleum, but was unable to find its source. ; A Wellington contemporary learns that it has now be^n observed running from a cliff on the property of Mr Dick, and that a sample was obtained and tested, with the result that it proved to be pure petroleum ; and it is now said there are other indications of this valuable product being plentiful m the district. Mr Hunt the proprietor of the Marton Railway Hotel, has reason to know what gratitud9 means, fi man named Gray~, who arrived by train evidently not burdened with much cash, was offered a bed m the hotolfor nothing. He pestered the landlord for a drink, and when told that he must either go to bed quietly or clear out, Grey became very excited, and using some bad language, drew a pocket knife and dealt a blow with it at Mr Hunt, striking him just above the left shoulder blade and niflioting a wound ovei an inch deep. Gray, who is about twenty* sex'en years of age and apparently well educated, is supposed to bo a new arrival. The main railway line m Tasmania was built by an English company on conditions, among which was one that if the traffic did not produce a certain sum. the Government of ;the colony were tomake up..the deficiency. Under that agreement the colony waa for many years called on to contribute £ 32,000 per annum to the company. Recently the colony acquired the line, and strange to say, the, result, of the six months'traffic under Mr Back, formerly of tho New Zealand railways, has been the production of a clear profit of £16,000, or exactly the sum which the company for years asserted that they lost by their investment m a similar puriod. The purchase has, therefore, been decidedly advantageous to the country.

Early this morning, Mr David Caimcrcss and family, Tinwald, were awakened by smoke m their bedrooms, and found that the house was m dames, and that the fire had secured a hold of the building that pre cluded all hope cf saving it or any part of the furniture. In fact,' ISut little time was allowed the* inmates to get out of the build ing m safety; The houses which was a four roomed cottage, was completely burned, as well as all the furniture and belongings of the family, including £20 ill'money, The furniture Was insured for £75 m the Liver pool and London and Globe Company, and the house for £100 m the Victoria. * Feuding has made the grandest record m Xsw Zealand (says the "New Zealand Timed") so far as the census figures euablc us to judge. A rural district, full of producers making their way, whoso numbers have grown by fifty per cent during five years 1 Two tliousana people have, by quiet process of settlement, grown into three, and the three arc prosperous, hearty and vigorous. How has this come about? The secret of Feilding is, worth (studying, and when dis covered, worth applying on a large scale all over the. country. A sufficient number of .' ettlements on which an industrious battalion one thousand strong springs up every five years would soon bring New Zealand to her own—we mean to the pitch of prosperity and population h«r people are so fond of pre dicting. " Ctvis " writes m the " Oiago Witness ": —The census totals, just published, are rather a painful snub. Any slowly reviving " quid conceit "of ourselves will be apt to be discouraged by them. In ten years we have added, it seems, 40,000 persons to our previous population of 578,000. Why, this i$ less than the natural increase by births, — how much less I don't exactly knolr, but, judging from the quota that I myself have personally contributed during the "decade to that additional 40,000,.it must be a «rery groat deal les9. In other words for the last ten years we have bgon steadily grqw : ing down waris—population decreasing. There is perhaps nothing positively dis graceful about this fact,: —uothiug morally wrong, nothing that need call up the blush of shame to New Zealand's cheek of youthful innocence. Nevertheless, it is a, painful fa«t, and deserves mu.qh, pqu.de.ring With a>l null ion of inljaljitants this wqiild be. a highly prosperous country. Property values would bo greater, the burden of taxa tion would be loss j railways, ports, roads, all public improvements, would pay better interest en the money they have cost. This ought to be obvious to what is called " the meanest capacity," and yet we have persons amongst us—politicians, forsooth ! —whose capacity te so unimaginably mean that they can't sec it. There are too many peoyl?- here a!rtiady, they say ! Well, it is a pity that theie croakers don't themselves clear out; we could spare th:m, at any rate ! : We would wish to, draw the attention of

those m our neighbourhood frorti the "Land o' Cakes," and others who desire to spend a few pleasant evenings duriqs; \y;}nter months, to the fact that tlie first Ingleside,' of the season takes place on Friday, the 29th. Blvery arrangement has been inadc to make those favorite meetings as successful aij they were last ivinteij j and ali whfl aflended these were loud m their praise, confessing tbafc the Inglesidos wore undoubtedly the; dances of the season. With lub usual niuni ficenco the Hon. John Mac Lean has, through Mr Donald Mac Lean, of Lagmhor, presented to the Ashburton Caledonian Society the sum of five guineas. One of the aims of the Society is to establish scholarships, but so far the Directors have been unable to dp anything m th}q direqtiqn, IJow, whet) it is* considered that Ashburtan is tlie centre of the finest agricultural district m Nw 55ea land, and that many of our large landed proprietors and farmers arc Scotchmen, it is surprising that they do not support the Caledonian Society to a greater extent than' they have done for the last few years. Wnre they to take a leaf out of the boolj of th,e Hon. John Maoiiean, it &'houm be. no difficult; matter for the locality to establish at least two scholarships at the High School, one for boys and one for girls.

There was a large gathering last night m the Oddfellows' Hall on the occasion of the tyiu'ds' social, quite, thi-oe hundred feint' present of mcnibeVs, their' male friends', and their wives and sweethearts. Mr Gates' band supplied the music for the dancing, and he and Mrs Claridge were the accompanyists to the songs given by members and friends of the qrder. There was really uo programme of the musical part, every thing being m the homely but hearty style which is mp3t ajjpreaiafce.d W tjjp lnem/bqcs of Friendly Societies at' gatherings of this kind, and the result' was a thoroughly enjoyable meeting. Of refreshments there was abundance, and, to the credit of the order be it said, none of an alcoholic nature. Mqsfe qf the officer*) wore their regalia of oifjee thrqughqut the. evening, but, oqn : sider-ing the number'Qf singing me.moe.iis in' ■ the I/>4g<3, it seemed as sqmething wanting; that a Dpuidioal ohopus m tho gowns and* " beards that rest on their bosoms " was not, given at some time or other m the course of the evening. We commend the suggestion 5 to the committee for consideration m view of future gatherings. The social wasi continued until the moon showed only about a chain and a half between her and the top of Mount Somers, when the gathering closed m the usual way,

THE ARCADE.

To such of the Ashburton people—and there are many left—who remember the establishment m 1877 of the first Ashbur tpu newspaper, it is no great effort of memory to recal the picture of Ashburton town aa it was then, Virtually, only one Street existed, the present main street of the borough, all the re*t were m the most primitive condition that streets could well be m, and footpaths were not at all, so far as any distinction existed between them-and the adjoining tussock. ' The wayfarer had some notion that where the rough road formation ceased, the footpath began and extended for ten feet. In daylight and m dry weather it was of little moment whether formed roads or footpaths existed, but m the dark, and m wet weather, the roughness of the shin gl o track was madts use of as a guide to find the way home. - Our railway •station is a poor affair at best now ; but it was a miserable concern then. But stand ing on tho analogy for a platform, an un broken view could bo obtained as far as the eye could reach both north and south and hill ward and seaward. Not, a tree over six-feet high was to be seen, a/id be yond tlio little knot of wooden shanties fringing East street, no houses. It was m that year that the " township " began to make its leaps and bounds of progress, and h leader m every frc.«h movement was Mr Thomas Bullock. In fully one-half of the houses m the town Mr Bullock had some say at the building, and at one time so great was the demand for dwelling houses that he had applications ten deep on his hands, and had houses leased to tenants long before the piles were laid. Those were the days of the Immigration and Public Works Policy, of the spending of the Vogelian millions and the twenty five per cent of Land Fuud, and when a wild, craze for buying land had seized the people. There was work m abundance foe all, with wages at their highest. Skilled workmen were paid at a rate they would gladly see again ruling, and de clined work at a figure they would rejoice to bo offered now. As an instance of how scarce casual labor v(m then, it may be mentioned that when Cooper and Bailey's circus came along, the advance agent had to pay 25s an acre for the chipping off and' wheeling into heaps of the tussocks that then but sparsely covered the site of Baring Square. The idea of planting, laying down m grass, and enclosing with a neat fence that lung of the town had not then been hinted at. The town increased with phenomenal rapidity, and m 1878, it had become too large a handful for the Road Board to manage. A municipality was proclaimed, and Mr Bullock was the first Mayor. His business premises were then m East street, on the site of the Clothing Factory's shop, and his horse bazaar was the ouilding which is now the livery stables of Mrs G. F. Scott. The latter place soon became too small for the requirements of his business, and m 1882 the first portion of the Arcade was built. By this time, however, a reaction had set m, and there had begun the time of de pression that followed die land craze, the expenditure of the larger loans, and the exhaustion of the land fund. But Mr

Bullock never lost faith m the future of the coua<y, and that tai'h he holds as firmly as ever. There were many people who expressed doubts as to his wisdom m essaying the work of erecting such a build ing as even the first portion of the Area.de, seeing tha,t the pUns indicated, when complete, a most pretentious structure ; but now that those plans have botn nearly worked out, and a noble Arcado runs from Tailored street to Burnett street, the sceptics have changed their minds, and rer«r.gnise the foresight of the proprietor. It would be as easy as it is pleasant to ramble on at great length about the past history of Ashburtoh -and Mr Bullock's connection with it, but we have no snr.ee for ttyafc, although the tystary of the town could, very easily be written with the Aroade for a text. As has been stated, the first portion of the Arcade was built m 1882, Messrs Nelson aiuTOoutt'j being the {sqntraefcors. It (ioiqpris,ed f;he brick front blocV m Burnett street, m which .Messrs Spencer and Co. and Mrs McFarlane hav§ shops, a,nd, overhead, a Jijje of offices am;! ihe Aroade Chambers; the offices of Mr Bullock himself on the western side, which occupy five of the bays ; several private offices on the eastern side ; and a horse-run m the centre. During the interval between the completion of this portion of the main building and the final completion of the Arcade a tew weeks ago, a good many minor works were cirried on ; comprising the inclusion of another bay now and then m the line of offices, and the asphalting of tijje side walks. When M.r Bullook found that the tin\e had come for him to finish his enterprise he set to work at once. Messrs Barnes and Suiith took the contract, and we have now, m, the oom,plete structure, one of the largest Arcades m the $pulbhern Hemisphere. This looks a lig thing to say, but when \t is. remeinbeyecl th&t'the Ashburton Aroade is five chains Jong and a chain wide throughout, it will be granted that it is not saying too much. The roadway, (asphalted on either side for the whole distance, with th» exception of the piece m front of Mr Rickman's vehicle store) is thirty feet \yid,e ? and cohered witty, tan, ffjr horse auction purposes, asphalt covering all th.c floor m front of the offices. On either side of the Aroade proper there are twenty-two bays, each about fifteen feet m width, and running back eighteen feet to the brick walls. Of these, on the western side, seven a,re vised for offices, am} Mr Huliook and Mr I|iokman are located m them. Ihe re maining bays are occupied by Mr Riokman as stores for goods sent m for auction, as sites for ranging the rougher vehicles, machinery, ami imDlem.tTn.ts, and for tyorsips or) sftf.e days. Oil the, eastern side opposite, seven bays are, lefcr to tenants, and two new ones are m course of erec tion. The four next adjoining have been enclosed by Mr Rickman with a strong high iron wall, to keep m safety the better class of vehicles, and such goods as tvhUe not requiring for their own preser -1 vation the shelter of a plastered ceiling, are neither too tyqt noy too heavy- tor honest peiop^ejq flawy away. The iron wall, Mr Rickman jocularly remarks, has been put up, and a lock put on the door, to keep out honest people ; dishonest people would climb over it. Beyond this iron store Mr Rickman has enclosed other two ba.ys for the accommodation of yaung hqrsps, and as jqay require th"c run q'i <•> loose box. The next j )a y j au( j s opposite, are *seel as means of ingress ana egress from the sides of the Aroade, one leading into the vacant section on the eastern side where old reapers and binders, etc., are stored, and the other ■ into the yards on the western side-for cattle, pigs, and poultry. Those bays are the only points at which breaks are iqade m the briqk Wftjlis qf |he Arcane, the gateways are ajcqhed. Jiifr J "0. Duncan's dnicea'are fhe next iivqrd.er, oncl'then come morq ba»ya m pracGsa. o( preparation for ten nits, The roof of the Arcade is carried on strong red pine pillars, of about ten inches square, and the apex of the iron arched way is forty-five feet high from the tan, and borne on built gu'ders, of inch boards' Well built together "and bent to a ha^f circle, the whole being lighted from end to by continuous skylights. The south end of the Arcade is finished m a style different from tlje, north, mas jttuoh tyfj the two shops' occupying the corner are of wpodj inside the brick walls, but are pl^sWre|l thrqughdufc. They make coinoKJiaiou^ and- v#eJ}'lighted ' 'shops,;

having large windows facing Tancred street, and windows and doors again m the rear looking into the Arcade. Mr W. J. Hampton, cabinetmaker, is the tenant already of one, while the *' Orrery and Tellurian " are on exhibition m the other. The Tiiicred street front is sup-, plied with circular radiating lights, and from this, right on to the wall of the Arcade Chambers, a range of skylights on both sides of the centre of the main arch supply abundance of light. It is only a matter of time for a very large number of the bays m the Arcade to be built up as business premises for tenants, and the fact that five new ones are on the point of completion shows that there is a demand for them.

THE COLONISATION QUESTION.

Countries m which immigration is desired naturally take an interest m any steps which nftay be taken by over crowded countries to relieve themselves of their overplus population, and on this ground, if on- bo other, the con clusions come to by the Colonisation Committee of the House of Commons will attract attention m New Zealand. It is nearly two years since the House of Commons appointed the Colonisation Committee, and their final report was only issued last month.. The London correspondent of a contenaporary describes the report as a- triumph of common sens? over sentiment. The Committee have examined schemes designed by many enterprising and benevolent men; but the inevitable deduction has been that m no case has any scheme been devised for colonisa tion oi" emigration to any part of the world which has been proved as yet to be Strictly self-supporting. In every instance the promoters rely upon direct subsidies, free grants of land, or both. The Committee hold that no extensive ' measure of emigration is at present necessary for the greater part of the United Kingdom, which is able to maintain its vastly-increasing popula tion better than other European countries. Therefore they refrain from recommending the adoption of any general scheme for the United King dom. They are impressed with the conviction that so long as vhe bulk of colonial opinion is strongly adverse to emigration directly assisted by the State it is riot an expedient which could be recommended to Parliament. They, however, abstain from expressing an opin'on against any schemes for State aided colonisation m whichindivi dual colonies may be disposed to concur; for, inasmuch as New Zealand m 1884 >vas willing to co-operate m such a scheme, and British Columbia is so now, such an arrangement cannot be sgarded as impracticable, and would be mutually advantageous. The Com mittee do not pronounce decisively between the comparative merits of State-aided and commercial colonisa-, tioif. The commercial principle, they

say, ought to enter into all such tran sactions—that is to say, it is not desir able, m the interest either of the public or of individuals, that a population should be artificially expatriated with out clue consideration of the material gain to the communities to be relieved, or to be supplied. The most whole some process is the most natural, namely, where supply meets de mand, or where surplus finds vent m a vacuum, seeking replenishment spon taneously or with voluntary assistance; and of such character, as has been shftwn, has been by far the largest portion of the emigration from all parts of the United Kingdom, and, notably from Ireland. No instance has been brought to, the nqtice qf the Committee o,f a company accomplishing colonisa tion with financial success \n the absence of son\e assistance, either m th© qhape of free passage or of free grant of land j but it had been brought to their notics that the Colonists' Aid; Corporation, m terms of thsir agree ment with the Government- of New; Zealand, had brought out and settled permanently 3000 persons on an estate; known as, the Fielding Settlement,; of 105,000 adres, with a profit of OTer 5 per cent to the shareholders for a period of fifteen, years, the land cost-; \l\g them l[ss an, acfce m an unimproved state, and requiring t^ice tha.tj sum per acre for development previous to sale, The qnly extraneous assistance they received "*?!¥* the- payment of the aptual passage of the colonists at £16 h head, A large number of the per sons, brought QUt wepe Married, with children. If a similar scheme could be carried out as was proposed by the New Zealand Government m 1884 for a crofter settlement m th@ p,rovince of Otago a^ nq j^Wfttpr. coat to the British public, it would seeta a, more satisfac-" tory solution than the problematical! j refund of a sum ten times greater. At all events, observes the Committee, the experiment seems to be worth, try ing, whether al.qnt ov simultaneously w\th one entirely State-worked. The Committee sum up their conclusions iv the following terms :—That they have no grounds for thinking that the present condition of the United King dom generally calls for any general scheme of-State-organised emigration ; that the powers m possession, oj local| authorities, subject to the recommen dations m a previous paragraph, should be sufficient to enable them, at no onerous risk, to assist m the colorusa< tion or emigration of persons or families from, their own localities; that the congested districts of Ire land and of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland form an exceptional case, and require relief by assistance to industries, to colonisation or emigra tion—and where suita,bls to. emigra tion ] thajs tH provisions proposed m the l^ancj and Congested Districts (Ire land) .BiiU are ample for jthese purposes; that provisions Similar Ito some of the foregoing should be made for the crofter districts of Scotland; that the Colonisation Board be continued and reconstructed for purpose^ of colonisa- j tion and. emj^tfanfrom, suchdistricts; j $hat t^e power of enlarging crofters' hp J kUnsjin th^at A«t should be kept aUvejth^t orofts vacated by emigra tion op migration should be a, rlded to existing holdings without power of subdivision ; that the experiment of; colonising the crofter population h\t Canada should bs further tried j that? the proposals p| the Government off f^tiah Ooliiinbia* should be favorably: entertained } that similar proposals^ from any colonial Government should be entertained; tha| %|agency off companies, for colonisitiojd and emigra tion should "be taken advantage of,J l^oth as regards the afores^^d colQn,isa-iji tioi^ m Qai^ada and elsewhere $ that' t graiitta tie Ewigv^uts'

Information Office should be increased. New Zealand, therefore, is likely to gain very l8»tle by the enquiries of the Committee^ Our efforts of late years have been directed towards inducing practical farmers with sufficient capital to settle irffyhe colony, and this class of men are scarcely alluded to m the report. r

Ashburton Hounds.

The Ashburton HmitClub'smeeting yester" day was largely attended, quite 50 ladies and gentlemen following the hounds. Meeting at Tinwald the hunt took up Fraser's road and threw off m one of the Eaghmor' pad docks, above the Mount Soniers railway. A hare was started m this paddock, and after leading the field across the road was lost m a large paddock. This paddock was then successfully drawn, and a fast hare took them a rattling run of half an hour to the kill near the road leading to Wiiislow. Hares were very plentiful, and another was soon found, and after crossing the road a nice am straight over the country followed to the Maronan road, m the paddock beyond which a check took place and the hare was lost. The paddock m which this occurred was drawn, and the find after going a short run, was lost.]|Thiß finished the sport for the day and the company made for home, after enjoying a fine afternoon's sport.

The Holiday.

[PER PRESS ASSOCIATION j . Wellington, May 25, The principal celebration was the planting of trees on the Thorndon es planade, for which elaborate preparations had been made. Mrs Brown, wife of the Mayor, formally opened the proceed ings, and many hundreds of trees and shrubs were put m during the day. There was vigorous cheering when a bind of Maoris from the Hutt and elsewhere planted two oaks, as nearly as possible opposite where the old landing place was. The Volunteers mustered m the morn ing and fired an art ill pry salute and fe\i de-joie, afterwards moving off to Island Bay and the adjacent country, whp.re a sham fight was to take place, with the Pennanect Artillory and Nayals repre senting the attacking forces. The manoeuvres were not a success, as the combatants never came m sight of one another, and the town companies had a long tramp over the hills without other result than making themselves acquainted with the ground they might have to defend. The evening was devoted to 4 •carnival m the Basin Reserve m aid of the Samuel Parneli memorial furd, by the light of electric lamps. A novel feature of the proceedings was. the parade of a Chinese band, which created no little interest and amusement. Ohkistchurch, April 25. To-day was observed as a closj holiday. The weather was beautiful. In the morning, the Volunteer* held a sham fight near the estuary, 401 being present. About 5000 people visited the Catholic sports at Lancaster Park. J. B. Clark son won the Two and Five Mile Roadster Bicycle Rnces, and -his brother, It. P. Clarkson, won the One Mile Bicycle; Race, both riding pneumatic-tyred road sters. W. F. Bennetts. Ashburton, was second m the three mile and five mile races, riding an ordinary roadster. The Salvation Army celebrated their anniversary by a free tea to two thousand children at Sydenham, and a publio soiree 'in* Christenurch iv the evening,.

RETRENCHMENT.

MR SPENCE'S ATTACK ON THE MINISTRY.., The Invercareill correspondent of the Lyttolton Times " wires to that paper •is follows :— A concerted movement of an extraordinary nature is just now agitating the public mind m this district. As soon as it was known that Mr John Speilce, Chief Commissioner of Crown Lands, was instructed to remove, to West land, and tint he had -resigned m consequence, a number of his friends decided to hold a valedictory meeting, which should be made Ihe medium of violently attacking and permanently injuring the present Government. The attack, 'it was decided, should take the form of a valedictory address to be delivered by Mr Spence. This was drawn up some timo a»o x and sent to those newspapers m the Colony which are exposed to thq present reqinu. The consequence was, that when $he valedictory mooting earoa qff, the. "Ql*go.Daily Tinges" had Mr Spence's address m hand, and published it simultaneously with, the "Southland Times," Among; the most prominent at the meeting were, four members of the "Times" Company; also, Mr Thomas Dennistan, who is the editor of the paper, a member of the Wa«te Lands Board aud an Ota&o High School Commissioner; also, another Guvernment official, Mr Thomas M. Macdonald, who has held the positions of Crowa Prosecutor and local adviser to the GoYernmont for' many years. Altogether there were about fifty persons present, many of them being strqng opponents of the present Govern ment, and a minority which attended purely out of friendship for the late. Commissioner. Two or three, of the speakers emphasised the remarks mMr Spence's address, and only one; his: Wor ship the, Mayor, took exception to the. strong language used. Ingenuity is being exercised to show that the opinions «t> pressed represent the feeling qf tljwtfktfi&t, whereas they are realty only.the 3opinion of a few, who have continued to hold most of the lucrative Government offices here for very many j ears. The g«neml feeling is that there are two hides to the 1 question, and that Mr M/Kenae.and: his colleagues dose,rye much praise for the pluck they are displaying vi effecting T« ---! forms. None of the M.H.R.'b f.o» fcfce district were invited to the Meeting! and Mr James Kelly, member for the town, has intimated th,a.t upon his arrival m Wellington shortly, he intends to publish some comments upon Mr Spence's attack

COURSING.

[pek muss association*] Qjsristohurcii, May 25. The following are results of to-day's . coursing : - Juvenile Stakes; fourth round.— Arawa beat East Lynn, Avonsido a bye. Final.—Mr J. Cooper's Arawa, »*v Aorangi- Snowflighfc, beat Mr M. Tay lor's Avonside, by The Brewov—Becep tion, and won the stake* Trial Stacks ; third round.—Snowdon beat Stormy Night; Brilliant beat Aimee, Final-.—Mr A. McCauslaucTs Snowdon, by Nassau—Gip, beat Mr O. R. Wise's Brilliant, by. lied Pine- Glucina, and won the stake. Scu'lkmestary Stakes.—Double Hill beat Waihi; Stanmore beat Waihan ; Ivanhoe beat Waitohi; Carbine Veat Avondale; Water Babs beat Ls^b Chance : Laly Linton beat Pc^ess * ileiiji beat The Buffer j Keyry Pippin beat Peter; Trinfceb beat' Waihaha } Taiimi beat Autumn Rose ; Curiosity beat Gipsy King; Dalliugton beat Tyrone, i Master beat M^sfie 11. ; Tassie hej»t Sea Count ; Redwood be;\t Nohki; Hifdabeat A.M.A.; Le Q<\y<h\ beat Bishdp Julius ; Wailiova beat Carbine 11. ; Bhckwood a bye, Second Round.—Stanm.qro bea^t Double Hill; Carbine be.»t J van ho© } Water Ba.bs beat kady I^nton j li^erry Pippin beat Beini; Curiosiity bea.t Trinket; Tainui beat liillingfcou j Master beat Tassie ; Le Caron beafe Redwood; Black wood beat {tildaj Waihora. a, bye.

Third Round.—After running several courses it was discovered that the card for this round had been wrongly written up, and the round was run over again ; results have not reached us. The Supplementary will be concluded to-day, and a Consolation Stake run.

TELEGRAPHIC.

HOME AND FOREIGN

[pi:r pbbss association, J

LABOR QUESTIONS.

London, v May 24s A lock out of carpenters in' London has begun,

FOOTBALL.

The English Rugby football team has fixed June 17th as the date of its visit to Cape Colony.

MADi ME MELBA.

Madame Melba sings at a State concert m London on June 24th.

THE AUSTRALIAN FLEET.

The Mildura and Austral have both made successful trial trips.

THE POSTAL CONFERENCE.

The Australian delegates at Vienna declared the intention of their colonies to join the Postal Union, provided the present transit dues remain unchanged till next Congress.

APPLE EXPORT.

The White Golville, a French apple, is selling at St. Petersburg and Moscow for half-a-crown apiece. London sales men belie ye Australian apples-are of superior quality, and would fetch nearly, equal prices m Russia if the quality were assured.

IRISH AFFAIRS,

In the House of Commons Mr Bal four carried a clause limiting the scope of the Irish Land Purchase Bill mainly to holdings of £30 valuation by a majority of 86. " The Times " charac terises this as a Pyrrhic victory, arid considers the clause endangers the practical working of the Act. Mr Parnell was received with en thusiasm at Belfast. In the course of .a speech he declared Lord Salisbury'a Home Rule scheme was preferable to Mr Gladstone's, and urged Ireland to preserve its independence »nd not sur render a, single weapon until they kne (v what treatment would be meted oat by the English Parliament. Washington, May 24. . The Irishmen of New York are forming a National Federation.

MR BLAINE.

Mr Blame is rapidly improving..

MINE EXPLOSION

By the explosion of a mine at Bir mingham m Alabair* eleven persons were killed-

LAN& FOR SETTLEMENT!

The President has proclaimed one million six hundred thousand acres of land m North Dakota open for settle ment*.

BRITAIN AND PORTUGAL.

- London, May 25. (.News has been received of an attack by Fortuguese troops on the Char tered Company's expeditipn up the Pungwe River, under the leadership ©f Mr Johnston. Seven Portuguese were, killed.. The loss of the English is unknown-***

DISAFFECTION AT CORFU.

Athens, May 24. Placards have been posted ii> Corfu inciting the inhabitants to rebellion and threatening the King of Greece with death. r, > ; f „

THE INFLUENZA.

Copenhagen, M»y 24. Influenza is abating m Norway, Mt inoreasin,; m Denmark.

EX-QUEEN NATALIE.

Belgrade, May 24. Queen Natalie distributed a thou sand pounds amongst those . who suffered m resisting her arrest.

ANOTHER ARGENTINE RE VOLUTTON.

Bubnos Ayres, May 85. A serious revolution hasbtxfoneut at Corttoha^ the inland capital of the Argentine State. No details are to hand as the insurgents, kwre «ufc the: wires.

AUSTRALIAN.

SIR GEORGE GREY.

i Syj>k£y, May 25. Sir George Grey received a great welcome, at. Albury . while passing through, eind also at Gonlstown, where he delivered an address on Federation.

THE ECLIPSE.

The eclipse of the moon was success fully observed m and Mel bourne.

NEW SOUTH WALES CENSUS.

The population of New South Wales is 1,150,000.

LABOR TROUBLES.

Bhisbanb, May 25. The carriers vrho opposed tKe strike have formed a Union, and are resutn- I ing operations. : ; ■ The free laborers on Korsnee station struck agp inst the employment of two Unionifc;«s and the latter were eventu ally discharged.

LORD KINTORE'S TOUR.

Adklaidb; May 25, His Excellency the Governor, the Earl <•: Kintor<», has returned safely from Port Oavvfin. He travelled overland, through the centre of the continent. :

THB? ASHBUBTON GUARDIAN, TtJESDAYV MA* 26, 1891



Kkatlvo's Cough LQAg^Ksr. cures Cough Asthma, Bronchitis, Medical testimonr states that »o fttte* medicine is so effectual m the qu^ of those dangerous maladies-' One I#*e«g€» alone gives ease, one or two at hpdtßne ensuaes rest. For relieving difficulty of tareatmng.they aie invaluable. Thov co» tarn no opium nor any violent drug. Soldi byaliChemifts, intina, is l£d and 2s 9J ! each _Th* Bujst Remedy foh Indigestion^^ Ce-momile Pills are oonftiwty recommende(i us a simple remedy fo r Indigestion, which is the wise of nearly all the diseases to ivhioo we are suhjeeis ftoinwrii I^lus., with justice called the *JVat»ral Sftrongthener of the Human Stomach," acb as a powerful tonic and gentle porient, ai-e mild m their Operation, and " »fo under ii,ny circumstances. Sold m biottles, at Is l£d, 2s 9a, lls, by all mediciue vendors thro« ghbvt the wo "Id '* We are informed that the South, British Tea, Company have their pure Urn into A&bwtoa.



HoixowAYk O^ni;^em| and Bnxs,—■ Counsel for the 4elic^te, —-Thoge to ■\yj)qm seasons of changeable temperatures hve protraoted periodg of trial should seek'the earliest opportunity of removing all obstacles to good health. This cooling Ointment, perseveringly rubbed upon the skin, is the* most reliable remedy for overcoming t all diseases of the throat and chest. Quinsey, leela^ed toiwjs, s*H'f> throat, swollen glands, ordinary paiat'ch, and. br6r t cJ»itig, iisatilly prevailing at this seasqnj liiay be arrested as soou as discovered, and' every symptom banished by Hollo way's simple and effective tr-eatmep^ Th}g Qintrnent a3d Pjljs pj-p highly recommended for: tij_e facility with \yhich they successfully conquer influenza; they allay m an incredibly shorfc time the cljstressingjfevei? ftlj4 tWio^ CQUgh.



Wanted CASH Advertisements under this heading not exceeding SIXTEEN WORDS 1/-. Addresses may be Wtafc his Office. riIHE Rink opens on Thursday next, L after which it will be open every Thursday and Saturday afternoon and evening. Prices as usual. 5 227 *t~ OST -Brown retriever Puppy, about 3 -, I. J months old. Finder rewarded on returning to R, Bird. • & 226 "TT7 ANTED 4 steady Wfrkittf meti W Boarders. Terms 15s per week. MttS Whittinoton, Coleman's Buildings, Tancred Street. 5t22*, TCE Cream off. Cousjh drops on. Un- X doubfccdly the best. H. G. Flower, Confectioner, East Street. ANTED Kuo¥h—The~ " Strong wear " Boot is the best for Mens Oadies and Children.—W. H. Coixier. WANTED Known —Some special lines m choice Dress Goods at very low prices showing at " The Corner." W" ANTED Known—Old Spoons and Forks Electro-plated and made equal to new at 15s per dozen all round. A. Biack, Jeweller, East Street. 4 150 ANTED Known.—Mrs J. Buch anan has opened as Fruiterer and Confectioner, next Messrs John Orr and Co., East Street. I WAiNTED Known.—lt you want good value for your money go to Melford House. Cheapest first-class Drapery m town,—H. C. Segers, Melford House ANTED Known.—Mns J. Bitch anan, Fruifererand Confectioner. Tea and coffee at all hours ; hot luncheon on Saturdays, 12 to 2. Next Messrs J. Orr and Co's, East Street. ■ - __; TUST opened a choice lot of Ladie t) Plush Jackets, newest shapes. Als* a new lot of Ladies' Pelerines and Boas —H. C, Segeks, Melford House. "Tl7 ANTED Known.—V/e are now VV opening all our new Winter Gdbds m Drapery, Millinery, plothing, Boots, iScc—fl. C. Segers, Melford Housu. ■ ;■! _ i . LASS, JSal-lhenware, and China, direct from the Manufacturers. — Robert AiiCORN, Tea Warehouse and Aiihburton Clothing Mart,' Saunders Buildings. ._ ■.:.. ■ -' ■■ ■ ' _1 ■ WANTED every man m the County to have a suit of the Ashburton Tweeds. —Robkht Ai,cobn, Ashburton Clothing Mart, Saunder's Buildings. TTANOSOME Presents given away M m. June. Now g'.ving tickets to every purchaser of 5s and upwards of Drapery, Millinery, Clothing, Boots, etc. —H " Skqers, Melford House . ANTED KNOWN— C. M. Brooke is now m personal attendance at the Dispensary. The doctors' prescrip tions accurately made up. Largest stock m New Zealand of disinfectants on hand. ___. 5§157 "VTEW GAMES -Tiddledy Winks, lil Reversi, Snickem, and others, Fresh Supplies of The Minors' Right. The Squatter's Dream, Robbery Under Arms A Colonial Reformer, Told after Supper, Three Men m a Boat, and hundreds of others. NEW MUSIC— Vocal and Instrumental. —L. F. Andrewes and Co. TH'<; EDUCATION BOARD OF THE DISTRICT OF NORTH CANTER BURY. SEPARATE Tenders are invited for orcctiun of rie»* Side School at Alford Forest, and repairs to Master's House at Longbcach. Plans and Specifi cations can be seen at the office of the Board, Normal School, and at the office of Mr John Orr, Ashburton. Endorsed tenders addressed to the Secretary at the Board, will be received not later than MONDAY, Ist June. The lowest oi any tender not necessarily accepted. J. V. COLBORNE-VF.EL, S**crttary. Ohristchurch, May 23, 1891. 5 218 CroAFI)IVAK~AND~FANCY~ GOODS EMPORIUM. HARRY FRIEDLANDER has re ceived a large consignment of New Goods m all Departments, and while thanking both old and new patrons for the hearty support accorded to him since recommencing Business?, would take this opportunity to IKVI'fE igMPKrTIOX Every kind of Tobacco! known to users of the weed of the very best quality pro curable m the American Markets, A full Stock of Pipes to suit every taste, and an abundant supply of Smokers' Requisites. CIGARS of the very best Brands ; also CIGARETTES of every description, in cluding the latest "Temple Bar." _ IIIIHUIIENIIVG Is Practised m our Saloon as an Art, and Ladies and Gentlemen will find that the taste and skill of an able Professor are at their service. Examination of our samples of Hair work will bear out this statement. Licensed to Sell STAMPS. SALONS DU COIFBURE. east street. new business, new management, new goods, a long felt want supplied. James J\j_c greg or, Has Opened a Tobacconist's Shop m Orr's Buildings, East Street, with a LARGE and VARIED ASSORT MENT of NEW GOODS, comprising Pipes, Tobaccos, Cigßis, Cigarettes, and Smokers' requisites generally. Note.—This ig not a Ten or Twelve years' collection of antiquated odds and ends, the balance of an old stool*:. The HAIR-DRESSING SALOON is without doubt the best appointed m South Canterbury. YOUR PATRONAGE SOLICITED. James McGregor, 5.^127 Orr's Buildings, East Street. TIMBER MEECHANT, AND GENERAL FURNITURE AKD Y4NUY GOODS WAREHOUSE, HAVELOCK STREET, Orvosiiß Harrisons Auction Mart, TTIURNITURE and Picture Frames Jj m.de to order m any design at shovtjst notice. Sole Agent m Ashburton for Olegg et-attnbulatoi-s. Also' , ■ WJflfitfJSß PIANOS. 1



LONOBEAOH COACH. f\s and after MONDAY, 6th April, yJT the Longheach Coach will leave the Ashburton Post Office at 4 p.m.; instead of at 5 p.m. as formerly. R, R. BROWNE 4 28 Coachman. "THE COBNEB." W. H. Collier 1» Showing a very fine assortment of Lftdiea', Gentlemen's* and Children's Clothing, suitable for present wear. MILLINERY— All the Choicest Novelties DRESS GOODS— A Special Line of Heavy Dress Cloth 10£ d per yard PLUSHES— For Millinery »nd . . Dress Trimming from 2h lid per vftfß PELERINES—In various Furs from 2s lid FUR MUFFS— From 4a 6d each PINAFORES— A quantity at 6d, worth Is6d <X)RSETS— A Special Line at 3s 6d FLANNELS— Fromß|d par yar BLANKETS— From 10s 6d per pair MANTLES and - ■ ULSTiSAtS— Nowest styles for Ladies and Children RKAL SEALETTE JACKETS— From 32s 6d BO fS' SUITS— In great variety MEN'S SUITS— Special Value, from 25s MEN'S TROUSERS— English Saddle Tweed 9s 6d MEN'S OVERCOATS- Heavy Pilot Cloth with Capes 36», worth 55s Also, —Tho Balance of an Assigned Wholesale Warehouse Stock at Astonishingly Low Prices. w. h. "collier &* «THE CORNFR." MONEY JO LEND. ! TTTONEY to Lend at LOW RATES OF INTEREST, on Mortgage of FREE HOLD PROPERTY, m sums of £100 T0J65000 for further particulars apply to the Postmaster, Ashburton; or to J. C. PRUDHOE, District Agent. Government Insurance Office, Christchurch. WIXUJ'EETU MHOiiT 'fCETH CHRISICUCROH DENTAL SURGERY, Corner of Cashel and High t»troet<* S. M™ AND Co SURGEON DENTIST And at Dunedin vn.l Westport " fTTE have gained the FIRST AWARD W 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 lit at the most moderate cost A Single Artificial Tooth, 10s. Complete Set—Upper and. Lower— temporary and permanent, £10 10s. Natural, Durable, Comfohtablk 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 several times daily for the past ten years, we fearlessly assert that extraction of teeth tinder its influence is perfectly painless and positively safe. Fee for Administration ss. Extraction, 2s 6d. Artificial Teeth and Dentures made by ■ other dentists repaired or remodelled at small cost;" Gentlemen's WATERPROOF*. A N immense STOCK to select from. ALL OUR OWN MAKE, SEWN THROUGHOUT AND EVERY GARMENT WARRANTED ALSO GARMENTS OF EVERY DESCRIPTION MADE TO ORDER. NEW ZEALAND CLOTHING FACTORY Ji;" f| .GENTLEMEN'S HATH, HOSIERY. SCARES, etc., NEW GOODS, LATEST FASHIONS, JUST OPENED. tIT ATS, CAPS, SHIRTS, PYJAMAS MADE TO ORDER. New Tweeds and Coatings for Measure Suits'to hand. Jmpccllon Respectfully Solidkd NEW ZEALAND OLOTHINQ FACTORY