TO CORRESPONDENTS.

A Little Girl, Methven.— You do not give your name and address; and some of your statements are libellous. W. W. Smith, .. Hampstead.—Your conclusions appear to us to be perfectly justifiable, but we do not think your end will be gained by the publication of further correspondence;

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. FRIDAY, MAY 15, 1891. MOUNT SOMERS TELEGRAPH.

At different times since the railway to Mount Soinera was opened, and more particularly lately, efforts have been mado to obtain telegraphic com munication with that district. Mr E. G. Wright, member for the district, has taken the matter m hand, and armed with a petition signed by eighty-four residents m the locality has approached the Postmaster-General with a request that the telegraph may be extended to Mount Souaers. There is no disputing the fact that Mount Somers is now a place of sufficient importance to entitle ifc to a telegraph service. The lime works, coal mines and building stone quarries at Mount Soiners, the timber industries at Springburn and Alford Forest, and the large pastoral district m the back country, for which Mount Somers is the outlet, provide an aggregate of business more i than sufficient to make the desired telegraph extension a paying one. The humanitarian aspect too is deserving of consideration, as the line would afford the means of quickly summoning medical assistance from Ashburton m cases of accident or illness. The Bail way Commissioners recognise the necessity for the extension, and offer to give old rails for use as telegraph posts, which would be equal to a con tribution of one-half of the cost of the line; and they would also place a stationmaster, who would act as telegraphist, at Mount Somers. The Postal Department, however, is obdurate, and persists m estimating the cost of the line and equipment at nearly £1000, instead of half that sum—which the Kailway Commis sioners contribution reduces it to. The prohibitive subsidy of £100 a year for five years is accordingly asked for. This is quite out of the question, and we trust that those interested m the district will assist Mr Wright m his endeavours to have a very necessary convenience supplied to this important and progressing district on reasonable terms.

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Indians m Alaska eat strawberries soaked m seal oil. Germany's population by the recent census is 49.420,842. A Bill has been introduced m the British Parliament to limit the length of a Privy I Councillor's speech to half an hour, and that of any other member to fifteen minutes. Members of the Ashburton Band are requested io attend a meeting at the Band Room to-morrow evening, when business of j great importance will be brought before I them. Upwards of 20,000 Bills were introduced m the last United States Congress, and about 2000 became law. The appropriations made by this Congress amounted to 201,800,000 dollars, against 162,600,000 dollars by the preceding Congress. A party of Salvationists who were conduct ing a Maori mission up the YVajiganui river were capsized from a canoe m the rapids at Ranana, fifty miles from Wanganui, last week. "Lieutenant" Robert Maekie, a young man tweijty-eight years of age, whose parents live m Auckland, was drowned.- During the hearing of the Aorangi case m the Native Lands Court at Palmerston North an ancient Maori was questioned as to his age. He replied to the effect that that was an indefinite quantity, but he remembered the time when the sailors deserted Captain Cook's ship ! After tins his veracity was un questioned. Ministers have been inundated during the last few days with applications for the posi tion of Engineer-in-chief, rendered vacant by the death of Mr W. N. Blair. The appli cants (says the "Post") arc people from both inside and outside the Civil Service, but Ministers do not consider it either right or necessary to go outside the service m making the appointment. For the present, however, there is no intention of permanently filling the position, but Mr W. H. Hales, who acted as Engineer-in-Chief during Mr Blair's illness, will continue to perform the duties attaching to it. A cherished privilege of English folk settled m foreign countries is the facility offered for the celebration of marriages on board Her Majesty's war-vessels, which is regarded both m fact and m law as equiva lent to a marriage upon British sail. With out any reason being assigiel, the naval commanders-in-chief at foreign stations have (the London correspondent of the " Man Chester Examiner " says) received an order from the Admiralty prohibiting marriages on board Her Majesty's ships after the end of the present year. A wet practice of the Fire Brigade took place on Thursday evening. There was a full muster of the members, The special object was to test the sufficiency of the supply of water from the stand-pipe recently c. e«red at the corner of Burnett and East streets. The water was run into the Brigade's canvas dam, and thence pumped by the engine. One lead was first run out and everything proved perfectly satisfactory ; but when two leads were run out the. dam proved rather too small, the supply being a little irregnlar, though this might probably be obviated by having a larger dam. An obvious improver ment would jbe for the stand-pipe to be altered so that a direct connection could be made between it and the suction-pipe of the engine, and then the stand-pipe at its com- | manding position would be of great advan tage to the town as an auxiliary to the fire prevention service. The curricle from the Western Station turned out and did-good work. An interesting legal point was raised m the Resident Magistrate's Court, Auckland, on May 7, by Dr Laishley m a case m which a man named Richard Webster sued A. R. Greenway, a solicitor who has achieved a certain notoriety, for £34 14s for work done. The address at which the summons was I served on -defendant was Ashburn Hall, a lunatic asylum at Dunedin. This service was ruled to be a sjood one on its face. Dr Laishley submitted that Dr Giles, the R.M., j had no jurisdiction, as the Court had no power to hear a case against a lunatic. Qreenway being a lunatic should appear by his guardian ad litem. If he broke out of the asylum to obey the summons he wouj 1 be hunted down by the police, and if he did j reach the Court he could not be sworn, being a Junatic. Such a service of a aummoni therefore was a farce. Dr Laishley further argued that as the do'endant was m an asylum because of habitual drunkenness, th? provisions of the ordinary law m regard to drunkenness did not apply to him. His Worship adjourned the case for three weeks. The Bust Bemk-dy for Indigestion— Norton's Camomile Pills are confidenty recommended as a simple remedy for Indigestion, which is the cause of nearly all the diseases to whicn we are subjects Norton's Pills, with justice called the 'Natural Strengthener of the Human Stomach," act as a powerful tonic and gentle periefit, ape lnjld ii} their operation, and afe under any circumstances. Ssld ifl bjotjj.es, at Is lJ^d, 2s 9d, lls, by all medicine vendor* tlu'OWKhovt th.a wo Id' i

The g.s. Matatua arrived at Hobait on Thursday, and sailed for New Zealand at midnight. Mr John Edwin March, Steward of the Village Settlements m the Canterbury District, is gazetted Superintendent of the Village Settlements of the colony. The election of School Committee at Doric has been dei.lired informal by the B-ard of Education. The proceedings, which were decidedly irregular, were detailed m our report of the householders' meetings. Mr William Page, who has been living alone near the French Farm, Akaroa, was found dead m his whareon Wednesday. An inquest was held and a verdict of death from natural causes returned. Deceased is not known to have friends m the colony. On Thursday morning the body of Mr William McLennan, fanner at Halkett, was found on the Halkett road. His neok was broken, and his horse and cart were standing by. Ha drove from Addington market the previous evening, and is supposed to have, met with an accident on the road. It is stated on authority that there h no oundation whatever for the rumor c mveyed m a Press Asspciatipn telegram to the •foct that the Bank of New South Wales in tended to remove its head office to Welling ton. The matter has not even' been under the consideration of the bank authorities. The immigration and emigration returns for the colony for April show the arrivals to have been 1045, and departures 1656, leaving a balance of, 611 against the colony. The Chief arrivals were from New South Wales 590, Victoria 262, United Kingdom 97. The departures were—To New South Wales 813, Victoria, 355, United Kingdom 326, Tasmania 60. Two Chinese arrived and one left during the month. The imports for the quarter ended March amounted to £1,737,480, against £1,688,797 for the corresponding quarter of 1890. The chief contributions were-Auckland £422,787; Wellington, £327,617; Lyttelton, £348,409; Dunedin £419,180. The exports for last quarter were £3,778,275, as compared with .t3,785,437 for the first quarter of last year, Auckland contributing £418.090; Wellington £526,273; Lyttelton and Cnristchurch £641,469; Dunedin £430,475; and Napier £646,592. During the quarter 183 vessels of 164,724 tons entered inwards, and 197 with 179,364 tons outwards. A verdict for £100 and costs has been awarded to a Melbourne constable, named Crowe, m an action for libel brought by him against the proprietors of the "Bull Ant" newspaper. The constable arrested a cabman named Alfred Gange for druukeness. The latter fell down and sustained some hurt be ore his arrest, and after spending the night m thewatch-house was found to be very ill. On being removed to the hospital he died from his injuries. The defendants published a cartoon on the 29th January, together with some comments on the case^, dwelling upon the lack of ordinary intelli gence m the average constable, and stating that Gange was only one of a number of uiv. fortunate wretches who had been arrested m a dying condition and left to expire m their cells, or until the official mind had awakened to their dangerous condition and they had been taken off to the hospital. Although the word " Agnostic " has now attained its majority, having been invented by Professor Huxley m 1869, no one exactly knows what it defines ; but theie is a gentle man who employs his talent m the INorthey street Board School who considers that it means one who is entitled to teach the Bible to scholars attending an elementary school. The Rev Stewart Headlam, at the meeting of the Board, asked that this assistant teacher should be permitted to impart Agnostic Scripture knowledge to the children commitced to his charge, probably as an experiment to test what effect this extra ordinary and indefinable compound might have tipon youthful brains. Mrs Besant took the sensible view that it is wrong to turn Scripture-teaching into a mockery, frankly stating that if sh<* disapproved of religion m schools, she also objected strongly to the introduction of anti-religion. The BoaH decided that the "Agnostic" gentle man must keep his opinions to himself— during school hours. What constitutes a valid marriage, ac cording to Scots law, is reported to have been solemnised m Edinburgh the other day m a somewhat original fashion. Two M-ell drtssed couples, accompanied by a clergy man, entered the exhibition of the Koyal Scottish Academy at an hour when, owing to the bad weather, the gallery was almost deserted. The party proceeded to the most retired part of the exhibition, where, forming a group witli the reverend gentle mac m their midst, they remained some time, the four lay visitors apparently listen ing with great earnestness to the softly spoken exhortations of the divine. They left the gallery soon after, each gentleman with a lady on his arm—the first pair looking extremely happy—and the clergyman being up m the rear. The object of their visit was not suspected until the second lady produced a paper bag and scattered a shower of rice over the couple m front. It is believed that the chief parties to the transaction had taken this novei means of tying the matrimonial noose m order to baffle the watchfulness of their relations. Concerning ahorse, the " Oatnaru Mail' says:—Somewhere away back m the dai*k ages two Maoris were the possessors of a white horse. He was what Browning would have described as 'a lathy horse—all legs and length.' The dusky owners quarrelled as to the possessorship of the noble animal, and, to settle the dispute, one of them started to slay the animal. He got as far as an incision m its flink with the tomahawk when an officious Pakeha came along and rescued and appropriated Bucephalus. He was an old horse m those days, and he is many years older now. He has seen much service m his day, and now that he has grown grey and old and lean and past desire, and his spine has assumed the appearance of a serrated mountain ridge, and the wind has taken to whistling through his ribs, his owner had found out that he was no longer of service, and as the easiest way of disposing of him, handed him over as a gift to the Salvation A.my to be disposed of at the gift ■ale. The Army officers, recognising that tie animal's head was best portion of him, induced him to put that ap endage through the back door of the barracks, while the more bony and attenuated portion of his carcase was stored round the corner. In this position he was offered for auction, and a brave cavalryman residing m Oamaru forthwith started him at ten shillings. The army had anticipated realising half-a-crown on him, and as soon as the auctioneer could recover from his astonishment at the Cavalryman's munificent bid, he promptly knocked the lot down to him.

POLITICAL.

[per press association.]

Wellington, May 14. The Government have arranged for five blocks of land on the Catlin's River railway, Otago, to be set apart for village settlement purposes, the probability being that the men engaged on the contract will take up the land on the completion of the work. The surveyors m, the Wairaiajpa dis. trict are looking out for suitable land to clerote to similar purpos.es,

Russian Finance.

[per press association.]

St. Petersburg, May 13. The proposed Russian loan has been definitely abandoned, although the Rothschilds would have acted m a friendly manner m regard to the tram - action m view of .the'suspension of the decree expelling the Jews from Russia.

Portuguese Financial Crisis.

(per press association.)

Lishon, Mw 13. btocks have collapsed. The London and Paris Banks are refusing to cash notes issued by the Portuguese Banks. A revolution is looked upon as the probable outcome of the crisis, though it is doubtful whether the reyolu tionists would succeed m bringing about a better state of things. • . May 14. Ihe financial situation is improving, and the Government has authorised the issue of banknotes of 1000 and 500 reis. ■ ' ' . .■■ ■" ■,_

Telegraph Communica- tion with Mount Somers.

The following correspondence has passed between Mr E. G. Wright, M.H.R., and the Post Office and Tele graph Department; Wellington, with Pre ference to the much wanted extension of the telegraph system to Mount Somers: - Eversleieh, St Albans, March 20' h, 1891. The Honourable Commissioner of Tele graphs, Wellington. Sir, —I have been requested t» forward the enclosed petition for an extension of the telegraph system to Mount Somers. The Railway Commissioners are, I under stand, prepared to contribute, to the cost of the work to the extent of providing railway metals for posts, and placing, a stationmaster (also telegraphist) at Mount Somers. This will cover about two-thirds of the cost, and the outlay for wire; insulators, labour, etc., will probably not exceed £400. In support of the petition, I may add that the population is increas ing, that the telegraph-will be serviceable to settlers over a wide area of country, and that there is no other district m the colony of equal importance that is not supplied with a telegraph line. I hare the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, , Edward G. Weight.

Petition for Extension of Telegraph to Mount riomers. : To the Honourable Commissioner of Telegraphs, Wellington. We, the undersigned residents m the! Mount Somers and Alford districts, hereby respectfully petition that the telegraph may be extender! to Mount Somers, and m support of our petition we beg to urge :— 1. That there is a very considerable population m these districts, which would b.l, greatly benefited by having a telegraph station within a reasonable distance. \ 2. That a telegraph station would be of great service to the established local industries, such as sawmills and splitting yards m the Alford Forest; and lime kilns, quarries, and coal mines at Mount Someiy. These are at present placed at a disadvantage through slow communi \ cation, which delays orders m the first place, and getting up trucks to execute orders'in the second plaje. ! 3. Mount Somers is the outlet of a large and^important back country district. 4. In addition to ordinary cases of sudden illness, those engaged m indus tries above referred to are at all times liiblp to serious accidents ; the means of summoning medical assistance from Ashburton without deky would lessen the risk of loss of life from these causes. Signed by A. E. Peache, John Hood, W. S. Peter, and eighty-one others.

Wellington, May 8, 1891. Sir,—l have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 20th March, forwarding the petition for an extension of the telegraph system to Mount Somers. I have been making enquiries m the matter, and regret to ficd that the coat of the proposed extension would ~be fur greater than your estimate puts it at, even with the assistance from the Railway Commissioners that you mention. The rails which would have to be pai.i for would cost, fixed, little less than £400, and the expenditure on the whole work ready for the transaction of business would be very nearly, if not quite £1000. Ihe revenue—arrived at by a calculation based on the present postal returns which has been found by experience to operate very fairly—would be -about £30 a year. Under these circumstances I am under the necessity of askina for a subsidy of £100 a year for five years. This would be payable by one person under bond to the Department, annually m advance. The subsidy appears large, I admit, but I have fixed it at as low a figure as I justifi ably could. I have left out of the calculation the interest on certain of the items of expenditure ; and it is the only condition on which the line could be carried to Mount Somers as desired. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your Obedient Servant, P. A. Buckley, For Postmaster-General. E«ward G. Wright, Esq., Everaleigh, St. Albans, Christchurch.

■Rversleigh, Sfc. Albans, May 4, 1891. Sit) —I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter 1912 on the subject of telegraphic extension to Mount Somers, m which you state that the ex penditure on the whole work would cost nearly, if not quite, £1000, and that therefore you are under the necessity of asking a subsidy of £100 a year for five years. In reply I would ag.in point oat that the Railway Commissioners would m the interest of the Railway Depart ment defray half the cost, or (having them m stock) wou.ld. prqvide the posts of railway metals, which Dr Lemon gave me to understand would be more than the half cost, and that all other charges to be paid by the Telegraphic Department would not exceed £18 per mile, and as the distance is less than 24 miles from Tmwald t,h e cost over and above the posts would be within £432, which very moderate outlay would be fairly met by the telegrams to be paid for. The Rail way Commissioners on their part recog nise the importance of the claim by agreeing to pay more than the half cost and to place a Stationmaster at Mount Soners who would also act as Telegraphic clerk. Settlement is steadily on the in crease m, the district and felje execution ot this work would bring its own share of revenue to the Department. A^ain asking your favorable reconsideration of the prayer of the petition, I have the honor to be Sir, Your obedient servant, mv tt ' , Edwa «*> <*. Wright, lh® Honorable the Postmaster-General, Wellington.

THE MARKETS.

(PEH PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

Calcutta, May 13. A remarkable revival lists taken placei m the wheat trade. Forty thousand tons m-q awaiting shipment h.:ie. London, May .13. ■■ The American visible supply of wheat is 33,500,000 bushels. (Received May 15, 11 a.m.) ( London, May 14 The Bank rate of discount is nve pc ■ ct-.n*;. The balance of the apples per Mamaii brought from 10s to 14s 6d per case.

The English Wool Market.

Writing late m March the "Leader's " London correspondent says :— On yio vious occasions reference has been made bo the disastrous nature of the business for 1890 done by some of the Continental yarn spinning companies, and the publi cation; of the actual figures of some of the large German houses, enables one to give same now. One company, which paid a 30 per cent, dividend for 1889^ had to be content with the reduced, yet feirly good, dividend of 7 per cent, . for 1890 Another which made £40,000 net profit for 1889, and paid 15 per cent, dividend, actually lost £10,000 m 1890. A. .third house, which paid 9 per cent, dividend m 1889, has paid none for 1890 ; while m the case of a fourth instance, instead of a profit of £28,000, with a nice dividend of 10 per cent, for 1889, the propdetors have to f a|g a loss of £6,000 m tho 1890 account*, Ud so on. I only cite these to show wool growers that others are m a plight through the bad times of 1890 as well as themselves, though this may be cold comfort. At the usual wool fair held m Bristol this week values for English wool were fairly maintained, 'though wool dealers complain that they cannot replace their stocks on the same terms which their customers will pay. Farmers are not willing sellers ab current rate.% and there is some talk of th« small stocks not proving more than equal to trade require ments until clip time comes round again. Lhis should be useful m keeping values of the large supply of colonial crossbred soon to be disposed of fairly steady, though it would be rather surprising to see them keep so high all through the .summer. Australian growers of crossbred should r. •.at make a special note to send home for November sales, or at all events to sell as soon after October as possible. There is nothitog like taking time by the forelock, sd it is mentioned thus early. The severe weather has done harm to English flocka.

Trades Union Leaders.

There are signs that m Australia the thinking members of Trades Unions are getting tired of the rule of some of the labor leaders. The lessons taught by the wild struggle now taking place m Queens land are forcing the truth honie to the minds of the people. Mr Benjamin Douglass, the Chairman of the Eight- Hours Pioneers' Association delivered a remarkable address the other day on the occasion of the anniversary demon stration of that Association m Mel bourne. He laid the foundation stone of the monument to be erected to commemorate the gaining of the Eight Hours system m Australia, and, propos ing " the day we celebrate," he said: — He must condemn the action of the few mischief-making agitators who had been dragging the democracy of Australia through the mire for the last few months (A Voice- "Loafers.") He was not afraid to speak his mind before those men, but he knew that if he attempted to do ao he would be howled down by what to-day wascalled "intelligent democracy." Those men had been battening on discord and bringing about strife and strikes, and | thousands of men were groaning under the tyranny of those who had falsely led them. The working men should no logger follow the rule of those parasites on the institution which the pioneers had raised—parasites who, many of them, lived by their wits and not by honest industry. (Applause.) He challenged some of those mischievous leaders to prove that they ever did an honest clay's work. (Hear, hear, and a voice—" They could not prove it.") "When a worthy member attempted to reform "a certain institution" the other night he was howled down, and the question was not allowed to be debated. (Ap : plause). He hoped another year would see » better conduct of our public affairs as against; those who were now unnecessarily interfering. (Applause).

Labor Questions.

/ipBB MtESS ASSOCIATION.) London, May 13. The Labor Commission begins its sittings on May 26 th. Mr J. H. Wilson, Secretary of th© National Amalgamated Sailors and Firemen's Union has been released after serving a sentence of six weeks' imprisonment for inciting the Cardiff strikers to riot. He was accorded a public breakfast at Cardiff. Sydney, May 14. The wharf laborers on Huddart, Parker and Co.'s wharf made a de mand to-day for an increase of 8d per hour, and the request being refused they have gone out on strike. Prior to the recent strike a similar demand was made by the men, but nothing further was heard of it until to-day.

The Dishonoured M.P.'s

The following are some particulars respecting the members of the Imperial Parliament who have lately brought such disgrace upon themselves : -.The father «f Captain Verney is an old and honoured politician and the head of one of England's most ancient families. He is a baronet, a privy councillor, a deputy-lieutenant, and a major m the hrmy, and he sat m the Commons for the county of Bucking ham—in which his ancestors settled m the thirteenth century—from 1832 to 1841, from 1857 to 1874, and from 1880 to 1885, while he represented Bedford from 1847 to 1852. The heir to- his title and estates is the man who has been found guilty of the fearful charge of procuring young girls, and who has been sentenced to twelve months' imprison ment and expelled from the House of Coirmons. Captain Edmund Hope Verney, of Khianva, Bangor, North Wales, is a retired oaptain m the navy, and a deputy-lieutenant for Bucks and Anglesey, He was born on April 6,1838, and was married on January 14, 1868, to Margaret Marie, elder daughter of Sir John Hay-Williams* the issue of the union being four children, the youngest of whom, an only son, was born m 1881. i The eldest daughter is now 18 years old. J In 1885 Capt. Vdrney succeeded his father 1 as Liberal member for Buckingham, anc( sat till Mr Gladstone's appeal to the country m July, 1886, when he wpb beaten by the Hon, Egerton Hubbaifl (Conservative), the voting being—Verney 4389: Hubbard, 4460; When Mr Hub bard succeeded his father a$ Baron Aldington iii 18,89 Captain Verney again ( contested the election m the Gladstoniau interest and gained the seat, the numbers being—Verney, 4855 ; Evelyh Hubbard, 4148. Captain Veraey was educated as Harrow, entered the .Navy m 1851, and fewed iv 1884, after having served fo

J'o-.O'-nueji, and m India wuii giea dis tinction In addition to his other ad vantages he is a very wealthy man ; he is chairman of the Quarter Sessions of Anglesey and member of the London ■V«« nty Council tor the Brixfon division , ; Mr Edward Samuel Wesley De Cobaiu, is a Conservative o f the Conservatives, •md a pronouue-d opponent of Ptrnel «jn, Me, u-tlu-ism, \U m fact every thing which savoury of Irish H. lUie R U 4 Lie is an Orargeu.au, and a rrembcr of the Ulst<* and Constitutional Clubs, the son of a Wesleyan minister -the late Rev. fc. De Cobair -and a rank teetotaller. lie wa f f- r yews (he grand master of the • rrand O-an^o Lcdspi of Belfast, and hdis ■gvr deputy grand lnastur for iroiand# ? flw WltVr Orn m 1W0 ' ed««»ted at the Belfast Mercantile Academy, and has held -lh.ee undor Iho Belfast Harbour Com miasion and as treasurer to the Belfast Corporation. He describes himself as a Conservative "with strong democratic ■eamngs." The "Pall Mall Gazette" extra writes that Mr De Cobian is an auvoci.o of temperance, although one would hardly imagine so from his speeches. For instance, on July 12,1888, he thus referred to the leader of the Liberal party: -Mr Gladstone may betake himself to the repose of an enforced re tirement m the Jesuits' College at Rome, and perhaps the wclesiastibal/ dignitary who presides over the system of sensual ism, superstition, and sin, may bestow on him a worn out scarlet hat,, that his egotistical dotaae may sport some symbol of Huppo^d authority." Mr De Cobain has been airing this kind ot oratory m the Commons, not exactly to the delight eVen of his own side of the House, since his election m 1885-for the East Division of Belfast, whoa the figures were:—De Cobain t0.),.3Q33; Corry (C), 2929; Murray (L.;, 1970. In July, 1886, the voting came out thus .--De Cobain (C), Vo5o; mes McC»lniont (Natidnaliati. It will thus be seen that the two men are the last that would be suspected to be guilty of such practices as those m which they are proved to have participated.

THE CENSUS.

[:PBR PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

Auckland, May 14. lne census returns for the county of o?^o (t"!; lucli, n ° tho city> are :-Males, 26 743 ; females, 1*7,460 ; total, 54,203! ft L°« Af kl? no!;^ raale9 ' 16 >466 i females. 15,040 ; total, 30,006. Mamikau county -males 6248; females, 5899; total, 1J 147. Vv alternate couuty—males, 1870; fanwU^--16M ; total, 3464. The Borough ot Auckland shows a decrease of 3155 persons, which the county of Eden m w« ii S e city is situafced. h»s an increase of lU,dll, which is diminished by a i decrease m the city to an increase of 7156 on joint totals of county and city. All other counties show an increase; Maiiakau of 674 ; Waitemata of 1102 ; and Rodney of 221. • m . . Napier, May 14. llib complete census returns show the European population of Hawke's Bay SXJ2 ty w be 16 '778 ; P»fca»sata county, 2043; Waipawa county, 8870 : total for census district, 28,924. Napier borough Ins 8448 inhabitants. In all partß of the district there are substantial increases over the last census returns.

A Siberian Forest.

A ilussian traveller has given a most interesting account of ihe Siberian forest called the Taiga. Of tmeh fast extent is this fsrest that not even the peasants who were bora m it, and have lived there all their'lives, know how far it extends. The peasants declare that m the winter strangers from the Morth como on rein deer to sell bread. What people they are, cr whence they come, the peasants cannot say. They only know that they are not the same race as themselves, and do not speak the same language. This mysterious people, it would appear, have never been seen by anyone but the inhabitants of the forest, who are them selves almost uncirilised, living upon what they shoot The trees which are fine, are wonderfully thick and high, and a dead stillness prevails m the summer, an attribute common to all Russian fcrests. Ihis silence has a peculiar effect on the traveller after he has been journeying for many hours, especially if he is alone. At the end of the first day, the traveller states, he ascended a hillock and as far as the eye could reach stretched an endless sea of trees ,• at the end of the second day only the same scene was to be observed, although he knew thai Irkutsk and open land lay beyond. The forest of Taiga opens up a vast territory for exploration to those who are tired of the beaten track, as m many parts of it no human being has ever planted his foot.

His Proper Value.

A traveller m Morocco tells the follow ing story:—- The Sultan, not long ago, discovered thafc one of his visitors was becoming too powerful. He therefore summoned him to tea, and complimented him on his great wealth. The vizier, becoming vain, boasted of the number of his houses horses, wives, and slaves, and the Sultan rebuked, him, saying that he was too rich, and thought too much of himself. To show the man exactly what he was worth, his Majesty had him taken by soldiers to the slave market, where he was put up for sale, and received only one bid < £ eightpenee. He v.,s then taken back to the Sultan who said to him : " Now you know your proper value— eightpence. Go home and ponder on it." When the man reached home, however, he found that nearly all his property had been taken away by order of the Sultan. Only one small residence, one wife, one horse, and one slave had been left him.

The Australian Cruisers.

(PER PRESS ASSOCIATION;)

Londox, May 14. lue Australian torpedo gunboat Karrakatta has completed a ten days* cruise, which was a thorough success. The cruisev Wallaroo sails for Sydney on the 3:Bth. J

Licensing Matters.

(per press association.)

Uajhaeu, May 15. The Moeraki licensing district has de clared for prohibition. Five prohibitionist candidates were returned by overwhelm* ing majorities. The lowest prohibitionist polled two and a half times as many votes as the highest moderate candidate. The district comprises a large extent of coun try and a number of rising townships. The candidates were five prohibiticnista and seven modei ates.

Tffg ASKBtTBTOy GUARDIAN, FBIDAY, MAY 15. 1891



Holloway's wtLs. -With darkening d»y» and changing temperatures the digestion becomes^mpaired, the liver disordered, and the mind despondent, unless the cause of the irregularity be expelled from the blood and tody by such an alterative as these Pills. They directly attack the aource of the evil. thrust out all impurities from the circulation' restore the distempered organs to their natural state, and correct all defective ar contaminated secretions. Such an easy means of instituting health, «trengHu and ! cheerfulness should be applied by ah whose stomach are weak, whose minds art harassed, or whose brains are overworked. Holloway's is essentially i* Wood tempering medicine, wereby Us luftnence reaches the remotest fibre of the famo ami ettects a univenal 9Q d, w*rv»^»



Keating s Cough Lozenges cures Cough Asthma Bronchitis. Medical testiiuwy states that no other medicine is so effectual n the cure of these dangerous maladies Une Lozenge alone gives ease, one or two at berttime ensuaes rest, For relieving difficulty" «t breathing they are invaluable. They con tain no opium nor any violent drug. Sold ■y all Chemists, m tins, is l|d and 2s 9d



The best medicine known is SANDER and SONS' EUCALYPTI EXTRACT. Test its eminent powerful effects m coughs, colds, influenza, etc.—the relief is instantaneous. Thousands give the most gratifying testi mony. His Majesty the King of Italy, an.4 medical syndicates all over the globe are its patrons, head the official reports thataccon* pany each bottle. Mosler, M.D., Professi University, Griefswald, reports : — The Eucalypti Extract proved magnificently suc cessful m very severe contusions, bruises, sprains, wounds, scaldings, broken ribs, and I limbs. ("Medical Journal," Nov., 1881). In diseases of the kidneys, either active con- I gestion or suppression, (uroemai) or albumi, nuria, dropsy, lithargy, nothing will equal m its action Eucalypti Extract. Doses five to six drops. Mosler, M.D., Professor, University, Grief swald, reports :—Diphthe ria. Tonsils continually coherent presenting ulcers with white exudants. Cured m four teen days. Surgical Clinic of Prof. M'lnlyre, College of Physicians and Surgeons, St. Louis—Scirrhns of Breast—Excision Euca lypti Extract employed, No swelling, heat, or discoloration. Cured m fourteen day« —Advt I '



Wanted ] CASH Advertisement under this heading not exceeding SIXTEEN WORDS 1/-. Addresses may be Wt at his Office. /POOLING and invigorating Ice Cream U. umtdt by H. G. Flower, Con fecfcion«r, East Street. \\'f ANTED Known—The " Strong- V V wear " Boot is the best for Metis "jadies and Children.—W. H. Collier. WANTED Known —Some special lines m choice Dress Goods at very low prices showing tit " The Comer." WANTED Known—That Andrew On ii is offering 80 Ladies Setilelte Jackets newest styles, at modemte rices. 4§53 > \ ANTED Known-Old Spoons and V * Forks Electro-plated and made equal to new at 15s per dozen all round. A. Blaok, Jeweller, East Street. 4 150 t ITANTKD Known.—C W. Smith V* will sell Cheap Boots on Satur day next, 16th May, shop opposite Harrison's Auction rooms. 5 108 ILLINERY. —Specially" selected Paris styles m Hats and Bonnets. Mrs Gated has jusb returned from Sydney with all the latest ideas m Millinery.— Andrew Orr. 154 WANTED Known.—Mrs J. Buch anan has opened as Fruiterer and Confectioner, next Messrs John Orr and Co., East Street. WANTED Known.—lt you want good value for your money go to Melford House. Cheapest first-class Drapery m town.-—H. C. Segeus, 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'a, East Street. TUST opened a choice lot of Ladie t) Plush Jackets, newest shapes, Also a new lot of Ladies' Pelerines and Boas. —H. C. Segeus, 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 u-eat reduction 250 pairs of best Kaiapoi and Roslyn Blankets, contracted for when wool was at its lowest price. 4§52 VI7 ANTED Known.—*Ye are now VV opening all our new Winter Goods m Drapery, Millinery, Clothing, Boots, &c. —H. C, Segers, Melford House. / 1 LASS, Earthenware, and China, VjC direct from the Manufacturers.— Robert Alcorn, Tea Warehouse and Ashburton Clothing Mart, Saunders' Buildings. ___ WANTED every man m the County to have a suit of the Ashburton Tweeds.—Robert Alcorn, Ashburton Clothing Mart, Saunder's Buildings. T OC.\L INDUSTRY. -Gents' Suits JLj made to order from £3 10s. Ladies Dress Tweeds, double-width Kaiapoi made, beautiful goods at 4s 6d. Six yards to the dress.—\nbrew Orr. 4 155 rXANOSOME Presents given away I JL m June. Now g'ving tickets to every purchaser of 5s and upwards of Drapery, Millinery, Clothing, Boots, etc. —H f) Segers, Melford House} CHKApHaLE of Surplus Stock will be continued for this ir.onth only, Books, Stationery, Fancy Goods, Music, etc., at Wholesale Prices to effect a, clear ance. Sub-cribers wanted for monthly parts of Leisure Hour, Quiver, Gar dener's Magazine, American Agriculturist English Mechanic, and others.—L. F. Andrewbs & Co. LONGBEACH COACH. ON and after MONDAY, 6th April, the Longbeach Coach will leave the Ashburton Post Office at 4 p.m. ; instead of at 5 p.m. as formerly. R. R. BROWNE 4 28 Coachman. THE MIRROR HIGH-CLASS Weekly, Social Political, Litetrtiy, and Dramatic paper, to be published every FRIDAY price 3d, by the Centennial Printing and Publishing Company, Limited, Melbourne Public Terrace, Rus^elJ Street, Mel bourne. M-'NBYJTO LEND/ TITONEY to Lend at LOW RATES OF INTEREST, on Mortgage of FREE. HOLD PROPERTY, m sums of £100 TOJBSOOO For further particulars apply to fch* Postmaster, Ashburton, or to J. C. PRUDHOE, District Agent. Government Insurance Office. Christchurch. JAMES BAKER TIMBER MERCHANT, AND GENERAL FURNITURE AND Y4NOY GOODS WAREHOUSE, HAVELOCK STREET, Opposite Harrisons Auction Mart, TjIURNITURE and Picture Frames JD made to order m any design at shovtest notice. Sole Agent m Ashburton for Olegg erairibulators. A'so' WIE'-NBR PIANOS Andrew Black i WATCHMAKER, JEWELLER, AND OPTICIAN, 1 East Street. Bvonre Medallist for Watchmaking, London, 1887 A7WAYS on hand, a select stock of Jewellery at. moderate prices, comprising Ladies' Dress and Engage ment Rings, Gold and Silver Brooches, Gold and Silver Charms, Gents' Gold and ilver Scarf Pins Pencil Cases, «&c,, &c A large and varied stock of Clocks m Marble and other designs- Rotheram'p English Levers m Hunting Cases dust and damp proof. Spectacles and Eye Glasses to suit, all eights. Watches o every description. Repeaters, Chrono graphs, &c., accurately and promptly repaired and adjusted. First-class repairs m Jewellery and Clocks. Electro-plating and Gilding All Work donb oh the PußMisttia A Trial Solicited, ANDREW BLA.GK, W& CJfMAKJ3R, &c., E4ST STREET



FOE SALE. OYE CORN, CAPE BARLEY, TARES, i RAPE I This is the time for Kovring. WANTED TO PURCHASE— I Last Season's Heavy Canadian OATS. • JOHN G. RESTELL. "THE CORNER." W. H. Collier Is Showing a very fine assortment of Ladies', Gentlemen's, and Children's Clothing, suitable for present wear. MILLiNERY— All the Choiceßt ; Novelties DRESS GOODS— A Special Line of Heavy Dress Cloth 10§d per yard PLUSH 3S — For Millinery and Dress Trimmings from 2s lid per yard FUR PELERINES—In various Furs from 2s lid FUR MUFFS— From 4s 6d each PINAFORES— A quantity at 6d, worth Is 6d CORSETS— A Special Line at 3s 6d FLANNELS— From B£d per yard BLANKETS— From 10s 6d per pair MANTLES and ULSTERS— Newest styles for Ladies and Children RfcAL SEALETTE JACKETS- From 32s 6d BO ITS' 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 355, worth 55s Also, —The Balance of an Assigned Wholesale Warehouse Stock at Astonishingly Low Prices. w. H. "collier «THE CORNFR." WITH T£ET« A'fliCJT TCLTB CHRIS rOHCRCH DENTAL SURGERY. Corner of Oashel and High streets S. M TEii AND Co SURGEON DENTIST And at Dunedin anl Westport (TTE 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 ye guarantee the highest class work and perfect tit at thy most moderate cost A Single Artificial Tooth, 10s. Complete Set — Upper and Lower temporary and permanent, £10 10s. Natural, Durable, Comfortable Artificial Teeth Replaced Temporarily al .nost immediately after the extraction of decayed teeth or stumps without extra fee or charge. Airangemenls can be made for part or monthly payments. ADMINISTERING NITROUS OXIDE SAS several 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 sa. Extraction, 2s Cd. Artificial Teeth and Dentures made by other dentists repaired or remodelled at small cost Gentlemen's W ATE RP ROOFS. \ N immense STOCK to select from. ALL OUR OWN MAKE, SEWN THROUGHOUT AND EVERY GARMENT WARRANTED ALSO GARMENTS OP EVERT DESCRIPTION MADE TO ORDER. NEW ZEALAND CLOTHING FACTORY GENTLEMEN'S HATH, HOSIERY. SCARFS, etc., NEW GOODS, LATEST FASHIONS, JOST OPENED. prATS, CAPS, SHIRTS, PYJAMAS | MADE TO ORDER. New Tweeds and Coatings for Measure Suits to hand. Inspection Respectfully Solicited. NEW ZEALAND GU.'TjHINO FAOI BY?



A DEADLOCK m thb DRAPERY TRADE. WW. SPENCER & CO.'S tender . of 10s m tho £ for the New Zealand Tweed Company's Stock of DRAPERY, CLOTHING, AND BOOTS, Being accepted, they are selling at 50 per cent. less than cast price. Men's Woollen Sf>x, 7-Jd Men's Colored Moles, 5m lid Boys' Colored Moles, 2s lid Boys' Suits from 4» lid Men's Tweed Overcoats, 21b Neck Ribbons, all colors, Id per yard Flowera, Id each »nd everything else m the shop to be sold at prices never before known. BOOTS. BOOtS. Men's Shooters, 9a lid Men's Bluchers, 6s 6d Children's Boots, 2s lid A big lot of Children's Boots, Is Women's Elastics, strong, 6s 9d , : ■ AT W. W. Spencer & Co. THE ARCADE. . ___ r _-_ —, John Orr & Co. HA.YE now landing and m stock, ex " Maori" from London,™ 10 Casks Ranso.ne's and Hornsby's Ploughshares 1 Case James Breech-loading Guns 1 Ton Chilled Shot 10 Cases Diamond Grain Powder 4 „ Cartridges 2  Gun Wads and Caps 20 Tons Bar Iron 4 Cases Fenders 20 Packages Register Grates 40 Set< Fire Irona 30 Packages Spades Sid Forks 30 Kegs Bluestone 7 Bales Artistic Wall Papers 6 Cases Bedsteads 4 Casks Lamps and Globes 100 Coils Steel Barb Wire 200 Coils Plain Steel Fence Wire, 8, 9, and 10 Titan Wire Strainers 1 Cask Tea Pots 4 Packages Brushes —all kinds 3 Casks Bolts and Nuts 60 Drums Boiled Oil 2 Tons White Lead, 281 b and 561 b Tins \ Ton Red Lead, 281 b and 561 b Tins Paints, Oils, and Varnishes—all kinds 1 Case Meat Choppers 1 Case Lanterns 2 Casks Holloware-3 Saucepans, Boilers, and Kettles 30 Drums Sheep Marking Oil 2 Packages Copper Rivets, Jin to lin 1 Case Wrenches 12 Packages Wringers and Mangles 2 Boxes Door Mats 3 Packages Cinder Sifters 1 Case Asperiars Enamel 1 Cask Scales and Weights 1 Cask Bag Hooks 50 Kegs Wire Nails 20 Kegs Wire Staples 3 Packages Locks and Hinges 1 Package Files and Rasps Flax and Manilla Rope—all sizes 1 Case Screws—all sizes 1 Cask Vices Grindstones, 18in, 20in, 24in, 26in _. 100 Cases Kerosene; warranted best 5000 Yartß^z^ gjj Netting 8 Packages Axes ahaTtit»wh e ( ;a 3 Cases Chisels and Hammers 4 Cases Carpenters' Tools 3 Casks Plough and Trace Chains 10 Packages Galvanised Tubs and Buckets 1 Case Table and Pocket Cutlery Leather Belting, l^in to 6in 4 Cases Gorae Knives 3 Crates Fancy Crockery 10 Tons Best Mauritius Sugar. Ceylon and Indian Tea Company's Pure Blended Teas. The above having been bought on the most favourable terms will be sold at LOWEST |CURRENT RATES. Purchasers should inspect our Stocks •nd get quotations, JOHN ORR k Co. 4 232 Stephens Bros., MARKET HOUSE. NOTICE TO OUR CUSTOMERS AND THE PUBLIC. OWING to the demand being greatly m excess of our supply last wesson | for the Patent Double Refined KERO SENE, we have made special arrange ments this year with the shippers for regular consignments iuring 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 nofc dazzle or affect the eye, is almost odourless, much more economical, absolutely safe, therefore dispenses with all risk m handling and danger m using where there are Children. We have a'so all kinds of ENGLISH CANDLES m stock including— STEARINE, SPERM, P4.RRAFIN. WAX, etc. Special quotations for Boxes, Cases, and Lafoe Pahcem. N.B.—All goods purchased from us can b« returned if not satisfactory. Satisfac tion being our motto. STKIMIEVK BROS. .-JtUBKET HOUSE, \