MAIL NOTICE

The Letter-box will be cleaved for de spatch of correspondence from this office to the under-mentioned places, on and after Ist January, 1891, as follows — For Christchurch and North, daily 6.30 ■i.re.., 3.15 p.m., 6.2,0 p.m. ; and on Mon Jays, Wednesday*, and Fridays, ac 10.30 i.in. ; Chertsey and Rsikaia, daily, 6.30 a.m., 3.15 p.m., 6.20 p.m. ; Methvea, daily, 3.15 p.m. ; Dunsandel and Burn bam, daily, 3.15 p.m., 6.20 p.m. ; Selwyn, daily, 6.1:0 p.m. ; Uromore, daily, (5.150 1 a.m. ; Tinwald, Winslow, Hinds, and Temuka, daily, 10.30 a.m. ; and on Tues days, Thursdays, and Saturdays, 315 p.m. ; Willowby and Fiflfelton, Tuesdays, I Thursdays, and Saturdays, 10.30 a.m. ; Lisinore, Tuesdays and Fridays, 10.30 a.m. ; Ger.ildine, daily, 10.30 a.m. ; Tiniftru, dail}', 10.30 a.m., 12.30 p.m. ; and on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Satur days, 3.15 p.m. ; Oamaru, Dunedin, and South, daily, 12.30 p.m. ; Green street, and Ashburton Forks, Tuesdays, Thurs days, and Saturdays, 6.30 ;v.m. ; Winch more, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Satur days, 6.30 a.m. ; Mount Semens, Springburn. and Alford Forest, daily, 4 p.m., Mayfield, and liuapuna, Mondays and Thursdays, 4 p.m. ; Wheatstone, Ashton, Waterton, and Longbeach, daily, 4.30 p.m. ; Flemington, Mondays, Wed nesdays, and Fridays, 4.30 p.m. ; New land, Tuesdays and Fridays, 11 a.m. ; Elgin, Wakanui, Sea view, Seafield, and Kyle, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Satur days, 6.30 a.m. N.B.—Letters containing anything of value should be handed to the Postmaster to be registered. Letters containing coin, if posted un registered, will be compulsorily registered and charged double registration fee.

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 1891. DR BARNARDO'S HOMES.

Among the most useful and des erving of the many benevolent organ isations which are, happily, character istic of our own times there is none more deserving of public support than Dr Barnardo's Homes for the waifs and strays of London. Early m every New Year it has been our custom for some years past to draw attention to the good work which Dr Barnardo is accomplishing and we are glad to know that m Ashburton a few of our readers at any rate take an active and practical interest m helping the benevo lent doctor. It is therefore with much satisfaction that m once more drawing attention to the claims of this noble enterprise we are able to turn to the testimony of a Canterbury gentleman who has just returned from a visit to the Old Country m proof of those claims; the evidence of an eyewitness from among ourselves being the most satisfactory sort of evidence which it is possible to adduce. Interviewed by a representative of our Christchurch contemporary, the "Telegraph," the gentleman referred to said that hefound the Homes to consist '■ of a large number of buildings constructed of brick, capable of accommodating some 2000 children. At the time of his visit there were about. 1500 m the homes. Thehouseserected are divided, some for girls and some for boys, and each place has conveniences for teaching different trades. The houses are beautifully clean, and the sleeping apartments large and well ventilated. The girls are taught needlework, laundrywork, cooking, etc., so as to enable them to qualify for positions as domestic ser vants, etc. The boys are taught agri culture and horticulture and various trades, and they are m turn, when of sufficient age, sent away to America to carefully selected farmers to be engaged there, and numerous reports have reachedtheSecretaiyof theHome, stat ing that the boys who have been edu cated there are a credit to their teacher?, bith m the knowledge they have of farming and other businesses, and more especially for their honorable and upright conduct. He said he was told there were now a number of appli cants from farmers and others for boys when they were ready to leave for work. He further said he was highly pleased at what he saw, and although he had never contributed to the Home before, it was bis intention m the future to forward an annual subscrip tion." We also notice by an English paper that I)r Barnardo, on his re turn from a visit to Canada, was the recipient of a testimonial presented at a public meeting, at which he gave an interesting account of the results of the starting and subsequent career m Canada of thousands of the children or young people brought up m the Homes, from which it appeared that those who failed to do well did not amount to more than 2 per cent of the whole, while the further highly pleasing fact was made known that only '22 (decimal 22) per cent of them lapsed into crime. The demand m Canada far exceeds the supply, and last year only about one fourth of the number of young people —girls especially—could be sent to the applicants. All this is exceedingly satisfactory, and should encourage those m this district who take an interest m Dr Barnardo's Homes to persevere m their good work.

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Batemanf, bankera, <»f New York, have failed for a million dollars. Teenier has challenged McLean to row him for the championship anywhere A hundred vessels have been wrecked by storms on the coast of Newfoundland. Mrs Cornelius Vanderbilt has jusfc given £65,000 m cold cash to Sfc Bartholomew's Church, N.Y. A letter from beyond the colony, addressed to .fas. A. Baird, awaits delivery at the Ash burtjon Post Office. Mr Oeorge Jatuesoa announces that his next monthly sale at Rakaia(|yfr J. il. IJland auctioneer), will be held at noon on Thurs day next, Bth instant. Tuesday next being the feast of the Epiphany of our Lord is a "feast of obliga tion" m the Roman Catholic Church, and Maw ,f jU be celebrated at Ashburton at ten a.m. Sydney cable states ityjij: /i*ee seamen engaged m the coastal trade are heing sub jected to great annoyance by Unionists working with them. In many cases the footer destroyed all their clothes. A MeLbouij}£ telegram reports that the medical inign who are v,ttpnding the crew of the Kelto'n, stato that the meu kVG suffering from smallpox of a terribly malignant chw r.cter. The captain is now convalescent, but I the *tts,Js is m a critical state. j •The PastoraUsfcs-' IJjjions m Australia have l decided to make a jricw levy #f ten shillings ' agr tbousajul sheep and fifteen pen.c,<? #cp s],<=a4 ,w*i $!>£tle oil members m Victoria, New $o'u£h' tysAss, #j»4 .Queensland, m order that ifcjwy may *?e •f,#y'pr^«e.4 W-i,th funds to meet mw diftculty jbha* ,m,ay af ise with re gard to Wmw daring the wnwy wol season

McLean is willing to row Teemer on the I Parramatfca, but a matoh ia almost comploted with Stansbury for April, and it is unlikely he will make any further engagement till after ' that. A Wellington telegram says that the Unionists Special Settlements Association | are dissatisfied at the terms asked by the Government for the land m the Forty Mile Bush, and have prwsed resolutions on the subject; protesting against the alleged high charge of 25s per acre, with 25 per cent added f..»r deferred payment. A man named Edwin Cook was fatally in* jured at Ellerslie racecourse, (Auckland), after the races. When the people were leaving, some horses attached to a'bus bolted from among a crowd of persons. Among them was Cook, who was struck by the horses and the pole of the 'bus, and injured internally. He was taken to the Hospital where he died. Cook arrived m the colony from England only a few weeks ago. Recently at the close of the celebration of the Buddhist festival, m the province of Tze Chun, China, a number of organised mobs attacked several Christian villages and burned the buildings. Twenty native con verts to Christianity were killed during the disturbance and their bodies thrown into the Yangtse-Kiaug river. Thirty shillings and sixpence a pound for tea seems a ridiculously high price, but this is what has been fetched lately m Mincing Lane. Three boxes of tea, weighing each 51bs, grown on the estate of Hettarsett.Ceyion and described as "choicest golden-tipped flowery Pekoe" were put up for auction, and actually found purchaser3 at the above astonishing rate. A team selected from the Ashburton Cricket Club, consisting of the following members, viz. :- Messrs Dixon, Sawle, G. W. Andrews, Denshire, Rollit, Reeves, Buchanan, H. McLean, Mackay, Chapman. Cuthbertson, Kidd, and Dum'aresque, will leave for the South by express on Monday next, and will play the following matches : —Temuka on the 6th ; Waimato on the 7th ; and Timaru on the Bth. Unfortunatly the match against Winchester has fallen through as th&t Club is mrtible to play on the sth. The Ashburton team will therefore proceed to Temuka on Monday. During a display of fireworks at Geraldine on Wednesday night, a lad named P. Chap man, about thirteen years of age, who is on a visit to the town, got too close to a burn ing Roman candle, with the result that one of the balls shot from the candle went down his neck, and burnt him very severely. He also had his fingers burnt a good deal m en deavouring to get it out. He was attended by Dr Fish, and is doing as well aB can be expected. A Melbourne politician has been explain ing the origin of the term "squatter." He says :—ln the early days of settlement m New South Wales a number of cattle and sheep stealers occupied or " squatted" on Crown land outside the boundaries of what was known as the settled district, and m order to have some legal control over them the Government issued squatting licenses at £10 per annum for large tracts of land, and the term *' 4 'squatters " was applied to these licensees. The system was afterwards ap plied to all Crown lands of the Colony, and the word came into such general use as to be found, if I mistake not", m some of the earliest Acts of Parliament. About the year 1855-58 exception was taken to thai use of the word " squatter," chiefly on account of its early associations, and '"pastoral tenants " was substituted, since abbreviated into " pastoralists." A subscriber has paid a compliment to our sporting tipster " White Choker." At last meeting of the Ashburton Racing Club he /had lost steadily until well down the card, trusting the while to his own bettor (?) judg ment. Disgusted with his want of success, he thought lie would give " White Choker" a try, and placed £1 on his tip Prima Donna, for the Windermerc Handicap, thus secur ing a dividend of L 22 4s ; and on the second day he obtained two dividends by the vic tories of College Boy and Lady Zetland. Afc the Tinwald Races on Thursday he ag-ain backed the tips, securing dividends on Cor ringa m the Maiden Plate, lkearialbane m the Cup (Liberator not starting), and by backing his first and third placed horses m the Flying, Breadalbane and Kilmarnock (the second horse Ben not having accepted), obtained the £18 dividend. The holidays have somewhat interfered with the railway timetable. Last night the express was nearly an hour and a half late. At eight o'clock the railway station was crowded with people waiting to see the express come m with its freight of passen gers. Some nine members of the " Patience" company of amateurs were displaying any thing but the virtue of patience while they waited. And they had reason to feel anxious and impatient, for the "twenty love sick maidens we," and all the rest of the company were at Rakaia ready to begin the performance, while "Grosvenor," "the Majah," and "the Dook, " with several file of the Dragoons, Avere prosaically cooling their heels for an unpoetically late expres •-. At 8.35 the express and the balance of the company got away, but it would be fully nine o'clock before the curtain would rise m Rakaia. The crowd at the station was made up of the usual stuff that goes to form a political meeting m ABhburton, and among them up till eight o'clock was one of the municipal candidates who should have ad dressed the "free and independent" at that hour. He made for the Templar Hall, and found awaiting him the indefatigable Mayor. Five minutes after, the two were joined by the übiquitous reporter. But no one else could spare ten minutes from the holiday time to listen to oratory on matters muni cipal, and Mr Andrews had sense enough to refrain from wasting his sweetness on the desert air, of the unsympathetic ears of a dutiful Mayor and an undutiful reporter. So the meeting adjourned. On the way to the train the disappointed procession was joined by Dr Tweed, another candidate— brimful of speech—and Cr Bird. Farther on Candidate Anderson joined the line, with ex-Councillor Rudolph Friedlander and the Borough Solicitor. They all saw the train off, but speeches were not delivered, and£he Dr, remembering the old story of the two Carolina Governors, filled the blank

Ashburton Live Stock Market.

Messrs Friedlander Bros, report on the live stock market for the week ending 2nd January, as follows:—The entry of sheep was one of the smallest for months past, not more than about 1000 sheep of all classes being penned. The attendance was also small. Fat sheep ruled a little higher, a splendid line of four-tooths making 12s lid ; crossbred ewes ranged from 6s 4d to Ss lOd ; and ditto ewes and wethers brought 9s 9d, 10a, and 13a fid ; a line of four-tooth cross bred stores m forward condition were at 10s 3d, or jusfc 9d per head below the price they brought m the same yards six weeks ago ; fat merino wethers, 5s 4d and 6s 7d; and irerino store wethers were with drawn at 2s 6d each. Cattle were poorly represented as regards number, notwith standing this the sale dragged all through.

Customs Returns.

Wellington, January 2. The total Customs returns for the pust mouth amount to £131,734 13s lOd. Auck land's contribution was £27,438; Welling ton, £25,222; Christchurch, £20,934; Dunedin,* £32,302. The receipts for the nine months from April 1 show a total of £1,141,591 16s Bd, which exceeds the Treasurer's estimate by £31,591 16s Bd. The total beer duty collected last month was £7322; Auckland showing £1656; Welling ton. £869 ; Christchurch, £1416 ; Dunedin, £1595. The receipts for the nine months were £43,103 18s 2d; being *2603 18s 2d m excess of the Treasurer's computation.

MAGISTERIAL.

ASHBURTON -FRIDAY,

(Before Messrs T). Thomas and Alfred Harrison, J.P's.) DRUNKENNESS. John Hagan was charged with drunken ness and vagrancy. He pleaded guilty to the first charge, but denied that of vagrancy, j saying that he had arrived m Ashburton-a few days before with £42 m his pocket, but i had got drunk and lost it. He was convicted on the charge of drunkenness and discharged, j —John Sounness pleaded guilty to having been drunk on New Year's Eve. He was cautioned and discharged.—John Phillips was' fiued 10s and costs on a charge of drunkenness, and sent to prison for seven days for being illegally on the premises of Mra Thompson. ' DISCHARGING FIRKWOKKS IN THE STREET. Charles Legg was charged with letting off crackers m East street on New Year's Eve. The Bench reprimanded the accused, and fined him 20s and cost^_

Revenue and Trade Returns

[PEII PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

The revenue of ]New South Wales for the past year amounts to L 9,497,000, being L434,000-in excess of the revenue for 1889, and L 82,000 beyond the Colonial Treasurer's esti mates. The imports for the year were L 16,750,000, .showing a deci'ease of L 2,961,000. The exports amounted to LI 3,029,000, a decrease of L 854,000 compared with 1889. The revenue for the half-year shows a deficit of L21G,000 compared with the similar period of 1889.

Parliamentary Veterans.

The changes which occur m the personnel- of the House of Representatives. a.ye so numerous and frequent that only a small percentage of members survive (politically at anyrate) for more than six or seven years. This is very clearly brought out by a Return prepared last session and a copy of which baa just reached us. Comparing this, with the roll of the New House just elected we find that there are only sixteen out of the whole seventy who have seen, m all ten or more years' service,and only twelve who have sat continuously for seven or more sessions. Those twelve, whose names, are marked with an asterisk m the list given below, have sat continuously during the last three Parliaments, having been elected m 1882, viz., Sir H. Atkinson, Major Hamlin, Major Steward, Messrs Seddon,Buchanan, Cadman, Mitchelson, Wilson, John Mackenzie, Duncan, Fergus, and W. C. Smith. Four of the number, —Sir H. Atkinson, Major Hamlin, Major Steward and .Mr Seddnn—served m one or more previous Parliaments, with an interval between their terms of service, and four more, viz., Sir John Hall, Mr Bryce, Mr Ballance and Mr O'Conor, though not having sat continuously since 1882 have, at different times, ,m the aggregate, each sat for a long term of years. Following are the details :—

ONE TOO MANY.

Under the above heading our Welling ton contemporary, the " Evening Post," has an article m which it points out that owing to Mr Hislop's resign a* tion of his office as a Minister of the Crown not having been accepted the whole Cabinet, consisting as it does of a larger nnmber by one than is allowed by law occupiers an unconstitutional position. It recalls a similar circum stance under the Premiership of the present leader of the Government, Sir H. Atkinson, who, when he for the first time (m 1876) became Prime Minister of the colony " violated the law fixing the number of members of the Execu tive Council entitled to sit m Parlia ment. He selected eight gentlemen as colleagues, and had them sworn m as Ministers, although the law only allowed of the appointment of six holding portfolios. The Gazette of 4th September, 1876, announced tha^i the Hon Frederick "Whitaker, Hon Harry Albert Atkinson (Premier), Hon Sir Donald M'Lean, Hon Dr Pollen, Hon John Hall, Hon J. D. Ormond, Hon Edward Richardson, Hon C. C. Bowen, and Hon. Geo. M'Lean, had that day been duly sworn m as members of the Executive Coun-! cil, all, except Mr (now Sir John) Hall, Jjqlding portfolios. The number of fliis Ministry was forthwith challenged m the Legislative Council by the. Hon Mr G. M. Waterhouse, who, m point ing out the illegality committed, said, 'It is quite clear that one of those eight members is illegally appointed, and caiinot hold, his seat, J should like very niuoh to know whei is the! o,dd man.' The composition of the Minis try was also at once challenged m the House of Representatives, and m both Chambers a further question was raised^ qn. separate grounds, s$ io. £1)$ right of' Mr Whitake,r (now Sir Frederick) to hold the office of Attorney-General. That, however, is outside the present issue. The Pre mier, according to his wont, with which people have since grown fcwiiiar.

[■ ridiculed.. the charge of illegality, m sisted that all be had done was right and proper, and he bullied and blus tered m a manner which rather as tonished the then House. Members j however, were not to be browbeaten Committees were appointed m each Chamber to consider the question, and after a prolonged contest. and much debate, the Committee'of each reported that Ministers had violated the provi sions of the Disqualification Act. Matters on so far that m the House Sir George Grey openly de ■nounced Ministers as strangers and trespassers who had no right to be pre sent, and Mr Wason brought forward a motion to issue new writs for their seats. Then Ministers caved m. They hastened to protect themselves from the penalties they had incurred, by, we believe, having friendly writs served upon them, and the Ministry resigned m globo, being immediately reformed, with Major Atkinson as Premier and the other members as before, with the exception of Mr Omond and Mr Hall, who retired. The very first duty which fell to the lot oE the nominally new Ministry was to introduce an Act of Indemnity, protecting themselves and Mr Orrnond and Mr Hall from the penal consequences of their illegal as sumption and occupancy of office. This Act of Indemnity was the first placed upon the Statute Book of this colony under Sir Harry Atkinson's Premiership, and the Bill was rushed through with the utmost haste, by suspension of the Standing Orders." The "■ Post" goes on to say that at the close of his career as Premier, Sir Harry finds himself m an analogous position to tliat which he occupied at the outset, that is to say that of having one colleague too many, with the necessary result of invalidating the position of all the members of |the Ministry, for, it says uas the inclusion of one scabby sheep makes the whole flock infected, so the presence m the Executive Council of a Minister m excess of the number permissible by law, com municates tho taint of illegality to the entire Ministry. There is no ear marking the particular Miuister m excess, and saying he alone holds office improperly. The law regards the Ministry as a whole, and when its numbers exceed the legal limit, the position of each of its members is equally affected. That this is the case there is no doubt, An English Par liamentary precedent, quite on all fours with the present case, exists. In 1864, the Government of Lord Palmerston discovered that through' a strange mistake m regard to the con stitution of the department of Secretary of State for India, the number of Under Secretaries sitting m Parlia ment was m excess of the number allowed by law. As one of these had been appointed long after the others, it was contended that he was, of course, the extra man, and that his position only was affected. Con stitutional authorities, however, de murred to his identification as the offender, and held that when once there were five Under Secretaries sitting whei-e the law only allowed four, each and all sat contrary to law, and they were all equally liable to all the pains and penalties of illegal occupation. The Act of Indemnity which was passed to relieve them, m its preamble • therefore used these singular words referring to the illegal sitting,' whereby they or some or one of them may have incurred, or may be m danger of incurring, divers penal consequences.'" Our contemporary contends that m the present instance all the Ministers, except, perhaps, the Premier himself, who is specially named m the Ministers' Salaries and Allowances Act, are by reason of the circumstances referred to unlawfully m possession of their portfolios, and predicts that another Act of Indemnity will have to be passed. It says that " what will now m all probability be urged is that the Act of 1887 does not say that there shall not be more than five Ministers m addition to the Premier, but that not more than five shall be paid salaries out of the sum appropriated by that Act; and that it will further be urged that Mr Hislop, being no longer a member of the Legislature, may be paid his salary, not under the Actof 1887, but from that most con venient source, unauthorished expen diture," but it does not think that these quibbles will hold water and re gards the whole affair as " a nicely mixed-up one," with which latter ex pension of opinion most people will agree.

TELEGRAPHIC.

HOME AND FOREIGN

[PEK PKESS ASSOCIATION.] London, January 1 and 2. Sheep have been roasted on the ice over the Thames. Mr A. Graham Moore, of Ballarat, has been appointed Professor of the Pianoforte at the Royal College of Music. It is officially denied that a Canadian Judge has been appointed to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. The Admiralty will continue the survey of Western Australian waters next season, but after that no vessel will be available $or the purpose. Two thousand colliers at Merthyr Tydvil, South Wales, have struck, owing to the refusal of managers of companies to pei'mit arbitration m disputes. The Stock Exchange has presented an address of thanks to Mr W. Lidder dnle Governor of the Bank of England, ia recognition of his effective action during the crisis caused by the stoppage qf Baring Bros. It is a,ssert«d that Zatcharsky and six others suspected of causing the wreck age of the Czar's train m the terrible railway catastrophe at Borki m 1888, while being conveyed from Constant!, nople to Odessa, overcame the boatmen, bribed thp escort, and escaped to an English vessel^ but were ultimately yielded to Russian officials on an order of Sir W. A. White, British Ambas sador at Constantinople, : N,*w Yoiix, January 1. ! O'Donovan Rossa's term of banish me.nt ha<s expired, a.nd he intends to re-visit Ireland. St. Petersburg, Jannary I, The Czar hai refused the request of the Duke of Orleans to. be allowed to e,nter $9 $u«iiftn armj\

Melbourne, January 2. j Felix Tanner, who undertook a forty days' fast, has completed thirty-( eight days of his task. He is m a very weak condition and the doctors de cline to permit him to extend the period beyond forty days. Tlie risks of New Zealand offices on yesterday's fire are—National, Equit able, and South British LSOO each, New Zealand and Union, LIOOO each. 'Brisbane, 1 January 2. Mr W. Liddy, well known through out Australia and New Zealand as a theatrical manager, died yesterday.

INTERPRO VINCI AL

Wanganui, January 2. A fire last night; m Victoria Avenues gutted the premises of Beck, bootmaker, and a six-roomed detached cottage. The family (sis m number) attended the I Matarawa sports, and left some wet clothes drying by the kitchen fire. There was a heavy gale blowing and it is supposed that a draught ignited the clothes and set fire to the chimney. The insurances, which only partially cover the loss, were, on the furniture, £160 m the Victoria ; on the building, £50 m tha Standard and £150 m the Equitable. , Nelson, January 1. Mr William Wilkie, who arrived m Nelson m 1843, died yeaterday, aged 77, after a long illness. [Deceased was the father of Mr .fttmea Wilkie, lately Clerk to the Ashburton Road Board.] TiHARtr, January 2. The rainfall has amounted to over two inches. The weather is fine to-day and tfye Sports are going on. All the rain rivers are full. Mr Timothy Geaney, Jatfe butcher and hotelkeeper at Pleasant Poinft. was drowned m the Tengawai yesterday while crossing m a buggy which capsized, Mr Geaney somehow becoming entangled with it. Invebcakgill, January 2. The Caledonian games were attended by 3500 people. The takings at the gates alone amounted to £135. The pro gramme was completed although it rained heavily m the afternoon. At-night the drama ''Guy Mannering " was played for the benefit of the Society. The receipts were £120. A westerly gale is blowing now and is likely to interfere with the Bluff ireqatta.

Corn Exchange Report.

The following is the Corn Exchange Report (per N. P. Meyers, secretary), for the week ending Wednesday. 31st Decem ber, 1890. The continued drought has had a hardening effect on all cereals m our local market, but the outside demand does not seem to respond to our advance:;, consequently trade m. general is dull and dragging. The showers (although slight) which have been reported from the various farming centres, have had a beneficial effect m the way of filling out the grain, but the yield cannot be materially increased. Wheat is held firmly by few holders fit our quotations. , Oats have a speculative local trade, but our southern neighbours seem to be able to supply all the outside wants at le:ss money than they can be supplied at from this market. Barley is fair property and misters are operating for prime parcels. Bye Grass Seed has enquiries for the North Island. Cocksfoot is being well harvested, but as yet pries have not been fixed. Dairy Produce is quiet, awaiting further orders for Home shipment. , Quotations are as 'follows":—Wheat, Tuscan, 3s 7d ; Pearl, 3s 5d ; Hunters, 3s 4d ; second quality, 3s ; broken, 2s 3d to 2s 7<l. Oats, milliuatfls 9cl; short feed, Is 8d ; inferior and long, Ls 5d to Is 6d. Barley, prime making., 3s to 3s 3d ; feed, ]s 8d to Is lOd. Dairy Produce—butter, factory, 7d to 8d ; farmers putting down 6d to 7d. Cheese, small loaf shape, 4id ; large and medium, 3£d to 4d. The above prices are those paid to farmers for delivery, f.o.b. Lyttelion. Sacks extra.

SPORTING.

[per press association.]

Auckland, January 2. The Summer Meeting of the Auckland Racing Club was concluded to-day. The weather was rather bleak, but there was a larger attendance. , The following are the results: —■ ■ Grand Stand Handicap.—Coalscuttle 1, Dudu 2, Strephon3. SylviaHandicap.—Rosenfeldtlßrown Bess 2, Lady Bell 3. Auckland Plate, one mile and a half. —Crackshot 1, Medallion 2, Hilda 3. Wou easily. Time—2min 47lsec. Divi dends—£3 2s and £3 10s 6d. Auckland Steeplechase.—Orlando 1, Parnell 2, Jenny 3. These were the only horses to finish. Seven started. Won easily by twenty lengths. Time—Bmins 59secs. Dividends-*£3 16s 6d and £5 Is. Musket Stakes.—Reprisal 1, Rose feldt 2, The Workman 3. Victoria Handicap. -Fiesole 1, Quad rant 2, The Baron 3.

AUSTRALIAN RACING.

(per press association.)

Melbourne, January 1. Following are the results of the Wo chief handicaps of the Victorian Racing Club's Summer Meeting held to-day :— Standish Handicap, of Ssovs, with 300" soys added. Three-quarters of a mile. Gladstone, syrs, Bst .», 1 Prattler, 6yrs, 7st 101 b ... ... 2 Forest King, 3yrs, 7st 51bs 3 Time Imin, 18|seo. Bagot Handicap, of 10 soys each, with 1000 soys added. One mile and five furlongs. Greygown, 3yrs, 7st 51b 1 Tarcoola, 4yrs, Bat 41b „ $ Jebusite, 6yrs, B's't  i ,. 3 Won by three lengths^ Time—2min sO.sec.

SYDNEY TATTERSALL'S CLUB.

Sydney, January 1. Tattersall's Cup, of 800 soys. Two miles. Muriel 1 "Vespasia ... ... ... 2 Lancer ... .., ... 3 Fifteen others started, Won by a length and a half. Time— 3rain 31|sec.

TO-DAY'S TELEGRAMS

[per press association.] The Holiday. Qamartt. January 3. The second day's Caledonian sports yesterday were very successful.. Leslie,; put up a record m the mile walk, of 7 minutes 9 seconds, Th« miiisl»v Ship UmikmSlm. An inquiry into the case of the missing ship Dunedin was held here on Tuesday. A rumor was current..this morning that news hadl been receivedl that she had been found on, the $past of- Brazil wibh yellow fever on board. Thia is regarded as a mere canard, andj not substantiated, m any way. Captain Cracroft, of the Rakaia, reports having heard from the shipper of a vessel m London that his ship was In company with the Dunedin off Cape Htm, and. tlwt a heavy gale spring

ing up (.ho vessels separated. The Dunedin has not since been seen, 'm*** Ij*if(!'ll»*|ye « ountll Petltloa. "be petition against appointment* to the Legislative Council baa been largely signed here. Rain is again falling.

The Weather

TEMPERATURE AND RAINFALL AT CHERTSEY FOR DECEMBER.

MONTHLY RAINFALL FOR 1890.

inches January j^g February o-24 March ... 2'oß April ... o-76 May 176 June 077 July 4-83 August 050 September 1»67 October i-]j. .November ... ... 1-93 December ... 0"97 Total for 1890—17 80 m.

YEARLY RAINFALL FOR LAST TEN YEARS.

inches. 1880 21-65 1881 32-41 1882 2710 1883 39-42 1884 38-61 1885,., 25*95 1886..: ... ;. 41*44 1887 ... 40-40 1888 37-01 1889 20-96 1890... ..; 17-80 One inch of rain per acre weighs 101 tons Bcwt 2qrs 271bs.

RAINFALL AT ALFORD.

Out- correspondent (Mr Herring) dating January 2, says :— To the time of writing (7 a.m.) 1:75 inch of rain has fallen since New Year's Eve. The register for December is : -Alford Forest, 3-15 ; Alford Station, 1 -81. During tho past year—Alford Forest, 43*14 ; Alford Station, 29-94. There is a distance of six miles between the two places of record.

Political Items

The Wellington correspondent of th« Lyttelton Times " says :—A telegram, received here from Wanganui, reports that Mr'Ballance having made extensive enquiries is more than satisfied at the large measure of support promised him during the coming session. lie is both surprised and pleased. As Sir Harry Atkinson is reported to be preparing to head the campaign m Parliament on bis side, the Opposition leader, it is clear, has reason to believe that he will be able to meet him on good terms. When the House meets it will be Greek meeting Greek.

THE MARKETS

[per press association.] [Received January 3, 10.5 a.m.] London, January 2. Three months bills are quoted at 4f. South Australian wheat 38s, market restricted ; Victorian do, 38s ; New Zea land long berried, do, 37s 3d; market quiet.. New Zealand flour, superfine, 23s 6d. Canterbury mutton, 4d ; Wellington do, 3§d. New Zealand beef, forequarters, 3|d,- hindquarters, 4d; market depressed.

Serious Fire at Nelson.

[per kriss association J

Nhslson, January 3L A largo ore broke out m Hardy etreet early this morning m the premises of J. P. Cooke, painter, andspreadtoacobtag* owned by Mr Cooke, Haslem's boot; bazaar, and a large two-storey building owiied by .0. W. Moore, and occupied by Clapham, medical herbalist, and the Nel son Co-cperative Society. The Fire Brigade worked splendidly, and prevented the further spread of the conflagration. Over Cboke's shop was the Y.M.O.A, hall, and the Good Templar lodge-rooraj and all their furniture, a , library/* an<£ valuable American organs were destroyed. The houses on the opposite B«ie of the road were slightly damaged by the heat^ Total insurances, £2473. Cooke estimates, his loss over the, insurance at £1500. and Moore his. at JB6W.

Latest Cable News

HOME AND FOREIGN.

[per press association.]

DEATH OF A CHINESE PRINCE.

(Received I<X*o

Pbwn,, January 2. The death is announced of Prince Chirm, the father ol the Emperor of China.

FRIGHTFUL ACCIDENT AT A BAZAAR.

London, January 2. A terrible accident happened at • church bazaar at Leeds. The cotton wool dresses of fourteen children who were assisting at the stalls caught fire, and before the flames were •xttnguished the children were severely burnt. Five have already succumbed: to the in juries.

AUSTRALIAN

SCULLING RACE.

[Received 3k KUOkhkT

Smar.Br, January ■& The second sculling race over the championship course between Stepßen son and Dutch resulted, as did the first one, m a victory for the champion of New Zealand who finished m the, fast time of 19min$ 58£«ec9,

THF, ASHBHRTOISr GUAKDIAN, SaTUBDAY, JANUARY 3, 1891



!First Elected.!

J Parliaments served in.

Sessions,

Atkinson .. .. Bryce Hall Hamlin Ballance Steward Seddon.. O'Conor Buchanan Cadman .. .. Mitchclson .. .. Wilson Mackenzie, J. .. Duncan .. Fergus Smith, W C. ..

I

1861 1871 1856 1R76 1875 1871 1879 1871 1882 1882 1882 1882 1882 1882 1882 ISB2

8 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 - 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

29 * 20 18 1 16 16* M* "! 11* 11* 11* ;i* 11* 11*



Date

Maximum]

I Minimum

ilainfall

: |

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 ' 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

73 70 73 74 ■! 62 81 83 97 82 ,72 73 84 76 74 f 73 76 67 61 75 79 ,: 77 75 74 83 81 78 78 78 63 68 78

45 ■ 50 48 ■47 :: 46 51 55 70 55 . :,55 ; 1 50 54 52 53 60 ■50.., ■ 50 54 57 55 60 66 56 55 54 • 55 67 46 47 47 V 52

002

| 0-01 0-06

0 08

016 009

.: ;

■■ ■ :

■ ■•

0-05

I 0-50

•Total

 0-9?



HOPE FOR THE DEAF A Person cured ofdeafness and noisejr /A.in the Head of long standing, b •j. simp}? Remedy, will be glad t° forward a description of ijj free t anyone who applies. The most as tonishing cures have lately been effected by the same remedy. Address: Nicholson, 175 William Street, Mcl bourne



SANDER AND SONS' EUCALYPTI EXTRACT,—In protection of the world wide fame our manufacture has acquired all over the globe, we publish the following : Hazard, M.D., Professor of General Patho logy and Diseases of the Mind and Nervous System, says m an editorial published- m the " Clinical Record " :—" We have examined half-a-dozen specimens of different manufac tures ; the preparation of Sander and Sons was the only one that proved to be reliable and corresponding to scientific tests." Another concoction called "Refilled Extract of Eucalyptus" has made its appearance since. This product stands, according to Dr Owen, foremost m causing injurious effects That gentleman communicates, at a meeting of the Medical Society of Victoria, that a child Hying at Fitzroy became most seriously indisposea through ite use. In another case a lady states on the strength of statutory declaration that she suffered cruelly from phe effects of the same concoction. To guard rhe high reputation of our manufacture we eel warranted m expo ing the abovo facts, and desires the public to exercise care and precaution when buying, SANDER and SON^ (Advt.) 7



ii'orjjOyyAY/'s Pills. -Changes of tempera ill 'c and' weather frequently xipset persons who are most careful of their health, and particular m their diet. These corrective, purifying, and gentle aperient pills are the best remedy for all defective action of the digesti veorgans. They augment the appetite, strengthen the stomach, correct biliousness, and carry <*ff all that ia noxious from the system. Hollowny's J?iU» a»s cs(wp,q?!?d of rare balsams, unmixed with baser matter, and on that account are peculiarly well adapted for the young, delicate, and aged. As ,iiii* priceless medicine has gained fame m the past, so will it preserve it m the future by its renovating and invigorating qualities, and the impossibility of its doing fearn) .' '' ■.••"■'-



.Public Notices. NEW YEAR GIFTS. NEW YEAR CARDS AND BOOKLETS. NEW ANNUAL VOLUMES and BOOKS for Prizes and Presentations. NEW FANCI GOODS, *c., &«• L F. ANDRE WES & Co. i\l U Wo H-U W 1 i\ r (r IN O W JJHOWIN G A FASHIONABLE LOT OF Springd Summer Goods. THE LATEST FASHION, REASONABLE PRICES, GOOD FIT and WORKMANSHIP, ought to eiwure a ready sale f<r tho.e Goods. Comw Early, Anil wvoitl Xhe rtusli ett Xmas Our Customers may depend upon our promise that their order.s will be finished up to time. H. A E- Craigrheatl, TANCRED STREET, ASHBURTON. __ CHRISTMAS BAlUiins. A NDREW /^RR HAS opened up a Splendid Show OF New Goods IN ALL DEPARTMENTS. Beautiful Assortment OF FANCY GOODS, Suitable for Presents. LADIES', GENTS', an» CHILDREN'S Boots and Shoes GREATLY REDUCED. j ANDREW ORE. Spring and Summer, 1890. BUY YOUR CLOTHING FROM THE NEW ZEALAND CLOTHING EACTOBY Men's Colonial TWEED SUITS, Boys' and Youths' ColonH TWEED SUITS at prices to suit everybody. HATS.—We keep the Largest and Best Selection Hats made to me<u>ure. SUITS MADE TO MEASURE. Best workmanship put m every garment, and a perfect fit guaranteed. Large Selection of Boys' Knicker Suits. Ties, Shirts, Collars, Braces,. &c, m Latest Fashion wnd Style. Bkst Vat.uk fok Cash m District NEW Z E A I A N D CLOTHING FACTORY \gent for the Wonderful Wertheim Sawing Machines W. H WEBBER Manager Wanted CASH Advertisements under this heading nofc exceedin SIXTEEN WORDS 1/-. Addresses may be left at this Office' 1 WANTED, a man to drive a Massey Machine. Apply J. Scaly and Co^ 1 15 A MERICAN Ice Cream ! American Xjl Ice Cream daily at H. G. Flower's, ! ctioner. Ice kept m stock. ANTEDKnown.-"ForDress Stuffs Prints, &c, Trimmings, to match, go to Melford House. Best value m town. Christmas presents now giving away.—H. C. Segkks ANTED Known — Some special lines m choice Dress Goods at very low prices showing at " The Corner." ANTED Known.—For Sheetings Tablings, Calicoes, Quilts, Towels Table Napkins, Tray Cloths, D'Oyleys, &c, goto Melford House. Presents to every purchaser.—ll. C, Segers. "ORESENTS.—We are now giving JL presents to every purchaser of Drapery, Olothjng, Boots, and cheapest house m town.—H, 0. ##«ers, Melford House. . __^^^ # WANTED Known—The "Strong wear " Boot is the best for Men adies*^ Children.—W. H. Collier. 'TTTANTEI) Ay&vy man m the Counly W to have a ayit $ f;he Ashburton Tiveeds.—Robert Axcoks, burton (bathing Mart, Saunder's Buildm»*. j Known—The Cheapest: ¥V Shop to buy Tinware and Gal vanwed Iron goods m A»#fejrton, is at W. F, Hannafori/s, B,urn«tt i&.*sM; . A arg.e stock keyfc on hand. _ Tin and ivoc i ware goods wn4& md repaired with des_- j patch. j OOTS, BOOTH. **KeejrFw- fc^ Dry and save Doctor's Brijk. have a splendid Stock m now. Try W Double-soled Shooters. Every pair Guaranteed. Robert Algorn, Ashbur toa plothin? Mart, Saunters'



-VTOTWHSTANDING continue to fe ports ot the succes-s of other Machines, THEDEERIHG ALL STEEL TWINE BINDER, CONTINUES TO HOLD ITS Oil Having, during the last two Seasons, tenured upwards of 6O'PJRIZES In the Australasian Colonies. The Machine as now offered is a marvel of SIMPLICITY, STRENGTH, and DURABILITY. Actual experience proving that THE DEERING Requires fewer extra parts than Any Machine m the fteld. The Undersigned has now on hand a LARGE ASSORTMENT of duplicates (extras), and ia therefore ready for emer gencies. Twines, Oils Corn Sacks, &c« John G. Res tell WOOL STORES WEST STREET, ASHBURTON. 24th December, 1890. Massey-Toronto Light Binder. LIGHTEST IN DRAFT. SUREST TO TIE. EASIEST TO MANAGE. SWIFTEST TO CUT, THE LONGEST LIVED.! MOST SCIENTIFICALLY MADE Stationary Axle AND Raise and Lower Style 6, 6, and 7 FEET CUTS. Of the latter only very fewjon hand. £2000 Worth of Extras m Stock, which wil be supplied to farmers at manufacturer's prices N nt, any time DAY OR NIGHT. FRIEDLANDER BROS. Ulßlll'B HlfflM!) f OBIT DON'T talk to me of Eau-de vie T'would raise * Scotchman's dander, For nectar true o' Highland dew Just go to Henky Zander. He that wad shrink frae sic a drink Maun be a gowk or gander, Whisky for me, and let it be The brew o' Hesry Zander. He'sauld "KilmarnockV famous brand An' "Power's," even grander, Eh ! but it's fine ! " Here's Aui Langsyne ! And "Here's tae Henry Zander " _ 121140 THE COLONIAL M'OTffl COMPAP 0? IBW MIND qriRE AND MARINE ) f"PHE Business of this CDmpany has \ been TRANSFERRED to the COMMFRCIAL UNION ASSURANCE COMPANY, Limited, of London, by whom, through the various Branches and Agencies m New Zealand, all accounts owing to and by and all losses under the Colonial Insurance Company's policies will be settled m future. F. ALLEN, General Manager. Wellington, New Zealand, December 11th, 1890. THE COMMERCIAL UNION ASSUR ANCE COMPANY, (Limited) Established 1861. Incorporated under Act of Parliament, 7 and 8 Vie, Cap. 110. Head Office : 19 and 20 Cornhill, London Capital fully subscribed ... £2,500,000 Total Invested Funds ... 2,351,707 Total Annual Nett Income... 1,132,239 HEAD OFFICE fob NEW ZEALAND : Lambton Quay, Wellington. With Local Boards of Advice m Australia and New Zealand. General Manager for New Zealand : FRANK ALLEN, J P. Every description of Fire nd Marine Insurance effected ab LOWEST CURBEJfIT EATES CUFF & GRAHAM, Managers for Canterbury, Christchurch. ACMFTS FOR ASHBUKTON '. FRIEDLANDER BROS 22 ** first! first. first. A T the LARGEST FIELD TRIAL Held m Australia ihis Season The Brantford WAS PLACED FIRST, *^ defeating seven other maelrines, THIS IS GENUINE. THE ONLY STRING BINDER THAT CAN CUT AND TIE GRASS SEED* TESTIMONIAL. I have cut with a 7ft Brantford Binder purchased last season, about seven acres of ryegrass for seed. The crop was very short and thin, being on light ground. The machine did its work perfectly, both cutting, binding and tying without a hitch, and I consider the Brant ford the \ best on the market, and the only machine I fit to tackle a light crop of grass. I 12§1O1 Geqwe Col. . \