The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. "TUESDAY, MAY 5, 1891. ENGLISH M.P,'s.

Latterly we have had a number of unpleasant instances of the fact that not only can you not make gentlemen by Act of Parliament, but even that those who are the makers of Acts of Parliament,and themselves members of the first assembly of gentlemen m the world, are not always gent'emen, nor even decently well-behaved citizens. One swallow does not pjake a summer it is true, a,id it is quite possible that the visit of those birds by twos and threes might happen mnder exceptional circumstances at an abnormal season. In the like manner it may and does sometimes occur that crimes and offences appear m batches without any cause for their, gregariousness being readily discoverable or indeed, per haps, existing a£ &il ? other than the mere operation, of blind piianc^ Still it is nevertheless apt to induce an un pleasant suspicion that the tone of society is changing for the worse when we meet, &s ?^e have recently done, with so many instance* of injquity m high places. Not so very long ago a number of so-called gentlemen, efficers, legislators and others, expatriated themselves beeaus# unable to meet a terrible accusation which r#fited upon an infamy such as caused the direst vengeance of heaven upon certain old woild cities; and now we again hear of charges against members of Parliament df almost, if not quite, us black a nature. This is more than deplorable;: it is a national disgrace, And there is room to fear that m these latter day* there are cankeri beneath the surface of* society wfritf* threaten national

disaster. Nor iss it only tint some of r-ur Imperial legislators have shown themselves to be lost to all sense of moral rectitude or oven decency, there are yet others who, while perhaps above reproach as to their moral con duct, are yet to the last degree oblivious of the necessity of upholding that law and order without which the safeguard ing of individual liberty is impossible. And it is infinitely to be regretted that we should find, as the cable news informs us, was the case thef other day, an English member of Parliament making himself prominent among an assemblage of French Anarchists. In deed, not only is this using the influence which the position of a member of the Imperial Parliament confers to the detriment of the peace of a country, which is an ally of England, butj it is calculated for that very reason to aid towards imperilling the continuance of the entente cordiale which now so happily obtains. Of course the foolish act of one man is but the act of one man, but it is none the less to be regretted^ and it is sincerely to be hoped that the M.P. referred to will remain without imitators m so dangerous and foolish a departure.

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Sign m a prohibition town m New Jersey: -—" Soda water, root beer, ginger ale, sarsa parilla, ETC." A special meeting of the members of the Ashburton Choral Society is called for this evening at Mr Gates' Rooms, Saunders' Buildings. I A familiar phrase says that " Whittiugton was thrice Lord Mayor of London." In reality he was four times—a. d. 1397, 1398, 1406, and 1409. A Dunedin telegram says that the Otnimi Dairy Factory ha 9 received an intimation that the cheese shipped to London per the Ruapehu realised 55s to 5Sa per cwt. A Chicago grand jury has found a true bill against JVlr Gibson, secretary of the Whisky Trust, for attempting to bribe a man to blow up a distillery with dynamite. It is reported from New York that Mr Henry George has had a touch of asphasia, and tnat he has been warned by his physi cians not to attempt any literary or active political work for some time to come. February, 1891, will be remembered as the driest month on record m London. The so called raintall was only 0.04 in, and of this 0.03 in was clue to wet fogs, not to rain S roper, although the average quantity is l^in. Co rain at all fell at Cambridge. At the Umballa Spring meeting the Elles* mere-bred pony Frisky won the Derby, value 950 rupees, from the English pony Midnight (9.1.), but as she carried wrong weight—B, 10 instead of 9. I—she was disqualified, and the stakes awarded to Midnight. We congratulate Mr J. B. Mayne, Head master of the Ashburton Borough School on having achieved hisß.A. degree, thatgentle man's name appearing m the list published yesterday, of degrees conferred by the University Senate. The slow growth of population m France and the unwillingness of young people to snarry are social facts which are forcing themselves upon the attention of the Govern ment, and th< re is now a Bill before the Chambecs for the imposition of a heavy tax on bachelors. A meeting of the Tinwald Domain Board was held on Friday. Present — Messrs Wright, Grigg, Walker, Scott, and Gates. Mr Scott was given leave of absence during the time of his visit to England. Mr Gates was elected Chairman of the Board, and was authorised to procure new iron gates for the Domain, and to have some planting done. By advertinement elsewhere burg«sscs arc invit-cd to be present on Monday evening next,' at 8.30, at the public presenta tion by the Mayor of an illuminated address to Sergeant Moller. The presentation is to be made by the Mayor of Ashburton at the request of the Hokitfka Borough Council, for the citizens of Hokifika. According to the Wellington correspon dent of the "Press" it is stated that the Government contemplates asking Parliament to vote a suitable sum for a fire-proof build ing to hold the Parliamentary Library, This is a very necessary work, as should a fire break out m the present wooden build, ing the consequences would be most dis astrous. *' How do you like the character of St Paul ?" asked a parson of his landlady one day, during a conversation about the old saints and Apostles; "Ah !" said she, "he was a good clever old soul, I know, for once he said, yoa remember, that we must eat what is set before us, and ask no questions for conscience sake. I always thonght I should like him for a boarder." The Merivale Opera Company, at present m Melbourne, will commence a tour of the colony at Dunedin on the Queen's Birthday. Mr W. A. Jinkins who has been paving the way for the phonograph will be the advance agent. The Company is an extremely strong one, and will include Miss Ffttiny Liddiard and Miss Clara Merivale, while among the gentlemenwill be Mr Hodgson, the new tenor, and Mr Snazelle. At the Canterbury Land Board meeting last Thursday the following allotments were granted on perpetual lease :—2OO acres, Block 2, Rangitata district, to J. T. Charles; 640 acr«B, Block 14, Shepherd's Bush, Miss L. S. Anderson: 840 acres, BJock 1 (Ran gitfcta) and 14 {Shepherd's Bnsh)| to Ro.be.rt Anderson-; 320 acres, Block 14', Shepherd's Bush, to Miss Esther Elizabeth Anderson; Lots I and 2, Reserve 350, 280 a Bp, to Francis W ; Tarb^tqn; Lot' 7, Reserve 1261, 1 acre, to Anthony Grqwe ; hot 11, Reserve 1291, I acre, to John Crowe. ' ' A correspondent writes to a Home paper from Berlin :—Emperor William of Germany it is stated, is perfectly aware that the j malady he has m his ears may at any moment become dangerous, and the doctors have not hid from his Majesty that the state of his health ia a grave one, and so the young Emperor has arranged all hia affairs, so as to be ready for any eventuality. It is assertod that the continual voyages his Majesty has made are precisely because he requires change of air and scene, for he has often feverish attacks and great access of pain, which oblige him to remain upright m an arm-chair made on purpose fcjj? him. It appears that not only change of air anq! scene atek necessary for him, but change of persons m his entour age also. A good stoi*y comes to " Mercutio " from the Summer Isles of Edin." A storekeeper on Savage Island has two stores. He got tired of paying hhe Natives stiff prices for carrying gooffs between the two stores, and, consequently imported sj, donkey, greatly to the disgust of the aboriginals. The first trip of the donkey between the stores they piled up fchs load on the animal,' the result being that it Jay -down on the road ? and went on strike, The natives gafc twq poles, and slinging the donkey and the pack on the poles, they carried both on to the store, and charged the storekeeper for carrying the stores— also th°. donkey. That store keeper has come to the conclusion that the <(ld adage is true—one has little satisfaction m ridhig tl}§ donkey, and still less when it is carried i Barbed wire has become a very «oinmpa fencing material on the farm, but a recent English County Court decision may have the effect of checking its use m those cases where pwo properties meet, especially if one occupjur #bjeo;fcs to its use. An occupier m mending a gap <?UQ3« to use barbed wire. His neighbour turned out a valuable mare on the othtr side of the fence, with'"the result that she was found with a serious lacerated wound, such as might have been paused Ijjr barbed wire, on her right fore leg. There way no <ji.cj;ua} proof that the wound was caused: by the wire, and indeed the :■ expert witnesses contradicted each' other ag to the possibility of its being so caused. $hj3 judge, however, held a very strong opinion. TjCe found that the wire caused frhe wound, that th« fact thajb fche wire being #ffc vithin £he defendant's boundary was no jp i-v bHw, »»<i awarded tfoe plaintiff £21 and cost*,

The telephone is to be extended from , Wooclbury to Peel Forest. The Christchurch City Council have leased their tramway line to the New Brighton Company at a rental that will pay seven per cent on the cost of the line to the Council, and the Council still retains its right to run iU dust and refuse over the line to New Brighton depot. The pro rata distribution of the sum voted by Parliament to Volunteers tor volley firing will be decided this year by the score made by those firing for each company being fc'.lded up and divided by the actual enrolled strength of the corps on that date, exclusive of officers, sergeants, and buglers. Each company will fire ten volleys, and should any corps tie, five rounds per man will be fired to decide. Lord Herschell has introduced a Bill m the House of Lorda to render penal the inciting boys to betting. He proposes to make it a misdemeanbur,.-if> anyone, for the purpose of earning profit, sends to a person whem he knows to be an "infant" any cir cular, notice, , letter, telegram, or other document which invites the person receiving it to make a bet. The penalty is to be im prisonment for p, term not exceeding three months, ar a fine not exceeding £100, or both imprisonment and fine. A member of a university or other place of education is an infant of necessity. The "Evening Post" is responsible for the following "yarn":^—lt is well known that Her Majesty, who has been.Sir Grey's warm friend, has intimated to him her desire to see him once more, and that she is most anxious to heal the domestic estrangement whieh^ has so long existed between Lady Grey and Sir George. Efforts to do this were made when he Was last m England, and if they failed it was understood that Sir George was not. the party responsible for that result. The persuasions of her Majesty and other friends are said now to have more favourably disposed Lady Grey towards reconciliation, and if Sir George can be induced to go home, this happy event would probably take place at once. The Lighting Committee of the Christ church City Council last nigbt recommended the Council to enter into a contract with the New Zealand Electrical Syndicate for light ing the streets for twenty years for £2000 per year. The Secretary of the Gas Com pany wrote, pointing out that the Council had undertaken, on account of certain con sessions by the Gas Company, not to go m for electric lighting for three years, from February 1890, and requesting that, if.it were decided to enter intio a twenty years' lighting contract, tenders should be calledfor, The Mayor stated that the representative of the Electrical Syndicate was willing to enttr into a contiact for seven, fourteen, or twenty j years. The matter was adjourned for a 1 month to obtain legal opinion on the point raised by the Gas Company, and further in formation. Holloway's Oiktment and Pills.—A winter advances and the weather becomes more and more inclement and trying ths earliest evidences of ill health must be immediately checked and removed, or a slight illness may reauit m a serious malady. Relaxed and sore throat, quinsey, influenza, chronic cough, bronchitis, and moafc other pulmonary affections will be relieved by rubbing this cooling ointment into the skin as nearly as practicable to the seat of mis chief. This treatment, simple yet effective, is admirably adapted for the removal of these diseases during infancy and youth. Old asthmatic invalids will derive marvellous relief from the use of Hoiloway's remedies, which have wonderfully relieved many such sufferers, and re-established health fater every other means had signally failed. Keating's Cough Lozekges cures Cough Asthma, Bronchitis, Medical testimony states that no other medicine is so effectual m the cure of these dangerous maladies One Lozenge alone gives ease, one or jbwo at bedtime ensuaes rest. For relieving difficulty of breathing they are invaluable. They con tain no opium nor any violent drug. Sold by all Chemists, m tins, is IJd and 2s 9d each We clip the following important testimo nial from the " Illawarra M«sf cury '(N.S.W , of the 30th March. It, needs no comment: — ' Mr John Loveday, of the Bulli Movwitains writes to us that after suffering for four years with acute gravel, he has experienced almost complete relief by using Sander and Sons' Eucalyptic Extract. He says : —" Seeing the : said Extract advertised m the ' Illawarra Mercury,' his intense suffering induced him to obtain a bottle of the medicine from Mr Hosking, chemist, of this town, and that the use of it gave him great relief at once. He states that between 10th March iiist., when he obtained the first bottle of the extract, and the 19th, the use of that medicine continued to afford him relief, to which he had been a stranger for four years. Mr Loveday writes also that he has found the Eucalypti Extract 1 cure for rheumatism as well as gravel. He requests ks to publish tiiis information through the' Mercury.' We have much pleasure m complying with Mr Loveday's request, whose word cannot be doubted, and who can have no object iv view other than a pure desire to benefit suffering humanity. "—(Advt.) 2.

Mr Justice Edwards' Case.

(pee pbess association.)

Wellington, May 4. Il is understood that proceedings m the Ed wards'case wi 11 becomm enced to-morrow Mr Gully, as Crown Solicitor, m name of the Attorney-General, and the form will be m the nature of a " quo warranto " to ascertain by what warrant Mr Edwards acts as judge, and if he sets up his commis sion, to pray that it be cancelled as issued ijlegally.

The Mashonaland Expedition.

[FE.II KJ.ESS ASSQOJATieN.

[Received May 5, 10.45 a.m.] Fbetoiha, May 4, It is reported that President Kruger is powerless to check the Boer expedi tion to Mashonaland.

THE IRISH LAND QUESTION.

Latest Cable News

Home and Fpveifirn.

(per peess association.)

May 5. 10 a.m.\

London, May 4. Speaking at Newbridge Mr Parnell said he hoped that as the result of the Irish Land Purchase Bill the Govern ment would grant sixty million pounds to enable the tenants to become owners Of the land.

AUSTRALIAN.

* (Received May 5, 10.30 a.m.) DIPHTHERIA IN" NEW SOUTH WALES. Sydney, May 5. A serious outbreak of diphtheria is reported near Wagga Wagga, where seven members of one family named Adams succumbed.

THE KOCH REMEDY.

Melboubne. May 5. A post mortem examination of the body of a girl, {j.ged seven, who died after treatment with KocH^ tubercu line, disclosed no appearance that the lymph had Jiad any effect whatever on tjie course of the disease.

EXPORT OF BUTTER.

\ Th« Government haive, decided to Abolish the butter bonus as they find nine-tenths of \\, go into the pdekets pi the qitj weFcbants. ; ; j :

THE PUBLIC TRUST OFFICE.

One of the institutions that a paternal, not to say grandmotherly, Government m times past established for-the benefit of those who wished to be easy m their minds as to the trustees, or executors to whom they mi^ht confide their real or personal estate is" the Public Trust Oflice, which was designed to do all that private trustees could do, with the additional safeguard of Govern ment security. Until a few days ago there was no suspiaion of any irregu larity m the administration of the Office, although there have been com plaints respecting various small matters —as is inevitable from the nature of the transactions. The revelations made m the report of the Commis sioners appointed to enquire into the working of the Office thus caused universal astonishment, and the astonishment cannot fail to be accom panied by indignation that the dis creditable state of affairs exposed by the Commissioners should, under any system of supervision or audit what ever, have been so long permitted to exist. The Commissioners did rightly m making the Government acquainted with their discoveries as soon as they had assured themselves of their im portance, and though . their progress report, as it may be called, is as damaging as it could well be, it must be borne m mind that their enquiries are not nearly completed. So far they report that the system of keeping books and records is bad. The book-keeping is said to be on a plan introduced by a former Public Trustee and approved by the Audit Depart ment, and of which bhe principal characteristics are that the debit and credit sides are reversed, and neither the Public Trustee nor the chief clerk understood it, The officers had to confess themselves ignorant of the laws and regulations which should have guided them m the discharge of their duties. Inventories of personal effects were loosely taken and tiot iv all cases kept, and it is alleged that on different occasions valuable articles mysteriously disappeared. Relatives of deceased persons whose estates were adminis tered by the Office could not obtain articles which they wished to have as relics, and which there was, no reason should be sold, far less lost sight of altogether. The evidence as to the manner m,, which sales of personal property were conducted is simply astounding. Officers and their friends were allowed to examine the articles beforehand, and then at the sales the auctioneers' clerks were in structed as to values and bought for the officers and their friends, generally at their own Valuations, such articles as they might desire. Gold and silver watches, jewellery, binocular glasses, and even clothing were snapped up m this way. It is asserted that personal property was m this way sacrificed m a most reckless manner, without any necessity existing for such sacrifices, and m spite of urgent protests on the part of rslatives at a distance, some of whom desired to preserve the articles for the sake of associations, apart from theii* value. One most remarkable statement is to the effect that a Minister of the Crown requester! an officer of the Department to let him know when any jewellery w&s toj be sold by the department on siecount of aji intestate, as he wished to get a watch or two for hia sons. The officer, it is stated, accordingly took up some watchos to Government Buildings on approval, whereupon the Minister m question selected two and named the price he would give for them, the result being that they were duly knocked down to him at that price m the auction room. It is some satis faction to know that the names of many of those who took part m these transactions—Minister, officers, and auctioneers included—are freely men tioned m the evidence, and it is safe to assume that though, as we are told, the officers saw no impropriety m their proceedings, the Government will not see things quite m the same light. In fact, the evidence as to wrongful dealings with personal property has already been submitted lo the Qrawn Jaw officers, and they have advised that the facts disclosed show prima facie a breach of trust on the part of five of the principal officers of the- Depart ment. Real estate does not appear to have been tampered with ; and the charges of undue delay m furnishing accounts of estates may be explainable by thq very slqw^ progress usually made jri such business. The Public Trust Office should above all things be above suspicion. Public confidence has been placed m it to a very large extent, and will satisfy, the public. n.Q\y b,ut a thpijough re-prgan,isatiqn q'f the Oflice, the introduction of bgoks that can be understood by those who keep them, the taking of complete inven tories of personalties, and an efficient audit. Those who are responsible for, qt have participated m the scandalous, dealings brought to light by the Commissioners, may be left to the Government to deal with.

The Weather.

TEMPERATURE AND RAINFALL AT CHETTSEI FOR APRIL.

High School Board.

A jneetjng of the Ashburton High School Board was held at" the County Council offices on Friday, Present—Messrs W. Q. \Valker (chairman), ,G. Jameson, J. Orr, D. Williamson, and A. Orr, Correspondence was read from the Govern ment asking for satistics, and the Secretary's reply. t qphe Audit Office neturned statement) of accounts duly certified. The lioard of Education notified the appointment of Messrs Williamson and ij. Qrr aa members of the Board. | ThF?« te«dey« fa lease of R,!S, \\%\ J

received. Mr r Chs,rles Reid's tender was the highest, and was accepted. A list of outstanding fees, etc., due to the Board was submitted. It was- resolved that the Headmaster be relieved "of the clerical work, and that a Secretary be appointed. Messrs Jameson and J.Ofir were appointed a Committee to draw uri schedule of duties, etc. The Headmaster reported that the number of pupils on the roll was keeping up to the average ; and there were prospects of addi tions very shortly.

Wesley Memorial Service in Edinburgh.

St Giles, the Cathedral of Presby terianisui, was completely crowded on Monday evening (March 2) on the occasion of the commemoration, of the centenary of the death of the founder of Methodism. The service partook of acivicand indeed of a national charac ter, The Lord Provost, Magistrates, and Town Councillors attended m their official robes, and the University was represented by the principal, Sir William Muir. The tribute paid by the city authorities to the memory of John Wesley appears especially grace! ful when it is recollected, that he had on one occasion suffered arrest at the hands of the Sheriff, of Edinburgh on au unfounded charge. . A noteworthy feature of this service, too, was the part taken m it by representatives of; the three great brarc'ies of the National Church m the persons of Dr Cameron Lees, Dr Thomson, Professor Marcus Dods, and Professor Laidlaw. The Rev W. J. Dawsou, of St. John's tVes leyan Church, Glasgow, preached a Very elequent and appropriate sermon upon the character, mission, and success of John Wesley, whs, he pointed out, was one of those men that belonged not to one church, but to Christianity. One of the most effective passages m Mr Dawson s sermon was that m which he referred to the generally acknowledged fact that it was the evangelical revival m which Wesley played so prominent a part that saved the nation from a similar revolution to that m France. "The very men," he said, " who would have made magnificent mob leaders John Wesley converted and made class leaders. The very men who would have fought with the ferocity of tigers behind English barricades John Wesley made the soldiers of Christ, and en- 5 listed m the crusades of humanity; and while the Marsellaise was being sung from end to end of France to an accompaniment of pillage, and of ravage, and of massacre, John \Vesley and his itinerant preachers were going up and down these realms singing the Marsellaise of Methodism." During the service a number of Wesley's well known hymns were sung under the leading of the united choirs of the city Wesleyan churches.—"New Zealand Herald " correspondent.

An All-Round Intellec- tual Man.

He was up m mathematics, had a taste for hydrostatics, and could talk about astronomy from Aristarchus down. ; He could tell what kind of beans were devoured by the Chaldeans, and knew the date of every joke made by j circua clown, ' He was versed m evolution, and would instance the poor Russian a3 a type of despotism m the modern age of man. He could write a page of matter on the different kinds of batter used m making flinty ghncraeks on the modern cooking plan. He could revel m statistics, he was well up iti the fistics, knew the pedigree of horses dating way back to the Ark, Far and wide his tips were quoted, and his base ball stuff was noted. In political predictions he would always i hit the mark. He could write upon the tariff, and he didn't seem to care if ho was called on to review a book mv write a poem or two. ' He could boil down stuff and edit, knew the value of acredit, and could hustle with the telegraph m style excelled by few. He could tell just how a fire should be handled ; as a liar he was sure to exercise a wise discriminative taste. He was mild and yet undaunted, ajicl no matter what was wanted he was sure to get \b firit, yet never was m haste, i Bu,t despite his reputation as a brainy aggregatioa he was known to he deficient m a manner to provoke ; For no matter when you met him he would borrow when you let him, and he seemed to have the faculty of always being broke. Tom Mason, m the "Journalist."

Oamaru Produce Market.

"• The North Otago Times " of the 4th inst report* :—The fall of 6d m the Home market has had the effect of steadying the local market. However, the market is steady and firm, and m the early part of the weg}; aamia small lines changed Jiangs afc 4s,' 2d, and one line for seed wheat was purchased at 4si 2^d, The business d.«i'i»g the week has been very limited,*and towards the end of the week merchants were not inclined to purchase at the figures expected by, farmers. There have been a few lin.es of Tuscan sold at up to i* 2|d, and velvet has been purchased from 4s t« 4s Id; Mold's ennobled, straw, and chaff wheats, from 3s lOd to 3 lid. Oats are without alteration, and short are quoted at Is 4d to Is 5d ; dun oats, Is 4d ; Tartar^ la 3d to Is 4djand Danish, 24 to I* 3d. Barley has been purchased at 3s ?d to 2s $d, "Pqt&oes have slackened off, and enquiry is lesa active for the tuber, and up to 27s 6d has been paid for store delivered. The other markets are unaltered. Dairy produce is active- Owing to the late prolonged drought butter is getting scarcer, and the price has gone up to lOd to Is; eggs, Is 3d.

Mount Hutt Road Board.

The annual meeting of the BQurcl was held on Monday, Present — Messrs Cameron, Browne and Morgan. As the accounts had not yet been audited, the meeting was adjourned till such was done. The annual meeting or ratepayers of the Mount Hutt district was held the same day; Present- Messrs Cameron, Browne, Morgan, and Orr. The Board's accounts not having been audited, the meeting was adjourned till such had been done. A discussion took place re charges on freight on the Methven line, and it was decided to call a public meeting to discuss the gam c on Th ursday, May 14th.

CORRESPONDENCE.

(We do not hold ourselves responsible-fijjr ihs '. 1 opinions «xpreM«d by our correspondents.) - I

HAMPSTEAD SCHOOL COMMITTEE MR SMITH IN REPLY.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, - -The reply to my letter of the 28th ult. by Mr J. C. Bell, .which ap-. peared m the "Guardian" of Saturday nijfht, emanated from the wrong source. My letter was written with special bearing ox the conduct of the Chairmnn'and niem bera of the late Committee of the Hamp -Btead school, an 1 from one or all of them should come the reply, and at least ;bear in^ the signature of the Chairman.^ As, however, Mr Bell has taken upon himself to "cats-paw" or "champion" jtheir cause, I do not think that I have a! very formidable foe to meet. Mr Bell isi pre eminently the man to pilot the late Com mittee through their "sea of troubles." As he is their Secretary^' who was present at all their meetings, and who knows all their transactions, he should certainly 1 • the man to demolish all their opponents. Excepting Home fair average "fencing" the letter bears a decidedly conciliatory tone, and on that account I need not: pro- i long the controversy. Still, there are a few items m his letter which demand passing notice. Mr Bell and the late Committee appear to have been Unaware that there was: " a chiel amang them takin notes/ and that their day of reckoning was at hand. But passing this over for the present, I will proceed to notice the items m ques tion. Referring to the rumors I men tioned, and to what Mr Bell styles.the "inconsiderate inrte and contradictory tenor " of my letter, and to my not "seek ing a more reliable source of information," I may inform him that I am not such a novice at letter-writing as to be bluffed out of the knowledge that solid facts- do sometimes exist m rumor, as unfortu nately the rumors which gained currency respecting the Committee were, m many cases, fully realised as truth. As to my ability, which Mr Bell doubts, of judging men's brains by their business ?.ctions, I may also inform him and the late Com mittee that my experience with, and power of observation on, men and manners of our time are not so limited as to be unable to dstinguish between sound-brained and comparatively brainless men, By way of illustrating this (should Mr Bell desire it) I will gladly give a diagnosis of the intel lectual standard of each of the late Com mittee, and publish it m the " Guar dian." * It would probably be the means of explaining their many inconsistencies during their tenure of oltice. Respecting my style of criticism, he adds, "such critics as- Mr Smith would, no doubt, have suspected them of coloring the re ports to suit their own views." Consider ing these true rumors, I say most probably I would, and I have clearly shown that I, or any other sensible man, would be fully justified m doing so. Then Mr Bell in forms us that " neither as a matter of business nor good taste is. it the function of a public body or its officers to report their own actions." In some departments of the public service this would apply, and it is well for the lite Committee to be able to exercise this "function ;" as doubtlessly *' their own actions " and j Mr Bell's want of '* taste " for newspaper correspondence explain the paucity, of reports. Then, as to the dismissal of the teachers, we are informed that " the Committee were m no way responsible) for what was done." It was morally impossible for the very discreditable transactions to be done with out the full knowledge and Hpprovnl of the Committee, am 'without persuing the matter further, I may say that the great generosity and prompitude of tho Educa tion Board m re-instating the teachers must have been a salutiry lesson to them* The worst feature of the case is that ifc was done by men who had derived the greatest benefit from these very teachers m the form of careful and highly credit able training of their children! I am not likely to make "personal applications " to Mr Bell, or apply " for mally " to the Committee for information respecting their public duties, as all well organised Committees invariably send their reports to the newspapers to be published for the benefit of the house holders, and the same should have been done by the late Committee or its Secre tary. The latter challenges my remarks on the Committeeman who could neither read nor write. His position, useful or otherwise to the Committee, may be viewed m several ways ; for example, his deliberations would greatly depend on the moral gqur^ge, or perhaps the social condition, pi the man. If the Chairman werfi a man possessed of a strong resolu tion the more illiterate man would most probably be influenced by him, and like one of Charles Lever's characters " vote for his master " ; or he might be actuated by personal motiyjesj, and like the same character When a boy be '' anybody's son that will give me a job," and cast hi his lot to suit himself, rib matter whether his actions were detrimental or otherwise to the school. It mu.afc, therefore, be patent to, eyery, man that there are many ways of considering and criticising matters. As one; who has witnessed the rise and progress (and escape from downfall) «f the Hampstead school, I have a. perfect right to publicly criticise any irregulari ties m its management, whether by the Qomniittee or otherwise,, and instead of one of peace and progress as formerly, it has apparently been transformed of, late into a veritable H school for scandal/ and so long as I continue to take an interest m the institution I will do what little I can to protect it from the ** vile assaults of vulgar men," According to the custom m newspaper warfare this, closes my part m the dratua^ Thanking yog for inserting my letters.—l am etc., . - "-- W. W. Surra. Hampstead, May 4, 1891, ' [* Not if we Snow it,—E». •

THE FIRE BRIGADE AND THE COUNCIL.

TO TBK BDITOK. Sir,—l have a reply to Mr Quane's letter of last night ready, but as I find that a conference is to take place between the Fire Brigade and a''Committee of the Council en Thursday evening, I shall hold it over till after that meeting. I will take tnis opportunity, however, to deny that I was mainly instrumental m bringing about the disbandnient of the previous Brigade, and to add" that I have no desire io break up the present Brigade and run one of my own. I also deny that I, on leaving a meeting, met one of the firemen and remarked to him that " now I have the Brigade by the wool," I challenge Mr Quane to prove his state ments.—l am, etc., J. Keir.

Scientific Items.

- A SELF-LIGHTING LAMP; At the last meeting of the Physical Society m England an electric lamp was exhibited whjcb, lighted itself when dark ness came on and extinguished itself when daylight or another sfcroni? light wa&. brought into the field. The lamp 4s worked by a selenium cell on-the. principle that the strength of the current varies with the intensity of light falling on the selenium. ' ■ / ".* ▲ TRACK REGUSTEB., There was a car m the yard of the New Tprk Central at Forty-second street a few | days since which, wa»s a novel-specimen of a labor-saving machine. Inside tlie car is some clock-like mechanism which, as the | car goes over the track, records every de €Qt m the rails, Jf th« rail* have »prwd |

the thirty-second part of an inch beyond the standard width, or there is a loess joint or defective connection, the machine notes it all down, as well as the distance from onfl place fa> another. Formerly th's work was done by an army of men calied [track-walkers. ;vow a single machine does it with unfailing accuiasy. Ifc is proposed to develop the invention, so as to combine the detective mechanism of the car with nn erdhiiiry coach, so that mechanical examination*oMhftrtfcks can ; be made by the regu'ar trains. , ELECTRIC MOTORS. In America the npplication.of electro motors- to abmeStfc has 1 become. general. In- one city of tho | United States (Rochester)! there are over 500 electro-motors, varying from J-hcr.se power to. 15-horae power, actively at work ; and at prices so moderate that no one wiio wants power, and who caO get ib by the turning on of a handle, objects to pay the charges. Any small manufac turer, joiner, tailor, brassworker, printer, etc., ciiu get a motor fitted which will siveLi.n a horse-power during the working hours of the day for, roughly, a shilling a day One need not wonder that m most of the American cities thousands of horse power of electrical energy are being furnished daily for the most diverse pur poses. Tn New York alone the delivery of electric power m small units is over 1,500-horse power, and the demand for it increases rapidly every day.

The May Day Labor Demonstrations.

[per press association.] Romb. May 4. In the riots four Anarchist* were killed and thirty policemen wounded. Two hundred arrests were effected. Brussels, May 4. Several strikers were killed m riots at Liege. The colliers are now guarded by soldiers. .  London, May 4 A mass meeting is to be held m Hyde Park m support of the eight hours movement. Paris, May 4. The workmen at Fourmies attempted to secure their comrades who were arrested, whereupon the troops fired and killed seven. (Received May 6, 10 a.m.) Brussels, April 4. A state of siege has been proclaimed at Liege, and a .general strike is an nounced to take place to-day. Thirty thousand workmen have gone out on strike at Charler^i. • Madrid, May 4. The strikers at Valladolid compelled several thousand workmen who had remained, loyal to their masters to cease work, and threatened to sack the bakeries and mills m the city. The assistance of the police and military was invoked, and they succeeded ia dispersing the mob. (Rtsceived May 5, 10*45 a.m.) The Anarchists m Barcelona ex ploded several bombs m the streets, but no fatalities are reported. Bcda Pbsth, May 4. At Orassaza the laborers attacked the military with stones and knives. The soldiers opened fire on the mob killing several. Martial law has now been proclaimed. Paris, May 4. The action of the croops m firing tin workmen, who were trying to rescue their comrades is much resented m Fourmies, and further rioting will pro bably take place at the funeral of the victims. Two regiments of cavalry have been despatched thither to pre serve order. The rioters are importing dynamite, from Belgium, and three hundred kilogrammes have been seized on the frontier. Vienna, May 4. Fifteen thousand operatives at Billitzr and two thousand at Buda 3r>wtti have* been dismissed for refusing to work'on May Day. London, May 4. .. Twentiy-oi>e Durham colliers have been sent to prison for absenting them selves from work on May 1.

The Manipur Rising.

[I'SK PRESS ASSOCIATION.] ->'-" Cxwvtta, May 4. It has been ascertained that it was Commissioner Qufriton's intention to arrest Senapulty at the durbar at which the assassination took place. ■ It is probable Manipur will be for mally annexed. The pursuing party have returned to Manipur. They were unsuccessful m the endeavor to get on the trail of the fugitives,, .v vr v, - = (Received May 5, 10=a.m-1 Caujutta, May 4. Jobraj and Senapultywifcfc twenty followers have fled to Upper Condwin.

TELEGRAPHIC.

Home tincl Jr<xreifsni':, v [IER PEHSS ASBOCIATIOK.J London, May 4. Mr O'Brien, M.P., is. writing r ,j*,, navel, ■ ; v . - 5 .! ■ * fc r General Booth has opened a niatctiT factory. Barry Sullivan, the well-known actor, is dead. . . A despatch laid on the table of 'the House ol: Commons regarding the Behring Sea dispute, makes no refer ence to any arrangement between Mr Blame and the British Minister for olosing the season. Mr Paraell, speaking at Newbridg#, said he intended to keep m reserve m the {Paris BankY £450,000, to 'assist the tenants whose needs are not pro vided for by legislation, or are unable I to make terms with their landlords. <■ Valpaiuisov Btny- 4. ; The Chilian insurgents are forhring a provisional Government. Berlin, May 4. A commercial treaty between Aus tria and Germany has been signed. St John's, May 4.. ■■-•• ! The leaders of the bait smugglers, have been arrested, and order is now'" restored. Ottawa; May*. v' The Canadian Pacific Company ran ah express train from" Vancouver i&' Montreal m eighty-nine hours^ Faws, May 4; - ' Permission te bury the remains of the late Prince Napoleon m Corsica;:' was refused, because s it, was feared the occasion would be seized by the lin perialists to make a demonttntion. ' , r .

AUSTRALIAN.

MBLitopitint, May 4. „ The population of Victori»V'Accord^ ing to the census returns, is J,333,000. E Brisbane. May"4. vu~f' A Greek sailor rail amuck on th*

THF ABHBUBTON GUARDIAN, TUESDAY, MAY 5, 1891



<s I a 1 79 48 2 68 52 ,3 66 47 4 56. 43 ;8 & 32 § 59 38 ,7 72 44 H 62 40 9 73 40 10 H 49 13 74 60 12 81 49 13 75 46 14 68 51 15 70 52

*)'S3 0!01

6 a 16 17 18 19 20 21 on as 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

M A g j3 I a 70 36 60 32 0-58 43 0/Q3 68 34 " -62 42 59 U W St 63 54 T3 58 61 41 0*35 51 29 Oil 65 40 55 40 0-45 45 38 0-50 52 38

Total 2.36 in.



Tub Best Bemkdv fok Indigestion— Norton's Camomile Pills tare Ibonfideniy recommended as a simple reniedy iov Indigestion, which is the cause of nearly all the diseases to whipfl Vwa are subject Norton's Pills, with justice called the 'Natural Strengthener of the Human Stomach," act as a powerful tonic and gentle perient, arq mild m their operation, and afe under any circumstances. Sold, m bottles, at Is l|d, 2a 9d, lls, by all medicine endQ« thnwghQvt the wo 14 j



Wanted j CASH Advertisements under tli.-s heading not exceeding SIXTEEN WORDS 1/-. Addresses may be l«*ft at his Office. \7~OUR Character Read and Future JL foretold by Palmist from Dunedin Exhibition. East Street, two doors from Hoult's. WANTED.— A Six-roomed, House to rent or purchase, from June lar, 1891. Apply to Win;. Sparrow. 5 16 "T)IANOS and Organs, on very easy J.. terms. Inspection invited. H. M. Jones. .• .■ •■ ■-■■ J ■'"■'"" ' ' "." 5 15" /POOLING and invigorating Ice Cream \J as made by H. G. Flower, Con fectioner, East Street. ANTED Known—The "Strong wear " Boot is the bost for Mens Indies and Children.—W. H. Colliek. WANTED Known—Some special I lines m choice Dress Goods at I very low prices showing at "The Corner." . WANTED Known—That Andrew Ore is offering 80 Ladies Sealelte Jackets, newest styles, at moderate prices. 4§53 WANTED Known—Old Spoons and Forks Electro-plated and made equal to new at 15s per dozen all round. A. Black, Jeweller. East Street. 4 150 A SHBURTON Cycling Club. Dis /JL tribution of Prizes, Thursday, at 8 p.m., m Mrs Pearson's room, faring Square/ 5 40 ANTED, a first class ploughman and general farm hand. For particulars apply to Mrs Randwx, East Street, Ashburton. 5 39 "TT7 ANTED—A General Farm Hand, VV must be a good Ploughman. Apply to E. H. Dobson, Waipuna, Hinds. 5 29 ANTED7~Membera of the Star of \ the East Lodge to attend on Wednesday night. Business important. 5 41 MILLINERY. —Specially selected Paris styles m Hats and Bonnets. Mrs Gates has just returned from Sydney with all the latest ideas m Millinery.— Andrew Orr. 4" 154 WANTED Known.—Mrs J. Buch anan has opened as Fruiterer and Confectioner, next Messrs John Orr and Co., East Street. WANTED Known.—lt you want good value for your money go to Melford House. Cheapest first-class Drapery m town. —H. C. Skoeus, Melford Huuso ITT ANTED Known.—Mrs J. Buch- W an an, Fruiterer and Confectioner. Tea and coffee at all hours ; hot luncheon on Saturdays, 12 to 2. Next Messrs J. Orr and Co'fi, East Street. lUST opened a choice lot of Ladies t) Plush Jackets, newest shapes. Also a new lot of Ladies' Pelerines and Boas. —H. C. Seoers, Melford House. WANTED Known—That Andrew Okr is appointed agent for the cele brated Standard Boots. Every puir guaranteed. 4*54 WANTED Knowm — That Andrew Orr is offering at a treat reduction 250 pairs of best Kaiapoi and Roslyn Blankets, contracted for when wool was at its lowest price. 4§52 Tl7 ANTED Known.—'"c are now VV opening all our new Winter Goods m Drapery, Millinery, Clothing, Boots,. &c.—fl. C. Segjsks, Melford "House. WANTED every man m the County to have a suit of the Aahburton Tweeds.—Robert Alcorn, Ashburton piothing Mart, Saunder's Buildings. \l/ ANTED KNOWN, that the V V Foresters' Social will be h«ld m the Oddfellows Hal on Wednesday, May 13th. Tickets as usual. D. Amos, Secretary. 4 258 Q LASS, Earthenware, and China, direct from this Manufacturers.— Robert Alcorn, Tea Wareheuse and Ashburton Clothing Mart, Saunders' Buildings. T OCAL INDUSTRY. -Gents^^uits JLi made to order from £3 10s. Ladies Dress Tweeds, double-width Kaiapoi made, beautiful goods at 4s 6d. Six yards to the dress.—Andrew Orr. 4 155 TTANDSQME Presents giypn away ..LJL m June. Now giving tickets to every purchaser of 5s and upwards of Drapery, Millinery, Clothing, Boots, etc. —H. O. Segebs, Melford House f HKAP SALE of Surplus Stock will \ J be continued for this month only, Books, Stationery, Fan#y Goods, Music, etc., at Wholesale Prices to eSeci a clear ance. Subscribers wanted for monthly part* of Leinure Hour, Quiver, Gar dener's Magazine, American Agriculturist, English Mechanic, »nd ethers,—L. F. Andrewes jfc Coii



rublio Notices ~~ FOB .6 ALE. " 'DYE CORN. cape barley, tares, RAPE] This ia the time for sowing. WANTED TO PURCHASE— Last Season's Heavy Canadian OATS. JOHN G. RESTELL. money ji> lend. ~ TirONKY toi.Ltnd at LOW RATES OF INTEREST, en Mortgage of FRKI HOLD PROPERTY, m sums of JIOO TO__jgsooo . For further particulars apply to the restmaster, Athburton, or to J. C. PRUDHOE, District Agent. Government Iniuranee Office, Chrutckarth. ' Stephens Bros., MABKET HOUSE. NOTICE TO OUR CUSTOMERS AND THE PUBT .10. OWING to the demand being greatly m excess of our supply last season for the Patent Double Refined KERO SENE, we have made special arrange ments this year with the shippers for regular consignments during the winter mouths. The first we have just landed, AND IS NOW IN STOCK. It has many advantages over the ordinary Kerosene, and has no rival for Household Purposes, being perfectly pure, gives a mellow brilliant light, will not dazzle or affect the eye, is almost odourless, much more economical, absolutely safe, therefore dispenses with all riflk m handling and danger m using where there are Children. We have also all kinds of ENGLISH CANDLES m stock including— STKARINE* SPERM, PARRAFIN, WAX, ETC. Special quotations for Boxes, Oases, and Lafge Parcels. N.B.—All goods purchased from us can be returned if not satisfactory. Satisfac tion being our motto. STEPHENS BROS. MARKET HOUSE. __j^J^«ETj_^i.jtaoi..i££ia-^— CHRIS rCHCROH DENTAL SURGERY. Corner of Caahel and High streets SURGEON DENTIST And at Dunedin anJ Westport rtTE hare gained the FIRST AWARD VV at feh« Diinedin 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 fit at the most moderate cost A Single Artificial Tooth, 10s. Complete Set — Upper and Lower— temporary and permanent, *10 10s. Natural, Durable, Comfortable Artificial Teeth Replaced Temporarily al mosfc 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 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 ss. Extraction, 2a 6d. Artificial Teeth and Dentures made by other dentists repaired or remodelled at small ftosf _ AUTUMN, 1891. LATEST NOVELTIES IN ALL DEPARTMENTS 3S-CTW" OiN" VIEW AT THE NEW ZEALAND CLOTHING FACTORY rnVERYTHING new. New Shirts, t flj New Underclothing, New Scarfs an* Bows, New Hats, New Suits for Men, New Suits for Boys, Everything new and of the LATEST FASHIONS. New Tweeds and Coatings for Measure Baits to hand. Intpection Respectfully Solicited. NEW ZEALAND CLOTHING FACTORY* ja W H. WEBBER, Manager