The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1891. THE KAKANUI DISASTER.

One of the saddest things which has ever occurred in the history of New Zealand, is the loss of the steamship Kakanui with all hands—for there can be no reasonable doubt that the ill fated little steamer has foundered Avith every soul on board. And what adds an additional pang to the regret and sorrow which has been felt throughout the colony is that it now appears that there never was any necessity for her being despatched on her mistaken errand of rescue, the party employed by Mr Hatch at the Macquarries, and about whose condition so much unne cessary concern was aroused, having been all the while altogether out of reach of any danger of starvation. Thus they perished solely through the mistaken philanthropy of misinformed persons, and with them every soul who went to their relief. There has been a great deal of severe criticism after the event poured out on the heads of all concerned in. the despatch of the relief expedition, from the late Minister of Marine downwards, and we regret to notice that in his recent speech at Dunedin Mr Fish went even even farther than that and referred to the late Captain Eckhoft", who had formerly been in Mr Hatch's employ, but had had some dispute with that gentleman, in terms which appear to us to bear the construction that he (Captain Eckhoif) was at least led to take and to persuade others to take an alarmist view of the position of the shore party at the Macquarries, through the exis tence on his part of feelings of personal hostility or unfriendliness towards Mr Hatch. Any such notion on the part of Mr Fish or anyone else should be entirely dispelled by the manly letter in defence of Captain Eckhoff which appeared in the " Otago Daily Times " of Saturday last over the signature of John M. Fraser. But it seems to us that Mr Fraser succeeds in doing much more than merely clearing Captain .EckholFs memory, in that lie shows very clearly that although the event proved that the mission of the Kaka nui was entirely unnecessary, the facts, or reported facts, as they existed at the time she was despatched on. her errand fully justified such an effort being made. He says : The following are the facts which are not disputed by Mr Hatch :— 1. That the Awarua sailed for the Macquarries, from Invercargili,.on the Bth of March, 1890 with a party of seven men, two boys, and one woman for the Macquarrie Islands, 2. That the party took with them, six months' provisions, on which they would have to subsist from date of de parture from InvercargilJ, 3. That the Awarau arrived at the Macquaries on the 20th of April, 3.890. 4,. That the shore party were to be edited for again in September, 1890 by Mr Hatch's vessel 5 That the Gratitude, }£v Hatch's new ketch, came down from Sydney #GHie time in October or November, and w&s gent back to Sydney for another trip instead pf being sent to the Macquarries to ta^e <# the shore party—the result being that the (j-rati tude probably did not reach the islands until Jate in January, or some four months affcep the six months' supply of provisions taken down in March, might be reasonably expecte4 £o be consumed. Mr Hatch sjbated there was a quan tity of provisions gk tlj,e island when the Awarua arrived in March, and that he had no fears for the safety of his men ; but this, of course, he could nofc k»Q'vy of his own knowledge, as he ■was not one of the party on the island when theAwaruaai'i'ived. Capt. Eckhoff stated that the supply on the island when he arrived was of the scantiest, but suggested that one of the party in charge of the provisions, who returned with him on tjje back trip of the Awarua, should be eeitfiftunic&ted with. Captain Eckhoff then sent the '■ following telegram :—' .Reply promptly what stores on island when Awarua arrived April last. Important.' The answer was :— i Fortnight's stores for three men and very bad at that,' I may here state that I have communi-. <e3.fcisd lately with the sender, who writes n^e jbh&t Jus telegram was true to the letter." Assuming all this to be correct., we do not see how fault can be found with the, la,te Government for despatching a steamer to th<? Macquarries. The j mistake committed—and 4/9ubtless it | was a mistake—was in sending $o small, i $j)4 unsuitable a steamer as ifche! .Kakanui, which if wo remember rightly was never intended for an ocean going vessel at all. She ws^h built, we believe, some dozen years or so ago by i Messrs Sparrow and Co., of Dunedin to the o*<W pf the Meat Preserving Company, to run betwee/j. their works Kakanui Mouth and O/unarij- or J&uaedin and was really on-ly a rivet steamer g£ light draught certainly not fitted to encounter the h.-iavy seas ex-1 perienced in the neighborhood of Macquarries. That she was not* a suitable vessel for the errand on which she was despatched ought certainly to iiaye, been known to £he Marine pg partment, aud to that extent it is blameworthy, but to that £$.teut onlj,

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Borough School Concert takes place at the Oddfellows' Hall this evening. An excellent and popular programme which appears in cur advertising columns has been arranged ; several new performers as well as old favorites will take part, Tiie Bishop of Ohristclmrch who administers the Rite of Confirmation in St. Andrew's Churen, Tinwald, on Sunday morning next, will also conduct Divine Service in the Green street and Alford Forest Schoolrooms at 3. SO p.m. and 7 p.m. respectively. It is authoritatively announced that the Defence Office has sauctioned the enrolment of volunteers in the se/eral corps up to 30th April next, and an official notification to that effect has been issued. It is stated that the temperance party in Dunediu have decided that if,the moderate party will put forward at the next licensing election, candidates pledged to abolish bottle lieensesand to the closing of hotels at 10 o'clock no temperance candidates will oe nominated. If this pledge is not given a full prohibition ticket will be nominated. American express trains do not make as good time as those running on English lines, but competition at the East is stimulating fast travel. , The New York Central is now running an opposition to the Pennsylvania Company's limited express between New York and Chicago, and is doing some excel lent work. Over one section of the former's road, for a distance of 227 miles, an avei-age rat« of 57 21 miles an hour was made. It is probable that funds for the relief of the relatives of those who perished in the Kakanui will be raised in a, novel manner, viz., by a reaper and binder contest. The Massey . Binder representative having challenged tha Buckeye Harvester Company to a contest in Southland. Mr Oatway the manager of the latter has accepted the challenge, if the proceeds will be handed over to the Kakanui relief fund. A. few days ago we mentioned that it was at one time proposed to re-name Palmerston North " Ujiji." A new Plymouth journal has the suggestion that the name should be changed to "Salisbury," as a tribute to the noble lord. Apropos of which the " Oamaru Mail" declines to play second fiddle to Palmerston North, and if the towns of New Zealand are to adopt the names of the British aristocracy will claim " Dunlo " for Oamaru. "Backbone" is glad to be able to write favorably on the efforts the members of the Ashburton Cycling Club are making to ensure the success of their Easter meeting. From the number of men who are preparing there should be no lack of competition. Among those noticed on the track are Wall, Dunnage, Bennetts, H. Stewart, Pickford, Mathews, A. and E. Craighead, R. Curtis, H. Thompson, C. Moss, Williamsj and Mullaney. It is to be hoped that others who intend competing will get into form, and not leave it too late. For bhe pedestrian events some are training privately; the others should be up and doing. When the United States police arrested the Indian " Messiah," who was the cause of so much trouble among the Redskins in Red Cloud's camp, he was found, on his blankets being removed, to be a harmless "crank" named Hopkins, from Nassau, lowa. He claimed that he was here in the interests of. peace, but the Indians did not understand his message. He wanted to go to Bad Lands, but Agent Rogers sent him to Chadrin under a police escort. Some of the Indians were indignant af. his arrest.; others laughed, and said lie was a crazy fool. Last year a horse called Filemaker jumped 6 feet 9.^ inches, which was claimed by the owners of the animal to be the highest equine jump on record. The same horse is champion again this season and has beaten his own record. Recently he jumped in the presence of thousands of spectators at the Chicago Horse Show and accomplished 7 feet 2£ inches with a run of less that forty feet. The horse seems to be ma.de entirely for jumping. Ho has a gait like that of a rabbit, but without the speed of that creature ;in fact,.he has no speed at all, and can be distanced by the veriest " plug " that ever came upon a track. But when it comes to jumping he is without a rival. During the trip of the Mamari from Lon» don the special incident of the voyage, (says the "Sydney Morning Herald") was the sighting of theCrozcts. The steamer, under favourable circumstances of wind and wea ther, shaped a course close to the island, and was within a mile of the shore. Cap tain Maxwell, in the interests of humanity, and with the view of ascertaining whether there had been any wreck.?, or if any ship wrecked people were there, steamed slowly past, and kept the steam whistle blowing to attract attention. A good view was ob tained of the coastline and heights, and tha cairn set up by the survivors of the ship Strathrnore was distinctly visible. There was no sign or indication of people being about, and the Mamari sped away on her course. The subjoined letter, the " Wanganu} Herald" soys, has been received by Mr Woon from a native at Iruharama. The artless simplicity of the writer speaks for itself;—"To Mr Woon. Dear Friend, —I hope you are quite well and in good health as lam the same at present. May God bless y\)u audh§lp you in every work your ban '§ do. Dear friend, I am now going to send you a few words to ask you kindly please if you can give a 400 hundred of sheep and I give you £'20 in the year, but dear friend if you will give me the 400 hundred of sheeps j ast let me know and tell me the month and the clay for me to come down and bring the sheep up kere, or if you won't give let me know and tell me if you will have the £20 in the year or more than £%0 just is you like. —1 am your loving friend, etc., I'amatea Atjrunui, Salvation Army." Th.c advowson of a living in the diocese of Li»colu haying bgen advertised for sale, with the aniwuncenienti ttyat H tho present rector Is ageti seyenjiy.-oiie,-" the reverend gentleman appears to febjec't t,o having his "age thus advertised, and has mat the following notice to the county papers :—" L The ijefc income of the living is below £100. 2. About £200 must he expended on the church and rectory acjord'ing to *ec/;nt survey, as both are in a very dilapidated* state. Qoir t Q and see. 3. Although the facts are as above stated, the rector is in the enjoyment of the besfc of health, and never takes physic. He drinks ao intoxicating liquors of any kind. Never drank a glass of ale in Ms Ijfe. nor smoked tobacco or a cigar, nor did Le' eye;/ take a pinch of snuff. He his tlie youngest of seyen sons, and both his father and mother lived in this part of the universe upwards of ninety yc/jrs." Th'« rector evidently meaus to live 'long, a&<i .^i.ows the most likely way of effecting it. The cases against eight Maoiisf^r Jlkgally fishing in the VVaimakariri came on for hear ing at the Kaiapoi Court on Monday. The ,f!onrt-room was densely packed with both rjatiiv^t; &ud Europeans. Counsel for the defence came prepared with a formidable array of law books,' aii<i the fiourt was further furnished with the spoil caught in th<? shape of trout, which ainGG Deccnilj^r I), had been in the freezing chamber at Belfast, The nets comprising in each ssveial yards of aci-iin, w.ore also in evidence. Rev J.. W. Stack acted as interpreter of the Maori language. | AfacHimi'e of the fpeaiy of Waitangi was | produced, and a wholo library .of Kative I reports. Owing to the wet, close -weather, ! %\\& atmosphere of the Court soon became very and some of the witnesses and. spectators \j\\q could not obtain accom modation sought skelter iv ,tho police stable about 15 feet from the Court;, The defend ants were with some difficulty sorted into a < class, the R. M. placing Wiremu Urn at the toji. Thtro Mas a large attendance of Maori girls ; iv "fact, the whole Native population had put in an appearance. A£ $ p.m, the cases were adjourned until March' 9.— ■ " Press." ' i

Mr George Sumpter has been re-elected Chairman of the Omaru Harbor Board. This is the sixteenth year he has held the posi tion. At the Police Court this morning, before Mr A Harrison, a man from the country was .fined 5s with the usual alternative, for drunkenness. Mr E. Saunders has sold that good little horse Lewis to Mr C. Wynu Williams, of Christ-church. Besides being probably the best hunter of lu3 inches in New Zealand, Lewis has won races, his best performance iwing his winning the Ashburtou Hunt Club Cnp'in 1889. The annual meeting of the Canterbury Ci'cdonian Society was held at Christchurch oh Monday evening, when Mr W. Boag "was elected President for the ensuing year. Mr P. Cunningham announced his intention of giving £25 a year for three years towards establishing a scholarship, and others present promised donations for the purpose. The hallelujah wedding of captain Rattray, of Geraldine. to captain S.E. Noble, late of Akaroa, took placs in the Volunteer Hall, Gcraldine, on Sunday afternoon. The event attracted by far the largest audience that has ever gathered in the hall, there being fully 800 people present, including soldiers and friends from all parts of the district. Atl.yt telton on Monday afternoon a heavy South-east sea came rolling into the harbor, and the heaviest range known for years came into the inner harbor. The ship Albuera carried away her windlass, and damage to a certain extent was done to the bathing place protections. The water was breaking over the eastern breakwater during the afternoon, and the steam lighter Mullagh carried away her stern lines. A very heavy sea was running at Timaru on Monday, the Breakwater being swept from end to end. No damage was done, and the barques Rialto and Buthin rode safely at their moorings in the harbor. At ten minutes past seven last night a man named James Laughliu was swept off the break water opposite the end of the main wharf into the harbour and was rescued, much j exhausted, by the harbourmaster, Captain 1 Clarkson. At noon to-day the sea was still running very high. The Commissioner of Crown Lands lor South Australia, the Hon W. Copley, arrived at Auckland on his inspection of village settle ments on Monday. In an interview with a " Herald " representative he stated that he is much impressed with the natural resources of the colony, and the wonderful export of frozen meat to the Mother Country. For agricultural purposes he has seen nothing better than the land about Tiroarn and Oamaru, but he should the North Island as better adapted for stock. The trial of the Keir-Hunt potato digger, which was postponed from last week in consequence of bad weather, came off today on Mr Redmayne's farm, Tinwald. Owing to the unripe state of the crop, the rank haulms, and.a luxuriant growth of vegetation other than potatoes, only two rows were lifted. It was decided to remove the long greon haulms, etc., and essay the trial when that has been done. Such lifting as was done was efficient enough work, but the growth above-mentioned made it a very slow process owing to frequent choking. When the late Government was in office, the Wellington Trades Council suggested to the Minister for Education that there should be more uniformity in the instruction books used in state Schools. If there could not be uniformity, then they suggested that all school books should be issued free of charge, and should be printed at the Government Printing Office. The recommendations, however, wore apparently of no effect, as the communicaton was never replied to, nor was any alteration made in the present system. The Council, has again taken up the subject, and eventually instructed its newly-appointed Parliamentary Committee to take the matter in hand raid report progress at tho next meeting. The monthly meeting of the Hanipstead Town Board was held on Monday evening. Present—Messrs Andrews (chairman), Me Elrea, Meac'em, and C:ooks. The Ashbur ton Borough Council wrote stating that the question of a code of fire signals had been referred to the Wrc Brigade and Fire Brigade Committee. The Works Committee reported that they had replaced with brick work the timber portion of a culvert on the South road. The culvert had been partly of brick to begin with, mid partly of wood. The timber portion had become rotten, and the Committee had decided to complete the culvert, iv brickwork. Their action was approved. The Commit to al o recom mended the making oj: two small cuttings tlr ougli the Police Reserve. The work would cost f>i>s. The recommendation was adopted. The tender of Mr Mahood at £2 for renting Rfserve 1415 was accepted from March Ist, 1891, subject to approval by the Board's Solicitor. The Board resolved to place the matter of recovering arrears of rent due by last tenant in the hands of the Solicitor. It was resolved to ask the Police to prosecute the owners of unregistered dogs. Accouuts to the amount of £22 were passed for pay ment, and the Board adjourned. At Christchurch on Friday two "inexpe rienced young men " were fined 10s each and costs £2 I.Bs for cruelly over driving a mare belonging to Mr Jabez Lukey, last Anniver sary Day. They took the mare from the stable, in a d<~>g cxrt, in the morning and returned at half-past eleven at night. They admitted that they dro/e 44 miles, with two spells and feeds for tho mare. The groom who received the marc from them testified that he noticed that the mare was in a very bad condition, much blown and distressed. He washed its legs down, and put it into a box, where it almost immediately fell down. Tried Xq get it up again, but failed, and in about twenty minutes at the outside the horse was dead. • Examined it and found the near side covered with whip marks. Pro duced the saddle worn by the mare, which also showed whip marks. It had none when they went qufc Concluded from the marks on the animal that she l>ad been severely over driven and whipped. The'mare was fresh and healthy, and had not been out previously that day. A veterinary gurgeqn who made a po-tt mortem, on removing the skin found bruises with congealed blood on both shoulders and on the off rump, probably th result of continuous whipping. All the i ternal organH where healthy, but the dia phragm was ruptured ; this might have been caused by over driving, in this ci.se it pi'o bably was. The heart and lungs were in a highly congested state, and death was pro bably caused b^ ueyvqi'js exhaustion, the [ result of Qver:exei;tion, defendants denied that thty had oruolly'used the'horse, but the. Bench decided that they did not know at the time what cruelty to a horse ii, andhadbsen guilty of it in thsir ignorance. The fine was not a heavy one, but the young men will ijQ\y jjrobably have to pay for the mare as well, ' ,

British Agriculture in 1890

From first to last the weather of the dying year has been of an abnormal character. It began with a temperature more like that of May than what we ex pect in January, and in March we had the severest frosts of the season. Then came n sharp drought, followed by a long period of web weather, which lasted half through harvest. Next came an autumn of almost unprecedented dryness and sunniness, and lascly an early winter of unexampled permanence of severity. Yet the harvest, as iar as corn crops at least are concerned, has proved one of the best c^ rer gathered in, taking it all round, and nearly all the wheat and other winter crops have been sown, though h large pro portion unseasonably late, The prices of corn have been low throughout the year, except for a few weeks in August, when the average for wheat was over 35s a quarter. At present the weekly average is under 335, which is rery disappointing under the circumstances. The average for barley is under 295, and that for oats under 18s. Farmers will not grow rich with such prices, good as their crops are As to live stock, breeders have had another very prosperous year ; but feeders, who had to buy in stores at high prices in the spring, have very little margin left for the summer and autumn grazing after paying their cake bills. Dairy farming has not been in as satis factory a condition of lat« as it was a few years back, milk and butter having been very cheap during the plentiful season. Cheese, however, has sold pretty well nearly all through the year, and now butter is making high prices. A year ago there had been a great spurt in the wool trade, prices having been higher during the autumn than for many years before. But in the new year the markets soon became dull, and now values have gob back pretty well to the old level. In spite of this disadvantage flockrnabters have clone remarkably well, mutton as well as store sheep having kept up in price until a few weeks back, when there was a drop, which will probably prove only of a temporary character. On the whole the year 1890 has been one of the best-which farmers in this country have experienced since the long and dreary period of agricultural depression set in.— " Witness " correspondent.

Bismarck's Resignation.

In a summary of the events of the past year, M. Blowitz gives the readers of the "Times" a new and highly dramatic version of the circumstances attending Prince Bismarck's resignation. The cor respondent says:—"Bismarck . . . had latterly become an obstacle, an em barrassment, a cause of irritation for everybody, a contant difficulty in the des patch of public affairs. Of late he had seen none of the Ministers of whom he was chief. He was' almost inaccessible, received only those whom his caprice in vited around him, tolerated no objection, and listened with condescending smile— condemning them beforehand—to the ideas submitted to him by his young master. He had even ceased really to work. He had become the terror of all who had to approach him. Nobody ven tured to contradict him, and even William 11. saw him only occasionally either because lie was afraid of dis turbing him, or was irritated by his con duct. At last the moment came when the pupil, now the master confronted the master, now the. chief servant. The quarrel broke out on a minor question, and the Imperial discontent, long re strained, poured forth. The Chancellor, taken by surprise,»disconcertcd, ard sud denly said, ' Then I can only offer your Majesty my resignation.' The Emperor was silent. Prince Bismarck withdrew. Two houis afterwards, the resignation nob having arrived, tho Emperor sent an aide-de-camp. The Chancellor greeted him very affably, convinced that the lim pei'or wished hinv to go back and recon sider his idea of resignation. The fact was just the contrary. Prince Bismarck was aghast. The aide-de cunp had been scut for his written resignation. The Prince was v«ry uneasy, made an excuse for not having drawn it up, and deferred it till the morrow. On t] « morrrw the aidt-de-camp re-appeared. This time Prince Bismarck was calmer, bub agjiin he made an excuse, saying that before preparing his written resignation he was bound to pay a visit. - Prince Bismarck accordingly paid the visit, which —incredible as it may appear, but I can vouch for ib—was a visib to the "RlmproßS Frederick. Yes, in the panic of his fall, this man, who bub the day before had been die great Chancellor, stooped before her whom he had so long humbled. He begged her to intervene so as to prevent disasters to Germany, remorse to her ScTJreign, and unmerited humiliation to his most faithful servant. The Empress heard him out. She saw him humiliating himself before her, the man who had im placably hated her husband and herself, and who had sown distrust between son and father. And in a single sentence, becoming the mother, Empress, and woman, she returned to this cringing diplomatist all the insults which he had cast on her :—' I much regret being quite powqrlegs, I should have been, extremely glad to intervene with my son in your favor, bub you have so employed all yqur, power in estranging his heart from me, and making his mind foreign to mine, that I can only witness your fall without being afyie to ward it off for a moment, When you are no longer there my son W{ll perhaps draw nearer to me, bub ib will then b§ too late fqr me to help you.' The Prince, on returning home, found the aide-de-camp, who for the third time had come for his resignation, and he handed it to him.

CANADA AND THE STATES.

For some yeajis past \t has apparently been the policy of certain prominent politicians of the United States to direct a not inconsiderable part of their legislative energies to promoting me.a^ur.es calculated to irritate their Canadian neighbors. Jjxisting l^ws and treaties, too, have been so inter preted and administered as to lend aid to what we can only call a policy or e,xasp.pation, The fisheries treaties and the gustoms tariffe were the yehjcles for the infliction of roost qf the grievances of which Canadians haye had to complain, and both these subjects have lately been used very assiduously to stir up feelings of resentment among them. The long-standing differences re specting the fisheries question bade fair to be amicably settled during President Cleveland^ terra of office, but the Senate' rejected the proposed "treaty, and from that time forth the' attitude of whatever party has been in power, has been more and more unsatisfac tory. Even. Bresicjent Cleveland's Democratic Government, after the defeat of their treaty proposals, took up the policy of crushing Canadian trade with the States by means of a prohibitory tariff; and though the Republican p&i'tyj then, the opposition, prevented this measure from being carried, they, in turn, were no sooner in power than they adopted the same mvfiiendly policy, and ultimately suc ceeded in giving.it iegisiatn^ shape in the form of the Mdßinley the avowed object of which is to force Canada into a position of practical

subjection to,the United Stales. The' key to the recent policy of the United States is to be found in the proposal made in the Senate in 1889 to the j effect that Canada should be invited to enter into a commercial union with the States, with a view to paving the way 1 for absorption, either piecemeal or in the whole, into the" Republic. This resolution was not carried; but the I efforts were not dropped, and a few weeks later a similar proposal was made,; which, although it came to no tiling 1;»1 the effect of dissipating the idea that the proposition was first made—as was endeavoured to be shewn to the Imperial Government—merely as a party move. These transactions were not without their effect in Canada, and both political parties there suggested means of meeting the covert attacks from the south. The Liberals desired to meet the case by claiming from England the right to make their own treaties without reference to the Colonial office, under, which state of independence from Imperial control reciprocity with the States on con ditions perilously near a surrender to that country might be entered into. The Conservatives see a remedy in free trade with Britain and with the other British colonies—in other words in Imperial Federation. It is in this position, of affairs that Canada is approaching a general election. The question at issue is the momentous one, loyalty to England, or annexation to the United States ? The various phases of feeling in different parts of Canada and among the different nationalities of which the people of the Dominion are formed, make it difficult to cor rectly gauge the position of the country on any matter, and the outcome of the present unsatisfactory state of affairs is by no means easily to be seen. We must trust that loyalty will prevail, and so decidedly as to prevent the political adventurers of the Republic from further attempting to sap the foundations of Canadian allegiance to the Mother Country.

A GOOD CLIP.

Mr J. S. Fakner, of Boonoke and Moonbria stations, Riyerina, New South Wales, has forwarded to the" Pastoral Times," Deniliquin, a statement showing actual results of shearing of the merino nocks there in 1888, and also particulars of account sales of the 1889 clip. In 1889 504 bales of wool were obtained at the two stations from 22,350 sheep shorn in the grease. The net weight of greasy wool sold by Messrs Goldsbrough, Mort, and Co. and the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company wa* 2115cwt, 3qrs, 101b, and the price re alised was £9527 Us lid. The average shorn from each sheep was 101b 9f oz, and the average value of each fleece 8s 6|d. The statement gives details of weights shorn from all the different classes of sheep comprised in the flocks—viz., wethers, single stud ewe weaners,. flock stud ewe weaners, old stud crawlers, extra stud ewes to 12 and 14 years old, single stud ewes to 12 years old, flock ewes, flock ewe Weaners, culls and stags, and killing sheep and rams. Of course the rams give the heaviest average ; cf 373 .shorn there was an average of 181b 5 3-11 oz of greasy wool. The extra stud ewes, nothwithstanding their gteat age, up to 14 years, 181b 4 4-soz from 1095 sheep. 3197 wethers averaged 111b Boz, and 1979 single stud ewe weaners averaged 101b Gioz per fleece. The old worn cut sheep, tlie "shed crawlers," as they are termed, gave an average of 81b soz. During the year the culls and killing sheep, of which 2552 were shorn, averaged 71b 4 l-soz. Some interesting particulars of individual clips are referred to in the statement. A ram was purchased by Mr Virgoe, of Mathoura, a well known breeder of merinos from Mr Falkner at the Deniliquin. .show, 1890. The fleece from this ram was sent to Messrs Goldsbrough, Mort, and Co. with instructions to have it care fully weighed and scoured, so as to enable the owner, to fairly estimate the value of tlie animal for stud purposes. The report from the firm named showed that the fleece weighed 241b, and when ssoured the return was 131b loz of clean wool Another ram exhibited by Mr Falkner at the Narandera and Wagga, shows, and which there gained champion awards, gave a greasy fleece of 241b 15|oz, which scoured down to the grand return of 131b 9|oz. Commenting on the particulars furnished in the statement, the " Pastoral Times" says-—"The loss in scouring was less than 46 per cent of the gross weight, and this is a feature in the wool from the Boonoke sheep which breeders naturally inquire after. In the pure American sheep before crossing (with the Australian merino) it is not unusual to read of 301b and 351b fleeces, but owing to the remarkable quantity of yolk the scoured fleece does not give a very high return as compared with the gross weight of the unscoured fleece. At Boonoke, as shown by the returns above referred to, the loss from scouring is comparatively small, and tlie weight of clean wool in the fleece is of a correspondingly high standard.

Burning Tussocks.

Now that something like summer has fairly set in (w-rites the Pukera.u corres pondent of the "Southern standard,") the effect of burning off tussock year after year is visible enough on some of the dry uncultivated hills around us. There you may see the stumpy half-dead tussocks 2ft or 3ft apart, with none of the green succulent anise and other herbage be tween them as in days of old. The sheltej! qf the coarsei tussoqlf i|j indis pensable to the "growth of' the finer natural grasses., but that shelter having been destroyed by repeated firings, the richer pasture has disappeared. The sustaining power of our native grasses will not he forgotten by old colonists. Every beast on the thousand hills of Otago was rolling fat in the early clays. Horses and horned stock had coats of satin, and so great -vyas the difference in their appearance after a summer's spell on the hiUs, that n.o.t unfrequently, their owners diet not knq.w them. Nqw, our padlocks,'laid down in the best qf English grass, cannot \mvu oqt fitter stock than were then brought down from the ranges, wild as deer, pursued by the mounted stockman with alj the fury of a Nemesis of vengeance, armed with a fearful whip rtf 16ft or 18ft in the thong, before which all stock took excellent care to maintain a i-espectful distance. Of course, we know that the rabbit is blamed for all the difterenqe. between then' and now;, and beyond doubt :| good deal of/ the loss may> be laid to that qause. But tlje fires vvhich blaze on every, height aijd in 'eYe^y hollow towards; tyxyp * completed the i work of devastation. Between fires, and frosts, the shelterless roots of t^e tender and better native grasses perish. Our tussock lands to-day will not carry one half the stock they did thirty years ago, and the question of how to repair the loss becomes tjerpuss one tq tijio country at large. 1 A^ero 'bunny exfciriou|slied to morrow, it is qufefefciona'ble if :the finer native grasses would reappear, so long, at least, as the* crazo to burn liolds upper most in tlie mui.lis of occupiers' fof uuouFfcivivted lands,' ;

lii a letter to the " New Zealand Times " Mr Charles Pharazyn states ttiat tl*e assertion that ferrets 'destroy lambs is supply absurd;

A BUSH POET.

We are in receipt of an amusing letter from Ash burton Forks ,from a poetaster who rtftecbs the very' unpoetical nom-de plume of "Bill Roe.'' Bill writes thusly :— TO THJS EBITOK. fens.,— Not knowing what state of health you may be in I feel rather afraid to approach you- more especially when I take into consideration that this is your busiest .period of the year, when a shock to your nervous system might prove dis astrous to your health, and by conse quence to that great "institution" the press "of which you are a shining li^ht." Poets who want their rhymes, published and want the unfortunate editor to let them down easily, that is if lie does'nt lefc , them down with a boot-jack or some | other handy 'weapon, generally start as I have done, with a little butter ...0r... soft sawder. And well they may, for their productions are calculated to make men and angels weep, and to send the gods of I'arnassus clawing about on murder bent and the editor to irrigate at a gradient of 11 in lat the cost of a borrowed sixpence i —repayment not guaranteed. They gener ally also forget that with the individuality of the editor they have nothing to do. I made this mistake'once myself, and don't—as I am a stranger — wish to be "tuk" in again. I lived under the impression for a long time that the emphatic "we " of the " Mudtown Blazer " published weekly was a sort of a mechanical business that ruled off the weekly leader when you turned a handle —a leader that made Bismarck foam like the lather of a cheap barber, and.sent Atkinson burrowing like a Southland rodent into the base of Mount Egroonfc, and so I wrote (for my own satisfaction) on "The Blazer's Mechanical Man." Gee-whoop ! but he was mechanical, and he did'nt need a handle to turn him either. I met him—l will draw the veil of oblivion over that scene, but I can never forget the kind way in which the '• "Blazer" referred to "the sad accident which happened to our respected towns man and local poet," etc., etc. Like Bret Harte, I soliloquised after die event " I'm wiser now, and sorer." That why I want to apologise for being a poet(?) in case I should run across you, when I am afraid it would be the case of the man and the "bar" over again, "thar's goin' t' be a tarnashun row," Yet still I have my hopes, for editors, as a rule, are of a confiding nature, meek, Sunday school, don't drink sort of vener able old gentlemen, kind even to poets, who can't get a show to propagate their perpetrations. But to come to the poetry. 1 make you a present of it. Tennytam, Swinburne, Morris, or any of the other fellows might have made you pay for it, but then, they, poor chaps, live by their poetry, and as this is almost my first attempt you will see that lam not old enough j ret in the villainy to charge for it. May I venture timidly to suggest that you might kindly reflect before con signing to the waste-paper basket the first-fruits of the Spring of early genius. In the days to come, when the hair* of your head, silvern as the streaks of ice on the heights of Aorangi, shail be few as the traits of gentleness and amiability in a Mexican mule, when your steps are as tottering as those of the broken down swell, who backs out of his "uncle's" after vainly endeavoring to raise five shillings on a whiskybery watch, and when the world passes you by with the cold-blooded remark thab "Such is the fate of all Editors," who knows but that when that s»d day arrives, the poet whom you are now tempted to revile because he punctuates with a crowbar, and dots not his "is"may be in a position "Let me guide thy feet along the road that leads to the relief of him who is athirst— in a word let's liquor-up." Once more, about the poetry. It's original. Very, probably. No merit is claimed for it. T was written to pass away an idle hour or two. If any of it is worthy of a place in your columns you are welcome to i*. If not, you need'nt acknowledge it. I would send you some "heavy" verse, only there is no parcel post from here, and carriers won't undertake the convey ance of combustible matter in large quantities.--! am, etc., Bill Roe.

Accompanying the above is a large packet of MSS containing verses on all sorts of subjects, some of them showing considerable aptitude in a poetical direc^ tion, accompanied by more or less of care lessness as to metrical rules, etc., and all requiring more or less sub-editing to put them into shape for publication. We cannot undertake this with regard to the whole packet, but we have selected a few, which we will publish from time to time with such emendations and polishing-up as appear to us to be necessary. Sub joined is one of them.

The Chap from Town.

A LAY OF THE GOLDFIELDS He was only a chap from town ; Alack ! But the knowing old diggers were sold— He'd a little black bundle, and billy as black, Peculiar to tramps of old. With a bit of a cap on a shapely head, And his golden locks brushed back From his girlish face—and the old hands said <■' He's fresh from his mammy," and brought him bread, 9 For they'd all been oh the track. They asked him his name, his age, his creed, How long in the country he'd been, 58 Had he sister, or brother, or parent ?"— indeed The boys panned him out pretty clean j And slowly a tear on his cheek - trickled down, And he sighed in a sorrowful way, But he brightened like dawn, this chap from the town, When the diggers all pressed him to stay. T'was a game of "nine-up,!! and the stake? were a bob. '.■'■' "."■ Jimmy asked him to make up the faun, " Well, yes, he'd a shilling or two in his fob, i\nd he'd risk just a shilling—no more ;" But the way he raked in the bawbees was a sight, As B,ret Harte says, " 'twas painful to see;" He cleaned the whole camp out of silver that night, , * ' " And he. left w-ith a witik in his cc. :—Bill Rob,

CORRESPONDENCE.

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

A CORRECTION.

' TO THE "EDITOR. Sir, —There is a slight error in my letter which appeared in Thursdays V ma.il." Jn tliat letter I arfi made tqsay that the irrigation qn Wester-field "w ; as; given up I 4 after a cycle o$ we> soasona.'U This should read that irrigation on Westerfleld was stiven U p '«after a cjcle of WQt seasons bad set in."—l am etc., D. Oliver.

POLIIICAL NOTES.

(BJiE KtfiSS AS»OeiATION.| Auckland; Febrimty 23,. Sir George Grey' being interviewed on the subject of becoming a candidate for the seat, stated tliafc he would require time to consider, "hut said. li<j would probftb^y yinhd for .the.vacant seat xf he \vere 'not;'put to the trouble ancj. excitement of A 'contested election. Bfessra Parker a^ Loi^clou are already

TFTE ASHBUBTON GUARDIAN, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1891



The best medicine known is SANDER and SONS EUCALPTI EXTRACT/ Test its eminent powerful effects in coughs, colds, iijfluensja, 6tc.—the relief is instantaneous. Thousands give Ihe niosb gratifying testi mony. His Majesty the KiiJg of Italy, and mctlioal syndicates all qvqv ihe globe, iire its patrons. Read tjm official r.fepqr,ts that accompany each bottle. Wa jjaye no occa sion to offer rewards in proof of the genuine ness of our references. The official reports of itibdiuyl. glinics and universities, the oilicial communication of thp Consul-General for Italy at Melbourne; tho diploma awarded International Exhibition, Amsterdam—all these are authentic documents, and, as such, not open to doubt. We add here epitome oi one 'oi iht various cases treated by Siegeut M.D , Professor! etc. Burning cf the right ' hand through the explosion of a small oil ! stove. The epidermis oh the volar and j palmer side of the hand of the thirty-year old patient was completely .separated and lifted up as far as ijje joiijt c^f the hand. The likewise lifted nails WQve hanging loose and half of tho phalnax of the nail of the middle finger was coal d. The wounds thus ontivicted healed in three weeks Hinders oaily application of Eucalypt Extract dressing; '|jhe yai ent has retained the full use ef the hand'--(&8y;t\)~ I The Best JUmiody fob iNDiaiiST-ioi — Norton's Cambmile Pills are confidently ecommended as a simple remedy for Jfudj.gpstioivw.hich is the cause of nearly all tlie dise&ifrs to whica we are subjects Norton's Pills, with justice called the * Natural ' '.Strengthenor of the Muman Stomach," act as a powerful tonic and gentle .aperient, are mild' in their operation, and - Safe under any circumstances. Sold in bottles, at Is l^d, 2s 9d, 11s, by all medicine y^ndors throughout the wo Id 1 *



Holloway's Pills. — Nervousness and Wajyi Qf JSnergy. —When first the nerves feel unsft'ong, and h#tlje£S!j.esß supplants energy, the time has come to take ssoine such alternate as Hollow's Pills to restrain a disorder from developing itself intp a disease. Those ex cell ent Pills correct all i ['regularities and vveak ,y Vs£, ri"Uey p.ct so kindly, yet so energetically '(jm the functions oi digestion and assimilation, that the whole 1 body is revived', tj;,c bJoocl rendered richer and purer, while the muscles ■become firmer and stronger, arid the nervous and al^rbeiit systems are invigorated. These Pilis are suitable for all classes and all ages. They have a'most marvellous effect on persons who are out of condition ; they sor,i; rectify whatever is in fault, restore slrength to the body and confidence to the misdj ' :



Mr W. F. Thompson SURGEON ~T\ENTIST. UItG EU N UE N TIS T, 218 HIGH STREET, OHRTSTCHURCH* Hours—lo a.m. to 5 p.m. Having purchased Dit IS". A. Neelby's Dental Practice, MR THOMPSON may be consulted at f,he above address. 211 WKDNISSDA T, FEBRUARY 25th. For the United Kingdom and Continents o Europe and America, and West Indief (via San Francisco), Sauiwich Islands,s etf:., and also Northern Ports of New Zealand at 6.20 p.m. ; registered letters, 5 p.m. ; money orders, 3 p.m. Note—lt should be noted that the post age is roduceel on letters to the United kingdom only.



Wanted 1 CASH Advertisements under this heading not exceeding SIXTEEN j WORDS 1/-, Addresses may bo Ipffcat this Offioe niHY the Orca* Drapery Sale now on X ftfc H. C. Segejis. "PRESENTS. —All holders of Tickets J.. will oblige by bringing them in as soon as possible. - H. 0. Segers, Melford House. T^^TNTED KKOWN—R. E. Dowle, V V " The Times Tailor," is making splendid Tweed Suits from £3 10s ; trousers from £1 ss. The Arcade. 2 128 WANTED all the inhabitants of Ashburton to come to the Borough School Concert, oddfellows' Hull, Tuesday, February 24th. 2 li 2 /"POOLING and invigorating Ice Cream V_y as made by H. G. Flower, Con fectioner, East Street. WANTED Known —Some special lines in choice Dress Goods at very low prices showing at " The Corner." WANTED Known—The "Strong wear " Boot is the best for Mens 'jadies and Children.—W. H. Collier. WANTED every man in the County to have a suit of the Ashburton Tweeds.—Robert Alcorn, Ashburton Clothing Mart, Saunder's Buildings. QEGERS' Clearing Sale in all Depart O merits now on. One trial solicited. — Melford House. /""I LASS, Earthenware, and China, vT direct from the Manufacturers.— Robert Alcorn, Tea Warehouse and Ashburton Clothing Mart, Saunders' Buildings. * \ I ANTED Known — The Cheapest V<f Shop to buy Tinware and Gal vanisecl Iron goods in Ashbarfcon, is at W. F. Hannafori/s, Burnett Street. A arge stock kept on hand. Tin and Iron ware goods made and repaired with des patcn. WANTED KNOWN^MRS 7. BUCHANAN wishes to inform her country friends and the public, that she will open business on Saturday, February 21, as Fruiterer and Confec tioner. Tea and Coffee at all hours. Hot Luncheon on Saturdays, from 12 to 2. East Street next John Orr and Co. 2 110 VT"ALENTINES ! VALENTINES ! at V L. F. Andrewbs & Co. Jus opened up a Large and Varied Assort ment to suit everybody. Sale of Surplus Stock shortly when Books, Stationery, Fancy Goods, &c, &c, will be offered at i GREAT REDUCTIONS. L F. ANDREWES & Co. FUblic Notices. MONE'JMX) LEND. -jV/TONEY to Lend at LOW RATES OF INTEREST, on Mortgage of FREE HOLD PROPERTY, in sums of JBIOO *o_£sooo For further particulars apply to the Postmaster, Ashburton, or to J. C. PRUDHOE, District Agent. Government Insurance Office. Christchurch. WJTM TEETJI A:i!CtJT TOITB ciiiiisroTicJica dental SURGERY. Corner of Oashcl and High street* o i\/r V^RS and /-^o. SUIIGEON DENTIST " And at Dunedin md Westport iTTE have gained tin FIRST AWARD VV ** the Dunedin Exhibition for Artificial Dentures and Mechanical Appli ances for the Mouth, and it v with the greatest confidence that ye guarantee the highest class work and perfect lit at the most moderate cos A Single Artificial Tooth, 10s. Comple Set — Upper and Lower temporary and permanent, £10 10s, Natural, Durable, Comfortable Artificial Teeth Replaced Temporarily al most immediately after the extraction of decayed teeth or stumps without extra cc or charge. Arrangements can be made for part oil monthly payments. ADMINISTERING NITROUS OXIDE 3AS 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, 2s 6d. Artificial Teeth and Dentures made by other dentists repaired or remodelled at small cost GENTLEMEN requiring the vary ' latest fashion in FLEXIBLE HATS (all colors) will find a choice stocks at the New Zealand Clothing Factory. WHITE and Fancy Scarfs, White and Striped Vests, Tennis Shir.s, buttoned and laced fronts, all colort-s, at the INew Zealand Clothincj Factory. > UMMER Merino and Gauze Merino - 1 Undershirts, with long or short sleeves, at the- New Zealand Clothing Factory. WASHING Derby Ties Gd each, six for 2s 6d. Increasing demand for these at the New Zealand Clothing Factory. TP)OYS' School Suits, well fitting, JL) durable, and moderate in ptice at the New Zealand Clothing Factory. AGENTS for the Wonderful New High Arm " Wcrtheiiu " Sewing Machines. Latest improvements, new appliances, noiseless motion, increased advantages. ALL who have used the " Wertiioiin ' New High Arm sowing maekine, proclaim it to be fcha most perfect sewing machine yet produced. Inspection invitad. \TE W ZEALAND ULOTHLN('i i_N FACTORY, the lcr.ding Kat, Cnp, and Clothing Manufacture is, EAST STREET, ASHBURTON-. Agent for the Wo id erf v I Werbhcim Sewing Machii.e W. H. VIOI3BER,



John Orr & Co.] INVITE THE ATTENTION OF FARMERS To their Larye and Varied Stocks of all clauses of Goods, suitable lor the Harvest Field/ 1000 Bales Binding TWINE, ' Crown Brand 250 Bales Manilla Binding TWINE Machine Extras and Fittings 100 Cases Binding WIRE, White Cros 100 Cases Castor Oil Leather Belting, l|in to 6in Valvoline and Lubroline Oil Lard and Olive Oil Cylinder Oil Perforated Zinc, 3/32 to 7/8 Seaming Twine McCormick Binders. The agents of the McCormick reapers and binders have just received news of a very exciting trial at Tamworth (N.S. W.) on Saturday, December 6. The prize competed for was the Society's medal, which was offered to the machines exhibited at their Show ; but in order to have a successful trial they in addition offered a prize of ten guineas, open to all comers. Both prizes were gained by the McCormick, which was awarded the full maximum number of points. This was the first time this season where the winner at any trial in Australia obtained the full number o? points under each heading. The McCormick also gained first prize at Stawell (Victoria) beating he Massey, Hornsby, and Deering. John Orr & Co. (BMPAM OF HEW ZEALAND (FIRE AND MARINE ) fT HE Business of this Company has ? been TRANSFERRED to the COMMERCIAL UNION ASSURANCE COMPANY, Limited, of London, by whom, through the various Branches and Agencies in New Zealand, all accounts owing to and by and all losses under the Colonial Insurance Company's policies will be settled in 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 for NEW ZEALAND : Lambton Quay, Wellington. With Local Boards of Advice in Australia and New Zealand. General Manager for New Zealand : FRANK ALLEN, J P. Every description of Fire nd Marine Insurance effected at LOWEST CUBBENT SATES CUFF & ~GRAHAM, Managers for Canterbury, Christchurch. Agknts for Ashbxtkton FRIEDLANDER BROS 22 Massey-Toronto Light Binder LIGHTEST IN DR^AFT. SUREST TO TIE. EASIEST TO MANAGE" SWIFTEST TO CUT, THE LONGEST LIVED. MOST SCIENTIFICALLY 2MADE Stationary Axle AND 1 Raise and Lower Style 5, 6, and 7 FEET CUTS. Of the latter only very few on hand, £2000 Worth of Extras in Stock, which wil be supplied to farmers at manufacturer's prices at any time DAY OR NIGHT FRIEDLANDER BROS