DEATH.

Ccstek.—On February 11th, at Somer ton, South Rakaia, Nora, fourth daughter of E. S. and A. C. Coster, aged 9 years. '

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1891. LOCAL AND GENERAL

It has been decided to hold a Band Con test m Dunedin, next November. A freak of Nature m the shape of a pied sparrow may be seen almost any day flying about m the neighbourhood of the Oranize Hall. " ■ Captain Edwin forecasts the approach of a period of heavy easterly gales and heavy ainlall, especially m the northerly districts. Under the new San Francisco service mails from London will get to Wellington under 34 days, to Christchurch m 35 days, to Dunedin within 36 days. The direct service i will thus be completely thrown m the back ground. The "Southland Times" says that the young man Quill, who is reported missing from the Milford-Wakatipu surveying party, was of an adventurous turn. It was he who scaled the rocky face down which the Suther land Fall pours, and described the source of that wonderful waterfall. We are m receipt of one of the first numbers of the Geraldine "Times," a paper which has just made its drbut m the township of that name, under the proprietor ship of Mr Thomas Elliot Wilson, late of the ".Nenthorn Recorder," and previously of the "Waimate Times." It is well edited and printed, and m erery respect a creditable production. A conference between boot manufacturers and their employees will be held at Welling ton next week, to establish a uniform scale of payment for work throughout the colony. The manufacturers m Auckland, Dunedin, Christchurch and Wellington each appoint three delegates, and the Bootmakers' Opera tive Union m each of those centres a similar number. During the three months of the present season the Levels Road Board have paid £179 3s 3d for small birds eggs and heads, the number paid for being 229,188. The sparrow is an expensive fact m that district, and the worst of it is their reduction oy nearly a quarter of a million is declared to make very little difference to the total of the tribe. Mr Chinnery, the well-known flax dresser, of Rangiora and Coldstream, has we learn, arranged to work a flax mill at Otaraia, where there is a magnificent supply of the raw material, of the finest quality. Mr Chinnery has taken up with him from Can : terbury a lot of new and improved machinery as well as a number of experienced bauds. His process produces a very high-class fibre.

Mr Knotfc, delivered another telling address last night. There was a full house, the bright regalia of the Templars being very conspicuous. In the course of his address Mr Kuott said, that if all the women would take up the question of prohibition licensed houses would soon be a thing of the past. Mr Knott again requested the young people to. attend Friday's meeting. To-night Mr Knott's subject will be "A Peep Behind the Scenes." ; It will be remembered that a publican near IXiylesford, Victoria, murderously assaulted a man whom he found m his bed room with his (the publican's) wife. The man unexpectedly recovered from the terri ble injuries to his head, inflicted with a tomahawk, and has disappeared from the district, leaving his stock of jewellery, valued at £1000, without watch or ward. His creditors have therefore taken possession and will sell .so much of the goods as will pay their claims, after which there will be a good surplus. The furniture of the ex-Emperor of Brazil has been sold at auction. The imperial throne went for about £74, a Checkering square piano for £200, a writing desk belong ing to the ex-Empress for £300, o.ptvi Dk'tt' for about £13, and the suite of furniture of the ex-Emperor's private room for about £450. And meanwhile the deposed Sove reign is quietly going round to scientific lectures m Paris, probably a, good deal happier than when he was on that £74 Imperial throne. The seed of a globe turnip is exceedingly minute, not lareer, perhaps, than the twen tieth part of an inch m diameter, andyet, m m the course of a few months, this seed will be elaborated by the soil and the atmosphere into twenty-seven millions of times the bulk of the seed, and this m addition to a con siderable bunch of leaves. Dr Desaguliers lias made some experiments proving that, m an average condition, a turnip seed may in crease its own weight 15 times m a minute. By an actual experiment, made on peat ground, turnips have been found to increase by growth 15,990 times the weight of their seeds each day they stood upon it. Owing to the absence of several of the players, the cricket match, Cameron Street Wesleyan v. Ashburton Cricket Club, did not take place on Wednesday, but instead a scratch game was played, sides being chosen by Messrs Dixon and Buchanan, resulting hi a win for the former by six runs, the scores being as follows:—Dixon'a team 45, Buch anan's 39. For the winners L. F. Andrewes with 25, and Simpson next with 6,, where the highest scorers; and for the losers Buch anan with 15, 6. W. Andrews 10, and Makeig 7. The final match between the Wesleyans and the Club is fixed for Wednesday next. Th.c match with the Timaru Club is post poned on account of the vjsit of a West Coast team to Canterbury. The Dunedin correspondent of the "Aus tralasian " had some good things to say about our general elections. On the cost of run ning constituencies, he tells his readers that a friend of his who ran a City constituency unsuccessfully told him that he had over £2000 to pay for the pleasure of making a dozen speeches to hooting and howling mobs. " About £500 is the average cost of standing for a town electorate to a moderately truth ful man. The anjount of truth you are pre pared to tell is an item m the consideration of costs. On the lo,bqr ticket, I imderstand that the thing can be done under three figures; and if you garnish your speeches with the enthusiasm of humanity, it will save a good deal of money m drinks." The writer says that a country constituency can be contested for from £100 to £150. The new dog kennels of the Auckland City Council are now completed, and will accomo date about 10Q dogs. The floors are of cqn crete and m three divisions—one for clogs, another for sluts, and k third known as*" the executioner's department," where dogs not 8,0-14 by auction are placed m an iron cage, and dfo^ned m a tofjkj tho wafer being sub sequently run off into the sewer, j'as'nVaiiy as t\renty dogs can be draw ned at a time. Every provision is made for keeping dogs captured by the dog-catcher humanely and comfortably till disposed of by law, and thus the complaints of the Society for the Preven tion of Cruelty to Animals have been removed. A separate cage has been erected for dogs afflicted with mange or other disease, so that such diseases may not spread among the valuable dogs which may happen to be cap tured. About seven hundred dogs were «6gistercid last year, and over 200 drowned, so'that poughjy Breaking fliere are about 10$ (Jog's iii the cfty,~'!ltoald » ' ! ' Writing of the harvest m Victoria the Mel bourne "Weekly Times" says:—"The quality of the wheat this harvest js surprising nobody more thau the 'whealgroAvers them -B)©Jve&, Perhaps never have such really sptwidid samples pf wljaat Ijetin produced m the e,oloi,iy. -The season* being coot'and moist, the gfai" has had time fcp mature properly, and it has just nil*' 1 9ut as J> J 4 um,P a"d as fwsavy ■ p; gtuishpt. It is all', Jii'TaCt 1, t]™:*: mifespas 4.^l rff; ')e>n v uniform m quality, colour, 'a?|d mpgoi^un\]y thin \n the skm " «w husk. Aoothe'i?'notable Je.at«fift'pf the wheat 'nar7 a8*this J earlis **« pn>Ufie yield and excellent samples of gram that are i?fii>J2 obtained m the malice "OUlitryv During ti\a past three years from 60,000 to $0,000 acres of inaH^e land have been cleared and brought under cultivation with wheat, and the results have every where proved highly (Se^lbfafactory. From 16 to 30 bushels ' per ,a,cce iU'« the rule, while the quality of the grain, evep i\i dry seasons, is much superior tp that grows on the plains, "

Mrs Stitt and Mr and Mrs Williams, of' Ashburton, took part m a concert at Hanmev Plains on Monday evening, with great success. A Sydney telegram says that a letter has been received from O'Connor stating that he is willing to row McLean for lOOOdol, or 5000dol if for the championship, either race to be rowed m America,. Mr A. W. Gurr, auctioneer at Apia, for nierly a school teacher at Temuka, was married to a Satrioan girl on December 31. The bride was dressed m "magnificentmats" and tlie bridesmaids were similarly attired. The wedding breakfast was a dinner a la Samoa. At the Charitable Aid Board yesterday a futher step was taken m connection with the Twigger bequest (m which the Ashburton Old Men's Home is chiefly interested), a resolution being passed re-affirming the de sireablene33 of the estate being immediately realised, Mr E. G. Wright, M.H.R., invites all who are interested m obtaining a better supply of water, particularly the smaller land holders, to meet him at the Hinds School rodm next Thursday to consider the question. Every resident m the district should make it a point to attend. Major Steward has received a notification from the Crown Lands Department that m accordance with his recommendation a Cemetery Reserve will be set apart at Waitaki North, adjoining Section No. 101, and that the remainder of the Crown land J m that locality will be set apart as a Recrea tion Reserve for the use of the inhabitants i of Glonavy and neighborhood. In connection with the public meeting held m Dunedin for the purpose of inaugu rating a Kakanui relief fund, the Otago " Daily Times " says:—" A well-devised scheme should be -formulated for the estab lishment of a national fund m which could be incorporated the balances that are known to be lying to the credit of the Clutha Floods Relief' Fund, the Taiaroa Relief Fund the City of Dunedin Relief Fund and the balances of any other similar funds that are m ex istance m other parts of the Colony. It is entirely wrong that these moneys; no longer necessary for the purposes for which they were originally raised, should be allowed to lie any further m the hands ot the trustees, inapplicable to the pressing needs of those who are reduced to want through such dis tressing occurrences as the loss of the Kakanui. Now that public attention has been forcibly directed to the matter, steps will no doubt be taken during the next session of Parliament to render these moneys available." A great mystery has been solved, and the police of South Canterbury will hence forward breathe easier. For years the police and others have firmly believed that a private still existed somewhere on the Levels Plains, and very frequently efforts have been put forward to discover it, but to no avail. It was believed that the "still" was hidden 1 away m an excavation under some one of the houses, and that the smoke from it was going up the chimney, but what house no one could say. The belief originated m this way :—Years ago someone passing along the road to Timaru felt his olfactory organs attacked by the smell of poteen whiskey. He told others of it, and they, too, smelled the same thing. The police heard of it, and i came smelling about there also, with the result that they became converts to the pre vailing faith m the presence of poteen. The whole thing has now been explained. ' A gentleman living m the neighborhood has discovered that the delicious odors are pro-! duced by a sort oi weed that grows m abundance m the locality, but if I ("Cori O'Lanus") were a policeman I would keep my weather eye on that gentleman. Statutory Declaration. —I, Franz Raabe, Ironbark, Sandhurst, m the colony of Vic toria, Australia, do solemnly and sincerely declare that on the 25th June, 1877, my son Alfred, six yeai's of age, was accidentally hurt with tin axe on his knee. lat once took all pains to secure medical assistance. How ever, m spite of all efforts, on the 27th August, 1877, the opinion was given by Dr Macgillivray that an amputation of the injured limb had become imperative, m order to save life. At this juncture I called en Messrs Sander and Sons, procuring some of their Extract of Eucalyptus Globulus, and by the application of the same I had too satisfaction of seeing- my son within a fort night out of all danger, and to-day he is recovered. I may juat add that it was when the crisis had been reached that the Extract referred to was first applied, and I make this solemn declaration, etc. Franz Raabe, Declared at Sandhurst, m the colony fo.i Victoria, Australia, this seventeenth day of October, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven, before me, MoritzCohn, J.P., --(Advt.) 6

Westport Coal Company.

ANNUAL MEETING.

J[rER PKESB ASSOCIATION.] Dunedin, February 11. The chairman of the Westport Coal Company at the annual meeting said :— "You wiil probably wish to know how the loss mentioned m the report occurred. The principal item is the extra cost of getting coal. There was also expense m connection with the collecting-of men, and sending them to Westport, and there are expenses of management, rates, taxes, interest, and depreciation during the last four months of the year. Thes« al together amount to upwards of £10,000, and then we have to add loss of profits, another £10,000. Loss is notalto gether confined to the company; the miners themselves have been also sufferers, and- many industries m the colony were much injured. The directors decided to close the Wallsend mine for the present. The principal object m amal gamating with the Brunner was to save expense, and it has been found that trade can be amply njet for some time to come by the output from tho Brunnor and Coal Pit Heath, and the expense of a third mine avoided. The balance at credit of profit and loss account is not large enough to warrant our paying a dividend, more especially as it will be necessary to commence work at the Granifcy creek lease during the present year if we are to keep pace with the demand for coal. Trade is rapidly increasing, and although it sustained a severe and unex ppcted blow, which must press sp,me.what hejavtUj. on tshe/^arelfqlders, still we'have ample proof that the property is quite as good as was expected. In answer to a question, the Chairman said he estimated that the loss to the miners through the strike amounted to £30,000. During the discussion of a motion not to open the Granity Creek mine without special sanction, ft was staged b,y the Chairman that m the opinion of the Board it was necessary to do something m order to, avert an attempt to forfeit the lease.

The Markets.

The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, have received the following cable message dated London, February 10th :— Wool—Since opening of the sales superior greasy*merino has advanced Jd per lb. Inferior greasy merino market is easier. Fine crossbred, market firmer. Other -descriptions unchanged. The American and Continental demand is gooc], \\x\% th.c Home trade are purchasing sparingly. Up to date 142,000 bales have been sold. Wheab—Stocks of New Zealand wheat are light. Spot market—There is a good demand, hew Zealand wheat has ad vanced 6d per 496Jbs since |a.§t report. N,ew Sealed w.Wt, %d]q, \ Q arrive per iron ship, is worth o.i.f. 36s 0d per '4801bs, January ebraary bill, of lading

[PER KRESS* ASSOCIATION.] (Received February 12, 10.10. a.m. Lo,ndo;n, February 11. T|}(s fcofca] quantity o| wljeat jind- flour afloat ff^tjiq United: Kingdom''is'^,C(92;o6o quarter^ ftiiH'ffW t]]g'"Onjitiifp?it' 7^8,000: quarters. ■••■.,- ... tfhe sugal* market is showing a general advance ; German beet is quoted at 13a 9d. J^ank of New Zealand shares, new issue, £1 |LQs ; National Bank of New- Zealand, £11 IQs. Silver has'a&yajiced to 3s lOidj,

Presbyterian Assembly.

[per press association, )

Cheistchukch, February 11. ' Rev J. Pafcerson m the absence of Mr McKerrow, convener, read the report of the Church Property Trustees, The re port gratefully stated that a bequest had been left by Mr J. Plumpin to the Public Trustee m trust for the Widows' and Orphans' funds of the Presbyterian and Wesleyan Methodist Churches of New Zealand m equal portions. The will allows the Public Trustee to sell the laud and divide the proceeds when he thinks fit, but the Assembly considered it advis able that the sale of the property should be postponed, xieference was made to the gift of 20 acres for a manse m the McKenzie country, by Mr David McLean, of Strathconan. Rev G. B. Monro gave m the report of the Committee on the State of Religion and Morals. Its adoption was moved by Rev J. K. .Elliott, who called special at tention to the totalisator, and encouraged ministers to urge the people to return men of moral character as M.H.R's. J. G. W. Aitken seconded the motion, and pointed out the need of the younsj being instructed us to the true path of pleasure. Churches, he said, could not complain of the totalisator so long as sales by chance take place at church bazaars. Keep tell inga lie as the truth, and it will be accepted at last. He advised that m each city there should be a Committee to receive strange young men. Rev J. Maxwell pointed out the need and advantage of open air services, a practice now common m connection with the Presbyterian Church of England. Rev W. VVest sup ported the motion, dwelling on the neces sity of reaching and changing thfe hearh if good is to be done. Mr Osbonie objected to the clause m the report on Sunday trains. Rev A. Irwin sug gested the need of ministers doling with the doubts of young .men. Rev R. Mack inney wished to know honr ministers knew about gambling. Mr Hunter in vited ministers to deal very earnestly with young people coming to communion for the first time, and to find work for them m connection with the church. Rev W. Gillies called attention to the evil of young men being kept at work late on Saturday evenings. The report of the Temperance Committee was read by Rev jJ. K. Elliott. Rev J. Treadwell, m an able and eloquent speech, moved its (adoption. Rev Mr McAra seconded the motion, which was carried.

New Zealand Butter in London.

The shipment of New Zealand butter ci Aorangi shows more forcibly than that of the Orizaba's (writes the London corres pondent of the "Argus " m his letter of December 27) that farmers' butter is not and possibly never will be equal to that of the factory product. The Auckland factory's butter has brought 106s to 112s, while the farmers' has sold at 70s to 96s^ Butter factors on this side are pleased at the improvement m make and mode of packing which is shown this year over last. Up to now there has not been that objectionable fishy flavour about NewZea lancV butter that was so frequently noticed before. The season here has been very favourable for the sale of colonial butter. There has been a long spell of severe frost, and for weeks the ground has been cohered with snow, so that grfiss butter is found very palatable against stall-fed. The square box is a package sure of a certain sale if the butter inside be good, but it is the uncertainty that the quality of even a dozen boxes of the same mark will be uniform that spoils the price. Factory butter is becoming more and more saleable on its name, which is asrood thing. Factors are continually condemn ing the sending of anything but the finest butters, and it is a pity that shippers do not realise this If for one season only the best butters were shipped, New Zea land butter would rise m estimation, and consequently m value. As it is there is still a prejudice against it. It is said that some of it is sold under the name of Dutch, Danish, or Normandy. Now, if only the best butters were sent, the name of New Zealand would soon be recognised as a guarantee of good quality.

Addington Stock Market.

Ohristchukch, February 11. The entry of stock at to-day's market was rather above the average. Stoke Sheep.—There was a very large entry m this section, numbering nearly 3500 m all. Of these, one line of aged merino ewes, to the number of 1400, sold at Is llcl to 2s 6d. About 750 crossbred four-tooth wethers and maiden ewes brought from 10s lid to 11s 2d, and a number of aged and crossbred eAves for boiling sold at 3s 2d A line of small sized crossbred lambs realised 5s Id to 6s 2d. Some four and six-tooth and sound mouthed crossbred ewes, 9s sd; mixed ages, 7s 4d; and two-tooth, 9s to 10s. Fat Lambs.— Over 700 were yarded, and anything fit for export was eagerly snapped up at prices ranging from 10s 3d to 14s. Other lambs sold at 6s and upwards. Fat Sheep.—There were over 5000 {fat sheep m the pens, of which there were a great many crossbred and halfbred ewes, and but a small proportion of wethers and maiden ewes. The demand for these was keen, and values v ere a trifle higher m con sequence than they have been, there being no difficulty m disposing of the best quality sheep at from Is to Is Gd a head advance on former quotations. X.Fat Cattle.—About 230 head of nice sorts of small cattle were yarded, of which the greater part were disposed of at prices no higher than have ruled lately. Best ox and heifer beef was sold at from 15s to }7s per lOOlbs, and inferior quality frqm ' Isti upwards. ' • •SxOjße'Cattle.—With the exception of qne line of three-.year-old heifers, for which owners sought a better price than was offered, the sale of store cattle was limited to odd lots. Dairy cows changed hands at prices raughig from £2 7s 6d to £6. Pigs. —There was again a large entry of store pigs, stubblers, porkers, and a few baconers. Stores fetched 9s to 225; porkers, 13s to 255; baconers, 24s to 32s 6d.

THE IRRIGATION SCHEME.

Tub discussion which tools place at Monday's meeting "of the County Council upon Mr Wright's motion will at leatt have the effect of keeping alive the public interest m the proposed irrigation scheme, and is of some value as affording a considerable amount of information as to the cost of irrigation as carried out m other coup ) +#^ j es pecially m America^ -%t. although the facts addue^ go' to show that \n Cryl^oraia ahel elsewhere the benefits of ah artificial water supply are vastly more that commensurate with its cost —m a word that it has b,een demon strated there and, that irri gation /iiit/rSr—yei, this. can. only bp re-* ; garbed. a,s. presumptive eyideooe that irrigation avouM pay here als.o, pro , viewed the conditions of the case are 'generally of a similar character. But it is precisely here that the difficulty, of applying the data, supplied by % ' experience of other countries cam.es m, there beiug In % «ase of tlie, Ashbur ton, pains' and those of California differentiating conditions as regards climate, and nature of soil a,nd subsoil which will necessarily differentiate, results—to what extent remains to'be seen. So, too, as affecting a compari son between irrigation m Victoria (as for example the works carried out at Mildura by the Chaffey Brothers) and'

irrigation m Ash burton county, it was ( very properly pointed out that the ;j dissimilarity oil conditions existent at the two places must neces sarily prevent the experience of the one being accepted as m all respects a guide to the probable experience of the other. All that can be said to be established is the fact already adverted to that large irrigation works m other countries than this have been carried out with great, success iroin Vi a financial as well as from an engineer ing point of view. The Council there fore, we think,, decided wisely m de clining to incur the expense of sending the engineer to Victoria,.as the infor mation lie would have gained there would, it seems, not be likely to be of any great practical value m relation to the work proposed to be carried out here. It would indeed, we think, have been a much more sensible thing to despatch Mr Baxter to California, though even that can scarcely be re garded as necessary, seeing that we have m our midst, m the person of Mr Colyer, a gentleman who has had prao tical experience m carrying out irriga tion works m that State, and who can be consulted at any moment. It is not to be supposed, however, for a moment, as some persons have hastily concluded, that, because Mr Wright's resolution was lost, therefore the whole irrigation scheme has passed into the limbo of exploded fallacies and aban doned projects, On the contrary, the resolution arrived at by the Council on 9th January last remains m full force. That resolution, which was mbved by Mr Wright was as follows: —"That the Engineer be instructed to report as to the cost of a complete system of irrigation for that part of the county lying between the Ashburton and Rakaia rivers, and extending from the vicinity of Methven to the sea. The estimate to be based on the as sumption that the whole of the water required shall be obtained from the Rakaia." Under this resolution Mr Baxter is proceeding to obtain all the necessary data, and we understand that a preliminary, if not a detailed report will be laid before the Council at its next monthly meeting. We have, of course; no information whatever as to i its probable tenor, but it will be noted that the scheme to be reported upon differs from all previous schemes m that there is toi be only one source of supply, the water to be taken from the Rakaia at an elevation sufficient to command nearly the whole of the country lying between that river and the Rangitata. This ; will, we fancy, involve either tunneling or fluming for a considerable distance, and the work will on that account, we imagine, be more expensive than if water were obtained from more sources than one. On the other hand the scheme would have the advantage of being very comprehensive and complete. Until we are supplied with the engineering data and estimate of cost of works, it >vould be quite premature to attempt to discuss the probabilities of the work proving remunerative or otherwise; but that the first cost will, be large there can be no doubt whatever. Still that fact need not be regarded as an alarm ing one, for even though the cost of bringing water within reach of all parts of the Plains should run up to a quarter of a million sterling, ana even if the cost of a close reticulation should amount to as much more, yet even then, seeing that the system would supply 250,000 acres, the capital cost would only be £2 per acre ; and the interest per acre, at five per cent., only 2s, at which latter sum a good water supply would, we imagine, be a handsomely paying investment. .All this is of course hypothetical, and before any decided opinion can be arrived at, we must wait for Mr Baxter's report, which will now be looked for with great interest.

The World Bankrupt.

"All the world is bankrupt, I tell you, except Rothschild, the Bank of England and—me," said a financier the other day, as the conversation ran upon the embar^ rassment of Baring Bros. "Where is the government, the bank or the man, that has enough money to pay his or its debts ! Certainly, take them all together, they haven't enough to pay all their debts. Yes, the world is bankrupt." This was rather startling, coming from a financier. But presently he went on: "However, bankruptcy is the nominal condition of commerce. Solvency is only a sort of commercial truce, and panic is merely the resumption of hostilities. The interesting thing aboutthesituationinLon-. don is that there seems to be a new kijnd of general consent to the continuance of the truce at all costs,. The generals of the financial war, for once, are able to restrain their subordinates, the privates, from fly ing at one another's throats. It is well. There will be no panic. The period of universal liquidation is postponed by several, years. I tell you—and I have something of a reputation as a prophet-— the next great panic will be tl\e nipjsfc terrific that the world has ever seen. | should nob wpnder if it. would be ppst-. poned for more, than ten years ; but when it comes, it will look, surely enough, as if allthe world were bankrupt. As the result o| it, those who l>Te well into, the second decade of the twentieth century will see commerce and industry beginning over again on a new bas lS . Everything then will be sold for I its actual value ; yes, not a cent more will any merchant or manufacturer obtain for his wares than the true cost value. But how will commerce live at all, then, yon ,-isk, without profits as an incentive' to dealers ? Let me answer ifae. question by asking anoth^j ys^t is commerce but an, of- commodities ? And if I W e*ch,ange my superfluous products;, *ts .the, cost value to me, for the. jwsu«jt.s of another which I want rftow than I want mine, at their cqst> valise to him, have I not all the incentive that I need ? And what is, tsie, reason that commerce, Weight not be carried on, on a large scale, with out the cumbersome actual battering of goods, but still upon the basis of cost, by the a\d of a medium of exchange that is simply, an agreed representative of this same actual cost value of products—ea,elt man, as it were, putting his products intci the bank, of which everybody is a mem-i ber, and taking ou^ of ifc the currency which is ijbs va]t|,e, and getting what he needs \?sh it ? This wpuld practically turn the whole comir-unity into a m\suat bank ; with no chance, however, for. loss of confidence, panics, ar\d, liquidation, because nothing whatever would then be based on confidence, and there would be nothing to liquidate. All pur panics are the result of fictitious values, and as lon^ a^ we have fictitious values, with a certain number of people gating' them, and a, great many mpre n&o'^le paying them, 5 just so surely shall wo. afy^e m* fpn our selves periodiea]: obndttions of general tenkEuptcy, followed by painful and costly Uquictation."—" Transprint,"

"Welly Good the Tea!"

The laugh is going round m fashionable circles m a certain aristocratic city, not a thousand miles from the North Cape— or from bJie Bluff either, for that matter— anent the amusing experiences of an estimable lady m relation to a market gardener and a cup of tea. A quarter of a century ago, or thereabout, one of the leading exquisites of the city m question was a gentleman of sporting proclivities, addicted to the wearing of a white stove pipe hat, by name Chequer Famil ton- ab least if that wasn't his true patronymic ib will do for the purpose of this little story as well as any other. Said Chequer h*wl a son named Deasy who finished his edu cation at the local college, of which at ' that time a reverend gentleman, named— let us say—Parry, was one of the masters. Familton pere and the reverend dominie have both joined the majority these many years, bub Deasy and/the widow Parry are both m the land of the living, as/will presently appear. Deasy had been given to literary pursuits, but his health suffer ing therefrom, he was advised to take to some open-air occupation, and for want of a better, decided to go m for market gardening' m partnership with the son of a city merchant who had determined upon essaying a venture of that sort. Deasy not being strong enough to labor with spade or hoe, it was decided by the firm that he should take the lighter duty of driving out|the market cart,. and almost at his very first round that individual called at a certain suburban villa on the sale of his wares intent. Having rung the bell, the door is opened to him by the widow of his old tutor, who, without waiting to enquire; his errand, bids him enter, and welcomes hiim heartily,: though evidently s. somewhat nonplussed at his rig-out, for, appro priately to his present occupation, Deasy is dressed m a very ordinary suit of clothes, and a by no means dandified billy-cock hat. Conversation as to old times having proceeded, the lady pre sently looks out of the window, and audibly expresses her wonder that a vege table cart should have been standing so long opposite che gate *: apparently unat tended, when she is startled by her visitor announcing; that said cart is his property. "You don't mean to say that you are taking round vegetables," said, the lady, who, on receiving an affirmative reply, compassionately expressed her regret that her husband 8 old » pupil should "have come to this." ; Explanations followed, and finally Deasy departed with the under standing that he was to be;favored with the custom of Mrs Parry and was to call at the villa every other day, t beginning with the following Wednesday. Wednesday arrived, and the lady, having occasion to go into the city, rang for Jane, the house maid, and bade,her take what vege tables she required when the man called, and further gave that astonished domestic an express injunction to " ask him into the drawing-room, and give him a cup of tea and some cake." An hour or two afterwards these instructions were duly carried out, and, by this time the lady having returned from her cityward ex pedition, the following colloquy took place :—Mistress—Did the vegetable man call Jane 1 "Yes.'Mi"- "Didyou do as I told you 1 " Yes 'M. 1 took him the tea and cake and he's m the drawing-room now." Pleased that her - hospitable in tentions have been fulfilled, the lady enters the drawing-room, to confront— not Deasy, but John Chinaman, who, with an empty cup on the table, before him, a big slice of cake m his fist, and a considerable instalment m his mouth, effusively returns Ins thanks for. the.un wonted attention he* has been receiving by expressively rubbing his region with bis unoccupied hand, andl gabbling fast and excitedly "Welly goocl the tea ma'am! Welly good thftealfe !'* Tableau ! Needless to add that, Mrs Parry had forgotten to explain to the domestic that she had changed her purveyor of; market stuff—hence, the amusing little contretemps abav* narrated.

Faith in France.

"Faith," writes Mr Hare m his new workj "seems to be almost extiuct m France:" How do such an assertion as this tally with what we see going on ? Take, for instance, the enormous Byzan tine church of Sacre" Coeur, now m course of erection on the heights of Montmartre. A visit to this church is one of the most interesting excursions m Paris. Tl^ building occupies a site commanding the. entire city, and is tragically memorable as. the scene of the final overthrow of the. Commune. Around are still to, be seen open spaces, windmills, fend othe*.. re minders of what was op«m%ountij a tew years ago. The church itself, entirely raised by yolu^tary contributions, will, when finished, be one of the handsomest and vastest Byzantine churches m Franca. Twenty-three million francs, nearly a minion sterling, have been already subscribed, and several million francs, more will be needed m order to.complete the work. Besides these donations o£ money, the cause has been aided, by lavish gifts m kind—marble columns, mosaics, and so on. A complete subterranean church underlies the upper, and m several of the chapels mass, has now been .cele brated for some year)?. From one portion of the nave, when complete, speccators will be able to see mass going on m seven. chapels at the same time. Sacre Coeux te, a votive church, and no less than a hun dred thousand pilgrims since Jung last, have visited the shrine of Mw^tmarte.. The designs are by Abadie. A lofty dome* will rise from the centx©, q£ the edifice,, and aspire eighty metdrefe m height crowns, the whole. How, with such facts before us, can w© av^r ihak faith is extinct m France ?

TELEGRAPHIC.

HOME AJSiy FOP^fiiGN,

[per press Assr, CLATION -j Lonson, February 11. Mr Cecil Rhodes, Premier of Cape Colony, has given in his adhesion to Parnell, and promised monetary assist ance, The stevedores at the Albert Docks have struck. Tom Mann states it is intended to block the steamers of the British India, Shaw Savill,and New Zealand Shipping Companies. The positon in Cardiff is acute. The railway men are hesitating. London, February 10. The combined resistance of the Unions against the Shipping Federa tion's laborers is likely to extend to all parts. Several vessels are blocked at Hull and Glasgow. It is feared that : shortly a hundred and forty thousand ! seamen, dockers, coal heavers, steve dores, and lightermen will be involved, and that the agitation may possibly extend to the railway men and miners. At a, great meeting of the Chamber of Commerce, Sir Geo. Baden Powell read a paper on the Canadian route to ■Australia. Jjord Brassey, the Duke of Sutherland, and Mr McArthur strongly supported the line. E.M.S. Rhautaka left Plymouth for Wellington yesterday. The steamer was, delayed by the fog. The New Zealand Shipping Com pany has ordered a steamer from Do'iuys, the shipping builder, of 6300 tons, to carry 70,000 carcases of frozen mutton.

THE ASHBUBTON GIXABDIAN, THITBSPAY, FEBRTJABY 12, 1891



Wanted CASH Advertisements under this heading not exceeding SIXTEEN WORDS 1/-. Addresses may be left at this Offi™ MR KNOTT will give Gough's Great est Oration, to-morrow night. Be sure to hear it. Admission, Is. 2t64 Jiving aavay"valentines (Boxed etc.), at Great Reductions at Clear, at L. F. An.driw.es & Co., Sta tioners' Hall. 2 67 TRY the. Great Drapery Sale now on at H. C. S goers. "PRESENTS.— All holders of Tickets Jl will oblige by bringing them mas soon as possible. - H. C. Segeus, Melford House. /"POOLING and invigorating Ice Cream V 7as made by H. G. Flower, Conf fectioner, East Street. WANTED Known —Some special lines m choice Dress Goods at very low prices showing at " The Corner." ANTED Known—The "Strong wear " Boot is the best for Mens "jadies and Children.—W. H. Collier. QEGEJEtS' Clearing Sale m all Depart O ments now on. One trial solicited. —Melford House. YTTANTED every man m the County W to have a suit of the Ashburton Tweeds.—Robert Alcorn, Ashburton Clothing Mart, Saunder's Buildings. BOOTS, BOOTH. "Keep you.- feet Dry and save Doctor's Bills, have a splendid Stock m now. Try my Double-soled Shooters. Every pair Guaranteed. Robert Alcorn, Ashbur ton. ANTED Known—The Cheapest Shop to buy Tinware and Gal vaniscd Iron goods m Ashbarton, is at W. F, Hannaford's, Burnett Street. A arge stock kept on hand. Tin and Iron ware goods made and repaired with des atcn. TTALENTINES ! VALENTINES ! at V L. F. Andre wes & Co. Just 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 GREAT REDUCTIONS. L F. ANDREWES & Co. "OAKAIA rpOWN "TTALIT ~j~ ECTURE by the Bishop op Christ- JLj church : "Three years m a Country Village." In aid of St. Mark's Parsonage Building Fund. TUESDAY EVENING, 24th FEBRUARY, 189.1. at 8 o'clock. Admission Is. 2 40 JO LKNdT IypONEY to Lend at LOW RATES OF INTEREST, on Mortgage of FREE HOLD PROPERTY, m sums of £100 to_£sooo For further particulars apply to the Postmaster, Ashburton, or to J. C. PRUDHOE, District Agent. Government Insurance Ofiice. Christchurch. WJIHTEEIdf A>:ICUT TCLTtt CHRIS rCHLRGH DENTAL SURGERY. Corner of Cashel and High streets 0 ~]\/TYERS AND /~10. O. IVI. v,o SURGEON DENTIST And at Dunedin md Westport (TTE have gained tht FIRST AWARD VV " the Dunedin Exhibition for Artificial Dentures and Mechanical Appli ances for the Mouth, and it is with the greatest confidence that ye guarantee the highest clnss work and pc rf ect fit 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 Tempoiarily al most immediately after the extraction of decayed teeth or stumps without extra cc or charge. Arrangements can bo made for part or monthly payments. ADMINISTERING NITROUS OXIDE '3AH several times daily for the past ten years, we fearlessly assert that extraction of teeth under its influence is perfectly pinlesß and positively safe Fee (qv Administration, ss. Extraction, $s Gd. Artificial Teeth, and Denturefc made by other dentists repaired or remqdelled at smalt cosf GENTLEMEN requiring the very " latest fashion m FLEXIBLE; HATS (all colors) will find a choice stoff\ at the New Zealand Clothing Factory. WHITE and Fancy Scarfs, White and fttiipod Vests, Tennis Shirts, bsittoijed *nd Haced fronts, all .colors, at the New Zealand Cj/jthjug f'AOW)iy r " : SUMMER Merino and Gauze Merino 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 Nrw Zealand Clothing Factory. BOYS' School Suits, we^lj .fitting, and moderate m pri°e ait ifchti New Clothing Factory. r t ..~.~-*-~™-~~~— XT JB W ZEALAND .CLOTHING 1 x 'WA&mW f ih§ teeing Jfrt, Cap, and Clotlnn b " " •'•' EAST STREET"', ASHBUETOF. Agci?t for the Wonderful Werfchehn Sewing Machine,", W. H. WEBBEII, Manager,



Massey-Toronto Light Binder lira LIGHTEST IN DRAFT. SUREST TO TIE, EASIEST TO MANAGE" SWIFTEST TO CUT, THE LONGEST LIVED.}! MOST SCIENTIFICALLY MADE Stationary Axle AND Raise and Lower Style 6, 6, and 7 FEET CUTS. Of the latter only very fewjon hand. £2000 Worth of Extras m Stock, which wil be supplied to farmers at manufacturer's prices at any time DAY OB NIGHT. FRIEDLANDER BROS the (OMiui mmm COMPANY OF lEW ZUUII (FIRE AND MARINE ) HP HE Business of this Company has I been TRANSFERRED to the COMMFRCIAL UNION ASSURANCE COMPANY, Limited, of London, by whom, through the various Branches and Agencies m New Zealand, all accounts owing to and by and all losses under th«s Colonial Insurance Company's policies will be settled m future. F. ALLEN, General Manager. Wellington, New Zealand, December 11th, 1890. THE -COMMERCIAL UNION AS&TJR. ANCB COMPANY, (Limited) EsTAPMSHEp £.861. Incorporated under Act of Parliament, 7 »md 8 Vie,, Cap, 110. Hea» Oifsicis; IS awl 20 Corn:hijll, London S&inSedFu?^ "' f'f^W Total Annual Nett IncoT* o.','/,™,0/,™, ft li%W HEAD OFFICE for NEVv .TALARI P > Lambton Quay, Wellington. , With Local Boards of Advice m Australia* and New Zealand. General Manager for New Zealand • FRANK ALLEN, J P. Every description of Fire nd Marine Insurance effected at LOWEST CURRENT RATES CUFF & GRAHAM, Managers for Canterbury, Christchurch. AOPNTS FOR ASHBUKTON FUIEDLANDER BROSJj 22



John Orr & Co. INVITE THE ATTENTION OF FARMERS To their Largo and Varied Stocks of all clauses of Goods, suitable lor tho Harvest Field. 1000 Bales Binding TWINE, J Crown Brand 250 Bales Manilla Binding TWINE Machine Extras and Fittings 100 Cases Binding WIRE, White Graf 100 Cases Castor Oil Leather Belting, l|in to Gin Valvoline and Lubroline Oil Lard and Olive Oil Cylinder Oil Perforated Zinc, 3/32jto|7/8 Seaming Twine •■■E3 McGormick Binders. The agents of the 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 m order to have a successful trial they m 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 m Australia obtained the full number of points under each heading. The McCormick also gained fifßt prize at Stawell (Victoria) beating the Massey, Hornsby, and Deering. John Orr & Go.



THI FIRE MI) iIARIi lISUMIK COMPANY 01 m\ zeiusi), m), CAPITAL.... £2,000, 0 PAID UP.. £100,000 RESERVE & REINSURANCE FUND £65,000 General Manager : VV. DEVENISH MEARES E*q. OFFICES : 172 HEREFORD STREET, CHRISrCHURCH. Special Features : THE ONLY INSTITUTION of its kind having its HEAD OFFICE m CHRISTCHURCH. LIBERALITY m SETTLEMENT op CLAIMS. RATES, ihb LOWEST CURRENT. To Formers'. CLIENTS of the COMPANY and others are reminded fcliat all Grain, Stack and Implement RISKS are taken by this Company at Lowest Current .-lutes. John G. Pestell WEST STREET, ASIIBURTONJ | AGENT'



Public Notices. Cx. JJ AWCETT JjoDDS SURGEON DENTIST, Address :—Courfc Chambers, above Mr d. M. Jones Stationer, East Street, private Residence, Tailored Street, Three doors below Masonic Hall. Irrigation, "T UST what is wanted for the country t) also a REVOLUTION m the DRAPERY TRADE. Here we have it at W. W. Spencer and Go, }s tHE MOST GENUINE Clearing Sale Ever held m Ashburton. Everything Reduced 25 per cent. DRAPERY^TCLOTHING AND BOOTS- Men's Tweed Trousers 10s 6d, reduced to 6s lid Men's Tweed Suits 22s 6d Boys' Tweed Suits 5s 3d White Lace Curtains 2s 3d a pair Best French Merino Is s|d Stay Busks, all sizes, 2d a pair Prints 2a 6d, dress length Prints 3£d, 4|d, shd, guaranteed to wash Towels 3jd each Washing Muslins 3d per yard Dress Goods 4£d per yard Boys' Braces 4d. Boots. Boots. Colonial Shooters 9s lid, Bluchers 6s 6d, 6s lid. Women's Strong Elastic Sides 6a 9d Childs Kid Elastic Sides from 2s lid I. If. SPEW .4 (0, THE ARCADE TO THE WORK! II! OF ASHBUBTOI? COUNTjY. tfTE WILL SUPPLY YOU WITH! £ s. d. A COLONIAL TWEED SUIT FOR 18 6 1 FELT HAT 2 6 1 PAIR BOOTS 6 6 1 SHIRT 1 9 1 SINGLET, Merino . 2 3 1 PAIR DRAWERS, Merino 2 3 1 PAIR SOX, Merino 1 0 1 TIE 10 2 5 9 WE don't have bogus Cheap Sales, bufc are prepared to supply the above goods EVERY DAY IN THE WEEK until further notice FO R C ASJI ON L V RAIAPOI HOUSE, MITCHELL Or mURNER. ITCHELL <X» XURNER.