NEW YEAR'S DAY.

There will be no publication of the Guakdian on Friday, January I—Newl—New ITear's Day. • ■ ■

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1891. NATIVE AFFAIRS.

Within the last few days two very contradictory telegrams havi appeared m reference to meetings of Natives to discuss the land question. The first contained an account of the conclu sions come to at a meeting of the great Ngatimaniopoto tribe, which were that the tribe, who are among the largest holders of Native lands, had de cided to re-establish Tawhiao's mana over the land, and to have nothing more to do with the Native Land Courts or the Government. The second message reported that the Hon. Mr Cadnian, the Native Minister, had addressed a meeting of the Natives at the same place, and had come to a good understanding with them. To enable us to see which report repre sents correctly the position of the Native question m that district we i must look at the grievances which the Natives have against the Government. First of all, free traffic m land is pro hibited to them; they can only sell or lease their land through the Govern ment department. They allege that this restriction puts them entirely into tb« power of the Government, towlrm they are coercrd into selling their land at a price far below its actual market value. In this contention they are backed up by a number of interested individuals and by a section of the Press. We can understand the motives of the individuals, but the reasons which have caused the Preas to take up this attitude are not so clear, unless they are those that influence them to stir up discontent and advocate any cause which may possibly harass thft Government. It is a matter of i«:ent history that cannot be gainsaid that the statute forbidding the direct sile of land by the Natives was enacted solely for the protection of the Natives, who were fast being dispossessed of their land without receiving xv.al^e for it. The Natives are also frightened by threats of contiscatory taxation, while tha only taxation which hag been mooted hf fcfcp, Government is that which will be necessary for the : purple of < forming roads «tiwl ■building ' bridges, and this some of the most ex- Clttftivi? \4 %$ tfhieffy «*t $he time gf the '

visit of the Governor and the Native Minister m the early part of this year, expressed themselves as willing to sub mit to. Therefore ife becomes obvious that extraneous forces are at work m ' raising discontent. Unfortunately it is evident that a serious degree of dis content exists, and something must be done to put matters on a better foot ing. Mr Caclraan's suggested conces sion that the sale of land m small I blocks be legalised may have been ac cepted as a solution of the difficulty. Under proper safeguards it would not be objectionable, but we doubt whether it would be practicable to frame regu lations for these, or any other transac tions into which the Natives may wish |to enter, which they, with their im patience of control or guidance, would submit to. Other great meetings of the Natives are impending, and at them the actual state of affairs is sure to come to light; but the " little cloud " must not be disregardetl, and the Government must take care that no cause for Native discontent can be blamed upon them.

LOCAL AND GENERAL

With to-day's Guardian our subscribers are presented with a sheet Almanac for 1892, with the publisher's compliments and the Good Wishes of the Season. Harvest is becoming general m the Amberley district. The oats are turning out rather light and ranch of the wheat is badly filled. In the case of Wheeler and others v. J. R. R'Miderson, at Carisbshnrch, an action for damages for alleged misrepresentation con cerning the circulation of the " Mutual Creditors' Association Mercantile Gazette, " the jury returned a verdict for the defendant. The Royal Geographical Society of South Australia has received a despatch from Mr Lindsay stating that the Elder Exploring Expedition lint* turned from its course from want of water. A committee of the society has been appointed to consult Sir Thomas Elder as to the future operations of the party. Eight seamen of the S.S. Otarama were sent to gaol for two months at the Lyttelton R.M. Court yesterday, for disobeying orders during a gale on the passage from Port Chalmers. The men's defence was that they had uo confidence m the boatswain under whom they had to work. The " Mount Ida Chronicle " reports that the notorious Agnews have been affording some amusement to Naseby people. After tbe officials had been badgered, a hall was hired for the couple, who took turn about m airing their grievances—relieved occasionally by the two speaking at the same time. The following cablegram has been received —Dr Barnardo's London Homes, containing more than 5300 waifs and strays, are urgent ly needing funds. Severe fro3ts and black fogs are prevalent, and hundreds of street children are without food and shelter. Will Australia repeat her generous Christmas gift of last year ? The R.M.S. Rimutaka arrived m Welling ton harbor yesterday afternoon at three o'clock, having made a very smart passage from Hobart. She left Plymouth on Novem ber 14, and brings ninety-five passengers and 249 bags of mails for New Zealand. The voyage occupied forty-three days niue hours thirty-four minutes. Messrs. Harcourt and Co., Wellington, are m receipt of a letter from Zeehan, Tasmania, m which the following paragraph appears :— " We have some nice leaders m the Zeilandia, yielding 7ooz silver and 76 per cent, lead, indicative of good ore when we cut the lode, which, we expect to do about Christmas. The field generally is looking better than ever." The boy was a small one, who lived m Patterson, New Jersey, and some malicious p .renn got-, hold of him one day, and said, " Well Jamie, are their many mosquitoes m New Jersey?" "Oh, about half-and-half." answered the youngster, composedly, " Half-and-half what ? " pursued the ques timier, "Half air and half mosquitoes," said the youngster quietly. A man named George Yallop, aged about thirty-five, and formerly a cabman m Christ-church, but now engaged as a groom, while riding home from the Heathcote iao course yesterday evening on Mr Charles Lewis' drag, fell and broke both his legs. Mr Lewii had him promptly conveyed to the Hospital, where it wa? found that there •was' a compounl comminuted fracture of the right, and a simple fracture of the left leg. The Sydney " Bulletin " says :—An Ade laide 'Tiser reporter who interviewed Rud yard Kipling was told by that fashionable lounger, as he sipped his light wine and breathed out his fragrant cigar, that what the working man m Australia wanted was fifteen honrs'hard workaday. Kippling was born .md bred m India, among niggers, and was pro bably wet nursed by a nigger woman. He 18 a nigger-driver, and has no business off the chain m a white man's country.

A Sydneyite some time since imported some game fowls from England, and after repeated pes^erings from a man who demanded a clutch of eggs, he handed them over, having first taken the precaution of giving them what he considered a real good parboiling. Later on he met the importun* ate party, and asked how things were, and was informed that eleven eggs had hatched out of thirteen. He treated the information rather as a joke until some twelve months afterwards, when the cadger " beat him bad " at a show.—" Bulletin."

Although a sum of £30,000, set asie'e by the Victorian Parliament for the payment of butter bonuses, has now bef>n absorbed, it has been arranged by the Government that they shall not be suddenly discontinued. The Agricultural Grants Bill provides for the reduction of the vote of £15,000 as bonuses for this encouragement of planting and cultivation of forest trees of an economic character by £12,000, and the vote of £17,000 for the importation of new varieties of seeds and plants by £3UOO. The sum of £15,000 thus saved will be devoted to the payment of a reduced bonus of Id per lb on butter exported and realis ing a satisfactory price.

Tawhaio, the Maori King, passed through Jlimilton with several of hia followers a few days ago. He had made a somewhat pro longed visit to that part of the King Country, advising the natives to hold on to the land and neither sell nor lease. His latest religious phase or crotchet is that the dead for some generations back will rise again, ami the whole of the lands taken from the ijtatives %jlll come back to them again, and they will all, nVing and reßiir rectedj occupy them, enjoy them together, awd Jive after their old modes and customs. In the meanwhile, Tawhiao keeps up the old native custom of liviijg (together with his suite), at the expense of settled natiyes a3 he roams about. In some of the snjaller settlements, his party nearly ate tha resi dents out.

The best medicine known is SANDER and 1 SONS' EUCALYPTI EXTRACT. Test its eminent powerful effects m coughs, colds. influenza, etc. —the relief is instantaneous, Thousands give the most gratifying testi mony. His Majesty the King of Italy, and me<U<i(|! syndicates all over the globe are its patrons, Ijead the official reports that accom pany each bottle. Hosier, M.D., Professor University, (jriefswald, reports : — The EuealypiiExjtvac^ proved magnificently anch cessful In V6VV WYGIV llM^9lls> l>rt]tises, spiains, wounds, scaldliigs, broken ribs, and limbs. ("Medical Journal," Nov., 188])/ In diseases of the kidneys, either active con gestion or suppression, (urumiia) or albuini nuria, dropsy, lithargy, nothing will equal m its action Eucalypti Extract. Doses, ■ilyy to six drops. Hosier, M.D., Professor, ijt^iyftv^y, (irieswald, reports:—Diphthe ria. 'Jfytygf jg (CMjT'tinually coherent presenting ulcers witli wLit* Cured m four teen days. Surgical Oliuie^l Pj'of- M'lntyre, C >llege of Physicians and SurgftQiis, St. Jjoiits—iScirrhus of Breast—Excision Euca lypti Jfjf tract employed. No swelling, heat, or discoloration. (Jnvad m fourteen days. -■^••'™- - i

Salmon;' pike, and goldfish are said to be J the fish that never sleep. j The violet was the Bonaparte family flower and the red carnation that of the Stuarts. The Banks will be closed from Thursday , afternoon to Tuesday morning next, for the New Year's holidays. The following new postmasters have been appointed :—Doric, J. J. Duncan ; Elgin, A. Hunnibell; Winchmore, G. Cromie. Miss Rees, the Ashlmrton representative at the Lawn Tennis Championship meeting at Napier, was beaten yesterday by Mrs Abrahams, who, a Press telegram says, will probably win the Ladies Championship. Mr Robert Alcorn, J.P., i-his morning convicted and discharged an old lame man who had not been before the Court for five yenrs. Accused had been found drunk m East street. The Mariposa, with the English mai of November 28 left San Francisco for Auckland on December 11, one day late. The Monowai, with the colonial mails of December 5, arrived at San Francisco from Auckland on December 25, one day late. Visitor: "Are you going to be a great man when you grow up, Willie 1" Willie: " You bet! I'm to be an Arctic explorer." "An Arctic explorer's life is full of hard ships, Willie." " Yes'm. But I can stand them, I reckon." "Hike your spirit, my boy. There is a great deal of glory to be gained m a career of that kind." Willie : " And you don't never have to wash your face." The Ashburton Brass Band have decided to hold their annual pic-nic on New Year's Day, and have chosen the Wakanui Beach near Mr T. Wilson's farm as their camping ground. They will leave town about nine m the morning, giviug a short open-air concert before starting, For the journey'Mr John Newmans new brake has been engaged and such other conveyances as may be necessary. Dance music will be played at the beach, and visitors may, if they choose, take advantage of this to enjoy a " trip" m the open. The " Fortnightly " says :—"Those who condemn the trades unions as promoters cf strife must surely be acquainted with the elaborate and successful arrangements for the settlement of labour disputes which prevail m many of our most important industries, with the delicate and self acting machinery of sliding scale, and with those boards of conciliation which form so valuable a buffer between the conflicting interests of capital and labour, or must ignore the undeniable fact that none of these powerful securities for the maintenance of social peace could by any possibility exist if it were not for the presence m those trades of thoronghly effective trades unions." The return match between the High School and the Ashburfcon cricket clubs will be played to-morrow (Wednesday) beginning at 2.30 p.m. sharp. The Ash burton Cricket Club will be represented by the following:—Messrs E.Andrews, Sawle, Cuthberteon, Johnston, Todd. Rundle. | Stillwell, Moore, Black, Pilbrow, G. W. Andrews. Emergencies—Makeig, Sawle, Bateman. The following will play for the Ashbut ton High School, past and present: — E., A., and L. Buchanan, 0. Chapman, H. H. Fooks, W. Butler, A. Oit, R. Shear man, M. Scott, W. Jeff, S. Corrigan, and H. Lafferty. Tea will be provided on the ground during the afternoon. A singular question m ethics has arisen out of the late railway accident m the Manawatu Gorge, when a truck-load of iron became derailed, and ran into a horsebox. The guard has been suspended. It is said that lie had neglected to hook the chains between the truck?. It is further alleged, however, that had it not been for his fortunate neglect, had the chains been hooked, the derailed trucks must have been curried on to the bridge over the ravine, when the whole train would probably have been precipitated to the bottom, and, as one officer expressed it, not a sou', would have been left to tell the tale. The guard's neglect did not cause the accident, but saved the train. Should he be punished or rewarded ? The "Free Press" asserts that a recent case heard at Balolutha was a burlesque of justice. Mr Jam s H. Harvio is a fanner adjoining the railway line. The top rail of the fence separating him from the rail way had b^.en sawn through to facilitate the removal of some furniture belonging to a railway hand. Two of Mr Harvie's horses strayed through the breach thus made, and were killed by a passing train, the owner thus losing ±50. An information was laid against Mr H-irvie for allowing his horses to wander, and he was convicted and fined, Mr Revell holding he had been guilty of negligence m not discovering and repairing the breach presumably made by a servant of the Railway Commissioners, who were the prosecutors. The " Sydney Morning Herald,." m reference to the recently published telegrams stating that Mr Dickson's offer m connection with the Antarctic expedition lapses at the end of December, and that " The Times " declared that the movement had been sadly mismanaged, and that the colonies occupied a ridiculous position m the matter, nya :— " We have received a communication from the Hon Secretary of the Swedish-Austral - asian Antarctic Expedition, who states that some misapprehension exists m England relative to this matter. Instead of the ex pedition being m danger of being abandoned every preparation is being made to fit it out at the earliest possible moment. The sum of £3000 is needed to complete Australia's £10,000, and subscriptions towards the amount are coming m." The English Court of Appeal has just been engaged m the knotty task of deciding whether a grocer's assistant is or is not a workman. It appears that the magistrates of Newport m a case Bound v. Lawrence, held that the appellant was a workman within the meaning of the Em ployers and Workmen Act, and as such was liable to a penally for leaving his master's service without clue notice. This decision was confirmed by the Divisional Court, consisting of Justices A. L. Smith and Grantham, but it was reversed by the Court of Appeal, consisting of the Master of the Rolls, and Lord Justices Fry and Lopes. Their Lordships held that the appellant was not a workman within the meaning of the Act, and consequently allowed appeal The decision is undoubtedly of some impor tance to a very hardworking class of the community. Certainly the Most Effective MEDICINE m the world is SANDER and SONS EUCALYPTI EXTRACT. Test its eminent powerful effects m Coughs, Colds, Influenza, etc. ; the relief is instantaneous. Thousands gave the most gratifying testimony. Read this certificate :■—" 24th April, 1885 — Messrs Sander and Sons, —It is with the greatest of pleasure that I testify to the excellence of your Eucalypti Extract. Having had inflammation of the bone of the eg, which came on after a severe attack of ow fever, I was attended by Dr J. Boyd, who had made strenuoiis efforts to save my leg, but without success, He found it necessary to amputate lny limb. Hayjiig heard m the meantime af the wonderful cures worked by the Eucalypti Extract, I obtained a bcttle, and the extract had not been applied more than an hqur when I began to feel greatly relieved. After applying the extract every four hcursfor nine or ten dtvys it was out of all danger. I would persuade al who may be effected with any such disease to give the Eucalypti Extract a trial, and Jain convinced that they mil find it t<he most wondtwful of medicines, —Yoms, etc., E. J. Cuknow, Wattle street, Sand hurst.—(Advt f) Hollow ay's Pills.-—Factory Operatives and Workers m Manufactories. —Theremark- able remedies which have been discovered and protected by Thomas Holloway, and whiuh far i|}or<? than forty years have been successfully used m every fjuarter oi the globe, are especially useful m all the inanL fold ailments which aftlict those who fey reason of their occupations are confined for years, or all their Hve3, m crowded buildings and workshops. Holloway's Pills and Oint ment are associated remedies, the former restoring the vital powers when diminished, and always acting as an efficient blood purifier, whilst the latter relieves local maladies and checks inflammation, and acts ) as a cleansing and healing agent m cases of i bad legs, bad breasts, ujcors, and unhealthy ' sores of fUkiude. . ■ .. . j

THE WEATHER.

ALFORD STATION. The following is the Meteorological report for the week ending December 27, 1891 :—

RIFLE SHOOTING.

A team of the Ashburton Rifles went to Timaru on Boxing Day to fire a return match against the Timaru Navals. Some first-class shooting was done on both sides ; Bugler D. Leitch, of the Rifles, 79, and Chief Petty Officer Bradley, of Timaru, 76, were the top scorers. TheNavals won by thirty-onevoihte. Great interest was taken m the shooting, as both companies had good teams. In the afternoon the Navals took the Rifles out for a sail m the cutter, which was very enjoy able. Cheers were given and returned as the train moved off for Ashburton. The following are the scores :— ,

CRICKET.

carisbrook idunedijs) v. ashburton.

The match between the crack Dunedin j Club, the Cansbrook, and the Ashburfcon Club was played on the Domain ground yesterday. Ashburton went first to the wickets, bub made a poor stand, being all disposed of for twenty-four. The innings of the Carisbrook team lasted the greatei part of the day, and reached 250 before the laist wicket fell Six of the visitors reached double figures, and one of them, Law ton, had the splendid innings of 112, made up of two s'd, three 4's, eight 3's, sixteen 2's, and the rest singles. The Ashburton promised better m tho second innings, bub time was called when four wiykefcs had gone down for 27. The fol lowing are the scores :— Asiiburton—First Innings. G. W. Andrtws, c Cantrell, b Hope ... 2 B. Buchanan, b Law ton 4 D. T. Todd, bllope ... 0 A. A. Fooks, b L-uvtou 3 W. B. Denshire, b Lawlon ... ... 0 A. Buchanan, thrown out Harper ... 4 Pilbrow, c and b Hope ... ... ... 2 E. P. Chapman, not out ... ... ... 2 W. Simpson, b Hope ... ... ... 0 L. F. Andrewes, b Law ton 0 H. G. Moore, b Hope ... 1 Extras 6 Total 24 Carisbrook —First Innings. Beck, b Todd 9 Stronach, c Mcore, b Andrews ... ... 29 Lawtcn, st E. 'Buchanan, b A. Buchanan 112 Rat tray, c fi. Buchanan, b Andrews ... 0 Cantrell, b Todd 14 Fisher, run out .. ... ... ... 18 Rose, cE. Buchanan, b Andrews ... 11 Hope, lb w, b Buchanan 0 Harper, b Pilbrow ... .. ... 26 E. J. Austin, c Buchanan, b Pilbrow ... 6 iT. L. Austin, not out ... ... ... 2 Extras 23 Total 250 Ashburtox—Second Innings. G. Andrews, sb Austin, b Harper ... 9 10. Buchanan, b Fisher ... 2 D. T. Todd, b Fisher ... ... ... 0 A. A. Fooks, st Austin, b Harper ... 4 W. B. Denshire, not out , 4 A. Buchanan, not out ,  ... '1 Extras 7 1 Total .. 27

TAXATION OF COMPANIES.

Mr A. E. G. Rhodes, M.H.R., has

issued a pamphlet with the title of " the Taxation Muddle," m which, very naturally, as an opponent of the present Government, lie seeks to make the most political capital possible out of the ambiguity of the phraseology of the Land and Income Tax Act of last session m relation to the taxation of companies. Our readers will remember that m the course of his post-sessional speech at Temuka Mr Rhodes asserted that according to the reading of the Statute the money-lending companies would be taxed twice over, namely, first on the capital sum of the money lent on mortgage, and secondly upon their debentures. This was challenged by Mr Twomey, who wrote to the Premier on the subject, eliciting a reply to the effect that it was not in tended that there should be duplicate taxation, and that this " would be made clear before any tax was col lected." Whatever the intention of the Act may have been, it seems that the reading of its text by the Commis sioner not only bears out Mr Rhodes' contention, but goes even further for the Commissioner claims; (1) a penny m the £ on the registered mortgages; (2) Income tax: at one shilling m the £, on the interest at £o per cent on the debentures issued m England, and (3) one shilling m the £ income-tax on the net profits made by the Company. Obviously then, if Mr J^allance only intends that the Companies shall be taxed once, the wQixliqg*'of the Statute needs emendation. But wo have his word for it that if this be sjq then it will be amended, an:l consequently there is no necessity whatever to raise a hullabaloo about the matter—ex cept on the Party principle, that it is the first duty of the Government's opponents to find, al} the fault t>hey can with the Ministry and its measures^ Mr Rhodes has scored by proving that his criticism was correct, and is en titled to all the kudos he can get out of that fact, but the discovery is not his alone ? for t]\e very point he raises wag raised last session, and has been urged m any number of newspapers both then and since. Nor is it m the least degree surprising that the Land and Income-tax Act is m some respects inaccurate m its wording, for it seldom or never happens that a measure dealing with so large and complicated a matter is found to be so plear -Mid precise a»a |iot to need subse-

quent explanatory amendment. Th wisdom of the Government m passing a mere skeleton Bill, and deferring the actual, imposition of the new taxation for a year is justified by tho fact that the interval will enable all inaccuracies a,fid ambiguities to be discovered, aud the result of course will be that these will be rectified by an Amending Bill next session. Mr Rhodes and other critics are therefore doing excellent service by indicating m what directions amendment is necessary.

TELEGRAPHIC.

HOME AND FOREIGN

(PER 'FBJES4 ASSOCIATION.

THE STOLEN PEARLS. :

London, December 27. Mrs Osborne, who sued Major and Mrs Hargreaves for slander, will be arrested on a charge of obtaining money under false pretences, ;: obituary. Colonel Shadwell EL Clerke, Secre tary to the Grand Lodge of Freemasons of England.

ACCIDENT TO PRINCE CHRISTIAN. Prince Christian was shot in the eye to-day while out shooting with the Duke of Connaught and Prince Henry of Battenburg at Osborne. The injury is only of a slight character, THE COMMERCIAL TREATIES The "Chronicle's" St. Petersburg correspondent telegraphs that the Russian Government have formally in timated to Germany that they will shortly enter into negotiations for a commercial treaty.

FATAL PANIC IN A THEATRE. A dropped match caused a slight fire in the theatre in Gateshead during the performance of a pantomime. A fearful panic resulted, in which nine children in the gallery were trampled to death. The check-taker vainly attempted to stop the rush and was himself killed. During the panic roughs pillaged the actors' property. THE INVENTOR 2ALINSKI. London, December 28, Zalinski, the inventor of the dynamite gun, has become insane.

AFFAIRS IN CHILI.

Valparaiso* December 27. President Montt has extended a general pardon to Balmaceda's minor officials. Valparaiso, December 28. Vast crowds attended the pro clairation of General Monfct as Pre sident of Chili. The ceremony was attended with great enthusiasm. All the foreign representatives, with the exception of Mr Egan, the United States Minister, were present.

THE YELLOW FEVER.

Rio de Janeiro, December 27. Ninety per cent, of those who are attacked by the yellovv fever succumb to tlse effects of the disease.

AMBASSADOR TO ROME.

St. Petersburg, December 27. Sir R. Morier, British Ambassador in this city, has been appointed successor to Lord Duff'erin in Rome. RUSSIAN AFFAIRS. t It is stated that tho C^iir ij' liLuly to banish the Grand Duke Sergius owing to his alleged tyranny in Mos cow, though it is believed that the real motive is that the Czar is suspicious of I his ambitious designs. Other accounts state that Sergius is reforming a rotten administration.

GOLD CURRENCY.

Athens, December 27. Greece is arranging a new gold issue of three to five million francs.

THE OVERLAND MAILS.

Constantinople, December 27. It is reported that Great Britain has failed to arrange for the carriage of the Indian and Australian mails by the Salonica route.

THE TROUBLES IN CHINA.

Rome, December 27. The Propaganda has been informed that all the missions in the interior of China are menaced. Paris, December 27. The Chinese Legation here denies the truth of the statement that a revolt has taken place in Mongolia, and that Christians were massacred. THE SITUATION IN CANADA. New York, December 27. The Hon. W. Laurier, of Canada, speaking at a banquet in Boston, objected to Imperial federation, and thought the policy propounded by the empire trade league absurd. He asserted that the destiny of all the colonies was to become free, and Canada, when the time arrived, would separate from Great Britain. He also declared that Canada would persist in the right to make her own commercial treaties.

BOXING MATCHES. New York. December 28. The head of the New York police an nounces thrit he will arrest the principals in knocking-out contests.

AUSTRALIAN.

FEARFUL HEAT.

Sydney, December 24. Tremendous heat was experienced throughout the country to-day. At Wilcannia, 583 miles north-west of Sydney, the thermometer registered 170 in the shade. The great heat is proving disastrous to tlje crops and grass. Bush fires are raging in some parts. There is a water famine at Bourke, and the Government have made arrangements with the South Australian authorities to c}es,patch water grains immediately. THE NEW bOTTH WALES TARIFF. Sydney, December 25. A rule nisi has been granted calling on the Collector qf Customs to show cause why a writ of mandamus should not issue ordering him to permit the free passage of goods into New South Wales until the Bill imposing the new duties has been passed by Parliament. The rule is returnable on or before Bth prpj, FATAL STATION FIRE. Sydney, December 27. Springfield station, atJerilderie, was completely burnt down—the result of a bush fire. One of the station hands was burnt to death. The fires are still doing extensive and dangerous damage. BROKEN HILL WEALTH. Sydney, December 28. Ihe half, yearly bjU&nce sheet pf the

Proprietary mine, Broken Hill, shows net profits £633,000. Since the Com pany commenced operations the mine has yielded 30,756j0000z-5 of silver, and paid dividends amounting to £3,896,600.

BIG FAILURE.

Brisbane. December 23. A petition in liquidation lias been filed by Charles Turner, merchant. Tine liabilities have been set down at £15,000. Mr Turner was largely interested in the importation of New Zealaud produce. THE T ASM ANT AN PAR LIA , ME NT... : .;;• ■ : Hoeart, December 23. Parliament has been prorogued.

INTERPROVINCIAL.

A (JCKLANJ), December 28. A man named John Kelly has been ar rested on a charge of murder arising out of a drunken brawl. He and a ma'i named Maloney went to the Queen's Hotel, but the landlord refused to supply them with liquor as they were drunk. They were put out, and ie is stated that there was a scuffle. Miloney fell on the curbstone and wa3 taken to the hospital where he died from pressure of blood on the brain. A roan named George Egan, a lumper, committed suicide by drowning himself m the harbor. The man recently had his tongue cub out owing to cancer, but the [ dise^lse nevertheless was incurable. Napier, December 28. The New Zealand Lawn Tennis Asso ciation's annual gathering commenced at Farndon Park to-day, the weather being I perfect. The attendance was large and | the ground very fast. At present Mr Marshall seems likely to win the cham-' pionsliip singles and Mrs Abrahams the ladies' singles. The doubles have not commenced yet. Dunbdin, December 28. The weather to-day was again broken, showers falling at intervals. About 8 o'clock an extraordinarily heavy shower fell, the rain being like splashes rather than drops, and m less than five mit.utes the street channels were flowing full. At the annual meeting of the Commer cial Travellers' Association, reference was again made to the question of giving travellers the same privilege as seamen.in the matter of recording votes at elections. The difficulty appears to be m getting a definition of " traveller,"

The Tilden Will Case.

The New York correspondent of the Melbourne " Argus "gives the following particulars of the Tilden will case, of tho result of which wo were lately informed by cable :— Six yeais ago there died Samuel J. Tilden, a lawyer and politician of note, who was the Democratis candi date for the Presidency m 1876, and was defeated by a single vote m the electoral 'college of ■ tho States. He was a lawyer with a high reputation for shrewdness, and this shrewdness had enabled him to accumulate a fortune of 6,000,000 dol. (£1,200,000), the great bulk of which he gave by a will, which he drew himself long before hv-s death, to found a free library for tile city of New Yi.rk, and to be known as the Tilden Library. He was a bachelor,and his expectant nephews and nieces were cut off with very "small sifts, the neuhews each receiving the in come of 75,000 dol. (£15,000), with the right to devise the principal but not to use it, and the nieces being each presented with double the amountgiven to a nephsw. They determined to contest the will, but when they began proceedings to that end tlvy wort? linffhecl nt. Mr '"'■] v n had 'drawn nuny wills for other people, and not one of those wills hid ever been broken ; therefore ie was argued that hn would certainly be able to draw a will for himself that could not be successfully assailed. Well, the case has been before the courc*, and argued and argued figain, and the will has be3ii ass-tiled from various points of assault. It has been carried from one court to another until it reached the highest tribunal of tiw State, the. Court of Appeals. A week ago the judges of the Court of Appeals handed down a decision,'which'declared the will invalid, and gives the great estate to tho heirs. Curiously enough the flaw m the docu ment is m the paragraph whbh creates the Tilden Trust, that is to have charge of the estate and attend to the establish ment of the library. The court says that the clause does not provide for compelling the trustees to do their duty, but m effect leaves it optional with them, which is I not by law the case with a properly con stituted trust. Thus it turns out that the man who could draw impregnable wills, for others could not draw one for himself which could hold water. But the city will not be altogether deprived of the library, as th.c heirs have intimated that they will dedicate half of the fortune, if not more, m carrying out the object of the uncle, and will turn the money over at any time to a properly organised trust for that purpose.

The Pear and Cherry Slug.

The Victorian Government entomolo gist recently forwarded to the Minister of Agriculture a report concerning the pear and cherry slug (Lelandria cerasi), which has become a great pest to crchardists m Victoria as well as m New Zealand. The slug is green m colour, and the larva or grub of a small black four-winged fly be longing to the same group as the larger, and perhaps better known, sawflies which infest eucalyptus trees. It often dot * great damage to the foliage of the pear and chnrry by eating away the upper surface of the loaves, causing them to fall prematurely, to the detriment of the fruit and trees. The eggs of the grub are de posited m cuts made m the leaves. When full-grown the insect descendsa few inches beneath the soil, where it undergoes various changes. The insect comes from Europe, but was introduced into Vic toria from New Zealand. The chief difficulty m the way of dealing with the pest is that it generally j makes its worst attacks, particularly m i the case of cherries, when the fruit is either ripe or fast ripening, so that well known insecticides cannot be used. The best time to combat the slug is before the fruit becomes far advanced, but not when a iree is m bloom. The surface of the soil should be removed to the depth of two inches, and should i}o treated with a weak solution of coal-tar water. The proportion of fr&r should be one pound to fifty gallons of water, and the tar should be boiled before the water is added. A mixture of one ounce of sulphate of iron to a gallon of water may be used sparingly, and Miss Ormerod also recommends the application of quicklime to the soil. As a mixture for spraying when the fruit is not on the tree the kerosene emulsion is all that is necessary, although Mr Neilson of the Royal Horticultural Gardens, states that he has us 3d the crude oil of eucalypti and hellebore powder with success. As the pear slug is considered to be one of the most formidable insect enemies with which orchardists have to contend, Mr French advises that every endeavour should he made to get rid of it.

THE MARKETS.

(JfEll WUS.M ASSOCIATION.J / Londox, December 24. For New Zealand long-berried wheat there is a restricted business at 45s 3d. ! For off-coast cargoes sellers ask 42s 9d, but buyprs will not g!v«more thiiti 42s 3H. Soutli Auatraliin wheat is quiet at 45s 9d. and v ictori m flat at 455. Oats, 29s Gel. Bmaus, 37s Cd. Peas, 34s\ Canterbury frozen mutton 4£d per lb. Beef, hindquarters, 3d.

SPORTING.

AUSTRALIAN RACING.

[per peeks association-j Sydney, December 27. At the Australian Jockey Club's meet ing yesterday the Summer Cup resulted as follows :—Vespasia first, fcst Albans ' second, Magnus third. The New Zea land horse Impulse was scratched. Vespasia won by a length. Time—2min 37|sec. Melbourne, December 27. At the Victorian Racing Ohio's meeting Pygmalion won the Hopetouu Cup, with Tautallon second, and Dramatist third. The whilom New Zealander won easily m 2r»in 44fsec.

HEATHCOTE SUMMER MEETING.

Chbtstchttkch, December 28. The attendance was good at the Lower Heathcote races to-day. Inclikeith, the top weighbwith lOst lib, wontheHurtiles ; dividend, £1 17s 6cl. The Heathcote Cup, of 50sovs, ons mile, was won by Regina, Bst 51b (Matthews) ; Ilium, * Bst "21b, second ; Lady Zetland, Bst, third. Bich lake Bst 21b, and The Idl r, 7st 91b, also ran. Time—lmin 48sec; dividend, £2135. The Saddle Trot, two miles, was won easily by Nilreb; dividend, £1 7s, Missile, 7st 101 b, won the Flyiug Handi cap, six furlongs, m lmin 23sec ; dividend £3 7s6d. Silver Pine won the Welter Handicap, paying £22 16s dividend. The Midsummer Handicap, seven furlongs, was won by Lady Zetland, Bst; Regina, Bst 1311), 2 ; Ilium Bst 21b, 3 ; six others ran. Dividend—£7 0s 6d. ,

Wonderful Natural Pictures.

Pliny, a well-known writer of the early Christian time mentions having seen an agate, the lines and markings of which formed a perfect picture of Apollo and the iSine Muses. Pliny saja that little children recognised it on sight. In this wonderful natural picture, as well as m artificial drawings, Apollo was repre sented seated m the midst of the mus«cs, harp m hand, Majoius, another writer of high stand ing, saw an agate m the collection of a jeweller at Venice which, when polished, showed a perfect picture of a shepherd, with crook m hand and cloak thrown loosely over his shoulders. In the church of St. John at Pisa/ Italy, there is a piece of stone heavily marked with rod, blue and yellow spir, the lines representing an old man with heavy white beard with a bell m his hand, seated beside a small stream. To the worshippers at St. John it is known as the St. Anthony stone, the picture upon it being a perfect likeness of that saint", even to the minor details of tunic and bell. In 1605 some quarry men m Italy burst open a slab of marble, both sides of which contained an inr.ge of St. John the Baptist, covered with the skin of a camel. Every;hing 1 was true to nature, with a single exception ; the saint had only been provided? with one leg and one foot. How, wKon, or upon whafc pretext the Turks were allowed to gain possession, of the wonderful relic the writer's authority fails t r> . state ; it only adds that the miraculous production is now m the Temple of St. Sophia at Constantinople. i Directly after the Johnstown flood, the superintendent of the marble yard at the penitentiary at Baltimore, found a slab of marble with lines and veins which made a perfect picture of the fated city of Johnstown and the surrounding country. The sky is plainly marked, as are also the hills and mountains surrounding the town. Piles upon piles of ruins are marked, with ail occasional steeple or toppling wall overhanging the scene of awful de struction. Taken all m all, the scientists consider it one *of the most wonderful natural formations ever found.

LATEST CABLE NEWS.

HOME AND FOREIGN.

(MB, PEESS ASSOCIATION.)

(Received December 29, 10.35 a.in.) THE NEW ORLEANS AFFAIR. Washington, December 28. President Harrison has consented to the payment of an indemnity for the lynohing of the Sicilians at Orleans some months ago.

RELIEF FOR RUSSIAN DISTRESS.

A United States warship will convey to a Russian port the flour and meat which has been purchased by private subscription m the States for the relief of the starving peasants m Russia.

THE UNITED STATES AND CHILI.

The United States officials deny that preparations are being made for war with Chili, and states that the prospects of a settlement of the difficulty between the two countries are favor able.

NIHILISM.

St. Petersbukg. December 28, Sixty Mhilists have been arrested m Warsaw.

EXTREME RASCALITY.

The flour which was recently pur*, chased by the St Petersburg Qky Council for .distribution. \n the dis tressed districts h,ag b&en found to be so adulterated that it is unfit for food.

THE COMMERCIAL TREATIES.

Brussels, December 28, A movement is spreading m Belgium against a German-Belgian commercial treaty.

THE ACCIDENT TO PRINCE CHRISTIAN.

London, December 28. The shot which struck Prince Chris-, tian was fired by the .Duke of Con* naught. Three pellets entered the left eye, and; it is reported that the injured organ has been removed.

THE PEARLS SCANDAL.

The warrant which has been issued for the arrest of Mrs Osborne, on a charge of obtaining money under false pretences, has not been executed, Sihe is supposed to have left England, and it is believed th,a>shfcis now m Spain.

(Received December 29, 12.35 p.m.) THE PACIFIC STATION. ' H.M.S. Satellite replace* H.M;.S.

Daphne on the Pacific staticc.

AFRICAN AFFAIRS.

Capetown, December 26. De Brazza; with two hundred men has started up the Congo river to ex plore Upper Saii£o. Delagoa Bay, December 28. Mnjor Johnston, leader of the Char tered South African Company's ex pedition, and Captain McGuire, on board the steamer, have arrived at the Upper Shire. The party'captured Makagira after two day's fighting, and released three hundred slaves They then proceeded to Lake Nyassa, where many more slaves were set free.

THE CHINESE TROUBLES.

Hoxg Kokg, December 28. In the battles which took place be tween December 3 and December 7, the Chinese troops killed 2000 rebels, and beheaded tif ty rebel leaders.

AUSTRALIAN.

(Received December 29, 10.35 a m ) A HIGH JUMP. Melboukxk, December 20. M. A. Conroy, the champion running high jumper of Australia, has beaten the record with a jump of 6 feet 5 inches. ' . '

OBTTUARY.

Brisbane, Deciliter 29. The Rev Mr McLaren, New Guinea missionary, died at sea of fever, and was buried at Cooktown.

Shearing by Machinery.

The wool clips at some of the principal stations m the Amuri county are this, season being taken off by the sheep-shear ing machines. The results hive given such satisfaction to the owners and operators, that there is little room to doubt that the old hand shears will soon be recorded amongst the things of <he past, as far as the iarae stations, are con cerned. Amongst the stations m the north where tho machines are iv use, are St. Leonard's, where there are twelve- Achray, twelve :. Balmoral, twenty ; and Highfiekl, twenty-four. At thj three first-named stations the well-known Wol seley mashine is used, and some ex cellent tallies have been recorded this season, between 13Oarid 150 being common numbers for a day's work. At Highfiekl the Burgon and Ball machine has b«en installed. This is the first, season of this machine m New Zealand, it having been introduced by Messrs Dalgefcy and.Co., from Australia, where it has been m use for a season or two, and where it has made a good reputation. The chief point of .superiority claimed for the Burgon machine is m the gearing. Motion is conveyed to the clipper by means of an ingeniously contrived flexible steel rod, which revolves inside a flexible tube, to which the clipper is jointed m a remark ably simple yet effective mwner. At High field station there are twenty-four o,£ these machines at work, under the super intendence of two experts. The nv>*tva power is supplied by an eight horse^power traction engine, and after the difficulties usually experienced m working newly set up machinery had been overcome, fcbe plant worked smoothly and well,- fully jurying all the claims made for-Hie machine. The men who are working-the, shears have already become expert, a "tally of a hundred and eighty m a day haying, been nude, while the general &vo.rage ik very good.—" Times."

LATE CRICKET.

CARLS IiHOOK VIiAKCASTEft TARK.

(PEK PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

Christcifjbch, December 29. The match, Carisbrook v. Lancaster Park Cricket Club, commenced to-day. The latter went m first, and at; the luncheon adjournment six wickets were downforll9. 0. Ridley 51, A, Ridley Z3, De MausSO, were the highest scorers.

The Failure of Prohi bition.

("New York Times. >:) The recent admissions of prom men Republicans m Kansas that prohibition is a failure m that State, ami the revolt against the policy on the part of many Re publicans m lowa, seem to indicate that it is likely at no distant date to disappear from the field of practical politics. It had! its origin as a politico;! issue m New Eng land, and so far as it retains any hokj there now it has been reduced fco a trans parent sham, m Massachusetts and Con necticut it was given up long ago, because, the conviction that ie was a failure made its recognition a source of weakness to any political party. The attempt to revive it m Rhode Island produced a*jprompt and violent reaction which speedily put an end to the experiment. Prohibition laws re main m New Hampshire and Vermont* but scarcely an attempt is made to enforce them m the cities and larger towns 1 and ifc is only spasmodic m many even of the rural communities. The policy has nomi nally prevailed for many years m Maine where a3 a matter, of legislation it had its. origin, but m no state has its failure b&»n moiM thoroughly demonstrated. Drun kenness is as common m the mor« popu lous communities of that state a* m those* of corresponding size m Massachusetts,, and liquor is almost as* firee-Jy sold, though m many oases subterfuges of various kinds, are adopted as a. cover to the traffic. The fa&t is that for many years prohi bition has been retained m the, State of Maine because of the advantage which the dominant political pownv I>» S found m conniving at the violation of the law while professing to sustain the policy in volved m it, It has become notorious m Maine that a liquor seller must be a Republican m order to be safe. If he gives support to that party from the pro fits of hid traffic and from the votes" he can control, and uses discretion m the ! conduct of his business, he is rarely meddled with, The officers of the law toeafc general liquor selling there much as the police authorities treat Sunday selling m this city. Two or threo years ac# a Republican aspirant for the office of sheriff m the county which contains tlio City of Portland ventured to recomraond himself to the county convention by giving assurance that, if elected, he would enforce the prohibition law m that city. The assurance was fatal to his hopes. That was not the kind of a sheriff the party wanted.. The Republican opposi tion to ballot reform m Maine, which wou)d prevent partisan supervision over the process cf voting, is mainly due co fear of losing control of the vote ttwfc is manipulated through the liquor traffic v In no State have machine methods b-een more complete or more relentless, aiid the liquor law has been one of the aq&icies of party power. Prohibition was planted hi the north west by men of New Enj»)and origin, and it has nourished chiefly m lowa and Kansas, m wine)* for many years'the" Republican jwrty had a safe control lhat control is now slipping away, and' Ujo failure of prohibition is one cst(ise of it. It was one of the chief causes of the election of a democratic governor m lowa two years ago, and it is the chief peril of Hie R&jmbiican party m the present canvass. No doubt many Ilopublicans: who acknowledge that the prohibition; policy is a mistake will still vote the party ticket, but; many ofter^ w^ uot j sp4 jf

fHE ASHBttftTON GTIARBIAN: ftIESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 189 L



■ Shade, t

High in Sun.

St-ite of Weather

Date.

1' '' ' !

Monday ... Tuesday ... Wednesday Thursday... Friday

Low. High 41- 80' 45- 61 --44. 78 --- 71 --- 78 --- 85 --: 41. 65-

i los es- -14- -3-115-! 140 --i

I .

Fine, C-'lk Ram,  Fine, N.E. iShowcra, Ctilm Fine,  iHeavy Raiti, ■! s;\>: Fine, »,

Saturday ... Sunday ...

i 165'! 143-



TIMARU KA.VALS. 200 300 500 Tl Petty Officer Bradley ... 26 21 29 76 „ Hathaway... 25 20 22.67 Gunner Dow 24 12 30 <■ 60 „ Bnrford 29 14 23 66 „ Bain ... ... 27- 22 17; 6S Petty Officer Stephens ... 24 17 24 65 Gunner Gosney 25 20 20 65 „ Waugh ... ... 25 15 18 58 Petty Officer Lane 19 17 17 53 Total ... 654 ASHBUTTON RIFLES, Bugler D. Leiteh ... ... 28 25 26 79 Private B> Baker 26 20 23 69 Ho» Member S. Salek ... 25 14 25 64  W. H. Rule 29 20 13 62 Private W. Pearson ... 29 17 15 61 „ V. Hill 27 14 19 60 CorporalJ. W. Baker ... 24 12 22 58 Private T. Pauling .. 21 11 25 ,57 Corporal G. Willers ... 23 14 20 57 Private T. Undrill ... 22 12 22 56

Total ... 623



"jl/TY wife is a capital housekeeper, Her cooking ia quite a treat ; Her cakes and puddings, like mountain^ rise, In the baking powder, her secret lies. WTia WafbiU'tyn'4 "Ca.n'b'be Beat,



POSTAL NOTICES MAIL NOTICES. Mails close for the following places as under, subject to the necessary alterations :— WEDNESDAY, December 30. For United Kingdom, Continents of Europe and America, and West Indies (via San Francisco), Sandwich islands, etc., and also for Northern Ports of New Zealand, per T&kapuna, as follows :—Ordinary letters and papers, O.l£> p.m. ; registered letters, 5 p.m.; money orders, 3 p.m. This mail will be due m London on February 3, 1892. For Chatham Islands, per Kahu, at O.ld p.m. New Year's Day (January 1), being v postal holiday, the Ashburton Post Office ivill be closed except from nine a.m. till ten a.m. and from seven p.m. till eight p.m. Mails for Christchurch and North will c!o3o afc five a.m. Mails for Dunedin and .South will close at ten a.m. No Mails will be despatched after ten a.m



*""_ Wanted. CASH Advertisement under th s heading not exceeding SIXTEEN WORDS I/-. Addresses may be Vffcat this Office. MISS CARSON^ Music Teacher, Burne t St-.eet. Ohristmis Holi days, December 23 to January 4. 12 122 ■VfrANTKD, Situation as Traction VY Engine Driver ; experienced hand. Thorough machinist, re ipers and binders. Apply W M " Mail" Office. 12*178 WANTED Known.—Great Bargains m Ladies' Cashmere Hose, Under clithingi Pinafores, «fcj Come and see them. Handsome Xmas presents now .giving away.— H. O, Skokrs, Melford House. ' ■ ) WAN'TBD KNOWN, a special lot of Hearth Rugs at Is lid, 2.s 6d and 2s lid; Worth about double. W. H. COIXIXX.- i ■■ , ■ NOTHING will Cool ym an quickly and invigorate the system s ) much as Ice Cream —H.G. Flowbr, Confectioner, Kastsbreet. : A~"~LL Wool Colonial Tweed Suits to measure; fit and workmanship guaranteed; from 50s cash. Koberi Alcorn, Ashburton Clothing Marl, Saunders' Buildings. WANTED Known—For first-class Drapery and Millinery go to Mblford House ; cheapest shop m town. ( See windows.) Beautiful Xmas present s being given away.—H. C. Sbgers. WAKTEDKnown. -At "The Corner' now selling Ladies' French Shof s. 5s lid. See them".—W. H. Collier. WANTED Known—A Beautiful Line of French Dress Goods, double width. Is 10|d ; original value, 4s. —H. C. S'eoeks, Melford House. WANTKD Known.—l have a large stock of Tin and Ironware Goods to selnct from. Register Grates, Stoves, Portable Boilers, Spouting and Ridging kept m stock.—J. \V* Habdley, Ea3t • treet. 6J202 SIhTEEP SHEARS. Having secured a Stock of the celebrated 8.8.A., and as there are very few m the Colony, Shearers are requested to call early.— Robert Alcohn, Saunders' Buildings. fpO Meet the Times.—l am supplying JL Galvanised Iron Tanks from 30s upwards, warranted for twenty years, Force pumps, deep' well cylinders of all descriptions, Insp-jctiun invited.— J. W. Hauhlky, Eas street. 6J201 WANTED Known—That you will make no mistake for quality and variety m English and Colonial Boots, and his hitfhly reputed make by calling at J. Mokon's. During coming holidays dis count for Cash. Repairs done at once. A staff of men always kept and best material and workmanship guaranteed. WANTED Known.- -H. Bairstow has opened those premises m East street next J. Orr and Co., as a Furniture Warehouse. Latest designs m Vienna Chairs, and Iron Bedsteads on view. Having a good stock of well seasoned figured Rimu and Kauri, he is prepared to take orders for Furniture to any design. Inspection invited. Ilt6l