The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. WEDNESDAY, MARCH. 18, 1891. THE JAPANESE PARLIAMENT.

During the last twenty yeai-s the history of Japan has been one o£ rapid progress. In manufactures, laws and government Western ideas have been imitated, not always wisely, but with the effect that Japan has qualified itself to be numbered among civilised nations. The crowning achievement' was the recent formulation and adop tion of a Constitution, with its three estates of Crown, Lords and Commons, all approximating closely m their re spective powers to the corresponding estates m the Constitutions of older countries. The House of Peers is com posed of three classes—first, the here ditary nobility ; second, peers' ex officio —the holders of certain high offices of State; and, third, the representative peers, who are selected from among the payers of taxa tion exceeding a certain annual amount, and may be said to correspond with the Legislative Councillors of Victoria. The President of this Chamber is nominated by the Crown, and the first to occupy the honorable position is Count Itojwho took a lead ing part m the preparation of the Constitution. The House of Repre sentatives is elected by the people. Out of a total population of 39,283,263, the number of persons possessing the franchise is 450,365, or about one person m every 87. On an average each member of Parliament represents 131,278 units of population and 307,560d0l of public revenue ; and so great was the popular interest m the I first election, that no less than 94 per cent of the electors voted. The Com mons elected their Speaker, who it may be remarked, is a strong supporter of the Christian religion. The ceremonies attending the first meeting of the first Parliament- seem to have been closely copied from those observed at the open ing of our Imperial Parliament by the Queen m person. Cannons thundered, trumpets blared, and the people cheered as the Royal procession proceeded to 1 the Houses of Parliament which had been built for the meetings of the new Chambers. Indeed down to details such as the demeanour of the several estates the conventionalities of the English Parliament seem to have been followed. His Majesty \ comported himself—the " Times " correspondent says—with kingly dignity and ease ; the Peers observed the same charac teristics m but slightly less degree; and the Commons followed their Speaker into the Upper House with a similar scramble to that which is seen ac Westminster. The speech from the Throne was brief, but digni fied, and is worthy of repro duction, it was re id by the King as follows: —"We announce to the members of ?the House of Peer* and to those of the House of Representatives—That all institutions relating to internal administration, established during the period of twenty years since our accession to the throne, have been brought to a state approach ing completeness and regular arrange ment. By the efficacy of the virtues of our ancestors, and m concert with yourselves, we hope to -continue and extend those measures, to reap good fruits from the working of the Consti tution, and thereby to manifest, both at home and abroad, the glory of our country and the loj'al and enterprising character of our people.—-We have always cherished a resolve to maintain friendly relations with other countries, to develop commerce, and to extend the prestige of our land. Happily, our relations with all the treaty Powers are on a footing of constantly growing amity and intimacy.—ln order to preserve tranquility at home and security from abroad, it is essential that the completion of our naval and military defences should be made an object of gradual attainment.—We shall direct our Minister of State to submit to the Diet the Budget for the twenty-fourth year of Meiji, and certain projects of laws. We expect that you will deliberate and advise upon them with impartiality and discretion, and we trust that you will establish such prece dentsas may serve for future guidance." His Majesty and suite then withdrew, the National Anthem was played, and the Houses proceeded to their "arduous labors," which we trust will lead to the increased progress and prosperity of the country. That all, however, did not work smoothly we have evidence m the news that the recontly-erected Houses of Parliament have been totally destroyed by fire, and the Toshi, or Liberals, of Tokio, are accused of caus ing the conflagration. English tradi tions have apparently been followed even to the point of including a Guy Fux or a dynamiter among the subjects of the Constitution.

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Captain A. A. Fooks and Lieutenant Quane of the Ashburton Voluntepr Fire Brigade left for Auckland on Saturday to attend the meeting of the Fire Brigades Association. Mr Alison Smith, late of New Zealand, has been appointed local superintendent of the Victorian Railways, vice Mr Solomon Miles, deceased, at a salary of £1000 per annum. Last Thursday's "Napier Telegraph" says :—What won't drink do ? A man who went through over £200 m a month at a certain hotel m Hawke's Bay, was this morning at the R.M. Court sentenced to three months' hard labor for stealing a couple of shillings while m a state of intoxication. There are now on view at the shop of Messrs J. Scaly and Co., East street, a sample of brown Spanish onions grown by Mr J. C. Harper's gardener at Haakthorne, Hinds, of very remarkable size and quality. There are six onions and they weigh over nine pounds, all about the same size and well sliaped. There was not a large attendance at the meeting on Tuesday evening of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty tp animals. The Mayor was elected Chairman of the [ iSociety 8 Mi' R> Algorn President, Mr Mac Lean Dunn Secretary, and iVfrs X A. Scojbt President of the Ladies 3 pommiifcee. . The meetings of the Society were fixed for the l»3b Thursday iv ewh woath at eight o'glpgk, i

An effort is neing made to provide for the j future disposal of the dead m Wellington by ' cremation. Now while milk-and-soda is so much taken before leaving at small dances, the following recipe is giveii by a contemporary as likely to be serviceable : —Heat some milk, bub by no means let it boil. Hand it round iiv long glasses, into which may be frothed a small quantity of sp.J.tzer water from a syphon, with a heaped teaspoonful of white isugar added at- the last moment. " The South Australian Parliament passed an Act last session providing for a system of votiug quite new to Australia. Voters who made be absent from their district on the day of election can, under the new system," vote through the post office, the vote being signed m the presence of the postmaster* on a form supplied by the Returning Officer. The 1; system is to be tried shortly m the bye election for Woorooroo. A curious fact is noted m connection with the fire m the Spencer street luggage-room,^ Melbourne. After making a rough computa tion of the aggregate cubical contents of all the boxes, cases, portmanteaux, bags, bundles, and other descriptions of packages said to have been destroyed therein, and claimed, it has been found that the capacity of the destroyed luggage-room was not nearly sufficient to hold them all. Considering the quality of the sheep, the attendance at Mr F. M. Rickmah's sale to-day of stud animals—English, Leicester's, and Shropshire Downs—was poor, arid prices, were notof the highest. Beat prices for matured Shropshire rams, bred by the Auckland Stud Company only touched 6£ guineas, ami average rams. 2 guineas. Shropshire ram ' lambs, reached 2J guineas, and ewe lambs If guineas. In English Leicester's, the'rams■. averaged 2 guineas, and the ewes 1£ guineas. The " ethical will" of the late Chief Rabbi is published by'the "Jewish Chronicle." It is a well-established Jewish custom among, the most orthodox to leave such testiments m accordance with Genesis xviii, 19, to which Dr Adler refers. The Avill contains a simple exposition of some of the leading spiritual and ceremonial injunctions of *he Jewish religion, and among its exhortations is the passage:—" Whatever be your call ing, continue to shun, oh ! my dear ones, as I know you do, every kind of usury.; for usury still constitutes, alas ! the malig nant canker which eats into the vitality of the Fouse of Israel." The directors of the Colonial Bank of New Zealand, m their half yearly report, state that the net profit for the haJf year, after deducting interest, etc. charging all expenses of management, rent, etc., and providing for bad and doubtful debts, Amounts to £16,677 15s, which with the balance of £3976, makes a total of £20,654 4s Bd. From this had to be decucted note tax and property tax £2096 8a 4d, leaving available £18,557 16s 4d: The directors propose to pay a dividend of 7 per cent, absorbing £14,000 and leaving £4557 16a 4d to be carried Jor warcl. The Hon. George McLean and the Hon. Downie Stewart are the only candidates for the two vacancies on %\ie board. A passenger who was on board theHinemoa on her last trip to the Antipodes, Bounty, and Chatham Islands, informs the Welling ton " Post" that nothing new whatever was on that trip discovered at the Snares. The candles, ship's cannon, mast, etc., alluded to had been found there previously. The report as to rockets having been seen by natives at Chathams, he says is easily ex plained by the fact that some fishermen were out m their boat on the night m question between the western reef and.the. mainland, and one of them dropped his knife. In order to find it, he struck a lot of matches, which, as they burned down to his fingers, he threw upwards and outwards into the sea. These lights the natives from the shore took for rockets. Mr Maxwell has with him a snipe killed by him at the Antipodes. The bird is larger tlian the English snipe, but almost identical m plumage and build. A curious circumstance, however, is related by Mr Maxwell m connection with tb.e blue cod fishing at both the Antipodes mid Bounty Islands. These fish were cangltt freely with hook and line, and were of good size, but the flosh was found to be full of worms about an inch long. From enquiries made, Mi Maxwell gathered that there was only one month m the year when the fish v/cre fit to eat. But at the Chathams the same kind of fish was caught and found to be both excel lent eating and free from the objectionable worms. When the Hincmoa airrived at the Chathams the Maoris thought she had come for the purpose of annexing some more oi their number m default of the clog tax, and they were inclined to be wrathy. The posi tion, however, was soon explained. The Rev T. A. Hamilton, of Temuka, had {says the "Leader") a rather unpleasant experience last Saturday. He drove his his family with a young lady friend clown to the beach, and as the weather was extremely hot some of them decided to bathe. Shortly after the bathers left him the rev gentleman'i reveries were disturbed by a cry of distress, and, to his great consternation, he found the cause thereof was that the young lady was drowning. In walking mto bathe she had evidently stepped on a quicksand and was taken under man instant. She could swim a little, but the fright no doubt unfitted her for the exertion, and when Mr Hamilton reached her she was going down for the third time. Had he not been near at hand she would undoubtedly have been drowned. Mr Hamilton, after having rescued the young lady, found his position unpleasant. He had his clothes on, of course, when he rushed into the water, and they were wet when he came out of it. He had no change of cloth ing except what the ladies could spare, and for some time after he might have been seen dressed m petticoats, which were consider ably too short for him. A terrible gale of wind rose and began to shift the wet clothes, hats, papers, etc., spreading them all over the plain. After these the rev gentleman had many a hunt, and even the young lady who had so narrowly escaped an untimely death could not refrain from laughing at him as, m his Highland costume, he fowght with the elements. "All's well that ends well," and now no one laughs more heartily at his experience than the rev gentleman himself. Hollow ay's Pills. —Indigestion.—How much thought has been bestowed and what voluminous treatises have been written upon this universal and distressing disease, which is with certainty and safety dispelled with out fear of relapse by a course of this purifying, soothing and tonic medicine ! It acts directly on the stomach, liver and bowels —then indirectly, though no less effectively, on the brain, nerves, vessels, and glands, introducing such order throughout the entire system that harmony dwells between-each organ and its functions. Dyspepsia need no, longer be the bugbear of the public, since Holloway's Pills are fully competent to subdue the most chronic and distressing cases of impaired digestion, and to restore the miserable sufferer to health, strength, and cheerfulness. 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 cave 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 le", which came on after a severe attack of low fever, I was attended by Dr J. Boyd, who had made strenuous efforts to save my leg, but without success. He found it necessary to amputate my limb. Having heard m the meantime of the wonderful cures worked by the Eucalypti Extract, I obtained a bottle, and the extract had not been applied more than an hour when I began to feel greatly relieved. After applying the extract every four hours for nine or ten days it was out of all danger. I would persuf.de all. who may be effected with any such disease to give the Eucalypti Extract a trial, and I am convinced that they,will find it the most wonderful of medicines.—Your .*. etc., E. J. Curnow, Wattle street, Sand hurst.—(Ad vf r> Thk Bkst Remedy, for Iwdihestiox— Norton's Camomile Pills are confidently recommended as a simple remedy for Indigestion, which is the cause of nearly all the diseases to whicn we are subjects Norton's Pills, with justice called the ' Natural Streiigtliener of the ' Human Stomach," act as a powerful tqiiic and gentle aperient, are mild m their operation, and safe under any circumstances. Sold m i bottles, at Is lid, 2s 9d, lls, by all medioiue j vendors, throughout fte W9 W

A Battle or a Massacre.

The special correspondent; of the " Lori- i don Daily Telegraph " sends the following I graphic account of fehe most terrible inci dent of the .recent Indian outbreak m the United 'States. The .despatch is dared! Pine '.Ridge, January 2 •: —Owing to the limited telegraphic facilities, to Govern ment's crowding the "wires, and to the confusion existing everywhere, the story of Monday's .sanguinary battle at Big Foot's camp has hitherto been only vaguely told m a fragmentary form. It proves to have been one of the moat ex ciHng chapters m the history of Indian wars. It was a light m which no quarter was asked or given, and m, .which the combatants on the Indian side provoked the battle, expecting annihilation, and yet determined to sell their lives dearly. Tne wounded fought until they vere killed, and the living seemed to be fiends possessed and gave battle as long as there was blood to be shed. Big Foot, ill from congestion of the lungs, pursued .and dis couraged, had surrendered his band, which consisted of 160 able-bodied men, women, and children, and it was thought that, with these hostile Indiane out of the way, the last disturbing element of the Sioux trouble would be removed. At dawn on Monday the United States troopers were '-drawn up m lino of battle 100 yards away from the Indian camp, X troop, under the'command of Captain Wallace, being m the van. The warriors tumbled out of their tepees and squatted on the ground m a half circle, while a battery of Hotchkiss guns was placed ma position on the crest of a commanding butte about 100 yards behind the soldiers; It was noticed that the Indians were sullen, and seemed to be m a bad humor. Big* Foot, who was so ill that he could not. stand erect, crawled front his tepee and extended his hand as a sign that he wanted peace. The squaws werehuddled behind the semicircle of braves, while all around the camp the Indian children/played and romped unconscious of the approaching storm. When everything was m readi ness Major Whiteside, speaking through an interpreter, m answer to Big Foot'R request for peace, formally demanded of the chief the unoohditional rurrender of his brakes. The Indians were, as usual, provokingly slow to act ; but finally 20 of them arose, arid, with aggravating de liberation, approached the troopers, who were dismounted. Two of them dropped a souple of inferior-looking rifles upon the ground. Major Whiteside lost his temper at this display oi rebellion, as it was known that the Indians were well armed, and he ordered some of the soldiers of Troop X to search the tepees. The troopers obeyed, and, led by Captain Wallace, marched forward and began the search at once. In the meantime another troop surrounded the Indiana; >vho began to slowly rise from their squatting |posi tion on the ground. Suddenly, like a flash of lightning, arid Without the slightest warning, the warriors flung their blankets aside, and m his hands each waa seen to clasp a rifle, which until that moment had been concealed, Before.a, wqrd could be-said or an order given to line led troopers, m the tents arid surrounding the camp, a terrific volley was fired into their ranks by the savages. So close were the soldiers that the muzzles of the Indians' guns were pressed against their bodies. There was a sharp clicking of shell ejectors, and again a sheet of flame shot from the rifles of the hostiles. The soldiers dropped like leaves from the trees, and for a moment Troops X and A wavered before the terrible onslaught. Some of the soldiers were m the tents, while others filled the space between the actual combatants and the rest of the soldiers,' who were hastily preparing to go to the relief of their comrades. The troops fell back m disorder, and the handful of Redskins fought with fiendish audacity. For a brief space of Lime 160 Indians threw "into confusion 1600 of the best .lighters of the United States army, equipped with the most improved machine guns and commanded by vetran officers. The dismay of the troopers was, however, momentary ; but the In dians would not, be denied. It seemed to be their deliberate purpose to perish fighting, and there was no running on either side. After two or three terrible volleys, the Indians, shrieking their awful war cry, pressed forward against the remnants of the two shattered troops. Not a single commissioned or non-com missioned officer of X troop had survived. Captain Wallace fell dead m the folds of a tepee, with a rifle bullet m his brain while his face was tomahawked and his skull smashed m with a stone Avar club. Scattered around him were his men, dead and dying. But the recoil came as sud denly as the treacherous onslaught of the Indians. The first volley of the whites was fired by the scouts commanded by Captain Taylor. The captain had ordered his men to throw themselves upon the ground to pre vent their being mistaken for hostiles, as they were attired m the typical dress of the Indian scouts. Thus, lying on the ground, Taylor's force poured a deadly tire into the hostiles The scouts, Indians to a man, remained loyal and brave, and did terrible execution. Five minutes after the first shot was fired the whole regiment was m action, and the troopers charged upon the savages m the sunken ground where Big Foot's village had been pitched. Then ensued a terrific on slaught. The Indians fought likedemons, while the soldiers poured volley after volley into the camp, regardless of the sex o. age of 'its occupants. Through the smoke which hung over the tepees the warriors could nob'be. distinguished from the old men, women, or children, and the slaughter fell upon them as upon the fighting men. The 7th Cavalry then plunged into the camp and upon the screaming savages, who fought with rifles, pistols, tomahawks, bludgeons and knives. The ground was strewn thick with dead and wounded, and fleeing m all directions were the squaws, stumbling under loads of children m their blankets, making for the buttes and gullies. The soldiers' bullets brought scores of them .to the earth, as Avell as warriors. While the latter were lying upon the ground, wounded or dying, they continued to shoot at the soldiers and many of them, after the cavalry had pa&sed over them, were seen to rise partially from the ground, throw up their rifles, and ! shoot the troopers m the back. The tumult raging around the camp culminated m a fire. The flames enveloped the tepees, while hundreds of Indian ponies stam peded and rushed wildly m every direction. During the fiercest of the fight Lieute nant Garlington, who had been con spicuous m the battle, fell from his horse wounded. A party of Indians made for his body, but the instant the lieutenant fell the Grey Horse squadron, which he commanded, dashed upon the Sioux and killed every one of them without excep tion. The strength of the 7th Cavalry soon told its story, and within half an hour two-thirds of the hostle Indians lay dead The corpse of Big Foot was foundß his grim, merciless face besmeared with blood, and his hand clutching the dirty blanket which partly covered the bullet wounds m his breasfc. During the hand to-hand conflict he was recognised by the soldiers, and slaughtered like a wild beast.. Dead at the chief's feet lay his squaw, shot through the heart A small remnant of the band fled through the ravines towards the low hills ; but few even of these escaped, for by this time the battery of machine guns on the big butt© to the south began its deadly work. The crest of the butte was enveloped m smoke, through the centre of whici( flashed two Rtreams'of. fire, moving east and west. The bullets showered on the hills like raindrops, and. tlie artillery? whjcji hacl been unc(er. fire from the fiwfc,

but was unable to reply for fear of hitting { the troopers, now made a clean sweep of the country. Through tho ravines and j into the rod willow bushes the guns poured a leaden torrent, until the hill sides were dotted with the dead warriors, squaws, and children. The savages who were not hit by the cannoneers were pursued by a, body of troopers under Colonel Forsyth and Lieutenants O'Hara, /Itobinsbn and Rico. Two hours after the first shot had been fired the troopers were complete masters of the situation. Eighty soldiers lay dead and wounded on the field, while around them, hi ravie'es and on the hillsides, lay heaps of tho dead Indians of Big Foot's band, now utterly annihilated. .

TELEGRAPHIC.

HOME AND FOREIGN.

(PER rUEgtf ASSOCIATION.) ' Londoh, March 16. The United States man-of-war Galina was wrecked on the Hampshire coast during the recent storm. Right Hon. J Lowther addressed a meeting at Cambridge and declared i that Freetrade was a mistaken idea, as it throttles industries, and he believed it would drive the colonies to atoms. ' In the course of a speech at Dublin Mr Parnell denied he had attempted to dissuade Mr Michael Davitt from becoming a member of the Labor League. After the meeting Mr Par nell went to Galway, where he met with an enthusiastic reception. The Marquis of Salisbury states that the action of the Portuguese authorities? m seizing the steamer Countess of. Carnarron was unjustifiable, unless the vessel was landing arms on Portuguese territory. ■ ' London, March 17. ; Intelligence has reached here that the steamer Port Jackson, Which left Newcastle (N.S.W.) for London on January 2, ran ashore bri: iPerim Is land, off the coast of Arabia. She subsequently floated off without having sustained any damage. » The steamer Abergeldie, bound from 1 Sydney to Dunkirk, collided with ttie steamgr Fifeshire which was on the voyage from Port Chalmers to London, off Gravesend to-day. The amount of damage has not been ascertained. The steamer Roxburgh Castle, 1235, tons, was run into by another vessel, off the Scilly Isles, and foundered,: twenty-two of those on board being drowned. Sir Joseph Wj Pease will interview Mr J. B. Patterson, formerly Commis sioner of Trade and Customs i.i Vic toria, with reference to prohibiting 1 the importation of opium into the Australian colonies. Sir F. N. Broom, formerly Governor of Western Australia, relieves Sir Walter Sendall as Governor of Bar badoes for six months. : Judgment m the Ah Toy appeal will be given on Wednesday. It is believed the court will rule that the colony has power to exclude aliens. : Washington, . March 17. Most of the patients,who escaped; from the Luuatic Asylum at Nashville when the building caught fire have been recaptured. . ; The Mafia Society has threatened to poison the family of Parkinson, who is said to have been the chief leader of che lynching party, and some of the members of the Society have also! avowed their intention of stabbing Parkinson to death. . Mr J. G. Blame, who has been m communication with King Humbert of Italy on the subject of the outrage, has asked him to await.a report which will be furnished. The Sicilians m this city threaten that» million Italians residing m the State of Louisiana will organise vendettas with -.the.object- of having the foreman of the jury ex pelled from New Orleans. Berlin, March 16. The interest of the Emperor m the labor cause is cooling down, and also for the eight hours for miners, which the officials declared impossible to carry, out. New York. March 16. A meeting of the delegates of Mr McCarthy's party resulted m a free fight, during which batons were used freely. The police charged the rowdies and restored order. Brussels, March 16. King Leopold visits London to con sult the Imperial Government m con-r nection with Congo affairs. Madrid, March 16. The Spanish Government dispute the German protectorate over the Pro vidence Islands. Calcutta, March 16. Upwards of two hundred thousand Hindoos took part m a grand religious service m this city. Advantage was taken of the opportunity to .protest against an alteration m the age of consen b. The proceedings caused great excitement m the city.

AUSTRALIAN.

Melbourne, March 16. Thomas Phelan, the locomotive driver who was sentenced to death for the murder of his paramour, Ada Slatton, at South Yarra, on the 15th January^ was hanged this morning. Sydney, March 17. A boat capsized m the Shoalhaven River this afternoon, three of the occupants, Winifred and Maud Grif fiths and Alice Mulley, being drowned. Brisbane, March 16 An attempt was made to wreck the train conveying the military to Boreal* dine. A large piece of iron was placed across the rails, but luckily it was discovered m time to avert an accident.

INTERPROVINCIAL.

Auckland, March I 1?. John Hopper, aged 86, dropped dead of heart disease last evening m the garderk of his residence while talking, with his wife. . James Bray, of Mount Eden, is re ported missing at Helensville. He he supposed to have been drowned as a splash was heard m the river last night, and someone called " Oh my God." Sfc Patrick's Day celebration took place m fine weather, The .Roman Catholic children's fete m the domain was attended by about 3000 ; the H.A.b.B. Society had a procession and sports ; races were held at Avondate ; the drapers had a picnic at Tamaki, and there were swimming sports: m the Calliope dock. Half the shop/3 }n the city were closed. Wj^llinGTPX' March 1?. The Hon. "VyV J. M." Larnach' lias been appointed Chairman of the Public Trust Ofl^ce Commission. Evidence will probar. bly be taken to-m,orro.w. ; The weather to-day \y;\s vary- QnjoyabjQ i but th^ 4ay w^s ftyHbseyv^^ a "Zawd '

\ holiday. The Government offices, banks,, I and,several warehouses closed their pre-, 5 misses ; numerous picnics were arranged" ftnd aliack race meetingheld »t Masfrercou The Hibernian Society had a large attend ance at their sports at .Newton. Hokitika, March 17- In the Supreme Court the civil list was taken up. The case National Bank v Bon.c'he, Jieef^on, the Bank suing tor £203 mid interest on the s&me, amount of a dishonored cheque, was heard before p u juiy of four. The issue turned on the point, whether the cheque had been left as security for certain advances to a third party. The jury found in'the affirmative. Mr Justice Dennistoi) entered judgment for the plaintiff for the- amount; with in terest, and costs on ihe highest scale, giving defendent leave to move again. Three cases, including one of breach of promise, were settled out of Court, and a case to recover damages for false impri sonment and malicious prosecution is now proceeding. The sittings are likely to terminate to-morrow. By a buggy accident at Kumara last night live persons sustained injuries more or less serious. Constable Bird was badly cut and bruised and was removed to the Hospital. John Hays Was ako rendered unconscious. The others, three children, escaped more luckily, getting off "with a few bruises. Great preparations are being made all along the coast for the Hon. R. Seddon'3 reception as member for this district.; He will be entertained at a banqnet, re? ceiving a public address congratulating him on being called to office. ' Dunkdin, March 17. The Committee appointed at the meet ing of unemployed waited on-the HOll John McKenzie this evening. It was stated by Mr Warner, Secretary of the Carpenters Union, that between 500 and 600 men were out of work, comprising mariners, wharf laborers, masons, car penters, plasterers, and other tradesmen. .Various suggestions were made as to j works that might be started ; among otheirSj that free men should replace prisoners road making ou the West Coast. The Minister promised to consult with' his colleague, the Minister > for Public Works. IfcvERCARGiLL. March 17. The police have received information from Milford that a skull has been found m a water course at the top of Cleddaus valley. It is believed to be that of Quill,! one of a Government survey party, who; lost his life some weeks ago. No other portion of the body or any article of cloth ing could be found. The discovery was made by two brothers of deceased. From; where the remains were found to the tt>p; of the cliff over which Quill is supposed to have fallen is two thousand , feet, and almost perpendicular, so his death must have been instantaneous. .

ST. PATRICK'S DAY CONCERT.

The annual concert m aid of the funds of the Ashburtou Convent Schools took place last evening m the Oddfellows' Hall, there being one of the largest audiences ever assembled within that building which was crowded to its utmost capacity, every inch of available apace being utilised. The programme was a long and varied one, and was carried out with great spirit, and, encorea being the rule, and not the exception, it was a quarter past eleven before the final item v;us reached. The opening piano duet, Miss E. Devane and Master F. M'Teague was pleasingly given, and was followed by an excellent rendering of the old favorite " Killarney " by Mr Flower, who took the place of Mr Higgins whose name appeared on the programme, but who was suffering from that enemy of vocalists a cold. After an Irish Jig capitally performed by Mr M. O'Loughlin, Mrs C. M. Brooke gave very chaimingly the pretty ditty, "My Colleen Bawn," but » did not respond co a call for aa encore. The quartette, "the Chafers," given so successfully at the recent, Borough School concert by Messrs Milsora, Flower. Lewiss and Black was repeated and re-demanded with an exigency which admitted of no denial, and Miss T. Butler met with a like reception for her rendering of "The Mooting of the Waters," giving m response to loud cries of "encore" her favorite song, "Barney take me home again.'* Mr Lewis also obtained a recall for hi 4 comic spng, "Quite English,'* and then yielded the boards to the Lagmhor Highlanders, who danced a foursome reel m their usual neat and perfect style, the dancers being Messrs Donald McLean, Calder, Gunn, and Morrison. This created quite a tempest of applause, which was renewed for Mr McLean's capital performance of the Highland fling. Mrs Crisp then gave "Eileen Alannah" very charmingly, being m excellent voice, and the "chorus being admirably taken by the performers generr ally. An amusing dialogue song, "Very Improper Indeed,' Mr and Mrs Flower^ was cleverly and pleasingly rendered, and m response to an encore the "Glu-glu" duett from " La Mascotte "was conceded and was one of the best items of theeyen ing. Mr P. Williams (who took the place of Mr E. J. Fooks, who was unavoidably absent) then gave "Tse gwine back to Dixie " m good voice, the chorus being very effectively taken. He was followed by Messrs N. and D. Fitzgerald, M. O'Loughlin, and C. O'Connor who danced an Irish foursome reel, the performance of which elicited persistent demands of encore, m acknowledgement whereof Messrs N. Fitzgerald and M. O'Loughlin gave an " exchange jig " which brought down the curtain amid loud applause. The second part was opened by a. pretty pianoforte duet, "The Canary Bird Quadrilles," Miss E. Kelly (a little lady of some ton summers) and Mr J. H. Brtfoks, for her share m which the young performer is entitled to great credit. Then Mr Black gave, m good voice, 'f Davy Jones," and Mesdames Crisp and. Flower with Messrs Black and Milsom followed with a most enjoyable rendering of the glee '«Beware," Mr McLean, it is almost needless to say, was once more encored for a Highland Fling, and then Mr Lewis gave a really amusing and better still an entirely new comic" song ■"An Awful little Scrub," which evoked roars of laughter. The Misses Butler gave a successful rendering of the vocal duet"Spring and Summer," Mr Flower following with a capital song " It's $asy if you only know tho way " and as an encore ♦'; Queen of the Earth" oqually well given, ♦• Come where my love lies! dreaming," Mr Milsom (chorus by the performers generally), was very pleasingly sung, and Mrs Burfoot was also success ful m her rendering of ."Forget^ne-not." Mr J. T. O'Sullivan (an old resident of the- Ashburton district, to which he has recently returned after spending some years m Australia) then danced an Irish hornpipe to perfection, and m response to a recall performed a jig equally we]],, Mr David Thomas then gave, t,Q Ws own accompaniment, "Lather'ew Shave sem," which produced a vociferous encore, re sponded to by. '•'The march through Georgia," 1 the rattling chorus of' whiuh was taken up with great enthusiasm; Owing to the length to which the pro* gramme had extended, Mr G. Morrison's usually excellent" Sword ckwv?e», which if had been int«nd§d, to introduce as an additional item, wa,s i^nayoidably omitted. At thjs $t»g3 the Rev Father Chastagnon 'stepped forward to the footlights, and m evidently heartfelt language. eJQqu«\ nt i^ thanked the vocalists, the £«.»»»*• • jj^i/ - the magnificent house they had' ..ocorded. He said that the large number 'of persons present--members of. other

chuic es as wen as his own —was proof o£ thfi good feeling which prevAd m Ash biifto'i, and which he hoped pmld never die away, [fc .showed a feeling of sym pathy with the members of the Catholic Church m the threat difficulties umler which they labored m connection with educational matters, and for t.he splendid evidence afforded that evening of that kindly and generous sympathy he thanked them from the bottom of his heart. • Y,T aPPJau«o-) The glee "Good night beloved was then very charmingly given, ami (he National Anthem brought' to a close one of. the most successful concerts e^'er held in 1 Ashburton, the net proceeds of which, will it is believed, amount, to tully £00. Tho room was subsequently oleu-cdfor (lancinsf, which was kept up with vigour until an advanced hour

The Shellly Bay Disaster

[PBJI MiESS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, March 17. Ui« inquest on the victims of the Shelly Hay disaster was resumed to-day. Cloldie, second-class torpedo man, m the course of his evidence said that Ross did not like the job on the day of the explosion. He sat down and had a rest, and mud he wasafraid, that before he got through the'job he would be blown away. Witness told him that if he refused to do the work he, would also refuse. Aboufc a fortnight before the accident Ross said he would try and get transferred to the I ermanent Artillery, as he was afraid of working about gun-cotton. Petty officer Gibson, storekeeper at Shelly Bay, deposed that about 19,0001bfi of gun cotton were stored at Shelly Bay. Some of fcho explosive (between 7030 and 80001bs) was stored m the shed. Gun cotton was also stored at Mahanea Bay, near Point Ifaiswell. The canisters weighed, with gun cotton and detonator, 7 a lb. The weight of the canister itself was Hlbs. So far as witness knew the gun cotton was not defective. During she examination of.the last witness, Mr Jellicoe stated that it was his intention .to prove that there had been culpable negligence on the part of the authorities. . .  -. _ . ; . John Falconer, captain of thoTorpedo Corps, stated that he had served seven teen years m the Royal Engineers, having passed through all the successive steps up ro instructor m submarine mining. Both Ross and Densqm had been instructed us to the proper method of loading the. primers. The canisters had alw*y» been made from the tin cases of Snider ammu nitionboxes and the'old -'guhao&wcMMfc when th« cotton had been stored m mines. The system pursued m filling the canisters was similar to that observed while he was Torpedo Instructor m *T*T' ,All fche *ork m connection with fillinrf the canisters was the aam'e as he had beon m the habit of carrying out vi England: He did not think there had been any material alteration m the manu facture, of primers since he left the Royal Engineers. The enquiry was adjourned till April 9fch.

*h« Gratitude. '

TO-DAY'S TELEGRAMS

iFGR PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

Inveroakgill, March 18. Mr Hatch's ketch Gratitude; which' left for the Macquarieß on January 17, and respecting the safety of which some apprehensions were felt, has been signalled. utf the Bluff, and will probably reach Invercargill to-night.

The Governor's Tour.

(per press association.) Rotokua, March 17. Lord Onslow and party arrived afc Kotorua this afrernoon and go on to Whakarewarewa where the ladies will ££ m*jn > Lor<l Onslow, the native Minister and party, resume their journey early, to-morrow morning. The weather is beaußifnl with eve*y prospect of con tinuing fine, Captain Edwin's prediction to the contrary notwithstanding. A tele gram from Whakatane states that about 1500 natives are at Ruatoki awaiting the Governor';! arrival. From information just to hand Mr Oadtnan expects the Governor and party will be wcfl received by the native?. „„ _, Rotorua, March 1&. me Governor and party started this morning across the lake m a steam launch, the horses being sent round to meet them on the other side. Warbrick, who ha» just returned lrom the Uriwera country says the party will probably meet Te Kooti at Te Eko on Thursday, he beimr unable to wait at Ruatoki to meet the Governor. Warbrick says the Uriweras understand the object of the Governor's visit is merely one of curiosity or interest m the part; of the country where very few F ¥¥ mea have been. The Korero to take place at Ruatokiis not likely haveany political signficance. Te.Kootiatarecent meeting held at Ruataliuha to open his new house told the Uriweras that they must not let white men get a foothold there. Wherever the Maoris had al i lowed the whites to minglo with them they introduced drink, obtained posses sion of the land, and the Natives became demoralised. This sentiment was r*~ ceiyed by the Uriweras with^ unaninv** approval. The meeting with the Goror nor at Ruatoki ia unlikely, therefore to. involve more than an intercshange of friendly greetings.

THE MARKETS.

(PEK PRESS ASSOCI/ a ti On^ (Received Marcli. 18, 10,50 a.m.) wi l wv ► sy^»y. March 18. Wheat, chiok feed, 2s lid to 3s 3d, milling ds Ud to 4s. Oats Is 10d to 2s 2d, PQja#,oes, Circular Headn, £3 15s. Oniona £3 to £3 ss. Butter, dairy made, 5d to bd, factory made 7d to Bd. Cheese, loaf size, sd. Bacon, machine cured, 5d to 6dj hand cured, 6d to 8d : New Zealand cured, 8d tp ?d ; hams, New. Zealand, lid. . , Mblboubnb, March 1&. Wheat 3s 9d to 4s. Flour, sfona make, 47 10s to £8 ; roller makes up to £9 10s Oats, thin Tartarian, 2s to 2s 23, d, Danish 2s 3gd to 2s 6d, good stout 2^4jd. . Adelaide, Match 18.  Wheat, firm, 3s Hd to 4s. Flour stone makes, £7 10s to £8, roller makes £8 10. to £9 Oats, New Zealand S ing, 2s to SLs 3d. Barley, Cape, 2s 4d to 2s 6d j Kn?UsH malting, 2s 9d to 4s.

luesday was observed as a partial holiday at Cimstchurch and the banlTwere clow? Ihe principal attractions weroafestSS t Onawe.nearAkaroa; the Heath^TnJ tang Meeting sW d the Caledonia^i?*: Amberloyj Wdes numerous „cS In Ashbm-ton the only notice tak Pn P «f i£ -if was that the l>a«fc s we^ tw *J3 tS annual micert for the nfr'lfA a™ t°e took place m, the,«*[£?* bCh(>ol funds avSS-"- r fc. f6 u W Wrtnthß th« linage Sr ;™^ out *« g«»H»d S of theParhi »}«» ,ary• BniUhngs at Wellington, k«s been .e-modelled on tbe plan adopted ky the civic authorities of Adelaide. Several of the drains were found to be detective, the uric acid m the sewage having eaten away the glaze ;on the earthenwat-e and oan«ed the latter to fall to pieces. The Auckland made pipes arc found to be of BUMrior quality to any manufactured here,, and 1 a large number of them have been used' iv. carrying out tive receut iaipruyemeqt.

tfteft ASffiBUKTON GUAKDIAN, WEDNESDAY, MABCM 18, 1891



MAIL NOTICE. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 1891 For South America, United Kingdom and Continent of Europe, (specially addressed correspondence only), per Aoraiigi, at 6.20 p.m.; parcels post, parcels at 10 li.m.—This mail will be due m London on April 30, 1891. Postage to the United Kingdom 2Ad pcr.^oz.



"Wanteu CASH Advertisements under this heading not exceeding SIXTEEN WORDS 1/-. Addresses may be Vftat this Off™ WANTED Known.—Mrs J. Buch anan has opened as Fruiterer and Confectioner, next Messrs John Orr and Co., .East Street. \I/"ANTED Known.—lf you want good V V value for your money go to Melford House. Cheapest first-class Drapery m town.—H. C. Segehs, Melford House, j "T\7 ANTED" Known!— fVo ~hre now VV opening all our new Winter Goods m Drapery, Millinery, Clothing, Boots, &c,— il. C. Segers, Melford Housu. WANTED Known.—Cheapest House m town for First-class Drapery. Millinery, Clothinc, Boots, &c.—H. C. Seoers, Melford House. WANTED Known.—Mrs J. Buch anan, Fruiterer and Confectioner. Tea and coffee at all hours ; hot luncheon on Saturdays, 12 to 2. Next Messrs J. Orr and Go's, East Street. /POOLING and inrigorating Ice Cream \J as made by H. G. Flower, Con fectioner, East Street. WANTED Known —Some special lines m choice Dress Goods at very low prices showing at " The Corner." WANTED Known—The "Strong wear " Boot is the best for Mens 'jadies and Children.—W. H. Collier. WANTED every man m the County to have a suit of the Ashburton Tweeds.—Robbrt Alcorn, Ashburton Clothing Mart, Saunder's Buildings. r^S LASS, Earthenware, and China, \JT direct from the Manufacturers.— Robert Alcorn, Tea Warehouse and Ashburton Clothing Mart, Saunders' Buildings. ANTED Known—The Cheapest Shop to buy Tinware anct Gal vanised Iron goods m Ashborton, is at W. F. Hannafori/s, Burnett btreet. A arge stock kept on hand. Tin and Iron ware goods made and repaired with des patch , ■VTOW ON —At Stationers' Hall, JJH Great Sale of Surplus Stock of Books, Stationery, Fancy Goods'" Music, etc. Great reductions for cash, for one month only. Hundreds of books at less than English price. At L. F. Andrewes & Co.'s, Stationers Hall. Public Notices. WJ.m.T£etS jy,i». ttauT t'eeltb CHRISrCHCROH DENTAL SURGERY, Corner of Cashel and High streets S. M™ AND Co SURGEON DENTIST And at Dunedin ani Westport fTTE have gained tin FIRST AWARD VV "" the Dunedin Exhibition for Artificial Dentures and Mechanical Appli ances for the Mouth, and it is with the greatest confidence that \:e guarantee the highest class Avork and perfect fit at the most moderate cosf A Single Artificial Tooth, 10s. Comple Set — Upper and Lower temporary and permanent, £10 10s. Natural, Durable, Comfortable Artificial Teeth Replaced Tompoiarily al .iiosfc immediately after the extraction of decayed teeth or stumps without extra cc or charge. Arrangements can be made for part or monthly payments. ADMINISTERING NITROUS OXIDE oAS several times daily for the past ten years, we fearlessly assert that extraction of teeth under its influence is perfectly painless and positively safej Fee for Administration, ss. Extraction, 2s 6d. Artificial Teeth and Dentures made by other dentists repaired or remodelled at small costj /^1 ENTLEMEN requiring the very \JT latest fashion m FLEXIBLE HATS (all colors) will find a choice stock at the New Zealand Clothing Factory. WHITE and Fancy Scarfs, White and Striped Vests, Tennis Shirls, buttoned and laced fronts, all colors, at the New Zealand Clothing Factory. SUMMER Merino and Gauze Merino Undershirts, with long or short sleeves, at the New Zealand Clothing Factory. WASHING Derby Ties 6d each, six for 2s 6d. Increasing demand for these at the New Zealand Clothing Factory. BOYS' School Suits, well fitting, durable, and moderate m price at the New Zealand Clothing Factory. AGENTS for the Wonderful New High Arm "Wnrtheim 'Sewing Machines. Latest improvements, new appliances, noiseless motion, increased advantages. __ ALL who have used the " Wertheim' New High Arm sewing. machine, proclaim it to be the most perfect | sewinc machine yet produced. Inspection nvitad. JVT E W ZEALAND CLOTHING IN FACTORY, the leading Hat, Cap, and Clothing Manufacturers, i EAST STRFET, ASHBUBTOIT Agent for the Wonderful Werthcim . Sewing Machine I W. H. WEBBER, Manager.  : : 1 MONEY TO LEND. TI/TONEY 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 Postnuwfcer, Ashburton, or to J. C. PRUDHOE, District Agent. Guvcrmneni, Insurance Offiw. C'lmstchurch,



Public Notices. F" 1 WVW. $i»eiicerj&jCo. 'extension of ; w. w. sPKamun, & c«'« Great Clearing Sale. Bning heavily overstocked, and m order to make room for a shipment of Goods which we have landing from Home m aWout a fortnight, we have made Greater Reductions than ever. All Wool, colonial flannel, 10^d, 4-ply fingering wool, all colors, Is lid; Calicos 2s 3d the doz; Dress Goods 4M; Washing Prints, 2ijl, 3W, and 4|d ; Washing Mus'Un I. 25 lid the doz ; Towels, 3£d j { p| each ; a very large Towel 9|d, T A now 6|d ; very good Ticking, JJJ M M : double width Sheeting, fj jjj 7|d; heavy whito Linen Twill H f\ Sheeting, ll^d ; heavy cotton v/ Shirting, s|d; Cretonnes, 4-id ; k ||j Men's woollen Sox, ll|d; Boys' \r T\ Braces, 4d ; Men's Braces, 8d ; W Men's Regatta Shirts, 2b lid ; Men's good Twee! Suits. 22s Q 6d ; Boys' Tweed Suits from k \S\ 4s lid ; Men's colored Moles r W7s 6d, now 5s lid ; Boys' do. p 2s lid. BOOTS. BOOTS. FH Men's Bluchers, 6s 6d ; Men's p] colonial made Shooters, 9a lid; Boys' strong Boots very cheap. Women's strong Elastics, 6s 9d; Girls' and Maids' Kid Elastic Sides and Button Boots 2s lid. 3s lid, and 4s 6d at W. W. BPJBIVCCR * Co's THE ARCADE. N.B.—We have this day purchased a Traveller's Set of Samples at a discount of 50 per cent. If you want a real I bargain now is your chance. the (otoiui mill COMPAIT OF lIW lEAUIB i (FIRE AND MARINE ) rpHE Business of this Company has t been TRANSFERRED to the OOMMFRCIAL UNION ASSURANCE COMPANY, Limited, of London, by Hrhom, through the various Branches and Agencies m New Zealand, all accounts owing to and by and all* losses under the Colonial Insurance Company's policies will be settled m future. F. ALLEN, General Manager. Wellington, New Zealand, December 11th, 1890. THE COMMERCIAL UNION ASSUR ANCE COMPANY, (Limited) Established 1861. ncorporated under Act of Parliament, 7 and 8 Vie, Cap. 110. Head Office : 19 and 20 Cornhili, London Capitol fully subscribed ... £2,500,000 Total Inves; ed Funds .., 2,351,707 Total Annual "Nett Income... 1,132,239 HEAD OFFICE iok NEW ZEALAND : Lambton Quay, Wellington. With Local Boards of Advice m Australia and New Zealand. General Manager for New Zealand : FRANK ALLEN, J P. Every description of Fire nd Marine naurance effected at LOWEST CUKREtfT EATES CUFF & GRAHAM, Managers for Canterbury, Christchurch Agfnts for Ashburton FRIKDLANDER' BROS , } -« m- (~) W". H. COLLIER W. H. Collier is now The Corner W. H. Collikr , The Corner W. H. Collier showing The Corner W. H. Collier The Corner W. H. Collier NEW The Corner W. H. Collier The Corner W. H. C«llier and The Corner W. H. Collier The Corner W. H- CollierC HO ICE Thb Corner W. H. Collier The Corner TV. H. Collier MILLINERY The Corner W. H. Collier ULSTERS, The Corner W. H. Collier JACKETS, The Corner W. H. Colierl RIBBONS, The Corner W. H. Collier FURS, The Corner W. H. Collier GbOVES, The Corner W. H. Collier DRAPERY, The Corner W. H. Collier etc., etc., The Corner, W. H- Collier for the The Corner W. H. Collier The Corner W. H. Collier auw«i The Corner W. H. Collier ..^-SPiL™ The Corner W. H. Collier wlJfllß The Corner W. H. Collier SEASON. TIIK Corner W. H. Collier _ The Corner W. H. Collier The Balance The Corner W. H. Collier of The Corner W. H. Collier SUMMER 'J-'kk Corner W. H. Collier STOCK '£™ Corner W. H. Collier i s B till being Corner W. H. Collier The Corner W. H. Collier SOLD OFF The Corner W. H. Collier The Corner J W. H. Gqllier CHEAP The Corner | W. H. Collier to make room The Corner j W. H. Collier for The Corner W. H. Collier NEW GOODS The Corner W. H. Collier arriving. The Corner "The Corner." JIiSIMER TIMBER MERCHANT, AND GENERAL FURNITURE AKD FANCY GOODS WAREHOUSE, HAVELOOK STREET, Opposite Harrison-s Auction Mart, "TpURNITURE and Picture Frames! Jj mr.de to order m any design at shortest notice." I Solf Agent m Ashburton for Clegg's Peraibbulatorß. A'so