The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. MONDAY, JUNE 8, 1891. THE RABBIT QUESTION.

Rabbits have suddenly become valu able stock. For years past the skins and fur of the animals have realised substantial prices, and in Duuedin and Invercargill there are several firms whose staple business is dealing in rabbit skins, while some of them have erected machinery for denuding the skin of its fur and preparing the latter for the manufacture of hats and other articles. For two or three winters the Now Zealand Meat Preserving Com pany have resumed the process, once before extensively engaged in, of tinning the flesh of the rabbit, variously prepared, and exporting it to England, reaping a good profit for their enter prise. This winter other factories have embarked in the trade, and, more important still, a Dunedin firm is try ing the experiment of shipping the skinned and dressed rabbits in the frozen atate to the London market. Thus well-conditioned trapped rabbits have become so valuable that a fear has arisen that instead of the rabbits being exterminated as vermin they will be farmed as stock. On the other hand Mr Bell, of Wantwood, -who, from his frequent collisions with the Rabbit Inspectors, must be admitted to know something of the subject, declares that the impetus given to trapping is the best thing that could happen, and that more rabbits, of all ages, are destroyed by trapping than by any other means." The inducements held out by the factories have led to very large numbers of carcases being delivered. The " Witness ' writes of 15,000, to be increased in a week or two to 20,000, being frozen weekly by the firm we have referred to ; and the preserving works are taking enormous numbers, one factory having received as many as 9000 in a single day this season, and dealing with a daily civerage of 5000, The annual poisonings, however, begin this week, and will necessarily inter fere with the preserving, as repeated assertions have failed to convince con sumers that phosphorus poisoning does not affect the flesh of the rabbits prejudicially. The Government have accordingly been approached with the petition that poisoning be suspended, if not altogether at least until &< later period of the season. We can under stand that the Minister of Lands was put into a dilemma. The rabbit is peculiarly his hi-le noir; and yit he would be unwilling in these times of scarcity of employment to interfere with any industry which provided work for a very considerable number of men. The temptation to temporise was very strong. Tiie rabbit, however, long ago attained to the importance of a National question, and the mandate for its extermination at any cost was decided upon after full deliberation. We therefore think it will be found that the poisoning prescribed by law will not be suspended, or if any con cession is made to the trappers and preservers it will not exceed the post ponement of poisoning for a.very few weeks. Refrigeration-has made sheep farming a mo.it profitable industry, «*»«! prudent lundliolders will not wish their pastures to be imperilled, because the same process lias given their worst pest a money value.

LOCAL AND GENERAL

What is called a miraculous escape from death happened to three men at Crushingtoh (Reefton) the other day. They were engaged drilling a whole oil a limestone face, svnen the drill broke. They all left to get the drill repaiied, a.ul on their return, they found that some hmidreds of tons of ftme lal fallen, completely covering up the spot they had been working on. The Mokau coil trade is (.'jays thy "Ta a naki Herald ') developing steadily, inasmuch as there are now three steamers running to Waitaia engaged in the trade—-immelyftlic Waitara, Moliaka, and Manaia. OnTnumlay the Moliaka came in with a load, and went away again immediately after discharging, and on Friday afternoon the Waitara came in with a loa-J. The "Rangitikei Advocate' 3 mentions a case in that district, which, though not un exampled, is sufficiently singular to merit reference. Up at the Kie Kie, beyond Hunterville, there is a gentleman, who, although only forty-one years of age, is cut ting his third set of teeth. How fortunate ! How many of us would like to copy so desirable an example. The richest man in the next Ameiican Congress will be Mr John L. Mitchell, Mil waukee, who is credited with a fortune of £8,000,000 sterling, which he inherited from his father, the projector of the Chicago, Mil waukee, and St Paul Railroad. Mr Mitchel sen., was a native of Aberdeenshire, and laic' the foundation of his great; wealth as a baitker in Milwaukee. A letter has been received by a Reefton resident from the silver mines at Zeehan in Tasmania. The correspondent, well known in the district (says the " Inangahua limes"), warns people from thinking of going there, as work is very scarce and most of the mines are at a standstill waiting for machinery to arrive and be erected before any tiling certain can be known about the place, This he states, will take many months of dreary suspense. The scarlatina epidemic has so far abated that it is thought that by next Monday it will be s»U to re-open the schools. We are requested to call the attention of parents to the necessity of disinfecting, by washing or fumigating, the clothing'of those who have suffered or have been in houses where there were cases of the disorder, so that no fresh outbreak may be caused by the spread of the infection. Children who have been affected must not be sent to school until they have completely recovered. A murder under peculiar circumstances is reported in the English papers. A butcher's man out of employment offered to marry a poor widow, aged thirty-two, at Lincoln. .She refused saying she could nob work for him as well as her family. He gave her two day« to thiuk it over, declaring that if then «h<! rofiiftod Ug would murder her. He called on the day nai»cd for her answer, and as she still declined to many him he «hoj fho poor woman tload, .111 the presence of her five little cUildi't'ii, and made un, unsuccessful attempt upon his own life, Mr S.-T, Tweiityman, late accountant in theChristduuoh branch of the South British Insurance Company, son of Mr J. H, Twenty man, of this town, took hia departure on Thursday for Auckland, where ho takes'up a responsible position nt the Head Office of the Company. Prior to his departure he was presented, by Mr (Jroxton, the manager, on behalf of and in the presence of the whole staff, with a pretty souvenir fn the shape of a case containing plated waie. Mr Oo^ion referred, in the highest terras, to the manner in which Mr Tuentynian had done his duty during his many years of service at the .Christ church branch, and spoke of the regret felt by his fellow officers at his departure. Mr Twentyman expressed his thanik? in a neat and feeling speech, Cmmle s, JXnhess, Princess, Fj^s ess ar the lfu.^turtd names of tht> i:ew uas JF ... fivui a 'y exixaij <.'f slrii^uy, &a&

The stormy weather last week appears|to.J hive been general throughout the colony. Business at J<he Belfast Freezing Works is resumed to-dfiy, Mr E. & Wfifit, M.H.K. loft for Welling ton on Saturday for the Parliamentary session. A man named Sutherland wns found dead at Waikari yesterday morning. He left the railway station on Sat unlay with an empty dray and three horses. The dray was found capsized lying across the deceased's neck. Captain Moorhouse, of the Wellington Artillery states that lie has not resigned in consequence of any special action in the Defence Department, but on the general ground that it is impossible to curry on the bttery with the present capitation allow ance, £2. There was some talk of the battery resigning en m .-W, but they decided not to take .such an extreme step. Very few persons have ever heard of Gagadig Gi^adab. He lived in Manchester, England. He was a bank clerk and bore the name of John Smith. Another John Smith, i < Iso a bank o'ek, was charge wilh embczzle j ineht, and tin? so annoyed John Smith oi Manchester .that he changed his name to Ongadig GigJidab, and he has naver been confounded with a double. The following lucid definition from the new Century Dictionary is quoted- in the " Literary World."' It is doubtless scientifi cally accurate; but will toe nv-imuu Greek" to the unlearned reader. "Metapophyais... —In anatomy, a dorsolateral apophysis, de veloped on tne prezyapophysis, or interior articular process of a vertebra, especially in lumlni region. It corresponds to the inner tubercle of the diapophysis of a thcoric vertebra." A'painful interest attaches to the history of Mr James Strnthers Williams, -whose death was announced last week. He came to Canterbury with his family in the Ran dolph, one of the historical first four ships, arriving in Lyttelton on December 16, 1850, and his lather was the first of the pilgriirs to die in the colony. Walking over the hill four days after the arrival of the ship in Lyttelton he died on the way, from the same complaint that lias now cut %hort the life of his son. The mother of Donald Dinnie, the cele brated ath'.ete, died on April 11, at Aboyne, aged 81. s he seems to have been a remark able person ; but her husband, who survives her, is more wonderful still. He has been a sufferer from dropsy for even years, and during the past three years of that period no less that 7000 gallons of water were drawn from him by tapping. No wonder that it is staled that "his caje is regarded as one of the most wonderful iu the annals of medical practices.". He is the only man now living who knew " Old Dhubrach," the last suvivor of the rebels who were " out" in 1745. Donald, the athlete, is the oldest of a family consisting of eight sons and two daughters— all distinguished by their splendid physique. —" Witness " correspondent. One of the windows of the New Zealand Clothing Factory's shop m Ea&t street is at present transformed into quite a picture gallery. Seventeen landscipes in cil, being t!ie principal prizes in the Art Union by which the artist, Mr J.'L. Fi^gs is disposing of the creations of his brush, are hung in the window. Prominent among them are Shakespeare Head, Auckland, with Maori boat in the foreground; the he\d of Lake Piibiki, with Mount Cook in the distance: Mount Cook from Irshman's Creek , Milford Hound, the Southeiland Palls, Mount Ha loon, I'ossidon river and the Devil's Armchair ; views of Springburn Bush and Taylor's Stream, which show that we are not without scenery in Ashburton Couny ; and some bits from Scotland and Switzerland. Most of the pictures arc really creditable works of art, and some of them arc of high merit. The collection is worthy of inspection and a few shillings might be worse spent than iu tickets fot the Art Union.

The odiccrs of the Survey and Lands De partments iu Canterbury, have decided to forward to Mr J. 11, Baker, tho late Coin ii»issioncr of Crown L-uuls for Canterbury, a souvenir of the time dining which he whs connect-.*! with that branch of the (Jovern niC'iibseryicc. A very handsome silver salver has Ixien obtained from Mr M. Samlsteiti, at whose establishment, it has been inscribed and finished )•> nn excellent style, The in scription reads, "J. H. Baker, E-q., from offijeri of the. Survey and Lands Department, Canterbury, "23rd May, ISDI." The salver measures about 21in by 16in, and is of solid silver. ..; , Tho Dnnedin " Globe " relates an incident connected with the Hon Mr Scddon's visit to Blackatone Hill. "In this neighbourhood," say.s t'.e ' Ulobe,' " there lives a family by the name of Agnew, and we mention the fact because the mention of the fact by the Minister seemed to have a peculiar effect upon Mr Scobie Mackenzie. Mr Seddon asketl one of the bystanders feo let Mr Agnew know that lie was there and that he would be glad to see him, but the request had no sooner been made than Mr Mackenzie rushed to the stables, demanded that the horses b? liarne-ied up at once, au.i all 'aboard' was soon the signal for starting again. At the first turn of the wheels Mr Scobie Mackenzie heaved a hc.ivy sigh of relief and muttered, ' Thunk God, I've escaped this time !"' The " Grey Eiver Argus " urges that the Slojil system of imparting manual instruction should be combined with our systen of educ Uon, A start on much the same lines has b.e.i made at Greymouth with the most gratifying results. Mr W. 0. Smith, the c'lairman of the School committee, and Mr \V. Arnott, builder, recently procured the necessiry tools for giving instruction in woodwork, Mr Arnotb himself giving lessons two or three times a week. The original class increased so rapidly that it became unwieldly and had to be divided, and subsequently subdivided, every boy old enough ip be entrusted with a tool being ambitious to 1 e enrolled iu the wood work class, eo:ne of them even showing phenomenal expertness in handling the tools, and in the comprehension of some of the prin ciples o? mechanics. The splendid exhibit of the work of the Milton District High School b~>ys in the recent exhibition need only be cited as another instance ot the success attendant on manual instruction. Our contemporary points out that every girl manages to pick up at least something of the arts and duties of a housewife. But the avndgj boy, to whom some little knowledge of tools and their proper use si.oihl be as indispensable as to know how to Use her needle is to the girl, lias acquired no practical knowledge, and in too many cases has nothing to look forward to but joining the large an I needy army of scriveners of all kinds. Whereas if practical instruction in handicraft formed part of the school curriculum the pupils would perhaps learn quite as much as tl.py do i)i\v, while they worll also acquire something that would be of infinitely more iuo to them than the utmost familiarity with the three R's, too long regarded as the be-all and end-all of fche education of a poor man's child.

Another meeting of farmers wa& held on Saturday afternoon, called by the represen tatives of the Canterbury Belfast Co-opera tive Bacon Curing and Export Company. The meeting was held in the Arcade Chambers, and w; s attended by about thirty farmers from all parts li the county. Mr Isaac Sargent was chairman, and the meet- j "ing was addressed by Mr Durarit, the Secre tary of the Company ; Mr Milsnn Jones, its j Chairman ; an.l Mr P. J. Henley, one of its Directors. The speeches were on the same lines as those delivered at the meeting at Flemingtcn held earlier in the week, and all urged the claims of the Company upo'n Ashburton fanners. The special feature dwelt upon by the speakers was that, unlike most other companies that had been .started in Canterbury, and had ceased after a short career, this one had not spent it's capital on costly buildings and machinery, but had taken the wiser course of making use of the excellent facilities for curing possessed by the Belfast Meat Freezing Compai.y. The whole of the Bacon Curing Company's m^at was cured afc Belfast, thereby securing a uniform excellence saved in this way from the trouble and expense of erecting and working a factory of their own, the Cotiipfviiy were able to devote their whole attention to the purchase of pig^ from the farmers, and finding a market for the cured meat. In regard to the farmer, the speakers claimed that the establishment of the Company had ■kept up the value of pigs to the Iveeileis and feeders of them all over Canterbury; andj in.,(regard*, to the .latter, had been so successful in their endeavours that they had been able to declare a dividend of 10 per cent the first of operation, -and, but for the fact that a portion of their-capital had been borrowed and hail to'be repaid, would have been able to declare 20 per cent. The excellence of the Belfast curing had made markets for the meat in every part of the colony, and had caused a great demand for it in Australia. The representatives ol the Company were highly pleaded with the way they had been received by the farmers in Ashburton ami .With.the number of shares that had been taken in the Company here in all, about a hundred. HoliLoway's VihhH Akd Ointment. — Bilious affections, with all their concomitant aunoyances induced by atmospheric changes, or too liberal diet, should be checked at once or serious consequences jnay ensue. When anyone fiuds his ideas less clear than usual, his eyesight dimmed, and his head dizzy, accompanied by a disinclination for all exer tion, physical or mental, he may be quite sure that he is in immediate need of some alterative medicine. Lst him a*, ■ once send for a box of Holloway's Pills, a mild course of which will remove the symptoms, and speedily renew his usual healthful feeling. If the bowels be irritable, Holloway's Oint ment should be diligently rubbed over the stomach and liver every night and morning.

Licensing Matters

(PEB I'RESS ASSOCIATION.) Dunedix, June 5. At the annual meeting of the Licensing Committee all the applications for hotel licenses were granted, with the exception of four. Three of these were adjourned till the 13th instant, but it h understo >d that they will be closed. In the case of the Supreme Court Hotel the Committee said that the applicant could take an adjournment, Mr Solomon said that his client would accept the decision and proceed no further Mr Callan protested against landlords' rights being dealt with in this way. According to the ruling the landlord could not himself apply for the license. The cases adjourned are the Stafford Hotel, West Coast Hotel, and North Dunedin Hotel. Wan<;anui, June 8. There are eighteen applications for renewals at the Licensing Committee meeting to-morrow. Timaiuj, Juno 8. At the licensing .meeting for Timaru to-day eleven out of thirteen licenses were renewed and two adjourned for fourteen days; one, the Clarendon, for further•■ consideration of rebuilding ; the other,* because part of the hotel, tho Club, has been leased to a private club, which the Committee hold to be illegal, and have informed tho licnmn" u»»fc ho must cither get vid of the club or sever it altogether and apply for a licence for tho rest of the house. The question of extra ban» raised whs by the Inspector, and the Committee are to <ro round and decide which are technically public bars. Licensees were cautioned with regard to Sunday trading and gambling, and the Committee sug gested an agreement to absolutely close the bars on Sundays and they would not consider it an offence against the license i- any were convicted and punished for lcfusing to supply travellers.

CORRESPONDENCE.

(We do not hold oursiives responsible for the opinions exptessed bv our correspondents.)

THE BEST FRUIT TREES.

TO THE KDJTOIi Sib, —if I were plantingfruit trees of the kinds " Amateur" named I should con fine myselt to the following, namely ;— Apples: —Cambridge Pippin, Cox's Orange Pippin, Dumlow Seeding, French Crab, London Pippin, Lodgmore Nonpareil, Lord Wolseley, Prince Bismark, Scarlet Nonpareil, Winter Maje'in : Plums :— Blue Diamond, Coe's Golden Drop, Kirk's Seeding, Early Orleans, Pond's Seeding, Prince Angelbert, YellowMajjnum Bonuin, Denyer's Victoria ; Peaches :—Gclden Rathripe, Lee's Commercial, Teuton De Venus, Royal George, Noblesse ; Apri cots :—Moor Park, Mansfield Seeding, Hamskerk I could have named a great many more sorts of apples, but should " Amateur " require more varieties he can have a look iu ab Mr Davis', East street, shop window, and select for himself.— I am, etc., James Portbb.

EXTENSION OF THE BOROUGH.

T3 TIIE RUITOR. Sir, —Looking over the census returns for the colony, Ashburton appears very insignificant with less than two thousand people, which I consider does nor convey a correct idea to the outside world. I think every one would be benefited it the suburbs could be induced to join, so hs to make ono good Uorough, lam Satisfied that it would be an advantage to haVe oiily one rating body if the matter was fairly arranged, if the Borough Council would take th« matter up and propound a scheme for carrying it out, I think they would be acting in the interest of alj. Th? Council being the strong body is the right one to make some offer, or invite the parties interested to meet and discuss the pros and conn with a view to a satis factory arrangement.—l am etc., Ratepayer.

TO-DAY'S TELEGRAMS.

[I'M!, IMiKSS ASSOCIATION,J

Wtiiigranui JFrcexlng' Work*. Wanoanui, June 8. The Wanganui Meat Preserving Com pany's works were thrown openfor public inspection to-day, when, notwithstanding the boisterous weather, a largo number paid a visit to ■ Castlecliff. 'tfpedal trains were run by the Head a Railway Compii^y, The wor)?4 will bp agafni opsift;."to-night when the eleotvic light will be exhibited,. Eyerything in now in readiness for freest ing operations, which start on Thursday. CfellM •« TI|I«V4'N, " Timakv Jnne.S. ■ Two Chinamen, one a tea hawker/ the other a cook, have bfeen arrested for a series of larcenies. Large quantities of stolen goods were found in their houie" Chiefly stolen from the Criterion Hotel, whore the cook has been employed. THe ■ prisoners where brought before the Couk fco-day and remanded. , :

Teas free from any excess uf astiin * gency. South Brit is ii Tea Company a pure , blends, AiUtorekeupevy f !

MAGISTERIAL.

ASHB URTOX —MONDAY (Before Messrs T. Bullock and Alfred Harrison, J. P.'s.) At-LEGBD Assi ult. —\\ illinm Lindsay and George Rosewarne were charged with fissiuilting Thomas Whitta on Saturday night lasfc. Mi- Crisp appeared for the defendants, and asked for an adjournment to secure the evidence of certain wit nesses. The case was adjourned until Thursday,

The Duke of ConnaughtD and the Bible.

The Duke of Connaught was the leading .speaker at a recent meeting in the Mansion'House on behalf of the British and Foieiatn Bible Society. Having had, he said, the great advantage of serving in different parts of our large Empire, and of travelling over a great deal of territory iu different parts of t'.ie world, lie, in common with most travellers, (appreciated —possibly even more than those who lived at honi3—the great benefits con ferred on mankind by the Word of God m~ represented in our Bible. He had read with deep interest the report of the society tor this year, and most: heartily did he congratulate its members on the very marked and increased progress which if was making, not only in all parts of our own Empire, but throughout.every part of the globe which was so far open to the influences of civilisation. They could understand that a society like this must have large funds at its disposal, if it wero to cany on the work which had been undertaken during the. last eighty-eight years. He would not weary the meeting with fie ures, but there were some interesting facts in the report which would demonstrate to them more than any thing else the immense work which was being carried on by the society. He had marked one passage, however, which would besufficient to prove the enormous amount of that work :—" The Society was cosmo politan. In eighty-eight years it had put over 120 millions of Bibles, Testaments, and complete books of the Bibleintocirsulation in above 300 languages and dialects." In the centre of the city, where men were best calculated to promote the commerce of thus Empire in the most distant regions of the world, they would be able to at once ap preciate the importance of the few lines he had read to them. They would recognise, probably, that no undertaking of a similar character had over produced the results ho had mentioned. It meant a stupen* dous amount of labor; i« meant en durance and perseverance which were rarely to be mst with. He hoped the very few and inadequate words which he had had the honour to address to them would appeal to them, in the manner he would wish, to support liberally a society which had for its aim the circulation of the Holy Scriptures among mankind. They lived in an age when there was much scepticism and much selfishness, and he was sure, if they desired to combat these evils suc cessfully, they could not do so better than by attacking them with the Bible in their hands.

The Defence Forces.

PROPOSALS OP THE MINISTRY. The principal features of the scheme for the reorganisation of the defence forces of the Colony, submitted by the Hon. R. J. Seddon, are as follows ;— 1. The appointment of an Imperial officer as Commandant of Ihu Forces for a 'term of five years. It is understood that has already been made to the Home (loveraroont for an officer to fill the position. 2. Placing of the permanent force, as well an tho Volunteers, under control of •the officers -oomniauiHiig districts. ' 3. Officers oi Volunteers to be nominated by the Commandant of the Forces and oiheer commanding the district, instead of being elected by the men. 4. A capitation grant of not loss than the present amount, i.e. £2 per man p«r year, to be guaranteed for, say, three years. I 5. Volunteers to bo enrolled for three years ; men to be enlisted at any time dining the year, instead of at stated times, as at present. 0. Formation of four defence centres at Auckland, Wellington, Uhristchurch, and DunecUi;, the Volunteers at which are to have eight hilf- days' field practice, and be paid 2s (id per man for each half-day, the money to go into the men's own pockets ; the half-day parade.} also 1 to count towards general capitation; It is suggested that the eight half-days should be proclaimed statutory half holidays, so as to allow the men to leave their work. Several of the officers present «t the mestins on Wednesday night preferred calling out the militia to make up deficiencies in the ranks. :

Hypnotising Drunkards.

A despatch dated San Francisco, Cali fornia, March 20, «ays :— {senator James Fair, the lather of Mrs Herman Oelrichs, and perhaps the richest man on the Pacific cons'"', has two sons, James, Jan., and Charles, who have been, to put it mildly, very "wild boys. When James, jun., cau)e out" two months ago from the German Hospital, where he had been seriously ill, on account of excessive drinking, some friends tulked to him of Ur Brown, the hypnotist, who was said to have performed wonders with an op'um taker; and after a great deal of per suasion he was induced to pay the hyp notist a visit. Brown knew his man, and exercised bis will power upon the palate of the heir apparent to millions. Fair was kept under hypnotic influence for several hours, and when he was brought back to a conscious state he was told by the healer to go and drink no more,- The admonition was unnecessary. Tic could not drink. He made a vigorous effort but failed. The liquor acted on him as an emetic. That was six weeks ago, and he has nofc tasted a drop since. Before this he had to be put to bed five nights out of the seven. Young Fail then took ■■his .younger brother Charles to Biown, and he, too, was put under the spell. In his case io also worked like a charm, and he developed an intense dis like for liquor. He told the "World" representative that so sick of liquor is he that the swinging door of a saloon fairly nauseates him. There is no happier man on the coast than Senator Fair.

FOOTBALL.

AN AMERICAN'S VIEW. He gays—lf a man relished going to the hospital or the morgue in two separate ambulances he should give football a trial before trying to enjoy himself elsewhere. Football can break up an able r bodfed man sq complexly in a jingle round that, the average railroaJ collision or boj|er explosion feels like making an assignment for the benefit of the debtors, without any state ment of assets and liabilities, nnd going out of the business for good. Compared with a hotly contested game of football, falling down stairs with a cooking stove in your arms is not in it. A young man who has had no experience whatever in the game can go [in, and in ten minutes acquire a compound fracture of. the bon^s of botli logs, which afterwards may refuse to become reconciled and keep him tin crutches for the rest of his life ; or he 1 may get a handful of ribs loosened from'his epiiiiil column and at the same time acquire a iajpitiou, of the urnou^ membrane or sonie^

of the other Latin parts of his'body. Are ' there any other health provoking games that hold put such enticing inducements j to the sport-loving youth of the nine teenth century? I trow not. If a man fairly aches to go through life wifch his Adam's apple nestling cosily under his left ear, while his battered nose looks as ■!♦' it wfix anxiouH to turn the iiext corner to the right before it gets there, he may find what he needs in a game of football, which unites the most exciting features ol riding a bucking broncho with theso of the slucgish man, f>v often the dull thud of a slugger can le heard.above the wails of the wounded and dying, sound'rg like the patter of a mule's hind lego on the ribs of the hired man. While I admit tha*i there ai*e lota of fun aiid liealth^erms in football, still I don't think ih is guito ow fait to lift another iiian up and slam him down on the ground like a cold boarding house buckwheat cake merely because the two gentlemen do not wear the same kind of stockings. Other men who defy the press and pulpit by leaving the door open in winter or by blowing cigarette smoke in your face are not dealt with so harshly. The unities should be preserved as far as possible. It is not right to disseminate a man over a twenty acre ball ground, or invite a coterie of friends to jump on his prostrate form until he has been pressed, or flattened out like a beautiful autumn leaf in a family Bible, unless he has said something derogatory about the female members of the family of the dissemina tors or tried to sing ''kittle Annie Rooney." At least that is the way Hook at it.

TELEGRAPHIC.

HOME AND FOREIGN.

(per press association) UNDESIRABLE IMMIGRANTS. London, June 6. In the House of Commons to-day, Sir Michael Hicks Beach, President of the Board of Trade, stated that the question of further legislative powers being given to restrict the influx of foreign imigrants to Engla nd had en gaged the serious attention of the Government, but it was doubtful if any practical good would result ixorfe the action being taken. DISCOUNT RATES. At a meeting of bankers it was re solved that at present it is iiot impera tive to fix a minimum into of discount, though it is expedient to continue with the Bank of England in the matter. j " The Times " considers tliat some diffi culty will be experienced in satisfac torily settling the question. BRITISH TRADE. During the month the imports in creased by £1,087,000, while the ex ports decreased by £3,196,000. POPULATION OF LONDON. The census for London and suburbs shows the population to be 5,633,000. A COMING VISITOR,

The Rev. Mr Berry, of Wolver hampton, intends to visit New Zealand for the benefit of his health, and leaves almost immediately. THE .BACCARAT CASE. \ The evidence in. the b. acqatvit c£|se was concluded to-day. Lord Coventry corroborated the testimony of General Owen Williams. Sir Cbas. Russell was addressing the Court on behalf of the defendants, when an adjournment was made until Monday. THE QXXERN3LAND LOAN. \ Since the tenders closed for the Queensland loan only £300 has beten subscribed, arid it is now rumored thk.t..< the Bank of England is trying toarrange with a Syndicate to take up the balanice of the loan on favorable terms. ' LABOR QUESTIONS, London, June 7. Nearly the whole of the employees of the London General Omnibas Com pany and the Royal Car Company struck -xt midnight on> Saturday flpr twelve hours per day, and an increase of wages. Strong pickets; have besn posted to endeavor to prevent others filling the places of men on strike, j

FRANCE, ITALY, AND ENG LAND.

Pauis, June 2.] The French Press are very bittbr against England owing to the virtukl admission made by Sir James Fer guson, Political Secr^tftEy )of j the Foreign Office, to the I effect that i?the Marquis of Salisbury had agreed that Great Britain would protect Italy in the event of a French naval attack. i

DISASTROUS STORM.

Vienna, June 6. A violent thunderstorm has been ex perienced here, during which twelve persons and many animals were killed. The crops as well as fruit trees sus tained great damago.

A PEACEFUL CONSPIRACY.

St. pETEUKBruG, June C.. A conspiracy has been discovered, involving thousands of students of all the Russian Universities, aiming at a peaceful reform of the absolutist system of Government, with a View to substituting a system of national liberty and religious equality.

PORTUGAL AND AFRICA.

Lisbon, June 6. The Minister of Finance declares that Portugal has expended £1,000,000 sterling in protecting her rights in Mashonaland, and that the Govern.^ ment are absolutely satisfied with the Anglo-Portuguese Convention.

THE CHILIAN WAR.

Valparaiso, June 6. The rebel cruiser Magellaiies has sunk the President's torpedo vessel; Gualkida, The insurgents and President Bal niaceda have accepted the offers of the ■Tinted States and France to. mediate in the pyeson,t struggle. THE ARGENTINE OUISIB. Buenos Aybes, June 6. Three of the Banks which closed during the height of the financial crisis have reopened. -..-,:■ i-

CANADIAN POLITICS. DEATH OF THE PIIEMTER.

Ottawa, June (J. Sir John Macclonalcl, Premier, has died, {©tut 76. Officials papers laid on the table of the House of Parliament show that Sir Ghas. Tupper, during hjs visit to the United States, asked Mr J. GL Blaine, the Secretary for State, to

extend to Canada the same recipro city as was proposed to be conceded to Newfoundland. Mr Blaine made no definite promise, but his reply is con sidered of a conciliatory nature. In the House of Commons to-day a motion to censure Sir Chas. Tupper, High Commissioner for the Dominion in London, for his activity on behalf of the Government party during the recent general election was rejected by a majority of twenty-five.

AUSTRALIAN.

THE MISSING STEAMER. ' Sydnky, June 6. Steamers have been despatched both from here and Melbourne to search for th e missing steamer Tarafcamunga. COMMISSIONER EDDY. SYDNEY; June 7. Mr Eddy, Chief Commissioner of Railways, admits that he has received a large inducement to undertake the entire management of the Caleddnian Company's railways, but does not feel satisfied to throw up the present eom missionership until the term for which he was appointed is completed. PARLIAMENT DISSOLVED. A Gazette has been issued dissolving Parliament, and writs will be issued to-morrow, The first election will be held on the 17th hist., and the last on July 3rd.

INTERPROVINCIAL.

Auckland, June 6.; Mr Harry W. Farnell, who represented Eodney in the House of Representatives for some years, died suddenly last night at Okorere, where he had gone for the benefit of his health. Mi 1 Farnell took an active part i,i the formation of the local btanch of the Knights of Labor, and was for some time Secretary of the Auckland Trades and Labor Council. He was ap pointed Emigration Agent some years ago by Sir Julius Vogel, but on arnving in London he found that Dr Featherstonc, the then Agent-General of the colony, refused to recognise him, claiming thai the appointment rested with him. Mr Far t nell, however, entered upon his duties all i the fame, and ib was through his exer tions that Mr Vcsey Stewart' brought out the K.vti-Kati settlers. Wakganui, June 6. The inquest on the body of Emily Kate Spicer was commenced yesterday and adjourned till Thursday next, owing to a " post mortem " being necessary and the two doctors absent from town on a matter of life and death. Wellington, June 7. By" a fire lust ni^ht a twelve-roomed house in Tenakori road was destroyed by fire. The property, which was unoccupied, was owned by Mrs T. Young, was unin sured and had been on fireon two occasions last- week. Nothing at present is known of the origin of the fire, and it is attributed to larrikins. The Jin.iuftl meeting of the Wellington branch of the Post and Telegraph Officers' > Society was held last night. The report and balance-sheet showed the Society to be in a highly flourishing position, und the roll membership now numbered 102. The Chairman, Treasurer, Auditors and Trustees were re-elected. ' The following resolution has been for warded to the Government, the City Council, and the Harbor Board .by. the Wellington branch of the Knights of Labor :—"That this Assembly conceives it to be the duty «f all public bodies to use.eveiy legitimate means to assist in maintaining a fair rate of wage to the worker, and it is hereby resolved that the Secretary be instructed to write to the Ministry ami the AVellington City Council, requesting them to make it a condition in all future contracts that the cont'-nctor pay 1 nothing less than the current rate of wa^es known to exist at the time of signing the contract, under the penalty of forfeiture of such.contaict." The Assembly heartily supported the recommeiidation made to the Government for .the establishment of a labor- bureau. The Parnell Memorial Committee have resolved to adopt the suggestion- that a demonstration similar to that which took placa on the Queen's birthnight should be organised in other centres of population, the Central Committee , assisting local sympathisers to carry out the celebration. With this view Mr Potter, Secretary of Central Committee, leaves for Christ church to-morrow.

The Weather.

ALfc'ORD STATION.' i  The following is the Meteorological report for the -week oudiiit' June 7th 1891:- :

Auctioneer's Report.

Mr F.: M. Riokman reports: on the weekly sale held on Saturday, June 6, at his^ Arcade, horse bazaar and' general market, Ashburton :—About fi?ty horses of all cksses were entered* for sale. For f,'ood sound young draught horses there was a yood demand. Medium draughts, young, sound, and with a trial sold up to £'20; light harness horses (good) and hacks sold up to £15 ; inferior and' aged horses from £2 to £8. A lot of produce sold at satisfactory prices. The attend ance of the public was large throughout •.he day.

LATEST CABLE NEWS.

HOME AND FOREIGN

[I'EH I'KESS ASSOCIATION j (Received June 8, 10.30 a.m.) CEREAL PROSPECTS. London, Jinie 6, The prospects of the crop in Great Britain are favourable, and on the Continent they have slightly improved. The English markets arc depressed, and business is almost at a standstill.

A DISGRACE TO THE CLOTH.

The l^ev Arthur Jones^ formerly of Fitzroy, Melbourne^ has been con^ netted for trial on a chargo of stealing the property of Mr James, with whose wifo ho eioped from Melbourne.

THE BETTWS-Y-COED MURDER

Mr Duncan, who was arrested last month on suspicion of murdering his wife, who was found dead on Bettws y-Coed, a mountain in Wales, has con fessedfthat rendered desperate by the loss of his fortune he attacked her with' fatal results.

AUSTRALIAN

(deceived Juno $, 11:30 a,»i.) : EARTHQUAKE. -' ' Mkluournk, June. 8. - A slight shook of eartho^ak* win

f«lt in tlie city yesterday. DEFENCE PROPOSALS. Tho defence commijftion recommend that Queensland undertake the defence of Thursday Island and provide a permanent garrison, the other colonies sharing the cost. The commission also recommei i. the simple defence of Port Darwin to protect the landing place of the cables and to guard against the possibility of the telegraph stations being surprised.

TME MARKETS.

(MR PRESS ASSOCIATION;) (Received Juneß, 10.45 a.m.) London, June 7. Arrived—Bayley s s., from Lyt'elton (April 11;. Tallow, medium mutton, 27s 3d; do. beef, 25s 6d. Seven hundred packets of grey Queens land, sugar have been sold at 14s per cwt. Money is declining owing £0 the plentiful supply of gold. Three months' bills are discounted at 3| per cent. At the Antwerp wool sales 5600 bales of Rive.i' Plate wool were sold at prices equal to those ruling at ths Marchsales ; 2359 bales of Australian wool were sold at prices equal to those obtained^ lit last London sales. •' v The New Zealand Loan <itd Mercac- . tile Agency Company, Limited^"- have received the following' cabte message, dated London, 3rd June :'— Tallow market slightly weaker. Fine ~ mutton and good beef tallow are worth 27s (hi and 26? 6d respectively per cwt. Frosren Meat—Mutton niM-kefc quiet. Canterbury mutton is.worth.4|d per Ib ; lamb market quiet; beef market dull, Quotations nominal. Frice of beef has declined jd per lb since last report. Other quotations unchanged since last telegram.

Our Produce in London

MODES OF DISPOSAL.

In. answer to the enquiries- of one of the Branch Managers of the Bank of New South Wales, regarding the disposal of New Zealand producj consigned >o that Bank in London, the Manager there Has replied in a very interesting letter ,on the .subject generally of New Kualand consign ments, of which the following i« a copy :— Londox, 3rd Aprife 1891. Frozen Meat.—l now have the pleasure to send you some information in answer to the request contained in your letycr of 3rd February last for particulars as to tho manner of dealing with frozen meat in the London market. ' When the meat arrives it is transferred from the ships to the large refrigerating rooms at the docks,. and is taken, thence zo the market day by day, in such quan tities as the salesmen estimate they can dispose of. Our mode of selling, is through the salesmen in the Central Meat Mat&et at Smithfield, which is the great market iu this country for all kinds of meat— Home, Foreign, and . Colonial.. .We en trust the sale of your. consignments to several salesmen—all leading men,' care fully selected as to character, ability, and knowledge of the trade, and we divide our bu>iuess among them, to see that wa get full.market prices. Our whola* object is to get the utmost vaiijie we can for cur clients ; and while at present we sell in the Central market, we should not fail to take advantage of any other channels, if such should open up, whereby we could get better pr.ces; but there is no other Way available at present for the bale «f Jiu'^e consignment." '' \/ r . The Central Meat -Markefcfi* m ppen one where any 'person, butcher or private. individual, can buy at arty -rtf; the «les men's stalls such quantities, lanje or small, as he may want. Hoinui, Fojjieigii and Colonial mc;it are all sold in exactly the same way. There are nb\ s*l<|l by auction. The {great bulk of the bu|i|iesg is done in the early morning whejl th« butchers buy their supplies for theaay. The butchers go from stall to 6t»ll asking quotations and haggling the market, and buy where they are best suited.'. There is » competition among the ,salesuteii to sell as dear as they can, «nd i among .-the buyers to buy as cheap as: possible* and thus the tendency is always towards' an equalizing of prices ■ over the 'ffiole market. Prices cannot be said 19 be, fixed by either the salesmen b| fthft butchers, but are regulated bysupntf^anct demand, and the quality of the ancle. The price, of Home beef: and, nnpt|on in regulated in precisely the same wgywi New Zealand frown beef and /vmttt*. You will observe from the adftunt sales that the meat is sold. :daj by 'dak in small, quantities. When a large ißfc is sold, this-is generally-to a provincial dealer, and, as a rule u sold 4*efc docks " to save cartage. The big dealers "in 1 the large provincial towns such as Manchester, Liverpool, Hull, etc., have .men -ih - the Central market who buy their supplies for them. ' ' '.'. 'i .'. . It is difficult to say. what the retail price3 are ; the-shops try to.fges »d ijluch *9Tthey: ; can, and atjgood. pints! they will ask 7|d to 8d per Ib for prime legs, raivl 7d to 7|d, for shoulders. The other parts, of the carcase are sold moch cheaper, . Iu the East End,: however, among one vast working-class population; prices areleWec than quoted above, and %*o greater* pro, portion of the cheaper meat must be <joa sumed there, , Butchers, try to clear out their atpoji ,e^chday,;. afo4spec>lfa|*u«| they do ad on fkltor&af nMts,\«*s fore to take the prices offered. * There it tery keen competition among them, and we arc told the margin of profit is not anyv thing like what some imagine, or whaA has been reported. We should like to see price* higher, nnd-shall do everything in o«r power to effect that end. It would require a large capital to establish retail shops all over London and the large provincial towns to supply the public direct,; and we doubt if the attempt would be successful.^ It would entail the opposition of the fijtai men and the butchers—and it muat be 1 remembered that New Zealand has to stand the competition of Australia and the River Plate. From the. l&ttaf place the imporfciitionslast yeav were over 1,^06,000, and Now Zealand over 1,600,000 carcases. We cannot say *h it any of the few shops esta.blv.-hed to supply Home meat direct to the public have met with success in London.

The best thing for our New Zeahndi friends is to grow the kind of sheen suit-' able for this market, and keep »p tho quality, and. we would ask you to call their attention to the following remarks from one of our salesmen ', — •* Wlwt we want is the real half-bred sheep with short, tktek legs, Just covered with sufficient fat to keep it bright when thawed, and weighing between 66 and 68 lbs per carcase: this, if wellbred mA young, is sure to give satisfaction, and rhere are many butchers who would willingly give fd to id per lb more ror sheep which they oould really depend n» to give satisfaction. * . "hujending we should fcdvisethat a distinchve mark be put on the oiofch when the sheep are oU ewe* and on those only, as when they ajx> mixed with the maiden evrea am\ v^tfvers they very often spoil the sale of the whole parcel. "The. same with tke beef; the cows should have n distinctive mark on the cloth, as when they are found in m sliip meni wiihout any distinetion, they spoil the sale of tl\e oxen and heifer qunrtiera in the same parcel. . "We. aeq the more than erer, of advtsing sluppew to.keep up the <y»My of ttouieaVthey send, for w« »r>

THB ASHBTJBTON GUARDIAN, MONDAY, JUJSTE 8, 1891



Date*.

Monday ...

Tuesday <v Wednesday Thursday... Friday ... Saturday ...' Sunday

j shade. ,

Low. High '28.-; ity \ 2242' 30-42' 36* US' 37. 47 --32* SO SO- 50-

,ttlgh 'log-j

51 --82' 112 --53 111-

State : of Weather Fine, H. to N.E. •„ w. T Light rain. ;r. s.w. Bnow storms' Fine, Calni.



We clip the following important testimo 'nial from the " Ilia warra Mercury '(N.S.W of the 30th March. It needs no comment:— " Mr John Lovcday, of the Bulli Mountains writes tons that after suffering for four years with a-jiitc grarcl, he has experienced almost complete relief by using Sander and 80ns' Eucalyptic Extract. He says :—"Seeing (he said Extract advertised in the ' lllawarra Mercury,' his intense suffering induced him to obtain a bottle of the medicine from Mr Hosking, chemist, of this town, and that the use of it gave him groat relief at Qiiec. He states that between 10th March iiist., when he obtained the first bottle of the extract, and the J9th, tljo use of that medicjne continued to afford him relief, to tyhUiU He had been a stranger for four years. Mr Loveday writes also that He has found the Eucalypti Extract 1 cure for rheumatism as well as gravel, He requests us to publish, tliis information through the ' Mercury,' We have much pleasure in complying with Mr Lovje'day's request, whose word cannot he doubted, and who can have no object in view other than a pure desire to benefit suffering humanity- " —(Advt.) 2 J£eat?i&~cj's Oorojt I>ozexoes cures Cough Asthma, Bronchitis, Medipal ttstimo states that no other medicine is so effectual in the cure of these dangerous maladies One Lozenge alone gives ease, one or two at bedtime ensuaes rest. For relieving difficulty of breathing they are invaluable. Tliey con tain no opium nor any violent drua Sold by ijiUjG'hj^uists, iu this, Is l^d ana 2a ?M



Wanted CASH Advertisements under this heading not exceeding SIXTEEN WORDS 1/-. Addresses may be Wfc at his Office. "TDIANOS and Organs soltl on easy J.. monthly payments. - 11. M. Jones. "TpOUND, about a week ago, acol iidog, Jj black and tan. For adciiess apply "Mail" Office. 6J51 WANTED—A Good General Servant. Wajjes, £30 a year if competent. '*'" Amibf Mrs A. Cueti.s, Carter's Terrace. 6 55 W*"~ ANTED KNOWN,—Sealette Jackets. Sos, reduced to 255; and 40s, re duced to 27s 6cl, at S. \V. Alookn & Co.'s Clearing Sale. 6JW ICE Cream oflf. Cou«h drops on. Un doubtedly the best. H. G. Fwwbb, Confectioner, East Street.^ ""VX"/ANTED Known—The "Strong VV wear " Boot is the best for Mena fjadies and Children.—W. H. Cojxibr. *Tl/ ANTED, Morning Governess for VV three children. " Apply by letter, ■tating terms, qualifications, &c, to Mater, Box 43, Ashburton. 6 63 WANTED Known —Some special lines in choice Dress Goods at Very low prices showing at " The Corner. fpO Let or for sale. Five-Roomed I, Cottage, with half acre land, front ing Atford Forest Bond. Apply Stkklb's Store. 6 14 IL I7 ANTED Known—Old Spoons and W Forks Electroplated and made equal to new at 15s per dozen all round. A. BtACK, Jeweller, Eist Street, 4 150 "TT/ ANTED every man m the County VV to have a suit of fclie Ashburton Ttfeeds.— Robert Ai-corn, Ashburton Clothing Mart, Saunder's Buildings. GLASS, Earthenware, and China, direct from the Manufacturers.— Robert Alcorn, Tea Warehouse and Ashburton Clothing Mart, Saunders Buildings. :"OBKBENTS— Now being given away Jj to every purchaser of 5s and up wards in Drapery, Boots, Clothing, &c. —H. C. Skgers, Melford House. fcpIBKT Class Drapery, Millinery, J? Clothing, Boots, &c. Presents to •very purchases of 5-s and upwards now being given away.—H. 0. Segers, Mel ford House. . , WANTED Known—H. Dudley will sink Deep Wells and supply Cylinder Pumps and Piping, and guaran tee water to surface at 3s 6d per foot. - H. DuDIEY, Moore Street. 6^54 PUBLIC Notice. - We are now giving the presents to all holders of tickets and purchasers of 5s and upwards. ■fci-H. C Seoers, Melford Hoaae. KTED KNOWN,- If you have the Cash, you can save abcut 6s in jry Pound, by buying your Jackets, jhfeere, Dress Goods, Millinery, &c, at S. W. AiX'ORN & Co.'s Clearing Sale. 6 36 WANTED KNOWN^-C. M. Brooke is now in personal attendance at the Dispensary. The doctors' prescrip tions accurately made up. Largest stock iu New Zealand of disinfectants on hand . . .. . ...■■. 5§157 "VTEW GAMES -Tiddledy Winks, \\ Reversi, Snickein, and others, . Fresh Supplies of The Minors' Right. The Squatter's Dream, Robbery Under Arms. A Colonial Reformer, ToM after 6 upper, Tiuee »ien in a Boat, nnn hundreds of others. NEW MUSIC- Vocal andlnstrumental.—L. F. Andkewes '■ ASP; CO. \ __ ____^___ Pub Tic Notices. "» M ONEY TO LEND, upon freehold Jjl security, in sums to«uit borrowers. Apply to Mr C. W. Purneix, Solicitor, Montgomery's Buildings. 5 ISB FOR jilE" IT\HAT most desirable property at I Wakanui, at present occupied by Mr Francis Cass, consisting of 275 acres, with 'Five-roomed house thereon. Good Orchard and other improvements. For further particulars apply to JOHN ORR & Co., g§64 Athburton. Gentlemen's WATERPROOF*. A N immense STOCK to select from. ALL OUR OWN MAKE, '*^^#F'tllroughout and every garment warranted ALSO GARMENTS OF EVERY DESCRIPTION MADE TO ORDER. NEW ZEALAND CLOTHING FACTORY GENTLEMEN'S HAT* HOMERV. SCARFS, etc., NEW GOODS, LATEST FASHIONS, JUST OPENER O ATS, CAPS, SHIRTS, PYJAMAS MADE TO ORDER. New Tweeds and Coatings for Measure Suits to hand. Insjxction Respectfully Solicit'd. NEW ZEALAND CLOTHING FACTOBY MuNEYJOLEND. TITONEY to Lend at LOW RATES OF INTEREST, on Mortgage of FREE HOLD PROPERTY, in sums of £100 TO^£sQoo For further particulars apply to the Postmaster, Aahburton, or to J. C. PRUDHOE, District Agent. Government Influence Office, ■ ;#f"~- ■■-■■■ 7 * ' ■ ..