BIRTH.

Hicks—At Ashburtou on 14th instant, the wife of Robert Hicks of a daughter Both doing well.

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1891. FARMERS' SOCIETIES.

The efforts made m various parts.of New Zealand to promote the meeting together of farmers at stated intervals to discuss matters connected with their great industry do not seem to meet with the desired success. At the Last annual meeting of the Ashburton Agri cultural and Pastoral Association it was resolved that monthly meetings should be held, but though on« or two of these meetings have passed we have not heard that anything of any general interest was brought forward at them, and we fear they will be quietly dropped, as previous similar arrange ments were. It is the same elsewhere. An association constituted of represen tatives of Farmers Clubs m Otago was established at Dunedin about a year ago, and from the energy displayed m connection with it, and the manner m which the subjects which came before it were discussed, it promised to become a power m the land. However, the annual meeting, which was held a few days ago, was conducted m such a way that the Union is m a state of impend ing collapse, and some of the clubs have already withdrawn their membership and delegates. The causes for this should be noted m order that other Associations may avoid similar stum blingblocks. Tho principal fault seems to have been on the part of the officials of the Union. No attempt was made to arrange subjects for discussion or to establish a reasonable proportion be tween the importance of the matters to be taken up and the time set apart for dealing with them, and the result was that a long list of subjects, ranging from party government to a lib tare on wool bales, was got through m a few hours ; mostly, it may be said, with entire unanimity But the value of the conclusions come to was incon siderable, as must inevitably be the case under such circumstances, In order that such aa organisation should have any influence it is essential not only that the constitution of the de liberating body should be thoroughly representative, but that ifcs conclusions should appear to those who read or hear them as the actual opinions, based upon mature thought and reasoning, of the delegates, and therefore probably of the majority of farmers. There is, of course no pi oof that each and every delegate had not thought out deeply before the meeting each one of the multifarious subjects which were passed m rapid review, and adjudicated upon witli such remarkable despatch, at the meeting: it was simply the manner m which the business was done that deprived it of value. No good can be done to Agriculture, or for that matter anything else, by passing offhand a string of abstract resolutions, many of them based on the fads of the movers. Some oi the resolutions dfc&dfc with subjects which should have been .ex cluded altogether from consideration, and important questions were disposed of almost without discussion. To con duct a farmers' society successfully pit is necessary th&t the subjects brought

forward be of interest and importance to the members, and that arrangements shonld be lliade for members who have special knoiwledge , of ' the subjects to take part ifr.'. discussing them. Papers on more technical matters should" be read; and it should be an important part of the business to consider legis lation that may affect farmers or their interests. So conducted, the societies will have no cause to complain of a lack of interest m their proceedings, or that they are without influence.

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The new telegraph forma are said to be the product of Colonial industry,, and made of tussock grass. V • The Adelaide Ch-imber of Manufactures has decided that it is desirable to; adopt in tercolonial fiee trade as soon as possible. Sittings of the Ashbnrton District Court have been fixed ami-gazetted for 1892 as follows: —February 12, April 15, June 10, August 12, October 14, and December 9. His Excellency the Governor has been pleased to approve of'the clisbandment of the Ashburtou Rifle Cadet Volunteers, The date of disbandmeutis November 27, 1891. Dr Leahy, of Ashburton, and Dr Bolger, of Akaroa, have exchanged residences for a few weeks, during which each will uko' charge of the other's practice. A bullock was exposed for; sale at Adc'ington yesterday, which on a veterinary examination was found to have its throat literally eaten away with cancer. It was destroyed and buried. The new Library Hall, at Waterton, wu"; be^opeued on Friday evening by a concert and ball. A number of '' leading amateurs " from Ashburtou will assist at the concert. Notice of acceptance by the patent offio| of complete specifications is gazetted i regard to Mr W. H. Rule's invention tor' new simple water filter,.to becalled "Rule 1 Acme Walter Filter." The public are reminded that a ball m ai of the childrens' prize fund will be held i Pendarves School on Wednesday evenin " | (Anniversary Day), commencing at eigh o'clock. - . The Victorian Premier, m the Assembly, j remarked that the public were not, and need not be anxious abonc building' societies, which were the safest and soundest institu tions m the colony. • At Gisborne Park races, a horse; wandered, into the.dining-room of the grandstand, and put. one of its hoofs on a table at which a lady was eating. The occurrence caused a mild paiiic. Mr A. H. Boyd, stipendiary magistrate and coroner at Franklin, Tasmania, was killed by a fall from his horse. J Mr Boyd was the last commandant of the convict establishment at Port Arthur. The hotels and boarding bouses m Pahiatua have been turned into: hospitals, and are crowded with victims to the pre-, vailing epidemic. Some of -the bushfellers' and contractors' camps have been quite deserted. A chemist of Wellington nam-jfl Hood his taken his departure for fresh fields, and left a note with a wholesale drug company, instructing them to do the best they can with , his' stock for the benefit of his creditors. ; Mr R. S. Brown, a commission agent of Perth (W.A.), was found dead with a bottle of strychnine by his side. He left a note saying, " 1 have done this for the benefit of mankind." A lady walking m King-William street, Adelaide, suddenly burst into flames. She was taken into an office and the flames ex tinguished, but not before she was seriously injured. A strong spark from Somebody's pipe or cig.ir was probably the cause. There was so much influenza m Pa-rramatta lately that, according to the " Sydney Morn ing Herald,"- the local friendly 'societies dispensary was fairly besieged with people waiting to have dieir prescriptions dispensed —m fact the medicine was prepared m a wholesale manner m a large tub. Section No. 2937, 57 acres 1 rood 7 perches, northward of the railway lino at. Hinds township and 46 acres more or less boulli ward of it, with the exception of tiie small reserve 1446, and the intersecting roads, lias been gazetted as vested m the A-hburton County Council for plantation purposes. By Order m Council, date.! December .'», his .Excellency has extended llici lime for holding the annual meeting of the A'-dilmrton County Council to December l(i, at noon. It will be remembered that the meeting, which should have been held on November 25, lapsed for want of a quoin m, thanks to la grippe, The Thnaru School Commit toe are m trouble through a majority reducing the Christmas holidays from six weeks to four. Objections having been raised the committee resolved to take a plebiscite of the parents. One member of the majority reported that he was jeered and hooted m the street by a party of the lady tea chers. ! The presentation pt a long service medal was made m Christchurch on Friday night to Bugler Ashton, who ha? served m the regular militia or volunteer force for about fifty years, for thirty-one of which he has been a Volunteer, having joined upon its initiation the First Corps formed m 1860. The manager of the Station Peak run, Hakateramea, was charged before Mr H. A. Stratford.'RlM., ivt Wai mate, on Thursday last., with neglecting to destroy rabbits ou the property. Two informations were laid by the inspector, and on the first of these the defendant was fined £5 and costs. Sir William Gordon-Cumming,. since the conclusion of the famous Tranby Croft case; has been living m the comparative seclusion of his Highland estate. He has just, how-, ever, through his factor, entered a protest against the sum spent by the Elgin Town Council on the decoration of the City during the recent visit of the Duke and Duchess of Fife. Although a great friend of the Prince's once, the baccarat Baronet has clearly done with Royalty now.. | In answer to the writ of habeas corpus, i referred to m yesterday's Guardiam, Philip j Wirth, of Wirth's Circus, attended before Mr Justice Molesworth, at Melbourne, on November 30, to show cause why he should not hand to the custody :of Mrs Warren the child Herbert Warren. His Honor m delivering judgment, said that a mother was entitled to the possession of her child, notwithstanding the agreement she made with Wirth, The child was then handed to his mother, but resisted stren uously against being taken from Wirth. The following land will be open for lease on the perpetual lease system on: Wednesday, January J3, 1892:—Reserve 2(54, lot 12, Block VII., 50 acres j price per acre, £2; capital value, £100 j rent per acre, 2s ; half yearly rental, £2 103. This section is situated on the south-eastern : side of the Main South Railway, about two miles north east of the Dromore Railway Station, and comprises light arable land. A sum of £11)0 shall be paid afc the time of application for the improvements on the land, consisting of dwelling-house, fencing, crops, water i?aee, etc. As an evidence of the enormous good done by the rainfall of twelve days ago, a Ngapara farmer assures the " Oamaru Mail" that where a fortnight ago there was no hope of the grain giving any yield at all there is now every promise of a good half crop. The rain indeed has worked a magic change, and of course all the crops have benefited, and wlulo the worst yields will be equal to half a crop, m the majority of cases good average yields are confidently anticipated, and m some instances exceptionally go t »d returns are predicted. Taking the district; alto gether, should the atmospheric conditions continue favourable up to harvest, there will be a good average yield of grain. Thk Best Remedy foe Ihdiokstion— Norton's Camomile Pills are confident^ recommended as a simple remedy ioi Indigestion, which is the cause of nearly ail the diseases to which, we are subjects, Norton's Pills, with justice called the ; Nattiraf. Htrengthener of the Human Stomach," act as a powerful,tonie and gentle perient, are mild m 'their' oj>»}r;ition, and' safe under any circumstances. Sold m bottles, at Is I£d, 2s 9d, 11s, by all medicine vendors throughout the world.

The Wellington " Evaning Post " states that the Government have promised to call Mr Jellicoe tolho Upper House, m considera tion of his retiring from the contest and leaving the field free to the Ministerial candidate, Mr McLean. It is stated that the census returns arc erroueous as to the number of Quakers m New Zealand. The returns give the number at forty, while a printed list issued by the .Society two years ago showed a member ship of upwards of two hundred, and there have been accessions since that date. A woman, named Kate Moore, was before the Resident Magistrate's Court at Lyttelton, yesterday, charged with creating a dis turbance while drunk. She pleaded very hard to be given "another chance," and promised all sorts of reformation, but her previous convictions amounted to no less than forty, all of which have been run up since 18S0, and she was sent to goal for the holiday season. There was a crowded audience at the Oddfellows' Hall Chrisfchurch, last night, when the Kyno Family g.i-vo a very successful entertainment. All the items m an excellently-selected programme were given with great spirit and effect, and' I encores were frequent and heavty. The entertiiinr.icnt throughout was marked l>y a high degree of artistic merit. The company appears at the Asliburton Odd fellows' ILill to-night. The French population returns, for 1890 show an excess of dealhs over births — namely, , 876,000 against 838,000. This happened m ] 854-35, owing to the cholera and the Crimean war, and again m 1870-71, owing to the Franco-Germm war. One of the' causes of last year seems to have been the influenza, for the mortality was 81,000 above the previous year; but the births fell off by 42,000, last year's numbers being lower •than any year since 1870. The marriage;*, moreover, are decreasing about 1 per cent, annually, and this accounts for the falling off m births, as the average of three children for every marriage atill remains about stationary. The Kinderspiel, " The Flowora o' the Forest," was repeated last evening m the Oddfellows' Hall by the Hampstead School children, and as a performance was m every way equal (m some points superior) to the Friday evening's performance, but the attendaneewasnotso large as the popularity of the piece on Frid.iy led the Committee to expect, although the front part of the hall was well tilled. There wa* a complete re cast of the concert portion of the programme, the singers being Mrs Gamble, Miss Steel, Mr Black, and Mr Harry Stephcnson, while Mr Charles Wood gave one ot his admirably played violin sobs.' At the close of the entertainment cheers were given by the young people for Miss Shirtcliffe, Mr Gamble, and thu Orchestral Society. The head master, Mr MiilooJin, it fchnuld be mentioned, was prevented by influenza from tiking an activu part m the production of the Kin dersniol.

Fishing Boats Sunk by a Gun Boat.

" Tho Times" of October 31st gives fclio following account of the extraordinary aifiir wliirh ha.s been briefly reported by cable, and for which Lieutenant Frcmanlle w.xs siiln' quenilj* tried by court, martial nncl acquitted on tho ground that there was a mirage at the tim'j of the disaster --'' Yohtordiiy iiionuug, aliout ten o'clock, a Lir«o uunibur of fishing boat-* were lyiny a'j aiichor oft' tl»e cd»e (/f the wliiLipg grounds, about three miles outhide the bro-tkwattr at Plymouth. Her Majesty's gunbuac Plucky, com.niiidcd l:y I.ii>ut. Sydney Fremanllo, wont out from Devon port for jjuii practice, and the target at which ishe aimed was m dangerous proximity to the boats, whose presence those on board the gunboat seemed to be altogether unaware of. At the beginning of the firing several shots pas eJ between the fishing boats, but as this is a favourite fishing ground, .the fishermen did not appear to pay much attention to what was going on. The gunboat then altered her position, and the first shot that was after wards fired struck the hooker Sunbeam, owned by the brothers John and Henry Harkcom,. whioh was ; lying? at the end of the line amidships. The craft sank within a minute, both her sides being blown out. Henry Harkcom, who had time to pull off his Heavy sea boots, sprang into the sea ; but John Harkcom jumped on to the deck of the sinking vessel, and as she went 'clown'he leaped off. There was a heavy sea running and a strong wind blowing. A man named Murray, who wasin a boat near by, seeing what had happened, went to the rescue, and after considerable trouble picked up Htn y Hirkcom, whilst are her man, named Ho 1 den, m another boat, picked up John Harkcom. Immediately after the Sunbeam had been hit the gunboat fired again, and this time struck the Turn chapel hooker, Alfonso, owned.by Frank Harris, who, with a ni'in named George Hisbent, was m the boat at the time. The boat was struck m the gtern where Hisbenb was sitting. The Alfonso went down' immediately, leaving Harris struggling m the water. jSo more was seen of his com panion, who was believed to have been struck by the shoe and killed instantly. Harris after a short time, was picked up by another- boat m a very exhausted state. The three rescued men were immediately' taken back to Plymouth. On the way back Murray's boat passed to the Plucky, which was steaming away, and Murray hailed her. The vessel was imme diately stopped, and Murray called out, " Do you know what yqu have done V One of the officers of the ship replied, 'No ; what's up V Murray replied, ' You have .sunk two trawlers and drowned a man with your shot.' The officer replied, 'No j it is not true 'h Can we pick the. boats up V Murray answered, 'No ; how can you do that m eighty fathonj.i of water?' The gunboat then steamed away. On the tjdings becoming generally known a scene of g'reaf; excite ment prevailed on the Barbican,, and strong opinions were expressed as to tho action of the gunboat m firing where so many boats were lying at anchor. Hisbent leaves a wife and live children, who reside at Turnchapel, and are entirely destitute. ' [The English Channel is remarkable for, mirages. The tojyn of; Calais has fre quently been seen, suspended m nud*air, from Dover; and from Hastings the whole coast of France from Calais to Dieppe has been seen m mirage. Such minor reflec tions as those of tho shipping m the Channel are not' infrequent,' and m ting particular case the fishing boats probably appeared from the gun-boat to be miles away horn their actual position.— En.] j

ROAD BOARD.

MOUNT HUTT,

The monthly meeting and the adjourned monthly meeting of pie Mount Hiitt Road Board w ore held on Thursday, December 10. Present —Messrs Cameron, Morgan, ' Johnston and Browne, <JO>TK\CT,S. Kxtcii-ioi) of time was "ranted to Messrs Devery, Black ar.d M'Avey on their re spective contracts. TENDERS. It was decided to call for tenders Lo be senfc m by iie^t meeting for repairs on Gunu'.i road, formation one milo Marr's ro.id, shingling a portion of the boundary road between Mitcham and Lauriston, and for lepaii.s on the Lyndhurst road; also to call for Lenders to be sent m within fourteen days for forming the full width of parts o[ the Highbank road. KATE. Ar,-'te of one-fifth of a penny m the pound was levied for the year ending March 31, 1892, payable m one instalment on March 1 ? 1892, J

STRAY CATTUS.'- Authority was given to .the constable to iiopouud stock found at large on the roads. . • - Thompson's track. The clerk was instructed to call the.at tention Of the Oonnty Engineer to the 1 ougU state of the North Ashburton river bod on Thompson's track. THIRDS. Letters were received from the Con troller of Lands Revenue showing that £18 12s ]0J Jind £0 3.s G.I, Jiccnied thirds, had been placed to the credit of the Hoard for expenditure on water races and roads Tt was decided to inform the County Council that the Board could hand over the former sum for the purpose of a, water I supply aq fcoon as required. WATEIi, 11A0B CROSSINGS. j Owing to complaints as to the state of many of the water race crossings, it was resolved to send notice to owners of private races and the County Council, to haye all crossings put m order without delay. MISCiSIiTiANJKOUS. ■ Mcs-ii's Cameron and Morgan were ap pointed to fdi'ii the rate book. It was decided to pay Is Gd per hundred for small birds' eggs. Mr Denis McKendry applied for per mission to erect a gate and fence on road adjoining his section. The Board decided that as objections were made to the fence they could not grant his request.- Mr" Morgan and the clerk" were ap- j pointed to attend to any work that might be require..! m the recreation ground and cemetery. ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to £213 17d were passed for payment.

The "Catholic Times" in Court.

LIBEL ACTION. ; : ■■ ;■ | PER PRESS ASSOCIATION] Wellington, December 14. Tho libel action brought by .1. Evison, editor and manager of the ■" Catholic Times," against B. Thornton, president, I and W. X Heinrichs, secretary, of the Typographical Association, began to-day.; The alleged libel was contained, m .two letters sent to Archbishop Red wood, one of the proprietors of the paper, refusing to recognise the manager, and stating that f the office was conducted on the sweating System, and'-that the' manager or overseer made money out of it, also objecting to, ba. referred to an individual who had been a freethinker, and then accepted the: management of a religious paper. The degradation of being referred, to such a man, they submitted, they had done noth ing to deserve. £600 damages were claimed. P'aintiff said an arrangement; had been made with Cooper, printer, to bring out the paper for £14 8s per week, Cooper making his own arrangements for the purpose. Plaintiff himself received a fixed Hilary, and nothing more. He detailed the efforts made to induce him to bring the oflice into the Union, which finally", ended m arefusal. -At one of the interviews, tho deputation offerel to pro duce the ]>;>per for a few shillings more or less than the amount paid to Cooper. Plaintiff admitted he had been a free thinker six years ago, and had oditrd and conducted the " Rationalist," a free thought papar published m Auckland. Ho was not, and never had been, ;m atheist. In cross-examination, Mr Jelli co'.) sought to y;.at witness ci> uoiiuo his freethoii^ht vioivs, m order to controvert tho statement that he was an atheist. Ho quoted v, number of a; tides and extracts from the " Italion-ilist," aud put othei.s m wilhout re-iding them. Among these were two lethors against JDr Lu;:k, lvourrj C.ithulic Bishop of Auckland, m. roply, a$ witness st-ited, to a violent attack on freethinkers, lie had abandoned Rational ism some time before he joined the " Catholic Times," and had ceased advocatLUK froethcught because he thought he was doing mure harm than good. It was possible, since he had been editor of the "Catholic Times," that he had attacked some of the tenets ho had formerly held. Ho hi»d never shown Archbishop Rod wood any of the articles ho had written m the " Rationalist," but the Archbishop knew he had been a freethinker. Ho would decidedly have objecled to any sweating m his office, and would have interfered had any come to his ears. The average number of men employed m-the oflice was three or four, with four boys, and the rate of wages was £2 5s per week. The deputation informed l him that the rate for journeymen m the Association offices was £3 per week. He did not think Cooper made more than £2 10s to £2 17s 6d a week for himself, out of his contract; but ho also made about £5 per month out of the jobbing business. The latter had sinoe increased to about £2 per week, and since early m the year the wages had been increased, some now getting £2 10s per week. Witness's evidence lasted till past four o'clock, and at its conclusion the case wa& adjourned till to-morrrow,

Addington Stock Market

Ohrlstchuboh, December 14. The market was held fco-dsiy instead of Wednesday (Anniversary Day). There was a moderate attendance and a fair'entry of stock. Stork Sheep.— Crossbred hoggets, 8s to 8s 3d ; hoggets m wool, 13s 2d; crossbred ewes, from which lambs had been taken, Bs. A line of Mr R. M. Morten's rejects, all sound mouthed, brought 9s sd. Two-tooth crossbred wethers sold at 9s 7d ; and four-tooths at 11s 6d. Fat Lambs.—Over 500 penned sold at 8s Od to 11s 3d. Fat SuijEP.—About 5000 were yarded. Several lots were passed unsold. Best : crossbred wethers and maiden ewes sold fit ]Is to 13s 3d ; second-rate sheep, Ss 4d to 9s 9d ; crossbred ewes, 7s 2d for some very infeiior ones, up to 12s 3d for pauie fat sheep. Shorn merino wethers, 7s to 10s 9d. Fat Cattle.— 231 head were yarded. A. large number had to be i withdrawn. Best bullocks,sold from £6 5s to £7 17s 6d ; heifers, from £5 5s to £7.55. . Stoke Cattle.—With the exception of a few head of young stock the entry con sisted of old and, dry cows. The young. sters spld were yearlings, afc. 24s to 335, wlch a good inquiry for more two-year old steers and heifers ab 35s to £2 los. _■■ Pigs.—The sale of pigs was the least important of any this season. .

A Point of Etiquette.

The .snub poljte and ironical has seldom boon bettor administered, says"Civis," than m the following letter addressed by the manager of a railway company m Madras to a European subordinate :— " Dear Sir, —It is with extreme regret that I have Lo bring to your notice that I observed very unprofessional conduct on your part this morning. I allude to the abusive language you used to the drivers and others. This I oonsides an unwary rautpjble assumption of my dutie;y and functiona, and I may say rights and privileges, (should you wish to abuse any of our employes, I think it will be best to do it m futui em regular form, and I beg to point out what I consider this to be. You will please submit to me what form of oath you wish to use, when, if it meets my approval, I shall refer the same to the directors, and m the course of a few weeks their decision will bo known. Perhaps, to save time, it might be as well for you to submit & list of expletives

generally m use by you, and I can then at once refer those to which I object to the directors-for their decision. But, pend ing that, you will please understand that alfsweanng at drivers and others engaged m the tfaflic arrangements m which you may wish to indulge must bo done m writing, and through me. By adopting this course you will perceive how much responsibility you will save yourself, and how very much the business of the com pany will to expedited andits interests pvomoted."

A Temperance Temple.

The new Temper,an£eTem pleat Chicago J which is nearing completion may be referred to m illustration "of the demand that exists for accommodation m that city. This building is being erected by temperaneo women, as the head quarters for their work. It will cost £250,009 to erect, m addition r.o which there will be a ground rent amount ing to £'8000 per year. There will be eight elevators m the building, and and it is thirteen storms m height. The ladie.s expect beside^ being rent frco for their own work, to receive- £50,01)0 per year m rent for such rooms as they do not need for their own purposes. Where but here could a body of women be.found with the largeness of idea and the pluck to build on such a scale ? T called to .see the queenly woman, Miss Willard, who leads this movement. She was more than gracious, for one whose time is so precious. She seemed to be deeply touched by the interest shewn m the work of her life inour j colonies. She mentioned m the course of conversation how the idea of the ''temple" first suggested itself. The W.C T. U. held meeting? every afternoon m the rooms cf the Chicago V.M.C.A. The committee of , the latter institution objected to the class of people drawn to these meetings as unsuitable for a building intended to accommodate city young men. Such rilf-raff would scare away the highly respectable young men from their religious club. The ladies got notice to seek frcbh quarters for their daily meeting, and were m perplexity as to what they should do, "Never mind," said one brave woman, " you shall have a building of your own." And 'this temple is the f-irasult. ..-■''■;" We intend," said Miss '"Willard,' "to hold a Gospel temperance meeting there every day of every year, until the flag' goes on the top of the'tower to announce that, the drink traffic is'no more."—" Otago Daily Times " correspondent."

New Shearing Machine.

An English paper says: —A new ap paratus for shearing sheep By machinery was shown on October 6, by Mr John W. Newall, on his estate, Forest Hall, Ongar. The chief claim for Mr Newall's patent is that it is the only machine yet made which csn be worked easily by hand power. The result is due to the combina tion of driving frame, shatt and shear, each of which are of superior pattern. ■The hand-power driving frame consists of a heavy base from which rises a vertical*' pillar carrying a fly-wheel, to which, is attached a driving-handle; This wlieel' drives by means of a chain a small pinion fixed to one end of a horizontal shaft, jourilalled m a casting ab the top of the pillar. The casting overhangs the pillar to some extent at the other side, so 'as to give plenty .of room to handle the sheep, and at the outer • end - of' itlie horizontal spindle is a bevel" wheel which gears with a pinion, from the spindle of which the' flexible driving 'shaft hangs down. A speed of thirty revolutions of the handle gives a speed at Ihti cutter of: 2000, and the machine ; runs- 1 so lightly that : a boy can drive it. lii addition to this ■rtd-vantage, ■ the-shears a"t the end: of the shaft can be held m the hand-arid worked" in'any direction with a perfectly even ;mf)ti.:n a-.i l .\ Trrl»'..iil-:j xAi\±. A regularity and evenness of cutting is thus obtained with a minimum amount of friction.; The 1 time taken to shear; a sheep by this pro cess is about 4|min., and an engine, of one horse power can drive sixteen machines, whereas most other machines each require a oiie-horse engine. Illustrations were given on Tuesday of shearing and horse clipping by electricity, when the knives of the tool worked at tHt} rate of 4000 revolutions per minute, with the result that both horse arid sheep were clipped quite evenly, neither animal showing marks of the passage of the clipper. Other advantages are that the wool is' clipped m its full length, and about |lb more can be cut off each sheep than by: hand, while; the shears are so constructed thab it is impossible for the sheaxer to cut the hidev The company of experts, farmers, and others who accepted the invitation of Messrs J. B. Crosby, admitted the superiority of the machine both as reaards ifcs easy manipulation and economic working. ■'■.-''

SPORTING.

TINWALD RA.OING CLUB.

In the list of nominations for the Tin wald New Year's Day races, Kingrove, m the Welter and Fying Handicaps, should read " Ringrove " ; Aquarius was acci-' dentally omitted from the Flying Handi cap.

HOROTATA RACING CLUB.

The following; nominations were re ceived on Saturday for the annual meet intV of the Hororata Racing Club, to be held on January 8 :— Bangor Plate, of 35 soys. One mile. —Calliope, Ilium, Corringa, Carronade, TCichlake, Young Cheviot, Ruby, Missile, Lady Zetland, Erin-go-Bragh, Silver Pine, Corn Rose. Farmers' Plate, of 25 soys. Six fur longs.—Cocksfoot, Portndown, Taumutu, Trojan, Lady May, Maria Martin, Beau Nash, Bess, Pennine, Chaster Lad ; Diver, Juvene, Ringrovo, Cassic. Hororata" Cup, of 55 soys. One and a half mile.— Jncz, Ilium, Bay Kins, Crown Jewel, May, Regina, Quibble, Coinage," Erin-go^bivi-vh, Silver Pine. Wkjltkb Plate, of 30 soys. One and"a . quarter mile.—Becky, Corringa; 1 Bay King, Ringrove, Taumutu, Lady May, Aquarius, - Gillie, Beau IS ash, Young Cheviot, Chester Lad. I New Year's Gift, of 40, soys ■ six fur longs. -Inez, Cocksfoot, Portadown, Corn Rose, Richlake, Carronade, Young Che viot, Pennine, Ruby," Regina, Lady Zet land, Coinage, Missile. Handicap Trot, of 25 soys ; two miles. —Taipo, Star of Honor, Post Card, Meta, Rocket 11., Eos, Rocket, Abe L., Black wood, Drift, lolanthe, Fenian. Flirt, Med ■jidie, MiHer's: Maid, Chaos.

AN "ALL-ENGLISH FESTIVAL."

Tins London " Daily Telegraph," of October 29; contains on article, headed as above, on the subject of a. scheme for the' inauguration of an annital " P;ui-Brita>tinic" or " Pan- Anglican " gathering for the purpose of athletic contests and festivals which has* been promulgated by Mr J. Astley, Cooper—editor of " Greater Britain." This project is nOw occupyirig a con siderable share of public attention, and after the Parliamentary -recess will* at the wish of the Prince of Wales, come before the consideration of a powerful commitoee m London repre senting the Empire. The plan (says J the " Telegraph ") is to obtain an ( English Fcdeivu Sign, outside of exist ing political and commercial organisa tions ; to increase the goodwill and good understanding between different parts of -the Empire, and also to draw closer, if possible, the family bonds between the United States and the Empire of the Queen by means of a periodical gathering of representa tives of the race m a festival and contest of industry, athletics, and culture. As to the industrial section of the scheme itf-iis 'proposed that it shall comprise a small business-like exhibition, probably held' m the Imperial Institute, during which scientific, commercial, and industrial conferences might be held among 1 representatives of the Empire, the 1 result of whose deliberations, it is ' suggested might be summarised and sent to all parts of the Empire as a record of progress and affording hints for future development. It is further pointed out that it would be:desirable, also, if possible, that representatives of labor from the colonies should come to England and have opportunities put within their reach to see the greatness of England m all directions of in dustrial thought and work. Under the head of Culture it is contemplated that " national scholarships — say sixteen of a value of ,£'2oo a year each —should be founded m science, arts, literature, and technical education, to be held for four years, open to all subjects of the Queen, and their families; and the examinations to take place simultaneously m different parts of the Empire—s>iy London, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Ottawa, Cape Town, Barbadoes, ifec." The funds for these scholarships, it is pro posed^ shall be provided by State votes of money from each self-govern ing poitiofa-of'thM Empire with an endowment of £80,000 to be pro vided by the Mother Country. As to the athletic contests—a modsrn repro duction, as it were, of the Olympian games of ancient Greece—Mr Astloy Cooper writes that these should not be further extended than to running, rowing, and cricket, and he states that he is assured that if the contest were: arranged* under National and Imperial auspices the premier clubs of the Empire and of America would not hesitate to bear the; expenses of their champions. lie suggests thai preliminary contests might be held m each part of the dominions i with the effect of sifting the competitors, im proving the final-efforts, and i limiting the area of actual competition, and adds, " I have no doubt that the Colo nial teams could so arrange a tour that both previous to and after the National and Imperial games they could pay their own expenses. If not, the sportsmen of the Empire would see that the representatives of Australia, Canada, and the Cape, were no losers. I propose that all these contests of running, rowing, and cricket take place m the month of June, m or neaiiLon don. The prizes for the victors■ m this Imperial Athletic Contest have beeriasubject of much anxious thought, and, after consultation with several leading and genuine sportsmen, I suggest that no money prizes begiven at all, but that, instead, some symbolic trophy be given to the victor m each event of- the athletic contests —some gift from the nation or the race to the man, which would be treasured. I think that the American athletes could well be invited tp- join m thi& English speaking family gathering jfor sport; and no one would grudge them a well earned victory, .,;.... There would be, as an integral part of the plan, a festival day on which the "prizes would be given, to be held as a holiday m all parts of the Empire. A pageant through the streets, in' which India and the East could play a con spicuous part, might be held, as also a thanksgiving service,, a, banquet, and perhaps .other festivities." It is pointed Out that the content and festival "would be sure to attract" a large number of leading men from all parts of the Empire to London," and that taking advantage of fthis fact a consultative and informal council, representing nott rlerely/ the political opinions of the people, But thoroughly representative of the racial aspirations and pursuits might and should con currently take .place. Altogether the project , presents many attractive features, and there is nothing m itl—albeitl— albeit its scope is somewhat ambitious —that should not be realisable if it be taken up and prosecuted with vigour,, and we heartily concur with the ; (( Telegraph " m the view that every well-considered plan which; has as it's object to bind closer together the inhabitants of the British Islands and their far-off kindred, is deserving of attentive examination and of the J sympathy both of the Home and! Colonial public.

TELEGRAPHIC.

HOME AND FOREIGN.

I per mass association. ! THE ETUHT HOURS' PRINCIPLE. London, December 12. ]S! r Gladstone has written a letter m which he declines to adopt the legal eight hours and expresses doubts whether the principle will be patiently borne. IRISH AFFAIRS. Election riots have taken place at Wexford, during which Mr M. Davitc was severely wounded m the her.d. He declares his intention of .contesting thuscatin opposition to Mr John Red mond.

ATHLETICS.

Ottawa, December 12. A Canadian amateur athletic associ ation has been established, and has de cided to welcome the New Zealand athletes m 1892. . '

THE CRISIS IN. BRAZIL.

Rio »c Janeiro, -December 14. Complete order has been restored here. Commtrcial confidence m the Go vernment is also restored.

TEE McKINLEY TARIFF.

New Yokjc, December ]1. Mr Forster, Secretary of the Trea sury, declares that the McKinley tariff has effected a reduction m the cost of most articles m common use, also that tha employment of the working, classes has been increased, while wages have been fully maintained. He advises that extra care should be exercised m the admittance of emigrants to the United States.

REVOLT IN HONDURAS.

New \ouk, December 13. A revolt has broken out at Hon duras, and 14,000 insurgents are re ported to be attacking the troops oi General Velasquez, Governor of Cholu teco.

SIR WILLIAM ROBINSON.

London, December 14. The " Whitehall Review " announces that Sir W. Robinson has been offered the Agent-Generalship of Western Australia.

EUROPEAN TARIFFS.

Madrid. December 14.

The Spanish Government are. in clining to a central tariff coalition m order to retaliate on France for the exclusion of Spanish wines.

THE CHINESE REVOLT.

Hong Kong, December 15. The alleged object of the Chinese revolt is to restore the Ming dynasty. The decisive defeat of the rebels has been confirmed.

FATAL RIOT.

New York, December 14. A riot has taken place at Denver, the chief commercial emporium of Colorado, owing •to foreign miners being employed. In the emeute seven pcisons were killed.

THE AMBASSADOR TO PARIS.

Pauls, December 14. The appointment of the Marquis of DuiFei'in as British Ambassador, is well received by the French press. ,

AUSTRALIAN.

DARING ROBBERY. Sydney, December 18. Last ni^ht a robber, m the presence of a crowd m George street, sinashedthe window of a jeweller's shop and stole £900 worth of diamonds, lie dropped £500 worth and ' was successful m making his escape, THE BOURKE SEAT. j Sydney, December 14. j Mr Waddell, Protectionist, has been | elected to represent Bourke 'm the House of Assembly. AQUATICS. Stanbury has received good offers to row m America, and it is expected that he will leave for San Francisco, m the Alameda. • - ■ .:■■"'

INTERPROVINCIAL.

Auckland. December 14.

Norman Kemp, aged 19, a settler at Waiapua, was killed by lightning at noon on Saturday. He "was .standing m the doorway of his cottasje when he suddenly fell inwards quite dead. His sister who was m the room at the (time was rendered completely deaf. Some articles m the house were shivered by the fluid. * The "Star's correspondent at Taupo wires that while proceeding up "the Wanganui river on Saturday en route to Tokaanu, the Hon. Mr Oadman was thrown heavily from his horse, owing to the animal treading on a boulder and falling. He h»d nearly 30 miles to travel. after the accident on a rough road. Mr LaWry proceeded to Tokaanu and sent back a buggy. Mr Cadmen had to. ride 30 miles to. meet the buggy, and this he did though suffering very much, and arrived at Toknaim at 8.30. TJ'S is much bolter this morning, and topes to be able to proceed to-day and reach Otorohanga , on Thursday. Mrs Tt. Reynolds, wife of a well known ! settler at Cambridge! Waikato, has dis- i appeared from her home, and though a j search party has been organised she has J not been found. j Thames, September 14. An important function took place to-day I near Miranda, within, the boundaries of the King Country, at which about seventy I European visitors from Auckland and Thames were present, when a Thames syndicate took formal possession ftf 1300 acres of Maori land, containing coal and various hot springs. To. all this the Maoris have given a complete and inde foasiblo title, the ikst of the kind that has been given on legal commercial terms. It means the beginning of a new era with regard to working minerals on Maori territory, Wellington, Decemhor %i. At a meeting of Jewish residents to form a Committee to assist, their dis tressed co-religionists m Russia, about £200 was collected m the room. The Chairman, Mr Jacob Joseph, subscribed 100 guineas. - Giinlett, who accidentally inflicted a severe wound on himself, about a fort night ago, while working m the Gear Com pany's slaughter yards, died this morn ing. Oamakxt, December 14. The annual meeting of 4he Oamaru Woollen Factory Company was held to night. The balance sheet showed, a profit for the year, ■ of about £2700, and the directors had decided to devote this to' wiping oft" the guarantee jfund, whinh IJKcwld be now, almost extinguished. The pro»pec|s "of the company were spoken qi m avci'ynopeful manner, and it was*, ex pected that next year the directors, would b$ abfe tQ Mq\m a 4iYJ*de^« ,

1 Dg'NEmn, December 14. | At a meeting of shareholders of the / Wnitr.huua Quartz Mining Company it was resolved to wind up. The directors rend extracts from glowinir reports by the late manager, which all ended m nothing; i m fact the actiusr manager stated thai the nune liad only been Hcratched. A rabbitei nHired Sinclair, from South l.md, who wa.s working on Tarras station, Cromwell, was found dead by a search party to-day. He ha-.l been m poor health. He'was a qu!et' man, and had been a bank clerk hi Scotland.

War against Corsets.

REMARKABLE SCENE AT A RE VIVAL MEETING.

A few weeks ago the Free Methodists began a, series of revival, meetings m Sydenham, Ontario, 'Canada, so says the "ISuw York World," and made many con verts. As the number- of converts in creased so did the excitetnent, and tha meetings, which were held' m the town halJ, grew so noisy that complaints were made to the authorities and the revivalists adjourned to a large vacant lot on the edges of the town. , Here they .ware addressed by J. F. Fraser, a reviv«luit, who sailed into the prevailing mode ,b^ female dress, and said that women are !)om beautiful and die misshapen because «^ the wearing of corsets. Fraser is. an earnest speaker and his words created,gi-eat excitement among those*present. ; ' "Throw off the accursed invention!" he cried, " throw it off and go to God as you left him! Burn them' rather than burn yoursolf m everlasting lire ! " This suggestion struck 1 a responsive chord, and hr'had hardly cejnsed speaking when m enthusiast piled up material for a bonfire and applied a match. It was a weird scene, the dusky evening, the crowd of religious enthusiasts, Quivering with excitement, surrounding a lire which shot up long tongues of flame. "Throw off tlie garment!'' shouted the revivalist. "Burn them!" hysterically cried a feminine voice'in the crowd, and pushing and panting, a young woman of twenty-five forced her way to the centre near the bon fire. She,was tugging at her.dress. There was a sudden gleam of white' shoulders m the glare of the firelight and she flung her corset into the flames, sayhig she would die as God made her, not as Bhe had made herself,  _. '.'. ■ Her example was contagious, and m less than half an ; hour not a wqman m the crowd wore a corset, and nothing remained m the blaze but a mass of grotesquely twisted corset steels, amid which the flames 1 playfully * flickered. The excite ment was so great and the nervous strain so tense that Several women grew faint, but they had burned their corsets and were happy. The Free Methodists cpnsider the re vival a sreat success, and talk of carrying the war into the. States. ' '

TO-DAY'S TELEGRAMS.

[per press association.] Th« Mmir» mtißiiitr»l*. Wellington, December 14. The effects-of Chris.-Hugo, the weli kno^vn miniatrel, were ; sold under a distress warrant yesteiday. They were mostly theatrpj properties,,, and realised AnatrKlfan I»«ntoral Affair* ■ Mr Whitoly Kinst's visit t^-New-Zenland is to enquire into the foreign meat trade with a view to its development m Aus tralia, fur the purpose of/getting rid of surplus stock, and- also iufcp rabbit pre vention. He states that-New Zealand shearers mado at least £30^000 m Aus tralia List season. Squatters are loud in.~~ their praise, and have agreed to take full boards of New ZeaTanders next season.

THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN"; TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1891,



VICTORIAN STEAM CARRIAGE .AND rioN,- wbiks, AND ..., ; (lE;\l]t JillOmC FDRfIE, WEST STREET, (Near Bank of Australasia), ASHBIRTOH. A LL kinds of Blackstn A, Engeenring XJL and Woodwork done on the Premises. Carriages andT .traps of every description made, repaired, painted, or exchanged. ■ . - ; SPECIAL ATTENTION TO HORSESHOEING. Please Note.—Having added an Iron Planing Machine and other .Tools to my Engineering Plant, .. and engaged an Engineer and Millwright of well-known -ability, who has had twenty-seven years' experiehoe m the Colonies m all classes of work m Engines, Combines, Reapers and Binders, etc.," I'am now ' prepared to plane cipneaves;. slide-valves, and to do all other kinds, pi metal planing, make new cylinder rings, or any other kind of repairs at the shortest notice. Workmanship guaranteed. -Lowest CHriajtchurch prices. Cylinders Bored by Special Machinery without removing them from the Engine^ and new rings fitted any size, COACHBUIU*Efc, ENGINEER HILtWBIGHT, '&, GENERAL SMITH WEST STREET, ASHBUKTON. r lO§ James McGregor TOBACCONIST ■: : ' ■ AND HAIRDRESSER, T AM now show ing a choice a^wtCmcme, -*• of Silver Mounted Briar Pi^s^ being 1 a complete" set of simples %<i one of the largest wholesale houses i» Dmnedin, and when added to my .w^ent stock o^ Meerschaum, 'Myall,. Asbestos, G.8.D,,, and other leading stakes are well worth . The Attjbntiox ojf Smoker . CIGARS A . SPECI ALT F. I have also a large and.varied assortment of Smokers' and Toilet requisites. The HAIR-DRESSING SALOON is .vithout doubt rihe best appointed m South Canterbury ■ ■ ' JNSTOCTIO£ l INVITED james mcgregor East SU'oet.



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Nnr'an Hyalop and Co.'e> " Imperial" j jju>'o Ceylor. and hid an Totu. me t! o ! Leu m the inar^t -f^yt.)



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