The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas Et Prævalebit. SATURDAY, JANUARY 17, 1891. OUR EXPORTS.

A very valuable and interesting return has just been published under the authority of the Government, giv ing a comparative statement of the annual value c£ the exports of the Colony during the past few years An abstract of this return (which has not yet reached us) lias appeared m th« " Wellington Evening Post" from which the following particulars are taken.—The wool exported m 1881 was valued at L 2,9,9 09,760, and after a good deal of fluctuation this article reached a total of L 3,976,375 m 1889, and this again was eclipsed by last year's figures, L 4,150,599. The in crease m exported meat has been enormous. From a value of L 22,391 m 18^1, ifc vote to L 535,116 m 1887, to, L714,923in 1888, to L 890.146 m 1889, and to 1,1,238,644 test year. Neither of these headings include bacon hams, hides, sheepskins, rabbitskins, tallow, or live-stock. Butter to the value of 3^53>088 was sent away m 1882; it rose m 1884 $o 1,66,593, and m 1886 to L 105,537 ; m the uoxt year came a remarkable fall to 1/34,921; m 1888, there *fts a recovery|to hi 18,252, which increased i» 16.60 $o LI 46,840, and again fell away last ye#t? to LI 22,696. The exports of cheese increased very steadily from L 6112 m 1881 to L 84,896 last year. C^.iUas bden an important article of export through fche whole period. In 1881 its value was £.995,7#6, \vhiol> rose,in 1883 to l*,AQ&i72&, hnt dropped m subse quent yearsuS*^ i» i^B7 it had touched the minimum of L4Bu,5 01- Then set m a reaction, for m 1888 the elj*"*l came to L 666,134, m 1889 to L 970,659 and last year to L 1,007,025. No ac count has been taken m this table m regard to bran, chaff, Hour, hop,

oatmeal, potatoes, but ail t lese small items are increasing steadily year by year. It is woi'thy of remark that under all heads, with the exception of butter, the exports of 1890 were very far ahead of those of any previous year —exceeding those of 1889 m the aggre^ gate by no less than L 552,719.

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Notice is given m another column that the lakaia Bridge will be blocked for repairs from to-night until Monday morning. Three American locomotives, intended for the new railway from Jerusalem to Jaffa, have arrived at Jerusalem. A new sectcalled the "Army of the Lord" has appeared m Philadelphia. Its specialty m evangelical wrk s healing by faith. The Rev Dr. Maceregor, who visited New Zealand last year, has been selected as mod erator of the Church of Scotland. "Fancy religions fall out, Church of Eng land stand fa3t," was the old quartermaster's order at a church parade on board one of Her Britannic Majesty's ships. • The amount of bad gin and rum which Germany is sending to Africa is appalling. In some ships 100,000 cases of gin are sent out, and are used m barter for hundreds of valuable articles. The rateable value of +he borough of Oamaru this year is £36,196, an increase of £784 17s 6d compared with last year. The valuation of Napier borough for rating is £82,246, a decrease of £28. Archdeacon Farrar, m a disconrsc o General Booth's scheme, delivered m West minster Abbey, said the Anglican Church had lost the great mass of the working classes. Not more than ten per cent, at tended the ordinary services. In place of the scratch cricket match which was fixed to take place m the Domain next Wednesday, a match will be played between the Ashburton and the Wesleyan Cricket Clubs. Commencing at 3.30 p.m. During December 1904 persons arrived m New Zealand, against 892 departures, leav ing a balance of 1012 m favour of the colony. In the year ended 31st December the excess of departures over arrivals was 1739 persons. The " Oamaru Mail" " takes the cake "m the matter of newpaper calendars for 1891, its production for this year being a splendid specimen of typography, and full of useful local information, besides being embellished with a capital lithograph of Oamaru Harbor, executed oy Mr Willis, of Wanganui. Owing to the illness of the Mayor, and the sinallnes of the attendance, the meeting last evening, called to establish a permanent organisation to raise aid to the Barnardo Homes, was adjourned to a date to be after wards fixed and advertised. Two of Oamaru's citizens were having a hot argument on the qualifications of a! public man, when one, who was perhaps j more forcible than polite, said "I do not wish to say that your friend is an ass, but if Balaam should ever require a re-mount send him to me, and I will lay him on to the animal." This was a clincher, and the argu ment ended.—"N.O. Times." Among a large collection of old curiosities ft by the late Herr Leopold Ettel, of Inns bruck, there was found a large cupboard partitioned into lockers, filled with instru ments of torture of different countries and periods. The topmost locker was inscribed " Modern instruments of torture of the nine teenth century," and on being opened was found to contain rate papers, dunning letters and summonses.

General Mandnit, of the French army, kept his hundredth birthday on the 7th November. He was a soldier of the First Empire, having entered the army m 1807. He received his sub-lieutenant's commission m 1808, and was raised to the rank of lieu tenant m 1809, and captain m 1312. He was placed Ml the reserve, but with the rank of General of Brigade, J852.

Mr T. Parata, M.H.R., has received a telegram from the Hon Mr Mitchelson, Native Minister, stating that Mr Commis sioner Mackav is going to commence work m connection with the Nga.taihu and Murihiku land claims about the end of the present month, and that during his tour he may possibly hold Native Land Courts m the various centres.

A young man at Adffkkle was sent to prison for one month for hooting Governor Kintore, or at all events when His Excel lency was m the vicinity, Lord Kintore promptly wrote to the Government ordering the man's release ; the tone of his commu nication making it apparent that, m his opinion, the punishment had been made to fit the crime—in other words, that had the culprit "boo-ed" anyone else a fine of 5s would have been considered sufficient—and His Excellency did not like that. An inquest was held at the South Rakaia Hotel on Friday afternoon before Mr L. Oxley, J.P., and a jury of six, touching the death of James Richard Watts, who died very suddenly the previous night. The chiid was nine months old, and although taking ill on Thursday morning the parents did not think it bad enough to call m medical aid. It had been attended some months ago for rupture. Frpm the evidence given it was shown that every care had j been given the child, and a verdict of death | from acute bronchitis was returned. j The exact amoum) won m stakes m America by Sir Modred's son Tournament is 83,305d01. His owner, Senator Hearst, won 108,680d0l during the season, sp that Tour nament is responsible for nearly four-fifths of his winnings. A daughter of Sir Modred (Gloaming) won 5,040d0l m stakes; and as other members of the Sir Modred family won during the season, the son of Tradueer should be well up m the list of stallions, for the winnings of his stock will be more than IOO.OOOdoI, or £20,000—not bad for a horse I only m his second season m America. In regard to the opossum nuisance m New Zealand, the Premier of Victoria has received the following communication from the New Zealand Gov^enment:—" Objection is being made m some parts of >Jew Zealand to the introduction or protection of qbossjurs, on account of the damage which it is alleged will be done by these animals, when they become numerous, to fruit, vegetables, grain, and grasses. In order that the Government may he able to consider this question, I should feel gteatly obliged if you would furnish me with any information as to the destructiveness of the opossum m orchards, gardens, etc., m your colony, and also aa to the eomnt«reMl value of their skui»." A famous dog, which had more than once the honour of presentation to royalty, died the other day, at the house of his master, Mr F. G. Moore, Mayfield, Sussex. Mr Moore was formerly stationmaster at Lewes, and his dog, " Railway Jack," was known far and wide as a traveller, He began by taking the train to Brighton and Newhaven, and then extended his journeys to London, Dover, and Canterbury, and afterwards went as far afield as Exeter, Edinburgh, and Glasgow—but always returned to Lewes. Once, at Eastbourne, the late Lady Brassay presented Jack to the Prince ajid Princess of Wales, and he was introduced to Prince and Princess Edward of Saxe-Weimar at Gow£g. He was a great favourite every where 1} had three fine collars given him, and a, silycr nieda,!, Ji«% was nearly, thirteen.

CORRESPONDENCE.

We do riot hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents.)

BEES.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—The theory that the humble bees fire to blame for the non-success of the honey bae I consider quite mistaken. I asrree. with you that their numbers are notsuflicientatpresenttoc >mpete with such effiict m the gathering of honey. Twenty humble bees on a fruit tree make more impression on the ordinary observer than ■two hundred ordinary bees on the same tree, though each ordinary bee will be working harder than the bumble. As to fighting, well, the ordinary bee is very well able to take care of itself, and any humble bees I have noticed attracted by the smell of honey (chiefly at extracting time) speedily found that they had "other arrangements," and were glad to be allowed to leave without looking for their stings. The simple cause of the bees doing poorly, I take to be the dry weather. For the last three years there has been less and less clover, and, I expect, less honey m what clover there was, and the bees would have further to go for it-—a serious drawback when they have to gather enough honey m one month to carry them yirough the twelve, besides providing a surplus for sale, and con sidering that it is against their rules to work overtime. I suspect that m a aood many instances the surplus was sold all righj;, and the bees died a natural death from starvation m the winter. The average life of a worker' bee is short, m the working season about six weeks, but if they. reach the winter they are sup posed to live through it. Now, it seems tome that the later a bee is hatched the better chance she has of starting the spring strong, but when these summer droughts sef; m breeding is much checked, and possibly by the winter most of the bees are ready to die of old age. If this is of consequence with the workers, still more i is it with the queens, the very life blood of the colonies ; they only continue m full profit for two or three year*, and no apiary can flourish without a fair supply of young queens coming on to take the place of the old ones as they become im potent or die. Mice are a great plague m the off season, they get m through places you would never expect, and take advan tage of the drowsy state of the bees to do a lot of harm. Of all the troubles, though, attending beekeeping during the last three years, there has been nothing to compare with the two gales of the spring before last. When a hive is purled over, thoroughly dusted with fine soil from a neighboring crop, and treated to a sharp shower, it takes some pulling round before m caT get back to its old form. If irrigation should become a fact, the land "will flow with milk and honej," as it has never flowed before.—l am, etc., Robt. W. Hart. Winchmore, Ashburton, 15th January.

THE IRRIGATION SCHEME.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sik, —Will you kindly allow me space m your paper to reply to some of the remarks of "Cosmopolitan" and others m reply to my letter on irrigation. I will only reply briefly, as I am busy harvesting, and have not much time for letter writing. As "Cosmopolitan"goes more fully into the matter than any of the others, I will take his letter first. He says I must have formed my opinion on irrigation from what; I saw it the Council's farm. Such is not the case. I formed my opinion on irrigation from what I have seen of the formation of the plains, and from the difficulties I have known the county Engineer to encounter m the construction of the water races, ho having to wind them out and m to such an extent m a great many instances .that I have known people to decide to do without the water tci fl, certain extent rather than get a considerable portion Qf their land made almost, worthless for agri cultural purposes, by the deviation of the races through their properties. That is and always will be i;he difficulty the Engineer has to cqntend with m laying off a new race. Now, if such -is the case with the existing races, averaging as they do over a mile apart, what wjll be the result when the farmer ha* to make channels for irrigation purposes. I do not mean as to the eosb of making the channels. Of this, I will speak further on, but I mean as to the cutting up of his land. "Cosmopolitan" says we will be able to carry two sheep more per acre if we go m for irrigation, at a cost of only one shilling per acre. That I take it he m.3ans to be the Council's charge for bringing the water m the mains on to the land, but I consider that is only where the cost of irrigating the land begins. It is the cost to the farmer for distri buting it over his acres that kills the scheme. So long as the Council has its worthy Engineer Mr Baxtgr., at the head of affairs, there is no danger q( work m connection with bringing the water on to the land costing too much. If this I was the only difficulty m the way I am sure there would not be five per .aent, of the ratepayers opposed to ib, even if it t'Cost two shillings per acre. But it is the difficulties and cost the farmer will ex perience after the Council has brought the water into his paddocks. At the lowest estimate I do not think the water can be distributed over the land at less than ten shillings per acre. I will tell you what I am willing to do to test the thing thoroughly. If the Council will grant the use of the water from any of the existing races, I am willing to give any practical man, who understands irrigation, fifteen shijlings per acre if he will irrigate one hundred aeies of grass land, and one hundred acres of land now under turnips., and I will give him fifteen hundred acres to pick from, and I will leave it to the Council's engineer to decide wheeher the man has thoroughly done his work or not. If the Council cannot see its way to grant me water for two hundred acres, I will be satisfied with fifty acres of turnips and fifty acre? of grass. Your correspondent speaks of ridges or "checks" being used instead of channels, and says they would be cheaper. I cannot see how this pan be, but pc that as it may, Ho»r are we going to get over these ridges with a mper at harvest time ? I fancy J see a hot-tempered cockatoo trying to out his ;irheafc and a strong nor'wester blowing m his teeth, and his reaping machine going bumping over these embankments. " Cosmopolitan" tells us he has seen large irrigation works m California, ex tending over scores of thousands of acres, but he does not give us any particulars. I take it, most of the plains farmers know nothing about irrigation except what some have learned by stealing the water from fchg eoijntjf r^ceffttiid experi menting with ii," If nqfcibo muchtrouble to " Cosmopolitan^ i would like'to* know the sort of soil, and the formation of the California*! land that is irrigated, also wliat s'-rt of crops they grow, the cost of irrigation per acre, and what increase of yield tijey fferive from irrigation. Your cofrespondeni says when thfs of sendin" Mr Baxter to Victoria I*'1*' comes tefdre the Council, lie l} n?e» it VJW be given effect to unanimously. Well, sir, I sincerely hope tfig Council will reject the proposal, or at aijy rate thafe tliey will 9?fe fee'sQ fflqiisir as," to. s.end him'ajjray * " •—' wii§n w'g are, lam afraid, only just n0.., * •■>«# oui i <Jri§sts seasons, m the midst of one i,. • —»„♦-. away It means this : If Mr Baxter is b^*. now, we will, m a week or ten days after he leaves, be without water for our stock. ; At the present time, he is the only man \ who can drive the Council team. If a i flfesh driver is put on the box there will < baa smash up, witl th 9 result th»fc our

tosk will starve for want of water. I ' consider that the. Council did a foolish thing when they reduced his pay and put him on half time. I- have often accom panied Mr Baxter on bis wanderings over the plains, and a harder working man I never came across. Ido not think any man's time m the country was more fully taken up than Mr Baxter's when he was on full time. I consider it wduld have been a move m, the right direction if the Council had increased his pay and got him to work on Sundays. After redding " Cosmopolitans's" letter I am still satisfied that it is impossible to irrigate our grain fields, either by channels or by " checks." The cost would be too great, and the benefit very doubtful. At any rate I am confident that the rate payers on the plains will not go m for the scheme blindly ; as intelligent men they will require to see the thins? tested ova more comprehensive scale than the Council has done with their irrigation farm. In reply to Mr Langdon ,1 am sorry to say I differ from him on a great many points, first m regard to watering grass land. I have always found where a race overflowed and the grass came away, stock would not look at it, even when the rest of the paddock was bare of feed, arid on any spot where the race has been neglected for a length of time., and the overflow allowed to be on the land fdr days, I have found land so treated was no good for grass. When ploughed up it was m hard lumps and remained so untjl pulverised by the weather. Well, m irrigating our grass land the depressions will all get more than a double share of water, with the result, I make no doubt, of souring the best portion of our land, for one acre of the gulllies is worth two acres of the ridges. I was speaking to a beach farmer the other day and asked him what he thought of ireigation. He said it was no good. As the. race ter minates m his property}he has been experimentina with the water for years. He says his experience is that stock do not care for the grass on the land that he has run the water over, and that the following year, or so long as the land is m grass, nothing grons on it. His ex perience of irrigating crops is that you cannot get the water evenly over the paddock. Some patches, where there are depressions on the land, get too much and the ridges do not get. any. I asked him how far apart his channels were, and he said they were about twenty feet, but that distance was too much. The result on his crop was that it ripened; unevenly. Some patches that got abundance of water were quite green when the balance was ready for the reaper.l —l am etc,, A Plains Fakmek.

Corn Exchange

The following is the Christchurc.il Corn Exchange report for the week ending Friday, January 16th :—

The showers that have fallen during the past few weeks have had a most beneficial effect upon the pastures and the turnip crops (where they have taken), and will also greatly assist m maturing the later grain crops. The few samples of Barley and Oats that have been on view are certainly of better quality than was expected by many, and we are now :nclined to have better faith m the Wheat cereal, as* thk seldom suffers from drought to the extent of the other white crops, The markets remain unaltered, except that the Homo market for Wheat has slightly hardened, but our stocks here are limited, and prices are beyond shipping; values. Oats are dull, and have scarcely maintained the late advance. In Barley there is very little trade doing, and maltsters are holding back for the new crop. Grass Seed is being enquired for, but little is offering. Good accounts continue to come from the Peninsula about Cocksfoot, which is likely to be good quality and well grown, but will all require careful dressing. Quotations are as follows : —Whe.it, Tuscau, 3s 7d ; Pearl, 3s 6d to 3s 7d ; Hunter's, 3s Qd $ second quality, 3s; broken, 2s 9d to 3s. Oats, milling, Is 9d to Is lQd ; short feed, Is 8d ; inferior kinds, Is 5d to Is 6d, Barley, prime malting, 3s 3d j medium, 2s 6d ; feed, Is 9d to Is 10d. Ryegrass, town dressed,- qs ; farmers' parcels, 3s to 4s. D^airy Produce, butter, factory m^ke, 7d *o 8d j tanners' salting, fid to fd j cheese, 3|d to 4£d, The above prices are those paid .to farmers, for deliveiy f,o.b, Lyttelton t Sacks extra, .

Tiuwald School.

Following is the Inspector's report on the above school, which was examined on the 10th of December last:— Staff.—Mr Geo. Culverhouse, master, S4, SO. Miss M. L. Bishop, A.F., SI and P. Rees Williams, M.P.4, S3 and S2.

Remarks.—The school has passed a very good examination. Class S4 to a certain extent (m dictation and arithmetic chiefly) disappoints the high expectations that might have been formed of it, from the merits of the children m the lower standard the previous year, but m all other respects the master's classes do the work required of them very well indeed, j The most notable feature of the school is v however, the admirable qualities shown by 'iSiji-and '%, :lafugh.t;".% the {mpil teacher, who works 1. giVeis the highest promise of success "111, his pro. fession. .-. . N,, Class SI m the lower department has been very satisfactorily prepared' byV^he 1 mistress. The infatits, many of wH^ni \ffere absent through illness, are fair. \ ! "■"'■■'■ '■"■f/-^.-A^»Rfr i\l

The Best Remedy fqr I^tGKSTiqN— Norton's Campmile Pills are confidently, reconfmended ag a, simple remedy h* Indigestion, -gUnk is £he cause, ttf'flieajfr a}| the diseases to which we an? ' sublecf ; NottCOH's Film, with' j^stipe caUeiil^ »*f«n a theu« of ths Humag 'Natural „.. ■*■■« Mnto and gentle Stomach," act as a powenui * aperient, are mild m their operation, anu ate under any circumstances. Sold m I otbles, at Is Hd, 2* 9d, 11s, by all medicine endow throughout th« wo Id, !

THE BIRD PEST.

We notick this season that com plaints of the ravages of small birds among corn and fruit are louder than ever, and it appears certain that ■more vigorous steps will have to be taken to cope with the evil. Numbers of Road Boards and County Councils, those of this district included, have been doing something m tills direction by paying for heads and eggs, and to a certain extent successfully, as evidenced by the fact that one Road Board paid out m a single day no less than £24, representing the destruction of no less than 24,000, while during the season the Levels Road Board has, we see, paid for nearly 100,000 eggs and heads. In Canterbury alone, probably not less than a million have been destroyed this season, and m the whole South Island the tally of eggs and heads will very likely reach two or three millions, yet still there appears to be no percep tible diminution m the numbers of these winged depredators, and m some districts indeed they are said to be rapidly increasing. There are num bers of farmers who will lose from hundreds to thousands of bushels of grain from the toll they levy, and there i are localities m which it is quite: impossible to grow, or rather to k«ep, such fruits as cherries, currants, or even raspberries or strawberries. \ Among the com that impudent and irrepressible fellow, the sparrow, is the chief offender, that is to say at and near harvest time, the birds rising m clouds from among the ripening grain, though m early spring when the corn is pushing up its tender green shoot, the skylarks which have become ex ceedingly numerous, do an immense amount of mischief by pulling up the young plant and feeding upon it—in some cases half or more than half the crop being thus lost m its initial stage of growth. Among the cherries the sparrow is the chief offender, even the starling (on the whole a very useful and valuable bird) playing a good second, while both are guilty m. the matter of peas. To the currants, raspberries, and strawberries the black birds devote particular attention, and between one and the other of them the horticulturist, as well as the agricul turist, has a bad time of it. As regards the starling, the grievance may be put up with m return for the good he does as a destroyer of the cater pillar an I other insects* but the num ber of skylarks (delightful as is their song) might be reduced with great advantage, while as to the sparrow it would be an immense boon if he could be exterminated altogether. He is a fraud of the grossest description. En couraged at first, and subsequently for a long time tolerated, under the belief that he was largely insectivorous, it has been discovered to our cost that what he does iii that direction is a mere bagatelle compared to his demands upon the food products intended for wingless bipeds, and here, as m America, he is now discovered to be an unmitigated pest and nuisance. Already we have had to legislate for his suppression, and as we have seen, our governing bodies are voting and spending part of their revenues m the effort to keep him down, but m spite of it all he increases and multiplies at an alarming rate, and the question is what is to be done to cope with him. Well, we think that there must be an organised effort made, not only m pay ing for the destruction of the eggs and young birds during the nesting seastm, but that during the winter time, when food for the birds is scarce, poisoning should be resorted to on a systematic and comprehensive plan, The efforts of an individual farmer or settler here and there, while others make no effort at all, are absolutely vain, arid the Road Boards and County Councils will have to take the matter m hand, and carry on operations systematically. The machinery of the law, as it at pi;esent stands, is quite sufficient, if it be only carried into effect, every governing body having the power to levy a special rate for the purpose, not exceeding a half-penny m them £ in a County or Road District, or a penny m them £in a Borough or Town District. This, however, can only be done on the petition of a majority of the rate payers praying that such rate be levied for the, purpose, and we think that it is quite time that our grain-growers and fruit-growers took intd considera tion the advisability of presenting such f petitions.

THE CHILD MURDER CASE.

THE INQUEST,

(per press association. ) Christcjiurch, January 16. On resuming after the adjournment the elder female prisoner fainted but soon recovered. 1 Mrs Freeman continued her evidence:— Mrs Flanagan told he? that tWo men had. taken "the child 1 from Mrs Stephens and severed j«ie head from the body.' Asked where the body was, Mrs Flanagan rc pjied " Best assured they wjll never find tnatj you couldn't recognise the head if you saw it, it, is so much knocked about! The police have found the head and whit? shawl. If they come to »«& you say nothing about it. Only you and Mrs Higgs know anything about the baby." Wit* ness «aid she could hardly see her way Ito do that and Mrs Flanagan said " We won't forget you if you see us.out of it." Witness promised to do her best and said she would not speak unless obliged. The child had; light hair. The head shown to witness she was sure was that of the child taken away On January 5, when both female prisoners came to witness's house, saying that Mrs Stephens was going to Wellington, and took baby away, witness wrapped it up m a white and red shawl, and at Mrs Flanagan's request left no white showing. • Witness's daughter followed t£e two wqmpn along two streets m the (location where th>.. Sad Ma* found, when they started to run. The daughter of previous. witness saw the Flanagans take the baby away, and followed them some distance m the direction of the place where the body fl as found. They wWe running after they Ijjft the h<mse> (T^ic elder femaje prisoner Kbre^f>i|i«od'4g«ttßiy: Witness : was,pQ*iil:ive lf!» »•**£ b&pzffl tp the bahy,...... ... "'John Tulley, ■ publish^, . Times" office, deposed to seeing two women at the section wher.e the head was fofund, at {fiuu.^jQflk m the morning jutst" as he Jyas going tq : thp oftjee. ijiev. avoided hin>, "but h<Twatchfcd them fora, wl4e,'"and saw tjiei}. go juty frhe, sectjon. Both W9F§ Sfe^ti W #»«%* »»H$ / the other; bjjfc Re could hot stijiter „.!.... a »«• WW say that the female prisons wotmen be saw I

.^Joseph yai&jeant, telegraph operator, imposed that as he was goiiig home from w<uk, about -J. 30 a.m. one day tai-ly last we<A, he saw Constable Flanagitnand two short women pass down Lincoln Road towards Christuhurch. Mrs Higctj, Registry Office keeper, told how Mrs Flanagan called to secure a nurse for her daughter's baby, born December 13. She was very vexed about it, and said .she would kill it if she Wd to do with it, and used othci threats. As Mr Veetham summed up, and when speaking of the male accused, Sarah Flanngan created a scone by crying out that her father knew nothing of it. The jury retired at 4.10, returning at 4.22, whon the foreman stated that "they were imiinhnous m returning a verdict of wilful murder against the two females. The Coroner concurred. Thc'mayisteml enquiry was adjourned till Tuesday morning.

TELEGRAPHIC. HOME AND FOREIGN

PEE PRRSS ASSOCIATION]

London, January 15. Mr O'Brien's newspaper states that arrangements are being made for Mr ■'Parnell's abdication. The certificate of the captain of the s.s, Nspaul, whice was wrecked m Plymouth Sound, has been suspended. Valparaiso, January 15. The Chilian rebel fleet are blockad ing the port of Iquique.

Colonial Loans.

(per press association.)

London, January 16. The Cape loan of four and three quarter millions has been subscribed at an average of £98 8s 2d. For the Melbourne Tramway Com pany's loan of £230,000 at i$ per cent., with a minimum of £100 Bn, £236,000 was subscribed at an average of £100 9s lOd.

Floods in Australia.

[PBtt PRESS ASSOCIATION. J

Sydney, January 16. Heavy rains continue m the interior. The Culgoa river is coming down heavily and a great flood is expected. All the rivers are rising.

SPORTING.

SCRATCHINGS.

[PEE PRESS ASSOOIATipN.]

Wklwngton, January 17. Freedom has been scratched for the Wellington Cup.

C.J.C. SUMMER MEETING.

Chbistchtjuch, January 16. The following nominations and further payments have been received for the C.J.C Summer meeting :— Hornb* Welter Plate, l^.mile.—• King of Ulster, Harkawsy, Nellie Gray, Liquidation, Yon Tempsky, Tired, Silver Fine, Crown Jewel, Ixion, Ben Trovafco, Bay King, Preston. Midsummer Stakes, 1£ mile.—Prime Warden, Breadalbane,. Dudu, Freedom, Hazel, Catamount, Rosebud, Alma, Crackshot. Selling Race, nix furlongs.—Drift, Silver Pine, Enchantress, Martin Luther, .Ben Trcvato, Glenlora. Craven Stakes, seven Richlake, King of Ulster, Breadalbane, Nellie Gray, Carrouade, Yon Tempsky, Freedom, - Haael, Catamount, Ruby, Peerswick, Aparima, Dragon, Litdy Sockburn, Bay King. Middle Park Stakes, six furlongs :— Palliser, Hanee Nuna, Fairohild, Florrie, Tatasbati, Cajolery, Lady Sockburn, Crackshot.

POLITICAL.

[per press association.] ChristchurCh, January 17: The Premier leaves for Wellington to night.

According to the Wellington " Own ' of the "Otago Daily Times," Sir Harry Atkinson's appointment to the Speaker ship of the Legislative Council has been decided upon. The same authority states that the Ministry will resign on Monday, and that Mr Milchelson will form a ■ temporary Cabinet with himself as. Premier, to hoid office till, the meeting of Parliament. He also states that it has been determined to propose Mr Bolleston for the Speakership of the House, and to recommend the Government party to support his nomination.

The Labour Troubles.

[PBK VKB&S ASSOCIATION.]

London, January 15, Free sailors shipping on board the. Aorangi and Merkara have been brutally assaulted by pickets. , The violence of the railway strikers is increasing. Tampering with points, attacks on free laborers, and attempts to wreck trains are frequent. The English Railway Companies urge the Northern Companies to resist, fearing that a surrender on their part will entail a strike on the English lines. The authorities of Glasgow arV likely to proceed against John Burns, for advising the strikers to put a little! more " devil" into the fight, Sydney, January 16. , The Secretary of the Shearers' onkm has requested a conference with the; Bastoralists' Union, beljejjngtheirfcqte ! difficulty can be easily und amicably settlgd'.' ' :

Welukotok, January 16. , . The Trades and Labor Council hayo decided to reply as follows to the Union Company's; statement re boycotting i— "That this Council fears the purport.of its former letter has been misunderstood. There was no desire to appear dictatorial but it was rather sought to assume « con ciliatory attitude m the hope of being. able to persuade the Company to consider the deserving cases under notice on their merits.' -: ' • ' ' "■'"* ; ..' "'.' -

The Fatal Fire at Alford Forest.

The following further particulars m re gard to the above are supplied to • Christchurch contemporary :—Mr Bayers and his wife .were old residents ill the AJford Forest -district, . !T^e.; h,«usj m which they lived;yaaibuilt partly ef wood and .partly of.' cob and wattle. The . chimney was at the end of tht> house, anil the door close beside it. " Bayers said he left a fire smouldering when he went to bed, but before going to sleep he. heard a crackling sound, and.on going out-of h;s - sleeping room foundlthe end of the hoiitia in'names. He fiall^d his f'lte, and. t^ey ; Uiie'd tb rush out at the door, la^nd^b I vouring to do sa his wife's clothes caught i*r°, *!?fl shejfell do.wft eiluwwM before. she was out of reach of the flames. He tried to drag her »|ong, i»ut co«rd~ijc^^o. so, ffe he was very-mech burnt hihise^' I andViv iha ttujohje got a»36WtiW»e UOthhiui . T>^t the clvuTed rchtaihs we're left', dre^ 1 aympathy is felt for Mr RavejM at his sa^ ! b f e.reaye.n}Qnr. "^\\o p,ld equ^le were muoij Ms^SfiJ-gi] m t)je, djstr.ict, v]}ere they 1)«4 *-•» - email turn for jpaui v«V^

TTTTC ASHBUWTON CUTATtDIAff, SATURDAY, JANUARY 17, 1891.



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Class Subjects.

Marks Subject. 0 to 100. Drawing ... 55 History 60 Geography ... ... ... 60 JSlemen tary Science, Object " lessons, etc. , 55

Total ... ... J 230 Percentage on Class Subjects, 575.

Additional Subjects. Maries Subject. O'to2oi Repetition and Excitation ... J6. Drill.and Exercises ... .',','.■ 13, Singing ... ... ;;; ;;; 12 Needlewqrk ... ... ... 18 Subject-tnattei: qf Reading: lessons i; . . ... , lg Extra Drawing ... ..'. ..'. ---

Additional marks , ... 75



Statutory Declaration. —I, Fraiw Rabaie, Ironbark, Sandhurst, m the colony of Vic toria, Australia, do solemnly and. sincerely declare that on tlie 2oth June, 1877, my son: Alfred, «&: age, was accidentally; hurt with ivi> ax? qn kin km%. I»t once took ■ all pains to secure medical assistance, Hpw ever, m spite of all efforts', on the 27th August, 1877, the opinion was given by Dr MeesJiilivray tl]P^ an amputation of the injured lhnb lj,ad' sj>ccome iijjprative, m ordei 1 to gays life. 4fc ihia J"#c%re I .gallpd en »«-a«t'» j§s>rn)(<i> Ml'} Sons, procuring sonic pi sir «,^ - -^w^ftiS by the apphcarion of tnv ■ •■ '> "i,'|^. satisfaction of seeing my son within> night out of all danger, and to-day he is recovered. I may just add that it was when - the crisis had been reached that the Extract : referred to was first applied, and I make this B?lemn declaration, etc. Fbanz Raabe, Deciii'f-d at Sandhurst, m the colony foi Victoria, Australia, this seventeenth day of - October, one thousand eight hundred and 1 seventy-eeTen, befor* me, MoritzCohn, J.P. M



STOCK-TAKING. REDUCTIONS IN ALL DEPARTMENTS For one- Month. N E "7 Z E A T AND CLOTHING FACTORY \gent for the Wonderful Wertheim Sewing Machines W. H. WEBBER Manager



CASH Ad tuhse-ne^s under this heading not exceeding SIXTEEN WORD~S trXf*. Addresses may be left at this Office QOOD Tricycle for Sale, with Lamps. Equal to new. Light, strong, and cheap. £10 cash ; cost £20.—1 i. M.' Jones. l 91 YOUNG Ladies' Journal for Januaiy now m ; Weldon's Journal, Family Reader, Family Herald. New Books by Mail. —H. M. Jonjss. 192 iON^UMPTION Cure by Dr~Kdch". '• > Expansion of England by Professor Scaly, M.A. Sermons'by Stanley, M.A., Misd Nobody of Nowhere.—H. M. ./ones. ]_93 WANTED To Let—One two and one four-roomed House, with half acre of land to each.—H. M. Jones. 194 WANTED,— The P«bTiclo~"c^ok~ourfol mitive Methodist Bazaar to b j held at Easter,—J. Cocker. 1100 ' ESLKYAN Church — To-Morrow (Sunday). Morning, Rkv. J. N Buttle ; Evening, Rev. J. S. Smalley. I 96 ANTED—To Sell Houf^TolHrix rooms, with pantry, wash-house, stable, &c. ; acre of land on North Belt. Apply, Pickford and Undkill, Cabinet Makers 1 97 ANTED Known.—Coal—Westport, Newcastle, Kaitangata, Shag Point and Malvern Coal, at R. S. Bean's, West Street. 1 98 TTTANTED-Three~Smart Boys "at T f once. Apply H. Gifford Moore, Flax Mill, Tinwald. 1 74 C POOLING and invigocafcing Ice Cream J as made by H. G. Flower, Con fectioner, East Street. j mRY the Great Drapery Sale now on JL at H. C. Seoers. WANTED Known—Some special lines m choice Dress Goods at very low prices allowing at " The Corner." WANTED Known"— The "Strong wear " Boot is the best for Men adies and Children.—W. H. Collier. WANTED every man m the County to have a suit of the Ashburton Tweeds.—Robert Alcorn, Ashburton Clothing Mart, Saunder's Buildings. BEGERS' Clearing Sale m aUDepart ments now on. One trial solicited. -- Melford House. W' ANTED Known — The Cheapest Shop to buy Tinware and Gal vanised Iron goods m Ash barton, is at W. F. Hasnafoiid's, Burnett Street. A arge stock kept on hand. Tin and Iron ware goods made and repaired with des patch MELFORD House Sale now on. We only ask one visit.—H. C. Segeks. BOOTS, BOOT^ 'NKecp you. feet Dry and save Doctor's Bills, have a splendid Stock m now. Try my Double-soled Shooters. Every pair Guaranteed. Robert Alcorn, Ashbur * f» w. raDlio Notices,



MONEY TO LEND IITONEY to Lend at LOW RATES OF INTEREST, on Mortgage of FREE HOLD PROPERTY, m sums of #100 to_j3sooo For further particulars apply to the Postmaster, Ashburton, or to " J.-C. PRUDHOE, District Agent. Government Insurance Office. Christchurch. John Orr & Co. INVITE THE ATTENTION OP FARMERS To their Large and Varied Stocks of all classes of Goods, suitable for the Harvest Field. 1000 Balea Binding TWINE, Crown Brand 250 Bales Manilla Binding TWINE Machine Extras and Fittings 100 Cases Binding WIRE, White Cros 100 Cases Castor Oil Leather Belting, .l|in to 6in Valvoline and Lubroline.Oil Lard and Olive Oil Cylinder Oil Perforated Zinc, 3/32 to 7/8 Seaming Twine McCormick Binders, The agents of the 'McCormick reapers and binders have just received news of a very exciting trial at Tamworth (N.S.W.) on Saturday, December 6. The prize competed for was the Society's medal, which was offered to the machines exhibited at their Show ; but m order to have a successful trial they m addition offered a prize of ten guineas, open to all comers. Both prizes were gained by the McCormick, which was awarded the full maximum number of points. This was the first time this season where the winner at any trial m Australia obtained the full number of points under each beading. The McCormick also gained first prize at Stawell (Victoria) beating the Massey, Hornsby, and Deering. John Orr & Co. THE UNION fIR£ AND MARINE I\SIRA\(E COMPANY OF SEW ZEAIAM M. CAPITAL £2,000,000 PAID UP £100,000 RESERVE & REINSURANCE ' FUND £65,000] Genkeal Managbr : W. DEVENISH MEARES E«q. OFFICES : 172 HEREFORD STREET, CHRISrCHURCH. Hpecial Feature*: L'he ONLY INSTITUTION of its KiNr> having its HEAD OFFICE m CHRISTCHURCH. LIBERALITY m SETTLEMENT of CLAIMS. RATES, IHB LOWEST CURRENT. To Farmers. CLIENTS of the COMPANY and others are reminded that all Grain, £ tack, and Implement BISKS are taken by j this Company at Lowes* Current fates. John G. Bestell i | WEST 6TBIET, ASHBURTON AGENT



Public Notices. ~"MR S. B. SEYMOUB, SURGEON -DENTIST OF CHRISTCHURCH, WILL VISIT AS HBURTON o i dates to be announced, and may b« consulted at MR CAMBRIDGE'S, CHEMIST THE ASHBURTON MAIL. From and after the 30th November, 18S6, the terms of subscription»to thia Journal will be as follows, viz :— IF I'AIR IX AIWAXCK. Per Quarter ... 6s Oil, by post 7s 6d „ Half-year... 12a Oil, by post lia Od „ V ear... ... 20s Od, by post 26a Od IF HOOKED. Per Quarter ... Gs (id, by post 8s 0d „ Half-year... 13s 0;l, by poat 16s 0d „ Year 2Sis od, by post 32s Od Birth, Mvrriage, and Death Notices, if paid for at the time of insertion, 2s 6d each ; ft booked, 4a each. Stamps may be sent as payment. . Massey-Toronto Light Binder. LIGHTEST IN DRAFT. SUREST TO TIE. EASIEST TO MANAGE. SWIFTEST TO CUT. THE LONGEST LIVED.J MOST SCIENTIFICALLY MADE Stationary Axle AND Raise and Lower Style 5 y 6, and 7 FEET CUTS. Of the latter only very few on hand. £2000 Worth of Extras m Stock, which wil be ■ upplied to farmers at manufacturer's prices at any time DAY OR NIGHT. FRIEDLANDER BROS. Tin (ouiui mum COMPAM OF m ZEALAND <FIRE AND MARINE ) THE Business of this Company has been TRANSFERRED to the COMMERCIAL UNION ASSURANCE COMPANY, Limited, of London, by •whom, through the various Branches and Agencies m New Zealand, all accounts 1 owing to and by and all losses under the Colonial Insurance Company's policies will be settled m future. F. ALLEN, General Manager. Wellington, New Zealand, December 11th, 1390. THE COMMERCIAL UNION ASSUR ANCE COMPANY, (Limited) Established 1861. Incorporated under Act of Parliament, 7 and 8 Vie, Cap. 110. Head Officb : 19 and 20 Cornhill, London Capital fully subscribed ... £2,500,000 Total Invested Funds ... 2,361,707 Total Annual Nett Income... 1,132,239 HEAD OFFICE for NEW ZEALAND : Lambton Quay, Wellington. With Local Boards of Advice m Australia and New Zealand. General Manager for New Zealand : FRANK ALLEN, J P. Every description of Fire nd Marine Insurance effected at LOWEST CURRENT BATES ,_~^-—- CUFF & "^, RAHaMj Managers for Canterbury, Christchurch. Agents fob, Ashburton : FBIEDLANDER BROS 22 Ladies! Ladies! WHOLESALE DRAPERY HOUSES IN GREAT TROUBLE THIS SEASON WITH IMMENCE SURPLUS IMPORTATIONS OF SUMMET3 fIOODQ UMMEXIi IJTOODD —THEREFORE- We have made an Extensive Purcl as* French Muslins, Zephyrs, Ginghams ETC., EMC. WHICH ARE NOW ON VIEW AX MITCHELL C> fpURNER'S, ITCHELL (JO X URNER'S, KAIAPOI HOUSE.