The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. FRIDAY, JUNE 5, 1891. A MAYORAL HONORARIUM.

Amopg recent items of news from Wellington appeared one which was doubtless noted with feelings of envy by the Mayors of many other munici palities ; perhaps even his worship of Ashburton may have shared the sen sation. It was that a proposal was being made m the City Council to in crease the honorarium of the Mayor of Wellington to £300 a year. The why and wherefore of the proposition were not stated, and ib was difficult to make a guess at them. The city was not conspicuously going ahead, nor had the Mayor been particularly pran^nen^. m. any great public matter ; and though the question has been before the Council for months' the grounds for the increase have never been more than obscurely hintett at. The "Post," however, now discloses the whole plot. " It has been decided to bold m Well ington next month a Conference of municipal representatives /from all the boroughs of the colony, and several Councillors (says our contemporary) feel that the city should exte.id some hospitality to its representative visitors. This, under the existing law, it can not do. The Auditor-General would promptly disallow any expenditure for sucha purpose; and the proposal to raise the Mayor's salary for the last half of liis term of office to the rate of £300 per annum is an expedient to dodge the Auditor-General,^ and get through the meshes of the Municipal Corporations Act.- Tlus proposal, if cat-tied, would give the Mayor £150 of sal try for his second half year, which, addexlto the £50 for the first half year, would leave i him m possession of an extra net sum of £100, to be expended m entertain j ing the municipal visitors, whom it is too much to expect he should entertain at his own expense on the regular salary of £100 a year." The scheme is. |an ingenious one, though it will not have the charm of novelty to those who were members of the Ashburton Borough Council three or four years ago. Like the suggestion that w.is made here at that time with a view to "dodge the auditor," the Wellington suggestion has met with anything but general acceptance. " Although it has not been epenly and formally discussed m the Council, it has been before that body and before some of its Committees m a variety of ways, and whenever it has boen brought up it has been strenuously opposed Some of the proceedings have been very amusing; stonewalling actually being resorted to, a count out taken advant age of, and speeches whose duration was counted by hours made to block the motion. One Committee adjourned consideration of the matter for thive months, and at the last meeting of the Council, the presiding Councillor ruled that the whole matter-would-have to be commenced de novo." We agree with our-contemporary, that.the cisc points ah obvious moral of general application. The Mayor of any muni cipality, who is expected to exercise the civic hospitality, should be. paid a salary sufficient to enable him to do so with credit, without too great a strain upon his private purse; or the Munici pal Corporations Act should be amended so as to allow of certain expenditure for the purpose, under proper restric tions. To. have to get round sucha difficulty by a side wind is neither dignified nor creditable.

LOCAL AND GENEBAL

During the recent unprecedented fall of sno\r m Cornwall and Devon the Forth-1 curuo station of the Eastern Telegraph Company fouiid its land line communica tion with till* re3t of the islairl inter rupted by a barrier of snow extending over half of those counties, and varying m depth from two or three to twenty-five feet. The cables, however, remained intact, and by their aid frequent aiw rapid communications were held with the company's London station l>v the way of Lisbon, Gibraltar, Malta, and Marseilles, a distance of over nine thousand miles, urgent messages being frequently exchanged -.withiu the space of a few minutes. On Wednesday evening, at Christchurch, Mr Richard Marrack, a well-known butcher, died suddenly at the Zetland Hotel. The deceased went into the hotel and asked for a bed and tea; he then went into the dining room to get his tea, and sat down at the table. He was eating some Irynh stew, when suddenly lie ceased speaking and was dis covered to be senseless. He was carried out of the room and !)'• Robinson was called m, who pronounced him to be dead. The evidence at the inquest showed that apoplexy was the cause of dc.ilh, and the jury returned o verdict of "Died from natural causes." Perhaps there is no more curious place on the Pacific se.iboard than Iquique, which as just been bombarded by the Chilian Fleet. It stands m a region where rain has never I been known to fct.ll, where, as was rcmarke I by Darwin when he visited Inquique, m 1835, the inhabitants live like people on board ship. These number about 14,000, nevrly all con nected with the staple industry of the port, due to the development of the nitrate in dustry on the adjacent pampas. The tiwn is built at one end of a narrow strip of sand. This sand is so aiid and snline that it defies all attempts at cultivation. Iquique is thus 1 entirely dependent on the sea for its food.

Mr Albert Spicer (aays a Home paper) has been addressing a number of meetings m pursuance of his candidature for the Monmouth Boroughs. Referring to Royalty m England, he declared he entertained a strong opinion that if they had many mere Tranby Croft episodes and baccarat scandals with the heir-apparent taking his place as banker at baceirat tablis, a heavy blow would be struck by the Prince of Wales at the monarchical system. As regards the House of Lords, Mr Spicer approved the i !ea of a second Chamber, but dehcunced the hereditary principle. He believed m a Second Chamber composed of men who had shown themselves tit to govern by the integrity of their .character and the worth of their lives. A Melbourne letter says:—"Despite the distress and despite the cold weather and almost nightly fogs, all the places of amuse ment are doing very good business. Two Music Halls holding at least 2000 people between them; five the itres collectively acommodat iag 10,000 more, are always fairly attended and on S.iturdaj s crammed ; add to these the Rev Charles Clark witli 1500 hearers at the Athenaeum ; a full Town Hall with 3000 more whenever there is anything worth hearing, and now and then some great crowd at the Exhibition ; count m addition all ths local concerts, assemblies and entertainments at the subuiban Town Halls, and you have to conclude that Melbourne nightly finds amusement for an average of 20,000 people at least, which swells to 36,000 at any time of attraction. A euriotis contretemps (-«ays the London " D.iily Telegraph ") somewhat disturbed ■ the equanimity of preacher and congregation at St Michael's, Folkstone, a little while ago. The or^ivn iv that church is provided with le tic churns, which are brought into notion by the organist, pressing against an electric knob fixed to the back of his seat. The arrangement was not explained to a strange organist, w ho no i-ooner leaned back to hear the sermon comfortably than a startling uproar began m the recesses of the instru ment. Looking up m. astonishment, the un suspecting artist only pressed the knob the harder, and faster and more furious -foscann the drums. This went on fora considerable time, till somebody with presence of mind rushed up and explained the secret, so stop ping the noise of thetympani ami the giggles of the congregation. The mirrijge of Mr R. Heaton Rhb les o Mias Jessie Cooper Clark to>k place on the 20th May at St Mary's Ang'ican Clv r;h, Buila, near Melbourne. Mr.-Rhodes is the eldest sou of the late Mr R. H. Rholcs, of Elm wood; Cliristchurch, and Miss Jessie Clark is the youngest daughter of the late Mr Walter Clark, of Olenara, ]>u!la, Victoria. The bride was given away by her brother, Mr Walter Clark, and the bridegroom was attended by Mr A. E. 01. Rhodes, who was best man. The 1 ridesmaids were the Misses A. and E. Rhodes. Tha mother of the bridegroom, Mr i R. H. Rhodes, of Elmwood wan pr scut at the interesting ceremony. After the service the newly married couple and many friends were entertained at (tlcnara l.y Mr and Mrs Walter Clark. Mr and Mrs R. H.SR'iodcs will visit Japan, and return to New Zc t'si-id at the termination ot the winter. . H()U,OWAV rS OIXTMJCNT AM) I'IJJ-S.— The attention of all sufferers is drawn to those well-known remedies, for they possess conspicuous advantages as a safe and reliable aid m all those emergencies to which travel lers, emigrants, and sailors arc so especially liable. They have been largely patronized by wayfarers by land sea, and, m fact, by all classes of the community, to their very gre-it advantage. The pills are beyond all doubt ono of the most effective remedies ever discovered for cases of obstinate consti pation, confirmed indigestion, and colic, complaints which are engendered by ex posure and irregular feeding. The ointment will be found of the very greatest service m cases of piles, abcesses, erysipelas, and all kinds of local ulcerationp.

Mr Wooldridgc is now m Ashlmrton on one of his usual piano tuning visits, his address is care of Mr Harry Fried lander. The police authorities at Kiel refused to allow General Booth to speak m public oa the ground that he was not a subject of the German Emperor. The " Melbourne Standard" says :— " Last Sunday, for the first time m several years, Senior-Constable Hayes, who is the bete noir of unscrupulous hotelkeepers, failed to discover any case of Sunday trading m the city." The Presbytery of the Montreal district has adopt id a report censuring Sir Charles Tupper for travelling on Sundays, and the other members of the Quebec Legislature for making an excursion on a Sunday. Beware ! Mr Seddon. The steamer Tainui, which left Lyttelton on Saturday last for London, took as cargo six hundred and fifty sacks of potatoes for the English market. This is the first large shipment of potatoes to England, and it is understood that it was made as an experi ment. Cyril (m the garden): Father ! father ! look out of the window !" Paterfamilias (putting out his head): "What a nuisance yen children arc. What do you want now ?" -—Cyril (with a triumphant look at 1113 play fellow) : "Johnnie Gray wouldn't believe you'd got no hair on the top of your head." The Reefton Licensing Committee lias to take into considaration the renewal of seven teen existing hotel licenses and ten new applications for other hotels or public-houses. Seeing that the population is about 1700 inhabitants, the greater majority of whom are *omen and children, and a few Goad Teinplf-rs, who arc not supposed to patronize public-houses, there seems already to be an abnormal supply of hotels. "f!oim< through" the clothes of those taking part m football matches is a very common offence m Christchurch. - During the progress of two matches played at Sydenha.r. on Saturday the clothes of the two visiting teams were robbed of money and jewellery to the amount of £27 odd, by some one who obtained access to the dressing room?. ' The matter has been placed m the hands of the police, and it is to be hoped that the guilty person will be Drought to account. The Marton "Mercury" young man has attended an "j*rmy" meeting, and reports as follows :—A Salvation Army In as—a pure abori«nil.of New JfenhiH], win wjs educate*' at Chiirton College, Wangaum-gave her experience ac the meeting m Marlon last nigh*, m very good English, and then sang a solo which would put many a professional into the shade. Wi' never heard a song sung so feelingly, and the words so distinctly enunciated before. The accompaniment was played on a concertina by a Maori gentleman warrior, who also sang iv the

POLITICAL.

(t'KR I'UKSS ASSOCIATION.) Welungtox, June 4. Mr Maguiro, Member for Egtnont, moves the address m reply. Tlie Financial State meiib will be ready for delivery on Friday week, if the debate on the A.ddress-in-Reply is finished.

It will be remembered that when the Hon. Mr Buckley was formerly m oHico ho introduced airl endeavoured to pabs a very comprehensive and carefully drawn Criminal Code Bill. It was, however, always numbered among the slaughtered inncceius, the Council apparently shirk ing the task ot going thoroughly into such a large matter. Mr Buckley has now revived the Bill, and having brought its provisions into accordance with the law up to date he will make another effort to liav) it placed upon the Statute Book. In this we sincerely trust he will be successful. The Act is urgently wanted. At present the criminal law is a complete puzzle, an inextricable tangle, confusing t-> all who are c;illetl en to take part m its administration. The code would simplify and render comprehensible the whole system. It would be a great legal reform to pass thi.i Dill, and Hie Parliament that docs pass it will descve wtll of the country,—" Post."

Teas free from any excess of astriu gency. South British Tea Company >s pure lends. Ml storekeepers.

TO-DAY'S TELEGRAMS.

(l»£K I'ItESS ASSOCIATION.) Wellington, June 5. The Petone railway workshops are to be enlarged ; a quantity, of new machinery has been ordered.; The increase is neces sitated by the enlargement of the traffic between Wellington and Napier.

TELEGRAPHIC.

HOME AND FOREIGN

[I'ISU I'KKSS ASSOCIATION.J J THE ABSCONDING M.P. 1 London, June 3. Mr Edward S. W. De Cobain, M.P. for the Eastern Division of Belfast, against whom serious crimiaal charges were preferred, and who absconded from the country, has declined to re turn to England to meet the charges. VICTORIAN VOLUNTEERS. Some members of the Victorian Mounted Rifles, taking part in the Royal Military Tournament, have de cided to enter at the annual meeting of the National Rifle Association, and will compete for the Queen's Prize of £250 and the Gold Medal and Badge of the- Association. ELECTION. Sir Reginald Hanson, who was Lord Mayor of London in 1886, has been e'ected to fill the vacancy for the City of London in the House of Com mons, caused, .by the death of Sir Robert Fowler.

AUSTRALIAN SINGERS.

London, June 4. Miss Amy Sherwin sang m the-pre sence, of the Prince of Wales, who warmly congratulated the Australian. Madame Melba has been invited to lunch with the Prince and Princess of Wales on Friday next.

THE MANIPUR TROUBLE.

Calcutta, June 3. A<v the trial of the Jubraj to day, evidence was given to the effect that the Manipuris had previously informed the British authorities that Miy at tempt to capture the Senapatti would result m bloodshed.

THE ARGENTINE CRISIS.

Buenos Avbks June 3. The financial excitement continues m the city. Four Banks carry m«■ on business m the capital have clos«d. Buenos Aykes, June 4. The House of Deputies has passed a Bill suspending legal process against tho Barks. The panic is now abating.

THE CANADIAN PREMIER.

Ottawa, June 4. Sir John McDonald is sinking.

INTERPROVINCIAL.

■ AtroKLANiv June 4. The annual meeting of the Auckland Society of Arts was h :I<l to-nh?hr», when Sir George Grey was olectel President The balance-sheet showe.l the sum of £'09 to credit. It was announced that over ture* had been made to tho Academy of Art for amilg.'iui.-iti'jn m the 'interests of art, but ; their .proposal hid boyn de clined. s , WAN<iANirr,'Junc 4. A woman named Caroline Peynmn was arrested J;o-nighr on a charge of aiusing abortion m tlie case of a young woimn nameJ Emily Kate Spicer, aged twenty two, a domestic servant. Since the arrest the young woman has died. Mrs Peytnan will be brought up to-morrow charged, with . mimlor.. Spicer's depositions were tiik'jn before she died. Wkllixotox June 4. Arranaemonts Inve been made by the" Mokihinui Coal Company, which owned the ill-f»Lcd steamer Cawerence, whereby the Grey Valley/''ompany will supply the coal which the former Company had con tracted to furnish to the New Zealand railway?. If tho Mokihinui Company purchiiij i a vessel to replace the Lawrence, the balance of tho coiil will be supplied "rom Mokihinui,

SUPREME COURT

[PJBR PR BUS ASSOCIATION.] Auckland, June 4. The trial of Thomas Fry, otherwise known as Thomas Floyd, on a charge of the murder'of William Vcitch at Wairoa South, on March 23, was commenced to-day. Mr H, Williamson,. Crown Pro secutor, conducted the case for the Crown, and Mr Napier appeared for the defence. While the jury was being called Mr JNapier exercised the right of challenge when' only eleven jurymen had been admitted. A twelfth juryman was afterwards sworn m, however, and the , case proceeded. Mr Napier objected to the depositions of Veitch being received, as they had been taken on a charge of assault and robbery, not upon a charge of murder. His Honor said he would admit the depositions if ifc were shown that the ! accused ha 3 had full opportunity of cross amination. As this was proved m the evidence of Mr Crawford, before whom Veitch's evidence was taken, the deposi tions were read m evidence, and the Court then adjourned.

The Public Trust Office.

The Wollingt n correspondent of fcho "Otago Daily Times" writes:—There; seems to be some likelihood of still further delay m the presentation of the Public Triiot Office Royal Commissioner's report. I hear, however, that it will be an exceed ingly sultry document whenever it comes. The Government have not yet come to any decision as to the suggestion that hence forth the operations of the Trust Office should be carried on under State Guaran tee like the Government Insurance De partment. I understand, however, that the Government are m favor of placing the office under Ministerial control, as m the case of the Insurance Department, and that it will bo proposed to make the Public Trusteeship no longer a paid office of which the holder is removable only on address from both Houses of Parlianienfc, but to render him amendable to iho Gov ernment to the same extent as any other head of a public department. There is | tome talk, too, of placing (he Trusteeship m commission and appointing a com mittee of Uuec to perform the functions of Public Trustee, but as yet. nothing is determined.. Another correspondent states tint the official member of the Commission will send m a separate report, as he considers that the terms of the Com missioner's report are so strong that no public servant should be asked to sign it.

FARM NOTES.

I Mr. John McQuilkiu has sent us a sample of his potato crop grown at Willowby, or, to be more exact, oil the tui paddock. The specimens are Kidneys, and three of the tubers weigh seven pounds.: The Otago A. and P. Association advo cates taxing stallions and would make the tax £30 per year, ponies under 14 hands £15. Hawke's Bay and Wanganui Asso ciations propose £10 a head. All agree that the sum realised should go m prizes to stock the owner of which have con tributed. The Victorian Department of Agricul- I fcure has imported thirty varieties of 'American corn and millet, as well as samples of American-grown hemp and flax and Russian flax, for experimental purposes, a distribution of these pro ducts will be made anion? farmers who are willing to enter upon their cultivation and to furnish the department with accounts of the results which are achieved. After 38 years' experience amongst sheep (writes a Northern grazier to a Sydney paper) T have come to the conclu sion I hat lime ie a certain preventive as also a sure cure for sheep suffering from Vonns of any type. The treatment is simply to put. the lime m the water troughs to a depth of 3in or 4in. Stir the water occasionally, and replenish the lime when exhausted, the sheep having no access to other water. All stieep depasturing m districts where they ate likely to bo affected wifcli worms should be invariably and wholly watered with water impregnated with lime. The above is a very economical and certain cure. In connection with the recent decision of the Victorian Minister of Agriculture regarding the bonus for the export of butter, the . secretary of the department points out that the stoppage of the bonus was necessiry to the encouragement of the other industries included m the vpte of £30,000. About half of tin* amount hav ing been absorbed by the butter exporters, it was decided to ciraw the line there, and the other half will be set apart for the export of fruit. There is £75,000 allotted to the growth of various vegetable pro ducts";" divided into £25,000 for vines, a similar amount for fruits, and another £25,000 for various special products. The vote for factories is £37,000, half of which goes to "creameries and butter factories and the other half to factories for fruit pre serving and drying and similar industries. There is n'bhrewd suspicion that not a small proportion of the butter exported from New Zealand to Melbourne has been , shipped Home from there and participated m the bonus.

Agricultural education is carried out m systematic fashion by the Germans. Lord Yii'uxj of Harrowden, writing to the Foreign Office on the agricultural con dition'of Wurtemburg, says that greater demands are made each year upon- the schools. Country girls and young women arc trained for farmhouse and dairy work, the number of pupils being so lr.any, that a sixth school has had toybc added to the five already existing Travelling teacheis of husbandry, as well as thoso specially devoted to orchards and vineyards, are m, great request amongst local societies, and by the commural authorities. The lectures on orchard cultivation and farriery aie well attended. Winter even ing agricultural classes are opened, and altogether, sdrae 23,400 persons attended agricultural-schools or lectures on hus bandry during last year. " This," adds Lord V;u|x, " i.s rather more than 1 per cent out of tho total population of tho country, and is pood* evidence that the people as[.: a rule do not neglect the op portunitilH given them ■ of becoming successful agriculturalists..". The "lydnoy Morning Herald" is-of opinion that the hopes of far-seeing men are rightly placed on irrigation, as that which promises to make Australia' the future home of myriads of people.

Tha following is n complete statement of the receipts and of all expenses con uectccl with a shipment of one hundred caHo^ of apples fro.n Auckland to Lon don : —

Per case. £ s. d 37 cases Keiuutte tin Canada, iRs lo 19s" 6d 36 16 o ly cases Cleopatra .. .. 16s 6d 15 if ' 20 cajes Wellington .. .. 25s 25 t> o 9 case* King of I'omkins.. 21s y 9 ° io cases Cox's Orange Pippin i(ss 6d 850 3 cases plundered--one nearly empty ..1 1 8. o Total .. Xy6 'i '6 Recovered from Shipping Company value of fruit plundetttil .. .. .. •■• 1 ClO Total .. .. £07 15 4 Less charges : Percale. 100 fmlt cases at 6d £2 10 o Packing paper at 2.Jd .. .. 1 010 Local freight at 3d .. .. 1 50 Insurance and freight to London at 4s id per case ?o 12 2 Dock and wharf charges, Kx... 378 Factorage at 5 per cent, on £96 „ ns6d.. 4 id 7 Commission, 2} per cent, on n6d 2 8 3 . 3 <j Q. 6 Nctt return „. . .. .. £Ci 17 10

It will be seen that the fruit sold at an average of 19s 7d per case ; the expenses amounting to 7s 4d per case, and the nett return averages 12s 4cl per case, (nearly 3|d per lb.

Mr" Reynolds, the manager of Hie Auohor j ©.•wry Factory m th« Waikato, recently placed himself m communication with Sir Julius Yogel. and sent that gentleman, a s'unple of the Anchor brand of butter. Sir Julius being favorably impressed with: its quality (says the " Wellington Post "),\ wrote to }he Secretary of the Army and' Navy Auxiliary Stores, and .sent him some of the butter, with "a request that he would test it. This was done, and the verdict upon the quality of the article was so satisfactory that the Secretary wrote to Sir Julius asking to be placed m com munication with-Mr Reynolds, so that supplies might he arranged for, avid he undertook to at once quote the article and the price m the (Stores list, thus opening up a large and immediate market fur this \ description of New Zealand produce.

The Pupil Teacher System.

[PEI? PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Chkistchurch, June 4. The North Canterbury Education Board has under consideration the report of the Committee appointed to consider the Pupil Teachers' Regulations, which re commends that for the efficient working of 1 the system as far as possible no one .shall be appointed who does not show some aptitude or promise, and the services of any on trial who may be found deficient m the necessary qualifications shall be dispensed with ; that during apprentice ship they shall receive systematic instruc tions m the subjects of examination, and the methods and practice of teaching; teachers' first year shall be probationary, and towards the end of the year the head master shall report on the probationers' performance, upon which depends reten tion or dismissal ; the successful proba tioners' course of practice shall extend from the infants to at least Standard IV, no pupil teacher to remain m charge of one class or one division of school work more than one year, unless under excep tional circumstances; all pupil teachers should enter the Normal Sohocl at the end of four years' apprenticeship, but as the accommodation is inadequate they recommend that where practicable other gcltools be utilised for training purposes.

The Midland Railway.

The Hon Messrs Soddonancl McKenzie mtt Messrs Wilson and Scott, represent ing the Midland Railway Company, at Christchurch yesterday, and the difficulty concerning the Lake Brunner deviation was formally settled, Mt* Seddon agreeing to recommend the Governor to assent to the deviation on the terms settled by the telegrams between the parties. The Minister said that they intende I making mining reserves of 25,000 acres before permitting; the company to deal with small areas of their land grant, but such re serves would be made at once.

The Baccarat Scandal.

(per fbess association.) London, June 4, In opening the defence m the bac carat case to-day, Bit" Charles Russell. Q.C., declared thafc the only motive which induced Sir William Gordon Cumming to take the present proceed ings was the hope that they might prevent his being expelled from the Clubs and from his position m th© army. The learned counsel argued, if the plaintiff' were innocent, as he wished tha Court to believe, he would not so easily. h;«.ve sacrificed his honor by signing the undertaking not to touch a, card for the. rest of his life, even for fifty Princes. He intended to call witnesses who would prove absolutely the dishonesty of the plaintiff. Mr Stanley "Wilson, son of Mrs Arthur Wilson, of Tranby Croft, de-' posed that on the first night (Septem ber Bth) when the party were playing cards, he saw a £5 counter m front of Sir William Gordon .Cumming, and when the latter observed,that he had won he opened his hand and dropped another counter on the table. The next time an unfavorable card was drawn, and witness noticed-a surreptfr tious diminution of the stake by the plaintiff by -withdrawing his hands, and a counter fell into his lap. When witness informed Mr Berkeley Levet.t of this dishonest conduct, the latter disbelieved ifc ; they then watched Sir William, and were convinced of his cheating. Under cross-examination, Mr Wilson said he omitted to take a record of what had occurred, and the statement prepared hy General Owen Williams, purporting to show what defendants saw and dil was m several respects inaccurate. The cross-exami nation considerably discredited Mr Wilson's evidence, owing to his youth and rawness.

Licensing Matters.

(rBB I'UKSS ASSOCIATION.) Chbistchuuch, June 3. At tho meeting of tbe Christclmrcfi South West Licensing ■Committee,- all applications for renewals were granted, with the exception of the White Horse, m consequence of complaints of §uiiday trading, and The Shades, to enable -sani tary works to be carried out, which were adjourned to the 16th inst. Duxemn, .Tune 4. It is understood that th<s City Licensing Bench have decided to close seven houses forthwith, live others during the current year, and another live twelve months afterwards. Chrimtchurch, June 5 The Christchurch North West Licaus :iug Committee granted all applications for renewals of licenses. < " Wellington, June 5. < Ac the am:ual meeting of the Licensing bench the chairman commented on the Sunday trading known to be carried on, and reflected oornewh.it on the police. He announced that m . future licenses would liot be granted to single women, present holders exceptetl. Inspector Thomson took exception to the remarks ■referring to the police, saying that it was almost impossible m the present state of the law to secure a conviction, and the police were not supported by the bench jus they ought to be. The committee agreed with the latter remark. The chair man also stated that it was intended in future to classify the houses.

COUNTY COUNCIL.

The usual monthly meeting of the County Council was held to-day. Present —All the members of the Council, except the Chairman, who wired an' apology for his absence, but stated he would arrive by the express. Mr E. G. Wright was elected Chairman pro tern.

CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT.

The Chairman's statement was read as folllows :—The Mount Hutt Road Board forwards m reply to this Council's letter a tracing, showing the part of the approach to the Ilakaia &orge bridge which the Board wishes the Council to take control of.—"That Board also writes to say that it wishes to make an exchange with Mr A. Thompson of gravel reserve No. 1009, for a similar piece of ground on U.S. .19533, and asks this Council to grange for fc'ie same. —The Railway Com missioners state that the balance on the Mount Komers Tramway rails has been deducted from a further p°y::ruit of sub sidy, ami the account is thus paid off. — The deed and plans re Mr Deans' water races have been duly signed and sealed, and this matter is now completed "Gazette" dated 14th May last contains certain reserves made at the Hinds township for plantation purposes. The i Government informed the Council that certain members of the Alford Forest Cemetery Board had resigned, and requested the Council to furnish names of persons m their place. The Mount ciomers Road Board was asked to call a meeting for the purpose of supp'ying the Council with nunes, btit that Board., as the Council will see, Suggests that the Council should do this. The Road Boards have been supplied with poisoned grain, and notice has been given that it cm now be obtained at the Council and Road Board offices. The accounts for the sijc months and year ending March 31, 1891, have been duly audited, and have been taken away by the auditor to be trans initted to Wellington. The Water Supply Committee have considered the proposed Water Supply Bill, and the Bill with their amendments will be pi iced before the Council to-day. knoinekk's utcvokt. The Engineer's report was read as ollows: — ' Plain's Water Supply.— During the last month the water has been turned ofl' the races m rotation for purposes of cleaning, and the occupants with very few exceptions have given their races a good overhaul. The few instances of neglect are being dealt with by the Council having the necessary work done at occupiers' expense. The improve ment at outlet at Pudding Hill dam is finished, and is likely to be of • considerable service during freshets. The main races have had a thorough overhaul wherever necessary. Several culverts and flumes have been repaired and al&o several fords. A portion of the initial main m R.S. fiSOQ lias been straightened with the consent of the owr-er, so as to obviate the silting up and spreading of water over the hollow. The Ranger's reports as to the blocking of junc tions and races m Wafcanui Flat by gorse after they were cleaned are attached, -This has led to considerable inconvenience and :.some expense. With reference to the threatened encroachment of river sixty chains above inlet at Aoton, referred to m Ranger's

report, I examined the spot some time ago. A short embankment to prevent overflow might prove of some benefit, and I should not recommend the doing of more than this as the action of the river is bo variable, and a long line of river-bank protection cannot, on Hie score of expense, be undertaken. The tampering near Greenstreet School, as re ferred to m Ranger's report, is at the creek, running through'land occupied by Mr Gray. That portion of River road race, Wakauui, through Mr Samuel Brown's property, h;is not sustained so much damage by pigs this month as for some, weeks previously, and the | race is at present m fair order. A3 re quested by the Council I called on Mr Brown j to ascertain his views regarding the proposal i to acquire and fence off a strip there to pre vent a recurrence of such damageand iuean- J venience. He declines to sell a strip, as this would exclude him from the use of the plots intervening between the race arid th« river, and he also declines to alienate said plots, as that would deprive him of his river frontage there, so that practically he does not enter tain the proposal at all. Maces throvgh Village Ssttlemnt, ChcrUf, Reserve 26i.—Aa requested by the Council, I have taken the necessary levels, and laid off two lines of races, which would be required to give a service for all the lots. These races would be about 140 chains and 100 chains m length respectively. For tlift- ' latter line, the first portion of it would involve a severance through R. McDonald's R.S., which is already watered, but the settlers believe he will give the right of way for proposed race. The settlers request to be allowed to do the earthwork themselves, and defray the cost of railway culvert, and Mr Campbell states that the Roadjioard will pay for the four road crossings. 1 may record here what J stated verbally at last meeting, that the races from which these branches i£ould be fed (the test channel, and C 2) obt*jn .preieedence m time of scarcity, t lie ' existing service 'm Selrtia district and lower* down will certainly suffer periodically^ during the driest portion»of the season, and I informed th*e occupants of Reserve 264, who met me, that this was a contingency^ for which they might have to provide, until a more abundant supply was introduced. '• < :■ Ashburton-Rangitata Water Svpp'y.—Th& overhaul of races is not yet finished but good progress has been made. The mains have been cleared where necessary, river flumes caulked and tarred and repah-3 executed on several fords. I have seen Mr John Bell, and also Mr ■ Hiutoo, with reference to the line along which the former wants his supply to be delivered, and it is now going along Mr Huston's fence. Mr Bell wants his share to be permanently led that way, and I sec no reason why this may nol be. The supply from the swamp is still small, but is increasing a little. The race for settlers m Ruapuna district m still m abeyance. Some sections are partly formed, but no connection has been made, so that water cannot be turned on till it is satisfactorily finished. Mount Some's 7rairway. —As requested I have inspected the lino of this tramway, and found it to be m fair working order. The lessee had bedded the sleepers m some soft spots with quarry refuse, which has rendered them move solid, and with ordinary attention to surfacing the line can easily be kept efficient for many years. County Bridges.—A. further supply of decking lias been received for bridge at Digby's, and small repairs have been ex ecuted on some of the other bridjgea. With reference to the question which was raised at last meeting of Council as to the defina* tion of bridge approaches so far as applying to Rakaia Gorge Bridge, I have no hesitation m affirming the view expressed by several Councillors that the word approach can only apply to the few chains of earthwork necessary to connect the bridge-, with the adjacent river banks, and not to a great length of road leading over c, succession of terraces. I may state that this is also the view of the cluriruun of the Selwyu County Council. Plantations. —The time is appioaching for the Council's decision as to what planting, if any, is to be executed this season. In some cases also gorsc cutting and grubbing are required. Irrigation, Atlthirton-Kangltat t District —1 have, with the time at my disposal, further investigated this subject, and have recently taken levels at Lake Heron with & view lo repoit on" t»© available supplies and cost from this and ofchcr soimScSjJimfc until I am m a position to report on the ques'ionas a whole I am not prepared to make any recommendation as to any particular part of the scheme. KIVEtt .ENCROACHMENT AT ACTON. The embankment suggested by the Engineer was authorised ; c:>sl not to ex ceed £10. Mr Brown did not oppose it, t>ufc de. precated any great expense at; the point mentioned, as m the event of the river being tapped at another point the work dons would be useless. UKEENSTREET WAIKR. UACE. A complaint as to tampering with the Greenstreet water race was made m the ranger's report, and brought before the Council m the rmjprfc of the Engineer. 1 It was decided to offer a reward of £5 for information that would lead to- the coiv viction of per*o:is who has tampered with the race m question, or with any other race m the County. MR S. BROWN'S RACE, WAIUNUI. On an explanation by Mr James Brown, the member for the riding, the matter of Mr S. Brown's race was allowed to stani over for the present, CHERTSEY VILLAGE'SETTLEMENT. RACES. The Engineer* proposals, aa set forth m his report on the Ghertscy Village Settlement races, were agreed to on the terms stipulated by him. THE BELL-HUSTON SUPPLY. The Engineer's report on this question, which was brought before previous meetings of the Council by Messrs John Bell and A. J. Huston, Flemington district, was agreed to. WATER SUPPLY BILL. The Council went into Committee to discuss the clauses of the Water Supply, Biil. On resuming, theresolutionadopting certain Amendments was passed,|and slips of the amendments were ordered to be printed, and it was resolved that the Water Supply Bill Committee attend the meeting «n Monday next at the County Council offices.

ACCOUNTS The accounts for the month were passed for payment, and m doing so Mr Brown callel attention to the fucb that nt account had been sent iv for heads of small birds. Tint- fact, he considered, pointed to the necessity for the Council considering the advisableness of increasing the rate to be paid per bundre^for birds' heads. IU.KAIARIVER BANK. Mr Coster reported, that a deputation had waited upon the South Rakaia Road Board, complainingof the dangerous con dition of the river bank above the bridge. ' The Engineer was instructed to inspect the locality. . ; • ASHBURTON TRAFFIC BIUDCJE The Committee appointed to report on the flooring of the Ashburton Traffic Bridge were allowed an extension of time until next myeting; MOUNT .HOSIERS CEMGTERY BOAIUI. It was decided that the Mount Semens f Road Bo;u;4 had equal powers with the County Council for the selection.of names of members of the Cemetery Board, and asked the Road Board to call a meeting and gefc certain settlers appointed. SLAUGHTERING LICENSE. t A slaughtering license was^ granted to Mr Arthur Ede. : tiRAVEL RESERVE. Tile Mount Hutt Road Board wrote asking that an exchange of Reserve .No 1009 for iv similar piece of land ih Reserve 10533 be made for gravel-pit purposes. The request'was agreed to. THE CASS CLAIM. The Conn -il went into Committee to tlUeuss the Cass claim. [Left Sitting.]

C6uute3s, Duchess, Princess, Empress are the registered names of the new teas Free from any excess of stringency.

THE MARKETS.

[I'KR I'RFSS ASSOCIATION.]

London, June 2. Apples, ex steamer Rimutaka, from N«w Zealand, are selling at 93 to 12s per case. (Received June 5, 11.5 a.m.) London, June 4. I ho bank rate of discount has been reduced to four per cent. No 1 best Scotch pig iron f.o.b. m Clyde fell to 53a, but the market has recovered and the present quotation w 55a. lne visible supply of wheat m America U estimated at 28,000,000 bushels.

Ashburton Live Stock Market.

Messrs Mi!esand Co., per Mr George . JaKn«3oii, report for the week ending June 9. At the As':burton county twle - yards, there was a moderate entry of stock penned for the day's mle comprising 6157 sheep, 46 heal of cattle, 11 pigs, 12 rams.. The attendance was not so good as fit previous sales, and although there were visitors from a distance, the pur- '/ chiises wore for che most part made by ■farmers m the district, former values were fully maintained, with a brisk sfcle for all good sheep. Our joniry. comprised 1646 sheep, 2 head cattle, 2 pigs, and 7 rains. Our sales were aa 1 follows :—Fat . . crossbitds 260, 15s Id to 15s lid; 400 J crosybrcd sheep m forward condition, 13$ 0d ; 350 merino wethers, good stores, 5s 6d t:) 7s; fat crossbred ewes, 10« ; merino ewes m lamb from the Mford E tatj, a good sound line, each 7s lOd ; cull merino ewes, 4s ; fat «ows, brought up to £4 11s; pigs, 30s £0 375.

One Way into "Society."

A few days ago (nays the correspondent of a London newspaper, of March 27), . Herr Reimaun, well known m Berlin .«* a lender of money at usurious rate* of interest to persons m the higher walks of Hie., invited a number of his clients to a soiree m lite palatial flat m Thiergarten str&sse. The persons invited included several generals m the German army and sv large number of exalted officials and aristocrats, most of whom declined the invitation. Itoiinann, who was playing a desperate game for social recognition, was noc to be thrown over so easily. He forthwith in formed his clients that unless they accepted his invitation he would refuse to renew their bills when they should fall due, and accompanied this ultimatum with the demand that they should appear at the entertainment m full uniform. This was more than the harassed officials could withstand, and rather than fttce financial ruin; which would follow an , w exposure of their inability to settle with Reitnann, most of those invited yielded to the pressure, and attended the soiree iti their most gorgeous attire. Upon being ushered into Reimann'n apartments the already humiliated guests found a score or so of the beat known members of the demi-monde m Berlin waiting to receive them. Several of the more elderly of the guests became mo en niged that they bolted from the reception rooms, and started for their carriages, but to their dismay they found the outer doors looked and guarded. Reimann followed them, and renewed his threats of exposure, whereupon the outraged officials returned, to. make the best of the situation, only two or three making their escape by defying the usurer to do his worsb. An elaborate supper with plenty of champagne th&wed 4he icy - tempers of the majority of the guests, and the affair er.dcd m an orgie. One of the party avlio escaped from the house ha? signified his intention - to prosecute Keimaun for forcible detention, black mail, and extortion by threats, though his course is discouraged by .the other victims.

LATEST GABLE NEWS.

HOME AND FOREIGN.

(fbe press askociatiok) (Received June 5, i 0.15 a.m.) ,

FAMINE IN RUSSIA.

St. Pkteksburo, June 4. A famine is raging m several pro vinces . of Russia, and one thousand peasants have died of want.

THE CHILIAN WAR.

Vaxparaiso, June 4. The rebel cruiser Magellanes was. attacked by the Government boats Almirante, Lynch, Condell, Sangue anto, and Aldea m Charaaral hsfbor. The Magellanes resisted stoutly and after a gallant fight compelled her assailants (which are smaller ships) to retreat.. . .

LABOR QUESTIONS.

Paris, June 4. The Chamber of Deputies has agreed to a bill extending the labor limit of twelve hours to the employees of r*H , way, navigations and omnibus Com panies who are m the possession of concessions from the State and local bodies. :

THE ASBBUftTOK qtJAiIBIAN, Mto/IY, JiIHM 4 1891.



Mr J. SU-iither Williams, solicitor, died somewhat siiddenty this mornjufi &t ChrUt church. It is supposed that the cause of death was heart disease. A tale is told vt a candidate who, some twenty years ago, contested an Irish con stituency. Ha won his seat, but was quite overwhelmed by the appeals of many meudi tfint w'dows, | who claimed largesse fcr their desolate condition. Turaingtoa friend ho said, "How comes it that you have such a legion of . widows m Ballyotcen ?" " Wittows'. " replied the friend ; •• why they're the lawful wives of those men who've just been voting against you !" ' The usual monthly meeting of the Fire Brigade was held on Thursday evening, when there was a good, attendance of mem bers. The Secretary reported that the booka on "Fire Prevention^" which' had been ordered from Home had arrived. The Mayor had generously assisted the Brigade m the purchase of these works by contributing m substantial sum.. Th:y would form the nucleus of the Brigade Library. The various; sub Committees appointed for the purport of carrying out the Annual Social and Torch* light Precession reported favourably, and the annual turn out should be a great . sums?, f-'ome routine business m connec tion with the iiiamgement, etc , having bee a disposed of the meeting adjourned. Statutory Declaration.—l; Franz Raihe, Iron bark, Sandhurst, m the colony of Vic toria, Australia, do solemnly, and sincerely declare that on the 25th June, 1877, my son ■■' Alfred, six years of age, was accidentally hurt with an axe on his knee. lat once took all pains to secure medical assistance; How ever, iv spite of all efforts, on. the 27th. August, 1877, the opinion was given by Dp, . Macgillivray diat an amputation of thY injured limb had become imperative, m order :o save life. At this juncture I called en Messrs Sander and Sous,, .procuring some of their Extract of Eucalyptus Globulus, and by the application of the same I had the satisfaction of seeing my son within a forU night out of all danger, and to-day lv« i!n recovered. I may just add that it waAwfcen. the crisis had boeu reached that the |$\tract referred to was first applied, and. \ make this s >lcii]iii declaration, etc. Fiv\Xß Kaabk» DcuUrcd at Sandhurst, iv the, colony for Victoria, Australia, this seventeenth day ol October, one thousand eight hundreil ami serciity-seven, before;me, MoritxCohn, J.P., —(Aclvt.) . 8 :We i\m informed that the South British Tea Company hare introduced] their pure teus into A^hbuiluu,



Keatinci's Oouoii Lozknoks euros Cough Asthma, Bronchitis. Medical ttsthno states that no other medicine is so effectual m 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. They con tain no opium nor any violent drug. Sold by all Chemists, m tins, Is l£d aud 2s 9d aeh



SANDER AND SONS EUCALYPTI EXTRACT.—In protection of the world wide fame our manufacture has acquired all over the globe, we publish the following : Hazard, M.D., Professor of General Patho logy and Diseases of the Mind and Nervous System, says m an editorial published m the "Clinical Record":—"We have examined half-a-dozen specimens of different manufac tures ; the preparation of Sander and Sons was the only one that proved to be reliable and corresponding to scientific tests." Another concoction called " Refined Extract of Eucalyptus" has made its appearance since. This product stands, according to Dr Owen, foremost m causing injurious effects. That gentleman communicates, at a meeting of the Medical Society of Victoria, that a child living at Fitzroy became most seriously indisposed through its use. In another case a lady states on the strength of statutory declaration that she suffered cruelly from the effects of the same concoction. To guard the high reputation of our manufacture we feel warranted m expo ing the above facts, and desires the public to exercise care and precaution when buying, SANDER and SONS (Advt.>- '; 7



MONEY JX) LEND. TiTONEY to Lend at LOW RATES OF INTEREST, on Mortgage of FREI HOLD PROPERTY, m sums of dBIOO to_,£sooo For further particulars apply to the Postmaster, Ashburton, or to ; J. C. PRUDHOE, District Agent. Government Insurance Office. . Chr&tchurch. If-



Ofentlemeii's WiTKRr ROOFS. A N immense STOCK to select from. ALL OUR OWN MAKE, SEWN THROUGHOUT AND EVERY GARMENT WARRANTED ALSO GARMENTS OF EVERY DESCRIPTION MADE TO ORDER. NEW ZEALAND CLOTHING FACTORY GENTLEMEN'S HAT*, HOSIERY. SCARFS, etc., HEW GOODS, LATEST FASHIONS, - 'JUST OPENED. TTATS, CAPS, SHIRTS, PYJAMAS MADE TO ORDER. ' New Tweeds and Coatings for Measure Suits to hand. TntpeQtlon Respectfully Solicited. NEW ZEALAND CLOTHING FACTORY Stephens Bros.' MAEKET HOUSE. NOTICE. NOTICE. NOTICE. To our Customers, our Friends, and the Public. HAVING Just Completed Extensive Alterations, so as to provide better facilities for the extension and re quirements of our BapiJly Increasing Trade, we have thoroughly renovated the adjoining Premises* where we will carry on m conjunction with our GROCERY & CROCKERY BUSINESS. A First Class Assortment of HARDWARE, HOUSEHOLD FURNISHING, IRONMONGERY, Including a very Choice Selection of E.P Ware, Table Cutlery, Pocket Cutlery, Fender* and Fire Irons, Bedsteads, Look injj-Glasses and Mirrors, Watches, Clocks, Ci'um Trays and Bushes, Kettles,— Copper, Cast and Wrought Iron,—Ena melled and Tinned Saucepans, Boilers and Tinware, Kerosene Stoves, Lamps m great variety ; and Lamp Fittings ; Guns, best makers ; Cartridges, Brown, Blue and Green ; Nails, Staples, Forks, Rakes, Shovels. Ploughlines ; Castor, Neatsfoot, Tatoo and other Oils. Lubricating <fee, &c.; Raddle, Lniiip-Bkek, Baths, Buckets and Tubs. All Goods Sold at the Yeiy Lowest Market Prices, and delivered to Rail way Station, Town and Suburbs, All Orders delivered wifch punctuality, eirors recline',, "foods loturncd if not satisfactory, Customers waited upon for orders. Satisfaction is otn Motto. Ij£:J Stephens Bros.'



Wanted CASH. Advertisements under this heading not exceeding SIXTEEN WORDS 1/-. Addresses may be l#*ffc »t his Office. WAITED, a good Farm, Hand. Must be a good spadesman. Apply Mxs Ranbeli., East street. 6 33 WANTED KNOWN, -Sealette Jackets 355, reduced to 25s ; and 40s, re duced to 27s 6d, at S. W. Aloohn & Co.'s dealing Sale. , ' '■ 6 40 ICE Cream off. Cous»h drops on. Un doubtedly the best. H. G. Flower, Confectioner, East Street, :X\ 7 ANTED "Known—The " Strong W wear " Boot is the best for Mem todies and'Children.—W. H. Coixiek.^ WANTED Known--Some special lines m choice Dress Goods at very low prices showing at " The Corner." WANTED,— Board and Residence by n Gentleman m a private Home. State inclusive terms to " II" Guabwak Office. Ashburton. ___JLI? rpO Let or for f»!e.."'F<ve- TKh6omed .1 Cottage, with half acre land, front ing Alford Forest Road. Apply Steem's Store. « 1* W' ANTED Known—Old Spoons and Forks Electro-plated and made equal to new at 15s per dozen all round. A. Black, Jeweller, Eist Street. 4 150 WANTED every man m the County to have a suit of the Ashburton Tweed*.—Robert At-corn, Ashburton Clothing Mart, Saunder's Buildings. GLASS, Earthenware, and China, direct from the Manufacturers. — Robert Alcojrn, Tea. Warehouse and Ashburton Clothing Mart, Saunders Buildings. , (t TDRESENTS—Now beint? given away _L 7 to every purchaser of, 5^ and up wards m Drapery, Boots, Clothing, &c. H. C. Skgers, Melford House FIRST Class Drapery,, Millinery, Clothing, Boots, &c*. ' Presents to every purchases of 5s and upwards now being given away.—H. C. Seoeuss, Mel ford House. ' '•■.' PUBL|C Notice. - We are now giving the presents to all holders of tickets and puich isers of 5s and upwards, —H. C Segkks, Melford Hou^e. ANTED KNOWN,—If you have the- Cash* you can save abcut 6s m evtry Pound, by buying your Jackets Uliters, Dress Goods, Millinery, &c, at A. W. Alcorn & Co.'s Clearing Sale. 6 36 "TITANTED KNOWN—C. M. Brooke VV is now m personal attendance at the Dispensary. The doctors' prescrip tions accurately made up. Largest stick m New Zealand of disinfectants on hand 5§157 "VTEW GAMES - Tiddledy. Winks, .IN Reversi, Snickem, and othere, Fresh Supplies of The Minors' Right. The Squatter's Dream, Robbery Under Arms. A Colonial Reformer, Told after Supper, Three Men m a Boat, and hundreds of others. NEW MUSIC— Vocal andlnstramental. —L, F. Andkewes axp Co. ;■• : " V'T ■" -"