MAIL NOTICE.

FRIDAY, February 5. \ : For South America, United Kingdom and Continent of Europe, per H.M.S.; Tonic, as follows :—Ordinary letters, news papers, &c, at 0.X50 p.m., money orders 3 p.m., registered letters and parcels sp.m; Thi3 mail will be duo in London on March 17.

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Vertas et Prævalebit. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1892. NEW ZEALAND STATISTICS.

The report on the statistics of New j Zealand for 1890, which has just been published —rather late in the day, it must be said—contains some very in teresting comments and comparisons o£ the state of the colony. The Registrar-General, Mr W. R. E. Brown, makes the rsport more readable than such compilations generally are by combining in it the features of a handbook of the colony as well as statistical abstract. The work is pre faced by a short history of the colony from its discovery by Tasman on December 13, 1642, and, in the form of appendices, there are given the dates of principal events in its history, the list of Customs and excise duties, and a report on the thermal springs dis trict by Dr Ginders, which is a eulogistic descriptiom as well as a formal document. The comparisons show that New Zealand stands well as compared with its neighbors, and, in deed, with the rest of the world. Mr Brown questions whether the loss of population through excess of depar tures over arrivals is much to be de plored, as it was to be expected that numbers unacquainted with farm labor, and disinclined thereto as being less remunerative than the labor they had been accustomed to, should mig rate to places where there was expecta tion of expenditure on public works, almost brought to a standstill here. The falling off in the birth rate, which for the first time touched an average lower than in any other of the Australasian colonies, is a more serious matter. Still more serious is the re duction of the marriage rate, which h generally regarded as an index to the prosperity of the people. If this es timation of the marriage statistics be correct then New Zealand has been less prosperous than any of the neigh bouring colonies, for the average number of marriages over the last ten years has been lower. la the year under review, however, the percentage was higher thatinanyyear since 1885, so there is good indication of returning i prosperity. Though the proportion of j births to marriages isfallingoff, in 1890 it was _-87,thehighestproportion of any ! Colony, and higher than any European country except Ireland. As regards health, New Zealand takes pre-etni nence in the whole world. A some what inexplicable state of affairs is shown in the number of divorces, the proportion of dissolutions of marriage being 6'oß per 1000 marriages, while in England and Wales it is 0*95, in New South Wales 3-33, and in. Vic toria l-82. This cannot be attri buted to any laxity in the law, which is the same as in England. lit is certainly anomalous that, a population, high in the scale of virtue and low in that of vice, should occupy such an unenviable position. That native-born New Zealanders are not vicious is shown by the fact that of the total number of convicted prisoners in the colony the proportion born in the colony was 13-18 per 100, and the actual number was 316. We have only mentioned a few of what may be termed social statistics. New Zealand shows equally well in other points, to which we may make subsequent reference.

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Edison's electric exhibit at the Chicago Exhibition will represent an expenditure of something like 100,000 dollars. Total darkness was caused at Cossack and Roeburne, West Australia, by a sand-storm recently. Referring to Melbourne, an English illus trated paper says that " for thirty years this remote and solitary city was the home of Bishop Perry." Several fresh attempts have been made in the Madras Presidency to produce rain by meana of dynamite explosions, but the ex periments were failures. New Zealand shippers have written to Tasmania for information relative to the depth of water in Macquarrie Harbour pre paratory to shipping large quantities- of coke to the Zeehan Smelting Works. "Sampson, the strong man," by stand ing on a raised platform, lifted two horses and two iien, weighing nearly two tons, by putting his head through a collar to which chains were attached.

In Russia, because certain parents refused to conform to orthodox rites, their children —in all thirty-one— were severed from their homes and placed under orthodox guardian -1 ship. At Nottingham a woman named Sarah Turton was fined £10, with the alternative of two months' imprisonment, for having burnt the body of her newly-born child to save the burial fee. The meeting of the Union Bank of Aus tralia, referred to in cables dated London February 21, was a half-yearly meeting, and the profits, £106,000, are for the half-year, not for the whole year. A would-be bridegroom went to a Croyrlon church, but the bride failed to put in an appearance. She subsequently declined to marry him, alleging as her reason that he had no home to take her to. He accordingly sued her for the value of a wedding-ring, a carpet, and a table, which he had handed over to her in view of their marriage. The magistrate ordered her Co pay the amoun claimed. *• There was one amusing incident at the Methodist (Ecumenical Conference, The question of woman's work in the Chursh was bein" discussed, and Dr Hoss, who took the conservative side, began by saying, " It there is any man in this body who has a higher regard for woman than I have I should like him to «hoy his face," upon which hundreds of delegates leaped to their feet, to the great embarrassment of t»e doctor, " ' At theR.M. Onrfc this morning before Mafor Steward, J.P., David Opey, with several aliases was charged with vagrancy. He pleaded gnilty. Some sixweu previous convictions for larceny, vagrancy and drunkenness, were put in, but as he had noe apparently been before the Court since 188 d, he was sentenced to me month only, the magistrate, however, fcjling him that should he appeac again the full (term would be imposed/ A first offender for cU'ouken ness was discharged with a caution. " Keatistg's Powdkr " destroys Bugs, Fleas, Moths, Beetles, and *H other insects whilst mute harmless to domesitfe jwUp*ls. In exterminating Beetles the success of this powder is extraordinary. It is perfectly clean in application. See the ai-ticle you mirchase is " Keatikcj's," as imitations are oxious and ineffectual. Sold in Tins, 6d, 1% and 2* 6d eauh, by all chemists,

The returns of the Ashburton Hospital for j the month of January are us follows :—ln j Hospital January!, 12 patients j admitted J during month, 17; discharged, 17 ; remain ing, 12. : The South Canterbury Board of Education" , being dissatisfied with tlie results of paint in g < school buildings by contract, have deter mined to try the experiment of purchasing fhe materials themselves, and authorising the committees to employ the necessary labour. Tho giraffe is in clanger of extinction. Ten years ago herds of seventy to eighty could be found, where to-day thirteen would bo a large herd. An African chieftain, however, Khama, has taken the giraffe under his pro tection and preserves it, just as the Czar of Russia has preserved in a forest of Lithuania the European bison from extinction.

A terrible shooting accHenfc occurred in New South Wales recently. Herbert Atkinson, a teamster on Coates C; c"lt station, near Molong, was removing some papers from a drawer in which was a loaded revolver. The trigger was caught by. the psper3, and the weapon was fired, the charge lodging in the heart of Mrs Atkinson, who was sitting close by. Death was instantan eous. , As an outcome of the scare caused by the mortality amongst the Natives on the East Coast, north of Gisborne, a few months ago, the residents in the district have (''ays the Wellington " Post") guaranteed £200 a year for any medical man who will settle amongst them. This the Government has pledged itself to supplement with another £100 a year. Up to the present, however, no doctor has been attracted by the inducement thus held out. At the County Council meeting to-day a letter from the Selwyn County Council was read, in which that body stated its refusal to contribute to the coat of repairing any more of the approaches to the Rakaia Gorge Bridge than the contract for the bridge contained. The Chairman intimated that a contract for repairing the approach had been accepted by him (£18), and the work was now completed. It was resolved to forward the account for repairs to the j Selwyn County Council, and ask them to pay half. A singular action was decided in the Blackburn County Court. The plaintiff, in consequence of a remark made by the j curate, resolved never to attend his ministrations again, and was never pre sent when the curate was to preach. One Sunday, however, the curate unexpectedly entered the pulpit and the plaintiff made for the door to leave the church. The door was locked, and be was kept in during the sermon. He sued the churchwardens for this detention, claiming £5 damages, and the judge gave a verdict for the amount claimed. The " New Zealand Fire and Ambulance Record " contains an article on the benefits of using combination wood and iron pillars in the construction of buildings. It poiuts out that experience has proved that wooden pillars will pass through the ordeal of a fire with more safety than iron pillars. The fire has less effect on them, and the danger of a collapse, of a wooden pillar is less than in the case of an iron onp. This, it is pointed out, has been repeatedly proved. The Record therefore advises architects to dispense with the use of iron pillars in buildings and substitute properly seasoned wooden. ou«s. A large fire in Auckland demonstrated the value of wooden pillars, and tests with wooden pillars revealed the fact that they stood an immense amount of fire without being injured to any great extent.

The Consolidated Black Oat Company is the name of an organisation , formed in Washington State for the propagation of black cats on Pnget Sound. An Island is to be purchased, according to the latest advices from the Pacific coast, so that, cats cannot mingle with the feline population of the surrounding country, and here the black cat breed is to be perpstuated on the same commercial principles that govern the breeding of cattle on western ranches; The animals are to live on fish, which are plentiful, and the expenses will thus be reduced to a minimum. Th,e cats arc to be raised and killed for their fur; and the projectors expect to make " millions " out ol it. Most of the original stock it is announced, will be brought from Hollaud. A movement is in progress for the in clusion of the suburbs of Timaru in the borough under the control of the Municipal Council. The " Herald " states that at present the suburbs are a law unto them selves, and the consequence is a lack of proper drainage and sewage and a contribu tion of filth and stench, which menaces alike the town and its outlying adjuncts. A petition signed by two-thirds of the rate payers of the suburbs is necessary before the proposed extension can take plyca, and in the interests of the whole districts our con temporary urges the Borough Council to make an effort to get the requisite number of signatures, and, in case of non-success, to induce the member for the district, to intro duce a Bill in the next session of Parliament providing for the change. Mr A. E. Woolcott, the advance agent for the Burlesque Pantomime Company, now showing in Dunedin to crowded houses, left on Friday by the express train on his way to Wellington. He has made arrangements for the company to open here next Wednes day evening. The burlesque pantomime " Black-tyed Susan " will be the piece pro duced. It is over fifteen years since a legitimate adult pantomime company visited Ashburton, and the departure from the ordinary routine should be marked by sub stantial appreciation. The company come here with an excellent reputation, and the Dunedin papers speak well of the manner in which the smallest details are carried out. No "pain-? have been spared to produce a brilliant spectacular effect. The scenery, which is all new and is said to have wonder ful effects, has been painted by the well known scenic artists Mr Neville Thornton. By all appearances the theatre goers have a real treat in store for them.

At a meeting of representatives of flour millers —or, to be more correct, of roller flour millers—held at Timaru a few clays ago it was resolved that the price of flour be reduced by one pound per ton. The present price will, therefore, be about £12 for flour in sack. This step was rendered necessary in consequence of the accumulation of slocks in some of the mills, brought about probably by the increase of price. The price here will now, therefore, be a |,ound or two more than the price in Australia. Why, however, flour should be more costly in New Zealand than it is in Australia is a matter that those not in the secrets of the milling business will find it hard to understand. It cannot be that wheat is dearer here, because it is not ; nor are wages higher, so far as we can ascer tain. Ifc was rumored that at the same meet ing it was resolved that millers should pay a certain restricted price for wheat. We ("Oainaru Mail") have made inquiries on this point, and have ascertained that nothing of the kind was done. This is reassuring. %1a would have been hard if, just as the farmei'S havg a prospect of pulling up some of the arrears of }iast disastrous years, a conspiracy had been formed to rob them of their small crumb of comfort. Passing through the forest about eight miles from Mahara the party exploring tbe •'Stafford route "came upon a growth of ongaonga or New Zealand nettle, a.ud some {amusement was caused by the effect of some of the party using the plants, J3ut the most serious results were to the pack horses which led the van, and of course had the thick of the venom these plants contain. The first pack-horse coon began to dance as though he were possessed of seven evil spirits, and finally fell headlong against a stump, flinging his leg? about in every direction, making it dangerous to go ne&e him for the purpose of taking his pack off. IJvpiijt^lly they succeeded in getting ! his load off, ' whpn he Si/rang up and rusltc4 t'lHWigh jbhp bush, kicking and making the hiish fly i» gvpry direction. Of course they had to pat thp pack qn another hor3e, and leave t\m old packer behind. About two miles furthtu' on the .other pack-horse was similarly aft'ectbd, #4iljr the symptoms were much more acute. The .pay*' brute lay foaming at the mouth.. as' though, fee • .had been poisoned by strychnine, and lie h^d to be left behind, 'iviks ma pool ,pf mud. Tw.o « ihe party lost fctefr rjdj.ng h9rs.es, an %£, every horse .was i?jore or less affected, some of them having l#m»s vt hrp ™ eggs .over

The Matron of the Hospital wishes to acknowledge, with thanks, old linen from Mrs Bean and (lowers from __rs Lee; also 1 fruit from 'Mrs E. A. Scott. A man named Kcarin, wanted at Mana:a on a charge of assaulting a neighbour, is missing. Ho lef t, Jotters to his wife and brothers saying that he was going'to meet his death, and leaving a signer! chvque for his balance in the Bank. Search parties have found no trace of him. 1 The County Council is o,t present taking steps to constitute Tater-race districts-' under the Water Supply Acfc of 1891. The water-race districts will be those at present existing, but'it will be necessary for. the Uampstead and 'J'invvalil Town districts to approach the Council by petition as provided by the following clause of the Act:—"Ko town district shall be included within any district to be declared under this section (8) unless by a separate petition, signed by not less than one-half of the ratepayers within such town dist/jct reproa.ont.ing at leapt thrcc-tifths of the rateable valuable of the rateable property in the town district."

Two items of interest and importance to fruit-growers are reported—The Nelson " Colonist " siys that a natural enemy to the pear and .plum leeuh has been discovered. Mr H. ißatt, a fruit-grower, resident at Wakefield, has been fortunate enough to discover an enemy to the leech blight, which is proving so destructive to the foliage of pear and plum trees, as well as to hawthorn hedges. The enemy is a small ladybird, having a trunk which it thrusts into the body of the leech. In Mr Batt's garden several plum trees had been completely cleared of the leech, and it is to be hoped that in a short time the ladybirds will keep them down altogether. The "Hwera Star" says—Persons whose apple irees are suffering from the American blight or woolly aphis may be pleased to learn that one orchard in the Ngaaire district has been freed from the pssb by painting cream on the branches in the winter time. One application almost abolishes the blight and a second one completes the cure. If this remedy proves to be as certain as it is repre sented to be, we may agaiu see Tiibston Pip pins and Blenheim Orange apples in the market before long ; apples which are both first-class, bufc are much subject to the woolly blight. The best medicine is Sander and Sons' Eucalpyti Extract. Test its eminent power ful effects in coughs, colds,' influenza, etc. — the relief is instantaneous. Thousands give the most gratifying testimony. His Majesty the King of Italy and medical syndicates all over the world are its patrons. Read the official reports that accompany each bottle- We have no occasion ta offer rewards in proof of the genuineness of our references. The official reports of medical clinics and vmiver sities, the official communications of the Consul General for Italy at Melbourne; the diploma awarded by the International Exhibition Amsterdam-—all these are authentic docu ments, and, as such, not open to doubt, We add here epitome of one of the various cases treated at the clinic of Schultz, M.D. Pro fessor, etc.—"C. 8., 24 years old; ebhges tional abscess on the thigh. Incisions made in two places. Although Lister's dressing was applied, the secretion became, two days later, very copious, and had adopted a foetid ! decomposed character. The temperature rose enormously. In consequence the dressing was removed and in its place were made during the day-time repeated irrigations with Eucalypti Extract. The offeusive fceter dis appeared very soon, the fever abated within a few days, and the patient recovered after the lapse of several weeks. In this instance we must not lose sight of the fact that the latter treatment saved the patient's life. — Advt.) 3

SPORTING.

ASHBURTON RACING CLUB.

A meeting of the Committee of the Ashburton iticing Club xvixs held on Wednesday eveningl. Tenders for a new giund stand we • opened, but exceeded cue estimate l>y so much that none was accepted. A programme for the Autumn meeting was adopted ; the A phburton Stakes, (if 100 so,s, taKe.s the place of the Longboach Plate, and the stakes for the other race* are reduced by a total of £35, the distances remaining as in last Autumn's programme.

NELSON JUBILEE RACES.

(PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.;

Nklson, February 4. Steady rain fell all day but the races were proceeded with. The attendance was about 1000. The following are the results of the principal events:— ■ Hxedles.—Marksman 1, Clyde 2, Cloud 3. Jack and Captain Baison fell. Won easily. Time—3min 9sec. Dividend— £3 15s. Waimea Plate Handicap.— ! Ranee Nuna 1, Martha 2, York Rose 3. Streamlet also ran. Won by two lengths. Time—2min 19 4-sth sec. Dividend—£l 10s. Richmond Pakk 'Handicap. — Awarua Hose 1, Lochnagar 2, Torpedo 3. The only starters. Won easily. Time — 2min 48sec. Dividend —£1 14s. Wbltkr Handicap,—Paramo 1, Victress 2, Fly Wheel 3. Won by a neck. Time —Imin 50see. Dividend—£llos. Con solation Handicap. —Lochnagar 1, Toby 2, Sweetie 3. Won easily. Time—2mia 7sec. Dividend—£ll4s.

The General Synod.

(PEK PRKSH ASSOCIATION.) Wellington, February 4. At this afternoon's sitting of the Angli can Synod a select committee was set up to take into consideration the decision I given by the Standing Commission in the month of December, 1889, with reference to the election to office of the Primate, which took place at the session of the General Synod held at Dunedin in the month of February in the same year, and to report to the Synod what altera tions, if any, in the canons appear to them to be necessary in consequence of that* decision. The Dean of Waiapu moved for the appointment of a select committee to examine into and report upon the various means that are being adopted in several dioceses of this ecclesiastical province for the purpose of advancing the religious education of the young. In so doms; the Dean said that the Church was drifting wofully s.» far as the : education of the young was concerned, and he did not think that lie was making an exaggerated statement in saying that a shocking state of spiritual destitution was springiug up amongst us. In regard to the institution of schools by the Church, and the applications for grants for these schools; lie thought it was because the Anglican Church was not united on the subject that Parliament took no nctipe of these petitions for assistance, The motion was agreed to, A resolution was passed, expressing a deep sense of the loss sustained by the Diocese of Melanesia and the Province of New Zealand through the resignation of Bishop Selwyn of Melanesia,

The Lightning Casualty.

PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Masterton, February 5. The rumor that a man had been killed by lightning at Opiki turns out to be in cor.rect,'althqugh'twp men had a wpnder. ful espftpe, They were unlnuinessfng in the stable of Captain Holt wood when a Hash oi forked lightning passed through the building and struck six horses dead. Both the men were knocked d'.wn, and it was thought one was killed. Dr Beard pp arrival, found this was not so ; the men \vej-o only paralysed. The horses killed we're v*Lueji at £150. No other serious dajnags fa reported/

The North Island Trunk Line.

(per press association,)

Auckland. February 3. ' The reporb of W. H. Wilsoii, tho engineer wh:> represented ths Northern Railway League in thii recent Stratford expedition has been given to the Leaeuo. He estimates the cost of a six foot bridle tiack for eighty-one miles of the route at £8400, and a bridgo over the Tauransja rakau river at £8000. In Mr Wihon'a 'opinion the cost of inJrinsr a railway by tlii;? route would be small compared with the amount which would be required for the Central Railway, »s there are no engineering difficulties on , the Stratford line. Ho does nob think the country there could be surpassed for grazing pur poses, and there are seams of coal which are reported to be of excellent quality. Water is abundant, small creeks and .streams being very numerous. The League proposed to call a public meeting to urge upon the Government immediate action in the way of opening up the country on the Stratford route.

A Licensing Case.

(per press association.)

Wellington, February 3. In the Supreme Court in banco to-day before the Chief Justice and Mr Justice Richmond, argument was heard on the motion on notice on behalf of the Attorney-General for a writof certiorari to the members of the Wangan vi Licensing Committee to remove into the Supreme Court all proceedings, documents, entries and records in connection with certain applications made to such licensing com mittee by William Ods*ers and Edward Mclhrain, both of Wanganui, publicans, for renewals of publicans' licenses and in connection with the refusal of such pfo-T ceedings, etc., being examined, and the decision of the committee being quashed. The grounds stated in the notice of motion were fully sen forth. Messrs George Hutchison and Barnicoat appeared ' for ttie Attorney-General, and Messrs ! Treadwell and Fitzherbert for the three members of committee whose action was attacked. .The argument of Messss FTutchifson and Barnicoat had nob con cluded when the Court rose for the day. February 4. The Chief Justice and Mr Justice Rich mond to-day refused a writ certiorari in the Wanganui licensing cases. They held that the fact that the teetotal members' had announced before the election that they intended to, refuse certain licenses did not invalidate their position.

Death of Sir Morell Mackenzie.

[I'Eit .VKESh ASSOCIATION.]

London, February 4. Sir Morell Mackenzie, the. eminent physician, died to-day of influenza. [Sir Morell Mackenzie, M.D. (London), was born ab Leytonstone, Es^ex, in 1837, and educated At ,the London Hospital Medical College, Paris, and Vienna. He founded the Hospital for Diseases of the Throat, Golden Square, 1863 ; and in the same year obtained the Jacksonian Prize from the Royal College of Surgeons, for his Essay on Diseases of the Larynx. He was soon afterwards elected Assistants Physician lo the London Hospital, be coming in due course full Physician, and was appointed Lecturer on Diseases of the Throat, a;i appointment which he continued to hold until his death. Me was a Corresponding Member of the Im perial Royal Society of Physici*!^ of Vienna, and of fclie Medical Society of Prague, and an Hono rary Fellow of the American Lary.i gological Association, Dr Mackenzie was the author of numerous publications on laryngological subjects, and in parti cular of a systematic treatise in two volumes, on " Diseases of the Throat and Nose," which is acknowledged to be a standard work. It has been translated into French and German, and has had a very large circulation both in Great Britain and in America. Dr. Mackenzie also wrote monographs on diphtheria and hay fever, and be published an article on "Specialism in Medicine" in the June number of the ''Fortnightly Review" (1885), with excited considerable atten tion. Dr. Morell Mackenzie was in attendance on Frederick IH. of Germany during his last illness, aijd was knighted in 1887. He published in 1888 "The Fatal Illness of Frederick the Noble," and resigned his connection with the College of Physicians at the close of that year. In 1889 he contributed to the "Contemporary Review" some essays entitled "The Voice in Singing and Speaking."]

The Native Land Question.

(per pbjess association.

Wellington, February 3. Major Kemp, in view of the recent Native meeting at Parakino, is circulat ing among the Maoris of the North Island a petition to the House of Repre sentatives in which the demands of the Natives with respect to their land are fjet forth. Practically the following demands are embodied in this document, trans lated by Colonel McDonald:—l. Native lands to be conducted under leases, for time leases on improvements and on other terms which may be beneficial to those owning land. After all leases ex pire the land to return to the owners with all improvements. 2. To be selected from tribes; members for Committees not to exceed twelve, who will appoint a Chairman under whom they will act, and they will conduct all matters concerning Native lands in future, such as surveys •uid law matters and leases that may be ontertHined by the tribe or tribes whoso land or lands are under the Committee. 3. The Parliament of New Zea'and is to make these Committees law. 4. The Parliament shall appoint a person or per sons to decide rehearing. 5. The Parlia ment shall proclaim districts and appoint respective Committees, and the conduct ing of business shall be in accordance with the ancestral boundaries of the re spective tribes. 6. All precious metals and valuable stones found on Native lands shall be deult with by Native owners. 7. Rate,s shall paid by the lessees of the laj^ds, and shall be equal to 2| per cent of the moneys paid to the lessor per annum. These rates shall be paid yearly. When the lease is up all rates shall cease to be levied on land that is not under lease to anyone. 8. All Native Land Court laws shall be utterly abolished, and done away with, and all persons administering the same, or who are working under its laws.

THE MARKETS.

(FSB, ?KK3» ASSOCIATION.)

London, February 3. . Bank of Now Zealand shares, new is>£u<s, tte quoted at £7 10s ; old issue, £5 10s. National Bank; at, £1 (^ The best clays of wool'is unchanged, but medium, ar.ol inferior qualities are fetching fuily 5 per cent below the prices which ruled at the December sales. The present series closes on tho 20th inst. London, February 4. The American visible supply of wheat is estimated at 66,500,000 bushels. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, have received the following cable message dated Lon don, February 2 : — " Wool—The sales progress firmly. Since close of List/ sales washed and scoured merino super, washed, and scouted merino medium and inferior, and n'ne greasy crossbred are |d to Id per lb lower ; and medium and inferior greasy merino has declined per lb. Other descriptions are unchanged. For fine greasy crossbreds the American demand has fallen off. The total quantity cata logued to date is 76,000 bales, and the total quantity withdrawn 6000 bales.. Wheat.—There is no demand. Stocks heavy. New Zealand wheat, f.a.q., is worth, c.i.f., to arrive 39s per 4801bs. New Zealand wheat, longberried and average, is worth respectively 44s and 41s 6d per 49611)3. Quotations nominal." The New Zealand Farmers' Co-operative Association of Canterbury, Limited, are in receipt of the following cable from their London office, dated February 3 :— ---"Wheat.—The present value of New Zealand short berried, per 4961bs ex Mark Lane, is 425. The present value of North Canterbury mutton is 4|d, and tlie market is affected by short supplies." ' I

Immigration and Emigration.

[PER PRESS ASSOCIATION. I

Wellington, February 4. A return published in to-night'sGazstte shows,that the number of arrivals in the colony during the year ended December 31 last, was 14,431, and departures 17,627, leaving an excess of emigration over immigration of 3198. Of the arrivals 2435 were from the United Kingdom, 6696 from New South Wales, 3712 from Victoria, and 389 from Hawaii and the South Seas ; whilst in the list of depar tures are included 1705 to the United Kingdom, 6783 to New South Wales, 3841 to Victoria, and 1159 to Tasman.a. In most instances the balance was in favor of emigration. Taking the princi pal ports 3265 persons left by way of Auckland, 5358 by Wellington, and 4004 by the Bluff; while 4600 of the new comers landed at Auckland, 6041 at Wel lington, 1511 at Lyttelton, and 4973 at the Bluff. '»' The total estimated population of the I colony (inclusive of Maoris) on December 31, 1891, was 675,775, made up of 358,913 males, and 316,862 females. The increase from April 5, (the date on which the cen sus was taken) to December 31, was 7396. The excess of births over deaths for tha.t period was 9045, but from this had to be taken 1646, representing the excess of departures over arrivals.

LATEST CABLE NEWS.

HOME AND FOREIGN.

[PER I'KKSS ASSOCIATION,]

(Hear 1.*;;:! February 5. 10.30 a.m.) .

THE LATE MR SPURGEON.

'Loni»on. February 4. The head of each religious denoHiina tior. in England will be invited to Mr Spurgeon's funeral. The Tabernacle will be draped in black on the occasion. The Congregational Union of Eng land has expressed its sympathy with the Baptists in the calculable loss they have suffered by Mr Spurgeon's death.

THE GREAT PEARL CASE.

Mrs Osborne is expected to plead guilty to the charge of false pretences and appeal for mercy, in which event it is believed she may get off with a short term of imprisonment.

THE CHICAGO EXHIBITION.

The " Standard " urges the Govern ment to increase the grant for the Chicago Exhibition in the interest of trade.

THE STRANDED WARSHIP.

The lightening of H.M.S. Victoria is s,till proceeding. The weather ire mains favorable.

THE ARGENTINE JEWISH COLONY.

Buenos Aykes, February 4. The Russian Jews in the Argentine are discontented and dasire to return to Europe.

EMBEZZLEMENT OF FAMINE FUNDS.

St. Petersbubg. February 4. It is alleged the officials of the Russian Red Cross Society embezzled no less than thirteen millions of roubles, intended for the relief of the starving peasants.

NELSON JUBILEE.

[vaR PJUSB ASSOCIATION]

Kelson, February 3. The School Children's Carnival in the Botanical Gardens to-day, for which the Jubilee Committee voted £100, was a great success, children from all parts of the Province attending. The Mayor received the following telegram from Lord Onslow, from the Bluff:—''Have just arrived from Sounds to learn how well youc celebration of J übilee went off, and congratulate you sincerely, and wish every prosperity to Nelson people." Mr Trask has also received congratulatory messages from all parts of the Colony, including one fron> Sir G. Grey, The production lof the oratorio Samson, by the Harmonic Society, to-nighfc, was a pronounced success. Nelson, February-4, Owing to the wet weather, the ten> perance demonstration arranged for to-day in the Botanical Reserve, had to be postponed. The rain has cleared, and it promises fine for to-morrow. February 5. It is raining heavily and all out-door arrangements have been postponed.

MAGISTERIAL.

ASHBURTOK—THURSDAY.

(Before Mr C. A. Wray, fi.M.) J. G. Ret-tell v. Faweett an«l others, £3 4d. .Judgment for plsiintiff "by de fault.—John Orr Ji*-,d Co. v, John Madden, £57 Is 9d, for goods _sold and delivered to defendant juid his fathor, Patrick Madden, on joint account. Mr Piunell for plaintiff,' Mr Wilding for defendant. It appeared from the evi dence led on plaintiff's bohnlf that, about October, 1890, Patrick Madden wishing to purchase woods on credit from plain tiff, the latter refused to supply him with iiny, unless his .son John, the defendant, became jointly responsible with him for payment. Both * Patrick and John 1 Madden assented to this airansrenient, and «odds were from tims to time supplied to them by phintiff, until quite reconUy — sometimes Patrick and sometimss John Madden attending at plaintiffs' shop in East street to procure thaui, the defen dants altogether running up a bill fo £Bß Is 3d. The principal item was £55 j for a reaper and binder bought in January, 1891, for which the defendants gave their joint promissory note, and both of them also signed an Agreement-p connection wich jbhe reaper. The pro' missory note was dishonored at maturity, and the defendants returned the reaper and binder to the plaintiff who, by agree ment with them, sold it, and placed the proceeds—£3o 2s —to their credit in his books, where he had openei an account in the name of Patrick Mad den and Son. Most of the goods supplied by the plaintiffs were farm requisites, and the plaintiffs alleged that the defendants were really In partnership, carrying on farming and contracting operation'stogether, and that the goods were required for use in these partnership operations, It was also shown chat some chaff and other goods were used in,connection with the putting in of a crop of wheat, sown on land under lease to the defendant, who had claimed the crop as his private property. Patrick Madden became bankrupt in December last, and John Madden now repudiated all liability for the goods alleged to have been purchased on their joint account, excepting the reaper and binder, and claimed that that liability was extinguished by the fact of Mr Orr having taken the machine back. At the close of the plaintifis' case, Mr Wilding asked for a nonsuit, upon the grounds that the particulars of demand (which had been prepared by plaintiffs without professional assistance) disclosed a cause of action beyond the amount of the Court's juris diction, but His Worship, after hearini Mr Purnell, refused to grant a nonsuit, and allowed the particulars to be amended. Patrick Madden, and the defendant John Madden, were called for the defence, both flatly denying Gnat Mr Orr had, ever, either re quired John Madden to become jointly responsible with his father for the amount; or that the latter had agreed to do so; and John Madden also denied that he had personally given a singJe order for any of the goods sued for, with the ex ception of a few which had been obtained since the bankruptcy. Both witnesses also declared that no partnership existed between them ; that the goods were ob tained by Patrick Madden for his sole use, and that John Madden lived with and worked for his father without wagos or remuneration of any kind. They ad mitted, however, that the chaff had been used by, thorn while laying down the defendants land in crop; and the defendant a'so admitted in cross-ex amination that the first item in plaintiffs' claim—a stove which *hey allege was bougnt by Patrick Madden on his own account, was? now in a nweable whare in defendants' possession. Counsel having addressed ths Court, His Worship said he considered that plaintiffs had estab lished the fact that they had given credit to father and son jointly, with their con sent, and gave judgment for £53 14s 6J, and £5 11s coslis.

J. W. Hardley v. Ben, Carter, £4 6s 10<I. Mr Wilding for .plaintiff, Mr Purnell for defendant. £15snad been paid into ■court. J. W. Hardley said he agreed with Garter to sink his water pipe a.'further five feet for 255, finding the new piping, if water could be gob at that distance. Had to put in 25ft of new piping which was found necessary to procure a flow of water. The plcl pipe was in the ground still. The old pipe had to be dynamited. ■It was not possible to get the old pipe up because it was in a leaivto and a brick sump was built up against ir. A charge of dynamite was put down to clear the bottom. An explosion had occurred* the damage done by which witness bad sent tradesman to make goad, aftd they had done so, There was now a good fip.w of water in the pipe, By Mr Purnell— At tb,Q time of beginning: the work both Carter and himself thought hve feet would fetch the water, but this was not the final idea, because Mr Carter wanted water. The newipiping and fixings would have been necessary independent oi the old pipe. It was usual to use dynamite to clear the bottom of old pipe wells.— John Donovan had had a long experience in pipe driving. He was \n Mr Hardley's employ and went to Oay-ter's place to drive Bk pipe further down. Drove it down five feet, but got no water, and drove another two feet with like success. His mate put a dynamite cartridge down, but it niust have lodged on the collar two feet down the pipe; when it exploded it blew some of the timber of the lean-to away, l*he thing was a pura accident, and was not attributable to witness' carelessness oy anybody else's. Put the new pipe down. The forty-eight hours' driving at Is 3d an hour included ! all the time at both pipes. By Mr Pur- J nell--Warned off the master's daughter and a little boy when the charge was to be down. Ifod the dynamite been suc cessful the old pipe would have done well enough, and the new pipe would not have been necessary, and all the expense to Carter would have been the men's time at the old pipe, and the cost of the 7ft piping that was added. For the defence Mr Purnell called Ben Carter, who said there was a pipe well at his place 21ft deep. He and Stigley drove it. The water receded until there was only four teen inches of water in the wejl^ a.nd be. went to Hardley to have ie pat down further. He sajcj h& would pi'.t on another five feet, There was no agreement as to what Tsas to be done Heyond this. They set to work, and when he oame home a few minutes after the explosion the men were out^de his. house, and the lean-to in ruins. The tradesmen sent to make re pairs ha,d patched the place up. He thought the Job should have lasted only ahout half the time it took, as the driving was very aasy in Trevorccn. He loosed upon 25s as sufficient payment for the Avork done. The men gave the women and children in the house no natieje- of firing the charge.—Frank Stj^ley- said he assisted Carter to put, dpwii his pipe. It took an hour and a half to put ibdown., 25s for pitting down an extra five feet w^s very good pay. His Worship: saia before the accident the men had worked twelve hours, and that ai Is 3d aa hour with the pipe would make 9s 2&additional to the sum paid; injfco Co,urfc. He would gi,ve judgment for this, amount. The Court th,(jn ?080, .

TELEGRAPHIC.

HOME AND FOREIGN.

I'BR PRESS ASSOCIATION

EUROPEAN BORROWERS.

LoNuofl, February 3, Russia, Germany, Austria, and Greece are all arranging to float lar-'-e loans. TITLE FOR PRINCE GEORGE. It is suggested that Prince George should be created Duke of London GENERAL BOOTH ON NEW ZEALAND. General Booth characterises . New j Zealand as a garden for emigrants. LONDON COUNTY TAXATION. The London County Council has re solved' to divide taxation between owners and occupiers of property LORD SALISBURY'S SPEECH. Lord Salisbury ridiculed the idea of parish councils, on the ground that they would only increase the amount of local rates. He minimised the value of byc-electious, and insisted that no general deduction could be drawn from them. Home Rule, he agreed, would create an ultra-protection and clerical state under the rule of Arch bishops Croke and Walsh. The majority in Ireland had been allied to the enemies of England in every crisis of its history. LABOR QUESTIONS. Two thousand more engineers have struck. The origin of the strike was a quarrel between the engineers and plumbers relative to division of work. Five thousand engineers and men of allied trades at Newcastle have pro tested against the lock out, but the employers remain unmoved. Lisbon, February 4. A labor crisis has occurred in Lis bon, and bakers' shops have.been pillaged by mobs. THE PORTUGUESE COLONIES. Both the Legislative Chambers re fused to discuss the proposition that the colonies should be sold. cardinal manning's sue % cessor; ./.';■; London, Februarys. Strong efforts are being made to secure Monsignor Gilbert as the suc cessor to Cardinal Manning COLONIAL FINANCE. The Western Australian loan is re garded with indifference in.the City, but that it will be successfully floated is looked upon as almost certain. The Government of the colony wished' to apply for half a million, but the Bank declined to take it in hand with that sum, ' ;

London, February** A cablegram which has been 're ceived, stating th»t Mr Dibbs, Premier of New South Wales, is coming to London to inquire into matters relat ing to colonial finance, has caused »reat surprise in the city. CRICKET. Commenting on the result. of the second test match between the Austra lians and Englishmen, the "Daily News " says that in a cricketing sense? the tour of Lord Sheffield's team has been a failure, and characterises the latest victory of the Australians as a. magnificent one. The "Sportsman" says that the successes of the colonials will-perhaps hasten the advent of a colonial team.

THE TRIPLE ALLIANCE.

Madhid, February 3. It is rumored that Spain has joined the Triple Alliance.

THE ITALIAN NAVY.

T . • •t, RoME ' Feb ™ary 3, It is officially stated that the Italian) Navy is in », position to mobilise it* two days.

QUEEN NATALIE.

Brussels, February 3. Queen [Natalie, of Servia, is seriously 111. J BELGIAN FRANCHISE. At the instance of the Government, the Belgian Parliament is inquiring into the propriety of extending the franchise. Belgian Socialists art? holding a con* ference in favor of universal suffrage.

THE FRENCH TARIFF.

Paris, February 3. The new tariff' is causing general inconvenience in Paris. It is feared Austrian and German exports of sheep to France will be reduced by one half. Paris, February 4. Frozen meat from the River Plate is selling freely in ihe city, but only a few days' supplies are available.

UNITED STATES DUTIES ON WOOLLENS.

Washington, February 3. Many of the democratic members on the Committee of Ways and Means are in , favor of larger reductions in the duties on woollen goods than the bill introduced by the Chairman pro vides; Some support a reduction of as much as forty pel" cent. THE SILVER COINAGE QUESTION. The Finance Committee of the Senate is considered certain to report ; adversely to the free coinage of silver. | GERMAN NEW GUINEA. ; Berlin, February 3. The imports into German New- Guinea during the past year amounted to £50,000. THE FAMINE IN RUSSIA. St- Petersburg, February & The Mayor of Moscow, who has been making a tour through th« famine dis tricts, reports that the- accounts of dis tress are exaggerated*

THE GUARDIAN: FRIDAY, FEipiTARY 6, iB9l



THE GREAT PEARL CASE. Captain Osborne, whose wife 1 has. been wanted since December last on a charge of obtaining money under false pretences, is bringing her home to stand her trial. The charge arose out of an action brought by Mrs Osborne against Major and Mrs Hargreaves for slander in stating that she had stolen and sold to Spink, the diamond mer chant, Mrs Hargreaves' jewels, the discovery being made during the hear ing of the case that Mrs Osborne had negotiated Spink's bank note. Before the warrant could be served Mrs Osborne had escaped to the Continent PARNELLISM IN THECOLONIES, Mr J. A. Cox, M.P. for Clare, who recently returned from a tour through) the Australasian colonies, declared in the course of a speech in Dublin that not more than fifty people in those colonies sided with the Parnellites.



Ask for Niivi'ftii HyOi>j>, and Co. s Imperial new seaycy-s Pwe Ceylon and India Teas. Si>wj;;-i1 prices.—/Advt The world is ever moving on towards perfection, butseldom attains it. Constant improvement is being made in every branch of industry, but in Baking Ppwdera Perfection has been reached in Warkrton'6 Can't Be Beat. '



The Best Be^eiiy fo,ts Indigestion — Norton's Can}o,mile kills are confident? recommended as a simple remedy for Indigestion, which is the cause of nearly all the diseases to which w? are subjects Norton's Pills, with justice called the ' Natural .Streßgthener of ijho Bfuman Stomach," act as a powerful tonic and gentle perieqt, are mild in their Qpe^tion, and safe under any ciwumstanoes. Sold in bottles, at Is ljd, 2s 9d, 11s, by all mediciue vendors throughout the world* Ninian Hyslop and Co.'s "Imperial" Ceylon and Indian Teas are direct from m Tea PJ^tatigns.-fAavt,) 1



Holloway's Ointment and Pm^—The combined ill effects of over-crowding, seden tary occupations, and monotony of life are only too well known to those who have to past the best part of their lives laboring in factories and crowded workrooms. The qq'mpulsory cqnfinempnt wqakens the general health n.nd induces chronic constipation, in digestion, and yariqu,s forms, of skin diseases. Holloway's remedies are of priceless value to persons at this class, for they can lie used without entailing logs»oi wart, boing purely vegetable in their compositions, and conse quently act without harshness on the most delicate system. The experience of more than forty years proves that no means surpass Holloway's remedies for curing bad legs, bad breasts, piles, twill wounds of kj^ds. '



Wanted, i CASH Advertisements under ; t tsuß heading not exceeding SIXMSN WORDS 1/-. Addresses may be leftafc this Office. _ WANTE-D, strong Boy ; must be able to milk and make himself g<sner ally useful. Apply Mrs Ranger. Ash burton Restaurant. 2sjffi* WANTED, one or two Boarders in private family. Terms : 15s per week, including washing. Apply A.Y., V lMa!l" Office, 2 25 •\TTAJITED to lease for tertn of years, y V with purchasing clause, ten to fifteen acres good land near town. " A.Z.," Post Office. . , . ,2 24 TVTOTHING will Cool you so quickly and i-^ inVtgorate the system so much as Ice Cream.—H.G. Flowbr, Confection or, East street.' ■ : ' ..- WANTED KNOWN,—A great pur chase of Kid Gloves, £135 10s 6d, F lorencia Kid Gldves, all sizes, 4 and 6 -Clasp, usual price 6s lid and 8s 6d, now «, Id for 4* lid and 5s lid.-A. OWs W'"~~ ANTED Kriawn.—Cdme'and^ see the Bargains now on at Melford House.-H. C. Segersl ' ; THIRTY Pieces Dress Goods at 6d ; 60 Pieces French Cashmere at Is 6d, worth 3s 6d ; 1000 Yards French Tweed, d ouble width, at la 9d, worth 3s 9d. All Dress Goods greatly reduced.—Andrew Okb's Cheap Sale, ______? \\ /"ANTED Known.—lf you want VV plenty of first class Drapery, Boots and Clothing for cash, come to Melford House Sale.—H. C. Seo^rs. BOOTS, Boots.—lnfants Boots 9d, six Dozen Ladies' Elastic Side Boots, 5s 9d, Genfcs' Boots 8s 6d, Mens' Blucher Boots 5s 6d, Stanley JShoea Is lid— Ahdrkw Orr s Sale. \___ WANTED KNOWN, a special lot of Hearth Rugs at Is lid, 2s 6d and 3 s lid; worth about doable. W. H. Collier. ■ ■ ■ W' *~' ANTED Known. -At "The Comer 1 now selling Ladies' French Shops. 5s lid. See them.—W. H. Collieb, -\-\7"ANTED Known.—l have a large W stock of Tin and Ironware Goods 'So select from. Register Grates, Stoves, Portable Boilers, Spouting and Ridgmg kept in stock.—J. W. Hardley, East * treet. 6? 202 WANTED Known. —Great Cash Sale now oh at Melford House. Almost everything reduced. —H. C. egers. ______—- rpO Meet the Times.—l am Bupplying X Galvanised Iron Tanks from 30s tipwaids, warranted for twenty years, Forte pumps, deep well cylinders of all dessriptions. Inspection invited^ J. W. Hardlby, Eas street. b\ifi\ SHEEP SHEARS. Having secured a Stock of the celebrated 8.8.A., and as there are very few in the Colony, Shearers are requested to call early.— .fiOBJSRT Alcorn, Saunders' BuiUHngs. ALL Wool Colonial Tweed Suits to measure; fit and workmanship guaranteed; fr6tn 50s cash. Robbm Axcorn,. Ashburfcon Clothing Marl, Sannders' Buildings. ANTED Known—That you will make no mistake for quality and variety in English and Colonial Boots, and his highly reputed make by calling at J. Moison's. During coming lWicte.ys dis count for Cash. Repairs done at onco. m staff of men always kept and best Material and workmanship guaranteed. WANTED Known.--H. Bairstoav has opened thoae premises in East street next J. Orr and Co., as a Furniture Warehouse. Latest designs in Vienna Chairs, and Iron Bedsteads on view. Having a good stock of well seasoned figured Rimu and Kauri, he is prepared to take orders for Furniture to any design. Inspection invited. lltbl A~L~E N TIN ES to suit everybody. Just opened up. Palm Leaf Fans and Screens at 6d. Selling fast. Also Zither Harps, three sizes, from 4s 6d. New Games, Fancy Stationery, &C* L. F. ANDREWES & CO., Stationers' Hall. stock-taking, reductions HAVE BEEN MADE IK ALL DEPABTMENTS. Inspection Invited. NEW ZEALAND Clothln* Factory. W. H. WEBBERS Manager, , __i__^i Ninian Hyslop and Co.'s " Iff»perial" pure Ceylor and Indian Teas are the beat in the msrket.-—(A dvt > Dok't be Deceived !—lf you want the best Medicine the world has ever pro uced, try Colemane and Sons Eucalypti Extract. For: all affections of the chest and lungs, consumption, asthma, coughs, colds, gravel, and kidney complaints. For influenza it has no equal, Under the distinguished patronage of Earl Jersey, Governor of New South Wales, Lord Carrington, and the Emperor of Germany. Awarded medals at Sydney* Melbourne, and Adelaide, beating all competitors, and s the only pure Extract in the world. See that the label bears our trade mark tree of life and signature Colemane and Sons, Cootamundra, New South W»le«) without this it if a fraud. Price, Is 6d and 2s 6d. Wholesale Deoot tor INew Zealand: Lichfield street, Christcbureh Sole Agents for Ashburton : Thq, Ash burton Drug Co»P»»y.-Apn