MAIL NOTICES.

Mails close for the following places as under, subject to the necesaarv alterations: WED1 TESDAY, December 28. For the United Kingdom, Continents of Europe and America and West Indies (via San Francisco), Sandwich Islands, etc., and also for Northern Ports of-New Zealand, per Takapuna, as follows:—Ordinary letters, bookSj and newspapers, at 0.15 P-i»»- : registered letters, at 5 p.m. ; tnouey orders, at 3p.m. ; late fee letters, mail van, express (rain, at 6.55 p.m. This mail will be due in London on February 1.

ENGLISH MAILS.

H.OMEWAHD —DIRSCT MAILS. Ruapehu sailed November 24, due London January 4. OUTWARD—DIRECT MAILS. Tongariro, sailed November 14, due December 30. .OUTWAUD—SAN FJtANCISCO MATLS. Next mail leaves London December 24, due colony January 25. _

DEATH.

DoVmng.—At Ashburton, on December 27, very suddenly, the wife of Thomas Dowling, Rakaia. Aged 33.

The Ashburton Guardian. MAGNA EST VERITAS ET PRÆVALEBIT. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1892. POSTAL PROGRESS.

A most interesting Christmas card has been issued by the officers of the Postmaster - General's Department, Wellington. Besides conveying Christ mas greetings it tells its recipients something of the work of the depart ment from which it emanates, and the magnitude of this work is, we think, not imagined by many of those who ebjoy the benefits of the postal and telegraphic services of the Colony. The Secretary of the Department in making a presentation at Wellington gave a sketch of the progress of the Post Office since 1863, showing that the business had grown in a way almost beyond conception. From the card and ; the speech we learn that in 1863 the ' total number of letters received and , despatched was about 3,400,000. In 1891 the number had increased to no less than 47,612,684, besides which there were 2 y 000,000 post cards and' and 7,000,000 books and samples—in all about 57,000,0000 articles. The number of newspapers in 1863 received and despatched was about 3,400,000. In 1891 they had increased to 18,501,912. The revenue in 1863 was £32,341, and the expenditure £110,567 —of which between £60,000 and £70,000 was for sea mail services. The expenditure was therefore very nearly four times g»*«ater than the receipts. In 1891 the combined Post Office and Telegraph revenue was £320,058, and the expenditure £268,343, leaving a credit balance of £51,715 to be paid over to Consoli dated Revenue, But dealing with the postal figures alone, the receipts for 1891 amounted to £209,894, or about five times greater than in 1863, while the expenditure was £153,698, an in crease of only 39 per cent, over the expenditure of twenty-eight years ago. In 1863 11,586 money orders were issued for £55,700, and 3040 paid for £14,070; and in 1891 195,239 for £651,989 were issued, and 16,0,279, for £582,661 paid. The staff, including country postmasters, totalled 361 in 1863, and increased to 2349 in 1891, and the number of post offices increased from 276 to 1231. There had been progress in other directions as well. The Post Office Savings Banks were established in 1867, commencing with 46 offices, 6977 deposits for £96,373 ; while in 1891 there were 311 offices, 176,971 deposits for £1,842,987, and at the end of the year there was a balance of £2,695,447, diyided among 104,467 depositors—ran average of nearly £26 to each depositor, There had also been the introduction of post cards, postal notes, and the parcel post, the extension of the accounting system, and the completion of the telegraph system frqm one end of the colony to the other. In 1863 there were some 200 odd miles of line in existence, principally in the provincial districts of Canterbury and Otago. Now there were no less than 5349 miles of line, and 13,235 miles of wires. The North and Slquth Islands were, connected by cables, and a Sab,|e hq,d alsq been laid between the colony and Australia, whioh has brought us into telegraphic touch with all parts of the world. Nearly 2,000,000 telegrams were transmitted last year, and the telegraph receipts were over £85,000. The amalgamation of the two branches of the sepviee iapk plape ty I^BQ. More recently there had. been the establishment of th,e telephone ex changes I and material reductions, h,acj been made in both postal and tele graphic charges. • Public facilities had been extended, and the latest step of j importance had been New Zealand entering the Universal Postal Union. The progress of the department had been undoubtedly g^at» but they had advanced quietly, ah.d witliqut ostenta tion. Successive Mincers? had always endeavored to keep pace with, tfre prq gress of the country, but, though much has been done, the Department is capable of (Joiog much more f The record is an excellent one, and oonr firms the public feeling of conil.lenoe in the Post and Telegraph Department as one of the best conducted of our public offices.

LOCALAND GENERAL.

A Ballarat photographer was fined 10s for " taking " a football team on Sunday. The Queensland oftjcial trustee q'f in solvency has filed his own schedule. It is estimated that to compensate Sydney publicans on any of the schemes proposed to be incorporated in the new local Option Bill will mean an expenditure of, at the least, £3,500,000. In Japan if a woman is not married by a certain age, the authorities pick out a man, whom they compel her to marry. Tliis may Keep down tke %ld niajds, but it increases the number of male suicides, T he Victorian Secretary for Agriculture is in receipt of a letter from the Government of India slating that the number of imported horses suitable for army purposes which it ig $.ntioiEate4 will be required during 1*893-04 will be Js;|s, ' The following postal appointments are gazetted:—T. P. Fernian, postmaster at phertsey, October 31 ; A. A. Campbell, post master at Mount Somers, October 27 ; H. jSneight, postmaster at Riverside (Wakanui), January f, }592, Riverside to be a post office troni January }, 18t)3,

A man is charged in London with'a, iiovel mode of theft. He is alleged to have driven along the streets while his collie dog snatched umbrellas from pedestrians, ana then ran after the vehicle with the stolen property in its mouth, When arrested six umbrellas are said to have been found in the cart.

A chairman of a school committee in the Wauganui district some time ago married the teacher, and he is now in the unhappy position of being consulted by the Board as to the advisableness of dis missing his wife from her scholastic posi tion. A young lady from out West was filling a 1 bottle with seawater, at Coogee, the other day, to take home for medical purposes, when a cruel joker reminded her that as it was low-water she'd better only half fill it, or when the tide rose it'd buist her botde. Aud the poor creature arrived back 742 miles west, with only half a bottle of the saline cure. The sequel is announced to a strange experiment, lately tried at Ferignan, in the south of France. Two or three years ago that little town elected a Socialist, town council, who were pledged to create public workshops and to make all sorts of other innovations for the amelioration of the con ditions of the poor. Now a new council of more moderate views has had to be elected to raise a loan of £550,000f. The Glenavey correspondent of the " Waimate Times " says :—The contractors' crops of wheat on Mr McLean's estate in the Waihao, about 2500 acres, are the largest and best lot of wheat ever grown together in the district. There is an infinitesimal portion under oats. One enterpiising cropper has nearly 700 acres in wheat. I would put Mr Scott's crop first on the list—from its appearance it ought to yield about fifty bushels to the acre-—and that of Messrs Ross and M.Govern second; Viewing it all routid in ear at the present time, it is a grand sight. Recently a deputation from -the Civil Service Association, consisting of Mr Fitz- Gerald (president), Mr Richmond Beetham (vice-president) and Messrs L. G. Reid and Waldegrave waited upon Mr Seddon in reference to leave, as mentioned in the recent circular sent to heads of Departments. The deputation asked whether there was any ground for the assumption that it was intended to stop leave except on the ground of sickness or other pressing necessity. Mr Seddon replied that it had been found that in certain quarters a practice had grown up of regarding annual leave as a right, and that Ministers thought it well to state definitely that no such doctrine could be entertained. The circular was not to be considered as making any change in the law or practice where it consisted in each appli cation being placed before the Ministar and duly considered on its merits.

A correspondent of the " Press " says : The bear, which for some time has been a great object of interest to the visitors at the Opawa fish-breeding establishment, is occasionally troubled with an apparent out burst of temper, and recently suddenly attacked its keeper in such a ferocious manner as to arouse the indignation of an intelligent monkey, who quickly came to the rescue, causing the bear to release his sharp grip in order to defend himself from an adversary apparently dropped from the clmids. For some minutes a struggling, leaping, scratching, and biting contest was vigorously carried on till the bear beat a hurried retreat, minus a quantity of its beautiful fur. One good effect of the punishment has been that the bear has never since offered to bite, even in p'ayful sport. The monkey, who so gallantly showed his aversion to ungrateful conduot, was presented to the establsliment some mouths ago by Mr W. Langdowu.

A libel case with some amusing features was heard ia Sydney on December 7. TJ ie plaiut'ffs carried 011 a boarding establish ment in Victoria street, Darlinghurst, and the defendant was a greengrocer and poul terer. Failing to obtain payment of a small account which he claimed to be due to him, the defeudaut adopted the measure of employing a man to walk up and down in front of the plaintiffs' house wjrh. a large placard over liis breast marked "Bad debt collector," who occasionally knocked and sting at the door. The defendant mean while sat in his van on the otber side of the street and kept the man strictly to his duty. After a performance extending over two hours, during which a large crowd collected in front of the plaintiff-, lious", a constable appeared, and the de.ojJuUi. and his assistant, fcemporarly retired, but they gave a second performance in the afternoon. The plaintiffs claimed £5Q(j damages. The fury ' found a verdict fqr £3Qfy, in addition lo 40i paid into court. The Wellington ■' Evening Post" of Satur day last relates the following ;—" Here is an hjcideqt which, if told in a Qliristmas story, would be at once set down as a very poor stereotyped kind of made up yarn, yet it is absolutely true. A certain man, who had become so poor that his wife had to assist by her own industry to make a living, and so ill and crippled with rheumatism that he had to become an inmate of the hospital, was worrying over vays agd. n}qins to, carry hisi h.Q,u§ehQl<t through th,e Christmas season. In colonial parlanoo, he was completely " stone broke." Scanning through the shipping column lie uoticed that a vessel, of which a cousin of his was an officer, was in port, and he made hia way to the wharf, feeling sure of a helping hand from his relative. Their first greetings over, the next object qf the v.isjt wss b'rqached,' when the cousin, in a surprised tQne, said, ' Hay^e you seen Hislop, the lawyer?? '"No,' said the ' other, ' What should J see him for f' .« Why, our \\wH ha« died, and left you ft share in £16,000 !' The poor fellows-poor no longer ! —was not long, crippled as be was in reach ing the offices of Messrs Brandon, Hislop, and Brandon, where he announced his name, and was then informed that this firra had been enquiring fof ; him, for some, time past, and the statement of his cousin was con nri^ed.' Qn Christmas Eve he received a cheque fqr a portion of hi§ inheritance from thjj solicitors mentioned, and a very happy Christmas is certain for one Wellington household at lea.^,

MOUNT OPHIR.

On the identical spot where King Solo, mon procured ''geld dust, peacocks, and monkeys " a syndicate, with £1,000,000 capital stock issued and a ten-stamp mill erected ? ha^ jugt pounded ouj: Mount Ophir, of scriptural renown, is ckwe by. The old rocks, wh.ich *ere too low grade for I^ing Solomon's reduction processes, are being ground up, and they average half an ounce to the town, goldfield of SoJonioH, whioh has been idle all the centuries till now, is in tha Malay peninsula, The people who have gone in to develop it have had to cut seven miles of road through ihe jungle and clear sixty miles of river. They are just taginning to realise o,n the|r investment. company with the big! papitai haa a concession on twenty square miles of this goldileld, The formation is black slato, A shaft sunk one hundred feet on the lode has uncovered enough ore to keep, the mill g'ojng a year. The ore will yie^d two ounces to/the ton. In oi)e place on the concession tl^ere is a hill two hundred and fjfty feet h'gh a»d h.*lf (\ mile long, The company hay ti;nuolled ii\to this hill about lialf-way from the bottom and found ore ranging from seven pennyweights to seven ounces of grid. The reef varies in width from two to nine feefc. Even the loose rocks scattered about on the hillside yield half an ounce of gold to the ton. The superintendent said to the American Consul recently.: "Idid noj; think there was anything of this kind so extensive in the world. Wherever you try you find gold." Raub is the modern name of the ancientkl Dorado.

TELEGRAPHIC.

HOME AND FOREIGN.

(PJSR PKKBS ASSOCIATION.)

LABOR MATTERS.

London, December 27. The Federated" Miners are desirous of securing an increased rate ot wages, and are considering the question of a national strike to secure the object in view. Forty thousand" cotton operatives in the north of Ireland, who were thiown out of work by the recent strikes, are starving.

THE SEIZURES OF SEALERS.

• So: Petbrsbuko, December 26. The captain of the Russian warship Dabiaka, who seized the Canadian sealers off Cooper Island some time ago, has arrived here. In an interview with the London "Times" representative he denied that he was insane as had been alleged, and stated that the seizures had ordered from St. Petersburg. London, December 26. In reply to enquiries as to what action the Government propose taking in connection wibh the seizure of Cana dian sealers off Copper Island, Mr Gladstone states that he is awaiting an explanation from the Russian Govern ment in the matter.

AFGHANISTAN.

The Calcutta correspondent of the London "Times "fears that a meeting between Lord Roberts, Commandant of the Indian Forces, and the Ameer | of Afghanistan, with respect to the Pamir and frontier questions, is not likely to come off", as the Ameer will not give any definite promise as to when he will receive the Eeglish officers. Calcutta, December 26. Further engagements have taken place between the Khans and the British troops, in which the latter were successful. Thirty stockades wereeap tured by the British, who are now en gaged in fortifying the routes. 'Jhe Khan's loss was thirty killed, and the British eight.

GERMAN NATIONALISM.

Berlin, December 26. A movement is on foot in Germany to form a new National Party from the moderate existing parties. Many hundreds of eminent men of all pro fessions have joined the movement.

THE ANARCHISTS.

Brussels, December 26, A conference of Anarchists is being held in this city, and it has been decided to start a newspaper' to re present their interests.

THE PANAMA SCANDALS.

Paris, December 26. M. Airh'ieux denies that he is in possesion of the letter addressed to Herz, and frequently alleges that the Government have abandoned his arrest. He also declares thai", the Opportunists have been robbing the country for the past twelve years, and he threatens to expose the corruption of the Credit Foncier and the Franco-Egyptian Bank, and also their plunder in connection with army contracts. Madame Carnot says that she never received a single centime from the Panama Canal Company in aid of her charities.

A NEW HQIE\

Patus, December 27. Madame Sarah Bernhardt is. a csft^ dictate for election as a member of the Chamber of Deputies, and is soliciting the support of the Women's League.

FRANCE AND SWITZERLAND.

Berne, December 2?. The rejection of the Franco-Swiss 'Commercial Convention by the French Chamber of Deputies has been received here unfavourably, and retaliatory measures are b,eirig arranged.

AUSTRALIAN.

THE YACHTING FATALITY.

Sydney, December 27. At the inquest on the bodies of those drowned yesterday by the capsize of th,e yacht lolanthe, a verdict of accident death, wa.s returned, but the jury added a rider, condemning the praqtioe of young men taking out jvomen and children in the harbor in sailing boats. ;

A Maori Letter to the Queen.

The child-lik.e, oqnn,deuee of the Maoris qf eariy. days was proverbial. It still survives, as witness the following letter: — "To Queon Yiccoria, Salutations, This letter is respecting my land, part of which was disposed to the Government and part remains to me. I am desirous of borrowing some money to cultivate my land and lay it down to grass for keeping sheep and other similar purposes, and I ask for £1000 to be lent to me by tjie Bank of England, Probably it woutd take £en years' to get "my land into good orderj and I wish the loan to be for that term. But if the work can he done in less t;rne \ will repay the money to the B,ank of Ejngland. This assurance of re. payment is true,

Prom "P.S.—lf you consent address to me at the post office™-—" Fot only was the above changing pro-, duefcion boldly written, but it; was )iko wise bojdly addressed to l<Kei Kuini, Wiki toria, Kei Ingaranyi, M^rikana," Som« obliging official scribbled in .EJngUsh, on.the envelope " Her Majesty Queen Victoria, England," sc that the messenger of supplication and finance reached the precincts of the great Queen's dwelling. Bub, alas, for the hopes of our Maori friend, who shall be nameless here. Lord Ripon gob hold of the pi'ecious document--how, is nob explained on the envelope —enclosed it with all its touching confidence, not to the great Queen, not to he great Bank of England, bu 1: to ths (rovernor ot the Colony. Buried in a Blue Bool? the epitaph of this romance will be the dry request of the Marquis that the writer will be informed "that his letter has been received, but that the application was not one on which I could tender any advice to Her Majesty." That ■t}\9 letter should have readied all the way to "Marikana" and bick is credit able to the postal service, that it should have beeu translated when it did reach will surprise most people, and that it has been answered speaks well for thecoiutisy of Downing street.—" New Zeaknd Times." ■

Mount Somers Sports.

- - _— I The Mount Somers athletic sports wore hold on Monday, in a paddock kindly lent for the occasion by Mx H. W. Felton. A howling nor'-wester raged all day, and' prevented many who would have been there from being present. . A refreshment booth was oil the ground at which visitors j were able to procure what creature com ■ fort they thought necessary, and a dress ing tent was provided for the competitors in the various events. .Notwithstanding the unsatisfactory state of the weather large fields compe' ed in every event, and the respective officers are to be congratu lated on the manner in which they did their work. The close contests in many of the events reflect great credit on the judgment of fhe handicapper, Mr T. Doak, who gave general satisfaction. The following are the results of the several events: — 100 yds Handicap race—C. Annett 1, V. J. Hil' 2, Daniel Murray 3. 44%ds Hurdles—A. Morris 1, C. Beck ley 2, V. J. Hill 3. Nine entries. Wrestling, Cumberland style—L. Wil liams 1, W. Moses 2. Half-mile Handicap—o Beckley, scr, 1; T. J. Hill, 12yds, 2; D. Murray, 17yds, 3. 100 yds Handicap—W. Bennett, 4yds, L. Cogwi, 4yds, t; W. Rees, 6yd»j 3. Vaulting with pole—George Rees 1, James Brown 2. Running High Jump—Joseph Brown, 4ft lOin, 1; G. Rees and W. Bennet, j 4ft 9in, + 2. 150 yds Handicap, boys under 16—D. Kellahan 1, W. Stephens' 2, P. Gold smith 3, 250 yds Handicap—C. Annett, 13yds, 1;C. Beckley, 3yds, 2;' V. J, Hill, 10yds, 3. A. Morris, scr, and Joseph Brown, 13yds, also ran. Quoits—Thomas Fagan 1, W, Hutche soti 2. Ten competed. 440 yds Handicap— A. Morris, scr, 1; V. J. Hill, 15yds, 2 ; L. Cogan, 12yds, 3. Six entries. 100 yds Flat Race, young ladies—E. McKenzie 1, J. Todd 2, E. Patton 3. Married Women's Race—Mrs Aldridge 1, Mrs Cameron 2, Mrs So well 3. One Mile Handicap—James Annett, 20yds, 1 ; Daniel Murray, 45yds, 2 ; V. J. Hill, 2dyds, 3. Hop, Step, and Jump—L. Cogan 1, G, Rees and A. Morris 2. ' Sack Race—J. Annefc 1, Isaiah Galla gher 2.

COMMERCIAL.

(PJBR PBESS ASSOCIATION) December 28, 11.20 a.m.) Sydxby, December 28. The markets are closed owing to the holidays.

The Dublin Dynamite Outrage.

i-KR PRESS ASSOCIATION London, December 26. The bomb was placed under the window of a room where twenty per sons were sleeping. It exploded with terrific force, tore up the pavement, and cracked the walls of the building. Constable Sinnot's right leg and arm were torn from his body, the boot being found a hundred yards away, while one of his lingers was discovered in the Chief Secretary's library. Several de tectives who were sleeping on the premises had a narrow escape. The police and press believe that the out rage was committed because of Mr Morley's refusal to release Daly, who is in custody on a charge of Fenianisin, Detective Green declares that as he entered the depot he saw a brown paper parcel under the window besides what he imagined to be a burning cigar, and the explosion occurred a moment afterwards, The detective oiti.ee abuts on Dublin Castle, and is ■under* Mr Morley's library. The Opposition press warn the Government that the outrage is the direct result of their policy of concession, and declare that it is impossible to placate the Irish.

London, December 27. The whole of Dublin is alarmed over the recent outrage. Four persons in the vicJnity of the detective build ings at the time of the explosion were found in an unconscious condition, and were removed to the hospital, where they recovered. The " Times," referring to the out rage, says thM ** »s & striking com mentary an Mr Morley's latest act of homage to his masters. The «■ Chro niole " characterises it as a desperate and devilish attempt to intimidate the ' public. The "Standard" considers that the outrage should convince Mr Morley of the futility of attempting to oftnciljate the Irish. The "Daily News " believes that the split of Irish parties will lead to the increasing of secret sooietiea and will encourage criminal acts, The members, of the National Fede ration league denounce the outrage in Strong terms as a barbarous murder. (Received December 28, 10.35 a.m.) At the inquest on Constable Sinnot, an open verdict was returned. The Nationalists condemn the out rage, fearing that it will supply many of the followers of Mr GJadstono with an excuse for deserting the Home | Rqle cause. The outrage is attributed to the extreme dynamite section. The precautions which were taken some time ago for the protection of public buildings in London have been resumed, authorities having received Warning that attempts will be made to wreck them. Renewed activity is being fch,Qwn by the American Irish dynamiters.

Hollow ay's Pills.—lmportant for the delicate. —It is difficult to determine which is the more trying to the human constitu tion, the damp, cold days ot autumn and winter, cr the keen dry easterly winds of spring. Throughout the season good heaUh may be obtained by occasional doses of Holloway's Pills, which purity the blood and act as wholesome stimulants to the skin, stomach, liver, bowels aud kidneys. This celebrated medicine needs but a fciir trial | to convince the ailing and desponding, that it will restore and cheer them, without danger, pain, or inconvenience. No family should be without a, supply of Holloway's Fills and Ointment, as by a timely recourse t to them the first erring function may be ! reclaimed, suffering may be spared, and life saved Messrs Colemanc and Sons' Eucalypt Extract (manufactured 4fc Mittagong and Cootamundra, New South Wales) has attained a reputation as a specific for affec tions of the chest, lungs, consumptions asthma, diphtheria, and a variety.of other complaints. It numbers among its patrons Earl Jersey, the present, and Lord (Jarriug ton, late, "(Joveruor of New South Wales, while in Great Britain during the influenza epedimic scarcely a houso or oitice was with out it. Messrs Colemane aud Sous' whole sale dep^t is in Chri&tchurch. Sharland and Co. are wholesale agents for the North Isla»d TO MAKE Nicest Scones, Nicest Paatry, Nicest Oaken, Use Aulskbrook's Self RiUu* Flour.

Agricultural Depression in Scotland.

Considerable anxiety -not to say alarm —is felfe in well-informed circles regarding ; the position of the farming interest. The I present bad harvest is but the culmination ! of a long series of unfavorable circum stances, and it is feared that to not a few formers it may prove to be the pro verbially fatal iasr straw. Some interest ing. remarks on the subjecv were made at the opening of the session of the Edin burgh University Agricultural Society by the Rev. John Giilespie, of Mouewald, Dumfriesshire, who is one of the fore most authorities in Scot'and on agri cultural matters. Mr Gillespie nftirmed that the agricultural industry was never so seriously or so widely depressed in Great Britain during the memory of living man as it is at the present momenc. He could testify that there were hundreds and thousands of farmers who had been al.nost silently suffering year by year, while they had seen their capital gradually melting before their eyes, and particularly this year. The principal cause of their sutfering was the lowness of prices. He quoted those given in that day's papers, and said these were not prices at which farmers could profitably grow grain. The same state of things prevailed in regard to meat, and it must steadily drain the capital of the farmers. The various departments of agriculture had suffered in turn, until at the present moment they were all suffering. The depression had been largely brought about by. the im provement and cheapening of the ocean carriage of produce. The outlook was, in his opinion, extremely dark, and he trusted that the wor*t anticipations might not be realised. He, urged that the proper thing to do was to better the quality of our productions ac the minimum of outlay. Mr Oillespie's re marks seemed to meet with the approval of his hearers throughout. — "Otago Witness" Correspondent, November 10.

Supplying Harems.

+ : A sensation was created in Vienna, on October 18, by the discovery that there has existed for a long time, in Austrian tfalicia, a regularly organised band of kidnappers, who makt> it their bturineu to supply the demands of wealthy Turks in Constantinople with white slaves. The gang was composed of men and women who hav9 made larpe solas of money through its traffic in youujr girls. If they could not persuade the girls to accompany them by flowing descriptions of fine clothes, lives of leisure and plenty of money, they would kidnap them. How many girls fell into the trap will never be known, but the number is certainly large, for, since the discovery of operations sixty victims have been released. The btories told by some of the girls of their treatment are horrible enough to bet almost, incredible. Twenty-seven mem . bers of the gang have been arrested, and i are awaiting trial.

Modern Science.

A VETERAN'S PROTEST. Apropos of the opening of the World's *air at Chicago the correspondent of the " Otago Witness " writes : -Tho advance in everything pertainicg to man's social, physical, and moral being, since Colum bus landed at S&n Salvador, was duly elaborated by. the numerous eulogists of lnst month, an<i whilst these did not. openly claim that all such advances were directly due to the Chicago exhibition, and the people who ape operating it, there was, none the less, an implied belief that man's condition wojlc' be other than it is were it not for the United States. Yet there are, even here, grumblers, and on« man has 7emured to^ l'jdge his piotosfc against modern scientific discovery. As his protest is shorter than ' the dedication ode I append it: — I've lived my four score years of life ao* never till to-day Wuz 1 taken for a jackass or an ien'rant kind o jay, Tew be stuffed with such (turned non sense 'bout them erawlm' bugs an,' worms That's killiu 1 human bom's with their *' mikrosocpic germs." They say there's "mikrobes" all about a-lookiri' fer their prey ; There's nothia' pure tew eat nor drink an' no safe place tew stay ; There's "miasnay" in the dewfall au* "malary" in the sun ; 'Taint't safe to be outdoors at noon or when the diy is done. There's " bactery " in the water and " trikeeny "in the meat; . ■. ■ '* Araeeby " in the atraosnhere, «* calory" in the heat " ■ . There's "corpussuls" an "pigments" in a human bein's blood, An' every other kind o' thing existm' sence the flood. ' ■. Terbacker's full o' "nickerteen," what ever that may be, An' your mouth'll all get puckered with the " tannin " in the tea, The butter's " olymargareen "—it never saw a cow,— '■- An' things is getting wus and wus from what they be just now. Them bugs is all about us, just; a-waitin' for a duno, Tew navigate our vitals and gnw us oft' like plants, There's men that spend a lifetime huntin* worms just like a goose, An 1 tackin' Latin names to 'em an' lettin' on 'em loose. Now I don't believe such nonsense an' I m not agoin' to try ; If things has come tew such a pass I'm t satisfied tew die. I'll go hang me in the sullar, for I won't be such a fool As to wait until I'm pizened by a *• annr mallj-cool," *

CRICKET.

VICTORIA v. N.S. WALES.

[PBR PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

Melbourne, December 27. The first innings of the Victorian team closed for 375. New South Wales in their second innings, have lost 2 wickets for 142, Moses being not out with 56.

CANTERBURY v. WELLINGTON MIDLANDS.

Weiurotou, December 27. The cricket match between the Midland Cricket Club, of Christchurch, and Wel lington, was continued to-day, when the visitors won by 7 wickets.

THE WEATHER.

ALFORD STATION,

The following is, the Meteorological report for the week ending December 25 1892:—

THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1893.



. l>.it«.

Shi

Ik' .-.'i

Higlx iv , Sun. {

I

State ' of «-oather.

Low. ■

High

Monday ... .Tuesday ... Wednesday Thursday... Friday

40' 50-

85 --- 6-- 7-- -7-

w 140 --1S8 S IS3'

Five, N. W. Run, E. Fine, E. ■» N.E. „ N.W. to S.W. „ N.W.

Saturday ...!

!, 40'

75 --84"

IS*-

•I? '!.: ■•-"4 ,-<■■■/■



FUR THE HOLIDAYS G. J. NEILL and OO's SPECIAL PRICES FOR THIS MONTH. Ladies' Cashmerefcte Hose, double knee, lO|d Ladies' Cashmere Hose, Is New Fashionable Dress ftoods, 3s lid a dozen Wonderful Value in Summer Dress Tweed, b 3 d x 4d Black Cashmeres and French Merinos, all prices Wonderful Value tiom to 5s 6d per yard All Wool Flannel, T^d per yard Flannelettes at 3s 6d per dozen Good Heavy Twilled at s|d _ leather Shirting, Swansdown Back, at <*a. per yirtf Washing Prints,^ 3s lid per dozen A speciaMine of White Muslin, 4|d Pongee Cloths and Delaines in most beautiful patterns CLOTHING. Men's Colonial Tweed Suits, 28s 6d Men's Serge Suits, 22a 6d Men's Tweed Trousers from 5s lid Boys' Tweed Suits in endless variety Men's Ribbed Cotton Pants, Is 6d • . Men's Colonial Knit Wool Socks, ll|d per pair Men's Regatta Shirts, 2s lid Men's Strong Braces, 9d per pair Hoja' Strong Braces,: 4d per pair. BOOTS. BOOTS. BOOTS. TTNMISTAK.EABLE VALUE. Ladies'and Children's Tan Shoes, a specialty Brown Canvas Shoes, all sizes Men's Bluchers, 5s 3d Men's nailed Shooters, 8s 9d , iQ „, . <« a f i Aaplendidlineof Men's East India Kip Shooter, pegjecl. worth 18, 6d for 13 6d sizes at very low prices. G. J. J^BILL and 00: FRIEDLANDER'S BUILDINGS, CORKER Ot EAST & MOORE STREETS. HARDLEY BROS. ELEGANT AUTO USEFUJL GOOD! At Low Prices, EVEHY ABTICLE OF OUR NEW STOCK WARRANTED. TN Calling Special Attention to the Large List of DRAPERY, CLOTHING I and NOVELTIES in MILLINERY, described from time to time m these Columns, we wish to Impress ON ALL the following :— 1st -Every Article is Warranted to give SATISFACTION, and if ever a person receives anything that don't suit, they can return it to be exchanged, or they can have the money returned if they so desire. 9nd —All the Goods will be FIRST-CLASS of the Newest and Most Desir able Styles, and the Prices are Much Lower than such articles can elsewhere be obtained for. 3r d —We deal in NO SHODDY GOODS whatever, and all who Order of US may be SURE that they will receive the BEST. 4th-We are satisfied with a Small Profit, and as Our Businesses of. such Large Proportions that through buying our Gcpds oft the Manutaoture rsm Immense Quantities for Cash, we are enabled to SELL our Goods for LESS MONEY than others, thus giving our Customers the advantage, fg> Those who want GOODS should .end to US and Save Money. Just Arrived—A Splendid Assortment of Men's and Boys' SUITS. SPECIALLY FOR CHRISTMAS WEEK. jdABBLEY BEOS., iR(ll)K HOUSE, .BUKJVETT STREET, ASHBU R T 0 N. — SALEK ' S NEW JEWELLERY ESTABLISHMENT. ™™, «»nNTWTPffNT HIGH-OLAS* STOCK IS HOW OPENED UP. THE MAGNIFICMU J^ a a Jt e n4on of the Publrc to the fact that having 8 SALEK begs to draw the a£en ion stock JJ. r* fitVea Sd n«^? Ses gn^ clpieJ favorably with any ia Ohristohurch. Siahty. price, and ™™** m ° eet the requirements of the Aehburton District in e,e4 8 SSLiV flic lery Trade, and is showing a Larger Stock than has ever Ufore been unique Stock specially .uitahle for vuA O pfi P ™ yWEDDING PRESENTS, BIRTHDAY PRESENTS, AND XMAS PRESENT, r^nTATIO N TESTIMONIALS. (laid and Silver Jewellery ot every description. THE WATCHMAKING AND JEWELLERY REPAIRING itLXj waav DEPARTMENT 1 f« in U'q arrangements, and additional assistance having been AX«,""SS^ »»"«!> on 'h«v,i" g "-eir work done pro m p Uy and atisfactorily ,__ S. SALBK, WATCHMAKER AND JEWELLER. T~y^^Zealand Clotliing Facior^r. FOB THE HOLIDAY SEASON. ~ 1 n • \ n^n Wife* i Gents' Ties in endless variety Gents' Tennis and Onckehng Hat- Handkerchiefs Gents' Tennis and Cnckehi g Shir tn & Gants' Tennis and Cricketing Sadies w , RO nTS BOOTS AND SHOES fe»oE^ BOOTb. , m . «. B Ladi-s'Button an 4 I<ape Shoes Gents Tenms Shoi j Children's Tan Shoes CLOTHING .OFPARTMENT. nn. •1 • <W Pint of Clothes should visit the CLOTHING FACTORY. 111096 Sng youfboylTand *sl goodßmtof Colonhl Tweed for 9s 6d. Tfvott wish to buy a handsome OhrUtm»s Present, get one of the Wertheim Sewing It yott wisu 10 uuy jjachineg. See one in oar window. , HALLENSTEIN BROS. A^



'~~The~Best Tea IN TIIK WORLD ! Hyslop'a- 'Ceylon. NINIAN HYSLOP, ass CO., Tea Importers, J^B Oashel street, Chiistcnunjh. 1



COIJSJU.KK AND So X Ii'UCALYPTJB Ex ) tract is tlw OHljrgeuuine in the market, and was a .carded medals snd diplomas at tSydney, Melhourne, and Adelaide, beating all competitors. For all affectious of the Chest and-Lumps. Consumption, Asthma, Coughs, Colde, Gravel, sad Kidney Com .plaints, ib has no equal,, 4gplit.s— ■



Wanted WANTED KnuwD. -Wonderful value .. ia first-class Drapery now.on at Melfbrd jßTouse. Beautiful Leather Shirt ing 6id.~H. 0. Skgkes, Melford House. WANTED Known.—High class Dress Goods, latest patterns, now selling under wholesale prices. Special line of double width stuff 6d and Is, less than balf price. -H. C. Simeks, Melford House, JfiHRISTMAS FAIR now open, every- V^: thing new and cheap. Come and boo for yourselves.—The New Shop|s, Coleman's Buildings^ 12 I<7 ON^l^lSe^^in~wuter destroy your buildings. Get Spouting fixed at 4d per foot and buy a tank, complete with tap, tested before leaving workshop, for 30s, at J. W. Hardleys. /^HIiISTMAS Suits. Boys, three V>* garment long Trouser Suits at los. Boys, Colorlal-made Knicker ISuits from 10s. Men's nicely made Colonial Tweod Suits 30i. Colonial Tweed Suits to measure from 50s.—Ashburton Clothing Mart. Saunders' Buildings. Robkkt i Alcorn, ■\T7 ANTED Known—lee Creams, Ice I VV Creams, for the hob weather, always ready at H. G. Flower's, Confec tioner, East Street. . SOMERSET Meat Mart. The oldest, the largest, tha best, and the cheap est. Smalf 'xo'ods a specialty. Full weights' guaranteed. A trial solicited. —'V. J. Siloook. 4t182 WANTED Known—We are now giving away Beautiful Presents to every purch&ser of ss» and upwards. Oome and see our bargains in Drapery, &c. —H. C. Segers, Melford House. ' WANTED— Purchasers tor Bargains in Summer Dresses, Prints, and Delaines, Sunshades, fee. at S. W, Alcorn and Go's Sale. t WANTED the Public to know that S. | W. Alcorn and Co'a Summer Sale is now on. Great Bargains in Millinery, Underclothing etc. SELLING OFF Bocks, Stationery, and Account Books, Fancy Goods, Music, Violins, Accordeons, etc, Fire Screens and Stove Ornaments, all at Reduced Prices.—Li,F. Akdrbwljs & Co. WANTED Known—New Flannelettes at extraordinary prices ; 3s lid »nd 4s lid doa. Thirty per cent under price.—W. H. Collier. WANTED Known that S. Salek, Watchmaker and Jeweler, has removed to new shop near New Zealand Clothin? Factory. 10 213 WANTED Known—Dr Scott's cele brated Electric Corsets can only be obtained in Ashburton at W. H. Collier's, "The Corner."



WHY not Bake your own Bread when you can get 501 bs of the 13est Roller Flour for five shilling.'} cash or five fchillings and sixpence booked at Robert Alcojrn's, Saunders' Buildings. 11 31 DON'T Forget the Barough Bye-Laws re Carr age Lamps, and that Hakdlb . us large Stock on hand, also a large assortment of Tinware and Iron mongery, Scythes, Reaping Hooks, Hay Knives, Forks, etc., of best quality, and all at lowest possible prices. J. W. Hardley, East; Street, Ashburton, BEAR in mind that J, W. Hardley, Plumber and Gasfitter, East Street, has the largest Stock in town of Pumps, Pipes, and Fittings, and that he is selling them cheaper than ever at prices hitherto unheard «f in Ashburton, Now is the chance for a cheap Pump j improved No. 4. Price, 16s. Larger sbes in proportion. NEW YEAR'd GIFTS.—Card, Book lets New Games in great variety. Beautioillotof Vases, Fancy Glassware, and Fairy Lamps. Boys' and Girls' Annuals, an I i.bher new Volumes. Prize Books at reduced prices. New Birthday Reward and Wedding Cards,-L. F. ANDREWE^ & CO., Stationers' Hall. 1 1 TANTRD~K:iown—That J. Miuson W keeps the best stock of Boots in Ashburton, for tlijs reason that he pay* cash find is not under ov bound to any one firra like many in the trade, which enables him to procure and supply the public with the Best Colonial and English makes ; and his well-known make needs no recommendation. Always on hand Best Sole Leather, used.for repairs and done at once. —J. Mpisoif, Impermeable Bootmaker, Town Hall, E*at Street, next Court House.



How Sambo Understood French Finne siys to the runaway negro on the raft, "Jim, what'd you say if 'twas said to you { Parly-vous-franzy ?' " " Wouldn't say nuffin. I'd just bust him over de ear ; if he wasn't a wite man. 'Low no nigger to call 11)0 da£. ' Finn says the words only mean, "Do you speafe French?" Jim inquires, "If they mean that "why dqn'f; thay say that?' Dr Forest says, in "Health, the \ New Method," we might make similar in -1 of the profespoflJ of M^sotherapy ; Dut he «oes on to explain massage, rubbing, and itaVritfcial results so that it might even enter the skull of the densest negro j and his muscle-roller and other new methods are invaluable. An edition of hisoook, much enlaced, is publisheu a? lr'v]? A and '•' jtealth f> Publication- Omces, 160 Tuam street, Chrisi.cligrph.—[ADV'T.] Holloway's Pn,i,*.- Pure 'Blood.—Who , the blood is pure, its circulation calm aud equable, and the nerves well strung, we are well. These pills possess a marvellous power in securing these essentials of health b,, purifying, regulating, and strengthening the fluids and eoljds. Holloway s Pills can be confidently recommended to all persons suf fering from disordered digestion, or worried by nervous fancies, or neuralgic pains. They correct acidity and heart-burn, dispel sick headache, quicken the action of the liver, and act as alteratives and gentle aperients. The weak and delicate may take them with out fear. Holloway's Pills are eminently gerf ipeable to invalids of irritable constitu tions, as they raise {.he action of every orgiij} to its natural standard, and universally exercise a calming and sedative i nffuence.



I Stop Oi'iiilcingf. " I oan'b " are two little words seldom used by a man who drinks ; to use them he thinks is i.n evidence of weakness, and so we wonder why, when he q nits, he doesn't stay quit;. If we knew ani, our 1 wonder would be, with that terrible craving at bis vitals, he is able to resist even for a short time—a craving on which witLpowp^ iftoral suasion, the pledge, self-respect, nave no effect whatever, and which until recently has been an insur mountable bar to reform in thousands upon thousands of cases. But the time has come when that craving can be stopped J Sure. Just as suie as it is possible to cure a cold- The appetite can be destroyed'; the man piapetj baejf. so far as drinking is concerned, just where he was before he acquired the habit. The cure does not destroy the will, but the appetite. So he will have to learn to rink all over agafn, and the effort will be so great that if lie is worth saving be won't make'it. It. T. Booth's Golden Remedy .No. 1 destroys the drink appetite R. T. Booth's Golden Remedy No. 2 is j the best brain and nerve tonic on th s earth. At all chemists and storekeepers -.(Apvx), lOfiX



Ti|K Best pEiifJspy em I^igkstiom— Norton's Camomile" Pills are confidently recommended as a simple remedy foi [ndigestion, which is the cause of nearly all bhe diseases to which we are -subjects Norton's Pills, with justice called the 'Natural Strengthener of the Human Stomach," act as a powerful tonic and gentle periont, ara mild in th&ir op&jjaiion, aad safe under any circumstances. Sold in bottles, at la l^d, 2* 9d, .Us, by all medicine vandors throughoiit the w*tty<



The Onslow Biscuit. The latest most delicate biscuit ro»nuf»oturedby A-ulaebrQak and Co I



Chackneli and Digestive Biscuits for Jnval'ds are unsurpassed, Mad.© by ano Co,