MAIL NOTICES.

Mails close for the following places as under, subject to the necessary alterations :— WEDNESDAY, March 30. For United Kingdom, Continent of Europe (via Brindisi), Poi.it de Galle, India, China, Japan, etc., and also for Australian Colonies, per express (to connect with s.s, Tarawera at Port Chalmers), as follows;— Ordinary letters, etc., at l^.S*** T>m-i &™d's van. on express at 12.53 p.m. The Home mail, will be due m London on May 17. FRIDAY, April 1. For Chatham Islands, per Kahn, at G.J2O p.m. T . , „. , For South America, United Kingdom, and Continent of Europe, per s.s. Uonc, &s follows: — Ordinary letters at <3.l£V n m ; books, newspapers, money orders, md 'parcels, 3 p.m. ; guard's van, express train; 6.55 p.m. This mail will be due m London on May 12. ENGLISH MAILS. HOMEWARD—DIRECT MAILS. Doric, leaving April 2, due London May T2. SAN FRANCISCO MAILS. Monowai, leaving on February 27, due London March 30- . Alameda, leaving on March 26, one London &pril 27- OUTWARD—DIRECT MAJXS Buahine, due Colony April 8.

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas Et Prævalebit. TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 1892. THE EIGHT HOURS' QUESTION IN ENGLAND.

In the Australian Colonies there is very little difference of opinion upon the question of restricting the hours of labor m unhealthy and hazardous occu pations to eight hours a day ; but at Home not only economists but many politicians who have taken the lead m philanthropical legislation and have given special consideration to the interests of Labor are opposed to such a restriction. The direct question was put to the House of Commons last week m the motion for the second reading of the Miners' Eight Hours Bill, and was answered by the rejection of the measure by a majority of 112. The result is important, and is fatal to the adoption of the principle as a party question by either Liberals or Con servatives at the ensuing general elec tion. It might have been thought that the Gladstonian Liberals at any rate would have been united m support of the measure, but, on the contrary, of the prominent men of that purty Sir W. V. Harcourt, Sir G. O. Treve lyan, and Mr H. H. Fowler supported the Bill, while Mr John Morley, Sir Lyon Playfair and Mr John Burt op posed it, and Mr Gladstone himself did not vote. The three members who op posed the Bill have long been reckoned as specially representing Labor m Par liament, and their attitude on the question is, m theabsence of full reports, somewhat inscrutable. Mr Burt's position, m particular, shows that the miners themselves cannot be unani mous m their desire for the eight hours system. He, himself, is*a working miner, and sits m Parliament by the suffrages of his compeers—the only " Labor member" m the House of Commons —so that he must represent the opinions of at least a section of the miners, the manifesto notwithstanding of. the Miners' Federation calling on its members to support only those candidates at the general election who will pledge themselves to support an Eight Hours' Bill. Mr Morley objects to "the measure on the ground that it will inevitably derange the delicate and complex machinery of British industry. On the other hand Mr Chamberlain, the leader of the Liberal Unionist party, supported the Bill, as part oi his declared programme of an eight hours day m Government workshops and factories, m specially hazardous and unhealthy occupations, m those m which overwork is dan gerous to the public, and m enter prises which enjoy a monopoly granted by the Legislature. Sir John Gorst, who acts as a sort of labor commis sioner and enquirer for the Ministry, refrained from committing himself by voting on the question, but the Con servative party as a whole voted against it, Lord Randolph Churchill's being the only vote from that side of the House that was given for the Bill, It is evident that there are difficulties m the way of an eight hours' working day m England which do not exist m the colonies ; and no doubt these and many other questions and circum stances regarding which we are but im perfectly informed, will be made clear whan the report of the lloyal Com mission on Labor which is'now sitting at Home is published. Meantime, it is encouraging to note that despite the failure of this Bill, the movement m the direction of the amelioration of many of the evils from which workers suffer in-the Old Country is gaining strength.

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Experiments m telephonic communication between Melbourne and Adelaide have been highly successful, conversation between people m the two cities having taken place with great ease. Mr John Olliver was presented at Christ church yestarday, by a number of early col onists, with a handsome gold mounted meerschaum pipe as a present on his eightieth birthday. At Napier the other clay a lady witness giving evidence m an assault case said—"l thought it was all gammon until I seed the blood, and then 1 knowed it was a fight." She must have been a real Napier lady ! The "Press"learns that the appeal case of the Sydenham Licensing Committee has been fixed for the second week m May, and that Sir Robert Stout and Mr Cay gill have been retained on behalf of the Committee. The case will be heard at Wellington. The Premier has received a letter from the Agent-General desiring to be supplied with details of the working of the labour bureau. Mr Perceval explains that the information is required by the Colonial Emigrants' Society, The next Hoyal Commission to be ap pointed by the Parliament of New South Wales will, says a Sydney paper, be charged with the duty of reporting how many liars, slanderers, and fools there are m the Legis lative Assembly, and the best means of clearing political life of such undesirable characters. The meeting of the committee of the Horticultural Society, to consider the ques tion of the proposed Chrysanthemum Show, called for last evening, was adjourned until Wednesday (to-morrow) evening at eight o'clock, m order to allow of the attendance of some of the members who were unable to be present on the first named occasion An instance of the keen demand for land occurred at the Auckland Crown Lands Office on March 23. Twelve thousand acres at Awakino, Kawhia county, on the West Coast of the North Island were thrown open for selection m blocks of 2000 acres each ; and on the same clay 8000 acres were taken up, all on perpetual lease. It is significant of the condition of the respective colonies to find that while the wages and salaries of the railway employees of Victoria and Queensland are being heavily reduced, those of the New South Wales railway employees are being largely i increased. The last increases granted by the Commissioners totalled £131,000, the weekly wages men taking £100,000 of the amount, The remains of the late Sydney Taiwhanga, the Maori patriot and legislator, which have been Wetly resting at Mokoia Island during the pas* eighteen months, were exhumed last week, m th/s presence of a large gathering of [natives. The bones will be conveyed to the Bay of Islands, and . interred there with renewed obsequies. The Government have granted them a tree pass by train and utpamer. The Board of Governor of Canterbury College have approved of a bill for int^due fcjtou into Parliament next session providing chat Canterbury College and School of Technical Scknce shall contribute £5000 to the Lincoln Sghool of Agriculture m settle of accounts. The proposition has been approved by the Board of Advice of the Agricultural School. If the bill passes the i Legislature interest at 6 per cent on the 1 £5000 will be devoted to agricultural scholarships open to the whole colony on examinations held m the four principal

A scratch cricket match wil be played m the Domain to-morrow afternoon. As this will probably be the last game of the season it is to be hoped aa many p'aycrs as possib.y can will roll up. The game will start at three o'clock sharp. The annual meeting of the Ashburton branch of the British and Foreign bible Society will be held at the Wcsleyan Church to morrow evening. All friends and supporters of the society are expected to attend. Rev Mr Robjohns, the agent, arrives to night from the South. A London correspondent reports that at the last monthly meeting of the Cham bers of Agriculture attention was directed to the disparity m the charges for sending agricultural produce to London as between English provinces and the colonies, a parcel of meat weighing 151 b costing 15d trans mission from Deal, while meat was conveyed all the way from Now Zealand for Id per lb. Mr J. R. Cox, M.P., who recently visited the colonies has informed the National Federation that all over Australia and hew Zealand he found nearly all the people m sympathy with the MeCarthyitc party. He did not believe that m the colonies more than fifty could be found who were m favour of the Parnellitc3, and none of them need be looked for m New Zealand. It was the colonial gift of £40,003 during the last three years which had saved the evicted tenants. The few who supported the Parncllitcs were, as at home, Castle-hacks, shoucens, and the would-be emergency men and landgrabbers A most successful entertainment wa« held m the Seafield School on Friday, the 25th" instant, m aid of the library funds. No pains were spared by the Library Com mittee to procure exceptionally good talent to give the district a treat. Much of the success of the concert was due to the ladies and gentlemen who came from a distance to give their services, some coming from Kyle, Springston, Ashburton, Tinwald, and even Timaru. The Chairman, Mr Murdoch Bruce, warmly thanked the performers for render ing their valuable aid. At the conclusion of the concert the room was cleared and dancing was carried on with much spirit till the small hours under the supervision of Mr Dalton, as M.C., and Mr Scott, of Elgin, as violinist. Refreshments were dispensed during the evening by Mesdames Richard son, Bruce, Collisou, McLean, Ayrton, and Hampton. The Library Committee are deserving of great credit for the manner m which they carried out their duties and assisted to make the entertainment such a success. Now that smokeless powder is an assured fact, the next move m the line of progress is to be odorless whisky. A Wellington con temporary says that recent experiments made by the proprietors of a local distil lery have been attended with almost un looked-for success. These experiments have culminated m the production of a liquid which is undeniably whisky, but which leaves no suspicion of an odour upon the breath. The new fluid is precisely the counterpart of the old stuff except m this particular. In appearance and taste no difference can be detected. But although it possesses thesamedeadly qualities, tha most stupendous jag will leave the breath as sweet as that of a new-born babe. The pro cess is a secret which will be jealously guarded. No amount of questioning would bring the slighest semblance of an explana tion from the inventor. " I have been work ing on it for years," he said, "but only recently have my efforts been rewarded." The article will shortly be placed upon the market, and we are sure it will create a decided sensation. In one of his lectures on Japan, delivered recently m America, Sir Edwin Arnold said :—'' I was led to Japan by grammar. No guide book took me there. I had read all the guide books, and most of them are not very good. None of them lured me to Japan, but I picked up a grammar once, which was very splendidly done, by Mr Chamberlain, and there I read:—'The Japanese language has no imperative mood. The Japanese language has no form of oaths and no word of abuse.' I rubbed my eyes, but there was the positive affirmation that one could not swear m Japanese, you could not abuse anybody m Japanese, and you could not tell a person to go, rudely or roughly, m Japanese ; and I found it to be really so. The worst thing you can say m Japanese is ' fellow !' Or if you are very much put out you say ' There ! There !' It sounds like an exaggeration, but you cinnot find a bad word m the Japanese dictionary. There are those who might fiud that a great privation." A great many tomatoes are annually wasted during the autumn owing to the unripe condition of the fruit, and if they are left hanging on the plants they are seldom of a good flavour. It takes considerable time to ripen the fruit unless there is plenty of heat ftt command, and everyone is not so happily placed. Very few tomatoes ripen out of doors about hero, but as the fruit approaches full size a most delicious chutney may be made with them. The recipe is from the "Gardeners' Magazine": —Slice lOlbs of Green tomatoes into a dish, sprinkle each layer with salt, and let them remain all night. The next day put into a preserving pan two quarts of vinegar, two pounds of brown sugar, one pound of sliced onions, and a quarter of an ounce of cloves, cinna mon, and peppercorns, a few pepper pods, and half a teaspoonful of cayenne. Drain the tomatoes, and simmer gently with the vinegar, sugar, onions and spices until ten der. Put into small jars and cover well. For cold meat the above will be found excel lent. At the Manchester Arts Club, m the course of a recent speech, Mr Irving said :— " There is a whole clas3 of persons who spend a considerable amount of their time m pre dicting, both m speech and writing, the pains and penalties of our future state, Now, I do not know that we ought to com plain of this, but, as far as I know, actors are the only members of the artistic frater nity who are singled out for this sort of warning. I think it is high time the painters and musicians hud a turn. There are some members of this club, I daresay, who would be all the better for a little friendly prophecy. I have my eye on certain architects who build theatres and palaces of varieties and other shocking places. How is it they escape ? I don't object, pro vided that eternal destruction is impartially distributed all round. I see that a great painter, no less a personage than the Presi dent of the Royal Academy, has got into the black bookd of these amiable beings who superintend our morals and thoughtfully provide us with little tropical nooks m the next world. They object to the exhibition on book-stalls of an engraving from some picture, of Sir Frederick Leighton's. This looks like fair play. When we are all put on the same level of irreclaimable turpitude, then I shall sit at your hospitable board with a really sociable feeling."

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

♦ The fortnightly meeting oE the Ash burton Borough Council was held last night. Present —The Mayor (Mr Hugo Fiiedlander), presiding, and Councillors Cuthbi'Ttson, Bird, Flower, Jones, Tweed, and Thomas. FINANCE. The Mayor reported the debit balance at the Batik as standing at £1062 130 Bd, and £1.0 7s 3,1 had been received from all sources of income since List meeting. AT7JUT HILL. The Colonial Secretary forwarded a copy of the proposed new Audit Bill, for the Council's consideration. The (Jovern meut asked for ;viy suggestions m the wayofamtndment the Council inightdesire bo make. Ir. was decided to supply each member with a copy of the Bill so that it could be carefully considered. CHAMTAKLIS AID iiOAUD. The Charitable Aid Board asked for a return of the rateable property of the Borough, so that the amounts of the various contributions to bo paid by con tributing bodies could be fixed. The information asked f'jr was ordered to be supplied. TJIK FOOTIiAXL CLUIi. The Football Club, per Mr Leicester Matron, honorary secretary, wrote accept ing the terms of Dhe Council m regard to the use ot the Domain Oval for football play, but at the samo time stating that they expected more lenient terms, seeing that they were a young Club, and badly handicapped by the want of a general weekly half-holiday, which prevented all the members playing together at practice, and so interfering with the increase^ of subscribing members to the Club. The Club trusted the Council would make a reduction soon. The letter was received. NEW AUCTIONEER. Mr Leicester Mktson applied for an auctioneer." license, which wa-i granted, and the certificate ordered to issue. THE TRAFFIC BRIDGE. The Clerk of the County Council wrote intimating that a tender had been accepted for painting and tarnng the traffic bridge, The lettar was received. IRON I'IIKS. Messrs A. and T. Bint, Dunedin, tele graphed asking if the Council had two hundred nine-inch pipes for sale, and the price. The matter was left m tho hands of the Mayor, with power to sell all the nine-inch pipes on hand, and the money realised to be spent on channelling. engineers' he pout.' ■ The report of the Engineers, which dealt wholly with the routine work of the labor gang, was adopted. It was decided, on tho motion of Or Flower, to proceed with the. work of putting a new roof on the foreman s cottage. HEALTH OFFICEH. Cr Tweed gave notice to move at next meeting—" That a Health Officer be appointed for the borough, at a fixed salary, and defined duties." CHANNELLING. Cr Thomas pointed out that m former years the concrete work of the channelling had been done at the wrong season, and he would like to soe the work done ht a time when there vras no frost to act adversely upon it. RATE AND RATE BOOK. I A rate of Is m the £1 was struck, and Crs Bird, Flower, and Jones were ap pointed to sign the rate book. ACCOUNTS. Accounts to the amount of £80 odd were passed for payment. FVCTOKIES ACT. The Council then held a special meet ing, at which the resolution passed at last meeting m regard to the half holiday under the Act was confirmed. The Council then adjourned.

IRRIGATION.

I The ail-important work of harvesting and securing the cereal crop of the county has so fully occupied farmers' attention for the last two months as to partially obscure for a time the great question of irrigation. Only, however, for a time, because sooner or later it must again come up before the County Council, and by that body ho, brought before the ratepayers. Meanwhile, the attention of farmers is being again drawn to it; and many of them who were sceptical of its value, or at least its value as compared with its probable cost, if they were not actually oppo nents of a comprehensive scheme of irrigation for the county, are beginning to look more favorably upon the question, and even to allow the possi bilities of irrigation. The successful experiments of Mr Marmaduke Dixon m an adjacent county have done much to bring about a less hostile feeling; and the visit of Mr James Brown to Miklura m January last, and the published account of what he saw going on m that exceeding hopeful and promising colony, can be credited with having produced a more kindly atti tude towards irrigation on the part of many farmers m the county who had previously given it a very cold shoulder. On January 25 we published the report of an interview with Mr Brown that had taken place immediately after that gentleman's return to Wakanui, and very interesting reading indeed, we \ venture to think it was. Mr Brown I made the journey to Mildura with one special object m view—namely, m the interests of the county of Ashburton, m which his own home is, and which holds his greatest stake m New Zealand, he wished to see what was being done with irrigation m Messrs Chaffey Bros.' colony. Mr Brown made an exhaustive enquiry into irrigation afFairs, and every facility was afforded him, both by the colonists who have settled there, and by the agents of Messrs Chaffey Bros., for collecting and collating the fullest information, on the subject. Pie found that a colony had been established upon a territory which, without irrigation, was a desert of the most worthless descrip tion, but which, by the expenditure of capital m the utilisation of the fertilis ingl waters of adjacent rivers, had been turned into a series of gardens, orchards, and vineyards • and that m this region where, before the venture was embarked upon, no living soul was to be seen, since irrigation has become a hard fact, a population of 3000 souls had been established m comfort and happiness. Schools had been built, an agricultural college -was about to be erected, and newspapers had been established that would compare with the best country papers m New Zea land. The Chaffey Brothers had obtained a concession from the Victorian Government of 250,000 acres of land m the arid north-west, with water rights from the rivers, The right to occupy this concersion was to become a freehold under certain condi tions of expenditure upon it. The minimum of expenditure stipulated for was £35,000 within th.c first five years. The first five years have not yet expired, but Messrs Chaffey Bros. Jiave expended moi'e than £300,000 on jbhe work. They have erected enor

mous pumping plants, so that the water can be raised to an elevation I sufficient for their purposes, and no difficulty has been allowed to stand m the way of success. They did not quail before the vastness of the work that lay before them, and the 1111 ---me.isured success of their colony, as described by qualified writers m the leading Australian papers—who, if they did not go out like Balaam to curse, certainly like him stayed to bless, and instead of having to chronicle a failure, as many believed they would, reported a success that is phenomenal and a lesson to the world. That .success is Messrs Ohaffivy B"os.' reward, for the land they are reclaiming and bringing under the influence of their fertilising streams is being rapidly bought up at the Brothers' own price. This, while the Chaffeys reap a hand some reward, Australia has added to her borders a large tract of country that was otherwise uninhabitable, with a population of well-to-do, industrious colonists already settled upon it. Surely, with a lesson like this before them there should be no opponents of irrigation among the fanners of Ash burton county. Some of them tell us that irrigation is useless for wheat. To this we reply that, without even quoting the extraordinary results of wheat irrigating m California, it lias been shown tins season m wheat fields not two miles away from the Ashburton borough, that irrigation can increase the wheat crop both m ear and straw to such an extent that the harvesting machinery had to be altered to suit the crop, and portions ot: it had to be cut with the scythe and bound by hand. Irrigation with river water will be beneficial to everything we grow m Ashburton county, but especially to pasture. Fortunately the rainfall recently has been copious, and.feed is abundant; but droughts are not by any means unknown m our fickle climate, and a soaking of water at a time when it is wanted would mean many pounds m the pockets of owners of drought-bare pastures. We have not jet reached the limits of the frozen meat industry, and we are only at the beginning of the dairy produce industry for export purposes. But a serious check is given to these as well as to wheat growing by every recurrence of drought, and the existence of a system of thorough irrigation will place both agriculturist and pastoralist m a position indepen dent of rainfall. No county could be better situated for irrigation as regards gradients than our own, and the tremendous item of cost to the Chaffey Brothers represented by the four huge pumping plants they had to erect, would be conspicuous by its absence from the cost of any scheme carried out here. Mr Brown m his interview with our representative said :—" There are many monuments m .Melbourne, and the Melbourne people owe one to the Chaffey Brothers, but whether the Melbourne people erect one or not, m Mildura they have erected one for themselves that will keep their memory green while water flows and the green grass grows." Let us trust that the farmers of Ashburton will see a similar monument to their own common sense, thrift, foresight, and energy, by the establishment of a thoroughly compre hensive and efficient system of irriga tion.

TELEGRAPHIC. HOME AND FOREIGN.

PER PBESS ASSOCIATION

THE MONEY MARKET.

A call of the Senate will be made i to-morrow to decide upon the ratifica tion of the treaty. The report is revived that Russia and the United States intend to take concerted action. Business is not shaken by the incident as yet. Washington, March 28. The negotiations respecting the Boh ring Sea dispute have been pub lished. The Marquis of Salisbury cabled on Saturday that ho was willing Ito leave the final decision to arbitra-1 tors ; they should assess the damages j due the sealers from the losing side. London, March 28. The " Times " says that the party leaders m the United States are beat ing the big drum of nationalism, but the people cannot respond to the call. Pauls, March 27. " Le Temps " considers that England is showing remarkable forbearance over the dispute.

St. Petersburg, March 27. Russia is issuing through the Im perial Bank of St. Petersburg, a rail way loan of jR12,000,000 at 4£ per cent. London. March 27. The withdrawal of £1,000,000 of gold from Rothschild's vaults, and the Behring Sea crisis, have had the effect of disturbing the money market. THE COPPER RING. It is believed that copper way possibly touch £50. It is not expected that the European mines will agree to the limitation of the output suggested from America. The London market views the confederation with disfaver. The syndicate is buying freely. THE AUSTRALIAN BANK FAILURES. The " Statist " says that the Aus tralian banks are trading overmuch in English deposits, and that it is un sound policy to have liability and assets on opposite sides of the world. EMIGRATION OF RUSSIAN JEWS. Baron Hirsch spent £250,000 on the Jewish colony \* hich he formed in the Argentine Republic. The natives were unfriendly to the settlers. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. Mr Pritchard Morgan has given notice to introduce a Bill shortly, limiting the hours of labor in mines to eight for persons under twenty-one years of age, and restricting the em ployment of women and children. Two Unionists voted for the Pay ment of Members Bill, and four Liberals against it. Mr Gladstone and Mr Chamberlain did not vote. Mr Howard Vincent has given notice to ask why, if the self-governing colonies are able to form commercial leagues, admitting foreigners, England is unable to form an Empire League. THE SILVER QUESTION. Silver is at 8s 4 7-16 d. The " Standard " says that it will drop to 2s Gd shortly unless the American law is changed. The mines of Huanchanca in •Chili are capable of an enormous output at a cost of under Is per oz. Washington, March 27. Free coinage lias suffered a moral defeat. The Opposition developed un expected strength. The supporters of the silver men, however, are not daunted, and are arranging a con ference of parties.

BEHRING SEA, The United States Government will send the following vessels to patrol the Behring Sea sealing ground :—War ships—Charleston, Baltimore, and Boston ; gunboat—Yorktown ; sloops— ] Adams, Ranger and Mohican ; revenue j vessels—Rush, Crown, Deer, and Albatross, The " New York Herald " condemns both President Harrison and Lord Salisbury, and says that the adoption of an indemnity is worth any sacrifice The "New York Post" generally supports Lord Salisbury.

CHINA AND FOREIGNERS.

Hong Kono, March 27- Ohan Han, the mandarin alleged to be responsible for the circulation of anti foreign literature at Hunan, has been arrested.

WARSHIPS BURNED.

Madrid, March 27. Seven steamers, including two war ships, have been burned at Barcelona owing to petroleum catching fire.

OBITUARY.

.New lonic, March 27. Walt Whitman is dead, ac,'ed 72. [Walt Whitman was bora at Long Island, and educated ab the public schools of Brooklyn and New York. He was after wards printer, carpenter, school teacher, editor and Government clerk, and during the war volunteered as an hospital nurse. Since 1874 he devoted his attention to poetic writings, m which conventionalism m form and matter was markedly disregarded. His poems were not popularly known beyond the States.]

THE ANARCHISTS.

Paris, March 27. The house of the barrister who prosecuted the Anarchists has been wrecked by an explosion of dynamite, and seven persons injured. The President is taking steps to make any one depositing explosives m a public street guilty of a capital offence. Paris, March 28. The outrage was carried out m such a manner that the dynamite was placed on the landing, and when it exploded it destroyed the stairs and shutout the retreat of the occupants. Every effort was made from outside to rescue the inmates, and ultimately all were got out alive by means of a fire escape, with one exception. The concussion smashed the windows m. the vicinity. Up to the present no arrests have been made m connection with the outrage.

INTERPROVINCIAL.

Wellington. March 28. Notice of discontinuance of the case of Wotherspoon v Dobson and. Kennedy, m which an injunction was obtained to pre vent the defendants from playing the drama of " Little Lord Fauntleroy " with out permission and without payment of cop} right fees, was filed m the Supreme Court to-daj; by Mr Gully, on behalf of the plaintiff, [t is understood that fresh proceedings will be instituted. Mr Hanlan, official instructor m fruit culture, has just returned from a v'sifc of m pec ijii vi ;h:. ui^:-ioL LX.uudiug from here to Palmerston via the West Coast, thence to WuodviUe and back via the Wairarapa. He reports that the district generally, with the exception of Feather ston, is favourable to fruit growing, but regrets that mary of the orchards show neglect, and that the ravages of scaly blight are apparent. Dunedin. March 28, Mr A. Hill Jack, general manager of the National Insurance Company was entertained at luncheon to-day by the heads of the Insurance Companies and presented with an address, on the eve of his departure for England. Titvkrcargill, March 28. At daybreak this morning eight stacks of oats on the farm of Mr W. Saunders, Gropec's Bush, were destroyed by fire. The stacks are supposed to have con tained about 1600 bushels of grain, and there was no insurance. The fire is believed to have been willfully started. Mr Triggs, of the Christchurch <%Press," returned to-day from Milford Sound. He made the trip across the Clinton saddle | with Mr and Mrs John Watson, of the Grand Hotel, Dunedin, piloted by Mc- Kinnon. Mr Triggs is enthusiastic m his praise of the scenery of Clinton valley. He thinks that it is more picturesque than the Otira. The great drawback to the opening of the district thoroughly to tourists is the state of the road from Te Anau to Lumsden. Alongside this the Government railway runs twelve miles but tourists have to take the coach all the way as the train only runs twice a week and then not at an hour to connect with . the coach. Mrs Watson is the first lady tourist who has made the journey to Sutherlands and back overland.

SPORTING.

RIVAL TROTTING CLUBS. (per pbess association,) Wellington, March 28. Recently a couple of trotting clubs have been formed m the city, and each claim the title of the Wellington Trotting Club. One has secured a track some six miles out of town ; while the other in tends to race on the old Island Bay course. Each Club has itb programme out, one giving £136 m stakes, and the other £120 and strange to say both have decided on the-Queen's Birthday as convincing day. A s the dates clash the Ciubs must suffer, and it may probably result m their col lapse, as but little interest is taken hero m that sport, which, judging from prioy trot races was not of a character likely to inspire the public with confidence.

POLITICAL.

THE BRUCE SEAT. : [VEH PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Di/nedin March 29. Mr Lee Smith is definitely announced as the Ministerial can lida'e for Bruce.

The Tauranga Sheep Disease.

Mr G. L. Pe.acicke, as editor of the "New Zetland Farmer," has recently visitud Tauranga, Te Puke, and Katikati m connection with the mortality amongst sheep experienced m the two first-named di.sbiicts. On his way hack to Auckland he had an interview with the Minister of Lands, at Ti> £ roha, and brought under his notice a suggestion previously made to the Agricultural Department, that the Government should place a practical man m charge of a small breeding flock at Tauranga, so that by different methods of treatment, both of the sheep and the land upon which they were kept, some light might be thrown upon what cer tainly appears to be a somewhat mysterious malady. The Hon. Mr M'Kenzie recognised the great im ; portauce of the question, not only to the Bay of Plenty farmers, but to sheep breeders generally throughout the colony. With regard to the suggested experi mental farm for the special purpose of a systematic investigation of this obscure disease, he thought very favorably of the idea, if, as was represented to him, the use of 300 or 400 acres of land could be obtained at small cost for the purpose. Colonel Fraser, M.K.R.. who was with Mr M'Kenzie at Te Aroha, subsequently called upon Mr Peacocke, and stated that an the Parliamentary representative of a portion of the district the proposal would bavp his cordial support. Mr Kelly, M.H.R., representing another portion of the same district, is also disposed to aid m the project, while Mr David Lundon, Mayor of Tauranga, and a sheep farmer himself, considers the idea an excellent one, and both he and other residents will heartily co-operate m assisting to carry out the plan suggested.

THE FORGERY CASE

GILBERT RECAPTURED.

The man of many names, whc escaped \ last Thursday from Constable Hunt's custody at Chertsey, and led the police a long cha.se o^er the upper part of the county, was run to earth this morning, and arrested. His arrest took place at the camp on Mr £. D. Robertson's station early this morning. Constable Ramsay had traced him on Monday to the Montalto station, and last night between eleven and twelve o'clock the constable, accompanied by Mr Robertson and four men from the station, the camp, about four or five miles from the station, where the men em ployed m carting grain Avere living. The party rods to within a milo of the camp, and came on the rest of the way on foot. The carters were all asleep m the tent, but Gilbert was moving about the paddock. Constable Ramsay rushed Gil bert and seined hold of him with one hand while with the other he held a large revolver bofore his eye?, With the aid of one of the men from the station Gilbert was handcuffed, and the procession started back to the homescead, As soon as they got into the kitchen, Constable Ramsay locked the doors, but as soon as the hand cuffs were taken off the prisoner, the latter made a dash for the window. The constable, however, was too quick for him, and had his arms round him m a second, ond m anotrer second he was again handcuffed, i.fter having been put down an the floor. Gilbert was brought down by the Mount Somers train this morning m Constable Ramsay's custody and at the Police Court this morning he was charged—before Mr Harrison, J ,P. —with forgery,and remanded for a week, nc bail being offered. Gilbert denies being the man the police want. He says his name is Patrick Flanagan, a North of Ireland man, and a Catholic, and since he has been m the cell he has torn up h s hat and trousers, and has kept on making a great noise, stamping up and dowii his limited space, now and again singing gleefully, and at other times in dulging m a lust} shout. In his wander ings he has been able to raise the trousers and hat he has torn up as well as a long blue coat and a blanket. In the blanket is the better class suits of clothes he wore when , he escaped. He had obtained em ployment at Montalto, and was to begin work on Monday. Gilbert is no stranger to Constable Ramsay, who knew him m Dunedin, and recap tured him after his escape from the labor gang at the Heads. The arrest on that occasion took place on board the Himalaya, then lying at the wharf, on board of which vessel Gilbert had managed to sneak, but was tracked by Constable Ramsay and the Sergeant. After his arrest on board the vessel, and when crossing the deck to go on shore, Gilbert made an attempt to trip up the Constable but was not quick enough, and received m return a " lift under the ear " that made him m future respect the strength of the Constable's right arm. The first occasion of Gilbert's escape from the police was at Ravensbourne, when he jumped from a train going at a fairly rapid rate and got clear away, and was able to keep out of the hands of jus tice for a considerable time. The thanks of the police are due to Mr Robertson and his men for the great and ready assistance they gave the police m the capture of Gilbert. Without the in formation they supplied and the trouble they took m the matter, Gilbert would no doubt be still at large, as his activity is such that few constables single-handed would be able to catch him.

CRICKET.

ENGLAND V. AUSTRALU. [t'JSR PB.B-SS ASSOCIATION] Adelaide, March 28. The English eleven defeated the Aus tralians by one innings and 230 runs. Lord Sheffield has intimated his inten tion of bringing a strong team to the colonies to play three test matches only. The expected team will arrive m Aus tralia next December. London, March 27. The project of an early visit of a team of Australian cricketers is favourably received.

LATEST CABLE NEWS. HOME AND FOREIGN.

(_PEK PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Received March 29, 11.30 a.m.) BEHEtrNG SEA. Washington, March 28. A section of the American Press re proaches England for the absence of good faith and common honesty in. dealing with the sealing dispute. London. March 28. The London Press pronounce Lord Salisbury's proposals for the settlement of the Behring Sea difficulty the least that England can be expected to ac cept. The " Times " considers that the United (States demands nothing less than the prejudgment for this season of the whole question, and describes any objection raised to its extravagant demands as spoliation. THE GREAT PEARL CASE. Mr Matthews, Home Secretary, de clines to reduce MrsOsborne's sentence.

TO-DAY'S TELEGRAMS

[PEK PKESb ASSOCIATION.] Arbor Ouy. Wellington, March 29. Mr G. Woodward, who was instrumen tal in establishing an Arbor Day in. Wel lington, suggested to the Premier the ap pointmenc of a general .Arbor Day for the whole colony. A reply was received stating that the Government will be will ing to assist the movement, and the Mini ster of Lands mentions July and August as the best seasons for planting. Kite Agricultural .Department. The Stonk Department will take over , the Agricultural Department from April 1, as the hands of the Department with which it is now connected are over burdened with work. Sale of Small Ituim. Oamabu, March 29. A sale of small grazing runs was held here this morning. It attracted a large crowd of purchasers, and bidding for the bmaller divisions was very brisk, many selling at considerably over double the upsets. Thirteen runs were sold, com prising an aggregate of 21,000 acres, for £1400. One pastoral license, 2850 acres, was sold for £J64, the upset being £71. Three of the larger of the grazing runs I were passed in, but everything else sold at large advances on the upsets.

Oldest and Youngest.

"WHO'S WHOP* 1892."

The oldest Cabinet Minister is Vis count Cranbrook, Lord President of the Council, aged 77 ; the youngest is • Mr A. J. Balfour, First Lord of the Treasury and leader of the Hou^e of Commons, aged 43. The oldest member of Her Majesty's Privy Council is Sir James Bacon, aged 93 ; the youngest, Lord Walter Gordon-Lennox/ M.P., aged 26. The oldest duke is the Duke of Nor thumberland, aged 81; the youngest the Duke of Albany (a minor), aged six. The oldest marquis is the Marquis ef Nor thampton, aged 73 ; the youngest, the Marquis Camden (a minor), aged 19. The oldest earl is Earl Grey, aged 89; the youngest is the Earl of TDalhousie (a minor), aged 12. The oldest viscount is Lord Sherbrooke, aged 80 ; the youngest, Viscount Torrington (a minor), aged four. The oldest baron is Loi'd Ebury (who is the oldest peer of the realm), aged 90 ; the youngest Lord O'Hagan (a minor), aged 12. The oldest member of the House of Commons is Mr C. P. Villiers, M.P., aged 93 ; the youngest Mr W. F. D. Smith, M.P. for the Borough of the Strand, aged 23. The oldest judge m England is Lord Esher, Master of the Rolls, aged 75; the youngest, Sir F. H. Jeune, of the Probate, Divorce, and Admiralty Division, aged 48. The oldest judge m Ireland is the Hon. John Fitzhenry Townsend, of the Court of Admiralty, aged 81; the youngest, Mr Justice Gibson, of the Queen's Bench Division, aged 45. The oldest of the Scotch Lords of Session is Lord Young, aged 72 ; the youngest, Lord Robertson, Lord Justice-general, aged 46. The oldest prelate cf the Church of England is the»Bishop of Chichester, aged 89 ; the youngest, the Bishop of St. Asaph, aged 43. The oldest prelate of the Church of Ireland is the Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Irelaiad, aged 84; the youngest, the Bishop of Cork, aged 57. The oldest prelate of the Scotch Episcopal Church is the Bishop of St. Andrews, aged 85; the youngest, the Bishop of Argyll, aged 50. The oldest baronet is the liev. Sir J. Warren Hayes, aged 91 j the youngest, Sir 0. A. Fitzroy Kennard, created a baronet m 1891 (a minor), aged six. The oldest knight is Sir Provo Wallis, the senior Admiral of the Fleet, aged 100 (since dead); the youngest, Sir H. Robertson, aged 29.

English Politics.

THE COMING GENERAL ELECTION.

The ußeview of Reviews" of January 15, says :—1892 is to be the year of thg general election. At Home all political interests are dominated by that fact. We are approaching the day of decision, and there is anything but a Spirit of exulta tion on either side. The Liberals are not going into the contest with aaything ap proaching the enthusiasm with which they swept all before them m 1868 and 1880. Recent events m Ireland have somewhat damped their zeal. They will go forth to battle with a foregone assurance of vic tory bub the " fizz" is out of them. They have three dangers : (1) Mr Glad stone's health—and Mr Gladstone is now m his eighty-third year ; (2) the perpetua tion of the Parnellite schism m the Home Rule ranks; and (3) the development of a Labour party which would be colour-blind as to party differ ences. The Conservatives have three advantages : (1) An administrative record that is much better than any one ex pected ; (2) a united Cabinet; and (3) a programme of legislation that does net involve a second general election before it can get into operation. Notwithstanding these considerations, few prognostics seem to be more safe than the prediction that Mr Gladstone next Christmas will have a majority at his back—including the Gladstonian Home Rulers—of at least 100. Such at least is at chis moment the expec tation that prevails Oft both bides of the House. In the country the Conservatives still try hard to make believe they have a chance at this year's polls. At head'? quarters, they think only of the next general election but one,

THE MARKETS.

Messrs H. S. Fitter and Son, Central Meat Market, London, m their report for the Mail of February 20, say ; — We atfe able to report a further im provement m the price of frozen mutton, consequent on the very limited present supplies, and the outlook for the next two or three months is satisfactory, It is to be hoped that moat of our friends (acting on the experience gained m previous years) have, with the new year, commenced heavier shipments, for during the first seven months of the year (January to July) we have, as a rule, a far greater demand for Kew Zealand mutton than during the remaining months, T|ie' 'fAoran^i," the %sl? Shiji subject

$HE ASHBtTRTON GTJAkMAN : MAftCJf 39, 1891



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The best medicine known is SANDER ai;d SONS' EUCALYPTI EXTBACT. Test its eminent powerful effects m coughs, colds, influenza, etc.—the relief is instantaneous. Thousands give the most gratifying testi mony, His Majesty the King of Italy, and medleaj. syndicates all over the globe are its patrons, liead the official reports that accom pany etch bottle. Mosl.er, M.D., Professor, University, Griefswald, reports :'-— The Eucalypti Extract proved magnificently suc cessful m very severe contusions, bruises'' spiains, wound's, scaldings, broken ribs, and limbs. ("Medical Journal," Nov., 1881). fn diseases of the kidneys, either active con gestion or suppression, (nriwmia) or albunri nuria, dropsy, lithn.rgy.. nothing will equal >n its action Eucalypti Extract, Doses, five to six drops. Hosier, M.D., Professor, University, Griefjwald, reports :—Diphthe ria. Tonsils continually coherent presenting ulcers with white oxutlants. Curod jn four teen days. Surgical Clinic of Prof, M'lntyve, College of Physicians and Surgeons, St. Louis—Scirrhus of Breast—Excision Euca lypti Extract employed. No swelling, lioat, or discoigratiop. Cured m fourteen days. —Advt ■ 4 Thk Best Remedy fot? Indigestion— Norton's Camomile Pills are confidonty recommended as a simple remedy foi Indigestion, which is the cause of nearly all fciie '-diseases to which we are subjects Norton's'Pilu;, with justice called the •' Natural Strengthened oi Human Stomach," act as a powerful tonic and gentle perient, are mild m their operation, and safe under any circumstances. Sold m bottles, at Is lsd, 2s Qd, Us, by all medicine vendors throughout the wwld, Mnian Hyslop and Oo.'s" In.pena pure Ceylon and Indian Teas are the 1 best m the rwritet — {AW



CASH Advertise-nen-a u^er d^s heading not exovwdiag blXlJ^ WORDS !/-• Addresses may be ltftat this Office. , ■TTrTNTED Known.— Plums for pre- VV * serving m any quantity ctevp, also Tomatos for sauce. A. W. lUn"ei^ Town Hall. ____________-^— — EW^h^TFans. just opened up also, Silk and Paper Fans from Is each—H. M. Jonbs^ ________—— OW^ auTwhen can I get cheap read ing for the Winter evening? By ioinhuc my Circulating Library, 3s 6d per quarter.—H. ML. 3onks. /CHOICEST new Benson's Figs and (J Cartoon Table Dates m 31b Boxes, 28~each.~-H.-O. Flower, Confectioner, East street. _________——— " TO^TEiTkNOWN, New Boots and VV Shoes for the wet weather, of sound value at the " Corner. XTKTANTKD KNOWN, Grand display W of new Millinery, Ulsters, and Jackets, at most reasonable prices at •TEH COBNBrt." 117 ANTED Known!-Come and ace W the Bargains now on at Melford Houae.-H. C. Segeb9. _^ tITANTED Known.—lf you want VV plenty of first class Drapery, Boots and Clothing for cash, come to Melford Honaejjale.— H. 0. Sisgra^ TT T ANT ED Known.—l have a large W stock of Tin and Ironware Goods to select from. Register Grates, Stoves, Portable Boilers, Spouting and Ridging kep*- m etock.-J. W. Habblw East street. •*• W~~ ANTED Known.—Great Cash Sale now on at Melford House. Almost everything reduced. —H. C. Sbgbrs. __ ALL Wool Colonial Tweed Suits to measure; fit and workmanship guaranoeed; from 50s cash. Robkbi Alcorn, Ashburton Clothing Mar., Saunders' Buildings. (W "Meet the Times.—l am uupplying JL Galvanised Iron Tanks from oOs upwards, warranted for twenty years Force pumps, deep well cylinders of all des 3riptions. Inspection mvitett. J. W. Hardlky, Eas street. o{^i ANTED~Known—That you will make no mistake for quality and variety m English and Colonial Boots, and his highly reputed make by calling at J. Moison's. During coming holidays dis count for Cash. Repairs done at once. A staff of men always kept and best material and workmanship guaranteed. ,\ EW Supplies of Stationery, Account !\ Books, Music, Fancy Goods, SfewG-amea, Orders for Printing, Book oinding, Picture Frames, promptly ex ecuted Schools and offices supplied with every requisite. f'^ n-ND BEWES papers supplied.—L. *. AJWiMiWJs.O & CO., Stationers' Hall. Public Notices. BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY. m TIE ANNUAL MEETING jL will be held on WEDNESDAY EVENING IN THE WESLEYAN CHURCH, at 7.30 p.m. The Rev. S. Lawry will take the chair. Addresses will be given by Rev. H. T. Robiohns (the Society's agent from Sydney) ; by Rev. ,). Cocker, and Messrs J. H Twentyman and J. W. Sawle. A Collection will be taken m aid of the Society's Funds. 3 5187 1892 W INTEB. M 8 —NOW SHOWING— TH S New Overcoats and Water proofs New Tweeds and Suitings New S^e'- m lljys'Clot' ii.g AND New Hosiery and Gloves New Collars and Shirts CHOICEST New Scarfs and Bows New Travelling and other Caps fltOCk New Soft Felt Hats New flexible Hats ever New Sfcyles m Boys> Hats and Caps New Rugs and Umbrellas SHOWN New^cle onpeß and Riding Aprons jyy New Goods m all Depart ments Inspection Respectfully U 5. Invited NEW ZEALAND Clothing Factory. W. H WEBBER, Manager. Agftnta for Wertheim Celebrated Sewing Machine.