The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY, JANUARY 30, 1892. CURRENT TOPICS.

There are some mean people in this world. They are the peoplo who rob graves, poison clogs, shoot domestic fowls or steal them from their nests when sitting, rob children of half pence, and so on. Some of them have found out a (to this country) new outlet for their meanness. They find out the routes over which pigeon fanciers exercise their fliers and shoot them as they are making for their lofts. These homing pigeons take an important part <m, the transmission of news to the evetaing papers of the colony, and it is the depth of meanness to murder the birds while they are discharging so valuable a duty. But there are beings who are capable of such action. A few days ago a pigeon was missed from a flight returning to an Ashburton loffc. Three days later it came in with a wing crippled by gunshot. Let not those who shoot these birds think that they can do so with impunity. They are just as liable to punishment for this offence as for robbing a henroost. A case in point is reported in recent Eng lish papers, where a man was summoned at the instance of the Crystal Palace Flying Club for unlawfully killing a pigeon. The prosecuting solicitor said the defendant, with several men under kirn, were in the habit of shooting all the valuable birds which flew over the meadows. The pigeon in question was valued at £o, and its first journey was from Ventnor to Norwood. While it was flying en route from Cherbourg to Norwood the defendants shot it down when over the meadows. He sold the bird to a man named Martin, who ate it. The man sold the feathers to a tradesman, and in this way the bird was identified, the feathers bearing the name of the Club. The defendant rejoiced in acts of this character, and boasted that he shot down fifty valu able birds in a week. The defendant denied shooting the bird, but the Magistrate fined him 40s, in addition to ordering him to pay £5, the value, and 21s costs. The defendant declared that he had not received justice, and said he would pay £50 if he had a fair trial. He asked the Magistrate what term of imprisonment he would impose. The Magistrate said the de fendant would go to prison for six weeks in default of distress. The defendant paid the money. A gentle man produced a handful of feathers, and the prosecution said they had been taken from birds of the value of <£300, and belonging to many clubs throughout tlie country.

The influenza is without doubt the topic of the day which is of most general interest. High and low aro victims to its attacks, and it is assum ing the deadliness of a pestilence. At Home the Premier is forming a Royal Commission to sit on the disease, and in Victoria the Government is taking similar action. Alleged specific remedies are thought worthy of being cabled the world over, and their discoverers are the lions of the day until the in efficacy of their remedies is demon strated. Poor Mr Chew Chong, the estimable butter maker of Taranaki, who many thought would prove to be a greater than Pasteur, has failed ignobly, his remedy instead of being the extraction of the influenza parasite turning out to consist of the partial dissetion of the patients. Several cures by Chew Chong's method were vouched for; and it would be interesting to know whether his treatment has been as effectual since the light of science was thrown upon it by Sir James Hector. A good many sufferers would cheerfully part with a considerable number of the fibres of their cuticle if they could thereby get thoroughly rid of la grippe.

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

To-day is the Chinese New Year's day. Farmers are reminded that the W 00l Sales take place next Tuesday. Tke catalogues close a this afternoon. The hearing of the petition lodged against the return of Mr Sandford for Christchurch will be taken next ThurscHy before Mr justice Denniston and Mr Justice Williams. At the Canterbury Trotting Club' 8 meeting at Christchurch yesterday, Mr O Digby's Jena won the Maiden Stakes and Mr P. McAlister's Springfield won . the principal event, the Association Grounds Cup. Last evening Harold Curtis, while prac ticing on the Domain Cycling track, kad a very°heavy fall. He was badly shaken, bruised, and cut, and it was thought one of his arms was broken, but this was found on examination by Dr Tweed not to be so, and it is expected he will be all right again in a few days. A somewhat surprising incident hay just occurred on the farm of Messrs Watson, at Aehby. A crop of corn was being cut with a new patent reaper and binder, when a hare was seized by the machine and bound up in a sheaf. The creature was unhurt, its whereabouts being discovered by its repeated cries. The Resident Magistrate of Auckland has decided that "tin bread" does not come under the denomination of " French bread, " and has fined a baker 40s for not having his " tin bread" full, weight. This has been brought about by an Act passed last session, and bakers therefore will stop making " tin bread." News was received in Asbbnrt.oa yester day that U. Holmes, the well-known light weight jockey, was dangerously ill. His mother, Mrs T. Holmes, of Hinds, went to the Ohristchurch Hospital, to which little .Holmes had been removed, by the after noon train to nurse him, but this morn ing a telegram was received that the poor lad was dead. At the recent- scholarships examination Percy Reveli, o pupil of the Ashburton ,S«hool, though not successful in taking a «it/Ul,ar3hip, gained a governors' exhibition. lijLe <y.^s jFor»iel"ly a pupil at Miss Boyle's [JtWuT s'tiUyol aml also ilt' Hampstead school. ftVlnvs Mfc/»f 7><wise'a name was not among the list of sn.coe^ujl pupil teachers, m, on account of in,tk™?'l? &{* iW «uabJ° {o attend, the 9*^o^*

! The "baitiaru Mail" learns that as far (as the eventuality of wind is concerned, ' the crops on the Papakaio p'.iui, Duntroori, Otakaike, Kurow, and Hakateramea arc sale, and that, in all probability, within a fort night or three weeks nearly the whole of the crops will be in stack, The yields, in many instances, promise to be beyond anticipations. In one case it is believed that upwards of 50 bushels to the acre will be the result, in another between 30 and 40, and so on. Those of our readers who are shaie holders in the Zeehan silver mines may > bo interested in the following extract I from a letter from Mr "H. F. Harrison, the Secretary of the great Extern mine, which has recently been successfully floated: — "T. C. Williams has taken 1500 shares. His son, who has just, gone over to Zcchau at my advice, cables to !>is father ; ' Been four days looking at mines ; very satisfied.' Tic also wrote from Mcl bourne to his father sta'ing that Broken Hill experts were placing their savings in the Zceiuui Mines, and that every one speaks very highly about the prospect of the silver fields. " The following story is told by "Hidalgo" the American correspondent of the Austra lasian ;—An old man in Illinois who owns a stallion called Morokus last year offered a purso of 200dol free for all two-year-olds to run seven furlongs, and there wereseven starters, three of which were by Morokus, and these three finished absolutely last. This year the old fellow resolved not to be caught nap ping, so he offered a purse of 200dol aa be fore, but restricted it entirely to the get of Morokus; distance, one mile. The conse quence was the race had six starters, and the whole six ran a dead heat, not being fast enough to beat one another. The Auckland correspondent of the "Otago Daily Times" telegraphs that X. Sullivan, the well-known sculler, has gone to Sydney, where he will claim the title of champion sculler of the world unless Stans bury accepts his challenge. According to one of the rules under which the title is held the holder must accept any challenge within six oionths of its issue, failing which he for feits the championship. Sullivan's challenge ' was issued on July 29 last, and as the six months have expired without a reply being elicited Sullivan is fnl'y entitled to claim the proud title of champion. On Tuesday last a horse belonging to Mr Brake, of RiccaVton, fell dead while in the shafts of a cart. Its owner thought it had died from heart disease, but, to satisfy himself on the point, ho opened the body of the animal, and found that the heart was apparently sound, bat that in the stomach were large numbers of grubs, seemingby those of the bot-fly. These, he concluded, had caused the death of the horse. A number of the grubs were put in a canister, and it is proposed to have them examined by Air Murphy, Secretary of the Agricultural iind Pastoral Association.—"Times " The following is the " Taranaki Herald's" account of an episode referred to in a recent telegram:—" One of our legislators, who is not unknown to fame in the Senate at Wel lington, has lately been distinguishing him self in that noble art of which J. L. Sullivan is the great living exponent. It happened thus— A. shopman had an altercation with the legislator's son, who is employed in the same shop, and the wordy warfare ended in blows, when the latter got the worst of the fray. He went home and told his father, who immediately came down and demanded satisfaction from the shopman. From words the twain got to a challenge, and finally ad journed to the back yard to settle their difference by force of arms. • The fourth round was however, disastrous to the shop man, as the legislator got home a hot right hander between the eyes, and fairly laid him out. The shopman desiring no more, the fight ended. The Victorian Government statist in his report on friendly societies, dealing with tho vexed question of members' contributions shows that twelve societies, containing fifty-one per cent of the total number ot members in. Victoria, have adopted adequate or nenrly adequate contributions; eight. societies, having thirty-five per cent of the members, have increased their contributions more or less effectively; and twelve societies with fourteen per cent of the members, have uot made any increase. In other words eighty-six per cent, of membership, have taken steps to improve .the financial condi tion of their respective societies. Appended to the report is a statement of the numerical and financial strength of the friendly societies in the Australasian colonies, the figures running thus—Victoria, 88,134 members, funds £909,504; New South VVate?, f>3,795—£394.620; Queensland, ] 5,105— £102,194; South Australia, 30,289 — £2-19,832; Western Australia, 771—£9301; Tasmania, 8692—£59,523; New Zealand, 26,013 —£430,544. The capital per member thus ranges from £6 15$ 9d in Queensland to £16 Us in New Zealand.

Distribution of Frozen Meat.

About a year ago (says the " Lyttelton Times" correspondent) there was started in London a .small Company called the Freetrade Meat Company, Limited, which had for its object the supply of frozen meat imder the best conditions, by bringing the. consumer into direct contact with the importer. To this end shops were opened in various quarters of the metropolis, and in the majority a largs | and profitable business has been done. The experiment has convinced the Directors that once the meat is brought within the reach of consumers in its pristine freshness, there is no difficulty in getting rid of it. Encouraged by this experience the Company is now taking steps to widen its sphere of trade by means of steamers for coastal depots, and by specially constructed trucks for rail way and inland work. To cany out this objecc it was necessaey to make certain alterations in the articles of the Company. At a meeting last week the following resolutions were unanimously agreed to :■— : 1. That the capital of the Company be 'increased from £10,000 to £50,000 by creation of 40,000 £1 shares. 2. That the name of thp Company be changed to the " Freetrade Meat, Produce and Carrying Company Limited."

The Land Question.

The following slashing defence of the ! Luid policy of rhs present legislative ! majority is from the pea of Dr R. H. ! Bakewellof Aucklaad:— , ' You complain of the Government be cause its measures tend to break up the i , large estates, by imposing on them such a "weight of taxation that it will be nn ! profitable to retain thorn. This h just the one thing on which more than any thing else the democracy are resolved. It is just the one point on which you can excite enthusiasm at a public meeting in New Zealand. The people are determined that they will not. have a landed plutocracy —lords over the soil of this new country, and treating tho bulk of the inhabitants as if they were the peasantry of a con queiv.d territory. If the plutocracy were not- as stupid as ih is cold :md mean, ir, •.votild read the signs of tho times. It would see in the hunger after land a sure sign that a few men would not be allowed to usurp an absolute property over millions of acre,, while the cottier, or labourer, or small fanner, cannot get a few acres on which to build a cottage and keep a cow. It would hasten to establish village settlements in favourite locali ties, near a market or a port; it would break up the large estates into small farms suitable for persons with small capital, and it would insist on selling with each farm allocments of a small size suitable for laborers. I have driven on a summer morning along a well-metalled road in Canterbury for eighteen miles, through land-of which every acre, on both sides of the road was either sold or leased, and I ' have not seen one human being in hll that eighteen miles, or a human habitation. I have seen m the same neighborhood the homestead of a man who owns ninety thousand acres, a magnificent house, beautiful stables built with all the modern improvements, lofty, well lighted, well ventilated, and paved with the finest, con crete. And I have been into the " men's quarters" in the shearing yard—a low erection built of sods of earth, fitted with three tiers of bunks on each side and at one end, a table running down the middle, and two forms, its only furniture. This was good enough for the men, though horses would have died in it in a month. I have seen large owners of land who hare picked their land so as to block out all access to the back country, thus enabling them to hold it on lease at a merely nomi nal rent, And I am daily seeing the victims of this system in the shape of feeble, unhealthy young people, who have been born and brought up in towns where healthy conditions of life are unattainable —and why ? Because life in the rur.il districts has been impossible. Do you think an educated and intelli gent democracy is going to tolerate much longer a system under which a baiiic' manager or a nmholdor is able to say that on a territory as large as many a German principal fey no child shall be born, and no man with a family shall reside 1 Bat this is done on almost every sheep and cattle run in the colony. A mirricd couple is employed, but only those who have no children, or at most one child, are engaged. The birth of a second child is the signal for dismissal. Is it a healthy and wholesome condition ot things when a respectable married woman shall apply to a doctor for the means of producing abortion, bee mse her husband snd herself are employed on a run ; they have already one child, and will be dismissed without mercy if they have another '!■ It was said of the Russians in Warsaw, " Solitudinem fadmit pacem appelluut," They make a solitude and call it- peace. Our plutocracy make a solitude and call it, prosperity ! They fill their own pockets, and they think that for all time to come they and their descendants are to be allowed to perpetuate and profit by a system under which millions are made sickly, miserable and degraded, in order that a few hundreds may enjoy wealth, luxury, and the highest ideal of their lives. There is not a day passes in which I do not see cases that would be cared by a little rest and a healthy country life, or diseases* which would never have attacked the patient if his occupation and surround ings had been healthy, or again cases from the country where anxiety and overwork bad roads, difficulties of transport for produce have caused such grinding poverty that even wholesome and necessary food is not procurable, Had the land been settled steadily from the four principal centres, and no man allowed to take up more than he could cultivate, air.l no man allowed to keep his land waste, to the detriment of his neighbour, then good roads would have accompanied settlement, rural life would have been easier and pleasanter, and agriculture would havj afforded at' least means of living comfortably to the poorest, and a fait prospect of indepen dence co all who had a little capital and sufficient amount of energy, industry and skill.

You think I am speaking of a Utopia— well, it is a Utopia that is realised in Jamaica and Trinidad. You hear a lot of howling and whining about the ruin that has befallen the West Indies, because nobody thinks it worth while to explain that all the ruin fell upon a few hundred families, and that everywhere there is peace, plenty, and prosperity among the tillers of the soil. It requires there, as everywhere else, qualities not possessed by the multitude, if wealth is to be attained, but all the necessaries of life can be procured by a very small amount of toil : nobody ever need suffer from want ot good and sufficient food; no one need labour in such a way as to injure health, and everyone does or can procure land in small lots close to the ports. All this is done by imposing a j tax of 6d to Is an acre on all land. The consequence is that no one holds land they do not use or cultivate.

A. "Corner" in Marrying.

The Americans are a smart people, whp have reduced the art of making "corners " to the exactitude- of a science and the dignity of a profession. We are glad to see, however, thnt they have some qualms of conscience left as to the extent to which this sort of thing ought to be al lowed to go. The other day the Rev S. F. Butts, business deacon and elder of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Cumber land, Ind., "cornered the marriage mart," as an American contemporary puts it, and the moral sense of the community was outraged. The other ministers in the place was greatly puzzled to find that all the couples who wanted to be married in Cumberland used to resort to the Rev Mr Butts for that pulpose. Now this was a serious matter, because, as the "New York Sun " tells us, Cumberland is the Mecca of elopers and of couples in the adjoining towns in Pennsylvania and Virginia because of the marriage license requirements. They accordingly made diligent inquisition into the cause of the strange monopoly enjoyed by the Rev Mr Butts, and found that this too business-like, " business deacon *! had arranged with the cabmen at the Railway statipn that they should divide with him the marriage fee of all couples brought under his care. The consequence was that all cabs contain ing couples bent on matrimony were drawn by irresistible force to the same destina tion. Needless to say this proceeding was not approved by 3^r Butts' ecclesiast ical superiors. On the matter being laid before the presiding elder of the district, lie suspended his top enterprising col league from exercising his religious offices. Thus has the great Cumberland Marriage Corner hopelessly collapsed like many other ingenious but oefarpiis schemes ti? secure a monopoly, ■

THE LICENSING LAW.

■ -. ' > I ~^ ■ ■■.::> As wis presume that the industrious member for Akaroa will next session renew the attempt to pass a Bill to amend the licensing laws, and a3 the whole question is one in ' which great interest is taken, not onlf by teetotal lers, but by all who wish to see the evils of the drink traffic minimised, we propose to glance for a moment at, the salient, features of the Bill of last year, and to indicate certain particulars in which we regard it as capable of improvement. Mr Joyce's Bill of 1891 was a Local Option Bill containing some new and desirable features. It proposed to enlarge the licensing electorate by giving a vote; upon registration, to all adults of either sex resident six months in the district, as well as to all ratepayers. \lt also enlarged the scope of local option - now limited merely to deciding as to whether Hie number of existing licenses may be increased—by providing that the vote shall in future be taken (1) as to whether or not there may be an increase ; (2) as to whether or not there shall be a decrease, and by whatnumber; and (3) ; as to whether or not there shall beany renewals of licenses at all. This is.a great improvement upon any Local Option proposals we have before seen in this colony, because while a great many people would be opposed to total prohibition, there are in not a fevy districts manifestly too many licensed houses, and if the power proposed were given to the people, the evil would undoubtedly be cured by a reduction in the number being the fiat of the poll. It was very sensibly proposed that in the event of there not being a distinct majority for a reduc tion by any particular number, then all votes given for a higher number (including those for total abolition) should count as votes given for the lower number, as thus :—Suppose 500 votes to be cast, 200 of these against any reduction, 100 for absolute refusal of all licenses, 100 for a reduction of the existing number by 4, and 100 for a reduction of the existing number by 2 ; then the 100 voting for refusal of all, and the 100 voting for a reduction by 4, not being able to carry the full measure of their desire, will be counted as voting for the reduction by 2, which would thus be carried by a majority of 100 votes. A similar provision to this we believe obtains in Victoria, and is working very well. Then, again, Mr Joyce's Bill to a large extent minimises the objections of those who claim that in justice to the licensees provision should be made for compen sation when a license is refused on the popular fiat and without any allegation of fault as against the licensee or the licensed house, by providing that the Act should not come into operation until just before the date of the next triennial licensing poll, viz., January, 1894. This would give to licensees notice of the risk they would run of the termination of their licenses, and so far as it goes weaken the claim put forwal'd for compensation for such termination. But if the Bill be re introduced at the approaching session, and the year 1894 be retained as the date of the Act coming into operation, this term of notice will be reduced by one year, and will indeed be only 1| year's notice instead of 2|- years, as would have been the case had the Bill become law in 1891. To meet this, we would suggest either that the date of the Act coining into operation be altered to 1897, so as to be coincident with the date of the next triennial licensing poll, or that provision be made, sup posing the. Act come into operation in 1894, for the granting to the houses to be closed a license under notice current for two years on payment of one year's license fee, such license to be terminable, notwithstanding, at any time for breach of the provisions of the Act. If this were done then something like fair consideration would be shown to the licensees, who would be in no worse position than under the Bill of 1891. Again, we think Mr Wright's proposed amend ment of last year, to the effect that in order to render a poll in favor of a decrease of licenses mandatory upon the Committee, it should be necessary that an absolute majority of the total number of persons entitled to vote should be polled in favor of such decrease, was a just and sensible pro posal ; but it should cut both loays, and a similar majority in favor of an in crease should be necessary before an increase could be granted. Then, again, opportunity should be taken to provide in the Bill for the better en- j forcement of prohibition orders. These, we fear, are in too many instances almost a dead letter, and the evil would, we think, be largely cured if it were made a punishable offence for the prohibited person to obtain, or en deavour to obtain, liquor contrary to the Order of the Court. This should be constituted a misdemeanour, punish able by a substantial fine, and if need be by imprisonment. We commend these suggestions to Mr Joyce, and are of opinion that if he can see his way to adopt them, he will do much to wards facilitating the passage of a measure which he is very desirous of seeing made the law of the land.

Mr Walter Bentley as Hamlet.

It is so long since a Shakesperian tragedy has been played in Ashburton as to be a dim recollection to nil but a few of the most ardent playgoers, and Mi- Ben tley, with his excellent company, last night, to a very great extent, broke new ground. It is much to be regretted that Mr Ben tley struck Ashburton on an infortuitous date. His visit had been looked forward to with eager anticipa tions, but the fine morning induced an unanticipated number of parents —and many who were not parents, at any rate of public school children—to trespass upon Mr Wright's generosity, and squeeze in amongst the children going to Springburn. After a day in the bush, there was little inclination to attend the theatre in the evening, and Mr Bentley's house was by no means in proportion to the powerful representation of Shake pearVs greatest Avork which was pre sented last night. Mr Bentley;s Hamlet was a new reading of the character to most of last night's audience. It was practically the Lyceum version, in which Mr Henry Irving added fresh laurels to the many wreaths he had already won. The whole representation, indeed, was reminiscent of the Lyceum production, though there, were frequent original anxl scholarly interpretations of passages in the play. As to the warrant fW WW® of the^e tyew w»S of WWW'

I difference of opinion, but there could lie no two opinions upon the marib of the I version presented. All the traditional strong scenes, in which Hamlet is the central figure, were brought out with full effect, i new h>ht being thrown upon many of them by the results of the study and talent of the actor. In the ghost scene, the play scene, and tho. List tragic scene Mr Bentley was especially striking, and his claim to be counted amongst the greatest exnononta of tho part must, be admitted. Hfs elocution has much of the power of his father's, magnificent though rugged style, and is less Hii'gestivo of Irving than wo had been prepared to expect. Its effect was occasionally marred by a peculiar nasal intonation which wo are sure is not habitual with Mr - Bentley. Applause was frequent until it was ) observed that the man was sunk in the 'artist, and refused to break the current of the play by recognising thecomplLnent, Tho appreciative and orderly behaviour of the back-seats' part of the andionca was a very, high testimony to the power of the actor. > . Mr JJentley was well supported. Many of the characters appear to have been introduced merely in order that Hamlet mjght address some of his philosophical speeches to them, but others take a substantial part in the action of the tragedy. Miss Laura Hansen's Ophelia was a very sympathetic and artistic impersonation, Mr Greenaway was a spirited Laertes, Mr Alderson gave the ghost's part the full benefit of the profundity of his voice, and Mr Lachlan McGowan was very good in Polonius. In fact, there was not » weak point in the cast, and the performance was enjoyed a« few plays have been en joyed in Ashburton. The dresses were according to the best authorities, and of unusual magnificence. The scenery, unfortunately, had to be in j keeping with the very limited stage room.

The Schools' Excursion.

Such a gathering of school children was never before seen in Ashburton as thab which assembled at the railway station yesterday morning, to take advantage of the generous invitation of Mr E. G. Wright, M.H.R., to spend a day in the Springbura bush. Train accommodation was provided for over two thousand children and adults, and the glorious morning caused this to bo taxed to the utmost. The Ashburton, llampsfcead, and many of the smaller town and country schools assembled in their stan dards and received tickets, then embark ing under the direction of their teachers and the members of their School Com mittees in excellent order. The first train, of seven covered trucks and eleven passenger- cars, took the Ashburton and Hampsbead schools, with the accompany ing adults, and must have had quite twelve hundred passengers on board when it moved off, punctually at 9.20. This train stopped only at Tinwald until Mount Somers was reached at 11.1 U. The second train, of seventeen cars, left .Ashbur tbn with four or five hundred on board, picking up the Tinwald, -Wosterfield, and |j[ayfield schools, the latter at Valetta, and arriving at Mount Somers at 11.40, At Springfield station ample preparations for the conveyance of the childien and their parents and guardians had been made. \. large number of waggons, drays, etc. —in fact, all that could be secured in the district, as well as a con tingent that went up from Ash burton— waited the arrival of the first train, and took the passenger.? up to Messrs Sharp lin, Vincent, and Co.'s mill in the bush, returning as soon as possible to brins; the passengers by the second train. There was, of course, some hitches ,in getting such a large number of. people from the station t.> tlw bush, but as the weather was purr'?-1! if, rlirl !)<•»»■, mnf^r " crvcafc deal even it' a few healthy people had to walk the distance, bub not many had to do so. Arrived there, use was made of the tea supplied by Mr David Thomas, and the sugar, the gift of Mr George Jameson, and tea was made for the children, and dispensed as rapidly as possible. For the grown-up people a luncheon was pro vided at the sawmill, and full justice was done to the cook's provision. Half-way to the bush Mr James Stephen had a very welcome table spread, and did good business. j In the bush itself, it was astonishing how soon everybody found shelter among the trees and exemporised little pic-nic parties on their own account.. Many family parties made the most of the day, and the Committee left no stone unturned to give the little children a chance to enjoy themselves. At fcur o'clock the whistle sounded for the return journey, and the whole of the waggon machinery was again set in motion to bring down to the station young and old. At six oVook the first train blew its whistle ana went off—not, however, before ringing cheers had been given for Mr Wright, the bush firm, the waggoners, and the Committees. Shortly afterwards the second train got away, and. all arrived at then' destinations safely and without accident. That the railway journey should be thqrqughly guarded against accident it may be mentioned that the authorities s,eHt up tfye most experi enced guards available, and they did their worif well. The members of the various School Committees were unremitting in their efforts durihg the day to secure the comfort, safety, and enjoyment of the children. To each carriage two men—one at each end-—were specially appointed, s© that accidents should be prevented as far as possible, and the adults who travelled were also judiciously intermingled with the children with the same cbject. The same, arrangement was carried out on the road to Springburn. and thanks to this carefulness the large crowd of little ones were conveyed safely to the bush, from the bush to Springburn, and thence home.

SUDDEN DEATH.

On Thursday, between one and two p.m., while Mr John Small, of Tinwald, was passing V\ Tinchmore on his way to Oairnbrae, \\q found tfye $oad body of an elderly man, reamed Moses Haniikon, on the road near Mr J. S. Houston's farm. The body was cjuite warm, j^nd after doing what he could ajid ascertaining that life was extinct, Mr S,m.aH called the assistance of Mr Houston, and informa tion was sent to the police at Ashburton, who went out and conveyed the body to the hospital. An inquest was held yesterday after noon, before Major Steward, J.P,, acting as coroner. Dr Trevor gave evidence of having made a post mortem examination of the body, and found no external marks of violence. The brain was healthy, but there was very extensive congestion at the base of both lungs. Though^the cause of death was primarily Qongfestion of the lungs, and the immediate cause syncope. The body was that of a mam 1 of sixty or over, strong and well-grown. The appearance of the heart indicated that deceased had dropped dead suddenly. John Small described the state he found the body in, and his efforts to make deceased speak, as he could, »ot ttiink him dead. Did no.** leave'h'iin. till he was gyre he was dead. Knew him to be Moses Hamilton. Stayed beside him an hour and a half, until Mr Houston fetched one of his men to take witness' place, ' - v'~ iSai'ftes. Samuel Houston said deceased was staying'at «is form at Winch'mbre on a visit. Oh Thursday 'forenoon deceased lefb witness' house with a horse and sprititr van to take some lunc.li to the lU«u, w!i<? were working a^oi^fc two w^

away. About half-pubt two, as he h.»d not returned, wont to look for him, -and in«t Mr Small, wlio told witness wlui*i be had found. Went to tho place. Saw that)the body was that of Moses llnmilt»n. quite dead. Deceased wa« sober, au«i had not tinted think while ho was at witness' place. Met the horse ..ml trap coining back before he met Mr Sinuli. The body was found close to a jrauj through which deceased had come with the hor.se and trap, and witness concluded that deceased fell dead just after he had brought the Ih-l-ko and trap through the irate. He had .shut ihegile. A vcrdicl of " Doaih from naUu-.il causers" was returned. Mr Hamilton was a nui'it respectable man, pos-ii's^'d of some property, and having some relations in the district.

Ashburton Markets.

MR b. THOMAS. Mr I). Tliottjjis reports upon the■inurkfcts for Week ending Tuesday, January 26 :— LiVK Stock—The weekly stock Bale was held at Ashburton Yards, where 1259. sheep and 13 head of cattle were yarded, of which my entry comprised 551 sheep and l.'t head of cattle. The attendance was very small on account of farmers being so busy with the harvest, which has come in all at once owing to so much dry weathfcr. My principal sales of sheep were as follow;!:— 12 fat merino ewea, 9s: 12 fat crossbred ewes, 9a 9d ■; 215 crossbred ewes and lam ha, all told, 7s 2d ; 75 fat merino ewes, 3d 101 ; 102 crossbred lambs, 8a 3d; 102 merino ewes, 3i; 20 fat crossbreds, 13s. Cattle— This class of stock does not seem in. much demand at present in this district. The beef which is grown here generally has to be sent to Ohristchurch to feed the many, as there is no local demand, and young stores are unsaleable, as owners expect the high rates which were ruling a few weeks back caused by the large shipments to the North Island. Cattle sold as ioilows :•—Old cows from 15s to £4 and £5; fat steers up i! 4 15s ; young cattle, £2 to £2 18s 6d. ; Private Balks—During the past month I have sold privately 298 lambs, 9s (%l; 533 two-tooths, 12s; 377 two-w>oths, 10s lid; 300 two-tooths mixed, 12s ; 704 two-tooths, 10s lid; 267 merino wethers. Us Id; 215 fat lambs, 10a 6d; 110 lambs, 10s ; 200 two tooth crossbred ewes and wethers, 10s lOd Altogether I have sold privately and other wise during the month 6892 sheep 6i all classes.

House Maekkt —Business has been very dull in this department owing to the small entries which have come to hand for the last few sales. But whenever a» few good sorts have happened to make their appearance they have immediately been sold at satisfac tory values. I have enquiries nearly every day for good trap horses, but none come to hand ; they either are not in the district or their owners know how to appreciate good stuff, and are unwilling to sell. Good aver age draughts sell well from £12 10a to £20, but they must come into the sale ring fit to go to work, \nd not rolling hi fat and jolly as a sand boy after six months' spell. Hacks—The bulk of hacks which visit the Arcade are old prods at about £2 JOs to. £6, and seem to sell well at that. Some of the purchasers must have constitutions like iron. But when a really good stamp of a hack makes his appearance in Ashburton lie is immediately snapped up for some foreign market, hence tho present state of the market, Last Saturday, really good draughts sold at £16 10s to £21, medium £10 to £10, hacks £1 2s Qd to, £§, harness horses £(} to £'13> unbroken oolts up to £4 15s.

FATAL ACCIDENT.

This morn ng a sad fatal accident occurred, the victim being William Crooks, a lad of about; fourteen, son of Mr W. H. Crooks, carrier. The lad was sitting on the front of a spring dray loaded with about 30 cwt of coal, which he was driving, alone, up Wakanui road west, near the Catholic School. The reins had, according to an eye-witness, got entangled amongst the loadi and young Crooks was. tugging at them,, to get j them clear, when they suddenly gave way and he Qver balanced anc| fe!J to the ground on his face, and a wheel of the dray passed over his back. Mr WiJms hurst, whom the poor lad had just passed and .spoken to, heard, a cry and looking u;p saw Crook>s get up an 4 run towards him. H<3 ran to meet the lad, who fell after going a, few yards, Mr Wilmshurst saw he was hurt and called to Mr J. L. Brown, and tfoey moved the lad, who was now insensible, to the bank at the road side, and sent for Dr. Twsed. The doctor was immediately on the spot, but could do nothing, and the lad expired m about fifteen minutes. Mr Crooks arrived before his son's death, but too late for recognition, and it was his sad lot to tike his boy's remains home. Great sympathy is felt for the bereaved parents, especially for the mother, who has long been an invalid. An inquest will be held this afternoon,

TELEGRAPHIC.

HOME AND FOREIGN.

PEE ftRJBSS. ASSQCIATIOS.

COLONIAL FINANCE.

Uwdost, January 28. Mr R. M. Johnston, Government Statistician of Tasmania, has an article in the " Nineteenth Century " in reply to the articles written by the Hon J. W. D. Fortescue to the same magazine criticising the Australian colonies. Doubts are expressed in the city whether any powerful London Bank would be willing to take the Queens land business in the face of the attack made on the management of the B,ank of England by Sir T. Mcjlwrath. Pessimist)'e views prevail in the City respecting the financial situation of the colonies, and complaints are ijife that no real efforts are made hy the Various Government tA effect retrench ment or impose fresh, taxation. The general impressipp, in financial circles, \s that colonial stocks will fall still lower.

CHILI AND THE UNITED STATES.

Washington, January 28. President Harrison explains that Chili's reply was received prior to the issue of the United States' ultimatum, but that it-was not translated for the reason that its receipt had not. been mentioned to the Cabinet. Chili sug gests that Spain and Brazil should arbitrate. Present garrison recom mends th,s a.cc.eptan.ce. of; a Chilian apology and; the recalling of Mr Egan. Wa ggnfQTOK, January] 29. Mp J, S, Blaine'expresses himself satisfied with the apology tendered by Chili. Congress has referred the apology to a Committee. "Valparaiso, JfciH^ry 28. The Chilian QftYer^nmer^t have re ceive^l numerous exprfess^ocs of sym pathy at the position they have been forced into by the United States, London, January 20. "The Times" assys that President Harrison has bpen guilty of 'sharp practice in connection with the Chilian : incident, and accuses him of br«^v beating the South American, Hiepubl^c for the purpose.of m*king political cajaital out of the affair. 1 IMBEBIAL POIJTICa In % course of a apeecJi I)[er-

Bert Gladstone, M.P., for the Western Division of Leeds, advised the Labour party to co-operate with the Liberals, as i>y that means they would secure better representation in .the House of Commons. The '• Daily News " urges tho rival sections of the Iri.h party to re-unite and points out that the result ot the Kossendale election proves the do.ter»,imrtion of the Liberals to secure Home JLiulc tor Ireland.

MR SPURGEON SINKING.

4-he latest information received from JMantone is M the eifoct ktihb the Key C. B. Spur^eou is sin kin <r PROPOSED (jOLD UUUKENCY TN AUSTRIA. Tl.e Austrian auttiorities are con sulting Mr Goschen, Chancellor of the lixchequw, as to tho ability of En«- Itt.nl to supply 20,000,000 of gold to enable a gold currency to be established m Austria. THE LATE DUKE OF CLARENCE. Lord leiinyaon has composed a fine poem on the death of the Duke of Clarence and Avondale.

THE POPE'S ILLNESS.

Rohjs, January 29. Prayers for the Pope's recovery will be offered up in all the Roman Catholic churches in the city.

THE INFLUENZA.

Paris, January 29. The death rate in the city from influenza alone in 2oQ per day,

THE GERMAN TARIFF.

BEKLur, January 29. Greroiany has modified the duties on foreign meat.

THE RUSSIAN NAVY.

«St. PjiTJEKSBLKo. January 28. The Russian Governuient has given orders for the construction of three new ironclads.

INTERPROVINCIAL.

»<r ti i WBU nrew)s f January 29. Mr Hoben, Secretary protein, of the JNew Zealand Rugby Union, has received a communication from the Brisbane Union asking that, in the event of .-» New Zea land team visiting New South Wales this year, their trip should be extended to Queensland. They offer a guarantee of £250 for the matches, or will undertake tv pay all expenses of the team from tsydney to Brisbane and back, .. w-iv « > Drjr™^ January 29. William Cook, a storekeeper in North haab Vulley, was found hanging in a closet early this morning. He had been m delicate health for some time. He leaves a wife and family. Andrew Johnston, Permanent Artillery man at the Heads Battery, was working at a gun this morning when it rolled on bun* crushing his shoulder and chest. He was insensible when extricated. A. Chinese cook at Tevfot Station was kicked by a horse and died an hour after wards.

THE MARKETS.

(PEU VRESB ASSOCIATION.)

. . London, January 28. Iliero is stjl spirited competition at the wool sales, and prices are unchanged.. Interior sorts. sho,w no improvement in prices. The bulk of sooureU combings are a trifle better, and there is. a stron<j"ct>K> petition on the. part of American buyers for combing and greasy sor^s. The American, visible wheat supply is estimated ot 67,200,000 bushels. (Received January 30, 10.35 a.m.) London, January 28, Ihe total amount of the reserve in the bank of England is £14,608,000; the proportion of reserve tv liabilities is 40*02. Consols 95|. Three months' bills l-g per cent. New Zealand four per cent inscribed stock 102^ ; ditto 3£ per cent 92?. Wheat, long berried 44s 3d* market firmer. Adelaide wheat 44s 9d, Victorian 44s 6d ; both firmer. Wellington mutton 3|d ; beef fore* quarters 3£d, hindquarters 4^d. New Zealand hemp is in eo«d demand, and there has bsen a further advauoa of 10s. Fair to medium £22.

LATEST CABLE NEWS.

HOME AND FOREIGN.

(vm JRKSS ASSOCIATION.) .

(Received January 90, 10.30, ».m.)

SCANDAL AND DIPLOMACY

Paris, December 29. General Menabrea, the Italian Am bassador in Paris, has resigned, owing to his son, Count Mebabrea, having taken out letters of naturalisation in order to procure a divorce from his wife. Signor Ressimann, Counsellor to the Embassy, succeeds him.

THE AGENT-GENERAL'S STAFF.

LosWJw^ January 29. General Stewa^ri will continue to act as military adviser to New Zealand.

SOUTH AUSTRALIAN FINANCE.

Ihe South Australian Government is trying to plac© Treasury bonds at 4| per cent with five years' currency The « Daily News "suggests two years*' and says the rate must be increased to make the issue succeed

THE INFLUENZA.

Lord Salisbury is arranging for a Royal Commission. * 0O examine into and report upon tTie influenza epidemic. an <\ ■ • (% -Bbrlin ' January 2d. ifte of Saxony is sufterin^ from influenza. °

CHILI AND THE UNITED STATES.

Washington, January 29. President Harrison, in a second message to Congress, says the Chilian reply offers good prospects of a settle ment. The incident is now considered to be closed.

TO-DAY'S TELEGRAMS

[PRR HRESB ASSOCIATION. Th« Worth T«lun«l X»i* X.lni> Mr Cadinan, who returned last niehfc, says the object of the trip over the Strat ford route was. to become acquainted with the nature of thp country. He is favor ably impressed with the land, especially in the proximity of Stwtfbrd, and would like to see it opened for settlement. The Minister says that the railway by either the nv*W trunk; or the Stratford route is out of thfi question at present, as it touM necessitate a l^rge loaiv. Tito 2tf»rlp» a a, Auckland, January 30. The mail steamer Maripos* made the. run from Sydney in throe days sixteen! hours. She left this afternoon wit!} tU% $au Francisco wail :

THE ASHBTTRTON GUARDIAN: SATURDAY, JANUARY 30, 1893.



Don't be Deceived !—-If you want the best Medicine the world has ev/er pro duced, 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 <>f JJarl Jersey, Governor of New South Wales, Lord Oarrington, and the J^mpieror of Germany. Awarded medals at Sydney' Melbourne, ana Adelaide, beating »ll competitors, and is the only pure Extract fntfre world. See that the label bears our trade mark tioe of life and signature Oolemane and Son.-?, Cootamundra, New South Wales) without this it i? a fraud. Price, Is 6d and 2s 6(1, Wholesale Depfit for New / Zealand : Lichfield street, Christ-church 8"le Agents for Ashburton : The Ash I burtoi} Prug Company,—A.pvj,



Statutory Declaration.—l, Franz Raabe, Ironbark, Sandhurst, in the colony of Vic toria, Australia, do solemnly and sincerely declare that on the 25fch June, 1877, my son Alfred, six years of age, was accidentally hurt with an axe on his knee. lat once took all pains to secure medical assistance. How ever, in spite of all efforts, on the 27th August, 1877, the opinion was given by Dr Macgilltvray that an amputation of the injured limb had become imperative, in order to save life. At this juncture I called on Messrs Sander and Sons, procuring some of their Extract of Eucalyptus Globulus, and by the application of the same I had the satisfaction of seeing my son within a fort night out of all danger, and to-day he s recovered. I may just add that it was when the crisis had been reached that the Extract referred to was first applied, and I make this solemn declaration, etc, — Franz llaabk, Declared at Sandhurst, iv the colony of Victoria, Australia, this seventeenth day of October, one thousand eight hundred anct seventy-seven, before me, Moritz CgJmi, J.P -(Advt.) fl



: M&IJ1. NOTICE. SATURDAY, January 30. For Northern Ports, per Rotorua, at 6.50 p.iii. MONDAY, February 1. For Chatham Islands, per Kahu, at 10.30/n.m. WEDNESDAY, February 3. For the United Kingdom and Continent of Europe, via Brindisi (specially addressed ! correspondence only), Point de Galle, India, China, Japan, etc., and also for the Austra lian colonies, per express (to connect witn I s.s. Hauroto at Port Chalmers), at 1^,30 i y>ni.



WANTED Known. —'.(Tor first-claws Drapary and Millinery go to Melford House ; cheapest shop in town. ( See windows.; Beautiful Xmas present s being given away.—H. 0. Skgebs. f PO Meet the Times.—l am supplying i Galvanised Iron Tanks from 30s upwards, warranted for twenty years," Force pumps, deep well cylinders of all descriptions. Inspection invited.— J. VV. Hakttle?, PJas street. , 6J201 WANTED 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 holidays dis-' count for Cash. Repairs dona at once. A staff of men always kept and best material and workmanship guaranteed. WANTED Known.--H. Bairstow has opened those premises in East street nextJ. Orr and Co., as a Furniture Warehouse. Latest designs n Vienna Chairs, and Iron Bedsteads on visw. Ha vino; a good stock of well seasoned figured Rimu and Kauri, he is prepared to take orders for Furniture to ny design. Inspection invited. Ilt6l ST. STEPHEN'S CHURCH, ASHBURTON. SUNDAY, JANUARY 31, 1892. Preacher : The REV. H. G. GOULD, of Oamaru. 1 188



"TT7 AN'IED Known.—Great Bargains VV now on at Melford House. Beautiful Cashmeres at Is 6d ; usual price 3s.—H. C. Segers THIRTY Pieces Dress Goods at 6d ; 60 Pieces French Cashmere nt Is 6d, worth 3s 6d ; 1000 Yards French Tweed, double width, at Is 9d, worth 3s 9d. All Dress Goods greatly reduced.—Andrew Orr's Cheap Sale. 1 106 WANTED Known.—Great Bargains iv Ladies' Cashmere Hose, Under clothing, Pinafores, &c. Come and see them. Handsome Xmas presents now giving away.—H. C % Sbgers, Melford House. BOOTS, Boots.—lnfants Boots 9d, six.l Dozen Ladies' Elastic Side Boots, 5s 9d, Gtnts' Boots 8s 6d, Mens' Blucher Boots os 6d, Stanley Shoes Is lid.— Anprkw Orr b Sale. 1 WANTED KNOWN, a special lot of j Hearth lings at Is lid, 2s 6d and 2s lid ; worth about doable. W. H. , Collier. ■ j WAITED Known.—At "The Corner' now selling Ladies' French Shops. 5s lid. See them.—W. H. Collieb, WANTED Known".—l have a large stock of Tin and Ironware Goods *o selpct from. Register Grates, Stoves, Portable Boilers, Spouting and Ridging kept in stock.—J. \V. Haudley, East • treet. 6J2Q2 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.— Robbut Alcorn, Saunders' Buildings. ALL Wool Colonial Tweed Suits to measure; fib aud workmanship ■ guaranteed ; from 50s cash. Roberi Alcorn, Ashburton Clothing Marl, Snunders' Buildings. _^______



Wanted. j CASH Advertisements under this heading not exceeding SIXTEEN WORDS 1/-. Addresses maybe li»ft at this Office. 80ME new lines in Ornaments just opened up. Vefy pretty glass mirrors, and cards for painting on. H. M. Jones. THE Rural Economy and Agriculture of Australasia and New Zealand by Wallace : Picturesque Australasia, Race of Mankind, Templeton's Workshop Com- I panion.—H. M. .Jones. I STATIONERY -Fancy, Commercial, and Leiral; Visiting and Corres pondence Cards, Purses. Pocket Bo&ks, Wallets, Latter and Card cases —H. M. Jones. fiAMERON Street Wesleyan Church. v^ Preacher To-morrow — Rev. S. Lawiiy. Morning subject — " Bible Characters, The First Brothers " ; Even ing—"Does Deabh End All? ff not, What after Death 1" "TT7 ANTED, Cook . for threshing VV machine at once, must be sober, 30s week* kpply to-night or; early Monday, to E. Mahood, at R. Meaclem's, Hampstead, ,1 190 11/"ANTILD immediately, two teams Vf with drays for c*rting in. Apply his Office. . 1 180 "XrOTHINGwiII Cool you so quickly and -*-^ invigorate the system so much as Ice Cream. —H. G. Flower, Confectioner, East Street. _____ TTfTANTED KNOWN,—A great pur ▼ chase of Kid Gloves, £135 10s 61- Florencia Kid Gloves, all sizes, 4 arid 6-Clasp, usual price 6s lid and 8s 6d, now sold for 4s lid and 5s lid. -A. Obr's Sale.



stock-taking, reductions HAVE BEEN MADE IN ALL DEPARTMENTS. Inspection Invited. NEW ZEALAND Clotiaitivr Factory, W. TI. WEBBER Manager. !