MAIL NOTICES.

Mails close for the following places as under, subject to the necessary altera tions :■ — WEDNESDAY, March 9. For the United Kingdom and Continent of Europe (especially addressed correspon dence only) and Australian Colonies, per express (to connect Avith s.s. Mararoa at Fort Chalmers), at I*2 *$Op m. ENGLISH MAILS. HOMEWARD—DIRECT MAILS. Tainui, leaving March 5, due London April 14. Kaikoura, leaving March 19, due London April 28. Doric, leaving April 2, due London May 12. SAN FRANCISCO MAILS. Monowai, leaving on February 27, due London Maroli 30. Alameda, leaving on March 26, due London April 27. OUTVVAKD — Di UfcOT MAILS. Doric, due colony March 7. Ruahine, due colony March 21. SAX FRANCISCO MAILS. Mariposfi, due colony March 23]

Notice to Correspondents

Correspondents are requested to forward their connuui i;ations in unsealed envelopes, or in wrappers OPEN AT BOTH ENDS, as Tetjiiired by the postal regulations. No words that are not intended for publication must be written either on the manuscript or on the cover of the letter. Letter rates ©' postage must be paid pu itdvet'tisemfwts,

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. MONDAY, MARCH 7, 1892. THE CHICAGO EXHIBITION AND THE WOOL DUTIES.

If New Zealand is not represented at the Chicago World's Fair it will not be for the want of enterprise and ;>s suran-"e on the part of the United States Consul-General for Australasia, who is visiting this colony as Com missioner for the Exhibition. The greatest objection that we have to spending the large sum of money which i would be necessary to fully represent! New Zealand products, manufactures and industries is that the United States tariff prohibits trade of any volume being done m them m the States. The Commissioner, however, m an interview with the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, undertook to convince New Zealand wool-growers that the McKinley tariff was a benefit to them ! The United States he said, imported wool from New Zealand, and tho duty on it was about 50 per cent. The States afforded the best market for wool m the world, and what had their tariff to do with it ? They bought it where tho quality and the price were m their favor, for, as the members of the chambers very well knew, there was no such thing as sentiment m business. The colony's real competitor was not the United States tariff, but the Argentine Republic, where there were one hundred million sheep, or as many as all Australasia contained. The States bought 111 bof wool per caput, and they would buy it where they got it cheapest and of the best q.aality. The best quality undoubtedly was to be had from New Zealand and Australia. Values would always be m favour of the colonies, and so long as prices did not go beyond the margin the States would buy their wool. The M'Kinley tariff had increased the duty, but the effect had not been to decrease the import of wool, for ou the contrary, the import of wool during last year showed a very large increase on that of any previous year. The M'Kinley tariff had raised the duty on thirtl class wool from 2| cents to 11 cents per lb, while the duty on first-class articles had only been raised by 2| cents. These figures referred to wool m grease. Thus there was a higher increase od inferior wool than on the superior, A higher increase on the wool that competed with the New Zealand product forced the manu facturer to use the better articles and was therefore all m favor of the colonies. He thought Australasian growers should try to keep up the M'Kinley tariff. We do not think many New Zealand wool growers are of that opinion ; and we do not think Mr Wallace's special pleading will be swallowed either. The tariff was avowedly imposed to prevent foreign wool from competing with that grown m the States, and Australasian wools are bought only because those qualities can neither be done without nor grown tin America. Our best qualities of wool will be represented at Chicago ; and will no doubt be admired, but ex cept as an indication of the producing power of the country, it will be use less to show our average to good quali ties. We hope that the United States Committee of Ways and Means will encourage the manufacturing industry of its great country by reducing the duties oa wool to a reasonable amount.

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The clearing sale of Mrs Moss' effects will be held on Thursday, March 10. Near Newton, Ireland, a miser named Murphy, worth £40,000, died from privation, his sister, who live.-l with him dying the next day. They even went without dinner on Christmas Day. Ho died intestate, and the money goes to his two married sisters. The Riversdale correspondent of the " Southern Standard," Gore, states that Mr Wilson Hall's wheat crop m a 400-acre paddock threshed 84| bushels to the acre out of which th«re were only three bags seconds. The Hinemoa calls at Lyttelton on Wed nesday, and will take Rifle Club represent atives to Wellington. Arrangements have been made by the Defence Minister thac the return fare by the Union Company's steam ers will cost representatives only fifteen shillings each. At a special meeting of the Temuka School Committee on Thursday evening it was resolved to recommend Mr B. Low, formerly of Ashburton, for the position of assistant master at the Temuka District High School. Mr Forsy th, who had been pre viously recommended to the Board, having accepted an appointment at Waitohi. The " Wairarapa Daily" says that the Rev J. C. Andrew, of lea Station, East Coast, intends importing a shipment of mon goose from India. The mongoose is said to be ir.ore destructive than ferrets to rabbits. At the last meeting of the Rabbit Board a letter was read from Mr J. C. Collins, of Fiji, offering to supply these animals at 15i each f.o.b. The most widely separated points between which a telegram can be sent are British Columbia and New Zealand. The telegram would cro3S America, New Foundland, the Atlantic, England (Germany, Russia (European and Asiatic), China, Japan, Java,, and Australia. It would make nearly a circuit of the globe, and would traverse over 20,000 miles m doing so. The railway (system of the United States now aggregates m round numbers 141,300 miles. This is almost double the total mileage of the country thirteen years ago, and more than three times that of twenty years ago. But it is not at all improbable that l the end of the present century, twelve and a half year?** hence, will see the American railway system increased to more than 200,000 miles. Mr Grubb, Ashburton Bakery, baked tc day a batch of bread from new season's flour. The result was completely satisfac tory the dough working welt, and the bread looking and tasting particularly nice, bearing ont the good reports that had been heard from earlier localities ot this year's wheat. Some pf. the loaves are shown m Mr Grubb's window thjs aiter noon.

I Her Majesty's cruiser Opil, built m 187"), j at a cost of £102,824, is to be s->ld aa unfib [ for service. The hull is go-d, but she is nob ( i fast enough. • j It is stated by "Engineering" that half' the tin of the world is exported from fc\f> Malay Peninsula, where mining is carried | on by Chinese. At the Tasmania Exhibition the other day the winners of ;i. sawing contest c it through a log sft 6incb.es m girth m 26 3-sth sees. It is only the female mosquito that bites people and animals, and draws Wo'xl. The male mosquito is a vegetarian, and is never blood-thirsty. The 484 lots of foreign stampa bslonging to a prominent philatelist resident m Hong kong realised £1500 at an auction m London recently. The natives of Malay Peninsula have m use ' the smallest coin m the world ; it is a wafer made from the resinous juice of a tree, an I its value is estimated to be one ten thousandth p'.irt of a penny. Two thousand live pheasants, packed m 60 crates, and filling four railway trucks, were sent from the Game Farm at Liphook, Hamp shire, for Russia, to stock the Czar's pre serves. The amount of property tax collected up to Saturday is f 357,000, or £2000 m excess of the estimate, while there are several large amounts which fall due at the end of the month. There seems to be a consensus of opinion that Taranaki has at last started on the road to prosperity, and that with such land as it has around it nothing can now stop its pro gress. At Pudsey, near Leeds, a husband was taken ill the day after his marriage, and died within a fortnight. The wife gave heiself up to grief, and expired jusb a month from her wedding day. So great has been the demand for the funeral numbers of the "Illustrated London News" and " Graphic" at Home that colonial agents have been notified that it is impossible to supply their orders m the meantime. The question whether a customer has any right m the back premises of a hotel has recently been decided m Melbourne. It was held that a customer having been served m the bar has a legal right to the accommodation the house affords. Brazil ha 3 taken steps to foster the cul ture of the vine by granting for two years' free transmission for the products over State railways, and has provided for the establish ment of a vinological and phylloxera station with a vineyard attached, for the diffusion of information as to vine culture. An Irish farmer named Malion so long ago as 1870 began paying his addresses to a Miss M'Auley. He proposed and was accepted m 1875. In 1891, after 21 years' courtship, he told her that she waa too ild, and turned his attentions and his rhymes to a Miss Coffey. Miss MAuley has recovered £270 damages. At Quebec ths winter markets are very curious. Everything is frozen. Large pigs, killed perhaps months before, may be seen standing frozen m the butcher's shop. Frozen masses of beef, mutton, deer, fowl, cod, and haddock, and eels, long and stiff like walking sticks, abound on the stalls. Milk also is kept frozen and is sold by the pound, m masses wliish look like lumps of white marble. A Birmingham solicitor died, and by his instructions his favourite dog was buried with him. Recently, upon the death of his widow, the dog's body had to be exhumed to enable her to rest beside her husband, but was reinterred close by. The lady left instructions that her donkey should be buried by her side after the death of an old servant. She also lefD money to the dogs' home. The relations have bjen disputing Lhe will, but the jury found m its favor. The London "Star" says:—lt is not generally known that under an old statute a Princess betrothed to an English Royal Prince m the direct line of succession to the throne m the event of the death of her affianced husband, is incapacitated from contracting another marriage within five years of his demise. This adds further gloom to the dismal surroundings of Princess Mary. It is possble that, as s>, solace to her m her great trouble, she will be raised to the rank of a Royal Highness by the Queen. That the Government is anxious to acquire large areas of native land m various parts of this Island is pretty well known, and as to the desirableness of such purchases, if made judiciously, there cannot be two opinions. The progress of settlement m the North Island demands the extinction of the native title on a large scale, and the question is not m any sense a Party one. Unfortunately land cannot be bought without money, and of money there is practically none at the dis posal of the Government. A special loan tor the purchase of native lands would not be looked on favourably ai present, either m the colony or at Home. Under these cir cumstances it has, we believe, been sug gested that Parliament should be asked to authorise the issue of debentures m pay ment for land purchased. It is thought the Maoris would have no objection to receive debentures bearing a fair rate of interest, m payment for their lands, altiiough the ex perience of the East Coast tribes with the scrip of the Land Settlement Company is not encouraging. The proposal is understood to be under thp consideration of the Govern ment, and it is more than likely that a scheme of this kind will be submitted to Parliament when it meets. —" Post." The Japanese, according to the Louden " Spectator," find their Parliament rather unmanageable. Being the most imitative of races, they have adopted representative institutions, and the power of making laws and controlling the Executive has been entrusted to a House of Commons. It appears that the members betook them selves at once to agitation, obstructed all business systematically, refused to vote supplies even for the ordinary business oi the State, and declined altogether to allow the proposed expenditure for the relief of lhe sufferers m the provinces ruined by the earthquake. The Mikado has accord ingly sent them home, and though a new Parliament will probably be summoned it will be under materially modified elec toral conditions, the Government either intervening as it has not yet done, or de creeing a modifications of the suffrage. Meanwhile, the expenditure for the dis tressed districts have been sanctioned by Imperial decree. The Japanese differ .widely from all other Asiatics, but it is m their greater resemblance to clever chil dren, and clever children do not make the most efficient electors. They naturally love noise, and desire above all things more cake. At the time of the Rev C. H. Spurgeon's death Bishop Cowio received an invitation to the memorial service at the Auckland Baptist Tabernacle. Owing to his absence from Auckland he was unable to he present, but it is not generally known that he sent a reply to the Church Secretary (Mr S. H. Matthews), which is of so kind and sympa thetic and generous a tone, regarding a brother minister of another denomination, that I,(" Mcrcutio,")think that it should bo put on record, The Bishop says m hjsnote ; —"Accept my best thanks for your kind invitation to the memorial service. Ko one thinks more highly than I do of tho gifts of mind and heart and speech possessed by the late Rev C H. Spurgeon, and of the manner m which he used them for the advantage of his fellow-men. I was accustomed to hear him proaci; to large audiences, long before ho had the Tabernacle to preach m ; and m those early days of his career expected him to exercise the wide influence for good that m due time he did. I teel the deepest sympathy for Mrs Spurgeon and all the numbers of the family, and pray that they may be the fetter able to Jjear their loss, by the' knowledge that he whom they miss so grievously has' now ljeard from the Master the satisfying welcome, ' Good and and faithful servant, enter thou into, the jqjt of thy Lord. 1" The world is ever moving on towards perfection, butseldom attains it Constant mproveni,6iifc is being made m every branch of industry, but m Baking Powders Perfection has been reached uj Warburton's Cart t Be Beat;

FARM NOTES.

The results of the harvests of the p;uf ■ year m Australia do not give much encour agement to those who desire to force wh«at growing enterprise. In South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales then; was an average decrease m the wheat area amounting to 105,000 acres. DrCartwright writes to the " Woodvillu Examiner" re dehorning runs—"l keep 1 a few sheep. I have been greatly annoyed at the rains f'<_'hting. Last month I picked out four rains with very larue horn 5!. I cut them off a.-, close as I could fit the head with a sharp saw. They hive all done well. Did not. lose a feed. I know it has completely stopped their lighting. One piir of hnns weighed ftTur and a ha'f pouu Is. Total weight of the four pairs, fifteen and three-quarter pou ids." The Secretary of the Auckland Pro vincial Agricultural Association, Mr Alfred S. Board, has received from tho Minister of Agriculture a reply to corres pondence relative to declaring the colony free of scab, which will be read with satis faction. Thft Chief 'Inspector of Stock states that it is hoped m a month or so the Department will bo m a position to say definitely that scab has been eradi cated, and that then steps will at once be taken to have the restrictions removed relating to the importation of sheep into the Australian colonies. The London wool list, of Australasian and Cape wool importers of over 20,000 bales, places the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company at the Up m 1891, with a total of 124,661 bales ; Dalgety and Co., Limited, being second with 118,584 bales. Sanderson, Murray, and Co., with 97,000 bales, and the Australian Mortgage, Land, and Finance Company, with nearly 93,000 bales, are assigned the third and fourth positions respectively. According to an estimate prepared as to the grain crops of the world, Great Britain will require to import nearly one hundred and fifty million bushels of wheat to supply the wants of its population. Franc, will need some niuety millions ; Germany, Belgium, and Austria, about thirty millions, besides large quantities of rye. While Russia will require from outside sources about one hundred and fifty million bushels of rye to make up for the decrease m the crop as a result of unfavourable weather. The only satis factory feature m the situation is that America, India, PJgypt, and Australia have sufficient surplus stock to make up for the deficiency m Europe. To secure a hatdy wheat that can defy a climate that is rough at times is a matter o f. importance to New Zealand farmers generally, and to those m southern locali ties m particular (says tho, "Southern News "). A wheat of this character has been described to us. Mr Alexander Walker, of Invercargill, instituted in quiries about hauly wheat, and received from Mr Davey, of Taunton, Somerset shire, aboutadoublehandfui of wheat which was reported to stand successfully against any kind of weather. The name of the wheat is Short-cared Essex, and the seed was sown three seasons ago by Mr P. Ryan, of Heddon Bush, who this year has about two acres of crop. We are assured that this crop at the present time is stand ing uninjured, while the fields of similar grim surrounding it are lying about, showing damage by the late stormy weather. Iv addition to its other virtues the grain has, we are told, quality to re commend it. No bird is more fecund than the sparrow. [t has been calculated that a single pair will m, say, the latitude of London rear 20 or 30 young m the course of a year, and if all lived their ofispringiti the course of 10 ywxrs would amount to 275,716,983,093 birds. The actual increase is, however, but a small fraction of this total, for millions die m the nest, m the course of nature, of hunger, or of cold during severe weather, or serve as food for carnivorous birds or other wildenimals. But assuming annual youngperpair at only 12 (and m the thewarmerpartsof the United States, where the English sparrow is a serious plague, they are much more numerous), half males and h*lf females, and that all live to live years, the total increase of one pair m that time would be 33,614 birds. This is the estimate made by the officials attached to the American Department of Agriculture, who published an exhaustive report on the sparrow m the New World. For many ye.irs says the Melbourne " Leader " it has been the dream of inventors of harvesting machinery to perfect a reaper and binder that would bind the sheaf securely with its own straw. Since the reaper and binder was first invented wonderful alterations have taken place m its construction, until now ifc seems well nigh impossible to introduce any new feature that will add to its utility or by an improvement upon the work it is capable of performing. The march of intellect, however, is great, and it has desolved upon an Australian inventor to show that an improvement can be intro duced which will greatly cheapen the cost of harvesting to the farmer and give an undoubted premier position to the reaper and binder as the harvest machine of the future. In the old machines wire was used for binding, but it was open to so many objections that it was soon succeeded by twine, for which a most ingenious knotter whs invented. Many attempts have since been made to do away with twir.e as a binding medium, and instead use the straw of the crop that was being cut, but difficulties m tho way seem-xl well nigh insurmountable, and for years the string binder has been accepted as the only possible solution of the problem of how to bind a sheaf of corn by machinery. There is every ! reason to believe that this is no longer so. MrJ. G, Martin, of Benjamin Street, Pa,rkville, has studied tho subject for a i very long time, and has perfected a binding attachment for which he ' has secured patent rights m America, England, and other parts of the world. The attachment can be affixed to any reaping and binding machine now m use, and will entirely supersede bwine, the sheaf being bound by a portion of its own material. The technical description furnished to the Examiner-iu-Chief of the United States Patent Office states the attachment to be *' a device for binding grain, consisting of means for holding the bundle stationary, m combination with distinct drawing, feeding, and twisting devices, which draw the straw butts m a. continuous stream from the periphery of the bundle or sheaf, feed the same to be twisted and twist them into a band while travelling around the bundle, which be may bound to any degree of tension, the end being securely fastened to the band itself." 'The sheaf is fastened by the mechanism of the reaper and binder m the usual manner, and remains m position while the apparatus invented by Mr Martin picks up straws from outside of the sheaf, rapidly twists them into a band by means 6f the large screw, and finally secures the bundle by pushing the band underneath. The band-twister runs right arouutj. the large cog wheel, and the band is prevented from slipping after the sheaf ( is bound by a few straws of the under neath portion being drawn through the upper by a needle constructed for the purpose. The heads of the sheaf are never interfered with, so there is no danger of loss from this cause being sus tained. The operation of making^'the band and binding the sh :af takes up n" npre tjm,e JjhaiJ 13 HOW lost ty usiftg

twine, and the work is said to be just as \ surely performed. Up to the introduction  cf this mrchine,nograin-bindingapparatus had been devised <if commercial value, which used the straw of the sheaf to bind tho grain ; one among many reasons being ; that-, no method had been invented for forming a band sufficient to hold tli 3 grain m the limited time chat could be allowed for tying and discharging the sheaf. The report of the .Exarriner-in-Chief of the United States Patent Office distinctly i-tat?B that Mr Martin is defacto tYu pio neer m providing a practical .solution of this difficulty. In a letter to Mr Martin dated November 23, 1891, the leading harvesting experts of the city of Phila delphia .sa> they have not the slightest doubt that the invention is worth large .sums of money, as it has been the aim for years to obtain a mechanism that will effectually bind a gavel or sheaf by a band of straw. Mr Martin informs us that he has very much simplified the attachment, miking it far less cumbersome m appearance, and more easily adjusted to reapers and binders; but as patent rights have not yet been secured it is premature to publish a description.

Messrs Windeler and Co, London, m their review of the wool trade for 1891, conclude as follows :~AI the November wool sales . . . the quantity oSered was practically all cleared, 4500 bales only remaining to be carried over to the New Year. This is one of Hie few satis factory features that can be noted m the position of our market at the present time. Throughout the year just con cluded, the trade has had difficulties to contend with m the shape of restricted markets for their production, owing to the action of the tariff bill m America, and m the face of the increase of the raw material, the decreased value of nearly all descriptions of wool is not to be wondered at. From all accounts the supply for fchf ensuing twelve months is again likely to be large, so that it is of advantage to all , concerned that the quantity remaining over is no small, and holders have done well m meeting the market as freely as they have. It is worthy of note how very regularly all good staple greasy wools have been again maintained during the past year, largely due, of course, to American support, but they have also been wanted for our Home trade, and they arc to-day on a level with the close of last year. With this exception, all others are far below the average of the past twenty-five years, and m some cases, values are barely above those current during the second series of 1886, the i lowest level known. With this low basis, therefore, it looks as if any change should bo for the better ; the present year, as far as it has gone, however, docs not show promise of any inci'eased activity, and at this moment it is difficult to sea where the improvement is to come from. The t me m our Yorkshire market is tinner than it was, but machinery is not running to its full capacity, and on the Continent business continues dull and unprofitable. It is possible we may see a movement from America later on; that country is on the whole m a prosperous state, and the large exportations of corn made to this country should have its effect m further stimulating business between us, and we shall prob:ibly see more Australian woo] taken for that quarter this year than ever. If so, it should be the means of strengthening our markets-to ■ a certain extent, and assisting the trade generally. The first auctions of colonial wool hero open on the 2bth inst, when the available quantity may amount to 400,000 bales; at this time last year 330,000 bales were available, and appearances point to-day to a maintenance of last sales' rates. As m \ ustralasian so m our home grown wool.- 1, the quantities are m excess of those of la.st year. It is estimated that the clip m England and Ireland amounted to roughly 147,500,000 pounds, an increase of 10,000;000 pounds over 1800, and is the largest production for th-3 past ten years. Business lias for the most part been slow, and from hand to mouth for the pa.st twelve months, resulting m generally drooping prices, and a decline of about per pound from thin time last year. Jixport again shows a following off of about 2,503,000 pounds, chiefly accounted for by the loss of many American orders, owing to the low prices of their own domestic wools.

TELEGRAPHIC.

HOME AND FOREIGN.

I'ER PRESS ASSOCIATION.

CONGREGATIONAL SELF DENIAL WEEK

London, February 4. The self-denial week held by the members of the Congregational Churches throughout England resulted m the collection of £10,000 towards the London Missionary Society. THE NEWFOUNDLAND BLIZZARD. Queen Victoria has sent a message of sympathy to the families of the fishermen who were lost m the recent blizzard on the coast of Newfound land. THE LATE LORD LYTTON. Probate has been granted m the estate of the late Lord Lytton, and the will has been proved at under £75,000. The deceased left directions for the custody of the family docu- \ ments, m order to protect his father's name against calumnies. LORD RANDOLPH CHURCHILL. In the course of a speech Lord Randolph Churchill said that London had hitherto been the citadel of Unionists, but Lord Rosebery and Mr Schnadhorst, Secretary of the National Liberal Federation, were now attempting to capture the strong hold for their party. Pie appealed to the electors to awake to the magnitude of the peril and repel the attack. COLONIAL BORROWING. London, March 5. The " Economist " declares that any colony givir.g an assurance to refrain from borrowing for the present can count on its securities having passed the lowest point. The " Economist" considers that the rapid expansion -of New Zealand, Queensland, and Victoria is a proof that the check of borrowing had had a salutary effect, THE CHANNEL SQUADRON, Vice-Admiral Fairfax, second Naval Lord, will take command of the Channel Squadron m June. THE NYANZA RAILWAY. i The House of Commons, by a majority of ninety-eight, voted the sum of £20,000 for the survey of a railway route from Mombassa to Lake Victoria Nyanza. Mr Glad stone opposed the vote, fearing that if the object were carried out it -would lead to war with the natives. DIPLOMATIC. Mr Rhoderick Nicholas O'Connor, C.M.G., succeeds Sir J. Walshain as British Minister m Pekin, the latter having been removed to Bucharest. The Falkland Islands have been gazetted a colony, and Sir R. T, Golds* WQi'th "will retain the governorship,

LOKD AYLESBURY'S IN SOLVENCY. The liabilities of the Marquis of Aylesbury are set down at £350,000. The value of the assets is unknown. He admits that his insolvency is due to betting and gambling. THE LAW OP ENTAIL. The trustees m the estate of the Marquis of Stafford are seeking an injunction to prevent the Duke of Sutherland cutting timber on the Trentham estate. THE COAL PANIC. Merchants deprecate the panic over the coal difficulty, and allege that there is sufficient common coal for all pur poses. In consequence of the advance m price of coal the London and North- Western Railway Company are re duciv.g the number of trains per day. The shipbuilding and other yards continue to dismiss hands, the owners refusing to pay panic prices for coal, which has advanced a further la 6d per ton. ELECTION. The election for the vacant seat of Derbyshire South, caused by the death of Mr A. Wardle, Home Ruler, re sulted m the return of Mr Broad, the Home Rule candidate, by a majority of 1250.

RUSSIA AND POLAND.

St. PeterstsCrg, March 5. The people of Poland are much alarmed at the demands made by General Gourko, Governor-General, who desires a free hand m order to strike terror among malcontents. The Czar has granted him increased powers. London, February 6. The St. Petersburg correspondent of the " Daily Telegraph " wires that, m consequence of the ferment arising out of the increased power granted by the Czar to General Gourko, the latter has been authorised to proclaim a state of siege m "Warsaw and martial law throughout Poland. LONDON COUNTY COUNCIL ELECTIONS. The London County Council elections were carried out with great animation. The returns are not yet completed. Up to the present eighty-seven pro gressists and twenty-one moderates have been elected. Lords Rosebery and Carrington and Messrs John Burns, John McDougall and W. C. Parkinson have been returned by large majorities.

THE ANARCHISTS.

Madrid, March 4. A dynamite bomb was exploded m the Church of St. Nicholas m Valencia. The altar, image of the Virgin Mary, and the celebrated picture of the Con ception were destroyed. March 5. A great anarchist plot has been dis covered m Barcelona.

A BURGLAR AT BAY.

Paris, March 5. A burglar who was fleeing from his pursuers m the streets of Paris, to-day, turned on them and shot three dead before being overpowered.

HIGH TREASON BY A HOUSE MAID.

Berlin, March 4. A housemaid at Dresden has been sentenced to three months' imprison ment on a charge of hi'/h treason. GA'Jij-ijNGi Tiiiii PiiESS. The " Cologne Gazette," commenting on the prosecution of the Press, asserts that nothing is more harmful to the throne than enforced silence throughout the nation.

REVOLT AMONG PRISONERS.

Calcutta, March 4. Three hundred prisoners confined m gaol at Ayab, m Burmah, revolted, and killed the European gaoler and wounded several of the warders. The prisoners then made their escape, but were pursued by a party of volunteers, who killed the ringleader of the revolt and re-captured the others, thus pre venting what is believed to be an at tempt at a general massacre of the residents.

PORTUGUESE FINANCES.

Lisbon, March 4. The Portuguese Government is carrying out a drastic system of economy. March 5. The Government, with tho view of carrying out a scheme of economy, has abolished the portfolio of Minister of Education. The Government has also decided to import 6000 tons of wheat to avert scarcity.

ILLNESS OF THE GRAND DUKE OF HESSE.

Berlin, March 5. The Grand Duke of Hesse is suffer ing from a severe attack of paralysis. March 6. The Grand Duke of Hesse is uncon] scious and m a very critical condition.

STEAMER MISSING.

Bombay, March 5. It is feared that the steamer Deccan bound from Mauritius to Bombay, has been lost with one hundred lives. FAMINE IN INDIA. It is stated that since August 94,000 deaths above the average have been recorded m the Madras Presi dency owing to famine.

ITALIAN FINANCE.

Rome, March 5.

The revenue returns show a defi ciency of £800,000, and the Govern ment propose to shortly issue locally long term bonds to the extent of £8,000,000.

MADAME MELBA.

Madame Melba has scored a btilliant triumph m the opera " Lucia di Lam mermoor."

THE BRITISH NAVY.

Brtlsskls, March 5,

The " Independence Beige " asserts that the British navy is terribly in ferior to that of France, as are also the coast defence and torpedoes.

INDIANA JUSTICE.

New lork, March 5,

During the hearing of a charge of horse stealing m an Indiana Court, the prisoner fired at the Bench, killing the mayor and the marshal. The culprit was lynched by a mob,.

AUSTRALIAN.

POPULATION OF AUSTRALASIA

Wyuney, March 5. The total population of Australasia on December 31 last was 3,832,905,

A DROUGHT BROKEN UP. Pbkth (W.A.). March 5. The drought m the northern districts has broken up, and the country is flooded for miles around. RICH GOLD DISCOVERED. i Two new lodes, of surprising rich ness, hr u v9 been discovered on the Murchison goldiiekl. bank suspension. Mi-.xhour.nh, March 5. The Mercantile Bank of Australia has suspended payment owing to the continued withdrawal of deposits. The whole of the securities are intact. The assets, when realised, will pay 25s m the £. COLLISION IN THE YARRA. Mrluourme, March 6. The steamer Easby collided with tiie steamer Industry, bound for Perth m the Yarra river to-day. The latter vessel had several of her plates damaged, and returned to port to com plete repairs. The Easby was not in jured. THE WINDSOR MYSTERY. The victim of the Windsor tragedy is believed to be a woman named Williams. Among the passengers by the last trip of the Kaiser Wilhelm were a Mr and Mrs Williams, and fellow passengers state that Williams treated his wife m a brutal manner, also that he insulted her on every possible occasion and paid marked attention to another woman aboard ship. The police have succeeded m tracking these people from the steamer to the house where the tragedy occurred!. MURDER BY BLACKS. Brisbane, March 6. Blacks attacked Cress well station, on the Queensland border with South Australia, and murdered Messrs Clarke and Deivitte. The police formed an avenging party, and, overtaking the offenders, a fight ensued, m which several of the blacks were killed. The whites are still m pursuit.

INTERPROVINCIAL.

Auckland, March 6. The new rooms of the Auckland Liberal Association, m High street, were formally opened on Saturday by Sir George Grey, who delivered an address. The Hon P. A. Buckley also spoke. There was a large attendance. Wellington, March 6. During the absence of the caretaker on i Friday night Mr H D. Bell's residence m Lowry Bay was broken into, and about £40 stolen. The thief endeavored to fire the building, b.tt without success. The settlers around Wellington, taking advantage of the )oi:g spell of dry weather are burning hush, consequently the town is enveloped m smoke, and the hills surrounding the city are obscured from view. The steamer Queen of the South, which has been ashore at the mouth of the Manawatu river for the past week, was floated off with the high tide this morning uuinjured. Wellington, March 5. At an early hour this morning a row took place between two brothers named Joe and Fred W rindsoiii cabmen, when Fred stabbed his brother m the back of the head and arm with a small pocket knife. The wound m the head is only a small scalp one, bun that m the arm is mure serious. Thje offender was taken into custody and charged at the Police Court this morning with stabbing, and re tnaudod till Tuesday. Dunedin, March 6. The Salvation Army took possession of the Fortress, which has just been completed, on Saturday. The flag was hoisted by the wife of the Hon W, D. Stewart, M.L.C., and Colonel Bailey unlocking the doors, formally handed over the key to Captain Wilson. Largely sttended meetings were held m the evening and to-day, and will be continued tor uther two days*. Four settlers m the North-east Harbor District were fined at Port Chalmers on Saturday m sums ranging from 40s to 60s and costs for neglecting to destroy rabbits on their properties.

CORRESPONDENCE.

(We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions exptessed by our correspondents.)

A BIT OF PLAGIARISM.

TO THE EDITOR Sir,—Curious paragraphs occasionally go " the rounds of the Press," but one of the funniest I have seen for some time appears m Saturday's issue of the "Guardian," wherein it is-gravely stated, upon the authority of a newspaper called the " Star " (you do not mention where the " Star " is published) that ' a gentle man living m Auckland " has composed some additional verses to the patriotic song entitled "Rule Britannia," one of which rune as follows :— Still more majestic shalt thou rise, More dreadful from each foreign stroke; As the loud blasts that tear thy skies Serve but to root thy native oak. The "Star" patronisingly adds that! this verse " though not pulsating with genius or throbbing with intensity," is not bad, I do not know whether the above lines pulsate with genius or throb with intensity, but what I do know is that they form the third verse of the original song of " Rule Britannia," as it came from the pen of one James Thom son 150 years or so ago, as anybody can ascertain for himself by examining a complete edition of Thomson's works ; and if a " gentleman living m Auckland" has been endeavoring to palm the verse off upon the public as his own compo sition, it is one of the most barefaced pieces of plagiarism on record. What, however, I chiefly admire is the sublime ignorance of the "Star" critic. —lam, etc., Chas. W. Purnejcx. March 7, 1892.

Wosleyan Conference.

[I'EK PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

Wellington, March 5. .At the Wesleyan Conference to-day a resolution was carried expressive of deep sympathy with the Victorian and Tas manian Conference m the heavy less sus tained during the past year by the deaths of President Rigg and the Rev T. Williams. The Conference also placed on record its deep sense of the loss sustained by the whole of the Australasian Methodist Church m the death of the Rev Dr Kely nack. The Rev J. T. Burrows, probationer of the fourth year, came up for oral examin ation. The report of the Board of Examiners on Mr Burrows' written examination showed that he had gained an average of eighty-efehb per cent of mark,-, and he was very heartily received into the full ministry, the ordination being fixed for Monday. Mr J. A. Crump, a candidate for the ministry, was examined by the Rev Mr Morley, and, on the vote of the Con ference, he was accepted for training at Three Kings College,

SPORTING.

ASHBURTON TROTTING CLUB.

The following acceptances have boon received for the Autumn Meeting : - Maiden Handicap, of 20 soys. Two miles. Kxile Bsecs Camellia... lOsecs 'Pnipo Bsecs The Devil King Jess lOsecs lOsecs Harness Handicap, of 20 soys. Two mil s. Polly Plum ... scr Sheoak ... 25secs Kit 11. ... 18secs Taipo ... 30*ecs Diana ... 25secs District Handicap, of 20 soys. Two miles. Barney O'Hea Ssecs Diana ... 20secs Humbug...^-lOsecs Eos 20secs Forest Maid 12seca Pathfinder 25secs Rocket IT. 15?ecs A4HBURTON HANDICAP, of 30 SOYS. Three miles. Pansy .. 15secs Rocket 11. 30secs Tom ... SOsecs Eos 40secs Forest Maid 30secs Selling Handicap, of 20 soys. Two miles. Maud ... ... scr Jess,,. ... 20secs lona ... ssecs Bees wins; 20secs Pega su 5... 15secs Heather Jock 25secs Coralie ... 17secs Ruahine ... 25secs Exi'e ... ITsecs Electric Stakes Handicap, of 20 soys. One mile. Barney O'Hea 7secs Humbug... lOsecs Kit 11. ... 7secs Exile ... 12secs Jena 7secs Pathfinder 17seca Tom Bsecs

V.R.C. AUTUMN MEETING.

[I'ER PRESb ASSOCIATION.]

Mblbocene, M'arcli p. The following are the results of th& concluding day's racing : — All- Aged Stakes, of 10 soys each wi^h 500 added ; one mile. — Strathmore, Bs6 61b, 1; Bungebah, Bst 101 b, 2 ; The Cap tain, 6sb 51b, 3. Eight ran. Won easily. Time—lmin 40|sera. Unplaced Two-Year-Old Stakes, of 5 soys each with 300 added ; five and a half furlongs. —Urith, 7st 71b, 1; Premier, 7st 101 b, 2; Willema, 7st 51b, 3. Nine started. Won by three and a half lengths. Time—lmin 9§sec. Place Handicap, of 5 soys each with 400 added ; one mile and a half.— Reprisal, 7st 41b. 1 ; La Tosca, 7st 41b, j2 , iNorberr. 7st 61b, 3. Twelve started. Won cleverly by a length. Time—2min 36§sec. Steeplechase, of 10 soys each with 800 added ; about three miles.— Jack's , the Lad, 1(U 31b, 1 ; Shanks, list 101 b, 2; Fresman, 12st 21b, 3. Fourteen started. Freeman was favorite. Won by ten lengths, fivre lengths between second and third. Time—6mm 48sec, Loch Plate, of 10 >soys each with 500 added ; one mile and three quarters.— Zalinski, Bst 71b, 51 bs penalty, 1 ; High born, Bst 121 b, 2 ; Titan, 9^t 91b, 141bs penalty, 3. The only starters. Won by three-quarters of a length ; Titan being fifteen lengths behind. Time—3min 9sec. Farewell Handicap, of 5 soys each with 300 added ; one mile.—The Work man, Bst lib, 1 ; Harbor Light, 7st 31b, 2 ; Fortunatus, 7&t 101 b, 3. Sixteen horses started. Won by a length ; a head separating second and third. Time—• lmin 41|sec.

Supreme Court.

(I"KB, ThESs ASSOCIATION.) Wellington, March 7. The criminal sessions of the Supreme Court opened this morning, before Mr Justice Richmond, who referred to the very heavy calendar, which contained a large numoer of cases, some of "the charges being of the utmost gravity. His Honor only made a passing reference to the Eketahuna murder case, remarking it was inexpedient to analyse the evidence at this stage. With regard to the charge of man slaughter against Jiaine, he pointed oufi that the principal medical witness m the lower court had testified that the deceased man s life hung on a thread, and there was no witness who saw the blow struck by the prisoner except a woman who was man intoxicated state. He directed the grand jury if they came to the con clusion that the common jury would not convict on the evidence adduced, to throw out the bill. The Crown Prosecuter mentioned the case of G. A. Tapper, Palmerston North, who was charged under the Bankruptcy Act on two indictments for fraudulent removal of property. The judges had on Saturday expressed the opinion that the accused should not be proceeded against as he had already been acquitted on the s*me charge, and the Crown Prosecutor said m face of that opinion he would with draw the indictments against Tapper. His Honor remarked there probably had been a miscarriage of justice m this instance, owing to a defect m the Bank ruptcy Act. He also observed that the Bankruptcy Act which provides for the punishment of bankrupts m a sum mary way are really provisions which tend to bring the administration cf justice into discredit. Dunedin, March 7. The criminal sessions opened to-day, six prisoners were charged, William McPhee was sentenced to 12 months for housebreaking ; William Stewart Lee to two years for forgery ; Geo. Harrington, a boy of 14, pleaded guilty to a charge of forgery and was admitted to probation 12 months.

Afc the Police Court this morning, before Messrs Friedlander and Harrison, an old man named William Abrahams, thoroughly respectable and law-abiding, but uuable to work and destitute, was brought up charged with having no visible means of support There was no room m the Old Men's Home, and the authorities could only offer him rations without shelter. The Sergeant had been accommodating him at the Police Station while he was there, and said it was disgraceful that a man like this—sober, respectable, and willing to work if he were able, and one who had served his country for years as a Life Guardsman—should have to be taken up like a criminal. The bench said they would guarantee the rent of any place that the Sergeant could find until the man could be permanently provided for, mean while he would be discharged.

Tiiii ashbuHton guardian-: Monday, march" i, mi.



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Wanted. < ""CASH Advertisement wjciev fjj heading not exceeding blXi&K.i> WORDS 1/-. Addresses may be j I^ft at this Office. 4.NTED — Apprentices ft>r the Dressmaking business. Appiy, Mr* Meech, Tancred street, Ashburton. 346 ... FOUND— Poncho Waterproof Cloak, near Winchmore. Apply this Office. l£ lO3T--A Five Pound Note on Union _a Bank. Fin ler rewarded on return ing to this office. _________ __-_ -TTrANTED, a Single Man as Shepherd. VV Mu-t understand Crossbred Sheep, nnd hnve steady dogs. Apply with references to G. Jameson, Ash burton. _________ F"IRST Slnpvn^n7l>juble Refined Kero sene for Winter use. Buy early. Great reductions at Stephens Bros , Market House^ __ TVrOTHING will Cool you so quickly and JN invigorate the system so much as Ice Cream -H.G. Flower, Confectioner, East Street. WANTED Known.-Come and see the Bargains now on at Melford House.- H. C. Segers. W" ANTED Known. -At "The Corner" now selling Ladies' French Shops. 5s lid. See them".-—W. H. Colubr. ~X\T ANTED KNOWN,—A great pur- VV chase of Kid Gloves, £135 10s 61, Florencia Kid Gloves, all sizes, 4 and -Clasp, usual price 6s lid and 8s 6d, now sold for 4s lid and 5s lid. -A. Okr's S-rie. \\ /"ANTED "Known.—lf you want V t plenty of first class Drapery, Boots and Clothing for cash, come to Melford House Sale.—H. O. Sborrs. riIHIRTY Pieces Dress Goods at 6d ; 60 -i- Pieces French Cashmere at Is 6d, worth 3s 6d ; 1000 Yards French Tweed, double width, at Is 9d, worth 3s 9d. All Dress Goods greatly reduced.—Anihiew Orr's Cheap Sale. 1 106 BOOTS, Boots.—lnfants Boots 9d, six Dozen Ladies' Elastic Side Foot?, 6s 9J, Gents' Boots 8s 6d, Mens' Blucher Boots 5s 6d, Stanley Shoes Is lid— Andrew Orr s Sale. 1 WANTED KNOWN, a special lot of Hearth Rugs at Is lid, 2s 6d and 2s lid ; worth about doable. W. l£. Collier. -"yVTANTBD Known.—l have a large W stock of Tin and Ironware Goods to select from. Register Grates, Stoves, Portable Boilers, Spouting and Ridging kept m stock.—J. VV. Habolet, East street. «*202 WANTED Known.—Great Cash Sale now on at Melford House. Almost everything reduced. —H. C. Segers. ALL Wool Colonial Tweed Suits to measure; fit and workmanship guaranceed ; from 50s cash. Robert Axcokn, Ash burr,on Clothing Man, Saunders' Buildings. TpO Meet the Times.—l am supplying JL Galvanised Iron Tanks from 30s upwards, warranted for twenty years,_ Force pumps, deep well cylinders of all descriptions. Inspection invited. — ). W. llakoley, Eas street. 61201 W~ ANTED~JCiiovvn— That you will make no mistake for quality and variety m English and Colonial Boots, and his hi«hly reputed make by calling at J. Moison's. During coming holidays dis souut for Cash, Repairs done ab once. m staff of men always kept and best Material and workmanship guaranteed.