MAIL NOTICES.

Mails close for the following places as under, subject to the necessary alterations :— WEDNESDAY, February 22. For the United Kingdom, Continents of Furope and America, and West Indies (via Sin Francisco), Sandwich Islands, etc., and also for Northern Ports »f New Zealand, per Takapuna, as follows:—Ordinary letters, books, and newspaFers» afc O-I** P-***. : registered letters, at 5 p.m. ; money orders, at 3p.m.; late fee letters, mail van, expreßß train, at 6.55 p.m. This mail will be due in London on March 29.

ENGLISH MAILS.

HOMEWARD—DIRECT MAILS. Tongariro, sailed January 20, due London l-'tbruary 28. Araw, sailed February 2, due ljondon March 15. Aorangi, sailed February 16, due London March 31. HOMEWARD—SAN FRANCIBCU MAIM. Alameda, sailed January 25, due London February 28. ' Next mail leaves Febtuary 25, duo London March 29. OUTWARD —DIRECT MAILS. Rimutaka, sailed January 7, due colony February 22. lonic, sailed January 22, due colony March 6. Ruihine, sailed February 5, due colony March 20. OUTWARD—SAN FRANCISCO MATLS. Sailed January 21, due colony February 23, Next mail leaves London February.lß, due colony.

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1893. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Mr Michael Davitt ia desirous (wrote the "Argus'" correspondent on January 6) of starting on his long-projected antipodean lecturing tour as soon as possible, but he fears that his political engagements in Ireland will not permit him to leave before April or May. It is his present intention to visit New Zealand first—New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, and South Australia to follow. The flowing tide is with tha Liberal Party in New Zealand, and nothing can prevent them from carrying seats that here , tofore have defied their every effort to take. I Napier will, without doubt, he Liberal at [the General Election, Rangitikei and Pal mereton will be the same, and (says the "Napier News,") as we said yesterday, Colonel Pitt has only to say he wants to sit for Nelson to be elected in the Government interest. In other parts of New Zealand the same spirit obtains, and we may depend upon it that the Liberal party will go back with ah overwhelming majority. The out look ia a bright one for them, but a gloomy one indeed for their opponents. The " Temple we Build '' was the title of a somewhat novtl service for children held | in the Wealeyan Sunday School on Sunday i afternoon. There was a large attendance. A model of ft sacred edifice of considerable , dimensions, made by Mr Kggleton, of Christ church, was provided, and each block, plank, and lath of the structure bears a motto. The temple is erected piece by piece, and recitations appropriate to the mottoes are given by the children, or hymns sung by the choir. The whole is an excellent lesson on the formation of character. The children had been well taught anil drilled in the work by Mr Herbert Steel, and the whole service was very interesting and instructive alike to old and young. Among som« recently published anecdotes of Mr Gladstone one is told which Mr Gladstone himself confirms. Recently he opened a workman's institute near Chester, and one of the officials told him that » Mr , of Liverpool, boasted of having fought with Mr Gladstone when both were schoolboys. "I remember him," was (he reply, " but did he tell you why we fought ? No ! Well, then I'll tell you. He induced me to steal some Btrawberries from a fieid, and when I had done so he wanted to. take the largest for his share. I did not see it, so we fought, and he was thrashed, and I stuck to all the strawberries. When you Bee Mr give him my kind regards, and tell him I doubt if either of us could repeat the operation to-day; and, by the way, the field of strawberries is a patch of handsome shops and houses in the middle of Liverpool now." Harvest festival services were held at St. Stephen's Church on Sunday morning and evening. The church was very beautifully decorated with evergreens, fruits, vegetables, and grain. The services were conducted morning and evening by the Rev T. A. Hamilton, and were of a character specially appropriate to the season of the ingathering of harvest. The musical portion of the services was also specially appropriate. At evens ng the anthem "He shall dw«U in the Land," was sung by an unusually strong chcir. The soprano eo\o was very effectively rendered by Miss A. Gates, and the Rev T. A. Hamilton's fine voice was heard to great advantage in the bass solo. Collections were made at both services in aid of the sufferers by the Queensland floods, and afe the close of the evening services the incumbent announced that the amount of the offertories was £24. He further announced that the collections next Sunday at the Ajhburton and Hampstead Sunday Schools Mould be devoted to the same object. On his way home from the Trocadero Music Hall on Christmas Eve Sandow gave himself an admirable advertisement. In his fur coat and pot hat the strong man looks a very ordinary young fellow, whom any average athlete could easily taukle. This, at least, was the view of a pot-valfaat youth : Who stopped Sandow by the park railings in, Piccadilly and asked him a question the. German couldn't understand. He replied ! in his curious English : "Vat you mean?" Whereat the inebriated one commenced to uae bad language. In an instant a mighty hand was laid upon him, and he found himnelf quietly lifted into mid-air \ and dropped clear over the railings (10ft high) in the park. There it is presumed, the unfortunate man remained imprisoned till tha gatekeeper let him out at 9 a.m. With a cherry t€ Gute nacht," Saudow, at any rate, resumed his walk westward. This yarn is vouched for on the faith of—the strong man's agent. ■■■■■•■■ The complete returns of the revenue and / expenditure in South Australia for the quapter ended December 31 have now been published. The total revenue was £514,450 for the quarter, making a total of £1,055.346 for the half year. The exjtenditure for the quarter ended Decenber 31 was £652,282, or a total for the half year of £1,313,472, the revenue being £258,124 less than the expen diture for the, half year. The T-easurer , began the financial year with a credit balance of £37,323. At the end of the first quarter there was a debit balance of £82,970, and at i the end of the second quarter of £220,801. The finances are therefore in a worse position ' by over £258,000. As usual, the first half . year's expenditure was very heavy and the , revenue correspondingly light, but whilst there is nothiug unusual in the expenditura ' exceeding the revenue, the amount is excep- , tionally large. The prospects of the third quarter are such as to lead the Treasurer to : suppose that much of the deficiency will be i regained. It is doubtful, however, whether the last two quarters will make up the defi ', cieucy, and unless rigid economy ia exercised i a deficit is almost inevitable. As was ex pected, the chief falling off is in the customs and railways, chiefly owing to the Broken Hill strike.

Mr Donald Camelm, C nu.s, htd thirteen stacks of wheat burned on Saturday night. I The sacks were iv (small groups n different ! parts of a large paddock, bo that incen diarism is certain, and it appears as if more than one fire raiser had been at woik. A happy thought struck some of the Horticultural Society Committee, name»y —while the Arcade is Btill enclosed and decorated to hold a promenade concert there in aid of the Queensland sufferers. Mr D. Thomas and Mr Bullock were agreeable, and a meeting is called for to-night at eight, at the Arcade Chambers, of all who are wiling to assist. The following are the handicaps for the Ashburton Amateur Swimming Cinbs final 50yds handicap, to be swum at the Baths on on Wednesday evening, at 530 p.m. First heat -T Grubb, acr.; H. E. Curtis, 2aec; E. E. Cloweß, 3sec ; G. Culverhouse, 3sec ; P. Cookson, 6seo; E. Purchase, 6aec; R. Mitchell, (teec; J. Alcorn, iOsec. Second heat—R. Upton, ecr; T. Pauling, H*ec; VV. Burns, 3sec; F. Henry, 4sec; R. F. Curtis, 6secs ;W. A. Saunders, 6aec ; D. Matson, 6sec ; H. Hoult, 7i»ec ;J. Begg, 9oec. The final will be swum at 5.50 p.m. It has ueen found that some of the scholars who have exhiUs in preparation for the Schools Exhibition will scarcely have time to finish them by Easter, while if the time were extended many other exhibits would come forward. The Committee have, there fore, decided to postpone the exhibition to the midwinter holidays, and advertise to that effect. It is believed that the exten sion of time will enable a display even larger than that of last year to be made All who take an interest in the exhibition should do what they can to promote its success.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

THE HOME RULE BILL.

BY ELECTIONS

PAYMENT OF MEMBEHS.

[per pkess association.] London, February 17. No decision has yet boen arrived at to the summoning of the editor of " The Times " before the bar of the House. Lord Churchill condemned the ab sence in the Home Rule Bill of any provision for the safety of Ulster, which he considered a direct insult to a loyal people, who should receive more than sympathy in resisting a Parliament which would be unable to compel Ulster to transfer its allegiance. * Mr Labouchere considered the Bill a thoroughly good one, though it would be better to exclude Irish members from the Imperial Parliament. In the dtibate on the Home Rue Bill Mr Joseph Chamberlain dwelt upon the danger of the Irish taking advantige of England's emergency in the event of war to extort complete autonomy for Ireland. He ridiculed the proposal to retain Irish members at Westminster as a proposal which would prove unworkable. He said that the preamble reverently buried the corpse of supremacy, and he would prefer to see federation of the United Kingdom. Mr Blake, member for Longford, formerly Liberal leader in Canada, in speaking on the Home Rule Bill, said that it should be accepted by Irishmen all over the world as a settlement of the difficulty. Mr J. Morley, Chief Secretary for Ireland, closed the debate, and pro tested against everlasting distrust of the Irish. The Bill was read a first time without a division, and the second reading fixed for March 13. The debate in th« House of Com mons has not up to the present de tached any of Mr Gladstone's suppor ters. The real issue will, however, be fought out in Committee, chiefly on the retention of Irish members at Westminster, finance, and the protec tion of minorities. The Home Rulo Bill has been circu lated. The chief points have already been cabled, Twenty-seven Ulster members will be retained at West minster, and fifteen in the Legislative Council in Dublin. In the course of an interview to-day, Sir Charles Gavan Duffy said that the great omission in the Home Rule Bill wat the absence of any provision for the proper representation of minorities, and it was imperative to afford the Unionists a fair number of seats in the Assembly. It is rumoured in Dublin that the Parnellites and followers of Mr Justin McCarthy are reconciled. It is stated that the "Independent" and the " Freeman's Journal" will amalga mate. London, February 18. Unionist meetings have been ar ranged at the principal towns in Eng land and Scotland. The Marquis of Sali 'mry will speak at Belfast on April 5, and in Derbyshire on April 7. London, February 17. For the Cirencester seat in the House of Commons, Colonel Master, Con servative, and Mr Lawson, Liberal, have been nominated. London, February 18. Mr Johnson (Conservative), and Mr R. G. Wilberforce (Liberal), have been nominated for the Horsham seat in the House of Commons, the vacancy for which was caused by the death of Sir W. Bartelott (Conservative). The election for the Hexh»m seat in the House of Commons took place to day and resulted as follows:—-Mr Maclnnis (Liberal), 4804; Mr R r Clayton (Conservative), who was re turned *t the General Election, but was unseated on the ground of corrupt practices, 4356. The "Standard" asserts that Mr Gladstone intends to propose that members of the House qf Commons, not possessing incomes of £400 a year, shall be entitled on application to s salary of JB3OO. The Radicals oppose the partial scheme, a,nd is but little prospect of anything being done in ty« matter thfo ieision,

MAGISTERIAL.

ASHBU^TON—MONDAY.

(Before Messrs W. G- Reet>, and J. W. &h wle. Justices of the Peace.) Dkujkkbnness.--James Cumming, who who had been locked up sines Saturday, was let off wich payment of 2s hire of cab |in taking him to the depot. —jlenry | Gregorson, who had also been taken lo the st;ilion in a c^b, and bad been very rowdy was fined os, 2a c»b hire, or twenty* fiu> hours in young man, a first offender, drunk and fighting on the street on Saturday night, was fined 10s or foriy- Q\xht hour* in g>vol. -George Matthew, who had " happened to overstep the bounds of prudence," on Saturday night, and had been in u»iol since, was let. off. with that experience of prison as . a puhishmeut.—-William Smith, who had nut bean before the Court for six months wan convicted and discharged.—Richard Puffy, on remanu from February 15, he having then been remanded for medical treatment, pleaded not guilty to having been drank on the day charged, but after tho police evidence he was sent to gaol for forty-eight hours, in default of pay ment of 16s 6d expenses. Allkobd Larceny.—Eupene Ford and William Lowry 'or Leroy, were charged with the larcenyjof a coat, vest, ; trousers, three shirts, two pairs of drawers, one necktie, and one handkerchief, the property of John Fulton. Accused were remanded for a week in order to admit of further evidence being produced. Bail in £10 each, *ith one surety each of £10, was allowed.

COMMERCIAL.

[PBB PRESS ASSOCIATION]

London, February 17. Eight thousand' five hundred quarters of Australian wheat, January-February shipment, have been sold at 31s. At the wool sales American buyers are quieter. The Elderslie's Melbourne mutton is of irregular quality, the cloths being inferior, and is selling at from 3d to 4£d per lb. The lamb was also of poor quality, and brought from 4&d to 6d. Best Victorian factory-made butter, 100s per cwt. The agents are combining to secure higher prices. A quantity of Melbourne butter was put up to auction in Bristol and brought 894 per ctrt. London, February 19. The wool sales closed with good spirit. Prices compared with the December sales were for merino greasy id, tor superior lambs 2d, for inferior £4, for good average sorts from id to Id, higher. Very inferior were from par to lower; crossbred*, coarse, from par to id higher. It' is expected that 350,000 bales will uo ;;vailable in the April series.

THE FLOODS IN AUSTRALIA.

BRISBANE AGAIN SUBMERGED

[PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] London, February 17. The sum of £1500 has been sub scribed in aid of the Queensland sufferers. The express a desire to receive" details of the floods and the class of recipients needing relief. Sydney, February 19. All the northern rivers are in a high state of flood. Communication with Graf ton and Lismore is suspended. When they were last heard from the water was rushing through the princi pal thoroughfare* in the former, while the whole of Lismore was flooded to the extent of several feet. The latest intelligence from Queens land via Bourke reports that Too-' woomba is in a fearful condition, and that the flood has surpassed the last one. Brisbane people areabandoning their residences and seeking high ground. Receive! February 20, 11.35 a.m.) Brisbane, February 20. The flood yesterday almost reached the level of the preceding one. Heavy rain fell all Saturday, accom panied by a terrible easterly gale. Between eight and ten inches of rain were recorded in the twenty-four hours. A large portion of the city and suburbs are again under water. Most of the business places in South Bris bane are submerged, and there is water in many warehouses on the north side. The town was in darkness at night. The defence force and police combined to preserve life and property. Telegraphic communication is con fined to a few stations. The railway coal supply is almost exhausted. There is plenty on the south side of the river, but it is inac cessible. Most of the stations between Bris hape and Maryborough report five to eleven inches of rain. The merchants mostly took precau tions against another flood, and their loss is not so heavy as before; but a large number of people who had made their houses habitable have again been driven out, and there will be much dis tress on tb.U score. Several cases of drowning are re ported.

Auckland, February 20. The Queensland Flood:) Kelief Com mittee decided to-day to send a further sum of £660 to the sufferers in Brisbane, making £1000 so far forwarded. Wellington, February 20. The proprietors of the " Evening Post" to-day cabled a first remittance of £300 to the Premier of Queensland, subscribed by the public in aid of the flood sufferers.

The collecting m Oamaru for the Bris-. bane Belief Fund, cays the "Mail" ir, progressing apace, and the collectors find the house-ito-hoqse canvass tho very re verse of irksome. As a rule, the people contribute with a cordiality which is in-! dicative of great kindness of heart, and the working classes give with a pleasant freedom that bespeaks a consciousness that it is a privilege as well as a duty to assist their suffering fellow-beings on the other side of the water to the utmost of their resources. If the wealthier give to the relief of the Brisbane sufferers on the same scale as the working classes haye contributed, the fund from this part of the colony will be such as to prove that Oamaru district has done its best. The Timaru Garrison Hand's open air concert on Sunday resulted in £25 la 6id being collected in aid of the sufferers by the floods.

A general meeting of the Ariel Bicycle Club was held last Friday evening in the Arcade Chambers, when a full attendance of nieirbers was present. It was proposed to nold a meeting early in March, and tp give half the net proceeds of the meeting to the Queensland Relief Fund. This proposal was enthusiastically agreed to, and a Committee was formed there and then to draw up programme, etc. Letters were received from gentlemen who were asked to act as officers for the Club ; in most instances the position was accepted. S#ver*l new members were el«Ot«d.,

FLOWER SHOW.

"The gale of Monday" has much to answer for. It did a great deal of damage generally over the Southern provinoea— damage to farmer and town dweller alike, having shown no respect of persons in its selection of victims. The farmer saw the tops of his stacks flying away to leeward, and many sheave* following, every blast of the gale meaning to him so much load, and a loss too that he could not with certainty gauge. The blow came at an awkward tiro* for the farmer, who, while not at all anxious for strong meteorological manifestations of the kind, would have been better pleased with it had it come hereafter. It came at a much more awkward time for the many amateur florists we have in the borough and suburbs, who had been nursing and carefully tending their delicate pets with a view to exhibition at the Flower Show of the Ashburton Horticultural Society, on Saturday, and who saw their beds and borders stripped of their best blooms, and the pleasure they fancied was in store for them, nipped as ruthlessly as though the temperature had dropped in one night to zsro. On flower border, vegetable bed, i and fruit tree the gale told a sad tale, and as a consequence the Show suffered in its departments depending open these for exhibits. Still, a fair display was made ; but that display would have been far better if many of our well known growers had net been so sadly cat down and discouraged by the damage done by the wind. They surveyed the mischief, and, without thinking that theirneighbors were quite in the same case, decided not to show. Had they taken heart of grace, and got together what they had, they would have done well enough, as the competitions in the exhibition proved. In any case the gale is responsible for a falling oft of about two hundred entries from the number of .last year. The Society took a new departure with its exhibition this year, and, instead of holding it i<i a hall, pressed into sei-viae the Arcade, which Mr David Thomas very kindly placed at the Committee's disposal, postponing his weekly horse sale for the occasion. The Arcade as a show room was a tremendous improve* raent on anything yet tiied, and while it gave plenty of room for staging the plants, etc., and plenty of room fot the visitors to move about with some degree of comfort, its lofty roof supplied the perfection of ventilation, and the tempo rary lighting scheme employed left little to be desired. Tho two permanent sun lights of the Arcade were in full use, half a-dozen excellent Rochester lamps, sup plied by Mr R. Elston, were suspended at intervals over the long pyramidal stage that ran down the centre of the building But the crowning success of the lighting was the sunlight contributed and put up by Mr John Cawsey, of the gasworks Ib was a combination of five gas jets, fitted with fifty-candle power burners, and the result when lighted was an illumination very far-reaching indeed. The Arcade was closed at either erd by efficient blinds of corrugated iron, and at the lower end an extra screen of stage curtain stuff was made use of to enclose the band, whose platform was erected there. During the evening the band did very good service indeed. ' The preparations for the Show were great, but the arrangements were com plete, and so admirably and qu'.ckly had they been carried oul, and so well did the design of the Arcade lie to the hands of the Committee, that v the work of preparation was accomplished in one day —thanks to many willing and capable workers who carried out the arrange ments and made the effective decorations of fligs and evergreens. There were two doors at the Burnett street end for the public—one for ingress, the other for egress, and' both were well patronised, the usual crowd that a flower show attracts in Ashburton b9ing present, and. it was still a crowd, in spite of the ample room afforded by the Arcade. The scene presented to the visitor on entering the show was beautiful, as in deed is ever the case with a flower show, for here " not a flower But shows 9 Mile touch, in freckle, streak, or strain, Of His unrivalled pencil. Ha lDrfpiies Their balmy •dors, and imparts their hues. And bathes their eyes with nectar, and includes, Iv grain? as countless as the eea-side saw's, The forms with which He sprinkles all the earth. Happy who walks with Him! whom what ha finds Of flavor or of scent in fruit or flosrer, Or what be views of beautiful or grand In Nature, from the broad majestic oak To the green blade that twinkles in the sun, Prompts with remembrance of a present God." And Nature's pencil is unrivalled indeed. And it speaks well for Ashburton thac so many of her people lov«» her, and prove their love by the culture of her floral beauties. In spite of the deterring in fluences that cut off so many gardens from contributing, there was an attractive exhibition. FLOWERS. In the open class, fuchsias, considering the NMon, were a fine section, and so were the geraniums, and these two had many admirers lingering by their stand. Ferns were shown in great force,-and were a most interesting section, so many were the varieties, and so carefully grown the plants. In ferns perhaps the largest exhibitor was Mrs Andrew Orr, a lady whose penchant for the " daughter of the rock " is well known, and whose collec tion hap a reputation beyond Ashburton. But the exhibits of Mrs Shearman, and Messrs Eiston, Heseltine, and Mitchell were also good. Ihe fuchsias, geraniums, and ferns were the strongest classes in the Show, and then oame coleu* and begonias. The former were an excellent section, and it was pleasing to see that the prizes went to Mr Peter Anderson, W«kanui Road, and Mr Millichamp. of Tinwald, the former at least not classing himself as a professional gardener, although he had faith enough in his exhibit toenter in the open class. The begonias were i;xcaptionaUy good, both single and double, and were the objects of many an admiring glance, Messrs Smith arid Porter gaining high encomiums for their fine display. In the amateur classes Mrs Breeze showed two superb coleus that were awarded first prize—one a rich crimson with a golden edge, the other deeper in hue, and broader in the mark ing, but both beautiful and deserving the honor. The second place was awarded to an entry of very shapely and carefully grown plants, also of good coloring, shown by Mr H. W. Barrett. A few very nice ! variegated geraniums were also shown, and some other pot plants, but we had expected to see a better display generally in the amateur sections, as the gale could not have done very much damage to plants growing indoors. Still, a very fine and well-headed hydrangea made its appear ance, and there was shown also a Japanese wineberry, a recant introduction, and a handsome specimen of the Ulium anratum. The cut flower sections were those in which the ravages of the weather - made ' themselves most apparent, and when due allowance has been made for *hi», the show was very fair. In the open class Messrs G. T. Smith and Millichamp had it all their own in roses, Mr Smith in stocks and verbenas — all creditable displays,—while Mr Bloomfifild came to the front in pansies, and Mr Millichamp in dahlias. Messrs Tutty and Porter showed some fine African marigolds, and Mr T. Pitt was firdt in a rich display of petunias. Qf the asters, one of the best section* in the Sh >w, the judges spoke in terms of high praise. In this section Mr Smith and Mrs Clark held the places of honor. The display of phlox Drum inondit was also good, and iv this and sinqiw, Mr G, T. Smith was in tho w,

Mr Smich wax, also first with a fine Stolid : !;'. of cut blooms, twelve varieties. This il veteran exhibitor has had too much ex- £; perience, both on the benches as a oom- ' petit or and in front of them as a judge .to I ; read tlio condii ions of competition leosely, -', ) as many do, and as he shows to win, the exhibit he "declares to win with "is always sternly within the four corners of 7 the regulations. Hence hia first prise., stand of cut blooms had twelve varieties, ' and no more. Another atand was a better one, to be sure, but it contained more than the stipulated number, and was oat ot it. Mr Porter's find frtand of dahlias . \ was much admired, containing as it did .-■ some excellent SDecimeuß of the oactu* '> variety. The pansies showed signs of ■ having suffered by the gale, but then ' were some fir blooms notwithstanding. Some of :'..■ exhibitors in this section  were out oi the running because of their failure to distinguish between show sod "■ fancy pansies and violas. For exhibition only, a handsome collection of beautiful gladioli, African marigolds, and aster*, was shown by Mr C, J. flatper, of Hack- , thorne, and was a welcome contribution ': to the table. This exhibit was highly commended, as was also a very attractive collection of geranium blooms shown by:  Major Steward. In the amateur division, ■,■■' the roses were a small exhibition, and so . ' were the stocks, but Mr Tutty showed some fine verbenas. In pinks and picotees there was nothing calling for mention, and so with antirrhinums, but in pansies there was a fair display, Major Steward being first for six, and Mr Bickerstaff second, the last named com petitor getting a red card for his collection of blooms. Mr Pitt and Mm Clark showed some really good dahlia*, while the asters entered by Messrs Bickerstaff and Pitt were tine, ohoica exhibits, Mr Bickerstaffs special collection beitur particularly noticeabß Major Steward ' and Mrs Clark were first and second in phloxes, and the African marigolds shown Ly Mr T. Pitt and G. Tutty earned well their honors in a fairly good class. Mr Pitt'* zinnias were really beauties in s> ■■ first class section, and Mr Tutty's were a fair second. Major Steward had also a fine collection of cut blooms. The bouquets generally were a fine display, both hand and table. In hand bouquets, iv which no restrictions were laid down, some very pretty eompila* - tions were shown, Mrs and Miss Steward being first and second ; and the bouquets of flowers grown by exhibitors were not at'all behind, Mrs Orr, the first price winner showing a really exquioite one, Mrs W. <i, Davis coming next with a very pretty second. The table bouquets wer» of special excellence, and' Miss Orr's baste earned high praise frcm all, as well as both cards from the judges. The table decorations of Messrs Tutcy and Elston were also pretty features of this section. But perhaps the most winning show was the exhibition of bouquets of wild flowers, of which there was a gx>d entry, and very well arranged indeed. We have not the wealth of wild flowers on these plains thst made the poet Campbell sing of Earth's cultureless buds. . . . Once I welcome you more in life's puaionten stage, With the vision* of youth tc revisit my age. And I wish yon to 0 -row on my tomb." But the half-dozen or more nosegays of the wildlings oi Nature showed what. could be done with what .we have. The masters T. and R. Smith were the prise winners. The President's special prises for baud bouquets brought out three girls and five boys, and a very tasteful bouquet from each. FRUIT. A heavy entry of fruit was w>t expected '■ this year, but there was a fair representa tion nevertheless. In the opeu claw Mr G. T. Smith showed fine samples of grapes, both while and dark, and also of peaches. Mr Peter Anderson's nectarines, were a sight to see, and so were Mr IS, J, Craighead's apricots. The apples all round were very good, specially those for export fchnwn by Mr Millichamp, and Mr Hun Hey, lessee of the Gawlor Downs. Orchard, who had a display of about fifty different varieties. Mr O. T. Smith and Mrs Rollit had each general collections for exhibtion only, the latter of plums and figs. In i the amateur class. Major Steward's peaches were a com mendable exhibit,* and so were the apri cots of Messrs Baker and Tutty. The apples shown were chiefly cooking varie ties, but were very good. Mr W. C. Davis, fruiterer, had a nice general collec tion on his stand, and Mr Peter Anderson, exhibited bar frame hive sections of honey fiom his well-known apiary in the Waka nui Road, and got, as he needs must, both cards of honor. VEGETABLES. The cabbages, cauliflowers, and onions, were a good show, and the potatoes* though not a heavy entry were of excel lent quality, especially those of Mt G. T. Smith and Mr W. Campbell, the latter being very fine tubers. Mr Whittington bad a nice collection oi vegetables on the stand, The amateurs held their own very well. In this class Mr Whitjtinrton was the largest prizetaker, and was again to' the fore with hia legends on the natural rinds of his marrows. Mr Bickersttff showed some fine marrows, Mr Tutty peas and celery, and Mr Tssker carrots. Mrs Clark's rhubarb was a good sample, and the potatoes placed by Messrs Bioker staff, Tutty, and Taskor, would have taken a lot of beating. At half-past ten a very successful Show was closed by the playing of tfie National Anthem. Tbe following is the PRIZE LIST. Pot Plants. Open Class.—Fuchsias 0 plants, varieties, also special (cash ss) given by Mr Mawson—G. T. Smith 1, J. Porter 2. Jfuchsias, 3 plants, varieties—G. T. Smith 1 and 2. Fuchsias, 1 specimen plant—G, T Smith 1, J. Millichamp 2, R. Elston h c. Pelargoniums, ivy leaved, 4 varieties—G; T. Smith 1, J. Porter 2, Show Pelar goniums, 3 plants, varieties—J, Rgter 1. Geraniums (Zonalea), 4 plants, varieties— G. T. Smith 1, J. Porter % Geraniama (Zonalea), 3 plants, varieties-_G. T. Smith 1 and 2. Geraniums, 1 specimen plant—J. Porter 1, G. T. Smith 2. Genuiiams, 4 double varieties—JT. Porter ] and 2. Geraniums, 4 variegated—J. Porter 1 and 2. Coleus, 2 varieties—P. Anderson I, J. Millichamp 2. Petunias, 2 double, 2 single varieties-G. T. Smith land 2. Tuberous* rooted Begonias, 3 plants, doubles—J Porter 1, G. T. Smith 2. Tuberous-reqied Begonias, 3 plants, singles—J. Porter, i and 2. Conifers, 12 varieties named—J. Porter 1. Best specimen ornamental foliage pot plant-*;. T. Smith 1,/ R. El«ton2. .Best specimen new or rare pot plant of any kind —G. T. Smith 1, l\ Anderson 2. Col lection of 6 pot plant*, vaireties—G. T. Smith 1, P. Anderson 2. Best collection of Ferns io pots—A* re A. Orr 1, K. Elston £ Besi exhibit of Musk—B. Broomfield 1, R. EUtoa 2. Best plant in flower—G. T. Smith i and 2. Private Pbkjss. — Best collection Varie gated Geraniums, not less than aix, cash prii.e, 10a 6d, given by Mr Lane—J. Porter 1, W. Bickerstaff 2. Best collection Ivy leaved Geraniums, not less than six, goods value 10s 6d, given by Mr J. Orr—J. Porter 1. Best hanging plant, prize watering-pot value ss, given by Air J. YY. Hardley— ft T Smith 1, J. Millichamp 2. ' ' Pot Plants. Amateur Class.—Fuchsias 1 specimen plant—Mrs Shearman. Gera niums, (Zonales), 4 plants, varieties—Mrs Breeze 1. Geranuuna* variegated, 3 plants —Mrs Breeze 1. Coleus, 2 varieties—Mrs Breeze 1, H- W. Barrett 2. Best specimen new o? rare Pot Plant—W Bickerstaff 1 Best Window Plant—W. H. JBarrett 1* Best collection of Ferns in pots—Mrs Shear man 1. Best plant in flower—Mrs Bicker- - stafU, Mrs J.Clark2. % Cut Flowers. Open Class.—Roses best collection—G. T. Smith 1, J, Millichamn 2: Roses, 6 blooms—J. Millichamp 1, G" T < Sraj^ stocks 4 a varieties, in spikes only-1 G. T. Smith, 1 and 2 Verbenas, 6 varieties in truwea, 3of. each, also cash Ss, given by* , Mr R. McDonald— J. Millichamp 1, <£ ' Tni£y % J^S 9*6*' • varieties, one bloom ©ach-G, I, Smith \. AutirrhmuiM, bf^

THE ASHBUBTQy GTJAKPIAN : MONDAY, FfIMtIARY S(), 189,1



iWanted ANTED, a good Plouuhmau- Apply R:AiißK,Aßhburton. 87 -TT7 ANTED, a Smart Boy, as appren- W tice to ihe Grocery ; a good writer; character mdi Bl ensable. Appo in writing, {Stephens. Bkos., M»rk^ >louse. WANTRD, two Respectable Young Men as boarders at a mode-»tj charge. Apply Mrs J. Miiller, Havelock Street. _ ______________ T"l7 ASTBD Known—That we have W secured the Sole Agency for Rattray and Sons' Teas. We can with confidence recommend them to the Public. -Stbphfssßkos., Market Uo^ lANOFORTE and Organ Show Rooms. Best cash value obtain able. Extended terms ; reduced sca'e ; Christchurch prices—H.jt_Jo»^ 8- WOMKOPATHIC Medicines, price Is. Sol« agent for district. Light's Cash Stor^ ._ iA* ICICLES, Ordinary and Safety Cycles, Star Humber Roadster, Racers-SUr Diamond Frame, Star Crow Frame (Adams, Curties audOoi Ma chine*.) Cash or Terms. Chnstchurch Prices—H. M.Jonks. -^ f , - — CHE^P Fruit—Having bought M* j Majo's orchatd, I can sell Kruit, cheaper than any one in town. Orders Zl r be left at East Street Shop.-MRS James^ 3 ■ ' ("IHEAP Firewood—Short Dry Gum l Firewood, at 26s per cord ; branches 3s per load nt M»yos, Tievor- 1 tou. Apply, Mrs Jambs, Fruit Shop^ WANTED the Public to know that S. J W. Alcorn and Cob Summer Sale , is now wn. Great Bargain* in Millinery, I Underclothing etc. WANTED Known that S. Salbk, Watchmaker and Jeweler, has removed to uew shop near New Zealand Clcthintr Factory. zLfz ANTED, »fc once, a Boy haying passed Standard V, or VL, m , ipprentice to th* printing trade. Apply j Hail Office. rFHE Good Samaritan, for the imme • diate relief of pain.— Light s Cash Store. ?_?•* WANTED Known—lee Creams, Ice Oreams, for the hot weather, always ready at H. G. Flower's, Confec tioner, East Street. WHY not; Bake your own Bread when you can get 50)bs of the Best Roller Flour for five shillings cash or five shillings and sixpence booked ac Robert AIcoRNS, Saunders' Buildings. 11 Ox



iHE FIRST CiAUItW SALE BY «. J. IHRIIiIi ft. Co. ri'HIS toll* ««r ««* CWmg ftto rf^Tw«"•*»«_! *_j"___ *„£s£. m vnmcu^^S&SS^ OFFERING Ladies' Corsets 4s 6d, now 2s 6d. DrWarner's well known Corsets 10s fid,^now 6. bd. Double widrh Sheeting, white twill, iu*a Good washing Muslins, 3s lid dozen White Muslins, satin stripe, 7^d now 4_ci Sftdßa_S£t3r«*-.-ta».to children. dre»«, wonderfu, value at 6_d CLOTHING. CLOTHING. Men's Tweed Suits, 19s 6d Boys' Tweed Suits, 4s lid BOOTS. BOOTS. BOOTS. Men's Colonial made Bluchers, ™ Men's Cookham Boots, worth 25s for 14s 6d ,M? BoS^Wo S|ffi|^AlKS - BOYS' * «UUr Women's strong Leather Shoes, 4s lid Ladies' Glove Kid Boots 8s 9d, reduced to 6s lid „. ate Pnceß TEEMS CASH. —REMEMBER THR ADDRKSS- U- X NKILL aud CO.,



KRIEDLANDER'S BUILDINGS- & JTcweller, bt. JtaS^fS Mr, BW, for the W^gmAgg^J'"'^ leto in WITH SODND WORK MANSHIP.- _ NOTICE HAII Write, and J«*ryl=ft for IWpMr with ANDREW BLACK, W» M h maker, have been transferred to & Sale k, IVATCHMAKER & JEWELLER, from whom they can be obtained.



SOMERSET Meat Mart. The oldest the largest, tho beat, and the cheap, est Small '}oods a specialty. Ful weights guaranteed. A trial solicited. .—W. J. Sh^ock. 4tlß^ W' ANTED Known.—Come and see our dress lines at 4jd and 6d, leather shirting 6£d, three-quarter cloaks 12s 6d. -H. 0. Secbrs, Malford House^ j ANTKD Known—Dr Scott's cele brated Electric Corset* can only ! be obuinpi in Ashliurum at W. 11. I CoiUßK'a, "Thfl Oornor." | fIHE Misses Adams' row Refreshment X Rooms now open, Tea, Coffte, Cocoa, Lemon Squash, Scda and Milk and all the new summer drinks ready at all times. Coleman's Building, Kast Street. _. ANTED everyone to come and ccc the beautiful presonts we are cWina away for every 5* and upwards Spent —H. C. Sjkgers, Melfonl House. WANTED Known.—A great variety of high class dress goods fi choose from new sel'lic-s under regular wholesale prices.—H. 0. Sbgers, Meiford House. WANTED —Purchasers tor Bargains in Summer Dresses, Prints, and Delaines, Sunshades, &c. at S. W. Alcorh utd Co's Sale. \JTT k NTED Known —New Flannelettes VV at extraordinary prices ;3s lid »nd 4s lid doz. Thirty per cent under price.—W. H. Coluifk. DON'T let the rain water dcp.troy your buildings. Get Spouting fixed at 4d per foot and buy a tank, complete with tap, tested before leaving workbhop, for 30s, at J. W. Hirdlby's. ALENTINES. VALENTINES for all classes. New Games in great varietj. Boys' and Girls' Annuals, and ftther new Volumes. Prize Books at reduced prices. .New Birthday Reward and Wedding Cards.-L. F. ANDREWES & 00., Stationers' Hall. f ON'T Forget the Borough Bye-Laws re' Carr age Lamps, and that, Ha.kdlv . as large Stock <m hand, also a large assortment of Tinware and Iron- [ mongery, Scythes, Reaping Hooks, Hay Knivea, Forks, etc., of beat quality, and all at lowest possible prices. J. W. Habduet, East Street, Ashburton, BEAR in mind that J, W. Habdlby, Plumber and Gasfitter, East Street, hai the largest Stock in town of Pumps. Yfpes, and Fittings, and that he is selling them cheaper than ever at prices hitherto Qnheard of in Ashburton. Now is the hance for a cheap Pump ; improved No. , Price, 16s. Larger siies in proportion CHRISTMAS Suits. Boys, three garment long Trouser Suit« at 15s. Boys, C'olopial-made Knicker Suits irota 10s. Men's nicely made Colonial Tweed ' Suits 30*. Colonial Tweed Suits to measure from 60s.—Ashburton Clothing Mart, gfaunders' Buildings. Robkkt; --AtCOBK. ' f TtTANTF.D Known—That J. Moison VV keeps the best stock of Boots in Ashburton, for thin reason that he pays cash and is not under or bound io any one firm like many in the trade, which enables him to procure and supply the public With the Best Colonial and English nukes ; and his well-known make need** no recommendation. Always on band Bent Sole Leather, used for r. pairs and done at once.—J. Moisox, Impi/iineable Bootmaker, Town H*U, East Street, next Court Home _ . j HoW SAMjio U>TDKRSTOOD FBBKOIf.— '-'red ■iv* to the runaway negro on the raft, •3in>, what'd you •» if 'twas jag to you , • p»rly-vou«-fran»y t " '" W oaldn t »y ouffinf IM just bust him over da ear; if he wasn't a wile man. 'Low no nigg«v ** call me dafc ' Finn aays the words only mean, "Do you speak French?" Jim inquires, "V they m£n that why don't thsy say tk»t»" Dr Forest «aya, in " Health, the New'Metbod," we might make similar »m auirie* of the professors ot Masuotberapy f I but he goes on to explain massage, rubbing, and it« beneficial result* «o that it might , even enter the skull of the densest negro j , ud hia muscle-roller and other new method are invaluable. An edition of hisi oook j much enlarged, is published at Truth , aid "Health" Publication Offices, 16 >! £smi itreet, CteiiWUureb^ApvT.J ,



BOOTS. BOOTS, SHOES. SHOES, THE tfEW ZEALAND Clothing Factory AND BOOT AND SHOE WAREHOUSE. "PflK Public would do well to inspect I our Large and Well-assorted htock before purchasing elsewhere. A Single P-iir of Boots at the Wholesale Price. All new goods. 200 Pairs of Boys' and Girls' Strojig School Boots and Shoes *iom 2a 9d. ! LADIES. Buy your Boots and Shoes at the Factory you will save 3s in the pound. THE AUGITE STOVE MAT. Only a f«w left; just the thing for pre serve making ; only 29. A Wonderful Line of „_.._ MEN'S ALL-WOOL COLONIAL TWEED TROUSERS TOR 9» 6d. NEW ZEALAND Clothing Factory.. ! AtiKX. HWNDRY, Manager, The Onslow Biscuit. The latest and most delicate biscuit manufactured by Auslebrook and Co.



A. JSetfggins Wif© A FACT. A speaker was holding forth on woman and he made out that she was just a little angel on earth. In glowing words he pictured how patient she was in suffering how courage >us in trouble, and how alto gether gentle, loving, and good she was undor all circumstances, and closed his j peroration by declaring that any man who laid his hand on a woman, save in the act of kindness, was a monster. After the lechure, a pale, haggard, woebegone looking man shuffled up to the speaker and said, "Look here, mister ; I've heard what you've been saying about* woman ; all about how nice and sweet she is, why, one would imagine that you believed all women were just blushing full blown roses; I guess you don't know my wife, Well she haint no blooming rose. She's a daisy, a reg'lar daisy, why mister my wife is a nagger, and there is'nt an hour, when she's awake, but Ihst she's nagging someone. Jf it is'nt me, its the children, if it is'nt the childrtn, its. the cat. There is nothing that escapes her nagging tongue, and the only time any of us gels any rest is when she has nagged herself o deep." „ , How like the nerves of a man who. drinks; they just nag, nag all the? time, «iving no rest until enough liquor has bppn taken to deaden all nervous sensibility, and the poor fellow goes oil n that bodden, snoring, miserable state ; that is but the rattling skeleton' of a; heallhy sleep. | i R. T. Booth's Golden Rejnedy No 1 / urns an end to all this nagging of the nerves by destroying all desire for I iquor ■ ',■»»«.* ! it. T. Booth's Golden Remedy Sso 2 is j ihe "jest Brain and Nerve Tonic on this 1 e^rijj, 411 shymt* i



THE HARVtSTJS PLEfIEOUS. \ £ any rate it is up to the average™ ~\ and the laborers are—well, a good detl more than plenteous. I have never before seen so many men in the country on tbe outluok for harvest work- For a time the town was "stiff wid em, as Pat said about the river and the fish, but a good many have heen absorbed since the weather became harvest weather, and allowed the machines to go rattling along, CUTTIiNG DOWN the wealth of Ceres' golden reign. I trust the farmers will get something like a favorable return for their year «toil, and that when they come into town with their little CALICO-(28 lid a dozen)— i hags of samples of grain, representing th i crop, on the growing and in-gathering o which they have been concentrating al their energies since last harvest, they wil be able to receive from the grain merchants jpRIOES that will enabW them to live themselves •*.m<i L«IT OTHERS MVJB. The farmers are the men who feed us all, who grow our grain, our meat, our dairy I produce, and the wool to make our GLOTHING- (suits at 355). They are the men who, with their wives • and families, the tradesmen must depend upon to make their living, and we have the most solid reasons possible for re ioicine when the farmers are prospering, So thinks HARRY HAIIDLEY Manager for HiliDliHY BROS. Who are selling goods very cheap. Beautiful dress tweed 4s 9d a dress j VARIETY. Men's Colonial made shooters 9s 6d j slippers 3s 3d. COME AND GIVE US A TRIAL.



Hampton's TWURNITURE VV AREHOUSE) TANCItED STREET, Is Opposite Mitchell and Turner's. TRY HAMPTON'S FOB Perambulators from 22* 6d Perambulator? Reversible Hoods from 355, Patent Rubber Tires Basket Ware Chest Drawers Chairs and Tables Bedsteads [ Cheap Furniture i All Repairs Colonial Couches Wire Spring Mattrasses BRANCH BUSINESS, EAST STREET, Below Patching's. GREAT ASSORTMENT OF CROCKERY, AND FANCI GOODS. ---2J35 CHEiP. Money. nf*r\f\f\ of Trust Moneys to lend gt^OV/1./" upon Freehold securi ties, in sums of not less than £1000. ApPlyt° Me C. W. pUMEf,p, Solicitor, g §§ Montgomery's BuUdiiqpi,



Hollo way's Pills.—Weak Stomach.— j The wisest cannot enumerate one quarter of the distressing symptoms arising frqm im perfect or disordered digestion, all of which I pan be relieved by these admirable pills;. They remove cankery taste from the mouth, flatulency, and constipation Ifolloway's Pills rouses the stomach, liver, and eyery other organ, thereby bringing digestion to that healthy tone which fully enables it to convert all we eat and drink to the nourish ment of our bodies. Hence these pjlls are | the surest strengtheners and the safest j restoratives in nervousness, wasting, and chronic debility. Hollo way's Pills are infel lible reoieuies for impaired appetite, eructa tions, and a multitude of other disagreeable symptoms which render the lives of thou sands miserable jndeed. The pills are ap approved by alj olaj«Wi,



The best medicine known is SANDEKand SONS' EUCALYPTI EXTRACT. Test its eminent powerful effects in coughs, colds, i influenza, etc —the relief is instantaneous, Thousands give the most gratifying testi mony. His Majesty the King of Italy, and medical syndicates all over the globe are it, patrons, head the official reports that accom pany each bottle. Moslor M.D., Professors University, Grlefswald, reports : — The Eucalypti Extract provedNmagnificently suc cessful in very severe contusions, bruises, apiains, wounds, scaldings, broken ribs, and l&nbs ("Medical Journal," Nov., 1881.) In diseases of the kidneys, either active con gestion or suppression, (uroemia) or albumi) nuria, dropsy, lithargy, nothing will equa, in its action Eucalypti Extract. Dosesl five to six. drops. Mosler, M.D., Professor University, Grieswald, reports:—Diph'ihe, ria. Tonsils continually coherent presenting ulcers with white exudants. Cured in four Uendays. Surgical Clinic cf Prof. M'lntyre. College of Phyßicianß and Surgeons, St. Louis —Scirrhus of Breast—Excision Euca lypti Extract employed. No swelling, heat or discoloration, Cured in fourteen days, —Advt