MAIL NOTICES.

Mails close for the following placeß v under, subject to the necessary alterations :— SATUBDA V, February 4. For Northern Ports, per Rotorua, at 0 IS p.m. ; late fee letters, van ex press train, 6.50 p.m. 1 ENGLISH MAILS. HOMKWAKD— DIKSCT MAILS. Doric, pailei January 5, one London February 10, T Tongariro, sailed January 20, due London February 20. , Arava. bailed February 2, doe London March 15 Aorangi, leaves February 16, due London March 31. OUTWARD—DIRECT MAILS. Coptic, sailed December 22, due colony February 6 „ , , Rimutaki, sailed January 7, due colon] 1 February 22. ; lonic, sailed January 22, due colony 1 March 15. HOMEWARD—SAN FRANCISCO MAILS. : Monowai, sailed January 28, due London February 28. , , _ , Alameda, leaves February 20, due London March 29. OUTWARD—SAN- FRANCISCO MAILS. Next mail leaves London January 21, due colony February 23. The letter-box will be cleared for des patch of. correspondence from Ashburton Post Office to the under-mentioned places as follows: — For »m. p.m. p.m Burnham and Dunsandel daily) 315 Ohertsey and Rakaia (daily) 6.30 3.15 6.20 Christchurch and North (daily) ... 630 3.15 6.20 and on Mondays, Wed nesdays, and Fridays... 10.30 Oroirore (daily) 6 30 Eiffelton and Willowby, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays 10.30 Elgin, Wakanui, River oide, Seaview, Seafield, and Kyle, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Satur days 6 30 Flemington Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays 4/45 Gemldino (daily) 10.30 Greenstreet, Winchmore, and Forks, Tuesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays 630 Hackthorne and Lismore, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays 10.30 Methveu (daily) 3 15 Mt. Somers, Springburn, Bushside, and AHord Forest (daily) 4.0 Mayfield ami Fuapnua, MondaysandThursdays 4 0, Newlands, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Satur days 63(J Timaru, Dvinedin, and South (daily) ..." ... 12.30 Selwyn (daily) 6 20 Tetuuka & Timaru (daily) 10.30 12.1 V) and ou Tuesdays, Thurs days and Saturdays ... 3.15 Tiuwald,Wiuslow, Hinds, and Waunate (daily)... 10 30 and on Tuesdays, Thurs days, iind Saturdays ... 3.15 Wheatstoue, Ashton, Waterton, and Long beach (daily) ... .. 4.45 N.B. — Letters containing anything or value should be handed to the Postmaster to be registered. Letters containing coin, or bank notes, ii posted unregistered, will be coinpultorih/ re gistered nni chi.ri.ed d-.uhfo registration, fie.

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1893. CURRENT TOPICS.

By a curious coincidence the Agent- General has anticipated the statements made with reference to the newspapers filed— or, rather^ not filed—in his office in London By the San Frapcisco mail we received a " List of Publica tions, etc., on the Colony (New Zea land) to be obtained or seen in the In formation Bureau, Library and Read ing room, at the office of the Agent- General for New Zealand," which in cludes the following list of the " Prin cipal New Zealand Newspapers filed for reference in the Information Bureau " :—New Zealand Times, New Zealand Herald, Auckland Star, Lyt telton Times, The Press, Otago Daily Times—dailies ; Auckland Weekly News, The Budget and Taranaki Herald, Hawke's Pay Weekly Courier, The Weekly Argus (Greymouth), The Weekly Press, The Canterbury Times. The Otago Witness, The New Zealand Graphic—weeklies ; The New Zealand Farmer, New Zealand Trade Review, New Zealand Journal of Insurance, Mining and Finance, and Sharland's Trade Journal (t':e Official Journal of the New Zealand Pharmacy Board) — monthlies. Perhaps the originator of the misstatement —who has since had the hardihood to maintain its accuracy, in face of the Dunedin contradiction— will now retract. The " List," we may say, was printed in November, 1892.

One of the greatest, if not the great est, of the difficulties with which tee totallers have to contend is the want of a beverage to take the place of beer. A Londoner declares that he has dis covered a," true temperance beverage." At any rate it was patented under the name of Kop's Ale. The patent rights were bought for a mere bong by an enterprising gentleman named Lovven feld, who proceeded in the usual way to float a company who should buy his patent from him. A company with £250,000 share capital wis formed, but seeing that the bulk of the paid up capital was to go to Mr Lowenfeld, and that beyond the patent rights only some premises and plant of inconsider able value were thrown in, it is scarcely surprising that some curiosity was evinced as to the composition of this wonderful beverago. Au enqmVr went to the Patent Office and found this specification: —" Temperance Bev erage :—loz hops, loz horehound, |oz dandelion root, |oz ginger, fib sugar. Boil two hours, when cold add |oz yeast, and let it work a few hours in shallow pans. Filter, aerate, bottle. It is obvious j;hat any suitable syrup or flavouring may be in quan> jty according to taste," The beverage is in fact our old and esteemed friend herbal beer, as it waa before the @us toms edict banished the wholesome and non-intoxicating hops from its com position. Messrs Houli, Milichamp, Davis and Ranger would no doubt part with their rights for something less than a quarter of a million ster ling.

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Rev J. T. Hinlton of Bunedin is on a J short vifcit to Ashburton, and will conduct . service for the Baptist Cnuroh during his I stay. , The adjournei general meeting of the Ashburton Gouuty Hunt Club will be held .it the Commercial Hotel on Tuesday evening. Amongst other business fchc < question of hunting the hounds next season will have to be considered. The first oysters of the season arrived at the Deep Sen Fishing Company's shop on \ Thursday night. Considering that they j were taken at Stewart Island on Wednesday the day of opening the season—thw was ! .smart work. The Christchmch fishmongers I did not get any tili last night. AH instruments were represented at the annual maeting of the Orchestral Socif.ty : on Friday night in the School of Music. Mr H. A. Gites presided and went over the year's work. Some formal and musical 1 business having been transacted the election of officers foe the year wa3 held over till next /veek. Information has been received by the police that at three o'clock this morning tour Btacks of grain the property of Mr Leonard White, and five utacks belonging to MrJ. Storey, both near Rakaia, were found to be on fire —beyond doubt the work of incendiaries. Other Btacks further away from Rakai* township were also be'ieved to be on fire. AH the pupil teachers of the Ash burton school have succeeded in passing then representative examination?. Cne, John Purchase, obtained a first class pass, and and another, Frank Curd, succee led in pass ing the matriculation examination. F. Curd alao sat for 5 the D certificate ex amination, the result of which is not yet

known. The whole suite of offioes of the County Council have just been been subjected to a fresh distempering by Mr Robert Dorm, with a very happy result. The walls have 'assumed a light slate col«r, while the cornices and ceiling have been treated with tints in keeping, and altogether a vast im provement has been effected on the appear ance of the room. Mr Charles Chapman, painter and sign writer, ia proving by the good work he has recently been doing, a "worthy son of a worthy sire." He has iiwt finished for Mr S. Salek'« window a sill board, bearing the name of the latter and his profession. The sill board is of thick plate glass, cut; to fit the windo #, and enclosed in a movable wooden frame. The lettering is embaaeed in green and gold, the letters being first etched on the glass in the usual way by the agency of strong chemicals, and the coloring filled into the outline so obtained. The work has been done very artistically, and while in itself a certificate of merit for Mr Chapman is also a decided ornament to Mr Salek's window. While on this subject of sigu writing, it would also be well to notice another fine specimen of glass work, done at the establishment of Mr James Craigie, Timaru, for Mr David Thomas. It is a glass panel for Air Thomas s office door, and is about .as fine a specimen of this kiud of work as one would wish to see. The lettering, tracing, etc., are for the most part uurur, into the glass with the aid of acids, and afterw irds finished off in gold and silver gilt. The whole design is very pretty, aud the lettering shows exceptional Uste.

Mr H. E. Bonnington, chemist, has now got his new shop into fall .working order, and ha» settled down to ordinary business. Readeis will remember that, in our extended notice of the new range of buildings erected by Mr Bullock to take the, p!ace of the old Prospect block destroyed by the recent fire, it was mentioned that for the unoccupied shop next the Clothing Factory Mr Bull-'ck hat a tenant view. The tenant was Mrß n(|nington, a son ot MrF. BonniDg ton, of Ashburton, and nephew of Mr George Bonnington, the well-known Christ church chemist a' d druggist,' in whose establishment.Mr H. E. Bmnington had a pratical experience extending over twelve yeirg. The new shop has been handsomely fitted up wit'i everything necessary to the carrying o.i of a first'class business -, but white the convenience of the fittings for the despatch of business promptly and at the the same time with thecertbinty ot accuracy —so great a point in dispeuSary work—has been carefuly seen to, attractiveness to. the customer has not been neglected, and the 3hop fixtures in polished cedar, handsomely carved, and tastefully arranged present really a pretty sight to the visitor. We wish Mr Bonnington every success in his new undertaking.

Mr J. A. X. Beidle, general manager for the Dresden Piano Company, having a kindly eye to Ashburton as a musical district, has established an agency in Ash^ur ton, the premises chosen being Mr H. A. Gates' School of Music, which has been stocked largely with pianos of the high class quality manufactured by the Dresden. Iv addition to their excellent tone and sub stantial construction —the latter quality in view of carriage to and use in the country— the instruments, in their highly ornate cases of polished wain at, make beautiful articles of furniture. A fresh buite of rooms have been included in the business premises of the School of Music, and have been stocked with music and musical accessories, so that violin and other string players, and players of brass and wood instruments, whether pipe cr reed, can be taken out of a difficulty very easily. Mr Gates is agent and manager for the Company in this district, and will carry on theY business as well a« his own, undertaking repairs of all kinds of musical instruments, and the general work of musical teaching. The arrangement of the premises is such that, while ample room for the dis play of new instruments and stock generally has -been secured, a room devoted to repair ing work, and another for private tuition, the main room, so familiar to Ashburton vocalists, etc., as the School of Music, will be kept intact for its own proper purposes.

A special meeting of the Sydenham Prohi bition League was held on Friday evening. The present position of affairs was fully discussed, and the future course of action, so far as the Prohibition Party i 3 concerned, was largely decided upon. The following resolution was carried unanimously :—"This full ir.eetiug of the Committee of the ByJen ham Prohibition League desirea to express its profound sympathy with the Rev L. M. Isitt and Messrs Beattie, Hopper and Smith in view of the Appeal Court decision, and records its ccnviction, founded upon a much more intimate knowledge of those gentlemen and of the requirements of the Sydenham Licensing District than can be possessed by their Honors the Judges, that those gentle men have acted throughout with the utmost integrity and good faith," CotEMANR AND SO.r EtICALYPTB Ex tjuct is the only genuine in the market, and was a warded medals and diplomas at Sydney, Melbourne,and Adelaide, beating all competitors. For all affections of the Chest and Lun^s,. Consumption, Asthma, Coughs, Cold?, Oavel, and Kidney Com plaints, it has no equal. AgenU— ASHBHUTON P«ttTG COY* 1 r*

THE AGRICULTURAL DEPRESSION.

Tn the brief forecast of the Queen's Speech cabled to us we find that sympathetic reference is made to the agticultural dass, and probably a commission to enquire into tlie best m«ans of granting relief will be set up. In the House of Lords, we learn from the same source that the Marquis of B*lisbury, criticising the policy ot the present Home Government, remarked that the agricultural class was suffering from want of confidence, and there was no country in the world where property was so insecure as in England. Tn a cablegram received yesterday, we are informed that Mr Jesse Collings, a statesman who takes an intense interest in agricultural matters, and is an authority of some standing on agricultural subjects, has an amend ment on the Address-in-Reply before the House, affirming that a measure for the reUef of agricultural laborers ought to have precedence of Home Kule. All this goes to show that the stato of affairs among the agricultural classes at Home is far from satisfactory, and the prospects of the farmer for the future, as indicated from recent intelligence, are far from reassuring. Industry generally throughout Great Britain is depressed, but that depres sion can hardly be looked upon aB likely to be permanent, while the agricultural depression is the natural result of the relations that have subsisted between landlord and tenant farmer almost since the beginning of the present century. For the first forty years of the century the legisla tive power of the country was wholly in the hands of the landed people, and their all-prevailing idea was to keep rents high. To attain this object prohibitory tariffs were placed upon agricultural produce, and these tariffs, stimulating the production of grain to an abnormal extent, reacted upon themselves in a fall in prices below the minimum figure which, a high pro tective tariff was supposed to maintain, and as a result tenants were unable to pay the rents which were calculated upon this minimum; and which the tariff was supposed to guarantee. Then sliding scales took the place of the pro hibitory tariffs, and grain gambling to a large extent followed, but prosperity to the farnKi- was not attendant. Then came' the repeal of the Corn Laws, and subsequently the discoveries i of gold in Australia and California, with the great rushes to these places of people requiring grain but producing none, followed again by a series of tremendous wasting wars of which the Crimean was the first. These wars had the effect of raising prices to a point as abnormally high as those of to-day are low, and the counteracting effect of turning attention to the unde veloped food producing capabilities of countries all the world ovuv. Cobdtn's theory that the British farmer would enjoy an ever-lasting protective tariff in the edst of carriage from these coun tries to the British seaboard and from the seaboard inland, was blown to the four winds of heaven by. the wonderful development of railways everywhere, and the immense ocean going fleets that were soon upon every sea. In 1860 the cost of grain carriage was 2d per ton per mile; to-day it is £d, farmers are not as a rule the most farseeing men in the world, and as the effect of the immense competition that was aris ing was not felt for some-years, there was a mad rush for land, and farmers were compelled to pay increased rents. From 1854 to 1874 rents increased 2G£ per cent. This was brought about by competition among farmers them selves and by the " booming" ability of land agents. Had. farmers been as well able to read the future from the figures which men in every other line of business keep for their safe guid ance, farms would not have been taken at the formidable rents that were asked; but having once been taken, and in view of the heavy loss in capital that every tenaat must suffer in relin guishinghis holding—estimated by Pro fessor Thorold Rogers at ten per cent, and by Sir James Caird at fifteen— farmers acquiesced in increases of rent, and strove by economy in the use of labor to meet those increase in rent. The tremendous increase of foreign competition began in 1874, and since then has gone on increasing to such an extent that, although the population has increased from twenty-seven millions to forty millions, and the average yield per acre by, improved farming from twenty-six to twenty eight bushels per acre, the British farmer grows only nine parts of the grain consumed in Britain, as against nineteen parts imported from foreign countries. Fifty years ago the Home growth was two-thirds of the consump tion. Then a run of bad seasons was the farmer's fortune—only two really good crops being Invested between 1874 and 1882—wiiii uo percontra of enhanced prices to console the grower. Meat, wool, and dairy produce stili continued fairly profitable, but the agencies which ruined the prospects for grain have been at work in these also, and now, what with frozen meat from our shores, live meat from the Con tinent and America, wool from every quarter where sheep can exist and grow a fleece, and dairy produce landed from every pastoral quarter, prices in all these have been brought below the paying minimum. The position of the British farmer is a peculiar one to New Zealand colonists—a market of forty million people at his doors, yet beaten in the race by growers at the Anti podes ! Tithes, taxes, and rent have done the business for him, and his labor bill is also increasing. In regard to the latter, the best men have been driven off the soil by years of toil at starvation wages, and now the remnant are taking advantage of the oppor tunity which the labor market affords, and are demanding and obtaining increased wages. The farmer pan now no longer be a sweater and a middle man between the landlord and the laborer, whose toil alone could, give value to the landlord's land and pro duce, for him the rent he takes from it, and the whole world will watch with interest the solution of this great pro blem—a solution which seems to be in | the very near future.

COMMERCIAL.

U'RR press association;

London, February 3. The weekly return's of the J3>nk of : England published to-day show thi fcjta) reserve to be £17.096,000. Tbo pr«»l">r- ' tion of reaei ye to liabilities it* 48 48. Throe monttiH 1' bilin ate" discounted at 1§ per cent. ' Consols, 9^. New Zealand 4 per cent, inscribed j Htoc'.-, 105 i ; 3* per cent, ditto, 96£ I New Zealand long berried wheat, ox wprehouse, flat, Ht 31s 9J. South Aus'r«lian wheat, «x warehouss, flat, at 33s 3i ; Victorian ditto, lestric^ed, at 33?. Canterbury frozen mutton, 4^d p«r lb ; Wellington, 4d ; other meat quotations are unchanged. The New Zealand hemp market is steady. Good and fair quality fetched £24 10b per ton. At the wool sales biddings are brisk, and French buyers are more active. Victorian wool realises from B^d to ll^J per lb. Danish butter is selling at 106j per cwt. The London market is dnmoraltsed. (Received February 4,12.30 jf.m.) London; February "3. Best N.Z. dhiry made butter, 90s ; fac tory-made 100s. The Antwerp wool sales have closed. Competition was keen and prices un changed. \ John McNairn arid Company, write under date Glasgow, December 20, 1892. | —From our circulars you will have seen I the position of the butter-market. In our circular sent you last week we quoted butter 1245, and wo cannot this week alter it. Thedcmani is very good for Colonial, but the prices, realised are not as high as we anticipated; strikes through out the country and trade generally being bad, must account for this. We, however, will say that we expect to see a little better prices going in the early months cf the New Year, especially if we have seasonable weather. Danish is selling this week at 130s to 1325, with a good de mand. Then as regards cheese: Scotch cheese of choice quality, as already ad vised, are very scarce, and we must quote trie market two or throe shillings higher. This is altogether in favor of the Colonial article, which is already being asked for, and we anticipate a lively sale as soon as the goods are foiward. Canadian and States are also in small compasp, and as far m we can see the prices of these goods will be very high this Spring. We anticipate seeing as high aa 58s to 60s paid for Septembers, arid if this is so, the Colonial article will realise quite as high if not a higher price. The weather this la*tvfortnight has been seasonable, but as we write, another turn of mild weather has set in.

Grain and Produce.

The following is the Corn Exchange re port, per Mr F. Denham, for the week ending February 4:—The weather during the week has been a decided improvement on the previous one, and business has felt the alteration. A fair demand has set in from the North Island for ryegrass, of which we have placed a good number of parcels at payable prices, and could have placed more if we could have got holders and buyers to see things in the sf me light. Oats bave had f iir sales afc previous prices. Any sound old feed sold readily, and more wanted. *or the new crop of all cereals, we must wait a little time yet. Dairy Produce have ex pe iencei a'decline. Colonial grown clover Uin request, and not much offering; stocks are low and prices a little firmer. The following are prices to farmers, f.o, b., packages extra, potatoea'and millers' goods excepted. Wheat—Milling, "s lOd; feed, Is 9d to 2s 6J. Birley—Malting wanted, none offering. Oats—Old feed, Is 9J; milling, Is 10J. Hyegrass—Farmer*, 2s 3d to 2s 6d ; dressed, 3a 6d. Cocksfoot—Little 1 offering, 2d to 3^.1. Potatoes—Kidneys, 60s at stations. Butter—Factory, 10£ d; fanners, 17J to Bd. Cheese-3sd to 4Jd. Flour— ! Best roller, £9, i'.o.b. Bran 55a, pollard 60s, i f.o b. Shipping orders can be placed below j t^ifcse quota" ions for millers' offal.

Frozen Meat.

Messrs Fitter and Sons, Central Meat Market, London, report tor New Zealand mail, December 24, as follows:—Trade in the meat market is very slow at Christmas time, and, as usual, the only demand just now iB for poultry, especially turkeys, of which there is a good supply, but not too heavy for the enormous consumption. A great number of the butchers who deal mostly in dead meat, buy their cattle and sheep alive for Christmas, so as to make a nice bright display, and the majority go in for extra choice quality ; consequently frozen or foreign meat is not much, in demand. There has been a large supply of American beef on the market, both chilled and English tilled; much cf this has been of inferior quality, and prices railing very low. There has also been a fair quantity of Queensland beef, but the demand for this has been very limited. Very little New Zealand beef hag been put on the market. English mutton is somewhat shorter, and if it continues, to come in less quantities after Christmas prices ought to improve. Best New Zealand mutton is rather firmer, but plain sheep and merinos are selling very badly, owing to the low price of Australian and River Plate'sheep. We have noticed lately that some of the Canterbury sheep are showing too much of the merino breed, and we nave received many complaints about some of them eating extremely like leather. Small pigs are selling well, but large pork is decidedly lower. To-day's prioes are as follows:— Scotch sheep (per stone of 81b), 4s 2d to 4s 8d; English sheep, 33 lOd to 4s 6d ; Conti. nental sheep, 2s 4d to 3s 4d; Ewes, 2a JOd to 3s 4d } Canterbury (New Zealand) sheep 2a 8d to 3s; Wellington sheep, 2s 6i to 2b Si; Sydney sheep, Is 9d to Is lOd : River Plate sheep, Is lOd to Is lid ; New Zealand beef, hind quarters, 2s 6d to 2s 8d; New Zealand beef, fore quarters, Is lOd to 2s (nominal); Queensland beef, hind quarters, Is lOd to 2a ; Queensland beef, fore quarters, Is 8d to Is lOi; American b«ef, hind quarters, 2s 8d to 33 8d; American beef, fore quarters, Is 6d to Is Bd.

Ashburton Markets.

MESSRS FRIKDIJINDER BROS. Messrs Friedlander Bros, report upon the live stock market for the week ending February 3:—On Tuesday last the yards were very sparsely tilled, the total not exceeding 2009 sheep with 16 head of cattle and a few pigs. The attendance was, as may be expected at this season, very small, I although several of the Southern buyers were present to do business if anything in their line were offering. The entries in the 1 fat pens consisted of several pens of fat cross bred ewes, which ruled from 11s 6d to 13s 4d for extra heavy weights. Two pens of | merino ewes made 7s 9d each. In store sheep the principal entry was a nice line of halfhred two-tooth wethers, which sold at 13s Bd—certainly an advance on market rates lately ruling.' The other lots consisted of ewes and half and three-quarter bred lambs, which sold at 10s 31 to 10s 6d each; and merino ' and crossbred ewes 'with lambs, which were eagerly sought after—the former bringing 7s 5d and the latter $a 2d each; Good crossbred store sheep are in strong demand. We cold during the week privately, on account of clients in the district, the follow ing tots of cheep :-rSQQ four*tooth cross, breds, 14s j 1200 two.taoth half bred mixed ewes 3 13s (id j 980 two-tooth crossbred wethers, 14s; 400 halfbred freezing lambi, 12s 3 and 400 three-quarter bred, 13s. I" fat cattle there was only a limited number offering, but the demand is not very brisk. We sold 3 fat_cows at £5 7s 6d ; and some small heifera at from £2 10a to 13 ss.

NEW BOOK.

THE INTELLIGENCE OF ANIMALS.* We have received a copy of Mr Parnell'i newly-published work on " The Intelligence , of Animals." The subject is one which no Australasian writer, so far as we are aware, has yeb taken up, although it is one of peculiar interest to residents of the colonies, who come bo much in contact with the domes tie lower animals. The author* ob« - ject is—he tells us iv the preface—"if possible, to «waken public interest in the daily lives of the numerous animals (using the word in its most comprehensive sense. but excluding man from the category) which surroini 1 »s, and to enforce the view that they v,. not mere lumps of animated clay, but creatures quickened by the fire of in telligence, and mentally as well as physically our brethren." He rightly thinks that let . this belief once sink into peeple's minds, and their treatment of animals-would* be much better. Mr Purnell deplores the rapid, ex- / termination of the native birds of New Zealand, and hopes his treatise may .help to, evoke a feeling in every colonist that these attractive creatures should continue to live and nourish. *  Mr PurneU's work is an eloquent and forcible appeal to civilised man—the superior animal—to study the many ways in which the lower animals show that they possess, in a greater or less degree, characteristici which man generally is Drone to believe be long to him alone, He ' thinks that the principal difficulty we have to contend against in these investigations is.our own prejudices. He shows that in an earlier stage of civilisation many nations were (given to the worship of some particular animal, though now many persons regard a belief in the possession of mental capacities by the lower animals as little short of blasphemy; Mr Purnell brings forward not. only well* authenticated ancedotes, but also the authority of scientific observers to prove. that many animals—both domesticated and wild—have performed actions which can only be accepted as manifestation* of intelli gence on the part of the animals. Animals, Mr Purnell claims, should be viewed v living, intelligent creatures, endowed with personal and racial characteristics, and should be classed into different tribes accordingly, as we classify the human race, not by physical peculiarities alone but like* wise language, dispositions, manners* customs—all outward icanifestatione, in' short. The term instinct is enquired iato and defined, and the origin of instincts is also investigated. Mr Purnell contends that what is termed instinct in animals is merely in some cases, hereditary habits, while, to others, it is intelligence, pure and simple, differing in no essential particular 'from man's intelligence, excepc that it is smaller iv quantity, and that man possesses spiritual qualities not found in the lower animal. It is shown that the evolution of intelligence in ininr*]* has accompanied the evolution of bodily structure, and that man is united mentally, as he is physically, with the lower animals. Instances ot the existence of the logical faculty in animals ,have often been cited, and as often regarded as " travellers' tales," but Mr Purnell's examples are beyond dispute, v.v.l he has established a strong case for the animals. He shows also that animals profit by experience, and as they grow older they grow wiser, more wary, and skilful in meeting the emergencies of lite— as sensible men do. Mr Purnell also gives many proofs of the existence of a reign of law amongst animals, calling attention to the power of organisa tion that is often shown by deer, wild cattle, certain fowls of the air, and ants, and to the councils held- by crows and other birds. The combination'of animals for attack and defence; their co-operation in hunting, amusement, and—it must be said— field and garden robbing are air evidence of the possession of intelligence. _ The affections of animals are treated of in a. chapter that will be one of the most popular in the book, and will do much towards the author's end of awakening in his readers an interest in their fellow creatures—for as such, most of the readers will by the time they have read so far regard, them. The remarks upon the amusements of animals and the evidence that they show of possessing the asathetjjo sense, are all tended to promote a lore for animals. The individuality of character evinced by animals when placed in circum stances of which they could have had no previous experience, is shown by many surprising incidents—all of which, it i« due to the author to say, are fully authenticated. The manner in which they educate their young is another point in which, animals show the possession of intelligence. The language of animals is a question to which many scientists have lately given great attention, and Mr Purnell deals with it at some length. The possibility is con templated that men may one day be able to exchange ideas with the lower animals. Experiments with monkeys which are in progress in Paris, by an eminent tatant, hare, in fact, almost conclusively estab. lished the existence of a simian language; and so, no doubt, with other animals. Mr Purnell also glances at the aspect which man and the world present to animals. Most of us know that these signs ate often very positive, without enquiring, as Mr Purnell does, into their meaning. The work concludes with the expression of the author's belief that the future destiny of animals depends upon nun, wish another plea against the ruthless destruction of animallife by man. It is pointed out that, within our knowledge, .no new kind of animal has come into existence within the historic period, while several have become extinct; and this furnishes an additional reason why the strange and beautiful creatures which still survive should be preserved; That the lower animals have rights must be admitted; their physical kinship to man, once fiercely denied, has now been amply demonstrated; and Mr Purnell's endeavor to pcove that they are likewise related to him mentally, and that instinct, viewed as a faculty distinct from intelligence, does not exist is, we consider, BUCOBSBfuI. The work, though containing many quotations from the opinions of scientists, is of a popular character. It deserves to be widely read—indeed, we should much like to see it approved as a reading book for the higher standards in the public schools; Everybody who has anything to do With animals or is a student of Nature should read it. It is well printed, on good paper, by Messrs Whitcombe and Tombs, Limited; and the price, three shillings and sixpence, while within the reach of nearly everybody, is well within the value of the work.

S.C.A.A.C.

AKISUAL GATHERING.

(PER PBKSS ASSOCIATION,)

Timaru, February 2. The weather was bad for thd second day of the South Canterbury Amateur Athletic Club's meeting. Rain fell, and , the attendance was poor. The following are results ; — Half-mile- A. F. Boys (25yds) 1, K. Bowie (3oyds) 2. Won by two yards. Haynes (30yds) was "out classed. 160 yds Handicap-F. H. Hoa>e (lOyda) J, "W. A- Low (lyd, 2. Four pthers ran. Won by two yards. Low was penalised for breaking away. Two niile—Chtsholm 1, Louisson 2. 250 yds Handicap—Hoare (20yds) 1, Low (scr) 2. Two others ran. Won easily in 26f sec. Two-mile Bicycle Raoe—A. Dorm (80yds) 1. 440 yds Hurd!es-W. J. Mo r (scr) ,1 H. W. Postlethwaite (scr) 2. Two others ran. Won easily. Matron fell. Mile Flat—Rutherford 1, Boys 2, . Won easily. Time—smin 28sec. 12tyds Flat —Hcare (Byds) 1, Talaroa (syds). 2. Won easily. Time—l2lioc. Three-mile Bioycla Race—Truman (200 yds) 1, Dorm (120 yds) 2. Two others started. Won ' easily. Time- Bmin 50»ec. High Jump —Postlethwaite (sft 4in) 1, W. J. Moir (sft. 3in) 2 Qu*r*r-mi>« Race—F. H. Hw, (4Qy4. 8 ) 1, A, F, fitoyi (36j<U)

fHE ABSBURTO.N atJAlt£>lAN: BATtJBDA^, FEBRtJAItY 4, 189,1.



IHK FIRST CußAiJiVr SALE ». li'lßllil' *Co. • < BEFORE KNOWN IN ASHBORrON. Double width white twill, UM*l 'GWid willing Mo-la», 3s lld.*»cn Wliito MuiliiiM, wain stripe, 7J«I now 440 KidßGfil!lit3 >*Hp«.-«*>••- **-"drMSM> wonderf"l value ut (>i I gLcthisg. clothing. Men's Tweed Suite, 19i 6i Boys' Tweed Suits, 4s lid BOOTS. BOOTS. BOOTS.. MWh Colonial made Bluchers, 5s ssflttsna?aa 7**^ WB6d *"d n>M> I2s M Mei's Oookham Boots, worth 2oa for 14s bd JJraS oS^-W«^««NS „ BOYS' * G.BLS. ... Pricea TERMS CASH. .-REMEMBER" THR ADDRESS •y. J. and CO., FRIEDLANDER'S BUILDINGS-



watches. watchw. WATCH**" spJSOIAI , ANNOITNCBMENT WATO HM A X.l' BBAA L N D JEWELLER ■■ j* - «I,a wpllknown and reliable fiim of " Rotherham, Lon- HAS just received from M**B".K^°J" heß specially made by Rotherham for S coasts of-18ot GoM. Hunting Sausk (as engraved on works.) J : tfco . iSct Gold open faco and Hunting, w!th Lever Keyless | plate og« JJ£ fHCe ttnd keyl^ s Lcverß . Sterling Silver - centre sectind*. Lady s l»ct Kxm p» j^,^ hain » B Ha-.tiug Levers, k-y-wmding ; Rotherhr.m'B Huntm, Lever^L'^?. Rotherham's Open Faco, key-wining. Kh»* Rotherham« Open J* ce> yless . i mun> mewl of choice ntock of Ladies »«Ter ""i, . nd a \\ , v h o hay» occa iop t.^ u^e a watch fo , Athletic. Bicycle, and S^^^f^Sy^^de) Open Yace STERLING SILVER timing 4.8. in fifths, The advanrag, of havin? a Race timers-will time "P£ o"J"' y s with BHpe rior works for timing purposes only. *T7*LWM, WATCHMAKER A N JEWELLER. wit.', .na Jew.ll.ry 11.p.ir.0« «™^2!! ri J >tioo P™"^* 11" M'l'fM"'r"^_



BOOTS. 800 TB. SHOES. SHOES: THE NEW ZEALAND Clothing Factory AND BOOT AND SHOE WAREHOUSE. rpHE Public would io well to injpecj 1 our Large and Well-assorted Stock before purchasing elsewhere A Sinftle P*ir of Bo^ts at the Wholesale - Price. All new goods. 200 Paiw of Boy7"and ffirb'-Strong School BootH and Shoes 'rom 2a !M. LADIES. Bay your Boots an 4 Shoes at the Factory, --- y°u vill ure 3a in the pOO THE AUGITeTtoVE MAT, Only • few left; just the thing for pre serve making; only 2*. A Wonderful Line of MENS ALL-WOOL COLONIALTWEKD TROUSERS for fl« Bd. tfEW ZEALAND Clothing Factory. ALEX. HENDRY, Manager.



THE HARVEST IS PLE TEOUS. A T any rate it in up to the average— \ and the laborers are—well, a,good deil more than plenteous. I have never before seen so many men in the country on the outluok for harvest work. For » time the town was " stiff wid 'era,", as Pat said about the river and the fish, out a good many have absorbed since tho «reathe.- became harvest weather, and allowed the machines to ato rattiica along, . CUTTING DUWN the wealth of Ceres' golden reign. I trust the farmers will get something like a favorable return for their year* tnij, nnd that when they come into town with their little OALIOO-(2s lid a dozen) — ha«s of samples of grain, representing the crop, on the growing and in-gathering o| which they have been concentrating a!' their energies since last harv^t, thy will be able to receive from tho grain more ;nits FBICEB that will enable them to live themselves «nd LET OTHEHH JL.IVJB. The farmers are the men who feed v- all, who grow our grain, our meat, our dairy produce, and the wool to make our CJr-OTHtIiVCi-(suitß 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 joicinp when the farmers are prospering. So thinks HARRY Manager for H IIU>LI*Y BROS. Who are selling goods ver> cheap. Beautiful dress tweed 4s 9d a dress; striped ginghams 7£d. BOOTS IN ENDLEBS VARIETY. Men's Colonial made shooters 9s €d; 1 slippers 3s 3d. COME AND GIVE US A TRIAL.



A. lSo«r«r*»»flr "Wile _-_ -» ' A FACT. A speaker was holding forth on woman and he made opt that she was just a little r^ angel on eaith. In glowing words he pictured how patient she was in Rufforina ' now courage ius in trouble, and how alto gether gentle, loving, and good she was under all circumstances, and closed hi.-> peroration by d» clanng that any man who laid his hand on a woman, save in the act of kindness, was a monster. After the lecture, a pale, haggard. woe-b«gonc v looking man shuffled up to the speaker and ? said, *' Lrtok here, miarer, I've heard wliafc you've been saying about woman ; nil t about how nice and sweet she is, why, one would imagine that you believed all women J ;. were just blushing full blown roses; I j guess you don'fc know my wif**.^ Well rv she haint no Mooming rose. She's a ; daisy, a reg'lar daisy, why mister my wife '•• is a nagger, and there i&'nt an hour, when she's awake, but th\t she's iMsging [ someone. If it in'nt me, its the chi drew, \ it U'nt the childrtn, it t. the cat. There [ is nothing that escHj.es her nacfriti<; I tongue, and the only time a.iy of vi aefs [ any rest is when she has iiaegtid herself I to slerp." I How like the nerves of a man who I':V drink*; «h*y just n»j?, n«g all the ( FT time, tfiving no rest until enough liquor ; |;,'-: has been tnken to deaden all nervous I''l sensibility, and tho poor fellow goes <iff, fe^^ajk' that sodden, snorins, misernblo sbite i» but th« rattling skeleton of a sleep. |V R. T. Booth's Golden Remedy Nc. 1 EfT pnu an end to all this nagging ot the K> nerves by destroying all , desim fir E liqnor. ■:: R. T. Booth's Golden Remedy No 2 is w the beet Brain and Nerve Tonic on this i ' earth. All chewintti.



The Best Remedy fob Indigestion— Nor-ton's Camomile Pills are confidently recommended as a simple remedy fox [ndigestion, which is the cause of nearly aIJ the diseases to which we are subjects Norton's Pills, with justice called the "Natural Strengthener of the Human Stomach," act as a powerful tonic and gentle aperient, are mild in their operation, and safe under any circumstances. Sold in bottles, at 1« l^d, 2s 9d, 11s, by all medicine vendors throughout the */«ld Hollowav's Pills.—Factory Operatives* and Workers in Manufactories.—Theremark able remedies which have been discovered and perfected by Thomas Holloway, and which for more than forty years have been sucee&sfully used in every quarter of the globe, are especially usf.f ul in all the mani fold ailments which «tti cts those who by reaeon of their occupations are confined for yen hi, or a'l their lives, in crowded build ings and workshop?. Ho'.loway's Pills and Ointment arc associated remedies, the funncr ipstoriug the vital powers when diniimßhcrl, anil always actiug as an efficient boo.l purih'er, whilst the latter relieves local maUclica and checks inflammation, aud nets as a c'.caasing and healing agent in , cases of bad legs, bad breasts, ulcers, and unhealthy sores of all kind?. \The Best Tea I "" IN THE WOULD i H.vsiop 1-! Ceylon. NINIAN HYSLOP, and CO., Tea Importers, ITB Oa-'hel street, Cbtiatslmrcb, 4



Warned WANTED, Two Rooms with use of Kitchen. Apply "F," Mail | Office. ?_i 8 I OYSTERS, Oysters.—First of the Sea- ' son arrivod «t Deep «c» Fi«hnia Company's, opposite Mail * FFloEv___ . WANTED— At once, to hire for * few weeks or purchase, a heavy Trap Hurse.—Taskbr Bkos,, butchei^JSt^f IUiVIITiVE Church To-nv.rro*.— Preacher—Rev J. Cocker. Moruwg, The Prince of Preachers. &"»"»>& Woman's Sphere and Tufluetice, & ~J IJAPHST Church—The Rev .1. T. 13 Hintun, of Dunedin, will oouduot Services To-n.orrow, Morning, 11; Even ing, 6.30. Ail are invited. AJ_ * XKT£D-YouHg~Girl, about 16, to - look after rooms, etc. ix. JS Douds, Dentist. 2^o rT^HHTGoipel of the Grace of God will X be preached at the Orange Hall on Lords' I>»y evening, half p»st B«»jP_^Y.* PIANOSi fronT £26 to 70. Guineas. Sold on one, two, and three years. Tetms to auic purchasers. Reduced scale. —H. M. JoNhS. Va ANTKD~Known.—Th»t an open W air Temperance Meeting will be held in Baring Square on Tumdat Even ing next, February 7, at 7.30, when the K«v. J.T. HinTon of Dunedin, and JVl* T. E. Taylor of Chmtchurch, will address the meeting. 2 26 IJIAWOFOKTJfi and Organ bhow jZ Rooms. .Best cash value obtain able. Extended terms ; reduced scale ; Christchurch prices.—H. JMLjJowb^^^ W" ANTED Known-^lce Creams, Ice Creams, for the hot. weather, always ready at H. G, Flower's, Confec tioner, East Street. . ____ SOMERSET Meat Mart. The oldest, the iargest, th 3 test, and the cheap ast. Small 'ioods a spfccialty. Full wei^hti* guaranteed. A trial solicited. — V. J. OIL.HK.K. _^}^ \\' ANTKL) Kuuwn—Uood Em- VV broideiks, aid .P** >*d.— MITUH ELL AN V TOKN KR. % j* W'AS'EED Known that S. 6alek, , Watchmaker and Jew3ller, has lemuved to new shop near Mew Zealand Olc'tliiusf Factory. 10 218 .XAT ANTED Known.—Come and see * our dress lines at l¥d and 6.1, leather shirting 6|d, thrac-qwarter cldaks 12s 6<l. —H. C JSjkgers, Miitotd House,



\; ANTED Known — 200 dozen \V Ladies' Gloves from 4^.— Mitchell and Tubnbr. 9 V\/ANTED the Public to know that S, VV W. Alcorn and Go's Summer Sale is now on. Great Bargains in Millinery, Underclothing etc. . » / A NT ED Known—Good White V V Calicoe 3s 9d per dozan.— Mitchell ajsd Turnek. _^_? flllE Misses Adams' x«w Hefreshment A Roi.ms now open. Te^, Coffee, Cocoa, Lemon Squash, Scda and Milk and all the new summer drinks ready at ali times. Colemau's Buildings, East Streefc. > ANTED Known—Dl Scott's cele brated Electric Corsets can only bo o.bfuni'i in Asiiburton »t W. iJ, COLLItoK's, "The Of»rn«r " WANTED everyone to come and see Uio beautiful present» w^b are giving away for evtry 5s and upwards ] spent.—H. 0. ■Skobrs,. Melford House. {I /ANTED —Purchasers tor Bargains in ,VV v.SU'Jimer Dresiaes, Prints, and Delaines, Sunshades, &c. at S. VV. Ar<3ORN and Co'a Sale. WANTED Kincwn—Now Flannelettes at extraordinary prices; 3s lid *nd 4s lid doz. Thirty per cent undei p X ice.—W. H. CoiiUBR. D"oN'T let the rain water destroy-your buddings. Get Spouting fixed at 4d per foot and buy a tank, complete with Up, tested before leaving workshop, for 30s, at J. W. HARDLEr's. WHY not Bake your own Bread when you c;tn eec 501 bs of the Host R.ller Flour for five shillings cash or fW and sixpence booked at Robert Alcoun's, Saunders' Buildings. 11 oi.



\3|7"ANTKD K/iown.—A great variety » » of hiah class dress goods to choose from now selling under regular wholesale prices.;— H. C. Segers, Melford House. DON'T Forget the Borough Bye-Laws re Cart* aga Lamps, and that Hirdlb . us large Stock »>n hand, also a large assortment <>f Tinware and Iron mongery, Scythes, Reaping Hooks, Hay Knives, Forks, etc,, of best quality, and all at lowest possible prices. J. W. Hardlby, East Street, Ashburton. _ NEW YKAU'3 GIFTS.—Card, Book lets New Games in great variety. Beaut fullotof Vases, Fancy Glassware, and Fairy Lamps Boys' and Girls' Annuals, ami <ther new Volumes. Prize Books at reduced prices. INew Birthday Reward and Wedding Cards. ~L. V. ANDREWE:* Sr DO., Stationers' Hall. BEAR in mind that J. W. Haeplby, Plumber and Gasfitter, East Street, has the largost Stock in town of Pumps, Pipes, and Fittijngs, and that he is selling them cheaper than ever at prices hitherto unheard of in Ashburton, Now is the j chance for a cheap Pump ; improved No. |4. Price, 16s. Larger sises in proportion. /^IHftISTJ£AS Suits. Boys, three \J garment long Trouser Suits 15s. Boys, Colorlal-made Knicker Suits frjm 10s- Men's nicely made Colonial Tweed Suits 30. Colonial Tweed Suits to measure from 50s.— Ashburtojt Clothing Mart, Saunders' Buildings. Roebkt Alcoen. .7r aNTED Known—That J. Moison W keeps lho best stock of Boots in Ashburton, for this reason that he pays cash and is not under or bound to any one firm like many in the trade, which enables him to procure and supply-the s public with the Beat Colonial and English ni *kes ; and his well-known make needs no recommendation. Always on hand E?e*t Su!e Leather, used for repairs and done at once.— J. Moison, Impermeable Bootmaker, Town H-11, East Street, next Courfc House. ,



NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALASIAN STEAMSHIP COMPANY. /1391 L* I'nHE Company's Mag '■^SSßß^' « nificent bteamships will b) despatched from Lyttelton a? under; — MIOW/ORA on FEBRUARY H, for Port Chalmers, Bluff. Milford Sound, (weather, &c, permitting), Mel bourne^ Sydney; thence Auckland, Wellington and Lyitelton. The above vessels are the swiftest and ■ finest /steamships, running between New !Zeulattd and Australian Ports, and each , has a, capacity of 5000 tons. Passengers and orgo ty reduced rates.. V,jt further mformatfi^ apply to .a JiK»EY ZA^DEH, I Agent fyr AshbuftOl),



Messrs Colemane and Sons' Eucalypti Extract (manufactured at Mittagong and Cootamundra, New South Wales) has attained a reputation aa a specific for affec tions of the ch&at, lungs, consumptions asthma, dipbthgria, and a variety of other complaints. It numbers aetoog its patrons Earl Jersey, the present, and Lord Carnflg, ton late, Governor of New South Wales, while in Great Britain during the influenza epedimic scarcely a house or office was with out it. Messrs Colemane and Sons' whole sale depot is in ChrUtehurch. Sharland and Go. are wholgga'*© *geute f.ox the North W»Pd/



The best medicine known is SANDERand SONS' EUCALYPTI EXTRACT. Test its eminent powerful effects in coughs, col<|3, jnfluenza, etc —the relief is iijstantaneojis; Thousands give the 'most gratifying testi mony.. If is ijajesty the -King of Italy, and medical syndicates all pver the globe are its patrons, head the official reports"that accon", | pany each bottle. Mosler, M.D., Professor, University, Griefswald, reports : — The EucalyptiEx tract proved magnificently such cessful in very severe contusions, bruises, spiains, wounuo, soaldings, broken ribs, and limbs ("Medical Journal," Nov., 1881. ---fn diseases of the kidneys, either active con) gestioh or suppression, (urcemia) or alburni, nuria, dropsy, lithargy, nothing will equaJ in its action Eucalypti Extract. Doses five to six drops. Mosler, M.D., Professor, , University, Grieswald, reports:—Diph'.he, I ria. Tonsils continually coherent presenting ulcers with white exudants. Cured in four : teen days, gurgical Clinic cf Prof. M'lntyre, College of Physicians and Surgeons, St. Louis—Scirrhus of Btcast—Excision Euca lypti Extract employed. No swelling, heat or discoloration. Cured in fourteen days*, —Advt « I



The Onsix)W Biscuit. Tlkj latest and most delicate biscuit nsnufooturoti by Auianhrnok and C» The Oxsixnv Biscuit The latest and mo»t delicate biscuit mainufactttted by Au«l«broQk »nd Go, '



The Be§t Tea IN CANTERBURY for the money, and free from any excess of astringency. COUNTESS 2s. ask vov» Q*pqsß»



• " The Intelligence of Animals ": by Charles William Purnell, Wnstw-at-law. CUristchurch and Dunedin, New Zealand : Whitcombe and Tombs, Limited. Price, 3s 6d.