MAIL NOTICES.

Mails close for the following places as under, subject to the neoeesary alterations :— SATURDAY, February 25. For Northern Poris, per Penguin, at O.?iO p.m. ; late fee letters, guards van, express train, at 6.55 r .m. WKDNESDAY, JVaroh 1. For Australiau Colonies, etc. (per express' to connect with steamer at Port Chalmers), | at 1830 p.m.

ENGLISH MAILS.

HOMBWARn— DIRECT MAILS. Tongariro, sailed January 20, due London February 2s. Ara»Vi«, sailed February 2, due London March 15. Aorangi, sailed February 16, due London Murch 31. HOMEWARD—SAN FRANCISCu MAILS. Alameda, sailed January 25, due London February 28. Next mail leaves February 25, due London March 29. OUTWARD —DIRECT MAILS. lonic, sailed January 22, due colony March 6. Ruihine, sailed February 5, due colony March 20. OUTWARD —SAN FRANCISCO MAILS. Next mail leaves London February 18, due ! colony.

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1893. LABOR AT HOME.

Though the report of the Royal Commission on Labor, which has been for nearly two years inquiring into the conditions of labor in the United Kingdom without having yet ex hausted the subject, will propably not be drafted for some months, some pro gress reports, in the form of blue books, have been issued and contain some very interesting infornration. One of these books, dealing mainly with em ployers and employed in industries connected with certain departments of transport and agriculture, is extensively quoted from aDd commented upon by aomeof the London papers recently to hand. The disclosures as to the hours of labor in certain industries were decidedly startling. The Scottish Farm Servants, Carters, and General Labour Uuion direct attention to some facts tkat, it is stated, are not understood or known by farm servants and laborers generally—namely, that when they en gage with a farmer for six or twelve months, as the case may be, they are bound to obey the mandate or call of the master during any hour of the twenty-four, day or night, should he deem their presence or assistance neces sary. The farmer can compel his servant to work whole nights taking in the crops into the stackyards with out any additional pay. Should a ser vant refuse, he ia often dismissed with out one penny of wages. Should the servant appeal to the sheriff to recover the wages wrought for, he generally loses his case, and very often has to pay a tine for uot complying with the farmer's demand. The Union charac terises this state of affairs as unjust to the worker and expresses the opinion that extra hours and over-time should be paid for—as is done ungrudgingly by colonial farmers. ' The London Car men's Union give-the hours of the members at from sixteen to twenty hours a day, and the length of hours is also made the subject of specific com; plaint by the Amalgamated Carters' Society of Glasgow and the Ayr branch of the Horsemen's Union The Liver pool and District Branch of the General Railway Workers' Union state that the hours are ten, twelve, fourteen and sixteen hours a day j men have in some cases worked ten, twenty, and twenty three hours on duty. The long hours of railway employees are the sub ject of continual discussion and reprehension, and Parliament has at last intervened, with a Bill reducing their hours of work to eight daily, though so powerful is the railway influence in both Houses that it is very doubtful whether the measure, which has passed the second reading, will go much further, A wide differ ence uf opinion has been made manifest on the eight hours question, only one of the railway unions advocating a statutory eight hours day, though the London union of national,. municipal, and vestry employees suggest that the eight hours system be at once in augurated by placing Government &nd municipal workers on eight hours a day, or forty-eight hours a week; and then other trades, in which a two thirds majority wish to do so, might have these hours fixed by Act of Parliament. It is clearly not in the interest of society that unskilled labor should be employed for fiixteen to twenty hours a day, while tens of thousands of men capable of taking a fair share of the work luue to stand idle. The Labor Commission will do good service if it can point out any way in which the existing amount of work can be redistributed, »o that one man shall not be habitually overworked while another is unemployed.

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Th? Lake ifotay fcb Begeatta produced a loss of £57. Prince Charles of Bavaria, who i« 19 years old having been forbidden by his grand father to marry a ballet girl, has caused a sensation by running away with her. A member of the Timaru School Com mittee has stated that nine out of every ten teachers appointed there were appointed through favouriti m. A Maori who went to the Hawera race 3 struck three big dividends, but had his pockets picked of the money, and also a £iiooo land debenture. It is stated that Messrs Nelson Brothers ' nave purchased fch£ business of the Christ-1 church Meat Company, including the Jslimj ton Freezing Works.

The Canterbury Acclimatisation Society ' has decided to recommenlthe Government to forward nil th 9 salmon ova expec ed to arrive in the colony shortly, to Otago and .Southland for distribution. The Government Statistician estimates that on December 31,1892, the population of New South Wales was 1,197,050 person?, of whom 640*378 were males and 650,672 were females. The total cost oi the education system of New South Wales, taking a credit for the £70,000 from school fees, was under £800,000 a year, and as the number of children in ti.e public schools at the end of 1892 was 210,641, the cost per head per annum was under £3 10s. All musicians will learn with regret that it has been found necessary to shut up the celebrated piauikt Hans yon Billow in a lunatic asylum at Paukow, in the environs of Berlin. For some time past Hans yon Biilow had shown signß of mental derange ment. Mr Sawle let off with a caution to-day a man who had not been drunk for two years. Mr Hawle was lenient with him as he promised with great earnestness , to never j get drunk any more, and go straight off to a job that was to last all the winter. Sir Edward Watkins proposes, if ever he gets the channel tunnel cut through, to run trains direct from London to Gibraltar, transfers carriages by boat to Tangier, and thence along the north coast of Africa, through Egypt, down the Persian Gulf to Kurrachee, and so on to Calcutta, without change of carriages. As a sample of the style in which the public service ot New South Wales has been carried on, it may b? mentioned that the cost of the paper and envelope in every official letter was 3d. The embossed stamp on the envelope wan gilt, and the paper was of the richest quality. Now, however, re trenchment is the order of the day, and very common paper and envelopes are u«ed. The case is reported by the Nelsc 11 " Colonist" of a milkman who, at the time of the earthquake, as he was about to supply a customer, looked up and saw five chimneys falling, and his horse became so frightened hat it bolted with the cart. Generally the effect upon animals, etc., seems to have been to have filled them with fear, and some newly introduced swans showed unmistake able alarm. Fair average RivewPlate sheep can at pre sent be laid down at a cost of less than 2Jd per lb ex ship in England, that price in cluding all freezing expenses, freight, and insurance, so that Australian shippers must prepare themselves for a lower range of values than hitherto they have deemed a minimum in the London market. This Argentine mutton is the closest rival Aus tralian h is. The following figures will be interesting as showing the quantity of colonial wool imported into the United Kingdom during 1892 by the Undermentioned firms:— Messrs Dalgety and Co., Limited, 119,000 bales; the- New Zealand Loan and Mer cantile Agency Company, 115,000 ; Messrs Saunderson, Murray, and Co., 99,500; the Australian Mortgage, Land, and Finance Company, 88,000; Baok of New South Wales, 59,000; and the Union Mortgage and Agency Company of Australia, 57,030 bales The " Rangitikei Adupcate " reports tha* a discovery was recently made in the Pon kiore bush, which offers scope for any amount of romantic conjectures. Someone was under-scrubbing in the heart of the bush there., when the slasher struck a metallic substance hidden by the leaves and soil, which, on being turned up^, proved to be a part of the copper sheathing 61 a ship's bottom. The point at which it was found is estimated at about fifty miles from the coast, and is in the heart of a large area of dense bush, and the problem is haw it came there. It is said that very extensive improve ments are in progress on some oi the largest land estates in Hawkp's Bay. The estates of Mr Purvis Russell (Woodburn) and of Mr Sydney Johnston (Oiuawhare) are referred to as special instauc.es. It is affirmed that these and other large es.tAtes.will.be sub divided so as to exclude them from the operation of the progressive land tax and bring them within the lir.provemeht and exemption clauses of the Land Tax Bill. The Government claims these facts as proofs of the efficacy of their land policy, and v being really in conformity with the intention of tho Ministry which led up to the initiation aud passing of the new land laws of the colony. It is also stated that there is an increasing demand for land in Hawke's Bay. The establishment of dairy factories in the district, at Norsewood and Maharahara, has contributed greatly'to the prosperity of the district, which requires subdivision of large estates into grazing blocks of convenient area. & very pretty squabble was lately in pro gress at Chicago between the local hotel proprietors and the managers of the different railway lines centering on the World's Fair city. A public meeting was called by the citizens to urge upon the railway companies the issue of cheap tickets to the World's Fair this year. The most prominent speakers at this meeting were some of the hotel -keepers—and these men had a great deal to say about " tho duty of citizens to make the fair a grand success." The rail way officials at once offered to make a re duction in their regular rate of thirty per cent if the hotel-keepers would reduce their charges twenty per cent. But this was carrying the patriotism business a littl« too far to suit the money loving "hosts" of Chicago, and without one exception they treated this counter proposition as a piece of of impertinence, saying they intended to manage their own business in their own way, and charge what they liked. As one individual tersely put it, "I'm not in business for my health, and I ain't running for Congress." And the railway officials said "that jf $his patriotic sauce is not good for both' railway goose and hotel gander, they will not make any reduction in rates.

SUPREME COURT.

PER i»R!SH» ASSOCIATION. NiWEB, February 23. At the Supreme Couit to-day John Clark, convicted of putting an iron rail across the railway line near Waipawa bridge, was sentenced to ten years' penal servitude. Ewen Murray M'Gregor, said to be a member of a ducal family, got four months for horse-stealing. Harry Smith, for larceny oP! c cheque, got six months' imprisonment.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

[PEK PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

London, February 22. I.i fche House of Commons, tbe Rail way Servants Eight Hours Bill has been read a second time. The election for the Stockport Seat in the House of Commons resulted as follows:—Mr Whitely (Conservative) 5264; Mr Hume (Home Ruler), 4799. O'Ponovan Rossa expresses the opinion pb& }ff Gladstone will not satisfy tfoe Irisfc' ■ A letter in • |he " Morning Post 7 states that Mr Gladstone modelled the Home Rule Rill on the constitution o f \ Victoria. London, February 23. It is proposed that a deputation com prising 500 Ulster men. should wait on Mr Q|adstone» protesting against Home Rule for I?el#nd, (Received February %, ty.o a.m.) London, February jg3. Special prayers will be offered i» Ulster next month against the success of the Home Rule Bill. . The <jrovenan*enj; Liquor V eto Bill gives power to a two-thirds majority of ratepayers to veto the issue of iiew licenses, and to a bare majority to in-

POLITICAL.

THE MINISTER OF LANDS AT BLENHKIM. [pur press association.] Blbnhbim, February 23. The Hon. Mr McKeczie addressed a crowded meeting in Blenheim to-»ight. Owing to 'he illness of the Mayor, Mi Buick, M.11.R. was chairman. Tlu Minister defended the land policy cf ll.i Government, and explained that the Ministry before taking over the Cheviot, estate, had employed fcuree different st-lt. of,valuers, showing »n average profit of over £40,000 on their purchase. A syn dicate had effesroa to purchase tne estatr, ] liut the Government had no interest, in selling or intention to sell when they took ovur the lurid. Hd said that there was no suivey, and in October 30,000 acres of agtioultural laud would be placed on the niatket, and the balance lett for twelve months, or until the survey was completed. The whole scheme would be submitted to Parliament. He then dealt with the question of Marl borough waste lands, giving every satisfaction to the settlers. \ rote of thanks to Mr McKenzie and confidence in the Government was de clared carried.

Trade and Industry in Scotland.

I" Otago Daily Times " correspondent.) I Tn spite of the general about dull times, the customs revenue at all the Scottish ports, except Granton, shows a a considerable increase during 1892. Leith has been the mo»t prosperous of all, j the increase there amounting to no less than £113,496. The increase at Glasgow was £86,917 ; at Dundee it was £16,511; and at Aberdeen, £10,740. The returns issued by the Scottish iron masters regarding their operations during 1892 show that the total production was 977 213 tons, being an increase of 302,788 tons on the make of 1891, In steel and malleable iron work the quantity of Scottish pig-iron consumed was 521,125 tons —an increase of no less than 285,973 tons as compared with the previous year. The exports amounted to 385,327 tons, , being a decrease of 28,286 tons. In spite ' of the now almost universal use of steel in ship-building, referred to below, ie was stated that the wages of steel-workers in the West of Scotland are now at the lowest point they have ever reached. A more cheerful note is sounded by the Dunfermline linen industry. Instead of suffering from the operation of the Mc- Kinley Tariff Act in the United States, as its had been expected to do, this trade seyms to have benefited by it. For ten years prior to the passing of the act, trade exigencies had led to the weaving of fabric coarser than those for which Dunfermline has been so long fain^i Now, however, the imposition of dul.-d in ihe United States on goods which contained less than 100 threads to the square inch, has led to the very general resumption of the weav ing of tine fabrics. Che returns show an increase in the value of the linen goods exported direct through the Consulate at Dunfermline during last year of £31,938. The corresponding increase in cotton goods amounts to £5171> Another branch ot Scottish industry which seems to be snapping its fingers at American competition, in potato gi owing. On December 28 the Glasgow potato traders held their annual festival in the National Hall in tint city, when the chairman, Mr James Lyburn, said the wages in the trade were higher than they had ever been before, while hours were shorter. The growing of early potatoes in Ayrshire had caused the comple:e collapse of the Dutch early importations. The mos*. notable feature of the trade in recent years, however, h. d been the demand tor' America. That country might yet prove to be the saviour of the potato grower. Whatever eJ&a she could send she could not send uq potatoes, and long might she depend on the old country for her supply. Ireland was pouiing large quantities of potatoes iuto Glasgow and Liverpool for transhipment to America. Mr Lyburn added that the frost had done damage to the potato crop in Scotland to the amount of propably a quarter ot a million sterling, which had reduced her surplus for export. " Let their farmer friends," he concluded, "put on sufficient manure anrt produce ten tons per acre of good Bruces, and he would find a market for them any year at good prices." Amid the general moaning about agricultural depression, it does one good to hear a cheery voice like this. The annual returns setting forth the results of a year's work in the various Clyde shipbuilding yards are always awaited with interest, and this has been especially the case this year, on account of the recent tomewhat critical state of affairs. The output in 1892 amounted to 387 vessels of 339,407 tons, "or 17,987 tons wore than in 1891." In value, how ever, the year shows a decrease as com pared with its predecessor, the total value of the vessels built in 1892 being esti mated at about £7,500,000, which is about £500,000 less than in 1891. Thiu is principally owing to the increase in the number of -jailing vessels built, and the decrease in that of firstrclass,steamers. These changes are stated to be due to the combined influence of deav coal and low freights. The output of sailing vessels amounted to 159,497 tons. This total exceeds by 33,150 tons that of J. 891, and is four times greater th*n the output five years ago. The material used is now almost exclusively steel, which was re presented by 31)2,307 tons, while iron accounted for only 7200 tons, and wood for the trifling total of 400 tons., Three warships, aggregating 22,820 tons, were launched last year,. ?he largest merchant vessel launched was the Cunard steamer Campania, of 12,500 tons, and her sister ship, which is now ready f r the water, will occuDy the same post of li nour dur ing the current year. The Cuu.jj.inia is the largest steamer in the world. She is (J2oftv in length, with a beam of 64.3 ft. The largest Bailing ship launched in 189,2 was the Somali, of 3537 tqns, for a Liver pool owner. The orders in hand amount to about 200,000 tons, one half of which was booked during the last quarter of the year. Here it will be appropriate to notice some rather striking statements made by Mr Robert Caird, the well-known Greenock shipbuilder, at the annual con* cress ©f the Educational Institute of Scotland. Mr Caird "poke of the im perative need for employers ct labour to lead an organised movement ia favor of technical edugation, and said no one en gaged in actual constructive work could form any adequate conception of the waste to the world by bad workmanship.' £5,000,000 sterling was invested in the mercantile marine of thia country in ex-f cess of the iron and steel employed in the Construction of vessels, on account of bad Vbrkinahship, *nd 2)00,000 tons of .coal were annually spent in propelling that weight. On" account 'of the 1 length to which specialisation had "been carried, workshops had ceased to be places where aoprentices learned a trade thoroughly ; hence technical passes with accompapying laboratories and workshops ware needed. He advocated compulsory teohniou even- in* workshop classes for youths from 16 to 18. The proposal was received with evident favour by the conference

The Volunteers.

EASTER ENCAMPMENTS.

f *V i?KBH* ASSOCIATION. Wellington, February 24 Mr Seddon has determined to curry out i his original scheme of encampments at , Easter. The volunteers will concentrate round the forts in each centre, and carry out a scheme of attack anfl defence. The North Islanl Cavalry, exolusvie of Auck land, will rendezvous at Piilir.ereton. i'he [ Nelson and Westland meu will each have a. j separate encampment, or may coalesce if [they choose. Taranaki and Hawke's Bay [will join Wellington. The p'au was sub mitted to the volunteers come time ago, and received general approval.

THE FLOODS IN AUSTRALIA.

PER PRESS ASSOCIATION. (Received February 24, 10.45 a.m.) Lonson. February 23. The Eastern Extension Cable Com pany have subscribed £100 and the Duke of York £10 to the sufferers by , the Queensland floods.

Sydnjsy, February 23. J The damage by the floods in the McLean district is estimated at £80,000, and Government relief has been requested. Many farmers have been ruined, and are asking for em ployment on relief works. Brisbane, February 23. J Owing to the floods the channels in the rivers have silted, and several vessels have grounded. Until the river is re-surveyed vessels will be tendered off the bar. (Received February 24, 11 35 a.m.) Brisbane, February 24. The flood relief fund amounts to £16,000. , Great distress is sure to prevail in Gympie, where six hundred miners have been thrown out of employment. It will be fully three months before the mines can resume work. Quite two hundred houses were washed away.

February 23. Mrs Tancred, widow of the late Chan cellor of the University, has given £50 towards the central relief fund, which to day amounted to £269. It has been resolved to hold a public demonstration on Thursday, March 9, in Lancaster Park. The schools and friendly societies will be invited to assist in form ing a procession. An active canvass is being made in the city and Lyttelton. It is proposed to hold a benefit regatta at Rhodes' Bay, when the railway and steam boats will allow liberal commission on fares. The proposal has been favorably received by the regatta commitcee, who ! recommend that the races consist of stump outrigger events, and a sailing com | petition.

The concert in the Arcade last nijjht in aid of the Queensland relief fund was one of the " biggest things " Ashburton has done for some time, and drew an audience of no less than 732 people. The iJea of giving a concert in the Arcade originated, we believe, with Mr Hichard Lechner, Sejretary of the Horticultural Society, who. remarking the suitableness of the Arcade as a place for a large gathering, as proved by the success of the flower show in that connection, thought it would be a pity to dismantle the fittings of the show before something was done for the relief fund. The tremendous size of th=» building raised seme doubts as lo its acoustic success, but when Mr )-echner mentioned his idea to several of Ihe musical people it was, so to speak, " jumped at," as an excellent opportunity for fettling what had long been moot ques tions among them —thepracticability of us ing the Arcade atallasapromenade concert room, and its fitness as regards sound. In eveiy way the Arcade proved a brilli ant success. The soft floor deadened all distracting sounds from the audience, and the voices of the soloistb penetrated with clearness and in full tone to every corner of the building, not a note being missed by people the very farthest away from the stage. Even light, thin voices like those of Mr L. Bnud and Mr J. B. Kirk were clearly heard. Mr Brooking, a very solid bass, sang first, and under the disadvan tage of the untried building. Fancying, from tha size of the hall, that a . strong effort would have to be made to be heard at all, he made that effort, in his first song, and his number suffered in consequence, but the strain was not required, and in his encore song, he relaxed a good deal and was more suc cessful. The soloists had found out, the splendid acoustic proporties by the time their turn to sing came, and knew exactly what to do, so that the result was per fectly satisfactory. The tickets were issued to. a large staff of sellers, who found many ready buyers, and £12 12s 6d was taken at the doors, so that the treasurer hopes to be able to hand over ' between £40 and £45 to the fund. The Arcade was well decorated with flags, | thanks to the energy and enthusiasm of Mr Thomas WhiHington who hung them, ! and the kindness of Mr William Patching who lent them at the first time of asking. The centre of the building was seated with short benches from St Stephen's school, and a few from the Ash burton Club, but these were not all used as most of the male portion of Ihe audience preferred to move about the tan and under the bays enjoying a pipe. Thanks are due tq che carriers who carted the seats free ; to Messrs Elston and Cawsey for their labor with the lighting and the former specially for his work in preparing the stage; to Messrs Truckle, Rale, Tasker, Lechner, Elston, and Whitting tori for the great amount of work they did in general preparation, and specially to the last mentioned gentleman whose task in glirnbing the beams to haps flags was neither easy nor safe j to Mr Thomas for the use of the Arcade, the greatest cift of all; to Mess s Williams and Gates for arrang ing the programme and bringing the whole thing so successfully through and without the slightest hitch. Of the concert itstlf, 1 considering the short notice given to the performers, its success was wonderful, every one doing his of her best, and pleasing the audience to the full. The singers were —Mesdames Brooke and Wil liams and Miss Hardy ; Messrs Brooking, Williams, aud Kersal; and, for comic ele ment, Messrs J. Kirk, broadandD. Millar. Glees were sung by a strong choir under Mr Gates ; the Orchestral Society, under Mr K. Wood, contribmed several pieces ; and the Brass Band, under Mr G. Hoskin, was not by any means the least acceptable feature, Mrs CJaridge played the ac companiments throughout, and wify Mis* 1 Ada Qates contributed a piano duet. That the programme was yery iccQßtablp tq the audience wan proved h,y. the fapt that every item was encored. The Mayoj- was Chairman and at the close made the pleasing announcement as re^ cards the numbers present and the pro. bable financial result above n,ot«d, also tendering fch»nks to the performers and all who had lent assistance in making a success of what was quite an extemporised concert, but a substantial contribution to IJie ifußdg.

TELEGRAPHIC.

HOME AND FOREIGN

(PSKPMSSS AfIMOCIATION.)

THE ROUMANIA.

Lowdok, F«Wruarv 22. The AdtmraUy Court found that the Anchor line Bteamer Rouinania, which was wrecked at Arelho, north of Lisbon, while bound from Liverpool to Bombay, had over-run her distance owing to the current. The Court advised that a greater number of European quartermasters should be employed ou vessels manned by Abiatics. COLONIAL GOVERNORS. The "Morning Advertiser," refer ring to Sir G. R. Dibbs' demand to be consulted regarding Governors for the.,, colony, considers that the Marquis of Ripon justly resists an invasion of the last right of the Crown. London. February 23. The Marquis of Ripon did not con sult Sir G. R. Dibbs on the appoint ment of the Governor of New South Wales. Lord Carrington justifies the demand cabled from the colony. The selection came as a surprise to the Liberals. NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOR BONDS. Sir J, Lubbock is informed that the New Plymouth Harbor Board bond- , holders are still pressing for the balance of the money due: Sir John thinks that the Government had better ' capitalise the loans on deferred pay ment land aiftl perpetua' leases, as it would be against the interests of New Zealand if the Stock Exchange com mittee were urged to disallow quota tions ef future loans.

* TERKTFIC BLIZZARDS.

New York, February 22. Terrific snow blizzards have been experienced in the Eastern and Middle States, and railway traffic is impeded. February 23. The blizzards experienced in the Eastern and Middle States exceed in seventy that of 1888. Many persons have been frozen to death. THE CANAL DUES. President Harrison has revoked the hostile canal dues.

THE CRISIS IN HAWAII.

Washington, February 23. Mr J. L. Stevens, United States Minister in Hawaii, in a despatch to his' Government, declares that the Princess Kaiulani is wholly under British influence. The Hawaiian Commissioners to the President are returning to the Island. Ihe resident: of Hawaii report that England and Germany have been planning for years to possess the islands, and their Consulates have armed the natives and incited them to oppose the Americans.

RUSSIA.

St. Petkbbbubg, February 22. Owing to the poll-tax imposed by the Government, 50,000 people have abandoned their homes and will leave the country, A quarter of a million of people are starving in Finland.

AFGHANISTAN.

Calcutta, February 22. The Ameer of Afghanistan is ap proaching the Viceroy of India,, with a view to the settlement of the frontier difficulty.

THE ANARCHISTS.

Rome, February 23. Twenty-five Anarchists have been arrested in this city on a charge of being concerned in. the explosion of a dynamite bomb outside the Quirinal on January -27th.

OBSOLETE RIFLES.

Ottawa, February 22. Lord Stanley of Preston, the Go vernor-Gfeneral, is urging the Canadian authorities to discard the Snider and adopt the Martini-Henry rifle.

THE CANADIAN TARIFF.

Ottawa, February 23. Canadian. farmers ask for the re moval of duties on British exports.

MINING CATASTROPHE.

Vienna, February 22. „ An explosion has taken place in a mine in Skaiitzs. The origin is un known, there being no one in the shaft. Fifteen miners were killed. The Government have taken steps to close the mine.

CHOLERA.

Vienna, February 23, Cholera is raging in the Russian' provinces near the Austrian frontier, and a thousand cases are under treat ment, Four hundred deaths were recorded for the month ending February 7.

THE GERMAN ARMY.

Bvbuw, February 23, The Emperor, addretsing a meeting of farmers, urged them to support the military as they were essential to peace.

AUSTRALIAN.

EMBEZZLEMENT. Sypnby, February 23. Bennett, late manager of the Pad diugton branch of the English and Scottish Chartered Bank, who was convicted of the embezzlement of large sums of. money belonging to the institution, was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment. THE NEW GOVERNOR. Sir G. R. Dibbs has expressed him self satisfied with the appointment of the Hoc. Robert Duff, as Governor of New South Wales. Sir Saul Samuel cables thit he is well qualified for the position.

INTERPROVINVIAL.

Napibe, February 23. At a representative gathering this Even ing; J£r* Rees explained his ochenw for the settlement of q Native kn^s under \M Comm'ltee system scheme. Doubts were expressed by several speakers as to the acceptance of the scheme by the Natives, but the majority thought that it would meet the requirements of the case, and it was decided to form a branch of tho Native Land Laws League for Hawke's Bay. Wellington, February 23. A woman named Elizabeth Downey, a?ed 70, was charged with drunkenness torday. The evidence went to show that she was the support of her father and mother, aged 96 and 96 respectively] Defendant had lately given way to intemperate habits. She was remanded fo? medical treatment,

THE ABHBTJBTON GUARDIAN: FRIDAY, FEBfttiAßt 24, 189 J.



-„ AN^^~tw7~Reßpec tttbie Young charge. Apply Mrs J. ««'»« - 2 103 Street. ■ iSJtini Monday, FebruaryJiT. 2^21 VmTANTED to Purchaie, Mane and W -Tail Horse Hair in any quantity. Highest cash price Oas. H^T^ Ahhbnrton andTinwald^_______f!^ -..HE Midword U. Bo«ke on 1 Sheep and Dairy Farming, Ihe Horse, t£ Dog, Poultry, Garden^ Athletic and Training. B»ck op^™S of Graphic, The Q^^V S ustwted Draroafic News and othtr JJjJJJg papers at half pric«, at L. F. ASDRBWES & Co., Stationer£Hjill : ________ — greatly reduced.-ANDB»wORR. 2^lU4 FIANOFORTB and Organ Show Booms. Best cash value obtain able. Extended terms; reduced scale; Chrbtchurch prices^-B^M^JQNES. WANTED Known—lee Creams, Ice Creams, for the hot weather, always ready at H. G. Flowkk's, Confec tioner, East Street. .____—— S'oSeRSET Meat Mart. The oldest the largest, th ß best, and the cheap Mt SmaU a ■pwoialty; Ful w^Khts guaranteed. A trial soiled —W. J. SILOOCK. TTTaNTRD, at once, » Boy hH>iaj? W passed Standard V. or VI., as apprentice to th^ printing trade. Apply MilL Office. n^HE GobThanwritan, tor the imme diate relief of pain.-LiGHTS Cash Store. ; h¥ r r OMKOPATHIC Medicines, price tJL la. Sol« agent for district Light's Cash Store^ 10 YCL ES, Ordinary and Safety Cycles, Star Humber Roadster, Racers-Star Diamond Frame, Star Cross Frame (Adaiw, Ourties and Cos Ma chines.) Uash or Terms. Christchurch Prices.—H. M..loses. °* C"~HEIP Fruit-Having bought Mi- Mayo's orchard, I cm bell Fruit cheaper than any one in town. Orders maybe left at East Street Shop.—Mrs James. 2§bl (IHEAP Firewood—Short Dry Gum J Firewood, at 26s per cord; branches 3s per load at Mayo's, Trevor toii, - A pply, Mrs James, Fruit Shop. ANTED the Public to know that S. W. AIX3ORN and Co's Summer Sale it now on. Great Bargains in Millinery, Underclothing etc^ WANTED Known that S. Sausk, Watchmaker and Jeweler, has removed to new shop near New Zealand Clcthinir Factorr 10 213 XTTANTED Known,—Come and see *▼ our dress lines at 4*d and 6d, leather shirting 6^, three-quarter cloaks 12s 64. -H. 0. Seokkß, Mslford House. WANTED Knowu—Dr Scott's cele brated Electric Corsets can only be obUinei in Ashburton at W. 11. COLUBK's, V-thn Cf.rn»r." THB Misses Adams' tew Refreshment Rooms now open. Tea, Coffee, Cocoa, Lemon Squash, Soda and Milk and all the new summer drinks ready at all times. Colemaa's Building, East Street. • , ANTED every«m« to come and tee the beautiful 'presents we are Sivinff away for evt-ry 5a and upwards ■pent —H. 0. Segehs, MeUorilJiojisiii, * WANTED X..own.—A great variety of hi^h class dross gt>od.s t > uhonse *irom new selHiii? under regular wholesule prices.—H.CJSegeks, Melfoid House. , WANTED— Purchasers tor Bargains in Summer Dresses, Prints, and Delaines, Sunshades, 4c. at S. W. Ai-corn and Cob Sale. WANTED Kncwn—New Flannelbttes at extraordinary prices; 3s lid j •nd 4s lid doz. Thirty per cent under price.—W. H. Coixu?r._ DON'T let the rain water destroy your buildings. Get Spouting fixed at j 4d per foot and buy a tank, complete with tap, tested before leaving workshop, for 30s, at J. W. Hardlbys. WHY not Bake your own Bread when you can get 50ibs of the He«» RoJVr Flour f«»i fivtj slriiiny;, ca.^h <>r five .vh'iHi'^s «•>'! sixpence i",<.kc-i ht Robert alcorn a. >huii^«! ' Huililiti^s 11 31 DON'T Forget the Borough Bye-Lawa re Carr&Kfl Lamps, and that Habdi/b . as 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 p-wsible prices, J. W. Habslst, East Street, Ahhburton, BEAR in mind that J, W. Hardlby, Plumber and Gaafitter, East Street, has the largest Stock in town of Pumps, .-. Pipes, and Fittings, and that he is selling them cheaper than ever at prices hitherto Vnheard of in Asbburton, Now is the ' hance for a cheap Pump ; improved No. . Price, 16s. Larger siaes in proportion. /CHRISTMAS Suits. Boys, three \y garment long Trouser Suits at 15s. Boys, Colorial-made Knicker Suits fr^m 10s. Men's nicely made Oolonial Tweed Suits 30V Colonial Tweed Suits to measure from 50s,— Ashburton Clothing Mart, Saunders' Buildings. Robbkt Axoobn. t ITaNTKD Kaown—That J. Moison VV keeps* the best stock of Boots in Ashburton, for this reason that he pay» oash and is not undei or bound to any one firm like many in the trade, which enables him to procure and supply the public with the Best Colonial and English makes ; and his well-knowu make needs no recomniendaac/ii. Always on hand Best Sole Leather, uxed for jepaiis and | done at once.—J, Moison, Impermeable Bootmaker, Town H«*ll, East Street, next Court Houdo j



from whom they can be obtained BOOTS. 800 PB., SHOES. SHOES. THE NEW ZEALAND Clotliingr Fictoiy AND JBSGT AND JiPkfa * WAREHOUSE. rPfIK Public would do well to inspect I our Large and Well-assorted btock before purchasing elsewhere. A Single Pair of Boots at the Wholesale Price. AH new goods. 200 Pairs of Boys' and Oirls' Strong I School Boots and Shoe* from 2s »d. . LADIES. Buy your Boots and Shoes at the Factory you will save 3s in the pound. THE AUGITE isTOVE MAT, Only a few left; just the thing for pre serve making; only 2s. A Wonderful Line of mwvmx MEN S ALL-WOOL COLONIAI TWEKD TROUSERS for 9« Bd. ZEALAND Clothing Factory. ALEX. HENDRT, •"- Manager. The Best Tea iN CANTERBURY for the money, and free from any excess of as tringency. COUNTESS 2s. ASK YOUR GKOCERS.



A> ISafCffiutt Wife 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 courageous in trouble, and how alto gether gentle, loving, and good she was under all circumstances, and closed his peroration by declaring that any roan who laid his hand on a woman, save in the act of kindness, was a monster. After the lecture, 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 th*l> she's nagging someone. If it is'nt me, its the children, if it is'nt the children, it & the cat. There is nothing that escapes her nagging tongue, and the only time any of us gets any rest is when she has nagged herself o sleep-" | How like the nerves of a man who drinks; they just nag, nag all the; time, giving no rest until enough liquor has been taken to deaden ail nervous sensibility, and the poor fellow goes off ! n that sodden, snoring, miserable state that ia but the rattling skeleton of a healthy sleep. , R. T. Booth's Golden Remedy No 1 puts an end to all this nagging of the nerves by destroying all desire for iqnor B. T. Booth's Golden Remedy No 2 is the best Brain and Nerve Tonic on this «arth. AU chemists.



Holloway's Pills.—Weak Stomich.— The wisest cannot enumerate one quarter of the distressing symptoms arising from im perfect or disordered digestion, all of which can be relieved by these admirable pills. They remove cankery taste from the mouth, flatulency, and constipation Holloway's Pilla rouses the stomach, liver, anl every 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 pills are the surest strengthened and the safest ie»toratives in nervousness, wasting, and chronic debility. Hollovay's Pills arc infal lible re-nedies for impaired appetite, eructa tions, and a multitude of other disagreeable ■ymptoms which render the lives of thbu-. uods miserable indeed. The pilia are »p ---i^jproved by all clawa,



iHB fiust Citing sale » J. HTRIi-i* It Co. BEFORE KNOWN IN, ASHBUKIUJ>. : » ™«*^&E&SS^ OFFEKIN° Double widih Sheeting, white twill, lU^a Good washing Muslins, 3s lid dozen White Muslins, Batin stripe, 7£d now 4#i atndßK'P^tSrStrip^sotabl.for chUdren'. dr^. .ond^rfu. value at 6Ad CLOTHING. CLOTHING. Men's Tweed Suits, 19s 6d Boys' Tweed Suits, 4s lid BOOTS. BOOTS. BOOTS. Men's Colonial made Bluchers, 5s ssasws?saarSr* tm^ and naM> 1& M Men's Cookham Boots, worth 25s for 14s 6d W WK ARB O&^WO&^AINS » BOYS' * OtßtS' Wometfa strong leather Shoes, 4s lid Ladies' Glove Kid Boots 8s 9d, reduced to 6s lid price TERMS CASH. -KEMEMBER THR ADDRKSS y. J. r^MILL and 00., FRIEDLANDER'S BUILDINGS-



■ j S. SALEK, Watchmaker *■ Jeweller, M^NSHIP. — NOTICE. mil W.tohe 9 ,nd J«el.«ry M for R# with ANDREW BLACK, W.,ch maker, have bepn transferred to 8. Hal ek, ■WAICHMAKBB & JEWELLER,



THE HARVESfIS PLEiTEOUS. i ? any ratfi it is tip to the average— v and the laborers are—well, a good deal more than plenteous. I have never before seen so many men in the country on the outlook for harvest work. For a time the town was "stiff wid 'em, as Pat said about the riv«r and the fish, out a good many have >>een absorbed since the vreather became harvest weather, and allowed the machines to go rattling along, CUTTING DoWIV 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-(2S lid a dozen)— bags of samples of grain, representing th ! 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 PRICES that will .enable them to live themselves •*ii<4 LET OTHEUH LIVE. The farmers are the men who feed us all, who grow our grain, our meat, our dairy produce, and the wool to make onr CLOTHIN(i-(»uita 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 ioicinß when.the farmers are prospering. So thinka HARRY HARDLEY, Manager for HARDILY BROS. Who are selling goods very cheap. Beautiful dress tweed 4s 9d a dresß; variety. Men's Colonial made shooters 9s 6d; SIIC<?ME 8AND GIVE US A TRIAL.



Hampton's XpURNITURE yj^AREHOUSE, TANCRED STREET, j Is Opposite Mitchell and Turner's. TRY HAMPTON'S FOR Perambulators from 22s 6d Perambulators Reversible Hoods from 355, Patent Rubber Tires Basket Ware Chest Drawers Chairs and Tables Bedsteads Cheap Furniture All Repaira Colonial Couches Wire Spring Mattrasses BRANCH BUSINESS, EAST STREET, Below Patching's. GREAT ASSORTMENT OF CROCKERY, AND FANCIt GOODS.— 2t35 CHE IP. Honey. jC*Clf\f\f\ °f Trust Moneys to lend' abOv/v/V/ upon Freehold securi ties, in sums of not less than £1000 i APPIyt° M* C. W. POKNELL, Solicitor, 2 38 Montgomery's BuildiDga,



SANDER AND SONS' EUCALYPTI EXTRACT.—In protection of the world made fame our manufacture has acquired all lover the globe, we publish the following :- H*z»j.'<J M.D., Professor of General Patho logy a»d "Diseases of the Mind and NerVoua system, says i» an editorial published in the ''Clinical Record " {=»-" We have examined half-a-dozen specimens of ,djfferent manufac tures ; the preparation of Sander and Sons was the only one that proved to be pliable and corresponding to scientific tpstg. Another concoction called " Refined JSattract of Bwalyptus" has made its appearance since. This product stands, according to Dr Owen, foremost i» gauging injurious effects. That gentleman comn»WVea£es, at a meeting of the Medical Society of VU&m, fchat a | child living at Fitzroy became most se^oußly i*di»oa»ed through its use. In another case a lady states on the strength of statutory declaration that she suffered cruelly from the effects of the mm concoction. To guard the high reputation of o»v manufacture we feel warranted in exposing ik» above facts, and desires the L public to mw and precaution when buying, SAND&R a»4



The Best Tea IN THE WORLD Hyslop's Ceylon. NINIAN IJYSLOP, and CO., Tea Importers, \ty Cashel stfeet, Cbtistgjm<-ch.



Jk jR CJI" J*Al*C'll *••"'"*••?■ The Onslow Biscuit. The latest and most delicate biscuit mvnufootured by A,ulsebrook,*n4CQ.