POST OFFICE NOTICES.

Mails at the Ashburton Post Office close as follows :

For Christchurch and North at 10.20 a.m. 4 p.m., and 7.30 p.m., daily. For Chertsey at 10.20 a.lll daily. For Rakaia at 10.20 a.m and 4 p.m daily. For Dunedin* Tinwakl Winslow, Hinds, Coldstream, Rangitata, Orari, Winchester, and Geraldine, at 10.20 a.m, daily. For Temuka. Timaru, and South at 10.20 a.m and 3 p.m daily. For Greenstreet, Ashburton Forks, Mount Somers, and Ashburton Gorge on Tuesdays and Fridays at 10.30 a.m For Ashton, Waterton, and Longbeach, at 3.15 p.m. daily. For Wakanui and Seafield, on Mondays and Thursdays, 7.30 p.m. W. S'r. G. Douglas,

Postmaster,

UNCLAIMED LETTERS.

The following letteis from places beyond the colony were received at the Ashburton Post Office during the month of July, and remained unclaimed on Ist September, it>79 : Eennison, W. "Bowden, W. Daly, Joseph Gerry, John Hetherington, William Horsfall, Miss O. Lafgren, P. P. Millas, Mrs. C. Perkins, George Russell, Robert Smith, John Groves Stirling, James Wilkinson, Mr. Woodman, W. D. W. St, G. Douglas, Postmaster.

NOTICE.

Mails close at the Chief Post Office for the following places (subject to the necessary alte rations) as under : The next mail foi the United Kingdom via San Francisco will be closed at Christchurch on Friday, Sept. 12, and will be due in London on Oct. 28. The next mails for the United Kingdom, via "Brindisi and Southampton (for specially ad dressed letters only) will be closed at Clnist ehurch on Sept. 24. Ihe mail via Brindisi will be due in London on November 17th, and the mail via Southampton on November 24th.

A travelling Post Office having been estab ished on the Southern line of railway, letters bearing a late fee of 2d. may be posted at any station in the mail carriage attached to the express train, and they will be included in the mails made up in transit for offices on the main line and branches. Note. —A post office called Mayfield has been established on the south side of the blinds, near the forks of the river,

Sydney J. Dick, Chief Postmaster.

NEW POSTAL REGULATION.

Letters posted within the colony haying the names and addresses of the senders printed on the address side of the envelopes, accompanied by a request that the letters be returned if not claimed within a stated period, will be return ed unopened. Provided, however, such letters shall have remained in the post office to which they may be addressed, at least ten days.

UNCLAIMED LETTERS.

On the first da’ ff each month a list is ex hibited at each Pc .t Office in the Colony of the addresses of all letters received from places be yond the Colony that have remaind unclaimed for one month at such Post Office; and such of these letters as remain unclaimed at the end of a further period of two months are then for warded to the Dead Letter Office, to be return ed unopened to the countries where they origi nated. Unclaimed letters originating in the Colony are not advertised, but at the end of two months are forwarded to the Dead Letter Office, Wellington, there to be opened and re turned to the writers.

ASHBURTON RETAIL LIST.

COMMERCIAL.

Messrs Friedlander Brothers report sales of wheat in London as follows: —Ex “ Bebington ” 51s. to 525. per quarter ; ex “ Stadt Haarlem ” 51s. Gd. per quarter. Messrs. Saunders Brothers report the following sales of wheat on farmers’ ac counts :—Ex “Northern Monarch” 51s. per quarter ; ex “ Huranui ” 51s. to 51s. Gd. per quarter ; ex “ Bebington ” 51s. per quarter.

The Ashburton Herald AND Borough and County Advertiser With which is incorporated the “Evening Echo”). THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1879.

Repeated warnings by the press, warn ings that have been almost pleadings with the electors, to take advantage of the op portunity given during the month of March in each year to secui’e a place 011 the Electoral Roll for the district, have been - disregarded by a great number of people, and they have now to regret the apathy they displayed. During the poll, ing last Monday very many men resident in the Coleridge district, and possessing qualifications entitling them to vote, walked into the polling-booths with the utmost confidence, believing, in the sim plicity of their hearts, that, as they possessed the qualifications of electors their right to vote was indisputable. But an interview with the Returning Officer at once showed them that to get upon the Roll and keep there requires more atten tion than the}’ had given to the matter, and for lack of this attention to their own interests they had been deprived of the power to aid the candidate they favored, or injure the chances of him they opposed. We are afraid that even the warning of Monday will not be sufficient to stir many apathetic ones up to the sticking point when the 'excitement of the contest hits been allayed by the stilling influence of time, which brings round with it again the period for raising the cry ‘ ‘ Register ! Register !” But the lesson will have a good effect upon thinking men, who at heart value the franchise their neglect has permitted them for a time to lose, and they will take care, when the time comes, to avail themselves of the legal provision for becoming electors. Some men, regis tered once as electors on a freehold quali fication, had sold their property, and thus dropped off the Roll, while they took no steps to regain their position for other qualifications they possessed. House holders changing their residence also found themselves eliminated from the electoral list because they had neglected to claim on their new quarters. These were instances in which the non-resident Revising Officer was only doing his duty, and the blame of the hist votes lay, not with him, but Avith the electors themselves who had neglected their own interests. Still there Avere men upon the Roll Avho had no right to be there—men Avho only possessed Avhen first registered a house hold qualification, Avliicfi they had long ago relinquished, and for which their names should have been expunged. But by some means or other they still held their position on the Roll. It is thus evident that in addition to greater interest in the matter on the part of the people themselves, there is some reform needful in the registration machinery. The im provement suggested of allowing registra tion all the year round is an admirable

or»o s but to this we append a rmygo-dion that some means ought- to be devised for placing every householder upon the boil, whether he applies on his own account or not ; and we think also that the cry for a local man to represent us in Parliament would lose nothing by being made appli cable to the position of Registration Offi cer. We have no fault to find with the present officer, he is perfectly qualified, as far as we know, to deal with any applica tion made to him or objection lodged with him, but we fancy that some such gentle man as the Resident Magistrate, the Town Clerk, or the Secretary to the County Council, would be better able, from local knowledge of the people of the district, to produce a Roll purged at least of all the men who had removed to fresh fields and pastures new.

The Town Hall. —Tenders are to-day invited for additions and alterations to the Town Hall. The Pm:nce Albert Boarding House. —Under the new management this estab lishment has undergone a thorough over haul and renovation. The whole building, from floor to ceiling has been thorougiy cleaned, and large additions made to the furniture, etc., with the view of adding to the comfort of patrons, so that now the Prince Albert is a credit to Mr. and Mrs. Lucas who have it under their care, and it can be recommended to travellers a 3 a superior resting-place, and to boarders as a comfortable place of residence.

The Land Tax. —The Land Tax on properties within the County and Borough of Ashburton will be payable to the Post master here between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on the Ist October.

The ITewetts. —Thi3 company gave their final performance last night. The programme was in no way inferior to that of the previous evening, but we regret to say the attendance was very meagre, though the applause was as frequent as it was hearty. The Dunedin Fiiie. —The enquiry by the Dunedin coroner into the cause of the fire in Ross’s buildings is still proceeding and the evidence as yet given points to wards the connection of Waters, the cafe keeper, with the origin of the fire.

Tussocks on Unoccupied Sections.— A correspondent in Ashburton writing to the Christchurch “Press' 1 says: —At Ashburton and many other up-country towns one frequently sees a section occu pied by a largo and expensive building fully insured, while the adjoining sections are a mass of thick tussocks very often with paper, straw and other combustible materials strewn amongst them. A care less tramp, or larrikin, or any person wlio has been spending the evening convivially is just as likely as not after lighting his pipe to let the match drop, and if the grass once gets well alight the danger is considerable, particularly at night when few are stirring. Now for the remedy. Why not urge on the Borough Council the necessity of passing a bye law compelling every owner of a section to clear it of tussocks, and in the event of tlieir not doing so, let the Council do it at the owner’s expense. Action should be taken at once, as the tussocks are drying fast and will soon be like tinder.

Captain Heavitj.— lt avus reported that Captain Hewitt, late commander in H.M. Navy had been dismissed from the Govern ment service for taking an active part in a recent local election. It appears that the real facts are that Mr. TloAvitt Avas formally reported upon for his action regarding the election, but there lias been no result, and it is understood there Avill not be any. Attempted Suicide. —Yesterday at Wel lington a well-dressed respectable-looking young woman, giving the name of Mary Smith, hired a Avaterman, to take her out in the harbor. After being out some little time she said to the Avaterman, “ Good bye,” and jumped oA’erboard. He man aged to drag her out of the water into the

boat, and brought her ashore. Our Wel lington telegrams state that she has been sent to tiie Lunatic Asylum.

The Bay op Islands Roll Again.— The “ Northern Luminary” says that it has been informed that a batch of some thirty bona fide claims, sent from Kaiva kaAva a feAV days before the proper time for closing the annual revision of the rolls, has been omitted, and an inquiry Avill probably be made into the affair, so that in any case, no matter avlio is elected, it Avill not be the result of fair representa tion.

Infection by Birds. —Swiss papers (says “Nature”) are much alarmed by a case of infection by birds. Tavo brothers, merchants at Uster, in the canton of Zur ich, Avho have a large collection of various birds and monkeys, lately received some tropical birds which Avere sent in a cage from Buda-Pesth. Immediately after the arrival of the birds the tAvo brothers, the Avife of one of them, and the sliop-girl be came sick. A third brother, avlio is a surgeon, understood the cause of the ill ness, and ordered all suspicious birds to be killed, 50 or GO in number, the cages to he destroyed, and a strong sanitary cordon around the house to be established. A tinker who had done some repairs to the cages also became sick and died in the hospital as well as an innkeeper and his Avife, at Avhose inn the birds stayed for some days. The number of sick already has reached eight, and their state is very bad. The illness is described as a black typhus.

Matrimony.—Practice v. Theory.— On a recent date Professor Fowler lec tured on “ Matrimony.” Being no longer young and beautiful, but, on the contrary, bald headed and married, this subject lias no charms for us. We know more about matrimony in a minute than Fowler could tell us in a Aveek, and Ave should say right here and iioav, for the benefit of FoAvler. that, disguise it as he may, matrimony is a conglomeration of grocery and butcher’s bills, kids’ soothing syrup, old clothes, private bottles, 10 cent socks for yourself, sealskin sacques for your Avife, and going out on a jamboree witli the boys at night, and coining home in the morning Avith a lie in. your mouth and half a dozen fried under your arm. Fowler can’t fool us about matrimony.—American paper. The Earl of Ashburton, now in his 39th year, is engaged to marry a young American lady, whose name lias .not yet been publicly announced.

OPENING OF THE SYDNEY EXHI BITION.

(Special to the Association.)

Sydney, September 17. The absence of the volunteers and men of-war’s-men at the opening ceremony marred the success of the procession to some extent ; their absence had been ordered by “ Gazette ” notice, wet weather having been expected. The paths weie muddy, owing to tlie recent rains, but planks were made use of to make walking more comfortable, and amongst the notables taking part in the ceremony were His Excellency Lord Loftus, their Excellencies the Marquis of Norman by, Governor of Victoria, Sir William Jer vois, Governor of South Australia, and Sir F. A. Weld, Governor of Tasmania.

The Commissioners received His Excel lency Lord Loftus at the western or main entrance to the building facing Macquarvie street, and proceeded by way of the western transept to the statue of Her Majesty, situated under the dome, where the unveiling took place, and the band playing the “ National Anthem.” The procession then continued its way to the dais, erected in front of the orchestra, in the north tower, where the original cantata composed by Mr. Henry Kendall, the well-known Australian poet, with music by Signor Giorxa, was sung by the united choirs, numbering 450. The performance was brilliantly successful. The circuit of the building was then made by the Gover nor, but the machinery hall not being ready it was not opened. At the conclu sion of the cantata, Mr. Jennings, Execu tive Commissioner, presented a short address to the Governor, who replied, congratulating the colony, which, once despised, is now honored in its efforts, and is welcoming representatives of the old history of the nation to the bright daughter of the land of England. Ho concluded with a religious peroration.

This was followed by further perform ances by the chorus and orchestra, who rendered Handel’s “Hallelujah” chorus, the “Australian Anthem,” by Signor Giorza, and “ God Save the Queen.” His Excellency then declared the Exhibi tion open, and the announcement was re ceived with prolonged cheers by the throng within the building, and vociferously taken up by the crowd outside. The open ing having been communicated to the city and harbor by pre-arranged signal, salutes of guns were fired from the batteries, manned by the permanent New South Wales Artillery Force, and from the Bri tish, Austrian, French, and German war ships in Farm cove. The Vice-regal party and suite visited each court in suc cession, the Foreign and Colonial Com missioners standing before tlieir respective Courts to receive his Excellency. The weather was beautifully fine, and the general arrangements were excellent, and gave every satisfaction. An immense con course of people attended the ceremony, which concluded at two o’clock, and passed off with great brilliancy and ccial. The garden palace is now completed, and was .sploiiditUy decorated, the dome especially. The exhibitors wore more advanced in tlieir arrangements than was anticipated, although the various Courts were far from complete, with the exception of New Zea land, Japan, Great Britain, and Victoria. Lord Loftus, during the week, gives a series of entertainments to distinguished visitors and leading citizens.

Queensland is the prettiest, and Vic toria the most brilliant court. New Zea land contests the palm for interest Avith Queensland, both displaying indications of great and A-aried natural Avoalth Avuit ing deA’elopment. Among the Colonies Victoria is foremost in indications of ad vancement in manufactures. New Zea land is ahead of all others, bat the New South Wales display is too incomplete for comparison. The European Courts are inclined, to be shoppy, save Italy, which is artistic. America is strong in hardware, musical instruments, and watches. The building is thronged.

THE MAID I LOVED AT SCHOOL.

My sun is shining dimly now, and the night approaching fast ; The sere leaves falling, falling thick, before the au 1 umn blast. At last this erring, wayward heart beats pas sionless am t cool; Jlow Avihl it bounded in my breast for the maid I loved at school.

Then the cynic’s dictum I disdained, beliei r ed not as I read,

Thai men maintain, in classes twain, dire Avar fare for their bread ; That man must, perforce, be a knave, if not, bis prey a fool ; But then ! tis true that life Avas new, and I loved the maid at school.

By many sins and sorrows keen, my course has been beset; But my boyish truth, and love in youth, they linger round me yet. The Czar’s Avide sway I’d part with, aye, and Kaiser William’s rule, For the heart I bore in days of yore, and the maid I io\ f ed at school.

A Hint.- —lt is Avell known that colonial girls are too fond of reading trashy novels arc! it is pleasing that in some instances this state of things is being innovated. In Queensland a number of young ladies have formed themselves into a federation or guild, or anything else it may be termed, for the purpose of devoting one hour per diem to the reading of books other than fiction. A diary is to be kept, and the subjects that the fair readers have perused are to be brought up and debated upon. The majority of the sterner sex will no doubt censure and condemn this innova tion of the usual run of things, but the ladies Avill think that the majority are not Avorth their salt. The ladies of other places might do Avorse than take a hint from Brisbane in this respect.

l loli.owav’s Bills. — Pure Blood. —As the vital fluid, when in a healthy slate, sustaint and renovates every part of the living system, so, Avhen it becomes impoverished or impure it exerts a precisely contrary elfect. It is abundantly manifest that any medicine which does not reach the circulation can never exter minate the disease ; but any preparation capa ble of exercising a salutary influence OA’er the blood, must Avilh it be carried to every living fibre of the frame. The lungs, heart, livet, kidneys, and skin, ail receive benefits from its more wholesome condition. Holloway s puri fying .Pills operate directly, powerfully, and beneficially, upon the whole mass of blood, Avhether venous or arterial.. 1 hey strengthen the stomach, excite the fiver and kidneys, expel disease, and prolong existence.

TELEGRAPHI C.

AUSTRALIAN.

TO-DAY’S CABLEGRAMS.

( Reuter's Telegrams. ) Sydney, This Day. A publican at Deniliquin has been stuck up by two armed men, who left him tied to a tree. It was six hours before, he was released. There were about 25,000 people present at the Exhibition yesterday. Serious floods are reported from the country districts.

INTERPROVINCIAL.

TO-DAY’S TELEGRAMS.

Auckland, This Day

William Charleston, for stealing £23 from Arthur Irvine, seaman, schooner Authoress, has been committed for trial. At the Resident Magistrate’s Court, Yon Peteri, a seaman of the Minister of Marine, sued the captain for wages. It appears.there had been deducted from the sailor’s wages ten shillings a day for ten days while he was in the hospital. The amount of wages the sailor had to take for the whole voyage was 4s. 9d. ! The Magistrate ruled lie had no jurisdiction. The City Council have decided to put through a Bill in the Assembly for the Consolidated City Loan. If it is all floated, the amount will be £195,000.

Wellington, This Day

Mary Smith, who attempted suicide yesterday by throwing herself into tli® harbor, has been committed to the Lunatic Asylum. Another woman, named Annie Corbett, was found in the water at one o’clock this morning, and being in an exhausted con dition she was taken to the Hospital. George 13righting has been committed for trial for breaking into a dwelling house at the Upper Hutt, and stealing £l2.

Font on, This Day.

The steamer Stormbird, while towing the. schooner Mary Ogilvie over the bar struck on the bar but is not expected to be much damaged, and will probably be got off next tide. The s. s. Jane Douglas has gone to her assistance with warps.

HOW A DAY IS GAINED AND LOST.

(From the Mining Pi ess.)

Questions are frequently asked as to how a day is lost or gained in going round the world. Professor Davidson gave a popular explanation of the phenomenon to the Academy of Sciences. He started a traveller westward from London, or rather from the meridian of Greenwich, precisely at noon, and he made him travel round the globe at precisely the rate of speed that the earth carries ns eastward in its daily whirl of 24 hours. The traveller is always in local time at meridian ; he goes round the globe in 24 hours and it is always noon with him. At New York his application of time agrees with the clocks of the city, but his watch, which was at 12 noon when he left London, is now 5 p.m. He goes still westward, and in longtitude 120, the border meridian of Nevada and California, lie is still at noon locally, and his watch indicates Greenwich time to be 8 p.m. In longitude 180, the sun is at meridian, and his watch shows that the time occupied by his journey is 12 hours ; and in the longitude of the Ganges, 18 hours have elapsed ; and con tinuing his transit to Greenwich ho has still the sun in meridian, and finds that 24 hours have been lost. The rising and setting of the sun for one day has been witnessed by the people of London, and not by the traveller. Actual time is the same, but in his case the change has not been marked Going west, at JBO degrees of longitude, the navigator adds a day ; if it is Friday, Saturday is skipped and Sunday is proclaimed, to the consterna tion of the ship’s parson, who is affrighted lest the prayers of the service may not have the same efficacy. Coming eastward a clay is gained, and if it is Saturday when the meridian is reached,' Sunday is made into another Saturday, and Monday be comes Sunday. Care is always taken to avoid the conjunction of two Sundays, as that would demoralize any crew.

Manufacture of Parer.— The world’s consumption of paper at the present mo ment is something enormous, and as the demand is constantly increasing, new sources of supply are sought. It appears that Mr. T. Routledge strongly advocates the use of bamboo as raw material for the manufacture of paper. Having made careful experiments, he has come to the conclusion that no other plant can be pro duced so abundantly with so little trouble and cost. In suitable climates and places it requires no special attention, and grows with remarkable rapidity. In the garden of the Khedive a plant shot up nine inches in a single night. In the garden of the Duke of Northumberland a gigantic spe cimen reached the height of GO feet in twelve weeks, and at Ivew a growth of three feet in a week has been observed. The loss of weight in drying amounts to 75 per cent., and about GO per cent of the remainder consists of fibre suitable for pa per-making, the net yield of an acre be ing six tons. The plant grows abun dantly in most parts of India, Africa, and Central and South America. Hitherto it lias not been found to answer because the plants used were too old, with a hard fibre and thick silecous coating, which ren dered it necessary to have recourse to long boiling in strong solutions of caustic al kali under a pressure of ten or eleven atmospheres. Young plants should be selected, and passed through the rollers to get rid of all lumps and knots, and split the stalks. They are then to be futher split up into strips by fluted rollers, and afterwards cut up into suitable lengths by a chopping apparatus, as a preparation for boiling pans connected by pipes, through which the caustic alkali circulates from one to the other. The fibre is, lastly, to be washed, pressed, divided, and dried in hot air.

ANCIENT FARM IMPLIMENTS

Referring to the collection of ancient farm implements at the London Agricul tural Show, “ The Times” says :

This worm-eaten but instructive section of the show is a museum of rustic curiosi ties, appearing as if they had been magic ally crystalised into ponderable shape out of the woodcuts and plates of old Loudon’s “Encyclopaedia,” and the still more venerable Young’s “ Annals of Agricul ture.” Here is a plough made of wood by Mr. John Howard, the venerated plough-maker of Bedford, at least sixty years ago ; here is the Suffolk gallows plough, constructed by the Ransomes of Ipswich seventy years ago ; here are the Rotherham plough, the quaint old types of Scotch swing ploughs, the earliest notions of the foot and-,the wheel, of the turriwrest and double-furrow implements. One of the most remarkable tools is a Gloucestershire Vale long plough of great age, having a wooden mould-board six feet in length ; but, in spite of the fine angle for prising sticky clay asunder, the throat is excavated by the friction of the soil, showing the lack of mechanical knowledge in the application of the screw wedge principle. Nothing can exceed the rudeness and ruggedness of framework of the old rollers and disc rollers, rotating spike rollers, or Norwegian harrows exhi bited, or of the heavy and clumsy waggons and carts shown as specimens of the farm locomotion of the “ good old days.” The proportion of non-paying weight and the loss of power in the friction of the axles are amusing to contemplate, aud illustrate the advance made in agricultural machines now that the Royal Agricultural Society lias tested by dynamometer the shades of difference in draft between the best Bever ley vehicles and others upon various des criptions of road. Really there seems little more of excellent design and con struction in the British implements o‘f seventy or a hundred years ago than the Egyptian, Java, and Danubian ploughs here, exhibited side by side, or in the Cyprian plough and cart here shown by Sir Massey Lopes, which look as if chopped out of whole trees with an axe and pocket knife. Here is an antique drill made by Smyth, of Peasenhall, another by Garrett, of Leiston, and a drill made by Messrs. Hornsby, of Gratham, in 1841—about as complete and efficient for its purpose as the more perfectly fitted and refined drills made at the present day. The ancient forms of turnip-cutter or chopper are a study in themselves ; so are the several specimens of the old winnower, or fan with cloth flaps rotated by hand, for send ing a draught of air through grain falling from a riddle at times when no wind hap pens to be blowing through the barn. The old English horse-power, threshing machine, the primeval board set with flints which the farmers of Cyprus cause bullocks to haul over their corn, the first chaff cutters, the ridiculously jejune horse rakes and haymakers, and the earliest grass mowers and reapers, including Bell’s reaper of 182 G, Hussey’s machine, McCor mick’s serrated knife, two of Walter A. Wood’s first production, Hornsby’s early Paragon grass mower, exhibited alongside the latest achievments of the best makers, are objects of the greatest value to the agricultural mechanic who wishes to mea sure progress. Outsiders only wonder why these better machines were not thought of at first. The greatest curiosity is a fixed steam-engine, built by Trevi thick, in Cornwall, in 1811, and used for threshing, and, indeed, still in use on a farm up to the date of the present show. Another interesting relic is Cambridge’s portable engine of 1847. Among the re presentative specimens of early attempts at steam tillage are the first cultivators, first ploughs, anchors, and windlasses of John Fowler, J. and F. Howard, and William Smith of Woolston.

But the progress in agricultural ma chines, through the growth of the factory system and the extension of railways, quite as much as through the exertions of the agricultural societies, is exemplified by the magnitude of the show itself. After the Oxford meeting in 1839, the Society’s re port praised Messrs. Hans nines for con tributing so largely to the show, they “ having sent up (from Ipswich to Oxford) their waggons laden with more than six tons of machinery and implements.” Why, at Kilburn, this same firm exhibits nine steam engines and five threshing machines, besides a grand array of ploughs, haymakers, horse rakes, and other articles. Messrs. Howard, Messrs. Fowler, Messrs. Aveling and Porter, and many other makers, contribute still heavier machinery; and Clayton Shuttle worth, who did not exist as a firm in 1839, and who built only two engines in 1842, have turned out in 3G years, ending with 1870, the astonish ing number of 17,000 portable steam engines, besides fixed engines, threshing machines, mills, and other articles. In 1374 the great Lincoln firm manufactured 960 steam engines. Other firms have grown on a like extensive scale ; and the combined home and export trade (in spite of non-reciprocity in foreign and colonial tariffs) of such firms as Fowler, Aveling, Howard, liansomes, and Hornsby, com pares well with the foregoing. Seventeen years ago the first London show of the Royal Agricultural Society mustered 5094 entries of implements and machinery, from 973 exhibitors. , The total value of this department amounted to about £IOO,OOO, one exhibitor alone -having brought articles of which the Bell ing prices totalled up to £4910. But at Kilburn there are 11,878 entries, from GGB exhibitors. At Battersea there were shown 125 steam-engines, at Kilburn there arc 528. And as an indication of two lines in which great advance has been made, we have the comparison between 2G entries connected with steam cultivat ors and ploughs at Battersea and 139 at Kilburn, and between nine traction en gines at the former and 30 at the present show.

ENGLAND FIFTY YEARS AGO.

(From All the Yeat Round.)

In those days there were no envelopes for letters, and postage was calculated by distance ; twopence in the metropolitan district tenpence to York, one shilling and twopence to Edinburgh, two shillings to John o’ Groat’s House, and something almost prohibitive to the Continent of Europe. “ Franks ” were in great request and members of both Houses were daily, if not hourly, besieged by letter writers to obtain the privilege of tneir names on the corner of epistles, which would not have been sent through the post at all unless they could have beeii sent gratis. 1 When

fiiy liawlund Hill proponed Ida LehayiM af a uniform rate of postage, lie was con sidered a daring revolutionist, destined to ruin the country, even when he fixed the rate at f.ourpence. When, after a quiet ;apcustom the panic-stricken public to the great change originally con templated, the rate was reduced to a penny elderly people held up their hands in dis may and. predicted the collapse, not only of the post office, but of the Empire of Great Britain. When I was a youth women wore pattens. Are such arcicles ever seen in our day 1 At that time it was considered vulgar for a gentleman to wear a cotton shirt or a silk hat. The shirt of fine linen and the hat of beaver were “de rigeur. ” Watches had double cases, between the outer aud inner of which it was the custom to insert what were called watch papers, on which were printed or written texts from Scripture,, moral maxims, passages from the poets, or tender love effusions * purporting to be original. Still more recently, and when in my prime, I remember that it was con sidered “ contra bonos mores ” and all the proprieties for a lady to ride in a hansom or for a gentleman to smoke in a lady’s presence ; and worse still, if possible, for a lady to be seen in the streets with a gentleman who had a pipe or cigar in his mouth. I remember —and it is scarcely a memory of older date than thirty years ago —when a gentleman in full dress was not compelled by fashion to attire himself like a clergyman or a tavern waiter ; when the fashionable evening dress was a blue coat and gilt buttons and a colored or embroidered vest, and when bright colors in the waistcoat were not considered the exclusive right of the footman or the costermonger. I remember when ladies were not ashamed to be economical in their attire, and did not allow their silks or satins to trail on the ground, but wore their gowns, as thej r were called, of a length that just reached the ankle, and allowed the dainty little feet and a portion of the leg to be seen. This fashion pleased the gentlemen and did no harm to the ladies, conducing greatly to comfort in walking, besides saving a considerable sum in the dressmaker’s account.

The Universal ’Frisco. —As an illus tration of the cosmopolitan character of San Francisco, an English traveller lately visiting there writes : —“I had my boots blacked by an African, my chin shaved by a European, and my bed made by an Asiatic ; A Frenchman cooked my dinner, an Englishman showed me to my seat, an Irishman ‘ changed my plate, a Chinaman washed my table-napkin, and a German handed me my bill. Catholic Schools. Pleading for a Catholic or Christian education for Catholic children, Archbishop Vaughan, in his pas toral letter says :—lt seems to be generally admitted at the present day that ignorance and crime go hand in hand ; and that one of the most effectual ways of making a people moral, and of advancing them in life is to let them have the • benefit of a schoolmaster. There is no doubt that one of the greatest blessings which could be bestowed on human beings is to inform them with useful knowledge; and no greater misery well could be imagined than to neglect a nation’s edu cation. There is, however, one greater, curse in the world than ignorance, and that is instruction apart from religious and moral training. To instruct the masses in reading, writing, arithmetic, and to leave out religion and morality, is to arm them with instruments for com mitting crime. An ignorant criminal is bad enough ; but he is harmless compared with an educated criminal. A great deal has been said in the colony about the crime that proceeds from want of schools ; very little about the still greater amount of crime which is produced by training the intellectual faculties whilst the will and animal passions are permitted to run wild.

Sheep Language.— The “sheep lan guage ” of Scotland and the northern

counties of England differs so considerably from the terms used in other parts that we welcome the folio wing definitions given by the editor of the “North British Agriculturist. ” It will be seen that the terms do occasionally crop up in speaking of colonial sheep. “ Gimmers,” in Scot land, are females between one and two years ; in parts of England “thieves” is the term applied. . “ Draft ewes ” are those drawn from the breeding stock, and sold for crossing with other breeds or for fattening. “ Cast ewes ” and “ crock ewes ” are also terms for draft ewes. The “ spot lambs ” of the north and “'pally lambs ” of the south are those drafted away as not desirable to keep. “ Shear lings ” are one-year-olds, after the first shearing. “ Half-breeds ” are recognised as the crosses between Leicester rams and Cheviot ewes. “ Three-parts bred ” are the produce of Border Leicester rams and half-bred ewes. The result of crossing Border Leicester rams and black-faced ewes are “crosses” and “gray-faces.”

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Butter, inferior to best t? Ib s. 1 d. 6 to s. I d. 9 Eggs, if? dozen I 2 to 0 0 Cheese, prime quality, lb 0 8 to 0 10 Bacon, piinie smoked, l? lb 0 9 to 0 10 Hams in cloth, k? lb 1 0 to 0 0 flour in bags, k? ioolb 14 6 to 0 0 Oatmeal, 25Tb 6 <5 to 0 0 Lard, kllb - 0 9 to 0 0



THE ASHBURTON HERALD. Advertisements for the Ashburton HkRAI.D must be sent in not later than 2 p.m. for the Country Edition, and 3 p-tn. /or the Town Edition, with the number of insertions written plainly on the copy, other wise they will be inserted till countermanded, and charged accordingly. Notice to discontinue Advertisements must be left at the Office in writing, before 12 noon and alterations the day previous. Subscriptions : In Advance. 11 Booked Quarterly — s. d. s. d Delivered in town ...60 6 6 ~ country ...80 8 6 Posted ... ...80 8 6 Agencies. ASHBURTON HERALD, Published Daily. gUBSCRIBERS are requested to make known any irregularity in the delivery, whether in Town or Country, which shall be immediately remedied. Country Sub jribers along the Wakanui Road to the ichool, thence to Seafield, Cambridge, and Newland, are supplied by the mail-cart every Tuesday and Friday ~gCl NVELOPES, NOTEPAPER, EN VELOPES, NOT E P APER. —The cheapest ever offered in Ashburton, at the Hebald Office, Wholesale Stationery Saunders’ Buildings.



Clothing Ssfca'biis'fc,Ki&nt, assignment of the estate OF MESSRS. AITKEN, PASCOE & CO., CLOT 111 NO M ANU FACTO RE RS, TO Me. J. H. Morrison, | Manager Mosgiel Woolen ( Factory, AND Mr. John Ross, j Of Sargood, Sons & Ewing j mHE above large Clothing Manufac -1 taring Firm having had to succumb to these hard times, and assign their estate, Ave have been induced by the Trustees to purchase the whole of their large Manufactured Stock at a Very Heavy Reduction, and have resolved to sell the same again in our Branches direct to the public at prices at which Ave could not legitimately sell our own Goods. In fact (Avithout exaggeration) during the next feAV Aveeks Ave are in a position to offer NEW GOODS IN MEN’S AND BOYS’ ATTIRE, Of Colonial Manufacture, at from ONE THIRD TO ONE HALF THEIR E SU A L COST. lIALLENSTEIN BROS., Now Zealand Clothing Factory. The assigned Stock Avill be for Sale in our Ashburton Branch from and on SATURDAY NEXT, 28th JUNE. New Zealand Clothing Factory. 12a



New Advertisements. TO BUILDERS. npHE Directors of the Ashburton Town J_ Hall Company (Limited) invite ten ders for Additions and Alterations to the Ashburton Town Hall. Full particulars can be obtained at the Secretary’s office, Montgomery’s Buildings, where tenders are to be sent not later than 4 p.m. on Wednesday, the 24th inst. CHARLES BRADDELL, 465 a Secretary. Ashburton, 18th September, 1879. Wants, &c. TXTANTED, Two Steady Compositors. VV Apply, 460 a HERALD OFFICE. WAR TED to Purchase, an Improved FARM of about 50 acres, with House. Terms Cash. Apply to G. D. BOILEAU, Accountant,' 36Sa Saunders’ Buildings, Ashburton. TF ANTED KNOWN, that Messrs. VV Poyntz and Co. have Two and Four-roomed Houses for Sale, on exceed ingly advantageous terms—REAL BAR GAINS. 332 a A MIDDLE-AGED PERSON requires a place as Housekeeper or Cook. Apply to SANDO & Co., 4SSa Registry Office.