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.m daily. For Rakaia at 10.20 a.m and 4 p.m daily. For Dunedin, Tinwald Winslow, Hinds, Coldstream, Rangitata, Orari, Winchester, and Gera’dine, 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. St. G. Douglas, Postmaster.

UNCLAIMED LETTERS

The following letteis from places beyond the colony were received at the Ashburtcn Post Office during the month of July, and remained unclaimed on Ist September, 1879: —

Bennison, W. Bowden, W. Daly, Joseph Gerry, John Hetherington, William Horsfall, Miss O. Lafgren, P. P. Mil las, Mrs. C. Perkins, George Bussell, 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 Christ church on Sept. 24. The 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 Hinds, near the forks of the river,

Sydney J. Dick, Chief Postmaster.

NEW POSTAL REGULATION.

Letters posted within the colony having 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; J 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 remaincl 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.

THE ASHBURTON HERALD.

The Ashburton Herald AND Borough and County Advertiser With which is incorporated the “ Evening Echo”). TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1879.

The elections are now over and two more names have been added to the ma jority that will confirm the verdict of the late House—that the present Government have so mismanaged and neglected the business of the colony, that public affairs should no longer be entrusted in its hands. It is amusing to see how unanimously both friendly and unfriendly observers agree that there is not tho slightest chance that Sir George Grey will keep his promise of resigning “so as to give his successors time to prepare their measures. ” He will certainly do nothing of the sort. It would be as contrary to his nature to keep a pro mise, as it would be to give nip power one day sooner than he is compelled to ; and thus we see that his friends are trying to conceal the breach of promise by putting down enough Opposition members on the Greyite side to make the public believe that there is a possibility of his meeting a friendly House. There is no doubt that no one knows better than Sir George what weak members are returned, and what baits are most likely to take with them ; but it can hardly be with that hope that such members as Messrs. Levin and Bryce have been placed on the opposite side to that on which they have so distinctly and unmistakeably placed themselves ; and we believe the chief object is to find a decent excuse for the Premier not resigning, as any other man would have done under the present circumstances, and possibly with the hope that some may be induced to de clare themselves on the side that, by such misrepresentation, could be made to ap pear the stronger.

The Coleridge election has resulted in a majority for Mr. Wright. Although it was known that both candidates were anti-Greyite, there was a great amount of local excitement and far more money spent than was ever spent on a Coleridge election before, and great need shown for the immediate passing of an Eleetion Bri bery Bill, and especially that effectual legal provision should be made to prevent the continuance of that worst of American election evils the employment of paid professional election agents. The last was done, more or less, by both candidates, and besides making the election a mere question of who was prepared to pay most' money for his return, it was the means of introducing undesirable proceedings such as Coleridge had never witnessed before, baseless personal accusations that no can didate would have dared to make on his own account, and a bitterness of feeling which had never resulted even from con tests in which there were really important public principles at stake. Left to themselves and their personal friends there was no strong feeling much less any bitter animosity between the com batants, but the employment of paid agents versed in the arts of slander and secure libel degraded the proceedings below the point hitherto reached in New Zealand elections. Working with good, steady team Mr,

Wright’s partiality and any other similar eccentricities, will be too well conroiied to be at all dangerous, and we shall be dis appointed and surprised if Iris great energy of character under such restraint does not lead to some action beneficial to the dis trict in which he is so largely interested. At any rate we shall watch his proceed ings with no desponding or unfriendly eye, and as our very best wish for him we sincerely hope that he will suffer as little from his election friends as he will do from his late opponents.

Election Expenses. —The respective Secretaries of Messrs. Wright and Hart’s Committees request that all accounts against them may be sent in at once.

Tiib Ashburton Building Society. The Building Society announces its readi ness to give 7 per cent, interest on money deposited at call, and 8 per cent, on sums deposited for a period of six months or longer.

The Cable communication between Batavia and Singapore has been inter rupted since 8 p.m. yesterday. A special steamer will leave Batavia for Singapore to-morrow at noon, taking on all tele grams. ■ \

Suez Mail.— The inward English mail, via Suez, is expected in Ashburton to night, per special train, arriving from the South shortly after midnight. Horse Parade. —The Agricultural and Pastoral Society’s Horse Parade has been fixed for Tuesday, the 30tli instant, and entries of horses must be made before four o’clock on Saturday, the 27th. The parade ground has not yet been decided upon.

The Hewetts. This troupe who bring high testimonials from all parts of the colony in which they have appeared, will give one of their performances in the Town Hall tins evening, and as the enter tainment is an eminently classical one, so far as the music and miscellaneous busi ness is concerned, we hope to see a full house.

Valueless Cheques. —Harry .Robertson appeared before the R. M. to-day on the charge of passing valueless cheques. The case was further remanded till Tuesday.

Road Board Tenders. —A large amomr of work has been put into the market by the Road Boards, to the advertisements regarding which in this issue we would refer intending tenderers. The Mount Hutt Road Board, finding that the office and stable, for which they recently invited tenders from builders, would be of too light construction, have declined all the offers received, and will call for fresh ten ders next month.

Pigeon Express. —By means of carrier pigeons, supplied to us by Messrs. Saun ders Brothers, we were able at six o’clock last evening to present the polling returns from Waterton, Mount Somers (2), Alford, Hororata, and Metliven 10 our readers. The first messenger to arrive was from the latter place, having been dispatched by Mr. A. Makeig at 4.5 p.m., and accom plishing the twenty miles in as many minutes Waterton, Alford and Hororata followed in rapid succession, bur the Mount Somers birdshaving been detained to enable the two Returning Officers to communicate with each other, they were not liberated until late, and only arrived a few minutes before Gp. m. We have to thank the different Returning Officers for their attention in taking charge of, and dispatching the birds.

A Goon Skit. —The recent election eering contest in Christchurch gave rise to some very clever and well executed car toons. One of particular merit, repre senting Sir George Grey and his man John, surmounted the following characteristic conversation :

Scene—Kawau (after the elections.) Sir G. G. —John ! John ! Wild are all those people landing from the steamer ? John.— They say they are Christchurch electors, Sir, and that you invited them. There are nearly two hundred, and the steamer is to call for them at the end of the week.

Sir G. G. —Go back at once ! Stop them instantly ! Tell them I deeply de plore an unforeseen circumstance which deprives me of the pleasure of entertain ing them. Say that there is too much reason to fear the presence on the Island of scarlet fever, malignant small-pox, or even Asiatic cholera. Say that the life of the youngest child amongst them is dearer to me than my own ! —that I dare not ex pose the stalwart father, the beautiful mother, and their tender offspring, to the devastations of those scourges of the human race. Tell them that the Island is really not what they expect—that the earth is cold, dumb, passionless, and with scarcely sense enough to grow kumaras and early potatoes. Say that as soon as they are all on board the steamer I will come down and address them from the end of the jetty. (Exit John). lleally this is a very shocking revelation of what the working man has suffered at the hands of the Conservative party in Canterbury. His political education has been so shamefully neglected that he positively believes what is said to him at an election time. Ashburton Agricultural and Pas toral Association. —A special meeting of the Ashburton Agricultural and Pastoral Association was held yesterday afternoon at the Somerset Hotel, to take into con sideration the question of holding the annual show. There were about thirty members present, and Mr. C. P. Cox was Chairman. Mr. G. Jamieson, acting- Secretary, stated that there was a balance in the Bank of £124 15s Bd, but that out standing liabilities would reduce the actual credit to about £27, a very fair balance indeed to commence operations for another show. Mr. J. Carter proposed, and Mr. Joseph Hunt seconded —“ That it is de sirable to hold a show. ” This was carried unanimously. Mr. Joseph Hunt pro posed and Mr. J. Carter seconded, — “ That the President be requested to call the annual meeting as soon as possible, to make final arrangements for the show.” Mr. Bennison proposed, and Mr. J. Lloyd Crawley seconded, that an entire horse parade be held on Tuesday, the 30th September, and that the Committee bo requested to make arrangements at once.” Tiie pi oposition was carried. After some further conversation, and a vote of thanks to the Chairman, the meeting closed, I

Alleged Sly Grog Selling. —Before the R. M. to-day a charge of sly grog sell ing was heard against A. Dupuis, of the Echo Dining Rooms. The case was dis missed after a long hearing, the report of which we hold over till to-morrow. Library and Debating Club. — There is every prospect that a library in con" nection with the Dawn of Peace Lodge of Good Templars will soon be established, as also a debating club under the auspices of the Order. Resolutions in favor of these were very favorably received at the at the Lodge’s meeting last night.

CORRESPONDENCE.

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents.

To the Editor of The Asiiuurton Herald. Sir, —At the declaration of the poll to day Mr. E. G. Wright produced a circular respecting Roman Catholic votes. I may state that instructions were given Mr. Hart’s Committee not to publish or print any document which would reflect either on a man’s religioy. or his personal appear ance. These instructions were rigidly observed so far -as Mr. Hart’s supporters in Ashburton and its vicinity are con cerned, and we do not think the other side can say as much.

I am, &c., A Member of Hart’s Committee,

COLERIDGE ELECTION.

Declaration of the Poll,

A large number of electors assembled to-day, at noon, in the Town Hall, to hear the official declaration of the result of the polling in the Coleridge election. The figures, thanks to the carrier pigeons, the use of which we secured yesterday, had been made known within a couple of hours after the official closing time, so that no interest attached to the declaration itself, and it onty remained to hear the thanks of the candidates in whose interest the battle had been lost and won.

It was expected that the official declara tion would have been made at noon, but it was not till some time after that hour that the Returning Officer, Mr. G. L. Lee, ascended the platform and read the official returns as follow -

Majority tor Wright 109. He had therefore to declare Mr. E. G. Wright elected for the district of Cole ridge. Mr. E. G. Wright said the contest had now been fairly fought out, and consider ing the similarity of opinion between the two candidates, the contest had been par ticularly arduous. He was glad that the people had not yet been reduced to a state of serfdom. He was induced to say this much owing to facts that had been brought under his notice. There had been in stances brought under his notice in which men had been, by the arrogance of Mr. Hart’s supporters, prevented from voting for him (Mr. Wright), and others had even been so influenced as not to have voted at all. Between himself and Mr. Hart there was no ill-feeling of any kind, and there would have been no ill-feeling in the con test at all if the supporters of the opposing candidate had conducted it with any degree of fairness. He was glad that the result of the election had been as it was, as it was an evidence that the electors of Cole ridge and the Colony would not longer submit to the domination of any parti cular financial institution. (Hear, hear.) He would read a circular that had been extensively spread in the Rakaia district, by which he had been accused of dismis sing a servant because she was a Catholic. The circular was a deliberate lie, and he could not understand why any man could stoop to the act of printing and circula ting such a falsehood. Mr. Wright then referred to the many works he was sup posed to carry through during the next session. These comprised a telegraph here, a railway tiiere, and scarcely a dis trict in the whole area he represented did not lay upon him a public work to have executed for their benefit. If he suc ceeded in securing even a tithe of the works required he would have the should ers of an Ajax. After some further re marks in compliment to the Committee who had so energetically worked for him, in whose honor he asked for three cheers, Mr. Wright concluded by proposing a vote of thanks to the Returning Officer. (Cheers.) Mr. Hart seconded the motion, paying a compliment to the Returning Officer. He thanked the Committee at Ashburton for the energy they had displayed in his favor, and the returns showed that he had lost the election by the block vote of the Kowai Pass electors. It was apparent that he had the confidence and support of the majority of the electors this side the Rakaia, and if the district were to be divided and another member given to it, he had no fear of losing the seat for the lower part of the district. He knew a few evenings before the election that 80 votes would be given against him in the northern district because lie would not make a promise he had no intention of fulfilling. (Hear, hear.) With regard to the circular referred to by Mr. Wright, and the ill-feeling provoked, he could only say that no candidate supported by the “Ashburton Mail” had any reason to complain of what may be said or done against him. (Loud applause and hisses.) The Returning Officer acknowledged the vote of thanks, and the meeting adjourned.

Death to the Grass-hoppers.— The “ Salt Lake Herald ” is iufonned that the grasshoppers in that region are attacked by a deadly enemy whose sting is death. On Provo beach the grass-hoppers are dying by the bushel. A little fly of a singular kind gets on the ironclad and poisons it so well that it swells and dies. The sting of the fly is certain death.

LAST NIGHT’S CABLEGRAMS.

EUROPEAN.

(Reuter's Telegram.) London, Sept. 12. Later news from the Cape states that Sir Garnet Wolseley, in an interview with the principal chiefs, declared that Zululand was in a hopeless condition under an in dependent chief, and that the non-capture of Cetewayo was now the only obstacle to the conclusion of peace. At the wool sales to day 6,000 bales were catalogued. Prices were firm and there was an active demand. The C:-iiolanus and Grosfield have arrived frmn Lyttelton. Bombay, Sept. 11.

The mutineers at Cabul acted and are still acting without a leader. 'They are endeavoring to incite the tribes to attack General Roberts’ flank at Shutargardan, which was re-occupied on receipt of the news of the massacre. No hostile move ment has yet taken place. A letter from the Ameer to the Viceroy, written subsequent to the massacre, declares his sincere friendship ; there hav ing been conflicting accounts as to his sincerity and attitude. The Indian Go vernment were somewhat distrustful of the sincerity of his protestations, and General Roberts received instructions to ask him to prove his friendship in a jirac tical manner.

There is perfect tranquility at Can dahar.

(.Special to the Sydney Herald.) London, Sept. 13.

News from Afghanistan states that rebellion is spreading. The Afridis and other mountaineers are organising to oppose the British. The English garrisons at Candahar snd Jellalabad are compelled to exercise the greatest vigilance to pre vent the inhabitants from openly joining the rebels. General Massie awaits reinforcements before advancing beyond the Sliutargar dan.

General Roberts telegraphs to the Viceroy that the situation is most serious, and calls for reinforcements to double the number of those in the field. It is impossible to make a dash on Cabul at present. Mr. Gladstone will visit Italy for his health.

{Age Special.) London, Sept. 13

News from Afghanistan states that the Ameer’s guards gradually deserted him, and Yakoob fell defending himself against the mutineers. The advanced posts of the British reached Shutargardan on September 8, and occupied the road to Cabul through the Karkacha Pass, which it was said was defended by hostile tribes. Tire rebellion extended to Herat, and the bitterest animosity has been mani fested. Theban is abandoned. All the Burmese capable of bearing arms are summoned to Mandalay. The British residents, fearing a general mas sacre, have sought refuge in British Buv mah. The fast news from the Cape states that Sir Garnet. Wolseley is hopeful of ulti mately forcing Cetewayo to a conditional surrender. The troops are in excellent health.. The country for a hundred miles beyond Glimdi is completely in the hands of the British. The Zulus have ceased to show in large numbers, and offer no resist ance. The race for the Doncaster Cup resulted as follows :—- Jsonomy ... ... ... ... I Jannette ... ... ... ... 2 Glendall ... ... ... ... 3

Doubtful Sport —After the fatigues ancl excitement of three weeks electioneer ing, one of the members of the press of this city (whom we shall call Smithers), eager to get away from the town for a short time, equipped himself for a fishing excur sion, early on Saturday morning, and and armed with a kit containing the butchering apparatus, necessary for the destruction of the finny ones, proceeded in the direction of Terewiti, only bringing up when he found he was about nine miles from the scene of civic strife. Then he stayed his legs, and having possessed him self of a flax rod, was soon seated at the end of a reef, waiting for a bite, and refreshing himself from his pocket pistol. And here he remained fur a couple of hours, thoroughly enjoying himself, with out a nibble—except at the sandwiches he brought with him. After waiting a couple of hours without a single capture he began to get impatient; having a bet on with a friend in town that he would bring home at least six pennyworth of fish. But sud denly he was attracted by the appearance of the Hinemoa rounding the cape. She came quite near the reef, and Smithers waved his hand affably to Sir George Grey, who appeared to be watching the solitary fisherman. But a few moments afterwards he had something else to think of, for a beautiful curly wave came rolling in, and before he could escape he was taken up to the arm-pits and sent floating away on to an adjoining rock, to which he clung with the tenacity of an octopus, skinning his hands in his efforts to retain his position. And then that fisherman gave it up ; for his tackle had gone adrift, and his kit was floating away on the sad sea waves. And as the water ran down his legs and out of his boots, Smithers gracefully retired from the scene of his labors, thoroughly convinced that his forte was not in fishing. But he was determined to win his bet, so accordingly, on his way home, lie had the contemptible meanness to buy six pennyworth of the finny tribe ; and on arrival at his hotel triumphantly produced a small bundle of “ spotties ” as the result of his day’s work. But although he won that bet, he has determined to go fishing no more unless in the company of those who can instruct him in the matter of bait and other things appertaining to the gentle art. —“ Is. Z. Times.” Holloway's Pills. —The extraordinary range of temperature prevailing in our climate is extremely trying to the delicate-chested, the weak and nervous. All troubled by these afflictions should resolve to resort to this strengthening and jegulaling medicine immedi ately they perceive in themselves discomfort or that feeling of lestlessness which betokens dis ordered digestion and defective secretion of bile. One of Holloway’s Pills taken about noon and followed at bed-time by a dose suffi ciently large to act apperiently will speedily recruit the faulty functions, and restore order throughout the whole system. A treatment so safe in operation and so successful in result should lie known and practised when, from cold gnd sundry other causes, disease is at tempting to gain a vexatious footing.—Advt.

TWENTY-FIVE.

Another year has come and gone. To join the dreamlike past ; I wonder why old father Time Will hurry on so fast ; The shocking truth I. can’t'evade,' Though vainly I may strive— The old maid’s corner’s turned at last— To-day I’m twenty-five.

I’m twenty-five, the Bible says : I’ve laid it on the shelf, So none shall know the dreadful fact Unless I tell myself. I’m twenty-five, alas I alas ! And single—single still ; Although, to tell the honest truth, That’s much against my will.

I’m twenty-five—yes, twenty-five ; I see it in the glass, For years will leave their traces still, However swift they pass. I’ve got a sort of steady bloom, I’ve kept my teetli and hair ; I think that—well, upon the whole, I need not quite despair.

I’m twenty-five, I’m twenty-five, As every ball-room shows, The little girls have grown to belles, The little boys to beaux ; And though I would not yield the palm To any girl alive, There is a gulf ’twixt “ sweet sixteen” And sober twenty-five.

I’m twenty-five ! The words will ring Into a sort of knell, For something, something that I’ve lost, Though what I cannot tell. ’Tis weary waiting for a fate That never will arrive, And folded hands and folded hearts Grow numb at twenty-five.

I’m twenty-five ! Well, what of that 1 I’m sure I’m not to blame ; Though with a face and form like mine I seems a sin and shame. I vow I’ll marry in a year, If woman can contrive ; So, bachelors, you’d best beware— Now that I’m twenty-five !

JOHN BROWN OF OSSAWATOMIE.

•His Execution Described by an Eye-Witness. ( From the Cincinnatti Enquirer.) By the kindness of 3 the gentleman to whom I had letters, I was the only news paper man inside the guards that sur rounded the scaffold. • The newspaper reporters were placed on a slight rise of ground, in perfect view, but where they could hear nothing. The reason assigned for this was that Brown had determined to make a speech of an incendiary cha racter. To prevent this they determined, if speech he made, it would be to the military and to the officials who would be within hearing distance. It was thought best that some one of the northern resi dents in the shape of a newspaper corres pondent should be present, to the end that if a speech was concocted for Brown, and published as if he had spoken it, there might be written evidence of its falsity. I happened to be the person selected, and stood within a few feet of the gallows when the execution took place. Brown was brought to the place of execution—an open field near the town —in a waggon, seated on his coffin. He was neatly dressed in his every-day apparel. His long white beard, and his fine face—for he had a fine one—gave him a truly patriarchal appearance. No one seeing him at that moment could believe him to be a bound malefactor on his way to the gallows, without hope of a reprieve. None of the early martyrs of the Christian Church ever met death with more of seeming stoical indifference. Brought up with a fixed and firm belief that he had been doing God’s work, he believed the course he pursued, the shedding .of inno cent blood, the taking of property of his enemies, and the death he would die had been traced by the Almighty hand in the beginning, and nought could change that decree ; and hence he would pass from earth to heaven as one that God had selected for this particular work, and the change from earth to bliss immortal would more than compensate him for the pain of strangulation. The gallows was sur rounded in front by the cadets of the Military Institute, the West Point of Virginia. They were fine looking youths of from 16 to 20 years of age, dressed in blue pants and red flannel shirts. Behind them were picked companies forming the sides and rear of the hollow square, in the centre of which was the gallows. At proper points the artillery was placed in position, the guns loaded and pointed at a portion of the field occupied exclusively by strangers and those suspected of not being true to the Old Dominion. In case of ail emeute or hostile disturbance, the cadets had orders to shoot Brown, so as to prevent a rescue, while the cannoneers and infantry were to fire upon the sus pected crowd. The outlying pickets and a reserve guard, stationed within proper distance, were to flank the rescuers, and the cavalry to charge upon them, and to finish those that the cannon and musketry failed to send to kingdom-come. If Brown anticipated a rescue, a glance at the field was sufficient to convince him it would be folly to attempt it. That he intended to make a speech I thiuk is more than probable. When the eyes of the doomed man took in the full situation, a shade of disappointment seemed to flit across his face ; but it was for a moment. The shade passed from his brow, and he was himself again. He stood on the gallows, gazing with unblanehed cheek upon the preparations. He was asked by the sheriff if he wished a handkerchief to drop when he was ready. His reply, in a firm loud voice, was —“ No ; keep me no longer than is necessary.” The cap was drawn over his face, the rope cut, and John Brown was left dangling in the air. His neck was broken by the fall. He suffered but little, and soon hung a life less corpse. The sensation was great ;no voice spoke, and no sound was heard, while the awful scene from fife to death was enacted.

Cracked. —Considerable disgust and indignation are manifested in Dublin over the discovery, that the statue of Moore, the poet, is made of zinc instead of bronze ; but more especially because the rain has got in through a crack in' the head, and the statue is now half-full of water.

A REMARKABLE TESTING MACHINE.

The 400-ton testing machine which was ordered in 1875 by the United States Board appointed to test “ iron, steel, and other metals,” has recently been received, tested, and accepted. It is the invention of Mr. A. H. Emery, and was built at the Ames Works, Chiclcopee, Massachusetts. Among the tests were these : A forged link of hard wrought iron, sin. in diameter between the eyes, was slowly strained in tension, and broke short off with a loud report at 722,8001b5. To see if the weigh ing parts had been disturbed by the great recoil, a horse hair was next tested. It was 7-1000 of an inch in diameter; it stretched thirty per cent, and broke at lib. Other horse hairs varied between lib and 2Lb. The accuracy of. these small tests and others of some hundreds of pounds was checked and proved by the weighing machines. Specimens were sub mitted to a million pounds’ compression ; and after these, delicate structures such as eggs and nuts, were tested in compression, and violin strings in tension. The ma chine consists of a double-acting straining cylinder and ram on a carriage, at one end, and a moveable weighing apparatus at the other, the two being connected by a pair of screws 4Sft long. The weighing apparatus is a reversed hydrostatic press, having diaphragms instead of pistons. The load is transferred by means of a fluid (alcohol and glycerine) and successive series of large and small diaphragms to a system of scale beams. Thus, 800,0001 b., acting through an inconceivably small space, move a graduated indicator l-100th of an inch, moves the platform against which the load presses 1-42,000,000 th part of an inch. The total cost of the machine was about 43,000,000d015. Unfortunately, Congress has refused to grant the means to make the machine available. It has been transferred to the custody of the Secretary of War, and it is said that any body may send his materials to the Water town Arsenal to have them tested, if there is anybody there to test them. If any thing at all is done on this plan, it will be comparatively useless, because the experi ments of each constuctor will be too few for safe conclusions, and their results if they happen to be valuable, will be private property. The Board has already made some investigations of large range and tabulated the results, but the experiments will be prematurely concluded.

A Maori V oxer. —A somewhat amusing circumstance occurred during the polling for the Thornton Ward this morning. Among the electors was an aged Maori rejoicing in the name of Isaiah. He was dragged to the poll like a lamb to the slaughter, but on his arrival it was at first impossible to find out how he wished to vote. The services of an interpreter were obtained, but all that could be got out of the ancient native was that he had a great admiration for the late Dr. Featherston, whom he irreverently styled a “first-rate old chap.” As Dr. Newman happens to be related by marriage to the distinguished statesman named, it was presumed that the Maori’s affections ex tended to him also, and we believe that the old native’s vote ultimately went in his favor.—“ Post.”

Tuesday, September 16. 1879 J

JHE ASHBURTON HERALD



s. d. s. d. Butter, inferior to best $ K> l 6 to I 9 Eggs, 1$ dozen I 2 to 0 0 Cheese, prime quality, f lb o 8 to 0 10 Bacon, prime smoked, IP lb 0 9 to 0 10 Hams in cloth, li? lb 1 0 to 0 0 Flour in bags, ioolb 14 6 to 0 0 Oatmeal, 1? 251b 6 0 to 0 0 Lard, # H> - 0 9 to 0 0



Ashburton Wright. 156 Hart. 120 Chertsey 13 3 Rakaia 33 IOI Wakanui ... 24 9 Waterton 13 17 Malvern ... 138 29 Dunsandcl 30 16 Hororata ... 3S 17 Mount Somers ... 13 11 ,, School ... Alforcl Forest 4 4 3 28 Methven 2 18 4S7 17S



Advertisements for the Ashburton Herald must be sent In not later than j p.ni, for the Country Edition, and 3 p.in. for 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. If Booked Agencies. ASHBURTON HERALD, Published Daily. are requested to make known any irregularity in the delivery, whether in Town or Country, which shall be immediately remedied. Country Sub ■ bribers along the Wakanui Road to the school, thence to Seafield, Cambridge, and Newland, are supplied by the mail-cart every Tuesday and Friday jgNVELOPES, NOTEPAPER, EN VELOPE S, NOTEPAPER—The cheapest ever offered in Ashburton, at the Herald Office, Wholesale Saunders’ Buildings.



Clothing Establishment. ASSIGNMENT OF THE ESTATE OF MESSRS. AIT KEN, PASCOE & CO., CLOTHING MANUFACTURERS, TO Mr. J. H. Morrison, j Manager Mosgiel Woolen | Factory, l Trustees. AND j Mr. John Ross, Of Sargood, Sons & Ewing J rOHE above large Clothing Manufac -1 turing Firm having had to succumb to these hard times, and assign their estate, we 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 we could not legitimately sell our own Goods. In fact (without exaggeration) during the next few weeks we 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 USUAL COST. HALLENSTEIN BROS., New Zealand Clothing Factory. The assigned Stock will be for Sale in our Ashburton Branch from and on SATURDAY NEXT, 28th JUNE. New Zealand Clothing Factory.



New Advertisements. ASHBURTON TOWN HALL. FOR TWO NIGHTS ONLY. TO-NIGHT AND TO-MORROW. rjTHE TyORLD - RENOWNED Hewetts’, In tlieir GREAT MUSICAL MELANGES AND WONDERFUL SKETCH-ACTING. AVAIL YOURSELVES OF THIS POPULAR TREAT. Doors open at 7.30. Commence at 8. Prices—3s., 25., Is.* 455 a Ashburton fire brigade. Usual Monthly Meeting at Somer set Hotel, at 8 p.m. To-night. 456 a ASHBURTON AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION. rnHE ANNUAL GENERAL MEET § ING will be held at Shearman’s Somerset Hotel on SATURDAY next, the 20th instant, at 12 o’clock. Business —Election of Officers, &c., &c. JOHN GRIGG, 448 a President. ASHBURTON AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION. HORSE PARADE. THE ANNUAL SHOW OF ENTIRE HORSES (Under the management of the above Association) Will be held on TUESDAY, the 30TH Inst., Persons intending to Parade their Horses must enter them with the Secre tary on or before 4 o’clock on Saturday, the 27th. Parade Ground will appear in a future advertisement. GEORGE JAMESON, 449 a Secretary. COLERIDGE ELECTION^ ALL Claims against Mr. Wright’* Committee to be sent in, addressed to the undersigned, immediately. J. E. BUCHANAN, 454 a Secretary. COLERIDGE ELECTION. Accounts against Mr. George Hart must be sent in at once to Box 56, Post Office, Christchurch. 450 a GEORGE ALFRED BUCK,