SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE

PORT OF LYTTELTON.

Lyttelton, March 18.

Arrived—Te Anau, s.s., from Dunedin; Tui, s.s. from Gore Bay ; Jasper, brigan tine, from Port Lewes.

COMMERCIAL.

Ashburton Guardian Office, Wednesday afternoon. 4 Stock Sale. —At the usual fortnightly sale yesterday there was a better atten dance, and more entries than at any sale for the past 12 months. Sheep show a considerable improvement in prices and are in demand. Cattle are still very low and purchasers shy of bidding. A lot of fine young draught horses from Wanganui were held over till Saturday’s sale. Messrs. Matson and Co. report sheep, fat cross-breds, 7s. 3d.; store merino ewes, 4s. 6d.; do. cross-bred, ss. lOd. to 6s. 7d.; 700 merino, 2-tootli, 4s. 7d.; 580 do. , at ss. 9d.; cattle, from L 4 17s. 6d. to L 5 10s.

Messrs. Edmiston Bros, and Gun dry report having sold 62 head of cattle and 3050 sheep. Sheep—Stores, 3s. 6d. to 3s. lOd. for ordinary quality ; medium, from ss. Bd. to 7s. 3d.; lambs, 4s. 6d. Cattle —Stores, from L 3 ss. to L 4 155.; milch cow's, L4los. to L 9. Beef averaged from 17s. 6d. to 19s. per 100 lbs. Messrs. Acland, Campbell, and Co. also disposed of a large quantity of both sheep and cattle, but urn were unable to obtain particulars of their sale. THE CORN TRADE. The following report appears in the New' Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company’s Circular of 29th January last:—

A review of the corn market and of the circumstances by which it has been affected during the past year reveals as its two most prominent features the failure of the wheat harvests in Western Europe and the corresponding increase of supplies from America. Of the former it may be said that the Continental yield was gene rally insignificant, and that in Great Britain it was the very worst known for years. Of the latter, events have shown that the large breadths of land put under wheat cultivation last year have returned full crops, to the emolument and further encouragement of the American farmer. The disastrous results of the last tw'o harvests in England have naturally been aggravated by the competition to which English wheats are exposed from foreign supplies; and although the growth of cereals in this country will probably con tinue to be the main occupation of the agriculturist, it is evident that the busi ness must be carried on under largely modified conditions. A tenant farmer giving L2 an acre for his arable land, pays every year in rent as much as the Ameri can freeholder pays for the fee simple of his farm, while, in addition, he is burdened with the constantly recurring expenses of improving and fertilising the soil from which his American rival is, with the vast area at command, almost wholly free. It is true that much of the land henceforward to be devoted to w r heat growing in the United States lies far back from the coast, and that its carriage to the shipping ports is consequently a costly matter ; but this is only temporary, and in a few years the railway systems now in operation and in contemplation will pro bably have made cheap transport of grain a fact throughout the States. Looking at the matter in this light it is impossible to doubt but that for years to come America must and will be the lead ing contributor of cereal produce to the English market, and to such markets of the Continent as may stand in need of additional supplies. This being the case her wheats come into competition not only with those grown here, but quite as strongly and directly with those shipped to this centre from Australia and New Zealand. Having regard to this it is mani fest that the colonial farmer must look upon the American wheat growers as his most formidable rivals ; with an almost unlimited tract of country to work in, and with the energy and determination to work it ; that every year larger and larger breadths of land will be sown and pro duce larger and larger crops ; and that every year the cost of growth and transit will in all probability decrease. To keep pace with this increase of production and diminution of cost —or, in other w r ords, with the lower laid-down value of the wheat in European markets—is a task to w'hich colonial farmers must vigorously address themselves if they would hold their ov T n in time to come. Australian and New Zealand wheats arriving in this country since July last have experienced the full benefit of the enhanced values ensuing from the short ness of oar own crops. During the later months of the year prices have been con siderably influenced by speculative pur chases ; but on the whole it may be con ceded that the market has been genuine, and that the bulk of the demand was for trade purposes either at home or abroad. Of the Australian wheats those samples grown in Victoria have given much satis faction ; but those from Adelaide ex hibited in many instances a decided falling off both in quality and dressing. Evidences of slovenly husbandry were frequently apparent, the grain plainly showing that the soil had been badly tilled and that the seed wheats were de generating. Farmers who fail to pay at tention to such matters cannot expect their produce to compete satisfactorily in this market. New Zealand shipments have generally come forward in good condition, the chief exception to the rule being those per City of Quebec, many of which were badly damaged by sea water. The wheats themselves, of great variety of type and class, were, on the whole, well grown, bright, plump, and healthy, com bining, in certain cases, both colour and strength. Perhaps the best of all have been ° the “ Talavera ” and “Red chaff Pearl,” and next to these “Hunter’s White.” These descriptions seem to thrive admirably in the soil and climate of New Zealand. In a few instances, however, we have detected some of the unfavorable symptoms noticed in the Adelaide wheats ; not many, but still sufficient to interfere with their sale. The market opened in January with 51s. as the top price of Australian, and 455. New Zealand. At that date heavy failures were occurring in California as the result of speculations in wheat cargoes,

and it was expected that many of those cargoes would be the subject of forced realisations. From January to July there were occasional alterations in value, but not on average more than 3s. per qr. In the latter month when it became apparent from the backward condition of the English crop that a poor harvest was in evitable, speculative purchases were made on a large scale for home consumption, and prices advanced 4s. to ss. per qr. There was scarcely any further variation until the end of August, when Australian and New Zealand wheats were both quoted at the same price-50s. per qr. After that date a series of further speculative trans actions led to an excited market, and these being supported by a strong trade demand, prices touched 635. Australian, and 61s. to 625. for New Zealand Those were the closing rates of the year on a quiet market. Grain was then being held in large quantity in the United States by a “ ring ” in New York, at prices which prevented its profitable shipment to this country. The total quantity of foreign wheat im ported mto London in 1879 reached 2,855,128 qrs., against 2,481,111 qrs. in 1878. The stocks of wheat and flour in port on 31st ultimo were 483,680 qrs. wheat, and 52,857 barrels and 107,515 sacks flour, against 308,131 qrs. 131 barrels, and 46,153 sacks at the same date in 1878. The importations of foreign wheat into the United Kingdom during 1879 were 13,700,340 qrs., against 11,494,995 qrs. in 1878, and 12,499,128 qrs. in 1877. The total deliveries of English wheat in the United Kingdom are calculated at 8,088,496 qrs., as compared with 8,567,024 qrs. in 1878, and 7,772,344 qrs. in 1877. Throughout the past month dullness has characterised the market generally, and within the last ten days a serious decline in values has taken place. The stocks in granary in the United States have in creased to thirty one millions of bushels, and the supply of tonnage in the Atlantic ports is unusually large, so that the an ticipated collapse of the “ring” above alluded to, will probably have the effect of increasing shipments to a considerable ex tent. The supplies now on passage to this country are estimated at 1,958,500 qrs. against 1,367,353 qrs. at same date of last year, while our net imports since Ist September, so far, show an excess of about 2,400,000 qrs. as compared with those of the like period in 1878-79. On the other hand, farmers’ deliveries have, according to tiie customary computation, shown a decrease of 2,000,000 qrs. Australian wheats for forward delivery are difficult to place at 535. c.i. f. New Zealand shipments are offering at 50s. c.i.f. without finding buyers. On the spot stocks of both kinds are small, values being about 3s, per pr. lower than at date of our last report. We quote : Per 4961b5. S. Australian Wheat ... 575. to 59s Victorian Wheat ... 58s. ~ 595. New Zealand Wheat ... 525. ~575. Per 2801bs. Australian Flour ... 38s. ~ 435. New Zealand do ... 375. ~ 40s.

The Ashburton Herald AND Borough and County Advertiser (With which is incorporated the “ Evening Echo”). THURSDAY, MARCH 18, 1880.

A Decency Bill. —A bill compelling natives to wear clothes, on the main roads of the colony, has been passed through committee in the Natal Parliament. A Broken Bridge. —A culvert on the old coach road past Maronan was reported as being broken through, by an extra ordinary heavy load of grain having been taken over it. The damage was repaired within 48 hours by the Bead Board, and traffic is again resumed on this road. The Lyttleton Line. —The best day’s work this season done on the Lyttelton line was done yesterday, when 276 loaded trucks went through the tunnel to the port, and 234 to Christchurch. This is the best and most satisfactory day’s work that has been done since the tunnel was opened. The best day last season was on the 4th of April, when 196 waggons went through to port. Mourning —To-day numerous inquiries were made as to the meaning’of a “ blue ribbon ” that had suddenly been traced all round the Somerset Hotel. The “ ribbon ” is a blue band of several inches deep, painted on the walls midway be tween the windows and the verandah roof, and is the sailor’s sign of mourning. When the owner, captain, or other popular offi cer of a ship dies, it is customary to paint their grief line along the vessel’s side from stem to stern, and the ribbon is looked upon by the “ sons of the waves ” as the deepest tribute they can pay to the de ceased’s memory. Mr. R. S. Shearman, as most of his friends know, was a sea faring man before he took to the profes sion he is now following, and he adopts the mode referred to of paying a tribute to the memory of his deceased mother, who no doubt spent many a night of of anxiety for the safety of her “boy in blue,” when the winds their revels kept. The Murder at Dunedin. —A painful incident is recorded in connection with the above. Mrs. Aitcheson, the mother of Mrs Grant, was on Monday on her way down in the train to visit her daughter, being all unconscious of the deplorable event. The shock to her feelings may be imagined, when on reaching Palmerston she learned the truth by hearing a stranger reading from one of the newspapers an account of the murder.

Horticultural Society. —A meeting of the managing committee of the Horti cultural Society was held at Mr. Anstee’s Boarding-house last evening. The ac counts in connection with the last show were presented and passed for payment. The prize list was also.passed and adopted. All claims for prizes will be paid any day at the secretary’s office, up to and includ ing Monday, March 22nd, after which no further claim will be entertained. It was resolved that a meeting of members be held on the evening of the first Tuesday in each month, for"the purpose of impart ing knowledge in the different branches of horticulture, the same to be fostered by private exhibition of flowers, &c., among the members at such meetings. At the first meeting of this character, on April 6th, Mr. J. Sealy will read a paper on some subject in connection with the same. The subject will be named next Tuesday evening, to which the meeting is ad journed. Fever at Cawnpore. —A correspon dent from Cawnpore, writing to the “Indian Railway Service Gazette,” says the number of deaths in that station from fever have been averaging 150 per day. Demand for wood to supply tlie burning ghats has been so great that the spinning mills have been compelled to use coal, which is generally much dearer than wood or fuel.

The Electoral Rolls. —The Gazette just received announces the Ist of May as the date by which all electoral rolls made after the passing of the Electoral Acts Re peal Act, 1879, must come into force. The Oxford Line. —The “Star” of last night asserts that the interior Canter bury railway line, instead of being com menced, as was understood, from the Oxford end, is to be started in the middle. The Oxford section would carry a large amount of traffic, and has been earnestly desired by the inhabitants for some time. The section for which tenders has been called, the “ Star” is at pains to point out, is contiguous to the Premier’s pro perty.

Reform. Sunday in Paris seems to be becoming, in one respect, at least (says a Paris correspondent), more like Sunday in London than was the case formerly. Nearly all the respectable shops are closed and the business traffic in the streets is small. ”

The Homeless Poor. —The idea has been conceived of establishing public warming rooms in the different quarters of Paris, where poor homeless folk will be admitted and given a bowl of soup without any preliminary questioning. Two or three are already open. Teeth not Necessary. —An English judge recently decided that a set of false teeth were not “necessaries” for a farmer’s wife, and nonsuited a dentist who had supplied them without any express authority from the husband.

TELEGRAPHIC.

TO-DAY’S CABLEGRAMS.

AUSTR ALI AN.

( Renter's 7el egret ms.) Melbourne, March 18. Newspaper Libel.

Mr. David Syme, proprietor of the Melbourne “ Age,” lias instituted an action against the proprietors of the Mel bourne “Punch” for libel. ‘ Damages are laid at L 5,000. Sydney, March 18. New -Ireland. The steamer Chandergore has arrived here, after landing a party at New Ire land. It is understood that two steamers, with 1,000 adventurers, will follow shortly from Rome and Barcelona. The original projectors of the expedition state it is intended to appropriate North West ern Australia. New Zealand Awards. The following further Exhibition awards are announced : Biscuits : Griffiths, Wellington ; Grant, Thames ; Renton, Dunedin-all second prizes ; first, Watters, Auckland ; for chicory, Trent Bros., Christchurch.

Sailed. Wakatipu, yesterday, for Wellington,

TO-DAY’S TELEGRAMS.

1 NTERPROVINGI AL. The Carbine Champion.—Mr. Rolles ton’s Movements. Graiiamstown, March 18. Over 150 Volunteers and friends at tended the ball given to the carbine champion last night. The Hon. Mr. Rol leston, who arrived at 10 o’clock, was in vited to the ball, and danced all night. The Mayor welcomed Mr. Rolleston, who replied in a neat speech. To-day the Minister has visited the hospital and the public school, receiving deputations in the afternoon, and leaving for the Upper Thames to-morrow. Christchurch. March 18. Serious Accident at Austin, Kirk, and Co’s. Works- A serious accident occurred yesterday afternoon at Austin, Kirk, and Co’s, brick and pottery works. W. Smith, builder of the new 130 feet shaft, was earning down the chimney, knocking out the struts which were let into the brickwork at intervals when building. When about thirty feet from the ground, the strut on which his feet were resting gave way, precipitating him to the bottom of the shaft. Two doctors were speedily in attendance, who found the sufferer severely cut and bruised, and his left wrist broken. It is not yet known whether he is internally injured. Native Lands Como. The Native Land Court finished busi ness at Akaroa yesterday, and adjournod to Southland to open there on March 24th. Big Yield. O AMARU, March 18. Mr. Mathew Grant’s hundred acre paddock of wheat at Totara, is threshing out over seventy bushels to the acre of wheat —a fine sample. There are several other heavy yields in the same district. Fire. Dunedin, March 18. A fire broke out at Gorman and John ston’s store, South Dunedin. It is sup posed to have been caused by the ex plosion of a kerosene lamp. There was no water at hand, and an adjoining cottage as well as the store were allowed to burn themselves out. Naisman’s large hotel and hall were in great danger. The in surance on Naisman’s hall is L6OO in the New Zealand office ; on Barclay’s three roomed cottage, owned by Naisman, L2lO, in the Norwich Union ; Johnston and Gorman’s premises, L3Ol, in the Colonial More Burglary in Dunedin. The residence of Mr. Halliwell, Cork place, was entered last night. Some money was stolen and the building fired. Mrs. Halliwell was the only inmate. The fire was discovered by some boys who suc ceeded in putting it out. The Railway Commission. Wellington, March 18.

The Railway Commission leaves for In vercargill to-morrow. They proceed by rail from Christchurch, and after taking evidence, and inspecting the lines in Southland, they travel northwards. The Maoris Levying Black Mail.

A telegram received from Foxton this morning states that the Hast well and Macara’s coach, on the journey from Foxton to Wellington, and when it had reached the road between the Manawatu river and the beach, was suddenly stopped by a party of natives, who refused to allow it to proceed until tolls for the coach and horses should be paid, and also sixpence for each passenger. The amount was paid under protest, and the coach pro ceeded oil. It is understood the matter lias been brought under the notice of Government.

LAST NIGHT’S CABLEGRAMS.

BRITISH & FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE

{Ratter's. ) Diamond Theft. London, March 17. Diamonds to the value of L 50,000 have been stolen from the Cape mail bags. Anti-Jesuit. Paris, March 17. M. Freycinet, the French 1 rentier, de clares his intention of enforcing the anti- Jesuit laws. Labor Agitation. San Francisco, March 17. Dennis Kearney, labor agitator, has been sentenced to six months’ imprison ment and a fine of a IOOOdoIs.

LAST NIGHT’S TELEGRAMS.

Auckland, March 17

Of the L 65,000 vote for works north of Auckland, Government have decided that L 30,000 shall be at once expended under the superintendence of Mr. Fail burn, engineer. A portion of the balance will be divided amongst the Comity Councils and Highway Boards for local works, and the remainder for contingen cies.

Te Kenga, daughter of Manihiri, has come to represent the Kingites at the Mangarei meeting. The Otaki meeting is to commence to-morrow. It is undeiv stood resolutions will be submitted con demnatory of the arrest and non-trial of the West Coast prisoners, also of Sir W. Fox and Sir F. D. Bell, the commis sioners, and approving of Mohi Tawhai’s resignation, also deploring the spread of intemperance and urging the fostering of temperance societies in the church. Nominations for the Autumn and St. George’s Handicaps and Steeplechase close on Friday night at eight.

THE STORY-TELLER.

BROCKLEBANK’S TENT. A TALE OF UNFOUNDED ACCUSATION.

But these prudent observations scarcely satisfied my youthful ardour. I had tra velled sixteen thousand miles to dig gold, and I wanted to begin at once. I con fessed my longings to my new friend, Langford. “ Well,” he remarked, “if you’re very anxious to begin, you can go 1 surfacing ’ by yourself. Gold is found in minute quantities in almost every part of the soil of these gullies I have seen a man wash ing the common road dust, and as he went on all day at it I fancy it paid him. You won’t want many implements. A pick, a shovel, and a tin dish, will set you up as a ‘ surfacer.’ ” These words impressed me amazingly. How delightful it would be, with nothing but a tin dish, to wash out in the course of the morning gold enough for a week’s board! I reckoned thus: “Between breakfast and dinner I can surely wash out twelve dishes full of dirt ; well, if each of those dishes only contains twelve grains of gold, the merest specks possible, I shall have six penny-weights of gold, worth eighteen shillings or a pound.” Such were my sanguine expectations. Before going to bed that night, Brockle bank, according to a custom which he told me he invariably observed, went carefully over all the little packets of gold-dust which he had bought, either during that day or on former occasions. “ Twenty-seven packets,” I heard him say aloud. He then placed them, box and all, in the little receptacle under the floor of the tent, unchained Boxer, the bull-mas tiff, who had been tied up during the day, examined the capping of his revolver, placed it beneath his bed within arm’s length, and retired to rest. Perhaps I had slept too soundly the night before, perhaps I was excited by the thoughts of the glittering gold which I hoped to wash out on the morrow—at any rate, for some reason or other, I was un able to get to sleep. At last, tired Nature asserted her dominion, and I dozed off imperceptibly. I cannot say how long I had been asleep, when I awoke suddenly with a convulsive start, opened my eyes, and gazed confusedly around me. But was I really awake, or was this merely an attack of nightmare ? What I saw was sufficiently disquieting. Brocklebank had been the last to get into bed, and he had extinguished the candle. But when I awoke—or fancied I had awoke, for on the following morning I attributed all my terrors to the heaviness of an unleavened cake which I had eaten for supper—when I awoke, my eyes were dazzled by a bright light, and I presently perceived that there were no less than three candles burning, two on the counter where we were accus tomed to weigh out groceries, and one on the floor. I was still more surprised to observe that Brocklebank was out of bed, partially dressed, and that he was stooping over the cavity where his treasures were deposited. His back was towards me, so that I could not dis cern his face, or make out what he was doing ; but-after a few minutes, he rose to his feet and confronted me. I was horrified. The handsome face, which a few hours previously had worn such a calm, business-like expression, was now dtstoried by passion ; the eyes which had sparkled with a kindly shrewdness, now glared wildly, yet in such a vacant, object less manner, that they appeared totally unconcious that I was staring into them with all my might. A few moments later, after he had carefully replaced the flag which concealed his gold-chamber from ordinary view, Brocklebank put his hand beneath his bed, and drew out his revol ver. The sight of the weapon seemed to enrage him; he ground his teeth to gether, and began to pace rapidly round and round the tent. As far as I could judge, it was the dead hour of night, and sounds, all except the distant hayings of a aog, had up to this moment been

hushed. But the noise of Brocklebank’s rapid footsteps aroused the watchfull bull mastiff outside, and he began to growl. The sound of the dog’s voice, subdued as it was, seemed to fill the proprietor of the store with alarm. His flushed counten ance grew pale ; he hastened round and round the tent with singular rapidity, and as he performed this strange march, he pointed his revolver successfully towards the four quarters of the compass, mutter ing, “North, east, south, and west. My enemies are on all sides.”

I felt very much alarmed while this extraordinary scene was being enacted ; but I also felt entirely helpless, as if some superhuman power had chained my limbs to the bed on which I lay. I gradually formed a conviction that I was only dreaming, and that the alarming figure before me, with its distorted countenance, its muttered threats, and its banished weapon, was only a creature of the imagi nation, and that the real Brocklebank was fast asleep in his bed. This conviction must, I suppose, have soothed me considerable, for the imagi nary Brocklebank had scarcely uttered the words which I had just recorded, when I was overcome by an irresistible drowiness, and remembered nothing further. Brocklebank looked so calm, and quiet, and business-like the next morning, that I feared to tell him my dream, lest he should laugh at me ; so after a hasty breakfast I went over to Langford’s tent, for lie bad promised to show me how to make a damper. I was agreeably sur prised to find that my instructor was not to be Langford himself, for he had gone off to work, but his wife. She was a comely, lady-like young woman, with her face and arms just a little bronzed by ex posure to the sun, but very neat and clean in her person. We got on very pleasantly together, and as soon as her practical lecture was concluded, being bent on immediately exercising the avoca tion of a gold-digger, I started off to the Camp—where all the principal stores were situated, about two miles distant —and there purchased a pick, a shovel, a tin dish, and sundry other useful para phernalia appertaining to the craft of gold-mining Choosing a sequestered spot —for I felt a little ashamed of working all by myself—l set to work clearing away tlie surface soil, breaking it up as small as possible, and then carefully washing it, by means of my tin dish, in a pool close at hand. I worked with ex treme ardour during the whole of the remainder of the day till the sun was almost setting, insomuch I forgot all about dinner, and satisfied myself with a piece of biscuit which I had in my pocket. I then returned to Iron Bark Gully with the glittering treasures which my indus try had secured carefully wrapped in a piece of newspaper. There was a good deal of it, but it appeared to weigh very light. “ Perhaps, however,” I remarked to my innocent self, “ Australain gold is ilgliter than other gold.” I afterwards discovered that my fancied treasure con sisted of nothing more precious than minute particles of mica, a glittering substance very abundant on the diggings. I reached the Royal Liver Store just as the sun, at the moment of setting, shone out from beneath a huge bank of purple clouds, and illuminated all the dingy green tree-tops with a glorious ruddy radiance. I never see this peculiar sunset now, beautiful as it is, without a sense of uneasiness : it recals such a bitter moment in my life. A group of half-a-dozen persons were assembled round the smouldering log-fire in front of the store, apparently in grave and earnest consultation. . I at once recognised Brocklebank, Langford, and my sulky road companion. Fry. ■[TO BE CONTINUED.]

Dreadful Colliery Explosion.

An explosion of gas occurred on Jan. 21 at the Lady Fair pit of the Leycett Col liery, belonging to the Crewe Coal and Iron Company, near Newcastle-under- Lyme. An explosion occurred at the same colliery on Sept. 12 last, eight men being killed. On the present occasion the loss of life and the destruction of property have been much greater. The Lady Fair Pit has been opened only since the spring of last year, and the levels are being driven in the seven foot Bambury seam, one of the most fiery seams in the North Staffordshire coalfield. The furthest ex tent of the workings from the shaft is 300 yards in one direction and 200 yards in another, the depth being 410 yards. On the day of the accident 77 lamps •were given out, and at the usual time of commencing the day-shift there were more than seventy men and boys in the pit. About half-past eight o’clock a terrible explosion occurred, scattering destruction in every direction, and alarm ing the people in the neighborhood for a distance of three miles. A new ventilating fan had been brought into operation since the previous explosion, and the roof of the fan-shed was lifted off; but, fortu nately, the fan was uninjured, and the ventilation of a portion of the workings not being stopped the shaft was soon sufficiently free from noxious gases to admit of persons descending. It happened, however, that the lower part of the guide rods was broken and the bottom of the pit much damaged, and some hours elapsed before the pit could be entered. Even then the progress of getting to the bottom was slow, as the cage could not be lowered the whole depth, and ladders had to be employed. Mr. Laivson, the manager of a neighboring colliery, and seven other men were the first to go down A cage containing sufferers was lifted at noon, when four men were brought up. They walked up from the pit-mouth to the lamp-room, though they were more or less injured. Having re ceived the attention of soveral medical gentlemen, they were despatched to their homes. At intervals of about a quarter of an hour the cages brought up two or three at a time, most of them being seriously injured. During the morning Mr. Richard Wynee Cadman, Mr. Hunter, Mr. Downing, and others ex perienced in mining operations, as sisted by numerous willing colliers, descended the pit and rendered as sistance. In the afternoon several more dead bodies were found about fifty yards along the south slant from the pit bottom. They wure brought to the sur face with nine other bodies at present un recognised. There were a dozen dead bodies taken to the pit bottom, but soon afterwards, the efforts of the courageous men who w'ere underground were tem porarily interrupted. The shock of the explosion had liberated the gas from a

number of small blowers, and until the fires thus kindled were extinguished, the work of exploration was impossible at any considerable distance from the pit bottom. Many of those previously engaged in ex ploring had already run great risk of suf focation, and before they had done all they wished they, had to retire to savo their own lives. The cause of the explo sion is at present a mystery ; but the fiery nature of the seam, with the fact that a new fan had been recently put in opera tion, leads to the conjecture that a large blower was suddenly struck, and the velocity of the air, owing to the action of the new fan, was such that the gas was was forced through the gauze of a lamp. The number of deaths will be at least 60, and many are sadly injured.

The “Works” Craving.

The Premier and Mr. Rolleston have been taking an airing up North, and the hamlets through which they have passed have of course taken the opportunity to air their grievances and their wants. Wherever the Ministers have gone their welcome has been warm and kindly, but no sooner have the plaudits that heralded their arrival at the various places visited by them died away, than the inevitable, deputation bowed itself into ■ their pre sence, With the also inevitable request that some, and of course always necessary, work should be proceeded with at once. The deputation is the skeleton in the Ministerial closet. It is an article of luggage, too, which the unfortunate Cabinet member has to carry with him when he takes his walks abroad either on business or on pleasure. Should he leave the sultry north for a tour in the more bracing south in genial autumn, he must be prepared to encounter at every railway station where he calls a halt, a phalanx of municipal or other dignitaries, ever ready with a re quest to proffer, and the enthusiastic deputation never forgets to pour into the great man’s ear tales of the grandeur and greatness of the patch of country on which it is, at that particular moment, the dis tinguished honor of the Minister to stand. The future of the place is painted in the most roseate hues; its resources are lauded to the skies ; and its progress and the enterprise of its people are dwelt upon with a fervor that almost kindles into poetry. No matter where the Minister stays on his journey, the vampire deputa tion mingles with his pleasures and destroys his enjoyment of them. If he should direct his steps from the bracing south to the warmer north he has to en dure the deputation nuisance intensified to a far greater degree, foi the north has a chronic grievance rankling at its heart in a belief that the more fortunate south is having its interests fostered at the ex pense of its neighbor beyond the Straits. This craving for public works, paid for out of the purse of the General Government, has assumed almost . the character of a disease with some com munities, for we find the horse-leech cry “Give, give,” is just as loud and em phatic andlusty to-day, when the borrowed millions are' well spent, as it was when the colony was rolling in the plenty that these millions supplied before we had got down to within sight of the last hundred of our fictitious wealth. It never seems to dawn upon the cravers that the end of borrowing must come sooner or later, and that the colony will be thrown back upon its own resources to supply such necessary works as may be undertaken by the Go vernment, and that these resources are— taxation. The fact has no significance to the deputations that the public ledger shows a balance of six figures that' will soon be seven on the wrong side, and that every new work undertaken only goes to increase that debtor balance. No matter what the state of the public money chest, the demands for expendi ture are still made as boldly as ever, and when a quiet reference is made to the im possibility of taking the breeches off a Highlandman, the requisitionists rave about the injustice being done to their districts. This craving for public works is one possessed by not one New Zealand community more than another, but by all. His supposed ability to gratify it, and his readiness to try, are the aspiring poli tician’s claims to a seat in the House of Representatives, and too often men are sent there whose vision is so limited as not to range beyond the boundaries of their districts, and those districts are to them their political creed, pater noster, and decalogue. Hence the log - rolling so loudly complained of now and again at political meetings, and hence it is that Governments are tempted to buy, with the expenditure of public money, the support of the self-seeking re presentatives of the districts enjoying the benefits of this money. We say self seeking, but in using the term we identify the representative with the district, and do not apply it to the individual member whom the district has sent. The colony has reached a stage in its history when it will require to economise in earnest. When a man in business discovers that his income is below his expenditure, he finds that it is time to put up his shutters, unless he can reverse the ratio of the figures, and if he cannot increase his in come the only other course is to reduce his expenditure. This is what New Zea land will have to do, and this is what her Government is trying to do, but to do it to purpose we must learn the lesson Ministers are striving to teach us —that extravagant expenditure on works that can very well be done without, and that must be done without, must be avoided if their efforts to keep on the right side of the account are to be success ful. We have all along, ever since the Vogelian policy of public works and im migration was started, looked to Govern ment money as always to be had for the dunning for. We must now disabuse our minds of that fallacy, and learn to wait until the colony’s bank book is more healthy. This is a lesson that must be learned not by one district only, but by all without exception; and until New Zea land has learned that lesson, and thus aided the public treasurer to keep his revenue and disbursements in equal ratio, wo cannot expect the colony to avoid a deficiency that additional taxation must be resorted to to cover.

Red Rust in Australian Wheat.

It will be an unparalleled disaster for Australia if, after haying achieved the proud distinction of being the producer of the finest wdieat in the world, her produc tive pow'ers were to be seriously impaired by disease in v hat is, next to wool, her

Thursday March iB, 1880.]

THE ASHBURTON HERALD



New Advertisements. SATURDAY, MARCH 13. OPENING NEW STORE, East Street, Near Bullock, & Co’s. JAMES CLARK Begs to inform the Public of Ashbur ton and Surrounding Districts that he is commencing business as GENERAL STOREKEEPER, FRUIT ERER, BAKER, &c., And trusts by supplying good quality articles at moderate prices, to share public support. Note the Address— JAMES CLARK, PROSPECT BUILDINGS, East Street, Near Bullock & Co’s., Ashburton. 163 c A PRIVATE and Superior Ladies’ School for DISPOSAL. Can be taken with or without the Plant. Terms Moderate. Ladies about to commence scholastic duties would do exceedingly well by an early attention. Address— Guardian office, Ashburton. 154 c 592 a NEWS AND MAGAZINE AGENCY, STATIONERY AND FANCY GOODS DEPOT. RE-OPENING. HM. JONES begs to inform his , customers and the public generally that he has re-opened part of the premises lately occupied by A. Weston and K. Sando and Co. for the sale of Newspapers, Magazinse, Stationery, Fancy goods, Toys, &c. English and Colonial papers, Periodicals, &c., by each mail. Licensed to sell Stamps. Lowest prices—Terms cash. Agent for “ Ashburton Guardian,” “Ashburton Herald,’, “Ashburton Mail,” “Lyttelton Times,” “Canterbury Times,” Daily “Press,” “Weekly Press,” “Otago Witness,” “Australasian,” “Town and County Journal.” Subscribers to “ Canterbury Times” and “Weekly Press”, can obtain their copies at the above Establishment. *l2lc NEW TAILORING ESTABLISH MENT. CRAIGHEAD & Co., MERCHANT TAILORS, HAVE opened those premises situated in Tancred street adjoining Messrs. Orr and Co’s General Store. A SPLENDID ASSORTMENT OF TWEEDS, FANCY GOODS, &c., &c., JUST ARRIVED. Mr. Craighead’s experience as Head Cutter in connection with First Class Tailoring Establishments in Edinburgh and San Francisco has extended over a period of ten years, and from the immense success which has always attended his efforts to please, he is prepared to’ guarantee a perfect fit in every case. TANCRED STREET, (Next Orr and Cl’s. CRAIGHEAD & CO. 982 a



WANTED KNOWN—That Money can be saved by purchasing your Sta tionery and Account Books, for cash, at the “Herald” and “Guardian” Whole sale Stationery Depot, Saunders’ Build ings, near Station. w early. ASTE PAPER for Sale, 3d. peril), at the Herald Office. Apply 59a WANTED— By a respectable girl, age 18, a SITUATION as general Servant, Housemaid, or in a small family. Apply Herald Office. 612g-189c WANTED KN O WN. —All _ prizes awarded at the late Horticultural Show are payable up to noon on the 22nd inst. at the office of the Hon. Secretary, after which date no claims will be recog nised. Stephen E. Ponytz, Hon. Sec. 190 c WANTED TO BUY First - class Butter and Eggs, at Clark’s Pro vision Stoi’es. 193 c



BIS DAT, QTJI CITO DAT, OR SMALL PROFITS AND QUICK RETURNS Is the motto of Everett bros., & co. HAVELOCK STREET. We will give a GRAND CONCERT in the Town Hall, on FRIDAY, MARCH 19. The whole of the proceeds to he given for the purpose of Charitable Aid in Ashburton. Gl7g-18Gc* BIS DAT, QUI CITO DAT. PRELIMINARY NOTICE. MR. GEORGE CATES has been engaged to deliver a LECTURE in the TOWN HALL, ASHBURTON, At an early date. Subject: ABOLITION OF THE BANKRUPTCY LAWS. The whole of the proceeds to go to Charit able Aid in Ashburton. 188c*—619g*



Holloway’s Pills. —lt is difficult to de termine what is the more trying to health, intense cold or excessive heat, though every body knows that sudden transitions from the one to the other teem with disease, which may in most instances be staved off by an early resort to these purifying, regulating, and strengthening Pills. This well known and highly esteemed medicine affords a safe and easy remedy for almost every constitutioaal wrong which climates, changes, or dietetic errors can engender’ and effectually removes any Weakness self-indulgent habits may have induced. In all conditions of the system bordering on discease indicated by apathy, listlessless, and restlessness, Holloway’s Pills will prove espicially serviceable in begetting a vivacity appreciated by both sound and sick.