BIRTH.

Hoskins. —At her residence, Cox street, on the 2nd April, the wife of Mr. George Hoskins, of a son. 272 c

MEMORANDA.

AMUSEMENTS. This Evening. “Ashore and Afloat,” by the Ashburton Amateur Dramatic Company, at the Town Hall, at 8 o’clock. AUCTION SALES. To-Morrow. Acland, Campbell, and Co., at Messrs. Jameson and Roberts’ store, at 1 o’clock —lB6 Building Allotments, Township of Chelmsford, Lahgmor. Edmiston Bros, and Gundry, at their rooms, East street, at 1.30 —Potatoes, , Onions, Fruit, Fancy Goods, &c.'

The Ashburton Herald AND Borough and County Advertiser With which is incorporated the “Evening Echo”). FRIDAY, APRIL 2, 1880.

Abe Hicken. —Abe Hicken, “ with a galaxy of other talent,” displays the “ manly art of self-defence in all its grace and beauty” in the Town Hall on Monday evening. Matson and Co.’s Sale.—A very large crowd of farmers and others attended Matson and Co.’s sale of farm, stocking, and implements to-day, at the saleyards. -The property sold was that,, in the estate of the late Mr. John Joyce, and com prised some splendid horses, cattle, and implements. The sale is still going on.

The A. and P. Association.— The meeting of the A. and P. Association should have been held yesterday, but wasn’t—only one member rolling up. The announcement of the meeting only ap peared in one paper —hence the failure. The next meeting will be held on Tues day, the 6th. “Ashore and Afloat. ” — A very long and painstaking rehearsal of this piece took place last night, and it is calculated that the drama will go through very success fully and with great effect both to-night and to-morrow. “Tis not in mortals to command success,” but if reward always follows deserts, then our local company have worked enough we are sure to deserve the most unqurlified success. Bee Keeping. 7— Dr. Irving’s lecture is announced for 13th. April. Perhaps no man in New Zealand is better able to tell us all 'that is known and worth knowing about bees, anclhow to make their honey producing powers, profitable, than is Dr. Irving, and we wpuld recommend those who have an hour to spare of an evening to make a note of the dpie. The lecture, we feel sure, will be worth stealing an hour from very pressing business to listen to. _

Unclaimed Letters. —We are indebted to Mr. St. G; Douglas, the Ashburton postmaster, for the following list of letters received at the Ashburton Post Office from places beyond the colony during the month of February, and remaining un claimed on April 1, 1880 :—James Allen, Thomas Connor, W. Bradshaw, Da rid Dawson, James N. Dunn, Jas. Esprey (2), Chas. Gale (2), Joseph McMaghan, Jere miah O’Neil, John H. Sullivan. A Rev. Poet. —The rev. gentleman mentioned in the following paragraph is the clergyman who was the predecessor of the Rev. W. Keall in the Wesleyan charge at Ashburton. We take the cut ting from the “Wesleyan”:—“A new poem from a new author is in New Zea land an event so novel that I may con gratulate myself on the rare privilege of being the first to give publicity to the announcement. Anything in the way of detailed criticism of the work is for the present held over. I simply call atten tion to the fact that the Rev. W. B. Marten, of Manawatu, has written a poem based on the incident of Christ weeping over Jerusalem, and that that poem will in a few days be offered for sale to the public for the modest sum of one shilling. It will, if I mistake not, be found to well repay a careful perusal, and as the first literary venture of a well known and respected minister of our Church, I anticipate for the work a ready sale and a favorable reception.”

Tee Maori Prisoners. —The Maori prisoners will be tried on the Ist of July.

A Pierced Heart.— A post-mortem examination on a man who died recently in Saxony revealed the fact that deceased had had a needle sticking in his heart for years.

The Nelson Education Board.— The Nelson Education Board have appointed Mr. Stead Ellis, of Christchurch, secre tary, at a salary of L 250 per annum. There were thirty-four applications sent in.

Alleged Manslaughter. —A woman, named Ellen Sarah Kitts, has been arrested at Kumara on a charge of man slaughter, through having neglected a child given to her to nurse, which died. The jury returned a verdict to that effect.

Low Rent. —At the Greymouth As sessment Court the statement was made by an appellant, and afterwards verified on oath, that a man lived in one of his houses for nothing, and left it because he had got a better house at the same rental. The judge, however, refused to reduce the assessment.

The Disproportion of Women to Men in criminal records is sirikingly ex emplified by some statistics published by the .Italian Government. During the past year,the Court sentenced 41,555 persons, of whom 37,999 were men and ; only 3556 women, and the police assizes condemned 7,544 men and only 383 women.

The Mishap at Flaxbourne. —The schooner Rosannah Rose, which went ashore at the mouth of the river Ure, near Flaxbourne station, has received but little injury as yet. Captain Bendall, secretary to the Underwriters’ Associa tion, has gone to the scene of the wreck for the purpose of making a survey. She was insured for L7OO in the South British, L2OO of which was re-insured in the National. The former company also had L2OO on the freight. The cargo was in sured in the National. The Supreme Court Sessions. —The following is the criminal calendar for the next sittings of the Supreme Court at Christchurch :—Michael Murphy, obtain ing money by false pretences ; W. H. Hudson, larceny; Henry Russell and John Walsh, larceny and receiving stolen property ; Ellen Stokes, larceny ; Frede rick Sandberg, larceny ; James Gardiner, horse stealing (two cases) ; John O’Brien, horse stealing and larceny ; James Step hens, larceny ; Bernard Neavy, larceny ; Peter Martin, indecent assault; Henry Mason and William Palmer, placing ob structions on a railway ; George Wilson, attempt to committ a felony ; E. G. Crisp v. Joseph Ivess, libel; G. G. Stead v. George Fenwick, libel.

The Chelmsford Township. The building allotments in the new township of Chelmsford, at Lagmolir, will be put up to auction to-morrow, by Messrs. Ac land, Camybell, and Co., at the stores of Messrs. Jameson and Roberts, West street. There are 186 sections altogether, some quarter acre, some half-acre. The township is on the new Mount Somers line, aud a station will probably be erected near it. The sale commences at one o’clock, and immediately after the sale of the sections, some eight or nine farms in the near vicinity will be sold. The Victoria Cross. —Since the insti tution of the Victoria cross for bravery in 1856, it has been bestowed on so less than 368 officers and men in the military and naval services. Seven who had gained the cross died before it was formally conferred upon them, and 29 have died since they received that honor. Of the 368 heroes who won the distinction 171 were com missioned officers, the remaining 197 being non-commissioned officers and men in both services. A pension of LlO per annum is bestowed upon the non-commissioned officers and men who receive the cross.

Wa lying at Sea. —Walking matches at sea have been tried on board a British steamer bound for Ceylon in order to vary the tedium of the lengthy voyage. A six days’ match was begun by fourteen gen

tlemen one Monday morning at 6 a.m., the course being from the forecastle ladder to the stern and back, counting as a. lap, and was carried on most enthusiastically during the first day, over 35 miles being accomplished. Blistered feet, however, were speedily pi’oduced by the unwonted exercise, and by Saturday only two pedestrians remained on the track. The Electric Light. —The “ Saturday Review” thinks very little of Mr. Edison’s recent experiments with the electric light if we may judge by the following sen tence :—“ln our opinion Mr. Edison’s pretentious announcements are as little justified by the fact that he has satisfied himself as to what is the best form of earbon to use in the ordinary and well known incandescent method of electric lighting, as a candle manufacturer would be justified in announcing that he had completely solved the problem of domestic lighting, because he had devised a'slightly improved candle wick.”

Total Abstinence in High Places. — Captain Le Roy, of the Auckland Naval Brigade, retired from the presidency of the Volunteer banquet on Monday even ing (says the “N. Z. Herald”), because his teetotal principles would not permit of his giving a toast. The gallant captain errs in good company—that is to say, if he errs at all.. .. A grand banquet was given the other ’ day to. Lord Chelmsford by the Merchant Tailors’ 1 Company, and to their honor he drank nothing. but water. The fact got publicity in a rather curious fashion. The Master of the Company, in presenting his accounts, had an item respecting a filter. The Court was sur prised, and wished an explanation. The Master explained that at their last ban quet so many of the guests, among them Lord Chelmsford, Lord Thesiger, and the Bishop of Bedford, drank water, that he felt justified in ordering the filter in ques tion. Truly this is a sign of the times. Native Affairs. A. New Plymouth telegram of the Ist says :—Notwithstand ing the sensational telegrams forwarded by correspondents to newspapers in other parts of the colony, native affairs were never more favorable than at the present time. We have it on the authority of those "who are thoroughly acquainted with the natives that there is no sign of war like intention on the part of the Maoris at Parihaka or on the Plains. They have never shown more friendly feelings to wards Europeans than that exhibited at the present time. The natives at Parihaka are ail engaged preparing ground for plant ing potatoes, of which there will be a larger area put down than during any pre vious season. The natives at Eureho are very friendly, and take no money for the produce which they supply to the camp, insisting on making it a present. When the road party crosses the boundary, and enters on Parihaka territory, we learn that the roads will be allowed to be made •without any aggressive action on the part of the N atives.

Rather Rough.— The local journal thus discources for the benefit of the Marton Volunteers :—Without wishing to discourage any member of the Marton Volunteer Corps, or throw cold wafer upon the upholders of a praiseworthy movement, we would suggest that a closer attention to the directions of their drill-sergeant would have a beneficial effect upon the'r appearance when on parade. They should bear in mind that the volunteer movement originated in the desire to obviate the necessity for increasing the standing army, andf while it is not to be expected that they can rival the regular soldier in discipline, they should at least endeavor to attain as high a standard in that respect as possible. With a view to assisting them, so far as externals are concerned, we would suggest that the wearing of white linen collars of inordinate "dimensions is not conducive to a martial appearance, either in officers or men, nor is a wide-awake hat generally recognised by the War Office as a suitable adjunct to a military uniform. In .march ing, too, it might be as well to keep their “eyes front” rather than in any other direction—their boots, for instance—and to remember that in wheeling into line a well-dressed “front” is preferable to one resembling a slackened bowstring.

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

ASHBURTON— Friday, April 2. (Before Mr. F. Guinness, R.M.) INDECENT ASSAULT. Win. Skedgewell was brought up on remand, charged with having committed an indecent assault on the person of Elizabeth James, on the 26th August last, in the kitchen of the Wheatsheaf Hotel, where the girl was then a servant. Mr. W. C. Ireland appeared for the prisoner. Elizabeth James, a servant in the em ploy of R. W. Shearman, Somerset Hotel, said that in August last she was cook at the Wheatsheaf Hotel. On the 25th August last, the prisoner threw her down on the floor of the kitchen, and com mitted the offence •complained of. Wit ness screamed and Mr. Willcocks came to the rescue and sent for the police at once. Constable Farmer came the same evening after dusk. The prisoner was then gone. The assault took place between 12 and 1 of the day. Never had any connection with the prisoner previously. Mr. G. Willcocks, landlord of the Wheatstone Hotel,, deponed that last witness was in his employ in August last. Prisoner was also working for him and had boarded in the liotel for seven weeks previous to the 25th August. On the latter date witness heard a row in the passage, ond on going down, met the girl at the door, who said she bad been in sulted by the prisoner. Told prisoner to leave the house at once, as he was using bad language, and abusing the girl. Sent for the police, immediately afterwards. Did not serve the prosecutrix with any drink on that date, and never saw her guilty of an immodesty. Jesse Baxter, a laborer at Longbeach, said he was at the Wheatsheaf Hotel on the 25tli August last. The girl James and the prisoner were both in the kitchen. Was asleep at the time, and was wakened by their loud talking. Heard prisoner call the girl a very disgusting name, and make a remark about her being unduly familiar with all the men about the place. Witness said he ought to be ashamed of himself for using such expressions to a woman, and threatened to thrash him for it. Prisoner cleared out of the hotel, and was not found again that night. Mr. Ireland said there was a doubt as to the prisoner having committed any assault on the prosecutrix, and he would ask his Worship to give him the benefit of the doubt.

Prisoner reserved his defence, and was committed for trial at the next criminal sittings of the Supreme Court at Christ church.

The case was heard with closed doors. civil cases. Coolcson v. Btewart. Claim LlO 10s. No appearance for plaintiff. Case dis missed. Taylor v. Dufrates.—Claim jLI 15s. 2d. Judgment for plaintiff, with costs. Griffin v. Adams.—Claim L 8 9s. 9d. No appearance. Tisch v. Elder.—Claim L 9 7s. Bd. Judgment for amount in full, with costs. Doherty v. Keen. —Claim L 4 for rent. L 6 had been the original sum owing, and L2 had been paid. Defendant contended that only three weeks’ rent was due, but was not able to produce any documentary evidence of the fact. Judgment was given for L 4,

TELEGRAPHIC.

TO-DAY’S TELEGRAMS.

I NTERPROVI NCIAL.

Horrible Death of a Woman in Welling , ton. Wellington, April 2. A woman named Catherine M‘Call, 60 years of age, was burnt to death last night under horrible circumstances. She was housekeeper to a gentleman named John M'Laughlan, and was last seen by him about ten last night, when she was lying on a sofa, helplessly drunk. He left her there, and went to bed, leaving the candle burning. On rising this morning he found her charred remains. With the exception of her stays, all her clothing was burnt, and portions of the wall had been on fire. M‘Luughlan states he heard no noise dur ing the night, and is unable t© say how she was burnt. Deceased had been drinking heavily for about ten days. An inquest will be held to-morrow. Customs’ Revenue. Dunedin, April 2. The Customs’ revenue for the March quarter is L 85,661, against L 100,162 for the same quarter last year. The Volunteer Lairikinism. All the papers here call on the volunteer authorities to institute a searching inquiry into the charges against the southern volunteers, "amd make examples of the offenders. Chiniquy’s Mission.

The result of Chiniquy’s meetings here is that LB9O has been forwarded to Canada in aid of this mission.

The Charges against Butler.

[.Dunedin Evening Star, March 30.]

Mr. Watt, R.M. attended at the gaol to day (Tuesday) to hear the charges against Robert Butler, alias Donnelly, alias Med way, alias Lee. Inspector Mallard con ducted the prpssecution ; the prisoner defended himself. The remanded charge of murder was first taken.

Henry Youngman, recalled—l recog nise the trousers produced as those I found on the Town Belt on Thursday afternoon'last; The place I found them would be about twelve to thirteen yards from the spot where I found the coat. The trousers were folded up like a ball, under a lawyer bush. They were very damp. I did not pick them up. I ex amined the trpusers at the station. The internal portion, as I found them, was damper than the external. I brought them to the police station. By the prisoner—What did you mean by saying just now that' you did not pick the trousers up?—l found them, but I did not pick them up. You pointed them out to someone else, I suppose ?—A man named Carey was with me, and I pointed them out to him. Did you examine them at the time ? I did directly I got to the police station. Then you just looked at the trousers. Now can you say if they are in the same state as they were when you found them ? —They were dryer. I mean as to any marks ?—I saw a stain over the right knee, still visible. I did not further examine them.

You picked them up on Thursday last. Well I suppose they must have remained in the bush at least ten days I —l cannot say. Now when you saw these trousers in what state were they ?—They were not over clean. They were stained with dirt. From that fact, and from your examin ation of them do you think they had been washed or cleaned?—Yes I think the upper part of them had been washed. Why do you think so ?—By the appear ance of them when I found them and by the wetness of them. Detective Bain recalled—The trousers just referred to are those of the prisoner Butler. He was wearing them on Satur day night previous to the murder at a quarter to eight. Dr. Alexander deposed—l examined the trousers‘now produced on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday last. They were stained , allover' .generally with clay. They'were,damp,’When I first saw them, but were dried by my orders during the time mentioned. On the left side front, about the level of the groin, there was a round blood spot, consisting of a little crust of blood ; and on the right side, same level in the front, there were five spots of blood (similar to the other) of different sizes, but all small. I ex amined these spots microscopically, which showed the usual appearance of blood. There was also a small stain on the lining of the top of the band of the trousers, which proved to be blood upon examination. I also examined the coat. [The Pagot coat previously referred to in evidence was here pi’oduced.] I found a blood-spot close to the fold of the collar, on the left side, in front. This spot also showed the features of blood microscopically. That was the only spot I examined. I examined the shirt and collar produced. I found a few very fine specks of blood on the shirt and one on the collar. There was a part in front of the shirt with three or four minute specs on the arm-pit— about four small spots arranged in a line ; and one on the left sleeve, about five inches below the arm-pit. The blood on the shirt had eutered intimately into the tissue of the shirt, from which I infer that it was very fluid when it came in contact with the shirt.

By the prisoner—Did you see the house where the murder was committed ? —Yes.

Now, you speak of a small crust of blood on the left side of the trousers about the groin? —Yes ; a small spot .con sisting of a crust. I snppose you did not see the deceased Dewar or his wife before their removal from the house ? —No ; I have not seen them at all. Then I scarcely see how you can answer the question I was about to put. (To His Worship)—l suppose Dr. Brown will be examined again. Inspector Mallard—Dr. Brown is unfor tunately out of town. His Worship (to prisoner)— I may tell you now, as I informed you before, that i intend to commit you for trial on the evi dence already adduced, but I do not pro pose to commit you to-day. You will be furnished with the depositions so soon as they can be copied out. They are about ready up to to-day’s proceedings. Prisoner (to the witness)—Supposing the blood on the outer part of the cloth ing should be accounted for by referring to the murder, how, on the same theory, can you account for the spot being found on the back of the trousers ?—I don’t give an opinion as to that spot, or as to the cause of it.

If the blood on the front, of the clothes is the result of the murder, don’t you think it very improbable that the blood on the back of the trousers could arise from the same cause ?—lt could not arise from the spurting of blood, which I am asked to assume occasioned the other blood.

Did you examine the stains chemi cally ?No 1 I examined them micro scopically. Now if that spot of blood on the collar of the coat had found its way on to the coat at the time of .the murder and by the act of the murderer, does it not fol low that the coat must have been thrown open % You say the mark is upon the inside.—The coat most probably would have been.

Suppose my hands and my neck were very much scratched do you not think these spots of blood could be fairly ac counted for from that fact ?—No, that could be impossible. You think it is impossible to account for the presence of these spots of blood by ordinary and everyday circum stances ? These spots of blood have been impelled on to the coat with some little force. I don’t give an opinion as to how the force was occasioned ; it is the im pression on my mind that no blood was applied, but that the blood was projected. Does that impression amount to an absolute certainty ?—Yes, I am prepared to state that.

On the charges of burglary (at Mr. Stamper’s) and attempting to shoot the constable who arrested him near Wai kouaiti, the prisoner was committed for trial.

[A telegram of Thursday announces Butler’s committal for trial on the charge of murder.]

The Brush Electric Light.

(From the London Times.)

Among the various systems of electric ighting occasionally heard of in England, but hitherto unseen here, is that of Mr. O. F. Brush, of the United States.' This system consists of a dynamo-electric machine and a lamp, both of which pos sess special constructive features. The most prominent peculiarities of the machine are embodied in the armature, the arrangement of field magnets, and the commutator. The armature consists of a flat ring of soft cast iron, revolving in its own plane. This ring is com posed of several parts, each provided with a series of grooves and insulated from each other, so as to effectually prevent the induction of currents in the iron itself when it is revolved in a magnetic field. On this ring are wound bobbins of arma ture conductor, the planes of which radi ate from the axis of rotation. The field magnets of the machine face both sides of the armature in the plane of its rotation thus both sides of the flat bobbins of armature conductor are exposed to the direct inductive influence of the magnets. The commutator consists of four separate rings of metal, each ring consisting of two nearly semi-circular segments, the ends of which on one side are separated by a considerable space. This space is occupied by a piece of metal attached to an adjoining ring, and known as an insulator. It is insulated by an air space from each of the seg ments between whose ends it is located, the other ends of the segments being simply separated by a single air space. The novel method of connection adopted resulted in the production- from a given amount of power of an available current, which is stated to be longer than that which has hitherto been obtained from any other combination. The current pro duced is continuous, and of such a nature as to enable it to overcome a great ex ternal resistance. The lamps or regula tors hold the carbon rods in a vertical position and contain no clockwork or other mechanism, and no regulation or adjustment of any kind is required beyond that of renewing the carbon when con sumed. By means of a magnetic control and automatic cut-off arrangement each lamp, though in continuous circuit with many others, is independent in its work ing. Thus, should an accident happen to any one lamp on a given circuit, the others' remain unaffected, although the one be extinguished. These points and many others were successfully demon strated to a party of scientific gentlemen at the offices of the Anglo-American Electric Light Company in Hatton garden, where several of the brush machines of various powers were inspected. The machine specially used in the leading experiments was of 16-light power, and from it 16 brilliant lights were produced in one circuit, which consisted of 250 ft. of No. 9 B. W. G. copper wire conductor. During the experiments the current was switched into a circuit of similar wire one mile and a quarter in length, plus the 250 ft. of short circuit, without in any way ap parently affecting the brilliancy of the 16 lights. The machine was driven by an 8-horse power portable engine made by Messrs. Wallis and Steevens, of Basing stoke, and indicating power. The engine worked at 501 b. steam pressure and ran at 150 revolutions per minute. The result of the experiment was very satisfactory, the lamps giving a clear steady light, the steadiness being promoted by the use of carbons which are specially made for the Brush system. This system has come largely into use in the United States, where there are 800 lamps in use at the present time. They appear to be

in considerable request for lighting mills and factories, some 40 of these establish ments being lighted by them with satis factory results. It is from practical use in one of these works that some definite idea of the cost of this light is gained. In one case the cost of gas is stated to have been 16s. per hour, at 4s. per 1,000 cubic feet. The Brush light is now doing the same work as the gas did at a cost of 4s. per hour, steam power being available at the works. Where engine power has to be provided, the actual total cost, including interest on machinery, labor, fuel, maintenance, and carbons, is placed at something less than 2d. per light per hour. This estimate is based upon the experience obtained in working in the United States. From the successful results of the experiments last evening we may hope for an early prac tical application of the system, which, so far, has shown itself to be very simple and reliable.

Suspension of the Russian “Golos.”

The following summary of the article for which the “Golos ” has been sus pended for five months is supplied by the St. Petersburgh correspondent to the “Times,” who says there is some hope that the time of suspension will be shortened if the “Golos” promises to behave better in future :—“ The diarist devotes his first entry on Sunday last to an. outburst of complaint regarding the enormous rise in the prices of all the necessaries of life. Life has become dearer, and still people do not value their lives any more. Nothing but suicides by drowning, shooting, or the knife are reported from every side. Even the tallow candle has become dearer. Every thing develops and grows, why should not prices grow ? Monday’s entry consti tutes a sarcastic protest, against the threatened abolition of the system of election of university professors and the substitution of that of appointment by the Government. On Tuesday agricul ture is the butt of the diarist’s well-aimed sarcasm. More than a year ago new statutes were established for the lower agricultural schools, but, as usual, they never emerged from the region of project and theory. Materials enough were amassed by the commission to convince a blind man of the necessity of educating the agricultural classes of Russia. But this necessity was no novel idea. The commission also believes that it is pos sible to teach agriculture in our national schools, but the teacher of a St. Peters burgh school who once took it into h?s head to instruct his scholars in natural history brought down upon his head the wrath of the press and Territorial Assem bly. It is also proposed to teach trades in national schools. The “Golos’’next refers to the dishonesty practised in the pecuniary concerns of the commune authorities. The press also entirely ignores the malpractices and embezzle ment which are so common in the rural commune. If all the deficits disclosed by the occasional revision of the communal funds were reckoned up they would amount to millions. Threats of torture have been used in certain districts as arguments for the conversion of Stundists to orthodoxy. Refractory members were flogged. One woman, named Pruskowia Shimenko, was flogged to within a short chance of her life, as testified by medical evidence. No feeling was stirred in the breast of any of the one thousand wit nesses of this barbarous scene, not even when the poor woman cried out in pain, “ Lord, forgive them, for they know not what they do. ” This castigation was evi dently premeditated, for many of the spectators were persons who had purposely come from long distances. Nineteen years will soon have passed since the emancipation of the serfs, and during all this time the whip and stick have not dis appeared from the self-administration of the peasant. Such barbarism does not harmonise with the respect due to the individual man. What do we see ? The flagelation of Stundists, the burning of witches, the murder of a dumb man sus pected of spreading rinderpest, the drown ing of a drunkard who in his cups threatened to burn down a village—this is the way the commune exercises its authoi’ity over the individual. An elder directed the ‘auto da fe’ of the witch, and an elder ordered the cruel treatment of the Stundists. Who hold the whip more tenaciously in their hands than the elders of the village communes ? The first step in peasant reform is to des troy this arbitrary power over individuals. Saturday’s entry is a narrative respecting the suspension of a Jewish paper called * Hamelitz,’ which, however, is hardly to the point and of little interest.”

Chinese Curiosities.

In an article entitled “ Chinese Curiosi ties,” published in the “ Pall Mall Gazette,” the following, bearing on a peculiar characteristic of Chinamen, occurs: —“To secure the comfort of their families or the gratification of their hate, and in some cases the furtherance of justice, men are found who willingly offer up their lives to gain their ends. A wealthy criminal condemned for a capital offence finds no cVffculty in purchasing, with the consent of h’s judge, a substitute, by paying an agreed-upon sum to the family of the vicarious victim. It was commonly be lieved that the men who were executed for participation in the Tientsin massacre p’ayed the part of the real culprits at the block that their relations might enjoy the’r ease for the rest of their lives. And it is not an uncommon thing for a man to commit suicide at the threshold of his enemy’s house in order to involve him in a charge of murder. But strange a,3 these instances appear, there lately occurred a case in the neighbourhood of Soochow, which is even more incompre hensible. At a place called Ts’ungMing, two neighbours had for some time lived at enmity, and had resorted to every means in their power to vex and injure each other. At last it occurred to the more inventive of the two that if he could per suade his father to commit suicide he might charge his enemy before the man darin with having so persecuted the old man as to have driven him to destroy him self. The grotesqueness of the idea was only equalled by the success that it met with. " To the proposal—how made we are not told —the old man assented, and in due course ‘ shuffled off this mortal coil,’ leaving the stage clear for the second act. The next scene opens in the magis trate’s court, where the orphan charges his enemy with the constructive murder of his father. So far everything went

smoothly for the intriguer; but, unfor tunately for him, in the trial which fol lowed, the accused was able to produce evidence which placed the whole matter in its true light. Then followed a rever sal of positions ; and the orphan took his place in the dock on the double charge of having persuaded liis father to commit suicide and of having brought an un founded charge against an innocent man. Matters had been already made so plain that there was no need of a long trial, and the self made orphan now lies under a richly deserved sentence of death in the Soochow gaol.”

Guess Not.

Axeltree Jones said he arose to defend the American nation from the aspersions of the Canadian press. He had lately read in a Canada paper that this nation was living too fast, and that he must soon become bankrupt. Such unwarranted attacks on his native country thrilled him with indignation down to his last bunion, and [if the press of the country would not resent them he would.

“ Livin’ too fast 1” as he repeated he drew himself up. “ I hez worn dis same paper 'collah free weeks. Am dat livin’ too fast ? Heah am a west ober ten y’ars ole by the almanax ! Am dat dressin’ to kill ? Look at the red woollen patches on dese black pants an’ tole me if it looks as if this nashun was death on sto’ cloze ! Livin’ soo fast ! Why de werry ideah am posturous ! Am ’taters biled wi’d. de hides on an’ pieced out wid bacon an’ co’n-bread livin’ toe fast ? On behalf of the American people I protest ! On be half of dis nashun I warn de Stait of Kennedy dat we can’t be sassed beyond a certain pint. When dat pint hez bin passed dar will come a demand for gore an’revenge !” The speech was received with great ap plause, and Satisfaction Rice next took the floor and said : “ Civil war an’ its horrors am to be de plored and shunned, but if she must come —if we mus’ resort to the force of arms to preserve our honor, den let us re sort ! Let us gird on de armor of right an’ march forward wid brave hearts. He who sasses this nashun sasses the Lime- Kiln Club.” It ws then resolved that this nation was not living too fast, and that Canada had best beware, and the meeting adjourned. “ Detroit Free Press.”

A Notable Pauper.

A notable pauper died a few days ago in Charlton work-house, England, at the age of sixty-four. His name was Charles Cart wright. He was a man of education, and had once possessed wealth. He had run through two fortunes, one of L200,00Q and one of L 400,000, spending the money chiefly in ostentatious living, and when utterly destitute had gone to the work house, where he lived quietly and con tentedly for many years, earning a few luxuries for himself by writing poems for the. country papers, and sermons for neighboring clergymen. Occasionally his friends would take him away, and grant him an allowance ; but their efforts were always useless, as he instantly resumed his old habits, frequented the dearest res taurants, smoked the most expensive cigars, and drove about in cabs. At last he died, in the work-house, having never, the clerk thought, been unhappy, though the chairman on that point snubbed the clerk asking if he supposed that any con tented man would ever write sermons.

A Belgian Scandal.

A great sensation has been caused in Brussels for the last fortnight by the re port that a highly-placed judicial function ary had been caught in the act of cheating at cards. The report has been alluded to by several journals, demanding that an enquiry should be speedily instituted. “ L’Eclair Beige” gives, however, full particulars, with the names in full of all the persons concerned in the affair. Ac cording to its version, the judicial func tionary in question has practised for a long time what is called “ La pousette”— i. e., holding under his hand while playing at baccarat two different stakes, pushing forward when he won the larger one, and when he lost, the smaller one. It having been noticed that he always won large stakes and lost only small ones, close atten tion was paid at a soiree at the beginning of this month to his proceedings, and the trick was discovered. Nothing was said to him at the time. Some days later, however, the judicial functionary was found guilty of the same proceedings at a soiree given at the house of a distinguished nobleman. Since then the facts have become public. As the matter can be dealt with only in a disciplinary way an inquiry is demanded, but nothing has yet been heard of it. What gives to the story of the “Eclair Beige” a certain grim humor is that it is prefaced by the words pronounced by the judicial functionary in question, when sustaining two-and-a half years ago a prosecution against that journal before the Brussels tribunal:— ‘ * There are men who do not shrink from any means to procure themselves money.’

Energy. —Our energy is in proportion to the resistance it meets. We can attempt nothing great but from a sense of the difficulties we have to encounter ; we can persevere in nothing great but from a pride in overcoming them.—W. Hazlitt.

The Law or Bankruptcy. —The fol lowing extract from a recent issue of the “ Taranaki Herald” will be of interest to business men, as furnishing another judi cial interpretation of an important por tion of the Bankruptcy Act: “An application was made this morning by Mr. Govett at the District Court, for the final discharge of John Driscoll, a debtor. The trustee’s report was unfavorable to the bankrupt, but his Honor held that a trustee could not oppose a debtor in obtaining his order of discharge, it being the duty of the creditors to do so. It was stated to the Court that in this case a meeting of creditors had been convened for the purpose of considering the debtor’s application for discharge, but none of the ereditors attended the meeting. His Honor said he noticed in the report of the meeting of creditors, the trustee was instructed to oppose the discharge of the debtor, but the Act did not contemplate such a mode of procedure, as the trustee was as much the trustee of thedebtor as he was of the creditors. His Honor granted the order of discharge, with costs.”

Friday, April 3, 1880.1

THE ASHBURTON HERALD



New Advertisements. W ANTED—A BOY accustomed to Farm work. Apply to T. Bullock. 231 c Tlf ANTED, a strong BOY, accustomed VY to horses,'and to he generally useful. Apply Herald Office. 6660-253 c WANTED -In a private house, Apart ments Furnished, comprising Sitting-room and bedroom, with use of Kitchen. Apply by letter to X.Y.Z. , Herald and Guardian Offices. 264 c WANTED, TENDERS for CROSS PLOUGHING 200 Acres, 6ins. deep, 9ins. wide. To be completed in five " weeks . from acceptance of Tender. Tenders to be sent in before 9th April. • FRANK B. PASSMORE, 262 c Sherwood. MONEY TO LEND.—Several sums of money ready for investment at current rates. F. P. O’Reilly, Solicitor, Tancred street, Ashburton. 263 c 1 SHOP TO LET. Good Stand Apply to Everett Bros. & Co., Havelock street. . 257 c. [OR SALE, Cheap, Dwelling-house of _ 7 rooms, situated on the East Belt, near the Parsonage—For particulars apply to T. Bullock. 206 c FIRST TIME IN NEW ZEALAND J ! TOWN HALL. THE Amateur Dramatic Club, having obtained special license under the Authors’ Copyright Act, WILL PERFORM, THIS AND TO-MORROW EVENING, ■ 1 ‘ V 5 Friday and Saturday, April 2 and 3, The Nautical Drama entitled “ASHORE AND AFLOAT,” With a magnificent cast of 25 cheracters, . r accompanied with 17 sets of splendid scenery. Full particulars in handbills. Admission—Front seats, 35.; back, 25.; gallery, Is. Doors open at 7.30 ; commence at 8. 266c-664g mOWN HALL, MONDAY, APRIL X sth.—AßE HICKIN! ABE HICKIN ! Champion Boxer of Australia will appear with the . Messrs. West, the World-renowned Gymnasts, Swords, Club Performers, and Boxers. Mr. Dan Lea will set to ; also a number of Amateurs. Ad mission—3s. and 2s. 268 c " TENDERS. •\A7ANTED, TENDERS for about 200 VV chains of Ditching, in one or two lots. ' For particulars apply to 270 c FRIEDLANDER BROS. SHBURTON AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION. BEES AND THEIR MANAGE MENT. D R. IRVING, Of Christchurch, has kindly consented to LECT U R E On the above Bubject, in the ASHBURTON TOWN HALL, ~ . On TUESDAY, 13th APRIL. All persons interested in the subject are invited to attend. ADMISSION FREE. GEO. JAMESON, 273 c Secretary.



ASHBURTON GAS, COAL, & COKE COMPANY, LIMITED. MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS. IVTOriOE is hereby given that an EX _IY TRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING of SHAREHOLDERS in the above Company will be held in the Library Hall, Tancred street, on MON DAY, the twelfth day of April next, at 2 o’clock in the afternoon. Business: To adopt Articles of As sociation, and appoint an auditor or auditors. • By order, J. WARD. 267 c