COMMERCIAL.

The following circular his been issued ftp in the office of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, and the subject is of sufficient importance to wni rant its publication in* fall : . Christchurch, Feb. 19, 1330.

Wheat shipments to United Kingdom. The observance by shippers of the fol lowing hints concerning the export of corn will atones so facilitate its treatment at the port of shipment, and ensure for it so much more spee ly and satisfactory a turnover on arrival in London, that we feci confident you will in your own in terest endeavor to bring the suggestion into effect.

1. Branding of sacks.—The subject of iudistinct' marking has frequently been brought under our notice by our London office during the past season, with a view to . the remedy of the defect in future, and we would accordingly urge upon our clients the necessity of clearly stamping upon each sack a distinctive brand, in ad dition to the figures impressed by the railway officials, merely for the con venience of their own department. While the employment of one or two letters is manifestly better than no brand at all, I am of opinion that the adoption of the name of the farm or of the owner would be preferable, being at once original and distinctive.

2. Forwarding by rail to Lyttelton.—ln order that unnecessary delay at the part of shipment and its attendant expenses may be avoided, we trust that you will promptly advise us of the despatch of your produce. The wheat should be con signed to the “New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, Lyttelton, for direct shipment,” and although we cannot guarantee immediate shipment, having no means of controlling the railway traffic and preventing blocks, wo are sanguine that the careful prepara tions we have made will enable us to ensure its reception on board ship as it comes to hand. You should also bear in mind the necessity of obtaining from the station-master at your end a railway re ceipt for each parcel of produce delivered, which please post to this office by first opportunity, and thereby enable us im mediately to fix the responsibility of short deliveiy or damage upon the proper parties. 3. Condition of wheat and importance of its thorough dryness.—The practice of thrashing out of stook grain intended for shipment instead of first stacking it for a period, is so calculated to produce s wont ting that we take occasion to warn growers against the adoption of xlie system. 4. Tonnage arrangements. Having fixed our freight arrangements for the sea son with the New Zealand Shipping Com pany, we can coniidentally refer our friends to that Company's vessels specially chartered for wheat carrying. They are all, as be will observed, first-class iron ships, and every possible care will be exercised to reduce to a minimum the chances of sea damage.

POST OFFICE NOTICES.

Mails close at the Ashburton Post Office, as follows : For Christchurch and North at io. 20 a.m. 4.30 ; p.tn., and 8 p.m., daily. For Chertsey at 10.20 a.m daily. For Rakaia M 10.20 a.m and 4.30 p.m

daily. For Dunedin, Tinwald Winslow, Hinds, Coldstream, Rangitata, Oran, Winchester, •and Geraldine, at 10.20 a. m, daily. For Temuka, Timaru, and South at 10.2 C a.m and 3.30 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 Seaficld, on Mondays and Thursdays, 7.30 p.m. W. Sr. G. Douglas, Postmaster.

The Ashburton Herald AND Borough and County Advertiser (With which is incorporated the “Evening Echo”). WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1880.

Tub Dunedin Races. —The express to Dunedin was crowded this morning with passengers for the Dunedin races, which, by our latest advices promise to be well contested, and in our telegraphic intelli gence the correct “ tips ” will be found for those tvho have faith in such unreliable prophecies. A Persistent Truant. —At the Auck land R. M. Court on Tuesday, a school master was charged with flogging a boy for truancy. The case was dismissed. The boy had played truant from the school 03 times out of a possible 100 last quarter, and 17 times this quarter out of a pos sible 30.

. Wheat to England. —Farmers having now harvested their wheat must soon decide whether to sell in New Zealand or ship to England. In either case it is ad visable to thresh at once as the earlier shipments promise the best results. Those who elect to ship to England have unusual facilities offered them this season, as may be seen by a reference to Messrs. Royse Stead and Company’s advertisement.

Cricket Match. —The match between Ashburton and Titnaru comes off in the Domain to-morrow, at 11 a.m. sharp. The secretary of the local team has re quested us to remind the Ashburton men to be as punctual as possible, and to en deavor to retrieve the laurels they have lost this season by the laxity of their at tendance at matches. Those selected to play for the County Club are Fooks, A.; Andrews, G.; Denshire ; Grant ; Ander son ; Buchanan, T. ; Fagan ; Whitley ; Hill; Douglas. Emergencies—Hoskins, Westenra, Field, and A. Andrews.

Methven Railway.— This line of rail way was inspected on Tuesday by Mr. F. Back, railway traffic manager, accom panied by Mr. Dickenson, of the locomo tive department, preparatory to its being opened for traffic by the Government. Mr. G. Hart, Chairman of the directors of the company, Messrs. John Mann, It. M'Kerrow, C. H. Maclean, and W. Hart nell were also present, besides Mr. Sydney Dick, Chief-Postmaster, and Mr. M'Ker row, Surveyor-General to the Colony. Shortly after leaving Itakaia, and when nearing the Hatfield station, two lads were seen to lay two pieces of firewood on the rails, and run behind the fence. The engine was immediately pulled up, and Mr. Back and some others ran to a wharo where the boys had hidden, and turned them out. They proved to be la 13 who were cooking for Mr. Dcarden’s harvest men. Constable Rouse,' who happened to be in the train, at once apprehended them, and took them and the sticks, one of which was quite two and a-half inches in thickness, back to Itakaia, Had they placed the obstructions in the evening, when if was dark, the consequences may have been very serious, as the sticks were quite large enough to have thrown the engine off the track. Mr. Back expressed himself pleased with the construction of the line, but there are some things yet to bo done to facilitate tlie loading of trucks on the track. There is no goods shed any where on the line, which is rather an over sight, considering the quantity of grain which will have to be carried by it this season. It is estimated that quite 300,000 bushels will, have to pass over it. Mr. Dick has arranged with Mr. Clias. Hibbs, of the firm of Morgan and Hibbs, to act as postmaster at Methven, the post-office to be at their store. A post office will also be opened at Winclirnore shortly. It is intended to open the line for traffic on Thursday. A train will leave Methven at 5.30 a. in. for Rakaia, to catch the 7 a.m. for Christchurch.

Tiie Harvest. —All harvesting opera tions arc in full swing, and the magnifi cent weather we have so far had has enabled the farmers to make exceedingly rapid progress in their operations. Our reporter states that nearly all the grain is cut, and safe so far as nor’-westers are concerned, and the processes of stack building, threshing, and carting to the railway stations are going on all over the district, while the last operation of the farmer —giving delivery to the railway—is noticeable by the heavily laden trains of grain now daily being conveyed to port— the goods train yesterday morning having two engines attached. That pest, the rust, has made many a promising crop a miserable failure. Grain which was thick and well headed, and reckoned by compe tent judges to be equal to 30 bushels per acre of good wheat, will now thrash out about 7 bushels of shrivelled grains only fit for pig or chicken feed ; and the farms on which it is to be seen are, we regret to say, neither few in number nor small in acreage. It is a thing for which many theories have been propounded, but none of them are quite satisfactory. One thing is certain —the rust has chiefly attacked the late and light crops, and we think this should be a caution to our farmers to put their wljieajt ip pftrly in the season, as it makes very lit.tj.e to the time

harvest sets in whether they sow it in May ov October. This year it has all ripened together. That "the soil has no thing to do with generating the pest is proved by-the fact that a clean, healthy, crop may be seen on one side of a road, while on the other the heads look as well, but contain no grain. The pickle used with the seed has also an effect on the future of the plant, an l when sowing time comes we intend to reproduce some very valuable information on this import ant portion of the farmer’s work. “ Ckispa's ” Sum. —The award in this contest has been made by “ Chispa,” and he had so much difficulty in deciding which was the best of two of the com petitors that he has decided on giving a prize to each, viz., Miss Eva Henderson and Master Philip O’Reilly ; the former having worked the calculation out in the neatest way, but not having all the necessary calculations shown, and the latter has finished his contract very honestly, but not particularly neatly. The flollowing are the results 52 tons of wire measure GS93 miles, 7 furlongs, 20 poles, 3 yards, 1 foot, and will tie 27 ‘407 1-17th acres of crop.

Professor Hughes’ Entertainment. The Town Hall last night presented a beggarly array of empty benches to as classical an 1 enjoyable an entertainment as ever was within its walls. All who were present had the pleasure of listening to a good elocutionist in the lecturer, Pro fessor Hughes, who is also a finished musician, being equally good as a pianist or violinist. In the latter role he brought out the beauties of the Irish melodies in a very touching and delicate manner. He was ably assisted in his endeavors to pour tray the intentions and feelings of the poet by Miss Pauline Best, who sang through a long programme, and met with deserved applause ; and also by two gentlemen, who ably assisted the lecturer in his efforts.

TELEGRAPHIC.

TO-DAY’S TELEGRAMS.

I N TERPROVINO! AL. Auckland Harbor- Auckland, Feb. 25. The Hon. Mr. Whitaker ha 3 appointed Mr. Maxwell, engineer, to examine and report on the alleged silting up of Auck land harbor. The Board proposed a con siderable increase in wharf dues with a view to increasing the revenue and pro viding funds for constructing a larger graving dock. Captain M'Kenzio was re-elected chair man of the Harbor Board yesterday. He spoke of the onerous nature of the duties, and said he could not afford the time. The members agreed that provision should bo made to amend the Act so as to remune rate the Chairman of the Board. The Diseases of Cattle Act. The Waikato Farmers’ Club resolved to bring into force the eleventh clause of the Diseases of Cattle Act, and have ap pointed a Sub-Committee for the purpose. The Irish Distress. Wellington, Feb. 25. An influential Committee has been ap pointed to collect subscriptions in aid of the Irish Distress Fund, and a house to house canvass will be made on Monday. “Stranger’s” Tip on the Races. Dunedin, Feb. 25. “Stranger’s” Tips in the “Daily- Times ” are—Mata, Titania, and Libeller; the St. Leger—Hornby, Betrayer ; the Publican’s—Camballo. Greymouth v. Newcastle. The superiority of Greymouth coal over Newcastle for gas making purposes has received a striking proof at Dunedin gas works. The Engineer reports that for the 28 days, ending Feb. 18th, while Grey mouth .coal was being used, the con sumption was 50 tons less than during the corresponding period of last year, when Newcastle coat was used, while the quantity of gas manufactured was 105,000 cubic feet more. Besides this gas from the Grey coal is of two-candle greater illuminating power than that from New castle. The statement was made at the Council meeting, and it was added that the saving was equal to LOOOO yearly. The Wool Market. Owing to recent advices, there was an advance at yesterday’s sale in the value of cross-breds, but in merinos little improve-’- ment was noted. Greasy, 4|-d. to llfd.; washed, Gid. to Is. 5d.; scoured, Is. 5d.; greasy merino, 3§d. to 101. The Christchurch Review. Invercargill, Feb. 25. The Garrison Band is unable to attend the Christchurch Review, owing to one or two of the principal players being pre vented by business engagements. The Artillery batteries will probably go under canvas.

Dunedin, Feb. 25.

Water Scarcity. The scarcity of water is still com plained of.

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

ASHBURTON— Tuesday, Feb. 14. (Before Mr. F. Guinness, R.M.) HORSE STEALING.

John O’Brien was charged with stealing a horse, the property of Samuel Brown, valued at L2O.

Mr. O’Reilly for defendant. Sergeant Pratt, who prosecuted, said complaint was made to the police that a horse, saddle, and bridle had been stolen from the Royal Hotel on the evening of February Bth, and witness arrested prisoner on Saturday last, and charged him with the offence. He said he knew nothing about it.

Samuel Brown, sworn—l am a farmer residing at Wakanui. On the Bth inst. I went to the yard at the Royal Hotel, in Ashburton, about 8 p.m, and tied my horse up, and left him there. About 9.30 I returned, and the horse was gone, I reported the loss next day to the police. I next saw the horse tethered at Little’s at the Hinds. Mr. Little gave me posses sion of him. Tl:c horse is worth L2O. I gave nobody permission to take the horse. Robert Little, hotel keeper, Hinds, sworn —I know prisoner. He came to my stables about half-past 7 on the 9th inst., and asked me if I wanted to buy a horse. I first said “No.” He said he was hard up and wanted to sell the horse. I then asked him where he got the horse. He said from his brother at Mosgiel, 12 miles from Dunedin. He wanted L2O for the horse, and I refused to give it. He after wards offered me the horse for LlB, and I went to look at the saddle and bridle. I gave him Ll 7 11s. for the horse. I pro duce the receipt. He signed his name John B. Kirk. I handed the horse over to the last witness, I am confident prisoner

is the same man I bought the horse from, Ho has a scar on his neck.

Sergeant- Pratt applied for a remand for further identification uf the prisoner, and asked that bail should be granted, as he had attempted to escape fi'oiii custody. The case was then remanded for eight days, and bail was allowed prisoner in L 209 and two sureties of LIOO each. CIVIL OASES. Judgment for amount of claim was given, with costs in the following cases : Moynilian v. N. Fitzgerald, L 59 14s. Gd ; Boyle v. 0. Branson, L 9 18s. ; McLaugh lin v. Taylor, LSI ?s. 3d ; Moynilian "v. D. Fitzgerald, LG 3s. Gd ; Griffon and lbell v. Ben ham, L4l os. fid ; Friedlandcr v. Patten, L 33 2s. SJ. Case adjourned till March 2, defendant paying costs. SPROUTED SEED PARLEY. Jameson Bros. v. E. A. Field, claim L 53 3s. 4cl. Mr. Scott for plaintiff; Mr. Purnell for defendant. George Jameson, grain merchant, de poned—Defendant came to me in October to purchase barley. I had sold out at the time, and told him I believed I could get some from the same farm atTernuka, as I had previously sold from. Did not show him any sample. He said lie w mid take 2GO bushels if I got it at once. I sent fur it, and it was de ivered in the trucks at Saunders’ mill. 1 sold about 500 sacks of the same barley to other farmers, and have had no complaints as to its quality for seed. I know defendant’s farm. It is light land. By Mr. Purnell—l ordered the barley from Mr. Marcroft to bo of the same quality as I had had from him previously. I did not see it when it came up. Mr. Field complained of the quality, and I made a reduction of 3d. per bushel. He told me it was for seed.

William Marcroft, farmer, Teniuka, de poned—l sold nearly all my barley last year through Mr. Jameson. If, all grew in one paddock, and was of similar quality. I sowed some last year, and have harvested it, and it is a good crop. By Mr. Purnell—ldid not sec the bar ley packed, but it must have been the same, as there was none other to pack. There was no smut in it. It may have been discolored.

John Carter, farmer, Tinwald, deponed to having bought two lots of barley from Jameson last year. It was sold as Mar croft’s. The rosult of the crop grown from it has been very good. Other evidence was taken to prove that seed barley bought from Jameson Bros, had resulted satisfactorily. •

For the defence, Mr. Purnell called E. A. Field, farmer, >seafiekl—l went to Mr. Jameson to buy some seed barley, and he showed me a sample which I produce. I gave him an order for enough to sow 175 acres. The price was to be 4s. Gd. per bushel. It was brought to my place and there was a very large quantity of smut in it. 1 pickled it. The first bags I opened did not appear to have been heated. Some of it opened after wards was so heated that it was growing. The barley was sown, and the crop is not Wurth cutting, and it cannot now arrive at maturity, as there is not enough strength in the grain. It is only a foot high, and I could not reap it. The land was specially prepared for barley and is of good quality. On the adjoining land a 30 bushel crop has been cut this year. By Mr. Scott—l have never grown barley before. I d<> not call myself a skilled farmer. I can hardly describe what smut is. The description was black smut in the barley. When it came to the mill 1 requested Mr. Saunders to pickle it, but I took it away. It was pickled by a skilled farmer. I should imagine the whole of the grain had sprouted more or less. Some of the sacks had been wet and the grain on the wet side had grown. One of the sacks hurst, being so rotten. Osborne’s crop of 25 bushels to the acre, was sown some time before mine, but Hardwick’s, which gave a yield of 35 bushels, was sown at the same time.

By the Court—l think the grain must have got heated in the stack and caused the rotting of the sacks. Mr. Marcroft recalled : The barley was dry when thrashed, and had not sprouted. There are two kinds of smut in barley— one known as black ears, which turns to a kind of dust, is broken in the threshing, and usually discolors the grain ; the other attacks the grain and damages the quality. Alfied Saunders, sworn —I received in structions from Mr. Jameson on the Bth or 9th October to take delivery of some barley for Mr. Field. It came in a truck on the 10th. Mr. Field’s men came for it on the 12th, and I detected it to be smutty by the smell. It seemed as if it had been on a damp floor, or on the ground. By Mr. Scott —I examined the barley on the truck. The roots of the barley were growing through some of the sacks. I examined most of the sacks with a sampler, and it was all smutty, and five or six bags were badly grown. The barley would be no use for malting. Smutty seed will produce smutty barley. Arthur Smith, clerk, sworn—l saw some of the barley on Field's farm, and some was pretty good and some was matted, together. I have seen the crop. It is quite a failure. By Mr. Scott —What was matted was shot out ready for pickling. John Hardwick, a farmer of 40 years’ experience, deposed to having sowed the barley in question. It had been heated in the stack, or in the sacks. I used last year three times as much bluestone on my seed as Mr. Field did, and I have got 28 bushels to the acre. The land was pro perly worked for barley, and ought to have given a good crop. The crop would not pay to cut. By Mr. Scott—l sowed li bushels to the acre on ;ibout 108 acres. The sacks had been wot, and got dry again. I know the farm for three years. Last ye rit had wheat on, and the year before tussocks. I don't call them grass. I know how much bluestone. he put in the barley, be cause he got it from me. Ho put in li ounces, and I put four ounces to the bushel. Both lots were sowed in October. I consider it a good time. Isaac Osborne gave evidence as to the rotten state of the sacks and the grown appearance of the barley, and the pre sence of smut in it.

After Counsel had addressed the Bench, His Worship said the evidence was very contradictory. The plaintiffs witnesses swore unanimously to the good condition of the barley. The defendant's witnesses were equally unanimous as to the fact that the seed had germinated, and that the young roots were protruding through the bags. Seed once germinated will not ger minate again, and it was a question how far the defendant had contributed

himself to the damage by sowing seed palpably bad. The seed sown in a bad state had been pointed out to de-; fendant by the man le had employed, but it was nevertheless sown, and there were sufficient opportunities given to d ifendant t-> decline the barley if he had so wished. But lie had not taken these opportunities, and could not now come into Court to repudi ate the bargain. The judgment would therefore be for the plaintiff with cost 3 of Court and witnesscss. A COSTLY 3s. Longbcach Hoad District v. White. Claim 35., for rates. Mr. Purnell for plaintiff, Mr. Harris for defendant, who claimed a nonsuit on the ground that the plaintiffs were wrongly described. Jlr. Purnell applie 1 to have the name altered to the “ Road Board of the Long beach District,” which his Worship granted and the transposition made all the difference. W. J. Cuthbert, Collector for the dis trict proved the non-payment of the rates and produced the roll book as evidence. Mr. Harris contended it was necessary to produce the valuation roll. Mr. Purnell quoted clause 44 of the Rating Act to prove that the ratebook was sufficient evidence. The Magistrate said that all that was necessary for the collector to prove was that the rate list had been duly signed by three members of the Board. This was done, and Mr. Harris then took objection to the name on the roll as being “ White W.,” and that was not a sufficient description as “W. ” was not a name in the meaning of the Act; further the occupation column wis not filled in.

Mr. Cuthbert said he could not swear the “ White ” in Court was the identical man mentione lin the rate list. He had posted the usual notice on Nov. 11. Mr. Purnell said he could easily prove the identity of the person mentioned in the list with defendant, and would ask leave to put Mr. White in the witness box.

William Winsbury White, sworn—l am not, nor ever was owner or occupier of section 12 Tinwald.

By Mr. Purnell—l received a notice from the Longbeach Road Board, but don’t know what it was for. I have never held any property there. Plaintiffs were nonsuited with costs. Har; is and Ireland v. Baker and Brown. —Adjourned till Friday. The Court then adjourned. Wednesday, Fee. 25. (Before C. Percy Cox, Esq., and Dr. Trevor, JJ.P.) PLACING- AN OR >TRUCTIOX ON THE RAILWAY. ■ Henry Mason and William Palmer, two boys about 14 years of age, were charged with having placed pieces of wood across the rails on the Rakaia-Metliven railway. Frederick Back, manager of railways, Christchurch, deponed. Shortly after 11 a. m., yesterday, I was on an engine travelling from Rakaia to Methvcn, and a short- distance from Rakaia I and others on the engine noticed an obstruction on the rails, and I removed from them two pieces of manuka wood. The two pieces produced are exactly like those I picked off the rails. There was a gap in the fence near the spot-, and a whare close by, and we found the two lads now in Court in the bunks. I charged them with having placed the wood on the rails, and they ad mitted having done so, and promised if I let them off they would never do it- again. I informed the constable who was in the train, and he arrested them. There was a carriage and truck attached to the engine with about 20 passengers in them. The obstruction was sufficient to have thrown the engine off the line. There has been traffic on the line, but it will not be for mally opened till to-morrow. The wood could not have been accidentally placed in the position wo found it, as it was laid straight across the rails. I took the two pieces into the lint and left them there.. John Dickenson, locomotive foreman, Christchurch, corroborated the evidence of the previous witness, and further stated that, he had seen some boys running to wards two huts when about half a mile from the spot on which the obstructions weie placed. Mr. Back and him self got off the engine and found the pieces of wood produced carefully placed on the rails. The timber would have passed under the cow-catcher, and if it did not throw the engine off, would have probably broken a spring. Went in the hut and found the two boys now in Court hid away, and they said they would never “ do it again.” William Jelfs, fireman, sworn —When the train was about half a mile from where the obstructions were found, I saw two boys run out of the whare, stoop down, and then run back again, and as the train approached I saw two pieces of wood on the rails.

Peregrine Robert Dearden, farmer, sworn—The prisoner Palmer is in my employ as cook, and Mason is employed by some contractors engaged by me. One of (lie pieces of timber I recognise as a peg 1 had been using in chaining. Wm. Rouse, constable, deponed to having arrested the prisoners in one of the huts. Tlie boy Palmer showed me a piece of wood which he said they had placed on the line, and said they thought it was only a truck coming. I took the long piece of wood with me. The train went on to Methven, and on our return we picked up the other. When I was locking the prisoners up, Palmer said that each had placed one piece of wood on the rails. This closed the case.

Mr, Dearden said, in defence, that the line was not open for traffic as yet, and that his men had been in the habit of stopping the trollies to get a ride to Rakaia. He would ask the Bench to deal summarily with the case.

The Bench said the offence was a very serious one, and they cqijlcl not- (leal with it that way. They decided to send the case to a higher court, and committed the boys for filial, bail being allowed, each prisoner to find two sureties at LSO each. The Court then adjourned.

Holloway’s Ointment Pills, Rheumatic Rains, Tic-Do]oreaux.—These dis eases are unfortunately very prevalent in this country, and are frequently most distressing, sometimes for years baffling all medical skill to alleviate the sufferings of the victim. Inno case have Holloway’s Ointment and Pills failed to produce a c ure. The Ointment produces a peculiar and soothing influence over the nerves and muscles, relaxing spasms and subduing pain. 'Hie attack soon becomes milder and the intervals between the paroxysms longer; until they cease altogether. The Pills restore the body from a weak and debilitated condition to a state of health and strength. Persons bedridden for months with rheumatic pains and dwellings, after using the Ointment have been cured in an incredible short period.— Advt.

CORRESPONDENCE.

WE do not hold ourselves responsible f>r the opinions expressed by our correspondents.

HYDROPATHY.

To the Editor. Sir, —The questions of your corrosp in dent Mr. Puddiconibc, are not quite so easy to answer as it first sight may appear. It requires more information than I possess to say “ which is the most reliable work published on hydropathy.” There arc many works on it that I have not read, and of those I have re id, each one has merits and demerits that will be differently estimated by different readers. I believe that the most useful information; with the least labor and expense, would be obtained from Mrs. Joshua Nichols’ little book “ A Woman’s work on water cure,” 2s. ; indeed all her works and those of her husband, Dr. Nichols, are worth reading and purchasing, and none of them are large or expensive. Mrs. Smedley’s little shilling book should be in every house. No mother should be with out it. Her husband’s book, 2s. Gd., is reliable enough, but the most disorderly jumble I ever saw put together ; it wants rewriting by a more orderly person. The Hydropathic Encyclopedia, by R. T. Trail, M.D., gives a lot of information in rather a rough, coarse way ; the price is not marked on the book, but I think it is 10s. ‘‘ Illness, its cause and cure,” by Mrs. Dunovan, is a book every one should read. I think its price is Is. She was a great adorer of Dr. Barber, and extols the Turkish bath rather too much. Durham Dunlop does the same in his “Philosophy of the Bath,” but gives much valuable information. There are too rn.'ny books called Hydropathic, written siJely i-i the interest of the Turkish Bath and others (as Smedley’s) aro too much prejudiced against it. Priessnitz practising much on Indiamen and good constitutions injured by warm climates, was led to extremes in the use of cold. S medley’s is an excessively cautious practice, shunning both heat and cold, but very safe and successful. His chief errors are supposed to be his fondness for soap and mustard. Drs. Gully, Johnson, and Wilson’s are learned and useful books in the practice of hydropathy, but- promul gate some very mischievous old school errors, especially on diet. I don’t know Dr. Shaw’s works which are highly spoken of. Sylvester Graham, who beg in as a school master, though ho ended as an M.D., writes trit'll and com mon sense about diet, and saved every one of his deciples from cholera during its pre valence in New York in 1832 by prescrib ing exactly the opposite diet to that pre scribed by the legally qualified medical practitioners. But his “science of Human Life ” is spun out very tediously, and wants condensing into a tenth part of the space it occupies. Although not a hydro pathic book, every one who wants to understand what he is about with any kind of treatment should read Huxley’s “ Elementary Physiology.” Mrs. Nichols has perhaps put hydropathy to its most severe test amongst the yellow fever in the Southern States of America, where she has saved thousands by its practice, and displayed the courage and devotion of a Howard. Her writings are ' severely practical, and give the idea that her sphere of work has been a rougher one than Mrs. Smedley’s, though, after com ing to England, she has never attained the eminence at Malvern as a medical adviser that Mrs. Smedley had done at Matlock. Now for the second question, “Are there any doctors in the colony whir practice hydropathy .alone ? ” I think not. The leading Christchurch doctors have long practised it in a left-handed way in the treatment of fevers, which have become far less fatal sinco they did so, but they all mix it up* with real or * fictitious medicine. Real, honest, hydro-"' pathy offers no facilities for a doctor to get rich at it. As Mrs. Joshua Nichols says, “ The first time I enter a house I show them all my secrets. I leave the patient with a clear, good''working skin, instead of with a disabled drug-deluged stomach, and therefore far less liable to he ill again, and if lie should be, the whole family know how to go to work at the cure so that I am not likely to be wanted, there again.” The -very nature of hydropathic treatment makes it quite impossible that it can be practised as drug medication can be. A hyclropathist will never be able to call on hundreds of patients in a day and satisfy them all with a pill or a prescription. There is real work to be done, a kind of work that every one dis likes, and that a p’ ysician could not get strangers, to do out of his sight,.; - Hitherto " hydropathists who attempt to live by their profession, have done so almost exclusively by receiving patients at. their own estab lishment for treatment, but what is wanted is that they should train a large band of nurses of both sexes, who could be sent to faithfully administer the treatment at the patient’s home, and instruct the inmates of such homes in the beneficial art. The nurses would be apt to get the pay and the praise, and the doctor would find little grist b-iought to his mill. In allopathy or homeopathy we are made to believe that it is indcspensable to know exactly the name and nature of the disease in order that the allopathist may administer a poison that produces a disease of the opposite character, apd the homeopathist a poison that will produce a dis?ase of the' game character as that from which the patient is suffering. It is not necessary now to enquire which of them is right, and it does not require a very powerful intellect to see that they capnot both fie right although both “ legally qualified,” but as long as they cap make us believe that an accurate knowledge of the exact disease is necessary, and an accurate administration of the exact poison to cure it, they stand a good chance to keep matters in their own hands, as, although they make giievoiis mistakes in such matters themselves, they never tell tales of each other,- and no one else would be listened to, Hydropathist g do not pretend that any such accurate knowledge is necessary, as they rely upon poisons of no kind, lint on » the contrary offer every possible assistance to nature, andonly resort to every known method of invigorating the body to throw off’the disease, whatever it may be, more especially relying on the purification of the one great safety valve which they can see, handle, and safely assist at its work. There is no room for mystery about sucli common sense treatment, there is no need to walk the hospitals to learn it, and under it’a good nurse is soon seen to be of more value than a mere prescribing doctor.. I know of no instance in any part of tl#

Wednesday, February 25, 1880.]

THE ASHBURTON HERALD



New Advertisements. M ONBY. JggQ' £IOO, £2OO, £230, JggQQ AND £IOOO. These sums are ready for immediate investment, on approved Freehold securi ties at current rates. Apply to THOMAS & BRUGES', Solicitors, 13c CHRISTCHURCH. LABOR MARKET. REGISTRY OFFICE FOR MASTERS AND SERVANTS, AT Til2 * EVENING HERALD ” OFFICE. Earmers requiring hands can engage men through the “Evening Herald ” Registry for 1/- each, prepaid. LABORERS REQUIRING SITUA TIONS can engage through the “ Herald ” Registry Office by paying 1/-. SERVANTS ' REQUIRING SITUA TIONS can get them by applying at the “.Herald” Registry Office, and paying !/-• ENGAGEMENTS will he POSTED UP every day at 12 noon and 4 p.m., by numbers given to the applicants, who will learn the address on enquiring. SPECIAL or URGENT WANTS will be inserted in the “ Evening Herald ” in tlie registry column on payment of Six pence additional in advance, for each issue. l - '■ ''furtherParticulars'on application at , . . the “ EVENING HERALD” REGISTRY . . OFFICE. SAUNDERS’ BUILDINGS, EAST ST., i . ASHBURTON. TIT ANTED, those in search of employ- Yy ment, to call and either enter then names at Herald Registry Office, on pay ment of Is. LABOURERS requiring work can -secure first opening by applying early at Herald Registry Office, on pay ment.of. Is. SERVANTS requiring situations, call and get your njimes entered in the j Hbrald Registry, Is.



New Advertisements. \~XT ANTED KNOWN. —Messrs Poyntz V V jukl Co. have several B VRGAINS in HOUSEHOLD PROPERTIES in Ashburton. 95 c \ITTANTED, a smart respectable V V YOUTH, about 15 ; must'be trust worthy. Apply to H. M. -Jones, Stationer, Baling square. 87c TT7ANTED, a RUNNER BOY, for V,V / the Timvald run, for Herald and Guardian. Apply at the office. WANTED KNOWN, that Envelopes and Notepaper can be obtained, wholesale or retail, at unusually low rates at the “Herald” Office, East-street North. WASTE PAPER for Sale, Bd. peril). at the Herald Office. Apply early. 59a NOTICE. RATING ACT,.1876. TTTHEREAS, at a sitting of the Assess- VV inent Court for the Road District of WAKANUI held this nineteenth day of February, at Ashburton, before me, F. Guinness, Judge of the said Court, it was proved that no Valuation List had been prepared as required by the s.iid Act. Now, therefore, under the provisions of Clause 28 of the 3aid Act, I order that a Valuation List be made, and 1 hereby appoint Francis George Parry Leach to be the Valuer for the said District, and I do further fix THURSDAY, the eleventh day of MARCH next, the day for the completion and inspection of such List, and that the last day for delivering objec tions thereto shall be the twenty-fifth day of March next. The Court will sit at ten o’clock in the forenoon on the third day of April next for the purpose of hearing and determining all objections to the Valuation List for the said District. FRANK GUINNESS, 79c Judge. NOTICE. TO MERCHANTS, STOREKEEPERS, AND OTHERS. ALL CLAIMS against the estate of the late CHARLES REED, Esq., of Westerfield, must be sent in by Feb. 29, 1880, to the undersigned, addressed to Westerfield. GBc-515g C. F. REED.



NOTICE. XT7E have to request a prompt settle ment of a Large number of over due and long standing accounts, otherwise legal proceedings will be taken to recover same. WEEKS & DIXON. “ Herald and Guardian ” office, Feb. 10th, 1880.



T - JtiHL R. NEW ZEALAND RAILWAYS. DUNEDIN AUTUMN EACE MEETING At Fortuny Park. 2Gth. 27th, and 23tli February, 1880. Q INGLE FAEE Tickets will be issued on 23rd, 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th, and 28th February next from all stations be tween Christchurch and Invercargill in clusive, with branches to Dunedin, avail able for the return journey up to and including Tuesday, 2nd March. WM. CONYEES, Commissioner of Eailways. Commissioner’s Office, Dunedin, 10th Feb., 1830. 74c-528 BRANSON & PURNELL, BARRISTERS AND SOLICITORS, EAST STREET, ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL. rjnENDERS are invited for the follow- X mg WORKS : - 1. Approaches to North Ashburton River Bridge, near Digby’s. 2. Alain Drain near Wheatstone.. 3. Alain Drain near Dawson’s and Bell’s Roads. Plans and specifications to be seen at Council's offices, and tenders addressed to the Chairman to be sent not later than 11 o’clock, a.m. on WEDNESDAY, 3rd MARCH next. By order, WILLIAM BAXTER, County Engineer. Ashburton, 23rd February, 1880. 536g-92c £i REWARD. LOST —A dark GELDING, G years old, 2 white spots on each side of saddle ; white star on forehead, mark like P.R. on rump. Any person returning same, or giving information leading to its recovery, will receive above reward. 51c 0010 A. THIELE. TO FARMERS, LIVERY STABLE KEEPERS, SPORTING MFN, AND OTHERS OWNING HORSES. GEORGE KIDD, Moore Street, BEGS to announce the fact that the PRICE for SHOEING hacks and light draught HORSES is now REDUCE D to 7s. per set, and that all horses of this description will be specially attended to by himself. Horses liable to cut are shod on a prin ciple of George Kidd’s own invention, which lias proved an effectual cure for brushing. All kinds of blacksmith’s work, and repairs to agricultural machinery of any description done on the shortest notice. GEORGE KIDD, Moore street, Ashburton.



New Advertisements. NEW TAILORING ESTABLISH MENT. CRAIGHEAD & Co., MERCHANT TAILORS, - HAVE opened those premises situated in Tancred street adjoining Messrs Oi'r and Co’s General Store. A SPLENDID ASSORTMENT OF TWEEDS, FANCY GOODS, &e., Ac., 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 lias always attended his efforts to please, he is prepared to’ guarantee a perfect fit in every case. TANCRED STREET, (Next Orr and C >.’s.) CRAIGHEAD & CO. 982 a FOR SALE. rnOWN SECTION No. 300, Burnett 8 street, on easy terms. Apply to G. M. ROBINSON, 90c" :f Care of P. Cunningham and Co.