SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

Lyttelton, March 19 —Arrived Waitakie, s.s., from Wellington and West Coast. Sailed— Wanganui, s.s., for Wel lington.

BIRTH.

Denshire.— On March 18th, at Thetford Farm, Seafield, the wife of William B. Denshire, Esq., of a daughter. 202 c

The Ashburton Herald AND Borough and County Advertiser (With which is incorporated the “Evening Echo”). FRIDAY, MARCH 19, 1880.

Postponement of Concert. —Messrs. Everett Bros, and Co. announce in our advertising columns that through unavoid able circumstances the concert originally announced by them for this evening, is postponed to a future date, notice of which will be duly given. Mr. Westbrooke’s Tether Rope.— Two men named Phillip Crumb and John Miles, who, on the 16th, indulged in a joke at the expense of the Rev. Mr. Westbrooke, the outcome of an over indulgence in beer, were charged to-day at the R.M. Court with the theft of the rope, which they had cut from the rev. gentleman’s horse's neck virile it was tethered to his fence. The case was proven at the “mouth of two or three witnesses ” —men of standing and of good report —who appealed along with Mr. Westbrooke, for the Court’s leniency in prisoners’ favor. His Worship, after reading the men a lecture on the evils of drink, told them he would allow the appeal for leniency to weigh with him, and as they were not of the criminal class he would discharge them rather than send them to prison to associate with felons, but he expressed a hope that this escape from being imprisoned would be a lesson to them to guard in future against drunkenness.

C.Y.C. —Lieutenant J. S. Bruce has received regimental orders from head quarters to the effect that the Ashburton and Temuka contingents will be embarked at Ashburton, with their horses, at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, the 24th inst., for the Easter Review. Also the gratifying order that T'ooper Scott has been promoted to the rank of sergeant, an honor he richly deserves.

Traction Engine. —About 7 o’clock last evening, Mr. Henry Moffat’s traction engine, with freshing machine and all ap purtenances, travelled through the town ship, on their way to the Hinds. The en gine came alone the Wakanui road down East street, and was the subject of no little curiosity. It made just sufficient noise to attract attention, but it worked very smoothly, and travelled along the road at a moderate speed. An Old Hand. —At the R. M. Court to day, Mr. Guinness had to administer fatherly advice and judicial correction to John Cunningham, who long ago made his first bow of submission to the law of the land for having been drunk and dis orderly. On this occasion John told the old, old story of having come to town on business, and in the intervals between business devoted too much attention to beer —the disproportionate attention being too much for his head and his feet. Leniency, his Worship said, was lost on John, and bacchanalian was sent to Lyttel ton gaol for a three months’ penance. Fire. —A destructive fire occurred last night at Mr. R. Lancaster’s slaughter yards, situated on the north bank of the

Ashburton river, about a mile below the township. The property consisted of a stock-yard and sheep-pens, together with a building and store which contained a very compact little boiling down plant. The whole of this was destroyed, together with seven sheep, a valuable sheep-dog, which Mr. Lancaster considered of more value than any man on his staff, and about two tons of tallow ready for ship ment. The property was insured for Ll5O, and the proprietor estimates his loss at L2OO over and above this. The origin of the fire is at present a mystery. Mr. Thomas Brankin, the nearest resi dent, found the place on fire on his arrival home, but it had too great a hold then for him to do any good. Induction op Rev B. J. Westbrook. —The induction services in connection with the Rev. B. J. Westbrook’s assump tion of the charge of the Presbyterian congregation at Rakaia, took place yester day at eleven o’clock in the Rakaia Town Hall, which was very well attended. The Rev. Mr. Beattie, who has been acting as moderater of the Rakaia session, preached and conducted the induction ceremony, while the Rev. Mr. Elmslie addressed the pastor, and the Rev. Mr. Blake the con gregation. The induction was celebrated by °a soiree in the evening in the same building, at which 200 people sat down to well prepared tea tables, loaded with tempting things, and attended by the ladies of the congregation, amongst whom we observed Mesdames Bruce, Wilkinson, Sharp, M'Phail, and Clark, and Misses Bruce, Malcolm, Shannon, and M'Phail. Tea over, the usual meeting followed, which was presided over by the newly-in ducted Pastor, whom the Rev. Beattie introduced in a felicitous speech, in which he augured, from the unanimity of the settlement, a successful future for both pastor and charge. He spoko very highly of Mr. Westbrooke, whose relations with himself had been of the most brotherly character. The meeting was then addressed by the Rev. Mr. West brooke himself, and also by Rev. Mr. Blake. During the. evening the proceed ings were enlivened by selections of sacred music, very well rendered by the Ashburton choir, under Mr. Savage, with Mr. Stott at the harmonium, and by a piano duet played very tastefully by Misses Carson and Bruce, and by the sacred solo “ Consider the lilies,” sung very well by Mr. Carson, and much appreciated. The usual votes of thanks concluded the meeting, which was attended by a large number of people from the sur rounding district and from Ashburton.

The Glasgow Bank Relief Fund.— The Mayor of Christchurch has received the report of the Central Relief Committee of the Glasgow Bank, which the total amount reported up to December 31st to be L 380,428, and the amount re ceived by the general treasurer, L 262,230.

The Dunedin Murder. —The remains of the murdered Dewar family were in terred in the southern cemetery on Thurs day. The procession w r as a large one. The inquest on the bodies was resumed the same day, and further adjourned. Several witnesses were examined, but nothing new' was elicited connecting the prisoner Butler with the matter.

Interim Report by the Native Com mission.—The “ Evening Post” of Wed nesday says —We understand that Sir W. Fox and Sir F. Dillon Bell, two members of the Royal Commission on Native Affairs, have presented an ad interim report to His Excellency the Governor. The nature of this important document has not yet transpired, but it is rumored that it deals with certain matters’ brought before the Commissioners, in regard to which they found no difficulty in arriving at a prompt decision. We believe that the Commissioners state their opinions in respect to these matters, and suggest that great benefit might arise from giving immediate effect to the various recommendations made by them which would produce a markedly favorable impression on the Native mind, and have a large amount of influence for good, showing as it would the desire of the Government and of Europeans gene rally to deal out swift and even-handed justice to both races alike. So far as we have been able to gather, it is thought that if instant action be taken in the direction suggested it would be likely to induce a strong reaction against the in fluence of Te Whiti, which might be very desirable just, at the present time, when the prophet’s great meeting at Pari liaka is taking place. By practical proof it would be an offer of the good faith of Government, and their determination to mete out strict justice regardless of nation ality. It isf improbable that the precise nature of the Commissioners’ recommen dations will be made public for a few days, owing to the absence from Wellington of his Excellency the Governor. ] Blackguardism. —For a considerable time complaints have been rife of drunken men, in their search for a notorious house in the outskirts of the township, mistak ing the residences of respectable towns people for the stew they were in search of, and making disturbances w'hen refused admission. A case of this character was heard in Court to-day, when two men named James Patterson and William Henry were charged with disturbing the peace of a dwelling by being illegally on the premises of Mr. William Barrett. It came out in evidence that while hunting for a certain house called the “lean-to,” they made a mis take, and wanted admission to Mr. Barrett’s house, under the impression that they had found the place they wanted. It was late at night on St. Pat • rick’s Day, and Mr. Barrett’s family had retired to rest. The disturbance caused by the row the men made had the effect of making Mrs. Barrett seriously ill, and the creators of the disturbance were after wards taken to the lock-up by Mr. Barrett and his neighbor, Mr. Henry Stephenson, who kindly came to his aid on hearing Mrs. Barrett’s screams. His Worship found Patterson guilty of being illegally on the premises, and sentenced him to three months’ imprisonment, letting off Henry, who had not been proved to have been on the ground. The Magis trate said it could not be tolerated that drunken ruffians should be allowed to visit private houses in the dead of night, frightening females and causing a feeling of insecurity. The severity of the sentence will probably act as a warning against blackguardism of this kind in the future.

Tobacco add Taxation. The last number of the “ Imperial Statistics of Germany ” compares the taxation of the chief nations of the world in respect to tobacco. Of the countries where the sale is a Government monopoly, France last

year stood first, the gross duty, with profits, amounting to 7s. per head of the population annually, the net revenue from the article being ss. B£d. per bead. In Austria the gross was ss. s|d., the net 3s. sd. ; in Hungary, thegross 3s. 3|-d., the net Is. 7d. ; in Italy, the gross 3s. lid., and the net 2s. the duty and licenses brought in 4s. 10|d. per head of the popuiation for the year, and in the United States 4s. Germany, on the other hand, where the duty was very light, the average was no more than 7f-d. per head of the popula tion. The new tariff which has been passed this year will make the next return for Germany much heavier. A Primitive Nation. —The new Mexi can interoceanic railway across the Tehau antepee Isthmus is marked out to pass through the State of Chiapas, which pro bably contains the only population in the world which possesses no iron, nor any thing in the shape of an iron industry, even of the crudest form. For the dis tance of eighty miles round Palenque, the capital, not a single blacksmith can be found, and the only articles in the shape of iron are axes and machetas, imported from the United States. Nails are un known, all the woodwork being lield together by cord or the tendrils of the vines, and even the tortilla is prepared by grinding the maize between stones. The new railway which will run through this territory has clearly a well-defined educa tional, as well as commercial, development to undertake. Earth Cables. —One of the advan tages of subterranean telegraph lines has been brought out by the recent snow storms on the Continent. In France the aerial lines round Paris broke down, and communication between the capital and pi’ovinces was seriously impeded ; but in Germany no inconvenience was felt, thanks to her admirable system of earth cables.

Peter’s Pence. The “Italie” gives an account of Peter’s pence collections during this year. According to rhis state ment, France contributed 1,100,Q00f. ; America, 900,000 f. ; Great Britain and Ireland, 750,000 f. ; Austria- Hungry, 700,000 f.; Italy, 600,000 f. ; Belgium, 300,000 f. ; Germany, 150,000 f. ; Holland, 60,000 f. ; and Switzerland, 30,000 f. An Eccentric Female. —An old lady died recently in Brighton, England, who though possessed of a comfortable income, lias lived for years in the most pinched and squalid way in a single room in the lowest part of the town. She used to go out every day with a basket of bread crumbs to feed the birds, but allowed her self no fire, and only food enough to keep herself alive. Surgeons and the Electric Lamp.— Trouvl has invented a number of small electric lamps which can be used by the surgeon in illuminating the throat, the meuth, or even the more internal parts of the body while performing an operation. It is now suggested that it would be pos sible to materially assist the physician in his diagnosis by means of a powerful electric light. On the assumption that the human body is only semi-opaque it is proposed to place the patient in such a position in connection with a dark screen that it i 3 probable a powerful electric light would sufficiently illuminate his interior to enablo the physician in the dark room to see so much of the workings of the principal organs as would assist him to arrive at a correct conclusion as to the nature of the case. If such a scheme is possible it would undoubtedly be of much advantage to medicine. Commencement of the Panama Canal. —The first blast in the greatest cutting of the new Panama canal was exploded on January 10th. M. de Lesseps, who is now at Panama with a large engineering staff, declared that the canal was the closing work of his life. Beware. —Smokers may be interested to learn (a German correspondent writes) that the German Fedei’al Council has resolved to permit tie use of cherry leaves in the fabrication of tobacco.

TELEGRAPHIC.

LAST NIGHT’S CABLEGRAMS.

BRITISH & FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE

(Renter's.) New Zealand Securities. London, March 17. Five percent. New Zealand 10.40 loan, With a View to Learn ? March 18 The Ministry are sending complete edu cational exhibits to Melbourne, and also a delegate to study the school system. The Bear Growls. St. Petersburg, March 18.

Russia ceases to hold diplomatic rela tions with Turkey unless the assassin of Count Comeroff receives a sentence of death.

AUSTRALIAN

{Reuter's). An Extension of Operations. Melbourne, March 18,

A meeting has been held here at which it was resolved to form a company for the purpose of exporting every description of food under the freezing process. An in fluential committee has been formed. Sugar. A telegram has been received from the Mauritius, dated March 9, which states that suitable sugars are scarce. Arrivals. Arrived—Rotorua, from New Zealand, and steamship Durham from Plymouth. She sailed on Jan. 20. New Zealand Industries. Sydney, March 18. The following further Exhibition awards are announced ; Biscuits : Griffiths, Wellington; Grant, Thames ; Renton, Dunedin —all second prizes. Confection ery : Mr. Griffiths, Wellington, first ; Mr. Watters, Auckland, second. Chicory, Trent Bros., Christchurch, first. Groats, Mr. Magill, Otago, South.

TO-DAY’S TELEGRAMS.

1 NTERPROVINCIAL.

A Riot. Timaru, March 19. Sixteen men have been arrested on a charge of riot and assault, in connection with a fight for possession of a mob _ of sheep, which occurred at Pighunting

Creek yesterday. Warrants are out for several others. Eleven are now being criminally prosecuted. The sheep in dis pute belonged to Meek and Scott, of Oamaru, and were sold to one M‘Leigh by Scott, and subsequently seized by direc tion of Meek, who believed the sale to be fraudulent. The fight for possession took place between M'Leish and his men, and Meek’s representative, who has also re ceived authority to retain the sheep, pending the decision of the Supreme Court re the partnership property. The prosecuting counsel asks that the eleven men, including M'Leish, should be com mitted for trial. Dunedin Supreme Court. Dunedin, March 19. Fifteen cases are set down for hearing at the criminal sessions of the Supreme Court. Fires. A four-roomed cottage was burned down in North-east Yalley yesterday. It was insured in the Standard for Ll5O, and in the South British for LIOO. On the Peninsula, two stacks of hay destroyed were insured.

Christchurch Corn Exchange.

Friday, March 19,

The following is the Christchurch Corn Exchange report for the week ending to day :

No alteration in values has taken place during the week and the grain trade still con tinues in a very torpid state. Recent ad vices from England give the quotations of New Zealand wheat at 525. to 535. per quarter. The Continental and British yields are unprecedentedly low, but on the other hand immensely large stocks are held in America by speculators. The break-up of this ring is anticipated, which will lead to large arrivals from America. The market however appears to be steady.

Wheat—Sales are being effected for good round milling quality, at 4s. per bushel, delivered in Christchurch. For exceptionally good quality, particular samples fit for seed, Id. to lid. per bushel over this quotation has been ob tvined. Chick wheat is not commanding the same as in preceeding weeks ; the quality, moreover, varies so much that from 2s. 6d. to 3s. 3d. may be quoted as the value.

Barley—Maintains its y rice. First class malting quality is by no means plentisul, while second rate to inferior is in great abundance. For the first men tioned. as high as 4s. 2d. per bushel has been paid. Fair average quality will com mand 3s. Bd. to 3s. 9d. per bushel, while feed parcels range from 2s. 4d. to 2s. 9d. per bushel. Oats —No change is taking place in the value of this cereal, and the state of the market is precisely what it was three weeks ago. The extremely low prices ruling have stopped a large influx. Merchants are not eager to buy, while sellers are in the same mind as to selling. Quotations remain at Is. 4d. to Is. Cd. per bushel. Bye grass is still difficult to sell, and prices are nominal. Potatoes—There is a slightly better feeling in this tuber. Pilces, however, are still low, with no immediate prospect of an advance. Sales are taking place at 30s. to 355. per ton, at country stations within 7 to 8 miles of Christchurch. Cheese and Butter —The former is coming to hand freely, and prices are hardly so good. This weeks quotations are 4gd. to sd. per lb. ; butter, 6ld. to 7d. per lb.

Roadmaking.

Mr. Dobson, President of the Philo sophical Institute, delivered the presi dential address at the opening of the In stitute, Christchurch, on Thursday even ing. In the course of a valuable disserta tion on “ The Progress of Applied Science in Canterbury,” he made the following re marks on the roads and roadmaking of the province. The general scope of his address was a history of the scientific un dertakiggs of the province, with a running comment on each :

Turning from railways to ordinary care roads, it is gratifying to observe how effi ciently the country has been opened up during the last few years, the mileage of metalled roads and the number of import ant bridges constructed under the manage ment of the Road Boards being very con siderable. A caution may here not be out of place with regard to the system ordi narily pursued of road-maldng on the plains. First, the ground is ploughed over, breaking up the natural crust and leaving the surface both rough and loose. Next, this loose stuff is dragged with scoops and harrows from the sides to the centre, leaving on each side an irregular water-table ; and, lastly, round shingle is carted on to the crown of the road and spread on a portion of the width thus “formed,” as the process is ironically called. The subsequent history of these roads is well known. Teamsters, and horsemen shun the new metal (which soon becomes covered with a luxuriant growth of thistles), and travel on the un metalled sides of the new formation. In a short time the light soil is blown by the summer wind, and scoured by the winter’s rains until the water tables become deep and dangerous ruts, and the road sides are worn into hollows and it becomes necessary to reform and re-metal the whole road in order to make it passable. The final result is no doubt satisfactory, but the intermediate processes are costly to the ratepayers and harassing to tra vellers. It would be much better in the majority of cases to dispense with the forming process altogether, simply paring down lumps and filling up hollows and pig-rootings with stuff to be obtained from water-tables cut at the fencing line, and to form the slight crown required to throw off the water with the first coat of metal. On this system the natural crust remains unbroken, there is a better foun dation for the metal, and as the whole width of the road is open for traffic, the metal when worked upon is less cut up, and lasts far longer without repair. I may here revert to a subject to which I re peatedly called the attention of the Go vernment whilst I held the office of Pro vincial Engineer, viz., the importance of having all roads through hilly country carefully graded by men who have had a special training for this work, which is that of the civil engineer, not of the land surveyor. It would be difficult to over estimate the difficulty, expense, and annoyance -which has arisen, notably in Bank’s Peninsula, but also in many ether places, from the road reserves having been laid off without the regard to even the possibility of road construction within

their limits, and looking to the probable extension of settlement amongst the net work of vallies lying between the foot-hills and the spurs of the great Alpine chain, it is desirable that a satisfactory system of roading these districts should be initi ated at an early date, before access to the land in the rear is blocked by the purchase of the points which are the key to the possession of the back country.

Steamer Stopped by Jelly Fish.

London Telegraph. A correspondent of the “ Western Morning News ” gives an interesting des cription of the voyage of the Crocodile. In the course of his observations he says : —“ On September 20th the ship crossed the equator early in the morning. On the following night a most curious circum stance occurred, which would hardly be credited. The ship was stopped by jelly fish, which shortly after one o’clock ap peared in myraids as far as the eye could reach, and thousands of luminous bodies floating upon the water gave the appear ance of a scene from fairyland. Some of the fish got into the strainers of the condensers and blocked the holes, so that the water could not enter, and the result was that the vacuum went down and then disappeared entirely. The condensers afterwai’ds be came so heated that we had to stop.steam ing altogether, take off the strainers, and clean them. Three attempts were made to steam, and each failed from the same cause. In this way we were delayed no less than five hours, but at daybreak the fish sank, and the vessel w T as able to pro ceed. The same thing occurred again the following night, the ship being delayed four hours.

Planetary Influence on the Earth.

(San Francisco sVaos Letter.)

According to a German professor, all the late bad weather, and more, might have been expected from the position of the planets, one of which, namely, Jupiter, is a thousand times larger than the earth ; and, what is worse, we are not even yet fairly at the beginning of evils. The bad times, whatever cyclical people may say-to the contrary 7, are to begin in 1880, and to last until 1885. We are, he says, approaching one of the most peril ous and malefic periods of the earth’s his tory, for since the commencement of the Christian era the perihelia of the four great planets of the solar sy 7 stem—Jupiter, Uranus, Saturn, and Neptune—have not been coincidental. But this is about to occur. Soon after 1880, for the first time in 2,000 years, all four of these planets will be at their nearest approach to the sun, or in perihelion. So that for a few y 7 ears, say from 1880 to 1885, if the pro fessor is right, the vitality of every living thing will be put to a severe and trying ordeal. His view is, that when one or more of the large planets is nearest to the sun, the temperature and condition of our atmosphere are so disturbed as to cause injurious vicissitudes, terrific rains, pro longed droughts, etc., resulting in the de struction of crops and pestilences among human beings and domestic animals.

German South Sea Company.

(From the London Times.)

The greatest efforts (say 7 s the “ Times’ ” correspondent) have been made by all circles to preserve the German colony on the Samoa Islands which has been founded by the house of Gbddefroy and Sons at Hamburg. General satisfaction has now been produced by the fact that Prince Bismarck has declared himself ready to propose to the German Parliament to sup port the new limited company by a finan cial contribution from the Empire. The newly-formed German South Sea limited company will be established with about eight to ten million marks capital. It un dertakes all that the old company did, under certain taxes which will be fixed by a commission whose president the German Consul-General in the Samoa Islands is to become. The great houses engaged in this financial enterprise will be Bleichroder, the Disconto-Geselischaft, the Handels-Gesellschaft, Rothschild at Frankfort, and the Nord Deutsche Bank at Hamburg. The Government guaran tees the yearly interest of the invested capital at 4| per cent, for 25 years up to the maximum of 320,000 marks. The company binds itself to pay 7 back in later y’ears the Government outlay. As soon as the contract is concluded and the guarantee of the interest granted, the old German Commercial and Plantation Company of the South Sea Islands will receive 1,200,000 marks to pay off their remaining debts. Should the Parliament refuse their approval, mortgages will be issued to the amount of this sum, and the remaining creditors of the company will be satisfied with a second issue of mort gages. This arrangement will be binding up to the Ist of June.

A Strange Story.

The Geneva correspondent of the “Times” -writes under date December 17th :—“ On tho last day of November the bodj r of a man who had evidently died a violent death was found in the Sillerthal, canton Thurgau. The body was identified as that of a man named Baumeler, a saw yer by trade, and a native of Lucerne. The local papers announced his death, and his friends were invited to accompany the funeral procession to the grave. His kinsfolk put on mourning for him, and the deceased having been a Roman Catholic, was buried in the cemetery of Bischoffzell by a priest of that persuasion. The even ing after the interment, as a number of peasants and neighbors were making merry in the village inn of Bischoffzell, who should walk in but the man who, as all supposed, had been laid quietly under the ground the day before ! Baumeler, who said he had been away on a journey, then heard the story of his death and burial, which seemed greatly to amuse him. From the inn he went to the presbytery and thanked the priest for the eloquent funeral oration the latter had pronounced over his grave. He then called on the Amtmann, and expressed his gratitude to that functionary for the trouble he had taken qn hi§ behalf. Baumeler has still another account to settle. It appears that he does not enjoy an altogether spotless reputation, and after his supposed death a journal of the neighborhood made some unpleasant reflections on his character. Baumeler, it is said, intends to proceed against this too impulsive paper for libel, As for the buried man, no information is as yet forthcoming, and the theory of the mur der is again revived, ”

THE STORY-TELLER.

BROCKLEBANK’S TENT. A TALE OF UNFOUNDED ACCUSATION. I was quite pleased to see Fry. He seemed like an old friend. “ Hallo, Fry,” I exclaimed jovially 7, “ how are you ? ” In reply to these w'ords Mr. Fry turned upon me one of the sourest faces ever manufactured in Liverpool. He did not vouchsafe a word in answ r er to my saluta tion, but said in a low tone, which, how ever, I was perfectly 7 able to hear, “ I told you, Brocklebank, I knew nothing of the fellow.”

As these words were uttered, I observed that all the company had their eyes fixed on me, and that their gaze was of a pecu liarly searching character. I felt uncom fortable, and being of a sensitive temper ment, blushed up to the tip of my ears, Immediately after this prolonged stare, Brocklebank laid his hand on Langford’s arm, and wliispered something in his ear. Langford then stepped forward, and ad dressed me thus:

‘ ‘ Mr. Parker, I have something very unpleasant to tell you. For the last two night’s you have slept in Brocklebank’s tent —”

“ Yes,” I replied in a low' tone, fearing that something dreadful was coming. “ I am sorry to tell you that Mr. Brocklebank, on counting his gold to-day, found one packet deficient. There should have been twenty-seven parcels—there were only twenty-six. A packet contain ing five ounces fifteen pennyweights, and numbered one hundred ane three, was

missing. A painful silence of several moments’ duration followed this statement.

I fancied, but perhaps it was only fancy, that I trembled violently and that I became very 7 red and pale in sudden al ternations. At first my tongue clove to the roof of my mouth, but presently I contrived to say — “ You suspect me ? ” No immediate reply was given to my question, but as I looked round upon the stern faces of my accusers, I chanced to catch Fry’s eye. He at once said morosely—

“ Yes we do. Who else could we sus pect ? I told Brocklebank I knew nothing of you.” “You are sure the packet is missing jV'lr. Langford ? ” I asked. “ Brocklebank and myself, Mr. Parker,” answered the chemist, “ are, I hope, the last men in the world to bring a hasty accusation against any one. The tin box containing the gold lias been care fuliy examined in the presence of all the persons now here, has it not ? ” “ Ay, ay,” replied a number of voices. “And,” continued Langford “there are only twenty-six packets in it. ” “ Would you like to search me ? ” I de manded.

“No, sir,” said Langford, after a pause. “If you are innocent, it would be a use less indignity ; if you are guilty, the gold would certainly not be on y 7 our person.” “ There are plenty 7 of hollow trees in Bendigo,” observed Fry. These words forcibly showed me how difficult it would be to proove my inno cence. I had no friends in the colony except my brother-ad venturers from Lon don, and even if I could find them, their certificate of respectablity would count for very 7 little. I had a few letters of introduction to persons of some standing in the colony, but I had left them in Mel bourne, and they would not have proved my identity, for I might have purloined them from somebody else. I also remem bered that, having previously not ex pended a sixpence since my arrival on Bendigo in Fry’s company, I had that morning bought fifteen shillings’ worth of tools.

I was so overwhelmed with shame and horror, that I sat down on the log and shed tears —a womanish exhibition of grief, of which an hour earlier I should have deemed myself incapable. A whispered consultation now took place between my accusers. I heard the word ‘ ‘ Police ” mentioned, and Fry said, “Yes, the sooner the better.” Then Langford interposed, “No, not to-night, let us wait to the morning ” He then once more addressed me —

“ Please to understand, Mr. Parker, that we do not charge you with robbery, but we connot help suspecting you.” “ I don’t go so far as you, Langford,” interposed Brocklebank hastily. “ I don’t even say that I suspect Mr. Parker ; I merely assert that a parcel of gold has disappeared. As a practical proof of my freedom from suspicion, I should like him to remain in my tent to-night.” “ Thank you, Mr. Brocklebank,” I answered, “ for all your kindness, but I cannot accept your offer.” “He means to bolt,” muttered Fry. “I do not mean to bolt, Mr. Fry,’’ I exclaimed, experiencing for the first time a sense of indignation which tended to lessen my despondency. *‘ I have no tent, so I shall lie in my blankets under a tree, and if you, Mr. Fry, or any other persons, choose to keep guard over me all night I shall not complain. ” “You had better accept my offer, Parker,’ urged Brocklebauk corteously. “ There is a storm brewing over yonder.” “I cannot,” I answered. “I don’t mind getting -wet. ” The politeness and civility with which all these people treated me—Fry excepted —cut me to the heart. Had they been a set of brutal ruffians, ready to take the law into their own hands, the keen sense of injustice -would have deadened my grief; but these men acted in the most cautious, law-abiding manner ; they even hesitated to charge me with the crime which they suspected T had committed. And how base a crime it was ! I was a friendless stranger, Brocklebank took me in, treated me as if had been his own brother, and I had apparently repaid him by committing a heartless robbery. [to be continued. 1

Friday, March 19, iSSq.I

THE ASHBURTON HERALD



Hew Advertisements. SATURDAY, MARCH 13. OPENING NEW STORE, East Street, Hear 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 g 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 tho 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’b. CRAIGHEAD & CO. 982 a V. R. NEW ZEALAND RAILWAYS. (Christchurch Section.) EASTER HOLIDAYS. ORDINARY Single Fare Tickets issued from any station to any station, from March 25th to March 30th, will be available for return up to and including March 31st. FREDK. BACK, General Manager. General Manager’s Office, Christchurch, March 11th, 1880. 171 c ASHBURTON BOROUGH COUNCIL. TENDERS are invited for the con struction of CHANNELS from the Mill Race at Mr. Williamson’s Homestead to the Domain, also for an OUTFALL DRAIN on the South East Town Belt, and for other EARTHWORK in connec tion with the proposed Water Supply. Plans and specifications may be seen at the Borough Council Offices ; and tenders, accompanied by a deposit of £5, to be delivered on or before noon on MONDAY, March 22nd, at the Town Clerk’s Office. The lowest or any tender not necessarily accepted. FOOKS & SON. 607g-182c Borough Engineers.



nnOWN HALL, ASHBURTON. MONDAY and TUESDAY, March 22,23. Grand Entertainments by the CARANDINI Operatic and Ballad Company. SLENDID PROGRAMME— English, Irish, and Scotch Songs ! Scenes from Grand and Comic Operas, Comic Duets, Trios, Instrumental Solos, and Charming Ballads. Admission —First seats, 45.; second, 2s. Commence at 8 o’clock. 17oc-603g WASTE PAPER for Sale, 3d. per lb. at the Herald Office. Apply early. TTT ANTED TO BUY First - class VV Butter and Eggs, at Clark’s Pro vision Stores. 193 c 4 PARTMENTS TO LET, Furnished f\ or Unfurnished. Apply at Office of this paper. ~^ c T>OARD AND RESIDENCE For | ) Two Gentlemen, Bank Clerks or others. Apply Herald Office. • 200 c.



Respectable board and LODGINGS for single Gentlemen —Apply Clark’s Provision Store, Ash burton. 204 c 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. EOR SALE, Cheap, Dwelling-house of 7 rooms, situated on the East Belt, hear the Parsonage—For particulars apply to T. Bullock. 206 c TO LET. —Dwelling House, opposite “Mail” office, now in occupation of Bliss Steane as a Private School. Im mediate possession given. T. Bullock. 205 c WANTED KNOWN—That W. T. Davison is Selling Potatoes 301bs for ONE SHILLING, delivered 207 c TOWN HALL. OUT ! LOOK OUT ! ! FOR ASHORE AND AEEOAT. MAGNIFICENT SCENERY, Covering 500 Yards ok Canvass. 203 c T HP STAR of the EAST A.U.O". A. LODGE—OPEN MEETING on Saturday Night in the Templar Hall at Eight o’clock. Good Programme, and Free Admission to the Public, who are cordially invited. 208 c POSTPONEMENT. THE CONCERT advertised by Everett Bros. & Co., to take place This Evening is unavoidably POST PONED to a future date, which will be duly announced by advertisement. 201c* EVERETT BROS. & CO. rR. HODDER AND COMPANY’S , GREAT CLEARING SALE of Irapery, Clothing, Blillinery, Boots, &c., ,t the LIBERAL DISCOUNT of TWO SHILLINGS and SIXPENCE in the continues until SATURDAY, Vlarch 27tli. 198 c



Holloway’s Pills.—The blood being the very essence of health and life it is most essen tial that it should be thoroughly purified before the depressing influencesof winter displaythem? selves. These Pills will accomplish this puri fication in a safe and satisfactory manner, and put the circulation in that desirable condition, which alone can rightly form flesh, bone, mus cle, nerve, and skin. Capricious appetites, weak digestions, torpid livers, and irregular bowels are corrected by this potent medicine, which may be truly said to induce “a sane mind in a sound body.” Holloway’s Pills possess the remarkable property of cleansing without weakening. While purifying they are strengthening and adding to those enjoyments of life which health and vigor can alone bestow. —Advt,