The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prevalebit. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1884. The Early Closing Association.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1371, 4 November 1884, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prevalebit. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1884. The Early Closing Association.

The establishment of an Early Closing Association in Ashburton has not only our hearty sympathy, but we must confess that we are astonished the movement has not been started before this. Institutions of a similar kind have long existed both in the Old Country and the larger centres of population in the colony, and the success they have attained augurs well for our local society. That the employers of labor are not averse to closing their places of business at a reasonable hour is sufficiently shown by the numerous signatures that are appended to the circular published the other day m our advertising columns, there being, it ap--1 pears, only one firm which has expressed a determination not to give way. Unfortunately, in this instance, , a minority of one is more powerful than such minorities generally are. It would be unreasonable to expect that the Ashburton tradesmen would consent to close their shops for the sole purpose of benefiting the proprietor of a single establishment, who would necessarily monopolise the whole of the business transacted during the later hours in the evening, and the members of the Early Closing Association evidently recognise this fact. Under ordinary circumstances we should be strongly opposed to anything like “ boycotting,” which was the course hinted at by some of the employees at a recent meeting, and it is to be hoped that the firm we have referred to will not render such a course necessary by continuing its opposition to a movement which, if successful, will undoubtedly be of advantage to the community as a whole. But if absolutely united action on the part of the shopkeepers cannot be obtained, it is difficult to see how the object sought by the Association can be reached in any other way except the one suggested. If the demands of the employees were in any degree unreasonable, it would be another matter; but all they ask for is that the shops shaU in future be closed at six o’clock during the first five days of the week, and at nine o’clock on Saturdays. Considering the long hours these people have to be at their posts and the sedentary nature of the work they are engaged in, we certainly think that purchasers might sacrifice themselves to the extent of getting what they want within the hours specified. Late shopping has a special fascination for the female mind, but we have little doubt that the appeal made by the Association to the ladies of Ashburton will have the same good effect as similar appeals have had elsewhere. At any rate, it is to the ladies that the employees have principally to look for securing the reform they desire, and if they obtain their aid the one firm which has refused to sign the circular will soon find that the business done after the other shops have shut up will not pay for the cost of the gas expended. Be this as it may, now that the establishment of the Association is an accomplished fact, we have no doubt that it will meet with the support it deserves from the public, and if the members preserve the moderate tone which has characterised the speeches at the meetings already held, the employees will attain the objects they have in view, which ultimately will benefit everybody concerned. It is quite a fallacy to suppose that long hours mean more work, as there is not a single employer of labor who does not know that after a certain period men and women get listless and are unable to fulfil their duties with the same alacrity as in the early part of the day. The so-called working classes, which term is generally taken to mean those who earn their bread by mechanical labor, have much to be grateful for, as they have always been taken under the wing of a paternal Legislature, and this should make them | more considerate in their treatment of , their less fortunate brethren, whose lot ]

it is to serve behind counters. As a matter of fact, however, it is the wives of this particular class who are most prone to put off their shopping to the last moment, and if the Association succeed in removing this fault and establishing a proper esprit dc cotfs among fellow workers, they will have virtually gained the battle.

The third of the series of entertainmonts'inaugmated in aid of the funds of the Public Library will be given in the

' iddfellowa’ Hall on Thursday evening. It is announced that there will be a complete change of programme, several ladies and gentlemen who have not taken part in the previous entertainments having promised their assistance. Mr Makanint, whoso “pawky” songs and clever chat actor sketches have made him a prime favorite with the Ashburton public, will appear in a number of new representations, and the Roselle Brothers will repeat their graceful acrobatic performances and introdnce a new duplicate trapeze act never previously given in the colonies. We are pleased to notice that Sergeant Felton has sufficiently recovered from the effects of the accident which recently befell him to resume his duties in the Resident Magistrate’s Court. The Sergeant was in his accustomed place yesterday. It is the intention of Father Coffey’s many friends to present him with a suitable testimonial previous to his announced departure from Ashburton. We need hardly state that the proposal is receiving substantial support from all quarters, and this popular pastor will not be allowed to leave the district without some mark of the esteem in which be is held.

At a meeting of the Middle Island members yesterday afternoon, in- which there was a large preponderance of Canterbury aid Otago members, it was resolved to memorialise the Government with the view of the next Volunteer prize firing contest being held p.t Christchurch. A. moat successful members’ ball was given in the main corridor of the Parliament Building last evening. Over 600 invitations were issued. Amongst those present were his Excellency the Governor Miss Jervoia and Major Cautley. There were nearly all the members of both Bouses of Parliament present and a large

number of leading citizens. The ball was one of the best given in Wellington for some time past, A case of robbery with violence occurred at Oamaru on Sunday morning. Two men, named William Reid and John Reddan, were charged with stopping a man on the street and demanding his money, threatening that if he did not comply they would knife him. A scuffle ensued, and the man, whose name is Johnston, was knocked down and roughly handled. He got away from his assailants, and mounted his horse, but was pulled off and knocked down again, and robbed of a small sum in silver and his watch chAin, which broke as the men were trying to take his watch out of his pocket. Reid and Reddan have been arrested, snd were brought up yesterday and remanded. It is underst od that a cablegram has been received from the Secretary of State for the Colonies by the Government, to the effect that the amount necessary to subsidise the cost of the New Guinea Protectorate, to be. paid by the Australasian Colonies, would be increased from L 15.000 to L 20.000.

A deputation waited upon the Colonial Secretary yesterday respecting the salaries paid to attendants in Lunatic Asylums. Mr O’Callaghan set forth that the pay of a Gaol warder was larger than that of an attendant in a Lunatic Asylum, although the latter was required to exercise greater patience and judgment. The Colonial Secretary recognised the unfairness, and promised to see whether a sum of money could be placed on the supplementary estimates for the purpose of altering the present state of affairs. In connection with the rejoicing at Westport over the passing of the Harbor Bill and the alleged effigy burning, the following message has been received by Mr CTConor, M. EL. R., from the Mayor of Westport, to the effect that the passing of the Bill was the causa of general rejoicing, that burning effigies did not form part of the programme, but was merely boys’ amusement, and the citizens regret that anything of the kind occurred. Mr Shrimuki, MH. R., received from the Mayor a telegram of a similar nature. A middle aged man, named Thomas Parkes, was arrested at Geraldine on Sunday night for feloniously assaulting a girl thirteen years of age The case was brought on at Timani yesterday, and remanded till Wednesday. The following are the Hospital returns for October :—No in Hospital Ist of month, 8; admitted, 4; discharged, 6; remaining in Hospital on 31st, 6. The installation of officers of IJie Star of the East Lodge will be held in the Orange Hall, Burnett street, this evening.

In another column will be found a busi nesa notification from Mr J. A, Perason which will no d übt be interesting to parties about to furnish houses with colonially male and imported furniture of all descriptions. The Rev IS. A, Scott notifies in another column that the usual week day services, practices, and meetings will be resumed from this data. The best periodical for ladies to take monthly and from which they will receive the greatest benefit is Hop Bitters. Read.— [Advt.] io Flies and Bugs, —Beetles, insects, roaches, ants, bed-bugs, rats, mice, gophers, jack-rab-bits, cleared out by “ Rough on Rats.” The N.Z. Drug Co., General Agents. 3 Indigestion and Liver Complaints.—For these complaints Baxter’s Compound Quinine Pills have proved a specific, acting powerfully on the liver and mildly on the stomach. Sold everywhere, or post free from J. Baxter, Chemist, Christchurch, for 19 or 44 stamps. August Flower. —The most miserable beings in the world are those suffering from dyspepsia and liver complaint. More than 7f per cent of the people are afflicted with these two diseases and their effects ; such as sour stomach, sick headache, habitual costiveness, palpitation of the heart, heart burn, waterbrash, gnawing and burning pains at the pit of the stomach, yellow skin, coated tongue and disagreeable taste in the mouth, coming up of food after eating, low spirits, etc. Go to your, druggist and get a bottle of august flower. This valuable medicine has cured thousands and thousands of sufferers, and is known in all civilised countries. Two doses will relieve you. It costs only 3s fid a bottle. Sample bottles, fid.— [Advt. This evening our advertising columns con tain a large price list from one of the leading drapery establishments in Chris'church, and, we are confident visitors to town will do well by giving them a call. The r stock is large and well assorted, containing all the novelties of the season and a grand assortment of general household diapery, men’s and boys’ clothing, hats, shirts, ties, and scarves. The ladies’ show room is well worth a visit, being well stocked in millinery, mantles and underclothing of a large and varied description, at prices that are bound to effect a speedy clearance. H. E May & Co., The Hall.— [Advt.] The Bad and Worthless are never imitated or counterfeited. This is especially true of a family medicine, and it is positive proof that the remedy imitated is of the highest value. As soon as it has been j tested and proved by the whole world that Hop ( Bitters was the purest, best, and most valuable family medicine on earth, many imitations ( sprung up and began to steal the notices in t which the press and the people of the country ( had expressed the merits, of H. 8., and in i very way trying to induce sobering invalids to use their stuff instead, expecting to make I money on the credit and good name of H. B. 1 Many others started nostrums put up in simi- 0 lar style to H. 8., with variously devised h names in which the word “ Hop ”or “Hops ” 0 were used in a way to induce people to believe o they were the same as Hop Bitters. All such ti pretended remedies or cures, no matter what ft their style or name is, and especially those with the word “Hop” or “ Hops ”-in their 0I name or in any way connected with them or _ their name, are imitations or counterfeits. Beware of them. Touch none of them. Use nothing but genuine American Hop Bitters, 5 with a bunch or cluster of green Hops on the . white label, and Dr Soule’s name blown in the lr glass. Trust nothing else. Druggists and W chemists arc warned against dealing in imita 1b tions fit counterfeits* fo