The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prevalebit. WEDNESDAY DECEMBER, 9, 1885. The Crofters.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1347, 9 December 1885, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prevalebit. WEDNESDAY DECEMBER, 9, 1885. The Crofters.

Twelve months ago the crofter question, the agitation fomented by the disaffected inhabitants of Skye, attracted a good deal of attention throughout New Zealand. Several enthusiastic Scotchmen urged that Mr Ma:andrew, the “ father ” of our House of Representatives, should be authorised by the Government to arrange for the deportation of, what they regarded, as their ill-used compatriots to this colony. Even the oovernment exhibited some disposition

to entertain this proposal, but Mr Macandrew, as we surmised at the time, probably knew his countrymen better, and it was left to an Auckland gentleman to convey to the disaffected crofters an expression of the sympathy and welcome awaiting them here. This Auckland gentleman has returned to the colony, and reports that the crofters

are determined to remain where they are; they have no desire to emigrate. This report practically disposes of any colonial interest the question had, out the following extracts from a letter written by the Edinburgh correspondent of the London Times, giving an account of an interview with “a sympathetic landlord,” may be of interest to some of our readers : Q.: Do you admit that the crofters have grievances ?—A.: i admit that they hav.-; but I maintain that the grievances are very much of their own making. They blame the landlords for many things for which they <ught to blame themselves—their indole ce, their improvidence, thdr extrava ance, their flagrant d sregard of prudential and economic laws Q.; Are the crofters as a class not industrious hardworking men ?—A.; Very few of them are. Their indolence is their chief curse. Many of them li in bed till noon, leaving the care of their crofts and their cattle to their wives ; and when they do get up they loaf about for tie greater part of the day, with their hands in their pockets, seeking for a job or expectin the horn of fortune to send them a glass of whisky, Q ; But that state of things must be exceptional?—A.: The whisky is exceptional no doubt, because it can be looked for only in the season when strangers are in the country, but is counted on nevertheless; an i at other times much of the day is spent in pure id’enes--. Charles Kingsley says that “ men must work and women must weep.” In the Highlands jt is the reverse—the women are the wor ers, at peat carrying, cat le herding, and what not ; the men are for the most part the waiters on Providence, and they are very good at that. Q.: Does it not often happen that there is more than one house on a croft, or at least more than one family?—A.: Yes; when a crofter’s son marries, a peat house is often built, foe turn at.one end eff hi* father’s cottuse, there fafe lives wit& hi* VriA obtytrep (

and the croft s made to support his family as ’ well as his father’s. This is only a portion of the evidence of a person who had large experience as a factor before he became a proprietor, who lives on terms of the closest friendship with his tenants, and who is so completely trusted by them that when disputes arise they are referred to him with the most implicit confidence.

Notwithstanding the reported sufferings of the villiage settlers at Rakaia, very high prices were realised at the land sale yesterday for allotments in Newton. Our Rakaia correspondent, writing on the subject, says:—A week or two ago it was reported that villiage settlers were starving, and even those who discredited these tales thought the prices realised yesterday would be low. But, instead of this, the prices ware remarkably high, over Ll 6 an acre being reached. The public may judge of the destitution of the settlers, many of whom were purchasers? The ship Westland, Captain Mo William, arrived at Port Chalmers this morning. The Sprintr Meeting of the Ashburton Racing Club will be commenced tomorrow. Although the acceptance for the Cup is a very smdl one—2, the asms sa last year —the general acceptances are better than those received for the 1884 meeting, and a really g >cd day’s sport ia anticipated. All the banks in Ashburton

and t akaia will be closed to-morrow, and U>s Worship the Mayor has proclaimed the usual holidays in connection with the races. The excursion train from Christchurch is expected to bring a large number of visitors. Mails for the Australian Colonies, United Kingdom, and Continent of Europe, via Melbourne, close at the Bluff, per Manapouri, at noon on Friday next.— This mail is due in London on January 26th. The usual monthly meeting of the Mount Somers Road Board was held at the Board’s office on Monday. Present— Messrs Peache (chairman), Maofarlane, Merewether, Mcßae, and Walker.—The Overseer’s report was read.—lt was resolved to have crossings on 80yd and Hewson’s road repaired. —4n application for the formation of Ryan’s road was not entertained, the adjoining property being nnfeaoed.—Several minor works were authorised,—The tender of Mr James Brown for crossing on Alford Forest road, at L 6, was accepted —The Board agreed to pay half coat, not exceeding L 5, of road to Mr McMillan’s suction —Permission was granted to Mr Herring to take water races across certain roads and reserves. —lt was resolved to strike a rate of 4d in the £ payable on January 4.—The usual monthly accounts having been passed for payment the Board adjourned. The programme of the concert and comedy, to be given under the direction of Mr Sidney Wolf in the Oddfellows’ Balt to-morrow evening, is advertised in this issue. A deserter from the ranks of the Salvation Army at Masterton (says a local paper) was brought back to the fold in a somewhat peculiar manner on Sunday. In the morning he attended the services in the barracks for the purpose apparently, of disturbing the proceedings. As be began making interjections, one of the soldiers went np to him, and in loud tones informed him that if he did not know how to behave he would have to take an outside pew. The backslider nursed bis wrath for a few seconds, and then, with vengeance lurking in his eyes, asked the soldier in soft and pleading accents just to step outside for a tew minutes. <’he soldier promptly agreed, and both retired. On reaching the yard the backslider exclaimed "Will yon apologise?” ‘‘Apologise for what?’’ said the other. "For grossly insulting me.” "No my good friend. The apology is due from you and not from me ” "Then I’m going to give you a hiding.” “Very well, my friend, I’m always pra* pared on the Lord’s side.” Off went coat, and iff went red guernsey, and soldier and civilian rolled into one another properly. In a few minutes the civilian was breathless, panting on his back, and looking very much the worse for his encounter. " I’ve had enough—give me your hand,” said the fallen and exhausted one: “Praise the Lord for his mercy—here’s the hand of a brother,” said the Salvationist smiling. There was no need tor further persuasion —the backslider returned to the meeting a bruised but better man, ascended the penitent form, and in the afternoon, having resumed his Salvation war paint, was marching again with the army. At the Resident Mrgistrste’a Court this morning, before Mr Robert Alcorn, J P., Walter Love was charged with having been drunk in a railway carriage, with having used obscene language and with having oeen guilty of offensive behavior in a railway carriage. The acouaed was remanded to Rakaia, where he will appear before Mr H. C. S. Baddeley, R.M., to morrow. —Charles While, charged with larceny, was remanded to the same place. The Master of the Old Men’s Home wishes to acknowledge the receipt of from Mr Zander for the use of the in a quantity of flour, fruit, spice, and peel mates.

The usual monthly sitting of the Ashburton District Court will be held on Friday. The following is the Cause Cist: —Bankruptcy—Applic tiona for orders of discharge, John Oairnoross (Mr Branson), Peter Hanson (Mr Brandon), Henry Knight (Mr Crisp), John Devery (Mr Crisp). The following is characteristic of. the late General Gordon. Speaking to Monsignor Sogato, a Roman Catholic Prelate, General Gordon's lost words ware:—“ Do nut forget me in your prayers Catholics and Protestants are but soldiers in different regiments of Christ’s army, but it is the same army and we are all marching together."—The Mahdi, says the Bishop, never had such popularity, nor wielded such authority as was supposed in Blnrope. He was execrated for his cruelties, and at ons time the arrival of only a few hundred English soldiers at Khartoum would have been enough to break his authority and save Gordon. —London Times.

A case of tutu poisoning is reported. It appears that Margaret Kobinson, a girl of Id, eat a quantity of green tutu berries at St Helena station, near Kaiapoi, last Sunday. She went to bed quite well, but during the night was seized with fearful pains and symptoms like those of strychnine poisoning. By the use of emetics and other remedies the symptoms ware gradually subsided, but the girl remains in a very debilitated Condition.

That husband of mine is three times the man he was before ne began, using “ Wells Health Reoewer.” Druggists. The N.ZDrug Co.. CTaoera Agents. a 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 iq or 44 stamps.

“ German Syrup.” —No other medicine u. he world was fever given such ajftest off itcurative qualities as Boschee’s German Syrup, In three years two million four hundred thous owl small bottles of this medicine were distributed free of charge by Druggists in the United States of America to those afflicted with Consumption, Asthma, Croup, severe Coughs. Pneumonia and other diseases of the throat and lungs, giving the afflicted undeniable prool that German Syrup will cure them. The result has been that Druggists in every town nd vllage in civilised countries are recommending it to their customers. Go to your Druggist and ask what they know about it. Sample Bottles fid. ( Regular sipe as., fid. Three osar *il »«Uan «ay

■ ‘ -ir-- - T*. - A few minutes after three o’clock this morning, the eastern ti’-e bell rang out an alarm, and it was discovered that the house nf Mr Stigley, Hampstead, was in flames. The Volun'eer F.ie Brigade was promptly at the see io of th'-r c mfl igra ion, but too late to render ;r y material assistance, the buildingbeingalmostlevelled to thegrouud before the alarm was given. It is supposed that the fire arose from a spark fallmt? on s ome ker sene, which was split on the floor of one of the rooms by the explosion of a lamp lastevening. No- hing was saved from he building, and tha ocoupau's barely escaoed in their night attire. Insurance— Ll5O, in the London, Liverpool and Globe office In the list ef oases about to be tried at the civil sittings of the Supreme Court at Timaru which was published in oar yesterday’s issue appears one entitled Bennetts v Friedlauder Bros.” This is an error. The case in question is th at of Friedlander Bros v Bennett’s Administrators. We notice that several of our contemporaries have fallen into the same error. The New Zealand Shipping Company, Limited, are in receipt of a cablegram from London advising the arrival of the E.M.S. Tongariro at Plymouth on 6th instant, after an excellent ruu of fortyone days from Auckland. Frozen meat in good condition. Tha Company’s ship Mataura has sailed from Wellington. In June last an inquest was held in Dunedin on a swagger who had died from taking vermin killer. The body was at the time supposed to be that of James

Barr, and was so recoguised by the per* son who claimed to be a friend of Barr. A day or two ago the veritable James Barr, on whom the inquest was supposed to have been held, walked into the hotel where it w*s held, and was recoguised. He has been living at the Mataura, and heard nothing of the inquest till recently. Then is no clue as to identity of the body on which the inquiry was made. Ia the Supreme Court, Wellington, Andenon was found guilty of arson, and sentenced to thv e year’s penal servitude. The work of demolishing me Wellington Exhibition building is now in full swing, and will be completed by Christmas, and the material •rill be sold by auction. The Priemer and Mr Tole left Wellington for the South by the iiuemoa last evening. Mr Larnaoh also vent South yesterday afternoon by the Wakatipu. Mr Stout will probably be absent till after Christmas. Mr Tole and Me Larnach will not be so long away. Certain Canterbury Volunteers complain that they are precluded from competing at the examinations lor the two commissions m the Imperial Army, to be held at Wellington on December 21st. The text books have not been seen down notwithstanding that Meatrs Holmes and White, M.'sH.H. have obtained a promise that this should be doue. Sir Julius Vogel was interviewed yesterday to see if there was any chance of getting the examination postponed. He promised to do what he could to further the views of those interested here. The boot manufacturers ef|Ghristohurch have formed themselves into an association for the general advancement of the trade and for the protection of their mutual interests It is intended to extend the Association t > all towns in New Zeal and, and already several firms in other cities have signified their intention of joining. Wells “ Rough on Corns.”— Ask for Wells’ Rough on Corns.” Quicks relief, complete, permanent cure. Corns, warts, bunions. The N.Z. Drug enera Agent*. t August Flower.— The most miserable beings in the world are those suffering from dyspepsia and liver complaint. More than 75 per cent of the people are afflicted with these two diseases and their effects; such as soui stomach, sick headache, habitual costiveness palpitation of the heart, heartburn, water brash gnawing and burning pains at the pit of the stomach, yellow skin, coated tongue and dis-. agreeable taste in the mouth, coming up of food after eating, low spirits, etc. Go to your druggist and get a bottle ol august dower. This valuable medicine has cured thousands and thousands of sufferesb, and is known in all civilised countries. ; Two doses will relieve you. It costs only 3a 6d a bottle. Sample bottles. 6d.—FAnwr.