DAILY MEMORANDA.

AUCTION SALES. Tuesday, Maeoh 10 Messrs Matson, Cox and Cat the Tinwald Saleyards—Stock Messrs Miles and Co., at the Tinwald Yards—Sheep Wednesday, March 11 Mr Tbos. Bullock, at Mr Nixon’s resi dence, Tanc r ed street —Furniture

MEETINGS, AMUSEMENTS, Em This Evening Oddfellows’ Hall—Lecture by Miss Arnold at 8 o’clock Borough Council, at Borough Council Chambers, at 7.30 Tuesday, March 10. Ashburton School Committee —Monthly Meeting, in the Schoolroom, at 7.30 Wednesday, Maech 11 Orange Hall—Star of the East, 1.0.G.T., meeting at 8 o’clock Friday, Mat-ch 13. Lonbgeach Koad Board at Koad Board Office.

Saturday, March 14. Ashbnrton Coursing Club—Meeting at the Somerset Hotel, at 7 30 Monday, March 16 A trade Chambers — Star of Ashburton, U.A.0.D., at 8 o’clock Thursday, March 26 Tinwald Saleyards—Annual Kam and Ewe fair

Friday, March 27. ♦ihburton County Council —At Council Chambers, 11 a.m, Saturday, April 4 /Takanui Hoad Board, at Road Board office, Moore street, at 10.30 a.m.

NOTICE TO ADVERTISERS.

Adyestisbiaents for The Ashburton GuabWaN must be sent in not later than 8 p,ni., with, the number of insertion, written plainly -oh the copy, otherwise they. wifi be inserted until counter manded, • and charged accordingly. Re place Advertisements must be supplied the day previous to that on which they are to be inserted. Special notices can be received up to 5.3& pirn.,* but will be charged double rates* All notices of Births, Marriages, or Deaths must be accompanied by the sig nature' of the sender, as a guarantee of good faith. All advertisements and business s .„o be addressed The Manager ; literary communications should be addressed to The Editor. - 5

MAIL NOTICES.

ffirila close at the Ashburton Post Office follows; — For Christchurch and North at 6 a.m. 10.30 a.m., and 5 p.m.,-daily. For Chertaoyßakaia, &c., at 10.30 a.ra. and 6 p.m. daily. For Dunedin, Tinwald, Winslow, Hinds, Coldstream, Bangitata, Orari, Winchester, and Geraldine, at 10 a.m. daily. 'fat Tetonka, at 6 a.m. and 10 a.m., For Tmnu'u and South, at 6 a.m., 10 *.m., and 4.30 p.m., daily. For Greenstreet and Ashburton Forks, Wednesdays and Saturdays, at 10.45 For Wakanui, Elgin, Seaview, Seafield, and Kyle, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, at 6.30 a. m. For afount Somers, on Tuesdays and aturdays, at 6 a.m. and 4.30 p.m. FoPMhyfield, on Tuesdays and Satur days, at oa.m. ’ , For Ashton, Waterton and Longbeach, at 4.30 p.m- daily. For Remington, on Mondays, Wednes days, and Fridays, at 4.30 p. m. For Newlands, on Tuesdays and Fri days at 10.30 a.m.

Mails arrive at the Ashburton Post Office— From Ohriatchurch and Rakaia at 10.16 •.m., 4.35 p.m., and 7.20 p.m. From Ohertsey, &c. at 10.15 a.m. and 4.35 p.m. daily. From Dunedin and intermediate places »t 5.5 P ”>.m. daily, Fro«u Temuka and Timaru at 10.40 a.m. v.dO p,m./and 8 p.m. daily. From Green street and Ashburton i Forks, Wednesdays and Saturdays, at 10 4U2XK Bor Mount - Somers and Ashburton Gorge, on Tuesdays and Saturdays, at 6 a.m. and 4.30 p.m., and on Wednesdays at 5 p.m. From Mayfield, on Tuesdays and Satur days, at 10.6 a. m. From Ashton, Waterton, and Long beach at 10 a. m. daily. . . From Newlanda, on Tuesdays and Fri days, at 2.30 p. m. JVom Flemington on Tuesdays, Thurs days, and Saturdays, at 10 a. m. From JEftgin, Wakanui, Seafield, and Kyle bn Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sat urdays, at 4 p.m.

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prevalebit MONDAY, MARCH 9, 1885.

The exeurs ; on train from the northern districts to Christchurch was patronised by 600 persons to day. The programme of the Irish concert to be given by the Ashburton Orchestral Society on St Patrick’s day appears in this issue.

A letter received- from Huddersfield ” will appear in to-morrow’a issue. At an early hour this morning three stacks of barley, the property of Mr C. Leitoh, were destroyed by fire at Duudas, Seafield. The stacks were estimated to contain 900 bushels, and were insured in the Colonial Office.

A time’y hint was thrown out by the Rev C. H. Standage at the Wesleyan Church yesterday morning, to the eff. ct that any surplus books belonging to mem bers of the congregation would prove acceptable to the inmates of the Old Men’s Home. We take this opportunity of passing on the suggestion to our readers generally. Mr Robert Alcorn, J.P., presided at the Resident Magistrate's Court this morning and dealt with the following cases of drunkenness John Jordan was fined 10s with the alternative of 24 hours’ imprisonment. Two first offenders were each fined ss, with the alternative of 12 hours’ imprisonment. The accused had all been in confinement since Saturday night. Mr W. L, Rees has arranged to de liver a series of lectures throughout the col ny on “ Co-operation of Land, La bour, and Capital,” under the auspices ot the Trade Societies.

Lieutenant Bennett, of Auckland, has wired to the Colonial Secretary, staling that a number of men, who desired to be enrolled in the New Zealand.Soudan con tingent, propose to leave Auckland and join the Australian, if Government think no inducement will be offered.

Mr D. Liddy, advance agent for Mias Genevieve Ward, informs us that he will be In Ashburton on Thursday next. Miss Ward is playing in Napier this week ; next week she will play at Gisborne, then leave for Christchurch, where she will play one night, and appear here on Wed nesday and Thursday, 25th and 26th inst. The cricket match, Wellington v. Nel son, was concluded on Saturday, and re sulted in a victory for the former by 191 runs.

The Christchurch agent of the Victorian Mutual Life Assurance Society having been removed to Australia Mr G. F. Henry, until recently the local agent for the Society, his been entrusted with the charge of the Christchurch branch. We congratulate Mr Henry upon his well earned promotion, and trust that he may be highly successful in his new sphere of work.

Miss Arnold, Zenana missionary, ad dressed large congregations at the Odd. fellows’ Hall yesterday morning and even ing. This evening Miss Arnold will deliver an addresa in the Oddfellows’ Hall, on “ Bengali domestic life.” There

will be no charge for admission. A special meeting of the Borough Council will be held this evening at the Council Chambers, Library buildings, at 7.30.

Owing to the bulk of the San Francisco mail news appearing in this issue we are compelled to withold a number of inter provincial telegrams received this after noon. We condense the following items of news :—A daring robbery was committed at Marton on Saturday night.* A man entered the house of Mrs Goodhue during the absence of her husband, throttled and robbed her of L 23. The robber has not yet been arrested.—An other police prosecution against a man for disturbing the Salvation Army was heard at Blenheim to-day. The charge was dis missed.—The Manaia has been floated off the sandbank at the entrance of the Wairau river. She is uninjured, —\ goose-beak whale, a very rare fish, was caught at Kaikoura* yesterday.—The escort took L 25,000 worth of gold to Dunedic on Saturday evening.—At a large meeting of farmers held in Oamaru on Saturday afternoon it was resolved to continue the present usage of charging for sacks with grain.—Sir Julius Vogel has consented to address a meeting in Dunedin.—Volunteers for the Soudan are still being enrolled at uunedin. If no action is taken by the New Zealand Go vernment they will offer their services to one of the other colonies.—The Doric took a cargo valued at L 25,125 from Port Chalmers.—The Turakiua sailed from the same port to-day with a cargo valued at L 71,327, Including 52 quarters of beef and 12,000 sheep —The vVild Wave has arrived at Port Chalmers from Hobart.

The Salvation Army has purchased a section of laud for LI, 100 near the Supreme Court, Christchurch, for head quarter barracks. We learn by telegram from Auckland that Mr John Lundon has failed to induce a deputation of native chiefs to accompany him from Samoa.

Toe Paris Libertd says :—“ The English Government has made frerh annexations in Australia. Vve are in nowise jealous. It is with pleasure that we see England and Germany found jrich and prosperous colonies, tor they will consume our special articles de Paris, the only products we care to export. Thera is more profit upon a ton of these, representing B,ooof. in well paid work, than on 1,000 tons of coal, representing 5,000 f. poor wages.” The Pope, on Christmas Eve, received the Cardinals who came to offer to the Sovereign Pontiff their customary con gratulations. Iu replying, His Holiness, after thanking them for their good wishes, deplored the present position of the Papal See, which was still an abnormal one, and censured in vigorous terms the ma chinations of the Protestants, and especi ally the impunity allowed by the present state of the laws. He denounced particu larly the qnworthy insinuations in which the Italian Liberal press indulged when the Pontifical letter was issued announc ing the founding of a hospital at the Vatican at the time of the cholera out break. The Pope, in conclusion, stigma tised in severe language the law of divorce recently submitted to the Italian Parlia ment.

We know that there is nothing on earth equal to Hop Bitters as a family medicine. Look for. —[Advt. ] “ Rough on Rats,” —Clears out rats, mice, roaches. Hies, •vnts, b*J-bugs, beetles, insects, skunks, jack rabbits, gophers. Druggists, Ihe N.Z. i> i " Co., General Agents. 2 Ai.other unfortunate. —Again we must draw the attention of our readers to the fact that a £2,424 stock of Clothing and General Dra pery the estate of Dennis O’Connell, tra ding in Lyttelton Cnstchurdu now bank rqpt, WAS purchased by H, E. 0 the Hall, H*gh street, for £954, or only a little over one-third of ifs value. H. E. M. and Co < arc now selling it at half the marked price, which ought to secnre a speedy clearance.

August Flowkr.—The most misfithb-C beings in the world are those suffering from dyspepsia and Ijvef complaint. More than 75 per cent of the people are a/llicled with these two diseases and their effects ; sueh as sour stomach, sick headache, habitual costiveness, palpitation of the heart, heart burn, waterbrash, gnawing and burning pains at Jhe pit of the stomach, yellow skin, coated tongue and dis agreeable taste in the pu.ouf.Jl, coming up of food after eating, low spirits, etc. (jo to your druggist and get a bottle of august flower. , This valuable medicine has cured thousands i 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,

A meeting of persons interested in the Tinwald annual races was held at ocoti’* Hotel on Saturday evening. The follow ing events were decided upon, subject t) the revision of the Committee, viz: Hurdle Race, of 12 sovs; dinwald Cup, of 25 sovs; M uden Plate, of 10 sovs ; Selling Hack Race, of 10 sovs ; Consola tion Handicap, of 10 sovs; Farmers’Trot, of 6 sovs; Hurry Scurry. The Commit tee will meet this evening. As several enquiries have lately been made at our (Hire in reference to the Lyttelton and Christchurch cheap excur sions on Thursday next, we have ascer tained from the stationmaster here that the through train from Timaru on that day will not stop to take up passengers at Ashburton.

From a telegram appearing in another column of this issue it will be seen that the New Zealand Times has tendered a very ample apology to Sir Juliu* Vogel for the publication of certain statements reflecting unfavorab'y upon the Colonial Treasurer’s connection with the Consoli dated Telephone Company. At a meeting of the Southland Waste Lands Beard held on Thursday last, Mr H. Moffat (late of Wakanui) appeared in answer to a charge of having cut timber in the bush near Otautau without a license. The men who cut the firewood had been in his employment, and were instructed by him. He purposed taking out a license during a recent visit to town, but had forgotten. He had since taken out a license. * he Board decided that Mr Moffat should not be fined, but re quired to pay royalty on the quantity cut prior to the issue of the license. The usual tranquility of Trevorton was disturbed last night about half-past eight, by a young man running down the Beach road, shouting in an agonising voice “Murder!” The fugitive was followed by another man for some distance, but the latter decamped before he was recognised by any of a number of parsons who had been attracted to the scene by the alarm ing cries. The individual who had raised the alarm also disappeared without making himself known or offering any explanation in reference to the mysterious affair. It has since transpired that at the same hour as the above occurrence a woman and two men .were seen running in the opposite direction. ihe police have instituted enquiries in reference to the affair, and late this afternoon we learn that they have discovered a clue to the mystery, particu lars of which we shall be at liberty to publish in to-morrow's issue. At a performance of ‘II Trovatore ” at the Glasgow Theatre the manager an nounced that the lending tenor was ill and could not appear. ' A gentleman amateur rose up among the audience and offered himself as a substitute. The offer was accepted, and so creditably did he acquit himself that, at the conclusion of the performance, ha was loudly called for, and on being led forward before the curtain he received the deafening plaudits of the audience. The North Otago Times says:—“The paroquets 1 having run through the small f>uit season with considerable loss to growers, have now extended their ravages to pears, apples and plums. Fruit growers inform us that the ravages of these birds in orchards are equal in destructiveness to tnose of small birds in the grain field. One comfort exists, and that is that paro quets are not always with us, for an In terval of seven years may elapse without another visitation.”

Lazy and dull feelings always proceed sick ness, which nothing but Hop Bitters will banish. Read.— [Advt.] “ Buchu-Paiba.’’ —Quick, complete cure, all annoying kidney, bladder, and urinary diseases. Druggists. The N.Z. Drug Co.. General Agents. 2 Tic-Doloureux, Toothache, or any other neuralgic pain spcediiy yields*!© Baxter’s Anti- Neuralgic Pills. Holloway's Pills. —Weary of Life. Derangement of the liver' is one of the most dangerous of diseases, and the most prolific source of those melancholy forebodings which arc worse than death itself. A few doses of these noted Pills act magically in dispelling low spirits, and repelling the covert attacks made on the nerves by excessive heat, impure atmos pheres, over-indulgence, or exhausting excite ment. The most shattered constitution may derive benefit from Holloway’s Pills, which will regulate disordered action, brace the nerves, increase the energy of the intellectual faculties, and revive the failing memory. By attentively studying the instructions for taking these Pills, and explicitly putting them in practice, the most desponding will soon feel confident of a perfect recovery.—[Advt*

NEWS BY THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL.

(Per s.s. Australia at Auckland.) GENERAL SUMMARY. Messrs Courtney and Morley, M.P.'s, are arranging for a conference of all mem bers of Parliament opposed to the con tinuance of the Soudan war. Many of the Liberals urge that the Soudan and Egyptian muddle should be handed over to the Sultan. They are alarmed at the prospect of boundless expense. Government has given the contract for the construction of a railway from Sou akim to Berber to Lucas and Co, The contractors will provide all the materials, which Government undertakes to trans port to Egypt. Work will commence im mediately. The sentries have been trebled at

heerness magazine, iu conse quence of the appearance of suspected dynamiters. Guards are also placed at Eton College. The War Department is organising a corps of balloonists to form an engineer corps for experiments in the Soudan. The prospect of Edmund Yatei not being released soon from confinement has told upon his spirits and health. Fifteen hundred Irish had been dis missed from buildings in course of con struction in East London up to Feb. 14 A similar movement has been started at Manchester, Liverpool, and other pro vincial centres.

A great corporation, called The Local Soudan Trading Company, has been formed ’in London and Alexandria upon the same basis as the old East India Com pany. One of its privileges will be the right to build a railway between Berber and Souakim-

At a Liberal meeting at Birmingham, a resolution was unanimoqsly passed con doling with the Conservative party on the death of the gallant soldier and kind hearted Colonel Burnaby. His loss is greatly deplored in England, and is more spoken of than the battle itself. Mr Frank Adams, the London banis ter, who recently married Miss Coleridge despite the opposition of her relatives, has begun a libel action against his father in-law, Lord Coleridge. The crofters arrested in the parishes of Kilmuir and Glendale, Isle of Skye, for resisting the sheriff, landed at Portree, on Jan 30, guarded by 100 policemen and a number of marines. A large crowd of

sympathised with the prisoners, pe and foilowed m. - hut that would have attempted a rescue,

they were kept at bay by the guards. O’Leary, the Fenian, had a free fight at his Glasgow lecture on Fob, 1, excited by bis references to Parnell, Roasa, and Ford.

The Tichborne Claimant has now fallen low. He appears in a Provincial Variety Company in England, and t>kes his turn between an acrobat styled p\}Q “ human serpent ” and the “ Cornish mite.”' The English detective force is to be re organised, and a department of secret ser vice men added for the express purpose of tracing political and quasi-political offenders. i-our thousand Irish were out of work in London on Feb. 3. Fully one-thii j

had been discharged since the recent ex plosions. A weekly London paper says Lord Gar moyle and Miss Fortescue will marry, notwithstanding the law suit.

Ford, a London carriage builder, re cently shipped 1,400 hansom cabs to New York.

The Prince of Wales recently requested one of his sons to appear jat, and conduct services in, the Boys’ Refuge in the most squal’d part of London. At a ticket office opposite Somerset House, a duplicate of the emigrant ticket purchased by Lucille Dudley, Rossa’s as sailant, was exhibited on Fob. 11. It is dated August 21. One of the Trans-Atlantic steamship lines is about to issue tickets entitling pas sengers merely to lodging and conveyance. This is a concession to passengers subject to sea-sickness.

A soldier was bayonetted to death on February 7, at London arsenal. He would not give the countersign in the darkness to the sentry, and the latter, on the stranger attempting to pass the guard, stabbed him to death. The investigation showed that the tragedy was the result of a practical joke on the part ot the dead man.

There is renewed activity in the British shipping interest, in view of the coming contracts for two new big steamers or dered on the Tyne, to be registered separately under the British Limited Liability Act, and to be sailed under the British fUg, while every share in the stock in both vessels is owned by American citizens, John Lee, ex-convict, who murdered Miss Keyse, a wealthy lady, in her man sion at Baboioombe, was sentenced to death.

The Governments of Russia and America are conferring as to a treaty for the extra dition of dynamiters. It is announced that a marriage has been arranged between the Princess Cle mentine, daughter of King Leopold, of Belgium, and Prince Albert Victor, the eldest son of the Prince of Wales. Sir Vernon Harcourt is said to be in a nervous state of alarm. Extraordinary means are taken to guard him against per sonal danger. Sir Andrew Clark and the Duke of Westminster each gave young Gladstone a LIOO (?L1,000) cheque as a present on his wedding day. Michael Davitt is in Rome, seeking to present an address to the Pope justifying the action of Catholic Irish Nationalists. The Vatican is unwilling to receive him, but eminent persona are trying to procure him an audience.

A despatch from Berlin of February 14 says the Congo Conference, after a four hours’ debate on the wording of the con cession, adjourned until Monday, Feb ruary 16. It is stated the treaty between Portugal and the African International Association is awaiting signature. The Russian press strongly advocates hoisting the Russian flag within, a few miles of the Oorean frontier. China has taken a'arm, and is establishing posts and concentrating troops there. The ,present

altitude of Russia and China is one oi menace.

The insistence of the French upon

searching all vessels for articles contra band of war has put a atop to sailing from Hamburg and other ports. All orders are now being transferred to London and Liverpool, where owners of vessels are ready to take the risks.

IRISH AFFAIRS. Mayor O’Connor, of Dublin, a strong Nationalist, declines to attend the coming vioe-Regal levha at Dublin Castle. The Irish Times proposes that the Brit ish press should raise a monument to J. A. Cameron and Herbert, the war oo r respondents, killed at the battle of Metemneh.

Messrs Redmond and O’Brien, Irish Nationalists, on returning to Londonderry on January 13, after a meeting at Ear donough, were met by a torchlight pro cession. The Mayor ordered the police and military to prevent the entrance of the procession into the city, whereupon O’Brien departed for Dublin. Redmond put up at an hotel in Londonderry. This led to savage riots during the night be tween Orangemen and Nationalists. At a meeting of Irish Nationalists held at Dublin on February 9, Thomas P. O’Conndr, M.P., said in his address that when, in due time, Mr Parnell appealed to the people to pay Irish members the result would astonish the world. He made no allusion to the explosions in London or the shooting of Rossa. A Dublin special of February 6 says the attempt to shoot Rossa has already ceased to be talked about.

BATTLE OF METEMNEH. General Stewart and his command were heard from again after the battle of Abu Klea wells. On January tiß the force was entrenched at Metemneh and in communi cation with General Gordon. Stewart’s force had several fights with the Arabs before it reached Metemneh, Stewart himself being badly wounded. General Wolseley, in a despatch, records the cap ture of Metemneh by the British, and also says, “ Gordon sends news, which shows his position in Khartoum is by no means as desperate as was supposed. He says he could hold out there for years.” On the morning of Monday, January 19, two days after the fight at Abu-Klea, the enemy appeared in force in front of the advancing British array, and a short, fierce battle was fought. This occurred at a point three miles from the Nile, and the British wore compelled to sus tain a heavy fire for some time. Early in the engagement Stewart received his wound. Sir Charles Wilson thereupon assumed command, and works were hur riedly constructed under a leaden rain, which continued to pour upon them from the enemy’s rifles. The wounded men and baggage train were left under guard within quickly-built earthworks, while the rest of the force advanced in face of the hostile fire to a gravel range some distance in front, where large bodies of rebels had established themselves in a strong position. As soon as the British lines came near, a fierce charge, led by several Emirs, was made against it by the rebel foemen. The British troops were arranged as usual in the form of a square, and steadily advanced to meet the wild onslaught of the -loudly-cheering enemy who were rushing down upon them. At

the we time the rifles of the British were doing bloody execution. The charge was checked, and not an Arab catue within thirty yards of the British square. The rebels did not long stand before the mur derous fire, but were repulsed with heavy loss. Four Emirs and 250 men were left dead upon the field, and large numbers of wounded. About the English losses few details have yet been received. The place were the battle occurred was a slight dis tance beyond Shabakat wells. The point where the battle on January 19 occurred is in the desert, about five miles south of Metemneh. When Gene ral Stewart reached that point he found the enemy hovering about his little army oil aides, and skirting it often within ’"*■ range. The rebels

uncomfortably siio. „ . _ • had evidently stationed themselves in m,. vicinity to await his arrival, and give him battle. When they begatj to surround him, and press in upon him, he deter mined to abide the event, and ordered his men to dismount and form a zareeba. This was made with saddles and baggage, and during its construction the rebel riflemen drew nearer and maintained a hot fire from behind amb'ushee and such hiding places as they cou d! find amonk -i the bushes and high grass.' This fife w . very well directed, and most disastrous ia its effect upon the British troops. Twelve men were 300 Q shot down and forty

others wounded. Among the first killed were Cameron, special correspondent of the London Standard, and Herbert, special correspondent of the London Fast. General Stewart was one of the very first wounded. He was shot in the thigh. When he was shot the work of making the zareeba was about completed, and the army had been put in motion to form a square in two largo echelons. The British right front stood unmoved during the rebel charge, and delivered a terrific fire, aimed right at the enemy’s middle, mowing down the men in such heaps that, they formed actual obstacles, and inter fered so seriously with the evenness neces sary to success of the onslaught, that its centre line was brought to a standstill about sixty yards from the British front line. The farce of the general movement threw the unimpeded parts of the line like the ends of broken timber around the cor ners of the square, and the rebels so dis placed were simply cut to pieces. From this ou the warfare was disastrous to the rebels. When their line was broken, the Arabs seemed to break up into bands, each of which waged war on its own ac count. A large detachment, mostly on horseback, went back to attack the zt reeba, which was garrisoned by a body of English soldiers, made up of little detach ments left behind by each corps which had gone forward in the square. Lord Charles Beresford was in command, and he sustained the attack for two hours, when the enemy was compelled to retreat. During the general attack upon the square only six men were killed and twenty three wounced on the English side. Cap tain Norton worked the guns during this fight, and his firing did awful execution. Stewart’s force, on leaving Gakdul wells, consisted of 2,000 picked fighting men. The latest despatches received at the War Office show that Lord St Vincent was not, as at first reported, killed in the battle fought ou January 19, bat died from wounds received on January 17, at Abu-Klea- Only two British officers were killed in the zaroeba fight. T* lo other dead were non-commissioned- offi cers and privates. During the advance of the main body of the English from the zareeba, the garrison left behind at that point kept up a heavy fire from their guns and rifles. An effort was made to erect a small redoubt some fifty yards to the right of the zareeba under the protection of a steady fire from it. During the erec tion of the redoubt one man was killed, and three wounded. Lord Oochrane, with 50 men from .the Life Guards and Scots Greys, held the redoubt, and main tained a heavy fire throughout the battle. They did much to repel the constant rushes of the enemy. The loss of the rebels during the whole day is estimated at 2,000 killed and wounded. Among the

enemy were many staves, several ot wnom have submitted to the British. They say the Mahdi sent them from Khartoum. The square reached the Nile at Sunset on the Monday evening, and encamped for the night. Early on Tuesday morning scout ing parties made a reconnaissance and de stroyed some empty villages. The in habitants had watched the military opera tions from a distance, and afterwards re treated to Metemneh.

On January 22 the British encamped at Abuklea, two miles south of Metemneh. The enemy were most sparing in their use of ammunition while defending Metem neh, and only kept up a desultory fire. The rebel forces throughout all the en gagements were well handled. It is stated that two Europeans are among them, which may explain the fact. A female prisoner states that the British fire deci mated the enemy, who seem determined to remain inside Metemneh. Five of General Gordon’s steamers, conveying 5000 soldiers and five guns, arrived at Gubat on January 22. and all the troops and guns were landed. The guns were turned upon Metemneh, without, how ever, producing any apparent effect upon the rebels. It is reported that El Mahdi is sending more troops and guns to Metemneh.

On January 22, General Wilson, with four of General Gordon’s steamers, a num ber of black troops, two companies of mounted infantry and six guns, bom barded Shendy for two hours, and almost completely destroyed the town, but the occupants, of whom there were few, ap pealed to be unwilling to surrender. The steamers returned to Gubat, where a number,of forts were erected. It is stated that the Mahdi has a force of 60,000 men aroucd Khartoum, the population of which is now estimated at 14,000. A convoy has gone to Gakdul to fetch stores and ammunition. The inhabitants of Metemneh are ap parently hiding, as scouts are able to see only a few persons in the town. Mr Herbert, the special correspondent of the London Post, was shot dead during the fierce attack by the rebels while the British were erecting the zareeba. Her bert was Secretary to Lord Dufferin when the latter was Governor of Canada. He witnessed the battles of Tel-el-Kebir, El-Teb, and Tamai, and was severely wounded in the last-named battle.

The total British loss, including that at AbuKlea, waa 104 killed and 105 wounded. The enemy’s loss waa 3,000 killed and wounded.

The Queen sent a despatch thanking General Stewart and the troops for their bravery, condoling with them for their losses, and promoting General Stewart to the rank of Major-General. Colonel Burleigh, special correspondent of the Telegraph , and Lord Somerset are among the wounded. Stewart now holds a strongly-fortified post at Gubat, not far from iVletemneh, a place on the Nile half-way between Berber an! Khartoum.

In the fight on the 19th, which occurred within three miles of the Nile, many of the British troops were in' an almost fainting condition from want of water. Colonel Sir Charles Wilson ordered a small detachment of cavalry to obtain a supply of water from the river, by cutting their way through the enemy’s force. This dangerous movement was accomplished with less loss of life than might have been expected, and enough water was obtained to revive the troops, and enable them to continue the battle. When the British square returned to |the zareeba, the day after the fight, many of the garrison wept for joy.

FALL OF KHARTOUM.

The War Office issued the following telegram at 12.30 p.m. on February 5 ; “ Telegrams from General Wolseley an nounce that the fall of Khartoum took place on January 26. Ho says Colonel Wilson arrived at Khartoum on January 28, and was greatly surprised to find the enemy in possession of that place. He immediately started on his return down the river,”

Despatches received from Korti state that the natives report the Mahdi has 60,000 men in the vicinity of Khartoum, and that he introduced a number of emissaries into the city, who mingled with the native troops under Gordon, and by bribes, threats, and working on their religious feelings, induced them to mutiny. Seven thousand of the garrison deserted to urn leaTin^. 0r f d K 0n only 2,500 faithful soldiers. 1113

small force he attempted to hold the city against the IVfahdi’c great army, but after severe fighting, in which a large number o£ the rebels were killed, he was compelled to surrender. When Sir Charles Wilson reached Khartoum he found the Mahdi’a forces occupied both town and citadel. ■ le tried to land and ascertain the fate of ' > >rdon, but this he found impossible, i' he enemy’s guns were turned' upon him in full force, and he was therefore com pelled to turn his back upon the fallen,

city and return to Gubat, without finding out whether Gordon was dead or alive. The first news of the fall of Khartoum received by General Wolseley was brought by a messenger who left the island where Colonel Wilson was stranded, and came on on foot to Gubat. Two messengers

were despatched to Korti, via Abu Klea and Gakdul. They reached their destina tion, which is probably owing to the fact that the news •'f Khartoum’s fall wa».not known in' the district. Intelligence of the disaster, however, has since spread far and wide, and soma tribes that haye hiihetto , professed friendship for England have declared for the Mahdi. ' ’' Colonel Wilson had thrae i steamers, two of which were wrecked in the Nile - ,

exactly half way between Khartoum and Metemnah, and the third Colonel ortley and party, came on and brought the news to the British camp near Metemneh The Arabs still, hold Metemneh. The garrison there received the news of the fall of Khartoum with repeated salvos of artillery. : "

When Colonel’ Wilson’s flotHhmp'* proached Khartoum, it was compelled to run the gauntlet of a heavy fire from both branches. The rebels, had four Krupp guns on the river banks at Halfaya to bombard the steamers. When the British force reached Onderman numbers of the rebels continued the fusillade. Things looked worse when it was discovered that the enemy was in possession of the: Island 1 of Tutti, just outside the city, TheEqg-, lish still pushed ahead, but were dismayed to find the garrison had commenced firing' upon them. No flags were- flying fccfn the public buildings, and the town ; epr peered in undisputed possession of the enemy. The palace seemed gutted. Finn ing it was impossible to land in face of the overwhelming numbers of rebels, the British were obliged to retire. Humors concerning the fate of Gordon

are many and varied, but all agree that * the Mihdi captured Khartoum by treachery. The most reliable*'reports ■point to one Furza Pasha as a traitor. It is said he was left in charge of the ram parts, and opened, the gates on January 26 and admitted' the enemy. Soma rumors state that Gordon, together with a few Levantines, is cooped up in a church; others say Gordon was seen wearing -the > Mahdi's uniform. The. majority agreed, however, that Gordon was; killed. . A despatch from Cairo, of February 5, says news had reached there that 2,000 men were massacred at Khartoum. " The military opinion at Cairo is that the whole force of the British army should, be directed toward the capture of Berber, while 15,000 re inforcements 'from Eng land or India should land ajt SdUakluTto ‘ secure their retreat, and enable them -to , chastise the rebels. ‘ The excitement in London on receipt of the news of the capture of Khartoum waa tremendous. The War Office was besieged with army officers tendering services for active duty, end telegrams were received from officers throughout the country ask ing assignment to the rescue' expiditiou should Government conclude to takesuph action. The papers were furious-in their attacks on the Ministry, and declared that the sole rasponsibility for the disaster rested with them, as they refused to allow the relief expedition to start in time. A council at the War Office ip the even ing decided to despatch 3,000 troops to Souakim immediately, and orders have been sent to Portsmouth to begin fitting out troopships. General Stephenson telegraphs that 5,000 men will be needed, to clear the road to Berber, as the news of the fall of Khartoum will induce the central tribes to join Osman Digna.; General Stephenson also advises that the present strength of the troops In Upper and Lower Egypt be maintained,, and re inforcements be drawn from England and India. .

General Wolaeley has renewed his de mand for an expedition to Souakim of 3,000 men, under General Greaves. General Wolaeley had commenced his advance from Korti for the relief of the troops near Metemneh, and had sent orders to General Earle to hasten his ad vance against Berber, in order to assist in the relief of Metemneh. The objec tive point of all General Wolseley’a move ment is Metemneh. Despatches from London, of February 7, say General Wolaeley telegraphed that the rebels had become defiant since the fall of Khartoum, and the situation looked serious. A message was received from the Mahdi, on February 6, stating that Gordon had become a Mussulman, and that all the English officers bad better follow bis example. The Mahdi had no' wish to fight the English, but unless they embraced the true faith, he would dot leave one in the Soudan. Colonel Mortley, who was in charge of the only one of Colonel Wilson’s three steamers which succeeded in reaching Gubat from Khartoum, furnished a de tailed report. He said the rebels were thronging the streets of the captured city, and he saw flags flying and many signs of rejoicing. No particular excitement waa created among the different tribes under Osman: Digna’s control at the news of the fall of the city. They were,convinced long ago that the Mahdi could have entered the city in force at any time he wished. General Wolseley was given supreme control of the campaign by the Cabinet Council of February 6. An order |waa telegraphed him that he was to ascertain, if possible, before taking decisive action, whether Gordon was dead or alire, and if still alive, he vat instructed to endeavor to terminate the campaign without further; fighting. The General asked for specific orders as to what he should do if Gordon were found dead. After a very prolonged and animated discussion, the Cabinet replied that the campaign should be prose cuted until the rebellion iras suppressed. The decision to give Wolseley carte,'blanche caused great satisfaction. Ten thousand British troops, stationed in the Mediterranean, are available for service in the Soudan. These {include eight regiments of line, thirteen batteries - of artillery, and five companies of engi neers.

The Middlesex regiment at Dover, and' sixty members of the Commissary Depart* meat at Aldershot, were ordered on Feb ruary sto prepare for active service. The War Office reports no troops can be spared from Ireland.

A Cairo telegram of February 8 reported a Council of War, at which' General. Stephenson was present. Hb advised the ;■ retreat of the troops front Metenlnehqht} JCorti, and the concentration of the entice

force toward Berber, and after the capture of Berber, to await the expedition coming to Souakim before making an advance on Khartoum. This would involve delay till autumn. The hot weather, which begins in March, will make it impossible foe English forces to stand marches.

General Wolseley has adopted General Stephenson’s advice to send a strong force to Souakim. It is reported that Indian troops will garrison Souakim, while a force of 6,000 British will advance upon a Ber ber. The expedition will be composed of drafts from Indian regiments, and accli matised British troops now in Egypt, who will be replaced by drafts from England and the Mediterranean.

Government has decided to maintain " *-u atreagth of the garrison in Egypt, tbs iu- - ■— *■ •tnnd ready and the Indian Governmou. 0 _ tp embark from Bombay a force of Ghobk'a “’iHfah'trjf and si* fpgiijients of lancers. ’ 1 ' x ‘ ‘ "

London despatches of February 9 say che opinion prevails in the War Office that Gordon is still alive and engaged- in de-

fending himself in some inaccessible ■ part

of the city." . ' The Grenadier Guards have been

ordered to hold themeelves in readifieet

THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN, MONDAY, MARCH 9, 1885.



ME J. IVBSS begs to inform his debtors, and all persons desirous of transacting any business with him, that he will be in attendance at his Office, Burnett street, every TUESDAY and SATURDAY. Office hours :10a. m. to sp.m. ! 2 188



Groceries CHEAPER THAN EVER AT JAMES McGREGOR’S, Tanched Street, Sugars—-English Cat Loaf, 5d per lb Beat White Crystal, 3£d per lb Best Snowdrop, 4d per I\> (Reductions by the mat) Teas, la 3d, Is 6d, 2a, 2a 6d, and 2a 9d Box Tea from 12s 6d per box Canterbury Cakes, 10d each. Rice, 3 i Mixed Biscuits, 6d Lunch Biscuits, 3d Currants, 61 Raisins, 7d New 'Figs, Is per box Beat Sago, 3d New Muscatels, la 6d Oysters, 6d Cairn’s Marmalade, 8d Peacock’s Jama, 6Jd Herringa, 7d Keillor's Marmalade, 9d Salmon, 8d Cheese, 6d per lb English Pickles, 8d Other articles equally cheap. /AMES McGREGOR, Tat’cred Street. 12 2342



Caution. CjOMB unscrupulous firms are trying to jj force on the New Zealand people a Nostram, under the cloak that it is made in the United States— WHICH I» NOT TRUE. Under this pretence they are trying to deceive the Public and Incautious Pur chasers into the belief that they are the Genuine AMERICAN HOP BITTERS. We wish to warn all honest and unsus pecting people against this DECEPTION, and to call the attention once more to the facts that the Genuine American Co.’s BOP BITTERS Are put Up In fiqure, Panelled, Amber colored Bottles, with White Label on one Bide, printed in Black Letters, and Green flop Cluster; and, on the other side, Yellow 4 Label, with Directions in Bed .Letters, In English and German, and thp -name of “Dr Soule” blown in every Dottle. This is the o' -y iorui in which Genuine AMERICAN BITTERS are iut W



Wanted. WANTED —A good General Servant; one who can milk preferred. Apply office of this paper. 3 218 WANTED —A good General Black smith ; must be a good Sheer Apply, at once, to George Taix, Black smith, Wakanui. 229 b WANTED A respectable Girl for housework, Apply, between the hours of six and eight; p m., to Mbs Mekch, opposite Infant School. 3 3E6 VTTT ANTED Known—Before buying W Dress Materials, Ulsters, Jackets, Dolmans, Millinery, etc , call and inspect our stock. The cheapest first-class Drapery and Millinery Establishment in Ashburton —H. C. Segeks, t ealys’ Buildings, East Street. WANTED Known—Wertheim Sew ing Machines can bo had on Time Payments at the New Zealand Clothing Factory’s Branch, East street, Ashburton 2 276 WANTED Known—A Meeting of Subscribers to the Western Fire Brigade will be held at the Engine Station Wednesday, the Ilth but., at 7 pm. Ohaki.es Braddele, Hon. Secretary. 3 347 WANTED Known Mangling done. Mrs Manhire, North east Belt. 2 263



GLORIOUS NEWS. Andrew Orb. will give away on Saturday IGO pairs men’s boots at 6a 9'd ; 60 pairs can vas slippers at 2s 6d ; 30 pairs cricketing boots at 6s 6d ; 100 pairs Kaiapoi trousers at 11s 6d—every article at half-price. WANTED Known—Umbrellas at Is lid, six doz Buttons for Is, China Matting at 6d, Ladies’ Hose at 6d, Cor sets at 2s 3d, Shirting at 4£l, Towels 3£d, 36-inch Oilcloth 9d,* Calicoes is 4d. Andrew Orb’s Cheap Sale 2 185 VJST ANTED Known—Fresh Flounders ” are daily despatched direct from our own boat, now fishing at Lake Elles mere. Delivery guaranteed within eight hours from time of catching. All orders received at my shop will be immediately executed on arrival of the train. W, O. Page, East street, Ashburton. 11 2151 WANTED KNOWN— Robert Elston, Bill Poster, Tjheatpioal Agent, etc., Town Hall, Ashburton. Theatrical companies and others visiting Ashburton should communicate with the above. Orders by post or telegram promptly attended to. . 760 WANTED Known Removed. — Jones and Bradshaw, Corn and Chaff Dealers, have removed to the large premises in Havelock street nearly oppo site Mr A. Harrison’s auction' rooms (lately occupied by Messrs Robinson and Townsend), where they will be better able to comply with the demands of their trade. Joses and iradshaw. rTT AN TED Known—O. Hawkin’s, of VV Tinwald, having decided to com pete with either Christchurch or Ashbur ton, in price and quility of Boots, will, Ist January, 1885, Sell for Cash Only, at the following reduced rates:—Men’s Harvest Bluchers, tips and nailed, 6s 9d; Shooter Boots, 10s 3d; Women’s Strong Lace Boots, 8a 6d ; Leather Elastic, da 6d; Children’s all reduced from Is per pair. Motto—“ Small Pro fits and Quick Returns.” G. Hawmn’s, mot and Shoemaker. 12 2393



Special Advertisements. NOTICE TO PATIENTS. Dr. sohwarzbach, m.d., Specialist on Diseases of the Eye, Ear and Throat, Clarendon Hotel, Christ church. Hours—from 10 to 1. The Doctor will remain until about the middle of March, and will accept no serious cases for treatment at the end of his stay



Dimant and Coe, ARE authorised LOCAL AGENTS for Singer’s SEWING M A CHINES, and are prepared to receive PAYMENTS and afford all information in connection therewith. Treadle and Hand Machines on Time Payments. A supply of Machine extras on hand. CORNER EAST AND TANCRED STREETS, ASHBURTON. 11 2181



B. Bevan, WHOLESALE & RETAIL STATIONER Bookseller, Toys and Fancy Goods Dealer. Concertinas, Accordians, Jewellery, Cut lery, Tobacconists’ Sundries, etc. Country Stores supplied at special rates. NOTICE : Young Ladies Journals at Is 3d. February Number to hand. Subscribers wanted. Note the address— SAUNDERS’ BUILDINGS, (Next Shop to Quill’s Hotel.)



TO my readers and the reading public. Just to hand. —New Books.—Black Poodle, by Anatey ; Our Old Nobility ; The Cuckoo Clock, by Mrs Molesworth ; We Two, by Edna Doyal; Poverty, by Platt; I Say No, e by Wilkie Collins; John Bull’s Womankind, by author of John Bull and his island; The Jilt, by Charles Reade; Good totories of Man and other Animals, by Charles Reade; Yesteged, by Geo. F. Camming; Pages in Waiting, by Edmund Yates; (Notes on Ingersoll, by Rev L. A. Lambert, Roman Catholic Jesuit; My Own Child, by Florence Marryatt; Life, Opinions, and Table Talk of Dr Johnson; American Society Novels; inspiration; A Clerical Lympucium; Bos well’s Life of Johnson; Magna Oharta Stories; Taming Down without Banting ; Money and Mechanism of Exchange, by S. Jevons; John Holdsworth’s Chief Mate; My Watch Below, by W. 0, Rus sel; The Wonder of„ Nature; Death Shot, by Reed; idow to live upon Is per Week; Stories of Waterloo; Secrets of Success ; How to Read Character; Christmas Number of Guodward’s Chrystai Stales ; Longman’s Magazine : The Book of the Beginnings, bv R. H. Newtek; Mistletoe Bough; 160 Illustrated London Grap*.' Cß » latest copies, 10 be sold cheap at Thomas F. Farley’s, PRINTER, BOOKSELLER, AND STATIONER, Saundeks’ Bdildings, Ashbubton.



Special Advertisements. SELLING OEE FANCY GOODS, TOYS, BOOKS, STATIONARY, &c. 0S- Must be sold —even if at a loss VALENTINE ALENTINEO To Suit everybody at prices that cannot be beaten. Andrewes Bros., j Booksellers, Stationers, &c., Ashburton.



NOTICE TO CONSUMERS OF COAL. THE undersigned are now landing, ex 5.3 Hauroto, the 13 est N ewcastle Coal Imported for the season A TRIAL SOLICITED They have also added to their stocks ot Building Materials the following lines, viz, Y.D.L Timber and Palings Eauri Timber, Flooring and Lining Roofing Iron, Doors and Sashes Lime, Cement, Fencing Materials, &c., And every requisite for the trade. MACPHERSON, FILMER AND CO. (late A. Hayes), SAWMILLERS, TIMBER, COAL, AND FIREWOOD MERCHANTS. East street, Ashburton.



25 Branches Now Open 25 THE NEW" ZEALAND Clothing Factory Are now Showing NEWEST STYLES in SPRING & SUMMER CLOTHING, Manufactured from the renowned Wear Resisting MOSGIEL TWEEDS The fit and workmanship of every gar ment Is undoubtedly unsurpassed, while the large production and increased busi ness enables the proprietors to offer special advantages as to price. Men’s, Boys' and Children’s Clothing in every variety at Wholesale Prices. St'.rts, Hats, Hosiery, Blankets, Rugs, Portmanteaux, and every requisite at WH OLESALE PRICES. Note the address— NEW ZEALAND CLOTHING FACTORY, EAST STREET, Ashburton 25 Branches Now Open 25



Davis’s gURPLUS STOCK OF FURNITURE Now selling off at HALF-PRICE. Mast be sold to make room for NEW STOCK. Parties about to Furnish will SAVE 50 Per Cent. BY PUCHaSING AT W. DAVIS’S FUFNITURE WAREHOUSE, EAST STREET SOUTH, Ashburton 9 1729



47 Men’a Tweed Sac Suits, 27a 6d, now 17a 6d. 37 Boys’ and Youths’ Trouser Suits, 20s, now 12a 6d. 34 Pairs Men’s Trousers and Vests, a Bargain, 10a lid. Small Boys’ Tynic Suits, cheap, fa J4d. 60 Dozen Men’s Socks, s£d. 75 Dozen Men’a Merino Socks, B|d. Men’s Hard Felt Hats, New Goods, 6s 6d, now Is lid. 200 Dozen Turkey Red Handkerchiefs, 3|d. H.E. May & Co., THE HALL.



Victoria House. Season sale commencing on January idxh, & continuing FOR FIVE WEEKS ONLY. REMARKABLE REALITIES! GLARING REDUCTIONS 1! For Convincing proof and Special Prices See Windows'®^ Dimant and |Coe, READY-MONEY DRAPERS, CLOTHIERS, &«,, la premises lately ouuupiod by Orr and Co., Coro East and TaQCMd BtfC ASHBURTON,