Islands m the P*oi6o, was only binding ■pon the Ministry of t^e day and oould not, therefore, be considered any longer operative. Freepell practically advises the Government and people of Franoe to repudiate the agreement. The Timta, referring to the recent de bat* ia the Chamber of T>eputl«s on th» •object of the annexation <,f the New Hebrides and Solomon Islands, declares that it would bo impossible to rely upon •ny promise that France might make with respect to the deportation of oon- Tiota to the Inlands of the Paoifio if the existing agreement were repudiated. The statement which was published In the Daily News yesterday to the efleot that war was impending between Germany and Franca is discredited m the columns of other publics papers. It is deni«d that the French Government are novr en gaged m massing troopa on the Franco- German frontier.

THE EUROPEAN SITUATION.

(XlTim'S TBIBOKAMB— OOPYKIOHT.] (Received February 2 12 45 p.m.) VIBNNA, February 1. The Austro-Hungarian delegations have been hastily summoned for the purpose of providing fur the calling out of the landsturm should such necessity arise. In the Hungarian diet last night M. Tisza, Premier, stated he still hoped peace would preserved. The warlike preparations, he stated, were simply precautionary. In the Austrian Council yesterday Count Kalnoky, Minister for Foreign Affairs, stated that relations between Austria and Russia were assuming a more friendly character. London, February 1 Increased tension is being manifested m the relations between France and Germany. _____

TO-DAY'S TELEGRAMS.

♦— . — Poisoned by Tinned Fieh. WakQancl, February 2 A ease of polnontDg fr.tm eating tinned CaHfornian salmon ocourred a few dny» Agd A family of four were proatrated for ft time but have now recovered. Impudent Botofceiy. Wellington, February 2. An Impudent robbery from the person wa» oommi'-ed between 1 and 2 this morning at the Dnke of Ediubu yh Moto) Ghat. Zahl. an arch>t ot, lately arrived from Bydney, was passing along odo of passages when ha w>sset opoo by throe men who knocked him down and rifled his pookots taking altogether about £155 n notes, gold aud silver, And then mad* «.ff Two hours later Z thl identißed a young maa named John McCarthy, a speelur, > g one of the men, and he was arrested, but no money was found on him however, there was found a coraploto set of " speel iDg" artioles, and McCarthy was charged with the offence thia morning »ud re manded till Saturday to enable hie c >ra pini«ai to be arrested. • Bxpendituija Disallowed. CiniibTCUUKOH, Ft-.br unry 2. At the annual meeting of the Lytteltr n Harbor Board helfi tcday it trnnqired that the Auditor (Mr J. Oilivier) had dis allowed, under Section 172 of the Act, two i(emi| v z, £225 gratuity to children of the latt pilot. Reid, aud £330 retiring allowance to C»ptain Mclellan, late harbor-master. The Chairmnn expressed tke opinion that St-ctim 49 of the Harbora Aot amhorisKß the Board's la. oorring expenditure of thia naturn. Tlio •ccoanta showed a balanoe of £i 925 of expenditure over receipts. Ohristchnrch Gasworks At the aunual meeting of the Ohrlat ehutoh Gas Company to>d«y the diroc'ora reported that iho total length of street mains waa 53 miles. The balance tn credit of pr« fi' nnci loss account is £17,774 oat of which £8000 interim dividend h*d bepn paid, It is now proposed to deolare s> farther dividend at the rate of 8 per cent The Heathcote Seat. A. Ayers ..nd F Jones wero nominated for Heathcote to-day, The ahoiv of K«nd* w«a m favor of Ayers J. A. Williams nominated himself but could not find a seconder. Child Drowaetl Uonbdin February 2 John Hall, aged 9 ye^ri, wan drowned while btthlng m tka dam at the S iddle Hill mine at Walton Park.

SPIDER WASPS.

■ ♦ Mr James Barker has banded to Mr Drew a curious specimen of the work of the "mad wasp" or "apMer wasp," called by 'he TaranaJci Herald the " maion fly." The wasp, whloh U a bandiome insect of a blue-black colour, hating found an empt> phial m a con renient place, had planned it out into fire compartmenlt. It had firat plastered orer the bottom of the phial with white day, and then deposited a dozen or so of na< cotised tpidera along with one of its •ggs, after which it hid then sealed up the compartments with a cay partition The prcceß* was thea repeated till the other fonr compaxtmente were made, »nd ■ptderi together with an egg, deyoulted m •ach j the mouth of the phial then befog hermetically sealed with a olay cork. People desirous of examining spider wasps at work might suspend a oloan glass phial near the coiling, or In some other handy place, and a wasp won'd almost certainly tnke possession The pbUl should be covered with piper except at the mouth, as th« was) s profer workiDg m the dark. When the tt< peer has been put m, the mother's work is done, and she concerns herself no more with her progeny. Tho ppga contain grubs, whxh teed upon the ju cob of the inaenHible spiders. They afterwards bto'>me ohry salidet, and emerge aa perfect wasp* about midsummer. Two wa»pn have been seen working at the same nest ; whether they were a pair, or two femaW, was not ascertained. The number - f ppiders collected by these wnrps ie enormous. A friend writes, aaylog, "I hare, at least, thirty nests m various parts of my bouse, the average contents of which would be about forty or fifty spiders One found ; n a gunburrel contained set enty-two spidera. When bull Jin?, the wasp brings m a peltet of soft mad, the eiz=> of • large pea, which she carries held m her legs, find partly plastered on hor bel'y. Entering the hole which she has oboseu headforemost, she passes a portion of of the mud to her forlegs, and, with them, and her head, qukkly spreads it, stepping b»okward, and continuing tbe operation until she has used up her pellet. All the time (he m threading the mud, shf keeps up a ■brili bvtz with her wiogs I have been unable to ascertain whether tbla m any wny helps the process, or whether it is only done for amuaeme it Contrary to what the Taranaki Herald statts, and b>lbo the fr Z Farmer, my expczlence is that these warp* put a'l sort* of ipldera into the aarae neet. And if i« ItatdralUt wanted a collection of npidertt pf Ttrloua speolec, already pr^sorved by special antlst ptio proceaf, the spider wasp is his best aasi»t»nt. Jam told that tho spiders will ultimately recover, if removed from the nest and placed m the tun. Tim mad wanp mast not be ooufcanded with the HZ. red wasp, which alto ovtohee and drags away spidero, but I thi k never carries them while flying. I have Bob found the mad wasps vioioue, but ti« r«d wajipi sting rety di#»gree§bly. (Ex- Qfallge,

ST STEPHEN'S CHURCH

S Uia GATHERING. A very interesting and pleasant aocinl gathering of members or' < he congregation of St. btophon's Church took place lost evening m rbo Schoolroom, for the pur poao of bidding farewell to the Itev E. R. Otway, who during the absence m Englaud of the Key. E. A. Scott, haß woll and faithfully fulfilled the dutiea of pastor of tho piirish. The room was well filled, and among those present we noticed sovoral inemberH of other ohurchea, whoso prosence was pleading testimony to the fact that Mr Otway is appreciated beyond the sphere of his own congrega tion as well as within it. On tho plat form were — MrG. Jameson, Dr Trevor and Mr Joseph Ward, the firsdt-namod gentle man taking the chair. ' Jn opening the proceedings the Chair mun briefly explained tho object with which they had met together. The gathering had been • rought a out at tm. instance of the ladies of tbo congrega tion of St. Stephen's, and was intended to give an opportunity of, expressing the universal eato-m m which tho Key Mr Otway and Mrs Otway were held through out Ashburton Mr Otway ba-i only been a short time among them, but they had all learned to regard him very highly, as we'l for his own sake as for his faithful services as a clergyman, fie had worked hard m all parta of the parish, and would carry with him wherever he went the loving regards of the congi elation, ti whom durinir the absence of their pastor, the Pev Mr Scott, ho had minis ter td so faithfully. (Applause.) After stating that Inter on m tho evening Dr 'I revor hud kindly promised to addroßg the meeting, Mr Jam eon intimated that a number of Judica and gentlemen would give m sical and vocal selections, and this part or the p oceedings wae acco d ingly opened by a pianofortn »'lo by Mr Mayne. '' hen followed the eongs '• JJon't forgot me " (Mr Kneen) ; "Tit for-tat" (Mrs Crisp); " Heart of my heart" (Mr Simpson) ; a pianoforte solo (Miss Davis) ; and a B.ng, •' Golden Love," by Mius hidd, after which Dr Trevor, nddrossing the Boy Mr ( tway, who had been called to the pWt form, said tint he was about to submit that gentleman to a. new expprienco, for instpad of boing asked to doliver an addreg' or a homily to laymen, ho was now expected to listen to a few remarks from a layman. " find ho (Or Trovor) | m glit perhaps remark m passing that it had often struck him that clergymen would [ POimitiiKos be none tho worßO for having i to liston occasionally to the views of tlm laity on men and things (Laughter and applause ) The speaker then proceeded to advert to tlio purpose of the iteetinp, which he snid was to give them nn opp'-r tunity of expressing the high regard m vhic ■) Mr OtiT»y was held by rhe c ngre gat/on of St. Stephen's. He (Mr Otway) had neeu but a short time among them, but ho had been with them lon > ononglt to win a warm place m their hearts, and to make the approaching parting a- subject of regret. They wished to present to him somo mark of their /ipprecia ion, and tho ladies of tho congregutiou had entrusted him (Dr Trevor) with the pleasing duty of presenting to Mr Otway a purse of sovereigns, which he hoped would be vulu-d rather for tho feelings it ex pressed than for its own Intrinsic va'uo. For their regard was not to be moasured by the comparatively small sum of 30 sovereigns which it contained, as they would have likod that tho amount should havo be^n much larger. An'l it would have been much larger but for tho de pression resultant from low .prices of pro duce, which circumscribed them all m their mems of giving ; but he felt sure that Mr Otway would loam with gre*t pl-asure that the 'adies who had taken the matter m hand had met with the most . cordial reception. All who had beon wai ed upon had given willingly, indeed gladly, expressing tho moat cordial approval of ho propose! presentation and tho highest regard for Mr and Mrs Otway, tho only regret being on thopsrt of every body that they were not able to make their donations larger, Dr Trevor then w-nt on to bear high testimony to Mr Otway's eorvices as pastor during the absence of tho Roy Mr Scnlt, and ex pressed tho hope that tho Bishop woali spoed ly be able to place him m charge of a cure not leas important than that of Anhburton, not merely for Mr Otway's sake but for the Church's sako, as he (Dr Trevor) felt sure that any congregation must be advantaged by Mr OWay's earnest and faithful services as pastor. u e concluded by presenting the purse, m the name of tho subscribers, and naauring the rov. gentlemm o r the high esteem of the whole parish, and that he would carry I with him wherever he went the loving regard of the congregation of fct. Stephen's ( v pplause.) Tho hey Mr Otway who was warmly groeted oh rising to respond, uuid that it was not • ften that ho had tho pleasure of, as it were, sitting m the pe*, that was to ajay of being a listener, and ho c onctirred with Dr Trevor as to tho advantage of clergymen being some times hearers of the laity, especially when such very kin 1 things were said ns had fallen from Dr Trevor. He could not, however, help feeling that he had been spoken of altogether too highly ; indeed, it made him feel almost an though ho had been v bud boy when ho compared what had been said about him with his own conscious ness of his shortcomings. During tho whole time of his Rtay m Ashburton he had been tho recipient of tho gieatest kindne s from the congregation and what had been eaid and done to night would always remain m hie memory, and In should ovor continue to cherish feelings of tho deepest regard for tho po'>p ! o of thia parish I c thon went oo to congratulhto them on the happy occasion to which they were looking forward, tho approaching return of the T*ev Mr Fcott, who was bringing with him a lady who was described as being the model of what a clergyman's wife should be, and whom Mr Hcott, ho understood, believed to be " tho most excellent woman m the world." (AppluußO.) He hoped none of them would fool jealous at that description, as it was the natural belief of good husbands who wore blessed witli good wivse. (Laugh tor and apphuso ) He concluded by thanking Dr Trevor, tho lad ; es of the coi gregation, and all present for the very kindly manner m which himself and Mm Otway had been treated, not only that evening, but throughout their residence m Ashbarton A service of light refreshment, con sisting of tea cofilo, cake, etc , was then handed round, after which the mußieal portion of tho programme whs resumed, Mias Kidd opening with a pianoforte per formance (DansH NigriS), Mr Atkinson contributing tho song "In Happy Moments," Mibb Gate 3 " It was a Dream," and Mr H Stephenßon " Life's a £ti°er," tho proceedings boing brought to a clobo at about 10 o'clock by the singing of the National Anthem.

The following is tho Inspector's report on the examination of Kyle Sohool onllth Jan. ' —Number on roll, J.G boys ; 9 girls, ; total, 25" Presented m standards, 18 boys, 7 girls— 2o. Absent 1 boy ; exoepted 1 boy ; failed 3 boys. Passed 8 boyß, 7 girls, total 15. Preparing for Standard I. 3 boys, 2 girls, total 5. Per centage of passes 600, percentage of failure 16 6. The Inspector, Mr Wood, makes the following remarks :— The reßulta of Ihc oxami nation are on the whole very fair. The read ing and writing o! the lower olasaea are good f and the arithmetic fair, In the upper olasHCB a fair proportion of the work ia intelligently done; Tho dieoipHno is good.

INTERESTING EXTRACTS

THOSE FSRKET4 AGAIV. Mr James Muir of ilia B'jiiheim Gas Works mya t v c Express hn on several oociftlonß recently tt.und io»M'.»l of 1 is young eh'cVens nn<\ ducklings lyin^ dead m their house and hw hai vowod vango ano ' ngainat the rats m the vicinity f>r tiiu murder of hia feathered pets. Thlg morning, howevtr, the mystery of the dead b rda wai eolved by Mrs M"ir espy ing a large ferret m the act of kMlnur a young duok. Nothing daunted, Mrs Muir scoured a stick, a id Aimed a bio* at tho bruto, which «eiz>d the ntick with Its teeth Mrs Muir then gripped a small hatchet lying mar, and ouocueded m dospatohing the savage bru^o, Mr £tont house hns had t' r <e a»lmal hanging on t'.e outside wall of his office during the day, and it has attracted a good deal of at tention from pa»?ere-by. Krom au »x --amin-t'on of the v/ rmin we Bhould think it woiild be a vty un*«fe p'aytlung fi-r iv i infant m a crailo. The dopredatinnu of the ferret iv the yards of the Blenheim poultry-keeper* are becoming too nu merous to be pleiaatit.

MORE RAILWAY BUNGLING.

For unmitigated '♦ cussednosa " soya thfl Rangitikei Advocate the Hew Zealand Hallway Depar ment bangs creation. W-» have recently had on many occasions to complain of this department's treatment of the general public, and now another instance, more flagrant than any of the previous ones, has come under our notice. An important alteration cf the time table, bttweou Wanjjsnuf and Lorgburn, same into operation on Monday las', and yet i he department, gavo no notification whatever m this district of the change. The result hne been numerous disapp im men ■ and m'UitHinn of profanity Dozens upon dtnjns of people have gone fo the various railway stations only to find that they wore too late. Ua!eifl they had horses or traps w ith them, they had I either to retu n borne or to " foot it " m the broiling san to their e'e tinntiorn Arao gßt others, the member for t-'ar.gi rikei was nude a victim. He wanted to come from Tunkintt to Mat ton, and went to the railway etatton m ample tim-j according to the oil arrangements, JHo was rsther staggered when he discovered t.hftt. ihe train had " ekodadJled " long before his arriva'. Ho vrou'd have had to walk to Marlion ha I not aome pood Samaritan g'van him a lift m a trap. There is universal growling. •

SUBMARINE NAVIGATION.

The Pall Mall Budget of December 0 ways that, if inn acr.xunt <>f » corre^p.t. dont of the Daily News ia ttustwnrth/ In »U points, tt.e problem of Bubma in-> nari^atlon is already solved, and by a Oalifornian. A boat with ehlv, torpedoes ' on her deck, so mognstißeit that they will oilng to an iron or fetool vecee), which ' can sink 45ft, and a'eam 2A milea st that depth under peifeot co troj ; which can . wait for a big p*sßen>;er Btcamer coming alonu and divo pUyfully under her, rising to the Burfaoa Bt»ain on one aide, while all the paitfongers on the steamer are looking for h-Mr on tho rther, may f»irly bo sa dto solve th* problem. No wonder i Admiral Parlor has declared that with ' six each boats ho oould drive off or eink ' the most poworf nl i\ sot that oould attack . New Yo k. PiofeßS'.r Tack, tae inventor has comp'eko confidence tint he o»n build I boats big onni^li to c»rry pasaenuors regularly acroas the English Channel, 40£t 1 below the surfaoa, ia complete comfort I and bteadineas. <

AN ANCIENT STATUTE MADE USEFUL.

In the Dnbliu Police Oourt, on November 1G h, Mr Alfred Ueher, formerly an cflicot m tho army, appeared m the dock churgod by Mrs Kennedy, ■ wfe of tho ex-Hk'h Sheriff of l.'ubliu, with hwing p3r»iitevt'y followed her about from plaoe to place with a view ] to compel h«>-, m ihe w >rds of the siatbte ; of Edward 111 , "to do an act which she I had a legal right to abstain from doing " —namely, to tmter into conversation with Mr Usaor. Mr Adnrae, m opening the ( oaae for the prosecution, eaid t!<at lately they had been overwhelmed with com plaints from the ladies of Kingstown, who had been persecuted m a similar way by Me Usber. Mra Kennedy, m her exanoina'i >n, stated that she was ao oo ted by Mr Usher, aud, though she never addrtooed him except fo tell him to go away, he continned Jo follow her about and addroeaed her as "darling." TTaher was Bnnteocdd to one month's Imprison* ment with hard labor. Tha decision of the Magistrate was received m Oourt with oheers.

HEARSAY EVIDENCE.

Here Is an example of the efficaoy of huarßay evidence mtUgre tin rule of Uw on the point. An eminent Lord Chief Justice who was trying a right-of-way case had before him a wltneee — an old farmer— who was proceeding to tell tho jury that he had " known the path for sixty yeer, and my feyther tould I bb he heered my cren'eyther ziy— — »." •• Stop," said the jadgo, we can't havo heresay evidenoe here." "No? 1 oxolnimed Father Qilea " Then how doßt know who thy father was 'oept by hearsay 1" After the lauiL' liter had tmhaldy tho judge aaid, " In oourta of law we cm only bo guided by wh*t you have Boon with yonr eyea, and no:hi> g more or leea." "Oh, that bo blowed for a tale," replied tho farmer, ! " I ha' got a bile on the back of my neck, and 1 never need him, but I bo pre pared to bwobt that ht.'s thur, d»ng un !" This Beoond triumph on tho part cf the witness let In a torrent; of hearsay evl dence about the foofpa h, which ob'ainod weight with the jury (albolt the judge told them it wbb not tußtimony i>f any value), and the furmer'a party won. — " liapier," In the Sporting and Dramatic News

MODERNISING THHS HOLY LAND The introduction of soap, it is said, i« doing ranch to olvilizn the p ople of the Oo'y Land. A largo soap factory Imb beon oetahlidhod on the site of ancient Soohom aud the people are beginning to ueo It on thuir poto:)B fnetead of trying to oat it ob they did at fi/Bt. Along with the introduction of a^sp, other reforms aro going on. Bathlehom ha 3 bedn re built find the uirauts are lighted ap with aaf . Oeaano* is having a building boom, Isnzarf th is becoming tho headqnartern of pin and olive oil speculators Corner 1 jte In Jopa aro going up with a rush and real estates m Mount Oariuel »re largn'y hold by speculators for an advance. All around Bechem there Is a live y demand for pood ■oap fat, nnd the sleepy inhabitants of Ramoth Qiload think of building a g!u? fact ry. Jrtru<>.alem is waking xip aloo It h»8 n etreet uleming bureau, big dock on its public buildinyo, and its BUburba aro boina built ap rapidly. Even m the va'e of Gehenna the price of land hftf gone up. Ladies of Jerusalem take al the Parisian fashon journals and knon all about tho latetst style of hair dressing

Nothing purifies and enriohes the blood and destroys all poisons m tho system like Ameri can Co.'s Hop Bitters. Bead. A Scoldino Woman. — Tbo barbarities o the ducking-stool for the cure of Boolding women, though abolished by law, are now oftentimes practiced by a kind of social bar barity none the less reprehensible. Women scold only when thoy are ill. Instead of blnininK them we should prescribe Am. Oo.'s Hop Bitteru. The entire system will undergo a genial, pleasant change. The nerves wll' be quietod, and aoerbity of word and thought will give plaoe to amiability and affeotion. Healthy women do not aoojd or {ret. Bead,

HOME POLITICS.

(Rbcikr'h Tbl.i-.oi<,»ms— Copyright ; (Received February 2, 12 45 pui.) • Lonbon, February 1 In the House of Commons last night the debate on the addrcssin-reply was resumed. In the course of the deb.Ue Lord Randolph Churchill declared that the support of the Unionist Liberals was useful m the present crisis, but the Conservatives would soon walk alone. He looked to the Conservatives alone to uphold the union between Great Britain and Ireland. Mr Goschen has accepted the invi tation to contest the St George's Hanover Square division, Middlesex. He will be opposed by Haysman, Radical.

THE ABHBURTON eUA3DJA%:,^^fe^s^^ i .J!|jftßßpAßY'. 2, 18^7



AS<> B 7 b T«">N 1 R ADRS MES'd JRAOING CLUB. MEETING ri^O BE HELD ON THE ASHBURTON 1. R:\CIWOUR3B o* THUWSDvY, WAfOEi 8, 1887. FOX T I3TBIOT HOUSES ONLY. P o i.lent— Mr W C. Walker, M.H.R. Viss-Pr'Fider.t— Mr J. Ivecs, U H.R. Jui-je—Mr W. J. Steward. M.H.R, Etewj nns : Mr L. Marter j Mr E. Gates Mr A. Harri.r-n J Mr C. J. Neat* Mr R. M. Cnthbortson. 1 Starter— Dr Lea'.y. Han-'icapper—Mr T. Qaill. Oler* of 8?!>les--Mr J O. Dnncan. Clerk of Conrso — Mr George Soott. PROGRAMME. 1, COUNTY HURDLE R.4.C8, a handicap of 20 Bova; second horse to cave bia stake. Ifc milo, over cix fi ghts of hurdles, about Bft Gin high. Nomination, 10s ; accept* ancc. 10s 2. HANDICAP TIME TROT of 20 iovb ; Bccond horsn to receive £6 fr m the etakr. Three miles. Nomination, 10s ; accept* anc*, 10a. Con ions — pull and co S- ABHBUUTON PLATE HANDICAP of «5 bovb ; second horse to receive 6 eovs from tbe stake. 1& mile. Nomination, 20j; accctance, 15s. 4. SELLING HACK RAOE of 10 bovb. No wign* t r ••*'•« lOst. i mile. Winner to be solu .. .it oovs, any eurplt atogo to the fnnde. Nominal ion. 10s. 6. FLYING HANDICAP of 26 soya: second horse "o -eroive £5 from stake. N'mina- tion, 16b : acce"tancn, 10a. Throe>qu» r ter milo Winner cf 'ho A sb burton Plate H'lnflicap to carry 7.b i-ennlty. 6. NOVEL RAOE HANDICAP of 25 bovb. One mile Nomination, lbs; *cceptance, 10a Winner to be sold immediately after the race, the whole of tho proceeds to go tc the funds of the Club. 7. CONSOLATION HANDICAP of 10 bovb, for all beaten horses during the meeting. Ono milo.. Nominations, 103 ; acceptance, free. 8. HURRY SCURRY, a Sweepßtakee of Its each. Post entry any time of the day. Cbtcb weight. RUL^S AND REGULATIONS. The definition of a district horse shall be all boraoß that have been commonly resident m tho country lying between the south b&nk of the Selwyu and the north bank of the Waitaki from December 81. 1886, and up to tbe date of the forthcoming meeti' g, and owned by a I person who has resided m the district above deOned during tbe same period. General Ruled of the ABhburton TraCesnvtn'e Racimr Club and Pacing Rules of the Canter- bury Jockey Club strctly adhsred to. Five per cent, will be deducted from the gro?B "f all moneys payab c m accordance with this programme for expenses of thecourte. All dispute?, clairoß, an < obj etions arising out of the laning shall be d°cided by iho Stewards, or whom they may appoint, thrir decision m all po nts connected with tho carrying ont of this programme to be final ; and entries will only be received Bui.jeo*. to these conditions. All vominatioDß and acceptances go to the funds of tho Club. All entries and noaiDa'ious to be accom- panied by entrance fees, name And age of the ho Trie, and colors of the rider and m tho hands of tbe Secretary, addressed to Whittle's Hotel, not later than 9 p.m on Tuesday, the Bth day February. 1887 . Weights will be declared and published m ontside papers on tho morning of Friday, February 18th, 1887; and acceptances for the races to bo paid to tbe Pecrctary, as above, not later than 0 p.m. on S turday,th<} 2tsth day of Febnury, 1887. ' _ WALTER B. MOES, Secretary. ~A»HBUJm>N PACING CuUB. Wtvmu meeting. rrmuRSDAY a 'lirljlP^^ APRIL . 2let t 22nd, 1887* 'JJf ' Vioe-Pro idfnt^cWJFjtiMii -~T^- Judge— Matihew Stift;*^ ' s *-&^ Stewards : H. Frieaiander W. O. Walker W. B. D.-nshire R. McOwen J. C. N. Grigff Dr Leahy R. Friedlander. • Treasurer— Divid Tlrmns. Clerk of the Scales— T. E. Upton. Clerk of the Course— A. Hewson. Handfcnppors — The Committee. Starter— Dr Leahy. Finsfr Race oh Each Day to Start at W.aOiP.M. jfirstTday. 1. DISTRICT HURDLE RAOE of 20 eova ; over fiix .flights .of hurdles, about Bft tiln hieii. .Nomination, 16a; acceptance, 10b; 1A mile. Diatriot 'horaea only. 2. ASHBURTON AUTUtfJJ HANDICAP of CO eovs Nomination, 1 boy ; acceptance, Hf-ov. H milo. a. FOAL STAKES of 1 boy each, with 16 Bova added. F<>r two-year-oPa bred, owrcd, and trained by residents m the Idietuct defined by Rule 3. Colts Bat 10lb, fillies and geldings Bit 81b. Nominaticm, lO.h. rho Bwecp to bo paid by 9 p.m. on Ap'il ißth Five furlongs. HANDIOAPTIME'faOT(in saddle) of 20 Hovf. Noroir.ation, 10 ' ; acceptance, 10s, Weip.ht not<leßS.than 103t. Break and tnrn. & Ul'lCß. 5 S-LYING HANDIOAyP of 25 boys. Noroi- ' motion, I boy : accoptaqco, 10a. J-mile. fi FOR*.' STAKES of 10 eova. Entrance, Ms, <to be made to the Secretary imine* WiateJy .ifter the F.ying Handicap ia tu#. r S-Acb" -weights, i-nri 18 * Tne o?U»ne/ to ibo aoW immediately after the raoe fpr 15 vsova, any Burplus to go to the fon4* ot the Cftub. jseooSTday. 1. DIST WOT WELTER HANDICAP ot 20 so »"• Nominatitai, 10a; acceptance, 10a. 1 linimum weight, Wafc. JJ milo. Dmtiict ho>es only. 2. GRAND STAND HANDICAP of 40 soys. Nominal 'ion, 1 eov{ acceptance, 1 boy. Be.vcn fu r'onES. 3 HANDICAP TIME TROT (m saddle) of 15 eovs. domination, 1(M ; acceptance, 6a. Weight net Jess than lOst. Break and turn. Tvica jronnd the course. District hOTeea or.l'y- 4. HARVEST HAStDIOAP of 20 boys. ."vominat on, 10c; acceptance, ]0a: DU- tr'ct boreea only. 1 wile. 6. FOVEL BACE of 16 fovb. Bntrancp. 10s, to be made to the Secretary immediately of ter the Harvest Handicap is inn. Catch weipht*. Five furlongs. The winner to be sold immediately after the raoe, the whole of the proceeds to go to the fundi o'rheOlub. 6. CONSOLATION HANDICAP of 20 bovb. Nomination, 1 soy, to be made immediately after the Novel Race is run i -acceptance free, to be rotifled to th« Feoretary within ten minutes of the d clnraioa cl weight*. 1 milo. RULES AND REGULATIONS. 1. Tbe Meeting will be held under the Rules cf Racing and ABhburton Racing Club Stales. , 2 No entry will bo received except on the condition that all dieputcs, claims, aid ob- jections aritfng ont of the racing shall bo decided by the Stewards or whom they may appoi t ; their decision on all points connected with the carrying out of (Ji's programme to be final 3, A district boree Phall mean any hone fcbat has been commonly resident m the dit> irlct between t hi rivers Selwyn and Opihi from . Juruary 21, 1887, and up to the date of tbe foruh".oii)inc meeting, and owned by a j eraon w)io,haa resided m the said district during tho Bniue period. •1 Fivp per cent, will bo deduct' d from tho gross of all moneys payable m accordance >wi h this progr mmo for the expenses of the coarse. 5. All nominations and acceptances to go to the funds of the Club. 6- Trotting Races. Horaea must trot fairly to the eatisfaction of the Referee. NOMINATIONS. AU noainatiocs to be nccompanied by ft)?, namo, »ge, and deßcription of horse, and colora of rider m the hands of the Secretary (address — As^burto^) no later than 9 p.m. on Monday, March 21. 1887. WEIGHfS. Weights for th* first day's handicaps will be declared on Wednesday, April 18, 1887* Weights for the second day's handicaps will b« deoa'ed at 9 o'oLck on tho evening of the first day's racing. ACCEPTANCES. Acceptances for tha $'B~> day's handicaps muot be marie to the Secretary uot later tbam 9 p.m. on Monday, April 18, 1887, Accept- a'lre* for the teoond day's handicaps at 19 o'clock oa the evening of the first day* HI? 0. 0. FOOK^TSwreUnv



WE ARE PURCHASERS OF WHEAT oat I" ?;;'"; ;'" . AND BABI^BY IN LARGE OR SMALL QUANTITIES ERIEDLANDER BROS. ' i Grass Seed. WE ARTS PURCHASERS of GRASSY- SEED la large or en all quantities. HIGHEST PRICE GIVEN. ERIEDLANDER BROS. Cornsacks CORNBAOKS. Jaat landing, ex Triumph^ 1000 BALES Farmora will pleaso send as their orders •early. ERIEDLANDER BROS. REAPER AND BINDER Twine and Wire Wo ore alao landing, ex Aoranjri, BEST REAPER AND BINDER TWINS .AND WIRE, which will bo aold CHEAP. • FRIEDLAKTDER BROS, n v



Wool. Wool. Wool. LIBERAL CASH ADVANCES AGAINST WOOL Consign* for Sale eitheir at CHRISTOHURCH ASHBI3RTON, AUSTRALIAN OR ENGLISH MARKETS H. Matson & Co, | ASHBUBTON 1152 i i



Business Notice*. , j _ { Good News to the Farmers. 1 i i . » ANOTHER SHIPMENT OF THE CELEB KAEED Walter A. Wood's New 1 Steel Wheel Binder, Por ship Thoodere, which arrived on Friday, January 14th, from New York. TJLIE3B MACHINES HAVE ALL THE LATEST IMPROVEMENTS. INSPECTION INVITED. AN EXPERT IS IN ATTENDANCE FROM THE FACTOR*. EUSSIAN HEMP TWINE 4 ply, running 900 feet (o the Ib. A STOCK OF EXTBAS KEPT IN ASHBUFTON. F. FERRIMAN. W. PATCHING* TENT, TARPAULIN, FLAG, AND HORSECLOTH MANUFACTURER. I A L^RGE STOCK ALWAYS ON HAND OF TENTS OF ALL SIZES CALICO, DUCK, TWILL, AND CANVAS. Manilla Rope, Plough Lines, Fishing Lines, Clothes aud Garden Lineß. IRON AND WOODEN BLOCKS. Special attention is called to the well assorted STOCK OF REAPER AND BINDER CANVASES, All made on tbe Promises. Battens and Canvas kept m ptock, and repairs promptly executed. Tarpaulins from 6x8t024 x3O always m stock. Oilskin Clothing mado on the Premises. MARQUEES from 12 x 24 to 25 x 65 ON HIRE. All Orders bt Letter ob Telegram Pbomptly Attended to. W- PATCHING, 10861 EAST STREET, ASHBURTON.



Public Notices. I AND FOR CROPPING. TfENDERS are invited for LE'SI' G I the ASHBURTON UACIiCOURHE RESERVE for 12 months Tenders to bo m by nooi SATURDAY, February 12th For further p-irticulnrß ap?>ly to C C. FOOKS, 2^o Fee. fI.HC CENTRAL HOTEL. JW. MoTlAtt having taken the Above . Hotel, solicits nah are of patronage from the people of Aahburton and sur- rounding districts. Beat Brands of Wine's Spirits and Beere. Good Stabling —Feeds, One SmxiiiKa. Horsca and Buggies to lot on hire a pHooB to njewr. *hi* tiinfld. For the conrentanoe of traveller* haiißom nab will meet all trains. ASHBURTON BOROUGH COUNCIL. rpENDER3 are Invited by the Aahbur- X ton Borough Council for lease of River-bed Reserve, between Winter street and tbe Bridge. Tenders to stata rent for 3, 6, or 7 years. Tenders to be sent to the undersigned, from whom particular* oan be obtained, by 12 o'olock on MONDAY, the 7th .February n«xt. CBARLES BR^DDELL, To vtn Clerk. Borough Council office, 31et January, 1887. A. Harrison. Alfred Harrison, AUOTIONEEAi, STOCK AND ESTATE AGENT AND VALUATOR. SATURDAY SALE at 12 o'olock sharp — Horses, Cattle, Plg«, Produce and Merchandise, Agent Norwich Union Fire Insurance Company FOR SAL*;— Movc-ablo Hat on pair wheels ; Jw bunks. Champion Wa Machine, 50s, Call anahing Seed Sower, by Haxton and Beatie cheap. Ploughs, HarroiTß, and other Imple- ments. Oheyleamore Club Tricycle, the beat kind made— choap Piano, by Bord, noarly nevr. Cheap Spring Cart— Cheap 1 Ohaffcntter, by Ben tall String Binder by Wood, good aa nevr, very cheap TO LET Five-roomed Cottage, Cox street rent very low to good tenaot ALFRED HARRISON, T. Bullock. TO LET.— A 4-Foomod Houso m Kermode Btreet. T. BULLOCK. FOR SALE, at a low price, PIANO, by Broad wood and Sons Apply to T. BULLOCK. TO LET — 4-roomed Cottage, Burnett- street, Dear the old Borough Council Chambers. Apply to T. BULLOCK. FOR SALE. ALA.RGE-SIZED Grain Bruiser, by Andrews and Beaven. Apply to 1. BULLOCK. miNWALD— Town Seotlona 371, 372, X 373, 374, 376, 376. 377, ia one block, fronting Thompson attest, near the County Saleyards, for sale at a low price, and on liberal terms, Apply, to T. BULLOOK. | TO LET, at a low rental, comfortable Cottage m Grey street, nicely I Bit Hated, and lately m occupation d Mrs Coutts. Apply to T. BULLOCK. TO LET, at a low rental, a 5-roonoed Cottage, fronting Cambridge Btreet, | Hampstead, Dear tho Convout. I Apply to i T. BULLOCK. ' f'f'.O LET, Lots 1 to ,13, containing I I. 3a 3r. 23p., all fronting Alford I Forest Road, and adjoining Mr Jamoft Fmitli'a property. For particulars apply to T. BULLOCK. TO LET.— For 3or 5 years, with or wltbout a purchasing olanse, R.S. 25349, containing; 137 aoree, situated near thi' Grange, at the back of the Raceoourse. Apply to T. Bullock. TINWALD. aiO LET at a low rental, S.roomod 1. Cottage near Mr Shearer's. T. BULLOCK. TINWALD. TO LF.T. — Four roomed Cottage on Graham's Road, lately m the ocou- pation of Mr P. Heron. Apply to T. BULLOOK. OATS. — A quantity for Sale ; good tsawple. T. BULLOCK. TO LET— -At a low rental, Oentca Bakory, together with »hop and dwelling house. Apply to T. -.oIiLOOa. T 1 ") LEI, a three-roomed Cottage at Trevortoo. Rent, 3s 6d per week Apply to T. BULLOOK. LET— 2 Cottageß In Grey Street ko*n aa Ooutta' block ; Ront a Sj per week. T. BULLOCK, FOR SALE— Two seta of three leavec harrows, by " Howard." T. BULLOCK. POR SALE — Lot 25, fronting tho North Town Belt. Price, £VJ Liberal terms if required. Apply to T. BULLOOK. TO PAINTERS. ?T\O LET 'at a low rental, Shop n 1 Dwellioghonuo m Moore stoeo laUly In ocoupetlon of Mr Lucas. BULLOOK J3EAPERS& BINDERS FOR SALE.. McCormick Wire Binder .... £20 •» m » ••• *" ii t> it •>• 4 Deering Twine Binder ... 10 Samuelsoo Twine Binder «., 12 » » it »•• 15' T. BULLOCK.



Advertising Cheats. " It has bdeome r<» common to begin an article, m an olegant interesting stylo, " Then run it into some advertisement, that wo avoid all such. '•And sirapy call attention to tho merits of Hop Bitters m aa plain, honest terms as possible, "To induce yeoplo 'To eivo them one trial, which so proves their value that they will never use anything else." 11 The Remedy bo favorably noticed m all the papers, 1 Religious and secular ia " Having a large sale, and is supplanting all other medicines. 41 Tliore is no donying the virtues of the Hop plant, and the proprietors of Hop Bitters have shown great shrewdness and ability • 11 In compounding a medicine whose virtues are so palpable to everyone's observa- tion." Did She Dia ? " No ! " Sho lingered and suffered along pining away all the time for years." *' The doctors doing her no good " l< And at laat was cur. d by this Hop Bitters tho papers say so much about." " Indeed! Indeed!" l( Bow thankful we should be for that medicine." A Daughter's Misery " Eleven years our daughter eufferod on a bed of misery, " From a complication of kidney, liver, rheumatic trouble and nervous debility, 11 Under the care of the best physicians, " Who gave her dißoano vurious names, " But no relief, " And now she i 3 restored to us m good health by as simple a remedy as Hop Bitters, that we had shunned fcr years bufore ueiog it The PAKEyra. IT>UND — Greenstone Pondanr. Owner } c%n rnve saoid by paying oxpecees. Apply R. SxbWART, Railway Station. 1176 TTIURNITITRE— To meot the times, W. V DAVIS, Cabinotmaker, East street, Ashburton, is now selling Furniture of all kinds choaper than ever. Chest of Drawers, £1 5s ; Spring Couches, £1 5s Every other article equally cheap. All now furniture at^ second-hand price. 804 npENDEKS will be received up to 4 S. pra on MONDAY, 7th February for CARTING about 12,000 bushels GR UN (mostly Wheat), from the Rivers- dale Farm, Graham's Road, to Tinwald Ruilway Station. For particulars apply to GEO. JAMESON, 2J7 . Ashburton. MR J, DONALDSON begs to return hearty thanks to the gentlemon who saved his houso from the destructive fire which took pl<ce m Wheatetmo on Monday* Nothing w»s to savo it only for tho .skilful labor of thoso gontlemon, namely :— Mr T. Addis, Mr W. Dacros, and M r B. Fde, Flemington ; also, Mr Prebble, Mr W. Grey, and Mr H. McConnell. Wheatstono, whose kindness sha 1 Io og be remembered, 2 8 WITHOUT RESERVE. MR T. BULLOCK has received instructions to sell on SATURDAY NEXT, sth FEBRUARY, At the Arcade, a Threshing plant Complete, m good order. 2_6 T. BULLOCK. ODDFELLOW HALL. UNPRECEDENTED ATTRACTION. POSITIVELY ONE NIGHT ONLY, MR WYBERT REEVE, m conjunc- ton with hia POPULAR COMEDY COMPANY, TUESDAY EVENING, FEB. Bth. Byron's Popular Comedy, THE CRUSHED TRAGEDIAN. Crushed Tragedian 1 Mr R EVE Crushed Tragedian > as Crushed 'JragediauJ Fitzaltamont. Received wherever paved with unbounded LA.UGHTER AND APPL&USE. One Kifcht O C ushed Tragedian One Might N Cru hod Tragedian One Night L Crushed Tragedian One Night V Crushed Tragedian Beats may bo secured at Zander's. Admission, 4s, 3s, 2a. GEORGE GEDDES. Business Manager. ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL. NOTICE is hereby given that a SP&J'AL MEETING of this Council will bo held after the ordinary meeting on tho 4th MAIi'oH next, to con- firm tho following Special Ordor, viz. : — ReHolved— That this Council, as tho River Board of tho Ashburton Fork* Biver District, do make a Special Order, directing a Special Rate to bo made and Levied within the sn'd River District, and that such Special Order bo as follows, that is to say : — SPECIAL ORDER. Wharoas it ia expedient to make and lovy a General Rato on all rateable property within tho Aehburton Forkß River District on an uniform | scale, Now tho County Council of tho County of Aahburton, . acting. ns the River Board of the said District, and. under and by virfcuo of the powers j conferred upon it by the Kiver Boards Act, 1884, doth hereby order aud direct, a Gonoral Rate of Three FarthiDgs (^d) m the pound on the rateable vuluo of Property j m the Ashburton Forks River Dis'riofc, tho boundaries of which aro net forth and described m a proclamation tinder tho hand of Hia Exo Honey tho Governor of Now Zealand, and the seal of tho Colony, dated the 26th day of January, 1884, and published m the "Now Zealand Gazotto" of tbe Bth day of January, 1884 ; to bo made and levied upon aU ratoahle property within the said River Dis" trict, for the year com mono ng on tho las day of October, 1880, for carrying into effect tho general pur- poses of tho said Act. By order. F. MAINWARING, . Olork. AohburtoD, February 2, 1887. 2 U