The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. TUESDAY, JULY 7, 1891. THE AUCTIONEERS' BILL.

The Ministerial Bill amending the laws relating to auctioneers is a measure that will cause some stir. Not only auctioneers themselves, but their clients and the local bodies having! jurisdiction over the localities in which the auctioneers caiTy on business are affected. The annual license fee for an auctioneer is fixed at the uniform sum of £40, and valuators (or ap praisers) and auctioneers' clerks are to be licensed at a lower fee. No excep tion can be taken to the licensing of valuators, but auctioneers' clerks are very " movable bodies," and though their duties often, trench upon the domain of the auctioneer, the necessary control over them could be assured by the imposition of a nominal license fee. The extension of the hours during which sales may be held is not likely to be abused iri this country. Municipalities are likely tp object to the proposal to deprive them of part of the license fee, though we consider the proposal to give two thirds of the fee to the local authority for the place wherein the principal part or the auctioneer's business is transacted might stand even further modification. For instance we have in Ashburton six ! resident auctioneers whose fees are paid to the borough, of whom only three are practically town auctioneers, the other three doing most of their business at the Tinwald and Ashburton saleyards, at Rakaia, Methven, Mount Sorners, aud even across the Rangitata (in Geraldine County) and at Christ church. The apportionment of these fees will be a hard nut to crack. The necessity of the provision that all moneys the proceeds of sales shall be kept separately from the auctioneers' own funds has been demonstrated lately in North Canterbury and has been more than once felt here. Sub stantial firms will regard it as a safe guard against the unequal competition of men of straw and vendors will be protected against possible loss.

LOCAL AND GENERAL

weather lately has been frost and fog; the sun visible once in a fortnight. Smoking immediately after a nieal is decidedly a pernicious habit(a physician says). Those who have not nerves of iron should wait twenty minutes or not smoke at all, A breach of promise case is pending in Napier in which the plaintiff is of the masculine gender, and seeks to be consoled because a lady who, it is alleged, had pro mised to marry him, subsequently changed her mind. A painful form of influenza, accompanied with feverishness of an intermittant character, is at present rather prevalent in Napier, The doct>rs are in consequence very busy. The advent of the steamer Jubilee in the intercolonial trade is estimated to have de creased the takings of the Uniou Steamship Company to the extent of as much as at the rate of £50,000 pei" annum. Mr Gully, in his address to the jury in the case of Meek v Atwood at Wellington, likened the ethics of marriage to a lottery where a man puts his hand into a bag con taining 03 snakes and one eel in hopo of getting the eel, and consequently in 99 cases out of the 100 he catches a snaUe, A singular case was heard at Waipawa recently. A man and wife named Rayner sued Mr Gollanfor £100, for injuries alleged to have been sustained by Mrs Rayner through being butted on the public road by a ram belonging to defendant. Tlxe de-. fendant denied knowledge of the ram having any vicious propensities. The plaintiffs were nonsuited A by-law has been passed by the Napier Municipal Council compelling house holders residing within the borough to use ashes or earth as a deodoriser. If this order is not complied with a fine of £5 maybe imposed. It was always understood before that ashes or earth were used, but it turned out recently that such was not the case, so the Council declined to make it compulsory. A de'elation from Dr Barnardo's Homes has fe&ohpd the colonies in charge of tha "Rev Walter J. Mayers. There are eight lads who have received a gopd manual and musical training, #nd they will gj.ye enter tainments with the object of raising funds for the building of a new home for girls in Essex, The party are at preseet in Sjuth Australia, md are due in New Zealand two months hence. Mr J, G. Ward has been granted permis sion by the Campbelltown (Bluff) borough council Jtjo pr/jefc bone mills in the municipal ity. The corporation y/Ul also take steps to rescind the bye-laws relative to slaughtering cattle within the borough the object being to grant permission to Mr Ward to erect meat freezing wcrfcs at port for which he has made application. The death of Mrs John B. Cough, widow 5 of the great temperance lecturer, brings out the fact that at the time she received his proposal of marriage most of her own friends and some of his advised her strongly against accepting it, as grave doubts were entertained as to his ability permanently to overcome his drinking habits. She was a school teacher at the time, accomplished and well situated. But she took the risk, and Gough afterward declared that she was tke making of him. The regular monthly meeting of the Star of Ashburton, L.0.L., No. 23, was held last Thursday evening. The Lodge decided to ' hold a "social " next Friday evening at the Orange JJall, in celebration of the anniver sary of the IJ^tfclo of the Boyne. An in teresting incident of t!j,c oyfljijng was the presentation by I).M. Bro Hustoy. on behalf •f the Lodge, to Bro James Oockburn, of a gold past master's jewel, as a mark of esteem and recognition of the services which he had rendered to the Order. The presentation was acknowledged by Bro Cockburn in appropriate terms. The jewel was the work manship of Mr R. Murray, East street. The following singular calculation of the number of stitches in a plain shirt has been inadn by a Leicester seamstress :-—W Stitchtf in collar, four rows, 3,000 ; cross ends of sam^, 503 ; buttonhole and sewing on buttop, 150; gathering neck and sewing on collar, £,204 ; stitching the wristbands, 1,228 f ends pf wristbands, 88 ; buttonholes in wristbands, 148 ; hemming slits, 264 ; gathering sleevce, 840; setting on wristbands, 1,468 ; stitching on shoulder-straps, 1,880; hemming the bosom, 393 ; sewing in sleeves and making gussets, 3,050; sewing up side seams of sleeve?, 2,554 ; ccrding bosom, 1,104 ; 'tap ping' the sleeves, 1,526; sewing all other seams and setting side gussets, 1,272. Total namfcer pf stitches, 20,649." An interesting cas<6 iv reference to hawkers' licenses has been before ihp Resi dent Magistrate, at Invercargill, A hawkey resident in Invercargill, was proceeded against by the Southland County Council for hawking without a license in their district. fn reply it was contended that the licensed hawkers' ordinance of the Provincial Govern ment of Otago, under which the Borough Council had issued the Ucense to the de fendant, was not repealed ov re^dej'pd mi i operative by the Counties Act, and is good j for the whole province. After hearing ' argument Mr llawson, Resident Magistrate, ruled that the provincial ordinance was still in force, and dismissed the information with costs. It was intimated; that the Comity C'eWBCJI M r;Il probably appeal, (

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The usual fortnightly meeting, of the Ashburfcon Borough Council was held last night. Present—His Worship the Mayor (presiding), and Crs Williamson, Bird, Keir, Cuthbertson, Brooke, Flower and Tweed. Cr Cuthbertson apologised for the , absence of Cr Paul. ■ FrNANCE. The Mayor reported that (he debit balance at the bank stood at £1185 11s 9cl, and the income from all sources since last meeting had been £503 Is, including £265 excise and £160 auctioneers' licenses •, £25, rent of reserves ; anr'. £41 2s rates,' besides the usual smaller items. THE MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE. The Mayor sail this was the first meet ing of the Council he had attended since his returned from the Municipal Con ference. The sittings of the Conference had been characterised by the very best of feeling on the part of the delegates, so that every question had been considered in a liberal give and take spirit. The whole proceedings of the Conference were to be printed by the 3-overnrnent and members would be supplied with copies. The Mayor went on to notice that the Conference had drawn attention to the fact that many of the fines that were pre viously recovered under borough by-laws were now recovered under the Police Offences Act,, and boroughs were deprived of this .source of revenue. Noticing tne Auctioneers' Bill, which was now under the charge of the Hon. Mr Seddon, the Mayor touched on the Fire Brigades' Bill, and proposed that a copy of it be left in the Council Chamber and another j sent to the Fire Brigade. He did not favor the clause making it compulsory on Insurance Companies to support Fire Brigades, as t'.iat would simply re-act on insurers in the shape of increased premiums. The cost of sending delegates to such meetings as the Conference had hitherto been cavilled at by the Auditor General. The Conference had recom mended that boroughs be allowed to spend up to £50 oh contingencies. After noticing the question of the pay-sheets of boroughs'being exempt from stamp duty, he wient on to remark that the Conference had recommended the alteration of the Mayo-al installation from noon to an hour in the evening, and that power should be given to boroughs not only to fine offenders against the building by-laws, but io stop the'progress of buildings that were being erected contrary to the provisions of the by-laws. The question of forming a Municipal Association had also been considered, as they would have se6n, which had received his cordial support, as being likely io be of great advantage to the boroughs joining it. Another important question discussed had been that of obtaining for boroughs power to borrow money otherwise than from a bank. He had had conversation with the Premier on the subject, who had asked him to put his iAens on this master in wrifng. He had done so, and if the Council wished he would read the letter he purposed sending to the Premier. CHARITABLE AID. Mr E. G. Wright, M.H.K., wrote acknowledging receipt of ihe Borough's petiion, praying for separation from the Christchurch district for Charitable Aid purposes, and stating that the petition had been presented, and that' he, con join '•Jy with other members similarly interested, purposed introducing a Biil dealing with the question. Mr Wright received the Council's thanks for his action in the matter. RUBBISH, Messrs W. H. Collins and Joseph Hale applied for and received permission co burn rubbish on their respective sections, subjecc to the usual condition?, TELEPHONE. Mr C.,;M- Brooke wrote accepting the conditions on which the Council granted him permission to erect a telephone wire, SESERVES. Mr Thomas Breeze wrote offering £2 rper annum rent for the reserve in Cameron street West, lately in the occupation of ■.Mr Lee. The offer was declined for the present. Applications for year to year leases made by Mr R. Smyth of four reserves in Grigg street: and by Mr James Begg for parb of Reserve 773—were referred to the Reserves Committee, auctioneers' bill. The Mayor moved for a committee to consider nml report upon the Auctioneers' Bill—comprising Cra Williamson, Keir, and Cuthbertson—to report at next meeting. The motion was carried. THANKS, Cr Williamson paid a high compliment to the Mayor for the work he had done in Wellington, as their delegate to the Municipal Conference, and moved that the Council's thanks be recorded to His Worship. Cr' JjLeir heartily seconded. The Mayov in acknowledging the vote took occasion to say that he hadinterviewed the Commissioners on the subject of the stoppage of the last train at Dromore. Mr Wright had accompanied him on his •visit to the Commissioners, and he had good hopes that a change would take place soon. Neither had he lost sight in his interview of the question of the removal of tyujldinqs on the railway reserves. He hoped ifi t^ne JJiatthat also would be conceded. RESERVES COMMITTEE. The Reserves Committees report was read as follows; — "Your Committee haye the honor to report oq the matters referred to them as follows, viz. :- Mr Max Friedlander's application for repair ing fence of Borough Reserve occupied by him.—Your Gommitibee have resolved to grant Mr Piiedlander's request, and to have the fence of this reserve perma nently repaired. The approximate cost will be about £3. In reference to the while question of repairing the fences of Borough Reserves which was referred to this Committee to report on, your Committee recommend that each case should bo dealt with on its merits. The report was adopted. ENGINEERS* REPORT. The following was the Engineers' rejiot't;— file mow fyaye bpen principally eagaged in maintenance wqi'k, repairing a.nd re? moving grass from streets and footpaths repairing fences on reserves and planta tions, also carting soil and levelling same on the Cricket Ground in the Domain, attending to the water supply, etc. Metalling. —Wo would Bubmit the ad visableuess of letting a contract for the supply of shingle as soon as possible for nietaljtityg thp formed streets leading to the hospital and part of Wills East, and also for re-metalling other' streets that, require from five to ten yards per chain on the crown in places. We estimate that from 800 .to OQO yards will be necessary,. • " ' C.r Tweed suggested that the shingle put upon the streets should be screened, so that the big stones upon th§ streets could be got rid of. The Engineer explained that the course followed at present was to have the larger stones broken by hand after the shingle had been spread. ■f 1)0 report was adopted, Cr Tweed dis senting unjiess something were clone in the matter of screening the shing|e. The Inspector of Nuisances' and the Poundkeeper's reports were read and adopted. PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE. Cr Tweed's name was added to the Public flealth Committee, and he was ap pointed convener. BY-LAWS, It was decided to postpone the printing of the by-laws pending possible legislation on municipal matters this session,.

. . STATISTICS. The Council instructed (he Mayor to make inquiry and to take steps, if possible, to have the vital statistics for Ashburton, published by the Regisfcrar- Geheral as for " Ashburton and suburbs." ©HABITABLE! Atl>. Or Williamson regretted thatno reserves had been set aside earlier in the colony's history for Charitable Aid^urposes, He threw out the suggestion for the Mayor's consideration to urge upon the f.ovcrn ment the necessity of setting aside reserves for this purpose. The Mayor said he learned that Govern ment had had 'the question under con sideration. It. was too large, however, for anything to be done this session. Cr Williamson moved that a Com mittee be appointed to act in conjunc ion with the County Council in impressing upon the Government the necessity of setting aside an area of land for Charitable Aid purposes. SHINGLING. Cr Cuthbertson moved that tenders be invited for a supply of shingle — the tenders to be alternative, shingle un screened and for shingle that had been passed through a screen. The motion was carried. - THE WATER SUPPLY. Cr Brooke withdrew the motion of which he had given notice at last meeting to have a deep well sunk with a view to striking an artesian supply. He did so because he had learned that the cost of a successful well of that character was pro hibitive, and he now proposed that two second stratum wells be sunk, one at the Western Fire Brigade Station and another at the Triangle opposite the Central Hotel. Cr Cuthbertson seconded. Mr Williamson was opposed to the motion. It was the duty of the Council to do for the district what the ratepayers could not do for themselves, and if it came to a full water supply he would be ready to support it, but he would not support a. motion like this, because if they put two wells they would have to put down no end of them. Cr Bird would have supported the artesian motion, but not this. Cr Flower supported the motion. Crs Keir and Tweed opposed the motion, the former pointing out that this was no experiment, and the Council were not called upon to put down wells of this kind—ratepayers could do that for themselves ; the latter contending that property owners ought to find their tenants water by sinking. The Mayor said the Council was very much in the dark about the extent of the scarcity. He would have preferred to see this motion come from the ratepayers in the shape of a petition. The Council was not called upon to take care of the property owners, and for a cost of from £5 to £7 wells could be sunk to the water-bearing strata. He had had to sink his well ten feet to get water, and it had cost him only about £5 After Cr Brooke had replied, the motion was lost. ADULTERATION OF FOOD PREVENTION. On the motion of Or Keir, Sergeant Moller was appointed Inspector for the Borough under the Adulteration of Food Prevention Act. CHANNEL FLOAV. Or Keir moved " That the Engineer be instructed to maintain as good a flow as possible in the channels in those parts of the Borough where Ihe wells are dry." • The motion was carried. Cr Brooke moved " That the Foreman report at next meeting the number of dry wells in the borough, and in what streets they aie situated," ; Mr Cuthbertson seconded. Cr Keir would oppose the motion. The Council did riot intend to sink wells, and to send a man on a quest of the kind sucrcested by Cr Brooke was only a waste of time, ■™F- r, Williamson opposed the motion. While the Foreman was hunting up this information the teams wculd be idle After Or Brr.oke had reulie J the motion wa-3 lost, LICENSF, Mr W, H. Collins was granted a kero sene license. accounts. The usual accounts were passed for payment, and the Council adjourned.

ALFORD FOREST.

As Mr Ohlsen was carting out ol the bush on Thursday afternoon he was jammed against a post by the dray wheel arid seriously injured about the body. He is now relieved of much of the pain he suffered, and great hope 3 are entertaind of his early recovery. The new Side School begins to show well near Mr James Rowe's Point. It is being built on a site of two acres kindly given for the purpose by Mr William Douglas. The contractor is Mr J. Stevenson, and he is now busy weather-boarding. At a public meeting of residents held in the 41fr>rd forest School on Friday evening to consider school matters, ifr E, JJnight was voted to the chair, and it was unani mously lesolved "That the new school would be far better as a distinct and separate school district, Taylor's Stream to constitute the north boundary line ; that the resolution be forwarded to the Education Board through the present Chairman of the School Committee, after being shown to residents on the south side of Taylor's Stream." A vote of ph&uks £o the Chairman, and the business terminated ; but a Somewhat vyarm discussion on personal matters c.pnclii(Je.ct whajt was otherwise an amicable, meeting. Mr Valentine Ellen is suffering from a sewepe attack of p'eupisy. The new Saw Mills are so busy that fresjh orders are not sure of meeting with prompt fulfilment, and purchasers of timber should gi^e fair notice of their requirements to avoid disappointment. Quito an army of bushmen receive constant employment, and Messrs Sharplin and Vincent may be con gratulated on their business shrewdness, which is a decided boom to the whole district. Building goes en rapidly in all directions, and we may confidently say this is a rising locality in every way, Thfi concert and ball held here some few days ago for the benefit of Mrs William Campbell resulted in a net gain of about twenty-one pounds. It is only fair to add that Mr W. T. Chapman exerted himself to the utmost to make the affair successful. Weddings have been all the rage lately, t«;o haying taken place during the past week, Viz. :-Mr H. T.. Knight to MissKerr, of the Alford Forest; Motel; and Mr M. Syine to Miss Brown, of Oxford. Others ale espeeted a,t no distant elate,

EDUCATION AND ECONOMY.

The National system of education of which we are all so proud has often &|;tpg,p|;ec| the hungry glances of politi cians benj) on rotrenphsjeufc. £hus far it has been held as'"too' packed 1 a thing to be maimed or even touched, tut the sfca%ti{ss gjyen jn the recently-issued fourteenth Annual Repopt qf % Minister of Education will set many sincere defenders, of the system think ing, The advocates? of a change from the present system urge that the age at which children may attend the public schools should be raised from five years to six years, and that the fourth standard, somewhat amplified so &s jtp. fncluds a part of the curricu lum of the 'present fifth sjtancfara, \ sshould be the termination of tfte course of education given In the primary schools. Against this proposal h raised the accusation that such a change would deprive: the poor man's children of the advantage of a very high standard of education free of cost We naturally turn to the Education

Report to see how many schools have' partaken of the benefits of this ad vanced tuition, and the figures which we find are very remarkable. In 1890 the number of scholars who were in Standard I. was 16,587 ; Standard 11.. 17,199 ; Standard 111., 17,730; Stan dard IV., 15,276 ; Standard V, 10,624; Standard VL, 0666 ; and the so-called Standard VIL, 2431. * The percentages in the several Standards to the total number of school children were—Pre paratory classes, 27-75 ; Standard 1., 14-06; Standard 11., 14-59 ; Standard 111., 15-04, Standard IV,, 12-95; Standard V., 901; Standard VL, 4.80 ; above that, 2-07. Thus less than 16 per cent of the total number of children attending school receive any advantage from the free education offered in the Fifth, Sixth, and what is known as the Sevsnth Standard, while the parents of the other 84 per cent are taxed heavily to pay for the instruction of the 16 percent. The Sixth and Seventh Standards include less than seven per cent of the scholars, and to the Seventh Standard only two per cent of the attendance proceed. An enquiry would we feel sure, show that the parents of the majority of the children in the higher Standards tire in j such circumstances as to be able to pay for the education of their children in the subjects specially taught in those Standards. Those Standards, too, are the most expensive to main tain, calling for high qualifications in the teachers which must be paid for at a correspondingly high rate. The report shows that the average age at which the fourth standard is passed is twelve years and four months, and that the attendance of scholars over that age falls off' very fast, so that of 117,912 scholars only 7112, or six per cent, are over fourteen years of age, and 2240, or two per cent, are over fifteen. These proportions correspond very closely with the percentages of scholars in the higher classes, and this is confirmatory of the inference that the scholars in three Standards are the children of well-to-do parents, who can afford to keep them at school two or three years longer than the other 94 per cent of the children. This also disposes of the idea that the higher standards consist of scholars of ex ceptional ability. The figures demand the attention of the public. They show that the advantages which the system is said to give to the children of the working man are not partici pated in by them—they form part of the large majority of scholars that leave school at twelve and thirteen yeai'S of age. The introduction of elementary scientific and technical subjects might keep them at school a little longer, or it might have the opposite effect by makiug them earlier in life able to assist their parents or take up a trade or industry for them selves. We do not for a moment ad vocate the withdrawal of any advan tages that scholars of exceptional ability, now enjoy—we simply point out how small a number come under that category, aud would ask -. our veaders whether even greater advan tages than those afforded by the higher Standards of the primary schools could not be provided lor this small number at infinitely less cost, by a liberal system of scholarships to be given in a re-arranged-fourth Standard. *

CORRESPONDENCE.

(We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expiessed by our correspondents.)

THE "CHURCH NEWS" AND PROHIBITION.

TO THE EDITOR, Sik, —With reference to the remarks quoted in your paper from the V Church News," allow me to express my regret (and I Relieve I express the view's of the friends of temperance generally) that the oi^Jin of the Episcopalian Church should assume the attitude it does towards a great national reform. When we con sider the kind of misery produced where ■ the drink traffic flourishes, and. how it cuts like a cancer into the religious and social life, we might; expect that a Church organ, written prol<jssed!y in the interests of religion, would lend all the weight of its influence to the causa of Gospel tem perance. It is with pleasuiq in this con nection that the names of sudj. doughty champions of t|iat cause come into mind as the eloquent Canon' FarrSr, ah^ the philanthropic Canon Wilberforce. Another venerable advocate of temperance, Cardi- i nal Manning, protests, according to a, recenfc cablegram, against the liquor traffic, and praises the efforts of the United Kingdom Alliance to mitigate the evi|. AIJ. honour to those in any commu nion who 1 apply the teaching and spirit of the GrospeJ. fpr the say.|ng. of the body, soul, and'spirit of 'their felkny creatures. But what amount of sincerity can there be in #ie horror of drunkenness, expressed by Church qrgans- or Churph dignitaries, w'fto are found espousing the cause of the. publican and the brewer as against the s f"-h! and .spiritual well-being of the people ! When we find a Bishop asking; for compensation of men engaged in a traffic thdt swallows up more than £2,000,000 of the people's money, that produces a harvest of crime, poverty, accidents, loss of labour, etc. ; when the " Church News " expresses a grave doubt whether majorities should rule minori ties, because there have been several Prohibition victories,; and, when we find the same organ discovering in the proceedings of the Sydenham Licens ing Committee a similarity to the horrors of the Inquisition, we are led to wonder how far good men can allow their vision to be distorted. It was the Ohristchuroh p Pre^s '' on the eve of the Sydenham vic tory that.bro'ufpnVih the ide&'of:" lighting the fires of Ssnithfield," as if the publicans, were suffering in a sacred cause, and as if, men, who deal out destruction and engage in the wrecking of humanity, could be placed in the same category with those who suffered for their religious opinions ! The "Church News" also indulges in a slight crow at the reverse of fortune ex periehc'e4'"by th® Sydenhaai Committee. ThereisalK jd saying which' wants us<»gajtisti hallooing till we are out of th*e wood. Should the Appeal Court interpret the conti'oj of the li'qupj;- traffic favorably to the Committee tlje " Oh^t'ch JTewg >! will not have the same cause to crow, and per haps by that time ifc would see its way to join }n suppressing the evils gf drink, advance the cause of religion and hum> nity.—l am, efco., Advance N.Z.

TELEGRAPHIC.

HOME AND FOREIGN

(PKR PRESS ASSOCIATION

N.S.W. IRON DEPOSITS.

: London, July 4. The,scheme put forward by Mr Charles Mitchell, of Armstrong, Mit chell and Co., the famous iron manu facturers, for working the iron de posits in New South Wales, is sus pended, pending the action of the New South Wales Parliament towards the fiscal and federal p-l'cy. Intending investors are favorable to protectio y because they believe it will ensure the success of the undertaking. LABOR QUESTIONS. .London, July 5. The evidence taken by the Labor Commission shows increased prevalence of Socialistic doctrines among the workers, and also the failure of the Employers' Liability Act to afford | protection to workmen.

THE KURDISH OUTRAGE.

Teheran, July 6. The Turkish Ambassador at Teheran, declares chat the girl abducted by Kurds became a Mahommedan in 1889. The girl's relations deny the statement.

INDIAN FOOD PROSPECTS.

Madras, July 0. Rain has fallen generally through* out Madras, and hopes are entertained that the threatened famine may be averted.

PORTUGUESE AFFAIRS.

Lisbon, July 4* The Portuguese Government propose to withdraw from the Banks at Oporto where the recent revolution took place, the power to issue notes during tbe stringency.

THE WORLD'S FAIR.

Teheran, July 4. The Shah of Persia will visit Chicago during the Fair. St. Petersburg, July 4. Russia has consented to be officially represented at the Chicago Fair.

THE EUROPEAN SITUATION.

Rome, July 4. The organ of the Vatican declares against the triple alliance, and the clericals condemn its renewal, on the ground that under it the Freemasons are guaranteed the violent possession of Rome. In recognition of the Government renewing the triple alliance, the Em peror of Germany has conferred on Marquis Rudini, Premier of Italy, the Order of the Black Eagle of Prussia. Komb, July 5. The "Esercrito" that preparations for war with France have been hastened on account of the renewal of the Triple Alliance. '

THE CHILIAN WAR.

Valparaiso, July 5. A cargo of cannons, small arms and gunpowder has been landed at Iqnique to the order of the insurgents. Hew Yokk, July 5. Intelligence has been received that the Charleston and Itata have arrived at Pomona. , :

HAILSTORMS IN AMERICA.

N»v Yoek, July 4/ Severe hailstorms have been ex perienced in Dakota, lowa, Nebraska, and Missouri, doing enormous damage to the crops. ARGENTINE FINANCES. Buenos Ayres, July 4. The revenue of the Argentine Re public for the last, year was 29,000 f 0ip0 dok in gold and 26,000,000 dolsi jin paper. The expenditure was 14,000,000 dois. in gold and 35,000,000 dols: In paper. The Government propose further issue of paper money to ti)3ex tent of 25,000,000 dols.. jf

THE ROUMANIAN BETRTHAL.

Bucharest, July 5. The report that the Crown Prince is betrothed to Miss Varescoe is officially declared to be a complete invention ?nd to have no foundation in fact, '

THE OTTOMAN DEBT.

Constantinople, July 5. The Porte has rejected a scheme for the conversion of the Ottoman debt.

MR BLAINE'S ILLNESS.

Mr J/ : G. Blame is severely ill. He is .suffering from softening of the brain, ANOTHER RAILWAY KORROR. A bridge on the Michigan Railway line at Charleston collapsed while a train was crossing, and fourteen per sons were killed and sixteen seriously injured.

INTERPROVINCIAL

Auckland, July 6. At a meeting of the Boot Manufacturers' Association it was resolved to act loyally to the journeymen and apprentices now at work, in terras of the following resolu tion, carried unanimously :—" That all employees now at work, and any others who may resume work during the next few days, will have preferential employ ment, as well as the utmost suppt rfc by tacli member, of the Association, 11 ■''■■■'■'■ VVEtLINGToiC'JuIy fi. A deputation of shipmasters waited'oii the Minister of Marine to-day urging the erection oi a liofht on Stephen Island Cook fetraite. In reply the Hon Mr McKenzie said he did not think there could be any difference of opinions as to the necessity for the light • that hv\ beon recognised by the previous Government nj securing fund for the purp OSB . £8000 tM estimated " posf oi tins' lighthouse W4 a very larsje sum of money, »i u t \t was a matter for consideration as, to where it AVas to cojne from, He promised to brina th.eittatter befove hi* colleagues j^t the 4mt qpportunity, and try to get them to agr§e to the lighthouse being ereoted for ho was satisfied as to the necessity for a light, and the import wee of the matter to the whole mercantile and shipping com munity. ri • Lyell, July 6. A. man named John Brown, a shoe maker, fell over a precipice at some work ins* on tha Nelgon Road and was tilled fristantenously, ' Re 4leaves a tife- and four children, J '•' r i ; ' The body of Tlhm. O'Callaghan, who had bsen missinjr since Thursday, was found in the Lyell creek, at the foot of a precipice, over which he is believed to haye 1 fallen. Decease^ was a good miner and prospector; and was well kaoW along the coast; •:■ ; .

THB ABHBURTON GUARDIAN, TUESDAY, JULY % 1891.



The Best Eesiedv fob Indigestion— $foi,toii!s CaifHHrtilp Pflls are ciQnfidenfy. VecQinrifeiidpd aY a sjuiDje r-eme^y for Indigestion, is the cHijse of nearly all the diseases to whioa' we are subjects i Norton's Phols, with justice called the 'Natural Strengthener of the Human Stomach," act as a powerful tonic and gen ble perient, are mild in tlieir operation, and afe under any circumstances. Sold in bottles, at Is 2s 9d, Ils, by all medicine endors throughout the w'q Id



Wanted. ! CASH Advertisements under chis heading not exceeding SIXTEEN WORDS 1/-. Addresses may be Wt at his Office. VI /ANTED Known—b. W. Alcobn ' ' * will feel oMiged if all accounts owing are paid within fourteen days. WANTED Known. — Blankets and j Flannels great bargains at Andrew ' Obrs. "TT7 ANTED Known.—Great Clearing VV Sale at "The Corner" of Drapery, Clothing, and Boots.—W. H. Collier. „ rVQ Meet the Times.—T am supplying I Galvanised Iron Tanks from 30s upwards, warranted for twenty years. Force pumps, deep well cylinders of all descriptions. Inspection invited.— J. W. Hardlky, East street. fi|2ol WANTED Known.—That for quality, assortment, and price see Andrew Orr's large stock of Millinery, Clothing, and Boots. No presents, no bribes, but good value.— Andrew Ore. WANTED every man in the County to have a suit of the Ashburton Tweeds.—Robert Alcokn, Ashburton Clothing Mart, Saunder's Buildings. TI^INEST Cod Liver Oil. Chest and X* Lung Protectors. Chilblain lini ments. Brooke, Chemist, Ashburton. ANTED Known—Girls' Boots 2s lid, Ladies' French Shoes 3s Jld, Gents' Shoes 5s 6d ; at Andrew Obr's Cheap Sale. 6 2*4 ANTED~ Known—Old Spoons and Forks Electro-plated and made equal to new at 15s per dozen all round. A. Black, Jeweller, East Street, 4 150 WANTED Known.—Call and secure barsains of Winter Drapery at the Great Sale at W. EL Collier's, "The Corner." TTTANTED Known—ln consequence VV of the inconvenience to Customers by the rebuilding of our shop front, we have determind to give some very cheap lines.—H. C. Segkrs, Melford House. _ WANIED, every man in the district to order a Kaiapoi or Roslyn Tweed Suit. Also, Boys' Suit* and Gents' Overcoats in great variety.—Andrew Ore. DURING Alterations Customers should inspect our prices. Lot of Goods to be cleared very cheap. Hand some presents given away. —H. C. Sbgees, Melford House. f~~S LORIOUS News. —Just purchased a VjT Dunedin.Warehouseman's Stock ef 90 Piece* French Cashmeres and Merinos at less than half price. Will te sold during the cheap nale at Is 10£ d ; regular price 3s 9d.— Andrew Orr. ____^ II Known.—That if you want Y\ real good weai ing boots, to keep your feet dry, you can get them in great variety at John Mgison's, the expert Bootmaker, Town Hall shop, East Street 6 73 DOUBLE~Bbinkcts, and through mis understanding double quantity sent from Mill. H-ive reduced the price 5s per pair. —Robert Alcorn, Ashburton Clothing Mart, Saunders' Buildings. 6 154 TCE Cream off. Cough drops on, Un JL doubtedly the best. H. G. Flower, Confectioner, East Street. WANTi'-D Known. —I have a large stock of Tin ami Ironware Goods to select from. Register Grates, Stoves, Portable Boilers, Spouting and Ridging kept in stock.—J. W. Hardlby, East street. 6J202 WANTED Known—H. Dudley will sink Deep Wells and supply Cylinder Pumps and Piping, and guaran tee water to surface at 3s 6d per foot. H. Dudley, Moore Street. 6§54 ANTED KNOWN,—If you have the Cash, you can save about 6s in every Pound, by buying your Jackets Uhters. Dress Goods, Millinery, &c, at ri. W. Alcorn & Co.'s Clearing Sale. 6J36 DKEBENT S.—Through necessary JL .alterations we will still continue giving urgs.ents. Come and see our Cheap tines.*--11, C. Segers, Melford House. "EVV GAMES - T^MoHy^WiS Reversi, Snickem, and o'chere, Fresh Supplies of The Minors' Right. The Squatter's Dream, Robbery Under Arms.. A Colonial Reformer, Told after Supper, Three Men in a Boat, and hundreds of others. NEW MUSIC— yocal and Instrumental. —L. F. Andhewes and Co, Public Notices TO BRIDGE CARPENTERS. WANTED, Tenders for building a stone shoot at tho Buxton Lime Kilns. Labour only. Plans and speci fications at this Office. Tenders close on FRIDAY, July 10, at noon, addressed to the undersigned, Mount Somers. 7 29 JR. F. WRIGHT. STOCK-TAKING. Glreat fSeduciiOHS HAVE BEEN MADE IN ALL DEPARTMENTS. NEW ZEALAND CLOTHING FACTORY SPECIAL LINES FOR m h i s vrr a c k. Men's Tweed Trousers ... 7s 6d to Clear. Boy.s'Pilot Overcoats ... 9s lie 1 Men's Tweed Suits ... 35s Boys' Tweed Suits ... 7s6d Men's Shirts with collar... Is lid HATS ani» CAPS, SCARFS and BOWS GREATLY REDUCED. NEW GOODS GENUINE VALUE. NEW ZEALAND CLOTHING FACTORY :



MR T BULLOCK CHEAP PROPERTIES. £200.—Dwelling-house of five rooms, ' together with two sections, £-acre, Cox j street. . £115.— Three-roomed Cottage and J-acre section, Grey street. £135.—Five-roomed House i'l Cox street, with £-acre bection and shed. FOR SALE.—Eight acres very desir able Suburban Property fronting the Domain. Should prove a very good invesment. Apply to T. BULLOCK. £800, £300.—Two special sums to lend at 6 per cent on first-class security. Apply to T. BULLOCK MONEY JO LEND" TI/TONEY to Lend at LOW RATES OF INTEREST, on Mortgage of FREE HOLD PROPERTY, in sums of .£IOO TOJBSOOO ?or further particulars apply to the Postmaster, Ashburton, or to J.p. PRUDHOE, District Agent. Government Insurance Office, Christehurch. ANDREW ORRT WILL HOLD HIS Great Annual Sale OF DRAPERY, CLOTHING, AND BOOTS, For Oxe Month, COMMENCING Saturday, June 27. The Greatest Bargains EVER SEEN in j ASHBURTOF. JUST PURCHASED, j A WAREHOUSEMAN'S STOCK OF FBENCH CASHMERES AND MEBI^Oe, At less that HALF PRICE Will be offered during the Sale at MS MOf Oj" FORMER PRICE *$S Oil Andrew On\ WINTER CLEARING SALE AT "11 lit" Stock must be REDUCED- ,£(000 —REDUCED BEING much overstocked, I have decided to commence the Clearing S-ile earlier than usual, to give an oppor tunity of purchasing Winter Goods at Low Prices before the termination of che Winter. DRESS GOODS, usually sold at B|d, now SM. ULSTERS & JACKETS marked very cheap, and tho prices must ciear them. A large lot of WOOLLEN SHAWLS, MITS, & RIBBONS being offered at about HALF-PRICK. A lot of WINGS & BIrtDS at HALF PRICE. Men's Overcoats, usually 555, now 355. Men's Suits, usualy 38s, now 255. Men's heavy Tweed Trousers 7s lid. CALL AT ONCE AND SECURE THE BARGAINS. W. H. Collier c- The Corner." WJTM T£ET« A''=HodT TCEIB CHRHSrOUGRCH DENTAL SURGERY. Corner of Cashel and High streets o nvyTYERS and /io. O. IVJL \jo SURGEON DENTIST And at Dunedin and Westporl fTTE have gained the FIRST AWARD YV at the Dunedin Exhibition for Artificial Dentures and Mechanical Appli ances for the Mouth, and it is with the greatest confidence that we guarantee the highest class work and perfect fit at the most moderate cost A Single Artificial Tooth, 10s. Complete Set — Upper and Lower— temporary and permanent, £10 10s. Natural, Durable, Comfortable \rtificial Teeth Replaced Temporarily al most immediately after the extraction I of decayed teeth or stumps without extra fee or charge. Arrangements can be made for part or monthly payments. ADMINISTERING NITROUS OXIDE orAS several times daily for the past ten years, we fearlessly assert that extraction of teeth under its influence is perfectly painless and positively safe. Fee for Administration ss. Extraction, 2a Gd. Artificial Teeth and Dentures made by other dentists repaired or remodelled at lowest rates ' " ?



NOFICE. ALL Parsons found treapaßsing on the Coldstream Estate with Dogs •r Guns will be prosecuted. 3177 JOHN STUDHOLME, Jus. ———- THE ASHBURTON"" Gffl FURNITURE Egl WjIIIEIIOIISE OF mm i dim In Tancred Street IS replete with Superior Furniture in the newest designs, made from well uoaKoned New Zealand and imported Timbers. Carpets, Mattings, Floor Cloths, Linoleums, Rugs, and Door Mats of superior quality and great variety in stock. FURNITURE marie to order in any design, and warranted to give satisfaction. A good select:on of Cretonnes, Tapes tries, and Leathers for Upholstering. Suites, Chairs, Couches, &c, always on hand. BEDSTEADS AND BEDDING. Buyers, please call anJinspect our Large and Choice Stocks. Venetian Blinds made and repaired with promptitude. 6JBI COMPETITION IS TtlE LIFE OF TRADE. Likewise Money is the life of the Drapers ! £6000 WORTH O; F DRAPERY, 0 L O T H I N" G, BOOTS, W. W. SPENCER & CO.'s | '■*■ MUST BE SOLD ~ PREVIOUS to that awful day, the day of reckoning. Stock-taking begins in July. x NOW OR NEVER x Men's Heavy Overcoats, 20.5. White Blankets. 8s lid a pair Men's Colored Moles, 5s 9d i Boys' Heavy Brown Cord Trousers, from 4s Gd Men's Tweed Suits, 21s Boys' Tweed Cans, 7id each Men's Heavy Kjiit Woollen Sox, 7|d per pair j Men s and Boys' Ties, 2d each Man's Heavy Union Shirts, Is lid l Winter Dress Goods, 4|d, A splendid Winter Dress for 6* lid per doz. Flannels 10W. ll|d, and Is, worth double. "Flannelette, 4s 3d per floss. Cretonnes, 4s 3d per doz. Neck Ribbons, all colors, Id per yard Feathers, 3d each ; Flowers, Id each Women's and Children's Hats, 2d each Women's Tweed Uisters, worth llsfid, for 3s; 12s 6d for 4s lid BOOTS. BOOTS. BOOTS. We defy New Zealand to compete with us in BOOTS for quality and price. Men's colonial-made Shooters, 9s lid Men's Bluchers, 6s 6d Women's strong Elastic sides, 63 9d worthlOa 6d. Children's Boots and Slippers, Is Girls' Elastic and Button Boots, from 2s 9d at W-TTT QPENOER&/""^O . W . JOPENCER 4 VjO 9 THIS ARCADE. John Orr & Go. HA.YE now landing and in stock, ex " Maori " from London, — 10 Casks Ransoaie's and Hornsby's Ploughshares 1 Case James Breech-loading Guns 1 T«.n Chilled Shot 10 Cases Diamond Grain Powder 4 „ Cartridges 2  Gun Wads and Caps 20 Tons Bar Iron 4 Cases Fenders 20 Packages Register Grates 40 Sets Fire Irons 30 Paokages Spades and Forks 30 Kegs Blueslone 7 Bales Artistic Wall Papers 6 Cases Bedsteads 4 Casks Lamps and Globes 100 Coils Steel Barb Wire 200 Coils Plain Steel- Fence Wire. 8, 9, and 10 Titan Wire Strainers 1 Cask Tea Pots 4 Paokages Brushes—all kinds 3 Casks Bolts and Nuts 50 Drums Boiled Oil 2 Tons White Lead, 281b and 561b Tins £ Ton Red Lead, 281b and 661!> This} Paints, Oils, and Varnishes—all kinds 1 Case Meat Choppers j 1 Case Lanterns 2 Casks Holloware— Saucepans, Boilers, and Kettles 30 Drums Sheep Marking Oil 2 Packages Copper Rivets, |in to lin 1 Case Wrenches 12 Packages Wringers and Mangles 2 Boxes Door Mats • 3 Packages Cinder Sifters 1 Case Asperial's Enamel 1 Cask Scales and Weights 1 Cask Bug Hooks 50 Kegs Wire Nails 20 Kegs Wire Staples 3 Packages Locks and Hinges 1 Package Files and Rasps Flax and Manilla Rope—all sizes 1 Case Screws—all sizes 1 Cask Vices Grindstones, 18in, 20m, 24in, 26in iOO Cases Kerosene; warranted best obtainable 5000 Yards Wire Sheep Netting 8 Packages Axes and Hatchets 3 Cases Chisels and Hammers 4 Cases Carpenters' Tools 3 Casks Plough and Trace Chains 10 Packages Galvanised Tubs and Buckets 1 Case Table and Pocket Cutlery Leather Belting, l£in to 6in 4 Cases Gorse Knives 3 Crates Fancy Crockery 10 Tons Best Mauritius Sugar. Ceyloo and Indian Tea Company s Pure Blended Teas. The above having been bought on th most favourable terms will bo sold at LOWEST CURRENT^RATES. y* ■ Purchasers should inspect <urJStock3 nd get quotations. JOHN ORR k Co. ,