NOTICE TO CORRESPONDENTS.

F. Hill, Ashburton.—Your letter would occupy more Bpace than we can afford. The Government will take steps before long to remedy the evils you complain of.

COMMERCIAL.

(PBR PBBSB A3SOCUTION.)

London. January 10. ' The prospects of lavgt* arrivals of butter have depressed tho maike% and cauaed a fall of from 4s to 6a p«r cvvr. Sydney, January 11. Wheat, chick, 2s Ud to 3s. Flour, New Zealand, £8 to £8 I<K Oats quiet, bright feed 2s 6£d. Maize, New ZeUand. 3s lOd to 3s lid. Barky. (Jape 3s 6J. Bran, B£d. Pollard, 9&<l. Peas, Prussian Blue, 3» to 3* 6d. Potatoes, local, £5 to £5 ss, Wwrnamboola £5 ss. Onions, n*w Victorian, £5. Butter, dairy nv»d« 7-i t<» Bd, factory 8d to 9J. Cheese, prune lo=»f 6d, good supply. Bacon, Niw- Zealaad prime, B£d. Hams, nominal, 11$ I to Ih or crocerd* lo'^s. The Sew Zealand I <>an an* Mercantile Agency Company, limited, h-.v* nff«»v^d the following cable message, d-ited London, January I.oth :— Wheat—Stocks are heavy and market is depressed. iSew Zealand wheat average is worth 31s per 4961b5. (Received January 12,, 10,40 a.m.) London, January 11. The shipment of Victorian mutton has nearly all been cleared at 2ji to 3d. The quantity of wheat a ,,d HjnrHljM for the United Kingdom « 2,688,000 quarters; for the Continent, MB,UW qU* °r ' Mblboukne, January 11. Wheat, medium 3.s to 3a Id. Flour, stone £7 10s to £8, roller £7 15s to £8 03 O»ts, Algerian Is 6il to Is BJ, Ptout feeding Is lO^d to &. M«iw, 3s. Barley Cape 2s sd. Bran Bd. Pollard 9d. Flax £19 to £22, for ordiua<y to prime. Potatoes £2 to £2 oa'6d. Butter, potted 8d to lid. Cheese, Hew Zealand, od to bi-d. Mkt-bouune, JaHunry 12. There is a strong demand for w.k>l. The operations of the German huysrs are the feature of the auctions. Prices are firm st a slight increase (Received January 12, noon.) Sydney, January 12. A large selection of wool is being offered, and owing lo a number of new buyers putting in their appearance mm additional competition being thereby induced prices are firm, ranging from p\r to a fMthing above last month a closing nt«s. German buyers are operating vizorouply. Greasy merino, good, 7fca to 8M ; superior, 9d to lid. Lambs, good, 6*d to 7*d ; superior, 8d to 9^d. Cross bred, good, 8d to 83d ; superior, 9d to Mi. Scoured merino, good, 13^d to MJdj superior, 15d to 17id. Washed merino, good, lOd to 10|d ; superior, lid to 12$ d. Adelaidb, January 11. Business is dull, and the market un changed. r , 1 Auckland, Jat.uary 11. At the wool sales to-day good *ort» aps t-iined ilieu- former values, but there was » decline in the price of rough wools of •bout a id, and * fall of a £d in log utained wools. The total amount cata logued was 3475 bales^

Addington Stock Market.

Chpistchurch, January 11. Stork Shew—The entry consisted of 2400, half of which were merino wethers of second daw quality, which sold at 6s 3d to 7s Id j two-tooth crossbred wethers brought 12s 7d, crossbred mixed agea and sexes up to 13» 7d ; four and six-tooth crossbred ewes, dry, up to 13* 9d, a ediVl line of lambs 9s 6d ; dry merino ewee, 5s 6d; a line of cro»B ---br«d ewes, with 100 per cent of forward lambs, lie 6d (all counted). Fat Lambs—l 800 were punned. Freeze™ ■old at from lla Gd to 143 Gd,- and the trade had some difficulty in gutting supplies. Fat Shekp—6ooo were encered. Best crossbred wethers realised fully last week's values, up. to 16* being giv^n for prime sheep. Wethers and maiden ewes brought from 11s 3d to 16<, according to weight. The demand for crossbred ewes was active, but prices realised were from U to Is 6\l below last weeks values. Merino wethers were in fair demand, and brought from 8s 3d to 10s 9d, a few pens of really prime bringing 12i and I'2b 6a. Fat Cattle.—ll4 were s-olrf by auction. Handy weight steers and heifers were in the beat denvmd, and sold up to recent quotations. There was less demand for fat cows than usual, and values fell. * Store CaMM.—There wa3 less demand. Decidedly good calves soH at 235, yearlings at 32s 61 to 46*, two ye*r-ol<ls at £3 10a to '£4 fa 6.1, and eighteen-moiUhs-old cati Ie at £3 to £3 6*. Ojws broughfeimm £2 103 to Pigs—Nearly 200 pigs were yarded; which •11 sold capitally. Best baconers said at 2_ Js to 425, and porkers at 18s to 26?, according to liase.

Ashburton Markets.

MB DAVID THOMAS. Mr David Thomas reports upon the live stock market in the Ashburton district for the week ending Tuesday, January 10, as follow* :—On Tuesday at the Tinwald yards the usual weekly sale of live stock was held There was a large entry of sheep, and prices were quite on a par with last week's quota tions. The heat was intense and the sheep looked nther drooping, but there were some grand lines in which should have made comp etition more brisk. The total yarding comprised 7587 sheep and In head of cattle, of which my entry consisted of 3160 sheep and 15 head of cattle. The principal entries were large lines of hoggets and ewes and lambi. My principal sales were as follow: —9 fat crossbred «wes and wethers, 13s ; 33 merino wethers, 8s; 27 merino wethers, 7s lid; 26 crossbred ewes and wethers, 13*; 17 merino ewes, 10* 9d; 108 crossbred ewes and wethers, four-tooths, 14* 8d ; 150 cross bred ewes and wethers, 12a 6d ; 230 ewes and 220 lambs (all counted), 8s ; 204 hoggets, 14t« 392 hoggets, 13s 9il; 243 crossbred •wes and 254 lambs (all counted), 9s 2d; 149 hoggets, 12s lid; 164 crossbred ewes and 1831ainba (all counted), 8s 6d ; 40 lambs, 11s. My principal sales in cattle were—2 fat tows, £4 15s; 2 fat heifers, £5 2s; 1 fat cow, 45 ss; 1 fat cow, £7 2b 6d j 1 fat cow, £4 2s6d. . I sold privately during the week—32o lambs, 12d 3J ; 160 lambs, 10s 91; 1670 fat lamba at a satisfactory price. Horsk Markkt—On Saturday, Janwy 7, at Bullock's Arcade, I held my usual weekly horse sale, * hen 74 horses came for ward for the day's requirements, of which I diapoeed of about 47. Although the entry was large the quality was not equal to the quantity. Some of the vendors seem to think that anything with four legs will sell, in which case they make a great mistake, for it is next to impossible to dispose of these old crocks, and they only spoil sale of the young stock. Young draughts, which take a trial, are the class of stock that sell well just now, and it is useless for vendors to ■end in the scum of the market. Young draughts with plenty of bone fetch from £18 to £25, and young hacks from 17 to £20. I cannot quote any prices for aged horses. CIVBABINO Salk —One of the most success fal clearing sales of the season was hold Ly me, in conjunction with Messrs Mites and Co., at Mr W. Moses* farm, folding's Swamp, Waterton, on Friday, January 6. There were horses, cattle, pigs, und nnple nwutsoffered,andalthoughtherewa not very lane attendance of buyers, still those who were there proved by their bidding that they came to do business. Horaes were the chief feature of the sale, and prices realised, : to my mind, were exceedingly high, and thoroughly satisfactory to the teller. Mr Moses' aged horses brought £19, £23, and *23 10s; other outside entries, aged, £23 10s; 2at £14 10a; 1 at £14 • lat £11; 1 at £11 10s. Mr Moses 1 young horses brought £19. £22, *19 10a, £21, £16, £23, £23, £14 10a. Harness, £15s to £3 15s. Implements did not sell well. For other owners we sold a few head of cattle at fair values.

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. THURSDAY, JANUARY 12, 1893. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Now Zealan.l Riii? Association ; meetiug, at Trenthatn, Wellington, begins to-day. Entries are less numerous than usual. Last night a fierce nor'wester was blowing at the camp and rain set in. Yesterday, by the falling down of their horse on tne south approach to the traffic bridge, Mr George Aston and daughter were thrown from their trap Bnd suffered a severe shaking. At the Police Court, Auckland, yesterday, Walter Bputly, the celebrated actor, was charged with allowing overcrowding at a public performance. "Bentley conducted his own defence in the case, which was finally dismissed. Mr Siedeberg, chess champion, gave an exhibition of blindfold play in Christchurch on Tuesday night, when he met four strong ] Slayers simultaneously. He won two games, I rew one, - and the other was abandoned. I It was considered a marvellous performance. At Ashburton Domain yesterday the return cricket match between the Ashburton and Longbeach Clubs was played. The latter reversed the result, of the previous match, winning by an innings and seven runs. The clearing sale which was to be held at Rakaia on January 19 by Mr John G. Restell, in conjunction with the Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, has been post poned, owing to the Christchurch wool sales falling on that day. The Primitive Methodist Conference be gan its sittings to-day at two o'clock. There were about fifty delegates present at the opening service, at the close of which the usual routine business was commenced, As a welcome to the delegates, St. Stephen's bells were chimed at one o'clock. Yesterday afternoon the wind faimed the embers of the debris of the recent fire at Mr Lublow's property into flame, which became threatening enough to justify a detachment of the Fire Brigade taking out the curricle and extinguishing the fire, which was done in a few minutes. - The " Bush " says there is a re port going the rounds in Makotuku that gold has been found in the Rualrine range at last. The finder is man named Miller, from the German, line. The specimen was found in clay and half-formed rock. Mr Gribble, manager of the Kopua mill, who has been managing a gold mine in Australia, washed andanalysedthe specimen, and says it it a splendid sample. Mr Miller has gone to Napier to take out a prospector's licemse. A Kelson lawyer, explaining his rapid increase of wealth as in reputation, said it was' due to the tomfoolery of people. For example, he says :—"A client of mine had a racehorse that he swapped for some land in the Sounds. The racehorse went wrong', in I the other man brought a suit to recover damages This made my client angry, and he brought suit for misrepresentation of property. The opposing lawyer was a friend of mine. Each had two suits, and we fought them tooth and nail. Now he owns the racehorse and I own the land in the Sounds," One of the largest sales of surplus sheep off any one statiou that has ever taken place here is announced to be held at the Reserve, Omihi Flat, on Monday next. The Cheviot sheep are well knov^n through out the South Island, and this year's draft compares favorably with former lots. A« an erroneous impression appears to exist with regard to these sheep being affected with foot-rot, the auctioneers desire it to be stated that such is not tne case, and, furthermore, that" no foot-roc sheep will leave the station. Intending" purchasers from this district must arrange to leave Christchurch for Waipara (where con veyances will meefc the train) by the first train on Monday morning. The Rev P. M. Flannagan, of Chicago, has received a letter from BUhop Avignourd, Vicar Apostolic of Oubangui, on the Upper Congo, where cannibalism is of every day's occurrence. The Bishop writes:—"A Frenchman, M. Depon Meyrac, has just been killed and eaten in the Upper Oubangui, with ten black soldiers and thirty carriers. A Belgian expedition has just been* destroyed by thirty Arabs, who put eight Europeans to death by veritable martyrdom., The chief of the expedition was forced to look on. His arm was taken off, and roasted and eaten in his presence. The same was then done with his other arm, and he was finally killed fin the (slowest and most painful manner possible. It is horrible ! When shall it be our turn 1 Within the coming six months I shall go to found a mission at the place where M. Depon Meyrac was killed and eaten, and I implore the co-operation of your prayerß flpr the success of this important undcrtak- Mr J. G. Engst, one of the earliest European settlers in the Chathaths, has arrived in Christchurch. He j,informs the " Lyttelton Times " that during the past six weeks south-east winds have prevailed, and they have been exceptionally cold, and in consequence the fruit has suffered to a great extent. The oat crops are looking very healthy, and generally the prospects of the islands are good. The cold weather may be attributable to the near approach of a large number of icebergs which were visible irom all parts of the islands. This was the only occasion on wbjch, so far as is known, ice bergs have been seen from the islands, and I the sight was therefore very interesting to I the residents. Ihe ice was first seen about six weeks ago, when two large column* were visible near the Hornsf, a rock situate in Pet re Bay. Mr Engat viewed them from Maunganui, a rocky peak 700 ft high, on.his own run. They appeared to him to be rather more than 20 miles from the island, in a south easterly direction. Viewing the bergs through a strong glass, and knowing that the Horns are 500 ft in height, Mr Engst judged the icebergs to rise fully 600 ft above the water. Later in the same day 40 icebergs of yarious sizes could be counted, and they were e&timated to be about 20 miles to the soufchfea,st of Pitt Island. They were visible for a great part of the day and till the night closed iij. In the morning they were no longer visible, and it, i? thought tftat they were breaking up and u.J ing away when last seen, as the weather had oaased to be as cold as it was previous to their arrival.

WAKANUI CREEK.

CONFJvRE^C •: OF THE PUBLIC BODIES. A special meeting of tho County Council, in conference with the local bodies and others interested in the Wakanui creek was held yesterday, at which there was a full attendance of the members of the County Council, ant) a la'r^e number of settlers representing the various interests which the creek involves. T. 16 Chairman slid they were all no duubt aware of the position of the creek question up to tho point a>- which it now was. Th-it meeting h;id been called to obtain the views of the settlors interested with the object of bringing! tho whole question to a final settlement. Tlu re port of ths Committee appointed to con sider the question had been published in full, and bad no doubt been read by those present. At ttie last meeting of Lhe Council the position had been very con siderably altered by a letter of the miliowners to the Council, in which letter the miliowners came a great deal nearer to the proposals of the Committee than they had done before the report wap submitted. In consequence of this letter the report had been set aside, and this meeting had been called for the purpose stated. The whole proceedings hitherto of the Council had been published, so that no doubt the settlers were sufficiently well aware of the position to admit of time being saved by holding she proceed ings of the Council and the corres pondence on the .subject as road, and he would now ask the settlers to give the Council the benefit of their views. Mr James Brown said he thought the first consideration of the meeting should bo of tho supply to Hampstead, That question had been burning for six years, had come frequently before the Cduncil, and had been buffeted about, if he might use the expression, from one local bod} to another. It had been brought to almost a point of settlement within the last twelve months, by a proposal to en large the supply to tho borough main . race, and supply these settlers therefrom. , But an obstruction had been set up at, this point by the Ashburton Borough | Council, who took the selfish and unjusti-1 liable position of claiming that their re quirements be satisfied first, when there was a scarcity of water. The County Council had been bringing in a supply to the north from the south branch, at a cost of £106, to tbfl Borough Council's £10, yet the latter had the assurance to claim first supply. If there had been i»o expenditure by the County Council, the Borough Council would not have been able to get any water at aIL He wished the re presentatives of che Boio-i^'iCounoiltosay what position that body now took in re gard to this matter ? Mr E. G. Wright said the Coiinty Council had but one single desire to meet all on equal terms, and not to favor one section of the community at the expense of another. He knew it was difficult to reconcile the interests of all the con -1 flicting bodies. There were sixty miles in nil of water races supplied from this creek, thirty miles of these races being supplemented from other sources. The Borough Council contributed less than its share perhaps, but there were the interests of tho miliowners and the irrigation fai*m to be considered in ad dition to those of Hampstead and Allen ton, and tho settlers along the line of the creek and supplied from races led from it. Some of the settlers on the creek were antagonistic to the proclaiming of the creek, but the creek as it was now was not thecreekithad been in its natural con dition, He hid known it for twaniy years, and it hid not always been a I running stream but a series of ponds, and there had been dry seasons during which tho supply to the mill and the borough races had been joopirdi&ed by shortage. He wished to point cut that the Council, and the Council only, had a right to divert water from the river, so ttiafc neither the Borough Council nor th* miliowners could make a diversion with out the sanction of the County Council. Anything these bodies had done in the past had been by the exercise of delegated powers. The object of this meeting was to give the settlers interesced an oppor tunity to prefffr their special claims, and so indicate how far they were favorable or antagonistic to the Council's proposal to proclaim the cveek. In answer to Mr Brown, The Chairman said the settlers along the creek had been before the Committee of the Council in regard to the position of the question. Mr Friedlatider said the main question for that meeting to consider was whether or not the creek should be proclaimed. That question settled in the affirmative, then it would be for the Council to say on what terms the proclamation should be done. There were so many conflicting opinions and interests in the matter that if they were all to be discussed the discussion might go on for a month, and the meeting be no nearer to a settlement. He wished to point out that the Council had full power in the matter of diversion of the river, and no diversion of any-kind 1 by any body whatever could be attempted without the Council's sanction. Mr Grigg stid the conference owed thanks to Mr Friedlander for putting the position so concisely. There were really no conflicting interests, because they had 1 all the one common desire to be (served by the water, from the millowners and the Borough Council at the intake to the last settler at the sea. It was for those present to give their individual opinions.] But ho would like to say one nrorcl to' those settlers abutting on the creek. 1 They had enjoyed the we. of the water in the creek for lit 1 years at no. cost whatever to themselves, while the Council had spent a very considerable 1 amount of the County funds in clearing \ the creek, and in other ways. He wishe '/ the abutting settlers to note this, and uotj put forward any obstruction, nor be in-j considerate of their neighbors, or of the common good, and he trusted they would \ display this liberal spirit that day. ji Mr Coster was of opinion there would), be no difficulty in settling the question if j the s,e,fctjers would do as other settlers had/ done—assist die Council by allowing the water to flow through their land. Them had always been more or less wafcer in ; the creek, and the Council when it intro- J duced its general scheme of water sup ply had found the water in the creek, ! and ultimately made use of it—notf to supply those more immediately! i along the banks of the creek, but those' who were at a distance from it, and to do. this more water had been put in. A! disturbance had arisen some months s ago, which ha 4 brought the relations between all concerned to a rupture, and but for that rupture the old arrangements, which seemed satisfactory enough/'migitt have been going on to-day, and might haye gone on for years. If sompensatien were as^ed for for the use of the cteefci or costly"law expenses rendered necessary, then the only eoursg for the Council to pursue would be to abandon the creek,, and find other sources of supply as mdi,; ,caU»d in the Committee s report, the result oi which would be that there would be a j&hort supply fo? all along tho creek. If all the settlers in the county^ had demanded compensation for the use j of their land when the races first brought down there would h»ye been no ' water supply at af> Mr Bird, Mayor of Ashburton, ox olaincd that, no far as the Ashburton Borough Council was concerned, the water °was held on sufferance from the^ mill owners. The Hampstead Town Board had made an application recently to the Borough for » supply of water at

two different points. The Application was misunderstood by the Council, who could not entertain it, reading it in the light they did, as ib would have involved an outlay the Borough was not in a posi tion to face. The cos 1) of the work to the Borough of bringing in thia supply the outside Boards did not appear to under gtan i. The water had been bi ought I through the Domain and into the town at a very large cost, and a great portion , of the borough's rate 3 had been spent j upon the Domain which was not the pro- \ perty of the Borough but of all the people ; in the colony. He was willing to see the creek under *he control <>f the County Council, and the borough would be willing to puy its fair share of maintenance in > return for the wat r benefits enjoyed. ! In reply to Mr Brown, 1 Mr Bird said that so far as tho letter of , July last w;is concerned, recent events . had placed i hat letter out of court, and the whole matter of all the supplies would have to be begun «/« novo. Mr Friedlander, to bring the matter to a conclusion would move : — •'That, in the opinion of this meeting, it is desirable that the County Council shall bring the Wakanui Creek under the Winter Supply Aot-1891." Mr Grigg seconded, Mr Brown contended that the Council !as such had nothing to do with the, ; Borough Council's or any other body's i interests, but only with those of the ! county ratepayers. He held that the i millowners could very easily have secured j rights that would have put them in pos . session of all that was wanted. i Mr Wright suggested that the Allenton . , and H&mpstead people were county rate-: 1 payers, and the interests of the creek ; 1 were their interests, j Mr Cameron held that the Borough of I Ashburton, although paying no rates to \ the County Council, was too important a . l section of the district and community to be disregarded by the County Council, who must see that the borough's interests were looked after in the matter of water supply. Mr G. W. Leadley was quite sure that all were .agreed as to the advantage of the County Council being the cortrolling power ot the creek. It had been said that the millowners should have control of the creek, find the supp'y, and main tain it, on condition they were granted, the use of the creek from the mill down wards as a tail race. Ho was not in favor of that. He differed from Mr Grigg, inasmuch as the settlers had bought their land with the creek flowing through it, and paid a high price in consequence. If there had been any failure of the creek, it had been brought about by the large withdrawal of the supply that had been made to give water to other places. If consent were given to take the creek over, he would be prepared to give a water right, but their share of the annual cost of maintenance should be paid out of the general funds of the ridinp, "and he would decline to pay any special rate for cleaning. Neither did those farmers along the creek who used it as a power care to have this privilege interfered with. Then the tortuous nature of the creek, doubling back upon itself so frequently, was such that seme of the settlers would have to pay very heavil) when charges were levied. Mr Murdoch Bruce remembered the time when thera was not any creek— not a drop of water in it. As it was, he, out on the plains, was in the position of having to pay water rates, and yet get no water, as his race was frequently dry for weeks in spite of all the ranker could do, Messrs G. W. Andrews and W. C. Davis spoke in somewhat acrid tone of the Borough Council* attitude in regard to the water supply, Mr David Thomis said both Mr Brown and Mr Davis had set up Quixotic wind mills to have a buck at in regard to the borough's action, Tho Borough Council in several dry ceosons had had a lively sense of what it was u> he without water. J When replying to the Council in the letter of July, of which so much was made, they had simply said they wanted so much water for their own channels, and the- Council, who was to increase the supply to accommodate Allenton and. Hampstead, could take all over that quantity. Mr Silcock spoke strongly in farorof the resolution, and Mr Leadley said he did not know of a single settler along the creek who wanted compensation. Mr Bonifant said there was no greater quantity of water coming down the creek now than there had been seven years ago. As for the damage done by the overflow that was a mountain made out of a mole hill. He knew that the w?ter was troublesome in one or two instances he mentioned, but he couldnot see where any serious damage could be done. Mr Thomas Wilson, a settler on llid seaboard, said there was no provision made for the outlet of the water. His low land had been overflowed frequently and a chain and a half of his good land had been carried away bodily. He had had to use his scoop to cut a channel so that the water which was making a set against the high terrace should be diverted into a safer course. It was one thing to get one's land wet—that might dry again; but it was quite another thing to have one's land washed away altogether. If the Council would clean out the creek to begin with, he would be willing to keep At clean himself. Mr Joseph Choak, of Elgin, asked about the water charges. He had 150 acres of land, and the crtsek wound through it 60 tortuously that he would have no less than 190 chains to pay charges on. (Mr Grigg said the Council had power' to remit charges in special cases, and had done so. In the case of the creek ho would favor straight cnainage as the principle op which to levy charges. He. was pleased to observe the excellent spirit displayed by the settler*, and was extremely gratified to find that there was uuL one exception to that spirit, and it was to that exception they owed the meeting that day. In the remarks he had made he did not mean to say that the creek had cost the settlers nothing. What he did mean was that no water charges had been levied on settlers abutting on the creek. The settlers had evidently every desire to deal liberally, and if the matter were met in the proper spirit the cost would he little and the chatges small, while the settlers' would be more than conipencated in having absolute security of tenure, which 'they, did nat have at present. Ho had only recently heard of Mr Wilson's complaint. Mr Grigg went on to twitf Mr Brown with inconsistency iv having persistently tried to obtain water for the Hampstead and Allenton settlers; and now at the last moment, opposing the Council taking over the creek, which was the only course by which supplies could be given to them. Mr Wright objected to the attack made by Mr Grigg upon Mr Brown as un gracious, as ho had no donbt Mr Brown had acted from conscientious motives. Mr Grigg said he had not attacked Mr Brown's conscience but his conduct. Mr Wright said Wakanui had not been charged for the creek, because the creek had not cost the Conncil anything to give the supply, which had been brought down by the builder of the; mill, jjpj too, was pleased to note rho liberal spirit displayed by the settlers, and in levying charges it would be necessary to take straight line'chifragn, and so get qypr the difficulty of the tortuous channel. He wis euro the settlers would be willing fcb pay a sniall charge to secure permanency of supply. Mr Bruce thought the thanks of che settlers were due to Mr Brown for bring ing about a necessity for holding tb*t meeting, anil bringing matters to ft bead.,

Mr Potter made a few remark* stool j ;< t his position in regard to tjhe race, < and * s j . asked %hat Mh rates would be. ; ;,; ; ■* The" Chairman replied that the cat* v ., would be a total cf 7» <&d per annum. ,;.; Mr Brown said the Council had heard V ,', the complaints of Mr Wilson and Mr Uoibett repeatedly, and had taken'BOp notice of them, and that being so he had %' ' cast in his lot with these men. He was §• i sure a water right could be secured from JH: the Wakanui settlers the same as ftroffl:|;' the owners along tfie ar:erial mains ; bat .< •_, there whs a difference between surrender* '.^ ing a chnin and more wide of land and r. giving up twenty links. For himself h« ,f Kid never passed a year without suffer- >-■ ing loss in sheep from overflow of the ■ creek, and iln- was only, one of the ' ways in wh ~ Loss occurred to creek settler*. Row ihe volume ot water would be increased, and with it the danger, and a right of way *ould also have to be given; which would bring down a host of anglers and duck shooters. Several numbers—No. Only for par- * poses of inspection by the ranger and : cleaning. Mr Cameron went back in a short speech and traced the history of the . creek, dwelling on the time when no water flowed in it at all, and when ifr only reached the railway line. Mr Choak having spoken, and the mill owners' letter having been read at Mr Leadley's request, Mr Fisher, solicitor foe the mill owners, said the annual cost to the mill owners of keeping the creek clear had been £85. He had had a conference that morning with the county engineer, who had toll him ife would not be possible for the caretaker to devote his energies to cleaning the creek, as he was permanently required for keeping th£, intake open. His clients were, willing to help the County Council all they could to takeover the creek, but they were not willing to pay any more than they were paying now, and they thought the settlers could very-" well afford to pay a share of the cost of a cheap water supply. Mr Wilson supplemented his previous , remarks by stating that he had lost forty , sheep in one year. „ Mr Friedlander was pleased to find chat the opinion of the settlers indicated . a desire to favor the resolution. Those who declined to pay rales because they had paid dearly tor their land must" remember that the Council oould not recognise that plea as the first owner g»t the benefit of it. The creek mutt be taken over on fair and equitable terms, and it was no flattery for him to say that no Council in thu colony held the high opinion of the ratepayers that this Coun cil did, not a single member ever having' made use of his position to privately benefit by it one single farthing's worth, so that settlers would be safe to trust to such a Council for the very best - being done for them that earnest and disinter ested men could do. The resolution was then put and earned unanimously. Some further remarks haying been made by the Chairman. tlio meeting separated* and the Council adjourned to luncheon, resuming again at two o'clock and sitting in Committee. • .. ", The County Council sat as a Committee of the whole, and adopted the following; apportionment of contributions to the; maintenance of the Wakauui creek water works:—Canterbury Mills, £160 pert annum, in addition to use of caretaker's* cottage at an annual rent of ,Is, in terms of millowners' letter ; Mr Edwin Thomas, V Wakanui Mill, £20 per annum ;' Borough-' Council,. £50— balance by County Council.; It was also decided— "That the responsibility of cUaaing out the dam of the Canterbury Mills from? fcbe Borough offtake to the mill be undwK taken by the millowners under the con«rot|, of the County Council." , ' ', i; "That clause 6 of Messrs Garrick and* ,Cob letter of January 5,1893, be adopted,; provided that there is sufficient supply of; water available in the north branch of the) river." ' * "That the agreement be easement mi perpetuity ; all terms of agreement fo'bss subject to the resolution carried at this■' morning's conference." ' \ I " That the necessary works be under/, taken to give Hampstead and Allenton a,'! water supply." J " That the amount not exceeding £170' be charged to the general account." :; f "That, settlers en the creek be called. upon to contribute ordinary water charges, V the measurement of the creek to be on a straight line through sections." ■■, " All bridges required over the ereik to be made by settlers themselves." '* That a summary of this day's pro-,! cojdings be drawn up setting forth tftii termß arrived at by the committee of thil^ Council, inviting the settlers on I** 1 Wakanui creek to give their assent tow agreement based u|.on the terms to be entered into between the Council and the ratepayers interested." " That a circular (embodying the above summary) be drawn up by the solicitor and be issued to the settlers interested for their signature." " That the Canterbury miUowners shall be required to contribute one-third of the preliminary and other expenses ;" M&, Thomas one fifHjfelh ; and that the other settlers interested be charged, pro rat* as per straightened miliage, one-fourth of expenses incurred in bringing creek: under water Supply Act, 1891. That the balance be charged to the Ashburton- Rakai» water supply account.! 1 * The Committee then adjourned. ~ ,

CRICKET.

THE AUSTRALIAN TEAM.

(rait rasas association) ■'■"* (Receive January 11, 11.45 a.»n.) . Sydney, January 12. The Committee has selected the follow ing Australian team to visit England V- Bannerman, Turner, Gregory, Blackhatn, Bruce, McLeod, Trott, Trumble. Graham. Giffen(2), A. H. Jarvis and Lyona.

SAMOAN NEWS.

[PKR PRESS ASSOCIATION.] London, January 11. Mr Kobert Matfield, writing from Apia, says that the accouni given by Mr R. L. Stevenaon is largely a fiction. ■ PyrosrKY, January 11. the Lubeck, which has arrived fro<n Samoa, brings news that the Unitad States warship Alliance had a narrow es cape from going ashore at Apia. During a heavy squall she'dragged her anchors, and the engines only operated as - the vessel touched the reei. . Tho "Samoan Times" says that the Samoan Treasury is empty, and that the salaries of some of the adminisrtative officers are in arrears. News figm Tuituila with respect to the war parties is not of a very reassuring character, and ft is reported th*t the men of Alatana west, which is the most popu lous district in the island, are inclined to go to the seat of war.

<mk ABHBORTOJN ttIfABPIAN-i THURSDAY, JATSTJABY liß, 1893.



generally pay these yards a visit except ou ( occasions when special lines of sheep are entered which they are in want of. No doubt ihis was the case yesterday, when some 3000 haltered two-tooth ewes, which hud been advertised for some time, were sent forward by Mr C. J- Harper. Lhe bidding in mos', cases was lifeless, and sales were effected with difficulty. Botchers fab sheep were only sparsely represented and for these the trade did not compete with any spirit. Meriuo wetl.ers sold at from 8a lid to 93 3d, inferior to 7s-; four-tooth cross bred ewes and wethers, 13a to 14s sd; two tooth crossbred ewes and wethers,yt*s crossbred ewes, 10* 6d to 10s 91; WieYmo em*, 53 4d. There were revet al lines of good freezinflc sheep entered, and one er two lines wen: sold privately at about los ; those offered reached to 14s 91. In stores several .rood lines of two and four-tooth sheep were offered, but most of them were withdrawn, wot realising owners' expectations. y°** bred ewes with over 100 per cent of lanVbs sold at from 8?,.8<6d, and9*2d, all counted, one line reaching 10s 9d. Fat lambs made Us sd. The line of halfbred ewes referred to met with good competition, and realised 1*» 1id,'143 2.1, and un to 14a ■5d each, lhe higher priced lots'were really very fane ewes, in very forward condition. Ula merino store wethers did not find buyers, and were withdrawn at 2s 6d and 3s. i Cattle-Only a small yarding ¥ beet, and butchers not. operating freely a clear ance was made under difficulties, and tower prices had to be accepted, cows Belling at, U 10s to t's 15s. Several good springers sold at full market rates.



Wanted LOST— Brass Cap, from wheel.of light trap. Finder kindly leave at Mail <M^___, ____—li? BIOYOuK for Sale, in perfect order and condition. Cheap forcash,--- W. M. Lewis, Tancred street. 1 ol REVtEW of Reviews, Weldon'a Journal. Other MAgazines and New Books l>y the mail - H. M. JoSK3.



THR Misses Adams' r<ew Refreshment Rooms now opsn. Tea, Coffee^ Cocoa, Lemon Squash, Soda and Milk and all the new summer drinks ready at all times, Coleman's Buildings, East Street. PIANOS and Organs sold on easy time payments ; extended terms to suit purchasers,—H. M. Jones. IIDGER'SN.Z. Statutes, Government Acts supplied, D aries, Account Books, plain and fancy Stationery.—H. M- Johbs. ■' | iHRISTMAS FAIR now open, every- V> thing new and cheap. Come and see for yourselves. —The New Shop's, Coleman's Buildings. WANTED Known—lee Creams, Ice Creams, for the hot weather, always ready at H. G. Fiowbr's, Confec tioner, East Street. SOMERSET Meat Mart. The oldest, the largest, tha best, and the'cheap est. Small »*oods a specialty. Full Weights guaranteed. A trial solicited. —W. J. Siloock. . 4t182 WANTED— Purchasers ior Bargains in Summer Dresses, Prints, and Delaines, Sunshades, &c. at S. W. Alcorn and Go's Sale. \IT ANTED Known—We are still VV giving tickets for presents to a'l purchasers of one shillitig and upwards.— H, 0. SegeßS, Melford Rouse; JELLING OFF Bocks, Stationery, O aud Account Books, Fancy Goods, Music, Violins, Accprdeouu, etc, Fire Screens and Stove Ornarat>nr.s, all at ReducecVPiices. —JU,F. Andrswes •& Co.



WANTED Kncwn—New FlanneJtttes at extraordinary prices ; its lid *nd As lid doz. Thirty per cent under price.—W. H. Coluir. WANTED the Public to know that S. W. Alcorn and Go's S ( ummer Sale is now on. -Great Bargains in Millinery, Underclothing etc. (I/ANTED Known.—High class Dress VY Good?, latest patterns, now selling under wholesale prices. Spocial line of double width stuff 6d and Is, less than ViaTiE price. -H. C. SioßhS. Melford House. • .' WANTED Known—We are now giving away Beautiful Presents •to every purchaser of 5a and upwards. (Jome and see our burgains in Drapery, &c. —H. C. Seqbrs, Melford House. WHY not Bake your own Bread when you can get sQlbs of the Best Boiler Flour for five shillings cash or five shillings and sixpence booked at Robert Alcorn's, Saunders' Buildings. 11 31 DON'T let the rain water destroy your buildings. Get Spouting fixed at 4d per foot and buy a tank, complete with tap, tested before leaving workshop, for 30a, at J. W. Hardlby's. WANTED Known that S. Salek, Watchmaker and Jewaller, has removed to new shop near New Zealand Clothing Factory. 10 213



WANTED Known—Dr Scott's cele brated Electric Corsets can only be obtained in Ashburton at W. H. Colmbr'b, ' • Th« Corner." EAR in mind that J. W. Hardley, Plumber and Gasfitter, East Street, has the largest Stock in town of Pumps, Pipes, and Fittings, and that he is selling them cheaper than ever at prices hitherto unheard of in Ashburto*!. Now h the chance for a cheap Pump ; improved No, 4. Price, 16s. Larger si*.es in proportion. /CHRISTMAS Suits. Boys, three \_J garment long Trouser Suits at 15s. Boys, t'olonal-made Knicker Suits frum 10a. Men's nicely made Colonial Tweed Suits 30 i. Colonial Tweed Suits to measure from 50a.—Ashburton Clothing Mart, Saunders' Buildings. Robkkt Alcorn. DON'T Forget the Borough Bye-Laws re Carr aga Lamps, and that Hakdlb . as large Stock on hand, also a large assortment of Tinware and Iron mongery, Scythes, Reaping Hooks, Hay Knives, Forks, etc., of best quality, and all at lowest possible prices. J. W. Hardley, East Street, Ashburton, ]W"JEW YEAR'S GIFTS.—Card, Book <*-^ lets New Games in great variety. Beaut fullotof Vases, FancyOlassware,and Fairy Lamps. Boys' and Girls' Annuals, and «,ther new* Volumes. Prize Books at reduced prices. How Birthday Reward and Wedding Cards,— L. F. ANDREWJSS & CO., Stationers' Hall. ''" *'■ \jtTANTED Known—Th»t J. Muison W keeps the best stock of Boots in Ashburton, for this reason that he pays rcash and is not under or bound to any \ one firm like many in the trade, whteh enables him to procure and supply the public with the Best Colonial and English makes ; and his well-known make needs no recommendation. Always ,on hand f Best Sole Leather, used for repairs and ' done at once.—J. Moison, Impermeable Bootmaker, Town Hall, East Stroet, next Court House. Crackneia and Digestive Biscuits for Invalids are unsurpassed. Made by



MESSRS FIUKDIjANDEK BROS. Messrs Friedlander Uro3. report upon the live Btock market for the week ending January 11:—At the Tiny aid yards on Tuesday last there was a fairly large entry of sheep. The attendance of farmers and others was much below the average, but »t the name time there were buyers JrQil bptU mFtk ft'id 'Wft w))Q d 9 »9t



FOR THE HOLIDAYS. 0. J. NBILL and CO's SPECIAL PRICKS FOR THIS MONTH Ladies' Caihmoretio Hose, double knee, 10id Indies' Cashmere Huso, Is ,w, m New Fashionable Dress «ood*, 3;. lM J» dozen Wonderful Value in Summer Dress Tweed, oja ue fr(jm 4d Bhck Cashmeres and French Merinos, all pneos to 5s 6d per "yard All Woo '.Flannel, 7^l ppr yard Fiannol-ttes »t 3s Gd par <««'zen SfhJXJ^StSJK. BKk, « Via ■*.:** Wiishins: PiinU, 3s ll<t pot dozen igftS:& Doll^iu mo^aatUul patterns CLOTHING. Men's Colonial Tweed Suits, 23s 6d Men's Serge Suits, 22* 6d Meu's Tweed Trousers from 5a lid Boys' Tweed Suits in endless variety Men's Ribbfd Cotton Pants, Is 6d Men's Colonial Knit Wool Socks, ll£d per pair Men's Regatto Shirfs, 2s lid . Men's Strong Braces, 9d per pair Boys' Strong Br»ces, 4d per pair. BOOTS. BOOTS. BOOTS. TJNMISTAKEABLB VALUE. Ladies' and Children's Tan Shoed, a specialty Brown Canvas Shoes, all sizes ' Men's Bluchers, 5s 3d fS-3K.-!!sf«iu«.Bp Sh,,^, p^d. worth 18^61 <»r M 6d sizes at very low prices. U. J. NBILL and 00: FRIEDLANDER'S BUILOINQS, CONNER. OF EAST ft MOORB STPBBTS.



HARDLEY BROS. ELEOAKT AID USEFUIi 00001 At Low Prices. EVERY ARTICLE OF OUR NEW STOCK WARRANTED. TN Calling Special Attention to the Urge-List of DRAPERY, CLOTH[NU 1 wid NOVELTIES in MILLINERY, described f ft>m time to time in these Columns, we wish to Impress ON ALL the following :— Ist 2-Every Article is Warranted to give SATISFACTION, and if ever a person recess anything that don't suit, they can return it to be exchanged, or they can have the money returned if they so desire. 2nd -All the Goods will be FIRST-CLASS of the Newest and Most Desir able Styles, and the Prices are Much Lower than such articlea can elsewhere be obtained for. 3rd -We deal in NO SHODDY GOODS whatever, and all who Order of US may be SURE that they will receive the BEST. 4th-We are satisfied witb a Small Profit, and as Oar Business is of such Large Proportions that through buying Immense Quantities for Cash, we are enabled to SBLL^^oods for LESS MONEY than others, thus giving our Customers the advantage. Th o S e who want GOODS should send to TJS and Save Money. /usfc Arrived—A Splendid Assortment of Men's and Boys' SUITS. SPECIALLY FOR CHRISTMAS WEEK. HARPLEY BBOS., AHCADJG HOUSE, BUBNBTT STREET, ASHBURTON.



S- SALEK'S NEW JEWELLERY ESTABLISHMENT. ruin? MAPNTFrCENT HIGH-CLASS STOCK IS NOW OPENED UP. n. SLEK 2S to draJr the attention of the PubPc to the fact that having S flSttpfisßhop in first-class style, he is show ng a Stock _ which for rt s£r and newest designs compares favorably with any in Chnstchurch. quality, price, a"d n?,w^\o me et the requirements of the Ashburton District in e^ery 8 Kch \s Zp^^ an d7s showing a Larger Stock than has ever before been «« in- r 2j^£ <2a d unique Stock specially suitable for THEWAT^MtII^AS^II^Rt'REPAIRINO mii DEPARTMENT , , •„ i H arraneements, and additional assistance having been obtZV o™—» "^ °- h»vi"g tlieir Tork "0M """"p^"1"1 atisfactorily S. SALEK, WATCHMAKER AND JEWELLER.



Mew Zealand C lotliiny Factory. FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON, Vl7 E are now Showing the Larg7st~~an 1 Best Assorted Stock ol MENS W MERCERY and HATS in Ashburton. n ,i n • a r« n ti>fin« Wits Gents' Ties in endless variety fients 1 Tennis and Cricketing iiats snk Handkerchiefs y BOOTS AND SHOES. SHOES AND BOOTS. ]n ••«,» Tontii« Shnm Ladits'Button and Lace Shoes CLOTHING DEPARTMENT. Thn, o wishina a cood Suit of Clothes should vistb the CLOTHING FACTORY. V Those & Bqifc pf Colori -^ Tweed for 9s 6d . wish to buy a handsome Christmas Present, get one of the Wertheim Sewing Machines. See one in our window. HALLENSTEIN BROS. ALEX HENDRY, Manager



COLEKANB AND So JT KUCALYPTE Ex tract is the only genuine in the market, and was a warded medals and diplomas at Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide, beating all competitor. For all affections of the Chest and Lungs, Consumption, Asthma, Coughs, Colds, Gravel, and Kidney Com plaints, ib has no equal, Agents— ABBBUU.TQW DKyq COIW r~i



r^6 Best Tea IN THE WORLD Uyslop's Ceylon. NINIAN HYSLOP, anb CO., Tea Importers, VSB Ca hoi Btrewt,, Chiiatshur«li # |



KBATING'S POWDER" destroys BUGS, FLEAS, MOTHS, BEETLES, and all other insects, whilst quite harmless to domestic animals. In exterminating Beetles the success of this powder js extraordinary. It is perfectly clean in application. See the article you purchase is ♦'KE^TJUTG'Sj' as imitations are noxious and ineffectual.. §p!d in Tins, 6d, Is, and 2a fid each, by all hemists Hoixoway's Ointmknt.—Miners and Workers on the Goldfields.—This invaluable anil renowned ointment js extensively used and patronised by such peopfe to ther very great advantage, being easy of application and portabl* in small compass. When used in conjunction »rith Holloway's Pills in ac cordance with the clear and concise direc tions for use which accompany each pot and box, there are but few cf the diseases which afHict mankind which will not yield to the sanative powers of the combined remedies. Holloway s Ointment and Pills do not dete riorate by keeping not by change of climate, aud as they contain no delerious mineral dru", they can be used with the most pel feet safety under the most adverse climatic and sanitary conditions.



The Best Tea IN CANTERBURY fov the money, and fro© from any excess of asfcringency. COUNTESS Bs. ask yova a«iogis«H-



Tne Bust Bkmedt fob "Indigestion — Norton's Omotnile Pills are confidently recommended as a simple remedy for Indigestion, which is the cause of nearly all the diseases to which we aW subjects Norton's Pills, with justice called the 'Natural Strengthener of the Human Stomach," acf, ag a oowerful tonieand gentle perieut, are mild in their operation, and safe under any circuir.Bt3u»cjl». Sitld in bottles, at In l£d, 2a 9d, 11s, by all vediohie vendors throuinhout the w*fW, The Omuov Biscnit. Th« latest and most delicate biscuit nwnuffoturfd by AulwbroQkwMi Ca T