MAIL NOTICES.

Mails close for the following places as under subject to the necessary alterations : — WEDNESDAY, October 25. For South America, United Kingdom, and Continent of Europe, specially addressed per Tongariro, and tor .Northern Ports, per Flora, at 10.30 am. Due London December 8 THURSDAY, October 26. For United Kingdom and Continent of Europe, specially addressed " via Brindisi " only, Point de Galle, India, China, Japan, etc , and also for Australian Colonies, per express, (to connect with Mararoajat Port Chalmers), at 1830 P«»- Due London December 12. WEDNESDAY, November 1. Sao Francisco mail Due London Dec. 5

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. TUESDAY. OCTOBER 24, 1893. GOLD.

* . Hewouedbe a bold man who would take upon himself to say that the days of great gold rushes in New Zealaud are over, or that the time has gone by when indi vidual diggers and prospectors can make fortunes oat of finds of nuggets in out of the way places. But there is no boldness wanted for repetition of what is a well-known fact—that New Zealand gold seekers have to a great extent ceased to devote the energy that characterised their researches ten yeara ago to individual fossicking for great finds, and are now making of the industry of gold mining a steady, regu lar, plodding avocation. As a result the gold yield of the colony is fairly well maintained, and the advances made by mechanical, mineralogical, and geolcgical science in recent years have not only made the returns much more certain, but have rendered the work easier than it used to be, and enabled many old workings to be resumed and carried on at a profit. Kew Zealand is not alone in this matter, for we find that Victoria has turned her attention more closely than ever to gold mining, ant* more especially during the paßt year. It was gold mining that gave Victoria her first great start, and it was principally from that colony that the earlier New Zealand diggers came, and on the West Coast especially were the most successful. Gold mining enabled Victoria to lay a foundation of prosperity, on which she built, and went far ahead of her sister colonies. But after a while she fell madly in love willi manufactures, became intoxicated with protection, and a rage possessed her to make of Melbourne a great centre of manufactures—the capital of a ' manufacturing country. In this 6he succeeded, but it was a success that was worse than a failure ; for the wholo energies of her politicians teemed to be. direc.ed to this one end, 10 the neglect of all others. Lsrgc loans wore raise*', ' and h'gh tariffs imposed for the derail. purpose of meeting interest and of dam ming out the foreign manufacturer, an 1 nearly every pubic wjrk undertaken had for end, aim, aud object she widen ing of the outlet and the expsrisi On o f the market for Victorian manufactures. A change has come over the spitit of j the Victorian dream. She fiuds now that high tariff and big loan ere not the sole S'crets cf national progress. She finds she must now devote her energies to the production of commodi ties that somebody outside her borders will buy, and to do this tho must dc velope more than ever the splendid natu ral resources she possesses. Sue is now sparing no pains to increase her agricul tural products and her income from her pastoral industry, and is turning her at tention more closely than ever (as we have said) to that industry, oace so rich but neglected of late years far more than it ouglit to have been—goU mining. And the report of her Government Gej logist, Mr R Murray, on fields for gold prospecting is pleasant and hit resting reading for thoae who have at any tim 3 in their lives been infected with the gold lever. Mr Murray goes exhaustively into bis Bubjec 1, dealing with the auri firous areas in which he believes alluvial gold may be found, in ground that has been either neglected cr prospected hur riedly or halfheartedly, and therefore imprrfectly, and where quartz reefs may be found if prospecting be carried on in the " vicinity of where tha alluvial gullies or loads take their ris°, or where they have shown an increase of richness on crossing c riain lines." Mr Murray points out the tract of country from Beaufort to St. Arnaud as contain:ng many reefs which have been worked in a desultory fashion for a time and theu abandoned, as well as others that have been little if at all prospected ; but lie seems tv have pretty much tin same opinion about all the old Viet, nan gold fields. When Melbourne began to be " marvellous/ and fortunes ceased to be msde with tho magic suddenness that used to frequently happea on !bo gojd lielde, capital drifted away from tho fields and sought investment in other channel?, thought to be more lucrative How rottea some of these channels have shown themselves to ba need not now be dwelt upon, but the fields were not by any means worked out, and, with the re turn of capital to mining enterprise, business in the goldgold towns is brisk. to fever point, as compared with the in ertness of lh-3 great city ; and the pro sped or is again busy at old workings on neglected ground and grout)d that afore time ronsidi'ivd duffVr. Very marked success has attended these re newed efforts in many cases, and there $re indications that men who know what mining means sod what is in it when scientifically worked and on business principles, ma»n to embark afr. sfa in an industry which, prosecuted as it should bo, would be a source of great wealth to the colony.

AN ELECTIVE FXECUTIVE.

That the question of reform in the mo:Ie of appointing the Government of the day s rapidly coming to the front as one that will have to he dealt with is one of tin most patent signs of the time?. Sir Robert fcrtout declared in favor of such a change in his speech at Wellington last week, and it is evident that Mr Rolles ton is much of the same mind, while, 1 that the like opinion is entertained vary generally among a large proportion ot [ the electors of the colony, everyone who is at all conversant with the drift of public opinion must be fully awaro. In deed, we fully expect that the matter will come to the front very prominently during the term of the Parliament which will be elected in December nex^, and that at the following general election it will be the principal question submitted to the people. Thia being the case it may not be uninteresting to recall that the first move in this direction was made in the session ol 1889 by Major Steward who tabled a series of resolutions on the subject, which, however, did not come up for discussion ; and that this was followed up in the following session, that of 1890, by an exhaustive discus sion in the House upon a resolution drawn up by the same hon. member, for the appointment of " a Gommittee (to consist of Mr launders, Mr Tanner, Major Stewtrd, Mr Samuel, Mr VerraU, Mr O'Conor, Mr Monk, Dr Newman, Captain Russell, and Dr Hodgkinson) to consider and report as to the possibility of devising a system of appointing the Executive Government, such as may be free from the evils of the present sys tem." Although moved ag an amend ment on Supply that resolution came very near being carried, the voting being 27 to 25, so that it was only defeated by two vote.?. On that occasion the actual moving of the resolution fell to Dr Hodgkinson under the following cir cumstances :—A number of members who were in favor of the resolution had arranged to take up different branches of the question so as to have an orga nised debate, and avoid repetition, the member for Waimate to lead off, and to be followed by Dr Hodgkinson and others in a settled order, and in order to secure the opportunity several of them rose with the view of "catching the Speaker's eye." Sir Maurice O'ilorke selected Dr Hodgkinson, who thus became the mover, and his speech, which was iatended lo have been the second of the deba'e, lhas became the first. Major Steward, who was to have led oft, if possible, following him. Thus the resolution, although really Major Steward'?, stands in " Hansard " as Dr Ilodgkinsou'i?. As we have said, tint resolution ccnno vory n»ar being carried, and paved the way for Mr O'Conor, who (Msjor Steward being elected to the chair) took up the running during ihc present Parliament, obtaining the ap poiniment of a Committee which pre pared a very exhaustive report strongly in favor of iho adoption of the elective principle. He followed it up during last session by introducing the El ctivc Executive BiU, which, although slaugh tered among the innocent?, will cer tainly make a re-appearance at fu ure sessions, and, in principle, if not in de taP, ip, we believe, destined to be af firmed by Parliament at no distant date Such is the Irstory of tho movement up to now, ai>d while we arc drawing atten tion thereto it may also ha worth while to reprint from " Hansard ' (vol Ixix p 42) the scheme drafted by the informal Committee of sixteen members con vened by Major Steward in 1890, and which will be found in another place in this issue.

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Mr G. 0. Waby will address the electors of Ashburton ia the Oddfellows' Hall to-night at 8 p.m. The ordinary meeting of the Ashburton Oddfellows' Lodge is advertised for Thurs day evening instead of Friday (Show day.) The Salvation Army notify elsewhere that they intend having a poultry banquet en show d*y at the barracks, commencing at 4 p.m., and ending presumably when there is nothing more to ca f. At Sydenham and St. Albans Borough Councils last night, motions were passed urging the Government to give effect to Colonel Fox's report upon the volunteer foice. T. Para'a, a candidate for Southern Mao'i electoral district, addressed a largely attended meeting of Natives at Little River on Saturday evening, and received a vote of thanks and confidence. An American company is now introducing a new method ot boring through rock, which is intended to replace the diamond drill. In this method steel s?*ot are poured inside of the drill pipe in a ring or channel made in the rook by a few revolutions of the pipe. The pipe bears heavily on the shot, and when revolved the rock te crushed under the shot as they revolve, and the channel is cut .deeper. A t.es : t boring eight inches in diameter and 400 feet d.eep, has already beep put down, Mr J. Jetiries Bavis, ot'Stratford;on-Ayou ? had no doubt conned the old maxim that old hay is sure to turn to gold if kept long enough. He stored up in ricks the produce of 1889, 1890, 1891, and 1892, and conse» quently had no fewer than 720 tons to sell by auction the other day. The total pro ceeds of the sale (says the "Agricultural Economist") amounted to no less than £0052, or an average of over £7 per ton on jthe tß.tiinat.ed weight. He will, no doubt, be called a foyt,una.te man, but he probably owes his good fortune to shrfcyd sagacity. Hollo way's Ojswent. — joiners anqi Workers in the GoldnVds.—This invaluable and renowned ointment is extensively used and patronized by such people to their great advantage. Being in small compass it is portable and easy of application. When used in conjtpcUon with Holloway's Pills in accordance "with'the cleat; aad concise direc tions for use which accompany oae^i poo an^| box, there are but few of the diseases which ailii'eb mankind that will not yield to the sanative powers 61 oh /r Combined remedies. Holloway's Oinfcm,en.t and J,'ill3 rto not dete riorate by keeping nor by change of .climate, and as they contain no deleterious ujineral drag, they can be tKe4 with the mosjL perfect safety under the most adverse eljrr*ate ajjcl sanitary conditions, ,

Tenders are invited by the Board of Edu cation for alterations, etc, vt FlemiDgton and Tinwald. Plans and specifications may be seen at Mr John Orr's or at the office of the Board. Tenders close on Monday, October 33. Mr D, Matson's time for the 440 yds hurdles at Lancaster Park on Saturday equals the world's record established in the same place two years ago by Batger. Mr Matson sailed to-day by the Mararoa to re present the colony at the Australian cham pionship meeting to be held next month. Messrs John Orr and Co have taken a new departure, and on a big scale. They have • embarked on the venture of adding fishing I tackle to their already very comprehensive I stock, and Waltonians will be enchanted with the display of everything wanted foi "whipping." A stack of wheafr, forly-two sacks high, in Mr D. Thomas' grain store, came down with a crash on Sunday morning. The rats h«d played havoc with some of the lower bags, which caused the wheat to run, and hundreds of sacks came down and were found lying in a confused heap in the middle of the granary. The '• Press " says that a little girl about thirteen years of age, was arrested on Mon day on a charge of stealing Is 9d in money. The girl, it appears, was employed as a domestic at the house where the alleged theft took place. She was lodged in the police cells ! The paragraph does not tell us whether a couple of constables in uniform stood sentry over the cell door to keep safe such a terrible person as this thirteen year old woman: On a recent Sunday a special sermon was preached down Otago way to footballers. The rev speaker took his text from Deuteronomy xxxil., first part of 15th verse—" But Jesn u-run waxed fat, and kicked." The service in the evening was also addressed to foot ballers, and the text was from Ezekiel x , 13—" And their whole body, and their backs . . . and their wings,"—" Chriatchureh Truth." Miss Myra Kemble was one of the fortu ! nate ones over the Caulfield Cup on Satur day last. She drew the winnet in one of the great Sydney sweeps, and pockets a cool ten thousand pounds by the transaction. This lucky win, together with the result of her present New Zealand tour should place Miss Kemble in a position to advance the New South Wales Government a big loan, should they require assistance, on her return to Sydney. "It never rains but it pours" is once more verified, this time in a most acceptable manner. Our congratulations to Miss Kemble on her good fortune. It is announced by advertisement that 54 farms, comprising 12,482 acres of first and second-class Cheviot land will be open for application for lease in perpetuity on November 13. The rents have been fixed at amounts varying from 2s to 11s per acre per annum, and the area 9 from 4| acres to 77 acres. On November 17, 49 farms, compris ing 11,936 acres, will be offered at upset prices varying from £3 to £12 per acre, and in areas of 31 to 573 acres. Twenty-three sections will also be offered at prices from £7 10s to £30. The Mansion House and 6000 acres will be put up in one lot at an upset price of £25,000. Should the house and land not be sold 2895 acres will be offered in six sections at £2 153 to £5 12a per acre. Some days ago a most impudent burglary was perpretrated at Lismore Schoolhouse. The mistress was from home ou a well-earned holiday, and in her absence i thief entered by a window, and carried oil a watch and a gold ring, and made free with what eatable 3 were about, and finished up with occupying the bed of one of the mistress's children for the night. The thief had ransacked the place pretty thoroughly, but had not taken anything more valuable than the items above mentioned. He had even been fastidious, for of the two watches that were in the house he chose the silver one leaving the Waterbury. Tnere arts many men wander ing about the country just now, and to make a house secure both doors and windows shoull be well fastened. An agricultural note from Home says :— " I have seen many labourers who, even during the middle of harvest, find it impossible to get work, and the out look for the coming winter is very gloomy throughout the agricultural district. The report on the condition of farm labourers in ths south«t England shows that after taking into consideration the extra earnings during harvest, tho best labourers average from 16,3 to 17a per week, and the inferior hands from 12s 6d to 15s. In Somersetshire, Wiltshire, and Dorsetshire the wages are about Is lower, Surely at such rates, with rents which do not exceed 12s to 16s per acre, including everything, and with crops, which average nearly 30 bushels of wheat to the acre, there must be somethiog radically wrong in the system followed by the British farmer."

COMMERCIAL.

THE WOOL TROUBLE IN SYDNEY. Sydney, October 24. Buyers held aloof at the wool sales, not agreeing to the conditions laid down at the recent dispute. The sales have been suspended suspending a settlement,

Serious Mill Accident.

[feu pbkss association] Bpßßniif, Qctoberg^. Mr John Evans, head miller at Anßer, son's flour mill, Princes street south, was carried round one of the shafts on the upper floor of the mill this morning. He was carried round two or three times, his head being dashed against a brick wall. The belt broke before the engine could be stopped thus throwing him etj. the floor. A man working alongside tried to extricate hit}}. Mr Evans received fearful iujuries, both legs being broken; 1 '■ ' Latek. Evans died at a quarter to two. T^o leaves a wife and child, the latter tjve days oii.

ASHBURTON A. and P. ASSOCIATION.

THE ENTRIES FOR THE SHOW. , The entries received by the Secretary of the A. and P. Association for the show to be held on Friday are the most numer ous for any show yet held by the Associa ti>n, overtopping last year's by sixty entries, as last year's oveitopped the number for 1891 by eighty entries, which year showed an increase again upon llftHJ of fifty entries. We give in parallel columns below the figures for the four years mentioned, so that cur readers can see for themselves in which classes in creases or decreases have taken place, ' noting only that in live stock there has been a satisfactorily substantial increase all through. 851 is a satisfactory number as compared with 366 in 1879, from which year there has been a steady increase, and it ou^ht to be an easy matter next year to make the entries touch " ten oen- I t-iirios " :——

An Elective Executive.

The following ia the scheme drafted by the informal Committee of sixteen members, convneed by Major Steward in 1890), and sub mitted by Major Steward to the House. The extract is from the latter gentleman's speech on the subject as given in "Hansard \" 1 vol. 49, page 42:— | 1. Upon the first assembling of Parliament after each general election, so soon as the House shall have elected the Speaker, it' shall proceed to choose six memhers of the Executive Government in manner following. 2. Nominations of candidates shall be handed in to Mr Speaker on the day follow ing that upon which he is himself elected, j Bhall be signed by twenty nominators in each case and by the candidate nominated, all of whom must be members of the House of Representatives. [ 3. The list of members nominated shall appear on a special Order Paper, to be issued immediately upon the close of the nomina tions, and Mr Speaker shall appoint a time (not being less than twenty-four nor more than forty-eight hours after the issue of i such list of nominations) for the taking of a ballot for the election of six members of the Executive: 4. The six candidates having the highest number of votes shall be declared elected, and shall enter upon office forthwith : Pro vided that, upon the result of the ballot being declared, any member elected may de cline to serve, and thereupon a fresh ballot shall be taken to fill the vacancy. 1 5. The six members so elected shall choose two colleagues from among the members of the Legislative Council, or, if they shall be unable to do so, may advise | His Excellency to call to the said Council one or two persons, as the case may be, to be members with them of the Executive Council. 6. The eight members of the Executive so elected or chosen shall appoint one of their own number, who is a member of the House ot Representatives, to be Premier, and shall allocate the portfolios of the several depart ments, among any seven of their number as they shall think fit. 7. Such Executive and the several mem bers thereof sha.ll continue in office until the assembling of a new Parliament, and there after until the election of their successors, unless either of the following contingencies occur, that is to say,— (a ) Unless such Executive shall resign as a whole : (b ) Unless four or more members thereof who are members of the House of Re presentatives simultaneously resign, or are balloted out as hereinafter provided, in which case the whole Executive shall be deemed to have resigned : (c.) Unless upon a teat-ballot, a* herein after provi ied, one or more members, not exceeding four, shall be balloted out. 8. A test ballot upon the proposal that the whole Executive or any member or mcm i bera thereof be removed from office may be demanded by requisition to Mr Speaker signed by not less than thirty members of the House, and thereupon Mr Speaker shall appoint a time within forty-eight hours of his receipt of such requisition for the taking of a ballot upon such proposal. 9. The member or members in respect of 1 whom such ballot ia taken shall be disquali fied from voting therein, and no such pro posal shall be deemed to be carried unless affirmed by an absolute majority of the whole House after deducting from the number of the House the number of mem- { bera so disqualified from voting. 10. If upon a test-ballot in respect to four or any less number of members of the Execu tive, one or both of the members thereof having a seat or seats in the Legislative Council is or are balloted out, then his or their place or places in the Executive shall be filled up by the remaining members thereof so soon as the other vacant seat or seats, if any, shall have been filled up by ballot of the House. 11. If any member of the Executive so balloted out shall have been called to the Legislative Council for the purpose of joining the Execu'ive he shall also cease to be a member of the Legislative Council. 12. Not more than one testjballot as re? gards the Executive as a whole, or as re gards the same member or members thereof, may be demanded during the same session of Parliament.

INTERPROVINCIAL

PER PRESS ASSOCIATION. Wellikqtok, October 23. Mr H. D. Bell, Mayor of Wellington, announces, in response to a requisition, that he will contest Wellington City. The Bootmakers' Society have selected Sir Robert Stoat, and Messrs Fraser and McLean. The Wellington Sociological Association have decided to submit the names of Sir Robert Stout and Messrs W. McLean and T. K. Macdonald to Liberal anrl Labor Electoral Convention as its ! nominees for the city, The Liberal and Labor Electoral Con vention met to-night when the first ballot for candidates to be supported for Wel lington City ac the general election was taken. The four candidates selected were Sir Robert Stout, Messrs Fraser, W. McLean, and T. K. McDonald. The represented organisations were practically unanimous in this selection. The next final ba lot to reduce the number to three wiU close on November 6 Donald Fraser, a well known settler in the Manawatu district has definitely de cided to contest the Otaki seat in thjj Government interests. Mr Seddon and Sir Patrick Buckley re main in Wellington for a few days, and a meeting of the Executive will ba held to morrow, Mr Seddon has accepted an invitation to speak at New Plymouth and Stratford, and he will leave for that dis trict next week, He states that, the date of the general election will certainly be before December 17. THe Government has decided to order 70,000 rounds of Martini-Henry ammuni tion from Whitney of Auckland, and an order is to be sent Home fira quantity of ammunition for big guns. This latter is in accordance with the recommendation contained in Colonel Fox's report.

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

I The fortnightly meeting of the Ash- J burton Borough Council was held on ', Monday evening. Present—His Worship the Mayor (in the chair), and Ors Thomas, Cuthbertson, Stephens, Collins, Orr, Anderson and Jonea. FINANCE. Cr Thomas, who occupied the chair previous to the arrival of the Mayar, re rorfccd the debit balance afc the bank to be £970 2d 63. The receipts from all sources bince last meeting were :—Rates, 1893, £10 16d ; rents reserves, £33 13a 9i ; licenses, carriage, £5; carriers, £2 : drivers, £110s ; petroleum, 6s ; library account, 10s ; domain account, 11s 6d. PUBLIC REVENUES ACT. A letter was read from the Auditor General informing the Borough Council of the provision made inthe Public Revenues Act recently passed, by which the Audit office could pass the accounts of Burough Councils and other public bodies, even when moneys had been spent for pur poses other than those mentioned in pre vious Acts, subject to the Audit office's approval, and not to exceed £50 in one year. Or Thomas remarked that the provision was a good one and had long been necessary. THE BOLL. The name of Mr W. Drummond was placed on the roll for T.S. 664 in place of that of Mrs ltestell; and the name of Mr T. A. Jackson for T.S. 1240 in place of Mr D. Scott. NETHBBBT WATER SUPPLY. A letter was read from the County Engineer stating that several owners in the Allenton district were desirous of having the race located outside their frontages oh the North-East Belt, and obtaining their supplies by loop lines or pond servicea. It was thus proposed to have th» race along the edge of the road line opposite the properties of Messrs Sutherland, Friedlander, Potter and Stephens. Or Thomas considered that ths water race should be on the people's own land. He did not see that the Council should, while receiving nothing, take all the re sponsibility. He thought they might agree to the proposal if the County Counsil would take all responsibility. Cr Orr then moved that the request of the County Engineer be granted, pro vided the County Council takes all re eponsibility and cost, the Borough Council reserving the right to shut off the water from the Belt, 3hould necessity arrive. Cr Thomas seconded the motion. Cr Collins moved as an amendment that the latter part of the resolution be omitted. He did not think the Council should have power to shut off the water at will. Councillor Stephens also opposed the motion. He said that the water had beeH paid for for some time, and they were determined to have it, and he could not gee that the race as proposed would in convenience the public in any way. He was quite willing to let the water run through his property. Cr Jones said they were only asking the Council to take the responsibility which the Council had had to take from the Road Board. The motion was then put and earned. Permission was granted to the Coun+y Council to take from the belt road surplus earth for filling up the embank ment for the race in lot 126 to the extent of about 180 cubic yards. Mr W. H. Collins wrote asking for the proper filling up of the belt road opposite his property'in order that it might be made conveniently accessible. The application was granted. engineers' report. The Engineers' report was read and adopted as follows :— The labor gang have been engaged in ploughing and reforming part of Cass street, carting soil to sections and rubbish off streets, planting willows in river bed, we°ciiog Baring Square e&«t, repairing traffic bridge, attending to water supply, and other maintenanc3 work. Watering Streets. —The contractor. J. Griffin, commenced the work of watering the afreets last week. One surety, Mr J. Taisker, is considered to be sufficient for this contract, subject to your approval, Reforming Altken Street.—The con tractor for forming and metallhig part of Aitken Street has made good work and nearly completed the formation, Asphalt Footpaths.—The contract for forming, repairing, and tefacing the asphalt footpaths having expired, the Works Committee recommend that ten ders be caUed for a contract for three years on the same lines as the previous contract. Concrete Channelling.—The Works Committee propose making an inspection of the streets before making a recommen dation for new channels, as well as for repairs. Clearing Side Channels and Kerbs.-^ The Works Committee recommend that tenders be called for this work as a whole. A small portion has been done at prices obtained by us from men applying for work, but the arrangement was not con sidered satisfactory. Netherby-Allenton Water Supply.-^ The County Engineer writes to inform the Council cf a modification of the origi nal proposal as to bringing the race on a portion of the north east belt, and also to ask for some surplus soil on tlie belt fqr forming an embankment; THE FOOTPATHS. It was decided that tenders be called and specifications be drawn up for repair ing the asphalt footpaths for a contract of t{iree years. THE SCHOOL GROUNDS. The Ashbarton School Committee wrote asking that permission be granted to take a flow of water from Burnett Street through the schpol ground into Tancred Street. Cr Jones moved that permission be granted without charge as the matter was a public one. Cr Thomas seconded the motion, which was passed. The Committee also asked permission fco drain urinals into the Park Street channel. Cr Orr supported the application. Several members spoke stating that Ihe channels would then need to be con creted and Cr Thomas moved that the application be granted, the Board to pay one-fourth of the expense of forming the concrete. Cr Jones said that he did nob see hqw they could expect the Board to share the expense. ... Cr Thomas said they could compel the Board to make channels in order to abate the present nuisance, and he con sidered they would tie letting them oft very lightly.  The motion was carried. workmen's wages. The question of adopting clause two of the works committees report of the previous meeting came on for discussion. The clause read «'t»-at the rate of wages to be paid to laborers (other than the foreman and water ranger), employed by the Council be six shillings per day, and that applications be invited for three or four men at that rate, such men to be employed on the genara.l maintenance work of the streets, etc., winch cannot well be let by contract. • Cr Stephens moved that fa 3 fad be the amount stated in place of 6*. Or Jones seconded the motion. Cr Thomas said he was sorry to have to oppose the motion but as representatives of tbe ratepayers they were not justified in paying 6s 6d. Cr Orr said there had been too mucfi tone wasted on iho matter. It had bpen titeff that the ratepayers were a^t

the reJue ion, but it did nob appear to a the election. The only councillor who had opposed it in the firs' place had not been re-elected. Or Outhbertson supported the clause which was eventually adopted, Cr Jones dissenting. NUISANCES. Ihe Inspector of Nuisances reported cases of breaches of the by-laws, stating chat he had found it necessary in some cases to issue summonses against the offenders, Cr Thomas asked if anything had been done in the way of erecting a few public urinals. After some discussion it was decided to interview certain makers in town in regard t> pricfs. LICENSES. Carriage licenses were granted to J, Carlan, Dally, Miles, T, Crooks, and Mrs bcott ; cvriei's licenses to J. Miles and A. Dalley ; a petroleum license to Miles aud Co. ; and a hawker's license to J. H. Jewitt. ACCOUNTS. Accounts to the amount of £106 10a 4d were passed for payment and the Council adjourned.

DOMAIN BOARD.

The members then sat as a Domain Board, The United Friendly Societies applied for a closo day on December 13. Or Thomas moved that the request be granted at a charge ot £7 7s. That charge would be a remission of £3 3s, the annual rental fee which he thought advisable as the fire brigade would be taking part. The motion was carried. On Cr Orr's motion it was decided to call for tenders for the grass on parts of the Domain and Baring Square. Or Jonas asked if the permission which was granted last year to the school children to bathe between twelve and one o'clock in the swimming bithg, applied this year. The chairman informed him that it did not, and it was decided on Mr Jones' motion to renew the permission. Mr Collins brought up the matter of obscene language which had been written on the walls of the baths and pavilion, and it was was decided to offer a reward of £25 to any person giving information which would lead to the conviction of an offender writing obscene language on those buildings or on public places in the borough.

Mount Somers Sabbath. School.

The anniversary of the Mount Somera Sabbath School was celebrated by a floral service on Sunday, October 15, when music specially prepared for the occasion was successfully rendered by the children under the baton of Mr Hurdley, and an eloquent sermon was preached by the Rev. B, ,/. Westbrooke from the text "Consider the lilies." The collection was in aid of the school funds. On Friday evening last the annual soiree in connection with the Sunday School was held. The evening was fine though somewhat breezy, and the attend' ance satisfactory. The superintendent read the annual report which showed the number of children on the roll to be— Boys, 21; girls, 34; total 65, No. of teachers—Males, 5; female, 2; total 7. The highest attendance during the year had been 52, and the receipts from all sources £4 18s 7d. The expenditure had been £5 Os 7d, leaving a debit balance of 2*. Able addresses were given by the Revs S. Lawry and B. J. Westbrooke, and a selection from " Children's Hosfcn nas" was rendered by the children. Recitations were given by Misses E. Brown, H. Beckley, B. Hurdley, and Master William Hurdley. During the internal refreshments, which had been amply supplied by the parents of the children, were handed round, and received full justice by the large number assembled. The usudl votes of thanks were carried by acclamation, and tha proceedings closed. The distribution of prizes tojk place on Sunday, the 22nd.

The Trouble in South Africa.

THE RECENT ENGAGEMENT.

LOBENGULA PARLEYING.

Capetown, October 22. Dr Jameson, the Administrator of Ma shonaland, directed the recent manoeuvres against the Matabeles, and has been lavishly praised for the success of his efforts in the engagements near Indiamoa. The British were armed with Maxim and Gatling guns. The natives were completely defeated in both actions. It is expected that Major Adams' force, in conjunction with Khama's men, will immediately attack Lobengula's strong hold at Bulawayo. There is reason to believe that Euro peans are directing the operations of the Matabeles. Colour is given to this sus picion from the fact that the tactics of the Matabeles when they venture in the open country excel those usually displayed by Zulus, The advance of the Fort Salisbury column has been barred by a host of Mata beles, who compelled Colonel Brabant to retire. The Matabeles lost twenty-seven of their number in the skirmish. The Boers are mediating between Lobengula and the Chartered Company. October 23. Dr Jameson reports that a thousand scouts are beating the country within a radius of ten miles of the united columns. Large numbers of cattle were secured after tha recent engagements. A small party of Matabeles entered Tati but were driven back with the loss of three of their chiefs, The Matabeles are massing on the Shajiganu river, and the British columns are presing forward, The British forces have been successful in several skirmishes during the last day or two. Major Adams is expected to i each Bukwayu to-day. Lobengula has sent one of his chiefs to parley with the English.

A Square Meal.

The Primitive Methodists are once more to the front with their famous and time honored Show Day institttt'on—a solid luncheon for hungry people returning from the show. Nothing if not practical in their philanthropy, they decided in view ot the first show held here in 1879 that their duty was to provide at a moderate figure a sub stantial repast for the country people who had come in to see the sights of the show ground It was a " felt want <' th&t numbers of people experienced on returning from the grounds to find that every public table in the town was crowded, and so the Primitive Methodist table " caught qn,'l and-has been an institution ever since. The little chapel used to be simply rushed, but thanks to the practical way the ladies set about their work everybody who came got a good, filling* square meal. Now that the chapel has been enlarged to double its size, and a big class room added behind it, the sixteenth "annual Show feed" of the "Prims." is bound to be the biggest thing they have yet done on Show day. Many of the bevy of iair damsels who dispense the good things were but wee mites indeed when the first Show luncheon was laid in the church, and the work then was donti by niatrons who are noTv like many mqre cf us, gettjng }nto the "pero and yellow," but their places have been taken by a team of young" and fair -n Is, who allow no hungry one to remain fasting long The Primitive choir, too, includes some really excellent voices, and as the pieces sung are only such as recommend themselves for their tunefulness with i natural melody, it is really a treat to visit the church while the Show day festival is on, and as the table? are laid at four and remain open till seven "or later no ShftW j visitor need go to ty& on w» tn^t^* topwwk

THIS ASttßtfßtOH fIOABDIAK; TPHSDAY, OflTOßEft 24, 1898,



Classes. 1890, 1891. 1892. ] Sheep 91 123 171 Cattle 41 44 60 Horses 237 216 226 Pi gs 18 52 18 Implements ... 87 H6 94 Dogs 16 18 19 Dairy produce... 127 108 171 N Z manufactures 6 3 1 Extra exhibits... 14 24 16 Horse shoeing... 16 5 10 Small birds ... 7 1 4

1893. 213 71 245 20 102 21 146 1 30 0 2

660 710 790

851



JNew Goods. ■G. J. NEILL and Co -TT7E HAVE GREAT PLEASURE IN ANNOUNCING THE OPENING UP °FOUR NEW SPRING GOODS. Millinery in alt its Brandies, New Prints, guaranteed to wash, 4|d, 5^3, 6-U, 7^d New Washing White Muslin 4£d £:: Drts^oot double width, remade value, only Is New Colou-ed Cashmeres, double width, Is Jd New Double Width Sheeting 9|d New Flannelettes 3£d. New Table Damasks Is bd CLOTHING- CLOTHING- Men's Tweed Suits 17s 6d Men's Colonial Tweed Suits 2os 6d Boys' Tweed Suits 4s 116 Men's Strong Cotton Shirts Is lid Men's Tweed Trousers 6s lid Men's Felt Hats 2s 6d Boys' Felt Hats Is 6d BOOTS- BOOTS. BOOTS. Men's Bluchers 5s Men's Nailed Shooters 8s 6d Women's Strong Shoes 4s lldj Women's Leather Slippers 3s bd Women's Canvas Shoes 4s 9d I fi. I NEILL & CO.'S. FRIEDLANDER'S BUILDINGS, EAST STREET. TERMS CASH. r __,— ■ ■ "" THE ESTABLISHMENT FOR SATISFACTORY WATOH AND CLOCK REPAIRS OF EVERY DESCRIPTION AT CHARGES AS LOW AS IS CONSISTENT FOR Sound and Reliable Workmanship IS S. SALEK'd, ---t « n uwtad " Specialite " Spectacles and patented system of AGENT for ta»™ t^t' LutiSg Comfort »nd Correct Sisht. A Speciality m»do oi Converting Oustom^OU J.wallery into New .nd Fashionable • nia « n A miver .lewellery—Silver and Electro-Plated, etc., NEW GOODS m Gold■ »* |l^ e g^ to J e lect from, spe 3 iaily suitabh for just to hanc' A large »"<* v WEDDING AND BIRTHDAY _PEI_SENTS AND PaESENTATIONS. 8. SAXEK. EAST STREET.



Wanted A DANoiTwnrb"e held in the Oiange A. Hall, Show Nfcht. Admx^on -~ Gents, 2,6JjJadießJree^ 10Wj fTw EA.STON, Evangelist, wil! RpTe a chTntheor ang eHalliHi ? Evening at 730 p. m, ___A« *' ' ANTED at once, a cook for the men'.hut.tU ? hmor. For par ticulara B pply_DwAW_MolMi_J?_ J.. 7B OST—A smaUCotton Bag containing tickets. Finder please return to Co-OpEBATIVB. _____ OUK G L^dieTjmmiald for IV o vein ber, Family Header for Septembo. now in. Choral Anthems, New Book, by Mail.—U. M. Jones '/TTbUMS, Photo Fiamee, Leather J3. Wii incCases, Woik-b"xeß,D-.sks, Brackets, Glove and Handkerchief Boxee, Japanese Goods—Q- M Jonks. XUJI Oranges, ai.d ripe Bananas for -T sale by Mrs JaMED, East street. 10 101 __^ A~N TED Known—That A. J Walkbe repairs Bi' yclee, Sewing Machines, Lawn Mowers, Medical Coils, and all description^l^jnacliinery^ IF ToiT~waut fiist class fruib go to Ad»ms' for Fiji, Tahiti, Auckland and Sydney Oranges, Citrons, Lemons, etc. _.„____ MEDICAL Coils made and repaired on the shortest notice at easy pricea at A. J. Walkek'«, Old Kinder garten. ~OAlLWAYiio^kStall.-A very large XV and choice lot of books to select from. , L 1!? B Lemons, Tomato Sauce, Marmalade, Cabbage and Tomato Plants at Whittington s, Bur nett street. HERBAL Beer, Ginger Beer, Rasp berryade, home made Jams and Marmalade, and all fresh fruit in season T. Hom/r, East Street, Ashburton. 10 lb W\NTKD Known.—The V and IS Ooieet now landed, in all sizes,- MrrcHEtt and Turner^ O" HTKNTAI7~Cotfeo is the blend of the Choicest Ceylon and Mocha. Try it. lEEWOOD, si.oi-t lengths and dry far sale. Orders left with MR fc James. Fmit Shop, East street, or a_ M*yo'sG;uden, Hampstead. lU^o ANTED Known-W. H-Collier's noted four dasp Kid Gloves, 2s Bd, have just arrived w all si*es. T~)RESENT£-- Beautiful Presents now J being given away to all purchasers ifDrapery," JMillinery, Boots, Clothing etc.—H. O. Segers, Melford House. MITCHELL and Turner's prepara tions for the Stas-n are acknowledged to be very complete. T\ HE Best Kickel Watch in the Market i for 15s. Usually sold by Jewellers at f»m 20j to 25s each. Specially made in England to our order—JonN Orr and Co. It) 2 /SrTCKOT and Law.i Tennis Material V^ just unpacked at reduced pr'ces. Hew Bocks, Games and Fancy Goods AU goods redncfid in price for ca^h this month. —L. F. Andrewes and Co, Sfcationerft' Hall. j 00KS in great variety to suit all j classes of readers, at the Railway Book Stall. U^ BANG 1 Bang ! Bang 1 Guns 1 Guns ! Gunsi by the best makers and itted with all tht latest improvements Powder, Shot, Caps., Caslridges, Wads, and Cases at J. W. Habbubv'b, East Street. Guns repaired. SOMERSET Meat Mart. The oldest the lamest, tha bea^, and the cheap eß t. S»«ir»ioods a specialty. Sul irei"hto guaranteed. A trial solicited. .W, J, Siwov%, *tlß^



\* 7ANTED Known.—-Choicest ISovel- VV ties in Dress goods, Mantles and Millinery ate to be seen.—Mitchell and Turner, WANTED Known—" The Corner " ia showing a magnificent New Stock of Drapery and Clothing. — W. H. COLMBB. __ , FOR Bread, Scones, Pastry, etc , you will find Jumbo Baking Powder unsurpassed. ■\TICKEL Watches at 12* 6 X usually ■A-' sold by ironmongers at 15-!. The 22=! 6d and 25 * lines still maintain their supremacy oxer all others at the pricfs Obtainable only from S. Salek, Jeweller. i TI/ANTED Known-For good value in IYV first class Drapery, Millinery, Boots, Clothing, etc., go to Mblford House. Beautiful presents now giving away to all purchasers. WANTED Known—Some wonderful job lines n Drapery, etc., now ooingsold; also presents to all purchasers. B. C. Skgbks, Melford House. DON'T Forget to send your Bicycles along to the Old Kindergarten to »c repaired, at moderate rates. SUITS to measure, during the sale, 495, 555, 60s, 70s, and 755. Fit; and workmanahip guaranteed. —R. Alcoen, Saunders 1 Buildings. WHO is your Plumber 1 Why W. Habdlby, who is a Manufacturer of Spouting, Ridging, Steel Gutters, Baths, Sinks, Tanks, etc., and who has on hand the largest stock of Pumps and Pipe in town. TTR ANTED Known.—To make room W for Spring Boots I will give ten per cent for cash. Repairs done at once cheaper than ever to etay bad times over atJ. Moihon, Premier Bootmaker. 8 18 tITHEKEdo you geu year Ironmoc W gery? At Hakdubv sof course, where we gftt the best value in Sheft Lead, Nails, Locks, Hinges, Pious? h Chains, Rope, Wire Knetting, Gorse Knives, Spades and Forks, Lamp, Fender anr* Fire Irons, and anything you requirp NEW ZEALAND CiiOTiiiAG Factory SPECIAL DISPLAY OF NEW GOODS FOR THIS WEEK. ASHBURTON A. & P. SHOW. BOOTS / HATS NFAV PATTERNS BOOTS • ii . i, > i HATS JJUV/XO m M en ' g (Soys' & BOOTS Youths' Suita. HATS BOOTS I — HATS BOOTS Tennis Shirls Cricket Shirts HATS BOOTS CycliDg Shirtß HATg BOOTS — HATS BOOTS All Kjsw GoO])S HATg BOOTS HATS BOOTS White Shirts ) Kegaiita Shirts HATS BOOTS Oxford Shirts i H^TS BOOTS J T]ie Largest Stock HA xy BOOTS "' Ashburton BOOTS j —- | HATS BOOTS TIES, TIES. TIES HATS BOOTS 03 our Special Dis play in Windows. I HATS BOOTS I HALT.KNSTEIN BROS. ALEX HENDRY, jer:



ThrOnwijOW Biscuit.-The latest and most duli Pflte Uieouit wauufactwred b^ AuUebrook and Co.



«AMMF,»* (*on«'Eucalypti Extract There are imitations of Eucalypti Extract in the market now, products of simple distillation forming rude resinous oils. In order that these crude oils may not be taken, Our Pure Volatile Enca lyuti Wxtraet, which is recognised by the medical division of the Prussian Government to be of perfectly pure origin, as per information forwarded to us through the Consul at Melbourne, March 2, 1878 we state: — It is proved by tests made by the Medicial Clinics of the Universities at Bonn and Gfreifswal!, Prussia, and reported by Dr Schulz, Professor of Pharmacology at Bonn, and Professor Dr Mosler, Director of the Medical Olinic at Greifswalcl, that only produces that are saturated with oxygen and freed of a<udf, resinous and other substances, adherent to primary distillation, will develop the sanative qualities proper to the plant, SAMPER I SON'S EUCALYPTI EXTRACT according to these authorises, and accoraiag to Pro fessor Dr Lister, of England, and fo Drs Bauer, Mclntire, Wood, Hazard, etc., of A inerice., is the only extract correspondingto scientific tests, and the only one which possesses the proper therapeutic value. All other crude oils are to be- classed among the turpentines, which have, when used as medicine, no therapeutic effect and are abajdontd as an internal medicament. These so called Eucalypti Extracts, which may have received dist nctisn at Exhibitions sb commercial articles and are used for mechanical pur poses only are discernible :— 1. By their deflcieacy in punpont odour (which our product, the only genuine Eucalypti Extrac , de velops most freely through its surplus of oxyre ). 2 By their alcoholic thin and mobile appearance, being reduced in specific density through the presence of acid* 3. By their taste, too result of the contracting ten dency of resins and ten nates. If these crude oils, 89 C'Olei eucalypti extracts are applied by mistake in canes of croup, bronchitis, diph the ia, internal inflammations, dysentery, wound?, etc. thorcnseque!ices re mo?t appalling. For safety ask ask always for $aml«r anil Sons' JSncalyptt Extract and get the old, well-tested and reliable preparation.—Sandhurst, Victoria, Australia,— tlttntler ttml Nona



The Best Tea IN CANTERBURY for the money, and free from any excess of astringency. countess 2s.