MAIL NORICES.

Maili close for the following place* as under, subject to the necessary alterations:— KNGLISH MAILS. HOMEWARD—DIRECT MAILS. Tongariro, wiled January 20, due London February 28. , Ara*H, sailed February 2, due London March 15. „ a T , Aorangi, sailed February 16, due London March 31. HOMEWARD —SAN FRANCISCO MAIM. Alameda, sailed January 25. due London February 28. Next mail leaves Febiuary 25, due Loudon March 29. OUTWARD —DIRECT MAILS. lonic, sailed January 22, due colony March 6. Ruthine, sailed February 5, due colony March 20. OUTWARD*—SAX TRANOI9CO MA7M. Next mail leaves London February 18, doe colony March 24.

BBI*MM«

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 1893 THE CHEVIOT ESTATE.

It is not all surprising that no bid bid was elicited for the tenancy of the Cheviot estate on Tuesday last. The right to occupy for a period of eleven months only wiw scarcely likely to bt^ competed for, seeing that the purchaser had to face a rent of £867 a month, to be paid monthly in advance and at once to make arrangements for the pur chase of sonio 30,000 to 40,000 sheep wherewith to stock it, and then to run the risk of selling the same sheep ten months hence at a profit or a. loss as | the case might be. Ihe fact is no one ! but a capitalist could have gone in for such a transaction, not to say a capi talist of decidedly speculative ten dencies. Of course we do not lose sight of the calculations read out by Mr J. T. Matson, showing a probable profit of anythingfroin£Boooto £18,000, but then auctioneers' estimates, when they relate to properties of which they have the disposal, are notoriously couleur de rote, and we again say that we are not surprised no bid was elicited. It is quite possible that the Government may be successful in temporarily leas i ing the property in subdivisions, but ! we not anticipate that the aggregate rentals will amount to anything like the rental at which the whole wqp offered on Tuesday. It seems to us that the Government cannot expect to receive a sum equal to the interest on the purchase-money for so short a term of occupancy, and that they must be prepared to submit to considerable loss in this direction. The only way in which such a loss could have been avoided would have been for the Go vernment, having bought the estate, to buy the sheep also and keep them on it until they were ready to dispose of the property in suitable sub divisions. Had they done this the clip of next season would have more than returned interest on the whole outlay. We hear indeed that suggestions to that effect were made to Ministers from more than one quarter but that these could not be carried out because the law does not empower the Govern ment to purchase the stock upon any estate taken over, as this was under the Land and Income Tax Act. Another matter in connection with this Cheviot purchase is the course of con siderable public anxiety; We refer to the formation or proposed formation of syndicates or Settlement Associations for the purpose of taking up blocks of the land. There is a fear abroad that, if the Government deal with such bodies the result will be that the best of the land will be secured by them, leaving only the inferior land for indi vidual settlers. It is asserted that there are plenty of persons anxious to take up land on Cheviot who are ready to do so in individual holdings, and it is urged that if this be the case pre ference should be given to such appli cations and not to those of Settlement Association* which should ouly be pro vided for after the demand of indi vidual settlers has been satisfied. We sympathise, we confess, very largely with thw view and we hope that, in this matter Mr Mackenzie will be well advised before taking action which might lead to much disappointment and dissatisfaction.

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Horticultural Society's prizes will be paid at the Arcade Chambers this evening between seven and nine o'clock. The Salvation Army musical recital in aid oi the Queensland Floods Relief Fund takeß place this evening, beginning at 7.45. The clearing sale of stock and plant on account of Mr D. Brick, at Tara, takes place to-morrow. Mr D. Thomas is the auctioneer. The following are »he vital statistics for the Ashburton district for the month of February:-—Marriages 7; births 20; deaths 7. . It is stated that Mr Stephen Boreham, of the Oamaru Shearers Union, has definitely detided to stand for Timaru, which electo rate is at present represented by Mr W. Hall Jones. Mr George Osborne, Willowby, Announces that he is prepared to cut chaff with one of Messrs Andrews and Beaven's Canterbury chaff cutters and baggers, and also wush corn with the same firm's improved machine. Nearly 84 tons of ostrich feathers! That is the weight already disposed of this year at Market auction sales in tile United Kingdom. The amount realised was over £430,000. The man Colemaß, who was in custody on suspicion of being concerned in the alleged fire raising at the farm of dunes, Methven, haa been dismissed, the evidence not being sufficient to warrant proceeding with the case. Letters from places beyond the colony, addressed as follows, were received at the Ashburton Post Office during the month of December, 1892, and were unclaimed on March 1 1893:—'Ihomas Ruane, Joseph Pristidge. v In consequence of the date previously announced, March 23, clashing with that of the Ashburton ram fair, the r»tn fair at the South Canterbury yards will be held on March 16, a week earlier. Mr Fish, M.H.8., managed'to quarrel with another person in a meeting called at Dunedin in aid of the Queensland sufferers, | and gathered up his hat, his umbrella, and , hi* dignity, and turned his back on Queens- j land. The monthly meeting of the Ashburton Volunteer Fireßrigade was hera on Wednes- Lsr evening. It was decided to hold the ! compWw* on Wednesday afternoon, March 22: Several teams are m training, and a very intereeting afternoon's enter- SmntenSlooWJprwWfo.. Jhsiuinual SJtion of the brigade by the Borough Si will take place ne*t Thursday. ,

In the Supreme Court, Christchurch, in Chnmbers, on Wednesday, an order was made in Drummond v Isitt and others to quaah the proceedings in which they declined to grant a liceu ue to the Waltham Arms Hotel, defendants to pay costs £4 4?, and disbursements, Mr Caygill, for the defen dants offering no objection. The "OUgo Daily Times" says :—Great damage has been done to the crops in many portions of South Ot<igo and Southland by the small birds. These pests have visited many farms in swt*nrs>, and in some in stances have stripped ripening fields to such an extent as to make it scarcely worth while cutting the crop. The rabbits are in several districts unusally numerous and destructive. Iv addition to the consignment of lobsters which is coming to the colony by the lonic, now delayed at Capetown with a broken shaft, the "Pout" learns that there are 'on board. 100,000 young salmon, which I are being imported at the instance of the New Zealand Government, and thirty Virginian quail and twenty mallard wild duck, -for the Wellington Acclimatisation Society. The 75yds flat race handicap arranged by the Ashburton Amateur Athletic aud Cycling Club was run off on Wednesday afternoon. The weather being fine there was a large attendance. There were splendid finishes in each heat, which speaks well for the handicapped. The winners of of heats and final were as follow :—First heat—W. Shearman, 3yds; tune Bsecs. Second heat—H. Cu-itis, 2yds; time 8 l-sth sec. Third heat—E. E. Clowes, 2yds; time 8 loth sec. Fourth heat— F. Shearman, 2yds; time 8 2-sth sec. B'ioal—Curtis 1, W. Shearman 2, B. Shearman 3.—Time 8 2-sth tec. | Writing on January 21 the London cor-1 respondent of the " New Zealand Herald " says : —Messrs Nelson Bros have received a large number of cases of fhh from New Zealand. A good many of them are moki, or blue fish, or blue cod. They seem to be a very good-conditioned fish, belonging to the cod species. If it be possible to sell them as cheaply as English haddocks they may find a market here, but it is feared they will not come much in competi tion with the better class food fishes of this country. ■

CORRESPONDENCE.

(Wt do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions exptessed by our correspondents.)

THE PROHIBITION CRUSADE.

TO THK KDJTOB. SIR,—In reading your leader on the Prohibition programme I did notice your suggestion about electing "upright, educated men, ot business capacity, eSc." I took it fpr a little joke on your p:*rt, and I can scarcely believe ifc anything i else now. Had it been a suggestion from the Uhristchur<:h " Press "now, and the added qualification of "a stako in the country " been in it, I could quite under stand, but from the Guardian it cau't be thu you mean it. I have always under stood that the Ghakdian was a Liberal of Ihe Liberals, and I have further under stood that the first plank in the Liberal platform was "government by the people," that is, a majority —it may be of one—of the people, isovr you tell us, in effect, that the people should not demand pledges from candidates, but that they should vote for honorable nun, of busi ness capacity, etc., though their political views might Le of any colour or no j colour. How about reform then ? Can ; you mention a single reform that has baen ' carried in this or any count iy by such procedure ? : lam unable to agree with you about! ihe professional politician b^ing willing to j give this or any pledge. My experience j oF the P.P. ift that when he is uncertain ! which side can poll ihe largest number of votea he hates to be questioned, and : generally gets furious when asked to! pluJk'e himself. From recanfc utterances i in different quarters lam afraid that too many of the self-styled Libsrils of New Zea'and are little better than P.P.'s; they seam to be finding the direct veto question "the devil or the deep sea." You seen to have over-looked the fact that the direct veto does not mean prohi bition—it only makes it possible, nothing more. Thetemperancepartyaskthatwhere ever they are in a majority of one there shall be no licenses: but they are per fectly satisfied that where they happen to be in a miaority cf one, license* shall be issued. Is nob that fair ? Why harp about bare majorities ? Is not tho lule of bare majorities recognised everywhere ? And does it not cut both ways ? It seem? to me to be anything but temperate or judisial to groan about bare majorities ffhan. they happen to be against you, whilst you smilingly accept their verdict when in your favor. One thing more. You say there is a very considerable majority of the present House in favor of Local Option, and you have on former occasions assured us that the present House compares favorably with any other House we have had for " education, busipess ability, and honesty." Very well. Let them settle it next session, and it will be done with. They have it in their power to removu this embarrassing question from the path of the great Liberal party for ever. By parsing a Local Option Bill next session it will be possible for the publican and the prohibitionist to work hand in h»nd on the committees of the candidates put forward by that bulwark of our liberties, the great Liberal party. —I am, etc., J. Keir. [Mr Keir writes of " a little joke : " we " should bo sorry indeed to think that he wishes the above letter to be taken seriously. His^innuendo that a repre sentative of the people must necessarily be an ignorant man is unworthy of him. We did cot say, even in effect, that the people should not demand pledges from candidates; and we reassert emphati cally that all irreat informs have been carried by the clas« of nißn whose candidature we advocated. It is the ' Wellington Prohibition League, not we, j who advise people to vote for candi dates of any cJor or no color if they will but give a pledge on one point Mr Keir's experience of the professional politician is absolutely unique, if he hap, as he says, found that individual unwilling to pledge himself. Mr I£eir cannot drag us into a dispussion of. the prohibition question. We hold and have often expressed the opinion that the licensing law is in great need of amendment, and have indicated the direction which, in our opinion, the amendments should take. That a Lyjil Option Bill has not bsen passed by the present Parliament is simply owing to the extremely different views on minor points held, wi.h the utmost tenacity, among professed supporters of the principle ; this in turn being due to the great variety cf pledges exacted froni them at election time on the question. ' We have given Mr Keir more space and' attention tlian are merited uy his letter,' which is mainly directed 'tp setting up windmills for himself and tiling at them—a process for whicji we capnot afjford spape in ojir cojiumng. — Ep-j

TELEGRAPHIC.

HOME AND FOREIGN

(per frkss association.)

SHIPPING.

JjONpon, February 28. The s.s. Duke of Sutherland has been towed into St Vincent, having broken down. IRISH 4FFAIRS. Bank of Ireland stock is at £292. DANUBIAN FLOODS. 1 he Danube overflowed its banka in ■ Hungary with such rapidity that villages were submerged in a few minutes, and many families drowned. THE BRITISH NAVY. Great Britain will complete the con struction of twenty-six war vessels this year. LABOR MATTERS. The miners' delegates have agreed to a national stoppage of work, and the price of coal is rising in consequence.

FRENCH POLITICS.

St. Petersburg, Feb vary 28. " Novoe Vreraya" sayg that M. Ferry aims at an alliance with Germany, and is unfit to be trusted with power. Paris, February 28. M. Ferry urges that the Senate have proved a safeguard to the Republic , during the Panama crisis. FRANCE AND SI AM. France and Siam will submit their dispute respecting the frontier boun dary to arbitration.

A PRINCELY DONATION.

New Yobk, March 1. Mr Gordon Mackay, the millionaire, has given a donation of £400,000 to the Harvard University. TYPHOID AT CHICAGO. An epidemic of typhoid fever has broken out at Chicago, and is assuming alarming proportions. The outbreak i is attributed to sewer gas.

AUSTRALIAN.

LORD JERSEY'S DEPARTURE. Sydney, March"l. The Earl of Jersey opened & monster fete in aid of the Queensland relief fund, and afterwards left for Brisbane en route to Japan and England. He was enthusiastically greeted on his way to'the railway station.

INTERPROVINCIAL.

Wellington, March 1. The annual report of the Public Ser vice Association regrets that Parliament has not seen its way to pass a satisfactory Civil Service Bill, and states that until classification can be secured the anomalies in the position ana prospects of officers must continue to exist and to bo a con stant source of discontent and dissatisfac tion. Also, that a scheme to provide re tiring allowances is much needed. The total membership is 1124 The balance sheet at the end of December showed a credit of £98, and the assets i chow a surplus of £103 over liabilities. ' Dunbdin, Mirch 1. The run sale was largely attended. For only one of the first, thirteen Jicei>ses' offered was there any competition, and in that case, two sections in the Crookston district, submitted at the upset rental of £7, thsro whs spirited bidding, till they were knocked down at £20. For three . licenses theie was no offer, and the balance sold at the upset prices. For one of thejßilver Peak sections £51 wat> obtained, a» advance £28 on the upset. For thi* others in the name district the bidding ros^ quickly from £65 to £82, and for part of Benmore run, started at £20, £81 wasobtaired. J. A. Millar contests Port Chalmers. VV. Hutchison contests Dunedin City against all comers. Henry Brayser, 45 years of age, was drowned in the Clufha near Miller's Flat this morning; by falling off Bennett's bridge. He leaves a wife and young family. At a meeting of the Dairy Association, Mr W. B. Walters urged that there should be a brand on butter boxes recog nised by the New Zealand and Home Governments, so that the Customs autho rities in London would have no reasoa for opening the boxes and leaving them improperly dosed. He also urged that there should be a store in London in charge of a competent man. Since the 17th of November the Association have shipped from Port Chalmers 11,708 cases of cheese, of the'net weight of 1,657,307 pounds, on which the freight amounted to £4843. Of butter, 4487 boxes, of the net weight of 250,332 pounds were chipped, on which £1186 5s 6iX was paid on freight. Invercargill, March 1. In May last a somewhat romantic case came before tho R.M, Court here, when a woman, named Mary Brown, or Quiely, sought to compel Jamas Brown, horse trainer, to support her on the ground that she was married to him in County Clare in 1878. Brown, she maintained, left Ireland three weeks after marriage for New Zealand, and never wrote to her. Some years later she came to tfr& Colony and traced Brown by reading a horse advertisement to which his name was attached. She was then on the West Coast and came to Invercargill, where Brown denied having ever seen her before, and being unable t« produce pioof of the marriage, the Mji^i>n- re ruled against her. Having since uoui.ied a copy of her marriage certificate from Ireland, and a wit ness from the West Coast, she returned to the charge to-day, and convinced the Court that Brown was her husband, although he again by his counsel defied that he knew anything about the woman or had ever seen her. Mr Rawson said it was. a most heartless case^ and sent Brown fco gaol for three months with hard labor, and ordered him to pay 5s a week towards his wife's support. A violent thunderstorm was experienced here between midnight and five this morning. Somo of the petls were panied by a report like thai; of enormous cannon. The lightning was very vivid, and a contractor's workshop in the centre of the town was wrecked by it. The iron roof has evidently been lifted bodily and dropped back in its place as all the nails are dra^n about two inches. Every window was smashed, and a portion of the woodwork in the front shattered, a lead pipe was melted as if by fire, and a sheeV'df iron was blacrkenedi by the electric fluW and' deposited on thfc foot ! path. $o far there are no reports of ' other damage by lightnpg, but fclie props i will have suffered considerably from yind and hail. An important mim'ng case was decided in the Warden's Court here torday. Par quhar McKenzio and George Howells sued Donald MoKeuzie for a one-third portion of a twelfth share in the Golden Site claim, at Wilson's river, on an alleged partnership which had not been reduced to writing. After a hearing ocieupyiiig two days Warden Rawson held thnt the'paVfoeri&ip was established and made an order accordingly, '!C#ste amounting to £38 wert'aHowed. '' ■ "-

Wesleyan Conference.

[t>KR FRKBS ASSOCIATION.]

- Dunedin, March 1. At the Wesleyan Conference the ttev G. Bond*; the retiring President, deliver* d an address. * He said :— That he gratefully noted the fact that their ministoriil ranks remained uu broken by death, and another gratifying feature was that notwithstanding the in tellectual unrest consequent upon the efforts of the exponents of " Higher Criticism" in the direction of revision and reconstruction, their fences had not been weakened by any estrangement from the evangelical doctrines enshrined in Wesley's "Sermons" and *'Notes on the Mew Testament." Since they last met some of their eminently useful lay bre thren had been taken home to God, and among their number some who had from lime to time had a aent in the Conference who as local preachers, class leaders, stewards or trustees, rendered vxluable service to the Church of their choice. As they looked beyond th"ir own borders they discerned that death had been busy elsewhere, and it would not be deemed out of place to refer sympathetically Ito one whose memory would long be cherished by every school of political opinion and every shade of religious' I thought—Sir Harry Atkinson. They I would, he was sure, support his action in j officially condoling with Sir Wm. Fox in : his bereavement. Ho made suitable re ference to the deaths of J. G. Whittier, the Quaker poet of America, and Lord Tennyson. He then went on to deal with the special work of the year. They would be pleased to learn that the pelf-denial fund had reached the sum of £536, though no personal appeals were made, and that other and better fruits-folio wed the week pf prayer which accompanied the move ment. The Sunday School Union decided upon at the last Conference had been established. In Canterbury it had been received with favour, but elsewhere it had not met with the response it deserved. Its importance could not be over-esti mated, especially in view of the fact that the moral and religious training of the youth of the colony very largely depended upon the 3unday school teachers, in con sequence of the exclusion of the Bible from the day schools, ft was with pleasure he observed that in South Australia a National Scripture Education League had been formed to secure provision for the education of children in Scripture morals without denominational dogma. The Anglican Church in this colony was moving in the, swne direction; The Committee on higher education would again) introduce to their notice a subject o? unspeakable importance. The Com mittee appointed to consider the estab lishment of a Connexional Fire Insurance Society would suggest two schemes; first, the formation and registration of a Company with limited liability, and second the establishment by the onfer enoe of a fund to cover losses by fire, to be administered by a Committee appointed by the Conference. It would be for them to cay whether the time had arrived for the Conference to attempt some thing that would effect a saving to. the connexion of over £600 per annum. Another gratifying feature of the year's work was the issuing of the "New Zealand Methodist" «s a penny paper, but it was too early yet to say whether the change ■* would prove a financial success. The General Conference Committee on* Tongan affairs had decided that it was at prVant inadvisable that the Rev E. J. Moulton should return to the Friendly Islands. The address then dealt at length with the passing last session of an Amendment Act to legalise the permissive legislation- of the last General' Conference in re the extension of the term of itinerancy. They would no doubt pass a vott> of thanks to the Hon. the Premier for having taken charge of the\ Bill. The question of Methodist union had come once more to the front, md they were hoping that the trend of opinion in England and Australasia was in the direction of organic union, but the adverse vote of a majority of the Victorian District meetings, and the one-sided and emphatic decision of the Primitive Methodist meeting recently held in Ashburton, somewhat bedimmed their hopes. The Committee appointed for the purpose, however, had met with Bimilar Committees representing the United Methodists and Bible Christian Churches, and helped by the proposed bases of Victoria and South Australia, those joint . Committees h*d formulated a basis of union which would be submitted for their con sideration. It was gratifying to note the revived interest of their people in foreign missions, due in part to the visit of the Rev. George Brown, D.D., and they might be permitted to congratulate their Baptist brethren on the spiritual and financial success of their celebration of the centenary of foreign missions. With regard to .the ordinary woik of the year the statistics showed a total membership of 8209, and 365 on tri»l, with a con stituency of 53,576, exclusive of 3169 Maoris, showing stn increase of 299 mem bers. Their Sunday school bcholara numbered 20,561. He then want on to discuss the question as to whether the results were entirely satisfactory. He consider they were not, and asked whether there was not a lack of that high toned spirituality on the part of many which characterised their fathers. He then pointed out that the nois&jon of the Church was not only to call taen to re pentance but to seek to redress social | wrongs, to eduoate the popular sentiment ! against the liquor traffic, and to lift a warning voice against gambling and, so educate the public conscience until it would no longer be possible for the Go vernroenc to legalise the evil or to derive a revenue from the vice. He also alluded to the indifference of the multitude to the claims of religion. In conclusion, he acknowledged the loyalty, courtesy and prayers of the brethren, which had made a year of hard work and anxious thought en© of great personal comfort and happiness. l ' Th, c Rev Keall was elected ■ President and th« Eev W. BulUSeoretary. The following changes in stations on first reading are proposed ; —Auckland, S. Prior ; Marharanga, T. N. Griffin j Upper Thames, T. G. Carr ; Franklyri, S. Griffith; Whangarei, J. G, Chapman; New My mouth, G. Bond; Wellington, J* J. Lewis, W. Beck, and A. C. Lawry ; Hutt, J. H. Gray; Greyton, J. Gibson; Gis borne, J. Law; Lyttelton, P. W. Fair clough ; Kaiapoi, J. S, Sraalley; Wai mate, I). J. Murray; Ashburton, S. l^attry and C. Abernethy; Malvern, T. V. Newbold.

The Taranki Dummying Charges.

(fBR P#BSB AhSopjATION)

May P^^ifoo«f, March f. The Resident ISffeifttrate hel4 that a print facie case h»d been made pu| Against Bendy, and committed him to take his trial at the next session of the Supreme Court. Bail was allowed, de fendant in £250 and one surety in £250. , Joseph Frederick Pease, of Hawera, \ was charged with making a false declar.i tion in respect of section 3, block 5, Hawera. Xtepndanfc set forth in his deration? of 1/^' Atnril, m\, that he was n^t the oVrier of larid nioi^e than was allowed by the Act, whereas in truth and iit fact he heUl land exceeding that

The Conceut Schools.

PRIZE DAY. The concert and distribution of prise* . took place at the Convrtuc Schools ye*t«r day, and.attracted the usual large gather ing of parental and friends. Owing to the infiuenzA epidemic in December, the gathering, which is usually held then, was postponed from th>»t urttnth.to a date - nearer Easter, and the Ist of March was selected. The weather was excellent, and the day being the weekly half-holiday, a good many ladies took advantage of the day to enjoy a cojple of hour*' really high class entertainment. The schoolroom was beautifully decorated, as in the custom, and the little girls were all in gala costume looking their very prettiest. The Very I- . Father O'Donnell, parish - priest, was chairman, and the programme was commenced immediately he had taken his seat. It was made up as follows :— Duet (piano), overture to " Zampa, ' Misses Sutherland and McCormick; song aud chorus, " Friendship," puoils of senior claw ; solo (two pianos), -'Lat&unambula," Mißaes McCormick and Sutherland;- recita tion, " The Sun and the Stan," Miss Violet Johnstone ; solo (violin), "Parlour Orchestra No. 6,' Miss Hoult; song, "Pussy's Tea Party," pupils of junior class; due* (two pianos and harmonium), " Moonlight am the Lake," Miww McCormick, Dowling, Bourni que, Devane: (barmontam) Miss Sutherland; dnet (vocal), "List to the Consent Bells," . Misses Prendergast, Kelly, Vincent, and Thomas; recitation, "The Ant and the Cricket," Miss Annie O'Keefe; solo (two pianos and harmonium), " Martha," Misses Devane and Millichamp: (harmonium) Miss Bournique; e«lo (violin), " The Haalsman's Chorus." Mi* Sutherland; sons and chorus, " The Flower Gatherers,' pupils of senior class; solo (two pianos), " The Wearing o the Green," Misses McCormick and Suther land ; duet {two pianos and harmonium) March, ''Brilliant," Misses Millicbamp, McLean, Itovane, and Sutherland; (har monium) Miss McCormick The programme was gone through in , a manner that would have done honor to a troupe of professional mnsiciana; . The" instrumental work was admirabie. The violin playing by the two soloists on that instrument gave promise of something very superior from the young lauiasM theypro gresa in study and practice, and it would be difficult to find better piano work. When the two pianos were in use simul taneously the unison was so perfect that those of the audience who could see only one could not realise that two keyboards weie being handled. The introduction of the harmonium | secured reea effects that were very telling. The pare singing cif the pupils, both senior and junior, gave evidence of careful training and strict drill, and showed that the pupils had an intelligent conctfptinn of what was required of them in this kind cf work. Two little maidens gave recitations very archly, and were complimented after wards by Father O'Donnell on the clear ness of their enunciation-a compliment that was well deserved indeed. The distribution of prizes took place at the close of the concert, and rafter each child had received her prize, Father O'Donnell, on behalf of himself and the audience, thanked the children for the treat they had given them. He was Biire that all would accept that enter tainment as a sign that whatever, else ma doing, the children entrusted to the sisters for education wore receiving a therough education. It had been his fortune within the last few d%ys to come across a work, the existence of which he had bflen aware of for some time, but had liever seen. He bought it tt a railway bookstall for Is 6d, and it was the wont investment he had ever made. Ihe book was entitled "Awful Doings in a Convent," and he read a portion of it. Had he not known the whole thing to bea tissue of lies, and had he been brought op with non- Catholic prejudices, hebelieved the book might have prejudiced him against such institutions. But those who were present - that day had only to look at the girls who had given that entertainment, tohote the excellence of their discipline and training, and the modesty which had characterised every one of them, to see, the example that was set before them in the Convent. Parents who had children at the Con vent schools felt that the fees they paid for their children's education was the beat spent money they had ever paid away in. i their lives. The rev. gentleman then spoke with some feeling against the injustice inflicted on Catholics by ! having to support their own schools, while they received no share of ! the Government education grant, and yet were taxed to support an educational system with which they were wholly out | of sympathy, and of which they could not possibly take advantage. He advised his people to bear this in mind at the general election when their votes *ere sought by candidates who favored the \ perpetuation of this injustice, und took occasion to pay a ti ibute to Major Steward for the fair views he took of the Catholic claims in this connection, and for the outspoken manner in which he bad always given utterance to them. The rev speaker then made referer.ee to the high promise which the musicians of the school gave of being leaders among the local talent in the yean to come. He then made special reference to the excel lence of the enunciation of the two little girls who had given the recitation num bers in the programme. Such things m these shown the attention that was. paid to even the smallest detail by the good sisters in imparting knowledge to the , children. The children were nof: crammed, but their faculties were evolve^, which was the truest education. Parents: ought to be proud to te»rn that theip children were looted after so well by the good nuns. Major Steward bore testimony to the great pleasure the entertainment had given. As Father O'Connell had said, he had always maintained the justice of giving to a community not belonging to his church a fair share of the portion of the public revenue devoted to education. It wos not always a popular opinion to hold, but it was justice, and he stood in this matter by the side of justice. There was no one present who would not heartiy endorse all the rev. father had said in re* gard to tHe excellent education imparted, at the epttverit, and he himself had. begg particularly §truck by the modesty, gentleness, and giace which characterised the pupils. It was education :n the best of senses, and would enable those reoeiv ing it to take their places in the best society and maintain the elements of happiness in many homes. In our education, not of the schools, but for public life, not enough attention was paid to the amenities of life, and the speaker drew a comparison between the suavity and courtesy of the French people and the brusqiwrie if John Bull, who prided him self up on being blunt, upright and down right—but there was a possibility of being all these and yet gentle and courteous i« social life, The labor of the nuns was one of love, and they must be pleased indeed with the result of their labor ig evidenced in the strict musical time kept" by the pupils, and the excellence of thejr expression. a> well as by the recit'stiqn§ with which, he with others had been, captiyated. He concluded by cpn* gratulating the scholars, the parents, and the management on the success of the g>thering, and Father O'Donnsll on having so excellent an educational insti tution in his parish. ThY following is the , PRIZE LIST.

SACRED HEART SEfcKCT BCHOOJ,. Good Cjonduct. —IJoardcrß—^argftrefc Me Cdrmiefc; day pupils -EJHh Millichampi 'Seventh Class—Engfish—Katie SutW landj ]?rencti—Mnrgaret McCftrimck ; ;V ;

THE ASfIBtTRTOa tiUARtHATN : THtTRSbAY, MAttCH g, JBO3.



Wanted. DON'T Forget.-Oranges, Bananas Plums, Tomatoes, Pickles, Sauces, Potatoes Plant*, etc. Also Refreshments at Whittingtom's, oppsite Mail Office. & 11 __ i T^ST Opened.—A splendid assort- J raent of Ladiee 1 and .Children's jackets and ulsters.—H. C. Segms, Melford House. _^ ; HE Go«jd bamaritan, for the imme >* diate relief of pain.-LroiiT s Cash Store. ?_~ r TOMKOPATHIC Medicines, price JtL Is. Solh agent for district. Light's Cash Store. 234 BICrCLHS, Ordinary and Safety Cycles, Star Humber Roadster, Racers—Star Diamond Frame, Star Cro-.s Frame (Adanw, Curfeies and Cos Ma chines.) U»Bh or Terma. Christchurch Prices.—H. M.Jonw. 284 WANTED Known-Andrew Orr, has Removed to tho Old Town Hall for one month, during tin? ro-building of his premises. Drapery, Clothing, and Booty greatly reduced. - Andruw Orr. 2§104 i^HKAP Fruit—Pluma for jam Having VV bought Me Mayo's orchard, I c<n sell Fruit cheaper than any one in town. , Orders may be left at Butt Street Shop. —Mrs Jambs. 2§61 C^HEAP Firewood—Short Dry Gum t Firewood, at 26s per cord; branches 3s per load at Mayo s, Trevor tou.-Apply, Mks Jambs, Frutt Shop^ PIANOFORTE and Organ Show Rooms. Best cash value obtain able. Extended terms ; reduced sca'e ; Christchuich prices.—H. M. Jonbs. WANTED Known—loe Creams, Ice Creams, for the hot weather, always ready at H. G. Fiowbr's, Confec tioner, East Street. SOMERSET Meat M»rfc. The oldest the largest* tha best, and the cheap •St. Small 'woods a specialty. Ful weights guarantoed. A trial solicited. —W. J. Siloook^ *tM2 W" ANTED, at once, a Boy haying passed Standard V. or VI., a* apprentice to th<« printing trade. Apply ISaii. Office. WANTED the Public to know thatS. W. Aujorn and Co's Summer Sale is now on. Great Bargains in Millinery, Underclothing etc. ft?-ANTED Known that S. Salek, yy Watchmaker and Jewdler, has removed to new shop near New Zealand Clcthinff Factory ___J_ WANTED Known.~Come and see our dress hoes at 4jd and 6i, leather shirting 6j \, three-quarter cloaks 18s 6.1. —H. C. Sbgbrs, M-jlford House. W~ ANTED Known—Dr Scott's cele brated Electric Corsets can only be obtained in Anhburmn nt W. U. CQjLuiSß's "Thn Cornwr." ♦IIHR Misses Adams' tow Uefreshment JL Rooms now op'Jii. Tea, Coffv-e, Ooooa, Lemon Squash, Scda *nd Milk and »ll ihe new summer drinks ready at all times. C'olcman's Building, East Street. -■ -— j —"W^FaIn'TED everyone to come and ccc v*k t }, e beautiful presents we are giving away for ev*ry 5s and upwards spent —EL 0. Skgbrs, Melford Housa. WANTED— Purchaser* tor Bargains in Summer Dresses, Prints, and Delaines, Sunshades, &c. at 9. W. Auiorx and Co's Sale. WANTED Kncwu—Xew Flanneltttes at extraordinary prices; 3s lid tnd 4s lid doz. Thirty per cent undei price.—W. H. Colubsr. DON'T let the rain water destroy your buildings. Get Spouting fixed »t 4d per ioot and buy » tnnk, complete with tip, tested before leaving work&hop, for 30s, at J. W. Hardley's. WHY not Bake your awn Bread when you eui get 501 bs of the Best Roller Flour for five shillings cash or five shillings and sixpence >>ooked at Robert aloork s, Sauuders' Buildings. 11 31



from whom they can be obtained. . PS ■ .■3. *< r " •< .fan- © EH - O ■



'fiHE Missing Word U. Book* en A Sheep and Dairy Farming. The Horse, The Dog, Poultry, Gardening, Athletics and Training." Back Numbers of Graphic, The Queen, Sporting and - Dramatic News and other illustrated papers at half piic«, ab L. F. Amdkrwks A Co., Stationers' Hall. DON'T Forget che Borough Bye-Laws re Carrage Lamps, and that Hardlr . as targe Stock on hand, also ft large assortme^: of Tinware and Iron • mongery, Scythes, Reaping Hooks, Hay Knives, Forks, etc., of best quality, and all at lowest possible prices. J. W. Hasdlby, East Street, Ashburton, BEAR in mind that J. W. Hardlby, Plumber and Gasfitter, East Street. Ims the largest Stock in town of Pumps, Pipes, and Fittings, and that he is selling . them cheaper than ever at prices hitherto j uheard of in Ashburton. Now in the dunce for a cheap Pump ; improved No. . Price, 16s. Larger siwes in proportion. /CHRISTMAS Suits. Boys, three \J gai ment long Trouser Suit! at los. Boys, Colomal-made Knicker Suits frum Mfe. Men's nicely made Colonial Tweed Knits 3te. Colonial Tweed Suits to mrasure from 50s.—Ashburton Clothing Mart, Saunders' Buildings. Robbkt Luxpx \ iTaNTKD Kaown—Tint J. MunoK , W • keeps the best stock of Boots in <Ashburton, for this reason that he pays cash and is not under or bound to any one firm like many in the trade, which cnablra him to procure and supply the public with ih-3 Best Colonial and English mikes ; and his well-known make needs rio recommendaiisn. Always on hand Best Sole Leather, used for repairs and done at onco.— h Moison, Impermeable _ Bootmaker, Town Hall, Kast Street, next Court House



A. Najrelng Wile A FACT. A speaker was holding forth on woman and he made out that she was just a little angel on eatfch. In glowing words he pictured how patient she was in suffering how courage ius in trouble, and how alto gether gentle, loving, and good she w»i under all circumstances, and closed his peroration by declaring that any man who laid his hand on a woman, save in the act of kindness, was a monster. After the lecture, a pale, haggard, woe •begone; looking man shuffled up to the speaker attd laid, " Look here, mister; I've heard what you've been saying about woman ; all about how nice and swe9t she is, why, one would imagine that you believed all women were just blushing full blown roses; I guess you don't know my wife. Well she haint no blooming rose. She's a daisy, a reg'lar daisy, why mister my wife » a agger, and there is'nfc an hour, when she's awake, but tlufc she's nagging, someone. If it is'nfc me, its the children, if ifc is'nfc fche children, ifc b fche cat. There is nothing that escapes her nagging tongue, and the only time any of us gets any rest is when she has nagged herself to sleep." How like the nerves of a man who diinksj they just nag, nag all the time, giving no rest until enough liquor has been taken to deaden all nervous sensibility, and the poor fellow goes off n that sodden, snorine, miserable state that is but the rattling skeleton of a healthy sleep. „ • R. T. Booth's Gold«n Remedy No 1 puts an end to all this nagging of the nerves by destroying all desire for iquor. „ . R. T. Booth's Golden Remedy No 2 is the beat Brain and Nerve Tonic on this earth. All chemists. The Onslow Biscuit. The latest and moat delicate biscuit manufactured by Awlebrook nod Co, 1



Bead This. New Dress Goods 9W, now 4sd All Wool Summer Serge In, now <fri Slimmer Trees Tweeds worth la, fc-r »$ d . Fluid and Stripes for. Children's Dr«Mea b*a j Flannelette 3s 9d dozen Heavy Twilled Flannelette 4s lid dozen Cotton Shirtings worth 81 for ss<i Cotton Shirtitga worth 9Jd for 6sd Double Bod Sheeting, white twilled. lOfcd White Lace Curtains from Is 9d a pair Good twilled Cretonne 4sd yard Liberty Muslin 3£d yard , _. , Ladies' Aprons, good washing colors, Is 3d, reduced to 6*d Striped Dimity for bed valUnces 6£d yard CLOTHING. CLOTHING. Men's Strong Tweed Suit- 32s 6d, reduced to 19s 6d Men's Colonial Tweed Suite 23s 6d Men's Serge Suit* 20b on . Men's New Zealand Tweed Trousers 8s lid A S.^Kkrf Met's^otton and lather Shirts, dirt cheap. Boys' Tweed Suits 4s 111. Come and see them. v BOOTS. BOOTS. BOOTS.* We stand unrivalled in Boots. Having special •«nVa^}^^^^SSSi we are in a position to supply Boots all the year round at WHOLESALE ±-K.n,J». Men's Colonial made Bluchers, 5s • Men's dolonwl made Shooters, nailed, 8s 6 i f A special line cf Men's Colonial mate Shooters, pegged and nailed, 12s 6d Men's Oopkham Boots, worth 265, for 14s 6d WWKT^ la^S^tel^GAlKS „ BOYS. * OIRL3' Women* strong Leather Shoes, 4s lid Ladiw' Glove Kid Boots 8s 9(3, reduced to 6s lid Ladies' Glove Kid Boots l()s 6d, reduced to 7s 6d U. J. NKILL and CO., KRIEDLANDER'S BUILOINQS. S. SALEK, A Jeweller, ■ »WP«S *a nntifv that in consequence of hi« increased Business he has engaged the Ji^ri^S?Mmj2B.^SK)N (formerly of Bryson and Son, Edinburgh) and late Manaffor tor Mrs Black for the Watcnmaking Department. The W«Shm4^ and Jewellery Repairinj? Department is now very complete m MANSHIP. . NOTICE VAII Watches and Jewellery left for Bepair with ANDREW BLACK, Watch maker, hare been transferred co 8* SAL BX, WATOHMAKEB & JEWELLEB,



'•UNMERCIFUL DISASTER followed fast and followed faster" upon the fortunes of purr Queensland until that unfortunate Colony is now in the most miserable condition imaginable. Gaunt famine may stalk over the land, fn m failure of the soil to give its annual increase, or from other of the many j causes of that distress; the destroying J plague may be lafc loose and grip with his cold hand the vitals of the young find j strong, leaving sorrowing widows and waging orphans everywhere, and painful blanks in every household ; or the demon of war may send fire and sword over a country, and leave desolation in their track in place of smiling scenes of peace and plenty—all sad enough* and sickening enougn if you wiiyjbjtjEljajLmusfe lie the -feeling:6f-»-wholepesple when they find their country covered as the waters cover the sea, their homes wrecked and ruined, and their hope* for the future sunk in one mournful and irretrievable disaster ? These feelings can only be imagined. And what ought ours to be in regard to the sufferers — we who dwell in the moat glorious country under the sun, and enjoy such blessings as are only enjoyed by the dwellers in a second paradise ? Such foelia»a, to be sure, as are prompting the thousands of meetings, and plans and organisations of the people of this Colony, to send help to the afflicted. New) Z -aland has come nob'y to the front in this matter, and her Canterbury sons have been well in the van at the first call. And we of Ashburton shall be in the front of the foremost if we belie not our past history. ■ SO THINK Hare Hey Bro«., who are giving special value this mouth in Drapery, Clothing and Boots. 120 Dozen large Towels to be sold at from 2s 9d a dozen. Splendid white Calico at 2i lid a-dozen. Dress Tweed 4s »d a dozen. Extra I»rg« grey Blankets only IGa SJ. Sheeting at 10£ d. 94 Men's Suite from 103 6d. Woollen Socks at Hid. Men's and Boys' Straw. Hats, best quality, only Is. A special line of Women's Leather Shoes &> 9d, Men's nailed Shooters now only 8s lid, worth 12s 6d. NOTE THE ADDRESS— EIRDLfiY BROS., ARCADE, ASHBURTON. *



Hampton^ ■pURNITURE TANCIIED STBEET, la Opposite Mitchell and Turner*. TRY HAMPTON'S FOX Perambulators from 22a fld Perambulaton Revereible Hood* from 365, Patent Aubber Tires Basket Ware Chest Drawers Chairs and Tables Bedsteada Cheap Furniture All Repairs Colonial Couches Wire Spring Mattrasses BRANCH BUSINESS, EAST STREET, i Below Patching's. * ! GREAT ASSORTMENT OF CROCKERY, AND FANCI GOODS.— 2J35 CHEVP. | Money. C*OC\C\C\ of Trust Moneys to lend abOUv/l-F upon Freehold securi ties, in sums of not less than £1000 Applyto mkCW.FR^kw. ,>»' ' '<■ % '■ Solicitor, 2 33 Montgomery'^ BuiWin^s,



Certainly the H^Vs^ SSl l in the world is SA.NIJKI* an<J s>Uni? powedal effects in Coughs, Colds, Influenza, etc.; therein w i»s^»fcaneo«s. ?bou^ds gave the most gr»tifymg *$£$&'* l$ d thi» certificates— 'l 24th Ami, \my Messrs Sander and tof**™* }J« createst of pleasure that 1 testify_to the Slence of your Eucalypti Extraot, Having had inflammation of the bone of the £& Which came on after«, severe attac« of m few, I WM attended by Dr if. Boyd, who had made a^nupus efforts to save ;ny lee but without Bucogsß/ He found it necessary to amputate my .Ifyfo Haying, huftrd in the meantime of the wonderful enr^ worke4 by the Eucalypti Extract, I obtained • bottle, and th« extract ha, d *¥>***? Lplied swore than an frour when I begjn to?eel greatly relieyed. After applying.the extrac* every four hcursfor »iae w fa tyvf ifc was out of »U danger. I would pers^d* Ll who may b* fluted with any »ueh bur9t.HAavfc 9



How S^bwo Uwiß^sirwp J?»jswif ,— red saya to the runaway negro op tlj§ raft, " Jim, what'd you say if 'twas said to you " Parly-voua-franzy V " " Woaldn't say nuffin I'd just bust him over de ear jif he wastt't a wito man. 'Low no nigger to call me dafc ' Fin" Bay* the words only nr'ean» ."Do you speak French?" Jim inquires, '••tftiicy J»««n foat why donV th 9 y say that.?" '$?™e»P SWi $ ¥^> New Method'," we mi|ht J^emajija^ in quiries'of the profeiaors of Maatat^erapy ; but he goes on to explain massage, rubblngi aad its beneficial results so that it might even ewter th» skull of the densest negro; and his muscle-roVa-and oi^epnew methods are invaluable. An edition oj hrif ooo|s much enlarged, is published at '•Truth'? S" Sh ' Publication Offices, 16\ tvm «trwfc, Chjr^t.9hur9fe.-{Ai>yy^



The Qjrsipw Biscuit. Tue latest and most delicate biscuit nrinufnotured. by W^Co. ' '' "