Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25, 1894. THE BARE MAJORITY.

A correspondent writing over the signature of " Liberty" takes us to task for not seeing eye to eye with the New Zealand Alliance on the subject of " the bare majority question." Our I correspondent's zeal outruns his discre tion, and in his eagerness to abuse Mr Seddon and impeach his integrity, he blindly places the Premier in a most exalted position as regards the posses sion of a prescience so far reaching in ! its power as to enable its possessor to discover, and keep silent about, points in an Act of Parliament which the whole population, with the Biil fully before them, failed to discover. " Liberty " is anxious to attribute dis ingenuousness to the Premier in his speech at Ashburton, when he accuses Mr Seddon of "carefully concealing" the defects of the Liquor Bill. That , Bill was fully before the colony when Mr Seddon spoke, yet the concentrated' wisdom of all the temperance men of the colony failed to discover the de fects which Mr Seddon, by this critic of ours, is accused of " concealing." The fact was Mr Seddon was as proud of his Bill as any legislator could be, and did not himself see any defect in it. Had he foreseen the working of the Act, which, not being a divinely gifted prophet, nor a prophet at all for that matter, he did not see, the Act would have gone upon the statute book in some what different form. In our leading article on the subject of " the bare majority " we thought we thought we made ourselves sufficiently clear when we said elections should be decided by those who did vote, and not by those whose patriotism was at so low an ebb that they were indifferent to the public affairs of the colony, and did not exer cise the franchise they enjoy. We thought, too, we were also sufficiently clear when we had nothing to say against a bare majority ruling in the matter of reduction; but reduction is not total prohibition. The Act is so drawn that reduction never can mean total prohibition. When in the course of time, by successive reduction votes a district has been reduced to three (or under) licenses, a reduction vote is powerless, because one license in three is more than twenty-five per cent of the whole, and the Act forbids a reduc tion by more than twenty-five per cent. The question of sweeping away all t'.ie licenses in a district is a very serious one, and we contend for the retention of the three-fifths majority of those voting, as much in the interests of the temperance party as of the moderate party. As the law at present stands, prohibition must be carried by three fifths of all the votes polled Having been so carried, the mandate runs for three years, and licenses can only be granted again in the district after the moderates have won a local option contest, and in their contest the three fifths majority also applies, and this they must secure to be successful. Are we to assume that " Liberty" would ask that the three-fifths majority clause should be abrogated for the temperance party, and retained for the moderates against possible renewal. If this is his wish, then he will find our opinion of it expressed by some of the strong adjectives he himself uses Prohibition gained by a majority of only a few votes would be contested at every term, but a three-fifths majority victory i 3 a very clear expression of public opinion, and would probably settle the question for years to come. A bare majority would leave a discon tented and strong minority, and the principle carried, as we said, would not be backedin its enforcement by that strong moral support of a law-abiding people which is the main strength of the law. As to the " body of capable and intelligent men" who form the Alliance, we have the highest respect for them, but we have a right to our own opinion, even if that opinion should be as to the soundness of theirs, and have as perfect freedom to differ from the Alliance opinion as " Liberty " has to accept it. " The interests of the people are to be sacrificed to the interests of the trade!" Arc they? Well, if the people—ten times more numerous than the trade—think so, it Is r f ot too much to ask that in object ing to this so called sacrifice enough of the people should vote no license to show the " trade " that it is not wanted, and a three-fifths majority is what the law lays down as enough. As to the Imperial Bill and its provisions, and y/hat "Liberty" says about Great Britain^, tyhen one reads a letter like that of our eerre»p«si}sent we begin to think Macauley's vision oi fc&e New Zealander standing on the ruins of St. Paul's is likely soon to be realised. Perhaps a curly-haired son of P Liberty if n?#y be the pakeha of the vision. New Zealand £s a young, country yet, and has f advanced V very: mpjLC'k in legislature. Keeping over a hundred paid l^w-makers, who haveajll the past legislation of Imperial Britain before them to improve upon, theijittle' colony would fancy she was behind the the age if she did not produce a few novelties. But some of those novelties, Jik? aew inventions, aye a long way'

to go before they reach perfection One word more, and we have done. The cause of drunkenness, let " Liberty " bear in mind, is not the ! license nor the licensed house, nor the facilities given for drinking—but just drinking. Drinking to excess occurs only among people who fail to realise the moral wrong of it.

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Creamery meeting at Tinwald to-night;. Mr Valentiue 8 the expert, arrives by the express. The train to Timaru will leave Ashburton at 5.35 p.m. to-morrow on account of the races. 11 Faust up to Date " is what the Lyons' Operatic Burlesque Company will stage to-night at the Oddfellows' Hall. Popular prices. The Brunner mine never yielded such a superior quality of coal for all purposes as it has been doing for months past. It is quite on the eaids aays the " Grey River Argus") that the old mine will see a good many ot the mineß out yet; at least this is the opinion of many of the old hands who are well ac quainted with the history and varied fortunes of the mine. Dr De Latour, of Oamaru, is growing some big and prolific potatoes. He got nine tubers of the variety called White Elephants, and and cut thjfert},into thirty-three sets. The crop is noP ripe yet, and therefore not full grown, but he dug up two shaws to see what they were like. From one he got fourteen potatoes weighing 12Jlbs, and from the other nine, weighing ll£lbs. One tuber weighed Slbs, one 2£lba, two 2ilbs, and six others over one pound each. : The " North Otago Times " k of Saturday reports that after the ordinary business had been transacted by the Oamaru Harbor Board on Friday, that body went into com mittee to discuss the question of Mr Justice Williams' order for the appointment of a receiver. After fully discussing the matter in all its bearings the Board decided to act on the advice of its legal advisers, and ap peal against the order, and a resolution was passed instructing their solicitors to take the necessary atep3. A little boy at Brunswick, Victoria, who was chained up by his father, .turns out to be a born vagrant. Neither in petticoats nor " bare buff' 1 could he be kept indoors. His particular delight was hangings, and in court he admitted that he had once ran away to Ballarat for the purpose of seeing Johnston hanged, and on another occasion to Lilydale to see Colston hanged. His father declared that he had brought the youngster home from nearly every railway terminus in the colony, and had taken him away from thir teen different police stations. He was fined £5 for putting the lad on the chain. Statistics prove that 161,000 tons less meat was eaten in England in 1893 than in the preceding year, and Mr Jackson, an agricultural expert, says this is because 200 days of hot weather took away loz pdrdiem of the normal appetite of thirty-eight millions of flesh-eating people. Reducing the 161,000 tons into sheep at 701b per carcase, we find that it means about 5,150,000 sheep. These figures will convince the most sceptical New Zealander of the important bearing the atmospheric condi tions of the Old Country have upon the question of New Zealand's prosperity. We had occasion a few days ago to notify ihe loss to Ashburton of the firm of Messrs Stephens JBros , groceis. We are now pleased to chronicle that the prosperous business carried on by the firm for many years will remain intact, and also form an opportunity for the enterprise of two ot our town youths. Messrs Shearman Brothers (William and Robert) have taken over the business, and their general manner, together with an already established reputation for sterling character — the one gained with Messrs Stephens Bros, at the counter and the other | with Mr Bullock and Mr Andrew Orr at the desk—should secure for them a successful business career. The annual meeting of the members of the Ashburton Club was held on Tuesday evening in the Orange Hall. Four tables running all the length of the room and two running across at top and bottom, were fully occupied by the members and invited guests. Mrs Bryant was purveyor, and her abund ance of good things received full justice at the hands of the large crowd whose wants it was her duty to supply. She was assisted by an efficient staff of waiters, and many members of the club d«d brotherly service in this capacity. The cloth removed the newly elected President—Mr fe. Gates— who was Chairman, proposed the usual loyal and patriotic toasts, Mr John McLachlan, M.H.R., responding for the Legislature. The toasts in succession of the newly elected president, vice-president, and treasurer were proposed and acknowledged, as well as those of the retiring officers, while a tribute to the efficiency of the re-elected secretary was paid when his health was honored. Otker toasts were given, and song' and sentiment wiled away the time till mid night, Dr Bobinson, in the • Nineteenth Cen tury,' brings forward a plausible explana* tion of the fact that while most of the animal creation appears to swim by intui tion, man is al*nost alone in requiring pre vious training to enable him to keep his his head above water. He says it is merely a matter of heredity, and due to our descent from races who were cave and rock dwellers and rock and tree climbers. This theory does not necessarily imply Darwinism, or go so far as to demand the belief that man is but a highly revised edition of some anthro. | poid ape. He suggests that almost all mam miferious animals, when conscious of danger, [ use instinctively the means given them for flight or escape, which involve precisely the motions best calculated to keep them afloat in water The hereditary instinct of the man, however, is unfortunately, he says, to climb out of danger. Hence, unless he has a natatory education, he throws his arms at once above his head, thus increasing the weight upon the latter, which of course goes then under water. Thus the straggles of the untaught human bejng tend to big own destruction, as is well known to be thp case.

The Barraba Tragedy.

(Received April 25. 11 30 a. m.) Sydney, April 25 The heavy horses on which the murderers of Mr McKay escaped from Barrabba have been found twenty-five miles from'the township with their throats cut. A madman has also been found near the same spot.

CORRESPONDENCE.

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

THE BARE MAJORITY.

TO THE EDITOR

Sia, —As your columns are always open j to free and legitimate discussion of all subjects that affect the public weal, will you kindly allow space for one who differs from you on the bare majority. .Now that the elections are over, we can get a fair estimate of the usefulness or worth lessness of Premier Seddon's Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Bill. It will be fresh in your readers' minds that the Premier eulogised on the platform of the Oddfellows' Hall the bill of which he was the framer, and pointed out all the good points of the Bill, hut carefully concealed all its defects, Mr Wason said we aßked for bread but got a gravel pit. And so the elections have proved. Instead of giving the people greater control of the liquor traffic it has reversed it in favor of " the trade," In sixteen electorates re duction has been carried—and by the way 8957 voters controlled 48,969—whi1e in thirty-three electorates the poll was void. Liberalism with a vengeance ! In eleven electorates only have the "moderates" won. Therefore, I think you are to be congratulated on your denunciation of the half roll business, which no doubt every fair-minded person will consider a great farce. But why do you object to the bare majority % Most of our opponents object to it on the «core that It is an infringe ment of the liberty of the subject, but as you have net urged that as an argument I need not dwell on it. Indeed all through your article it is hard to find out on what ground you base your argument, but I' presume it is " substantial niajority," To get a bare majority of all the votes polled would be unjust enough, without having the greater drawback of a three-fifths majority. If the prohibitionists got a bare majority with regard to the respective proposals it ought to be deemed to be carried without any other obstacle put in the way. We are in a country whose Government (professedly), and indeed the people themselves, believe in government ®f the people, by the people, and for the people. And why in the world should the people be refused the right to control —not a fancied control-and utterly sup press the traffic in strong drink by a bare majority if they so desire? Has the trade in this respect a monopoly or any claim upon the people which equally and more important subjects have not '\ It ia supposed to exist for the convenience of the public; then let the majority rule. If the land question and the taxation proposals have to be decided by the bare majority, and the will of the people, why shouldn't the nefarious liquor traffic % You seem to think that the Alliance has not very carefully and thoaghtfally con sidered the great power they are asking. Surely such a body of capable and intelli gent men do not rush hastily and blindly lorward in a path they know nothing about. Why, that was the whole cry last election, If it is granted, you seem to think it will alienate some of our present supporters. All I can say is they must be very half-hearted and inconsistent to the principles thty professedly believe in. Are we going to considar the interests of a trade to the interests of the people ? With regard to the Old Country we aie so far ahead of them in other c asses of lesri-lation that it is unfair to draw a con clusion that temperance people should be satisfied with a measure thit would for the present satisfy our brethren in the old land. It U not likely that in New Zealand, even if the temperance people get the bare majority proposal, pro hibition will ever be carrier! by a majority of one o»ly. It is only the bai c possibi lity One of our leading papers some time ago said straight out that it ought to be g anted, an admission significant of the fact that we are not asking tos much. In conclusion, let me congratulate the temperance Committee on tha stand they have taken with regard to occasional licensis, which shows they can be trusted by the party that pub them ia power. In .1 une I trust they will manifest the same backbone with regard to the saleyaids. Thanking you for space.—l am, etc., Liberty.

Wesleyan Church.

RECEPTION OF REV. T, G» BROOKE

A public rpcepiion was held yesterday hy the Ashburton Wesleyans to welcome the advent to their church of the Rev T. 6. Brooke, the minister recently ap pointed by the conference. During the afternoon a sale of work was held in the Kchoolroom, when fancy sroods of all des criptions were on offer, besides a quantity of the fruit and vegetables which had been a consoicuoua feature of the harvest thanksgiving decorations on Sunday, The young ladies who attended the stalls did not leave their posts until just before the meeting in the chuich commenced, and it appeared that their persistency was re warded by good business. The sale of work occupied the ends and one side of the schoolroom, while the remaining portion was utilised throughout the after noon to dispense luncheon, and after six o'clock for the tea meeting. Needless to say the repast was up to the usual high standard. The ladies of the church who had provided it, toother with their fair assistants, were kept busy attending to a stream of visitors until half-past seven. At eight o'clock a meeting was held in the church. His Worship the Mayor occupied the chair. A ddrespes of welcome were given by the Revs T. A. Hamilton, G. B. Inglis, James Conker, 0.. Abernethy, A. Ager, and Mr Goldfinch on behalf of their respective bodies. The Bey Mr Brooke responded in a short: ■iddress. He said that since he bad been in Ashbnrton he had been pleased to see that there was a good deal of Methodism in the town. He thought that the fact of Methodism having prospered as it had done was a sign that their work had the blessing of God. Re was glad to be among the Methodists, and he was equally ! glad to meet the ministers of the other branches of the church, and he rejoiced to think that from the kind welcome accorded him that night, they would all join with him with brotherly love in their work for Christ. In that work there was ample material to build up every branch of the church. The rev gentleman was attentively listened to and heartily ap plauded at the conclusion of his speech. During the evening anthems were given by a full choir and orchestra under Mr Gamble's conductorship. A duet was nicely rendered by Mrs Gamble and Mies Clara htetf. The usual votes of thanks and the benediction closed the meeting.

School Committees.

GREENSTREET.

At the annual meeting of householders on Monday evening in the Greenstreet school, the following were nominated : — Messrs J Knox, S Knox, J D Stewart, E Healy, P Grealy, H Maase. A Clark and A Buckley. After the ballot had been taken the first seven were duly elected a Committee for the ensuing year. Mr E. Healy was afterwards elected chairman.

SEAFIELD.

A meeting of householders was held in the Seafield school on Monday evening. The following Committee were duly elected :— Messrs Thomas Hampton, John. Moore, Edward Collison, George Todd, and 4. H. Ayrton. At a subse quent meeting of the Committee Mr A, H. Ayrton was elected chairman for the ensuing year.

ASHTON.

The annual meeting for the election of ' a School Committee was held in the Ashton School. Mr T. Taylor, ihe retir ing chairman, read the annual report. He mentioned that the school grounds and premises had been kept in a state of thorough repair during the year, and that the school had been supplied with the necessary requisites. Hb also congratu lated the outgoing Committee upon the pleasant relations that had subsisted be tween themselves and the teachers. The report was unanimously adopted After a ballot the following were elected mem bers of the new Committee :—Messrs J. Shearer, J. Bell, T. Taylor, J. Jamieson, J, Orossan, J. R. Begg, and W J. Brown. The new Committee unanimously re elected Mr T. Taylor as chairman. Mr J. Jamieaon waa appointed to counter sign cheques, and meetings were fixed for the first Monday of every month at 7 p.m.

SOUTH RAKAIA.

The annual meeting of householders was held in the school buildings on Monday evening. Mr Hardy took the ohair. The attendance was fairly good, and the meet* ing orderly. The outgoing Committee's report was read as follows:— Your Committee have to report that there is little of any striking interest to report in the history of the school for the pasts year. The teachers have apparently applied themselves to their respective duties with fidelity, and the parents of the scholars have reason to be congratulated in that the staff of teachers are evidently working with conscientious thoroughness. With such a staff there would h% under ordinary circumstances, more than average results, and while the Committee have regretted the absence of marked excel lence, are convinced that the school will never reach an enviable pinnacle until the parents realise that if there is not punc tual and regukr attendance on the part of scholars the best teaching talent and effort will fail to show exceptional records. The question of regular attendance has come before the householders on a former occa sion, and the opportunity is again taken of seeking their co-operation. An appli cation to the Board of Education to have the school painted and renovated has not met with a favorable response, and the Committee regret that the premises are not more attractive to the eye,* nor so cheerful in appearance as a building should be where young people spend so much of their time. Your Committee re commend the incoming committee to re renew the application, and also to take steps to procure a small organ or other suitable musical instrument as an auxiliary to the sieging lessons. The following show the attendances of the Committee : —Messrs Hardy, (Jxley. and C. Dixon, li ; Bryant and Liddy, 10 ; Holland, 8 ; Barcode, 6. One special and ten ordinary meetings have been held. The Commit tee tender their thanks to Mr Oxley for the use of his room for the monthly meet ings. On the motion of Mr dark, seconded by Mr D. Bruce, the report was adopted. The statement of accounts was read, the aa»»e have been duly audited by the Government auditor. The year com menced with a credit balance of £16 0s 9d, and the new ye'ir commenced with a credit balance of £22 15 i JOi. The balance sheet as read was adopted on the motion of Mr Hardy, seconded by Mr Dixon. The Inspector's report (which has al ready apnearec! in our columns) was then read. Mr Haslitt was of opinion that the grammar and geography is taught at pre sent was useless. He also thought home work should be discontinued, and he moved a resolution to that effect which was seconded pro forma. After others had expressed their opinion the motion was withdrawn, Mr C. Dixon moved—"That while this meeting regrets that the Inspector's re port as read is nob an satisfactory as the reputation of the staff would warrant, it is convinced that really excellent results cannot be obtained until the scholars as a whole are more regular in their atten dance." Seconded by Mr Hardy and carried unanimously. The election of a new committee then took place, Messrs D, Bruce and Wright acting as scrutineers. The result was as follows :—Messrs C. Hardy 25, L Oxle? 23, C. Dixon 18, J. Holland 17, M. J. Liddy 14, E. Bryant 13, F. Saunders 32, W. Shannon 11, A. Haslitt and J. R. Cole 10, C. Pluck 5, informal pipers 2. The first seven were deslared elected, and a vote of thanks to the ohair closed the meeting. The Committea then met, and elected Mr Hardy chairman, and Mr Dixon secre tary. It was decided to meet at 7.80 on the first Monday in eaoh month at Mr Oxley's • office. Mrs Irvine's tender for cleaning the school was accepted. The Chairman and one member were autho rised to sign cheques.

CHEERTSEY.

The annual meeting cf householders was only moderately attended. Mr T. Childs, chairmam of the outgoing Com mittee presided, and read the report of the outgoing Cammittee, which referred, amoDg other matters, to the improve ments effected during the year, to the good report on the school examination, co the successful children's treat, to the change of caretaker, and to the har monious relationships existing among t^ose engaged in the conduct of local educational matters. It also stated that there was a balance to the Committee's credit of £24 6? 5d which, when one or two outstanding debts were paid, would j etlll amount to nearly £20. On the motion of the chairman and Mr M. Jack eon, the report was adoptee!. The busi ness of elec'ing a new Committee was then proceeded with, and resulted as follows :—-Messrs Oakley 13, Copland 12, J. Stewart and T. Childs 11 oach, Scarlett and Jackson 9 each, J. Downie 8, Dunstan 6, W. Stringfellow, Dunlea and Johnston 4 each. The chairman declared the fi>§fc seven duly elected. At che subsequent "meeting of the new Com mit* cc, Mr Oakley was elected chairman and Mr Jackson secretary. The chairs man and Messrs Scarlett or Childs was authorised to sign cheques. M,r Guilds was made treasurer of th.a treat fund. It was agreed to hold the monthly meetings pa, the last Saturday of eaoh month at half-past seven. The midwinter holidays were fixed to commence on July 2.

LONGBEACH.

A public meeting of the householders of the Longbeach school district was held in the schoolroom on Monday night. Mr Watfon presided over the meeting, which was a rather small one. The advertise ment calling the meeting having been read, the Chairman of the retiring Committee reported that the balance to credit of the Committee at the end of the financial year was £11 8s; 1 that the school had passed a successful ! examination, and that Misa Isabel M. Todd had been appointed mistress vice Miss Hepwonh resigned. The report was adopted. Mr Houston proposed and Mr Norrish seconded " That a very heirty vote of thanks be accorded to the teaching staff for the efficient manner in which they have conducted the «chool during the year." This was carried unanimously and Mr Watson replied. A similar vote was unanimously accorded to the retiring Committee. 'lhe following members were then declared duly elected viz: — Messrs W. Houston, W. Lidstone, T. Golline, Isaac Read, W. Honeywell, S, W, Norrish, and W. Pearce. Ah a subsequent meeting Mr Thomas Gol'ins was elected Chairnuu of the new Committee.

CABLE ITEMS.

It w reported that Madame Jonsaux. who is in custody on a charge of poisoning her uncle and brother and sister, has confessed. Two hundred arrests havebeen made - in Poland in connection with the commemoration of the Warsaw revo lution. It is announced that Mr Sutor will represent Kew South Wales at the Canadian Conference. President Cleveland has appealed to the Democrats to fulfil thoir pledges regarding the tariff. Traffic between Southern Cross and Ooolgardie is officially suspend«d on account of the want of water. Negotiations between the French and Belgian Governments to delimit the Congo frontier have fallen through. In the sculling race over the Wands- North champion course, Bubear beat Barry by 2 lengths in 2min 44see. Jabez Balfour is living at the House of a Miss Freeman, and it is expected that he will endeavour his escape. The British Consul is watching the house. One hundred and fifty disgusted miners have returned from the Cool gardie rush. One of them asserts that not one-tenth of the men on the field are making tucker. The ceremony of the beatification of Joan of Arc was celebrated in the Church of Notre Dame, Paris. The Archisbishop of Paris blessed the banner of the heroine, which is pre served in the sacred edifice. Some sensation has been caused by the French President issuing a decree forbidding officials in the Diplomatic Service to marry without obtaining the assent of the authorities. The Premier states that this step is rendered necessary on account of a German Jewess married to a diplomatist, dis closing French secrets. The annual meeting of the Mutual Life Association of Australasia was held in Sydney on Monday. The report showed a steady increase in the busi ness and that the expenditure has been reduced 4 per cent. The accumulated fund now exceeded £1,200,000. The death claims bad been singularly light, and the next bonus distribution will take place at the end of 1894. A fearful hurricane swept the Rock River Goldfields, accompanied by tre mendous rainfall. A tree fell on three" miners, killing two and injuring the third. Sir C. Lilley, addressing an enormous meeting at Brisbane, said that he looked forward to the salvation of Australasia by women's influence on Parliamentary morals. He trusted that in the near future the women of Queensland would remodel the Parlia ment of the colony as they would eventually do in the rest of what must become a great Australian federation*

LABOR.

Washington, April 23, Reinforcements of Coxey's labor army are marching to Washington. The Davis and Kansas members proposed that employment for hall a million men should be found on the public works in order to prevent dis order, but the motion was rejected. A hundred thousand colliers are now on strike. The labor malcontents, demand that 500,000,000 dollars shall be expended on relief works. The daily loss by the coal strike h already estimated at £25,000. April 24. The Senate has rafused to receive petitions from Ooxey and his army. The National Guard is being mobilised with a view to preserve order if necessary. New York? April 2& A colliers' strike in the United States has begun and a large body of Ooxey's men are arranging to assist them. The Omaha railway companies hay© stopped services, fearing outrages, and the city is thus isolated. The militia is called to be in readiness, and citizens are urged to provide waggons to assist an exodus from the town. c, . , , Brau Pmth, April 24. Serious labor riots have taken place here. The soldiers were sailed out, and not heediag an appeal not to fire on their countrymen, swept the streets with bullets, injuring sixty-one of the rioters,

IMPERIAL POLITICS

London, April 24. In the House of Commons, the in come tax resolutions were agreed t;o. Mr Gorchen asserted that the decision to limit the increased datj o» spirits and beer to one year would probably result in a loss to the revenue of £1,000 000

THE ASHBUBTOJS) OTABDIAN: WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25, 1894.



Business Notices. J Special Prices for this Month AT G- J- Neill and Co.'s THE CHEAPEST HOUSE IN ASHBURTON FOR I>JH/».K»l3Erc, O^OJCJEIIINGr, A,IST> BOOXft*, Long Lace Curtains Is 9d pair Double Width Dress Goods 9|d Cretonne 3M Dress Goods 3s lid doz Double-bed"White Twill Sheeting 9|d l-arge Turkish Towels B|d Grey Calioo 2s 3d doz. " Women's Ribbed Hose 6i pair Cotton Shirting, veryjstrong^d Donble-bed Quilts 3s lid each trong Ticking s£d Heav Forfar s£d CLOTHING. aLtOTjOXTSG, Boya Tweed Suits 3d lid Men's Shirts at any price # Men's Tweed Trousers 10a 6i now 6a lid Men's Merino Socks only 6d paw Men's Colonial Tweed Suits only 19s 6d Men's Ties at half price. | Men s New Zealand Tweed Saits 39a 6d Men's Oolonul-knit Woollen Sockslonl now 29s 6d 9|d pair BOOTS. BOOTS. In Boots we defy competition, all oar Boots are made specially to oar order. We guarantee every pair to give satisfactions Women's Elastic-side Boots 8s 6d, now Men's Balmoral Boots 10a 6d, now 7s lid 5 S |i,j Men's Bluchers 5a Women s Kid Shoes 7s lid, now 5s lid Men's Nailed Shooters 10s 6d, now 8 lid Women's Leather Shoes 7s 6d, now 5s lid Waraen's Carpet Slippers Is 6d Children's Patent Leather Shoes and Slippers in Endless Variety at G. J. NEILL A.ND COS, FRIEDLANDER'S CORNER TERMS CASH



SPECIAL. SPECIAL. STEPHENS BROS, Market House, i HAVE DECIDED TO RELINQUISH THEIR BUSINESS IN ASHBITRTON, A ND in order to facilitate their arrangements, they will Sell the*|whole of their Large and Well Assorted Stocks of IRONMONGEBY, OROOKEHY, GLASSWARE, GROOERY^Em, At TWENTY PER CENT Below Cost Price, No more goods will be bought than Necessary to dispense with the other Goods" They also ask all Customers, if Convenient, for their accounts on or before li a Ist M»?» After that date, all Goods will be disposed of or CASH. Stephens Bros., MABKET HOUSE.



I mO LET.—D welling Centrally Situated j A in Burnett Street. Rental required I 7s per week. I T. BULLOCK. DOLLAR CIGARETTES — 3d. No holders or photos. —Hehry ZAyosß, Whole gaio agent. Speoial Consignment r\IRECT from the Manufacturers, LAOIES'IGOLD RIHGS, GOLD BROOCHES, GOLD BANGLES, In plain Gold, and set with Diamonds, Rubies, Sapphires and Pearls. A large and very choice stock of newest designs just received— Bouaht for Cash, DIRECT FROM THE MANUFACTURER in England at a liberal discount, will be ofteied at TWENTY PER CENT LOWER than usual prices by 8. Salek, WATCHMAKER and JEWELLER, ASHBURTON,



HEHRY ZANDER I BEG TO INTIMATE that I nave jus anded a Large and Varied Stock o CjtUHS Onus dims HOLLIS 1 BEST MaKE, Single and Double Barrel, Breech and Muzzle Loading, well ..worthy .of. mspec tion. EEVOLVEES, EEVOLVEES. AMMUNITION , AMMUNITION Cartridges and Cartridge Cases, Caps, Shot. Gunpowder, Powder and shot Flaska, Cartridge Belts, Recapped, Loaders, Wads, Punches, etc. SCOTT S WELL-KNOWN RANGES at Greatly Reduced Piioea.



T HAVE m STOCK AND TO LAND tOO Drums Linseed Oil 20 Cases Valvoline 200 Cases Castor Oil 10 Bates beat 5-ply Seaming Twine China and Glassware Horasby's and Ransome'sPlough Shares Barbed and Fencing Wire Mauritius and Queensland Sugars China, India, and Ceylon Teas Best English Leather Belting. —NOW IN STOCK— Two Hundred Galvanised Steel Elastic Horse Collars (in all sizes). Early application necessary, Th«y are giving UNIVERSAL SATIS FACTION. Wines and Spirits, Ales and Stout Liqueurs, Havana Cigars, Cigarettes, of bestjbrands only. Also, a choice assortment of the PINEST DELICACIES from all parts of the world. Henry Zander agent ar-oa AwsteKan Mutual Provides. -Society Sura Fira Office Canton Marine Office j Smith Tea.



T^-EW 2 EALAND € lofhlagr i'itcjEory OPENING New Winter Good&| [THIS WEiK*



Wanted i DOLLAR CIGARETTES—3d per pack *,i ALE at Melford House still ou uatil O furthar notice.—H, O. Skgers. Hand SafetyTyoles from £5 £3 cash ; terms £6 ; Dsposit £1; £1 per month.—H. M. Jones. OYSTERS. -I shall have no repre sentative at this race meeting, but at the Deep Sea Company's Depot/, in Burnett Street, 1 shall have Oysters and Fried Fibh every night this week.—J H. Jewitt. 4 158 WANTED Known — Men's strong Tweed Suits from 16s 6i ; shirts from 2s 61.—Arcade House. 4 2* WANTED Known. — Embroideiies from Id a yard, Corsets 3s lid, Indies' Ulsters from4a lid, Ladies' Glrves four pair fqr'ls, Kid Gloves four buttons Is 6d.— Arcade House. 63 tTTHAT is most essential to a tea VV drinker's happiness 1 Why, Health Tea, and don't you forget it, Henry Zander, Wholesale Agen*. WANTED Known—ln consequence of the scarcity of money, we have extended our Sale till further notice. — H. C. Segers, Melford House. O ALE now on- White Calico 2s lid per O dozen, Towels 2s 6d per dozen, Lace, Curtains, trora U lid per pair, at Arcade House. 4 27 WANPED Known—Tomatoes, good ripe Grapes, Plums, Apples, etc., at Marsdjgn s Fruit Shop, below Mitchell and Turner's. 2 109 TTISITthe Sale. Trimmed Millinery * going at any price. Ladies' Under clothing reduced to 20 per cent, below cost.—Arcade House. 4 64 yn^ANTED Known—All goods in Show " Room to be slaughtered at any price.—Arcade Bouse. 4 28



HEALTH TEA. is free from the tannin so prevalent in other teas. It is recommended by the Medical Faculty in the Unitad Kingdom and Australia All Grocers keep it. WANTED Known. — For Millinery, Ma a ties, Jackets, Ulsters, and Macintoshes, Ladies' and Children's Underclothing, try Mitchell & Tuenbb. WANTED Known—Special line of Uents* Regatta Shirts, all sizes, with or without collars, 2a 6d.—W. H. Collier. WANTED Known —Spactacles, Eye Protectors, Goggles, Folders, and everything in |he optical me at S. S&.lek's, Optician. INTENSION of Sale at Meltord -" House. We are still selling nearly all our Goods, with New Stock added, at reduoed prices.—H. C. Segjrrs. WANTED Known—The Corner Is showing a magnificent New (Stock of Drapery and Clothing.—W. H. Collier. rjiRED. S. JEFFRIES, Manafactur- D ing Confectioner, has opensd a Shop in East street, next " The Corner,' for sale of all kinds of superior Con fectionery. Nothing inferior add. No cheap cigarettes. 3§114 UfANTED Known.—Cheviots, fiup f V sacks, Diagonals, Fatst Dye tierces, Tweeds and Fancy Dressy, &c, with Trimmings to match at Mitchell and Turner's. / IHUICE Ornaments, Holdirn; Screens, \J Own make in Ladies' and Children's Underclothing. Aprons, and Pinafores.— Mrs AliCobh, Saanders' Buildings. WANTED Known—To make room for Spring Boots I will give ten per cent for cash. Repairs dene at once cheaper than evel to stay bad times over at J. Moisson's, Premier Bootmaker.



nCTANTED Known -L W Pants 3 ! W lid, Flannel Shirts 3i9d, Worsted Socks 6d per pair.—Arcade Homo 425 i I F you want first-class fruit go to Aowts | *- for Fiji, Tahiti, Auckland and Sydney | Oranges, (Jitron3, Lemons, etc. OYSTERS and Fresh Fsfch of all sort* arrive evening per express at Deep Sea Fishing Co 's Shop, Burnett street Ashburton 2 62 WANTED Known—The whole of the stock (o be sacrificed by order of j the Purchaser, Arcade Houae. 4 26 / Oats, 5 1 per sack. Al • kinds of Farm and Mill Produce cheap for cash.—J. Thomas, Havelock street,. WANTED Known. — Men's Tweed Suits 15s 6d, Men's Tweed Trovers I 7s lid, Mens' Strong Flannellette Shirts 2a 6d, Mens' and Boys' Boots and Shoes greatJy reduced.—Arcade House. 465 MRS ALCOEvN has on sale for he Holidays a varied assortment of ! Toys, Dolls, Prams, Fancy Goods, and Christmas Presents—Saunders Buildings. "DANG ! Bang i Baug 1 My new s@a> -■-* son'a stock of Am munition to hand Eley'w, Kynock's and, Cluo Cartridges, Powder, Shot, Caps, Wads, Cises and all Hoortinsr materials of the first quality at -T. W. Hardley's, Gun Emporium. TEN Crates—New goods from the manufacturers in R. AtcoitN's sale. Tea sets for six persons. 0s 6d ; j 40 piece Tea Sets frcm 15s ; Bedroom -etß from 8s Large coloured band aad^ilt, very handsome 19s 6d.



B^ySP thtefc garment long trouser Suits r 1^- ££en's Colonial made nailed Sho^r Boots at 7s 6 1 per pair at K. Aicokn's sale, Ashburton Clothing Mart, Saunders' Buildings. 1115 MR John Maesdbn, of the Railway Bookstall, has opened a Book and Stationer^ Shop two doors below Mitchell and Turner. Books and Stationery at j the lowest possible prices. Books clean, I complete, and in good order will be taken |in exchange. Circulating library. RrUOTER Cards, and Booklets, Fire ]J ISetsen-5, Pictures. Glass Ornaments, Christmas <$»tds, Cricket and Lawn Tennis Material, Photo Albums, and Frames, and hundreds rf other articles are to be sold at a great eatirifee for Cash during this month only at 3U F« Ajvdrevves & Co. Stationers' Hall. "I^rOTJGE ! Notice ! Sport for all. J3I Gwe tet out on hire or sold on time payments. H&vins? a professional Gunsmith on the ,presftfeeßj, J undertake to repair Guns ot any deseript^Gfl, Gun fi'tines in stock. Prices low.—J, W. i HArmey, Ironmonger, .etc. !



(~^\ UNS ! Guns \ Guns j My new stock VjT of Guns just to haad direct from 1 t.Ue manufacturers. Double and Single J Barrel Breech L^adera, Rifles, etc. In spection invited. No old stock to select from at J. W. Haudley's Sporting Repository. j WANTED Known. —Ladies are invited to inspect the Novelties in our Dress Department and Show Room without being pressed to buy.—MlTCHE&fc &Sb TUBNIIt, I



HKaLTH TEA. is more e-jonomicai than ordinary tea. It undergoes a process wheraby the injurious ingre- ' clients are eliminated, whilst it renders the release of the better properties of the' leaf more easy. Hbmiy Zander, Autho rised Agent.



For the Blood is the Life-—Clarke's World-famed Blood Mixture is warranted to cleanse the blood from all impurities from whatever cause arising. For Scrofula, Scurvy, Eczema, Rad Lags, Skin and Blood diseases. Pimples and sores of all kinds its effects are marveUous. Thousands of testi monials. Beware of worthless imitations and substitutes, (5)



Aa; Thirty Miles an Hour—Our I^r F. N: Adams arrived by the express, from th,e south yesterday evening^ and he will be ready to talk " wheels t? at the agent?s shop (H. M. Jones, East Street) this morning. The easy payment system of the $rm offers cjro&t inducement to buy cycles. Deposits from ££; Instalments, 30s per month. Humber i^tar, model B, fitted wi^h 1894 Buplop tires, £2;} IQsj Wish cycles at lauded cost price. Genuine Beeston Hum berss at £86 10s j Raleighe, Model G, £25 j rew Howe's £23 10s, fitted with Dunlop tires and Hall's patent brake.~ADA»ts. CURTIS * Co., Ghrißtchujcll —(Aavt.)



QOOD afternoon. Mrs Smith. Not fe^linw well % Haye a cup of } Flealth Tea I Nothing so invigorating and 6trengthenitsg! My word, Mrs i jEJrown, this is simply loyely "Whole Bale and retail at Zander's. TVTO more indigestion j no more nervous ■i-^ ness from Indulging in too much ea drinKing, for those who drink ** Health i Tea." One trial will convince yoiu— *• Henry Zandbb, Authorised Agent, j



HOLLO\W'S, PSIL&S AND OINTMENT.— Vicissitudes of climate, exposure and hard eW|)fl, tell heavily on soldiers aad sailors, sowiog the seeds of disease which may ulti mately break up the constitution. Naturally careless of their htalbh. a word in season may avert maiay evih^and may cause them to resort to, timely measures without anw difficulty or, publicity. Holloway's effectual remedies are suitable, aad are so easily adapted for the varied complaint* to wfaieh. ow soldiers and sailors are liable, that » supply should always be obtained before proceeding abroad. It may with eoafidence be stated that many a valuable life might have been saved, or confirmed crinrf* prevented from begone in the «treet»» if Holloway's remedies had been used in time.. lirAOTto, Everybody to wt Titan* J¥ Soap, greatest marvel of the age. H, Zauoih, Sole Af«nt| m«



DOLLAR CIQARETTES-tfrnest Ameri can Tobacco,—Hknby Za»d«b, Wholesale