MAIL NOTICES.

Mails close for the following places as under subject to the necessary alterations ;— WEDNESDAY, March 21. San Francisco mail Dae London A pril 25.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS.

" Itangitata E!eclor."~Tour letter will be published in Monday's iVsue. '*Faher of a Family." — Declined. See "Quartern's" letter in to-day's issue.

Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 1894. THE THREE FIFTHS MAJORITY

If, as appears probable, a number of theßeturning Officers for the Licensing elections persist in acting upon an erroneous interpretation of subsection 3 of section 18 of the Alcoholic Liquors Act of last session, there will be just so many glorious muddles and any amount of public dissatisfaction. It will be a pity if, even at the last moment, the Government does not relax its decision to gi^f no advice on points of interpretation"? and issue an authoritative instruction on at least this one crucial point. This we happen to know has been urged by at least one member of the House, and probably by many more. " What is all the trouble about?" some of our readers may enquire. Well the position is very fairly stated and the correct course laid down by the Rev. A, Walker in a letter published in this issue, but we will endeavour to put the matter still more plainly, in the hope that we may succeed in removing all possible doubt as to the meaning and requirements of the Statute. First, let us give the exact words of the sub-section in ques tion. B.—lf, on counting the votes, the Beturning Officer finds that " a majority of ihree-fif ths of the votfs re corded" are eiven in favor of the proposal that no Hcense3 shall ba granted in the district, then such proposal shall ba deemed to be carried, and the .Returning Officer saall notify, etc. The difference of opinion among returning officersariaesinreapectof the words in the sub section which we havequoted; thelargernum ber of them, and as we propose to show, cor rectly, holding that; three-fifths of the total number of votes polled is a sufficient majority to carry the proposition voted upon. As thus : Suppose the total number of votes polled be 500, namely 300 for the proposition and 200 against—then, as 300 isthres-fifths of 500, the proposition is carried by a majority of three fifths of the votes recorded. The other section of returning officers who hold a different view put the case thus. —Taking the same figures for example, namely, affirmative votes 300, negative votes 200. Thia they contend is a majority of 100, which, aot being three-fifths of the total votes polled, they declare insufficient, their con 'eutiou being that the affirmative votes must be in the proportion of 400 to 100, so as to give a difference of three-fifths of 500, the gross total. The latter view, as shown by Mr Walker ia entirely contrary to the inter pretation of the sub-seotioa as expressed in the House during the debate on the Bill by members of all shades of opinion, and is manifestly entirely contrary to the intention of the Legislature, inasmuch m to require 400 affirmative votes out of 500 to carry a proposition is to require a four-fifths majority of the votes re corded. No doubt, the phraseology of fche statute might have been improved— as for instance by the omission of the words "a majority of "-—but as it stands the meaning is, we think, perfectly clear. We will put the case in this way. Take the following incomplete sentence — " The proposition shall be deemed to be carried if affirmed by a, majority tf (—missing word.)" Now, if the blank represented by the miss ing word be rilled up with the figure 1 it would follow that a majority of 1 would carry the proposition : So, of courre, with any other figur j pub in place of the missing word. The wordi of the sub-sectioa provide (in effect) for filling up the place cf our suppose! missing word iv this way—First ascertain the gross number of votes polled. Take three fifths of that number and place the resultant figures after the words " a majority of ;" and the proposition will be carried by that majority, which i 3 ia the words of the statute, " three fifths of the votes recorded." It may be added that the use of the plural verb " are" instead of " is " shows clearly that the legislature had in view the words " three-fifths of the votes recorded " rather than the word '* majority" in fact that the nominative of the verb must be looked for, not in the word " majority" alone but rather in the whole sentence— "majority of three-fifths of the votes reoorded."

YELLOW BACKS.

We of the nineteenth century have indeed many things to be proud of and to be thankful for. We have in numerable advantages in every depart ment of life, and when we look back by the perusal of records and see some of the difficulties under which our ances tors labored weare astonished, and won der how these ancestors even existed. Although we know that they did, we can well imagine that their life had all the drudgery of the present depression, with scarcely any of its alleviating circumstances. Contentment, there fore, should be our lot, and thankful ness that we are in the nineteenth century reaping the benefits derived from the experiences of the eighteenth. It is a well known fact that almost all the advantages and improvements of modern times are the result of inter change of ideas gained from individual experiences amongst the people, and there was only one way in which these ideas could be circulated with facility amongst everybody, and that was through the medium of the pen, and until the setting up of the printing press by William Caxton this mode of transmitting information was neces sarily very limited in its operations, especially as those who had acquired the knowledge of reading and writing were careful to keep it to themselves. Knowledge is power, and they knew it But with the advent and development of the printing press came a revolution ia fcfces© masters, as its method of djs-!

seminating knowledge was on so large a scale as to make it universal. In fact the education of the people can realiy be said to have been started at that time. Thenceforward to the present time the process of this educa tion or disseminating of ideas and experiences has been progressing with accelerated vigor in each generation; so much so that in the case of the British Empire for the last twenty or thirty years the State has provided absolutely free education, and so the beneficial effects already alluded to are likely to be still greater than has hitherto been the case. At the same time that we are priding ourselves on our advanced state of civilization and our educational advantages, we must remember that there is ample room for improvement in this as in almost every thing. By education we do not limit the meaning of the word to school work, That is the ground-work, and consequently perhaps the most impor-' tant department of education. But a very large amount of the real education o£ the people is derived from books other than the text books of the school. It stands to reason therefore that the matter contained in these books must play an important part in the colony's welfare, and we are sorry to have to note that by far the most popular class of literature at the present time among the youthful, and even amongst the older portion of the population is that known as "yellow backs." As we have shown above, books are a grand institution as educators of the people, but when the wrong class of books are chosen their capacity for evil is very great. No one with any intelligence would think for a moment of objecting to a work of fiction because it is fic tion. A novel from the pen of a master is not only interesting, but it introduces and holds up for admira tion and emulation to the reader in its characters all the fine and noble qualities which make a man what he should be and a nation great. On the the other hand the trashy novels which are usually enclosed in the gaudy covers referred to may be more excit ing but it is excitement of the blood and thunder.type, and tb ey simply appeal to a morbid imagination, give false ideas of right and wrong irrespective of laws, and any moral instincts the reader may have are in its perusal entirely forgotton. We are not alone in our opinion of the pernicious effects of this class of reading on our youth, One well calculated to express a corect opinion in the matter, Detec tive William Pinkerton, of the famous American detective agency, in refer ing to the recent prevalence ofc train robberies says :—" One of the reasons for the recent epidemic of train robberies may be found in the general business depression. It is, howevc, largely due, in my opinion, to the reading of yellow-covered novels. Country lads get their minds inflamed by this class of literature. Pro fessional thieves or designing men find among this class many who are willing to go into their schemes. . . . They start in as amateurs under an experienced leader. They become infatuated with the work, and never give it up until arrested or killed. The youth of these train robbers is ofteu extreme. One was a lad of seventeen "who had seen a railway train for the first time when he robbed it." Now we do not for one moment think that reading blood-curdling novels make criminals of our colonial youths and turn them out full-blown highway robbsra. They are not built that way. But we do say that the comparatively loose state of public morality so frequently de nounced by the churches, by parents and others who havelived in timesandin circles where a higher standard pre vailed, is very largely due to such in fluences as we have referred to. Mer cenary authors will write and mercen ary booksellers will sell such works, be cause with both it is simply a question of pounds, shillings, and pence, As long as the demand exists so long will the supply be forthcoming—and no longer. It is with the parents that thd duty of remedying this evil rests, They have j the opportunity in the guardianship of sons and daughters at a time when they are most susceptible to influences of any kind of inculcating into their minds a desire for a class of literature which will not only enrich their storesof knowledge butstrengthen their moral structure. When parents take up in earnest such matters as these in the education of their children, then they may expect in the rising generation—which will in turn be the citizens and rulers of the state—such men and women as will make New Zealand the nation she should be.

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

There are about 150,000 Jews in Eng land. Travellers can now reach Palestine from ; London in eight days. Over 600,000 cattle are annually slaughtered to make beef extract. The Alhambra Club has pronounced strongly in favor of joining the New Zealand Rugby Union. At a water-drinking contest in Paris recently the winner drank twelve quarto. A field of ice stretching twenty wiles sea ward blocked the port of Odessa aix weeks ago. One of the sights of China is the antique bridge of Suen-tchen-fow 2500 feet long, aad 20 feet wide. It has on each side 52 piers, upon which huge stones are laid, some of them 20 feet long. Many thousand tons of stone were uaed in the erection of this won derful bridge, which is regarded by engineers as indicating constructive talent as wonder ful as that which raised the Egyptian, pyramids ,

The hog is said to be the only animal that is proof against the bites of venomous snakes. The annual meeting of the Ashburton Permanent Building and Investment Society will be held in the Society's office, Tancred street, on Monday next, at three o'clock. Steady rain has fallen all the morning in Christchurch, and will interfere with the St Patrick's festivities, the principal of which are the Heathcoto trotting races and the Pioneer Bicycle Club's race meeting. Last Sunday afternoon Rev. A. Ager con cluded his discourses on the " second coming of Christ "—The Oddfellows' Hall was fairly wellfilled provingthat the interest of the peo ple was well maintained—Mr .Ager intends to continue the Sunday afternoon discourses in the Oddfellows' Hall on popular themes. | A desperate duel with pistols was fought near Berlin the other day between Herr Delacroix, a military equipment manufac turer, and Dr Roever, a medical officer who accompanied Major yon Wissman's last ex pedition to Lake Nyanza. No less than eight shots were exchanged, and at the last round Dr Roever fell dead. On Easter Monday a sale of work will be held in Tinwald in connection with the Church of England. A tea meeting and concert will follow in the evening, and the gathering will be a kind of informal meeting to say farewell to the Rev Thomas and Mrs Farley, who are about to leave the district for Hokitik*. A large gathering is antici pated. The Hamburg American Bteamship Nor* mannia, which sailed from New York on January 18 for Genoa, has returned to that port with her npper works damaged by a tidal wave which swept over the forward part of the vessel. Some damage was also done to her decks and cabins. Thee was no storm at the time. Seven of the crew of the Normannia were injured, one fatally. Much excitement was caused in a crowded city thoroughfare at Manchester recently by a poorly clad middle-aged man, who delibe rately threw himself under the wheels of a loaded waggon. The wheels just missed him, but before anyone could interfere he leaped up and threw himself under another lorry which followed in the rear of the first. He received fatal injuries. In a quiet and quite unostentatious way the authorities of the University of Penn sylvania have succeeded in establishing what is now the third largest collection in the world of ancient cuneiform inscriptions and other fruits of Assyrian exploration. The treasures of this nature in the University museum are surpassed by those only in the Louvre and the British Museum. A special committee has been appointed at St. Petersburg to study a proposal for constructing a railway between Ule»boraj, in Finland, and the Arctic Ocean. The Finnish Senate will be represented on the committee by one of its members, General Af tan, head of the Goernmental Department for the Administration of the Railways in Finland. The London, Brighton, and South Coast Railway has thirty of its trains lighted by electricity, and is now about to equip a number of additional trains. It is said that about fifteen per cent more work can be got out of an electrically-lighted than out of a gas-lighted train, which makes a saving in first cost of about £56,000, as eighty-five electrically-lighted trains can dd the work of 100 g^s-lighted trains. Two well-dressed men, supposed to be Englishmen, entered the shop of a jeweller named Roux, in the Rue Paradis, Nice, and asked to see some rings. The attendant, a young woman, was alone in the shop , when the strangers entered, and while she was showing one of them the articles required, the other, who had again gone outside, and was looking at the goods displayed in the window, called her to ask the price of one of the rings there. The young woman left the counter to reply to this inquiry, but after some further parley the two men went off without making any purchase. Directly the saleswoman re-eutered the shop she noticed that the case she had left on the counter, containing eighteen rings, valued at £210, was missing. Meanwhile the thieves ihad disappeared, and have not yet been captured. A committee meeting of the Ashburton Football Olub was held on Friday evening. Present—Mr J. Wilson, captain, in the chair, Messrs Pritchard, Pauling, H. Stewart, A. Fooks, R. Upton, J. B. Mayne, D. T. Todd, and H, Curtis. The Secretary reported that he had written to the Linwood and Christ's College Clubs to arrange for matches on Queen'e Birthday. He had also written to Leeston, Lincoln College, Dunsandel, Southbridge, Rakaia, and' Tinwald Clubs arranging matches. The opening day was fixed ifor April 11, but practice will begin immediately. Messrs Rees Williams and Leicester Matson were appointed to act with Mr Cromie as delegate to the Canterbury Union. Messrs J. Wilson, H. Stewart, and A. Fooks were elected a selection committee! The names of Messrs P. H. Cox, Armer Orr, and A. Fooks were recommended to the Rugby Union as referees for the o coming season.

IMPERIAL POLITICS

PER PRESS ASSOCIATION

London, March 15. Mr Howard Vincent has given notice of motion that a remedy should be found for the depression at Home by establishing mutual commercial re lations with the colonies. The associated members of the House of Commons have promised the Govern ment a hearty support in the extension of the Navy. Mr Balfour ridiculed Sir W. V. Bar court's expedient of introducing a new Address-in-Reply as humiliating to the Government and unexampled in his tory. Mr Labouchere said they could easily find 500 Radical peers, and the threat of swamping the Upper House was a legitimate one to use. \ Mr Gladstone, writing to Major Jones, the member for Carmarthen, says the physical struggles he has under-' gone is best known to himself. His resignation had become inevitable. March 16. Mr Gladstone will not seek re-elec tion for Midlothian at the next election. The " Times " says Sir W. V. Har court has assured the Irish members that an appeal will be made to the country on the Home Rule question, probably in July, after the Registration Bill and Budget proposals have been passed

The Huddart Line.

, London, March 15 ' As expected the Orient and P. and O. Steamship Companies will obtain a renewal of the Suez mail service to Australia for three years until China and India contracts expire. Mr Huddart explains that the Cana dian Government's guarantee of in terest on debentures will be payable out of the subsidy to be given to the Vancouver mail service. He says he feels confident that the snbsidy will be renewed for the second term of ten years. It depends on the amount of subsidy offered by the Victorian Go vernment whether Melbourne will be made a terminal port.

INTERPROVINCIAL.

Daneyirke, March 16 The Borough Council have granted a concession tor twenty one years for light ing Danevirke by gas or electricity to Mr J. H, Clayton, late proprietor of the Ashburton *• MaU." Napier, March 16 A commercial traveller for an Auckland firm named Gill, aged about sixty, died suddenly in the Taupo coach to-day, supposed to be from heart disease. Wellington, March 22. The Alameda with the English mails of January 27 left San Francisco tor Auck land on the 9th instant, one day late. The Mariposa with the New Zealand mails of February 24 arrived at San Francisco from Auckland on the 15th inst, time table date. In the divorce court to-day before the Chief Justice, the case of Hart ley v Hartiey, a wife's petition for dis solution of marriage on the grounds of desertion, cruelty, and adultery, was heard. The parties were married hear Liverpool (England) in 1886, and only came out to the colony a few months ago. Hia Honor said it was questionable whether Mrs Hartley had established a domicile in New Zealand, but as respon dent offered no defence he granted » decree nisi. Rear-Admiral Bowden Smith has re ported to the Governor that H.M.S. Lizard has examined the Antipodes island in accordance with a request from the Premier, and that it is very incorrectly drawn on the chart; also that the posi tion of Hut is about two miles out in lati tude and seven miles in longitude. The matter has been reported to the Admiralty and instructions asked for as to the neces sity of sending a special surveying vessel there or whether they would be satisfied by a re-survey of the island by one of the vessels of war on this station. It appears Anderson has been known by other names in New Zealand. He originally c<n»e from Australia and went back there in the Tawwera, having taken a steerage passage under the name of Bolt and tansferred to saloon on the way over. With money in the bank, good debts, and a stock which is a valuable oue, worth £600 to £800, there will be more than 20s in the £ for his creditors whose claims only amount to some £1806.

SPORTING.

HAWKE'S BAY JOCKEY CLUB'S AUTUMN MEETING.

Napier, March 16 The weather was beautiful for the first; day of the Jockey Club's Autumn meeting, j but the attendance was not bo large as usual. The following are the results : — Autumn Handicap, of 100 soys; one mile. —Pinrose, 7st 61b, 1; Purepo, 6st 71b, 2 ; Soofc Free, 7st 51b, 3. Six started. Won by a length. Time—l.4s 2-sch. Dividend—£6 Bs. First Handicap Kubdles, of 100 soys; two miles—Couranto, 13-st 2lb, 1; Victrix, 10at 6lb, 2 ; Ooudolier, lOse 101b, 3. Six started. Won by half a length after a splendid race. Time—3.s9, Dividend £2. Hawke's Bay Cup, of 400 soys; one mile and three-quarterc—Bangipuhi. 88fc lib, 1 ; Dreamland, Bst 31b, 2 j Rosefeldt, Bst 111b, 3. Four started. Won comfort ably. Time—3.l3}. Dividend—£s ss. Nursery Haneicap, of 100 soys ; six furlongs—Forme. Bst 91b. 1; Tartan, 7sc 121b, 2 ; Huatu, 7st 81b, 3 Nine started. Won by a neck after a magnificent finish. Time—l,24 3-sth. Dividend—£2 10*. High Weight Handicap, of 50 soys ; once round—Prairie Grass, 9jt 41b, 1; Scot Free, 9at 61b, 2 ; Golden Plover, Bst 101b. 3. Five started. Won fair!y com fortabiy. Time—l.s6 4-sth. Dividend -£7 10s. Trial Handicap, of 30 soys ; once round— «sparto, 6sfr 101b, 1; Waitress, 7st 10ib, 2; Water Lily, Bat 3b. 2. Nine started. Won by a nose aft er a punishing j race. Time—l.s6. Dividend—£sl. Railway Stakes, of 100 soys; six fmlongs~St Clements, SstlOlb, 1; North Atlantic, 7sts 61b, 2 ; Zanella, 7st 10ib, 3. Seven started. Won easily. Time—l,lß 2-6 th, Dividend-£2 6s.

THE MARKETS.

ASHBURTON MARKETS.

Messrs Miles and Company, Limited, report as ■ follows upon the weekly stock market held at the Ashburton yards on Tuesday, March 13:—Although another very heavy yarding of sheep Was brought forward to the Ashburton yards, the totals proved less by about 1500 than those collected at Tin*vald the previous week, and the attendance was blbo smaller. The sale yards were however taxed to the fullest extent, and in addition to the extra pens temporarily provided, several lines brought tol he gates were returned home by owners, owing to want of yardage. The totals were j 20,078 Bheep, 9 head cattle, and 49 pigs, and the disposal of these extended the auction until 6 pm. Dealing with the butchers' pens, which were filled with merino ana crossbred ewes, buyers showed but little inclination to bid, and as a conse- j quence the bulk of these entries were passed at auction. Prices obtained ruled from 6s < to 10a for crossbreds, and 2s 6d to 4s 2d for merinos ■ Freezing sorts were represented by a few good lines of well advanced sheep, which found buyers up to 15s 6d for primest quality. Two-tooth crossbreds barely main tained recent rates in 8a to 12s, and whilst store lambs met with some enquiry prices remained about on a par with the former sale for best classes, backward and mixed lots being hard to sell at a reduction. Fat lambs sold up to 10s sd, stores 6s to 8a 9d. Old store sheep were sold at considerably reduced rates, more especially ancient merino ewes, several lines of which were cleared for boiling down purposes. Sound mouthed breeding ewes formed but a small portion of ihe entry, and vendors had to accept a reduction to secure a sale. Our sales were :~8l fat crossbred ewes, 7s 9d to 8s 6d ;20at 8a 6d; 23 merino ewes, 3a ; 38' crossbred ewes, 7s; 95 merino ewes, 3s 9d; 113 mixed ewes, culls, 2a } 389 crossbred ewes, 9s 9d; 215 merino ewes, 2a 3d; 140 merino ewes, for potting, lOd j 252 at Is ; 162 crossbred ewea, 6*.

St. Patrick's Concert.

ANNUAL IRISH CONCERT.

Like that oak of St. Bride which nor Devil nor Dane, Could ever uproot—that is ever the same, They have clung by fcheir creed and the cause of their own, Through the midnight of danger in true Innishowen. They shout for the glories o? old Innish* owen The stronghold that foemen hive never o'erthrown The soul and the spirit, the blood and the bone, That guard the green valleys cf true Innishowen. Nor purer of old was the tongue of the Gael, When the charging aboo made the foreigner quail; Than it gladdens the stranger in welcome's soft tone, In the home-loving cabins of kind Innish owen. Oh! flourish ye homesteads of kind Innishowen, Where seeds of a people's redemption are sown; * Bight soon shall the fruit of that sowing have grown. To btas the kind homesteads of|green > Innishowen. Gatah Dufiy. St. Patrick's concert hald in the, Odd fellows' Hall last evening wa» what, ir deserved to be—* decided success in every way. For some time past those who have had charge of the arrangement* in connec tion with the concert nave been working hard, both in the matter of acquiring the best available talent for the evening, and also in selling the tickets with which to fill the hall, and in both these particulars they more than succeeded. The hall was crowded to excess, those in the seats being packed as closely as possible, and even then scores had to stand not only at the back bat down the middle of the hall, while a few found their way to the side of the stage. Such an attendance on so warm an evening made things uncomfortably close, bat it must have been gratifying financially, and the faality of the entertainment, and the celerity with which one item followed another—no delay—helped to make one forget the sultriness of the aflnotphere. Both first and second parts of the programme were opened with overtures by an exoelient orchestra of about a dozen instruments under the baton of Mr 0. Wood- These pieces included some very pretty aira nicely arranged, which were thoroughly appro elated by the audience, and a help to their relish were the euphonium playing of Mr D. Jones, and the cornet work of Mr Willie Macdonald. Mrs Donald McLean made her first appearance since the gaining of her recent musical honors. To criticise her , items is needless. As usual they were charmingly rendered, her delicate manipu lation of the somewhat stubborn piano being a treat for the audience. In the first part she gave " Erin " (Benedict), and as an encore another selection of Irish airs, and in the second part a solo entitled "La Truite." Mrs J. P. Kelly, from Christcharch, was a valuable addition to the local talent. She possesses a very fine soprano voice with a good range and pleasing tone, and was heard to great advantage in the first prat* when she sang " The Kerry dance," wad in re sponse to an imperative encore' 1 Gome back to Erin," both being rendered with much sweetness and deep pathos. In the second: part she sang "Waiting," and aluo took part in a duet with her husband," Larboard Watch." Misb Wary Henry received an enthusiastic encore for "Kate O'Shane," which she aung with feeling, and responded with "The Shamrock of Ireland/ Miss Ana Butler also gave a welcome number in the old " Killarney." We had always, per haps unconsciously, associated the name of Lionel Broad with exclus vely comic items, but hia rendering of " The old brigade" showed that his talent is not confined ;to the comic by any meant. Encored, he gave " The cows are in the coin with great gusto, Mr G. M. Brooke was in good voice with " Nancy Lee," and Mr Higgins contributed " Though darker our sorrows." A comic singer new to Aehburton appeared in the person of Mr H. A. Flower, and his num bers in both parts show that in the comic element he is a decided acquisition., He was given ample scope for hi* humor in *?The future Mrs 'Awkins" and *' Our little nipper.'' Mr Frank Henry received a hearty encore for his comic song "The medical doctor," and responded with another comic long. One of the best items of the evening was a violin solo, " The last iwe of summer," and this charm ins; old melody with it* difficult variations, was exquisitely rendered by Mr Charles Wood, bis playing beinti a musical treat. A pianoforte duet was nicely exe cuted by Misses Sutherland and Devane, and the latter young lady also contributed the ever welcome item, "The wearing of the green." Mrs Claridgeably acted as accompa- . nist. The dancing items werea prims feature of the concert. Little need be, said of the Scotch dancing. Ihe names of Alick McKay, George Morrison, Andrew McKenzie, and Donald McLean are names to.conjure with either in reel or spring, and when the piper was George Robertson enough has been said. The four-hand Irish reel of the lads Fitz gerald and Stewart was a clever perform ance, but the " High Gaul Gap ' dance of the eight performers who took part in it was the crowning Irish feature of the whole evening, and was rapturously encored. The encore was a hornpipe by Messrs M. O'Loghlin and N. Fitzgerald. If we oould here step ont of the role of the reporter and become a man as ofeher men we would go round and shake hands with every man and boy of those eight for the first real ten minutes' pleasure we have enjoyed with this " high caul cap." Somehow or other it has never, until last night, been properly given on an Ashburton stage, but last night it wan perfect, and the beauties of the dance wero admirably brought out, "The Judge's Substitute "—an Irish farce—was on the programme to close with, bnt the first scene had only got half through when Father 0 DonneD, like the true Irishman he is, objected to the foolish caricature, and ordered the curtain to be lowered. He explained that had he known inch a niece had been chosen, to close a St Patrick's' concert it would never have got upon the programme—and we are quite with him. At the conclusion of the entertainment the floor was cleared for dancing. A large company - remained and dancing was kept up with vigor tor several hours to music supplied by Gates' band. ' -

A Magnficent Adjust ment.

The watch, undoubtedly, is a fine piece of mechanism. It haa lately been brought to a very high Btate of perfection, One of the most wonderful pieces in the whole of the escapement ia the fine spiral spring com' monly known as the hair spring. The way in which this coil Is tempered is truly mar* vellous. For many years it was a perfect secret, and even now certain large factories where the watch is manufactured pride themselves upon the perfection and excep tionally fine temper they throw into the spring. Let either the main or hair spring break and the whole train comes to a stand* till Both are indispensable, and each must have perfect action. Now what these springs are to the watch, the liver and kidneys are to the body. On the one hand you have the liver in the form of a large gland or secreting organ separating bile from the blood, and also making glpcogenfrom it; while on the other you have the kidneys in the shape of two glands, and consisting of many tubes, removing the water and urea from the blood, and forming a portion of the excretory syßtem. As long as these two act in unison a general healthy order pre- I vails. Let the kidneys, however, become granulated and Bright's disease, with its train of suffering and angnish, makes its appearance. The uric acid is not carried off, and the man becomes the subject of dis tressing afflictions. There is, however, a specific for all liver and kidney complaints and its cures are simply wonderful. Warneft "Safe" Cure has proved itself a boon to thousands and a treasure worth more than its weight in gold. By keeping these two springs of action in their normal condition it secures an almost perfect immunity from danger to the whole of the body.

THE ASHBU&TON OTABDIAN SATURDAY, MAUOE 17, 1894.



Business Notices. __ i Special Prices for this Month AT G- J« Teill and Co/s THE CHEAPEST HOUSE m ASHBURTON FOR X>JbtoJ.'l3frc, CLOTHING, ANO BOOTH. Long Lace Curtains Is 9d } air Double ttidth Dress Goods 9£d Cretonne 3id , Dress Good* 3a lid doz Double-bed"Whit© Twill S l eeling 9|d wwge Turkish lowels Bsd Grey Calico 2* 3d do*. Wol?? n> HQ° Bf, i Cofcton Shirting, very strong 3|d ? r oublei ed f Qu K llA s 3s lld each trong Ticking s|d Heavy Forfar s^d | I CLOTHING. C?JL,OTiairs'« Boys' Tweed Suits 3s lid Men's Shirts at any price Men's Tweed Trousers 10s 6d now 6s lid Men's Merino Socks only 6d patr Men's Colonial Tweed Suits only 19s 6d Men a Ties at half price. . Mtn'aNew Zealand Tweed Suits 38s 6d Men's Oolomal-kmb Woollen Socks only BOW 29 9 6 d 9|dpair BOOTS. BOOTS, In Boots we defy competition, all our Boots are made specially to ourorder. We guarantee every pair to give satisfaction* Wom.n'B Elastic-side Boots 8s 6d, now Men; 8 Balmoral Boots 10a 6d, now 7a lid fi»iifl Men's Bluchers Oi Women'B Kid Shoes 7s IM, now 5a lid Men'a Nailed Shooters 10s 6a now 8s lid Women's Leather Shoes 7s 6d, now 5s lid Women's Carpet Shppem Is 6d QhUdren'B Patent Leather Shoes and Slippera in Endless Variety at G. J. NEILL A.ND GO'S, FRIEDLANDER'S CORNER. TERMS CASH.



rj EALTH TEA is free from the jLTL. tannin so prevalent in other teas. It is recommended by the Medical Faculty in the United Kingdom and Australia. All Grocers keep it. HEALTH IB A. "Delightful," "Wholesome," "Refreshing." All Grocers. Wholesale at Zander's. tlnwalK ~ I fT\ O L S T—Four*roonißd Cottage, ■ JL Situated not far from fche Railway | Station. T. BULLOCK. 1 IltlfVTEll AMU SOU, (Late D. Macpherson) GROCERS & GENERAL DEALERS. CROCKERY, ~ GLASSWARE, TINWARE, HARDWARE. BRUSHWARE, ETC., ETC. Cash Customers will find ib to their ad vantage to give them a call. A Good Supply of Prime Smoked Bacon on hand.



NEW ZEALAND I lotUinsr Factory. mo those looking about for » good X Waterproof Coat for the Winter. CALL AT THE FACTORY ■ IN EAST STREET. JSLEOT YOUR OWN PATfERN. j OVER 100 TO CHOOSE FROM. j Ho perished goods in stock. ' All sewn seams. Waterproof Coats with Cape Waterproof Coat Macfarlane Waterproof Fishing Outfit Waterproof Shooting Cape Waterproof Waders Waterproof Riding Aprons Waterproof Ponchos Waterproof Bbycle Capes. SPECIAL SPECIAL SPECIAL LADIES*' WATERPROOFS LADIES WATER?ROOFS LADIES' WATERPROOFS MADE TO MEASURE. NEW MAtAND CLOTHING FACTORY AND WATERPROOF MANFAOTURERS ALEX. HEN DRY, Manager.



Goods Delivered Daily. HUNTER AND SON. TANCRED STREET- TuT"*!" A'L T Up "ITT. Wandering afar ocr A ustralasia seas ; Sighing in softness, murmuring in air, Comes the desire for Health imparting Teas, Fragrant in flavor, with aroma rare. At last! at laßt! the breezes murmar, Is found the Tea is well-named "Health," And Connoisseurs declare in accents firme* This tea contains within itself a priceless wealth.



The daintiest leaf by cleanliest arts pre served, Blended with flavor that on the taste ne'er palls "Health Tea" has won the pride of place deserved, Is drunk in cottage homes and palace halls HEALTH TEA ! HEALTH TEA ! "Hoalth Tea" cures indigestion. Oiher teas cause it. 3 80 THE REASON~WHY~ ! CRAIGHEAD AND BERRYMAH ARE the l>ft'liug Tailors and Outfitters in Ashburton— BECAUSE They keep the Largest Stock of Fashionable Tailor in? Goods. BECAUSE They employ the Largest Number of First Class T4toM. BECAUSE They do che Largest Tailor ing Business. BECAUSE They piye the Beso Value, Fit, and Workmanship BECAUSE Their Motto is (r£t $atisfa£4ioii. CRAIGHEAD &BERRYMAN, THO LB vDINQ TAILORS AND OUT FITTERS, ASHBUBTON



FOR WEDDING PRESENTS, UXRTHDAY PKESENTS, AND PRESENTATIONS, PAY a Visit to the Jewellery Establish ment of 8. Salek, WATCHMAKER and JEWELLER. Wheieis to be peen the Lal'GESf and FINEST FTOOK ia the District", of— SILVER AND SILVER-PLATE WARE, GOLD AND SILVER JEWELLERY, and Other HIGH CLASS GOODS Suit *blefor PRESENTS AT LOWFaT PUIOKiI. Watch. Clock d jewellery liepairiag ! BPEOIALTY SPECTACLES fco auit all Sights- |



CLEAKING SALE". davis"lros» CABINET-MAKERS, Havelook Street, A RE GIVING UP BUSINESS, and o clear their large Stock of Durable Furniture are selling at GREAT REDUCTIONS FOR CASH. ! DAVIS BROS, Next Courthouse, Havolock Street. ALSO, FOR SALE, CHEAP,— New Eight-roomed House, H-ivelnclr Street. i^ 8 mO MA & E ROOM FOR NEW SHIPMENTS ov SPECIALLY BLENDBD TEAS, We have dtcided 10 CLEAR OUR STOCK Off TUB Genuine Health Tea it 2s perlb. John Orr & Co.



COOPER'S SHEEP DIP. | TO THE SHEEP FARMERS 0? THE ASHBURTON DISTRICT, T Bat? to notify that I have appointed MR J. G. RESTELL, OF ASHBURIW, Agent for the Sale of COOPERS CELEBRATED SHEEP PIPPING POWDER, AS© ktiiO That in future all appointments for the | DJPPJNG OF SHEEP ! j AT THR TINWALD DIP (Which has given such unanimous w»t'h fHct)on to its supporters)^ mast be nmd« with Mv Rbstkll, who will see that the same success is ensured in the future.; MORE SHEEP ARE DIPPED annually throughout the World with COOPER'S SHEEP DJP THAN WITH ATX OTHF R DIPS ADD* D TOGE CHER. W. LAKE, Agent, 3 126 Hereford Street, Ohriatchurch.



Wanted "COLLAR CIG7RETT£S-3i~pe7pMke W" ESLErAN~Ohoreh B~aringSq[uave. Preachers, co-morrow 11, Rev C. Abernethy ; 6 30, Rev S. Lawry (tem perance sermoj). Come, heir, consider. | O Let or for Sale, six-roomed house, 1 Allsnton, garden atocked with fruit trees.—Landblls and Preston. Ashbur ton. 1 UA PRIMITIVE Church. Preachers To- Morrow—Morning, Mr Hoatten ; Evening, Rev. J. Cocker. Subject, The old pushing ox—a temperance sermon. 3 147



IF your mind is troubled : nothing else will give the troubles so thoroughly away as Health Tea. Try it,— Henry Zander, vVholeaale Agent. MUSIC— Miss M. Barratt is prepared to take pup?ls for Mu^ic at Mr James Bland's farm, Winchmore road, Gr«ensfcreet. Terms on application. 385 S' AVING tried" Health Tea""and found it Al, I sell it—J. Thomas, Produce Dealer, Havelock street. 3 104 WANTED Known—Tomatoes, good ripe Grapes, Plums, Apples, etc., at Marssdjbn s Fruit Shop, below Mitchell and Turner's. 2 109 OUTERS and toeATFiStkoi all sorts arrive evening per express at Deep Sea Fishing Co.'s Shop, Burnett street Ashburton. 2 62



1 BUY and Sell for Cstsh, therefore I Sell Oat Sheaf from Is 3d per sack or £2 2a 6i per ton. J. Thomas, Havelock street, EDICAL Coila made end repaiied on fche shortesb notice at easy prices at A. J. Walker's, Old Kinder" gar ten. IF you want first-class fruit go to Adams for Fiji, Tahiti, Auckland and Sydney Oranges, (Jitrona, Lemons, etc. WHY grumble about the price of Bread and Meat when you can, get 601b best Roller Flour for 4s 6d and ! good Fresh Butter at 6d per 1b at R. Algobn's sale. Saunders Buildings. 3 116 FRED. S. JEFFRIES, Manufactur ing Confectioner, has opened a Shop in East street, next "The Corner," for sale of all kinds of superior Con fectionery. Nothing inferior sold. No cheap cigarettes. 3§114 "VTO more indigestion ; no more nervous -^ ness from indulging in too much tea drinKing, for those who drink " Health Tea." One trial will convince you.— Henry Zander, Authorised Agent.



DON'T miss our Great Sale. For one | month only, from 2(kh February to 20th March. Drapery, Clothing, Boots, etc. —H. C. Segbrs, Melford House. WANTED, Everybody to uae Titan Soap, greatest marvel of the age. fl. Zander, Sole Agent. 11 181 DON'T Forget to send your Bicycles along to the Old Kindergarten to be repaired, at moderate rates. WANTED Known — That A. J. Walker repairs Bicycles. Sewing I Machines, Lawn Mowers, Medical Coils, and all descriptions of lighc machinery. MRS ALCORN has on sale for the Holidays a varied assortment of Toys, Dolls, .Prams, Fancy Goods, and Christmas Presents—Sannder* Buildings. \ 1 FAN TED Known—W. Ft. Oolmee W noted four-clasp Kid Gloves, 2s 6d, have just arrived in ail siz *s.



/ CHOICE Ornaments, Koldinc Screens, V_y Own mike in Ladies' and Children's Underclothing. Aprons, and Pinafores.— Mes AlooßN, Saunders' Buildings. GUNS ! Guns ! Guns ! My new stock _." of Guns just to hand direct from the manufacturers. Double and Single Barrel Breech Lnaders, Rifles, etc. In spection invited. No old stock to select from ab J. W. Haedlby's Sporting Repository. ANTED Known—The Corner is W showing a magnificent New Stock of Drapery and Clothing.—W, H. Collier. (~-\ RKAT Clearing Sale of Drapery, VX Boots, Clothinc, etc., at Melrord Bouse, from 20th February to 20th March. -H. 0. Segbrs. BOYS' three garment long trouser Suits for 10i. Men's Colonial ' ma-ile nailed Shooter Boots at 7a 6d per pair ac R. Alcokn's sale, Anhburton Clothing Mart, launders' Buildings. 1 116 ANTED Known.—To Harvesters /V —Dungaree Jackets and Overalls, Harvest Hats and Shirts and Sui'/S of all kinds, at prices to meet the times.— Mitchell & Tubnek.



YK7 ANTED Known.- Our Cheap ** Slippers are selling in dozens. Children's from Is, women's Is 9d. Buy one pur and you will buy more.— Mitchell and I uknee. BANG ! Bang i B»u S I My new cc - son's stock of Ammunition to hand Eley's, Kynoek's and, Ciuo Cartridges, Powder, Shot, Caps, Wads, Cises and all sporting materials of the first quality at J. W. Hartley's, Gun Emporium. WANTED Known. —No reasonable offer will be refused for the balance |of our Summer Dresses, Millinery, and ' Mantles.—Mnchiell and Turner. ANTED Known —Spectacles, Eye Protectors, Goggles. Folders, and everything in the optical me at S. Salek's, Optician rniKST-CLAKd Drapery, Buota, Cloth f" ing, etc, to be sold cheap at Segees Sain, from February 20 to March 20,— Melford House.



WANTED Known—To make room for Spnug Boots I will give ten par cent for cash. Repairs dene at once cheaper than evei to stay bid times over at J. MoisoVs, Premier Bootmaker. "VTOTTCEI NoMce! Sport for all. JLN Guns let out on hire or sold on tim* payments. Having a professional Gunsmith on th* premises, I undertake to repair Guns ot any description, Gun fittintrs in stock. Prices low.—J. W Haudley, Iron.nonser, etc. MR John Maesden, of the Railway Bookstall, has opened a Book and Stationer's Shop two doors below Mitchell aivd Turner. Books and Stationery at th@ lowest pos&jble prices. Books clean, complete, and in good order will be taken in exchange. Circulating libiary.. H TASTER Cards, and Booklets, Fire / Screens, Pictures. Glass Ornaments, Christmas Cads, Cricket and Lawn Tennis Material, Photo Albums, and Frames, and hundreds of other articles ! are to be sold at a great sacrifice for Cash I during this month only at L. F. Anokkvves & Co, Stationers' Hall. /*V&OJ) afternoon Mrs Smith. Hot ' T feeling well 'i Have a cup of j health Tea ! Noting so invigorating , aid strengthening ! My word, Mrs j i Brown, this is simply lovely ! Whole ! pale an 4 retail stg4.W*'«« J



Tiie Best Tea in CANTERBURY for tha money, and free from any excess of asfcringency. COUNTESS 2s. &Si£ YOUR GROCERS.



Holloway's Pills.—Any dyspeptic suf ferer aware of the purifying, regulating, and gently aperient powers of these pills should permit no one to cloud his judgment or to warp his course. With a box of Holloway's Pills, and attention to itsaccom. panying "Directions," he may feel thoroughly satisfied that he can safely and effectually release himself from his miseries without impairing his appetite or weakening is digestion. This most excellent medicine acts as a nervine and bodily tonic by aiding nutrition, and banishes a thousand annoying forms of nervous complaints. An occasional resort to Holloway's remedy will prove highly salutary to all persons, whether well or ill, whose digeation is slow or imperfect, a condition usually evidenced by weariooK, IWgQW, lwtlowoeM, »c 4 dependency,



DOLLAR CIGARETTES — « v«