MAIL NOTICES.

Mails close for the following placer as under, subject to the necessary altera lions :— WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20. For United Kingdom, Continents of Europe and America, West Indies, etc., (via San Francisco), Sandwich Islands and Samoa, and also for Northern Ports of New Zealand, as follows :—Ordinary letters, books and newspapers 630 p.m. ; registered letters, 5 p.m.; money orders, 3 p.m. ; late fee letters guard's van, 7 p.m. express train. Due London, April 25 ii.

FIRE ALARMS

AHenton „ one toll Borough, north of railway ... two tolls Borough, south of railway ... three tolls Hampstead four tolls

Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 1895. THE BALTIC CANAL.

The invitation of Germany tolerance fco take parfc in the naval display that will be made on the occasion of the opening of the new canal to connect the North Sea with the Baltic is ac cepted in some quarters as an indic'a* tion of an intention on the, part of both Powers to bury the hatchet— V ranee having accepted the invitation. The Emperor of Germany assured the French Minister that he did not desire war with any nation, and with France least of all. Be that as ib may the new Canal will be of great value to Germany from a strategic point of view, Early in 1891 the gates of the canal were formally opened by the German Emperor, but this ceremony was only equivalent to that of laying the foundation stone of a public build ing, after whibh, although the building may be very far advanced, there is much still left to be done. The canal starts at Holtenau, on the north side of Kiel Bay, and joins the Elbe fifteen miles above its mouth. The canal is $1 miies long, 200 feet wide at the surface, and So feet at the bottom, iwith a depth of 28 feet. The cost is estimated at £8,000,000. The canal will be crossed by four railway lines and six hjghroads. It was first in tended to use single locks in places, but since the commencement of the works the plans have been modified, and double locks have been used in gvery instance, 500 feet long and 85 feejb wide. In June 1894 a description was published of %]}& new Leyenspn bridge, the large iron constructions which were being then placed in posi tion. It has two arches, pach of 550 feet span, which is the greatest yet used in Germany; there are two towers on each side of the bridge. In July it was stated that the contract for an elaborate lighting scheme had been | placed with the Helios Lighting Com pany of Cologne. At every 800 feet tfeere are placed incandescent lamps on both sides o£ ti}9 canal, on poles 12 "feet higli| the power oi the lajmps being 25 candle power, and of these lamps there are altogether 884. In addition to this, there are 68 lamps for the lighting of the 13 ferries and the 4 bridges. The locks are each lighted by \% laropi^ of which those at the entrance have a special eoloup. Where the canal passes through lakes, which happens at two places for distances of respectively 4000 feet and 19,000 feet there are buoys with gas oil lights. The electric machines are located at IJoltenau and Brunsbiittel, and the whole injgtajlaj^oa is now ready. Re ports to hand in tfie autumn were to the effect that at Brunsbiittel a " Pegel " tower was being built 50 feet high, which will show the level of the water in the Elbe, at the Brunsbufctel lock and in the canal. At this poiut the east pier has been completed, and progress it; being made with the west pier; tfyer© w^U be large light houses of iron on each pier. Of .th ( o two haFbor* at Brunsbiifctel the inner one is completed •; ifc js 1/0Q feet long and 570 feet broad, and is intended for the ships of the German navy. The other harbor is for mer chant vessels, and is over 2300 feet long and 330 feet broad. It was not expected that the canal would be opened by May 1, 1895, as was at ope ' time hoped. At the loteroatiofla] {

Oanal Congress held at the Hague, in July, Messrs Bekaar and Nelemans contributed a paper descriptive of the means taken to break up the ice in the canal. The distance saved in the journey between the seas i 3 about 240 miles, and the dangers of the old journey by the Skager Rack and Kattegat are avoided. A saving of 240 miles is a material one , indeed in the Baltic trade, as it is computed that from thirty to forty thousand vessels pass through the Sound : an nually. To Germany the strategic ad-1 vantage will lie in her ability to move her fleet out of the Baltic to the Gor man Ocean without danger of opposi tion from enemies; but to her mer cantile marine the canal will provide vastly more easy navigation and enable her largest trading ships to embark on the Baltic trade. The canal is not the embodiment of a new idea, because there are already two canals connecting the two seas one connecting the two seas by the South Swedish lakes, and another a canal from Kiel on the Baltic to the deeper Eider, which empties into the North Sea northward of the Elbe, which latter river has been made use of by the new canal. But neither of these canals are at all to be compared for magnitude with the one under notice, as neither could ac commodate a vessel of 200 tons..

isr a leading article cbinrtemning school concerts as at present carried out, the Lyttelton limes of this KINDEKBPIEIS. morning says : —When the children** items were first introduced it was possible to give the necessary training out of school hours. But as the whole of the performance came to be thrown upon the children, and as com* petition arose between school and school, more time had to be given to training the pupils, until now no less than a month is usually devoted to preparation for the cmoert. And in addition to thii the attention of the scholars is so far dis tracted from their work that two or three weeks more often pass before the ordinary routine of school life can be resumed. . . . It is (o be hoped that if other means of raising funds for prizes are not adopted, the Education Board will use its influence in thii matter, and put a stop to a practice that is doing consider able injury to many of our schools.

The action of Great Britain and the other Powers interested, in view of the renewal

of Turkish brutalities in Armenian Armenh, will be watched atrocities, with interest throughout the

civilised world The whole complexion of the commission of enquiry will be altered by the deliberate attempt of the Turkish officials to obliterate the proofs of the crimes by the rough and ready method of slaughtering in cold blood tfce principal witnesses who in tended to give evidence. Mr Bryce, the President of the Board of Trade, was right when he declared a few weeks ago that his Government had the support of the country in insisting upon a thorough investigation of the reported massacres; and that this suppnrt would be extended to whatever efforts the G -.vernment might make to compel the introduction of reforms in the administration of Armenia. Ths qiies fion now i 3, what form will these efforts take in view of these latest and mosb sickening revelations 1 "I 1; may also b.i asked what will he the probable result of the present in.|uiry, judging by the history of the past; I After the massacres of 1876 in Bulgaria, a simi'ar Commission was, at tie instance of Lord Derby, sent to Philipopolia to inquire into the atrocities and try the perpetrators Mr Walter Baring was delegated by our Embassy to Eecompany the Com mission and assist i at i*s: proceedings. After pro racbed sittings the Commission was compelled, sorely against its will, to pais s ntenco of death oii just one of the culprits brought for trial, ard of v irious terms of imprisonment on a few others Ahmet Agha, of Tomroush, the Patak Yuzba^hi, whose fiendishcrueltiesatßvtak had thrilled Europe with horror, was the scapegoat s^lect^d by the Turks to expiite the guilt in which other officials much higher placed had at; least an equal share. Well, the day for Ahmet Agha's execution wi9 fixed ; and the British Vice-Consul at Phil'popolis wa<! instructed by our Em bassy (o be present to make sure that the right man was hanged. Bu*;, at the last moment a reprieve was granted by the Sultan. The sentence on Ahmet Ayha was commuted to transportation for life to Tripoli in Barbary. But three years af ier he was back in his former village of Torn* roush, reinstated to his former rank in the police, ani wearing the madal of the Medjidieh which bid previously to his trial been conferred upon him by the Sultan for his holocaust of women and children at Batak. The last news of this hero was in 1884. when he was still ats Tomroush, close to the Bulgarian frontier, and riot far from the scane of his crimes.

'• Ot;r armies swore terribly in Flanders,' 1 I sal 1 Sterne's Uncle Toby. He should have heard a colonial bullock tre uses driver, who, we now read in

of an article in that excelled; profanity. American magazine, the Cosmopolitan, U himself , , , i_-. e. . ', . w" rivalled b|? the Mississippi uver steamer 41 roustabout." The writer says s—" So accustomed to authority are the roust- abouts that they will do nothing without; the word of command ; and even when they set aboufc obeying an order, it ii with such a total disregard for the result, and wrh such sraU-p*ced motion, that they mu3t be stimulated from time to time by r- petitions of the command. Interspersed with choice p-of*nity. This imy be shocking to the stranger, bub ib seems to be taken as a matt rof course. It is nob the same as profanity in polite society :it means nothing on the part of th<j mate except a peculiar way in which he em- phaaiaes his commands; anjl thg» roust- about sees in it nothing but a measure of . the importance of the command. Acorn- maud miy be given to haul in a line. j Some of the men take hold of it and throw themselves back lazily, exercising not a hundredth part of their power. Aftertwoor threeinef actual attempts fco accomolish the task, the mate flYe&nto a pa^ioriand lets gj a volley of profanity that tints the atmosphere, and the men surge back on the line as though they had just awakened to consciousness. A small ferry, made of ] Chocfcaw 10-58, used for carrying teams across the b»you, was lefb stranded on the bank by the, falling water. The plaater asked tfoe captain to have h?s men go out and carry if-doifk to"the water, Aboufc forty roustabouts shufljUd out 'arid gathered about the raft. As if obeying the order, they fcook hold of the rgft and pretended to life, no one of them expend- ing enough strength fco carry a water- melon. After two or threo attempts to move the raft, they straightened up and looked enquiringly at the boat, to see what wasfthe ne^t thing on the pro- "• •( .i* .....iJL *K a ~ tai . n m v uji gramme. Meant mo, the mate ? ho had been bandying pleasantriesiwith acquain- fcansas o.n the b»nk^ glanced up, took in the situation, an.4 rushac) ashore, itunn- ing up to the raft, he jumped upoa ifc with a sharp, crhp oath, ordered the men r,o c%rry It to the water. The command h*rd!v left ht« lips before the men seized the ferry and walked with it and the mate toth«b»Dkoffc|lßbayo«, J

The Press, writing on the case in which i, Mr George Bisset prosecuted three pro hibition's! s for interfering How much with his son in going fir fukther? beer, has the following very plain remaik.3 : — The prohi bitrcnists seem bent on noaking both ihem*elves and their cause thoroughly j obnoxious to the public. The case heard | ia the Christchurch Stipendiary Magis trate's Curt, yesterday, and _ reported in another column, cannot fail to still further a'.ienate the public sympathy from thpir movem nt. True, there, was not I sufficient evidence, to support the technical charge of assault, and the magistrate had consequently no alternative but to dismiss the information. The cis?, however, I disclc s^d an amount of meddlesome interference with the liberty of the subject, and an invasion of the privacy of domestic life, which cannot feil to be strongly disapproved by an English com munity. An invalid woman, lying in bed in a condition in which stimulants are usually required and prescribed, sends her boy. for a bottle of beer. Even if the messenger had been under the age speci fied in the Licensing Ac% there would have been nothing very dreadful in his going for the beer, considering that ifa was required in a case of sickness As ir> happened, he waa over the age, And consequently the moat bigoted prohiW tionist had no excuse for interfering wi^h him. The evidence showed, however, that the three defendants "shep!ierd«d " the boy homa, and that one of them in truded into the sick person's bedroom and worried and excited,, the unfortunate patient with a prohibitionist harangue. We do not de-ire to say anything harsh of the ladies who appeirtd as defendants In the case. We hwe no d >übt they are animated by the best of motives ia their mi directed enthusiasm, but we should have thought that womanly sympathy with one ot their own sex in. such a con dition would have suggested a more fitting opportunity for airing their views We do, however, strongly censure and con demn the prohU itioni>t leaders who foment and encourage such unwarrant able acts of interference with personal privacy and freedom. They have openly avowed and, indeed, gloried in a policy of lampooning private citizens as a means of exhibiting the beauty of temp3ranca. Tf, however, they desire to retain a tingle shred of public sympathy or respect, they had better draw the line at invading I private houses and badgering sick women in their beds.

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Commercial newa on fourth page. Those who may be desirous of pur chasing some choice second hand furniture will have an opportunity of doing so on Saturday next, (not Friday, as stated in last night's Guardian), when Mr Thomas will sell some surplus household furniture in the Arcade, Captain Dolman invite 1 the members of the Ashburton Rifles to a most enjoy able smoke concert in the Orange Hall last ni»ht. The shooting team from the Temuka Riflaf, who were firing at the butts to-day, were among the guests. A reai'y happy evening was spent. For the benefit of onr farming friends (mosfc of whom have not the time to read the Acts of Parliament as fast a3 our legislators turn them out) we remind th=m that by section 42 of the Stock Act, 1893, the annual dipping of longwool and cro>:s-' bred sheep is compulsory between the Ist of January and the 3'st of May, whether the sheep are clem or-not. The penalty or neglecting to dip may be as much as two shillings per head.

A fire rcMirred ia (he housp of Mr R* Dorm, painter, last evening* Thecurtaiua of the childre i's bedroom caught fire, about half-past ser n snJ 500n... com municated with the children's bed. Fortunately it was discovered in time, the alarm was given, and the children were removed in safety, The Brigade turned out, and the fire was extinguished easily. Mr Donri, who isa member vi the Brigade, returns his thaiiks to those whose prompt help saved his house from destruction. Considerable interest was taken in the election to fill tin vacancyon the Borough Council, caused by the death.of Dr Tweed. A good deal of canvassing went on, and the '■ chariots raged in the streets" nil day. When the poll was declared at half piist six, there were only half a dozen people present, an • Mr Tasker WoS the only candidate within hearing. Mr Herbert Fooks announced the result ss follows.:—Mr C, Reid, 145 votes ; Mr E. F., Talker, 87 ;Mr John Henry 74. Mr T&sker proposed a vote of thanka to the returning offiser, which Mr Fooks ac knowledged.

Mr Cecil Rhodes has beenspeaking with his customary bluntnass to the corres pondent of the Kreuz Zeitung. The Soul h African sphynx rarely opens his lips, bur, whan he does he leavea no doubt about his meaning. Germany is displeased with Mr Rhodes because we hold Walfisch Bay. Mr Rhode*'s reply is delightful. It amounts to saying that Germany had better get out of her huff, for she will never get Walfisch Bay. Moreover, Mr Rhodes adds that he, on his side, is displeased with

Germany. Germany kept him hanging about for two years for a mere concession about a telegraph route. Jtfow Mr Rhodes has changed his mind, and is doing without Germ -ny, which is bad for Germany. A rather novel addition to the crew of

the ship Blenheim was made on Saturday. The *ail°r °" w r at<?h n,^iced, a sfcrange cat 3«™P from the wharf and after having a look round, go ashore aojain. H e thought this very peculiar, but hia surprise ifas heightened when he notictd the cab coming down the wharf again with a kitten in her mouth. She sprang on tD the ship, laid tha kitten down on the poop, and once more went ashore. In a few minutes back she came again with another kitten, which &he laid nlongside the other, and then proceeded to make herself and family quite at honi3. The steward and crew took a great farcy to their humble shipmates, and there is no doubt the cat will find very comfortable quarters on tha ship, „•■«,,, Robert Carlyi a, who was to have been brought up yesterday on a charge of -houaebreaking atrLaunstoti, bat made his escape; is thus described :—Carlyle ls aboub sft 4m m heißht » ratl*er sfcout \ aboufc 39 vearß °] d ! ral her silly sort of appearance j large head ; blue eyes, which he keeps halt closed ; reddi-h curly ,beard »nd whisker* ; large nose ; peculiar Jalf-witied sort of leer ; speak* with a oas *&*s* aP?B^ stammering a little Brewed in an gld blac* coat much top, big for him*]aare bla S* lT hat> t lth Pomfcefl fcoP } old seedy drab tweed trousers j, heavy boots. His history n not good. He 19 known to the pohoe as a housebreaker, and is just out of Lyttelton gaol. He broke into M. r Hampton a house at Lauris ton for supplies, and is hkely to do the same i&herejer he n^ay be, as he has not a mouthful with him.- i Holloway's Ointment—Go where you may i^ pyery country and in all climes per sons will be found who have a ready word qf praise for this ointment, frorohaps, chafe?, scalds, bruisfes, and sprains, it is an invalu. able remedy; for bad lew, bad breasts and P«e»,. it may be confidently relied upon for effecting a sound and permanent cure In pa , es of g puffe d ankles, eryajpelas, and rheu m , m itia Holloway'u Omtromt gives the gr eitek comfort by reducing the in^imma tion, cooling the blood,'sootiling the Wyes, adlusbing the circulation, and expelling the impuritieg. Tljis ointment should have'a plaea in every nursery. It willcureaJlthQ.se manifold skin affeofciona which, originating »' ohildhood, gain sfreogth with the ohild'i ißWfcJjf

Alleged Assault.

At the Magistrate's Court, Christchurch, on Wednesday, before Mr R. Beetham, S.M., Theophilus Wak*, Mary Newron, and Emma Gordon, were charged with' assaulting GjorgeE. Bissefct. MrStringet appeared for tho prosecution, Mr Wilding for the defence. Mr Stringer, after stating the nature of the case, called George Bissett-., who caid ho wa*» the father of the boy on whose account the information had been laid ; his son wauld be fourteen years old in June. Witness ' business took him away from his house a good deal at late hoirs. On returning home between 11 and 12 o'clock p.m. on February 15 he found his wife in an excited state. She had lately been con fined. What she told him caused him to. lay the information. _ ! George E. BisseLt, the boy in question, who is not tall for his age, deposed that he lived with his father and mother at Carlton place. Qn the evening named, at about 930 o'clock, he was sent by his mother for some b9er. He took a bottle in a kit and went to the Carlton Hotel, where the person in the bar refused to serve him. He started to go home, and when going along the road some people with bicycles came after him. He hurried and they followed, finally catching up with him. Three, two ladies and a man, accosted him. The man put his hand on his shoulder. Be thought one of the ladies did so to, but cou'd not be sure They asked him if he went to school, and he said he did. Then one of the ladies and the man got on each sice of him saying they were going hrrnia with him. He was frightened at first and tried to get away, but soon accepted the position. He recognised Mis Newton as bis lady attendant, and thought the defendant Waka was the roan. There were others there. The three went borne with him. The Udies followed him into the house.

, Cross-examined—When they accosted him he did not cry out or call for the police. The man did not hurt him- The man asked witness how old he was and was told thirteen years. The time was not so late as 10.30 p.m. His sister opened the door. The people were talking outside. His mother was in bed. She laid, "If it fa a lady she can come in." The two ladies went in to his mother's bedroom. They stayed there about five minutea, and then left the house. He never went for beer before he was thirteen years ; he had not gone often since.

Re-axamined—When they stopped me they frightened me, and I begin to cry. Willie Bissett, aged twelve years, said that he was with his brother on the occa sion, stopping outside of the hotol, and returned home with him. The people when they stopped his brnth&r, asked him if he was taking a drop of beer to his mother. His brother quickened his pace, but the man told him noc to be in a hurry. Witness could not recognise the defen dants. Cross examined—He had never been for beer himself.

Constable Flewellen stated that com plaints in this matter were made to him. He saw Mrs Newton and Miss Gordon. They told him that seeing the boy come out of the hotel they had gone home with him to his mother. This was the case for the prosecution. Mr Wilding submitted that there was no ca=te against the ladies—no evidence whatever that they had touched him. The court would no doubt dismiss the inf irmation as against them. Mr Bsetham said h« wotfd hear the whole cisc before saying anything about it. Theophlius Wakj, called by Mr Wild ing, stated that as he and the ladies were walking homewards along Papanui road they saw too small boys come out of the side door of the Carlton Hotel. When they found they were seen they went back into the hotel, but came out after wards. Dafend^nt's party went towards the boys, whe kept a litrle out-, of their way, but were finally overtaken. De. fend^nt t>ok an interest in the truancy question, and thought boya who wou'd. go into a hotel co late were very likely to b3 tmmtra. Moreover, he believed that a breach of the Licensing Act wai tieim? committed, and he wag not ashamed

to gay that he thought it was his duty to find out about it. These were his motives frr interfering. The smallest

boy went away. He asked the boy with the kit his ago, and the boy said, " What *ge have. I to be to get beer 1" Defen dant said, " You need not bother, about. tha\" an-1 the boy added, "I am over

thirteen" Defendant never put % h<Mid on the boy, nor did he see any of tha others touch him. Arrived at the house

the boy went round fro the back. Some one of the party knocked at the front door, which vas opened by a girl, and after enquiries had been made for the master of the house, &c, a female voice

called out, " Ask the latfy in " The ladtet* went in, and defendant stopped outside. .■■.;' ■'-'■ Cross-examined — They met the boys purposely. He was not prepared to say th?t they took charge of the boy. He was not a policeman. Would not swear that if he had tried to ran away he (defendant) would not have stopped him. The boy did not cry, he seemed to rather enjoy It. No demand for admission was made at the door.

Miry Newton said the time was a^oufc 10.30 p.m. She did not touch the boy nor did she think anyone else did The door of the house was closed. SheknocVed, and a^ked for tha boy's father. The girl who opened the do^r satd ho was out. Mrs Newton asked for his mother, and a voice asked her to come in. She went into a bedroom and had a conversation with Mrs Blssst. remonstrating with her for sending so small a boy, for beer, especially at thafc hour.

Ooss-exsmlned —The party intercepted the Iny, and asked his age, etc. They took charge of him. IP he had attempted to ran away she would not, have chased him but would hive followed him homo, as she intended fco see his parents. Emma Gordon stated that no ono used any force. She was wheeling a bicycle, the boy was friendly. Mrs Newton gave him some motherly advice.

William Newton said he was one of the party. No one used violence ; they did nof; touch the boy They stopped him.

This was the defpnea. Mr Strlngf r, ur.ge.dl that tecJinically th^rn had baen an assault Tli • defendants h d nn rl"ht to a'bp tbe boy • thoir irittrforerep in practically iJk Tn« cha'-ga of rhe boy was an acsaulb.

Mr Beeth'm said he did not think so. Tn Addison on T.>rta it w-is laid down thi 1-, 4 the mere touch!tie of a person without force or violence for the purpose- flawing: his attention to some mt^t^or is. }i«t an ' assault unless it in done in a hostile or insulting manner.' This at most ws what had been done in this oase. If there had been any touching it had been a mere touch without hostility or insult. There was no evidence t' at the defendants intended to offer restraint or violence to the boy. He could not conceive ifc possible that they should so intend. Xfhe boy had a perfect right to g6 for beer, and it w-s not lively that doing so would provoke the defen dants to offsr him ylolenpa. He, Mr Beotham, considered that no assault had been committed and the information would be dismissed with costs £1 Is.

SPORTING

The racehorse Sunrise, the property ©f Mr Mv Hobbs, burst a blood veseel while cxc • cising on the track this morning, and died shortly afier.

MAGISTERIAL.

ASHBURTON—THURSDAY.

Before Mr C. A. Wray, S.M. Chattels Transfer Acr.—James George Rean, on two charges uader this Act, wu remanded till Monday next, bail bung accepted—self in £50 and two sureties of £100 eich. Mr Purnell for the prosecution. Railway Bit-Laws.— John Newman was charged with plying for hire at the Ash* barton railway station, without a license ; Mr Wilding for defendant. Philip Lambert Payne, stationmaster at Ashbnrton. said he remembered seeing defendant removing luggage from the platform on March 7, and saw his cab elo-e to the steps at the porch of the railway station, on the railway premise*. He had passengers also, ffad cautioned Newman several times before. He had no license from the railway department. Defendant had a four-wheeled cab. By Mr Wilding Had been nine months in charge of the burton railway station. Newman was on the railwey premises. Could not My if he had been specially tent for. Could not say positively if the cabs were licensed by the railway at Christohurcb ; thought they were. By the Sergeant—Could not swear to anything done in Chriatchuroh. By His Worship—Could not say Newman wa« [standing on the railway {premises, but he i came there and the contention was that he i had no business there at all without a license —Mr Wilding said there was no evidence that his client wasplying for hire at the railway station. He oaUed John Newman, who said he took passengers from the railway station Was not plying for hire. Was specially engaged. Never went on the railway premises to ply for hire. On the occasion complained of was sent for about eight o'clock in the evening. By the Sergeant -Was on the street opposite the Post Office when tent for. Kne?r the practice in Christchurch. Cabs are not licensed in Christchurch by the railway unless standing on their premises. Was licensed by the borough. Only had a railway license one year. The S.M. said he would take time to consider the case before giving a decision. Polios Offences act. — Frederick Butterick, for leaving a horse unattended, was fined ss, Thomas Mathewn was charged with torturing two horses by hobbling them with plough chains; also with leaving other horses without food for twenty-four hours. Mr Wilding for de fendant said his client had taken the pains to put sacking round the chains but it had come off, and no doubt one of the horses had been severely chafed. As to keeping the horses without feed, it was done intentionally, as the horses had got at some grain and gorged themselves. Defendant would plead guilty. Constable Morgan said the chains had been on from February 24 to March 12, when he had assisted to get them off. Defendant was fined £1 and £3 3s expenses. Civil Cases—Rachel ±)alton v George Henry Smith, £3 17s 6d. Judgment for plaintiff —Lawrence Rattray v Mark Bal lance, £9 11s for three stacks of oats. Mr Purnell for plaintiff, for whom judgment wu given with costs. —John Orr and Co. v John Hampton, £11 9s lOd, balance of promissory note and account. Mr Purnell for plaintiff, for whom judgment was given with costs. The following cases went by default with costs—W. H. Collins and Co. v Malcolm £1 18* 6d, same v Taylor, 10a ; Rollitt and Co. v Joseph Hague, £6; E. G. Staveley v H. W, Robinson, costs of summons 10a; D. Thomas v S. Byan, £2 19s 1U *, tame V Eliza Paget, £1 2a 6d; Caroline Ryell vL. Hamburger, £15 18b.

RIFLE ASSOCIATION

tub ciiampiohaiiip.

At Trenthara yesterday the shooting re* suited in a tie between the brothers Balliuger for ihe Championship Belt. The Billinger brothers made 532, Richardson being thir.' with 628. In firing off, W. Billinger won, making 24 oat of a possible 25.

The Polo Tournament.

Christohtjrch, March 20 The polo tournament was resumed In favorable weather to-day, and the attend* ance was again very good. The matches set down for decision were—Manawatu against Ch.istchurch first, and Ashburton against 'Jhristchurch second The Christ* church first team were much handicapped by losing the services of Palmer, who hai not recovered from the effects of a fall on Monday, by tha crippled condition of Lino, who took his arm out of a sling to play, and by an accident which befel Parker before the end of the fine spell. Clark filled Palmer's place, and the local men pUyed up well, but Manawatu Ijad. the advantage of being fresh, and in BMb Of the first two spalls scored a goal. Christchurch then rallied for the last spell, and by dashing play, In whlohLane, Clark, and Parker ware all prominent, scored two goals In quick suoession. This made the score equal five minutes before the call of time, but just as the bell was ringing to stop play Manawatu hit the ball over the line, and woo the game by 3 to 2.

Ashburton ware altogether too good for the Christchurch second team, their dash< ing play »eeming to paralyse the local men, who were generally better mounted, thaii their opponents. Finally the score stood —A sb burton ten, Ohristcharch three.

The following were the teams engaged to-diy—Manawatu —Lloyd, Snow.Baker, Williams. Chriatchnrch First)— Rhodes, Clarke, Lane, Parker.. Atihburtoti— Saunders. Roberts, Buckley, Claridge. Christchurch Second -Robinson, Tod hunter, Gould, Archer. To-morrow, Rangitikel first will play Manawatu, and Rtngitikei sscorid will play Ashburton. " **' '

LABOR

Newcastle Mwch .20 The Glebe miners have decided to rejoin the Miners' Association, but to leave themselves open to negotiate with the management for terms of settle ment. Much distress exists among the miners in the district, Melbourne, March 20 The Metropolitan Board of Works has adopted a minimum wage in con nection with all its contracts.

THE COREAN WAR

V* Tokio, M>ch lil( The Premier o£ Japan gave Li H'ing Chaag ft very cordial r- caption on his anival. SiIAXCHai, Mnrh 19 The .Shana;liai Metcary states that China has secretly treated to secure the help ot Russia.

The Decomposed Body.

Melbourne, March 20 It was Cole's body that was found in a house in South Melbourne, and not the body of the woman Young. The pqlico a,te satisfied it is not'a cas§ of murder. A post morlew showed tbas the head had been gnawed off by rats.

THE ASHBUBTOfI aUABDIAft; MARCH 21, 1896.



.-. g ness .Notices . STOCK-TAKING SALE AT G. J. NEIL I/S, DRAPERY, CLOTHING & BOOTS. White CMUn Is 9J doz L urkey niRed/| d-. iq pa ,Doable-b*i Twill Shwting BJd Men's Tweed Suits 131 6d Prinia 3id Mtn's Tweed Trousers from 53j11d White Muslin 3<lid do» Boys' Knicker Suits 3s lid BOOTS! BOOTS'! BOOTS!!! Women's Lace Shoes 4s lid Men's Bluchers 4s lid" Wqnien'* Lotther Lwe Boots 63 lid Men's Balmoral Boots 6s lid M-n's Nailed Shooters 7s lid BVELIY ARTICLE BEDUCED TO LE3S THAN OOST PRIOE AT G. J. NEILL'S piEDLAKDKRS 1 CORNER, EAST STREET. CASH. CASH. Latest -Gold " Discoyery. Great Rush to the Fields. WHILE the people have been seeking other SHORES in search of GOLD, a rich Discovery has been made in THIS CITY, that will bring JOY to the INHABITANTS. , ,_FOR— •' . ■ ' . ! WE J. MELLOR. LEAD, ■ ;■} (Late Bishop,) not ( follow Zealandia Boot Store, want WTTO has discovered that he can give better VALUE for 14s than NOT. than any ordinary SHOP for 20a. J.M. has just bought for CASH £900 worth of NEW ; . g  , r GOODS for £600 He is now prepared to sell CHEAPER MAY- THAN EVER FOR CASH. gURR NOTE A FEW LINES. SMALL AS. Men's Bluchers, from 4* lid ; women's slippers, Is 61; children's shoes, la 3d ; youths' school b«.ots 10-3, 4a YOU PROFITS lid ; women's lasting slippers, 2s lid ; men's shoe?, 7s 61; men's tan shoes, 7-» 6n; women's slippers, 3s, cost WASTE 4s ; women a RS, usual price 10? 64 now 7a 6d ; girls' AND best kid Bhoes, 6s 61; maids'best kid.boots 103, now 63; YOU men's boot* 12s 6d, now 8s 6d. nmr'K- STACKS OF 01 HER LIN PS AT THE SAM « ™ILL yuu'lv CUT UNO PRICKS WANT. RETURNS INSPECTION INVITED. N.B.—All repairs left in our charge will be neatly and promptly executed. K'OTB ADDRESS, J. Mellor, ZEAL AN DIA BOOT STORE, TANCRKD STRBEI', ASHBURTOtf. , Kerosene. Kerosene. Kerosene. TVTF ARE' JU«ST L\NDING, IX GUY OF ADELAIDE, 100 Cases OF THE Celebrated Light of the Age Kerosene Bought by us at a very low prico which we'intend to sell at almost landed cost. Now is your time to lay in your Winter Supply of jKerosene. "We have also received our first consignment of MOIR'S NEW OATMEAL, which everyone knows is the best in the Market, and wo are 'selling it at a Lower Price than it as ever been sold either in Ohrißtchurch or Ashburton. SUOWFLAKE BAKING POWDER. Have you tried the Snowflakb Baking Powder, if not, do so and you will be very much pleased with it. The tins hold one ounce more B iking Powder than any other sold at a Id less per tin —namely, lOd tin 9s 3d per dozen, CONFECTIONERY, CONFECTIONERY. We are making a Leading Line of Confectionery at Very Low Prices Finest Scotch Mixtures 6d per Ib Finest Conversations 6d per lb Torn Thumb Conversations 6d per lb Chocolate Creams Is Fruit Pastiles 9d per lb Black Balls 6d per lb Boiled Mixtures 6d per Ib English Musks Is 6d Strong Peppermint 8d per Id Cough Tablets 8d per lb We make a Substantial Seduction by Quantities. NOTE TtfE ADDRESS— FLETCHER BROS., CISH SUPPLY STORES, ASHBURTON AND CHfIISTCHUROH. WANTED Known-Special line of "fjHOIOE FKU> IS,-Peaches, banana GontB 1 Kegatta Shirts, all siefia. V <^ng^ lemons *jid tumitoes, at with or without cellars, 2* «d,-W, U. J! A. lw>wsH,Fruuer*nd GQnf^tioner, C9*u«a, j^?fc street, J



Wanted. I iITANTtfD Known—For-sters' Sccinl V» on Friday, April 19. 3 145 WANTED,— About fify Ash burton C\-M shares—Apply, "Major." Birrys Bay. , 3tli9 I WIOICE New Season Fruii. Grapes, v^ Peaches, Pines, Piums, Bananas, Aui»leH, Apricotß, and Tomatoes ; the b^st in town.— vi>am<, S lingers.' Buildinga. PRkfcKNXS, We. are now giving Presents to a'l purchaser^ of 2s 6d find upw.rda.- H. C Melford House. iIfAM'ED Known -Holders of W Piesent t ckets can new get them changed. - 11. C. Segers. Melford House. WANTID Known—That our New Autumn Gocds are now on view. Novelties in all Departments. Landing ex Tongariro 4 cases Flanelletes.—Mit ch ELL AND 1 C7RNER. WANTED Known — Mrs Hooper (monthly nurse) Is open to accept engagements. Apply, by letter, to Mrs Hooper, Alford Foreet Road, Ashburton, 11*134 "OEAUTTFUL and useful Presents to Ij all purchasers of 2s 6dand upwards. —11. 0 Segers, Meltcrd House. WANTED Known.—We are daily receiving additions to our large " Good Value " Stock —Mitchell and Turner, Drapers and Clothiers, Tancred Street. IMPORTANT To Men I Mitchell ani> Tubner Outfitting Specialists. Style, Fit, and Good Value in all c;»aes. XTy ANTED Known—The Corner Is YV showing a maa;nificent New Stock of Drapery and Clothing.—W, H. Collier. I^LETCHER BROS., are stilling allow ■■- ing a good reduction on 5,10 and 20 lb tins of Tea of all well-known brands. Special quotations for lirge quantities. Fletcher Bros , Cash Supply Stores, Ashburton. WANTED Known —Spectacles, Eye Protectors, Goggles, Folders, and' everything in the option line at S. S*xek's, Optician, 8U O 0 1 1N G Season 1895 —See the Beautiful Symond* Gun at Carson and Cos. Also smokeless ammunition at Christchurch Prices. 3_90 11/ ANTED Known.—That we are V \ Belling Finest Japan Rice lower that the cheapest stores in Christchurch or Ashburton. Sharps and Bran also at very low prices. Fletcher Bros Cash Supply Stores, Ashburton. HM, JUNES is offering his Large » and Varied Stock of Stationery, Account 80-iks, Prize and School Books, Fancy Goads, Plated Glass ar,d China ware. at lowe&t prices for cash. Pianoß and Cycles on Easy Terms. . 2 ■ 158 f F. ANDREWES & CO.—Sale now 'J ' on of Srjrp'us Str ck of Fancy Goods, Toys, Books, Stationery and Account Books, and all a*: greatly reduced prices for cash, at L. F. Akdrewbs & Co. IIT A NTED KNOWN. —F. S. ** Jeffries, leading Confectioner and Fruiterer of Ashburton, East Street, next the Corner. Ic-s Cream?, Fresh Fruiis, Confectionery, Summer drinks of every d«scrip'i m. lea a'- reasonable rates Ladies Room a t-peuialty. 1*153 WAN'IK.D Known — The Misses URQUHAhT hay" started l)r«) s mrikiag, and hnvitigathor u>h kn -wledge j of the business, combined with mod-rate ch-iraes, h >pc '0 receive a share of the tnablie pitroinge. Address: Taticred SrreeL, next to E. \V. Hall, Her'rvjlist. BANti ! liang t i>«mg i My new son's stock of Ammunition to hand 1 Eley's, Kynock's and, Club Cartridges. Powder, Shot, Caps, Wads, Cases atvl aU sporting maferials of the first quality at J. W. Hardley's. Gun Emporium BOY'S and Girls Own Annual, British Workman and Workwoman, Infant's M*2»zine, Tho Pr'za, Child's Companion, Ihi'dren'* Friend, Little Dot, Family Friend, Band of Hope, Youn* England, and other New Bocks at Lowest Prices. — L. F. Andrkwes and Co. 11 98 NOTICE I Notice Sport for all Guns let ou*. on hire or sold on tima payments Hs.vin« a professional Gunsmith on tha premises, I undertake to repair Guns ot any description. Gun fittings in stock. Prices low.— J. W j Hardley, Ironmonger, etc 1 ROBERT ALGORN has opened in Baker's Buildings, next the Court- j house, with a stock of Clothing, etc., bought at Edwards, Bennett's and the Kaiapoi Sales, the cheapest lot of goods ever brought t£> Ash barton. Also an assortment of Boots. WANTED Known—That o*ir gto the success of the Pale now being held up »t Sounders' Buildings, opposite Rail wAf Station, Jr. will be continued for another twanty-eighfc days. lam not advertising a few che?p lipes, but the whole of the stock. Don't lose tl>e oppor tunity of securing genuine bargains—A Law r ik 2^ /"IHRISFMAS Present, Choice Orna \^J ments, Zithers and Jew's Harp?, Balia and Dolls for everybody from Id each ; Jointed Dolls for 63, Sleeping Beauties Is. Chinese Conquerors 6J, Russian Embassies Is, Walking Men, Talking Dolls, Scotch Greys, and Ennis kilJen Dragoons all wonderfully cjieap at Urh AtgoaVs Ladies' Underclothing and Fancy Bazaar, Hairelock street. OWN Make in Ladies' and Children's Underclothing, Aprons, and Pina fores ; also a good assortment of Calicoes, alualins, Flannelettes, Trimmings, etc.,' »fc Mrs Alcorn's new shop, Baker's Buildinga. / 1 UNS ! Guns f Guns ! My new stock V J of Gunsj ust to h*nd direct from the manufacturers. Double and Single Barrel Breech L aders, Rifles, etc In spection invited. No old stock to select from at J. W. Hardley's Sporting Repository ii/ ANTED Known -That if you ate in »V want-of a, first; class article in sum■ mer Bo^ts and Shoes, you cannot do bettor than call at J. MoisoN'sjyou will get the very best at reduced prices. As for his own make, they are well known to the delight of the wearers, throughout the Australasian cobniea. Repairs well done and at once Premier Boot Maker, Town flail goofc Sror«. E^t street, Ashburton THANKS, MRS R. DONN returns her hearty thanks to those who kindly lent aid at the fire at her house last night. 3 147 I FOR SALE-A BARGAIN. *TT"ERI Desirable V>l'a Residence of V five room?, with Scullery, «fee Half-acre of land, cornsr section. Garden well scockbd with fruit ireee. Three minutes w*lk from Post Office. Apply



NEW PATTERNS OF TWEEDS. NEW ZEALAND GLOTHIHB FACTORY. REDUCTION IN PRICES FOR FIRST CLASS TAILORING MEN'S SAO SUITS, D.B. OR S.B. TO MEASURE, 555: MEN'S TROUSERS TO MEASURE, Iss YOUTHS' SUITS TO MEASURE, 45 BOYS'SUITS TO MEASURE, 35s MEN'S COVERT UOATS TO MEASURE, sOs MEN'S WATERPROOF COATS TO MEASURE, 35s YOUTHS' WATERPROOF COATS TO MEASURE, |SBs <u» LADIES' WATKRPROOF COAT TO MEASURE, NEW ZEALAND . CLf THING FACTORY. ALEX HENDRY, Manager. ~r- BALEK WATCHMAKER & MANUFACTURING JEWELLER. rpHE largest and finest stock in th« X District to Belect from. It is also the newest and cheapest. Watch and Jewellery repairs receive careful and prompt atttention. Watches cleaned and guaranteed for twelve months 5?. i Sole Agent for Lazarus' patented system of sight testing and " Specialite," spectacles. SSALEK. EAST STREET. 



KEATING S POWDER destroys Bugs Fleis, Moths, Beetles and all other insects, whilst quite harmless to domestic aninials, In exterminating Beetles the success of this Powder is extraordinary. It is perfectly, clean in application. See the article you purchase is I£E \TINQ'£j, as imitations ara noxious and ineffectual, Tim, 6d and li te with the signature Thomas Keating 00 fftcbtio, Sol 4by all chtmUtp f



One Box 07 Clarke's B 41 Pills is warran ted to cure all discharges from the Urinaty Organs, in either sex (acquired or consti tutional), Gravel and Pains in the Back. Guarranteed free from Mercury. Sold in Boxes 48 6d each, by all Chemists and Paten. Medicine Vendors throughout the World Prpprietors ; The Lincoln jhjd Mjplaito Cop^fnpeDßtipGosiPApvv Lincoln, England BBKtHATis>f.i-)>Dr ■E. ' Gordon's remedy HKVee fails in permanently caring rheum*, turn, lumbago, soiatioa, gojt, etc on* bottl« give, relief. Price Impost fm. J. W, Ctajrtoo.P.O.BovW, Ponfdto,