FIRE ALARMS

Alicnton ._ ... ._ ... .. one toll Borough, north of railway ... two tolls Borough, south of railway ... three tolls Hampsteiul four tolls

MARRIAGE.

MgKay-Mcßae.--On June 4, 1895, at the Homestead, Mount Hutt, MWhven, by the R-v B. J Wtstbrooke, F.G.S., Avous McKay, of Methven. to Margaket, daughter of Mr S. Mcßas, Springfield.

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 1895. MADAGASCAR.

Tm; aim ot France in the Madagascar campaign is very evident. She means,  " - «an, to annex the island, and wort her own\^ ™|< «*•** with her newly acquit ****!*' Among the European Powers tiu*** d es not appear to be one to say lur nay, so that so far as diplomatic diffi cnlties go, there are none in her way. But there are other difficulties, the chief of which is that the people of the island do not like the idea of sur rendering their freedom to a French invader, and by recent cables we learn that they are not hopeless of having a word in the settlement of the question of who is to be supreme in Madagas car. The Malagasy claim to have stopped the French advance upon the capital This, however, we fear is too rosy a way of telling the story from the Malagasy side of the question. The French advance upon the capital may have been stopped, but it will be but a temporary stoppage. In fact all the forces France has sent against Madagascar can hardly have arrived in the island, so that the Malagasy cannot yet have felt the full strength of the French attack, The plan of

campaign on the French side is to ad vance on the capital—Antananarivo— from Majunga on the ceaat. This means a journey of 350 miles, and at its broadest part the island is only 500 miles broad, while its length is a thousand miles. The French have essayed their nttack from the western coast, and their route is one compara tively free from military difficulties. Had they chosen the route from the east, they would have had to encounter difficulties which no general would have dared ask his men to face. Last year a I-ranch expedition, with the present campaign in view, explored the western route. They found the country was not nearly so difficult to negotiate with an army as had been at first supposed, and as it has generally been believed. They found that roads had been laid down through it for purposes of traffic by the native people—roads that could very well be utilised for military purposes; but the route lay through dense forests, and over three ranges of mountains. The bush and the high country would, of course, be specially suited to the fighting qualities of the Natives with their distinct knowledge of " the lie of the land," and every foot of the country. In the forest they would be troublesome to the advancing army, which would be con tinually harassed by the enemy in ambuacade in greater or less force. Then the Natives would be less liable to suffer from the malaria and tropical fever for which the countiy has an unsavoury reputation than would the Frenchmen just arriving from their more temperate climate. In the forest and on the mountain the Malagasy are in their element, and as they could not hope to fight a powerful enemy on the flat—an enemy like the French, who have with them the most approved type of modern artillery and plenty of it, while they themselves have only the rifles of their infantry - to the mountain and the forest that lie between the coast and the capital they will betake themselves. But while these will be their refuge in the case of necessity, they will also be made use of for strategetic purposes. The natives will keep falling back before the invaders until the latter have got a sufficient distance from their bade on the coast. It is then that in the forest and in the mountain passes the real fighting will begin—that disagreeable and harassing kind of warfare which mountain tribes wage against an enemy. Every step forward gives the French a longer line of communication to maintain with their base, and the longer this line becomes it becomes the weaker, and more and more liable to be broken and interrupted by sudden attack As yet there has been no intelligence of the advance of the French in any mass from the coast, and we suspect that any advance the Malagasy may think they have stopped is but some com paratively weak reconnoitring party who would naturally retire before stronger numbers, as fighting would be less their object than the getting of information. The Hovas are credited with being good men at arms, well armed with modern rifles, excellent marksmen, and with plenty of ammuni tion. Their enthusiasm in the cause of the defence of their country is very great, as was manifested on the occa sion when their Queen made that celebrated speech in which she said that, if necessary, she would in person lead her army against the enemy and die at its head in defence of the country that God and her ancestors had given her. To that fervid speech a hundred thousand men of the first military line of the country tendered their services to the Queen and were accepted. In fact so rampant has been the patriotism of the people and their hearty hatred of the French, that they boast now of having no civilians in the country —all are soldiers in their willingness to repel the invader. With such a feeling run to extreme, there is no wonder that the State coffers are full of money, and the storehouses of supplies of every kind necessary for the campaign. The old and the unlit for service, and the middle aged in the second and third line of defence, remain at home to cultivate the farms of those who have sone to the front, so that the troops actually in the field, and the families they have left behind, should be at no great loss by the necessity that has overtaken them of leaving the plough and takingupthesword in defence of their hearths and homes against one common enemy. A people as enthusiastic as that in the cause of their country, is not one to be held cheaply by any army, however high his reputation in matters military. The Hovas may be wanting in organisation, wanting in artillery, wanting in many things, perhaps, that an army would be all the better for j but they have the advantage of num bers, the difficulty of their country is an item in their favor both as to cli mate and conformation, and it is on record that both French and British ( forces have in the past come out with combs cropped from brushes with the Hovas. The road to Antananarivo, triumphantly travelled by the French troops, means the winning of Madagas car for France. But that road will be a bloody one, and those who have noted the progress of the campaign will await news of it with as much interest as they did of th^t between China and Japan.

THE UNEMPLOYED.

" Tfli^ poor ye h»ve always with you " is as true of today as it was of the times in which the words were uttered, and although perhaps there is not the di«» 8 «HstF§§§ -the absolute starvation *•* »*l&world cifcieg^rto be found known ; "«al aß d» yel eyenin anywhere m New *• ». * this comparatively prosperous v •

there are not a few cases of privation, if not of actual want. Some of these are traceable to improvidence or other removable causes, but there are some which have their origin in misfortune pure and simple. Most of such are due to what is known as the " unem ployed" difficulty, which, if not always with us is at anyrate persistently re current. The statemanlike expedient of attempting its prevention by settling working men upon the land has been successful in checking the enlargement of the difficulty, but it. has, we are sorry to know, not removed it, and that for a variety of reasons. To begin with, a number of the village settlers took up land when produce was worth much higher rates than can now be obtained, and under rentals proper tiou*tg to the former values, tbe

consequence being that with falling markets they are unable to make their little holdings pay, and getting into arrears of rent they are in as great trouble as ever. Then, again, those same low prices of produce have com pelled the larger landowners to reduce j their areas under crop, and in conse-1 quence there was a comparatively small demand for labor even at harvest time, while since then there has been a general disinclination on the part of farmers to spend a shilling that could be saved. The result is that there are numbers of men who have less to face the winter with than usual and at the same time less chance of obtaining em ployment. This is as true of the town and district of Ashburton as of other towns and districts in the colony, and although our people have made less outcry they are nevertheless as hardly put to it as are the unemployed of I'hristchurch, Dunedin, Oamaru, or Waimate. Distress undoubtedly ex ists, and something must needs be done to meet it. The Rev. Mr Hamilton has taken the matter up, and consulted with representatives of other Churches as to the best steps to be taken. The suggestion that appeals should be made from the several pulpits, and special collections taken up in the churches has been met by the objection that the sum derived, judgiug from past ex perience, would be inadequate to meet the case, and that if supplemented by outside canvass for subscriptions it would inevitably happen that church goers would be called upon to pay twice, and non-church-goers only once, and by the further objection that in a case of this sort the burden should be shared by the whole community. Again there are some who urge that the Government should be called upon to provide all the funds required, but those who take up that position have only to think for a moment to see that the Government has not the power to do as they desire; as was very straight forwardly pointed out by the Premier to a deputation in Ohristchurch the other day. All the Government can do is to subsidise at £1 for £1 money expended in relief works, and this the Government is ready and willing to do. To comply with the law the money raised must be handed over to the Charitable Aid Board which can claim and obtain the subsidy thereon, and the fund thus augmented can be paid over by the Board to a local committee for expenditure. Under these circum stances every £1 locally raised means £2 available, The proper course then, we think, would be to call upon the local governing bodies, viz, the County Council, Borough Council, and Tinwald and Harapstead Town Board, to set aside sums of money for this purpose, as only in that way can every member of the community, or rather s«vy every ratepayer, be brought to bear his exact fair share of the burden. We may be met with the objection that, a3 regards the Borough Council, there is already an overdraft but this will not avail, as a reason for shirking the task, inas much as if the distress be not relieved by the method proposed the contribu tion required for charitable aid will inevitably be larger. The position is an unpleasant one we admit, but it will have to be faced, and we believe that the best way of doing this would be that we have indicated.

Criticising the remarks of Messrs Tarn bull and Cuthbertson, J.P.s, on the in-

former* m%Jo US9 of to obtain sly-grog convic tions, the Otago Daily

JUSTICES AND INFORMERS.

Times says:—The lan guage used by the justices in the sly grog-selling cases at Invercargill looks very well in print, but we cannot say that it does very orreat credit to the practical good sense of the justices who delivered themselves in the m inner reported "in our columns of Thursday last. They say: " In the ciso of Hewitt the evidence is by no means conclusive." If they had meant wlut th=>y said they would have, »s a matter f £ course, dismissed the case ; that isthedu*y of jusiiceg in an inconclusivj case. But they did not mean what their language conveyed, and a« they found that '• ths ba'ance of testimony goes to prove that a breach of the Licensing Act was committed " they did their duty and convicted the accused- Ef wing done their duty they proceeded with what we vgn fcure to characterise as a somewhac mis c' levous tirade agaimt informers and the evidence of informers. It is always right that courts should express themselves nlain'y c» this subject, and that the cau tion should again and again be given that informers evidence Js only accepted af'er •t has s'ood the most severe tests, aad is always to be put before juries with the c%ation that it should be subjected to sach tests ; but when justices have tasted such evidence and believe if-, there the matter should nnd. The address made by these gentleman has a tendency to indnce other loss well-informed justices to be unduly non-reeeptiv« when such evi dence, however credible, is brought be fore them Their action in only infllcing a trivial fine, ai a mark of their strong disapproval of the methods by which the conviction was obtained, borders on the ridiculous As to the mode in which in formers are to act we are totally ab issue with the learned justices. They would confine the office of tho detective to '♦ watching and reporting." We may not be fully cognisonfc of alt the methods adopted by the Informers in the Hewi t case, and we are not in the least concerned to defend thes^ particular men ; but we can only say that th a course suggested by the Ipyercargill justices would lead to little or no result. J6 raj be i de grading office to indnce a person to make an illegal sale of ljqHor and then Inform on him; and admittedly no person with very nice sensibilities would volunteer for such a service, but it is ths pnly mode of detecting such breaches, and, th >ugh de grading to a person who does it as a voluntary employment, it cannot be so in &n o^cer who does it at the command of his superjors. There is, of course, a fallacy in the expression f* induce anyone to commit a breach of the law." The usual temptation is sixpence, and the yjeldiug fcq sfjch a temptation pre-supposep *■"*-«■. bk% tentptgd $F6 habituated to the • *-», the tempter js trying to breaches wn iv. •« *k*fc fch^ eiceed detect. We are afraiu .... ■••-. n, a in?ly fine sentiments expressed uj worthy Invercargill J.P.'a were somewhat misplaced.

HoLiiOWAY's Pills and Ointment.— Rheumatism and Neuralgia—Though the former disease remorselessly attacks persons of all ages, and the latter ruthlessly selects its victims fiom fee weak and dalicvte, the persevering use of these remedies will infa' ibly cure both complaints, iifter the affected parts have been diligently fomented with hot brine, and the skin thoroughly dried, Holloway's Oinment must be rubbed in firmly and evenly for ten minutes twice a day, and his Pills taken according to the printed directions wrapped round each box of his medicine. Both Ointment and Pills are accompanied by instructions design/sd for the public at large, and 110 invalid, who attentively reads those, can now be at a»y lois how to doctor himself succeenfully,

A Vienna telr g> am of March 20A says :— "The hard life whioh ia the fate of

thousands in this big city, where their years flow un seen, is somt times revealed

A PENNY AN HOUR

as by afl mH of lighting when the circumstances that le »d to crim 1 are expoHed in a court of justice. Thin on Thursday a young seamstro s P.iula Chsist, appeared beforo the judge to answer to th« charge of hiving pawned linen worth 150 fl jrins. belonging to her employers For four jetrs whe had hup ported her old pirens by the work of her needle, and this cold winter the need of fuel prevented her ftv m saving enough to pay the until rent. Her father and mo!her would have been turned nut of doord, to she pawned the shirts she had been working upon to pay the sum owing. During all the bitter winter this girl had been paid at the rate of a shilling for each d( zsn shirts made. T^e judge asked her how long she took fc'i make them, and she said that she had to • work hard to finish them in twelve hours. One penny for an how's hard wmk, and three people to keep out of it! The court considered the theft to have been committed under very hard circumstances, and sentenced the air! to only a week's detention.

The Lyttelton Times enters an opportune protest against the unsatisfactory manner

in which the quotations frozen meat supplied to this colony quotation, by the Press Association

for frozen meat; are com piled. It says:—-Tha prices quoted ir London on May 2, for instance, were 3d to 3hd for Canterbury and 2J to 2f d for Wellington mutton ; but the Press Asso ciation in telegraphing to the colonies tttruck % rough average and gave the price as 2£d to 3|i for New Zealand mutton. On the same day Canterbury lamb was quoted at 4|d to od and Wellington lamb from 3|d to 43, but the Press Association gave only one price, 3§d, which, it will be observed, was considerably below the lower quotation for Canterbury meat. It ii quite time that the directors of the Association devised some better means of keeping their subscribers informed of the condition of the London market. A cable to-day quotes New Zealand frozen meat at 3| to 3§d per Ib.

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Attention is called to a trial of the Walter 4. Wood Company's " Farmer's favorite drill" at Mr John Bray's farm, Forks, on Friday next at 1 p.m. The Arrow ton correspondent of the Otago Daily Times has telegraphed »hit steady rain, which 8f ems to be general all over the Wakatipii district, is falling. The rivers are rising and a flood is threatened. It ;s understood that it is intended to postpone the presentation of a birthday memorial to Mr Seddon until after Mr Ward's reception, and that in addition to the address to the Premier, it is proposed to present Mrs Seddon with a thousand sovereigns.

A Press Association telegram from Dun edin says : —The evening classes for pri mary education, started at the north end of the city, appear to have m^t a want. There are 74 males now attending and twenty young women have joined a separ ate class to be commenced. The Mayor of Chustchurch is calling a meeting of the citizens of Christcburch and suburbs, to be held on Friday after noon, to assist in providing a fund to give work during winter to thoee out of employment. In tha ' meantime the Mayor has telegraphed to the Premier to ascertain whether (he Government is prepared to grant a £1 for £1 subsidy on money that may be raised. We notice the o'd established firm of Mitchell and Turner a-e mak ng a new departure, a? they are holding the first cheap sale in twenty-five years. We understand the go ids are all marked down to such prices as will leave no donb^ that th's is a genuine clearing sale. From the class of goods kept at Kalapoi House there should re no difficulty in finding bargains to suit all classes of buyers. A rare combination of faculties, each good in itself—courage, rusou c?, imagina tion, above all, fcrce — h required for the making of a really great liar (writes Professor Huxley in the Nineteenth Century). No one attains that high position until he has reached the point of being able to believe his own fictions for so long as his interests require that prodigious eflort.

Messrs P. and D. Duncan notify in our advertising columns that they are willing to lend, free of pha"g\ one of their new nnnure and grain drills to <^ny farmer wishing to try tho experiment of sowhj? artificial manure with grain. This ap parently philanthropic offer is, however, all in the way of business ; the firm be lieving that moat of thosb using the drill will follow the example of one farmer who h<ts used it this season already, and order one.

The lady members of the Ambu lance Society who purpose attending the praptice of bandying will be pleased to learn that the secretary has arranged for the presence of a thoroughly trained expert, who has kindly promised to supervise the work on Satur day next at 3 p.m. in the Ambulance Hall. Any new members will also have an opportunity of joining at this practice, or by application to any member of the Committee.

I The funeral of the late Miss Amy Home, eldest daughter of Mr William Some, of Atshburtou, was largely at tended yesterday. The coffin, richly up hohtered in white velvet, was borne from the hearse to the grave by a party of six young men in the first bloom of early manhood, and all friends r f the family. At the grave the Rev. G. B, Inglis con ducted the solemn service which was opened with the singing by a few members of the Presbyterian choir, of the hymn " Scatter seeds of kindness," one deceased in her lie was specially fond of, and which she sang but a short time before her death. Innumerable wreaths were sent from all parts of the district by the many friend* who sympa thised with the parents in their irreparable lo.«s

A (joorl story (repirts the London Stqn'Jqr.tf) is toH of 'I hacjeeray, wv o was always atone time a weictirao visitor a' Jihp house of Lvly Ashburton. wlp wa 8om nwh**- free with \}sr Um°\i*, and in offmn» an opinion of othtn. Sqm-jthing thai the sausy hqst(?B9 si?d offWnied her guest, and he net only declined her invi tations, but. spojeo of her with discourtesy Some njonths after \%rarda. when Ijis angry fueling had die 4 out;, h,a roc ived from LaHy i^l) q ton a carl qf invitation to diiiuer. Hg returned it w<th a pen and. ink drawing qn th§ b!»clf, representing hidispi'f kneelinor at h< r feet, with his hair " "><l»nae frvjjl fh° h'*^ Q^* the was expn-s-iion of c mtriti'tn w*s followed by " comp'o c nc»rci&ion, mi theuco f-trw-rl ihesi'i Ist and thalady continued a warm friendship

Yesterday, twelve witnesses gave e"vl deaoe before the Commission in support of the allegations against the administra tion of the Christchurch Hospital.

Mr H Zander, agent for th« Sun Fire Insurance Office (established 1710) quotes the sum Insured in the Sun in 1893 as £395,354,440 It d >ea not look a large sum when you say it quick.

The Bimutaka has on board six boxes of gold, worth £22 565, from the West Coast goldtield branches of the Bank of New Zealand, as follow: -One box, value £3464, fram Westport; two boxes, value £7152, from Hokittk* ; and three boxes, value £11.652, from Grceymouth.

At a meeting of the Band Contest Com* mittue at Tiraaru last night, prizes were fixed as follows:—Selection £100, £60, £30. and £10 ; quick step £10, £6, and £2 Entries tor the selection and quick* Rtep are due on July 10th ; for the solos on August 14th.

Ac the Sydenh»m Poultry Boei«ty'a Show, which opened yesterday, the follow ing local fanciers were *ucces«iill exhibit* ors :—E J. Cox, first and second for Plymouth Rock (barred) cockerel; E. Willis, first for white crested Black Polish oockerel; first for golden spangled Polish pullet, and deennd for Hoodan pallet*

The road racing season having drawn to a clos", the committee of the Ariel Bicycle Club wish to thank thoss gentle* man who subscribed to the prizs fond, especially Mr E. Gates, Mr M. Lagan, and Mr George Neill. The Club expert to hold a race meeting on November 9, ht which will compete faster riders than have hitherto appeared on New Zealand tracks.

An Auckland Press Association tele* gram stated that it came oat in evidence at the it-quest on Joseph Short, the rail way employee, who was drowned in Like Ngaroto by the capsizing of a canoe, that, thinking he was it. deep water, he eon tinoed his attempt to swim ashore, and was actually drowned in sft of water, when he could have waded out had he known the depth.

At a meeting of the Auckland Presbytery yesterday a letter was received frcm Bishop Oowie, stating that a BUI la to be intro duced info the House of Representative* during the coming session with the object of amending the Act, sj as to provide for religious instruction in schools, such in* struction to be given by the teacher, and the text book being the Irish National School .Book scripture lessors. Thia matter was considered of such importance that the cleik was instructed to nail a pro re nata meeting of the Presbytery when he is furnished wi h the Bill

At a meeting of the Canterbury Women's Institute it Was stated that a report that a delegate had been appointed to attend a meeting to form an Anti- Chinese League was erroneous. A reso lution was carried, that this Institute was not at pres jnt prepared to give an opinion re the formation of an Anti-Chinese League. A resolution in favor of federa tion with an international council of women was curried. It was decided to protest agiinst the lightness of sentence recently passed on two men convicted of criminal offence on a ctild of tender years.

A narrow escape from a fatal railway accident occurred at Orari on Tuesday evening. Mrs Campbt>il had come oat from Timaru by the express, and, stepping off before the train hid come to a stand still, she slipped down between the edge of the platform and the train. But for (he prompt action and grett presence of mind of Mr Payne, the stationmaster, she must hava been crushed beyond recog nition. Mr Payne caught h; r and, holding her. ran till the train stopped. A few evenings puir to Mrs Camrbell's escape, Mr White, of Geral line, w h ;n getting off the express train at Orsri, fell between two carriages. Mr Bob Scott, the Geraldine coach driver, was luckily closa by, and instantly seizing Mr White, held him up till the train came to a stop. A Melbourne firm lately sent a trusted I agent to Europe to look out for some gcod ice making machines, and for a month or so he wandered through Garmany making heroic efforts to understand machines, the merits of which were volubly described in German—a language literally Dutch to him. Ho heard of one man who had a very good machine, but broke down badly in tryiag to make the Inventor understand whit ha wanted to see. ' K«u!d wauser, kauld wasser;' he yelled, assuming, as many people do, that foreigners can't understand their own language unless it's Spoken loudly. Failing in this, he trie* pantomime by wrapping ■ha collar of his crat close about his neck and shuddering violently The considerate foreigner brought him a glass of brandy—vary good in its way, but not exactly what he wanted. He must see that machine, so started on a tour round the city, asking every roan he met whether he could *Sprecken ze English lengvich long-a thin oqe fellow j you savee ? and getting only the invari able *Neln' in reply, Meeting two strangers, he put the usual question, got the usual reply, and was turning away when one of them remarked, •Jf the blasted fool could only speafe a little English we might guess what heY driving aK> The Melbqurne traveller almost fell upon his neck, and fq utterly confused, were his notions of his own language that he could only gasp, * Wil you a drink come and have V

The Wellington Murder.

A Verdict of Maaalaa§rfcttr

'*••■ Yrars' Pcvat HrrvlttMte

Wellington, June 12

la the case against Nicholson, t>h« Crown Prosecutor contended that the evidence aa to violence used by prisoner towards the woman Friend, showed that the charge of murder had been borne out, and that the medical evidence was inconsistent with the theory ot a fall set up in cross examination. Mr Jellicoe, counsel for the defence, in an address lasting over four hours, claimed that the doctors were unable to say whether the Toman died from injury, the result of * fall or a blow, and urged that tho Crown had failed to prove conclusively that - death resulted from a. blow, whereas there was abundant evidence of the pe'sHtflity that the injury was occasioned by a fall, or tint the woman staggered against the wall unier the influence of drink, especially ■• it' bid been shown chat portions of'her clothe* Were wet and muddy. . vl ' rlis'Honor, iri summing up, sa|d that the rraj isme was whether prisoner was gsiilty of murder or manslaughter. In order to con? vjet the prisoner of murder, it would be nepetsary that they should be satisfied that he 'ad au intention (o take the woman's

life, or t haf he had an intent to do Ijer Beijoiu injury, which he knew >you'd be -likejy. to cause death, and in re. g ml to h,e was repklesa wh>th.er Jeafis would ensue or npt. They were i^nablp to orqt an opiuiqn abqut a person's knowledge or intent, except from the circumstance* surroun^iog the case, and the jury nuub judge for themselves in the. matter. If they were satisfied thafc prisoner's violence caused the woman's death, and that he did nob intend to c mse her dea h, and had not tke knowledge that the violence he vras using wa* iikely to oause her death, then, of 'jomgr-j they would acquit him of murder and ct uvict him of manslaughter. Af'er a short retirement the jury found rrinoncr guilty of manslaughter, and thq Chief Justice passed tentenoe of ten yean* p ;ual tcrvltttdft

THE ASttfiUMON GtlAfii)tAN: tfitJflSDA*, Jtttffl 13, 1896.



r?i:Bixiess Notices { """ eTadTthvTes no money. no money i i -n ■■■ *Q* .i i 1 f T In altncat impossible to give things aw»y, but never mind, cemj and try G. J. NEILL FOR IIHtPERI, CLOTHING}, & BOOTS Make no error ; he is cheaper than any other in Canterbury. ||M>rw -,,, ■■ H|ll . QtJ ||M , H| . roan Goods 4Ad Double Width Dreas Goods Is 6J now Is ■Vhite Calico, Is lid d< zm Double Bed white Twill Sheeting, 9§d flannellettas 2s lid doaen Plaids, B|d and 6£d towels, 2W each Cretonne 3M ,  ... Blankets, Bankets. Double Bed Colonial All Wcol Flannel, white, grey, and pink, Blanket* 25* 6d. reduced to 18s 6d B§d ladles* and Children's ulstors and Jackets Corsets, Corsets Millnery at ymr own price Ladies Stockings 6d clcTthTng, tten's Tweed Bult, 18s 6d Colonial Heavy Tweed Suits, 32s 63, ra- Mend ftwldle Twsed Trousers, (all wdo!) duced to 21s 6i. 13s ed Men's Tweed Trousew, 6s lid Men's Tweed Orenmte with C%pes, 18s 6i Boys' Suits, 3a lid Bojs Caps, 61 each Socks, Shirts, and Hats, at your own prioo boots! boots. The maker of oar Boots guarantees satisfaction, or he will replace them. NEILL'S FOR BOOTS. Men's Bluchers, 4s lid Men's Balmorals, 7<» Jd Childrtn's Strong Leather Boots from Women's Strong Leather Boots, 03 lia 3s lltf, this Is no rubbish Women's Strap Shoes from 4a lid Women's Carpet Slippers, Is 3d. % q. JTlSeill FBIED LAX D B R'S CORNER, EAST STREET, ASHBT7RTON. Agent for Yarmouth Oil Skins.



FLETCHER BROS. HAVE -jut received another consignment of HUDSON WATER BISCUIT in Mb Tins. This is really without a doubt a splendid line. The Biscuits are much fresher and not broken as they are when you get them in the large tins. We have also in Stosk and to arrive, WBIGRrS CELEBRATED BISCUITS, In 21b boxes in the following varieties :— PARIS WINES OSWEGO GABIBALDI ABERNETHY EJINA SULTANAS ARROWROOT, &0., ftc. CONFECTIONERY. CONFECTIONERY is selling at low prices now. but we are filing at Lower Rates than anyone in Ashburton. We arc clearing out a line of Terry s Pastilles (English), at a great reduction ; also a splendid lot of Caramels, Musks, Chocolate Creams, etc. Try our Scotch Mixtures and Conversations at half the price the Confectioners charge.  Qmi n. ,| We have in hand and to arrive large Stocks of ENGLISH AND COLONIAL CANDLES. 50 boxes National Candbs JO boxes London Wax 50 boxes London Sperm 25 boxes Cosmopolitan Sperm '25 boxes Vistas Paraffin 15 boxes Fluted Paraffi-i 100 boxes Premier Candle? 50 Klectric Stearin*. Remember, if we do not advertise prices, we are still selling all Groceries, etc., «t the Lowest Possible Prices. j We should be very much obliged if those of onr Customers who can gefc in town during the week to get their Groceries would do so, as we cannot serve them and do them justice when we are so very busy on a Saturday. We can quite understand how unpleasant and annoying it must be to have to wait such » long time for thtir turn, and can quite sympathise with them. O" NOTE ADDRFSS, FLETCHEK BROS., CASH SUPPLY STORES, ASHBURTON & CHRISTCHUROH.



THE EVENT OF TtlE SEASON. OUR PKEMISES WILL BE CLOSED ON Thursday Next, All Day* OPEN ON FIIBAY VOKNING WITH A SHOP FULL OF BAKGAINB, MITCHELL & TURNER. TANCUED STREET]



Wanted. q^HE BEST is the Cheapest. "Even *• ing S*ar " Kerosene is the best. To be obtained from Carson and Co.



Wanted ' \l/ ANTED Known—We are reducing V\ the whole of our Drapery, Boots Clothing, etc, For Cash. New DrecsrH, New Jackets, New Hats, etc., will all be reduced.—U. C. Segkks. Melford House



fiHRY: FLET< HER BROS for Fiour, X Bran, Sharps Potatoe«, Etc, at lowest prices in town ; quali y combined. — Ca*h Supply Stbrep, Athburton.



IF. ARDREWES & CO.—Sale now -A on of Sorp'us St( ck of Fancy Goods, Toys, Books, Stationery and Account Books, and all at greatly reduced prices for cash, at L F. Anprkwk.s ACo



CHOICE New Season Fruit. Grapes, Peaches, Pines, Pluniß, Bananas, Apples, Apricots, and Tomatoes ; the b^st In town.—ADASia, Suinders' Buildings



WANTED Known—l have good Bluchers, only 4* lid.—Mellor's Zialandia B >ot Store,



TEA, TEA, TEA. If y»u are wmting a Box of real'y first da^a Tea, at a low price, try Fletcher Bnos All well known brands of Tea kept in stock. — Cash Supply Stores, Ashburton.



WANTED Known-Foothall Bootß, sure goal kickers; they never fail—Mellor's Z aalandia Boot Store.



CARSON AND GO'S Stocktaking i*ale Now on. Groceries, Ironmongery, Brushware, Glass and China, at very low prices for cash. 5 129



WANTED Known—Just arrive from Melbourne for the Blub House 100 Men's Suits, 17s 6d ; 10 dozen Felt Hats, la lid ; Men's Heavy Boo's, 9a lid (worth 15s) ; a line of Flannelette, 3a lid dozan; Melbourne Millinery at Melbourne Cost, Everything at Mel bourne prices,—The Blue House, Arcade Corner, Tancred street. 6 49



WANTED Known—We are com pelled to realise on a very large portion of our Stock. To do this we are prepared to take cost price for all our new Winter and almost any price older stock. —Mitchell and Turner.



OUR Premises will be Closed on Thursday next;, alt day, to enable us to re-mark ready for Sale on Friday morning. As the above is a new departure with our fi m we are oan6dent a close inspection of qualities and prices will prove the sincerity of our announcements on Friday morning, — Mitchrll and Turner,



OA Ann BUSINESS Envelopes. (*V/,1/V/U 4s p er 1000, cash, to clear. Five quire packets of Cream Laid Note-paper at 93 packet.—H. M. Jones



ii; ANTED Known — MeUor's Zea- landia B jot Store Is the Cheapest Store for Boots and Shoes.



\\ AN TED KNOVVN.-The celebrated ** Yarmouth Oilskins can be ob tained at W. H Collier, " The Corner."



WANTED Known—Bargains to be had every cby at Mellor's Zea andia Boot Store.



WANTED Known — Mrs Hooper (monthly nurse) is open to accepr engagements. Apply, by letter, to Mrs Hoopeb, Alford Forest Road, Ashburton 11*134



OWN Make In Ladies' and Children's Underclothing, Aprons, and Pina fores ; also a good assortment of Calicoes, tfuslins, Flannelettes, Trimming", etc., at Mrs Alcokn's new shop, Bakei's Buildings.



/CHOICE FfiULTvS.—Peaches, bananas, V-^ srangeff, lemons and tomatoes, at H. A. Flower, Fruiter and Confectioner, East street



fKTANTfiD KNOWN.-Warm carpet * * slippers for Winter wear, "iris 9d, Is, woman's Is 93.— W. H. Collier, ' The Corner."



OjTANTED Known—Mothers, be wis* » and buy your ichool boots at Mellor'a Z j»landia Boot Store.



WANTED Known—Spectacles, Eye Protectors, Goggles, Folders, and everything In the optical line at 8. S alek's, Optician



WANTED Known—Ladies' Lastii g Slippers only 2s lid—U u»l price, 4s 6d — Mellor'd Zealandia Boot Store



i^TOTICE! Notice Sport for al 'N Guns let out on hire or sold on time payments. H«.vin« a professional Gunsmith on the premises, I undertake to repair Guns of any description. Gun fittings in stock. Prices low.—J. W Haudley, Ironmonger, etc



/IHfUSTMAS Presents, Choice Orna ■* J montfl, Zithers and Jew's Harps, Balis and Dolls for everybody from Id each; Jointed Dolls for 6J, Sleeping Beauties Is, Chinese Conquerors 6d, Russian Embassies Is, Walking Men, Talking Dolls, Scotch Greys, and Ennis killen Dragoons all wonderfully cheap at Mrs Alcoen's Ladies.' Underclothing and Fancy Bazaar, Havelock



WANTED Known—Ten per cent under Christchurch prices at Mellor's Zealandia Boot Store.



Q PFCIAL NOTICE.—Suits and Siogle O Garments made to measure. Fit and style with prices to suit the times. Large purchase Heavy Kaiapoi Trousers and Knit Underclothing.—Mitchell and Turner.



WASTED Known — Groat Bargains are now being given for Ca«h in all departments. Bofcre laying out your money for Drapery, Boots, etc . give us a call.—H. 0. Segers, Melford House*



C^.SH.CASH. Drapery, Boots, Cloth ing, etc. New Goods just opened. Everything reduced for Cash. —H. C. Segers, Melford House.



BANG ! Bang i Bung I My new sea son's stock of Ammunition to hand Eley'e, Kynock's aorf, Cluo Cartridges. Powder, Shot, Caps, Wads, Cases and ~*l sporting materials of the first qaality *. T *w- Habdlkv'B. Gun Emporium



ROBERT ALCOr* *« JP***, " Baker's Buildings, nex* *&c °°Z house, with a stock of Clothing, c .""* bought at Edwards, Bannett's and the Kaiapol Sales, the cheapest lot of goods ever brought to Ashborton, Also an assortment of Boots.



GUNS ! Guns ! Guns ! My new stock of Gunsj nst to hand direct from the manufacturers. Double and Single Barrel Breech Leaders, Rifles, etc In spection Invited. No old stock to select from at J. W. Hakdley's Sporting Repository



WANTED KNOWN. -P. S Jeffkies, leading Confectioner and Fruiterer of Ashburton, East Street, next the Corner. Ice Cream?, Fresh Fruits, Confectionery, Summer drinks of every description. Ice at reasonable rates. Ladtei Room a specialty. 1*153



WANTED Known-That I am hold ing a Sale at Reduced Prices for One Month. Come for Bargains. I have the advantage over miny In the trade for the simple reason that I have no partners to pay dividends to, or interest on loan to carry on big concerns. But I bay and sell none but the best, no trash to draw the unwary. Repairs »s usual, done at Once.—J. Moison. Boot Store, East street, Ashburton. 5 138



\jy ANTED, Eveiybody to try a pur of ** House Slippers, only Is. Mellor's Zealandia Boot Store.



WANTED.— 1000 Men to look at the Cheap Drapery frrm Australia, at Melbourne prises. " The Blue House' is the place to get it, at the Corner of Arcade, and do., 't yon forget it. 4 240



WANTED Known—The T<argest and Best shop for Evening Shoes in Ashburton.—Mellor's Zealandia Boot Store,



4I? ANTED -Everyone to call at VV Mellor's and get his pricei No one asked to buy. 'i



WANTED Known—Small fronts and Quick Returns.—Mellok's Zealandla Boot Store.



BOY'S and Girls Own Annual, British Workman and Workwoman, Infant's Magazine, The Prize, Child's Companion, Children's Friend, Little Dot, Family Friend, Band of Hope, Young England, and other New Books at Lowest Prices.—- L. F. Andkbwes and Co. 11 98



OOl*l> BROOCHE* AND ' UAH&LEtt. JUST RECEIVED "JtfEW AND CHOICE DESIGNS— To be seen at the JEWELLERY ESTABLISHMENT OF S. S A L E X, WATCHMAKER AND JEWELLER, EAST STREET, ASHBURTON. <ar luspuciiou Invited,



WINTER. 152* Men's, Boys' and Youths Tweed Overcoats, with Cape, to be c'oarcd this season at 20 per cent undtr ordinary pi ices 69 Boys' and Youths Mac'arlane Over coats, new shape, to be Sold at 12£ per cent lower than last season 28 Boys' Doable breasted Reefi ra froti 10s 9d WATERPROOF COATS. Our Coats are ro be s»r n all over the Country.* SPECIAL. Lvlies' Waterproof Cloaks made'to measure ; all Sewn Seams. A SHBURrOK T3IANKETS, LJL ID LargeJDjuble Bed Size, WINTER BOOTS. It>ill pay you to Buy your BOOTS from the NEW ZEALAND SCLOTHIHC FACTORY. ALEX. HENDRY, Manager.



One Box of Clarke's B 41 Pills is warratf ted to cure all discharges from the Urinaiy Organs, in either sex (acquired or consti tutional), Grayel and Pai&s in the Back. Guaranteed free from tyercary. Sold in Boxes 4s 6d each, by all Chemists and Patent Medicine Vendors thronghout the World- Proprietors : The Lincoln and Midland Counties Drug Company, Lincoln, England RHEUMATISM.— Dr B. Gordon's remedy N^!V£Q fails in permanently curing rheuma tism, lumbago, sciatica, *?o^t, etc, one bottle give* relief." Pri«e IQa, post free, J. W. OUytoa, P.O. Bo* 2&i tyufdtoj



Don't Cough.—Belief can be obtained immediately. Use " KUATING'S CO~GH LOJSBNGKS—weII Itbown •« the-Atiirtjf unrivalled Cough Kemerty. ' ' Strongly vf. commended by many eminent phyiiouuu; They at once check the cough and remove the cause—without any after effect;' the most delicate can therefore take them. ■ Cne Lozenge alone gives ease—one or two at bedtime ensures rest* Sold erenfwbera ia tio»mdcwb *