TO OUR SUBSCRIBERS.

Owing to the larje amount now owing for subscriptions" to the Mail and Guakdian, we are compelltd to press for payment, and have to notify that we shall take immediate steps to recover all sud scriptions that are more than one year overdue.

MAIL NOTICES,

The Letter Box will be cleared for the despatch of correspondence from Ashburton . to the undermentioned places as ollows ;— ! Burnham and Dunsandel, daily 3,15 pm Chertsey and Rakaia, Christ church and north, daily 6 30am 3 15 pm I 6 30 pm I and Monday, Wednes day, and Friday ... 10 30 am Dromore and Selwyn, daily 6 30 pm Eiffelton, Willowby, daily ... 1030 a m ! Lismore, Tuesday, Thurs day, and Saturday ... 10 30 am Elgin, Wakanui, and River side, daily 6 30 am Seaview, Seatield, Kyle, and Newlands, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday ...6 30 am Green3treet, Wirchroore, and Forks, Tuesday, Thurs day, Saturday ... . 630 am Wh'.atstono, Waterton, Ash ton, Longbeach, and Fleniingtoi), daily ... 3 45 pm Mount Somer?, Sprin^burn, Biuhside, Alford Forest, Sto.ve Tey, daily .. ... 4pm Metfoven, daily .  315 pm \ Geraldine, and Orari, daily.. 12 30 prn ' Oainariij Dunedin, Waimate, and south, daily ... 12 30pm Eiling, Rangitafca, daily ... 10 30 am 12 30 pm Temuka, Timaru, daily, 10 30 am 12 and Tuesday, Thursday, 30 pm and Saturday 3 J. spm TinwaM, Winalow, Hii?ds, 10 30 am 12 daily 30 pm And Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday 3 15 pm Ruapana, Monday and Thurs day .„ ... ... 4 pm May field, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday ... 4 pm Letters containing anything of value should be registered. Letters containing coin or bank notes if posted unregistered will be compulsoriiy registered, and charged doublp registration fee. FIRE ALARMS^ Allenton «. one toll Borough, north of railway .., two tolls Borough, south of railway ... three tolls Hampstead four tolls

Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 1895

IVJ. Cakellu, an engineer of Havre, has infcrodaeed an jron steamer for river navi gation which is likely to A STKAMEit attract somftaiberttion. It is driven by driven by coal gas. The gis coal gas, mofcor directly works the screw, and the gaa is con tained in a reservoir on board. The first vessel of the kind, the Id c, is of J*so tqna fcurden, and has a gas engine of about 40 i>orse poster, She ia intended for the river servica from Havre to Paris, and from Paris to Oreil, The gas costs only a little less as fuel than coal, but; the advantage lies in the facb that the gas gngine requires muc fy less room than coal engines, furnaces, and bunkers.

A Fbbsch authority ,on musical instru ments has drawn attention to aluminium as a material for making aluminium violins. Ho says tound viomns. ing boards of al^niinium do not, like those of wood produce secondary tones discordant with the primary tones, and they have not fche uncertainty and lick of individuality found in the woodtn boards, nor have they the liabiiy to warp and crack. Tho aluminium plates forming them muse be rivetted, nob soldered. An aluminium violin gives full and resonant tones, and, in the opinion of experts, will be an s>c£uisitioh to the orch'esfcia ; but it seems to tyck tiie qsjalitiss necessary for the finest sdlo per'for^anc^e^. ' ;

The late Gzir had an extensive and yalU' able collection of postage stamps. In philatelic circles much ?h ; e iate czar cariosity i& expressed ajjjp His stamps, as to what ia to be come of the collection —what ftj§ $ucc£sspr, wh,o has no en thusiasm abojjt these things, will do with tfc. It ia believed that £jrran,ql Duke Alexis Michailcvitch, who has recently joined tho London Society of Philatelists, may inhorib the whole collection. It ie known that the late Cz*r personally had no time ,t,o giw& to this rather expensive pastime, •b_ a 6 that jjjiis secretaries, and more para euiarly one~-Pe'trolo/j? by name-—attended to and catalogued the corigta^tjy jnereas ing collection. Among other yery r^re stamps, fche Emperor's collection con tained a number of old Mauritius stamps -at present ths wwti o°stly oE Bliy °ffclle specimens. Ajoaopg tjj? chief pur t yejojs ie the Cz»r was an agihfc in HamiSurg, as $9&iwj^saMtQW r»rely,

if ever, applied to his diplomatic repre sentatives. A good story is told of a Wisonein boy, who used his pocket money to buy and send to the Czar a complete sot of uncancelled Columbian stamps The C'/av was highly phased with the gitr, and in return for thu boy's attention -md polite letter pnnt him a complete set of uncancelltd Russian stamps —from tho fi'Bt to the latest issue—an acquisition which very fjw, even of tho rich collec tors, can boast of.

In connection with the remarks of the ' County Kngineer in his la*-t report to th.> Counc'l anent the n ceasity the for taking steps to extir oawfornian pate the Californian thistle thistle in certaui localities, r,h<* following from a letter from Its Otaki correspondent to the Riverton Star will be read with interest. " A great deal of talk and writing is going on just now about the Californian thistle. Far that plague, I am told the following is a sure and certain cure, if properly | applied :-"Scrape the earth aarefuliy away from the root of the plant, taking care to cut none of its roots. Then cut off the head of the plant just low enough to make it bleed well, (that is, throw out sip). On the top of tha cut put a good handful of coarse ealt; draw in the dust carefully that has been scraped away, slightly covering the salt, and the thistle will entirely disappear." This recipe is to be used when the pant is growing up to maturity, not on the decaying side. It is the experience of a gentleman who cleared forty acres of the pest. He tried trench ing, burning, and sulphur at great ex pense. In two years the thistles were as bad as ever. Not so with the above treatment, as he has not a single thistle on his land now. Just carefully watch any young thistle, and destroy it In this manner. Ib is well worth a trial."

During the year ended December 31 last the colony was the gainer on the balance of immigration over immigration and emigration, though not emigration, nearly to the same extent as during 1893, when the deep depression in Aus tralia drove large numbers to our shores —the gain by New Zealand for 1893 being over 10,000, while last year there was a considerabla efflux to the Coolgardie goldfields. Telegrams received by the Registrar-General from the various ports of the colony show that during December last the arrivals were 2657, and the departures 1544, thus leaving a neb gain of 1113 persons. These figures are, of course, subject to revision on receipt of the final returns but no great differences are anticipated. Assuming them to be correct, the result for the year would be a net gain of 2357, the arrivals' totalling 25,237 and the departures 22.880. The arrivals in December, 1893, wore 2980, and the departures 1054, the gain then being 1926. In 1893, as a whole, there was a larger addition to the population from oulside than in 1884. The arrivals in 1893 wero 26,155, and the departures were 15,723, leaving a neb gain of 10,412 as contrasted with a gain of 2357 for 1894

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Cable news appears on the fourth page Mr Fincenfc Pyke, junr., who was same years ago Manager of the New Zealand Bank at Rakaia has, we sco, been now transferred tc Wanganui. Play rng on Saturday at Dunodin in the senior cup match, Carhbrooke against Albion, Rains made 134 not out. He went in first andplayjd a faultless innings Applisations for advances under the Cr vernmenfc Advances to Settlers Act continue to come in. About 700 have been reieivad to date. The LyHelton Times publishes a similar report to our own of Mr McLachlan's meeting ah Rakaia, and calls upon the member for A^hburton to resign his seat. The traffic on the Rotorui railway is regarded as very satisfactory as regards both passengers and goods. Practically speaking, all the goods for Rotorua now go by rail. The natives of the A kura Pah, Waira rapa, are being decimatt d. by some fell disease, supposed to be typhoid fever. Already four deaths have occurred, and the lamentations of survivors are dismal and heartending. To-morrow ni»ht a great ' welcome tea ' is to be given at the Salvation Army Bartacks, on which occasion also Captain Fleming takes his farewell. Particulars will be found in. an advertisement in an other colnmn. The Jiiflartf, Herald of Thursday says:— ' The Post Offico clock stopped yesterday, having run down. The hands were reefed at XII., where they will stay until the public * howl' compels the Borough Council to undertake the small cost of winding and regulating the clock. ' A Bremen firm gives the number of cigars made in Cuba last year as 300,000,000, of which forty millions were consumed in the island, 118 millions exported to the United States, and 142 millions sent to other countries. The total value of the tobacco produce in the island of Cuba in 1893 was estimated at £2,500,0C0. From a private letter received from the Chatham Islands, the Napier Telegraph learns thab the prophecy of the impostor Euetune seems to have been thoroughly believed by the natiyps pf rhqse islands. The prophecy was somewhat to the effect that a tidal wave five miles high would envelop New Zealand and adjoining islands on the 9th November. The natives occupy ing the pah ab Waitangi, fearing the pre diction, shifted themselves, stock, and belonging, up on the high land at the back of Waitangi township priorto the 9ih, and calmly waited there until that day wen' by. In the year 1868 the pah on the low lying land at VVaitangi suffered consider ably through a tidal wave, so the natives may be excused somewhat for their pre cautions. Early bathers at St. Clajr {gays the Dun edin Star) 'were witnesses of "a sensation on Wednesday morning. The tide was unusually high, and Mr Robert Ewing, of Elm row, got into difficulties, ffe was dragged out and found to be unconscious. Plenty of help was nigh, and Mr Ewing. being laid in a shed, was rubbed vigorous'y for ever s& long j but this and other re storative means being apparently of no avail, he was removed toMrStark's house and placed in bed, a medical man being sent f>r. Dr Martin went out quick'y from town, and by dint of perseverance the means adopted to bring back s'gns of life were at last succe:sful, though M* Ewiti'g was apparently unconscious for over an hour. When ho was able to speak jtj'e sa^d that, though utterly unable to make a»y sign, he was fully coascioua from the moment of being' pulled out of everything that was going on round him. Jt is supposed that his difficulty arose through being straek in the stomach by a breaker, Hollo way's Pills. •-• Enfeebled existence. medicine embraces every attribute re quired in a gejjjeral and domestic remedy. It overturns the foundations of disease laid by food an,d inipure air, In ob "ifcr^ctions or congestions pi the liver,'lungs, bowels, ov an^ pfcfrer orga^n,' jbljese p'lls are' especially serviceable ana eminently suc cessful. They should be kept im readiness in every family, being a medicine of in comparable utility for young persons, especi ally those of feeble constitutions. They never caifSC jjain or irritate the most sensi tive nerves or 'most tender bowels. Hollo way's Pills are the besfc knpwa purifiers ot the blood, the most active promoters of absorption and secretion, whereby all poison ous and mo3te*«RQsiou« particles are wmoyecl • from both solids And iJujde,.

The Government have reduced the price for puriri hleepers from 4s to 3i 61, There is great dissatisfaction amon^ those who, having abandoned gum digging owing to low prices, have taken to split ting sleepers. In moat cases they have to p iy a royalty of 61 per sleeper. j The half yearly meeting of thq Bank of' New Zealand is to be held on February 7th. The Pod says that it has authority for stating that the s^cmd million under the Guarantee A ce ia invested in liquid securities and not employed in the bank's i business. Farmers will ba gad to hear of a new and most effective antidote to tin rabbit scoirge. MrF. H.Daniel, ofGlenorcby. who recently returned from Australia, has j brought with him a method of poisoning for which wonderful results are claimed. As yet, the poison is a secret, and Mr Daniel is, in the meantime, securing his rights ; but he has tried its efficacy under our climatic conditions on Mr Forrester's lavd at Limehills with marked success— S.ii'hland Times, Lincoln Agricultural College (says the Press) opened for the current session on Monday, the 14th insb., and already about forty students from all parts of the colony are in attendance. During the week over thirty visitors inspected the institution and farm. Amongst these were large practical agriculturists, who expressed themselves as highly satisfied with all they saw in connection with the conduct of the practical farming work, One of the recommendations of the Defence Commission of last session has, we see, been given effect to, a proclamation which appears in the Gazette of the 17th mat abolishing the existing military districts and re-dividing the colony into five, viz Auckland, Welling ton, Canterbury, Otago, and Nel son. The Cantarbury district now includes North Canterbury and the sub district of South Canterbury; and the Otago district includes North Otago, Dunedinand the sub-district of South land. At the Central Criminal Court, London, recently, a street ruffian was convicted of having beaten In a policeman's mouth with an iron bar. By way of lending aid and comfort to a relation who was under arrest, he fetched the bar, and deliberately struck the unfortunate constable with it full in the face. The one blow knocked out seventeen of the man's teeth, tore away part of the gum, and injured the jaw. In spite of these frightful injuries he never relaxed his hold of his prisoner. This sort of endurance and determination is one of the most curious of the whole range of professional secrets. How is it that a man who may have had no par ticular pretension to heroism before he entered the force usually becomes of the very finest temper of this quality as soon as he buckles a duty strap on his arm 1?— Public Opinion.

COMMERCIAL.

London, January 18. The importers are asking the Australian exporters of tallow to assist them in secur ing the rapid discharge ot tallow cargoes, as at present the shipowners utilise it as ballast on the homeward voyage and some times a month elapses before a consignment is discharged after the vessel's arrival.

SPORTING.

WELLINGTON" RACING CLUB'S SUMMER MEETING.

Wellington, January 18 The following final payimnts have been received for the Wpllinctton Cup. st lb at 1b Lotiie(2;bextra)B 6 North Atlantic Mahaki (9'.b (21b extra) 7 10 extra) S 6 Westmere 7 9 RosefcMt ..85 Princess May 612 Lady Zetland 8 3 Purepo ... 6 8 Golden Plover 8 3 Ariua ... 6 7 Rangipuhi ... 712

CORRESPONDENCE.

(We do not hold oursetves responsible lor the "pinions expressed by our correspondents)

FOURTEEN YARDS IN 100.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Your "Cld hundred yards " corres pondent evidently champions the scratch man. Now, Broad is a championship man. He can give the majority of men here nine yards in 100. Some of our runners are very juvenile, and need every encouragement; hence the increased limit. The statement that Broad was nowhere at the finish is int oorrect. 1 saw the funsh, and Broad was very close up—not three yards from the first man. N.O one favors limitation handi caps more than I, but they must be confined to first-class events. Mr Buckley, in giving a trophy, expressed a wish to encourage all pedestrian members of the Club; and I am sure if the handicaps were narrowed down, as your correspondent suggests, it would not be encouraging ail pedestrian members. I know perfectly well the handicap was not, perfect; but I daresay the handicappers will know more about the runners before the next race. —I am, etc., A. J. MULLER, Captain A.C. and A.A.C,

A STALLION FIGHT.

An extraordinary fight is reported from Oaulfield as having taken place between the two well-knqwn racehorses Selim and For ward, who managed to get away from their attendants. According to the published ac counts they fought like demons. Selim at first seemed to show the most cunning and determination, as he got his head under For ward's chest and tossed him over two or three times, but by-and-by he tired, and then Forward had a turn. He knocked his oppon ent about considerably, getting him down several times and kicking him severely. They bit each other about the neck and withers, and when the battle had proceeded for some time each was covered wilh blood. The ground all around was ploughed up, and at times the combatants were almost hidden in the clouds of dust raised. As they charged each other they fairly roared. The .efforts of Brewer, their trainer, and his."boy's to separate the combatants were for a qonsidar able time quite futile. As soon as they were approached tfyey would gallop away locked together, and in a hundred yards or so resume tl}e fight. At one time they got up against a wire fenoe, and Forward; getting his hind leg entangled in ft, reoeived a rusty flesh wound. It vfas over haff an hour before the stallions could be separated and geoured. Towards the finish Forward prov ed his superiority, Selim, though the bigger horse, being well beaten. On being taken , home both horses were in a bad state. i They were in such an exhausted condition that they could scargely stand. Selim, in particular, w«s very much the worse for wear. His skin was broken in a dozen different places. Forward's teeth-marks covered his shoulder, his chest had a nasty wound on it, hi 3 near stifle was badly cut, and his off hip had a severe wound on it. His Kind legs were also" badly swollen, 'and altogether t^e h^rse presented & pitiable ap pearance. Forward bbr* more teeth.mar Jjs than Selim, but his other injuries were noi so serious. The wire fence had out his near kind leg, wkick was swollen from hock to fetlock, and there were also several abrasions about the body. It will prebaply be a couple of months before Selim will be able jo appear on the training track. Forward was more fort^natcj and with Ordinary luck he will be able to make his appearance pn the training tracjk in two or three? weeks.

ON THE PITCH.

By The Barber Councillor Thomas, at the last meeting of the Borough Council, let drop a hint to men out cf work that ought to be taken. Ho said he had been, during the p revious week or ten days, over a very considerable portion of the county. One thing he had observed astonibhed him not a little. That was the large quantity of excellent grasi just ripening to seed that was to ba seen on the roads—more especially towards Methven w>y. The grass was in some instances nearly as tall as himself, and was heavily seeded. Diligent men, he saM, who really meant to work, would m.ke more at saving grass seed than they were likely to earn during the same time working for a farmer. There was money indeed in the work, he pointed oat, as grass seed this year was fetching a good price, and the men who saved it on the roads would be well paid in the price they would receive for the seed for the labor they expended in getting it. In corroboration of Mr Thomas' reroarki I may tay I know of one man who went to work on the railway lines, and calculates he made eighteen pence an hour at the job. At any rate the work would be better than idling in the river-bed, or burning tobacco At the Somerset corner.

A good deal of bunkum has been talked about the life buoys the Swimming Olub asked the Domain Board to provide at the bath. I have not read the letter sent to the Board asking for the buoys, nor have t seen a copy, but I am assured that that letter will not bear the construction put upon it> by certain members of the Domain Committee—viz,, that Captain Harrison was to take charge of the buoys, and have them carried away to his house after bathing hours, and brought back agiin in the early morning. Mr Harrison never meant anything of the kind to be under stood. He is an enthusiast in swimming, and does all he can to encourage the learning of the art by the young. There have been two or three very narrow squeaks at the bath, and it has only been | because good swimmers chanced to be on the bank at the time and not afraid to j lend assistance—albeit at the cost cf a soaking—that something serious has not happened. Sometimes it happens that the onlookers are not swimmers, and that the bathers are not swimmers either. If a bather with a very imperfect knowledge of the bath, and a still less perfect know ledge of swimming, guddenly finds him self in deep water, he may very easily make of himself a case for the coroner before help can come to him from the non-swimmers on the bank. It was to get over trouble like this that the buoys were suggested. As a matter of fact, the suggestion did not originate with the Olub, but was first mooted in this column by the Barber. The Club took it up. and with his usual impulsiveness in any causa he has at heart Mr Harrison was ready to hold himself personally responsible to frhe Board tor the preservatkn in good work ing order of the buoys asked for. But he knew afe the same time that every care would be taken of the life buoys by the Club members. Mr Harrison has been the subject of worse misunderstanding, and his conduct of worse misconstruction and more serious "chiack" than in con nection with the life buoys, and if the Board will only be good enough to have the buoys pat up at once, with eighty feet or so of strong line attached to each, he wi'l consider them cheap at the price of the borak that has been poked at him, and smite benignly at the jokers.

Thursday is to be the half-holiday in Christchurch, and it was an understood thing that Ashburton would follow the lead of thecily. This is wise. Thursday was the day South of us under the old arrangement, while we had Wednesday. Full benefit of the weekly half-holiday could not be taken by either cricketers or footballers while this difference existed. If an Ashburton team for either game, or a team of volunteers for rifle shootuig, went to Timaru to ccinpefce with a team there, Wednesday was chosen by the Ashburtcm men, but they did not meet the best men of the other side, as Wednes day was not the Tiaaaru holiday and many could not get away. The difficulty was a double-edged one, and cut both ways, of course, as Ashburton was in the same difficulty in the return match when a team had to be selected of such men as could get away on a Thursday. Should our Conference agree to Thursday, the day will be uniform throughout Canter bury.

It will be some time before we hear the last of this "Jack Robinson" Act—this Act that was passed like a Hash, so swiftly that the member for Ashburton was not able to keep track of its provisions, and came before his Ashburton constituents but poorly provided with knowledge on the subject. It was not a very nice con fession to have to make —that it was only when the Acts came out to bo administered by the Courts that members had any very clear notion of what they had been doing. That in effect was what our member said, although perhaps not what he meant to leave the impression of. Merchants are pub in an awkward position by the " Jack Robinson " Act, and having to send off their clerks at one o'clock on Saturday will be found to militate very seriously against business. If the Act is carried out to the letter Saturday as the legal half-hqlday for the whole colony will form a part of the next amending bill as surely as night follows day. .. .

School Committee.

ASHBURTON,

The Ashburton School Committee met on Thursday. Prestnt—Messrs Silcock, Med dins, Braddell, Paul, Chapman, and Macpherson—Mr Silcook presiding. The credit balance at the Bank was reported at £37 14s lid. The Board wrote advising the failure of Miss Tresize to pass in her fourth year, and the necessity for her to continue at school another year; that Mr J. Purchase ' had passed in his fourth year, and that he and Miss Bpunetts, who had passed the previous year, would require to go to the Normal School when it re-epened on January 28 ; advising the appointment of Miss E. A. Qrr as first and ftfiss H, Curd as second assistant miUtress—and other matters. It was resolved <o write to the Board, enquir ing as to whether or not the school was entitled to another pupil teacher, and if so, to advertise for one. The Chairman reported the prize fund to be ssl d in credit after paying all conce t expenses, and the cost of the prizes. Mr Paul reported the interview of himself and Mr Bean with the High School Governors on the subject of sixth standard children, which interview was reported fully in these columns. Some small repairs were reported as having been executed, and Messrs Chapman and Braddell were appointed a visiting committee for the month. After the passing of accounts the Committee adjournedi ' '

Butter and Cheese.

London, Junysry 18. Mr Valentine has arranged with Nelson Brothers to distribute produce at the consolidated rate of |d per pound for butter and '30 of a penny for cheese. These prioos include all London charge', and cold storage for two months.

A Trade Question.

Mbibournk, .January 19 Greener's firm of gun manufacturers, England, have issued a writ against a local firm of gun makers, churning £10,000 damages for alleged illegal use of their name.

SHOW SLIPS

BiiitNE, January 18 During the last few days heavy avalanches have fallen in many parts of Switzerland, aud the loss of life has been considerable.

THE PYLADES.

Sydnby, January 19 Admiral Bridge has received a cable stating that the Pylades left Singapore for Australia yesterday.

EATING THE LEEK.

Sydney, January 19. The two girls Conolly and Moran have confessed that they concocted their stories about the wholesale child murder in order to obtain release from Paramatta Industrial School, of which they were inmates.

Sir Saul Samuel.

Sydney, January 20 The Premier's recent statement anent the duties of the Agent-General having been regarded in London as to imply the retirement of Sir Saul Samuel, Mr Reid explains that he did not wish to infer that the present Agent-General would be superseded at an early date, bat what he meant was that in the natural course of events Sir Saul Samuel must soon retire, as he was an old man, and he would shortly be entitled to a pension.

Fatal Boat Accident

Sydney, January 20 Three youths went rowing to-day in a boat at Narrabeen, near Manly 3 and eventually, as the boat was gradually drifting to seaward, jumped overboard. Two of the occupants named Baldock and Parkes (a grandson of Sir Henry Parkes) were drowned. The third youth was landed in a critical condi tion.

NEW AUSTRALIANS

Sydney, January 20 The Hauroto has on board thirty. one " New Australians," who proceed by the steamer Bimutaka from Wel lington, en route for the settlement in South America.

FATAL ANGER

Sydney, January 20 A tragedy is reported from Adams town, near Newcastle. A girl named Eleaaor Turner, aged twelve, the adopted daughter of a Mrs Gray, while washing dishes broke a cup. Mrs Gray upbraided the girl for her care lessness, whereupon the latter gave a saucy reply. Mrs Gray, in a fit of anger, seized a large table knife, which she hurled at the girl. The knife struck the girl in the region of the heart, killing her. Mrs Gray has been arrested.

THE FRENCH CRISIS

Pabis, January 18 At the finish of the election the Socialists shook their fists in the faces of their opponents, and owing to the uproar it was impossible to hear the speeches. M. Faure is the first Protestant elected head of the State. M. Dupuy, the Premier, has re signed. After his election, M. Faure said he would cease to belong to a party, and would become the arbiter of parties without distinction. The Times thinks the result of the election will be a happy one for France and will reassure everyone. The Socialists loudly resented the prohibition of Richard from voting. A section of the party clamoured " Down with the Presidency."

SMALLPOX

Perth, January 19 The steamer,) Oloncurry has arrived at Fremantle from Singapore with three cases of smallpox on board.

RICH QUARTZ

Pbeth, January 20 Lake View mine crushed 200 tons of stone which yielded 500 ounces of gold, and enough stone of the .same quality is at grass to keep the battery going for many months.

Australian Duties.

Adelaide, January 19 The Colonial Treasurer, replying to a deputation asking for the introduction duty free, of produce taken to Vic toria for the purpose of being gristed in bond, said he regretted he had no power to grant the request. He hoped the time would come when the border duties would be abolished, and when they could rejoicw in free trade among the colonies.

HARROS BOARD DEFAULTS

Melbourne, January 20 The Argus, referring to Harbor Board defaults, says New Zealand enjoys an unenviable distinction, alone amongst the colonies, in having had two big defaults in borrowing for public purposes, and for'^he credit of the rest of th/e colonies sne should^ mend her ways.

CONFERENCE OF PREMIERS

Ho^art, January 2Q The Hon. R. J, Seddon has cabled regretting his inability to attend the conference of Premiers, and states that the Postmaster-General will probably be present. t?<

THE AbilUUitiOJN GUABDIAN: MONDAY, JANUARY 21, 18%,



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18 9 4. Christmas and JNew Year's Greeting FLETOHEK BROS-, HAVE JUST RECEIVED EX GOTHIC— 100 cases Finest New Vestisan Currants 50 boxes Finest New Sultanas 30 boxes Finest New Valencias 50 boxes Finest New Elemes 25 boxes Australian Muscatels, to be cleared at per 1b ALSO THE FOLLOWING JUST TO HAND FOR CHRISTMAS TRADE- Jordan Almonds Dessicated Cocoanut Keene's Mixed Spice Preserved Fruits Preserved Ginger Pears, Peaches, Cordials, c&c. Apricots, &c. Valencia Almonds Mb bottles of Persian Sherbit, 8d per bottle. A splendid line of Christinas Cake in Fancy Baskets to be sold at U 61 each. PLEASE NOTE that all those Goods are of the ■very FINEST QUALITY PItOCmi\BLE I whish we intend to sell at the LOWEST POSSIBLE PKIOE. A look at our windows will show. PRESERVING SEASON, 1895. JUST LANDING Ex AURIGA, ■■ 25 tons Finest Mauritius Cans Sugar (ILGI ba^-3 'JhU k the F[NEST O\NE SUGAR to bo got and jam, A-c , made with it will keep almost any length of Uiue. NOTE ADDRESS FLETCHER BROS,, CASH SUPPLY STORES, ASHBUBTON, AXD LOWER HIGH STREET, CHRKTOHURCH. Don t miss seeing our splendid show of Christmas Fruits, &c.



iV. ]{, COLLINS & C). TO aHKESHJNG MACHINE PROPRIETORS, FARMERS AND OTHERS. HAVING made special arrangements for this season's supply of COALS, we are prepared to execute all orders entrusted to us wi'h despatch, dir9ct from ship or ex yud. HOUSEHOLD COAL A SPECIALTY. NEWCASTLE COAL I BLACK BALL COAL WHBTPORT C(ML And the Celebrated WBSTPORT GREY VALLEY COAL | CARDIFF COAL TIMBER, TIMBER. TIMBER Building Materials of eveiy description in Stock, Dry Flooring and Match-lining in any quantities. Call and obtain quotations, which will be to your advantage W. H. COLLINS and CO.



Ihomas B. Ki]worth, E,K GJI NEEvE: y E JR, IT as BEHOVED tTO HIS new prsmiseis, BRIDGE WORKS, WEST AND KERMODE STREETS, ASHBURTON.



Wanted OPJEN for engaganens, Cook for threshing machine. A good galley fly and cooking utensils complete.—Apply J.C, "Mail" office. 1 11? PRTVIITIVK Church 10-im-m w hi^ht, 7 30. Splendid Socinl G i-hminy. Addresses by Rtv.s Sharp, Harris, Wool lasH, and Cocker Rjfrt^hnents provided. G\ each. 1 116 j, IOR SAL K. (Joofl Rf-cond- hand * Pneumatic Fyred Kirycle, is" tjhenp. For address apply Mjil Office. 1 113



ROBERT ALCORN has opened in Baker's Builojinga, next the Court house, with a stock of Clothing, etc., bought at Kdwarde, Bennett's and the Kaiapoi S*les, the cheapest lot of goods ever brought to Ashburton, Also an assortment of Boole*. NEW ZEALAND CLOTHItiS FACTORY, EAST STREET. lIaLF-YeAHLY- S'IOCKTAKINU. QTRAW HATS (0 be cleared out at GreaiJy Reduced Prices. Boy's Straw Hats 3s 6 \ for Is Meh'a Straw Ht s 3i 61 for la M n's Java Straw Hate 2s 9d for la 6d Men's Straw Hata 6.s 9J for o, 6c! We do not often advertise Cheap Goods, but these are GENUINE REDUCTIONS.



IO&T on Sunday afteimon, on Seafihkl -^ ct Racecourse roul, gold curb bracelet with padlock (Vtached. Finder rowardod on returning to Beath and Co., Tancredstr.et. " 1 H8 WANTED Kno am—Robinson Bko-j., Butchers, removed back to Triangle, where the late Fire was. 1 112 WANTED 1, by end of January, Eight or Ten-ioomed House, Ashburton or Suburbs. Apply Maii. Office. 198 WANTED Known—Special line of Gents' Uegatta Shirts, all sizes, with or without collars, 2a 6d.~W. H, Coimer. T3 EAUTTFUL ar.d useful Presents to JZ> all purchasers of 2s 6d and upwards. —11. 0 Segers, Meltcrd House. WANTED Knowu —Spectacles, Eye Protectors, Goggles, Folders, and everything in the optica line at S. Saxek's, Optician. WANTED Known.—Having had such a successful season with Dreases, balance to clear «it nominal prices.— Mitchell amd Turner. VXT ANTED Known — Mks Hooper * * (monthly nurse) is open to accept ,engagements. Apply, by letter, to Mrs Hooper, Alford Forest Road, Ashburton, 11*134 T>RESENTS. We are now giving XT Presents to all purchasers of 23 6d and upwards.—H. 0. Segers, Melford House.



/~1 UNS ! Guns ! Guna ! My new stock v3J of Gunsj ust 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. Hardley's Sporting Repository WANTED Known—All wool Delaines, Prints, and Crepons below whole sa Te rates.—Mitchell and Turner XTOTICE! Notice Sport for all fN Guns let out on hire or sold on tim? payments. Having a professional Gunsmith on the premises, I undertake to repair Guns of any description. Gun fittings in stock. Prices low.—-J. W. Haiidley, Ironmonger, etc T" ADIES 1 and Gentlemen's left-off _J Clothes and all kinds of goods bought, sold, or exchanged. — Mes Knight, opposite Templar Hall, near Post Office. 11 170 BLANKETS bought at Edwards Bennet's Sale, a special line of Double Blankets at 7a 9d. Ex*ra large and heavy 15* 6d and 16s 6d. —Robert 1 Alcorn, Baker's Buildinsr*, OWN Make in Ladies' and Children's Underclothing, Aprons, and Pina fores ; also a good 'assortment of Calicoes vfuslin<*, Flinnolettcs, Tiitnmirgs, otc. s at Mrs Alcorn's new shop, Bakor's B-ulrlinss. CHEAP Cbristnai Present, Cheap New Year Gif s, Cheap Toys. Cheap Dolls, Cheap Fancy Goods. Mes Adams, yaunders' Buildinss.



BANG ! Bang i Bang ! My new sea son's stock of Ammunition to hand Sley'a, Kynock's and, Glut) Cartridges, Powder, Shot, Caps, Wads, Gases and i ill sporting mnterialij of the first quality it .r. W. Hardmy's. Gun Emporium WANTED— Every Lady to try Madam Bat combe's I'atent Ex | paneling Belt Corset (registered), guaran teed whaleb<>!ta tjjr< ughoui;. Orders left -it Mr X, Hill's, Herbalist, Ashburton. will receive prompt attention. IQ 86 \IT ANTED Known—That o*ifg to the • V success of the Hale now being held up at Saur.dors' Buildings, opposite Rail way Station, i" will be continued for .•mother twenty-eight days. 1 am not advertising a few cheap linea, but the whole of the stock. Don't lose the oppor iunity at securing genuine bargains—A * Law bib 166 O ERBAL Beer, Herbal Bjer. Si? ' » gallons of splendid Herbal Beer for Id. Made with a bottle of Potter's Herbal Beer Extract, price 7d per bottle. Warranted purely herbal. Fletcher 8b03.. Wholesile and Jtolail Agents, Cash Supply Stores, Aefebnrjbqn and Chrifttchureh. BOY'S and Girls Own Annual, British Workman and Workwoman, Infaiic's Magazine, The Prize, Child's Companion, Ohildren's Friend, Littlo Dot, Family Friend, Band of Hope, Young England, and other New Books at Lowest Prices.— L. F. Andrewes 4ND Co. 11 98 •TfTANTEp Known—The Corner is YY showing a magnificent New Stock of Drapery &nd Clothing.—W, H. Collier. fjLTANTED Known-Uoldera pf VV Present tickets can now get thep changed.—H. 0. Segers, Melford House. WANTED Known—A tremendous run on our Gloves, 4|d upwards. —Mitchell and Turner. ANTED Known—That h] A. Slower, Confectioner, Eas* sfcreet, has a splendid variety of Fry's and Cadbury's Cliocalate Boxes, now in stock. WANTED Knows -Tfcjt if: you are in want of a first clasa arti&le in sum roer Bo^ts and Shoes, you cannot do: better than call at J. Moison's ; you will get the very best at reduced prices. As for his own mska s they are well known to the delight of the wearers, throughout the lustralasian coloniea. Repairs jpplj done and at once Premier Boot Maker, Town; I Hail Boot Store, T<V street, A&hburton.;



/"IHftISTMAS Presents, Gfhoice Orna~ \J ments, Withers and Jew's pforp^ Balis ai?4 Dolls for everybody from jtd each; Jokited Doiis for j(jH, Sleeping Beauties Is. Chinese Conquerors #d, Russian JFmbaeaies Is, Walking Wf-ep, Talking Dolls, Scotch Greys, and Ennis. killen Dragoons all wonderfully cheap at llUfi Alcorn's Ladies' Underclothing and Fancjf J?szaar, Havelock streefc. '"* QO^k e^ "Vpar and New I Gi/t/« % Bir $i£*s °^ various k indp. F»ncy Goods'. iao!ud»ng j^ancy Q-las^ a;^d China ware, Toys of yario«6 fcjnds, jGhjnepe, Lanterns, J^ew Games foi? indnorsan4' outdoors, including Tennis and CMfiket Material; Writing Desks and Cases, Inksiandf, Photo &nd Scrap Albums, L«vdiea' Hand Bags, Picture Frames Pictures, Te«cs, J^oQQpi.Qoxiß, Concertinas, Violins,' Zither Har|)?, jßam<Ki and a gpeat variety of < frher goods $ll at Re'du^e^i, ?'Jrsaas for Cash afc L, jl, Ajjdkjbwbs asjd Co. a



BOOTS. BOOTS. BOOTS. Boy's Strong School Boots 5s 6d Men'a Light Balmorals 83 6d Men's Strong Canvas Shoes 6s Men' (Strong Nailed Shooters 9s 6d You will Save money by purchasing your Boots from the H. LJi- F. Women's Canvas Shoes 4s 9d Women's Glace K'd Shoes 5s 6d Maids' Tan Strap Shoes 5b 61 NEW ZEALAND CLOTHING FACTORY. Hallenstein Bros,



KBATIMGS POORER destroys Bugs Fleas, Moths, Beetles and all ftther inspctg, whilst quite harmless to dome3tic animals. In exterminating Beetles the success of this Powder is extraordinary. It is perfectly clpan in application. See the article you purchase is J£li? &TlKCf'&, as imitations are noxious and ineffectual. Ting, 6<l and }&, %c with the sfgßaturg *%\m*# Keying on Ci9htiD, Soldl>y all oheajlstj)



Ciarke's World-fa>jed Blood Mixture is a'guaranteed cure for all Blood and Skin diseases. It is the most searching blood qleanser ever discovered, and it wijl free the syetem from all impurities from whatever cause arising. For scrofula, scurvy, ec?ema, .bad 'egs, dores and pimples of all kinds its effects are marvellous. Thousands of testi monials Sold everywhere at 2s 9d per bottles Be warp of worthless imitations and substitutes (D Q^-jb Bqx qf Plarke's B 41 Pills is warran ted tp'purg aHdischar|[pß from the Urinaiy Organs, in either sex (acquired or consu tutional), Gravel and Fains ia the Black. Guarranteed free from Mercury. Sold in looses 4s 6d each ? by al} (Chemists a»d Paten. Medicine Yen(*??"? thronghout the World Proprietors s This Lincoln anp Miplan© gau,N^s Dsp Coitf auv, Liocolo, En^kad



Pure Blood is the Secret of Health Gordon's Blood Pills cleanse the system I of all impure blood, cure iudigestion.con stipatioD, liver complaint, pains in back and sides, biliousness, sick headache; remove pimples, scrofula, scurvy, etc. Large bo 6s; two boxes, i(fe, posUwe.?J» W, Clayton 805284 X?u^du» * *