FIRE ALARMS

Allenton ..,' ... .„ ... .. one toll Borough, north of railway ... two tolls Borough, south of railway ... three toll* Hampste&d four tolls

MAIL NOTICES.

The Letter Box will be cleared for the despatch of correspondence from Ashburton for the undermentioned places as follows :— Burnh&m and Dunsandel, daily 3,15 pm Chertsey and Rakaia, Christ church and north, daily 630 am 315 pm 6 30 pm and Monday, Wednes day, and Friday ... 10 30 am Dromore and Selwyn, daily 630 pm -.■■• Eiffel ton, Willowby, daily ... 1030 a m Lismore, Tuesday, Thurs day, and Saturday ... 10 30 am Elgiß, Wakanui, and River* side, daily 6 30 am Seaview, Seafield, Kyle, and Newlands, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday ... 680 am Greenstreet, Winchmore, and Forks, Tuesday, Thurs day, Saturday ... •$?, 630 am " Wijeatstone, Waterton, Ash jbbjf, and Flemington, §&}\y »• 3-5 pm Mount Somers, Spr_ngbur#, Ba-hside, Alford Forest, Stavelcy, daily .. ... 4pm jifethven, daily 3 15 pm Geraldine. and Orari, daily.. 12 30 pm Oamaru, Dunedin, Waimate, and south, dafly .., J2 $0 pm Eiling, Rangitata, daily ... }0 30 am 1_ 30 pm Temuka, Tjmaru, daily, 10 30 am 12 and Tuesday, Thursday, 30 pm and Saturday ,  315 pm Tinwald, Window, Hinds, 10 30 am 12 daily 30 pm And Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday 3 15 pm Ruapuna, Monday and Thurs- * day _. 4 pm , Mayfield, Monday, Tuesday, i Thursday, and Friday ... 4pm t

Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. TUESDAY, MAY 21, 1895. THE BOROUGH OVERDRAFT.

The Borough Councillors, some of them, are exercising their iaind on the subject of how to reduce tbe overdraft. Others are not, because they have no desire to see the overdraft reduced to the vanishing point-, and they al ready know that there are only two ways in which it can be done—by in creasing the borough's income, which means more taxation j; or by reducing the expenditure, which means n^tly the eessatioft to a great extent of works. The overdraft of the' borough has been for years-^yea, since the borough was—always in evi dence, and like the poor " always with ug." Mr Hugo Friedlander, while Mayor of the borough, made a per sistent and determined attempt to $nan<3jS it off the bank book, and after getting it doy^ to a point it had never hefore r.eaohed, tjhe ejdg^ncie^s of his prfr/at# business calledh^m Bfomeiorj a time, WhMe he was aw'^,y thej overdraft got on its hfud legs again and by leaps and bounds reached the respectable sum of *1500 odd. And rotted »»4 .Jiboub that mm it jj*i'y

dances just about. this time of the year. In a short time the license fees will cocue in, and the main body of the year's rates will be in the collector's hands. While these funds are coming into the bank, the overdraft will show a downward tendency, but just as the channelling and other contract works in the borough proceed so will the upward elasticity of the overdraft show itself. As Or Thomas has frequently said, the overdraft has never been reduced except on paper, and it never will be while the necessary works go i on. The appointment of a Finance Committee was recently asked for by one or other of the " new brooms " of the Council, and the reduction of the overdraft urged from the same quarter. The appointment of the Committee was consented to by the older members, but the consent was given with the tongue thrust in the cheek, and it was easy to see that though their consent was given by their silence, their minds did not go with ! the proposer as to the necessity for what he proposed. That Committee has brought up a report showing in what directions savings could be effected. As the report has not been considered in earnest by the Council, the ratepayers cannot of course see it until it has been before the gentlemen for whom it is intended. There can be no harm, however, in saying, in a general way, that the chief points of attack in this saving campaign will be the works. It is there and there only that any very material cutting down can be effected. It was intended to re-form Burnett street this year. That intention has, in fact, been in the official mind for several years, and it was generally understood that, as this was likely to be a more than usually hard winter, one or two of the larger works in reserve—such as the one referred to—-would be thrown open, to allow working men to pick up a few days' wages. But the financial re former lets himself loose just on the verge of what we all foxpect will be a stiff winter for the man dependent on his labor for a living, and raises the old bogie cry " Reduce the overdraft." Reduce the overdraft, forsooth ! Re duce the expenditure, to be sure, in every way compatible with maintain ing an efficient service^ but if reducing the overdraft means reducing the amount of work available for laboring men in the winter time, then it is the duty of the more thoughtful men of the Council, who do not seek for any cheap popularity, to see that, whatever is reduced without injustice being done to anyone, the chances of a job for the laborer shall not be reduced.

A Dutch doctor, Dubois by name, has made 8n interesting discovery in the

the missing link,

island of Java. He claims to have unearthed the bones of Darwin's missing link! Pithecanthropus erec

tu» is the unassuming na.nae with which the doctor has seen fib to baptise this Tertiary ancestor of ours. Up to the present the skull, thigh-bone, and one solitary tooth are all that have been laid bare, but according to Dr Dubofs ; these remains are sufficient to prove that the Pithecanthropus erectua was—as its name implies—in the habit of walking erect like a mm ; that ifc was about the same height as an ordinary man; finally, that owing to the formation of the jtw, it (or, perhaps, * he' would be more correct) would articulate without difficulty. The doctor concludes, therefore, that he has finally solved a much-debated question, and added fresh lustre to the reputation of the greatest naturalist the wcrlJ has ever seen—himself excepted. After this the exploits of Professor Garner in Africa sink into insignificance. We suggest th*t he proceed immediately to J<*va »nd there ] pin his Dutch colleague, for, after dis appointing us so cruelly over those gorillas, the least the Profissop cm do, in our opinion, is to enlighten us on the Pithecanthropus erectup, Meanwhile, we suppose it would be unkind to hint that j ihe Dutch scientist may possibly have stumbled upon tin remains of what was at one time a fine specimen of a male orjng. — Pull Mall Gazet c i

Tn the Arena for February, in the sym onandthe

posium women is gamblers,

gambling speculation, Rev. Harry C. Vrooman gives an interesting and some what melancholy account of

the extent to which women have taken to the racecourse in the United, States :—lt ie remarkable how many women " play the races," and what an imporact function they fill in sus taining the system. A sporting man of thorough information on the subject in formed the wrier that women are the main support, directly and indirectly, of the race track business. Large numbers qt women bet and sink thousands of dollary annuaiy on the track. They buy up jockeys for money or special favours to ; trick the race ja their favour. Sometimes it is a succ S3, uftener not. The women are most confiding gamblers, recklessly betting on any " tip " given by men they like, and losing their money on the wildest chanpes. The easy predulity of this class of batters makes their adven tures no surprise to the bookmakers, how ever wi'd they may seem. This enables th mto lend themselves more easily to a ccnspua-y with the race track frauds, as they can take a large bet on a horse known to be slow without arousing suspicion. A very large proportion of them are sporting women, but not all. The majority pose as widows. Those who are most devoted to the race's are usually those whose male supporters are men connected with the track There are, however, women there belonging to families of respectability and social position. I had pointed out to me in one ! of Chicago's popular pool rooms the wife | or a prominent iudge, the wife of an army officer tf hi^h-rank, and £he wife of a wealthy stockbroker 1. These women come from varying motives. Some Who have had too little to <Jp» finding nothing to enlist their affectjon and energies in this world of ne»d and of hope, have b,een senf to this gambling by their physicians to relieve their muni and its pnsequenfc dyspepsia and other ills, Bouia indulge only occasionally as a recreation, many seek It for its stimulating excitement, others have a speculative mind and deal in horses and races, and speculate (l on change," thesame as they do in real estate Qne striking feature of gamblers, especi ally of ferule gabblers, is their superstij tion. AJid here is seen #n£ of the worst use? in whjch the 'recent developments of itya psychic phenomena have been put). Very many gai#blerp, in Oh'^cago. at leasS, particularly women, systej^ticfUy con sult mediums regarding their chances, and blindly follow all they are told. Sometimes bh* y win, and sometimes th#y do nor, The women hold for the moat parti he same supernatural reference for certam elbmentß of tha gambling machinery For instance, •' a yellow"— as the tfch g aph dispatches givl ig pointers oh tjhe races are called—in the hands of a horgemariis looked uyxm as omnipotent authority. They believe anyfhirtp they. read on % telegram, and .the horse men, kuowicgthis, u.ntproffi% reHftwlf

manipulating bogus telegrams and leading them to bet on some " dead horse." Tne usual bet of the woman is tea dollars, but 'hey often stake more, sometimes as much as five hundred dollars.

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Cable news on fourth page. Parliament meets on Thursday, June 20.

Mr H. J. Le Oren, one of tho pioneer merchants of Tiraaru, died yesterday aft^rn^on, aged eixty-eight. The Union Steamship Company has chartered the steamer Mount Sirion, 5000 tons, for Calcutta to New Zealand trade

Mr John Thompson, a very old resident of Lyttelton, and who last year occupied tha position of mayor of that borough, died suddenly yesterday. The bill to be given by the bachelors of Pendarves Lakes pace on Wednesday, May 22, in the schoolroom. If the weither be fine visitors should find this a nice outing.

Ano'her information for embezzlement has been laid against the late city rate collector of Ohtistchureh. It is under stood that up to the present deficiencies amounting to £250 have baen discovered in h;s books.

The Sorth Qtago Times saya that the Treasury officers at Wellington received a voucher the other day for the payment of money owing to two contractors, and across it was written * ' Memo for Mr Seddon— These men are two of your strongest supporters in this district,' At the Wellington Technical School a carpentry class has been formed, and pro mises to be a success. In connection with the Auckland Technical School Association forty students have been enrolled, bat no female students have as yet applied in their section. The Wellington Shorthand Society has decided to communicate with kindred associations in the colony with a view to ioint action in forwarding a request from New Zealand phonographera to London for the establishment of a branch of the National Phonographic Society, At the Wanganut Meat Freesing Com pany's works Mr Job Oeborne has siu.k two 2in wells. One at a depth of 350 ft gives a flow of 28,800 gallons a day, rising to a height of 10ft above the surface, the other at; » depth of 600f c gives a flow of 21.600 gallons a day, rising to a height of 22ft. During the last few days the wheat market has shown a marked improvement. On Saturday 10,000 bushels of mixed wheat were sold in Ohristchurch at a trifle over 3* Id f.o.b. at Lyttelton, and yester day the same firm sold 12,000 bushels at prices ranging from 3s to 3s l£d f.o.b. at Lyttelton. The two red deer imported from Victoria by the Otago Acclimatisation Society two months ago have been released from quarantine. They are in splendid con dition. Mr Deans, the Society's manager, left town yesterday afternoon with the i animals in hia charge, tnd next week he will liberate them at Like Hawea. Mr Villiers, the war correspondent, in , the course of an interview with a Press representative, said :—• The idea in Japan seems to be to go ahead as fast as possible with manufactures. If she does that she will want a lot of your Australian wool, I for she cau'fc grow it herself—she has no grass, At a crowded temperance meeting at Napier a resolution was unanimously passed calling the attention of the Minister for Justice to the fact that there are justices of the peace who run totnKsafcors, and pointing cut that such appointments are inconsistent with the position, and asking in future that due regard be paid to the business of the appointees. The death is announced, at the Inver cargill Hospical, of Charles James Ald ridge, a barrister and solicitor, at one time a well-known figure in Dunedin, and afterwards practising at Gore. He was at one time managing clerk for the late Mr John Hyde Harris. His constitution broke down about five years ago, and he had to enter the Invcrcargill Old Men's i Home. The youth of New Plymouth tried a new and exciting but dangerous game recently. While there was a crowd on the beach, a man, dressed in what looked like a prison garb, was seen hurrying ahead of another person dressed in imi'ation of a warder. The game was made very realistic, when a third party raised a rifle and took a pet shot with bank cartridge at the supposed prisoner, who carried out his part by falling down as if shot. The origin of many an illness is the cold caught at a funeral, and we are apt to put this down to our lamentable climate; but an Indian correspondent shows us that, much as the graveside is a danger loathe variable weather of England, so even in ludia funeral rites are attended with parallel risks, The Hindus always bathe in a river after assisting to burn the dead, and in some seasons the weather renders the practice a dangerous one. It is re ported, in fact, that after every Hindu funeral two or three of ihe mourners are stricken with pneumonia.—The Hospital

The Clutha Leader says that under the direction of Mr Gilruch all Mr I. C. Anderson's pigs at Stirling were destroyed, as also the portions of the buildings with which the pigs had como in contact. There were sixty pigs, jnc'uding eighteen breeding; sows aricj two boars. Of the sixty pigs, thirteen were fpund to be diseased, and were not, therefore, in cluded in the valuation a 1 lowed by law. All the pigs were slaughtered aad th • carcases burned. Th.c roofs and walls were painted with, hot lima, and the pad dock in which the pigs had been running will be ploughed. Mr Anderson will re ceive £61 10 1 as compensation for the p'gs destroyed.

I The charges of sly grog-selling against Matthew MoOallum (of Edendale) and Edward Attwood (of Fortrose), heard at Wyndham on Wednesday were dismissed. Evidence for the prosecution was given by two paid inform rs, but as it was not corroborated the magistrate declined to place much reliarce upon it. The Mataxlra Ensign states that tbe crowd which gathered afcer the case, assumed a rather threatening attitude towards the men, and it is said one of the informers drew a revolver and fired a shot. He was disarmed, and It is understood an informa tion will be laid against him for discharg ing firearms in a public place. When the coach was^eaving three groans were given for the informers. ' ' Modern Jericho, -the Jericho of to day,' says a JFrenjh trafeller, Us now a small Turkish citadel, composed of three or four new nouses built for the conven ience of pilgrims and tourists, fifty Arab huts of dried mud an 1 dead thorn-briars,, and a few Bedouin tents. Close by, the Dead Sea spreads out her mysterious shioud above the vanished kingdoms of Sodom and Gomorrah. Of primitive Jericho, the Jericho whose walls fell down at the sound of Joshua's trumpet no ves tige rsma|p,g, neither is there any trace of that Jericho of the Prophets o^Tered by Antony to Cleopatra, then sold by her to Herod, and finally destroyed under si»n. There |a no'Klng even to recall the later Jericho puilt by the Emperor Hadrian, and o.f vhich, t}}e P^usaders brought home wondrous tales." All these phantom cities have passed away as in a dream.

Toe Victorian railway revenue for ten mpntha of the financial year shows a decrease of £ 132,000, as compared with the same period last yen". A Welling on Press Association message says : —The Government have under con sideration whether boats from Qaeensknd carrying cattle should be allowed to come into New Zealand waters to coal. 1h;,; question at issue is whether a vessel will i be allowed to briiig hwr cattle into New

Zealand waters, or whether she wi'l be allowed to do so buc be quarantined and coaled in quarantine on arrival This will be decided at to day's meeting of the Cabinet. In any case a vessel will not be allowed to come alongside the New Zea land wharves or to take on board other

cattle to complete her leading here. The Ruapuna Kingsley Club held its ordinary meeting on Friday evening. The attendance was not so large as on the previous two occasions. IVfr G Whitelaw occupied the chair. The evening was devoted to a draught tournament. Time did not permit playing the tournament to a conclusion. For the best of three cornea

the iollowing were the winners: —S. Criflfgle'on, W, Trethewey and James Dryle. Messrs F. Symonds and J. G. Whitelaw's games resulted in two draws. The Tournament will be continued as opportunities arise. The programme for

next evening is ' Short papers on interest ing topics. The meeting closed with the national anthem. The adjourned meeting of the sub scribers of the Ruapuna Library was held in the schoolroom on Friday evening, Mr P. S. Cordeaux presiding. Mr H. Rayner, librarian, . read correspondence from Mr George Hogben, Tlmaru, sflnd ing a list of the books prescribed for reading by the Australasian Home Read ing Society for this year. Catalogues were sent by Messrs H. M. Jones and J. Maraden, of Ashbnrton, and Simpson and I Williams, of Christchurch. Tc was re solved to make the final selection of books on Tuesday night. The librarian and Treasurer were entrusted with getting a bookcase put up in tho school to receive the books. The meeting then terminated The Sydney Mail gives an account of successful rabbit trapping carried on at Mount Start. A tank on the run Is fenced with wire netting, in which 82veral holes are made just above the ground. In these holes cylinders made of netting are fitted ; they are about 18in. long and narrow from nearly a foot diameter to 4|in- at the inner end. The rabbits enter freely to drink, and once inside they are unable to get out, as they keep dose to the fence and never attempt to get out the way they came in, the small end of the cy'inder being 18in, from the fence. In one night 2550 rabbits were trapped in this way, and on another occasion there were 3411 rabbits caught. In four such traps on the Mount Sturt run 12,000 rabbits were caught and slaughtered in a week. The great advantage of this plan of destroying rabbits ia that very little labor is required. An Auckland Press Association tele gram states that Lieutenant Hume and a detachment of the Permanent Artillery leave to-day hy train for Rotorua, en route for Galatea. It is understood that intelligence has been received that the Natives have interfered with the sur veyor's party. News from Roftorua is to the-effect that the Uriwera Natives at Tewhite had carried off Mr Phillips' guide and stopped him from surveying any further. InspectorEmerson'coramunicafced the facta to the Premier. Ihe police ate camped ten miles from Galatea, en the Napier side of the plain. The unemployed are tented half a mile distant. The other paity are down at Waihaiu, twenty miles nearer the enst than Galatea. Mr Munro Wilson ia taking the level of what will be the Galatea Whakatane road. This will go over a spur down to the back of Tuput stalior, ten miles from Wakatane The Kmtoki road, Tewhiti, going along an old Maori track, ia being widened, so as to take a dray. Mr Webb is laying that road off to Tewhiti. Inspector Emerson has only eight men at the front, and the Natives are decidedly insolent. He treat them civilly, but with great firmness. Hollow ay's Pills and Ointment are remedies which should invariably be tsken by travellers in search of health, pleasure or business. Many deleterious influences are constantly at work in foreign climes, tending to deteriorate the health ; these and the altered conditions of 1 fe will entail on those who travel the necessity of carefully attend ing to early symptoms of disease, and they will find the use of these remedies to be highly necessary, the action of the Pills being purify in g and strengthening and of great services in oases of fever, ague, and all inflammatory diseases, whilst the Ointment is a sovereign cure in cases of piles, bad legs, bad breasts, wounds and ulcers. Holloway's remedies do not deteriorate by change of olimate.

CORRESPONDENCE

(We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents)

AMBULANCE CLASS.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir,—lt was with much pleasure that I read Mr H. A. Mackay's letter suggesting the establishment in Ashhurton of an ambulance class. Accidents are a contingent liability from which none are exempt, and this liability is ever increasing with the progress of the times. Machinery, railways, steam-boats, electric lights, etc , along with their many benefits, have their attendant risks, frequently resulting in accidents in places far removed trom medical assistance, life-long effects of a broken limb depend largely upon the treatment it receives in its early stages, hence, in a large agricultural district like Ashburton, an ambulance class should receive a cordial support; We all know that what is learnt in childhood and youth is easiest acquired and longest re-, numbered, hence it would be a great mutter to a community if some plan could be devised of making ambulance work a compulsory part of children's education, for when school days are ended, boys and girls in following their fortunes in life, are led into many remote comers of the earth. The success of aay such class depends upon regular attend ance at lectures and persistent practice. The former necessity is the great difficulty to students distant from Ashburton, owing to the day and time of meeting, distance, weather, etc., yet that difficulty could be easily surmounted by the forbearance of the class in going pvt»r back work, and by the help of a few of the most advanced and enthusiastic members. Then, sir, if country students formed a junior class in their own districts on other evenings than those of the parent class, there would be a wide dissemination through the country of useful knowledge of the best methods of caring for the wounded. (Sincerely hoping to <see an ambulance class 1 started speedily—l am 2 etc , 'An Ix'jjEis'DiNd S'tcdent. -

THE COREAN WAR.

Shanghai, M*y 18 Japan has refused the Chinese re quest for an extension of time for the transfer of Formosa, pending further proposals. May 20. | Li Hung Chang's son, the Governor! of Formosa, has been instructed by the, Chinese Government to hand the Island over to thdifapanfefse. '

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The usual meeting of the Ashburton Borough Council was held on Monday. Present—The Mayor (presiding) and Crs Thomas, Collins, Bird, Orr, Reid, Brooke, Paul and Cuthbertson. , FINANCE. I The Mayor stated that there was a debit 1 balance at the bank of £1578 2«, and the in come from all sources received since last meeting had been £89 13s. AMBULANCE CLASSES. Mr H. A. Mackay wrote, stating that it was intended to hold a public meeting on Monday evening, May 27, for the purpose of establishing ambulance classes in Aahbuiton, and asked, on behalf of the promoters, for the use of the Council chambers for the pur pose. It wu decided te grant the use of the chambers for the preliminary meetings at present. HUE BRIGADE PLANT. Messrs Shand, Mdßon and Jo., of Black frurs Road, London, wrote under da'e. April 4, 1895, seating the hose, etc., ordered m January Uet, bad been shipped by the Kimutaka The firm were alaoforwardiog free a cap for the delivery outlet of the curricle engine. WILLS STREET, EAST. Certain ratepiyers in Will* street, east, wrote, expressing their desire to have the noith side ef the street asphalted. Thia footpath extends from Mr Cookton'a atabla* to the section beyond, the Oddfellow*' Hall. Certain portions went asked to be done the whole width, the others only half. It was understood that the work be done either in whole or in half, but there was to be no patchwork, and the matter waa left ia the hands of the engineers. „„ *'188 BRIGADE COMMITTEE. Ihe Fire Brigade Committee reported at follows, whioh report was adopted: Lamp at Bridge Shed-Your Committee beg to report that they have visited the brigade station, and have decided to provide the brigade with a lamp and to keep the •sine m repair, the brigade to find the oil and arrange ior lighting and extinguishing. Break for Steam Fin Engine— Your Com mittee do not recommend that a break be procured for the steam fire engine at present. FINANCE COMMITTEE'S REPORT. The Finance Committee* report wai read, suggesting several direction* in which saving* could be effected with the object of reducing the overdraft. Some diacuaaion took place on the propriety of diacusaing the report that evening, a* several member* desired to have an opportunity of consider* ing the icems, and it waa decided to hold over tho report till next meeting. SHINGLE* It was decided to invite tender* for the cartage of 400 yds or more of shingle for road work. ENGINEERS' REPOETi The report of the Engineer* was read as follow*:—Labour Gang—The men have been engaged during the past two weeks in forming the North-east Belt, repairing the traffic bridge, shingling footpath*, street*, felling trees, repairing fence*, etc., in Domain, repairing culverts, attending to the water supply and sundry work* of mainten ance. inspector's report. The Inspector of Nuisances reported on one or two instances of alleged breaches of the by-laws, and the usual steps -were ordered to be taken. One clause wa* re* ferred to the Work* Committee to iupecb the premise* referred to. The Inspector was appointed oolleotor of the Dog Tax in the Borough. LICENSES. Public building* license* were issued to Messrs R. Elaton and W. E. Dolman. ACCOUNTS. Accounts to the amount of £75 17* 4d were pasted for payment. DOMAIN BOARD. The Council sat a* a Domain Board—-the same member* present.—The curator re ported the presentation to the Board by Mr Andrew Gebbie, of the Head to the B*y, of a pair of black Muscovy ducks. The thanks of the Board were ordered to be tendered to Mr Gebbie. The curator* plan of planting for the season was adopted.

FOOTBALL.

The Aehburton Football Club have arranged two matches on the Queen's Birth day. The first fifteen will try conclusion* with the Eut Caristchnrch Football Club in the afternoon at 2.30 p.m. In the morn ing the Second fifteen will play the Spring burn Club. This will be the first match in connection with Mr D. Thomas' trophy. The match will start at 11 a,m. Following will represent First Fifteen—Thompson, A. Stewart, Curtis, Prichard, Wilson, Upton, HeaV. Todd, Cromie, Baird, Burke, Gram mitt, A. Williams, Fooks, Pauling. Emer gencies—A. Wilson, Burns, Kennedy, Me* Teague.

Following will represent the Second- Kennedy, Conter, A.. W laon, L. Andrewes, Jefferies, Thiel, Dorm, Burns, Walker, Steward, Mitchell, Shearman, McTeague, Hepbourne, J, Henry. Emergencies— M tson, Dobbin, Price, Dixon, Treziae*

The first meeting of the season between the Dunsandel and Rakaia teams took place last Saturday on the ground of the latter, and resulted in a decided win for the home team by 21 points to nil. Both teams 'showed at times very fair combination. On both sides the forwards and backs suited their play to circumstances, and the position of the game. However, the superiority of the Rakaia forwards enabfijd their backs to get many chances of scoring, which they promptly availed themselves of. Bray, Santy, Larraman (2), MoOoy tod Harvey gained tries, and Bruce obtained a penalty goal. Rakaia's place-kicking mi not as good&s usual or the score would have been heavier. For the losers Irvine played a dashing forward game, as did another for* ward whose name I could not get. The Wright Brothers and Walker also showed up splendidly at times. The visitors were entertained at dinner alter the matob, at Halliday's hotel. Considering tha interest that Is being taken in the competition for Mr Thoma*s cup which begins next Friday a few remark* on the Rakaia team may not be out oi place, In the first place they are this year a much improved team and will take a lot of beating* In fact I have an impression that if they are not tke winners they will be runners-up for the trophy. Gray, their half-back, is a de cided acquisition to the team, his style o play is juHt whit is wanted to enable the backs to profit by the strength of their for wards. Gallagher the other half will do very well in his new position, eapeoiaUy if he adopts Gray's style of play. w. Shannon : and Santy are playing with great dash this year, but the former does not know yet what Ito do with the bill on the tonoh line* Both these forwards did Borne pretty dribbling runs on Saturday. Larraman, as a three quarter, is piaying a better game than 1 have ever seen him do before, .and with his pace will prove a dangerous man. Bruce, the skipper and full-back, is a» safe as ever. Harvey, the centre three-quarter, is a. good tackier but has not the ulightrsfc idea ot starling, or taking pirt in a pasting rush. Bray, the otber three-quarter, will be found a very hard nut to crack, he p ays with plenty of dash and is as sfcfong as an ox.'

CRICKET.

London, May 19 Stoddart will manage the next team of English cricketers, which is to visit Aui< t alia in 1897.

COMMERCIAL.

London, May SO Beerbohm's circular attributes the firm tone of the wheat market to a belief that the ... pear's crop will be fifteen million quarters

THB ASHBtJR!fOft (MJA&DIAN: TtJESDA?, MA* 21, 1896.



emsmess Notices "~~ r~¥7kD~T i m c s. ~ ISO MONEY. NO MONEY. |"T is almost impossible to give things aw-y, but never mind, com) and try G. J. NEILJL FOR DBiPERY, CliOTfllWtf, & BOOTS. Make no error ; he is cheaper than any other in Canterbury. Dress Goods 4£d Double Width Dress Goods Is 6i now U White Calico* Is lid d< z n Double Bed white Twill Sheeting, 9£d FUnnellettag 2s lid dozen Plaids, 8M and 6£d Towrtls 2id each Cretonne 3M BUnketa Blanketa. Double Bed Colonial All Wool Flannel, white, grey, and pink, Blankets 25s 6d, reduced to 18a 6d Bjd | Ltdies* and Children's Ulsters and Jackets Corsets, Corsets Millnery at fmt own price Ladies Stockings 6d clothTng. Men's Tweed Suit, 18s 6d Colonial Heavy Tweed Suite, 32s 6d, re ; Men's Baddle Tweed Trousers, (all wool) dnced to 21s 6d. !3 3 cd Men's Tweed Trousert, 6s lid Men's Tweed Overce%to with O»pes, 18s 6d Boys' Snifcs, 3a Ud Boys Caps, 6d each Bocks» shlrtß«and Hats«ali y°ur own Pnoe bootsT""boots. The maker of our Boots guarantees satisfaction, or he will replace them. Men's Bluchers, 4s lid Men's Balmorals, 7<s 6d Children's Strong Leather Boots from Women's Strong^Leather Boots, 5a lid 3a lid, this is no rubbish Women's Strap Shoes from 4a lid Women's Carpet Slippers, Is 3d. , v Q. J~"PiEILL FBIBDLAKDER'S CORNER, BAST STREET, ASHBURTON. Agent for Yarmouth Oil Skins. WE ABB CASH BUYEBS OF Wheat, oat#» AND Barlej, IN LARGE AND SMALL QUANTITIES} At Highest Market Rates. T^ARMERS will consider their interest in submitting Samples to us jj before closing elsewhere. FRIEDLATOER AND CO. FLETCHER BROS. ARE SELLING f\ BAIN AND PEA FED BACON AT FACTORY PRICES. Finest Cured Hams ... ... ... ... .-. ■ - 7£d "per lb Finest Cured Bacon (pale'or smoked) 6£d per lb Finest Cured Rolled Bacon (Pale or Smoked) 6fd P<* lb Finest Lard in Bladders ... 5d per lb Finest Lard in Sausago Skins ... ... 6d per lb Sterling Factory Full Cream Cheese • ••• 6i per lb Fern Leaf Separator Butter ... —Ud Per lb ' Best Dairy Butter 9d per lb Prime Dairy Butter 7d & 8d per lb COFFEE. COFFEE. COFFEE. We are giving Special Attention to our coffees. The Berrie3 are selected with the greatest care, freshly roasted to our order, and are ground on the premises daily and are only mixedwith a very small per centage of chicory of the finest quality. We cm con6dently recommend it as superior to anything in the market. % No 1 Cotfee Finest Quality, Is 8J No 2 Ootfee, Good Quality, Is Gd No 3 Coffee, Good Valne, Is Id Pure Coffee 2s Od , Whole Roasted 2s Od KEROSME. KEROSBNP. KEROSENE. When you are requiring Kerosene it will be to your advantage to enquire our price before buying elsewhere. POTATOES — BEST BLUE DERWENTS, 3s Gd per bag; 2 baga for Cs 6J, Delivered within the belts. %St NOTE ADDRESS, FLETCHER BROS, CISH SUPPLY STORES, EAST STREET, ASHBURTON. ACON, BACON. ""Grain and Pea! U7ANTED KNOWN. —F. S fed at Factory p:ioes. Finest »» Jeffeißs, leading Confectioner Smoked Pale Hams 7|d per lb, titest and Fruiterer of Ashburton, Jfiast Street, Smoked Pale Sides ana Rolls 6£ ' pn- lb next the Corner. Ice Cr.e,amp, Fresh Finest Factory Ci eeso 61 per lb. Note Fruits, Confectionery, Summer drinjks qi address—FiETCHßii Bivos-i Cash Supply 1 evory dusoriptiun. Ice at reasonable Sturdy, AybbuitG.* J rat^, \®&m iWvm a specialty. \*V&



f Wanted. The Witlie» ed Quince- May S4. STRONG Second-hand Safe y Bnycl •, Cushion Tyre, £8 cash; Safeiy B'cycle, Clincher Tyres, Good Machine, £13 ; term* if required —H. M. Jones. pARSON AND COS Stocktaking Sale Now on. Groceries, Ironmongery, Bru«hware, Glass and China, at very low prices for cash. 5 129 BOOKS —My Shop will be Closed up on Saturday night, June 1. Be in time for extraordinary cheap bargains. — John Marsdbn, Tancred Street. ■ OST, —A Huntirg Crop with plated -■-^ handle Finder rewarded on leav ing same at this office. 5 146 ORDBiRS for dyeing gaiments of every description left at McCallum's, Tancred Street, or Mis Styles, Burnett Street, near Brigade Station, will be attended to by John Gkaham, a dyer of foity years' experience. 5 155 /CHOICE FRUlTS.—Peaches, banana, v/ granges, lemons and tomatoes, at HA. Flowbb, Fruiter and Confectioner, East Htreet \LL persons owing Accounts to the late W. J. Hampton, furniture dealer of East street, are requested to pay same at once to Mrs Hampton, Burnett street. 5 25 WANTED— Everyone to visit our Large Show Room now replete with new styles for the season.—Mitchell and Turner. "T7"OUNG Ladies' Journals for May, JL Weldon's Ladies' Journal for April. Children's Bazaar. New Books and Magazines now in,—H. M. Jones. WANTED Known — Great Bargains are now being given for Cash in all departments. Before laying oot your money for Drapery, Boots, etc , give us a call.— H. C. Segjers, Melford House. ANTED Known, that the crockery * and earthenware business of the late W. J. Hairpton, East street, will be carried on by Mrs Hampton in Burnett street-, opposite the Club. 5 24 WANTED Known — The Misses Urquhabt have started Dress making, and having a thorough knowledge of the business, combined with moderate charges, hope to receive a share of the public patronage. Address: Tancred Street, next to F. W. Hall, Herbalist. WANTED Known.—Lowest possible prices for Men's Knit Under clohhinsr, Shirts, and Heavy Boots.— Mitchell and Turner. /"IHOICE New Season Fruit. Grapes, V^ Peaches, Pines, Plums, Bananas, Apples, Apricots, and Tomatoes ; the best in town.—Adams, S Minders' Buildings. WANTED K>own — Mrs Hooper (monthly nurse) is open to accept engagements. Apply, by letter, to Mrs Hooper, Alford Foreet Road, Ashburton. 11*134 l tj ANTED KNOWN. -The celebrated ** Yarmouth Oilskins can be ob tained at W.H Collier, "The Corner." "POTATOES. Potatoes. Finest Blue JL Derwenb Potatoes 3s 6d per big or two bags for6*6d. Delivered anywhere within the Belt. Finest Separator Butter Hi per lb, —Fletcher Bros , Ashburton \LL A<counts Owing to Josbph £*-/> Taylor, East street, Ashburton, must be paid on or bef-re Monday, May 20. or will be sued for without farther notice. All goods will be sold for Cash Only from this dabe. 5 9? Y\TANTSD KNOWN.—Warm carpec * slippers for Winter wear. git-Is 9d. Is, ir man's ls9J.—W. H. Collier, 1 The Corner." CASH, CASH. Drapery, Boots, Cloth ing, etc. New Goods just opened. Every thins; reduced for Cash.—-H. C Segers, Melford House. flf ANTED Known—Spectacles, Eye YY Protectors, Goggle?. Folders, and everythina In the optical line at S. Salbk's, Optician. QPtfdAL JNOTICE.— Suits »ad Single ikj Garments made to meabure. Fit and style with prices to suit the times Large purchaso Heavy K*kpoi Trousers and Knit Underclothing.—Mitchell and Turnew. NOTICE 1 Notice Sport for all Guns let out on hire or sold on time payments. Having a professional Gunsmith on the premises, I undertake to repair Guns of any description. Gun fittings in efcopjj, Prices low.—J. W Hardley, Ironmonger, pfe BOY'S and Girls Own Annual, British Workman and Workwoman, Infant's Magazine, The Prize, Child's Companion, Children's FrUncL Little Dob, Family Friend, Band of Hope, Young England, and Other New Books at Lowest Prices. — L. F. Akdebwes and Co. 11 08 BANG! Bang i Bang i My new sea son's stock of Ammunition to hand Eley's, Kynock's and, Club Cartridges, Powder, Shot, Caps, Wads, Oase3 and all sporting materials of the first quality at J. W. Hardley's, Gun Emporium WANTED Known—That lam hod ing a Salo at Reduced Prices for One Month. Come for Bargains. I hava the advantage over nnny in the trade for the simple reason that I have no partners to pay dividends to, nr interest on loan to carry on big concerns. But I buy and sell none but the best, no fcrash to draw the unwary. Repairs as usual, done at Once.-=-J. Mo^ok, Boot Store, East street, Ashburton.. i? 138 f CHRISTMAS Presents, Choice Orna \J ments, Zithers and Jew's Harp?, Balls atsd Dolls fof everybody from Id each; Jointed Dolls for 1 6d, Sleeping Beauties Is, Chinese Conquerors fld, Russian Embassies la. Walking Men, Talking Dolls, Scotch Greys, and Ennis killen Dragoons all wonderfully cheap at Mac Alcorn's Ladies' Underclothing and Fancy Bazaar, Havelock street. WANTED Known—We are reducing the whole of our Drapery, Boots, Clothing, etc, For Cash, New Drosses, New Jackets, New Hats, etc , will all be reduced. —H. C. Segeiis, Melf ord House. ROBERT ALCORN has opened in Baker's Buildings, next the Court house, with a stock of Clothing, etc., bought at Edwards, Bennett's and the Kaiapoi Sales, the cheapest lot of goods |«yer brought to Ashburton, Also an ! assortment of Boots. WANTED.— IQOQ Men fco look at the oheap Drapery from Australia, at Melbourne prices. *' The $Lue Hour,©/ 1 is the place to get it, at the Corner of > Arcade, and doi>'t you forget fa. + 24$ C] UNS ! Guns ! Guns ! My new stock VjJf of Gunsj usfc to hand direct. from the manufacturers. Double and Single Barrel JBreech Leaders, Rifles, etc. In spection invited. No old stock to select from at 4. % IJUUWBY'S Sporting Repository



OWN Make In Ladies' and Children's Underclothing, Aprona, and Pina fores ; also a good assortment of Calicoes, Muslins, Flannelettes, Trimming*, etc., at Mks Aigorn's new shop, Baker's Buildings. WINTER. 152 Men's, Boys' and Youths' Tweed Overcoats, with Cape, to be cleared this season at 20 per cent under ordinary pi ices ; 69 w ßoys' and Youths Macfarlane Over coats, new shape, to be Sold at 12$ per cent lower than last season 28 Boys' Double-breasted Reefers from 10a 9i WATERPROOF COATS. Our Coats are to be seen all over the Country. S P E 0 I A L. Ladles' Waterproof Cloaks made to measure ; all Sewn Seams. A SHBURTON "QLA.NKBTS, Large Double Bed Size, WINTER BOOTS. It will pay you to Buy your BOOTS from the NEW ZEALAND CLOTHING FACTOR/. i ALEX. HJSNDRY. Manager. NEW WEDDING PBESENTS. CHOICE ! BIRTHDAY PRESENTS, AND PRESENTATIONJGOODS, AT S. SALEK'S,; WATCHMAKER, and] MANUFACTORING JEWELLER J EAST STREET AT THIS JEWELLERY [ESTAB LISHMENT IS TO BE SEEN THE LARGEST AND^CHOIGEST STOCK of JEWELLERY & SILVER [WARE Tn the District. s£l i



Pure Blood is the Secket o* Health Gordon's BziOOD Pills cleanse the system of all impure blood, cure iudigestion.con stipation, liver complaint, pains in back and Bides, biliousness, sick headache; remove piinplos; scrofula, soprw. nto. Larpe boxes 6b; two boxes, 10a, obit free, J W CUyton,



Fo,r ItfDjGESTjoi?, the best remedy ia un doubiedly Norton's Ca:«o*iilk Pills. They can confidently be recommended m being mild in operation and absolutely free from injurious drugs. Acting at once as a splen did tonic and a gentle aperient. For nearly 100 years they have proved unequalled for Indigestion, Dyspepsia, sick Headache and for Liver and Stomach compla to. Sold in bottles Is l£d, 2« 9d, and 11s, by all Medi cine Vendors throughout the world, A impljfc ■*!« Md oarUin remedy ,



One Box of Clarke's B 41 Pells iswarrag ted to cure all ilischtrges from the <Vnuif Organs, in either sex (acquired or doMli* tutional), Gravel and Fains In the Bark. Guarranteed free from Mercury. . Sold in Boxes 4s 6d each, by all Chemists and Fatal. Medicine Vendors throughout the World Proprietors : The Lincoln and Midland Counties Dbco CoMPAny, Lincoln, England Rheumatism.— Dr E. Gordon's remedy nev£r tails in permanently ouriaf rheuma tism, lumbago, sciatica, goat, etc, one bottle gives relief. Price IQs.posi free. J. Wi