TO CORRESPONDENT.

Akdfert. — Portions of your letter are libellous, and generally it is too personal for our columns.

Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1896. RETROSPECTIVE.

Now that £* election fever has sub sided, and people w n look without prejudice at all aspects of the uu° IQ63S ' it may not be out of place to refer to j a few points which must have struck the impartial observer. For instance, the excellent organisation of Mr Wright's Committee by which the printed "addresses of that gentleman were placed before almost every elec tor m the district", go to show that the time honoured custom of a personal 'exposition of a candidate's political views is. not always necessary — more .particularly m the c.s »i a public man whose political opinions aie well known. As things are conducted now, . it would probably be looked upon as a slight to the electors if a candidate neglected the orthodox addresses m every centre, unless he could plead a good excuse, as good as Mr Wright was able to offer. But there can be no doubt the present custom has a good many drawbacks. Amongst these is the item of expense. In a democratic country like this it ought — theoretically— to be feasible for any , person, possessing the necessary quali fications for a representative, to offer his services. But as a matter of fact the expenses connected with an elec tion — chiefly due to having to visit and address electors m the most dis tant places — render it absolutely neces sary that a man should have a consi • derable sum of money to spare before 1 he can think of becoming a candidate. ■ Ihis does not seem to be quite m ac -3 cordance with the spirit pf the New Zealand We are in \ clined to think that if a dif ferent system prevailed there would not be so many candidates for election whose qualifications are con fined fco the ability to spout and I pay. It migfrt not bj9 desirable to do , away with public platform addresses. ' but it would certainly be an improve I ment if that part of the business were not so much a matter of necessity as it is now supposed to be, and probably is — 9ince it has been generally admitted that Mr Wright was heavily h&ndi capped m the late contest, owing to his 3 not speaking m the various eeotres, 1 If this be true, then all the more credit 5 is due to his committee. Another matter that has caused some comment is the position of Mr McLachlan on the f poll. In view of the facts that the portion of the old electorate which might be considered his stronghold was . cut 0$ from the new one, and that he - had made some eerjogs lapses from the proprieties during the pag/t three years, a great many people thought he would 3 be below Mr Savde. As a matter of 3 fact ,^owje,veir'. he not only secured second pjace, but pojUed within forty * votes of the number m his favop iv 1.8#3. The explanation we think is i to be found m the knowledge that with ; all his fault?, Mr *Fohn Mcfcachlan is \ an honest man, one whs nevpr r neglected the interests of his con stituents, and never deserted a friend. Notwithstanding his welUknown fail \ ing, he must possess the powei* of keeping his friends op so many would not have fojund to record their yotes for him on the 4th\ JLet us hope that the lesson wil} nos be Jbst on him. The following special notice haw been issued from the post office : — The poSi office, by means of MONEY LETTERS, a conspicuous no tice placed over ever/ posting-b,ox m £he colony, cau tions the public against sending money and valuable articles ia unregistered letters. Notwithstanding this warnr ing, money continues to be sent by post m unregistered letters, and fre quently m the most careless manner. lp will hardly be credited by psople who are careful ia such matters that it

is a common thing to find m the post office letters crammed full with bank notes, very often m the flimsiest of covers. Frequently the contents pro trude from the envelopes, or are found loose m the mail-bags, having burst their envelopes, and frequently letters filled with notes are carelessly thrown loose into railway-vans for the guard to deliver with the mails. Many other cases could be instanced of carelessness ! on (he part of the public m sending money by post. It often happens that letters containing money are alleged to have be^n lost m the post office, and it has frequently been proved beyond doubt that such letters were either not posted or were mislaid or lost after due delivery. When an unregistered money-letter, alleged to have been sent by post, is reported missing, it may happen that suspicion is cast on every one concerned — viz., on the person supposed to have posted the letter, the officers of the post office through whose hands the letter would pass, and the person who would m ordinary oourse receive the letter from the post office, either from a street-door letter-box, a private letterbox, over the post office oounter, or from the hands of a letter-carrier. No record is kept of unregistered letters, and persons who post such letters containing money expose to temptation every one through whose hands they may pass, and m the event of non-delivery suspicion is cast on many innocent persons. The public are again earnestly requested to register all letters containing money or valuables intended to be sent by post. Letters can be registered at every post office m the colony, and the fee for such registration is- only three pence. Receipts are given for re gistered leters. The letters are traced from hand to hand, and a receipt obtained on delivery ; there fore it is very rare that a registered letter is lost.— W. Gray, Secretary. General Post Office, Wellington, October 29, 1896. The Freetrade Heaven of Unlimited Cheapness has fallen on Sydney. A meal of threecourses, CHEAP threepence ; bed and EVERYTHING, breakfast, sixpence ; pair of shoes, one and-nine ; boots, two-and-six ; trousers, three-and-three , full suit, ten-and-nine ; wages for coachmen and gardeners— when they can get them — -fiVe shillings a week and found ; and an immortal soul for eighteen-pence. What more can be asked. Between the storekeepers it is war to the knife, and the tragedy is none the less real if the ruined home 3of the defeated are known only to the few. Twenty per cent— thirty per cent — discount is placarded on every shop window j they serve you butter where you buy your bonnets, candles where they sell spades, and no man is sure when he goes to buy a shirt thao X< * w *^ no * over a k° x °^ eggs. ""The big I*"* 3 bav^ crushed or are crushing out, the smaller C2 BS ; & n " are now fighting to a finish among themselves. Stand at the railway X ation between eight and nine o'clock m the morning and notice the crowds that surge into the pity. Ninety per cent are girls and boys who are doing their parents' work at a quarter the [money. The Sunday schools have emptied themselves into the stores and warehouses. Where, one would like to know, are the once familiar thousands of able-bodied men % The lad ot 10s a week is m brisk demand m town — he is nearly equal to the man who once got three pounds, if you know how to boss him. Sydney folks were never very genial — there is an aloofness m the city's social tone reminiscent of the Gpllows Hill days — but now, every man of business -is as hard as a steel wedge and as callous as Nosey Bob. He is otherwise at his peril \ for he hears stories enough of misfortune m one week to strip him of a month's profit if he gave a sign of innate benevolence. But what matters the souring of the better part of our natures, the blight of financial worry thafi banishes the smile from every face? Have we not cheapness, that mighty god whose pants are made at fourpence halfpenny and shirt at five farthings ! can we not dress up m shoddy and — for a few days — look respectable. Is this rubbish, with its 50 per cent off for cash, as good ultimate value as an article that might cost, say, three .times the price 1 1s the ruin of homes, the breaking of hearts, an item m the bill of cost ; or are we mere counters for money-sharks to gamble with, step ping-stones m the evolution of a race of selfrdegraded serfs?— Sydney paper. General Grodekqef, a Russian general who made a name by a ride to JJerat some years A LOXG MARCH, ago, and who now holds a command on the Amur, gives an interesting account of a remarkable march of nearly 5000 miles made by Bussian troops. This account appears as an order of the day m the Invalide liuese. (( After a, march of nearly a year's duration, the v 4th and Bth Battalions of the Line of Eastern Siberia, as well as the 2nd and 4th Batteries of the Artillery Brigade of Eastern Siberia, arrived m their new encampments m the Amur district m the middle of ijlune, These troops marched over 7000 versts (say, 4700 English miles), of which '4000 were , by land and 3000 by water; The most trying part of their journey wass that accomplished on rafts between .Chita, Strefce'nsk, and Blago yeafcchensVj OF &b,oufc JS,Q'O versts, be tween the middle of JVJay and the middle of June. The weather wag cold and rainy, and the rivers were very swollen and their currents rapid. To overcome these difficulties the men had to work fourteen hours a day. At eei'tajn stages of the journey the body ■of .troops covered an extern; of twVnty yersts between the 'advanced and rear J guar4s. j>uring the whole "of "the J march the losses were Qnly fcwq officers and four soldiers dead, two officers and j twenty-five men left behind m the hospitals along the route. Toe batteries lost twenty-nine horses. After their arrival I reviewed these troops on tjjiree separata occasions, and found the t»en in 1 good condition and excellent 3pirits. Two" hundred' years 'ago mother Russian force made a similar aiarch to defend the fort of Albazin igainst the Chinese m this very same Amur ntfm?

An article m the Berlin Echo shows \ how British history is made m B Germany. It be- GERMAN BRITISH gins by pointing % HISTORY. out that the Ger- li mans are pushing J ci us to the wall m trade and commerce, then accuses us of bitter hostility, and q lays on our heads the blood of all the p Germans who died m the war on the p Loire ; because, it is alleged, Gambetta l% was supplied with money and arms c from England. Uhen our army and navy are examined. Not only is our £ army at the present a collection of ii drunken wastrels, .but it has never " done anything worth mention. At Waterloo we were saved from rout by v the Prussians, and the French rendered 1 us a similar service at the Alma. The l meaning of Balaclava is that the t English general had taken one glass of , port too many. It was the French who ( took the Malakoff; and our sentries ' wera usually drunk, and were, it seems, j often disarmed m their sleep by the playful Russians. As for the navy, we have no men to fill our ships. Olearly, then, England is powerless both on land and sea. Mr W. W. A, Fitzgerald, who con ducted a special mission (1891-93) to report on the agri- EAST AfRICAN cultural capabilities SLAVERY. of the East African coast lands, and on the islands of Zanzibar and Pemba, writes expressing a doubt whether' those who have so generously taken up the question of African slavery truly realise the many difficulties that sur round this question. As for the treat ment of the slaves, Mr Fitzgerald says, each slave is allowed an allotment of his own, the size varies from 200 by 10 yards to 200 by 50 yards, its produce belonging to him entirely. Any slave may marry a fellow-slave on payment of a fee of two dollars to his master. Owners have no right to enter a slave's house unless m an extreme case, such as searching for a runaway. The owner also never inter feres nor has any claim on the poultry or domestic animals reared and owned by his slaves. Finally, concerning the actual treatment of slaves, my experi ence has been that they sre well treated (though I have heard of individual cases of cruelty), for it is against an owner's interest to ill treat oi overwork them, because, if haishly dealt with, they invariably run away to the various lunaway slave settlements up the Sabaki river and m the bush. Many slave-owners acknowledge the present system to be bad ; but as they state, and with truth, the system is handed down to them and they know no other, and it is only' bare justice that, deprived of their slaves, they should receive assistance m their search for other sources of labour. This is the problem to face and solve firstly, by imported Indian labour and a better system of cultivation.

Local and General.

_ » A report of the meeting of the Coldstream Road Board appears ou the fourth page. At the Dunedin Magistrate's Court to-day Qeorge Walker, a prohibited person, was fined 4§3 for Joeing found on the premises of the (Gladstone Potel. Attention is directed to Mr SaleVs new *fivertisement, which mu3t offer considerable attraction to those intending to mark the Christmas season m the usual manner. We leajfn from Mrs Curtis, Hon. Secretary of the Ashburton Dorcas Society, that there will be no meeting until the first Monday m February, 1897, of which due notice will be given. Qwnera are reminded that nominations for th,e Tinwald facing Club's annual meeting, to be held on New Year's Day, close with the Secretary at Lagan's Hotel, Tinwald, at 9 p.m., on Saturday next. ' Should Mrs McKenzie's health permit the Hon J. McKengie's leaving home, saya the New Zealand Times, it is expected a full Cabinet meeting will be held next week to plear up business before the Christmas vacation. A ewe. belonging to Mr Frank Bailey, of Templeton, haa "well earned her keep this season. She dropped three lambs on August 20 last, reared them successfully, and they were sold for freezing purposea the other day for lla a head, while the ewe at shear ing clipped lOlba of wool. Photographs have been obtained of the fossil remains of the huge saurian discovered at Purangi, Taranaki, last week. The Hawera Star says it is improbable that the Survey Department will go to the expense of digging the remains out of the cliff m which they are imbedded. The annual examinations of pupil teachers under thp North Canterbury Board com mence next Monday. The annual examina tion of teachers of primary schools who desire promotion will be held m different pirts of the colony between the 6th and 15th of January. Civil Service candidates also will be examined between those dales. An interesting bicycle race over two miles of road is on the tapis. The contestants are two well-known business mep, and pne will ride an English machine, jthe other the new Ake, Ake. Both start from scratch, and one of them, who has a good deal of superfluous fat to get off, is m hard training. Every reader of this journal will regret to learn that a Press Association telegram was received at this office last evening stating that Sergeant Moller has been committed to fhe Mount View Asylum. It was known that he had undergone an operation, but we do not think anyone here was prepared to hear of suoh sad news as we have to record. One of the most curious of the precious stones is the opal. Even m its uncut state ( ie is beautiful, and although it is not of so much commercial value as the diamond, there are many persons who consider that it ;is even more striking. In the window of [Mr S. Salek, East street, may be seen a collection of uncut stones, some of them merely preiity, owing to the diversity of the doloringj but some-are really loveiy. Mr H. M. Jones is, as uaual ati Christmaß time, to the fore with all the little nick nanks that are indispensable to the season. Little Jack u^d 'little Mary would be inconsolable* if Santa 'Clay* 4*4 n p b y ' wil fcheir * suspended * stockings' on Christmas morn, so old'Sianta Claua has made' Mr .(ones one of his Ashburtoa captains, and' has store.il gre&t \yealfh of nice things on the ample sheives and gallerieo of Mr Jones? roomy establishment. Parents of good boys and girls should vieit Mr Jones' shop, and see what Old Fafher has laid up m readinesß for hia annual visit. After reading Mt Jones' list m another column, a visit must he paid to the depot. Mr Justioe Edv/ards delivered judgment at Wellington m Vyednesolay m the divorce suit of Martin v Martin, heard last "week, an whioh tho" petitioner, Frederick Martin, a plumber,' jpughj; » fliyorce from his wife on &he ground of alleged mjscpndupt with ! William Ricjgoway, of Cartertpn. His Honor, m the oourpe pf hjs judgment, expressed the opinion that a letter which the petitioner bad produced as having been written by his wife, m whioh she apparently admitted her misconduct, but asked to be taken back, v/aa a forgery. He dismissed the suit, allowing £S&and, disbursements as co&ts to the respondents and,.fiJP f to the co-respondent Ridgeway, The letters pro duoed ia Court were ordered to be im pounded.

A large property sale of the Aaaetß Realisation Board was held m Auckland esterday (says a Press Association tele ram), consisting of business premises m the iby, allotments m the city and su curbs, and 03 building allotments iv the Surrey Hills state. Satisfactory prices were realised. ?he late Sir F. Whitaker's residence, Lake 'akapuna, 23 acres, fetched £55 per acre. )vven and Graham's old Queen street >reuiisea, brought £6475. A number of mrcliasers are m treaty for various lots at eserve prices, so that the sale is regarded as rery successful, and as sbowing investors' lonfidence m the future of Auckland. Holloway's Ointment and Piils. — Hb3ceßses, Erysipelas, and Piles. — Unvary ng success attends all who treat these liseasea according to the simple printed lirections wrapped round each pofc or box. Phey ar^ invaluable to the young and timid, whose ba'hfulness sometimes endangers life. Ihough apparently local, diseases of this nature aro esentially blood diseases, but a brifling expense will enable the most dim dent to conduct any case to a happy issue without exposing secret infirmities to any one. The ointment checks the local inflammation and alleviates the throbbing pains. These directiona also clearly poin* out when and how Holloway'a Pi Is are _to be taken, and their purifying and regulating powers may assisb by adjusting and strengthening .the constitution.

THE WELLINGTON ELECTION.

■♦ Press Association — By Electric Telegraph. Wellington, December 9. The official declaration of the poll for Wellington city has knocked from 300 to 600 votes off each of the six leading candi dates, and bring 3Mr Wilson fifth instead of sixth. Mr Fisher only leads Mr Atkinßon for third place by 28 votes, instead of 98. v The figures are— Hutcheson 6410, Stout 6305, Fisher 56158, Atkineon 5830, Wilson 6569, Menteath 5559, Fraser 1811, Powell 185, Warburton 91.

COMMERCIAL.

Press Association— By Electric Telegraph — Copyright. Received December 9, 7.15 p.m. London, December 8. There was rather more competition at the wool sales to-day. The New Zealand Trust and Loan Com pany has declared a dividend of 2s 6d per share. i London, December 8 Bradford wool market is dull, with small enquiry. An official estimate places the total wheat yield of Great Britain at 57,052,952 bushels, being an average of 3368 bushels per acre. The imports last month showed an in crease of £3,496,028. (Received December 10, 10.25 a»m.) ~- London, December 9. The total quantity of wheat and flour afloat Jfor the United Kingdom is 2,840,000 quarters and for the Continent 1,170,000 quarters.' The American visible supply of wheat is 74,000,000 bushels.

THE AUSTRALIAN WHEAT CROP.

Melbourne, December 10 The Australasian estimates the wheat crop at 6,904,000 bushels, the average being something less than 5.25 bushels per acre. The total crop will barely suffice for feed and food. Against a probable deficit of 121,000 bushels is to be set off the stock of old wheat and flour, which will about suffice to make up the deficit. THE WOOL MARKET. The .wool maiket is flat, crossbreds m particular being weak and irrregular ; medium sorts show a fall of a halfpenny be low the best rates obtained last season.

AUSTRALIAN MARKETS.

Sydney, December 9 • Wheat, chick 3s 9d to 4s, milling 4s 9d to ss. Flour, Ccilifornian £12, local £13. Oats, prime 2s s*. Maize Is lOd. Barley, Cape 2a 6d to 2i 9d. Bran and pollard Bd. Peas, Prussian blue 4s Qd. ~- Potatoes, loc vl grown £2 5s to £2 10s ;' Circular Heads £2 15b to~£3. Onion°, Victorian £6 10s, Butter, dairy made 6^d, factory 7£d. Cheebe 4^d. Bicon s£d to 6d ; hams, New Zealand 9d/ ■■.-'• Melbqjjbne, December 9 Wheat quiet, 5s 3|d. ' .Flour £14 10s. Oats, New Algerian Is lOd to 2s 4d; old Danish 3s 2d, stout white up to 3j' 3d. Maize 3s 6d to 3s Bi. Bran 11^ "to Is. Pollard Is o£d. Potatoes £1 10s ta £2 10s. Apelaidk, December 9- Wheat 5.3 6d. Flour, roller £14 10s Oats, stout white 3s 6d. Bran Is' l£d. Pollard Is 2d.

ADDINGTON MARKET.

Ghbistohoboh, December 9 There were good entries of stock m nearly all classes at the Addington market to -day, and a good attendance of buyers and farmers. ■■= Fat Cattle. — The yarding of beef con' sisted of about 200 head, mostly light weight steers and heifers, suitable for trade require* menta at the present season, and a number of inferior quality heavy weight cows. Bidding lacked animation, and prices were easier than those ruling last week. Best steer beef ranged from 16s to 18s 6d, and inferior and cow sorts from 13s to 15a 6d per 1001 b Steers brought £5 5s to £8, heifers £4 2s 6d to £7 10s, and cows £3 15s to £6. Stoke Cattle. — The yarding comprised some good sorts. Prices realised were — Yearlings up to 555 ; eighteen months old, to 45s ; 2j year olds, to £3 15s ; four-year old steers, £5 12a 6d; store cows, to £3 15s. v ?.'.-'* ; Fat? Sheep.— This department was well supplied, both with freezers' and trade lots] The sale opened fairly well, but ewes, with the exception of some maiden, were a perfect drug, and several lines were withdrawn. Good freezing wetbers, 10s 6d to 129 lid; butchers' lots, 9,3 to 103 \ maiden ewes, 9^' 6d to 16s lid j gond ewes, 83* to 9s 6d ; aged and medium sorts, 6s to 7s 6d. ~ ; Fat Lambs. — Air the fat lamb pens wer,e occupied, and although there was a fair proportion of really prime sorts, there were a grpat many which can only be described as culls. Owing to the re-appearanqe oj: . several ' buyers for esporfc, al} fit for freezing were largely competed fdrj and a slight rise took place on last week's quotations, this being helped by the fact that butchers were also m competition for best sorts. Inferior and weedy sorts, on the other hand, were decidedly easier. Prime freezers brought fronvlls to 13s 6d, and up to 13s lOd for an extra good line ; good trade lines, 9s to 10a 6d ; and inferior and cull lots from 63 to 83 6d. Store Sheep. — There was only a very small entry of store sheep, and these were all cleared at last week's rates. Pigs — A medium yarding of pigs con tained very little of really prime quality, and prices eased somewhat, baconers and porkers 'bringing from 3d to <sid;per lb; :!

CHRISTCHURCH WOOL SALES.

Tbe second qjc the present aeries of local wool sales will fca}ie plteice at the : Oddfellows 1 Hall, Christchurch, to-morrow'; |b is under stood tljafc phe wool has cqm6 to Hand' m n?uqh better order than t\£ the correspond ing sale last year, there Haying been no' noj:' westers to 611 the staple with grit. Ihe fol lowing are the entries of the various auc tioneers : — Bales Messrs H. Matson and Co. and Mr D. Thomas (m conjunction) . . 3070 Messrs Pyne and Co 2897 The N.2j- Farmers' Co-operative As sociUtfoQ ' ;■' ■ .... ; ..; (.. 2'?89 N.Z. Loin and Mercantile Agency ''■* *' Cpmpany' "... " :.. r " ... * ... 1689 Messrs ifalgefcy apd Co." , r ' f '.. 12X4 Mr'y.Q. T^bart ' v .'.. I. ... 1^ Messrs Friedlander 533 Mesavs j, % Fofd and Qo, ,„ ,\ $1 Messrs G. King and Go 134 Total ... 13,880 You have ruined your constitution uffioienbly by drinking inferior Tea. Recruit by drinking Tea; it ie pure, The (ea. Ud^UoloHi ' <

CABLE NEWS.

Home and Foreign

Press Association — By Electric Telegraph- Copyright.

South Africa.

London, December 9 Australian immigrants to South Africa find the competition on the Eland severe, and many are hurrying back. The two next steamers from Capetown are already full. Imperial Defence. The Agents General have no infor mation about the Imperial Government arranging for an early Conference on the defence question. The Australian Squadron. The Daily News published an inter view wilh Sir H. Norman, who says Queensland is likely to object to the frequent and extended absence of ships from that colony. Mr Flayford states that the colonies will want a voice m the manning of the vessels. Mr Reeves thinks the proposal to abolish the local character of the squadron demands careful consideration. Federal Movement m Australia Mr .Neill, lecturer at the Imperial Institute, contended that the present Federal movement m Australia will fail, because the action of New South Wales and South Australia respecting coloured 'labour is likely to keep Queensland aloof from the movement. Italian Finance. Rome, December 8. The war budget, excluding the cost of the operations m Africa, amount to 250,000,000 lire, and the army is to be increased by 15,000 additional men United States Affairs* Washington, December 9 In his message, the President says the day of sound financial methods will not dawn m the United States till the Government abandons banking business.

Australian.

Sydney December 9, Supposed Wreck. Grave fears are entertained for the safety of the ketch Sunbeam, which, left on October 30, with a cargo of explosives for Townsville. A box containing the vessel's papers and a quantity of clothing has been washed ashore at Nambucca river. The crew oonsisted of Captain Weir, and Palmer and Mackay part owners. Mayo* of Sydney. *Mr Ives has been re-elected Mayor of Sydney. Queensland Bank Bill. Brisbane, December 9. The Bank Bill has passed through the Committee. The only important amendment is the alteration of the time for repayment of Government moneys from 1931 to 1921.

The Cuban Revolt.

Press Association— By Electric Telegraph— Copyright. London, December 8 The Kingston, Jamaica, authorities have seized the filibustering steamer Anottabaya, with arms for Cuba.

LABOUR.

PreßS Association— By Electric Telegraph- Copyright. Lqndon, "December §. The North Western Railway oora. -pany has dismissed fifty unionists for refusing to give a pledge that, m the event of a strike, they would remain m the Company's service, The Union threatens to proclaim a general strike unless they are reinstated within a week. Melbourne, December 8. Following the example of the sea men, the coal lumpers are demanding an increase of wages, and have re quested a conference with the em ployers, • *

THE GLENBROOK MYSTERY.

♦ Press Association — By Electric Telegraph- Copyright. Sydney, December 9. An evening paper is responsible for the statement that the police are mak ing enquiries with regard to the visit of Butler to New Zealand, which was coincident with the mysterious* 'murder's Of several prospectors. The' enquiries have special reference to a son of a well-known Sydney Civil Servant) whose mutilated body was found m rf shepherd's hut m one of the gold dis tricts a few months ago. -

Commercial Federation.

■■ • rr- Press Association — By Eleplric^Telegraph-— Copyright. London, December § At the Empire Trade League, Sir Or. Tupper urged that duties m favor of the colonies against foreigners were the only way to secure the commercial federation of the Empire. December 9. At the luncheon given by the Empire Trade League to Sir Charles Tupper, Mr Playford and Mr Lowles, M.P., who lately visited the colonies, were present. Sir pharles Tapper, denied ; ■ the assertion : - that" the j iA-aa; traliah colonies did hot desire com mercial federation. Preferential duties would meet the immediate necessity, and the fears th.at foreigners woul'4 retaliate were unworthy o£ Qreafc Britain. Ottawa, December 9. A. Congress of members of the Oanadmn House of Commons at Toronto, has passed resolutions m favor" of an Imperial Zollverein, which they believe all the colonies will speedily accept.

Mr James E|erdueY v ari~bt4 i^Her residing at Monroe, Mich., was'aeverely afflicted wit ji rheumatism but fegeiVed prompt telief from pain by u,aing Gb,aipberlain'g t%in Balm, ge says : tf .j^.b times my back woujd aohe sq badly that X coyild hardly rise up. Jf { had not gotten relief I would not be here to write theae few lines. Chamberlain's Fain Balm has done me a great deal of good and I feel very thankful for it." For sale by the Asuburton Dbug Cowpajht, From the Tea Plant to the Tea Qup unadulterated.— Thi? uKozis Teja, 

THE ASHBtRTOW GUARDIAN: THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1896.



Wanted. WANTED, smart Boy. Apply Suther- land, fishmonger, Tancred Street, 6 o'clock Thursday night. 12 79 WANTED— A Strong Lad, able to drive. Apply between 8 and 10 a m. to Carson and Co. 12 80 WANTED, at ofice, Improvers to the dreasmakingt Vacancy for two apprentices. — Apply Miss X McDonnell, Saunder's Buildings. 12 81 WANTED a good general Blacksmith, accuo.ti.med to coachbuildiui?. Apply to the Victorian Steam Carriage and Iron Woiks, West street. 12 168 BARGAINS m Earthenware this month at Cabson and Co.'b. First-class goods. MOTHERS and fathers who have to provide Boots and Shoea, should call at Mellor's Zealandia Boot Store. TTTT^HERE, Oh where, is that Cheap \y Boot Shop? Mellor's Zealandia Boot Store. NO W'S your time to Buy. There is a Big Sale at Mellor's Zealandia Boot Store., ~P>IDE the Best. — Kent's Championship ly Bicycles are the best Built to your own measure. Tyres and accessories of all sorts'— Carson and Co., Agents 10 86 ANTED Known— The Economic Kid Glove, four buttons, Is 9d per pair, ia the Glove for every day wear.— W. H. Collier. WANTED Known — Alterations and Additions to our Show Rooms now completed. Special display of Millinery for the Holiday Season. A late shipment of Sailor Straws to be sold cheap. —Mitchell and Turner. REVIEW OF REVIEWS for November, The Heart of Princess Orsa, Thelma Th 9 Murder of Delicia,Sir George Tressaday, The Little Larrikin, Son of Ishmael, The Man on the March, N.Z. Diaries, New Books and Stationery.— H. M. Jones. WANTED Known — We have justopened a line of cheap all wool Suits and Trousers. Good out and splendid value. Tennis and working Shirts m great variety. —Mitchell and Turner WHAT do I see before my eyes ? A Cheap sale of Boots at Mellor's.



Business Notices. l THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS. °- NEW ZEALAND c /CLOTHING "pACrORY. s Light Summer Coats from 6s 6d -i Light Summer Suits from 10s 6d Light Washing Vests, slightly soiled 2a 6d t Light Blue Serge Suits for Summer wear -^ 16s 6d, Boys' Washing Suits, all sizes 4s 6d . SPECIAL PURCHASE. Boys' Drill Suiss, all sizes 6s 9d, usual - price 10s 6d. FoR TRAVELLING. Portmanteaux from 10s 6d Steel Trunks from 10a 6d Gladstone Bags, Black and Nut Brown. , straw"hats. Boys' Straw Hats Is, the best value m Ashburton Men's Panama Hats Is. BOOTS &TSHOES. Men's Black and Tan Canvas Shoes, best quality 5s 6d Men's Leather Shoes 7s 6d, splendid value Men's Light Boots for summer wear 8a 6d NEW ZEALAND Clothing 1 Factory. ALEX. HENDRY Manager. _ m 3 •* I £ C bS h( I S 5S I o |S I II • i g SI 3 rt | a r . fig g §_ Pj W S i i ;. -2 ° .si I S ""S -^ CJ s . a r , <v o & §"5 *N- < pq ' ' 8% g - M Church Services. ST. STEPHEN'S CHURCH Aahburfconi • Thursday— G.F.S., 7 p.m.; women's con- firmation class, 7.30 p.m. Friday — Short service, 7.30; choir practice, 8 p.m. Saturday — Confirmation class, 2 pm. SUNDAY SERVICES. 8.30 a.m. — Holy Communion — offering m aid of Brotherhood of St Andrew. 11 a.m — Morning Prayer. Sunday schools as usual. 3.30 p.m. — Holy Baptism. 6.30. — Evening Prayer. ] REV T. A. HAMILTON. Wanted. A FULL assortment of new Veilings m white, black, and black and' white. Buy the celebrated new kid glove— The j Victory — only 23 6d.. The best glove m New Zealand for the money. — A. Obb. 11 124 nnHERE is no doubt, no possible doubt JL that you get Good Value for you money at Mellor's. j BULBS. BULBS.— AII the choicest varieties from 6d per dozen. — Flet- cher Bros., Cash Supply Stores, Ashburton DERWENT Potatoes.— We have m Stock a few Backs of Prime Derwent Potatoes.— Fletcher Bbos., East Street, Ashburton. HEARD a man say that Mellor ia selling Boots Wonderfully Cheap. TTTANTED Known— What the people VV flay. That Andbew Orb has the largest and beab assorted stock of Boots m Canterbury. n 125 WAETTED Known— Large \ delivery o the M Ecoßoime " Kid Gloves, four buttons, Is 9d per pair, *7o?th iruch more. — W. H. Collier. NEW Mangel, Carrot, and Turnip Feeds. The fatropite sorts at low prices. — Carson anp C,q. 10 I" F YOU WANT the Newest a.EtdHi<;es_! Millinery, Trilby Muslins, and press] Goods, go to Mrs Alcorn's. Dreases made \ on the premises. Fit guaranteed, j /CHRISTMAS numbers of Young Ladieß' \_j Journalß, Graphic, London Newß, Pears' Annual, and others. New volumee of Girls' and Boys' Annuals, Sunday at Home, Leisure Hour, Sunshine, Little Folkß, etc. A choice assortment of Christ* "mas and New Year Cards, at tempting prices,— Andrcwes, Anderson & Co, WANTED Known— lQQo paiflj pf Boots ' to be Bold m jbwenty'-oija days a^fc Mellor's. I\7riLLINERY— Ladies should inspect thTe i.t-L new Millinery, Capes, Mantled, Jacketß, Blouses, French and English Corsets j all new and up to datp.— A. Orr. XX XuO TXT'ANTED ifnowJ^rrGo to the Corner W for Newest Styleß m grapery and Millinery— W. H. Collies. WANTED — Every Lady m Ashburton to see our Window of Blouse Goods, bought at a big discount, and selling at less than wholesale prices.— Mitchell ,4nd Turner. O| T.UDY Ficonomy and, patronise Mellor's )O 'Cheap Boot Sale. £10, £10," £p, given aw?,y for ft insle guess. Send stamp forjparticularß wid oiroultr«<jQ»oX lit, P,0., WeUin|t<)nV"' f



Business Notices FACTS ARE STUBBORN THINGS. . 0 . mHERE ARE TWELVE STUBBORN FAOTS THAT CANNOT BE DENIED. lat-That G. J. NEILL is selling good | 6th-That Gh J. NEILL is selling Men' strong White Muslin t3 3 lid doz. , Tweed Trousers at 5s lid. 2nd-That G. J. NEILL ia selling good J 7th-That G. J. NEILL is selline Boys Washing Prints at 4£<l a yard. j Sailor Suits m navy blue or fawn 3rd— That G. 0. NEILL has pretty serge, at 4s lid the suit. Summer Dress Tweeds at 9s 6d a Bth-That G. 0. NEILL is selling dress, that can't be beat. Women's Shoes at 4s lid. ath-That G. J. NEILL is selling LadieB 1 j 9th-l hat G. J. NEILL is selling Men's »nd Children's Summer Hats of j nailed Shootera at 7a lid. every description, the very latest • 10th— That G. J. NEILL ia selling Men's style, cheaper thau anyone m Ash- light Balmorals at 83 lid. burton. llth-That G. J. NEILL ia selling Ladieß' Obh— That G. J. NEILL it selling Men's and Childrens' Tan Boots and Shoeß Heavy Tweed (colonial) Suite at 24a ' of every description at very low 6d. prices" 12th— THAT G. J NEILL'S SHOP- Well -He sells Millinery, General Drapery, Clothing and Boots,"of every Description— IS AT FRIEDLANDER'S CORNER, , East Street, Ashburton. •■*>*" * ; - ■''" . — • Wft HAVE PURCHASED A WAREHOUSEMAN'S STOCK OF LIGHT PRINTS PARK OREPONS MUSLINS CORDETTES ETC, ETC* — — :o:— ■ • mHESE GOODS ARE PERFECTLY|FREBH AND NEW, and the Lates» Stuffs for BLOUSES. SEE WINDOWS FOR PRICES. MITCHELL & TURNER'S. -NEW MUM -:« --=5--- --... -:--:- NEW FIRM SATE MONEY BY DEALING wlth MITCHELL & BRODRIBB NO BAD DEBTS. NO OLD STOOK THA.T ACCUMULATES BY YEARS op BUSINESS THE Public should only consider what they can save by dealing with a Cash Firm, where they do not have to pay for the great losses that are occasioned by Bad Debts. MITCHELL & BRODRIBB BUY AND SELL FOR CASH, THEREFORE THEY ARE ABLE TO GIVE BETTER VALUE THAN ANY OTHER PLACE IN ASHBURTON. A Ifew Quotations will be Convincing — Brown IRibbed Pants (heavy) Is 6d -worth Ladies' Hose, fast colors, plain and ribbed, Is lid 6d pair Men's Socks 6d-worth 9d White and Brown Turkish ToweJ, only 6d Harvester Hats B*d— worth Is White Calico, grand value, at 2a lld-^yds Bluoher Boots 4s lid-grand value ' The Best Value for Flannelettes m • Heavy Shooters 93 lid— worth 12s 6d Ashburton. Ladieß' Gem Shoeß, Special, 4s lid— worth Heavy Twill, 4s lid dozen— worth 7d a yd 6a gd ' r A. Splendid Line of Corßets, all Bizes, at Hairline Tweed Trcusew Bs^6d— cheap at Is lid 2Q a 6( j I'he Beßt Assortment of Sunshades m town, Men's Felt Hats from 2a 6i O fro , m I* .... . . We have the Choicest Assortment of Hats Ladieß' Sailor Straws, all ehadeg and shapes, m towi». from 9d eacn— Pick your own shape , 12yds Strong Print for 3s lid-Cheap at 6s and trimming, and have your | A Beautiful Summer Tweed Is Id, double Millinery done Free of Charge. width FULL RANGES OF KAIAPOI AND MOSGIEL CLOTHING. MEASURED GARMENTS A SPECIALTY. i Oa /i n FULL SUIT FROM AQn ft-rv ' 4\)B b& FULL SUIT FROM 4tt7^ O^ MITCHELL & BRODRIBB, EAST STREET. .; ":: "•