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Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 1896. CURRENT TOPICS,

sugar is an even larger constituent of ' many alcoholic beverages than malt, it also should be no longer consumed, and the growing of cane or of sugar beet should be discontinued. Then, m view of the possibilities of honey L> relation !to mead, the bees must be extermi nated ; and we are not sure that even the luxufy of eggs could be permitted, seeing that heus are so demoralised as to be large consumers of barley. In fact the logical outcome of the Clear brook resolution, if it were acted out generally, would be bo wide-reaching as to promise an entire revolution m matters social and agricultural. Apropos of the preceding it may be mentioned that the liquor question is just now agitat the liquor question ing the minds m karotonga. of the people of Rarotonga, where, we learn from the letter of the Auckland Herald's correspondent, the men have taken to making and drinking bush beer (from oranges and bananas), I and that the police join the drinkers, or at all events wink at them. The women have taken the law into their own hands, organised themselves as a police, and lead the bush-beer drinkers a dog's life. The male Government protested, and the women were brought before it to be reprimanded. A touch ing address on their proper place m society was delivered by one of the bush-beer drinking arikis (kinga), of whom there are three m Aitutaki. He asked the women if they were not ashamed, and if they wished to wear the piripos— which is the Maori for breeches — and quoted Scripture to them with great power. But they were equal to the occasion. They admitted their desire to wear the piripos if the men were unwerthy to have them for themselves, and quoted Scripture for Scripture m their justification. The sitting was long, and excited great interest on the island. The local Government are non-plussed (adds the correspondent), and have appealed to the Resident, who tells them that they must settle their difference with the ladies as best they can, and suggests that the proper way will be to disarm them by making the men police do their duty, or putting others m their place.

We have noticed recently several in stances m which applications for the issue of prohi prohibition orders, bition orders, : made before Justices of the Peace, have been ad journed for the consideration of the Stipendiary; evidently) m conse quence of an impression, that under " The Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Act Amendment Act " of laat year, all proceedings under the licensing laws, must necessarily be had and taken before a Stipendiary Magistrate. Were this the case, it will easily be seen that a very undesirable deliy would often occur, and the unfortunate' person whom it is desired to protect might have drunk himself or .herself into delirium treniens before f the order could be obtained. There are many districts which are only visited by the S,M. at intervals of a fortnight, or even more, and there are many more to which such an officer never approaches nearer than a distance of twenty or thirty miles ; so that to insist upon all such applications being determined by a Stipendiary Magistrate would mean a great inconvenience, and no small amount of additional expense, to persons interested. Under these cir cumstances, we have consulted the Act, and are of opinion that there is nothing to prevent a prohibition order being made by any two Justices of the Peace, sitting m open Court, as provided by section 167 of "The Licensing Act, 1881." It is true that; section 34 of the Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Act of 1895, provides that "all prosecu tions for breach of any of the pro visions of the Licensing Acts shall be heard and determined by a Stipendiary Magistrate alone," but that provision does not extend to an application for a prohibition order, which is not a prose cution, any more than the act of the excessive drinker is a breach of any part of the licensing law. There is neither m the section quoted, nor m any part of the Acts passed subse quently to the Licensing Act of 1881, any repeal, express or implied, of the provisions of section 167 of that Act, and it therefore appears to us to be clear that prohibition orders can still be applied for before a bench of Justices, and be by such Justices law fully made. The point is one of con siderable importance, and, if there bs any doubt whatever about it m official quarters, that doubt phould be cleared up without any delay. -'" Whiting of the licensing law, naturally brings to mind the question of alcohol m general, barley-growing and and the vie ws prohibition. .of the Water ton Clear brook Lodge of Good Templars, as reported m our issue of Tuesday last, m particular. There we' read that the question as to the duty of Prohibi tionists m relation to the cultivation of barley formed the subject of a debate ; and that at its conclusion, with only four dissentients, it was resolved that it is inconsistent on the part of a Prohibitionist to be a grower of this cereal. Nobody of course has any right to find fault with those who for conscience' sake taboo, not only malt liquors, but also malt, and even the grain from which malt is made — that is entirely their own affair, and one m which they have a perfect right to please them&elves — but we may perhaps be permitted to point out to them that if they are determined upon absolute thorough aess they will need to go a good deal farther than the tabooing of barley culture. lor, as wine is made from grapes, from raspberries, currants, gooseberries, plums, elderberries, black berries, strawberries, peaches, apricots, rhubarb, and parsnips, and cider from apples, all these fruits and vegetables must be added to thtindexexjaurgatorius of the Prohibitiomit, Eeiides this, a» i

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Star of Ashburton Lodge meetß In the Orange H*ll this (Thursday) erening. The train arrangements for the Ghrist churoh races and Ashbnrton sports are advertised m this issue. According to tho locil paper, a house cannot be rented m Cromwell. for love or money. In the green drawing room at Windsor castle is a Sevres dee;- ere service which has beer, valued at; £50,000 Bishop Julius left on a visit to the Chatham Islands by tho steamer Kahu last night. Mr H. W. Peryman has been elected chairman of the North Canterbury Education Board. A very large haul of fish was made at the Wellington Heads on Sunday by three residents of the city. In a few hours they caught with hook and line no fewer than 400 cod, most of them of large size. A m^n died m Sydney the other day worth £15,000. He had neither kith nor kin, and as he was too fervent a worshipper of money to pay a lawyer to prepare nis will, his wealth goes to the State, j Miss Gamble, M.8., Melbourne Univer sity, has been retained by the Victoria Order of Oddfellows as specialist m the diseases of wimen and children, and is the first medical woman m Victoria to hold a lodge appointment of the kind. Good Friday and Easter Monday will be observed as Postal holidays. *The Ashburton office will be open from 9 a.m. till 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. till 8 p.m. All mails for north and south will close at 6.30 a m on each day. Mr David Craig, who has been appointed general manager of the New ZeaUnd Insurance C< mpany, was yester day the recipient of a farewell presentation from the representatives of the Fire Insurance offices m Canterbury. Letters from places beyond the colony, addressed as under, were received at the Ashbnrton Post Office during the month of January and are still unclaimed : — James Ambrose, James Fahey, P. Hanley, J. Kundson, Alexander Orr. Amongst the persons accused at the Auckland Police Court last week was a woman whose list of convictions up to 1892 showed that she had spent 17 years two months three daysin gaol for drunken ness and petty offences. Since that date , 16 additional sentences had been added. In the course of an assault case heard at New Plymouth recently it transpired that a woman named Welch, with the consent of her husband, had sold the daughter of the former to a Maori, (who was to marry her within nine months from date of the contract) and to give In exchange to the vendors a 20-roomed house and 100 acres of land. The marriage took plaoe, bat the consideration is not forthcoming ; the young woman has left her Maori husband and applied for the protection of the Jourt against her mother and stepfather, who have been trying to force her to go back to him. Proceedings for divorce are being taken. •<. . In reference, to theshowof fruit to beheld m connection with the Australasian Fruit growers Conference which takes place bhortly m Wellington, a circular has been issued by the Agricultural Department, m which it is announced that the Department 41 will pay all freights etc. on exhibits, and will after the exhibition dispose of them as the owners nny direct." Packages from the Canterbury district are to be consigned to '• J. C Blackmore, Govern • ment Pomologlst, care Inspector of Stock, Christohurch " and must reach Christ church by April 28. As it thus coses nothing to exhibit, we hope that the fruit-growers of this district — especially the apple-growers— will take oars to be adequately represented. It is explained that the object of haying parcels sent to the pomologists is to save expense and secure careful supervision during transit. Don't Cough. — Relief can be obtained! immediately. Use HEATING'S COUGH LOZENGES well known a? the utterly unrivalled Cough Remedy. Strongly reoom mended by many eminent physicians. They , at once oheok the oough and remove the oauae— without any af er effeol ; the most delicate can therefore take them. One Lozenge alone gives eaHe— one or two at bed- j time ensures rest. Sold everywhere m tinß 13£ i eaob. / The New Zealand Clothing Factory's Aahburton manager, Mr Alexander Hendry, has received from headquarters a grand selection of waterproof tweed patterns, and it must be said of the fabrics, of which they are samples, that it will take all the qkill of Home or foreign artizana to turn out anything superior. The New Zealand Co thing Factory was the first firm m this colony to manufacture waterproof clothing, and the prices of garments made to measure from the webs ot whioh theue patterns are samples, range from 32s 6d to 90a— waterproof coat ! with deep cape, made to measure,— Advt I 3 186|

MOUNT SOMERS.

(From our own Correspondent.) As some considerable time has elapsed I nines jou nceived any communication j I from me, I thought perhaps a few lines of copy might not be out of place Inm sorry to 6ay that bh» ynar unit has just yone has been probab y the worst thathus been experienced along the foot of the hills. The exceedingly severe winter, followed by a very backward spring, had the effect; of lowering ih < condition of stock generally, and consequently the well conditioned nnimalH that it i& customary to see up here have become the exception rather than the rule, and there are very tew lambs fie for fre. zing without being finished off on the richer pastures if the lower lying lands. The neavy rains m November came at a time when the stalks of grain were not suffi ciently tall to proteoc the ground frcm "he heavy downpour, which battered the boil to such an extent that m places it re sembled a well beaten track. A long BUCceßsion of dry nor'-wts^ers caused the ground to cake and become as firm as a brick, and the orops generally are the' poorest that have been reaped for many years. In many cases the straw did not exoeed a foot or eighteen inches m length, and the yield will not average more than from fifteen to twenty bushels to the acre. Up to the present grass has been very short, but the recent heavy rains, followed by warm sunshine, have given it a spurt, and should the frosts keep away, the prospects for winter feed will be much brighter than they were at a corresponding period last year. Turnips are ooraing on a pace, and although rather thin m some plaoes, the bulbs wi'l be fairly large. Potatoes are a comparative failure.— The business' done m lime and coal has been fairly satisfactory. The new seam of coal that has been opened up is giving general satisfaction, but I am sorry to report that the trade m building stone is praotically , nil. — In England statisticians say that the marriage rate depends on the price of bread. Whether the same law obtains m this locality I am unable to determine, but it is a fact, nevertheless, that some thing must be militating against the young people entering the United States, so when a marriage does take place it ' becomes a subjecc of considerable interest; therefore, when the Oourt of Hymen held a session m the township last Thursday, it is needless to say that there were many present to witness the pleasing ceremony. The contracting parties were Mr Janvas Lockhart; of Surrey Hills, and Miss Margaret Murray, the eldest daughter of Mr John Murray, storekeeper. The wedding was celebrated at the residence of the bride's parents, the officiating clergyman being the Rev B. J. Weafc brooke. lam afraid to describe the dresses of bride and bridesmaids for fear of miking a mess of it, suffice it to say that they all looked very pretty. After the cereroony-the happy oouple left to spend their honeymoon at Dunedin, while the young people left behind, spent a very pleasant evening m chasing the glowing hours with flying feeb, the merry party not breaking up till daylight did appear. — On Friday evening the annual soiree m connection with the Mount Somers Presbyterian Church was held m the schoolroom, there being a large attendance. The tables were provided by the ladies of the congregation, and the waiters had, for over an hour, their work fully cut out m attending to the wants of those who came to sample. The tables were artistically decorated with a number of beautiful pot plants from the conservatory of Mr Jamas Prwe, our local florist and horticulturist. After tea the room was rearranged for a concert. The chair was occupied by tho Rev B. J. Westbrooke, and on the plat form was the Rev H. Purchas (Anglican.) In opening the .entertainment the Chair man expressed his pleasure at seeing so many present, and fell grateful tor the success which had attended the efforts of the past year. He also feelingly referred to the dreadful catastrophe that had occurred at BrunDerton, where he labored for some years before coming to this distriot. Many of the entombed were personally known to him, while some were office-bearers In the church with which he was connected. He also paid a graceful tribute of praise to the Hon. R. Seddon, who had bravely placed himself at the head of a rescue party. A subscrip tion list m aid of the bereaved is now being signed. A long programme, con sisting of glees, songs and recitations, was successfully rendered, many of the items being heartily encored. After the usual votes of thanks had been carried by acclamation, the concert was closed by singing God Save the Qaeen. On Saturday a friendly game of cricket between the Mayfield and Methven Clnbs was played m Mr Bateman's paddook, and resulted m a victory for Mothven by ten wickets. * " I hear that the Rev Joseph Rapley, Wesleyan Home Missionary, who has laboured m this distriot for five ysars, is likely to leave shortly to take np church work m the Amberley district. Daring his Bojourn amongst us he has made many triends and np enemies, and his ministrations on the Sunday have been much appreciated. The heartiest good wishes of the people will follow him m his new field of labor.

The Brunnerton Relief Fund.

~ ♦ We understand that the Tinwald RaciDg Club has voted the Hum of £10 10s towards the Brunnerton Belief Fund.

CABLE NEWS.

HLOM.JB ASD JFOREIOI

FAILURE OF A SHIPMENT. London, March 31 All the Aberdeen's rabbits, the bulk of the poultry, and a portion of the meat m the forehold, were vitiated by an accident to the freezing machinery, and have been condemned. The meat , m the lower hold has however turned out sound. FRANCE. Constantinople, Mai eh 31 Oambon, the French Ambassador has had a private audience with the Sultan. Paßis, March 31 It ia reported that Baron Oourcil, the French Ambassador m London, is resigning on account of a difference with the Premier, M. Bourgeois.

Imperial Politics.

London, March 31 The Government's Education Bill has passed the first reading.

England and Egypt.

CRITICAL POSITION AT SUAKIM. Cairo, March 31 Osman Digna threatens Sinkat. A battalion of Soudanese marching on Dongola has been diverted to Tokar. April 1. The situation at Suakim fs critical. Colonel Parsons and some officers have left Wady Haifa to organise the defence of that port with one Soudanese and two Egyptian battal ions.

COMMERCIAL

PRICES IN THE TAIERI.

. The Advocateoi the Ist instant reporfca : — I The oat market is slightly weaker, best j I' being sold at from Is 7d to Is 9d. Wheat is bringing np to 3* 6d for best samples, while barley is about; the same figure. Potatoes huve been sold at from £3 to £3 5a per ton, while chaff rangees about £2 10a per ton.

ADDINGTON MARKET.

CHRISTCaURCH, April 1 I In spite of the wet and miserable weather the entries m all classes of stock at Ad ding ton yesterday were large, and there was a representative attendance. Fat Cattle— The supply of beef consisted of about 180 head. Nothing really prime came under the hammer, and there was little disposition shown by the trade to operate Prices per 100 bs show no altera tion ; steers brought from £4 10s to £7, and up to £8 17s 6d for one good bullock; heifers from £4 to £6 17s 6d, and cows from £3 17s 6d to £6 7s 6d. Dairy Cattle — A poor entry, and very little business done. Store Cattle— There was the usual entry of store cattle, though little business was done at auction ; a line or about 60 head of mixed two-year-old cattle changed hands privately at from £3 3s to £3 15s. Fat Sheep— A fairly good yarding, and butchers and expert buyers were m com petition for all good lines. Crossbred wethers lls lOd to 13s 2d, heavy weight crossbred ewes 10b to 12a 6d, medium sorts 7s 6d to 9a 6d, inferior 5s to 7b, merino wethers 3s 9d to ss. Eat Lambs— A large yarding of very fair to good quality ; first class lines for freezing and batchers purposes sold at from 9a to lls 9d, and others at from 6s 6d to 8a 6d. Stobb Sheep — There was a large and mixed entry of store sheep, and considering the quality of those on offer there was a very good sale. Turnip wethers sold at from 4s lid to 103 8d for forward sorts, and a good line of four-tooth mixed sexes (mostly wethers) at 10a 6 d, halfbred ewes at 6s 6d to 8s 6d, according to age and condition for good finished crossbred ; breeding ewes at 7s 6d to 8s 9d, ard full mouthed breeding ewes 5a 8d to 7s, and failing mouthed and aged sorts from 4s 3d to ss, crossbred lambs from 6s 6d to 7s 9d, and merino ewes from Is Id to 3s sd. Figs — Baconers and porkers were present m force, and as a large number showed a want of finish prices fell slightly. There were not so many stores m as of late, but for these there was little demand. Bacon may be quoted at from 3Jd to 3£d per lb, and pork at 3£d ; baconers brought from 29s to 445, porkers 15s to 25s 6d, and stores from 8s to 14s for forward sorts, and from 23 6d to 6a 6d for smaller sorts,

ASHBURTON MARKETS.

Messrs Friedlander Bros., Limited, re port upon the live stock sales for the week ending April 1* Tne entry at the Ashbur ton Sards last Tuesday comprised 11,473 sheep, 115 rams, 32 cattle, and 14 pigs. The sheep yarded consisted principally of a large line of merino ewes, some very good lines of forward store lambs, crosabred breeding ewes, and the usual mixture of store, fat and cull Bheep. The attendance was good, and [what is more to the point, bidding all i through was spirited, with a decided im provement m prices all round, bo doubt caused by the beneficial rains we have been having during the last week. Inquiries for good crossbred breeding ewes and also for crossbred wethers suitable for turniping were made, and would meet; with good de i mand. Before business commenced Mr Thomas on behalf of the various salesmen, expressed deep sympathy for the sufferers m the Brunnerton disaster, and announced that his Worship the Mayor would attend at a later stage of the sale to address all present, the result being that a subscription list was opened and liberally responded to, the .Vbyor and Mr Charles Beid doing a thorough canvas. Our entry for the day comprised 6750 sheep, 66 rams and 15 cattle. Of the former we made a clearance of all except one pen of lambs at prices as follows :— 24 merino ewes 3s lid, 6 crossbieds 7a, 4orogs brod ewes Ss 9d, 25 boilers 2s 6d, 27 cross bred ewes 53 Id, 17-crosabred wethers 10s, 18 ewes 6s, 30 merino wethers 43 6d, 24 crossbred ewes 9a, 12 fourtooths 103 Id, 67 crossbred ewes 9a Id, 18 crossbred cwea 8s; 45 crossbred ewes 5?, 4 crossbred wethers 123, 9 crossbred ewes 8s 3d, 37 crossbred boilers 2s lOrt, 31 merinos 3s 6d, 20 cull lambs 33 Id, 20 crossbred lamb* 6s Id, 63 full-mouthed crossbred ewes 3s 4d, IS4 cross bred lambs 8* 9d, 160 two-tooth half bred ewes 7s lOd, 708 2-tooth half bred ewes 7s 9d, 102 crossbred mixed sexes 7s 2d, 74 crossbred lambs 8s 4d, 231 half bred lambs 7s Id, 591 sound-mouthed merino ewes 3s 6d, 237 at 3s, [ 123 boilers 2s Id, 90 crossbred owbs 53 9d, ! 124 crossbred boilers 3s 83, 209 forward crossbred lambs 9a, 110 crossbred lambs 7s, 1820 four and six-tooth merinos 4s 2d, 250 four-tooth merinos 6a Id, (both' these last lots were straight lines from the Blenheim district), 303 two-tooth crossbred ewes 8s 7d, 107 merino boilers Is 9d, 151 merino boilers Is lOd, 116 at 2s 4d, 38 at Is sd, 159 lambs 8s 4d, 10 crossbred boilers 3s 6d. In rams we sold Lincolns lg to lsgs, English Leicesters ljgs, English Leicester ram hoggets lg, Shropshire ram hoggets f g and boiler rams from 5s to Ba. In beef there was not a large entry, but what there was sold at full matket rates. In stores nothing worth reporting was yarded. In pigs there was a draggy market. Privately during the week we disposed of 550 halfbred two-tooth ewes 8s 6d, 225 fat lambs 10s 6d, 150 freezers 12s.

INTERPROVINCIAL.

PEE PRESS ASSOCIATION. Napier, April 2. Iwo Men Drowned Thomas Clunie and William Orr sheep farmers atOpoiti near Wairoa were drowned yesterday at the junction of the Wairoa and Mangapoiki rivers while crossing cattle. The former was an old rssident, married, and ! leaves a family, the latter was a new arrival m the district. The bodies have not been recovered. Accident to the IMng-ade*. The stsamer Dingadee while crossing the Ray of Plenty lost her starboard propeller. The vessel arrived bere safely this morning. She will leave m tow of the Waihora for Wellington to-morrow. The JBtrnnnerton Relief Vand Subscriptions are coming m well for the Brunnerfund.

French Foreign Policy

RELATIONS WITH CHINA AND RUSSIA. Paris, April 1 After the conclusion of the debate m the Chamber^ the Premier had a long ! conference with Baron Mohrenheim, J the Russian Ambassador. I The Premier stated m the Chamber | that the Government declined to hare anything to do with the Chinese loan because the security offered, the balance of the Customs revenue, -was already mortgaged. He had received an assurance that the West River (a Canton river) would not be opentd to the British until France was granted the right of constructing a railway from their possessions into the interior. The Government was watching the Chinese selection of English officers. M. Bourgeois added that the agree ment with Russia was never more complete or cordial.

THE BRUNNER DISASTER.

PUBLIUM&EXING. The weuihor last mifht certainly inter fared with the attendee* »t the Odd fellows H«JI which doubr.!es« w-uld have beon crowdfii bu- for (ho (lunching rain Th* Mayor who presided, m * feeling speech mentioned what the meeting had been called f->r, and deeply r^retted its nece^i y. Th •» calamity was ono of tjreab magnitude, and ir.co tho Kaitanga<a die. •ister there had beeu no occurrence of a -imiUr charaoter m theolony, and the « launa of the sufferins? ones upon our sym p*thycouU notbeg-insaid. bewaspleased o not* ihatthecailforhelphadalready been nobly responded to all over this colony, nn?nl« f f vu lom6S ' and he WM 8 ™« 'he people of Ashburton would not be behind. offered to do the advertising and printin* H OolHtZnS n t P lo y ee «. Messrs W. a. uomns and Go. alnn aont. « j > from each of their 4mpl O yees 7 * V * 7 resolution, The need was great and press ing and he hoped the .canvass would be thorough. He reckoned that supposing those miners who had lost their lives had each beeu earning £2 a week and had twenty years' work m them, the lots that tSi l «»«s - flMnoi *" y nm "*"• Ths motion was carried. Mr David Thomas moved that an Exeou tive Committee be appointed to carry on the work,, consisting of Messrs Josepk bealy (Mayor), 0. Reid, Hugo Fried ander, John Orr, P. Devane, Joshua fucker, J. R. Oolyer, A. Carson, and the mover, Mr R. Elston seconded the motion, whioh was carried. Mr Thomas moved the appointment^ the Mayor^Treasurer, which Mr Han made? BDd th ° a PP oi^«ent was Mr Collins moved to appoinb the Biecu ive Committee oanvassew, as they were atl men we 1 known m the county, and would be able to work it by means of p xr° a J committees. Rev. T. U. Brooke seconded. Mil Hugo Friedlander moved the reso lution he did with sincere regret. It was a matter for the deepest regret that any resolution at all or any meeting at all was necessary, but since the disaster had happened they had to face its conse quences and do what they cnuld. to pro vide relief. He moved *• That the Chair man of each Sohool Committee within the County be supplied with a subaorip tion list, and asked to have the district energetically canvassed, sending m his return to the Treasurer as quickly as possible. The sums so raised to be shown separately and published m the local papers. Mr Thomas seconded, and the motion was carried. The Mayor said he and others had gone amongst the farmers at the yards on Tuesday, and had got subsciipbions up to about £40. (Applause ) Dr Leahy would like to see the move menfc made a county one, and all the fnndp dent m to one common centre. He hoped the Executive Committee would com municate with all the bodies likely to take any part m the movement, and moved accordingly. Mr H. M. Jones seconded tho motion, whioh was carried. The Mayor said he was m a position to state ttatthe local papers would print the subscription lisa iree of charge, and Mr P. H. Cox said his Bank was wiliiDg to forward all sums free of commission. (Applause). Mr Hugo Priedlander sud he thought storekeepers, farmers, and others should l-e allowed, if they chose, to give 'goods that would be useful to the ohildren and widows, and he trusted Government and the shipping companies would consent to carry them. Mr Thomas said he and the mover and Mr Hanmer would find storaze tor such goods. Mr Thomas also moved that the meet ing put on record its high appreciation of the noble band of heroes who had so promptly and gallantly nome to the rescue of the entombed men. Thi<» wad also carried. Mr Maynard would like to see the giving of goods opened so that many people who had saleable articles to give could contribute these, and the auc tioneers could sell them at an early date. J Mr Thomas said he would sell such goods without making the usual charges. Mr 0. Reid moved that the Mayor send to the West Coast Information of what had been done at this meeting, and this being carried, a vote of thanks to the Mayor concluded the public proceedings.

At a meetlDg of the Executive Com mittee held afterwards, it was decided to ask Mr Albert Roberts to accept the position of secretary, and to hold another meeting of the Executive m Mr Hugo Friedlander's office at 7.30 p.m. on Saturday.

PER PRESS ASSOCIATION

Wkcunoton, April 2 The Mayor of Brunnerton telegraphs to tho Manager of the Press Association. " As a rumour is m circulation throughout New Zealand, which is likely to do the widows and orphans left behind a good deal of harm, would you deny toe state ment being made, that the men killed here have their lives insured m an Insurance Company for a large amount. The only thin? most of the families will receive is £20 each, which is payable at death, and that amount will be fully taken up m , funeral expenses. As the Soolety is a local one, when iha demands are met it will have no funds. In justice to those depending on the assistance promised, and on behalf of the residents I have to ask you through the press to deny the above " The Pre* mier also wires to the Association with respect to this rumor. He says " I deem >it advisable m the interests of the sufferers to give it an emphatic contradic tion. What may have given rise to the rumour is the faeb that there is m con nection with every coal mine an accident insurance fund. The total amount of tha Brunner mine f nnd is less than £1800. This divided by 67, that being the number of miners who lost their lives, will give you thn amount whioh can be made avail able to , aid the widows, orphans, and relatives dependent on tha miners. The amount is ao insignificant that I am sur prised and grieved at the fact of this fund being In evidence Bhould militate against subscriptions being raised/ At a public meeting at Brunnerton the following re solution was unanimously carried on the motion of Mr Armstrong. "That a hearty vote of thinks be accorded to the Premier, the press and people of New Zealand for their assistance and sympathy during the late trying scenes and their appeal for the raising of funds to assist the widows and orphans left destitute."

THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN : THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 1896.



Ib will be seen by a new advertisement m another column that Messrs Graighead and Berrytnan are determined to maintain their reputation as the leading -tailors and outfitters of Ashburfcon. Their grand dis- play of new winter goods and their reduced prices should prove a great attraotion to all who wish to prepare for winter.— (Ad vt.)



AM Bailey, a well known citizen of Eu- gene. Oregon, aays his wife has for years been troubled with chronio diarrhoea and used nany remedies with little relief nntil she Tied Chamberlain's Golio, Cholera and Diarrhoea Remedy, whioh has eared her sound and well. , Give it a trial and yon will be surprised at the prompt relief it aflorifo. For gale by the Aflbburton Drug Compioy,



Wanted. WAROO ! THE CURE FOR INDIGESTION. Aahburton Drug Company, Agents 11 1081 WANTED Known — Monster Uie&i- ing Boot Sale at Melloks Z mlan dia Boob Store. ANTED Known— Tho 'Economic Kid Glove, fnu«* buttouß, 1b 9i per pair, is the Glove for everyday wear — W. H. Collier. Public notices. apening ttp tv ai: p y Upening Up JL/aily ■ AT THE NEW ZEALAND CLOTHING FACTOKY, NEW GOODS FOE THE WINTER SE3ASON. THE BEST ASSORTMENT OF SDPERIOR EEADY-MADE CLOTHING IN|THE DISTRICT* New Hats, New Ties, New Shirts. NEW ZEALAND CLOTHING FACTORY.



Wanted. WANTED Known-25 lbs JSW < 'at- meal for 2s 3d at J< hn Our and Co 4 5 ANY quantity of fc'resh Fi*h and Oyatera by express for Good Fri- day,— Jewitts opposite MiiLOffioe. 4JTB TjluK S *LE or To Lot.— Seven-roomed JJ House, with pantry, wash house, btable, etc., on 2£ acrt b of land, good garden and orchard, lately occupied by Mr K. Saundsrs. Apply office of this T>aper. 4 15 AM TED to Purchase about Two Tons Prme Hay ; immediate delivery. Apply Mail Offict. 4 7 VJ HOOTING SEASON, 1896— Bay yovr Guns, Ammunition, Etc., at J. W. Habdlbv's. 3 79 rj.UNS ON HIRE; also Gun thoroughly repaired. Please forward early o avoid the rush. 3 . W. Hakdley. 380 WANTED Known.— The popular Tea and Coffee Rooms, 131 Lichfield street, Chris tchurch, late Bundle's. Tea and Coffee Id per cap. Bread and Butter 2d per plats. Ham, Hot Pieß. and Pastry, Scones, Buns, etc. — M. Cooke, Proprie- tress. 3 243 WANTED, to let 4-roomed square Heuse, large scullery and stables. For particulars apply Mail office. 3 237 CT OCKEY.— Meeting m Templar Hall J L 8 o'clock on Thursday Business —To consider taking the game to the Domain 3 232 % A / ANThJU To AjET, at Weaterfield— VV 400 Aores Good Tussock Feed, with or without Turnips, fenced and watered. For further particulars apply Mail Office. 3 208 liEMEMBER the Primitive Methodist JLti Sunday School Anniversary to be held on Easter Sanday and Monday. Addresses by the Rev Laycock. 3 241 WANTED— Ege;a m any quantity; must be quite fresh. We are also buyers of good Bees wax m small or; large quantities. — Fletcher Bros , East Street. Ashburton. \I7" ANTED Known— Large delivery of • • the 'Economic' Kid Glove*, four buttonß, Is 9d per pair, worth much more. — VV H. Collier. WANTED— A few Tons of Prime Oat Sheaf Chaff. Apply, with samples and price, to Flrtchkr Bros , Cash Supply Stores, Ashburton. y^iOMFORTABLB Board and Lodging \y with every home comfoxt, 16s per week ; meals at all hours, Is ; beds, Is. Tea and Coffee always ready, 2d per cup. Truckle's Coffee Palace (late Lyttelton Boardinghouse) Cameron street, Abhbur ton. 3 23 V/ OUNG Ladies' Journal for March, JL VVeldon's Ladies' Journal for February, and Review of Reviews for February. Agent for Pononga Electric Belt, Petal Dusc, etc — H» M Jones. ANTED Known — Bargains from floor to ceiling.— Mellor's Stock taking Boot Sale. iV OLID AY Suits— A IS ice Kaiapol rl Suit for 27s 6d, Boys' Knicker and Cambridge Suits from 7s 6d, Men's Suits to Measure from 45d, Fit and Workmanship Guaranteed at R>. Alcorn's WANTED Known— Having bought our Winter Supply of BJankets and Flannels before the great advance m prices we intend giving our friends full benefit of same.— Mitqhell and Tdrner 17 ANTED Known— so pairs Ladie and Girls' Leather Top and Canvas Tennis Shoes, ac half usual price, for two weeks only. — Andrew Orßi 10 136 v I/ANTED Known- Bunts and Shoes ™ from U3l to 27a 6d — Mellor's Cheap Boot Sale. WANT* D Known -We are still giving Presents to »11 Parcha^ars of Orapery, etc. — U. O. Seoers, Melford House U /"ANTED Known -< >ur • Season's VV Dresses m »11 tho New Colonial Tweeds and Choice Homo Materials now opened. An inspection invited. — Mitchell and Turner VJTTHRN you are m Ohrietchuroh don't *^ fail to go to Warne's, Caahel street, for Fish or Oyster Lunch, Tea or Suppor. — Joseph Taylor and Co- Proprietors, 3 4 TUST Arrived. — A large variety of nse O ful and Ornamental Goods, Dolls, Toys, and Novelties ; also, a job lot over one hundred assorted Baskets and Morocco and Russian Leather Hand,bagP, to be sold at and under ordinary cost price at Mrs Alcorn's. WANTEDKnown— Go loTheCormer for Newest Styles m Drapery and Millinery— W. H. Oollier. WANTED Known — 6000 nairs of Booto and shoes to pick from. Mellor s Great Boot Sale. WANT BID Known — Spectaoles, Eye Protectors, Goggles, Folders, and everything In the option line at S. Silkks. Optioian OjTAR TED Known— Jusb opening a * fresh lot of useful Presents, to be given to all Pnrchasers of Drapery,— H. C. Segers, Melford House OTHER People are getting Bargains at Carson's Monster Sale of Bicycles, Earthenware, Glass, andOhina Why not You ? 1 84 4/f KN'S Bluchers ss, a good Strong ***• Nailed Shooter ab 8s 6d ; a nice assortment of Ladies' and Children's Boots and Shoea from Is 9d a pair at R. Alcorn's WANTED Known- You save 6a m every pound if you patronise Mellor's Cheap Boob Store. W' ANTED Known— lf you miss the Che«p Boob Sale yon will be eorry — Mellor's, Tancred Street. PRESENTS, Presents— We are new giving useful Presents to all Pur- chasers of Drapery, etc. — H. C. Segers, Melford House WANTED Known— A Magnificent Display of Ladies' Jackets m all the Newest Styles, jusb landed and now on vlnw. See window. — Mitchell and Turner. *i/ ANTED Known— 6ooo pairs of '^' Boots to be cleared m one month. — Mbllor's Zealandia Boot Store. WANTED Known— That E. Mahood is still selling all kinds of Grocery, Crockery, and Glassware ab as reasonable a price as any other house In the trade. Orders by letter or Telephone promptly attended to. Families waited on daily. Telephone No. 76 WANTED Known— Everybody to roll up to Mellor's Cheap Boot Sale. flow's your time to buy.



Business Notices. I F1B.&. FIKB. FIKF!. j j (;. J. N Ell L BURNETT STREET. ______ ■' Salvage >^tock OPEN Tuesday and Wednesday mHESE GOODS MUST BE CLEARED to enable a settlement with Insurance Company • THE COMPANY'S INSTRUCTIONS ARE— '• Everything Must be Sold." Will be elosod on Thursday all day, and open again Friday and Saturday. S. SAL EX, WATCHMAKER, MANUFACTURING JEWELLER, AND OPTICIAN EAST SITKKET. A T THIS JEWELLERY ESTABLISHMENT, is to be seen the LARGEST and FINEST STOCK m the Dlstriot of GOLD AND SILVER I SILVER AND E.P. I LADIES' AND GENTS GOLD AND SILVER JEWELLERY. , | WARE. | WATCHES. The now famed DIXIT Watches at 20s, 25s f andjdouble cases at 30s. TO BE OBTAINED ONLY FROM S. BALE X, ' EAST STREET, ASHiBURTON. « SOMETHING WORTH GROWING. NEW STRAWBERRY "LAXTON'S NOBLE." nnHIS new Strawberry has established itself m the Home market as the Vert JL Eest Strawberry nn tier cultivation. The fruit is large, firm, and handsome, | the bright crimson scarlet berries weighing as high as 2oz each, while the flavor is rich and vinous. Be sides these recommendations, "THW NOBLE" is one of the e&rliest fruiting struwberrirg, and we have no hesitation m saying that it is ' ardoabtedly the ttfrawberry for growers of this favourite fruit. Tho followiug is extracted from tho Otago Witness of January 2, 1896 : "New Strawberry : " Laxton's Noble " — . . This strawberry excels both m size, flavour and appearance, anything we have hod m New Zealand I before. . . Home of these fine berries were sent by the Countess of Pembroke to the Emperor of Germany, each berry being about the size of an apple. They were said to be larger than had ever been seen before. The fruit arrived m ex- cellent condition, not a berry being crushed, apaaking well bath for the packing and the travelling qualities of the berries. On the average tbe berries weighed 2oz each. ' They were not big, ugly fruit, but were full and handsome. . , "Laxton's Noble" Strawberry com<*s early into bearing, and is a very heavy beiror, and it should be very serviceable for any cottager with email garden Bpace or for market gardener-, as it is a splendid grower and a heavy cropper, coming early into fruit. Mr Bannet has on young plants, laid m the epring, eight to ten la'ga berries, averaging:, say, 2 z each. They are fine handsome berries, and of go'-d travelling qnalitie*." As Stock is limited, we recommend Ordering Early for delivery early m May Strong Well-rooted Plants, 6* per Dozen; 40a per 100. Authorised Sole Agents for Ashburton and Uhristchurch for — NIMMO & BLAIR, SEED MEKCHANTB AND SKED GROWERS, DUNEDIN. Kerosene. lierosepc. Kerosene. 100 Cases, 100 Cases We have m stock and to arrive 100 cases 'Evening Star' Kerosene, 150 per cent tire teat. This oil is, without doubt, one of the Safest and Beit light-giving oils m the market. 4Te**in of Martyr. Cream of Tartar 11201bs. 11201bs. We have just received half a ton of Pure Cream of Tartar ground specially for us from the crystals. This Cream of Tartar is guaranteed iPure, and is the Strongest and Beat procurable, and having bought it before the rise m the Home marKet, we are enabled to sell at a Lower Price than any other storekeeper m the town. *«»ffee. Coffee. Coffee We are giving special attention to our Coffee. The Coffee Beam are selected with the greatest care and freshly roasted and ground on our premises by the most approved machinery. We can recommend it with the greatest of confidence as Superior to »ny other Coffee m the market. Give it a trial and you will use no other. NOTICE TO FARMERS, Etc. We are Own Buyers of GOOD BEESWAX m any quantity, at Highest Markat Rates. Orders by Post or Telephone Promptly attended Ur FLETCHER BROS, CASE SUPPLY STORES, EAST. STHE ET, ASHBURTON, and High street, Christen uroii . I'KLKfUOMK 24 6°* 6 7