Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. THURSDAY, JULY 1, 1897. THE MORAL OF IT.

There has been, no doubt, a good deal of tail talk, both in the press and on the platform,—aye, even in the pulpit about the greatness of Great Britain, in expatiating on matters apropos of the record reign, But enthusiasts— and we were all enthusiasts on June 22 ire allowed a little latitude. At anyrate whether they are allowed or not they make the allowance for them selves. But after all allowances have been made, and all the unduly high coloring in the picture toned down, 30 that only hard faeta about things remain; and tin* picture has been re duced to a true copy of the situation as it is, we have an event unparalleled

in history. And the event is un I paralleled in many ways. No sovereign (has ever reignerl for sixty years, and reigned in comparative peace, and in un disturbed and unquestioned possession oic the throne, But has there ever reigned on any throne in any age a sovereign who could look upon such scenes as were presented in London during jubilee we^k? And those scenes were repeated in smaller measure throughout the whole of Great Britain and her colonies. In addition to the statesmen who rule in Imperial affairs the Sovereign saw around her statesmen representing her colonial possessions in every part of the world. And from those vast possessions, with their inilllions of subjects of the Queen there came only expressions of loyalty and love. Acting as her bodygourd on her route to the great thanksgiving

aervico, Her Majesty had beside her representative troops, sent by those colonial possessions, And the whole picture is one full of a great moral lesson to th 6 nations of the world, Diplomatists looking at that picture and seriously contemplating and reali sing the vastness and the strength that it represented —- a vastness and a strength made vaster and atro»ger still by the oneness in loyalty and patriotism that was everywhere ap parent—could readily understand why those who guide the destinies of Great Britain could afford, ou a great occa sion, and for a great principle, to adopt a policy of " splendid isolation," and bid defiance to the world. With, so to speak, half the world to draw help from should the emergency arise, and the source of the help alaiost inex haustible, there would be cause for

serious thought to the onlooker. It was no power weakened by division that the vast gathering represented, but an empire made up of many ele men s—of people differing in rape and i in color bo that nearly every division of the human family and every shade of color known in (he genus man are included-—but cemented together by loyally and patriotic love into one vast concrete whole. Industriously have

writers, who have but little love for the insular people, asserted that Britain's colonial possessions were her weakness ; that they were disaffected ; and that only the occasion was wanted to bring about revolt in most of them. The jubilee celebrations have given the lie to those prophets of evil. Then what an object lesson must have been that naval review at Spithead, Colonial youths, whose n&val ac quaintance is limited to the occasional sight of a passenger steamer, can form uo idea of what such a review would be like. But could they hav3 witnessed an armada of one hundred and jsixty five ships of war, manned by fifty thousand men, they would have re ceived in one day an education as to the greatness of the Empire they have the proud distinction to belong to, that a lifetime's fetudy of books would hardly impart, And that vast Armada oon tamed only the vessels usually to be

found on the coasts of the British islands. The great squadrons in dis tant waters were not called in to add to the naval pageant. There were representative ships of all the maritime nations present at that review in honor of the Queen. And every sailor on board those ships, as they saw this display of the strength at sea of tha insular King- ( dom, must have given to his neighbor a glance of deep meaning. And one can easily imagine what thoughts ran through their minds. Be it remem bered, too, that the tremendous doings of the week passed through without, the slightest hitch—with no more accidents than are usual on an ordinary holiday—and the remembrance will suggest the idea that the management must have been perfect. And this, word " management" will suggest a train of thought that is pleasing to the healthily loyal mind, Tho manage ment of the Crimean war wets far from creditable to those in authority. Since then, however, the department has made " army service " a science and almost a fine art, with the result that in every war the forces have been en gaged in since 1859 the men at the front have always known where their next meal was to come from, and been as well fed and clad ac if they were in a barrack room instead of a trench. Thus then there has been presented to the world a loyal and united Empire, an Empire with a reserve of strength in men and meanß for military pur poses that no other Empire can equal, an Empire with a strength upon the sea that all the navies of the world combined could hardly overthrow, and an Empire with a defensive and offen sive organisation that had better not be h«ld too cheaply. And the moral of this presentation will be found in the future to greatly strengthen the hands of ourdiplomatists,and to operate as a powerful factor for peace in the councils of the nations.

TOBACCO.

b. writer in one of the magazines on the subject of "Tobacco in relation to health and charac-

ter," makes an in teresting calculation

that the smokers of Great Britain and Ireland, whom he calculates at one tourth of the population, or, say, ten millions, spend on an average 2s 6d a year on the accessories of tobacco, and pay an average of 6d an ounce for the seventy-eight million pounds of tobacco which they consume every year. The tobacco bill of those islands amounts to thirty-two and a half millions a year. Now the whole cost of the wheat consumed in the United Kingdom was only thirty-three millions; so that tobacco runs wheat within half a million as an item in John Bull's annual expenditure. Yet the British do not consume two pounds of tobacco per head, which is very moderate com pared with the consumption of other aafcious, IJolland uses |he leaf at the rate of a trifle over Pev bead of her population , Austria, 8 81b ; Den mark, 3 7lb j Switzerland, 3 31b ; Bel gium, 3 2lb ; Germany, 81b ; Sweden and Norway, each 2 3lb; France, 211b; Italy, Russia, and Spain may be classed together, with a consumption of l\ b ; while the United States rises in fcne sijale to 4|ib for each inhabi tant. The writer thinks that the practice of using tobacco bag contri* feu'ted greatly to convert t^p unspeak able Turk into a mild am! sedate Oriental. If this be true, the Eastern Question may yet be solved by increas ing the CQns'unjptjojj oi the fragrant weed.

Local and General.

Commercial news on fourth page. The rainfall in Wellington during the month ending ye&te day was only 2.425 inches. The average fall for Jane in pre y£qu3 years was 5.2 inches. The Cant.e£bury Amateur Athletic Club, at the annual ni,ee.ting'h#)d last .night, voted ten guineas towards the expens.es of sending a New Zealand team of athletes to Sydney for the Australasian championships in October. From private letters reeoived in Auckland it appears that the Earl of Ranfurly is not bringing out with him his eon, Viscount Northland. His Lordship has decided to send him to Eton to continue his education. Tho a|?elton of a boy wai yesterday found in MangWve Mud JTlftt. off Taihoa, Kaipara Harbor. Mr fi. Peikihf, of jCJlorit, believes the remains are those of one of his phpdr^n who was drowned in a boating accident off Mipturoa Jsland in January 1896, when a number of persona were drowned. The barque Kate Tatham, bound from Jfewcastle to Napier, pub jn ab 4uck'an<l yesterday in & disabled condition. Two of | her topmasts wore fiarripd away at one time, and the vessel had a narrow escape. Every s»il was blpwn away, and the yeseel was lying in the trough of the sea, the decks being awash up to the rajla. The ciew had great difficulty in saving the m&inmisb. An American paper states that Sir Julian Paiiacefpte is a devoted cyclist). Not only does the disibing.ajshed diplomat indulge in the exercise during his lejfure hours, bub makes official visits in bhe same ungonysa tional manner. It is a daily occurrence to see him wheeling down Ctonnectiout Avenue from the Embassy to the department^ or the Executive Mansion itself. This truly American way of doing business has largely conduced to Sir Julian's personal popularity {since poming to Washington. The Pope has thrown open the Borgia rooms in the yabican, after spending £20,000 in having them repaired. They consinfc of {She Borgia Tower, three large halla, and the Hall of the Pontiffs, Which has 250><juare metres of floor area. The whitewash has been removed from the frescoes, and the pavements restored, according f/O the original designs, in majolica tiles. The work was done in four years, and was hurried as much $.3 possible, ai Pope Leo was very anxious that the restoration should be completed before he died. Among the inmates of Nazareth House, Hammersmith, ia an old lady, familiarly known to all in the institution as •'Graonie,*' who, when the Queen ascended the throne in 1837, had already attained to nearly half a century of lite. This old lady, who was born in the middle period of George lll,'a reign, is now in her 106 th year ; and, although naturally feeling the weight of her great agje, is in remarkable possession of her faculties and appetite, and iv good health. Mrs Flynn his outlived all her children and grandchildren save one. * In X'aris a resent communication of Dr. Fer. a to the Biological Society yas given rise to a new game in Frenoh society. The learned doctor shows that " the impression left by the fingers and toes allow one to gauge with absolute certainty the degree of intelligence in individuals. The fingers having been dipped in ink, when pressed on a level surface leave behind an impres sion which contains for a sharp and prac tised eye the most astounding revelations The mpr|S numerous, fine, soft, and pro nounced the jLinejß of thp finger, the higher the intelligence"of the indrfriduaj is deve loped." Digitomaney has, therefore, be come a yery favorite pastime in Parisian bosiefcy,

Tiie meeting of the Licensing Committee, which should have been Leld to-day, lapsed for want of a quorum. The new Act, while it reduced the number of members, did not reduce the quorum, and all the members must now be present before a meeting can be held.

i Local poultry fanciers and farmers will have an oppoitunity of investing iv purebred poultry, as Mr H. Stephsnson notifies b> advertisement that he will sell several lines on Saturday, 10th inst., some of which will he exhibited in the show to-morrow and ! Saturday. The whaling season.has commenced in the fc oruh, &i\d bids fair to be very successtul. The isteat reports from Messrs Cook Brothers, at WhaDgamumu, state that three whales hive been oaptuted, one of which is the largest yet taken on the coast, and is expected to yield about eight tuns of oil. One whale was unfortunately lost, as ib sank before it could be taken in tow. An accident befel Captain Russell and party (Mrs Russell, Miss Watr, and two others) whilst driving to the drag hunt at Riverslea on Saturday. The horses in their carriage became very restive, with the reßult that the vehicle capsized. The ladies escaped by jumping out in time, but Capaain Russell was thrown to the ground, and sustained some injuries, though fortunately not of a very serious nature*

It is highly appropriate that this year's congress of the International Postal Union should be held in Washington. This ia the first lime for more than twenty yeara of the Union's existence that America has been its meeting-plaoe, though now the foremost nation in the world in postal importance. There are in round numbers 200,000 poat offices in the world, of which 70 000, or more than a third, are in the United States. The growth of the service, like everything else in the country, has been phenomenal. In 1786 there wars 75 post offices j in 1800 there were 903; in 1825 they had increased to 5677 ;in 1873, to 35,734; and in 1884 to 50,000. In another double decade propably over 100,000 post offices will be required to handle the postal business of the Republic. More than a billion letters a year, paying full poßtage, besides postal cards, ia now the approximate measure of the correspon dence of the country, not to mention the printed matter that comprises a large part Union has done more in the last twenty-two yeara to develop and improve facilities for intercommunication .between the nations of the earth than all previous organisations.

An Auckland telegram says Mr G. S. Kissling, who had contributed from the first to the Bank of New Zealand Assurance Fund, and did not receive any consideration from the fund on retiring from the service of the bank, haa intimated to the Royal Com mission on Private Benefit Socie iea that he would be glad to give evidence. It has been agreed that Mr Kissling be summoned. Major Steward said he had received an anonymous communication, addressed to him as a member of the Commission, asking some of the officers of the Bank of New Zealand to be examined, who feel the hardship of being compelled to contribute compulsorily to the Provident Fund. The Commission agreed to the suggestion that if the person or persons who forwarded the communication would send the names of those they wished examined the Commission would send for them.

A remarkable case of kidnapping was heard at Liverpool Assigea, when the British .Steamship Oompany, London, owners of the s a Hounsloon, were aued with the caplaiu, and first and second officers, by William SloJine, a seaman. Sloane's story was that in September last he went aboard the ship at Galveston to ask for a man who had owed him money. The steamer was about to sail, and Sloane alleged that he was prevented leaving, notwithstanding his "protestations, and locked up until the ship was at sea. He was then offered rating as an A.8., and, on declining, was threatened to be treated as a stowaway, lie was allowed to go ashore at Liverpool, fcjloane added that he was now qu fee destitute. The defence sought to show that the man had undertaken to join as an A.B. The judge held that no action could lie against the shipowner?, as, although the captain had authority to engage men, he had none to kidnap. The tirst officer was also relieved of responsi bility. Th) jury, however, found against the captain and second officer, awarding

loane £50 damages. To inherit a small sum of money appears to be a somewhat expensive affair in Italy. In a little town of the Romagha there died some months ago a young man, who left behind him 4 lira 58 eentesimi, or not quite 4s. This sum, which had been deposited in the Post Office £Jasr|ngs Bat k, became the property ofthe frtfjer on the yp«ng man's death. As the amount was so trifling the father deemed it unnecessary to, make a de claration of the legacy as the Jaw prescribes, especially as th,e stamped paper on which the declaration has' to be made Would post 1 iira 80 eentesimi (about la §d). Three months afterwards, however, he received a demand for the payment to the local State treasury of 14 lira 48 oenteaimi (Us 6i) as legacy duty and fine for omitting to make the necessary declaration. The father think ing a mistake had been made, took no notice of thjs demand, with the result that & few days ago an ofjfcial palled upon him and de manded the immediate payment of 1§ lira (14s 5:1)." Thp man bad not sufficient money in hand, and the official ponsttjueutly took possession of the man's furniture. The costs of this seizure brought the total sum to 30 lira (23* 9d), which the poor man had to pay the same evening to avoid the sale of his goods by auction —that is to say he paid £1 58 9d for a legacy of 3s 7d. Hollqway's Ointment and Pills.—These world-renowned remedies are confidently recommended to miners, navvies, and all who have to work underground or where rioxioua atmospheres exist. The minu'e particles of coal or metal which permeate the air in such places |bend to block up the lungs and air tubes, giving rjise to bronchitis, asthma, and palpitation of the lieart. In Rolloway's remedies will be found a safe and easily used medicament [for the penetrating propers ies of the Ointment relieve the local congestions and the mildiy lajc&tive effects of the Pills pause tr^ liver to a«?t freely, and thp breath to become uuembarassed. By early resort to these remedies many a serious illness may be averted, and soundness of health main tained.

THE CORWAR FATALITY.

An Inquest wa« held at Bakaia by Mr L. Oxley, J.F., and ft jury of six, who chose Mr Tucker as foreman, at the R.M. Court on Wednesday evening, touching the death of Henry Ford, at Corwar. Mrs Ford gave evidence to the effect that her husband appeared to be as well aa usual about eleven o'clocji, when ho went out to the paddocks on Tuesday moriiing ; this was the last time she had seen him alive. He had during the last three years seen several as to his health, and Br Townend had said that there was something the matter with his hesjtrfc. ■ David Livingston, who was working aloDg with decease:!, stated that they wore carting hay from stack to sheep racks in different paddqcks, and after taking out the third load hp observed tjiat deceased's dray was atill loaded. Witness returned and found deceased lying face down behind the dray, and quite dead. He reported tfye matter at Corwar station, about half a mile away, and the body was scut to JJakaia. The hay fork was stuck on the top of deceased's load, and he could not account for it. He felt sure that deceased had not fallen off the dray, as none of the hay was disturbed or dragged d«wn. Dv Cordner said he had made a post mortem, and found the heart in a very bad state, and the lungs and liver, those of an unhealthy man. There were no bruises on the body', and t}>e neck was not dislocated. Death was caused by valvular disease of the heart. The Jury returned a verdict of natural death. The friends removed the body to Christ church by the express, when the funeral will take place to-day.

"MUSIC."

Paper read by Mrs Donald McLean before a meeting of the Ashburton Leidorkraua on Monday evening, May 31, 1897.

(Concluded.) The influence of the Gtrmans over tht; Kiench and Italian music continues at the p-eent day. Such talents as Cherubim— who might also claim a place next to the six great masters of the genius epoch—couid not have existed without the itfl ieuceof Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, and Gluck; neither could the masters of the rbntautic French opera have acquired such facility in poly phonic writing, or such facility of expression had it not been for the great lights that had gone before them. Spontini was the founder of grand opera; he with hia Veatale established a classical mode. Auber with Maaaniello, Rossini with Tell, and Meyer beer with Lea Huguenots, employed Spon tint's style with a new expression hitherto unknown to musical art. Amongst the names which stand high as masters of grand opera are those of Berton, Cherubiui, Boiel dieu, Le Sueur, Halevy, Gretry, Mehul, and Heiold. With Berlioz and Wagner began a new era in the life of opera; Wagner has developed it to a stage of perfection it has never before attained. Brahms, a follower of Schumann, is the most prominent talent Germany has produced since the death of Wagner. The only other worthy to be placed by his side is Rubinstein. Naumann, Filler, Reinecke, Rietz, and Taubert are all disciples of the Romantic School so fully developed by Mendelssohn -and Schumann. England can boast of being the country of Galoott, Hor&ley, Stevens, Dr Crotch, Sir Henry Bishop, John Smith, all of whom shone both as glee writers and as writers of church music; Sir John Gogs, Hat ton, Sainusl Wesley and his sod, Balfe, the com poser of so many ballad operas; William Vincent Wallace, who followed olosely in Balfe's steps, Baraett, Sir W. Stemdale Bennett, who has earned so high a reputation by his strong individuality and originality of style that he stands second only to the great Purcell, Henry Smart, Attwood, who wrote some good church music, John Goss, Walmisley, Gauntlett, Dykes, Sir George Macfarren, Sir George Elvey, Les'ie, Bet I, Sir Herbert Oakeley, all of whom have done good work in the cause of art in England, and have helped to earn for it the high place that it now holds. To this list must be added the names of Ebenezer Proud, than whom perhaps no one has worked more zealously in dießeminatiDg the knowledge of the theory of music, and one of the most able and learned men of the day. Sir John Stainer, Sir Arthur Sullivan, Sir Joseph Barnby, Alexander McKeiiz c, and Frederic Cowen.

At the present time it ie not probable tha* music will deteriorate, ac from what is happening every day, it seems that the love J of the British nation for art ia increasing steadily. Before concluding, I should like to say a few words about the progress of mußic amongst ourselves, and what hinders its progress. Music should be regarded as the very highest of the arts, its a gift from heaven, and worthy of the deepest cherish ing and fostering, until such time as it shall blossom forth and bear fruit. This gift ia not bestowed upon all, yet a child s educa tion is not considered complete unless it has been taught to play upon some instrument, regardless of whether the child has any talent for it or nob. This class of people ( regards music as a species of fancy work, or perhaps as a genteel accomplishment, cer tainly not as the noblest of the arts, which should be approached with reverence. Tru'y, fools rush in where angels fear to tread. Another thing which has done much to bring music to a lower level is the fact that while many people really have not the smallest spark of enthusiasm for art within them, they preiend to be devotedly attached to music, becau-e it is fashionable. Note, iv any social gathering, how direqtly any music begins, all the listeners immediately begin la carry on an animated conversation (which they would not do if they really loved music), and on the conclusion of the item they will deluge the performer with compliments upon his or her rendering, of which probably they have hardly heard & note

The next thing which materially inter feres with the progress of music is that it is of.en taught by peopl^ who are quite un qualified for teaching. There are many varieties of teaphers who should not be teaching at all, since if 4 child begins to learn in a wrorjg meth< d, it xtVl be a very long time before it gets rid of bad habits and erroneous impressions it has formed, even if afterwards placed under a good teacher. Jb takes much longer to unlearn |h&n £0 learn. One species of teacher who should be at onqe condemned is the one who, while brought up to and following some other occupation, thinks it would be rather nice to be able to make a little pocket money by teaching musip after th.e|r day's occupation in their other profession is done. He then tries to make the public believe that he knows all about music; perhaps he gets one or two scientific and high-sounding terms out of some learned work, and airs them occasionally in public to make it believed what a very well read person he is;

while all the time he knows nothing at all, and is no more fitted to teach the grounding of music to a child than the child itself. This, too, is the same sppciea of so-oalled muaicjan wh r o attempts work far beyond him, and is so eaten up with his own con ceit that he resents honest criticism from those who are qualified to give it. No ! ihe ideal teaoher should in the first/ place be gifted ; this gift should then be cultivated as far as cultivation will go before an attempt should be made to impart knowledge to others. There are many teachers who may be able to teach a pupil to play very correctly on' the piano, or to sing in a cultivated style, but if ho' could not analyse a fugue or a sonata, and \yho know next to nothing of the natural laws which govern the production of sound; there are many, good musicians in other respects, who could not tell the root of a phord, or the interval at which a canon is written. I am con vinced that if the teaching of praotipal music were to go hand in hand with the teaching of theory, that if a child, naturally gifted, were at the same time that he is receiving instruction in practical muaio, to be thoroughly grounded in acoustics, harmony, and counterpoint; afterwards, as he progressed, in canon, fugue, and form, he would view mußio from a different stand point than I believe children usually do, and he would profit by it. Counterpoint should be his grammar and form his prosody 5 he would see beauties whose existence be had not before suspected. Then there is the jealousy which musicians proverbially feel towards each other. This should not be, for harmony should be productive of peacß, and do away with all the petty bickerings which embitter the livea of many possessing sensitive natures. Mendelssohn and Schu mann aod many other truly great characters ijhaw us in this respect an example which We must all strive to follow. In conclusion, I wish to say to the members of the Liederkranij what a very marked improvement was noticeable in their singing last Wednesday evening, and how very pleased I was to note the improvement made; It reflects great credit, both upon themselves and upon their capable con ductress, Mrs Fox, and I can only hope that 'he Society will keep together lpylly, and do their *best to still further improve. I will now thank you all for the attention with which you have listened to my little outline of music in the past, and trust that it is nob the last occasion upon which we shall meet to discuss musical matters.

COMMERCIAL

Press Association—By Electric Telegraph— Copyright. London, June 29 Jfpr the fourth series of the London colonial wool B&'es the arrivals to jiate total 304,000 bales, oi which 71,0P0 have been forwarded direct to ponsumers. The quai% tiiy available at the sales will.be 285.000 bales. In the Bradford market prices are unchanged.

PRESENTATION.

Last eveniog there was a very pleasant little gathering ia the Somerset Hotel. About a score of gentlemen assembled in thi c mmerciai room to bid good bye and wish a, tsafu voyage and happy holiday to Mr and Mra W. Jame&, who, hiving relinquished oharge of the Somerset, are about to make a voyage to the Old Country. Ihe chair was occupied by Mr James Heaeltiue, who, in o few appropriate sentences, handed to Mr James the following letter :■—" Arhburton, June 30, 1897. To Mr and Mrs William James, f-omersefc Hotel, Aahburton.—-We, the v demgned, on the eve of your depar ture from amongst us, beg you to accept the ' accompauyißg pend*t)ta from us as a very email token of our esteem at a high appreciation of your upright character, and many excellent qualities, as shown dm Ing your residence in Ashburton. We hope that health, peace, ana prosperity may attend you and yours wherever you may be, and unite in wishing you a pleasant voyage and safe return.— We are, etc." Twenty-one names were ap pended to the letter. The chairman ex plained that the pendants, which were in gold, would not be to hand till the morniDg, as Mr S. Salek, who had their pre paration and engraving in hand, had had but scant time allowed him in which to do the work, the whole arrangements having been made hurriedly, ac it was but at the eleventh hour, bo to speak, that the pro moters of the gathering had learned of Mr and Mrs James' intention of visiting the! Old Country and leaving so soon. The pendants, however, would be to hand in tbe morning, and would be found to bear the following inscription :-" To Mr (Mrs) W. James from a few friends on his (her) leav ing Ashburton, July 1, 1897." Other speakers spoke in high y complimentary terms of the recipients, making a special point of the excellent way in which the hotel had been conducted during Mr and Mrs James' lease of it, and dwelling on the fact that the hours set by the law had been religiously observed. It was pointed out by several speakers that the oar of the Somerset Hotel had always been closed on the stroke of ten o'clock every night, and was never under any circumstances at *H opened on a Sunday. Mr James acknow ledged the compliment that had been paid to him and his wife, and after Mr H. S Drutnmond, the new lessee, had been wel comed and received the best wishes of those present, a pleasant hour was spent.

FOOTBALL.

Press Association—By Electric Telegraph— Copyright. Sydney, July 1 The Hauroto from Wellington with the New Zealand Football Team arrived this morning after a good passage. The men are all in splendid buckle.

SUPREME COURT.

Press Association—By Electric Telegraph Timaru, June 30 At the Supreme Court the charge against Wiuired Henry Webber, for setting fire to his store at Geraldine on February 22, with intent to defraud the Victoria Insurance Company, he having a policy for £1000 on hia stock, occupied ihe whole day. Mr White appeared for the Crown, Mr Solomon (Dunedin) and Mr "Raymond for the prisoner. The accused admitted setting fire to the shop, but by accident, through a Rochester lamp falling to pieces. The evidence was the same as that led in the Court at Geraldine. Mr Bolomon, in defence, pointed, out that Pearpoint (the chief witness) must have been mistaken in supposing there were two tunall fires, and this supposition Was the only ground of suspicion against the accused. 'J he jury, after a short adjourn ment, returned with a verdict of "Not guilty," and the prisoner was discharged.

The Colonial Premiers.

Press Association—By Electric Telegraph— Copyright. London, June 29. Sir John Fo» rest has consulted the other Premiers in regard to the action of the Colonial Office in withholding the Queen's assent from the Constitu tion Amending Bill, the provisions of which have reference to the control of the aborigines. The Premiers have authorised Sir Joha Forrest to speak on their behalf at the Conference with lie Golonial Office officials, and urge that prompt assent should be given to the Bill. On the occasion of the visit of the colonial troops to the Lyceum Theatre, Sir Henry Irving held a reception, which was attended by Mr Reid and the other Premiers and their wives. The Premiers met Sara Bernhardt at Sir Henry Irvine's reception at the Lyceum^ Madame retains kindly re? memberanoes of her tour through Australia, Lord Rosebery entertained the colonial Premiers at lunch, arM the Duchess of Abersorn gave a reception in their honour.

London, June 30. The Conference between Mr Cham berlain and the Premiers was resumed to-day. Mr Chatnberlajn raised the question of preference trade in general terms, and the Premiers having dis cussed the matter at a private meeting, decided that it was impossible to sub mit definite proposals in the absence of information. They urged Mr Ohan> berlain to appoint a Commission. The Conference then discussed the Pacific Cable question, but an agreement on the subject is doubtful. Both Mr Kingston and Sir John Forrest oppose the scheme, while some of the others' displayed indifference. At the private mpefcing the Premiers agreed to renew the contribution to the Auxiliary Squadron, but considered it premature to expect a larger contribution to naval defence.

THE WRECK OF THE P. AND O. STEAMER ADEN.

Seyenty ; eigUt Passengers and Crew Missing.

Press Association—By Eleetrip Telegraph— Copyright. . IiONDOif, June 29. The Aden was on her homeward voyage from Hong Kong when she struck a reef on the 9th. The captain and a number of the ship's officers, together *ith eight passengers, were I swepb overboard, and drowned, A passing steamer managed to rescue nine passengers, and thirty-six of the crew on the 26th, just when the wreck was commencing to break up. Twenty five passengers, twenty officers and thirty-three Lisc^re, who left in a boat on the 10th, it is feared have perished

CABLE NEWS.

Home and Foreign.

rress Ataociation—By Electric? Telegraph— Copyright. The Transvaal Raid Enquiry. London, June 29. The Transvaal Kaid inquiry Com mittee will recvil Miss Flora bhaw, of the limes, on Friday. Remarkable stories are current about the nature of that lady's cables to Mr Oecii Rhodes. It is alleged they involve Mr Chamber lain. Heavy Claim for Salvage. The Ferim Goal Company claim £11,000 salvage in connection with the stranding of the Orient Company* Orotava,

The Irish Tunnel. London, Jane 30. I Mr 0, T. Ritchie, President of the | Board of Trade, replying to » deputa tion from the Belfast Chamber of Commerce, declined to recommend Government to aid in the construction of a tunnel connecting Ireland with Scotland at a coat of ten millions sterl ing. He was, however, willing to con sider plans for such a work. The Colonial Bishops. Bishop Oreighton entertained the Bishops of Sydney, Auckland, Tas mania, North Queensland, and Wel lington, at a dinner. Sunday Entertainments. The House of Lords, by a majority of seven, rejected Mr Hobhouse'i Bill abolishing the provisos of the Act of 1871 making it a punishable offence to provide lectures or concerts on Sundays.

A Disaffected Press. Calcutta, June 30 The native journals in Poonab, Bombay, have for months past been inciting the natives to murder the plague officials, urging them also to revolt against the soldiery, whom they accuse of outraging women, insulting religion, and plundering the people. They threaten the Govern ment with disastrous results, and describe the soldiers as " wild British bulls." Restraint Upon Trusts. Nkw York, June 29. In connec ion with the trial of ten millionaire Directors of the American Cigarette Trust, Mr Shearman says the restraint to be placed upon trusts is one of the most important public questions in the United States. Jane 80 The jury in the case against the Directors of: the American Cigarette Trust disagreed. Two were against and ten for a, conviction. A new trial is ordered.

Australian.

| Press Association—By Electric Telegraph— Copyright-. A Bankrupt Borough. Sydney, Jane* SO. The borough of Penrith has the bailiffs in possession at the instance of the Government. The liabilities amount to £23,000, but there is a prospect of the matter being satis factorily arranged. The liabilities of the borough are secured by three set! of debentures. The Government hold one set for 8. loan of 13,000, at 5 per cent. Owing to the high rate of interest and other causes the borough is unable to pay its debts, and the Government issued execution for the amount owing to it.

Tlte Sea Serpent.

The captain of a tug reports having seen the sea serpent close to big vessel when twenty-five miles off the heads. It was coiled in the shape of a figure eight, and uncoiled itself as the vessel approached and disappeared. It was between thirty and forty feet in length.

Wool and Meat Freights.

Press Anooiation—By Electrio Telegraph— Copyright. London, June 30 Mr Seddon, Mr W. P. Beeves and Sir John Hs.ll discussed with the ship owners the question of reducing freights from New Zealand, mainly on wool and rn^at shipments. Mr Seddon contended they should reduce to the Australian scale. The owners replied. that the difference between the two tariffs was merely nominal, but they would meet shippers wherever possible. They promised to favorably consider the arguments and give a reply shortly.

THE LATEST.

Some and Foreign-

Press Association—By Electric Telegraph- Copyright. Received Wakapuaka, July 1, 10 ».m. m Guardian office, 11 a.m. Watch on llutler, Sydney, Jaly 1. Butler's conduct is considered un reliable and the strictest precautions are exorcised to prevent' further attempts at suicide. He lias bee# placed, in a specially prepared straight jacket. He refuses . all religion uiiniatrafciana. Ike Sea Serpent • Another oatimate makes the gea serpent fifty feet long with a head like a calf.

Imported Coal. Melbourne, July 1, The Assembly has negatived a motion in favor of a duty of half a crown a ton on imported coal. South Australia. Adelaide, July 1. The Council has adopted the Address in Reply, A Federation Bill has been introducec], Japan and the Colonies. Brisbane, July 1. In the Assembly the Acting Premier stated that a provision against the immigration of Japanese to Queensland had been arranged, and it was expected that a treaty would be arranged with the Japanese Government under which neither labor?™ nor artisans would be allowed to sQOigi to the (jblonV,

THE ASHBOHftJft GUARDIAN: THUBSDA*, JtJLY 1, ml.



Business Kh&tiees, SPECIAL JD'IiESS SALE, EDM DAYS. A LL Dnss Materials at 2i per yard and upwards—will be made FREE OF CHARGE MOM SATURDAY, JUNE 19, TO JULY 3—INCLUSIVE. SEE WINDOWS. ASHBU-RTON DRAPERY COY. BANKRUPT ESTATE OF G. J. NEILL AND CO., DRAPERS, CLOTHIERS, MERCERS, - AND BOOT DEALERS, ASHBURTON mH R Sale of this Stock commenced thh morning, an I will be continued ' until the whole is disposed of at PHENOMENALLY LOW FTGUBES in order to effect a speedy cleara nca. r^^BY ORDER OF THE PURCHASERS OF ABOVE E3TA™ 33 EX S.S. MATATUA. WE HAVE MUCH PLEASURE IN ANNOUNCING THE AKKIVAL OF OUR MIDWINTER SHIPMENTS, Six Cases being just to hand from the above steamer. THS SHIPMENT COMPRISES— ONE CASR L«Uas'Black Cashmere HOSE, very hoary makes, NE CASE Is 4d, Is 6J, 1 >■ 10J ONE O-VSE Ladies' B'acV ami Tan KID GLOVES, bought at a O\SK large discount. Children's Tans —4 Button, lans, '2,4 6i j 4 Domes, Tuns, 2d lid ; 4 Domes, Black, 2s lid rp WO OASES TRISH LINEN GOODS, straight from the Lißburn IWO OASES Mills. Some beautiful embroidered PILLOW SHAMS. N.D. DAGS, HANDKERCHIEFS, &c Among these goods now on view in our windows ONE OASB FLANELLRTTESand MOLLTSTONS. Special lines NE CASE in white and creino ONE CASE Ladies' and Children's BOOTS and SHOES, specially NE CASE made for us by our Leicester Manufacturer 'rpaRKEOASESPasBage LINOLEUMS to open shortly. New designs; J_ all widths, MITCHELL & TURNER.



THIS SPACE KESEKVED FOR THE LEADING JEWELLERY AND WATCH REPAIRING ESTABLISHMENT IN THE DISTRICT. S. SA L E X, BAST STEIET.



WANTED Known—Men'a Boots in great variety from 4s lid to 303 at MjeLLOß's Zealandia Boot Store. B^RaETT^lTnOb. have just opened some cow lines iv clothing. Our noted "Wear-well" Mosgiel Tweed Suifc afc £2; but cash discount One Shilling in the Pound makes them 38/- now.—" The Hall," Eujfc Street. _ WANTED KNOWN —The way the young people of ABhburton should celebrate the record reign. Geb married, am* buy their furniture at H. Bairsfcow's, Tailored Street. Satisfaction guaranteed. O XoU ~~BS KNIGHT, Cash purchaser of ladios, gentlemenV, and children'a left off QMhial and all kinds of Goodi.-Wftka»ni



MAKE no mistake. If you want a nice job made of your repairs, fry MkJjLOU, the up-to-date bootmaker. FOUND— Nineteen shilling-* cash to be worth Twenty credit. Our practical system of cash discount One Shilling in the Pound, meets with approvi*!.—-Barrett Bros, "The Hall," East Street. WANTED Known, Inspect Fletcher Bbos' show of Crockery, etc., suit able for presents before going elsewhere. It will pay you.—Fletcher Bros., Cash Supply Stores. WANIKD, Eggs, 1000 dozen, must; be freah, and 1 ton of Beeswax, highest market prices giveo by If MOTHER liiioa,, Qash Supply Storey



Church Services. ST. STEPHEN'S' OHUBCfI ABhburton. THURSDAY — Presenta'ions to Miss McDonnell by the Vestry and Choir in St Stephen's Schoolroom, at 3.30 p.m. ST STEPHENS GUILD—A meeting of all Communicants 'o enrol members and elect offbers, in the Schoolroom at 7,30 p.m FRIDAY —- Short Service 7.30 p.m.; Choir Praotice, 8 p.m. SUNDAY SERVICES. 11 a.m.—Morning Prayer and Holy Com muttior, 3 p.m.— GREENSTRKET. 5 p.m.-DRO VIORE (Mr T. A. Gates) 6.3o—.Evening Prayer. REV T. A. HAMILTON.



THE NEW ZEALAND C iotlii og 1 Factory, SPECIAL. LINES. MJN'S WATERPROOF COATS, Newest Patterns, all Bewn Seams, 29s 6<l, 32s 6d, 359, 39a 6d. MEN'S' ALL WOOL TWEED OVER COATS, 255, 32a 6d, co 455. YOUIHS' ALL WOOL TWEED OVER COATS, 19s 6d, 255, to 35a. BOYS' Do. 8a 6d, 10a 6d, to 21s. BOYS' NAVY SERGE SAILOR SUITS. Fib Boy two years, from 10s 6d Fit Boy four years, from 11s Fit Boy six yeara, from 12s Fit Boy eight years, from 13s Fib Boy ten years, from 14a extra collar, flannel front, cord and whistle. BOYS' ALL WtOL TWEED GUARD SUITS. Fit Boy four yeara, from 9a 6d Fit Boy six years, from IDs 6d Fit Hoy eight years, from 11s 6d b ifc Boy ten years, from 12a 6d Parents wanting " good strong wearing Suits for the Boys would do well to inspect our large stock. Boys' Blue Serge Tarn Caps from la to 3s 9d Boys' Serge Capa from 6d to la 9d See our All Wool Tweed, for Boys' school wear, at Is lid per yard.



We carry a large Block of British & Colonial BOOTS AND SHOES. Inspection Invited, HALLENSTEIN BROS. & CO. A. G. BAHTGN, Manager.'



From the Tea Plant to the Tea .Gup. unadulterated and pure. This is &ogf# Tjja Joha Qft & p9. f ftsoot|,



" Look at that hump." " What hump, my son?" *' That hump on the man's back." ," Those are round shoulders, my boy caused by a neglected'<jQuglj#ien a child.?' •• Why dulu?6 he take Woods' Great Peppermint tiure, it always cures v?," "It's a pity he 4li»W r9lorted tlit) mothtr. July Q



Many Ladies complain that the Tpa they have been using has neither strength nor flavor. If they try Kozie TJsa. they will be satisfied Try the No 4at 2/4, 'tis superb The trad leaf of the Tea plant, untampered will and pure; this is Ko^lE Tba,' try it-~ Jdia Off $ Go,, ' {



The publig are tq foe congratulated, on the jiberal manner in which they have re apouded to the invitation of oar leading bookseller, stationer, and fancy goods vendor, to supply themselves with cheap stationery, good literature (for winter reading), and fancy goods. As this month is the record sale of the decade—the firm giving great in ducements so as to reduce the stock—we have no doubt that the premises of H. N Anderson, late L. P. Andrewes and Co., will be well patronised, during th* remainder of tlie ■»]•.—(4.5^,