Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. WEDNESDAY, JULY 21, 1897. COLONIAL DEFENCE.

: » -_ Mr Bkid, the New South Wales Premier, did not, we hope, reflect the opinion as a whole of the colony he represented when he made his speech ■\t the Colonial Institute banquet. The banquet was given in honor of the Premiers, and in their persons they were the recipients of an honor really intended for the colonies they represent. That banquet, and all the honors showered upon the Premiers during their visit to the Home country, were intended to be read iv these colonies as indications of: the feeling of kinship entertained by the statesmen and the leaders of thought in the Imperial centre towards the children of the umpire scattered over the vast domi nions which compose it. It is well, therefore, to remember that the Premiers, when th.ey w/,ere asked by 'heir Parliaments to accept the inj/ita : ***»a. to t*U& parfc Jn tfre Jubilee "A" . • w?fo jpyestpd wjth nc pageantry -Weenies to wpre authority frum tn... sent their views on such quo. • i thecolonial contribution to the Imperial navy. And for the very best of all reasons—that tho&e views are not known sufficiently, even by Parlia ments, to be given expression to. But while this fact has to ha remembered, the other fact will not be kept out of sight—that statements made by the Premiers at such functions as the one referred to, are apt to be accepted at Home as expressive of the public opinion of the colonies from which the ■Premiers come. If Mr Reid's speeches are to be accepted as expressive of th« view taken by the Australian colonies in regard to their liability to bear a share in the maintenance of the Imperial means of defence, then that view will not show well on the same 1 page with all the beautiful language I used and the grand sentiments ex pressed on the subject of " the unity of the empire." Mr Gnschen, the First I Lord of the Admiralty, speaking at the Colonial Institute banquet, pointed out that to bear a share in the main- I tenance of the Imperial navy was a duty of the colonies. Mr Reid, reply ing to what he considered an " astute '' speech, said that Mr GJoschen's "finan cial instincts indicated a latent design on the Australian purse," It was quite evident from the tone of Mr Keid's remarks that he at least was prepared to repudiate any such duty, " The colonies were distant parts of the empire, had only a small population, and the best gift the colonies could bring was the record of Australia's achievements in develop ing the Australian continent." This sounds very well, but when looked into and weighed, the speech shows itself to be that of a man who, however wide his grasp of other ques tions, has no grasp of the great question of imperialism, and his political vision is limited by the garden fences of the provincialism in which he has been trained. He has been accustomed to feel so proud of Australia's progress, that he has become blinded in this pride to what, while that progress was being made, the United Kingdom had been doing. One cannot believe that 4he Premier of New South Wales has been ignorant of the immense strides the United Kingdom has made during Her Majesty's 60 years of sovereignty. He cannot be ignorant of the pheno menal development of resources that has been made, of how commerce has been extended, wealth increased, tl.e power of the empire enlarged, and to a | degree that dwarfs by comparison the achievements of the colonies of Aus tralasia, great as these have been. Nor can he be ignorant of the further fact that while all this has been going on, the United Kingdom haa maintained & !#efct which is the adojiratfoQ of the

world—a fleet of which a little section was able to pass before his own eyes at Spithead the finest naval pageant the world has ever seen, Surely it must ha\ c struck the hon. gentlemen, as he !sa*v those 156 warships in their four lines, making a procession six miles ! long, manned by 50,000 sailors and marines, t'«at to maintain even that section of the British fleet meant tremendous designs—that were not " latent" but in full operation—on the British purse. He could not bo the Premier of New South Wales and not be aware and cognisant of all this. But he, and other colonial statesmen and political we could name, have been so long in the habit of looking upon the work of colonisation that has been done and is still going on, as of sufficient merit and value to relieve us of any claims on us of imperial citizenship, that it has become a part of their political belief. Pat it. i* a small view indeed to take of the position j and the more we study the attitude of Mr Reid on the subject, as indicated by his utterances, we are the more astonished that, living as he has done for the past six weeks in an atmosphere fragrant with the flowers of rejoicing over a universally ex pressed sentiment that the empire is one and indivisible, the more are we at a loss to understand it. Who has benefited by Australia's achievements ? Most assuredly the Australians have derived the most, though their achieve ments must all help in the further building up of the great empire of which we are all so justly proud. In the colonisation of the Southern hemisphere, those who have done the work were not impelled by any desire to strengthen or extend the empire, but to compass their own benefit; but this fact does not relieve them of the duty, but makes it rather the more incabent, of providing for the defence of " that best gift Australia oould bring," etc., so nicely rolled out by Mr Reid in his speech. It is absurd for any colony to talk of being relieved of the duty of providing for their own protection, and saddling it upon the taxpayer in Britain. Cur interests in these colonies are as valuable to us as are the interests of the people of the British Islands to them; and that ours require the more protection ought to be only the stronger reason why the duty of helping in the provision for the protection should be recognised by every colonist who believes he has an honest right to the protection he would be sure to receive from the Navy of Great Britain were he at any time in need of it. Within the limits of this art tie it is impossible to exhaustively discuss the question, but a few figures may not be out of place just to show what we have had done for us by the Mother Country in the matter of defence. At a. cost of £22,750,000 per annum, the people of Great Britain maintain an almost omnipotent navy. The population who contribute this sum number roughly 40 million. Mr Reid said the colonies were a " small population," but the census returns show them to number five million—about an eighth of the people who maintain the magnificent navy. Jf the colonies of Australasia were to pay their share of ,the post of maintaining the navy in the proportion of population, a further "achievement of the Australian conii ment" and of course New Zealand, would be the contribution of nearly £3,000,000 per annum. Yet the magnanimous British Government lets the colonies oft with «£126,0Q0 a year, and sets aside the auxiliary squadron wholly for our own defence. It i well that we should look this question btraight in the face, and realise what our dijty actually is in the matter, and how far we havp as yet been provided with tnean9 pf defence at the post of the people of the fjnited If.ingdom, w'hilg yirtuaily payjng nothing in Qajgnjaf j^oyernment return. _ta j t!? fair that would propose ■ , anoe share of Imperial naval maiutt^ would probably be ousted from office within a week, but some day the British taxpayer will go into figures, and, finding that he ia paying for the whole naval defence of the empire, he will, to use a colonial expression, " cut up rough," and, with a bluntness that is a characteristic of John Bull, ask us <O "stump up." We have no idea that that day is near at hand, but we think : that when a Premier of an Australian colony talks to the First Lord of the Admiralty as the Hon Mr Reid did on the occasion we refer to, the time may be hastened. A.t any rate a study of how much we owe the Mother Country in the matter of defence may teach us to aarry a low sail, and be moderate in our notions of our own importance.

It really looks as if the art of making wood non-inflammable had at last been learned. Recently INCOMBUSTIBLE the Prince of Wales, WOOD* the Lord Chancellor, and the American Ambassador wi'ne.-sed, on the piece of waste ground behind the new Tate Gallery—the site of Millbank Prison— a most curious and interesting experi ment. Two model wooden houses have been there erected, and fire was applied to them, after, on the side of each, had been piled faggots drenched in paraffin. One blazed up at once, and in twenty minutes had become ashes. The other absolutely refused to catch fire, and suffered no more harm than the blister ing of the paint and the partial charring of the woodwork which had been in immediate contact with the blazing faggots. The difference between the two houses wag, that one was built of ordinary wood, the other of wood pre pared to resist fire by a patent process which consists in extracting the natural sap and gases, and replacing them by non-inflammable chemicals, The pro cess has been used for some time in America with success.

Following on a recent letter in these columns from Mr W. W. Smith, the subjoined from THE PRAYING "Papanui" in the MANTIS. Press, may be found of interest:—Atten tion having been drawn of late to (hat interesting insect, the praying mantis, I relate the following incident, which shows how readily the eggs hatch. Having discovered in the garden what was touts a then unknown insect, and being much amused by iratob,ing its peculiar pjoveajeotf and

! habits, we caught it and placed it in a( [cardboard box with a glass fee", feed ing it on blighted cabbage leaves and flies. After a day or two we found a nest of eggs fastened to the side of ths bex We then liberated the insect, keeping the eggs in my bedroom to watch the hatching procesn. At the end of two months I left home and the eggs were forgotten. Last week (about four months after the eggs had been laid) I received a letter from my sister, saying that the eggs bad hatched; the first baby mantis being found in a shoe. Upon looking at the box it was found to be partially open, and the young mantes had escaped into the room, where they were discovered in all sorts of queer places, but evidently quite at home. The runaways were returned to their box, where they are now being fed on flies and blighted leaves, gi eat interest being taken in their growth and curious ways."

Local and General.

Detective Nixon, of Wellington, (goes to Blenheim to enquire into Satherly'a dis appearance. Coaling operations at Newcastle are brisk, 26,000 tons being shipped on Thursday week last. There are now 45 men, not including the surveyors, at work on the Waikaremoana to-operative road works. A Melbourne Divorce Court plaintiff swore, the other day, that her husband had been drank three times a wtak for eight years. There are now twenty-seven prohibition orders in operation in Masterton. Eight of these were made by Justices of the Peace. It has been pointed out that on a stone in the Bilverstream (Otago) water-race is carved the name of •« Lee Weller, Bendigo." A Retail Trades Association has been formed in Wellington, and the rules adopted are on the lines of the similar body at Dunedin. It is stated that there are nearly 10,000 applications for employment on the Govern ment railways in the hands of the Depart ment at present. The Wellington Scenery Preservation Society intend to call a public meeting to discuss the vandalism of the City Council in destroying trees on the Thorndon Esplanade. A raft containing 24,500 feet of timber was taken down the Masawatu river re cently. This is the largest raft ever seen on the river. A new cycle link-action for propelling, to take the place of pedals, has been invented, and a company is being formed in Wellington to work the invention. Mr Seddon and pirty left Dublin for Annan, Scotland, yesterday, and will prob ably embark at Brindisi on their return journey on the Ist August. The report of the chief inspector of stock for Queensland shows a decrease for the year in the number of sheep of 263,263, and in the number of cattle of 317,000. The Wellington A3 eat Export Company has decided to have nothing to do with Hooley's amalgamation scheme. The Com pany has had a successful year, and declared a dividend of 8 per cent per annum. At Nhiil, Victoria, recently, two brothers named Morris quarrelled, and the younger named Henry, aged 15, seized a large knife and stabbed the elder twice in the back and twice in the forearm. The Victorian Commission on O!d Age Pensions has prepared a progress report urging th*t provision be made for dealing with the aged and destitute against whom there is no allegation of crime. Mr D. L. Maxwell has been appointed Secretaty to the Union Steamship Com pany's Mutuul Benefit Society. There were over fifty applicants for the post, including one lady. At the Crreymouth Police Court a Celestial named Ah Chun wa3 convicted and fined £50 and oats for gambling, with the alternative of two months in gaol. Re plying to a question Ah Chun said, '• Go gaol; two months, no matter." Consequ nt upon the duties on kerosene imported into New South Wales being taken off on July Ist, entries for large quantities of that at tide were made on that day, no fewer than 14,000 cases being " put through." ' ' - * At the meeting of the Charitable Aid Board at Titnaru yesterday, the Board con gratulated' itself upon the fact that there had b,een no extra demand for relief this winter, and no unemployed to provide for in any part of thp'distript. The chief provision in the Life Assurance Amendment Bill introduced into the New South Wales parliament is that with cer tain restrictions the interest on a policy of • in act 6o be affected by the iosol insurao - —a ia uob fco be made vency of the holder, »«... • • •-Jaj,^ available towards the payment of hia^.... The offences for which Tom Long, the hangman, was sentenced to three months 3 imprisonment in Wanganui gaol were drunkenness, foul language, and resisting tha police. After the execution of Sheehan for the Amberley murder, he will finish his " retreat" at Wanganui. The Hon. James Cirroll has joined the Hawke's Bay branch of the New Zealand Veterans' Association in preference to the Wellington branch, being, as he says, a born East Coaster. It is not generally known that the hon. gentleman saw a good deal of active service during the Te Kooti raid. On Tuesday evening the Rakaia Bind of Hope held its first meeting of the season in the Oddfellows' Hall; Mr James Thompson occupied the chair. Songs were sung by Miss Crawford, and recitations were given by Miss Lewis and Messsrs Malcolm and .-impson, assisted by several juvenile members of the bind. Miss Bruce officiated at the piano. The Wesleyan Band of Hope held their fortnightly meeting in the schoolroom on Monday evening, a large and appreciative audience being present. The chair was occupied by Mr C. D xon, who gave an interesting address on temperance. A most enjoyable programme, consisting of songs, dialogues, and recitations was provided. The Wool Freight Reduction Committee of Wellington, which holds a guarantee from woo! growers in the North Island of nearly 100,000 bales, has successfully negotiated for a reduction in the rafces on wool from the colony to L# jdon substantially below those offered by the Companies trading to New Zealand. The Wellington correspondent of the Lyttelton Times states that the Minister of Lands has just received a petition which, with the signatures attached, reaches a length of almost fifty feet. It is signed by settlers in the .North Canterbury District, many of whom unsuccessfully applied for sections in the Albury, Horsley Down, and Marawiti Estate*, and they ask the Minister to acquire the Glenmark Estate. The peti tion is to be referred to the Land Purchase Board. The rainfall for the month of June was the greatest at Puysegur Point, 13.31 inches; the lease, 0 02 inches, at, Maheno and Timaru respectively. The rainfall on the east coast of the South Island was uniformly light;, at one station only, Kekerangu, did it exceed a total fall of one inch, and at Ashburton a blank is recorded. The average rainfall at Lincoln College for the month of Jnne in previous years was 3.114 inches, last month the total was 0.411 inch. About six o'clock on Tuesday Mr Me Naught;, taddler, of Amberley, and Mr Wright, commercial traveller, of Dunedin, were driving from Rmgiora when their horse shied at a passing train. Their vehicle was overturned and they were thrown out, both sustaining serious injuries. They were conveyed by rail from Sefton to Amberley, where" Mr Wright was taken to the hotel and Mr McNaught to his house. Both gentlemen are well known in Ashburton. MftDy Ladies complain that the Tea they have been using has neither strength nor I flavor. If they try Kozxs Tea they will be I »tit|e<} Try tUe tfo 4*t 2/4, 'tie mprfe.

lhere will be no service ab the Tabernacle on Thursday afteruoou in consequence of the funeral of the late Mrs Taylor. We learn that there is considerable cause for anxiety about) the health of Mr 1- dwin Thomas, of Wakanui Mills, who is suff ring from a severe attack of inflammation of the kidneys. The " Matsa" Vaudeville Company arrived in Ashburton today by thi mid day m*il from the south. Quite an interest was taken by a large number of people m the pets of Leoni Clark, aud a little crowd of people assembled to see the tame kangaroo fed. The company perform to-night in the Oddfellows' Hall. A telegram from Invercargill say (:—The yount; fellow from lingWjd, who wan miss ing from his hotel on Saturday during a heavy snowfall, was found in the Seaward M.098 district, about nine miles out, on Mon day, by Constable Emerson, and taken to the Hospital, Questioned aa to hia reason for going off in such a way, he replied—" 1 told you I would go for a Btroll, and did." Of how ho put in the most inclement nights here for years, with 7in of snow on the ground, in the bleak country between town and the Bluff, no explanation could begot from him. The youth seems to be mentally an I physically deficient, and is somewhat exhausted by the exposure. A meeting ot the Committee of the Ash burton Chrysanthemum Club was held last •vening—Mr John Orr in the chair. An offer from Mr Jones, Secretary of the Christchurch Chrysanthemum Club, to visit Asnburton to read v paper on the cultivation of the chrysanthemum, was accepted, and it was decided to hold a meeting on Tuesday evening, August 3, for the purpose—time and place to be advertised ; the meeting to be open to members of the Club and any others who take an interest in the cultiva tion of this beautiful flower. After transact ing some unimportant business the meeting adjourned.

THE AMBERLEY MURDER.

Execution of Sheelian

Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.

Chbistchdrgh, July 21. William Sheehan, the murderer of Agnes Lawcock, at Amberley, was executed at Lyttelton Gaol this morning. The arrange ments were carried out without a hitch and death was instantaneous. The murderer vras very calm, and exhibited little or no emotion from the time he emerged from the cell till he stood on the gallows.

RUAPUNA.

Fiona Our Own Correspondent 1

A meeting was held in the hal on the 16th inst. to discues the much-vexed question of water supply, and to see how far interested parties would be willing to go, from a monetary point of view, as decided at a previous meeting. There was a fair attendance, those present being of opinion that twopence per acre was the outside taxation they could see their way to be burdened with. Mr Taylor was appointed to get the names of those absent, who are interested, to the twopence per a«re, and when these have been obtaiutd, to hand the document to Mr Harper, with the vi«w of having it laid before the Council.

MOUNT SOMERS.

Prom Our Own Correspondents

Tho young ladies of the district despair* ins; of the bachelors giving them an oppor tunity, before the expirauon of the winter season, to trip the light fantastic toe, took the matter into their own hands, and invited the members of the sterner sex to a bail in the Mount Corners schoolroom on Friday evening last. A committee of ladies under took the management of the social, and must be congratulated on the unqualified success that crowned their efforts. '1 he room was beautifully decorated with feras and evergreens, and in the blaze of a splendid mammoth rocket lamp, presented a very pretty appearance. As invitations had been sent to almost every .swain in the immediate and surrounding districts, there was a large attendance, and a lengthy pro gramme having been arranged, no time was lost in setting the ball rolling. Excellent music was provided by Miss Amy Beckley, and Messrs C. Buckley, R. Pagan, aud J. Price. About twelve o'clock a large supply of tea, cake, sandwiches, etc., was handed round by the ladies, and as the night was cold, it is hardly necessary to say that full justice was done to the good cheer provided. During the intervals between the dances, some good songs were given by Messrs MoKetzie, Jago, Knight, fagan,"Goe, and Nicholls. Mr D. Murray proved an efficient M C, and it was not till about a quarter to four on Saturday morning that the last item on the programme was executed, and the gay company broke up to return home through the snow which had fallen during the m"~ h.' *s '? c regrettecl that some of the young gentlemen {*) nob considering the refreshments provided by the youog ladies good enough or varied enough, should have thought it necessary to journey to the hotel for a supply of grog, which, when con sumed, so unmanned them, that for a time they took leave of their wits, and the air in ths neighborhood of the door where these few stationed themselves, simply reeked with language which was a disgrace to our common humanity, and had it occurred in Ashburton, the offending parties would probably have had to answer for their con duct before a stipendiary magistrate. It |s to be hoped that the young ladies will avenge the insult by leaving them out of their invitation list on a future occasion.

THE J.G. WARD FARMERS' ASSOCIATION.

Press Association—By Electric Telegraph

Dunedin, July 21. On resuming, Mr Ward was examined in reference to transactions in regard to taking over the business of Ross's twine factory at Invercargill. He gave two cheques, one for £3,000 odd and the other for £6,4*2, for the purchase of stocks sold by his company. As to the first cheque, Boss was practically in difficulties owing to pressure from the Colonial Bank, and Mr Ward agreed to assist him by the formation of the twine company. In doing so he stipulated with Boss that the stocks purchased in the first instance by himself as a private individual siiouid bo taken over by the new Company, plus interest and all charges to date. If Mr Solomon's statement was correct that he had to pay 33b 7d per ton for this twine he would be surprised. He denied absolutely that he had had this twine in hand for some time. Had not the slightest doubt the directors knew he was to receive a profit on tbia twine. The Company was formed for a twofold purpose—to re ieve the Ross aacount, which was a congested one, and to dispose of the stocks of twine he held. The second cheque, for £6,462, was signed by Ross himself and Fisher, who was oae of the directors, and on its face a specific purpose was shown—" twine as per warrants." He now learned that some of this twine had been bought by him from Ross at 38s per ton. There was nothing hidden about the transaction for fche purchase of the twine, since the specific purpose of the ch<que was shown, signed by the manager and one of the directors.

CABLE NEWS.

Home and Foreign.

Press Association.— By Electric Telegraph— ' Copyright.

'ike Panama, Canal Scandal. j London, July 19 j A Commission has been appointed j by the French Chamber to enquire into the Panama Canal scandal. It will visit Bournemouth, with a view to obtaining from Dr Herz a confession, j Or Jameson. Dr Jameson is at present investi gating the state of Native affairs in P.hodegia. Union Ii Company of Australia The annual report of the Union : Mortgage Agency Company of Aus- j traiia shows a profit of £13,354, which the Directors recommend to be carried forward. Produce Marks "Committee. The Agents General have requested } Mr Sinclair, Superintendent of Ex i ports for the Victorian Government, i and Mr Cameron, Government expert for New Zealand, to give evidence before the Produce Marks Committee. The American Tariff. Washington, July 19. The Joint Committee of Congress has scheduled the duty on hides at 15 per cent, first class wools at 11 cents, second class wools 12 cents, and third class 4 to 8 cents per Ib. The bounty on beet sugar ia increased by nearly 1 per cent with the object of excluding bounty fed sugar. Rick Gold Discoveries. New York, July 19. An official report of rich gold dis-' coveries ia the Klondike district, British Columbia, caused great excite ment in the Pacific cosst towns. Ex peditions to the district are also being organised in New York.

Australian.

Press Assoeiatiou—By Electric Telegraph- Copyright.

State Interference. Sydney, July 20. At the annual meeting of the Cham ber of Commerce) the President's address strongly condemned State interference between employers and employees. While there might he reasons for legally defining a day's work or enforcing early closing the proposal to take away by &ct of Par liament the liberty of two or more persons to enter into a contract was a different matter. Once adopted there was no teling where such legislation would end. It was no part of a Parlia ment's duty to interfere with anybody and everybody, or to shut down a pri vate enterprise. Sydney City Banlv. At the half-yearly meeting of the City Bank the report was adopted, it showed net profits £8050, to which was added £8260 balance. A dividend of 4per cent, was declared and £8300 carried forward. The German May. The German absconder, May, is •uppoaed to have boarded the Austral at Suez,, reached Sydney on Monday and immediately lefc for Brisbane. A large reward is offered for his arrest.

The Tick Fever.

: ■» Successful Experiments,

| Press Association—By Electric Telegraph— Copyright. Brisbane, July 20 Further exhaustive experiments, made by the Government expert in innoculating cattle with the blood of recovered animals ag a precaution against tick fever, had proved highly satisfactory. After treatment the innoculated animal-, along with a number of others treated with arsenic, and untreated ones, were depastured in a virulently tick infested area. With one exceptions the innoculated beasts proved immune, but the majority of the others contracted the fever in a bad form, and several died.

FEDERATION.

Press Association-—By Elecferip Telegraph— Copyright;.

Received Wakapuaka July 21, 11 a.m. Guakdian Office 12 p.m. Mij-bqtonb, July 21. In the Assembly, in Committee of the Whole, the Acting Premier, in a lengthy and elaborate speech, explained the provisions of the Federation Con vention Draft Bill and made special reference to the financial and railway proposals as they affect Victoria. The adjustment o£ iater-State finances would be a most difficult problem to solve. Adelaide, July 21. In the Council, on the Federation Bill an amendment was adopted re ducing the Governor-I&eneral'a salary from £10,000 to £-3,000.

COMMERCIAL.

Press Association—-By Electric Telegraph- Copyright. London, July 19. At the wool sales to-day an interior cata logue was submitted, and prices were irregular. The better classes remain firm. VVheat is quoted la dearer on the week. Messrs Dalgety and Company, Limited, have received the following cablegram from their London office under date June 16th instant :— " The frozen meat market is dull, and the tendency is downwards. New Zealand crossbred mutton, 3d to 3£d per 1b ; lamb, 3|dto4d perlb."

THE BISLEY RIFLE MEETING.

New Zealand Prize-takers.

Press Association—By Electric Telegraph- Copyright.

London, July 19 The colonial riflemen who won minor money prizes at Bisley included the following New Zealanders :—lmperial PriV, Wfsbstpr £8 ; Wimbledon Cup, Batiinger £i, Banks £2 j Pixley Com petition, Hawthorn £1 4s. In the Prince of Wales's Prize Corporal Win terford (Queensland) tied with a Canadian competitor for the bronze medal, but was beaten in the shooting off. Received Wakapuaka, July 21, 10.15 a.m., Guabman Office, 11 a.m. London, July 20. Over 2000 are competing in the first stage of the Queen's Prize at Bisley, I including 98 colonials. The highest scores gained by the New Zealandera in the Queen's Prize at the two hundred yards range are— Parsons, 33; Haw* thorne, Harris, and Ballinger, 82 each; Webster, Williams, and Somerville, 30 each. At the five hundred yardt— Williams, 35 j - King, Howe, and Richardson, 84j Hawthorne and Strachan, 83; Harris and Hazard, 32. (Received Wakapu*ka, July 21 11 a.m. Guardian Office 12 p.m.) A violent thunderstorm passed over the range during the firing lor the Queen's prize, which prevented a number of colonials competing. The Duke of Connaugbt visited the camp and conversed with a number of the colonials, asking how they liked the Lee-Mefcford rifles. The men replied that they were much superior to the Martini Henri. All the officers of the colonial contingents were pre sented to the Duke of Oonnaught*

THE COLONIAL PREMIERS.

Press Association—By Electric Telegraph— Copyright.

Received Wakapuaka July 21,10 a.m., Guardian office 11 a.m. Paris, July 30 At a banquet tendered in Paris by the Chamber of Commerce to the visit ing colonial Premiers, Mr Monson, the British ambassador, was to ha\e pre sided, but was prerented, owing to himself and family being seriously in disposed, after partaking of shellfish. It is suspected they are suffering from poisoning, but are recovering. In the absence of Mr Monson, Mr Harding, President of the Chamber, proposed the toast of the visiting Premiers, Sir W. Laurier, speaking in French, said the day would come when Canada would aspire to a higher position, and the existing ties with Britain would then be severed or drawn closer. Mr Reid said no policy worthy of serioua consideration had been unfolded to which would secure closer political and commercial relations between the mother country and the colonies.

SWIMMING.

THE FIVE MILES AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP.

PreM Association—By Electric Telegraph— Copyright. LOKBON, July 19 Sixteen swimmers started for the five miles amateur championship of the world. The course was from Kew to Putney. The race was contested on a fast ebb tide* Tyets, the amateur champion, was absent. Green the champion of the southern coun ties, waa leading by twenty y»rds at Barnes bridge, which was reached in 18mia 53ec, Cavill being 6sec behind, with Hawes, of Loadoo, third, and Hart, the American champion, fourth. Rougher water was now entered, and this suited Cavili, who wm level with Green at Chiswick, where the time was 34min 35seo. Swimming very strongly Cavill soon led by thirty yards, which he increased at Hammersmith bridge to fifty; time 43min 37see, the record for the distance. Green's time was 44min 15aec. Green was seized with cramp in the stomach, but after he had taken a stimulant swam amazingly well, and fast gained on Cavili. In the last half mile the Sydney man was seized with a bad attack of cramp, bub he took a breather and eventually won a plucky race by 12sec, breaking the record for five miles by 6min 223ec. Hawes was a bad third, and Hart fourth. It was a splendid contest, and there was an enor mous attendance of spectators. Green wishes to meet Cavill in the Half mile Amateur Championship, which will be decided on July 31st. Percy Cavill and Jack Hellings, of Syd ney, aud Stratton, of New Zealand, will compete in the International Swimming con tests at Brussels, on Saturday and Sunday next. Received Wakapuaka, July 21, 10.18 a.m., Guardian office, 11 a.m. London, July 20 Jack Hellings, the well-known Sydney givimmer, won the open amateur handicap at Manchester from scratch. He swam in splendid style and was awarded the Jubitae shield. There were a hundred and seventeen entries. *

FOOTBALL.

Press Association-^By Electric Talegmph WELIiINSTON, July 20, The New Zealand Union has cabled to the Manager of the teaai not to play the match at Armidale, New South Wales, on the way back to Sydney, if the engagement <$an bg honourably cancelled.' It was un^erstqoij that no extra match should be played in th« last week, and the Union js afraid that, if allowed, it may have a prejudicial effect on the men in the final game »t Sydney.

THE ASHBOETOS GUABfflA* WEDNESDAY, JULY 21, 189?,



OUR ANNUAL STOCK-TAKING SALE IS NOW PROCEEDING. AND WILL CONTINUE TILL AUGUST this 18th. EVERYTHING" REDUCED. PLEASE NOTE the following Quotations, being a few of the BARGAINS OFFERED — DRESS TWEEDS—Regular price Is 3d per yard, sale price 4s lid dress length. Dress Tweeds—Regular price 15* 9d dresa length, sale price 6a lid dress length. SURGES i« Black, Navy, and Brown 2s 3d, sale price Is 6d per yard. Blue Black Merinos, sale price Is 1 Id per yard, regular price 2s 6d. DRESSMAKING during this sale 8s 6d. Children's Cashmere Hose, sale price 6d per pair. Ladies Cashmere Hose, sale price 10|d. Ladies' Bibbed Hose, sale price 6d per pair. A few Men's Colonial Tweed SUITS 15s each. j Men's Cotton Shirta Is each. Men's Heavy Grampian Shirts Is lid. A large assorted line Men's Tweed Trousers, to db cleared at 7s lid per MenVTweed Hats 6d each. Men's Tweed Caps 6d each. Men's Colonial Knitted Socks 6d per pair. Extra Heavy Twilled Sheeting, 2 yards wide, Is per yard. Flannelettes from 3d per yard. All wool Colonial Shirting Is 6d per yard Ladies' Gorgets, size 18, 19, 20, our regular line at 2s lid, to be cleared Is lid. IN THE SHOW-ROOM THE REDUCTIONS WILL BE OF A MOST IH inn onvw THOROUGH DESCRIPTION. SUE DOORS AND WINDOWS FOR BARGAINS. AshWton Drapery Company, ARCADE HOUSE. BANKRUPT ESTATE OF G. J. NEILL AND CO., DRAPERS, CLOTHIERS, MERCERS, AND BOOT DEALERS, ASHBURTON STOCK VENDORS. BY OUDBH OF THE PURCHASERS OF ABOVE ESTATE.^ DRESSES & DRESSMAKING = EXTRAORDINARY. - AFTER AN EXCEPTIONALLY SUCCESSFUL^ AS ON WE ARE NOW PREPARED TO TAKE VERY MUCH REDUCED PRICES FOR OUR FEW REMAINING COLORED DRESSES. A LOW PRICE quoted for Dress Complete, Best StyleJandJFit. MITCHELL & TURNER. LADIES' RINGS. RINGS. RINGS. BROOCHES. BROOCHES. BROOCHES. SEE WINDOW OF S. SALEK'S JEWELLERY ESTABLISHMENT FOR THE LARGEST STOCK AND NEWEST DESIGNS OP LADIES' RINGS AND BROOCHES EVER SEEN IN THE ASHBURXON DISTRICT. MAGNIFICENT New Stock of above, Set with Diamonds, Rubiop, Sapphires, Pearls, Opals, and other Precious Stones. Ihe.e stones havina been Sight and chosen by S. SALEK personally, and made up in lb «St gO^Si?Gk.ldtoh»owndeß:«n-, are superior in regard to Design and Price to anything hitherto seen in the district. PBIOES 20 per cent Lower than Usual, marked in Plain Figures. SEE WINDOW. S. SALEK, WATCHMAKER & MANUFACTURING JEWELLER, BAST STREET. j



Public Notices v ASHBURTON ON WHEELS. NEW ZEALAND | -J loth ing Factory. AGlfiNl'S FOR THE ANGLO-NEW ZEALAND OYULU CJJMPANY. WE have just opened out a full stock of tiio following high grade, up-to ■ late, Ladies' and Gent*' bicycles, all EDg ish make, beautifully enamelled and very heavily plated parts. IT 11 E GLOBli!-Very high grade machine, D shape tubing, 3£ia tread, 3l6in chain, patent head look, and ail other latest improvements, English Duulop Tyree. rJE-lK ME.LTOW-A beautiful cyle, 3£in tread, fitted with the patent 3 16in twin roller chain, English Dunlop Tyres, a pleasure to ride on. THE TOWN JRNl>— Another high class mschiue. On account of the large uumber we have sold of these cycles we cau fully recommend it. English Dunlop tyres, oval tubing, 3§tn tread, large barrel hubs oil retaining, heavily plated, and strictly up-to-date. Also a full stock of accessories^ and novelties will always be kept in stock. Any of these machines will be j sold for oaih or on the easy time payment system. Inspection Invited. j HALLENSTEIN BROS., A. G. BARTON, Managers Church Services. ST. STEPHEN'S OHUKTfI Ashburton. WEDNESDAY—Choristers' Practice, 7 p.m. S.P.S., 7.30 p.m. THURSDAY—Brotherhood of St Andrew 7.30 p.m. FRIDAY—Short Service, 7.30 p.m. Choir Practice, 8 p.m. SUNDAY SERVICES, JULY 25. 8.30 a.m.—Holy Communion. 11 a.m.—Morning Prayer. 3 p.m.—SBAPIKLD. 6.30 p.m.—Evening Prayer. REV T. A. HAMILTON. tmerwa v ■ ■ ■mini wmmmwmmummmmmammmmmmmmmmm9



The public are to be congratulated on th liberal manner in which they have re sponded to the invitation of our leading bookseller, stationer, and fancy goods vendor, to supply themselves with cheap stationery, good literature (for winter reading), ana fancy goods. As this month is the record sale of the decade—the firm giving great in ducements so aa to reduce the stock—we have no doubt that the premises of H. N Anderson, late L. F. Andrewes and Co., will be well patronised during the remaindei jf the sale.—(Advt. From the Tea Plant to the Tea Gun unadulterated and pure, This is Kosifll3«!4 | JobnQw&Q9,,§g<3atSc J



The weather prophetspredict that the long fine dry spell which we have had will be followed by a very wet and severe winter. The one thing needful for protection against 6he elements of such a winter is a really good reliable waterproof coat or cloak. We are assured that Messrs Craighead and Berryman have become famous for their well known brand of winter clothing, which has hitherto given such satisfaction, and in anticipation of a still larger sale for these ! goods, this aeaton they are now showing probably the largest stock of waterproof tweed, serge, and melton overcoats ever exhibited in Ashburton. They are also supplying ladies' and gentlemen's water proof cloaks and coats to measure at ready made prices. Every garment guaranteed thoroughly waterproof. (Three months trial, if defective money returned). All wool linings—keeping the wearers alwa>B warm and dry—sewn throughout with strong silk, ventilated and every improve-



The following will represent the Excelsior Football Cliib in their match against the High School to-morrow on the High School ground j -Baker (2), Gates, Clark, Minni* Kerr (2), Healy, Childs, Anderson, Amo«, Berg, Heasley, Crisp, O'Connor. Emergencies —Rickman, Stephens. Play to start at 3 p.m.



Hollsway's Ointment and Pills.— Abscesses, Erysipelas, Piles. — Unvarying success attends ail who treat these diseases according to the simple printed directions wrapped around each pot or box. They are invaluable to the young and timid, whose baahfuluess sometimes endangers life. Though apparently local, diseases of this nature are essentially blood diseases, but « little attention, moderate preservance, and trifling expense will enable the moit diffident bo conduct any case to a happy issue with' out exposing secret infirmities to anyone The Ointment checks the local inflammation and alleviates the throbbing pain's. These directions also clearly point out when an<J how Holloway's Pills are to be taken^ that their purifying and regulating powers may assist by adjusting and strengthening the constitution, Beat the big drum and shout hurrah J A discovery, the very beat thing this Bide of the line, licks everything of the kind into a cocked hat. No more sleepless nights; a boon to parents; an everlasting blessing. What? Why; Woods' Great Peppermint Cure for coughs and oolds, of course. Sold by all grocers and chemists at la 6i and 2» M; the large tige is the ghetpeib in th»