Mail Notice.

Maila for the United Kingdom and the Continent of Europe, via Brindisi, specially addressed, due m London on May 25, albo for Oeyion, India, China, Japan, and the Straits Settlements, pet Wakatipu, close at Wellington on Saturday, May 10, at 3 p.m.

Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Vertis et Prævalebit. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 1897. THE BOROUGH COUNCIL AND THE THANKSGIVING.

The Borough Council had a question to decide on Monday night which they have not decided, and the chances are will not decide for some time, if they do not finally shelve it altogether. The churchwarden of St. Stephen's, writing m the name and on behalf of the absent vicar, Bey. T. A. Hamilton, invited the Mayor and Councillors to attend a special service at St. Stephen's on June 21, the occasion being thanks giving for Her Majesty's sixty years of sovereignty. At the first blush the question seemed very easy to answer, and so far as the Episcopalian members of the Council were concerned, the invitation would have been acceptc d at once. But the Council is not by any means an Episcopalian one, There are representatives of the Presbyterian, and the Wesleyan, and the Primitive i Methodist bodies at the Council table, and while they all appreciated the spirit m which the invitation was given, they were not prepared at this early date to bestow the Council's ff patronage" on St. Stephen's Church, jm view of the certainty that other strong religious bodies m thiß pQwn would hold special thanksgiving services on the day m question. Mr Thomas urged that the Council had bestowed their "patronage" m the past on occasions with far less claim tp it ? and surely this was a case m which jfcheir undoubtedly warm loyalty should imp 1 them to accept the invitation. Mr Hanm©l" said the jnvijbation pame from the Aghbyrton branch of the Established Church of Epgland ? and seemed to think that that argument ought to be a clincher. Mr Reid did not reply to this, but it was easy to see that there was a feeling working >n hjm that but little provocation would give .shape tp the claim for the Established Church of Scotland, the Presbyter ianism that he professed. Mesrrs Orr and Collins I were very moderate m their argument, and refrained frojja putting forward the Wesleyan claim t6 be the strongest Protestant body m the world, while Mr Baker made the sensible remark that a resolution favorable to the acceptance of the invitation would be useless unless un&mraojss. Thja feeling seemed to prevail generally around the table, with the result that considera tion of the matter was deferred for a month. And it was better so for many reasons. But a public thanks giving £p God for His goodness to our Sovereign I<ady-~.a Hjass meeting of the population of the borough and suburbs—would 1)3 a ri.uht and proper thing on the part of a Christian com munity. As (here is no building m Ashburtoo capable of holding such a mass of people why not lioM the ser vice m the Domain with heaven fo 1 p canopy and the green turf for a carpet; and Jet ajl differences of sect and creed i bo sunk for'that one hour, let every preacher of the Gospel in' the dfstrict be Jtiie^,w pff tg.ke part if wanted,' and let every loyal so^ bp present to - «oW# p£ Wr»is ( 6» &#& breathe $ spirit ln tt - ' *-» Wiifc J^e prayers fchat of thankßgivn, b - .* may be ofiered to the (iou .. no creed but His love to man. i

Some interesting observations, m*de by a M. FJatio, on the surgical treatment

of wounds by birds, were recently brought before the

birds as ►surgeons.

Physical Society of Geneva. In these it was established that the snipe had often been observed m repairing damages. With its beak and feathers it makes a very creditable dressing, and has even been known to secure a broken limb by means of a stout ligature. On one occasion M. Flatio killed a snipe wiiich had on its chest a large dressing composed of down from other parts of the body by coagulated blood. Twice lie had found snipe with interwoven feathers strapped on to the aite of a fracture of one or other limb. The most interesting ex ample was that of a snipe both of whose legs he had unfortunately broken by a misdirected shot. He only re covered it on the following day, when he found that the wounded bird had contrived to apply dressing nnd a sort of splint to both limbs. In carrying out this operation soraa feathers had become entangled round the beak, and not being able to use its claws to get rid of them, the poor creature was almost dead from hunger when found.

The wonderful vigour, both mental and physical, of Mr Gladstone, nofcwith-

MR GLADSTONE.

standing hia eighty eight years, becomes more astonishing

every day. It is not often an octo genarian recovers from the effect of a severe operation upon his eyes, followed by a piiuful fall, as easily as England's " Grand Old Man " has done, and as if th>t was not sufficient proof of hi 3 marvellous vitality, we are now m formed that he has fallen a victim to the cycling craze. He has also found a new outlet for his overflowing mental energy m an intellectual tussle with i another European octogenarian with a reputation as world-wide as his own— Pope Leo XIII. It is well known th it Mr Gladstone has taken a great interest m the recent controversy re garding the validity of Anglican Orders, and to a correspondent who wrote to him on the subject of the recent Papal Bull, he has sent the following reply :— " Dear Sir, —In a few weeks I hope to publish a small volume of facts which will contaia what I have to say upon the Papal Bull condemning Anglican Orders. I leave to properly qualified persons the examination and exposure of his feeble arguments, but I offer a few comments upon the strange want of forethought, courage, and precedence which, while doubtless acting with good intention, he has exhibited " Judging by the light-hearted manner m whioh the »ged statemn launches out o» new

undertakings, intellectual and physical, j from time to time, one would never dream tbat he was within measurable j distance of becoming a centenarian.

(! The balance of power m S?outh Africa," writes Mr Poultney Bigelow m Harper's Monthly

KRUGEIt AND STEIN,

Magazine, "is today m the hands of Merthinas Theunis

I Stoyn, President of the Orange Free i \ State" ; whom he proceeds to describe ' from personal knowledge, and to con trast with President Kruger of the Transvaal, The latter can scarcely write his name, is ignorant of books, and is to day " a political anachronism." Both are men of great physical strength and stature ; and there the resemblance ceases. Stf-yn is a statesman, broad minded, liberally educated, simple m habits, dignified m naamier, and well versed m both the practice and philo sophy of the law, m which he has distinguished himself, first of all as an advocate and then as a judge, Kruger ' is a politician, shrewd, crafty, cunning, and illiterate, and as selfish as his con temporary is unselfish. When Steyn had been three years a judge the Chief Justice resigned. As next m rank he could have claimed the position, in gtead of which he waited on the Presi dent and begged of him to appoint a colleague, who was older m years than himsplf; and this was done, Kruger's policy m excluding the Uitlanders from the full rights of citizenship is | well known. In Steyn's inaugural address m the Yolksraad last year he said :—" In this free State, where from all quarters strangers are coming to us, is it not a glorious task to incorporate these strangers with us and amalga mate them m one republican people 1" And as is the difference between the two presidents such is the difference between the two peoples: for the Boers of. the Orange Free &tate look down upon the Boers of the Transvaal as "their inferiors, while acknowledging their kinship. It is highly discreditable to Bri hh statesmanship and foresight that this community should have been deliberately cut adrift by the Imperial Government and compelled to pjfg'anis.e independently. In 1.854 this goer State sgnt a deputation to Eng land, begging t,o be allowed to remain under the British flag. The Duke of Newcastle replied' that $Pglan4 has already extended her rule too far m Africa, and wanted no territory beyond a coaling station at the Cape. Just then the Government was preoccupied by the 'Crimean war,,which Lord Salis bury has recently confessed to have been a great mistake.

Local and General.

It is understood that the trout seaßon will be extended so as bo include the Easter holidays. The Union Company are advised that the Mariposa, wiyh the English mail, left San Francisco for* Auckland at £0 p.m. on the 3rd idbU, two! days late. A statistician computes that Queen Victoria ia now sovereign over one continent, JQQ geninsijlas, 500 promontories, 1000 lakes, £000 rivers, and'iO,.OQo islands. I The Presa Association .telegraphs from 1 Dunedin : —The Chinese have caught the preserjtafjpn crajss. About fifty who attend the Central Mission printed the Rev. W. Ready, who is leaving for a year's furlough, with a travelling bag and address. In the event of two riflemen being re quired to represent Auckland m the New Zealand Rifle Team, proposed to be sent to Englmd, the officer commanding the district has decided to determine the representatives I by a shooting competition. i 'pie foljowin.',' will represent the Ashburtcn Jutaior Fobtbau'CJlub to pl&g- allcomers m the poimairi to-iriorrow ;—b; WUsori, J£ep biirn, McTigue, D. Wilson, Brown, Baxter, 1 Campbell, Heff id, A. tilbow, C. Pilbrow, I IS. Anderson, B. Boyle, Childs, PHt'chard, | 1 '■ '" :: ■' **v- &'urjar.y and harbour have tux. -*-ii»aii" jyjf'j} red for some been thickly s^. * 'V~ Awb^Jjy days past, the colouration being quantities of what is called whale feeu, . bright red crustacean somewhat like a shrimp, but shorter. These creatures swim about m large shoala. I The French Society of Psychologists assert that a fatal influence is exercised by tulips on those that tend them. It is said that m Holland gardeners who cultivate tulips in variably die m a violent man Der or are overtaken by disaster. More than twenty instances were put forward to corroborate this strange statement. A bazaar and sale of work m aid of the Flemington Presbyterian manse fund, will be held m the Orange Hall on Saturday, when a large collection of goods of every kind will be submitted for sale, both by private purchase and by public auction, the latter taking place at two o'clock. Luncheon will be on from twelve o'clock, and tei at five, and a promenade concert will be given m the evening. An Austrian medical journal of recenti date, the Wienet Meiinnische Woclienschtift gives publicity to a statement that a woman living m Vienna, aged forty, has presented her husband with thirty-two children at eleven births. Twenty-six of them are boys and six girls. The mother has nursed them all herself. The woman was one of four children born at one birth, her mother hiv ing born thirty-eight children. She is the wife of a poor linen-weaver. The Queen has a strong and reasonable aversion to idleness. She is herself an aim at constant worker, for when not i attending to her duties as Sovereign her fingers are usually busy with wool and knitting-needles, or crochet-hook. Her Maids of Honour are expected to be pro vided with work of one sort or another for spare moments, and though Queen Victoria ia always willing to take the most kindly intent m elaborate srt embroideries, she never fails fco commend those of her attend ants who prick their fingers m the manu iaetnre of useful garments for the poor. We are promised an excellent coacert on May 6 by Miss Packer, leader of the Musical Union, Christchurch, nnd visiting teacher of music m Ashburton. Miss Packer last played m Ashburton on ths occasion of the Orchestral Society's concert m St. Stephen's school, on which occasion she was leading violin. In addition to solo work by herself, Miss Packer will play obbligati to one or two songs by vocalists whom she will bring with her from Christchurch, and take part m string quartets. The concert will be one of belter class music, with which the music-loving people of Ashburton are not too familiar, and will be given m the Orange Hall. The North Otago Times says:—We learn that a gentleman very well known m this district offered £8 10a per acre for the Bushy Park estate. At the time, had the Bank of New Zsaiand negotiated, he was prepared to make an advance upon that offer to secure the property. Since then this gentleman reckons "the estate has improved at) least 10a per acre. And he believes that had this estate been s Id at public auction it would not have been knocked down for less than £9, or, m other words, £5000 more would have been obtained by the guarantors of the Bank—the people of the colony—than the Minister for Land's sons paid for it.

Mr Graham Roberts being about to leivc I Ashburton, Dr Greenwood's accounts have ■ now been placed for collection m the hands of Mr P. Ferriman. A new trial m the Ashburton breach of promise case was refused by Judge Ward at the hearing of the application m Christ church this morning. The Primitive Methodist Sunday School scholars and choir under the conduotorship of Mr H. Leggott have been busy lately practising new songa for the Sunday School anniversary to take place on Sunday week so that the services for date promise to be more than usually attractive A most brilliant meteor was observed m Wellington on Saturday eight, betwten 11 and 12. It brightened up the whole firma ment and left a long stream of light m its trail; then, exploding with a loud report, scattered, a mere profusion of sparks, m mid-air. Says the New Zealand Times, the sight was singularly beautiful, and so dazzling as to cause a momentary feeling of awe to thrill the onlookers. The old Maoii custom of " Hahouuga," oi exhuming of bodies for scraping and tangl ing, is being interfered with by the po'ice at Kaikohe, Bay of Islands, and the Natives m that district are much incensed thereat, tour Natives, named Pana Pahakoai, Paora Peene, Huwhee Timi and Harewhiai, have been summoned at Kaikohe for exharniug the bones of a deceased relative without per mission from the Colo ial Secretary under the Cemetries Aot, 1882. For some time past there has been a good deal ot interest manifested m the reported discovery of diamonds m Canterbury, and although the precise locality has not been divulged, the Press believe it is not m the Alford district So tar back as 1869 the finding ef diamonds was reported, and it is said that some of them found their way into the Knglish market. The discovery of such a field would prove of immense advantage to Canterbury, and it is to be hoped that the prospectors will receive every support and encouragement m order to enable them to prosecute a further and thorough search m the looality referred io. A Swedish servant-maid, finding that her mistress was troubled with sleeplessness, told her of a practice of the people of her country who are similarly afflicted. It was to take a napkin, dip it m ice-cold water, wring it slightly, and lay it acrosa her eyes. The plan was followed, and it worked like a charm. The first night the lady slept four hoi^rs without awaking—something she had not done before for several months, At the end of that time the napkin bad become dry. By wetting it again she at once went to sleep and it required considerable force to rouse her m the morning. The harvest thanksgiving services m con nection with thepif;iiiiive Methodist Church were held on Sunday, large congregations attendiug both services. An appropriate sermon was preached iri the tnorniug by Mr Maidens, m the evening the Key J. Olp'n'ert £ook for his text lf 'J noughts from the threshing mill.'. 3 The Church was taste fully decprated with fruit, grain, flowers and eyergreens, a table m the pentre containing a ohoice colleotion of apples. The hymns were suitable to the occasion, and special anthems were rendered by the choir, A sptcial meeting of the High School Board of Governors was held yesterday, at whioh Messrs Andrew Orr (presiding), Joseph Seaiy, W» B. ? and Matthew Stitt were present, The clerk reported that after clearing off the overdraft the excess of income over expenditure for the year would be £83. It was decided to advertise for a lady teacher at a salary of £120 per annum {as rpaommended by the headmaster) to take the pa&e ot Miss McDonnell resigned. Mr James E! iott's tender for fuel was accepted—coal, Newcastle, 32s per ton; firewood, short lengih*, 22s per cord. A large specimen of tenodcra intermedia^ known as the green or praying mantis, was J canght a£ Sfc, ,<*Jbans on Simdiy, close to where a gentleman recently sound one ia his house, and as others have lately been seen it would yppear as if there were a consider able number m the neighbourhood. It is confined, the Press says to the South Talarid, and is fairly num rous around Nelson. It seldom fliea, but t^iwls slowly about the irutks of trees in* jthe hottest sunshine, captuting and destroying great guanitiea of insects, its green colouring and leafl ke form rendering it inconspicuous to its victims. An accident occurred m West Street this forenoon by which adi ay belonging to Mr Meredith Wilson came to grief. The dray was wheat laden, and standing opposite Ftiedlander's corner, wheu Mr Joseph Taylor's traciiun-engine train came along. Jhe two leaders m Mr Wilson's teem took fright, and suddenly slewing rounii, over threw the ehafter, breaking the off shaft shoifc off-iat the boay o» the dray. The ywang iftan iff- charge cjt' the tearA was temporarily absent ia fchfl store, »n«J thus there wat no one matte dance, but thanks to the assistance of Mr George Cox, jun., and others, the leaders web soon secured and ths shatter put on his Jegs ag«jm, unhurt, ihe i.oly dam'ige being the a'fo'restiid ttrokeu '■'-*» 'ita'l & &s?s£'£{?' °f $ c harness. «/.»»„,■ " * *:i *-'*» **PW#?PHJ?3 a A story is told ot uuu... trombone player, who the other aay Herr Hermann, a German b^nd conductor, for £1| a week's wages. The cisc was heurd at the Shoreditch County Court and the Magistrate elicited the following evi dence :—■*' When I mem monish demands," said Johann, "he shweara at me at say, 'Go to der Teufel !' Der Teufel is not monish, and I want gold." "And vat for I say • Teufel,' m> m Herr Lord?" replied the defendant. "Becaue he was betrunken and blayed so vild that za other gentlemans could not keep gombany." " I blayed vat wa^ before me," objected Johann stubbornly. 411 blayed vat I see," he repeated; and then it transpired that, taking advantage of his short sightednesa and the temporary loss of his spectacles, his fellow-players had turned his music upside down. A sporting contemporary tells a story which, if not based on actual fact, is at any rate not much overdrawn, for the average colonial youth knows more of the stud book than the catechism. The scholars m a Sun day school- class not far from Randwick were, the story runs, undergoing examina nation by a visiting clergyman, who asked one of them if he knew what absolution was ? He scratched his head and give it up, and ao did the next boy, but the third, who al though m knickerbockers, wore a silver watch chain with a horseshoe locket, aoswered unhesitatingly, " Absolution, brown filly t three-year-old, by Australian Peer out ot Penitent, imported. Penitent the dam of Penance, the colt as once stretched old Carbine's neck, but bust hisself up a-doin' of it." As the reporter says, the meeting was then closed. The Preservation Inlet correspondent of the Southland Times writes :—" Mr Gil fed der, M.H.R., and party, arrived at Long Beach and Cromarty on the 25th ult., from Oiepuki, having walked overland by what is known as the interior route. The party were three weeks walking from Waiau to Cromarty, and during the whole of the time had no dry clothes to put on, as the heavy and incessant rain and swollen rivers kept them constantly wet, blankets and every thing. The journey was only accomplished by enduring extreme hardship. During the greater part of the time their only food was oatmeal, and at one part of the journey they were compelled to do withou food of any sort for thirty hours. In consequence of having to retrace their steps to get out of a deep chasm, and darkness coming on before they got out, they vrera obliged to camp for the night on a ledge of rock where no fire could be had, and only a few pungis laid lengthways to keep them from rolling down a precipitous rock face. Their wear ing apparel was turn to shreds by coming m contact with bog pine, which is a bush very difficult to get through without a track. The heavy rain kept the rivers m high flood, and made crossipg them both difficult and dangerous, m fact, without a lifeline with which they had provided themselves, it would have been almost impossible to have crossed at all."

PARLIAMENTARY.

Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.

WELMKGTON, April 6. I The first session of the thirteenth Parlia- 1 tnent of New Zealand was opened by Com- J mission at 2.30 p.m. The Commissioners were the Hon Mr Miller, the Hob. -Mr Montgomery, the Hon. Walker, the Hon. Dr. Grace, and the Hon. Captain Baillie. There was an unusup-lly large attendance of Legislative Councillors, no fewer than thirty-five being present. The members of the House of Representa tives appeared to number close on seventy. There was not a large attendance m the galleries, and the proceedings were purely formal, the Commissioners announcing that the Administrator of the Government would I make his opening Speech to-morrow after noon. There was no sitting of the Council, as the Hon Mr Miller, the Speaker, having been elected for five years, there was no election to be held. His term expires on July the 14th.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

SWBABING IN. The first busines of the House of Repre sentatives was the swearing m of members', who took the oath m batches of four. THE SPEAKEBBHIJ*. Mr Larnach briefly proposed the election ! of Sir G. M, O'Rorke as Speaker, remarking that this would be the seventh time he had been ohosen to fill that dignified position. Mr Montgomery briefly seconded the nomi nation. After waiting for a short time, and as no one else was proposed, Sir Maurice 0 Rorke thanked members for the honor conferred on him. He little thought when he first entered Parliament ia 1861 that m 1897 he alone would be left of those who then Bat m the Chamber. Last cession Mr Saunders had been the only one besides hitns. If who was m that Parliament, and by the fortune of Ijar \\e too had now disappeared from the scene. Sir Maurice referred to the objeor. oi this session, and expressed a hope that mem bers would smooth the way to a proper re presentation of the colony on so memorable an occasion as that which would shortly be celebrated at Home. Sir Maurice then took the Speaker's chair, and was congratulated by the Premier and Captain Russe 1. The Premier, m moving the adjournment of the House, said that the debate on the Address in-Reply would be taken at 7.30 p.m. to-morrow.

Quips, Cranks, and Funnyisms.

What is the difference between a bee and a donkey ? One gets the honey and the other gets the whacks (wax). Why is the letter X the most unfortunate m the alphabet ? Because it is always m a fix and never out of perplexity. He— ♦' What is the name of your wheel ? " ghe—"t)o you mean the nanje the maker gives it, or the name p§pa called it when he fell ©yer it m the hall the night before last ?'' Mistress-—'' Wjiat did you tell those ladies who had. just called?" Bridget—'"Oi told, them that you was not m, mum." Mistress —•'And what did they say?" "How fortinit, mum," During a lafce conference m Wellington the following conversation was overheard between two newsboys:—"l say, Jim, what's the meaning !of ad many ministers being here altogether ? " " Why," answered Jim scornfully, "don't you know they always meet once a year to swop sermons." " Am t the only woman you ever loved ?'' " Oh, no," he answered, promptly ; " you are the sixth. '"' "The sixth >"&he exclaimed, suddenly relieving his shoulder of the weight of her head. " Yes," he said, coldly, " there were five before you—my mother, an aunt, and three sisters." And hereafter she} endeavoured to be more specific when she 'iuestions. A good cricket story ia told of the late Bishop of Rochester. .'He was'batting m a heal cricket match when the bowler sent a ball very Wide of the wicket. " Keep the ball m the parish !" cried the irascible bishop. The' ne^t pal knockpd his lordship's middle stump out. The yckel'shouted •, "I think tLat's somewhere aboot the diooese, my lud j" 1 he late Duke of Wellington, who, though far from being stingy, was m m my odd ways econnmcal, discovered some champagne which he considered, and which doubtless wa<', quite good enough for a ball auppper, and which had the advantage of being extraordinarily low m price. He ordered the quantity required, and was rejoicing m his excellent bargain, when, on opening one of thp papers, he encountered the following advertisement! ; —." celebrated t«**f champagne, at.thMy^igfrtshylings a doisen, ;>s ordered by His Giace the l vl h* of Wellington for his forthcoming ball at Apsjey" House." What the Duke said we are not to!d« Before the Beak : His Worship (to witness) :" Did he say be Wit? jjrijiak 2-^—l want the words as he - ••' ..-•' "K)ia he say ' J was drunk ' P " uttered tneiu. " '" "•• »«r ffor- Witness (amazed): ''uh, ■» „ ship, he never said you were drunk." Young Solicitor (occupying a seat m the court): " Pshaw ! you don't understand at all. Did the man say ' I was drunk' ? " Witness (reflectively) s " Well, he might have said you was drupk, but if he did I didn t hear him." Counsel for the prisoner: " Now, look at me; you don't understand the question. Did the man say • I am drunk,' or did he not ? " Witness (stubbornly) : " No, he did not say you was drunk neither. D'ye supposs he thought the whole court was drunk ?"

CABLE NEWS.

Home and Foreign.

Press Association —By Electric Telegraph '■* Copyright.

A Fast Atlantic Steam Service.

Londost, April 5 A delegate from the Canadian Go vernment is to consult Mr Chamber lain as to an Imperial subsidy for a fast Atlantic steam service between England and Canada. The Times says that the negotiations between the Canadian Government and Petersen, Tate and Co., of Newcastle, only require the Imperial assent.

Australian.

The Defaulting Paymaster. Sydney, April 6 Oaddock has been handed to the Naval authorities, to be tried by Court- Martial. Missions m Mew Cluinea. Sir William Macgregor, m bis | annual report on New Guinea, says it is becoming a matter of anxious con sideration that the missions do not extend their stations inland. At the present rate of expansion it will take the London Missionary Society at least two or three generations to occupy the hinterland without an in crease of strength. The Anglican mission cannot do so within a period &o near as to be of any practical in terest to those now living. The com plete evangelisation of the tribes of New Gu«nea appears a long way off. Still, even constituted as at present, the missions contribute powflrfully to the settlement and moral advantage of the country. The Murderer Phillips. Melbourne, April 6. 1 here are over 50,000 signatures to the petitions m favor of a reprieve for Phillips. The Executive will consider the matter to-morrow,

THE INSURRECTION IN CRETE.

Warning' by the Powers,

Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—' Copyright. London, April 5. In the House of Commona Mr Balfour stated that the Powers had notified to Greece and Turkey that even m the event of their going to war the aggressor would not be allowed to derive the saiallfst advantage. Received Wakapuaka, April 7, 9 50 ».m.» Gtjardian office 10.40 a.m. Athens, April 6 The foreign Admirals have unani mously settled to deal with the blockade of Greece, and have also demanded the surrender of twelve leaders of th») attack by Moslems upon the Christians at &krotiri, and are making inquiries as to the measures to be adopted for the removal of the refugees from Oete. The Cretan insurgents attacked (he forts protecting the Canea water supply. Ttie garrison fired eight sboti from field guns, and the ineurgentg re treated. It is expeoted the Turkish troopi on the Turko-Gr6ek frontier will attack the Greeks bo-day. There is great excitement m Athens, to-day being the national anniversary of Greece. The Duke of Sparta has cautioned the Greek troops on the frontier not to provoke hostilities. London, April 6. In the House of Commons hir W, V. Harcourt gave notice of his inten tion to move that an address be pre ; sented to the Queen directing that a British force be not employed against Greece or Crete. Mr A. J. Balfour said that.unless Sir William proposed to move a direct vote of censure, Government was not willing to expand time m fruitless debate.

THE NOTORIOUS BUTLER.

Further Statements

Press Association—By Electric Telegrap Copyright. San Franc^co, April $. Butler is ou board the Mariposa. After confessing that he killed Preston, he made further statements to thp effect that when he savr what h,e had done he became very frightened, and concealed the body because he had no witnesses to prove that Preston was killed m self defence. With reference to Weller, Butler states that he com mitted suicide through grief at the death of Mrs Welier. Butler wished to notify the suicide to the Govern ment, but the other members qf the prospecting party declined, fearing that they might be detained as wit nesses m the case.

FEDERATION.

Press Association—J3y Electric Telegraph, "''"' Copyright. ' : ' n Adelaide, April 6. Contrary to anticipations the evening sitting did not deal with the Mope! Bills. Amongst the powers' given to the Parliament was the control of all rivers running throvigh the States Communications from the States fcQ the Queen are to be made through $hp States Governors instead of the Governor-General, The post and tele* graphs are to be taken over provision ally by the Federal Government, but the matter will be further dealt with by Committee of Trade and Finance. Tt transpires that the £500 honora jrium was lost by one vote, and £400 { carried by two. It is just possible that | the Convention a,s a whole will revert to £50p. .  ,; ,:. The Finance Committee on Friday had practically arrived at what offered a solution of the difficulties, when Mr Reid, of Sydney, w|io is an ex ojjicip member^ upset the whole schemei' b^ declaring that a merely nominal revenue tariff should be the uniform, tariff of federated Australia, W^^fcerft Ai^ •—Ho nbteefced to this entirely unless she obtained a suubh*,, „ larger percentage of the surplus as crapensation forgiving up her tariff. This? i§ thp deadlock whjch |;he Pqm< ruittee is now endeayoring $0 br|d^ over. Mr Keid's announcement seemi to have thrown the Committee into ft state of chaos. The Constitutional Committee omitted the provisions m the Commonwealth Bill prohibiting a member of the Federal Parliament sitting m a State legislature', and preventing members of the State Parliaments holding gpatg |n the Federal Parliament Tfie clause petmitting a State to cede territory foe Commonwealth purposes was retained, as was also a provision that $b. 9 Commonwealth sball protect ail States agairtsf- invasion, or domestic violence, The Committee i? aow discUßsing tne money Bills. i si The Constitutional Committeo this afternoon made no progress of note with j the clausfg dealing with the money Bills The Judiciary Committee drew up a report which will be presented to the Constitutional Committee. The Finance Committee report having made satisfactory progress ex cept with the question of debts, which they expect to settle to-morrpw. , Received Wakapuaka, April 8, 11 a.m., Guardian office 12 a. mi. Adelaide, April 7. The Westralian delegates are endeavouring to push forward the work of the various committees, but the others are disinclined to be hurried. In fact the debate at times savours of a stonewall. There is an impression abroad that the Westralian delegates are difficult to deal with, and the object of so much talk is to drive them homo before the important work cornea on, thus leaving the large states m the majority. Indeed the small states seem to be making great trouble and this i-j evidently so pronounced that Mr Kingston is alleged to made a strong speech before tho Constitu tional Committee, m the cot|rse> which he said, speaking personally, that if the small states persisted m their line of conduct, and would not sacrifice something, they would destroy the chance of Federation. This * coming from the representative of the smill states, shows that Western Australia, South Australia, and Tasmania may exercise their equal representation to the extent of destroy ing the prospect* of agreement.

THE &BHBOKTOSI GUAKDIAfc : WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 1897.



Business^ N oticea ___ — LOOK OUT. G. J. NEILL —IS SELLING— Table Damask at Is per yard Twill Sheeting, 2 yards wide, white or grey^id Turkish Towels, 6d each Cretonne, 3Jd Flannelettes, 2s lid per dozen, C J N EILL I s S ELLING ~ Men's Heavy Tweed Suits at 21s 6d, wonderful value Boys Suits,-4s lid Men's Tweed Trousers, os lid , BOOTS. BOOTS. Men's Nail SHOOTERS 7a 114 Women's \HOES 4s lid Men's BLUCHERS 4s lid. Women's Lace SHOES 4s lid The Cheapest Boots m Ashburton are to be got at G. J. NEILL'S, FRIEBLANDER'S CORNER, EAST STREET. AUTUMN AND WINTER SHIPMENTS-1897. GRAND DISPLAY. •XUR PREMISES ub stocked throughout with the moat COMPLETE ASSORTMENT USEFUL, SEASONABLE, AND FASHIONABLE DRAPERY To be found m South Canterbury. Splendid Stock of BLANKETS, FLANNELS, and FLANNELKT FES AT BED-ROCK PRICES, Ladies' and Onildnm*. MACKINTOSHES a Specialty-guaranteed to keep out the mm French and English MILLINERY, FLOWERS, RIBBONS, &c. Handsome CAPES, JACKETS, and MANTLES. N "wiru^A^ «, »« VAU,B IN THE XBA.K. W. H. COLLIER, "THE OORNEB." AUTUMN AND WINTKR NOVELTIES. GBAND SPECIAL DISPLAY AT MITCHELL & TURNER'S. MAWPrwa MILLINERY MANTLEv- WATERPROOFS T^Klwb FUR BOAS CAPES JJNDERCLOTHING IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT TO LADiES,— IN PURSUANCE of our policy m keeping our Business well to the front, we have decided to add a FIRST-CLASS DRESSMAKING DEPARTMENT to our KstabHshment. We have secured the services of Miss Hill, a lady of nnquestioned ability, who brings with her credentials of the highest order from MKSSRS W. STRANGE & CO., iv whose Workrooms she has been engaged for ovkr seven vbabs. Our object is to supply our Cuatomers with Stylish ami Weil-made OOSTUMES at a Moderate Price, and everypossihle effort will be aiven to make our NEW DEPARTftIENT an unqualified success. V\ c have already booked a number of Orders, and expect a very full season. Miss Him, will be pleased to receive intending Patrons on and after FRIDAY, March 26. MITCHELL AND URNEE, tanorb'd street.



MEN'S AND BOYS' HATS. HATS. HATS. Pr r\ DOZEN FELT HATS ALMOST GIVEN AWAY. A GRAND SUCCESS. MITCHELL & BRODRIBB'S r^ABRTO AND PRINT SALE being such a Grand Success, we have decided to hold it FOR TWO WEEKS, A GREAT HAT SALE. ptf\ DOZEN MKN'B. Kf\ DOZEN BOYS'. Men's Soft Felt Hats 2s 6d, worth 5s Boys' Soft Felt Hats la 6d, worth 33 9d Men's yoft Felt Hats 3s Od, worth 6s 6d Boys' Soft Felt Hats 2s 6d, worth 4s 9d Men's Soft Felt Hats 4s 6d, worth 7s 6d Men's Soft Felt Ha's 5s 6d, worth 8a 9d Men* Soft Felt Hats 6a 6d, worth 10a 6d Men's Soft Felt Hats 8s 6d, worth 12s 6d EVERY AR'ITOLE m the Clothing and Mercery Departments equally Cheap, so as to clear the shelves for the NEW GOODS expected by the end of the month ; while the balance of general Drapery will be still further reduced, so as to make a clean sweep before the New Season's Goods arrive. Prints Brilliants Cambrics from 3s lid per dozen, worth double F annek*for Dressing Gowns and Home Blouses 4s lid dozen, half price - TnZed and untrimmed^Hate, Aprons, Blouses, Veilings, Ribbons, etc., at half cost BOOTS AND SHOES—the Best value m the trade DON'T FORGET THE GREAT HAT SALE AT MITCHELL & BRODRIBB'S THE CENTRAL CASH DRAPERY MART, NEXT TO J. ORR * CO.v EAST STREET, ASHBURTON,



Business Notices j NEW ZEALAND Clothing: Factory. « /\P^ENING UP NEW GOODS EVERY WEEK. I £5O Empty^Packing Caws For Sale, j Cheap. i sl * t>H i < * o Li w B B M ! as g °i « . g O w - liS OS £>& ' 1fl Q 1 &* So- 3 f j IP I g ""noticeT" ANY Person found trespassing on the Riversdale Estate with Dog or Gun (or otherwise) af.er thij date will be prosecuted. (Signed) J. R. WILLIAMS, Manager. Dated this 3rd day of April 1897. 433 WANTED Knows—A. Orb, Agent fo^ the celebrated Fearnought Serges, defy aea, air, and water. 5 139 IHTTANTED Known—The celebrated P. D IT Corsets m all prices and colors.— ' A. Orr. 13 14



Meohanisville, St. Mary County, Me.—l sold a bottle of Chamberlain's Fain Balm to a man who had been Buffering with rheuma tism for several years. It made him a well man. A. J. MoGill, For sale by Asbbur ' ton Daua qoHMVY'



D. Thomas—White's sheep dip for sale. F. Ferrimau—AVDr Greenwood's accounts. FlemingtoQ Manae Fund—Grand Ba/aar. W, G. Pearce—Winter appies for sale. Wanted—Five or six roomed house. L. F. Andrewes & Co—Young lady assist ants wanted. H. M. Jones—fypewriters, ecb. Weßley Church—Farewell social to Rev. T. G. Brooke.