Holiday Notice.

Her Majesty's birthday, Monday the 24'h inst., will be observed as a holiday by the Post and Telegraph Department. '! he Ash burton office will be open from 9 a.m. till 10 a.m., and from 7 pm. till C • m. All maile will close at 6.30 a.m. The Telephone Exchange will be open aa usual.

Ashburton Guardian. MAGNA EST VERITAS ET PRÆVALEBIT. WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 1897.

The French population returns for 1895, just publisher!, show 834 s i 73

FRENCH LIFE STATISTICS,

births and 851,986 deaths. In 1893 and 1894 the births

outnumbered the deaths, but in 1891 and 1892 the deaths outnuraberfd tlie births. The marriages slightly fell off in 1895, being 282,918 against 286,662 in 1894, while the divorces increased from 6419 to 6743 M Paul Leroy Beaulieuj writing in the Pcbats, say* that the decline of the birth rate in England, Belgium, Holland, Switzer land, Scandinavia, and the United States is mainly due to the modern dt mocratic idea of life, an idea which the musses in Germany and Austria have nearly escaped. He advocates greater facilities for naturalisation. " Let us," he says, " obtain children by adoption ; Ift us reduce our mortality to that of England, which would be equivalent to 200,000 more Frenchmen annually ;- uch are means infinitely more practical than trying to force people to have i children."

Mr Cecil Rhodes is a man of few words, but prompt and decisive in

"LUKE X1V.—31."

action. General Gordon, whose sad fate at Khar-

fcoum everybody mourns, looked upon him as the very man to join him in his mission and to carry it out successfully. But-Rhodes did not feel in a militant missionary mood, and did not accept Gordon's invitation to go with him. Nor was there much said in either the invitation or the deciinature. It was similar with the Matabele <var, and Dr Jameson tells the otory himself in a recent book published by Chapman. When Dr Jameson was hesitating whether he should begin the war against the Matabele or not he wired to Rhodes forinstructions. Dr Jameson s lys : Rhodes was down at the House at Capetown. I wired to him from Victoria the exact situation, and s >id it was an absolute nec; js<-ity to assume the offensive and strike straight a 1 Bulawayo at once. Rhode?, who doeh not waste word", wired buck bri'-fly. 'Read Luke fourteen thirty-one. ' I had not a notion of what he meant. . . I asked for a Bible and looked up the passage, and re id, "Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and con sultath whether he be abla with 10,000 to meet him with 30,000." Of course, I understood at once what Mr Rhodes meant. The MataW.e had an army of many thousands. I had 900 settlers available for action. Could T, niter cartful consideration, venture to face such unequal odds? i decided at once in the affirmative, and immediately telegraphed back to Mr Rhodes at Capetown, "All right j have read Luke fourteen, thirty-one." Five wo ds from Mr Rhodes and eight from ftiyself decided the question of our action in the first Matabele war.

A ouriotjs point arises in connection with the brief, but", apparently, very

ME QUEEff A\l> THE PIIESLIEIST.

pleasant interview between M. Faure and Queen Victoria.

Was the French President the Queen's guest on, nomi nally, British premises ? Her Majesty was, it may be noted, in her own travelling saloon carriage, brought from England for her private use j and she did not step out on to the platform. By the usual diplomatic fiction she was therefore in her own house, and for the time being on British soil. When in March of 1879, Queen Victoria made the acquaintance of President Giivy it was at the British Embassy in Paris; Her Majesty being, of course, at home there. The saloon carriage has now taken the place of the F mbassy in habited by Lord Lyons ; but the dip lomatic fiction may be said to have been maintained, la other words, the Lhieen received M. Faure, and it was not M. Faure who received the Queen. Aa to this, the Court Circular avoids the diiljculty rather neatly. The oflicial statement is as follows : — " 'Ihe President of the French Republic met the Queen at Noisy-le-^ec, and visited Her Majesty in the saloon carriage." Tn one of the accounts given of the French President's short conversation with the Queen, it is stated that Her Majesty afforded M. Faure an oppor tunity'of airing his English, although thn opening remarks were made in French. It is well known that M Enure speaks English fluently, mi that he is rather proud of his accomplish ment. In his younger days he was for tome time in London, and in order not \o be % burden on his family he paid his expenses by taking pupils and giving lessons in Fre'noiu

Tun wonderful reign o£ our (irayio.us Queen is, in respect of its duration, bestperhapsbrought

''RECORDS" j?j;atm bi the •"pEEJS'S REIGN.

home to our minds (writes a Morning Post correspondent) when we reflect

Upon what-has tak^n place in other countries. Paring the lust sixty jreftra there have beew tfenee 3?opf>s s three Emperors of Austria, three Eings of Norway and Fweden, four Emperors of Kussia, four £ingiof Danwarlf, four;

Sovereigns of Spain, four Suliaus of Turkey, five Kings of Prussia, two Kings, one Fmperor, and two Republics of Frnnce, and eighteen Pr-siderits of f!v-< United States of \merica. When George (IT. died in' 1820 his regnal yeaiN amounted to 59 j asid three months. Although, how-j

ever, thu regnal years of George 111. approach, d'"those of his greater grand daughter, a period of nine years should he deducted from his actual reign, as his sou George IV. took the oath as Regent in 1811. The regnal years of Henry Til. were fifty-si x, but sis he was only ten years old when his fither died his real reign was forty-nine years in like manner Edward llf. began his regnal years when only ten years of age, and his real reign lasted forty six years Other long reigns were those of E'izibeth, forty-four ; Henry VT, thirty-nine ; Henry VIII , thirty eight ; Henry I and 11. and Edward I.* thirty-five, and George 11, thirty three years In France, Louis X.lV.'s i regnal years were seventy two, but as he was only five years old when he came to the throne, and ruled through Cardinal Mazarin seventeen years, his true reign lasted fifty-four years. His great grandson Louis XV. was six years o«d when be succeeded, but it was not till the death of the Regent Orleans eight years after that he performed acts of sovereignty, co that his reign was fifty one years. The longest reign of the Emperors of Germany was that uf Fredf>ricU IV, fifty-three years. - >f the Kings of Prussia Frederick the Great reigned forty-six, and Frederick William 111 forty-three years. Of the Kmperors of Russia Peter the Great rrigned thirty-sis and Catherine 11. thirty-four years. Of the Roman tfnaperore, Augustus Caesar reigned the longest, forty-one years, and next to him Constantine, thirty-one years. I Both Spain and Portugal have witnessed several reigns ranging from forty to nearly fifty years. In Scotland, William the Lion is credited with forty nine, and Ethelred 11., of the vSaxon Kings, with thirty seven years. In Sweden and Norway, GustdVusVasa and Charles X. both reigned thirty deven years. Of the Popes, Pius IX. reigned longest, thirty-two years.

Local and General.

Reading matter on fourth page. Experiments are being mide in the German army with helnseos of aluminum.

A dealer in artificial limbs estimates that 300,000 Englishmen have lost one or more limbs. Of tha 38 Sultana who have ruled the Ottoman Empire since the conquest of Constantinople by the Turks 34 have died violent deaths. Singers, actors, and public speakers find that since the introduction of the electric light they have leas trouble with their voices, and they are less likely to catch cold. The Anglo-Saxons double their popu lation in Europe in 56 years j in the colonies in 25 years ; whilo the Germans take*! 100, and the French 140 years to double theirs. Tho Government have granted bonuses of £5 each to Sergeant O'AJailey, and Con stables Cox, Wright, Ciuiokshank, and , Poster for their services in counectiou with Basher's arrest and conviction. It is now stated that the wo. Id will be i overpeopled at the end of 175 years. This ! brings us to the year 2073, when the popu lation at the present rate of increase, will be 5994 million people. The fastest daily run in Great Britain is , from Perth to For far, on the Caledonian ! railway, the distance—32i miles — being per formed m Uiiriy-two minutes, or at th-) rate n( about sixty-one milei an hour. During April there were 241-7 men cm i ployed on the Government co-operative works—ls6s by the Survey Department, 808 by the Public Works Department, and 44 on the Levin and T dhape State farms (besides 29 families on those farms).

A cheat containing ctrtaiu regalia and a Urge , am'iunt of jewellery and precious stones, the property of the Ktnir of Bokhara, hts \)&en s-plen in transit between St. Petersburg and Odessa by a ihief who made the train conductor diunk.

The British Medical Journal states that methylated spirits sold cheap for use as furniture polish is druuk by the poorer peoplo of Edinburgh. Paraffin oil was mixed with it in bond, to make it still morn nauseous, yet, under the uame of " dynamite " the mixture is sti'il used as a stimulant.

A movement is being made at Temuka in the direction of holding a race meeting on June 22, the occasion of Her Majesty's diamond jubilee. The stakes are to be guaranteed by local residents and an applica tion has been made for a totalisator permit. The profits will be given to ihe sufferers l>y the kte floods in Hiwkea' B*y. A huitab c course has been procured which will be prepared at private expense.

The red deer coutiuue, says the Evening Post, to increase and thrive in the Wairarap.i district, notwithstanding the fact th.it a considerable amount of illegal shooting has been indulged in during the past yeir. The council of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society is taking active measures to suppress this, and has already secured one conviction, a proceeding which has produced a salutary effect.

Some of the Paengaroa settlers have been doing a little exploring on their own account (says the Bay of Plenty Times) and have dis covered a kauri bush in that vicinity. In the bush were two huge Maori canoes, one finished and the other not quite. The finished oue is in a good atate of preserva tion. The Maoris have a tradition that these canoes were being made nearly 300 years ago.

In the Wimmera, in Victoria, valuable sheep are beiug kept alive by feeding them on chaff and trcaae, at a cost of 7d a head a day. Even should rain come now, it will be too late in many districts, for the co!d weather will prevent the grass getting a start, and the stock are so weak that they wiil require more sustenance than they will be able to get to see them through the early winter. In many places the dairy cattle have to be driven ten or twelve miles to water ; and while the hot weather laats this means that before they get home again they are ready for another drink, which they cannot get. The last three SMaaons have been enough to break the heart of ml aid farmers of Victoria, and this is the won>tpf,the three.

In view of the recent discontent mani fested during the recent elections in Italy, owing to the Vatican's prohibition of Koman Catholic electors taking part in the elections, the advisability is being discussed in politi cal circles of making voting obligatory, or of enacting severe penalties against ministers of religion, religious associations, news papers, or private citizens who advise el c tors not to vote. The question will, in some form or other, ba shortly brought before the Chamber. Although it is diffi cult to estim te the number of abstentions due to the Vatican's orders, it is believed that they amount to as much as fifteen to twenty per cent of the total electorate. One of'the I'<mief evils resulting fr-'in the pro hibition js the" wiea^emug of the Constitu tional parties/ a'hd' t.hß( corresponding strengthening of 'those 'of "reyolationary tendencies. In some quarters however, the opinion is held that it would be best not to interfere.

Mr U. Pickfoid, who made such a deter mined attempt at suicide a short time since, has been removed to the hospital, where wo hear lie is getting on as well as can be expected. The Rev. W. J. Habens, Under-Seeretary [or Education, Wellington, leaves (says the Ni'ut Zealand Times) for the South about the "■ud of the mouth for the inspection of High Schools. I Professor Forbes, F.R >■> who was re o-.ntly on a visit to New Zealand, has 1 een ■• appointed to examine the Nic cataracts ! with a view to their utilisation for producing ' electricity. It is stated that the firar. work of Mr J. i A. Henderson a-; poultry expert will be the organising of breedi g establishment*, from which an improved elites of poultry will be available for distribution amongst the farmers at the lowest possible price. The Nelson Colonist reports that last Wednesday many th >v auds of youug fljunders and soles, rauging from about three to six iuchea in length, were lying dead on the sands where i hoy had been left by the receding tide. Apparently a large shoal of these youug n%h had been making their way from one lagoon to another when the water left them. Mr Patrick Grealy desires through our columns to tender his sincere thanks to those friends who visited Mrs Grealy almost daily through her last fatal illness for their kindness and attention to her, also to those who paid the last tribute of respect to her memory by attending her funeral. Mr Greely is himielf deeply sensible of the kind ness shown to him in his great trouble. The South Canterbury Hospital and Charitable A.id Board yesterday resoived to refuse the demand of the Trustees of the Wai mate Ho*piial (a separate institution) for £862 to carry them on for the year, on the ground that the demand was excessive, and, i.i accordance with the S'atute, re ferred the dispute to the Colonial Secretary for enquiry. They also resolved to take stepß to have the Act amended to give power to Central B'mrds to demand pi-r ---ticulars of expenditure from separate insti tutions within their discric a. Oue of the marine curiosities recently fished from the bottom of the sea is a mammoth aea-crab, which continually emits a white light similar to that seen in the spasmodic flashes of phosphorescent lumi nosity kindled by fire-flies. The oddity was captured in the daytime and placed in a large tank, nothing peculiar except its immense size being noticeable in the broad glare of the tropical sun. At night, how ever, the crab surprised the naturalists by lighting up the wafer so that all the other sea creatures, great and small, occupying the same tank, could be plainly seen. The Queen of Portugal is a notable zealot in medical studies, and consequently takes a great interest in ail new discoveries bearing upon he art of healing. She ha* occupied herself of late with the Bontgen ray-i, and her Oou;t Ldies have served her as tubjects for lit.r pjactical experiments. The sight of thpi; own skeletons, photographed Ly aid of the rays, according to a stoiy in v Berlin contemporary, has produced an unexpected revolution in the fashions of the Court. The ladies were terrified when they perceived the actual results of tight lacing upon the natural configuration of the ribs. So tluy have dec'atvd war against the corset, re solving to take the Venus of Milo for theit model in fu'iire. Travelling on American railways is at tended with little risk, according to the tables compiled by the Railroad Gazette. Oue passenger was killed in 1896 for every hundred million miles traveled, and but for two or three serious accidents the showing would have been more favorable. :> he pas senger fatalitiasuf 1896 were greatly in excess of those in 1895 Last year there were 128 deaths, largely due to negligence in operating, while in 1895 only 38 lives of passengers were lust. There was an lucre'Se in the number of fatalities among employees. Three hun dred and eighteen were killed iv 1896, and 302 in 1895, but * s the ttain mile.ige w-nt ur» from 834,200,000 to 840,000,000 iv 1896, the death-rate was practically unchanged. The tables provu that, notwnh-nanding the killing of passengers in cirloa'l 1 its, it is s-fer to ride on tr-sins linn to handle them. Business enterprise is generally to be commended, bu'. tbei-o is a po-sibility of its being carried to extremes. Our attention has recently lee a directed to the conceivably considered smart practice of a tradesman in a neighbouring cily, who styles himself a "printer and bookbinder," and wh/>, in a literally ghnul-like manner, seeks to trade ou the i-.tfliotion of those who are bereav d by death of near relatives. When a likely mortuary notice appears in any p;iper this person executes and forwards to the family ("a sample of a >>envrial card of specixl design," with an "order form," price lisjt, and selec ion of so-called " poetry " for in ertiou on the card, th^ said poetry being of a specially mawkHi character, and calculated to give pain rather th>n con solation. Such an attempt to force busi ness offends against good taste anil even decorum, and it is not, we think, likely to commend itself to public opinion.—Dunedin

Star. The latest novelty in the line of time keepers (says the Chicago Ttibune) is a watch which does not require any winding. All that is necessary for its owner to do in order to have the tune with him always is to walk half a mile a day, the watch does th« rest. The novel watches are got out in several varieties of ca-es, some of them extremely ornamenal, bub the kind most commonly seen in Chicago is made with a plain black case and an open face. The winding mechanism consists of an ingenious con rivance by which a small weight is raised and lowered from the jar of walking. The motion of the weight works a small rachet arrangement, which winds the spring to its full tension, and then is automatically held until more winding is nee 'cd. A course if shaking up and down for a few minutes will answer the same purpose as a stroll afoot, while all the jolts and jars of ordinary existence are likewise made useful as a m'3'vns of winding.—A southern contem porary states, in reference to the foregoing, that although such a watch may be a decided novelty in America, one gentleman in this colony—the Hon. William Swanson, of Auckland —has long been the possessor of one which he imported from Vienna some years ago, and often shows to his friends _a* " the nearest approach to perpetuil motion ho k ows of."

COURSING.

The following is the result of the diw > for the Westertield S'.akes to be run onjlr VV. U. Rue's estate to-morrow :— Mr J. Dote's fwu and w d Thahitikai>y Kingfisher—Flo, meets Mr A. Lee's fwib Patchwork, by Daikie—Yorkshire Lass, j Mr M. Kane's w d Sut prise, by Ivaupe —Rose, meets Mr T. Roaohe's b k d Spri^, by Suider —Lasa. | Mr M. Kane's fwn and w d Ivanhoe )., by Ivanhoe—Rose, meets Mr 'B Harol'a fwn and w b Flosa, by Co wee—Amy. Mr B. Harold's fwn b Gip by Obscure- Lady Carbine, meets Mr W. dhearrn* a fwn and w b Ivy Leaf, by Ivanhoe--Ro<. Mr Henry Milner will act as judg^-od Air M. Healy as slipper. Th first pxtAi .logs wllbe in the slips at 9.30 a.m. j

The Royal Commission.

Press Association—By Electric Telegr»ph Donbdin, May 18 The Roy 1 Commission to enquire into the wmkitig of private benefit societies, with Mr K. Treg^ar aa Chairman, commenced taking evidence t -d iy. The Commission haviJg decided that the. Union Steamship Company's Benefit Society should not be represented by any officer of the Society, tho Hon G. McLean protested against the decision and withdrew. Hmry Wakeldine d posed that he had in ver been asked to join the Union Com pany's Society, and when he offered he was refused because lie be'ouged to the Diuidß. William Dxviee, lamp-trimmer on the Waihora, did not belong to the Society as he was a Foreste-. He did not know of pressure being used to cause men to j >in. John Anstide, of the Waihora, h d no! heird of pressure being u-ed. He joined when the Society was established. The men were nmsSereii, and tod there was no com pulsion, but that those who joined would get a p'eference. Frank Karon, of the Waihora, joined voluntarily. Never knew of a purser intercepting wages for payment. He got his wages and then paid his contribution. His grievance was that the Society was not registered. Married men were satisfied and single men did no caie. VV. J. Colemau, of the Waihora, said he belonged to the Oddfellows' and the Union Society. He did not wish to join the latter, but when it was started he was told if he did not join he would not get a job. It was not a threat, but it was understood all the same. There used to be discontent among the men, but he did not know of any now. Things were different bow, and the rules had been altered. He was thoroughly satisfied with the men on the Board of Management. It the Society was registered he did not think there would be much to complain of. James Cummock, of .the Waihora, said he had been ide for six months through missing his passage in Melbourne, and got into arrears. When he g- 1 on another boat he was told he was too old to join the Society. He did not receive any refund for his two and h If ye «rs' contributions. The Company, he thought, made an exception through kindness in taking him back without belong ing to the Society. James Koberts, a seaman, volunlaiily joined the Society when it was started He was satisfied owing fco the constancy of employment. He thought it would be pre ferable if (he Society was registered.

THE KAITOKE RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

Press Association —By E'ectric Telegraph.

Wellington, May 19 The Minister for Railways has dismissed Ganger Peterson and Platelayers Nicholas and Lett, and reduced Inspector Craven from second to third grade. This is the outcome of the enquiry into the Kuioke railway accident. I'oterson admitted to deliberately leaving a rail loote, and by regulations the others should h*ve interfere*], as they were ! acquainted with the instructions in such ; cases. They made no proiest and suffer accordingly. It was elicited that this was nob the first time the ganger and his men had been guilty of similar risky transactions, and this is why Graven, who has the care of this section of the permanent way is disrated. Nofc oniy did the men deliberately risk the safi ty of the train, bui they did not signal to go slow, as is peremptorily required. If '.here had been any loss of life those implica ted would probably have been tried for manslaughter.

Railway Accident.

As the afternoon train from Ashburton was approaching the Beifield crossing, just north of the Or'ri bridge, on Tuesday even ing, it came in contact with a team of horses and a dray. ri he train was brought to a standstill and the gu-rd, accompanied by Mr.J R. Bland, <-f Ashburton, Mr R. Kennington, of Winslow, and other past-eugers, went back and saiy the driver of the dray lying insensible some distance from if, and tlTd railway line, the unfortunate fellow having evidently been thrown out of the dray and landed some distance away from the point of collisi >n. He was care fully carried to thn guard's vau and con veyed into Temuka. Hia name could not be ascertained, but he had apparently been carting potatoes for one of the Belfield sett ci». He was also evidently badly injured internally. The horses weie not injured bu one of the wheels of the dray were cut clean away and was found a con eiderable distance from the railway line.

STACK FIRE AT HINDS.

E'U'ly on Tuesday morning three stacks of wheat, containing some 1800 bushels, and belonging to Mr Studholme, were observed to be on fire, A heavy nor'wester was blow ing, and rendered fu ile any attempts at salvage. The threshing machine had entered the paddock on Mond-y night, but had not reached the immediate vicinity of the staoks. The cikase of the fire in unknown, but there is every reason to believe it to be the work of an incendiary. Constable Eade visited the locality during the day, but at present there is no clue to the perpetrator of the dastardly deed. It is believed that the stacks were partially insured, but Mr Studholmo's loss will be considerable. It will bo remembered that Mr Studholme lost three other stacks by fire in the same pad dock immediately after harvest.

Football.

A committee meeting of the Ashburton Junior Football Club was held in Mr Ferrimau s office on Tuesday night, Mr F. Wilion, captain, in the chair. & letter was read from the secretary of the Shamrock Club, Timaru, accepting the Juniors' challenge for May 24, and the following are requested to attend practice on Thurday in view of being picked to represent the club ihat day :—Alc'iigud, Hepburn, F. Wilson, Pritehani, D. WiUon, Cimpbell, Pilbrow, B own, Baxter, Kilworth, Anderson, Birch, Boyle, Jonas, Whiteiaw, Stephen, M. Harris, Hefford, Bruce, Madden, Childs, Orr, Smith, and Douglas. A Setter wa3 also read from the secretary of the Methven Club, stating that they could not play next Thursday, but would come down on Thursday, May 27. The Junior Committee, however, instructed their secre tary t ■ aak the Methven Cub to postpone the match till Thursday, June 3, as there is no half-holiday on M*y 27. Ten shillings was received from Mr Patching, Vice- PiO.-ident, as a donation to the Ciub, and » hearly vote of thanks was accorded to him for his support. The usual votes of thanks having been passed the meeting terminated.

AGRICULTURAL CONFERENCE.

Press Association — By Electric Telegraph Copyright. Svdnky, May 17

The Oonference of Ministers of Agri culture decied that the restrictions placed on imported grupes should not be relaxed, and that with a view to chocking phylloxera, State nurseries for ditittase-remsting vines should be estab lished. The Conference favored the expansion of the export of soft fruits, and the adoption of Dr Perkin's steri lised air, or some similar process for the purpose. Another resolution expressed i he desirab'eness of issuing intercolonial State diplomas for cheese and butter production to properly qualified dairy naanagjers,.

CABLE NEWS.

Home and Foreign.

Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph— Copyright",

South Africa London, May 17 Mr F. 0 Helous, the South vfrican explorer, expresses the opinion that i!»e introduction of settlers into un occupied territory south of the Zambesi is the only way of securing British supremacy in Africa. Sir W. Clarke. Chief Justice Way, and many other colonial representatives in London, Rendered thfir sympathy and con lolence with the widow and family of she late Sir William Olaike. Ex pressions of sympathy with Victoria idso were offered for the loss of a leading colonist. The Queensland Premier. Sir Hugh Nelson, Premier of Queensland, lady Nelson and family have arrived. Sir Hugh is exhibiting wool, grain, and fruit at the Crystal Palace. Resignation of a minister. St Petersburg, May 17 Count Vorontzonu Dascbkoff, Minis* ter of the Imperial household, and one of the Committee of Ministers, has resigned. Spanish Navy Vote. Madrid, May 1? The Spanish Government is in* creasing the war marine Budget by 8,000,000 pesetas. Mr Seddon in Canada. i ' Ottawa, May 17 I Mr Seddon has arrived at Ottawa, and has been cordially welcomed by the Karl of Aberdeen t the Governor- General, and members of the Govern* ment.

Australian.

Bank of New South Wales. Sydney, May 18. At the half-yearly meeting of the Bank of New South Waies, the report, which was adopted, showed a net profit of ,£87,990, which was added to the undivided balance of £22,330. A dividend of 9 per cent was declared, and £22,500 carried forward to the new account. The paid up capital amounts to £1,949,000, and the reserve to £1,191,000. Costly Hospitality. Adelaide, May 18 The entertainment of ihe Federal delegates cost the Government £1400. Earthquake. Four more earthquake tremors were felt at Kingston on Sunday night, and a distinct shock yesterday morning caused much alarm but no damage. Labor Questions. A number of bootmakers, brought from Sydney to take the places of the strikers, have refused to-work. Weather Forecast. Brisbane, May 18. Mr "WV&gge predicts stormy weather between Sydney and the Bluff, and stormy, equally and high seas in New Zealand, with considerably more rain, especially south of Cook Strait.

CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE CONFERENCE

Press Association—By Elec trie Telegraphh ; Copyright.

Sydney, May 18 The Intercolonial Conference of Chambers of Conference opened to?day, The Mayor welcomed the delegates at^ the Town Hall yesterday. T>e speakerj^ urged the necessity and benefits (^M Australasian commercial federatiei^H Mr Johnston, of New Zealand, saia^ hie colony at present was somewhat outside the federation, but with regard to shipping, insurance, and other matters the Conference had to deal with, it might well to join hands with Australia. Mr Meeks, President of the Sydney Chamber, was elected President. A congratulatory address to the Queen was adopted. It gratefully acknow ledged the rapid expansion of the clonial portion of the Empire daring her reign. Delegates waited on the Gover- nor and presented the address, and were entertained. The president's ap^ning add res? comprised an interesting review q£ the commercial progress of the British Empire, especially in Austral; asia, during the Queen's reign and a commendation of commercial federation. He said one of the chief objffcits of the the meeting waa to give thecommercial men of all the colonies an opportunity of discussing national union in its mercantile and financial aspects. Lord Hamp-ien, who was present, shortly addressed the Oonf reDC«. He trusted its labors would effectively assist the federal movement.

THE DIAMOND JUBILEE.

I The Queen and the Preniicrs.^^

Froaa Association—By Electric Telegraph-* Copyright. London,* Mpy 17. The Queen will grant the Colonial Premiers a reception on June 22nd. Thfw will afterwards be her guests at a State banquet. j Sydney, May 18 j The Governor pre-ided at a meeting in the Town Hall, at whkSh it was decided to establish a Consumption Hospital to commemorate the Queen's Record Reign. Tver £300 was sub scribed in the room. Mr Fairfax, of the Sydney Morning Herald, has given £1000.

THE A*ttMTHTON GUABDIAN: WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 189 T.



Public Notices. NtW ZKAI.ANI) pLOTHISG TfVCTOin 7 WATERPROOFS FOit LAD IKS. WAT &R PROOFS FOR GKNTLKMRN. WATERPROOFS FOR KOY3. BEFORE BUYING EXAMINE OUR STOCK. OUR NEW PATTERNS FOR THIS SEASON are to hand in Black find B'ue Serges. Bluck and Bine Par<--nn itta. Dark, Medium, and Light Tweed Eft* 0/8. Drab and Blue Box Cloth, Splendid Range of Single Textures for LAMES* WATERPROOF CLOAKS. As We are the Largest Waterproof Gar* ment Manufacturers in the colony, we feel quite ooofideut in saying that our Garments fcaad unequalled, both in quality, finish fttid price. Thoroughly waterproof and all ■ awn seams. NO EXTRA OB ABO R FOH WATERPROOFS MADE TO MEASURE. WATERPROOF, LEGGINGS, CYCLING CAPES, BAGS, & CAPS, YARMOUTH OILSKIN COATS, LEGGINGS, SOU-WESTERS, ftc. HALLENSTEIN BROS. & CO. A. G. BARTON, Manager. FLAGS FOR THE DIAMOND JUBILEE. ENSIGN HANDKERCHIEFS, suitable for Flags for the Diamond Jubilee, including Australian Eosign, New Zealand Enaigo, and the Jubilee Fag on bale at 6d £> a9 h* ANDREW ORIt. JUST LANDED — A High-olass Kid Glove, four btuds, all colors; price 4s Fully equal to usual 5a 6d quality.—W . H. COIiUKK. QUIET COW for Sale, to calve in two monthß. Apply for address at Mail Office. ' " 54



Business NoUeas^ LOOK OUT. G. J. NEILL —IS SELLING— ! T.nhU: Pa mask at Is per yard f will Sheeting '1 yards wide, white or grey, \) t d Turkish Towels. 6d each Civ tonne BJd Flannelettes, 2s lid per dozen; I G. J. N EILL I s S BLMNG- Mer's Heavy Tweed Suits at 21s 6d, wonderful value Boys Suits, 4s lid Men's Tweed Trousers, 5s lid BOOTS. BOOTS. Men's Nail SHOOTERS 7s lid. Women's SHOES 4s lid Men's BLUCHERS 4s lid. Women's Lace SHOES 4a lid The Cheapest Boots in Ashburton are to be got at G. J. NEILL'S, ffRTF-DLANDER'S CORNER, EAST STREET. AUTUMN AND WINTER SHIPMENTS—IB 97. GRAND DISPLAY. /yjR PREMISES are Blocked throughout with the most COMPLETE ASSORTMENT USEFUL, SEASONABLE, AND FASHIONABLE DRAPERY To be found in South Canterbury. Splendid Slock of BLANKETS, FLANNELS, and FLANNBLITCBS AT BED-ROCK PRICES. Ladies' and Children's MACKINTOSHES a Specialty-guaranteed to keep out the rain French and Kngliah MILLINKRY, FLOWERS, RIBBONS, &c. Handsome CAPES, JACKETS, and MAN L'LES, DRESs GOODS in Endless Variety Everything NEW and UP-TO-DATE, and the BEST VALUE IN THE TRADE.



*S ■ S tH <a (5 r m GO r i \S r, ! l\ % ' 8 k * w hH -. *S a d -s rt a w 111s ißi r/3 5 o > . h g. • $ Os §s !=§ 1 cdi gig *:,| i p^ - 3 !li a I P^ I I F! 1 gl Is-: 1 3 Si 15 = S S" g a ? S H-^ * -a § pq i § § CE



W. H. COLLIER, "THE CORNB K." AUTOMS AND WINTMI NOVELTIES. GRAND SPECIAL DISPLAY AT MITCHELL & TURNER'S. M A NT r V J — MILLIN ER V - MAN I Ll. WATERPROOFS {jfuvc FUR BOAS JjAI'ES UNDERCLOTHING [MPOBTANT ANNOUNCEMENT in LADiES,— IN PURSUANCE of our policy in keeping our Business well to the iront, we have decided to add ... FIRST-CLASS DRESSMAKING DEPARTMENT to our Establishment. We have secured the services of Miss Hill, a lady of unquestioned ability, who brings with her credential* of the highest order from MFSSRS W. STRANGE & CO., in whoso Workrooms she has beea engaged for over seven years, uur object is to supply our Customers with Stylish and Hell-made COSTUMES at a Moderate Pkick. and every possible effort will w given to make our NEW DEPARL" viBNT an unqualified tuccess. \\ c have already booked s. number of Orders, and expect a very lull season. Miss Hiu/will be pleased to receive intending Patrons on and alter F HID AY, March 26. MITCHELL AND TURNEF, TANORBP STREET;



NEW GOODS. NEW GOODS. AUTUMN AND WINTER. PRICES CUT TO SUIT THE KEEN WEATHER AND KEENER TIMES LOOK OUT. LOOK OUT. THE CENTRAL CASH DRAPEKY AND CLOTSfNG MART. NEXT TO J. ORR AND CO, EAST STREET. W. S. MITCHELL GIVES TUB BEST VALUE IN TUX TIODE. EVERYTHING NEW, EVERYTHING GOOD, EVERYTHING STYLISH, And of Course EVERYTHING CHEAP. OAY Cash and Save 85 per «*»«. Grand wortmenb bought at Special Rates to enablea mo to sustain my reputation, yet giving the 1 Beas Value inthe Trade worth 12a 6d. Good Btrong plain Homespun 4s lln dress. Beautiful Tweeds, grand Heavy Twill Drew for »he &9. «orth W» M |,^ Fur Velvets etc at prices never wine, Dewcat: shade*, at 8a 9d, and 9 s»v*«' ««»■• rTr( , B SHEETINGS—vou;II wonder at bho prices. No bad debts do it. before heard of. FLANNELETTES > OAUCOb, ,HM.ILM* j Grand dark winter FlanneleLtes 4. lid per do/,. A., wool_^ anne 2 d • doz F I)(jU , le white Sheet ing 10id, cheap at Is 3d Whit do you think of this GRAM) KiU GLUv^ lo^o, sHOWFRPROOF CLOAKS at price* 50 per cent, below anything heard of— THhM. Here's another~The newest styles in LAOifcbonuvvßnr undersell any other House, save you in Brown, Navy, Grey and Blaofcr. 17., 9d^ m 19,^^^^^^^^H. DRAPErY MART. MILLINKRY Milline.y, Millinery time awd anxiety by GOING S'.EilGtii XOK in> ; OB<i> innu " . , guaraatee you a saving .of^ully 5,0 per ceDt on all SKI trim you/ha^free we only want to sell the tajnmmg£ -J»» Pjf •^oir prioe. y»« the LOWEST IN N^W. ZEALAND trimmed hats-Straws. Velvets, Beavers, aad fteh Hats for Winter-Flannelette and Wo.f to uub tfor the latest anil most stylish tnmmings-^^rans Jinma p the plum line is a Corsefcjwyawe any Ih.«,!d«.t weather and lightest parse. «0. R p ßJ^^ ;^ 8l t 6 ' « 'h« M^'S CLOTHING AND MERCERY DeparU-ent, j Shade for 2i lid per pair, worth, and «old elsewh*™,. „ ' 3 , ia , knifcted p(ln , B 3 , U , singlets to match flannelette «hirts heaviest kuitted socks in the trade Is, brown ribbed pants la iw, nea v v _ conceivable shape irom Is. 1 weed from Is 9d,Coi O -.ial made flannels 3b lld.^ ,^ ib l TIBB AND S (JARVES-We are trousers 7. 61.8 i Ud, 9s 6d, men* moles 4alid .mans ""'^ '""/^Je, fro^-the . c he*pew to the best qualities. BOOTS -M cv a known throughout riie Jistriob for our grand=-^^J^^J JJ^pe,, | rom & ijd,**tcr Ugbta 6d, women's and oh.ldren'. -he»v V shooter boots §3 lid., grand line of light Bf[moralß^^T, vvaTERPBOOF COATS, very Seep..pa.pes, in all pi tterDs-We are fie 1^ Wto l° —"* ** «" 'd' Grand VKiety Me^VWUto Kid Gloves and Evening Bows, etc. W. 8. MITCHELL | UEXa TO J ORB » CO., HAST STREh... 48HB0RION.



Church Services. ST. STEPHEN'S CHURCH Ashburton, > Wednesday— G.F.S., and Choiißters practice, 7.30 p m. Thursday—Broiheriiood of St. A'drew, 7 30 p.m. i Friday—-Short service, 7 30 p.m.; Choir ■ practice 8 p.m. j SUNDAY SERVICES. May 25. 8.30 a.m.—Holy Communion. 11 a.m.—Morning Prayer. 3 p.m.—Dromore, Mr 'I. A. Gates. 3 p.rn.—Seah'eld, Mr W. Bowman-Fox. 6.30 p tn.~Evening Prayer. REV. T. A. HAMILTON, ■ ■■■■■ ■ L' I



Hollow ay's Pills and Ointment — Bilious affusions, with all their concomitant annoyances induced by atmospheric changes, or too liberal diofc, should be checked U<, once or serious consequeuces may enaie. When any one finds his ideas less clear t&n us lal, his eyesight dimmed, and his h»d dizzy, accompanied by a disinclinarioaior ail exertion, physical or mental, he may be ijuite sure that he is in immediate nei d;Of soino alterative medicine. Let him at wee send for a box of Hollo way's Tills, a n|ld course of which will remove the symptoms, and speedily renew his usual healttjul feeling If the bowls be irritable Hojo way'a Ointment should be diligently rubfed ov r the stomach and liver every night i»d orning. _______________„.



Beautiful New Zealand ! Tho land over flowing with the buttermilk and apple-sauca .of prosperity—produces anything and every tfhinfv; Buch as petticoat government, un employed, and coughs and colds veritably ; but that's riot adruwbaek, they can b© cured in every farm by taking' Woops* Gbkat



■Jjok't Co'uoh.—Relief cm be obta^d immediately. Use 'EEATING'B CUiJH LUZ-<'NGES '—well known as the u,&rly unrivalled Cough Remedy. Strong re commended by many eminent ph^cians They at once check the cough and'emoye the cause without any after . ffecM»e most delicate can therefore can take tsi. Uno Lozenge alone gives ease— -out* two a bedtime ensures reat. Sold evf'vhere in



The wife of Mr Leonard Wells, of Jhst Brimfield, Ma~s., had been suffering from neuralgia for two days, not being able to sleep or hardly keep when Mr Holden, the merchant theresenther a. battle ot Cham berlains Fain Balm, and asked that she give it a, horough trial. Qa meeting Mr Wells the next day he was told th,at she was all right, the pain had left her within two hours, and that the bottle of Pain Balm was worth §5.00 if it could not be had for ess, j For s»h? by Ashburtop. Drug Company, : J



To the Deaf and those troubled with Noises in the Head or other Aural Troubles. Dr Nicholson, of London, the woriii famed aural specia'iat and Inventor of artificial ear drums, has just issued the lOObh edition of his illustrated and descriptive book on Deaf ness and Aural Troubles This book may be had from Mr Colin Campbell, 160, Adelaide Road, Wellington, N.Z. Mr Campbell was cured of his deafness ly Dr Nicholson's system, and tikes pleasure in trending the news of the great specialist in New Zieaiaud. A little book on the cure of Rheumatism, Corpulence, Lumbago, and n digestion by the same author, may be had from Mr Campbell, also free, 317 Kozie Tea, the best, and yet within reaoh of all; Sold at 1/8, IMO, 2/ , »nd 2/4-^- John Orr & Co, Soje Agont*.