Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 1897.

HE cycle of the future, which i^ to evolutionise warfare, and give to the foot soldiers a grea- A MILITARY tet mobility than BICYCLE. that of cavalry, is described by Major J. M. Macartney in the United Service Magazine. The following is his de scription of the new folding bicycle, by which every foot soldier is in future to go a-bicycling against the enemy :— A bicycle was exhibited a few mouths ago in Paris at the third exhibition of cycles, which, if it possesses all the qualities claimed for it by the inventors, will introduce a new and powerful factor into the tactics of the future It should place at the disposal of com manders a jneans of locomotion practi cally solving the question of mobile infantry. This machine is the joint invention of Captain Gerard, 87th Regiment of French Infantry, and a cycle manufacturer, M. Morel, Mayor of Eoinene. A hinged bolt and a simple airangement of screws, enable the front wheel to be foldei back and fixed to the rear. A soldier can then carry it on his back, like a valise, with comfort and ease. This folding opera tion occupies only some forty seconds. The bisycle weighs from twenty-four pounds to twenty-five pounds English weight, without trappings. Were it necessary to carry it for a prolonged period, this weight would doubtless be a great disadvantage, but as it ia only intended that a soldier shall do so when it can no longer carry him, it is not a matter of great consequence, for such conditions would seldom continue for any length of time. The inventors have aimed more at compactness than lightness, for this reason, that so long aa the soldier can move over broken or difficult ground with his bicycle on his back, and at the same time use his arms in defence, it is all that is re quired of him, When the impracticable ground has been passed his machine carries him and materially adds to his mobility. Captain Gerard claims all these advantages for his invention, and, in addition, that, if a man be riding it, he can still fire, without dismount ing. When a soldier ia motion has occasion to shoot, he stops, places his feet on the ground, and, retaining thß machine between his legs, fires his rifle. Ihe moment he wishes to proceed in any direction he has merely to resume the pedals.

Local and General.

* # * We draw the attention of advertisers and others to the fact that, as announced elsewhere, we purpose giving our employees a holiday to-morrow to enable them to join the schools excursion, and that cou consequently the Guardian will not be published.

Reading mo.tf.er on fourth page.

A steam motor van did the |ourney from Chiswick to Cardiff, 164 miles, in 25 hours,

The Albion and Hinds Tennis Clubs wil play a matph at Hinds to-morrow afternoon

Little oak trees, an inch and a-half in height, are grown by Chinese gardeners. They take root jn thimbles.

It is estimated that the total output of all the breweries in the London district does not fall short of 10,000,000 barrels per annum.

A householder writing to the Pox complains that the Wellington butchers are gating 300 per cent profit on tha sale of mutton.

Mr R. E. O'Connor, one of the Federal Convention candidates, is said tej be a grandson of Soult, one of the great Napoleon's marshals.

The main roll for the Asbburton district, printed at this ojljce, was handed to-day to the Registrar of Electors—-three days under contract time. It contains 72 pages, and 3970 names.

Probably the record lowest bid at the Ashburton Yards was made on Tuesday, when a line of merino ewes was started at a penny per head. They were eventually knocked down at sixpence per head.

The Queen's aga has been exceeded by only one former occupant of the throne of England—feeorgo lll s who was 82 years old when he died. The age.&f jGeorge II was equal to that which her Majestylias attained.

Sergeant Roll (Oamaru) and troopers Henderson (Ngap*ra), Grant (Otiaki), and a third to be sejected, will represent the North Otago Mounted Rifjes iv the New Zealand contingent for the (^ueen? s eplebra jaons.

The only person now living on Sunday TsUnd in the Kermadec Ckoup are Mr Bell ■*■ , " ~uly, the pioneers of the island. One a,  n n> ■-"■•Tied daughters left Auckland SS?SSw .or £•" *««<">»• on . visit to her relatives.

Mr Benjamin Joneß, one of the Manchester Co-operatives delegates who recently visited the colonies, states that the Australasian dairying industry haa a magnificent future before it, and, as it develops, will displace all foreign competitors from Great Britain, yielding a great profit to producers,

The Pope, explaining his longevity to a visitor, stated that a nun, who had always been in perfect health, two months ago went to him saying she had offered herself as a sacrifice to God, in order to prolong the life of the Pontiff. God had signified His approval, as the nun died, and the Pope still flourished.

The bee works harder than most people would believe. There are about 60 flower tubes in every head of clover, and only a tiny morsel of honey in each. In order tc get enough sugar for a load the bee must visit about 6000 different flowers, and each bee must make, on an average, 20 trips a day.

News from New Plymouth states that the difficulties in connection with the petroleum bore have at last been overcome, and a flow of oil and water was obtained on Monday, when 200 gallons of petroleum weie got in the afternoon. It is expected that pure oil will flow to-day. Yesterday ten barrels of oil were obtained at the works, and the prospects are improving.

Holloway's Pills.—The ills of life are increased tenfold by the mode of 1 fe so many have to lead ; most especially is this the case amongst the toilers in our factories and huge workshops of the manufacturing districts whose digestions become impaired and nervous systems debilitated by the protracted confinement and enforced depriva tion of healthy out.of-door exercise. The factory workers may almost be said to have diseases of their own, readily amenable, however, to treatment if not allowed to proceed unchecked. JJolJpway's Pills are the most effectual remedy evep discovered for the liver and stomach complaints, as they act surely, but gently, regulating the secre- Uoqb without weakening the nerves or i&terfcretog with the Wly wprk, j

Thirty-five prohibition orders are in force in WaDganui.

For the ram and ewe fair at, Christchurch to-morrow a large number of rams and ewes went from Ashburton this mornii g.

A special meeting of the Ashburton School Committee is summoned for Monday next, at 8 p.m., the business being the selection of a headmaster and general business.

A special meeting of the Ashburton Fire Brigade will be held ou Friday noxt at 7.30 p.m. for the purpose of considering the various matters to be discussed at the approaching Conference.

Things are lively on the West Coast, We are advised by the telegraph department that "urgeuts" only can be accepted for Greymouth. The town is flooded, and there are two feet of water in the telegrapa office.

Experiments at the Vienna Academy of Sciences have demonstialed that pholo graphs of living hands show the skeleton, as in the Rontgeo photographs. A dead hand, however appears in full, showing all the fljshy integument, while the bones remain invisible. It is thought that by means of these rays it could be ascertained whether a person is really dead or not.

The late Mr McOandtess, who died in the Hospital on Monday, was at one time a schoolmaster in the Aehburton district, and was about forty years of age. He had been forking in the harvest and met with an ace.dent, a fork penetrating hia arm. Blood poisoning and erysipelas ensued, and Mr McCandless died in the hospital as above stated. He was buried at Rakaia today.

Mr Thomas Bradford, who received a nasty kick from a cow on Saturday, is still laid aside from work. His chaff-cutting machine is now in charge of Mr Sam. Hume, and farmers in the higher districts of the county, with whom Mr Bradford had engagements that have not been fulfilled as promptly sb usual, will understand the reason, and com municate with Mr Hume.

A remarkable story was told at the South- Western Police Court, London, recently by a lady applicant, who alleged that ahe did not know her husband from his brother, and that she lived with both of them in turn under the impression that she was living only with her husband ; while her husband was living with her aunt in the belief that the aunt was the applicant. The vlagistrate listened ay mpa-helically, and requested the police to enquire into the matter.

The " Moderates " are not to have a walk over in the Licensing Committee election, the Prohibitionists having decided to pat up five candidates — Messrs Jones, Leidley, Williamson, Clephane, Taylor and Chapman. Tne questions at issue are whether the hotels shall close at ten or eleven o'clock, and whether conditional licenses shall be granted or not. The htter question closely affects the agricultural show, the weeily stock markets, and the racing clubs.

A meeting of the Horticultural Society's Committee was held laßt evening, Mr Rule in the chair—There was a full attendance. It was decided to hold a Chrysanthemum Show on Saturday, May 8, in the Orange Hall, and a schedule for same was prepared. Prizes will be offered, amongst others, for the betfc decorated go cart and bicycle. Mr G. T. bmirh presented each of the members of the Committee with a superb bunch of grapes grown at his vinery.

The London correspondent of the Press writes :—!'A few days ago I met Mr Wake field ab Charing Cross, and we had a long ta'k. Be was looking remarkably well and prosperous, and seemed to be in excellent spirits, only regretting that he did not settle in England earlier. He tells me he has accepted the editorship of a new Con servative weekly paper published in Chelsea, which has already proved a marked success, and he is about to write a series of articles for the Melbourne Argus on the history of the colonies.

Money is evidently plentiful. On Wednes day evening (says the Gore Standard) the Gore Borough Council opened tenders fpr a loan of £1000 for a yen years at 4$ P er oenfc- Twelve tenders were received, all of which, except two, were for the fuli amount of the loan. One at £102, one at £101 15s. two at £101, one at £100 3a s one at £100 Is Id, and seven xv^ve at par. The tender of Mra Fenwick (Maheno) at £102 for the full amount was accepted. Three of the tenderers were local financiers, one was from Invercargill, and the other? were from Dunedin The price received (£2 premium) is considered exceptionally good.

The following is an official list of prices cut rent on the Bulawayo market for the week ending November 28, 1896, for articles of da Jy consumption : Flour, per bag, £7 ss; salt, Is per lb; coffeej 2- QA per 1b ; milk (Milkmaid), 27s per doz : rice, Is 6d per lb ; butter (B^besden), 3s 6d per lb ; candles (Price's) lfs b box, 40s ; bacon, 3a 6d per lb ; p«r&flin, £7 per case ; brandy, (Hennessey's xxx), &1 ; meal, (Boer), per sack, £14 ; tea, 3g 6d per lb; cocoa, 7s per lb ; sugar, Is 4d per ife ; pear} barley, Is 6d per ir.; lard, 2s 6d per lb ( oysters, 22s §d per doz ; kippered herrings, 30a per dcss; currants, Is 3d per lb; \ime juice (Rose's), 80i case j beer (English), £12 10s per case ; gin (London), *4 IQi.

The Otaki Mail has a paragraph stating that a weasel was killed the other day while chasing a Maori girl ip Jhe street. As it is added that the weasel "was alargaone," we suspect that it was not a weasel at alt, but a stoat. Weasels are very small, short-tailed animals of less than half the size of an ordinary rat, of a red-brown hue, and can not travel fast. They have been known %o attack human beipgs in the Old Country, but only when they (the weasels) were travelling in great numbers as they occasion ally do. The stoat on the other hand is the largest of the speoies mustela indigenous to the British Islands. It reaches the aiae of a half-grown domestic cat, is very fierce, and will show fight when molested "either by dogs or human beings. We know that there are stoats in the North Island,as we saw one ourselyeo not very long ago while travelling in the' neighborhood of T.aupo.

To the Deaf and those troubled with Noises in the Head or other Aural Troubles. Dr Nicholson, of London, the world famed aural egecjaljat and Inventor of artificial ear drums, has just issued the 100 th edition of his illustrated and descriptive book on Qeaf neßß and Aural Troubles. This book may be had from Mr Colin Campbell, 160, Adelaide Road, Wellington, N.&. Mr Campbell was cunjd of his deafness by Dr Nicholson's system, and tikeg pleasure in -""«»ding the news of the great specialist in v» '/JLn 4 A lifc^ book on the cure of £fSn/ Corpulence, I"***?. »J Indigestion by the same author, may be hau from Mr Campbell, also free. 3 75

POLO.

Accident to Mr Heatou Rhodes.

( Press Association—By Electric Telegraph— Auckland, March 9. While practising polo this afternoon Mr Heaton Rhodes, Captain of the Chdstchurch team, was struck by a ball hit by another player, and had his jaw fractured. It j'b thus doubtful if the Christchurch team will be able to compete in the Saville Cup tourna ment. '

THE QUEEN'S CELEBRATION.

Press Association-—By Electric Telegraph— Copyright;.

Ottawa, Mirch 9 A suggestion has been made here that the Australian and Indian troops, after attending the Queen's colebra tions, should return home via Qanada.

Wellington, March 9. The method of selecting a team of mounted militia to be sent to represent the colony at the record reign celebrations is to invite each of the eleven mounted companies in the colony to send three men and a non commissioned officer to Wellington. They will be drilled and inspected there, aod then thirty of them will be selected to go ta England. Sergeant Sommerville and Troopers Prica, Lowe and Montgomerie, of the Alex andra Cavalry, selected for the Imperial record reign celebration*, go from Wanganui > to Wellington tQ-doy, /

CORRESPONDENCE.

(We do not hold ourselves responsib'e for the opinions expressed by our correspondents

SCHOOLS EXCURSION.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—My attention has tais moruing been called to a letter of Mr J. C. Duncan's in last Monday'd Guardian in which he states that he fails to " see any drift) in the Hamp sfcead School Committee's resolution," and generally has a cut at that Committee and the railway authorities at both of whom he appears to feel aggrieved. Now, as Sscre ary to an important school like Ashburton Mr Duncan, of all persons, should be able to understand the position taken up by the Harnpstead Committee without any explftDa tion on my part, which, however, may make it clearer to the public. As to last year's excursion, the managers of it, without con ulting the railway authorib ep, took it on thtmig.lves to incur some £6 or £7 for advertising etc., and then, in their innocence, asked the department to pay the coat ! The department declined (as the Government always does) to recognise unauthorised ex penditure, or they would never know what they might be called on to pay, and more over, in this instance, considered the ad verfcisiag unnecessary. As to the position taken by the Hampstead Committee, they in common with other kindred bodieß were supplied with a copy of a schedule of reduoed fares for " school parties, factories, and friendly societies." these very low rates are for these persons only and not for the general public, and surely a ho'ictay and excursion of the kind requires no more advertising than thab the headmasters of the sohools should announce it to the children ; Ashburton, Hampstead, and Tin wald alone would mean over a thousand little tongues persistently wagging—amedium that would beat the Guardian itself for rapidity in disseminating news, and all this could be done at the cost of a few twopenny i stamps to invite the co-operation of other school committees if desired, which on this occasion was not asked until everything was cub and dried, and the extra charge of 3d per ticket decided on, and then the suggestion to join the affair came from the Railway Department, and for any official knowledge the Hampstead Committee was indebted to the courtesy of the statioomaster. But, for the sake cf argument, allowing that, aay £6, was necessary for advertising, what is the balance of the £25 or ao, that the 3d tax might reasonably be expected to return, to be applied to. Certaiuly not for refresh ments, as two-thirds of the excursionists will scatter themselves over Christchuroh, and the rest ba equally distributed about Lyttelton and Sumner. la conclusion I may say that several other committees had taken this view of the matter and declined to be associated with the affair before the Hampstead Committee passed any resolution.—l am, etc., J. C. Bbll, Secretary to Hampsbead School Committee.

ORCHARD THIEVES.

TO THK EDITOR. Sib,—The thanks of the community are due to you for the able and persistent manner you ha,ve, on several occasions lately, dealt with this detestable practice. After your forcible leaderette on the robbing of orchards ten daya ago the practice should have abated. After a few days rest, how ever, the thieves are again as busy as they were a fortnight ago. Only a few days ago I had a tine young apple tree of the variety Dumilow's Seedling robbed in the night of thirteen very large apples. I had given considerable time to this particular tree in the hot weather, and they certainly were fine samples of locally-grown fruit. Imagine , the chagrin and loss anyone endures who loses his fruit in this way. In mmy respects I am not surprised at the prevalence of orchard robberies considering the number of rough youths and boys who prowl at night. It is an almost daily occurence to see several truant boys together prowling about as if j taking bearings, and, generally speaking, these unfortunate beys are given an unbridled license at night. It is my opinion that most or all of the recent orchard robberies were committed by such youths. If the newly appointed truant officer wou'd do his duty Bmily, and parents would strictly limit—or in some cases be compelled to limit —their boys' hours at night, I believe that the night robbing of orchards would be almost un known.—l am, etc., Parent.

The Late Rev. P. R. Monro.

The news, which reached us by wire yesterday afternoon, of the sudden death of the Rev. E R. Monro, caused c^uito a sensation in Ashburton, where he was well known, and had many personal friends. An inquest was held yesterday at Mr A. Gow's house, Waltham, nt which the Rev. L M. Isitt, in giving evidence said deceased had recently learned to ride a bicycle. He spent Monday evening at witness's house, and arranged to ride with him on the following morning. Witness pilled for him at his house at 9.30. and they role slowly to Waltham, a distance of about ninety chains. Witness asked deceased two or three times if he was tired, and suggested his taking a rest. He would not do so till Waltham was reached. They dismounted, and deceased ag^in said he was not a bit tired. After talking for about twc minutes, while witness was inflating the tire of tieceased:s machine, deceased said, "Hold the bike; I feel sick." Witness looked up, saw deceased in the <*ct of falling, but waa not in time to save the fall. Deceased sank' to the ground and was unconscious, breathing stertorously. Mrs Gow came to as'sisc. (Bhey unloosed his collar, bathed hig head with water, used smelling sajts and telephoned for Dr Diamond, I'hey then Qarried him into the house, but before the doctor arrived he waa dead.—Dr Diamond made a post-mortem examination, and found the cavity of the pericardinm fall of blood, evidently coming from a rupfaured aneurism. This would account for death. The aneurism was probably c.f long standing, and had probably burst through the escertion of bicycling, A verdict was returned in accoirda'nc'e with the medical testimony. • ' : The Rev. Mr Monro was born at Old Meldrum, in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, and was iorty-«?ighi yparo of age. He came to Christchurch in 1878, and the facb is not without local interest that the first sermon he preached 'n the colony was delivered in the Ashburton Vresbyt.rian Church, on which occasion he wag relieving tkp Rev. H. B. Burnett, then pastor of the Ahsburton Church, He was in turn ' pastor of the *>~,—;„„£ congregation, the Westport c0n •.«...,* r . «k Svdenham Church, gregation, the importau.. „ *  v and again of the Rangiora Church, wnicu last he resigned in January to become editor of the Christian Outlook. His connection with the prohibition movement was of a very pronounced character, so \yere the geniality of his disposition, andi his exhaust less fund of humor and humorous anecdote. He was an earnest and telling preacher, and one of the most popular ministers in the church, and will be missed in many ways. He leaves a widow and two children.

HEAVY FLOODS ON THE WEST COAST.

Greymouta Under Water. Newspapers Cannot Publish.

Preso Association—By Electric Telegraph

Grkymouth, March 10.

The heaviest flood ever experienced here occurred this morning, and is now running. At 1 a.m. the firebells were rung to alarm the inhabitants, and business people imme diately began to lift their goods off the flior. By four o'clock the torrent was trashing ovor the wharf, and the whole of the business part or the town wav submerged from two to six feet deep, and a dangerous current was rushing down many of the streets. All business is suspended, and ■ now (11 a.m.) the water is a foot deep in premises ijx the middle part of the town, and much deeper in other parts. The Star office has osrer a foot of water on the fioor 9 the 4f'guf coufd not publish, being flooded out! and there can fae no evening paper to-night. It rained hard all night, but now shows signs of improvement, ulthough it ia still raining up country. As yet, the damage done is impossible to oßtimata, but) it will bs vtry comiderabi^

COMMERCIAL.

OAMARU' GRAIN MARKET.

The North Otago Times reports a fairly active market. " Very good lines of Tuscan wheat have changed hands at 3s 10J, velve; rruy be quoted at 3.* 9^d, redchaff and red- Hiraws at 3s 8d to 3s £hi, and sec! nds"at 3 3d to 3a 4d, all delivered at Oamam. We have heard of 3s lid being paid for a line at the siding, 'ess a commission. In oata there is a small amount of business doing in new season's Danish at Is 6d to Is Bd, and one or two exceptional lines at Is 9d; short and feed oats are bringing 2*. In birley any real'y good lints which are offered are readily taken in some quarters at prices raug'ng trom 3* 3d to 3a 6d ; second qtulity, 2s 10-J. Cape barley is quoted at 2s 2d to 2s 3J."

HUNT CLUB.

Annual Meeting-

The annual meeting of the Ashburton 1 County Hunt Club was held on Tuesday afternoon in Devane'a Hotel. There was a . fair muster, and Dr Leahy presided. The 1 Secretary wrote apologising for his unavoid able absence. ANNUAL BEPOBT, The Committee's report was read. The report recapitulated the work of the Club during the season, which had been very satis- factory. BALANCE SHEET. The balance sheet showed satisfactory finance. The expenditure had been just , £2 3s 9d in excess of the actual receipts, but s-.vera outstanding subscriptions chat were perfectly good would more than oovec this deficiency. The report and balance sheet were adopted. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The following officers were elected :— Patron—G. A. M. Buckley, Esq. ; President Duncan Cameron, Esq.; Vice-Presidents —Messrs J. C. Wason, T. E. Upton, and W. P. Keliock. The old Committee were re-elected, with the addition of Mr John Studholme, junr., (in place of Dr Greenwood) E. F. J. Urigg, and B. Preston —in all sixteen ; Secretary—Mr E. W. Roberts ; Tieararer—Mr CF. M. Wroughton. THANKS. Dr Leahy moved a vote of thanks Jtj> Mr Buckley for the handsome support he had given to the Club in the past season. Mr Buckley had gone Home on what they all hoped would be an enjoyable, though they trusted a short holiday, but he had left a handsome cheque as a contribution to the funds for the current season. The motion was passed with acclamation, as well as one of thanks to the farmers over whose ground the hounds had been hunted. HUNTSMAN. Four tenders for the position and work of huntsman for the year were received, and that of Mr C. Wynn-Williams, at £115, was accepted, subject to the Club's schedule of duties. The meeting then adjourned.

Items of Interest.

A cat was sent from the vicinity of New bury to a new home at Kidderminster. The 'bird day after its arrival it disappeared, and alter the lapse of four months turned up at ita old home, thin and weary from its journey of 140 miles. The Glasgow underground railway, which has been six years in construction, was opened on 14th December. It consists of two parallel tunnels, and is the only under ground cable railway in Britain. It is six and a half miles long, with fifteen stations, and the fare is Id for any distance. The steel c^ble was made in one length.

A Miaa Wrigley and her two brothers have perpetuated the memory of their father and commemorated the record reign by presenting lo the town of Bury, their native pace, a collection of pictures valued at 560,000. The collection, which has been taken charge of by the Town Council of Bury, includes Laudseer'a ' Random Shot' and works by Turner and Rosa Bonheor. ! In a Bmall village near London, one day lately a young woman was married to a private of marines. On the way home from church the bride went mid, and the relatives were compelled »o apply to the relieving officer for an order to remove the young woman to a lunatic asylum, where she now is. She bad been previously engaged to auother young soldier, but the match had been broken off.

It is slated that Englishwomen are con sidering seriously the advisability of having their maid servants dress in knickerbockers, not ouly aB a means of safety against fire, but as a wonderful saving in fine china, porcelain, pictures on easels, and all of the numerous nick nacks which women's skirts manage to upset and break. The agitators of the idea, among whom is Lady Harberton, also claim for the doing away with interfering skirts that a double amount of work will be accomplishen through facility of action acquired, and there will be avoided also a large amount of dust that is carried about in skirts.

In Norway, Sweden, and Finland, women are frequently employed as sailors, and do their work excellently; and in Denmark several women are employed afloat as State officials, generally in the pilot service. They go far out to sea in their boats to meet the vessels coming iaro ports, and having nimbly climbed on board aM shown their official diploma, they cajmly and coolly steer 1 the new-comer into harbour. It is just the same in Finland. Qn board small sailing vessels the stewardess and the skipper's wife each share io" the ocdiaary task of the sailor, evgn taking their turns at the wheel $nd the~watch fluting the night. Ex-. perieneed captains Bay that women make excellent mariners, and have as much dexterity and as good powers of endurance as most men. At Bolton Town Hall, on November 7th, Lotd Stanley, M.P., presented a collar and silver medal to a fine, sagacious Newfound land dog, Princess May, belonging to Mr Edge, of the Oddfellows' Armcf, Daubhill, which had saved & child (a playmate of the" animal) from being ran over by & tramoar at Daubhill. The authenticity of the incident was vonched for by a number ot witnesses, including the cjriver of the car, who watched the animal carry, the littls one back to the footpath. A magnificent framed photo, oj the dog (sft by 4ft 6iii) was hung behind th.€ Mayor's chair, and the animg,! itself was placed oa the table, where it could be seen by the whole company. Lord Stanley placed a collar with silver medal attached round the dog's neck, and aB his Lordahij - ... **„„„„ aAve j fc a comm,end.*torj and tae iv», v . a ; patting, the animal, which has a reputation in Daubhill for ex traordinary sagacity, seemed to realise its individual importance. A case will ohortSy "come before the Eng'ish Courts in' which a claim to a sum oi £9,000,000 is made by a Welsh collier. Thf claim, in which the initial proceedings have just been taken, concerns the right to .tnt Drymma estates, with an annual rent roll pf £300,000, capitalised at £6,0Q0,QQ0. In addition the successful litigant will acquire the title to a sum of plose on £3,000,000 at present lying in Chancery. The claimant, ib Mr Nathaniel Richard Thomas, a Cefn co'lier, and in all probability he w|U l?e joined by his step-brother, Mr David Mere dith. The contest will, it is said, develop some very startling stories and family history Among the estates involved is the Maeagivernee Hale estate, held by J^r Wihiam Williams, ez-M-Pr for Swansea, and Glyngollen, near Swansea, held by Mr J, Davies. The property is situated in Soutn Wales.

CABLE NEWS.

Home and Foreign.

Press Association—By Electric Telegraph- Copyright.

The Niger Treaty. London, March 8 From the Niger it is imported that the Emir of Ilorin has been reinstated by the treaty as Emir, but he will be under British direction. The treaty settles the frontier of the colony of Lagos. The Oceana Gold Robbery. Detective Forest boarded the Oceana at Plymouth for the purpose of making enquiries into the robbery of 5000 sovereigns from the vessel before sbe left Melbourne. Fatal Colliery Disaster. A colliery at Dover was flooded, and eight miners were drowned. Pigeon Tournament. Mackintosh, the Victorian shot, divided first and second prizes at the Monte Carlo pigeon tournament, winning 1500 francs. He grassed nine birds in succession. The Benin Massacre. March 9 It is announced that prior to the massacre of Consul Phillips'* party near Benin, a number of friendly chiefs secretly warned the King that British epics were coming, whose object was to seize the country. Women's Franchise. The House of Lords rejected the Women's Franchise Bill without going to a division. The German Navy Scheme. Berlin, March 8 The semi-official newspapers are silent with regard to Vice-Admiral ) Hollman's navy scheme. The Clerical and Liberal parties are unanimously hostile to the proposal and the Neuesten Nachrichten newspaper strongly favours it. Prince Hohenloe, the Imperial Chancellor, ha&. endorsed the naval proposals submitted by Vice-Admiral Holhnann. The Manitoba School Difficulty. Bomb, March 8 The Pope is about to send a delegate to Canada to mediate in regard to the Manitoba school difficulty. Co-Operative Creameries. Ottawa, March 9. Steps are being taken in Canada to establish seventeen creameries, to be worked on co operative lines, for the purpose of exporting produce to Eng land. The American Congress. Washington, March 8. Congress has been convened for the 15th inst. The principal business will be to consider the revision of the tariff, for which a Bill will be drafted by Senator Dingley. The Arbitration Treaty. The Senate has referred the Anglo- American arbitration treaty to the Foreign Committee for consideration. Baseball Team Nbw Yobk, March 8. The Australian baseball team, which leaves Sydney by the Monowai, will play first at Central Park, San Fran cis so. This will be followed by matches at San Jose, Fresno, Los Angelos, Phoenix, El Paso, Kansas City, and Chicago.

Australian.

Press Association—By Electric Telegrnph- Copyright. '

(Queensland and federation. Sydney, March 9 Sir Charles Lilley, who is on a visit here, expressed the opinion to an interviewer that had Mr Beid displayed a bolder front when urging Queensland to enter the Federal Convention, that colony" would have been represented. He believed Queensland would not now . show any haste in joining, but might form a separate federation of her own. Fire at Government House. Melbourne, March 9 A fire at Government House gutted Mrs freeman Thomas's room, anc( destroyed valuable piptures and furni ture. The fire was caused by a curtain blowing an to a light, A labor Question, Adelaide, March 9 The Boot Manufacturers' Association have resolved to re-open the factories only under conditions which allow of the legitimate and untrammelled use of their machinery. Destruction of a Private Hospital. PffiTQ, March $ . A private hospital atlSJalg'oorlie nag been destroyed by (jre. "Ten tfyphqicl patients were removed with OQfWWiGP« able difjiculty. < Cold- Weatlie*. Hobaei 1, Maroh 9 There is snow on Mount Wellington, and the weather ia intensely cold.

THE NOTORIOUS BUTLER.

His Extradition Granted. gross Association —By Electric Telegraph— Oopyrighfc.

Washington, March 9 Mr Sherman, Secretary of State, n&s granted the extradition of Butler.

(Received Wakapuaka, March 10, 9.51 a.m., GyARDiASf Office, 12.25 p.m.jj Sydney, March IQ.

The Mayor has received a letter from Lee Weller's brother, who is a, resident at Capetown, thanking the authorities for their energy in arresting Butler, and asking for further infor mation. He mentions that Weller's solicitor is a Mr Donaldson, of London,

THE W3HBURTOB GUARDIAN : WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 1897



. ~ Business Notices Business Notices '" LOOKOUT. .. .. Waterproof ' Coats NZ.O.F. To Measure ... 35s Od G. J* NEILL Waterproof Coatß -IS SELLING- H-zaF- NewPatterDß •" 3236 d Table Pamask at Is per yard oo! Coatß Twill Sheeting, 2 yards wide, white or grey, 9Jd n.z.o.f. To Measure ... 40» od Turkish Towels, 6d each ' Cretonne 3Jd Waterproof Coats Flannelettes, 2s lid per dozen nz.c.f. New patterns .. 42s 6d Waterproof Coats G. J. N EILL I S S BLLING~ N.ZC.F. loM.»u re ... 46. Od Men's Heavy Tweed Suits at 21s 6d, wonderful Take waterproof Coats Boys, Suits, 4S lid N.Z.C.F. Now Patterns ... 47s 6d Men's Tweed Trousers, 03 lid 1 ——— — Waterproof Coats BOOTS. ' BOOTS. N.ZC.F. To Measure ... 50a Od Men's Nail SHOOTERS 7b lid. Women's SHOES.4* lid Men's BLUCHERS 4s lid. Women's Lace SHOES 4a lid —■ The Cheapest Boots in Ashburton are to be got at ZEALAND G. J. NEILL'S, _ . tRIEPLANDEB'S OPENER, EAST STREET. Clothing FECtOrj. ■ RANGES T~~~~T T ARGE STOCKS 9 *UNS, CARTRIDGES, AND AMMUNITION 0 g q> JLI H Qj « * X OF ALL KINDS. p. g g ~ H FENDERS AND FIRMRONB, LAMPS, BEDSTEADS, Etc. JOHN ORR & CO. |- g g a g ami pi -[■■■■■■■■■iiiiniro |j. HH HARVEST CHEQUES WANTED! h | <rf A RARE OPPORrUNITY FOR CASH CUSTOMERS. . | HAVING received a Large Qu«us"s Scotch, West of gnrfjjnd. TWEEDS and WORSTED SUITINGS, ac very much REDUCED PRIOB.S, we p  --=-■ havedecSogive our Oustomera the beaefit of our Barga.a by mak.ng the following GENUINE REDUCTIONS FOR CASH:- „__! MC Scotch an, West of IJjjUg ""^ "^ ST" S" E Me,. Sootc, a D cl W1 of JJXaid'tf^Sf 4 feUITS " meaßUrCl r WH,«DA V J^F.B.--7 P- , M.n'a Colonial Tweed BUITS to meaaure, usual price 80s, reduced to 65a oa«h THURSDAY—Brotherhood of St Andrew Men's Colonial Tweed SUITB to measure, usual price 70s, reduced to 59a.cash -7.30 p.m. M«?s West of England and Worßted TROUSERS to measure, uaual price 27s 6d and FRIDAY -Choir Practice-8 p.m. 30a, reduced to 22s 6d cash 1 , Men'e Weafc of England and Worsted TROUSERS to measure, usual price <Jsa, SUNDAY SERVICES. reduced to 15s 6d cash. burns' PILES OF NEW GOODS TO BELECT FROM. 3 p.m.—Dromore—Mr W. Bowman-Fox. car OUR REPUTATION IS A SUFFICIENT GUARANTEE FOR FIT, | 6.30 p.m.-Evcning Prayer-Mr H.jAlmg *^ UU STYLE, AND WORKMANSHIP. ton. CRAIGHEAD & BERRYMAN, w^x^izr^ Js, IBM LEADING TAILORS AND OUTFITTERS, Aumnmni. JJ,, «M&toK MEN'S AND I BOYS' HATS. HATS. HATS. p*r\ DOZEN FELT HATS ALMOS3J GIVEN AWAY. A GRAND SUCCESS. . MITCHELL & BRODRIBB'S T?ABRTO AND PRINT SALE being such a Grand Success, we have decided to ho" FOR TWO WEEKS, A GREAT HAT SALE. m DOZEN MEN'S. Kf\ DOZEN BOYS'. Men's Soft Felt Hats 2s 6'd ( worth 5s Boys' Soft Felt Hats Is 6d, worth 3s 9d Men's Soft Felt Hats 33 Od, worth 6s M Boys' Soft Felt Hata 2s 6d, worth 4s 9d Men's Soft Fait Hats 4s 6d, worth 7s 6d Men's Soft Felt Hats 5s 6d, worth 8s 9cl Men's Soft Felt Hate 6s 6d, worth 10a 6d Men's Soft Felt Hats 8s 6d, worth 12s Gd . EVERY ARTICLE in 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 balanas of general Drapery will be still further reduced, so as to make a clean sweep before the New Scan's Goods arrive. Priaia, Brilliants, Cambrics from 3s lid per dozen, worth double Flannelettes for Dressing Gowns and Home Blouses 4s lid dozen, half price Trimmed «d untriLmedWs, Aprons, Blouses, Veilings, Ribbons, etc., at half cost BOOTS AND SHOES—the Best value in the trade DON'T FOBGBT THE GREAT HAT SALE AT f MITCHELL & BRODRIBB'S, THE CENTRAL CASH DRAPERY MART,



THE SCHOOLS EXCURSION. In order to enable our staff to take advantage, with their familiep, of the excursion on Thursday, 11th inst., the Guabdian will NOT BE PUBLISHED on that day.



Synopsis op Nbw advertisements,



Fire Brigade-General meeting. Smith Mackwel'—Business notice. T. Bollock— Properties for sale. Hanmer and G-rayes—Sftlp of farewood, March 20. '''"'_ , . j .. ' A P. Williamson—New businea advertise iinwald Town Board—Notice to strike Dr Morris—Notice re change of address. County Council—Tenders fpr suppljes ff|r Ashburt6n Home.



The Tinwald Town Board notified its nteation to strike '» rate tor the yew of ,hrea.farthings iv tht 11.



Newa comes from Boston that John L. Sullivan, the pugilist, is about to lose hia right hand. A cancerous growth on the back of his tremendous fiat—a mass of bone and rau^e that won its owcer close to a mUtio^ dollars-has already folt the knfre of; ths surgeon, and although a strong effort is be ing made to save the hand. the ■ physician holds but little hope. * " v Kbating's Fowdjjr aestroya owgp, fleas, onths, beetles, and all other insects, whilst. quite harmless to doraeetip aniin»lp». Id heettee the snqoeßa of tjils powder' }a extraordinary. It is perfectly rean ia application. See |he article yog purahase ia Keati*o!B, m imifations |r« noxious and ineffectual, Sold ia Una, 61 ( 1| ftn^a fli cMb, by »1 ebißjiett