POST OFFICE NOTICE.

RECORD REIGN HOLIDAYS. MONDAY 2lßt, and WEDNESDAY 23rd, will be observed as partial holidays. On both days the Post and Telegraph Omoe will be open from 8 a.m. till noon only. Mails will be despatched as usual till noon, at which hour mails for the North and South Express will be closed. TUESDAY, the 22ad, will be observed as a close holiday. Hours of attendance—9 a.m. till 10 a.m., and 7 p.m. till 8 p.m, All mails oloae s>t 6.30 a.m. During Jubilee time the New Zealand cable will be open as follows:—Monday and Wednesday morning, 9.30 to noon ; evening, 7to clear. Tuesday morning, 9.30 to clear; evening, 7 to clear. The Telephone Exchange will be open as usual all three days.

DEATH.

Nicholas.—At Temuka, on June 16, of ioflamation of the lungs, Alfred Nicholas, sixth son of Mr George B. and Mary Anne Nicholas; aged 35.

Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16, 1897.

A telegram from Wellington informs us that some of the booksellers the

GRAND ADVERTISEMENT,

in city, but not all, have received notice, inhibiting the sale

of Hume Nesbit'a Novel "The Swampers." The book contains a most galling criticism of Australian people and their manners, and is specially severe on the Sydney residents and certain journals in that city. The editor of one of the Sydney papers, thinly veiled under the name of Guillotine, is called a " puff adder," and it is understood that it ia this gentleman who has taken the very unusual course of endeavoring to stop the sale of the book. He could hardly have taken a more effective means of pushing its sale, and furthering the publication of the libel he complains of. This telegram will be iv the columns of every newspaper in the colony within the next twenty-four hours, aqd before forty-eight iiours have elapsed, as a consequence of the telegram every copy'|o£ ''The Swaaipers" will have been bojighfc up by the public, eager to see what all the trouble is about, and what the novelist has said that has galled to the quick a writer who is not c^hrated for his tender regard for the sensibilities «* other people, That writer has week after w? p-k mercilessly trodden on the toes, and with by i* 0"" nailed boots too, of all and sundry of the public men iv the colony whose sayings or dorngs have not been just what was pleasing tv the eye or ear of the red-covered critic, and some of these public men have squirmed under the infliction. Hume JNesbit has evi dently put on hobnails too, and made a big jump on the toes of the Guillotine, and the " puff adder" tries to bite him by inhibiting the sale of the book. He may as well try to sweep back the ocean with a broom. Hume .Nesbit recently visited Australia with a view to pick up experience of life in the lands under the light of the Southern Gross, and the better to do so made the passage out as a steerage passenger in a sailing vessel.

In an interesting article on the value of asceticism the Spectator remarks that

ASCETICISM.

men have laughed, and will laugh, at the dirty old hermit,

or the lmatic scourgings and frenzied fastings of crazy monks and nuns, but when asceticism has been true and not assumed and paraded, and when it has been joined with piety and nobility of life no race lias been able to resist its attraction. When Oharles 3£II fled into Turkey the Turkish soldiers very soon learnt to regard him as a holy man. It was all very well to say he was only an infidel, but a King who was impervious to love, who drank no wine, who cared nothing for the pleasures of the table, who thought little of money, who lay harder and fan d worse than the common soldier, and who was diligent in his religious observances, was, come what naiaht, a man to be honored and worshipped. Hence, when it came to fighting, the H rce Janissaries would not touch a i hair of Charles's head, and would rattier lose their own lives than harm him. And undoubtedly the Turkish soldiers in a ssnse judged well, Charles's asce ficisnj no doubt gaye him j a power over, and an insight into, men who, not given to asceticism, wave I always in the trough of bodily pleasure He wou'd not have been the magnetic creature he was, the possessor of the true demonic power, unless he had so entirely subdued the longings of the flesh. Tha victory over the senses which he won early in life gave him access to that hill where the air is always .clea? and unclouded, and whencp, laised abovo the throng, one may perceive the scope and order of the cmflict of life. We doub% indeed, whether many really great men—we uo not mean to include the second rate men who haye 1 jet iff a,ceidenfc done great things—in the world of statesmen and rubrs could be named who have been without a certain tough of asceticism, or at anyrate without a comprehension of the assetic stand point. Napo leon is perhaps the greatest exception, for Alexander, though he sometimes dranfcj seemed to his countrymen an ascatie. Be that 9.3 it may, tha ground, o» wbigh HJ»»fei»^,

pays deference to asceticism is clear : enongh. The ascetic is prima facie a i man who has won a victory over powers which ordinary people feel to be so strong and so difficult to eubdue. Ascetici&rn is not, ac tome people seem to believe, an acceptable form of reparation for sin, but in spite of that, and though it must take lower ground, it has a distinct value, and so a real place on the world's stage.

Local and General.

It is stated that pigeons have been shot in hundreds in Otago and allowed to rot in the bush.

Included in the cargo shipped from Fort Chalmers by the cargo steamer Waikato, were 50,000 frozen rabbi's.

In the (Jhristchurch factory district 1300 more people are now employed in the same industries than in May, 1890.

Manawatu sawmillers have^ been trying etaam engines instead of bullocks for log hauling. They find the former pay best.

The population of Victoria at the end of March was 1,169,807, being 5081 less than {at the close of 1396.

As part of the scheme for giving work to the unemployed, the New South Wales Government has let contracts totalling over £20,000.

It is stated that there will be nearly 1000 sacks of maize exported this season by the natives living between Taurangaaad Kati kati.

Thousandsof sheep, owing to the continued drought, are being trucked to the south, from Oamaru, where there is abundance of grass and a heavy turnip crop*

Last month 1052 persons arrived in the colony and 1578 left, as against 1060 and 1600 respectively for the correiponding period of the previous year.

The Invercargill Borough Council have asked Mr Job Oaborne for an estimate of the cost of putting down a6oott bore, to test the water bearing strata beneath the town.

In a letter to the Feilding Star, Mr Owen Pleaaants asserts that the wool from his Lincolns has sold at a penny a pound higher for the last two years than from the Romnay-Linooln cross.

The Union Steamship Company has already conveyed, free of charge, over 100 tons of produce intended to relieve the wants of the sufferers by the Hawke's Bay floods.

Some excellent silage has been made from maize at North Casino, New South Wales. Cattle take kindly to the new food, which is said to increase the flavor of milk consider ably.

A man who was sentenced to seven days' hard labor at Wanqanui a few days ago for stealing a waistcoat, only recently received a sum of £120 from hie friends at home. He is well connected, and is in receipt of regular remittances.

One or two Masterton parents who object to the system of writing-—Vere Foster's— recently introduced into the local aohool, have supplied their children with copy books according to their owe ideas of what caligraphy should be. The books, however, have been rejected by the headmaster. The Wellington City Council has finally passed a by-law regulating bioyeje traffic, and restricting the rate ot speed to eight milos an hour, and four round corners. The Tourists Club wanted ten miles and five miles, but the amendment was lost by one vote.

At a meeting of the South Canterbury Hospital and Charitable Aid Board on Tuesday the Secretary read the copy of a letter written to Bob Fiixsimmons, <c Champion Boxer of the World," requesting him to contribute to the support of his aged parents, and suggesting 30s a month, and a copy of a letter to the Editor of the San Francisco Examiner, enclosing the former, requesting him to complete the addiewi and forward it to FitKiirnmona, and appealing to the Editor's generosity to supply the necessary American p /stage stamp It whs said the son in Timaru has a very large family and cannot wholly support the old people. A telegram from Hokitika says that Mr VV, Harper, an old resident of & nieri, was found dead ip b,ed on Tuesday morning. Smoke was observed poming from the house where deceased lived by himself. The neighbours went in and found Mr Harper apparently suffocated. It appears that he must have been reading in bed and fallen asleep, leaving the oapdie burning on a box beside him, **& the oandle burning down, ihe box took lire and the' Smoke suffocated him. Flames were ascending the wall when the neighbours entered. Deceased was about sixty yeava of age and greatly respected. la various ways the circus differs to-day from that of the past, but the ring remains unchanged ; it is always forty-two feet nine iuuhos in diameter. Go where you will, search the world from China to Peru, with diverging trips to the ftpsty Caucasus and the desert of Sahara, and never a circus will you find without a ring forty-two feet nine inches in diameter. There is a reason for this remarkable uniformity. Circus riders and circus horses are nomadic ; wher ever their wanderings bring them they must find the ring always the same else they will be disturbed in their performance, if not really rendered incapable. Trained to the forty-two feet nine inch ring the horse and his rider have grown used worn, one might say to the ring which the radius of twenty one feet and a given speed produce. The mound on the oircuniierense of' tfte ring always has on the inside a bevel, so to speak, of earth, at the same angle as that into which radius and speed throw the driver. As for speed, that, after the horse has gone round two or three times and warmed to his

work, is the same through the act. In fact a strap generally holds his head so that he cannot get beyond a certain pace. The ringmaster snaps his whip, the clown shouts, the band plays louder and louder j bub the horse knows just how much this empty chow means, and jogs on at the old paoe until, with the last jump through a tiesue balloon, the act is ended.

4fc Auckland on Monday, before hit Honour Mr Justice Oonolly, in Chambers, two application)!' wer.e made on behalf of the p'aintff in the casts Richard John Seddon v G. Hannah, claims JBSCQ'and £6480, for alleged fraudulent evasion of Customs duties, which were set down, for the poming sittings. Mr Cooper applied fpr a postponement of the trial, and afao for a special jury. He Boated that the prosecu tion had been unable to procure a person to translate a number of documents in Arabic and Syrian bearing on the case, and that a material witness was absent in Wellington. Mr Campbell, who appeared for the defen dant, strongly objected], and submitted that when bringing an Action of this kind the Crown should have such evidence as would justify its course. The Crown should first have con idered what effect the charges would have. Mr Campbell read an ob jection to the postponement, in which it was claimed that the bringing of the charges bad damaged the defendant's business, thaji delay ( V7Q»ld only make it worse, and that the documents ip Arabic or Syuan did not seriously affect' the case. His Honour pointed out that the affidavits filed showed the most important documeuts wore in those languages, |n explanation Mr Cooper said thajb thep was a djtsp^e as to which were the true documents. M> Campbell aßked his Honour if he did not thiuk the Onswn should not have com menced the action without farther con r sideration, but hia Honour replied that he could nob say. There might have been a reason for summary proceedings. His Honour adjourned the cases to the July sittings, and a special jury was agreed to by Mr Campbell, &2 ga gosts being allowed in each case to the defendant. 6£r Qampbell asked if the bail might not now be given up. His Honour, however, said he could make no o;4sr io that matter.

From six to seven hundred people oa an average use the Wellington Library daily. The Alameda with the English and American main arrived at Auckland this morning.

During the thunderstorm on Friday the tnp of a large tree on Mr Thomas Bell 1* property, at the Bailer, was set on fire by lightning.

The Marlborough local bodies are con ferring as to the best means of coping with the *mall biids peat simultaneously through out the district.

The Oamaru Mail again refers to the con sistent manner in which the shipping com panies ignore the local port in favour of Timaru.

A movement is on foot in Brunnerton to erect a monument over the miners who were kiiled by the disaster ot last year, and £120 haß been subscribed for the purpose.

It is stated that Government surveyorß are at present engaged laying off the pro* posed railway line from the Anderson Road (Eltham) inland through to Auckland.

A white kiwi—a rara avis— has been brought up to Wellington from Martin's Bay by the Hinemoa It is an exceptionally handsome b rd, and has attracted consider able attention.

In a divorce case which has been com menced in Melbourne, the husband being the petitioner, a boy from Dr Barnado's homes, London, has been named as co-respondent,

Mr Jas. Allen, ot Dromore, leaves on Saturday next per "Te Anau " for a trip to the North Island ; after many years hard work and close attention to business, a few weeks' travel andjfreedom will be appreciated. As a travelling companion he will have Mr E. T. Matson, who for some years has been on the staff of Mr D. Thomas. No doubt his month's leave will do him good.

The Western Star reports the arrival of a craft from the mutton bird islands with the Riverton and Colao Bay contingent, which comprised seventeen families, numbering fifty, individuals. The Natives report that the birds were exceedingly numerous this season and in splendid con dition The catch of each individual, young and old, may be taken at the fair average of 1500 birds or a total of 75,000 for the whole of the families. The average price is about 3d a bird, so that the season's operations, when the birds are all sold, represents a total of £937 10s. Two Biver ton girls are said to have made a record catch, taking 4200 birds between them.

Writing to a friend in Christchurch, an ex-New Zealander, now at the Cape, de scribes the great meeting held at Capetown at the end of March to protest against Mr Schreiner's evidence before the Transvaal Raid Commission. Mr Schreiner had spoken as representing British colonial feeling at the Cape, and said that " colonists did not resent the apathy of the Home Government im upholding the Convention " (the London Convention with the Transvaal). The meeting was held fco confirm the contradic tions of this statement which had been cabled Home. Ib was attended by 2000 peop'e, and half as many were turued away The gathering was a most enthusias tic one, and at one point of the proceedings the audience rose to their feet and " sang 1 Rule Britannia' with glorious emphasis." The main resolution of the evening—" That Mr Schreiner did noc represent British colonial feeling in this colony, and that this meeting strongly urges on the Home Govern ment the necessity for firmly upholding the London Convention"—was carried unani mously, but for four people in the body of the hall, " who soon after made their way out." Similar meetings were held in every town of any importance in the colony, " and it is believed," says the writer, •• that; this was the great thing the Home Government desired, vig., that their hands should be strengthend in some such way as this. Since then, I hear on good authority, the cable has been kept almost continually engaged on a discussion between Pretoria and Downing street, and the result is that our cable Dews is very scanty, as one oable is out of order.'

Holloway's Ointment and [Pills.—Those who have given these remedies a fair trial freely admit that they inherently possess every kroporty suitable for healing and removing erup'ions, ulcerationa, plies, »b ---oesstfl, sores, bad legs, gathered breasts, and all disorders of the glandular system. When carefully rubbed in the ointment relaxes the swollen muscles, diminishes in flamation, assuages pain, and even alleviates dangerous maladies, which may have iaated for months, or even years. Hoiloway's excellent preparations are effective singly, resistless in combination, and have been recommended by grateful patients to be re sorted to as alternatives when all other means of regaining health have failed. Their action is temperate, not violent or reducing.

FOOTBALL

Press Association—By Electric Telegraph

Wellington, June 15

Pauling, of Wellington, one of the for wards selected to tour Australia with the New Zealand team, is unabje to obtain the necessary leave.

The following will represent the Waterloo Football Club against the Borough School to-morrow, on the Borough Bchqol grounds, at 3 p.m. ;—B. Kerr, E. Cbllda, T. Nolan, W. Kerr, A. Qatea,B. Moriarty, J. Stephens, J. McUee, G. Thomas, P. Thomas, W. Berg, O. Sando, P. O'Connor, H. Cookson, G. Cates. Emergencies —H. Hopkins, g. Thomas, W. Childs.

SPORTING.

HAWKE'S BAY JQCKEY CLUB.

DIAMOND JUBILEE MEETING,

Press Association—By Electric Telegraph Napier, June 15. The following acceptances have been received :— Havre's Bay Hubdles, of 200 soya. Two

Plug Hawkb's Bay Steeplechase Handicap, of | About

CABLE NEWS.

Home and Foreign.

Association—By Electric Telegraph- Copyright.

Remounts for the Army

Lond n, June 14

The Commission despatched by the War Office to the Argentine Republic to pui chase remounts for the Army is experiencing great difficulty in obtain ing suitable horses. Five per cent, cf the animals offered have been passed. The remainder were rejected on the ground of unsoundness, chiefly defec tive eyesight.

Australian.

Discontent in Fiji

Sydnry, June 15

Late reports 3tate that great discon tent prevails in Fiji over the appoint ment by the Imperial Government of a Sheriff and Superintendent of Police. It is regarded as an unwarrantable interference with the internal affairs of the colony. I Obituary. The death is announced of Arch deacon Piddington, of Tamworth, » prominent Churchman.

City of Melbourne Bank. Melbourne, June 15 i The Oity of Melbourne Bank de ' dares another dividend of Is in the £, Credit Fonder Bonds. Tenders for £17,000 worth of Credit- Foncier Bonds have been opened. The public subscribed £14,500 and the Savings Bank the balance.

THE GLENBROOK MURDERS.

Trial of Butler

Second Day of Trial

Press Association—By Electric Telegraph— Copyright.

Sydney, June 15

The Oourt was again densely packed. The evidence for the Crown was not finished to-day.

Wolft, a dealer, identified Butler as the man from whom he purchased a sea chest containing books, a revolver, and other belongings of Weller and his wife. The Superintendent of the Sailors' Home, Newcastle, swore that Butler was the man who, under the name of Weller and on the strength of Weller's master's certificate, shipped on the Swanhilda.

Other witnesses identified Butler as the individual who made arrangements with Weller and others to go prospect ing.

Detective Roche detailed the events of the arrest and the voyage to San Francisco. He re-affirmed Butler's statements that if he had known he was suspected he wou'd have wrecked the Swanhilda, or shot the police when they attempted to arrest him, and then himself. He intended to swim ashore at San Francisco, but the water was too rough. With reference to Butler's attempts at suicide, he told the witness that while lying in the county gaol, while the officers were playing cards, he made a wound in his wrist with his thumb nail, but failed to strike a vein. He afterwards made two wounds in his temple by similar means. He subsequently said he made the wound with a nail taken from the wall. After he returned to Sydney he informed the witness that a bag; containing a quantity of Weller's letters and papers was at the Redfern luggage office The bag and its contents had been recovered.

Counsel for the defence searchingly cross-examined Roche with the view of showing that he freely supplied Butler with whisky, and gave the Sydney pressmen special opportunities for interviewing him with the object of obtaining confessions.

Roche denied this, and said he simply supplied necessary stimulants, and complied with Butler's wishes as to interviewing.

The evening papers are responsible for the statement that amongst the spectators in Oourt is a woman with a daughter, seventeen years old, claiming to be Butler's wife. At the time of the marriage Butler was an American citizen and had considerable property, which he squandered.

THE PREMIERS IN LONDON,

Press Association — By Electric Telegraph Copyright.

Lqndon, June H.

At the barquet the Duke of Devon shire said that for twenty-five years

England had treated West Africa in accordance with the parliamentary suggestions of select Committees. They had di covered, perhaps too late, the value of that territory, but were reap ing the frjjits of a wiser policy in the Canadian tariff, which was a long step towards a closer commercial connection' and showed the success of federation, an example he hoped the other colonies would follow.

Sir Hugh Nelson suggested that the English manufacturers shquld procure the raw products from the colonies instead of from foreign countries.

Speaking during the discussion on the Duke of Devonshire's address at the Liverpool Ohamper of Commerce, Mr Laurier said if the existing British commercial treaties applied to Canada, Canada must retreat, or Great Britain advance. The solution of the difficulty rested with Great Britain.

Sir George Turner said the colonies were anxious to enter into an equitable bargain with the Mother Country, centreing the whole trade in Great Britain.

Mr &sddon said the way to encour age interrEmpire trade was fqr the Government to subsidise steamers, so reducing freights arid preventing foreigners underselling British goods owing to their receiving State sub sidies.

Sir JL M' Nelson said England would some day find the coloaial sugar industry ruined. ' She then would be -it the mercy of foreigners, Mr Kingston spoke on the lines of his recent speech at Leeds.

ALLEGED SHEEP STEALING.

(Before Me-srs Donald Williamson, T. B Upton, Adam Jackson, and W. H, Rule, Justices of (he Peace.)

Edward Wiggins waa charged with having stolen twenty-seven sheep, the property of Thomas Kcrneen. Mr Cm hbertson appeared for accused Sergeant Bailow conducted tho prosecution. He called

Thomas Kerneen, who said he was a farmer at Newlands, and in March last bought from Thomas Sprott 150 ewes, which he took to his own farm at Newlands, and placed them in a paddock securely fenced. (Jaunted ihem on April 3, when the sheep 1 were all there. Counted them again on April 9, when twenty-seven were ehorr. The ewes were second-cross Lincoln-merino, branded in witness's brand (XT with a bat under) in blue on the near shoulder. The earmark was a tip off, left ear with a notch underneath. There were no other earmarks. The Bheep outside the Court were his sheep, and were some of the sheep he had lost, but they had been re-branded—a blotch over his brand, and a notch had been added to the earmark, the addition not being quite healed. On June 3 advertised the lot-s of bis sheep in the local papers. Acouaed had some land at Pendarves, and witness was there on Jnne 7. Saw some of the lost sheep there in a paddock, which appeared to be securely fenced. Caught the sheep and had a look at them. The same morning saw accused at Newlands, and told him he had come to see about some sheep he had lost,, and accused got all his sheep into the yard, but none of them were witness's. Asked him to go with him to Peadarvea, but) he said he could not go that day, as he had ft visitor coming. Replied to him that he must come, but he refused to come without twenty-four hours' notice, which witness then gave him verbally. Next day about' four o'clock witness and two constables reached Pendarves, and found accused there. Picked out twenty-three sheep belonging to witness from the sheep of accused—twenty two ewes and one wether. They all bore the same earmark except the wether, which bore Mr Sprott's earmark. The wether broke in amongst the ewes at Sprott's, and witness did not know he had it till he.got them up to the paddock. Sold fifty of the sheep bought from Mr Bprott to Mr James Clucas, Fairfield. Had no doubt at all about the identity of the sheep outside the Court, and had never given any one ' authority to take them away. Valued them at 10a each.—Mr I utfabertson did not cross examine the witness.

Hugo Friedlander, merchant, said he knew accused, and his firm held a bill of sale over accused's sheep. The brands mentioned in the bill of sale are EW with a bar on top cot conjoined, and another with the letters conjoined. Henry Sprott, farmer, Pendarves, said that at the ram and ewe fair in 1896 he bought 850 sheep, Laghmor ewes, and took them home to Pendarves. Sold 150 of them to Kerneen (the last witness). When witness bought them they wore the Laghmor ear mark. Did not re-earmark them. Made the sale to Kerneen in March last; they were three-quarter-bred-—at anyrate more than half, with a good deal of Lincoln in them.

The sheep outside answer to the description of the sheep sold by him, as to breed and branding, with the exception of an alteration to the earmaiks, which appeared to have been freshly done. Was not prepared to swear that the sheep were Kerneen's because he had sold 300 from the L&ghmor purchase through Fried Under Bros, at auction, Ihe weclur outside had his earmark, but it had been recently tampered with to make it look like the Laghmor mark. Duncan McMillan, shepherd, Laghmor, said he had been shepherding at Lighmor since 1884. The sheep outside the Court bore the earmarks and Belling mark of the Laghmor estate. Was at the ram and ewe fair held atTinwald, March 19, 1896, when Sprott bought the line of ewes he spoke of in bis evidence. The sheep outside answer the description of those bought by Sprott ou that occasion. Sprott's purohase was a line of 854. This year the estate bad sold 10,000 of various ages. The wether among the sheep outside the Court bore the proper wether earmark of the estate, but other poopie in the district used the same earmark. Constable Jackson- corroborated the evidence of Kerneen as to the visit to accused's place at Pendarves. Accused said he was welcome to look round as there were no strangers on it; but ou the way to the yards he said "To tell you the truth there are a few strangers here." Accused produced his brand E.M. conjoined with a bar under. Found several sheep branded W.E. not conjoined with a bar over, and several were branded over other brands, Accused said the ewes pic^d out by Kerneen bore his earmarks but not his brand ; they ware not his property aud he did not know to whom they belonged. Called accused to one aide, aud in the presence of Constable Moore read the search warrant which gave witness power to arrest accused, who denied the charge; and added that he never branded or ear marked any sheep in the yards at Fendarves, but had recently branded and marked fifteen lambs in his yards at Newlands. At Newlands accused pointed out the yards where he said he had branded the lambs. Took possession of the tar pot, the contents of which or some similar composition bad been used for branding. Constable Moore corroborated Constable Jaokson^s evidence. Witness produced twenty-throe cuttings of sheep's ears found by him in accused's yt»j?d at Newlanda. Richard Cook, farmer, Newlands, said he lived about a mile from accused's place at Newlands. On May 23 met a small mob of sheep on the road and put them into hit yards. The sheep were the same aa those outside the Court, only they were not erutched &t the time. Sent to Wiggins, whose brand they bore, and he came and

took them away the same day. The ear marks were quite fresh. Tbe only brand he knew Wigginß to use for sheep was E W nob conjoined; with bar on top. The other brand ME conjoined with bar under,'witness had seen on bags, but not on sheep, W. T. Kingston, blacksmith, said that in October, 1895, he made a brand for Wiggins E W not conjoined, with bar above. In January, 1896, he brought this brand back to get altered or another made. He wanted the letters conjoined, but as it waß easier to make a new one witness did so, and Wiggins took both brands away. Thought some of the sheep outside bore the first brand he made.

R. P. Holderness, Inspector of Stock in the Canterbury district, said that in 1895 an application for a brand E W with a bar had been made to the department. Registered for one Wiggins, at Newlands, a brand ME conjoined with bar under. Witness also produced Wiggins' earmark?. Constable Eade also gave evidence as to the picking up of the earcuttings of sheep at the Pendarves and Newlanda yards of accused, and also that the fences of the farms were sheep proof. The Bench committee} accused for trial.

SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Hampstead.

The monthly meeting of the Hampstead School Committee wa3 held on Monday evening. Present—Messrs Crooks (chair man), A. Andrews, Mcßao, Hardy, Sage, and Lawria. RECOED KEIGN. A circu ar wfts deceived from the Board of Education with suggestions dor celebrating the Record Reign. Mr Brock (the, headmaster), who was present, said they could not expect the lady teachers to take part in a street pro cession, but himself and the second master would assist to marshal pie children, and he understood the Procession Committee would send six volunteers to assist. It transpired that several of the School Committee were connected with various associations taking part in the demonstration, and on the raotion of Mr Lawrie, a ballot was tiken for four committee men to assist with the children, and Messrs Strange, Andrews, Mcsßae, and Hardy were elected for the duty. ■' ■ ■'■ v ; I The Chairman of the Convalescent Ward Committee asked for the return at an early date of moneys subscribed for this purpose. The Secretary stated that no subscriptions had been received, and was directed to reply to this effect. A price list of S*gs for use' in" the 1 procession wa3 received from Phristcburbh, and it ww resolved if any Were ppe4ed tg ob^o then* in Aubburtoo,

MASTER'S REPORTS.

This report showed the number on roll to be 408j average attendance, 356 The attendance waß not considered sufficient as compared with the number on the roll, and ii was decided to serve notices on the partutß of the bad attenders, and prosecute them if necessary. VISITING COMMITTEE. Measrs Lawrie and Strange were appointei a Visiting Committee, and were requested to have a fence rep tired and other •mall matters attended to. HOLIDAY. It wai decided to give holidays on Monday and Tuesday, the 21st and 22nd. ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to £3 0a 3i were passed, and the master submitted a state ment of the accounts in connection with the Hobby Show. There were one or two re turns of tickets yet to come in, and the gross receipts amounted to £63. After paying off the whole liability on the piano, and all expenses connected with the show, there would be a balance for school put poses of £35. On the motion of Mr Lawrie, it was decided to deposit the balance at in ereat for six months with the Ashburton Building Sooiety. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the master, teachers, and all other friends who had lent their assistance, or contributed gifts or loans of articles of value and interest, and to the general public for their liberal patronage. Ihe meeting then adjourned.

THE LATEST.

Some and Foreign.

Prims Association—By Bleotrio Telegraph-'* Copyright.

Received Wakapuaka June 16,10,10 a.m., Guardian Office, 11.20 ».m. Suicide of a Millionaire.

London, June 15

News has been received of the suicide of Barney Barnato, the well known South African millionaire. He was a passenger from Capetown to England, and when the steamer was at Funchal, in Madeira, he threw himself overboard. The body was recovered but life was extinct. He had been in failing health for some time past.

N.Z. Students.

A meeting in connection with the British Empire Trade League was held in Edinburgh, the Colonial Premier! being present. The Australian and New Zealand students at the Edin burgh University assembled on the platform, and the New Zealand section greeted Mr Seddon with the Maori war cry.

Masonic Honours.

Ohief Justice Way, of South Aus tralia, has been elected Past Grand Warden of the United Grand Lodge of Freemasons of England. He availed himsnlf of the opportunity to present the Prince of Wales a joint address of congratulation with the Queen's, from the Masonic Grand Lodges of South Australia, new South Wa'ea, Victoria, Tasmania, and New Zealand.

The Earthquake in India.

Calcutta, June 15 The earthquake experienced at Calcutta aJso afflicted Simla, Agra, and Bombay, A terriffic ohock was felt at Darjeeling where many houses were destroyed* At Manipur large fissnres opened in the ground causing railway bridges to collapse, and in consequence the railway service was stopped. In Bengal a train was overturned.

More Native Outrages.

Capetown, June 15 From Vryburg, British Bechuana land, it is reported that 500 rebe natiyea attacked a police force at Mashowing, killing six. Volunteers have been sent from Vryburg to relievo the police.

Annexation of Hawaii. Washington. June 15.

A treaty is being submitted to the Senate which provides for the annex ation of Hawaii by the United States. Under the treaty proposed America will settle a form of government in the Islands and assume the Hawaiian public debt and secure the crown lands and the approval of foreign relations. The approval of the Senate is reported to be assured. *.

The Faure Sensation.

Paris, June 15

The attempted assassination of M. Faure is believed to have been either the act of a madman or a hoax.

Australian.

Press Association—By Electric Telegraph- Copyright.

Received Wakapuaka June 16, 10.20 a.m, Giiaiidjan Office, i; 30 a.m. queeiislaml Parliament.' Brisbane, June 16. Parliament was opened at noon Jft terday by the Governor in the pre« U ice of a brilliant gathering. In the Amenably the acting Premier stated that the first Bill to be considered would provide for tbe representation of the colony at the Federal Conven tion. The Council adopted a congratu latory address to the Queen.

Release of Prisoners. j The Acting Premier is communicat ing with the other colonies on the question of an amnesty being granted to long sentence prisoners on the occasion of the Jubilee, Duke of Devonshire. The Marine Board Enquiry found t!)»t the steamer Puke of Devonshire struck an uncharted rock near Thurs day Island. The weather and sea were rough at the time, and the vessel failed to answer her helm properly. The pilot was absolved from all blame. Steamer Disabled. The frozen meat steamer Moray shire from London has been towed into Keppel Bay with a broken shaft. Iree Trade. "■' " ■'' Adelaide, June Ig. An influential association haa bees formed to promote free $rade,

THE WAR IN THE EAST.

Press Association—By Electric Telegraph. Copyright. Received Wakapuaka June 16,, 9.60 a m,, Guabbian office 10.10 a.m. London, June 15 The Vienna correspondent of Tks 7ime§ etates.that the Porte is disposed to accept a rectification of the frontier of Thessaly instead of insisting upon the claim to the entire territory. Th« Foreign Embassies are inconsed at the Sultan appealing to Russia and, Qer miny to assist htm in retaining Thesasly, They Qdnsidgf thu wijj jateri«re with the peao« »egotj»tipai 1

THE ABHBOBTON GtJARDIANf: WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16, 1897.











Business Notices, "TTT7 E ARE NOW OFFERING THE FOLLOWING SPECIAL LINES, BOUGHT AT A BIG DISCOUNT, BEING A WAREHOUSEMAN'S CLEARING LINJs.B. k large Line of DRESS GOODS, including Tweeds, Meltons, and Serges ■ r to be cleared at 6? lid, Dress length or a Costume made complete for 20s. 5 pieces Striped Flannelette Skirting to be cleared at U 3d, skirt length. 6 boxes Velveteen in Brown-grenat, Myrtle, and Navy, to be cleared at Is 4£d per yard. A large line Ladies' Holland and Fancy Aprons, all at Is each. Children's Muslin Pinafores at Is each. A line Ladies' Black Straw Bats at 6d each. ASHBURTON IJTIAPERY COY. JOHN TAYLOR (LATE MANAGER FOR MESSRS REID AND GRAY) -mm* TO ANNOUNCE TO THE FARMERS OF ASHBURTON COUNIY, B that he has opened Premise in West Street, Ashburton, adjoining^ Messrs F. ™f H Steel Coachbuildera, where he intendg catrying on business as AGENT FOR vww SUPPLY OF AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS, made by the undermentioned firms Having acquired a large experience from his earliest days in the manufacture ff AgricSturaf Implements in some of the leading shops at Home as well as in the fJolonv he is in a position to know the most approved implements of the day both for the cultivation of the soil and for handling its produce. T» nrd«i. to nrovide this supply he has obtained the appointment of AGENT FOR MESSRS BOOTH MACDONALD AND COMPANY, OARLYLE WORKS, rmttSTfiRUROH whose Ploughs, Disc Harrows, Cultivators, Windmills, Rollers, Wool Presses.Straw Baling Presses, etc., eto., are now well-known throughout the Australian Colonies for their superiority in every respect. He intends keeping a good mDDIv of the above machinery and implements, as well as extras, so aa to be able to supply with promptness the needs of his customers. Hp ha* also been appointed AGENT FOR MESSRS ANDREWS AND BEAVEN, CANTERBURYMACHINE WORKS, CdRISTCHURCH, whose Chaff-cutting MadiLery and Duplex Bagge.s, Corn Crushes, Seed Cleaners, are now so well-known aaauiinery »uu think of buying an imported machine where one of theirs supplied with, as well aa extraß for all wearing parts. H« has also been appointed AGENT FOR MR A. H. ANDERSON'S AVELING AND PORTER'S TRACTION ENGINES AND MACHINERY, and is authorised to Sve quotations, and to do business on his behalf for the sale and repairing of Engines, etc., etc. The advertiser trusts that by constant attention to business, and to the wants of the public, and with reasonable charges, he will menb a share of public patronage. WEST STREET, ASHBURTON. 6 25 ■ EX S.S. MATATUA. Tira HAVE MUCH PLEASURE IN ANNOUNOINO THE W ARKIVAL OF OUR MIDWINTER SHIPMENTS, Six Cases being just to hand from the above steamer. THE SHIPMENT COMPRISES— ONE CASE Ladies' Black Cashmere HOSE, very heavy makes, j$E CASE Is 4d, Is 6d, Is lOd ONE OASE Ladies' Black and Tan KID GLOVES, bought at a row DASE large discount. Children's Tans—4 Button, Tans, 2s 6i ; 4 Domes, Tans, 2s lid ; 4 Domes, Black, 2s lid TWO OASES IRISH LTNEN GOODS, straight from the Liaburn WO OASES Mills. Some beautiful embroidered PILLOW WO UAbttS B^lAMg KD> BAGSf HANDKERCHIEFS, &c Among these good^ now on view in our windows /-\NE OA.STC FLANBLLETTESand MOLLETONS. Special lines V/NE OASE in white and creme ONE CASE Ladies' and Children's BOOTS and SHOES, specially NE CASE made for us by our Leicester Manufacturer mELREE OASES Passage LINOLEUMS to open shortly. New designs; JL all widths.



MITCHELL & TURNER.



•OOR FIRST-CLASS BICYCLES At lowest prices; TjV)R THE BEST & CHEAPEST TYRSS IN CANTERBURY; XpOR GUARANTEED REPAIRS | At lowest charges, J GO TO THE : ECLIPSE CYCLE WORKS,! BARING SQUARE, Ashburtou. BIDE THE" ECLIPSE HUMBEE, The Best Wearing and Lightest Running Machine in Australasia. Per Gent longer C4uarantee than other makea. A. CARSON, G. H. CARSON, Business manager. Works manager. gOLE AGENTS in Ashburton for the Royal Enfield-the English Championship machine* ___ ASHBURTON POULTRY, PIGEON, AND CANARY SOCIETY. fTIHB ANNUAL EXHIBITION X ' WILL BE HELD IN THE ODDFELLOWS' HALL ON FRIDAY & SATURDAY, JULY 2 & 3, 1897. By permission of the Colonial Secretary, A GRAND ART UNION Will be held in connection with the Show. Tickets Is each, with admittance to Show. To be obtained of the Secretary. EDWARD STEPHENS, Hon. Sec. Art Union, or fi. A. ROBOTTOM, | JS Uw> S«o« poultry aoui'^y.



THE NEW ZEALAND Clothing Factory. SPECIAL LINES. MFN'S WATERPROOF COATS, Newest Patterns, all Sewn Seams, 29a 6d, 32s 61, 35i, 39a 6d. MEN'S ALL WOOL TWEED OVER COATS, 255, 32a 6d, to 45a. YOUIHS' ALL WOOL TWEKD OVER COATS, 19a 61, 255, to 355. BOYS' Do. 8s 6d, 10a 6d, to 21s. BOYS' NAVY SERGB SAILOR SUITS. Fib Boy two years, from 10* 6d Fit Boy four years, from 11s B"it Boy bix years, from 12s Fit Boy eight years, from 13a Fit Boy tea years, from 14a With extra collar, flannel front, cord and I whistle. BOY* 1 ALL WOOL TWEED GUARD SUITS. Fit Boy four years, from 9a 6d Fit Boy six years, from 10s 6d Fib Boy eight years, from 11s 6d lib Boy ten years, from 12s 6d Parents wanting good strong wearing Suits for the Boys would do well to inspect our largo stock. Boys' Blue Serge Tarn Caps from !s fco 3s 9d Boys' Serge Cap 3 from 6d to }a 9d See our All Wool Tweed, for Boys' sghool wear, at la lid per yard. We .carry a large Btock of British & Colonial | BOOTS AID SHOES. Inspection Invited, HALLENSTEItf BROS. & CO. A. G. BARTON, Manager. "TTTANTED Known, Inspect FLETCHER VV Bros' show of Crockery, etc., suit able for presents before going eiaowherfi. £t will pay you.—Fletcher Bros., Cash Supply • Stores. JUKT LANDED — A High-class Rid Glove, four studs, all colors; price 4s. Fu !y equal to aaaal 5a 6d equality.—W. H



Church Services. ST. STEPHEN'S CHURCH Aehburton. WEDNESDAY-G.FS., and Choristers' Practice, 7.30 p.m. THURSDAY—SpeciaI meeting of all communicants !o form "St. Stephen's Guild "--in the schoolroom at 7 30 p.m. FRIDAY -'•lsorfc service, 7.30 p.m.; Choir Practice, 8 p.m SUNDAY, JUNE 20. Queen's Accession Day. 8 30.—Holy Communion. 11 a.m.—Special Thanksgiving Service in commemoration of Her Majesty's Accession to the throve and recording the 60th anniversary of her long and happy reign. 2.4s.—Children'* service 3 p.m.—DROMORE, Mr T. A. Gates. 6.3o.—Thanksgiving service •' 11 seats free (exceps those reserved for City Councillors and Volunteers). Forms of service provided free, Offertories in aid of the " Convalescent Ward." REV* T. A. HAMILTON.



Just a minute I This may mean pound in your pJQck'et. ' Knowledge ja t>o^erjjii kpgw what to do at the 1 right Cime sfcre&gthftmsj reputation, people reppecjb and speak 'about yofii f t pr instance, a sensible person that has » bid or co!| immediately goes to the grocer or cherßiat and buys a bottle of Woods' ijreat Pepper mint Cure, for the simple reason that he knows it will put him and bi» family all rigbV " " ' J»SS



When moat needed it if not unusual for your family physician to be away from home. Such was the experience of Mr J. Y. Schenck, editor of the Caddo, Ind. Ter., Banner^ when hia little girl, two years of age, was threatened with a severe attack of croup. He saya : 'My wife insisted that I go for the doctor, but aa our family physician was out of town I purchased a bottle of Chamber'ain'a Cough Remedy, which relieved her immediately. I will not be 1 without it in the future.' For sale by Ashburton Drug Company; The weather prophets predict that the long 6ne dry spell which we have had will be followed by a very wet and severe winter. The one thiDg needful foj: protection against the elements of suph a winter is a really good reliable waterproof goat or cloak. We are assured that Messrs praighead and Berryman have bepome fanioua for their well known brand of winter clothing, which has hitherto given such satisfaction, and in anticipation of a still larger sale for these | goods, this season they are now showing probably the largest stock of waterproof tweed, serge, and melton overcoats ever exhibited in They are also supplying l»d(W and gentlemen's water proof cloaks and coats to measure at ready made | prices. Every garment guaranteed thoroughly waterproof. (Three months trial, '4 defective money returned). AH wobj lining*—keeping jfye wearers alwaja warm andT dry—sewn throughout with strong nilkj ventilated and every improve ment ""up r to date."—A'DVX. ' "■:' You haye puingd your consti ution Buflioiently by drinking inferior teas ? recpuit by drinking only Kozie Tea, it is pun?e and reliabje.—JqUb Orf & Co. t Bole 4geate,



Many Ladies complain that the T«ft they have been using has neither strength nor gavor. If they try J£q?ih Tea they *rHI be iftbtiftsO, Ery tbe Kg 4at 8/4, til wptft ..