DEATH.

Houston.—On July 14th, at his residence, Winchmore, Jamks Samuel Houston, farmer. Aged 66 years.

Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. THURSDAY, JULY 15, 1897. JAPANESE MANUFACTURES.

Recently the Hawaiian people made * movement in the direction of re stricting Japanese immigration to their islands Recently, too, the people of some of the Australian colonies were greatly exercised in view of a possible invasion of their country by Japanese labor. Recently, also, the Japanese Consul who some weeks ago arrived in Sydney on the avowed mission of push ing Japanese trade in the Australia?, gave ih^s assurance that there was no hL'olihooct of Japanese emigration of an exteiSSive character directing its oourse to Australia. This aswanea is one for which we hardly know whether to be thankful or otherwise. It is a problem yet to be solved whe ther it would be better to hasre the Japanese amongst us competing with us on our own ground, or have to com pete in our own markets agajnst the products of their industry in their own country. Japan is another of the ext"*oldJ nary developments of the nineteenth C^ivr7> bufc a 8 7 et *° h*Vf only seen in these .?*«*«*? * £ ew. of the things she has for sale. . fans, an odd consignment or so 01 things that are pretty as some tastes accept prettiness, but nothing likely to disturb the market of the tailor, the bootmaker, the cutler, the sadler, the watchmaker, the cabinet maker, and the whole host of artificers whose handiwork supplies the stock-in-trade of the general storekeeper. But these are coming. The Jap is a being of simple tastes in his own country. He can live and does live on the food which his farmers the rice growers pro duce, and imports but little indeed in the way of food. This says a good deal for him, and more than can he said for the British Islands, where, with a population equally large, and an area of land somewhat larger, a mar ket for food stuffs is aftorded to the whole world. The Jap has none of the labor legislation wo possess—no eight hours day to boast of, and twelve hours do not supply his minimum length of daily toil, nor are six days the limit of his week's labor. He con | siders 2s 2d a fair week's wages, and is a bloated capitalist with half a , crown. What can possibly compete against factories paying wages like I thosp, and working twelve hours a day ? He made his first industrial attack I upon Hawaii, and the people there hounded him out, by restricting, or j rather forbidding, his immigration • but it is a different thing to hound out his goods. In Hawaii Japan has proved that her skill and her cheap labor can produce manufactured I articles of the highest grade at prices with which American a>ti sans cannot compete, and which the lowest paid of European laborers can not parallel. In the production of drawing-room furniture or bricks, printing presses or straw hats, shotguns or shoes, watches or canned goods, the Japanese are now able to defraab com petition in any market which is open to them. " Straw hats," writes a Hono lulu merchant, " are now sold here for iSO and 75 cents which are the exact counterparts of those hitherto imported from the States, and have been selling here for years pssfc for 2 dollars 50 cents, and 3 dollare, and now the Japanese are sending shoes here at 50 per cent, lower price than the Ameri can article is selling at. In slocks and watches they are paralyzing the town, and at aa auction sale last week they sold clocks at 1 dollar and 1 dollar 50 cents which were previously re tailing in this market at 5 dollars am| § dollars. A Japanese agent is here with a sample of brick which ia fully as good as tije artiple imported from Ban Francisco, and he is making con tracts to land them here at 4 do%i?s J Jess per 1000 than they can be Jajd dgwu bsre from, put eucl In tb.?

matter of watches, it was stated in

Jon^ress that o<saka time-pieces are celling for 1 dollar each. In the pring of 1895 at the Kyoto National

Imposition Kutopean tapestries, piano--, paintings in the style of modern art, glassware and even drugs were exhibi-

fed afc prices so low that they could be introduced to San Francisco at a figure which, after freight charge 3 and duties had been added, would be f<om 40 to

60 per cent, lower than the market cost of similar productions from Ameri can looms, factories and studios tlawaii is getting these things by every Oriental steamer and the result is to visibly lessen the export trade of

San Francisco. Even the trade in California wines is suffering from the competition of s*ki, and it is not unlike'y that Kirin and Yebisu beer, which is manufactured in Japan under the direction of German malsters, will eventu* ly drive American beer out of 'he Hawaiian group. Unless some means can be found to check the I 1 Japanese invasion of Hawaii, the

American export trade with the Is-

lands wiil soon be numbered among fehe things that were but are not. Writing with thiis letter for a text a San Francisco paper closes an article with these words ;— " Upon the political lessons to be derived from this story of the Japanese in Hawaii the manufacturers and workingmen of the State and country will, no doubt, in« dulge in profitable reflections. A low tariff would admit the Japanese as freely to the markets of America as they have been admitted to the markets of the Sandwich group. Do we want them here ? Are American artisans

anxious to measure their powers of

competition with the tireless craftsmen who live on rice and work for a few cents per day? Have we anyone who

can produce fine straw hats at less

than 50 cents and clocks for a dollar 1 Have we those who want to try ? And yet if tariff reform and ultimate free trade ever have their way the flag of the rising sun will wave over the American market just as surely and as victoriously as it waved over the cap tured fortresses of Ohina two years ago." But what prohibitive tariff could we in New Zealand put on Japanese made goods that would keep them out ?

The purchasing markets of the world

are open to those clever and industri ous Japs. If they cannot grow wool, they can buy it in our own and

ueighbouring colonies, and who would

be the man to mouth a word about an export duty on raw material bought for Japan 1 And having bought such material as they cannot produce, is there anything human with European blood in its veins that can produce anything at all that could compete agajnst a twelve-hours day, a seven

days waefc, and half a prown at the

end of it for wages ? Japan has made England her pattern and means to equal her if she can in her industrial products. Already she is sending out ready-made clothing of European pattern, in all the sizes known to the trade, and cut to patterns obtained from British and American factories ; and some day soon we may be invited to attend a sale in the Arcade at

which a suit of Japanese-woven tweed

may be bought for four and sjj pence, and leave a profit for the importer.

The workers may well feel alarmed at the prospect of an invasion of New Zealand fijarkets by the goods pro duced by the yeliov? fcojfers of Miphon.

Local and General.

Commercial pews on fourth pag». The Mariposa, with the San Francisco mail, arrived at Auckland yesterday. No less than 216 Jasticea of the Peace were created in the last batch. The returns of flocks in the Nelson district are expected tp shoyp an increase this year ol 10,909 sheep. * M«klaßd. Hospital a»d Charitable The -**vtfi j Q jj an d f aß( j mb a Aid Board has ±i<x/v._ ■J- penny of it is earning interest. - I The secretary of the Westport Record . Reign Day celebrations has about £360 in j hand. I

The volunteer officers at Wellington have decided to welcome the new Governor by a ball on a date convenient for his Excellency.

Mr Nufctall, for 32 years head letter cirrier at Nelson, has just retired from the service on pension. He was presented with a souvenir by the Nelson staff.

It is stated that the late Major Ropata when in action seldom carried a weapon, and when he did it was only a revolver or a walking stick.

The nvers in North Canterbury are very low at the present time, in fact they have seldom been lower even in exceptionally dry summers.

At a meeting of the Auckland Exhibition Committee on Wednesday, the guarantee fund was reported as £2751. It is expected to be £3500 in a fortnight.

Dr Stuart, Jate Bishop of Waiapu (N.Z.), who we< t to Persia as a missionary, is meet ing with considerable difficulties owing to ihe persecution of his coiiTerts,

Joseph Henry, a bootmaker, aged seventy ye irs, waß found dead in his shop in the Dunedin Arcade on Wednesday morning. His death is supposed to be due to natural causes.

A Chinaman was picked up in Haining street, Wellington, on VVednesday t appar ently dying from poison. A stomach pump was used, but it could not be ascertained wh&b had happened as he was unconscious.

A monument has, through the instru mentality of Mr George R. Sims, been erected, by public subscription, to the memory of Mr French, who wag drowned in Highgate Ponds whilst trying to save a dog from drowning.

The Caledonian dancing class last evening was extended for two hou:s, over eighty couples being present. Refreshments on an extensive scale were provided by the lady members of the Society, who put the cater ing in the hands of Mrs Ranger.

Those who were successful ia acquiring portions of the Horsley Downs estate at the recent ballot are rapidly getting things into shape and new dwellings are being run up in all directions. Anyone visiting this district in the course of a few months will note great changes.

It has been decided that at the local examinations held in New Zealand this year under the auspicies of Trinity College, London, the special examiner in vocal and instrumental performances shall be Dr. Charles Vincent, Mua. Doc. Oxoa. D r Vincent will leave England for New Zealand about the end of July or the beginning of August for the purpose of conducting these examinations.

With reference to certain Native griev ances which are to be laid before the Imperial authorities, Mr Hone Heke, M.H.R., explains chat it has not been settled who is to represent the Natives in England. The grievances refer to the alleged violation of the Treaty of Waitangi as to Native rights to property.

The Victoria Park, opened on the occasion <tf Her Majesty's Jubilee, near the township of Huunui, North Canterbury, has been planted with avenues of tree*, one of which is named afer the late J. D Lance, of Horsley Downs. The school children of the disttict assisted at the planting, and had a peasant outing.

Bishop Selwyn has joined the noble army of cyclists His lameness, of course, prevents his propelling himself m the customary way, but he has had a machine specially made which he can work {with his hauds, the action being much the same as that of row ing, in which the ex-Bishop of Melanesia and present master of Selwyn College was formally proficient.

A Press Association telegram from Colling, wood states that Edward Solly, aged twenty eight years, waggoner to G. W. Riley, was drowned on Wednesday morning while crossing the Aorere river, which is in flood. Six horses were also drowned. Another waggoner named Brown had a narrow escape, but the horses just managed to swim acroaa. Solly was a respectable man, and his parents live at Takaka. Owing to the discolored state of the river his body has not yet been recovered.

We understand that a hut for the use of the miners at the Reoord Reign opal mine baa just been completed by Messrs W. H. Collins and Co. Mr Bull carted it up to the foot of the ranges, and Mr Lorgeley, the contractor, has to take it to the claim, about 4000 ft above the sea level. This last journey will be performed with the aid of mules. Mr Lyons, the manager, thinks that the enow will be off the hills by the end of this week, and then the '«face" will be opened, so that news may soon be looked for by the shareholders.

The new play "he Seats of the Mighty " has so infatuated the susceptible Londoner —as new plays do, especially it they be silly —that pittites and galleryitea on a recent representation of that piece at Her Majesty's theatre, began to assemble at half past six in the morning. They spent the 13 hours' waiting by sitting on camp-stools, relieving the monotony by conversation, interspersed with eating and drinking. Some also essayed to indulge in cards, but the police played a trump and took the trick. It is said that the concourse was 450 feet long—a half four deep and the other half two-deep. It's a pity that these people were not better occupied.

CRICKET.

SIODDART'S TEAM.

Press Association—By Electric Telegraph- Copyright.

(Received Wakapuaka, July 16, 10 a.m., Guardian office, 11 a.m.)

London, July 14. Stoddart has invited the following to join his cricket team for Australia:—Abel, Richardson, J. T. Hearne, Storer, Attewell, and Lilley.

FOOTBALL.

THE NEW ZEALAND TEAM IN A US mALIA.

Press Association—By Electric Telegraph. Copyright. Newcastle, July 14 The following represented the Northern Union against the New Zealand team :— Puli-back -Oobb ; three quarters — Sharp, Stewart, and Gwynnc j five-eighths-^Gal tagher; half-back—McNaughton ; wings— Edwards and Owen ; forwards—McLean, Thompson, J McLean, Garney, McCormack, Doherty and Hewitt. The New Zealand team was — Full-back — Bayley ; three quarters—Smith, Roberts, and Armit; five eighths—Allen ; half-back —Glennie ; wings — Mills and McKenz:e ; forwards—Murray, Harris, Caiman, Brooker, Wells, Wilson and Hancock, New Zealand defeated the Northern Union team to-day by 16 points to nil. The match was a poor display of football, and for the greater part of the time the game was too slow to keep the men warm. Stew&p, one oi the local men, had his j&w fractured. The weather was magnificent, and there was a large attendance or the public. The home team were on the defensive nearly the whole of the first spell, passing from Allen to Smith to Armit enabled the latter to score a try, but the kick at goal failed. This was the only score in the first half. In the second half McKenzie scored from a dribbling rush, and Wilson kipked a pr<?jbty goal. The northern erg ne>cfc inv&de<f the New Zealand ground, and looked like scoring, but |Jayley relieved. Smith with a splendid run again crossed the line, but no goaji resulted. The northerners from the kick off sent the ball pehiqd. the New $eaiand goal. Smith dashed 1 aitok' it' $ n4 F?turngq 1, apd dodged his -*■- half way »erOs9 th® grouncl before opponent . "•*--—*»•««> Beared £he ba!l he was collared. iJtow.. —- »»u^ and sent it to Hancock, who got aero..-, Wilson kicked a goal from a difficult ange just before the call of time. The run of the day was made by Sharp, one of the local men, who waß only brought to grass by Bayley in the nick of time.

ALLEGED CRUELTY TO A CHILD.

Pr«ss Association—By Electric Talegraph Wellington, July 14

A cftie of alleged cruelty to a child is occupying the attention of the Lower Court to-day. John M. Healey, a clerk in the Land and Income Tax Department and his wife, Margaret, are accused of aggravated assaults on their nephew, Albert Green, an orphan, aged twelve years and seven months, who, with two brothers, lives with them. The boy deposed to being stripped and savagely threshed with a hide whip, and that he was also starved and had to get food from the neighbors. He admitted various thefts and that he had been punished for burning kerosened rags and sticks in a room, which he said he did to get a light. Mr Hutcheson, M.H.R., said that he had seen bad bruises on the boy and often saw him carrying excessive loads of wood. He hai often given him food and remon strated with the Healeys, but both denied ill-using the boy, and said he was hopelessly incorigible. The case was adjourned till the afternoon to enable Mr Jellicoe to conduct the prosecution in the place of the police. The accused, who reserved their defence, were commited for trial.

The Accident to the Wainui.

Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—

Dunedin, July 14. A telegram from the Uuion Company's agent at Westport Hays :—" Corinna arrived She left the Wainui at five o'clock y. sterday night Captain Downie reports that the Wainui is beached at the head of Waikawa Bay in a secure position on a b fo beach. Her stem and fore foot are broken and buckled to port. She will be dry forward to 3ft 6in in low water." C<plain Downie thinks that if all the cargo and coal is taken out of the forohotd and the forepeak filled wirh cemeut, there will be no trouble in taking the ship to Wellington. One bkde of her propeller is lost.

. Nblson, July 14. There is no further newa in regard to the Wainui except that she seems to be safe on ihe beach ac Waikawa Bay. The Taupo will relieve her of her cargo of coal, and the Duco with pumps and salvage gear was to leave Wellington yesterday afternoon. A pigeon message received from the Wainui by the local agent of the Union Steamship Company reads—" Wainui is in safe position. The vessel is making no water abaft of the stokehole bulkhead. Discharg ing cargo, and expect fco geo higher on the sandy beach nexr, tide. The principal damage is at forefoot and stem." Word also w»« sent that another pigeon would be sent in the morning. A PASSENGER'S ACCOUNT. WELLINGTON, July 14 Interviewed by a Post representative, Mr Fox, a passenger on board the Wainui, stated that when the Wainui left Nelson at 7.20 p.m. on Monday rain was falling, and as it was likely to be a very dirty sight all | the passengers turned in early. The first thing they heard was a rasping sound, as if the vessel was going over a bar. The noise was intermittent and was followed by tremendous bumping, " a regu ar bang." The steamer shook from stem to stern, and the passengers at once started to dress. As they were doiDg so, the stewards went through the cabins and advised the occu pants to put on life-belts, whi h was promptly done. Mr Fox was in one of the new cabinß on the main deck, and after partly dressing himself he looked out and was able to make out the vessel's position. The weather was squally, and the French Pass light was observed at times. On the hills there was a big fi<g. Aa the passengers were putting on their clothes the officers, who behaved throughout with great cool ness, were engaged in swinging out the boats in case it was found necessary to leave the ship. About twenty-fire minutes after the vessel struck she came ofl the rocks. Before that she had swung right round with her head towards Nelson. When she got afloat again Captain Lambert, who had re mained on the bridge the whole time, deter mined fco beach her, and started off with the intention of taking her to Waikawa Bay, on the mainland side of the Nelson app oach to the pass, where there are Beveral Maori houses ; but unfoitunately she struck a rock at the point, and as the tide was falling she eou!d not be got off. iShe glided quietly on to the rook and remained on almost an even keel. About 2 a.m. theCorinna came along, and in response to signals she went alongside the Wainui and took off the passengers, who I arrived in Nelson about 6 30 a. m.

THE AWARUA SEAT.

Press Association—By Eledric Telegrapher

Wellington, July 14. Hon. Major Steward, formerly Speaker of the House of R» presentatives, writing to the Evening Pout, says :—" Observing that the question is being raised as to the eligi bility of Mr Ward to be elected, and to take his seat if elected as the member for Awarua, and having been to-day several times asked for my opinion on the matter, I may point out that the Disqualification Act, 1878, does not include bankruptcy as one of the causes of disqualification. The Klectoral Aot renders the seat of a member who is bankrupt within the meaning of the Aot ipno facto vacant so soon as the notification reaches the Speaker, and thereupon the vacancy must be by the Speaker gazetted, and wiihiu ten days thereafter the writ for the new election must be issued.' Con tinuing, he adds, the question is, "la there any provision in the law which disqualifies a bankrupt; from being, while in that; condi tion, elected and taking his seat f" lam not concerned to say as to whether there should be. The question is whether there is, and I am bound to say ;haf in my. opinion there is not. It is not one of the disqualifi i cations mentioned in the Disqualifications Act, and the legal po-iuon would appear therefore to be that, while a fitting member phases to be a member upon filing, he, or anyone else who is in the posiion of an un certificated bankrupt, is eligible to be elected for the vacant seat. The reason of the Legislature in making the law as it stands probably was, that bankruptcy doeo not necessarily imply moral delinquency, and that therefore it was considered ex pedient merely to require every member who takes advantage pi the bankruptcy law tq again submit himself to his constituents (as jn many countries a member who accepts Miniet'erjal ofjftce has to), and( l^ave it to ■ no determine whefclieg iunder the new wnditiona they will renew *"»*. # the person ia ejected while a bankrupt, there is, first, so far as I S&B find, no pro ' vision of the law rendering sugb election void } and second, evou if it were, no provision of the law to bring the fact under the notice of the Speaker or of the House ; consequently, it follows that, in my opinion, Mr Ward is eligible to be elected, and if elected, to take his seat."

COMMERCIAL.

Press Association-—By EJectrio Telegraph Copyright,,

London, July IS At the wool sales the German buyers are competing strongly, and the highest rates for the current series are now ruling for all medium to good wools. The wool competition to-day was efcroug in all quarters. Quod merinos are scarce and prices are hardening.

ADDINGTON MARKET.

Chriscchorch, July 14 Fat Cattle,—ln fat cattle ouly 157 came forward, and 50 were dealt with privately. There were rather more good steera than usual, including a nice line from Price Bros., which brought up to £8 7s 6d, averaging £8, but the heifera were mostly light weights. Bidding was slightly brisker, and the sale showed more life than for gosna time, nearly every line being cleared, but no actual advance in prices can be recorded. Best beef brought 16s to 17s 6d per lQOlos, medium and mixed sorts 12a 6d to 15s. Prices per head were—For steers £5 bo £8 7s 6d, heifers £3 12s 6d to £5 17s 6d 8 and cows £3 5s to £6 10s. The dairy class wag not well represented. There was no demand except for good young springers, which sold up to £7. No store cattle were yarded. Fat Sheep.—lhe fat sheep included aome very nice Hnea of freezing sheep. Freezing wethers and guaranteed maiden ewes sold exceedingly well considering that the factories are almost blocked for want oi shipping apace. Best butcher's ewes kept up in price, but secondary sorfcs were only prevented from a long drop through the presence of a West Coaßt buyer, who operated freely. Best freezing wethers sold at 15a to 17s 7d, medium wethers and maiden ewes 12* 6d to 15s 6d, butcher's best ewes 11s to 12s lOd, medium 8s to 10s, and inferior 6a to 7s 6d. A few pens of hoggets sold at from 9s to lls Id. Rather more store sheep than of late were on offer, and con sidering the scarcity of feed all classes sold well, forward turnipers especially so A line of three-quarter-bred fat wethers brought 14i Bd, not quite so forward 13s to 13a lid, wethers and maidea ewes for turoips lls to lls lid, sound-mouthed ewes in lamb 8s 6d to lls 3d, aged do 6s 6d to Bs, store ewes 6s 9d, good hoggets 8s to 9s 111, backward sorts 6s~6d to 7s 6d, merino ewes in lamb 3s lid. Pigs.—A medium yarding contained some very good quality fats which met a keen demand, baconers and porkers averaging a|d jKjr Sb, mi selling up to H

ROAD BOARD.

Hlount Somers

The usual monthly meeting of the Mount Somera Koad Board was held laat Monday —All the members present, and Mr Chap man in the chair. overseer's report. The Overseer's report was read and con sidered. stephenson's koad. Ths Overseer reported that about 7£ chains of this road, near Mr Sephenson's house, wauted forming, and about four chains wanted shingling. Estimated co.-.t, £8; towards which Mr Stephenson would contribute £2 in labour.—Hesolved that the amount was beyund the funds at the disposal of the Board just now, and ib was agreed to give £1 towards improving the place. beskrve 1022. It was resolved to invite offers for leasing this reserve, and if the present tenant did not pay up arrears no offer would be re* ceived from him. WORKS. Tenders were ordered to be invited for re forming a portion of the Ashburton Gorge road, about fifty chains in length. Mr Charles Eaden infotmed the Board that he had agreed with Mr Harrison to keep the Mount Possession crossing for £2 per year.—Agreed to. ROLL ALTERATION. Mr Milne wrote asking that Mr Harvey's name be put on tho roll for land leased to him—Agreed to. A COMPLAINT. Mr T. S. Johnston wrote complainisg of the unsatisfactory and dangerous way in which the work was being carried out at the Woolshed Creek, his trap having been overturned and one of hia children thrown out.—The Clerk was instructed to acknow ledge the receipt of the letter, apologise for the accident, and point oub that had the contractors carried out the work according to the conditions of the contract no accident should have occurred. BALANCE OF SUBSIDY. The Land and Income Tax Department wrote enclosing form of declaration to enable the Board to receive balance of subsidy. ROAD THROUGH THE BUCCLETJOH ESTATE. The Clerk was directed to write to the manager, and ask far the road between K.S. 29597 and 29672 to be opened :or traffic. RATE. I A general rate was struck of § of a penny on ah rateable property in the district for the year ending March 31, 1898, payable in one sum on July 19, 1897. I TENDEBS. Tenders were opened for gorse grubbing but none wsre accepted, and the Overseer was instructed to arrange for the gorse to be ploughed where possible. ERROR. Mr Herring drew the attention of the Board to an error in the last report in which his name was mentioned instead of Mr Harvey's in connection with some stone breaking. The Clerk was directed to notice it in his next report. accounts. Accounts amounting to £81 10b 4d were passed for payment. DOMAIN BOARD. The Board then sat as a Domain Board and on resuming adjourned.

SPRINGBURN.

From Our Own Correspondent

A concert, promoted by Miss Birdie Butler, was given in the Staveley Hall on Tuesday evening, which proved two things. First, that tho hall is not large enough to accommodate the public when any entertain ment sufficiently popular is given to draw an audience representing in fair numbers the population of the district. Ancher fifteen or twenty feet added to the floor space, in front of the stage, and the stage itself shifted back, would go a long way to supplying the want. Nor is the building a pronounced success in the way of acoustics, but as sounding wires are spoken of, this difficulty may be remedied. At the concert Bvery seat was occupied, the poroh was crowded with people standing, and the passage way was fu]ly utilised Second, that the larrikin element can muster strongly on occasion even in the Staveley Hal!, and a more ill-bred, badly behaved, and selfish crowd of ignorant louts than attended this conqert could scarcely be mustered even in the Odd fellows' Hall at Ashb,urton, and the Plains borough has an unsavory reputation in that direction. During the singing and between the items those ill-bred whelps kept up a continuous roar of caterwauling and ear piercing whisi ling, which detracted much from the eujoyment. of the concert by j respectable people. It must be said, how ever, that the guilty ones were not Spring, burn residents, but came from outside the district. Usually when a concert is given in the Staveley IJall as a money-making concern, and not for any charity or public spirited purpose, the audience is poor 3 but it speaks well for the popularity of Miss Birdie Sutler that her company was able on this occasion to draw bo crowded an audience. 4 very large programme was gone through, and at the end Miss Butler, by special request, sang " Thero is no one like mother, to me." M?s Ma,rsden was is splendid voice, taking her upper votes very clearly, and her aiugiDg was; much appreciated by the audience. Mr Brooking at once became a special favourite, his choruses just suiting the boys at Vhe bapk, who sow and then carried away the song. He was repeatedly encored, In duets with Mr Oraighead, Miss Butler was not heard to advantage, owing |io Mr Oraighead singing too loudly and completely drowning R«r voipe. However, he used his voice better when singing in company with Mrs Maraden. Miss Cipherb gave two excellent recitations.

"THE TWELFTH."

The annual gathering of the Orangemen of Ashburton, and tljeir y/iyes and families, took place on Monday last at the Orange Hall. The festivity in honor of the "Twelfth" this year took the form of a supper and "social," and was perhaps the most successful the Order has ever held in Aehburfon. Mrs Huffam was caterer, so far as the after courses were concerned, but members and friends of the Order kindly supplied the joints, so that when the hall was ready for the guests there was a most tempting disp'ay. The "gintleman that pays the tint" was there in Jthe shape oi fitiperb hams of the elder "giatleman," while the younger " gintleman " appeared in ghboixi the shape of sucking pig gorgeously garnished. The stockyard, the paddock, and the fowl roost were all lavishly re quisitioned and the whole town could-have been fed had they chosen to come, so abun dant was the provision, and they would have b,aen fed like kings too, for every guid wife who sent a Joint fett that qhe was on her mettle, and Che cooking was therefore such as Mrs Gardner could not) have cavilled at. Trust an Irishwoman to boil a ham or roiet a sucking pig, whatever else she may or may nofc be able to do. Covers had been laid to begin with for J2<J people—the limit of the tables ; but a relay was nepßssary and another 122 sat down- After the second lot had been served fifty more stragglers oame in and had to be attended to, so that the toasting and speechifying were wisely cut short.—" The Queen " by bhe chairman- and "The charter toast" by Bro W. Houston, P, M , being all that could be honored. Bro. 8. B. Nelson, P. G. M , was chairman while on his right and left and at the ends of the centre and side tables were the following vio^ohainnea— Bros. Adams, D.M. 5 Hamp ton, and S. Brown, P.Ms.; Rouatree, W.M.; and Kerr, P.M. The sisters of the female lodge took no position, preferring to be mistresses of the feast and wait on the tables, and well they did their work, as the pleased faces of well fed men abundantly testified. In fact the sisters " engineered " the gathering. After the two toasts, and Brother Sam Brown's " Loyal Orange Lily" —that evergreen song which for the last score of years the veteran haa annually de lighted the gathering with—and other Orange songs by younger men, the hall was 1 cleared for dancing, to the music of M iss Hettie Friedlander (who knows just exactly what is wanted on the piano on such an occasion) and Mr Anderson's fiddle, and things went with a go and a dash till the small hours—song »ud recitation coming to '

THE AMBERLEY MURDER.

Date of the Execution'

Press Association—By Electric Telegraph. Ltttelton, July 15. This forenoon the Sheriff visited Lyttelton and fixed the execution of Sheehan for eight o'clock on Wednesday morning. When notified, the condemned man received the information coolly.

OBITUARY.

ISx J. S. Houston.

It is our sad duty to chronicle the death yesterday of Mr J. S. Houston, of Winch" more. For a long number of years Mr Houston was a familiar figure in Ashburton on sale days and Saturdays, the day a on which farmers feel it their duty to come into town for business or to see what busi ness is doing or may be done, and there were few people in the district who did cot know him. He was one of our earliest settiera, and one of the very old Canterbury coloniata, who are now dropping off one by one, and soon the end name of the list of pioneeri must be reached. Mr Houston died at the comparatively early age ot 66—after a busy and active life, in the course of which he did good work, and his fair share in helping to lay the foundations of the magnificent pro* vince which the toil, industry, energy, and enterprise of the pioneers have made of Canterbury. Born in County Down, the " rattling boyß " of whioh have contributed so many of their number to aid in ths colonisation of New Zealand, he was juat I thirty-three years of age when he left the plough in the Ould Dart to seek his fortune in the islands of the Southern seas. He came to Canterbury, and for some time worked as a contractor in Ohrutchuroh, which was then blossoming into a oity, and required bone and muscle in the making of her primitive streets. Leaving this employment he took up land in the Lincoln district, and again in the Leeston district. In 1873 he came to Ahburton, and "cropped" fora season on Tancred and Allen's Estate. Hit venture there was so successful as to clothe the district in roseate hues in hie eyes, and he resolved to settle. He bought land at Tinwald, and made up his mind to settle there. 1 hirteen y < ars ago, however, Winch more district offered him attractions, and fancying the " golden hoof " of the sheep in preference to the golden grain that follows the plough, he remand there to the end. La grippe seized him some nine months' ago, and left him very weak, It was fancied, however, that he was picking up again, and about three weeks ago he was in the Mail Office doing some business, weak certainly, but hopeful. Cheerily he spoke of being alive and fairly well to see the record reign celebrations, for he wag nothing if not loyal; but be gradually fell away, and. yesterday he passed away without a struggle—the tired and weary heart pulsed out its lft at beat, and a grand old man whose work was done retired " to the rest that remaineth," Mr Houston was not fitted, he said, for public positions, and he sought none. In church matters he was a Presbyterian of the old school, and was. loyal to his faith as water to its level. He leaves a widow and four of a family—one son and three daughters —all grown up.

THE MATSA VAUDEVILLE COMPANY.

The announcement which appears in another column that Messrs Williamson and Mußgrove'e famous company of-artistes, the «• Matsa " Vaudeville Company, which had suoh success in Christchurch a few weeks ago and are now appearing in Dunedin, will visit us on their return north for one night on Wednesday evening next, July 21, should be satisfactory to our readers. From tha artistes included in the company, and whose names are mentioned elsewhere, a very superior entertainment may be expected. Id addition to the promise given by the wellknown talent of the leading members of the company, the nameß of Messrs'William son and Musgrove at the head of the bill may be accepted by the public as a guarantee of excellence, and good faith. As first class artistes have lately shown a disposition to pass by Ashburton, it is to be hoped that a bumper house on Wednesday will reward the "firm's" enterprise. The box plan will be opened for reserved seats on Friday.

WOOL SHIPMENTS.

The total wool shipment* from Canter bury, including Lyttelton and Timaru, from Ist; July, 1896, to 30th June, 1897, are 96,731 bales, the following being shippers of \ IQQQ bales and over ;— i National Mortgage and Agency Com ! pany of N.Z., Ltd. .„ ..... 8811 Christohurch Meat Company, Ltd. ... 8307 Walter Hill ... ... ... 7856 Balgety ajid Company, Ltd. v.. 7693 W.H.Clark .. ... ... 7651 N. 2. Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Ltd. ... ... ... 6580 George Kettlewell .„ ... 5214 Canterbury Froaen Meat and D.P,E. Company, Ltd.... .„ ... 4118 N Z. Farmers Co-operative Auocia tiou, Ltd. .„ ... ... 2853 Gould, Beaumont and Co. ... ,;, 2758 Assets Realisation Board ... ... 2493 W. Wood and Co. ... .„ 2138 Bowron Broa, .. ... ... 2102 N.Z. and Australian Land Co, Ltd.... 2008 Canterbury Farmers' Co-operative At aociation, Ltd. ... .„. ... 1952 Mobs Jonas ... ... . 1886 Geo. G. Stead ... ... 1656 Bank of New South Wales... .„ 1616 Common, Shelton and Co. ... ,«. 1435 G.H.Moore „ 1333 Hiok, Martin and Drysdale ... 1322 E. Flworthy ... .... .„ 1287 Sundry shippers ... , M ,„ 13,682 Bales ... ... V.. 96,731 Comparative statemonti of wool exports from Canterbury (including Lyttelton aad Timaru) during seasons 1895-96, 1896-97.

MAGISTERIAL.

ASHBURTON;—THURSDAY,

(Before Mr 0. A. Wray, S.M.) Maintenance.—John Joseph Reddington, who lasb week undertook to pay £10 towards an order of Court he had then failed to obey, was again before the Court. He had only paid £4, and said it was all he could rais« just now. Hie Worship said he would allow him till next Court day to pay up. Civil Caies.—Hander v P. Co:?, £4 6s 5<J —undefended, and judgment went for plain tiff—Reid r Worner, £4. Mr Crisp ap* peared for plaintiff. Mrs Reid said that since her husband's bankruptcy she had been carrying on business as a dealer in stock. She had been thus engaged for two years. She bought a cow from Mr Thomas, and paid £4 for it—reoeipt and cheque produced. It was her own money with which the cow had been paid, and the cheque was on her own account The cow was seised, and j before it was sold by the auotioneer she warned him it was her property. The cow was bought by defendant, and was now the subject of this suit. Other accounts and cheques were produced by Mr Crisp to •how the plaintiff carried on the business the claimed to do, and that she bought this cow in the ordinary course of business George Worner said he bought the cow at auotion for £2 153—the auctioneer said the sale was by order of Court.—A. M. Pearson said the cow was one of two he had seized at the instance of Mr David Thomas. Had been warned by Mr Crisp not to sell the cow, and had been shown the receipt produced. Mr Thomas told witness to go on with the sale. Mrs Reid had also objected to the sale. As Mr Wilding and Mr Thomas had not arrived from ChriHchurch, the case was allowed to st.nd over for a week.—Judgment in the oases of Crooks v McKeagu-, and Small v bUtk'a trustees, was held over for & week ewipg to tbt »bMBoe of Mr YfMtof

THE A^fißOmOS aUABJDIAHi THURSDAY, JULY 16, 1867.



Eortr r 1895-961896 9f Increase 'imaru ".. 28,038 28,410 "372 " "'" <ytteiton 70,638 68,321 ' 2317. 98,676 96,731 372 2317 ~" Less Increase ... 372 Net decrease ... 1945



OUR ANNUAL STOCK-TAKING SALE IS NOW PBOCEEDING, AND WILL CONTINUE TILL AUGUST the 18th. everything" reduced. PLEASE NOTE the following Quotations, being a few of the BARGAINS OFFERED:-— DRESS TWEEDS—Regular price Is 3d per yard, sale price 4* lie! dress length. Drees Tweeds—Regular price 15s 9d dress length, sale price 6s lid dress length. SERGES in Black, Navy, and Brown 2s 3d, sale price Is 6d per yard. Blue Black Merinos, sale price Is lid per yard, regular price 23 6d. DRESSMAKING during this sale 8S 6d. Children's Cashmere Hose, sale price 6d per pair. Ladies' Cashmere Hoie, sale price IOJd, Ladies' Hibbed Hose, sale price 6d per pair. A few Men* Colonial Tweed SUITS 15a each. Men'g Cotton Shirts Is each. Men's Heavy Grampian Shirts Is lid. A Urge assorted line Men's Tweed Trousers, to be cleared at 7s lld per pair. Men's Tweed Hats 6d each. Men's Tweed Caps 6d each. Men's Colonial Knitted Socks 6d per pair. Extra Heavy Twilled Sbeetieg, 2 yards wide, Is per yard. Flannelettes from 8d per yard. AH wool Colonial Shirting la 6d per yard Ladle*' Corsets, size 18, 19, 20, our regular line at 2s lid, to be cleared ii lid. IN THE BHOW-ROOM THE REDUCTIONS WILL BE OF A MOST THOROUGH DESCRIPTION. SEE DOORB AND WINDOWS FOR BARGAINS. Ashburton Drapery i Company, ARCADE HOUSE. 0* "" WW^W*^ *n*a*m mi ■■■■ ■« n m m■ ■n■  "' ". " _J BANKRUPT ESTATE OF G. J. NEILL AND CO., DRAPERS, CLOTHIERS, MERCERS, AND BOOT DEALERS, ASHBURTON fT\ HE Sale of this Stock commenced thn morning, and will be continued until the whole is disposed of at PHENOMENALLY LGW FFGURES in order to effect a speedy cleara nee. BY ORDER OF THE PURCHASERS OF ABOVE KSTATE. 6 238 DRESSES & DRESSMAKING =: EXTRAORDINARY. = AFTER AN FXOEPTIONALLY SUCCESSFUL SEASON WE ARE NOW PREPARED TO TAKE VERY MUCH KBDUOBD PRICES FOR OUR FEW REMAINING COLORED DRESSES. A LOW PRICE quoted for Dress Complete, Beet Style ani Fib. MITCHELL & TURNER. WATCH THIS SPACE FOB PARTICULARS OF NEW STOCK OF fIOLD TIROOCHES AND T ADIBS' THINGS TO COME TO BAND SHORTLY. ,S. SALE X, THE LEADING JEWELLERY ESTABLISHMENT IN TEE DISTRICT. ! EAST BIBEBT. j



Public Notices. ] NEW ZEALAND Clothing Factory AUK HALF-YEARLY STOCK-TAKING TAKES PLACE THE END OF THIS MONTH. So during the Next Week or two, we shall briug forward a number of VERY SPECIAL LINES, AND AT THE PRICKS THEY WILL BE MARKED, WILL EFFECT A SPEEDY CLEARANCE FOR BARGAINS, LOOK AT OUR DOORS & WINDOWS HALLENSTEItf BROS. & CO. |A. G. BAWEON, Manager) Church Services. ST. STEPHEN'S CHURCH Aehbuctoa. THURSDAY—Meeting of the St. Stephen's Guild to enrol members, etc, 7.30 p.m.; Consecration Service, 8 p.m. FRIDAY—Short Service, 7.30 p.m.; Choir Practice, 8 p.m. SUNDAY SERVICES, JULY 18. 11 a.m.—Morning Prayer and Holy Com munion. 3 p.m.—Dromore. 6.30 p.m.—Erening Prayer. REV T. A. HAMILTON.



The public are to be congratulated on the liberal manner in which they have re sponded to the invitation of our leading bookseller, stationer, and fancy goods vendor, to supply themselves with cheap stationery, good literature (for winter reading), and fancy goods. Ai this month is the record sale of the decade—the firm giving great in ducements so as to reduce the stock—We have no doubt that the premises of H. N. Anderson^ late L. jp 1. Audrewea and (X, will be well p dtronised during the remainder of We BaJe.^j(Aj>yjf, ' • ' " ' ,



Indigestion.—How much thought has been bestowed, and what voluminous treatises have been written upon this universal and distressing disease, which is with certainty and safety dispelled without I fear of relapae by a course of a purifying, soothing, and tonic medicine ! It acs directly on the stomach, liver, and bowels— then indirectly, though no leas efieotively, on the brain, nerves, vessels, and glands, introducing such order throughout the entire system that harmony dwells between each organ and its functions. Dyspepsia need no longer be the bugbear of the public, since Holloway's Pill's are fully competent to cases of impaired digestion, and to restore the miserable sufferer to health, strength, and cheerfulness. The weather prophite predict that the long fine dry spell which we have had will be followed by a very wet and severe winter. The one thing needful for protection against the elements of such a winter is a really good reliable waterproof coat or cloak. We are assured that Messrs Craighead and Berryman have become famous for their well known brand of winter clothing, which has hitherto given such satisfaction, and in anticipation of & 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 Ashburton. They are also supplying ladies' and gentlemen's water proof cloaks and coats to measure at ready made prices. Every garment guaranteed thoroughly waterproof. (Three months trial, if defective money returned). AH wool linings—keeping the wearers alwaya warm' and dry—sewn 1 throughout with strong silk, ventilated &nd evary improve jseat ""i to 4»fco. IW4pv? l "