Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Vertis et Prævalebit. FRIDAY, APRIL 2, 1897.

PRINCE HENRY OF ORLEANS.

A cable a day or two ago told us that Prince Henri d' Orleans had had a

quat rel with Baron Yalot, the explorer who accompanied the Prince m hit

projected exploring expedition m Abyssinia. The quarrel. was suf ficently serious to cause a separation, and the two sprigs of French nobility parted on the understanding that when they return to La Belle France they will wipe out the mutual insult m a duel. This is rather an unfortunate ending to the Prince's arrangements, which were somewhat elaborate), and ha will require to fill the Baron's place with a new mate. The Paris \ correspondent of the London Daily Telegraph, writing on January 29, has the following m his budget regarding the expedition: — Prince Henri d'Orleans is busily engaged m prepara tions for his journey ia Abyssinia and the neighbouring country, and he has made several purchases with the particular object of " astonishing the, natives." One^ of the articles which he has selected for this amusing purpose is a phonograph, another being a cinematograph. But what he prides himself most on is the acquisition of a barrel-organ which plays the " Marseillaise" and the Russian Anthem. The Prince anticipates great results from the introduction of , these airs (with, which he intends the population to bscome familiar) into that part of the Dark Continent. The barrel-organ will resound with them from morning till night at the places at which he halts, until the inhabitants catch the tunes ; but this depends on their respective ears for music. Thus will matters be put without loss of time on a " harmonious " footing, and every one be happy and comfortable. Who will be the " minstrel " chosen for this important duty is not yet revealed, but let us hope that he will not be cilled upon to fill the role of a finde siecle Blondel Perhaps each of the party will lend a hand m turn. After all, an 11 orgue de Barbaric " ought not to be out of place m Africa, Like an experienced explorer, Prince Henri, however, is not limiting his attention to these trifles, bub is laying m a huge stock of medicines and other necessaries.

Local and General.

The Wakanui Eoad Board holds ita usual meeting to-morrow. Mr 0. D Hardie, the newly appointed head master of the Borough School, com menced his duties yesterday. Lesna, the ph<3nomea*l French cyclist, accompanied by some of the larger or lesser lights at present performing m Australia, intends payiDg New Zealand a visit very fahortly. An ice palace is to be constructed this winter m Moscow, and it ia expected to be the most imposing erectioa m the city. All the elaborate decorations and furniture will bo of ice. Our Chertaey readers are reminded that a limelight exhibition illustrative of " L'f t and manners m Japan ' 'will be giyen m fche sohoo room there on Monday evening by the IW. J, K. Clark. Still another subscriber to the Ashburton telephoue exchange, our contemporary the Standard having j ined on Ist April. The. annunciator number is 97, and lists should be amended accordingly. Letters fpp«i beyond the colony addressed £S "under were rptosiyed at the Ashbnrton pgst Office during the montji of January and — utid'AJroedf-r-W. Bradley, Yy~. Feeder, an, - -^h. J. Johnstope. George Brow. " , '  , . . c * , , "4 *vifetg§ tftat there A wire from Aucklan^ .1 » Hwft g ia a eerious outbreak of diphtheria * chi dren at Huutly. Tweuty or thirty cases have been reported, and the school is closed m consequence. It is not of a malignant type. A man having died at Darwen, his wife addressed a long speech to the corpse upon her sufferings during her married life. She then belaboured the body, fcinashing a chair over the dead man's head, necessitating the intervention of the police. Wife abandonment has assumed terrible proportions m New York, thousands of women being left destitute. The magis trates ascribe this state of things partly to hard times, still more to lax morals, but most of all to early marriages. Mr H. Diggle, who has lately disposed of his confectionery business m Eist street, leaves Ashburton for Auckland on Thursday next. Both Mr and Mra Diggle wiil be greatly miast d, and will carry with them the best wishes of a large circle of friends. The Maoris at the Kohanga settlement, near Onewhere, on the Lower Waikato, have now raised a brass band amongst themselves at a cost of about £70. Brass banrfs are the 11 rage" amongst the Maoris just now. They have started a Literary Society up at Faeroa (Thames), and, at the first meet ing, the chairman thus described the benefits attached thereto :—" This Society differs from many others of its kind m that we not only embrace gentlemen, but we also embrace ladies." It is stated that as a result of his con ference with the condemned murderer, Stephen Bosher, Mr Wilford contemplates making application to the Criminal Appeal Court for a new Irial, on the ground that there is some new evidence which it is believed can be obtained. We are sorry to learn that Mr Erneet Roberts met with a painful accident on Tuesday last. He was schooling a young hunter for the coming season, and was m the act of taking a fence, when owing to the horse stumbling, he had a severe spill, I dislocating one of his shoulders. The Rev J. Chadbuan, a Congregational

minuter residing at Sutton, Surrey, has offered to contribute £5000, half the cost of endowing a ward for the treatment of cancer at the new Hospital for women m Euston Road, London^ m commemoration of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, providing the other half can be secured. The Fire Brigade last night subjected the new hydrants m West street to a very severe test. The engine was connected first at the lower hydr ait opposite Mr Sealy's shop, and afterwards at each of the others m turn, using two lines of hose. The streams thrown were equal to any thrown by the engine from any source m tha town, and the whole system worked m the most perfect manner. At the quarterly meeting of the Star of Ashburton Lodge, U.A.0.D., a large number ot members were present. The District Clrand Lodge representatives gave a resume of the business transacted at the Grand Lodge meeting held iv Christchurch lately, the most important item being that any mem- Ixor attaining the age cf seventy years should foe relieved of paying any further contribu tions aod slill be entitled to all benetits. The work done by the Grand Lodge meeting was coneidered ,srery satisfactory, and a vote of thanks was paaosd to the representatives j Brothers Neill and O'Connor. One new member was iniiiated and two proposed for tfiembership. Correspondence and .routine business having been dealt with the lodge jaioaed. raeeiDtsfor the evening beinc £45155.

A Dunedin telegram states tha*- it is pro posed to acquire the Colonial Bank building (formerly the post office) as a home for Dr Hocken's library and for a free public library and art gallery. The unveiling of the Baliance statue m the Parliament grounds, Wellington, ia to lake place on Tuesday next, before or after the opening of Parliament. The portion of the cenotaph which ia to support the -recumbent statue of the late Bishop Harper m Chrisichurch Cathedral is rapidly approaching completion. It is of grarite, VVaikawa, and Mount Somers atone. i The funeral of Mr Lance took place yes terday at/ the Hoisley Djvvn Church of Eng land Cemetery, and the day being very fine was attended by between 250 and 300 per sons, the cortege extending fully a mile m length. The coffin, which was quite coveted with flo al wreaths sent by friends, was borne to the hearse by old employees. Following ia from the Wangacui Herald :— An up river settler—a son of Old Erin's Isle —last week wrote to his loving sister, residing somewhere m this part of the district, acquainting her fully with his prospects m the new home he was carving out for himself, adding that he was m fairly good health but was sorry to state that recently he had had ' a very bad burn.' By return post he received a roll of bandages, together with a bottle of liniment and full directions for use ! The Hospital Committee met this morning at the Council Chamber. Present —Messrs Harper, Williamson, andßrooke—Mr Harper presiding. The Clerk apologised for the ab ence of the Mayor.' The Committee regretted that at present they could not entertain the nurses' application for a uniform. The Chairman reported that the Hospitals Inspector had visited the Hospital and had found everything satisfactory. It was resolved that Mr Harper act as treasurer during the absence of Mr Scaly. Some minor business having been done, the Committee adjourned. The two youths Williams, brought before the Court this morning, charged with numerous burglaries and other robberies are certainly nob prepossessing individuals, and if physiognomy has anything m it, it is scarcely surprising that they have developed criminal proclivities so early. Low narrow foreheads, narrow heads, small elougated eyes, are the characterises of both of th^se young scamps. Add to this that their eyea were bloodshot, and their faces covered with stubbly dark hair, and some idea may be gathered of the impression they would naturally create on the mind of even an impartial observer. The articles recovered by the police when they arrested the youths whose proceedings were investigated at the Magistrate's Coutt this morning, would almost suffice to start a second-hand dealer iv business. Piled up m the Court were boots, coats, frying pans, fruit, pannikin?, blacking and brushes, biliies, tools, ja,ms, tea, macintoshes, blankets, fish—in fact almost everything from a needle to an anchor. The appearance of such a pile of odds and ends was too much for the gravity of the B9nch, let alone the bar and the spectators.

The annual meeting of the Coursing Club takes place this evening at 8 o'clock, at Dore's Central Hotel. The Ashburton branch of the Educational Institute holds its annu-il meeting at 1 p.m. fca-morrow, at the Borough schoolhouse. We draw our reader's attention to a new advertisement of Mr F. Clark's m another part of this issue. Walter Bently—you a'l know Walter was at his highest one night m King Henry VIII. at the Wellington Opera House : Farewell, a long farewell to all my greatness, This is the state of man : to-day he puts forjih The tender leaves of hope, to-morrow blossoms, And bears his blushing honors thick upon him; The third day comes a frost, a killing frost— Yoke from the gods (mimicking Walter) f Then try Woods' Great Peppermint Cure !" It brought down the house. 16 ap

HOCKEY.

The Tinwald Hockey Club played the opening match of the ?easou yesterday-lifter, noon on the Tinwald Domain. Sides, were chosen by the oaptain aud vice-captain, and ihe ball set rolling about 3 p.m. There was a capital attendance of players and among the number we were pleased to see the faces of several new members. The gitne was very evenly contested and resulted m a win for the skipper's team, the scores being seven goals to six. For the winners, C .Clark and H. Millichamp played a good game; and £or the losers W. and A. Fuz gerald and' 'F. Dlurk did yeoman service, 'ffoe Fitzgerald brothers haye recently ioined "'"* fc"**i^ ~?® comparatively' new to the the Oiu -*.«, f o £ m j. h|B , r shewed yeater game but fr..m I i^ t w wjll day afternoon we should say v . --—»«,« cob be long before they find a place » v ... 4 , the first eleven of the Club. i

WILLOWBY.

From Our Own Correspondent

The quarterly meeting of the Church officials of the Willowby cjireuit, was held m the Parsonage on Thursday night. There were present Rev C Abernethy m the chair, and thirteen officials from the various congregations throughout the circuit. The statistics showed a members roll of 129, with 33 cate histn and 29 communicants The income for the quarter was £62 13s 6d, and the expenditure, including a debt of £8 15a Bd, £63 2s 6d, leaving a small debit balance of 9a, which would be cancelled before the balance sheet was presented. The Sunday Schools were reported to be m a fairly prosperous condition. It was unani mously agreed to urgently requeet Key D. | O'Donnell to conduct an evangelistic mission m the circuit during the quarter, and a strong committee wa3 appointed to confer with Rev J. G. Mather, the newly appointed minister, with reference to evange istic work throughout the circuit. On the motion of Mr S. S. Chapman, seconded by Mr Framp ton, the resolution, "That this quarterly meeting desires to place on record its very high appreciation of the excellent work done by the Rev C. and Mrs Abernethy, during their four years term m the circuit, and prays for their success m their new circuit,' waa carried unanimously. All present apoke to the motion, and bore testimony to the good work done m the district through his ministry, and to his sterling character as a Christian gentleman. Mr Abernethy replied m a very feeling manner, saying that m all his appointments he invariably placed him self entirely m the hands of God, and that he had never been disappointed. It is proposed to formally "farewell" Mr and Mrs Abernethy at Willowby next Tuesday j night. He preached his farewell sermon on I Sunday evening.

South Africa.

Press Association—By Electric Telegraph Copyright,

Pretoria, March 31. Petitions are being largely signed m the Orange Free State against the proposed union with the Transvall, Lieut. Eloff, an officer of the Trans vaal military force, has been suspended fjr using slanderous and insulting language against Queen Victoria. Mr Greene, the British Resident m Pre toria, demanded Eloff a dismissal, and President, Kruger replied .expressing regret at the officer's conduct.

COMMERCIAL.

RAKAIA LIVE STOCK MARKET.

The usual monthly sale took place at the Rakaia yards yesterday. There was a good attendance, but biddings were much slacker than at the two previous sales owing to most of the farmers having secured requirements at previous fixtures. The total entiiea were 2268 sheep, 9 rains, 1 cow. Amongst the sheep was a line of 1300, six and eight-tooth crossbred e*es from Gienavy, the prices ob taimd for this line being considered very gool, viz ,Bjto 8s 4d. Other lines sold as follows, viz -50 merino iwes 2s 91, 50 do 3-. BJ, 16 fat do 4s 21, 52 halfbred lambs 3s Bi, 43 two-tooth ewes 7a 9J, 400 three quarterbred lamhs passed at 63 8 i, 222 half bred lambs passed at 6s, 50 eight-too'h ewis 5a 9d, 160 old crossbred ewes Is 1) 1, 5(0 six <t»fl eight-toota ewes 8j 4d, 350 do Bs. Several other lines were passed m. Pigs aud cattle were conspicuous by their absence.

CLEARING SALE AT LAURISTON.

There was a good attendance at the o'earing sale on Wednesday at'Mr Hardley's farm, Lnuriston, when the whole of the live and dead stock on the farm was brought to auction by Mr Rudolph Friedlander. In the present condition of the horse market draughts are worth money, and anything really good fetches a high price. Mr Hardley'ts draughts rauged from £6 (the lowest, for a crock) up to £23 lOa for a three-year-old, and one hack mare with foal brought £20 10a. The sheep on the farm fetched satisfactory prices, lambs well forward bringing 78 Id, crossbred ewes 6s 10 i, failing mouths 4s 4J, and mixed classeß, old ewes 2s. Fairly good Shropshire rams were sold at 223 6i, and English Leicesters at |g. A clearance was made of the farm implements, etc., which concluded a successful sale.

The Shooting Season.

A Press Afsociaton telegram states that a notification appears m the Gazette fixing the shooting season as follows :—North Canter bury—lmported, May Ist to June 30th ; hares, May Ist to July 31st; native, April 17th to July Sist. The decision of the Colonial Secretary's Department to fix the 17th for native game, instead of the Ist has it is stated been come to mainly m conse quence of reports that the various kinds of game, particularly ducks, ate very back ward this y> ar, a fact which convinced the authorities that it would be most injudicious to allow the birds to be shot for two or three weeka yet. Sportsmen wbo com menced yesterday will therefore have to suspend operations for a fortnight. Mean time the battue that went on on the Ist,has had the effect of causing the ducks to betake themselves to places of immunity large num bers having resorted to the lake m the Domain. Great gatherings have a'so assembled at Longbeach and Alford waters, well-known to them as harbors of refuge. A correspondent at the last named place facetiously suggests that the birds must have an almanac of their own which sorves the purpose of a Government Gazette.

FATAL ACCIDENT.

We regret to havo to record the death of Mr Kobert E. Stoddart, of Wiilowby, who was found m a state of unconsciousness on the road between Winslow and his home last evening about 7 o'clock. He left the former place about 6 o'clock, riding one horse aud lea^iDg another, and about 7 o'clock a shepherd employed at Lagmhor fouud him on the roadside, he having apparently been thrown from his horse. its Trevor and Leahy were sent for, but it was at once seen that his case was hopeless, and he died about seven o'clock this morning without recovering consciousness. Mr Sto.ldart who, as well as his brothers, has been for a good many years a resident of Wiilowby, and was greatly respected m the neighborhood, leaves a wife and four children to mourn his loss. An inquest will be held.

INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

Press Association—By Electric Telegraph The Colonial Bank Enquiry, Dunedin, April 2. The Judge has fixed June 15 for the ex amination of Mr Watson and the other witnesses desired by the liquidators, A Will Case. Judge Williams delivered judgment this mornbg m the case Aimers v. Taylor and others. The case arose out of the deceased Mrs Taylor having made a Will leaving her property to her children after having made a will conjointly with her husband, by which wills each left their property to each other, His Honor grunted probate of the last made will, holding that the'will :made m con jun<stjos with her husband had rot beeo "- 'n'evwib'e- Tl)e plaintiff was granted mT '- ,v ," h '"^'- J costs on the low «, . I

A SAD AFFAIR.

Press Association -By Electric Telegraph, Wellington, April 1. Mrs Hope (wife of Mr Joseph William Hope, a settler m Stokes Valley), her step daughter and a little child were found drowned m the Hutt river to-day. Mrs Hope had driven her husband to the railway station on hie way to Wellington, and was returning home with her stepdaughter and child, when it is supposed the horse jibbed and backed the cart into the river. Wellington, April 2. Further particulars of the remarkable accident which resulted m the drowning of three people m the Hutt river yesterday ' show that a passer-by noticed signs as if something had gone over the bank, and went down to look. Here he saw the cart overturned and all the three bodies jammed clown by the wheel, m about four feet of water. The horse was unhurt, lying with its head out of the water against the bank. The cart had scarcely a scratch, and the fatality is inexplicable, except on the sup; position that the victims were stunned by the fall of about twenty feet. All were quits dead, and probably had been there an hour before they were found. It is under stood that Mrs Hope did not know much about driving, and though tLere was evi dertly plenty of time to have jumped out, it is supposed that m her fright she clung tighter to the reins. She was driving home at the time, and the place where the acci dent occurred is on an incline m the gorge. The horse must have jibbed going up, and backed over the steep bank. Her husband, who had come fco Wellington, knew nothing of what had occurred till he opened the evening paper last night.

LAND FOR SETTLEMENT.

The Allrary Estate.

Another opportunity presents itself for those who wish to acquire agriculturil holdings, m the opening for application of the Albury Estate, which is one of those recently purchased by the Government for this purpose under " The Land for Settle ments Act." This comprises nearly 25,000 i acres, of which 14,141 acres will be offered ' m agricultural farms (74 blocks) ranging from 25 to 990 acres each at rentals of from Is 7|d to 1$ per acre, according fco quality, and 10,568 acres m four small grazing runs ranging from 1955 to 3080 acres, at renta's of from 5d to Is per acre. The land is well known to be generally of fair and m a me parts of excellent quality, and is situated within easy reaoh of the Timaru-Fair.ie branch line of railway Pamphlets contain ing the terms and oosditiona of tenancy, which is under the lease m perpetuity, and forms of application can be obtained at the Land Offices, Christchurch and Timaru. Applications will be received at the Land Offices, Christchurch, Timaru and Albury on Monday, April 12, and the Board will sit to examine applicants at Christchurch on Thursday, April 25, Timaru, Monday, April 19, and Albury, Wednesday, April 21, The ballot to determine the successful applicants is fixed for 10 a.m. ou Thursday, April 22,

KASPAR'S WALLET.

A story is told of a certain English divine, who had an ape*lure cue at the bottom oi his study door to admit of the ingress and egress of a pet car,; and who, when the aforesaid cit became the mother of a family of kit'ens, sent; for the cirpenter to cut a smaller hole to admit them, forgetting thai wi.ere the cat cou'd gtt through the kitten eou;d follow. A somewhat similar confusion of ideas presents itself iv the following paragraph from a recent issue of the Crom well Argus —" We understand that applica tion will be made shortly to have the H*wea Lake opened for netting trout for next seaaoD. The fish m this hike are not only very numerous but are very large, so much so that a 7in mesh wou'd have to bo used to cxtoh them." It does'nt seen: to have stri ok the Argus that if a seven-inch mesh wouid enclose its big fish, so also would a mesh of -malier dimensions.

The end of the " peppermint" is reported to be immiuent, so far as Scotland is cun- Cbrued, Generations of Scotsmen, says the Daily Graphic, have sucked the lozenge assMuously m a thousand kirks every Sabbath day—it is as Scotch as parritch, whu.-ky, Pitkeathly bannocks, and New Year buns ; and it has stood the kirkgoer m better stead than the four put together. A rival is m the field. A wily North-country confectioner, who made a study of the peppermint lozenge, chiefly m reference to its deficiencies for church work, has dis covered that a thin shell of chocolate can be made to contain a globule of whisky, and he is Hooding the market with cubes of choco late charged with Mac Somebody's Beat. They are having an enormous sale, and the confectioners note that by far the greater proportion of it takes place on Saturday nights.

The St. James's Gazette is responsible for the following strange story:—" An elderly woman, of evident refinement and excep tional accomplishments, was discovered by a lady visitor m a London workhouse. She was reticent about her past, but before her death, m he softer surroundings of a home for the djiag, to which she had been re moved, she tod her story. She was a Norwegian, and at 17 was married by her parents to a ban isome, cultured, and devoted husband, and taken to reside m a charming country house, presumably m Norway. The only drawback to her perfect happiness was the frequent abstnce of her husb*ud, which he attributed to business. One day, how ever, came a lawyer, who explained thas the husband would come back no more owing to pressing reasons, and that, m fact, he was the King of . Tha wife, who was no wife, came to London, married an English man, the king died and left her a lump sum, with which the husband bolted, and then, from step to step, the ex-royal favourite came down to the workhouse." Now, perhaps, some maker of court histories will tell ua who the king was.

An esteemed correspondent sends me an extract healed l! A Miser's Evening Prayer," clpped from an old publication, of date January 1, 1798. It justly satirises—if m rather stroug colours—the selfishness of a very considerable proportion of humanity as well as misers m particular. Following is the text :■—" 0 Lord, Thou knowesu that I have nine houses m the City of London, and likewise that I have lately purchased an estate m fee-simple, m the county of Easex ; therefore I beseech Thee to preserve the two counties of Essex and Middlesex from fire and earthquakes. And as I have a mort gage m Hertfordshire I beg of Thee likewise to have an eye of compassion on that coun y. And for all the rest of the counties Thou mayesfc deal with them as Thou art pleased. 0 enable the Bank to answer all their bills, and make all my debtors good men. Give a prosperous voyage and return to the Mermaid sloop, which I have insured. And as Thou haßt sa,id that the days of JJae wicked shall be short, I trust m Thee that Thou wilt not forget Thy promise, having pur chased an estate m reversion of J. C. a profligate young man. I also pray Thee to keep our funds from sinking, and, if it be Thy will, let there be no sinking funds. And keep my son Oileb out of evil company, and game-hou,es; and sanctify this night to me by preserving me from thieves and fire, and make my servants honest and careful, whilst I, Thy faithful servant, Us down m peace. So be it. Amen ! "

Mr Quise Britain, writing under date Christ's College, (Jhristchurch, November 25 1896, scuds the fol'owing to the London Spectator'. —"Sir, —lt maybe thought that the following fthe truth of which I can vouch for) ia worthy of being included among the Spectator's " dog stories " :—Our annual sheep and cattle show has lately been held here. It is the biggest gathering of the kind m New Zealand, and thia year a record was established, there being over twenty housand visitors. In this crowd a friend of mine missed his dog, a Scotch collie, I named "Mike," with whose help some prize | sheep from the " Meadowbank " estate had been brought to the Show Grounds and penned there. Not being able to find the d°g> Wy friend concluded that he had gone to the house where he had been the night before, but upon enquiry found that " Mike " had not dp.n(s go, Upon returning to the Show Grounds he found the dog washing one of tt? Mea.dowba.nk sheep that had jumped out of the pen ; he took no notice of other sheep which were being moved about the grounds, but stuck faithfully to the one truant, which he evidently considered under his care, until relieved of his self-imposed charge by the welcome arrival of his master, who, wich ?' Mike's" he'-p, soon had the wanderer back m the fold again. I after* wards heard that someone had tried to help "Mike" recapture the sheep, but the dog resented the interference, and drove the sheep away from the pens m order to show that he took no ordjsrs from anyone but his own master."

j Babies out Ceylon way are it seems put to a very novel use viz., th'atof baits or decoya for crocodiles. Crocodiles (says Science Sitt ings) like to eat babies, pot their own awk ward offsping, but human darlings, fat and dimpled. Skinny babies are not adapted to the croQodi ian palate and are passed by, almost with scorn. But an alligator will crawl a very loug distance for a fat one. This liking of the saurian for babies ia utilised by hunters m Ceylon to lure the reptiles to their death. A nice, fat baby is tied by the leg to a stake near some pond or lagoon where crocodiles abound. So, soon ma the child begins crying, the sound atttfac s 'hose crocociiles within hearing distance. They start out immediately for the howling infant. The hunter m the meantime con ceals himself m the bushes or swamp grass near the baby, with a rifle m his hand pro jecting out almost over the child. He re remains perfectly quiet and-ihe reptile, in tent on its prey, notices nothing but the screaming pid kicking child. As the alli gator approaches to within a ieW feet of fihe succulent bait, the hunter sends a bullet directly i sto the hungry monster's eye, causing instant death. A miss would mean death for the infant—death m its most ghastly form—but the hunters are expert shots, and at the short distances at which they fire, a miss is next to impossible. As a rule the sound of the firearm frightens the baby worse than the proximity of the cro codile's jaws and the rows of sharp and glistening teeth; but, after being shot ov^r a few limes, the child takes the shootins; as a matter of course and pays little attenti n t,o it. So expert are many of the him era that they do not shoot the alligator until it has approached to within several feet of the bitby Then, with but a few inches of space between the muazle of the rifle and the eye j of the alligator, a shot is fjred that enda the existence of the reptile and saves the child. A recent issue of a Ceylon newspaper con tained the following advertisement: — "Wanted—Some very fa 1; children as bait for crocodile hunting 1; we guarantee to re turn them safe and sound to the homes of the parents — *pply, -," This start ling advertisement, which ia inserted m all seriousness, makes its appearance regularly m the Ceylon papers and is said to be pro ductive of good results. But the Cingalese mothprs must surely be different from most mothers; or e'se they have an extraordi narily high opinion of the ability and skill of the men who hunt crocodiles with human j ait- Kaspak, * '

WEDDING.

Osborne Horsey.

A very pretty wedding took place at Wil lowby on Wedaes-d.y afternoon, (he ecu. tracting parties bei. g Mr H. H. Oaborne, second son of Mr James Osborne, T&i Tttpo, and Mies E. M. Horsey, fourth daughter of Mr E Horsey, Willowby, and the Key 0. Abernethy the officiating minister. The bride looked charming m a i;eat grey tw.ed dress trimmed with silk and pa?sementerie, and the orthodox veil and wreith of orange blossoms, and cirr ed a choice bouquet of white flowers and maiden hair ferns. Four bridesmaids were ia attendance and were very tastefully attired ; Mias Osborne, filter of the bridegroom, and Miss Chapman, niece of the bride, wearing grey dresses trimmed with blue silk, and the Misses Cameron (2), cousins of the bride, green dresses trimmed with white laoe and ribbon. They each carried beautiful bouquets of white flowers. Vfr M. E. Osborne, brother of the bride groom, officiated as beat man. After the ceremony the wedding breakfast was partaken cf and the usual toasts duly honored. The happy couple left by tha express en tovte for the North Island amidst the beat wishes of their many friends. lh« bride's travelling dress was a shot blue and brown tweed, trimmed with navy blue silk. 1 he guests were entertained by the brioVi paren am the evening; when games, music, and dancing were ktpt up for several hours. The presents were both numerous and valu able.

COUNTY COUNCIL.

The usual monthly meeting of the Ashbur ton County Council was held to-day Pre sent—Messrs E. G. Wright, M.H.R.. (chairman), 0. J. Harper, Edward Herring, Stephen S. Chapman, Matthew Stitt, Edward Richards, James Johnsto"n t Donald Williamson, and Duncan Cameron. chairman's statembkt. i The Chairman's statement was read aa under :—The Minister of Justice writes to say that he cannot see his way to comply with the Council's request for the police to coutitme to sell dog collars after the 31st ulto. The fines for tampering with water races have now all been paid. I have arranged with Messrs Garrick and Co. for the amount to be paid for the 2£ acres of l*nd at the mill iutike, Wakanui creek The traffic returns of the Mount Somers tramway for the year ending 31st December last are phced on the table for the Council's perusal. The amount of £75 promised by the Government for the Ruapuna village settlement water supply has been placed to the Council's credit. All the old timber at the back of the office and sixteen cords of brush wood, Tinwald plantation, have been sold. A deputation from the Hampatead Town Board will interview the Council to-day on the subject of Markey's bridge. The amount of £3149 4s lOd has been paid on account of 1896 rates, leaving' £390 lla 5d outstanding, which should be got m without delay. With regard to the rate for 1894 5 the sum of £3645 8s 4d has been paid, and £82 4i lid only i« outstanding, engineer's kepokt. The Engineer's report was read aa follows :— Ashburfcon-Eangitata Water Supply.— All fhe races supplied from the Aehburton main are running to their lower end, but are nevertheless much overgrowfi m many places, and th» haif-yearly overhaul Bhould certainly be comrueucod not later than 3r<J May. The supplies from Hinds Gorge and Limestone Creek are now just about suffi cient for the races depending on them, but as yet there is hardly any surplus for'the pond services. With reference to the pro* posed reservoir on limestone creek, I marked off the boundaries of the land proposed to be acquired, extending m all to about 90 acres, This includes a considerable area at the upper end to provide for future contingent heightening of the reservoir, and which would practically cover the whole available extent of basin. Iv accordance with yonr instructions, J sent to the trustees of th^ Anama Estate, for valuation purposes, a tracing showing the reserve proposed to be made. Having recently inspected various other poiuts on the line of the creek, I am satibfisd that a better site for conservation purposes cannot be found, Some two miles higher up, near the southern boundary of R.S. 24752, a similar dam, 6£ chain* long, might be constructed at about the same coat; but it would cover only 9 acres, and would" contain scarcely more than one week's supply, as against an estimated six weeks' supply on the site proposed. Another branch of the creek runs through said section 24752. At about half a mile above the junction point, some storage could be obtained by a dam 200 feet m length,, yielding & supply to last about five days. It is apparent, there fore, that no advantage would be gained by chotSsing either of these Bites. I may also state that on account of the height of the intervening ground (m this locality) between the Creek and the South Hinds river, a raoe could not be led out there which would be of any benefit to the properties opposite, on the south side of the river. Aa to the question of storage m Hinds Gorge, I find, after inspecting j),nd taking/ levels, thai there is no natural site available which coald be made to contain more than about a day's supply. The gully to the north of K.B. 25046 is the beat available, but it ia "V shaped, and the water race which runa thr< ugh the gully has a fall varying from two feet to four feet per chain. There is no capacious basin on the line of the river itself, and had there been, the geneial con i ditioßS and declivity there are such that it would, m a very short time, be filled with I shingle and detritus from the gorge, Abhburton-Rakaia Water Supply.-—There. is a fair supply throughout the ciistrief; generally, but some of the races, especially m the Seayiew district, aseso fpul that sotne ! of the settlers near the sea have m con sequence had a short supply for the !asb fortnight. Meantime, J am having some i clearances made, until the water ia shut off for overhaul, which should be as soon as poaUMe. Ab to the grant of £25 for improvement of the race from Rakaia river, I have arranged that the work will be done when the water is shut off, and will, during the month, mark off the nine miles of new races which the Doric settlers were author ised to make, In regard to the petition for a sub tantial increase of supply from the Rakaia river at Acton, ifc appears to me that if an} tbiug further ia to be done it must be on (he lower line as referred to m my. last report. For the upper line, you Will observe from the accompanying correspondence, th&ti Mr Willia <r White, senr., altogether depre« oates any connection with any raoe emanat ing from the Rakaia river m that locality, and there are difficulties at other points which wouid imply something more than cost of construe; ion. If any further expendi ture therefore is to be made, its exte&t and allocation would have to be fixed. The oon nection between the north a»i j south branches of the Ashburton river has still to be main fcained.as the former of itself fs n6t gufficidnfi to supply the Wakanui creek. ■'■ Mount Somers and Aahburton Forks. A good supply cpHtinues to circulate through* out these districts. " County Bridges.—The repairs of Pudding Hid bridge have been oompleted, and I hav§ arranged for necessary repairs of trusses. South Ashburton bridge, Mount Somers. Small repairs have been executed on other bridges. As requested, I prepared plans and estimate for the Wakanui Road Board for bridges over the Wakanui creek—one on Stanley road and one on Christie's road, of concrete, but it appears the Board is not like y to build them. Kyle Cemetery.—l have prep&red a plan for the use of the trustees, and have marked off several plots as requested. , [ County Plantation^. —The- jwfc very dry I season has not only interfeied, gte*t|y witH the growth of gains town last Spring, but his also killed many trees m the older plan tacions. If all these, and all previous thin portions, are to be made up, the numbers shown m the accompanying list will be re quired. Hitherto the trees planted m May h>ive been the mist successful, and this question of planting should now be con* aidered, co th*t tenders may be obtained for npxt meeting Poisoned M Grain.-rr Tenders for grafs, strychnine, etc., will be placed before |:y«ft to-day. All arrangements have been made for preparing the grain, so that the process may be completed this month during fine weather, and the grain be ready for disfcri butiou during the winter months. — [Pressure on our spice compels us to hold oyw tlje remafßdjr pj the proqeed.in.gs, \

*Hl!l ABHBOBtON GtJAKDiAN : FKIDA^, APEIL % 1891



The Quean has sixty-three descendant living-=ssyea children, thirty-three grand children, and" tweiaty-tfyrte pf the nejft geueration t



Foa Indigestion, the best remedy is un do ibtedly Norton's Camomile Pills, They caiv confidently be recommended as being mild m operation and absolutely free from injurious drugs. Acting at once as a Bplen di'l tonic and a gentle aperient. For Rearly 100 yeara they have proved UjCequalleV for rndigestion, Dyppepsia, eick Headache and or Liver and Stomach complaints. Sold m bottles Is l|d, 2a 9d, and 11b, by all Modi c-no Vendors throughout the wsrl', A



I Vim try %bs tftp Vmw Tebaew



Business Notices NEW ZEALAND Clothing Factory. i APENING UP NEW GOODS EVEEY WEEK. SO Empty Packing Cases For Sale, Cheap. it I H X O gel _^« ? I « Ch s I.- .^ o O ill^ll |g 1 il!i 3E s gi 3 His s gi »« ri w i— *« a e$ i } ■ - -<i THE ENCHANTED SWING. THE GREATEST SCIENTIFIC ILLUSION OF THE AGE. rriHE ENCHANTED SWING has been JL erected on the site opposite the SALVATION ARMY BARRACKS, OPEN E VKRY SATURDAY AFTERNOON at 2.30. Admission—Sixpence.



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



Business Notices, LOOK OUT. G. J. NEILL —IS SELLING— Table Damask at Is per yard Twill Sheeting, 2 yards wide, white or' grey, 9-|d Turkish Towels, 6d each Cretonne 3~d Flannelettes, 2s lid per dozen; G. J. W lLh I s S ELLtNG~ Mgl's Heavy Tweed Suits at 21s 6d, wonderful value; Boys Suits, Is lid Men's Tweed Trousers, 5s lid BOOTS. BOOTS. Men's Nail SHOOTERS 7s lid. Women's SHOES 4s lid Men's BLUCHERS 4s lid. Women's Lace SHOES 4a lid The Cheapest Boots m Ashburton are to be got at G. J. NEILL'S, FRIEDLANDER'S CORNER, EAST STREET. AUTUMN AND WINTER SHIPMENTS—IB 97. GRAND DISPLAY. OUK PREMISES are stocked throughout with the moat COMPLETE ASSORTMENT of USEFUL, SEASONABLE, AND FASHIONABLE DRAPERY To be found m South Canterbury. Splendid Stock of BLANKETS, FLANNELS, and PLANNELETrES AT BEDROCK PRICES. Ladies'and Children's MACKINTOSHES a Specialty—guaranteed to keep out the rain French and English MILLINERY, FLOWERS, RIBBONS, &c. Handsome CAPES, JACKETS, and MANTLES. DRESS GOODS m Endless Variety. Everything NEW and' UP-TO-DATE, and the BEST VALUE IN THE TRADE. W. H. COLLIER, "THE COENE K." AUTUMN AND WINTEB NOVELTIES. GRAND SPECIAL DISPLAY AT MITCHELL & TURNER'S. MANTLES— MILLINERY JACKETS WATERPROOFS CLOAKS FUR BOAS CAPES UNDERCLOTHING' IMPOBTANT ANNOUNCEMENT TO LADIES,— IN PURSUANCE of oar policy m keeping our Business well to the tront, we have decided to add a FIRST CLASS DRESSMAKING DEPARTMENT to our Establishment. We have secured the services of Miss Hill, a lady of unquestioned ability, who brings with her credentials of the highest order from MKSSRS W. STRANGE & CO. S m whose Workrooms Bhe has been engaged for over seven years. Our object is to supply our Customers with Stylish an i Well-made COSTUMES at a Moderate Price, and every possible effort will be given to make our NEW DEPARTMENT an unqualified success. We have already booked & number of Orders, and expect a very full season. Miss Hill will be pleased to receive intending Patrons on and after FRIDAY, March 26. MITCHELL AND TURNEB, TANORED STREET.