BIRTH.

Who ugh.on —January 21, at Union Bank, Ashburton, the wife of Cecil F. M. Wroughton, of a son.

Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 1897. OLD AGE PENSIONS.

In the previous article on "The Ages of the People" it is incidentally shown that to provide a pension of 10s per week for all persona in this colony of sixty rive years of age and upwards, would mean an annual expenditure of £458,692, and for all persons over sixty an annual sum of £801,346. These are formidable figures, and there are those in this colony who laugh to scorn the bare idea of an old ag< pension scheme for New Zealand, as one of the most absurd and Utopian proposals made in thia century of wonderful things. But in spite of these nil admirari gentlenieH, a numerous body of people are sanguine of the possibility of such; a^ scheme being found workable. And at Home, too, this idea has taken a strong hola upon many. Some people fancy that (he proposal to institute old age pensions is quite new, and that if attempted to be carried out either here or at Home, the British empire will have been the first to mane the attempt This, however, is only a fancy, as an article in the National Review abundantly shows. The writer is Mies Edith Sellers, and her subject is " Old age pensions in Denmark." The article is sufficient answer to those who speak of an old age pension scheme as a fad and Utopian, for it is descrip tive of the working of such a scheme actually in operation. And Denmark is a couutry whose people are entitled to more than respect, for the energetic Danes have given the whole world a lesson in industry and enterprise, in the matter of the dairying industry, which they have cultivated to such an extent that they actually head, if they do not rule, the London butter market. This fact is a strong commentary on what agricultural Britain and her agricultural colonies are doing in this direction ; and if Denmark can show us the way in such a matter as the dairy industry, her old age pension idea, successfully realised, ought to command attention. Miss -oilers informs us that "in the spring of 1891 the Danish Government an nounced their intention of levying a tax oo lager beer; whereupon the Radical Opposition declared that, as this tax would fall irost heavily on the working-classes, tbe money it yielded ought to be devoted to benefiting this section of the community, and, with I he help of M. Marcus Rubin, the well known economist, they drew up a scheme for the spending A it on pro viding old-age pensions for workmen.''

I he Act is a short one, covering but a single page of foolscap The relief is only to be given to native-born Danes, Hud ia withheld from anyone who has " undergone sentence for ri any,transac tion generally accounted dishonorable, and in respect of which he has not re ceived rehabilitation." Nor will the tension be allowed to anyone who has deprived himself of hisown means for the benefit of hia children, v. r ;.„ wasted his uteaps by extravagance or v. ,iUfo tiurly mode ox life, or whose poverty has been in other ways brought about by his own fault. Another provision re quires a ten years fixed residence in the co_ntry during which time he roust not have received poor-law relief or have been found guilty of vagrancy or begging Miss Sellers pointy out that this is the first time in modern times

that an attempt has been made to dis criminate by legislation between pau pers and paupers. The D*neg thus leave the poor-law as it stands for the thriftless poor, for whom the work house is the last refuge in life, but «! the respectable poor, on the contrary, are treated not as paupers at all, but as pensioners; and everything that can be done is done to prevent the help they receive entailing on them any humiliation or disgrace. They forfeit none of thejir rights as citizens by accepting old-age relief j *they may continue to vote at elections, if f;Vy choose, and so far as the law goes there is nothing to hinder them from even playing a part in public life. Then they fyg-ve no dealings whatever with relieving officers, or other Poor Law authorities, but have officials o£ their own to take care of them. It is especially enacted, too, , that no part of the cost of their relief shall ever be defrayed out of tljfl poor rate; tho necessary money must be raised by the joint feontrjbu lions of the State—the proceeds of the be@r tax— and of the* communes to which the recipients of it belong. With regard to the relief itself, it is decreed that it must be sufficient for the support of the person relieved, and of his family, and for their treatment in case of sickness, but it may be given in money or in kind, as circumstances require, or consist in free admission to a suit able aayln^o or other establishment intended for that purpose." The communal authorities administer the law, but in Copenhagen it is done by the Town Council, or rather by a sub comnjlttep of it, who have three in spectors whose iktixe Je wholly devoted to looking after old age pension reci pients and applicants. For such pensioajarp as have no one to care for 'them, and are too feeble to take care of themselves, old-age homes are pro vided, $nd these are so well-conducted and the old people so well oared for in them, that the Czar, afc the request of i he Ocarina, sent a special commissioner to study their working, with a view to imitating them in Russia. The highest annuity ever granted in the city is £10 16s a year, and the pension may be forfeited by misconduct, or by marriage, if that involves the need of increased aid. The measure was a bit of a "leap ia the &*s" but out of a population in Copenhagen of 100,0,00, there applied for aid in 1892 only 5389 persons, and only 4320 got it. The njumberp $?ere on January 1, 1893, 4QO§ pensioners (1221 men and 2J85 ammen), on January 1, 1894, &572, andwVwaaryl, 1895,4635 (1382 men wd £-& TO^' wit^ l]W persons dependent fa til^ J!f^ amount of the State gra^^M IJ* which is distributed proportion*^ W

the local expenditure. ~o far only half that amount has been paid annually, but this year the whoie sum will go. The am.unt of relief given under this law in Copenhagen, exclusive of tbe c.'Sfc of administration, was in 1892, £25,140 (£9899 from the State, £15,241 from the Oity), in 1893,

£33,709, and in 1894, £34,218. Since

this law has been in operation there has been in Copenhagen a considerable decrease in the amount spsnt on pauper relief ; in 1892, a decrease of £4883 ; in 1893, of £3819; in 1894, £4415, as compared with 1891, and making no allowance for the great growth in population during these years.

Local and General.

I The report of the racing at Wellington will be iouud on the fourth page.

The New Zealand Herald reports that recently Mr H. O -tea, of Parkvale, had three horses badly gored by a bull.

Another Japanese diver has died at Thurs \ day Island from the effects of diving in deep water.

The gr_ad-daughter of the late Baron Hirach is heir to £20,000,000, which will yield about £2000 a day of income.

_..■ Before the close of the annual meeting of the Presbyterian Church last evening a sum of £20 was voted to the Rev Mr Inglis to enable him to take a holiday.

At the Savage Club the other night a well-known dramatic critic was asked hi? opinion of a new play. * Its nude, crude and rude,' was the sententious reply.

The Taranaki Chamber of Commerce has decided to urge the Government to fiud an adequate amount for the expenses of send ing a flax expert to Great Britain and America.

The Bruce Herald states that the other morning a fisherman at Catlins found six sharks and two small fish in his net. The largest shark was sft 6in in length.

At Paeroi yesterday a man named Marcus McDowa'l was fined £45 and costs for having 1544 smuggled cigars in hia possession. The alternative was six months iv gaol.

The Kaiora, seven months and two days out from Glasgow, was yesterday signalled off Cape Maria van Dieman. A tug went out to meet her and tow her into Auckland.

A splendid flow of artesian water has been struck on the Willows property of the Bank of New Zealand, Giaborne, at a depth of 230 ft. The flow equals 10,050 gal per diem, and rises Bft above the surface.

Phylloxera has been discovered in another vineyard near Liverpool (Mew South Wales). The inspector has condemned the vines, and taken precautions to prevent the spread of ihe disease.

Wallace, a New York lion, has had one of his teeth pulled by a local veterinary surgeon. The tooth was five inches in length, and had to be loosened with a hammer and chisel before the great yank took place.

A meeting of the subscribers to the late cricket match, Queensland v. Ashburton, will be held in the County Council Chambers ou Friday evgoing, at eight o'clock, to receive the treasurer's balance sheet and wind up the. business.

Mark Twain, being called upon to respond to a toast at an anniversary celebration of the •* Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company" in their native land, expressed his admiration in the following characte ristic sentence; "If you fight aa well as you eat, Beavsn have mercy upon the enemy."

Says the Taieri Advocate.— The wheat crop in the Tokomarko district promises to be very abundant tiiis year; a standing advertisement of the value of lime. The railage of lime at the very lowest possible rates is an item the Government must pay every attention to. A well-attended meeting of the teachers of the Primitive Methodist Sunday school was held on Tuesday evening, the Rev J. Olphert presiding. It was decided that the prizes be distributed on the afternoon of Sunday, February 28, and that the treat be held on March 4, at Elgin, in a paddock kiudly lent by Mr George Lamb. Not everyone in a colonial town of the age of Aahburton cau say— : as Mr Andrew Orr was able to say ]$st night at the annual meeting of the Presbyterian Ciiureh—that ho had been a member of the Church com mit tee for twenty years, and of that time twelve years Church treasurer. Mr Orr was in Ashburton when the Church was built.

The New Zealand 'limes states that about £60,000 worth of rolling otock ia being constructed in the* various Government rail way workshops at the present time for the lines of the Colony, The new pUnt com prises locomotives, cars and waggons, and these are neoesaary to meet the growing de? minds of traffic.

A meeting of the Wesleyau Christian Endeavor Socie'y was held on Wednesday evening when there was a fair attendance. Mr H- Steel re>igned his position as con vener of the Look-out Committee, and Miss Emiiy Potter was appointed in his place. Mr Steel gave an interesting paper on "The Life of John esley" Greetings were re ceived from the J-t Paul's (Christchuroh) Society.

Mr Tipler, of Laithfield, informs the Press th»it,t})e ladybird have been spoiling bis crops of young' parrots and mangolds. At the crown of tho bulbs, when >hey firmed, theinst'cts. Mr Tipler states, ate of £he young leaves, and the crop* have not come t'« maturity. As the ladybirds were sup posed to confine their attention to aphis, out correspondent would be gad if anyone can give him any explanation or recommend ", a remedy to save the carrots and turnips.

An Auckland telegram says that Mr David Giaig, who has been acting general manager of tho N.Z. Insurance Company for some months pasfcj has been appointed general nvwager of the Company, and pro ceeds to Dunedin to aitend the Conference of N.Z fi-e underwriters. Mr Craig was for many ye^ra treasurer to the Canterbury A. and P. Association, a»d left Christchurch only a few months ago. Many 4shbnrton friends will hear of his promotion with pUasure,

The champion conscientious man of the Co ony lives in the Nelson district. At a meeting of a local body up that way, a rate payer wrote that he had had dogs iv his possession for the last year or two, and the collector had not come near him. The chairman said this was a new sensation. The members survived the shock, and reco'ved to ask the collector for an explana tion,"

Writing of the female vote at jlaat general election the Auckland Herald 'says' 7:—-It was thought that when women exerci-e'd the franchise the vast majority of their votes would be given to candidates who would pledge themselves to abolish the liquor traffic, la t'arneJJ, the majority of women must have Voted for the mos. pronounced opponent in Parliament of the Prohibi tionists. It is cleir also, from the fate of Mr Wi,thy ? th it the female vote is against, land nationalisation,

We are in receipt of the first two numbers of Wideawake" a new weekly published in Auckland (price 2d), in the interest of poultry, pigsop, and dog-fanciers. It has an " enchange and mart 7' column through whish articles of every description maybe advertised for sale or exchange. l<ach paper also contains a coupon of insurance for £100 in the New Zealand Accident Insurance Company. Our young con temporary appears iv very creditable guise, and has our best wishes for its succe s.

| There was a very narrow escape from a I serioua collision between a railway engine ' and a tramcar at thp Ad lington railway I crossing on Wednesday morning. Jjjat aa the horses iv the car hd crossed the first set of rails the driver s*w an engine approaching on the centre line, and with great pre6e__e of mind he laid the whip on to his horses arid succeeded ■ m getting the tram, which co_taln_d 'over * twebiy; pass ugers, over the crossing just a. the engine oame Up and graged the back of the '«& '""" "' ' " |

COMMERCIAL.

LONDON WOOL SALES.

London, January 19

The wool sales opened to-day with a fl»t market. Prices declined about five per cent. At to-daj''s wool sales Messrs Charles Balme and Buxton and Jdcombe catalogued 9529 bales, The selection was poor. There „ as a good attendance of buyers, but a, drag ging sale so far as competition was con cerned, and much was withdrawn. Good merinos fell 6 per cent and faulty 1_ per cent below the December closing rate?. Crossbred 11 auged from par to 5 per cent lower, but the finest declined most.

The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, have received the following Londou cable message, dated 19th January, 1897 :— " Wool—the sales opened at an average decline of about 5 per cent on list sales' closing rates, except for crossbred, for which the market is easier. Attendance of both Hume and foreign buyers is good and competition fairly active. There is a want ot confidence in the bidding. The total quantity available, including wool held over f'om last series, ia 358,500 bales, of which 95,000 bales have been forwarded to the manufacturing districts direct."

AUSTRALIAN MARKETS.

Sydney, January 20. Wheat, chick, prime 4s; milling, local 4s 9d to 4a 10J. Oats, prime feeding 2s. 4d. Barley, Cape 2s 3d. Peas, Prussian blue* 4s 9d. Potatoes, local £110 ito £2 ss. 0 ions, Victorian, £6. Butter, dairy 6d to 6£d; iictory 7d to 7£d. Cheese, New Zealand, 4d to 4_d, Bacon, 5d to 6d. Hams, New Zealand 9d.

Melbourne, January 20. Wheat, 5a 10_<l. Oats, f<eding. 2s Id to 2a 4d; milling, 2a 4_d to 2s 6d. Barley, Cape, 3a 2d to 3s 3d. Potatoes, 45a. Onions, £5 10a. Adelaide, January 20 Wheat, 5s 9d.

The Press of yesterday reports '• —

The is nothing fresh to report in grain since Saturday, business being practically at a standstill until the new crop is more ex tensively placed on the market. There is a good enquiry for extra machine dressed old pasture ryegrass for autumn sowing iv the North Island,

The following are current prices paid to farmers, f.0.b., Lyttelton, except where otherwise specified :—-

Wheat.—Pearl (prime milling), 4i 5d to 4s 6d, Tuscan, 4s 3d to 4<> 4d ; Hunter's, 4s 3d to 4s 4d; good seconds, 3s 4d to 3s Bd. Oats.—Prime milling, 2s Id ; good stout feed, Is lid j fair short feed, Is IQd ; Duns, ls lid to 2s, Danish, ls 10J.

Barley.—Prime malting, 3a 4d to 3s 6d ; medium do. 3s ; feed, 2% to 2s 3d.

Beans—Well saved 2a Bd. Peas.—Blue Prussians (nominal), 4s to ss, feed varieties, 3s to 3s 6d.

Oatsheaf Chaff.—(Nominal.)

Grass Seed.—Ryegrass, farmers' lots 2s 3d to 2i 9J, machine-dressed 3s bi to 3s9d, and heavy shotty sedupto 4s Cocksfoot, (nominal), 3d to 3£d, town machine-dressed, 161b seed 4|d, 171 o seed 5d to s|d. Cow grass (oominal) 5d to 6d. White clover (nominal) 6d to 7_-d. Alsyke (nominal) 5d to 6J,

Daiky Pkodpck. —Cheese 3d to 4d, loaf 3_d to 4|cT. Buoter—Factory 9d, dairy 6d to 7d, salt (in boxes) 5i to 6d. Bacon 6|d, do. roll 6_d to 7d; hams7_T.

The Lyttelton limes reports :—

Inquiries for email lots of wheat still con tinue to come from North Island centres tending to show thab there is no surplus grain in store there, aud millers are evi dently buying just enough to enable them to hold on until the ntw grain comes into the market. Local millers are holding off for the same reason, bu!- owing to the con tinued dry wea'her prices arc firm at quotations. The same remarks apply to the oat market. Several lines of old stocks have changed hands for feed, but buyers seem inclined, where not torced to buy for immediate requirements', to await the open ing of the present season's market. Prices for barley have hardened considerably duriog the past week, and several large lines have changed bands at from 3s 6d to 3s 8 i f.o.b , which previously could not command these figures. Maltsters are aho making inquiries for new grain, and any good samples should Had a ready sale if early in the market. The hopes of ryegrass growers have been somewhat damped by the report that very large stocks of old season's seed are held in the south.

The following are current prices :— Wheat—Pearl (prime milling), 4s 7_d ; Tuscan, 4s 5d to 4s 6d ; Hunter's, 4s 5d to 4s 6d ; good seconds, 3s 4d to 3s Bd.

Oats—Canadians (milling), 2e Id ; stoit feed, 2-i; Duns and Danish, Is lOd,

Bakley—Malting, prime, 3s 4d to 3s 6d ; medium do, 2s 4d to 2s lOd ; feed, 2s to 2s 2d.

Beans, 2s Bd.

Oatsheaf Chaff—Nominally 40s to 42s 6d at handy country stations for prime samples.

Grass Seed —Ryegrass, farmers' lots, 2t 4d Co 2- lOd ; m >chine dressed 3s 9dj heavy weight 4s to 4s 31. Cocksfoot, farmers' lines 31 to 3,§1, town machine dressed 4£d to sd. Cowgiass, farmer."-' lines 41 to 6_d. White c'o^er 6d to B£d. Alsyke 5d to 6d.

Dairy Produce— Cheese 3d t> 4d, loaf 3_d to 4§ '. Butter—Fresh factory 9d, p ime dairy 6d to 7d, salt (in boxes) 6d to 7d. Bacon and hams 6_J to 7_d,

ADDINGTGN MARKET.

Christchurch, January 20. The market was moderately supplied, and fcradte was not brisk.

Fat Cattle.—The yarding comprised 179 heaw, a mixed entry, mc udihg a fair pro portion of useful steers. Prices were even weaker than late valu s, the best beef fetch ing 17s to 18s, medium to good 15j to 16s 6d, cow and inferior from 123 6d upwards. Seers sold at from £5 5s to £7 7s. heifers £4 17s 6d to £6 7a 6d, cows £3 10s to £6 10s. '

Fat Sheep.—The entry of mutton was small, and consisted chiefly of butchers' sorts. These met a fair demand, and a slight improvement upon the previous week's prices was obtained, Pat Lambs. —With a smaller entry than of late, c.repetition was fairly active for both 1 cal trade and export lines. Lambs suitable for freezing fetched 9s 6d to. lis 4d, very few, however, exceeding 10s 6J ; other lots from 7s 6d upwards.

Store Sheep.—About 2000 store sheep and lambs were penned. The demand showed some slight return of animation, and a fair amount of business took place at the following prioes :~-Crossbred wethers, four tooth, 9s ; two-tooth, 5s 9d to 7s 9d ; lamb j in gnod condition, 6s 9d to 7s. Pigs. —There was a good entry in both numbers and quality. Fat pigs met an indifferent demand f and prices receded somewhat from those current the previous week, the highest priGe quotable for baeoners and porkers being 3^d per lb. There was keen competition for stores, of which a good line fetched 245.

THE FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

j The premier hearing that Messrs F. C. rjermuin and Charles £iaelsberger, two Austrian gentlemen representing several large Auatrjan importers of frozen meat Were making inquiries io the other Austra lasian Colonies respecting the eupply and prices of frozen meat, sent an invitation to them to visit New Zealand, and make them selves acquainted with its capacities as a frozen meat, producer, and promising every assistance from the Government in their in vest iga* ions. A reply has just been re oeived from the gentlemen m ntioned, stating that they are unable at present to fix a date for visiting this colony, but. accepting with thanks the Premier's invifca tion, and promising to communica'e a date ; on which 'hey intend leaving for New Zo v'and. On the arrival of these gentle ien iv th* colony, the Government will eive them every facility to procure $!) possible.infor mation ou the subject. The importer^ represented by thess • gentleman are inter-; eyed in the supply of fr< zen m< at to m»' y of the large centres of population in ustria and Hungary, and the acquisition by this colony of such a large market would be of j

FIRE.

Shortly before six o'clock yesterday evening both fire bells rang energetically, and very soon both the steam fire engine and the curricle from the Western station were on the way to Moore street, the scene of the fire being the resi dence of Mr A. H. Shury, an eight roomed house. The fire had evidently originated somewheie near the ceiling of the kitchen, but had not got a very strong hold when it was discovered. Bnt the location of the fire wcis diflicult to get at, and before it was completely subdued sufficient damage was j done to necessitate a new roof being put j upon tbe building, and the re-ceiling of all j the rooms. Ail the furniture was got out, I so that there was no loss in this direction by fire, though the hurried removal was bound to cause a good deal of minor damage, and internally the house suffered considerably in the fittings from the deluge of water that was promptly poured upon the burning portion. The water supply was all that could be d sired on this occasion, both for readiness and abundance, and once the two engines get to work the Brigade showed what they could do, for the fire was ex tinguished in twenty minutes work, and the shell of the building was saved. Ihe curricle engine waa promptly manned to begin with, but those who essayed the work of pumping complain that there was diffiuity in getting many of the able-bodied bystanders to re lieve them, several who were asked declining to do so. The insurances were—on the building, £250 in the South British ; on the furniture £500 in the Alliance.

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Annual Meeting.

The annual meeting of tbe Ashburton Presbyterian congregation was held in the Church last evening—Rev. G. B. Inglis, pastor, presiding. Holidays and harvest interfered with the attendance, and in the course of the Chairman's introductory re marks he made reference to the fact that the annual rmeting was held at the wrong time. The Church year closed with the ordinary year, and the Ueuer-1 Assembly met next month, before whom the Church's accounts had to be kid ; but there was no reason why the annual meeting of the congregation should be held just at a time when few of the members could attend. This would be a subject for the committee to consider. The rev. Chairman read the

REPORT OF KIRK SESSION, which stated that all the regular services of the church had been carried on without intermission, and went on—"Both on the Sabbath and during the week the minister his been in his place, visiting the sick, and the famiiies connected with the congregation, presiding at the various pivyer meetings, young people's meetings, and Baud of Hope, and generally attending to all the interests of the church aud congregation. During the year a Commission of Presbytery visited ' the Ashburton church, met with the elders and m-inagers, and inquired minutely into all matters affecting the spiritual and temporal welfare of the congregation. They expressed entire satisfaction with the state ot matters aa disclosed to them, suggesting only that additional elders should be elected to aid in carrying on the spiritual work of the church. Since last report was submitted eight persons have been received into the membership of the church on profession of their faith, and seven by certificate from other churches. During the year-we lo>t eleven members, some by death and some by removal to other districts. The sacrament of the Lord's supper has been administered quarterly, and a fair average number of the members have availed themselves of the trivilege of sitting down at the Table of the iord. The sacrament of baptism has been administered to twenty-six children during the ye^r, and . the Session are specially pleased io note that there is a growing willingness on the part of parents to bring their infant children to the House of God to be solemnly dedicated to Him in baptism. Evangelistic meetings were held in Aah burton during the month of December, and it is honed that, similar meetings will be held in'Wakanui, and be a means of •spiritual blessing to those who attend them. The young girls' Dorcas Society lias met regularly every month to tew for the poor, and they have given sub stantial and timely help to many deserving cases. They themselves subscribe the funds to carry on their work, and gladly receive any gifts of old clothes or material suitable for their purpose. There are nineteen names on the roll of member ship, aud any who would like to join will be J heartily welcomed. The Ladies' Missionary J Society has also met every month, and a | great many useful articles have been made, i which will be sent by and by to the New Hebrides, to be used by our missionaries in their work among the natives. They also take an interest in the Zenana and Maori missions, and iv all the work of the church. We have three Sunday schools, with 257 children on the roll. There are 24 teachers, but more are needed, and this department of church work is earnestly commended to those who are capable of giving religious instruct ioD, in the hope that they will come and lend a hand in teaching the children the truths of the Bible. The thanks of the congregation are due to the managers, the ladies, tJjeSabbath school teachers, organists, and choirs, in Ashburton and Wakanui, who have helped in many ways to further the interests of the church. All the work has gone on quietly and unostentatiously, and we trust and believe that the blessing of God has not been withheld." 'Ihe report was adopted. FINANCE COMMITTEE. The Finanoe Committee submitted its report and annual balance sheet. In the former, which was read by Mr H. W. Barrett, refetenoe was made to the satisfac tory balance sheet, (submitted by Mr A. Orr, the treasurer), the year having closed with a substantial balanoe in hand to credit. The church brgm had been rebuilt, tuned, cleaned, and raised on a platform, to the advantage of the church psalmody. The church grounds had been cleared of poplar and o- her trees, which had become too large and their roots troublesome, and shrubs, etc., had been planted instead. The Com mittee had decided to confine their efforts this year for the Manse debt extinction to a general canvass of the congregation for subscriptions. The mortgage of £600 held over the Manse by Rev A. M. Beattie had been all paid off, and the sum of £300 arranged for on loan at 5 per cent, so that the annual interest payable would now be only £15 as against £39 in former years. The report then made regretful reference to the resignation of Miss Orr as organist, whoße services had been highly appreciated by the congregation, and mentioned that a sub-committee had been appointed to arrange for a successor. It was mentioned that half an aore of land had been secured on the west side of the church by Mr W. Baxter, and it was hoped that later on the congregation would be able to take it over as a site for a new church or Sunday school building This report waa also adopted, grateful compliments being paid to Miss Orr for her services as organist;

' SUNDAY SCHOOL. Satisfactory Sunday school reports having been submitted and adopted, the congrega tion proceeded with the •ELECTION 0_ OFFICEBSARERS, whose work had luen so satisfactory during the past year that all were reelected, ' 1 HONORARIUM. The sum of £20 was vbte'd to the Rev Mr Inglis, in part acknowledgment of the service he had rendered to the church. j

The Übual votes of thanks having been passed, a welcome cup of tea was handed round, and the meeting closed.

Ashburton to the West Coast.

The following notes of a recent trip from Ashburton to tbe West Coast have been for warded to us for publication by one of the party;—

The yard at the Somerset stables presented a busy appearance on tbe morning of January 4, when five Ashburtonites packed their pro visions, tents, blankets, and other impedi- Imeuta into Newman's* cabriolet which Wm* to be driven by the genUi Johnny himself to the West Coast. Shortly after 9 a.m. a start was made, bread was procured at * Bryant's, a couple of carrier pigeons at Sher man's iv Allenton, and the journey was > fairly begun. At Winchniiore a noisy de monstration was made opposite the school which had the effect of bringing to the win] dow one who would, by his envious looks, nave lather been with the travellers than at his scholastic work. At Methven a halt was made for dinner for man and beast, after which the journey was resumed to the Rakaia Go ge bridge. Here a picnic party fiom Methven had held high carousal during t the day, which party we met on the steep cutting leading down to the bridge. Our camp was pitched on the north side of the island between the two bridges, and very soon after the tents were up, in the lee of the cutting, the billy wm boiled, tea taken and everything made snag for the night. : Our driver had found a splendidly sheltered spot on the lower part of the island, end here he he tied and fed the hersec. By 5 a.m. on Tuesday we were all astir, and ' while two of us attended to the cooking of breakfast the others struck the tents and

packed them up. After breakfast we re leased our first pigeon, and then set off shortly /after 8 o'clock. Immediately over the bridge, hill climbing commenced, and aa the c*b was heavily enough loaded already we had to climb to the top of the northern terrace on foot. Our road then went straight Up the Rakaia for 12 or 15 miles.. Aa there were several cross roads here un marked by finger postß we were sometimes at a loss how to proceed, but by short ex cursions on foot to the few and bleak-looking houses near we kept to our road safely. A man who was ploughing close to ihe road could not tell us where the road we were on led to, but a hawker with whom we came into contact gave us most explicit directions as to our route. By 10 30 we reached Mur chison'e station where shearing was in fall swing, and as we had plenty of time before ua we spent about an hour there watching the shearing and piessing. Shortly after leaving the station we had a steep hili to climb, after which we struck northwards, and about 12.30 or 1 p.m. came to Leke Coleridge where we procured some fresh milk, and had our first lunch in the open. We here nearly lost the way, but after en* quiries had been made at the station found our road, which was not a good one at all, and which led us up and up over rough boulder-streams' and rocky hills. From the top we again saw Mount Hutfc and the Rakaia hills which had been oat of sight while we were in the vicinity of the lake. The road from Lake Coleridge to Lake Lyndon is not a good one by any means, and as it crossed many gullies and terraces we had very often to get down and walk. This, to those in practice, was rather a pleasant change, Lut more than one of us showed great lack of form at the top of some of the hills. Most of the afternoon was spent this way, and then we reached the south end of Lake Lyndon, drove along its shore, and at its northern end came out on the West Coast road from Christchurch to Hokitika. We got several photographs of the lake, and then looked for a suitable spot at which to camp. We could not get one sheltered enough near the lake, so we drove on for a couple of miles and pulled up in a hollow of the road near a changing place for the coaches. Here was a fine stream and fair shelter from the wind whioh was rising feet, in fact by 7 p m it became evident that the 12 xlO cent could not go up. The two Who inhabited the 6xß got theirs up in tbe lee of the cab, which was roped down securely, and no doubt laughed consumedly at the efforts of the others to pitch the big one. By good luck however, we got the use of a barn for the night, and four of us slept on the barn floor, Sleep came only in snatohes and frhort ones at that; for hardly a quarter of an hour-passed without a furious gust of wind whirling round the barn, and threaten* ing to lift it off its piles, while all the time a lop3e sheet of iron on the roof kept up a monotonous rattle tbat banished the drowsy g.id effectually. We expected to see the two who were in the 6xß (Musious and the Tall Man) come to our barn and seek shelter before dawn ; but their tent weathered tbe gale, and the occupants concluded that after that it would weather anything. Breakfast was over by 7 a.m., the second and last of our carrier pigeons was released, and away we went again. Here it may be stated that two conveyances passed us the previous evening while we were at tea ; on?, a three hoise drag of Howard's, Christchuroh, con veying Mr Agar of Lyttelton, the other • van of Cooke's of Ghristcbiiroh, conveying the Hon. Mr Peacock and party, Shortly after leaving the camp • very steep hill rw encountered down which we had to walk. It was remarkable at the outset of our holiday to see the alacrity with which we decended from our seats to terra ftrma when the crest of a particularly steep declivity appeared. The usual formula wm :—'*J*q|c, sop, let's get out;" or " John, don't you think we had better walk, old man ! n Still more remarkable was it ten days later to tee how some of us would stick to our seats aod ! ot budge till our Jehu looked round and ordered us out. At the foot of the gully we met two cyclists who told us they bad oome from, the Bealey that morning and were going to make Christchurch before night. Five miles farther on we came to Castle Hill,, a place which is counted the driest part of the island, and which for that reason is eagerly patronised by those suffering fr <m pulmonary c >mplaints. Here we took a couple of snap shots and walked on. About two miles farther our carriage had to wait ne*r Broken river to allow the coachjfrom the Be*ley to pass. While it was at the bottom of the ravine we took a short cut op a remarkably steep hill on top. of whioh we waited for twenty minutes for it to catch up. At Castle Hill which we had just left were the two conveyances w* saw the previous night. We had dinner that day (Wednesday) at the bottom of a very long and steep hill near the Craigieburn station, and here Cooke passed us again. After dinner we went on Main past Craigiebum, a large lake near hand on which we saw several swans, across a huge mound of shj'n_le brought down frem a gorge on the left and on over a long fiat to the Cass river. Then oitne the smooth though dangerous-looking road along the terrace of the Waimakiriri; and here most of us waked the greater part of the way. This terrace road is kept with extreme c*re *nd is a very smooth and care fully graded piece of work ; for a slight hitch or jolt on it might cast coach and horses to the bottom either on to the jagged recks or into the foaming river below. From the end of the terrace to the Bealey is about four miles, and to this well-known hostelry we came about 4.30 p.m. The owner, O'Malley, waxed facetious at the expense of the travellers, and expressed his surprise to Johnny that Ashburton could profuse such a collection of swells, After sending away a wire or two We were ready to cross, the Waimakiriri' into which the Bealey falls opposite the hotel. As the ford of this river changes with every fresh in the stream we bad to make sure of our road. However, we drove down the hill from the hotel, crossed two or three streams with more or less difficulty {for we were heavily loaded with only' two horses), but at the third'stream, which vft* a re^t deep one, we stuck rteed. The water came into the bottom of the oab, and almost buried the front wheels, and so tbe ownetf of cameras and plates made a rush for them and placed them high up out of danger. Then as the horses oould not shift the load whioh was sinking deeper and deeper every moment, the youngest and most acoustomed to horses in our party essayed to climb a'oug I ie pole (the end of which was within a foot or two of the bank) and take their heads and so encourage them a bit. But, alas and a'ack, he could not get off owing to the excitability of the chestnut; and when trying to get over him, the horse ducked hia head suddenly and John made a hole in the wo er at once. However, he f crumbled out on to the batik. Musicus now mounted tbs bos; seat beside Jobeny, the tali man gay« sundry directions about river fording, an 4 the remaining two pulled off 'heir trousers, got on to the.fore wheel and jufaped for it. ■ his now 'eft three in the tab and'three ashore. Musious, to whom Johnny wtyNf

_H_ _B_,BUK-0_ SCAB-UN; THURSDAY, JANtJABY 21, 1897



Busine s Notices " i GOOD WASHING PRINT, 3|d. WHITE MUSLIN, 3s lid per dcz AT G. J. NEILL'S. A BEAUTIFUL SUMMKH DRESS FOR 6s lid AT_ G. J. NEILL'S, Fla»n e l„te.3idyßird. Theßest Turkish lOWKLS in A.bbutto. _..'- G. J. NEILL'S. BO -8' Navy Blue Sailor Suits 4s lid. Men's Tweed Trousers 5s lid, aaen xw m^ __ eavy 0(jlonial Tw eed Suits 25a 6d, at G. J. NEILL'S. i_*die ßj Lace Shoes, 4s lid. Ladies two-strap Shoes, 4s Ud. AT ( G. J. NEHJ/fS. Ladiea', Maids', and Childreo's TAN SHOES of Every Description, at Very Low Prices, AT G. J. NEILL'S, FRIEDLANDER'S CORNER, EAST STREET.



BOOM IN DRAPERY. CROWDS ON SAT URD AY. MOST COMING BACJK 'T 0 ._JB_L_ JAT MITCHELL & TOKJJER'S.vh



NEW FIRM -:- -:- -: -:- -:- -:- NEW FIRM SAVE MONEY BY DEALING WITH MITCHELL & BRODRIBB NO BAD DEBTS. NO OLD STOCK THAT ACCUMULATES BY YEARS of BUSINESS Public should only consider what they can save by dealing with X a Gash Firm, where they do not have to pay for the great losses that are occasioned by Bad Debts. ►MITCHELL & BRODRIBB BUY AND SELL FOR CASH, IHKBE-ORE THBY ARE ABLE TO GIVE BETrER VALUE THAN ANY OTHER PLAGE IN ASHBURTON. — A Few Quotations will be Convincing — Brown Ribbed Fe-ts (heavy) la 6d -worth Ladies' Hose^fast colors, plain and ribbed la *1(* v a .s White and Brown Turkish Towe's, only 6d Men's Socks 6d—worth _d White Calico, grand value, at 2s lld—l2yds Harvester Hats B_d--worth la The Best Value for Flannelettes n Blucher Boots 4s lid-grand t value x Ashburton. Heavy Shooters 9* "?~* i 1 ill ,_ .„ m dossen __ worth 7d avd Ladies' Gem Shoes, Special, 4s lld-wortn £ lmdid ' Line 0 f Corsets, all aizes, at 6a 6d . Is lid Hairline Tweed Trousers 8a 6d—cheap ac _^ A ___ rtme _ t of s uns h a _es in town, 10a r6(i . oa, from la Men's Felt Hats from <ti . t Indies' Sailor Straws, all shades and shapes, We have the Choicest Assortment of Hats Lames o gd each »_ Pick your own , h^ in toWu. /<k__-_t. fi» and trimming, and have your 12yds Strong Print for 3s Hd-Cb W'S. Millinery done Free of Charge. A Beautiful Summer Tweed la Id, doume J widl% FULL RANGES OF KAIAPOI AND MOBOIBL CLOTHING. MEASURED GABMENTS A SPECIALTY. __\^ _%._ FULL S-UST FROM AQo /_» n  40S 6^ FULL SUIT FROM _H7^ o** MITCHELL & BRODRIBB, MST BXBBKT l



Business Notices. i i NEW ZEALAND Clothing Factory, QOLE AGENTS FOR THE FAMOUS "VICTORY" SEWING MACHINE.



L_p • Ummi (VI • S 3 * o 1 s! Q p g i Ph CO j_q rVI E> IV] co < "w I __H cti B »« n g H I S I <j g -1 .8 S W j jy o _) •^t^ wop QB■* g p p-i I P3 (/2 o \ —. —^ Tf) '.w^\



TEN POTJIVDS rJRTAD (ft £ _£10(Tra Pound) <£10 * £ COMPETITION. 5 o -  ft, m HIS MONTH the TRIAD J. offers a prize of £10 to tbe C one who sehcts from the under mentioned list of novels the six C Zmoat popular books. This competi- ( tiou will be decided by the compe- * ' __\ titors themselves The person »■ W M/fao votes for tiae six books which w Cj the ipajority vote for will receive j| the £10 ; ?r» should there be two or more'voter", lor the same six that the majority vote for, the money will be dividot equally among them. The conditions are as under: — 1. Write down on paper the titles of what you consider the six most popular books in the follow list: Westward Ko ! Pickwick Papers. Trilby, We Two, Lady Audley's Secret, My Novo!, Handy Audy, Bleak House, Kenilworth, She, Va entine Vox. East Lynne, Charles O'Maliey, The Heavenly •|) Twins, Adam Be</e, John Ha'ifax, * Gen- leman, Vanity Fair, Ivanhoe, " 0 Monte Christo, Woman in White, ta M Tom Brown's Schooldays, The *■■ g Yellow Aster, Clef, Kelly, The J Wooing O't. U 2. Purchase 5j worth, or more, ~ of anything you may require, V from one of the firms below, and » get a receipt, and post receipt and * ft your list of six to the Manager, Q TRIAD, Dunedin. If you enclose receipt for 10a or over you may m send in two lists ; if for 153, three 2J i lists, and so on for every 5s woith _f -- purchased. m Ashburton Drapery Co. Z H Gates, Horace A., Musio Ware- ~ house Ogent for Triad). I Jj N.Z. Clothing Factory I TEN POUNDS*



Ciiurcli Services. T. STEPH E»' S CHURCH, Ashburton. '• hursday— Meetings of Newly". Confirmed for In-! Greenstreer, 3.30 p.m. atruotion in Holy f Ashburton, 730 p.m. Communion ...) Friday—Short Service, 7.30 p.m. Choir Practice, 8 p.m. SUNDAY SERVICES. 8.30. —Holy Communion. li a.m.—Morning Prayer. 3 p.tn.—SJSAFIELD. 6.30 p.m.—Evening Prayer. REV. T. A. HAMILTON.



j N 0 T I C E. f fIHERi- ia a <vae^ey fof.one apprentice in tfei* Office. Applicant must have paas«*J the sixth standard. Ashburton Publishing Company. January 18th. \ /riLWNERY--Ladieß should inspect the j\J_ new Millinery, Capes, Mantles, Jackets, Blouses, Frenoh and English Oovieti i»H »*» «*$ qP** *•&•—*' Qm>



Last summer one of our grandchildren was sick with a severe bowel trouble. Our doctor's remedies had failed, then we tried Chamberlain's Colic, Cholera and Diarrhoea Remedy, whioh gave very speedy relief. We regard it as the beat medicine ever put on the market for bowel oomplaints. —Mrs E G. Gregory, Frederickstown, Mo. This certainly ia the beat medicine ever put on the market for dysentery, aummhr com p'atnt, co.'ic and cholera infanium in children. It never fails to give prompt relief when ' used in reasonable time and 'plain printed directions are followed. Many mothers have expressed their sincere; gratitude for he cut .b it baa effeoted. For l»le by Ash- BDBTON D»TO CqMPAST. ; ' '' ' '