Mail Notices.

Miils for Ceylon, India, China, Japan, Straits Settlements and Mauritius; a.ao Continent of Europe and United Kingdom via Naples (iue in London March 24) for ■-oecially addressed correspondence, wil! close here per Taluue on SATURDA , February 6, i.t 3 p.m.

Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1897. ALLEGED FLAW IN THE LICENSING ACT.

A telegram published in yesterday., issue records a decision by Mr Carew, S.M , at Dunedin, which calls for some comment. It appears that the licensee of an hotel in that city was charged , with a breach of section 126—known as the barmaids clause—of the Licens ing Act, 1881. The full text of this section is—"No female, other than the licensee or the wife or daughter of the licensee, as the case may be, shall be employed in the bar of any licensed house for more than ten hours in each day of twenty-four hours ; and no female, except as aforesaid, shall, with or without her consent, be employed in the bar of any licensed house, after the hour of eleven post meridian. Every holder of a license who shall permit the provisions of this section to be broken upon his licensed premises shall be deemed guilty of a breach of this Act, and shall forfeit and pay for every suGh offence any sum not ex ceeding twenty pounds." The fact was not disputed that a barmaid had, in the case in question, remained in the bar until 1.50 on Sunday morning; but counsel for the defendant advanced the novel contention that there had been no breach of the law, in that the prohibition in the above recited section did not extend beyond midnight, arguing that immediately thereafter Nnother day commenced in respect of which the prohibition did not operate until the hour of eleven p ra. had been reached. After adjournment for con sideration, the Magistrate upheld this contention and dismissed the charge. So that the absurd position has been reached that it is now magis terially kid down that while it is an offence to employ a barmaid in a bar at one minute to twelve midnight, it is no offence if prolonged till one minute pa.t midnight. Again, it would seem to be lawful to employ a barmaid till eleven, and then, pro viding only she leaves till the witching hour has struck, again to introduce her to the bar where she may remain until the " wee swa' 'oor ayont the twal," or as much later as the licensee thinks fit. We bad thought that in Stipen diary Magistrate.' Courts the power given to stipendiaries to decide accord ing to equity and good conscience would have sufficed to enable a decision in such case as this in accordance with the dictates of common sense, and it seems a very remarkable thing that the clause in question has been in operation for nearly sixteen years, and that numerous convictions have been obtained under it, and that it should be left to Mr Carew, for th*© first time, after the hpse of so long a period, to decide that it is inoperative after the hour of midnight. Moreover, we are by no means sure that it is in any Gase lawful to employ any one in a bur—male or female—at ten minutes to two o'clock on a Sunday morning, seeing that all licensed premises, even those holding extended licenses, are required to be closed from midnight of Saturday until six o'clock on the following Monday morning. It is very desirable, in view of Mr Carew's decision, that the Government should take steps to obtain an auti oritative decision by the Bupreme Court as to whether Mr Oirew's reading of the law is th,e correct one, and if it bo, the newly discovered flaw should be remedied next session by an amending Act.

Local and General.

Invercirgill butchers are Reducing prices. Good news for farmers ! N.Z. cheese is at < 53s per cwt in London. The average life of a tradesman is about two-thirds that of a farmer. The Prohibition Convention for the South Island meets in Dunedin at Easter. No fewer than 600,000 children are insured in Great Britain every year. Only about one in 1000 married popples I liye to celebrate their golden wedding. An octopus measuring 10ft across the tentacles has beeo captured at Oatnaru. There ate springs of fresh water in tho Persian Gulf that furnish supplies to vessels. The population of New Zealand on Decem ber 31, inclusive of Maoris, was estimated at 754,016. It is estimated that the poprietor. of patent pills pay £10,000 per week in advertisements. Among the police changes announced atv the following:—Constable .). J. Wethered, Timaru to Methven ; P. Drury, Ashburton to Timaru (gaoler); J. H. Pascoe, Methven to Ashburton. The price of bread in Timarn has for some time been 6d per 41b cash, aud 7a booked. A Christchurch man hijis Btarted a new bakery, and reducing the price to bd and (>d, the rest of the bakers are following suit. A man named Michael Shea waa brought down this morning from Methven to the Ashburton Hospiial suffering from injuries to his arm, stated by him to lave beea inflicted by another man. A new regulation is gazetted under the Factories Act providing a minimum air apace for each person of 250 cubic feet in the daytime and 400 at night, but if the electric light is used the latter may be diminished by a permit from the Inspector. In the window of the Christchutch Meat 1 Company's Cashel Street shop there are on j view two strings, each containing thirty onions, showing the benefit resulting from J the use of the Islington fertiliser, those grown with it weighing 461b, and those without it $lb. They were grown in the garden of Mr J. G. Mitchinson, St. Albans. We have seen some cucumbers grown by Mr G. P. Hoatten, of Elgin, which arc very fine specimens of this popular' fruit. Amongst the specimens exhibited was a cucumber weighing 2lbs which measured 18in long and 12_in in circumference. These cucumbers aj.,3 not the common variety, but were grown from sorae special seed given to Mr Hoatten last year. The fourth race of the season, 100 yards handicap, held under the auspecies of the Ashburton Amateur Swimming Club, points to count for Mr G. A. M. Buckley's trophy, was held in the Domain bath on Thursday, and resulted as follows:—A Wilkie(ll sees) 1, F. Smith (12 sees) 2,' E. McTigue (scr) a, !Q, Woods <(12 sees) also starled. A very ""'sh, ,Jv£es.?rs Harrison and Gates close __._. ' ~ "Mad H? fa tJeespa wap acted as judges, .. j ijimekeejper, *

We huvu been asked io uotity that the Ash bur on LaditV Do ca_ So.iety will re assemble on Monday, March 1 next.

Ten double-deckers, laden with fat lambs, cnme down the M.unt Somers line this morning, en route for the freezing works. Mr McCa'tum, a shearer from Victoria, said to be the tallest man in the colonies, is on a visit to Oamaru. He stands 6ft 7m. A Chicago doctor claims to have iu.ened a machine for transmitting pictures, photographs, and printing to long distances by wire by means of the Rontgen rays. An eke'ion of five persons to constitute the Wakanui River Board, will take place on the 22ud ins.. The officii! notice ia ' advertised in this issue. It will be noticed by to-day's cable news that Mr Faishfull Begg's Bill to ex.end the fianchise to women has passed its second reading in the House of Commons by 228 to 157. On our fourth page to-d <y will be found the conclusion of the San Francisco mail summary ; also " Senex's " weekly budget of sporting items. Interesting reading matter also appears on the first page. The first passenger trains to go through the Midland Railway tunnel in Spooner's Rxnge ran from Nelson on an excursion on Monday. Nelson pipers point with pride to the fact that the tunnel is in length exceeded by the Lyttelton tunnel only in New Zealand. It is sixty-seven chains, or over three-quarters of a mile in length, and the passage through occupies some four or five minutes.

An old Upper Buller resident, Mr Jecklin, had a remarkable adventure last week. While he waa crossing the Buller river in the chair at Sullivan's, near Fern Flat, one of the travelling pulleys broke away, and the chair hung in the centre of the wire rope, about 45ft above the river. There was no assistance at hand, and Mr Jecklin, growing weary of waiting succeeded in reaching the river bank safely by travelling hand over hand on the rope. The ohair has now been in use for many years, and needs repair.

There was a largely attended farewell conversazione to Lord Glasgow and family at the Wellington Exhibition on Thursday evening at which the Mayor presented an address on behalf of the citizens. The Governor replied in an excellent speech at the conclusion of which cheers were given for himself, Lady Glasgow and family. His Excellency leaves the Colny (from Welling ton) by the Talune to-morrow. The wharf will be lined by the local forces and several bands wili be present. The Talune will be i escorted down the harbour by a number of steamers, yachts, launches and rowing clubs' boats. The following report by Dr Greenwood on the men's second aid examination, held in connection with the Ashburton St John's Ambulance Society has been forwarded to us by the secretary, Mr D. Grant:—" The Secretary, Ashburton St John. Ambulance Society.—Sir,—l beg to lay before you the foiowing report of examination of candidates in the subjects of the second or nursing course of lectures. Four candidates pre sented themselves for examination, all of whom obtained over 75 per cent of marks. In two cases 95 per cent was obtained, both the written and oral parts being exception ally good.—Cecil D. Greenwood, Examiner." At the Fire Brigade dinner on Wednesday evening, Fireman Shaw, the genial host of the Ashburton Hotel had a joke or two on | hand—one being a remark made by a man who, after slaving in the riverbed in an endeavor to get Mr Bishop's engine unbogged and wet to the skin at the job, said it was the " driest" work he had been at for some time. The dryness was cured later on at the Ashbuitou, but F.reman Shaw was j inclined to fancy that from a fireman's point j of view it was very wet practice. Mr Shaw, with o'hers, lent a hand in getting the engine out of the shingle, but it was a good half-day's work.

Burners of the midnight oil couM not make out last night why " the chimes of midnight were silent," nor why "the wee short 'oor ayont the twal " had failed to strike the watcher's ear. The town clock had rung out the time for the hofcelkeepers to close in compliance with licensing rule, but after that the municipal horologe went to sleep, and there was no more tick till this morning. It appears that during the holi days the day for winding had been altered, and his memory playing Mr Murray a trick he allowed the clock to run twelve hours on its own account. The clo.k is a master piece, as is well known, but no clock in the world wi 1 go without winding—a clock that will d. that Mr Murray has yet to invent,

SPORTING.

C.J.C. TIPS. PER PRESS ASSOCIATION. Christchuroh, February 5 Rain f .11 this morning but it is now clear ing. At the C.J.C. Summer Meeting to morrow the sport should be of an interesting character, as there are strong fields in most qf the events. Tbe following should run forward; — Hornby Welter—Belligerent. Middiepaik Stakes—Gold Medallist. Midsummer Hdcp.—Marquis of Zetland Craveu Plate—Marino. Interval Stakes—Salvo Shot. Lyttelton Plate—Senior Wrangler.

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Three New Appointments, PER PRESS ASSOCIATION. Wellington, February 3. The following appointments have been made to the Legislative Council:—Mr D. Pinkerton, ex-M.H.R for Dunedin, Mr W. Kelly, ex-M.H, K. for Bay of Plenty, Major Hairis, ex-M.H.R, for Franklyn.

A Disabled Vessel.

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM-) Auckland, February 5. The American barque Sea King, bound from Sydney to San Francisco, put into port this morning disabled. She fell in with the re cnt gale last Friday and Saturday. Her fore and main masts were sprung, and her iLud(l<.i" damaged. She also spruog a leak, and but foi' having a aon_;ey engine to work the pumps would proliably have foundered, i

CRICKET.

JUNIOR FIRST v. SECOND.

l A cricket m._tch was played in the Domain on Thursday afternoon between the first and second elevens of the Ashburton Junior Cricket Club. '1 he weather was fine, but the ground was rather damp from tbe recent rain. The Junior first eleven went first to the wickets and put together 44 runs—A. Pilbrow 10, E. Marsden 9, and Jackson 5 being the top scorers. W. Hosken took eight wickets and B. Amos two. The second eleven replied with the respectable total of 71— F. Clark 23, D. Stock 7, and VV. Hosken 5. The first eleven in their B.coiid'innfDgs completely collapsed, and it was quite a treat* tp $e& thja procession formed by the wielders of this willow as 1 batsman after batsman slowly trudged away from his scattered stumps, the whole team only making the small score of twelve runs. The bowline; honours were divided between B. Amos and W. Hosken. The second eleven thus won the match by an innings and fifteen runs.

WESTERFIELD.

From Our Own Correspondent

I Considering the long drought \. c have had, vi.l takiug into account the many reports we hear of scant crops and shortn _s of feed throughout the comity, it does on« go kI to take a glance at Westerfield proper. 'I hal i^ the portion of the old estate now owned by Messrs Mawson Bros, and Todhunter. The wheat being just harvested oa the lands owned by the above named gentlemen ia both abundant and of excellent quality. In some of their fields, I am credibly iufotmed it will thresh out over thirty-five bushels to the acre. The stock on the ame properties are all roiling fat, so it will be seen that there is corn in Egypt yet.

The homestead of Mawson Brothers is situated on a block of land named by the original owner, the late Mr Charles R.ed, " The Manners Farm." This farm now, when we take into consideration its natural advantages, combined with the high state of cultivation in which it is kept by its worthy owners, (appears in this dry season a ver.t able Goshen. Abundance of water can be got in any season, however dry, within twelve feet of the surface all over the place, which no doubt contributes greatly to the flourishing condition of the crops. On view ing the mangels, potatoes, and peas on this farm, one would think he had stumbled on a Chinaman's market garden. One would ex pect to find the shrubs and vegetables about the place withering up for want of moisture, but, this is nob the case, on the contrary, they would seem only to have gained strength and robustness from it. The homestead of Mawson Brothers is, I am sure, one of the most complete and con venient for the working of a large farm chat oould be found in any agricultural district. And in keeping with the treatment of their broad acres, everything appears in apple pie order about the place. The " Manners plantation," which was planted by the late Mr 0. Reed, and contains many varieties of the best description of trees, the majority of which must be twenty-three or twenty-four years of age, forms part of Mawson Brothers property. Mr Reed considered that when this plantation grew up it would be worth two thousand pounds sterling. In one corner of this plantation, overhung by blae gums eighty feet high, Messrs Mawson have constructed a first class sheep dip, with a swim of thirty-five feet, and a splendid alternate acting set of draining yards. This dip will be a great convenience to neighbors, who can now get their dipping done without having to perform long journeys with their sheep. Befoie taking leave of Mawson Brothers, who I trust will live long to enjoy their beautiful and valuable property, I must be excused for saying that if the Minister of Lands wore to acquire, by pur chase, a property of this description, and cut it up into fifty acre farms for close settlement, there would be _ome sense in puttingpeopleonit, because it would be found that families could live on fifty acres of the productive soil composing the "Oak flats" as this farm is now called. The settlers, for one thing, would neither have to trouble themselves about water races nor water rates.

I have no positive information about Mr Beckett's wheat, but I know for certain that he threshed out thirty bushels of gross seed to the acre, and I was informed by one who ought to know that it was of first-class quality.

Mr W. Smith's root crops look splendid, and his grass has not the appearance of having been unduly scorched up. It is to be hoped that he may this year do what he did on one occasion before—lick all comers with fat lambs at the Tinwald saleyards. I am sorry I have not come across Mr Rosendale lately. He would have been able to furnish a long paragraph about the crops and stock on Lyatt. Mr Rosendale has too much of the guardsman appearance about him to admit of my venturing on a fictitious report. If I got him in a rage he might smash up your correspondent, The Minister of Railways has kindly granted us a trucking yard for stock, the erection of which is finished or about .o be

so. It is made, with a view to economy, of condemned iron rails, put together in a very neut fashion, and looks well in its black coaing of pitch. The yard will be of great, service to us, and I nm deputed to say that I we feel grateful io the Minister of Railways for his attention to our wants. I must conclude with a few words on a subject which is not directly connected with farming. The chairman of the Westerfield School Committee, being of the same mind as one of our great poets, who said— "Better remain a dim and all unnoticed star Than meteor-like run lawless through the void, And rush to ruin," i did not publish the Inspector's report of the Westerfield school examination when it took place. So 1 have taken the liberty to say to the mistress of the school, and also to the chairman of the Committee, that, however much I may respect their modesty, your correspondent is not going to allow a most deserving young lady, who has made her home amongst us for a considerable period of time, to hide her light under a bushel. And therefore, taking my information from the examination report, I can authoritatively state that all Miss Cordery's scholars, with only one or two exceptions, passed with credit in their re.pet.iive standards ; and that in his general remarks the Inspector spoke in (he highest terms of the work done by Miss Cordery. Miss Cordery is not very big, certainly, but then we must not forget what Burns said on being a.ked why God had made a certain lady _o large, and another lady so small ; his answer was— Ask why he made the gem so small, And why so huge the granite ; Because he meant mankind to put A higher value on it.

LAWN TENNIS.

A match was played between the Melrose and Allenton Lawn Tennis Clubs on Thurs day afternoon at the courts of the former. The weather was ihe all absorbing topic of those interested in the match, but when Thursday morning arrived there appeared little prospect of a fit_e afternoon. A more suitable day for tennis however could not have beeu wished for, the rain luckily hold ing off, with the exception of a slight shower, when numerous umbrellas did good service in keeping off the few drops that did fall. Seats were arranged around the courts for the convenience of the large number of visitors and members who were present. Most of the games were very mtere.ting, socae close finishes causing great excitement. Afternoon tea was given by the ladies of the Melrose Club, all sorts of good things being provided... Ihe following j are the scores :•—• , .... '' i ladies' single. Melrose. Allenton. Points. !M.B_E. Gates v. Miss Potter ... 26-30  j, 9,  ... OU Xl }f  9,  ... v_y— &Q GENTLEMEN'S SINGLES. C. Alcorn v. H. Hardley ... 28-30 , (   ... 30—25 „   ... 30—22 W. Purchase v. J. Trezi.e , 27—30 ... 18-30 COMBINED DOUBLE. Miss E. Gates & v. Miss Potter & G. Fowke J. Trezise ... 30—23 ,» t> j,  .«> 30 — do gentlemen's double. F. Potter &A. v. G. Bowman & : Pern* * E. Meyenberg 28—30 j,    qQ —l9 „ 30-19 At the conclusion of the match, cheers were given for each of the Clubs, and to the j ladies for the refreshments, after which several games were enjoyed by those who had not taken part in the match. i

UNKNOWN

It ia ;t Rood thi:,g in m re respects than one hat Can oil —th«; man charged will the re cent vitriwi-throwing outiage iv Auckland— aa-; !:ee>.i captured. First, because he will doubt'ess rec.ive his deserts, aud, second, because innocent person, will be rel cv.d < f the po-sibility of coining under ihe unplea sant espionage of the police. And during the time that Carroll was " wanted" aud could not be found, a gentleman well-known in Ashburton, and formerly a resident here, had an experience of this sort. He happened to come (Sown from Auckland to Wellington on the same steamer with Carroll, and seems to have been mietak-n for his fellow voyageur. For during the t ..enty-four hours or to that he spent in the Empire City b.fore continuing his journ.y south he was shadows■! by a detective wherever he went, a circumstance for which he could not ac count until he saw by the papers that Carroll was the object of the solicitude of the gentle man of " the Foorce."

Those who are often in Court or take an interest in Police Court proceedings will know that there are numerous instances in which witnesses are questioned by cross examining counsel in a manner which renders it exceedingly hard to gwe a direct answer in the affirmative or negative without ex planation of any sort—said counsel fre quently making capital out of the witness's difficulty. Some of the moat conscientious witnesses are often placed at a disadvantage under such circumstances, and it is seldom that one is found smart enough to turn the tables upon the gent-emeu of the long robe. Here is, however, an amusing instance in which the witness succeeded in doing so, and getting decidedly the best of the en counter. He was an elderly and cautious witness in the hands of a smart young bar rister, who enquired— " Do you think, then, that the defendant was in the right?" " Well, were it not that——" ( "Come, come !" interrupted the barrister. "We have Lad enough of ' wells,' and I'buts.' I asked you a plain question ; I want a plain answer. Was he right? Yes | or no?" "I really cannot reply 'yes* or 'no' to ! such a question. Either answer would be misleading. You see I " 18 Do you mean to say, sir," stormed the barrister, working himself into a great state of indignation, " that you could frame a question to which I could not reply yee. or no ." "Certainly 1 could," said the old gentle man, quietly. " Then let us hear it," said the man of law, turning with a smile of incredulity to his lordship and the jury. "By all means let us hear it*" Calmly the old gentleman settled his eye glasses on his nose, and, leaning on the edge of the witne.-s box, he regarded the barrister for a second or two. •' Will you tell us," he asked, very delibe rately, 'whether in your own opinion—in your own opinion, mind you ; I cannot con ceive anyone else entertaining the slightest doubt whatsoever ou the matter—whether you are as big a foo! aa you look ?" When the roars of laughter from the bench, bar, jury, and spectators at the young barrister', dilemma had died away, the latter was faintly heard to intimate that he had finished with the witness.

Sometimes on the other hand the interro gated confounds his interrogator by a sim ple affirmative rr negative. An amusiog example of this occurred during the heckling to which a certain Parliamentary candidate was recently subjected at the close of one of his meetings. An elector shouted out from the b>ok of the hall, "I want to know whether you are in favor of road metal for the public roads being broken by machinery or by hand ?" To which the candidate promptly replied, " I am."

The fallowing clipping has been sent to me with the suggestion that the business men of Ashburton who are harassed by hook , fiends, and canvassers of one sort aud another might do worse than invest in a phonograph and put it to the use indi cated :— *' I came to talk to you about " "Ah, yes," the busy man answered with out looking up. " The office boy told me you were coming. You want to talk about life insurance !" " Yes, sir." " Well, go right over there in the corner and help yourself." "I don't quite understand." " I've got to save every minute of my time, and I'm afraid that if I don't hear what you have to _ay I'll be missing a good , thing. There's a phonograph over there at . your entire disposal. Two book agents, a lightning-rod man, and a man who wants to borrow money have talked into it this morn ing, but there are plenty of cylinders, and you can go ahead and fill it with eloquence till you get tired."

It is mentioned as a curious coincidence in connection with the ship Rangitikei which dragged her anchors and drifted into a highly dangerous position during the re cent almost unprecedented storm at Napier, aud was only saved by a fortunate shift of wind, that some three years ago the same vessel lay at the same anchorage during another heavy storm, dragged her anchors, and drifted to exactly the same spot. Such coincidences are interesting, and 1 may here mention in connection with the Petone murder case, in which a man named Bosher is now awaiting his trial on suspicion of hav ing been guilty of the death of Mr and Mrs Jones, thai it ia a somewhat remaikable cir cumstance that in the Wellington cemetery, at the junction of two footpaths, at the top of the climb from Sydney Street stands a gravestone on whioh are recorded the names of two persons who sleep below, and their names respectively are Bosher and Jones.

Writing of murder cases reminds me that the patient efforts of Mr Mills in the cause of L°tiis Chemisj who is believed by many thousands of people to be entirely innocent of the murder of Hawkins, of whioh on purely circumstantial evidence he was found guilty, have not yet met the reward those efforts deserve. The House of Representa tives haa twice passed Bills with a view to a re-trial of the case, and last session a large number of members petitioned that this might be granted, or the prisoner pardoned, and yet though many months have clap ed the Government makes no sign. True, the Premier has promised that the matter shall be dealt with after his return from the Conference at Hobart, but there is no reason whatever why a decision should not have been come to long ere this. Hope deferred, we know, makes the heart sick and it is nob surprising to read that Chemis' brain begins to show signs of giving way under the strain of disappointed expectation. It will he a sad commentary on the dilatoriness of Govemments if in the end Chemis be released from prison, only to be afterwards taken to an asylum, the victim of Ministerial apathy aud procrastination.

I never wosj an admirer ov fonetik spelling az it wood produse such kwere rezultz az regardz the apperense ov owr Jangwidg, ais wil reddily be seen bi the abuv, which ia, I' beJeve, ritten striktle as pronownsd. And though this sort of thing would be bid enough if everybody pronounced alike, in which case everybody, in writing, would adhere to the same phonetic equivalents for the spoken words; but what with pro vincialisms and individual idiosyncracies of j pronunciation, if everyone spelt according to his or her own habit of speech, we should have English words spelt in auph an infinite variety qf wayg as would lead to confusion worse confounded. The mauqep in which people's surnames-^for the orthography of which there is, of course, no fixed standard —get corrupted is an evidence of this fret. For example, St Maur becomes Seymour; I jSt Clair, Sinclair ; St Aubyn, Tobin. Ev. n i I the commonest words, spelt according to [ some people's ideas of their sound, would become almost unrecognisable, of which 1 am indebted to the North Otago limes for an I example, that journal contributing the 1 following rather heat thirg in the way of an instance of "English as _he is wrote" in the White Stone City It aays "On a shop window in Thames street there was con spicuous yesterday, the word "Adix," and it was only after ten minutes' hard cogita tion that an eminent orthographist concluded that the word wa. meant to imply that *' haddocks " were sold within. Even had docks io a ioio_.ee. state would shudder

* at the awful U tof phoneti_._m Uiat cnat.ged 1 them into " Adix." '

The perverted ingenuity of men has in all the ages been employed in devising means for the destruction of their fellow men, and chemistry has supplied many aids to murder, some of them so occult as almost to defy detection. For example, the poisoned j rings which carried death in the clasping of | hands in the days of the Borgias. One I such ring was sold recently among a collec tion of jewellery, vendor and purchaser being alike unaware that it was an instru ment of death. The purchaser, however, while wearing the ring, grasped some hard object with the result that a concealed spring was set in motion and a tiny puncture was made in one of his fiogures by a poisoned point projected from the setting, with the result that he became giddy and afterwards nearly comatose, and but for prompt medi cal treatment would have been a victim of the deadly jewel of which unwittingly he had become the possessor. Nowadays poisoned rings have fortunately been dis carded, but to judge from an incident said to have occurred in a Third Avenue cable car in New York the other day microbes are to be among the instruments of the fin de siicle murderer. The car was orowded with passengers at the time, and as a man was leaving it he threw three small phials among the passengers who were sitting in the car. They picked up the bottles aod found them to be labelled respectively "Diphtheria," "Pneumonia," and "Cholera." The dis tributor exclaimed that there were enough disease germs in the bottles to kill a city full of people. This caused a stampede, and in the frantic struggles of the passengers to get out of the car, one woman had her leg broken. The phials were secured, and when their contents were analysed later in the day, it was ascertained that they really did contain the germs of the diseases whose names they bore. The man who threw the bottles escaped in the confusion. More's the pity. A dose from one of his phials would have rid the world of a monster. I see that the Marlborough Express has been going in for election conundrums so I may as well add one to the list*—'• Why is this constituency exceptionally fortunate in its choice of a representative ? Because though all other members must inevitably sometimes be wrong the member for Ashbur ton is always Wright." Kasfar.

The San Francisco Mail.

PER PRESS ASSOCIATION. Wellington, February 5. The Mararoa with the San Francisco mail left at 2.30 this morning.

CABLE NEWS.

Home and Foreign.

Press Association—By Electric Telegraph- Copyright. The Russian Ambassador. Berlin, February 3 Oount Muravieff had interviews with Prince Hoheniohe, the German Chan cellor, and the Emperor William. He is now on his return to St. Petersburg. Pier and Dock Construction- A German Company has been formed to construct piers and docks at Catom bie, opposite Lorenzo Marquez, in Portuguese East Africa. Concessions have been obtained from the Portu guese Government to enable the opera tions to be carried out.

Australian.

Press Association—By Electric Telegraph- Copyright. Sir John Thurston. fcYDNEY, February 5. Sir John Thurston ia a passenger by the Miowera. Bis health is again somewhat precarious, and he is pro ceeding to Melbourne for medical advice and rest. Chess Championship. Melboubnb, February 5. Mr Orane (junr.) playing at the Warnambool Chess Congress, won the championship oi Australia. The Oceana Gold Robbery. Armstrong, the steward arrested in connection with the Oceana gold robbery, has been discharged. Perished of Thirst. Perth, February 4 A man named Freeman perished of thirst on the journey from Lake Way to Gue. His mate, named Francis, waa discovered by prospectors. He bad stabbed himself in the wrist and sucked the blood to quench his thirst, and was mad when found,

THE GLENBROOK MURDERS.

Further Particulars of the Arrest.

Press Association— By Electric Telegraph Copyright,

Fan Francisco, February 3. It appears tbat a passing vessel warned Captain Fraser of Butler's character, but he did not think it necessary to place him in irons, al though he had him closely watched February 4. i After Constable Oonroy had identi fied Builer, the hearing of the applica tion for his extradition was adjourned till the Bth inst. Butler has regained his air of bra vado and posed to newspaper artists. He declines to give his true name^ but admits he advertised for a partner to go oa a mining expedition under the name of Harwood. Several persons answered the advertisement atfd wenfi

with him prospecting. In explanation of his possession of "Weller's effects, Butler says Weller, himself, and an other man went prospecting together. Weller and the other map left Butl^c at tbe camp, The other returned' alojje and said Weller had shot himself by accident. Butler and the other divided Weller's effects.

London, February 3 A scrap of paper found in Butler's valise statfd that Weller's will was ia

tbe possession of Mr Donaldson, a soli citor in London. Mr Donaldson, in an interview, says he possesses a will made in 18§Q. feller's last letter to Me Donaldson was da.e4 October 26, iß§§. In it he said, « I leave Sydney with a man to-morrow to prospect for gold, first at Glenbrook, then at Litbgow and Bathurst,"

THE ASHBURTON GUABDIAN: FBIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1897.



G. J. NEILL IS BELLING WASHING PRINTS at 3|d per yd ; WHITE MUSLINS 3. lid per doz G. J. NEILL IS SELLING DOUBLE-WIDTH SERGES in Navy, Brown and Maroon, at Is per yd GL J. NEILL IS SELLING MEN'S ALL-WOOL SUITS at 23s 6d ; Men's Tweed Trous.rs 5s lid G. J. NEILL IS SELLING BOYS' SUITS at 4s lid each G". J. ISiLILL IS BELLING—Men's Bluchers at 4s lid Men's Nail Shooters 7s lid Men's Shoes ... ... ... oa lid Women's Shoes ... ... 4s lid Women's Strap Shoes... ... 4s lid G. J. NEILL DEFIES COMPETITION IN BOOTS Every Pair Guaranteed to Wear and give SATISFACTION FRIEDLANDER'S CORNER, EAST STREET. w_--_-«~-.iiiiw _ i i i i ■ "■■■ ■'■■ ''■' ' " IMPORTANT TO FARMERS AND HARVESTERS. THATCHES specially designed and constructed for those engaged in agricultural work are to be obtained from b • b A L L li. 9 WATCH IMPORTER, EAST STREET. ! These Watches are made by ROTHERAM and other famed makers to the special order of S. Salek foi the ASHBURTON WATCH TRADE. HAVING BOUGHT LARGELY AT A HEAVY DISCOUNT PRICES ARE REDUCED, ALSO IN STOCK—Dixit Watches (see the name B. SALEK Ashburton, is on the dial) at 20s, Other metal watches from 15s. All Guaranteed. "■"'""" """ """"-«£ VICTORIAN f^^_m_mj_m^^%^m^ STEAM CARRIAGE FACTORY, ~*;/ IRON WORKS AND *:* ip \* V\y *~ \ZIS- SHOEING FORGE. ~*'* A*~"' f. h. ST**.] STEEL BROS., &• R- w BEG to announce to the inhabitants of Ashburton and surrouudinn; district that they have taken over the Business so long carried on by J. R STEEL, and hope by Strict Attention to Business, Good Worl.mtin.hip, aud Moderate Charges, to merit a fait share of Patronage. Coachbuilding Department— Tnis Department will have our personal supervision and to ail who require a new Vehicle of _,uy description, or their old one repaired, we can guarantee tati-faction if they place their order with us. Painting and Trimming — Now ia the lime to have your traps put into tjood oraer by having them well painted, and our workmen are in tho front rank of their profession, and the material used is the very best. Ironwork Department- — We are prepared to quote price 3 for all kinds of ironwork, an 1 (o supply o, repair Agricultural Implements of every description. Shoeing Department— In this as in all other parts of our business we wi I g:ve satisfaction to out customers, and if you want your horse shod by practical and skilled workmen, send it along to the VICTORIAN SHOEING FORGE, STEEL BROS., PROPRIETORS, WEST STREET, ASHBURTON. 2 34



Business Notices. NEW ZEALAND i Clothing 1 Factory, gOLE AGENTS i FOR THE FAMOUS [SEWING (MACHINE. <1 « 3 £- C±s 1 * Ph ■ 1 O hi B _! Q ___^i . 2 , k_ -is go _\\ & tq _i 2 » =Ph p ! H33 Jz; « <! I & I ft s. « g a Ph ' I O H yiwiiniii 1 ■i iiim_«-tmmmij»™ii«i«jjj, j »"■___. __L____J_-_-_-- Church Services. . , . QT, STEPHEN'S CHURCH, £5 Ashburton. FRIDAY—Choir Practice, 8 p.m. SUNDAY SERVICES. 11 a.m.—Morning Prayer and Holy Com munion. 3 p-m,—Greenstreet. j 6.30 p.m.—Evening Prayer. REV. HAROLD PURCHAS. TTTANTED Known—The Economic YY Kid Glove, four buttons, Is 9d per pair, is the Glove for every day wear.— I VV. H. Collies.



OUR FIRST SALE, COMMENCING SATURDAY, JANUARY 30 MITCHELL & BRODRIBB, THE CENTRAL CASH TSADHR3, NEXC TO J. ORR & GO'S IRONMONGERY DEPARTMENT, EAST STREET. ERUPTIONS IN THE DRAPERY TRADE. "TTTE have decided to eclipse all, with the result that one cut has been m &de at our new stock, which has severed the price in half. No old Stock, no out of date shelf-worn goods to palm off on a sensible public. Our Clean, New, and Stylish Stock at just half the usual price. The cry is—How i. itdone ? Here you have it : No Bad Debts, No Credit which enable us to lose directly, a portion of what the credit traders are losing indirectly. With this difference—At MITCHKLL and BRODRIBB'S all are treated alike ;at the Credit houses the good custome ra have to pay for the bad onea. Make no mistake. We want your money, aud feel assured that the few following sample prices will bring it. Space will not allow us to quote more than a very condensed list, bat this is a sample of the bargains offered you :— 9 pieces Light Print at 3s lid per doz yards Usual Price, 7^d per yard 16 pieces Dark Print at 3. ild per doz yard.. Usual Price, 8d per yard 22 pieces Gingham Print., 4s lid per doz yards Usual Price, 9d per yard 19 pieces Flor. 1 Crepons, 4s lid per doz yards Usual Price, lid per yard 17 Fancy Brilliant Cloth, 7_d per yard Usual Price, Is 3d per yard 7 pieces Plain Ctepon, 5s lid per doz yards Usual Price, 1. per yard 11 pieces Stripe Zephyr, 6j lid per doz yarda Uaual Price, Is 3d p9r yard 8 Plain Zephyr, 6s per doz yards Usual Price, Is 3d per yard ■22 pieces Cashmere Cloth, 4s lid per doz yards Usual Price Is per yard 10 piece* Mourning Cloth at the ridiculous price of 3s per doss yards. We assure you that at this very important sale both you and ourselves will have a spauking time. White Calico 2s lid per doz yards Usual pi ice s£d per yard White Sheeting, 2 yards wide, 10_d per yard Usual price Is 6d per yard Nainsook 4|d per yard Usual price 7£d per yard White Turkish Towels 5s 6d per do.:. Usual price 9d each ...ilsia. 6 yards for Is lid, worth double Hundreds oi Cheap Dress awaiting inspection Double width Tweeds la per yard Black and Colored Cashmeres from Is per yard up Ladies Black Lavantine Paragon frame Umbrellas from 2s 6d, 3s lid, 4. lid, etc. Ladies' Sunshades all colors from 3s lid Black and Colored Velveteens from Is 6d per yard up A mixed lot of chikhrea's sunshades all colors from lid each HOSIERY—The best value in the trade, Plain and Ribbed Cashmere Hose from la up, Plain and Ribbed Black Cotton Hose, Sanitary Dye, 6^-d GLOVES Glove-.—A large vari ty Cheap and Good. A beautiful Kid Glove, any shade, at 2s lid. Lower lines ilrom I Is 6d upwards. Cashmere Glov. s 4_d, 6d, 9d, and Is per pair. Gaggety and Silk, from Is 3d upwards. BIOUSE^ 1 Blouses, Blouses.—We have sold more of these goods than any house in town. What we have oa haed—About ' sixteen dozen will be cleared from Is lid, 2s 6d, 2a lid up; just half price. All musiin and fancy Aprons just half what you will pay anywhere else. MILLINERY Millinery—Price cut in half. Trimmed Hats from Is lid upwards. ,_._____ The best value in the __-.de. Startling Bargains in the Clothing and Mercery Department.. A few Harvester Hats, 6_d. Seamless Merino Sox, 6d. Regatta Shirts, all sizes, 4s 6d. Brown cotton pants, Is 6d. Heavy Working Shirts, 2s 6d. Men's strong Moles, 6s 6d. Tweed Trousers, special 8a 6d, Colonial 8; Ud. Men's Tweed Suits, 21s 61. Men's imitation Foy's Serge Suits, 29s 6d. Sailor 'JPweed Suirs, 6s lid, size 1 to 7. Choicest stock of Ties and Scarf., in Aejiburtoa. AH our Boots and Shoes reduced. Hard and Soft Felts in .gndlees variety. Mohairßoot Laces, 3* per floaw, J*©a*7 Kaiapoi Sox, Is Kaiapoi Under Jlannels, 3s 11 f. DO NOT FORGET MITCHELL & BRODRIBB'S FIRST SALE. , NEXT Q.O J. ORR & 00, EAB3D STREET ASHBURTON. j



Holloway's Pills awd Ointment.— Travellers to and from different! climes would do well to bear in mind that these changes and the altered diet and surround* ings of their lives entail manifold risks to health. Occasion is suie to arise in which they will need a remedy such as these renowned Pills aiid Ointment, and no traveller by land or sea should eyer fal to have a supply in hand. Then he may truly be said to have a physician alway. at his call for the various emergencies of travel. Chills and fevers should be promptly (i-eated, &nd the printed directions should be carefully studied at the commencement of any illness, for Holloway's remedies can j be tafejy used In (.11 climates, J



My littjle boy, when two years of age, was taken very iil wiih bloody flux. I was advisee! to use Ohamberlain'*j Colic, Cholera and Diarrhoea Remedy, and luckily pro cured part of a bottle. I cuefully read the directions and gave it accordingly, He was very low, but slowly and surely he began to improve, gradually recovered, and is now as stout and strong as ever. I feel sure it [ saved his life. " I never can praise the Remedy, half its worth. lam sorry every! one in the world does not know how good it I is, as I do.—Mrs Lina S. Hinton, Grahams- j ville, Marion Co., Florida. For sale by I ABBBWON PRD(? COWPAJ. Y. I



Since 1878 there have been nine epidemics of dysentery in diferent parts of the country in which Chamberlain's Colic, Choleras ant Diarrhtca Remedy was used with perfect success Dysentery, when epidemic, is almost as severe and dangerous as A.ia.io ! cholera. Heretofore the best efforts of the most skilled physicians hive failed to check its ravages; this remedy, however, has cured the most malignant cases, both of children *nd adults, and under the most trying con ditions, which proves it to be the best medicine in the world for bowel complainte. For sale by Asbbtotoj. Drug CompJ... y,