Asburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. TUESDAY, MAY 25, 1897. LAST NIGHT'S FIRE.

Doubtless there will be another turmoil over the question of who ia to blame for the delay in getting water for the fire engine at last night's fire. We shall expect to hear clever people, who know more about fire prevention and brigade working than meu whp have had half a lifetime's practical experience, tell as that the brigade should have done thii, th%t, and the other thing, and the propjrty would have been saved. Wo shall expect to bear the Council, as it has done before, I say there was plenty of water If the brigade had done certain things, and thus the blame of the delay will be shuttlecocfcfd from one body to another we ourselves say is that the Fire Brigade had all their plant upon the ground in good time to have saved Mj Dowding'a stable for certain, and to have done work that would have gone & long way towards saving much of the cottage of Mr Milne, had there been water for the Brigade to use. A thousand people who were on the ground can evidence the truth of this statement. We do not suppose that a Brigade, as enthus iastic as ours is well known to be, would deliberately loaf about and see the fire burn down property the sav ing of which is the end and aim of the Brigade's existence, simply for the fun of seeing the bonfire, and saving their excellent plant from wear and tear. Why then were they idle, and why did they have to struggle with buckets and a hand squirt all the time that their fine steamer if in use would have done its best and grandest work 1 We will allow the Borough Council to supply the answer to those questions, which were to-day asked by hundreds of people. Seven or eight months ago we wrote on the subject of a far le<-s serious case of blundering at the fire in Moore Street. On that occasion the whole corporation fell upon us, and smote us hip and thigh for daring to criticise their immaculate arrange ments. We will content ourselves on this occasion by simply asking what explanation have the powers to offer for the—to say the least of it—bungle of last night 1

Local and General.

Important country news will be found on our first and fourth pages. The old Govetnment steamer Stella recently towed into Auck'and the largest raft whi&h has ever been brought iuto that port. It contained ftJQ.OQOtt of kauri timber. At a meeting of the Greenstjeet School Committee Mr J. R. Bonner, of South Malvern, was unanimously selected from twenty-seven applications for the mastership of that school. The fleiy Zealand Tijnts reports that a Railway League in being formed in Eltham for the purpose of making an e#ort |to ipduce the Government to run a light railway into the back country, A public meetiug ia to be held in about three weeks. The strong room which is to be included in the extension of the south-eastern wing of the Government; buildings will be four stories in height, and its foundation will run 12ft below the surface, or down as far as the bed of the harbor. We have it on the authority of the long distance runner, W. M. Livingstone, who is now in the district, that he challenged Mr W. May, of O&maru, for a two mile scratch race for a sum of twenty-five pounds, the race to be run in Ashburton, but the latter declined to accept the challenge. The Press Association telegraphs from Greymouth :—Twenty-four real men landed here from the Hinemoa. They report the breaking out of an eruption on Mount JCutoto after the earthquake on Monday night last, Jo has beea throwing out smoke and steam singe. Jt \§ about seven miles from Martin's Bay. 1' The Wellington Chamber of Commerae has forwarded a memorandum to the Post master-General setting out the receipts and expenditure on the telephone service for the past ysar, and claims that the expenditure on salaries, linemen, etc,, has been ex travagant, and th/ 5 subscriptions could really be reduoed instead of being raised. At) a meeting of the Wellington City Council last week one of the members said the Council would have to face in the near future, the question oi paving the streets with wood in order to make jshem perma nent »nd a credit to a city of Wellingtons importance. The sooner this was taken into consideration the better it would be for the {city's welfare. No other Councillor seemed to consider the timo opportune for for following up the subject. The Thames Advertiser says: —A curious cavity was encountered the other day by the men driving the crosscut from the Waitatekauri Company's main shaft at the Golden Cross. The drills suddenly went through the faoe, and very shortly after wards a large cavern was exposed to view. The cavern measures some 30ft in length by 20ft in breadth, with a depth of 10ft or 12ft from roof to floor. When discovered it con tained » l»rg« quantity of water, which has been dtained off, Mr Shanaghan, jLnspector of jbWories for the Wellington district, has reminded the City Council of the practioe of property owners at buUdiug and fitting up small rooms in shops without making any pro vision for sanitary arrangements. These rooms, he writes, are generally ueed for confectioners' shops, and young women hive to remain ia a bojp of this kind from the morning until the tiro* to leave in the even ing, except during fche interval fop lunph. Ministers and others engaged in religious instruction have positioned the Nelson chools Committee for permission to give half-an-hour's religious instruction ia the schools on one cay a week. They ask the Committee to require the attendance of ft! children whose parents do not object, and that the children of those who do object be taught a secular lesson while the religious lesson is going on. The Committee ha deferred action until it has consulted the teachers at to how far the proposal would interfere with present arrangement?. Beautiful New Zealand ! The land over flowing with the buttermilk and apple-sauce of prosperity—produces anything and every thing, such as petticoat government, un employed, and coughs at.d colds veritably ; but that's not a drawback, they can be cured in every form by taking Woops' Great

At ft meeting of the residents of Whanga rei resolutions were carried in favour of the extension of the railway to deep water, G ahamatown, and that the scheme be urged for adoption by the Government; also, that the residents 00-operate wilh those in the Bay of Islands district for the ex ension of the Whangarei railway northward. Amongst the resolutions passed at a recent conference of Waikato clergy was one to the effect that a period of fourteen days should e'apse between the date of the notice of intention to marry and the issue of the Registrar's certificate, and that greater publicity should be given of the intention to marry by requiring (a) that the Registrar shall post a copy of the notice of application for the certificate to the parents or guardians of the panics intending to marry, and (6) that he shall affix a second copy of the same to tome part of his office accessible to the public. 11 Demon "in the Otago Witness says :— Most cyclists are accustomed to detach the Dunlop cover at a point on the rim directly opposite the valve, bub a cyclist haa discovered that a method directly opposite to thia is easier and more effective. Instead of raising the wires opposite the valve he raises them immediately above it, and by allowing the wire iust to rest on the head of the valve he obtains a diametrical displace ment ot About 516 th of an inch in the " loop" formed in the cover. Mr Thomas Whittaker, the father of temperauca advocates, recently announced his intention to retire from the temperance platform on May 21 next, the day on which he will have completed 60 years of active work on behalf of the temperance cause. He is now 84 years of age, and can claim to have been longer on the temperance platform than any other living man. It ws.s in May, 1837, that he made his first public appear ance in London, when he addressed a meet ing in Exeter Hall, convened by the New British and Foreign Temperance Society. A writer in an English paper thus refers to a practice not uncommon in Ashburton:— " A thoughtlessly cruel habit some fathers have of carrying their young children with them on their machines, perched up on insecure carriers. The other day a boy of five riding in the manner indicated was hurled to the ground owing to a sideslip, the poor little fellow meeting his death in a shocking manner, for he happened to fall beneath the wheels of a passing hay cart The attention of the Society for the Preven tion of Cruelty to Children has been drawn to this all too common practice of child-carrying, but up to the present no action has been taken." Commenting on the Government scheme to import cocks and hens into this colony, the Press jocularly remarks—" We suppose the Government will go on its blundering way. When the new industry at S-acliff is in full swing further legislation wi'l surely become necessary. A Domestic Poultry Eight Hours Bili will of course be one of the first measures introduced, to limit the hours during which hens may lay eggs. It is to be hoped there will be a clause in it to prevent the male birds from crowing during the hsurs usually devoted by human beings to sleep. And there certainly ought to be a Conciliation and Arbitration Bill to settle the disputes of rival roosters and thus avoid the cruel necessity of their going to war !'' Upon the farm of Mr Kenneth Mclntosh near the baaoh, Kaiapoi, two large totara trees have recently been discovered lightly buried in the soil, As ir is thirty years since there were any similar trunks of totara trees in the bush between Woodend and Kiiapoi, whence those in question may have drifted during a flood in the river to where they were round, it is surprising that they should have been discovered in bo perfectly aound a state of preservation that they would, when dug out and split, supply a number of large stockyard posts which would prove service able for many ye ■rs to come. A first attempt to remove one by the aid of a traction engine has failed, but another eff .rt will be made |to recover these valuable ancient forest trunks.

FIRE.

Ones again at a critical time has our fire prevention supply of water proved wanting. Not long ago we spoke with some degree of acerbity in regard to the supply when Dr Trevor's property in Moore street was burned down. J?or that acerbity the mayor and councillors in annual meeting assembled, each in turn tried to scalp us, and hang the gory trophy in the municipal belt. They enjoyed their war whoops, and metaphori cally danced in wrathful glee over the scribe who dared to impugn the efficiency of their water supply. What will they say for them selves over (he fire that occurred in Park j street last night, at which the curricle engine was out after a few tolls of the bell, and the steamer m .de (a record parade, but not until half the population, including the whole brigade, had stood idle and helpless, and looked on at the complete destruction of a four-rpomed cottage and large stable, was a drop of water available for the brigade's plant. The fire began apparently in the front part of the cottage recently the pro perty of Mr Gaorge Lea, but some weeks ago sold by him to Mr D. Milne. The owner is understood to have been away from home, and the fire to have begun in his absence. J|e that as it may, the alarm was given very promptly, and with equal promptness the engines were on the spot. Had there been water for them to use the fire would have been extinguished before much damage had been done, but in the absence of watpr all that could bo done was to look on and see a fine property made a bonfire of. When water did come the steamer of course did all that was necessary. The property was insured in the Manchester office for £l|s and in the Alliance for £120.

FOOTBALL.

A football match w*s played in the Ash burton Domain yesterday afternoon between the Albion (Chrietchurch) and the Ash button Football Club, and resulted in a win for the visitors by eight points to three. The weather was beautiful, and a large i browd of spectators turned up to witness 1 what proved to be a very interesting game. For Ashburton, Cromie, Hefford, Ihiele, and Hobbs (forwards), and J. McTigue, Upton, F. Smith, Purchase, and J. Wilson played well. The tsajija were fairly evenly matched, but the splendid combination of the Albion backs undoubtedly won them the game. The try for Ashburton was secured by W. He/ford, and for Albion a try each was pbibainied by Archibald and McKenzie, the latter'a being converted. The lack of practice told aever* ly on some of the Ashbnrtpn players, and their follow ing up at tjmeß was not all that could be wished for, and several ohanpep were lost through this. B£r Symes, pf Chrietch|tirch, acted a 8 referee, and hia decisions were received with satjefaptipn. The Ashburtop Juaiois journeyed to Timaru yssterday, and defeated the Sham? rook Club by eleven points to nil.

WINSLOW SPORTS AND RACES.

(By Whelk )

A sports and race meeting at Wits ow calls up recollections of old times —and five or ten yeais are old times and masters of history iv a young district like our own The place is certainly young, for there are hundreds of us he:e yet. who saw the land aimoafc roadloßS and in tussock, who took a <cc line for Ashburton * straight acrosß .country when we wanted to come in to the •ownship, and in that bee line bioke down no fences, and trespassed on no man's land in a manner likely to bring the boss out with a growl and a whip. But the last sports and races at Winslow, though not ac ually in the prehistoric period in which roads were not, and the all prevailing yellow-haired tuasock covered the land, were held at a time whan we had not yet surmounted the old colonial mode of life which gave almost every man » right to share your dinner if he happened to come along at dinner time, and the fact that he was benighted was enough reason to give any man shelter tor the night. No man went to bed with locked doors in those innocent days, and to be " run in " by the police was looked upon more as an act of kindness on the part of the officer than as an evidence of criminality on the part of the party " run in." In those days the people were true to the, religion of their fathers—a religion whioh taught men to enjoy the fruits of the vintage in the moderation which a brainy man will and to eschew the excess which only a fool will indulge in. It was no sin in those days to gay "Here's to you" behind a glass of whisky or 6ther liquor, and to pime oneself against the cold of a long journey with a stiff tumbler of toddy or rum punch. But now there are those who have introduced not a new religion but a new h resy into the religion of our daily life, and tell us, who follow a King who turned water into wine to keep on the rtjoioinga at a wedding, that to touch a drop of superb Bass or an equally good drop of Gleulivet, is death and damna tion. Well, there are the hundreds of paople in this little district, whose popula tion is numbered by only a few thousands, who are hale and hearty to-day, but who have got outside of more liquor in their time than would float a good sized steamer—and yet they live, and have a wonderfully Btrong being. But enough of the new heresy. Let me get back to the time at WinsloW when the heresy did not exist It does not exist there now for that matter. But in the olden days when the Winslow sports were in their heydey sixteen years ago, Mr W. Harris was the landlord of the hotel Mrs Keller now so generally manages, and Mrs Pye, at some distance away, Kept a grand table for sports day, and the two fed many a hungry one who had come mi'es and miles to enjoy themselves at Winslow on New Year's Day. By and by Tinwald put in a claim for the day—i he First of January. By and by, too, old Mr Harris died, and Mrs Pye followed in his wake, and the old landmarks having been removed, there was a desire to strengthen Tinwald. Sixteen years have passed since Winslow sports ceased. But during that Bixteen years a good many changes have taken place. Things have improved wonderfully everywhere, and this having been a good year the old hands put their shoulder to the wheel and tried one more effort to have another gathering at Winslow, Willie Suther'and felt himself young again, and as his specialty is *' sturdy begging" for a good cause— it was the specialty too of good old John Oilivier of pleasant memory—he started off to raise subs, for the Winslow sports. In six weeks he had £90 on his book, all cash but £10, and that £10 as good as good—" and any amount angry because I didn't ask them." There was a big gathering on the ground when the Qaeen's birthday came. The railway carried a few from Ashburton, but the carriers did little. The country people, however, rolled up from all quarters, and when the sun shone out of a cleir and cloud less-blue sky at one o'clock, with a warmth that a summer day would have beeu proud of, the paddock which Mr Donald McLean had lent the Committee swarmed with people from all parts of the cjunty. F r their entertainment, Mrs Keller had a booth on the ground where liquors were sold, and which she superintended herself. She also had a luncheon booth under ie charge of her daughter, assisted by the Misses Cress wel', Mrs Keuningtoß, and Mrs Rainey, and welcome indeed was the provender they supplied. AJI round ther§ were the usual camp:foHowers in the shape of wheel of for* tune men, " bookies " howling out the odds, small stalls where odds and ends could be bought, and a lucky bag sampled, while Johnny Donovan made great play with the evergreen Aunt Sally. The course was well laid off, and good work had been done in the making of a saddling paddock. Mr A. A. Fooks, the ever-ready and always cool-headed secretary was all things to all men, and presided over his large and comfortable tent with the power of a king and the urbanity of a host, while Mr W. Sutherland, who had done so much to fiad the ways and means, was stili working as hard au ever to keep things moving. It was he who invited the pipers, and in response to his invitation Piper MoTaggart, of Christchurch, lately of the Scottish Rifles, and Piper McDonald, of Laghmor, kept things lively all day with pibrocbj and march, and reel, and strath spey. The racing was very good, bat there was nothing very brilliant about it, except that a son of Larry Markey's Johnny Faulker, out of poor old Joha Qorbitt's Maid of Mill, turned out the horse of the day. And here it may just he remarked that many a prize of the old Winslow money did the late Mr Oorbitt win. Jt wis on that course The Miller's mother first made her racing fame, and there too chat Captain, another of John Corbitt's mounts ran through his horses into popularity, and won the Cup at Ashburton later on. Dr Leahy made the satisfactory starter he always does, and Mr Orisp's de cisions as judge were never balled over in banco. The handicaps in the athletic events were made by Mr John Mii ler, who also acted as starter, and in both capacities he received compliments from the pedestrians who took part, and the public who looked on. Mr George James and Mr W. de B. Compton also lent assistance in the getting off of the foot races. Following are results :-— Maiden Haneipaj>, of 5 soys; second horse to save entry fees; p furlongs. For horses that have never been nomi nated for an advertised race. Mr W. Chisnall's b g Ngahere, sys 9ab (Rainey) 1 Mr W. Chisnalf's b g Whitelaw, 3yrs, Bst6lb .. ... ... (Davey) 2 Mr W. Houston's Jaoko, syrs, 9at (Price) 3 Tip and Tom a^so started. Ngahere won easily, in faot never wag challenged. Time —1.22jj. Winslow Handicap, of 10 soys; second horse 1 soy. from the stake; 1 mi'e. For horses that have never won over £20 in stakes. Mr J. Drennan's br g The Miller, aged Bst (Davey) 1 Mr S. Alexander's Mount Clair, syrs 10st2lb.. (T. Cotton) 2 Mr P. Burk's b g Oarsman, Cjyrs, Bst 71b (Armstrong) 3 Te Aro, The Thing, Teaea, The Chestnut, Emerald and Ultimore also started. Out of the thirteen acceptors the nine who faced the starter got away fairly well together! At the half distance, however, The Miller'fj pace began to assert itself, and though Mount Clair for a time looked all over a winner, and Oarsman seemed to have a say in it, the Miller came with a bang at the finish, fighting every foot of the ground in the straight, and two chains from home it was seen the race was his, and he won by three lengths. Time—-1.45. Win§lovv Thqx Handicap (in saddle), of 10 soya ; second horse tp receive 1 soy from the stake. For horses that have never won over 10 soya in stakes. 1£ mile. Mr 8. pleader's br m Bloomer, aged, Bsec behjncl scr. ... (HS. Clearer) 1 Mr T. Harold's b g Tralee, 4yrs, 23sec behind sor ... , (Owner) 2 Jewel, Priscilla, Mishap, Torrent, T ilby, Croesus, Pardon, Miracle Jack, Koanwood, Zefca and Maid of Honor also started. The race w»a little more than a match be! ween Bloomer aad Tralee, the' rest being out?, distanced Time—4.42. Ladies' Purse, of 5 soys \ second horse to receive 10s. For horace that have

never won over 5 mve, 6 fu.lou^s.. Mr J. Drennon's br g Tae Miller, aged, Hsu 3lb (including lQib pen Uty) •■• * Mr J Bryan's b v Perkinette, aged, lOat 51b 2 Miss Green's b g Bad jo, aged, list ... 3 Te Ar>, Oarsman, Ottoman, Emerald, Tom, Ultimore, Bones, Whitelaw, and Do em-all also started. The big field was got well away together, but the trouble was soon over, and The Miller won by ten lengths, though carrying 10 bs overweight. Time—l.2o. Pony Race Handicap, of 7 soys; second horae to receive 15a. For ponies 14,2 and under; four furlongs. ' Mr J. Griffin's m g Welbeck, 7st 9Hj (T. W. Cotton) 1 Mr F, Bennison's b g Pickles, aged, 9n 12lb (T Cotton) 2 Mr I. Armstrong's brmßotF y, aged (disq.) Golden Tressea, Daisy Belle, Isabel, N' Hope, and Little Nell also started. This was a cap tal race to look at, finishing as i! did with Bot bly first, with 56secs recordefl as the time. The protest, however, that i was hoped the meeting would be got ove without, cime in, and after a s mewhat tedious discussion and an adjournment o> so, fi at place was given to Welbeck, at shown above, it having been proved that Bot Fly had gone on tha wrong side of a post. Publicans' Trot Handicap (optional saddie or harness), of 5 soys; second horse to s>ave entry fee. 1 mile. For horses that have never won a atake. Mr D. McLean's b m Mishap, aged, sseo behind scr (J. Smith) 1 Mr S. Cieaver's b m Bloomer, dyrs, ssec behind scr (E. Cleaver) 2 Mr J. Brankin'a h h Crcasua, aged/7«ec behind scr ,» ... . (Owner) 3 Orphan Boy, Opal, Henrietta, Glen, Par don, Miss Harkaway, and Two-and-a-half alßo started. It was a fine trot, but the tartan colors were too good for the ruck, and dime in an easy winner. Hubby Scurry, of 3sovs; catch weights. For horses that have never started ia an advertised race previous to thia meet ing ; four furlongs. The Miiler (Davey) 1 Ngahere ... ... ... (Rainey) 2 Do'emall (Price) 3 Maid of Tinwald also started. The Milier was a moral from the start, and his jockey could not have stopped him from winning if he had been twenty stone instead of seven.

ATHLETIC EVENTS.

Men's Race, 100 Yards Handicap. First prize '30s, second 10a. — Firßt heat— J. O. Wilson, 7yds, 1; T. Austin, syds, 2; J. McNaught, scr, 3. Second heat— Q. Bryan, 6yds 1; J. Fechney, 4yds, 2; T. Tarbotton, Byds, 3. Final—Austin 1, Wilson 2, Me- Naught 3, Splendid r*ce. Won by 18in, Men's 440 Yards Handicap (Hurdles 6 flights). First prize £2, second 10s,—J. G. Wilson, 20yds, 1; A, Huston, 15yds, 2; W. Huston, 15yds, 3. Good race. W. Huston waß first over last hurdle, when Wilson and A. Huston came with a rush, the former winning by a yard. Boys' Race, 75 Yards (14 years and under). First prize 10s, second 2a 6d. — Nolan 1. Men's Race, 220 Yards Handicap, First prize £2, second £I.—J. McNauaht, scr, 1; T. Austin, 12yds, 2; G. Bryan", 13yds, 3. Good race. Won by 6in s Btyan lyd behind 3rd. Girls' Race, 60 Yards (14 years and under). First prize 10s, second 2a 6d.— May Griffin 1, Nellie Heaeltine 2, Hamet Bright 3. Old Men's Race (over 50 years) 75 Yards. First prize £1, second 5s. —B ackler 1, T. Laffey 2. Men's Race, 880 Yards. First prize £3, second £1, third 10s.—W. M. Livingstone, scr, I ; J. Fechney s scr, 2 ; R. Bennison, 40yds, 3. Livingstone had the race in hand from the start, and although Fechney tried hard to overhaul him, he won rather easily at the finish,

MAYFIELD.

From Our Own Correspondent WATER SUPPLT. A meeting of those interested in the water supply from the Rangitata River was held in the Ruapuna School on Thursday evening last, when a letter from the County Council was considered, which asked them if they would be willing to form themselves into a separate water supply district, and be re ponsible for the snm of £5000, to take the water out of the Rangiiata. There wss a very, fair attendance, and the several questions were freely discussed; but the meeting could not see that it would be fair to ask those residents to be responsible for 'he whole £5000, beca ise it would directly or indirectly benefit the whole of the Ash' burton couuty to tap the Rangitata, If the Raogitata were tapped, even the Jpeople in Methven and right down the Rakaia plains would benefit, because there is a limited supply now in both the north and the south Ashburron rivers in a very dry summer. The Council have taken too much out of the North Anhburton to supply Rakaia plains, and have had to put the South Ashburton into the north to supply the tpwn of Ash burton. Then they have run the South Ashburton short to supply the Nort^. Now, if the Rangitata were tapped, there is a never failing supply there, and for the sum of say, £5009 (Mr Baxter the County Engineer nays £4030), the water can be brought upon the plains at Moorhouse road, and then our engineer says it can be brought along, watering all on the upper side of Moorhouse road, right over to the Hinds, and can be brought to the Hinds above the I present South Hinds flaming. Mow, if that can be done, as our engineer sayi it can, none of the Ashburton water need oome to the south aide oi the Hinds, and thus the.c J would only be required half the water now taken from the Ashburton. Then the Rakaia plains would take all the water from the north Ashburton, and the town could depend on a better supply from the South Aehburton and we would only require half the water we now get from the south river. The County Council prop *c spending £1500 to make a pond at Limestone creek, and also at some future date £1500 to take the water from the Rangitata at Uracroft. Now those amounts will never be required if the water is taken from the Rangitata. Now, suppose the water were not taken over to the Hinds, but just taken through the land of those few settlers above the present Ash burton water, in a dry time it would be turned down the other races to supply all the Baling plains, to alow enough weter to go down to the sea, where they have been short during this £|,nd other dry seasons. Thus the settlers here do, not see that it is fair to make them stand good for the whole £5000. If they did, they could use all the water themselves, and irrigate if they liked, and we all know if the Ruapuna farmers were irrigating in a very dry summer, and the Gravesend and Eating farmers were I without water to drink, there would soon he a ory out; to that even under this ar rangement it would not be fair to make them stand good for more than half People say, what wll those above this service do ? They will have the Hinds race all to themselves, and can run it from one to another and fill their ponds, because no one below Me Cree will want it, and during this driest of dry seasons the Hinds race hag only been dry once down at Mr Cree's \ and even the pond service would never do Mr Morrow any good, and the proposed Raigi tata service would supply all Mr Mprrow'-s below the terrace, which, any other service but the Rangitata water, can never be watered. The meeting decided to ask some ef the County Council members to meet them at some future date, at the school or the hall, and fully disquss the matter, when the meeting would like anyone between the Hinds and Rangirata to attend, or from any other part of the Ashburton county, if they wish to hear the matter discussed.

CABLE NEWS.

Home and Foreign.

Press Association—By Electric Telegraph- Copyright. Irish Poor Law Bill. London, May 23. In the Bouse of Commons Mr Bi*l£our's bill for relieving Irish poor was ctrongly supposed by Mr Mr Carson, M.P., Dublin University. MrTimHealy, and Mr John RedmoLd. The relief to be granted to* landlords in respect of poor rates will amount to a quarter of a million, and the relief for tenant* to £400 000. No scheme for the relief Ireland has been received with such universal approval as the proposed bill, which it is considered, meets the many pledges which have been given for Irish reform. The flew Thames Tunnel. The Prince of Wales yesterday opened the new tunnel under the Thames at Blackwall. It has a length of 6200 feet, and in diameter it ii 27 feet. The total cost, including Jand and building-, was £1,250,000. He said it would be the most wonderful tunnel m the world. It had taken over four years to complete. An Indian Loan, An Indian Government 2* per cent, loan for thru© and a-half millions has been floated?ln London. The amount watf subscribed fourfold and averaged South Australian Loan. 4 . May 24. A South Australian 3 per cent* million loan will be placed on the London market on Friday. The minimum is fixed at 95, ! Undesirable Immigrants. Capetown, May 20. A general law affecting aliens is being prepared in Oape Colony, Natal, Orange Free State, and the Transvaal, the object b«ing the exclusion o( undesirable immigrants. Erythrea. RQip. May 28. Italy has decided to abandon the colony Krytbrea, under a promise made to one of the European Powers. Spain and Cuba Madrid, May 22 An excited debate took place in the Senate over the decision of the United States Senate granting equal wai rights to Spain and Cuba. The discus sion ended in a brawl in the lobby. Senator Tetuan struck Senator Oomas a violent blow for blaming the Go vernment. Election Riots. "Vienna, May 24. Much excitement prevails at the elections at present, being held in Auatro-Hungary, At Bosnyaezi, in Hungary, aflaip were so serious that the military were called out, and fired upon the rioters, killing fourteen and wounding thirty, Terrible Distress in Armenia. Constantinople, May 24. Reports from the Van district, in Turkish Armenia, state that terrible distress prevails amongst the Arme nian residents. In order to sustain life they are )§pnipelled to eat grasi. Mr Seddon. Washington, May 24. Mr Seddon has arrived at Wash ington. He had an intertiew with President McKinley, and was after wards present at a sitting of the Senate, occupying a seat on the floor of the Chamber.

Australian.

Prosa Association—By Electric Ti»leg»ph-~ Copyright. A Famous Swimmer Drowned. • Sydney, May 24 A private cablegram from San Fran cisco has been received, announcing the drowning of Charlie Oavill, the famous long-distance swimmer, brother to the Australian champion. He left Sydney two months ago to proceed to England via America,,with the inten tion of-challenging'Nnttall, the world's long-distance champion. While at San Francisco he proposed to do a twenty-eight miles swim along the coast. It is presumed that he wu drowned while attempting the feat. The Queen's Birthday. The wetther was fine in all the colonies for the holiday. The public generally observed the holiday, but in view of the approaching Jubilee re views, levees, and other official cele brations were either not held or on a very much curtailed scale. teg-islatiye Council Election*. Adelaide, May 24 For the triennial election of half the members of the Legislative Council the returns are incomplete, but are so far moat satisfactory to the Labour party. Present indications show that the Grovernment will be in a majority in the Council, Women voted for the first time,

THE LATEST.

Some and Foreign.

Press Association — By Electric Telegraph Copyright.

Received Wakapuaka May 25, 9.34 a.m., Guardian office 10.30 a.m. The Jubliee Generals. London, May 24. Lord Roberts bis been appointee} Ohief Marsha) in command of the forces in connection with the jubilee precision, and Colonel Ivor Herbert, of the Grendier Guards, will occupy the position of^Qolonel of the Colonial forces. Theft of a Costly Diamond. The diamond recently sold by Aaron Jp.cob and Company, diamond mer chants, to the Nizam of Hyderabad for .£300,000 has beon stolen and re placed by a paste imitation. The diamond was intended as a jubilee pre« sent to the Queen. Cricket. Stoddart's team of cricketers leave fo* Australia in the Ormuz on September 7.

THE rASHBDRTON GUARDIAN t TUESDAY, MAY 25, 1897.



Public Notices. ""'~ "nlw ZEALAND :. . ■ rHiOTHING TMCTORY WATERPROOFS tfOft LADIES. WATERPROOFS K>R ,'.'■ :'.' r ■■ /GKNTIaEMEN.' • • WATERPBOOFS FOR: BOY£. BEFORE BUYING EXAMINE OUR STOCK. /AUR NEW PATTERNS FOR THIS %[} SEASON are to hand in '-> "Black and B'tse Serges. "TBlack and Blue ParraiuatU. r'. Pari; and Xight Tweed !> .\.'. '".Eftects, ',...,- ..-..■:■••• Drab and Blue Box Oloth. : Spleiidid Bangs of ißinglß Textures for iAp?«S' WATERPROOF CLOAKS. '"''!'. .' ■• -. -. ' ■■■■ ■' ■ ' A».*9 arf. the I^|rge«t Wftfcerproof Gar m«ifr*ilftt»ai«M3fciifeM in thecolooy, we feel auit« conflaent in wyiug that our Garments ■■«' Viand 'ÜBtquaHed; Bbtii in quality, nnwh *nd pricfc Thoroughly Waterproof »od »il ■*-"r; ";: Nb' Ixtra^Sargr for mif ; |7Aii;ER^RqpF9rMA»& TQ MEASURE. ' ;rWItBR^ROM;iiGGINGS, OYCLIN6 CAPE% BAWarG&PS;; YARMOUTH OILSKIN COATS, LEGGINGS, SOU 1-WESTERS, &c: HALLENSTE*Ii BBOS. & CO. .A. G. BAHTON, .-' :•:.'. Manager. FLAGS Foi THR DIAMOND JUBILEE; ENSIGN HANDkERCHiSrPS, suitable for Flags for the Diamond Jubilee, | including Au»tr»H»n Eosign, New-Zealand EnsigP, and the Jubilee Fag oa Sale at 6d Td' ANDREW ORR. ! JUST' "LANDED — A High-cliss Kid Glove, four fstuds, colors; pnc« 4a Fully^oqudl to wm] 5« M quality.—w. H. GOLLIEB. QUIET COW for Sale, to calve in two months. Apply for addreas at Mail Office. ■ 5 4 I Ig. 5 ao m - "^M ' ■-i;.-1:1 & QO S 8 |- ■ I ■ f S ft Sag .5 >h§ : ™Jll-Sifvl ,Pkl » 5 w ■ fH? ■8 ..a g pQ :; I is n 1 « ?-



Business Notices, ~TookTc>ijt. G. J. NEILL —IS SELLING— Table Pamask it Is per yard Q Twill vSheoting, 2 yards wide, white or grey, »|a Turkish Towels, 6d each Cretonne 3|d Flannelettes, 2a lid per dozen; n T TWEILL p gELLING— MeL's Heavy Tweed Suits at 21s 6d, wonderful value Boys Suits, 4s lid Men's Tweod Trousers, 5s lid boots. Boors. Men's Nail SHOOTERS 7i HcL Women's SHOES U lid Meii's BLUCHERS 4a lid. Women's Lace SHOES 4s lid The €he^#']Bqptß in Ashburton are to be got at. BRIBPmNDER'S CORNER, EAST STREET. AIiTUMk AND WINTEB. SHIPMENTS—IB 97. • GRAND DISPLAY. f\m PREMISES*™ stocked throughout with the mo ß t COMPLETE ASSORTMENI USEFUL, HBASONABLE, AND FASHIONABLE DRAPERY To be found in South Canterbury. Splendid Stock of BLANKETS, FLANNELS, and FLANNELETTES AT BED-ROCK PRICES. Ladie*' and Children's MACKINTOSHES a Specialty-guaranteed to keep out the r*k French and English MILLINER?, FLOWERS, RIBBONS, &o. Handsome CAPES, JACKETS, and MANTLES. DRESS GOODS in Endleaa Variety. EverHhing NEW and UP-TO-DATE, and the BEST VALUE IN THE TRADE. w. h. gUllier, "THE CORNEK," AUTUMN AND WINTER NOVELTIES. GRAND SPECIAL DISPLAY AT MITCHELL & TURNER'S. MANTLE-5— MILLINERY— TATKFTS WATERPROOFS CLOAKS F^R BOAS CAPES UNDERCLOTHING [MPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT TO LADiES,— IN PURSUANCE of oar policy in keeping our Business well to the in^ we have decided to »dd • FIRS&LASS DRESSMAKINS DEPARTMENT to our Establishment. We have secured the services of Miss Hill, a lady of unquestioned ability, who brings with her credeatials of the highest order from MESSRS W. STRANGE & CO., in whose Workrooms ahe ; has been engaged for over skven yea.ks. Our object is to supply our Cuatomers with Stylish and Well-made COSTUMES at a Moderate Price, and every possible efforc will be R iven to make our NEW DEPARTMENT an unquahßed success. V* c have already booked a number of Orders, and expect a very full season. Miss Hill will be pleased to receive intending Patrons on and after F R 11> AY, March 26. MITCHELL AND TURNEB, TAN OR ED STREET,



NEW GOODS. NEW GOODS. AUTUMN AND WINTER. PRICES COT'TO SUIT THE KEEN WEATHER AND KEENER TIMES LOOK OUT. LOOK OUT. THE CENTRAL CASH DRAPERY AND CLOTHING MART. NI'XT TO J. ORR AND CO, EAST STREET. --- W. S. MITCHELL GIVES THE BEST VALUE IN THE TMDE. everything new, everything good, everything stylish, .'■.■•■■■■'. v' And of Course EVERYTHING CHEAP. OAY Cash .ad Save 25 per cesfc. Grand assortment bought at Special Rate-to enables me to sustain my reputation, yet giving th. t Best Value in the Trade „,. Good Btron » p i a i n Homespun 4s lid dress. Beautiful-Tweeds, grand ► Heavy Twill Dress for the Winter, 8s 91, worth IJ^V^Viimninm in Furs, Gimps, Braids, Velvets, etc., at prices never •alue, newestfshades, at 8s 9d. andl 9s 9d iull drew. wonder at the prices. No bad debts do it. More heard of. FLANNELETTES,, I-LANI*ELS, OAUtOS,, 3*^f I^JJ ,J, d per yard . All our goods sold at prices to bring Grand d*rk winter Flannelettes 4. lidper doz A' woo!^ «J Jmpi „« Double White Sheeting 10* d.cheap at Is 3d. you back again. Calico for the winter 3si 9d pe.do, ; oheape ' »n<g *;f Whi £ Blanketß> Blue Blankets, Brown and Grey Kaiapoi L.rge White Towels 4a lid doz up. BLANKEIb, ? la™Aj?,JJ d ■ A "" d heavy Blanket at 8s lid. Art Muslins, Cretonne*. Blankets 25 per cent cheaper tbaa any other' House m New ZealftD^ Buy ChesD • we Sell for Cash. Look here ! Look here !! Cuiios. O§R PRICKS IRK THB LOWkST-Ujj^.f^SVow^tls ldp.l f ONLY W. S. MIfCHELL, East Street HAS Whit do you think of this GRAND KID GLOVE,, lone CLOAKS at prices 50 per cent, below anything heard of -111 coldest weather and lightest purse. C ORBKTCI. 00-.«JJ Oo^^ d A'^ a feTEN'S CLOTHING AND MERCERY Department. ■hade for 2- lid per pair, worth, and sold her« for »J oUfc/^ i lonial knitte( , pan tß 3s 11, sipg ets to match flannelette shirts heaviest knitted socks in the trade Is, brown ribbed pants is "a» ""**(£, d boV8 » hat/S , n every conceivable shape from Is. Iwesd fromlrg" Colonial made flannels 3a lid. Serge sailor suits 4Uld. Men ewdjojan , TIES AND SCARVES~We are ru" ere ?-, 61 8. lid, 9« 6d, men's moles 4a lid, men's smts from 14s lid n'J' tw 3 ." 6to the beat qualities. BOOTS-Men's Sb throughout th; district for our grand ■^'^^^Z^ ti^ 10S ITI^ 1 »Dd w ehildreH° )a V WV .hootef boota 9a lid, grand line of light Bfi morftlV^«N WATERPROOF COATS, very deep capes, in all patterns-We ar.de booti and shoes cheaper <han ever—Call and see them. MfcN;Ul a t THIS-Men'a Suits to measure from 49s 6d. Grand variety f*rmm-d to sell them cheaper *Kan any other house in town. LOOK Al inw Mea'a White Kid Gloves and Evening Bcwi, etc. W. S. MITCHELL NBXD !TO J ORF * 00., KAST STREifi., ASHBURTON^



Church Services. | ST. STEPHEN'S CHURCH Ashburton. WEDNESDAY— GF.S. and Ohorta-' ters' Practice, 7.30 p.m. THURSDAY — ASCENSION D \Y — 8 a.m.—Holy Communion. 730 p.m., Even ing Prayer, Special Psalms and Hymns, etc. I SUNDAY SERVICES~May 30. 11 a.m. —Morning Prayer and Holy Com munion. 245 p.m.—Children's Service, 3 30 p m.—Holy Baptism. 6.30 p.m.—Evening Prayer. REV. T. A. HAMILTON.



Synopsis op New advertisements. T, Bollock —Lis(; of town property fop sale, Mrs F Makeig— Change of address. Hamp'tead Town Board—Nominations. Baptist Church—Limelight lecture, D. Thomas—Sale of horses, Arcade. Wesleyan Church—Evangelistic Mission. Lost—Trap rug- Church notices—St Stephen's. E. Stephens—Re Christchuroh Poultry Society. Found—Saddle. C. H. Dowding—Acknowledgment. Jewitt—Fish and oysters. A social and danse will be held in the Elgin school on Thursday evening next to bid farewell to Miss E. A. Howes, who has been on the teaching staff of the school for a considerable time past-. Trevtnzi'a drag will leave the Post Office at 7.30 p.m. on that date.



The Dresden Piano Jl*nutacturing and Agency Company have fifty zinc-lined puno cases for sale, suitable for coal or f ejj b' xes. Sale price 5a each. Early application necessary. Apply Mr J. A. X. Riedle, care H. N. Anderson, Btat:oper. East Street. 5 lm Many Ladies complain that the Tea they have been using has neither strength nor flivor. If they try Kozib T«a they will H J wtisfied, Tj?y the No »t 2/*»'W« iviper^ :



Don't Oough. — Relief can be obtained immediately. Use • KEATING'g OOUGH LOZENGES '-^-well known as the utterly unrivalled Cough Remedy. Strongly re commended by many eminent physicians. They at once check the cough and remove the cause without any after effect; the most delicate can therefore can take them. One Lozenge alone gives ease—one or two a bedtime ensures rest. Sold everywhere in tins Is l^d each. The true leaf of the Tea plant, untampered witl and pure; this is Kozib Tba, try it— John Orr & Co., uponte.



Good advice: Never leave bom* on M j >urney without a bottle of Chamberlain's Olio, Cholera and Diarrhoea Remedy, fof eila by A»hbui:toa Drag Company,