Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. THURSDAY, MAY 6, 1897. ACETYLENE GAS.

In a recent issue we gave some parti-1 culars of this ri'.w illuruinant, which isi claimed to be infinitely superior to coal ijas, besides being infinitely cheaper. We now notice that Mr Tyree, who is travelling through New Zealand in tiie interest of the Acetylene Gas Company, delivereda lecture at Richmond, % elson } a few evenings ago, in the course of wfainh he dwelt upon the simplicity of manufacture and the safety and cheap ness of the new illumiuant He stated that a plant to generate sufficient gas to supply Richmond would coat about .£SO, and only a two-inch main would be required, as compared wi ha ten inch main required for coal gas. As to the cheapness of the gas, he said a 140-candle light would only cost about one penny her hour, and a 70-candle light one halfpenny per hour. The gas never clogged the burners or pipes. •' He had already received a large number of orders to supply the gas, but he did not intend to fulfil these until some of the establishments in Felson which had ordered the gas had tested it, and were satisfied with it. He did not think there would be any difficulty as regards insurance, as the acetylene gas was quite as safe as the coal gas. But if the insurance com panies did make any difficulty, some of the largest American companies were prepared to start business in this colony, and to take the risks. As regards the manufacture of the carbide, (from which acetylene gas is made) ; any company starting in Nelson would have a monopoly for twelve years, and he was so satisfied it would be a lucrative industry that he was prepared to put into such a concern every penny he owned. Acetylene gas was being largely used in Chicago and other places in America and Europe, and it was the illutninant that was goinjf to take the foremost place. Its brilliancy, its simplicity, its cheapness, and its perfect safety were bound to make it a success." If all this is true—that is to say unless Mr Tyree is over-sanguine as to the qualities of the new illumi nant and its cheapness—then acetylene gas is bound to displace the much more expensive and less effective coal gas, and the promised visit of that gentle man to Ashburton will be looked for with great interest, as if the above statements can be substantiated a very material reduction in the cost of light ing is within reach of early realisation.

There was evidently a good deal of truth in the sarcasm of Byron against the Greeks in his THE GREEKS immortal song "The OF TO-DAY. Isles of Greece," and this is shown by a writer in the London Daily Chronicle, who says :—Those who advocate the Greek cause frequently display an unaccountable confusion of ideas on history and geography. It is arrange to hear men of general information confounding the ancient Greeks—the Greeks of Athens and Sparta—with the mixed races whi-;h make up the lower Greek Kingdom. It is sur prising to hear gantlemen rising in the House of Commons and elpewhere, and urging the restoration of the Hellenic Empire, with eloquent descriptions of the acidemiesand battlefields of classic Greece. I will not enter into the ethnological questions nanneoted with the present Greek race, but it cannot b*o unknown to yonr readers that, in the opinion of some of the most trust worthy authorities, not a drop of real Greek blood is to be found in the Morea or Poloponesus. In the islands of the Kgrean, which were not so com plete. 5"7 overrun by the Illyrian, Scla vonic,"'and Itftu*Q races, descendants of the primitive Greeks m&y «till b, c found. It is not impossible that the GrC*& communities on the coasts of Asia Minor may afford the best specimens of true Greek descent. No intelligent traveller can have failed to notice the striking difference in personal appear ance between the population of the Kingdom of Greece proper and that of the Islands and ancient lona. In the one case we find a stunted ill-featured, ill-favoured race, with many of the phyaical characteristics of the lowest Slav tribes-—beauty, whether of form or feature, being almost un known even amongst the women Nowhere is this fact more Btnk ingly brought to one's notice than lat Athens. The constant intermixture with Illfrians and Slavs, and with those European peoples which have at various poriods held the Morea, has produced this resnlt. Such, however, is not the ca3e in some of the islands of the ArchipeUgo. Tinos, Naxos, Samos, and other favoured spots in the Kgiu-xn still furnish types of that glorious r*ce which gave models to Phidias and Praxiteles. In the men there may still be seen beauty of form and the most ample development of the muscles and limbs—perfect symmetry united with manly strength. In the women, the straight brow and nose, the deli cately formed mouth and chin, and smooth and rounded neck, losing itself in the flowing curve of the shoulners, and bearing, like a pedestal of Parian marble, the exquisitely shaped head ; j the graceful carriage, and the well-pro portioned Jitubii. As the idler in the Christian quarter of Smyrna passes on a summer day, the spacious doorways opening on the shady courtyard*, ho may spy, seated peneath ttae trees, female forms such as these j or, if ho should seek the fountain of a Greek viilago on the shores of Asia Minor when, as the sun goes down, the women hasten to iill their pitchers at the crystal spring, he will see maidens of whom ancient Hellas might have been proud. But tho Greek, as conven tionally known and believed in by a large section of the British public, falls immeasurably below these ideals.

Local and General.

The total value of gold in the world at the present time is about £600,000,000. The duty paid on whisky by Ireland brings over £4,000,000 annually into the national exchequ r. Swiizerland is the only civilised country in the world which grants no patents for inventions. She War Office is enquiring as to the price of Viclorian horses, 15 hands 2in high, for cavalry remounts. A report of the meeting of the Wakanui Road Board wiil be found on the firat page, and market reports on the fourth page of this issue. An old man from the Old Men's Home was yesterday committed to vhe lunatic asylum by the presiding justioes, on the certificates of Dr Trevor and Dr Morria. The tallest captain in the British Army is Captain Oswald (" Ossie") Ames. He ia a captain in the 2nd Life Guards, and stands well over 6ft Bin in height. In Canton, China, they name streets after the virtues, as here they are named after persons. Thus there ia a street called Unblemished Rectitude, a Pure Pearl street, a street of Benevolence, and another of Love. The Ashburton Caledonian Society held their second social of tbe season last evening in the Oddfellows' Hall, the Orange Hall having proved too small for the large membership this year, A large number of couples were present, including several new members. Before the days of iron, horses were frequently shod with straw, as they are in many parts of China to the present day. In some parts of the country districts of the Celestial Empire many persons make their living gathering the cast-off straw horse ihoes scattered along the highways. An advertisement appeared in a London paper the other day inviting applications for the office of hangman in a British colony, at a salary ot £250 a year. Whether inserted merely as a hoax or for a wager, no Lobs than 200 persons applied for the coveted post. At the recent School Committee elections at Auckland several women were successful candidates. At Huia Mrs Maude Turner was successful in a contested election, and she received the additional honour of being unanimously elected to preside over th« meetings of the new Committee for the ensuing year. The Temuka Leader says that the Moun 1 Peel opals are exciting attention throughout the district. Our contemporary has been shown some excellent samples, and hears that on the fields at present thete are several patties with claims pegged out. The 'sh burton party have ten men at work, and there are also a Mount Peel party and two Geraldine parties making a start. At a meeting of the Vestry of ot. Stephen's held last night the matter of drawing up a form for the signature of parishioners, set ting out promised contributions for the year, as suggested at the palish meeting, was con sidered, and a sub-committee was appointed to prepare the necessary form. Sub-Corn mittes were also appointed to wait upon Church members throughout the parish. Dr. Trevor, and Messrs Thomas, Cox, and Steward were appointed parochial nomi nators.

The Nelson Colonist publishes a table showing the fees paid by pupils at each of the High Schools in the colony and the cost of tuition per pupil. Prom this we find that the fees range from 6gs (at New Plymouth). to £14 3a 6d (at Christ's College, Christ ohurch), and for junior pupils from £4 (Oiago High School) to 9gs (Girl's High School, Chriatcharch.) '1 he Ashburton fees are 9gs and lg% respectively. The cost of tuition ranges from £7 17s 44 (Gill's College, Nelson) to £18 13s 6d (Christ's College). The cost per head at Ashburton is £13 Is4d. Our readers are reminded that the Concert in aid of the Hawkes Bay Relief Fund takes place to-morrow evening. It wi Ibe opened by an ovenure by the Ashburton Brass Banrl, and selections will also be given by he Orchestral Society, and the Eatudiaatina Rand. Mrs Bowman Fox contributes a pianoforto solo, and takes part in a duet, piano and organ s with Dr Morris. Miss gives a violin solo. Among the vocal items are songs by Miss Birdie Butler, Miss Tompkins, Miss Kathleen Orr, Mrs Mitch 11, Miss Limbie, Miss M. Ranger, Messrs Brooking, F. C. Raphael, the Har monic Society, and the Liederkranz. In dependently uf the excellence of the object the programme is thus a moßt attractive one. Mr Edmund Uarrett, the editor of the Caj)c Times, in his story of " The Jameson Raid" (Constable), recounts a number of incidents which seem to have escaped record in the English newspapers. One of these is almost incredible. When the raiders left Pitsani t-an essential part of the plan was the cutting of the telegraph wire. 'Secure telegraph office silence,' as one of the oipher telegrams put it. And one wire was cut, sure enough. The southward wire to the colony was out south of Pitaani, and again south of Mafeking. But thereally important wire, running to Pretoria by way of Zeerust and Ruatenburg, was not cut, by reason of the trooper who was sent to out it being, in plain words drunk. ... He was to cut the wire in two places, so many yards apart, take it so far into the veldt, and bury it so deep. He did cut a certain wire , . but the wire he cut was that of a peaceful railing by which a farmer kept his cows in. Then with a good conscience he reeled back.*' J. t was thus the Boers heard next day that Dr Jim had smarted. The weather prophets predict that the long fine dry spell which we have had will be followed by a very wet and severe winter. The one thing needful for protection against the elements of suph a winter is a really good reliab'e waterproof coat or cloak. We are assured that Messrs Craighead and Berryman have become famous for their well known brand of winter clothing, which has hitherto given such satisfaction, and in anticipation of a still larger sale for these goods, thin season they are now showing probably the largest stock of waterproof tweed, serge, and melton overcoats ever exhibited in Ashburton. They are also j supplying ladies* »nd gentlemen's water proof cloaks and coats to measure a>t ready made price*. Every garment guaranteed thoroughly waterproof. (Three months trial, if defective money returned). All wool liniogß—keeping the wearers alwaya warm and dry—Hewn throughout with strong silk, ventilated and every improve ment "up to date."—Ai>vt. 4 294

CORRESPONDENCE.

(Wo do not hold ournolvcs rosponstb'e for tha ojnniout) expressed by our correspondents;

CROSSING AT THE STATION.

fO 'CUK BUITOR. Siii, —The Iftttor which appeared in your issue of April 29 signed ." Old Fogie'' re the above has borno fruit to-d»y. But instead of more light at what ho calla the right-of way I find the railway authorities have placed tho following notice : " Trespassers will bo prosecuted as the law directs. By order" What cJqcs "Old Fogio'' think now? If ih'H notice ia carried into effect, fool; passengers who hayo had this short cut for yoars will bo greatly inconvenienced Thanking you in anticipation. —-I am, etc., OIiSERVEtt.

The Bank of New Zealand.

Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.

WjUjLINUtoh, May 5 The Pod saya it has the beat authority for stating that overtures have been made by the Premier to a prominent official connected with a loading Au&bnilim bank doing business in this colony, with the object ot inducing him to take the position of General Manager of the Bank of New Zea land. The gentleman approiched (who is said to be in every way qualified for ofSce) has made certain representations, which are now under consideration by the authorities of the Bank of New Zealand.

KASPAR'S WALLET.

The following pretty little story, savoring of the romantic, is told in the French press about the Kaiser. Recently his Majesty went to the Berlin barracks alone. The corporal on guard recognised the Kaiser im mediately, and saluted him. The Kaiser was pleased, and approaching the soldier siid : •' Why do you look so sad, corporal?" I'he corporal did not reply. The Kmperor i hen asked if he was disappointed in love. At this. he corporal found his tongue, and replied that he wished to m<rry Marguerite, the daughter of his sergeant major, but that her father would not give his consent until he became a sergeant. " And do you love her very much V asked the Kaiser. '• Oh, yes," was the reply. " Then," said the Era perer, " go and tell your future father-in-law that William 11. makes you a sergeant."

At Warsaw (says the Daily Mail) a student his juat graduated at the ripe age of seventy - five. After passing his matriculation many years ago, lack of funds prevented him from at once proceeding to the University, and he was compelled to work as a tutor for twenty years in order to save enough money to en iblo him to continue his studies. At ihe end of that time he presented himself at Warsaw Medical Academy, and passed the entrance examination with distinction. Before he could begin his studies the Polish rebellion of 1863 broke out, and Boryaik, who was forty-one years of age, threw himaelf into the movement with all the enthusiasm of a youthful revolutionist. The revolt was sup pressed, and Borysik was exiled to Siberia, where for thirty-two years he underwent hard labor in the silver mines. In 1395 he received a free pardon, and returned to War saw. In spite of his age, and the hardships he had endured, Borysik lost none of his enthusiasm for medical work, and took up his studies where he had left them off in 1863. After a two years* course this re markable man has now, at the age of seventy five, passed the final medioal examination with honors, and will begin to practioo in Warsaw.

Things mundane, like objects celestial, ap pear to travel in cycles coming i/ack sooner or later to the points traversed ages before, An example, of this is to be found in the reaaissance of astrology, once believed to be a science, later discarded as a superstition, and now sought to be again elevated to its former status. An astrological society has been formed in London which held its first annual meeting on February 5 last in the Memorial Hall, Farringdon street. The presidential address was delivered by Mr Alan L?o, who said "astrologists had been called quacks, humbugs, and charlatans, but that was because people did not know what this wonderful science of astrology was. Astrology was the religion of the ancients, founded over a million years ago. It was built up on a beautiful symbology, and the wonder was that it, was not better appreci ated. The symbols were the same to-day as in the beginning—the circle, the half-circle, and cross, or spirit, soul, and body. The circle represented the -un, the half-circle the moon, and the cross the earth. The cross over the circle was Mars, or war ; the cross under the circle was the symbol of Venus, or love ; the sun, Mars and Venus represented the spirit, la the half-circle were all the planets relating to the mind ; the cross over the half-circle was Saturn, Satan, or the devil; and the half-circle over the cross was Jupiter, or Jehovah, the higher mind. When man had realised his mind, there were the three symbols in one, or Mercury. Hence the term, a " mercurial tempera ment." Every person was born under some influence, and the study of as tronomy enabled people to correctly ase the qualities they have in them There was no such thing as good and evil ; what was evil was the abuse of the principles which man had in him. The mission of astrologists was to teach peop'e why they suffered. They wanted t j show the world that every child could have a chart by which he could steer clear "f many dangers. He challenged any man to show th it astrology was not true. Sooner or later it would become the religion of the world " I am afraid Mr Leo is superstitious as to his faith and a wee over-sanguine as lo his prediction,

The question of the best method of dealing with criminals is one which has occupied the attention of sociologists for ages, but does not as yet seem to have been satisfactorily solved. A discussion on the subject has re cently been going on in the columns of the Christchurch Press, and forms another example of the truih of the old proverb quot homitps tot sententiae. Various theories are propounded by vacioua writers and as many. ouggeaiTuita tiitttie' as "to the best means of coning with this difficult matter. Perhaps the most radical is that of a correspondent signing himself " Reform," who contends that criminality is largely the result of heredity, and that criminals by birth and habit are practically irreclaimable. He would say to them—'• You are incorrigible rogues, and shall bo punished by a period of hard labour; you shall then be placed in less rigorous confinement, if you be aye yourselves, then you may earn such luxuries as tobacco and beer by hard work ; and there you shall stay all your lives, without the least hope of ever getting out agnin." This, wifah the compulsory separation of the sexes, is, he argues, the|only way to stamp out heredi tary criminality, and he contends that by this means, in the course of a few generations, crime, drunkenness, and vagrancy would be stamped out. Perhaps so, but it is scarcely conceivable that in a country professing the Christian religion so drastic a course couid be resorted to, and it is to be hoped that no civilised country will ever consent to in scribe over the doore of its gaols the legend qi the gate of Dante's Inferno—" Abandon hope all ye who enter here.' J

Britishers have so long been accustomed to regard British sailors as the best sailors in the wond that it comes somewhat as a shock to read that there are shipmasters to be iound (British shipmasters I mean), who give the preference to Chinese. Difficult as some ot my readers may find it to credit this, I refer them for the proof to che People's Journal of Februarj' 27, in which is an interesting article on " Fo;eign versus British Seamen," in the course of which it is shown that British shipmasters are now employing large numbers of foreign seamen, including Lascars and Chinamen. One (ressel, the Strathdee, which recently arrived in the Tay from Calcutta, curries a Chinese crew of 24 msn, the only Europeans on board being the captain, his officers, and engineers. Interviewed by the reporter of the People's Journal as to his experience of suph a crew, Captain Forsyth expressed his entire satisfaction. He stated that they h»d given complete satisfaction He would not prefer British seamen. His Chinese crow were more to be depended upon than a 'Home' crew. "For instance, (he said) when my ship is in port I am not troubled with the men gptting drunk and neglecting their work, and sobriety on the pwrtof a ship's crew is a thing much desired by every captain. Then again, I can put the most implicit confidence in their carrying out whatever difty is assigned them, and in this connection it is only right to say that Chinese seamen are very obedient, and of an exceedingly tractable disposition. Some of my present crew have been with me for several voyages, and I can assure you that there are among them a number of most intelligent fellows. . . They compare very favorably with British sailors, there ia no duty which th<;y cannot perform, either on deck or ddwn below, and if I had required proof of this I could have got it when fire broke out on the Strathdee in the Bay of Biscay. During that time the Chinese sailors worked like Trojans, and wiih a willingness and seal which I shall never forget.'' All which is yery surprising to fchose of us who have always believed that the British sailor was without a peer, and least of all expected to find him rivalled by the almond-eyed Celestial.

There were some lively scenes at a recent meeting of the Prahan Women's Suffrage League. The Chairman congratulated the League ou the fact of the victory of the women's suffrage movement being nearly won, as a majority of Uie members of Parlia ment were pledged to vote for it. He went on to speak of women's work in various branches, and asserted that those women who evinced a preference for medical treat ment; by men should be ashamed of them selves, a remark which met wi;h a mixed reception. After the adoption of the annual report, which spoke encouragingly of the prospauti of the B»u«t t bid bee» moved »»d

seconded, the Chairman invited the op-' ponenfca of female franchise to aay what they had to say. The invitation was promptly uccepted by a« elderly gentleman named Thompson, who declared himself, amid yells and applause, against women's auffrage 1 because in New Zealand it carried dissent iiico homes. ' Female voices shouted dis approval of this assertion, and oohere wer< heard encouraging Mr Thompson, under the title of "old mao," to "wire in.' Mr Thompson said he was going to wire it,, and «aid that when polices got into the house no one knew where the trouble would end. " She Philistines are these women when they get the power. Is the world to be governed by squeaking girlo and old women ?" The audience replied with shrieks of " Yes " and " No," cheers, and counter cheers, while the Chairman vain'y endeavored to restore order. The undaunted Thompson forthwith declared that the Chairman wag afraid he was going bo rub him out, and announced his intention of jumping on him at once. He incidentally remarked that New Zealand women claimed to have shut up three hotels. The meeting did not want to hear anything about the liquor question, and when Vlr Thompson began to qnote the Bible there were cries of " I ime," in the middle of which one of the " She Philistines " was invited by the Chair man to " knock Mr Thompson out in one act." The latter declined to give way, and the spectacle was presented of an elderly gentle man and a lady standing at opposite enda of the platform and simultaneously addressing an audience, which shrieked with joy and completely prevented a single word being heard. Occasionally Mr Thompson'i voice rose above tho tumult of laughter, but the lady vas entirely inaudible. Finally Mr Thompson drank the Chairman's glass of water and ear, down. The lady then had her turn, and the rest of the meeting was orderly. The cause of women's suffrage may not have been very much advanced by the gathering, but all those present seem to have enjoyed themselves, which is more than can be said of some political meetings. Kaspar.

TINWALD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Sale of Work.

On Tuesday all day the Tinwald Templar Hall had quite a festive look, on the occasion of the ladies' sale of work, held Id connection with the Tinwald Presbyterian Church, for the purpose of reducing the debt on the Fiemington Manse, and also of enabling something being done to the church in Tinwald. The walls of the hall were taste fully diaped and decorated with flowers, 1 and the stalls bore abundant e\ idence of the patient labor of fair hands. Stall No 1 was the gift of Mrs Skinner, and was presided over by Mesdames Skinner and McKenzie, and the Misses Meharry and Shearer. Stall No 2, containing the work of the Tinwald ladies, was presided over by Misses Lewis, B Lewis and Anderson. Stall No 3, containing fancy goods and miscellaneous articles, was presided over by Mrs Anderson, while many a hungry sheep drover and farmer from the Tinwald sheep yards had their wants supplied at a table presided over by Mesdames McLedd, Fergie, and the Misses Cairncross. The farm and garden produce was sold at auction by Mr R. Curtis, who kindly gave his services to the church. The prices realised were very satisfactory indeed. At the concert in the evening a really good musical programme was gone through, the first item being a piano solo "Balmoral," skilfully performed by Miss Kidd who later in the evening aang two songs "Afton Water " and " She wore a wreath of Roses " doing them full justice. Miss Donaldson I from Waterton sang " Yesterday" very sweetly indeed ; Miss Gates sang the •' Fin ger Post" and as an encore gave " Sunshine Fiur," Miss Collison sang "In gathering roses look out for the thorns," and Miss Anderson " The Miller's Daughter." Mr Bonniugton was successful with his solo " Only a picture of her boy," and Mr Trczise "The Gauntlet. ' Mr X Craighead who is always welcomed by a Tinwald audience sang "John Peel,' and as an encore ••The Bonny Lassies" in which he was particularly happy: Mr McKay sang " Annie Liurie," and a duet by Messrs Craighead and Trezise "Larboard Watch, Ahoy !" was much appreciated. Among the best items of the evening were certainly ! "Lord Panmure's March," and "Prince Arthur's Strathspey," skilfully played on the bagpipes by Mr McDonald of Ligmhor. Of course encores were inevitable, and were graciously responded to with " Marchioness oi TuiUbaTdme" and "Maggie Cameron" and even then the audience did not aeem to have had enough of Old Scotland's^ martial music The piano used was really a beautiful in strument of rare tone, and was kindly lent for the evening by the Dresden Piano Com pmy, who generously paid the expenses of carrying it to and from Tinwald. During the evening a purse of sovereigns was pre sented by Mr Skinner on behalf of the con gregation to Misa Meharry who for some years has given her services free as organist to the Church. In presenting it Mr Skinner said that it was not given as payment, but as a token of gratitude and good will, and he hoped that Miss Meharry would not for get that she had many friends in Tinwald. Mr Gunn in thanking the congregation on behalf of Miss Meharry said that the present would he prized by her as a memento of the good feeling existing towards her, and that their kindness would never be forgotten. After the concert a capital supper was supplied at 3d each.

THE FLOODS.

Wellington, May 5 Suph good progress has been made with the temporary deviation of the line to Waitangi that it is expected goods traffic will be restored on Monday instead of the end of the month. The line is only of a light character, and ie weighted aa a precaution against further floods.

CABLE NEWS.

Some aad Foreign

Preas Asaociation.—By Electric Telegraph— Copyright. Troops for the Cape. London, May 5. The Royal Dublin Fusiliers, at present quartered at Simla, have re ceived orters to proceed to Capetown. England and France. Paris, May 4. Addressing the British Chamber of Commerce in Paris, Mr Monson, the British Ambassador, suggested the renewal of the entente cordiqle between Britain and France. British ministers he said were striving to gain this end.

THE COOLGARDIE MURDER.

— ~ —-+ Press Association—By Electric Telegraph- Copyright. Perth, May 5. Two men named Bead and Oonblly have been arrested in connection with the murder of the woman Waille, near Oooigardie. They me' a camel driver, and deliberately shot one of the animals. The police tracked then* through the bush for thirty miles from town, and found them heavily armed. Oonolly attempted to draw a revolver whea arrested.

THE WAR IN THE EAST.

Ire k Purchases of Arms

Fhe War to be Continued

Frees Association—By k ieotrio Telegraph— Copyright.

Athens, May 4, The chief Ghteek military dnpot ia 'hessaly contains 1200 rounds of shell. The Govern menfc is offering to pur chase discarded French * rifles, and 200,000 have been sold to the Greek National Society at 7s 6d apiece. The Austrian authorities have de layed forwarding to Greece the supply of cartridges recently purchased in \UBtria. May 5. Oolonel Vassoß, of Cretan fame, takes command of the troops in Epiruß. London, May 4. The Times' Athens correspondemt * states that the Greek Government, after consultation with the Ministers who visited Fhersala, resolved to con tinue the war. Constantinople, May 5 The Porte consented to Great Britain and France protecting the Greek resi dents in Turkey until the date fixed for their departure.

IHE LATEST. Australian.

Press Association—By Electric Telegraph- Copyright.

Received Wakapuaka May 6, 10 ».m., Guardian Office 11 a. m. A Chinese Strike. Melbourne, May 6 Between 400 and 500 members of the Chinese Cabinet-makers Union have struck for the minimum wage of 7s 6d per day fixed under the Factories Act. The employers state their willing ness to pay the prescribed wages, bat say that the men are not qualified to earn them. Presbyterian General Assembly. The Rev Dr Marshall has been nominated moderator of the Presby terian General Assembly. The Queensland Exhibition. Brisbane, May 6 The Governor officially opened the International Exhibition yesterday in the presence of an immense crowd. The city was en fete for the occasion. An Abortive Experiment* The Chief Inspector of Stock reports that the first experiment in inoculating stock to render them immune from the prevalent fever proved a failure as the injection of fever into the blood gave them the disease in a very virulent form.

TERRIBLE CATASTROPHE.

Two Hundred Persons Killed,

Portlier Particulars.

Press Association —By Electric Telegraph- Copy right.

I Paris, May 4. A terrible occurrence took place during the holding of a charity bazaar in Paris. A fire broke out, and in the fearful panic which ensued thirty per sons were killed, while a hundred were injured. About eighteen hundred of the elite of the city were present. Many appalling scenes were witnessed. May 5. The city ia in mourning. Many ladies in high sooiety perished in the Bazaar fire, including the Duchess D'Alencon, wife pi Prince Ferdinand of Orleans ; Com tease de Mun, wife of Comte de Mun, member of the Chamber of Deputies for Finistere; Comtesse St Perier, Comtesae de Eonneval, and Baroness Didier. Amongst the first visitors to the scene were President Faure and M. Hanotaux. Received Wakapuaka, May <j, 9. 45 a.ra Guardian Office 10,45 a.m. Paris, May 5. The leading ladies of the Conserva tive Catholic party were taking a prominent part in the bazaar, and there were five thousand people present, it being the busiest hour of the afternoon and the heat was stifling. Suddenly it was seen that the wall hangings near the cinematograph were on fire. The flames spread rapidly and in thirty minutes the entire building was destroyed. As soon as the flames weVe observed the cry of "fire" was raised and a terrible panic ensued. Crowds rushed for the only egress where there was a fearful crush, The shrieks of women and children were heartrending and the weakest were trampled to death. The fire was worst on the right'side of the bazaar, and the flames cutting oft communi cation and preventing attempts being made to reach the exit most of the I people were pushed to the opposite side and dashed against a stone wail. Received W&kapuaka May 6, 10 am., Guardian office 10.55 a.m. Paris, May 6. Of those in the bazaar 153 escaped through the window after the fire. The ambulance men found the limbs of many victims and many others with 1 broken skulls. It was impossible |q recognise the features of many of the dead. It is estimated that there were two hundred killed and one hundred injured.

COMMERCIAL

LONDON MARKETS.

Frees Association —By Electric Telegraph- Copyright. London, May 4. The price of wheat has fallen la duriag the week. The wool sales opened to day. Prices were irregular, ruling from par to 15 per cent, decline.

THJB ASHBURTON GUAKDIAIV i THURSDAY, MAY 6, 1897.



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The wife of Mr Leonard Wells, of Eist Brimfield, Masa., had been suffering from neuralgia for two days, not being able to sleep or hardly keep ttill, when Mr Holden, fche merchant there sent her a bottle ot Cham berlain's Pain Balm, and asked that she give it a thorough trial. Oa meetiDg Mr Wells the next day he was told that she was all right, the pain had left her within two hours, and that the bottle of Pain Balm was worth §5.00 it' it could not be bad for lees. For sale by Aihburtoa Drug Company. !



You have ruined your oonsti'ution sufficiently by drinking inferior teas, recruit by drinking only KogiK Tea, ib is pure a»d n4wbitf.«rjolju Orv & Up., &>te Ag«pte,



Fbkk Lifk Insukanok. The Dresden Piano Company have applied Free Life Insurance to purchasers of pianos and organs on the one, two and three years hire system. Organs from 10s 6d monthly, pianos from 223 6d moafehjy, large stock to select from. For fuller particulars enquire of the Dresden Piano Company's Manager, Mr J. A. X. Riedle, c/o HN. Anderson, East Street. : Advt. 4 217 The fcrue leaf of the Tea plant, uatampered , with and pure j bhia in Kout Tm, try it-— j Ms Qss & Co. i Ageiite j



S,UIET COW for Sale, to calve in two ' months. Apply for address at Mail cc. s_f 1 I H £ I 8 CO " . * I g Ph ?. 2 oq O en -a| B d S S H^ a fe 2; .a bH ft gig ||| i Ph| s g "3 S H^' I I I tc s a, ffl r q



PUBLIC WOICES, ST. STEPHEN'S CHURCH, Ashburton. THURSDAY—Brotherhood of St. Andrew, 7.30 p.m FRIDAY—Short Service, 7 30 p m. SUNDAY SERVICES. 8.30 a.m.—Holy Communion. 11 a in.—Morning Prayer. 3 30 p.m.—Holy Baptism. 6.30 p in.—Evening Prayer. REV. T. A. HAMILTON. NEW ZFALAJSD pLOTHING "OAOTORY. TO THE PEOPLE OF ASHBURTON AND SURROUNDING DISTRICTS. HAVING recently taken over the Managership of this Branch, I hope that by keeping a good up-to-date Stock, at the right prioea, combined with civility, to continue to merit the same liberal support you have shown i to our late Manager. We will be opening up NEW GOODS daily in all Departments, and anything not in Stock will be procured on short notice. Agents for the OSMOND, TOWNSEND, & TRIUMPH BICYCLES. VICTORY SEWINGr MACHINES, _ For Cash or >n Easy |Time Payments. HALLENSTEIN BROS. &;CQ. A. G. BARTON, Manager' .



Business Notices LOOK OUT. G. J. NEILL —IS SELLING— Table Damask at Is per yard Twill Sheeting, i yards wide, white or grey, 9Jd Turkish Towels, 6d each Cretonne 3|d Flannelettes, 2s lid per dozen Q J N EILL p gELLIHG- Mee'n Heavy Tweed Suits at 2is 6d, wonderful value Boys Suits, 4s lid Men's Tweed Trousers, 5s lid BOOTS. BOOTS. Men'i Nail SHOOTERS 7s lid. Women's SHOES 4s lid Mtti's BLUOHIRS 4s lid. Women's Lace SHOES 4a lid The Cheapest Boots in Aahburton are to be got at G. J. NEILL'S, FRIEDLANDER'S CORNER, EAST STREET. MELLO R'S 'ZEALANDIA' BOOT STORE NEW LEATHERS. NEW LEATHERS. NEW LEATHERS. TI^HE ONLY SHOP in Ashburton that is sellinjj; the Wonderful Crack- X proof Oalf, beautiful in appearance, and in wear practically indestruct- Kangaroo Calf, soft a3 a glove, with all the wearing properties of Kangaroo. Kangaroo Kip Cow Hide, dressed on b new and improved principle, equal to the hardest wearing Kip, but as soft and comfortable as kid skin. All these new leathers I have made up in Ladies' and Gentlemen's Boots and Shoes, They are splendid goods, and well worth a trial. Keep up to date and ask for these new gooda. Every pair is guaranteed. JAMES MELLOR, ZEALAEDIA BOOT-STORE, ASHBURTON.



NEW GOODS. NEW GOODS.' AUTUMN AND WINTER. PRICES CUT TO SUIT THE KEEN WEATHER AND KEENER TIMES. LOOK OUT. LOOK OUT. THE OBKTEAL CASH DRAPERY AND CLOTHING MAHT. NEXT TO J. ORR AND CO, EAST STREET. MITCHELL AND BRODRIBB GIVE THE BEST VALUE IN THE TEADE. EVERYTHING NEW, EVERYTHING GOOD, EVERYTHING STYLISH, And of Course EVERYTHING CHEAP. T>AY Cash and Save 25 per cent. Grand assortment bought at Special Rates to enable us to auatain our reputation, yefc giving the *- oBeBtV^VD^BTfß T fo aMhe Winter, 8a 9d, worth 12s 6d. Good Btrong plain Homespun 4a lid dress. Beautiful Tweeds, grand Heavy Twijl If«»«J W ,„"£ 9d full 'dress. All the latest Trimmings in Furs, Gimps, Braids, Velvets, etc., at prices never v-aue, newest shades.i»]=& M, and as ""^^^9 CAL I O OS, SHEETINGS-you'll wonder at the prices. No bad debts do it before heard of. F^ANNELhLIIJ^ i^Ji , v wide d AR QUr ds ld fees t b Grand dark ™tofJ\**»»lß te^J ™ '^ * linea afc from 2a 6d per doiT Dou'.le White Shewing IOJd, cheap at Is 3d. you hack again. BLANKETS, Blankets, Blankets. White Blankets, Blue Blankets, Brown and Grey Kaiapoi Lirge White Towels 4s lid doa up. J*V^-" IJv ' , N Zealand A grand heavy Blanket at & lid. Art Mushns, Cretonnes, Blaukets 25 per _cent .cheaper thaa any other• Hoose mJ™™ B™™nß ™™n% c Buy Scan; we Bell for Cash Look here ! Look here ! ! time aud anxiety by GOING b.ttan»n* xy j> x" _V low nrice and cuarantee you a saving of fully 50 per cent on all We'll trim your hat free, we only want to sell the tnjnming at a low price, and guraiuee y LOWEST in mw ZEALAND trimmed bati-Straws. Velvets, Beavers, andl Fel «™/JJPea^ D BjJ{g|^fgs8jJ{g|^fgs for winter-Flannelette and Wool to suit tor the UWst and most sty isbtnmming.-^ th lum , me js a Corset any ai.e any th. coldest weather and lightest purse. pOMBTS, O""*". o»J tt DI h °/gl^ CLOTKING AND MERCERY Department, Men's White Kid Gloves «nd Evening Bows, etc. DON'T WBGBT THE CENTRAL CASH TRADERS, WHO ABE, AND MEAN TO BRING DOWN PRICES. MITCHELL & BRODRIBB, fIBXT Q h ORF & 00., KASI SXREiS*, ABHBUF ON



AUTUMN AND WINTER NOVELTIES. GEAND SPECIAL DISPLAY AT MITCHELL & TURNER'S. MATCTrw*?—- MILLINERY — ffiTm WATERPROOFS n oaks FUR BOAB CAPES UNDERCLOTHING IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT 12JfA£jJ5g^_ _ ,_ SH^BC u ea >« 3 nn7v^r-3tnr7»nKnrTu~TS^p^Sg <Ju"r Business well to the _—- J»*^JJ^ hftve decided t F O add a FIRST-OLASB DRESSMAKING DEPARTMENT to our Establishment. We have secured the services of Miss HiLL, a lady of unquestioned ability, who brings with her credentials of the highest order from MFSSRS W. STRANGE & CO., in whose Workrooms she has been engaged for over seven yeaks. Our object is to supply our Customers with Stylish and Well-made » OOBTUMEB at a Moderate Pbice, and every possible efforc will be given to make our NEW DEPARTMENT an unqualified tuccess. We have already booked a number of Orders, and expect a very full reason. Miss Hill will be pleased to receive intending Patrons on and after FJR-,1 DAY, tMarch26. MITCHELL AND TURNBB, lANORBD STREET,