Telegraphic Notice.

A temporary telegraph office will be open at rhc P^merston North racecourse on tho 24;h and 25;<h inst. Hoars 1130 a.m till 5 p.m. A temporary telegraph office will be open at the Forbury Racecourse, Dune din, on Wednesday. Thursday, and Hatur day. 24fh, 25 h, and 27th mat. Hours 11.30 a m. till 5 p.m.

Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1897. NAVIGATING THE AIR.

The one great remaining problem in the Bcience of locomotion—that of navigating the air-—seems to have been solved at last, and, as is usual in connection with the history of great discoveries, more than one inventor appears to have hit upon its solution at one and the name time. Recently we gave some particulars of a successful air ship which had been invented in Phila delphia, and now very full particulars are published of an aerodrome invented by Pro fessor Langley, which has been successfully tested at Washington. From a descriptive article in the Detroit Free Press, contributed by Frank G. Carpenter, we learn that Pro fessor Langley, who is a well-known scientist and astronomer, has been for years devoting his leisure to research and experiment in the direction of aerostation, and haa discovered that previous investigations and experiments have proceeded on entirely wrong lines, because founded on false data. For example, instead of it being true, aa had been assumed by mathematicians, that if it takes a certain amount of power to keep a thing from fall ing, it will take much additional power to make it advance, Professor Langley'a dis coveries have proved the reverse, and that it takes much less force to puah a body rapidly through the air than is needed to sustain it there. He says :•—" I found, iv short, that the conditions of air travel with my planes and of land and sea travel were in one important respect the opposites of one another. An ocean steamer running at twenty knots an hour will take several times as much coal as is required to run it at the rate oi ten knots an hour. The limited express uses a great deal more coal than the slow freight for the same weight and distance. This is not so in aerial flight with planes. Actual experiment shows that the faster the speed the leaa the force required to sustain the planes, and that it would cost less to transport such planes through the air at a high rate of speed than at a low one. I found further that one-horse power could carry brass plates weighing two hundred pounds at the rate of more than forty miles an hour in horizontal flight. Everything, however, depended upon the flight being strictly horizontal. I found that if it were the least irregular the power must be increased in proportion to the irregularity." Guided by these discoveries, Professor Langley, after infinite pains and repeated experiments, has succeeded in constructing an ac odrome capable of a flight of two miles at a speed of thirty miles an hour, 'ihe machine, which is about fifteen feet long, and about fourteen feet wide from tip to tip of the wings, has on each side a sort of screw propeller, or pair of blades, whiph revolve at the rate of J.QOO revolutions a minute, and are driven hy the smallest one horse engine in the world—its moving parts weighing just twenty-six ounces. All the working parts of the machinery "are of steel, and the machine carries about four pounds of water, heated by gasoline, which converts it into steam. The wings, which are stationary, are fastened to, the upper part of the framework, and extend out above the body holding the machinery, wl.-ich latter is wonderful.y delicate, but as atroig and a:, the sanv; time as light as scientific skill can make it. MrCarpenter, describing a successful flight of the aerodrome, which he witnessed on November 28 last, fays.-—"I saw the machine, made chiefly of steel, weighing as much as a four.yaar-old boy, yet so large that it would just about rill the average parlour, moved by a Bteam engine which was a part of it, dart forth from the launching stage, and fly in an almost straight line through the air, a distance of more than 1500 yards, or over three quarters of a mile. The flight was hominta!. There was not a quiver of the wings, and the great bird-like aerodrome swam, as it were, upon the planes of the atmosphere. It first ffew to the right, across the bay towards a strip of woods, and.vas Mr Langley and myself watched ib, our hearts for the moment came into our throats, for it seemed as if it would dash itself against the trees. As it Beared them, however, it gracefully swept round and downward, then turned and rising as straight za an arrow, flew across the bay where we were standing on toward Washington, It continued to Hy hi th;s straight horizontal line until the water which ißrn^hed the steam was exhausted, when it slowly but gracefully swept down and rested upon the wvter. It alighted so gently that not a bit of its machinery was injured, and had it not been that the evening shades were falling it could have been fiown again." Professor Langley has not only, therefore^ both theoretically and practically proved that machines can be made which will travel through the air, but states that if he had time and money to spend upon the construc tion of a large machine, he believes he could make ono on a sc tie such as would demon strate to the world that a large passenger carrying flying machine can be a commercial as well as a scientific success. He adds—" I be ieve, however, that the flying machine will firat come into national use in the arts at war,, father than those of peace. In the eyent of a gres.t wax, by means of an aerial machine the armies or one pation will be j &ble to know exactly what those of the ' saemy $re doing, thus radically changing -*•■ military strategy and tactics, to say preaeiiu. ■ «- «owSt' pf dropping down nothing of tutu.. t » *«*tie^ ( however, bombs out of the sky. x~- ~- -i even that such inventions will finally be greater advantage in the arts of peace. I have faith that the swiftest and perhaps the moat luxurious, if not the safest, travelling in the future may be through the air."

Local and General.

There was a very large entry of sheep for the sale at the Tinwald yards to-day.

Taking it year in and year out the eldest hour in each twenty-four hours is five o'clock in the morning.

It was a member of Parliament who said : " You may depend upon it, the pale face of the British soldier is the b ickbone of the Indian army/

The Canterbury Agricultural College is to be I'fliliated to the University, so that the students may bej enaMed to sit for the degree of B.Sc. in agriculture.

Mr John Byera, of Totara (saya the iVovth Otago Times) finished threshing on Friday. His crop has turned out the splendid yield of fifty bushels to the acre.

Spain's troubles in Cuba and the Philip pines have withdrawn 20 000 men from rural industries in 20 months. The country districts are in diatreaa through the crops having fallen short; mills and all kinds of agricultural machinery are lying idle, and there are no hands to set them going.

The Masberton Daily has the following items of a dismal nature:—"A Masterton i orchard ist declares that he has lost two tons of fruit this Beason through the ravages of the codlin moth.—The quantity of blackened grain lying rotten in many paddocks in this district is very considerable and the loss to some farmers will be severe, —In some parts of the Wairarapa district a disease of the eyes in sheep has been very prevalent. The animals go totally blind, in some cases for a considerable time, but I usually recover their sight) within * few.

Thsre are forty-seven Chinese temples in America.

Schoolmistress (jusb beginning a lesson upon minerals)— Now what are the principal things we get out of the earth ? Youthful Angler (aged four, confidently)— Worms.

The women on Dutch Railways are em ployed in cleaning carriages, working on an average eight hours a day on tie State railway, with light work on alternate Sundays, and getting lfl 25c wages per fortnight.

In view of the approaching meeting of the Amateur Cycling and Athletic Club, the cycling track is to be very considerably im proved by extra embanking. The work will ; not be proceeded with till after the Isling ton excursion.

The directors of the Caledonian Society are anxious for a full meeting of members at the Secretary's office on Wednesday even ing, March 3, to arrange the Society's pro gramme for the wintsr and to transact general business.

Mrs Henry Ward Beecher, the widow of the famous preacher fell to the floor at her resideacejat Stamford, Connecticut, and broke her hip. Mrs Beecher, it is feared, will never be able to walk again. Her life is in no immediate danger. She is eighty-four ye»rs of age.

The Council of the New Zealand Swim ming Association last night decided to agree to the suggestion of the Ashburton Swimming Club, that the champion medals Bhould be procured by the Association, instead of by the clubs in towns where champion events are held.

The grand prize in the Panama lottery this year, amounting to £20,000, was won by a poor widow named Bossiore, with a family of four children, who has been selling fruit and vegetables in the streets of Marseilles. She received news of her good luok on December 16.

The Inspector of Nuisances has been busy during the last fortnight inspecting premises, and last night he reported to the Borough Council several cases of premises in an insanitary condition. The Council ordered those premises to be put right at once, otherwise proceedings would be taken to compel observance of the laws of health.

The many residents of Ashburton who have been in the habit of using Allandale coal will be pleased to learn that Mr James Elliott, the local agent, haa just received information that, after driving a distance of 1600 ft., the Company haa struck a new seam of splendid coal 10ft. thick, and at a depth of 500 ft. from the surface.

The meeting called by the Mayor of Christchurch yesterday afternoon, to devise means fot assisting the Indian Famine Fund lapsed, only half a dozen persons attending This waa the third occasion on which such a meeting had fallen through, and the Mayor announced that he would take no further steps unless approached on the subject.

It is not generally supposed that cattle are liable to attacks of the bot-fly, but we are informed by a well-known Ashburton dairy farmer that the bot fly is becoming so much dreaded by cows that quiet animals have been seen careering round paddocks in a state of great alarm, while it is no un common thing to see the fly attacking a cow while being milked.

It is satisfactory to learn from telegrams sent us by the Press Association that three local candidates have to be congratulated on passing the junior civil service examination. Miss Eva Jones is a daughter of Mr fl. M. Jones, Ashburlon ; Miss Kate Standish, a daughter of Mr F, Standish, Longbeach.; and Mr J. C. Schneider, a son of Mr F. Schneider, Tinwald,

" I dunno ez the prodigal son was so very bid after all," said Mrs Corntossel. "He wasn't no good to his family," rejoined her husband. " That's a fact. But, when he g"t home, he didn't hey no more ter say, Ef he'd been like most o' the men folks now adays, the fust thing he'd hey done would hey been to find . fault with the way the fatted calf was cooked. :J

Mr A. Martin, a Wanganui photographer, has discovered a process by which (he pic tures are made to stand out in high relief, giving the subject a remarkably life-like appearance. The invention has been patented in New Zealand and already a prominent Wellington firm have purchased his patent rights tor the colony excepting Wanganui, which Mr Martin reserves for himself.

The Rev. J. W. Horsley told some years ago of a singular and painful experience which befe! him at Newgate one Christmas morning. He had gone to take the service for the prison chaplain, but there had been a clearance of the gaol a day or two earlier, and his congregation consisted of two warders and a man who was to die on the gallows the next day. An inspiriting audience for a Christmas homily !

Messrs F. and H. Steel, of the Victoria Steam Carriage Works, West Street, Ash burton, whose advertisement under the name of Steel Bros, will be found on the first page of this issue, have found it necessary to alter th§ name of the firm to F. and H. Steel, owing to there being another firm trading in the same line of business in Cantepbury under the name of Steel Bros. As accounts, goods, and business in connection with the two firms get considerably mixed, the above alteration has been decided upon. We understand the new firm has found it necessary to employ extra labour iv order to overtake the great rush of orders on hand.

We have sometimes heard it remarked that Messrs Oraighead and Berry man charge rather high prices for their suits. In is evident from the number of hands in the;r employ that they do by far the largest tailoring business iv Ashburton, and as they employ the best workmen and pay the iiig'Uest wages their customers do not expect their clotlies at '»' sweating " rates ('? cheap and nasty.") By insisting upon first-class woikmanship in every garment, combined with good fit and best quality linings etc. Messrs Craighead and Berryman have earned their reputation for giving satisfaction and their reduction of about 20a per suit referred to iv their new advertisement is sure to draw a iresh rush of customers. —Advt. 2 171

The Coming Session.

PER PRESS ASSOCIATION,

KJabieij, February 2'A With reference to the holding of an early session, the Herald authoritatively states U)ai ? su Wj rio Minister has approached Resell op the subject, and the VjU ' rt that U * ix&& assented °P behalf of the Opposition is inaccurate. ?ewoually, Oaptaiu Russell thinks that the Oppotfkon should throw uo obstacle in the way <>t the Premier attending the Queen's Jutil.ee celebrations, provided that he can make suoh financial arrangements aa are essential to proper administration, and that Mr Seddon makes it clear he wishes to go. This ia on the assumption that no more than six months supply ia asked for, and that the session will be held in the Spring for ordinary business.

Horticultural Society.

There was a full attendance at the meeting of the Committee of the Horticultural Society held last evening. Mr Shrimpton occupied the chair. The Secretary read a rough balance sheet, showing that after pay. merit of prize's and all expenses connected with the recent show, there remained a small balance to credit. This announcement was receivod with much satisfaction, the I more so that thi3 is the first season for some four years that the balance has been on the right side. A small honorarium was voted to the Secretary, and a hearty vote of thanks to the ladius and gentlemen who had assisted at the promenade concert was passed. The accounts presented were passed for payment, and the Secretary was directed to advertise that prize money will be paid on Saturday next, between the hours of 12 noon and 4 p.m , at the office of the Secretary, Mr Makeig, Aroide. A discussion took plaoe as to the proposed chrysantheum show, which it was decided t) hold early in May. Several private prizes for this Show were announced, which will be allocated at the next meeting of the Com mittee—to be held on Tuesday, March 9. A vote of thanks to the chair closed the proceedings.

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The fortnightly meeting of the Ashburton Borough Counci[ was hold on Monday even ing. Present — Hia Worship the Mayor (presiding), and Crs Thomas, Baker, Bird,, Collins, Orr, and Reid, Or Paul sent an apology for absence, FINANCE. The Mayor reported that the overdraft was now £1298 Os 4d, and the income re ceived from all sources since last meeting had been £47 18e. HOSPITAL The County Council wrote, forwarding an account for £10, being the borough's contri bution to hospital maintenance; also an account for lls 3d, traffic bridge repairs. The accounts were ordered to be paid. OUTFALL DRAIN KESERVB. The Commissioner of Crown L;mds wrote to the efFeot that the outfall drain reserve only awaited gazetting to be vested in the Borough Council. FIRE BRIGADE. The Paymaster-General forwarded amount of tke brigade's account for expenses at rail way fire—£2 —which was ordered to be paid to rhe Fire Brigade. W. Powell wrote, resigning his position as turncock, as he would have to leave Ashburton. He forwarded the name of VV. Stribling as a person willing to discharge the duty pending a fresh appointment. W. Srribling also applied for the position. Powell also put in an account for £1 ss, being three months' wages as turncock. The matter of the appointment of a turn cock was left in the hands of the Fire Brigade Committee, as also the obtaining of reports from the engineer as the discharge of the turncock's duty. The recent election of officers by the Fire Brigade was ratified, and the name of Mr John Miller added to the Brigade's member ship. RESERVES. The Reserves Committee reported as fol lows :— Sutherland's Application. —Your Commit tee have considered Mr Sutherland's appli cation for a reduction of the present rental paid by him on the borough reserve leased by him at Hinds, and cannot see their way to make &ny recommendation at present. Unlet Reserves —As instructed by the Com mittee lenders have been called for leasing the newly acquired and unlet borough re serves, and will be laid before you this evening. The report was adopted. LIGHTING. The Lighting Commi tee handed in the following report:— Lamp Repairs. —By instructions from the Committee tenders were called for repairing and painting the btreet lamps, for which Mr J. R. Chapman's tender at £7 Is was ac cepted by the Chairman. , Contract for Lighting Streets. —Your Com mittee recommend that the offer of the Ash burton Gas Company attached hereto for lighting, clearing, and supplying gas to the street lamps for a term of three years be accepted. Lavip, Baring Sjuave. —Your Committee recommend that a L;mp be erected on the telephone post in the middle of Baring Square, and that it be supplied with an incandescent burner. The first two clauses of the report were adopted—the terms of the- Gas Company's offer being -for three years at 10s B^d each per month for the street lamps, and 13 s ljd each for the traffic bridge lamps. This was a reduction of 5s per lamp, equal to £40 per year. The third clause was not accepted, but, after a considerable amouut of discus sion, the subject was held over for discussion at a future meeting. engineers' report. The engineers' reported in the usual terms on the work of the labor gang. The three hydrants intended for East Street had arrived, and preparations were being made for fixing them on the railway reserves, a permit for which had been obtained from the resident engineer. If the proposed hose reel ia not ordered soon, the report suggested the obtaining a short length, say 40 or 50 feet of indiirubber hose, in order to te&t the pressure in the main, and the efficiency of the hydrants. The riv«r had broken away in the South branch, and there was only enough water coming in for the borough supply.

The report was adopted, the question ot procuring hose being left to the Works Committee. inspector's report. The Inspector reported on certain cases in which premises indicated were in au insanitary condition, and the report having been adopted, it was ordered that the defaulters be notified of legal proceedings if the defects were not removed. ADVERTISING. Thp Coupqil went into committee to con sider the question of advertising, but referred the matter to the Finance Com mittee and resumed. tICBSNSE. A carrier's license was granted to James Elliott. ACCOUNTS. Accounts to the amount of £60 were passed for payment, and the Council sat as a DOMAIN BOARD. The Cycling Club wrote, asking that the track be put in order for the Easter Monday meeting, at which there is likely to be a large attendance of cyclists from a distance. The work was ordered to be done by the engineer. The Chairman reported that £2 2^ had been handed to him by the Queensland Cricket Committee, to bs spent in the Domain work.

The Cycling Club wrote asking for a close day on Easter Monday. The request was granted.

The curator wrote advising that the present was a suitable time for doing the ■ work on the hockey ground. This matter j was referred to the Domain Committee, who vyere also asked to look into tUe matter of the alteration on the track, as asked for by the Cycling Club. The Committee appointed to inquire into the facts regarding the plucky conduct of the lad Baker, in saving the life of the young man Dunn, reported very favourably on the lad's conduct, aa well as on Ghat of two other boys Stocks and Tait. Some discussion took place on the question of awarding the boys medals, in course of which it was shown that the Board as such could not award medals. Members, however, were of one opinion that the lads' conduct should be noticed, anci it was decided to engross a letter of recognition of the boy's conduct and forward it to him. The Board then adjourned.

THE WINDSOR MAGAZINE.

We are in receipt from the local agent, Mr H. M. Jones, of a copy of the January number of this excellent monthly, it con tains a further instalment (Chapters X to XVI) of Hall iJaine's new novel " The Christian," which fully sustain the interest of the opening chapters, and are well worthy of tht? reputation of the anther of " The Manxman." Then we have ftn article on \ " Jfawarden-the Home of the Oladatones," With a, capital portrait of England's grand old man, and of his faithful and venerable he'pmeet Mrs Gladstone. There are also, inter alia, a descriptive article on " London's halfpenny papars," embellished by portraits of Mr Passmore Edwards, Mr Ernest tarke, and others connected with the Fourth Estate, including " T»y Pay" O'Connor; "Chats with Agents-General," in which interviews with the Hon. W. P. Reeves and Sir Westby Perceval are detailed ; a paper on "The Homes of Dickens and Dv Maurier," a budget of " Varsity Tales," " Moments with Modern Musicians,'' " Literary Notes I and News," besides several complete stories -"-altogether an admirable collection of literary pabulum which may be heartily commended to the reading public.

COMMERCIAL.

OHRISTOHUROH GRAIN AND

PRvDUCE MARKET.

The Press of Saturday says '■ — A few thousand sacks of old wheat in mixed lines have been purchased for ship ment north at prices equal to about 4s 4d to 4s 5d f.0.b., the sellers being farmers who have been fortunate enough to hold. There is little new grain offering, and prices may be said to be a shade firmer, prime milling lines being worth 3s 8d to 3s lOd at country stations within a radius of twenty five or thirty miles of Port. At the above rates a few small lines have changed hands during the week for immediate consumption. In the Australian markets o«.ts have during the last ten days declined Id to 21 per bushel in value. Locally, there is not much life in the market, there being a few enquiries for local consumption and for [shipment north wards. No sales of any importance have been reported during the week, There is a demand for reliable samples of old pasture ryegraas for autumn sowing in the North Island. The following are current; prices paid to farmera, f.o.b, Lyttelton, except where otherwise specified :— Wheat, Good to prime quality. Old New. Pearl ... 4s 3d to 4s 4d 3a lid to 4s. Tuscan ... 4s Id to4s 2d 3s lOd to 3s lid Hunter's ... 4s to 4a Id 3a 9 i to 3a lOd

Oats—(Prime milling), 2s Id ; good sfcout feed Is lid, fair short feed Is lOd, Duns la lid to 2s, Danish Is lOd.

Babley—Malting, prime, 3s 6d to 4s; medium do, 3s ; feed, 2s to 2s 2d. Beans—Nominal. Pkas —Blue Prussians, 3s 6d to 33 Bd.

The Nkw Zealand Farmers' Co-opera- t tive Association of Canterbury, Ltd., quote aa follows on February 19, 1897 :— Wheat- Prime milling Pearl 4s to 4s Id f ,o.b „  Tuscan 3s lid to 4s „   Hunter's 3* lid to 4s „ Seconds, c'ean ... 3a 3d to 3s 5d  Oats — Tartars and Duns .. Is lOd  Goo 1 stout feed ... Is lid  Milling .. ..2a  Barley— Prime malting . ... 3s 6d to 4s „ Medium (dull) .... 3a  Beans 2e 7d „ Peas- Prussian Blues . ... 3s 8d to 3s 9d  Partridge ... .„, 3a to 33 3d  Ryegniss— Farmers' lines ... 2a to 2s 6d Ch.ch, Cocksfoot— Good bright seed ... 3d to 3£d  Medium grades ..„ 2|d  Chaff- Goo 3 oatsheaf .... 40s to 42s 6d country stations Potatoes—Derwents ... 403 „ 

Harvest Home.

A very happy gathering was that which assembled at Mr E. Gates', Tinwald, last evening, invited together by him to celebrate Harvest Home after the style of the old English custom, and also to celebrate the opening of a new grain shed. This which has just been completed is about 50ft long by 34ft broad and was tastefully decora'ed for the occaeion, with bunting, flowers, greenery, etc., and being well lighted looked quita charming. Here fully 150 guests v ere heartily welcomed by Mr Gates, and dancing to music efficiently rendered by Mrs Bishop (piano) and Messrs Foreman and Meharrey (violins), was s on in full swing, and kept up with much spirit till the small hours. At intervals songs were sung by Miss Brankin, Messrs Jas. Jamieson, Thiele, McLauchlan, J. Doherty and others, and refreshments of all kinds it ishardly necessary to say were provided in abundance. Noth ing indeed was omitted that could have added to the pleasure of the company. During the evening Mr R. J. Paul, asked all to join him in=i hearty vote of thanks to Mr Gates, for the ordial welcome ho had extended to them, and this was dono most enthusiastieal'y with the accompaninent of three ringing cheers. During the early part cf the evening an accident happened which rather mat red the pleasure of those who werea ware of it. The room having become heated and close, Mr J. L. Brown mounted a ladder, to remove a sheet of corrugated iron which had been temporarily placed over an opening for a window, about 15ft from the ground. A nail which he was drawing came away unexpectedly, and to save himself fa'ling, he jumped clear of the ladder, alighting on his feet on the shingle below, and though he said he was all right, he found it quite impossible to stand up, or bear any weight on his feet, even with assistance. He was promptly driven home aud attended to, and it is hoped that a severe shaking is the worst injury he has received. During the evening a second presentation was made to Mr H. Bennett, stationmaster, who is leaving Tinwald. Mr Gates, on behalf of the subscribers, asked him to accept a handsome field glass and case of pipes as a further mark of the esteem in which he is held by them. Mr Bennett, who seemed quite taken aback at the unexpected event, thanked the donors heartily for this further expression of friend ship and good will.

The Wellington Suburbs Seat.

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) Wellington, February 22. The Hon. T. W. Hislop will probably again be a candidate for the Suburbs seat.

CIVIL SERVICE PASSES.

Success of Ashburton Candidates

PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.

Wellington, February 22.

The Junior Oivil Service passes for Ash burton are—Eva Jones and Kate Standiah ; for Tinwald, J. C. Schneider.

Two hundred and ninety-e Tght candidate passed the Junior Civil Service examination. M. A. Hunter, of Mercer, was first on the list; B. Keys, Blenheim, second,

THE SESSION OF PARLIAMENT

The Press Association telegraphs that Ministers state that it is improbable that Parliament will meet so soon as March 18, even if an arrangement be mide with the Opposition for a short session. If anything is done, how ever, it will probably be before Easter.

Killed in a Tunnel.

(PKR PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.)

Dunedw, February 22. James Baker, a shearer, aged between 28 and 30, a recent arrival from Victoria, was killed this evening by falling from the north express between Herbert aud Hamp den. He was on the platform of a carriage, and ju3t before entering the tunnel asked for a knife to cut some tobacco. On emerg ing from the tunnel he was missing. Ihe stationmaster at Hampden was informed, and the police on going to the place found the man auite dead, the body being muti lated badly.

FARMERS COLUMN.

GOOD BARLEY l RQP3

J The Press records that Mr Frank Ooe, manager for the Executors at Bructcoe Lodge, Irwell, haa threshed out two enor mous «rops of barley this season. One paddock yielded sixty bushels per acre, and auo'her paddock threshed seventy-five bushels per acre. The grain was sold for 3a lOd per bushel on trucks at the Lake road station. The barley was sown in May and harvested early in January. RESULTS OF IRRIGATION. Mr R. McGregor, Selwyn, (says the Press) has some wonderful results this season from irrigation. For some four or five years Mr McGregor has been irrigating on a small scale with most satisfactory results. This year he has 38 acres with a wonderful crop of red clover or cow grass which he has saved for seed. The clover ia 26ia long, well headed and full of seed, aud very thick on the ground. In another and adjoining irrigated paddock is a 6ne crop of wheav, which looks like a 30 bushel crop. Thia laad is better known as Burnham plains, dry, shallow ground, which during a season, like the present would have been burnt up, and any crops, leaving clover "out of the question, would have been completely ruined. Mr McGregor's system is to plough and cultivate the land intended for irrigation I inbo narrow lands, say about two chains wide, with a wide and shallow water furrow between the lands. The water fa obtained I from water races. A TRAVELLING CREAMERY. Mr L. W. Beard, of Decorah, lowa, is the owner of several creameries in that State, some of which take milk from a radius of no less than ten miles each way from the factory. For one of these he has had built an itinerant creamery, which in appearance is like a gipsy-waggon but with the floor nearer the ground. It on go over the country at a good pace behind two light buggy horses. This is fitted up with a turbine separater and boiler, together with storage rooms for cream cans. With this he starti early in the morning and calls at the farms, where he runs the milk through the separator, gives the skim-milk back fresh and clean to the farmer's wife, weighs the cream and gives her a voucher for the weight, and he is able to get back to his factory in time for the cream he has obtained to be made into butter the same day. He has found that with one travelling separator he oan visit sufficient farms to skim from 50001b to 60001b of milk during the morning, while the cost is less than half that of carrying ' the milk to the factory aod returning the akim milk back to the farm. SUCCESS IN PIG BREEDING. A Victorian farmer writing in a recent issue of the Australasian says :—" It is all nonsense to say that pig-breeding does not pay. On my farm, which is a moderate sized one, I kept last year 34 milking cows. They averaged me in profit £5 each. With the skim milk I fed my pigs. I did not house them, but kept them in a small paddock by themselves. What food they had came from a stack of peas, which grew on 10 acres of land. We cut the peas, which were in straw, and threw them to the pigs twice a day. The pigs enjoyed it far better that way than if the peas had been thrashed. They burrowed and nestled amongst the straw, which lay in heaps around the pad dock. If there was .a pea to be found amongst the straw the pigs found it, and of the straw they made their own beds, and were warmer than if they had been ever so expensively housed. I sold 55 pigs last year, and they averaged 25s each. They would have brought more if we had a , regular market, as would be the case were an export trade in pork, hams, and bacon established. But eveu at that price I con sidered that the pigs had paid their May. They consumed the skim milk from the factory, for which otherwise I would have had no use. The peas only cost we the price of seed, ploughing and harvesting. There win no thrashing, bagging or carting to a market. Besides all this, the small paddocks devoted to the pigs were very much improved. Give the. pigs clover, or lucerne, or grass, and water enough—separat" ing the different ages—place these things before them in such a way as they can help themselves to them, and in addition a little shelter for the sows at farrowing time, and the pigs would pay their way. Wherever an attempt is made to breed and fatten pigs where ail their food is cut and carried to their trough by hand labour, depend upon it, the business will not pay. There is no animal that is equal to the pig as a 1 fossicker,' and when given the chance to seek his living in a lucerne or clover pad dock, he invariably proves the 'gentleman.' It will pay at present low price of pork and bacon to grow pumpkins and mangels for the pigs. These, along with good grass, and a small quantity of barley and maize or peas, fed judiciously in the open field, will return a handsome profit. Every small "or filthy pig-pen should be demolished, for these are only a source of waste of food as well as a loss of time and trouble to the owners. Where the facilities are such that the pigs oannofc get a free run in the bush or pasture paddocks and their ' pickings' supplemented as occasion requires with a few roots such as mangels, and pumpkins, and a handful of grain now and then, they should not be kept fat all. The pen or hand system of rearing and fattening pigs will not pay."

INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

(per press association.) Gold Export.

Wellington, February 22 The Ruapehu takes Home six boxes of bojlion, value £32,850, exported by the Bank of New Zealand from the Otago branches. Changes in Railway Rates. The coining changes in railway rates that wiil corn^ into force on April 1 are the following ;—Passengers will be allowed free 1121bs of luggage or goods purchased for their own use, bub these will be conveyed at owner's risk. Excursionists travelling more than one day will also be allowed 1121bs luggage; workpeople will be allowed the same . weight of tools or of work to do afc home. Parcel rates will be lowered. A 31b parcel will go any distance for 6d ; a 71b parcel fifty miles for 6d, and any distance beyond for Is, and other races in proportion. A reduction will be imde on carts and carriages when more than one are oarried in the same truck. Minor alterations are made in grain and in the rates on small parcels. Calves, sheep, goats, and pigs will be charged tonnage rates, except valuable stock, which will be at so much per head. The rates on scrap metal, old glass, bones, etc., pressed chaff and coke are reduced. The farthing per mile on wool is abolished, and the excess weight above four cwt will be charged instead. The special charges on railways constructed under the Districb Railways Act are entirely abolished, and all these lines now come under the ordinary rates. Death Under Chloroform, Dunedin, February 23 Mrs Jeasie Coutts died while under chlo roform in the hospital this morning.

THE NOTORIOUS BUTLER.

Preso Association—By Electric Telegraph— Copyright. [Received afc Wakapuaka February 23, 9.50 a tn., at Mail Office 11.25 a.m.] San Francisco, February '22 Butler alleges that; Weller committed suicide after a drinking bout.

THE ASHBURTON GUAKDIAN : TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 189 T.



G. J. NEILL lS SELLING WASHING PRINTS at 3W per yd ; WHITE MUSLINS 3a lid per doz G. J. NEILL IS SELLING DOUBLE-WIDTH SERGES in Navy, Brown and Maroon, at Is per yd G. J. NEILL 18 SELLING MEN'S ALL-WOOL SUITS at 23a 6d ; Men's Tweed Trousers 5s lid O. J. NEILL IS SELLING BOYS' SUITS at 4 3 lid each G. J. NEILL IS BELLING-Men'e Bluchers at 4s lid Men'a Nail Shooters ... ... 7a lid Men's Shoes ... ... ••• 5s lid Women's Shoes 4s lid Women's Strap Shoes... ... As lla G. J. NEILL DEFIES COMPETITION IN BOOTS Every Pair Guaranteed to Wear and give SATISFACTION FRIEBLANDER'S CORNER, EAST STREET. TREMENDOUS CLEARING SALE OF BOOTS AND SHOES. OUR PRICES OUR PRICES NOW IN FULL SWING. The Greatest SALE of the Year. Being the only Manufacturers in Ashburton our position for Selling the BJibl ULAbb UE GOODS at First Cost is UNRIVALLED. Per Pair Per Pair ad a a Ladieß'and Gents' Tennis Shoes Bluchers, heel and boeplate (Renshaw make) 29& 211 and naila, our own make- Children's School Boots (our beatseverythinginthemar own make)-7 to 9 .... 4 3 ket at the price ... .. only 411 10 to 13 ... 4 9 Ladies' Tan Leather Lace Shoea Ladies' Real Gla c Kid Shoes —a g eat bargain 4 9 —a perfect gem (own irake) only 611 Special Bargains— ladies' Evening Sh.ea, with Girls'2-Sfcrap Shoes (black or Heat bow, glace kid ... only 211 tan leather)-7 to 9 ... & U Gents' Canvas Shoes (black or 1P l iol ay '" brown), reduced from 6s to 4 6 Women's Leather blippera ? Ladies' Canvas Shoea (black, (own make), only ... ... o 6 blue, or brown), own make only 4 3 First-class Pegged Water- Gents' Tan Leather Shoes tights (our own make) ... only 11 y (sewn)-Usual price ... 9j Worth •••••• ib v Sale Price only ... 611 Children's Sirong Lace Boots Moo's Pegged Watertight _4's to 6's-a bargaiu ... 19 Blochera (own make), splen- Former Price ... 4 0 did value, only 9 6 Women's Leather Balmorals Men's Watertight Balmorals (our own make) ... ... only b b (own make), splendid value only 8 9 Ladies' Leather bhoes, neat Ladies' Lace Canvas Shoes ... "39 design (own make)... ... only 5 6 Usual Price ... ... 4 9 Youths' Watertight Balmorals Neat 2-Strap Evening Shoes..." 311 —l'aand 25... * only 6 9 Hundreds of odd pairs of Boots at ridiculously low prices. Come Early and make your Family Purchases. All Lines of Evening Shoes at Clearing Sale prices. Variety of our Stock best in Ashburton. IS" QUALITY—Second to None in New Zealand. McDonald & Mcdiarmid, BOOT AND SHOE MANUFACTURERS AND IMPORTER?, East Street, Ashburton.] [Branches at Oamaru TO FARMERS" REID & GRAY DBSTRE TO INTIMATE TO FARMER? and OTHERS that their late manager, ~MR TAYLOR, has been compelled to leave their employ owing to ill health, and that in future all Jobbing, etc., will be under the supervision of Mr J. U. FAULdr^, whose work has always given satisfaction, and as Reid and Gray only use the very best of materials they would respectfully solicit a continuance of your valued support. Our DOUBLE and THREE-FURROW PLOUGHS (over 13,000 at work) as now made with duplicated mouldboarda are perfect. CAST SHARES are extra hard carbon chilled, and especially suited for stony districts. TRIPOD and ROTARY HARROWS specially Suited for working down Twitch and Clods. Orubbera Harrows Eureka Grain and Manure Dtilla Drays and Rollers Chaffouttera Broadcast £eed-Sower.->, &c Oils ' Turnip Cutters Chaffcutters and Baggers Fencing Standards and Wire Blacksmith's Rasp^ (extra quality) AND ALL FARMING REQUISITES. ||ILl|| "Q'aiim itt Solb AOENT3 for Deering'a Steel Binders with Ball and Roller Bearings. Our Latebt Illustrated Catologue free on application. Farmers and Others will kind'y address all letters direct to KEID AND GBAY, ASHBURTON, TO ENSURE PROMPT ATTENTION. 2 94



READ THIS. WE ARE SELLING OFF FROM JANUARY TO DECEMBER. NEW ZEALAND Clothing 1 Factory, OWING to our speci.il facilities for buy ing in large quantities—as we have to supply 32 branches—the Public can depend on getting the VJEKY BEST VALUE IN THE TRADE. A few Lines will convince :— Men's Mosgiel Tweed Suits 27/5 Boys' Ashburton Tweed Suits ... 7/6 Men's Mosgiel Tweed Trousers ... 8/9 Boya' Sailor Suita .... ... ... 5/6 Men's Trousers to Measure ... ... 15/- Mosgiel Tweed (per yard) 1/11 Men's Suita to Order 55/- HALLENSTEItf BROS. ALEX. HENDRY, Manager. to • £§ W p oM aft K^ LhJ Eh o- - - . -#«H #1 o is e» -p HUH S si* r 5 qPh |> Do ' f^ ph >£ i| X P §3«|| © ** si S . < Church Services. S^^rTTrlsi' hen's church, Ashburton, TUlsSDAY—Teachers' Meeting, 7.30 p.m WEDNESDAY —Choir Social, St Stephen's Schoolroom, 7.30 p.m. FRIDAY—-Short Service, 7.30 p.m. Choir practice 8 p.m. SUNDAY SEKVICrB. B.3o—Holy Communion. 11 a.m.—Morning Prayer. 3 p.m.—SEAFIELD. 3 p.m.—DROMORE(Mr YV. Bowman Fox) 6 30 p.m.—hveniDg Prayer. REV. T. A. HAMILTON. IJIM , LI . ..„-, —t—..—■■■-U 1 ■ 'J.-'l'lL_ 1 CROCKERY, Crockeicy, gtjll we lead aud defy anyone to get better value in Urookeiy, etc., and AS cheap us we are selling now. Please read our new advertise ment and judge for yourselves.—Fletcher Bkos., Cash Sypply Stores. IF you are in want of a good strong work ing boot be sure you call at M^MjOE's Zealandia Boot Store.



MEN'S AND BOYS' HATS. HATS. HATS. DOZEN FELT! HATS ALMOST GIVEN AWAY. A GRAND SUCCESS. MITCHELL & BRODRIBB'S T^ABKIO AND PRINT HALE being such a Grand Success, we heave decided to hold, FOR TWO WEEKS, A GREAT HAT SALE. &r\ DOZEN MEN'S. f~r\ DOZEN BOYS'. Men's Soft Pelt Hats 2s Gd, worth 5s Boys' Soft Felt Hats Is 6d, worth 3s 9d i Men's Soft Felt Hats 3s 6d, worth 6s 6d Boys' Soft Felt Hats 2s 6d, worth 4s 9d Men's Soft Felt Hats 4s 6d, worth 7s 6d Men's Soft Felfc Hats 5s 6d, worth 8s 9d Men's Soft Felt Hats 6a Gd, worth 10* 6d Men's Soft Felt Hats 8s 6d, worth 12s Cd EVERY ARTICLE in the Clothing and Mercery Departments equally Cheap, so as to clear the shelves for the NEW GOODS expected by the end of the month ; while the balance of general Drapery will be still further reduced, so as to make a clean sweep before the New Season's Goods arrive. Prints, Brilliants, Cambrics from 3s lid per dozen, worth double Flannelettes for Dressing Gowns and Home Blouses 4s lid dozen, half price Trimmed and untrimmed Hats, Aprons, Blouses, Veilings, Ribbons, etc., at half cost BOOTS AND SHOES—the Best value in the trade mi >mmiiiwiiiimwmin *(*) *i ■ - iimi—in DON'T FORGET rJHE GREAT HAT SALE AT 4 MITCHELL & BRODRIBB'S, THE CENTRAL CASH DRAPERY MART, MM ICO J. Qm fc CO., EAS'jy street, ASHBUBTON.



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Holloway's Ointment.—Go where you may ia every country and in all climes per sons will be found who have a ready word of praise for this ointment. For chaps, chafes, scalds, bruises, and sprains, ib is an invaluable remedy ; for bad legs, bft'i breasts aud piles, it may be confidently relied upon for effecting a souna and per manent cure. In cases of puffed ankles, erysipelas, and rheumatism, Holloway's Ointment gives the greatest comfort by reducing the inflammation, cooling the blood, soothing the nerVes, adjusting circul ation, and expelling the impurities. This ointment should have a place ia every nursery. It will cure all those manifold skin affections which, originating in child- j hood, gala strength with the child's growth'



My little boy, when two years of age, wa taken very ill with bloody flux. I was advised to use Chamberlain's Colic, Cholera and Diarrhoea Remedy, and luckily pro cured part of a bottle. I cu-efully 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. 1 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 is, as I do.—Mrs Lina S. Hinton, Grahams ville, Marion Co., Florida, For sale by ASJiBPfiTPN PiIUQ OOMfANVt ■



Whohtonti and J?ejres/ting-<-Mw Fmut



Synopsis of New Advertisements. Wanted—Girl. Wanted—Boy for office. Jewitt—Pish to-nighfc. D. Stock—Removal notice. Public Library—Closed Thursday. Wanted—Handyman wants employment. H M. Jones—New books and magazines. Craighead & Berryman—Reductions m suits, Mitchell & Turner—New business adver? tisement. David Thomas—Sale of contractor's plant at Methven, Monday, March 1. Farewell Social to Mr J. ft. Oolyer— Baptist Church. Ashburbon County Ckuncil—Notice to ratepayers, Ruapuna district. Fried'rnder Bros , Limited—Clearing gale |at Liuriaton, Friday March 19. M*ssey Harris bicyoles. Massey Harris cultivator!* Rim and iSwe Fair, notice re entries.