DEATH.

Willis—On March Bth, at Halton road, Papauui, Jimma, the widow of R. Harper Willis, late of Tasmania, and mother of Henry Willis, Ashburton; aged 00 years.

Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. TUSEDAY, MARCH 9, 1897. THE LICENSING COMMITTEE.

Nominations for the election of a Licen sing Committee for theensulngthrefcy-arb forthe district of Ashburton must be made with the Returning Officer, Mr T, W. Taykr, not later than five o'clock in the afternoon of Wednesday next, the 16'h instant, and it will be well therefore to point out; two or three nutters in conneo tion with the election which should not be overlooked by those interested. First, the Committee are to consist of six (instead of nine $s under the Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Act;, 1893, —the number hav ing been roiuced by the amending Act of 1895). of whom the Stipendiary Magistrate is ex officio one, the remaining five having to ba elected. Any dv y registered elec tor on the roll for the General Assembly elections is qualified to vote or to be a candidate. But—and this point must not be losb sight of—each candidate muafc be i\n elector of the district, and must be nominated by a separate nomination paper signed by not lean than two nominators who must also be electors of the district, ?nd the same electors, or any of them' may subscribe as many nominations as there are vacancies to be filled, bub no more. The consent of the candidate must be notified in writing to the Returning Officer, and may be affixed to the nomi nation pap^r or sent to the Returning Officer by lettt r or by an ordinary mes sage by telegraph ; and every candidate or some person on his behalf, must, at the time of sending such notification of consent to the Returning Officer, deposit with or remit to the said officer tho sum of £10. This depoai*: is forfeited if the candidate rails ta poll as many votes as shall equal one-tenth of the lumber polled by the lowest successful candidate, but is other wise to be returned to the depositor. This is a new feature in connection with licensing elections, and arises from the fact that by the Act of 1895 it is ordered hat ill such elections bhall be held in accordance with the Electoral Act, that is o say, under the same provisions and conditions as apply to electiona for the General Assomhly, At the time tht- AScoholie Liquors Sale Control Act Amendment Act, 1895, was before the House, the fact that the bringing of (he 'icensing elections under the general Electoral Act would involve tho deposit c.f £10 by every candidate was, we think, overlooked —at anyrnto, there w.is n< discussion on the subj c% bub there can be ho doubt that tho effect of tho change of the law is ss stated, and that the deposit mush be made by or on behalf o every candidate. There is another result as we raad the law—though we have not Hcen attention drawn to it as yet in any o'her journal—and that is. that no worn*n h eligible fo ba elected, the Electoral Act, 1893 Oec 75), expressly limiting Candida t ure to persons of the male sex. It should further be added ihit it is pointed out by a contemporary (the Ti.^nru lie. aid) ;ha' " Persona cannot now get ti.cir n .mo.-; on tho eh choral roll for the purp> se of voting at the forthcoming election of licensing committee, aa tho notice of poking day. diverted by the returning officer, is tanta mount to the issue of & writ f>r a membei of the ETou«e cf Representatives." We believe th;s will be round to bo correct, but if so Registrars of Electors should b< advised to ihat effect, as we find cm enquiry that while the Returning Officer at Ashbarton reads the law as we do. the Registrar of Electors does not ko read it, and is still accepting claims for registra tion If he be wror|v; in go doing, it is e'ear that the result, might be the upsetting of the election \n the event of * contest, and it would ba well, therefore, that the matter should be authoritatively sottled without delay.

AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL FINANCE.

Whiting of the financial results of ihe projected Australian federation, the j

Otago Daily Times says :—lf the Customs and Excise, Po9t and TeleSrrtPb> »«d Pefance Departments of the existing Govern

ments were transferred to the C« nimon wealth Government tho aggregate revenue of the colonies would be immediately reduced by £10,700,000, or by 37 per cant., and the expenditure by £3,360,000, or by on'y 12 per cent. The clear revenue handed over would thus be £7. 340,000, portion of which would go to dtfroy the general cost of the federal government, which may be set down at between £1,000.000 and £1,500,000 ; and portion to cover the loss arising, buc not uniil a uniform tariff had been Imposed, from the abolition of duties on Inter colonial trade—estimated at £530 000 ; whilst the balance would be returned to 'he several colonies. The difference between £7,310,000 and tho balance so returned will probably have to b>3 made good by fresh taxa'icn

Local and General.

The election of Mr McKinley to the Ame rican Presidency cost £282,400.

A Japanese author has just completed a work of fiction in 90 volumes.

There are 239 Maori wo^jen jn the colony marrisd to European husbands.

it is seated that the Tichborne case will again occupy the attention of the Law Courts at au early date.

New Zealand possesses a larger nuusfeer of telephone subscribers than any oi the Australasian colonies,

A French expedition at the Niger yo'i sessed a phonograph, with which they took down war songs of the tribes.

It is stated that Lieutenant Bersier, of the French Navy, has invented a compass which steers the vessel automatically in a course set by the navigator.

Intending excursionists from the Hamp* stead district tan obtain tickets till Wednes day night from Mr fel^hood, storekeeper, and Mrs McKee, Beach RoacL

The Ashburton Fire Brigade have ap pointed Oaptaiu A. A. Fooka as their dele gate to the annual Fire Brigades Conference to be h©ld at Port Chalmers on March 23.

According to aja exchange it is rumoured that A. B. VVorthington h^,s bep.n invited to return to Ohriatehurch to take charge of a congregation, and that he has been guaranteed an annual salary of £250.

At a meeting of the Waitaki Acclima tisation Society held last week, Dr dp Lautour mentioned that while the expedi? tion party was at one ol the Jokes they were told by a'resident that the wild swans' eggs .were being taken and sent to a'limaru confectioner, and that he had seen the eggi <a a case with the name of the Tjmaru ewfecilone; en jit!.,

Commercial news will be found on the fourth page, and reading matter on the first page.

A man named Boyle, of Blackball, West Coast, was reading in bed by candle light recently when he fell asleep. The bed clothes caught fire, and Boyle" was severely burned, narrowly escaping with his life.

The Academy, without goiug indiscreetly into figures, says generally chat "'The Seven Seas' will bring to Mr Rudyard Kip ling a larger pecuniary return thun has been brought by any one volume to any author now living."

We are requested by the Registrar of Electors, Mr Joseph Ward, to make it known that he will continue to receive names for enrolment on the electoral roll until Thurs day night next, when enrolment will cease till after the licensing election.

The schools excursion train will leave Aahburton at 7.30 a.m. on lhursday, and will arrive on its return journey at 8.30. The tug will be available at Lyttelton to take the children round the harbor, thanks to the kind' offices of E, G. Wright, Esq., the member for the district.

The season is responsible for a good deal of soft grain, and much faulty stuff is on offer, Such wheat as presents a decent sample is fetching 3s 9d, but there is a suspioious feeliDg among buyers, and they are careful to condition their purchases with a proviso as to rejections. Experienced farmers are, however, of opinion that well saved healthy crops, if stored for six months will be worth 4s 6d.

Parents and children and others desiring to join the schools excursion train would do well to note that no tickets can be procured on the morning of Thursday (the day of the excursion). Any peraon joining the train without having procured a ticket will have to pay the full ordinary fare. There are now but two days left in which to procure tickets, and intending excursionists will serve their owu interest by securing tickets at once.

Although the West Indies are within about 14 days steaming from England, West Indian fruits have not hitherto been exported to any great extent. Now, however, a London firm has gone into the trade on a large scale and is using refrigerating steamers to con vey the fruit—oranges and bananas—among these being the old New Zealand trader Blderalie, The first shipment by her was a failure, the fruit having been kept too cool, bnt now matters are going on swimmingly. From Jamaica alone last year six million bushels of bananas were sent to the United States.

According to the general prediction in Zadkiel's Almanac for the year 1897, New Zealand will be visited by drought, which will be very destructive to crops. The planet Mars in the fourth house is evil for the Government, whoae foes will be power ful, and will overthrow it. There will be much epidemic sickness. An improvement in trade is predicted, A great shipwreck seems to be presignified by the presence of Saturn and Uranus in the ninth house. The book was published at London in October of last year, and, so far, the prog nostications point to fulfilment.

Referring to the management of the Bmk of New Zealand during the Premier's absence in England, the Wellington correspondent of the Press says that a Bill will be introduced to " determine the status of certain officers, to revise the conditions under which some others have beea engaged, and generally to reform the service with a view to prevent the publication of scandalous reports." The effect will be drastic. Ministers feel that, in the light of what has recently transpired, it ia necessary to eliminate all the leading officials who had anything to do with the scandals of the Bank of New Zealand aud the Colonial Bask.

A number of our local cyclists intend to take advantage of the holiday on Thursday for a run to Christchurch on their bikes. A start will be made from the Somerset Hotel at 6.15 p.m. on Wednesday, supper at Dunsandel, and reach Christchurch about 12 p.m. The start for home will be made from Cathedral Square at 3 o'clock Thurs day afternoon, and with ordinary luuk all should reach home ia time to see the train arrive. Anyone wishing to join in the run is requested to be at the starting point at the hour specified above, and to bring lamp and repairing outfit.

Attempt to Set Fire to a Cathedral.

PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.

4 Auokxand, March 8 An apparent attempt to set fire to St Patrick's Cathedral was detected at ten o'clock ou Saturday night. A glare of h're was noticed at the main door of the church, and three boys extinguished the flames. They found a piece of sacking pushed under the door saturated with kerosene, and a quantity of kerosene had also been splashed about the doorway. A female servant when locking up the church shortly before ten o'clock Baw a man in the porch, but he. turned and left the church. Shortly after wards the fire alarm was given. No damage was done. The perpetrator has not been discovered.

THE SHOP ASSISTANTS ACT.

PHR PRESS ASSOCIATION,

'Napier, March 8

At the S.M. Court fco-day, the Bank of New Zsaland was prosecuted under the Shop Assistants Act for working clerks at unlawful hours. The facts were nob dia puted, but for the defence it was urged that the clerks were not engaged in the ordinary busiueas of. tfce Bank. The work was in connection with* ft notice to produce documents given by the partSies in aii action in the Supreme Court agaiust the Bank. They had to produce correspondence extend ing over three years between the head office and the Jjjapier branch. The work had to be done at once, q.nd it would not have been advisable to have it done outside, as the private aff*irs of clientß would' have been exposed. The correspondence had nothing to do with the current business of the Bank. The S.M. reserved judgment.

The Wesleyan Conference.

/'ER PRESS ASSOCIATION.

Wellington, March 8

Afc the Wesleyan Conference the Roy S Potts, recently a minister in the United Free Methodist Church, passed aa a proba tioner in the second year. The oral theolo gical examination of four candidates for admission to the College as students was conducted by the Rev W. J. Williams. Conference deferred its depiflios.

Mr Stephens, of Otago, drewf attention to the facfc that there were forty titles of pro perty in the colony incomplete.

The report of the Church Building and Loan JTund was read by the Rev W. Morley ; iB 1455 of loan instalments had been repaid during the year. Ttiere ara tfcroo trusts that are nearly £200 in arrears. In England, where the fund is h've times largei, there is not a, single pound of arrears. When the names of the defaulting circuits; were being read, many of the representatives stepped forward and paid the arrears on behalf of tiieir circuits). The capital of the fund is above £12,000. The Reve KHotfc, Frost, Harrison, and

Ryan, were set apait to the work of the ministry by tRe laying on of hands. The ordination service was conducted by the

President and ex-President, assisted by the Revs Morley, Kirk, Williams, Luxford, Murray, and others.

The Federal Elections.

Press Association—By Electric Telegraph— Copyright,

Adelaide, March 8

Messrs Holder, Macpherson, and Q'Loghlin are now included io the ten successful Federal candidates, Messrs Solomons and Home beiug thrown oub. Tlia returns are still mcojnplate.

School Committee.

Ashburton.

The usual monthly meeting of the Ash burton School Committee was held ou Mon day evening. Present —Messrs Macpherson (chairman), Keir, Me.!dins, Phaup, Craig head, Chapman, and Mac Lean Dun.

THE HEADMASTERSHIP.

The Board wrote to the effect that the appointment of Mr Hardie to the head mastership would be dealt with at its next meeting. A protest against the appointment had been received from Mr J. M. Dunn, on the ground that the legal three days' notice had nob been giv<n. This protest would also be dealt with at the Board's next meeting.

school committees association.

The Sciiool Committees Association wrote, asking that the Committee join the Associa tion, and setting forth its advantages.—The Committee decided to refer the question to the incoming Committee. MASTER^ REPORT.

The master reported a strict average attendance of 365, a working average of 383, with a highest attendance of 403.

SCHOOLS EXCURSION;

The Chairman reported that the arrange ments were now complete for the schools excursion, and there was every prospect of a large attendance.

It was pointed out that no tickets would be sold on the railway sta ion on the day of the excursion, so that intending excursionists would have to procure their tickets by Wednesday evening; any passenger taken on without a ticket on Thursday morning would have to pay full fare. The train would leave Ashburton at 7.30, and arrive at Ashburton on the return journey at 8.30. The tug would be available at Lyttelton, thanks to the good offices of Mr E. G. Wright, and negotiations were pending for an arrangement with the Tramway Company for trams to Sumner,

VISITING COMMITTEE,

The Visiting Committee—per Mr Meddins —reported on certain minor works sug gested, but tbey were left to the incoming Committee to farther report on. The master's house had been lefb in first-class order, with all the fences nicely trimmed. Mr Silcock was added to the Committee for the next term.

MR MAYNE,

The Committee appointed to draft a testimonial to Mr Mayne submitted their work, which was ad.op-ed with a slight verbal addition.

ACCOUNTS. Two small accounts were passed for pay ment, and the meeting adjourned.

Tinwald.

The usual monthly meeting of the Tinwald School Committee was held on Tuesday, March 2. Present — Messrs James Gudeell (acting chairman), J. Hampton, Stephens, and 0. Hawkins. Mr Clothier sent word that he was not well enough to attend. The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed.

The master's report was read, which showed the roll number to be boys 79, girls 72, total 151 ; and that the average attend ance for the past four weeks had been as follows :—boyg 62.7, jrirls 55.9, total 118.6. The attendance might be counted fairly good considering the weather.

It was decided to send notice to the parents of three absent children.

It was decided to close the school on March 11 mat., and take no further action re excursion to Christchurch and Lyttelton, and to let the Ashburton stationmaster know the decision of the Committee in answer to hia memo.

A circular, with rules was received from the School Committees Association of North Canterbury asking the commit)ee to affiliate, It was decided not to do so at present. The meeting then adjourned.

TESTIMONIAL TO MR J. B. MAYNE.

The following testimonial to Mr J. B. Mayne was adopted by the School Committee last eveniDg:—

Sib,—The Ashburton School Committee cannot allow you to sever your connection wich their school district without givir*^ 1 some expression to a Bonae of indebtedness to you for the work you have done in the cause of education in Ashburtou. .During the seven yeara you have been headmaster of the Ashbutton School, that institution has progressed by leaps and bounds. You entered upon your duties at a time when the school was in a condition of great disorgani sation, but by your hard work, your lively enthusiasm, your personal influence with both teachers and pupils, added to your un doubted ability in scholastic work, the school rapidiy assumed a marked character for order and organisation, and a degree of discipline was maintained to which it had long been a stranger. Since your first year's iabor iv the school, during which you were accomplishing the changes above referred to, the reports of the Board's inspectors on the work of yourself and the staff under you have been couched in terms of the highest praise. Failures to pa-ss have been reduced to the veriest miuifnum, and all along the line brilliant successes have been achieved. For such a state of things the Committee cannot be otherwise than deeply thankful, and would be churlish and ungrateful indeed if they allowed the man who, above all others, was instrumental in bringing this about, to leave their district without some expression of their recognition of what is patent to all who have any know ledge of the school's histcry. Nor have the Committee failed to note the tact with which you have conducted your relationships with your Committee, your teachers and pupils, and the p^ento, with the result that no friction of any kind has arisen, and your seven years' residence amongst us hag been a term of perfect harmony. The Committee therefore beg that you will accept their thanks for the excellent work you have done as headmaster of the school, and their assurance that you will carry with you to your new sphere their heartiest and best wiaheß for your success, as well as for the welfare of your wife and family.

The Premier's Visit to England

Captain Russell Interviewed

Interviewed at Napier, the Ljsader of the Opposition said he felt that it was a duty which the colony owes to her Majesty to send a representative to take part in the celebration of the sixtieth anniversary of her acceasion, and he entirely approved of the Premier's acceptance of the invitation. He characterised the proposal that a sort of body guard of J/olopteeraj Permanent Artil lery and Natives should 1 accompany the Premier, as bordering on the ridiculous— firat, because it would cost about £10,000 to ' send such a force to England, a sum the colony can ill afford to spend ; and, secondly, men from all sorts of corps hurriedly called together to be dreeaed in a uniform to which they are uuaccuatomed, and tb which they have no right seemed to him a burlesque. It would not be a true representation of the colonial forces. He thought the colony would be most effectively represented by sending IJome a team of marksmen.

As tQ the probable length of the session, he said that &s he had not I^een consulted by Ministers, he was not in a position to express any degnite views, but m the new fluanoial year begins on the Ist of April, and the Premier must leave by the Ist of May, there would be no t|ine for a long session,

Ashburton Building and Investment Society.

Annual Meeting*.

(The annual meeting of the Ashburton Building aud Investment Society was held yesterday afternoon. There was about the usual number of shareholders present, and Dr Trevor, Ohairman of Directors, presided.

REPORT AND BALANCE SHEET,

The Directors' report and the balance sheet of the Society were taken as read. The report ran as follows :—The Directors have pleasure in submitting to the share holders the twenty-second annual report. After allowing interest at seven per cent, on capital and investment shares, and writing off all ascertained losses, as well as increas ing the fluctuation of securities account by £150, the profit and loss account shows a credit balance of £648 10a 6d, which your Directors recommend to be appropriated as follows: —The payment of thiee per cent, upon " A " capital shares, adding the same percentage to the '* B " investment shares, and carrying forward the balance of £176 13a lid. The retiring Directors are Messrs Thomas Bullock and Hugo Friedlander, who have offered themselves tor re-election. The balance sheet showed an income from all sources for the year of £61,13712s Id, and this with the balance in Batik—£7l6l9s 4d— at the beginning of the year gave a total of £61,854 11s sd. The disbursements had been £60,826 13a 9d, leaving a balance at the Bank of £1027 17s Bd. Under the liabilities account, "A " capital, £7500 ; •• B" investment shares, £8679 16s 6d ; deposits, with interest (£719 4a lid) accrued thereon, £35,014 4s Id; reserve, £500; profit after paying 7 per cent to all share holders, £640 10a 6d ; total, £52,342 11s Id. The assets account showed—loans, with interest accrued, £50,362 lls lid; office property and furniture, £955; insurance premiums recoverable, £10 9i 4d ; and the balance at the banker's already mentioned squared the account. Dr Trevor, in moving the adoption of the report, said he had pleasure in presiding at the tweoty-second meeting of the Society, as last year it had attained its majority. One of the reporters bad asked him before the meeting began what he was going to say. This question was no doubt prompted by the fact that at all previous meetings the speeches had been congratulatory to the shareholders on the excellent position of the Society. He had replied to the reporter that the speech would be in the same old strain, and that he was pleased that it would be so. He re gretted, however, that there were not more shareholders present. They all expressed their satisfaction with what had been done, and though he wag not aDxious to earn any expression of dissatisfaction, but rather the reverse, the presence of a fair number at the annual meeting would be acceptable, and their criticism would not be without its value. The Society was one of the best of Ashburton's institutions. There was a political fad and cry about freeholds, with which perhaps everybody did not agree, but he could say that this Society had made many men freeholders, who but for it would not have been so, and had given many men homes who would not otherwise have had permanent homes that they could call their own. The Society, too, had been useful as an agency to aid in the saving of money, and he would like to impress upon the young people that 5a a mouth with this Society meant £50 in ten years, and he was sure that the lesson of thrift thus taught, if tbe young people began, would mean much more than that, for the habita of thrift would recoup themselves in other ways. Then the Society was useful inasmuch as there was a deal of money floating about which, if put in the bank yielded little ; and with all due deference to Mr Be. George Douglas, the local head of the excellent post office savings b*nk, he thought the Society gave a better rate of interest than either the banks or the savings bank. During tho last twelve months £2400 in interest had been distributed among the people in the district. Then the Society was useful as a lending agency, and during the sale of the Highbauk property there were many buyers who came and got tbe amounts they required to pay the first deposit on the holdings they had drawn. He tnerefore thought the people should take more interest in the Society, which had had an almost uninterrupted course of prosperity, and he wes pleased to be able to point to the Directors' report showing a dividend of 10 per cent,, a rate the highest the Society had ever paid, and which few societies in the colony paid. Although they had lent hundreds and hundreds ot pounds on pro perty he was glad to say that they did not own a single property beyond their own office, and this meant that all the money they had out was on good security. Dr. Trevor then went on to quote figures to show that for the last five years there had been a steadily increasing volume of business done under every heading, and that the reserve this year was £500—a very large sum for a society like theire. The figures which he had quoted, he said, showed that a good healthy trade waa going on, which he trusted would increase now that the Society had entered upon its majority, which event would mark a new era of even greater prosperity thau it had enjoyed in the past. Mr H. Friedlander seconded. He wi-hed to point out that though the balance sheet showed £34,000 of deposits the shareholders held of this fully 10a in the £, and he had no doubt but that tfaerp was not a security on the books that was not perfectly safe. It was the multitude of small securities that was the strength of the society, so that if a bad debt were nude it would be but a small one.

Mr Bullock also spoke in high terms of the Society and its usefulness, and urged young people, more especially, to make more use of it. It was a good institution for both in vestor and borrower, the one getting a good rate of interest and the other an easy loan. It had been useful to both farmer and townsman, and as a loan society many farmers had found it beneficial. ''■ Dr. Trevor conflrmecl Mr Bullock's re mark that the operations of the Society were not confined to the borough, but had done good throughout the county, The report was adopted. ELECTION OF DIBECTOBS. i

Messrs Hugo Friedlander and Thomas Bullock were re-elppted directors, and qiter votes of thanks of a hearty character, pro posed in appreciative speeches, had been passed to the Directors, the Secretary, the Auditors, and the Chairman, the meeting closed.

SUPREME COURT.

Hie Petone Murder.

The Jessie Hay Case.

(PBESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.)

Wbllinqton, March 8

Commenting on the calendar, Mr Justice Edwards said the most serious charge was that of murder against Bosher. There was a large number of witnesses, but the evi dence against the prisoner appeared to be reduced to the discovery of a footprint like his, a faot that he had made some attempt to conceal 6 kn;fe with which tho mtirder might have been committed, and his agitated demeanour. If he was tried 'now and acquitted, he could not bs retried, no matter what fresh evidence cropped up, and as the man was safe in gaoj, T^Hera Be was lender going a sentence of two years, his Ifonour thought their safest sourse woul4 he to ignore the bill, for they could &««••••'•--" effegb no barm SQ » o ; ag . -—.iy The case against Chappell for an alleged umry to Jessie Hay by plaoing her on a fire and burning her feet was adjourned till next session, as the woman could nob give evidence for a month. Bail was allowed. The Grand Jury found true bills in all cases but Kimbell's, including the charge of murder against Bosher. Edward McGkshan, a youth, pleaded guilty to a charge of burglary, aiid was remanded for the report of the Probation Officer. John Gregg was acquitted on a charge of stealing £7 from George Campbell,

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The usual fortnightly meeting was held last evening. ■ Present—Hia Worship the Mayor (Mr J. Scaly) in the chair, Crs. Hanmer, Paul, Bird, Reid, Thomas, Orr, Baker and Brooke.

The Mayor stated that the debit balance at the Bank was £1414 6s 9d, while the in come from all sources since last meeting had amounted to £3117s Bd.

INSPECTOR OF NUISANCES.

The Inspector reported that all notices served previous to laat meeting had been complied with except that to Mr Bullock. It was decided to give Mr Bulloak fourteen days to abate the nuisance complained of. Several persons had committed breaches of by-laws, and informations had been laid against them. In the case of Kane re grazing cattle, the Inspector asked that the coat of a solicitor be allowed him, It was decided that the Mayor interview a solicitor on this subject.

The present sanitary state of the Borough was stated to be exceptionally good. engineers' report.

The Borough Engineer's reported as fol lows;—

Labour Gang.—The men hare been en gaged during the past two weeks in carting clay to the cycling track in the Domain from the North East Belt, laying pipes, fixing hydrants, fencing round same, water* ing streets, carting soil to sections, attend* ing to the water supply and sundry main* tenanoe works.

The report waa received. FINANCE! COMMITTEE.

This Committee reported as follows:— Your Committee have considered letters received from the Asbburton Publishing Company and the proprietor of the Standard re the circulation of the local papers, and the Town Clerk's report thereon, and are of opinion that the information contained does not warrant a change ia the Council's ad* vertising acoount, and would recommend that the advertising remain as at present for six months.

The report was adopted. .BY-LAWS COMMITTEE,

The following report was received and adopted : —Your Committee beg to recom mend that the existing by-laws affecting traction engines be amended so as to allow traction engines to cross East Street at fcbe Haveloek Street crossing.

CORRESPONDENCE.

Correspondence was received aa follows :— From the Ashburfcon County Council, asking for the payment of £10, being the Borough's quota of the coat of the maintenance of the Hospital.—Ordered to be paid. From same, applying for £2 2s 3d towards Licensing Clerks salary.- Ordered to be paid. Prom Secretary Fire Brigade, submitting the name of Mr E. McTigue for the Council's approval as a member of the Brigade.—Approved of. From Mr W. E. Dolman re the turncocks sleeping on the premises provided for them. —It was decided that the matter be post poned for a fortnight.

NKW MEMBKR.

The Mayor, on behalf of the Council, welcomed the new member, Cr E. W. Hanmer.

Or Harnner thanked him for his kind remarks, and said that he would always work for the best interests of the ratepayers.

MAYORAL HQNOBARITJM.

Or Paul gave notice to move at next meeting that) the Mayor be allowed a yearly honorarium of nob less than £50.

FIRE BRIGADE COMMITTEE.

Cr Paul waa elected Chairman of the above Committee.

QUESTIONS.

In reply to Cr Thomas, the Clerk stated that all of the summonses had not yet been issued.

The Clerk stated, in reply to Cr Orr, that the amount of outstanding rates up to the end of December was about £40. In reply to Cr Bird, it was stated that growing tussocks are not allowed to be burned within the Borough. In reply to Cr. Thomas why the reserve held by Collins and Co. in East Street had not been cleared after promises to that effect h*d been received from the railway depart ment, the Mayor said that the authorities had decided not to have it cleared. Cr. Thomas said that one of the late Commis sioners, Mr McKerrow, was xn Ashburtou thu other day and told him that this decision had been arrived at. He intended, how ever, to follow the matter up, but owing to the absence of Cr. Collins that evening he would aot move a motion.

ACCOUNTS,

Accounts amounting to £92 2s Sd were passed for payment.

This concluded the business. The Council then sat as a

DOMAIN BOARD.

Mr Orr, chairman of the Committee, stated that improvements were to be made to the Oval and hockey ground. •

PERAMBULATORS,

The Mayor a&id several inhabitants near Mr Harrison's wished the stile to be altered so as to allow perambulators to go through. After discussion, it was decided that the stile be left as at present.

curator's eepoet.

A report was read from the curator, in which he stated that although there was such a large number of visitors in the Domain on the occasion of the Islington excursion, no damage had been done. Some alpine plants had been received from Afrq Hanmet'i roses had been promised by three. gentlemen visitors for the new rose bed, and other new plants for the borders. Votes of thanks were accorded to the donors.

ISLINGTON EXOr/BSIOX. The Mayor stated that he had received two guineas from the Excursion Committee. The excursionists thoroughly enjoyed them selves and had not known before their vwifc thit there was such a beautiful place within ao short a distance of the centre of Aih burton. It would not be the lait time that similar excursion parties would visit it.

CABLE NEWS.

Home and Foreign.

Press Association—By Electric Telegraph-— Copyright,

The Cold Coast.

London, March 7

ft;;rmry } the great Mahommedan chief, who e&tablhhe-i himself at Boutuba, in

the hinterland of the Gold Ooasfc in 1895, ia now causing trouble in that quarter, an t * force <.>i Housea nafcives has been despatched to put down any distarb»nce.

Collision at Sea.

The ship Derwent, of Devitfc and Moore's hue, bound from London to Sydn< y, collided with the steamer Milo off Stan Point. The Derwenb'a bow w«e oarried aw;iy and tha fore c imparfcmenf filled. She was picked up hy the Rim& taka and towed to Plymouth.

Macedonia,

Sowa, Tifarch f. I King Alexander of Seryla an 4 Pfincf 1 Ferdinand of Bqlgark have arranged to meet at JS<|i*, i" irt believed wiih a view to arrsßgrng a pf'Hoy to be pareunfl «-Ufc regard co Maoerf"" 1" - •«•(«

A Gunboat Wrecked. jr .

Constantinople, March 7 - A. Turkish gunboat Ins been wreofctd on the coast ot Epirm.

A Destructive Fire.

New Yoek, March 7.

A. fire destroyed a large grain elevator afc f'Hnois, Nina hundred thousand bushels of wheat were consumed.

Austraalian.

Bobbery from a Safe.

Melbourne, March S Five hundred pounds' worth of amaigam has been stolen from the safe of the Stf Henry Loth Mine at B^larafc.

THE ASHBUKTON GtJAKDIAN: TUESDAY, MAEOH 9, 189?.



Hj Business Notices I LOOK OUT. I G. J. NEILL 1 —IS SELLING— V Table Damask at Is per yard ■ Twill Sheeting, 2 yards wide, white or grey, 9Jd w Turkish Towels, 6d each W Cretonne 3Jd I Flannelettes, 2s lid per dozen I G- J. N EILL I s S ELLING~ V Men's Heavy Tweed Suits at 21s 6d, wonderful value ■ Boys Suits, 4s lid I Men's Tweed Trousers, 5s lid I BOOTS. BOOTS. ■ Men's Nail SHOOTERS 7s lid. Women's SHOES 4a lid I Men's BLUCHERS 4s lid. Women's Lace SHOES 4s lid I The Cheapest Boots in Ashburton are to be got at G. J. NEILL'S, FRIEDLANDER'S CORNER, EAST STREET. J~j RANGES COOKING | | X ARGE STOCKS OF GUNS, CARTRIDGES, AND AMMUNITION XJ OP ALL KINDS. FENDERS AND PIREIRONS, LAMPS, BEDSTEADS, Etc. JOHN ORR & CO. EAKVEST CHEQUES WANTED! A RARE OPPORTUNITY FOR CASH CUSTOMERS. HAVING received a Large Quantity of Scotch, West of England, and Colonial TWEEDS and WORSTED SUITINGS, at very much REDUCED PRICES, we h*ve decided to give our Customers the benefit; of our Bargain by making the following GENUINE REDUCTIONS FOR CASH : — Men's Scotch and West of England Tweed and Worsted SUITS to measure, usual price 955, reduced to 75a ca' h Meii'a Scotch and West of England Tweed and Worsted SUITS to measure, usual price 90s, reduced to 70s cash Men's Colonial Tweed SUITS to measure, usual price 80s, reduced to 65a cash Men's Colonial Tweed SUITS to measure, usual price 70s, reduced to 59b cash Mea'a Weet of England and Worsted TROUSERS to measure, usual price 27a 6d and 30s, reduced to 22a 6d cashjj Men's West of England and Worsted TROUSERS to measure, usual price 25a, reduced to 20s cash Mea's Colonial Tweed TROUSERS to measure, usual price 22s 6d, reduced to 17s 6d cash Men's Colonial Tweed TROUSERS to treasure, usual price 17s 6d to 20s, reduced to 15s 6d cash. PILES OF NEW GOODS TO SELECT FROM. &T OUR REPUTATION IS A SUFFICIENT GUARANTEE FOR FIT, STYLE, AND WORKMANSHIP. CRAIGHEAD & BERRYMAN, THE LEADING TAILORS AND OUTFITTERS, Ashbubton.



Business Notices Waterproof Ooats N.Z.C.F. To Measure ... 35a Od Waterproof Coatß N.Z.C.F. New Patterns ... 32s 6cl Waterproof Coatß N.Z.C.P. To Measure ... 40a Od Waterproof Coats N-Z.O.P. NewPatterna , m 42s 6d Waterproof Coatß N.Z.C.F. ToM«Mure .., 45» Od Waterproof Coafcß N.Z.O.F. New Patterns ... 47s 6d ' Waterproof Coafcß N.Z.C.F. To Measure ... 50a Od NEW ZEALAND Clothing 1 Factory. « eh' s £j s g *& 1 S §. § 1 5 ft PR W H «5 s S «H 6' Church Services. ST. STEPHEN'S CHURCH Ashburton. 'I U.. SDAY — Teachers," Meeting — 7.30 WEDNESDAY—" G.F.S."—7 p.m. THURSDAY—Brotherhood of Sb Andrew —7.50 p.m. FRIDAY -Choir Practice—B p.m. SUNDAY SERVICES. B.3o—Early celebration of Holy Com munion'—Rev. J. Blackburne. 11 a.m.—Morning Prayer—Rev. J. Black burrta, 3 p.m.—Dromore—Mr W. Bowman-Fox. 6.30 p.m.—Evening Prayer—Mr H.'.Aling j ton. WHAT everybody says must be true You get wonderful value for little money at Mblior's.



p. MEN'S AND BOYS' 1 HATS. HATS. HATS. , KA DOZEN FELT HATS ALMOSU GIVEN AWAY. A GRAND SUCCESS. MITCHELL & BRODRIBB'S T^ABRIO AND PRINT SALE being such a Grand Success, we have decided to ho" FOR TWO* WEEKS, A GREAT HAT SALE. KA DOZEN MEN'S. ft f\ DOZEN BOYS'. Men's Soft Felt Hats 2s 6<i worth os Boys' Soft Felt Hats Is 6d, worth 83 9d Men's Soft Felt Hats 3s 6d, worth 6s 6d Boys 1 Soft Felt Hats 2s 6d, worth 4g 9d Men's Soft Felt Hats 4s 6d, worth 7s 6d Men's Soft Felt Hats 5s 6d, worth 8s Del I Men's Soft Felt Hats 6s 6d, worth 10a fid j Men's Soft Felt Hats 8s 6d, worth 12s 61 < 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 dean sweep before the New Season's Goods arrive. Prints, Brilliants, Cambrics from 8s lid per dozen, worth double Flanneletteg for Dressing Clowns 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 DON'T FORGET THE GREAT HAT SALE AT MITCHELL & BRODRIBB'S, THE CENTRAL CASH DRAPERY MART, ; mXV TO J. ORK fc CO., WjP BIRBJST, ASBBURTON, j



THE SCHOOLS EXCURSION. i In order to enable our staff to take advantage, with their families, of the excursion on Thuraday, 11th inst., the Guardian will NOT BE PUBLISHED on that day.



From all aoc'iiuts ohamberlain?B Cough Remedy is a godsend to the aijjicted. There Is no advertisement about this ; we feel Just like saying it.— The, Democrat, Carrollton, Ky. For sale by A&'&bubtqn Dbto Come-



Holloway's Piias.— The ills of life are increased tenfold by the mode of I fe so many have to lead ;. most especially is this the case amongst the toilers in our factoriea and huge workshops of the manufacturing districts whose digestions become impaired and nervous systems debilitated by the protracted confinement and enforced depriva tion of healthy out. of-door exercise. The factory workers may almost be said to have diseases of their own, readily amenable, howeyer, to treatment if nob allowed to proceed unchecked. Uo'lloway's Pills are the moat effectual remedy ever discovered tor the liyer and stomach complaints, as they act surely, but gently, regulating the secre tious without wea&ening the nerves &r iflfcerfereing with the dnily work, j



j Keaiing's Powder cestroys bugs, fleas, an he, beetles, and a)! other insects, whilst gui c h rmtcss to domestic animals. Id exterminating beetles the eueoesa of this powder is eaf raordinauy. 1 1 is perfeotiy olean in application. See the article yon purchase is Keati^g's. as imi atjons are poxiaas &nd ineffectual, Sold in tins, 6d, la and 2 Hi ewh, by »1 abomisd



Wkektm* and £tjresAi*(—Mw Vt*Uf