DEATH.

Thomas —On March 1, at the residence of his daughter, Mrs J. T. Matson, Spring field, Papanui Road, Christchurch, John Thomas, late of Oakfie'd, Pentland Hills, Victoria, railway contractor. Aged 80 years.

Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 1897. THE POST OFFICE.

Lukino the history of Ashburton a good many complaints have been made against the Ashburton Post Office. Never, let us hasten to say, against its management — that in Mr Douglas's hinds could hardly have been improved upon-but against the building itself; and in conse quence of those many and oft-repeated complaints, alterations and additions h*v« been made in driblets and at long intervals. The building is only passable now, not perfect). There is one subject of complaint that the authorities might with advantage consider. There is no Post Office clock visible to the publio from the street, nor have tha publio any ready means of knowing if they are it time for any particular mail. In the private letter box vestibule, a printed card inserted in a glass window informs the publio that the mails have been sorted, and that they need not) wait for farther correspondence. This is ex cellent, bub just when a man would like to know whether his letter is In time for ' the express or not—whether he can post' in the ordinary letter box or must wait for the train —the information Is not available. In some places a ticket marked '•Too late "or "Mail closed' is shown over the letter box, and at some offices in addition to this a slide is drawn across the slot, and letters excluded altogether while tho mails are being made up, a late fee being charged to senders who wish their letters to be forwarded. We do not ask for all this, but we would dike to see a clock In front of the office, and a late fee system introduced, as people would often be willing to pay the fee and post at the office rather than have to wait for say h*lf an hour to post for an increased fee on the train.

Mr W. H. Preeoe, the telegraphic expert of the post office lectured on Satfcrday

night, December 19, at Toynbee Hail, on "Telegraphy with-

TELEGRAPHY WITHOUT WIRES.

out wires." Even so long ago as 1838. Steinhiel, a German professor, seems to have thought of such a mode of communication, for he said (hat it must be left to the future to decide whether we shall ever succeed in tele graphing at great distances without any metallic communication at all. la. 1884 the operators in the Telephone Exchange in the city »>* London were able to read messages "that were going through London to Bradford by telegraph wires, though these were underground, and those belonging to the Telephone Company were overground. Further experiments had shown that similar effects oould be raced on wires separated by as great a distance as ten miles. It had been thought that this knowledge might be practically applied to establishing com oiunication with lightships and light houses, but a series ot c» stly experiment* made with the Goodwin lightship had demonstrated that the _ea water inter cepted the electric waves. At this point, of his lec'ure, Mr Preece made an iflnounoenaent of a discovery by Mr Marconi, a young Italian electrician, •vhich seemed to promise such good results thit the post o-hce had decided to spare no expense ia experimenting wifh ••he apparatus invented l.y him Mr Marconi's system depends v >:. on t-inctro-, magnetic but electro static efforts Electric waves are projected at an almost inconceivable rate of vibration nf 250 000,000 a second Tae.e travel in streight lines, and are capable of being r. fleeted and refracted like the Vibrations of light. Hertz was tho first to discover the method of producing these waves, and they had since been developed by others. Mr Marconi had made an apparatus which could generate and rnceive these waves, and so send messages Hy their means. H£r Preec. then ex hibited what appeared to be two ordinary boxes. One w*s placed ab each end of the room ; the current was set in motion at one, and a bell was immediately rung in tho other, One of the first trials is to be from Penarth to an island in the Channel. If the experiments prove a successful as Mr Preece hopes and believes, the invention will ba of in estimable value to vessel.. Communica tions may be established with lightships and lighthouses, ard warnings may be received of dangerous rocks and shoals in spite of fog and storm.

Local and General.

A convent is to be built at Temuka fop the sisters of St. Joseph.

Reports of the meetings of the Coldstream and Rangitata Koad Boards will be found on the fourth page.

The Dunedin Agricultural Hail is to be opened on June 20, the anniversary of Her Majesty's accession.

Mr Thomas William Tayler, the new Clerk of tho 8. M. Court has been appointed Returning Officer for tb» district of Ashbur ton.

It is notified in the Gazette that section 3181, block xiii, Ashburton survey district, 5 acres, 2 roods has been reserved for river protection purposes.

At a meeting of the Chertsey S.leyards Company on Saturday njght, the tender of Mr John Downie for the lease of the yards, etc., was accepted.

A very heavy earthquake was experienced at Blenheim at 9.6 on Saturday evening. The vibration in the Government Buildings set the town dock chiming.

The Arowhenua Estate, which has recently been acquired by the Government, will be open for selection on the lease in perpetuity system on March 22.

The New Zealand Shipping Company, by their local agents, Messrs Friedlander Bros., are prepared to book through passßngers to the eastern ports of South America.

j A return match will be played at Temuka ! next Saturday afternoon between the Ash burton and Temuka Tennis Clubs. The names of the players will be announced laf-er. A tjan Francisco inventor is reported to have constructed a successful airship, and has made trips at .In? rata of a mile a minute. It is built of metal, ..nd h;j.s canvas wings.

During the year a very large number of railway waggons have been constructed in the railway workshops, and not only have the 150 waggons sold to the West Australian government betn replaced, but. 200 others haye been provided for the lines of the colony. A largo number of extra mechanics had to be engaged in the different workshops for this work, and now that it is completed the services of about 100 men will perforce have to be dispensed with. These comprise fitters, carpenters, blacksmiths and others.

In the cricket match between South 1 Australia and Victoria played ab Adelaide 1 ye-terday the former won by an innings and j 70 runs. I

The annual general meeting of members of the Aehburton Caledonian Society takes pluce to-morrow evening at 8 o'clock at the office of the Secretary, Mr Jos. Tucker.

We learn from the Secretary of the Canterbury Society of Professional Musicians that Mrs Bowman Fox, of Ashburton, passed the Professional Teachers Examination which was held in Christchurch on the 3rd February last.

News by the mail statea that some English p<perß affirm that Lord Rosebery is taking a long intended colonial tour, and that he has joined the steamer Austral under the assumed name of Primrose.

An Auckland telegram states that the late Mr Louis Ehrenfried bequeated £500 for distressed Jews, and £500 for the poor of Auckland and the Thames. All his em ployees of over five years' service were remembered in his will.

.The Christchurch Progressive Liberal Association has resolved to invite all the Canterbury members of the House of Representatives to a conference with the committee on the subject of old age pen sions, to be held on March 18.

An exciting incident occurred the other day near Goodna, Queensland. A lunatic esoaped from Woogaroo Asylum, and was pursued by a warder. The lunatic carried a heavy stick, and attempted to dash the warder's brains oub. A severe struggle on the railway line was continued until assis tance arrived and the lunatic was secured.

The Women's Christian Temperance Union now in session at Christchurch has passed resolutions asking that the conditions for divorce for men and women maybe equalised, affirming that women should receive equal pay with men for equal work, and asking that the age of consent be raised to twenty one years.

The North Otago Times, writing of the unreliability of the grain statistics for this year, mentions as an instance in point that a farmer in the o*maru district who in November expected to have a 70 bushel crop of wheat, and gave the constable collecting the statistics 60 bushels as the estimated yield, only succeeded in threshing out 47 bushels. Our contemporary has only heard of one man who threshed above his expectations.

A Christchurch girl who went Home last year was taken by her friends through London city streets just as the offices were closing. Her friends let the young colonial gaze on the hurrying multitudes, thinking to impress her with the dense population of the great city. " What do you think of a London crowd now?" they asked. "Call this a crowd," she said. " You should see Christchurch on a Saturday night." Then they gave it up.

During the duel on horseback in the second act of " Called to Arms" between Messrs Woods and Dalgleish at Wellington on Thursday evening (says the Times) a painful accident happened to Mr Woods. Mr Dalgleish, in striking at Mr Woods, hit rather high, and the sword slipping, the point ran into Mr Woods' forehead, inflict ing a deep wound. The audience did not know that the duel was such a realafctic one and that the hero had been injured until he appeared in the next act with his head covered with sticking plaster.

An enterprising British farmer recently purchased a mountain of beef in the shape of an enormous bullock, the price being £35. Since then Jumbo II has made hundreds of pounds for his owner, who shows the animal. Some 300,000 people have paid to see Jumbo 11. The animal was bred and fed by the late Mr Hugh Aylmer, of West Dereham, Norfolk. He now stands 6ft 3in high at the chine, and 6fb 4in high at the hips. He is nearly five years old, and when last weighed was 1 ton 8 cwt. He measures from nose to tip of tail 15ft 6m, and is 10ft 6in round the girth.

Miss Mary Miller, residing at North Carlton, Melbourne, was sitting ou the balcony at her residence, when she was alarmed to see a little child ruu on the tram line and fall in front of an approaching car, A grocer in an adj .cent shop noticed the child's danger, and-rushing out snapped it off the line just in time. While the man was rescuing the child, Miss Miller stepped to the front of the balcony and stretched over the railing to see if he was suc cessful, and her we'ght coming suddenly on the balustrade, the railing broke and she was precipitated to the ground below. When picked up the unfortunate young lady was found to have sustained a broken back and a broken leg, and there was only a slight hope of her recovery.

The largest living hog in the known world {--says the New York Tribune) waa four years old in June last, and was raised in Texas by Mr Briggs. When he sold the hog six months ago it weighed 14601b5. He is Bft 3in long, 4ft in height, measures 6ft round the neck, Bft round the body, and 23in round the forearm^ His feet are as large as those of a common ox. He is Poland, China acd Red Jersey. There seems to be no surplus flesh on him, and physicians who have examined the hog say he can easily be made to reach 22001b5. The present owner T. Battigan, paid £50 for the hog, and he has been offered £300 for him. He has a fire policy on the animal for £1000. No other hog, it is said, ever reached such enormous proportions.

The social gathering to be held in the Primitive Methodist Church, on Thursday evening, in aid of the renovation fund, promises to be a great success, 200 tickets having been disposed of already. Choice and abundant provisions are being provided by the ladies of the congregation, and a yaried programme of concerted music, duets, solos, and recitations will be gone through. Misses Butler and Olphert, of Auckland, will render valuable assistance. Miss Butler is one of the leading sopranos of the northern city; when only eight years of age she easily gained first prize in a public competition, with the diffiouls song "Ora pro Nobis," and during recent years has had the privilege of singing £. uoncerts under the patronage of Lords Onslow and Glasgow. On Thursday night Miss Butler will sing " The Toilers" and " Eternal Rest," both by Piccolomini. Miss Olphert has had the advantage of tuition under Mr Albert Lucas, a former pupil of Sir £fenry Irving, and is an aceornplished reciter. IVliss Simmonds will play a violin solo, and items will be contri buted by Mrs VV. Marsden, Misses Dalton, Trevurza, Davis aud Gee, and Messrs Jones, Kersel, Craighead, Trezise, and Butterick.

The Late Mr John Thomas.

The deceased Mr John Thomas was eighty years of age when he died, having been born in 1817 on the banks of Loch Lomond. After reaching manhood he engaged in large Oan.traa!ir.g works, and going to Australia was pursuing contracting when the diggings [.iroke o_t. With his son, Mr David Thomas,'he carried out rail way contracts representing the construction of some 150 miles of railway besides necessary buildings in connection with them, one of i hese being the largest railway shed in the colonies. In 1854, at the first distribution of land in Victoria, he purchased the estate of Oakfield, Pentland Hills, which he owned until last year, and afterwards came over to Qtago, where he was a^ain engaged in con tracting, but returned "'to Victoria after a short sojourn in New Zealand.' Two years ago he came back again to ba among his family, most of whom were here. > He had been up to a sjhort time ago hale and hearty, bub then began to, fail, and was ailing for gome time before his death, which, however, was not looked upon as so near. fl[is funeral took place to-day.

WELLINGTON SUBURBS ELECTION.

The Press Association telegraphs that at Pel one, on Monday .veiling, Mr T VV. (-[.slop attemp ed to address a public meet ing, to explain the attitude adopted by him ia connection with the Mulvaney leti.er, which played a prominent part in the recent üburbs election petition. The meeting from the beginning wan hostile, the audience indulging in cat-calls and singing songs, the voice of the speaker being inaudible. Mr R. C. Bruce aLo attempted to address the meeting, and met with but little better success, the gathering eventually breaking up in disorder. No i dieation was made as to the Opposition candidate likely to contest the seat.

SHAG POINT COAL MINES.

A correspondent of the Palmerston Titnes says that the Allandale Coal Company at ..hag Point after plodding for sixteen months in .earch of a new seam have *' struck oil" by finding a seam of a quality superior to any from that district that has yet been placed on the market. The coal is clear of stone and the seam is supposed to be lOf o thick. In the course of their operations the Company have also come upon a gold bearing quartz reef, 12ft thick, the stone from which on a trial test is said to have yielded 5 dwts of gold and 6 dwts of silver to the ton.

CORRESPONDENCE.

(We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents •■

THE LICENSING COMMITTEE ELECTION.

TO THE EDITOB. SlB, —" Indifferent," writing on the above in your issue of yesterday, thinks the Pro hibition League inconsistent in nominating a committee. I think they have done their duty; for whilst the people have decided that licenses shall continue, they have not had an opportunity of giving a decision re conditional licenses and the hours of closing, which everybody knows are the issues at stake. Seeing that three years ago the temperance committee were elected by such a large majority, it would be breaking faith with the people who voted for them if a similar committee were not nominated.*— I am, etc., Not-indifferent.

School Committee.

Chertsey.

The monthly meeting of the Chertsey S.hool Committee was held on February 26. Present—Messrs Scarlett (chairman), Eal ham, Ironsides, Campbell, and Downie. master's report. The master reported the attendance for the past four weeks as having been—Boys 14, girls 27—total 41. \ SCHOOLS EKCDRSION. Mr Payne, station master at Ashburton, wrote that the Ashburton School Committee had arranged for an excursion to Christ church and Lyttelton on March 11. He asked if it was the intention of the Chertsey school to join in the excursion. After some discussion it was decided not to join in the excuiaion this year. BOARD ELECTION. The Committee gave Messrs Feldwick, Cresswell, and Silcock ita support in their candidature for seats on the Education Board. MISCELLANEOUS. Mr Dunstan was gi anted the use of the school for a tf a meeting and concert.—-The sum of £1 12s 2d had been received from the sale of bool.B.—lt was decided to order coal and firewood before the cold weather began. — Accounts were passed, and the Committee adjourned.

Items of Interest.

The Lord Mayor of London wears a badge of office which contains diamonds valued at £120.000. The National Lifeboat Institution of Great Britain had last year 303 boats, which saved 533 livos iv 437 trios.

No satiefactory evidence of camels exist ing in a wild state has ever been produced. They have, in fact, been domesticated irom the very earl est times. Just as Germany .3 the land of short sight, so it is the land of stuttering. At the pre sent time there are over 100,000 stuttering children in the national schools.

The British Isles comprise no fewer than 1000 separate islands and islets, without counting mere jutting rocks or isolated pinnacles. It is said that London policemen are to be supplied with electric dark lanterns, by means of which they will be able to see 150 ft away. Senor Sarasate haa been offered tbe muni ficent sum of £6000 for the splendid Stradi varius which he uses for concert playing. The Belgian violinist has, however, directed his agent to reply that the violin is not for sale.

The air is so clear in the Arctic regions that conversation can be carried on easily by persons two miles apart. It has also been asserted on good authority that at Gibraltar the human voice has been dis tinctly heard at a distance of ten miles. The British Government is the owner of 25,000 camels. Several thousands are used in India to carry stores and equipments when companies are changing quarters by line of march.

The Oxford University Press uses the skins of upwards of a hundred thousand anim. '<* yearly for binding the Bibles printed by ib. Four hundred thousand sheets of gold are used for lettering the backs of volumes, and more is used for gilding the leaves.

A new match has been invented by a Swedish engineer, who has been experiment ' ing for several yeara for the purpose of simplifying the manufacture of matches. It I is claimed for this new kind of match that ib simplifies the manufacture to a very con siderable degree, twenty men and eighty boys being able to make 1,000,000 matches per hour. Fur-bearing animals are becoming so scarce that the feasibility of breeding them is being discussed. It is conceded that Siberia would be the most desirable plape for the establishment of farms for this pur pose. Excessive tea-drinking is assigned as the chief cause of the high rate of insanity in some parts of Ireland, and the theory would seem to be strengthened by the fact that there are three female lunatics to one male in these places. A century ago America had only forty three newspapers, and not one of them con tained in a year as much reading matter as can be found in a single issue of a leading daily, ! Experiments were recently made at Mon treal to discover the length of time required ; for a telegram signal to pass from that point to Greenwich by Atlantic cable. Two hundred signals were sent, aod it was found that the average time taken by the current to cross the Atlantic and back—a distance in ail of 8000 miles—was exactly one and one twentieth second. .

[ Within the past twenty years a new and very beautiful stone haa been introduced in jewellery. It is the green garnet, some times called the " Uralian emerald," being found in the Ural Mountains. George F. Kun_, the gem expert, says of it:-"lb varies in colour from yellowish green to an intense emerald colour, and has such power of refracting light that it shows a distinct fire like the diamond or zircon, and in the evening has almost the appearance of a | green diamond."

It is staed that by the aid of the X rays one can readily determine whether diamonds are real or fake, for the rays pass quite through real diamonds, leaving them tran sparent, and not at all through false ones. A real panne when photographed would show only the mounting, but in a false one all the stones would turn out black. Strangely enough, the X rays will not penetrate glass ; eyeglasses, if photographed, come out black. Thja proved useful in the case of a Viennese glass-workep who got a bit of glass into pis finger. By the aid of the rays it was die, | covered, ex .jrwited, and the workman cured,.

CABLE NEWS.

Home and Foreign.

Pr°S3 Association—By Electric Telegraph— 1 Copyright. A Punitive Expedition Returning. London, February 28 The British punitive uxpeditiou is re turning from Be..it. to headquarters. Breaking the Monte Carlo Bank. Mi Edwaid B'aucha'd Eccles succeeded in breaking the B*uk at Monte Carlo. Poor Board Schools. Mr Brtliour, in replying lo a question re assistance for poor Board ischoole, suid it was impossible to remove the inequality of the education burden until the Exchequer met the entire cosi.

SUPREME COURT.

PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.

Dunedin, March 2. Sentences were passed on—John Fitz gerald, assault, fourteen days; Thomas Sneil, stealing a bicycle, released on his own recognisance, on condition that restitution be made to the owner; William Thomson, theft from a dwelling, admitted to proba tion ; Louis Parletfc* assault, three monthsj Thomas Mackie, indecent offence, five years.

LAURISTON.

From Oar Own Correspondent

SUNDAY SCHOOL PICNIC

The annual picnic in connection with the Lauriston Sunday School took place in the school grounds on Thursday last. The weather was all that could be desired, and the attendance of both old and young was large. Prizes in the shape of books and toys - to be run for, had been provided by means of subscription lists, and the liberality of the people of the district was shown in a most commendable manner by the willing ness with which they attached their signa tures to these lists. The refreshments, too, were provided by the local residents, and the abundance of good things bore further testimony to the ever readiness and generosity of the local residents in coming forward on such occasions. The tables were laid outside in the shade of the trees, and at about two o'clock children and parents sat down to an excellent repast, in preparation for the numerous sports and games to be indulged in throughout the afternoon. Several races were run by children and adultb, while at other parts of the grounds 1 rounders and outdoor games were heartily enjoyed. Towards six o'clock signs of hunger became apparent, and the wants of the children were once again catered for by a second spread, at which their reputation for eating was well borne out, Later on the party adjourned to the schoolroom to witness the distribution of prizes, and to listen to appropriate addresses given by the Revs. J. Clark and P. J. Riddle and Mr Widdowson. Each of the two former gentlemen congratulated the superintendent, Mr Widdowson, on the satisfactory con dition of the Sunday school, and on the excellent manner in which the arrangements for the picnic had been carried out. Hearty votes of thanka were accorded to the donors of prizes, toys, and refreshments, and after the singing of a closing hymn, the room was speedily cleared for indoor games,, which were kept in full swing until nearly mid night. THE DISTRICT SCHOOL. Miss Dora O'Callaghan, the successful applicant for the mistrees-fihip of the\local school, commences her duties to-mor.ow, (Tuesday). It may be interesting to Miss Gorman's many friends to know that aria, is giving promise of marked succcar during her term of studentship at the Normal School, the principals of that institution having expressed themselves as being highly pleased with the proficiency shown by her both as a | ! student and as a teacher. MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT SOCIETY. The committee of the Mutual Improve ment Society met this evening (Monday) for the purpose of discussing and framing a suitable syllabus for the ensuing session. For some months past the meetings have been allowed to lapse, on account of harvesting and other operations, which have prevented the members from giving the necessary attention to the affairs of the society. But now that the harvest i. practically over, it has been thought advisable to resume these meetings, which last year provided so much enjoyment and mental recreation to the several members. It is expected that the first meeting of the series will take place in the space of about a month. March 1.

COMMERCIAL.

The New Zealand Farmers' Co-opera tive Association of Canterbury, Ltd., quote as follows on February 26, 1897 :— Wheat— i

TIMARU MARKETS.

The Farmers' Co-operative Association report: —Wheat—Sales during the week havo been effected at 3s 8d to 3s 9d, on trucks Timaru, for red chaff and tuoan, 3s 96" for Webb', challenge, 3s 10d to 3s lid for velvet.

Oats.~A few small lines have been offered and found buyers at up to Is 9d for heavy Danish, Is lOd to Is lid for short oats, ac cording to quality. Barley.—Medium malting has been placed at 3s to 3s 3d, while prime is worth 3s 6d to 3s Bd, feed sorts 2s to 2s 2d,

The Vitriol-Thorowing Caee.

PJ-R PRESS ASSOCIATION.

Auckland, March 2. Thomas Carroll, charged with vitriol throwing at Paeroi on January 27, has been committed for trial.

THE LATEST.

Home and Foreign.

Press Association—By Electric Telegraph- Copyright.

Received Wakapuaka, Mach 2, 9.50 a.m., Guardian Office 11 a.m.) ihe Orotava. London, March 1 A report fnm Perm -^afcee that tha Orotava haa settled in a ->«f. position.

Australian.

Press Association—By Electric Telegraph Copyright.

(Received Wakapuaka March 2, 10.10 a.m. f Guardian office 11.55 a.m.) The Postal Conference. Melbourne, March 2 The Postal Conference has appointed Sir Gr Duffy, the Posi master-General, and Mr Smlbert, Deputy Postmaster-General, delegates to the Washington Postal Con ference. Tho Conference also expressed satisfaction at the adoption of the Sydney proposals by the Pacific Cable Commission and h >ped to see steps taken shortly to realise thens. Sentenced to Death. Mrs Surclitfe haa been sentenced to death for the murder of a Iroman by means of an illegal operation. (Received Wakapuaka, March 2,10.35 a.m., Guardian office 12 noon.) Manslaughter. Adelaide, March 2 Drummond, found guilty of man slaughter by stabbing Iking, at Semaphore, in January last, has been sentenced to ten years. A Ship Ashore. ' Pebth, March 1 The barque Villalta bound from Puget Sound to Fremantle ran ashore on Friday night on the Leachenaolb reef, two hundred miles north of Fremantle. It Is reported that Captain Hariand *nd one apprentice were drowned.

The Transvaal.

Press Association—By Electric Telegraph- Copyright. **

(Received March 2, Wakapuka 9 50 a.m., Guardian Office Ham.) Feetoeia, March 1. In a speech proroguing the Volksraad, Presldenb Kruger said that dark clouds were gathering in the Transva*l, but he felt confident that the Lord wonld assist them It was the policy of the State never to actsck

M^jubaday, in commemoration of the Boer victoiy over the British at Majuba Hill, was celebrated with unusual en thusiasm. A great feeling of unrest prevails throughout the Transvaal.

THE INSURRESTION IN CRETE.

Ultimatum of the Powers.

Probable Withdrawal of the Greet Fleet.

Press Association—By Electric Telegraph- Copyright.

Athens, February 28. Colonel Vassos is usiug his influence to induce the insurgents at Selino to release the Moslems captured by them. (Received Wakapuaka March 2, 9.45 a.m., Guardian office 11 a.m.) London, March 1. .he Powera havo allowed Greece four d*ys within which to yield to their ultimatum. Athens, March 1. King George will probably withdraw the-fleec from Crete, and it is expected tint he will direct Colonel Vassos to retire into the interior and maintain a guerilla warfare, the King being confident that the Powers will not suppress this. The admirals of the foreign fliefcs prevented a Turkish frigate, assisting to repel the attack on a convoy, trying to re victual ab Malaxa.

Thirty thousand Moslems at Heraklion are in danger of starving. They are entreating the Pow rs to hasten a settle* ment of the difficalty. Constantinople, March 1. One hundred and ninety-two battalions of Turkish troops are on the Greek frontier. The Sultan gave twelve million k francs towards the equipment of the force. A naval officer, on a visit to Auckland, who has visited Crete, states that the resi dents in the highlands are the most splendid mountaineers he has ever seen. They have good houses and are comfortable. He en joyed the hospitality ot some of their chiefs. The Turks had never been able to conquer them, and fighting was chronic ia the low lands between them and the Turks. They were equal to the Turks, even if the latter were three to one, in the open. The Turks fought well enough in forts and behind stonewalld; as to massacres, it was six of one and half-a-dozen of the other. When the Turks had the upper hand they killed the Christians, and when the Christians got a chance in that way, they did not miss it. The Greek priests were responsible for a good deal of trouble. They were for the most part a dirty low set. The Turks could not endure them, and continually vented their spleen at every opportunity. In his opinion Greece will sooner or later obtain possession of Crete.— N.Z. Herald.

THE fILSHBUKTOU atJARDIAJS : TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 1897



Prime muling Pearl 4s to 4s la i.o.b   Tuscan 3a lid to 4s    Hunter's 3s lid „ Seconds, c!ean ... 3s 3d

Oats- Tartars and Duns .. Is lOd  Good stout feed ... Is lid „ Milling  ..2a „ Barley- Prime malting ... 33 6d to 4a  Medium (dull) ... 3a to 3s 3d „ Beans ... 2a 7d „ Peas— Prussian Blues .... „ 3a Qd „ Partridge ... .« 3s 

Ryegraw— Farmers' lines .., 2a to 2a 6d Ch.oh. Cocksfoot— Good bright seed ... 3|d  Medium grades ..,. 3d  Chaff- Good oatsheaf .... 40s to 42s 6d country stations Onions—Prime sound .. 80s to 85a Potatoes—Derwenta ... 40a „ 



\JT_ tt • J^Jjixl-JXJ iS SELLING WASHING PRINTS at 3£d per yd ; WHITE MUSLINS 3s lid per doz IS SELLING DOUBLE-WIDTH SERGES in Navy, Brown and Maroon, at Is per yd G. J. NEILL 18 BELLING MEN'S ALL-WOOL SUITS ab 23s 6d ; Men's Tweed Trousers 5« lid B. J. NEILL IS SELLING BOYS' SUITS at 4s lid each GL J. NEIL-L IS SELLING-Men's Bluchers at 4s lid Men's Nail Shooters ... ... 7a lid Men's Shoes ... ... ... 5a lid Women's Shoes ... ... 4s lid Women's Strap Shoeß... ... 4s lid G. J. NEILL DEFIES COMPETITION IN BOOTB Every Pair Guaranteed to Wear and give SATISFACTION JFRIEDLANDER'S CORNER, EAST STREET. TREMENDOUS CLEARING SALE OP BOOTS AND SHOES. OUR PRIOES OUR PRIOES NOW IN FULL SWING. Thb Greatest SALE of the Year. _ Being the only Manufacturers in Ashburton our position for Selling the BEST CLASS OF GOODS at First Cost is UNRIVALLED. Per Pair Per Pair sd s d Ladies' and Gents' Tennis Shoes Bluchers, heel and toeplate (Ronshaw make) 29& 211 and nails, our own make- Children's School Boots {our beats everything in the mar own make)-7 to 9 ... 4 3 ket at Ihe price ... - only 411 lO to 13 ... 4 9 Ladies lan Leather L__eshoes Ladies' Real Gla c Kid Shoes —a g eat bargain 4 9 —a perfect gem (own make) only 611 Special Bargains— Ladies' Evening Sh^es, with Girls'2-Strap Shoes (black or neat bow, glace kid ... only 211 tan leather) -7 to 9 ... U Gents' Canvas;»hoes (black or 10 to 1 ... o y brown), reduced from 6a to 4 6 Women's Leather Slippers Ladies' Canvas Shoes (black, (own make), only ... ... 0 _ blue, or brown), own make only 4 3 First-class Pegged Water- Gents' Tan Leather Shoes tights (our own make) .... only 11 9 (sewn)— Usual price ... 93 Worth ... ... lo U Sale Price only ... 6 11 Children's Strong Lice Boots Men's Pegged Watertight —4's to 6's-a bargain ... 1 9 Bluchers (own make), splen- Former Pnce . 4 U did value, only 9 6 Women's Leather Balmorals Men's Watertight Balmorals (our own make) ... ... only 6 6 (own make), splendid value only 8 9 Ladies' Leather Shoes, neat Ladies' Lace Canvas Shoes ... 3 9} dedgn (own make) only 5 6 Usual Price 4 9 j Youths' Watertight Balmorals Neat 2-Str*r»'^B«»»»SteJi^,~ S'lf —la and 2*8... ... ... 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 onr Stock best in Ashburton. 19?" QUALITY—Second to None in New Zealand. Mcdonald & mcdiarmid, BOOT AND SHOE MANUFACTURERS AND IMPORTERS, East Street, Ashburton.] [Branches at Oamaru and Waimate. MELLOR'S 'ZEALANDIA' BOOT STORE IS Sow making a. Special Christmas Display of Summer Boota and Shoes. Already the ABhburton Public have pronounced it to be the CHEAPEST AND BEST ASSORTED STOOK EVER SHOWH IN ASHBURTON. —-Please Note a Few Quotations- Ladies' pretty two«strap shoes, tan and black, 7s 6d Ladies' strap shoes, 4s 9d Ladies' and Gentlemen's waterproof Canvas Shoes—-Splendid valu© Ladies' Oromelette Shoes from 8s 9d —Very cheap Ladies' Shoes, 6s 6d—Great bargains. THOUSANDS OF OTHER LINES, THAT DEFY COMPETITION Look at windows and yoa will admit that it is the Best display ever made in Ashburtor A trial will at once convince you of the difference in price and quality from other boot-shops. Note Address— JAMES MELLOR, TANCRED STREET, ASHBURTON.



MEN'S AND BOYS' HATS. HATS. HATS. p> r\ DOZEN FELT HATS ALMOST. GIVEN AWAY. A GRAND SUCCESS. MITCHELL & BRODRIBB'S "OABRIO AND PRINT BALE being such a Grand Success, we have decided to ho' FOR TWO WEEKS, A GREAT HAT SALE. ma DOZEN MEN'S. ptf\ DOZEN BOYS'. Men's Soft Felt Hats 2s 6d, worth 5s Boys' Soft Felt Hats Is 6d, worth 3a 9d Men's Soft Felt Hats 3s 6d, worth 6s 6d Boya' Soft Felt Hats 2s Gd, worth _s 9d Men's Soft Felt Hats 4s 6d, worth 7s 6d Men's Soft Felt Hats 5s 6d, worth 8a 9d Men's Soft Felt Hats 6s 6d, worth 10a 6d Men's Soft Felt Hats 8a 6cj, worth 12s 6d 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 j while tho 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 Us lid per dozen, worth double Flannelettes for Dressing Gowns and Home Blouses 4s lid dozen, half price Trimmed and nntrimmed Hats, Aprons, Blouses, Veilings, Ribbons, etc., at half cost BOOTS AND SHOES—the Best value in the trade —io:— — DON'T FORGET THE GREAT HAT SALE AT MITCHELL & BRODRIBB'S, THE CENTRAL CASH DRAPERY MART, WSXT HO J. ORB fc CO., BAST STREET, ASHBURTON.



Business Notices. Waterproof Coata NZ.C.F. To Measure ... 35s Od Waterproof Coats j N.Z.C.F. New Pattern. ... 32s 6d Waterproof Coata N.Z.C.F. To Measure ... 40s Od Waterproof Coats NZ.C.F. New Patterns „. 42s 6d Waterproof Coats N.Z.C.F. To Measure «_, 45b Od Waterproof Coats N.Z.C.F. New Patterns ... 47s 6d Waterproof Coats N.Z.C.F. To Measure ... 50s Od NEW ZEALAND Clothing Factory. o <1 _•" «j § S B □ S5 (___) 55 P PV t-< -< O W> ►____ r_r__ H~l *" £s a Iz. £ | H Ph I s c. « s ZO g O §a a p o Ph g pq g HH & vi &_ ||).ll I .. II ■__--g-_--M----W^--M>_»-MW^"M»« Church Services. ST. STEPHEN'S CHURCH, Ashburton, TUESDAY— Teachers' Meeting, 7.30 p.mi ASH-WEDNESDAY- Vestry Meeting, 4.30 p.m. Special Lenten Service, 7.30 p.m. THURSDAY-Girls' Friendly Society, 7 p.m. FRIDAY—M.C.L. (Associates only) meet: at the Vicarage at 8 p.m. SUNDAY SERVICES. 11 a.m.~Morning Prayer and Holy Com munion. 3 p,m.~GREENSTREET. 6.30 p.m.—Evening Prayer. REV. T. A. HAMILTON. in. i mi. i nil iii ■■—hi-.- t— ■■—■—~,~_— '_ —___r_r___T_ -\TALENTINES ! Valentines ! Large V assortment of Comic, Fancy Boxed, Booklets, Love Cards, etc. New Books, Fancy Goods, Toys, Stationery aod Music. New lot of Foreign Stamps and packets,- ---i Andrewes, Anderson, & Co., Stationers I Hall.



Keating's Powder aestpoys bugs, flea?, raitbs, beetles, and all other insects, whilst gui c harmless to dome, tie animals. In exterminating beetles the suooeflß of this powder is extraordinary. It ia perfect'? clean in application. See the article you purohase is Keating's, as .miction, are noxious and ine3eota*lt Sold in tins, gd, Is



We have sometimes heard it remarked that Messrs Craighead and Berryman charge rather high pricea for their suits. It is evident from the number of hands in their employ that they do by far the largest tailoring business in Ashburton, aud as they employ the besb workmen and pay the highest wages their customers do not expect their clothes at " sweating " rates (" cheap and nasty.") By insisting upon first-class workmanship in every garment, combined with good fit and best quality linings etc. Messrs Graighead and Berryman have earned their reputation for giving satisfaction and their reduction of about 20s per suit referred to in their new advertisement is sure to draw a fresh rush of customers.—-Advt. 2 17



WkdwuM mi i!tirisM*g-~*Mw Ymw



Life Saving Drill The attention of farmers and others in terested is called bo the new advertisement of Messrs Friedlander _.rps.



' Holloway's Pills.—The ills of life are I increased tenfold by the mode of life so ' many have to lead, most especially is this the case amongst the toilers in our factories and huge workshops of the manufacturing districts whose digestion becomes impaired and nervous systems debilitated by the pro tracted confinement and enforped depriya tion of healthy out-of-door exercise. The" factory workers may almost be said to have, diseases of their own, readily amecableo however, to treatment, ii nob allowed te j proceed unchecked. Holloway's Pills ard j the most effectual remedy ever discovere s I for the liver and stomach complaints, ». | they act surely but gently, regulating thr J secretiops without weakening the nerve* o| interfering with the d*ily wprfe * |



100 Yards Champions-lip of lf.Z. G-JLOS, COUGHS/ INFLUENZA, SORI THROAT Acer's Cherry Pectoral 9 Will relieve the most dis f; I tressing cough, soothe |||3»v the inflamed membrane, ,SWJ ?°? eu the PWegm, and $$Pfi-Sj ln(luce refresl»ng sleep. I|j£==4 For the cure of Croupj ill Whooping Cough, and all m the pulmonary troubles jUI to which the young are so liable, there is no other remedy so effective as AVER'S Sherry Pectoral : .._■■._ r.y Dr. J .C.Ayer & (....Lowell, Mass., tr.S.A. ii Half-size Bottles, And also in large 4/6 size. .:;;; Medals at ths World's Chief Expositions, «5r Tho name, Ayer'o Cherry Pectoral. • lvormuent on the wrapper and is blown imitaiff 8 ofeacUbo™e- TaJwnachejJ