BIRTH.

Withell.—On March 12, at Bareb.ards Cottage, Ashburton, the wife of John Withell, of a son.

Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. FRIDAY, MARCH 12, 1897.

The following very interesting statis tics of the taxation, pubHc debts, im-

port?, exports, and produce of Aus tralasia, are com-

AUSTRAI ASIAN STATISTICS-

piled from the annual volume just issued by the Government statist of Victoria The taxation in Australasia forms 39 per cent of the total revenue, and nearly four fifths of it is in the form of in direct taxation raised by means of Customs and excise duties. In 1895 the Customs revenue collected in Aus tralasia amounted to over .£8,250,000, of which £2,500,000 were derived from alcoholic liqnors, £1,200,000 from to bacco and opium, £1,700,000 from nine kinds of food and non-alcoholic beverages, £1,000,000 under nine classes of textile and dress manufac tures. The public debt of Austral asia at the end of 1895 exceeded £213,000,000, of which £200,000,000 was payable in London. The annual interest amounted to £8,250,000, of which £500,000 only is payable in tha colonies. Tbe intercolonial trade amounts to about £23,500,000 annually, being equivalent to over two-fifths of the whole trade. After federation the whole of this will become absolutely free from all tariff restrictions. The i aggrega*;e Vftlue °^ tne imports of Australasia — including intercolonia' trade—amounted to £51,000; and the most striking articles or groups of articles imported were textile, fabrics and dress to the extent of £10,000,000; gold (for re-export), £5,500,000 ; wool (for re-export), £3,750,000; sugar and iron and steel, each £2,000,000; machinery, £1,500,000, silver and silver ore (for re-export), £1,330,000 ; live stock, £1,250,000; tea, over £1,000,000 , drugs and chemicals and spirits, each nearly £100,000,000; timber, £800,000. The value of exports amounted to £64,000,000, chiefly made up of wool, £24,000,000; gold, £11,660,000; meats (chiefly frozen), £3,500,000 ; silver and silver ore, nearly £3,250,000 ; tallow and hides, each, £2 250,000; wheat and flour £1,500,000 ; butter, £1,330,000 ; sugar coal, and live stock, each £1,000,000 New Zealand is distinguished by its unique exportof kauri gum to the value of over £400,000. The value of th^ gold raised in Australasia in 1895 amounted to £9,000,000 sterling. Victoria still maintains her supremacy as the leading gold-producing colony, with a production valued at neaily £3,000,000, Queensland standing next with £2,200,000, then New Zealand with over £1,000,000, and West Australia, with less than £900,000, In 1895 the colonies exported 70,000,0001b weight of frozen beef and 192,000,0001b of mutton, valued at £2,360,000 ; also 31,000,0001b weight of butter and 9,500,0001b of cheese, valued at £1,250,000 ; while the total output of Australasian factory-made dairy produce was 60,000,0001b weight of butter and 15,500,000R) of cheese.

Local and General.

Reading matter on fourth page. There has lately been a falling off in the number of deaths from cancer in New Zealand. The New Zealand Rugby Union proposes to establish $n annual North v South Island match. The Lake County Council has prohibited tbe employment of Chinese on county contracts. The funeral of the late Rev P R, Monro took place at Christchurch yesterday. It was very largely attended. A social to welcome Mr Ben Tillett to Christchurch is to be held in the Opera House on Monday evening. It is proposed in Masterton to Dominate Mrs Smalley, wife of the Rcy. J. S. Smalley, for a seat upon the Licensing Bench. A special meeting of the Fire Brigade for the transaction of important business is called for this evening at %3Q. Mr Nish, one of the subeditors of the Melbourne Argus, hat arrived jn Dunedin, mi Will make a tour of the colsny. The s a Wa.k_.to is bringing out a con signment'of re_ dew, pheasants, and par ridges, for the Canter^."* A6_Jimatisa tion Society. For every shilling turned out the Mint makes a profit of nearly 3d. On eyejry ton of penny pieces taken out from the Mint there is a profit of £382. The tennis match Albion v Hinds Clubs which was to bave been played at Hinds yesterday did no,t jtake place, the Hinds Club notifying at the last moment that they would be »n»b.; fco pay on that day. " *-«--iog te ft p*ragrapb i-frit has been ■ I, '-'1" to the effecjb tfoafc Mr and going the rouu 1U , t ieay _ Mrs Thomas Bracken _ •__.„ __^ qj^ New Zealand shortly en route _,_. • _._,

Country the Taieri Advocate asserts thab the have no such intention.

The Auckland Herald understands bhat Mr Ferguson. Inspector under the Shop Hours Act, has recently visited the banking institutions in that city to see whether bhe clerks were being kept over hours, contrary to the provisions of the Act.

At the request of Major McKinley (Presi dent of the United States) and Mrs McKin ley, no wine or other intoxicants will be sold or served at the Presidential Inaugural Ball. Ib will be the first time liquor has been prohibited at that function.

The meeting of the Wesl.yan Christian Endeavour Society, held on Wednesday evening, was largely attended. After some business had been transacted recitations and musical items were given, a most pleasant evening being spent. Mr H. Steel presided.

The new Chinese Minister to England, Lo Feng Lo, will bring some magnificent garments to the Queen, at whose diamond jubilee fetes he is to figure. He is also expected to expend a vast amount of money in the English shipbuilding yards for new warships.

At a meeting of the Committee of the Ashburton Club, held on Wednesday evening, Mr Thomas Alexander, who has been for some time favorably known as assistant to his brother, the proprietor of the Railway Refreshment rooms, was appointed second steward of the Club.

| Three hundred French soldiers in Southern Algeria were marching down a deep ravine when heavy rain began to fall, and before they had reached the end of the ravine they wera nearly swept away by a torrent, against which they could only stand by holding hands in a square. Miss Winter, the English governess who has for so many years had charge of Wilhel mina, the young Queen of Holland, has now i returned to her home in England, pensioned for life with £500 per annum. She has also been loaded with presents by both the Queen and her mother.

From private letters received on the 4th inst. from Samoa we (Auckland Herald) learn bhat it was noited abroad in Apia i hat Mr Seddon had recommended Mr Jackson Palmer to the British Government as a suitable candidate for the Chief Justiceship of S-vmoa, Mr Chambers, a citizen of the United States, has been appointed. He was formerly in Apia. We are sorry to learn from tho Timaru Herald that a very sudden death oacurred at Rangitata on Wednesday. Mrs Mark Ballance of this town who had been visiting friends at Rangitata Island was about to return home by the morning train on Wednesday, and was taken suddenly ill and expired on the platform of th<. Rangitata railway station. She had been suffering from heart disease. The funeral will move from the Ashburton railway station to morrow on the arrival of the 10.35 train from the South.

The excursion to Christchurch and Lyttel ton yesterday was a most successful affair. Tickets were in great demand up to half past ten o'clock on Wednesday night, and the nob very brilliant promiae of that even ing as to next day's weather did not have any effect in checking the eagerness to pur chase. Those who read the signs of tbe heavens as meaning rain were agreeably disappointed, for the excursionists could not have enjoyed better weather. The station master had thirty-five carriages marshalled at the station, and after the 7 20 ordinary train had departed those carriages were soon filled, and the lung train with its two engines steamed away. Three guards had charge of the train, which reached Christ church about ten o'clock without any hitch, i the only stopping places having been Dro more, Chertsey, and Rikaia, at each of which places contingents of passengers joined. Another stopping place, however, waa Selwyn, where ihe ordinary train was crossed. On reaching Christchurch, about half of the passengers left the train to spend the day in the city, the remainder going on to Liyttelton, where a tug was at their dis posal for a sail on the harbor. The train left Lyttelton at 4 45 p.m., and Christchurch shortly after five, reaching Ashburton at about half-past eight ihe railway authori ties and the various employees may be congratulated upon the arrangements which enabled such a large number of excursion!-_s to be carried for over one hundred miles with no mishap for which they can be blamed. The unfortunate accident referred to else where was presumably the result of .one of those risks which must be accepted and > xpected now and then when crowds of inexperienced travellers are upon a train. The guards may be specially complimented upon the patience and tact with which they dealt with the rather noisy youngsters who were out for the day, in some instances good naturedly helping t em ont ot scrapes which their cirelessneps had got them into.

Meeting of Creditors.

A meeting of the creditors of L. F. Andrewes, bookseller and stationer, East street, Ashburton, was held at the Court house on Wednesday. The debtor's statement ._,__ io fr,11..u._ ■

The statement went on to say that debtor had commenced business in Ashburton iv 1889, when he was supplied with stock by Mr Somers. Not having any capital he gave bills payable monthly of £35 e^ch, but he was unable to meet these regularly, aud gradually got behind. He had never been ableto make the business pay. In May, 1896, he had takpn Jfr Aiidersou in|.o partnership, on the understanding that the latter should put £300 into the business. But this had not been done, and they had lately dissolved partnership. Prior to the time when Anderson joined him f he bad drawn £3 JOs a week from the business, since that the two partners had each drawn £2 10s a week. 'J he debtor was sworn, and in answer to questions, said he had no private debts beyond fhose stated in his schedule. His wife held the furniture of the private house under deed, which had been exhibited to the Official Assignee Aftet some discission, Air McOwen moved that Mr C 0 Somers be appointed supervisor in the estate at the remuneration allowed by the Act." Mr Paul'said that he thought there should be more than .one siiperylsor, aud Mr Wi|ding sa(d the Act provided for this. Mr Paul, continuing, said that he was lately interested, and a* be wag op the *act he suggested that he would himself be a suitable to &PP oinfc- fle thought this arrangement woi-!' 1 T^^m*??? to the local shareholders. M. WiUlaJAsb, burton Publishing Company) concurred, _._!.■ thought that it was of'no use pressing the point anles. Mr Somers was agreeable, Jor he could out-vote all the rest of the creditors, ftf r Somers did not see his way to accept Mr Paul's suggestion, and the motion was then put and carried.' It was resolved that the premises be taken until the end of the present month. s»f r Som.erjp moyed that the Assignee be requested to dispense with the bailiff in -^s-ruie, md appoint the debtor ipstead, to -•- ■-__ carry on up ,to the qlisposal ""* I"Vs a ws§k- Thia was

take charg of fhe business, at x>c _ "seconded by Mr Paul and carm...

Mr Paul moved that Mr Andrewes be re ommended for his immediate discharge. Mr McOwen seconded. The resolution was carried. The meeting then adjourned.

INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

Press Association—By Electric Telegraph,

Fatal Accident. Chbistchci-CH, March 12. A boy named William Lilly, ten years, fell off the horizontal bar at the Tai Tapu school this morning and was killed. The Colonial Bank Enquiry, D-Nkpin, March 12. So as nob to intercept the jury case at the civil sittings, the further examination of Mr Henry Mackenzie has been postponed till nexb week.

The Federal Convention.

ijPressAssooiation—By Electric Telegraph- Copyright.

Sydney, March 11

It is definitely decided that the Federal Convention shall meet at Adelaide on the 22nd inst.

A Steamer Ashore.

(per press association.)

i Nelson, March 11. ! j The steamer Torea, of P.eton, went ashore ) ] iv the Sounds at Gullagulla early this morn- j

ing. The Wainui went to her assistance on the way from Picton to Nelson. She made fast and tried to tow the, lorca off for two hours, but in vain. Ihe steamer is high up on the beach in Sea Gully. Further efforts I will be made to launch her. No damage is apparent. The master is Captain Fisk.

The Floods on the West Coast.

Press Association —By Klectric Telegraph G-.EYMOUTI., March 11.

The fl >od has subsided. Tho damage to the streets and many of the stocks is very great. So far as repotted two lives have been lost, one victim being Charles Boase, but the other has not been identified. A good deal of distress will be occasioned to dwellers in the lower township.

Reefton, March 11,

The flood in the Grey River is the heaviest known by the settlers, the water reaching houses never touched before. The Midland Railway line suffered considerable damage, aud it is doubtful if railway communication will be restored in a week. Great damage is done, especially to bridges A-large number of sheep are drowned and probably a good many cattle. '1 he water pretty well covered Totara Flat. The Phcenix mine, from which nearly all the coal for Reef ton ia supplied, collapsed during the storm, and destroyed several chains of the Murray creek road. It is doubtful if the mine can be opened or the rail repaired again, as the hill appears to be sliding. Several bridges north of Lyell have gone, and the Ntlson coach is detained. The weather is still gloomy.

The Wesleyan Conference.

Preso Association—By Electric Telegraph

Wellington, March 11

The r. port of the Jubilee Fund showed that since it was originated special subscrip tion* for the relief of churah debts amount ing to £3442 had been paid to local trusts indicated by the donors, £1000 had been invested on behalf of Home Missions, £2000 had been set aside for a special branch of the Loan Fund, and £850 to the ordinary capital of that fund, making a total of £7292. ,

The Rev Mr Orchard was requested to open negotiations with the Bible Christian Church in England regarding the claim for the children's fund of 1896.

A pastoral address was delivered by the Rev John A. Luxford. He referred to the growing numerical strength of the adherents of the Wesleyau Methodist Church in the colony, and gave a comprehensive resume of the first year's work. During the present year the sum raised for foreign missions had increased by £278, as compared with the year ending September, 1896. There had been an increase of thirty-four Sunday schools and 1997 scholars, the total on the roI!s being 22,302 scholars and 2370 teachers. He advocated greater attention to home worship and the avoidance of scandal, and especially " the demon of depreciation." Some discussion ensued on the subjeefs dealt with in the address. It was decided that the Revs W, Kirk, W. Rouse, and T. G. Hammond prepare a resume of the ad dress in Maori for circulation amongst the Natives. Several amendments were made in the address and it was adopted.

On the second reading of stations the name of Mr R. Taylor was set down for Ashburton.

MR. SEDDON'S TOUR.

Interviewed on the subject of his tour in Australia, Mr Seddon sai i that during his visit to the Australasian colonies he heard New Zealand well spoken of He is con vinced that if fast steamers were put on thousands of Australians would cotre and spend tbe summer months in New Zealand for the sake of the more temperate climate. The Premier expresses regret that the effort made for reciprocal trad) between New Zealand and South Australia had not bsen. tuocessful. The owner of a vioeyard of 500 acres would be glad to get a halfpenny a pound (lb) for bis grapes. These could be sold for threepence a pouud in Wellington. In Adelaide splend d grapes were retailednt sixpence and sevenpence a pound. He sp'.aks favourably of the decision of the Conference of Premiers to urge the Imperial authorities to appoiut a Commission to enquire into the best methods of improving trade relations between the colonies and the Mother Country. The trade with America, the European Continent, and especially Germany, had increased enormously! The opinion was vepy general phat fhe tjme had arrived when poyne" steps should b,e taken in the interest of colonial in.nufacturers to stem foreign competition.

CORRESPONDENCE.

(We do not hold ourselves resp.us'b c for fche opinions expressed by our correspondents)

THE LICENSING COMMITTEE ELECTION.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sj-t,—My argument may seem faulty to .' Not-padij^erent,-' but if that is so ? I am io very good company, vi^.j the leading prohi bftionisj.s throughout the colony, including the late lamented Rey P. R. Monrp. This note culled from the prohibitionist will end my correspondence : " It is signifio nt that iv Dunedin, Invercargill, aud Christchurch, .lie Prohibition Leagues have determined not to nominate Committees. The Otago fJaily Times charges the Dunedin League wi£h« _nsking," but that is absurd. The position is plain. 'Many hundreds, perhaps thousands, of good people in Otago and Southland, as elsewhere, voted for the existence of public houses, assuming that prohibition coinmittges would keep them in check-. 1 But pro-iibitiomst. know fchat all such efforts result in fractional improvements They know that the trade never haS been regelated anywhere, they are convinced it never pah be. They decline to waste their e_j(Brgi,es jjj.tt.enipj.ing the itnposgibie, ans jn -a« iwgiftg ihe r tpde to m amount of "^•ii_i_._s fco fib'e j.*w which - from tfee

sim^ outward show o_ v_ serves to hide its real charactei - public, and so lessen the desire for it destruction, and let those who support the .rade by their votes undertake its control." Them's my sentiments.—l am, etc., Indifferent.

The Wellington Suburbs Election.

The Wellington correspondent of the Press understands, upon authority, bhat the [Chief Justice "does nob consider that his responsibility wholly covers the issue of the writ for the election for the district." The effect of this determin ition is that nothing will or cm be done to fill the vacancy until the new Speaker of the House of Repre sentatives shall have been chosen. This, I am informed, does not amount to a judical decision, bub will be in the reporb bo the Speaker, by the election Judges, of whom ! Sir James Prendergast was one. There can therefore be no "Suburbs election" until long after the assembling of Parliament.

KASPAR'S WALLET.

That to m le minds mysterious itsm of feminine toilette, the hair-pin, is believed to be an artic'e of general utility capable of being turned to account for any purpose from ext acting peniwinkles to pi .king pad locks. I don't know though that I have until now read of its being successfully made use of as a lethal weapon. A story of such an instance of its employment, however, comes from Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania, wherein it ia toid how Anna McDowell, a nineteen-year-old girl, rescued a child from a big bald eagle and dispatched the bird with the article of feminine utility which has made countless thousands weep. The young woman was on her way to visit an aunt near the city, when she heard a child's screams coming from the side of a small trouf stream near the main road. Rushing to the rescue, she found three-year-old Nettie Hinkel in the talons of one of the kings of the air. The bird had boldly attacked the chiid, bub was not able to cany her away. The rescuer pulled Nettie away from the talons of the eagle, and then found she would have to have it out with the fierce bird herself, whioh attacked her furiously with beak and talons extended, returning to the charge every time. Misa McDowell, standing over the child, beat the bird off with her arms. The brave girl was getting the worst of it in her#weaponless defence, her arms, head and shoulders being severely gashed, when she thought of ihe formidable instrument in her hair. Grasping this she stabbed the eagle repeatedly and finally clutched ib by the neck and thrust the pin through the bird's head, thereby ending the encounter and tallying one more for the deadly hat-pin.

In an article headed " Life in London and Thereabout,"' by Henry W. Lucy, which I have just come across, I find the following amusing morceau. '* State what you know of monsoons " was an invitation set forth on the examination paper. " Monsoons," writes a ready youth of encyclopaedic knowledge, " are a mountain range. They are inhabited by the funniest people in the world. They have about six hands and no eyes. They are cannibals, and feed ou their fathers and brothers, and spend a dreary life doing absolutely nothing." It would be interest ing to know whether this young person is consciously indulging in sheer romance, or whether -he thinks he has heard or read something that justifies this detailed narrative. The last sentence is truly Gilbertian in its conception and construction. That feeding daily on one's father and brotheis should, in course of time, come to be regarded as a dreary life is not unnatural. But only one of Mr Gilbert's characters could be expected to regard such a practice as doir.g absolutely nothing. In contrast with the flowing diction of this essay is the terse reply of another student. "Mon soons," he assures the examiner, "are the I natives of Australia. Th y have no osilves."

The announcement of the death of Blondin, the world's champion rope-walker, has naturally been followed by a fbod of obituary notices and reminiscent paragraphs. From among these I cu'l the following scraps of information about the famous Chevalier. His fi.st experiment was carried out by means of a rope stretched /between two chairs, which, of course, not being secured, collapsed. At last, after other failures, he succeeded in walking a rope stretched between two gate-posts, with a fishing-rod for a balancing-pole. As a result, his parents sent him to L'Ecole de Gymnase at Lyons. From here he emerged as a circus performer, and broke the record in ""eapiDg, etc. Bub the daring feat which won for him the soubriquet of " The hero of Niagara " was" the commencement of his world-wide popu'arity. As far bick as 1862, he achieved a record in walking on a rope 249 yards in length at a height of 170 feet from the ground. This feat was performed at the Crystal Palaes Sydenham, in the presence of enormous crowds. On June 30, 1859, Blondin waked for a distance of 1200 feeb across the river at the Niagara Falls at a height of 150 feet above the torrent. This performance he accomplished in the presence of 25,000 persons, and on July 4 following he crossed blindfold, trundling a wheelbarrow. Blondin accepted a proposal that he Bhould walk on a cable f<om the first platform of the Eiffel Tower in Pariß to the c ntral dome of the Exhibition for a wager of £4000, but this was not permitted by the Exhibition authorities. Over 30 years ago at the Crystal Palace he rode a bicycle along a rope 100 feeb high. On another occasion he wheeled a live lion strapped to a barrow along the rope, and on another carried a harmonium across, playing a tune the while, and received the instrument as a reward. Once at the Crystal Palace he was knocked off bhe rope but in falling hooked his leg across it and saved himself, Hia iron nerve and magnificent physique carried him thiough many a triumph, but in the lust years of his life he was partly blind and almost wholly deaf. Blondin visited New Zealand many years ago, and gave several performance?.' ' ,

I Everybody knows the old story qhout the good King Alfred and the burned girdle cakes Here is another, and a better one, pertaining to this present year of grace whioh may be alliteratively intituled " The Prince, the Peasant, aud the Pancakes " :—- Prince Christian of Denmark after a recent review ab Bierre stopped ab a farmhouse to b g a drink. The old farmer's wife bade him welcome and enter, As she was at the moment pancake-making, she asked him if he would like some. " Very much, indeed," replied the Prince, and soon he was comfort ably seated, enjoying his humble fare ab the kitchen table. J The Prince having finished his meal, aked the old dame how much he owed her. "Nothing at all," was the answer. On his persisting ttjat he would prefer paying, she pitted his shoulder affectionately, saying : You are a soldier, my bop, an 4 soldiers are always hard up; I neyeF take anything from them," He suggested that he was not quite so *' hard up as the generality of them. "Oh J I know be.ter," and with a knowing wink and a nod she turned to her pancake making. "It is quite true, good mother,'' said the Prince, laughing heartily, "for you s«?e my grandfather happens to be the King." "What!" cried' his astonished hosbessj dropping her whisk, and nearly upsetting the frying pan in her fright. A second or two she gazed at him speechlessly, then remarked, naively, " I should have asked you into the parlour, shouldn't I, "

The decline in thl"h',thifc ot church-going, which is a characteristic of the present day, is, it appears, as noticeable in Scotland as elsewhere. (Glasgow which had long the reputa tion, of being otje of tlje mpfb religious sommiinjtjgs ip the Empire, and which is - "— of presbyteriauism, • -J ~« from tho facts

indeed _u_ __

has lapsed sadly, to ]Uu fe _ brought to light by a census of church-goers taken on a recent Sunday. The figures are interesting to an inquirer as throwing .ome light not only on the church-going of the people but also on the relative strength of the denominations in the largest city of Scotland. The attendance at the Established Church was 35,006, at the Free Church 35,760, at the U.P. Church 30,878, mak ing the number of Presbyterians 104,644; ab the various other protestant Churches 22,507, and at the Roman Catholic Churches 19,204. The population of Glasgow is 827,000, and only 143 000 went to church, so that 683,645 were left at home or in the , fields or down the river—five-sixths of the whole population not in any church. It is nob claimed that the census above referred bo is absolutely accurate, but as it was care fully taken and the weather was favorable it may be accepted aa a fair approximation to accuracy.

A paragraph recently went the rounds of the papers in which it was stated that it had been discovered that somewhere in the far East there is a temple in which the Queen ia worshipped as a goddess. The authority for this remarkable story is, it appears, Major Stuart Majoribanks, who has recently returned to Fngland from a five years' sojourn in Thibet and Bengal. He states that while journeyiug in Thibet in 1893 he heard, through the natives, of a white goddess being worshipped by a sect, whose place of habitation was in the most moun tainous section of that rugged country. With two guides and a native servant Major Majoribanks started for the mountains that had been described to him and, on reaching them, found that be was the first white man known to have made hi* way to &hia

spot. The treatment Recorded him by the members of the sect for whom he had bet-n searching was amazing. He bad been told that he was going to certaiu death, and that no man's hand could save him. To his surprise he was treated as a most welcome visitor. He was received with profound salaams, aud with his escort was assigned quarters in a hut for the night. In response to his request for information, he was courteously told that all he wished would be made clear to him in the morning. The villagers "iept their word to the letter. After the morning meal the visitor was escorted to the house of the principal official of the town, who is termed the Khan. Two priests appeared, by order of the Khun and conducted Major Mnjoribanks to a build ing located at the crown of a high hiil. Entering, the traveller found himself in a dimly lighted apartment, furnished with all the evidences of a barbaric religion, But the most amazing thing of all was that, seated in a delicately-cxrved chair, was the figure of ft woman, wearing a golden crown, apparently attired in European costume, and looking not unlike a specimen from Mdme. Tuesaud's. Closer inspection, necessarily of a very respectful nature, disclosed the fact that the figure was intended to be a representation of Queen Victoria^ Careful scrutiny showed that the imitation, so far as the clothing was concerned, was very crude indeed, but the likeness of the face to the original was startling in its faithfulness. Alter leaving ihe temple, Major Majoribanks had another interview with the Khan, and from him learned how the Queen of England came to be the goddess of a heathen tribe. It seems hat a few years ago the tribe wot sorely beset by enemies, and a deputation was sent from the village to Calcutta to appeal to the English Government to interfere and cause the Indian marauders to remain at home. The mission was entirely successful. When the Thibetans returned from Calcutta one of the men had secured a photograph of Queen Victoria, and apparently out of gratitude, as good an imitation as it was possible for them to construct of the Great White Queen was fashioned, placed in the temple, and worshipped as the chief of all the tribe's gods. —Kasfab.

A SAD FATALITY.

An Excursionist Killed.

The excursion trip yesterday was We re gret to i-ay fatal to one of the passengers who fell off the train in the tunnel, when returning from Lyttelton, and waa killed. The Lyttelton Times reports thab a person, a rejidenb of Winslow, who supplied the in formation to the guard, (presumably Mr P. Keller or Mr Meharry junior, both of whom were standing on the same platform as de ceased), did not know the man's name but thought it was Alexander M'Lellan, also a resident of Winslow. The '."raffia Manager at once telegraphed to Mr M'intyre, station* master at Lyttelton, who immediately took an engine and went through in search of the man. Meanwhile the 5.15 p.m. passenger train had left Lyttelton, aad was ab Heath cote, and search was also made frop the Heathcote end of the tunnel. The body was found about a quarter of a mile* from the Heathcote end, and t.ken through by the engine aud put on the 5.30 p m. pas senger train to Lyttelton. Dr. Pairman was on the train, bub he could do nothing bub pronounce life to be extinct. The de ceased had sustained Bevere bruises about the head, there being being a deep dent on the forehead, an ugly gash behind the left ear, and a bad bruise ab the base of the skull. The body was uninjured,* and the unfortunate fellow had evidently been killed by the fall. A number of the excursionists returned to Lyttelton last night, but were unable to identify the body, lb is that of a man probably about forty-seven to fifty years of age, about sft 9in or lOin in height, and of medium build. He was wearing a dark grey suit of clobhes quite new, with a black soft felt hat. He had a beard and moustache, the former being grey, and the latter of a brownish tint. He was some what bald. Among his effects were an excursion ticket from Ashburton to Lyttel ton, an open-faced silver watch with steel chain, and a small brass box containing a few silver coins. The Press says that Mr Thomas Miller, of Ashburton, and a number of others went back to, Port to try and find out who had fallen off, but they failed to identify the body. Inside the deceased's watch were roughly scratched, apparently with the point of a knife, the words ** 1895. W. J. Davidson, Willowby."

We may say, however, that there is little doubt the deceased is Alexander M'Lellan who has recently been working at Lagmhor.

MAGISTERIAL.

ASHBURTON-THCRSDAY.

(Before Mr C. A Wray, S.__t 1

By-Law Cases—David Price was fined Ss for riding a bicycle over a footpath.-—Joseph Tait was fined 10s for obstructing the foot path in Hampstead by unloading chaff upon it—Bartholomew Kane was charged with Laving grassed four head of cattle on the roads. The case took some time in hearing, and several witnesses were eximined At the close of the hearing, the Magistrate said he had no doubt Kane sometimes availed himself of the grass on the roads, but on the evidence adduced he could not convict, and the case w#s dismissed without costs.—M. Digby was fined 5s for allowing a horse to be at large oa the reads. *

Prohibit—A man named Cullen was fined £5 for procuring liquor from a hotelkeeper at Methven, wtjde a prohibition order waa in operation against him. •■'-■-■ Civil Cases—McCJallum y Stillwell, #211 judgment for' plaintiff —J.* Marsden ir 8. Hardley, senr., £1§ 2a. This was a claifo for work done in a harvesting cqntrapt that had not been completed. After hearing Counsel's statements of the case, and the evidenoe of several witnesses,, the case, with others, was arijourn.d till next Court day.

COMMERCIAL.

LONDON WOOL SALES.

Kress Association—By Electric Telegraph— Qopyjght. '- :' l6ndoh, March 9.

The wool sales opened to day, and fairly brisk business is being done, with unchanged prioes, ■-. ' '*'■ * '•-" •

AUSTRALIAN MARKETS.

Sydney, March It). Wheat, chiojj, 3. to 3s -ii ;' milling, 4s 7d bo 4 gd. CMS, New Me^laud RfJme fgedipj, 2a 3d j med'itfni, 2- to 2d j Seeding, 2s 3a fo 2* ?J. parley, Cape, pj.ime seedijjjg, 0s Sd to3_. Potatoes, local, &\ l@s to £|; ««..■. £3 to £3 2a 6d. Onions, ! Circular n-..-.-, ~ '"L '~ *"*"- Victorian, £5 10s to £6. *JU-.__, _._.__., s_.d j factory. 6d to 6|d. Cheese, plentiful; prime, 2_,d to Z^h Bacon, 4d to 6d. Hams, New Zealand, 9d. M_.lbocbnb, March 10. Wheat, quiet, 5s 7d to 53 Bd. Oats, Algerian, 2s l_d to 2s 3d; stout white, Is lid to 2s %d. Bapley, malting, 4js 6d. Potatoes, £2 6s to £2 10s, ' Adelaide, March 10 Wheat, dull, 5a 4d to 5s sd. Oats, dun, 2s 9i; Algerian and stout white 3j 6d. Barley, Cape 3s 9d to 4s 3d ; malting, 4s 6d to 5_ 3d,

THE ASHBUBTQfI GOARDIAJ. : FEIDAY, MAECH 12, 1897



£ad £ s

Unsecured credi tors (as under) 2484 18 Assets, stock ... 1525 0 0 Book debts, say 50 0 0 Cash in hand ... 3 0 0 1578 0

9 0

Deficiency ... 906 18 LIST OK CREDITORS (AS ABOVB.) £ s 0. U. Somers, Christchurch ... 2000 0 M Harris & Son 17 16 J. Myers ... 17 8 A. Beaver & Co., Duneiiu ... 11 3 P. Haymanfe Co 11 14 Ahlfeld Bros ... 15 4 E. J. Paul, Ashburton 65 0 Spensley & Co., Christchurch ... 287 12 Bank New Zealand, rent ... 17 6 Sundry under _310 41 13

9 d 0 1 9 1 1 2 0 3 8 8

Total 2484 18

9



LOOK OUT. GT IVT7TT T » O • li ______ JLJlA X___l —IS SELLING— Table Damask ails per yard Twill Sheeting, 2 yards wide, white or grey, 9-|d Turkish Towels. 6c_ each Cretonne 3|d Flannelettes, 2s lid per dozen p T T^EILL JS gELLING- Men's Heavy Tweed Suits at 21s 6d, wonderful value Boys Suits, 4s lid Men's Tweed Trousers, 5s lid BOOTS. BOOTS. Men's Natl SHOOTERS 7a lid. Women\_ SHOES 4s lid Men's BLTJOHERS 4a lid. Women's Lace SHOES 4s lid Th© Cheapest Boots in Ashburton are to be got at G. J. NEILL'S, FRIEDLANDER'S OORNER, EAST STREET. SE RANGES ________B_s-^ *"_-■ = . a"-— * "*» "^ I \___J__________m^ ::r W i {Hi IN IMMENSE VARIETY, ___________£E_h__________________________^»>> — *-<._i mm ■■KJnH^Bgßirv^^^-^j^i tarn T ARGE STOCKS 0 OUNS, CARTRIDGES. AND AMMUNITION , OF ALL KINDS. FENDERS *AND FIREIKONS, LAMPS, BEDSTEADS, Etc. JOHN ORR & CO. SHEARMAN BROS., "TTTE Have just landed the following Seasonable Goods:— If\ Cases Prima Ling Fish 1 0 ' XXJ Oases Prime Ling Fish X \J 5 Cases "Royal" Fresh Herring ft Cases *« Royal ' Fresh Herrings *J sC_.as Herring, in Tomato Sauce X Cases Herrings in l'om.to Sauco *J 5 Cases "Silvocea'' smoked H.ddocks Cases "Silvocea" mokcd tf-cd cks tJ 5 Cases "Royal" Kippered H^ninga X Cases "Ryal" Kippered H ..rings 9J 5 Cases Fresh f-almon (Cocktail Brai d) .(T i Cntses Frosh Salmon (Cocktail Biand) 9.J BCwa Fresh New Zealand Mullet. O Cases Fresh New Z aland Mu'l-tt ±9 «_> Cases Maconochies Spiced Herrings Q O Oases Maconochiea Spiced Herrings t> TEA. TEX TEA. ORANGE PEKOE, CEYLON TEA, in £lb aid lib Packelß, Sib aad 101b Tine. Sole Aoenti for Tiger Blended Tea.. Goods delivered daily. Customers waited upon for Orders Cheapest Howe in A.hlarton for Groceries, Ironmongery. Crockery and *"*■"■ SHEARMAN BEOS., I MARKET HOUSE. Telephone 53 |



Business Notices I GRAND SHOW OF NEW GOODS ! AT THE NEW ZEALAND I Clothing Factory. f\VR MR HENDRY has returned from Dunedin with the CHOICEST LOT OF NEW GOODS ever seen in Ashburton. NEW HATS': NEW SHIRTS NEW TIES ! HALLENSTEIN BROS. _ , _ O «. g <j c_, lJ O "____' *H go Ho -^o Q ___: /*"k • w _;2 -fl O o " ® op gF g S O \ _r L-J § Ps *s __r________----___si—_ _-Tr___r:~ . -^' Church Services. ST. STEPHEN'S CHURC9 Aahburton. FRIDAY -Choir Practice—B p.m. SUNDAY SERVICES. B.3o—Early celebration of Holy Com munion—Rev. J, Blackburne. 11 a.m.—Morning Praye..—Rev. J. Black burne. 3 p.m.—Dromore—Mr W. Bowman-Foj.. 6.30 p.m.—livening Prayer—Mr H. Alirtg ton. WANTED Known—What the people say. That Andrew Obr haa the largest and besb assorted stock of Boots in Canterbury. ______?? HAT, everybody says must be true You get wonderful value for litte « money at Mellor's. 1 i i - — —••" ■■ .■'—■r- ' "s.



MEN'S AND BOYS' HATS. HATS. HATS. k/-\ DOZEN FELT HATS ALMOST GIVEN AWAY. A- GRAND SUCCESS. MITCHELL & BRODRIBB'S TJIABMC AND PRINT HALE being such a Grand Success, we have decided to ho' FOE TWO WEEKS, A GREAT HAT SALE. DOZEN MEN'S. Kf\ DOZEN BOYS'. Men's Soft Felt Hats 2s 6d, worth 5s Boys' Soft Felt Hats Is 6d, worth 33 9d 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 Felt Hais 5s 6d, worth 8s 9d Men's Soft Felt Hats 6s 6d, worth 10* Gel Men's Soft Felt Hats 8s 6cl, 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 ; 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 F'annelettes for Dressing Gowns and Home Blouses 4s lid dozen, half price T.iromed and untrimmed Hats, Aprons, Blouses, Veilings, Ribbons, etc., at half cost BOOTS AND SHOES—tho Best value in the trade —:o: — DON'T FORGET THE GREAT HAT SALE AT MITCHELL & BRODRIBB'S, THE CENTRAL CASH DRAPERY MART, ! mm to j, orr % co., east street, ashburton, -__. j



Holloway's Pills.—The ills of life are increased tenfold by the mode of If_ 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 digestions become impaired and nervous systems debilitated by the protr >cted 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, however, to treatment if nob allowed to proceed unchecked. Holloway's Pills are the most effectual remedy ever discovered tor the liver and stomach complaints, as they act surely, but gently, regulating the. secre tions without weakening the nerves or j interfereiug with the daily wotk, j



S«Mt it to -il_ Mo.linr In Ctariiiaiiy Ivfr* Jacob Esbensen, who is iv the employ of tfe Chicago Lumber Co., at Dcs Moines, lowa, says: ' I have just sent some medicine back to my mother in the Old Country, that I know from personal use to be the best medicine in the world for rheumatism, having used it in my family for several years. It is called Chamberlain's Pain Balm, It always does tho work.' For sale by As-Iburton Drug Company.



We have sometimes heard it remarked that Messrs Craighead and Berryman charge rather high prices for their suits. 1< is evident from the number of hands in their employ that they do by far the largest tailoring business in Ashburton, and 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 firsb-cVs workmanship 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 20s per suit referred to in their new advertisement is sure to draw a fresh rush of customers.-^-Apvi. 2 171



Kbating's Powder aestroys bugs, fleas, I ra. he, beetles, and all other insects, whilst quia h rmless to domestic animals. In exterminating beetles the success of this powder is ex inordinary. It is perfectly clean in application.. See tbe article yra purchase is Keati o's, as imi'attooa are noxious and ineffectual, Sold in tins, 6j, la and 2 6J eaoh, by al chemists



To the Deaf and those troubled with Noises in the Head or other Aural Troubles. Dr Nicholson, of London, the world famed aural specialist aud Inventor of artificial ear drums, has just issued the 100 th edition of his illustrated and descriptive book on Deaf ness and Aural Troubles. This book may be had from Mr Colin Campbell, 160, Adelaide Road, Wellington, N.Z. Mr Campbell was cured of his deafness by Dr Nicholson's system, and b.kes pleasure ia spreading the news of bhe great specialist in New Zealand. A little book on the cure of Rheumatism, Corpulence, Lumbago, Indigestion by the same author, may be had from Mr Campbell, aleo free. * 375