Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1897.

Thbres are some people who believe that the mage letters " 0.P.5.0 ," if

.'.'OX PUBLIC SERVICE ONLY-"

written on the top of the envelope of a letter addressed to Member|i of the

House of Bepresentativee, will frank the letter through the post. They make a great mistake in this. JNo letter addressed to any member goes free by post. It is just as well that the public should understand this, and bear the fact in mind when writing to a member of Parliament, It is a well known fact that members of "Jfarlia-! ment have a tremendous amount of correspondence to deal with, and a very bulk-y letter book is required to pre serve copies ojt the letters they write during a single session. Those letters are, 99 per cent of them, in reply fco communications received from con sfcitu§»ts, or from the public, and most

of those communications are requests for the exercise of influence in favor of ioiue personal purpose or other, or in I furtherance of some local object i i'o .write answers to all of these is in itself a serious task, Is it fair then to tax the member's purse as well, and ask him to pay deficient postage, in addition to the fine the post office levies fur postage that has not been prepaio? The tax thus paid annually by m*ny members makes up a very considerable sum, and it is all the mare annoying to them that it arises either from the crass ignorance of their conesponde its or gross earlessness on their part. There are many correspond, nts who write who may be excused for filling into the common eiror of fancying all members' letters go free j but there is i no excuse fjr clerks of public bodies sending letters insufficiently stamped. We have before us the envelopes of two letters sent to members by local bodies. Ona is from the Ashburton Borough Oouaci!, and covered an invitation to attend the Mayoral installation. For the honor of receiv ing that invitation the member had to pay twopence, to sat'sfy the rules of the postal department broken by an officer who ought to have known better. The Tinwald Town Board was also good enough to communicate with a member of the House. It was a portly letter, but the cleric's phrenological bump of " weight" is not so large as he himself believes it to be. Trusting to it, however, he put only two penny stamps on the envelope. The member received the letter with the sum he had to pay by way of fine and deficiency nicely worked out above the address - 2/2 ~ 4d. la the case of petitions, and other bulky enclosures, the mistake of fancying that " 0.P.5.0. " franks to members s a serious one indeed, and the fine runs up to shillings very often. " A pin a day is a groat a year " is a well-known proverb, but it would be interesting to know what sum per annum members have to pay to make good the postal errors of the "multitude of counsellors" who daily address them.

Nikki, where 500 French soldiers are reported to be stationed, is the capital

THE BORGU COUNTRY.

of Borgu, which country lies between the twelfth and ninth parallels of

latitude and the first and fourth meridians of east longitude, and com prises an area of about 40,000 square miles. It forma the hinterland to Lagos, Dahomey, and part of Togoland. Major Lugard reached Nikki, the capital, on November 5, 1894. His expedition consisted of Messrs Mot tram and Reynolds, a couple of inter preters, forty Haussa soldiers belonging to the Niger Company's constabulary, some 300 porters, and thirty four donkeys and five ponies. The king, who was blind and very infirm, deputed some three or four leading men, in o'uding the leman or Mahomedan missionary, to negotiate the treaty. Major Lugard thus describes the negotiations:—"Each clause was dis cussed in all its bearings, and questions of a, shtowd and practical nature were asked. Then, before leaving I sent the handsome present, of which I was tho bearer. The King was delighted, and gave me letters ordering everyone to place the whole of their resources at our disposal, to help us forward by all ! means in their power, wherever we might wish to go, for we were now friends, allied by a serious and im [ portant compact, and all Borgu was henceforth open to the British." The importance of Borgu lies in its pQsitipn midway between the trade centres of Salaga and Yendi in tho west, and of Kano and Nupe in the east. Ihe. markets of Mo<?hi and I Gurma are to the north. Il is an un dulating country, with few and small hills, and no large rivers.

Fivk divorces were granted in Mel bourne by Mr Justice Hodges on one

PY©R^.

day recently, and it was noteworthy that jin np,fc a single in-

9t»Rpe had provision been made before marriage fpr the establishment of a home. In the first pase th.c marriaga had no sooner taken place than the husband waa arrested for embezzlement, I $nd sent to gaol for six months. The | nai.t eoaple hs4 been married nearly ; six years, ami had only lived ag man J and wife ia a home of their own for I two days. The wife said she preferred i to live with her stepmother, though she is now living at Brunswick with another man, who gave evidence as to their relationship In the third case ; fchje husband and wife lived apart for the first six months : and in another the evidence was that the pace's had never lived together in the same house during the seven yeers giuce their marriage. One of the petitioning wives jas asked if she could s*y why her husbWd hs.4 deserted her. "Only that he was tired'of i»b,V was the rj»ply. "He said five years was quite long enough to live with any woman." Another was a dressmaker, who had imarried a worthless fellow, only to be told that he fcad no money, and that she must lend jhiba so^io t$ Ijpok for work. He never attempted to support her, and now wrote from up country, i-6ioiping at the step she was taking, and reckoning that h$ had *' had the best of the 'deal," telling her &p the saw© time that he was eDj >ying him sglf ** immense" -

Local and General.

The new town ofEweburn, on the Otago i Central Hue, is to be called Ranfurly. I The distribution of prizes in connection J with the Convent schools will take place oa' Thursday afternoon. At the Christchurch Theatre Royal on Sunday evening over £4 in threo-penny pieoes were taken at the doors. Boston olaips to have the longest paved street in the worlds-Washington street, which is 17£ miles in length. It has been determined to change the name of the Temple of Truth to that of the Christ church Music Hall, Great Britain has 180,000 miles of roads, which cost £90,000,000, and 6000 miles of streets, which cost £60,000.000.

A gentleman who has made a tour of a large part of t|je North Otago district informs the Oamaru Mail that tlje crops Kre not in nearly ao bad a condition as most, people imagine. They are very irregular, for while Borne are looking remarkably well o hers are wretchedly bad. The failures are, he Bays, the exception, and are generally found upon light lands where the want of moisture is most kwwly felt by v»g?t*fcion,

It is stated that water is getting very scarce ab Cheviot. L;vst week seven tanks were taken front Lyttelton by the steamer visiting Port Robinson.

A cannon made of solid gold, mounted upon » carriage of rosewood, and inlaid with costly g< me, is the unique bauble of warfare that r.as come into the possession of the Imperial Army of Berlin. It is valued at £5000. Queea Henrietfco of Belgium, by birth an • \uy£rian at2"duchess, continues, in spite of her snow-white hair and rank as a grand mother, to ocoups her time with circus ( riding.

Mr A, H. Shury and party visited the mouth of the Rangitata a couple of days ago, and succeeded in landing fif yo-^e fish. A number of these were very large and the ■v erage weight was 4lb.

A philanthropic society in St. Petersburg which has started the picking up of cigar ends in ihe streets makes, on an average, something like £300 a month trom this source alone.

According to Nilsson, the zoologist, the weight of the Greenland Whale is 100 tons, or 224,0001b; hi equal to that of 83 elephants, or 440 bears.

The long standing and much vexed ques tion of the Moore street railway crossing, Ashburton, was satisfactorily settled yester day morning, when the Mayor (Mr J. Scaly) formally declared the ctossing open for truffle.

Several passengers from Ashburton, who were travelling by the express on Monday evening, were requested by the guard to cease playing cards, Mot complying with the guard's request their names were taken and the matter was reported to the authori ties. A test case will probably be made of it.

The Greymouth Star referring to the Masters and Apprentices Bill says : — Whether the measure will go through and become law is exceedingly doubtful. Should, unfortunately, it beaome law it will do a great deal to hamper and retard industries and make the question " what are we to do with our boys, far more difficult to answer than at present.

A good story is told of a certain short* sighted master at Eton. His hat blew off one day, and as he started in pursuit a black hen dashed out of the gateway. The school master saw the hen, and thought she was his hak, and all Eton was electrified by the spectacle of a hatless and breathless reverend gentleman bunting that hen from one end of High Street to the other.

la pursuance of its policy of making the work of fish culture a national one, the Wellington Acclimatisation Society haß despatched its curator, Mr Ayson, to the West Coast to establish a fish hatchery either on the Hokitika river or the Kanieri lake. The hatchery will be looked after by the Westland Society, and will be used for <he stocking of the rivers on the Coast, which offer splendid waters for anglers. Mr Ayson took away with him some twenty cans of young trout with which to start the hatchery, and illustrate his methods of rearing fish to those who are to have charge of bhe future operations.

The second wool sale of this season's series will take place at the Ohristcbursh Chamber of Commerce, on Thursday, com mencing at 8.30 a.m. The catalogues comprise the following number of bales : — F. C. Talbert 1049, J. T, Ford and Co. 436, Pyne and Co. 3601, New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co. 2119, New Zealand Farmers Co-operative Association 2562, deo. King and Co. 95, Friedlander Bros. 693, IT. Mafcson and Co. 3090, Dalgety and Co. 1690, to al 15,320. The .number of bales catalogued at the corresponding sale last year was 14,029, of which 9728 were sold.

Mr Wilson, chief inspector of mines, who h*« just visited the Mount Peel opal fields, exiibi ed in Ashburton on Tuesday some good specimens of slate he had brought from the Oumaru district. The Rev Father McKaj and hia brother had been exploiting Mount) Dancer, and invited Mr Wilson to accompany them to a spot in which they had found valuable slate deposits. Mount Dancer is situated a few miles back from Maheao, and

the slate deposits, are about half a mile from the Monaki station wool sheds. The samples ' Mr Wilson is taking to Wellington with him are close and fine in the grain, and should be of considerable commercial vitluajoc roofing and other purposes. It is rather hard to understand how the tiny drops of raits can flatten down the enormous swells of an angry ocean, but the

observations of a well-known Kngli h scientist explain it clearly. Each drop, he says, sends below the surface a certain quantity of water in the form of rings, which, with gradually decreasing velocity and increasing eize, descend as much as 18iu below the surface. Therefore, when rain is falling on the sea, there is as much motion immediately beneath the surface as above, only the drops are larger and thsir motion slower. Thus, unseen by the human eye, the water at the surface is being made to continually change places with that beneath, add in this way the wave motion ia destroyed.

An entertainment was given last evening in the Qrauge Hall which was partly in aid of the prize iund of tho Ashburton Borough School. Messrs Knotfc, who have' given similar exhibitions to the school children in the pist, showed a large number of trans parencies | moat of these were representations of the Jubilee proceedings in London, aqd many of them were really excellent. Others showed scenes in Scotland and New Zealand which were much appreciated by tho Urge number qt cbijcjrpn present. The trans parencies showing the pupils in the various classes in the Borough School, and the picture^ of themselves and their school fellows looking quiet, orderly, and well behaved, evidently appealed to the sense of humor whioh is so marked a feature in the colonial youth, and these transparencies elected uproarious demonstrations. It is, however, possible that the" adults amongst the audience, looking on ths pictures on the screen, and then on that in the hall, might have got some idea of the sp'endid work done by our sohool teachers tn bsing able to e-olve order out of chaos, and bring under admirable discipline if only in sohool hours, the demonstrative youngster of to-day.

The Belgians are preparing to feeeg the »;venth centenary of the discovery ofqo&l on their territory, "The discoverer, 1" says the London Daily Ncivs, " was a blacksmith of Leige, named Hullioz—henoe the Frenoh word • houille." or coal, it appears that historians are satfaffed that Huliioz'wai no mere lefi;epj3ary person. His forge greatly prospered owfrrg fcb the e.qal; he burned'when all his rivals were burning wood. Be be came the great Walloon iron master of his day. The first coal fire was kindled by him in the smithy in 1197. In 1238 "his charcoal waa burned by all the blacksmiths of Liege &nd Brabant. The French were not alive to the 1 use* of coal before the 14th century, but the Dakes of Burgundy fw®Fe. The collieries of Anzin' were hot, however, dis covered before 1734. The discoverer is bjuried in the Ohurch of Lidinsart, ia the J?AS-de-Calais. His fconibstone testifies that i he sunk tha first pit at Angin."

In an article lately published in the VfMsgr Magazine a writer, referring to ijadaiiie Qsterberg's (xjrls' Physical Training College, near D*rfcford, says—»' Thgre gap be seen she girls—perfect physiei! "pepimenj , f " healthy, happy womanhood—going through the' iS£B^S With . gr»cp, ftn . accuracy, and an agility "^h M JBffloe, to lend to that much abused phrase, * the p">?try of motion,' a, new and hitherto undreamt of significance." He then asks, Where will it all end? and says, "It may be that, in the aear future, the science of gymnastics is ! destined to be as closely interwoven with the national life of our English women as it was with that of the Greek twenty centuries ago; in'which case it ia safe to predict that the artist alad the aoulptpp of tjjenext generation will no longer be compelled io leek his ideal of female beauty amid the cold, doad marbles of a bygone civilisation."

Just a minute ! This may mean pounds in your pocket. Knowledge is power jto know what to do a 6 the right time strengthens your reputation, people respect and apeak about you; for instanoe, a sensible person that haßa bad cough or cold immediately gbes to the grocer or chemist and.'buys a bot.% off Woods' @reat Pepper mint Cure, for-the simple rjwsoj&rffa^he knows it will put him and his family »U right. '■ ■ " '■

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Press A: aoeiation—Dy El ctrie Telegraph Wkllistgtok, December 14 The Council met at 2.50 p.m. MASTER AND APPRENTICE BELL- The Master aud Apprentice Bill was read & second time. BILLS PASSED. The Consolidated Stock Act Amendment Bill, the Members of the House of Repre sentatives Disqualification Bill, and the Fisheries Encouragement Act Amendment Bill, passed their final stages. OLD AGE PENSIONS BILL. Mr Kelly gave notice of moving that the Council hud a constitutional right to amend alt the clauses of the Old Age Pensions Bill except clause 54 Mr Montgomery continued the adjourned debate on thy Old Age Pensions Bill, ob jecting to compulsory contributions as im possible. The money for pensions should be appropriated annually. He would vote against the Bill. Mr Kerr strongly appealed to the Oounoil to pass the Bill. Mr Reeves supported the Bill. Mr Pinkerton supported the Bill. He said that the large majority of the population were shut out from the benefits of friendly societies, and must either get pensions or charitable aid. At 5 pm. the Council adjourned till 7.30 pm. The Council resumed at 7.30 p.m. Messrs L. Walker. McGregor, Scotland and Titiaroa opposed the Bill, and Messrs T. Kelly and Jenkineoa supported it. On a division the motion for the second reading was lost by 20 to 15. LAND JOB SETTLEMENTS. , The Land for Settlements Aofc Amend ment Bili was read a second time pro forma. The Council adjouraed at 10.35 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House met at 2.30 p.m. Wellington, December 14 MAJOR KEMP'S PETITION. Mr RolU'ston presented a petition on be half of Major Kemp, who asked to be heard by counsel at the bar of the House in connection with the Horowhenua Bill. Mr Rolieston gave notice to m.;ve on the second reading of the Bill that the prayer of the petitioner be given ef£<. ct to. CHEVIOT BSTATE BILL. The Cheviot Estate Disposition Act Amendment Bill, which provided for the handing over to the Counry Council of the wharf at Port Robinson, and of appro- : priations for roads on their bei >g taken over by the local authority, was introduced and read a first time. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. Mr Herries was granted leave of absence for one week on account of illness. SIB WAI/TISR BULLKR'S PETITION. The Native Affairs Committee reported that they had no recommendation to make on the petition of Sir Walter Buller to be heard at. the bar of the house in connection with the Horowhenua Bill. Mr Polf'ston gave notice to move that the prayer of Sir Walter BuUer's petition be granted, BANK OF SEW ZEALAND BILL.

The Premier, in moving the second reading of the Bank of New Zealand and Banking Act Amendment Bill, said that had there not been a necessity for the Bill he would certainly nob .have introduced it, but he could not overlook the fact that a Committee in 1896 had recommended certain important alterations respecting the Bank of New Zea land, which, were he to overlook, he should lay himself open to the gravest censure. He was convinced that there ought to bo an end to banking legislation, because the constant irritation engendered by such legislation must necessarily be detrimental to financial institutions aud shako to some extent pnblic confidence in them. The Bill was chiefly a, machinery measure, designed to put things ia connection with the Bank of New Zealand in order. There was a necessity for the appointment of local directors to represent different parts of the colony in order that the wants of the different dis trict 3 should be intelligently dealt with If the number of directors proposed (nine) was considered too large it could be altered in committee. Repecting the proposal to appoint an additional auditor, he said that 1 as the law now stood in connection with the audit, the colony was not sufficiently safeguarded. There ought to bo at all thnee in Wellington an auditor at the elbow of the general manager and the s tending cotn ., mil tee. There ought also to be, » colonial 1 inspector paid by the colony Jo visit the branches and satsify himself that ! the securities held against advances are ample. Dealing with the propottal to abolish the office of president, he said that in 1896 it had been urged on the Government that there was a necessity for a change in respect to the president. He could only say so far as | the conduct of the bank's business was con- I earned, that as head of the Government he had no complaint to make against the president. Those who urged that the office should bo abolished had done so, however, on grounds apart from the president's position in the bank. Respecting the prospects of the Bank of New Zealand, he said that it had been estimated that the whole of the Government business would be given to the bank, but il was found that, under the existing legislation, this could not be done, and even coald it have been done it was not considered a wise proceeding. Consequently there was a f ailing off in the estimated receipts from this Bource, As regards the general business of the bank aud \<% profits, they were coming fairly up to expectations, and the purchase of the Colonial Bank's business had been the salvation of the Bank of New Zealand. That had been questioned, but he asserted that the Government's action had been aoluated by feelings of patriotism, and the Bill now under discussion would improve the colony's connection with that institution.

Mr Roueston bald that it would be extremely miechievou3 if any acrimonious discussion took, place or the past raked up in any undesirable way in respect to banking legislation ia the past. He considered that the Premier's speech had been apologetic in tone and was not that of one who believed in the necessity for the Bill. The report and proceedings of the Banking Committee had been disappointing Wtfchs public at large, and the public would not hive been disappointed if the Government had taken no action to giye effect to its recommendations. The tendency of the Bill was to strengthen the politic*! tie in connection with the bank, which he deprecated. He contended that there was no reason for any want of confi dense in th.c present management of the bink, and therefore the Bill was unnecessary, and he considered that Ihe sooner the colony got xid of the bank the better it would be foi the colony. He disapproved of the proposal to increase the number of directors and the abolition of the office of president. "there- wae not sufficient reason for the Bill, which he'hoped wbujd not be passed.' 4 Mr R. McKenzie argued that' the presenj; Bill should never have been brought before Parliament, and he moved that it be read a second time sis ninths henge. Mr George Hutchison cogsideyed the Bill a most necessary one, and the state of affairs respecting the president was sufficient to warrant its introduction. j Mf Millar snid the whole object of the Bill was to abolish the presidentship, but be contended that sufficient reason had not been given for the preß}d§nt''« dismissal. On these ground he intended opposing the Bill. Mr S-'Uard averted that if the Govern ment w'iahed to injure the Bank, the Bill ! should be passed, as it would destroy all confidence in that institution, ! Mr L»rnaeh questioned whether any good would be gained from the proposed ohnngea in the bank's management. The travelling expenses of the directors would be a serious | item, and he calculated that the additional expense o.f management under the Bill's ! proposals would be=£49oo yearly. Mr Fraser contended rfiatif the Bill were ' passed, the bank would become a State bank, which was very undesirable. He protested against the passage of the Bill, and stated that the general opinion amongst the bankers in Wellington and other placet ' was that it would be extremely mischievous - f carried, Mr Brown argued that the Bill if passed < would make the Ministry of tho day the real! tjire£to?tt:cf the kanj:. Ntr Hogg contended that ihe B,ill did nVt j give the Ministry power to interfere with J the directors of tb,t bank, He ooandiretl

it desirable that the bauk «h uld become a Sate bank, tledeiied the stuenient that all the bank managers who hart been pproached in connection with the Bill had expressed opinion* against it. He had had i conversation with * bank manager that day, who expressad the opinion th t theßiil would benefit the b»nk and place it in a secure position. Mr Crowther heped that it was not inevit able thvt the bank should become a State institution. Mr Moore intended supporting the second reading of the Bill, but considered it required considerable amendment.

Mr O'Regau considered the Bill a very nscessary one. Mr Montgomery dealt with the necessity for the removal of the preei ent, an I said that he was not trusted by those who did business with the b*nk. Iha removal ot tue president would do & great deal to disconnect politics from the management of the bank. He considered that it would be a dangerous precedent to declare the contract with the president void. . The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. The House resumed at 7 50 p.m.

Mr Buchauao considered that the appoint ment of nine directors would result in mischief to the institution, and he intended in committee to do his best to reduce the number. Mr B. Thompson said that the Houte wm perfectly sick of backing Bills, but he would support the second reading, as he held it wm their duty to get rid of the president. Mr Wilson contended that no reason had been given for the removal of the president, and objected to the increase of director* and of the local board. Mr Allan considered that the Bill placed increased powers of patronage in the hands of the Government of the day. The Premier in reply said that the Bill had been touched very gingerly by members. Under present management there was a necessity to strengthen the bank in order to safeguard the colony. He denied that the Government had been responsible for the colony coming to the rescue of the bank, bat despite all the accusations made against the Government in the matter, if similar circum stances arose he would do over again what had been done. The second reading was agreed to by 42 to ao.

SECOND READINGS. The second j eadings of the Joseph Houston Land Grant Bill, the Land and Income Assessment Act Amendment Bill, and the Harbours Act Amendment Bill were agreed to. THE PUBLIC WOBKS STATEMENT. The Hon. W. Hall-Jones laid the Public Works Statement on the table. IK qOMMITTEE, The Young Persons' Protection Bill was considered in committee. , In clause 4, Mr B. McKeozie moved that ! the chairman leave the chair. Negatived by 26 to 15. Mr R. McKeuzie protested against the Premier asking the House to consider such a measure. He moved that progress be re ported.—Negatived by 24 to 19. The clause was agreed to. The remaining clauses were agreed to. On the motion of the Premier a new elans* was added, providing that the Act shall only come into operation when decided on by local authorities. BILLS ADVANCED, The Joseph Houston Land Grant Bill, the Land and Income Tax Assessment Acts Amendment Bill, the Young Persons Protec tion Bill, and the Harbours Act Amendment Bill, pasßed their final stages, and the House aJjourned at 2.5.

SPRINGBURN.

Farewell to Mr A Draytou. From Our Owu Correspondent. On Friday evening the Springborn school room was taxed to ite utmost, on the occa*ion of a complimentary social being given in honor of Mr Drayton, of the Railway Department, who has been a much respected resident of -pringburn for upwards ef ten yean, and was about) to leave the district. Friends of hia were present from all parts of the district from AHoid Forest) to An&ma, to wish him good-bye, now that he ia to be transferred to Timaru. Daring his sojourn here he has shown himself to bo a, moat agreeable companion as well as » friend; and the gentlemanly and Christian life he led might well be copied by others. He has. made himself a special-belp in furthering the interests of the district, and in lending a helping hand where help was needed. He took a live;y interest in the temperance movement, as well as an active part in all ecclesiastic*!, social and charitable matters. No concert programme was com plete unless it contained some item contri buted by him. He possessed a well-trained and musical voice, and at all times and places was willing to do his share—very often he was called upon to dq the Upn's share of the entertainment—rand now that he has gone from our midst we begin to miss him, and very much he will be missed. No other could we have so much preferred to. have kept with ua; bub ours is a selfish view, and we at the tame time are pleased to hear of his advancement in life. On Monday rooming quite a number of hit friends met at the railway station to say good-bye, and to give him a' good send off. During the even* ing the Rev. 6. J.. Westbrooke, on behalf of Mr Dray ton's friends, presented him with a beautiful marble clock, obtained from the establishment of Mr Salek, of Ashburton, and in a very neat speech referred to the many good points of Mr Drayton's character, as well as to the help he has at all times given. At the time of the presentation the audience tn masse rose to their feet, singing "He's a jolly good fellow," followed by ringing cheers. Mr Morrison also, in a very appropriate speech, referred to the help, etc., the residents of Springburn have at all times received from his hands. Mr Dray ton, although very much affected, tn a vary modest speech suitably replied for the useful present and the good feeling which prompted the giving of it. During the social, songs were sung by the o!d favorites—- Messrs Giles, Jugo, and Dray ton, the latter being in splendid voice, and his rendering of " Love's Serenade " received repeated rounds of applause, and a well-earned encore. Reci tations were given by Mrs Giles and Miss Anderson, both of whom showed themeelres to be elocutionists of a very high, order'; « residing' by Miss Cook; and musical selec tions by Mrs Nell and JMiseea Hitchell (2); each of whom are too well known* to need comment. After the concert was over; refreshments provided in abundance'by the lady friends of the district were handed round. The room was then cleared for 'dancing, some forty o- fifty oouples taking part i» it. The proceeds of the dattos were handed (iver to the School Committee,' to hi added to the uhiHreu'u prize fund. For the dance, ° excellent; music was provided by Misses Hitchell (piano), and Messrs Fagan; McFarhhe, beckley, Stephens, and Richards (violin.) • ' i1 : . i,

Tfiß ASHBUBI'ON GUARDUtt i WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15> 189?.



Business Notices, Christmas & New Year. SPECIAL SHOW OF : : DRAPERY & CLOTHING : : T^EWEST AND MOST FASHIONABLE DRESSES, Blouse Materials, Ctepon*, Prints, Cambrics, Nainsooks, etc., etc, LATEST NOVELTIES IN ' SUNSHAPEB LACKS COLLARS GLOVi-8 CORSETS CUFFB KIBBONS BiSLTS UMBRELLAS Etc. Etc. Etc. . /i  ............. &F£*l£>JNl>lJD ASSORTMENT ; IN OILOLOTftS, CURTAINS, ART MUSLINS, & HOUSEHOLD FURNISHINGS SPECIAL VALUE la Men's »nd Boys' Clothing, Shirts, Pants, Collars, Ties, Hats, Caps, Brtew, eto. MEN'S AND BOYS 1 STRAW HATS. —GUIA.TSJD TALUB. A. P. WILLIAMSON, CASH DRAPER & CLOTHIER, TAKCRED STREET TO RESIDENTS BUILDING & FUBNISHING. HI «UIIH ] Q | 111 lull (MM* \~\T® BEG respectfully to announce that we have received, per S.S. " lonic " and '•aXtauta,' very heavy shipments lor our HOUSEHOLD FURNISHING Depart merit, viz:— . SHEETINGS CURTAINS CARPET SQUARES PILLOW COTTONS QUILTS HEARTH RUGS TOWELS TOILETS OILCLOTHS T&BLINGS MUSLINS LINOLEUMS IN the FANCY DEPARTMENT we are showing a fine assortment of new ABRICS GLOVES, and HOSIERY, direct from the Leicester Mills; atoo some very koka good. i« Jeb Trimming*, including the new Zouave* Boleroo, and Sk.rt Ornament, »ad an endless variety of Biack and Colored Gimps. " M NEW SHIPMENTS OJ^ Dresses, Stmivs, Mantles. 2 CftSeS o* Samples HO-lEUY, at LANDED OOST. MITCHELL & TURNER. i_ TO BLACKSMITHS AND WHEELWRIGHTS. TrAVING Purchased the whole of MB ZANDER'S well selected stock of BAR AND SHEET IRON, We are prepared to Supply the Trade on the Most Liberal Term* Possible. We aie also Doubling the present stock, so that the requirements.of oar clients will be met in the most complete manner. All orders lor the present 1.41 at Mb Zander's Stous or Direct to Ourselvei will have immediate attention, W. H. COLLINS & CO., THIS SPACE RESERVED FOR mill LEADING JEWEL LE E V ESTABLiS HU9M V8- OHBISTMAH ADVEBTISEMENT, ■ Parfcioalara of New and Choice Goods specially imported for the ASHBURTON CHRISTMAS TRADE. 8. SALEK, EAST STREET.



John Orr & Co. John Orr & Co. mHE SUCCESS ATTENDING OUR Cheap Cash Sale Induces us to adopt) for the future this system of doing business. And as we purchase for Cash from the best makers in England and Amerioa, the General Public i will therefore have the advantage of Selecting GOODS OF STERLING QUALITY at prices hitherto unheard of, CONSISTING Of IRONMONGERY, GROCERIES, CROCKERY, GLASSWARE, etc., BEST SNOWDROP SUGAR ... 2£d 1b TEA, BLENDED ... 101b Boxes Is 1b TEA, IN HALF CHESTS, lOd Ib, (strong liquor) Colonial Candles ... 4d 1b per box English Parafine Candles... 6£d 1b per box Kerosene, 150 test ... 6d 6d per tin )t „ 128 9d per case Cornflour 3d per lb Essence of Lemon 4d Worcester Sauce, Pints ... 9d bottle Essence of Coffee IOJd Sago I*fi >erlb 1 u Tobacco, Nubian squares,„ 4s od per lb Bran ,3a 6d per bag Sharps ... 5s per bag Oatmeal, 251b Baga ... 2« 9d bag Rollitt's Flour, 2001bs , 24s lOOlbs ... 12* 6d „ SOlbs .. 6s4|d Currants 4£d&sd Eleme Raisins ... ... 7d Valencia Raisins ... ... 7d Sultana Raisins ... ... 7d Sicily Almonds ... ... Is 2d Figs : 8d Muscatels . .- oa Jordan Almonds , .. 2s 3d Mixed Peel 8d 2£lb Tinß Preserved Fruit IQd Leniv" 1 Squash, English ... Is 31 Lemon Juice", English ... Is 3d Sardines • f|d per tin Fresh Herrings per U. a Herrings & Tomato Sauce 10a per un Pressed Hops, per lb  la 4d Fruit Salts .. ... 2s per bottle Ground Ginger la 4d per lb Anchovy Paste 8J per tin Citrate of Magnesia ... Is per bottle Sheeps Tongues, bests „, 101 per tin CROCKERY & GLASSWARE Dinner Sets Toilet Sets Tea and Breakfast Sets Vases and Ornaments Tumblers and Wine Glasses Decanters and Water Bottles Glass Dishes Jelly and Butter Dishes GRAND VARIETY AND LOW PKICES IN ABOVE LINES. j . _ FOR THE FRUIT SEASON. Maton's Screw-top Porcelain Lined Jars. Pints 4s 91, 5s 9d, j. Gallon 7s doz. Kenrick's Best Enamelled Maslin Kettles. $ Quart 6s, 10 quart 7s 6d, 12 quart 8s 6d. Brass Maaii/j Kettles, Drop Handles. i 2 Galloa 7s, 2% gallon lls 63, 3gallon 13.6<1, &ml Enamel Preserving Pans, Bs 6d, 3s, 3s 6i, 4s. FOR THE HAUVEST FIELD. WE HAVE A SPLENDID STOOK o» Ratper Sectioi s Reaper Chains Hay Forfcs Hay Rakes Oils, in 1, 2 & 4 gallons BINDER TWINE. pONAfiH^'S, BEST, Flax, Mixed, & Manilla* John Orr & Co.



Special Discount FOR OHRISTMA.S SEASONS Of IS in the Pound. From this day till the tnl of December. fTTEI are now offering some vciy SPECIAL LINES IN DRESS GOODS. Exceptionally low prices quoted for completed costumes. HJEJE WIISTDOWeS. Tweed Costameecomplete from ... 20s A^Grand Line of Boys Colonial Twetd Koioker Suits, sizoe 1 tofl3, these wo start from-Is lid per Suit. WORTH DOUBLE. SPECIAL VALUeTn MEN'S TWEED SUI T8; A really good suit for ... S9s 6d We are offering some wonderfully Cheap lines in all Department*. Ashhurton Drapery Company. THE KEW ZEALAND GLOWING FACTORY JOR lyriCE cool summer clothing. Light fancy Alpaca Coats ... ... 11b 6d Black Alpaca Coats ... ... ... 12s 6d China Srlk Coats ... 12s 6d Sateen Coats 6a 6d Coats - 6s Od Light fancy washing Vesta from 7s 6d Lighb fanoy washing Trousers ... 12s 6d Light fanoy Tennis Suits 12a 6d Light fancy Tennis Shirts from 4s 6d A. Q. BARTON, MANAGER buy&iy grse Jm/fafi(Ms< mympmdflffWMesome * FkMtmmeyaW experience cap 0m la/veslsa/0/ffAi/sfrmm tU mq BY GROCERS f



Churcti Services. tTTtbThBN'B ~PHOROfI, Aahburton, WEDNESDAY—G.F.S. in the Sohool >, Meeting of the Newly Confirmed in the [ Church, 7.30 p.m. LCaUßSDAY—Teachers' Meeting, 7.30 j p.ro. . ! p RID AY—Short Service, 7.30 p.m. J ' prfotice, 8 p.m. ( SUNDAY" SERf ICES. ) (December 19.) ! 11 a.m.—Morning Prayer and Holy Com' munion. 2 30 p.m.—Distribution of Sunday bchool Prices, in Sb Stephen's Schoolroom. Parents and friends invited to attend. 3 p. m. —Drombre =-Mp J3j»ter. 6.3o—Evening Prayer. REV T. A. HAMILTON. ' l_ _'_^__. i ,■ "". .' " ■* ASHBURTON GUARDIAN. ANNIVERSARY DAY HOLIDAY. /"\WING to Thursday, December 16, b^in^ Anniversary Day, and a public holiday, fchere will be MO PPBLICATION OF THE GUARDIAN THAT Day,



Smke A>W Vtnuu



Synopsis of Nkw Ao^:mb«iskmbkp. A. P. Williamson— Ifew business adrer? tjaomeur. Sh.earman tfroa,—Nfiw btjsiness a.nnounqe< 0, Scaly—Notice re Domain set apart for Caledonian Society's Bports on Monday, 37th inst. A. Warren—Notice re basket-making. Mr Wooldridge—Ra pianoforte tuning. G, H. Aliagton—Tenders wanted for refreshment booth at Methven sports, Q. H. Moore—Re agiioultural farms for ials Heary S^ephenson — Special «ntry, and ladies 1 bicycle for sale on Saturday next. David Thomas—Exhibition of Planet Jr. Tools on Saturday next. Opal Mining Company—Share* for nftle.



Mr James Perdue, an old soldier residing bt &fOQi-oe, Mich., w*e severelyafflicted wjtE rheumatism *jbut received p^oi^ptr^elwtf {$QB\ pain by using Chamberlain,* Pain Balm,, flg aay,» ; "At times my back would ftctw to badly that I could hardly rite up. If £ had not gotten relief I would not be her* to wiite these few lines. Chamberlain's Pain Balm has done me a great deal of good and I feel very thankful for it. For sale by Ashburton DrugComptny. k s HLOiMK TEA