Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1897. Local and General.

Nearly 900,000 grown English people can neither read nor write. Chfsese is still advaucing in the London market—New Zealand is quoted as high as 59s psr cwt. There are still 20,000,000 square miles of the earth's surface that have not been ex plored. The industry of prune growing is to be started in the Wyndham district, New South Wales. Correspondence will be found on our first page ; and on our fourth page will be found an article referring to Mr George Jameson. The Maori election petition case will be heard at New Plymouth on March 31, before the Chief Justice and Mr Justice Conolly. We are glad to learn that Mr J. L. Brown, whose mishap we recorded on Tuesday last, is making satisfactory progress towards recovery. Messrs Hanmer and Graves have already notified large entries for the next two stock sales, as will be seen on reference to our advertising columns. At Water ton to-night—at 7.3o—the harvest thanksgiving service in St James' Church will be held, the Rev. T. A. Hamilton being the preacher. For the headmastership of the Ashburton School nineteen applications have been forwarded to the committee (ten of which have been marked) by the Board. According to a contemporary, the Maoris, who are good proguosticators of the seasons, state that the winter season will set in early this year, and that it will be a severe one. A wealthy gentlemen in Vienna stipulated in his will that an electric light must be constantly burning in his tomb and another inside his coffin for twelve months after his death. Mr W. H. Bryanr, a Melbourne barrister, during a recent fishing trip at the Great Lake, Tasmania, caught 36 Kngliah trout, weighing 351|1b. On one da^the haul weighed 132|1b. Over 1000 ships of all kinds and sizes pass up and down the English Channel every twenty-four hours, and there are scarcely ever less than 200 near Land's End, leaving or bearing up for the Channel. Russia has still many old and curious marriage customs. One is for the bride and bridegroom to race madly down the aisle as soon as the procession eaters the church because of the belief that whoever places a first foot on the cloth in front of the altar will be master in the household. Archdeacon Palmer, of the Melanesian Mission, is carrying through the press at Auckland an edition of 4000 copies of the Gospels in the language of Moto, Banks Islands. The cost, about £80, has been guaranteed by Archdeacon S. Williams, of Napier. According to Topinard, the average height of Laplanders is 60.7 inches ; of Bushmen, 62; of Chinese, 64 j of Frenchmen, 65. ; of Russians, 65.4 ; of Germans, 66.2; of Danes, 66,2; of Irishmen, 67; of Englishmen, Scotchmen, and Swedes, 67.4; of American Indians, 68.2 ; of Patagonians, 70.3, There has been no excitement to-day over the Borough election, but the supporters of the different candidates, as well as the candidates themselves have be< n energebi pally, if quietly, working, and bringing ratt payois> to the pull, wlrch will be declared at the usual time—about s- yen o'clock, Foreman Belliveau of a railway cons'ruc tion gang in northern Michigan was devoured by wolves there recently. He and a friend were out hunting when the wolves attacked arid overpowered them. His companion escaped by c imbing a tree and saw Belli > vcau torn to pieces and devoured at the foot of the tree in which he was perched. Arthur Field, a lad of fourteen, has re turned to Wellington after a bicycle tour, ■ via Auckland, of nearly 1500 miles. Except between Taupo and Napier, he was alone the whole time. He rode from Pahktua to Wellington, 130 miles, in 12^ hourt, part of time in heavy rain, and this was the best day's work he did A peculiarly pathetic church service, and one eloquent of the dangers that attend our fishermen, has been held at Griimby. In the Fifchermpp's Church there 19 tablets have been unveiled ;n the presence of a large congregation. Upon these iakjeto are inscribed the names of nearly 200 Grimsby fishermen drowned in the years 1894 and 1895. At a special sitting of the Dunstable (Beds) Borough Court Charles Tillock, a lad 14 years of age, was charged with having unmercifully flogged his father, Inspector Nottingham informed the Bench that as many as a dozen complaints had been made in a week respecting this feroc;ous lad. The prisoner was committed to 14 days' hard labor. ; 81ips of the tongue are sometimes em barrasei^g ?8 witness the experience of a popular auctioHeej? in one of the South Wairarapa towns last weej:. A lady had purchased a pair of trousers for her husband, Jjufc afterwards desired that the item should be can&eKed. Whereupon the auctioneer, without this slighest thought, and in his usual business-like manner, called out jto the clerk at the table, " Take Mrs ' trousers off!" For a moment silence reigned supreme, and the aalo had to be discontinued until the audience calmed down. Holloway's Ointment. —Go where you may in every country and in all climes per kongi will be found who have a ready syor.d oi pr<i.[ge for this ointment. For chaps, chafes,, scalds,, bruises, and sprains, j jjti iVftn invaluable remedy^ for b>d tegs, bad - .*'-««£(« fe«.d pileSj >t may be confidently rrAied utT* 1 **r £ffeSfin£ a sounfi *ud P er" relied up. ge(l £, manent.cure. ,--..«»; "BoMoway's erysipelas, and rheun^. '.. --.«■ f- v Ointment gives the greatest * reducing the infi immation, cooling blood, soothing the nerves, adjusting circul ation, aud expelliug the impurities. This ointment should have a place in every nursery. It will cure all those manifold skin affections which, originating in child hood, gain strength with the child's growth.

The Arithmetical Puzzle.

TO TUE EDITOR, Sir,—Having seen in this day's Guardian aa unsuccessful attempt to solve a puzzle, I send you the following answer, which I think is correct:~ 957, -t /7t> 100 —I am, etc, Smith Mackwell. [This is the neatest attempt we have seen, but the conditions forbid the use of fractions. We are not sure that it can be done at all without their aid. We have tried ourselves and can't get nearer than 99 or 101 —one too many or too few. We reprinted the problem aa we found it, and if anybody can solve it shall be happy to publish the solution, or, on the other hand, if it can be mathematically proved to be insoluble, to publish the proof.—Ed]

Another Death Under Chloroform

PKR PRESS ASSOCIATION,

Wellington, February 24. Michael Scully, an inmate of the hospital, died under chloroform while having his leg re-set. He waa subject to epileptic fits, and,; one came on during the operation. The jury exonerated the medical men from any blame as all the usual precautions were taken.

PLOUGH TRIAL.

One of the series of "Verity" ploughs, manufactured by the Massey- Harris Com pany was tried yesterday afternoon in a paddock r-n Air Leadlej'a reserve at Elgin. The plough was a four-furrow—of the class called by the Americans " gang ploughs "— and is made specially for skim ploughing, a cultivation that is too often neglected. The land operated upon was friable, and in good condition for working just after the recent rain. The stubbie was of average length, and when the plough went to woik it turned in very nearly all the stubble, and not a vestige of vegetation of any kind was seen, everything having been thoroughly covered. The plough was easily drawn by four horses, and cut four ten-inch furrows to a depth of four inches. The plough is a re markably well made and excellently fitted im plement. It is rigged with steering gear which enables it to turn sharp corners, and also is of great service to the driver in keep ing a straight furrow. The diiver sits on a seat in a position about the centre of the plough, and from his place there has instant control of levers that regulate the width and depth of the furrows. A short probation of practice with the plough would enable a driver to get through his average of between seven and eight acres a day without dis mounting except for "tucker for man and beast." The plough frame is of high grade B t e el—in fact it may with truth be said that the whole implement is steel —and the mould boards, skeiths, and shares, are all specially hardened, and will clean like glass, ao that they slip through the soil like a knife through new cheese; and the short mouldboards drop the furrows in a shower, leaving the boil well pulverised, thus dis charging the duty of a digging plough. A plough that will do proper work over a space forty-four inches wide, and not take too much out of a team of four horses, is surely to be commended. The farmers present evidently thought so. After an hour's work in Mr LeadleyV paddock the plough was taken to Mr Kose'a paddock on the roadside, and did equally good work there. The plough was driven by one of Mr Leailley's men, aud, considering that it was quite a new thing to him, and that the flies worried his horses badly, he did very good work. The implement was tested at all the depths and widths within its range, and gave complete satisfaction. It can be readily converted to a three-furrow, and by a change in the position of the land wheel the plough can be used for vineyard and other work. Messrs Friedlander are the agents, aud have already booked a good many orders.

INDIAN MISSIONS.

There was a fair attendance in the Odd fellows' Hall last evening, to hear a lecture by the Key Mr Reeve, an Indian missionary. The Rev T. G. Brooke was Chairman, and ou the pLtform with him the Rev Mr Ager held a seat. The rev, lecturer was clad in Indian costume to show how the mission aries bad to be arrayed, not only because of the climate, but because of (he fact that the wearing of the costume of the countiy enabled the missionaries to be more on a level with the p ople to whom they have to preach. The lecturer began by reading an ar icle that has appeared in rr.oat of the papers of the colony stating that sixteen laboratories were at work ou the preparation of a map of tho stellar heavens. Before that map whs completed, astronomers now unborn would be grey h.iired old men j and when it was 6nished only thirty million stars would be shown on the the map. The population of India was 307,000,000 souls, and at the p.esent day there were only 9000 Christian workers engaged in Indian missions. This gave one woiker to every 400,000 people, in round numbers. In New Zealand we had one worker to every twenty nine people, and this tact, the lecturer pointed out, was hardly a fulfilment of the Saviour's command to go into all the world aud preach the gospel to every creature. He made a stirring appeal for assistaupe in tho mission—both in workers and the sinews of war f --it the work, and went on to describe the social and religious condition of our Indian empire. He dwelt at length on the subj-ct of "the child wives," with which Mrs Pr Ryder made many of our ladies familiar during her visit to Ashbnrton, and went on to speak hopefully of missionary work in the great Asiatic empire of the Queen, He speoially mentioned that there had been a great revival of missionary enterprise, and that fluting the last ten years more missionary work had been "done than for a hundred years previously. He closed his lecture by read ing two letters he had received since his arrival from native converts —one from a young man, a College student, undonetroman educited Hindu lady; both written in excellent English, and breathing a fervid Christian spirit. He stated that Mr Segers or Mr Steele would be but too happy to supply information in regard to Indian mission wor.k, or to receive subscriptions in aid of it. He also abated that what was spent in New Zealand in one yeap by ten smokers would maintain a missionary j and sixty people paying a penny a day would also be able to maintain a missionary. The usual votes of thanks were passed.

ST. STEPHEN'S CHURCH.

Clujil Social.

l^ast evening a social gathering in connec tion with the phoir of St. Stephen's Church took place in the schoolroom, at which there was a large attendance of members and their friauds. Ti.e Bey. T. A. Hamilton, who pieslded, iv the courae of a short speech, expressed his gratii!aa.tion at the good work which had been done by the choir, in connec tion with which things were going very smoothly. All the canticles and hymn tunes now used in the church were simple ouea o-nd the congregation were enabled to join heartily the singing. There was, however, that evening onp thought pressing heavily upon all present, liasttely, the approaching departure from their midst of •■wii v?<?n-i?nOWQ numbers of the congrega ~'*-«iiame§ Brooke q<nd Mayne. They tion, ivi^. , M , ttSg ; s ( aDC e jn the psalmody had been of gt^- - . f>>aid in every good and were always reaav >- -»iaaed and work. They would be greatly ii... ' _ (i in the name of the choir he wished them v... happiness and prosperity. The rev. gentie mon also thanked the choirboys for their excellent behaviour of late, and tendered special thanks to Mr H. pates and Miss McDonnel for the good work they had done in connection with the choir. During the eveniug several selections were given by Gates' band, and some excellent songs by Mcsdames Brooke and May no, Misses Barratb, Tompkins, Ranger, M. Fooks and X Gates and the Rev. T. A. Hamilton ; also a well executed pianoforte duet by Misses Ranger and Collison. Refreshments were handed round by Miss Compton and Mesdames Makeig and Gates, and were greatly appreciated. The proceedings terminated with the Benediction pronounced by the Rev. the chairman.

COMMERCIAL.

AUSTRALIAN MARKETS.

Press Association—By Electric Telegraph— Copyright. Sydney, February 24 Wheat, chick, 3? 6d to 3s 9d ; milling, 4a Bil. Oats, New Zealand feeding, medium, 2s to 2s 2d ; pime, 2s 3:1 ; seed, 2s 6d. Barley, local and Cape, 2b 3d to 2a 6d. Peas, Prussian blue, 4s Potatoes, local grown, £1 15a to £2 ; Circular Heads, £3. Onions, Victorian £6 5a to £6 103. Butter, dairy sgd ; factory, 6;td, Cheese, plentiful, 2^d to 3d. Bacon, 5d to 6d. Hams, New Zealand 9d. Melbourne, February 24. Wheat, quiet, 5a 6d. Oats, Algerian, Is 101 to 2s 4d. Barley, prime, 4i 4d bo 4s 6d. Potatoes, £2 5s to £2 10i. Ouions, £5 to £5 15s.

Adelaide, February 24. Wheat, 5s 7d to 5a Bd. Oats, dua, 2s 8d to 2* lOd.

DUNEDIN GRAIN MARKET.

The following report is under date February 24:—

Wheat.—Comparatively little has been done in new wheat. Sales have been made on a basis of 4s 2 i to 4s 4d for prime velvet, and 4s to 4s 2d for prime Tuscan. Fowls' wheat is scarce and sells at 3s 6d to 3s 9d.

Oats.—The demand has slackened off. Prime milling is quoted at Is lid to Is ll^d, best feed 13 10|d to la lid, inferior to medium Is 6d to Is 9d.

ADDINGTON MARKET.

Per Press Association.

Chk/jstohurch, February 24. At the live stock market to-day, there was a good attendance on business bent. Trade in the sheep department showed con tinued improvement. Fat Cattle—A small entry proved more than sufficient for the demand. The sale was one of the worsfc for some time. The i stock consisted mostly of useful steers, with a few heavy bullocks and other qualities. A few headbestbeef fetchedup tolSsper lOOlbs, but the bulk fetched only about 163 for good beef; secondary and inferior from nominal prices per head. Steers sold at £5 10s to £7 12s 6d ; heifers at £5 l(h, and cows at £5 to £5 12s 6d.

Dairy Cattle—The sale waa dull, the only demand being for good springers, which sold at £5 to £6 10s.

Fat Sheep—There was not a large entry, but the quality was generally good. The sale opened at last week's prices, which were maintained throughout.

Fat Lambs—There was a good entry of fat lambs iv' both quality and number. The demand was good for all jp to freezing standard, and butchers were equal to taking lighter sorts. Last week's prices were well maintained. Prime freezers sold at 10s 6d to 11s 7il, lighter from 9s 6d ; butchers' lines from 7s 6d to 9s for light, and up to 10a 6d for good. Store Sheep and Lambs.—The entry, of about 10,000, included some really good lines, and there was an active enquiry for all sound crossbreds. The competition was more regular than last week, aud prices all round were fully up to those then current except perhaps for ordinary and backward lambs.

Pias.—There was a good supply oi baconers, the market for which opened at last week's extreme rates, but soon settled into a steadier course at equal to 3|d per lb for good quality. Biieonersi fetched up to 49s 6d, porkers 16s 6d to 255.

NEW MARKETS FOR NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE.

(AVr;< Zetland limes). That our irozen meat industry should have fallen into its present unsatisfactory state for produoer3 is a fact much to be re? gretted ; but no amount of moaning over misfortunes wil help to cure them. The best plan is to find a way co a remedy. It is now evident to all that the London market is not merely ov. stocked with frozen meat, but that owing to distance and other causes New Zealand meat is placed at a great disadvantage in London. Fortu nately for the colony, the great markets of India and the East, as well as of Freemantle,

are on the average only half tho distance of London, but they have not yet been ex-

ploited, i hough there is no doubt a large field could be opened up if the business were properly gone about. The difficulties of inception surmounted, and trade opened upon a permanent and solid footinpr, there would be a market not only for meat, but for other products which this colony is capable of producing in abundance, and of excellence quality. At Freemantle there is a market for our wheat, oats, barley, flour, bran,

pollard, potatoes, butter, cheese and pre server} meats, as well as fresh meat chiller! and frozen. In Ceyjon there is a market for chilled and frozen meat. At present sup plies of live meat are drawn largely from India, but this is a very inferior quality, and is sold at 2|d to 3£d per Ib, and there is good reason to believe that New Zealand frozen meat would be greatly preferred both by the military and civilians. There is also a market in Ceylon for our potatoes. Throughout the East the quality of potatoes is very poor 5 New Zealand potatoes if landed in good condition would be much appreciated, not only in Ceylon, bub at Calcutta, Singapore, Hongkong and other Eastern ports. There is also a market in Ceylon for hams, bacon, preserved meats, onions, preserved milk, butter, cheese, etc. Jn India the meat market is supplied with native beef and mutton—beef, 1-f d to §|d per Ib j and mutton, 2^d to 3gd per Tb ; The quality, however, 'is very inferior^ New Zealand meat would be preferred, find the well-to-do classes amongst Europeans and others would pay an extra prioe for a good article. There is also a market in India for cheese, butter, preserved meats, leather, hops, soap, horses, etc. The Straits Settle ments are supplied with live meat principally from Siam and India, but the quality of the meat is very inferior, and there is reason to believe the New Zealand article

would be appreciated there. There is also a market there for hams, bacon, lard, butter, cheese, onions, preserved milk and tallow. In Java a business could be done in frozen meat, more especially pork, which, is in good demand amongst the Chinese^ vho number nearly half a million. Fresh pork sells there at about Id per Ib, There is also a market for preserved meats and provisions generally. Hongkong is fairly well supp'ied with fresh meat ; cattle, sheep, goats and swine being obtained from China. An immense amount of shipping is furnished with stores at Hongkong. It is now the largest shipping port in the world. This would of itself be a good thing for New Zealand, provisions of all sorts being required, by the vessels calling there, for both crewa and passengers, the latter exceeding 1,500,-009 in the yeai' 18S5» Ab Shanghai tH ' iqfln ;<*«-k6C for poapand rabbitakias. the Chine^having taken to lining their clothing with these skins for winter uses. 1» North China the winters are of Siberian severity. At present these skins are obtained chi.eliy from Germany, so that jt will be seen there would be a gop.d ppeninrf iQ this line for New Zealand. There 'id also a market for provisions required by the large amount of shipping trading there. Japan raises its own cattle, and the beef is sold at

3d pnr Ib, Mutton is imported from China at a cost of 4ad to 5d per lb. Meat is almost confined to the wealthy classes in Japan, the bulk of the population, over 41,000,000 cannot afford it, but live chiefly on vice, fish and vegetables. With the rapidly iucreasn g prosperity of Japan, owing to its marvellous success in manufacturing industries and development of trade, fchq .condition of the people is improving. Wages are rising, and with higher wages there will be a demand tor meat. There is also a market in Japan for butter, lard, leather, blankets, and wool. | In fact, Japm is rapidly becoming the Britain of the East in manufacturing in dustries, more especially in textiles; they are, indeed, a nation of weavers. The field is a large one, but these markets can only be opened up for Now Zealand by a well equipped line of monthly steamers fitted with freezing, chilling, cold, cool, temperate and ventilated chambers for carrying meat, butter, cheese, potatoes, apples, etc., as well as (IttjngS for live stock, and arrangements must be uiacie iov suitable cold storage at the ports of discharge, ef there ia greajj flefiQieaoy »* present, The subject

requires careful investigation on the spot by a competent commission of two or three gentlemen appointed by the Government, prior to inviting applications from respon sible shipping firms and companies for a clearly-defined Bervice for this Colony.

ASHBURTON MARKETS.

Messrs Friedlander Bros., Limited, report upon the live stock market for trie week euding February 24, At the Tinwald yards on Tuesday there was a large entry, the totals for the day being 10,536, 58 cattle and 99 piga. In sheep the entry consisted chiefly of lambs, some nice lines of young crossbred wethers, and a few pens of aged ewes. 000-i lambs made from 7s 6d to 9s 6s, smaller and backward sorts 3s 4d to 6s. A fine line of forward wethers brought 11s 3d, olher sheep of the same class making from 7s 8d to 9*. Our entry for the day consisted of 4751 sheep, 11 cattle and 11 pigs, of which we sold—l two-tooth 8s 3d, 24 two and four-tooth ewea and wethers Bs, 26 two and four-tooth ewes and wethers 9a Id, 200 four-tooth wethers 7s lid, 300 four tooth wethers 7s Bd, 131 lambs 7s Bd, 1 lamb 10s, 1 lamb 10s, 129 Jambs 9s 6d, 363 lambs 7a Id, 200 lambs 63, 283 four-tooth wethers Ba, 154 crossbred ewea Is 7d, 222 lambs Bs, 348 lambs 6s sd. 330 four-tooth crossbred wethers 11s 3d, 115 merino ewes with 110 lambs all counted 2s sd, 66 lambs 5s 9d, 274 two and four-tooth ewes and wethers 7a 9d, 174 lambs 7s 9d, 312 lambs 6s 3d, 365 lambs 7s 4d, 3 lambs ICs 3d. In cattle, for which there was not much demand, we sold 3 fat heifers at £5, 2 fat steers at £4 15s, 1 fat cow £5i In piga, we disposed of 2 fat pigs at 33a, 2 porkers at 17s 6d, 7 stores at 11s 6d.

Mr David Thomas reports upon the live sfcock market in the Ashburton County for the wesk ending February 24 as follows :— On Tuesday at the Tinwald yards the usual weekly sale was held.. The attendance was again large, and apparently meaning busi ness, as most of the entry changed hands. The day's yarding of sheep was made up principally of crossbred lambs, with a few lots of two-tooth crossbreds, all lots meeting with a ready sale. Lambs in forward condi tion were mostly in demand, and a slight rise was noted. For two-tooth wethers ' several buyers were in attendance, biddings were spirited, and a general clearance was made. In the butchers' pens the supply was ia excess of thedemand,and consequently some owners' lots suffered a reduction on last week's quotations. The total entry for the day consisted of 10,566 nheep, 58 head of cattle, and 99 pigs, my entry beicg made up of 2290 sheep, 27 head of cattle, and 65 pigs. I cleared all my entry at the following prices :—Sheep—72 fat crossbred ewes 8s 3d, 70 fafc merino ewes ss, 100 merino ewes 4* 6d, 40 fafc merinos 4s sd, 37 fat crossbred ewes 6s, 55 fat crossbreds 6s 7d, 31 fat cross bred ewes 5s Id, 40 crossbred ewes 7s 7d, 80 fat crossbred ewes 7s 6d, 16 fat crossbreds 6s 2d, 90 crossbred ewes 7s, 26 fat crossbreds Ba, 17 at 6s 7d, 51 fat crossbred ewes 8s 6d, 51 three qu&rterbred lambs 5a lid, 200 hai£ bred lambs 8s 6d, 66 halfbred lambs 6s 4d, 84 at 7s lid, 39 lambs 9-i Id, 68 crosbbred ewes 4s 2d, 137 crossbred lambs 8s Id, 67 halfbred lambs 8s Id, 101 crossbred lamba 9s 2d, 139 four-tooth crossbreds 10s, 340 half bred lambs 7s sd, 127 at 7s 9d. Cattle— 2 fat cows £4 17a 6d, 2 steers £3 15s, 1 cow £3 16s, 1 fat cow ss, 2 steers £5 8s 6d, 10 store cattle £2 6s } 3 yearlingß 18s, 1 heifer £2 3s 6d, 1 cow £2, 1 calf Ba, Pigs— 8 stubblers 14s, 6 weaners 4a 3d, 17 stubblers 5s 6d. Private sales—233 fat lambs 10a, 400 two-tooth ewes and wethers 8a 9d, 233 two tooth wethers 8s Qd, 198 four-tooth ewes 8a 3d, 132 full mouth ewes 6s 6d, 120 fat lambs 10s.

Mr Henry Zander (Mr David Zander auctioneer) reports upon the live stock market for week ending February 24, as follows :—The largest entry for this season came forward at the Tinwald yards on Tuesday last. About 10,500 sheep, 58 cattle and 99 pigs were yarded ; the attendance of buyers waa good", and for anything like good forward stock business was brisk. The yarding consisted of lambs principally, with a few lines of two-tooth ewes and wethers. There were several enquiries for bleeding ewes, but no doubt these will come forward in sufficient numbers t.o supply everybody in due time. The fat sheep pens were well filled with all classes of mutton, but the butchers were evidently overstocked, as they did not come up to time as usual. The sheep, however, sold as well as at last week's market. Thf following shows the general average of (he sale:—Butchers' sheep,— Crossbred ewes, good quality, from 7s 6d to 8s 3d; medium sorts, from 5s to 6s 61; merino ewes, from 4s 3d to s>. Fat cross bred lambs from 93 6d to 10s 3J. Store sheep.—Sound mouthed crossbred ewes from 7s to 83; crossbred two-tooth wethers, fair c mditioned, from 7s 6d to 8s 6d ; two-tooth ewes and wethers, from 7a to 8s 3d ; cross bred lambs, for finishing, from 8s 6d to 9s 31; good sons from 7s to 8s 3d, inferior and cull lots from 3s 6d to ss. My entry for the day consisted of 1027 sheep and 7 head of ca'tle, which I sold at the following prices :— 197 two-tooth ewes and wethers at 8s sd, 334 at fa 4d, 13Q halfbred lambs at 6« Bd, 65 three quarter bred lambs at 8s 9d, 39 cull two-tooths at 5s Id, 234 crossbred lambs at 7$ lOd. The demand in cattle was anything but brisk. I disposed, however, of my entry at satisfactory prices.

A BARE PLANT.

The Five-Fingered Orange.

The five-fingered orange is a queer thing. It grows exactly in the shape of a human hand, with a thumb and four fingers. It is a half open hand, that of this curious fruit, and the close resemblance to a lean, long nailed Chinese hand is startling. Even the nails are identical, hard pointed arid claw like, tipping the orange fingers with a length equal in some cases to three inches. It be longs to the orange variety, According to the San Francisco Chronicle, which illustrates it, a gentleman of that city found the odd plant a year or two ago over in Japan. He thought he had discovered a sort of missing link, so he bought it and brought it home. It is a hardy shrub, the outdoor climate of San Francisco agreeing with its health ex ceedingly well. In its native country it is usually kept potted, and the Japanese seem to be fully alive to its value as an ornamen tal curiosity, for Mr Gonzalez found it a difficult; matter to get one to bring to America, and ao far nobody else ever d|d get one. This orange tree is a ragged little shrub that does uot average more than five or &$: feet in height. It does not grow straight, as a properly behaved tree is sup posed to do, bub is curved everywhere, There is a generous supply of thorns hidden under the leaves, and they are .thorns that mean business. The leaves are fleshy, long and narrow, and of a dark green color. They resemble a lemon leaf more than an orange leaf. The ffowers come out in June and July, and are. very similar in appearance and odor to th&fttfefimary orange blossoms, save that they have a delicate pinkich tint which is very beautiful. The fingers of the orange divide at about half the distance from the wrist s and though the division lines can be plainly seen throughout the entire length or the hand they do not destroy its contour. The fruit itself ia of a light yellow color, a pure lemon hue, growing greenish toward the stem, The size is im meiisej tha largest ones measuring when mature fu'ly 10 iriohes iroi;; fehs wrist; to the point of the middle finger. The fruit is not edible, but what it lacks ia being unable to tickle the palate it more than makes good in perfume. The strangest thing connected with the perfume is that it is the fruit and not the flower that is moat odorous. The fruit when ripe is so redolent that its scent can be recognised a full mile from wheve the orange is growing. (A woodcut of the above can be seen by anyone interested at the editor's office,— Ed.)

A STEAMER ASHORE.

Press Association—By Electric Telegraph- Copyright. London, February 24, The Orotava is ashore ou the Scilla Shoal, Periro, at the entrance to the Red ca. 'ilia crew and passengers are all well. Assi tance has been sent. [The Orotava seems to be an unlucky vessel, as she recently capsized at the Tilbury dock while taking in coal. She is a vessel of 5552 tons register, and 7000 horse* power.-wEo, ■ ft

EDUCATION BOARD.

The following items of local interest are from the report of Wednesday's meeting :— Mr Saw c gave notice to move that in future the Board be recommended to do its own painting. The report of the Chairman, Messrs Rennie and Sawle, that a school should be promptly erected on the Government site at Highbank was approved. The following appointments were ipproved: -Pupil teaoher at Ashburton, Citherine Jane Bre z 1; Mistress at Lauris 'on, Misa Dora O'Callaghao ; Mr Grant, the issistant master at Ashburton, was placed in c arge of the school till Mr ilayne's successor should be able to commence duty. The Wakanui Committee wrote, asking what it was intended to do with the mistress, whose appointment expired at the end of the month. The average attendance fur the two last quarters having only slightly exceeded the minimum entitling the school to the services of two teachers, it was resolved to extend the engagement for six i months.

Messrs H W. Peryman and J^W. Sawle, appointed to visit the Kyle District, reaom mended— ■' That the school building be nob removed for the present, as its present posi tion is more convenient to a majority of the chi'dren attending the school or likely to for some time. Nevertheless, we do not recom mend the erection of a new master's bouse to replace the one burnt down, thinking it better to await the development of the district. We recommend that the whole of the grounds be fenced,' &c. The report waa adopted. Messrs H, W, Peryman, John Rennie, and J. W, Sawle, appointed to visit High bank, recommended that a new schoolroom be erected, with two roomi at one end for the teacher. The report was adopted.

MAGISTERIAL.

ASHBURTON-THURSDAY.

(Before Mr C. A. Wray, S.M )

Civil Cases.—Ashbarton County Council v. James McLeod, £9 9a —rent of reserve-** judgment by default. The following cases were undefended—H. Zander v. Spring, £5 19a 6d ; same v. (J. Miller, £\Q 3s Bd.— Thomas Bradford v. Mark Ballance, £2 10a, Mr Cuthbertson for plaintiff. The claim was for grazing of a paddock in Winter's road, which had been rented to defendant in 1892. Defendant had promised to pay, but had never dooe so. Defendant) denied having ever promised to pay, and said the sheep had been into the paddock to suit the convenience of plaintiff, aud not to be paid for. Plaintiff said the money had not been sued for before, because he knew defendant was in straitened circumstances, but now that he was better off plaintiff sought to recover. Defendant, in the box, said he was asked on the road by plaintiff to put 300 sheep in the paddock, Did so to oblige him, and would not have put the sheep there if he had thought they would have to be paid for. Had plenty of feed of his own, and the sheep were only in the paddock for two nights.—W. J. Silcock said he knew the paddock, which had fair grazing. The top price for grazing was a penny to a penny halfpenny per head per week, and it was sometimes preferable to have the land grazed for the manure left by the sheep to ploughing in the green feed. Did not know that this waa the case in the present instance. — His Worship said he always looked with suspicion upon cases that had been left hanging over so long as this one had been. Two years ago defendant had denied his liability but plaintiff still clung to his rights. The story of the one man was as good as the other, and the plaintiff would be non-suited.

Presentation.

After the rising of the Court to-day, a presentation was made to Mr J. R. Oolyer, clerk of the Court

The Mayor said he had been requested by several residents in the town and county to attend there th*t morning ani discharge a duty which he did with mingled feeliags of p ensure and regret —pleasure at being marie the instrument of conveying ,to Mt C dyer the expression of the people's appre ciation of his services as Clerk of the Court, and regret that Mr Colyer was leaving the district-. Mr Colyer had been twelve years in the position he waa now vacating, an 1 he (the Mayor) could say that throughout the whole county the feeling was general that the work of the Court under Mr Colyer'a care was thoroughly well done. He asked Mr Colyer to accept a purse from the people, a purse that was lighter than it would have been had the notice of Mr Colyer's departure been longer. The Mayor trusted good for tune would follow him and his family in his new sphere and assured him that his re moval, though a gain fco Invercargill, was a great loss to Ashburton,

Mr Colyer briefly replied in acknowledg ment of the souvenir and of the k ndly remarks made by the Mayor, which he" feared, though he had done his best to earn the confidence of those who had business to do with the Court, were more than he deserved.

Captain Wray also spoke ia the highest terms of Mr Colyer as an officer, and was deeply sorry that he was leaving Aah hurton, though of course he was pleased that Mr Colyer was receiving promotion. He trusted that the successor to Mr Colyer would be as good an officer as the on% they were about to lose, and if he were then he (Captain Wray) had no hesitation in saying that the district in Court business would be well served indeed.

Mr Cuthbertson regretted that there had been so short a sitting of the Court that day, as in consequence the. attendance of members of the bar was limited to himself. Though perhaps the youngest member of the bar, he could speak for all when he said that they held Mr C Iyer ia the highest esteem, and had nothing but the very kindest and moat complimentary things to say of his discharge of the far trom easy or light duties that fell to him, as clerk of court. Mr Colyer was a slave to duty, and waa not one who tied himself strictly to office hours when h,e could oblige the public or further business, and the members of the fa>r had to acknow ledge many favors received at his hand?, and aid given to them by his assiduous and prompt discharge of duty. He had known Mr Colyer since hia first entry into the public service, and could say thatall through he had borne the highest oharaoter for thoroughness and punctuality. He joined his own and the good wishes of hia fellows of the bar to those already expressed by the Mayor and Captain Wray for the future success of Mr Oolyer, and his own and his family 58 welfare.

Mr Colyer having acknowledged, the »4" dresses of Captain Wray, his superior officer, and of Mr Cuthbertson, as speaking for the bar, the proceedings terminated.

BANK OF NEW ZEALAND.

Half-Yearly Meeting 1.

PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.

Wellington, February 25. At the half-yearly meeting of the Bank of New Zealand. Mr Watson 1, president, said it was merely a formal meeting, $nd there was I nothing for him to say beyond that) the business of the Bank was going on smoothly, and so far as the Directors knew success fully. Since the payment of the Estates Company's debentures in June, the fjuaqees, of the Bank had been in good working con dition, and the income for the nine months of the year will have participated in the improved state ot things. Fixed deposits, hovceyer, bearing high rates of interest had yet to be run off, while Jower pa^es already ruled for it, was ex pected to save £25QQ per annum from the liquidation of the Auckland Agricultural and Bank of New Zealand Estates Companies. The money invested in trading concerns was being lessened. One of the largest had been sold, and the Bank was in treaty for the sa'e of ooe or two othera. Beyond a few trifling amountf he was not aware of any bid debts incurred during the half year. T.ade generally was sounder, and banking accommodation in the colony, was conducted on a much safer basis if les« profitable for Sue momtst th»u wfts formerly th« G»ie,

THE ASHEUKTON GXJABDIAN: THURSDAY, FEBKUAEY 25, 1897.



G. J. NEILL SELLING WASHING PRINTS at 3£d per yd ; WHITE MUSLINS 3a lid per doz G. J. NEILL IS SELLING DOUBLE-WIDTH SERGES in Navy, Brown and Maroon, at Is per yd G. J. NEILL IS SELLING MEN'S ALL-WOOL SUITS at 23s 6d ; Men's Tweed Trousers 5a lid G. J. NEILL IS SELLING BOYS' SUITS at 4a lid each G. J. NEILL »nuao-'SSigS'SKL ::: ::: SBB Men'B Shoes fs lid Women's Shoes *s lid Women's Strap Shoes... ... <** Ha G. J. NEILL DEFIES COMPETITION IN BOOTS Every Pair Guaranteed to Wear and give SATISFACTION FRIEDLANDER'S CORNER, EAST STREET. TREMENDOUS CLEARING SALE OF BOOTS AND SHOES. OUR PRICES OUR PRICES NOW IN FULL SWING. Thb Greatest SALE of the Year. Being the only i Manufacturers in Ashburton our position for Sell ng the Bhbl ObAbb Ut j GOODS at First Cost is UNRIV A LLED. p er p a i r Per Pair sd s d Ladies' and Gents' Tennis Shoea Bluchers, heel and toeplate (Renshaw make) ... ... 29& 211 and nails, our own make- Children's School Boots (our beatseve.-ythinginthemar own make)-7 to 9 ... 4 3 ket at the price ... .- only 411 10 to 13 ... 4 9 Ladies Tan Leather Lice Shoea Ladieß'Real Gla c Kid Shoes -a g eat bargain 4 9 —a perfect gem (own trake) only 611 Special Bargains— Ladies' Evening Sh es, with Girls'2-Strap Shoes (black or neat bow, glaca kid ... only 211 tan leather)-7 to 9 ... Gents' Canvas Shot's (bhck or , O i- *" brown), reduced from 6s to 4 6 Women's • Leather fehppers Ladies' Canvas Shoes (black, (own make), only ... ... ; a a blue, or brown), own make only 4 3 First-class Pegged Water- Gents' Tan Leather Shoes tights (our own make) ... only 11 9 (sewn)-Uaual price ...9a , Worth ■■•••• 15 ° Sale Prioe only ... 611 Children's Strong Lace Boots Men's Pegged Watertight _4' s to 6's-a bargain ... 1 y Bluchers (own make), splen- * Former Price 4 0 did value, only 9 6 Women's Leather Balmorals Men's Watertight Balmorals - (our owu make) only 6 6 (own make), splendid value only 8 9 Ladies' Leather Shoes, neat Ladies' Lace Canvas Shoes ... 3 9 design (own make) only 5 6 Usual Price ... ... 4 9 Youths' Watertight Balmorals Neat 2-Strap Evening Shoes... 311 — I's and 2's only 6 9 Hundreds of odd paira of Boots at ridiculously low prices. Come Early and make your Family Purchases. All Lines of Evening Shoes at Clearing Sale prices. Variety of our Stock best in Ashburton. IS?" QUALITY—Second to None is New Zealand. McDonald & modiarmid, BOOT AND SHOK MANUFACTURERS AND IMPORTER?, East Steeet, Ashburton.] [Branches at Oamaru and Waimatb. MELLOR'S 'ZEALANDIA' BOOT STORE IS now making a Special Christmas Display of Summer Boots and Shoes. Already the Ashburton Public have pronounced it to be the CHEAPEST AND BEST ASSORTED STQOK EVER SHOWN IN ASHBURTON. —Pleaee 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 value Ladies' Oromelette Shoes from 8s 9d—Very cheap Ladies' Shaes, 6s 6d—Great bargains. THOUSANDS OF OTHER LINES, m ™ T ™ THAT DEFY COMPETITION. Look »t windows and you will admit that it is the Best display ever made in Ashburtop A trial will at once convince you of the difference in price and quality from other boot-shops. N°*AMrs"JAMES "MELLOR, TANCRBD STREET, ASHBURTON. j



MEN'S AND BOYS' HATS. HATS. HATS. f^f\ DOZEN FELT HATS ALMOST GIVEN AWAY. A GRAND SUCCESS. MITCHELL & BRODRIBB'S T3ABRT.O AND PRINT BALE being such a Grand Success, we have decided to ho 1 FOE TWO WEEKS, A GREAT HAT SALE. ka DOZEN MEN'S, ft f\ DOZEN BOYS'. Men's Soft Felt Hats 2s Gd, worth ss" Boya' Soft Felt Hats Is 6d, worth 3s 9d Men's Soft Felt Hats 3s 6d, worth 6s 6d Boys' Soft Felt Hats 2s 6d, worth 4a 9d Men's Soft Felt, Hats 4s 6d, worth 7s 6d Men*s Soft Felt Hats 5s 6d, worth 8* 9d Men's Soft Felt Hats 6s 6d, worth 10a 6d Men's Soft Felt Hats 8s 6d, worth 12s Gd EVERY ARTICLE in the Clothing and Mercery Departments equally Cheap, so as to clear the shelves for the NEW GOODS expected by the end of the month ; while the balance of general Drapery will be still further reduced, so as to make a clean sweep before the New Season's Goods arrive. Prints, Brilliants, Cambrics from 3s lid per dozen, worth double Flannelettes for Dressing Gowns and Home Blouses 4s lid dozen, half price Trimmed and untrimmed Hats, Aprons, Blouses, Veilings, Ribbons, etc., at half cost BOOTS AND SHOES—the Best value in the trade DOK'T FORGET IHE GREAT HAT SALE AU MITCHELL & BRODRIBB'S, THE CENTRAL CASH DRAPERY MART, JfBXV SCO 3, OBR Is CO., MBH SXKEiST, ASHBURI'ON.



NOTICES TO SUBSCRIBERS. ANY SUBSCRIBER who may not get. his paper regularly, ia requested to communicate at once with the MANAGER Ashburton Publishing Company.



Business Notices. READ THIS. WE ARE SELLING OFF FROM. JANUARY TO DECEMBER. NEW ZEALAND Clothing* Factory, OWING to our special facilities for buy ing in large quantities—as we have to Bupply 32 branches—the Public can depend on getting the VERY BEST VALUE IN THE TRADE. i A few Linea will convince :— Men's Mosgiel Tweed Suits 27/5 Boys'Ashburton Tweed Suits ... 7/6 Men's Mosgiel Tweed Trousers ... 8/9 Boys' Sailor Suits .... ... .„ 5/6 Men's Trousers to Measure 15/- Mosgiel Tweed (per yard) ... ... 1/11 Menis Suits to Order ... 55/- HALLENSTEIN BROS. ALEX. HENDRY, Manager. «; • 1% O p* o«§ '§,'§, ■ * 1^ :: < q ■« | -s rH i OQ o Si* 1: Q IKH 2 HH PCS O!Z! [—} •-a. "<D- ra r""^ §1 «S f* " Church Services. r7 ST E P HEN'S CHURCH, Aehburton. FRIDAY—Short Service, 7.30 p.m. Choir practice 8 p.m. ! SUNDAY SEKVIOr S. i 0 30—Holy Communion. 11 a.m. —horning Prayer. 3 ».m.—SBAFIELU. 3 p.m.—DROMORE(Mr W. Bowmanfox) 6.30 p.m.—Kvening Prayer. . REV. T. A. HAMILTON. , ———— i^-*— —— /^ROCKERY, Crockery. Still we lead \j and defy anyone to get better value in Crockery, etc., and as cheap <»s we are selling now. Please read our new advertise, meut and judge for youreelves.—Fi-etcueb linos., Cash Supply Stores. IF you are in want of a good strong work ing boot be sure you call at Melloes Zealandia Boot Store.



Keaxing's Powder destroys bug?, fleas, nrnhs, beetleß, and all other insects, whilst gui c harmless to domestic animals. In exterminating beetles the Bucoess of this powder is dx raordinary. It is perfectly clean in application. See the article you purchase is Kkatifg's, as inji'ations are Qoxioaß and ineffectual, Sold ira tins, 6d, In mi 2 63 eaob, by a] chemists



We have sometimes heard it remarked that Messrs Craighead and Berryman charge rather high prices 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, and as they employ the best workmen and pay the highest wages their customers do not expect their clothes at "sweating" rates (" cheap and nasty.") By insisting upon first-c'ass workmanship in every garment, combined with good fit and best quality linings etc. JVf essrs Oraighead and Berryman have earned their reputation for giving satisfaction and | their reduction of about 20a per suit referred ] to in their new advertisement is sure to draw a, fresh riisU of customers,— Ady?. 3 1711