PHASES OF THE MOON.

PECEMBER. D H M First quarter ... .. % 245 am Full moon ... ... 9 424 pm Last quarter 17 3 52 am New moon 24 7 25 pm

Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1897.

'liik landed estate of the various colonies both offers, and e#plainß ? many

puzzles (says tbe editor of the Aus tralian Review of

COLONIAL CROWN LANDS.

Reviews) 'J he sca'e of rents yielded by fsrosn lands under lease is almost microscopic. Th»s the .average rent per acre in New South W^leg is little over i|d; in Victoria .is'about l|d; in Queensland it is .'^bput'.pnelibird of i penny; while South Australia touches the lowest ieepj and revives tbout one-sixth of a

penny per acre for its leased lands ! j On the other hand, New Zealand gets J Bii average rental of 3d per acre, and j Tasmania one of about 7}d per acre The explanantion of these low rents is, of course, the vast areas of land dealt with. In Western Queensland the pastoralists have just concluded a sherp fight in the Land Board Oourt for the reduction of rents. These rents range from 10s to 20s per square mile. These seem mere peppercon rentals. A tenant who pays only 10s yearly for the occupation of 640 acres of land is surely a happy Sian ! On the other hand, a pas oralist in these district-* requires the area of a kingdom on which to run his

flocks. "Runs" there are measured by millions of acres; and even a peppercorn rental, multiplied over areas so vast becomes burdensome. It argues, however, unnatural social con ditions when the colonies with unused territories so vast are yet re purchas ing costly lands for subdivision. In Victoria, the most closely populated of all the colonies, again, the public lands sold are 1,400,000 acres less than they were three years ago? Selected lands, that is, have lapsed to the Crown, as their use proved unpro fitable. There is a healthy side, how ever, to even the land question in the colonies. In New Pouth Wales the

land in the hands of private holders hasan estimated value of £120,000,000, and the bulk of this is in the hands of small holders. Out of 123,500 land owners only 76,791 pay land tax. On the whole " big estates " do not flourish in the colonies.

Some interesting articles will be found on the first page to-dayj the fourth page contains a report of a visit to the opal fields, and other reading matter.

Local and General.

There is a prospect of a cordite factory being started in Victoria.

About 1000 acres of wheat around Inverell (N.S. W.) have this year been cut for hay.

Mr A. H. Anderson, Christchurch, advertises iv this issue for a six-horse portable engine.

Mr .John Marsden is again the successful tenderer for the bookstall on the Ashburton Railway Station.

The annual meeting of the Chertsey Sale yards Company takes place in the Library on Friday, 17th inst , at 4 30 p.m.

The Manawatu Agricultural and Pastoral Association is giving £200 in prizes in con nection with its forthcoming ram and ewe show.

Early potatoes in many cases have had to be replanted by settlers at Eketahuna this season, owing to the contiouod wet rotting the seed.

A report concerning the destruction of valuable timber, which has been going on unchecked for years in Victoria, has been presented to the Minister for Lands.

The carriages of the Wellington-Master tonrNapier line of railway are to be made much mare comfortable than at present now the line goes through to Woodvilie.

The lamb season seema to have fairly opened. The morning train north on Monday took fifteen double-deckers of fat lambi, consigned to the Belfast freezing works.

The railway employees at the Carterton station are so short of trucks for sending commercial and other goods away that they have to resort to using horse boxes for the same. It may not be generally known that the Factory Act provides thab any employer who allows a member of his staff to tnke work home at night is liable to a fine of £10, and that the employee who does the work is liable to a penalty of half that amount.

The Minister for Education is to be asked to sanction a scheme for the establishment of a high school at Westpoi fc. As s.qou ag the Minister's sanction is received the erec tion of the building will be proceeded with, and applications invited for the position of he id-teachei'.

The Ashburton Brass Band Art Union concert takes place on Thursday evening next. The programme provides for all tastes in the matter of music, there being a great variety of vocal and instrumental items, aud fche •* Cupids " supply a special piece that is said to be very entertaining, It is to be hoped the public will patronise this local show as liberally as possible.

An accident which happened to Mr Joseph Tait on Tuesday last seems to have been more serious than was at tint supposed, He was attacked by a steer beiog driven to the Ashburton Yards, and knocked down, the animal trampling on him afterwards. What makes the matter worse is that Mrs Tait js jpilso laid up just now.

Jq the South Island tile gojrse plant has of late been attacked in many places by a grub or insect that Jkil-s it as surely a<J the "insect irnowi* as. the borer destroys currant bushes, Land wherever this degay has set in the remains of the onpe live fence present an unsightly effect, while the fence itself j becomes as unstable as a house builp upon I sand.

Owing to the cycling handicapper not caring to touch the handicapping for the Ashburton Caledonian Society's sports until after the big Christchurch meeting on the tfetb, when he will be better posted as to form and perforjafances, the Society has de cided to extend the tii#e fcr receiving entries for all events—general' as r well &a cycling—until that date. The entries at present all round are already larger than last year's. The cycling entries include several North Island ridets, and there are representatives from the south as far down as Qakxnwa. *

A Captain Sraee has discovered f method of gathering the sc nb of fiowers as the plantg are growing He takes a glass funnel, and heats the thin end over a spirit lamp, He then draws out the stem to a fine point. This accomplished, the funnel is filled with ice, and placed on a retorts:and, the pointed end being placed in a small glass bottle, without touching it. After this, the stand and the funnel are placed in a greenhouse, among the fiowers whose odours it is desired to collect. Gradually the vapour rises from bhe jfiwerp, and in meeting the colder sur face "of the' funnel condenses into drops on the outside of the "glass. From the point of condensation it tjriefeles down "until* it drops into the bottfo. In a surprisingly short time a large amount of perfume is collected, and it is claimed that 90 per cent, of the contents of the bottle is perfume ; the rest is water. Strange to say, this essence of the fj iwer needs to be adulterated with spU'ita o/ wine, ptherwise it would become sour.

Before Messrs Alcorn and Bullock, Justices of the Peace, this morning, Frank Bowers,'a lad of teventeen years of age, who had run away from the Burnham school, this time being his fourth escape, was charged with t-h,o theft of a watch, valued at £5, the property of James Kennedy. The theft bad been committed at Ruapuna, and the watch had be^n found upon the boy's person wh#n arrested by Constable Eade, He had made his escape from Burnham with another boy, who had been sent back, and the Sergeant gave accused a very bad charaoter. He gave every indicabion of developing into an incorrigible thief, and he and other escapees were a great nuisance to the police, as they ! ,y»ma to the town and loafed about the streets, (*r yisited the stations and Pved by thieving; !'TftV oibbef.' lad had esc ped twelve times from the institution* $'hiopnp gave as his reasoa for running away 'thatslo food was not fib to eat nor the water to drink. He had been hired out several times, but had left because the work was too hard hvsb'me pla^es^ &nd in others because he did not like the billet. " Asked |f ha would s op at .Burnham if'sent back heVai'd'he-aid tso£ know. The Bench' gave him good advice and, not caring bo send one so young to gao^i, '.or'd^erjsd him to be sent back to Burn, •ham. ;'; '''''"':' ''"""" '

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

,*, I The usual meeting of the Ashburton * Borough Council was held on Monday even ing. Present—The Mayor (Mr Joseph Scaly) in the chair, and Councillors C illins, Bird, Orr, Davis, Bak^r, Reid, and Paul.

FINANCI. The Mayor repor ed that the debit balance at the Bank was £1477 1* 51, and the revenue from all source* received since last meeting £40 6s 81. by-election. The returning officer announced the un opposed election of Mr J seph -ealy to the neat at the Council table vacated by Mr Charles Reid, who had been elected to the. Mayoralty. Cr Paul congratulated Mr Scaly on his election in an appropriate speech, which was received with applause, and which the Mayor gracefully acknowledged.

ALLKNTON WATER SUPPLY. Mr J M. Cambridge wrote as fellows : - Ashburton December 13, 1897. To the Mayor and Councillors of the Borough of Ashburton. Your Worship & Gentlemen, — I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your memo of che 30th ult., in which you inform me that the Council has resolved to take no action in the matter of supplying water from your race to the residents of the suburb of Allenton, and referring me to the County Council. From the press reports of your Council's laßt meeting, if correctly re ported, you have evidently not fully been aware of our wishes. The deputation had no thought or intention of asking your Comic 1 to spend one penny of your funds. It was not so expressly stated by us; we took it as a matter of course that your Council wou'd expect us to bear all expenses, as is customary. We made no attempt to

dictate to your Council what you should charge us for the use of the water, but expressed a hope that your Council would accept a lower sum than £2, if a large number of applicants were supplied. As your Council have gone to some trouble in personally inspecting the locality, it is ■evidence of your wish and intention to assist us if practicable. I respectfully request that you will reconsider your reply to us. I wish to point out that of my own knowledge the Winter's Road race is usually running bank high, and frequently ovei flowing, and a loop race of say thirty chains would not visibly diminish the supply of water, after it has been returned to the race at the north-west belt corner. Although eight persons were included in the original application, there are twenty-five or thirty who would be glad to be served. Some of these, being small holdings, might be charged pro rata. The applicants would be willing to pay any reasonable charge which your Council would demand, aud enter into an agreement which would provide that we should have no legal claim I should the millowners deprive the Council of water, and also imposing penalties for improper diversion. Although in your memo you refer me to the County Council for this work, previously to the deputation waiting on you I interviewed Mr Baxter, the Council's engineer, who informed me un officially, that if we applied to the County Council our request might be granSed on the usual County terms, viz , 7s 6d per year for each person, for eacn twenty chains or fraction of twenty chains of race through his land, and a remission of County rates for two years to recoup us for the cost of construc tion. But Mr Baxter also informed me that the cost to us would be very heavy, as, having no water near, they would have to bring it from the river, and either carry it alongside your race or flume it over. He strongly advised me to apply to you. Hence our application. Iv conclusion, if you o*n now see your way to assist us, we shall be grateful.—Yours, etc., J. M. OAMBRiDGa Cr Bird said he was not present at the 'ast meeting of the Council, but he understood that the Council would be willing to consider the matter if there were sufficient applicants for the water. There was a race now supplying Mitchell and Turner, which coul«l be utilised for one line of settlers, and the other might get theirs from the oiivr race that had been suggested. He moved for ai e consirteration of the applications by tho Works Committee. Of Paul was in favour of this, saying that the matter might safely be eft in the hands of the Works Committee. Cr Orr was quite sure the applications would be granted when the Couucil had the fu'Ust knowledge possible of the subject. The question of cost need not be taken into consideration at all, as Mr Cambridge's letter showed. ' The supplies to those peop'e would be a source of income to the Borough and the Council could not «ff >rd tq ignore that. There need b,e no fear as tp the Borough's right in the event of a shortage, as the Borough ratepayers had the first claim on the water. This, top, Mr Cjrnbridge clearly realised. There were thousands of gallons of water going down unused to the river, and it w.i 6a. pity that it should do so, when there were so many of their neighbors i n want of a supply. Cr Baket had got new light on the subject. He had understood thab the Cnmcil was asked to provide all the funds necessary to make the raoes, and was glad to learn this was not the ease. Or Davis had opposed those applications after having gone over the ground personally. He was still of opinion that the ratepayers of the borough, who had borne the cost of bringing in this water, should be considered in preference to outsiders in Allenton. Cr Reid spoke in favour of the motion. He believed they had a good asset in the water, and with the rights of the borough properly oonserved he saw no reason why tho^e applicants could not be met. Cr uljins said/ th_ere 'was already a precedent for diversion in the' case of ikptbhei! and Turner, and he thought if the ratepayers' rights wpre thoroughly safe guarded by lega! dqeumenb the app'ications might be granted if the Council saw f|e. At anyrato he would support the motion to refer the matter back to the Works Com mittee for a further teport, which would give an opportunity for reconsideration. The motion was carried. THE MAYORALTY.

The Colonial Secretary acknowledged receipt of the returning officer's form, announcing the eleotioH of Mr Reid to the office of MayoV. WEIGHBRIDGE The Counoil went into Oemmibtee to discuss the question of a weighbridge, and on resuming the matter was left in the hands of the Mayor, RESERVES COMMITTEH. The Reserves Committee reported as follows;— Mr J. R. Steel's application of Borough Reserve T.S. 1246.--£ our Committee recom mend that tenders bp oal ed for the lease of this resenre for tw#nty-oae years with com pensation clause for improvements, ab the upset rental of £4 per annum, on the same terms and conditions as adopted by the Council in respect to the last reserves submitted to auction on long lease. MrE. MahoodVapplic fcion for T. 5.417-8, 4234—Your Committee recommend that this application at £3 per annum be nob accepted. ■ '" Mr S. Graham?* appjiieatioiijfor T,S. 1108 9, 1116-7.-^Your Gomnjittee recommend that Mr S, Graham's tender for this reserve'at 35s be nob accepted, and that the applica tion from Mr H. WiHis at £g lljs per annum be accepted for the same reserve. Boundary of Domain and Borough Reserve. —Your Committee tecommend that the engineer when in Christchurch wait ou toe "Chief Sutyeyor for the purpose of settling the aWter of tbe boundary of the Domain and that of Borough''Reserve T.S. 1066 to 1085. Unsold Sections.—Your Committee also recommend the Council to invite applications for the unsold sections near the pound for pound pwposeSi and also for the sections at corner of N.E^ ani? H f?' b f°F a Rtavel pit. The report was adopted. « BIT-LAW'S,

The By-Laws Qlommittee si?.bm{bted the following report ( — Building Regulations.—Your Committee have considered the solicitor's draft of the new by-law consolidating the building, regu lations, and with an addition, which gives the Council power to serve nof'ce on owners 'Of dilapidated and objectionable buildings to remove the slune. ''^.our Committee record mend that the by-law be adopted. ? T After some discussion, . the report was held over with a view to having a full Council at next meeting. engineers' report.

The report of t^)e engineers was read as under ;•— • . ', ;-fl " '•"" '■• ■ Footpath Crossings.—The Works Com mjttee pay© instructed the euginiers to take

special care in laying the aspha t c.o augs over footpaths withiu the borough. North-Blast Belt Formation-—The Woks Committeee recommend the Council to inform the Hampstead Town Board that the Council is willing to call for tendeis for the formation of this belt from East S reet to William Street, provided the Board pays half he cost of the whole work and recognises 'he Council's claim to all the surplus soil removed in the formation.

Labour Gang.—The men have been engaged l-r ng the past two weeks in completing the formation of the Moore Street crossing, re forming Kermode Street, cutting and carting hay in Domain, watering streets, carting rubbish, attending to water supply, and , general maintenance work. As soon as the works in' hand are completed, the extra labourers now employed will be discharged. The report waß adopted. OFFICE ACCOMMODATION.

Cr Paul moved the motion of which he had given notice—"That provision be im mediately made f;r the safe keeping within the Council Chamber buildings of all books, plans, map', drawings, and other documents ■he property of the Council, and that such books, plans, maps, etc., be removed to the Council Chamber with as little d«-lay as possible " Cr Paul pointed out that in the event of a fire at) the private house of Mr Fooks, the Council might lose very valuable property in the shape of map?, drawings, street level, records, etc., that had cost a good deal of money to prepare. This was not what should be, and he wished to see the Council in a position to provide accommo dation for those things. Cr Davis seconded.

Crs Collins and Bird explained, as did also Mr Fooks, why the municipal buildings decided upon early in the year had been delayed and these when erected would pro vide a strong room and proper office accommodation for the officers of the Council.

The Miyor said the whole thing was in a nutshell. The works had been delayed because of the busy state of the building trade, but there was a financial side to this question, and it would be wise to go into ways and means and see if it were possible to raise funds in the present easy state of the money market to put the work in hand at once The ordinary work of the year had to ba carried on, and it was hardly to be expected th.it permanent works of the kind indicated could be done out of current revenue. He understood the amount ear marked for the work was £350, but to com pete the plan adopted would take about £600.

After some further talk, in which it was shown that the delay in building was caused by the laok of funds, the motion was carried.

TENDERS. The tenders of Brown and James were accepted for the scavenger work of the borough, their tender being £d per pan less than the old contractors, and also lower for the carting of rubbish. The tender of Mr F. Makeig for the valua tion of the borough, ab £14, was accepted. DOG FEES. The dog fees were fixed as usual at 2i 6d and 10s, NEXT MEETING. Next meeting was fixed for January 10. AUCTIONEERS' LICENSES. Auctioneers' licenses were granted to Messrs D. Thomas, R. Curtis, H. Stephen son, and R. Friedlander, ACCOUNTS. Accounts to the amount of £206 lis Id were passed for payment. The Council then sat as a DOMAIN BOARD.

The Curator reported that the new gtaas mower had now been put in order aud was doing splendid work. POMAIN COMMITTEE'S REPORT. The Domain Committee reported as follows: — Appl qitions from Cricket Club and other Athletic Societies.—The Domain Committee have considered these applications, and with resprot to the applications of the Ashburton Cricket Club ana the Swimming Club your Committee recommend that the scale of fees and conditions laid down by the Board be s'rictly adhered to, with re-pect to the Junior Cricket Clubs letter, the Domain Committee recommend that it be received. A statement showing the receipts and ex penditure on the Domain since it was taken over by the Council in 1889 is attached :— Receipts and expenditure for eight years to March 31, 1897 ;— . . Receipts. £sd £ a d Sports ground— Contributions from Clubs to first cost 31 15 0 Annual contribu* tions from Athletic Societies 184 15 6 f?Yom othersources 23 2 0 239 2 6 Rents from grassing , 323 7 4 Sale of crops, firewood, etc. ... 153 2 6 Grants— Ashburton County Counoil 50 0 0 Ashburton Borough Counoil 1371 13 6 £2137 5 10 Expenditure, £sd £ s d Sports Ground- Formation and maintenance 203 3 8 Swimming Baths- Formation and maintenance 145 4 7

>— 348 8 3 Buildings and seats ... _». 129 19 9 Fences, hedges, and gates ... 259 0 5 Salaries, curator, and assistant 699 18 4 Gardens and paths / ... 2S|B Q 8 Trees, plants,and seeds ... 9^6 6p* Felling trees, etc., ... ... 92 0 3 Cultivation aud harvesting „*. 85 14, 10 Domain by-laws . .*, 14 Q 3 Professional services , 50 0 0 Secretary's salary ... . 25 0 0 Water races, formation ... 22 5 1 Insurance, sundries, etc., ... 36 11 3

£2157 5 10 A long discussion took place on this report in the course of which Mr Orr said the Cricket Clubs were most liberally treated— no club in the colony better. The chairman said the deputation from the Orickisb Club had said the work of keep ing the oval in order could be done for 12s a week. He would like to see them try to keep the oval as ib should be kept for thab sum. The caretaker spent five days of his week on thab oval, and one day on the track, and his wages were five shillings a day. He would be the last man in the world tostaud fn the way of yo^ug men engaging in a manly sport like cricket,'bub'the Board could 'not maintain an oval such as theirs unless they were in a position to charge a fair rent for it. He had been secretary of trie Caledonian Society for some time, when that Society had a ground of their own. Though the Society used that ground for only one day in the year, it cost them £3§ to put it Jn oider for chat one day. Now, they had a far better ground in the Domain, for the use of which for their one day they paid only £19 He thought the Caledonian Society could afford to pay more than that, and for the use they obtjaiaed of the oval he thought the cricket club should pay'more too. Mr Reid thought far too much of the ratepayers' money was spent on the Domain. The statement showed that during the past eight years the Council had contributed to the maintenance of the Domain £1?0 of the ratepayers' money annually, which was too heavy a burden, with other things requiring *o be doce in the town. The statement did not show all the money that had been spent on the Domain ; but only what had actually passed though the Board's hands. The contributions of Government had not been shown, nor what had been raised by the publioab the swimming baths. L;ke the he was glad to see young men taking to a manly sport in preference'to |d i'ing about ttjwn, but he failed to see' that bhe ratepayers were called upon to put their h/and? fn tfoeir pockets to provide them with a ground and maintain ft at $ lovg. The report was adopted. CATTLE IN THE DOMAIN. Ranger Compton, who had been sent up to see about the cattle grazing in the paddocks at the Domain, reported that those there at present were quiet cattle. There WW no bpl| there new. - { The chairman reported that the gates were ] now. nearly finished and would be quite, an , ornament to the Domain. ' i The Board then adjourned.

PARLIAMENT.

Press A sociation—l'y ELcric Telegraph

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Wellington, December 13 The Council met at. 2 30 p.m. MONEY BILLS. Hon. T. Kelly moved that the Council hat a constitutional right to amend machinery cl uses of the Money Bills. After a lengthy debate the Hon. Speaker intimated that in declaring the Obi Age Pensions Bill a money Bill, he had followed a ruling ia the Imperial Parliament respect ing a similar measure. The motion was agreed to ou the voice?. SECOND BEADING. | The Consolidated Stock Act Amendment Bill, the Fi heries Encouragement Act Amendment Bill, and Members of the House of Representatives Disqualification Bill, passed the second reading stage. OLD AGE PENSIONS BILL. The debate on trie second reading of the Old Age Pensions Bill was resumed by Messrs Jennings and Grace. At 5 p.m. ihe Council adjourned till 7.30. The Council met at 7.30 p.m. The debate on the second reading of the Old Age Pensions Bill was resumed by Messrs Arkwright, Swanson, Jones, and Bolt. The debate was adjourned on the motion of Mr Montgomery and the Council ad journed at 10 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House met at 2.30 p.m. COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS BILL. The Land aud Income Assessment Aot Amendment Bill, relieving commercial travellers from the tax now levied on them, was introduced and read a first time. PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT. Mr Seddon, replyingtoMr Rolleston, said he would do his besb to bring the Public Works Statement down on Tuesday evening, but regretted to intimate that the Hon. Mr McKenzie was seriously ill, and this might delay the statement. CANCER PATI-NTS. The Premier, in reply to Mr Ward, said that if it was the general wish of members, he was willing to introduce a Bill to permit persons not duly qualified to treat patients for cancer. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. THE HOROWHBNUA BILL. By 30 to 24 the motion to refer back the report on the Horowheuua Bill to the Native Affairs Committee in ord«»r that the evidence of Sir Walter Buller and Major Kemp might be taken was negatived.

THE MAIL SERVICES. The Premier moved that the House go into Committee of the Whole to consider the series of resolutions authorising an ex tension of the San Francisco mail service to 30th March, 1899, and the establishment of the Vancouver service till 1899. He dealt at some length with the communications be tween the Government and the United States Government on the subject of the San Francisco service, and said that for the last four years the colony had not benefited by the Amercian trade. Our trade with America in 1890, be pointed out, amounted to £400,000 whilst American trade with us was only £200,000. La^t year the figures were reversed. The colony had, however, benefited by the tourist traffic by this route. Referring to the proposed Vancouver service he said that the Imperial authorities favoured direct communication with Canada.

The motion was agreed to on the voices, After a lengthy consideration in com mittee the resolutions were agreed to with slight modification. * MASTER AND APPRENTICE BILL. The Master and Apprentice Bill was further considered in committee. Ciause 3—apprentice. Mr Monk moved to strike out the sub section declaring that no young person shall be apprenticed except by deed of appren ticeship under that Act. Negatived by 36 to 16. The clause was agreed to. Clause 15—wages of apprentices. Mr Holland moved thab apprentices shall be paid in the third year 30 per cent, of the stndard rate payab c to journeymen instead of 35 per cent, as proposed by the Bill. Agreed toby 27 to 20. The cause was further amended to pro* vi 1c that 40 per cent, shall be paid appren tices in the fourth year. On clause 21 Mr Smith moved that the Act shall apply to all skilled handicrafts ' carried on by the Government. _. ..„ The Premier hoped that the supporters of the Bill would not agree to this. The amendment was negatived by 24 to -The Bill was reported and passed its third -reading and final stages, and the House adjourned at 1.45 a.m.

SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Ashburton.

The monthly meeting of the Ashburton School Committee was held last evening. Present—Messrs Silcock, Meddins, Chapman. Phaup and Steel. An apology was tendered for the absence of the chairnun. Mr Silcock was appointed chairman for the meeting, FINANCE.

The credit balance ab the Bank was re ported to be £10 16s 6d. headmaster's report. The headmaster reported that the average attendance for the the past month has been 372, out of a roll number of 412. The highest attendance on any one half day had been 376. As instructed he had distributed tickets'and cirpulars among toe children for the entertainment in aid of the School prisse fund. He enolosed a report re sewing, with list of prjsj winners, and tendered the hearty thanks of the teaching staff to those ladies who so kindly examined the work. With re gard to bhe prizes, he said some arrangemenb would have to be made for purchasing books. At least £2 should go to the infant school for toys, books, etc., for the little Cues. They should, he considered, all be catered for in the matter of Christmas gifts. He suggested Thursday, December 23, as a suitable day for breaking up for the annual five weeks' holiday. This date had been agreed upon at Hampatead, and was one that enabled those who lived ab a distance to get home for Chrisbmas, which they could not do if the school broke up on Christmis eve. On. the other hand, it was advisable to break up as near Christmas as Sosaible, to give the pupil teachers their full oliday. He enclosed list of'irregular child ren. -' v ''"'.' allenton sohoql I The mistress reported the roll numbers at ! |his school at present—boys 32, girls 31; total 63 Average attendance for the past four weeks-«boys 25 8, girls' 26 4—total 52-2. Highest attendance on any one half-day 59. The results of the examinations for the months of November and December, as asked for by the Committee, were enclosed. In regard to the holidays «Miss Forrester suggested closing the school on Thursday December 23 at tho latest. I THE SEWING CLASSES. j The following is the report on the sewing glasses forwarded by the examiners ;— The Manse, Ashburton, December 2,1897. -=-Tq thp Chairman of the Ashburton Borough Sohool Committee. Sir,—l have much pleasure in reporting to you upon the recent examination of needlework conducted by Miss Cameron, Mrs Fooks and myself. After long and careful scrutiny, we came to f)he conclusion that the names upon the en closed .list are those of the;gifls : entitled to prizes. Owing to the unusually high average of excellent work in each standard, we.found the task of deciding which was best some what difficult. In Standard VI some of the work was beautiful, and in point of cleanli ness perfect, egpecialfy 13 ;bri'e alniogb -'{or gotteti art of mending Knitting—A de partment of needlework needing all the en courajrement thab instruction in school gives it-r?has b.69U introduced, and in, it excellent work was found- The examiners desire to express their approval of the plan lately in troduced into Standard VI of having samples of the work the children have been doing during the year made ready for in spection, instead of the work itself. It simplifies bhe task of examination to a very great They thjnk it might safely be introduced into all the standards except perhaps SS, I and 11. This branch of 'your sohool work calls for very decided praise, reflecting, as it does, very great credit alike upon pupils and teachers.—We have, etc, M, ?. tyrauii E, f. c^reop, K. Foqsi.

A heat ty vote of thanks was given to the '-'dy examiners for their trouble in examining the sewing. It was also decided to con uratu'ate the sewing teaohers on receiving such an excellent report. HOLIDAYS. The Christmas holidays were decided to be from December 23 to January 31. PRIZES. Messrs McPherson, Meddios, and Craig head, iv conjunction with the head teachers, were appointed a prize selection committee. TOYS Mr Phaup proposed ttiab £2 be voted for toys and books, as recommended by the headmaster, for the children in the infant school. Mr Si'cock moved that no money be spent on toys, Mr Chapman thought it should be left to t he sub-committee, which was finally agreed to. ■stbrtainmknt. Mr Silcock said he was at first against tbe entertainment, as he was told that all the Committee were not aware of the projeot, but after an explanation, he agreed to the suggestion. Mr Meddins said he was told of the enter tainment and agreed to it, as he thought money would be made for the pr'ze funds, and thought there was not sufficient time to acquaint all the committeemen. Mr Phaup said he was very annoyed ab hearing at second-hand of the entertainment. Even one t own member heard nothing of it, aud he protested against business being done in this manner, but owing to the absence of the chairman he would let the matter drop. Mr Chapman said the first he heard of the matter was when his children wanted 6o 6tH tickets. TECHNICAL EDUCATION. It was decided to tender Mr E. G. Wright, M.H.R., the thanks of the Com mittee for his attention to this matter of technical education. ALLENTON SCHOOL BEHT9. The subcommittee reported having brought up a tchedule of oharges for week night meetings, but disagreed as to the Sunday charges. Eventually it was agreed to charge each applicant 5s a quarter. 1 he several applications for the use of the Allenton School for Sunday services wen granted, subject to regulations. VISITING COMMITTEE. - Ihe Visiting Committee reported having attended to several necessary matters. COMPLAINTS. Mr Phaup complained of several matters not being done in a business-like manner, but he would not move in the matter until next meeting. ACCOUNTS. Several accouuts were passed for payment, and an adjournment was made atJIO.3O.

Hampstead.

A meeting of the Hampstead.School Com* mittee was held last evening. Present- Messrs Lawrie (in the chair), McKeague, Pick ford, Sage, Strange, and A. Andrews. Mr Mcßae sent an apology. HOLIDAYS. Ib was decided that the school break up en the 23rd inst., for fire weeks' holiday. PRIZES. A sum o f money was voted for prizes, to be allotted ia the same manner as last year. A subcommittee was appointed to select the prizes, and it was resolved to ask the Chair man of the Committee (Mr W. J. Crooks) to distribute them at 2.30 p. m. on the breaking up day. The sewing examiners (Mesdamei Hamil ton and Inglis) furnished a report, and their awards in connection with the sewing, and stating that on account of the excellence of the work they had had great difliculty in making their selections.—The report was approved, and the thanks of the Committee accorded to the ladies for the painstaking aud efficient manner in which they had per formed their difficult task. CORRESPONDENCE. Some letters from the Board of Education of a routine nature were read. BUILDINGS. It was resolved to ask the Board of Educa ' ion to partition off che end of the new lobby for a private room lor the master; also to have the framework of the screen of a urinal renewed. PUPIL TEACHERS. It was proposed by Mr Pickford, seconded by Mr Andrews, and carried :—" That the S.hoo! Committees Association be requested to bring under the notice of the Board of Education the present disproportionate scale of payments to town and country pupil, teachers attending the Normal School, with a viow to placing them on a more equitable basis, as is already done in the case of scholarships." RESIGNATION. Miss A. Lusk wrote, resigning her position as assistant teacher.—The resignation was accepted, and the Secretary was instructed to convey to Miss Lusk the expression of the Committee's appreciation of Miss Lu.k's services. MISCELLANEOUS. Messrs McKeague and Pickford were appointed a Visiting Committee. Accounts amounting to £3 7s were passed, and the meeting adjourned.

CABLE BBEVTTIES.

Press Association—-By Electric Telegraph— Copyright. Paris, December 11 A. terrible tragedy has taken place in the city. A workman named Carara robbed a bank collector named La Maree and murdered, hjuj. The murderer threw the body into a fur nace. Oarrara was arrested as tbe result of information given to the police by his wife. Amsterdam, December 11 The Netherlands Government has refused to grant a charter to a com-" pany which is being formed here to colonise Dutch New Guinea and ad minister tbe territory. Capetown, December 13 In tbe course of an address, Mr Jnnes, ex-Attorney-Goaeral, said It would be better to pay the Admiralty £25,000 a year instead of making a present of a battleship as proposed." Pretoria, December 13 A n extensive gold robbery is report d at LyOrenburg. A coach was stuck up and robbed of -5-12,000 worth of gold belonging to the Transvaal Gold Mining Estates Company. Tbe loss ia covered by insurance, Sydney, December 13 No reason has yet been given why tho steamer Fitzroy got out of her course into Stockton Bight. No one had the remotest suspicion that the vessel was five miles off! her course, BuispAN <■,' Deoemoer T'lß The magazine of the United mine at Charters Towers exploded, wreck ing the engine house aud a number of houses in the vicinity. The con cussion broke the windows of hundreds of shops. Fortunately no persons were injured.

FEDERAL CONVENTION.

Press Association—By Electric Telegraph— Copyright, I ■ ' - Mblropbne, December 13 The Federal Convention at Mel bourne will be preceded by the assem bling of the Finance Committee of the ■.;, convention and the annual conference of Premiers, At the latter there will be an interchange of ideas with regard to their recent visit to England, bear ing on the subjects broached by Mr Uh^rabeplajn. They will also, giws consideration to thje question of th« reptricticp of aliens. ,

ME ASHBtnITON (^tUI'MAN : (TUESDAY, MCEMBEh li, IP,



';■_ '. Business Notices, ' TO RESIDENTS BUILDING & FUKNISHING. Tl^E BEG respectfully to that we have received, per S.S. " lonic " and "Mataura,* very heavy shipments for our HOUSEHOLD FURNISHING |Depart ment, viz:— SHEETINGS CURTAINS CARPET SQUARES PILLOW COTTONS QUILTS HEARTH RUGS TOWELS TOILETS OILCLOTHS .1 ABLINGS MUSLINS LINOLEUMS IN the FANCY DEPARTMENT we are showing a fine assortment of new , ABRICB, GLOVES, and HOSIERY, direct from the Leicester Mills; also some very ohoice goods in Jet Trimmings, including the new Zouaves, Boleros, and Skirt Ornaments, and an endless variety of Black aud Colored Gimps. „ NEW SHIPMENT'S Of Dresses, Straws, Mantles. 2 iCftSftS [oi Samples HOSIERY, at LANDED COST. MITCHELL & TURNER. TO BLACKSMITHS AND WHEELWRIGHTS. i HAVING Purchased the whole of MR ZANDER'S well selected stock of BAR AND SHEET IRON, We are prepared to Supply the Trade on the Most Liberal Terms Possible. We are also Doubling the present stock, so that the requirements of our clients will be met in the most complete manner. All orders for the present left at Me Zander's Store or Direct to Ourselves will have immediate attention. W. H. COLLINS & €0., - X )w ASH/URTC!^w( a~^m! THIS SPACE RESERVED FOR mHE LEADING JEWELLERY ESTABLISHMENT'S Particulars of New and Choice Goods specially imported for the ASHBURTON CHBISTMAS TBADE. S.SALEK, EAST STREET. SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT, j SECOND SHIPMENT OF NEW GOODS JUST OPENED. ANDREW ORR j iS NOW SHOWING the Finest Collection of Up-to-date Novelties^in MILLINERY, French and English. Lovely selection of Straw Hats v Hnd Sailors': Dress Fabrics; a Most Beautiful Collection in Pink Robes and "ill classes of Plain and Fancy Goods j MANTLES and GAPES, the latest styles from London j Ribbons, Laces, Face Nets, Gloves, Hosiery, Sunshades, . Prints, Blouses, Bells, etc. THE NEW OYOI.IS DORSET, Tust Imported, in all sizes, (specially made.) GENTS'* SUITS TO MEASURE from M 16s> A Large Assortment of Gentlemen's Ties and Scarfs Just Opened.. | Men's Hats in all the n.w shapes. Ladies' and Gentlemen's Boots aud Shoes in every Style and make, CARPETS, FLOORCLOTHS, &c, &c. ANDREW ORR!



Special Discount j FOR CHRISTMAS SEASONS Of Is in the Pound. From this day till the tn I of December. TT7EJ are now offering sonic very SPECIAL LINE-i JN DRESS GOODS. Exceptionally low prices quoted for completed costumes. HJEE WINDOWS. Tweed Costumes complete from ... 20s A Grand Line of Boys Colonial Tweed Knicker Suits, sizes 1 Lo|l3, these we from 4s lid per Suit. WORTH DOUBLE. SPECIAL VALUE IN MEN'S TWEED SUITS. A really good suit for ... SOS t*Cl We are offering some wonderfully Cheap Hoes in all Departments. Ashburton Drapery Company. THE NEW ZEALAND CLOTHING FACTORY I) OK -VjTCE COOL SUMMER CLOTHING. Light fanoy Alpaca Coats ..., ... lis 6d lilack Alpaca Coats 12s 6d China Silk Coats ... 12* 6d Siteen Coats 6a 6d Holland Coats - 6s Od Light fancy washing Vests from 7s 6d Light fancy washing Trousers ... 12s 6d Light fancy Tennis Suits ... ... 12s 6d Light fancy Tennis Shirts from 4s 6d A. G, BARTON, ■ MANAGER « So ftofJbepersmaeafo wuysny offhe/m/fsfjom, II _? lPs^ m naVMff. » \CEmNOMIiNOfD7IXS Why^repi/reandwMesom^ % ftetftfmw&aMf 1 exper/mce em £m Msfosfsa/e//?M/s/mm/& mm rW ALL 6ROCERS A C hurcii "services^ ST. STEPHEN'S CHURCH, Ashburton. TUESDAY—St Stephen's Guild Meeting, 7.30 p.m. WEDNESDA'f-*-G.F.S in the School; Meeting <>f the Newly Confirmed in the Church, 7.30 p.m. THURSDAY—Teacheis' Meeting, 7.30 p.m. FRIDAY—Short Service, 7.30 p.m.; Choir Practice, 8 p.m. SUNDAY SERVICES. 19.) 11 a.m.—Morning Prayer and Holy Com munion. 2.30 p.m.—Distribution of Sunday School Prizes, in St Stephen's J-choolroorn. P&rents and friends invited to attend. 3 p.m.—Dromore -Mr Gates. 6.3o—Evening Prayer. REV T. A. HAMILTON.



ASHBURTON GUARDIAN. ANNIVERSARY DAY HOLIDAY. r\ WING to Thursday,, December 16 being Anniversary Day, and a public holiday, there will be NO PUBLICATION OF f'HE GUARDIAN THAT Day.



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