DEATH.

Alexander. — On Sunday, January 30, at Allenton, Ashburton, Thomas Albx- j ander. Aged 80 yoara,

Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. MONDAY, JANUARY 31, 1898. THE LESSON OF THE SEASON

T.gjE extraordinary heat and drought of this surntasr have caused widespread disaster throughout $ew jZealan.cJ. In Canterbury we have to lament m njany cases complete failure of cereal crop, m most cases great shortage, and m all the promise of the early Bpring belied ; to lament also a dearth of pasture and a acareity of water which have acted malignly on the stock prospects ; and a general loss to the community that no man caa but all can see must be set down atf .unyayall v great. The drought has consumed our grain \ and parched up our pasture, robbed us of a fair crop from kitchen garden arid orchard, m the latter case helped by the dreaded not-west gales which strewed the ground beneath the frees with tons of half-ripe fruit ; but m; some parts of the Waka^nui district it; has gone farther, and killed off miles of' JIYC (WO?9 69 WJprojUjjbl^ tjh'at many!

farmers will have to do again this season what was amongst their first duties when they took possesssion of their farms m the seventies. They had then to fence with sod bank and post and wire, and plant the sod with gorse, ,the matured plants of which weie looked forward to to form live fences m the future. Ibis will have to be done over again, and the cost of it, | added to the losses of an exceptionally ■ bad season, will oause the profit and loss account for the year to be any thing bub satisfactory. Just os m a good year everything looks rosy and goes swinaingly out of sympathy with the fulnass of the barn, so m a bad year there is a drab color bulking m the eye everywhere, and there are many contingencies that «* good year never puts m the way, and are not looked for, and difficulties m financial and other arrangemftits arise for the struggling settler that he does not encounter when Oeres has been wooi d m similing mood. Our prospects are not rosy m some parts of the county we admit ; but our troubles are but as nettle stings to what hundreds of our fallow colonists m other parts of the colony have had to encounter, as farmers know who have read the accounts of the dire disasters bush settlers hare suffered by the appalling fires m the middle of this month. Ash burton's drought difficulties are m Ashburton's own hands to remedy ; for, dividing her area into a suitable gridiron for irrigation purposes, her rivers romp their waters unused to the sea, and if Ashburton is wanting m the enterprise and knowledge to make use of those rivers, then the blame lies at Ashburton's own door. And hard , headed business men m other parts of the colony, learning " the facts of the case, and hearing of the drought, will, if they use not the hackneyed phrase " Serve 'em right," will extend the | consolation of Job's converters. And this is what many of our contemporaries are doing who know the situation, and the dilatoriness of the Ashburton farmers to take advantage of it, And the mention of Job's comforters re minds us that that wise but sadly an fortunate, though ultimately richly blessed and endowed, agriculturist and pastoralist, had as keen an eye for what the land wanted to enable it to yield its abundance as any professor of agriculture of today, and knew what would follow if he failed m his duty to ie ; for the chapter of the book of Job which contains the much-quoted passage "Oh that . . . mine adversary had written a book," closes with these wise words "If my land cry against me or the furrows thereof com plain ; ... let thistles grow in stead of wheat, and cockle instead of barley." '• The seasons are m God's hands," said a pious farmer of our acquaintance on Sunday — a man who holds our very highest respect and esteem ; " and if it is His will that the early and the latter rain be withheld, why should I rebel against Him ami repine V Just so; But did that God fearing roan ever ask himself m whoso hands are the rivers ? Are they not as much m the hands of man as the land itself is? And if God withholds the early and the latter rain and does not withhold the waters of the river, we submit this question for our friend to wrestle with m his conscience : — ls th n neglect to use the waters of those rivers upon the land which feed, the people with its products, not a crime against the mercy of God who keeps those waters flowing, and a crime against the people who expect (that !»'nd to bring forth bread for the pater and seed fqv the sower?" We like a man of strong but not blind faith, for true faith is the result of knowledge, but we have no sympathy with the man whose faith is so blind that he ne Jects to use the gifts God has given. And ' surely water m abundance m the rivers when the fountains of heaven seem dried up is one of the gifts of the Almighty, if He gives any gifts at all. " The sluggard will not plough by reason of the cold ; therefore he shall beg m harvest and have nQthjng '' is one of the proverbs of the |?re£cber. equal force can the sajne bo said of the 1 map or the community of men who neglect irri gation, easily secured, when the very tongue of the land, so to speak, is hanging out for thirst. " The gods help those who help themselves," and whether from apathy, or from fear of the (poet, or from sheer perverseness, or from all three combined farmers decide to remain with their land unirrigated m a gountry jn wh^ch dry seasons are the rule rather than the exception well, they have themselves tq' blame. Had the bush settlers who have so recently been ruined by devastating fires had a remedy as potent to prevent their disaster and lying so closely to their hand as the waters of the rivers of this county are for the farmers who suffer from drought, we feel perfectly sure, with the danger that has at last so terribly overtaken them threatening tbera every summer, the remedy would have been applied long ago, and not a man would ijaye failed the Ayee at the opening poll to raise the I'oan io provide I that remedy at the earliest possible moment. The lesson of the season is one that the great Master frae been teaching for twenty years, and we feel we are saying nothing irreverent when we add that the inapt pupils are suffer ing merited chastisement, the only trouble being the apt are punished equally with the inapt.

Local and General.

♦ An account of the Mount Peel opal fields will be found on our fourth page. . There are fcaid to be seventeen, kinemafco graphs npw be^ng exhibited m New Zealand The Yiofcorian Qoyernn>iept) ;a ordering 5000 Martini Eofield rise's, m 'view of the present warlike outlook. The Bank of Victoria will on April 1§ next pay off with, accrued interest, one.-h*fth of its deferred depoßit receipts. Nearly 50 aliens, mostly Indians, have been granted bawkerß' licenses In the Singleton electorate, New South Walei. Of a sum of £5299, the amount of the last Waimate County rate, only £5 7s Id is now outstanding. A ooETespondjsnt) supplies the subjoined modernised version ;ot/ tha nprspry ditty "Twintle, twinkle little star '*h— " :. Scintillate, sointillate, globule vfvino, Fain would I fathom thy nature specific, Loftily poised m ether capacious, : Strongly resembling the gem oarbonaoeous. 1 Chamberlain's Cough Remedy cures colds | orOup and Whooping-cough/ 7 ' It ii pleasant | safe and reliable. - For Baj|« by Aihburtoo Company ' ' .•-■•.

Information has reached the colony of the death of Mies Rose Alba, the talented soprano, who with her sister toured New Zealand some years ago. The Minister of Lands is inviting owners of blocks ol 15,000 act us iv Wairarapa to submit offers to the Lands Department under the Land for Settlement; Act. The steamship Orissa cleared at the New castle Customs House recently with 7322 tons of coal for Singapore. This is believed to be the largest shipment of coal that has ever left the port m one bottom. The majority of the Chineae who have started laundry operations m Wellington have so far failed to make a sucoess of the business, and sevaral have had to abandon it for the fruit trade or market gardening. The New Zealand Asbeßtos Company, with a capital of £50,000, formed to work the asbestos deposits at Takaka Valley, Nelson, has been successfully floated. The share list waß cver-sub icribed. It is stated that a large number of Wel lington licensed victuallers — recognising how necessary it is to subsoribe to the law relating to Sunday closing— have determined, so far as m them lies, to bring about a total cessation of business on that day. Miss Packer, pupil of Herr Otto Manns, and Professor Ernst Paver, London, reminds the readeis of this paper that she is m Ashburten every Saturday, and gives her address 278 Gloucester Street West, Chriatchurch, on Mrs K. McOwen, Ashbur. ton. In oonneetion with the proposal for the Appointment of a deaconess to the pariah Rev Mr Hamilton announced at the evening service at St Stephen's on Sunday evening that of the sum of £50 required, £10 12s had been forwarded to him voluntarily during last week, and that he hoped the balance would be contributed during the present week. Some months ago some gold prospectors m Alaska oatne across what looked like a lake of oil filled by innumerable springs and surrounded by mountains full of coal. Ex perts say there is enough oil and coal to supply the whole world, and as the lake is near the sea — m fact, m one place the oil ii ooaing into the salt water — export will be easy. A company has already been formed, and the fortunate owners of the property are expecting to make fortunes. The Otago Daily Yimes, commenting on the late railway accidents, says .-—The wide spread nature of the complaints gives rise to an uncomfortable suspicion that maintenance has been neglected, and every penny that could be saved diverted so as to produce a favourable balance-sheet. If it is a fact that the maintenance of the railways is subordin ate to the exigencies of the Government finance, and that m consequence 1 ravelling becomes unsafe upon a hot day, then we say that a bad day's work has been done when the railways were handed over to Government management. Two neighbors at Waipukurau had bulls, one a shorthorn, the other a Jersey. The Jersey broke into the shorthorn's paddock the other night, and next morning both bulls were found lying stretched out on the ground feet to feet, each bleeding from many parts of the body and head. The shorthorn had one horn Bmashed at the stem, and one of its hind legs was broken above the knee. Ultimately it had to be shot. . The other bull, although badly knocked about, suffered less severely, but may yet have to share the same fate. . A peculiar drowning accident is reported from Charlestown, New Soulh Wales. A lad whilst swimming m a wacerhole said, " You watch how I can float on my back," at the same time, turning over on his back. Almost immediately he was seen to sink. The body was found about ten minutes later, but all 'efforts to restore animation were un availing. An examination of deceased's throat revealed the fact that a lolly was em bedded there. It would appear that be had been eating lollies, one of which had Blipped into bis throat, as he turned on his baok, and choked him, The proposed railway deviation and tunnel at the Rimutaka will probably follow the old Hoe of road. The tunnel, which it is suggested should be built, will be about » mile and a half m length, and if the devia tion is carried out the line between Welling ton and Featherston will be shortened by seven miles. It has been c'early shown that, m addition to the saving of time between the city and the country — amounting to about an hour — the saving m the coßt of working and maintenance will more than cover the interest of the proposed work. A gross case of company oppression is reported from London. The Aerated Bread Company this year pays 37£ percent and the dividends for the previou* lour years were 30, 32, 34 and 35 per cent., and there were some bonuses also. The £1 shares are quoted at £12, and a shareholder was hissed down, at the' annual meeting, and ruled out of order by the ohairman because he hinted that the unique prosperity of the company should be accompanied by some rise m the wages for the girls m the shops. The wage for these girls is between 10s and 12d a week for their whole time. A contributor to the Spectator writes : — At Fendalton recently the local parson was addressing a class on the parable of the prodigal sou and at the end of the discourse asked a few questions. Said he : — " But amid all the rejoicing there was one to whom the preparation of the feast brought no joy —to whom the prodigal's return gave no pleasure bub only bitternass-^orie who did not approve of the feast being held* and who had no wish to attend it. Now can any of you tell me who it was t " There was a breathless silence followed by a vigorous cracking of thumbs and then from a dozen sympathetic little genuises came the chorus, " Please sir ! it was the fatted calf." A case with an amusing as well aa a serious Bide has been heard at £>punake. Two Maori women were riding,' accQtnf papied by a dog, when a European settler ' recognising the latter as one that had been worrying hia «heep, knelt pn t\\e ro >d and with a gun fired at the dog through a space between the two horsea. Having missed the poor cur, he plaoad another cartridge m his gun, and again proved himself a poor shot. Then he ordered the the two women to remain where they were while he went and gob some poisoned meat, with which he put an end to the dog's existence. Then the scared horsewomen were allowed to depart m peace. But the ladies had their revenge, for the "crack shot " was charged at Opunake with having obstructed them, and with having discharged firearms m a public street, m contravention of th©> Publjo Works Act, 1894. He was ' fined £1 and 'costs., total amounting to about £5. Jpfr m Time foe Christmas.— ln order to keep "uprto-date '* with our steadily increasing business we have depided to effect considerable alterations to our premises and to make room for the builders we have resolved to greatly reduce our Stock before Christmas. We have therefore culled a largo quantity of our Tweeds and Worsteds, etc, to clear at the following reductions :— Men's suits to measure, usua price 90s, now 70s ; Men's trousers, usual arice 355, now ISs 6d ; eto. We have also aleasure m notifying that we haye |us.t bp.en appointed agents for the famous Lion 1 and "Waverley" Bipyeles (both gents' and ladies'), whion we are now selling with all the " up-to-date " improvements at the lowest cash prices, or on the moßt liberal terms to suit the convenience of our customers. (Every maohine guaranteed). — CjaAiGflKAi) anq B.BBBYMAN, thn leading Tailors and Outfitters. 1 ' " " ' J

The petroleum bore at Moturoa has now reached 1785 ft, and the indications are improving. Mary Carr, boarding-house keeper, Inver cargill, was on Saturday Sued £100 on two oharges of sly grog selhug. The colonial mails of December 27, which left Auckland m the Alameda, arrived iv London on January 27, one day late. The Rev. E. Walker, late of the New Zealand Alliance, has been asked to go to Sydney to assist the editor of the Australian Christian World and to act as editor of the juvenile paper Young Folk He leaves for Sydney early m March, on the expiry of his present six months' engagement at Newtewn. A few days before the Wellington rifle corps went into camp at Newtown Park an application was made to the Defence De partment for sufficient straw for the men to lie upon. The application was refused, al though the Department had plenty of straw m store, and was using it to bed the horsea at Mount Cook barraoka. At a meeting of the Agricultural and Pastoral Association, at Hawera, a letter was read from the Department of Agri cultural stating that the question oi com pensation for diseased stook destroyed w«uld have every consideration during the recess,* and that m all probability a bill would be introduced early next session. A . Feilding telegram of Saturday's date says : — The high wind which prevailed yesterday caused the log fires to spread rapidly m bhe vicinity of Cheltenham and to within a few miles of Feilding. A con siderable amount of fencing has been destroyed, and the danger to the homesteads is not yet over. At Bpiti and Waituna the fires have also oaused much trouble, and iv a number of instances women and children had to be removed to places of safety. A Christohurch volunteer company went into camp recently, and before striking tents arranged for a little sports meeting. One of the events was to be an obstacle race, and one of the obstacles a culvert. The limit man tried the obstacle beforehand, but mid way m the culvert he stuck, and could ' neither advance nor retreat. The onlookers had some difficulty m palling their fat comrade out of the culvert by the legs, and the obstacle race was dropped from the pro* gramme. The question of free railway passes was discussed at the Wairarapa, Rifle Associa tion meeting at Greytown. After consider able discussion Mr Buchanan said there had been a stubborn Sight against the Govern ment this session to gain the passes for rifle volunteers, and he was sorry to say the proposal had been crushed, but ib would undoubtedly come forward again next session, when he hoped to be. able to tell them of the proposal being carried. Mr L. Cockayne, who returned to Christ church from the Weßt Coast on Saturday, spent some time m tbe Otira Gorge making some interesting researches, the result of ■which goes to disprove the popular opinion that the devastation caused by bush fires is permanent. In a spot where a fire oconrred some seven years ago Mr Cockayne discovered new growth of vegetation, which m time will equal, if not surpass, the old bush m luxuriaßce and beauty. A paper on Mr Cockayne's researches will be read at the Philosophical Institute. The Wanganni Chronicle records the death of Daniel Shea Lawlor, who was well-known iv Southland from the fifties until about fifteen years ago, when he left for the North Island. The deceased gentleman had j attained the advanced age of 77 years Among many other rather daring feats of his younger days he was credited with i having crossed tbe dreaded Waiau on horse bick. He filled the office of Resident Magistrate ac Riverton for some years m the sixties, and was widely known and re spected among old identities Mr D. Shea Liwlor was for some time sheep inspec'or m the Ashburton district, and being a Justice of the Peace very frequently sat on the local bench. Apropos the Oxford bush fires, the Spectator bells the following story which it says is only too true:— Near Birch Hill a party were campiog, the leader ot which was a ' lady ' of ' culohah,' and a daughter of a big runholder. The men engaged at the sawmill saved the lives -or at any rate aaw i that they were safe — of the party, and a lot of their own things were sacrificed m conee ! quence. The • lady 'showed her gratitude by taking a policeman with a search warrant and searching every one of their houses for stolen goods, needlesß to say ! without success. On the whole those bußhmen and mill hands have a bad im pression of ' ladies ' of ' culohah '. so far as gratitude is concerned. A fire occurred m the Allenton district on Sunday afternoon, by which tbe four-roomed house ef Mr 3. Sheehan was totally destroyed, and nothing m the . shape of furniture saved. Mrs Shethan went out about six o'clock' to do the afternoon milking, and while engaged m this work her little children told her that the house was on fire. The fire then had a good hold, and though willing hands were soon on the spot, and did what they could, the case was hopeless from the beginning. Water was carried m buckets from the cteek some six or seven chains away, but it would have been all the same had the creek be- n close at hand. No alarm was given m the towD, a belief exist ing that the fire brigade does not attend fires m Allenton. This is wrong, as the Upper Ashburton Road Bjard has an agree ment with the Borough Council for the brigade's services m the Allenton ward. As the fire, later on, was still a source of danger to neighboring houses, the brigade was Bent for and soon extinguished the smouldering embers. The house was insured, but .there was no insurance on the furniture. Visitors and others at the Ashbdrton rail way station will have noticed that a penny m the slot machine has been erected by the wall near the booking office, and f hat it has been the- centre of attraction for the past few days of all the boys m the township, knots pf whom Burroun4 it, and expend all their ingenuity m getting it to give up its treasures of chocolate and hotter scotch, but m vain. The maghine will yield its sweets only when a peuny is put m th,e slat. Bat the genius of the small boy whose pocket is without the necessary penny seeks to rise above the limitations of the iron machine, and he has been using washers, pieces of rounded sheet lead, and all sorts of imitations of the chief bronze coin of the realm. Never once ■ has the tnaohine answered to the insertion of a bogus penny, but when a piece of soft lead is put m and the machine asked to respond, the mechanism is. apt to be interfered with, and sometimes does not work inconsequence. Mr Marsden, to whose enterprise the boys are indebted for the novelty of a penny m the Blot machine on the public platform, has had to clear -the' slots several times of leaden obstructions, and wishes £o point out that he will have boys severely punished by law who thus damage the machine. The mephanism is so perfect tha.t only a coin of bhe'size and weight of a penny will induce the lever to work and deliver the ooveted paqket ef sweets. This fact, however, will soon make itself patp.pt to the. lads, whose repeated failures will be to them the experience which teaches fools.

Fatal Yaching Accident.

Press Association— Sy Eleotrio Telegraph Wellington, January 30. A sad y ash ting aooideat, involving the ieath of Mr W. R. MoKmstrey, well known m aquatic circles, and the total loss of the yaohc Novice, 8 tons, occurred m the harbor, on Saturday afternoon. The Novfte, which was taking part m the fjrst alaas handicap yacht rape, Ws running off Point Haswefl in'pompariy with the Jris, 2} tons, whep, for gome pause which has not been made clear, a collision took nlaoe. The Jris ran into the Novice amidships, tearing out part of her side, with the result that bhe latter sank m a few moments. Her Drew numbered eight. All, with the excep tion of McKinßlrey, jumped into the water iad were rescued by those on board bhe [r is, although feveral of them had narrow Bscapes, but MoKinatrey, wha waß unable bo'swim, atucls tq the and. wqnb down tribh her, N6th|ng was aeen of him after? ward» f The Noyioe was a new boa r t f having been built this season by a eyndioate of young fellows. Mr McKiostrey, who was thirby>five years of ag«,- leaves a wife and four ohildren, 9ii body bat not yeb been reoofwidi . " ■• ■ ■,

ROAD BOARD.

♦ Itaiigitata. ~ The usual monthly meeting of the Rangitata Road Board was held on Thuri day, January 27. Present— Meesra Harper (chairman), Wright, Tarbotton, and Kellock. Leave of absence was granted to Mr Taylor. The overseer reported that the contractor for No. 1 oontraot at Anama bad not started work.— lt was decided to give him seven days to commence the work, otherwise the Board would cancel the contraot and write , fresh tenders. I Roads were reported to be m bad order throughout the district owing to dry weather, and the wind blowing aw>y the soil and leaving the stones on the surfaoe.— It was decided to defer all except urgent road works for the present. The Clerk was instructed to write to the County Engineer, re some repairs at the Rangitata bridge cutting. Outstanding rates were ordered to be sued for. Aooounts amounting to £38 16s 3d were passed for payment and the Board adjourned.

Tinwald Tows Board.

The monthly meeting of the Tinwald Town Board was held on Friday last. Present— Mesari E. Gates (ohairman), C. Doherty, T. Williams, M. Lagan, and J. M. Hampton. BY-LAWS. The Board's solicitor wrote, itatiog that one person had been proseouted for breach of bylaws. WEEKLY HALT- HOLIDAY- The Department of Labor wrote regarding the weekly half -holiday.— The Chairman stated chat at the conference of -delegate* from the local bodies, it had been decided that the weekly half-holiday- be Than day. The Clerk was instructed to reply accord* ingly. EXPENSES Of LICENSING. The Ashburton County Council forwarded account for expenses of licensing committee. — The amount was ordered to be paid. BY.-LAWB. The Inspector reported having issued fuither summonses tor breaches of the by laws, which would be heard next Thursday. STOCK DRIVING. It was resolved to place notice boards at Carter's Terrace, b'uleyards, and Lagmhor, cautioning pet eons against driving stock along Archibald street. POSTAL DELIVERY; Full power was given to the Chairman to take what action he thought necessary with reßpect to the proposed postal delivery. accounts. The accounts having been passed for pay* meat, the meeting adjourned.

CYCLING.

■ ♦ ■ Preia ABBooiation — By Electric Telegraph, Copyright. Sydney, January SO. From a standing start Platt-Betts covered a mile m lrain 48ieo, beating his preTloni Australasian record by l£seo.

THE WEATHER.

» .. ■ . ALFORD STATION. . The following is the meteorological repor for the week ending Jauuary 28, 1898 :—

Brutal Assault and Robbery.

Press Association—By Electric Telegraph Napibr, January 29. A brutal assault and robbery took place m Market street shottly before midnight. William Gardner, a waiter at the Criterion Hotel, was set upon, knocked down and robbed of £5. Gardner was found lying m the street insensible at two o'olook this morning. An examination showed a severe wound on the back of the head, rendering his removal to the hospital necessary.

OBITUARY.

«! . .. — Sir Thomas Alexander. We have to record the death, which occurred at one o'clock yesterday, at his residence at Allenton, of Mr Thomaa Alexander, at the ripe age of eighty years. Mr Alexander had been ailing for over a twelvemonth, suffering from a complaint for which eighteen years ago h« underwent what was then supposed to be a successful operation. Some germs of the trouble had, however, apparently been left, and tin disease reappeared as stated, terminating fatally as above. The old gentleman bore the pain of his complaint heroically and with but little murmuring, and passed quietly away when the end came. He was born m County Down, Ireland, m }QlB, He was by trade a wh,e<§ lwright and 'oar? penter, but he conjoined witlrtbis boiingss, his wife assisting m it, that of general store keeper, la 1874, when the fame of New Zealand's progress was spread far and wide by Vogel'a celebrated public works and immigration policy, Mr Alexander decided to aeek our shores for a future home. '. and with his wife and seven children took passage m the ship Dunedini' then making her first voyage. Arrived at I^ytteU too, he and Mrs Alexander made their resi dence at Papaaui for a time, the sons coming straight on to Ashburton, inhere Robert aft once took up land at Mitoham. When the brothers Alexander went upon the farm at Lauriaton which they ao long occupied, the old father went there to live with them, and there he resided till six years ago when the family removed to Allen ton, to the house m which he died. He leaves a widow and his seven grown up sons and daughters— namely, Meßsra Joha Alexander, farmer; Robert Alexander, of the Railway Refresh* menb Booms ; Thomas Alexander, one of the Club stewards ; and Samuel Alexander, the well known ' trainer ; Mrs Cairns, Papanui { and Mssdames Stewart and Cook* Temaka.. The funeral takes plaioe afc'b*K' past tw.o Sfco-rhorrow for the ' Asnoairtoh cemetery, where Rey. G. Is. Ing^s will OQny duct the services, " ': ' " j

SPORTING.

, TAKAPUNA RACES. Press Association — By Eleotrio Telegraph— Takapona Racecoubsb, January 29 Concluding results : — Takapuna Cup, oi 250 aovs ; one mile and a half— Coronet 1, Waiorongomai 2, Pan opoly 3. Time— 2.4o4- Dividends— £s 5s and £5^ An interesting raldeV Coronettbetlfc Waiorongomai by half a length. . • a Calliope Handicap, of 60 soy» ; six furlonga— St Ursula 1, Diyntree 2, Rox»na 3. Time— l.2o4. Dividends— £7 Is and £6 10a. FiasT Handicap Hurdles, of 75 «ovs; 2miles<r*PatißyT, MUs Nelson ?, Kor%wei| 3. Time— 3 59. ' Dlvidends^-f}3 9s and £3 iq 8 . ■■' ' ' : % ' * - Fjrst Poky Handioap, of 50 Bovsj six furlongs — Mangakawa 1, Nora 2, Dot 3. Time— l.2o. Dividends -£ls 12a and £17 7s. Stewards Handicap, of 60 soys ; six far* longs— Rex 1, LI lie 2, MUs Anna 3. Tim* 1 17. Dividends— £4 9 3 and £5 Bs.

TIE AFfifitntTON GUAJKDIAN: MONDAY, JANUAJRY 31, 1898.



Shade. Hjgh But 9 Date. -—-—-—— m of Low. High Sun weather. i. — .— » -___..— ' Saturday.. 57- 99- 120- Fine N.W. Sunday .. 52' 78' 90- Fine.N.E. Monday ..44- 93- 103- „ Tuesday ..50' 79 85- „ „ Wednesday 54- 70' 74- „ „ Thursday.. 50' 92- 110' „ NWtoSW Friday .. 44- 77- 98- „ N.W.



Hqllo\vat's IhjAs. — Nervousness and wan{> of Energy.— When first the nerves feel unstrung, and liotlesaness supplants energy, the time has gome tp take some such alt. na- tive as Holloway's Pills to restrain a disorder from developing itaelf into a disease These excellent Pills correot all irregularities and weaknesses. They aot so kindly, yet so energetically on the functions of digestion nd assimilation, that the whole body is rovived, the blood rendered purer, while the mu^oles become firmer and stronger, and the nertroujr and absorbent aystenjs are jnyigp- rated, These Pills ape suitable foe all classes and all ago. They have a most marvellous effect on persons who are out of condition ; they soon rectify whatever is m fault, restore strength to the body &nd confidence to the mind. ■ ■ ..." ; !*',



Keating's Powdkb destroys bugs, fleai, moths, beetles, and all other insert*, whUe,]) quite harmless fco domea'tip ,»njmal|i,i In exterminating beetles the buooojssv of tbjq powder is extraordinary. It is perfectly clean m application. Bee the artiple, you. purchase is " Keating's," at imitations art noxious and inoffeotual. Sold m tins, 6d, \% and. 2a each, by all Qh^mUtti . .



Business Notices. t j o it- 2 . < 9 Hi -i a- S ■ 255 * s g w 1 9 . « • tr 5- • o Q q < « >r I W F£] «1 a) N '^ J 1 § O H - J ' :^: I nofjbepersf/adecffo I CEyiOJV Ofi ßlfflfifb TFJSI TAeyarepuredn(/mO/esome\ la/yesfsa/em/fitt/fa/as/d\ I » SOLD BY ALL GROCERS J Church Services T. STEPHEN'S CHURCH ABhburton. TUESDAY— TeaoherB* Meeting, 730 p.m. THURSDAY— Meeting of Parishioners m the Schoolroom, 7. 30 p.m. FRIDAY — Short Service, 7.30 p.m.; Choir Practice, 8 p.m. SUNDAY SERVICEB February 6. JLI a.m.r-Morning Prayer and Holy Com- munion. " * 3 p.m. — GreenstreeA;. 6.30 p.m.— Evening Prayer. REV. T. A. HAMILTON.



John Orr & Co. John Or 4& Co. SUGAE. £\ £ TONS PURE CANE SUGAR, very &*J best for jam making and all kinds of preserves } 701 b BAGS 148 od. TEA. 200 BOXES, 51b and lO.b, PURE CEYLON, alio all the leading brands. FLOUR. FORTY TONS FLOUR— | Rollit's Flour, 2001btf .. 24s Od lOOlbs .. 12s 6d i " 50lbs .. 6s 4d „ 251ba .. 3i 3d 40 Tom Bran, 3s 6d per bag ; 10 Tom Sharps, 5s per hag. HAMS AND BACON. ROLLS, SIDES HAMS. Colonial Candles .. 4d per lb. English Parafine Candles 6£d per lb per box Koroaine (150 test) . . 6s 6d per tin, 12s 9d pec case Cornflour . . « « . » 3d per lb Essence of Lemon . • fci ' Worcester Sauce, pints 9d per bottle Esßence of Coffee . . 101 d Sago l^d per lb Tobacco, Nubian squares 4a 6d per lb Oatmeal, p«t 251 b bag .'. 2a 9d Currant 5d Elma Raißinß . . . . 7d Valencia Raisins ... 7d Sultana Raisins — 7d Sicily Almonds .. Is 2d Figs 8d Muscatels •• .«. 8d Jordon Almonds ... 2a 3d Mixed Peel .. .. 8d 2Jlb tins preserved fruit lOd Lemon Squash, English Is 3d Lemon Juice, English ... Is 3d Sardines 4£d Fresh Herrings 6£d per tin Herrings m Tomato sauoe lOd Pressed Hops, per lb ... Is 4d Enos' Fruit Salts . . 3s 3d per bottle Ground Ginger Is 4d per lb Anchovy Paste 8d per tin Citrate of Magnesia . . Is per bottle Sheeps Tongues, best ... lOdpertin FOR THE FRUIT SEASON. Glfcsi Jars, 2s 6d to 3s 6d per dozen. Mason's Screw- top Porcelain Lined Jars. Pints 4s 9d, Quarts 5a 9d, £ Gallon 7s dos Kenriok'a Beat Enamelled Maslin Kettles. 8 Quart 6s, 10 quart 7s 6d, 12 quart 8s 6d. Brass Maslin Kettleß, Drop Handles. 2' Gallon 7s, 2£ g*lloo lls 6d, 3 gallon 13b 6d Steal Enamel Preserving Paps, 2s 6d, $8, 3s 6d, 4s. YOU HAVE HEARD t OP THE WAVERLEY BICYCLE. WE HAVE GOT IT AND CAN SHOW IU TO YOU Ai' ANY TIME. The wise men of the East rode Oamels, but there are far wiser men to«day, WHO BIDE WAVERLEYS. THE WAVERLEY WHEELS Are m the front rank of AMERICAN HIGH GRADE MACHINES. Light, Strong, Speedy, Handsome, and thoroughly up to .date, WAVERLEY WHEELS Are " Built on Honor," and the price is right. ALL MACHINES FITTED WITH ENGLISH PUJSLOP TYRES AND WESTWOOD STEEL RIMS. damps, Balls, Cyclometers, Wrenches, Tyres, Rim?, and all Bicycle Accessories kept m Stock. Repairing done by skilled Mechanics ' And satisfaction guaranteed. John Ori* & Co.



Business Notices: SHEARMAN BROS^ GBOOERS, IRONMONGERS, & WINE AND SPIRIT MKKCHAHTS WINES AND SPIRITS. CROCKtRYWARE. ' CROCKERYWARE. 100 Drzen White and Gold China Cups and Sauoerß .. 6s 6d per dozen gSSBSST&ii"'.. ___ " " £S CSS TEAS. TEAS. TEAS. Mid th« gen«r*l public exceptional value. .. Hlgheib Gride Orwge Pekoe Ceylon Tea 2j per lb _ Fi?.t a— Orange Pekoe Ceylon Tea Jj || £J g Good Full Leaf Pefeoe Ceylon Tea .. KSSS b Ceylon and China Blended Tea t! ?S ££ £ Gooa China Tea .. taWpwlD SAMPLES MAY BE- HAD ON APPLICATION. MAURITIUS SUGAR." MAURITIUS SUGAR. A« Maurltin. Sogar oontaiM far more P^erving Pronertieß than any other Sugar m th. SHEARMAN BROS., GROCERS, IRONMONGERS, AND WINE AND SPIRIT MERCHANTS, MARKET HOUSE, ASHBURTON. Telephone No. 53. TO RESIDENTS BUILDING & FURNISHING. \TTE BEG reßpeofcfally to announce that we nave received, pcr k S.S. *'|lonio ' and "Jtotaura,' very heavy shipmenta for our HOUSEHOLD FURNISHING Depart* ment, viz: — SHEETINGS OURTAINS CARPET SQUARES PILLOW COTTONS QUILTS HEARTH RUGS TOWELS TOILETS OILCLOTHS XABLIR&B MUSLINS LINOLEUMS iN the FANCY DEPARTMENT we are ahowing a fine assortment of new A ftls(4 CLOVES and HOSIERY, direcb from the Leicerter Mills; also some Teiy a^^fa^B^^^toww Zouave B .Boleroß, and Skirt Ornament., »nd an endless variety of Blaok and Colored Gimps. NEW SHIPMENTS OF Dresses, Straws, Mantles. 2 CftSeS ° £ Samples HOSIERY, at LANDED COST. MITCHELL & TURNER. BARGAINS EXTRAORDINARY /TEE AT ANNUAL SALE of Surplus Stock of DRAPERY. CLOTHING. & BOOTS. WILL COMMENCE ON SATURDAY, January 15. IMMENSE DEDUCTIONS. ANDREW ORR. {Telephone— No. 80-1 1888 1808 S. SALEK, THE LEADING JEWELLERY ESTABLISHMENT IN THE DISTRICT Largest Stock Lowest Prices FOR NEW YE A R- 1898 ■: :. SPECIAL LINES at REDUCED PRICES, marked m Plain Figures. Gold Brooches (new and choice deßtgns) at7a9d, 12s 6d, 17a 6d. 20a, upwards.. Silver Brooches from If 6d upwards. Ladiea' and Gentlemen's Gold Links ab 8s 6d,. : l0»j and ipwarda. Ladies' and Gentlemen's Silver Links at 2b 6d, 4s, and fls 6d. Pencil Cases (a fcrge efcook to aeledt from) at 2a 6a, sa, 7s 6d, 10a. Ladies' Ring*, (the largest and fines etoSk ever seen m Ashburton, equal to any m Chnstchurch) ,. f rom one guinea to ten Kinea*. aad upwards. Gentlemen's Tie Pins, neat and taatef ul designs m gold at ss, 7s 6d, 9, 255, also a nice selection of Bmall and. suitable articles at 2s 6d, sa, and 7s 6d. ,«;.. v -■;■■ ' ;x IS CALLED TO THE STOCK OF Gold Brooches and Ladies' Rings. $ beta two lines are Heavily Stocked, and are of the Newesb aad.Ohoiceab Deaijpia. INSPECTION .INVITED } AT S. SALEE'S JBWEL LE R V B 8 TAB LI SHME NT, EAST ? STQCfK AND PBIOE9 X7NEQT7A^BH? Jtf X»8 DI8TBI0T.;