PHASES OP THE MOON.

Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. MONDAY, JULY 18, 1898.

Mr R. Millar, Methven, has received a letter from Mr J. O. Wason, M.H.R, m which lie says — VALUELESS " With reference to CHEQUES. your question at Methven, I have given notice of question herewith, and hope the Government will attend there to." The question on the order paper of the House reads — "Mr Wason to ask Government if they will — ia order to discourage a practice which is growing up of persons keeping small accounts at the bank, and drawing valueless cheques thereon, thereby defrauding storekeepers and others who may be induced to cash such cheques— impress upon the management of the Bank of New Zealand the desirableness of issuing cheques marked ' good ' for a certain amount." There can be no doubt that many people of certainly not large means keep bank accounts for no other reason than the convenience which these afford m the way of cheques, the keeping of their accounts, and probably the safe keeping of their funds. But so often do they " outrun the con stable," that not seldom the accounts arc overdrawn, and cheques have to be held over or returned until the accounts are again m fuuds. This is a serious logs fcp store keepers and others, especi ally m .coantfy districts, and Mr Wason's suggestion is a yery good one, so far as it goes, though it would Joy no means cure the evil. It would mean that the small man*} cheque book instead of being all blank cheques would contain a number representing certain amounts, m the same way that £. bank note represents a certain sum. This jeorjb flf thing would materially add to the work of Jbooj^-kepping m the banks, but it would save all trouble about the value of the cheques pre* sented. There is, however, another side to the question, and that is that no end of trouble would be caused to busi ness mon whose cheques are as good os gold, '/ marked " cheque would, doubtless, be of great service to per sons travelling, who would be saved the trouble of answering questions as to the paper they were tendering m pay ment of hotel and other bills ; but, taken all round, the likelihood is that the question m the House i| the only form the idea will eyer take,

Local and General.

Drunkenness.— Mr W. H. Rule, J.P., £o-day, dismissed with a caution a first offender for drunkenness. Cycle Tax.— A petition ie being numer ously signed m Ashburton againat the proposed tax on bicyoles, a Bill for which Mr Ward has given notice to introduce this cession. More: DRAi-ttßjr Establishments. — It iB reported that a large drapery fjrm m Christ church intend opening a branch m Ashbur ton, and that premises have already been secured. Trout Poisoned by Gas. — A number of trout m the pondu at the Queen's Gardens, aelaon, were poisoned a few days ago by the esoape of coajf gas jrijt.o. the water main which supplied the ponds. "' ; Mr Elisha Berry, of this place, nays he never had anything to do him so much good and give such quick relief from rheumatism as Chamberlain's Pain Balm. He was both ered greatly with shooting pains from hip to puce until he used this liniment, which affords 1 prompt reluf.-H3. F. Baker, drug gUt>, St>. Pane, Qbio, ? j?or wjg by the

Wellington Agricultural Show.— A Press Association telegram from Wellington says : — The canvass for subscribers, upon the success of which depends the continuance of the Agricultural Show, has failed. Land and Income Tax Returns. — The Income Tax Department intends to prose- ) cute persons who did not send m their returns on the due date, July 1, unless the neceisarv documents are forwarded im mediately, j The Dorcas Society.— The annual meet ing of the Asshburtou Dorcas Society lakes place at the Road Board Office, Moore street, at 2 30 p.m. on Friday next, and we are requested to state that all interested m the work are invited to attend. An Awkward Spill.— A cycle agent had an awkward spill near Methven last week. He was crossing a wide water race by the footbridge when he ran off and landed m the raoe. A rather unpleasant wetting was the only inconvenience, as fortunately neither rider or machine received any injury. Tom Pauling, Footballer A Sydney oable says :— ln the football match Metro poles v the Combined Country Unions, the former won by 20 pointa to 8. Hardoastle and Pauling, formerly of New Zealand, played for the viotorg. The former potted a goal, though he played below hia form. Pauling did Bplendid forward work. A Lucky Recovery.— A lady who arrived m Wellington one night lust week unwittingly left a valise containing jewellery valued at some hundreds of pounds m the cab wbich conveyed herself and husband to their hotel. A detective reoovered the jewellery the following morning. The cab man bad not noticed the bag until the morning, and even then did not know of its •ontentß. Port Underwood Lighthouse —Cap- AUman, Nautical Adviser to the Govern" ment, has returned to Wellington from an inspection of the sites proposed for a lighthouse m Porb Underwood. He visited Robin Hood Bay, Porb Robinson, and Ocean Bay, and obtained data regarding the suitability of a suggested site m each of those places. Prize Poultry. — Mr Thomas Breeze, the well-known breeder of Houdans, has jusb received a trio of these birds from one of the besb yards m the United Kingdom. We understand that the cock has taken prizes at the Crystal Palace. We hope Mr Breeza will have good results for next year's shows from his importation, which is the second within the past three years. The introduc tion of new blood is all that is necessary to pub New Zealand poultry breeders m the front rank m annual competitions. The proprietor of the Pelham Poultry Yards has also just received a shipment of prize fowls from one of the leading breeders m New South Wales-— namely, a trio of Golden Wyandottes and a trio of black single comb Orpingtons, both birds being admirable layers and table fowls combined, and there fore well adapted for croBS breeding. Sheep Worrying — It is reported that certain valuable dogs were found worrying a mob of sheep on a farm on the Beach Road lately. Two caught m the act wire shot at, one of which will not be m the game again. The other was hit but escaped. Owners of valuable doga would do well to keep their favorites fastened up, except when under proper supervision, for although no one can blame sheep owners for shooting dogg caught m Jlagrante delicto it is not pleasant to have them shot when doing what merely results from a lack of proper education. Totalisator Permits.— ln connection with Mr Carroll'd suggestion that the Ash burton and Tinwald Racing Clubs should amalgamate and so form one strong Club able to offer a substantial prize list, Mr E. Gates, chairman of the Tinwald Racing Club, his been interviewing Sir George Clifford, chairman of the Racing Conference, that sat laßb week m Wellington. It is under stood that the Conference would be quite willing to favourably consider the granting of three permits for the Ashburton district for the year, but that there i 3 a suggestion that it would be far better for the Ashburton and Tinwald Racing Clubs to amalgamate and make one strong club. The New dear's Day fixture could then still ba held at Tinwald, and a spring and auturnu meeting held on the Ashburton course. The situation i 3 one fraught with Berious possibilities to both clubs, and meetings of both bodies have b^en summoned, and a special general joint meeting will be held at an early date. Business and Gambling — It is not of; en that the Chairman of a large business company m making his annual speeph to the shareholders, steps aside from the usual beaten track of recapitulating what has been done during the year, and the prospects for ( the future. Bub Mr Ensor did this ab the meeting on Saturday of the shareholders of the Canterbury Farmers' Co-operative Association, and this was the departure he made : — " Gambling — 1 regret very much to have to alluue to the item "Defalcations" m the balance sheet. This is the very first time we have been troubled with any dis graceful proceedings of this kind. From what I can learn gambling was at the root of the evil, a vice which appears to be increasing at a very rapid rate. The fact seems to be that the quiet, respectable, Government-sup ported machine, the totalisator, is drawing into its web and coining fifty gamblers, not only men, but women and children, for every one that the noisy boohie wg,s formerly responsible for," The Angling Caups:— We are informed by Mr Shury, bun. secretary of the Ash burton Acclimatisation Society, that he has received a communication from the Lands and Survey Department that the Board has approved of part of Reserve §710, at the mouth of the Rakaia, being set apart as a camping site, whioh will be done as soon as the present lease expires. Abo, the piece of Crown land, approximately two acres, adjoining R.S. 33496 at the mouth of the Ashburton will also be made a camping reserve. The Ash burton Acclimatisation Society has arranged with the present lessee of Reserve 2710 to fence m a paddock for the use of anglers and sportsmen, the Rakaia Koad Board undertaking to make the creek passable tp give easy access. The reserve ab the mouth of the Ashburton is that piece of land on the Tinwald side between the cultivated land, the river, and ocean, the road from the terrace leading on to it. These reserves, although granted at the request of the Ashburton Acclimatisation Society, are really a boon to the whole district, as ib is open to any pionic party to go there, and tether horses, erect a tent or hut; butib dpes not, of course, confer the right bo make use of any t§nb or hub they may find already erected. '' ' Hollo way's Pills and Ointment. — A great injustice is very often done because some self-assertive people imagine it is nexb to impossible to make an error. Shake speare must have made an analytical study of the human heart before he uttered those warning words •• Man know thyself, then others roam to know." This is a lesson we should all try and' perfect oursfllyea m, and when this has been done we have to faoe the significant facb that unless we cultivate good health, prosperity and happiness cannot abide with us. Holloway's Pills will aid us to do this. The most eminent piedical men agree that for the preservation .of good 'health and euro of disease there is nothing to equal them., ' ' When Voi» Hayn a Bail «'ol«J You want the bpsfc medicine that can be obtained, and thai is Chamberlain's Cough Remedy. You want a remedy that will nob only give quick relief bub effecb a permanent cure. You wanb a remedy thib will relieve the lungs and kpep expectoration easy. You want a remedy thajj wjll counteract any tendency toward pneumonia,. ' ' You want a remedy that is pleasanb and safe to take. Chamberlain's Cough Remedy is the only medicine m use that meets all of bheao re quirements. This remedy is famous for its cures of bad colds throughout the United Btateß and m many foreign countries. It has many rivals, but, for the speedy and per manent cure of bad colds, sbands without a peer and its splendid qualities are every where admU-ed and praised. For sale by the ASHBURTON DRUG COMPANY. A rare opportunity for purchasing ab cost price is now to be obtained ab the groat relinquishing sale of boots and shoes now going on at McDonald and MoDiarmid's, Ea»t Street. See sale advertieemenb m mother pact of the paper.

WArEK-SOTELY BILL.

Mr "Wright's Speech m the House. The Premier's Remarks. From "Hansard." Mr Wright, m moving the second reading of this Bill, said it was the outcome of a conference held m Chrlstchurch a few weeks »go of delegates from various local bodies, who were called together to consider what legislation, if any, was necessary m order to facilitate works o{ irrigation throughout the colony, more especially on the Canterbury Plains. The conference discovered that the Water-Bupply Act of 1891 had all the provisions requisite for extended frrigation with the exception of extended borrowing powers, and they had certain clauses drafted and embodied m the Bill to give those extended borrowing powers, and to do away with some cases of delay that now occurred between the time when a body of ratepayers m any distriot resolved that they wanted irrigation and the time when they could record their wishes at the poll. When the Bill came out of the hands of the conference it waa intrusted to the care of four repre sentatives of this Chamber to pilot through Parliament, and he thoughb they would have a very easy task before them. But irrigation was not the only question involved ; there was the question of drainage. Large areas of land m Canterbury had been drained at very large expense, and the owners of those properties were naturally apprehensive that if large bodies of water were turned over the plains at the higher levels their lands might again become water-logged. In this con nection he was present when a deputation waited on the Hon. Mr Rolleston, requesting him to introduoe Borne clause into the Bill of a protective nature to guard their interests. That provision will be found m the last clause of the Bill. The necessity for further borrowing powers arose m this way : The Water-supply Act gave ample borrowing powers ; ib enabled County Councils to borrow for irrigation purposes to half the value of the land to be included m any irri gation district, which would be more than sufficient • but that provision was m conflict with the previsions of the Public Works Acb, which limited the borrowing powers of County Councils to four times their annual income when they levied their maximum rate, and this Bill was therefore promoted to get over the difficulty. Perhaps he would best explain the Bill by running briefly over the clauses. Clause 3 would have the effect of shortening proceedings by fourteen days. Clause 4 was to save loss of time m retraciDg j steps when a district has already been divided. This was a clause which would not often come into operation, but it was required to overcome a difficulty m the Ashburton County. One large district was, seven or eight years back, subdivided into two, and, whilst the Water-supply Act made provision for subdividing an existing district ib made no provision for constituting one irrigation district out of portions of two other districts, and owiog to the want of such provision they had to spend three months m retracing their steps and reuniting a divided district. Clause 5 provided that alterations might be made m boundaries before any special order had been adopted. At the present time settlers were often at variance as to whether their lands should be included m an irrigation district or not. Wheu they had presumably made up their minds as to what they wanted, the Council proceeded to define a district ; then, possibly, some changed their minds, and if they could fairly be excluded theCouncil had togive way and begin de novo. Clause 5 was intended to overcome the consequential delay. Clause 6 was to allow owners, who felt that they were | prejudiced by the proposal to include their lands m an irrigation block, to go to the - Court of Appeal. Clause 1 was to remove ■ a doubt that existed as to whether the pro i visions of section 192 of the Counties Act ; overrode the provisions of the Water-supply i Act, The Water-supply Act was passed i many years subsequent to the Counties Act, i and presumably the provisions of that Act s should prevail ; but the two Acba were m i oonfliot as to the borrowing powers, and ; this clause was intended to seb the doubt at ; rest. As to clause 8, under the powers of i the Water-Eupply Act any County Council > which constituted an irrigation district and s wanted to raise money might create deben ; turea and dispose of them m the open market. They had however no power, if they wished to temporise and hold back the 5 debentures from sale for a while, to hypo thecate those debenture?, so as to raise ■ money temporarily m order to proceed ( with the work. When he said they had no , power to hypothecate the debentures, he ' meanb that they had no power to do it c directly ; they, however, had power to i appoint agents to do it. They could appoint, say, two of their own members, or they might appoint a bank, to acb as their agents , for thß sale of the debentures, and m that . case there was no impediment m their way. \ But that involved commission and extra | expense ; and the clause, as drafted, was * intended to extend to the County Council f itself the power which could be exercised by | appointing agents. Clause 9 provided for arbitration, m case any dispute arose f between the contending local bodies as to ! who had the better right to the water of | any river. Although no such disputes had , arisen up to the present time, he could see fhat a few years hence such disputes might: arise The Ashburton County waa pretty [ well absorbing the water of the Ashburton . River now, and presently would be drawing i largely from the Rangitata, to the extent cf i about 116,000,000 gallons per day. It also i contemplated carrying outworks that would draw upon the Rakaia to a still greater , extent. And, as the Selwyn Council con i templated making provision for irrigation ' upon an extensive scale, there might be a dispute as to who was entitled to the : largest quantity of water. This clause pro vided for arbitration m such cases. Clauses 10 and 11 were of doubtful importance. They were inserted m the ' Bill at the request of the Selwyn County , Council, "who felt that they were not armed with all the powers they required to recover i moneys due for the maintenance of water : r .068. They had found no difficulty of ihat kind m the Asbburton County, and he was i advised that these were provisions of i doubtful utility! Still, jbhey would do no harm, and were inserted m the measure at the request of the solicitor to the Selwyn County Council. The last claußO, No 13, was as follows : — "In every oase where any County Council or Water-supply Board constructs or maintains any water-race ib shall be the duty of such Council or Board to prevent low-lyiDg lands being thereby flooded, water-logged, oc otherwise injuriously affected." This waa inserted to meet the requirements of thoße settlers who apprehended that their properties might be prejudiced by extensive irrigation works, and they were quite right m seeing that their interests m that direction were protected, because they had spent on drainage works a larger sum of money than possibly would be expended m irrigation ; and it was nob reasonable lhafc one class of settlers' should undertake works to the pre judice of another class. He begged to move the second reading of the Bill. Mr Seddon said, as to the desirability of an amendment of the law, and of Parlia jweub aoaisting irrigation, there could be no doijbt I£e thought juhe'leaßon ihat had been taught this colony during the last year was one that should never be forgotten. His fear was that \\ they gob a favourable season or two the losses pf last season would be to some extent forgotten, and the nepes sary sohemes required m differenb pares of the colony might be for some years deferred. The honourable member, io introducing the Bill, had explained its provisions, but a very gi'e£>t qealj he thought, turned on the main question—ithab of finance. If honourable I members would look at the BUI they would find there that m the firat plnce there was a limit as to the extent of the borrowing power?— namely, «• one-half" of the value of the Janda within the district or subdivision. He thought there ought to be a limit ;' make the limit a liberal one if they liked, but there ought to be a limit. Parliament has safeguarded the county ratepayers under the o™ Bodieß Loana Acb ' he thought it was £6000 m any one year to a County Council. Aft^t would be useless m raspeot to the irri gaUon* requirements ; bub hjs had expeoted the honourable member to tell thd House the amounb thab would be required would be &TC f IOO ' 000 ' m ««> counties or 2f Swi* .u, w^?, moving m the direotion Of pf)t(a« thlaßfll f M9 ,<l, £ 9 id fchw;

was a necessity for a limit for other reasons : for instance, if they took one-half the value of the land, -say ib was a district that was heavily mortgaged to the Government under the Advances to Settlers Act, — they would then give the power m this Bill to mortgage and to have a first claim, he took it, up to oue-half the value of the land. There might be a dunger from thab source. He thought the amount asked for was somewhat ex cessive, but it was the law at the present time. Whether the powers given were excessive or not he was not m a position to Bay, but under ordinary circumstances it was just a question as to whether the un encumbered value of the lands had a right to be taken into consideration or not. That it might give an additional value to land when the irrigation scheme was completed wenb without saying. Ha be lieved it would, but he was only speaking of his own impressions. He was favourable to the Bill. He was favourable to any irri gation scheme, as he felt that it would do good not only to the districts concerned, but also to the colony ; but it was his duty, as the head of the Government, to point out m respect to any legislation thab came before the House where there was any danger. There was something to safeguard, and which he thought should be introduced m the Bill, and which he had of late years in troduced m Bills giving borrowing powers — namely, the maximum rate of interest which should be paid. That was not provided for m the Bill as it now stood. He thought, also, the powers of the agents would require careful consideration m Committee. There were certain powers provided for m the original Act, and certain limitations. After casually reading this Bill, and that parti oular clause, he questioned very much whether the extension did not to some ex tent remove the restrictions made m the original Act. It was perhaps capable of ex planation ; but as he read it the powers now given to the agents — it might be to the County Council itself— seemed to him to be really an extension of the powers provided under the original Acb. He simply drew attention to that particular clause, and to the power contained therein, and he would ask honourable members to consider the clause themselves. The honourable gentle man had mentioned that there was a clause m the Bill dealing with borrowing powers, and which, after consultation with him (Mr Seddon), and after going into the matter, he thought was desirable' should he with drawn from any Bill introduced by a private member. The question naturally would be asked m respect to the raising of these moneys. What assistance, if any, was the State prepared to give 1 He, for one, looked upon any irrigation scheme as being of national as well as of local importance ; and whilst he should keep well within reasonable bounds as to increasing the liability of the State or the public indebtedness of the colony and its responsibilities, yet he did tbink there were cases where the State might step m and use its credit to keep down the rate of interest, and thereby assist not only the local body bub the whole of the people In the colony. He thought no one could reasonably say that the colony was not interested m the whole of the looil government and m works of a permanent character, and which would be for the bene fit of the people for all time. He < thought it must be admitted that posterity would profit by what had been done by the , Government, and also by local bodies ; and when they came to consider the rate of interest at which the State could raise ■ moneys, and the rate of interest being ; paid at the present time by local bodies for the construction of works m the past, and m the present, and which they would pay iv the future, and that i these works were of national as well as of local importance, {and that they were i there for all time— ib did appear to him . that there was _ something wrong when , local bodies were paying 5 per cent , whilst the State could raise the money at 3 per cent. Ib was only the faot that so much had been made against the Government as > to increasing the indebtedness of the colony I that had debarred the Government from doing something to relieve the ratepayers of ■ t this incubus of 2 per cent interest which they were paying at the present time, which, I as he Eaid, to a great extent injured the ; looil bodies, and at the same time injured • the whole colony. If they thought of the [ large amount being sentannualiy out of th.o [ country m interest by local bodies — taking the local bodies' debts outskle the Goveru ! ment — it seemed to him a matter of great I concern whether that should continue. That ! brought him to this phase of the question : . In this case money was required for irriga , tion works, which were of national as well [ as of local importance : Why should not , the State iv that cisc assist ? The Govern , ment had come to the conclusion thab ib was y well to leave the details of administration , and the working to local bodies ;at the same time, he thought the State might raise the ' money 8 and lend them to Ihe local bodies , for the purpose of these works, ju3t as they ■ raised moneys at the present time for the purpose of lending. to the local bodies under k the Governmenc Loans to Local Bodies Acts, , and under the Loc%l Bodies Loans Acts. If I the safeguards were inserted m this Bill, , just as we had them m the Acts under which . they would borrow from the Government — ( safeguards to prevent large amounts being , borrowed by County Councils and Road [ Boards and other local bodies, either under I the Government Loans to Local Bodies Act . or the Loans to Local Bodies Acb, and which ; limited the total amount which these bodies , could borrow — if such a clause was introduced , into this Bill it would make ib useless, , because the amount required could not be [ raised. The £6,000 maximum would be use , less m the way of meeting the requirements [ under this Bill tor that particular part of , Canterbury. Therefore they would have to , give extended powers. It was well under- L stood that at twenty-six years, and money ( at 5 per cent, that waß practically lending 1 the local bodies their money at 3 per cent. , The difference was made up by the State. An hon. member. -^-The local bodies pay 2 per cent, | Mr Seddon said thab actuarial calculations , showed that local bodies practically got their money at 3 per cent. If you extended the ', period for the repayment from twenty-six to forty-two years there might be a chance of ; reducing the amount from sto 4£ per cent., but if you kept the extinction of the debt to ! the twenty-six years the local bodies were having the money practically at 3 per cent. He woa prepared to ask Parliament to ' oonsider the advisability of having speoial legislation for aid to local authorities for irrigation purposes, and to give them the same facilities as they had under the Govern ment Loans to Local Bodies Acts, or the Local Bodies Loans Acts, and that the State might borrow— he used the words now advisedly— thab the State should have the power to borrow an amount per annum for the purpose of lending to these looal bodies having control of the irrigation sohemes. That, of course, was the only way. Out of ordinary revenue and moneys ib would be impossible to extend the borrowing powers of these looal bodies for irrigation purposes sufficiently. They had not sufficient money to meet it, and ab present ib took something like from £83,000 to £84,000 a year bo find moneys to lend to the local bodies under the j existing Jegisjation. It would only be fool irig-^-he Used a Btrong term— it would be only fooling those m Canterbury and m other parts of the colony where irrigation schemes were necessary, were he to simply say, "AH right j leave the clause m the Act, and then come to the Government." The question must be dealt with on broad — and ne hoped, sufficiently broad— lines, and he did not think they would be doing ariythiog wrong if they used the credit of the colony, and gaye those m the several localities the advantage of that oredib. Bub he would naturally be asked, what would compensate the State for doing so? He replied, the State would be compensated by the direot advantage of having increased products to carry upon the railways. If honourable members wou'd only calculate whao has been lost this year to the railways through loss of products, they would find that the colony, by this alone, would ba more than compensated for any risk run m allowing the credit of the polony to be used tor the benefit of this scheme. Then, again, there were other qol'atere? advantages. There were thrifty farmers m districts on light lands who lost the savings of many years by one or two bad seasons, and m consequence found them selves m reduced circumstances. In this way their spending-power was greatly impaired, and, indire'pt'y of course', the State duftererl a loss of revenue. He eald; looking ab this question entirely from a national vtandpoinb, and desiring bhab the Legislature should deal with ib ai a. mutter of imperative necessity,

he would advise that they should pass the second reading of the Bill, safeguard it m tho manner he had indicated, and later on the Governme?it would give the House an opportunity of dealing with the question and of raising the finance, so as to enable the local bodies to get the money at a cheaper rate than they could otherwise if they had not put such an act on the statute-lnok. He supported tho second reading of the Bill Mr Wright wished the Housa clearly to understood that no demand was made by this Bill for assistance from the public chest. All it sought to do was to remove the impediments that now existed to borrow ing. OJhe people who were so desirous of irrigation were quite prepared to pay all the charges incidental to the work, and they asked tha colony for nothing. It was true that if the Premier carried out hia promise to provide money at 3 per cent, they would be thankful for it, but they did not come to, m any way, seek a subsidy from the Govern ment. As to the special necessity for irri gation m Canterbury, this Bill applied to the whole colony, and there were other parts besides Canterbury thab would be glad to make use of it. He might a8 well point out that it was nob entirely owing to the drought of the last two years that this irrigation question oame to the front. Canterbury, it was well known, had a much shorter rain fall than the greater part of the colony. ]n , Canterbury, and also m Otago, the normal rainfall was about 24 inches m the twelve months ; whereas m parts of the west coast of the Middle Island, and the west coast of , the North Island, the rainfall was four or , five times that, as much as 133 inches m tho year m aome parts ; and, although the want [ of water was especially felt during the last two years, there were very few seasons ia Canterbury when a good soaking from irri* gation would not be of immense value to tho crops. The lodces during last year for want lof sufficient rainfall m Canterbury alone could only be reckoned by hundreds of thou* Bands of pounds. Bill read a second time.

CORRESPONDENCE.

(We do not hold ourselves responsible for Uu opinions expressed by our correspondents)

PRAMS IN THE DOMAIN.

TO THE EDITOB. Sir,— Now that new fenoing is being erected ab the Domain, it ia to bo hoped that provision will be made for the passage of perambulators into this favorite recreation ground. It ia rather awkward to have to lift the vehicle over the fence or go a lone way round to find an opening. Hoping this little matter will receive due attention,— I au, etc., Looking Ahead.

SPORTING.

W.R.O. WINTER MEETING.

United Presß Association— By Electric Telegraph mv *i. • Wellington, July 16 ±ne following concludes our report of the Wellington Racing Club's Winter meet ing : — Winteb Oats Handicap, of 100 soys • one mile.— Sing Song 1, Indian Shot 2, Ruamahunga and Female Franchise dead heat. Eight started. Won by a length. Time— l.42. Dividend— £lo. Final Handicap Hurdle Kace, of 100 soys j li mile — Marina 1, Dante 2, Secrecy 3. Eight started. Won easily. Time— • 2.55. Dividend— £s 3b. Final Handicap Hack Race, of 50 soys ; six furlongs.— Swordfish 1, Penroae 2, Tap low 3- Eighteen started. Won by a length and a half. lime-1.23§. Dividend— £3 14s.

CANTERBURY JOCKEY CLUB.

The following handicaps have been pub liahed for events at the Canterbury Jockey Club's Grand National Meeting : New Zealand Grand National Steeple chase Handicap, of 650 soys ; three milea and a half.— Plain Bill 11-13, Opai 11-6, Rhino 11-5, Dummy 10-13, Nor'-weat 10-13 Muscatel and The Friar 10-12, Dante 10 9 Violence 10-4, Kobin 10 3, Morag 10-2. Booties 10 0, Tally-ho 913, Strathbraan 9 12, Magpie 9-11, Toriki9-10, Claymore 9-9, Dromedary, Great Britain, Te Kooti, Coast guard, Ned Kelly, Reindeer, Barbarossa, Kanaka, Riot, Beggarman, and Huntingdon y- 1 • Sultador and Highlander were scratched. Tangaroa and Sinner have not paid entry fees. New Zealand Grand National Handi cap Hurdle Race, of 500 sovb ; about two milea.— Plain Bill 12-3, Missfire 12-2, Opai 11-13, Ilex 11-8, Dummy 11-6, Dante 11-2, Umslopogaas and Social Pesfe 10-13, Toriki 10-12, Torpina 10-11, Boreas and Nor'-weab 1010, Cannonshot 10 8, Muscatel 10-7, Golden Plover 10-6, Magazine 10-5, Strath braan 10-3, Moooraker 10-2, Raby Twisb 10-0, Tally-ho 9-13, Opou and Ned Kelly 9-12, Headford, Voltigenr, Dundee and Nicholas 9 11, Kanaka 910, Secrecy and Light 9-9, Hussar 9-8, Lobo 9-7, Napoleon 9-3, Stanley, Sea Serpent, Voltaire, Splinter, Sb Vincent, South Pacific. Izal, Off Chance. Avant Garde, Barbaroasa and Slaiden 9 0. Sultador and The Artist were scratched. Tangaroa and Pistol Grip have not paid entry fees. '

THE EASTERN SITUATION.

The Black Flags.

United Press Association— By Electric Telegraph— Copyright. Received Wakapuaka July 17, .95 a.m Guabdian Office, 9 40 a.m. London, July 17. A Reuter's telegram states that the members of the New Ohina Party ara largely joining the Black Flag rebellion m Kwang-si provinqe.

THE LATEST.

Hom e and Foreign.

United Press Association— By Electrio Telegraph— Copyright Received Wakapuaka "July 18, 8 55 a m Guardian Office 9.32 a.m. America and Canada. Washington, July 17 President McKinley has appointed Senator Dingley and four other gentle men as commissioners to adjust the relations between America and panada- Received Wakapuaka July 17, 9.6 a. « Guardian Office 9.40 a.m. : Klondike Goldfields. Vancouver, July 17 The total yield of the Klondyke, goldfields this summer is variously estimated at between twelve and thirty million pounds.

THE AShBOMON, foUARDJAft MONDAY, JUL/ 18, iB9B



JULY. •D H M Full moon „ .... 4 842 am Last quarter ..„ ... 11 413 am New moon .«. .- 19 717 am Firat quarter ._ ... 27 110 am



Don t Cough.— Relief can be obtained immediately. Oae " Keating's Cough Lozenges'— well known as the utterly unrivalled Cough Remedy. Stronplv recommended dy many eminent phyaiohls i lney at once check the cough and remove the cause without any after effect ; the moab delicate can therefore take them. One Lozenge alone gives ease— one or two at bed time enßuresrest. Sold everywhere m tina 13 id each. Messrs McDonald and MoDiarmid call attention to their advertisement m another part of thia paper, where they announce a gig*ntio relinquishing sale of boota and 6hoea, LsQat« Ai*



Business Notices. ! NEW ZEALAND CLOTHING FACTORY. riIHE LEADING ESTABLISHMENT FOB FASHIONABLE CLOTHING, HATS AND GAPS, TIES, COLLARS, GLOVES, ETC. A. G. BARTON, MANAGER. I -Do nofiepersi/scfadio iuyany offfw i/p/fetions* 1 /j?s/sf on Mvfng. \ UiflSyS^Bll/MipffAS ifimarepifraansfwfafesQmi |L 7Mmsfmo/?ey£/?(/ yT&caertence cm 6ify. \famestsaf§jfi/mfca7as/a.



F. FERRIMAN. A CHEMICAL LABATORY, COLONIAL MUTUAL BUILDINGS, Prinoeaß Street* Dunedin, June 11, 1898. F. FERRIMAN, Ashburton. Sir, — I have the honor to reporb on Sample of Ground Manure forwarded to me for analysis. I have made analysis wibh the following result :•— Moisture •• •• •• •• 6 "90 {Organio Matter 36 60 containing Nitrogen equal to 5 4 per cent, of Ammonia Silica 3 40 Iron Alumina . . • . • • o*4o Phosphate of Lime aB Bone Phos- phate 48-16 Carbonate of Lime . . . . 4*64 100-00 These results show the Sample to be of ABSOLUTE PURITY, the large percentage both of Phoßphate of Lime and Ammonia showing this. In fact the Composition can be classed as a Typioal Sample, which can- not be excelled. Your obedient Bervant,"^ (Bigned) A. G. KIDSTON HUNTER, M.P.S., City Analyst, Dunedin. J _ 1 After reading the above the main points to bear m mind are, the quality is Al, the quantity is limited, and that orders will be executed promptly, to enable farmers to aow with their spring wheat. It i 8 a well known fact that Bone Dust obtained from green bones is the most valuable and lasting manure that can be applied to the soil. Of this fact both science and practice afford abundant proof. F. FBRRIMAN, FOR _S ALE. LOT 3, fronting the Alford Foreßt Road, containing a Quarter of an Acre. The land is the property of Mr Rodger Tucker, who is determined to sell. F. FEKBIMAN. FOR SALE. House and 1 Acre Land, Beach Road. I HAVE received instructions from MrF. Jchns to sell his very desirable residence fronting on the Beach Road, containing four Rooms and a good Shop, together with a good three stalled Stable. The land is well stocked with very choice fruit trees, and is of first-class quality. Reasonable terms can be artanged if required. F. FERRIMAN. SEED WHiTT."~ I Have for Sale some Prime Pearl, Tv«! can and Hunters. Grown on heavy Land. F. FJEURIMAiN. FOR SALE- COMPLETE THRESHING PLANT. I HAVE for private Sale a Complete Threshing Plant, m eplendid order, consisting of — 1 Eight horse-power Aveling and Porter Engine, 120lba certificate, worked three seasoi-.s ; Combine, by Hornsby, sft drum, with all the latest improvements, including Oliver's Patent Feeder ; Elevators, by P. and D. Duncan, 26ft loDg; four-wheeled WhanS, Scales, and all necessary Belting m perfect order. Full particulars can be obtained on appli- cation; F. FERRIMAN FOX SALE! I HAVE FOR SALE tbat rory desirable block of land containing aboub Seven Acres, situated on the N.E. Town Belt and adjoin- ing Mr W. H. Collins. For anyone m search oi a property on which to build this one is well worthy of an inspection. F. FEiIiMOIAN. SHEEP FEED. OFFERS are invited for the grazing of 250 ceres of good sheep feed at the Hinds for three months, from the 15th inst. The property ia subdivided into two pad docko, well sheltered, and watered F. FERRIMAN. CHURCH SERVICES. T STEP HE N' S CHURCH/ Ashburton. Wednesday •• G F S " 7.30 p m, Friday, Short Service 7 30 p.m. „ Choir Practice 8 p.m. SUNDAY SERVICES. igath July.) ! 8.30. — Holy Communion, J II a.m. — Morning Prayer. 3 p.no. — Soafield, Rev. T. A, Hamilton. 6.3o— Evening Prayer. REV. T. A. HAMILTON. To tho Deaf and those t?ou.ble t d[ with Noises iv the Head or other Aural Troubles, Dr Nicholson, of uondon, the world famed *ural specialist and Inventor of artificial ear 4rum£, ha» just issued the 100 th edition of his illustrated and descriptive book on Deaf* ness and Aural Troubles. This book may be bad from Mr F. Sbaw, 160, Adelaide rload, Wellington, N. 2. , on rec,eipb of etampß. Mr Campbell, of the same address, tf«« greatly relieved of his deafness by Dr. Nioholscn'a system, and takes pleasure m spreading the news of the great specialist m I N^w Zealand. A littlebook on the cure of I Bheumatisßi, (Corpulence, Lumbago, and Indig««liiott by Wie aa/ao author, may je had from M fjbaw oa «ceipf) of atam^*. i« Bern*



INDIANA BICYCLE COMPANY. Indianapolis, Ind # U.S. A, PAID IN CAPITA L-OINE MILLIOIV DOLLARS. TN the conßtruotion*of our , machines three prime factors have been oon* eidered throughout, simplicity, universality, and strength. Subordinate to these we have given oaref ul attention to lightness, grace and modern ideas, and W*. cordially invite tha most critical attention to onr new models, every feature of which has been submitted to exhaustive testa to demonstrate its practicability before adoption. FRAMES. T:HE snecess of the tubing used m '97 "Waverleys has been amply'demons rated by its record during the season past. The fact that not a single Waverley frame has broken during the entire year speaks volumes for Its quality, and we continue the as© of the hest grade of high-carbon Albany weldless steel tubing m Waverley frames for 1898 with flush jolntß of drop forged steel throughout, preferring to place n;ir dependence upon th ; a more expensive BUT OJNLx PROPER CO INSTRUCTION FOR BICYCLES of the highest standard, rather than to use the substitutes now commonly resorted to by many makers who have aimed to reduce costs at the expense of quality. In our Ladies' frame ■we have used spacial tubing of 16 gauge at the loop where the strain is greatest, drawn down to 22 iraugo at the head, thu9 combining the maximum of strength with the minimum of weight, FORKS. OUR new fork h constructed of the same tubing as th*t used m the frame, with a forged steel arched crown hollowed out for lightnesßS, lb was designed and perfected m our own factory, and we claim for it not only graceful appearance and lightness, but it is the strongest fork crown ever made. BEARINGS, E3PEOIA.L attention ha 3 beon given to the bearings of our 1898 machines, with tho result thai) we hwa secured i?ruati simplicity, porfecb interchan^eabiliiy, pvsrfecb alignment, perfect concentricity, an 1 perfect protection from dust. In fu-thar developing the principle »'lopted by m last year for adjusting by add- ing in^teid <>f by threaded cones, we have devised a universal cone, fitting either sUe of tho front or rear wheel, and having a double face with two bill races. It can be put on ths machine ia tight different places or ways, thus miking it impossible to assemble the b^armsjs incorrectly. The cones are prevented from turning on tho axks by contact bstweon their knurled faco3 and the knurled surfaces of the nuts whioh adjust them. Especial attention is silled to the dusb proof qualities of all the bearings on the machine as being the most efferive protection yet applied to bicycle construction. They have surpassed any ideal and are as potent aB they are evident. Tho balld rell on the inner face of the coae, while latgo felt wishers, held m place by dusfc Oips, hava a long boarina rase on the outaido raca, thus forming a valve seat. Dust or water coming agvinst this washer only tends to press it more tightly agaiust tho race, closing the bearings more effectively against its entrance. All the bearing throughout the entire bicycle are ball retaining, and the axles aad all beari ig parts are l»rge, strong, and constructed of special stock. CRANK HANGER. THE principle of the bearings m this part of the machine is exactly the same as m the hubs. The adjustment is entirely on tho left hand side, and is made positive by a plunger inserted iv the crank, which engages one of a circle of 1 maU holes m the facaof the sleeve. The adjustment of these bearings is very delicaco, the distance between the holes representing 1-2000 of an inch. SPROCKETS. DURING the past year we have spent much time and money upon the improve- ment of the sprocket tooth form, and have finally arrived at perfection never before accomplished. It will be noticed that m engaging the sprocket, our chain does not slide into its sett by the aid of a guide roller either on the chain or the sprocket, but simply tak^e Its exact pUce. In other words, it walks m and walks out of the sprocket iv the same manner aa a man puts his foot down and lifts ie from the ground. In consequence of this no friction is caused, and each link of the chain pulls on the sprocket tooth only a part of the load, while wi'.h less perfect construction the link slides into place, carrying alone all the load during the time it takes for this action, tending thus to stretch the chain unduly. This small stretch at each joint is continually adding to the total length of the chain until finally its pitch and the pitch of the sprocket are so different that the chain Q\n only run on the points of the teeth, grinding and cutting until both chain at d sprocket are useless. A practical illustration of the perfection of our chains and sprockets may be found m the appearance of a sprocket after it has been running several months, a layer of dust will always be found from the pitch line to the top of each tooth, showing conclusively the absenoe of grinding action usually present m chain transmission. TO the production of our new models wo have unstintingly devoted our best efforts and ripebt ideas. In its construction we have especially avoided freak mechanism f>r the purpose of obtaining novelties without} practical value, and while it presents many new features m keeping with the progress of the cycle building «rr, these have all been submitted to thu most rigid practical tests, fully establish- ing their excellence and superiority. IT Is designed for all round hard work and wear, combining with its elegance and lightness sufficient strength and durability for good service under bhe moab trying conditions. PRACTICAL Novelties, self evident advantages, and manifest simplicity a mibine with strength and beauty to constitute our '98 Waverley the bifct machine that we, or, bo far aB wo know, any other maker, have ever placed upon the market ftt *ny price, and we claim for Waverley Bicycles full equality with any bicycles LuiU m the world, Wfi HAVE APPOINTED JOHN ORR & CO., ASBBDBTON, Sole agents for the s»le of our machines m the South Island of New Zealand. INDIANA BICYCLE COMPANY. INDIANAPOLIS, U.S.A.