MAIL NOTICES.

Mails close for the following places as under, subjecb to the necessary altera tions : -v VVISDNESDAV JANUARY 19. For Northern Porte, Samoa, Hawaii, aleo United States, Canada, etc., and United Kingdom and Continent of Europe, via San gVapciepo, per Takapuna, as follows : — For money ordei'fi, ftt 3 p.m. ; registered letters, at 5 p.m. ; book "a>t& newspapers, at 615 p.m. ; letters, 6.30. Due London February 23rd.

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 19. 1898.

Even more noteworthy than the recent #t v te t mpts to make the transatlantic journey at high BIG STEAMJ&ttS. 6p.6.ad is the evident decision of the steam ship companies that, other things being equal, it pays to build steamers of .en-ormoua aize. Excepting the TV hite Star ship Oceanic, which is building, the Kaiser, Wilhelua dLer Grosse is the largest vessel since the Great Eastern, : The older vessels, which ranged from j 300 to 400 feet m length, are com-' j/ibjfcelv outclassed, and it is somewhat i amusing no^7 to remember that their builders were criticised the time for making their boats too large.' The vessels have grown steadily with each advanoe m shipbuilding, until the coo> C^ny which jornjerly held £160 feet

tto be the extreme size of its crack J boats, planned a Vessel of 620 feet, I : The new German ship exceeds this limit, her dimensions beicg 659 feet over all by 66 feot beam. A good idea of the tendency to build immense \ easels may be gained from the follow- i ing table, m whicb the largpsc new steamers of leading lines are compared I with the famous Gieat Eastern : ~ ■- Name. Tonnage. H.P. Lgth. : Kaiser Wflhelm der '. Geoßse.. .. 14,000 28 000 649 Kaiser Friedrich ... 12,500 24,000 599 i Oceanic ...  17,000 — 704 } Li'cania . . . . 12,950 30.000 6?,2 : st. Louis . . . . 11,6-^9 20,000 534 jLaTouraine .. 9,778 13,000 520 ! Furst Bismarck .. S 250 15,400 500 iCiiyofßome .. 8 144 11,500 500 Teutonic 7,984 18,500 556 Great Eastern .. 18,015 8,000 672 And the next marine monster, the I >ceanic, when completed, wiil be fifty feet lenger than the Kaiser Wilheim and twelve feet longer than the Great Eastern. It may well be a matter of wonder where this growth of the ocean leviathan is going to stop. Presum ably the limit of size compatible with a maximum speed bas nearly been reached, If vessels are to keep in creasing m size at the rate of their growth during the last ten years, they must soon become too unwieldy to be handled m the ordinary course of com merce.

Mr Clark Hall, the Registrar General of Shipping and Seaman, has lately

issued

return

EXIT THE whicb has had a BRITISH SAILOR, moat disquieting

effect on patriots puch as compose the Navy League. Mr Hall's figures showed that m the five years 1891 to 1896 the number of foreign seaman employed m the ordinary mercantile marine (excluding that of the colonies, but including a certain number of the large fishing vessels engaged on the British coasts) has increased from 15,8 per cent, to 18.46 per cent. This calculation ex cludes some 28,000 Lascars. The actual numbers were as follow : — ln 1891 there were employed 41,590 British and 13,432 foreign sailors, or a total of 55,022, In 1896 the numbers were 35,020 and 14,469, or a total of 49,489. The actnal number em ployed thu<j showed a decrease of 5533, but the disquieting feature was that the decrease cf British seaman amounted to 6570, while the increase of foreign seaman amounted to 1037. Analysis of the return by subdivision according to age showed that the classes chi< fly affected were boys from 15 to 20 years of age, and young sailors from 20 to 26 years of age. As a matter of fact, within the period mentioned the mercantile marine 1 st 2072 British boys and 1707 young British sailors, and gained m return 196 foreign boya and 407 young foreign sailors ; or iv other words the sources of supply of able seamen and petty officers are rapidly drying up. Under these circumstances the league suggests that training ships be estab lished by counties or groups of counties, just as Kent and Sussex have combined to establish an agricultural college at Wye, under the control of the county councils, having the disposition of the rooney appropriated to technical edu , cation. It is only fair to say that ths correctness of Mr Olark Hall's figures has been impugned, but there is no reasonable doubt that the supply of saiiorx, as of soldiers, is seriously falling off, and it behoves those who have the control of such matters to find a remedy. If there be no reserve of trained sailors m the mercantile marine to supply men of war m time of need all the recent agitation about increasing the navy will have been m vain, for to have ships without men is almost as bad as to have men without ships.

Local and General.

I Mr D. Thomas holds his horse fair m the I Aroade to-morrow. Mr Rudolph Friedland«r returned from Melbourne per Waikare and arrived m Ashburton l&st night, and is now ready to resume his auction duties. Master Alfred Brooke, eon of Mr C. M. Brooke, lately of Ashburton, has obtained a Governors' exhibition for Chrjstchuroh High School, entitling him to free education for five years. The Foxton Htrald states that a local resident), Mr £. A. Cameron, is making a pile out of "starch gloss" of his own invention, his output last month being 40,000 packets. The following extraordinary challenge appears m the Grey Argus : — '• I, bhe under signed, challenge R. Manny to kill more rats than him by teeth work for $25 a side. — T. BA6GS." There was a good twelve hours' rain m the North Canterbury district on Monday night, which m the first place put out the fires and m the next caused the grass to give a little spring. It would also benefit turnips and rape, and to a small extent assist the grain crops. Lieutenant-Colonel Webb will have com mand of the Rifle Association's camp at Oamaru. In all probability the Defence Department will allow some of the Perma nent Artillery men to act as markers at the meeting. A public meeting at Baiolutha passed the following resolution :— " That m the opinion of this t^eetipg, notwithstanding the asser tions of the Magistrate, Mr Hawkins, to the contrary, prohibition has proved beneficial m Balclutha and the country district's pf Olutha," The PreßS Association wires that a serious coach accident occurred yesterday to Knox's mail coach from Kawakawa to Hokianga which was on a dangerous hill. There waa a general smash. Joseph Kirkpatrick, gum digger, sustained a broken arm and collar-bone and had fcwo ribs iojureu. EilW *• no news of any ofche " hurt. ■ Dr. Don, who is one of a party that re cently proceeded to the West Coast to satisfy themselves on the question of whether Tutoko is or is not an active volcano, telegraphed to the Otago Daily '7Wf from Moßsburn :— M Weather execr able? reached' only o#QGft Tutoko ; skirted peak, and took photographs from S.g, to N.E. • no sign volaanic action. It was reported m Ashburton that a heavy Btorm of hail had done c. good deal of damage m Highbank and M^rawiti, ft day or tVQ ago. We have ascertained from several sources that nothing that could be called a storm has occurred jyn these diß triots lately Even the nor'-westeri, whic& have been felt so severely hereabouts, were, strange to say, much less destructive above the Rakaia banks, while the rain of Monday night is expected to do much good. Harvest operations ajre now m full swing, and ma chines may be sew aJonfl the line. The crops will not, of course, turn oufc so yejl f» might have been expected by some, bwt taken all round, few of the settlers m the new districts can reasonably complain.' Chamberlain's Cough Remedy cures colds | oroup and whooping 'couch. It is pleasanc j safe and reliable. For l»lfl b^ Ajhbju-ton ' Drug GempM»y« " >>

Mr and Mrs W. James, late of Somerset \ Hotel, returned from England per Himalaya, and are now on a visit to Ashburbon. < The remains of the late H. J. Dash were \ conveyed o Timaru per express yesterday, j for interment. \ The following is the Hospital return for v the month of December, 1897 :— lnmatea m d hospital on December 1. 12 ; admitted dur- j ing; the month, 21 ; total, 33. Discharged, r 19 ; inmates m hospital on January 1, 1898, v 14. Deaths, none. i<j The contractors for the culvert at " Break- } ii out" on the Waihao beach, for the Wainona ; o Drainage Board, have completed their con- I t tract to the satisfaction of ihe Euginear. '< t The work consists of a huge opening through , a the ahingle bank from the Wuihao Kiver to a the sea, m which is securely fixed a large t culvert. Through this, it is hoped, that at i times of flood the Waihao will rush out to j £ the sea, instead of flooding some thousands • « of acreß of good land nearer the lake. ! a Doctors are not agreed upon the diet of j j children, apparently, for recently one ' ordered barley-water to be given to aj j siok child at Melbourne, and when it died, , ' and Dr Neild gave evidence at the inquest, j ' he said he was not at all surprised that the i ] unfortunate child had died. "He had no . hesitation." he remarked emphatically, "m declaring that the ' diet ' of barley-water m the case of the child under consideration was entirely wrong. Barley-water was not food, and, as an article of diet, was little I better than pure water. The cutting of the bush at Oxford is let ', to sawmillera on royalty m blocks of about j 200 acres each, for terms of two years. The royalty amounts to 6d per 100 ft for birch, 9d per 100 ft for pine, 5a per 100 for fencing posts, and Is per hundred for stakes. There were five sawmillers at Oxford bush, two of whom have been burned out, the other three being on the west side of Cooper's Creek, where the bush, except high up en , the hills, waß not touched by the fire. , There are still a number of Beotions of virgin bush m this block which could brobably be ' obtained for sawmilling purposes on the j royalty system. Above a certain line on the i hill the bush is reserved from being cut for ! purpose of preserving it. ', A terrible acoidenfc occurred near Bielos r tok, Russia-Poland, resulting m the death 1 of thirty persons. A wedding party was returniDg from the ohuroh to the home of the > bride. All were m one waggon, a huge | vehicle, drawn by eight horses, 'ihe road , which they drove crossed the railway track, on the level, and the driver, either through carelessness or ignorance of the train J schedule, pushed his horses upon the cros l sing just as the expresß was moving up. The ) locomotive struck the vehicle squarely, k killing many members of the party outright and so maiming others that they soon expired * m frightful agony. Not a member of the E party escaped. Some idea of the interest taken throughout , the ifimpire m the great test match recently I played on the Melbourne ground, may be gathered from the fact that not only was every leading newspaper m Australatsa B specially represented m the Press box, but , also all the great English journals and , Router's agency, which Bends its messages all over the world. In so previous test match has the Press been so strongly a lepresented, or have fuller reports of the <y g-iine been sent off. In the telegraph office, s which is immediately below the Press room, j Mr Croft, the general manvger of the Telegraph Department, provided a staff of c ten expert operators, who were kept busy 7 getting away the sheaves of messages ri passed to them from the Prees alone. a Mr C. A C. Hardy, of Rakaia, has been c nominated for re-election to the Education , Board. Mr Hardy was the only Ashburton a County representative on the Board, and )• made an excellent member, painstaking and c attentive t.j the work, regular m his attend j_ anoe at the meetings, and while his eye was clear for the interests of his district, his '» vision went a good long way beyond the d county fences. His election m place of Mr ,t Sawle, whose term he filled till the general y election, was a triumphant one, and showed J that he was popular not only m this oounty, but throughout the whole educational I" district, so that if the Ashburton county s iV-mmitteea will but be true to him oa this IS occasion his return must be what sportiog men call a " moral," and a local representa ° tive on the Board will agau? be a certainty. * If the oounty schools were to be unanimous y ia their selection and support of two men, o the return of these would be almost a Ctjrtaoily,

Pupil Teachers' Examinations

The following have passed the examina tion for pupil teachers : — Jfirat year — Catherine Breeze, Walter Ctieeßeman, Lucy Duff, Dora Hempleman, Isabella Irwin, Annie McDonald, Martha M or land. Second year — Herbert Chapman, Albert Harding, Catherine Porter, Frederick Silcock, Robert Thompson, Ada. Tucker. Third year — Thomau &. Gates (junr.), George MacGuinne'B, Richard W. Morgan. Fourth yeai— Edith Bell, Thomas Cham bers, Bobert Charles, Ronald Douglas, Herbert Gillman, Christina MoNeill, Ellen McEae, Jane Maxwell, Fanny Morrow, Evelyn M. Wilkinson.

THE CHINA QUESTION

b • Firm Attitude of Great Britain £ Press Association— By Electric Telegraph c Copyright. ' Received Wakapuaka Jan. 19, 9 25 a.m., Guardian Office, 10 a.m. c Fekin, January 18 n The Russian and French ministers '• here object to the British proposals $ for opening up the parts of China to \l trade and ~cornniercß as a condition of Great Britain assisting m the liquida -8 tion of the war indemnity to Japan by o providing a loan of twelve million o sterling. China hesitates to accept ? the Bri'ish proposals chiefly m fear of a incurring the hostility of Russia, 3 London, January 18 » The Tijiies says it is acknowledged on all sides that the basis of the • negotiations carried out by Major -0 Genera) Sir Claude Macdonald, British 1 Minister at Pekin, is statesmanlike v and m harmony with the best tradi - tiona of British policy. Sir Michael 1 Hicks-Beach states that Great Britain 9 regards China as a most hopeful place for future cbtimjerpe. tfoyernmenb has [ absolutely determined at whateyer r cost (if necessary war) that the door i shall not be closed. ;

NOTES OF A HOLIDAY TO THE WEST COAST— IB9B.

[fly ONE OF THE PARTY.] The party that went by Newmans con eyance to the West Coast this year was ifferent from the one he drove over m anuary 1897, insomuch that it consisted of ix persons instead of five ; and, as an extra r ehicle was required for luggage, a aecond [river was engaged. Three teuts were taken nstead of two, but, as things turned out, inly two were required, for a twelve by ten ent waß amply sufficient for six persone. TVs made a start from the Somerset stables it 10.30 a.m. on Sunday, January 2, arrived it Methven for dinner, and then went on to he Gorge Bridge and camped for the night, is m usual m excursions of this kind, the irst night uutfer cauvas is not conducive to mund sleep ; and the sadden transition from 10ft beds to the hard ground, the animated talk far into the night, and fruitless' efforts bo fiud a soft spot on the ground, rendered a good sleep impossible. We were out betimes on Monday, and-the two who were on for breakfast were soon at the task of making porridge and tea, and frying bacon. These two, be it remarked, objected after breakfast to oooking that meal for the whole holiday. "For," Baid they, "we have six teen plates to wash at breakfast, while you chaps who arrange tea at night have only eight." A compromise was therefore arrived at, by which, every five days, each pair shifted themselves a meal back, and those who cooked breakfast for five days, prepared tea for the next live, and dinner for the last five. At 8 30 on Monday we left the Gorge, climbed the terraces and arrived at Snowdon about ten or thereabout. Shearing was, as m 1897, m full swing, but we did not atop, but went on to Lake Coleridge, had luncheon, and some a swim m the lake, and then passed on to Lake Lyndon. Here a spring m the cab gave way, and some time was passed m repairing it, after which we got on the main ooaoh road, and arrived at Castle Hill for tea. On Tuesday morning the aand fling were very troublesome, and we were not sorry to leave the Castle Hill creek. Broken river and Craigieburn were passed m the forenoon ; we had lunch near the Cans river, and then went on towards the Bealey. While going along the rock-cut terrace of the Waimakariri, a couple of cyclists met us, j ouß of whom was Mr H. H. i'ooke, of Ash burton. He told us of the state of the rivers and the roads further m the west, and then we separated. The camp that night was pitched about half a mile from the Bealey Hotel, on the river bank, and as by this time we were all conversant with our various duties the camp was soon m order, tea m»de, and everything arranged snugly for the night. Seeing that the coaches arrived at Bealey on Tuesday, we waited and saw the two from Jacksons cross the river, and then fallowed them up to the hotel to see if any familiar faces were to be seen. Three pedestrians whom we Baw crossing the Waimakariri appeared to have been having a bad time ; for their bootß had given way, they were overloaded, and were generally sick of their trip. Cassidy from Springfield returned that night at 11 p.m to Springfield, to bring back the Premier next day. Wednesday morning saw us aafely over the river and into the Bealey Gorge. Oppo site Mount Rolleston we met Me and Mcs Mayne, formerly of Ashburton ; Mr A. J. Mayne, of Timaru, and Miss A. Bell, of Ashburton. They were all on bicycles, and appeared to be enjoying themselves. The top of the Otira Gorge was reached about eleven o'clock, and soon after we commenced the descent. The cab and the buggy went down before us, and we overtook them at Dyer's Hotel at the bottom, and had luncheon, after which we crossed the Otira, safely arrived, and camped at Jacksons. Next morning Johnny saw that a cover was mining from one of the horses. Whether lost or stolen we did not know; but he off-red a reward for it, and we passed on. We had dinner at Kuinara, (where great preparations were made to receive the Premier), aud arrived a6 Hokitika m the evening. As the buggy was generally some distanoe behind us m the afternoon, two of ua had to hang about and try to appear interested m gorse hedges and tumble down hou-es till our driver — the redoubtable "Clancy"— put m an appearanoe. After tea we went to a dramatic entertainment m the town hall where we saw Major and Mrs R. A. Douglas. On Friday morning Me O'Brien, whom we met last year, name to our camp and told us it was a splendid day to go up to Lake Mahinapua. This w.»s an opportunity not to be lost, so we hastily packed up provender and dishes, fixed cameras and mackintoshes, and waited for Mr O'Brien. He sailed his boat up the river, on the bank of which was the camp, and we embarked. J here were nine of us aboard, including Johnny, O'Brien and hia son Eugene. The way to the lake took us down to within a quarter of a mile of the mouth of the Hokitika River, where tha Mahiuapua creek empties itself. Here the swell from a par icularly heavy sea out side was very much felt, so much that one of the party, m anticipation, or rather dread, of se» sickuesa put away hia morning pipe aad remarked that; he had just enough of this "up and down game." For a mile or two the creek is rather uninteresting, but as we went up further, the bush grew denser on the banks and cam* closer to the edge. O'Brien landed us at an old and long disused flax mill on the bank, and told us that some speculator had erected it at a great cost ; but after about a week's work at it, the price of flax went down with a run, and the unfortunate builder was ruined. The tim bers of the mill were oovered with hundreds of names ; and as one of us, our man of pills, found a paint p">t, it was uot long before the Barnes of a few Ashburtonites were m position to glare grimly at passers-by m the future. We had a small " Bnack " here which O'Brien had brought with him, and which we washed down with Mahinapua water, tempered with a decoction that O'Brien had to neutralise the ill effects if any bacilli that nyght be m our cups. A little further up we came upon a gold dredge lyiug m the creek, a hideous looking object that was a reproach to everything m the neighbourhood. We clambered on board, and roamed all over it. O'Brien showed us the cloths used to catch the fine gold, but m the dredge had not been m use since Christmas, we could find bub few specks. Shortly after, we came out on the lake, hoisted the sail and went along to the south shore, then tacked to the west, and brought up opposite a gold mine and some huts near by. Here a roaring fire was soon going, and the billy boiled. There are a number of fowls here ; and what they live on, or when they were fed none of us knew. You only had to lay your plate down, and go away for a second or two, and some hungry looking yet cunning hen which had been lying perdu m the fl.x, and seeing the chance of a lifetime, would issue forth and seize anything it could and bolt again. It was no uncommon thing to see one of ua get up to go and fill a pannikin of tea aud leave a plate uuwatched, and then come back as fast as a junk of bread m pne hand and a panful of hot tea ip the other wquld allow, yelling at the time to a tyen : — '* Hi, Ihere, drop that herring, or I'll break your neck." It is on Mahinapua creek that the Hokitika regatta is held, and we were told that regatta day is the day of the year m Westland. The creek and lake are Bright with color on that day} and the home coming at night is a soene to be remembered by those who onpe see it. After luncheon we had a look over the mine, and then O'Brien took us through the bush, which everywhere surrounds the lake, on to a narrow tern covered track to the' beach, about a quarter of a mile distant. Then we returned, re embarked, and went up to Mirror Creek to a place called Ogilvie's, on the road-south to Ross, which is about nine miles distant. The -wafer o| this creek, like that of Mahinapua \% .bjaok, owing to, the vegetable growth m and around it ; and this, coupled with its placidity gives reflections as perfect as, if not better than, those from a mirror. Every tree, shrub, and blade of flax is so faithfully reproduced m the water, that oue can hardly cell where the surface of the Bftreara \e ; We weia sorry our plates were exhausted j or we coftld have got Bomg good photographs of it. AYe asoended the stream as far as we could, an 1, after a short excursion through ihe bush- to tho Ross road, we returned to our boat and came back to fcho lake, sailed down it and entered the creek by whjeh we came m tha morning, It was now nearly 7 o'clock, toiwe did not reaoh our camp till late m the eveoirg ; Our intention on Saturday morning;. was to goto GreymPUth»nd Brupner, and. fflturu

to Hokitika m the evening. As we did nob wish to appear m broad daylight m our o imping ont costumes— and some of them were certainly fearfnlly and wonderfully made — we went to Borne trouble over onr toilets before starting. The man who had brought with him a sort of dressing case was being continually pestered for a loan of his looking glass, which glass by the way was cracked when we left home. The numerous handlings it got were not calculated to im pove it, bo it was not long before it was m a dozen pieces ; and anyone who wished to shave, rummaged about) for the largest of the pieces. This preparation then was the meaus of our nearly losing the train, which leaves Hokitika ab 8 a.m. The railway goes through bush the whole way to the Grey, and sawmills are m evidence along the rout". The Teremakau is spanned by a very substantial bridge near the mouth, and over ib the train passes. Shortly after crossing this stream we arrived m Greyraouth, went down Mawbera Quay, and saw the Wainui depart for We i porb. When it hal gone we found ourselves opposite Ashton's Hotel, where Mr Fied Shury stays. W« called m and found him, and as nothing would satisfy him but our visiting Barry town, we consented to go oat m the after noon and return next day. Newman, who came with us returned by brain to Hokitika. At two o'clock we mounted our horses, which were procured from stables and else where, and set off. The horses were certainly a scratch team ; but with the exception of a few small accidents, such as getting into holes m the corduroy road, or an attempt ona horse's part to lie down and roll with the rider still on its baok, we managed very well . The road to Barry town lies along the beach m placet, the rest of it being a narrow horse track along the Bide of the hills and bluffs. The beaoh ii generally used when the tide is out, as otherwise the hills must be taken.. At times when we were on the firm sand Shury sent us along at a fine pace ; m faot even m the bush he made it rather warm, so we arrived at Barrytown Flat before tea. The company now has sheds erected on the field, timber staoked and ready for use, and a pipe track completed from Baker's Creek on to the claim. The resb of the timber, punts, and pipes He on the wharf at Greymoutb, await* ing a favourable season to be rafted up to Barrytown by sea. We did not make a long stay, but went to Barrytown proper, about a mile and a half further on. It wai a surprise to see that Barrytown possessed a hotel ; for some of us had visions of poor accommodation for the night. Onr lean were groundless ; for we bad a good tea_ and slept that night on beds that we appreciated after our camp experiences This apprecia tion was shown by the faot that Sunday morning was far gone before some of the party came out to breakfast. ..About 10.30 we got the horses again and set off with oui guide to a claim about four miles further along the coast. Here we turned aside and ascended a creek for some distance till we met a young miner named Lewis, whom Mr Shury knew, and who expressed hiß willing nesß to Bhow us over the claim. The horses were tied to trees, and Lewis set off up the hill side with us at his heels ; but as hill climbing m the bush was not the strong point of all of us, the number who reached the top with Lewis was not great.. The claim is similar to those m Kumara ; a large jet of water at a high pressure impinges on the face of the claim, and brings down etones, sand, and gold. The sand, small stones, and gold all are carried down a race, and at a convenient spot f%ll on to what are called " tables." Here a perforated sheet of iron allows the sand and fold to sink, and carries off the larger stones, 'hen the water and sand and fine debris generally are carried on to <.he inclined tableß which are covered with plush mats. The water carries the Band over the cloths, and the gold being the heaviest of what comes faotn the claim sinks, and is caught m the plush mars, which are washed daily m a tub near by. Then we bad a look at the race which brings thejwaier to the claim. It is a marvel of engineering skill, coming as ib does a distance of four miles round rocky bluffs m the bush, and through a tunnel 500 feet long out m the reef. Tc show the expense and difficulty entailed m bringing an effective water supply to a claim, it will be sufficient to say that nearlj £2000 was spent, and a period of a year and a half taken to construct this race. How ever, the claim now * yields a handsome return of about £25 a week each for two men. The bush here was the best we saw ; foi the nikau palms grew m great profusion all around. We returned to the hotel for dinnei and after that came down to the Barrytown Flat claim, took a few photographs of it, anc saw aMr Wbite, the manager, wash some prospects from different parts of it. The gold is there m the same proportion as w< saw m Lewis' claim, and when the water it brought down from Baker's creek, the hopei and fears of interested men will be at an end. The washing of prospects became a common occurrence now, and it seemed sc easy that two of the party possessed them selves of a rusty shovel and departed secretly to try their luck. They were seen at the edge of a creek bendiog over the shovel, giving ib those adroit twists and shakes which seem necessary, and gloat ing over its contents of Bhiramering specks as if it held nuggets the size of eggs. At four a howling gale of wind and rain sprang up, and we* were advised to stay till the Monday morning. Previously m the morning we leceived similar advice ; but one ot us strongly remarked— " No, a joke's a- joke, but this is carrying the thing too far. I'll get baok to the Grey if I've got to cut my way through the bush." In face of ibis', advice andj argument failed ; so at four m the afternoon we procured mackintoshes and corn bags and set off. ' Before we had gone three miles quo of the twenty-five we were wet through, and at about 6.30 arrived at Ashton'a hotel again. The landlord, Mr Ashton, gave yjs an upstairs parlour and two bedrooms, lit » large fire, and gave us each a change of clothes. Mr Shury also lent us some, and a queer lot we looked. On Monday morning the Grey waß slightly flooded with the rain. At ten we left, and arrived at Kumara about twelve. Newman and " Cl-.ncy " arrived b,y road from Hokit tika shortly afterwards, and gave uo a dole* ful account of their Sunday m the wet. We left at 12,30, and stopped for luncheon about sis mileß out ; and for the night we pitched camp near the Taipo. On the way, m the Wainini riverbed our box of plates, cups, and cutlery fell out, and with a crash and a olatter that rent the air. The cab passed over the box, smashing it into match, wood, and bending a plate or two. Next day we passed Jackson's, where was found the loßt horse-cover, crossed the Otira, where the coach people were at dinner, aad began the ascent of the gorge. Some of the fellows were on the top m an hour exactly, and the rest came a few minutes later. All hod their coats off save one ; and as the wind: bd Arthur's Pass 1b none of the warmest tab costless had a cold time of it* Presently the' coaches passed, and the driver gave us the consoling information that pur" buggy had stuck m" the gorged and that .Johnny had tq go tiac^;. We Jit a tyg flre m a, sheltered spot and waited ; but as go oiga of our things appeared, we went back at}d found the vehicles just crossing Pegley Creek. We gave the buggy a shove up, and come on down the Bealey, where the party camped m 1897, and stayed for the night. The following morning was spent m a visit to the Devil's Punch-bowl ; and after luncheon, i as the north-weßt wind and rain appeared to bo increasing m the west, we decided to go down and cross bhe Waimakiriri before it rose too high. We did so, and camped m our old spot near the Bealey for the night. Ou Thursday morning the gale increased with slight ahowerß. A start was made at 8 30, and we arrived safely at Castle Hill m the evening. Here our Borrows commenced ; for during the night the wind rose to a I violent gale, and the rain ca^je with it. Wa [ had very little sleep owiogjtb the-' flapping of the canvas and the straining of Che guy. ropes ] but the olimax of our. misfortune was reached when, at 4 a.m a violent gust snapped the ridge pole and brought down the rear half of the tent. The fore half I n mailed partly upright, as we had a pole , fToni the middle of the ridge down to the ground. The man; whp slept near th» dpci had to rise m a great hurry ajjd trt,to"ftjj the damaged teat. .As the wind was too strong to delay an instant, he went out v'rily " nvd nodißga on," and let down the upright half to save it, The wit of the party was sound asleep when the mishap occurred, and m being apprised of theufacb he sleepily replied— "All right ; caM me if it brows.v | We lay for an hour or «o undtr the falUn • ■ ' «-.'t

TUB ASBBtJMOiS GOAKDIAiS T WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 19, 1898,



5 -_ ■— - Holloway's Pills.— ln the complaint 1 peonjiav to females these P ills are nnri vailed. : ' Their^uae by the fair sex has beoome so con- : 1 Btant for the removal of their ailments that ' rare is the household tbftt is without them. 1 Amongst all classes, from the domestic servant to the peeress, univeral favour is ' acoordei to these renovating Pills ; their in- vigorating aud purifying properties render ' Ihein safe $nd invaluable m all cases ; they may be taken by" t'etnslos of $11 ages for any disorganisation or irregularity of the system, ! speedily removing |the cause and restoring j the sufferer to robust health. As a family ' medicine they are unapproachable for aub. r i^ijog tho m»i»4tM pf young M old.



Synopsis of New Advmbtisements. Henry Stepherson — House to ler. W. Anderson— Tenders for stooking. North Canterbury Education Board — Re tenders for painting and repairing Willowby school. Lost— Bowl of bicycle lamp. Mrs Claridge— Resumes teaching on Fri- day, 21s b inafc. Mrs Claridge resumes music teaching on Friday. Mr W. Anderson, Flemington, invites tenders for harvest work. The Education Board of North Canterbury, call for tenders for painting, etc., at Wil- lowby.



Business Notices. tc p . * fc ; ; Q <X> ir O Ph 'I* O w S!» 1 * Sil sag a>i 13 % \ o I to < : < & fc- o Q Q S: . g: ' 3 to !1 » st t s >* - n ■ I is o s ** & w <! Church Services. T. STEPHEN'S CHURCH Ashburton. FRIDAY— Short Service, 7.30 p.m.; Choir Practice, 8 p.m. SUNDAY SERVICES.— January 23. 8.30 a.m. — Holy Communion. 11 a.m. — Morning Prayer. 3 p.m —SE AFIELD. 6.30 p m. — Evening Prayer. REV. T. A. HAMILTON. Do no f6e persuaded fo I ivy any gf//ie//p//a//o/?s, I ■ A mjt PB H| cmo/irofißitmprfAs T/teyarepi/rea/idwnofesome o, Me ossf money and experience can Jbin. Largest safe m/li/sfra/as/a. \ SOLD BY ALL GROCERS r



John Orr & Go. j I John Orr & Co/ l rTMIE SUOCKSS ATTENDING OUR Cheap Cash Sale Induces us to adopt {or the future this system of doing business. And as we purchase for Caih from the best makers m England and America, the General Public will therefore have the advantage of Seleoting GOODS OP STERLING QUALITY at prioei hitherto unheard of, SONSISTING 09 IRONMONGERY, GROCERIES, CROCKERY, GLASSWARE, etc., BEST SNOWDROP SUGAR ... 2Jd lb TEA, BLENDED ... 101 b Boxes la lb TEA, IN HALF CHESTH, 10i lb, (strong liquor) Colonial Candles ... 4d lb per box English Parafine Candles... 6id lb per box Kerosene, 150 test ... 6d 6d per tin tf 12s 9d per case WoVcoster Sauce, Pints ... 9d bottle Essence of Coffee lOJd Tobacco, Nubian squares. « 4s 6d per lb Bran 3a 6d per bag Sharps 5a per bag Oatmeal, 251 b Bags ... 2a 9d bag Rollitt's Flour, 200lba ... 24s „ lOOlbs ... 12a 6d " .I 501bs .. 6s4£d Currants 5d Eleine Raisins .- ... 7d Valencia Raisins 7d Sultana Raisins .*. ... 7d Sicily Almonds Is 2d Figs 8d j Muscatels ... .- 8d i Jordan Almonds 2s 3d Mixed Peel 8d 2ilb Tins Preserved Fruit lOd Lemon Squash, English ... la 3d Lemon Juice, English ... la 3d SardinM 4^d per tin Freßh Herrings 6*d per tin Herrings & Tomato Sauce lOd per tin Pressed Hops, per lb . . la 4d j Ground Ginger la 4d per lb i Anohovy Paste 8d per tin j Oifcrate of Magnesia ... Is per bottle I Sheeps Tongues, best ... lOi per tin | CROCKERY & GLASSWARE Pinner Sets Toilet Set* Tea and Breakfast Sets Vases and Ornaments Tumblers and Wine Glasses Decanters and Water Bottles Glass Dishes Jelly and Butter Dishes GRAND VARIETY AND M)W PRICES IN ABOVE LINES. FOR THE FRUIT SEASON. Mason's Screw- top Porcelain Lined Jars, i Pints 4s 9d, Quarts 5a 9d, £ Gallon 7s doz. Konriok's Best Enamelled Maslin Kettles. 8 Quart 6s, 10 quart 7s 6d, 12 quart 8s 6d. Brass Maslin potties, Drop Handles. 2~OU°b 7s, 2£ gallon 11s 6d, $ gallon 13s 6d Sfceel Enairi?! Preserving Pans, 2s 6d, 3s, 3s 6d, 4s. o FOR TBE HARVEST 'FIELD. WE HAVE A SPLENDID STOCK Reaper Section Reaper Chains Hay Fprjks Hay Rakes Oils, m 1, 2 & 4 gallons BINDER TWINE. DONAGHY'S BEST/ Flax, Mixed, & Manilla. John Orr & Co.



Business Notices. I _ TO RESIDENTS BUILDING & FURNISHING. — :o: ~ !, ITTE BEG respectfully to announce that we have received, per,S.S. "|lomo and J "Mataura, 1 very heavy shipments for our HOUSEHOLD FURNISHING Depart ment, viz: — SHEETINGS CURTAINS CARPET SQUARES j PILLOW COTTONS QUILTS HEARTH RUGS j / TOWELS TOILETS OILCLOTHS j TIBLUS6S MUSLINS LINOLEUMS j iftf tK« FANCY DFiPARTMENT we are Bhowing a fine assortment of new Aftßiea l GLOVES and HOSIERY, direct from the Leicester Mills; also some very 0h A oKod.^J :Z Simmings.inoluding the new Zouaves, Boleros, and Skirt Ornaments, and an endless variety of Black and Colored Gimps. NEW SHIPMENTS OF Dresses, Straws, Mantles. fc CftSfifl of Samples HOSIERY, at LANDED COST. MITCHELL & TURNER. REDUCED RATES FOR CHRISTMAS S. S ALEK'S, THE LEADING JEWELLERY ESTABLISHMENT IN THE DISTRICT .Largest Stock Lowest Prices FOR . NE W YE AR-1898 : i I I SPECIAL LINES at RUDUCED PRICES, marked m Plain Figures. Gold P Br?ochea L (uew and choice design) at 7. 91 12s 6d, 17. 6d, 20 a upwar da. i Silver »I»J3CIAJL. ATTJUINTIOIN IS CALLED TO THE STOCK OF Gold Brooches and Ladies' Rings. Chese two lines are Heavily Stocked, and are of the Newest and Choicest Designs. INSPECTION INVITED AT S. S ALEK'S "jewellery establishment, EAST STREET. STOCK AND PRICES UNEQUALLED IN THE DISTRICT.: GREAT CLEARING SALE AT "THE CORNER." SUMMER DRAPERY AND CLOTHING will be offered at BARGAIN PRICES FOR ONE MONTH FROM SATURDAY, JANUARY 15. Genuine Clearance Sale of Summer Goods of all kinds. GREAT BARGAINS. W H. COLLIER, CA§H DRAPER AND CLOTHIER. EAST STREET, ' ASHBURTON. H. M. JONES. (X) BEST CASH VALUES OBTAINABLE IN THE COLONY IN Pianos. Pianos. Pianos. ARRAUTIFUL UPRIGHT PIANO, aft 4m high, ovoralruug, Full Trichord. Brass Wreste Plank, Patent Check Repetition Action, Seven Octaves, usual prioa £55, for -*• i« 1 0«J net cash. A Good Piano, similar to the above, but smaller, usual S^®4s for *Se ioi net cash. These are BPJSOIAL PRICES and cannot be beaten. , q . Organs. Organs. Organs. ORGANS from £S 10s CASH to £45. A SPECIAL LINE OF ORGANS, 7 Stops with Octave Couplers, 2 Sets Reeds, very sweet Tone, for £10 NET CASH. (x) * Bicycles. Bicycles. Bicycles. A Shipment of Waverley Cycle*, Ladies' and Gentlemen's, just to hand, UO to date, high grade, well finished, guaranteed. To be sold at Lowest Oaeh Price. Terms arranged. Tbe Monarch and other machines supplied. Cycle extras. Purchasers taught to ride. VIM TYRES, the beat m the wmld and the cheapest Thompson's Patent Vaniper. ALL WON-P LASERS should have one. Simplicity itself. Call and nipeot. ___ LOWBST CASH PRICES H. M. JONES.