PHASES OF THE MOON.

MAIL NOTICES.

Mails close for the following places as under, subject to the necessary alterations : FRIDAY, MAROH 11. For Northern Ports, "Yvestport, Australian Colonies (via Wellington. Due Sydney, March 17), Fiji, Hawaii, also British 3 Columbia, Canada, United States, Ac, r United Kingdom and Continent of Europe, f via Vancouver, per Tarawera, as under 7 — 1 Money orders, at 3pm.; registered letre'ro, i at spm, ; books aud newspapers, at 61. p.m.; ordinary letter., 6.30 p.m. Due Van couver April 2, London April 15. 3 SATUREAY, MARCH 12. ) F»r Australia Colonies (via Bluff), Ceylon, India, jDhin/», Ac, also United Kingdom and Contiiienb of Europe, foi . • correspondence specially addressed via j i Uei?i P er e *P reas * t0 connect with Wai kare, at 12(30 p.m., due Melbourne March 8 21, London April 34. WEDNFSDAY, MARCH 26. I?-- M-"fher» Portd, Samoa. Hawii, alse TlniZr?^:^* >*»dV &c '* United King- United State.; y__ J mb' WB9 yift jgap dom and Continent of j_ ••"*ji Wfl ._. Francisco, per lakapuna, as tu.,.. *"~ Money orders, at 3 p.m.; registered letters at 5 p.m. ; newspapers, at 6.15 p.m. ; ordi dary letters, 6.30 p.m. ; due London April 20.

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 1898.

An American chemist has formed a small company and established a labor atory for the pur- ARGENTAUItU'I. pose of transmuting silver into gold, buying Mexican dollars and selling J the transmuted metal to the United j States Treasury. Mr Emmens was 1 not unknown m the scientific world 0 before he began this philosopher's stone 3 business, and the newspapers told him ~ that as a scientific man he ought to let . the world know what he was doing and how he did it. Mr Emmens replied m terms which may be condensed into the vulgar v Wouldn't you like to know ? ' He says : The company's business is a private venture, and they do not ask anyone to put any money into it, so that no one has any right to ask questions. If any one likes to deny that they are nob converting . silver into gold, they do not care ; they are quite satisfied so long as the Treasury buys their output as gold. So far they have sold their " argen taurum " by odd hundreds of ounces ; tons of it will follow as soon as they can get the machinery fixed up. r Mr f Emmens says, always m th. tone of one laughing m his sleeve : •• We find we can afford to give 600,000 ozs of argentaurum gold, of a fineness of 16 dois, per ounce (at mint rates for the precious metals contained), m exchange for 1,000,000 ozs o? silver, provided we be paid 4,600,000 dols for the cost of * the exchange. On these terms the Government, of course, would realise 3. 20 dols per ounce for its silver. It does not follow that 4.60 dols is the exact cost of treating an ounce of silver by my method, for it may well be that the' terms include a profit for my colleagues and myself, or, on the 1 ' charitable supposition that we are philanthropic politicians, jt piay be that we are willing, for the sake of bimetallism, to work, at a loss." ■ Ml l -^--H^ H » The Queen has consented to permit of the exhibition m the colonies of J Woodville's fine pic- FOR UVEEiN AND ture— 13ft by Bft-— \ EMPIRE. entitled, " For Queen and Empire," ! j and designed to represent the review \ of tbe colonial troops by Her Majesty 1 m connection with the Jubilee cele-- 1 ' brations, Tbe London correspondent 1 of the Argus writes that the artist has < j endeavoured to produce an effective ' • picture of a great State ceremonial — \ \ the first m which colonial troops have 1 taken part — without binding himself 1 down to absolute accuracy. For m- | stance, the review is made to appear j ( aa occurring m Windsor Park; and not 1

at Aiderphot. _he Queen is repre [ seated as seated m her carriage, ac- 1 E corapanied by the Princess cf Wales, \ the Duchess of Yoik, and Princess j Beatrice, while three generations of s heirs presumptive — the Prince ol j®, Wales, the Duke of York, and little £ Prince Edward — are closr by, the last named viewing the pagennt from hi. I mother's knee. Many distinguished officers aie grouped around. Of thp regiments included m tbe march past 1 . the most notable are the Gordon j j Highlanders, the Royal Irish Eifl s i the Naval Brigade, the Indian Lancers, the New South Wales Lancers, the t co.onial mounted infantry, the New ' Zealand Iviflps, the Haussas, and ' Ghoorkas, etc. The New South ' Wales Lancers are assigned an es pecially prominent place m the pro. , cession. Mr E, B. Hanee, managing director of Henry Graves and 00. Limited, of Pall Mall, has been en trusted by 'he Queen with the exhibi tion of the picture m the colonies. He will start almost immediately for Canada, and will reach Australia m about June or July. The Queen has expressed herself as greatly charmed with the picture, admitting its clever draughtsmanship, skilful grouping, and acouracy of detail.

Local and General.

A lady dentist has started business m J Wellington. It is estimated that last year's labor dis putes at Home oost £16,000,000. Mr D. Thomas holds his next sale of skins, hides, etc., on Monday, 14th inßt. At the Amuri sheep sale at Culverden to-day there was an entry of 107,000. Great Britain has one-fourth of the wealth of Europe, with but one-ninth of the popu lar ion. The District Oourt did not sib this morning, but was adjourned till to-morrow morning at ten o'clock. Four Maxim guns aud 5,000 Martini-En field magazine rifles have been ordered by the Queensland Government. The Greenwood company, who have been playing to paoked business on the Weßt Coast, may very shortly be expected along this way. The biggeab insect m the world lives m Venezuela. It is called the elephant beetle, and a full-grown one weighs about half a pound. The total amount of money deposited m the English Post office Savings Bank at present stands at the extraordinary figure of £108,098,641. Messrs Hinmer and Graves will be repre sented at South Kangitata yards, on Wed nesday next, and will offer several large lines of merinos from Mount Peel, etc. At the Amberley Sports yesterday, Stephens, of Springbnrn (7yde) won the 100 yds Handicap and Quarter-mile (20yds). Fecbney (20yds) won the Mile Handicap. The Qglonist says that m the Nelson district the bulk of tbe grain is now har vested, and m view of the dry season, the yield generally is bettor thau was expected. A lad named Madden, 11 years of age, m loading a gun to shoot a bird near Welling ton, New South Wales, let the hammer slip and shot his little brother through the back of the head, killing him instantly. Seventeen applications have been received for the Government bonus of £1750 offered for a machine or process which will prove to be a distinct improvement oo the previous metnod of dressing fl.x. A powerful antithetic, which volatilises on exposure to the air, has been invented. It is believed that bombs fi led with this chemical and thrown into the ranks of an opposing army would m a few minutes' utterly paralyse the toe.' Mr John Gaughley, who gained theßoweu j priae at the last New Zealand University j examinations, started life'ascopy boy on the j defunct Napier f/eius. He js now on tbe staff of the principal State aohool &t N.apiej?, *h_ Esters' Association fn Invercargill v .7-__-.i«_ai i.~ '"form th§ Dnnedin Auaooia has resolved to .. , . , . . tion that the committee * iU be . la^ n t0 furnish information m confidence, ox c..°* 3 •' bad marks " who remove to Dnnedin with out paying their debts, and will be glad of similar information regarding newcomers to Inveroargill. In connection with the railway communi cation b* tween Scotland and Ireland, ib iB now proposed to send trains through a tunnel which shall float at a depth of 60ft below the surface, and which' shall be kept Bteadily m its place by means of anchors. A Press Association telegram from Auok land states that a movement is on foot amongst Sir Robert Stout's friends m that city to co-operate with Wellington m pre senting him with a testimonial from the people m recognition of bis labours as a member of Parliament. The informant m a criminal oourt case m Sydney recently stated thab the accused oalled to him, ''Come over here, and I'll whisper to you," and then hit him on the head with a hammer. As the judge re marked, tbat certainly was a peculiar way of whispering. The Executive of the Auokland Agricul tural Association has been making enquiries aB to the advisableness of introducing toads and bats into the colony. Ab a meeting of the Assooation the other day two ef the members strongly advocated such a course, and it was decided to further consider tbe j question. The Governor arrived at Kokonga, Otago, | on Wednesday, and was met and welcomed by the Mayor of Naseby, bhe Borough Councillors, and the chairman of the county. A visit was paid to the gold workings and the dredge of Guffies and party on the way to lSaßeby, whiph town was c* fete. His Excellency was entertained at a banquet m the evening. On Thursday morning he left for Ophiv via St. Bathans. The total rainfall for 1897 m the chief centres, was as follows : — Auckland 45in, Wellington 48in, Christchuroh 15in, Dunedin 38in. At Timaru only 12£in were recorded, and at Oamaru 14in. On the Weßt Coast of the South Island, however, the fall ranged from 78in ab Westport to 214in ab Grey mouth, 129in at Hokitika to 258 mab Puyaegur Point. At Inglewood, Taranaki, the fall was 120in, a long way ahead of any adjacent district. Recently m England a lady died through a wasp sting. Tbe incident has grven risa to a statement from South Africa that if the wasp thab stings, or any Other wasp, be ab once caught, the sting cut off, aud the body of the insect rubbed on the stung part the poison ia destroyed. With bees ib is neces sary to crush and rub the insect on bhe wound. ■ According to Btatistios, the favorite age for marriage m this polony is from 21 to 30. There were 1,2^6 persons between the ages I of 21 aud 25 who " joined the Benedicts," m ' 1896, and more followed their example ' between the agea of 25 and 30. There were eleven persons married during the same period, who had reached 70 years and upwards. A civil case— Stonyer v. Conolly— was the laßt item of business at the local Court yesterday. The case was only partly heard, and Mr Francis, of Christohurch, appeared for plaintiff and Mr Cubhbertaon for de fendant. It was a claim on the paab of a : commission agenb for commission on the Bale of defendant's hotel. A certain sum had been paid, and the dispute was over the : balanoe cl.imed by plaintiff. i The largesb gun ever builb is, of course, ( coming from America from the Bethlehem \ works, New Xork. It will weigh 126 tops, ( or Bis tons heavier than the Krupp gun , ' exhibited at Chioago Fair. The calibre of } ' the gun will be 16 m, and the weight of bhe j projectile jusb above a ton. H will be ' mounted on the Romer Shoals and oommand | the entranoe to New York harbour. It i* > espeoted to have an extreme range of 16 l miles,

Entries close to-night for St, Patrick's! >ay sports. Mr E. Herring, of Alford, is on his way ack from Hur.mer Plains. Mr D Thomas has an entry of about ighty h.rsea of all descriptions for bishoise air, to be held on the 25bh inab. m the .rcade. Prize money m connection with the recent Horticultural Show will be paid at Mr d shrimpton's office, Arcade, this evening t rom 7 30. y A meeting of all those interested m irrigation for the Allenton district is called P :or Tuesday evening next, at eight o'clock, a m the Allenton schoolroom. 1 There are two oase- of typhoid fever under 8 breatment at the ABhburton Hospital. One f of the patients is supposed to have *con- c traoted the disease at Timaru, as he was (■ quite well up to the time of the excursion. , The matron of the hospital de.ires to ■ thank the undermentioned ladies for the * following welcome contributions : —Mrs W. ( H. Collins, flowerß, and a bundle of old ( liven ; Mr R. Friedlander and Mra Thomas Audrewß, large quantities of plums. l The following will represent the Ashburton ( Cricket Club ia their match against M ay i__ld, to be played ab Lagmhor ; conveyance to leave Primmer's corner at one o'clock sharp: — Marsden. Russell, Denshire, Cromie, A, Hart, L. F. Andrewea, Crisp, Pilbrow, J. Ward, Morrisßey, aud another. During the month of February, seven oases of various ailments were treated at the Ashburton Hospital. On February 1 the number of patients under treatment was fifteen ; admibbed during bhe month, eight ; deaths, two ; discharged, five; m the hospital on February 28, eight. This is the smallest number treated during any one month for a number of years. The Rev G. H. Mann, Primitive Methodist minister, who has just been appointed bo ABhburton from the Sydney sbreeb church, Wellington, was married m Wellington o_ Monday last bo Misß M. A. Richardson, of Soubhland. The Rev J. Dawson officiated, Rev T. A. Pybuß acting aa best man, and Miss May Clark aa chief bridesmaid. The finest collection of laoe iv the world is that owned by the Pope, and now ab the Vatican. It i 8 valued ab over £100,000. This is hardly to be wondered ab, as the finest laces have always been nsed for religious purposes. Next bo bhe Pope's collection cornea ihoße of the American millionaires, the Vanderbilte' being worth over £80,000. In the Briush Isleß thab of the Queen is the most complete, whi sb the Princess of Wales' is valued at over £50,000. Ib is stated that the living of St. George's Church, Preston, England, presents a re cord whiah is believed te be unparallel d m Church history. On January 6, 1798, the late vicar, the Reverend Robert Harris, beoame • incumbent, and retained the office 64 years. The Rev. C. H. Wood, who succeeded him, has just complebed the thirty-sixth year of his ministry ; so thab St George's has had only two vicars m 100 years, and but two years longer to extend their successive reigns into three centuries. There is every prospect of a very strong competition m the ladies' match ab the New Zealand Rifle Association's meeting. We 1 believe (says the Oamaru Mail) that some ten young ladies m this district have been practising assiduously for some time with a view of t-king part m the competition, and quite a number are qoming from the north. It is probable that some twenty-five to thirty fjiir shpqtists, •S coached " by members of the sterner sex, will take part iv the competition. The match, which will be one of the most interesting of the series, will be fired on Thursday afternoon, and it has been suggested that on that day a small charge fur a.i mission should be made with a view of supplementing the prizes foe the match and the Oamaru match. .It is understood (say. bhe Otago Daily litnes) thab four of the nine-pounder breech loading guns belonging to B Battery have been, or are about bo be, shipped bo Wel lington to havo someslighbdefect- remedied. From whab we cm lt-nrn. Ib appear, that ib is considered desirable to have breech bushes und vent pieoea refaced. The Permanent Artillery arti ficer is stationed at Welling ton, but instead of sending this man down here with the necessary tools to effect bhe repairs the extraordinary course has been adopted of sending the four gunsj each i weighing 6 cut, bo' Wellington. The neces gsry repairs are sa ; d to b. of the slightest d;forlp i >n, and it is believed thai any good tradesman 0.1**4 d 0 tbjj work if "he had the necessary tools. Ib is highly 'i'«prob»ble, m the event of the guns being required to repel an attack, that the enemy would care to w-!*' w h«' e the guns were sent to and returned from w «lUPgtan should some slight repairs be required. The following scheme of scholarships, drawn up by the Hon. W. Rolleston, has been adopted by bhe Canberbury Agricul tural College Board t-*" Thab the scholar ships to be given within the institution be increased m number to four; two for the first year students, and two for the second year sbuderibs, of the annual value of £20 each. The scholarships for bhe first year student, bo be competed for m the month of June next, bhe subjects of examination being outside and inßide work as taught m the first year, suoh subjects to be more preoisely defined hereafter ; no such scholarship to be awarded to students whoae industry and conduct have been unsatisfactory. The scholarships for the second year students to be awarded at the same time upon subjects of the whole of the previous year's course on both outdoor and indoor work.'' In order to make room for the builders to complete the alterations we have resolved to greatly reduce our stock. We have therefore culled a large quantity of our Tweeds and Worßteds, eto, to^clear at the following reductions : — Men's auibs to measure, usual prioe 90s, now 70s ; Men's trousers, usual price 255, now 15s 6d ; eto. We have also pleasure m notifying that we have jusb been appointed agents for the famous " British Monarch ' " Waverley " and Eelipse-Humber Bicycles (both genba' and ladies'), which we are now selling wibh ali the •• up-to-date " improvements ab the lowest cash prices, or on the most liberal terms to euib the convenience of our customers. (Every maohine guaranteed).— Craighead and Bebbyman, the leading Tailors and Outfitters.

BUSH FIRES.

♦ Press Association— By Electric Telegraph— Wellington, March 10 Information has been received thab the bush fire, which baa been burning near Pohangina, came down bhe ranges coward the river wibh a terrible sweep on Wednes day. Everyone wesb of bhe fire waa m danger, bub no newa has been received whether dwellings were burned or not. There has been considerable loss of stock, fences and grass, and a large quantity of valuable timber has been destroyed. The latest report states thab the fire iB still burn ing, and thab unless bhe wind changes or there is a fall of rain, greater damage wifl be the result.

VOLUNTEERING.

, » It ei u sal to Obey Orders. Press Association — By v ISlectric Telegraph '' • ; r Nelson, March 10. At the volunteer inspection laat night, -Japtain Simpson, of the Cpast Guards, m oommand m the absence of Colonel Bibb, the □oast Guards wibh the exception' of two officers, bwo non-commissioned officers and >wo men. refused to obey the order to fall , In, m protest against being made to resign ,he position as b, e'ad of the column which i ;he Guards have occupied for many years as , .avai artillery. There haß been consider- j .ble unreab tor some bime owing to the j | mange of name to tbe Coast Guards, and < ] lepnyation of the position to lead the { 1 loluuin. Ihe men stolidly refused to obey / t >rderß,'and matters were'muoh disturbed, > •olunteerß m uniform hooting. After the t >attalion parade, the company was addressed *, >y bhe ofifoerß, and to make an example the ■ t eoalcitrants were oro>red to fraud |n theip ■ r ifles, abouh 20 doing bo, thus reducing jjhe » ] brengbh of the Coast Guards to §5. Colonel t Pitt m hee» Wwifted 9J th 9 ftate of affaire. 1 1

CHARGE OF WIFE DE SERTION.

ASHBURTON— THURSDAY. j [Before Mr 0. A. Wray, S.M.] The following is the conclusion of the evi dence m tho charge against John McKeague, the first parb of which was published m yesterday's issue : — Beatrice McKeague. daughter of the parties, said that she was thirteen years of age. She remembered the night when Miss Durey stayed at their house. Early m the morning witness heard her mother screaming, the screams coming from her father's bedroom. Her father was calling out. Heard him bhrow her mother on the bed, aud hi. voice balking to her, bub wit ness did nob hear what was said. After this, the same morning, witness went into Miss Durey 'a room. The latter waß ia bed crying, ai.d witness asked her what she was crying for, bub she did nob Bpeak. Ab bhis poi_t Mr Frazer book objection to any incident m the Hinds life. His Worship said, if the matter referred to Miss liurey, it would be admitted, bub not if it referred to any other woman. Witness— Ab Hinds used to sleep with Miss Durey. Ib was a large room. Mißa Durey used bo geb out of bed at night, two or three times a week, and went over by bhe wall. When this was done, there was a man m the i oom she thought. Asked her who was m the room, but MiBB Durey said bhere was nobody. Thoughb ib was her father, because there was no obher man m bhe hou-e. On another occasion witueßS awoke and found Miss Durey out of her bed room. On another occasion Miaa Durey and her father were together m one of the rooms, with ohairs behind the door. By Mr Frazir— Did nob tell her mother of these thing.- at the time, because ahe did not like to, and did not tell her father when he asked, because she was afraid. Told him ah_ did nob see anything, which was true, because bhe only heard. Did not see the chairs pub behind the door— only heard them. Sara Begg, professional nurse, said she . had been a nurse for seven years. Knew ■ Miaa Durey, who had been under her care seven y eat 8 ago — > After _ passage at arms between counsel, • his Worship decided to let this witness i stand down, and bake her evidence later on ■ if it were admissible. i Robert Tay'or, Wesley an minister, said i Mrs McKeague was a member of his church, t A few weeks ago she made a complaint to r him aboub her husband's conduct wibh Miaa Durey. He saw Mr McKeague and ex> 3 pressed his sorrow for the family trouble, . adding thab his wife had decided not to come I home. He said he would take care thab she didn't. He wenb wibh McKeague bo the ' latter's office, where McKeague produced t a letter from Mrs Porter. The letter pub i different complexion on the affair. In replj 3 bo a question from witness McKeague saic I, he did not wish to make himself out a saint ) bub m bhis case his wife had no cause foi I jealousy. He said she had been jealous foi years and tbat jealousy had been the causi of many family quarrels. He denied tha . his wife had found Miaa Durey iv hia bed v room— ib was m the lobby. c Mrs Hopkins, wife of Charles Hopkins B said that Mrs McKeague brought her a lebte: n on February 14, addressed to Miss Qurey a and asked her to have ib posted. _Iri -* MplCeague waß very weak and hardly abli • yo walk. 0 Mr Purnell wished to recall Mrs Begg 8 but af'er. Mr Frazer had addressed thi • bench Hia Worship decided that her evidenc 8 waa not necessary. 6 Mr Fraser, m opening the case for th a defence, regretted that sb little consider c ation had been shown both by Mr Purnel £ and hia client for bhe repubabion of Mis i Durey. lb was a most unfortunate thinj for thab young lady thab she had lived m thi y same house for Beveral years with this couple . and living with a woman like Mrs McKeagui c no young woman's reputation would be safe [. Mrs McKeague waa nob a bad woman, bn !_ tho had hallucinations and there wen b psychological reasons for her conduct . He 8 sbory was a tissue of falsehoods from begin fc ning to end. Miss Durey had had good anc ' substantial reasons for "getting up ab th< 3 early hour mentioned— reasons that an] c person might bave on occasion— anci it wat 1 m the passage that sh¥ met this womar [j whose jealousy was immediately aroused an< i. Mrs McKeague'a tendency to hallucination! t manifested itself. She made much of bei j weak condition, but ahe \Vaa able to be at c dinner with soyer*! peqple. Qounsel wai , severe qntfte weak nature of the evidence ' Q adduced, and called— c Ruby MoKeague, eight yeara, who saic 3 she remembered bhe night Miss Durey slep B at their house. Witness went to bed a eight o'olook and Miss Durey slept with her Misb Durey was m bed when witness awoke , and her mother oame into the room and laj s down on the bed beside Miss Durey. Shi 1- lay there about five minutes and they talkec - together. This was about seven o'clock o c half past;, Did nob see her mother bring ii c- any te*. i By Mr Purnell — Her mother lay pn thi 0 bed. Ib waß her papa who asked her if sh r remembered her mamma coming m and lyin) if down on Miss Durey's bed. g By Mr Fraser — Was quite sure thab he c mamma lay down on Miss Durey's bed. y Albert) Ager. Baptist minister m Ash o burton, said he saw a notice m the Standar d m which Mr McKeague declined' to b c responsible for hia wife's debts. He went ti o see Mr McKeague on the subject, and afte s some conversation he went' to see Mr n McKeague, and tried to bring aboub ; reconciliation. She said cerbain friends ha< 0 pressed her to go bo law and were willing t< 0 help her. She loved her husband and dii c nob wanb bo leave bim. He obtained he j consent to bring them together again for ai - interview, and having gob Mr McKeague' \ consent bo bring hia wife to see hijn \\ McKeague said be would do only whab wa 0 honorable. When be brought them togethe Q m Mr MoKeague's office he wanted her t< h sign a paper for publication, which witnea - did not consider fair. Ij By Mr Purnell— Mrs McKeague charge- Q Miss Durey with being immoral with hei B husband. She did nob then say tb&b Mi 1 McKeague had been asked to contribute c Had heard rumors of evidence that had beei _ Bubsequenbly ascertained. _ Sarah Jane Durey said she was a teacher, lately at Hinds, and just recently appointee to Hampstead. Had known the McJßteaguei for seven yeara, and lodged with them al Hindß. Received an invitation from Mre McKeague to come to Ashburton. Had no . doubt 'whatever about who ib was from, and when Bhe' came to Ashburton she wae received by Mrs McKeague, and kissed. 3 She slept that night m tbe same bed wibh r Ruby. Had reason bo geb up bhab night 1 twice aud go out. The second time she ■ wenb oub Bhe was dressed m a gown and • zcuave jacket, and was only on her stocking soles. Mr MoKeague's room was opposibe hers. The last bime she wept oub she oame i up the stairs behind Mrs MoKeague. Mrs • MoKeague went into witness's room, and ) when she came out she met witness on bhe ■ landing. Mrs McKeague immediabely ' charged witness with having been m • McKeague'a room. Witness made no answer to'the charge, but indignantly passed her. Mrs' McKeague came into her room and repeated the charge, whioh witness denied emphatically, and Mrs McKeague went into her husband's room,' where for half an hour an altercation went on between husband and wife. After that she came back bo witness's room, and came into the bed beside her. She expreaseqL deep regret at what she had said to witness, and while 'witness was crying Mra McKeague said she would never make such a charge again. Mrs McKeague brought up her breakfast, consisting of toast, bacon and eg. s. Witness took down the tray herself. Witnesß denied m fotq all the evidence of Mrß McKeague as to 'the confessions of immorality,' alleged to have been made by witnesa. Fniphatically dehied bhab any impropriety of any kind had ever existed between McKeague and herself. Some years ago had been under treatment j by Drß Tweed and Leahy for prolapsus uteri. j Had never before h&d immorality of any I kind hid to her charge, and had a good I record. Ab ben o'olock on Saburday morning I was aesißbing Mrs Mcßleague with some ' backing'; and also stay.-, bo dinner, after which she left, and Mrs McKeague saw her to the door, and hoped' she would soon j retjirn, Sbe'rejjigned Hinda school to go to Harnpstead school, which she resigned after ) this scandal arose, because she had been told { i the children froiiW »gt feo ftt|9lft4 to attest i

the school where she was teaching. At Hinds ahe had received a presentation— a valuable present— and an address, largely signed by the people of the distriot, m which sbe was petitioned to remain. By Mr Purnell — In the dining room Mrs McKeague did not tax witness with immor ality wibh her husband. In the letter Bhe wrote to Mra McKeague she stated that she waß not surprised to receive such a letter, aB ahe was bo changeable. Had reoeived no copy of a sworn declaration from anyone. Nor had the Board ot Education senb her any letber m refeieno. to the charge laid agdainsb her. Had nob had a miscarriage ab Dr. Tweed's hospibal, and had not borrowed any money from McKeague to pay Dra Tweed. Had never been told by Mra Begg I that she ought nob to go back to MoKeague's house. John MoKeague said his wife was very exoitable and imaginative, and a little head* Etrong and jealous. Ab Hinds she was ever lastingly coming over to bhe sohool, peeping m ab the windows and standing about the hall. If a woman oame to their house onca or twice she was liable to raise the jealousy of his wife. He denied all the allegations of immorality nade by his wife against bim, aud there had never been any familiarity of any kind bebween him and Miss Durey. On bhe morning of the Saturday m question his wife burst m bhe door of his room and demanded to know if Miaa Durey had been iv his room. His reply to that, was she had not, and added " jealousy again." She got into a rage, and tbreabened to leave the house. Witness took her by the arm and set her down on the edge of the bed, bub used no violence at all to her. After some balk wibh her she beoame oalmer and said she would go and apologise to Miss Durey. She left the room to go apparently to Mua Durey's room. Daring Saturday, Sunday, and Monday she behaved to him m her usual manner, but on' Monday evening she used some jealous expressions m regard to Miss Durey, and he wenb upstairs to bed. In tbe morning he received a letter at the office, addressed bo bis wife m Miss Durey's handwribing. He broughb ib home and read i ib bo bis wife, and after soine conversation he told her tbat if she did not give up this jealous oonduob bbey would bave bo separate. She wenb oub and slammed the door. Sbe left the house afterwards and was some days i away before be knew where Bhe was. Had never at any bime had immoral relations , with Misß Durey, who so far as he knew i was aa pure aa when she waa born, t Lucy Watson, residing ab Longbeach, was staying ab Mrs MoKeague's on Saturday, I three weeks ago. Gob there at ten o'olook, and saw Miss Durey there. There waß no > appearance m Mrs McKeague'a manner of i any constraint towards Miss Durey. Mr Purnell said he would have to call , rebutting evidence, and again made an i effort to geb Nurae Begg into bhe box;. s Mr Fraser again objected to her recal, 3 and pointed oub bhab against any possible . evidence of the nurse there was th- cerbifi _ oabe of the doctor. • His Worship consented to tbe recall but i nob m regard bo the docbor'a certificate. , Sara Begg, recalled, said that m 1894, r Miss Durey was four weeks mDr Tweed's r private hospital. WitneßS attended her c all through her illness, and when sbe left b the hospital she said m reply to witness thab - McKeague had such a hold upon her that -• she was afraid of bim, From what Bhe said , bo witness, witness understood thab Mc r McKeague waa bhe cause of her trouble. , By Mr Fraser— lt was only a forbnighb s ago thab she had seen Miss Durey, and m c bhab interview sbe told her thab she should never have gone baok to Hiudß afber leav. ;, ing the ho.pital, Some days ago, ab Miss • Durey's request, she had gone to Mr c McKeague tb urge him not to press the caße in-courb, otherwise what happened m c the hospital would have to come oub. Hia Worship .aid he would not undertake 1 to decide bebween the conflict of evidence, s aud there being such a conflict, he could not g say that the complainant had made oub a a case within the provisions of the Destitute i, Per. ons Aot. He wonld therefore dismiss c the cage,

THE CABLE QUESTION.

r • • Views of Sydney Business Men. 8 Preßs Association-rEy Eleotrio Telegraph ic Copyright* j Sydney, March 8 a A deputation from the Chamber of r Commerce waited on the Postmaster t General to urge the necessity of mak ' ing the Pacific o*ble an accomplished fact. The President, referring to i South. Australia's proposal to duplicate t the land lines, said much more per t tnanent benefit than that was required to deal with the unsatisfactory/ con \ ditioa which now prevailed m regard s to the despatch and delivery of 1 messages. Ib was further pointed out q that no alternative cable route could serve the Eastern colonies and New c so well as the Pacific, c The Po-tmaster-C^eneral, m reply, S said that during the last three months r delays were more frequent and mprp vexatious than ever. They were pro '- bably due t) the great increase m busi t ness." All the delays occurred beyond, q Adelaide. They could not _je tolerated r much longer. He did not think South 8 Australia's proposal would make much * difference, because a duplicate line 0 would rnn ou the same posts, so tha{; _ when poles went down both lines wotyld r go with them. The Eastern Extension a Telegraph Company also proposed tp [ lay a special cable tp Glenelg at a cpst _ of £200,000, but required a renewal of r the agreement, which was about to 0 expire, for twenty years. But tbey 3 «*aid nothing about reducing the rates, i As business lias doubled m ttie )a§t> r five years, a monopoly for the ne*t r twenty years would evidently be a j most valuable concession. He was totally against the proposal that the , colonies should guarantee the company *• that Australian business should not J fall below £227,000 annually, as last i year it was no less then £270,000. i Under the circumstances he thought » the annual subsidy paid by the colonies ' should tie abolish/gd. With regard' tq i the Pacific cable he was entirely irj ) favour of the proposal because he j believer} the business of the colonies , warranted an additional service, but 1 until the result of the Commission sitting m London' was made known 1 the Government would take no action. The South Australian Government's proposal is for a hard-dra«vn copper wire, to cost over JG50,000, to cross the dangerous creeks at different, points from the present line. T^. working capacity of' the double line would Be nearly fourfold that of the presetit i wire. The Agent-General, who is a witness before the " All-red " Cable Committee m London, been informed of' this hew departure * ' j



THE ASHBURTOIN GUARDIAJN : FRIJDA... MARCH Jl, !S9&



Makcu. D H M Full moon  ... 8 859 pm Last quarter 15 7 18 pm New moon 22 8 7 pm First quarter 30 7 10 pm



Press Association—By Electric' Telegraph. _ Wakapuaka, March 10. This mornfng the''telegraph authorities received the following message froui' Ada* laide—"Cable traffic being- worked Via Broome. Expeob jso haye some cables through shortly. Port Darwin line unwork- able. Rev. E. Edwards, pastor of the English Baptist Church at Mineraville, Pa., when Buffering with rheumatism, was advised, to tryi Chamberlain's Pain Balm. He says 4 " A few applications of this liniment proved of great service to me. Jt subdued bhe in- flammation and relieved the pain.' Should any aufferer progb by giving Pain Balm a jrlal it will please me.V Bur'sale by thi ABhburton $«•{■ Coqip*^./ ' ' " *



New Zealand CLOTHING FACTORY. mHiS WEEK. i X /^ IVING "OEST VALUE — MENS SAC BUITS, 57s 6d YOUTHS' SAC SUIT 3, 25s 6d , TDOYS' KNICKER SUITS, 12B6dX_> 15a 6d BOYS' SAILOR SUITS, 10s 6d OPECIAL " "TTALUE XAON'T FORGET NEW ZEALAND CLOTHING FACTORY. _ A. G. BARTON, Manager. Church Services ST. STEPHEN'S CHURCH Ashburton. FRIDAY—Short Service 7.30 p.m. Choir Practice 8 p.m. SUNDAY SERVICES.—I3'.h March. 8 30 Holy Communion. 11 a.m. Morning Prayer. 3 p.m. Dromore. 6.30 Evening Prayer. ' REV. T. A. HAMILTON.



F. FERRIMAN. ) i FOR SALE- 1. A SPLENDID OPPORTUNITY FOR A i PERSON WITH SMALL CAPITAL. X HAVE been instructed by Mb V. Rouse to aell by Private Treaty his well known and Commodious BOARDING HOUSE, situated m olose proximity to the Mebbven Railway Station, containing 1*? 1 Rooms and Soullery, together with £ aore of land. As Mb Rouse has determined to sell on aooount of his wife's ill-health, the above should oommand the abtenbion of anyone m search of a profitable and increasing business m bhe centre of a large and rising distriobi F. FERRIMAN. FOR SALE. WAKANUI ROAD, WITHIN A FEW MINUTES WALK OF POST OFFICE. A Comfortable Dwelling House, contain- ing 8 rooms, Bathroom and Soullery, to- gether with one acre of land, fronting on Wakanui Road and Cambridge Streeb. The above is for absolute sale, and from ts close proximity to town should call for special attention from those m searoh of good suburban residence. F. FERRIMAN. FOR SALE. LEASE IN PERPETUITY of 100 Acres of Land at Lismore, subdivided into four paddocks, with an abundant supply of j water m each. 20 acrea are m English ' grasses, 35 m fallow, and 45 are m the native j state, upon which there is good feed. j Upon the property there iB a coi»forfcaj.le j five-roomed house, a well planted garden, j three-stalled stable, piggeries and sheep I yards. I As this fain. ia within three mile, &l ft | Publio Sohool, anyon. ia of ft property at a small rental would do we.: to S' ve thlß ! an inspection. I If. ferriman. FOR SALE, I HAVE FOR SALE a good second hand FARM DRAY, 1 DOUBLE-FURROW 1 PLOUGH, and second hand DRILL. F. FERRIMAN. FOR SALE, ! LEASE OF 600 ACRES OF LAND AT WESTERFIED. 100 acreß Perpetual Lease, 999 yearß, equal 1 to freehold; 500 acrea under lease for 7 I years, upon which are erected a four-roomed j cottage, stable and chaffnouse, eto., situated tin close proximity to a public school. 40 ' aores are sown down m English grasses, 550 ' are m tussock, and 10 are m fallow. > Anyone m search of a good Bheep farm ; cannot do better than give this their atten- t ion. Full particulars on application. F. FERRIMAN. TO LET, William Street, off Wakanui Road. A I house of seven rooms. j T 0 LE T, } Wakanui Road, a comfortablej^houee] of [ six rooms and soullery. F. FERRIMAN. - ~Sb not Aepersuac/etf to oi/yany oftAe/m/tafions. tl » msisA on fiav/ng • I ' I (Awarded Co/d and Si/ nrMeda/s) 1 j qnojvoAßiMMprfAs \ meyaregureandmo/esome • #■. Trie ti?st money and _«* fer/ence cap ttuy. xstsa/eiflAustfa/as/a.



|o_tMi_9- l^_-_i V3aH H»n. v^M-_ta-*-__a->-_va_'_Viii 1 1 ta'iViii ■•ir*»^ _- m I •__■■— _■-■ ■fi 1 I' EXCURSION WASHER. 1,000000 HIGH CLASS TOWELS GIVEN AWAY TO PUROHASERS OF EXCURSION WASHER, The Best Wa&hing Powder m the World. A Large HONEYCOMB TOWEL given with Three Paokets. A TURKISH ROLLER TOWEL er a Large HAND or BATH TURKISH TOWEL given with Twelve P.okets. SHEARMAN BROS., FAMILY GROCERS, IRONMONGERS, <fe WINE AND SPIRIT j MEROHANTS, j MARKET HOUSE, BURHETT STREET, ASHBURTON. Telephone No. 53. LADIES' WATCHES GENTLEMEN'S WATCHES GOLD BROOCHES r LADIES' GOLD RINGS. fTIHESE FOUR LINES ARE HEAVILY STOCKED AND ARE OFFEREEfIAT REDUCED PRICES, THE LARGEST AND FINEST STOCK: IN the Dlstriob of theae*|and all other Lineßg_is' I jgto] be sep*,! Jat S. SALEK'S THE LEADING JEWELLERY ESTABLISHMENT IN THE DISTRICT **■ GIGANTIC SALE m » OF DRAPERY, CLOTHING & BOOTS AT MITCHELL & TURNER'S. The Whole Stock Reduced. — :o: ODD LINES AND SUMMER GOODS AT AFTER SEASON PRICES. ONE WOBD ABOUT BOOTS. JAMES "MELLOR, ZEALANDIA BOOT STORE, TANORED STREET, ASHBURTON. X¥TE aim to please, and our large volume of trade speaks for our success v THE ZEALANDIA BOOT STORE is holding the largest and best assorted stock of BOOTS AND SHOES m Aahburton, Ladies', Gentlemen's and Children's Boots and Shoes m endless variety. FOR REAL HARD WEAR TRY THE ZEALANDIA BRAND. Everybody knows we give nothing fcwb the beat value. One trial ie 8-li we ask JAMES MELLOR, ZEALANDIA BOOT STOBE, TANCRED STEKT, ASHBURTON.