Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY, APRIL 2, 1898.

" The Problem of the Far East " is dealt with by an anonymous writer m

the Contemporary. "THE PROBLEM His view of the OF THE situation is that the FAR EASTi" Triple Alliance of

Russia, France, and Germany, which came to the assistance of China m 1895, has been revived "for the further curbing of Japan whose naval and military growth at the eastern extremity of the empire figures like a nightmare m the ambitious dreams of Russian states men." Germany has no special cause of enmity with Japan, but she wanted a Chinese port as an avenue of trade, and m order to secure her moral support _ " Russia stands aside and permits her to acquire a place that she had coveted herself and theoretically acquired." The writer is of opinion that Russian statesmen realised that when they came down to Port Arthur there was the risk of England seizing Kaiou-Ohau, and provided against that risk by allowing it to pass into the friendly hands of Germany, " well knowing that Russo-German relations must be arranged on the Niemen, and not on the J?eiho. There is no room to doubt that Russia saw that the moment had arrived for striking a further effective blow against Japan before her fleet should receive the various important additions from Eng lish and other shipyards on ordor. Russia does not want and is not ready for war m the Far East, but she feels the need of a great pacific triumph over Japan simitar to that attained m 1895." The German Emperor is, m the eyea of this writer, the deadly enemy of England, who thinks that he can array Europe against us more effectually than even Napoleon did. Hence, it is safer to base all our calcu lations on his hostility. The Prince of Wales is given the credit of having seen through the Kaiser's sentiments from a very early period of hia reign, and to have firmly refused to be any party to the condonation of the German ruler's offences, "not merely against good breeding, but against the dignity and majesty of lijLs own country. It appears that after the famous speech at Kiel, when the "mailed fiat "'was shaken threateningly before the world, Prince Henry, who visited Qaborne on his way to China, made a frantio attempt to deliver a personal message to the Prince of Wales, which the tact of the latter seems to have baffled

lThe writer thinks that the British I Government ought to impress upon | Ohina the necessity of transferring the capital to a safer place than Pekin, and to insist on the removal of the Mari time Customs Department, which is under the control sf Sir Robert Hart, to Shanghai, where, as a matter of fact, if was domiciled for the first ten years of its existence.

Oxford has again beaten Cambridge m the annual university boat race, the result of which is UNIVERSITY always awaited with BOAT RACE, interest m all parts

of the English-speak ing world. The Oxford crew this year appear to have defeated their oppon ents very easily, no less than twelve lengths separating the boats at the finish. Up to. the present time the re presentatives of these two great uni versities have rowed 55 races, Oxford winning 32, and Cambridge 22, while one contest (that of 1877) was a dead heat, The first of these famous con teats was decided m 1829, and up till 1856 they came off at irregular inter vals. From 1856 till the present, however, the race has been an annual fixture, The list of those who have taken part contains the names of men who have risen to the very highest positions m Ohurch and State. In tke early part of the year' 1829 two men, subsequently to become famous Angli can ecclesiastics, met at St. John's College, Cambridge, and proposed the first race. The men — both embryo bishops— -were Charles Wordsworth, of Christ Ohurch, Oxford, and afterwards Bishop of St. Andrew's, and George Augustus Selwyn, of St. John's College, Cambridge, so wel) known to ourselves as the first Bishop of New Zealand. The result of their chat was the con test of 1829, when two embryo bishops, three deans, and one prebendary " got their backs on to it," Oxford won on the first occasion, and then Cambridge won four times m succession. Up to and including the race of 1860, Cam bridge had won on ten occasions, and Oxford on seven. Then came Oxford's turn, and for nine years without a break their crew came off victorious. Then the record becomes pretty even till 1890, but for that year till the present occasion (nine reces), Oxford has had an uninterrupted career of victory. The race of 1846 wa3 the first rowed m outriggers, and m 1857 the crews adopted the present style of eights without keel, and rowed with round oars. In 1873 sliding Beats were introduced.

Local and General.

Harvest is progressing at great pace up country m Otago, and tho weither is most favorable.

A Wellington telegram says that tho ship Margaret Galbraith, which was missing for a few days, has turned up safely.

A report of the sale at Fernyside farm will be found on the first page, and commercia and other newß appear on the fourth page.

"I think it a very absurd law which entitles a man to exemption from service on a jury because he is over sixty." — Mr Jus tice Connolly.

A complete and up-to-dato Rontgen rays apparatus, which is to be procured for use m the Wellington Hospital, is to cost £103 10a.

At the inquest on the fire which destroyed Hammerton's store at Levin, a verdict of incendiarism against some person or persons unknown was teturned.

Attention is drawn to an important announcement elsewhere te Waterbury watches. An opportunity will soon be afforded of getting them cheap,

It is reportud that the Assessment Court for the Ashburton County will be held during the first week m May, particulars of which will be advertised shortly.

A man named John Toner, of Mayfield, was severely kicked by a horse on Tuesday, e>nd was brought to the Hospital. He is reported lo be doing well.

Letters from places beyond the colony, addressed as under, were received at the Ashburton Post Office during the month of January, and are still unclaimed :— J. Jeffs, Nellie J. Jordan, Mrs Lewis Jordan, F. 0. Parrotb.

The Bruce He) aid reports that some forty trucks, containing 2600 prime sheep, went through by the train last Sunday for the Timaru freezing worko. The Hheep came from the Greenfield estate. More " prime Canterbury " !

On Friday the deepest artesian well sunk m Christonureh was completed by Mr Osborn, m the Triangle block. It is 413 ft deep, and the flow obtained was so powerful as to gush out over the top of a pipe 30ft 7 in above the ground. The diameter of the well pipe is Sin.

During the past few days the following gifts have been received at the Hospital for the benefit of the patients : — Mrs Snodgrass, apples ; Mrs W. H. Collins, flowers ; Miss Bishop, papers; Mr Hosken, hareß; for whioh the matron, on behalf of the patients, tenders her best thanks.

At Nelson a cyclist had a strange ex perience a short time ago. A bewildered fowl rushed against bis machine m such a way that it) stuck its head through the spokes of the front wheel. The fowl was decapitated without the cyclist being so much as turned from his course.

In connection with the collision of the Wakatipu with the Laira m Dunedin harbor, an account of which the Press Association wired to ua this morning, it may be added that Mrs Alfred Harrison received a telegram from her husband to day, giving the short facts, and asking that hia wire be sent to the Guardian.

Miss Beatrice Griffiths, who visited New Zealand as one of M. Kowalski's company a few yearn ago, has given a successful piano forte recital at the Queen's Hall, London, assisted by her two sisters, Miss Muriel Griffiths, a promising violinist, now study ing under Herr Johannes Wo iff, and Miss Bessie Griffiths, 'cellist, who is a pupil of M. D. Munck.

The Calliope Dook at Auckland has beon put to practical u@e as a swimming bath to such an extent that the harbourmaster has found it necessary to complain to the B, oard that men and boys swimming m tha dock on Sunday mornings and at other times are a great nuisance. It has been suggested that the notice boar 4 &tj the door should be re moved, and no swimming allowed m future unless at certain hours.

A good deal of amusement was caused by an incident narrated by the Premier m the courea of an address at Balclutha last Friday night. As showing bow little was known m some quarters at Home respecting this colony and its inhabitants, the Right Hon. Mr Seddon mentioned that when he was m London he received an invitation to attend a musical entertainment on the occasion of his proposed visit to Dublin. The letter was written by a lady, who was a musician and apparently well educated otherwise, and the writer, after expressing pleasure chat the Premier of New Zealand was about to visit the historio City of Dublin, gave him a cordial invitation to the proposed entertain ment and added : " we should eßteem it a great obligation, and it would add to the Fnterpgt of the proceedings, if you would kindly appear m JVV?" native costume." Evi dently'this lady thdugh.t the Premier of New Zealand was a dusky potentate \vhp m his native wilds garrjeda tomahawk and worjS the piotvu?es<jue garb of an apoient Mapri chieftain.

Mesrs Fletcher Bros., grocers, etc., have a new advertisement m this issue.

Mr S. Trevurzi has just imported into Ashburton a very nice four-wheeled cab. It a light, roomy, and comfortable, and will no doubt be appreciated.

Captain Edwin reports that there are indications of northerly gales m most parts of the colony between noon of the sth and

midnight of the 6th, and that the barometer will be low m the south on the latter date.

On November 27th the Union Company's Tarawhera picked up the Bhip Nelson m a disabled condition some ten miles outside

Pencarrow Heads, and towed her into Wei- ' lington. The owners of bhe Kelson (says a Press Aaaooiation telegram from DunediD) have paid £2000 for salvage, and of this the directors of the Union Company are dividing one-fifth, or £400, amongst the officers and crew, m the proportion of one third to the master and two-thirds to the

officers and crew.

The revival of the some time defunct Chertsey Sports has been very popular. The Committee and Secretary have met with the heartiest support, and m addition to a very large number of entries, the subscriptions have come m quite up to the Committee's anticipations. However, the expenses will be fairly heavy, as the Committee are spar ing no pains to make the 1898 meeting com pare favourably with the famous 1892 gathering. The Burnham Band will be pre sent, and will no doubt be as popular as ever. Mr R. D. Petrie will have a luncheon

and refreshment booth, «nd Mr Jewitt will provide fruit and oysters, etc. Mr George ahellook will be there with his shooting gallery and there will be the usual side shows. As Mr Lewis's Chertsey Hotel is quite close, there will be no booth on the ground. The local horses are training steadily, and each evening sees quite a crowd of spectators, watohing the form, and specu lating on the final result. The running entries will be oloaely contested, judging by the training some of the competitors are going m for. There is no telling what the effects of a newspaper paragraph may not be. The other day we ( Westminster Budget) printed a short account of the day's work done by the Emperor and Empress of Germany. A few days after the following Jeremiad from a domestic servant made its appearance : — " I reed m your paper that the empor and is wife get up every mourning at 5 p.m., and that all three children are dresb at 6. Wood you tell me pleeß what they are about at that our, they can doo nuthing but bern the noil. Nor cen the children be comfoble as no fires is made up. What time do there acr vents get up and lite the fires ? my missus she says look how the servants get up m the empor's house, why 'can't you. Will you plees put no more about the empor and his wife getten up into your paper. My missus she jawr me arter it. Ef you say the empor and his wife get up at 5 p.m. m the mourn ing, what time is us poor servants to git up. Praps you dident think on that, but be so kind as not to rite about gettin up erly." From a return prepared by the Victorian postal department, it is ascertained that at the Melbourne office a revenue of over £4000 was obtained last year m connection with the despatch of registered letters to the promoter of Tattersalls' sweeps m Tas mania. This it wiU be noted, was m con nection with the registered letters alone, and represents the value of the postage stamps affixed to the letterß, and the fee of threepence charged on each missive for registration. Besides this, the Melbourne office received a large sum from postage on the unregistered letters to that address and for commission on money orders and pos tal notes. There have also to be added the similar receipts at the minor post offices throughout the colony. This item of revenue is also an expanding one. Thus, m 1895 there were 80,321 registered letters sent through the head office for Tattersalls, while m 1896 the number had grown to 93,994— an increase of 12,673. In 1897 the number had risen to 128,358, a further increase m the twelve months of 35,364. Prior to the opening of Tabtersalls' office at Hobart the Tasmauian Jrostal Department was afflicted with what was seemingly a chronic deficiency. It now enjoys au annual surplus. Last year its share of the sweep revenue was slightly over £16,000,

MR GLADSTONE

Press Association -By Electric Telegraph. Copyright. Eome, April 1 The Italian Senate has passed a motion of sympathy with Mr Glad stone m bis severe illness. London, April 1 The British Medical Journal says that though there is no immediate cause of anxiety m Mr Gladstone's case, it views the future with great apprehension.

THE SOUDAN.

Preßß Association— By Electrio Telegraph

Copyright.

Cairo, Apfil X

General Hunter's force made a reconnaissance at close quarters with Mahmoud's troops. He drove back 500 of the enemy's horsemen, and found a strongly defended camp with three rows of trenches filled with rifle men.

The Dervish forces made no reply to the fire of the Maxims, as they were waiting for the British to make a closer attack.

THE DUDLEY COLLIERY EX PLOSION.

Press Association — By Bleotrio Telegraph—

Copyright.

Sydney, April 1.

At the enquiry, Reynolds, a miner, stated that the pit was very hot and gaseous. .There were frequent out breaks of flames a fortnight before the disaster, and a serious outbreak m one of the parts bratticed up. Several times he called the attention of the over-men to the increasing presence of gas.

Received Wakapuaka April 2, 9.40 a.m., Guardian Office 10.43 a.m. Sydnky, April 2. At the Dudley disaster enquiry two leading district colliery managers who took part m the rescue, expressed the opinion that the explosion was caused by the sudden influx of gas, the result of the fall of the roof just previously,

CANDLELIGHT NOTES.

[By Jaques ]

"I must have liberty withal, us large a cbartor as the wind, to flow on whom I please."— As You like W.

I have been straying about this county ever since it was a county, I have seen it m the virgin tussock, roadless, treeless, waterless. I have seen it grow out of " the waste howling wildernefiß " into a laud flow , ing with milk and honey. I have witnessed the toil and the trouble of the early settlers both on the plains and towards the hills, and have followed very many of those grand old warriors, who fought and overcame every obstacle, to the lasb home whioh awaits mankind— " where the wicked cease from

troubling and the weary are at rest." Oroa a of St. Andrew ! When I think of it, and count up the number of the grand fellowß whom we have planted m the cemeterieß of the county, and grand women too, I feel constrained to moralise as did the philosopher whose name I have assumed. I could mention names by the dozen that were once prominent m your columns aa those of public men, men who bore the burden and the heat of the day m every work calculated to further the intereßb and help on the progress of our country and your borough, but we who are now away m the undiscovered county. Some died after reaohiDg the sere and yellow, some m the prime of man hood, some before thab prime had been reached; some ran their course, and suc cumbed to the great leveller only when they had passed the allotted time for the life of man, while others had their thread cub short untimely by accident, bub nearly all died m harness.

This was hardly the strain m which I meant the foregoing paragraph to conclude when I began, but after the opening sen tences had been written I could not help harking back to reminiscences of the old men of the plains. What I really did mean thoße opening Bentences to introduce was a statement! to the effect fchafe m all my long experience of thia county I cannot recall a season, or rather succession of seasons, during whioh so little rain has fallen. Dry seasons have been frequent. In fact they are the curee of both agricul tural and pastoral pursuits m this district. 1 But Providence has always been better to us than we feared, and if the early ram did not come we have got the latter, and wee vtrsa. This time, however, the drought seems to have got the business end of its implements into proper form, and the foun tains of the heavens seem to have been most effectually sealed, and for a far longer term than any one here can remember.

It only wanted this to waken our farmers up to a sense of their duty, not only to themselves but to the colony. I don't sup pose they are likely to consider their colonial duty before their duty to themselves, seeing that self-preservation is the firßt law of nature; but by doing their duty by the land they are farming and doing that duty well, they are discharging an important trust committed to them, seeing that as the song says " the farmer feeds them all," and when he fails to get the people's bread out of the land, as m many cases he has done this year, he has come short of his duty. I do not for a moment say that iadividual farmers whose crops have failed this year have come short of their own individual duty, because they could not control the rain fall or provide themselves with a rainfall m spite of nature. But Ido say ♦.hat the whole farming community are responsible for the short orop of cereals this year and the equally short crop of feed for the stock. That they all to a large extent believe m irrigation has been made manifest during the dry season, as witness tha many «• tamp ering " cases the County Council has had to deal with, and numerous others I wot of that did not come under the ranger's eyes. But with a "cusjedness" nobody seems to under stand—certainly I don't— they do not seem, to have realised during the last twenty years thaf> irrigation would pay them. And it is only now, its value being banged at their heads with the force of an earthquake shock, that they begin to give audience at all to anybody who talks enthusiastically about irrigation. Four bushels instead of forty ! Surely this is a condition of things that ought to waken up the most sleepy and apathetic clod of them all. $Jo\7 that Dr Seddon has begun to talk irrigation, and to promise N cheap money for it, much of the half-heartedness thab has been shown m this great cause should give place to enthusiasm. But the best lesson on the need for indepen dence of the rainfall that oouid possibly have been given is this long season of drought, and if ihe lesson be laid to heart, and if it bring about a practical result, the farmers will not have suffered m vain.

The holiday question has always been a much vexed one m the majority of New Zealand towns, and the case of Ashburton is no exception to the rule, It was a long time before any agreemont could be aecurod upon the point which day of the week would be the best for the half-holiday. Ashburton has now, however, accepted Thursday as the day on which the statutory half -holiday is to be observed, and as a con eequence the streets are entiraly deserted after one o'clock. But it strikes one as a mistake for the banks to keep open on the usual half holiday and olose on Saturday afternoon — the busiest of the whole week. I oertainly think that those of our benevolent legislators, who claim to have been so successful m fixing up the gaming and lottery question, so that betting is now pretty well confined to the rising generation, and the lottery business to social organisations, might take the banks m hand and make them olose on Thursdays, and keep open on Saturdays. I would respectfully point out to these reformers that the "cuss words " used on Saturdays by numbers of irate farmers and others, whose business transactions often suffer seriously through the difficulty m connection with cheques and change, are quite appalling. I had the misfortune to hear an angry agriculturalist last Saturday cursing a certain banker m terms that would have quite put m the shade the famous perfor mance of the Cardinal of Rheims< Perhaps the members of the local clergy will take the, hint and endeavour to remove this cause for the use of bad language.

Mr Alfred Harrison has blown a warning note against the proposal to raise a borough loaD. But his letter published m your columns makes it quite plain that logic is not his forte. He tells us that borough affairs have been characterised up to the present time by care and good management —on a shilling rate. Yeb he Bays that far too much money has been spent on the Domain. He also asserts " without fear of contradiction " that the present expenditure there would nob be sanctioned if things were as they should be. This is very funny. Another specimen of Mr Harrison's business knowledge is to hold up to ridicule the ide% of " borrowing money at 4£ or 5 per oent. to pay off an overdraft at six." This saving of one and a half or one per cent, strikes our ex-Mayor as irresistibly comic. Probably, however, Mr Harrison's ideas of finance are , based on the lines followed by a certain famous New Zealand Colonial Treasurer, which are generally opposed to the hitherto old fashioned notions on this intricate sub ject. However, notwithstanding Mr Harri son's illogical and contradictory assertions he has made two points clear. One is thab he is about the only person m the Ashburton county who finds fault with the recent management of the Domain, and wishes to curtail further expenditure upon it, and the other is that he will be m an almost equally striking minority m the voting on the Loan question. I should say the position he takes up is — well, eccentric.

Ib is astonishing how idiotic customs grow upon a people, more especially ia connection with weddings. We Jaugh ia a superior way ac the practices observed m some countries whose inhabitants are classed by us amongst savages : such for instance as the would-be bridegroom having to oapture his bride by force, run her down by fleetneßS of foot, and thereafter observe various cere monies which seem to us to be silly m the extreme. Bub what will posterity have to say about the pvesenb day customs of go called oiyilised " Australasians 2 Whab $br example will be the explanation of the bombardment/ of a departing n«wly wedded $

pair with old shoes, or the mystic rice ahowera ? But idiotic as these customs will doubtlesß aeem to the historian of the future, they will not excite bo much astonishment and speculation aa the more modern custom of •« tin kettling." The boot and shoe cus tom ia bad enough, more especially when it is put m practice as the victimß are coming out of church — 19 is sometimes the case— and there is no friendly shelter near enough to save them from hard knocks; and the besprinkling with rice is not plea3ant, parti cularly if one's get up is excellent and the weather is damp. But tin-kettliog is simply iiisgußting, and seems to have no excuse for having had a beginning. It appears to be nothing more nor less than aßpecies of blaok mailing, and there can be no doubt that the authorities should make it illegal. 1 am quite willing to admit that maDy well meaning persons enter upon a tin-kettling expedition with no desire for anything more than to have Borne fun at the expense of the newly wedded pair. But m the majority of cases the idea is to make the bridegroom "stand treat."

Sometimes the perpetrators are had. An instance occurred recently, but where the town or which the street— tell ib not m Gath, etc. The happy pair were expected to return from the honey, moon on a certain evening— bub they didn't. The tin-kebtle regiment paraded all the Bame. A wag wonb to the local livery stable and gave certain instructions. A cab and pair m consequence waited ab the station, and on the arrival of the lasb train drove off to the home thab was to be out raged by the tin-kettlers. The cab drew op at the door, the driver descended, osten tatiously opened the cab door, held ib bo for ft space, loudly slammed it, and laughingly wißhed somebody good-night and success to their new undertaking. Then he mounted again and drove away. The ketblera from ambush emerged, began their pandemonium of sound, beating heavily on tins aa empty as their heads. No reply of any kind came from the house, but m Bpite of the silence the fools went on with their work till mid night. Had they had enough sense to impel them to go m oub of the rain they would have discovered thab the parties they meant to annoy were nob there. Bub ib waa nob till the next day thab they discovered that the bride and bridegroom were reposing serenely fifty miles away while the satur nalia was being carried on. When the parties did arrive the kettlers were so wild at having been bowled oub thab they began a J> course of self-kicking, which is resumed ab I every mention of the incident.

HAMPSTEAD TOWN BOARD.

The monthly meeting of the Hampatead Town Board was held last evening. Preient — Messrs Maynard (chairman), Mahood. McElrea and Hunt.

MILL RACE BRIDGES.

The Wakanui Road Board wrote ia re ference to the bridge on Smith's Road. The Chairman said it was monßtrous that the Boards should be required to bear the cost of bridging what was really a mill race and not a natural stream.

Mr Hunt remarked thab the County Council claimed control of the water and were quick at resenting any interference with it, but declined to take the responsibi lity when expenditure was necessary. After some discussion it waß resolved that the Chairman and Mr McElrea wait on the Wakanui Road Board to confer as to the best course to be pursued m connection with this question. BOIL. The transfer of lota 1 and 2 R.S. 6553 from John Kilgour to Thomaß Crooks was authorised. RENTS. . The Clerk was instructed to write and in form a tenant that unless his arrears of rent were paid within fourteen days the Board would resume possession and sue for the rent. DOGS AND RAXES. It transpired that only eight doga bad been registered, and the clerk was instructed to advertise that action would be taken asjainat owners of unregistered dogs and de faulting ratepayers. FOOT BRIDGES. The Clerk was directed to call the atten tion of the County Council to the defective state of the foob bridge over Jones' water race.

ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to £7 5s 6d were passged and the Board adjourned.

COMMERCIAL.

Arcade.

Mr D. Thomas reports a fair attendance at hia sale m the Arcade to-day and the following sales effected :— Black draught gelding, six years, £21 ; bay colt, two years, unbroken, £23 ; chestnut hack, two years, broken to saddle, £5. Produce— Potatoes, Jd to |i per 1b ; tomatoes," Id to 2d per lb ; onions, l£d to 2d pet lb ; pears, l£d to 2a per lb.

THE WEATHER.

ALPORD STATION. The following ia tha meteorological reporb for the week ending April 1, 1898 :—

The Transvaal.

Press Association — By Eleofcrio Telegraph-* Copyright. '

Pretoria, April 1 Judge Gregorowski succeeds Me Katze as Chief Justice of the Trans vaal.

Mr N. S. Malherbe, Chairman of the Second Volksraad, has been appointed Treasurer.

YACHTING.

Press Association— By Electric Telegraph- Copyright.

Sydney, April 1 The Meteor won the second match against the Bronzewing by three minutes thirty-four seconds, thus win ning the rubber. The Aucklander will be pitted against leading Sydney cracks m to-morrow's handicap races.

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 -Worsteds, etc, to clear at the following reductions : — Men's suits to measure, usual price 90s, now 70s; Men's trousers, usual price 255, now 15s 6d; etc We have, also pleasure m notifying that we have just been appointed agents for the famous "British Monarch' " Waverley" andEclipse-Humber Bicycles (both gents' and ladies 1 ), which we are now selling with all the " up-to-date " improvements at the lowest cash prices, or on the most liberal terms to suit the convenience of oar customers. (Every maohine guaranteed).— Craighead and Bebbyman, the leading Tailors and Outfitters. *

THE ASHBOBTOH GDABDIAN i SATURDAY, APRIL 2, ±898.



Shade * High State Date. — — — — m of Low. High Sun weather. i Saturday.. 46' 67* 77' Fine, 8. W. Sunday .. 31' 78- 85* „ Calm. Monday .. 47* 55- 55" Overcasts. Tuesday .. 42- 64- 117" Fine S. Wednesday 30* 78* 122- „ Calm. Thursday.. 35' 92- 140. „ „ Jb'riday ..41- 76- 82* Overcast E. Rainfall during March — Alford Forest, 4.35 inches ; Alford Station, 2.17 inches. A new solar self-registering thermometer arrived on Tuesday from London — henos the above higher records of heat.



Sinopsis of New Advertisements Church Notices — St. Stephen's, Tabernacle, Primitive Methodist, and Wealeyan. S. Salek — New business advertisement. T. Bullock— Property for Sale. J. H. Jewitt— Fcesh fish. Hampstead Town Pistrict— Notice re i rates. ' for Sale— Bicycle, price £15. Canterbury Amateur Athletic Club — Annual meeting, Saturday, April 16. Wanted — General Servant. W. H. Barrett— Cottage to Let. Lost — Sheep Dog. A&hburton County Council- -Notice re appointment of Mr Biggs to sell dog collarss L0.0.F.M.U. — Notice re adjourned meet- ing. Lost — Black silk umbrella. Friedlantler Bros. —Sale of property Satur- day, April 16. i Church of the Holy Name— Re two MaBBOB nexb Sunday. 1 T. Bullock— Properties at Hampstead for sale Saturday, April 16.



KO2iB TJB2A. ■■■ i > Most Reliable



i& Pur©*



,B,QZ;iIQ TEA



Church Services I ST. STEPHEN'S CHUR O. H Ashburtoc. PALM SUNDAY-(April 3). 11 a.m«— Morning Prayer and Holy Com- munion. 3 p.m.— Greenatreet— Rov J. E. Blaok- burne. 6.3o— Evening Prayer. The Services m St. Stephen's Church will be conducted by the Rev J. E. Blackburne. OHURCH OF THE HOLY NAME. - mHERE will be TWO Masses ia Ash- burton on SUNDAY, April 3. 4 10 J. J. O'DONNELL. PHASES OF THE MOON. JAphil, r <D H M New moon 7 8 50 am First quarter 14 1 58 am Full moon  ... 21 961 am Last quarter 29 1 55 pm



_^ Business Notices. j 1 New Zealand CLOTHING FACTORY. THE UP TO DATE HOUSE "OOR Gents and Boy's Stylish I Mercery, Ties, Hats, Caps, Collars, I Clothing, etc. I We are now openiDg up NEW I GOODS for the present season, in- cluding all the LATEST NOVEL- ITIES. , I 1000 BOYS GAPS AT 6d EACH. ■I HALLENSTEIN BROS., I AND CO., I A. G. BARTON, I Manager. I Do do/ Jbe persuaded /o I oi/yg/ty offfief/n/fafionsL I (MartifedGo/ddfufSf/vertfei/a/s) cmGflo#Bi£ffl£prFAs /feyarepureandwMesom v - * Tfiemsfmomyaacf c l experience can 6uy £argesfsa/e/fiM'sfc37as/a. D i L *| ,£oU> BV .ALL CROCIBS^



SOLE AGENTS— JOB THE WAVERLEY BICYCLE. John Orr & Co. ASHBURTON,



HORSE CLIPPERS Martia'a Knowlos', Oxford and Cambridge, Lee Bank, Clark's etc. CHEAPEST HOUSE IN CANTERBURY FOR THESE. PLATED WARE OF ALL KINDS. SOLE PROPRIETORS OF THE OELE- BRATED— "KODAK" SPOONS AND FORKS, Warranted to wear white. CUPS AND SAUCERS, TOILET SETS, DINNER & TEA SETS, FANCY CROCKERY & GLASSWARE. •i We have also a new line to this district — HOWARD'S DIAMOND CHILLED PLOUGH SHARES For Reid and Gray Ploughs. These Shares are specially chilled and one of them is equal to two of the Colonial article.



IFhe following are a few [of the many linen that we have reduced the price of :— ! SAUCEPANS, KETTLES, AND HOLLOW- \ WARE OF ALL KINDS. GAL- VANISED BUCKETS, AND BATHS, ENAMELWARE, SHEEP NETTING, BROOMS AND BRUSH- WARE, TINWARE, MAN- GLES, WRINGERS, BEDSTEADS AND BEDDING, BARB AND PLAIN FENCING WIRE, STAPLES, NAILS, ETC., CARPENTERS, & MECHANICS, TOOLS, TABLE AND POCKET CUTLERY, GUNS, CARTRIDGES AND AMMUNITION, REGI- " STER GRATES, STOVES AND RANGES, LAMPS AND LAMPWARE. w WE have juab landed over SIX HUNDEJED LAMPS/ and can quote wonderful prices.



John Orr & Co. John Orr & 00. TTTE HAVE BEEN FOR SOME TIME CUTTING THE PRICE OF GROCERIES AND GLASSWARE, AND ABE STILL DOING SO. Daring the past week we have made «ome STARTLING REDUCTIONS, and have deoided to REDUCE very LARGELY the prices of FURNISHING AND GENERAL, HARDWARE.



EXCURSION WASHER. 1,000,000 HIGH CLASS TOWE LS GIVEN [AWAY T[O P U.ECH AS|EjR" a S 0;F EXCURSION WASHER, The Best Washing Powder m the World. A Large HONEYCOMB TOWEL given with Three] Paoketi. A TURKISH ROLLER TOWEL or X Large HAND or BATH TURKISH TOWEL given with Twelve Peokets. SHEARMAN BROS., FAMILY GROCERS, IRONMONGERS, & WINE AND SPIRIT MERCHANTS, MARKET HOUSE, BURNETT STREET, ASHBURTON. Telephone No. 53. LOOK OUT FOR Waterbury Watch Advertisement* COJMLINCr BOOK. IT i WH ATP A BIG Consignment of Ladies' & Gentlemen's Waterbury Watches, DIRECT FROM AMERICA. SPECIAL PRICES TO CLEAK BIG STOCK. BAD TIIUB9 ! I PEOPLE MUST HAVE A CHEAP WATCH. YOUB OPPORTUNITY IS COMING SOON. Watch Future Advertisement. 21 CASES 8 BALES. \ M. & T. / EX TOKAMARUB NOW OPENING. MITCHELL & TURNER. "THE CORNER" HAVING now Completed the Shipmenta of New Goods for the Autumn and Winter, the Stock stands one of the Most Complete m New Zealand. Every article has been selected by the Home Buyer with the greatest oare from the actual manufacturers, lhun saving intermediate profits and securing all discounts and concessions which every purchaser at " -LUIS OOKINIQIC. " participates m. ~ Lidiea' Tartan Belts, Ribbons, Plushes, White Muslin and Holland Aprons, Is Choice Trimmed and Untrimmed Hats, upwards ; New Coating Serges, all shades, Large Vaiiety Combinations, Divided Skirts, from Is 6d per yard; New Dress Tweeds, Best Selection Capos and Jackets, New Merinos, Habit Cloths, Fancy Braids, W*terproi>i.i for Ladies and Girls, Plain and Silks and Plushes, Fanoy Flannelettes for Kmbroidered Chiffons, Our Famous Kid Blouses B£d per yard, Molletons m Newest G'ovea, Brown 2i 6d per pair. Black 2a lid Floral Designs for Dressing Gowns lOJd per per pair, Ladies' Fur Lined Kid Gloves 2h yard, Flanneletteß m Stripes and Self Colors lid. Zi 63, 4s 6d per pair, Novelties m Side 4£d, 6d, 7id, lOd, Blankets, Grey and Comb 3, Hair Frames, Fall Nets, Gossamer White, 9s 6d per pair upwards, Under Cuff* and Collars. Blankets 2s lid eaoh and 4s 9d each. CARPETS, FLOORCLOTHS, LINOLEUMS, IN ALL WIDTHS. MEN 8 AND BOYS' READY MADE CLOTHING, WOOLLEN UNDERCLOTHING. NEWEST SHAPES IN HATS, TIES, AND COLLARS. BOOTS AND SHOES BY THE BEST MAKERS. PRICES THAT WILL SUIT ALL POCKETS. ORDERS BY POST WILL RECEIVE PROMPT ATTENTION. W. H. COLLIER, "THE CORNER."