PHASES OF THE MOON.

DEATH.

Karsten.—On January 14tb, at 236 Man chester Street, Christohurch, Annie, the wife of John C. M, Karsten, the dearly loved sister of Mrs Henry Stephenßon and Mrs G. Hosken.

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 1898. Local and General.

A poem, entitled " The Town of Nogood," will be found on the fourth page to-day. The peach crop m the Hastings district, is phenomenally heavy this season. A banana tree m full bearing was exhi bited at New Plymouth Hortioultural Show recently. A monster eel weighing, when cleaned, £J.}bs was caught m the Waipoua river the other day fry » Maori. Great) difficulty has been experienced m procuring shearers m the Masterton distriot this season. Many of the runbolriers'are seriously inconvenienced, m consequence. It is inspiriting m these days of drought to hear of a champion wheab crop. The Master i <m Daily Times speaks of one belonging to ||r <Ju<id 9 o.f Manaia, the straw of which" is 7ft high ,! ' ' It is stated that a Moawhanga stook i .owner bad the misfortune to lose no less i than jSQG sheep through the animals having bß.end.rLv.en i.n,to ji gully by .the dogs ihd • got smothered. Jb is stated that the" sheep : were piled ben $ad fifteen depp on each other. Final accounts of the famin<s operations m the north-wesb provinces of India ■how tb»t the number of persons who received support amounted to a daily average of 1,688 CCO supported for six months* The cost to the iptate /all pharges included) amounts to' t.fOO.QOO at t^io Bfeßpnti rate of exchange, ejuadirepfc lobb,™ the remiimon of laad -^mttdS ;b §9 >«^f ■ of 'rupee's. The v. fc * iojuf ious e^feotsQn other source! has also „*. l """4 ia|^fiof. fhe" tpta) j of revenue, direct t... — -"tom^ U°4^i' • cost m-iy be put at sou.. ■ ■ 4 ~"--«« j j £2,000,000 sterling. The mortality retu.. for famine years showan average not greatly 6 m excess of ordinary yearß, ao that the achievement is as remarkable fof its oheap ness as iti euooees. The Beh»r fAmioe oeib three timoi •• much. |

Messrs Carsou aud Co. have a new adver- \ tißement m this issue which wiil dcubtless '. be read with interest by cyclists on the i look out for a new machine Mr Harrop, who waß injured m a tram accident a day <r two ago afc Sumner, is progressing as favorably us could be ex pected. The express was twecty-eight minutes late from Christchutch to-day, owing lo the uor' -vester, which ia reported to hav.e been very heavy about Rakaia. The vice-regal carriage was on the train. MrD. Thomas has an entry of 76 up to the present for hia horse fair, which will be held ou Ihwreday next. Farmers who re quire good useful young draught* for haiveßt work, etc , will do well to attend this fair. A queer memorial window has jusb been accepted by Hawardeu parish, the Rev Stephen Gladstone, the rector, presiding over the meeting. Ib is coutributed by seveial Armenians to commemorate the sufferings and death of 80,000 Armenians under Turkish misrule. Mr Jacquet, assistant Government geolo gist m New South Walee, arrived at Wellington by the Tarawera on Thursday, the object of his visit being to examine the method of gold-dredging vogue m New Zealand and report on tue industry to lub D. parturient. The natives of Apia, Samoa, have chosen a novel way of raising funds for their church. The losing side ao cricket haßto pay one shilling for every man or woman who plays. A cricket iruich there goes on from day to day, and will perhaps last for moni-hs. Fresh players turn up daily. A telegram from Wellington says that the Department} of Agriculture has decided to store free of charge any parcels of cheese which have oome to port for shipment, but which oannot be placed on board the Home steamers at once. Similar concessions were made by the Department last year m storing butter, the expenditure incurred being about £7000.. We regret to learn that Mrs Karaten died somewhab unexpectedly to-day after an operation, which had apparently been successfully performed. She was the daughter of the late Mr Permain, of Ashburton, and sister of Mrs Henry Stephenson and Mrs George Hosken. The funeral takes place on Monday, after the arrival of the express from Uhristchurch, where she died. A Manchester confectioner has converted a bicycle into an ice-cream freezer. Mount ing his wheel, which, of course, is stationary, he pedals away at a good rate, the chain be ing connected with the freezar, causing ib to turn very quickly. He can freeze a 17 gallon can ot ice-cream m twenty minutes. 4s an instance of prompt settlement by an insurance company it may be mentioned that on Wednesday last Mr Peter Chalmers gave notice to the local agent of the London and Lancashire (Mr D. Thomas) of the destruction of his threshing plant which occurred on the previous Thursday. V ester day he received a cheque m full settlement of his olaim. At the I'rimitive Methodist Conference Key J. Cocker was appointed to take charge of the forward movement at Wanganui. The fiaji list of stations was agreed to. Rev J. Olpherb goes to New Plymouth, and Eev G. N. Mann was appointed to Ashburton, Rev J. Clover goes to Greendale, and Rev T. H. Lyon to Christ church. Grasshoppers are very destructive this season m several parts of the Australian colonieß. Iv the Wagga, Goulburn, and : \lbury districts the voracious pests have been very prevalent, but m South Aus tralia farmers and gardeners have suffered most severely. Theie the grasshoppers are of several species, all numerous and all hungry. The only wedding that has occurred m the little town of Fore Games, Georgia, for seven years past, took place the oth*r day, and was attended by every one of the 2500 inhabitants The rej >icing and excitement is so great that friends of the enterprising bridegroom expect to elect him to the nnyoralty, The long record of celibacy is i 3i id to have been a serious obstacle to the town's prosperity. Reports received by the Railway Depart* meub lead to the belief that the grain traffic during the next month or two, will be as heavy as it was last year,, despite the fact that the crops m some parts of the colony are none too promising. 3?he traffic returns for the nine months of the financial year are satisfactory, and the Department believes that the estimates will be realised, and that thg lines will be found to have earned 3 per cent.. Who i* tp be. Agent-General? It seemß . , "-■•••■ v well understood that the Hon. W p P Keeves w" 1 come to tbe gq1 °^ m tfme R to be V t candidate a? "«» «™ral election. 1 have already expressed my <*<. lief that Mr Seddon does n>t contemplate go<nc; to England. Who then, will be the next Agent-General ? will lje asked. I should not be surprised to find that Sir WesLby Perceval will be asked co accept another term ; or failing him, that the Minister of Lands may go Home m that capacity. — Dunedin Star correspondent. Prince Ranji'a douceur for his Australian tour ia reported to he £2500. Members of the Melbourne and Sydney Association committees say that it is not so much, but it is questionable if they know anything of the details of the arrangements with Stod dart, who, bb one secretary once tersely put io, doesn't wanb anyone to know things about the financing of the team. " Stoddy " was instructed to get a draw, and m secur ing Ranji he had to pay a pretty stiff figure. These so-called amateurs require heavy greasing. W. G. Grace, when he came to Australia,, received from Lord Sheffield something like £500. And he's an amateur. By the death of Baron Pollook the anoient legal order of Sergeants-afc-law has been reduced to two. The remaining members are Viscount Ksher, the late Master of the Rolls, and Sir Nathaniel Lindley, the present occupant of that effioe. The most distinctive feature m the Sergeant's dress m olden times was the "coif," a close fitting head-covering of lawn or silk. He waß invested with this on the day of his call by the Chief Justice of the King's Bench, and it was not doffed even m the presence of the sovereign. It is supposed that the coif was invented for the purpose of hiding the clerical tonsure This concealment became desirable after the law of 1217, which debarred churchmen from their lucrative practice m the courts. One of the most interesting memorials of the Queen's Jubilee is the planation of an entire mountain m North Wales with forest trees, so arranged that tfoe words " Jubilee, 1887," appear distinctly amidst tha surround ing trees, through the bulk of the plantation being of a different foliage. The mountain thusadorned is Moel Rhiwen, m the parish of Llanddeiniolen, on the estate of Mr Asshetou Smith The word "Jubilee " is planted on the north- west side of the moun tain m letters, each measuring 200 yards long by 25 wide. Plants of the Austrian pine form the body of the letters, which are shaded on the right with a bordering of Jarph. The intervening spaces are covered with a mi^iure of Scotch fir, pines, oak, birch, sycamore, and spruce fir. Nearly 200 men of the district found employment, aud they planted about 630,000 trees. The letters each year become more distinct, and m time the mountain will be one of the sights of Wales, as the word " Jubilee " will thop be seen at a distance of many miles. Hojxoway'b Pills.— TJip Great Need.— The blood is the life, and on 'its purity cur health aB well as our existence 'depends These Pills thoroughly cleanse 'the vital fluid from all contaminations, and by that means strengthen and invigorate the whole system, healthily stimulate sluggish yprga'ns, repress oypr-excited action, ,a&d establish the cir fj«la(iioj? agd secretions throughout every 1 *< t&e body, 7Jf? J?? lsa #H° nature of ffolloway'a Pu 4o . •- - £& ulcyom v giving tone to debilitateu • sonstitntions. These Pills remove all oo bruotionß, both m the bowels and elsewhere, ud are, on that aooount, much sought after or promoting regularity of action m young pmalee and delicate persons who are --vtnr^ljy weak, or have from' eotpe jQauso ! °° oW ?«* I* Beet I

IRRIGATION.

Meeting 1 of Ratepayers at Hinds

On Thu."d.iy aftemoou,' m response to aD idvertisemenb signed by Mr C. J. Harper, member of the County Council for the Rangitata liding, about fifty residents and . Uepuyers assembled m the fliods school* room, to discuss the question of irrigation 'or the riding. Mr Harper presided, and Mr S. S. Chapman, another County Councillor, was also present, as well as Mr Baxter, the County engineer. The (Jhairmun tead a letter from MrE. G. Wright, M.H.R , chairman of the County Council, m which that gentleman apologised for his abseuce, pressing business m Cnriat church demanding his attention, but assured the ratepayers that he would support any reasonable scheme for the introduction of water to the plaius for irrigation. (Ap plause.) The Chairman then read the requisition, largely signed, which had been presented to him, and on which he had acted m calling that meeting. There were reporters and others present who desired to return to Ashburton by the expresa, and he would therefore refrain from any lengthy preliminary details. The time, he thought, had arrived when the agitation for irrigation should be renewed. Ten or eleven years ago the agitation had been fairly active, and some were quite m earnest about it and even enthusiastic. A scheme for the whole county had been proposed, levels had been taken, and estimates of cost drawn oub. The scheme, however, had been held m abeyance, not because believers m irrigation had become shaken m their belief, but because the season?, though some had been good m the matter of produotion, too many of them had not been good so far as fiaanoial results went, and people were ».ot willing to tax their land with any more burdens than those they then had. Since then, however, a marked change had come over the fttoe of the country. It was now ino«e closely peopled than it was then, and m faot was now almost wholly oooupied, whereas at the time he referred to, it was only leased, and m very large areas. All that was wanted bow by those numerous settlers was water for their land. With it they could grow abundant crops, and oarry plenty of stock; but meanwhile the water they coveted was running to waste. It was this water they wanted for irrigation purposes and irrigation was a powerful fertiliser. This was proved by water racea they already had, m the vicinity of which everything grew luxuriantly, and irrigation was sure to be successful so long as the source applied to yielded an available supply. Mr Harper then went on to show what steps were necessary to be taken by the ratepayers under the Counties Act of 1886 to set the machinery m motion that would ultimately secure them water. Under this Act the County Council; after certaiu other things had been dene, and on the vote of halt the ratepayers m the district and* three-fifths of the property m it, could by special order make an irrigation district of the district applying to bo so made. He had m his mind now more particularly the Rmgitata riding which he himself represented ; the riding below could either act with them or separately, bat would have to become a district by itself, but united action would considerably reduce preliminary cost. The first thing to be done was to present to the County Council a petition to have the district declared. This petition the Council would receive and take the usual course to have the signatures certified. This caused delay and there were other preliminary steps that would cause further delay. But aft' r perhaps the e!apse of a month a special meeting of ratepayers would be held, and then came the poll, but it would take nearly five months to get to the poll, so lengthy was the machinery, and so careful were our legiala ora that nothing should be done m a hurry. It rested with themselves to carry our. what was put before them, but with the yei y utmost expedition they could use it would take five months, and by that time the weather would have changed and the •vinter come. He had his doubts as to whether they would turn out then as they did now, and feel then as enthusiastic about it when the rain had come as they did now ' when everything was parched and dead with drought. He was glad to see so many | present, . but would have been gladder had there been more. If the poll came m, say August, he trusted they would come out even better m proportion than they had come that day. At anyrate he thought it would be a long time before they forgot the drought they were suffer iug from now. Let them vote also that teven out of ten seasons they had were dry — this was his experience — and j that irrigation during the earlier months of ' the year would be especially valuable for turnips. They must have a poll of the rate payers for auy scheme and half the rate payers and three fifths of the property must be represented. At previous polls there had never been any difficulty about the property, bub there had been a good deal about the Becessarr h * lf of the ratepayers. Then those preliminary ««M>eeding> gost roomy. The Council by resolution, */ fcer » o° Bfc| y experiment m the Kakaia district, hau decided to require all the expenses of taking a poll to be guaranteed. The costly poll he referred to was taken m the winter, and the Council fouud that there was £95 expenses to pay, although the proposal was rejected by the Rakaia ratepayers. Advertis ing, legal, incidental, and poll expenses m their caße would run to about £60, which would have to be guaranteed to the Council. It was necessary to have legal help of course, as well as returning officers to conduct the various polling places, and he had estimated the cost as follows : — Advertising £20, legal costs £20, returning officers £12, incidentals £B= £6o, and the ratepayers, or some of them, would have to be responsible for this sum. If the loan came off, it would be charged against the loan, and so would not come out of the pockets of those who first guaranteed to pay it. He would now ask Mr Baxter to spread out his map, and put before them the data. Mr Baxter would explain what could be done for them, and at what cost. They were all agreed moisture was required and water, That water could be got, and as they had m many places excellent soil the results would be satisfac tory, illustration of which could be found wherever leakages occurred—^accidentally or otherwise — (laughter) — m the races. By thes^ it was shown that crops will grow, and potatoes luxuriate ; but he trusted they would all agree to adopt a scheme by which irrigation could be brought about. (Applause.) Mr Baxter then proceeded by aid of the now well known irrigation map, to explain that the county had, for irrigation purposes, I ' been divided into blocks, and the I portion of the district) more particularly j interesting to that meeting was comprised I i m block V. He summarised the ccntly I i scheme whioh had been proposed m 1891 for j ' bringing, from a point high up the Ran? ttat<i ! i river, a supply of water equal to 70,000] s gallons a minute, whioh would serve 82,000 ] ■ acres, 28,000 of which were betweeu Moor- J house Road and Craoroft—Hackthorne road, I i and 54,000 acres between the latter road 1 c and the railway line. The cost for this j a scheme to supply 82000 acres waa estimated j c at £70 000, or an annual rate of probably I t about 9d or la per acre. He then quoted J C from his rsport of July 3, 1891, as follows : { 1< — " That portion from Cracrofr-Haokthorne j s road to railway, 54,000 acres, could be 1 1 supplied at a very much cheaper rate from I '< the pource originally proposed 2£ miles north I ri of Cracrofc — by a channel 24 feet formation j ri width, discharging 48,000 gallons a minute. | d The cost of this scheme I estimate at I i» £13,475, representing a cost of five shillings I b per acre, or annual rate of sixpence per I tl acre. This estimate includes the cost of Ip enlarging for outlet purposes three of the j w present races oast of railway line, and a new I cut three and a halj tnilep m length, dis-| tl charging into Rangitata river ac 'point |oi shown on map, : whero the terrace: is only j to about 17 feet m height. With such an out- jre Ijst, and the irrigation process terminating I wi at railway, aarfiQ $3ven miles from the strip j m of swamp lan<J neat 1 eeabofcrd vhiph is about I of two miles m width, I am of opinion that* th JjUptarnorfl ?rould Jb'e requited fr\ the way of | et< "••«'aa i i4'fe>).'fik"M" i 4 < ?/?. B fe'? J? e "°4' Between j ad u.w. " -""""fcitto tpi'grfy iffbty ?s an lov the Hinds ana «,„-„. " c * -»W 'side J jiij area of a*; least 36,000 acres on m, . of railway, whioh seems as well adapted lor oet irrigation as the land west of railway. It Ra forms part of Block V., reported on m Miy J88i?, and the estimate of that period, with pat say 12 per cent added for inpreased cost of doi earthworks would still apply, and keeping the m vjew also the increased rates of supply wit vow pVo7;_ Md " & ]*« dißtriQt ihoy «of|

would see the estimated cost was £13,475, but us money was now much cheaper, and as his calculations h'ui beeu based m 1891 on money costing 7 per ceut, w! ich could now be obtained for 5 p i cent, the rate might perhaps be reduced from 6 I to 4£d per acre. There had been various estimates made for small areas, one of which was for a scheme for doubling the supply between Hinds and Ashburton. Thia would have cest £2 an acre as against 5i here, showing the great advantage of dealing with large areas. This doubling scheme would have cost £1733, and would have irrigated only eight acres on every mile of the r<ce. He did not say it waa not worth the money ; but it was very expensive as compared with tho more extensive and comprehensive scheme he had just detailed to them. He now came to ways and means. He deemed it hia duty to explain that the Chairman had suggested the acquiring for irrigation purposes of the whole of the thirds to accrue m the district interested, which represented some £3755 These would prove a large auxiliary to the finance "f a scheme of this sort, and if all were agreeable to the utilisation of the thirds for irrigation it would go a long way to initiate; the system and greatly relieve taxation. They would see that the scheme he had read dealt with irrigation below Craoroft, and was by far the cheapest. It was possible to strike the river at a higher point, but the cost was out of all proportion to the one he had qnoted and recommended, which was a cheap t cheme, and practicable from a finanoial point of view. The Chairman said the thirdß may or may not be brought into the scheme. Hitherto they had been used to provide water for stock and domestic use. The balance over that went for roads. If irrigation came m thers would be oioaer settlement still, and probably more money would be wanted for roads. The thirds were only a suggestion thrown out by Mr Baxter at the request of Mr Wright, the County Chairman, and it remained with the settlers and the Road Boards to say whether the thirds could be used m the way hinted at. He emphasised the fact that m the matter ef a loan money waa now muoh cheaper than when Mr Baxbar reported m 1891, and instead of paying 7 per cent as they would have had to do had the loan been raised then, they would have to pay only 5 per cent or less if they went on the market now. Then the water rates they were paying now would be absorbed m the new scheme, the adoption of which de pended wholly on the wish of the ratepayers He estimated that with the cheaper money and the closer settlement, the 6d of Mr Baxter's 1891 report would come down now to 4£d per aore. It was a feasible scheme, and its success waa beyond the experimental stage. Mr Baxter was quite satisfied about it, and there was no part of the district more easy to supply. He had every sympathy with the gentlemen whose property lay above the commencement of the proposed echeme, but they could only be supplied by tapping the rivi-r at the higher point mentioned by Mr Baxter, and the cost of the construction and maintenance of the Boheme was such as to practically put it out of court. From another source, perhaps, Ruapuna would have to be supplied, if not with irrigation, at least with sufficient for stock and domestic use. It was for the meeting now to decide as to whether the formation of a district here should be asked for, If it were formed, and the scheme m operation, it would be an easy matter to carry the water to the lands below the railway line. And if the lower settlers did not decide to have a district, the upper country would be a garden of Eden, and the lower a desert. In reply to a question from Mr Studholme, Mr Baxter said that the more oompact tbe district was the less would be the total cost, and for the practical purposes of the scheme he saw no reason why the wh^le district should not be worked as one blooV. The sixpenoe an aore mentioned covered the cost of bringing the water to the different hold ings. The distribution of the water would be m the han<ls of the farmers themselves. The Council never contemplated taking charge of the distribution, and each man would be supplied according to his aoreage. Mr Btudholme asked Mr Harper to give some idea of what was the probable cost of the irrigation farm conducted at one time by the County Council. Mr Harper said he could not give the figures, and if he could they would be of but little nee, as the farm was instituted to i lusrrats what irrigation could do, and the land chosen was the poorest m the county. The farm had not been conducted m the most frugal way possible, because there was but one idea m view. But the result was something marvellous. It was never looked for that it would be a financial success, the expense was too great for the limited area worked on, but as showing what irrigation could do the farm was a pronounced success. As to the distribution of the water after it had been delivered at the varjo.ua holdings, some farmers would adopt one plan, some another j one would be more costly than another, one partial m its operation, another thorough, but if the water were taken over the ridges, and so find its way afterwards id to the hollows the application would be more successful and general. Acton estate waa the best object) lesson m Irrigation they bad m the county, and he advised all to visit it and see the working and the results for themselves. The number of lambs sent away from the estate this year was phenomenal. Mr Dobßon, referring to the irrigation farm at Elgin, aaked if ie was a fact that the tenant now preferred to be without the water. Mr Harper said that it was not the faot. The original rent of the land was 2a 6d. The water raised it to 10a, but as the larger flow could not be kept up, the rent h^d tjeen reduced to 8s an acre. Mr Withell was of opinion that if it cost a shilling an acre irrigation weuld be worth the money, but he would like to koow how many gallons would be required to irrigate an acre of land. Mr Baxter could not giye off hand the gal^onage per acre, but 10 inches of water for the Irrigation season would be provided, which season would last for about two months. Mr Ppbson had not the slightest intention to pose as an irrigation expert, and still less did hp want to throw could water on the scheme or m any way to damp the enthu siasm of the meeting, but he would like to know more about the experimental farm than had been told them that day. He had been anxious to learn all about it, but it wa» found very difficult to geb a balanoe sheet. Aoton estate comprised 3,000 acres, but they had been able to irrigate only 800. It was found m other experience that the land under irrigation was apt to aour and go back to rushes. Unfortunately he had mislaid an excel'ent reporche had obtained on irrigation m California, who said that it cost from 5s ' to 6s an acre, and he believed that was the actual cost. After a reference to the Cali fornian system of accumulating the water be hind checks, as the raised ridges were called, and- then letting it loose over the land, he spoke of the possibility of difficulty between neighbors id'r#g'ar'cjt to the sch'feme, in-oaaes m whfch water was let on to one'man'a land who wanted it, and went down to another's who didn't want it. He wished them to under stand he was not; throwing oo{d water on the echeme, but thought it better to rnenbion af the outset these little drawbacks. In California it was found that after a time the lower country was swamped, and it was not 30 very long ago that Mr E. G. Wright m the Council drew attention to the water logging of certain land by percolation of the races and the draiuage. They could bring a uver across the plains m races, but it was a lifierent thing when water was sent over the and m large quaptitips. If the settlers ;elow found any increase in --the;" water on heir land they were perfectly justified m ratting it down to percolation from the pater races. Mr Withell did not think they had any hing to fear from percolation, He had dug ut a cubic foot of dry toil, and found that o moisten-it a gallon anda fcalf of : water was equired^ .Three applications per aeaßon 'ould be 'sufficient, and if they oould rigate only a third of their land, or a third f the area proposed, they would be able to de ovet a dry season and carry ail th«? ook ;; through/ Then there j#ere ctfter Ivatatages from irrigation that must not be /erkoked. In a dryseason, if a fire started '!&!&»'?£ would -po right ''down to ! the --»• 'Vh \iQXiili bj? tjiafe m j;ho ittOu. ■■•--■ .^ auM fag £gtj ikaia district last year a gio... )pped at one of the Acton irrigation J ddocks. But for that it would have gone j wn to the sea. In the dry seasons, too, i c grubs went through everything ; bub ' fch irrigation the soil would j)s loooe and % and fcho bird* votlld gtt ci the grubi,

Then there were possibilities m regard to water power. The flow oould be utilised by turbines to transmit power even to Timaru if it were wanted, m the same way thao the harnessing of Niagara enabled ' Che Americans to transmit power over the United states. He aaw no reason why the power here could not be transmitted m the aims way. Mr Dobson again wishei them to under stand that fee was not against the scheme, bub he was of opinion that 6d an acre did not represent the whole cos 1 -, and he would like all sides of the question to be considered. Mr Kellock would like to see a small scheme tried before entering'upon the main scheme — by way of experiments. The Chairman said Mr Baxter had just fold them that. a small soheme was more costly than a larger oue Mr Whhell thought the more water they conld get the better. Mr Tarbotton said he had been to Ac l on and had satisfied himself that the scheme " there had increased the value of the Acton land very largely. He conld not estimate the increase, it was so great. He had seen a spot where the chaonel had bnrst it* boundaries and overflown, and wherever the overflow had reached there was a splendid crop. At the irrigation farm where he had also been the man said he could grow any thing on it with water. ' Mr Kellook raised the question of the effect of irrigation on tuatook land such aa his. Mr Tarbottom said he would have to renew by the surface sawing of grasses and clover. He hoped they Would get the largest head works possible, and take some sort of decided action. He moved—" '1 hat, m the opinion of this meeting, it is advisable to prepare and present to the Ashbnrton County Oounoil a petition from the rate payers to form the district from Oraoroft to to the railway line into an irrigation dis* triot." If this motion were passed he hoped the district below the line would join. Mr 1), McKay seconded the motion gladly. Where water was not, the land was a waste. Mr John Orr wab a hew ohum farmer, bat he was satisfied that the more water that was put upon the land the better, and irri gation would be ' the making of it. The holders of land m this distriot were doubt* less all hard-working men, but they oould | do nothing m such seasons as the present without water. He had the misfortune to be on land far down, the supply of water to which was intermittent. He had experi* mented and found that land to which water m quantity was applied was worth twenty times that of the other. He had no idea that it was intended to keep the water on the land, but to have separate applications. A neighbor of his had irrigated m the winter, and had had a splendid crop, simply because there was a good reserve of moisture m the subsoil. The land had not been irri gated subsequently. If they saturated the soil, and kept it m that condition, the results mentioned by Mr Dobson would undoubtedly follow, and they would get rushes ; but they must use the water intelligently, and if they did so, the expenditure of 6d an acre would mean an advance m value of 10s an acre or more on the land. He conld not understand why, after all they had seen m this subject, a community of intelligent men should be wanting to experiment and experiment. They had been experimenting for ten years, and he had been reading up and found that where land was irrigated with intelligence the farmers were astounded at the result. If this season should be the means of introducing an irrigation scheme it would be the best that Ashbnrton had ever seen. There was no place m the colony where irrigation was more practicable with pro nounced success than on these plains. The gallons per aore that oould be brought down and that the land could use were an enormous quantity. He had been cx i perimenliug on some dahlias at his home m I Ashburton. He had a hobby m flowers, and I he did not like to see them die, so he essayed irrigation with them, and for nine squire yards of soil there had been absorbed 500 gallons of water. He was quite satisfied with the result, and thought 4£d an acre for twenty-six years, which paid both principal and interest, was a light tax for the benefit to be received. Mr Wibhell Baid the water would only be wanted for a day at a time, and it must be put od with attention and some degree of intelligence. The Chairman then read Mr Tarbotton's motion. He said he had been m this irriga tion agitation for ten. years, and believed ib was far better to face the music and get a large supply. They would not be allowed to waste the water to such an extent as to make the land grow rushes, but it would he given under regulation, and with proper and wise restrictions as it was now. Water was not to be played with any more than fire, and coo rquch without discretion m the use, would be as bad as too little. They must) get it on the land, and off again as soon as possible so that stagnation must never occur, and see that it did not remain long enough to grow rushes. They would get the water warm from the river, and the water warmed by the sun was invaluable for irrigation. He hoped they would pass the resoluton, and if they did, they would be able to look back upon that meeting as the most im portant one ever held m the county. It was a meeting of colonial importance, for all the colony was looking- on, and if it was negatived they would have to go back again for long yeara to be fettered with the ohains of drought, under which year after year they had seen, their flock 'starving on withered feed and suffering m the fields from thirab, while all tha time the' remedy for this was rolling past their dcbrs, arid spending itself unutilised jn the • '' The motion was unanimously carried. Mr Kel'eher asked if there was any possi bility of including the upper district. There was plenty of water, here for the. stock, but What about himself and neighbor! whpse stock had been starving,' having been for six weeks without water m the' races. He thought a district should be formed there. Mr Harper said that at this period it was impossible to consider irrigation frqui tHtf higher point mentioned by^lr Baxter,' as ll was too expensive. ' ' ' ! '■ *}v Mr Baxter said the oost of tfte higher, Bcheme was £70,0QQ. ' " • ■ ■ The Qhairman added that there was a. putting m the hillside for 6} miles m the higher schpme, and only 2£ miles m tho one for the lower county. The difference iff coat was— the one was £JO,QOQ and the qthep £14,000. A vote of thanks was passed to the Chair* man on the motion of Mr Orr, and a petition was immediately prepared for signature.

The following letter, signed John MoNeil, appeared m the Otago Daily Times on Wed nesday :— On November 14 last, Mr T. Taylor, M.H.R. for Christcharch, m hit place m the House asked the Minister for ; Justice whether ," he waa aware .that a J.P, ri&med : Molf-eil had -•■spirited away*) »b important witness m a sly-grog 1 oasS aYßal' clulha?" thero wai a vague statettfenji made m the Police Court during' the Rearing of the sly-grog case "that a/ McNeil h>4 " spirited away " a witness, bqt air there »r« a number of McNeils m the diatriot, no on* was especially pointed to. However, as I am the only MoNeil m the distriot who holds the commission of the peace, there can be no mistake as to whom Mr Taylor refers. Now that Parliament is prorogued, and the holidays over, I challenge Mr Taylor to state out of the House whab he then stated m it. The statement) is as gross a fabrication aa ever was invented, and I now challenge Mr Taylor to proye its ?ipragiti: t > . - ' : « { Jest m Time .fob Christmas.— In order to keep , "up-to-date " , writh ojir steadily increasing business we have decided to effect considerable alterations to. our premiaea and to make room for .the builders we have resolved to .greatly reduce, ocr stock before Christmas, - V^e have therefo^ culled a- large quantity bf^ our* Tweeds anqj Worsteds, etc, -, to clear at • the" following reductions:— Men's Baits to measure, usual price 90s. now 1 70a ; Men's- trousers, usUal prioa g&s, now iga^d^ etc. We haye-alffrt tflewufe m noxif jf!ng that we have iust^i appbrnted ateents lot fee fimdui M^^M the lowest cash prices, or on tne mosbuoerat terms to suit the oonvenienoe of our customers, (Every machine guaranteed).—: Obaighead and Bekbyman, the leading Tailors apd Outfitters;

THg ASttBDBTON eCABDIA^ ; frBIDAY, JAKUAKY 14, ie»B



JANUARY. D H M Full moon .. .... 8 11 54 am Last) quarter ... ... 16 315 am New moon 27 6 55 pm First quarter 30 2 3 am



Business Notices. o a < O Ph 00 R rv] I P Ph J B *" Q H ft [X HP j P5 Ah P^ g • o O 3 * s o gs H ■ N . /■^ "" " S. 2Jh - 3 ft s t » o a * * Church Services. ST. STEPHEN'S CHURCH, Aahburton. FRIDAY— Choir Practice, 8 p.m. SUNDAY SERVICES.— January 16. 11 am. — Morning Prayer and Holy Com- munion. 3 p.m —DROMOKE, Rev T. A. Hamilton 6.30 p m.— Evening Prayer. REV. T. A. HAMILTON.



John Orr k Co. John Orr & Co. /TIHE SUCCESS ATTENDING OUR r i Cheap Gash Sale i i Induces us bo adopb (or the future this system of doing business. And as we parohaae for Gash from the beat makers m England and America, the General Public will therefore have the advantage of Selecting GOODS OP STERLING QUALITY at prices hitherto unheard of, CONSISTING OF IRONMONGERY, GROCERIES, OROOKERY, GLASSWARE, etc., REST SNOWDROP SUGAR ... 2ja lb TEA, BLENDED ... 101 b Boxes Is lb ' TEA, IN HALF CHESTH, lOd lb, (strong liquor) Colonial Candles ... 4d lb per box , English Parafine Candles ... 6£d lb per box Kerosene, 150 test ... 6d 6d per tin „  12a 9d per case Worcester Sauce," Pints ... 9d bottle Essence of Coffee 10£ d I Tobacco, Nubian squares. M 4a6dperlb Bran 3s 6d per bag Sharps 5a per bag Oatmeal, 251 b Bags ... 2a 9d bag Rollitt's Flour, 2001bs ... 24s „ lOOlbs ... 12a 6d ;l „ 501b* .. 6s4id Currants 5 « Eieme Raisins ... •-• 7°> Valencia Raisins ... .- 7d Sultana Raisins , Sicily Almonds la 2d Figs .. .- 8d Muscatels ... • .- od Jordan Almonds 2s 3d Mixed Peal , 8d 2|lb Tins Preserved Fruit lOd Lemon Squash, English ..... Is 3d Lemon Juice, English ... Is 3d Sardines ... .... 4£d per tin Fresh Herrings . .... 6£d per tin Herrings & Tomato Sauce lOd per tin ». fi -««ed Hopß, per lb  1b 4d » ' SS^daw &* d er p ?L lb Anchovy Paste ; '" ?» n P n rho«l a Citrate of Magnesia .j 0^ Sheeps Tongues, be»t> ... *° 4 P 9r tln CROCKERY & GLASSWARE Tinner Sets Toilet Sets Tea and Breakfast Sets Vases and Ornaments Tumblers and Wine Glasses Decanters and Water Bottlea Glass Dishee Jelly and Butter Dishes GRAND VARIETY AND LOW PRICES IN ABOVE LINES. FOR THE FRUIT SEASON. Mason's Sorew-top Porcelain Lined Jars. Pints 4s 9d, Quarts 5s 9d, i Gallon 7s doz. Kenrick's Best Enamelled Maslin Kettles. 8 Quart 6s, 10 quarb 7s 6d, 12 quart 8s 6d. Brass Maslin Kettles, Drop Handles, 2 .Gallon 7s, 2£ gallon 11s 6d, 3 gallon 13s 6d Steel Enamel Preserving Pans, 2s 6d, 3s, 3s 6d, 43. FOR THE HARVEST FIELD. WE HAVE A SPLENDID STOOK Reaper Section Reaper Chains , Hay Forks : Hay Rakes Oils, m 1, 2 & 4^gallons BINDER TWINE. jPQNAGHY'S BEST, i John Orr & Qo.



REDUCED RATES FOR CHRISTMAS S. SA L E K'S, THE LEADING JEWELLERY ESTABLISHMENT IN THE DISTRICT Largest Stock Lowest Prices FOR ::NE¥ YE A R -1898 ::. O<t»EOIAL LINES at REDUCED PRICES, marked ia Plain Figures. Gold |^ Brooohes (new and ohoice designs) at 7a 91, 12a 6.1, 17a 6d, 20s, upwards. Silver BrooohM from It 6d upwards. ladieß* and Gentlemen's Gold Links at 8a 6d, 10s, and upwards. Ladies' and Gentlemen's Silver Links at 2s 6d, 4e, and 4s 6i. Pencil Caees (a large stook to select from) at 2a 6d, sa, 7s 6d, 10s. Ladies' Rings (the largest and finest ■took ever seen m Ashburton, equal to any m Chriatohurch) from one guinea to ten guinea*, and upward*. Gentlemen's Tia Pins, neat and tasteful designs m gold at ss, 7a 6d, 10i, 85a, alao a nioe selection of amall and suitable articles at 2s 6d, sa, and 7s 6i. SPECIAL A.T"rJiSIST*OJN IS CALLED TO THE STOCK OF Gold Brooches and Ladies' Rings. 'ChtM two line* are Heavily Stocked, and are of the Newest and Choicest Designs. INSPECTION INVITED AT S. SALE K'S JEWELLEEY ESTABLISHMENT, EAST STREET. STOCK AND PBIOEB UNEQUALLED IN THE DISTBIOT.^ BARGAINS EXTRAORDINARY /~*i BEAT ANNUAL SALE of Surplus Stock of DRAPERY, CLOTHING, & BOOTS, WILL COMMENCE ON SATURDAY, January 15. IMMENSE REDUCTIONS. \ ANDREW ORR. GREAT CLEARING SALE AT "THE CORNER." SUMMER DRAPERY AND CLOTHISG 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, CASH DRAPER AND CLOTHIER. ' ____»___-___—__ * TO RESIDENTS BUILDING & FURNISHING. BEG reapeotCully to announce that we have received, per.S.S. ".lonio*' and "MaUora,' very heavy shipments for our HOUSEHOLD FURNISHING Depart ment, viz:— SHEETINGS OURTAINS CARPET SQUARES PILLOW COTTONS QUILTS HEARTH RUGS TOWELS TOILETS OILCLOTHS TABLINGS MUSLINS LINOLEUMS Jif 4k6 J T ANCY DEPARTMENT we are showing % fine asiortmeut of new I ABRICS, GtiOVES, and HOSIERY, dir«ot from the Leicester Mills ; also some very J choice goods m J«t Trimmings, irysludipg *he new Zouaves, Boleros, and Skirt Ornaments, I and an endless variety of Black <tfhd Colored Gimps, | mmmmm lol^ mm wf - I NEW SHIPMENTS OF Dresses, Straws, Mantles. 2 GaSOS of Samples HOSIERY, at LANDED COST. MITCHELL & TURNER, '