Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1897. THE RAILWAY ZONE SYSTEM.

For years Mr Samuel Vaile, of Auck land, has been advocating the adoption of the zone system on the New Zealand railways. The authorities do not smile upon the system, and set their i faces against even a trial of it on our ' railways. The system, however, was adopted m Hungary m 1889— not per haps exactly the same m every parti .cujar as that advocated by Mr Vaile but the same { cersainly m principle— and its success m that .country has been marvellous. The Auckland Herald,' in > a reoent article, supplies information complied for it as to the working of the zone system on the Hungarian rail ways, and as the matter is one of great interest, we republish it for the benefit pjf our readers. The results, are cer- ' t<wty vwy surprising. Unfortunately

the complete returns stuca the initiation j of the new system have not reached the j colony, but we have enough to show that progre .8 has been rapid and con tinuous. The passenger traffic, so far ' as we have reports, is as follows : — j Receipts m Passengers Austrian carried. florins. 1888— Last year of the old system 9,056,500 14,112,0C0 1889 -7monthsofold, aud 5 monthß new system ... 13,054,600 15,021,500 1890— First whole year of new system ... 21,635,600 16,937,000 1891 ~N<-.w system ... 25 781,400 18,591,800 1892— New system ... 28,623 700 19 684,900 1896 -New Byatem ... 34,806,800 24^293 243 1897— New system ... 35,254.990 26,951,677 From the above figures it will be seen that during the nine years the zone system has been at work m Hungary, the increase of traffic, as also the in crease of revenue, has been great and continuous. The increase m passenger traffic has been 282.2 percent, and the increase m passenger revenue 91 per cent. This is a surprising increase m revenue when it is remembered that passenger fares were reduced on the average to one fifth of the ° former charges, and it is interesting to note that this is the same rate of reduction proposed by Mr Vaile to be made here many years before the introduction of the zone system, and that he has always maintained that no lobs reduc tion would give a paying result. The average length of journey has increased from 71 to ISO kilometres, or over 83 per cent. It is easy to see what an influence thiß must have, not only on the railway revenue, but on the general revenue, trade, commerce, and social conditions generally. It is worth while to examine what would be the | effect on our railway revenue if the adoption of the stage system led to a similar increase m the extension of travelling here. Mr Vaile's fiuance is based on the assumption that the average distance travelled will be not less than 15 miles, and the average fare not Ibbs than one shilling. When Mr Fife's table was prepared for the use of the Parliamentary Committee of 1886, the average journey m New Zealand was 13 miles, and that table proves we should not require any ex teDsiou of the journey m order to secure the shilling average ; but should we secure the same extension as m Hungary, and considering thedifferenee m the habits of the people, we ought to secure a greater — it would mean 24 miles instead of the distance calcu lated on. What then would be the average fare? Mr Vaile sajs, Is Bd. If that were so, the result would be remarkable, for our average fare last year was only Is BJd, Thus, we should secure practically the same pas senger revenue, without carrying any additional fares. Mr Yaile expects that under the stage system we should get five fares where now we get one. In Hungary they have now four where | formerly they had one. If we only had the same increase, then this would be the result. Last year our "ordinary" passenger revenue was £387,684. Four times this is £1,514.736. The figures are startling, but really do not seem impossible of attainment. The zone ■systam was ridiculed by men who claimed to know, yet it ha* been a great success m Hungary, and still greater m Rußsia. There m its first year they secured £3,015,781 more than their railway experts calculated on, and this was only from the. thinly populated districts of that sparsely populated empire. It was asserted by pur railway men and others that the first success of the gone system was merely due to its novelty, and that the effect would soon wear off; but the prosperity has boen continuous for now over nine years, which proves that it is no mere spurt. The great general prosperity of Hungary is well known, and it is certain that that prosperity is largely conneoted with the alteration of its railway system. The grave con flicts m the Austrian-Hungarian Par ham«nt have been due to attempts to re-adjust the fiscal relations between the tspo countries, and the trouble seems to have j^marily arisen from the remarkable commercial progress and general development which has taken place m Hungary since the re form of her railway system gave an ' unprecedented impulse to the industrial and commerpial activities of the king dom. It was certainly a during venture to reduce the rates of transit on the public railways of the country by eighty per pent., and to most of ordinary constituted minds thp venture must have appeared a ruinous one. Yet, from the first year, both traffic and revenue sprang upward, and from year to year, without a break, but by steady increase, the n v tubers and revenue have gone mounting up, until the -year just closed, m which, as we have said, the revenue has been nearly twice and the passenger traffic has been four times as much as they were when the passenger fares were five times what they are today. A single fact like fchijs is worth a dozen theories, and how to rebut it wo are unable to tell. And this was over" ft sparsely-populated country like our own, and,' singular to say, it was m the most thinly populated districts of Hungary that these starring resujts were thp most marked. Can anyone conjecture what yould be the result to the prosperity of this country, and to the settlement of an industrial population m the rural lands m the interior of this country, and what would be the result to every merchant and shopkeeper and tradesman and wof^ er « Rnd property owner m Canter bury if our *•*«• P* railway freights and fares were reduced to one fifth of what they are \ Y afc this is exactly what has been done m I Hungary, and with the result that the railways are yielding twice the revenue that they used to do, and parrying four times the number of pas r sengers. And ,can we realise what it J would be to have our railway revenue I j doubled m amount? It would practi- j cally obliterate the burden of our I national debt, and leave our finance as j buoyant as if we had no debt at all. I It would justify Parliament m bor I rowing ten millions or twenty millions j more, and covering the whole country I with a network of new railways. Yet I £he practicability of all this has been I proved' m Hungary, and we have set I against it only those who T 1 cannot see j how it can be done," Surely such a I possibility is worth a venture, and the j time seems to have come when the I country should demand, through its! representatives m Parliament, that I

j some one eech'on or another of our rail- ' ways sboud be set apart for putting' to a test the principle of railway con- ! duct which has been proved true m i Hungary, and which has been ao per- t sistently advocated for New Zealand > \ by Mr Vaile. j

Commercial news and an article referring ? to Mesara Williamson and Musgrove'a play? " The two little Vagabond » appear on our ' first page, and on the fourth page will be ! found the review of the evidence m the ! Suverstream murder case, j

Local and General.

I The Alameda with the San Francisco mail has an ived at Auckland. The Government will send Home one or more artillery cadets for training, Mr H. T. Rosendale invitei tendera for about nve miles of gorse cutting. oTu c , M J?u i 0n L will com «nence at Methven Oatholic Ohuroh on Sunday evening next. I The Lismore harvest-home and ball bo be held on Maroh 4 promises to be a great sue oese. An export m English brown troub has arisen at Rotorua, and 30001 b weight have been despatched to Auckland, A reoent Nelson paper reoord 8 thaba well known Wakefield lady has lately preeented her husband with triplets. Whilst the polioe were endeavoriue to re aover the body of a man m Sydney harbor recently it was torn to pieces by sharks. Uur readers are reminded that Mr David Ihomaa holos his next horae fair on Friday 25tb, when a large catalogue will be offered at auction. A meeting of those interested In irrigation around Dromore is called for March 1, when the County Bngineer.will attend to give the necessary information m connection with same. It is expected that, m the two trains wfaion will bring the Islington excursionists ' to Ashburton there will be about two thousand people. This will be the largest orowd that has ever visited Ashburton on such an occasion. * A young fellow named Walter Peel was fined the nomiaal penalty of £1 at New oasHe the other day for an act which might have involved the lives of sixty men. Ac cording to the evidence, he foolishly stopped up a pipe conveying air bo the two bords m the Dudley colliery Ib w*s only by the timely airi/al of the underground manager that a serious explosion was averted. A picked eleven of barristers from London played a cricket match with a picked eleven of barristers from Manchester. The day was beautifully fine, and a large company had assembled to see which set of lawyers had had the more practice. When the first ball of the second over, however, a dispute arose, and the twenty -two barristers gathered round the umpire to argue the poiot. The argument continued with no Bign of abate* menu till 5 m the evening, at which time the umpire died. The balance sheet of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association for 1897 shows receipts £4713, including a balance of £648, November Show receips £1898, Winter Show £306, ram fair £407, annual members' subscriptions £254.. The expenditure was £4433, leaving a balance of £280. There is a balance of assets over lia bilities of £4254 The Agricultural and Pastoral Association's Committee has fixed June 8, as the date of the Agricnltural Con ference, The Primitive Methodist sale of work and harvest ftstival opens m the Orange Hal) to rn rrow. For the convenience of farmers at beixiini; the horse fair, lunch will be pre pared at 11.30. A large assortment of useful artices will be on sale, and as the effort is m aid of the recently acquired parsonage, should be readily disposed of A first class lunoheon will also be provided on Saturday, and a promenade concert each evening. The following picture; qua "thumper" appears m an exchange:— "A man was m the habit an dinner daily of handing his don a bone. One day he omitted to give the dog hia bone. Oa observing his master com mencing his usual after-dinner nap the dog went into the garden, plucked a flower, brought, it m, and placed it on the ground m front of his master, then woke him up with a birk, and pointed to the flower. It was a forget-me-not." Next I The fishing schooner Minnie D. reports that while fishing m the Gulf of Mexico, off I'uuta Gorda, Texas, she had a narrow escape of being wrecked by a large meteor. : The meteor fell about 10 p.m., emitting a brilliant light, whiph illuminated the land, although the schooner was ten miles off the shore. Jt descended with a noise like thunder, and fell into the sea, nearly strik ing the vessel. Jmmenbe waves were raised, which washed over the decks and broke the bulwarks, and caused the sphooner to pitch bo violently that the foremaßb snapped. The Sydney Bulletin concludes an article upon •Men who nearly did something," with the following :— Heary George preached the taxation of land values to 60,900,000 people and things remain m the United States practically as they were; John Ballance reached out for the reins of o^ice m a community that was amall enough for him to manage, and started tie thing as an object lesson to the world at large. They are both dead now, but, on the whole, this paper Would rather' have been John Ballance than Henry George after all. The New Zealand Times, states that early m the morning of one day last week a woman with a bundle of olothes under ope arm was seen rushing along a Newtqn street behaving jn such a peculiar manner that paßßers-by stood and stared at her. Pre sently a young man camo along m a trap, and, potioing her expited state, pulled up and started a conversation with the woman. From whab transpired he concluded that she was an escaped lunatic, go he invited her to take a ride with him. After some demur she consented, and he drove her to the asylum (from whioh she proved to be an esoapee), *nd was rewarded for his pains. The woman bad nob been missed at the time of her unexpected return. The Pall Mall Gazette saya it is a faot that muoii of the land included m ancient Pales tine is heavily mortgaged ; that these mortgages are m the hands of Jews, and that some of them expire— subjeot of course to renewal— in the early part of this year 1898 So strong ib the conviction of a certain num ber of the Jens that the time has oome for them to Acquire the Holy Land,^. that preparations are actually being made 'for the . rebuilding of the Temple, which would un questionably be th£ first act of the' restored nationality. Orders ' have been given for material for building their Temple. Marble is being caryed m £tajy for pillars for the Temple", and wrought iron is being pro duced m England for gates, t/Oget'her With work of other kind. : " ' The miagioc inaugurated some time ago m connection with thp Roman Catholic Church m this county has been parried on with muoh success by the Rev! Fathers Shearman and JJarry. The daily morning , mass at & 30 has been very largely attepded, notwithstanding the early hour, and Uie mass **" 1( * eve)r y. d* v l ftßfc wee k chiefly for the young, drew . ilif « a *»mbcn of the youth ful members of the congT£* Mwil *£« week the nine o'clock mass has been We.! attended by adults while the attendance at )he eyeningaervice, when the sacred rite of the sacramenb has been regularly administered, have sijiown t^ie interest taken m the mission by the ' members o f ' the churoh gone&lly. The numerous visitors to 'be' seen* 'daily m the Btreets sufficiently attest) the support given to the mission by the 0 mntry people. The evening services held at 7 p.m. have been crowded to the doors. The mission will close ab Ashburton on Sunday next, and open the same day ab Methven where the missionaries will remain a week. Six weeks ago I suffered with a very severe oold ; was almost unable to speak. My friends all advised me to consult a physi cian. Noticing Chamberlain's Cough Rem edy advertised m the St. Paul Vdlks Zeitung \ JTprocured a bottla, and after takiug it a short whße was entirely well. I now most heartily recommend this remedy td'stnyone suffering with a cold.^ Wiyi. I£bil, 678 Selby Aye,, St. Paul, Minn. For Bale by Ash? bojrtpo Drug OoßHj»ny.

COMMERCIAL.

AUSTRALIAN MARKETS.

Press Association - By Eleotric Telegraph. Copyright. Sydney, February 23 Wheat— Chick, 5a to 3 > 3d; milling, 4, to 4s 2d, Oats — t'rime feeding, 2s 6d ; medium, 2a sd. Tartarian seed, 2* BJ. Barley, Cape, 2s 9d to 3s Id. Peas, Prussian blue ss. Butter, dairy 6J to 6£d ; fuctory 7d to 7£d. Cheese, large, 4$ ; loaf, s£, Bacon, 6Jd to 8d Potatoes, New- Zealand, Early Rose, £7; kidneys, £6; local £3 10d lo £6. Onions, New Zealand, £6. Victorian, £5 10a to £5 15a. Melbourne, February 23. Wheat, 4s 4d to 4s 4£d. Oats, Algerian, la 6dto Is 9d ; Tartarian la lOd to 2a Id ; Dajiihh, 2s to 2s Oid. Barley, malting, 5a to to 59 6d. Potatoes, £5 to £6 15s. Onions £5 10s. Adelaide, February 23 Wheat. 4s 41 to 4i si. Oats, New Zea land, 3a 61 to 3a 9d ; local, Algerian 2a 2d to 2s 4J ; Dun, 2s to 2s 3d. The Register estimated the wheat yield for the past season at 3,706,000 bushels, being an average of 3£ 1 bushels per acre. The probable surplus will be 19,000 tons.

THE WEATHER AND THE CROPS.

Tteoent visitors to Winohester assure us (Oamatu Mail) that the oropa m that highly favored ocalily are a sight to feast the eyes upon after viewing those of North Otago and Soufch Canterbury. Every paddock ia oloiely studded with stooka, and, while the Btraw runa about four feet m height, the ears are well filled with plump grain. It ia estimated that some good sized fields will give an average of from 50 to 60 bushels per aore. Tv; nips and root crops generally are also really excellent, and the grass ia fairly good. The soil of the district ia naturally moist, and the exceptionally dry season ap- I pears to have suited ie admirably. The long spoil of dry weather ia having a severe effect on the pasture m the Taranaki district, says the Hawera St ir, and all over the district the grass is dried up moat terribly. This is the worst summer for grass that has been experienced since the plains were opened, and stock are feeling the effects. The soil of Taranaki cannot stand drought for any length, and it is the copious rains we usually experience that have made the graßS land the pride and boast of the district. This summer, however, the scene is changed, and there is trie withered grass where m past summers there was a green surface. Heavy rain is badly wanted, and stock that were well forward m condition a f w weeks ago are rapidly going back to stores. Then the dairying is suffering most severely. At all factories the milk supply has been coming down rapidly.

ASHBURTON STOCK MARKET.

Messrs Hantner and Graves report as fol lows on the stock sale at Tinwald Yards last Tuesday : — There was a large entry com prising 10,103 Bheep, some rams, 26 head of cattle, and a good entry of pigs. There was a good attendance. The entry included a large proportion of lambß, but prices for i heße were somewhat easier, except for any forward sorts, and some really good lines were passed. Our entry consisted of 2060 sheep and 7 head of cattle, which were disposed of at the following pricea : — 9 cross bred ewes at 7s 9d, 12 crossbred ewes at 7e, 1Q crossbred ewes at 7s 3d, 6 crossbred ewes at 4s 34, 47 merino ewes at 2s 7d, 40 merino ewes at 2a 6d, 5 merino ewes at Is 6d, 29 merino ewes at Is Id, 18 cull crossbred ewes at 18, 79 crossbred ewea at 3s 3d, 259 croß3 --bred ewes at 6s 3i, 108 crossbred ewes at Is lOd, 492 crosabted ewes at 4s lOd, 200 cross bred ewes at 7s, 274 crossbred ewes at 6s lid, 110 merino ewes at 9J, 28 crossbred lambs at 4s 3d, 39 crossbred lamb* at 3s 6d. 108 crossbred lambs at 2i 6:1, 36 crossbred lamba at 5s 2d. Cattle — 1 fat steer £4 15s, 1 fat heifer £3 7a 61, 4 store steers and heifers £5 15a, 1 cow and calf £4 ss.

FRANK HENRY'S FUNERAL.

The following is a list of the nameß of friends who Bent wieatha and fl ral emblems :— Mis D. McOormick, Mrs Grant, Mrs Rosi, Mrs Kutherford, M m K. M. Qrr, Mr and M;s J.Lewis, Mr H. W. Barrett, Mr J. VV. Timmina, Mr James Patterson, Mr W. Bryant, Mr U, 0. Shrimp ton, Mr W. Patching, Mr and Mra/ L. Hanrahan, Ashbuttou Working M ens' Club, Mr VV- Thiel, MissLambie, Mrs Burns, Miss Burns, Mr A ley. Anderson (flhristehurchj, Esudi ntin* Band, Mr R. W. Todd, (Christ church), Dr. Leahy, Mrs Leahy, Mias M. Garripk and Miss Leahy, Mi&s F. Leahy, Mrs and Master 0. Mitchell (Ohristchurch), Misa M. p. Paton, Miss Johnstone, Mrs Sutherland, Miesee Hill and Gaskin, Miss Hood, Mr and Mcb A. Curtis, Mr H t Curtis, Mrs M. A. Bishop, Mrs Devane, Miss L Bean, Mias Turton, Mr and Mrs I. R. C. C. Graham, Miss Shearman, Mrs Shearman and family, the Officers and Committee Ashbur ton Amateur Cycling and Athletic Club, the Members Ashbur ton Amateur Cycling and Abhletio Club, Ariel Bicycle Club, j Chriatchurch Telegraphists, Mifsa Car man, Mr Nicola, Ashburton Amateur Swimming Club, Misses McKee, Mr and I Mra McKee, Miss Bell, Mr \V. H. Suther* land, Mra and Miss O'ELeefe, Mr and Mrs T Rollitfc, Keith Rollitt, Mr and Mrs J. McCormick, Mr and Misses McGormick, Ashburton Police, Mrs Roberb Aloorn, Employees Mitchell and Turner, Mr and Mra Light, Misdeß R. and L. Page, Mr £. Cookson, Mr and Mra McDonnell and family, Mr and Mrs F.H. Steel, Willie and Alex. Anderson, Mr J. Priedlander, Miss Qinah Mao Lean Dun, Temuka Post and Tele'sjraph Staff, Timaru Post and Telegraph Staff, Mx and, Mrs R ckqian and family, Messrs Hitchings and MiJsojn, Asbburton Post and Telegraph Staff, Mr and Mrs Donoyan, Miss S. Donovan, Mr and Mrs Church. Also a great number placed op the grave by sym? )athiaing friends,

IRRIGATION MEETING AT CHERTSEY.

In oar " Special Reporter's " account of the above meeting one or two errors occurred. Mr Scarlett wag made to say that seven stacks were produced from seven acres at Mr McGregor's Selwyn farm. It should have been thirty-seven acres. In applying the water Mr McGregor is made to say that the water channels are best dug oub. It should read "should not be dug out." For the rivers are banked up read the water channels. A3.Borne misunderstanding' has occurred over the figures £9060 and £25,P00 by many reading the report; it should WWotioed^hat these sums are the amounts required to - tap the Lake and river, and do noC include the" cost, of distribution, which would be about the same m either case. They were useti gotefy tp 'Bh.ow the' advantage of the one scheme over' the otfiec. %! > :

Obstructing a Railway.

Press Assqoifttion-!~Ey Tejegraph. Aucslai?d, February 23 A boy named Wm. Murray, eleven, Vao ordered by the magistrate to find a surety for d@2Q for good behaviour. He had placed a large stone on the railway line j two girls saw him m the act. The train was on the running at seventeen miles an hour. "The driver *' rifld to P" 11 U F> bu , fc j; he cowcatcher had a nut broken, anu t^Z sleeper under the stone was broken. ~ I

THE HORTICULTURAL SHOW.

Everybody should make a point of visiting the Oddfellows' Hall thie afternoon or even tug for weather or no weather— that is to aajr whether or no the season has been favorable there can be no qaestion that the show is pleasingly disappointing, beire m f»ota much better one than that of last year. Time and space do not permit of a detaied account of all that ia to be seen, and the judging was not over m time to enable the publication of the pr ze list m this issue, so we will coutent ourselves with a few general remarks indicative of featurea whioh are well worth ihe visitor's notice. At the top of the room stand three tall lilies, two of them faae specimens of lili»m auratum— the Japanese golden lily-shown respectively by Mrs Curtis and Mr E. Stephens, and the third a specimen of the gorgeous L. rub, urn. vUatum exhibited by Mr Dodda. On either hmd are the dinner table decorations ahown m competition for the speoial prizes offered by Messrs Bing Harris, Tucker and Bean, and Carson and Co. There are two exhibit! one being a chaste design ia coreopsis of different varieties, «kilfu,l y worked Sue by Mra Hugo Friedlander and Mra Max Fnedlander, and the other a pretty wheme ot chocolate and white m single dabhaa and a white autumn orocus, relieved with clematis and maiden hair fern, the work of Mra Wroughton and Miss Graham. In the pot plants, open class, there is a fine show of geraniums, eapeoially m white and magenta doublea, for whioh Mr Q. T. Smith aeouwd firab prize. Ihere ia also one excellent exhibit of double begoniae. Amon* new or rare .he third a doliohua with yellow Sao^ The amatoura contribute a splendid i shoTS ivy geraniums, and some beautiful speoimenl of double geraniums, Me Breeze JK " the front with the former, and also with excellent groups of bi-coiouw and tri-oolJun? Mr Dodds constribufcea some very beautifui begonua and takea a deserved W prize white doubkooroUa, of the variety kiowi i as Storm King. The same exhibitor also , shows a very pretty Menetta vine, md bS tlt' P f^ me S of the tr « e The . exhib,tao Cut Flowers are both numerou? » and excellent. The dahliaa, show, caotUJB . and pompone, are very fine, and there ia a , wonderfully good exhibit of astera, Phlox . Drummondii, and even roaea, Ihe reoent | drought notwithatanding, and there are alao I two or three very pretty atanda of gallardiac i There is a splendid enow of fruit, particularly > m apples, apricota, plnms and grapea: and b % collection of frnit shown by Mr G. S r Smith deserves apecial mention aa containing among other choice exhibit* the fineat whit! grapea we have seen for many a long day. The vegetables also are very fine, especially the exhibita of tomatoea.marrowa, cuoumb.« ■nn !i cry ;- FlMll y w8 mußt not omit to b £?ni!t ft 10 ",* 0 ? v^ r y lar 8 9 » nd oboioe display of hand and table bouquet*.

CORRESPONDENCE.

(We do not hold ourselves responsib'e for tbn opinions expressed by our correspondenta/

THE LATE TOM BRACKEN.

TO MB EDITOR. Sir, — The reminiscence of Bracken which ' a?" J 1^ 66 * £ ?,•*,.?* two *«° from the North etaga Daily Times is hardly correct. Tom Bracken, the poet, and the Constable Bracken who had the experlenoe with the bushrangers, are not identical at all. Old West Coasters, who knew Hokitika m the early days, will remember Ho«t Bracken of the Queenatown Hotel, Revell street, and remembering him can hardly fair to recall the story of his clever arrest m a lonely Utagoglen ot two thieves who ultimately were executed for the part they took ia the Maungatapu murders, Nelson. On the Otago diggiogs sticking up m the early days were painfully frtquent, and at the time I write ot had been specially ao. Bracken, a mounted trooper, was out m the bush with a comrade and came upon the camp of two suspected men. They were asleep with their arms lying beside them. He awoke them with a cry, but covered them with hii revolver, telling them that it would bedeatlT if they moved otherwise than at nw order*. Ho threw down to them two pairs of hand cuffs and made them handcuff eaob other, and ao, calling his comrade, secured them, their arms, and all the incriminating evidence they had m their possession. The men were tried and punished, and Bracken was pre sented by Government with a handsome sword and a purse of money. He after wards left the focce and went to Hokitika. and it was he who first recognised Burgess and Kelly there, and gave information to the police of their character. The rest of the ■tory, of course, would open up too long to tell one of the murders, but I have given enough to Bhow that the two Braokeni are not identical. — I am, etc, Revell Street.

THE CYCLISTS AND THE STREETS.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir,— -Ib is a matter for surprise chat ho few cyolista comparatively are brought before the Court for riding on the footpath*, considering that m many of our streets it ii next door to impossible to ride alone any portion but the footpath. This only shows what a law-abiding set the Ashburton cyclists are, or eke it demonstrates what a^sensibler and' discriminating lot of polidi offioerawe have, fedti th'ls : dofis not f oeinS to be a reason why the local powers respon'i ■10.16 for the state of our streets »b|uld permit them to become impassible to biovoles. May I snggegb to all oyoltati, male and female, thab m all future Borough and suburban elections they should vote for - none but cyclists. Then if we can arrrnge matters satisfactorily so that all of our city fathers have a personal interest m smooth roads, Ashburton may become the paradise of the CrousT.

Interprovincial News.

Preaß Association— By Electric Telegraph—

Fatal Result of an Accident.

Donedin, February 24 Captain Anderson, late of thes.g Waikare, died m the hospital this morning as the result of injuries sustained hy an. accident during the Second Sounds trip. . c- i •■; Marine Appointment, Wellington, February 24. Captain Post, of the Union Company, has been appointed to command the Government! steamer l£inemea, 'vice Captain fyeale, whq was' recently appointed harbormaster &fc Qnefyunga. m* ' ' '■ n * ivi -•' Ifiawke's Bay Floods. The sum of &76Q0 has been approved by tb,e Cabinet as a'fjnal payment to Igc^l bod(e& m t^e Hawse's Bay djatrigb for repair of fcta flood damage, ' 4n Atjokland, February 24 An explosion of gas took place m the strong room ab the basement of the ware* house of Mackay, Logan, Stoen and Co., resulting' m John Brown, storeman, and William Alitohell, bricklayer's labourer, "** lwalv J«»mb about the faoa. nank. and arms. A ventilator was being put into the strong room by the workmen, when Brown went to the room to light 'the gas f»b and the explosion took place.

THE SILVERS TREAM MURDER

Press Association— By Electric Telegraph Wellington, February 24 0 It is expected that Mr Jelliooe's address to the jury m the murder case will ocoupy till lunch. r *

Mr L,, a broad-minded pressman, met Mr 0., a Prohibitionist, the other day. " That'a " a naaty cough you've got," said L. " Come and have a rum hot; it'll do you good,' l "No, thanks; Woods' Great Peppermint Gura-forme j it beato-all yonr ruin ;{q* Oonghaa^d pqldii It^solqef^py^rtert,!' '

*Htt ASHbdBiOJN GtABDIASi tetJhSbAi, PISBBUAat 24, 189$



SyNQEs^a ojr N»w ApyHßTxsHMEijps. Mr John Henry— Tbank^." : " : !i Tenders for cutting gorse. Oddfellows' Hall, Monday, February 28 "The Two Little Vagabond?." Amy Sberwin, Friday, March 4, D. Thomas-Sale of sheep, Ashburton, Tuesday next. CLARKE'S B 41 PILLS » warranted to cure Gravel, Pains m the back and all kindred complaints. Free from Mercury. Established upwards of 30 years, [n boxes 4s 6d eaoh, of all Chemists and Patent Medicine Vendors throughout the world, proprietor^, The Linopln^and Mid- land Oountiet Drug roVnmnv. kincdlD, England, f



PUBLIC NO'a.-CES o QS: g, 111 % ° H ! 3 19 S i i ! ■^3 IJ3 in** Si g . ih : g ■ I || ° i i Q « ° A | a g M j g & y q << m g g g O . c ffli P ■■ * • ' m ■ " B t cq a wvyaqy gf//ie//p//3/70/?s, I (Awarded Go/(fcM{/SJw<srJff6if3&) « T/tefes/- money &?(/ *■ experience cap fiqy. laruiXtsa/e/'/t/fust/zfas/a. \ SOLD BY ALL GROCER | PHAS»?OJ'"TiB MOON. " D H M Full moon „. ... 7 564 am Last quarter 14 0 5 ptn New moon ... .... 21 711 am First quarter ... ... 28 10 43 ptn Church Services ST. STEPHEN'S PHUROH Aahbujctop. THURSDAY— St Matthiaa' Day~HoJy Communion, 7 a.m. SUNDAY SERVlCES.— February 2f. 8.30 a.m.— Holy Communion. 11 a.m.— Morning Prayer, 3 p m.— Seafield— Rev T. A. HamiifeoD^ 3 p m. — Dromore— Mr Gates, 6.30 p.m. — Evening Prayer. I REV. T. A. HAMILTON.



F. FKRKIVJAN. ! FOR SALE- A SPLENDID OPPORTUNITY FOR A PERSON WITH A SMALL CAPITAL. j T HAVE been instructed by Mb] T. Roubb to sell by Private Treaty hia well known and Commodious BOARDING HOUSE, situated m close proximity to the Methven Railway Station, containing W Rooms and Sonliery, together with i aore of land. As Mb Rouse has determined to sell on aooount of his wife's ill-health, the above should command the attention of anyone m ■earoh of a profitable and increasing business m the centre of a large and rising district! F. FERRIMAN. FOR SALS i WAKANUI iROAD,;; WITHIN A FEW MINUTES WALK OF POST OFFICE. A Comfortable Dwelling House, contain- ing 8 rooms, Bathroom and Soullery, to- gether with one aore of land, fronting on Wakanui Road and Cambridge Street. The above is for absolute sale, and from its oloae proximity to town shomld call for special attention from those m search^of good suburban residence. F. FERRIMAN. for ;Js;ale. LEASE IN PERPETUITY of 100 Aci«s of Land at Lismore, subdivided into four paddocks, with un abundant snpply of water m each. 20 acres are m English grasses, 35 m fallow, and 45 are m the native state, upon which there is good feed. Upon the property there is a comfortable five-roomed house, a well planted garden, three-stalled stable, piggeries and sheup yards. As this farm is within three miles of a Public School, anyone m search of a property at a small rental would do well to give this an inspection. F. FERRIMAN. FOR SALE, *1££ V SJ? R SALE a « ood Becond h^d" S A^r, DRA , V'Y ' l DOUBLE.FURROW PLOUGH, and second hand DRILL. F. FERRIMAN. FOR SALE. I HAVE FOR SALE a unique site for a suburban residence. The quality of the land is unsurpassed, ample frontage on good road, and containing SEVEN ACRES, TWENTY PERCHES ', aituatsd on the creek. The owner is determined ta aell. Full particulars on application. F. FERRIMAN. TO LET, William Street, off Wakanui Road. A house of seven rooms. T 0 LE T, Wakanui Road, a comfortablejjhouse Jof six rooms and Bcullery. F. FERRIMAN. HAIR CURLING FLUID. rpHIS FLUID is a secret reoipe, and ia X uaed by the leading ladies of England and America, and now used m all the first- elagß Saloons throughout the world. It ia delicate]? perfumed, and can bo recom- mended as a firat-plasß Toilet Preparation. DIREOTJOjMSt Moisten the hair with the Fluid, pnd adjust it loosely. As jit drieß it will sjtipw a fcendenoy to ourl. Tbon run your fingers through it to lighten it up, asyoa desire. PRIOE— 3b PER BOTTLE. PREPARED BY 0, G. ELEY, } &AIW' SAIRDRiSSSER. J lnew^ork.'U.g.A- I """""#.& mm., A«ent>,



SHEARMAN BROS., FAMILY GROCERS, IRONMONGERS, & WINE AND SPIRIT MERCHANTS, AND GENERAL IMPORTERS. MARKET BOUSE, BURMKTT STREET, ASHBURTON. GROCERIES. IN STOCK—High Class Pekoe, Ceylon, and Indian Tea«, ; sole Agents for Ashburton for Tiger B.euiied Teaa. Nouu bub the best brauiis of Groceries kept; Tinued Fißh of every description ; Currants, Raisin?, Sultanas, all of the first an*'i!y ; Finest Oatmeal, guaranteed absolutely pure ; Kerosene, 160 test ;"Finest Roller Flour ; Butter and Cheese, the finest procurable from * the beat makers ; Mauritius Sugar always m Stock. Customers m»y always rely on beins? supplied from a large and well selected stock of all groceries, at the most reasonable prices. GENERAL MERCHANDISE. Beat design and quality of China Breakfast and Tea Services, Dinner Services, all prices ; Toilet Seta, newest atylee and deooration ; Glaaa and Earthen- ware of every description. Table Cutlery by the very best makers. Electro Plated goods a Speciality, suitable for Wedding Preaentß. Splen- did assortment of Brubhwareof every kind. Kaw and Boiled Linseed, Cattor and Neats Foot Oils always on h*nd. Ploughshares and Ropes, Lamps and Lampware (English and American), Ironmongery and General Household Requisite*, Etc, Etc., Etc WINES AND" SPIRITS. We have now to hand a Large Assorted and Well-Selected Stock of all Classes of Winea and Spirits, English and Colonial Bottled Ales and Stout. Penfold a Celebrated Muscat and Constantia Australian Wines always m stock. Being m direct communication with the best British aad Continental Manufacturers of all the above good?, and buying for prompt Cash, enables us to offer them CHEAPER THAN MOST WHOLESALE HOUSES IN THE COLONY. Customer! waited upon for Orders. Goods delivered daily* Letter* and Telegrams promptly attended to. SATISFACTION IS OUR MOTTO. Telephone No. 53. *r GIGANTIC SALE OF DRAPERY, CLOTHING & \ BOOTS AID MITCHELL & TURNER'S. The Whole Stock Reduced. | i ODD LINES AND SUMMER GOODS AT AFTER SEASON PRICES. LADIES' WATCHES GENTLEMEN'S WATCHES GOLD BROOCHES LADIES' GOLD RINGS mHESE FOUR LINES ARE HEAVILY STOCKED AND ARE OFFERED AT REDUCED PRICES. THE LARGEST AND FINEST STOCK IN the District of these and all other Lines is to be seenfgat S. SALEK'B THE LEADING JEWELLERY ESTABLISHMENT IN THE DISTaiCT BARGAINS EXTRAORDINARY i /"I REAT ANNUAL SALE of Surplus Stock} of DRAPERY, CLOTHING, & BOOT& COMMENCED ON SATURDAY, January 15. IMMENSE REDUCTIONS. ANDREW ORR.