TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Several letters are unavoidably held over.

Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1899. Local and General.

* # * On the first page to-day will be found commercial, sporting, and local news, also particulars of the Dunedin Show, and on the fourth fuge mkcaUaneous itema. Lobd Salisbury's Illness.—Lord Salis bury 'a condition g yea bo ground for alarm. Political—Further dates for Mr Mc- Keague'a addresses to the electors are advertised m this issue. The Gold Star—Lieutenant Adams has completed twenty-five years' continuous service with the Wellington Fire Brigade, and thus becomes the first man entitled to the gold star of the New Zealand Brigades' Association, Narrow Fscape—Mr G. Roborbson, of Winchmore, had a narrow escape from a trap this morning, owing to a portion of the harness breaking. This startled the horse —a spirited animal—and it plunged enough co break the shafts of the trap, but no further damage was done. The Postage Stamps—The issue of the much-admired penny stamp m two colours has baezt stopped, and a Wellington tele gram says that the changes that were contemplated m the colours of the low-value stamps cannot be made until special inks arrive, which will cot be till the beginning of the year. j Garden Party.—By an advertisement m another column it will be seen that the Wealeyan Church prefer celebrating their anniversary m the open air rather than by the ordinary indoor tea meeting, etc. The programme for the garden party m the beautiful grounds of Mr John Orr at Hakatere next Thursday should draw a big crowd, aad everything will be done to provide a most enjoyable afternoon. Sunday School Convention.—The half yearly convention of teachers connected with the Ashtourton-Willowby Wesleyan Sunday Schools took place m the Baring Square Church on Thursday last. There waa but a moderate attendance at the afternoon session; yet, notwithstanding the downpour of rain, delegates were present from both Hinds and Willowby. The proceedings during the afternoon comprised the secretary's report, which dealt with the discipline ajsd conduct of the various schools vieited, susi a. lengthy conversation thereon. The cht irmaw, Rev. Robert Taylor, also brought forward a motion recommending the Sunday Schools m the Willowby circuit to affiliate with the Ooanexional Union, and this was carried un animously, At six o'clock the company sat down to tea, after which the evening session waß held, when a JJible lesson, conducted by one of the superintendents, waa given. An opportunity was then given fot free criticism of the matter and method of the lessen taught, the members trailing themeelves of the privilege for the best pajrti of an hour. It was decided that the nexb convention take f lace at Willowby, and Mr J. E. Pur chase was asked to constitute a paper, giving a, resume of the World's Sunday School Con vention recently held m London.

THE KALGOORLIE MINING TROUBLE.

Kawjoorliis, Nov 24 A large nieetiau, the Mayor presid ing, strongly condemned the actjon of the authorities;; with regard to the alluvlalists

Australian Politics.

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—'Copyright

Received Wakapuaka Nov 25, 935 a.m This office 10 a.m. Brisbane, November 25 The Ministry resigns to day. There is some probability of a Coalition Opposition and Labour Ministry. Perth, November 25 The Council rejected a motion for submitting the draft of the Common wealth BUI to the people.

SOCIAL COLUMN.

[The matter contained m this column is paid )or t and is not necessarily m accord with the views advocated by this paper, ]

TO MAKE LIFE SWEETER, PURER INOItK FUUITFUI* Or GOOD.

" For a great door and effectual ia opened unto me, and there are many adver saries."—(l Corinthians xvi. 9 ) There underlies these words a dis tinct sense of exultation and hopo. St. Paul perceivea that the Gospel has tuken a real hold upon Ephesus and upon the cities of Asia. A great door I and effectual had been op ned. But there were many adversaries. Opposed to him was the religious prejudice of. the Jews, the pride of the average provincial. Vested interests m the person of Demetrius the silversmith asserted themselves; but despite them all Paul could say, " A grpat door and effectual is opened unto me." Such is our feeling to day, m cele brating the Jubilee of the Band of Hops movement, after fifty years of magnificent enterprise. Truly " a great door and effectual has been opened." With three millions of young abstainers, we have m this year of Jubilee, of unprecedented efforts and almost unlimited appeals, added more than a million and gathered m money by the tens of thousands of pounds to carry on our work. Re markable enthusiasm has been aroused, better meetings, new societies invigor ated, and increased activities abound on all sides. To-day, juvenile and adult, we number seven millions of teetotalers, Everywhere Bands of Hope and Temperance Societies are extending their healthful influence; our children are receiving better instruction. The great Tempp-rancn Orders, the Rechabitea with 150,000 adult and 82,000 juvenile members, the Sons of Temperance with 33,000 adult members, the Good Templars and others, are all progressing, all showing how great " a door and effectual has been opened." ''And there are many adversaries !" Yes, there are still many adversaries. Religious prejudice, political bias, press influences, selfish interests, appetite, ignorance, custom and habit still hinder the progress of the movement. We have made remarkable advance it is true, but there is, I think, a great lack of imagination m the Temperance ranks. We have hardly, as yet,: realised all th»t our movement im plies. It means far more than the rescue of individuals from an impoverishing and degrading vice. We are doing this on a large scale ; and if this were all, the work would be enormous m its power and beneficence, It means far more than the organising of Bands of Hope and Abstaining Societies We are enrolling members by the million, and are profoundly afiecting the lives of ensuing generations. If this wore all, the good would be incal culable. But we are doing very much more, 1. We aro fighting one of the most | terriblo causes of disease and death i that em curse any communrity. We are the greatest of sanitary re formers. 2. We are fighting the most serious engine of corruption m our whole social, municipal, and political li re. 3. We are fighting for the liberty of the people, whose bodies and souls, whoae homes and happiness, are vir tually bought and sold by the great brewer capitalists. 4. We are clearing the path for the advance of religion. A drink-be sotted people cannot be aroused by the Gospel, their ears are narcotized, they are dull of hearing. To have a Christian country we musfc hive a sober couLty. Oan I prove these statements 1 I will try to do so, Suffer me to Bubmit a few fact?, WE ABE GREAT SANITARY. REFORMERS. The drink traffic is the most deadly of all trades, first to its own members, and next to all who come near it. Few insurance offices will insure a publican except at an enormous pre mium. For every Rechabite that dies, four publicans die, m proportion to their numbers. Take two young artizans of eighteen years o! age : one is a moderate drinker, the other a Rechabite. The Rechabite has a rea sonable expectation of seven moi?e years of life than the other. Or con sider accidents £ the Ocean Insurance Company will insure a teetotaler foe j 10 pf r cent, less than another man, so greatly does abstinence improve his chances of safety or of recovery. Or look at the death rate of the United Kingdom Temperance and General Provident Institution. During the last thirty years the total expected claims of the non-abstaining members were £2,037,91^ and the actual claims £1,988,217. But m the temperance section the expected claims were £1,491,557, and the actual claims £1,002,523, i-e , the difference between 70 and 98 per cent, gives the advan tage of the abstainers over the moderate dripkers ', and remember, you do not find among the insured the more reckless, careless, and dissolute lives, or the contrast would be im mensely greater. Once again, the greatest difference m the death-rate as between the Rechabites and the Foresters is seen precisely during the prime of life; i.c, when habits of drinking begin to taka esPect. All our observations, all our statistics point the same way. Drink is the destroyer of the people's health • and good health is the largest part of the capital of the working classes. If you want to en large the capacity and increase the welfare of the masseß, you must make them total abstainers, OUR MOVEMENT IS A HOME PROTECTION MOVEMENT. A nation is an aggregate of families, and the family is the most vital part of the body-politit. Injure the home, and you injure the natioa, Purify and invigorate the home, and you have added new force to the national life. Now, the malignity of Satan could not: match the drink for breaking up a home. Drink divides husband and wife, turns the parent into a savage tyrant, unsexes womanhood^ embrutes the man, and converts the home, which should be the nursery- of virtue and * the paradise of peace, into a hell on earth. We keep up a National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Chil dren , at a coat of £50,000 a year, to

protect over 60,000 children annually from their parents At l^ast 80 pcr < per cent, of this "cruelty" is simple neglect, due directly to drink. Destroy the drink, and you do away with thin awful mass of. worse than bestial cruelty. WE ARE FIQHTIXG A COLOSSAL AND CORRUPT MONOPOLY, < Wo shall not be far wrong if we ostimite the capitalised value of the British liquor trade at ,£250,000,000. Probably another £250,000,000 of British money is invested m American breweries and similar concerns else where. This makes £500,000,000-— a gigantic sum indeed, and representing] a colossal interest m direct conflict with reform and the welfare of the people For, let us not be mistaken, here lies the real enemy we have to contend with. This is our Goliath, and the temperance partj looks like David, iil-uiatched with such a foe. But. we intend t*o lay him low. "One-man with a conviction," said John S. Mill, "is a Bocial fores worth 99 men with only an interest." We intend to prove that saying true. We shall need all its comforts ; for the immense , wealth of the traffic, built up as it is out of the vice and folly of the people, constitutes it a Mam mom, that cor rupts, and bribes, and dazzles on every hand. Thus the Press is largely the ; slave of the liquor, for the brewers buy up all the provincial and even metro politan newspapers they c*n; and where they do not own them m whole or m part, they are often able by their payments for advertisements and otherwise to control the pen of the editor. On every Town Council, every Local Board, and even Board of Guar dians it is the avowed policy of the trade to secure the fullest representa tion to advance its selfish aims. Lord Burton, the brewer, openly declared, " Our trade is oar politics." At every election the trade votes solid for its man, and every public-house is virtually a committee room for his return. The whole liquor traffic has carefully organ ised itself for the defence of its interests. Its wealth commands the ablest advocacy by speech or pen. Fvery power of persuasion, every art of cajolery, public or private, every 1 iafluence that can escape or evade the law, is made use of by the liquor interest against the interests of the people. The church, the school, the chapel, and the mission hall, each m turn feel the pernicious influence. The brewer's gold is a gag on many a pulpit., The trade has got its hoof down on nearly every social agency. The friendly society, the benefit club, the bicyclists, the football or cricket teams, the harriers, &11 meet commonly at a public-house, Mauy athletic clubs are indebted to the brewers for their largest subscriptions: it is politic generosity. Our municipal life is often frightfully poisoned and corrupted by the drink." Especially do the liquor men like to serve on Watch Oommit tees ; for here they control the police, I and so baffle the administration of the law. Meantime most breweries have become immense limited liability com panics, and the public houses are nearly «11 1( tied "to the breweries; the so called publican is a mere caretaker or 1 tenant-at will. The wholesale and retail trade is thug m the same hands, and the profits are doubled. Fo wonder the brewer becomes a million aire, and is welcomed to the House of Lords. This is the apotheosis of liquor : Mammon worship is complete. " Either the liquor traffic will control the State, of the State must control the liquor ' traffic." Such was the memorablp saying of Lord Rosebery. The Liberal I party seems to be less outspoken just ' now. The trade has long ago captured the Tories : perhaps it will capture the Liberals m time. Whatever happens, we temperance men are no* to be cajoled or browbeaten. We know who ia our foe, aud we offer him our unwavering hostility. " There ia no discharge m this war." ! W* ARE FI(3H TING FOR POPULAR FREEDOM The theory of the law is that no liquor shop shall be opened unless the \ people require it. And for this pur poss each license is granted for twelve months and no longer, so that the requirements of the people may be reconsidered every year. But as a matter of fact, the people are hardly consulted at all. Wherever a brewery sees a chance of pushing its trade, it buys or builds a house, and demands a license. The brewer's influence gener ally tells m time upon the bench of magistrates, and he gets his way. And so wealth obtains a monopoly for the sale of drink, to blast and ruin the lives of the people. But the people's wishes or welfare are not considered. They are the mere counters m the fifame, the prey of the liquor capitalist. Their wages are his spoil. The people are bought and sold, so to speak, like dumb cattle. All this we are determined to alter. We demand a law to enable each locality to determine by a popular vote whether it desires to have licenses granted by the magistrates or not. In hundreds of instances, rich landowners have cleared every public house off their estates, and with the happiest results to themselves and their tenantry. We demand that the people shall have the power to do the same, if they please, by popular vote. We are true democrats m this matter. Let the people be their own masters, and not the slaves of wealth, or the puppets of capital. " The public-house," we are told, "is the working man's wine cellar;" then let him have the key, and lock it if he likes. For wherever you find a locality from which the drinkshop is excluded, you find a place where nine-tenths of the poverty, the crime, the misery that curse our land to-day cannot enter. The liquor trade ia the fruitful mother of every social ill— "The children born of thee are fire and sword» Red ruin and the breaking up of laws." Where there is no liquor traffic you will fiad no policeman, no pawnshops, no workhouse and no gaol; but instead there is peaoo and quiet, cleanliness and prosperity, happy homes and tidy children, and a Btrong and self respect ing industrial class. The prohibition area, m a word, solves three-fourths of the social problets. \ >VI3 ARE BELIGUOUS REFORMERS ALSQ. When our Lord called Lazarus from , the grave His Divine Vojpe alone could give life to the dead. Yet He told His people to roll away the stone. We are rolling away the stone that the'

liquorTaas laid upon our social pros-] perity, our national morality, and our religious life. Let us roll away that stone. Then the voice of Him who is the Resurrection and the Life of nations and churches, as well as of individuals, shall speak the word, " Come forth." We can hardly dream what Kngland would be like if she, were liberated from the dead'y thral dom of the Hquor trade It will be like a resurrection from the dead. It is for reasons like these that I ask you, friends and follow workers, to htudy the wider bearings of the tern perance question, and throw yourselves into the movement. Will any one tel! me that I am too political ; that T trust too much to law; that I am leaving the pulpit for the hustings, and the church for parliament and the law court? I hold it no dishonour for a Christian man to be a politician. It is rather a disgrace not to take part m public agitation. For what are poli tics? They are the employment of our vote for tho promotion of national righteousness. And what is political agitation ? Sir Robert Peel shall tell ub : '• Agitation is the marshalling of the conscience of a nation for the moulding of its laws." . In this sense, and not m the sense of i party politics, the temperance move m -nt has become the greatest and moat searching of all political move ments. It is an attempt to bring the laws of our land into harmony with the moral sense of the nation, to make it a little easier for men to do right, and a little more difficult to do wrong As a nation, and not only as Christians, we are all members of one another. We are our brothers' keepers. We cannot be saved alone, as citizens, any more than as Christians, And the true Christian will be the best citizen also. He will want to use his vote so as to secure for others as well aa for himself the right to live and the chance of a wholesome life, and to mike the social conditions for his neighbour, as well as for himself, and especially for the weakest and most helples?, for the women and the children among us, sweeter, purer, more fruitful of good. That God may bless us m this endeavour is to-day our heartfelt prayer.

THE SOUDAN.

A SEVEBE JBATTLE- Defeat of tho Dervishes 100 Killed and Maay Taken Prisoners Gallantry of the Enemy, United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received Wakapuaka Nov. 25, 9 30 a.m. This Office 9. 47 a.m) Cairo, November 24 The Egyptian army defeated 2500 Dervishes, headed by Ahmed Fedil, at Abu Ad el, killing 400 and (aktDg many prisoners. The Dervishes gallantly charged within eighty yards ot the Egyptian guns and Maxims. There W9re only three casualties among the Egyptians,

CORRESPONDENCE

(We do not hold ourseives responsible for th 9 opinions expressed by our correspondents)

POLITICAL MEETING.

TO THE EDITOR. Pib, —I see by advertisement the Rev L. M. Isifct is annoucced to give *' one of his masterly addresses" m the OJdfellows' Ea,U on Monday night next. If it is to be a prohibition address pure and simple no ono need complain, but if his visit has for its objscb the obtaining of votes ior any par ticular candidate, it ia to the last degree reprehensible. The prohibition party have been very loud ia Mieir denunciation of Mr Seddon for touting for support for several of his henchmen, and for canvi-Baing the country m their interest. Sureiy they are not going to following his example and send Mr L. M laitt round on a similar errand.—-1 am, etc. CONSISTENCY.

A CONTRADICTION.

TO ?HE EDITOR. Sjß,—l am informed that a rumour is m circulation m a portion of this county which may, if not contradicted, do my candidature for the coming election some harm. I am supposed to have asked Mr G. A. M. Buckley to allow himself to be nominated for a seat m the County Council m opposi tion to Mr E. Q. Wright. Such is not the case, On the contrary, when it came to my knowledge thab Mr Buckley's nomination might jeopardise Mr Wright's return, I made a special effort to induce him to with draw, bub without success. I have always admitted Mr Wright's ability m conducting the business of the County Council, and no one regrets more than I do th&fc he was not eligible for the chairmanship last Wednes day, when the appointment was made against my wish, I trust this wi'l remove any feeling now supposed to be prevalent, that I was directly or indirectly opposing Mr Wright's return to theCeunty Council.— I am, etc., C. J. Harper.

WANTED, AN EXPLANATION.

T0 TIIE EDITOB. Sib,—Would any of the Liberal candidates who are at present bo industriously stumping this electorate, extolling the virtues of the Seddon party, kindly explain how it is that the presenb Government are so bitterly opposed—in theory—to the freehold tenure of land, and lose no opportunity to denounce freeholders as land grabbers, social pests, monopolists, and the like, and always declare that leasehold, and nothing else but lease hold, is the one doctrine to be held as an essential to political salvation, but who, when ib comes to wanting a bit of land for themselves or their sons, prefer to con veniently forget their catechism and quietly proceed to make the beat possible bargain they tan by way of acquiring the freehold. As instance the caße of the Hon John McKenzie, who, although the reputed owner of two estates m Otago, when ha wanted to start bis sons on % bit of land, did not think it good enough to make Government tenants of them, bub m a way that has never yet been satisfactorily explained "acquired" the freehold of Bushy Park for: them. Instance also the case of Mr Richard Meredith, one of the Government's loudest "barrackers." Did he wish his sons to become Government tenants 1 Not much ! He tried to luy, at a little over £2 per acre, land thab was afterwards sold at over £6, although at the same time he was the possessor of other land, and unless report does him injustice Mr Seddon himself is owner of a considerable area (said to be some 5000 acres) of land m the North Island but held m his wife's name. And many others of the " great liberal ! p»rty," while denouncing the freehold tenure, have quietly possessed themselves of choice bits of land, sometimes m a way that t^is been, to say the least, | { peculiar." Will Messrs RJclJeftgue, ' Maslin, and McLachlan, or any one of them, please, «• rise and get up," and explain why \a this thus?—lam, etc., Anxious to Learn.

CHRISTCHURCH WOOL SALES

FRIBDLANDKB BROS , LIMITED. The following is the catalogue of Messrs Fiiediander Bros., Limited, submitted to auction at tho firßt wool sale held afc Christ church on November 23 : -Greasy—GN, first crossbred ewe, 3 bales at 81, th;efquarter bred ewe, lat 6 1 (passed) ; BU conjoined, threcqtwrter-brcd ewe, 1 at 7£ ', pieces, 1 (it %1, crossbred e»<e, 10 at 10 i, crossbred hogget, 4 at Bjd ; P b«tweon triangles, half bred ewe, 3 at. IOJd ; triangle over 1, half bred wether, 4 at 10£ 1 ; triangle' ever I, crossbred wether, 1 at, 7i 1; 84, croisbred ewe, 2 at 9| 1 ; L 2, hali'bivd ewe, 8 at 101, thre. quaru-r-bred ewe with 8 ram ii eces, 3 at 6f, locks an-1 pieces, 1 at. 4Jd ; loT, cross bied hogget, 8 at, 7£! ; 2H, halfbred ewe wi h 18 crossbred fl :ecee, 7 .-it 9§ 1, pieces, 1 at 4d ; O over J, halfbred weth< r, 7 at Bd, cr issbred weth- r, 4 at 6d (passed), or sabred bellies, 2 at 4£d ; diamond over f, crossbred wether, 10 at 8:1, pieces, 1 f-dge at 3^-i ; 07, halfbred with thre© msrino fleeces, 1 at 10£' 1,,',,' crossbred, 1 at B£d ; I-P under «-v crossbred ewe, 2at 6i (passed) ; W4, crossbred ewe, 2at 6fl (passed); over M, crossbred ewea with 16 merino fleeces, 5 at 6£ l(passed); W/3, first cross ewe, 3 at 7£d, Becond cross ewe, 2ab 6d ; WFA, halfbred, 3 at 9£d, crossbred, 1 at 7d, croeßbred and halfbred, 1 at 8d ;7 x, halfbred ewe, 2at 81; KD (m red), halfbred, 7 at B|J, threeqiurter-bred, 3at 6d, bellies and pieces, 1 at 4Jd ; RB over —, first cross, 10 at 7£d, second cross, 6 at 6i; Chk fl*t over MB, Leicester hogget, 5 at 6f 1, Leicester and crossbred hojjgeb, 1 at 6| 1, firtt and second cross hogget, 1 at 6|d, first cross hogget wifch 8 halfbred ewe fleeces, 1 at 8&d, halfbred and crossbred ewe, 1 at B£d, bellies and pieces, 1 at 4£d ; SL over — „ halfbred, 3 at 7£d ; F over W, threequarter-bred ewe with 7 down and 2 black fleeces, 5 at 6£4 (passed), bellies and pieces, 1 at 6d, ha fbrnd ewe, 2 at 9£i, lockß, lat 41; HA conj ined over —, first cross, 1 at 9£d, mixed, 1 at 8d ; JE conjoined, crossbred ewe, 6 at 6d; ID, crossbred ewe, 4 at B^l ; JA conjoined, second cross ewe, 12 at bkd (passed); HL, first cross ewe, 10 at B£d, second cross ewe, 5 at 6&1, rams with four black fleeces, 1 at sd, bellies and pieces, lat 3JI; C 2 over —, crossbred ewe with two rams fleeces, 1 at 6d (passed); CS over —, crossbred hogget, sab 7d ; HM over —, crossbred ewe, 2 at B|d ; — over 71, firab cross ewe, 9 ab B|l, first oross hogget, 3 at 7d, crossbred ewe 2 at BJd, merino with 9 first cross fleecel, 2 at lOd, pieces, 2at 3id, bellies, 1 at 4|l; Square with dot at side, crossbred, 2 at 7|d; «JG over — t eecond cross ewe, 5 at 7d, first oross ewe, 2 at 7d, merino, 1 at 10|d ; Heart over H, crossbred ewe, 6ao 8d; OX, merino and first cross (12 fleeces each), 1 at B|d ; CO, halfbred, 6 at 9|d, crossbred and merino, 1 at 81, bellies and pieces, 1 at 6d ; OX, first cross, 2 at 7d, second cross, 2 at 6^d, three quarter-bred, 2 ab s|d (passed).

MB D, THOMAS. The following is the catalogue of Mr D. Thomas' first wool sale of the season, submitted to auction at Chrlstchurch on November 23 :—Greasy—4 over M, half bred ewe, 4 bale* at B|d ; HH, crossbred hogget, 4at B^4 ; SY over —, crossbred, 2 at 7£d ; fIJ, crossbred, 2at7d ; KS, crossbred ewe, 4 at 9f 1 ; 2L, crossbred ewe, 2 at 5Jd (passed); second crossbred ewe, 2 at 5Jd (passed) ; ficsb crossbred ewe, 2 at S^d (passed); Lincoln, lat SJ, (passed); t"L, crossbred ewe, 2 at 7|i ; JMH, bellies and pieces, 1 at 5Jd ; merino ewes, 1 at lid; halfbred «wes, 6at lOd; crossbred ewe, 4at 6d ; OK over —, crossbred hogotetfc, 2at 7^d j 2 at 74d ; halfbred hogget, 1 at 8d ; E, bellies, lats| 1; halfbred, 6ab 9§l; crossbred, 5 at 7d (passed) ; M, bailies, 2 at 6d ; pieces, 1 atsd ; halfbred wethers, 1 at lOd ; merino ewes, 2 at lid; first cross wethers, 8 at 9i ; first cross ewes, 9at 10^d; second cross ewes, 3 At 7|l; jP, crossbred, 1 ab BJd ; TU, Shropshire hoggets, 3 at 9J ; Shropshire rams, 1 at 7£d ; HX,~ha!fbred ewes, 1 at7£d ; MB, croeßbred ewe, lat 7d; 7L, crossbred ewe, 10 at 9d ; piecaf, lat 6£d ; S3< cross bred. 3at 9fcd ; MB, halfbred, 17 at 10£ d ; merino, 2at 10| 1; pieces, 2 -it 4|d ; rams, 1 ab s^d ; X, Leicester, 2 at 7d ; C over T, halfbred ewes, 11 at B£d ; bellies, 1 at s|d ; pieces, 1 at 3| 1 ; J WS, first halfbreds, 3 at 8d ; halfbred, 7at 8J1; rams and dead, lat 5!; Vr4, halfbred, 5 at 10| I; crossbred ewe, 10 at 81 ; crossbred wethera, '6 at 6d j bellies and pieces, 2 at 6d ; pieces, 1 at4Jd ; — over XO, crossbred, 2 at 6Jd ; MU, crossbred, 3 at 61 ;TH over —, halfbred, 4atß| 1 ; R5, piece?, 1 at s£d ; halfbred hogget, 6ab lO^d ; halfbred ewe, sat 10J-1J crossbred ewe, 4 <tt 7| 1; OP cottjoined over—, merino, 3at 10£ 1; quarterback, 2ab lid ; LX, ha'fbred ewe, 2at 9£d ;HE under —», chreequarter bred ewe, 3at bi, (passed); crcsßbrei ewe, 9 at 6| i, (passed) ; DA, first cross ewe, 8 at B|i ; GT, halfbred wether, 1 at B^d; long woo! wether, lat 6JI; crossbred hoggets, 4 at 7id ; D. first cross ewe, 2, at B.^d | DF, halfbre ', 2 at 7|l, (passed) ; GE, halfbred, 3 at 10J-1; W, crossbred, lat 61; H over X, halfbred ewe, 5 at 9d ; halfbred wether, 2 *t 9Jd ; Sin diamond, first cross ewe, 2at l^i ; second cross ewp, 3 ab 7d ; pieces, 1 at 4|d; BM, bellies, 1 atsd; halfbred, 2 at 9A-1; firsc cross, 3 at B£d ; RL, halfbred, 2 at 9|d ; threequarter-bred, 1 at 7d; — overß7, half bred, 2 ab 9|i ; crossbred ewe, 8 at 7£d ; beilief, lab s|d; P over 1, halfbred, lab 9|d ; oroasbred, 4 ab 7Jd ; H over X, crossbred ewe, 4 ab 7d ; Shropshire, lab S£d; 70, crossbred ewes, 6 at 9|d ; R7, halfbred, 4 at 1041J J6i halfbred, 4ab 9Jd; 6ab 9id ; pieces and locks, 1 ab 3|d ; Awarima, half bred, 4, (passed); crossbred, 9, (passed); OTO, first cross, 2 at 7£d ; — over DS, crossbred, 2 ab 8d ; halfbred, 2 ab 9£d ; 7R, crossbred, 4 at s£d ; I%W, halfbred, X at B§d ; R5, halfbred, 4 ab B|d | halfbred dingy, 1 ab 6&d ; bellies, 1 ab s|d ; 90, halfbred, 9 ab 9d ; crossbred, 3ab 7|d ; mixed, 1 ab 8d j pieces, 1 ab 3|d; Awarima, pieces, 2, (passed); bellies, 1, (passed) 3 D, first oross ewes, B^dj 040, crossbred, 2 at B£d.

News in Brief.

A clearing sale is advertised at Oorwar by Mr David Th mas, to be held towards the end of December, when the live and dead stock of Mr J. C Wason will be pub to auction. Meanwhile Mr Wason'a two farms of 40Q]and 600 acres respectively are m the market, and if not sold by the date of the clearing sale, they will be put up on thai) day. The branch of the Bank of New Zealand at Rakaia will open on Wednesday, Novem ber 29, instead of Thursday, November 30, which is a statutory bank holiday. The annual temperance sermon—general ; on the same day over the whole Presbyterian world—will be preached m the Ashburton Presbyterian Church on Sunday by Rev. (J. 8. Inglis, who will make his subject—" For the sake of others." A special general meeting for important business of the members of the Young Men's Club will be held m the Club rooms on Tueß day evening next ab eight o'clock. Rev. L. M. Isitb will give »a addresi on no license and prohibition m the Oddfellows' Hall on Monday evening next, at 8 o'clock. His Worship the Mayor will preside. A cellection will be taken up to defray expenses

THE ELECTIONS.

A notice appears m another column to the effect thab the Ashburton County Pro hibition League, at a meeting held last evening, passed a resolution expressing con fidence m Mr Maslin, and expressing a hope that all temperanae electors will vote for him.

The rise m the price of wool and the firm state of the London market will mean in creasing returns of many thousands of pounds for the farmers of Canterbury alone this year. As a natural oonsequence, following the advanced oosfc of the raw material, alt the principal manufacturers of woollen goodl have recently issued revised price llata show ing a considerate rise m the prices of all Tweeds, Coatings, Vicugnas, &c. Messrs Craighead & Bebrtman of this town, how ever, with their usual foresight, took time by the forelock, and cabled Home direct early m May for a large shipmenb of the most fashionable Suitings for the approaching Spring season. They also secured large parcels from the principal New Zealand j mills ust before the rise, and will give their customers the full benefit of their timely contracts. Messrs CRAiGBEAri and Berry- invite an early inspection of their New Goods. Their leading line of Men's Suits to measure for J33 10s, made up m their well- < known style and fit, should convince the most sceptical of their utarling vaiuei <

TRANSVAAL WAR.

Bombardment of Kimberlcy. Sortie s by the Defenders General White at Ladysraith, Beported Capture of Boer .Position and Guns, A Bally by the Garrison. A Dutch Bising A British Camp Shelled. The Enemy Eorced to Ketire, Indignant Boer Women The Ciy of Bereaved Mothers. N S.W, Lancets Thirty-One Land m Australia United Press Auooifttion —By Electric Telegraph—Copy righ fc. Capetown, November 23 Lord Methuen commands 10,000 troops*, including the Guard*' brigade and 4860 cavalry Capetown, November 24 A vigorous bombardment oi Kioiber ley is proceeding Frequent sorties have been made from the town, and sharp fighting has resulted General Gatacre reports that there is a considerable Dutch rising m the Broken Nail district. Many settlers have joined the Boers with a following of armed natives General Buller has left Capetown on a short visit to Durban The Boers are beginning to leave Natal for Bloemfontein. The enemy, with ten guns, shelled the Mooi River camp. The British replied, silencing them. The infantry then advanced and the Boers retired. Naval guns have been sent to Mooi River Pretoria, November 24 The Boer women are indignant at not being informed of the fate of their relations. The authorities dread the effect of the revelations Lqeenzo Marqukz, November 24 Judge Gregorowski, of the Transvaal Supreme Court, accompanied by several officials, has arrived at Delagoa, It ii believed he is on a peace mission to Capetown. London, November 24 The Daily Telegraph congratulates New Zealand on being the first m getting troops to the Cape. Tha Government raised and embarked the Contingent with zealous expedition, and the early arrival of the men proves the spontaneity m an offering backed by thorough organisation. Durban, November 24 Two additional battalions have landed at Durban Weeping amongst th%Dutch people of Pietermaritzburg lends confirmation to the report that General White on Sunday night captured the Boar posi tion and guns at Ladysmith. Milboubnb, November 24 Thirty-one Lancers returned by the Nineveh. Six are invalided. They were not passed by the army doctor at the Cape. It had originally been sup posed that with one exception all bad volunteered for South Africa, When the test was applied by the War Office three days before the Nineveh left, it wag found that thirty declined to sign the paper to volunteer. Great indig nation was expressed by the War Office authorities. The men who are returning assert that they were never seriously asked to volunteer. Had they been they would have refused to go. In June Captain Cox asked whether m the event of war they would join with him m offering their services. The captain asserts that only one refused, and on the strength of their response he conveyed the offer to the War Department, and secured the influence of Lord Oarrington to induce the authorities to accept it. He sever dreamed it wai necessary to densultjthe men again. When the offer wai accepted he got some inkliag that the men were going back on him. The men declare that Captain Cox never consulted the whole of them, and some say that under no circumstances would they .have consented to go with Cap tain Cox, News by the Nineveh states that thousands of pounds worth of British property m Johannesburg has been commandeered. Other nationalities had similar treatment, but to nothing like the extent of the British Lord Methuen's Force Engage the Boers at Belmont. Sharp Fighting. Three Breaches Stormed. Signal Victory for the British. Brilliant Fighting on Both Sides. Heavy Boer Losses Severe British Casualties. Many Killed and Wounded. The Press Association Rends a Press correction on last night's cable as follows:- — Duepan, November 23 Several strong commandos«are raid ing within thirty miles of Maritzburg. where the garrison has been increased by a thousand. Capetown, Nov 24 Lord Methuen at daybreak on Thursday attacked the Boers m a strongly entrenched position at Bel raont, which was defended by five guns. A breach was stormed m three ridges m succession, the last being peppered with shrapoel. The infantry behaved splendidly, and were supported by the naval brigade artillery, The Boers fought with great courage and skill, bat the victory was complete and forty prisoners were takgn. The Boer loss was heavy, and a large quantity of stores and ammunition were de stroyed and many horses and cows captured. Three British officers were killed . and twenty-two woundfd,

THE AfIHBUKTON dUABDIAH * SaTUBDaY, NOVEMBER 25, iß9*|



Smoke New Venus



NOTICE. MR McL&OHLAN'S COMMITTEE will meet at the Committee Rooma 9 Haveiock Street, on TUESDAY, 28th mat, at 7.30. Business important. W. JOLLIFFE, 11 179 Hon. Secretary



J. WILSON, (Established 1878), BURNETT STREET, opposite Mail Office Employs upwards of 18 hands. DECORATOR & SIGN-WRITER. I WISH to notify that I have secured the service of Mb Chapman, as Sign writer, who, m addition to his home training has had a large amount of experi ence m our cities. I LARGE STOCK OF ARTISTIC WALL PAPERS I have just received—direct from the manufacturers — a few thousand feet of Picture Frame Mouldings. Persons desirous of having Pictures framed would do well to call and see them. Telephone 65



■6 a . ( ) | g » I >H | • >• © r_ri k P I 5 W g a » H H^^ I a § Kg g 3 a pq es as ■" rH Ji 4 CO D C rHrH



Carraway Seeds ... ... 8d per lb Pimento, whole Is „  Pimento, jrround Is2d  „ Mixed Spice Ud per packed PlCKLES—Hayward's Mixed, lOd per bottle, 9s 6d per dozen Cross and Blackwell's, Is 3d par bottle Captain White's, 2s 3d per bottle Carry Powder lid per bottle Borax 8d per lb Alum , ye 6d „ „ Saltpetre , 6d „ „ TartaricAcid lalOd „ „ Carbonate Soda, 3d per lb, 2s per doz Iba Whole Linseed 3d per lb Linseed Meal ... ... 4d „,, MATCHES—PIaida, 4£d per dois, 4s per groaa 250 a la 6d per dozen 1000' asd per box, 4s lOd per dozen Bryant and May's Safeties, 8i per dozen Yarmouth Bloaters, 9 for la Maoonochie's Fresh Herrings, 6|d per tin „ Herrings m Tomato, lOd per tin „ Herringa m Shrimp, lOd per tin „ Kippered Herrings, lOd per tin „ Preserved Bloaters, lOd per tin Auckland Mnllett 7d per tin Oysters 8d   Sardines, large Alberts ... Is   Sardines, large 8d   Sardines, email , 4d   Salmon, Holly leaf ... lOd „ „ Salmon, other Brands ... 8d   OlL—Lucca, 23 4d per bottle Salad, £ pint sd, 1 pine lOd Castor, | pint sd, 1 pint lOd Sheeps Tongues, lib la, 21b la lOd Corned Beef, Mutton, Spiced Beef, 2lb tin, Is Crosse and Black well's assorted Paates, la 3d per bottle, 14s 6d per dozen Potted Meats, assorted, 6d per tin Bovril, 2oz, la lOd. Leiberg's extraob, Is 9d per bottle Patent Groats, Robinson's, lOd ; Har per's, 9d per tin Mellins'JFood, laJßd per tin



-:PEOVISIONS - FACTORY^BUTTER— Fern Leaf and Sutton's always m stock. OHEESl—Finest Factory, 6d per lb BACON AND HAMS —•' Lewis'," " Morepork." "D. McOaUum." Mild Cured Hams, Sides and Rolls, 7£d. GORE OATMIAL—2SIb Bag, 2a 6d



Van Hemen's Cocoa, £lb, lid ; |lb, U 9d ; lib, 3a 3d Fry's Cocoa, £lb, B|d ; lib, la 4|d Real Good Oandles, 4£dperlb; 8a Pd per bos Parafine Candles, plain and fluted, 6§a per lb ; 12s 6d per box Fairy Night Lights la 2d p6r box Flake Tapioca, 71bs for Is Peat', 61bs for Is Sago, 71bs foi la Mixed Peel, Lamon, Orange and Cit ron, 8d perlb Lemon Peel, 7lb tins, 3a 6d lib Tina Aasorted Jams, 5d per lb ; 4a 9d per doz 2lb Jara Assorted Jams, 14s 6d per doz Lea aDd Perrin's Saace, large, 2a 6d per bottle Mellor's Sauce, Is 3d per bottle Worcester Sance, small, 5d ; large, 9d Brown's Corn Float, 3d per lb Mazina M per dozen 5a 6d Whiting, / b for Is Morton's Cream of Tartar, la 3d per lb Preserved Fruit, 2£lb tins, 8d per tin, 7b 6d per doz English Cut Loaf Sagar, 3|d per lb Tomato Sauce, 9d per bobtle Golden Syrup, 2lb 6d, 41b Is, 561 b lie - 3d Treacle, 21h 6d. 41b la, 71b la 9d Finest Balsina 6Wperlb Finest) Sal tanas 7|d „ „ Finest Oatcancs .» ... &<* »» » per case 4M „ „ StewbgFlgs »., ... 7|d „ „ French Plc.ms (oholoe) ... 1« >« ,> SfeewingPlama .» ... dd  „ Finest) Muscatels Is M „ „ Dallforntan Mnscatela ... la „ », Dates, extra fine, 3ib boxes, Is 9d per box Almonds, Jordan 2a 4d per lb j Almonda, Valencia ... Is 6d  „ Alroonds, Sicily Is 4d „ „ BafC€'?na Nuts 8d   Shell Almoude lOd  „ Day and Martln'a Paste Blacking, 4|d per doz Day and Martin's Jar Blacking, 6d per bottle Firenoh Blacking, 2d per tin, Is 9d per doz < Nixey'a Blacklead, Id dizo, 9d per doz dftSMs'.Dome Blackkad,pd per.doss i



JOHN ORE, AND COS REVISED LIST^* WE Claim to be the Leading Firm of Gocer?, Ironmongers, and Crockery Merchants m Aahburton. We Import all our Stock from the Home Markets for Spot Oash, and are therefore m the beat position w supply the public with only genuine goods at the lowest possible price for cash. Wo guarantee all our goods fuU weight and finest quality. We never charge for picking and delivery, all gooJa at tha Railway Station free. Any person leaving an order vriih m can get a pircel ticket, and therefore always be sure, of having their goods at tha station m time. No charge for ticket. T7IT 5s per Ton — „ Jf _LA/ U Jti """PER SACK 133. — SU^Al* — «Jd per lib witu Tea i&IARAVILLA GARDEN TEA— la lOd, 2s, 2s 4d perjlb 51b Box .- .~ .« 8a 9d, ts 7d, lla 101 b Box .- - .« 16s Bd, 18a 4d, 21a 8d KOZIE TEA — 101 b Box, |IBs 4d ; s!b, 9a 7d GOLD LEAF TEA 10lb Box, 18a 4d; slb, 9a 7d



WAYERLEY CYCLES. TVT EW SHIPMENT JUST TO HAND ALL LATEST IMPROVEMENTS —(x)— Two or tiiree 98 Ladies Models yet on hand, will sell at £20 A few good seoond-hand machines for sale at prices from .£3 up. RECENT SUCCESSES OF THE WAYFRLEY. (°)"' " Oot. s—Ashburton Cycling Sports—WAYERLEY First and Second m every Race. Oot 11— Otago Labour Day Wheel Race—WAYERLEY First. Oct. 12—Amberley Druids Wheel Race—WAYERLEY First Oct. 12—Amberley Druids Three MiIe—WAYERLEY Second Oct. 28— Auckland Cycling Club, Federal Scratch Mile— WAVERLEY First Wheel Race -WAYERLEY Second Nov 11—-Christchurch Cycling Club, One Mile Centre Cham pionship—WAYEßLEY First Five Mile Handicap : WAYERLEY First from Scratch Three Mile Handicap : WAYERLEY First Wheel Eace : WAYERLEY Third & Fourth JOHN ORR & CO.. ASHBURTON, SOLE NEW ZEALAND AGENTS aud at Waverley Cycle Depot 217 Colombo Street, Christchurch.