Commercial.

ASHBURTON GRAIN MARKET.

The Aahburton Agency of the New Zealand j armerV Co-operative Association ot Canter- , bury, Ltd, quote as follows on June 28, 1900:—i ! Wheat—New, Prime milling Pearl .„ 2s 2d to 2* 3d „  Tuscan... 2s 3d to 2) 4d ,)  Hunter's 2 * Id to 2s 2d Oats —Duns „ ls4itolasd Danish Is 4,1 to Is 5d Canadians Is 6d Sparrowbills Is 51 Barley—Malting, prime 2sJ Inferior ls 6d Peas—Partridge, 2* 3d Chaff—Good ratsheaf 45s to 47s 6d i Grass Seed—O.d pasture, 1& 9d to 2s New „ le 3d to 1b 6d The abjve are prices current paid to farmers on trucks at Ashburton.

ASHBURTON STOCK MARKET

Mr David Thomas reports upon the live stock market for the week ending June 30 :— On Tuesday, ab the Ashburton Yards, the ueuil weekly sale was held. There waa an average attendance of farmers and others interested, and amongst them only a few buyers, whose biddings were very alack, and in some cases several lots were passed out. SeveraLlots of freezing lamba and wethers cam--! forward, and a drop of Is per head was noted Io stores, to affect a sale waa hard work for the auctioneers, and prices were considered much easier. The total yarded for the day consisted of 5278 sheep, 14 cattle, and 2 pigs, my entry comprising 1900 sheep, 9 head of cattle, which I sold at the following prices :—SO merino wethers 9s 4d, 50 merino wethers Qt, 5. crossbred ewes 14i 3d, 9 crossbred wethers 17s 9d, 10 merino we'hers 9: 6d, 2 lambs 10* 6d, 7 lambs 12a 6d, 12 crossbred wethers 17s 101, 60 fat wethers 18a 9d, 280 fat lambs 13s 7d, 278 crossbred wethers I3s, 241 crossbred ewes 10s 6d, 393 crossbred wethers 12a 7d, 10 hoggets sa, 91 crossbred wethers lis Id, 149 c-osabred wethers 15s;

On Thursday, June 28, at Methven, the usual monthly sale was held, whan about 3000 sheep, 16 head of cattle, and 16 pigs cfttne forward. The sale w*s v^ry dragging, more so for forward wethers or fretzars, unless real prime, when as high as 19< was obtained ; others sold from 17s to 17j Bd. The cattle sale was better than his been the «,asc for some time, and all lots were disposed of. The following are my sales;— 103 forward wethers 14s 3d, 216 merino ewes 7a Id, 27 culls 4> 6d, 76 freezes 17s 81, 2 cows £3 ss, 3 heifers £3, 6 pigs 7a 9d, and sundries at market rates. Ab the Arcade on Friday, June 29, I held my u=ual monthly herse fair, when an entry of 102 horses of all descriptions came forward—unbroken coltaand fillies. There was a keen demand for good young draughts, but for old sorts sales were hard to make. Of the total entry, [i. sold 67 head, and the following are a few of the prices : —Foals £9 10a to £1115s, 1 year-olds £25,2 year-olds £22 10s to £42, 3 years £34 ; broken, 3yra, £35, £38, £42, £47, £49 to £52; 4yrs, £35, £3810s, £4110s, £47, £48; syrs, £27, £36, £41, £4215s to £47; 6yrs, £28, £32, £42 10s, £43 to £49. Aged-r-£5 10s, £14, £16108, £18, £23, £27, £82, to £42 10a; backs, good sorts, from £16 to £27, others from £5 to £14 10s*

SKIN SALES

The fortnightly skin Biles were held to-day. The weather was extremely web at the time and the attendance limited. Prices—Merinos 2a 2d, 2s 61, 3s 2d, 4a; c'rossbreds Is Id, 2s 4d, 3s, 3s lOd ; hides 4 3 6d,956d, 10s, 10s 6d, 12s, 15a 6d, 18s; fat, l£d to 111; horsehair, 9d per lb.

CHRISTCHURCH GRAIN AND PRO DUCE MARKETS.

The following are current prices paid to farmers, f.r>. Lyttelton, for direct shipment from country stations and free of commission, f xcept where otherwise specified t — Wheat —Hunter's 2a 41 to 2a sd, pearl and velvet 2* 41 to 2a sd, and Tuacau 2a 5 d to 2i 6d.

Oata—Canadian ls 8d to Is 9d, short feed la Bd, Duns and Danish Is 7d

Barley (nominal)— Prime malting Is lOd to 2s 3d delivered

Beans—2* 3d to 2i 4d

Peas — Prussian blues 23 to 2a 3d, partridge 2s to 2<* 3d Flour (millers' quotations nominal) — Roller £7, stone £6.j Sharps—£4 Bran-£3 10a O.tt meal—£lolo3

Potatoes — Derwente, June delivery, 22i6l to 25s couutry stations

Onions—22s 6d to 27s 6d, delivered Oatsheaf Ch,ff~4s3 tosoa at near country 8' at ions

Hay»- £3 51 to £3 10s, delivered ; primest baled, £4 f ob

Grass Seed—Ryegrass, farmers' lots Is 9J to 2s, prime heavy, town dressed, 2s 6d to 2a 3d, cocksfoot 2£d to 2f i for bright seed, to 3d for extra good, cow grass 5d to 6d, white clover 6d to 7£d.

Dairy Produce—Cheese, factory, 4d tosd, loaf sd; butter, factory, local la, dairy 8d to lOd, salb (in boxes) 8i to 9d; bacon and hams, s^d to 6|rd; factory bacon and hams |d higher.

THE TIMARU PRODUCE MARKET.

The rise in the price of wheat, both in the Home and Australian markets,has bad a very good effeob here, and the enquiry for good lines really exceeds the supply, at any rate in the meantime, for farmers are firmly hold ing. In consequence of this not many sales are being made, holders expecting a further rise on the local market in sympathy with foreign markets; Tuscan and velvet wheats are quoted at 2s sd, f.0.b., and red chaff 2^ 3d. Primeat samples will command Id more. Bo far as oats are concerned the market is lifeless; there is no sale, and no reliable q totations. The same remarks apply to barley. Potatoes are enquired for ab from 30s to 353, f o.b.

Weather Report for June.

The weather thronghcub the month was remarkably fine, clear, and calm for the season, Owing to the sharp frosts, which ranged from 1 deg. on the Ist to 13 degs. on the 22nd. The mornings were cold, bub the days were more or less fine. The prevailing winds were from the north north-west, varying by north to north-east, which were extremely light and dry, which prevented the frosts from being more severe. There were twenty-six frosty and four non-frosty mornings. The winds were very variable, and blew lightly from the north north-west on twenty-four days, south-weßb on two [days, and south-east on four days. The rainfall registered 0 10 inches, which is the lightesb at Ashburton for the month of June for eight years. The sun shone clearly more or less every day during the month Un fortunately, we have no sunshine recorder, and cannot, therefore, give the periods of sunshine accurately. The highest tempera ture in the shade reached 60 degs. on the 30th, the lowest on the 22nd, registering 13 degs. frost. W. W, S. Domain, Ashburton, July 2.

Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. MONDAY, JULY 2, 1900.

! It is no doubt within the knowledge of most of our readers that the Ash burton Mail and the Ashburton GWARDIAN have changed hands. This issue of the Guardian is the first under the new proprietary, and it seems fitting therefore that we thould briefly indicate the lines upon which the paper will be conducted. As to politics, the Guardian will be a distinctly Liberal organ, but not iv the sense of being tied down to support any particular set of men who for the time being may chance to hold the

reins of power, or to support any measures simply because i ey are put forward under the guise of liberalism. We shall, in short, consider e;ich political proposal on its merits, from whatever quarter it may come, and if in our judgment it bears the imprint of true liberalism, and ism consequence for the good of the community, it shall have our hearty support, On the other hand, if measures are introduced, which, according to our judgment, are not for the general good, though they may answer the ends of a few, <ye shall not hesitato to oppose them vigorously. Amongst other things we shall always be ready to advocate judicious measures for the close settle ment of the land ; and we readily acknowledge that the present Govern ment havo rendered good service in that direction. IF proper care be taken in the acquisition of large estates—the price in each case being moderate and the land good—-we are prepared to endorse that part of the policy of the Government, but we should be glad to see them on more friendly terms with the freehold tenure. At least some portion of the estates acquired from private individuals might with advan tage be sold right out, with adequate provisions against the aggregation of I too extensive areas in the hands of individuals The Governor's Speech, 1 delivered at the opening of the session, held out hopes that ,*t no distant date, Parliament would be asked Kto consider the incidence of indirect taxation, with a view of reduc'ng Cus toms duties levied on the necessaries of life." Considering the abnormal expen diture which the Government have recently been called upon to incur, the present moment may not be opportune for dealing with that important ques tion ; but the colony is flourishing and the revenue h buoyant and expanding, and if all goes well, there ought to be extensive tariff revision next year, with the object, of removing some portion of the burden which presses heavily, and in not a few instances unequally, on the general consumer. We shall be staunch advocates of a much more vigorous public works policy, than has apparently commended itself to the present Government. Of late years the public works have not kept pace with the requirements of the country, which are constantly increasing with the national progress ; and we do not see how a larger public works expen diture can be provided for unless the colony is prepared to sanction the raising of another loan. Turning now to matters of more immediate local interest, we are fully alive to the fact that the agricultural and pastoral industries are of paramount importance to the country at large. This district depends almost entirely upon those industries, and our farming and pastoral friends may rely on their interests being specially attended to in the conduct of both the literary and com mercial departments of the paper. We shall make it a point to give early and trustworthy reports of the grain and stock markets, and shall devote a fair portion of our space to information likely to be of interest and utility to farmers and pastoralists. Local indus tries, will always have our warm support, and we need scarcely say that upon all, occasions we shall strive earnestly to promote municipal pros perity and progress. Tho general reader will find the standard of the Guardian in every department, at least, as high as that of any newspaper published outside the great centres. The open column will, as usual, b8 at the disposal of correspondents, within reasonable limits. Arrangements are now being made to supply a fuller cable and telegraphic news service, which, we have no doubt, will be fully appreciated. We also intend to increase the space devoted to general readirg matter, and we trust that these improvements will commend themselves to the discrimi nating judgment of the public of Central Canterbury.

Local and General.

* # * On the first page to-day will be found an interesting article entitled "Haunted Hampton."

Vital. Statistics—.The vital statistics for the month of June are:— Births 22, marriages 3, deaths 10.

Good Yield of Oats—A very good yield of oats is reported from Lovell's Flat (says the Bruce Herald}. On Friday Mr P. Boyd out of a four-acre Said threshed 103 bags, equal to about 110 bushels to the acre.

Technical Classes—A meeting is to be held in the long room, Arcade, this evening at 8 o'clock, to consider the advisability of forming evening classes on the lines of the technical schools in the larger centres,

Social Gathering—A social gathering was held ab Mr Green's Clearview Farm, Spread Eagle lasb week, when a most enjoy able time was spent. Mr MoWilliams acted »B M.C. Recitations, sword dances, songs, music &o, were given by Messrs Mo William (2), Campbell (2), Green, Anderson Misses Charters, Campbell and others.

After Many Days—The Oamatu Mail says :—Apropoi of the bombardment of the Taku forts, ib is nvorth noting that Admiral Sir Edward Seymour, Commander on the China station, and now in charge of the international land expedition from Tientsin to Pekin, took part ac a youth in the attack upon the same forts forty years ago, and received the medal and clasp given with respect to thab engagement.

Electric Lighting for Auckland—The Auckland City Council has resolved to promote an electric lighting bill in the present session of Parliament, on the lines of the Gore Act, giving the council the right to make an agreement with any cor poration or person for the installation of electric light, also a Bill making the entire city revenues securities for all loans instead of charging certain loans against certain rates, as at present.

Ambulance Classes. —■ There is every prospect of strong ambulance classes being revived in Ashburton, aud thd following ladies have handed in their names as mem bers:— Mrs Dodds, Miss Ethel Gates, Mrs Brock, Mips Orr, Miss A. Orr, Miss McDon ald, Miss Scaly, Miss Wilkie, Miss Cameron, Mrs Baxter, Miss Curd, Miss Trtzse, Mies Mnlholland, Miss Turner, Miss Williamson, Miss Tucker, Miss Chalmers, Miss Watt, and Miss Harrison.- The names of the gentlemen will be published later. The proposal is being taken up with much enthusiasm, and an early commencement will be made. The list for intending mem bars lies at this office;

A Curious Fish—A sea monster was dis covered on the beach ab Foxton on Saturday. Tho creature measures 16fb in length, 14in iv breadth in the widest part, and is S4in in circumference, The body, which tapers off to a point ab the tail has a -silvery ap pearance, and is perfectly free from scales. Broad bead-like lines tr»verso the whole length of the body, and give it a very peculiar appearance. The mouth of the fish is very small and contains no teeth, while two '* feelers," about a yard in length, pro ject from immediately behind the gills. Another peculiarity about the fish is that the body appears to contain absolutely no bones, a gristly substance doing duty for a backione. The oddity has been taken to Wellington, and will be frogsn and exhibited.

J Hunting—The Christohurch hounds ate I to meet oleee to Ashburton en J»iy 17 and 19. The exact time and place of e^ich hunt will be advertised in a day or two.

An Interesting Sight—When a little to the south A the East Cape on tho trip down from Auckland to Wellington, those on board the Te Anau sighted an unusually large whalo. As the steamer passed tre huge creature (the Neiv Zealand "limes says) in excellent) view waa obtained of its I enotmouß proportions, it being estimated that it could not have been lets than 60f' i long. When abreast of the ateamsr the whale seemed to suddenly throw its body above the water in an erect position until between 15fc and 20ft of the big fish was visible above tho water, when itrpouted with terrific fore?. This performance wus repaated two or three timet?. It was a rare and inter esting sight). A New Patriotic Song—At the Sailors' Ret conoerfc at Timaru Mr J. Jones will sing a$ patriotic song written by the Hon W J Steward, who ia well known to have a turn for turning ve'ses, the music for which has been composed by Mr Sidney Wolf. The verses were written and pub lished in the Wellington Post in October last, inspired by the sending away of the New Zealand First Contingent, the title being v God Blosb our Boys in Buff" Mr Steward has since, ab Mr Wolfe request, added a good swinging chorus :—" God Bless our Boys in Buff. They're of real good British Btuff. And till Kruger crias enough, 'Twill be Ake ! Ake ! Ake ! for our bonny boys in Buff." The words of the song are excellent, and the music fits them well. The song with its setting should become popular, till the war is over. Mb McLachlan and the Hon. Mb Hall- Jones-—Mr McLachl»n, iv his atbaok on Mr Hall-Jones, said that an Ashburton man named McKeaguo wrote a work on irrigation, and the Minister, on behalf of the Govern ment, offered to take 1000 copies at 7s 6d each. On the strength of this undertaking tho author obtained from a bank an over draft of £300. When the vote for payment of the books came before the House, however, it was struokoop,up, and faith was broken with the writer of the book. Had he, (Mr ,Mo- Laohlan) been the Minister, rather than allow such a breach of faith, he would, if his colleagues would not do anything, pay for tha books himself. What did the writer of the book do with the money he hsd borrowed on the promise of the Government. He became a candidate for the Ashburton seat in the Government interest. He was the oandidate of the Liberal and Labour League, and for a time he ran very strong, bub the longer he ran the weaker he got. Mr Seddon was wise enough to see that his candidate had no chance, and the result was that he (the speaker) became the Government can didate and was returned for the seat. But could he look with respecb to the Minister upon the Government bench who had heon guilty of what he had stated ? He was not going to withdraw his support from the Ministry, however, because of that, Mr Hall-Jones explained th *b he had made no promise to the author of the book referred to. nor was any promise made with his authority or cognisance. To this Mr Mc- Lachlan retorted that he had a letter from the Minister which he would produce at a later occasion.

THE NINETY MILE BEACH.

Gold Mining' Operations.

(By Our Special Reporter.)

For a good many years past it has been known to a comparatively limited number of people, that gold could be got on the Ninety Mile Beach, nesir Southbridge. Practical miners have .-.lways made small wages there, and after heavy stotms, very high returns have been occasionally se cured. The Maoris also got gold there mat;y years ago. The appliances used for saving the gold were of the most primitive description, and the amount of wash put through in a day very limited, yet the results have been fairly good. It was only to be expected then, that with the im proved appliances and labour saving machinery, attention ehould be turned bo the Taumutu beach, as a field for dredging operation?. The filing of such 'a number of applications for dredging areas has lately directed a good deal of attention to the spot. On Saturday a representative of this paper visited the field, and spent a most in teresting day, going over the ground ob taining prospects, and chatting with those already working there. The spot from which the best returns have been obtained, is on the beach near Taumutu, a Maori settlement a short distance beyoud Souih bridge. That the gold is there is beyond all doubt, as our reporter washed out several prospects thab would run from eight to ten grains to the ton. The gold is found in the ruby sand, and this is thrown up on the beach at every high tide. Big storm? bring in a great deal of this ruby sand, and then the miners get excellent re* turns. On? peculiarity is, that this ruby sand is always found right up to the high wate* mark, and is never by any chance found more than say half a chain below that. The gold is light and fkky, and re quires considerable care in its saving, but the ruby sand is very much lighter than the black sand of the West Coast beaches which is almost as heavy as the gold itself, and therefore extremely difficult to deal with. On the West Ooasb, experience has taught the miners how to contend with the blaok sand, bad as ib is. Our reporter, who has now washed out prospects on both sides of the island, considers the ruby sand pre sents little if any difficulty compared to the black. Starting from Fisherman's Point, Lake Ellesmere, sand dunes run along the beach for some miles** These dunes aver age from eight to ten feet deep, on a bottom of hard clay, while the beach, between the dunes and the ocean, has an average depth of about three feet of sand and shingle resting on clay. Mr J. Stanton, one of those working the beach, has sunk a shaft into this clay, with a view to discovering another layer of gold bearing sand underneath, but he found the clay going down so far that he relinquished his task. Our reporter first placed himßeif in communication with this gentleman, who has had long experience as a gold miner, and who has worked the beach now for about two years. Mr Stanton showed not the slightest hesitation in affording every information in his power. Miner like, he had washed up early, had packed up his appliances, and was enjoying his Saturday half-holiday when our reporter arrived. By j virtue of hiß miner's right, Mr Stanton has builb himself a thatched sod whare among the sand dunes, which are on Crown land, and here he is bringing up a family of eight sburdy children; Bte calculates his earnings average £2 per week. He has no rent to pay, whatever he makes he scrapes up off the beach, he asks nobody for lease to toil, and he glories in hia independence. Though extremely primitive, his gold-saving ap pliances are effective, and show a con siderable amount of ingenuity and construc tion. They have, from necessity, to be very light and easily removed as, when storms come on, which they often do quite suddenly, the men working on the beaoh have to carry the whole of their gear to the top of the sand dunes to save ib from destruction. When the ruby sand is washed up by the tide it is scraped together as soon as the water recedes. Planks are laid down down on the beaoh and up these planks the stuff is wheeWd to the top of the dunes out of the reach of the next tide. As the beach and dunes are fairly steep ib will be realised the labour ls con siderable! If only a &mall patch is washed up by the ocean it is nob wheeled to the top, bub the apparatus is seb up alongside of it, the wash pub through, and the apparatus then removed out of harm's way. Were a small stream of water available for washing, the amount pub through in a day would be very greatly increased, as in that case all the sand would be shovelled into the boxes and washed for what it was worth. As it is, only the ruby sand is collected and washed. The great trouble is the want of a stream. At present Mr Stanton has a water tight trough raised on trestles about five feeb high, to give the necessary fall. The boxes load from the outlet of this trough into another trough with two divisions, one division to hold the tailings which are shovelled out occasionally, and the other to hold the water, which having washed the dirt once, is ladled back again into the first trough to do duty the second fcitne. The boxes have a run of ,

about six feet, and contain blanket, four or five ripples, ami, at the lower en**, a smali copper-plate, Careful experiments have convinced Mr Stanton that do gold escapes him. To wash up, water is first carried from the ocean in kerosene tire to fill the twt water trough". They hold twenty full tins, } nnd this work takes just half an hour—three j m nutes per trip. This quantity of water I wil>, hy being ladled from the lower trough back again to the upper, provide two hours' washing. By 'his meenV in tV>e 1* ngsummer days, some ten tons of wash can be put through. It will be gathered from the above that the process is painfully slow. The scraping together, wheeling up, shovelling into the boxes and then &fam out of the tailings b x necessitates the wash being handled at least four times, yel, even then the return is Email wages. If a stream of water were obtainable the return should be exceptionally good. Mr Stanton's best strike was made some time ago. when, with] the help of his little son, he netted £26 worth of gold in three weeks. The results vary greatly. A big storm mean< plenty of ruby eand and plenty of gold. Ordinary tides mean only a fair amounb of sand and gold. Very often the pay streak is buried a foot deep by grey sand and shingle. This involves the labour of stripping it, and consequently poorer return*. Long practice gives the beach comber the eye of an eagle for ruby sand, and he can detect it no matter how it ia mixed with the grey. The ruby in, however, nearly always found in layers, iv fact the whole beach is in distinct layers of sand or small shingle, as the case may be. The ruby is always a very thin layer. Quarter of an inch deep would be a very thick one. Our reporter satisfied himself, however, by actual experiments, that any where iv the vicinity of high water rra^k thin layers of ruby sand could be got. It would, however, be a very risky thing working a dredge down to high water mark as the sea very often gets up from no apparent cause, and the big rollers send their water thunder ing up against the dunes and sometimes on top of them. Wherever there is a break in the line of sand hills the big seas pour tons of water through. Every inch of this line of sand hills has been pegged out for dredg ing claims, and claims extend from Fisher man's Point to the Little Rakaia River. The great difficulty is the want of water. There is a lagoon at one end of the dunes and Lake Ell psmere at the other, and dredges could work their way along the beach from both ends. They would, however, need to scoop out a considerable quantity of unprofitable hard clay bottom to maintain sufficient water to float them, and it is very question able if a wet dredge wou'd be suitable for the work. The water on the land side is aboub six feet above sea level. Again it is questionable if the said bills contain much cold* Their base being at one time the limit mark of high water no doubt contains a certain percentage and perhaps a good percentage of gold bearing ruby sand deposited in years gone by, aßb is being thrown up now, but for the greater part they undoubtedly consist of drift sand, blown from the bflßch by the wind, !he same as those at New B^ghton and elsewhere. Whether it would pay to dredge eight or nine feet of this stuff for the thin streaks of ruby sand in the bottom is questionable. In these days, however, when 1£ grains to the ton pay dredging expet • it i* difficult to say what is profitable ground. A dredge certainly could put through an enormous uanfcity of the sand par hour. Several areful trials hava been'mide for soma miles along the beach, and good prospects obtained, but only those ixperienced in dredging can decide the point. It certainly would nob pay for moving by any other means than dredging unless a good supply of water were brought in and the whole sluiced away into the sea. That, however, would remove the ridge or breastwork of sand which now protects the land behind it; some 700 or 1000 acres, valued at say £20 or £21 per acre; and the owners, ivse srs T B Howson, J. McMillan, I) Cant, Alex. McLachlaD, and others, are strenuously opposing any inter ference with the beach. A dredge working along the beach would not, of curse, remove this breastwork. lb would lift the stuff, wash the gold out of it, and stack it up again behind. The Maoris of Taumutu also object to the end of the ridge towards Lake Bileemere being disturbed. They claim that their lands would be swamped, but before ohis objection they place the f*ct that this is full of Maori remains, having been used as a Maori burying place up to about fifteen years ago.- Recently Mr Dobson, O.K, visited the ground, and made a careful examination of the beach, with a yiew to ascertaining the strength of the ol jsctors" protests, and also deciding the best means of working the ground, should ib prove a payable field Olaimß have been applied for by Messrs C Dupgap, W R De Veaux, O D Lightband, R P Hill, and R E Brooke, who each ask for one mi'e of beach; R M Spiers asks for eighty acres, and T Stafford for ninety-six acrep, Mr Zouch has held a mining lease, principally of that part where the Maoris are buried, for something like ten years. The settlers contend thab once the break water of Band, which is now held together by strong sand binding grass, is worked and loosened up, the sea will wash ib away, and their lands be inundated every time there is a heavy sea. They point to the fact that during a storm the water even now comes through in tons, wherever there is a gap in the embankment, that all tho creeks back up, and thab the land immediately opposite the beach becomes flooded with water, which, mingling with the salb water, renders the land useless for months. The Lake Ellesmere Road Board aW objects most strongly to any interference with the beacb, A big drainage scheme is in hand at the present time, and this, the Board, with the settlers, contends would be seriously damaged by disturbing the beach. Mr Cant, a very old settler in the district, says he has watched the beach for the past thirty years. Unlike other beaches, which are generally making each year, he says the Taumutu beach is steadily wearing away, find that it is narrower now than ib use! to be by about two chain?, and is some 20ft less in height. He considers this denudation has been caused by the strong outward currents from the Rakaia river and Lake Ellesmere drawing away the sand and shingle. The applications for mining leases will come before the Warden's Court this month. Anyone visit ing the ground cannot do better than call on Mr Stanton, who is a veritable expert with gold bearing ruby sand, and takes great pleasure in demonstrating the methods of rinding and working it.

A BIG FIRE IN AMERICA.

Shipping* Destroyed

United Press Association—By Eleotrio

Telegraph—C jpy right

(Received Wakapuaka July 2, 9 20 a,m This Office 10-29 a.m New York, July 1. A great fire occurred in Hoboken Dock, New York, and several Nord deutscher Lloyd steamers were par tially burned. The damage is estimated at two million dollars. It is reported eighty people perished,

Sporting.

C.J.C. GRAND NATIONAL MEETING,

The following nominations have been re ceived for tho

Grand National Steeplechase Handi cap, of 650 soys ; trues miles and a half— Fireworks, Roller, Morag, Gillie, Pipi, Ko wbai, Dundee, Plain Bill, Blackberry, Gorse Kanaka, Black Dusb, rJ he Guard, Stray bird, Dummy, Jack, Nor'-West, Doctor Bill, Dingo, Tally-ho, Sylvanus, Torpiua, Kaimate, The Friar, Kauri Gum, Apremete, Pilob, Tataramoa, Bonnie d'Eau.

Grand National Hurdle Rach Handi cap, of 500 sove; about two miles—Paris, Ilex, Haydn, Roller, Woodlander, Hauriri, Dundee, Halcyon, Sundial, Hotu, Black Dusb, The Guard, Ruamahunga, Derriag cobbe, Nor'- Wesb, Doctor Bill, Cceur de Lion, Cavalier, Record Reign, Sylvanus, Torpina, Kaimate, Taplow, Cora Linn, Marina, Pilot, Light, Plain Bill, "Voltigeur 11.

THE CRISIS IN CHINA.

American Admiral Suspended.

Accjrtent to the Oregon

Terrorising; Lawless Chinese

United Prfiss Association—By Eleotrio Telegraph—Copyright

London, June 29 Vice-Admiral Seymour reports that despite the incessant attacks of the Boxers and the Chinese Imperial troops, who were repulsed with great loss, his expedition advanced beyond Yangtsun, whbh is twenty miles north of Tien tsin.

i'lntlujg the railway demolished, and being Bho*; of provisions and hampered with the winded, he commenced his retreat on the 19th, constantly fighting and olten expetting the enemy from strong positions at the point of the bayonet.

When the Imperial Armoury waa reached on the 23rd, frigidly advance* were first made, then a treacherous heavy fire waa poured upon the ailiei until the armoury was captured. It contained immense stores of the latest guns and ammunition, which were utiHsed for the defence, enabling V^g. Admiral Seymour to repulse all effort* at re-capture.

He could have resisted fcr several days only that he was hampered with the wounded. When relieved he burnt the armoury

His casualties numbered 62 killed and 228 wounded, distributed ai follows: — British, 27 killed, 97 wounded \ Bussians, 10 killed, 27 wounded; Germans, 12 killed, 62 wounded j Americaus, 4 killed, 2§ wounded. The casualties of the French, Italian, Austrian, and Japanese con tingents were smaller.

Hongkong, July 1 The allies oa Wednesday captured the arsenal to the north-east of Tien tsin. Four British bluejackets were killed and fifteen wounded. The Chinese troops belonging to the Wei hai-wei Regiment repulsed the Boxers' flank attack with heavy loss. The Chinese are still bombarding the west side of Tien-tsin, though their shells explode ineffectually. London, June 29 In the House of Commons Mr Brod* rick stated that the latest report received by the Government pointed to the fact that the ambassadors were still at Pekin. New York, June 29 The New YorTc Tribune states that Rear Admiral G 0 Bemey replaces Admiral Keropft on the China station. The latter s failure t& participate in the attack on Taku caused considerable comment. Hongkong, July 1

The American battleship Oregon struck a pinnacle rock in the Gulf of Pe-chiM. The rock pierced the vessel's side and caused nineteen smaller holes in its bottom.

Li Hung Chang beheaded 130 Boxers, pirates, and criminals at Canton, in order to terrorise the lawless element.

Paris, July 1

The Viceroy of Yun-nan cabled to M. Delcasse, announcing that he had caused all those who incited the people against M. Francois, the French Consul, to be beheaded.

Sydney, July 1

The Premier, in a speech, promised to give the volunteers a chance to go to China if Great Britain required them.

The publication of Mr Chamberlain's despatch in reference to warships for China, which was marked " secret" was made by the Victorian Govern ment.

Sir William Lyne is surprised and indignant at the disclosure. He states that no doubt Mr Chamberlain had excellent reasons for marking the despatch "secret."

The South Australian Premier has characterised the disclosure as dis graceful, and states that the result will probably be that future important information, which ought to be placed in the bands of the Australian Govern ments, will be withheld, last it should be made public, and serious results to Imperial and Colonial interests follow. Mr Holder states that the Government dealt with the request immediately it was received, but he declines to dis close the decision arrived at.

Melbourne, July 1 The Premier received a cable message from the Agent-General enquiring what faciiitiei exist for the carriage of produce to China. He also informed the Government that the mounted men would probably be in request. (Received Wakapuaka July 2, 930 a m This office 11.3 am)

Sydnby, July 2 H.M.S. Wallaroo leaves Jervis Bay to day, direct for China.

Adelaide, July 2 The Naval Brigade has volunteered for service in China.

TRANSVAAL WAR.

A Flying Column Attacked

The Enemy Routed

Attempted Destruction

A Disappointed Battery

The Defender of Mafekinjr.

United Press Association—By Eleotrio 'Telegraph—Copyright

London, June 29

Lieut.-General Grenfell's flying column, 800 strong, proceeding to Winburg, encountered a strong force of Boers, with artillery, a few miles west of Senekal.

Major-General Brabant, with 600 men and seven guns, moved out from Senekal, and attacked the enemy's flank. Three hours' fighting ensued, when the Boers fled hurriedly. The Boers attempted to blow up the Artillery Barracks at Pretoria, A gunner kicked away the fuse. Burnham, Lord Roberts's chief scout has been invalided home.

Four thousand rifles have been sur rendered to Major-General Baden- Powell in a week.

Lieutenant Lee, of th« New South Wales mounted men, has been invalided to England.

THBL ASHBUKION GTOABDIAN:]] MONDAY, JULY 2, 1900



THE POLYPATHIA MEDICAL! INSTITUTE NEXT VISIT W ASHBURTON. FBIDAY AFTERNOON, JULY 6, 2 o'ckck until 8 p jx>. PATUBD.Vy, JULY 7, 9 a.m. until 2 o'clock ONLY. tbffSULTATION FREE. GRANGER HOTEL. POLTPATHIC, the NEW MtkTHOD OF *m «i$K HEAI IMG, is the surest and most rapid Sy tern, as ~ S" Jjtrfp'y? it cures with absolute certain-y such diseases as Jjj^aJ^gfe*^'jCJ^iC^ aocep» Epilepsy, ar.d Asthma, ineuiable andar the ol<* system, as well as all Chronic and Nervous g^^^^^SlSi Cmnlaintß of W tm n an d Men MORE CURES s^^^^^^^S3 MAP, Fj BY POLYPATHY than any OTHkR The wisest, best educated, and most enlightened pjfe^y|F^aß9bS^4a^B people are dfjly becoming converts to those new i^^^^fc^pShS^©!^ principles and ntetheda which are supported by such y^j^g^g^p^^^^^^^i^l overwhelming evidenco, sustained by the public, \^&^^^mS^Bm^^mM. wno nave tta<* sn opportunity of testitg the ffl^^^^^HtflmrP remarkable success of the POLYPATHIO SYS l EM. BBSf|j^b^aJ?^^3^qgg Their wonderful success has spread like wildfire through ai; enlightened community, and amongst! those who had given up all hopes of ever being well I^^^^^^^^^^^^'yM RRain, and tht>y are by hundreds availing themselves j WSSMP^B^SSSs of the POLYPATHIO SYSTEM of treating Chronic | Diseases, which has proved to be the surest, quickest, and most relirble means of Cure ever offered an J ra»fiWra^^^»w^^^^^l'*" {,ffl'cte'-J people When sick, is the time we need the \ IS^^SS^^^^^^ $! best a<Jvsce fflr>d treatment. Therefore we say: tfr^S^M^^^^ifffcgg^gV*-^ Infoina yourselves, you who are sick, write to the I X POLYPATH f CINSTITUTE, and then accept proofs &*:* of the mysterious .kill- more convincing than words j ■—that is'possesßed by the Polypaths. I They treat all Female Ailments by the Polypathia Method, which does away with all examination and all local treatment' j They also de sire to impressa up.m all men who are sufFcing that they have the justly celebrated Hindoo Remedy, so well and favourably known in the Old World as ehe " Anti-Agnechal Tabloid Method." All desiring to test the system will ha*e such opportunity. If you cannot Visit, WRITE for Question List to Christchurcb, with Stamped Envelope and you will receive an immediate reply. Medicine packed Free from Observation. Carriage Paid Parcel Post. THOUSANDS. OURH.D ANN PALLY BY LETTER. 1900 WINTER 1900 A SEASONABLE HINT TO THE PUBLIC. TRY MITCHELL AND TURNER for BLANKETS, TEY MITCHELL AND TURNER for best value in FLANNELETTS TRY MITCHELL AND TURNER for LADIES' JACKETS, each one a Novelty TRY MITCHELL AND TURNER for all kind 3 and sizes of knitted UNDERWEAR TRY MITCHELL AND TURNER for DRESS GOODS and DRESS MAKING TRY MITCHELL AND TURNER for MEN'S and BOY'S CLOTH ING of everj description, GRAND NEW PREMISES IN BURNETT STREET. SMO X E ONLY NEW.__ w _ VENUS i PERFECT TOBACCO. SALE FOR ONE MONTH AT " THE CORNER." —(x)_ TTTpS WILL OI'FER SPECIAL INDUCEMENTS to reduce our Stock— PRI R TO STOCKTAKING. 190 Yards Blaok Oaphmerw, each, Sale Price Is lid, 2s 6d, 2s lid, 3s lid 40 Yards Bkeq Fancy Drees, Side Price Is 36 Yards Black Silk Striped Oredon, Sale Price la 61 80 Yards Black Fancy Brocide, Pale Price Is lid 200 Yards Fancy Dress 1 weeds (all shades) B|d yard, worth 3s 125 Yardß Check Dress Tweeds Is, usually Is lid 100 Yards Heavy Melton Cloths (new shades) Is idd 2 Pieces each Bhck Velveteen ll|d, 1* 9i, 2i, 2* lid yard J Place each (all shades) Colored Velveteen is 6d and 2s 61 yard 25 Pieces Wide Faucy Kibbon from Is to 2s sard, Sale Price 4£d 65 Pieces New Shades Fancy Ribbon 3*. Sale Price 6£d and 8£ 20 Dozen Children's School Handkerchiefs Is 6d per dozan 50 Doisen Women's Black Cashmere Gloves, 6 paira for Is 18 only Ladies' Silk Sc-jrfs Is each 10 only Girls' Mackintoshes 7a lid, 83 lid, 9s lid each, Job 25 Ladies' Flannellstte Nights 3a lid, 4s lid each, Job 6 only Ladies' F,anne;lette Skirts, Sale Price 3s 61 200 Pairs Ladies' and Children's Corsets 2i 6d 40 Ladies' Capes (to be cleared) 6 •, 9d lid, 14a lid 65 Feathers ranging from 2a 61 to 7a 6d, in 61 and ls lota 6 only Ladies' Trimmed Hats 4s lid, worth 131 61 6 only Ladies' Paris Hats 12s 61, worth 26a 6d 12 only Child's Cloth Tunic 4* 111, worth 7s 6d 10 Pairs only Men's Tweed Trousers 4s 200 Pairs Men's Colonial Tweed Trousers 5» 6i, 7s 6d, 8i 6d 20 Dozen Boya' School Cips 3 i each 100 Dt z m Bow Ties 6 for ls 30 Meu'd Regatta Shirts 2a 61 each 300 Ladies' and Chlldreu'd Slippers la each pair 20 Paira only Women's Calf Shoes 3s 6i pair, very special 225 Yards Fancy Art Muslin 31 and 4&d 800 Yards Cretonnes (new goeds) 4£d, 6d, B|d 60 White Quilts 5s 6d and 6s 6d 40 Dozen Wnite and B.own Turkish Towe's from 61 each 75 Pairs Vt hi to Blankets 7s 61 and 12s 6d par pair 1 Piece e«ch Hemp Carpet 4|d, 7£d, and Is 250 Paira Lace Curtains from 2i 6ct (specially remarked) 50 Pieces Striped Flannelleiteu 2s lid 3- lid, 4s lid, 5i lid dozen 21 Pieces Fancy Blouse Flasnellettes 3|d, 4|d, 6d, Job 4 Pieces Bordered Apron Cloth (to clear) 61 HOTI THIS SALE, AND GALL EARLY TO SIOURE NIBBLES. NORIHCOTE & HEFFORD <



[j «« j ii! O m 9sl <\ q rri » • « v-g Q o a B i>s *™^ - § ' - *! o ■ W 1 - ••! & J. WILSON, HOUSE DECORATOR, BDENETT STKEET. HAVING aecured the services of a first eI4SB Picture Framer, I am now In a position to receive orders for all classes of PICTURE FRAMING. LABGB STOOK OF MOULDINGS TO CHOOSE FROM. Telephone 65.' P.O. Box 16



HE TATTRRSALL'S CCNSULTA TION. HAVING been seriously congratulated by a host of friends (mote than I though!-1 had) owiDg to a paragraph in your paper en winning a substantial priz\ 1 ®wish the public and all my friends to know that I am not the Ifoiky individual referred to, and that finch a trifle of £300 odd would not upset my equilibrium as muoh as it has done my friende. The only thing that would auuoy me would be for tny friends to jaat drop in and give us an order for a Bafch each, and thus compel us to employ more hnnds This, I take it, would be a real friend.y action of my numerous friends. C. F. HARDLEY, Plumbsr, East Street, Ashbnrton.



Jb\m SALiS. HARD to beat for go^d value for a Suburban Homestead and Poulbry Farm—3^ acres first) class land, with five roomed House, detached wash house, dairy, and bedroom combined; both buildings are on concrete foundations ; within two miles of Ashburton. Buyer can get £300 at low rate of inter eat, small balance will secure the property. 2| Acres Land and 7-roomed House, Netherby, off Wakanui Road; cheap, and very easy terms. New Dwelling House, Wills Street West, on £ acre. Good House and f Acre Garden, Peter Street East. 15 Roomed House and 3J Acres Land near Canterbury Flour Mills. Several Good Town Sections, West Side Railway. Several Sections Fairton. H. W. Barrett, AGENT, ARCADE, ASHBURTON. 6147 ECTOR MAODONALD, Sir Redvew Buller, Lord Roberb?, The Natal Campaign, Capetown to Ladyemith, Fight for the Flag in South Africa, Stories from the Front, On the eve of the War, Wallet of Kai Lung, Maker of Nations Story of Han nah, The Plunderers, Haromi (a New Zealand story), and other new books. The Siege of Ladysmtth, in 64 photographs. Pearson's Strand, Wide World, Caesel'a Royal, Wind sor and other Magazines for May.—H. M, Jones. M iiiiii iiiii »■ ■iiiniiiii——i—m—m———a» FOR #|| YEARS I MOATE&Qfej SHEARMAN BRO^s have large stock Loasbys Wahoo, Benjamir Gum, Koolihah, and Cinnamon Cure MOTHERS I Have you delicate children who are always taking cold and sub. jecb to croup? If so, try Tonking's Linseed Emulsion, which will cure where all other medicines fail. Sold by looal chemists and grocers in bottles, Is 6d and 2s 6d. 5 246



The reliable Family Remedy Woods' Great Peppermint Cure for Coughs and Colds— Is 6d and 2» 6d