Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1900. A PUZZLE FOR POSTERITY.

The history of the war between Britain | and the Houth African Dutch will cause the historical student of later Hges much speculation, not to say astonishment, so great iv the difference between the methods of the opposing forces. On the one hand he wili read that a nation which paraded its love for God and humanity, for liberty and equality, deliberately invaded the territories of another nation and be«»n a cruel war, rather than carry out a soleJin promise to grant to that nation's subjects rights similar to those itself conceded to its neighbour. He will read that in the course of that war the aggresfors set at nought all the usages of civilised warfare, by forcing men to fight against their own countrymen, □ring on ambulances supposed to be protected by the sacred Geneva flag, and upon soldiers they had deceived by the treachr-rous use of the white flag; he will find that they recruited from all the other nations who would permit their sul<j--cts to join the war; and, *orst perhaps of all, he will learn that by appealing to the baser passions of the black tribes of Africa, they arrayed ! these savages in their ranks against their enemies, men of an almost kindred race, and who had only a few years previously saved them from annihilation at the hands of those same savages! On the other hand the future student of history will read of a great nation, with power to enforce her demands, vainly pleading, os to an equal, with an upstart tyrant for equal rights to all the dwellers in the land, for rights which had been gained for them by the expenditure of much blood and treasure. He will no doubt smile at the chivalrous care shown by I the British to avoid any semblance of a display of force, lest it should look like coercion, whereas prudent states manship would have dictated that course as the only wise one. On every page of this remarkable history, the student will find further proof of the dominance of this sentiment pervading the British mode of carrying on the war. He will see how they permitted their enemies to smuggle men and ammunition under their very noses, through a nominally neutral state, when it was in their power to effec tually prevent i\ lie will read with astonishment that at a time when the Boers were recruiting all over the world, Britain was refusing volunteers in thousands, volunteers from nearly all the nations of the earth, some being from India—the Most populous of all the Imperial possessions — whose tfarcing millions bad many a time been fed in times of famine, and specially helped and tended during the ravages of the plague by their fellow subjects of the Empire, We repeat that when posterity criticises the conduct of the parties to this war, its judgment raußt surely be that while Britain's magnanimity did her honor from a sentimental standpoint, the Boers more clearly recognised the serious meaning of an appeal to arms, *vhen they lefc no stone unturned to ewire success

Asr amusing an instructive article in Pearson's Magazine, by Mr H, 0. Shel ley, deals with the A BOTANICAL cactus plant—. per- MIUACLE haps the most won derful and extraor dinnry [member of the entire vegetable kingdom. As the writer truly remarks: 11 A plant that will furnish you with a tooth pick or a pint of water ; that will thrive on a diet of ro' ten eggs, and transmute those oderiferous castaways into dainty perfumes; that has no leaves, °md will sometimes turn the scale at a ton weight; that blossoms often in the dark hours of midnight, and can subsist without moisture for months at a stretch, that can protect itself from the hoofs of wild borsee, And sack nutriment out of hard rocks; that will sometimes reach to a height of 70 feet, and anon may be covered with a thimble, that will provide you with a boiler for culinary purposes, or surround your estate with a hedge impervious to man and beast, that will lire for centuries and yet hear blossoms that fade in a few leefcicg hours ; that can transform an honest man into a thief by the ihper force of its weird fascina tion —such a plant is surely entitled to be treated with respect." After de scribing various specimens of cacti, the writer continues ■*. " With but ono or two exceptions, they all belong to the New World, and the regions where they thrive best are those where no rain falls for threefourths of the year. Each plant has its own reservoir in which it can store up moisture against the long months of parching drought, and these reservoirs are so constructed that the water inside lasts from one rainy season to the next. The cactus is the vegetable camel of the desert. On the atony, sandy plains of Mexico, and Texas, and California, the traveller is startled by these grotesque plants, some of them • like petrified giants stretching out their arms in speechless pain, whilst others stand like lonely sentinels keeping their dreary watch on the edge of precipiceß, No other sign of vegetation is visible far and wide ; each plant, each green leaf, has withered to dust in the scorch ing sun. But these shapeless plants, bristling with spines, like the fretful porcupine, defy the glare of the sun, and keep their surprising verdure in spite of the rainless heavens They need all their formidable armor now. Hungry and thirsty animals roam these arid plains for food and drink, and with their strong hoofs they try to uproot the tempting cacti preparatory to a mea! on the juicy tissue of their unarmed lower parts j or, oblivious of the threatening spines, they do their best to split the plants open, and so increase their misery with dangerous wounds."

Local and General.

* # * On the first page to-day will be found the telegraphic account of the " send-off " to the Wanganui contingent). As Odd Monument—An odd monument was desired by an elderly maiden lady who died a few weeks ago in Athlone, Ireland. She fefb a fortune of £37,000 to be spent in the erection of a church, provided that her body should be converted into aahet and used in making sorter for baiiding the

j Ladies to vhk Fore.—For the position I,of ftwistanb town clerk at Wosiporr, there } were 29 upp'ioantp, 15 being females.

Thk Aehbbtbton Memiubs —A letter from the c*mp received this morning by a relative) of one of the Ashburtonites volun teering for the front states thab (S uo man i» s»fe as yeb." As we have since ascertained i hat tfaiais absolutely correct, ib would seem rather rough vn those who have given up good positions (o go the front, Tkains on Send off Day—The railway authorities notify io an advertisement else where the arrangements in connection with the departure of the third contingent, from which it will be seen that on the 15'h and . 16fch ao cxrr* train will pass through Ask- ] V-urton at 6 26 p.m., leaving Christehuroh oa j 19 h and 20th at 10 20 ».m , to relieve the I ordinary exprcap. Exouraion faces ■ vill be . charged. Railway Pas*s to Fire Brig ades.— The Government has refused to grant fire Brigade ''elegatea free railway passes to attend the annual conference at Blenheim on Monday week. The reason given is that th<s money usually voted for this purpose was set aside for sending a fire b Lade team to Paris. MrR. D. I). M'Lean, who formed one of the deputation which waited on the Premier in connection with the Paris team, atates that he understood that the vote for that purpose was altogether independent) of the usual grants.—A wire received at this office to-day states that the Premier has stated that parses will be issued as usual, the ooit being deducted from the Paris grant. Pbaob at any Pbiob.—ln a well-known Onnedin church recently the pastor, whose attitude towards the Transvaal war had hitherto left no doubt in the minds of his congregation as to his Imperialistic bona file*, electrified his hearers by stating em phatically that he was a peace-at-any-price man. The dropping of the proverbial pin oould have been distinctly heard as the con gregation piuied in suspense to grasp the heresy, and a lor g sigh of relief followed when the minister concluded his sentance ° even at the price of war." . Young Recruits.—A number of youths of tender years, garbed in uniforms repre senting the volunteer as near as possible, and a!so equipped with "wooden" guns, etc., may be seen of an evening parading in the vicinity of the north-east belt. The lads go through a series of military exercises daring the evening, and their antics are watched with interest by the neighbours in the vicinity. Judging by the spirit that these boys pub into their play we presume that no one would ba more pleased when military training is introduced into all our schools than the pupils themselvs*. A Young Yoltjnteer. — The following unique letter, received by the Premier, was forwarded on to the Wellington Selection Committee;—" Featherston, December 21, 1899. Right Hop. R. ,). Seddon. Dear Sir,—l have the pleasure of offering my ser vices for the Transvaal. I will accept any office from drummer boy upwards. I am eleven years old, sft high, and weigh 6st lib. lam captain of the school and in the Sixib Standard. My brother is leaving Sydney for the Transvaal on December 27, by the s.o. Warrigal, and I hope to meet him in .South Africa N. B.—l wish I could urge % few other boys to come, but they seem frightened. Please send the time when I am to oome, and where I am to go.—l re main, etc.,youri obediently." A Bottle-Nosed Whale—A bottle-nosed whale, 30fti long, weighing eight ton?, and valued at £100, was stranded off the Cannon Cartridge Buildings, Woolwioh Arsenal, reports a London paper of December 3rd. It came up the river with the tide, and when it found itself stranded on the reed bed " blew '' furiously, and turned half a-dczen somersaults, injuring itself on the stones, and covering the river with blood. The crew of the steam tag Empress fastened a rope to it, dragged it off the beach, and took it in tow, with the intention of consult ing with the Thames Conservancy as to what was to be done with the monster. On the following Tuesday tho whale was on public view at the Old Barge House, North Wool* wich. Large pieces were cut out of the leviathan by curiceiy seeker*; Romances in Mining.—Greater romances than the pegging of the Kalgoorlie (W.A.) mines by Brookman there are none (says the Bulletin). Six years ago W G Brookman left Adelaide at the head of the Coolgardie Prospecting Syndicate, capital £150. Pas sages, camels, and rations left little by the time the syndicate's prospector reached Hannau's. To cub a long story short, that £150 syndicate secured the Boulder, Ivac toe, Associated, Lake View Console, Lake View East, South and Extened Oroya, and other mines, aggregating in market value tc day £21,000,000. The Kalgooriie mine's em ploy 6500 men a»d p*y £28.000 weekly in wages—mostly on the mjues acquired by (he Brookman syndicate. Exclusive of alluvia!, lialgoorlie has produced 1,583,3220z (or nearly half the total yield) has been produced in ten months of last year. A Sbmarkable Butterfly—A writer in the Boston Itaveller tells of a remarkable butterfly which is to be seen at Medford, U.S.A. It measures more than four inches from wing tip to wing tip. Several weeks ago on a cold night the delicate creature fluttered into a house to escape the rough weather. The head of the house discovered ib perched on a curtain rod, and admired its beautiful appearance. Inataad of showing his appreciation in the manner in which most people do in such oases—that is, by jamming a pin through the insect's head and putting it away in a box—he resolved to keep it alive. Ever sinoe the butteifly appeared the family has fed it twice a day on augir and water. The little creature takes us meals perched on the side of a spoon containing iti food, and seems to be thriving. Young Max Bitten by a Shark,— A aavage attack was made by a shark in Lane Cove River upon a young man named Charles Duck, a resident of Gladeiville, He and some friends were engaged at the time gathering oysters from the rooks ah a spot about a mile above Lane Cove Bridge. Duck was standing in between 2ft and sft depth iof water in a stooping position, when he was suddenly aeisssd from behind in the fleshy part of the right thigh by a shark. He clung to the rocks and screamed to his mates for assistance. Fortunacely the shark released its hold, and Duck was helped ashore by his male?. All that was seen of the shark as it left was its fin. It was found that Duck had received a terrible wouad, which bled profusely The flesh on one side of the thigh was almost hanging in shreds, and on the other there were the marks of eight of the monster's teeth. Dr Lloyd, of Hunter's Hill, attended the sufferer, applying a tourniquet to check the bleeding, after which he was brought to the city by the Lane Cove Ferry steamer, and taken to Sydney Hospital by the Civil An. bulanoe Brigade. He was admitted for treatment, suffering very much from shock, but rallied considerably after the surgeons had dressed his wound.

The Volwstkeks—The battalion of Vl- o unteers paraded yesterday morning at th? camp, and headed by the Asbburton Brass Band, marched to St. Stephen's Church, where the Rev* A. Woodthorpa preached aa eloquent sermon. After the service the men were mar<jh«d baok to the oamp, and the mid-day meal was ab onoe served. The oamp was thrown open to the publio during the afternoon, when a very large number of townspeople were present. After such a web week, it was surprising to find the quarters in a perfect) state of cleanliness, the tents being neatly arranged inside, and in some cases decorated with flowers and evergreens. In th« matter of neatness and decoration the Rifles had an easy win, th» Guards obtaining second for neatest teat. Some of the tnottos were amusing and ludi crous, "Anti-Kxugerites," "Our Roost," "A 1 Hotel," being among them. The Guards supplier the sentries during tbs day —a raher unnecessary item one would suppose. The battalion also entertained their visitors to afternoon tea, whioh was much appreciated by the fair sex. During the afternoon the Brass Bind discoursed music, which added to the military effeot of the proceedings, and was eojoyed by the publio. To-night the battalion intend koHing a social in the drill shed to which they invite the public, when doubtless a good evening's enjoyment will be provided* It may be as well to mention that, late on Saturday evening, aa intoxicated oivilian created a disturbance, by foroing bis way into the camp, and using violent language. The officer of the guard however, had him

promptly arrested

'Smoke Hew Yeous

INJURED IN A RAILWAY TRAIN.

Verdict for Damages.

United Press Association—By Eleo'rio Telegraph. iNVEEoisGiLL, February 10

The Supreme Courts action, LinkUter v the Minister of Railways, a claim for £501 damaget for irjuries received through the sudden stoppage of a train, from the tffjots c of which the woimn had to undergo & serl- ] ou.B Burgicftl operation, resulted in a three fourths verdict for the plaintiff for £125 Counsel for the Crown moved for, and wbs granted, afc&y of execution. A singular feature of the case was thas the plaintiff re ceived injury from the same cause, at the same station, two years before, and was aftetwards operated on.

TRANSVAAL WAR.

Gallant Exploit of An Officer.

The New South Wales Troops

Shelled.

General Buller's Forces

Another Betirement Across the

Tugela

General Maedonald's JKetire-

rn^nt

Explanation hj Lord Boberts

His Mission Fulfilled

General Clery Invalided

fcupplementaiy War Estimates

United Press Association—By Eleotrio Telegraph—Copyright

Capetown, February 8

A Boer prisoner states that so many horses have been killed that the Boers are forming infantry corps.

The Boers assart that they com pelled an armoured train with two thousand troops threatening their right on Tuesday to ret«rn to Qbieveley.

During the engagement at Potts berg, Captain Moor gave up his horse to a wounded man. Toe Boers tried to intercept Captain Moor, when Lieutenant H. P. Darling, a West Australian, rode back under a heavy fire and brought Captain Moor safely back.

The Boers shelled the New South Wales troops with a Vickere Maxim gun at Ooieskop, but there were no casualties.

London, February 10

The Boers report thaft General Bul ler, after being be wily shelled, again withdrew across the Tugela River. The War Office subsequently received confirmation of General Buller's re tirement.

Prior to the official confirmation of Oeneral Butler's retirement across the Tugela, Mr Balfour in th« House of Commons, said that General Bulier was not pressing the advance on Lady smith from the position be occupied on Wednesday. The Government was not pressing him for inform ition, while operations were in progress.

The Daily News correspondent showed that after the British secured a footing at Molen Drift, the pontoons were sent further down the river in front of Krauntzkop, in order to ob tain a shorter cut to the Boer positions across the river. An edition of the Daily News in a footnote, concludes that the conformation of the ground misled the Boers at Doornkop, they imagining that a partial movement was in reality a withdrawal of the whole of General Buller's force*,

Tbe Daily News discredited the Boer report of General Buller's withdrawal.

Lord Roberts explains, with refer ence to General Macdonald's retire ment from Koodoosberg, that he ful filled his mission of dispensing the Boers who had expected to traverse the Riet River Drift, and cut Lord Methuen'i line of communications. General Macdonald also covered Colo nel Broad wood's Column, and all arms operating in the vicinity of Sunny side. The reinforcements under Colonel Babington, sent to assist General Macdonald, arrived daring Wednesday afternoon, on the right flank of the Beit River, and threatening North Koodoosberg. The Boers withdrew.

Lientenant-General Clery is return ing to England, invalided.

The Supplementary War Estimaets, submitted to the House of Commons, total £13,000,000, and will provide for 120,000 additional men,

Geheras Buller's Retirement

Later Particulars

The Boer Artillery Fire

A Sortie From Ladysmith

Lord Koberts at Modder Hirer,

Australians Under Fire

Durban, February 11 The Boers were found in great strength, at Brakfontein especially, Masked guns kept up an incessant fire, and rendered Vaal Krantz untenable by the British. Several shells from " Long Tom " fell aniong&f. the trans ports, while others Reached Swarfzkop: A Nordenfeldt assailed the British entrenched infantry, while severe damage was done by the cross fire of a Oreuzot gun and a hundred pounder at Doonkloof. The retirement of the British commenced on Wednesday ni^ht without special incident. The casualties were mostly slight wounds.

The Boers report that there was heavy firing in the directiqn of Lady smith on the same night the garrison was attempting a sortie towards the Free State laager.

Capetown, February 9 Lord Roberts has arrived at Modder River.

I General French, with cavalry, also reachad the same place, while other re inforcementa are arriving, Prior to General Macdonald's with, drawalj the Boers deserted all their camps on the northern slopes of Knod oosbtrg. The British casualties were geyan wounded,

Qa Friday, fifty Australians and Tasra%nians made a reconnaissance near Oolesberg, and drew firs from a large force of ioers. The 3oloai»l« retreated

stubbornly, fighting from koj.j > to kopjK Tbe Boers twice worked to their reiir and occe nearly captured th« horses, but the Australiaos remounted antid a hail ef bullets. Peers, a Tasmanian was slightly wounded. Be declares that he shot three Boers. Major Keay took him to the camp of the New South Wales Lancers Mr Lauibie, war cor respondent; of the Melbourne Age, is wisßing,

A Cute magistrate.

Some Facts re Boer strength ami

Schemes

(Received Wakapnafea Peb 12, 915 a.m, Thii Office 9-47 am)

Lundon, Feb. 11 The Boers have taken the Inkandhla magistracy iv Zululand. Knight, the magistrate previous to the occupation, exploded the magazine. He arrived at Easowe with the police force.

A secret memorandum, presented to the Vblksraad, shows that the Boers had 230 Modern guns previous to the outbreak of the war.

The Boers at Ooleiburg are not surrounded, but hold the whole of tbe northern Oolesburg district, extending in a semi circle e»it and west, and present a strong thirty mile front, with a fall line communication with the Free State.

A balloon revealed to Boiler a dozen cunningly masked guna at Doornkioof commanding tbe Ladysmith ro»i. They were evidently intended to trap tht British.

Members of the Commons Censured.

Missing.

(Received Wakapuaka Feb. 12, 930 a.m, ThisOf6oelO.2a.ml London, February 11 The British forces at the front by the end of this month will total 194,000, inc'uding 20,000 militia. The address in reply was agreed to in the Commons.

The 120,000 additional men pro vided for in the supplementary estimates includes all in the field and afloat, while the vote' coven the expenses of the campaign to the end of March.

His constituents passed resolution! censuring the attitude of Sir Edward Clarke, the member for Plymouth over the war. Sir E Clarke baa resigned. The electors of Caithness have also passed a censure on Dr Gavin Clark for a

similar reason. Hales, the Westrah'an war corres pondent was also miisiug after the reconaißsance by the Colonial* at Ooleeberg,

Cable From Lord Roberts

United Press Association—By Eleotrio Telegraph.

Wbllinotok, February 18 After the second Contingent bad left Albany, the Premier iD formed Lord Roberta giving the number of the cfficers and men, and informing him that they should arrive at Durban en the 20th to await orders. H<t has received the following reply from Lo d Roberta : " Modder River, 11th, many thanks for your telegram. I look forward with great pleasure to the arrival of the second Contingent from New Zealand, they will ba a valuable and welcome addition to our force—Roberts."

TWO DAYS WITHOUT FOOD.

A letter dated November 29, teceived from Alexander and Robort Oarlyle, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, addressed to their father in Dumfries, regarding the battle of Modder River, says :— " Bullets and shells were falling among us and goioe over our heads in hundreds. It began at 7 a.m , and it was between 8 and 9 p.m. before its finished, and it never slackened one moment. The Boers had rplendid position and trenohes, and if our troops had been in them an enemy would never have got within a thousand yards. The Boers lost heavily, and we are burying their horses, lying in the river and on its banks, in hundreds. We have been over two dajs without food, and on foot all the time- We are lying in a farm, and have nothing for it but to steal whatever we can lay hands on, I caught a hen aid Bob got potatoes in a field, and these are being cooked in an old can. The rest are killing pig», geats, or anything." The writers have been missing since the Magersfotttein battle. —Daily Telegraph.

CATCHING THEM ON THE HOP.

A private in the East Surrey Regiment wntei to his mother a letter, from which ! the following are extracts s—•• We have been I here six jays at Estoourt, and we have oar work out out. Duty is a bit thick. There's plenty of Boers around; there's about 25,000 of them. They had a lively time of it the •J*« day. Our fellows killed and wounded 700 of them, and only lost one mas la the engagement. They caught them on the hop. Dear mother, I hope they don't oatob me on tha hop. If it it to be it will tw—it't a game of chance. We expeot them to attack here any minute. Mo wash for two days— that's how (6 is j but I expeot we will oome out ail right at the finish. Let them all oome, and we will trust to the One above to bring ua through. So good-toe for the present, and God bless you all, is the wish ef your affectionate son Fbi»."— Daily Tekgraph.

Messrs W. R. Hall (&he Broken Hill mil lionaire) and J. H« Carey (chairman of the Sydney Telegraph Company) are mainly responsible for raising the New South Wiiei Bushmen Fund. The story goes that Mr Carey met Mr Hall at the "Summer Gap meeting at R»ndwick s and broached his little scheme. «• I'll give you £5,000 down, and more if you want it," was Mr Hall's I answer. That same afternoon Mr Carey got £3,000 from Mr Sam Hordern, and next day the Sydney papers announced the movement. Then the Telegraph boomed it and announced its own oontribation of £2£ o, which was eolipied by the rival morn* ing paper, the Herald, planking down £1,000. Since then some splendid donations have been acknowledged—to wit, Mr 8. M'Anghey, M.L.0,, the wool king, £5,000; Mr W. E. Spark, of Elizabeth Bty, Sydney, £2,0001 the wealthy Miss Edith Walker and Mr P. H. Oiborne, of Curruodooley, £1,0001

fHES ABHBUKtOK &OAtH)IAN : MONDAY, FEBBtJABY 12, 1900



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THE ODE WORK OF ITS KIND IN THE WORLD- Ib is annique characteristic of the ENCYCLOPAEDIA BRITANNICA, that while ib is authoritative in the highest degree—a standard in every field, it has so little of the typical encyclopaedia atmosphere. That is to svp, its articles are not mere compilations—they do not form a hu;»e structure of facts unsculpturea and unadorned ; they are, the longer ones at least, rather a series of concise and rapid mmographs. They are the work of masters in every province, yet no mere master* of uncouth details, but of form and exposition as well. Many of them, indeed, are among fche finest contributions >o present-day literature. ') hbse articles are delightful reading - they are more —they are a liberal edu cation. This is not saying* thao anyone can master so vast a store of facts —there is no one living who could do that. Nor does the mere acquisition of facts constitute a liberal education. Something more is needed, and thia is why no dry-aa-dnsb com. pilatlon will suffice. A fine appreciation of form, the habit of detecting relations between widely-sspirated subjects, a mastery of broad outlines, the ability to seize the central truth, come rather frcm a long association and familiarity with minds of the highest reaoh and training. Ib Is precisely minds of this type to whom the present character of the ENOY- j OLOPJSDIa BRITANNIOA is due. " Those who have proved themselves to be ' at the eummit in their particular departments ' were everywhere selected bj expose and Interpret for intelligent and educated people their special bpheves of knowledge. Tho result has been a degree of excellence which has never before been attained in a work of scope so immense. Nothwithstanding Its high scholarly standard, the ** Enoyclojseiia" is still literature in the strictest sense of the word, it may be taken volume by volume, treatise by treatise, article by article, and read for the individual interest which cash affords. Because it embraces all departments of human learning, and evenly and impar. fcially presents the best results obtainable from each, the ENCYCLOPAEDIA Bivl- TANNICA constitutes, within itself, an Meal popular library. Certainly ii is the foundation, the true beginning, of any ex ensivecohec ion of books. Not a thousand volumes, each chosen with an understanding of books which perhaps not a dezsn living men possess would it bepos*ible to obtain anything like so admirable a resume of ail that a nineteenth-century man or woman wishes to know.



AH ADMIRABLE INVESTMENT- The ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA is an admirable investment for throe excellent reasons. The three excellenb reasons which combine to recommend the "Encjclrpfeiift" are these :— In the first place ib is the Tary beat thing of its sort to purchase. The ENCY CLOPAEDIA. 8 HIT ANN 10 A has been recognised ever since the first edition was published in 1771 as tho very best work of reference in the world. It is easy enough to find more costly books, to purchase a thousand volumes instead of only twenty five, bat thab thousand would be ill-chosan if the twenty-five volumes of the FNCY CLOPAEDIA BRITA^NICA wero nob among them, lo ia nob, indeed, too much to say thas no thousand other volumes contain ao great a proportion of the whole sum of human knowledge as do thase fivc-md-twenty. Here, then, ia one excellent reason why the " Encyolopseiia" is the very best thing of its sort. In the second place the KNOYGLOP^EDIA. BRITANNIC A. may at the moment be purchased upon remarkably advantageous terms. Tne established publisher's price for the twenty 6ao volumes in cloth binding is £39. The Times offers precisely the same work, unaltered and uaabridgod, for seventeen monthly payment* of one guinea each, or for £17 in cash—less than hilf price. This is another excellent reason, for everyone must wish thab the pounds and shillings one spends should do their utnost in adding to the accuumlat d wealth of the investor. In the third place, the purchase of the ENG'YOLOPJEoIA BRITANNICA does not involve, on the one hand* re*dy money, nor yet, on the other hand, the incur ring of a vague debt which the debtor may be called upon to pay when it; is least codvenlent for him to do so. A preliminary payment of only one guinea in cash will secure the delivery of the volume^. After the delivery has been made other payments of one guinea each become dae at monthly intervals. The purchaser of the " Encyclopaedia " who adopts thi» hovel and convenient system of paying for books knows precisely when his payments should be made, and knows too that) each one of them is so inconsider able as to make hardly any strain upon a month's income.



* thh; choice of a binding. The limes Reprint of the ENCYCLOPAEDIA BRITANMGA v offered feo the public m ihrae different styles of binding. The cheapeab is in a neat and useful green cloth—the Bame in every respect as that which hag been sold at the higher price. UNABRIDGED AND UNALTEBBD. The Ninth Edition of the ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNIOA, completed in 1889, which the Times haa reprinted, is universilly recognised as the most complete arid perfect of works of reference, The Times Reprint is in every respect the same I as the copies already sold at the higher price ; ib ia what booksellers call a new impression, not a changed edition There has baen no condensation, no abaidgement, no omission. Eveiy word, every illustration, every map, every element of value is preserved intact; there is nob thejoiost minute cheapening of the product to offset agdiast the remarkable diminution of the price. .No steps will be taken towards preparing a tenth edition for many years, and when anew edition la undertaken.it will require atleaat 12 or 15 years to complete it. The present edition (the 9th) will therefore be the national standard work of reference for at least 15 or 20 years to corae. With care it will last for years, and it Is to be commended to any purchaser who has to chooße between buying the ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA Jn cloth «nd not buying it at all ; but, in the nature of things, it is not the best possible form in which to clothe such massive volumes as those of the ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITAN KIC4. Such a book deserves a leather binding, and the pleasure of using the volumes, and of seeing them upon one's bookshelves la greatly enhanced when they are worthily attired. The intrinsic utility of a book depends In some measure upon lta comeliness, and the half morocco and full morocco bindings are each in its degree so handsome and ao inexpensive, in proportion to their durability and beauty, that no one who can afford to dress the beat of books in sha best of bindings will hesitate to select the richer form of the ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICa. The leather employed in the full morocco and half morocco binding la genuine goat skm, sumach tanned. The leather, clear In colour, elastic and soft, yet) firm and fine in grain and and textile, " resists wear and tear and the action of gas and heated air better than any other leather."—(Ency. Brifc., vol xiv, p 638.) The full morocoo binding is, technically considered, an exquisite production. The backs are double sewn on four bar.ds and the quires are hand folded. The corer boards are pressed and lined to make the binding solid, and are squared and hand cni by guillotine The books are entirely forwarded by hand with hollow backs and fine siik headbands set solid. For purchasers who elecb to make serial payments for the work, the better bindings make uo more urgent a call upon the purse than do the cloth binding. The monthly payments are in any case the same, and only a little more perseverance is called Cor in the case of the leather bindings than in the case of the cloth binding. THE OEFisE.



The sensation of (he hook^Hcs; season in London, the remarkable offer of "TBfc TIMES" Heprinb of the mCYLWMOI*. BHITTANICA (ninth edition), Is already known to residents in New Zealand, wbo read "The Times." No fewer than 15,(M) copies of tha massive work were printed, bafc applications were received in rapid saccespion for more than 20,000. Widespread disappointment was occasioned by the enforced refusal of a great nam bet of orders, and residents in New Zealand were, owing to the delay in communi cating with London, peculiarly nnfortunate In this reepeot. Whafc •' The llraes" did for teMdente in England, it now proposes to do for res!



dents in New Z aland. Arrangements have been mnde for a limited nnmher of copies tor di* ributiun in N«*w % alar d Thi pric h? -A terms u\um * hich these C'pien m*y be .obtained are sta'ed in derail b-Inw, aid immediate application should he mad" r-y pc Rons who desire to avtil th<>at*elve- of this extraordinary opportunity. The price at which the w rk U < ffered is i" it-elf a i>h«no!»en»l one, and the con 'iiiifiriHof sale are s eh as to mx'^mlly c lmice iho Hrlv-uiuges prfwenfed by rh*" arra'-s;enienf. The briefest staernent o than conr-iti. ns wil bp PufJScfint, Below wil) be found a full f-tttem^nt of the plm cf pat malts, also the further detail regarding ihe various styles of biading, &c. i SPECIAL TO INTENDING PURCHASERS Leiters and teifcratrs hive li-pn received from various natrs of New Zealand 1 enquiring how long it w.U lake for the ESOYOLOAiB'JI A. BRITANJSIOA to arrive ftom London. In reply to sush, w-i desire to atat^ that all priipnvntci nrn matfe direct from W-Hington. vjhere a sufficient quantify of stock for filling IMMEDIATE ordrs is in hand Those who nn-kn prompt application, therefore, can have their booka bupplied AT OK 08. TEMPORARY PRICES UNTIL FEBRUARY 20 ---t3T Sufficient provision haa been made for the fiH"og of orders promptly potted, but applicants who hesitate may find that the number of teti reserved for New Zealand has been exhausted, and that the offer haa been withdrawn, without further notice. f 17 Monthly Payments of Oj*k Guinea each, or if Cash in "Bvw CLOTH J accompanies the order, Publishers' Price for this style BINDING 1 of Binding, £537. f22 Monthly Payments of One Guinea e»oh, or if Cash is Full accompanies the order, £22—Publishers' Price for thi« style oi MOROCCO I Ending, £45. (Which we j. reoommend) ( SO Monthly Payments or One Guinea each, or, if Cash in Full FULL ) accompanies the order, £29—Publishers' Price for this style of MOROCCO 1 Binding, £65. The sets will ba delivered ho subscribers carefully sealed in tin-lined cases. The first 500 subscribers in New Zealand will receive their sets delivered free of oost as far as Wellington. Order Form—Of*Shi Payment.—Subscribers who elect to s«nd cheque in fill with the order have the advantage I of an additional saving of one shilling in the guinea, as shown above, and no order form is required. Cheques should be drawn to tho or ler of the Bank of New South Walks, Wellington, and sent to The Times (London), New Zealand Office, at Government Life Insurance Buildings, Wellington, N.Z. Order Form-Monthly Payment. (*)ftte) —....;.-



To the Manager, ThbTimis (London), New Zbalan* Office, Government Life Insurance Buildings, Wslmngton. I enclose One Guinea. Please send me Thh Times Reprint of the Encyclopaedia Bbi tannioa (9th Ed ) f (a) CLOTH, for whioh I agree to make to you, or to anyone you may ap point, 16 additional monthly payments of one guinea each, BOUND j (<*) HALF MOROCCO, for which I agree to make to you, or anyone you IN may appoinb, 21 additional monthly payments of one guinea each, (it) FULL MOROCCO, for which I agree to make to you, or to anyone you may appoint, 28 additional monthly payments of one guinea each, my next payment! upon delivery of the complete volumes, and my succeeding payments on the correspouding day of each month following. Until such p&yments are complete, I engage thab the volumes remain your property, and shall not be disposed of by sale or otherwise. I further agree that if, owing to unforaeen circumstances, of which yon shall be judge, the volumes cannot be delivered, the return of this deposit of one guinea to me shall cancel this agreement. [Strike out two of the paragraphs marked a, b t and c respectively, leaving the one which names the style of binding desire \ ]



Please also send a revolving Bookcase,for which I agree to make three fur- /"Strike out if Book" thet monthly payments ofone guinea, each, afterthe payments jot the books \ caie ia nob de* ate complete. sired. Fignen... «... „.„ ..«....  [12 QK Ash. Guardian ] Address , -....-..! If books are to be deliver-d elsewhere than in Wellington, tho parch.be ••Hall add|bhe name of the carrier in Wellington to whom delivery ia to be rmtde. SPECIMEN PAGES FRKE BY POST. For thu convenience of those who desire fuller information in regard to the ENCYCLO PAEDIA BRITANNICA, a pamphlet has been prepared containing specimen pages and brief extract from the work. Trio p-mphlofc will be sent to »r.y address poab free upon application to The limes (London) Now Zealand office as under.



PIANOFORTE, SINGING, Etc. MRS JOHNSTON, having taken over Mrs Bowman Fox's music pactice, l will be at home from 2 till 4 daily, tf> arrange with Pupils, Term commences 6th February. 12 65 Havelock Street.



FOE SALE. CARTER'S TERKACE, TINWvTD. j Mr Alex. Hewson having purchased . Property at Allenton, IHAV'E been insfrae'ed by him o ; Sell hia well - known Prope;ty, situated on Carter's Terrace. Tlnwsld consisting of an tight-roomed House comprising Sitting Uoom, Dining Room, 3 Bedrooms, Kifechen, o;c , with a con venient washhouse an 1 d*iry. Tho stable?' contain four Spacious Loos^ Boxes and Trap Bousa, together with 4 Acres of First Glass Land. Full particulars on application to F. FERBIaIAi v.



FOR SALE 520 ACRES LAJsD NFAR FREEZING WOKKd. I HAVE for Sale a farm of 320 Acres Situatad about a mi!e from the Frerz-Dg Works, wel! fenced and watered. Full particulars on application. P. FERRIMAN. FOR SALE. 8 ACR 18 LAND IN THE NORTH ISLAND. IH WE for sale 8 acres of land, situated ohse to the Ekatahuna Hail way Bia fcioa. Well fenced and watered. Admir ably adapted for residential purposes. P. FiSRidMAN.



FOR THIS WEEK. i—rr QPfcCUL lines Prints at 3|d per yard. Special Lines Prints 'at 4^d per yard. Special Lines Prints and Zyphers at 6Jd per yard, pecial Line Dress Material, usual price Is 9d; 5s lid Dress Length. Big Line Sample Corsets, prices from 4s lid to!os6d, to clear at 2s lid per pair. And many other tempting Lines in all departments.



FOR SALE EAST STREET, ASHBURTON. TOWN .>ECIIONS 552, 553, and 571, with improvements, including good stibleßi These sections would prove a good I investment within a very ehort time. Full particulars on application. F. FERRIMAN FOR SALE.



ASHBDETON DRAPERY COMPANY. FOR ! BICYCLE ACCESSORIES GO TO OATEB, LOW.JY AMD CO-, THE LEADING CYCLE DEALERS. OUR Repairs are done in a neat and workmanlike manner. AH work guaranteed, and charges reason ble. J. WILSON, SIGN-WEirBK. | LARGE STOCK wall papers, WINDOW GLASS, MIXED PAINTS, PICTJJRE.MOULDINGS, ARTIST'S MATERIAL, Ac. ___ BUPNETT STREET, opposite .Mail Office _ re?aphoiae 65



OXFORD STRfcKT, HAMPSTBAD. LOCS 53 and 54~ConUining £ an acre, in crop and planted with a macrocarpa hedge! A splendid position for a dwelling. F. FERRIMAfI. FOR SALE. All KEN STREET, ASHBURTON. rpOWN SECTION 563-ooDlft;ning f acre _L First-class Land. A *p!endid site for ft dwelling. Good locality. Price and terns easy. F. PERPIMAN FOE ~SALE, PETER STREET, ASHtfURTON. I HAVE for Sale-A Comfortable. B roomed House and Scullery, together with one quarter-acre of land, well laid out in garden. There is al to a Si-stalled Stable, chaff house, and tripsh>--d. T.-ie nso of a pad dock close by can be obtained. As the owner Is taking up farming, a moderate prica will be accepted. F. FJiKRIMAN.



MACHIJSiJb) OILS FOB THE HARTEST. I HAVE a large Stock of Machine Oils In 5 gallon drams and 4 gallon tins spe cially adapted for Threshing Machine?, Reapers and Binders to. A trial will prove that these oils are equal to the best lubricants oa the market F. FERBIMAN,



PHOTOGRAPHY. mO COMPETE WITH .THE TIMES. For 14 Days Only. One Dozen Highly Finished Cabinet Photos FOR EIGHT & SIX, Don't Miss This Chance. AH work guaranteed. Note Address D Jones, The Photographer, Robobtom Studio, Moore Street. laaiokeNevVmjhj ~ ■-—•--



WANTED KNOWN—Nobthoote and Heffobd's Summer Clearing Sale commences Satobday, January 20. "ANTED KNOWN. — That anyThln^ you want in Drapery or Clothing can be bought) vary cheap at Mitchell and j Turner's removing Sale. Remnants of all kinds and Nibbles in every Department. Gall early. Lota of lines already cleared, , {Pint come fiwt aerwd.J j



Ambbrlby, Dec 7, 1899 [Cofy] Messrs Ceaighead Axd Birbyman AkhburtOD, Dear Sirs,—Could yon make a suit at once.. I am sorry I forgot to order it tifdaer. 'UJhf last one is etill wearing. It fitted beautifully, %nd has given the greatest satisfaction. If fju have time to make one for my son at Ger&ldine, I will get him to ride op on Satur day to be fitted. If there is not time to tend patterns, I will trust you to choose for me, something like the last—Yours truly,



«r Th« origioal letter as above from * well known gentleman apd many * other* of equally high oomplimenfc may be seen ab our office—Craiguead and Bibryman, th Leading Tailors and Outfitters Jf«r#r Known (hoatburlHlii'i rolle, Cholera ana I»larrh»*» Hamr«ly «o Fall. Rev J M YingHng, putor of the Bodfor A Street Methodiit church at Oumberknd, Md, says : It affords me much pleasure t« recom mend Chamberlain's Colic, Cholera and Diarrhoea Remedy. I hare used it and know ithers who have done so. I have never known it to fail. Ibis a tore our* whtn taken in time. For sale by Ashburtoa t>rug Compiny ' '



WE canoa i» b« Chief Justioet *nd Honourable*, bat w« ma a' idtot