Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit SATURDAY, MARCH 24, 1900. A TERRIBLE STATAE OF THINGS

The Chairman of the Christchurch Charitable Aid Board drew attention at last Wednesday's meeting of that body to a very serious matter. He reported that over £1000 per annum was distributed by the Board for the maintenance of illegitimate children, and without giving numbers time to digest that startling statement he went on to say that the records of the Samaritan Home showed that in some cases women had given birth to as many as nine illegitimate children at the institution in question, the expenses, in : every case, of course, becoming a } charge on the unfortunate ratepayers.

Mr Board also referred to the practice of certain baby-farmers in taking in children without troubling themselves

to enqaire into their paternity, know ing full well that all they had to do when mothers deserted these children was to apply to the Charitable Aid Board, which had to pay. If it did not pay, then the' " farmer " took the child to the Police Court, and the Magis

trate committed it to Burnham—and the Board was forced to pay. The

public, declared Mr Board, has not the faintest idea of the spread of illegiti macy in the community, nor of the large sums which the Charitable Aid Board has to pay annually for the sup port of deserted children. The ques tion of illegitimacy is one which the public will have to face very shortly. It is notorious that a large percentage oF mothers of illegitimate offspring in this colony are young girls-—in many cases mere children. Every effect must needs hava a causp, and the cause in this case is not difficult to trace, Young people of both sexes are allowed far too much latitnde out here, where parental control is comparatively speaking little known, and home-in fluence is too often nonexistent. A session or two ago Mr Seddon sought to make juvenile profligacy the sub ject of legislative enactment. The measures he proposed to introduce as a check to a very sad state of things were, in our opinion, far too drastic, and would if carried into effect, have proved intolarable. The remedy must come from within. Parents themselves 1 must bestir themselves, and recognise their responsibilities. Children must j be trained to reverence their parents, to treat them with the respect and | consideration, which is their due, and to obey them. Parents, on their side, ! must strive to make the homa attrac tive, and remember that if boys and girls cannot get recreation at home, they will seek it elsewhere, and quite probably to their own undoing. The loose way in which hundreds of young colonials are brought up, fully accounts for their going wrong. What we want are plenty of good healthy institutions for the young, clubs, debating societies, ; dramatic societies, literary societies, places where pleasant and rational ! evenings may be spent. Let us, in the first instance, at any rate, content oar j solves with seeking to amuse—so long ! as the amusement is wholesome. Liter ' on we should try to excite an interest in the minds of the youngsters in things intellectual, which must have a purifying, elevating and ennobling ten dency— and we shall probably accom plish more thus than in any other way. Ignorance and idleness are the prolific causes of many sins. Let us strive to banish them, and, depend upon it, we shall be in a fair way to solve the problem, which is just now making so many colonial social reformers des pair.

Local and General.

* # * On the first page to-day will be found Commercial news,

Ashburton Boys.—Amongab the troop o Rough Riders who leave Dunedin for South Africa today are John Smith, son of Mr Smith, of Wcsterfield, and Thos. Robert Home, of Methvon; also J Sorenson, lately a resident of Ashburton, so that the county will be represented In the fourth as well aa the third Contingent.

Fxplosion of Firedamp ~A cablegram from Brisbane, dated Thursday, states that by an explosion of firedamp in the Torbauloa colliery, five men, named Griggs, Johnstone, Gambie, and Houstons, father and son, were dreadfully burned. Johnstone, Griggs, and Houston, junr, are dead.

Ctjbiods Accident.—A young fellow named Arthur Paris was admitted to the Hospital yesterday, says the fress. He was a competitor in the three-legged race at the saddlers' picnic, and fell. Two competitors coming up behind trod on his head. He was unconscious for some time, and just prior to his admission was seized with a violent fib. These fits have continued ab intervals.

Sheep Destroyed.'—On the evening of Tuesday, 13th, while Mr George Tilson was driving a mob of sheep home from the Ttnwald yardp, by some means the express from South ran into the mob ab Winslow, killing several and wounding about twenty sheep. The line just ab this part ia unfenced, and it appears that Mr Tilson was looking after a paddock when the animals strayed on the line to destruction. It is a serious loss to Mr Tilson as at the present time sheep are a valuable property.

Prize Medals. —There are on view in the window of Mr De Beer, Easb Street, two medals given at the Canterbury Freezing Company's Sports recently held ab Rakaia. They take the form of Maltese crosses. 00. one side of each is the name of the donors, and on the other thab of the recipients—the gold medal bears the name of T. Whykes, winner of the Fellmongery Handicap, and the silver medal the name of the second man in that event, J. H. Taylor. The work manship rfflscbs credit upon Mr De Beer's establishment.

News in Brief.

The New Zealand Clothing Factory have a new advertisement in this issue, calling attention to their large stock of winter goods, personally selected by their manager, who has jusb Visited Dunedin for the purpose.

PBOHIBW tHISTS IN WANQANUI.—The Pro hibiiion party carried all the seats on the Licensiog Committee. Our old friend Rev J Cocker was to the fore, being third on the P°'L _____——«

LEATHER SUBSTITUTES.

They Are Said to Have Advantages Over the Heal Article. The growing popularity of the leath er substitutes that are now being put forward on the market is receiving more serious attention from the leather trade than when tbe first substitute was introduced about 15 years ago, Bays the New York Commercial. These substitutes are nearly all known under copyrighted names and are composed of a jelly the ingredients of which are* secret. This jelly is applied to linen duck cloth of various widths, which when dry is stamped and embossed in innumerable designs and colors.

These leather substitutes are all claimed to be waterproof and nearly fireproof, as they will stand a heat reg istering up to 550 degrees P. It is these qualities that make them particu larly useful and appreciated more than leather, which is being superseded In many lines by the various substitutes.

The furniture trade was among the first to recognize the usefulness of the substitutes, great quantities of which are used in upholstering furniture, par ticularly sofas. The fact that they are stainless and when scratched leave no mark like leather Is considered an ad vantage. The substitutes are also used In place of wall paper, the designs be ing easily copied, and also for book coverings in place of leather or sheep skin. Railroads also use these substi tutes, mainly for car curtains and cov erings for seats.

Brain Weight and Intellect.

Weight It Is generally assumed that there exists a distant relationship between the size of the brain and Intellectual capacity. There are not wanting facts, however, which run counter to this view, says The Humanitarian. One salient example Is that of the late French statesman, Gambetta, whose brain weighed only 1,200 grams. On the other hand, the heaviest brain on record is that of a London newspaper boy, whose brain weighed 2,400 grams, ! In spite of the fact that he is stated to have been "a bit of an idiot." A brain weighing 2,840 grams once be longed to a Scandinavian peasant, of whose Intellectual stature it may be said that "previous to the age of 70 he never showed signs of any extraor dinary Intelligence, and he has never shown any since." A female Indian dwarf had a brain which weighed no less than 2,200 grams, being 70 grams heavier than the brain of Turgeneff, the celebrated Russian novelist. The average weight of the human brain has been variously put at from 1,500 to 1,650 grams, and an analysis of the brain weights of CO intellectual men Works out an average of ,1,776 grams, which is not much superior to the av erage. Evidently quantity of brain substance Is of less importance than quality in respect of the possession of intellectual qualities of a high order.

Dish Drainer.

An improvement in the drain board usually to be found at the side of the kitchen sink has been recently made which will be recognized by every housewife as a very excellent innova-

DBAINING DISHES, tlon. The board is inclined toward the sink, as usual, with a series of parallel grooves extending in the direction of the incline. The walls of these grooves are recessed so as to hold a plate or dish of similar shape In an upright po sition while it is draining and after it has been through the wash water.

DBAIKING DISHES,

Earthquakes.

Earthquakes. Some years ago Commander Mor rison, an officer of the British navy xvho foretold from the stars the civil war In thla country, formulated the following rules for predicting earth quakes. These conditions are about to be fulfilled, and, according to him, we may look for mother earth to become restless:

1. Earthquakes generally follow close on the heels $f eclipses.

2. At the time of the earthquake many aspects will be found between the planets in the heavens; also as re gards the places of the planets at the previous eclipse.

8. Earthquakes generally, happen when there are several planets on or tear the tropics or equator.

4. Earthquakes happen more fre quently when there are planets, espe cially lUranus, Saturn, Jupiter or Mars t in the sign Taurus or Scorpio.

The Study of Tropical Disease.

Mr. Chamberlain has transmitted to' the Royal society a memorandum from the governor off the Straits Settlements inviting fellows and scholars who are Engaged in original medical research %o the study of the tropical disease beriberi. It is stated that this disease caused 780 deaths in the hospitals of the colony in 1896 and 692 in 1897. The government will provide the Investi gator with furnished quarters, rent free, will give him free access to all the hospitals and facilities for studying the cases therein and will defray the cost of bis passage to the colony. Na ture adds that Dr. Wright, late of Montreal, has an adequate laboratory, BO that the opportunities for patho logical research will be extremely good.

THE PLAGUE

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. Sydney, March 23 Another case of plague has been reported, a man named Haydon, resid ing at Marrickville, who worked in Sussex Street.

There is an active crusade against dirty premises in the city and suburbs, and many persons have been heavily fined.

Wellington, March 23 Government has been advised that Mr Gilruth, who was sent to Sydney in con nection with the outbreak of the plague there, leaves Sydney for New Zealand by the Zealandia, via Melbourne, on Saturday.

RAM AND EWE FAIR.' | Mr D. Thomas reports ns follow;: — ' The annual fix! ure of the ram and ewe fair WBS held as usual at the Tinwald Yards, these yards beingmore accomodating for the rams than those "at Ashburton. This sale showed a large falling off of the entry com paring with those of other years, which is owing no doubt to the scarcity of breeding ewea in the whole district. This year a J small yarding was anticipated, but by the j time the eale started a fair proportion of the pens were filled with breeding ewes of all classes'. In rams there was only a moderate supply of good young eortp, and thrse were eagerly picked up at owners reserve. The demand was noted for Shropshirea, English, and Border Leioesters, there being pract c aliy no sale for Lincolns, 2he prices for breeding eweß were better by a Is per head than those ruling last Tuesday, and for any good lines of half bred young ewes keen competition took place. The totals for the day consisted of about 6000 sheep and 500 nms, my entry Cumprising 2878 sheep and 202 rams, which I sold at the following prices :—On account of the Longbeach Estate, English Leioesters sge, Shropshtres 4fgs ; account T X Upton, Esq,, Shropsbires 4gs; account Australian Land Company, Border Leicesters, six-tooth, 2gs to 24g", two-tooth 3gs to 3£gs ; account F Standish, Esq., English Leicesters 4Jgs ; account T N Digby, Esq., English Leicesters 3gs, besides numerous other clients at fair prices. Ewes —325 halfbred ewes 8s sd, 504 halfbred four and six-tooth ewes 15s 2d, 280 crossbred ewes 12s Bd, 186 halfbred ewes 103, 306 merino ewes 7s 6d, 200 halfbred ewes lis 4d, 380 halfbred ewes,lis, 307 halfbred six and eight-tooth ewes_l3s lid. I also disposed of the following lots privately :—9 Shrop shires rams 4f gs, 20 Shropshire ram iambs 3£gs, 3 Shrops-hires 4gs, 30 foui-tooth Shrop shires 4ge, 22 English Leicesters 3gp, 20 merino rams 15s, 26 merino rams 13s 6d, 200 fat ewes 14s 3d, 335 merino ewes lis, 640 merino ewes 12s 63, 100 halfbred ewea 15a, 520 two and four-tooth wethers 15s, 170 ■ fat wethers 16s, 3 rams 3gs, 319 lambs llsQd.

Messrs Friediander Bros., Ltd. report upon the annual ram and ewe fair which took place oa Thursday last at the Tinwald Yards :—The yarding of sheep was only a small one, about 7000 ewes of all descriptions coming forward. The minority of these were aged« For young sound sheep the erquiry was good, and these wets all dis posed of at prices ranging from 14s to 15s 21 for halfbred and ores bred, failing and full mouth ewes selling from 8s to 12a, according to condition. In merinos there were several lines of sound-mouth ewes ; these made from 9i to 10s 6d. In rams also there was only a Btnall entry compared with other years, not more than 300 of all classes coming forward. The demand was chiefly for English Lei cesters and Shropsbires. These realised—for the former from 2Jgs to sgs, and the latter from 2ga to 4|^s. Hampahires sold at 3gs>, and halfbred 2gs to 2|gs, Border Leicesters 2£gß to 2|gs, and Lincolns from $g to l^gs. Our entry for the day was 4088 ewes (in cluding a line of 465 ewea in conjunction with the New Zealand Farmers' Co-operative Association) and 190 rams; The following sa'es were effected ,—132 merino ewes 8s Id, 71 merino ewes4s lid, 75 two and four-tooth merino ewes 10s 7d, 152 halfbred ewes 14s, 112 merino ewes 6s 9d, 267 four and six-tooth halfbred ewes 14s, 93 crossbred owes 9s, 247 halfbred ewes 13s 6d, 224 six and eight-tooth merino ewes 9s, 200 four, six, and eight-tooth halfbred ewes 14s, 535 halfbred ewes Bs, 177 three-quarberbred ewes 13s 9d, 265 halfbred ewes 13s lid, 249 halfbred ewes 14s 6i, 180 four and six-tooth halfbred ewes 12s 6d; In rams—Shropshirea, 2 at 4f »s, 3 at 4gs, 2 ram lambs 2Jgs, 10 ram lambs 3gs, 6 at l£gs, 6 ab f{. Hampshires, 9at 3gs, 2at 2|a(B. Half bred, 1 at 2|gs, 23 at 2gs, 1 at Ig. Border Leicesters, 6at 2|*s, sat 2|gs English Leceisters, 9at 2Jgs, 12 at 2gs. Lincolne, 8 ab l^gs, 5 at 2|gs, 3 at fg.

During the week we sold privately : — 224 merino ewes 7s BJ, 146 lambs lis 6d, 179 lambs lis 7d, 41 wethers 14s, 24 Lincoln ramallg?.

ARCADE HORSE FAIR.

Mr David Thomas reports upon hi 3 usual monthly horse fair, held at the Arcade on Thursday, March 15. The entry consisted of 140 head of draught and light horses, and amongst them were noted some real "good stamps. lb wag soon seen when a good horse came before the auctioneer, as the bidding was very spirited, and from £40 to £46 was reached in several cases. Prices all round were considered quite up to those ruling at previous fairs, and only three draughts were unsold at 6 o'c'ock, thus showing the sale was a great euocess Good light horses were in better demand, and several changed , owners frcm £17, £20, and £24- OF the > total entry 1 succeeded in placing 118 head of all descriptions, and the following are a few of the prices.—Unbroken colts and fillies £14 10s to £18 ; broken draughts, 3 to syrs, £25, £28, £32, £39, £42, £45 to £& ; broken draughts, 6 to Byrs, £27, £33, £4110s to £43 ; broken draughts, 9 to llyrs, £23, £31 10s. £40 10s to £44 ; aged, £15, £20, £23, £26. £30 10s to £35; hacks. 3 to 6yrs, £15. £17 10a, £18, £20 10a, £22 to £24; hacks, aged, £7 10a, £10 10s, £13, £15 to £17 10a ; screws, £1 10s to £7 10a.

TRAP ACCIDENT.

Narrow Escape of tie Minister for Education ———— At the opening of the Ruapuna water race yesterday, bhe Minister for Education (Hon. W. C. Walker) and four other gentle men had a narrow escape from serious iojury. The ceremony of opening the race was concluded, luncheon had been discussed, and a start was made for home about 4 pm. The weather had been most unpropitious, and when the return journey was commenced ib was raining in torrents, wiih a heavy brefze from the south-west. The majority of the party were in a five-horße drag, driven by Mr J. Newman, and following about two hundred yards behind was a two-horse waggonette, containing the Minister for Education, Mr F. Mainwaring, Mr Ma'oolm sou, manager at the Fairfield freezing works, and Mr E. S. Coster. Mr F. Pritchard occupied a seat on 4he box beside the driver. About a mile had been safely traversed when those in the fronb drag were horrified to see the near wheels of the waggonette mount a small rook, and in an ins'ant the occupants of the box were turning a somersault in the air, while the trap was pitched into a rocky piece of country by the side of the track. Help was speedily ab hand, and the occupants of the carriage quickly rescued from their un pleasant position. Fortunately they Buffered no injury cave a few slight cuts from the broken glass of the carriage windows. The upper part of the vehicle was wrecked. The swingle trees broke when the accident occurred, and the horses, thus held by their heads to the pole, were quickly secured. The damaged trap was abandoned, and the occupants had to equeezs into the already overcrowded drag. In this way the party reached bown after a drive of six hours in the face of a howling south-west gale and a drenching rainstorm.

NEW BOARDING HOUSE AT FAIRTON.

At the invitation of the proprietor, Mr H. S. Drummond, a representative of this journal visited Fairbon to see the new build ing jusb erected there for a boarding house, and concerning which a good deal of dis cussion has taken place lately, many people being under the impression that a publican's license would be applied for and it would, if possible, be opened as an hotel. All that we are in a position to say in this connection is that Mr Drummond assured our representa tive that he had ab present no intention of applying for a license for his new house, but had erected it because he recognised that Fairbon was a place sure to expand, and all property there would be enhanced in valne, in a shorb time. The faob that Mr Drum mond has already had more than one offer for his house proves the correctness of his judg ment. As to the building itself ibis certainly a credit to the place, and also to the designer and the workman engaged in its erection. Solidity, convenience, and up-to-dateness— if we may coin a word—are its oharacteris tics, and although it is built of wood, ib is exceptionally substantial. The architect, Mr Ager, has certainly designed a most commodious house, There are ten rooms

downstairs and fourteen upstairs, none of] them leiug h ss thaiilsft long besides a num ber of handy piaccß v iHeed as Btorerocms, lavatories, an excellent bathroom, scnllery, pantry, linen presses, etc. Tho halls and passages are exceptionally wide and con venient, as also are the two stairoa'®'; Ihe rocms are all lofty and each has an up to date ventilator in the cerinp. The stoves, too, are of the latest pattern and the kitchen range, 6ft wide, would di light any house wife. Outside is a collection of fix large tanks, connee'ed wi'h a windmill pump of the latest pattern. While the unocoup'ed lower portion of this structure is utilised as a large safe for food, etc, a capital ides. Altogether this building is a feature of Fairton, and there is no doubt those residents who may have to go into lodgings will hai' ita completion with satisfaction.

AN OXFORD EVICTION.

An Extraordinary History. The Christchurch Ft ess has unearthed the details of a most extraordinary eviction case at Oxford. We take the liberty of printing their report in cxtenso. The township of Oxford has been greatly disturbed of late by a remarkable eviction which has taken place in the districts For the paltry sum of 5s 3d a peaceful family of Moravian emigrants have been turned out of a house they built for themselves by tire less and patient industry, on a piece of God-forsaken country, the tack of attempt ing to cultivate which the boldest heart would shrink from in dismay. Bernard Langer and his family years ago bought this awful piece of wildercsss, They were ig norant of English customs, they had little or no money, and no road, yet they turned the spot into a garden by the sweat of their j brows. They were dunned for rates. T ey refused to pay—they had no road to benefit by. They were summoned and failed to respond. Their land was sold and the purchaser evicted them. Thi?, in short, is the case, bub the whole story of the lives of these people since they landed in Can terbury a quarter of a century ago reads "like a three-volume nove'." ' The people of Oxford all seem to regard the case as one of extreme hardship, and general sympathy with the family is ex pressed. This feeliog is shared by Mr H. W. Bishop, the stipendiary magistrate before whom the summons for rates was

heard, and who has interested himself in the matter.

"They refused to appear in answer to the summons," said Mr Bishop, " and the law allowed me no other course but to have the land sold by the Supreme Court. Barnard Langer had a Crown grant for hie land, and his family cannot understand, because they are ignorant foreign peasants, how the Sup reme Court can override their title. Old Langer himself died before the eviction, and his wife is so suspicious of fraud thib ehe cannot be got to sign the administration papers for the balance lefb over from the sale of the land after paying the costs, and it still lies in the Public Trustee's hands.

I have endeavoured to explain the matter to them, but it is useless, and the fact remains that they have lost their property and means of subsistence because they were too ignorant to pay a few shillings for rates, imagining the demand to be unjust. They have never been naturalised, and the old woman cannot even claim an old age pension. I wanted to get her to sign a claim so that the matter might be ventilated, bub she would nob even do that."

Mr John Ingram, the well known auction eer, is responsible for the facts concerning the earlier hisbory of the Langerp. They came out with a number of o'her Austrian emigrants in 1874 or 1875, and their subsequent history seems to have bren pretty much mixed up with •«' evictions " and such matters. Langer firsb found em ployment in the bash near Oxford East, and thep went bo the Glentui estate. Aftera

while the family decided to buy a home for themselves. They bought a timl! portion of the estate, built a little hut, aud seb up housekeeping in their own primitive way. They were exceedingly ingenious in devising their own implements, etc., and kept en tirely aparb from others. After a while the Glentui Estate found ife convenient to buy back the piece of land on which they were settled, and Langer bought a bit of ground from Mr Jofiah Wilox. They built another hub on what they imagined was their property, but which turned out to be on Mr S Mounßey'a land alongiiide. Mr Mnuneey wanted them to live on their own country. They did not see it, and were quite ratisfied U rtnuin where they were. Mr Mounsry wasn't, however, aud there was trouble. It took a year mere or less to oubt them. Then they went on the land again, and resided on the section of afeiiow countryman. He subsequently lefb it in the hands of the mortgagee, who was forced to sell to get his money, and was obliged to evict them. In the meantime they had built a hut, and by the tireless industry which has characterised them from firsb to last,.actually dug up the ground and vastly improved i\ They doubtless believed the property to be theirs, understanding just about as much of mortgagees as an average hiby does of Greek; and they resented ejeotment. lb took a matter of a year or two to get rid of them. Not to be baulked, they built a hut on the public road. Again Nemesis overtook them, They had to go, and thus finally they drifted to their own original section which they had bought from Josiah Wilcox. They prooeeded to build a house, and there they have lived until the last eviction.

Constable Leahy told the- reporter the police found the boundaries of their section for them; it was less trouble than con tinually looking after them—and planted them on ib. lb was covered with small manuka scrub, surrounded with birch bush and only approachable across a swamp. They buiib a good cob house, reared all sorts of animals, grew crops and vegetables on barren clay. Here these people lived in peace and happiness, growing rye wheat and saving the inferior crops, on which they existed without troubling anyone. They had no money, and did nob want any. The bush provided the timber for their carpentry, and the ground their food. They had a little home-made wooden plough, with which they tiled their cold hillside. Their meat

safe and store houses were trees hollowed out and fitted with doors rough hewn from the adjoining bush, and everything about them was the work of their own ingenious hands. No one ever complained of them, and they earned respect by their taciturnity and ceaseless industry. The family con sisted of the old man and his wife and

daughter and two sons, two other daughters being inmates of a hospital for the mentally diseased, and a third son being in America. The boys at home attended bohool, and were reported clever and intelligent. Constable Leahy firsb visibedlthe place to serve a sum mons in 1885 or 1886. He did nob serve

that summons because the old Moravian saw

him coming, and disappeared into the bush like a shooting star. Everything about the place was so perfectly clean and neab that one could take tea off the floor. The begin ning of the trouble was thsb they would nob pay road rates, because they had no road. The question continually cropped up at the meetings of the Oxford Road Board, but some of the members took a lenient view of

it, and the matter was leb drop Last winter the neighbours, who are all working people, were under the impression that they had no food, and some of them made an application for charitable aid, which was granted, i A ticket was given them on which they could I get goods to the value of so much. They would not use the ticket. Constable Leahy persuaded one of the boys to take up some goods to his mother. She would have noth ing to do with them, and evidently imagined it was some conspiracy to get them all out of the place. A summons was then served for rates due, and the constable took a con siderable amount of time in explaining that if they did not appear in support of their own side of the story, judgment would go against them. They took nob the slightest notice, and judgment was given in the usual way by the Magistrate, who could do nothing else. Ab last the Road Board sold the property through the Supreme Court. Ib was boughb by Mr John Wilson. This preyed on the old man's mind terribly, and about the time that Wilson boughb the property there came a rumour that he was I dead. Constable Leahy explained that an ! inquest was necessary, and one was held, the ' body being brought down to Oxford, as no jury would face the track to the house in winter. The aged widow refused to sign the depositions. She had told the whole truth, she said, but she was not going to sign any papers. Indeed, she seems to have stuck tog

this principle of hen religiously. She would riot even accept any refreshment. The purchaser then tried to obtain pos* session of his property, for which he had paid about £20. He gave them legal notice to quit. They stayed where they were. He then engaged a solicitor to take out a snmmons for possession. He had previously offered them the land for a small rental, but they would nob even reoogoue that he had any right to it. Proceedings were taken, and although Leahy explained the position of affairs until he was tired, they w_ould nor appear in Court. Judgment was given against them with seven days to quit. After seven days Leahy and a bailiff frem Christchurch took out a warrant for po: ses sion, and went off bo the house. The unfor tunate people's household goods were deposited on the hillside outside the bound ary fence. They immediately began to I erect a hub. It was a pouring web day, and Leahy told them that if they would come to the township he would get them a home. He then arranged with a Mr Taylor, who offered to lend them his house rent free, and even sent his carts for their belongings. They refused to budge. They spent ihi nighb in tht shelter they had erected, sod next day they built the miserable hut la which they are now living. They cook in the open air, and sleep in their tiny flax roofed hat, through which every shower of rain penetrates. The land they are on be longs to Mr E Feary, of View Hill, who has intimated that he will allow them to remain where they are* They wers evicted on November 20th, and have been living in the hub ever since. The cob house which thtse people have erected with so much labour nestles pictures quely in a clump of birch trees overlooking the section which was their farm. lb ia cer tainly a remarkable feat of industrious ingenuity. The doors and windows, floor and ceiling are all of hewn wood, dressed carefully, and fitted accurately.- The house contains an oven of eun»dried bricks, and a fireplace, and the five rooms, although ocr« tainly cell-like in appearance, look as if they had been comfortable enough. The house is surrounded by a garden and a small orchard, and a number of orn amenta! trees have been planted among the birch trees. There are numerous ingenious outhouses, all con* Btruoted in the same way, and evidence of the extraordinary amount of labour that I must have been expended. The section is twenty acres in extent, and is closely fenced. Around the outside of this fence is a solid

wall of stunted scrub. In*ide there is a stack of meadow grass and clover. The ground has been ploughed and dug, and dug and ploughed again, until it has become almost a garden, and the remains of crop can be seen against the house. There is a vegetable garden still fall of vegetables, and . i over the boundary, are dozens of busy hives i of bees, which the unfortunate settlers have j removed from off the prohibited ground. [ Near by is the miserable bub cleanly hub in which they are living. lb is an adequate protection in summer; in winter it will be uninhabitable. In it the writer found the old woman and her daughter. They ate, she said, what they could get. Her father had told her that id was " verra ruff" to take their land. The journalist and Constable Leahy en deavoured to explain the position of affairs once more- The woman listened patiently and stolid ly, but evidently it was a waste of word?. The dead man had told them it was «• verra ruff," and that settled it. " How are you going to do in the winter V " Ob, we don't knowj can't lif here ; too

cold." " Would you rather live in the towa« Bhip »■«■•.* " No ; can't get on with the Britishers." " What is your objection to charitable aid f' / " The Britishers charge us double for food when we buy it on the ticket. A week's supply not enough for one meal." " Why don't you get one of your country, men down at Oxford to buy it for yon then ?' "They charge him double, too." •' Then what are you going to do ?" " Don't know." This was all that was to be got out of them. Before leaving Oxford 7he Frtss repre sentative interviewed the clerk of the Oxford Road Board, Mr J. H. Sharp, on the Btzhj cb, Mr Sharp raid that Langer had never paid any rates. He had been sum moned in 1892 for 3j 91, and in 1896 for 5< 3d, and had not paid either. The Board then offered him work to earn a little money and work off the rates, but he would have nons of i%. As he took no notice of the summons, the Board decided to sell him up. He had previously been repeatedly let off rates. Ths Board waited six months before putting the matter in the hands of the Registrar of the Supreme Court, and the latter waited six months before sellirg the land. Then the section was advertised, and sold for £20. It was rated at £40, or £2 an aore, and had been valued for rating purposes as high as £3 an aore. The rates due had varied from Is 8d to 2s 6d a year. Including costs, the Road Board received about £1 Is 6d after the land was sold. The remainder of the money, exoepting £1, was eaten up in the Supreme Court costs. Constable Leahy and Mr Sharp both said they understood that the purchaser, Mr Wilson, had since sold the land to t third party for £80, so that it had passed oat of his hands, and there was less chance than ever of the Laagers getting it back, although they believed ths purchaser was willing to I ease it reasonably. Many people in the district who wen spoken to on the subject said that they would have paid the rates personally if they had known anything about the matter rather than the people should be svioted. The Road Board had, however, sold the land in Christchuroh, and Oxford people knew nothing about it. There can be no doubt that the unfortunate people have undergone great hardship, and have besn so smpicious and prejudiced against everyone that they are inameiuiurete blame, but it must be remembered that they are uneducated foreigners who can barely speak the English tongue, who had Acquired a home of iheir own by hart! work, and who were utterly ignorant of English customs. Ibis highly improbable that had they known the penalty they would have sacrificed their means of livelihood for 5s 3d,

THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN^ SATURDAY, MARCH 24, 1900





PU'BLiO NOTIOK. I OATES. LOWRY AND CO "VffTE HAVE now taken over hrger premises in the Jubilee Buildings, thus making our Ashburton branch the largest Cycle Works in the Distric\ Enormous Stock of NOVELTIES aud ACCESSORIES just to hand. [ GATES, LOWHY & 00., Burnett Street. ~J. WILSON 7" SIGN-Witir^li. LARGE STOCK OS wall papers, window glass, mixed paints, picture mouldings, ARTIST'S MATERIAL, &o. BUPNETT STREET, opposite Mail Office Telephone 65 • FOB IHIS MOISTS ONLY. JB. F. DAVEY, 25, Tuam Street, CHBISTCHURCH "T^NLARGING Photos, 12x10 worked in Hj Indian Inks, and Framed in Gill 22 x j 18 for £1 R Water colours £1 63, oils £1 10. I have been delivering thousands of photos in New Zealand for the last six years, and have given every satisfaction. We oin select a photo from any group or make any alteration. I will guarantee tbeee to be as good as the ones I have been delivering for £3, and will last for ageß. Don't forget to bring along your photo at oncn. 1 have arranged with Mfssrs Robottom & Co , to receive all orders at their Studio, Moore Street, (opposite Royal Hotel). Orders re ceived by post or otherwise. Should you require one copied from group, kindly place x {a oross) under the one you wished copied. The photos are worked by the best artists in the Australian colonies. This will last till ! Ist May. 3 12 NOTICE. NOTICE. Mrs Robottom HAVING again taken over her Studio, \ wishes the General Public to know that Bbc is doing ONE DOZEN CABINET PHOTOGRAPHS, Enamelled, And one only 12 x 10 ENLARGEMENT, worked in Indian Inks by a first class artist; framerl ia Gilt, eiz3 22 x 18, for the sum of £1 Is. £1 Is. Specimens on view at the Studio, Moore Street, opposite Royal Hotel, and Mr Jones, East Street, A«hbur,ton 3 129 OSBORN COOMBE, PIANO TUNER & EXPERT (Late of London), VISITS Ashburton and surrounding Die« trie's every four months—v'ss, Marcb, k x Ju!y, and*Novembe-. ORDERS may bo left with MR LLEWELLYN OWEN at his Music Studio, Arcado Chambers, Ashburton . or at Commercial Hotel. nnwrLLYTTwiir CERTIFICATED TEACHER. lOC4L Representative of the London J College of Music, and of the Musical International College. , PIANOFORTE, ORGAN, VIOLIN. MAN DOLINE, SINGING. HARMONY, j AND COUNTERPOINT. The new term will commence January 22nd. Intending pupils kindly communicate early. m H • M K^ CC « A ___j <3 M . q £ * g pq \«y h? o r_r] § $I; eft ik* 1 1 id g H I 3 Hlfq i_H W i__ Nw &2 f—. ' t-3 )B_a_« & Lord Roberts HAS considerably reduced the number of Boers during the past week. This „s the talk of the town, and so is the fact that the Gown Studio have reduced the price of first class Photography. Cabinets From 7s 6d per dozsn for f ho month of March. COME AND SEE OUR -Brilliant Victory IN HIGH-CLASS PHOTOGBAPHY. MITCH-ILL, BURNL«ISrRB3f. 3 J



Rudge-Whitworth Cycle Depot, Burnett Htreet. RITDGE WHIT WORTH CYCLES Lead the world. 1 Come and inspect the 1900 Model. I am SOLE AGENT for Ashburton for RUDGE - WHITWORTH k TRIBUNE BICYCLES. All Kinds of Machines Repaibfd. BICYCLES ON HIRE. STOCK OF ACCESSORIES. 2?* D. Johnston, BURNRTr STREET, Next « 'range Hall, ASHBURTON MOOTED COiiPS. A MEETING of all those who have r\ submitted their names for enrolment will be held in the Orange Hall on TUES DAY, March 27, at 7.30 p m. Business : To take the necessary atepa for the initiation of the Corp-u Personal attendance at this meeting 1b necessary, as the names mbmitted are in exceßS of the number rtquired. G. A. M. BUCKLEY, Captain Commanding. Any further information can be obtained frop! me, or from she Secretary, Mr G. Marriott Watson, Solicitor, Ashburton. . 3188 TINWALD TOWN BOABD. TENDERS are invited, to be sent in not later than March 30 next, for the 1 construction of Concrete Channelling on Archibald Street and Graham'a Road. ALFRED A. FOOKS, 3 166 Clerk Tinwald Town Board. "Smoke NeVVenus



THE StOK ARS CURED AND THE SCEPTICS LEFT TO WONDER. ,1 THE POLYPATHIC MEDICAL INSTITUTES OF SYDNEY, ADELAIDE AND MELBOURNE. Permanent New Zealand Brats oh Christchukch. I'nPHE wisest, best educated, and moßt enlightened : JL people are daily becoming converts to (those new principle and methods which are supported by such over-whelming evidence, snatainedbythe public, vfhohnveliad an opportunity of testing the remark wondetful success has spread like wildfire through an enlightened community, and amongst tho?e who had given up all hope of ever being well again, and Polvpathic System of treating Chronic Diseases, v\ hich has proved to be the hureet, quickest, and mobt reliable means of cum ever offered an pffl:c'ed people. When sit k is the time we need the best advice and treatment. Therefore we say—lnform yourselvf s, yon who are sick, and write to the Poly. pathic Institute, it you cannot call, and accept uoisof che myafcerioua skill—mor6convincing than Polypathy Cures with certa'nly where the old methods fail, Epih p3y Fits, Cancer, Piles (hither to considered incurable previous to our new system), They treat all Female Ailments by the Polypathic Method,|whlch does JawayS with all examination and allloc*l treatment' They also de sire to impress up m all men who are suffering that they have the justly celebrated Hindoo Remedy, so well and favourably known In the Old World as the " Antt-Agneohal Tabloid Method." All desiring to test thti eystem||will Jhave such opportunity. THOUSANDS CURED ANNUALLY BY CORRESPONDENCE. Write for Que-tion Lisc, envelnpinst Stamp for Reply. POLYPATHIC MEDICaL INSTITUTE. N.Z. BRANCH, CHRISTCHURCH Consultations lebk. "NOTICE TO FARMERS. ! • W E AEE CASH BUYERS OP PRIME MILLING WHEAT IN ANY QUANTITY Please take yoar Samples to the Mill. We can supply Oornsacka at cost price CANTERBURY ROLLER FLOUR MILLS, (ROLLITT AND C 0.,) J. B, HOBART, Manager. 17th March, 1900. ___ 3 1 GUNS. GUNS. GUNS. Cartridges ! Qattridges! Cartridges, Shot, Caps, Wads. BEFORE Buying any of the above Sporting Requisites cdl on "THE PEOPLE'S IRONMONGER," who has a splendid selection of Guns, etc, by all the beat known makers. TO Builders* and tho39 about to build I have ia Stock a Choice Anaortmmt of Tie and other Register Grates, Ranges, Mantelpieces, and all builderß IronmoDgery aS Lowest Prices, TOOLS! TOOLS! TOOLS! I have an immense Stock of Carpenters' and Mechanics' Tools, alt of the very be?t makes> and warranted, at prices which are now recognised aa the Standard Bedrock Hardware Prices in the Ashburton County. THAT MONEY SAVED IS MONEY EARNED & BUT FROM GH/rxrTfcT^TATQ \ the people's pract gal iron • IVXJOiJL/iJ'lxN O, J MONGER, Burnett Street, Agent for Cleveland and Imperial Rover Bicycles,



THE N Tew Zealand CLOTHING FACTOBY TS NOW SHOWING A LARGE STOCK OF Winter Goods Men's Sao Saita .. 21s, 25a, 29a 6d. Men's Tweed Trousers 7« 6d, 83 9J, S» 6d Men's Covert Coats .. 29s 6d, 39j 6d, 52» 6d Boys' Covert Coats from ..  14s Boys' Reefer Coats from .. .. 63 6d Boys' Sailor Suits from .. .. 7s Boys' Norfolk Suits from .. .. lis 6d 50 drzan Serge and Tweed Cap a. The largest variety in town. 20 dozen Soft Felt Hats, newest shape?. White Shirte 6a 6d, 6s 6d, 7a 6d, 8^ 6d, 9s6d A new line of short fronted White Shirts.- New Ties, Braces, Gloves, Mufflers, Collars, Umbrellas, Wool Shirts, etc. Ladies and Gentlemen's Watebpboof Coats, Made to Obder. A large variety of Patterns to ohooae from. NBSW ZEALA3ND CLOTHING FACTOBY. \ F. H. BEOKINGSALB, Hanager ALL BOOK DEBTS owing to The Ash burton Publishing Co., Ltd, as at Ist April, 1898, have been placed in my hands for collection. All Accounts not settled by I the 14bh April will be SUED FOR, without further notice. DAVID ZANDER, Commißsion Agent, Tancred Street, Ashburton March 22,1900. ST. STEPHEN'S CHURCH Ashburton. MID-LENT SUNDAY, (March 25 ) Harvest ThankßgiviDg. 8 30 a m—Holy Communion 11 am—Matins and Sermon 3 pm- SEAFIEi.D, The Vicar. DROMOEE —Mr T. A. Gates. 630 p m—Choral Evensong and Sermon The Church will be decorated for the Harvest Festival Gifts. Vegetables, fruit, or grain may be sent to the Schoolroom on Friday afternoon or Saturday morning, R. A. WOODTHORPE, M.A., Vicar WANTED KNOWN-That Mas Mo. Gbkgor has commenced businees in Ashburton again, next to Wm Patching's, East Street, and wishes to solicit a fair share of the patronage of her old customers and the general public. Hot dinners, fish suppers, tea and coffee daily at all hours. Vacancies for a lew boarders. 3 117 .



Ambkrlet, Dec 7, 1899 ECofy] Messrs Craighead Ahp Berryman Ashburton, Dear Sirs, —Could yon make a suit at once. I am sorry I forgot to order it sooner. The last one is still wearing. It fitted beautifully, and has given the greatest satisfaction. If j?ju have time to make one for my son at Geraldine, I will get him to ride up on Satur day to be fibbed. If there is nob time to send ■ patterns, I will trust you to choose for me, something like the last.—Yours truly, «2T The original letter as above from a we known gentleman and many others of equally high compliment may be seen ab out office— Craighead and Berryman, the Leading Tilors and Outfitters s Smoke New' Venus



Wood's Peppermint Cure for Coughs, Colds, etc



; .'TRANSVAAL I WAR. y .Reported Belief of Mafeking. b War Office Awaits Verification. I Buller Preparing to Advance. i B United Press Association—By Eleobrio * b Telegraph—Copyright J LoNDOfk, March 22 J Colonel Flumer's advance to the y relief of Mafeking is being hampered [ by three train loads of supplies for the r relief of the besieged. ', The artillery at Fourteen Streams > drove the Boers in the direction of Christiana, 1 March 23 ■ It is reported that Mafeking has > been relieved. The War Office awaits verification of the report. Later. The War Office withholds, until it is verified, a message that Mafeking has been relieved. A scout brought news that the Britishers were going north. The Free State burghers desiring to surrender are so numerous that Lord Roberts has sent small columns in various directions to register their names. The Bloemfoatein correspondent of The Times states that Kruger on the 21st issued a proclamation annexing the Free State. Mr Steyn published a counter proclamation that the Free State was intact. ; The Daily Mail states that Steyn, I replying to Lord Roberts, declared tut