Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 1900.

Some interesting and pathetic details are published of the death of Dr. Oatnara

Pestana, the enthu siastic and brilliant physician, who f«ll

A HEMGAIi HERO.

a victim to tho plague in Portugal through hia anxiety to learn all that he could about it. Ho waa dissecting the body of a patient who had died from plague, and in order to extract tho virus more thoroughly for analysis, he put aside his instruments and worked with his fingers. The poison entered hia ny« tern under the finger-nails, and he wab struck down with the terrible disease which he was investigating. He was at once moved to an isolated ward set apart for plague sufferers, and there he act himself to study his own case, and to record for the benefit of humanity his own symptoms and the course of the disease. He refused to see his brother for fear of infection, and in every way, even in making arrangements for his own funeral, he took every precaution to prevent the spread of the plague. His mind and will eonquetefriiis bodily Bufferings until the very end, and even as he died he wan still trying to indicate to thosa around him the iensons of' his own case. He left a letter for the Queen of Portugal begging for her in fluence in favour of his colleagues at the Lisbon Bacteriological Institute. So died the heroic doctor, who had toiled for months amid the horrors o? the plague hospital and dissecting-room, and at last gave hia life a willing sacri fice for the benefit of the whole world.

January 6 was the anniveraary of one of the most humiliating experience

ever undergone by soldiers of

THE Mill REGIMENT.

Queen Victoria. On January 6, 1842, a force, consisting of about 4500 armed men, of whom about 690 were Europeans, evacuated the cantonments o£ Oabul, and set out, through the snow, on their way to India. Owing to the incompetence of poor old General Elphinstone, who had been placed in command against his will, our people had been left to the tender mercies of Akh&r Khan, who had good reason for bearing tio goodwill to those who were in allegiance to the British Government. The force was accompanied by some 12,000 camp followers, natives of India; and many invalids and " sick, and wives and children of the Knglish officers and their men. The Afghans occupied the cantonments as our people left, rending the air with their exulting cries, and committing every kind of atrocity. As the rear guard moved away in the twilighf, an officer and fifty men were left dead in the snow, shot by the Afghans. Babes lay in the snow abandoned by their mothers, themselves prostrate, and dying a few yarda further on. It was a bitterly cold night. Out in the open, among the snow, soldiers and camp followers, foodless, fireiess, and shelterless, froze to death in numbers, and many more were frost-bitten. No orders were given out, no bu»le sounded the march, on the morning of January 7. That night the snow lay a foot deep on the ground. On the following morning only a few hundred serviceable men remained. The English ladies sat in the bullet fire, packed into panniers, strung on camels, invalids, as some of them were—one poor woman, with her baby, only five days old. The Ghiizu men fired at 50yds, causing our men to fall fast. Lady Sale had a bullet in her arm, and three more through her dress, H M.'a 44th Regiment formed the rear guard, aad suffered severely in the Khoord Oabul Pass; in which there were left dead 500 soldiers and over 2500 camp followers. All the boiies were stripped. There were children cut in two. Snow fell all that night on our tentless people. Some of the soldiers' wives, still weak from childbirth, were nursing infants only a few days old. On January 10 a deep gorge was reached, not more than 10ft wide. Men fell fast there, struck down by Afghan bullets from the heights, The gorge was blocked with our dead and dying* The remnant of the army consisted now of about seventy files of H.M's 44th Regiment, and a few Indian troopers and gunners. Our men agreed to lay down their arms, on con dition of being allowed to continue their journey to India unmolested. On January 11 volley after volley was poured down upon the weary stragglers by the faithless and merciles? Afghans, The sick and wounded were perforce left behind that night, and into the remaining sufferers, a little further on —a seething mass of soldiers and followers—the Afghans fired their hardest. Face to face with death, on the rocky Jugdulluk our officers and men alike fought with cool and deadly rancour. A sfliant remnant of the force wrought out its escape from that slaughter pit. On the morning of January 13 about twenty English officers and forty-five soldiers remained. Of these, all were, one by onp, killed, until one only was left, Dr Brydon, to reach Jeilalabad, and report what had happened. He alone survived, besides the few who had given themselves up prisoners to Akbar Kban.

Local and General.

* # * Ok the first page to-day will bo found commercial news, and on the fourth page miscellaneous items.

Thk War FuND~Mr Thomas Stone and Mr J. Quiglay have contributed £1 la eaah towards the war fund, their donations being in lieu of horse feed.

Thh New Guinea Syndicate—Sir Seiners Vine and the New Guinea syndicate have renewed the application for compensation. Mr Lyne, the Premier of New South Wales, states he will not grant the request unless direpted by Parliament to do bo.

I NigHTiNaalbs.—The following are the names of donors of •• which will be forwarded from Chrißtohssrsh to the front:—From Aehburton :-—Per Mrs Our tie ; Mrs Rudolf Friedlander 1, Mrs David Zmder I, Mrs A Orr 1, Mrs S. De Beer 1, Craighead and Berryman 1, Mrs Bruce 1, Mrs T. F. Gibson i, Mts J. Timmins 1, Mr H. 0 Turner 1. Mrs Baxter 2, Mrs T. N, GraDger 1. From Uhertsey :■—Per Mrs Wilkinson f Mrs T. H, Willis 1, Mrs A. Ironside 1, Mrs J. Ironside \, Mrs Dickie 1, Mrs Oopeland 1, Miss Horenell }, Miss Stringfellow 1, Miss M. Siringfellow I, Mrs B. Stewart 1, Mrs Wilkinson 1, Mia McLean 1, Mrs J. Stew rt 1, Mrs Haydock and Mrs Davison 1, Mrs P. Jones 1, Mrs Magson 1, Miss Beck 1, Miss M. Campbell I, Mr« Jaokoon 1, Mrs Boas 1, Mrs

Runs Children—A correspondent writes complaining that gome children in Trevor tin nnnoy passers hy, and suggesting that the police look up some of the offenders.

Pishino.—We are informed by a resident of KaiKit mi a that near v\.e Upper Rangitata Bridge the river i« fairly swarming with trout and good catches aro being mude daily.

Kates ok Fat—The following will be the rates of pay to the necond Contingent: — Major, £1 Is pur day ; capbiuu, 16 ; lieu tenant, llu 6d; surge n, 18"; staff oet geunbs, Bs'. sergountn, 6s; corporals, ss; buglers aii'i privates, 4h.

Patriotic Fund — The inmates of the Old j Menu Homo havit, with iho donoi'n consent, I « inttibutcd a portion of the Christm a gift) of tobaooo reoonrly given to them by Mr G. A. M. Buckley. The amount; thus con tributed lolala about ninofy sticks of Juno. It, it proposed to sell this to the beat advantage, and hand the proceeds to the Mayor, as the old men's contribution to the Patriotic Fund. The following ure tho nam a of the contributors, each of whom gave two Micks: — Charles Barnes, Goorge Fuller, Henry Ghnmberlain, John Basaett, John Seaward, John Morrin, M. O'Connor, James Whyto, George Bithursli, William Blewett, Thomas Hawkley, William Carpenter, John Collins, Robert Wilson, J. Heror), H. Reitz, Thomas Thompson, William Oarr, P. Mnmrby, James Campbell, Henry Oavell, RioluiT.i Butler, A. Walmao, James Hatty, P. Bertrand, H. Adams, Joseph Woolrich, A, Lawcook, A. Phemister, John Stevens, Joe Marriott, James Bpivey, William Pepper, John Wiillwork, George Hanson, A. Deonia, James Newth, Will Jam Maohan, H. Bokhoflf, R. Kodgers, Danit Cullen,'John Johnston, William Abraham, Gustavua Fox, Henry Pettigrew. Cash in lieu of tobacoo :— Walter Callen Is, Walter Shave la, T. Jones 2s—The patriotic fund at; Timaru lasb night was added to by just over £100 The total for Timaru to date is about) £500.— Press Association telegram.

Bats and thh Plagub—The faot that numbers of dead rats have been found in the plague-infested parts of the town of Noumea (says the Australian Star of Satur day week), and also on board the infeoted etoomer St. Pierre, bear out the theory of the medical men engaged in plague work during the recent awful visitation in the Bombay Presidency—viz , that rats thetn- Belves are subject to the bubonic plague, and are, therefore, frequently the medium by which the disease is oonveyed from one point to another. Dr Ashburton Thompson appe<rs to be fully alive to this danger, as, speaking to a representative of the Star recently, he remarked :—" I would advise everybody to begin killing rate." The advice is good as far aa it goes, but would hardly be practicable in the case of rats brought to any port by an infeoted ship. It is well known that rats have an instinct which leads them to quit a vessel upon which anything unpleasant to themselves is transpiring. They oannot vacate their quarters in mid-ocean, but immediately the anchor ia down they will, as all sailors know, swarm down the cable, take to the water, and boldly make for the shore. Then, if any of the rodents chance to be infeoted, the mischief is done."

SHOCKING ACCIDENT.

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph Palmeesxok Noeth Jan 11,

A shocking accident occurred in the Fitz horbert district last evening resulting in the death of a youth named Archie Cameron. A party of about sixteen young people were proceeding from Palmerston to the residence of a settler in Fitzherberfc district; to spend the evening, and when four miles from town the brake failed to act while deßoending a sharp hill, and the vehicle was carried over the side and down into a steep gully. The drop was fully thirty feeb and is is mar vellous how so many escaped being killed. One young lady, Misa Cameron, sister of the youth killed is atill unconscious. Miss CJhristensen sustained a dislocation of the thigh ; Miss Jack who was badly bruised abut the back and leg, waa evidently kicked by the horses ; Master Jack pulled a girl off ihe brake just as it was capsiriog. The others sustained minor injuries. Young Oameron'd mother is a widow re&iding in PtdmeratoD. -- A man named 7)aniel Arrowsmith, rest denb of tha New Plymouth district, died rather suddenly at the Masonic Hotel this morning. Deceased waß seizad with a fit, and shortly afterwards expired.

SOUTH AFRICA AS A MARKET

Uniced Press Association—By Electric

Telegraph

Wellington, January 10 The following are extracts from a letter received by the Premier from Capetown : - " Pleased to hear that the shippers have decided to send mutton and lamb on to JLondon, price here not being favorab'e* Batter and cheese, etc , will meet with a very good Bale acs the market ia bare, Had freights direct been available 1 could have sold a great quantity of produce. Merchants will not bay for shipment via Sydney or Melbourne, as the freights are too heavy, and the time taken fco reach here so long. The war will make things very bad for some time. When the country is settled under the British flag it will be ft very big market for all lines of produce. I think bhe cqie* panics should be approached with regard to a direct line of steamers, miking Durban the grab port of call, and going into East London, Porb Elizabeth, and Capetown to discharge South African cargo, and then on to London. Possibly the companies may make an offer that would be satisfactory. New Zealand must have cheap and regular freight to compete with America and Aus tralia,"

THE LATEST.

Home and Foreign.

Onibed Press Assooiation—By Eleofcrio

Telegraph—Copyright

{Received Wakapuaka Jan. 11, 10,5 a.m, Ibis Office J0.36 a.m) Qbituary. London January 9 Obituary—William Bates, the York shire cricketer, aged ii. Fire.

New York, January 10 The house of Joseph Pullitzer, mil lionaire, New York, was destroyed by fire. The housekeeper and governess were killed ia trying to efet their escape. Mrs Pullitzer heroically res cued the children, The Philippines. Manilla, January 10 The Americans have defeated the Filipinos s?,est of IJacolod, Island of Luzon, killing one huadred,

Australian

United Press Association—By Electric

Telegraph—Copyright

(Received Wakapuaka Jan. 11, 10.30 am, This Office 10.45 a.m) The Pacific Cable. Sydney, January 11 The Postmaster-General has received a cable from the Agent-General stating thai; £hp agents of New Zealand, Queensland, and Canada are opposed to the Oape cable scheme on the ground that it would seriously interiors witfc the Pacific cable. " ; T!je Railway Strike. Pp^TH January jl 1 | The railway strike js ended, the! strikers baying virtually given in unconditionally.

TRANSVAAL WAR.

Boer Entrenchments-at Modder River

Australian Aid.

Queensland's Patrio'ism.

Proposed Increase of Australian

Force.

United Preen AnHooifttion—By Electric Telegraph—Copydghb

London, January 9

Correspondents reporting from Lidy smith on Tuesday state that there was no anxiety about the town holding out.

Lord Lamington, Governor of Queens land, who is viaiting England, speak ing at St. Pancras, eulogised Queens land sending a contingent. He rejoiced that Australia, which was nurtured in peace, realised the issues of the crisis. Federation would im part a wider outlook and strength to the defence of an indissoluble Empire.

Capetown, January 9 Thirty thousand Boers are needed to defend the Modder river entrench' merits. Sydney, January 10 The Premier of Queensland has telegraphed to Mr Lyne, suggesting that the aggregate force from Australia for South Africa should be brought up to 5000. Mr Lyne offers no objection, but points out that on a population basis New South Wales has already almost contributed her quota.

Our Boys' Pluck.

Wauchope's Last Words Explained

Boer Garrison at Dordrecht

Rebels to be Tried for Treason

The Modder Entrenchments.

How Transvaal Munitions Passed

the Cape Customs.

A General Likely to be Superseded

Another Boer Trick.

(Received Wakapuaka Jan. 10, 10 50 p.m This Office 11.25 p.m)

Capetown, Jan. 10

The New Zealanders, on approaching Colesburg, offered to capture the enemy's big gun, but General. French, while he admired their pluck, declared the operation too risky.

Correspondents' accounts show that differences occurred between Colonel Wauchope and Lord Methuen as to the plans of the attack on Magersfontein. A thousand rebels garrison Derdrocht.

Colonel Pilcher's prisoners have been brought to Capetown, where they will be tried for treason.

Thirty thousand Baers are needed to defend the Modder entrenchments.

The Afrikander Bund party in 1896 secured the appointment of two ex amining officers in the Customs house »t Capetown. These passed munitions of war for the TraDSvaal without question. The men have since dis appeared.

London, Jamiary 10 The Daily Mail bints that one General at the front will shortly be superseded. Dueban, January 10 General Joubert on Friday sent General White an imaginary com plaint. The messenger carried a white flag and was doubtless a spy.

The Corps of Bushmen.

(Received Wakapuaka Jan 10, 10,5 a.m, This Office 10.54 a.m)

Sydney, January 10 Over four hundred buahmen have enrolled. The subscriptions for their equipment have reached £20,500. Mr Sam Hordern has given £3000, as well as a Rontgen ray apparatus, and a competent operator.

General French Successfully Operates.

Britannia Rales the Bourses,

(Received Wakapuaka Jan. 11, 9.50 a,m This Office 10.12 a.m) Capetown, January 10 General French with a detachment of Household cavalry operated on Sunday on the enemy's east flank. The Boers withdrew in order to protect the lines of communication with Norval's Point. London, January 10 In consequence of Genera! White's success at Ladyamith a strong and significant revival has occurred on the Paris and Berlin bourses.

The British Cost for Retiring.

Received Wakapuaka Jan. 11, 10.5 *-m This Office 10,36 *.m

Capetown, January 10 In the recent night attack when the gQer trjck of sounding the British retire succeeded, OolpneJ Watson and three officers and 23 men of the Suffolk regiment were killed and 22 wounded, while 113 are missing.

The Generalship at Magersfontein

Boer Sympathisers in America,

Eeceivsd V^akapuaka Jan. 11, 10 20 a.m, ■ " This Office JLO.4S A.m) London, 1 January 30 Soldiers' letters abound with com plaints of tljie generalship at the battle of Magersfontein. New York, January 1@

American democrats are exhibiting stroDg pro Boer sympathies, hoping thus to secure the Irish and German votes.

The Contingent

United Press Association—By Electric (Telegraph.

Wellington, January 10

Messrs James and Frangis Armstrong, of Akiteo, have donated £50 to the patriot!? fund. '■' >

The Premier has replied to several offers of the services of New Zealand nurses, that government) is not sending nurses, as fch;3 sick and wounded will be amply cared for py the Imperial Army Medical depart ment. ' '

The defence authorities will sudsayor to e«ad the HoKhkiis battery by the W»iwer»,

The first battalion of the Wellington} Rifles and Cycle Corps are ordered to paro.de j on Saturday for the purpose of takiug parb \ in field operations with the contingenf. i

Battle of Magersfontein.

DETAILS OF THE ATTACK.

(Received Wakapuaka Jan. 10, 10.15 a.m, This Office 12-25 p.m) * Sydney, January 10

The Boers' trenches at the battle of Magerefontein extended far beyond the \ kopja and opon plain. Those on the plain were hidden by screens of leaves; those near the kopje were guarded by a double line of barbed wirp. Afior raking the enemy's trenches with the fire from thiity guns, the Highlanders at dawn were sent across the veldt, where they were suddenly subjected to a murderous fire from four trenches in front. The greater part of the foarful lose of the day was suffered in a eingle minute. The startled and overwhelmed brigade retired quickly, bub soon rallied and retained its position. This was on the left, On the right the guards' brigade advancing across the veldt against the outside trenches fought an invisible foe for fifteen hours. The Gordon Highlanders were sent forward, and [ the Boers allowed them to pass one line oi ■ trenches and then enfiladed them, when the Highlanders met) a murderoui point blank fire. Aboub two hundred were mown down. The Black Watch again reforming were only able to muster 140 men. The Boers also lost severely. The second advance by the Gordons in the afternoon was likewise repulsed; They gob within two hundred yards, when ib was found physically im possible to bake the trenches. Although the enemy's artillery was practically silenced, the rifle fire wai persistent, concentrated, and well aimed. The destruction wrought by the British naval gunß was enormous, and the Boers confessed that it was their greatest loss during the war.

War Items.

The Boers return their loss in the Belmont fight as 18 killed and wounded. The Anglophobe Pa trie in Paris is selling Boer flags. The Scots Guards have all been inoculated with the typhoid serum. The march from Dundee to Ladysmith was done on dry biscuits, muddy water, and aalb meat. Some of the men were so sleepy they fell down sound asleep.

A Buluwayo newspaper states that after the engagement at Mafeking seven waggons filled with dead and wounded Boers were Bent back to their base oamp.

A letter from Aliwal North says :-—" A native woman has seen many Dutch lying dead near Mafeking, with no wounds on them; I wonder what that meant ?'

The War Office has accepted the offer of Messrs Henry Thomson and Co., of Newry, to send 100 cases of fine old Irish whisky to South Africa for the use of the troops. It is stated that 6000 Free Staters have left the besieging fores round Ladysmith, entertaining the gravest feara concerning the safety of their own country.

Major Albrecht, who had charge of the Bo^r artillery opposed to Lord Methuen's force, is the commanding officer of the Free State regular army —to wit, the Free State Artillery.

The Singers' News states that the Irish Brigade, sow serving with the Boer forces at L»dysmith, have received a flag from Dub lin. It is a green fl*g, with a harp in the centre 9*

Mr W. Allen, M.F. for Newcastie-ander- Lyme, eldest son of Mr W. 8. Allen, of Ann&ndale, Piako, is one of the volunteers for the Imperial Yeomanry for servioe in the Transvaal.

" The time I felt most inclined to ran away," writes an officer after Elandslaagte, "was, oddly enough, when we were nearly a mile from them and were firing long-range volleys at each other." A iady fleeing from Johannesburg offered a Boer at a railway station two sovereigns for a little water for her sick child. He snatched the money out of her hand, but brought no water, and the child died.

" Yesterday," says a privata letter from MaritsSurg, "the bGuae of two men, about tea miles oat, was found packed to the roof with ail kinds of provisions for their Boer friends when they should arrive."

Mr F. S. Dasbarres, of GHsborne, has re ceived advice that his brother, Captain Deabarrea, of the 4th Irish Rifles, was wounded and taken prisoner during the recent engagement with the enemy at Modder River.

It is significant that a few weeks sinoe contracts were given out for the equipment of 12,000 men belonging to the Royal Naval Reserve. The whole of the kits are now io store, ready for issue at twenty-four hours' notice. British agents have been so industrious in travelling all over Spain and buying at high prices all the cattle they could find, for ship ment to South Africa, that Madrid and other towns are now in danger of a meat famine.

In a lecture on South Africa, the Hon. Evelyn Ashley said he knew enough about matters in South Africa to think that Presi dent Steyn most likely received £50,000 or £60,000 to get the Orange Free State to Join the Transvaal.

Each of ths mountings of the naval guns at Ladyemifch has an inscription upon it. One runs, " Those who sup with me will require a devil of a long epoop "; another, " Lay me true and. load me tight, and the Boers will soon be out of sight," A colonist at Aliwal North writes ;-— " Lazy Dutch farmers in the Lady Grey district, who are so poor that their children have bat one garment, have been able to plank down their ten sovereigns for rife and ammunition, Who gaye them the money 1" Piccadilly and Pall Mali (remarks a Lon don correspondent) are fast losing the joyous character so long associated with them, Sinoe the first casualties were reported there has been a marked Increase in the number of people who pass along these thoroughfares wearing mourning, A Papakura Valley correspondent writes s—• Great interest is taken in the move* meats of the New Zealand contingent at the Transvaal all over the colony, but an in creased interest ia taken here owing to seyeral of our number having gone from this district. W. Muir, a member of the Hawera Mounted Rifles, is a son of Mr James Muir of this place; and W. Bodle, is a son of Dr. Bodle, who, although now living in town, is an old settler here, James Jenka is a stepson of Mr J Murchison, and Sergeant Harroweil is a nephew of Mr H. Harrowell, whose home is in this district. We all wish them a aafe and speedy return. ! The number of Boer shells thrown into Ladyemith since the beginning of the siege to November 25 may be given as 2580. Of that number 1070 went into the town itself, 850 were directed to the Natal batteries, and the remaining numbers reached the different oampa, including the old permanent camp. Taking the larger type of shells thrown by the Boers and the smaller, and giving an average value of £17 10s for each shell, it is seen thai) the monetary value o| the bombardment of Ladysmith to the Boers has been about £50,000, Eight of our men have been killed by shells, or one man for every 335 shells. It bhus oost the Boers between £6000 and £7000 to kill a man in Ladysmith.

AN OUTSPOKEN CLERGYMAN.

Capetown, November 27.—Preaohing at Sfcellenbosoh, Cape Colony, on Sunday from the text, •• Thy kingdom Gome,'? the ]Re?; J. Hax'eton, of the Pfeabytorian Church, said :-i"Our brethrsn of the Dutch Church are observing this day aa a day of bumilia» lion and prayer on account of the: war, aud I thinly itl my duty to gay »' wbr4 oa this matter, If our brethren at the Dupoh Church would only listen, my words would take the form of a message, and my message to-day would be j For God's sake, brother, give up this sentimental whining in what you are pleased to call 'crying to God.' Have done with your days of humiliation, and open your eyes to the facts of life around you ; and when you see God'B eternal truth, go forth and teach your people that they are fighting against God's will; that they are fighting the oause of tyranny, corrup tion, race-hatred, dissension, and strife ; wnija she who^ they pall the enemy is try tog to mvß them from themselves, and is fighting for the very charter of human liberty aud progress; and with the blood , of the best of her sons is purchasing' the | peace and progress and prosperity of this country; aud her battle is not only the white man's, but the black man's also. Bhe fa ffgbjing for bi« right) to grow fttroßg

under her benignant rule—that bo be nob merely a slave, bub Gcd's fieeman. I do nob hesitate to say bhat England's victory would be the victory of the kingdom of God, because h would establish on a lastt g basis the peace of South Africa. With profound sorrow of heart, I must suy bhat if the Dutch Church, the" great Dutch Church, with her powerful iniuenoe in this country, had no been untru i to her calling, we would cob have hud the baptism of blood in South Africa to-ctay."

LOOTING FARMHOUSES.

Frekb Camp, November 28 —AH farms and stores round about have been looted, and a great deal of wanton destruction baa been done in houses. Drawers have been turned out, and the contents thrown to the wi»d ; furniture has been smashed, pio ures have been torn from the walls and dashed on the floor. Ia one farmhouse close by, a portrait of Mr Gladstone ig lying in the hall, and looks aa if the Boers had nsed it as a doormat, while in another house the por* trait of the Queen bangs untouched upon the walls. Ia mosb oases bed mattr«ss«s have been cub open, and the straw and hair etrewn about, as if with the intention of setting fire to buildings, bub only one or two stores have been burned. Ia farmhouses not much beyond clothes and eatables has actually been removed, but the wreckage in 1 the majority of instances is as complete as ib is aimless. Id one farmhouse someone has written on the walls in black paint the words, " Verdomde Rooinek," and at one of the xailway level crossings where there was a warning to beware of passing trains, the warning has been altered to read, " Beware of the Boer locomotive."

PRETORIA PREPARING FOR A SIEGE

Durban, Deoamber I—Latest arrivals from Pretoria state that the Boers still profeta the fullest confidence, and are preparing for a big stand at Pretoria, laying ia their provisions and ammunition for a six months' siege.

THE BRITISH PRISONERS AT PRETORIA.

Mabitzbubg, December 2.—News from Pretoria states that the British prisoners ara h*ppy and well, and are guarded by boys between fourteen and fifteen years of age. They are kept in a laager composed of an impassable barrier of barbed wire and well gaarded. Their principal amusement is pitoh-and-toss. President Kroger' visits the prisoners at Pretoria, and walks rtwni es» sorted by a guard. News of the war at Pretoria is scares, and it is always the same tale—one killed aad two wounded* She doctor of one of the Irish regiments is at tending the British wounded at> Pretoria, and they are being well looked after.

SAD SCENES AT ORANGE RIVER.

Obangh Riveb, November 30. —It was eightp'clock last night when the first train containing the wounded arrived from Modder river. At first people thought it was »o ordinary goods train, but as it came to a standstill bandaged faoes appeared from the darkness of the trucks, and haafcy voioes calling for water intimated the arrival of a large batch of wounded. The scene of detraining was most impressive. On th« dimly • lit station platform all available stretcher-bearers were gathered. Civilians, railway officials, and postal staff all came forward to assist in the work of removal. Some poor fellows presented a terrible sight. What was marvellous was the splendid grib and indomitable courage shown by the wounded men. Imagine, if you oan, a man shot through the body, with the very death dews on his facs, chuckling between par oxysma of pain at tbe memory of some smart manoeuvre of his company. For two hoars the work continued. The stretcher parties were travelling between the train andY the hospital most of the night, for midnight saw the arrival of another train-load. Surgeon- General Wilson superintended, and the men of the Royal Army Medical Corps did splendid work.

A PATHETIC ASPECT OF THE WAR.

The Natal Mercury of November 27 says : —Whilst the Boer war is not, in the literal sense, a civil war, yet there are some con -1 siderable features which give it & striking resemblance to that moat awful form of war. la the free State particularly there are many families, in which, in time of psaoe, sous have been induced, for the best reasons, to become barghers of the State. Born in the country, their business having grown through many years of hard work and friendly connections with the Boers, they have signed the burgher roll, partly (not anticipating the likelihood of war) tor com mercial an well as sociil reasons. A young man haa an infinitely better ohanoe of a good situation and a lucrative career if he is a burgher, and it adds greatly to hie comfort and happiness in the country of his adoption. When the war suddenly broke oat, and President) Steyn startled so many of Mi burghers by joining the Transvaal, pathetio indeed was the situation in many families,. In some there are men who are member* of the Colonial Yoiunteers and Folioe corps, while their owe brothers are in the com mandoes, of the Free State. Can any position be more fearful | Imagine a mother anguished by the knowledge that some of her sons ara confronting one another as enforced foes, and by the probability tbat they may indeed meet face to face on the battlefield, Yet this is the sad case in several known instances, It is one of those worse than sad accompaniments of war.

OPEN SEDITION.

On December 5 a representative of the Cape limes had an interesting conversation with Mr John Gooke, a resident of Renter atad, who has jait arrived in Capetown from that district, which he left) under a permit on Monday week. Mr Cooks itatei that Yenterstad was ooonpied by a ■mall force of about 26 Free Staters, who were received with open armi by ths residents. The. whole district rote practically to a man, and went over to the Free Staters of their owe free will, many of them wifchoat wailing to be commandeered. All the mo»t influential farmeri of the diitriot offered their services (which were, of coarse, accepted), and con stituted themselves a " Commandeering Committee," Those loyal or more prudent British subjects who preferred to take no part in this open sedition, were given seven days to dear out of the district, "GosHe our guide" was being said on every side, and the Boers and their rebel assistants were talking in tones of absolute conviction of marobingstraightthrongh toOapetown. Such of the residents who refused to be comman daered were instructed to proceed at once to Capetown and prepare coffee for the advancing Boer hosts. This was being said, be it noted, in no spirit of braggadocoio, but in dead earnest, everyone thoroughly believing that the British forces would be driven steadily baok before the enemy on to Capetown. As to the actual number* of the colonists who have seceded, Mr Cooke esti mates them at a low estimate at 2300. "Practically you oan say that the whole district bit turned fkertoa man,?' general Butler's' declaration produced very*' little eflfeot, according to Mr Oooke. The people wanted something more tangible that a pro miee, and when the Boer commandant de clared Yenterstad Free State territory they took him at his word, and thoroughly believed that they were henceforth Free State sub jects. |The new Landrost, or " Resident Vredereohter," of Venterstad, under Free State " rale," is P. J. Vlljoen, lately a soab iaapewot fa the etnplotf of the -Colonial Government; . ' •'■?;. • <v* --•* '

THE ft'HBTON 3UARDIAN t THUftSDat. JANUAbY 11,1900



PRIZE POULTRY —For Bale, ohe*p, to reduce Btock—Pure-bred Golden and Silver Wyandotte, Andaiusian and Orpington cull chicks about three months olri; as good as show birds for breeding "and utility pnrpoßes. Apply tffio=i of this paper or Polham yards, Peter Street. FOR THIS WEEK. OPECIAL Lines Prints at 3^d per yarJ. Special Lines Prints at 4|d per yard. Special Lines Prints and Zyphers at 6Jd per yard. Fpecial Line Press Material, usual price Is 9d; 5s lid Dress Length, - Big Line Sample Corsets, prices from 4s lid to Jos6d; to clear at 2s lid per pair. And many other tempting Lines in all departments, ASHBUETON 'DRAPERY GdMPAHY.



CHRISTMAS AKD NEW YEAK HOLIDAYS. TTIVERYTHING A Cyclist requiras from 6d worth of Graphite to a 1900 Zetvhodi*. Bicycle. Price 4381. DATES, LOWBY AND CO BURNETT STREET. ! Cheftpast and beet stock in Ashbnrton. CHKBTMAS7IB99. WE HAVE WOW IN STOCK AND ARRIVING FOR OUR CHRISTMAS TRADE LARGE SUPPLIES New Currants and Raisins, new £ul tanas and Candid Peels, new Muscatels and Almonds, new Dossicated Cocoannt and Silkdrrsaed Iceing Sucar, new kinds Fruits,including;Apricots, PearSjjPeaches, Tine Apple, and Table Pluma. The Fineafc TEAS and SUGARS in Town. NOW LAIS DING, A SHIPMKNT of high-class jEngUsb China direct from the Potteries. AH {the latest Pa'.terne. XL O— A SHIPMENT Of CHOICE CHRISTMAS NOTFLTIES, Dirt ct from Japan. Pleaae send your Orders early and ligo We are Agents for COLUMBIA, B.S.A. and LOVFXL DIAMOND, BICYOLEB. CABSON & Co., (TEA MERCHANTS AND BLENDERS, GROCERS, AND IRONMONGERS. Importers of Bicyolea, Ironmongery, Gifts and China. '■ Takubbp Stbiet, Aahburton. New Zealand CLOTHING FACTORY J QPECIAL Line* in TENNIS SHIRTS FANCY BTBIPES from ;3is OH, new Patterns. White and Cream Matt Shirt?, 4s 6d and 5a 6d. White and Cream Cellular Shirts, sa. The Newest gty'es}*in Fashion Shirts and Whit* Shirts, with fancy Gu&s mi Fronts. Men's Panama Straw Hats, Men's Brazilian Straw Hats, Men's Clnb Straws from 2s, Splendid Variety to select from. Men's Frame Hats, Men's Sofb Felts. Men's Tennis Hate, Men's White Felts. bootsTboots Newest Shape Tab Boots'l6B 6d, 18a, 23s 6d Black Glaoe Kid Boots,' 16b 6d ; Tennis Shoes 15&6 d, Men's, Women's, and Children's Canvas Shoe?. LARGE STOCK AT LOW PRICES. ■«. ALL AND UNMPJECSI?. SUITS TO MEAS¥RE A SPECIALTY. FIT GUARAN TEED. NEW ZKALAKD CLOTHING FACTOBY. F. H. BEOKIJSGSALB, Manager.



FOB SALE. CARTER'S TERKAOE, TINWALD. Mr Alex, Hewson having purchased a Property at A Hen ton, I HAVE been instracted by him to Sell hia well • known Property, situated on Carter's Terrac, Tinwald consisting of an eight-roomed House comprising Sitting Room, Dining Room, S Bedrooms, Kitchen, etc , with a con venient vratthhouse and dairy. The stablas contain four Spacious Loose Boxes and Trap House, together with 4 Acres of First Class Land. < Full particulars on application to _ F. FERRIMAN, FOX feALE, CAMERON STREET I have for Sale—A very Comfortable Dwelling of seven rooms, with convenient Offices, together with quarter acre of ' good land, well laid out in lawa and | garden 1 The buildings are constructed of the : very best material, and the workmanship is unequalled Foil particulars on application to F. FKRRIMAN. fofsali: PETER STREET, ASHBURTON. I HAVE for sale a comfortable dwelling of four rooms situated in Peter Street with a detached wash-houße and copper build in, erected on a email section of first class land. F. FERRIMAN. For Children's Hacking Cough take Woods' Great Peppermint) Cure—-Is 6d and >



LEGAL. I BEG fo announce thab I HAVE COMMENCED THE PRAOHOE OF MY PROFESSION ab Ashburton. Temporary Office: Arcade Chambers, Burnett Street Trust and other moneys to lend. ' G MARRIOTT WATSON, 114 Solioitor. STUDY OUR Adverbißemeob on " Christmas Parcels." — NoSTHCQTa AND BtwoßPi Ihe Corner,



- 25.000 — IN USE IN THIS COLON? 1 4«MH I j "In f THEY BURN LIGNITE, TRUE GOAL OR WOOD UP TO 24m NO SETTINGiEQUIRED. With Stove Fipe can bo worked ont n the open. SPLENDID BREAD BAKERS. With Cast Iron or Cop cr Boilers, The Copper Boilers are large and Tl eosl REPAIRS ARE A MINIMUM. Made in all sizes, single or double ovene. High or low pressure boilers Sold by all Ironmongers, from whom Catalogues can be obtained, or from the maker, H. E. SHACKLOCK. SOUTHEND FOUNDRY, DUNEDIN,



God made the ' God madb the Country, Man made LIFE IN THE COUNTRY Country, Man madb TH^TowN."-Oowpir the Town."—Cowper IS Pleasanter, as well as Healthier, than Life£in Town-—but it oomes more expensive, chiefly— THE REASON > Because—Prices are co mcch Higher in the f THK REASON WHY t ) Country than they akk in the Town. ( WHY ? This is just why bo many Ladies shop with us, for by doing so they nob only nd MUCH / OUR JIICES^ARB INFINITELY CHEAPER THAN "\ MUCH CHKAPER ! \ THOSB RULING HI THB COUNTRY, j CHEAPER But, also, th*fe they get betwr quality and * much widbr choice. T OTS of Ladies resident in the Conntry visit Town but seldom, yet shop regularly JIJ with us— Shoeing by Pobt C .^ T-fc /~\ nm • ) Shopping by Post Costs Nothihg bdt 1 t< \ P() k I ! > Oosts Nothing but A STAM . ( -^ ■*- ■*- * ) A2d STAMP. All that Ladies residing in places distant from Chri«tchurch, and who do not want | to incur the bother and expense of a trip to town, need do is to writedown n quire* | ments as fully and plainly as poSßtble, enclose stamps, postal notes, or P. 0.0., and forward at once to us. XSKSi I COMMISSiOHS RECEIVtfi BY POST I Si^SF Are as faithfully and zealously attended] to as if the customer came in person to our establishment and did her buying at the^counter. fo7«'»i | OVU ILLUSTRATE!) MAGAZINE | J/ft. ' OF SPRING AND feUM.AJ.IgK, GOODS, Is now in couren of preparation, and will be ready on or about SEPTEMBER 21. Wiite ior one. It will be sent post free, on application, to any addreae in the Colony; in the meantime— our; spiecial J JUST I OF S JUBT I fe} * PftlßG & SUMMER COrDS |o=^ Including the Very Latest Novelties in MILLINKRY, DRESS GOODS, MANTLES, GLOVES, COSTUMES, HO lERY, DRESSES, SUNSHADES,! MEM'S AND 801S 1 CLOTHING, SERGES, WORSTEDS, Etc. (for made-to-order Suits and Sin^'e Q»"naents) have just^been'opened Ip, and we can assure you that Latest Novelties Rfipffml) ttP&Gt/Ve Latest Noyelxies Newest Stales QfJBOIOII lliauitVG Newest Style Ate this Season's Consignment ot New, Beautiful, and Useful Things, specially Shipped to us by our London House, (189441 [Wool Exchange, B.O.) OUITGOOD ARB , LADIES 1 OI7K G°oßß AM Cheaper, Fresher. I " Cheapeb, Fresheb, and wore f-TTLisH j SHOULD'IWR FOR V AND MORE Stylish shan those Obtain- ] " than those Obtain able |in THB GOTO- f-i*~r--»-!r~f-»Mr\T ABM^N THE OOOH; try. I PATTERNS^ j TKT . W. STRANffIE & CO. MERCJANTS, MANOFAOTURERS, & FAMILY DRAPERS, CHRISTCHUROH. FOR BEST VALUE IN



PUB SALE. j PETEK STREET, ASH BURTON. I HAVE lor eale—A Comfortable B roomed House and Scullery, together ' with one-quarter icre of land, well laid tit in garden. There is also a Installed Stabh*, chaff house, and trapghed. The use of a | paddock close by can be obtained. As the owner is taking up farming, a moderate price will be accepted. F. FERRIMAN. TO LET BEACH ROAD. HAMPSTEAD. A SIX-ROOMED BRICK HOUSE, situated on the Beach Road, in close proximity to the Hampstead Public School. The honae Is replete with every con venience, including wash house wifeh copper set in. There is also a good orch&rd and fowlhouse, Apply F. FERRTMAN. LOTS 12 13. 15, 17, 18,19, WILLOW STREET, TREVQRTON. WHY pay rent when with a Deposit of £25 or £30 you can acquire the freehold of nearly an Acre of land, upon which is erected a comfortable house of 4 rooms, for £85. The interest on the unpaid portion of Purchase Money at the rate of 6 per cent, only amounting to about Is 3d per week. The property is situated in close proximity to the River, and la eowenisnt alike for fishing, bathing, and firewood. Full parriculars on application. F. FERRIMAN. "Smoke Neff Veoui



Smoke New Venus



To the Deaf and those troubled w.lth Noises in the Head or dfcher Aural' Troubles. Dr Nicholson, c>f juoudon, thp world famed aural speoiftliat) and Inygntor of artificial ear | drums, has just issued the lGGth edition of ; his illustrated and descriptive book on Deaf« ness and Anral Troubles. This book may be had from Mr F. Shaw, 160, Adelaide rtoad, Wellington, N.Z., on receipt of | stamps. Mr Campbell, of the same addre**, was greaily relieved of hie deafness by Dr Nicholson's system, and takes pleasure in spreading the news of the great specialist in New Zealand. A little book on the cure of Rheumatism, Oorpalenoe, Lumbago, and ndigestion by the same author



ipenft a Oood Farm Doctoring- Mri/N; Noell qf'Asberyille, E»i«M saye he spent a good firm doctoring limsetf for chronic diarrhoea bat got) no relief ana was afraid that he must die. He ohanced to get hold of a bottle of Chamberlain's OoHc, Cholera and Diarrhoi* Remedy and was permanently oared by It. For tale by Aihburtoa Drug Qq, Pricti 5», *nd 1% $4,