TH ARHBUKTON TRAIN SERVICES

Trains leave Aehburton daily for— UHRISTOHUSCH-at7.20a.n1., 11 a.m., 3.}s p.m., 7.5 pm, (express) TIM AF.D—at 10 55 a.m., 350 p.m. DUNhDIN—at 12 54 p.m. (sprees) SPRINGBURN-at 4.25 p m,

Trains arrive daily at Ashburtoa from— OHhIBTOHUROfI-at 10.45 a.m., 12.47 p.m (exprees), 8 p.m. TlMaßU—at 10.35 a.m., 255 p.m. DUNEDIN—at 6.57 p.m. (express) SPRINGbURN-at 0.45 a.m.

EPHEMERIS

Phases of Moon for Augusta

SUN.

SECOND EDITION Commercial.

LONDON MARKETS.

United Prcaa Association —By Elecfcrio Telegraph—Copyright

Received Wakapuaka, August 5, 9 25 a.m, Thiß Office 7 34 p.m London, August 5 Mutton: Crosabred wethers and maiden ewes, Canterbury, ?§ 1; Dunedin and Southland, 3| 4.; Norm Island, 3 5 16d. Lamb : Prime C*nterbury, 4Jrt ; fair aTorage, inclniing Dunedin, Sonfchland, Wellington, and Seoond»ry Canterbury, 4i» Kirer Plate : Oiosa bred or merino wothers, he*iry, 3 3-81: light, 3 3-Brt. New Z^aUnd beef, 180 to 2201b5, fair average quality, ox fores 3^ i; ox hinds, 4 3-8 i j silver, 2s 44<1. At the sheep skin sales the prices were weak for combing* ; woolled skins fell £d to J |1. Short woolled, ±i to $c?.

ASHBURTON GRAIN MARKET

The Ashburton Agency of the New Zealand • Farmers' Co-operative Association of Canter i bury, Ltd, quote as follows on August i 5. 1900:— Wheat- Prime milling Pearl , m 2s 3ii „ „ Tuscan... 2a 3d co 2« 4d „ „ Hunter's 2* 2d Oatß—Duns .« la 5i to Is 6d Danish ?s 51 to la 63 Canadians Is 7d to Is 84 Sparrowbills Is 6J to le 7d Barley—Malting, prime 2s t Inferior Is 6d ( peas—Partridge, 2* 3d Ohaff—Good ofttshe&f 47a 6d to 50* Grass Seed—Old pasture, 2i to 2* 3d New „ is 6d to Is 9d The above are prices current paid to farmers on trucks at Aahburton.

PROPERTY SALES.

Mr P. Thomas reportß the following salsa of property made by him ia the Aahbarton County during the la&fc three months, as follows, viz :—Balohor to T Lsngley, part of Brown's Farm, Dromore, 980 acres ;Backley to T Woolley, part of reserve 330, Hinds, 43 acres 2 roods; Mclafcyrn Bros, to W J Jamieaon,44l acres, Seefiold Road ; Buckley to Toat, 640 acres, Hinds, being Lots 13 and 14 Ligmhor Subdivision ; Buckley to E Gates, Lots 31. 32, and 13 16 seres, I/%gtnhir Subdivision; Belcher lo T L%ngley, 1653 acre?, part of Brown's Farm, Dromore ; A H Mooro to C Good, 20 acres perpetual lease, Dromore ; E G Wright to G H SewelJ, 300 acres, Hinds crossing, Mayfield; R Tar botton to P Daley, 59 aoros 2 roods, three miles beyond Binds township ; T Bradford, Lot 58, 14 acres Lasmhor Subdivision ; John F*rrell, Lots 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, containing 440 acres, fronting Hinds Lagmhor Sub division ; Buck'ey to Bullock, Lots 6, 7, 8, 9, 12,13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 30, 20, 26, 25, and 4, eootaiaing 98 acres, suburban land Lagmhor Subdivision ; Belcher to Ourd and Son, 20© acres, pare of Brown's Farm,-Dromon*; Belcher to Mrs McKay, Gernldine, 400 acres, part of Brown's Farm j Buckley to Bullock, Lots 27, 28, and 29, Lagmhor Sub division ; Stm hey toG McKae, Barford, on the Hinds, containing 3760 acre*. Totol aoreage sold 8887 acres, realizing £49694 17s 6d,

ASHBURTON STOCK MARKET

The uiual weekly sale was held at the Ashburton Yards to-day. There was a good attendance. About 2000 sheep were yarded, and there was a fair yarding of cattle For the lattrr, better pricss were ruling than for some wanks pas*. Cattle—Fafe cows to £7 2s 6<3 ; steers and heifers, to £5 bi ; springers, to £4 10j ; dry heifers, to £3 ; cows, in profit, bo £3 7s 6d. The entry of sheep comprised mostly stores, with only * few pens of freezers. Butchers'—Crossbred wethers, 14s 91, 2ls 6d ; crossbred ewes, I2i B', 14s 9J ; forward wethtrs, 16j 9J. Siore Sheep—l4s lOd, 16j ; merino ewes, Si 6^, 10s lid ; erossbrad ewes in lamb, 11s 9d, 18« 6d ; hoggets, 12s 3d, 13s,

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. TUESDAY,AUGUST 7, 1900. IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT.

You cannot imprison a man for debt in these enlightened days. We abol* isbed that relic of barbarism ages ago. Let the debtor fail to obey the ruling of the Courts however, when ordered to pay up under a "judgment Bum nions," and to gaol he generally has to go. In the words of the music hall bard, "he gets there all the same." This anomalous state of things haa been exercising the minds of some of our legislators of late, as the Parliamentary reports have told us, and, the outcome of their cogitations, is a bill designed to make things easier for debtors, and, inter alia to abolish commitment to gaol, where the debt does not exceed £10. It haa been objected in some quarters, that this -proposal, if carried out will kill the credit system, Well, we are not at all sure that the death of the aforesaid system would be an unmixed evil "Tick "no doubt has enabled many people to tida over bad times, and keep their heads above water, who might otherwise have gone j under. But it hai also tempted thousands to indulge in luxuries and superfluities far beyond their means, and has thus helped to keep them j struggling continually. Almost any thing ia better for a community,' than the multiplying of people in this condi tion. If the new bill becomes law ia its amended form, and it makes trades men more chary of giving credit than they vow are, it will have served a most useful purpose. As for its entailing hardships upon those who cannot possibly p»7 cash for ti»e

nece&saries of life—as some I of our all legislators have contended— that is nonsense, because vo matter what legal enactments may exis*, traders know very well whom to trim, and whom to refuse : and id the giving of credit were made illegal tomorrow, a cer tain amount of credit would as J surediy be given still. The leading members of the House exp reissed tho opinion that the limitation proposed in the Bill would not be unjust to traders Captain Rues°l said, "persons who are of good reputn, whefher there is the power to recover debts or nor, will, on their repute, get credit. Those whose repute ia bad will not, and I do not think they ought to be pitied. I am inclined to think that if I kept a shop for a few months I should have a very good idea of whom to trust and whom to avoid, Othera also considered that the alteration in the law as it Btood would eventually bring about a sounder method of carrying on retail trading by requiring more discrimination in conducting. That imprigoameßt for debt very often produces results exactly opposite to those it was intended to produce is well known to most business men. We refer to the frequent in stances that occur of debtors being pressed by judgment summonses— scraping up all the money they can, and instead of paying; their debts, tiling their schedules. The Official Assignee in Wellington, stated the other day that hundreds of people in this colony are driven into bankruptcy because of this power of commitment; and that is the reason why few men are actually put into prison, because when an order for commitment is made they borrow enough money from their friends, file their schedule and become bankrupt. This is purely not a satisfactory condition of affairs, and if the Im prisonment for Debt Limitation Bill gets into the Statute Book, doubtless ! the number of small bankruptcies will decrease, and the fees saved may go towards dividends to traders, who should be thankful for such small mercies.

Local and General.

%* Interesting reading matter will be found on the first and fourth pages of this issue.

Weather Forecast — Captain Edwin wirea to-day ; —"lndications of frost to night," l

Accident —A resident of Dromore named Atkinson was thrown from his horse last evening about 11 o'clock, and as ho appeared to be injured internally he was taken to the Hospital by Constab'es Hogan and Drum mond, who were present shortly after the accident happened.

New Zealand Farmers Co-operative —

We ara requastei fco draw attention to the fact that Thuririhy next v the last) day for receiving applications for the new issue of shares in th« New' ZsaUnd Farmers' Co-operative.

The Huntihg Season— Tha South Can terbury Hounds will beat Christchurch during Grand National weekend will be afe Rollei'Oi

on Monday, Augnst 13, and at Onaring Cro«s on Wednesday, August 16. The

I hunting season will wind up in Canterbury I with v Point to Point meeting on August 25.

I Sheep Worrying.—Sheep owners in the

Wakanui and Riverside districts have been great eufferer* lately owing to the ravages of doga amongst their flocka. 80 serious

have been the losses from this causa that it has been decided to take atrong measures to put a atop to it, and wherever possible to proceed against owners of dogs infi oling damage on sheep, for compensation. Volunteers —There was a muster of thirty-eight at the parade of the Guards Ja<3t evening under Captain Sparrow. The Company ware exercised in Company move-

moats by the officers, and in musketry and

physical exercises by the non-coma The members are miking marked prcgress in the physical exercises under the direction of Sergeant Grant.

Baden Powell.—The fact that General Baden P w owell was besieged fur tome weeks in Rusteoberg by the Boor leader Da La Rev, has created a good deal of comment. If wo may accept the cable statement} pnblished in this issue that De La Key is retreating before General lan Hamilton General Baden Powell

mist have bean relieved

Teachkrs Obligations—At a meotins? o teachers held in Chtislohurch on Saturday to discuss the Education Board's proposal to establish classes of instruction in military drill for teachers, the chief objection was the loss of Saturday, the one free d»y in tha

week, One speaker said that teachers had been called on to attend so many Saturday classes, that he was beginning to wonder

whether they would not soon be asked to come on Sundays for instruction in ethics and morals.

Thb Earl of HopsTOUH—Tht appoint men* of the Bight Hon JAL Hope (Earl of Hepetoun) to be the first Governor-General of the Australian Commonwealth recalls (says the Mew Ztaland Baptist} a famous story that is told of hii Lordship's coming cf age. There was a great gathering of the Hope family at Hopetoun House. The following Sunday, the wh*ie party attended the local church to hear a sermon appro priate to the occasion. Their feelings may be imagined whea the Presbyterian minister opened his discourse with the words: "My brethren, this world is full of blighted hopes t'

Fbttit Paying—Many people are not quite satisfied aa to whether fruit-growing piye. The following particulars (says the Manawabu Standard) should pretty well convince the mosfc soepUoal ; —Mr S Park hursb has an orchard, near Ashurst, considerably under an acre in size, the output from which practically doubles every year—i.e., reckoning every alternate year fall bearing. The returns for the last four seasons »rs. as follows :-1897, £25; 1898, £15; 1809, £35 j 1900, £30. This from a comparatively young orchard, the trees averaging ten years, ianotso bad.

Thb Third Contingbnt Roll —We have received the nominal roll of the officers, non commissioned officers, men, and next of kin of the New Zealand Third Contingent (Rough Eiders). It gi^es the rank, name, occupation, and New Zealand addresi and name and address of next of kin. Looking over this list, and reading the occupations set) opposite each man's name, one is struck by the large preponderance of callings necessitating good horsemanship and ability to rough it. There are no less than 55 farmers, 25 shepherds, about 40 labourers, and any number of grooms. Many bohs of gentlemen are entered aa labourers or shepherds, evidently because the applicants knew how hard ib was for men not supposed to know all about riding, etc, to geb a place in the Contingent Another curiosity in connection with this lisb is that amongst 250 " next of kin " there are only three who, in the opinion>of the compiler of the return, are entitled to be termed Esquires. All the other male relatives are plain Misters.

'• O¥ESBLV es as Other Sue Us."— Our friends are generally too polite to tell us our faults ; bufc they seldom fail to observe the fit and style of our clothes. Young meu who want to make good impressions, must bear in mind that "appearance goes a long way." An ill-fitting suit ia uncomfortable, and an tf eyersore "to your friends. Don't risk ib ! If you are a stranger here, the first well dressed oitiz9n you meet will gladly direct you to " The Leading Tailors where you will always find a large assortment of 1 Up to date" suitings to eeleob from, and where you can always depend on getting? eatiefaction. The large and still increasing business done by Messrs Craigiiead and BbrbTMAN speaks volumes. This firm has just imported psobabiy the finest stock of new seasons tailoring goods ever shown iv Ashburton, including a, beautiful range the new rain proof Beavers and Meltcns for Covert coats and Chesterfield overcoats, both aihionable and durable.

BOROUGH COUNCIL

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Council waa held last evening. Present— His Worship the Mayor, and Crs Davis, Scaly, H M Jones-, H Willis, D Thomas, J H Pauling', and J Davison FINANCE The statement showed that the revenue received since last meeting from various sources wag £74 8s 61 ; debit ba'anoe &t bank, £716 8s 8 \ PEINTING BALANCE SHEET Tenders were opeced for printing, and that of the Mail & Guardian office waa accepted ■ CORBESFONDKRCE

Correspondence was read as follows :—

From Commissioner of Crown Lands inti mating that no land at the mouth of the Aehburton river yr&B available—Received From the UnionJßank re overdraft limit of £2287, and asking thab tha usual annual confirmation be made.—Resolution passed accordingly Two claims for enrolment, Messrs Harrison ond McOlatohie, were received, and duly acceded to

The County Council submitted the usual claim for share of borough for hospital maintenance £10, and traffic* bridge £112s, which was passed From Secretary of Industrial Exhibition asking that circular! re Jubilee Exhibition be distributed, and earns waa ordered to be attended bo

STRHET CROSSING An application from various shop owners asking that a crossing be formed ac the right of way at the baok of the Somerset Hotel was referred to the Worke Committee

ENGINEER'S AND WORKS GOMMITTBEB BEFOB.T.

The Engineer's report was read as follows

Mr Kiogham'a application.—lnstructions have been given respecting the catling of the joint fencs, and your Committee recommend that the levels and specifications for form ing Wakanui Road We&fc be made for the purposes of calling for tenders,—Approved. Mr De Beer's Letter.--We explained to the Committee what had been done to remedy the wet coming on to the clock works, and the Committee expressed their opinion that no more can be done at present Wills Street West. — Four Committee rec mmend that teudars be culled for for mation of Wills Street West as well aa Wakanai Road West as seou as the levels and specifications are ready Alford Forest Road—The Works Com mittee recommend that the Uppar Ashbur ton Road Board be a*ked fco hold thi« matter over for six months, io order to give the Council time to determine oa a scheme for bringing ths water into the borough by pipes, and that the Council take this matter into consideration without delay. The Committee are of opinion thab fencing would not be satisfactory or meet the case* They also recommend thab the culverts ia Charles Street be raised where necessary to give a better fliw to the water.—Confirmed.

Your Committee recommend that the north weafe fence &b the foreman's cottage be fenced with galvanised iron, and that the Engineer see the owner of the adjacent section as to paying half the cobt.—This clause was nob adopted

Plantations—We have examined the plantations below Kermode Street and find there ate some macroc&rpa lefi when the plantations were thinned before, that ought now to be removed. The mass of pinua inaignus ara far enough back from the street, bub we recommend that they be thinned oub. —Approved Labour Gang—The men have been engaged during the past two weeks in carting metal to streets and soil to sections, spreading shingle delivered by contractors, making and fixing culverts, carting o'ay to Domain track, watering streets, attending to the water supply, «arbing rubbish off streets, and general maintenance works.—Approved,

ALFORO FOREST BOAD Grs Thomas, Sealey, and Divie opposed tha clause, aaking the Upper Ashburtoa Road Board to hold over treat ment of the water race on this road

The Mayor feared some serious accident would occur by children or othera falling in, and accidents having already occurred, and considering that there was to be no high pressure water eoheme within five year*, he urged that standard and, wire sooting be erected to prevent any risk Or Paul pointed out that the traffic there was increasing every day, and some protec tive fence should be erected <*t once* *-

A motion by Cr Jones that the matter be referred back to the Works Committee was condemned by Crs Thomas and Pauling, who were unwilling to expand the amount, some £250, which would be required in fencing the race

KFfOms Reports from the Fire Inspector and Inspector of Nuisances ware received, the latter stating that the borough was free from disease CEMENT A purchase of a line of 700 casks of German cement, m>de by the Mayor after conference with the chairman and some other members of the Works Committee, was condemned by Crs Davis, Pauling, and Jones, who considered the purchase should have come before the Works Committee as a whole. I Crs Thomas, Divison, and Sealey sup ported the Mayor's action, at they under* stood a saving of £70 had been effected ! The Mayor stated that the quality was of the highest, and the cost was 8s 91 p&r cask ex ship Gc Pauling spoke strongly against the purchase, and in reply the Mayor stated that he had saved the Council at least £100 by the purchase, and he was prepared now to take over the cement himsalf if Coun cillors objected The action of the Mayor was eventually confirmed, after a long discussion THE MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE. The Mayor read a report of the proceedings of the recent Municipal Conference at Wel lington, which he recently attended, as follows: —

As instructed by your Council, I attended .the annual Conference of the Municipal Association of New Zealand. The Confer ence opened at Wellington oa Monday the 16th, of July, and completed its labours on Thursday, the 19?h The Mayor of Wolfing ton (Mr J G Aitken) presided, and there were present 63 delegates. The President in hie opening remarks urged the Conference to make strong representations to the Government to have the new Municipal Corporation Bill passed, as there was no reason why the numerous improvements in thia measure, should not be passed into law during the present session. He hoped that the question of licensing motor cars, the bringing of private hospitals, message es tablishments, lodging houses, »nd billiard rooms under direct municipal supervision would be again dealt with. It was also proper, in view of the appearance of the bubonic plague in tha Australian colonies, that the question of the effioiencv of the existing laws on the subject of plague pre' vontion and suppression of infections diseases and of the besb method to keep out or deal with the plague, should receive the fullest consideration of the Conference,

To clear the order paper some seventy odd notices of motion took nearly three days and eveniugs. All were oare'ully considered and some of them discussed at some consider able length. Some were carried, some were negatived. The most important work done was the consideration of the following Bills, all of which will be introdnced during; the preßenfc session of our Parliament; They are as follows :-—The Municipal Corporation Bill, 1900, Slaughtering and Inspection, Firs Brigades, Oalifornian Thistle Bill, Impound? ing Bill,, Public Contracts Bill, Bating on Unimproved Value Bfll, Roads Obstruction Prevention Bill, and Ratepayers' Disabilities Relief.

The most importanb of the above men tioned measures to your Council le, of course, the Municipal Corporation Bill. I was a member of the Committee appointed by the Conference to review and report on the Bill. 16 contains 468 clauses and fifteen schedaks. Ihia Bill and its companion measure, the Lccal Authorities Bill, were or'ginaliy intended to apply only to boroughs of large populs^on and counties of extended ye». Tha Bill, however, having been made to appl* $ evjry existing borough however small, it will be obvious thab several of the provisions of the Bill intended for the larger troughs will be found inapplicable Go the emaller ones now intended to some within the scope of the measure. In particular this effects the questions of hospitals and charibable aid, while ib was reasonable that each large borough andconnty should deal w;bh these questions within its own limit, it is unreasonable that fchia duty ihould. bars

to be discharged by each small borough. 1 The whole of the provisions regulating the J conducting of hospitals aijd administration j of charitable aid were therefore excised from the Bill; Cluuie 223 constitutes vh>vb »re public streats m*intain*,ble by &h<a Borough C-iunoil, ail public highways under the oootrol of the G^vornment, Borough Council, or any other looal authority; This pre vision, while perhaps sufficiently reasonable in tho case of vary J&rge borough', obviating as it does the evil of daal control, would press hard up>n some of the smaller boroughs, some of whose public highways are now maintained by the Government, the Haibor Board, or other local authority. The Con ference therefore decided that the definition of public streets be the s me as in the Muni cipal Corporation Aot, 1386. The same | observation applies to tho question of [ drainage. Claao 271 of the Bill includes j within the definition *• publiu drain " all drains and watercourses and natural streams I uaed for drainage, <vhethar under the control of the Government, Borough Council, or any other local authority. It was decided thab the existing definition contained in the Munioipal Corporation Aot, 1886, be adhered fco. Thn game clause, 271, purports to give the character of a public drain to every watercourse or drain that has for ,20 years, whether legally or no*), been used as a public drain. Ib was decided thab this provision be restricted bo ths oase of covered drains. :

Wards.—Clause 5 of the Bill requires every ward to contain a population of not !esu than 1000. It was decided that this should not apply to the wards of the existing boroughs, i Amalgamation of Boroughs.—-Great diffi culty has occurred in cases whera it is defied ! to amalgamate two or more adjoining boroughs, or to include in an existing borough any additional area. The proposal that thia should ba done is often defeated by the Inhabitants of the smaller area, who wish to retain their own status. Yet it Is often necessary for the public interest more especially as regards the dealing in a comprehensive way with mat ters of sanitation, that this amalgamation , should take place. It was therefore decided thab in such casiee a poll should be taken in each district affected on the question whether the amalgamation shall take plaoo, and that if the proposal is carried on a bare majority in both of the districts, auoh proposal to become law. ' Deposit by Candidates—lt was agreed thab intending candidates should deposit £5, It was further agreed to recommend that the prooedare of Local Elections Act, 1376, be retained instead os the adaption of ihe Parliamentary system, set forth in the Bill with the exception that the poll be allowed to be kept open until 7 p.m. Spedal Orderß.—To enable the confirming I meeting to be held exactly four weeks after the original meeting, it was decided tbat the special resolution may be confirmed as a special order oa the 28th rtay after the original resolution clause 69 enabled the Council to appoint! as members of Committee persons who are not members of the Coun cil It *ras decided to disapprove of this clause

Clause 165 enables Councils to raise a special loan to clear off any overdraft exist ing on the Slab March, 1900: It was resolved that this special loan be raised by special order without poll of the ratepayers, but that thereafter eaoh borough raising such loan have power to overdraw only; to the extent of the revenue outstanding snd uncolleoted, such revenue when collected to go in reduction of the oveadraft and not to bs utilised for any other purpose. Nuisances ; Government Property, —It waa decided that a clause be added, en abling the Council to abste nuisances created in Boroughs by the General Government. Stopping Streets.—Part of sub elauee 4 of Clause 225 provides that a street shall not be stopped until an equally couvenleat) way is provided, tmlesa all the owners of the land effected give their consent. It was resolved that this should be omitted ai the proivsion in the 7th ichedule, leaving the Stipendiary Magistrate to deal with the objections made by persona affected, waß considered to be sufficient, Water Work?.—The question of the preservation from pollution of the catchment

area of Water Works was also considered

and it was resolved, that these areas should be pi iced under the control of the Borough

Council possessing water works, and be made subject to the by laws of such Oonnoil relating to the suppression ofnuisancaa, Public Health and Convenience.— The

Conference decided to strikeout the pre visions giving the Governor power to prescribe the duties and liabilities of

Inspectors of Nuisances, provided that a

Council may recoVer from the owner or occupier of any private street, land, or building the cost of cleaning same, and fixed a penalty not exceeding £100 for the pollution of water and water sheds, with a daily penalty up to £10 for continuance of pollution after notice has been served to discontinue the nuisance. It was further agreed that provision be made in the Act to confer upon Hospital Boards the duty nf maintaining additional hospitals and build ings for contracts in districts where there is danger of au epidemic, with power to levy contributions from surrounding districts for thfl erection of such buildings ~ By Laws—Much wider and more oompre* hensive provisions on the subject of making and enforcing by-'aws than at present exist are given the Conncil in the BUI. Electoral Lists—To save the Council ex pense it was decided, that there shall be only one burgess roll, including freeholders, ratepayers, and residential occupants with a column after their names indicating in respsot of which of these several qualifi cations they are entered respectively. Many othsr amendments of a verbal nature in

different parts of the Bill were made, but I

think it unnecessary that I should refer to all these alterations. The Bill laid on the

table, also order papers showing how the notices ef motion have been dealt with, will give this Council all other information necessary*

Slaughtering Inspection—This is another important measure, which was oarefully considered by the Conference. The substance of the Bill you will be able to guage after its perusal, and I hand you for this purpose a copy of same.

Slaughtering—The principal clauses are those which make ib compulsory upon Boroughs with a population, of nob less than 2000 to establish abattoirs. A special order by the Council is sufficient amhority for the raising of a special loan for this purpose, local authorities can combine in the oatab. lishment of abattoirs, and that it should be illegal to kill or dress for wale meat in any other than a registered abattoir. Increasing the slaughtering limit granted under the Bill to stock farmers from three miles of a borough boundary or registered slaughtering place to 10 miles. Meat Export Companies are to be allowed to slaughter meat for export and sale in their own shops only. Compensation is to be paid to owners of slaughterhouses which must be closed if the Aeb is brought into force* Where local authority appoints slaughtermen, etc., it shall have power to order that stook shall be slaughtered only by sach men. The local authority or lessee may demand a reasonable deposit to cover charges for slaughter, e'c. Fire Brigades.—This recommendation pro vides that the cost of the maintenance of Fire Brigades should be borne in equal shares by the Government, the Firo Insurance Com panies doing business in New Zealand, and the Councils. The Conference supported this proposal. Personalty, lam against it. I quite approve of the Government and those ratepayers, who* do not insure, through the i Government contributing towards the cost of maintaining Fire Brigades, as the latter not only protecb the property of those who insure, but; also the goods, chattels, and effec'B of those who take their own risks. To ask, however, the Insurance Companies to contribute several thousands of pounds annually towards the cost of establishiMg, maintaining Fire Brigades, and fire ex. tinguishinfi! appiiancea, is to my mind nothing more or less than a delusion. The Fir a Insurance Companies do nob stipulate with insurers for Fire Brigades, water supply, or anything in this line being provided. They rate cities, towns, etc., on their own individual merits, taking into consideration all the aids available. No water supply and no Fire Brigade with proper appliances would mean a higher rate to the insure™. Moreover, if Insurance Companies, like all other business concerns, are forced to pay many thousands of pounds extra out of their income every year,- would not the natural consequence be that somebody would have j to pay the piper ? and that somebody, to j my mind, will be those and those only who insure. (

Californiaa ThieUe Bill,—la connection

with this Bill, the Conference considered I • hat it sh uld be adminis'ered by the Lands I Department, &s it is undesirable to multiply I inspectors over such narrow limits m wenld ' apply were eaoh bo:ough Couucil to appoint^ an inspector, i Impounding Bill.—The operative part of i this Bill appears to be drawn in error. 88 the vroniu ** or uafenced " appear in section 14 of the Impounding Act, 1884. The B.ii probably refers to the second paragraph of eection 14, relating to the power 6o destroy pi#p» goats, and poultry trespassing on *• fenced" land. Public Gootracts Bill.-—The Conference approved of this Bill. Rabing on Unimproved Value Biil —Ihin measure was a.so approved of, it berg regarded as a proper eouscquecca of the pasßir.g of the Luc&l Government Voting Reform B !1. Roads Obstruction Prevention Bill*—The Conference rosolved that boroughs bo ex cluded from the operation of this measure in view ot the existence of clause 235 in the Municipal Corporation Bill, bat agreed that thlao'auss be made to apply to all gates across highways, whether they had been sanctioned by 'he Council under thia clause or not. Ratepayers' Disabilities Relief doing away with •• defaulter' list." was approved. These results were placed before th*- Premier by a , deputation from members of the Association ; and the Mayor of Wellington expressed the hope that they would receive the careful consideration of the Government and that the Municipal Corporation Bill and other matters affecting the interest of municipali ties would he passed this session. The Premier assured the deputation that the recommendations of thfi Conference would receive every consideration at the hands of the Government, because the delegates who had submitted them were men who well understood the working of the Municipal law tmd the requiiements of municipalities He'hoped that Parliament would pass tho Municipal Corporations Bill during the present session. He would do his utmost! to get the measure through So far, then, the labours of this present Conference were for the time being «om- j pleted' Praotically, the whole of bhe resolutions of thu various Conferences held in and since 1891 that relate to the improved methods of administration were incorporated in the Local Government Bill of 1895. Since then, this Biil has Tbeen superseded by two new Bills, of whioh the Municipal Corporations Bilt is one, and the Local Authorities Bill, whioh deals with counties, is the other The various amendments made at the instance of bhe Association ia the Local Government Bill were, repeated in the Mnnieipal Corporations Bill. It will be seen, therefore, thab the past labours of the Association exist to-day to a large extent in a form ready for consideration by Parlia ment and passing into law, and I sincerely hope that the Premier's promises in thia direction were not mere empty words. The delegates have peculiar means of knowing what is required for perfecting the system of Local Government, and it is justly due to the dignity of a Conference the members of which are composed largely of present and past Mayors and Councillors, that resolutions; come to by them after grave consideration and with expert knowledge should promptly receive the careful attention of the Government and Lagislalnre The thanks of the Council were passed to the Mayor for his services at the Conference. FISK PROOF DOOR The door recently made for the Council's strong room was reported to be unsatisfac tory by the Committee who were granted further time to make enquiries. CB. JOUFFK The resignation of this Councillor was received and the Returning Officer was instructed to make the necessary arrange ments for election to vacancy. BOLL A tender for the printing of the burgesses roll was accepted FIRE BBIGADE UNIFORMS Councillors Paul, Pauling, and Davli were appointed to pass the new uniforms which had arrived

HEALTH Ci, Jones moved — Thab the Health Officer be instructed to inspect nighb soil reserve aid outfall drain and report on B&me —which was carried. The Council then sab aa a DOMAIN BOARD.

DOMAIN CYCLE TRACK* The Sports Association wrote asking for farther banking of track, by the addition of 200 loads more of filling, which wan agreed to after discussion. The Curator's report on Domain, etc., was received and his application fir a fow day's holiday was granted.

The Council then rose

Interprovincial.

United Press Association—By Eleotric (Telegraph Wellikqton, August 6 Mr Blow, the Undersecretary for Publio Works, who has just returned from n visit to the works on the North Island Trunk Riilway reports that very a%t>Bfatitory progress is being mado with the Make nine Viaduct and also with the formation at f»ras Paengaroa, 26 miles beyoad. The men employed on the bridge ace engaged upon it from dawn till dusk, and a« the <iayi lengthen the progress of the structure wiU increase proportionally. This bridge will be much the highest In Australasia. 1b ie expected that the viaduct will be completed wilhin a year from date, and the oosfc is roughly estimated at £50.000. With regard to the Stoke School Com mission, the Minister of Education this morning advised Mr Bush thai he should remain at least two days to afford a further opportunity to any persons wishing to prefer charges relating to the extended period of five yeais. Subsequently, however, Mr Bush was instructed to proceed to Wellington, as it was intended leaving Mr Pope, Secretary Jof the Commission, to receive complaints, if any. Mr Pope opens up the enquiry, consequently, %o morrow,, to afford an opportunity to lay complaints. Mr Bu h left this afternoon for Wellington. Passengers 'in the same steamer were Brothers Kilian and Wiberfcas, disntitiied from the school, and Brother Loetus,director of the lohool, who has gone to meet Brother the Provincial Superior, who gives evidence I ia Welling'on

Donedin, August 6 It is some years eince the district has boen visited by such ft strong north easterly gala that has prevailed during the ptut two days Tha rqnalls have been at times of almost hurricane force, attended by thick dirty weather , A viry heavy sea is running tt'ong the dcmife, and'it was not deemed wUe tb attempt to bring in tha Papanui from the north, while the departure of the Tsluno j'or Sydney has been postponed till to-morrow, (JHRISTOHURCH, Au&Ußb 6

At a meeting of the Ceremonial Committee in connection with the Canterbury Jubilee to be celebrated at the end of the year It was stated that in reply to a request) members of the Ngapuhi and Ngatimainopoto tribes hud promised to come dtwn if arrangements could be made for transport) and food supplies while here. The Committee hai no funds at present to deal with the matter, but ib was suggested Government should be apnroached with regard to frea passages for the Maoris*

A widow named Sophia Rodgers, aged 55, residing at Kowai, was found drowned in a water hole near her House yesterday after noon.

The Council of the League of Wheelmen decided to hold the League championships on December 20 and 22, it being understood that the Christehureh Cycling Club would apply for permit for December 15 and 18 Reference wag made to proposal of the sub-oomroiitteo of Athletic Association to exclude from ita list delegates, amongst others members of the League, and it was decided to approach tho various centres asking their opinions as to j the advisableness of the League forming &n athletic branch. Auckland, August 6 Government has leased an orchard at Hendeteon for the purpose of experimenting ; to demonstrate ths value of scientific pruning, ■praying, and cultivating, and to provide an ; objacfc lesson in the eradication of fche codlin moth. E. Hawfcrey Gowey, of Durban, writes to the Mayor of Auckland from Tasmania requesting information regarding purchasing markets for maize, flour, produce, frozen meat and timber. He wishes to communicate with those desirous of opening a trado wilh Seuth Africa.

Football.

United Press A i ■■cation—By Bleoirio Telegraph UHHIBTCHORCH, AtlgUSti 6 The football match Otago Boys High School v Christ's Oo Itge wus won by Otago by 17 poiDtg to nine.

The Late King Humbert

United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright)

(Received Wakapuaka Ausjait 6, 912 am ThU Office 734pm Bomb, Augusts The late K'ng Humbert's body will be interred in the Pantheon on Thursday, (Kecdved Wakapuaka August 6, 6pm This Office 8 18 p tr.) August 6 The Pope has ordered all the Italian clergy to participate in mourning for I the late King, Humbert,

The Attempted Assassination of the Shah

United Press Association—By Eltobrio Telegraph—Copyright Londok, August 5 The Shah of Persia has abandoned hia visit to England ostensibly owing to the death of the Duke of Saxe- Coburg

CABLE NEWS.

United Press Aisoeiation—By Electric

Telegraph—Copyright.

Reoelvtd Wakapu&tca August 6, 9 12 » m This Office 7 34 pm Manila August 5 three hundred and fifty Filipino insurgents ambushed and cot up an American detachment, consisting of a lieutenant and fifteen men, on the island of Luzon. Brussels, August 5 Tho Belgian Government replying to a British complaint in reference to Sipido, the anarchist, states that Sipido was entitled to personal freedom for three days in which to lodge his appeal, and he escaped during that ■ time. Regret was expressed at the incident, but the Government claim they are not responsible, Bklgradi, August 6 King Alexander of Sterna has married Madame Maschin. Bombay, August 6 The cholera is seriously increasing in Bombay Presidency. London, August 6 The Marquis of Lansdowne an* nouncfd that 4"7 guns would, in future, form part of tho field force equipment Sydney, August 6 The Government are calling tenders for only half a million Treasury Bills. The previous Gazette notice for a million was an error.

THE CRISIS IN CHINA.

United Press Association—By Electric

Telegraph—Oopyrighb.

Washington, August 5

Colonel Bay, Secretary of State, regards the Tsung Li Yatnen's refusal to permit the interchange of cipher messages between Ministers and their Governments afi a. cancellation of the negotiation^ 'for stopping the ex pedition for the relief of Pekin.

Sixteen British and four Japanese warships are stationed in the vicinity of Shanghai. The Viceray of Szechuan has been warned that he vitl be held responsible for the safety of Mr R L Jack's exploring party in the couth west portion of the province.

Hong Kon<t t August 6

Since Li Ping Leng has been appointed Commander of the Chines* Forces the sggressiveneis towards anti foreigners in Pekin has been greatly intensified Li Ping Leng hat impeached Li Hung Chang, Linkontji, Viceroy of Nankin, and other high officials of suspected pro-foreign sympathies, An Imperial edict orders Ministers to proceed to Tien Tsin under a strong escort and permits the Ambassadors to communicate in plain language with their Governments

The Russians have captured Sagha lifln Aigun, on the banks of the Amoor, after heavy fighting, 200 Chinese and 27 Russians were killed.

(Received Wakspn»fca Aaguib 6,1020 pm, Thii Office 1135 pm) Hong Kong August 6

A reconnaissance by the Russian and Japanese troops revealed eight to eleven thousand Chinese troops occupy ing a strong position five miles ioath[of Getsang.

Admiral Seymour's visit to the Ticeroy of Nankin has aroused inter national jealousies.

Londok, Augusts The Times Tien Tain correspondent states that Gaseiee'a force of 3000, though deficient in transport, and lacking cavalry, was eager to advance last Monday, but the other allies favored awaiting the arrival of further reinforcements.

New Yo*k, August 6

The American newspapers assert that Ohaffee cabled to the Minister o$ War on Friday, stating that the. American, British, and Japanese commenced as advance on Pekin without the other allies. ' '

Transvaal War.

United Press Association—By Eleotrio

Telegraph—Copyright

London, August 5 Lord Roberts is remonstrating with General Botha for allowing the use of soft nosed bullets; Troopers Salmon and Tweedie, of the South Australians, have beeu given second lieutenants' commissions in the Royal Artillery.

"General Handel, who is pimuing the wreckers of the train at Honingspruit, has had three men killed. Several wounded British, whom the Boers captured in the train, were liberated at the request of Mr J Q Stowe, the American Consul-general, who was a passenger. . Mblbowrnb, August 6 . Information has been received that Captain tjaarlis Robertson, serving with the Scottish Borderers in the Transvaal, has been killed. London, August 8 A party of Boers at Waterval volnn teered to surrender if a show of capturing them was; made. A patrol of Lord Stratfaeona's Horse approached

THE ASHBUftrOtt GOAh Htf;.. TUESDaY/ AUGUST 7*- 1906



'irst quarter 'ull moon iast quarter Jew moon

4 4 16 am 11 9 0 am 17 11 16 pm 25 3 23 pm



Date ugust 7 » S m 9 „ 10 it 11 i. 12 » 13

Ries 710 7 9 7 7 7 6 7 4 7 3 7 1

Sets 5 5 5 6 5 7 5 8 5 9 5 10 5 11



W. BTBANGK] gow Pautnbrb ahp X, COTOBfHXAXiK PROPBIETOBS. ..,—,„ ;x;~- —■ ■ THOUSANDS Will be Interested to Know that Our Monster Stock-taking Hale IS n=N 0 W ON = AT CHBIBTCHURCH. A3? tfcii GREAT SALE It Is our Ontom, every year to SACRIFICE the ENTIRE ; BALANCE OFOUK WINTER STOCKS EVERYTHING HAS TO GO !-Became, yon see, room ba« to be made—somehow— for SPRING AND SUMMER SHIPMENTS ALREADY BEGINNING TO ARRIVE. la order to effect) aa complete a clearance a* ponible, we shall make , SWEEPING REDUCTIONS j In EVERY DEPARTMENT. Even plain Household Goods, snch &■ Oafieos and Cottons ErseraSly (made and unmade) will be reduced; also the price of Saits and Single Garments, th to order and ready-made, Furniture, Bedding, and everything we make and i»l). GOODS OF FASHION Th« aame wmark applies to " GOODS OF FASHION." such an our Ex%ui»ite London tod Parisian MOD'SL MILLINERY, our Btyli»h Winter Drosses and bress Uoodß for Stoning Wear, and our lovely Winter Jackets, Mantleß, Capei and Macintoshes, all of which Matt be Sold for what they will Bring, at we never carry ov«rsuoh goods fro.n Mason to soaeom Ouite possibly you may exclaim, ou reading the above, j «OJH, X AM »O 6ORBT!" But I livt bo for away from Cbristebmoh I can'b jtet thereto attend the Sale." That iottb'i matter in the least, since you o&n do m HUNDREDS already do, j SIIOf » WITH XJS BY POST- j If you ean'tt shop with us in person ! GET A CATALOGUE 'j The Brst thing to be done is to get a Sale Catalogue {they have been well circulated already, bat if you haven't got one we will lend you one Post Free on application ) Having got youc Catalogue read ib oanfully through (you will find it really interesting), make your selections, write down yonr requirements rs plainly as possible, enclose Stamp?, P. 0.0. or Postal Notes to value of Goods, and—drop your letter in the Post Box, and ; WE WILL DO THE REST By return Train, T'oafc or Coaoh, as the case may be, your Parcel ihall be forwarded— and we will take as much c*re to please yon at though you walked ap to one of oar femnton an i made your purchase parsonally. If we are Sold Out of the precise line you waat wa will tend the Nearest Thing to it, and if you are nob satisfied then, we will return yon your money ! DON'T MISS TH:I CHANCE Ibis Sale present* to you to be cure )hXTRAO:ei>IISi*JRY BVKGAINB. 'IHE SALE WILL SOON BR OVRB, AS IT POSITIVELY ENDS ON August 31, 1900 STRANGE~&~COMPANY, CHKXbTCHTjKOH. ■Mas- but ii ■ibii iiiimw_jii * i ■i'iiriifiw»»ininii* ii i— —-i n mmiim nrrn ririrmii » NEW ZEALAND CLOTHING FACTORY. Boy's Tweed Sailor Snits from 5% Boy's Sergo Sailor Suits from 7s 6d Boy'd Tweed Melville Suits from 9s Bi.y'B Twied Norfolk Snita f'om 128 Bey's Sac Knicker Suite from 18s fod Bey's Covert CWp from 14s 6d Boy's Tweed Overcoats from 6? fed Boy's Reefer Jackets from 6s 6d Bay's Football Jerseys from 3s 3d Boy's Caps 6d each Boy's Sailor Tarn* Is barh FOR GOOD VALUE, GOOD WEAR, LOW PRICE NEW ZEALAND CLOTHING FACTORY. Tir earn Beann nan Gleann •'nan Gaiageach. MCEEX7ZZFS HONDAI-LANKA TEA Ig the Beat Substitute for "Glcnlivet" or other "Usquebaugh."



G. MEDDINS "THS PEOPLE'S IKON MONGER Opposite Arcade, Burnett Street-, "T NVITES particular attention to hia Stock X ot Goods especially suitable for the Spring Season, including GARDENING TOOLS of every description. Garden Spades and Bakes, Garden Hoes and Forks, Dutch Hose, Garden Trowels, Hedge Sheara, Weeding Forks, etc, etc. India Rubber Hose Pipe. TOOLS! TOOLS! TOOLS! In Carpenters' and Farmers' Tools I tiave the best eelection in Ashburtou County, afc ray well known prices, which are the lowtst. BUILDERS' IRONMONGERY Of every description, at bedrock prices, ncludin^ Locks of all kinds. Hinges, Screws, Brass Goods, REGISTER 'iKATES, MANTELPIECES, etc AGENT far the following Makers' GANGES :- Shacklcck's Obion, Baning' barn's Zbalanma. Scott's Atlas, Crown Iron Works CHAM.HJTOE Storrier's Champion. FURNISHING AND HOUSEHOLD IRONMONGERY to enit everybody. BRUSHWAKE, TINWARE, &c, Dont' forget a penny saved is a penny gained. MISS W SIMPSON, Teacher of Piano forte, Havelook Street, Eb«S> Belt, wishes to notify that she h&e a Best class CJuadrHle B»nd available for Dancee, Wedr ding partieß, Concert*, and Socials For Terms & etc , opp'y to D. Leitch, Bnrnefcb Btr«t. __.__ . —Ul WANTED KNOWN—Ladies' Jacket*, formerly 27^ 6>? now 4s lid, Ladies Capes formerly 30s, now 5s 6d, Lidies Masntoshes 4e lid, Girls' 2s lid, Children's Ulsters from 2s 6d« Ladies' Corsets from le Id, Holland Aprons Is.—Andkbw Obb's, Cb#fcp Sftle, 7



fcH O « w 13 « i g tc osborn"coombe, PIANO TUNER * EXPERT (Lafe© of London), TS NOW in Aehburtom for business. ORDERS may be left with MR LLEWELLYN OWEN at. bis Music Studio, Arcade Chambers, Ashburtoo, or at Commercial Hotel*



Smoke New Veaaa