Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY, JANUARY 6, 1900. Local and General.

* # * On the first page to-day will be found O' mmercial and War Naws, and on th.< fourth page a short page. A Defalcation. -The Chahman of the Board, appoint* d under the Civil Service Officers Guarantee Act, gives noti c of a call under that Act on account of the defalcation by an officer of the Stamp Department of £1159, by means of embt zzleinent of stamp moneys. The guarantee of the officer who baa defaulted was £300.—Press Association telegram. Wbeckagb.— The Tekapoa, which arrived at Wellington yesterday, from H-velock, reports passing off Terawhiti a quantity of wreckage, including what appeared to be portion of a vessel's bulwarks. Residents at Plimmertoo report having seen rockete in the line between Mana Island and the Brothers light last night. No vessel is reported misßiog.—Press Association telegram. Big GOOBEBERRIKB.—The gooaebery crop this season is very heavy, but not every duy does one come across such berries as Mr James Elliott has to show, He brought, to the Mad office yesterday about a eoore of monsters, grown from bushes supplied to him as seedlings by Mr Thomas Scaly, and the largest of the berries, which are egg shaped, measured in circumference s|ia by 4Jia They have also a rich oidery flwor. An Old Journalist Dead.—Mr J. W. Banfield, one of the oldest journalists in Victoria, died at Ararat on December 14 The deceased gentleman, after serving his apprenticeship as a printer and managing an establishment in Liverpool, came to Victoria in 1852, and, after visiting various gold rushes, started the Maryborough and Dunolly Advettiser, a paper which the late Sir Julius Vogel edited before coming to Otago. In I 1357 Mr Ban field settled at Ararat, and was ' connected wiih the Advertise)' there up to the time of his death. Laundry Work.-—Mr Oxon, of the firm of Hunt and Cox, of Christchurch, is just I now on a visit to Ashburton, io order to I push the eale of a preparation recently patented by the firm. It is a powder, and is used for stiffening and polishing linen. It ' is evidently a very remarkable mixture to judge from the manner in which Mr Coxon 1 turned out some linen shirts in the presence lof a representative of this paper. Mr Ooxon, whose present address is the Ashburlcm j Hotel, will, if communicated with, wait on any ladies desiring information, and explain every step of the process of work necessary to get the full benefit of his patent. Narrow Escape.—As the late train from Christchuroh was nearing Otnimi station on Sunday last a man was observed lying across the rails, apparently asleep. By a very smart application of the brakes and a liberal use of whiatle and steam* the driver managed to ch*ek his train and arouse the sleeper, who I proved to be a young fellow of seven'eea or eighteen years of age. Ihe stoker prepared for a jump, with the intention of saving the young fellow's life. Owing, however, to the fact that that part of the line is usually run over slowly there was no need. Very great credit is due to the men in charge for their quick action in stopping so smartly, thus averting what otherwise must have been a fatal accident. New Zealand Manufactures in Pata? g ma.—The young New Zealander ib coming to the front not only in South Africa, but in other parts of the world As an instance of this, the following fact may be cited :—A young New Z^a'soder who adventured at far from home as Puntaa Arenas in Patagonia, fouud that in that tnlighlenei country the ploughs were drawn by o%*n by means of twisted green hide ropes wh oh were affixed to their horn". The New sJaal*nder, after descanting on the superior method ot haulage by csan which was in vogue in bis country, started business negotiations, wi'h the result that, within five years, fully £5000 worth of wool presses, bullock waggona and other New Z aland manufactures have found their way to benighted Patagonia, Kbuger'B Luck "enny—When the late President of the Transvaal handed over the Government 10 us, Lord Wolaeley vouches for the fact that the total amount) ia the Treasury was four shillings and sixpence. Within a few days of the hoisting of the British flag a bill for £4 10s 4<i against the Boer Government was handed in and ditr honoured. That, however, was not the only time the Transvaal w-8 in financial ti'oubte, as the following story testifiep. It is notorious that the total amount in the Boer Treasury at the lime of the discovery nf fjold on the R»nd was 12s 6-1. President-. Krue;er thoughtfully appropri: tad the only gold coin, with the remark, " The i*st of the old gold and the old luck." He has since worn the coin as a "charm" upon his watch-chain, aiid is said to have regarded it with a feeling of superstitious veneration. Somo two moatfaa ago, however, it became accidentally detached, and alj shorts to find it have bean in vain. The President has been inconsolable for the loss, regarding it as an omen of dis aster. Art.—Mr W. Greene, a gentieman who has occupied a prominent place in art circles in the South Island for the past few years, haying made up his mind to leave Timaru, where of late he has resided, intends disposing of some twenty of his pictures by art union. The firßt prl»3 pioture is on view in the window of Mr H. M; Jones, and fs well wefbh cireful study. It represents a harvest soene, a si? horse team bringing hams the grain in a waggon of the orthodox sorb and color, The hoipes are admirably painted, their attitudes are expressive of that vigour and spirit oharaoterietio pf the well fed and well oared for farm horses of this country. This painting alone is,.one should think, sufficient inducement to subscribe to Mr Greene's art; union. The minor prizes are to be seen in other windows, Mr John Wilson's containing three or four. Mr Greene is leaving Timaru In order to study art in some larger and more suitable sphere, and doubtless his mime will be prominent in the future annals of New Zealand art ObiTUABY.-—Madaraa Fodpr, for many years a leaident of Dunedin, died afc CbxjUt ohutcb, where she had gone for the benefit of her health, 00 Wednesday, at the a«e of sixty-eight years*, The deceased lady, it may be mentioued, was the means by which the offer of an asylum in Eugland was made to the ex Empress Eugenic. When the un* fortunate lady, in hr flight from France in 1870, landed ab Hastings, M. and Madame Fudor were on k visit to Mr Strode, the proprietor of Oamden Plaoe. At Mr Strode's requeß^, Madame Fodor waited on the fon lorn sovereign and offered the house and estate as a plaoe of residence. The effer was gladly accepted, and the tx Kmpress occupied the place for many years, M. Fodor undertook the entirely honorary posi tion of comptroller of her household, and fulfilled the friendly duty until he was killed by a carriage accident whilst,driving pear Oamden Park. Midame Fodor, who wioye* among the leading lights in England and France, m understood to have kept a diary, which should .be of great inberesh She leaves two sons and a daughter. One of the sons ia well known as an artist of ability, while the other haß made a reputa tion in literature in France and America, Miss Fodor is alao well known in artistic

Water Cakts —The Works Committee of the Chiiatchurcti City Council has ofouin'd a ntw fou>-wheeled wt»tet-cart from Meesra lu<s*s Boa, of Kilmore Street, 'ltae cart hods 600 gallons of water, aid has a deiive y spread, of 40ft. 'ihia ia the third oaifc of tbo kind which is now in the pos session of the City Council. Big Beef -Mr W. J. Silcock has on his hooks to-day, the beef of a eteer tf his own feeding—a rentable fatted calf, that h« had teen nursing, with others, for the Christmas trade. As he had plenty of others, the one now in process of dismemberment to feed the Ashburton m *w was not hilled for either Christmas orlSew Year, but yesterday hia carcase was brought into the shop, and seated 1190lbBof prime brief. Wool Sale—-At the seoond wool sale at Timaru, the catalogue comprised 6768 bales. Hulf and crossbred wools w<<re decidedly easier than at the ti'sfc sab, and a good quantity was passed in. There wag very ksen bidding for merino wool, and it was quite £d higher than ah last sale. Scouring wool* (pii Cfb, etc.,) sold very well. Half bred sold up to 12^d, crossbred IOJi, three quarterbred 9Jd, merino 13id, scoured 18d, merino pieces 10£ d, belliet 91, locka 4. The catalogue was the largest ever offered at Timaru,\except that in 1894. An Apprkciatouy Paragraph. — The following i« from the Wacgauui Herald of a recent datn :—A German resident of Aah button has given five horses to the Govern ment for the use of the second oontingenb. The donor, in handing them over remarked, " We came here Germans, and we conld nob have been treated better if we had beea Englishmen. We must do what we can for you " Such an expression is worthy of bhe nearly appreciation of every Britisher, and the sentiment doea credit to the gentleman who uttered ib. 11 The Advocate"—We are in receipt of the issue of the Advocate of January 6. As most of our readers are aware, this journal is the official organ of the Wealeyan connex ion, and it continues to be conducted on able lines. The copy before us contains an interesting article entitled entitled " Christ ianity and the Elections," the subject being dealb with in a manner which must commend itself to thinkers of all shades of religious opinion. One remark is certainly f -rcibla. Referring to the newly-elected members of Parliament, the wriier remarks •• There are some, however, who have emphatically a bad repute. They are not such as we could recommend any young man to follow as an example. In no Christian home could they be received either as friends or companions." A Wandering c hue*—Some amusement and excitement was caused in Lyttelton about half-past nine o'clock yesterday morn ing by the performances of a sheep which ■soaped from Messrs Cook Bros', paddock on the hills, and wenb into the town. The animal found its way to Norwioh Quay, where, after a few moments' apparent inde cision as bo how to employ its time, it entered the office of Mr A Rhind, Before Mr Herbert Rhind, who was wiihin, had time to do more than realise the preßeuce of his visitor, it jumped through the back window on to the landing of a flight of out side stairs leading to the back premises. It demolished a large pane of glass in its pro grew, but was itsetf unhurt, and was pre sently rc-aaptured and oonveyed back to its paddock.

Christmas Day on a Monday.

Last Christmas Day fell on a Monday, and the following lines may interest our readers, although of unknown authorship;— If Christmas D*y on Monday be, A great winter that year you'll sre, And full of winds both luud nod shrill; But in summer, truth to tell, High winds shall there be, and strong, Full of tempests lasting long ; While battles they shall multiply, And great plenty of beasts shall die. They that be born that day, I ween, They shall be siroDg each one, and keen j He shall be found that stealefch aught; Tho' tho'i be sick, thou dieub nob.

QUARANTINE REGULATIONS.

The Case of the Nineveh's Pas senger.

United Press Association—By Eleotric Telegraph—Copyright Sydney, Jan 5 The Premier's attention bus been pdled to the placing of a Nineveh's passenger aboard the Moana. The matter is being investigated. ; It is stated that the Nineveh's pis senger by the Moana was pressingly desirous not to be detained in Sydney till the next American steamer sailed. He communicated with the American Consul, and a-ked the latter to inter view the President of the Board of Health: The roan, by further persistent efforts, succeeded in getting placed aboard the Motma, though he was not allowed to pome to Sydney. Great secrecy is maintained in regard to the whole business. Ir, is further stated that another of the Nineveh's passepgers was allowed to leave quarantine before the regula tion period expired.

CABLE NEWS.

United Press Assooi&bion —By Eleobtip TalegraphT-rGopyriKht. Loj?I)QN, January <£• The death is announced of Mr Francis Scbnadhorst, formerly chief organiser of the Liberal party, aged sixty years.

U.A.O.D.

The half-yearly meeting of the Star of Ashburton Lodge of Druids was held on Thursday evening. The lodge was opened at the usuaf hour by V.A. Bro. Gobbe, and there was a large 'attendance of members. After the opening ceremony D.P. B,rq. Sealey, of Tiiparu, was announced, and was ■ received in true Druidic etyle. One candi date was initiated into the Order, the District President performing the ceremony in a very impressive manner* The election of officers for the ensuing half-year then took piece and resulted as follows t—A.D,, Bro J. Gobbe; V.A.D., Bro Stribbling ; Secretary Bro H. Stephenson (re-elected); Treasurer, Bro H. 0. Shrimpton (re-elected); A. D. Bards, Bros Piokford and O'Coraor; VA. Birds, Bros Gahagan and Terris; J. 3., Bro Martin J O,G, Bro Payne ; M.S , Bro Pearson; D.P., Bro Marsden; G.L. representatives, Bros Steel and O'Connor ! Auditors, Bros Jolliffe and Moriarty. The officers elected were installed in an impres sive manner by the D.P. Bro Sealey, who was accorded a hearty vote ot thanks. A vote of thanks was also pasted to the re tiring officers. The Lodge unanimously voted £5 5s to the patriotic fund, for sufferers by the Transvaal war. The secre tary was instructed to summon members to meet on Monday, January 15, to reoeive the balance sheet and auditors': report, which, owing to the absence from Ashburton of both auditors, could not be presented at this meeting. After transacting formal buainesitha lodge was closed by A.D. Bro Gobbe. After tfie lodge' had been closed the membars, together #ith m^rabees of the Ladies' Lodg», e»t dowp to supper, at'which a number of toasts were given and re? sponded to by Bros Gobbe A.D,, Sealey D.P, and Marsden D.P. (elect), also sisters Stock and Huffam. Bro Sealey in a happy speech congratulated the Lodge on Ihe increase of membership during the past six months, and on the way in whioh the Lodgo h&d been conducted. He also thanked the members for the hearty welcome he himself had re» ceived. Songs were given by Sisters Gobbe and Wakeham, and Bros Aslett, P. Pritohard, D. Stock and J. Bunneil. After spending « jjleas^nb hour and singing " Auld lang sytte," the <?.oj}jp&»y separated.

THE LATEST.

Home and Foreign.

United Press Association—By Bleotrlo Telegraph—Copyright

Received Wakapuak* Jan. 5, 10 35 p.m This Office 11.30 p-m) Russia and the Indian Frontier. £t Petersburg, Jan 5 The Russian troops ac Askabid, the capital of the Ilus-ian Trans-Caspian territory, and elsewhere a!ong the Perso-Afghan frontiers, are being rein forced. French Revolutionists. Paris, January 5 The trial has concluded before the French Senate, constitu'ed as a High Court of Justice, of twenty three mem bers of the Patriotic and other Roya'ist Leagues, on charges of attempting to overthrow the French Republic during the disorders in Paris in February lagf. M. Deroulede, President of the League of Patriots; M. Briffet, agent of the Due De Orleans ; and M. Delar Saluces, another well known Royalist, were each sentenced to ten years' banishment, M. Guerin, of the Fort Oharbrol siege fame, was sentenced to ten years in a fortress. All benefited under the plea of mitigating circumstances. Received Wakapuaka Jan. 6, 9.20 ft.m This Office 9,52 *.m A Serious Railway Accident. Berlin, Jan. 4 A serious railway accident occurred at Frankfort. An express collided with another train at Poischiveiler. Sorters in the mail van of the express were killed, and several others injured. The last waggon of the ordinary train, which was laden with spirits was set on fire by the mail van The Tiliis Earthquake. London, January 5 Eight hundred bodies were recovered from the ruins of the Tiflis earthquake.

Australian

(Received Wakapuaka Jan. 6, 9.30 a.m, This Office 10 2 a.m) New Samoan Arrangement Sydney, January 6 H.M.S. Torch's officers report that the new Samoan arrangement is popu lar with the Germans and Mataafaa's party, and unpopular among the Eng lish residents.

TRANSVAAL WAR.

Boer Reverses Near Stormberg

Enemy's Trenches Shelled Near Colenso.

Despatch of Troops From England.

The Sunny side Engagement.

Ihe Belief of JDouglai.

Smuggling Rifles into Pretoria

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright Capetown, January 4 Lord Methuen's cavalry operated to the northwards of Colonel Piicher's ad vance, thus preventing the Boers from sending reinforcements, and seeking to intercept the Douglas fugitives. January S A detachment of the 9th and 12th Lancers is at Sunnyside to prevent the Boers advancing; eastward* The Boers occupied Molteno and Cyphergat, but General Gatacre dis lodged them, and they fled towards Stormberg. Captain Moutmorency has evacuated Dordrecht, and occupied Bird's Siding, a few miles southward, on the Indwe railway. Durban, January 5 Sir Redvers Buller shelled with destructive ejfFect the Boer trenches on the plain in £he vicinity of Inhlawe Hjil). shifting the enemy, whose horses stampeded. Numbers of traction engines at Frere areMoing good wprk. Capetown, January 5 It has been ascertained that forty thousand of the jate^t pattern rii|es reaphed Pretoria^ as pianos, via Deia r goa Lightning exploded two defensive mines at Kimberley. -Aden Jan § The British authorities at Aden da. tamed the German steamer General, bound for East Africa, and discharged her cargo in order to overhaul it. Lond@n, January 4 Mr Chamberlain has congratulated Panada on the success of her troops. SypNEY, January § The Premier has receiyed a cable from the Secretary of War, expressing the hope that a fully-equipped medical oorps will accompany the Contingent. In response to a request from the officer commanding the New South Wales Lancers at the front, fifty extra mounts will be sent to them with the second Contingent. Mr Chamberlain has accepted ten out of twenty nurses who volunteered their services for the war. The War Office declined the Sydney coachbuildere' offer to build transport waggons, as they were considered unsuitable for military requirements in South Africa.

Reinforcements from England.

Enthusiastic Enlistment of Yeo manry Troops.

The City of London Volunteers.

Departure of Five Thousand

London, January 4 | The enthusiasm over the enlistment; j ! of Yeomanry troops in England con tinues. ; The Oity Imperial Volunteers will have a battery of four 12 pounder guns, maßhed by* the Honourable Artillery Company, under Major 1 Yic. , kersi '■' ; ; Lord Roberts has asked that a number of additional officers brf special servbe be despatched to South Africa,

January 5 Five thousand men of the Seventh British Army Division have sailed for South Africa.

N.S.W. Lancers on Special Duty.

(Received Wak&puaka Jan; 5, 10 35 p.m ! This Office 11 30 pm.) j Capetown, January 5 | A detachment of the New South Wales Lancprs, under Major Lee, was sent to prevent the looting of the j wrecked commissariat train at Rens burg. They were exposed to a heavy shell and musketry fire for hours, but j took good shelter and returned the fire. Two were slightly wounded, and five horses were killed. Three Boers were killed and several wonnded.

New Zealanders in a Warm Corner

Rescued by Major Robin Under Heavy Fire.

Capetown, January 5 Tweaty-five New Zealanders, occupy ing an exposed position on a kopje towards Colesburg, drew a sudden fire from many Boers concealed on a hill across a narrow flat. Major Robin, with a picket, hastened to their relief, covering a mile under heavy fire. He safely rescued thorn, and then retired amid a hail of bullets, i two British guns covering their retreat.

President Steyn's Proclamation.

All White Men Regarded as Burghers.

A List of Disloyalists.

General Duller Compliments the Colonials.

(Received Wak&puaka Jan. 6, 920 »,m This Office 9 52 a.m) Capetown, January 5 President Steyn has issued a procla mation that every white man resident in the Free State shall be henceforth regarded as a burgher, and be liable to be called upon for active service in the defence of the country. Colonel Pilcher brought to Belraont a list of the disloyalists at Douglas, whose sons fought at the battle of Sunnyaide. General Sir Bedvers Boiler has com plimented Colonel Pilcher on the part the Queenslanders took at Sunnyside

N.S.W. Contingent.

Handsome Donation.

Supposed Boer Spy.

\ (Reodvad Wakapoaka Jan 6, 9.20 a.m, This Office 10.2 am) Sydney, January 6 Government have finally decided that they cwnot spare the Oommin dant to go to the Transvaal, A large number of the Naval Brigade have volunteered for the con tingent. Samuel McCaughey, a well known pastoralisl- s has donated £5000 to the Bushmen's Contingent Fund. The Pie uiers of the various colonies have been advised that £500 from tba Daily Mail Kipling Potm Fund has been devoted to each oo'ony's Patriotic Funi. Melbourne, Jan 6 Three New South Wales Permanent Artillery men and a German, supposed to be a Boer spy, stowed away on the j W*rrignl. All were landed. Victoria receives £750 from the Kip ling Poem Fund.

The Contingent

United Press Association —By Eleotrio Telegraph Kikldins, January 6 At a public meeting last night, it) was de uded to support the movement for send ing a third contingent to South Africa. A strong rep; es ntative committee was ap* pointed to carry oat the proposal. Sub* acriptions of money, horses, and fodder, are being received, chiefly for the More Men | Fund. The money already subscrib >d here amoants to £150- A local firm of auctioneers will hold a special horse sale here in a fort< Bight, their commission from which will be handed over to the fund. Auckland, January 5. A further detachment of Volunteers has left by the Glenelg for Wellington. Auck land's total for the Contingent is twenty seven. Two horses were shipped from Messrs William and Donald MoKionon. Mr K. W. Alison gives a hurdler to the Contingent. Mr Qeorge Fowlcfs, M.H.R., has received the following telegram from the Premier, in answer to his message offering the services of five Austrians:—" Thank very sincerely the five Austrians for offering their services for Traneyaal. Have already got number required." Captain Reid replied that he aouid nob leave before Tnesday to join the Contingent. He has received another wire, " Come at once.'' Lieutenant) Heather left for Wellington tc-day. Lieutenant Heather is the son of Mr Arthur Heather, merchant, Auckland. Wjbi,linqton, January 5 The Premier has cabled to the Agent. General, stabing that he approves of the pro* posal to form a contingent of Australasian bush men for South Africs. Although the authorities state that the date of the departure of the contingent is not yet fixed, it is currently reported that it wiil leave on Saturday, January 13. Although tbf matter is still unsettled, it is provable that Captain Reid will command the North Island contingent The Prior Ointment Company of Napier, has presented three boxes of ointment to the contingent. The Pocta Company, of Napier has sent two dox m pots of horse salve, The Prcenix Company, of Dunedin, has offered to send a special box of chocolate for each member of the contingent. The following have presented horses to the department for the use of the contingent —Mr Walker, Nihaka, through the Hon Mr Carroll—two; Mr Charles Seymour, Gis borne; Mr F Simmons, TimarujMr J. Buchanan, Hawera; Mr William Ackland Hood Standies, Hawkes Bay ; Mr G Walker» Mahia; Mr J Bailey, Mahi*; Mr Alfred Bayley, Toko ; Mr W Symes, M.H.8., Toko; Mr H Handyside, Herbsrtville; Mr Wig more, Cambridge; Mr W Wyeburn, and Mr McKinnon, Auckland ; and Captain Berry, Napier—one horse each. ' The patriotic fund now amounts to £4442 Among the later large donations is the Press Association, £50; Baok New South Wales^ £50; Wellington Club, £105. The Contingent are all selected to the number of 220; and the men for the gun detachment are now being picked oub.

The "More Men" Idea.D

|n response to the Frpss request for their opinion as to the sending of more men to the front, nearly all the members of Parliament and mayors of the boroughs in the colony have replied. The following are local re plica :— Me John McLaohlan, M.H.R. for Ashbur ton—l believe a larger Contingent of more importance than funds. I will support any necessary expenditure. Hon. W.vJ. Steward, M.H.R. for Waitakt —I regard the position of affairs in South Africa as a crisis in the history of the Empire, which calls for prompt and vigorous aotion. It ie of the first importance that) the success of our arm's should be complete and be quiokly attaioed. la order to effect

this more mounted men wad more artil erf are urgently merled. I heartily support th poposal to de*pjitch a thiid New Z-aland O'iKtinßent, tli>-enrolment of which shou a be begun concurrently with the despatch o the second. Mo-e thi»n this, I thiik that view of possible eventua'itirß.i beh ces ut to eet our own h~>a»>e in oidet—that it'O say, to take measures for the prepor arming and eqaipmeutof our volunfecrsand militia, bo that if the need arise tin ehorefl of New Zealand can be auootßtfuHy defended. Mayor of Aghburton—l regret that your telegram asking my views regarding the deapatoh of a larger Contingent wm received too late to reply to yesterday. I strongly favour this colony sending a much l»rger CootingenN What it has done bo f*r has only been, to my mind, to recoghiie in a v<-ry fmall way our great indebtedness to the fl«g which protects u», »nd the great Empre which has secure! us peace and prosperity. Lee us in leturn do our < uty manfuilyi and show that cur contributions so far were only a p eliminary c»nter, and now that further help will be acceptable, w* are ready to assist to the at most of oar resources —Hugo Friedlander.

War Items.

The colours of all the regiment* in Lidy smith were sent to Mari'zbarg for safety. Dr Leyds is very angry at two of his ions being commandeered and sent to.the front. Pigeon fanciers will be glad to learn that the carrier pigeons sent from L»dysmith were brad from English stock. The Jigi Shimpo and other Japanese papers loudly praise the forhear«noe and patience shown by Eng'and in her dealings with the Transvaal. The state of the Jewish refugees (writes • merchant in South Africa) reminds me of the destruction of Jerusalem or of some scenes from "Ivanhoe." The bombardment of Kimberley haa in no way interfered with the dispensation of justice by Judge Laoge, who opened the sriminal session just as usual. Uear-Admiral Bradford, Chief of the United States Bureau of Equipment, says it is impossible for the States to operate either in Europe or in South Africa during the present war, owing to the lack of coding stations. Our War Office, it seems, was not in ignorance as to the sijft of tne Boer army. Sir John Ardagh, the head of the Intelligence Department, made a forecast which exactly tallies with the reality Mr Hofmeyr, a first cousin of the Afri kander, said the other day to a correspon dent, "England mast annihilate the Republics, banish Kruger and Steyn, and then strike terror into the Cape Dutch." An Englishman writes :—" At a dinner given to Kruger be w«*s offered wine, and replied aloud, 'No.lt makes my stomach ache.' Be went to bed in his clothes, and filled the floor with ashea from hit pipe." Eighteen Krapp field gone, originally ordered by the Argentine Bepublic, and subsequently sold at the beginning of the war to Dr Leyde, have been retained at Hamburg by order of the German Govern* meat). The words of Kipling's stirring poem, 11 The Absent Minded Bepgar," have been set to music by Sir Arthur Sullivan. The music is in Bir Arthur's best style, and is as stirring as the words. The statement that the Boer artillery is officered by Germans is denied at Pretoria. It is said ihat without exception all the officers are born Transvaalexs, two being trained in Europe The only foreigners are two French artificers, tent by the makers of the guns, but who take no part in the firing. The New Zealand Express Company hM arranged to send, free of cost/ by the Wai wera, parcels from friends and relatives in the colony to members of the first contin* tin gent now at the front. Instructions have been sent to agents throughout the colony to collect and forward parcels to Wellington. The hospital ship Maine, now being fitted out in London for service in the South African war, is owned by tbe Atlantic Transport line, of which B. N. Baker, of Baltimore, ia ptMndent. Mr Baker ha* gi en the ship to the British Government free of cost, and he will personally pay the expenses of operating the vessel, which amount to 5000 dollars per month. .A number of American women have already sailed for England to j itn the Maine, and to work in its service as nurses. In a private letter sent to a.Capetown man from Ladysmlth, there was an account of a Boer, who was smoking his pipe whilst firing a big gun He woa seen through a glass to fall down, presumably from the explosion of a shell. After a moment he rose up, found his pipe, and continued filing, Yet a second time he was knocked down, and to the surprise of the beholder, he again gob up and went on firing and smoking at the same time. He was not wounded.

THE ARMING OF THE COLONIAL FORCES.

The following telegram has been received in Duaedin from the Minister of Defence iri reply to the resolutisns passed by the Cham ber of Commerce with reference to the urgent! necessity of arming the colonial forces with the latest weapons;— 11 In reply to your telegram, I may say that the Go vernment will do what is necessary in eon* nection with defence matters, and are nob unmindful of contingencies that may arise, bub at the same time the Ministry mast recognise constitutional position, and cannot incur a liability oi £20,000 sterling without the authority of Parliament."

THE ABSENT-MINDED BEGGAR.

The following is the encore versa of !' The Absent-minded Beggar," a* sung by tyr Millar at the meeting at the Cbristchurch Opera House on Thursday night ;— There's a few more men in kharki gone to ride and shoot with Byrne, They will faoe old Kruger't Matron with thebwb: ; ' " And tho' some may lose their ticket tb.at we gave 'em to return. There are some will come baok patched and peedin' rest, We will not be absent-minded, for their three tqaare meals a day With a decent soldier's pension we will find 'em | We mil show the maimed and broken down returnin* from the fray Tha.t they left a lot of loyal hearts behind 'em. Our sons—your Rons—sods of the men we know. Two Contingents for the front, we cheered 'em on their way, Eaah man doing his country's work (and who ' was it told them to go !) Pass the hat for New Zsaland's sake, Bad pay, pay, pay, The words-ware written by a Timaru resi dent, and the Byrne mentioned in the first line is Trooper W. Byrne, of Tinwn, a member of the first Contingent.

ANXIOUS TO GO TO WAR.

One man who volunteered for servioe with the second contingent when asked (says the New Zealand Times) if he was a good rider, replied, " Oh, y«B, I have ridden a bicycle for two you**" Another applicaufc, who had atttained tbs) "ntnjKtable age of sixty-five years, felt quite disappointed when bis ser vices were not accepted. Ys* another wegt through the sword exeroisa with his stick to show the offioials that he was capable of rapes*, senting the colony] in theTransfaal. He was persuadad to leave before ha had done any damage other than knocking the telephone off the table.

A PLUCKY POSTMISTRESS.

If we are nob mistaken (say a the West' minster Gazette) the postmistress of Lady i grey, the chief town of the native reserve on the Free State border will be the red« pient ofrnot a f«w *■« Christmas boxes" fron} the old country. The CUpefeown c'orrMpOf}* dene of the Dally M*il eablib * capital ■por|' of her pluck • and , success in keeping the Union Jack floating :•—" When tn« Boert entered the town they went to the (post office with the intention of taking posses* sion of it. They were met by the postmis tress, an Englishwoman, who not only declined to turn over the post-office to them, bat ordered them off the premises, and dared them to interfere with colonial pro perty. The Boers' were ncnpulewd by th» lady's determined manner* They wentioub> side and hoisted the Free State flag. The postmistress palled itnloira and ran up tha UaionJaok agata, fk* Boeri ltuok ; aB%

THE ASHBUBTON GOAEDIaS; SATtJBDA*, JiNUAIY 6. i960.



WAVERLEY WINS ON BOXING DAY. faY .___ ASHBURTON. Ist aEd 2nd — — Half Mile] Ist atd 2nd — — One Mile i Ist ai d 2 d — — 'l^o Mile I 3st»nd2iid — — WHEEL RACK EAIAPOI. Wheel Bace „ » First and Second Five Mile „ „ First GLENTUNNEL. Wheel Fa^e - ?, First and Second 1 Mile ',', » First and Second h Mile » „ First 5 Mile „ „ First and Second OXFORD. i Mi'e „ „ Rrst 5 U;il e f> , f Fn st and Becond Wceelßace „ , First and Third TOTAL AMOUNT WON £95 10 s OUT OF A POSSIBLE £126. JOHN ORR &• CO.. AbHBURTON. SOLE NEW ZEALAND AGENTS fttid at Waverley Cycle Depot 217 Colombo Street, Cbristchurch. JOHN ORR AND GO'S REVISED LIST^ WE f?him fo be the Leading Firm of G ooers, Ironrooneere, and Crockery Merchants in Ashburton We import all our Stock from the Home Marl-«tsfarSp>tO*sh and are therefore in the best position to supply the public with only ganttioe goods at the lowest possible price for c*«h. We iaanntee all on? gtoda fa'l waighb and finest quality. We never charge for Sickiri? *r,d dtUrfr*, all goods at the Rtil w«Sta- i«n free. Any person leaving In order *ii.h in o»n gat a ptreel ticket, and therefore always bejsure of .having their grrU afc tha ata-ion in time. No charge for ticket. TTiT ATTD ««5i p«r Ton — t JLO U JLV PKR SACK 13*. — SI)GAK-S|d per ll> witti Tea / MARA^ILLA GARDEN TEA— 1« lOd, ?2«. 2s 4dJ per 1b i 51b Box 83 9d, 9a 7«1, lit ypp, * i lOlbßor .- .- .« 16s Bd, 18a 4d, 21528 d J lliri. J KOZIE TEA _ 101b Box, !18b fld ; 51b, 9s 7d ( GOLD LEAF TEA 101b Box, |18> 4d; 51b, 9« 7d -PROVISIONS - FACTORY BUTTER—Fern Leaf and Sufctou's always in'stook. CHEESE—Finest Factory, 6d per 1b BAOON AND HAMS - » Lewie'," « Monpork." » D.(Ho7iU«D. Mild Cared Hams, Sides and Bolls. 7|d. GORE OATMFAL—2SIb Bag, 2s 6d fan Homen's Coco*, Jib, lid ; %lb, U j Oarraway Seeds 8d per lb 9d • lib 3s 3d Pimento, whole la „ „ w« [« C^ooa' Mb Bid ; lib, Is 4|d Pimento, (rronnd Is2d „ „ o iffld. Oorry Powder Ud per bottle ?'* Vm fSI. B«" Sdperlb Tibs lot Is _, A . „, r klUFid. I«. Ora^e and Olt- f!r etre 6d " " ron,Bdp6riO Tartaric Acid ... ... lalOd „ „ Whitini, »bfotl» I,3dperlb TuTOionto Bloaters, 9 for la SSSrflß!.*K£. «ijffth, M«onochie-.F S .h Herrtag 9 . «Jd per Bog l"h 6CnrLo.°fsi. l ,.r,3Mp.rlb  Herring to To m »to. KM SS£^ K^ i- «">llß » H"rLr £ artop> 1M Tr W otah6d.4lbl 9 ,71b1.M •• Kippered^ Herring !0d rhjMßMm ?K^ „ Present Blo»tei», 1M Fi n »tO O r«n» ... -^ »•; ;; Auokland Mallett Jdpertta o. t w\ ?ld .. .. Oysters .'.. ... •« oa n « B&e ::: 1::: KsJ=s^ ••• S" = Setta. r ta2 :::: rr'wL ;::ii" ;: P««.. exu.fi... 31bboxes. KNp gtS^fc'^tad." " " BlTii kS ::: :" S :: 0^ bJ, mumo.., spm Beef, ab wd Martin's Jk BUoklog, 6d p»r Potted Meat., ..sorted, 6d per tin "' ", Bovn!, ZoZ, la 10d. t tfi..i,l n « fill ncr tin Is 9d per Leiberg's extract, Is 9d per bottle och Blacking, 2d per tin, » f PafceDb s Groatßt R ob in ßO n' B , lOd ;J Har-



CBUROH SERVCES. ST. STEPHEN'S OHOROH, Aahburtoo. FIBST 81NDAY AFTER THE FPI PHANY. (January 7.) 11 am—Malina, Holy Communion, and Sermon. 3 pm-G3Ef NSTRRET. 6 30 p m—Evening Pi&jer and Sermon R A WOODTHORPE, M A., Vicar ~~~ BIG DISPLAY ~~~ or GOODS IN ALL DEPARTMENTS FOB THB CHRISTMAS SEASON. SPECIAL Line Drees GoecU at Is 9d per yard ! A Grand Choice of Prints and Muslins Latest in Ladies' Hats Newest Goods in Ties and Collars for Ladies Very Special—Tan Kid Gloves at 2s lid per pair, worth 4a lid Cycling White Lisle Gloves Big Variety Hosiery—Special value, Gentlemen's Tie?, Shirts, Collars, and Underwear Special Line Gentlemen's Suits at 29a 6d—Grand value Iv Boots and Shoes our prices are very low Dressmaking 10s 6d ; fife and style guaranteed Trading Stamps to all Cash Customers ASHBOBTON DRAPERY COMPANY. CHhISTMAS, 1899. we have tsow in stock AND ARRIVING FOR OUR Gil Rib TMASTR a DE LARGE SUPPLIES Now Currants and Raisins, new Sul tanas and Candid Pee'a, new Muscatels ar*d Almonds, new DoaHicated Cocoannt and Sikdnsaed Icelng Sugar, new kinds Fruits, including Aprico* p, Pearß, Peaches, Pine Apple, and Table Plums, The Finest TEAS and SUGARS in Town. NOW LANDING. A SHIPMENT of hifeh-clasa English China direct from >hj Potteries. All the latest Pa terns. AL o~ A SHIPMENT OF CHOICE OdEISIMiS NOYFLTIBS. Direct from Japan. P.ease send your Orders early and iige We are Agents for COLUMBIA, b.S.A. and LOVKLL DIAMOND, BICYCLES. CARSON & Co., TEA MERCHANT? AND BLENDERS, GROCERS, AND IRONMONGER*. Importers of Bicyolea, Ironmongery, Glas and China Takcbkp Street, Aahbnrton. CHHIBTMAS AM) NEW YEAK HOLIDAYS. TjWERYTHING A Cyclist requires frow* ftd worth of Graphite to a 1900 Zealandi» Bicycle. Price dssi. OATES, LOWRY AHI GO BURNETT STREET. Cheapest and best stook in Ashbyrton, "^ew Zealand BLOTHINCFACTORY i QPECIAL Line» in TENNIS (SHIRTS FANCY STRIPJES fromSSs 6d, new I Patteras. White nnd Cream Matt Bhirtu, 4a 6d and 5b 6d. White and Cream Cellular Shirts, ss, The Newest StylegJ'.in Fashion Shirts and Whit* Shirts, with fancy Cuffs an* Fronts. Men's Panama Straw Hats, Men's Brazilian Straw Hat», Men's Club Strawe from 2s, t Splendid Variety to select from. Men's Frame Hate, Men's Soft Felts. Men's Tennis Bats, Men's White Felts. BOOTST BOOTS Newest Shape Tau Boots 16s 64,185, 2356 d Black Glace Kid Boots, 16a 6d ; Tennis ShoCT Loe6d. Men «. Womsu'jj &nd Children's Canvas I Shoes. LARGE STOCK AT LOW PRICKS. « ALL ANl* I1N»1»ECX. SUITS TO MBAS^RE A SPECIALTY. FIT GUARAN TEED NEW ZEALAND CLOTHING FACTOKY. W. H. BEDKUSGSALB, Manager. miss Larson. rfIEACHER of Pianoforte and Organ _L For teems, etc., apply at Residence Corner of Wills and William Streets nea Wakanui Boad East. i9r NEW Year Cards, New Year Cards Good selection of both single cards and packets. New lines in wall texts, birth day cards, photo frames, prayer and hymn books, general stat|iooe;y, etc.—A. H. Wil liams, Tancred Street. VISIT "The Corner" for the best assortment of Cheap Christmas Carda.



is yv jticmr For as» Bditor tie tt«eoj^i£>flii«l i»at« »ut Wlfrtictue#. From Sylvan Faliey Newe, Brevard. N,s It may be a question whether the editor of a newspaper has the right to publioly recommend any of the various proprietary medicines which flood the market., yet as a preventive p/ suffering we feel it a duty to say a good word f^r Chamberlain's Colic, Cholera and Diarrfcie* Remedy, JJ7e have known and used this medicine in our family for twenty years and have always found it reliable. In many cases a dose of this remedy would save hours of suffering while a nhysioiao is awaited. We do nofc believe iadejieniiJwjg Implicitly on any medicine for a cure, bufc wa'tfo .feetysve that if a bottle of Chamberlain's Diarrh^i Jteo#edy were kept i on hand and administered at tna uftept^fyu 'of an attack much suffering mighb bB avoided and in very many cases the presence of a physician would nob be required. At lease this bai been our experience duriag the pait twenty yeaw. For sale by Ash bprbo Drug Co. Pricei §t, »ad }ibii



For Children's Hacking Cough tak Wooda' Great Peppermint Cure—lb 6d »n fcr}