Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. TUESDAY, JANUARY 9, 1900. Local and General.

*»* On th« first page to-day will be fourd an article, Ou-of-work Insurance, and on bh'j fourth page a short story. I The Taubanga —The warship Tauranga has arrived at Wellington from Auckland.— Press Association telegram. The Waiwera—At 230 yesterday, the Waiwera was outside the Heads discharging biilast. ghe will come into Lytteltoa tc day to be docked.-—Press Association tele gram. Mr Justice Wiluims' £pkch—Mr F. Fertiman has kindly permitted us to hold over his usual advertisrmerits to make room for the report of Mr Justice Williams' speech, which appears elsewhere. \ The Waiwhra. —Mr Daniels, repairs superintendent for the Union Company, wires I that it ia not likely the Waiwera will be ready tj leave Wellington before January 20. —Press Association telegram. The Volunteers. — The local nfb companies will go into camp on their own ground for a week, commencing on February 6. They will probably drill on the open ground m the Domain. Sudden Death—A Presß Association wire from Dunedin states that Mr McLelland, manager of the Dunedin dredge, died sud denly yesterday on a coach at Miiler'a Flat, from infUtnnution of the stomach. He was en his way to the Dunedin hospital. Ashbueton Contributions.—A number of offers of assistance have been made from the Ashburton county, some of whioh have not yet received formal acknowledgment owing to there being doubts as to whether the contributions were m <ud of the relief fund or to assißt m providing more men and material for the war. Contributors Bhould m all oases make their wishes clear, although as a matter of fact every donation must serve the Empire. About Women's Feet—Just at the age when young women are particularly fond of dainty feet, nature comes gallantly to the rescue and shapes their feet smaller than they were as growing girls. It is a faot noted by | obsarving shoemakers, who do not at all re gret a eircumstanca that helps to make busi ness brisk. "Yes," said one of Boston's swellest bootmakers, to an inquiring newt paper man, "girls about seventeen or eigh teen years give us no end of trouble. Their f »et are then large and shapeles?. They often take sizaa as large as full-grown women. When they get older, however, and the foot becomes settled, new boots on tho old last will be found too large, and it is only when the young ladies complain that their new shoes are too big that we know the foot has undergone the change juafc described. The explanations have to be given, but the boot maker doesn't mind this so much, for a woman, as she grows older likes to be told that her foot is getting smaller. After forty the feet of a woman go back to the fat and fhbby state, and herein grows trouble for the bootmaker, who has to state, m ex planation why the last pair of shoes do not fit, that the cause lies m the fact that her feet are getting bigger," A Shower of Com—l tried to get into the Palace Theatre (writes a correspondent of M.A.P) on the first night of the production of the recitation of Kipling's poem on the " Absent-minded Beggar," but, with seals ordered a do;m times over, I had to go without. But lam told that a very pretty incident took place on that night, which I have not seen recorded elsewhere. When Mrs Tree came to the refrain, " Pay, Pay, Pay," a gentleman m the gallery was so wrought upon by the eloquent appeal, so vivaciously delivered, that he instinctively rushed to his purse ; and, taking oat half.a crown, threw it on the platform. The action proved infectious; and coins—sovereigns, half-jovereigus, half-crowns, eixpeocee, and pence—were thrown on to the sUge, unii! m the end Mrs Tree, had gathered together something like £25. But an untoward in cident happened. Mrs Tree a little unnerved by this unexpected result of hereloquent advo cacy, looked towards Mr. Morton, who waa m the wiugs, and he, mistaking the meaning of Mie look, thought it was right to intervene. He did so, fearing that Mrs Tree might be struck by some of the coin?. And he made a little speech asking the golden and silver river to stop. Since theu, v printed notice has been put up, and the visitors are re quested not to throw coins on to the stage. It seems rather a pity that the generosity to the women and children of thegallant soldiers should be thus checked, but I suppose Mr Morton has bis good reasons.

News in Brief.

The temperature at Brewarrina (New South Wale*) on Christmas Day was 121deg, which iB the record of the colony for the season* A little girl, daughter of Mr Michael Wall, waa fatally bitten by a black snake at Captain's Flat, New South Wales, recently, Palmerston newspapers record the death of Mrs Jane Lemmmgton, who arrived In Wellington m the ship Lady Nugent m the year 1841. While the ship Canada was bound from America to Manilla, a whirlwind snapped off the mtizentnast. The vessel pub into Mel bourne for repairs. The New South Wales Minister for Mines has promised to bring m a Bill for extending the provisions of the Mining on Private Property Apt next session. The Justices |Fioes) Bill, giving magie fcratea discretion m allowing fines to be paid by instalments ha« been parsed by the New South Wales Legislative Assembly The chairman of Goldsbrough, Mori:, and Co., Sydney, has stated that the quantity of wool sold m colonial markets during 1899 was 640,000 bales, valued ab £10,509,000. | loflueßfcii i» evidently pretty prevalent throughout the colony ? A Wairoa (Bawke's Bay) paper states that the Band of Hope had to close until after the new year, owing to the epidemic*. The Melbourne Harbour Trust haa decided to increase the wages of its seamen, flremeo, and winchmen by 10s per month. A baby m a kerosene tin was found on a plain near Bourke (New .couth Wales) a few days ago, m the scorching heat. The New South Wales Presbyterian cen tenary thanksgiving fund no?y amounts to £10,400. '

ALLEGED ARSON.

At the Police Court this morning—before Meaßrs R. Alcora and Joseph Scaly, J.P.— Mre Mary Ann Landells was charged with setting fire to th« house occupied fey her husband and herself m Peter Streec, the property of W, H. Collins. Accused was charged on four informations with Betting fire to the house on January 5, 6, 7, and 8, and Mr Outhbertßon appeared for the defence. The Sergeant of police applied for a remand, which Mr Outhbertsoa did nob oppose, but asked for bail, explaining that accused's son, Mr W. Landells, was prepared to take care of hia mother m hia own house. The Sergeant said the case was a very serious one, and he felt justified m opposing bail, aeeing that four successive attempts had been made fco fire the house, and these attempts follow ing after each other at short intervale. The Bench thought that m the abate of mind the woman was apparently m the question of bail should be considered with caution* Mr Ciithberfrson said there was jjo question before the Court of Mrs Landelis' state of mind. If there had been the proceedings ought to have been under different auspices, and she would have been before the Court under the Lunacy Act. After .consideration, and on the understanding that the womm was to be carefully looked after by her friends, a remand was granted til! Monday, bail being allowed m £200, and two sureties of 1100 each.

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of the Ashbnrton Borough Council was held on Monday even ing. Present—Hia Worship the Mayor, and all the Councillor?. FINANCE. ' The Mayor reported the debib balance at t,ha bank as £1603 5i lOd, and the income received since last msoting had been £207 12i 3d, of which £200 was for auctioneer^' liceuaes. BESBKVi'S. Mr W S Mit rhell applied for a transfer of Reserve 1592 to A W Mitchell, which waa granted.- THE BUILDING BY-LAWS. Mr R Bird appliod for permission to erect a closet of iron on property within the fire belt, belonging to Mr Edwin Thomas. A lentLy discussion took place on the application, after which (he application was granted, the work to be done subj set to the approval of the engineer. APPLICATION FOB WORK, An application for work was teferred to the Works Committee. PLANTATION. Messrs Mitchell and Turner put m an application to lease, on conditions specified, the plantation above the Old Men's Home, which was referred to the Reserves commit ', tee to inspect the plantation and report. THE " MORE MEN" FUND. The Mayor of Wanganni wrote asking for the cc-speration of the Council m raising a third contingent for South Africa The Mayor stated that he had replied to the Press's telegram, and his reply had been printed m the Guardian of Saturday. He highiy appreciated the aotion of the colony m sending a first and a second contingent, but a couple of hundred men would not be of great help m a campaign against a nation that could pub many thousands of men m the field at twenty-four hours' notice. He thought the Home country should be given to understand that she can count upon the assistance of the oolony m an emergency, and the colony should put itself m a position to give this assistance when called upon. Cr Maynatd thought the letter from Wanganui was only asking the Council's opinion on the subject. The Council decided to endorse the action of the Mayor and approve of the terms of his reply to the Press, and to forward a copy of his reply to the Mayor of Wang&nai as an expression of iti opinion. engineers' report. The engineers reported as follows : — 1. Channelling—The Workß Committee have considered the matter of channelling referred to them by the Council, and have selected streets for channelling to the length of about 340 chains to be done before the winter, and recommend the following streets he proceeded with first, v;c:—On the B.E ride of the railway—Cass Street 15 chains, William Street 15, Aitken Street 11, Grey Street 11, Peter Street 11, East Street 5 On the N.W. side of the railway—Park Street 5 chains, Tancred Street 10, Wills Street 15. Your committee also recommend (a) That one or two more parties be put on the work if they will take up the contract at the same price as Mr Crum'n tender; (b) That a clerk of works be engaged to super vise the execution of the channelling, and that Mr Alfred Spicer be appointed for rhe purpose. 2. Foreman's Cottage.—The committee also recommend that the engineer be re quested to draw out plans and specifications with estimate for a house for the foreman. 3. Asphalting.—The engineer was also instructed to call for tenders for laying asphalo pavement m West Street from Bavelock Street to Moore Street Tenders received will ba laid before you this evening. $. Labour Gang.—The men have been engaged during the p»at two weeks m tarring footpaths (second coat), ploughing and carting grass off street, carting hay m Domain, watering streets, cutting grass m streets, making frames for channelling, cart ing rubbish, attending to water supply, and sundry maintenance works. 5. Shingle—With reference to the supply of shingle for channelling, we have obtained two tenders which will be laid before you this evening. Clause 1. of the report was adopted, and the streets recommended for immediate | operations were approved of, as were also the recommendation to the Works Com mittee aa to increasing the gangs and the i appointment of Mr Alfred Spicer as super visor of the channelling. An amendment moved by Cr Maynard, to invite tenders for the work of supervision of the channelling, was seoondad by Cr Jones, and supported by Cr Davis and the Mayor, but waa lost on a vote. The Council fixed the rate of remunera tion of the supervisor at 8* per working day. The tender of George Bright for carting Bhingle at Is lid per yard was accepted. Clauses 2, 3, and 4 were also adopted, and the whole report was adopted. INSPFCrOR's REPORT. The inspector's report was mainly satis factory, the town being m a good sanitary condition, but m the case of a drain behind Mr Bullock's property m East Street a fort night's notice to have it put righb was ordered to be given. la the case of the sanitary arrangements of a draper's estab lishment, the matter was ordered to be brought under the notice of the Inspector of Factories. ABOHITECT WORK, It was decided to give a recommendation to the Works Committee to arrange with the engineer, as to what remuneration was to bo paid him for architect's work done for the Council, ASPHALTING. The Works Committee were requested to draw up a schedule of the streets to be aephalted, and the order m which they ahould be done. Tenders for asphalting footpaths were opened, and the tender of Messrs Crum was referred to the Mayor to Interview the tenderers, whose price was la per yard, to arrange for the work to be dooe. UCKNSB* , A license (driver's) was granted to George i Keller. , Cr Thomas said aevan different men were r driving traps for hire to the Tinwald races I without licensee. ACCOUNTS. Accounts to the amounb of £64 were passed, aud the Council sat as a DOMAIN BOARD, Mr Hugo Eriedlander was e-eleoted chairman of the Board, The use of the Domain wae granted to the Richmond School Committee for a picnic. The Curator reported the receipt of a com plete setf of meteorological instrument!, rain gauge, etc, and that they were now m working order. Mr Harold Curtis bad pre sented a pair of paradise ducks* Dhe chairman gaid the donor of the meteorological instruments was Mr HerriDg, of-Alford Forest, and he moved b srote of thanks to that gentleman, a» also to Mr Curtis for the ducks presented. He had recently been to the Hanmer Plains and had seen how the instruments there were set; up, and had sskad for dimensions, etc. These would be down swop, and he was sure Mr Herring, who was there now, syhen he saw the arrangements there, would be only top pleased to have the instruments he had kindly presented to the Domain mounted m the latest fashion. The Curator was granted the assistance of a boy for a few week?. The Board then sat m Committee, and on resuming adjourned.

CABLE NEWS.

United Press Association—By Eleobrio Telegraph—Copyright

London, January 7 7?he death U announced of Henry Tracey (Oor^rell, aeronaut, who first adopted the balloon jfor military pur poses, aged seventy. Hqsuj Kong, January £. In eonaafuen.ee of the recant mas sacres of Chinese the Government has I degraded the officials at Tingyfn. j Melbourne, Jan 8 The late hot weather has been followed by high winds, which have damaged fche standing crops. A con siderable portion has been shaken out, and the yield will be materially afiected,

SPORTING.

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph Wellington, January 8 The Wellington Racing Club h»s decided not tore-open the case of fche disqualification of the horse Wedlock.

TRANSVAAL WAR.

GREAT ATTACK ON LADY SMITH.

A Day-Long Battle

The Fiercest of the War.

Boers Eepulsed and Then Bein forced.

GeneraljWhite Hard Pressed.

The Result m Doubt.

Reported Defeat of the Enemy.

Demonstration by Buller's Army.

iFhe Hospital Ship Maine,

JBoer Spies Nearly Lynched

The Imperial Yeomanry Hospital.

Barbed-Wire Cutters.

United Press Association—By Eieobriu Telegraph—Copyright Durban, January 8 Jouhert attacked Hesters and Lady smith from all sides of the town at 3 a.m. on Saturday, The garrison re pulsed the attack with a tremendous fire of musketry and field guns. The fighting was of a desperate character, and almost continuous throughout the day, being the fiercest hitherto ex perienced during the war. At 9 a.m. General White helio graphed to General Buller " Enemy repulsed." At eleven o'clock he signalled, " Fighting continued, the enemy hav ing bten reinforced from the south " At one o'clock, " Enemy beaten off, but still round me m great numbers." At 3 30 p.m , " Attack renewed, and I am very hard pressed." At this stage the san failed, and General White stopped heliographing. A private heliograph message, how ever, showed that the Boers got bo near thd Gordons and the Manchester m the morning that the latter used their bayonets m repelling them. ' All Sir Redvers Sutler's available troops demonstrated at Oolenso and found the Boer trenches occupied. | London, January 8. Sir Redvers Buller, reportiag to the | War Office upon the attack on Lady smith, mentions a camp rumour that the Boers were defeated and four hun dred prisoners taken. The war correspondents agree that the Boer losses were heavy. The hospital ship Maine takes a large ozone apparatus, intended to be ueed to kill bacilli m the injuries of the wounded. The members of the rew yeomanry force at Montgomery almost lynched two Boer spies, who pined their ranks. One's j*w and the other's nose were broken. Eleven thousand pounds have been subscribed m Great Britain for the Imperial Yeomanry Hospital at Cape town. The members of the second New South Wales contingent will carry wirecutters to negotiate the barbed wire guarding the Boer trenches.

Bombardment of Kuruman.

Surrender of the Garrison

130 Officers and Men Prisoners

15 British Wounded.

Change m British Tactics*

Artillery to be Used to the Utmost Before Galling on the Infantry.

Prolongation of the Battles.

The llerzog's Freight.

(Received Wakapuaka Jan. 8, 9.40 p.m. (Thia Office 1p.45 p.m) Capetown, January g The Boers m strength bombarded Kuruman on Monday. The garrison, consisting of 120 mounted police, including twelve officers, surrendered m the evening. Fifteen British were wounded. London, January 8 Router's correspondent states that the British Generals have determined to use artillery to the utmost and demoralise the Boers before using infantry. The battles will thus iaat days instead of hours. Information has been received that the steamer Her«og s besides the German and Dutch members of the Red Gross organisation, carried a so called ambu lance detachment organised at Ant werp, probably by Leyds. They are believed to be combatants, and there are also iudicafciqns that she carried contraband of the war.

Successful Ruse by the Boers.

They Sound the British Bugle Call « Retire,' 1

Suffolks Obey, and 70 are made Prisoners.

Received Wakapuaka Jan. 8, 10 40 p.tn, This Office 11.30 p.m) London, January 8 Major-General French reports that four companies of the Ist battalion of the Suffolk regiment at night attacked a hill florae distance from Major General French's maia position. The enemy sounded the British order to i" retire," j ust at the moment when Oolonel Arthur Jofeo Watson, of the SuffolkSj was wounded. Three-fourths of the Suffolks thereupon retreated. The remainder held the position till they were outnumbered, and sixty three men and seven officers were made prisoners, Major General French's

situation remains unchanged. The Ist battalion of the Essex regiment haß replaced the captured Suffolks.

The Situation at Ladysmith.

Boer Fortifications

Oath of Neutrality

More Troops from England

The Bushmen Rolling Up

The Fate of Boer Spies

(Received Wakapuska Jan. 9, 9.30 a.m, t Thu Office 9-54 a.m) Durban, January 8 Every hill around Ladysmith to Oolenso is fortified, including many siege guns. London, January 8 A soldier's letter received m Eng land states that whea the guides' treachery, which led to the Stormberg reverse, was discovered, General Gat acre had them Bhot down with revol vers. The eighth infantry division of the Army Corps is being mobilised, and will be ready to embark for South Africa m a fortnight. Capetown, Jan. 8 The British and German resident! m Barkly east and La3y Grey have signed an oath of neutrality drafted by the Free State authorities. Sydney, January 9 ] There are abundance of volunteers for the Bushmen's Contingent, Govern ment has engaged the steamer Persic as transport for the bushmen from Queensland. Victoria is enrolling similar contingents.

Wauchope's Last Words.

General Buller's Force 33,000-

Maxims m Piano Cases Captured

The Lord Mayor's Volunteers.

Received Wakapuaka Jan. 9,9.40 a.m, This office 10 20 a. m) London, January 8 The last words of Colonel Wauchope killed at Magersfontein were "for God's sake don't blame me for this." Durban, January 8 The forces under General Buller's command number thirty-three thou sand. London, January 8 Six maxim guns packed m piano eases as market ironmongery and addressed to Christiana were stopped aboard a steamer at Millwall docks. Fourteen hundred of the Lord Mayor of London's volunteers sailed between the 13th and 20th inst. Mr Chamberlain is urging the Newfoundland Government to renew the modus vivendi re the French New foundland shore fisheries.

Latest From Ladysmith.

Desperate Fighting.

United Prens Association—By Electrio Telegraph Wellington, January 9 The Agent General has cablet? to the New Zealand Government that Gene ral White was hard pressed by the enemy's forces, and repeated attacks were reputed with great loss to the Boers, whose strength was largely m ' excess of those invested. Several trenches were taken three times, but were finally retaken by the British,

The Contingent

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph. Auckland, January 8 £30 lOi waß collected at ft public meeting m the opera house to-night for the patriotic fund. The meeting was under the auspices of the Council of the Evangelical Christian Church m the Auckland district. The. Gairloch took Lieutenant Heather, No, 1 Waikato Mounted Rifles, and Pri vate Reid, Auckland Mounted Rifles, to join the contingent. Captain Reid, Waikato Mounted Rifles, left Hamilton to-day for Wellington. He was presented with a bone and a purse of sovereigns. Private Harrison, formerly of Alexandra (Wanganui Cavalry), and Lieutenant Todd, Newton Rifles, left to-day for Wellington, to join *he contingent. Mr Stewart, Manganui, has presented a horse to the contingent. Messrs Partridge and Co s tobacconists, offer 50,000 cigarettes, Castle and Capstan brands, for the use of the , second contingent. The Tahaurangi Maoris gave the proceeds of a haka and poi dance at Whakareotrewa, £3 7s, to the war relief fund. | Hawbka, January 9 j Ab an enthusiastic meeting held last eight it was decided to form a fund to assist m j the despatch of % third N®w Zealand contingent to South Africa, and the meeting pledged itself to do all m isa power to strengthen the handa of Govern mentin this connection. The sum of £66 was raised m the room. Ib was also decided to canvass I for mounts for the men constituting the' third contingent. The relief fund stands at j £130, i WELpnraTpN, January • I A. horse presented by Private Moody strained its back jumping over a ditch and had to be destroyed. Sis men haye.been rejected for bad riding, but strong complaints are made of the j number of horaes which it is said were only sent to the contingent beoauee uselais on the runs they came from. The same horse whioh threw Chapman threw another troopor yesterday. There are now 234 horses m the camp. The 20th ia definitely fixed for the Waiwera's departure, and it is decided to hold a farewell demonstration m Newtown Park, which from its shapci is most suitable fop the purpose. There will also again be a gigantic marine demonstration.

From a Press Association wire received last nighb it is gathered that the Welling ton petfple are arranging a send-off for the second contingent) with a demonstration on the same lines as that accorded to the first, and it is expected the enthusiasm will be quite as warm as on the previous occasion, The departure is not expected to take place till the 20th of the month*

Cable from the Agent-General.

United Press Association— By Eleotric Telegraph, Wellington, January 8 The Agent-General wires (—London, Jan. 7—General French is occupying a position overlooking Coleeburg. Ho repulsed a Boer attack. They are being reinforced. A sortie from Mafekiog on December 26 was j repulsed. Our losa was about fifty. The engagement at Molteno wia merely a skir miehi

FROM THE BOER SIDE.

! The Cape Times, m its issue of Novembw | $2, nays :—Our readers will be able to see, m the following exoerpfcs, from a rcoenb number of the Diggers'. Jvews, what thb Boer thinks, or is supposed to think, or others think for him:— ■ A MOORN»DL FARBWELt.. The parade of four hundred sturdy warriors of the polioe commando excited admiration, The Afrikander m«a bars rt»

ceived their mandate from their wotnm folk, though the shadow o r E'andslaagu hung like a pall upon the mourning robes of many. Venerable old dames m kappies, and maidens m chintz, and babiea of all age't upon whom the warriors showered a vale dictory beniaon, clung and struggled fiercely round the carriages. Withered tentiti, buxom vrouws, and frail nichtj 3 tumbled over each other for a final embrace It was admitted that no finer or more serviceable force had been sent eff By the time it get» to the Natal border it will be eight hundred strong. Ib is onder the Commandant of Police, Mr Qerfe M. J van Vem, with Lieutenants Oosthu^D, Pihhnan, Murphy, and Jaoobtz next m command, Mr CD. Sohutts addresel the men: You are going bo defend yrur rights, your liberty, and your independence, that dearl) - bought independence God has granted you, and which is once again contested. You are not going to light for honour, or money, or mercenary ambition, or sordid gair. The English general of 1881—Sir Evelyn Wood said m my presence to General Joubert: — " I have nine medals; I shall have ten if I take Laing'sNek." Jouberbreplied: "You Englishmen fight for honour or for medals. We Afrikanders fight for our rights and the freedom which God haa given as to repel the aggressor, and to thwart those who wou'd violate and posses* our country ; and these, indeed, for which ev«n every Englishman would willingly sacrifice his life." Fur thirteen years you have worked under me, and I had hoped I might have been permitted to go with you and help defend our country. But Government hat compelled me to sbay against my wish. BBAVE BO BE AND BRITISH BOTCHER. Never before has the fire of the Boers been more deadly, and never before have they shown greater courage m faring the foe. The Boers are fighting for justice, for their land and their liberty, and no wonder that ten rise to take the place of every one that falls. Never has the martial spirit prevailed among the Boers as now, and never have they been more united. It surprises South Africa—ib astonishes the world* Let the Boer forces continue to act at they have done, and no one will he able to question either their bravery or the Christian spirit which has animated them m the treatment of those who have fallen into their hands. The reports suspecting the ooaduot of British soldiers m butchering the wounded, and firing npoa the ambulance, are, if substanti ated, sufficient to arouse the indignation of even the K«ffir tribes, much more of the civilised world. It hat been customary m a section of the English newspaper preM to denounce the Boar as the epitome of barbarous cruelty. APIOUB GENERAL General Joubert wired with reference to the bombardment of Ladysmith:—" We are thankful for the proteotion of God. We hs,ve forty wounded m our hospital. God is wonderful, and God it good. It is wonderful how we escaped, »■ the plaoo was very warm, but we were proteoted by God. I pray your Honor and people to offer • prayer to God for His kindness m watching over us this day, as it was by His hand, and His band alone, that we succeeded m holding the position. Our hope Is m the Lord, and we will rely upon him. We hate still lot! of ammunition, and are doing very well."

HOW THE BOERS VIEW THE WAR.

Me Douglas Story, late editor of the Boer newspaper, the Standard and Diggers' News, writiDg to the London Daily Mail, lays:— The operations.in Natal constitute no mean war, and the results of the several engage ments are m the Boer eyes the decision! of great battles. Never before m South Africa has a a battle Hoe extended to sixteen mile*, nor hae a Boer army reduced a European enemy't) forces by 787 m a single engagement. While to such man as Joubert, Erasmus, and Lucas Meyer things must appear pretty much as they do tons, to the common folk the parading of prisoners and the evidence of British dead are the sure emblems of their triumph. To them the knowledge that they are righting on Natal soil, that the " rooineks " have retreated before them to a permanent laeger, that hundreds of captives , are m their hands, and that) they themselves ! have been demonstrably routed only m tbe tight at Elandslaagte, is irrefutable proof of victory. The Boer statesmen have not been slow to recognise the political importance of this sentiment. They have done their ut most to strengthen it. They have " annexed " Northern Natal and Northern Cape Colony —-not with any hope of holdtng these new I provinces, bub with the deaire to fix m tbe burghers' mind the belief that God is indeed with them, and that He has given them the victory. Once that faith is assured, the Boers will be twice the fighting force they are at present. There will be no longer any talk of retiring to their farms and minding their crops. They will fight as Cromwell's Ironsides foughb. In this connection, two matters of grave importance to the Trans vaal leaders muat be kept m mint*. Tha up country Boers hate and mistrust the new fangled cannon, io it is necessary to impress them with its effectiveness. Then the Tranevaalers have an awkward habit of deserting a leader who does not convince them of his orthodoxy m all thinga. Joaberb, because of his known leanings to Liberalism and modern inventions, was m danger of following the fate of President Burger, He had to prove the efficacy of hit artillery and his science. To his own and his followers' satisfaction he has done so. The last and not least important contributory oiroum stance to the Boer claim of victory is the fact that they know little of the number of their own dead. Few now believe that only five burghen were killed at Doornkop, and the sum claimed by the Pretoria Govern menb m the Indemnity Bill at compensation for the widows and orphans {seems to indioaU ! a doubt m the minds of the leader* them* I selves. But the official return admitted only five killed and four wounded.'Burghen who fought against Jameson have told me that bo ■oon at a man fell he was passed immediately i to the rear, only those on either side of him knowing aught of the casualty. In Northern Natal each commando mast know its own I loss, but the figures are afforded little I publication. Until now tha war m Natal has appeared to the great mass of the Boer* a triumphant progress.

Mr Justice Williams on the Situation.

At the man meeting m Qunedin m kid of the Patriotic Fund, Mr Justice Williams spoke witfi great effect. He it reported bf the Star as follows :— Mr Mayor and fellow r cibi«sris,—The British Empire just now is m rather a tight place, bat the Bribiab Empire hai been put m a much tighter place before, and bat gob out of it-*(cheer»)—and if we are true to ourselves, please God, we will get oat of 1b again. (Renewed cheering-) Let there b# no mistake about the grave and momentous issues involved m the pxesent war. (Hear, hear.) There ii the immediate issue, and there is the ultimate issue. The imme< diate issue ia this: Is South Africa to remain part of the British Empire, with equal rights for English and for Batch —(cries of " Ye*," and oheere)—or U South Africa fep become a Dutch Republic! (Voices: "No.") Now, the word republic does not m,the least alarm me ; bat whit sort of a republic will thi* be? It will be a republic ia whiott English-speaking men will not have civic rights: ib will be a republic where the English language is proscribed; it will be a republic where a Briton will hardly be allowed to live. It will b,e, m shores republic hoftilg $ everything that is British, (pheers.) ¥oit know there are two ways from Earope to these colonies. There ia ihe way >y a ditch called the Suez Canal, which » few pounds of dynamite oould block at any momenb, and there is the way by the Cape of Good Hope. Conceive to yourselves the half-way house to these colonies m the possession of a hontile Power. (Cheers.) That ia the immediate issue. The ultimata issue is far graver and wider. It meant nothing more nor leis than this t Is the British Empire to oootinue to exist t (Cries of «• Yes," and cheers.) Prestige may be said to be an idle word : but m the Bast it is a word of power. What do you think the teeming millions of India Will have m their minds if we lose South Afriaa? Surely they will say the loeptre ia fallen from toe hands of Britain, and the British raj ia at an end. What would be the position of- the pgople of ludia, with a discontented popula tibn, and an enemy on the frontier, and with the access to Britain 1 blocked ? Heaven grant that we may be saved from "ko great * calamity. (Cheer".) Ye', fellow-oitizana, the BritUh Empire ia worth saving. (Cheers) It it worth i»vjog for tbil; Xbsb griivosul

THE ASHBURTON 6UARDIAK : TUESDAY, JANUARY 9, i960.



Spojse New y<?nu|



Spent at, CJood Farm Doctoring* Mr A. N. Noell of Asherville, Kansas, says be spenb a good farm doctoring himself for chronic diarrho;) bub got no relief and was afraid that : he mytsb die. He chanced to get hold of a bottle oi'Chamberlain's Colic, Cholera and Diarrhte* Remedy an 4 waa permanently cured by it. For sale by Aehbj;rton Drug Co. prices 3s, and Is $d.



PRIZE POULTRY —For sale. chfi*p, to reduce stock—Pure-bred Golden and Silver Wyandotte, Andalusian and Orpington ou'l chicks about three months old; ac good as show birds for breeding and utility purposes. Apply office of this paper or Pelham yards, Peter Street. FOR THIS WEEK. SPECIAL Lines Prints at i 3^d per yard. Special Lines Prints at 4|d per yard. Special Lines Prints and Zyphers at 6Jd per yard. Special Line Dress Material, usual price Is 9d; 5s lid Dress Length., Big Line Sample Corsets, prices from 4s lid to JOs 6d; to clear at 2s lid per pair. And many other tempting Lines m all departments. ASHJBURTON DRAPERY COMPANY. CHRISTMAS AWD NEW YEAK HOLIDAYS. T7IVERYTHING A Cyclist requires from 6d worth of Graphite to & 1900 Zealandia Bicycle. Price £31. OAIES. LOWRY AND CO BURNETT STREET. Cheapest and best Btook ii Aahburbon, ~ CHttIBTMAS,Im tXTE HAVE ISOW IN STOCK VV AND ARRIVING FOR OUR \ CBRRTMAS TRADE - I LARGE SUPPLIES New Currants and Raisins, new Sul tinas and Candid Peek, new Muscatels and Almonds, new Dossicated Gocoanut and Silk-dressed Iceing Sugar, new kinda Fi uits, including Apricots, Pears, Peaches, Piue Apple, and Table Plums. The Finest TEAS and SUGARS m Town. NOW LANDING. A SHIPMENT of high-class (English China direct from 'ha Potteries. All ;the la'esfc Pa vterns. AIO- A fSHIPMEMT °* CHOICE CfIBISTMAS NOVFLTIBS P Direct from J apart. Please send yoar Orders early and lige We are Agents for COLUMBIA, B.S.A. and LOVFLL DIAMOND, BICYCLES. CARSON & Co., TEA MERCHANTS AND BLENDERS, GROCERS, AND IRONMONGERS Importers of Bicycles, Ironmongery, Gl&s and China, Tasobeb Street, Aahbnrton. New Zealand CLOTHINCFACTORY SPECIAL Lines m 'JENNIS SHIRTS FANCY BTEIPKS from ;3s 6d, now Patterns. White and Cream Matfc Shirts, 4a 6d and 5s 6,1. | White and Cream Cellular Shirts, sa. The Newest Btyteß£in Fashion Shirts and Whit« Shfrbs, with fancy Cuffs ani Fronts, Men's Panama Straw Hats, Men's Brazilian Straw Hats, Men's Club Strawa from 2», s^Spleadid Variety to select from. Men's Frame Hats, Men's Soft Kelts. Men's Tennis Hats, Men's White Felts bootsTboots Newest Shape Tan Bootsjl6s 6<3,185, 23s 6d Black Glace Kid Boots, 16a 6d ; Tennis Shoes 15 f6d. Men's, Women's, and Children's Canvas Shoes. LARGE STOCK AT LOW PRICES. t AJL.JL. AND INWI»JBC?T. SUITS TO MEAS¥RE A SPECIALTY. FIT GLJARAN TEED new zeaj^a:ni> CLOTHING FACTOEY. ! F. H. BEOKINGSALB, i Manager. WANTED Known—That tha arrival of the lonic completes our season's importations, which are fully double those of ■ previous seasons. Each department ready r big business M itohbll & Turner. IMPORTANT to Caßh Buyers of Drapery, Clothing, Boots, &o. Early Summer Clearance Sale of Seasonable and Reliable Goods. Cash disooumb at the rate of one shilling m the pound to eiyery Buyer of ninepenoe worth and over. Inspection in vited.— H. C. Babrbtt, late Barrett Bros,, The Hall, Eaab Streeb. 11 206 NBW Year Cards, New ¥ear Cards Good selection of both single cards and packets. New lines m wall texts, birth day cards, photo frames, prayer and hymn books, general stationery, etc—A, H. WiL*



Carraway Seeds 8d per lb Pimento, whole ' Is  If Pimento, ground Is 2d „ „ Mixed Spice .., ... lAd per packet PlCKLES—Hayward's Mixed, lOd per bottle, 9s 6d per dozen Cross and Blaok well's, Is 3d p3r bottle Captain White's, 2s 3d per bottle Carry Powder ... ...lid per bottle Borax 8d per lb Alum * 6d „ „ Saltpetre 6d „ „ Tar taric Acid IslOd „  Carbonate Soda, 3d per lb, 2s per doz lbs Whole Linseed 3d per lb Linseed Meal 4d „  MATOHES-Plalds, 4£d per do*, 4s per gross 250 s Is 6d per dozen 1000's 5d per box, 4s lOd per dozen Bryant and May's Safeties, 81 per dosen Yarmonfen Bloaters, 9 for la Maconochie's Fresh Herrings, 6Jd per tin „ Herrings m Tomato, lOd per tin „ Herrings In Shrimp, lOd per tin  Kippered Herrings, lOd per tin „ Preserved Bloaters, lOd per tin Auckland Mullett 7d per tin Oysters > 8d  n Sardines, large Alberts ... Is „ „ Sardines, large 8d „ „ Sardines, small ... ... 4d   Salmon, Holly leaf ... lOd „ „ Salmon, other Brands ... 8d „ „ OlL—Lucca, 2a 4d per bottle Salad, £ pint sd, 1 pint lOd Castor, | pint sd, 1 pint lOd Sbeepa Tongues, lib Is, 21b Is lOd Corned Beef, Mutton, Spiced Beef, 21b tin, Is Croese and Blaokweli'a assorted Pastes, Is 3d per bottle, 14s 6d per dozen Potted Meats, assorted, 6d per tin Bovril, 2oz, Is lOd. Loiberg's extract, Is 9d per bottle Patent Groats, Robinson's, lOd ,-, Har per's, 9d per tin MeJlina' a S lood, la_Bd per.tln



Van Homen's Coco*, Jib, lid ; $lb, Is ! 9d ; lib, 3s 3d Fry's Cocoa, #b, B|d ; lib, Is^d Ueal Good Oandles, 4^d per lb ; 8s fld per box Parafine Candles, plain and fluted, 6£d per lb ; 12a 6d per box Fairy Night Lights Is 2d per box Flake Tapioca, 71bs for Is Pearl, 6lbs for la ?ago, 71bs for la Mixed Peel, Lsmon, Orange and t/tt ron, 8d per lb i Lemon Peel, 71b tins, 3s 6d lib Tins Assorted Jama, 5d per lb ; 4s 9d per doz 21b Jars Assorted Jams, 14s 6i per doa Lea and Perrin's Sance, large, 2s 6d per bottle Mellor'a Sauce, Is 3d per bottle Worcester Sauce, small, 5d ; large,'9d Brown's Corn Flour, 3d per lb Mazina "d per dozen 5a 6d Whiting, i? b for la Morton's Cream of Tartar, Is 3d per lb Preserved Fruit, 2£lb tins, 8d per tin, 7s 6d per doz Jfcngllsh Cat Loaf Sugar, 3|d per lb Tomato Sauce, 9d per bodtle Golden Syrup, 21b 6d, 41b Is, 581 b lie 3d Treacle, 21h 6d. 41b Is, 7ib Is 9d Flj^otlj Raisins Bldperlb Flnflsb Soltanas ... ... 7|d „ „ Finest Currants od „ „ per case 4M „ „ Stewing Figs ... ... 7|d „ „ French Pk.ms (choice) ... In ,« i> Stewing PI cms ... ... 3d „ „ Finest Muscatels la Id „ „ OsHfornlan Muscatels ... , Is „ „ Pates, extra fine, 31b boxes, Is 9d per box Almonds, Jordan 2a4dperlb Almondu, Valencia ... la 6d  „ Alisonds, Sicily Is 4d „ „ Bwcc'jnaNuts ... .. 8d „ Shell Almouds 10d  „ D»y and Martin's Paste Blacking, -»|d perdos »nd Martin's Jar Blacking, 6d per ( bottle mn3 noh Blaming, 2d per tltt, fo 9d per doz  . .xey's Blacklead, Id m», SdperHoz ames' Doraejßlackkad^ed per d J



W 4VERLEY WHS 01 BOXING BAY, ASHBURTON. Ist and 2nd — — Half Mile] Ist and :nd — —. One Mile Ist and 2nd — — Two Mile Ist and 2nd — — WHEEL R&CE KAIAPOI. Wheel Bace „ „ First and Feoond Five Mile „ „ First .GLENTUNNEL. Wkeel Bace , First and Second 1 Mile ',', ' First and Second | Mile „ „ First 6 Mile „ „ J' irst and Second OXFORD. A Mi'e „ „ First 5 Mile „ i§ First and Second Wceel Bace „ r First and Third TOTAL AMOUNT WON £95 10 s OUT OF A POSSIBLE £125. ,iOHN ORR & CO., AbHBURTON, SOLE NEW ZEALAND AGENTS aud at Waverley Oycle Depot 217 Colombo Street, Christcimrch. JOHN ORR AND GO'S REVISED I LIST^ WE flhira to be the Leading Firm of G ocors, Ironmongers, and Crockery Merchants m Ashburton. We import al! our Stock from the Home Markotß for Spot Gash and are therefore m the best position do supply the public with only genuine goods at the lowest possible price for cash. We guarantee all our goods fuH weight and finest quality. We never charge for picking and delivery, all goods at the Railway fetation free. Any person leaving an order with m em get a p*rcel ticket, and therefore always be,sure of having fcheir goods at the station m time. No charge for ticket. T7*T ATTD Ss per Ton — jf JLU U ±i"-~"PER-SAOK 13*. — BUGAU — jSJdI per ito witti Tea i MARA VILLA GARDEN TEA— Is 10d, 52b, 2s 4d| per 1b 51b Box .- .*• ... 8s 9d, 9a Id, 11b lOlbßox .- .- .« 16s 8d ( 18a 4d, 21s: 8d KOZIE TEA — 101 b Box, |18a 4d ; slb, 9a 7d GOLD LEAP. TEA 101 b Box, 118s 4d ; 51b, 9a 7d -PROVISIONS - FACTORY BUTTER—Fern Leaf and Snbton'a always injstock. CHEESE—Finest Factory, 6d per 1b BACON AND HAMS —%l Lewis'," "Morepork," "D.jMcOallum. Mild Cared Bams, Sides and Rolls, 7|d, GORE OATM¥AL-251b Bag, 2s 6d