Mail Notices.

Mails oloee foe the following places as under, enbjeofe to the neoeuary alterations t THURSDAY, JANUARY, 3 For Northern Ports and Westport, per Rotomabana at 6 30 p J» FRIDAY, JANUARY. 4 For Northern Ports, WeatporS, Australian ■ Colonies (due Sydaey January 10th), %l»o India, China, Japan, btraita Settlement, etc, United Kingdom (duo London Fsbruary 17th), and Continent of Europe, specially addressed via Brindiai, per Moana, at 10.30 am Express delivery and special messenger services will be established at) Aahburton m from lafe January 1901. Kxpress delivery will cover letter! And parcels hob exoeediag three lb« m weight, for which an extra fee of . sixpence has been paid, The special mes senger service means placing a messenger at the disposal of any telephone exchange subscriber on request being made, and a fee of sixpence for the first mile and threepence each additional mile up to two milsa or time payment being made

THE ASHBURTON TRAIN SERVICES

{Trains leave Ashbarton dally for— OHRIBTOHUROH—at 7.20 am, II m 3.15 p hi,- 7 spm (expreu) - I iTIMARU—ab 1055 a m, 3.50pm DUNEDIN—at 12.64 p m (express) SFRINQBURN—afc 4.25 p m Trains arrive dally ab Afhbarfcoffl from— OHRIStBCHCJROH-ftfc 10.45 ft m, 12M p m (•zprHf), 8 pm TIMARJJ—at 10.35 » m, 3.55 pcs DUNEDIN—»t 6.57 p m (axprew) SPRINGBUBN-at 9.46 a m

EPHEMERIS.

Phaeet of Mom fsi Jaisasry

BUN.

Commercial.

United Press Annotation—By Eleotrlo Telegraph—Copyright London, January 1 The total quantity of wheat and flour afloat for the United Kingdom it 2,460,000 quarters, and for the Continent 725,000 quarters,

CLEARING SALE AT RAINCLIFF.

Messrs Guinness and LeOrsn, m ooajunc tioii with Mesirs Maliog and Shaltorass, report holding » rery sneoeasfnt eale or accsotanUf the Bainoliff Estate on Wednesday There was a large attendance from all parts of the district;. The sheep were offered first And under keen competition realised the foHovriag prices:—2 and 4-tooth forward and fat wethers, 18? 6<3;2-tooh and | bred wethers v Iss9d; ewes and lambs, from lliSd to 12s 2d, all counted. Horses—Station bftoki, £6 to £25; draughtr, from £25 to £50. Cattle—Milan cows, £4 7s 6d to £4 15b; mixed cattle, £3 In. Implement! and sundries fetched satisfactory prices.

CHRISTCHURCH GRAIN AND PRODUCE MARKETS.

Quotations are as follows : — Wheat—Hunter's, pearl and velvet, 2a 4d to 2h SJ, and Tuscan 2a s<l to 2a 6d. Qats — ■ Canadian Is SH, ehorfe fefd la 8d to le B|d, Dais I* 7i» I to Is Bd, Danish la 7d to 1» 7i'i ! Barley (nominal}— Malting 2s delivered Flour (millers' quotations nominal)— Roller £7, stone £6, »harpß £3 Os, bran £$. rf Chtmeal—£lo Beans—2s 4d to 2a 5d Paaa—Prusdan Blaee 2s to 2a 3d, part' ridge 2s 4d to 2s 6d Oatsheaf Chaff — 42a 6d at near country stations. Hay—£3 5s to £310 a, delivered : pdmesfc baled £4, fob Seeds—Ryegrast, farmers' Jots le 91 to 2a, prime heavy, town dressed, 2* 6d to Sa 3d, Cocksfoot, 2£d to 2|d for bright seed, to 3d for extra good, town machine dressed 161 b to 17lb seed, 3^d to 4d, cowstrass 5d to 6i, extra choice 6£d, White clover, 6d to 7^d. ' Dairy Produoe—Cheese, dairy 5d to 6d, faobory 5d to 6d. Butter—factory, local, lOd, dairy 7d to Bd, Bait, m boxes 6d to 7a. Bacon *nd bams s£d to6d, faobory baoon aad hams, |d per 1b higher. The ftbore prices, eroepb wh<>»«« otherwise afcated, are those paid to f.iui ia, f.o.b Lyhtelton. •

MARRIAGE.

Mawkr«Paw?6N.—On December 26, »fc Sfc. Aidac's Ohnrob, Mount Somere, by the Rev. Harold Purchase, a A. MAWKB, to Mary Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Soberb and J«uie Puttoa.

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 1901. THE PROSPECTS OF THE GRAIN MARKETS.

Notwithstanding the anticipations of some speculator m grain twelve maotbs ago that prices would at once take a distinctly upward tendency, owing to the war m Sooth Africa, there has, ao far, been no marked rise m either wheat or oats. Nevertheless, there can be no doubt that there aaast be & marked improvement m the prices of all food stuffs within a very short time. The complete cessation of the cultivation of grain m a large portion of South Africa, must cause a great shortage for home consumption there, without counting the keep of the 200,000 or so extra soldiers who will have to be fed. We know that the European and American crops taken as a whole can only be described as moderately good, and not equal to last year's. Tha Argentine harvest prospects for this year are certainly good, bat as the American yield practically rules the prices dependent on actual supply and demand, it will be seen that, theo retically, there should be ■> distinct ri«e m wheat soon. As for ourselves, we are now pretty sure to have a record harvest for this colony. Special ciroum- Bfcances, «ueh as hot winds, etc, may m a few localities have a prejadical effect upon district yields, but on the whole there is little doubt that the harvest returns will bei more than up to the average. We do not think, therefore, that we shall be premature m congratu lating the farmers upon the outlook. Tilings iiave not appeared quite so rosy for them during the past few y«»r«, for although th« harvests have been fairly good, tha prices have not been •Ite? gather satisfactory. In Melbourne and Sydney Be a bushel allows a very small profit to the grower, and we tagce it that here recent cwrraui; prices have permitted farmers to do little more tban pay growing expense! and rent or interest. With regard to oats it seems to as thai tbs prospects we mm Bjore ©fce«iis #•» th*j

are as to wheat. It ha* not] been so easy to estimate the demand, and consequently rates havn occasion-1 ally fluctuated a good deal. The war did not appear to alect prices so much as was anticipated last year, but on the other hand the events that have since transpired m South Africa will un doubtedly act m a doable way upon the demand for this cereal. In the first place the presence of a larger additional number of horses and mules m the country must, under ordinary circum stances, cause a largely increased demand, while as we have shown a whole year hag been lost and cultiva tion cannot be carried on to any extent for some time to come. But the most promising factor m determining the future demand for horse feed ia to oar mind the certainty that the lessons of the war will compel, not only the British Government, but all the civilised nations to mount the bulk of their troops. The day of the foot soldier, except for defending entrenched positions, is practically over, and the soldier of the future mast be provided with one or more horses, Thia would saem to open up many possibilities for the agricultural and pastoral popula tions m all parts of the world. In any competition resulting therefrom New Zealand should be able to hold her own, . •■-*•'■■

Local and General.

To our Beadirb.—lnteresting reading matter will be found on oar first and fourth pages. ' Olb Mess Home —Mr J H Jewitt's name :.wm inadvertently omitted from the llh*-- of contributor* bo the Christmas dinner ab the Old Menu Home. Mr Jewitt presented geese Land poultry. j Deliveey ano Message Service—Up to the present,'th« public of Alhburton have not) taken advantage of the new express j delivery and special message service, which was established on January Ist. The Weatkeb—North-weab weather seems to have now set m. and we may expect the j green paddocks will toon change to yellow. Captain Edwin forecasts:—North to west and southwest gain ; glass rice ; indications of rain i To thh Wbst Coast and Bask—Messrs C D Hardie and H H Fooks have just returned from a trip to the Weit Ceasb on their bicycler The weather favored them, s.nd they thoroughly enjoyed their holiday* The Rsokst Tragedy m Qwebnsland— Five Kanakas have been arrested m con nection with the murder of f.he man Buru «tead.—[Barnstead wat a foreigner, whose dead body was found m a hub^near Ayr, • ixty miles south-oast of Townsville, on Boxing Day; The body bore evidente of font pl&y.]

Cycling. — Several Ashburfcan cyolitbs i journeyed to Leeiton tor the sports on New Year's Day, and were fairly successful. B ' McKnighb won the one and a-half mile amateur handicap, and was second fn the one and two mile*. H L Williams was second m the Wheel Race and one mile handicaps. F 0 Williams fell m the last lap of the finb heat of the Wheel Race and was badly oub and bruised. . Postal STAtisnc9^~The increase m the number of letters posted m New Zealand during the last nine years inclusive has been 11,286,090. The number posted m 1891 was 23 715,462, and m 1899 33,032,452. The increase m 1901 will be greater still on account of the introduction of universal penny postage. A Recobd fob thl Ly.ttei.ton Line.— Ovor 19 000 pasijßogerß booked at the Christ churoh station"* alone for Lytfcelton on Tuesday. This is 6000 m excess of the dumber booked to Port on New Yearns D»y fast year. The bookings at the various aide stations on the Port line were also treaty - In exoess of last year, and fully 30X00 people are calculated to have gone down to the regatta on Tuesday. . ! An AsHBUBSO»JHTBSio»—Mr WC Pago son of Mr W Page of this towo who now resides at Eltham m the North Island has l> vented and patenbid* an improved axle coupling and adjafltmeot for road vehicles which the EHtaam Argus nays has been pro' nouneedby experts to be superior to imy coupling at present m«»«. I* is intended to floßt a syndicate m Wellington shortly. Death Of Ex-Insfkciob Ac* coiding to the Tarmaki ffitald, & cable message has been rtceived by Mrs Broham's re'ative«, stating that Mr Broham, late Inspector m Canterbury, who resigned from the New Zealand Police m 1199, has died at Borne. Mr and Mrs Broham went Home on n trip, and were expected to return to New Zealand shortly. The cause of death was pneumonia. • ■ A New Applk—The exceptionally hand ■erne and new apple, narnsd Rival, has been awarded* first class certificate. It) is a cross between Peasgood's Nonesuch And Cox's Orange Pippin. The flash is creamy white, soft m texture, and of moderately good flav our. The colour is bright red, splashed with crimson on the tun aide, and rioh yellow an the shaded side. It will be welcomed at a fine fruit for market parposea.

A Cornrb IK Btimp«.—One enterprising young man (says Ohristchuroh 7mih) established quite a corner In ths new penny stamps; By some . meiat he secured a good supply, and whan ihe post office bad sold out, which was very quickly, he stood on the steps of the office, and gradually raised his prices for the stamps from 2s per dosesn to la each. As numbers of people were beat on having the stamps, the latter pries was easily obtained* Booial at Tikwald.—One of the mdst enjoyable socials ever held m Tinwald took place m the Templar Hall on New Year's nighb. The socW was promoted by Messrs L*gan, J. VL. Hampton, and R. Thompson, and the prooeeds will be devoted towards paying off a debb on tha house of a widow resident at Tiewald. Music whs supplied by Mr W Anderson and Mi»« G chranc, and Mr Milliohamp acted as M.O. Several floop I were snng during the evening, and Mr ! Lindsay gave a Highland fling. Tb» pro moters desire to thank those ladies and gentlemen who so kindly assisted to make the gathering a auooess. Fairfield Fbbezin© Wobks<—Freezing operations were resumed ac Fairfieid this morning, after a «pall of more than four monthß, the works having oloseo down »n j 17bh August last m consequence of the shorts supply of stock. Punctually ac the eight o'clock whistle sounded the slaughtering of a nice line of mixed i&tnlw commenced, the consignment being a draft sent forward by Messrs Dlxors and Oow, and so far as appearances indicated should run about 40 b. I The engines worked m perfect order ( and the whole of the establishment from the slaugh tering through to the manure works showed that nothiag had been neglected during the recess, Seasonable Gb»bmnos — The Geaer&l Post Office, Wellington, has issued a card m commemoration of the inauguration of the universal penny postage scheme, a copy of which hat been received by us and which we desire to acknowledge with thanks. The card is signed by the Po«tmsiter-f3eneral, the Hon JG Ward, and bears the following greeting j—"la sending for your acceptance this, one of the first articles posted under the universal penny postage scheme, and date stamped as the bells are ringing 1a tha new century, I offei? you the season's greetings, and trust that the year which brings J«ew Zealand within the circle ©i the penny post may be one of happiness to you and yours," A QtJA»B*PMB AtLUNfli—A somewbfct startling announcement was published on November 7 with official sanction m the Newt. Vntnya. It declares that an under, standing had been formed between Russia, France, the United States, and Japan by way of a counterpoise to the Anglo-German jweemtnt. • GOh* resnlti of the new alliance, 8 the Wtomya •d,°V l»l1*»?°»9 specifically apparent if Mr McKialejr is re elected President of fche United States' Surprise is manifested at the Inclusion of Japan is thii nsw ondaratanding, for her iatereitfkJd those of Russia m the Far East are generally ■nppo.Md to b« irrßcocciUbly •ntftgoaiittyi

Serious Accident to a Cyclist

A distressing accident happened m the first heat of the Mile Bicycle RaceabTimaru on Tuesday, While A L Finch was riding down the straight m the first lap, his machine slipped, and Finch fell heavily on the asphalt track. He splintered his elbow and suffered a compound comminuted fracture of the left forearm, tha bones protruding and lacerating' the muscles an j tissues. He was* removed to the hospital at once. It Is feared thab he will lose hit arm. The accident caused ntach sensation amongst the spectators, as it happened right m front of the crowded lawn

Mayfield and Ruapuna

From our own Oorreipomtant

January Ist, 1901, has brought with it) welcome sunshine after so much web,cold and unseasonable weather as we have been having lately. Everybody his longed for fine weather, and the sheep and lambs though nearly hidden m feed were not doing well for want of warmth. There has sever been such cold weather here at Christmas time, also there never has been such magnificent feed ab this time of year m the remembrance of most people- Early crops are ripening slowly, and shearing hai been kept back on several farms by the weather. Christmas and New ¥ear*a time have been saddened to many m this district by death. Much sympathy is felt for Mr and Mrs McLauchlan, of Gaitn Hollow, who have lost their second son, Jsmec. He had been In bftd health for the past twelve months, but was taken suddenly ill on the Saturday, and died on the Sunday before Christmas. His loss will be much felt, for he was a general favourite and was the superintendent end a teacher m tha Ruapuna Sunday School. His funeral was largely attended m spite of the .bad weather on Christmas Day. Great sympathy is also felt for Mrs George Low and family, of Lismore, m their greab bereavement through the death of Mr George Low, who was buried m Aihfaurtoo on the last; day of the year On the last Sunday of the yeat the Mr j field Wesleyan Sunday School celebrated the Anniv reary. The Rev. Joey preached both afternoon and evening, the afternoon being a special children's service. Mr James Dellow had trained the choir of children and adults, and the singing rendered was excellent In the Presbyterian Church ,«Mr W Ham conducted a memorial service, at Ruapuna, which was very largely attended, for the late James McL&uohlan. At the Mayfield Church the Rev Charles Halo, from Sydney, conducted the services

A One-Day Trip to Westland

i The agitation m favour of a one-day'e through trip between Canterbury and West land is being oarried on energetically by the Westland County Council. Leaflets re produoißg newspaper articles and facts and arguments m support of the proposal are being circulated, the latest m the form of a letter from the County Clerk. This shows tbat the Postal Department regards the idea of a one day trip at Impracticable. The County Clerk asks'how this conclusion ia arrived at, and m the course of a*somewhat lengthy refutation of the assertion states that " One aid to securing regular and up to time eommunlcafcion between cbaoh and train will be the erection of a bridge across the Otira Yiver* Another help will he the opening of the railway to Stalroaae Gully, on the eastern side of the ranges, and connect ing the coach road with the new termlnuo. This will avoid Porter's Pass, and place the one day journey beyond ail question." Failing a one day trip, it is suggested that <" the Minibter might) ba good enough to take into consideration a proposal to shorten the journey to one day and a half—i.c, to leave Christcburch and Hokitika m the afternoon, and do the first stage of the railway journey, to Springfield and Otira respectively; com mence the coach trip m the early morning of the next day, and proceed right through, arriving at destination same afternoon. There can be no question as to the possibility of this suggestion, and the concession would be a material gain to the travelling public— 7 ruth.

Letter From The Front.

Letter from Corporal V W W Steward, to his parents, dated Palmietyfontein Novem ber 15th:— I wrote last from Zeerust I think justi three weeks ago Since then we [have been on the match all the time. We leit Zeernst at 2 30.a mm pouring rain, and to be briejf ifc poured for four days, ths torrents of raid can better be imagined than described, it) came down with the intensity and force oif rain In the tropics, and at tlmeß it was »1 most impossible to get the horses to face it,, I think you can pretty well picture th« sUte of things, everything absolutely wet; ! through, blankets, and alt the ground let n I swamp, and more often a lake, saddles ao eottrenients, rifles, mud over all. The first; night I never attempted sleep, but when things were tha tame the night after, I felt) the need of it. I crawled under a waggon (for which I could have been court-mar* Mailed) wrapped my web blankets round mo and actually slept for a few hours although I was lying man inch or two of water. Of course lots of fellows are already m the Said hospital with rheumatism and lumbago, Ac,! but} ' What of that, tb»y value one boreu more than three mmj (fact, quotation) I got rheumatitm m my left knee pretty badly and a bit m the back, bub It is all right now. This is the worst weather wo have had. It rains almost every day oir night, but generally lasts only about as ftouir or two, which is just sufficient to wet every* thing thoroughly that is out Id it. We rig [ up shelters every night sow out of two blankets, using our rifles as tent poles, but those are not altogether effectual, ths water generally finding its way underneath If the rain ia especially heavy. Shortly after I leaving Zaeeust the quartermasters wens told to make 12 days supplies last 17 days, and m consequence we have been oo three quarter rations all the time. This comes very hard on us, as it means two and a half bisouits, and quarter pound of flour or mealy only per diem. Wa can have any amount of fresh meat, but of course it is given us raw, and we have, ac a rule, only time lo throw it on the coals (1) to cook it. Most of ua have been absolutely eUrviag sometimes, when we have had to make two and a half biscuits last out a flay of twenty hours* To give yon some idea of it a man can comfortably eat three biscuits with every meal, that is if he has soup, porridge, and meat besides. I managed to' get hold of 6!bi of mealy meal about a weeifc ago, and this will last two of v«, (Parsons and myssif) a fortnight, allowing one good feed eaoh of it) a day. This stuff is made of ground mealies ; it is prepared just the same a* porridge* and Ith nfc is fey nicer. See if you can get tome m Ashburton. We have only had two, what you could properly term engagements with the Boers m the whole march, but still we fight every day and a few men get sniped off. One iquadron has not lost a single man, (although we have had lat least) twelve horses shot), but still the ranks hare dwindled greatly. Out of the two iquadrons A and D, (which were for merly oall&d No, 12 and No. 15 Company,,) whose eominal roll is of course 100 each, we oould raise a gross total of 88 men fit for duty. The rest are left behind at half a desaa different places sick, or have been drafted out of the squadron on to iomar special duty, or are unfit for hard labour. There are hundreds of Boers about, but they play the old game, fight and run away. If they have big guns with them, they are filgbteoed to use them here, m case we: should capture them. Two hundred Boers !as near as a toucher cut off fifty of us, who were escorting Colonel Grey I the other day. It ended m our ; galloping for dear life for a mile and a half, over open ground, before we could reach coyer to turn on them. Colonel Grey kept behind us all the way, urging us on. Jsuit befere we reached cover we had to oroei a deep stream about 9ft or to wide tad gaoni&g swiftly* Most of the men had to gallop down to a ford, and some tried to jump it and got duokings, I was'fust behind a man named McGill. who took his prad straight at it, and at 1 Knew my mare oould jump a bib I followed him. He got over all right and so did I, my mare jumping beautifully. Tills little incident might Beem unimportant), but every second counts when the bullets are whistling all round you. la fao*, two horses were toot white their owuen weire

galloping down abreim to find a ford. On this particular day thft Boers were especially cheeky* (Ebey chased us for a few hundred yards In the open, firing off their horses' backs* They ars very good at this game, and seem scarcely to stof) their horses before they fire. Only the other day a Boer shot one of the Australians at over 1500 yards while he (the Boer) was still mounted. Of oourse we fire off our horses too occasionally,* bub our horses are certainly not trained to ib. However, to finish that little episode, our artillery opened fire from the camp, two and ft half miles away, on to this party of 200 Boers, and then ib wai their' turn to clear, but they did nob all get safely away. Is ib nob a strange thing that 200 Boers firing at us (n the open For ten to fifteen minutes do not Bhoob one man, although I think they gob six horses that day! You would think ib stranger could you hear the bullets, whioh seem to whistle under your nose, and, io fact, do whistle there and all round your head. I watch them strike the ground m front of my horse, and all round, and each man thinks they must hit him soon. And yet so far, of our two squadrons here, we have got out of it every time.

End of an Ancient Gun.

Oar reader* will dsubbless remetoiber that, m anticipation of the Peace celebrations, Captain Buckley purchased an ancient pieoe of ordnance that over a I century ago was a formidable weapon —one of the most formidable of its kind then In two m the British navy, and so doubt has worked havoc with some of , England's anoient foes. On the eve of this j pre*eob year, JMonday last, this gun was J | loaded np for the purpose of welcoming m the century, and when the time came that it should do so, the brave old weapon certainly did so m too style. Its voice was heard distinctly m Ashburtbn, but that was the last sound it will ever make, for m the effort to do honor to such an occasion ib burst, and its remnan's were scattered far and wide. Luckily, although its end was somewhat sensational, ib did no damage to anyone. The gun weighed 10 cwt, and was about five fact long. At the breech Ife was from 4sin tosin thick, and the smith who weldeo ib ,musb have been a past matter at his handi craft, for though only half of Iv has yet been found, and amongst the debris there is not a partMe*more than 19in m length, there is no jagged edge to be felt even witb the most sensitive finger, everything bsing. rent asunder with marvellous accuracy. Two men lifted the breech out* of a creek yesterday morning; other portions, weighing from 801bs to lOOlbe, can ba seen lying a chain and a chain and a half away from the base of operations; a bolt from the can carriage waa found 200 yards off; the cleaning rod was picked up 500 yards afield, and close to the horse lines of the recent encampment of the Ashburton Mounted Rifles; a pieos of the muzz'e, weighing ftbnut : 6'bs, smashed through the double wall of a oottage 90 yards distant, and gave* bib of a surprise to a man who, two minutes previously, had been lying m his bunk with hie he<id m the direct line of fire $ a number of panes of glass were smashedj splinters of wood from the gun carriage were shot high m the heavens* and dropped, fully a minute after the explosion, m all directions; some half dozen of the Lagmhor employees were within twenty yards of where the gun had stood, and when m their innocence, and after recovering from the shock, thsy went back to put '*Pretoria" once more m position, they found that she had vanished aa completely as the year 1900.

ANOTHER ACCOUNT.

(By the Man who loaded the Gun) The new century wae ushered m on Lagtn hor m a unique and terrible manner. At half past eleven on Monday night the am* ployees of the estate formed into a proces sion, and headed by Piper McDonald, who played an appropriate march on the bag pipes proceeded to tho mound opposite, the estate hall where the old and historic cannon stood guarding the approach to Mr Buckley's residence. Artillery practice »s well as rifle shooting it must be remembered, is an Accomplishment m which the men of Lagmhor particularly exoel, and a practice it? which more than one of their number has had to bite the dust, bat: their efforts on Monday night far and away exceeded (n magnitude any previous attempt of theirs ia big gun, firing. The cannon was wheeled out into the middle of a paddock, loaded with a oharge of powder, and punctually en the tick of twelve Mr Buckley applied the match, and the report that followed an nounced from the hills to the sea, that Time with hia unsparing Byfche had awept aside the varied circumstances of a century as things that were no mores Mr Buckley then wished the men a very happy New Tear, an<l went home to bed. Disappointed with this tame display, the men of Lagmhor proceeded to create a demonstration more m accordance with their own ideas, and worthy of being remembered as the opening circumstance of the 20th centwrv. The cannon was therefore half filled with gunpowder and rammed tight to the muzzle with fab and paper, a train laid, and the match applied — this time by Trooper Moore, of thn A. MB, A blaze, nn exp'oeion, and a deafening roar that para lizjd all who heard it, rolled across the plains and re-echoed m the mountains again and yet again, and all that remained of the Lagmhor cannon were a few shattered fragments of the carriage and half * wheel. The spot on which the famous old gun stood was torn into a yawning gravel pit, a neighbouring fowl roosb was reduced toaolond of dust and feathers, while a piece of the muzz's weighing nearly half a hundred weight waa sent flying through the wall of one of the men's houses and landed under the bed. (The mosb remarkable circumstance of all, however, m that although pieces of the gun can be picked up within the radius of half a mile m ill directions, the men who stood within a few yaide of the explosion emerged out of the cloud of smoke and! dust nnsoathed and untouched by a tingle fragment of the flying debits. Thoroughly satisfied with the part they played m bringing m the New Year, the men departed to their respective abodes, there to Indulge m the meditation appro priate to the occasion. We understand that on the following morn lag two of the men connected with the affair volunteered for j enrolment m the sixth contingent, and we have no doubt tbat if accepted the colony will hear of them In day* to come.

Interprovincial.

United Press Aseociabion—By Kleotrlo Telegraph—Oopyrighb

Wellington, January 2 The Commiesionor of Taxea In a memo to Mr Ward s&yc that m framing the estimate of the land and income tax for the laii; financial statement he thought! he had gono aa far as prudence wo«Id allow m preceding; a amall iooreaae, notwithstanding the eon oeasiona made to taxpayers m the new Assessment Act. The land tax has now bed) goll«cted,and the assetajinenta for income taic have been completed sufficiently to justify the belief thatthe estimate (£425,000) will bis exceeded by the phenomenal sum of £25,000, which (adda Mr MoGowan) la evidence of th<j ■ general prosperity of the colony. There was a big demand yesterday ab posl) offices throughout ;, the colony for the universal penny stamp and. the limited iiaaii 1 was speedily cleared oat at several oentres. Nine hundred thonaand atampa were landed from the Papanui this morning, which complete* the first) million, and another million is coming by the Gothic. The export depote of the Agricultural Department 1h connection with the poultry industry are expeotied to be opened at tbs j end of the month. Eaoh will be m charge of i an expert, who will grade the birds as they | »re received, and have them plucked and ! otherwise prepared for shipment and a«« thai) they ate seat to the best markets. SttV-lu»peotor Iditphell, of the poltojs force, will be transferred to Auckland »n<! will be suooeeded by sub-In«peotor Wilioc, now ia Auckland " j Ohsimwhtooh, Jan 2 The total timber of letfen, newipapere, and books delivered by the letter carriers st the general post office m the morning delivery today was nearly thirty thousand, aa com pared with six thousand on an ordinary

%oke N*w Venui

The Australian Commonwealth

Sydney, January 2 The Governor-General has received congratulatory messages from Tas mania, the Hon, J G "Ward for the New Zealand Government and colonists, and Natal. Lieutenant- Oeneral Gaselee cabled ■ " Good wishes from the Ohina field force to Australia, which so opportunely assis. 'ted with a valuable contingent," A message was received' from Sir Henry Berkeley, Chief Justice of Fiji, from the Australians at Salisbury, Rhodesia, from the Norwegian Premier, from the Administrator of the Netherlands, and from India. The Australian Society at New York wired: "Felicitate you and the nation to-day/ A message was also received from the American Oopaul-General at Melbourne, The city to night is magnificent. Ail the illuminations are m foil iwisg, and m better working order than on last night. Dense throng! promenade the main thoroughfares The Avenue of Nations is gorgeous m the extreme, and the scenic effect is brilliant. The Post Office tower i« a glittering column, standing sentinel like m a great transformation scene— for it is that and nothing more: Elec tricity is chiefly employed, and at a given hour the movement of a few switches converted a darkening city into a picture of sparkling magnificence The conversazione at the Town Hall was brilliant, if the assemblage was crowded. Two thousand guests were present. A musical programme was given The military bad a gay gathering at the barracks, where the military tattoo was conducted In the Domain a ' Continental' was held. The Domain and the various parks are transformed into a fairyland of myriads of coloured lamps, inter -1 twined with the foliage of every tree. At intervals bands are stationed, play* ing popular airs The Highlanders wound up the festivities of the day by a concert, such as is dear to the heart

And amidst all this rejoicing there is i one pathetic note. It is the honour given to the memory of the man who did so mnch to bring about the rejoicings of the hoar; Sir Benry Parkes sleeps In the seclusion of the Cemetery at Faulconbridgfl, and while yesterday's events were m progress his grave was covered with many beautiful wreaths Lord Hopetoun entertained the high official guests at dinner, Honour was shown to New Zealand by placing Mr Seddon next the Federal Premier Lord Fopetoun despatched messages to Mr Chamberlain m reply to those from the Queen and the Imperial Go"; vernment On behalf of himself and the Minis ters of the Oonaoion wealth, he expressed the deep gratitude of her subjects throughout Australia for the Queen's gracious message. They heartily joined with her Majesty m the hope that Divine Providence may grant an in 9 crease of prosperity and well being to her devoted subjects m this new nation with the Empire, and it is the earnest desire of these subjects that her noble and gracious Majesty may be spared to watch and encourage the development of the Empire m peace, mutual trust and love.' The second message says :—-' At the request of my Ministers, I desire to express their, gratification at the way m which the message from the Queen was everywhere received. They do believe that by the federatioa of communities which have divided the tasks and responsibilities of settlements m Aus tralia and Tasmania^ a further step has been taken towards a permanent Empire. They also wish to express; I their confidence that* no desire or ability on the part, of the States to | ! render services to the Queen or Empire j I may be diminished, but that, on the contrary, both will be enhanced by the I union of the forces and resources of the Common Wealth.' Two other messages describe the enthusiasm which was displayed, Lord Hopetoun stating that the plaudits of people testify to tbeir high appreciation of the Queen's choice of himself and I her action m sending Imperial troops to grace the ceremony. There vu a fine display by the Fire brigades, held iv Prince Alfred Park. After the procession the Maio Street Brtg&d* pro ceeded to demonstrate the difference be tween the Ire appliance! of today and those of » century ago. The ancient fire engines, worked by equally ancient firemen, Rave » fine piotnre of the'early uniforms of the eighteenth century. An engine named 'Niagara' phi up a fine stream of water for so insignitcaot at piece of machinery. Side by •ide with ttye work of tha most modern steam fire engine Sydney possesses the display wae historically interesting. The weather was very fine bat warm.

THE SCOTCHMEN'S DAY.

To-day is practically an off day. The Stjo»chmen having give«i op New Year's Day m favor of the inauguration ceremonies held high festival to-day, The orioket ground wu crowded to witness the Highland sports, The scene was an animated one, the colors of the many military contingents mixing m the throng heightened the effect* The South* land pipers excited much applause by their fine playing. The Goyernor-General visited the ground during the afternoon, every soldier standing to salute when the Governor appeared. Many of the leading citizens attended the luncheon and the usual toasts *ere drunk with Scotch enthusiasm. The speeches were of the briefest character. 8k W J Lyne replied to the toast of the Common? wealth/and apologised for the absence of the Federal Premier

NEWSPAPER OPINIONS

(Received Wakaptiaka January 2. 112 p tn, Thi« Office II 46 pm Lokdon, Janaary 2 The Times a%ys that the noto of loyalty/ love of the sovereign and the motherland as pronounced m Sydney if a notable triumph In the larger freedom of the hope m the great future of the destiny of the Commonwealth. The Daily JVews «xpreßaoß the hope that Australians will develop * noble type of national'life and a lofty standard of public duty. All the papers are sympathetic and predict a splendid future for the Common? wealth. All the Australian Agencies General were lavishly decorated m honour of the Commonwealth. The Daily Telegraph says the Com mpnwealth is a great stride m the direction of Imperial Federation.

DUKE OF YORK.

AN INVITATION TO CANADA

UnitedJPresa Amo'jistjon—by Eleotrio l*«legmph—Copyright

Received J»nnary 2, 8 62 p m London, Jannary 1 Sir Wilfred Laurier, the Oanadiatt Premier, hag asked the Dakft and Docheea of York to visit Canada during the present year, London, January 2 The Duke of York hai been gazetted a Rear-Admiral

A FINANCIAL CRISIS.

United Pram A«iooi»tlcn—By Eltokrto Telegraph—Copyright LokdoW; •Tinnary 1 Another itock-brokiog firm on Ihe Exchange hat failed* Lake Tiew consol ibarei are quoted at £B 15s, a rig«of I 2« 6d per nharo since Saturday. Receired Wakapaaka Janaary2, 11 2 pm thiiOflleflll46pm) Lohdon, January 2 The creditors petition for till coropalaory winding np of the Globe Finance Company will be beard on the 16th

New Year Honors.

United Preis Auocifttlon—By Electric Telegraph -—Copyright Received W»]»ptukft Jan 2.8 24 pm, COhia office 106 pm Svdkky, January 2 Lord Hopetoun hai received • cable, announcing the following Federal bononrs 4—-Privy CoancilloM—Mr Ed mund Barton, Sir Sanmsl G}r*£th (Queeniland), G.O.M.G-- Sir J»hn Forrest, X.O.M.Q'g—Mr Diekvon (Queensland), Mr J. H. Sjraon (Sovth Australia) and Dp Qucik (Victoria); O.M.G—Mr E. B. Garran (Sydney), who took a prominent part m coaftte tion with the Federal Oonvemtiont, and Mr E. G. Biackmore (clerk of the Soalh Australian Parliament),

CABLE NEWS.

United Press Association—By Elwtrle

Telegraph—Copyright P*ris, January S 1 hough the Military Court acquitted Oinguet of the charge of want of discipline, General Andre sentenced him to sixty days m a fortro«i« Adelaide, January 2 Information has been received thai the ship Beacon-Rock, which left Port Pirie on October 4 for Wellington, bs* arrived at Conception, Chili, She en countered heavy weather, and ii ex teneivaly damaged. The lull particular* of the damage has not been received. She bad long ago been given up for lost.

South Africa.

United Press Association—By Eieoteie Telegraph—Copyright

THE "DAILY TELEGRAPH" WAR FUND.

EXPLOSION OF BCER AMMUNI TION

(Received January 2, 820 pm) London, January 1 The Daily Telegraph War Facd has reached £234,438. Excepting £96,180 all the money ha« bees distributed. The ammunition m a Boer waggon, at Senek&l, exploded, and four men were killed, and the daughter of Commandant Laaebrack was wounded.

Boers Active is Orange Colony

Small Britisii Party C*ptiTßd

Wounded Coloaitlfl.

(Received Wakapuak* Jan 2, 1060 pno, This Office Jan 3, 146 am) Londor, January 2 Numerous small eommandoi are operating aet.weeu the Orange Hirer and Rosmead without; any definite plea < or substantial advantage beyond cabl ing tbo military much trouble and annoyance 250 Boors captured 14 of Neibitt'i horae fifty miles lonth east o! Colm burg. Another commando of 800 oaptarwf a quantity of stock afc Wel(;evrede&. Colonel Williams is ptnrraing the convoy which was captured oa . Christmas day at Vryburg is valued at £50,000. The ambush wai a complete ■uceegg, a&d the escort, conaietiog oi 2$ Cape police, offered no reniitance and all were captured , -■ The following Colonials were wounded at Wetpoort: — Severely, Lieutenant Miller and Private Morgan ; •ligbftly, Private Younger,both of the New South j Wales Bushmen ; dangerously, Private !O W Brown ; slightly, Sergeant-Major Jolicy of the New Zealand Boagh Riders,

The Sixth Contingent.

United Press Association—By Steotcio Telegraph—'Copyright WiuumaiONt Jan S With regard to the detpatnh of the Statin Contingent, Mr Ward states that il is intended to gather all the southern men and those from the south parb of the North Island fo Wellington, for despatch to 4h» front, The troopship will then go to Auckland and pick op. the northern portion of the contiagont. Up so yeiterday 900 men wen tnrolwdlor the Sixth Contingent and ISO have Urn piovisioaally passed. The Department «< neots that the homes and equipments will be ready by the 15th and that the ContisfMil oan be shipped by the 30th. The Walwara will not be available as a troopship. C&Kimmxmam, Jas 3 The total number, who have applied- lev enlistment m the Sixth Contingent art 207 T _ NiiPnra, Jan 3 Altogether seventy applications have been received her© for eniolmeat m the Sqfth Contingent, thirty three pawed thepre< ISminary tests, and the list is now con. otadcxl

WabMßTflfsoNi Jan 2 The acting Premier has received a oablc* sram from Sir Alfred Milner stating thai Sergeant Major Jolly of the Fourth Contfn gen* was severely wounfced on 88fe December at Witpoorfc; also that Troop** 0 W Brewn was dangerously wounded on *•«■*• occasion. Jelly bails from Cromwell ,O6ago, and Brown from Tem«ka, Oantiezbury; Sir Alfred Milner wires thab 1769, Tra*p»r Martin, it dang«rooriy ill at Pwtorla, ( The Premier of Cape Colony wire* to Mr Ward :— "Deeply eensibls. o[ the wrvift rendered by your colony to the Empire In South Africa. May the new year bring general p«aae and prosperity.'?

■i'fijfl AfiflbOßlpS etlAfeftlAM » fHIJBsDAY, fANtJARf % iM



Full moon Last quarter Apogee New moon First quarter Perigee

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■HM . ■ li 44 ttm 8 8 am 10 30 pm 26 » m 9 22 pm 11 Opm



Date fcnuary •»» *• It II

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Rites 4 29 4 30 4 31 4 32 4 34

Seti 7 41 7 41 7 40 7 40 7 40



CONSULTING OPTICIAN Mr Ernest M. Bandstein, DBOAJ, FS, MO, who has lately returned after six years* gpecia! study In England and Con tinent, tnay be consulted on ail cases of defective eyesight Daylight not necessary, artificial light being used. Doctors' pro* acripMoßß prepared. Fees moderate. Con suiting rooms, Oaihel Street W., over M Sandstein, jeweller, ChrUtchuro*. 930 to 1,9t06 daily



I Polypathio Medical institute. B Corner of Glouoester Street) und Lafcimw S-uwe, CHMBTOHUROH, B (Immediately baa. il 0 »h Sic * B«ildiage)« tIFTH VISIT" TOASHBUBTON. V, FRIDAY AFTEBNOf'N, JANUARY 4 9 190 L ■ Br 2 o'clock p m nctilS p m »■■ . . BATUBDAY, .JANUARY 5, H: '■ " "'. ■ 9am until 1 o'clock p m R CONSULTATION FRE^.—GRANGE'S HOTEL. |B POLY PATH V, the New Method of Healing, is the ' unrest »nd jnont rnpid Syetom, m 16 care* with nbsoiate H certainty suoh dl«e»aea aaOanoer, Epilepsy Rnd Aiithma, H V^l^^^Pfflßnl inounVile under the old system, M well isallObronio BF »nd Nervous Complaints of Women and Men. MoBB E' !Ccili:s MAD.ri' BS P°^YPAf HY than any other tyitem P; -, '■■ i^^^^^^^^^3 iD the W"hOU.sANDS OI "TESTIMONIALS m? r JM aJ^j^^^M^Saßl^g Efilbffio Fits Fob Eight Yhabsj also heart I|* ' r ftfefip^^^SSMw Volt Medicines have done me a great deal of good. I ■I' \|MglHSSfi|flnHHH feel better m every way, and ths paino fcfc the heart have R*'"^ entirely left me. I have oot had one fib since taking B '' H^ra^yE OMHiiMHhiß^ S your Medicine—l remain, your* truly, I ■ llßfli IHmHPbISM I.UNO :DISSASE AKD £XsßßHii DHKLWY 1.. : f^^^^^^S^gtSrm I nave txmdh pleasure m sending this lettir, thsnkittg L Bw^Pßk^ y°u yerF ninch for the benefit I h»ve derived from year P?" c"'-' ll^^^K iHrafHfeß mediobe, which I have been osingslx wteka. I w»s I ■ Si^&^WCTW™ redded »« weight from 12tt4'bds»wn |o Bsfe 71b, »nd I r, - had quite given myself O p to my Maker; but thank God §'" : ■^SS^^^mSßKmW »ffc«» l had been undw yoor fcreatment iiM dm W Wmm it^^^^^m-W W«*« oonldsee a change In me, and loould toil it 3^O-EssaHaaM»<&r > myself, and have baen improving ever.einoe. Yea- oan ;:| mmm^.^xi^v^nJtZZZK-L- ® use this letter for a testimonial, or refer anybcdy to me, :' ' taWßSESg^aa6 t^@BKs^a!sSfc- wiehmg you every proapurity-Youra respettfally, :;. " ' jg ,47 S 30HW BUHICK ■'THE'VERDICT 'OF ALL PKACTIOAL RIDBRS IS IN ■MVOUK OF v ; : . - RIDING .- v BUILT with BufctedJTabing, Bhorb He»a«, Narrow Tread Arehjor Box Crewn, Jin or lln pit<th roller Chains, overhanging chain wheels S Any atyle Saddle, Handles, UUain, wo. g Any gear, any height frame ; also dust-proof throughout. A ONE PBIOB TO ALL—£2l fOATES, LOWRY AN I CO., I Zftakndia Cycle Works, BURNETT STREET, ASHBURTON. Ufhe Equitable Life Assurance Society, of U.S H~ He»d Office for New Zealand—Wellington. WIM.IU. IHIIIIIIBIM. X t •^■"■•'■'■•l* H DIRECTORS, with power to issue Policies and pay claim*: Hlf n Rat r Bso Chairman. I Pbsc¥ M Thomson, loapeotor of Agencies. ■?JmS; K S; Sm p. _ij 5 Tbevob Gotld ' Reßilleat SecretMjri ■ STEOHGEST LIFE ASfcUBANCE SOCIETY INT THE ■ WOKLD H Financial Position, «.«b,,«,c l=ttS::: iz^SlSscr'^r^ :: SSftS f AC A Mutual CffioP. AH surpluß belonge to the policy holder* for particulars of the GuaranteedjOash Value Policy. Mr nicolT bros, BHv Agents, A^hbnrtoo. U4' W PARENTS ARE INVITED I TO INSPECT OUR STOCK OF BOYS' OtOTHING, T) OYB' Gaard Saita 8s 6d ; Boys' Blouses 4s Boys' Norfolk Snits 12s 6c!; Washing Suits 2a 6d " Absent-Minded Beggar " gaita 18s 6d Best Value to be obtained anywhere. Men's Sac Snits from 21b to 65s Men's Trouserß 7b 6d ; Tennis Trousers 12s 6d. A nice variety of Summer Coats m Kharki Serge, Sattem, Alpaca, «U». _ -» : o: I NZ, CLOTHING FACTORY. i F. H. BECKINGSALB, Manager. WILLIAM PATCHING, EAST & BURNETT STREETS, ASHBURTGN, SADDLIK & HARNESS ' MAKER. Ti/T V OO^PBTEiST STAFF now includes FIRST GLASS COLLAR AND SADDLE MAKERS. Fit and Workmanship Guaranteed. Repairs Executed Promptly and at Moderate Rfftes WOOL SEA SON 1900-1901 T Sshburtoat f ComigEments will bo received our Amburton or Tiawald etores, a«d> B fe «to H -theVObrCrch or Timaru, free of all charge*, except railage. ' .Cionts who «bh to send their Wool direct from their neareai railway statio*. will ! f" ease eoßßigQ as follows :— f' If intended for B ale at i^\m**»-tfM*** Bros', Ltd Bidi D g, A.hburt« B If intended for B ale at Chrlstoteoh-Browa and Son'fl SldSag, Aidtogto. If intended for B ale or ..bip^nt at Timaru^ Mill & Go's Sidta* Timara If intended for B bipn,ent at Lytltelton-N.Z.Sbippl.g Co'a .ihupttShri. I^tfltoa WOOLPAOKS, TWIN! BB.AHDMG OIL and >aU other Shearing Requisites supplied at lowest rotes. I One Nest Sale will take place at Timara on raUBBDAY, JASUABY 3, 1900 IK II BLANDER BROS, LTD.