THE ASHBURTON TRAIN SERVICES

Trains leave &Bhbarbon dally for— CHRISTCHITROH—afc 7.20 am, 11 am 5.15 p rh, 7.5 p m (express) TIMARU—at 10.55 am, 3.60 pm OUNBDIN—at 12.54 pm (express) SPRINGBURM-ab 4.25 p m Trains arrive daily at Aehburton from— CHHISTOHUROH-at 10.45 am, 12.48 p m (osp.eßa), 8 pm TIMARU—at 10.35 am, 2.55 pm DDNEDIN—st 6.57 p m (esprons) SVRINGBURN-afc 9.45 a m M^gyi«*«q»anwmmaww m mummn mm, ammmmmmmmm

EPHEMERIS

SUN.

Phasca r.f Moon for December

Mail Notice

Mails close for the following plaoos at under, subject to the necessary alterations : FPIDAY, Deo 6 For Nor.hern Ports and Weatport, also Auetralian States (tins Sydney Deo 11th), and South Africa, per Monowai, at 10 30 a m

MINING

United Preaa Association—^By Kleotrio Taleurßph DonkmN, Dbcenober S Today's aalea — Bendigo 13a 3d; Fust Ohano«3 7i 6J ; Fourteen Mi In Beach 168 ; Golden River, 4 parcels at; 7-s 3d ; Inohd»le 10'3d; Point Dor Is dia; I'rinae Albert 6■, 6j ; Htee aod Stilae 17s I^l, 17a U ; Toviot So

COMMERCIAL.

THE LONDON MARKETS.

United Pre 8 Association—By Eleouio Telegraph—Copy right London, Dec 3 lh<3 New Zealand Loan and Mercantile ARtnoy Company, after paying interest on prior lien und second debentures, made a profit of £264, whioh was earned 60 the third debenture interesb uooount. Wool is firm, especially choice crcaibreds, whioh Amerioacs are buying largely; Ihe 01 ffjrd clip rea!ieflfr7|l Tullow—&took,4B92 casks; imports, 2526 casks j deliveries, 6495 casks A New South Wales oargo ol wheat eo'd at 28) 10P

AUSTRALIAN MARKETS.

Sydney, December 4 Wheat—Chick to 2s 8d ; Milling, 2s 8d to 2s 91 Flour —Loaal, £6 to £6 15a Oatß, local &ud AlgorUn 2i ; Now Zialand prime B grade, 23 lid Birley, JSnßiish Feeding, 23 lOd Maize, 2s 8d to 2a lOd Bran B|l ; pollard, 9£l Onions- £5 15^ to £4 10 < Potatoea-£3 12* 6i to £4 Butter, ore;imery, 9^ rl ; cheoeo, New Zea land, 9d to lOd Eicon, 6|i to BJd Hams, Now Zealand, 9d to lOd Mblbouhnb, Dec i vVheat, 2s 9d Otts, prime. 2? 2d M* zi2a 6d Bran BJI, pollard 9d I (The a&ovs quotations are those ruling between merchant and retailer, and do nob represent the slightly lower ya'uoa obtained by a rocogniaed broker.) Adelaide, Decomber 4 Wheat, 2s M Fiour, £!610H.t0£!5 15s Oats, Algerian, Is 101 to 2* 2<l ; white 2«3i to2<6tl Braa 9,}-!, pollard, 101

ADDINGTON STOCK MARKET.

CHRiSTCHUKCii, Dooembor 4 The Addiagton atock market waa held fco day. CATTrjB—I7I head of fab cattle came fofWjird, bat there vc^a a dull nalo, and pricoa fell to 17* 6-1 to 25j per 1001b. North Island s' ciub were passed in at £9 to £9 5< ; steers £6 47e 6d to £9, heifors £5 15i to £8 10?, cowa £5 5) to £8, and up to £9 17a 6d for a few of extra quality. Ktora oaltlo— An entry of 400 oama forward, &nd rnosti of the business was done privately. Ab auction yoarlings made 20s, 15 to 10 months old £1 15? to £2 6', two yiar old ateera £4 10s, heifars £4 li, three year old eteere £5 Ib, heifers £4 15a 6(1, dry oows £1 l(h to £4 10^ Bheep~2soo fat.Bhoap (all shorn) were yarded, there was » short supply which oauaeel a keen demand, and prices advanced j.3 per head—fref z'ng wethers 13j 6d to 16a 7d, heavy w Ights up to 18?, beab ewes 14s fco 16b, others §3 to IS'1; roerino wethers 9a to. 103 9i. Fat limbs—lQ9G were ya*(i9,d, and there was a better sale, two new buyera for erpirt causiDg o> rise of li per biad ; 621 were taken fir export at 113 31 to .14* Bd, 360 went co butchers ab 18 Bd, and 108 were paaned Store ehecp—l6o9 came forward, but there wai a poor demand and very few were sold ; shorn wethers 10s SJ, and ewes and bmbs Bs,8 s, all counted. Piss-SBO were penned, but tha quality was poor ; baconern were hold ovar at 32j to 50u par head or 3|i psr Ib, porkers were easier ablß3 to 30s per band or 3£i per lb, stores were almost unsaleable at Bt to 16?, and suckers and weaners brought from 3s 3d to 7s.

BURNSIDE MARKET

Dunedin, December 4 At the f*»urasir!s market 134 head of cattle were yarded, including some very prime heavy cattle, bat the greater mejj jrity were inferior to medium. Competition was J^e?ij. and 1 isb week's prices wero maintained, besf fe'ohing 28a to 29* per ICO b, well finished cUfce £12 7i 61 ; ona buliock thab broke from the Show £13 2^ 61, koo.l £10 to £11 lOs, msdiufn £3 10j to£9 17i6i, others £5 5a to £8 7j 6d, very heavy heifera £10, m edium £7 to £8 10. oihora £5 to £6 15s.

MARRIAGE.

Chapman—Cahney. —At Aahburton, oa December 2, Fbank, second son of W T Chapman, Alford Fjrest, lo Marguerite, seond daughter of M. Carney, also of Alford Foreab,

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1901.

No 000 can say that the great gather ing in the Oddfellows' Hall last even ing wsfe not representative ol the several classes who are to fee fosnd in this electorate. The invited guests, tjse farmers and farm workers were there, bat they formed a small proportion of Ihe audience, Tha business mori, whose interests are bound up with our attended in consider able i?uo?be,4'p. The town workers, Rppwnticep^ and so |orth yere pretty namerou?, and that section wh ; i?b may be termed the noisy and disturbing elemant was also very much in evidence. With regard to the laat mentioned, the compactness of their location, and the *ej»arkable unanimity with which they applaudad Mrl^urensonand clamoured at and interrupted Mr Leadley, was suspiciously suggestive ol pre-arrange meat. Not for one BJ9menfc ; however^

should it be imagined that Mr Lauren*

son himself had anything to do with

the conducb of the crowd at the back ;

according to common report, we should

, look ia quite direction ' for tbe explanation. Ab for Mr j Laursnson himself, we must com-' pliment him upon the clever manner in which be turned this and other

circumstances to account, He had a weak case, but he made the most of if, and " playrd up to th'J gallery " in the | most approved style. But we venture! to &ny that not one (f the farmers present failed to recognise tbat there was a jarriDg note right through hie address, and that in spite of hia elo quent protestations he is no friend to the farmers. There was absolutely nothing in hii speech from beginning to end that was new, except the gene ral i*ct that a gentleman intimately associated with the Trade Unions, which have already worked so much mischief to the agricultural community, should think he knows better what the farmers rrqufre than they do them selves. That is certainly new, nni we are not surprised to find that the farmers are highly amused at this view of the so-called debate last evening. One thing ia certain that despite Mr Laurenson's ingenious attempt to show that the Farmers' Union as a wlio'e is a move of the Conservative parly •gainst the ptrty in power, ho ntt(dy failed. He attempted to make capital out of some of the ill-considered tuj( gestions which have been put forward by pome branches of Ihe Union, few of which have the leant ohauoe of hning accepted by the Conference, to finally adopt a platform which i*» to bo held in June next. It would be just an remioii able to condemn the present Govern caent because some of their supporters in Parliament have attempted to force i upon the country certain measures i which have been laughed out of the | Ronsfl, However it is only fair to say that Mr Laurenson mads the best of a bad casp, and did credit to his repu tation as a fluent and effective epeaker. As for Mr Leadley, all we can say is that he would perhaps have acted with better judgment if he had permitted Mr L^urenson's speech to carry its own refutation, as in the minds of thought ful men it assuredly did. Mr Leidley is not a ready debater, bat we have no doubt that if he had tiken time to review his opponent's utterances, he would have effectually disposed of them. Even his best friends must ad mit that while Mr Laurenson mode no impression on the position and popu larity of the Farmers' Union s its champion did not get off so well. The general feeling to-day isone of sympathy for " poor Mr Leadley."

Local and General.

Frisco Mail News -News by the San Francisco mail steamer Ventura will be found on our oataide page,

Weather Forecast: — Captain Edwin wires: —Strong northeast to north and west winds, glaRB fall.

The Fkisco Mail —A special train, with the Frisco mail, arrived in Aehbur* ton about 3 40 this afternoon.

Express Passksokus—Sir J G Ward, ! Minister of Railways and Postmaster General, i and DUtriot Court Judgo Ward, wore pas* ; gangers by the express last night) for tbe nirth. Nctbsing thr Sick PoOß—The Sfc Jobn'a Ambulance Aafoobtiop, Wellington, are miking an effjrb to raisa funds for the permanent employment of a nurse to attend the sick poor.

Tblephonb Chargfs —The high rate for telephoHoa outside the town ndiua wan brought before Sir Joseph Ward, at Dunedin yesterday, he said there was really m murgin of profib on telephone a juab now Our tar ff compared favourably with thab of olhcr countries, and if thii suggestion were given <ff icb to it mmn 1. a reduction of sub scribers, which muab be followed by Ih railing of tho prices to those who continued So uaa the servioe.

Rb?Rencij:mknt—Rumours areourreot that the beat}* of tha Departments have bson instructed to rmntha p uning knifo through the Civil Sorvice, and gebrid of a pumper of temporary cierka and extra messengers who for Home timo pasb h*ve bseo cumbeiing administrative ground. It ia etated that the knife will cub deep, as several depart ments ara grievously overloaded.

A Kitjchhnbr Story.—A British tffioer who has Bcrved jn South Africa, and is now In the United States, tell ao egcejlont sbnry of Lord Kitchener, which may be untrue, but which, at any rate, is distinctly good, A young snbiltern ia charge of construabion work in Upper Egypt had the misfortune to lose native workmen through the accidental explosion of several cases of dynamite, fearful of a s wigging' from headquarters, he tei agrapbed to the Sirdar, ' Regret to report killing ot 10 lafo-mrora by dynamite sccHenb. 1 [ He awaited the expected reoukc wioh fear and trepidation. In a few hours Game this laconic deepatch—-VDo you need any more dynamite V Government's Railway Policy — Sir Joseph Wt\rd told a deputation at Duaedio i yesterday morning that the guiding principle iii State railways was that all cksEes should Ibe treated alike. Jphe jratoa rnusb ba the sama for everybody; there must he u» ! favouritism. As a matter of fact, the policy bhe Government had decided on was not to* bake more out of the railways than three per canb. Anything beyond thab would go back dircetfy to the ussrs of the railways In the

Bhape of reJuced fates* Ab tha present time the Cabinet was onsidurlng the esr pedienoy of reducing the rates for the car* riaga of wool, on account of the low prints ruling for that oommodity, Ib was a very good thing the railways should be used in developing the colony, and ii helping industries, whether in town or the country.

88/yAiNE Best Bicyclb—Rider b when buying a b?jyo|b *?l?ould bepareful to procure one that will stand ihs pj#g,b severe tesfcj therefore we wou'd recommend our fsetdeya when selecting a. maohirje to have nothing bub a Rudge-Whitworth, which has beea proved to be the etroDgeßb and most reliable on the market

You can depend on ridding your Ohi|dren of Worms with Wade's Worm |?igs, tbe wmippM vrorm worriers; prfee Is

Up to dath Bihyclb Gees—There is now ou view at Messrs O&tes, Lowry So Go's /Jaa landia Cycle Works an entirely new and varied assortment cf the very latest) in cycling requisites. Among the new samples Hist received are new designs in ladies' ekirb xslipa. handy litUe c'ips, co neat nnd usefal, are ind^sfieneaj-jle to every Jady cyqliat; The ijrm Jiave also received a ahip ? inenj) §t the new '{J&rrard' Free .jyß'eel^ These paw wh^ale I'which fit any standard make ef bicycle) are yer? fj^t, ftffd are th,e means of saving an enormous amount cjf pedalliDg ; are most effeotive, bavisg a rotJep back pedalling brake, and so simple in con struction that any pereoa o»Q St them in a

CABLE NEWS.

United Press Association—By E!eo frlo Telegraph—Copyright

THE AUSTRALIAN SQUADRON Sydney, December 4 The squadron has sailed on an extended cruise of tho colonies OHILLAGOE RAILWAY AND . MINING COMPANY. Melbourne, Den 4 An extraordinary meeting of the Chillagoe Railway and Mines Company was held to consider the issue of £100,000 by pr< farenoe shares in order to obtain more capita!. The Chairman's statement showed an outlay of cloao on £600,000. The liabilities are upward of half a million, and it is required to spend another £71,000 before the position could bf improved. If shareholders did not accept fche proposal the only aHnrna tive would be to reconstruct. Eventu ally the meeting adjourned to allow the directors to consider the suggestion that they personally should advance £50,ooo;

SOUTH AFRICA.

Udlbeti Prow Association—-By Elootirlo

Telegraph—Copyrlghb

BOER MEDALS .

AN ASYLUM FOR BOtfß WOMEN

London, December 3

Itoer (»gf)nti on the Continent are distributing medals inscribed • A baa J' Anglolerre

An agitation has been started in Holland in favour of settling Boer women and children in concentration camps in Holland. The Government believe that Great Britain would not object, bu*> hesitate, owing to the to the expense

A BIG CAPTURE

SAILED FOR ENGLAND

London, December 4

Dartoell'a Imperial Light Horse surprised and captured twenty four Boera at Harmmith, including Cotaet Lyon, an active leader, and Ooptain Preborius, 800 cattle, and 150 horses.

Lieut. Hamer, of the New Zealand Mounted Rifles, has sailed for England.

THE TRANSVAAL VOLUN TEERS

London December 4

Colonel Copper is organising the Transvaal volunteers. It is expected their strength will be ten thousand, and they will ultimately supersede the constabulary

UNWILLING TO FIGHT

Botha with 1800 men, at Kltp'afe!> is anxious to fight, but his men refuse.

MENTIONED IN DESPATOHIS,

Lord Kitchener's despatches mention Captain Simpson, of the Seventh New Zsaianders, Lieutenant Quintal, of the New South*Wa!es Bushmen, as having greatly distinguished themselves dur ing tho night capture of Spanderberg laager, near Honingepruit". Lieuten ant Tudor, of the Sixth New Z aland Mounted Rifles, for great; gallantry in holding a position on the Odledon river, with twelve men, for three hours against fifty of the enemy; Lieutenant Caskey, of Queensland, is mentioned for his action on the same occasion j Mnjor Andrews, for hand ling his troops well in action at Mokari Drift; Captain Knight, for excellent service in commanding de tached troops in the Orange Oolony; Private B'iigent, for brave rescue of a comrade under heavy fire at Bastard's Drift* Ali the Ne'v Zealandera belong to the Sixth Mounted Rifles

Lieutenant Moffit, of the Third New Sooth Wales Mounted Riles, is men tioned for gallant and dashing conduct at the Yaai River, in capturing fifteen Boera

Sergt. Major Locketfc, is awarded the Distinguished Conduct medal for gallant rescue of a prisoner at Losberg, he having lost an arm in consequence of the wound he received

President Roosevelt's Message to Congress.

United Press Association—By Eleotdo Talegraph^Oopyrtghfc s Washington, December 4 President Roosevelt's mesßage to Congress advocated the exclusion of Anarchists. The Powers ought to trett Anarchist crimes like piracy. He condemned the unwarranted antagonism to the Trust combination. Concentration should not be prohibited, though oyer capitalisation should be prevented. Tha nation ought to create an office of Secretary of Oommeroe and Industry to supervise labour, the mer cantile, marine and great corporations. It was necessary to re-enact the Chinese Exclusion Bill, and it would be (Jesjrable to supplement tha tariff with reciprocity treaties. The Philippine At^ira were the work of local bandits. The Clayton-Bulwer treaty had beeo abrogated, Great Britain consenting to America's building and safeguarding the Panama Canal, and regulating it for the neutral use of all nations. The Monroe doctrine would remain the cardinal feature of the foreign policy of the two Americas.

THE FEDERAL TARIFF.

United Press Association—By Eleotrie Telegreph—Copyright) | Melbourne, Dec 4 The Labon^ $?ajFty "' "ployed that cottons be placed on the free Ijst. A long debate enßued, and, despite Government opposition-, the duty was abolished on the voices. There still remains a drag net duty of 10 per cent, but it only affects articles not in yowajQß nse. On the item dealing witlT ths government pro posed 20 per (sent ejTa'ty, w&iie ftbey proposals w@ra Buoyed, yajrying from 10 to 20 per cent. The House is sill sitting.

Mr McMillan again protested agiinst the Government sitting all night on so important &' matter aa the tariff, and at two o'clock tbjis morning moved that the chairman leave the chair. The Opposition §toaewall,ed until 4 o'clock this afternoon, when the tarif wai renamed,

Mr Laurenson and the Farmers' Union

Exceptional interest was shown in the address of Mr Geo. Laurenson, M.H.R., at the Oddfellows' Hall last evening, the building being crammed some time before eight o'clock. The seats reserved for the ladies were all occupied early in the evening, and when the proceedings opened fully 1000 people were in the building, which rarely, if ever, was so closely crammed.

Punctually at eight o'clock, the Mayor took the chair, being supported by Mr J. McLachlan, M.H.R., Hon. W. J. Steward, M.H.R., Messrs W. Harding, J. Seaiy, Geo. Laurenson and G. W. Leadley.

The Mayor stated Ashburton was getting noted for its entertainments, &c, and although they were not going to have any gory combat, or a funeral, but they were to be treated to an intellectual " Sam Weller Swarry," Mr Laurenson (applause), who repre sented Lyttelton, and Mr Leadley (ap plause), who could hold his own in business, were to address them. The best traditions of the past in keeping order would be wanted. He had much pleasure in introducing Mr Laurenson (Loud Applause).

Mr Laurenson, who was loudly ap laudad on rising, said he was there in response to a remark he made, that during lh(! recess he would uncover the " Na tional Ass" in all its deformity. He would disclose the Fanners' Union as nothing but the National Asso ciation. The audience was the jury, and he wanted, a verdict in accordance with evidence brought forward. He was the best friend to the farmer, and not the other person. He gave a history of the challenge given him. A young fellow called on him in Wellington, and this young man asked him to go to Kirwee. He replied he would be glad to go. The next he heard was that this young man was to address a meeting with him self. He next saw that Mr Leadley ad dressed the people; there. After this Mr Leadley laid low for a week, and then it was broadcasted over Canterbury that Mr Leadley had challenged him, and yet had no answer from himself. Next appeared an advertisement by Mr Leadley, that the meeting was arranged for the Tues day. He had to fight his way up, and was not bom with a silver spoon in his mouth, and he had more public work todo than Mr Leadley would have if he lived until he was as old as Methuselah. If given a fortnight's notice he would come again any day or night in the week. He defied Mr Leadley to pick a single line he had said against the farming classes. The goal of his ambition was to live and die in the country. His (the speaker's) business lay with farmers in his con stituency. Among gentlemen- it is cus tomary to accept a denial, he begged to tell Mr Leadley. He referred to the danger and disgrace of an inuendo. Mr Leadley's remark that Mr Laurenson had an emissary in Ashburton trying to arrange a meeting was not correct. Referring to the Farmers' Union Conference on the subject of grain sacks, at this juncture he thanked them on behalf of the Lumpers' Union in Lyttelton, for' those who at the meeting endeavoured'to have the size of the sacks reduced. He re ferred to medical evidence, which he detailed tQ slpw the evil caused by the present size ot sack, and yet Mr Leadley objected to any reduction. He could pin Mr Leadley down to that. He was now going to leave Mr Leadley'and deal with the Ass. (Laughter). [He here read a letter from an Otago farmer to the effect that the Farmers' Union was formed by hide-bound Tories.] Mr Glass was fly enough to make the farmers believe that they had a grievance. There were 147,000 working men in the colony. Farmers and miners equalled 29 per cent of the earners in the colony. Tlie farmers were over represented jn Parlia ment. He referred to Mr Gardiner's speech at the Union re wool, etc. The iron ore at the pit mouth is only worth a penny per Ib, but when worked up into fine work it is worth £200 per lb. The kauri timber is felled and sold at 2s per foot, but worked up into furniture is worth £10 to £12, and why should they listen to arguments based on these differences, He dealt severely with Mr Glass's re? marks on the formation of the Farmers' Union, and detailed several of his state ments against the Government. The latter had, lie stated, ignored the farmers. He (the speaker) referred to several Acts brought in by the Government, which Mr Glass stated ignored the farmers. He had taken the liberty of briely putting facts before them. The present Liberal Government had not, af{;er the wool kings got their wool safely down to Christchurch, raised the railway rates to catch the small farmers. We were only forming a new country here. He had seen the working of the curse of the land laws in the old country, and and he didn't want to see this country in the same position as at Home. He would spend- a whole night in Ashburton to discuss the land laws, if they wished him to come. There would be Crown lands as long as the colony existed. Mount Cook was Crown land; The Farmers' Union stated that Wa^kakahi arid Other places should not be allocated #s Crown lands. He referred to the Farmers' tJntoh depends r£§fi@Sl: ing the land laws of the country, where t^iey demanded that the economic laws of country be altered. It did'nt matter who sank or swam to them. He believed in freetrade, but he defied the Farmers' Union to build up a young country except by protection 1. Who were makj ng more deifna^ds on the Government than the Farmers' Union ? And if they could not get cheap enough insurance in Ameri ca, then they would go to Germany for them. They cursed and denounced I Socialism, yet they were a go-as-you- j [ please " push" in their demands, He dealt with further platforms of the Union, and denounced them severely The grain traffic in Lyttelton, the licensing laws, postage on paper's $o farmers, reduced fares on the £a|hi/ay,' and' ■ other • matters dealt jjyjtai py ttis fanners xgfya riot rpaUy the farmers, but the" undej-grourp engineers pughing b,ej}ind them. 'What was the farming interest from a wage-earning point? Mr Leadley said there were 100,000 farmers, but the Year Book made them half that number. He would now pull the horse cover straight q/^ and wpuld appeal to the most Tory farmer there. The Union was a rnu|.e out of tli£ qld as, s. He was not agapist a Farmers' Union, jf to, reduce freights aijd J adopt other reasonable measures. What had the Union done to open up markets-1 The Farmers' Union was really the National Ass in disguise, and it was afraid to show its nose. Wouldhe (Mr Leadley) go to Lyt^ejion to, face his crowd, or even to Ohrjstchurph'P LqW'Wasnoti intended to restrain the good bijt the e'vjl.' The monsters of greed had to be restrained. As against Mr Leadley's statement that the i farmers were not represented in tlje House, there were twenty-six farmers and settlers in Parliament. The de? mands of the Farmers Union were dealt with in detail, after which Mr Laurenson fully enumerated the Acts beneficial to ; farmers, and passed by the present j^-ovei'nmeat', ending with the Lands fq?' '' S#£t|s}iaente „ &Qt>... ,Mv Laurent son theijL proceeded' to ' deal wjth fche position of flip agricultural "and pastoral classes as pompareq -vyith other industries from a wage?eamiug point of view, after which he compared the print cipal platforms of tha Fawners' union and that of the National Association, wherein he showed their similarity in several points, including the amount of Inscription. *$.& thought lie had proved ?ns ga^e. The' Literal Party was safe, Hud tftpy WOTid"n9s' fee pijUe^'ou^'of power, and they wei!e, he believed, &p,| going to have a re-action, in spite of this Opposition and Tory action, (Loud ap plause). Thle ended Mr Laurenson's address, pasting 'exactly one hour, although he stated he ;had not by ■' any means- ex jha'&sfed his matter, but 'he wduld be 61ease<| jfco 'devote another day to thera ij W.^wj!^dl (Apprise). ' •■ ■•■'■■■••■"■•

The Chairman then called upon the' next sneaker. Mr Leadley, who was loudly applau ded, thought the Ass oetter without a cover. Rarely, if ever, an audience so large had assembled as on this occasion. As he did not know what matter would be brought forward by Mr I Laurenson, he had, therefore, to speak I in an impromptu manner. He would start with the last remarks first, viz.— that the Liberal Party had no danger from the Farmers' Union. If so, why all this storm and fury ? If so likely to die a natural death in a few months, why should Mr Laurenson take the trouble to come to Ashburton. The Labour Unions supported their own 'men. In reply to what the Farmers' Union had done to open up new markets, they had only been inaugurated for six months, but wait until they were fully established in working order. At Kh-wee he had said there were less than 80,000 engaged in pastoral pursuits, when showing the im portance of this industry, and they pro duced £17,378,000 of marketable pro ducts. Re the Workers' Compensation Act, the Union made a blunder in what they had said. He,personally, gave no vote, nor was a casting vote given. They were not politicians, but working farmers, who had no special opportunity of studying closely. He was proud of the Conference report. They did not want the repeal of the Workers' Com pensation Act, but to learn what the farmers position was, and if the amended Act was to be carried through. The Premier had never answered the ques tion. He could do anything he liked with the following he had in the House. The Union accepted the position, and they were insuring their men, and these were being insured throughout the colony. A man was foolish if he did not insure his men. It was impossible for a farmer to tie himself down to an eight hours day. There never had been a Farmers'Union'formed in Dunedin as stated by Mr Laurenson. Suggestions of a most idiotic character were some times brought up in the House, and so far all they had done in the Farmers 1 Union would require to be ratified in Wellington next June. The Govern ment had done a good deal for the country he admitted. He had been in the colony Bince 1863, and ploughed when eleven years old. Had not previous to the last three years known wheat at 2s per bushel. The Government had done a good deal to foster the dairy industry in the North Island. The frozen meat Government inspectors at the freezing works were paid £200, and the Government made a profit of over £400 per annum in this—whilst they stated they were helping the farmers. He affirmed there were only 11 farmers in the House, and this was not, he considered, a fair representation. In regard to the size of corn sacks, he personally found no difficulty in handl ing sacks of wheat—or Mr Laurenson ei ther. (Laughter), He was telling them what his own men said. (Oh, oh). Fried lander's men had also said the 801b sacks were a d —— nuisance. The Lumpers Union had disclaimed any action in the reduction in the size of sacks. Those who were farming land and succeeded, were the men spoken of by Mr Laurenson as hide bound Tories and Conservatives. He had letters and fipers in his possession concerning the irwee meeting. Mr Laurenson had advertised that he was to uncover the ' National Ass.' (A voice: He's done it well). He, Mr Leadley, certainly ex pected something stronger. He had been wondering what motive underlies Mr Laurenson's action in crying down the Farmers' Union. Mr Laurenson was dependant for his daily bread on the farmers, Lyttelton would only be a fishing village without the products of the farms. Mx Laurenson was a rising star of the Liberal party (applause), and they formed themselves into unions for their own interests, but why should he object to the farmers adopting the same principle. He had carefully gone through every speech delivered by Mr Laurenson during last session, and failed to discover, except in one instance, that Mr Laurenson cared one brass farthing for the farmer or his interests. Mr Laurenson had a peculiar way of shewing l^is fi'ieucUliijp for the farmer. Mr Leadley explained his version of the ICirwee meeting. Going up in the train lie met Mr Calder, and he detailed the conversation with him, following this up by reading the fu_ll correspondence between Mr Laurenson and himself, most of which has already been referred to in this journal. Their interests were closely woven, and they were pogs in the wheel. Their Union was formedlo raise the status qf farmers, and they were justified in combining to con serve their own interests, and following in this combination in the wake of other countries, which he enumerated. Mr Leadley warmed up in his concluding remarks, but the Chairman pointed out that his hour was up, and he could only allow him to continue with the per mission of Mr Laurenson, which the latter promptly granted, The concluding remarks of Mr Leadley were, however, difficult to hear, owing to the disturbance made by a section of the audience; Mr i Leadley asked for a similar hearing granted to Mr Laurenson, but the re mainder of his remarks were almost drowned with demonstrations of dissent and applause. "Mr Laurenson was then given an opportunity to reply, and in this he 06'nfend'0d that Mr Leadley had quite missed the point of the'whole" delate; wherein he (the speaker) claimed to have I pulled the cover off the defunct National | Ass. In respect to Mr Leadley's state* | ment that there were 80,000 people ! engaged in farming and pastoral pursuits jin the colony, the!: Registrar-Genera} affirmed there were only- 44,239 people in all engaged ttl %miiig ? • pastdra} and mining pursuits combined; H6 (the speaker) denied that he had sent Mr Calder to Kirwee, as affirmed by Mr Leadley, He also denied the state* ment made that he had paid for the hall fortheKirwee meeting. He had come to Ashburton not to fight the farmers, but to convert them, and if he had not succeeded he would return and baptise them into true Liberalism. He had never spoken of men in the 'position of Successful Jt'armeis as hidebound TorfeSj but of tli£ underground' eiigfa'eers' -%tys were'bghfnd thsm. liVJ-e,ply to phe. state ment that he liad'cQme to,'interfere "with the farmers, ha would like Mr Leadley to proceed to Lyttelton and attack the Lumpers' Union,—if Mr Leadley came to Lyttelton, he would see that the latter was granted a fair hearing (Apßi^us^)'. v • ' 'Mr J- Scaly proposed a vote of thanks, to, ]tyr laurensqn and that the ineeting was Qf the opinion that he had shgwn" the close affinity'of'the National Assfi* ciation to the Farmers' Union—and afteil some delay and confusion, this was seconded by Mr E. Higgins. Mr Harding proposed an amendment, thanking Mr Laurensqn. toy his address, The speaker, as. Secretary Qf the Union, stated he knew more than any one in the Hall upon the work of the Union, and he could assure those present that in its ' ranks both Liberals and Conservatives were working together, Mr O, Beid seconded, and proceeded to address the meeting, but in the con fusion, his remafks were inaudible, although he made a strong effort to raise his voice above the noise created. On a.show--of hands for the amendment an'"4 • j;he.ir the. r.e.soiutiqn f the m Major ' cautiously declared both to be camea. (Loud pries of yes wd no). Mv MpLaphlan here stated, he had. simply attended as a matter of eourtefy, andY intended to take the opportunity to address the farmers in the afternoon shortly fand the general public in the evening. A v.Qte of thaukg to Qhatt'man con eltfdQd'theajj^etiiig, whfsH; was fully m^Me^ed WJ\ #fip,la&s§s an.d dissent throughout, and wijih numei'QUg inter-* jections, although considering the very large audience the meeting was in the ; main a fairly orderly one.

House of Representatives or Christchareh, was one of the audience at Mr LaurcLßon's meeting last night. Knowing that) he possessed an intimate acquaintance with the various matters dealt with by Mr Lsureo -900, and that he is a firmer wish exception ally broad views, our representative waited upon him after the maeting for the purpose of eliciting hie opinions upon Mr L»urenso&'4 apeechi

•Ineverhwe Jia'eaed,' said Mr Lewis, Ito h more unscrupulous speech, »nd I recognise that Mr L&urenson hot to some purpose studied hard for the Imi two years under a paßtmaster in the use of misrepr c . sentatioa. X would have given twenty pounds fox twenty minute* oh that platform tfter he had sat down. Let me here lay that when I first went to Wellington the first thing that}, became fully apparent to me was the truly appalling amouat of igaoranoe th.it I had brought with me. No man who has not been inside polib-et oan itaud a ohaooe with on« who hsi, and it is no rtflictioa upon Mr Lead ley to say that be laboured under a cruel handicap. Knowing thic, and relying upon the f >ot ttut hit auditnce also looked information, Mr LaureuaoD undoubtedly took fall advantage of the situation. _ For iuetance he eaid that the Uuious objaotion to farmers being brougho uud*r the existing Compensation Aat i'itnbifiad them with the Oppoaiton, Who struck farm labourer* out of the Aot J The motion to include them w»s lost by I think, tix votes. At all events every Vlinißter in both Houses voted etgainsl putting farm bands iato the Biti, and only one member of the Opposition. Mr Lauret> son knows this as well aa I do. What do you think of hia utterances about the laud question ? WeU anyone demanding a freehold must ac cording to Mr Laurensonbe in Opposition' o the Government. But where is he himself f As a matter of fact the freehold tenure "com prises the greater part of the Government's policy as laid down in the Land Act; of 1892. Under thai Act; 'Grown Lands'—l mean unoccupied, unsettled prairie land—is open for aeiectionuuder the optional system* Thlti is you can, 1, buy for cash; 2, get m I lease with purchasing clause; or 3. <« lease in perpetuity. la the last nine years the Government have settled some 8000 people on Crown Lands ; of those; 5000 have either a freehold or a purchasing oiauie, md 3000 leases in perpetuity. But these 3000 could have had either of the other te&ures if they hod wanted to. Last year the figures were: purchasing clause, 673 sHtlers on 262,729 acres ; cash, 127 on 37,862; lease in perpetuity, 295 on i 7,138. Yet Mr Lauren sou led his audience to believe that anyone with a fondness for friehold^ must of neces sity, be opposed to the Government. Ooald wi ful m^representation go further? As* plain fact, he is himself opposed to Government oenutes, lock.stook and barrel. He in opposed to cash sale?, he ia opposed to freehold, an 4 to quota bis own words he ia • very bitterly and strongly opposed lo the lease in p«rpe'* ui-y' {^cc Hansard.) Why the Farmers' Union goes closer to the Government iand policy than he doeei However, I hope that someone will invite Mr Liureofon to address farmers on the land qusatinn in terms of hie ofi«r to do so any Tuesday or Saturday afternoon* When he does so, I shall aii permission to follow him, though his canning wor.ld probably, under such circumstances, prevent him from going to suoh lengths M jhe did last night. But Mr Liurenson is an I advocate of land nationalisation. He would [warn farmers against the National An. would he< Let ma warn them against the Nationalisation Ate> in the person of Mr Laurenaom

What of farmers' representation In Parliameui

Mr L*uranson said there were tweniy se-en farmers in the House, CUn he name seven who could sab a plough ? Adopting the moat liberal interpretation, he cannot) name moie than 20. I o»cnot name as fnaey, bub then my imagination ia not quite so vivid as hia, I put tho number at \J m 18. When he quoted that return «f tho Registrar General, showing some 15 farmers, 7 iqatU terp, and 6 3°tt!ere t he knaw jait wh»t ht was doing, bar Uio aaJleuce did notl Th« Registrar timyly goe* through the eka oral roll*, and note 3, tha VDcation, under whioh eaoh man haß entered niimelf. Ac cordiegtc this preolcUi return, there is ir.ly on« •^sJeman 1 ia the Bouße, Him, I hu .ted thiough every a'ejtwal roll, even tuilly ruanijg him A own where I should have la at expected to find him, to tho person of Mr Giifed.ler. This return includes Sif ftlaurice O'Rjurk", aming Me- Laureuson's settlers. A"d the tabn Mr Morr.son wts also a Btttler, Ms L.u-eneon deliberately ed his au.iienca <o belitve that these two ifenfcieman wore c •nneeted with farming in •iomo way, Hs ktovvs perficily well thai hey were no; 'Speaking purely from •nem-iry, of course I CJknat t quote othee oases, but let Mr l>urenson name hia 27, Then we were |:iven figures about the growth of the ex.iort <f daijy produce, and asked tn beiiove that his was due to >,he Government* Vlr Lanrenaon knows that at the date he took for h:8 starting po:nt, the freezing industry w*s in itt infancy. What was the expirt cf frcss'n meat ton years agof and what haa caused the Increase ?

Mr L\ur6aBon was pretty rough about that looal in the Lyltdion Times I Yes, hei&ated with some very fi^ry remaiki about truthfulness. Among gentlemen, be asserted ibis customary to acoept another's denial* Q, »ito so ; and that was jast exactly why he did nob accept; Mr Leadley's denial lof the authorship of tha*) paragraph in the ; Lyttelion Times, He quoted himself as having offered to meet Sir Leadley st any ! place, whereas, hia letter said time and ! place. He could not ep*re the time to pome and return on the same day. But* ne actual y spent a day and a night in order to saoure an audience mainly of townsmen. He told usjbat the Farmers' Union ran M|r Rase'dan for P*tea. I bought of Tennyson. They did. But th-y also ran Mr Hetlopi In short, they submitted their platform^ to' both genii-men, both accepted it, and' the Union ran n»llher or Both if you Jike, Where the Union showed its skength was In Bhowiog both mao the wis-iom of accepting their platform. This brings mo to the Union, Mr Laurenson says that it will run one oandi date in eaoh eleotorato. If go, they an stark staring idiots, Thoir game Bhould be to get all country candidates to accept their plat'orm. Surely any one bat a townsman owld see that. What took place fet Pate* they should fery to repeat through* out the qoleny. It is, it must be, a political aesaciation.'bub poHtjas iiitd par^y' ■pbljfcSji are distinct. 'My Lauren on deplores thj existence of party, and votes for the Eleq ive Executive, and if he had any sympathy with farmers he would help and encourage any movement to establish a Farmers' Party on non-party lines* Bub his opposition to free* hold, his bitter opposition to the 'ease In, perpetuity, his demand, for revaluation, and an Increase* in th§ land tax—no| the graduated land tax only—mual, if he is sincere, make him a strenuous opponent Qf any .Farmers' Union* If he and his kind cvsr are numerous enough to threaten the land polioy of Govern ment it is the Opposition and the Farmers' Union who will vote and work to a mas with the Government against Mr Laurenton, and he knows it. Otherwise, his attitude would | have btert very different. Supposing that 80 per cent of the Farmers' Union at Aahbur ton ata Oppositionists, whose fault is that? Oan y^u blame the men who joined ? No, but 'hope who did not If Mr Liurenson had Any wish to see a dona fide non>party Union of farmers he would have said— MBuoh a Uoion would be a grand thing. The present Union is party. Id is up to you farmsrfl supporting the Government to join the Union, thus equalising the numbers of both parlies on the Union. This wou'd make Ib absolutely nor«puty. See that you do ib,** That at all events is my advice to tjjeiu;

CORRESPONDENCE.

(We do not bold oarwlves wipanribfe tet opinions expressed by our oorr««ron<i»n<if.

FARMERS' INSURANCE

TO TFIB EPITOB, gin, —Can you answer bbc following question for m«». (1) Has Mr Lsftdleyheen appointed oir,v»9scr for the : Commercial Un oa Co 1! (2)l' it trne that the Oceaa Aojident Go. are insuring farmers on better terms fchau fiose Mr LearJley hai arranged for hia Company? I ana, &0,~ i Liberal

> TQE ASBBURTON GUABDIA& S THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1901



Da lie December ii )t >> ii

2 .. 3 ... 4 .. 5 .. 6 .-

Rises 4 1? 4 17 4 17 4 16 4 16

Sets 7 22 7 23 7 24 7 25 7 26



Last, quarter Now moon Apogee First quarter Full moon Ferigeo

3 11 9 19 25 £4

H M 9 20 am 2 K3 p Ei 1 30 a m 8 sam 11 46 pm 3 opm



BUBINM3B NOTIOKR • Sawing*. Planing 1. Moiiklirig 8, NEW SAWjAIILLS. IN ORDER to nneb <hq diminda of tb« Trad* 1, we havo erected in connection with our Timber Yarda in West Street, a Completfi SAWING, PLANING AND MO OL DIN a PLANT. BKABO NF. D T I M b E K s We are now in a position to supply o«r Olionts with REASONED FLOORING, MATCH LI NING & MOITLPIKG r£ every description, Bar-dsiwm,' to ordtr,ar.d Brac'-nts and Fretwork executed to any patttrn rf quired SUPPORT LOUL INi'UiTRY JUbT LINDICD-Bx L-'zzta Taylor, 47.000 fen, HKD PINE Ex Huia, 23 000 feer WHITK PINW l-X Heipn, from Hobart;, 22,r00 feet PLUE G'JM IN STOCK—Doors, tsasb*}', G»teß^ Iliir-.iloe, Isriok«, Cjmeat, Lime, aoJ tvery Ssqoisite for the Trudo W. H. COLLINS & CO,, Hardware Merchants, House Decoretors and .Painters. Saw-millers, Timber and Ooal Merchants, and Suppliers of every Requisite for Building Purposes. EAST'-AND WEST STREETS, ASHBURTOtf. P.O. Box 35. Tehphonee 14 and 15. H. M. JONES H. M. JONES SANTA GLAUS AND FATHKR CHRISTMAS ARE COMING A«AIN To Cheer the Young, and remind tha Old the years are pa^.ng away .. ._ ' #■ • .||||.|..n ,|,.|||B nHHE Uaderaigaea has a very Ltrpa and WoU| Palccted Stock of B.iok j, Stationery, L Fancy Goods, Tcye, China and G;a c, LettheV and Piated Ware, Suitable for Qifta. BewardU, and Presentation purposes. Imported direct from Leading London and Confined te . ß e Onß lH moK^ booKß> * B0()KRi From Ward, Lock and Co , Oanaella and Co , Solder and Stonghtcn, Griffith, Farren and Son. University Ptcei, London Sunday Union, and Othnre TOYS. TOYS. " TOY-. TOYS Groat Variety, from Id I)o<I to a Steam Engine; DOLLS. DOLLP. DOLLR. SloeoinE Dells and Wideawake D >Ilb, Joia'ed Dolls, Breakable and Uabreakabla DoISb. FANCY GCODS. • FANCY GOODS. Purser, Pocket Books, Letter Cases, (Silver Mounted), Albums, Photo Frames, Deck", Work Boxes, Tcariatu' Oa*e», Ink Stands, D.essinK Oases, Mimic Oasea, Jewel Oiseg, Batters. Gubinets, 6!ove Boxes, Companloua, and many other lines too aumeroua to pftrtlottlarise QmNh GLASS, PLATED, AND LBATHSHWARB BIBLES !n Great V*rie«y. Prayer, an<s Hymn, and Turn Books, CHKISTMAB CARDS—Beautifcl Haad Pointed Cards, Is. Album of Forty Views of Aubbarton, la  LIUIJLI , Il 2? 6 LOOK OUT! LOOK OUT! MELLOR'S SPECIAL BOOT SALE IS JNOW ON. CHE BOOIBS, Good Baots, and wonderful Value for the Coming Show and Holidays. Compare our Prices, Compare the Valne wish any other Boot: Shop Trice Lists in Ashburlon. 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Pupil? ■ tborooghl; taught. To be followed by Regular bhipments """*" direct from Oeylon by everj AOFST FOB M>u ' Boati EMPBII3B NISBDLB. w „, BEKOWmD Dnigßß, Flushes, Wool, Aiaactiß, Silke and Frames, lereons Iree j^/^V^^^^"**l*^^ TANORED STRBKT(naxt Haix, Slerbalisb jHg^g/ f^/ftf/^y/^P^J^ -8 «s , CEYLON TEA. •^<| ,5 5 * w ■ .c E !>^ I 'pilffi KIUVA.VA TKA O^MPANF, I »'g v o g X Colombo, Ceylon, have made £ S S * /^***\ - arrangements to send lo No«v Zealand 8 B a>. W^ g REGULAR SHIPMENTS OP THEIR F-H Sm gH r^H OHOIOU, OEYLON TEAS, feeling sure <"?5 B«? -*S N**^ £ the T«?a drinking public will much j £=: «^ I Z a appreciate a PURE, CHOIOB OKYLONI w^ £ H I g rf TEA. Direct) from the Grower, UN '—^ O % M I K_j § TAMPERED WITH. * Os SS BEAD THIS t J"o 6e o Thes<3 Teas are Packed in Ceylon, and : 8 "5. „-a = &H are absolately PURE. Peoplo rarely ■ -a sf consider the DANGER of drinking low: 1 O -§Ja CU class Teas. KIRVAHA is the hlghesfc | 6r § *• .tin grade known to ihe trade, and Is sold bf pf\ c h _» & <i^j^ all leading grocers at bhe came price .as *-*-* ]> as ° S ordinary Tea. 1 **i I •§£ If P^ ASK lTs k-J ' f o « 1h" Q £ON'T FOBOET THE NAME. f^ ' © ° fe £• Sole Agenb AppoioteS-^ H «r^ tlf hir J. T. COO'OH, ishburtoß. ' 10 £— **^ ji y^j f#\ 1b >m 9i Oj -«■**. Free Sumplaan^ Pamphlet on applioition KJJ. a o .0 Mw 1 % M "^ -. » "BB^ - -.: ' H -sS.ISI H ______ §mo^o£ I : Eif__ll_^^^^i HEW Z-AI4-NJD ! M^"^^""! CLOTHING - E COS I XT AS a reputation for BOYS' CLOTHING; 10^^^ M *^Tj) ™ LO. ibafc the fallowing linei ufhola : /Aytlbf OALL AND INSPECT h^UjfAN® B°y&'Sfti!or Suifcs 58 6 J T aßrjA ]Jp AT Boya' Norfolk Butts JJs £ S[jißrdb&^ V ' Boys Norfolk Suits 15a j 'W&r^^&^Qk I Boys' 3 Garment Suits 183 6d j __K_^ JtiKßr fJ^% BuJb> Kharkf c Suita 7s fflP^r JfflP* 1* 1' / Boys' Washing Blouses 4a H^" G aarftn toc4 fco ba tho vory BKST QUALITY, JrWiTH .JSOOT T-EA I. ouTAiNAb-M for the money. AT jjp r j PRJCE __ j OTMER </g |/Q 0/4 2/8 i -___Z^c^ BJL_.JI°-_7_.J^r. NEW ZEALAND | 2 LB Screw Top Jam Jiro, 4a dozen; „„„„«! Enumelled and Brass Preserving Pans /CLOTHING T^AOTORY of 1 u»r<mteed qaalt^ y, aad Preserving Sagau \J Jj Q THING Ju -OTOBY -r-CABSOH & Co., Taocrcd Street; ji



INTERVIEW WITH MR CHARLES i n ■« LEWIS. Mr C!t»»rl«i jjgwlß, }«tis metaNe of t|ia



■s * V - n