THE ASHBURTON TRAIN SERVICES

Trains cave Ashburfcon dally for— OHRISTOHUROH—at 7.20 am, 11 am 3.15 p m, 7.5 p tn (express) TTM ARU—at 10 5B am, 3.50 pm DUNEDIN—»b 12.54 pm (express) SPRINGBURN-ab 4.25 p m

Trains arrive dally at Ashburtoo from*— OHRISTOHUROH-ab 10.45 <* m, 12.48 p m {express), 8 pm" TIMARfJ—at 10.35 am,2 85 ptn DUNEDIN—-afc 6.57 pm (express! SPRINGBURN-ab 9.45 a m

EPHEMERIS

Phases of Moon for February

SUN.

Mail Notices.

Mails close for the following pladei as j under, snbjeob to the necessary alterations : THUBBDAY, Feb 28 For Northern Porte, and Wesbport, per Botomahana, ab 630 pm Late fee letters, guard's van, expresa FRIDAY, (March 1 For Grsytnouth direct, per Rosamond, 6 30am For Nortberc Ports and Westporb, also Australia (due Sydney Maroh 7th), lodto, China, Straits Settlement, South Africa, etc, also United Kingdom, via Briodisi, and Continent of Europe, per Monowai at 630 pm, late fee letters §aards van express

Commercial.

United Press Association—By Eleoferic Telegraph—Copyright Sydney, February 28 Wheat, chick 2s 2d to 2s 3d; milling, 2s 6£d to 2s 7£d ; flour £6 to £6 lOe, Manitoba £10 15s. Oats, feeding, NZ, la lid to 2a Id ; local, U Id. to Is 101; miUing,2s4d t Barley, New Zealand 2s 4d ; Cape, 2s to 2s 4d. Ma>2», new, 2s 7d to 2s 81, old 2« lOd. Peat 3a 6d to 3s 9d. Bran Sid ; pollard Bd. Potatoes, Circular Heads, £5 to £5 sa, loci! £4 to £5 ss; onions, £6 to £6 di ; butter, dairy 8d to 9d, creamery 91 to lOd ; cheese, large Sd, Bacon, New Zealand fl tohes 5d fcos|d. (The above quotations ore those ruling between merchant and retailer^ and do not represen' tho slightly lower values obtained by a recognised broker.) Melbourne, February 27 Wheat, ?n 7§d to 2s 8$ 1 ? oats, Algerian, Ib 51 to In 7d ; stout, In lOd to 2?; MUizo 2s 7^d to 2a lOd ; bran Sf 1 to 10 i ; pollard, 10 1 to 104 d j potatoes, £2 10a to £3 15s ; onions £4 10s to £5. Adelaide, February 27 Wheat, 2s 7£d to 2s 8<1; fl'ur, £6 6s bo £6 7a 6d ; oats, Algerian, Is Bti to la 10(3, stout Ss2d to 2s 3h Brno, lOd to 10^d. Pollard, lid.

ADDINGTON STOCK MARKET

United Press Association — By Electric Telegraph CbkisTohoroh. February 27 At the Aldington market 4000 ht cheep, 3671 fat lambs, 11,850 store sheep, 400 cattle and 350 sheep were entered Cattlh.—The fat ca tie were mctly light weights and ibe bidding was erratic. Beef was eateier Good to prime 20n 6d to 22s 6d ; others 17* 61 'o 20-; steer»fi6 12s 6d, £9 £10s ; heifers £5 17« 66, £7 17s 6d. up to £8 10s for extra prime; cowe £4 Ss, £7 12a 6d, Store cattle were easier. I Shbff —-Th- fat cheep were mostly of i inferior an;! secondary quality and the prices of all srr^ were easier. Best wethe'n lit 6<i to 19 3*. oh^rß down to 16s; best ewes 14s to 16- 6', others 9i to 13\ ¥&% lambs were fully In down. Prices 13e 6d to 15b 6d •or quality but inferior; others lls to 12s 6d. : he tiore sheep were mostly rougft sorts, and ihe prices of these were easier. Good sheep about held their own Good wet-hem 16«, 16» 23, inferior Chatham Islamic SO td to lls lOd; good young ewes 16s to 19s, medium 12s to 14s 6d, interior 10s 3d. Lambs were rather better at Ils2d tol2*7d< Pies.—ln pigs there was a short; supply of fats which caused a' bmk tale of baoontrs at 35s to 465, equal to 3£d per Ib; porkers 22a to 33? 6d, equal to 3|d ; stror-g stores m demand for stubbing at 12s to 255, email pigs not wanted 8« to Us.

GERALDINE FARMERS' SALEYARDS

There was & good attendance of buyers ab the 6er«ld:ne Farmers' Saleyards yesterday when there w»b a large entry of stock and a good tale. Small cull lambs brought 6s Id to 9s 8d ; afcores 12< to 1S« 6<i; six and eight tooth ewe?, 18?; fat ewes, 14s 9d f imall two tooth cwee, 17a 6d ; old ewes 6s 6d, 9s, lla to lls 6d ; two tooth wethers, backward; I 6«. Cattle told well; steers and heifers. £4 15b £4 17s 6d and £5 18s 6d ; yearlings, 31».

Ashburton Gusrdian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1901. Local and General.

Fitkgerald's Cibco9,—Fitzgerald Bros airaus and menagerie arrived at the Bluff oa Tuesday, »od will opea their Bunedin season on Monday next. Nbw CoAli SBAM—The Brnoe Herald says that the new drive m the Fortification Bailway asd Coal Company's mine haa now been driven about #$Mt into the hill, and good ooal haa been uje'fc wjth throughout Fob the Fbont.—The otagOiSo»thland memberi of the Seventh Contingent gassed , through by the expreis lot the north last night. They are a useful looking lot df men and should be well snibed for she work they ate going to. As the train moved out three cheers wera gssren them_. Th« Mails—Tfafi eoloni*! mails which left Auckland by tho Sierra on January 82 arrived m London oo the »ftßrw>on of Februsry 24. The colonial mails per Orizaba, from Melbourne, on January 25< also arrived ia London on the 24th inab Tub Census.—Mr T W Tayler, the oensua enumerator, haa appointed the following sub-enumerators for the Ashburton County for the census which is to be taken ou the night of Sunday, Maroh 31st next:—South Bakaia Riding, Messrs L*wre»oe Oxley and \ Sydney Oxley; Wakanui Road District, j Messrs John Kilgour and ETA Couhrane ; I Loaßfbeaoh Road Dietriot, Mr J 0 Bull; Coldatre»ai Koad District, Mr G F 8 Makeig | Racgiiata Ro»d District, Mr Wm Bryans j Anama Road Distrwit, Mr H jf D Jebson ; Mount Someru Road Dsetrlcfc, Uf foh^ McGregor; Mount Hatt Road District Mr J B Ohrietian ; Upper. Ashburton Road District, Messrs Thomas Oroofet and Owed Saundera ; A»ii burton Borough, Messri J £ Purchase and H H Fooks; Hatnpatead foiVjß Disfcriofc, Mr A A Fooke; Tinwald Town District, Mr Jj F Andrewst In 189 L the bopul&bion of fche Ashburton county was j 9501 . and m 1596 tHe nu^flrs totalled' 10,320, »n increase of 1319 on the previous enumeration. The figures this time will, we have np iojjbt ; ifcow a very moon larger, inore*M* ' {

Hindi Sale—A sale will be held at the 1 Hinds on Monday next. So far 350t sheep I acd ten head of cattle have been entered. ' FfIARiiEV Fbver—We are informed that there are several oasea c( ecarleb fever m Ashburton at present. Pbomosion.— The master of the Rnapuna school has been promoted to a larger school m the North Island and leaves shortly for his new position. Wbatkib Report.—Captain Edwin fore oasts :—Wesb to southwest and south gale, glues rise ; indications of much colder weather, Ruafona £CHOOtHousi—A residence for th« schoolmaster has just been completed at , Ruapuna at the buck of the school to replace the residence, which some time ago was burned down. At present the attendance at the pchool numbers twenty odd children. Biriiß SNATCH-The match, Ttmaru Rides v Ashburton Mounted Rifles, did nob come off today, on aocount of the wet weather, and the Timuru team had their trip up for nothing. | CoMiLraBNTABY.—Th« tervioei of the .county engineer, Mr William Baxter, were referred to by the chairman of the County Council m a highly complimentary manner at a meeting at Ruapuaa yesterday. Concert.—The attendance at the concert given tn the Oddfellows' Hail last evening was very poor, and it it to be feared the Company were greatly disappointed. They, however, went through the programme, whiah contained some good item*. Pbobatb—Upon the application oi Mr Pumell, His Honor District Judge Ward has granted probate of the will of George Low, late of Lismore, farmer, deceased, to Agnoa Isabella Low and Albert Ern«sti Austin, the executors named m the win. Bicyclists Bswaeb— The threat of the j Stipendiary Magistrate to increase the amount of usual fine of 5a and cotts against cydigtß riding on footpaths was carried into effect today, when a large batch of offenders againut the bylaw* were mulcted m fines of 10a and costs. Thb Weather—A drizsie started at about 10 o'clock last n)gh! and continued until tight o'clock this morning, when it developed into a steady downfall. This will prove of great benefit to the feed m the county, but will be unfortunate for those patronising the school excursion to Summer, and at«o the Hortic ultural show at Waterton. Tin Premier ahd tub Indian Tboo»9.— We are informed that several telegrams have been sent to the Premier from Ashburton endorsing the letter from the Eev J Kennedy < KHiob, moderator of -the Presbyterian i General Assembly m which he protests against the travelling of military display of the Indian troops on Sunday laid between, New Plymouth end Wellington. Thh Crops—A glance at the Lagmhor estate shows thab most of the crops are now safely In staak 8 and judging by the large numbers of those dotted over the grain growing portion of the property a splendid return is assured to the proprietor, and those who have had cropping leases during the prenent season; ' '■■ Personal.—Mr O J Harper, who was m a weak state of health at last County Coun cil meeting, it now considerably improverl, ■ and was able to attend the meeting ab Rua puna yesterday. He is Btill, however, not quite convalescent. We learn that Me E G Wright is also progressing satisfaotorily tc wards recovery,—We i egret to learn that Mr Hanmcr ia still m a very critical condition. He remains unconscious, and ia gradually I getting weaker. A Prosperous Sigh—lt speaks well for the prosperity of Hastings, says the Hastings I Standard, fchp.t a tradesman who retired from business about twelve months ago with book debts amounting to £800 has m the interval collected £760. Thab is nothing. We appeal to those who ought to know to aay whether we shall nob be just as success* ful m the collection of the moneys owing to ue, without retiring A New Imdhsxby—A fur and wool hat factory m all its branches i« to be started shortly m Dunrdin by Mesera Sargoori, Sen, and Kwen. Very extensive buildings are now being erected, containing all the latest machinery, which wil' he fitted up under the personal supervision oi a man specially brought out. from Home for the purpose In a short time the factory wil! betn full swing, employing a large number of. hands. Tine building covers an area of 160 ft by 2Cofb 2001, A.D.—-By the last English mail we received from the proprietors of the Soai boroffijh Post a coy of that puperdated Jan. i Ist, 2001, which they issued »s a supple. ! ment with their umj%! number on Janua y Ist 1901- Tho purpoeeof issuing such a number IB to present a 2lst century newspaper, as th'*y think it wil! be bj making a fnrec*nt as accurate as the information at their diuposal, and the known expfcations «*f »oi«;r»tUta and experts allows of. * Ahout 1855 a oopy of the | London 7imes Sated 100 years m advance win issued, but that production was entirely bumorona This number is however,wtfltten m a serious vein, and a forecast m attempted of how the world wil! wag m the ages yet to dawn. It will no doubt h® interesting, if fche paper can bo preserved against the insidious attacks of time and the ravages of the moths, for men of the 2)st) century to read about what journalists m the beginning of the 20th century thought the world is general would be like m the year 2001. The issue is printed on sea-green piper, but the 8i29 Is juit the same m the present day unwieldy sheets

The Colchester Murder Case

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph Welunoton, Feb 27 Lilly white, who is charged with the Colchester murder, has determined that If th* j authorities refuse to convey him to England f via Vancouver, he will oonaent to be fcakn j Home by th« next direct steamer.

SUPREME COURT

United Press Association —By Eleotrlc Telegraph Dcwedin, February 27 At the Bupreme Court m the oaee of Joka Holland, charged with assaulting a girl under nine years, tho jury retired at 11.35 a m, and being unable to agree at 4 35 pm were discharged, and the case will be taken before a new jury to-morrow. Samuel Flaherty, 25 years, was charged with a very bad aisault on a giri of the age ojE four years at B,t Clair. The defence wa§ tha 1-. the man syaa drunk and that whenever he took drink he teat all ,control of himself and did not know what ho wm doing. He remembered nothing of .the circumstance*. The jury returned a ve rdict of guilty, and sentence was passed of fifteen years imprison ment with hard labor, and iwo floggings of 25 strokes ea?h. Nbw Plymouth, Feb 27 Judge Conolly gave his decision thia morn* ing m the appeal o*«e m which Momp, lessee of a toll gate, appealed against the decision of the B.Mi who held thai on technical point* the toll was nofc payable. Judge Conoily, In % lengthy judgment, reversed the M&gistrats'a decision and gave leave to take the ease to the Court of Appeal CHBISTOHtfROH, Feb 88 In the Supreme Court, Judge Deoniston gave judgment m the case brought by the Canterbury Canterbury Jockey Club agaimt Patterson, a bookmaker, m whioh they \ claimed damages for trespass on the course. The case involved the question of whether the Club had the right to exclude persons ; from the course. Judftmeut w»8 given for' the plaintiff for £5 with costg, The proceed ings were stayed m order thab an appeal could foe made conditional that it be taken at the next) sittings of the Court of Appeal

Trade Between Australia and South Africa

THE NEW COMPANY'S PIONEER STEAMER.

United Frees AeSooktion^by Electric Tele«r &ph—tlbpyirigoi J

Received February 27, 9 8 a m Sydney, Feb 27 The steamer Orange Branch, the pioneer of the Australian-South African Steamship Line has arrived. She is specially fitted, frr the carriage of live etoak and produce to South Africa:

RUAPUNA MEETING

A meeting of ratepayers m Nos 1 and 2 Wards, Buapnna Water Race District called by the County Council, was held io the hall, Ruapuna, yesterday afternoon, for the purpose of dealing with the mattrr of a further loan to repair the damage to the water race from the Bargibaba gorge which was destroyed by the late heavy flood. The Chairman of the County Council, Mr O J Harper, presided, and bha County Engineer, Mr William Baxter, also attended. There were present-—Meeara D Fraser, John Doyle, senr, John Dcyle, jar, Wslliam Doyle, B Taylor, C Jaine, W Trebheway, G Sootfe, J MoLaughlan, W Allen, J Dunnetb, T Bennett, and E J Hall. The Chairman apologised for calling the meeting m the afternoon, this time having been arranged owing to his illness, m faot It was a considerable tfforb for him to come ut ail He went on to explain that owing to an alteration m th« Act last session the taking of a poll had been done away with. The County Counoii had to pass a special order to enable them to go through with the work, and this order had only been completed at) i last meeting, and the preaenb had been the J first opportunity to call the ratepayers together. Each ratepayer h>d now the opportunity of signing a roll whioh had been prepared for signatures m order to obtain a further loan to repair the damage, and by signing, a certain amounb of expense would thus be saved over the old system of taking a poll on the subject, and further, a good deal of trouble avoided. He explained that m Ootobsr last there had been a tremendous flood whioh damaged the channel laid from the head works. In company with the Engineer he had inspected bhe looatiby, and they considered that a permanent eolation of the difficulty would be met; by bhe Insertion «? heavy concrete pipes three feet m diameter built underground. To carry out bhis work the Engineer estimated that it would Involve an expendi ture of £700 or perhaps £1000, bub m order to be on the safe side it) was proposed to borrow £1200. As the sum already on loan, £6,000, was bearing interest at 5 and 4£ per cent, and the gross total could be procured Kb 3J per cent the annual interest under bbc new scheme would actually ba thus reduced to £252 instead of the £270 pal* ab present, but tne term would be extended bo 44 years and therefore the dffarence would be thab posterity would have to bear a portion of this burden. He had used his bsßt efforts with the Government to do this work, and he hoped eventually to be successful, bub m the meantime they should take advantage of the fine weather and proceed with the work. He added thab they did not propose to actually borrow the money at the moment, aa the Council could finance meanwhile, and he trusted the Governmett would eventually see its way to grant the extra sum required, and m »ny oaie the Counoii would not attempt to raise the mosey until the Govern' ment had definitely decided. ,■ ■ Mr Doyle, ssnr., asked if m the event of the concrete pipes being inserted,'the Engineer was satisfied they would be «ecure supposing a food of similar magnitude should arise m the future Mr Baxter—Aa the pipes would be below the riverbed they would be secure. In the previous flood ib vraa the overflow that created the damage The Chairman pointed out that up to the present the Government had nob been rr quired to assist them m the past with one exception and it would make no difference m their application if the loan had first been guaranteed by the ratepayers. The work could not proceed, however, until their function was obtained and signatures plaoed upon the roll. Mr E Taylor, m thanking Mr Harper for attending bo a public duty whilst unwell, said a oonßiderable degree of regret was being expressed on the ratepayer!) being asked to contribute towards one of the greatest ' white elephants' m Canterbury. At a meeting attended by Mr Wright and Mr Batter they had been told that the estimate for the construction oi the whole work would ba £3000, plus con* tingemcies. Since then an additional district, No 2, had been added, which necessi tated an additional expenditure of another £1000, The final cum had now reached over £5000, which had been involved by one man or a bare majority, and had it not been for this they would not have been required to contribute this sum. Further, the Engineer had assured them there would be a permanent supply from the Rangitata and they had also been told that no rate would be levied or charge made until the water was brought down, whilst m his own case he had actually been sued for rates and expenses. Messrs Harper and Wright had both assured them thab no office (Xpenseß would ba charged to the district by the County Counoii. They h*d been told that all lands 15 chains above the Ashburton and Rangitata mains and only thme would be included, and if so he would like to know why the reserve vested m the Counoii to the north west of Mr Oakley's was not made to bear part cf thab rate, and further, why was Mr Wright's property not included and made to pay its share with the rest? Why aleo was Spensley's farw not included ? If this Rangitata Gorge ephema were a succeuß it was going to greatly benefit the rest of the country lower down the plains, and from tbinand the Hinds Gorge & considerable surplus would be available for those below them. The ratepayers had fulfilled their part of the original agreement and the County Council now oame to them for an additional £1200, bub still bhey had no guarantee thab this would prove snffiolent, and further, they (the ratepayers) could have no hand m the expenditure of the rnouey. He added that if the £7200, could ba obtained at 3& per cent, so aleo could the original loan of £6000 be got aba similar rate, batt if they fonnd it irksome to pay on bhe leaser amount It would fall still heavier, having to pay on the £7200. : Persons who had lived for yeara m the district declared the strongest works if oreoted would nob prove a suocess, «n^ ip his opinion water should be guaranteed them, and failing this, damages should be suedfor, Mr Harper, m reply, stated he was nob responsible for promises made by the late Chairman, but ab bhe same time he thought it very unlikely any promise could be made that no oharge would be levied until water was brought down. He had no recollection of suoh a promise, and it must have beeo known that from the time the money was borrowed the interest would have to ba found, and from the district which raised the loan, If thia statement h»d actually been made ib appeared to him a most unlikely one. &a to the request to give the ratepayers a voice m the expenditure, there was no irovision m tbe Acb to give the people this power, which could only be held by the guarantors of the loan, v'z, the Connty Council. He contended that thia request was ab«nrd, as oub of 27 ratepayers, each of them would want his own special method carried ocr. The County Council employed a highly capable Engineer whose .services wore greatly appreciated, and whose duties had always been most satisiaotorily carried out* 'Ihe Council's works under him were greab successes, and bhair expen* j diture was less by half than those Incurred by the northern counties. The work of j tapping the Raogitata had! haen an experiment; they had ba«n informed that the highest previous flood reaohed a certain i point, whereas the October one had proved , phenomenal, exceeding former ones, and had prevented the successful result antici pated. The matter now rested with the ratepayers themselves, and being committed to a certain amounb already it would be distinctly unwise to ssnp for a pJtry cum of £1200, especially seeing they could j obtain money ab &h per cent, In their own interest's they would commit a grave error if they foiled'to complete this work. As for the office etpeinsss complained of, he was almosb pertain no office expenses had been charged to this loan, aa owing to the shortage m the water It had been decided to make no oharge for the Engineer's expenses. None of the GounoiPs reserves were rated, bnlonging as they did to bhe Council, He was nob aware that any part of Mr Wright's land benefi' ted by the scheme, but this would bs enquired into. Mr Baxter here stated thab Mr Wright did nob want the water, but as a matter of convenience simply it was taken through hiß land, and Mr Wright objected, as ib was of no benefit bo hirnr Mr Taylor here complained thab whilst only 200 acres of Rpensley's farm benefited, yet SOOycros bad been rated Mr Baxter—The Council had power under bhe Acb bo deal specially with certain points. A branch had been taken out of the Hinds Gorge rag* temporarily for this season, as when there was a surplus ib was the with of the Council and the settlers to let people I lower down have bhe water j

Mr Harper alluding to a request that ratepayer* should see the specifications abated that this rubiest was absurd. The dutiea of their thoroughly efficient Eogineor were to sea that specifications were carried out and be would properly attend to this part of hia work. The Chairman here pointed oat thab there wu no objsab m watting more time over grievances of the past. The work under notioe had proved a tougher obstacle than was sver anticipated, but no one could have foretold what would happen by the great food. One of the contractor* had to throw up hit contract and the Council had to carry it out at additional expense. No better, scheme or better engineering could have been adopted, but owing to ao unfortunate accident they had now to face the completion of the ichetne, or on the other hand its abandonment* With very little more expenditure they now had the chance of obtaining a permanent supply of water for all time Mr J Doyle, een, after hearing the explanations mad* by Mr Harper, was satisfied those present would make a great mistake m not trying the completion scheme, and he urged that the torn required *houH be applied for, as he had not the very slightest fear they would not get the desired water, He was convinced nothing better oonld have been done with respeot to the past work, and further, he waa istiiiod no blame was attachable to tht County Council In the matter. When the money oould bt obtained at tuoh » favorable rate and uader such advantageous olroumitanoea he would be m | favour of obtaining the loan, more especially ' m consideration of the faot that the member for the district had assured him thera was not the slightest fear that the Government would eventually find the money. He therefore proposed th»t the necessary money £1000 be borrowed f«r No. 1 District, and £200 Jfor No 2, and that the ratepayers proceed to give their assent. This was seconded by Mr Fraser and duly gamed, Messrs Taylor and Jaime opposing. The question of forming the race so as to properly carry the water was then raised aud the Chairman replied that it would be the duty of the County Council to see that the race was placed so aa go make the water run properly through its course. He added that Messrs Walker and MacLachlan had promised assistance m obtaining the Government vote and he further thought the Premier would support. It was abject folly not to go on with the scheme as now placed before them. The Council, however, was m their hands, but of course no absolute guarantee oould be given that water would be supplied. The meeting here ended and the following names wera placed oa the roll, which was !«fb with the Banger to obtain further signatures : — Jas. MoL&uchtsn, G 8 MoLattghlao,, Jno. Doyle, senr, Wm Jas. Allan, Donald Fraser, m No 1 Ward % Wm Q Doyle and Jno Doyle, No. 2 District Ward,

Rakia Swimming Club's Sports.

The annual swimming carnlvftl of the Eftkaift Swimming Clnb took place yesterday m the domain swimming bath. The'weatber was perfect and there was a Urge attendance | of the public. The events were started punctually to time, »nd the following officials worked assiduously to make the meeting a success. Referoe, Dr Cor.iner ; Jadgeß, L Oxley and G H White ; Time keeper?, W Gromieand 3 B Sharp ; Starter, G Hardy, Esq ; O'erk of Coarse and Costume Steward, A Rowntree; Result Board' Steward, A Craighead ; Secretary, T Austin. Following are results :— First! Club 50yds Handicap—C Bryant 48qo 4 1. Time—39seo. P Harvey, A Gor- I don, A HasSefct, H Palmer t and Sturgiss also started. Boy« under IS, 28 Yards—E Howell ecr, 1. Time—2fl|«c. , | Inter Olub SO yards—o Bryant 63fC, 1 ; G fildridge 2. Time~."s?^?ec. - Egg and Spoon Race 50yda—P Harvey j scr, 1. A Gordon, P Orombie : 0 May, A Haeletr, W Sturciss, also started. Boys undsr 17, 50 Yards—W Oromia ficr, 1. Time—sß§aec. Ladif a' Bracelet Infer Cltib 75 Yards—L A 3s«c, 1. Time—S3Jneo. A TrußCott, G Bldridge, 0 Bryant, and Fitspatriclc also started. Fancy CoB-ume Event—VV Sturgeas 1, G 8 Hardy 2 Schoolboys' Dive—E Howel! 1, S Lara man 2. ' Novel Costume Inter Club 75 Yards— Pi»zpatrlck 1. I. Rich 2. Neatest Header—P Harvey 1, 0 Bryant 2, A Truscott 3. Club 75 Yards Handicap—P Harvey scr, 1. Timesß£«eo. C Bryant, W Palmer, A Haalett, also Etartfd. The visitors were kindly provided with afternoon tea, and after the eports were entertained at dinner at CraigheM's Hotel. A social w»b held m the evening at the Oddfellows' Hall and was very large'y attended. Altogether a very pleasant day wafi cpent, and the visitors before leaving heartily choered the cfEcers of the Club.

Education Board

The ordinary meeting of the Eduoation Board toojk place yesterday, The following items are of local interest:—The Committee reported that the Clerk of Works had arranged with Mr Wilson for five acres for the site of the F&irson School. The Appointments Committee recommended that the mlstreßß at Lauriston be given the requisite three months' notice; that the Chairman of the Committee enquire of headmasters as to the reasons aptuating thani m nob recommending more boyi for the positions of pupil teachers open »b the commencement; of each year. The Building Committee reported m fol lows ;— Aihbarton—The pomfpibtet applied for * refund of £5 lla spepfc on additional repairs, and expressed itg appreciation of the im* provemenbs effected. It was resolved to reply that the Board was gratified at the (expression of pleasure at the state of the buildings, and would be pleased to receive from the oommitfcee farther information about the expenditure incurred. Highbank —The committee was informed that the Board could not ace its way to comply with the master's application to have the raised floor removed, an, io the Board's opinion, it was properly placed. Chertsey—The Clerk of Works to report, by the next messing of the Board, on the state of the matter's house. Lyndhurst (aided)—lfc was agreed to supply a filter for this school, and to ask the settlers what name they proposed to give tho school, to distinguish it from LyndhurHfc District School. Th* repcr^was adopted, »nr)| it was decided that the residence as Chertsey should be repaired, m accordance with the report of the Clerk of Works. MiyPealv, Aehbnr'on, was recommended as a pupil teacher. Mrs Richards's request th>t> her ch.ldten be permitted to attend the Awaroa School was referred to fcho Doric School Committee. A draft of the Board's annual report ifas laid on the table. The Board dealt with the subject of the distribution of the Parliamentary vote m aid of teachers' salaries, considered the supple mentary report of the Appointments Com mittee m committee &nd adjourned,

French Throat to Portugal;

INJUSTICE TO FRENCH BOND HOLDERS COMPLAINED OF.

United Prs*« Association—By Eleotrio Telegraph—Copyright

Received February 27, 9 8 p m '"' '■ F' ' PABis,Feb 2$ la the Senate, M, Delcasse, Minister for Foreign Affairs, cpmplalned of 1 the Injustice Portugal was lnijictlng on French bondholdars, and declared that he intended to obtain a rescission m a measure of the spoliation. Be added that France possessed the means to make her demahda heard, and would not hesitate to eraply them,

The Hospital Drainage

Jn response to the advertisement convening a meeting of tho burgesses of the Borough of Ashburton to '-onsider the action of the Boiough Council m granting permission to tha Hospital Board to drain sewage frrm the Hospital into the ohannels, about a hundred attended at Mr Bullock'a auction rooms last evening. His Worship the Mayor occupied the ohairr His Worship, m opening the proceedings, stated that he had convened the meeting at the request) of burgessee, and although ha held his own opinions, which were against those of the petitioners, he had had no hesitation m granting the request, which would allow them to publicly review tbe action of the Council; Those who had read the article which had appeared m that evening'sGuabdian would probably conclude that) the Council had granted a permit to poison the reßi'eots within the borough After all, that was only the opinion of one Man, who had a perfect right to his opinion. I* was only fair to the Councillors to say that they had acted to the best of their ability. Expertß had differed m their opinions, and so had the Council* He asked the meeting to carry their memories back to the time of the introduction of the concrete channelling. Were the ohannels laid for beautifying purposes or assisting the bondholders to drain liquid matter from th n ■.lurellingß?. He thought for the latter purpute. Unfor tunately the. Hospital was so situated that there was no outlet for its drainage. He bad no personal feeling m the matter, and did not wish to icluenoe the meeting m any way, He would ask the oonveners to move any resolution they may have prepared on the matter* He was not aware that any had been prepared; Mr H. 0. Percy said he had not a scientific opinion to offer, but would move the first resolution, as follows :— 14 That thie meeting protests against tbe action of the Borough Oounoil m granting permission to the Hospital Board to drain the sewage from the Hospital into the street channels, and request* the Council to rescind the motion to that effect passed at the Coutcil meeting on Monday, 18th inst," Mr Ager was under th* opinion that another resolution was to take precedence, but he would second the.one moved by Mr Percy, Although with some diffidence. He had hoped to have heard medical opinions before 6f condini? the resolution. He would shortly, b« a resident m the vicinity of the Hospital, and thought the drainage, as proposed, j would be deletetioue to the health of the neighbourhood, and he certainly protested against it. He thought there were other means more efficient, and more likely to tend to the healthiaeaa of the burgesses. After referring to the action of the Council lors at the meeting of the Council, he eaid he thought that public opinion was generally against the proposal. The Mayor had stated that the objections were ones of sentiment. Whether it was sentiment or »ot, they should lkt°rt to facts. There was possible danger, and tbe Council should rescind the > motion, or provide something more positive to w< rk on, or delay the work. The Mayor ' had expressed his sorrow for those residing i near the Hospital, and ac he would shortly reside there, ha shared the sorrow of resid ; ing m a quarter that would be infested with' contagious diseases. Ib was a dangerous ; experiment to make, and the Council should • rescind the motion, (Applause.) The Mayor here read three apologies for i absence, that from Mr Alfred Harrison, 1 stating that if tbe proposed scheme of open , drainage were carried out, his property would be depreciated 25 per cent and there i fore he would be glad to subßcribe towarda > funds for an Injunction of the Supreme Court i to restrain such a course. 'The Mayor said the resolution was now , before the meeting but he had considered it a proper course to adopt to eek the Town : Clerk to apply for medical opinions upon the subject, and the following letter had been sent to Dootors Mason, Byrnes, Trevor, and Bolger, and the following correspondence had been received m reply:— February 21sfc, 1901 Dear Sir,—The Ashbarton Hospital Board i has applied to thia Borough Council for permission to drain the liquid eewege from that institution into the open street channels of the borough, and undertakes to keep the channel properly flashed with water, and also to disinfect all ihe sewage before being placed m the channels. I am directed by His Worship the Mayor to ask if you would kindly give me your opinion whether you would consider such a scheme of drainage, if granted by this Council, to be m any way a menace to the health of the inhabitants of the borough. I may state that the borough street channels into which this sewage will ran are all concreted, have a fair flow of water, and ultimately drain into the ABh burton river, —I have the honour to be, yours obediently—Town Clekk

:■ Ashburton, Peb 22, 1901 Ms O E Fooks, Town C erk. Sir,—Your letter of the 21st msb, aeka, if m my opinion, the drainage of the Hospital sewage into the borough channels after disinfection, and keeping the said ohannels properly flushed, would be a menace to the health of the inhabitants. This is a large and somewhat intricate question. All drainage of impure matter into ohannels open or closed is more or less a danger, and eh'errical disinfection cennot always be relied upon as a complete safe guard, the practice it therefore more or less .undesirable and dangarons. The drainage , from tbe Hospital is fiardly worse than the i average drainage from private houses, even m their normal state, and I think nob so bad as when any of their inmates are suffer ing from Infectious disease, suoh as scarlet typhoid, djplitheria Jco, because m the hospital germicides are more fully used, and all dressings from wounds are directly burnt. Still the danger from disease germs, such as diphtheria—and there were I think over 3{) oaees last year—cannot always be destroyed) so that a certain danger exists? In my opinions thare is only one system of drainage, either from the hospital or from private houses, which is perfeotly safe, and that is the one known as the septic tank system. It 1b worked on purely scientific principles, a true cojy of natures own process, and it is claimed for it—and I think with truth—that it is easy of application, either on a email scale, as for the Hospital, or for the population of a large town, and that ib is the cheapest and absolutely effectual. After sewage ii properly treated ! m this manner it matters not where it runs, ac it is pure enough for fish to live mor cattle to drink, and !b more frae from germs than ordinary river water. Tbe plan has been m nee m England, I think about three years, and is growing fast, being now used m over 100 hundred different places, Ido not know If it has been used m this colony although <• f -v day ago I e&w one m course of construction oa a email scale In Christ church, neither do I know if there are asy exports m their construction, bub have no doubt there aoon will be Considering the difficulties whiqh beseb all. the old systems of drainage, and thab the entire question is pow m a stage of rapid transition, and the importance of adopting the best plan, I be? to recommend that ab any rate for a few months, there shall be no alteration of the , system now used by either the Borough Council or Hospital.—l have the honour to i be, yours &o,—James E Tbevor

Ashburton, February 24, 1901. Mr C B Focka, Town Clerk. Dear Sir,— In answer to your communication of the 21st inst, I beg to say that is my opinion it is inadvisable to allow the Hospital Board to drain the liquid sewage from that institution into the open street ohannels, even though they undertake to keep the channel properly flushed with water and also disinfect all the sewage before being placed m the channels* Disinfection, to be thorough, reqaires special appliance! that the Hqspital does not possess. have shown that chemical disinfectants do not always destroy contagion, which, escaping into the side channels, pollute the water, and render it a source of danger to the health of the town. The Hospital receives oases from all parts of the county, consequently if there is a severe epidemic, say of typhoid fever, diphtheria, or scarlatina, a large proportion of the cases find their way m there. Owing to the situation of the Hospital the sewage would be carried by the water m the side channels through a considerable portion of the thickly populated part of the borough.—Yours fftlthfuHy, P T Bowbb, FRC S, Medical Officer of Health for Aehburton Borough.

Chrlstehufch, Feb» 26, 1901 His Worship the Mayor, Ashburton.— S»r,—ln xepl^ to jour letter of the 2iti

inst, ft the use of the side channels for con veyicg the Hospital sewage to the river, I have the honour to inform you that snob a proposal is, m my opinion, perfectly safe, with the provisions you mention of previous disinfecoien, proper lushing and sweeping. It was, iv fact, my own first proposal for the Hospital drainage, but I was told that for curtain reasons it could not be adopted, m consequence of which, I suggested as an alternative the irrigation plan. I may remark that open drains are more conducive to health than closed drains.—£ am, sir, your obedient servant.—W HSymes, M.D.B, &o, Acting Health Officer;

Town Clerk, Ashburton. Proposal to use side ohannels is excel lent.-—W S SyaiEß,

Town Clerk, Ashburton. Dr Mason will return from north Thursday< I will place papers before him and ask him to wire you immediately on his arrival here,— H M Gobs, Acting Secretary

I MrHM Jones supported tba resolution, he considered it injurious to the health of the place to Allow drainage into the open - chanuel. A special channel should be made straight Into the river whjch woaid be the safest course to carry oat. He hud beon charged with inconsistency when he wantad to compel private householders to conneot nnd yet declined to allow the Hospital. He would point out that .numbers of shopkeepers used the channel water for watering foot* paths, cleaning windows etc. Ah expert opinion from Mr Cuthberb Btated the whole coat of a pipe system to the river was £250 part of which would be contributed by the Government, H« did not think hhe inhabit ants should permit the drainage along their streets, sb times during dry weather then w»s not water to lash the channels whleb. became at these times quite i?ry. MVColiins next spoke complimenting the Ash barton Mail and Gkaxdian for the manner m which they had dealt with the subject before the meeting; Referring to Mr Sealy's complaint of hla baviug been laid up for two months—when they con*, eidercd the constitution of Mr Scaly if fever had been the cause—well half the people m the town would have succumbed' aft the time. Ha contended that there was distinctly nod enough water ab all times to sufficiently flash the channels. He, pointed out that as . this drainage would go past their public school, this proved a strong objection to allowing the drainage to go through the town. In Timaru, where an open drain had conveyed water from the Hospital past a certain house known to him, a whole family bad been decimated, The idea of the sun working the death of the microbes m the open channels wee not sufficient excuse for the adoption of this course. The members of fib a Borough Cooocil bad acted well m arranging this meeting, which, he pointed out, was not an indignation one, bat was intended as a mild protest against the open drainage scheme. The Rev Tbcs Fee thought), m the face of the medical evidence, It wonld be An unwisa and exceedingly risky natter to bring this sewage through the town. Dr Trevor stated h« did not think bis opinion could be quoted as very strong against the open channel. The alternative closed pipe system however was an Abomio° able and barbarous one, which had been condemned for over a quarter of a century, as an old time relic Further, he would point outtbßt m tome of the large towns this special pipe system was curried out differently to that which was intended here, and even although m these large cities the drainage was carried into properly con structed channels by thoroughly expert people, yet; over snd over again tne system had proved unsatisfactory, and they ware now considering the best change to make. Royalty itself had not escsped infeotlon from this public menace, and to adopt this close syetfrn m Aehburton would be distinctly anwise, and be for one would strongly protest against it. The suggestion to thus carry water into the river would, m hit opinion, prove ten times worse than con veying it through the open channels. Meantime he would vote for tbe resolution, because ho did not thick the system adopted by the Hospital Board was the best. He could nor, however, be!p stating that m advocating the pipe system as against the open char.cc! they were straining at the gnat and swallowing the camel. When diphtheria and scarlet fever were prevalent only a small portion of the patients were treated m the Hospital, and of coarse whilst there proper disinfectants were m use, and for one germ escaping from that quarter there would be two from private h<->u«ee, where the same care was not exercised. The whole subject of drainage was io a transition state at present. He was m favor of the teptio tank system, which -was now being adopted In the most civilised and advanced places, but was still under development. This would, he though^, be the system of tbe future. In Exeter, with its 20,000 inhabitant*, the drainage treated m this manner afterward! ran into the Exe, and was pure enough for fish and cattle to drink. He concluded by stating hie confidence that the septio tank method was tbe best one for the Heapltal. The alarm about tbe open channel had been created by the local Mail and GtfABXHAX newspapers. These had drawn largely oa • imagination for the fapbs quoted by them* Mr Willie had not intended speaking, bat some of the previous remarks being Incorrect he wished to refer to them. Dr Trevor's speech tended to throw their thoughts aside * from the real point afc issue and m the doc? ton reference a drainage through pipes he contended this was not the crucial point | whiph was whether open drainage shoald go through the town or not. He urged that they should nqb permit water affected by diseased germs to pass through the opeq channels. The letter sent by the mayor to the medical authorities stated that A satis factory low of water would be avoidable to flush the channels but he denied th&t even f fair supply would always prevail, Several times during tfte past few months the water m tbe channels had been absolutely dry (Laughter) and the fact that the channels had also been dry during the winter months proved that no guarantee of a steady low could be assured Mr H Davia said that whilst he was against 'draining into the side ohannels, he would even prefer that to the present form of drainage at the hospital, where It ran into ft very objectionable pit, and it was now m a filthy state. Mr D. Thomas said thie vexed question of tbe present method of draining Into a cesspit at the hospital had been before the Council, and had been continued on the score of expense. The question of finance' would have to be faced 'very soon, and another r£se would very shortly Jiaye'to be 'met, j^jj newspapers told thetntney mutt not lise the. open channels, nor tne closed pipes, and the drainage must nofc go into the river. He would like to ask them what on earth tn*y were to do with it. He was quite clear that a great deal of worse dra'nage came from private houses than from the hospital. For sixteen or twenty years he had been fighting for ohapaeUing, apd until that was completed the town oould nob be perfectly healthy, The hospital, he contended, was part of the town, and although personally he -was Against draining this water openly through the town, he yet considered the Borough Council had done their best under the. circumstancest About one day a month tbe smeli from the channelling passed through his office, and the odour therefrom was obnoxious 6b say the least of ib Ho oonld not undaretand, however, how such a disturbance was being raised against the proposed open drainage. The Mayor remarked, m reply to Mr Silcook, that the present) outfall dram discharged into the middle of the river; whereaa by the jjipe system they would have to discharge' into the dry streaaij, (Laughter), and this was; a' further f ea«ißn quoted by Dr Trevor as to the pipe system being worse than the open channel. Some time ago when the plague was supposed to have reached New Zealand tha present »ysfcem;of drainage had not caused any alarm, and Ashburton had proved to be a very healthy place Indeed. Dr Byrnes had said the present cesspit should be done away with at the Hospital, bat he (the speaker) pointed out that it had been m existence for over the past thirty years without) evil effeot. ffhaqasstion arose how they were to provide a proper drainage tystem for the Hospital. Mr Wright, the chairman's proposal was >■< m favour of It being taken through pipes to tbe riverbed, but this was not adopted, and the other proposal to irrigate over the land would, he thought, be a still worse altercation: He oould not see why they ail wanted this water sent away from their own doors and bis owq feeling

THE ASHBUBTOfI 6UABIIAK: THURSDAY, FEBBUABY 28, 1901



Fall moon Last quarter Apogee New moon First quarter PeHgee

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4 12 9 19 26 21

3 0 am 5 42 «m 7 Opm 215 pm 6 Bpm 2 0 pm



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Date r «bni»ry 23 d&roh 1 4

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Rises 5 40 5 42 5 43 6 44 6 46

Set* 6 45 6 43 6 41 6 40 6 38



Great Ciesar's Ghost poor wasted frame, That onoe full vigor did possess, Can't be a man m else bat name, His cjugh has brought him snob distress The undertaker emilea to think Next winter's cold he'll not endure, Oh ne'er say die, but tske a drink Of W B Woods' Great) Peppermint Our WELL, it is like this—lf yoa want a tea good Boot or Shoe for little money hen go to Msucoß'sZeaiandia Boot Store gtf Smoke New Venue



ST. STEPHEN'S OHUROH Ashburtion. SECOND SUNDAY IN LENT, (March 3) 11 m tn—Matins, Holy Communion, nod Sarmoo, Subject — ' The Nature of the Church's Authority m Faith and Morals.' 3 pm-GREENBTREET 6,30 p m—Eventong and Sermon Subject—• The Idea! m the Home, 9 R. A. WOODTHORPE, M.A, Vioar



N.Z- CLOTHING FACTORY WE have just cor.atoded oar HALF-YEARLY STOCKTAKING trad hare thrown oat a rumber of odd limn, which we have marked at prices that will effect a epeedy ole«ranee, ~=SEE THEM AT DOOR,= MEK»S HARD AKD SOFT HATS AT Is EACH. MEN'S SOFT SHIRTS. A LABGE VABIEIY OF TIKR, ALL BEDrCBD^'O 6d& li Men's Leatbrr Shoes 6s 6d, Men's Kid Shops 10a 6d . Wotnen'B Oanvan Shoes 3« 6d, Children's 2" 6d Men's Tan Shoes 6a 6d, Men's Tan Boots 15s. N. 2. CLOTHING FACTORY* THE VJEBDIOT OP ALL PKACTIOAL BIDBBS 18 IN FAVOUB OF BIDING BUILT with Batted Tubing, Bhorfc Heads, Narrow Tread Aroh or Box Orown, oi 11b pttoh roller Chainu, overhanging chain wheelsi Any style Saddle, Hftndles, Gh*lo, etc f ear, aiay height frame ; also duafe proof throughout, ONI PRICE TO ALL—£2l OATHS, LOWRY AND CO., Zealandia Cycle Works, BURNETT STREET, ASHBTJRTON. COOPER'SJSHEEP DIP. Facts for Sheepmen and Figures. 1. Britain ia the greab manufactaring centre of the Sheep Dips which are being pushed m this colony. 2. It la also the Country which subjects them to ihe hardest poseible testa In use. fop nothing taxes the abiding properties of Sheep Dips so severely aa the WEATHEE, and few dips there are that can withstand it. S. Thft "BOYAL' J is the Greatest Annual Sheep Show of the World and fche Representative Stock Gathering of tbe British Isles. These three disconnected facts cmbine, however, In scldSrg to. the weighty figares of the laat Royal Show :— Total Prizes Won by Sheep ... ... ... 162 Oodper-Dtpped Sheep Carried ofi ... ... ••• HO Balance, for division amongst all other Dips ... ... 22 ANALYSIS. __l "• ~~ j Champion, j First, second. Third lVa\ 000 PER ..." | 5 I 61 55 19 140 COOPER.'? 5 DIP tl.tm ft cured 80 per cent of tbe F?itaT Pkizfs ov FINE TIMFS AS MANY 4S ALL OTHi-B DIPS PUT T .-GbIHRR. 12fi Lodiug Sheepmen exhibited, 104 practically voted for "COOPER." It is nearly the satno with *he Shepp owners the world over, who last year 18P9)-Ustd fcofficifint of •• COOPER" to dip about 200 Million Sheep Ad Increase of nearly 25 MiluoKß over the sales of the previous year. FRIFDLAND™ BROS., LTD, AGENTS. y* ! JSOI MODFLS JDST LANDED. MAX V I M PEOTEMENTS. COME AND' SEE THEM. noOfi ' GOOD ISFCQND -HAND CYCLES TO BE SOLI) GHB\P. KO REASONABLE O^FFIE EIFUSEP .IOHNORR&CO. I WA L L P^A PER S. \S r B HAVE TO HAND, per the last Home boat—29 Balea of the very latest ARTISTIC PAPBRHANGINGS, fche Colourings and Design! of vhich are decided works of art. Ineiaded ia the ebipmeot are Beautiful Friezes and Borders to match the Papers, 1 hold the largest ■ stock of WALL PAPERS m f oath Canterbury Clients can therefore rely uponfi ing a large variety of each respective sorfc to choose from. J-n-TXT HATiT HOUSB DBOORATOR AND SIGN- I/V I I ilSl 11 Opposite Mail •ffio* | VV X JJUUII « Street. 9 •.'••■•■ -7 P O Box 16. Telepho bb '"^BY SPECIAL APPOINTMENT," PURV.EYOEB OF THE CELEBRATED • HONDAI-LANKA CEYLON PACKED AND SEALED TEA 1 TO the Elite and alee to the • Plain People-None too high or too iow^to SfßMolftta Its unblended V***^^ TKY UNBLENDED HONDAI-LAFKA MAHARAJAH£No. I TiST AWAK-J?ABIS~.S;xaiBITION ( ,