THE ASHBURTON TRAIN SERVICES

Traias cave Ashbrarton da% for— OHRIBTOHUROH—at 7.20 am, 11 am 3.15 pm, 75pm (express) TIMARU—ftt 10.65 a m, 3 50 pin [DUNIDIN—sfc 12 Mpm (express) SPRINGBURN-ab 4.25 p ra Trains arrive daUy &t Aehburton from— OHRISTOHUP.OH~afc 10.45 % m, 12.48 p m (exprees), 8 pm" i riMAßU—at 10.35 am, 2.55 ptn DUNEDIN—at 6.57 pm(exprosß) SPEINGBURN-at, 9.45 a m^

EPHEMERIS

SUN,

Phaaes of Moon for May

Commercial.

United Press Association—By Eleobrlo Telegraph—Copyright)

London. May 19. At the wool sales Pakipaki clip brought 6g'i. Merinos were strong, but prioei for crossbred* are unohasged« The s»lei close ob Monday* Hides--Leather is neglected, and prices are unchanged. Ban ill declined one halfpenny. Crossbred wethers, maiden ewes, Canter* bury, 3|d ; Danedin and Southland, 3|d; North Island, 2g i. Lamb—Prime Canter^ bur. 5£ i; fair average, including Danedin, Southland, and Wellington, and secondary Canterbury, fl£ New Zealand beef, Ifolb to 2201 b, fair average quality, ox forei, 3d ; hlcde, 3|d. River Plate crossbred or merino wot here, beavy 2 9.16 th d ; light 2| \. London, May 20 9he wool sales closed firm United Press Association-—By Electric Telegraph Wellington, May 20 The following cablegram was received from the Agent-General to-day, dated ISbh met:—Batter, 97s ; there is only a small demand. Cheese, 48s white; 44s coloured. Mutton, Canterbury; the supply is very heavy and is accumulating; Canterbury, prime, 481 bto 561 b (scarce) 4d, 561 bto 64! b 3§d, heavy 3d; Duaedin sod Wellington, •mall 3&<i, heavy 2gd ; North Island, small 3£d. Lamb is steady ; Canterbury, 32' bto 38lb 6id, heavy 4|d ; Australian 4£d. Beef, ddll; hindquarters 3§i, forequarters 3d.

ASHBURTON GRAIN MARKET.

The Ashburton Agency of the New Zealand Farmers' Co-operative Association of Canter bury, Ltd, quota as follows on May 20, 1901: — Wheat- Prime milling Pearl _ 2s l£d „  Tuscan.. 2s 2d Hunter's 2s Id to 2s 1|! New Oats—Duns Is Id to Is ljd „ Danish la Id to Is l£d „ Sparrowbills Is 2d to Is Ujd „ Canadian Is 3d Barley—Malting, prims 2s Inferior 1b 6d Peas—B!uo Prussian 2a 94 „ Partridge 2' 7d to 2s 93 Cha6—Good oataheaf 37a 64 Grass Beed—New Is to Is 6d The above are prices current paid to fanners on trucks at AsliLiur'otj

SKIN SALE

The skin sale v» Bterday w»a not well amended, bab the bidding of thoaa who w«re there was f»irly brisk. The following are acme of tha pricee realiaod :—• D Thomas—-CroßßDrcds lOd, U 2d, Is 9d, 24 Id, to3§7d ; hogget«,B(Mld, Is ; merinos, 6*l, 10 i, la lid. 2a; f»f, l|d to 11- Friedlsnder Broa—Oroßßbredp, Is 3d, Is 6.1, 1« 9'j Is lOi ; merinos, Is 6<f, la7d; fat, l^\ to If!; one hide, 4s. New Z aland Farm«rt>' Coop—Butohers', 2s 31 to 3a 2d ; pelts, id, 9d ; crosebreds, 2« 1(1,2.31, 3. Id; fat, ljdtol|l.

ASHBURTON STOCK SALE.

The ueufti weekly stock aftle was held at Tinwald todny. There was a good attend ance, aud » large entry of catble was brought forward totalling 47 head, and for fat quality » Rood sale reßulted »t S*l 'Si, £5 17« 6d, £6, £5 7« 6d, £4103, letß .*. t v»aoed ■orti £4 7a 6d to £3 10s; Steers £6 si, £6, && 15b, and £4; Vealers 18 j; Forward storei m heifers and ateers at Ql 10«» but for theie and other store lines enquiry wai quieb and ceveral were pnaied m unsold; Dairy Oow £slos,Cow and C»lf £5 15e; Springer £4 5*518 mouth Steers "bin. Sheep—The total entries were about) 4000 including a good proportion of freezing sheep anditofea for turcip feeding> Tht Butchers pane were well supplied'and up to the time we went to press the following sales were concluded m tliia department. Fab cross bred Ewei 12i lid, 13s 3d, 13s sd, 12a lOd; Wethers 14» 2d, l?aj Merino Ewes 9i 2dj Orosibred Lambs 13», 15s, and 14s sd.

Mail Notices

Mails close fo? the following places m under, subject to the aeoeeaary alterations; DPUBBPAY, MAY 21 'For Northern Porte and Weatporb, per Tarawera, at 630 pm WEDNESDAY. May 22 For Northern Ports and Weßiport, also FcrfeamoajHawaii.Pki'ippineß, Japaa, »!«o United States, Canada, etc, United King doni, aud UoHtinsab of Europe, via 8»b IVanoißOo (duo Lod(Io0 June 202 d), life 6 30 pm '

Ashburton Gusrdian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit TUESDAY, MAY 21, 1901. Local and General.

Victoria Day.—The Retail Traders of AahburSon announce that their premises will b® dosed oa Victoria Day. The W«t Street) merchants will also olose oq thab day. Passing Through. — The Horn W. Hall-Jones, Minister of Public Works, was a passenger by the express for the North last night. U.&.0 D—The half yearly meeting of th« Star ot Ashbiirtoo Lodge of Druids was held kat evening. There was a large attendance of members, and the A D Bro Kennedy opened the Lodge at the usual hour. A number of apologies for noo attendance were received from members An appeal from another Lodge oa behalf oi a brother, who has had a very lengthy sickness, was meb by voting a sum oat of the Lodge funds. The D P Bro Kalghfc, of Timun, wrote giving his ruling on several questions that had been submitted to him, for which the Lodge thanked him; Two candidates wero proposed for membership. The Visiting Bardi re* ported that the ,stak brothers were all pro gressing favourably, »csd eick pay due was passed for payment, also the usual half yearly aoeouati. The following were Domi nated as oiioerß for the ensuing halt year :— &D, Bro Gobbe; VA, Bros Htook ftud Malford ; Seoref»sry n Bro Htephenaon ; Trenv surer, Bro Shrimption; A D B'i, Bros OVooks, Stock and Carter 5 V A Bs, Bros Carter, JJigginSjjGeogahan j IG,Bro Marsden }OG, Bro Patberson ; M 3, Bro Pearson ; Auditors, Bros D Stock and Duolop. A ballot being taken for the offioe of trustee, i'eauJt^d. iv Bro Kennedy being elected. It was deetaltd that as the next Lodge night would be installation of offioerf, »nd the D P would be viniting the Lodge to hold a auppsr after the meeting, » small committee being ap. pointed to arrange details. The Al> heartily \ welcomed a viaifior from the Pioneer Lodge,' The Lodge wa* eloied »b 10.30 by the A D, %U teooipsw ot the wmtos bei«JJ5 £W 7« 94, •

Wbather Rb»okt—Captain Edwin fore casts :—North to West and southwest) gale ; glass fall; indications of rain, ' . Tkains on Victoria Dut— Tho train arrangements for Victor m Day »ra adver tiaed iv this l«sue Lawn Tennis —A matoh will be played by the Aahburtoa Lawn Tennis Club on 24th May against the Crantner Square Club, Christohureh. The matoh will be played oo the asphalt oonrte cf the Ashburton Club Shoowko,—At a meeting of tha Shooting Committee of the Rflis hst evening, arrangement* were completed for the annual tournament for *radflsm««'i prizes, which takes place on Friday (Victoria Day). A very liberal programme has been adopted, and nhould attract a largo Dumber of competitors London's Dbpbnck — For the defence of | London four battalions of cyclist* have been formed and manoeuvres were to take place at Easter time under the direction of General Gatacre. For »fall aoaount of this mobile army and its plan of operations see artiole on the fourth page of this issue Thb Minstrels -The Ashborfcon Mm* strels. a newly formed company of amateur vocalists, announce their initial perform* anee to take place m the pablio Hall, Waterton on Thursday nexfe, Miy 23 The admission will be one ahftling all round. An advertisement appears elsewhere. Commission—Lieut. A darks, of the Rifle*, has received faia certificate of holding a Commission m the Volunteer Force. It is ■ an interesting doonment, being one of the first] issued m the colony since tha Moenaioc of King Edward VII. It may be added that Lieutenant Clarke received hi* pro fioienay certificate fully twelve months ago, proving that matters mn«ti be s little congested at the Under Secretary of Defence Office Volunteers — The Guards paraded forty strong at their weekly parade last evening, Captain Sparrow m command. Lieutenant Shearman was the other officer present The evening's work was prhv cipally undertaken by the notrcommis ioned effioera, who are fast Improving. The sword and bayonet exercises and musical drill under Colonel Schwartss conclnded the work. It 1b expected the members will rtceive their new kharki uniforms m time for the Military concert. An Amusing Incidbkt—Corporal Rees, of Uisborne relates an amusing incident that occurred m South Africa. Some objec's were seen on a hill that were supposed to be Boers, and a parly were detailed to snriound the hill and effect their capture. A cordon was made, and the Tommies, with several New Zealan* dere, crept up the hill. When they gob within oloee range it was discovered that the enemy consisted of baboons. This, cays Coiporal Rees, iff what yon call '•gorilla" warfare. Another trooper vouches for the story. He was present- Friday's .Convention.—ln a paragraph which appeared m our issue of Saturday la«t it was stated (through 4 clerical error) that the convention and public me eting to be held by the prohibitionists on Friday next would take place m Si) Stephen's Church. The mistake would be obvious to most people but to prevent mnlsapprehensien on the part of those interested, we take this opportunity of indicating that the meetings referred to will be held m St Stephen's Schoolroom, which has been engaged for the occasion by the promoters of the function A Resourceful Bobress -An Auckland trooper, writing from the front says :— 44 After two days we gob- within a day's march of Venfceradorp, and the column prepared to oamp near the farm of Commandant DuplessK Tho men were starring to collect firewood when an artful young 1 idy poked n broomhandle out of a window and upses two beehives Then there was mounting m hot haste, bat the maddened steeds bolted and left the lamenting squadrons I saw Colonel Kekew'ch, who now has charge of the column, galloping oft' like the f»m aa John Gi!|.'iu." Bkouobt Ba< k -Tho first case of arrest m Australia of the father of an illegitll mate child on the charge of absconding from New Zealand took place m Sydney the waek before last under the arrange men s recently made by the Premier with the Society for the Protection of Women and Children. A constable left Welling ton on Saturday to bring back the accuaed. The knowledge of such action on the part of the authorities (says the Post) will doubtless act as a deterrent upon parents who may be disposed to lt*ave the colony for the purpose of evading their responsi bilities and casting the burden upon the State. A Wahninq —Under the heading ' That Theodolite, N«w Zealand papers please copy, the Sydney Stock and Station Jmtrnal pub lishes the following item of intereab to New Zeaiandera :—" A certain Mr Prentice gob up a begging letter, to any thai he wanted to get bis thendol ite out of pawn* He sent that to squatters, and raited a lot of money. He was rounded up by a fighting Gordon, and sent; up. " Then he went to Hobarfc, and started it and gob twelve months there a little time ago, Now, aMr Donald Mo Kenzie (Scotch ye ken) his started the game from6Gipps Btreet, Faddington, Sydney, but he is sending hii|appealß|to gr»«lera and others m New Zealand. Some of the Moari' lander* are sending their money |to help 'Don ald, 'but the police are after him. Verb •»p. The Patba Elkgsobatb.— Jusb indigna tion has been arouied, says the £venin{ Fast by the extraordinary behaviour of Mr George Hutchison towards the Patea elec&oral dis? triot. Whatever that gentleman may hays done for hit oenßtituenoy m the past, hfe recent conduct is sufficient to outweigh all baneSta; Pa tea has, for what is now a con siderable periods been virtually deprived of Parliamentary repreßentatloo, Mr Hutohi" 1 BGi't has announced his final intention of leaving New Zealand and setttling m South Africa. He has been absent m Europe and and m South Africa under ckcumstanoes which render it impossible for him to fulfil hie duties to hit constituents, and yet he has not tendered his resignation. The opposi tloD, we are assured, disapproves and resents fcb.e aotion of Mr Hutchison an strongly aa does the f-oyernment. Football— The foljowing will represent the Pirates Football Ciub m tha matches on Friday, 24th May. Second Fifteen y Springburn, to commence at 11 a m.—C Eeddall, B Moriarty, U Baker, Large, Culverhouie, Berg, Heflford, Child*, J FUz gerald, ff Pritchard, W Hodgson, J Reid, G MoKenale, A Gates, J MoQae. Emergon oles-MoKeDa'e, Tair, King—Firsb Fifteen v Albion (Cbristohurch) to commence at S pin sharp.—Crisp, Lynßkey, P Wilson, B Culverhouaa. W Fi'Egerald, D Wjlboo, Hepburn, W Pritohurd, Fitzgerald (2), Oullen, Kennedy, Piieher, Tregear, Reid. As this is the third annual match between the Albion and Plratee, and each team b3» won a match, a good game should be the result oa the 24ch. A oolloebion m aid of the club's fuods will be taken on the gronnd. HoGKEsr—A meeting of the Selection Com mittee of tha Ashburton Hockey Club took place last evening, when the following teams jrere selected to rnpreaent the Ciub m the tbW patches te be played m the Aa'hbnr' ton Doajaie on yiotoria Day. Ashburtots l&\ to play Ghrlfttehm-ch Draperi (A), and Sydenh»m (AJ. Forwjirds^ White, F Clark, H Millichamp. W Moore, F Watt | Halves—Q Dodds, J Fitzgerald, B Amos J Threequarterg—W Smith, A MiUiohump. Goalkeepor—J) Stock (Captain). Aihburtom (8) to play Uhristohuroh Draperi (B)t tot~ wards—Humphj:i«? ; Mortland, 0 Clark, L McDouald, S Ohoate. Halves—T Adams, E Marsden, F Amoe, Threeqaasters—W Siloock, 0 Andrewfl, Goalkeeper—L F Andrews. A meeting of the general coim mltfcee was afterwards held, when several minor arrangements were uonolndsd. Ib was also daoidsd to allow the Ashburton Pirates Football Ofub ijje use of the Oval from 12.30 pm to 2.45 p tn, So play tfaoir match agaiust the Albion Football Club. IS was also decided that the Hockey matchoa 1 take place ac follows:-~Ashburton (A) v Sydenhaa; (A) at 11 am, Aehburton (B) v Chrietohuroh Drapers (B) at 1.30 p tn, Aehbuetoa (A) v Chriatohjipoh Drapers (A) at 3p m. Any of the above members b, einjr iiDftblo lo play, are requested to Jeti tw^ .Captain know at once

The Rangitata Head Works.

A special meeting of the A«hburton County Ooaooil whs heiii yeal orday to further consider the damage to the EUogitatt* head works. Present—Merars 0 J Harper (chairman), G A M Buckley, E G Wright, H Frledlander, J Lambie, J Johnston, I\l Stitt, S Chapman. A deputation of ratepayers iv the district, comprising Messrs W Baliantyne, E Taylor, J Doylf, sen., J Doyle, jun,, D tfraeer, W Dunnetr, and W Bcott, presented a petition largely signed m favour of opening a new race from the Wdworks, back from She damaged portion and through the swamp.- Mr Taylor acted as spokesman, and presented the petition aa follofe s—" We, the undersigned ratepayers In the Ruapana special water district, beg of your carefully considering the following fact* tad re quests:—-Whereas, you, through unfoneen circumstances, have been robbed of the pleasuro which would have been yours of giving us water at the j estimated coat, and as we, on our part, have guaranteed interest on £6000, and have derived no benefit, though the time is long past when it waa stated the water would be down, we desire that before you spend any more money the cost may be accurately ascertained of an alteration of main channel some five chain* from bead works, taking a line through the swamp and rejoining tha present oourie afc a point favorable, also cost of making a permanent job of present) course, also difference of maintenance of the two oourees. It would also give your petitioners great satisfaatlon to know if the loan of £1200 lately guaranteed is to be a final one, and if the interest fend linking fond on the two loans is to be (the only charge.—(Signed) E Tftjlor, D Fraser, C A Allan, F M Allan, T Bennett, E T Small, W Tretheway, 3 McLauchian, M McLauchian, S B Me* LauohUn, F Lane, J Doyle, J Doyle, jun., 6 W Sewell. O Jaine, S Tretheway, T Howden, X Lane, W J Allan. G Baxter, J Baxter, W O Doyle, W B»llantyne." Mr Wright moved, and Mr Friediander seconded, that the engineer's report be read to the deputation. The Engineer's special report was read as follows :— With reference to the visit of inspection which fche Councillors made to the head race m the Rangitata Gorge on the 13th intt., I now beg, as requested, to report on this question. —Ib appears that the breaches made by the excessively high flood of October laet have become a little wider, owing to last month • flood, and a new breach of about two chains m length was made at that time near peg 30. I am of opiuion that the necessary repairs, and cleaning of the main throughout can still be tffeoted within the amount which the additional authorised loan of £1200 will provide. It appears to me the firsb thing to be done should be the placing of a sufficient quantity of heavy boulders on the river slope where breaches have occurred, so as to prevent the inlow of the river into the channel during ordinary foods ; this applies more especially to the initial Gve chains which was the origin of most) of the damage. The clearing and grading of the channel oould then be undertaken by contraob, after the levels are taken, which would also determine the quantity of staff to be removed. When the proposed length of six chains of culvert at the inlet is laid, and the super incumbent boulder protection is laid m the channel and extended to the top of the northern bank above the reach of the highest floods, and a concrete wall built across the channel near peg five, I am of opinion that further culverts at the lower breaches may not be required. At least, tha three breaches near peg forty, where the discharge of flood water from tho channel into the river ngain took place, can ba securely maio up with boulders, and the silting and sodding of the lower part of the channel there would prevent the race wMer getting through. The apron at the intake would require to be arched over, tin.: the ooncrnca walls at the inlet should ba heightened 13 Inches, My estimate of repairs ac given on the ground was necessarily a rough one, I have now had time with the aid of crosa sections, etc, to go into more detail, as follows :—Concrete m arch for apron and heightening dam ; £50 ; concrete wall across channel near peg five, £80; boulder protection m river slope and channel (first six 'chains) £195; concrete cuivprt for above langth, Bay 400 feet at 12s 6c?, £250; clearing channel over first forty ohains, including cix inches extra depth, £150; boulder protection near p«gs thirty and forty, £105; clearing and reinstating chinnel for 'five miles m terraces, £150 ; tola 1, £980. If a culvert is found necessary at the breach near pep thirty, the cost m nnncrate would be 12C lineal feet at 12a 6d, £75. If timber culver's (without bottoms) are adopted instead of concrete, their ooat m black birch would be about the same, and m totara about 8b per lineal foot rr.o:c, say 520 lineal feet at Ba, £208. Some further expense would no doubs have bo be incurred if the work m water is done m winter. The clearing and deepening of the channel and most of the other sections of the work might be done by contract. As to ths question of a new channel sixty oha'ris m leng'h, removed from the river bank and placed near the bottom of the main terraoe, I have no data for forming an accurate estimate of ooßt, but I should say the average depth of this block cutting would be twenty feet, through gravel and huge boulders. This cutting, with side slopes of one to one, would yield upwards of 70,000 cubic yards of excavations. A section could soon be prepared if the Council deaire it. Mr Taylor, m presenting the above petition, asked that the alternative scheme should be fully considered. Ha apologised for interfering m the matter, bat with their local knowledge, and the fact that they had been asked for two loans, they wished the Council to have the benefit e£ th»ir assistance ir> coming to a conclusion The Chairman said they should like to hear the views of tha deputation, bat as their representatives the Council was anxious to have the work done as well and aa expe ditiously ac possible. Except one member who was physically unable, the whole of the Council had vialted the locality, and with fche help of their engineer, they hoped Boon to have the water again running The Engineer stated that if the ohaunel were now formed through tho swamp high ground would require to m excavated at the lower portion and ths sidtslope would require to be 1 In 1, as with a steeper grade the cban, nel would nob stand, Tbe present cutting had cost 2s 9 A per yard, and although a good I deal of the top portion of tha suggested channel through the swamp could be scooped out, he considered the cost would come to not less than 2* per yard, which would mean a oost of £7000 for the total length of 60 ohains new channelling. If, however, carried ! 'through ths? swamp to a {.oint 40 chains below the present intake, and thus avoiding the highest bank, the cost would be very considerably lessened Mr Ballantyoe felt m entire sympathy with the Council m what had previously been done by them, and also confidence m I the services of their engineer, but would Suggest that the advice of an outside engineer be obtained. He would, however, not press this point if tha Council was altogether confident that their engineer was assured m bis opinion as to the schema of tbe reinstatement of the old channel. So far aa the swamp scheme and its great cost was cost was concerned that seemed to him, if adopted, to be a tax on poeterity. In answer to a question by Mr Wright as to the selection of an engineer, they would leave that to the Council Mr Friediander pointed out that it ap peared a matter of urgency to protect the present breaches from further damage, and if this were done the cost would have to come out of the £1200 arranged for In reply to a question of Mr Latnbie'c aa to whether the deputation thought it wise to go #h with the repairs In the winter, Mr T*ylor a.Bswsre4 fch'f t they did not wish any oonorete work done afc this fcijse f and with respect to protecting tbe breaches with boulders, the deputatlea thought they would be wa«heJ away Mr Chapman enquired if the floods had ever previously risen higher than during tbe present damage, Mr Eraser replied that the recenh floods had been the highest) for the past 14 years. Mr Wright—Yes; but that gives as no information as to the flood of 1858, and I consequently their engineer mlghb have thgs been misinformed on the information given by Mr Fraeer, (The flood of 1868 was the hlghett th«b had eve? occurred, ■ Messrs Fraser and Doyle, jurir, were of the opinion that the boulders which were being placed as protective works at the breaches would not prove a success, as stones weighing from -| to | ton had been washed away before) '

> Mr Wright argued that previously the targe bonldors lying on the top of email shiogle wt-re loosened and carried away as the result) of the wash out of the loose material, whereas, under the suggestions of their engineer, no loose shingle would be employed. The Engineer reported thafe the repairs to the present breaches would cost £980, and the work would be of a permanent character, and it was the only reasonable proposal under the circumstances, although it would be impossible to actually guarantee absolute s»f«ty. The last flood had risen three feet higher than any previous flood mark pointed ont to him. In his opinion the expenditure rtoomtnended by him would prevent damage by any flood as high as the last incurred. Boulders, if placed on the flit-, would remain intact; m fact whilst boulders formerly laid on the slope had been carried away, those oo the Eat were still m position. The damage m the race had been caused by the fl >od water getting ever the race, and thus becoming part of the river channel. The only breaches madti m the two instances were by the river enoroaohlng and the flood water forcing its way out. Whether the repairs were made to the present channel or » new one oat through the swamp, the protection at the breaches, to be mads by the bonlders, over the first 5 obaine, would be common to both schemes. The proposed new channel m the swamp would, he feared, be troublesome to maintain, and | the cost heavy, owing to the wet nature of this ground. | Some discussion then took place with respect to an understanding upon which the ratepayers agreed to sanction th« expendr tore, Mr Taylor endeavoring to show that it was granted by them on condition that it should ultimately be refunded by the Govern ment. Moesrs Harper and Wright declined to admit' that any fixed conditions had been rrmde or implied, although the Council had used and would continue to apply its beat efforts to obtain a Government grant m aid. Mr Wright pointed out that m any case this grant could not be obtained until October, and it would be decidedly unwise to stay operations aad thus entail the risk of further damage. Mr Johnston enquired if the deputation objected to the suggested boulder protection being carried out. Mr Taylor replied that another engineer might not) consider this necessary. In any cane any wooden protection would be distinctly a temporary measure, and the loan was earmarked for permanent concrete piping. Mr Wright thought that the deputation should first of all realise that the boulder protection near the Snlet was part and parcel of either scheme, and it was the duty of the Council to pro tect against further floods, and this portion of the work alone would cost £400 to £500 of the estimated total expenditure. Mr Fraßer admitted that m any case Mr Baxter ??au right In advocating this portion of the work, bub he thought) it unwise to proceed with any concreting at this season of the year. Mr Ftiedlander wished to be assured that the deputation represented the whole of the ratepayers. Mr Taylor replied m the affirmative, the only names absent being those of Mr Gould and Mrt Morrow. Mr Taylor thought that this was the only point of difference between the member's and the deputation. Personally, he was con vinced it was necessary to obtain the opinion of another engineer before doing anything. He suggested the deputation consulting together privately to ses if they agreed to alter the petition. Mr W Ballantyse admitted his ideas had been altered, seeing the cost of the new scheme was to be £7000, and be favored carrying out Mr Baxter's scheme air Wright thought it possible that after a careful survey the engineer mighb be able to reduce the £7000 scheme, but even were it reduced by one third this would not bring the snra to anything within their mans. The deputation here withdrew. Mr Friedlander thought it important they should be satisfied that the deputation represented the entire rating of the district, otherwise the Council should consider the minority as well as the majority. If all had signed, then the Council Bhould comply with the wishes of the deputation, but this woald bring them to the work of protecting the five chiins suggested by their engineer, which was absolutely necessary, atd it was suicidal nob to provide this protection. If all the ratepayers would saddle their land with the extra cost of the new scheme through the swamp, then the Council should carry out that proposal. Mr Stitt thought it possible the ratepayers might be prepared to put their hands m their pockets and pay for the swamp Boheme themselves rather than spend tho £1200 as suggested, and so far as the proposed protection by concreting was concerned, most of the members present must be convinced this oould not be carried out at the present time. Mr Norman, their foreman, had said it would be impossible to get men to work there ia winter even by working only four or five hours per day, Mr Wright Considered the deposit m the channel would have to ba got) rid of before the concreting was started. He was m favor of obtaining another report, not, however, as any reflection upon their own engineer ; this would oust from £50 to £100, as it was no use employing a man whose opinion would not oarry weight Mr Lambie moved that extra professional advice oh the subject be obtained, and this was ecoonded by Mr Wright Mr Harper admitted that perhaps it might satisfy the ratepayers interested if further advice were obtained, but he would point out that no engineer m the colony knew so much about these rivers ac their own officer, whose services were asked for all over the colony. He was satisfied that this course would involve simply throwing away their money. Whom oould they appoint who would have their confidence ? and was their own engineer to give par ticulars J If so, the petitioners might say they were prejudicing the expert tba.t may be employed Mr Friedlauder would vote against the motion. The deputation admitted that there ward only two schemes feasible, and the swamp one was altogether beyond their meant, and obtaining a further opinion was only a waste of money Mr Chapman found a difficulty m voting on the subject as another professional opinion would not place them any further ahead. Their esgtaeer had evidently been misinformed as to flbod height The boulder protection could ba placed 60 that it would stand m any scheme Mr Buckley supported tha motion, as it was their duty to favor thtt views of tho petitioners as far as possible. They oould not tell what) course the ratepayers might adopt with respect to Sndiag the funds for the greater scheme, and fco satisfy them they should get au outside opinion, apd if jt were m favor of the £7000 expenditure the ratepayers could then decide whether they oould find the money Mr Stitt considered fir the satisfaction of their own engineer they should obtain an outside opinion The motion was ultimately carried On the deputation returning, The Ghairmin stated it had been decided to get an opinion only as to the best means of re-instating the present work, as it would be useless to consider any other scheme, with only £1200 to work on. Mr Ballantyne,for the deputation, thauked the Council for its decision, which agreed with their own, and he suggested the names of several engineers, and as to the cob* of the opinion he was disappointed to learn that it would come out of oho loan. If the services of the engineer could be obtained within a month or so they wculd be m favor of letting the whole question stand over, but if otherwise, then the boulder protection should be gone on with. Mr Johnston considered that as the Council bad already given their engineer's work and clerical work, and at the special request of these ratepayers another engi neer's opinion was to be called for, it wbb only reasonable the applicants should pay for this out of their loan. The clerk was instructed to communicate with an engineer named, and failing his being able to act within two months, to apply to another. This concluded the business f

The King's Birthday

NO OFFICIAL CELEBRATIONS ON THE 24th

United Prenß Aseoclation—By Blsotrio Telegraph lonbon, May 19. The fact of the Coart being m mourn ing precludes the observance of the 24th as the King's birthday, bat lost the civil serrants should be deprived of a holiday the King hss ordered that the day be observed quietly m memory of his mother. There are indications that some functions associated with the Sovereign's birthday have been fixed ultimately for a day m the summer, probably the anniversary of the corona* tion.

South Africa.

United Frets Aesooifcioa—By Electric TelegraphaOopyright

MOVEMENTS OF TROOPS.

Received May 20, 11 55 p m London. May 20 Liebenberg's commando, chased from Hartebeestfontein, trekked north. Colonel Rawlinson. after an engage ment between Brakspruit and Qeys dorp, captured twenty prisoners, twenty-five waggons and supplies, and many oxen and horses. Louis Botha evacuated Ermelo and retreated to Carolina. i Colonel Buliocfc removed forty priso ners, including Commandant Bwary, Ermelo refugees and their families, two thousand cattle and horses* to fetander ton. The Ermelo Boers reoccapied Ermelo when Colonel Bullock left. Colonel Elliott within a week has sent a large namber of refugees and forty thousand horses and cattle to Stander iton.

Strange Affair in Servia

United Press A*aociAtion~By Eleotrio Telegraph—Copyright (Received May iiO, 1155pm) London, May 20 Renter's Belgrade correspondent says the rumours about King Alexander's abdication and the Queen's banishment are without foundation Vienna and Bucharest specialists declare that the Queen is suffering from metritis. Belgrade. May 20 Some accounts represent King Alex ander of Servia as f urioui at the disap pointment, »nd others state that he baa accepted Queen Draga's protesta tions of innocence, and ia reconciled to her.

THE CRISIS IN CHINA.

United Press Association—By Eleotrio Telegraph—Copyright JAPAN AND OOREA. Received May 20, 1150 p m London, May 20 Corea has leased to Japan 450 acres for settlement at Mnsatnpbo, which Russia tried to secure. " London, May 20 Dr Morrison states that Great Britain and America alone oppose a joint guarantee of ilia indemnity. Count yon Waidersee has abandoned the expedition to Southern Chi-li, Great Britain declining toco'operate, Mr E Satow declared that the indem nity is excessive; Great Britain favours a redaction. Immediate payment would probably cause bankruptcy. Sir E batow proposes that China ■bail issue four per cent negotiable bonds, plus half per cent for sinking fund, secured on the salt tax, the native Customs, and the increase of the land and sea import duties to an effective five percent. In order to further lighten thft burden, Sir E Satow suggests that China should issue bonds at par for three Hundred million taels now, and the • remainder fire years hence. !

The Royal Visit

United Press Association—By Eleotrio Telegraph-Copyrighb THE DTOE AND DUOHESS AT BRISBANE. (Reoeived May 20,11 55 p m Brisbane, May 20 The Yorks reached Government Hoose at nine this morning, The weather was beautifully fine, and the party disembarked quietly a coaple of miles outside the city and reached town without their presence being known. At three o'clock the Puke and Duchess and suite, who had embarked aboard the steamer Lncinds, landed at the Mupicipal wharf and were received by the Mayor, and an address was pre sented. As the procession moved through the city the greatest enthuEi-, asm was manifested. The Duke returns overland to the Hawkesbury River, wherp he joins the Ophir, and staams to Sydney.

CABLE NEWS.

United Pceas Asraooktion—By Eleotrio Telegraph—Copyright i (Received May 19, 10 18 ptn) MAORI LOYALTY. London, May 17 M«*jor J. B. H. Asqaith, of the Imperial Representative Corps, handed to the King a flag sent as a token of loyalty by a Maori chief, afc Taupe*. i His Majesty aftei wards handed the €ag back for re-transmission to the chief. GERMANY'S SB A AMBITION. ; Shippers in New York suspect that the sea ambition of the Emperor William is behind the recent acqui-j sition by the Hamburg-American Shipping Company of other lines of steamers. MRS MoKINLEY Mrs McKinlef is improving, and hopei to start for Washington on Wednosday. Bulletins with regard to her condition have ceased "■ . !' '■ A STRIp! A thousand men have struck at Morfc'a dock. Ihe labourers demanded a miQimom wage of seven shillings, and the mechanics, sympathising with them, joined the strike

The Antarctic Expedition

' United Press Association—By Ebotrio Telegraph—Copyright London, May 19 " Nature, " m commenting apon the dilficaltiti tbftfe arose m regard to the

command of the projected expedition to the Antarctic regions, blames the Coun cil of the Eoyal Geographical Society for refuging to endorse the compromise which Professor R A Gregory accepted. Professor E B Fouiton accuses some of the committee men of the Royal Society of having sacrificed an excep tionally competent Antarctic scientific leader for the sake of peace. The difficulty arose between the Royal Society and the Geographical Society, the former insisting that the command should devolve on the direc tor of the civilian staff, while tbe other staff demanded that & naval officer should be m command.

Sensational Incident at an Inquest.

United Frew Aec«eiition-~By Electric Telegraph Avcklanb, May 20. A leniAtional incident occurred at the inquest m the Aaylnm on Carotins Lidyard, who wae leverely bruieed m several ineffec tual attempts to commit iniotde. The jary returned a verdlos of ' Death from natural cause*. 1 Daring the inquests the jary called atten tion to tbe focb that on the table «b which they were sitting was written ;— * o*ll ME GocteeH'a evidence on Carolina Lidyard. 1 In reply to the Coroner, Dr Seattle stated that he had a patient) named Godssll Mrs Godteii, on being brought) before th« Court, and teatad, taid the wrote the words on the table. She then proceeded to make a number of wild ahargei agaioab the insti tution The Coroner assured Mrs Gortusll that he would report the m&tttr to tht Minister »f Justice, and the offioial visitor, m «rdtr that they might, if they thought fit, make an investigation

SOCIAL COLUMN.

IThe matter included m this eslwm(9 contributed and paid for.]

A. N Z. Catholic Priest on Drink

(tV»TEB BY AMIOVS) At Greymouth. ou Sunday, March 3rd, the Catholic Church was filled, and an excellent sermon was preached by the Bey Father Kimbell. The events of the past few days had led the young preacher to lay hold of the sub ject of intemperance, selecting for his text Joel I' 5, ' Awake, ye drunkards, and weep, and bowl, all ye drinkers of wine, because of the new wine, for it ii cut off from your mouth." If the counsel to awake from a seme of danger, the preacher remarked, was needed m Israel, it was much morn seeded m New Zealand, It has been said if the ocean were ink and ovary blade of grass a quill, it would sot record the miseries caoied through drink, Nearly every prophet and writer m the Scriptures raised »n ardent voice against the abase of strong drink. St Faul, St Peter, gave counsel to be on guard against it. " Watch and be sober/ " teach us to live soberly," etc, all appeal to us to prac tise the virtue of temperance. Solomon, ao far back, gave warning for us not to look upon the wine " when it is red, for it biteth like a snake," etc. The imagination is depraved, the mind entertains things unlawful and the mouth utters them. Reason, our proud est boast, is lost, and an in satiable p&ssfon lays hold of the man *hn is a diankard. The highest authorities apeak against this great evil, such as Cardinal Manning, who says, ' It is do exaggeration to say intemperance is the greatest vice that stands bead and shoulder above every vice." The Bishop of Shrews bury, m 1890, said, " Is not intemper ance the vice that is the source of nearly all evil? For all Christiana the law of temperance is an obligation that those who cannot take drink m moderation should abstain from It altogether." The Irish Bishops gathered m Synod had said that '* drick killed more homes, made more widows and orphans, broke more hearts than all the famines." The Bishops of America and Archbishop Ireland, a great tem perance advocate, had levied a strong indictment against intemperance. These were the testimonies of great men. But physicians no longer regard it as a moral evil, but speak against it as a physical evil, Sir Andrew Clark said, 'Not to make too strong a case of it, I affirm that seven out of every ten I treat m a London hospital owe their ill health to alcohol.' Sir Henry Thompson, Dr Morley, Dr Norman Perth, were quoted to ifaow that drink caused more death than famine, and that a greater per centage of deaths were to be attributed to this great evil than all other causes, Glad stone's wellknown words were quoted, aud other evidence given is to the ravages made by drink, An unmention able crime had been committed m Dunedin by a man, when he was drunk and was not responsible for his actions Harmless when sober, men become mad men when drunk; The evils of intempe ranee were familiar to all. Man became « mere slave and wae blindly led by the bestial desire that enslaved him The will given him by God became weakened and th? mind thrown into chaos. Physically it injured the man and weakened his posterity. The laws of heredity were exercised on children who were innocent. The example of a> drunkardwas bad and his namo created a slander. We speak of him lightly as being and "half seas-over," and palm his state off m euphonisttc phrases rather than speak plainly of bis con dition. The ancient Greeks were better than we as they taught their children to avoid drunkenness. It is a corrupt and damnable practice, and our young people need to be on their guard against it. Young men, if they had a tendency to drink, should abstain altogether. Many young men who wei c earning good money paid nothistg for their board to their parents bats 'sponged' and 'loafed' on the home. Men did not intend to be| drunkards. No man sets out m life with that pur* pose. The only sufe course for a taan was to abstaio. A visitor to Grey mouth said a short time ago that be saw more men drunk m Greymouth m one week, than ho had seen m Vfelliagton for fourteen yiars, T*lsf » sad thing to think this true. Seasons 6t joy and festivity were approaching and he hoped that each one would be on his guard against the seductive influence of this great evil.— Probibi* tionist.

THE ASHBTJKTON GPaROU^ : TUESDAY, MAI 21, 1901



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