Mail Notices.

Mail* clone for the following pitoes m nodar, •object to the necessary alterations; TUESDAY, March 12 For Northern Ports and Wett Coaifc, per Waiherft, at 6 30 p.m j Eata fee leMerv, guard* ran express , For Monte Video, Teiwlffe and United ' Kingdom (doe London May S), spcclal'y addrened per Aotea, per W*ihor*, at 6 SO. p in ; parcels at 5 p m WEDNESDAY, Maroh 15 For Grsymoath per Bonamossd, at 10 30 am For Northern Ports, and Wettpwt, p«r EHnganaita at 10 30 am THURSDAY, Maroh 14 For Aattraliao Colonies, via Sydney, at 1030 pm The next bwt despatch for ths United Kingdom is via San Franoltoo, on Maroh 20 (da* London Apdi 20}

Commercial.

United Pfess Aaiooiation— Bj Elvotrio Telegr»ph—Copyright (Reeeired Maroh 11,1020 pn) London, March 10 Wooli-The Antwerp ealea have closed. Prioea were acchsiagedi Only half the Rlvar Plate woola offered were actf.t At the sheepskin aalea there waa fair competition. Merinos wens (uneh»og«d. There was km demand for croeebrede, which showed a five per cent decline. Matfcnn—Groasbrcd wethera and maiden ew«, Dunedin and Southland, 4&l} other sorta (inclading Rivtt Plate) unchanged. , Lamb—Fair average, 5Jd; prime «n ---ohanged. New Zealand beef, 1801b to 2201b, fair average quality ox, forea Mi. hinds anohanfad. Th« Hermianc'a otrgo of Hew Zealand wheat sold at 23e 4 Jd,

ASHBURTON GRAIN MARKET

Th« Athtrartoß Agency of th« New Zealand Faraera 1 Co-operative Aaaooiation of Ouster bury, Ltd, quote *s folbwe on March 11, 1901:— Pruoe milling P«arl »« 2» M i* h Tuscan.„ 2e2|d ti i, Huntar'a 2* Id Now O»ti-Duns is 31 to Jia 2hi „ D*ni«h 1« 2d to Is 2|d ; tl Spftrrowbille la 3d ' „ C»o»dlaa la 4d Bftriey.-Mftltiug, prim* 2s Inferior la 6d Peag_p* r t r idge, 2a 3d Oh»ff—Good o«fcaheaf 57. 6d Qr*B» Seed—New it to !• 6d Th« »bova »r« prioea onrnai {mid to a,? mtr* oo fcraok* *ti Aihbnstoo. '

Weijmkotoht, March 11 The Agent-General oablftd to Government on 9t>h Maroh—• Butter 102s, Danish 108s ; dairy supplies in hand, market dull Cheese 4§»5 market lifeless. Hem jp—Market firm; good to fair Wellington £24; stcok on let Maroh, 774 tons; fair current Manila £23 IO», stook 13,570 bales. Oockfoot unchanged"' Exports of meat from the colony during February shows» striking increase in mutton and lamb. Mutton shows an Increase ia value from £54,0«0 in February, 1900, to £123,703 Lamb exports have increased from £58,680 to £104,019,

ASHBURTON STOCK MARKET.

The usual weekly stock tale was held at the Tinwald yarda today, before a large attendance of farmers and others. Buyers of export sheep were limited. The entries of fat cattle weresmall, only four head being yarded, . :.";r"'">' Messrs Frfedlandor Bros told heifers at fi* 16s to £6 ! e»w in profit £4 IQV. Mr D Thomas sold stores, comprising 12 steers and 8 heifers at £4 per head ; vealer, 18s 6d. Sheep—Large entries were again collected, but a heavy shower in the early part of the •»le detracted from their appearance. Not far short of 18,000 formed tht total entry which j werejdivjied about equally amonglt che tares local auctioneer*. The stores com* prised mostly crossbred ewes and wetherf, with a couple of large pens of merino ewes. The quality of the entries in the batchers i p*os w*s indifferent, and the trade were not anxious buyers. Thirty pens oame forward* but the sales were unimportant. The Farmers' Coop made 14s 9d for 66 crossbred ewes; 40 head teaching 12s 2U Mr D Thomas cleared pan* of crossbred ewe« at 12s 7d, 12s 3d, and 12a 6d. Messrs Friedlander Bros' sales were 35 crossbred wethers at 16? 9d, crossbred ewes .12* 4d to 12s 91, five ram« 27* 6d and£l, merino ewes 10>> A fair entry «f freezing lambs was brought forward, and the balk were scoured by the Longbeach estate under somewhat slack bidding, Mr D Thorn™ sold 40 at 14s lid ; Messrs Friedlander Bros, one pen at 14a 9d, 270 at 14s, 160 at 13s Bd, 257 at 12» lOd, the latter being unfinished.

DEATH.

JOHNS-—On the 9th March, at Beach Roa^, Treverton, Aahburton, Frbdsriok Henry, the beloved eldest too of Frederick and Blizabeth Johns, in his 22nd yeai\

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit TUESDAY, MRCH 12, 1901.

Thb email attendance of farmers on Saturday at the meeting convened by the Ashburton A, and P, Association to consider the quest ion of New Zealand joining the Commonwealth affords pretty good evidence that the subject does not yet interest the farmers of this ! county sofficiently to induce them to [ move in the matter, The opinions that were expressed by moat of those I who spoke at the meeting «*fco indicated that the most hs>izy ideas are enter tained concerning the qufglion; The Chair man—whose remarks ehowod that hn had made up his mind against federating - had evidently only given the Ac constituting the Common v/ealt h a cursory examination. His k»yisote was that we had stood alone so far and could do so in the future, •We had fc work oat our own destiny," and co on. A good many of his arguments would not, of course, stand investigation for a moment. For instance, he septped to lay great stress on the point that New Zealand by herself would only have about fifteen representatives against forty-nine of the res'", of the States *• What could we do against suoh a preponderance of voting power," said he. We ask -Can anybody imagine a single reasonable question being brought before the Federal Parliament upon which the whole of the other States, small and large, would coalesce against New Zealand The thing ii, of course, ridiculous. It is far more likely that all the smaller States would join with New Zealand in counteracting a pose ible—bat very improbable—union of interest between New South Wales and Victoria. As a matter of fact there is a consensus of opinion amongst states* men throughout Australasia that Now South Wales and Victoria will seldom be found pulling together. If this be correct it is quite evident that tbc position of New Zealand in the Commonwealth would be quite as strong as either of the larger State?, since she would always hold the balance of power. Mr Leadley'a contention; that if we entered the confederacy we should always find Australia against us is misleading, or else he did not m k« himself understood, became it is quite clear that if New Zealand foined the Common wealth her exports would be better treated than fchay are at present, while the cheapening of articles thas could then be imported into this colony free of doty would certainly benifit the very class to which Mr JLendley belongs, j It is only in the event of New Zealand . being outside of ths federated colonies that the Australian trade can do us any injury. There was fust one other fallacy advanced at the meeting on Saturday that we may refer to, and that was a statement by MrFriedlander that entering the Commonwealth would weaken New Zealand's power for naval defence. Considering that the federa tion of the Australian colonies does not in any way looseu the ties between them and the Mother Country, nor interfere with the obligations resting on Great Britain to defend all parts of the Imperial dominions we can see nothing in Mr fried lander's objections on the defence question, tJ?po again, more that one of the (speakers talked" about the Federal Government taking away lome of our reveuue, which would necessitate more taxation here. But they totally ignored the fa«S that while the Commonwealth would take over pertain department! it would also accept the post of maintaining them. And when we know jbhaji there would be only ono Poitma«ter-o«mßral'f dfspartmefit instead of seven or eight we pan nnder? stand that there would be a consider able redaction in the coat of manage* ment and a consequent refund to all the States. However, thie question is much too extensive aod important to be dealt yjtji in a single article or by a single meeting, ana t | bink..the reso lution adopted by the Asfaibuetoja A. and P. Association on Saturday that it w»a premature to come to » decision just now was the proper one. When the people of this county b*vs been

educated and enlightened concerning all the phases of this great national queatson, in whJhh work the press will have to take a very prominent part, it will bo time to ask for a decision. There are so many things to be con sidered that it would be unreasonable to expect the people of this colony to decide until sufficient time has been given for the purpose. New Zealand can enter the Commonwealth at the end of three year*, when the Federal I Parliament expires, on «t least as favor < able terms a« she can now, bpcanse \ she could not be represented at all in the present Parliament. Let as watch »nd wait till then.

Local and General.

Wbathib RiFoaT.—Oaptain Edwin fore* 08ts t B :—Northfia«» to north and w«tt gait after 10 hoars from now Indications of rain ; glass fall soon. Thk New Water Cawn—Owing to the strictures of Councillor Jones npoa the Bor* oiigh's bow water cart the makers Meesrs La can Bros of Ohristehurch yesterday sent up an expert, who showed that the machine worked admirably and fulfilled all expect*' tiooa. It appeared however that the method of working it had not been fully understood by the man in oh urge here. GoORMKG.—-Tho annual meeting of th« Ashburton Courting Club will be held at the Commercial Hotel on Tuesday evening. In view of the renewed interest taken in this sport throughout, the South Inland and the excellent sport provided by the local club »t its only meeting last season, under its new (system, it is probable that great things may ba expected this year. Tira Weather—Mr Herring reports that j yesterday, Monday, was the hottest day j experienced at Alford, the temperature being 20 in the thada and 40 in the euo, higher than any previous record during summer. Shade 99 degrees; van 159 degree, solar radiation fin CTHHB9 Bxß Us—The labour laws which are at present in force in this colony have been the subject of much comments in America and Great Britain. The news paper* of both countries have dealt with them from time to time. Some of the papers have approved while tome have disapproved of bar labour laws. The latest comment on the question that have come under our notice are to be found on our fourth page. A Bioobd Beootkb?—Lieutenant Elm aley, the young Canadian officer who was reported as dangerously wounded in South Africa six weeks ago, Is making n good recovery. That happy newt (says the * Daily Chronicle') is rather surprising, for when the gallant young lieutenant was brought into hospital at Pretoria it was found that a bullet had gone right tbroagh "his heat U His cats will rank as one ef the record recoveries of the war, Pbisihtation—The Rev W. Gillie*, who resigned the pastorate ot Trinity Presby terian Church ab Timarn, to take tip the work of collecting for the Presbyterian Century Fund, was yesterday, ftt Tirtmu, presented by the Mayor, on behalf of the oitiieens, with &n illuminated addres?, a piece of plate, and a travelling bag, The address waa eulogistic of his services as a eitiassn. Tht congregation, at a fnreweil social last week, presented him with a chtque for £140.—Press Association tele gram. Voluntkbrs -There was a good master of the Ga-jrds at the parade last evening, trader Captain Sparrow. The efficient members were marched to tbe open and instructed by Lieutenant NicoH, Golcr Sergeant Schwartz attending to tbe r< qoirements of the risaraitt, in .the filed, the latter making good progress. The company as supplying a inuoh needed want, that of an orderly room, the erection of which was begun last evening, the dorps pro aiding the material, end those members who have a knowledge of carpentering the labor The room wh«n completed, will be a first class one, measuring about 35ft by 18ft, I and will include a small recess for the officers . la view of the enlargement of the main shed, [ the room is being oreoted at the southeast ; corner of the reserve. j Thb Pretoria Union Jack—The Union \ Jack, that loata over the Raada at Pretoria ! his ah interesting history, which is r< • oord«d in the current issue of the ' Sphere. S'lortlv before Lord Roberts entered Bloem foctdn B<<me girls at Seapoint, Capetown 1 were rather chuffed by some young men • that; they did nothing to help the war, and ; that their help stopped at rotcl intentions. Throe .of f h'tn took heart of grace, together '■ with.much silk, and in ado a great Union Jack, twelve feet by nine feet, and tent it to Lord Robaitf, They scked the Com m&nrier.'inJGhief to accept their offering and ,to use it at Pretoria. Lord Roberts ac ceded to both requests, and enriched the donors with an autograph letter. When Pretoria capitulated the Duke of West* minster hoisted over the Transvaal Farlia* ment House the Union Jack made by the ladies—three who had been told that they were talkers. U.A.O.D—The fortnightly meeting of the Star of Ashburten Lodge of Druids was held last evening. There was an average atten dance of members. Bro J Kennedy opened the Lodge at the usual hour. An appeal from a Nelson Lodge on behalf of the widow and family of a deceased Brother, also one from a Christohurch Lodge on behalf of « , Brother, who was suffering from an Snour- I able disease was met by a sum being voted from the Lodge funds towards each case. ' Bros Marsden PP P andfirooks PA,Grand &odge representatives gave a lengthy'report oil t^e business transacted at the Grand Lodge meeting held at Timarn"last wank, for which they were heartily thanked by the Lodge. Io replying, they mentioned that j the Grand Lodge officers specially oongratu» | lated the Ashburton Lodge on its increase j of membership, is having made one quarter ; of the increase membership for the whole of the Canterbury district for the year. The Bards reported t 1 at the sick brothers were all progressing favourably and sick pay was passed. After transacting routine business the Lodge was closed OH Where, oh where is the best Boot Shop | Why Minor's Zaalandia Boob Store, ,oi coprge T

CORRESPONDENCE

iWe do !iot bald oarselveu responsible for opinion* oxpraesed by oar corrsipend<n»t»

ACCOUNTANCY

TO THB KDITOR BlE,—I have just read yonr kindly re* marks on my address on the above subject, and can only bake exception to one word, 'rich*. Certainly Judge Barry, whom I was quoting, did not me the word, and I fee sure rich men would not care to take up the practical anbjeob of commercial accountancy and even expert accountants are fortunate if thoycan earn a competency, &t> any rate in the colonies, without hoping to become rioh. —I am, eto, W H GCNDBY.

THE MAYORALTY.

TO THB EDITOR. Fir,—Ael was nob consulted before I was borb;,; what nationality 1 would like to belong to, I made amends at the earliest possible opportunity and swore allejci&noe to the 'Red White, and B! «c,! and if one'i action goes (or anything, I think I $m cn 1 tibled to claim to be more of a 'Britisher*., than your correspondent), whoso latter appeared in your yesterday's issue. He cannot possibly be a Britisher, ai he has not signed his real name, and if he h nob on* of j that noble and great race he must still be a foreigner, and being auoh, he ha« placed hijjasalf in a false potiita" ai by h(| «wn shoeing be is not justified in aritioising the qaeßtion he himsfrjf rpjsed in hit letter above referred to, If however, I am. pis' Uksn in the eonelanon | have come to and •Britisher' will tnand hii ways, I am what be would vulgarly oall me, hit 'Moses' f-»I am, etc, Huoo Friedlandke.

TO SHU EDITOB, Sm,—JCu yottjr laj»ii isßiia appeared »letter under the above hiadiag that'X am mi® met with the disapproval of at iwasUhtee foartba of the ratepayers of thii town. 'Britisher' fUrta oat well j he hAi <go heiiUtiou la

asserting etc 1 Who is this that speaks as one % having atuhorUy T He should have signed ;his name for us to judge whether his asser tions are worth anything, his irst assertion is 'no«man ought to be a'lowed to monopolize the moyoralty of this or any other BorcnghV one would think that the Mayor elected himself, acd stuck there as lonpgas he liked. Surely your oorrespondent is aware that* the Mayor is elected by the ratepayers and , the honor consists more its the number of , times ho is re elected than in the mere faot of being Mayor: Britisher also asserts that I the mayoralty ought Co be a rolling office. In my opinion the office has had too much rolling about in the past but 'comparisons are odious ' Away with your rolling honours Britisher ? Would confer the honor on all and sundry, whether he were capable of properly the Borough on Im portant ocoasions or not» Britisher next ' compares us to London; we are duly ft tttered and in imagination ask him to have a drink (we don't know him). They can do as they like in London, and as there are other Britishers in this town beside* your corres pondent, we olaim the privilege of doing as we think fib here. There is a large hono rarium attached to the London mayoralty, perhaps that has something to do with the • dividing of the honors.' Here, it is an eXoensivo business, both in time and money and 'Britisher's' effußion, although|baokedup by ' sound constitutional grounds,' is a poor return for all the time and trouble Mr Fried* lander has devoted to the interests of the Bcrough during his private and public life here, for I venture to say that not one public work of any importance has occurred durfng the last twenty five years without one or other of * Britisher's' 'foreigners' hav ing something to do with it; the last part of * Britishers' letter in unworthy of his tint deplume, and moreover, it is what they call in the classics ' Tommy Rat.' Note the oheek of the man with ' sound constitutional ground?.' * I daresay he has done his best, etc,'. For pure and unadulterated cheek this must command our admiration. I appeal to your readers whether or not our present Mayor|has proved hitntelf (during this last eighteen months of patriotic display) a true Britisher, and whether, instead of the 'incongruity being manifest to everybody,' we have nob the mther congratulated our* selves on having a gentleman at tbe head of afliirs so able to rise to every occasion in an ablf, as well as graceful manner- If the Duke of York visits Ashburton, I sincerely hope Mr Friedlander will be the represen tative chosen by the Borough to meet him, an 3 I feel lure that (notwithstanding ' Bri tisher's' unfeelißg remarks as to foreigners), the Duke will recognise in Mr Friedlander a Britisher and a gentleman. Now, Mr Editor, I am a man of many words and little wisdom. (I only went to school on wet days), but I have enough instinct to know that the word Britisher is not a C\t\\ng-notn deplume for the writer of the effusion that appeared in your last Issue. Mr Friedlander has proved himself to be (as you rightly say in your note,) a thoroughly loyal subject, and an enthusiastic worker in al! pertaining to the advancement of British interests. Furthermore, his loyalty often goes as deep as his pocketp. I wonder if all the men of * British birth that your correspondent raves about have given as much (propor tionately, of course), as Mr Friedlander has during the last eighteen months. Hoping you will excuse the space I have taken.—l am, etc , VOLO NON VALEO.

fIOVHB EDITOR Sib, —I waa very much surprised and disgusted that Ashburton contained a person ao mean and contemptible as the individual who writes to you re the mayoralty. He has not the courage to sign hie name to his peurile epistle, bub aftet stabbing his opponent in the dark, conveniently shelters his identity under a|«fl?» deplume During my Bhort reeidence in the town I have seen lafficient of our worthy M*yor to know that he it quite capable of Qgjhtu-g his own battles. Bub when his nationality it urged as a reason ngainebf his holding the mayoral ohair, I think it is time to cypress t>nrpri«e chat eijoh bjijntry and intolerance has not, with 'he spread of edic-tion been stamped oat. i am credibly informed that Mr Fried* laader is a British ealject duly naturalised Who will dare to say anything sgait.Bt; his loyalty. In proclaiming onr King did he r\f>t carry cat 'he function with ail the eclat possible and has he not in many other ways shown his loyalty to the throne and person both of the late Qje*n and of cur present illustrious Rovereigt ? As to Mr Kriedlanrter's German- national 1 y. In not King Edward a German of -he Qermanp ? I* nob the House of Guelph closely entwined with the House of Hoher zillern of which! the present Kaiser in the head 1 Does your anonymous correnpondenb not know that the Empress Frederick, mother of the German Emperor, is a sister ol the King of England ? That Prince Henry of Batten" ! burg wan married to the Qaeen'c daughter, Princess Beatrice, that the King's late brother, the Duke of Edinburgh, wap, until hh death, Dukn of Saxe Ooburg of Gotha ? I could go on enumerating instances by the score but lua sure it would be of no avail bo for aa your correspondent ie concerned. Ha belongs to k narrow minded class, to inouloato reason Into whom would be aa impossible ah the task whioh King Canute set himeeif when he lay down on the sea shore and commanded the wavee to be eisll.—-I am etc, ENordok.

TREE PLANTING.

TO THE BDWOK Bm,—Residents in tbi" conntry will re member, and in many oases with regret, the havoc wrought) among cereal crops by bfee oor'westers from the pioneering days np to a couple of years ago. Daring the grain season now almost oomp!eted,there has been an absolute apsencs of the farmers'* enemy and their decreasing severity during the past two years hae considerably enhanced the prospects of tillers of the soil. Doubt less this boon to farmers is due, in a great measure, to the foresight: of our old time County Councillors, who, headed by Mr E (* Wright, initiated the tree planting on county reserved, and laid oub the many plantations along the line of railway. We are now reaping the benefit derived from that keen insight into the future interests of resident*, which, together wibh the initia tion of bur water race system must prove of inestimable value to us, and future genera tions. We often hear farmers complaining pf the ruling prices of grain now »c c nrip^red with tne Hme when 4i pet* bushel was ponsidered ?ho minimum | bub oontr&Rttd With the risks of the elements, we must alrnoßt adn>ib their income, lesi the amount swallowed by the ever^tcrbe pe»b (the sparrow) is quite equivalent) to those days. The value of tree planting has a much wider dominion of interest thin the Ashburton county, and hence we find that during the years that Mr Wright eat aa a member of Parliament he wai continually urging upon the Government the necessity of conserving our State forests, and ol adopting a general By stem of tree planting throughout the colony. For several years the suggestion was almost ignored, and indesd, very little done in the matter until the advent of the Ballsnce Ministry, when Arbor Day was recognised and a little planting indulged in. Still in many cases only a potion of the day was utilised, and the remainder was spent in iccSal enjoyment It ia now the colony must awake bo the imporj taace of this matter. Visitors from the North Island state that the famous kauri forests of : the far north, are faab diminishing, the Kauri Timber Compony of Auckland, being mainly responsible for the exportation of large quantities to New South Wales, and in that direction they have made Urge profits as proved by the dividends declared. The honeysuckle groves, the past) homes of hordes of native pigeons,' afe fast reaching depletion, whioh meant the ultimate scarcity of one of the most useful and artistic woods the colony produoes» For several months past the mtlleis have been ■teaiily raiting the price of timber, and oaly a few days ago a rise of 6d per 100 feet, all round, was announced. It is, of course, useless^ expect the con«ervation of the forests by means of fch« stoppage of tree felling, whioh would cjdppie oae pf our best «nd mosb valuable industries, gfcejja mast perfcaiily be taken by the Government' fpr initiating a system of planting throughout the oolony, as must also the country insist on the discontinuance of any further sales of forest country, failing which we will find ourselves sooner or later compelled to send to America, perhaps the Balbio, for our supplies. At the present time tho words are very applicable •Ob wbodina'n, spare tbajfc tree'— I am, &o, ' THOKI. J

SOCIAL COLUMN.

[ The matter included in this column is contributed and paid for.]

Sundays on the March, in South Africa.

Daring the progress of the w»r» ' when all those who are engaged in it are much in the thought* of friends at home, it may at times have occurred to many, as on the quiet Sunday after noon^ they thought of those dear ones in peril and danger under the southern sky, to wonder whether at any, or what kind of service on the Lord's Day they were able to do Him reverence Who is at once "the God of Battles" and "the Author of peace and lover of concord." So it may possibly be of interest to recall from m"mory a few qf those occasions, when wuh weapons laid aside, we were able, sometimes in large numbers, sometimes with a mere band v', to spend a few moments in communion with, and in common wor ship of, our common Father. Not that every Sunday was' available for such gatherings, for the urgency of our work often necessiatod an early and protracted advanca which effectually upset any arrangements that had been made for Divine Service, and sent us marching when we had hoped to be at prayer # together. Such disrppoint ments were but a part, presumably, of the discipline laid upon us, and taught the thoughtful ones that, though indisputably a blessing rests upon the MWembling of ourselves together for praise and prayer, yet one can hold spiritual converse and commune with God in one's own heart, even in the execution of a wearisome and monot onous duty, and that the soldier on the march may be "walking and," at the same time, ''praising God," But nevertheless—and we thank God for them—-we have had many gatherings for worship, and these in many strange places and under still stranger circarostances. The instances I quote must needs be from my own experiences, for " we speak (with cert ainty) that we do know, and testifiy that we have seen." On pushing as quickly as pos sible up the country by rail, it happened that our first stop was very early on a Sunday morning, at a place ef some considerable importance from more points of view than one. I got about early to find if there was any chance for an early Communion, and soon heard the tinkling of the bell of a little tin mission chapel not far away. I found that the Holy Communion would be administered at 7 o'clock, and I went in and found myself to be' the only white man, save the clergy man who took the service, in a con gregation of "natives—Zulus, Kaffirß, Basutoe, and Gape-boys— men and women, So quiet and so devout, men and women arranged according to primitivb custom, these simple souls entered fully info the service, their voices joining melodiously in the Com munion hymn, '■ I am not worthy, Holy Lr rd," with instrumental music to spoil the harmony, and, throughout, the sincerity of their worship seemed to me undoubted, Mat y years had passed since I last joined the native i Christians in worship, but I felt at this service, as I have always felt, that we English Christians have in some ways much to learn from those whom it is our mission to teach. My next duty w^s to relieve my hard working brother of some of his Sunday work So at 9 o'clock, when the hot. African sun was making its power felt, and the sandy soil radiated the heat, I held my first parade service in South Africa, and spoke to many who were afterwards with us in the forefront of the battle, of " the power of Faith " as shown in the case of the woman with an incurable disease, and I pray that the Sun of Righteousness may have shone into the hearts of those present, quickening them bo that they might show their faith in Him who died to save them. Here the one regiment and the small body of artillery and engineers formed a nice gathering, and as the bandsmen present led the sing ing, the hymns went with a heartiness and* swing The service was bright and I was told; helpful to many. Three hours later found us again on our way and at 4 80 we reached oar destination Here I found a zealonn clergyman, whose name is not unknown in connec tion with the earlier part of the cam paign in temporary charge of the sta tion then occupied by a regiment I was connected with some three years back, aud in which, therefore, I was well known. Here were many friends, oificerp, and men, who were not forget ful of olden days, and it was a great pleasure, on my arrival, to join in their Sunday evening hymn singing, and say a few words of encouragement to them. There have been hard days for them siDce then, many that were there have bren called to their reaf, others stricken down by (iista.se or wounds ; may they have shown themselves as good soldiers of Jesus Christ as they have ever prov ed good soldiers of the Queon, While waiting at this station for our troops to come up, we bad several services and meeting?, both of a formal and informal kind. Amongst them all there stands out vividly in my memory one occasion when, on the side of a kopje overlook ing the camp, a handful of earnest men met to close their day with prayer and a few hymns sung by the uncertain light of a lantern and the feeble rays of a waning moon, supplemented by a little quiet devotional talk. It was & touching scene, and recalled the Master on the hillside with His disciples, and His comforting promise : "If two of you shall agiee on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father which is in heaven. The next Sunday, after we started on our march, had its strange experience, and following immediately on a severe engagement, blended in a striking way the'sad and soothing offices of the Church. Tne men of such regiments as were there, together with a sprinkling of the Naval Brigade, attended for Divine Service as usua', and immediately after wards there were buried, close by, the bodies of three naval officers who had fallen the day before. Then the Holy Communion was celebrated in a little garden belonging to the bouse occupied by the General, wbere, with a soreen of vine leave* and a drum for a table, we obeyed the Master's order : " This do io remembrance of me." The occasion;

was one to remember, for afore another c*ine, there was a no table battle, in which one of our com municantg, and he a leader amongst Ul passed into the more immediate pres ence of his Saviour. So, wherever we camped for t» Sun day, we bad our service, at which it >was our wont to* 1 make the men sit down,'' when hymns were sung with' j zest, and the plain words of the [ preacher listened to attentively. Aft«r the parade service always followed Holy Communion, and under whatever circumstances the service wai possible sometimes in a violent duat storm, bttft more often in the burning sub, officers and rank and file knelt bare headed on the open veldt to receive "those dear tokens" of Christ's Passion. Tt can be readily understood that often the voice faltered and the eye got dim when we canse to the passage in the prayer for Christ's Church: •We bless Thy holy Name for all Thf servants departed this life in Thy faith and fear," and the memory of those who had been with us all along, and cow had laid down their live?, fasfewl instantly across our minds, just at :ftt the passage before we had appropriated the prayer for "all thost who ate in trouble, sorrow, need, sickness of any other adversity," to our own people at home and with us, whose condition is in those words so accurately summed up and expressed. It is wonderful how the samiliar prayen of our dear old Church, sanctified—though alai, too often stereotyped and «o robbed of their meaning—by the ute of ages*. adapt themselves to the needs of her children, and how thankfully the people "sing the Lord's song in » strange land." Scarcely ever did the Psalm for the day fail to supply some* thing as helpful as it was appropriate. As 1 have hinted, there were Sun days on which, however, we strove, we were unable to have a service of any kind ; but, nevertheless, on each such days it was quite evident that the men as they marched along were fully alive both to the fact that it was Sunday, and also to the absence of that worship which should mark that day. One could hear the bumming of some familiar hymn, which showed where the thoughts were, and may be that was accepted as an offering. Many, we feel sure, were present in spirit with dear ones at home who were pleading for them before the throne of Him " unto Whom a.l hearts are open, all desires are known." But refreshments came at last, and words cannot tell how great a luxury it was to find one's self joining in our tioie honoured form of service with the familiar chants and hymns within the walls of a well ordered church. How this was appreciated by officers and men, was shown by the crowded eon* gregfttions in khaki which locked to to the services at 9, 11, 5, aud 6.30 at the cathedral at Blofmfontein, Over and over again, wh* n the fever hsct fcegun to strike down those who, from overstrain and under feeding were all too ready for its attack, have men spoken to me from their bed of pain and weakness of the comfort and re freshment of the services after our arrival- In very truth they could say: "In the multitude of sorrows that I hsd in my heart Thy comforts have refreshed my sou." It was not a little thing tha>. once again before going to their long home they Bhonld have shared in that faint earthly foretaste of the worship in which hereafter they hoped to take part, and taken from it some word of encouragement and enp» port for the hour of pain and suffering and the brief journey into the Master's presence. So during our stay in Bloemfontein there was continuously, week by week, this vast throng of men who had faced death undaunted and would hare to face him again, coming to blest their Creator for their preservation, to lay before Hlcn their needs both for body anJ soul, and to plead for those sear and dear to them. It was an inspiring and touching scene! The veneral Chief, with his own life-long grief to bear, and the vast responsibility of a great undertaking for bis Queen and country; men of eminence and world-wide repu tation on bis staff, officers of all ranks, and the sturdy, brave, resolute rank and file, all lifting heart and voice together. During this period of rest, which however, paradoxical though it may seem, was also a time of restlessness, for we chafed at inaction and yearned to " go forward," two Sundays at least had to be spent at points along the line where a force had to hold position* of importance within the lange of the enemy's attack. Herp, too, we were able to have our services, in one of which, certainly the prettiest spots we had as yet seen, we mastered a good congregation amid surroundings and under circumstances which will apt be easily forgotten We were encamped l>y the banks of a river only too familiar to us at another part of its muddy courßey Hard by wberp weWod t| worship was the grave in which only on the day before we had hid to rest, the body of one very dear to all who knew him, a promising officer, a staunch friend, a real Christian, one who would have left his mark on his battalion had he lived; and has left a fragrant memory which will not die. Behind, as a background to the scene, was the broken railway bridge which in its days of usefulness had spanned the river, and as it stood seemed to be emblematic of that young life, full, but a short time back, of strength and power, suddenly snapped* From our service, in which his memory and the sufferings of his wounded comrades were not forgotten, we passed to our after service of Ho!y Communion which we held in the stationmaster's oftce. A strange place indeed; but foe the time hallowed by the act of obedience, and, we will trust, in closer communi cation for the nonce with tbe Throne of God than it could ever be with the headquarters of man's authority, eveia with telegraph or telephone, '' \ For some time after that, our oppor* tuoities of holding service were lew, and excepting on Good Friday, when we had a goodly gathering, and on Master Sunday, when all that was possible was a celebration of the Ho!y Communion, we hacj no service at ill tiji May 13th. On fchat day, ionap two miles out of the little 1 towW'df^Eroo^U stad, we had our usual morning services which we gladly weloomed after being so long deprived of any opportunity of joining in common worship. We wers

THB AFBBUBIOK OUAB lAN TtJESBAt, MAROH \% Joi'l



NOTICE TO ADVERTISERS ST. PATRICK'S*SPORTS DAY IN accordance with our usual custom the Guabdun will be issued early on the afternoon ol THURSDAY NEXT, St. Patrick's Sports Day, Advertieers are therefore requested to send In advertisements intended for that issue by 12 o'clock Noon*



FOB SALE. 4 CHOICE HOMEIn AHentoa. Fall ptrtienlftrs on ftppHostion, F. FERRIMAN, Land and Estate Agenb FO R SALE. ALLENTON. Near the Woollen Factory, A N^IDEAL HOME, with whioh ooaid JTIL be oambiDed a profitable Poilsry Furm. I have been instructed by Mb Jambs ftn» to 8«U bia well known property, slttufee as abo»p, comprising % aoree of land, on wbieh is erected a comfortable house «f five roome add aonilery with pamp inside, stable, trap and chaff houses, also a large fowl honse and run ; part of the load is laid out is orohard and is well stocked with choice fralfc trees. The property adjoins Messrs Kersel, Doberty, and Holbotough. It has an ample frontage on two road*, and is situated in close proximity to the pnblio school. The reason Mr Beid has placed this property In the market ia that he h*s purchased a Farm at Marten, in the North Island, and is desirous of settling thereon at an early date. F, FERRIMAN,- Land and Estate Ageot TO LET, CARTER'S TOBKAOE, Tiowatd,: HOUSE fof sine rooms, detaohed^Wash house, also good Stables, with acres of land, part of wbieh is laid oat ia % good orchard. F.|FERRIMAN, Land and Estate Agent TOWN SECTIONS I HAVE several Sections in various part of the Town for sale, well adapted for building purpose! or for holding for fatur profit* F. FERRIMAN, LAND AND ESTATE /.GBKT. fmmmmmm 111 1; mi iiimiwiiii bmj; hi m ihi ■ 11__ 11 j ll \ \ WE h«ve juet opened up the most selrct varieties of Grate and Hosrth XILB& e^er seen in Aehbtirton # iiEGLsTEH GRATES REGIfcTiSK G ;TBS| John Orr & Co., ASHBURTON



AHEAD OF THEM ALL. ALL PRACTICAL AND BXPfiKIENCED RIDERS SAY ARE THEIR FAVORITES, They"are th© beifc that money can buy Theyjare the cheapest in the long run They are thoropghly up to data Thpy are good, honest machines PRICE—£2I. Call and inspect for yourself. We will guarantee to p!e»ee and tttit you. OATES, LOWRY ANi CO., Zealand ia Cycle Works, BURNETT STREET, ASH BURTON MITCBfXL AND TURNER.-; "IvXCL< THING FACTORY. | %\'- E have just concluded our HALF-YEARLY STOCKTAKING iind | hsve thrown out a lumber of odd lines, which we have marked at prices that will effect a epeedy clearance. -=SKE THEM AT DOOR.= MF»»S HATiD AFP SOFT HATS AT Is EACH. MEN'S SOFT SHIRTS. A IJtiei VAPIFIY OF TIEF,AIL REDUCED TO Uk \% Men'B Lfßtbi i- ?l.oes 6s 6d, Men's Kid Shops 10s 6d We wen's Canvus Shops 3s 6d, Children's 2 6d Men's T«n Shoes 6a 6d, Men's Tan Boots 15s, Z, CLOTHING FACTORY. WA L L P^ APER. 8. \% r E HAVE TO HAND per the laßt Home boat—29 Bales of the very ateat ARTISTIC FAPERHANGINGS, the Colonringi and Design* o which are decided works of art Included in the shipment are Beaatifa Friesea and Borders to match the Papers. I hold the largeßt Block of WALL PAPERS in South Canterbury Clients can therefore rely uponh ing a large variety^©! each reepeetfTe sort to choose frem. -ttttt/na-IT HOUSE DEOORI TOR AND SIGN- J. WILbU-N. o"ssK2* P 0 Box 16. Telephona ~COOPER'S_SHEEP DIP. Facts for an! Figures. 1. Britain is the great manufacturing centre of the Sheep Dips whfch are being pushed in this colony, 2. Ifc le also the Country which them to the hatdeet poßßible fees's in use, for nothing taxes the abiding properties of Sheep Dips so seTerely as the WEATHER, and few difs there are that can wifchstand it. 8. she "ROYAL" is the Greatest Annual Sheep Show of the World and the Representative Ftoek Gathering of the British Isles. Thesa three disconnected facts c rabine, howeTer, ln^addtog] to the weighty figures of the last Boyal Show :— Total Prizes Won by Sheep ... . ... ... 162 Cooper-Dipped Sheep Carried off ... ... ••• I*o ■ Balance, for division amongst all other Pips ... ... 22 ANALYSIS. *—" " j Champion. | First, decond. Third. Total. COOPER ... ! 5 S6l 55 19 140 __OthOTjpipg ... 1 ,J_±JL_lL-- 3 22 nnnPTTR'S DIP tbua sfcored 90 per cent of the First PnnaEslor 125 Leading Sheepmen exhibited, 104 practically voted for COOPER. It is nearly the same with the Sheep owners the world over, who laßt year 1«TO) used BBffidnnt of "OOOPfcR" to dip aboub 200 Million Sheep An facKMe'tf nearly^2s Millions over the jalea o! the previouu year. FBISDLANDER BROS., LTD, A G B N T 8. & oabd. A R> ALOOEit'-s S»le—A pl«ndi< «look J\. of Men's and Boy»' Clofchiog at I? W WTTTTfjOMRFi grently^^ reduced prices j Boyt' Norfolk Saiti V. IN. V\a.lX\j*JUi.DXJi at 11b 6d, worth Isi 6d } Men's Btrong SURGEON DENTIST, I Kaispoi Twe«d Trouaers 8s 6d, niaal price Us 6d ; Ladipe' Hose from 6d t> pair t » Banndsrs's Builrlings. Aehbuftoa. special line mt U ; a great variety of Men's Tkrhs Modkeate. and Bov»' Straw Hats, mosti fee sold Ladles HOI7BB OF ATXKSDANOK : 8«ron Oxford Sbnpg from 6* Qd 9 p^Ttii' 5 /m" ' 1 201 A Cough Care, Wahoo, Kooubah and 4t Beojftoain Q«n» go t« Aswavweos gmoke Wow VenHS D»o 0*