THE ASHBURTON TRAIN SERVICES

Trains cave Ashburton daily for— OHEIBTOHUROH—at 7.20 am, 11am 3.15 pm,76pm (express) TTMARU—at 10.55 am,3 50 pin DUNEDIN—ab 12.54 ptn (express) SPRINGBURN-afc 4.25 p m Trains arrive daUy at Ashburton from— OHKISTOHURCH-ab 10.45 » m, 12.48 p m (express), 8 pm TIMARU—at 10.35 am,2 55 ptn DUNEDIN—ab 6.57 pm (express) SPRINGBURN-ftt 9.45 » m

EPHEMERIS

SUN.

Mail Notices

Mails oioae for the following places as under, subject to the necessary alterations WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27 For Northern Ports and Weitporfr, also Monte Video, Teneriffe, and United King dom, specially aridresßed via Moute Video, also parcels for United Kingdom and Con tinent of Europe, per Zealandia, to connect with Rimutaka, ab 6 30 p m FRIDAY, March 29 For Northern Ports and Westporh, alao Australian Colonies (due Sydney April 4th), South Africa, etc, per -Westralla, ab 630 pm

Commercial.

ASHBURTON STOCK MARKET

The following completes our report of yesterday's «a!e :— Competition for breeding eweß was not no strong a* at the Fair, and a reduction on former prices had to be accepted by vendors. Good store lambs held their own fairly well, and a good clearance waß made of these, and for the entry of rams fair trade resulted. The following ia a record of the sale of stores :— Old oroßsbrod ewea—9l at 6b 9d, 54 at 8«, 97 at 8s 6d, 89 at 10s, 126 at 10* 3d, 107 at 10s, 97 at 9j 93, 237 at lie 3d ; sound mouths, 450 at 13s, 248 at 15s 7d, 149 at 12s 7d, 234 at 14s sd, and 144 four and six tooth ai 16s 6d. HalfKfred ewes, four tooth, 18s 63 % sound mouths, 240 at 16a 3d, 236 at. 16s, 61 at 16a 6d, 112 at 15s 9d, 278 at 15*, 132 at 16s; failing and broken moa fhs, 93 at 11s 9d, 14 at 10s 6d, 130 at 9a 6d, 436 at 13b, 232 at 12s 6d; merino ewer, 387 at 10s, 127 at 8s 6d, 143 culls at 6s 9d, 37 merino wethers at 6a 3d, 650 sound mouths, but ia backward condition, 4a Scl. Crossbred lambs—2o4 at 12s 63, 100 at 13s, 399 at 13s 24, 177 ab 13a 8d s 400 at 13s 3d, 246 at 13s 3d, 139 at 13s 6d, 88 at 12s 9d, 24 at 10', 18 at 10s lOd ; halfbreds— 55 at 13s BJ, 51 at 13s 2d, 75 ab 11s 6d, 68 at 12a 2J, 162 at 12s 9d, 110 at 12s 6d; two lots of ewn lambs sold well m 13s 6d for 265, and 13s 8d for 207 Bams— 1 English Leicester at 2£gn*, 3 at 2gos, 2at 3gn, 3at 25a; Downs—B at l^gns, 11 at lg, 1 at 2znß, 4 at lg, 1 at 2J >,na, 17 Corriedales at 15s each Pigs—B forward stores realised 23«, 25 small stores 6s each

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit WEDNESDAY MARCH 27, 1901.

The agitation which is being promoted by a few persons m Allenton for a main school there affords a further illustration of the old adage that the more people get the more they want. ■Some years ago a similar agitation was £Ot np for a side school m Allenton, chieflj by fche same persona who are work ing now. l.'n that occasion they were assisted l y some of their representatives on the Boroagh School Committee, and i they succeeded ia inducing a member of the Board of Education, Mr J W Sawle, to support their demands before I that body. The result was that Mr i Sawle and another member of the ! Board were sent up here to investigate I matters, and eventually the u^ual practice m simitar circaaaetanpes was departed from, and the application for a side school was granted. There can be no doubt that this concession was directly opposed to the long recognised rale of the Department, that except under special conditions as to popula tion and locality, no school should be established within two miles of another. And members of the the Education Board have since stated that had the circumstances with re gard to Allenton been fully understood, the side school would not have been granted, afe anyrate not m the position it now occupies. If a side school was to be of any advantage to the people living a mile and a half and more from both the Hampstead and Borough Bchoole, it should have been placed somewhere between Creek Road and Belt Boftd, forming the apex of a tri angle with tb© other two schools, As it is the promoters of the agitation, most of whom resided m toe yicioity of the Woollen Factory, succeeded m getting the new school erected about half a mile from that locality, and only a mile and a quarter from the Borough school. This left the children about the populous district between the North Belt and the saleyards still over a mile and a half to travel to any school. Apart therefore, from the view of this movement put forward by Messrs Oraighead and Siicock at the meeting held last evening, that a main school at Allenton would necessarily lower the echool status for the whole district, fcjha position, we have pointed out is now sufficiently well known to the Board, to render the failure of the attempt to have tlie Allenton akia school raised to a main ! school a foregone conclusion. The Board as to consider the claims of all portion 8 o£ the district, and it ia not likely thab it will act m this matter without carefully investigating all the circumstances Perhaps, if the persons who are comp'aining about their child ren having to walk a mile and a half to the nearest school, along good roads, knew that hundreds of country children are compelled to go twice, and even three times that distance, often over bad and lonely roads, they would not be so dissatisfied with the arrangement they have already induced the Board of Education to make for their special convenience. We strongly advise them to let well alone,

High School Spokes—The High school boys will hold their annual sports on Saturday next. The headmaster desires to thank the old boys who had arranged to assist, bnfc owing to th# delay m asphalting the track the meeting cannot ba held on a Thursday. The Old Boys' events have, therefore been removed from this year's programme;

Local and General.

Slow-—At yesterdays stock sale eleven minutes was occupied ia the n»!e of t> pen containing nine sheep. Wkaiher Report.—Captain Edwin fore casts :—Moderate westerly winds giaas rite, indications of a cold night. A Quesn's Wedding.—A desoilption of the wedding of Queen Wilheltnioa to Prince Henry at) the Hague will be found on our fourth page. Bouthebn Encampment.—WalkonMti has been seleoted a« the site for the Southern \ Mounted Rifles Easier encampment 0 Ma or I Hawkins, of Southland! will probably have charge* This Frisoo Mail— The Sao Francieoo mall Is expected to reaoh Ashburton by [ special train abbot 2 o'clock fco'tnorrow afternoon. , PnofBESSITI.—A meeting of ratepayers of Temttka lest night decided to recommend the Council to adopt a surface supply of water for the t~>wn at a cost of £450, and a drainage scheme at a cost of £1200. Thm Queen's Birthday—lb reply to an enquiry from this office the Premier sends the following telegram ;—Ye», the 24th of May will be observed ac a public holiday until further Ofders.—R JSeddon. A SucOEtsaTO. COM#fNT—The revenue 0* the CitizW Life Office for the year just oloaed exceeded last year's by £36,000, and is the largest on record for the Company. The reserve fuod now stands at £640,000. New assurances within New Zealand amounted to £400,000, Special Thain—A special train having on board Mr MoGowao, Minister of Mines, Mr A L Beattie, Locomotive Superiotendant, j Mr H J H Biiiott,under Secretary for Lands, | and a few passengers from Wellington j arrived from the north at 445 yesterday afternoon, and after a stay of a few minutes went on South. The special also brought a North Island mail, A. M. R.— The Ashburton Moantei Ril^s will go into camp at Laghmor on Thursday, April 4th. This is the last time the corps will assemble for training prior to the re view before the Duke and Duchess of Corn wall at Ohrietchurch io June next. The members are therefore expected to attend, m order to make themselves thoroughly efficient for that occasion, . . Clean Bill 0? Hsklvui— At the meeting of the Timaru Borough Council, held on Mon day night, Dr Reid, Health Officer, stated that the town was m a very clean and healthy condition, and to that he contributed bbc lack of disease m the lowd, wh<ch, he said, was now m a better sanitary condition than he had knowu it for years. He advo cated that cleanliness should be followed up everywhere, and thab every gully In the borough should be inverted. Ashbubton's Grain Business—-'Few per sons outside of Ashburton know whab a very large grain business is carried on through Asbburton,' said a visitor to the to#>n yesterday. He informs us that he counted during the day upwards of 120 drays with grain waiting to be unloaded at the West street stores, There were twenty eight ab one time, and West street being blocked some were standing for a good distance up Burnett street. A Good Idea—A district order has been issued from thoSouth Canterbury Volunteer office stating that returned troopers seeking light) employment while still unfitted for hard work may register their names ab the rffice, with a view to obtaining situations! Employees are invited to offer or suggest suitable employment for euoh men, and volunteer officers are invited to co-operate. Magisterial—At the Po'ioe Court- this moroiog before Mr R. Alcorn, Jl?, for drunkenness a firot offender was coßfcted and d'Beh»rged ; Thomas Murphy «»• fined ICh Hud 2i cab hire for a similar offence. John Burne wob charged with stealing a hicycle of the value of £10 from Dbvane'a Ho'el. —The presiding Justice said that BB the cose wa* not desired tn be pressed, find 'hat the bicycle was said to have been taken by mistake, he would dismiss the case, Accused was ordered to pay for all damage done to the bicycle Ambi-Dkxtekity—How many pc pie can write with both hands 1 Q>ieen Vic toria was one of the few who cultivated this accomplishment, which is also possessed by one of the man who figure m Her late Majesty.s new century honours—the Hon. Chandos Leigh, QC. Sir Ohandos Leigh, who is Recorder for Nottii gham, frequently takes notes with both hands at the same time, Wjllo^bs Whsleyan Churoh —A gift auo ion and Bsjie of work m connection with the Willowby Wee'eyan Churoh will ba held tomorrow. This is a special effort to defray the expanse of additions to the ohuroh. A service will be conducted by the Rev Pr Mor ley at noon, and m the afternoon ond evening a gift auction and tea will be held, uddreeseg given by ministers, and speo'sl singing bj the ohofr. Lames As A Body-Guird— " Austra lian ladies are accomplished horsewomen ' says the " Daily Chronicle," "and It Is proposed to organise a thousand of them as a bodyguard of the Duchess of Corn wall And York at the opening of the Commonwealth Parliament. This pro posal fa capped by another, suggesting an escort of a thousand lady cyclists. Both Ideas are novel and picturesque, but whether the Duchess would care to be completely surrounded by her own sex Is not quite ao certain." AN iKSUKAIjrCE A.GENE CeNSTTRBO A Press Association telegram from Wellington states that Mr Whiteing's tailoring premises at W»sro* were found to be on fire on Friday evening, two bags of charcoal beiog In a bla^e. Mo one lived on the premjaea, and Whitfliug was aapattng them ne^t day. At the inquest notbin? was clicked to connect) anyone with the fire, but the agent of the North British and Mercantile has > £100 In his name on the stook, which he supplied. There w»b not, however, £25 worth m the shop, and the jury cenmted him for not seeing the stook wa^ kept up to the amount of the policy. Had the fire smouldered a few hours longer, there wou'd have been a serious blaze. An American Vibw—The San Francisco examiner gives the following answer to an enquiring subscriber :—You can get an en? thusiastlo account of New Zealand's inetitu« tions and resoursed m Henry D Lloyd's 11 Newest England " However it is pro bable that there is some diaoonnt m the matter somewhere, as there Is a steady migra tion of New Zealanders from the island. The number of whites emigrating from New $eaiaj*d m 1898 was 16,150, which is some thing pyerf per cent of the white population This is sad to bp about the normal figure and woujlol icdioate unsatisfactory conditions of eonsfl 8OT» The immigration into New Zealand, however; is slightly m excess of the emigration, The climate of New Zealand is good, rainfall sufficient and the area of productive soil is |Bsge. AjL^eniw School — The adjourned meeting at Alleatcn School last evening ! convened for the purposp of endeav^url^ to raise the status of Allenton io a Bfaih school wbs well attended. Mr A Hewson I was appointed Chairman, and after Messrs I Oraighead, Berryman and Silcocfc had spoken against the proposal a motion which was supported by Messrs Porter, Chapman, Preaton, Hewtton and others was carried to the effect that as the i householders m tha locality considered the time had arrived, when the status «f the school should be raised, an application to that ©ffeofc be forwarded to tha Edaoa tlon Board. 25 votes were recorded for the resolution aid 2 against. Subject to I the appointment of the Education Board the following boundaries were suggested. South Ashburton River to Winchmore School boundary. North Mltcham Road, po^talnlng toNB Belt along to Weet Belt and trance to the river. The follow jng Committee fas appointed to obtain names of petitioners to thp requisition for deapatch to the .chairman of t.He Education Board.

You can depend en ridding your children worms with Wade'a Worm Figs, the ,aote|u Worm Worriers—ls timoite New y^ngip

CORRESPONDENCE

(We do not hold onmives reapooiible (or opinions expressed by our corwppondecti

THE MAYORALTY.

TO THE EDITOR j SIR,—An artiole under the above heading m your i«flue of the 12th inst, signed " Britisher,'/ ought not to be allowed to pass unnoticed. I will refrain from passing any remark* m reference to how long or bow 1 short a time Mayors ought to remain m office at » time, further than to say that surely the most competent candidate avail able should always be elected, irrespective of how many years he may have occupied the position previously. I belong to a good many iv this Oonnfy who entertain a very high opinion of the ; present Mayor* fitness to perform with grace and ability the duties^ social and otherwise, devolving on him' as M*yor of Ashburton. It m quite immaterial whether Mr Frledlander wait born ion British soil or not; he hat become natur alised, and judging from his loyal attitude m connection with the sending away of troops to fight for the British empire, and on the death of oar late beloved Queen, I am strongly; of the belief that the Mayor is quite as true a Briton as "Britisher." I have taken great interest m the style of the correspondenoe by wire which our patriotic acts entailed upon the Mayor, and I can B.s»y with confidence that) Mr Chamberlain him self oould not have done it m a more satis factory mauner. As I am a staunch Imperialist at heart, and have two near relatives at the front fighting for the King, I fee| quite pleased that our Mayor is a gentleman gifted with the necessary tact and ability to attend to our correspondence m connection with such matters m a loyal and HKnly manner. "Britisher '*lays that our national and patriotic celebrations ought fitly to have been presided over by a " Britiober," end hints that should the Duke of York visit Ashburton the Mayor to receive him ought certainly to be a man of British birth. "Britisher" does not seem to be aware that the proclamation of our present Sovereign at the meeting of the Privy Council was signed by Jew*. The patriotic liberality of Mr Hugo Friedlander entitles him to the best thanks and respeot of every true Briton m the County, and I should think that no one who witnessed the kind loyalty evinced by the Mayoress, and other lady members of thsir families, m assisting at our patriotic functions, with the benevolent view of raising funds for Ration*! purposes, could feel otherwise than deeply grateful to them. " Honor to whom honor is due " is a grand old maxim m which the wnfc«r strongly believes.—l am, etc, D. Oliver*

A. & P. ASSOCIATION.

A Committee meeting of the Aehburton A & P Association waa held at their rooms on Tuesday afternoon, Present—Messrs G W Leudley (President), E Cookson, J S Bland, T N Digby, J Shearer, J Stadholme, J Small, D Thomas, J Bonifent, T F Gibson, J Stringfellow, and G W Body, Before proceeding with the business of the meeting the chairman referred to the death of a late member of the committee, Mr J M Furze, and be moved a resolation of condolence with the wife and family of |the deceased, all the members standing whilst the motion was pat and carried. Correspondence was read from the Otago A and PeSociety, asking the local Aasocia« tion to reconsider their decision not to send a delegate to a conference to discuss and i arrange various show date's, The Southern Society pointed out that other Sooieties in-] oluding Tim am and Oamaru with others, had agreed to Bend & delegate. After dig cuasion, m which members expressed the opinion that the Dunedin Show was too far distant to be considered m this connection with the local show, it was unanimously decided to adhere to the date previously arranged, and to reply to the Dunedin Society to that effeot, A letter waß read from Mr H Fried lander apologising for his absence on account of indisposition, and suggesting the appoint menfc of Mr Furnoll as a delegate on Federa tion to Christchurch, m place of the chair man, who oould not go on account of private basinets," Mr Geo. MofUe, Barford, wrote m con nection, with the death of the Iste Mr C Ensor, stating that he Understood m recog i nition of his great services to the fainting community of Canterbury some suitable memorial was being arranged, and he sug gested that subscription lists should be opened locally for this purpose The Chairman believed some initiatory steps had been taken m Chrigtchutoh to perpetuate Mr Ensor's memory, and it had been suggested that the memorial take the form of a scholarship, and a more fitting onn he thought could nob be found. He took it that it was not their place to take the first Btepe, and ijt would be better that an inde | pendent Committee be appointed to work m concert with other centres to that a systema tic combination be arranged Mr Gibson laid nothing definite had yet been done m Ohrlstchurch, and so far farmers themselves had only been talking of the matter Mr Bonifant suggested that members be asked to give 2s 6d each, but Mr Bland did not wlßh to see any such limit, as some might wish to give up to £1 or more On the motion of theOaairman the follow* ing were appointed a Committee to collect for the proposed Ensor scholarship :—Messrs Mcßao, Lead ley, Bland, Stringfellow and Horsey, and it was further decided to advise the Canterbury A and P Association that such steps were being taken locally The Chairman stated that when delegates were appointed for the proposed Federation Conference at Christohurob, he waa not then aware that the 10th of April would be the date fixed for such mooting, and aa he had previously arranged to go south at that time h« personally would not bo able to attend, and he asked for ,the appointment of a : (substitute. Be understood also" thab Mr $£eid the yjoe President would not bo able to go, and he suggested lit 8 Chapman, who was ultimately appointed* An elcptiop of a member of Committee m place of the late Mr J M Furze took place, and Mr Geo. Moßae was appointed The thanks of the Association were accorded to Mr Mawson for his framed photographs of show sheep, after which the meeting closed

THE CRISIS IN CHINA

United Press Aißodation—By Electric Telegraph London, March 24 A Beater's message states that an affray occured amongst the European troops at Tientsin, daring which two of the Welsh Fusiliers, and one of the Victorian Naval Contingent, were aabreqi and bayoneted. The Germans were the principal culprits. The French troopi' ssoWtly insult the British officers at every opportunity The civilians and military of Tien tsin gave the Australian Contingent a grand send off General Campbell pub licly thanking and complimenting them.

SOUTH AFRICA

United Press Association—By Electric i Telegraph—Copyright London, March 26 Colonel TherDeyeroit brought to Dewetn* dorp three thousand horses, three thousand i cattle, and seventeen thousand sheep. Botha's refusal of the British termi of; neaoe Is alltnating many sympathisers m \ Brnsseli, Germany, Austria, and Holland. Six British were killed and twenty wounded m the fighting at Hartebeeetefontein on Friday, ohiefly Imperial Light Horse and Yeomanry, Wellington, March 26 ! Lord Kitchener cables that Lieutenant Tuokey, of the Fifth Contingent, has been promoted to a captaincy. j

Since old Oom Paul has gone to war. We'll make ib hot fop every Boer, Bub soldier's find there's e!>e than lead To hurt » man or kill him dead. The hard rough li!e, dismal ilia, Are apt t© bring ongreyious.ehijllf, To ward off which there's one thiDg snw, A dose of Wood • Great Peppormht Cart

The Coningham Case

United Frees Association—By Electric {Telegraph—Copyright Sydney March 26 In the Ooningham case the last two days have been devoted to the examin ation of witnesses, with the view of disproving the, petitioner's statement that the letters alleged to have passed between him and the respondent were forgeries.

LOSS OF AN AUSTRALIAN STEAMER FEARED

DISCOVERY OP WBKOKAGE

Sybney, March 26 A quantity of wreckage, including a piece of wood with s s Federal of Mcl bourne, " written m pencil on it, and the body of a man, have been picked op off Gabo Island, The Federal is one of Mcll wraith McEachern's fleet. She left Port Kembla on the 20th with a cargo of coal for Albany direct, and passed Gabo on the following afternoon The manager says that, viewing all the circumstances, be id almost driven to expect the worst. Had the man been washed overboard only, m view of the'gale raging, he tbinka the captain would have signalled the safety of the vessel on th« first oppor tunity. The steamer Surrey, which signalled at Qabo a few hoars ahead of the Federal, had struck the beginning of what ia described aßa terrific cyclone I when ninety miles beyond Gabo, there j fore the Federal might have got the! fall force of the hurricane, She wag due at Albany on Friday or Saturday, j The steamer Peregrine, which hag arrived, reports that she passed the Federal a few miles north of Gabo. A beavy gale was blowing at the time. There it a possibility that the man whose body has been found, was washed overboard, and the articles, supposed to be wreckage, were thrown to him Melbourne* March 26 A message from Gabo tonight states that a life buoy, marked " Federal, " and a quantity of wreckage have been washed ashore* The body which was recovered is that of a middle aged seaman. There is still a possibility that the steamer was swept by a gale, and the man and the wreckage washed over board, but the almost general opinion m shipping circles, including the own ers, is that the Federal has foundered, She was under the command of Cap tain Oouil, and carried a crew of twenty nine, all told.

N.Z. Rifle Association Meeting

United Press Association—By Eleottlc Telegraph—Copyright

Wanganci, March 26 The weather this morning was bright, though the glaßg was low enough to denote anything Wellington Match, 600,600 and 700 yds. •even shots at each distance Webster (Akarana), £7, M 96 Q Loveday, Woodville, £6, _ 95 Humphries, Hastings, £5 — 95 Laoey, Wellington, £4 ... 92 Pearson, Timaru, £4, 92 Kemp, Gbristchurch, £3, ... ». 91 Wilson, Woodville, £3, .« 91 Thorpe, Walroa, £3 .- .. 91 Ballioger, Petone. £2 ... ... 90 King, Oamaru, £2 ... ... 90 Greenwood aod Randall 90, Okay and Taylor 89, Burns, Watts, Balfour, Needham, Gallon, Parkinson, and Captain Qkey 88, Tyler, Bairslow, Buckingham, W H Wilson, Purnell, Williams, Tobln, And Cox 87, O Hollard and Martin 86, £1 each. The All-Comers' Match resulted:—G Loveday 93, A BaMnger 97, Feait 96, Maingay 95, King 94, Young and Becking' ham 93, Gtmderson 92, and Williams 91. The leading aggregates for the Belt Are :~ I Nelcon, Woodville, 385 j Wilson, Woodville, i 384; Sergeant Okey, 380; W Loveday, 380 ; : Webster, 380 ; G Loveday, 379. WANGANnr, Maroh27 Shooting began ab 7 this morning, The weather being good, bat the wind tricky. Only 14 fired m the match for returned South Africanders, SCO aod 6QO yards, ten •hots, the pr<z9 list; being Somervtllo, Ist Contingent, $J, 31 ; Young, let Contingent, £8, 80; Garland, 2nd Contingent, £5, 75 ; McDonald, Ist Contingent, £4, 70 ; Wright, 2nd Oontingant,£3,66; Parkeir, lat Contingent), £2,66; Maylor, 2nd Contingent* £2,65 ; Harrison, Ist Contingent, £2, 51 % | Douglas, Ist Contingent, £2,42; Peebles, Jst Contingent, £1,41; Grawley, lat Con tingent, 431, 37.

The Blackbird.

BY OHAS W PURNELL,

One morn I beard a blackbird's lay Sound sweetly at the break cf day, He piped a tender «ong to move The thoughts of hit dear matt to love ; His little soul m ecstasy Poured forth delightful melody. The Spring was come • the bud had kissed A way the'wiater's gloomy mist. The buds grew thlok ; and then the trees Flushed green before the vernal breeze, from the earth iibe glowing fipwerit '" ' ' : peeped fortb |o greet |he sunny hgurs. With muslo clear and many a, trill The blackbird shook the air so still 5 She pasaion of hit strain was strong And roused the feathered choir to song. Each bird sang m its own tweet way, And »welled to' amorous roundelay. The son rose op, and his rich hoard gfrom oat his golden oaskeb poured, With pleasant warmth the air was filled And joyfully the gay birds trilled, The world a robe of gladness wore And brighter hues than e'er before. 0 blackbird, coming from afar, From distant lauds whexe dwell* the star Which glitters by the Northern Pole And Boreal soaa their surges roll, A stranger to this southern olims (Thy voice here soundeth like the ohim« Of far off, Igog forgotten, bells Whose music suddenly upwelto From our fall hearts when aomt chanae word Or ancient tune by us ia heard ; And from the depths of memory itl« Scenes long sines vanished from oar ■ eyes. '•-.-• 0 chorister J w^ops dulcet voice Has niade the heart! of man rejoice Though many centuries, and bound His thoughts m ohsins of silken sound, Let thy rich fanoy wander free, Apd fill the air with melody »-WVw Zealand lUnstr(tte4 Magazine,

THE CONWAY CASE. CONSTABLE TREHEY'S STORY. CONWAY'S VISIT TO SUMNER.

United Frees Association—By Electric i ' Telegraph—Copyright Sydney, March 26 Theinqneatin the Conwoy case was re* earned today. Paseey, second cook on the Talune, de posed that he saw Mrs Smith go forward on several occasions snd eib On the forward hatch talking with the man who subsequently died on the l9ch. While Oonway and Smith was talking hejtmw a glass m (Jonnay's hand. About ?30 Mrs Smith went aft. An hour later, from something be heard, he went forward, and saw Oonway lying m agony. Ha heard someone ask what wai the matter. Gonway replied,, •'Thli it terrible, I never felb like this before." Constable Trehey, of the Ne?r Zealand polioe, stationed at Sumner, laid h« knew Oonway. He taw him on February 10th with reference to a los% handbag, containing a £10 note and other moneys, a g<-l J watoh, and a brass ohain with a gold "pendant and oross, bearing the initials J'P.O." on one side and "M,O" on the other, a gold hand led pen, and a promissory note for £200. Counsel for Mrs Smith objected to the admission of details of a promissory note, but the Court refused to allow the objection, although it refused the Grown officer per- j mission to ask the names on the note. j Oonstable Trehey, continuing, said another j promissory note for 250, two gold rings with stones, ware also said to be missing, with a number of private tetters and papers. Witness had a long conversation with Mrs Smith ontside the Supreme Gonrt, Christ church. She told him she hid met Gonway on the 7th nit, at Ghriatohuach, and went j by the 4p m tram to Sumner* On arrival j there they want to a refreshment room and had tsa, Afterwards they both went down totheeea beach, and sat there for seme I time. Mrs Smith complained of feeling cold, and Oenway got sora» brandy and port wine. She remained on the beach while Gonway gob the liquor. Both had several drinks out of the bottle. She saw that Con way was getting drunk, and she asked him to put his watch and purse In her handbag, so that she could look after them for him. She left the beach m company with Con way and went to an hotel m Sumner, afterwards sitting on a scab outside. She remembered sitting there till about 8 o'olook m the evening. Bhe then lost- her memory. She found herself lying on a vacant section of ground at Sumner about five m the morning. She did not see anyone, bat walked to Woolston, and bought a veil there. She would not give the names of her friends m Cimstchurch or Dunedin, nor did she care to say where she stopped, If her friends knew the police were making enquiries about her they weald think there was (something wrong. If her husband in*Duuedin found out she had slept out all night at Hamner Bhe would poison herself. A boy brought her a coah containing a gold ring which belonged to Gonway. The boy knew her address through its being written m her purse. She told Gonway on the 11th that her coat had been returned. Mrs Smith told witneis that she m'gbt go to Sydney, and would give Conway another promissory note toi the £50 that she owed him, and which was losb at Sumner, She had known Gon way for a number of years In Dunedin. She left Dunedin two or three days before Oonway did. Conway stayed at an hotel. She stayed with friends. She saw Gonway on the afternoon of the Bth. She told him she had lost her bag, containing his property, and that she had slept oab all night. She told witness she would go down to Sumner with Ccnway and try to find the properry. Witness had searched, but found no trace of the property, bat oa March 9th had received from Mr J W Butlers, of Sumcer, the miss ing pocket book. C M Brooke, chemißt, of Chrl-tohuroh, recognised Mrs Smith as the woman who had visited his shop on Februaty Ist. She pur chased a few articlea, bub the apprentice refused to supply her with poiaoo, which she required lor her people at Ellesmere to poison cats and rabbits with. Witness supplied her with thirty grains of strychnine. He had noli seen her before February Ist, bub saw her frequently afterwards. On several occasions she used his telephone. On one occasion she rang up the Oxford Hotel, and asked whether Coaway was in* She bought a second quantity of poiton. This time witness rubbed the strychnine up with dragon's blood. She made some remarks as to whether it would be as strong as the other, and he replied thab he put the colour ing m to prevent the strychnine being mistaken for gali or sugar. The Bulphate of strychnine, the form m whioh the poison was supplied for sale, was soluble m »ctd, bub not m water. He was nob prepared to deny the authority quoted by the Coroner thab the sulphate was easfiy soluble m water. Mrs Smith did nob sign the poison book, because he had nob a book, just having opened bhe business Denis Fogarty, licensee of the Oxford Hotel, Christchurch, said he had known Gonway for seven years. He was a steady man, and enjoyed good health: He remem bered Oonway and Mrs Smith oomiog to his hotel. They had two whiskys each. Con way had plenty of money. He poured aboub thirty sovereigns oub of a oanvas bag when paying witness, Conway told him, when asked where he had been all night, I thab ho had a drink of port wine and brandy, and remembered nothing after, but felj; very ill. Gonway was shaking and trembling when he returned to the hotel, and complained th%t he had losb some money and documents* He looked as if he had had a fib Defective McLean detailed a conver sation he had with Mrs Smith aboard the Talune. Bhe told witness she had known Oonway for two years. She did not think he had left any money as he 'was a poor man. -She was quite so prised to find that Coiwsy was aboard the vessel at Wellington. She only spoke to him onbe. She saw him several times from the upper deck and nodded. She said to ntbriess she supposed Conway was buried |h a pauper's grave, and was glad to hear filn) nay the mari had Keen *g|yen a"re° spectable funeral. He subsequently sailed on Mrs Smith m company with the Superintendent of Polioe and obtained i farther information. He told her it was likely there would be an enquiry. She replied ehe could not see (what; good that would'do. She said she saw O nway when he left Dunedin a month before. He remained m Ohrlslchnrch three weeks, and went thence to Wellington, where he Intended to stay, bob continued the voyage to Sydney. When a»ked whether Conway held £250 worth of promissory j notes, from harself and her husband, she Bald, " I don't know what that had got to do with the matter" The inquest was adjourned until to« morrow. Reoetved Wakapuaka Maroh 2?, 1.37 pm, !EhiiOffioe2 20 pm Sydney, March 27 Detective McLean stated that Mrs Smith said her hßsb^nd bprrowed 45108 on their property aa^d deeds w^re given as security, bat there was no mortgage or any other legal writing. Sbe paid the money and Oonway handed her the deeds back. She denied ever borrowing money from Conway herself or giving Kirn a promissory note. Mrs Smith did hot go to jeee Oonway when be wai ill on the Taluoe, because ihje' was attend ing a young lady m her cabin who had convulsions, Wheja arreitftd Mrs Smith asserted her inaocenoe.

The Trouble in Russia.

United Frees Association—By Etaotrio Telegraph—Copyright Lohdon, March 25 Russia recently protested against Korea employing foreigners contrary to the understanding arrived at when the : military instracfcors were withdrawn. Korea k sending an ambastador abroad to defend her integrity.

Sporting.

•*- United Press Asuocfafcioa—By Electric Telegraph

NAPIER PARK MEETING.

Napiib, Maroh 56 The protest was upheld, and the tfekel awarded to Sirlus ; Dividend, £11 At 'r 1 H»RDL*EfI — Evening Wonder 1, Vaeaafefc 2, Torpin* 3; dividend, £2 2« BBDom?fi Hack—Lady's Link 1. Crown Frinoe 2, Uih* 3; dividend, £5 19« Fltiko. Handicap—Okoari I, Anoar*a«« and Robin Adalr deat heat 2; dividend, £4 10c Wbltrr Handicap — Goyll, Warwick 2» Derrlngootte 3; dividend, £4 S«

SECOND DAY.

March SIT There was besntifn! weather and the coarse m fine order. The atttndauee was large. Result*:— Seoonb Hack Hvbblks — Waterpors 1, Bushman 2. Emi de Tie 3. AH ftart«4. Won by a short head ; Bushman blundered at the last fence. Dividend—£s 6* BCCRBT—Qtuens Signal 1, Katrine 1, Mongotmi 3. Scratched—.papho* and (Join* Won by a nose. Time—l.lß}. Divlflwl i £16 19a. Two If sab Old—Mennra 1, Raw St Destroyer 3. Won by la bare leagtb. Him 2.16|. Dividend-£3 lit Bennwit Memorial—Jadoc 1, During* oottte 2, Tortnila 3. All iterted.

DtmiDiN, Muoh 2t The Dunedin Jockey Cl»b have decided t* take no further lotion re the Farewell HandU oap< The stakes will bo paid to the owatt of St Denis

C.J.C. AUTUMN MEETING.

Christchuicw, Marsh 16 The following acceptances bar* t**B received for the Easter Handxoju?—Malafcoa 92, fan* pero 810, The Shannon 88, Tortslb and Melwood 8 6, Benzoin 8 4, Cora Lyna 8 3, Glenogle 81, Skobeloff 7 IS, Palaver fU, Hermosa, Taarltaa, Fashion and Military 78, St Denis 77, Ostiak 7 6, Hypnotic* and Somerled 611 Great Avtvux Hakdica* — MaUtna 88, Torfcallaß 6, Skobeloff 83, Strath* nairn 81, Cameo, 713, Pampero 711, Military 79, Melwood 77, Palaver 76, Cora Lynn and Fashion 74, Hvkn * 18, Glenadale67

ASHBURTON TROTTING CLUB.

For the above meeting, to-morrew, a good afternoon* ipo:t may be looked for, and no doubt there will be a good atfteed ance. Several first-claw trotteri are engaged at the meeting, and at the track it In goed order Rome fast timei thonld be registered. Our aportlng contributor think* the following may win their respective engegemtßtt ;•— Maiden—Lignite 1, Diploma 2. District— Gambler 1, Wbarjdale2, Katfno & Lagmhot —St Simon 3, Koyalwood 2 f Linweed S. Winohmore--Dora 1, Major Bopetona 8* Valonr 3. Aihburton Eandioap—Hedetty 1, Mies Wilkin 2. Fair field™ Myrtle P. 1. St Simon 2, Llnwood 3: Da»h—Facnvwoed 1, Auntie 2, TaloarS,

RANGITATA SPORTS AND RACES.

tl'be Rangitata raeea take place to-morrow, Thursday. As there are large entries for the various eventt some exacting finlahea should be witnessed. The Geraldine Bran Band will be m attendance. Oar tportiog ooa« tribneor tends vi the following Mleotlotti :— Farmers' Plate—-GloamiDg 1, Nutcracker 8. Arundet Cap—Carlo 1, Shooting Star 2. Peel Forest Trod- -Tracej Q 1, The Popple ganger 2 Hack Race —The Lambkin* Maiden Trot -Transit Royal.

The Plague

THE SOUTHAMPTON CASE WHICH REACHED ENGLAND.

London, March 25, The lascar who was found to be safer ing from plague on arrival at Southampton from Capetown Is nor convalescent. Perth, March 28. A boy, named Shaw ha* been attacked with plagtte at Cltremont.

CABLE NEWS.

United Preai Anooiatton—By Eleotrio Telegraph—Copyright London, March 2« Brigands recently . murdered M.^ Stonehoase, of the London Society fourteen miles §»stw»rd of Tien-tsin. *' 4 Lord Salisbury is sobering ftpm * chill. ' '■' Miss Charlotte Yoege.the aafhortM, ia dead, &ged seyen^y-eight. Earl Oac(ogan retains tha L^r4 Lieutenancy of Ireland for apotbtr year. PAi«i,jr»ns|« France has begtin the c«nitnxptiofi pf two ironcladß, each costing a million and a-half aterling. Each will hare a tonnage of 14.865, with a speed of eighteen knots an hour, and will carry fifty guns,

News in Brief

Meiin Frtedlander Broi, Ltd, will mU en Saturday, April 13, by order of lfNiif Holland and Soni, their farms at Flemlofton and Waka&nl, and on the tame date, *n account of Mr Alex. Kldd, hie farm at • Ti- Ti •■■ •■' * «'^e ottao regret the feet that fbartaN comparatively ao few men attending ear ebarahea, 1* said the R v Hagh Kelly wh«a commeotiag on the reports eabatined tt ilu PresbySerißn City Mission anooal DMting it Auckland, "Bat I notice that there •** 159 men m gaol, and only 16 women, to the Ban bare a big majority there if not In toe ohorohes."

THE LATEST

SOUTH AFRICA

Serious Boer Disaster. Quantities of Guns and Attßfi nition Captured. Boers m Znlnland. UuiUd FctM Auoolatios—By Bleetrie Telegraph—Copyright . (RtMlved Wakapoaka March 27,91 a » Tbh Office 1011 »m)' London, March %$ Colonel Babington- and OoUtttl Stapyleton attacked and defeated D» la Key and 1500 men loath weet V and drove m their rearf guard, and at Vaaibank c4ptar«| f convoy of guns, M»ny Bom irin killed and wounded, bat the frMa| ioisei were slight, The Brftlsfi die* i played great gallantry and datb, oap* taring two fifteen poandero, one po»> pom, cix Mazimi, $20 rounds of fifteen pounder and fifteen thoaaand rounds of small arms ammunition, ISO rifles, 77 wajargons, and HO prisoner* Numbers of Boerf, led by renegadt British, are looting stock m Zaluland* The looters have fortified InhtaztnriQ tuouaCftin,

Another New Zealander Gone

LoHßOir, March 2$ i Corpora! J R Ltraoo^, of the Kff

THE ASfIBO.TON O'^BDIiN: WEDNESDAY. MIRCH 27 1001



Phases of ft !u!l moon Hurt quarter Lpogee lew mono 'irefc quarter 'erigee

Moog for February D H M «, 4 3 0 am „. 12 542 am «. 9 7 opm « 19 218 p m „ 26 6 8p m «, 21 2 Opm



Jafce aroh 23 „ 24 - s 27

Ki*eß 6 9 6 10 6 11 6 12 6 14

Seta 6 3 6 2 6 1 6 0 5 59



OUTS AND BBUXSBS QUICKLY HEALED Chamberlain* Fain Balm applied to a out>, braise, btfrn, §o»ld» or like injury will instantly «Uay the palo, and will heal the parts ia less time than any other treatment Unless the injury is very severe if) will not cave a »oar. Fain Balm also cures, rheo matiem, sprains, swellings and lameness F r «ale by Aahburton Drug Company CONSULTING OPHOIAN He Ernest M Bandstein, DBO AJ, F R MO, who hai lately returned after ilx years' special study in England and Con tinent, may be consulted on all oaies of defective eyesight* Daylight not neceasa ry ariifioial light being sued. Doctors' ore soriptions prepared. Fees moderate. Con pulting rooms, Cashel Street W., over M fiandajbolm i^eller» Ohristohurs*. 9to IS



REMEMBER that Mbuob's Zealandia Boot Store it the leading Beob Shop, Weoderfn yaJao At» M1&&0SJ



N.Z- CLOTHING FACTORY NEW GOODS. KKW GOODS. 25 DOZEN HARD AND SOIT FELT HATS. All the Newest Sbapet from sa. GOOD VALUE lOR THE MONBYi N.Z, CLOTHING FACTOItY. WANT A GOOD CYCLE I LAMP. Hew will a ' suit yotif COOL.—lhii explains it at). The Doplex 1b 0001. A 000 l lamp msatis ooolgM, wbioh ia easily controlled and makes an automatic Lamp possible. 000 l gas means a white light, no t xcbm presusre, and longer burnittg capacity. Ccol gasprevents the barnflr and valves from oliokiug, and does away with the danger of expansion and explosion. _ ULEj&N.—& clean lamp always works the bf St. The Duplex Is always clean, u.o« topa are iilways bright. Removing the bottom caps you remove all dlrb ftad eedisnent, and the lamp can be filled ard charged In one quarter the time naually ?cquired^with other lamps. JOHNORR&CO., ASHBURTON, , ' SOLE IMPORTER 8. AHEAD OF THEM ALL. ALL PRACTICAL A^D EXPERIENCED RIDERS ABE THEIR FAVORITES. They Mare the best tbat money can buy They are the cheapest m th» long ran They are thoroughiy up to date Th>y are good, honest machines PRICE-—£2l* Call and inspect for yourself. We will guarantee tn please and tmib you. GATES, LOWRY ANJ< CO., Zealandia Cycle Works, BURNETT STREET, ASHBUETON. WALL PAPERS. TTT B HAVE TO HAND per the last Home boat—29 Balea of the very ateafe ARTISTIC PAPIRHANGINGS, the Colourings and Deeigm o •which are decided- works of art. Included m the shipment are Beanfcifn Iftieraa and Borders to match the Papera. I hold the largest stock of WALL PAPERS In South Canterbury, Clients can therefore rely upon having a large variety of eacb respective sort fco choose from. J~.^-. r --- —/N /^-»x HOUSE DECORATOR AND SION \\ I 1 I LJ J I \ WRITER, l/V I I ill 111 Opposite Mail ©fice, t ? ? -LJUNJ 1 V/-L1 * Burnett Steest. P O Bex 16. Telephone FOR TOURING AKO ORDINARY EVERY DAY RIDING MASSEY-HAKRIS BICYCLES ARE ESSENTIAL. rHS 'Tn-scsra , Sprockets, etc, m a MASSEY abe of stoh high gkads MAXBRXAt. and the w rk pub into its roan of aofcare so carefully carried -at, chat "tha M ASSET- HABKIS bicycle will withstand thb sevbeest USAGE Couktry bidkbb who trade with the MASSEY HARRIS CUMPAE V CAW KELY UPON ABSOLUTE SATISFACTION BEING GIVEN. QUR GUAEAKTEB is A LIBERAL ONE Slid the TEBMB BABY. Second hakd Machines are taken m part payment. Oa'nada Cycle & Motor Go,, Limited, (M&HSKY-H ARRIS BRANCH) DWNFDJS DEPOT- 121 a GEOEGE .STREET. Branches and Agtnciee everywhere throoghout Zealand. MR F. N. WHITCOMBE, SURGEON DENTIST, SiUNDERS 1 BUILDINGS, (Opposite Railway Station, AihburtonJ BEGS to intimate thab he has commenced practice »b the above addreae. Having imported the latest: appiiances direct from Load on and New York, he is prepared to do first olane work at moderate fees. •?""• '-a ■."»*■" work done with cars and despatch, and ooly the beat mftterintu used. fc-.-.ppings and cute of Children's Teeth a specialty MR WHITOOMBE will Visit as follows:— RAKAIA—First and Third THURSDAYS of every month at the Railway Hotel, METHVEN—Last THURSDAY of every month at the Canterbury Hotel, Hours—9 till 1, Rod 2 till 5.