THE ASHBURTON TRAIN SERVICES

Teams cave Ashburton dally for— UHRIBTOHUROH—at 7.20 am, 11 am 3.16 p m, 7,6 p m (axpreaß) TIMARU—aii 10.55 a m, 3.50 ptn DUNBDIN—ab 12.54 p m (eipreßß) SPRINQBURN-ab 4.25 p m Trains afri^e daUy afe Ashburtoa from— OHRIBTOHUROH-»at 10.45 »m, 12.48 p m (exprea*), 8 pm" TIMARU~at 10.35 am, 2.55 pm DUNEDIN—at 6.57 p m (expreiß) SPRINGBURN-at 9.45 a m'

EPHEMERIS

BUN

Phufiee of Moon for May

Mail notices

Mails close for the following places at under, subject to the necessary alterations FRIDAY, MAY 31 For Northern Port! and Wesbporfc, also Auibralia (dne Sydney June 6th) and South Africa, per Warrimoo, at 6 30 p m I SATURDAY, JUNE 1 For Northern Porte, per Moora, at 10 39 6 tn For Northern Ports and Westpert, per Tarawera, ah 6 30 p m MONDAY, JUNE 3 For Tasmania and Australia (dv« Mcl bourne June 9th), also Ceylon, India, China, Straits Settlement, South Africa, eto, also Continent of Europe and United Kingdom ( (dae London July 16th), specially addressed ' via Brindiii, per express to oonneot with Mokoia, ab 12 30 p m

Commercial.

METHVEN STOCK SAL

There was a good entry and a fair afcten dance at the Methven wtock sale yesterday, and the following are the prices :—Merino ewes 8s; crossbred ewes 10s, 11b, 11b 3d ; lambs (store) 11s, 12s £»d ; pigm, wtanors, 7* 9d, 8e ; young storea, lls 6d, 13a ; baooners, 34=) ; springing cows £5 15s.

THE LONDON MARKETS.

The Agent for the Associated Farmers' Companies of Hew Zealand In London writing tmder date April 27th reports :— Wool.—The third series of Colonial Wool auctions for the present year to open on the 30th inst., has been fixed to close on 24th May, which allows for 22 selling days, and with a net total of about 262,500 hales. Since the close of the last sales there ' have been a fair amonnfc of enqolriee for Merinos In the London Market, and a few hundred, bales of Australasian and South African Wools have been sold at a alight improvement on fche rates theD current, In ihe manufacturing districts, both htte and on the Continent, a rather more favourable tone prevails, and there are some indications of an increased con* sumption of the finer grades of Wool. Owing to the backwardness of the Spring and the recent cold unsettled weather, tweeds have br>en m considerable demand, butnowwbh a much wanner tempera ture, the lighter fabric* are more it, 1 favour, and with B"tt!fcd reasonable weather, a considerable sale of such goods is confidently In. kod for The Australian and Canadian deman'l is improving but still lacks vigor, while wiih South Africa nothing is doing In Leicester the best Merinos are strongly held, but tranaac tons on'y talte place after much negotia tin, although the supplies available are hardly < cjual to an average consumption Choice Oro^ebreds are a little more sought after, but the chief business i"» m a good sound medium and strong Crossbred?, which are beh g used up m Increasingly large qoantl le* and prices are extremely fav«acabl". to us- rs. The fourth series of sales will commence on Sod July, the list of fresh arrivals to te olostd on the tJay on which 350.C00 shall hava arrived ; the fifth series will open on I7th September, with'a limit of 500,000 bales, and the sixth seres on the 26-ii November, without any limit as to quantity.. Wheat—There is no improvement to report m tho state of our Wheat Market, trade has been dull, spob buyers holding back m spite of the increasing supplies sflo »t. ■< n 1 valueß during three weeks hava declined about 61 par q?. on Colonist paroele. The fall would probably have been larger but for the strong Continental demand which has sproug up owing to unfavourable reports^! the German corps, and a considerable business has been done m Californian and Walla Walla cargoes on passage at firm rates. Afloat fnm all parts the supplies hava increased* to the extent {of some 465,000 f», the quality now being estimated at 3,960,000 qra as compared with 3,585,000 qtt last year, and the quantity on passige to the Continent brings up the total to 5,650,000 %ib SRftinst 5,190,000 qrsia 1900. In New Zealand Wheat so business nets transpired on o.i.f. terms. Stocks m Lon don are moderate, consequently late valueß have been maintained with a fair enquiry,' loog berried still bringing 29b 6d to 30s, and ehort berried 21 s6d to 29s per 496 lba. ex grftoaryi The following have been the arrivals into ; London from New ZealarH dosing the past three weeks: — •Waiwere,* a from Titnuru with 3,648 wheat sacks; 'VVaikato, 1 b. ffrom Lyttelton with 856 wheat sacks ; ' M imiro,' 8. frnm Lyttelton wifcn 9 246 wheat sacks, and 622 oats taoks. oatß are m good request, and mostly dearer. New Zealand Boris are 63 better, but the demand 13 not great as other drforiptions o*e* better value. Ordinary Bluff and Sparrow Bills are auoted at 24s to | 259, and Canadians 2?s to 28a per§§4 lbs | exratore* Barley—English haß become scarce, wbiob. 1 has to a oertnia ejpteat aseistaci New 2!ealan<3 j parcels, many 0! which have ibeen cleared ofl at values ranging from 24s §3 to 27s per 448 lbs ex store, aoeordiog to quality. Cocksfoot has been more enquired for at the lower values, and several sales have been made* New Zealand 17s 9d 1b seed is worth about 33s to 35a per owt ex store. Frozen Meat.—Since the easier holidays trade at Broil hfield has bean dull witft a general de^Jne, not merely confined to Colonial moat, English sod Scotch Mubton having fallen 4d to §1 per Btor>e, owing to the large supplies coming from »U Partß including the River Plate. Canterbury Sheep are slow of tals W* have declined 4dl per atone, the value of prims carcases b»ing not worth more than, 23 6d to 2a 9d per stone, anything heavy bringing with difficulty 2« 5d to 2a #d ex market. Secondary Hew Zea'and, which are In considerable supply, are neglected at 2s %& to 2a 5 5 per stone, Australian Sheep have fully shaded ija the weakness m other deßcriptionu, and prices are 3d to 4d per stone easier, large Sydney and Melbourne being now worth Is 81 to la 9d, and small ordinary Is 3d to Is 10<i per E stone. River Flate carcases have declined 41 per atone m face of Urge shipmeutg and now aell at 'In par sftone on the market. Lambs #jf® selling well, especially the smaller earofcwe*, wjbi,ph fairly maiufcain their vslne, bub there are » Jajrge number of heavy carcases offering at 2 J pie tifconja !.e«8 money. New Zealand lambs are cow worife gssd t>o 3s 9d per stene at Smithfield, and Australian 3s to 3a 4d. Frozen Beef has been steady, notwith standing that trade m American chilled has been bad, bat supplies of bhe former have been moderate; New Zealand Fores are now quoted at 2i 2d, and Jlindt 2» 5d to i2s HA ex marfeefo,

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit FRIDAY, MAY 31, 1901.

Onb of the many disadvantages of the system of Government that prevails m these colonies is the freqoont abase of patronage. It is continually happen ing that personal influence with Mini sters overrides the just claims of long service and conspicuous ability, and even the public interest* There is no necessity of ub to give examples. Hundreds of them could he mentioned, not only daring the regime of thn pre sent Government, bat under that of previous administrations. It is m her- I ent m the system of party Government that obtains m these colonies, and so long ac that continues, we suppose this evil will exist also. In a general way the public accept the position as a necessity of the order of things that has become established, but now and than the results are so very unsatisfac tory that protests are made: Not that they avail much, but they are made all the same. An instance of this has just occurred owing to the rumour that Colonel Porter is returning to the colony to take np the position of Commander of the forces m New Zea land. Apart from the question which the volunteers may be excused for ask ing, (who isOolonel Porter/theie ii the more practical one, 'what can he know of the new'conditions of warfare V, It is assumed by many that this appointment—it it be really made or proposed—-is simply made because Colo nel Porter has influence with the Cabinet. We hate heard a more defi nite reason given, but it is sufficient to say that such an appointment will not meet with approval throughout this colon?, We had hoped that while due regard would ba given to the claims of colonial officers m making appoint ments to the defence force of this country, the great importance of having the services of some of the men who hive distinguished themselves m tieuth Africa would have been recognised. The time has gone by when book theories of mili tary tictics,aud inexperienced or rusty exponents of them can satisfy the people of this country, We cannot tell what a day may bring forth m our relations with foreign powers, and we must ba prepared for any emergencies, and—in the wordt of an old time statesman— " utilise all those advantages, which God and nature have put into oar hands." This being so, we have a right to insist that the man to whom we entrust the control of our defence arrangements, shall be the best and most experienced man available* The Wellington Post, m an article on this subject, suggests Colonels Plainer, Mahon, Gorringeor Da Lisle, and there Ch.n be no doubt that public opinion m thia country woald cordially approve of the appointment of any of those officers, They have shown themselves capable men, and it would be far better to wait until officers of that Stamp could be obtained, than to make an unsatisfactory appointment now.

At the last meeting of the Borough Council a discussion took place on the question of providing a clock for the new Post ( ffice building, and it was eventually decided to ask the Govern ment *o supply one, the clock over the municipal offices, which it was at first intended to remove to the new Post Office being unsuitable, In fact, the Post Office authorities have inti mated that the clock referred to could not be accepted for the purpose sug gested. We tru&t the Government will meet the wishes of the Borough Coun cil m this matter for many and obvious reasons. In the first place it would certainly spoil the look of the new building altogether to have the four sp^cea provided for the clock faces boarded up, *vhioh, we understand if intended if the town does not provide a clock. In the second pUce we learn that the new Post Office at Maeterton, which is supposed to have been built from plans identical with those of the Ashburton building, has been supplied by the Government with a clock, and therefore, we are surely entitled to expect similar treatment. Lastly, we cannot imagine for one moment that the Hon 5 G Ward—who is said never to do things by halves—will hesitate to expend the email additional kuqi, not exceeding four per cent on the total coat of the new building m making it an edifice worthy of the district and of this eventful year, and worthy also of the able and progressive head of the Post and Telegraph Depart ment of New Zealand.

Local and General.

Tip; Cables —A cablegram from Brisbane states that a Paoific cable teat house has been erected on Soutbport bench* Loans to Lqoai Bopil!—It is notified m the Gazette that applications for loans to local bodies will be considered by the Colonial Treasurer on lat June. The Application! should reach the Treasnry to-day. McsifAL— We remind our readers, and particularly those interested In musical matters, of the meeting to be held Kb (he Guards' orderly room this evening for the purpose of considering ihe advjsableneas of forming a Braaa Band. Ano?ji?kb RoyAL CosMissroK~A Christ churoh man hits written bo the Premier urging him to set up a royal oopmleaion to inquire into the state of the teeth of children Hp Jfcya the question is of supreme impor tance to the he&Jfrh H the community, PBBsoHAii — Urn l4}cy T»eker, eldest daughter of Mr Joshua Tupker of Una town, who has been laid up m the Melboppe Hospital for many weeks, ia now nearly convalesce at;, and her father ban just received a cable message stating that she leaves that institution on Monday. Election o» School CoMMiWHiS.—The householders m the boliool districts of.Baling, jElgin. Longbaaoh, Riverside, and Spring* burn, are palled upon to elect committees at meetings to foe h,el y d pn J^onday, Jane 17ch, »t.7 30 P m PpaoN Sgoofing—The £100 prig") ofered bf the Wairarapa Qun Club was won by Mf J H White, representative of Messrs Speighb and Co., of Dunedin, with a handicap of 24 yards. The scratch, man was !#r Gorrook, of Melboarna, at 32i yards T&K Dbbyfcs Awaib—Oaptain Dreyfus it writing the history of the remarkable affairs of which he W»B the victim, His book, which i* promised for April, will tell the story of hit first trial and oondemofttiop, and will give full detail c of his experiences on De?il'i Isle, of his voyage home, and his second trial at Rsnneis. Unmsibablb Visitors—At th« contlu •ioE of the Irst day's racing at Wanganui the police gave » number of the spieling /paternity the ohoice of leaving by the first fcrfcin, or making the acquaintance of the Magistrate 6» thp following morning, The gentlemen m question were a^b anjtioua to meet his Worship, and they left by jfche fjrst train.

Tm Income Tax—lncome tax re«mras I for the year ending March 31, 1901, must be made not later than tomorrow, Jane lets. ACCIDKNT TO A Y«UNG FoOTBALXiKR — A little hey, p-x years t,f ago, named Joe Oarriok, of Ohertsey, was received Into the Ashburton Hi spits! ti day, having sustained « broken l«g, which he states was oanaed whilst playing football The More Men Fond.—ln the course of an interview at Wcngauui the other day, Colonel Jowaey was very emphatic m condemning any diversion of the More Men Fund to other channels. " That fund," aaid he, " should be kept open for the alleviation of any distress to returning troopers or those not successful m regaining tneir old employment, and it would indeed be a pity if the fund was diverted to any other • mroe." A Generous Act—Mr 0 J Harper, Treasurer of the Third Contingent w^rfund has received notice from the head office m Sydnsy of the Australian Matuai Provident Society, that they have returned half of the war risk premium on the four local men who lately returned from Sooth Africa, vfz. Corporals Harper and Low, and Troopers Gill and Lank, Needness -to s»y this generous sot is much appreciated by all those interested. This conoesiion however was not made m the case of the other Ash barton men insured by Captain Buckley. Coals it TUvmoAsnM.— Yesterday thir" [ teen trucks of bluestone passed through by rail consigned from Kaituna Quarry to i Normanby. As Kaituna !■ »bout. 26 miles | south of Christfthurch this atone muss have been earned by rail something like 30 miles when ifcreaohed itt destination. When it it remembered that bluestone oan be pro cured m any quantity within a few miles of Normanby this action on the part of the railway department certainly looks like carrying ooftli to Newcastle. > Mountb» Rifles.—A notifioation appears Itn the Gazette of tOth May constitutes tha j first battalion, Bourh Canterbury Volunteers, as under J—A. Company, South Canterbury Mounted Rifle Corps (Timaru); B. Company, Aihburton Mounted Rifles; D. Company, Stud holme Mounted Rifles ; E. Company, Geraldine Mounted RiSaa. The headquarters of the battalioa are ab Temuka.—A company psr«de of the Ashburton Mounted Rifles ! was held m the Tiawald Domain yesterday. Seventy seven of all ranks mustered, and Oiptaln Batklsy was m command, The I men were exercised m divisions by the I subalterns, and were afterwards put through company drill by the officer commanding. 1.0 G.T.—The Pride of Wakanui Lodge, No. 32, held Its fortnightly meeting on Tuesday evening last, m the main school. | The lodge was opened by Bro 0. Trevnm, CT, with a good attendance. The secretary c and financial secretary's quarterly reports were read and adopted. After the usual business was gona through, the lodge wen* into harmony, the following members con tribntiug items t — Solos—-Bros. J W Bnt terick f 0 and A Trevurza; recitations— Bros. Frampten, 8 Wilson, F and H Butteriok. (The receipts of the evening were £1 2s. The lodge closed m the ordinary way at 9.30 pm. As several new members have recently been initiated into the Order, a supper had been arranged for, which was then partaken of, and well appreciated! A Committee has been formed to draw out a syllabus for the quarter, and it was arranged to hold a recitation competi tion at the tuxt meeting.

Sporting.

OAMARU RACES.

SECOND DAY United Press Aseociabion--By Electric Telegraph Oamarp May 30 The racea wore continued today in splendid weather, and the uttendanoe was good. The | amount p»it through for fhe two days was £2720, as compared with £3929 ab last Winter Meeting Result are: — HtJBDLES—My Lord 1, The Fly 2, Dun do 3 Won easily by two lengths. Time -2 s"^, Dividend-£lO In fcTBWAKDs" Wemkr—Vandyke 1, Lodjz Tom 2, Magnificent 3 ; won easily : dividend -£5 lit Telegraph Handicap — Lady Medallist 1, Silver Rupee ?, Grandshot 3; won easily: Di?~£3 8j Henderson MBMORUL—Hermosa 1, Lady of the Inke 2, 'J'sari'Ev 3: woo comfortably by » length ; div—£3 12s Tradesmen's Handicap—Lady Medallist 1, Long Torn 2, Vandyke 3 ; div—£4 2s Tbct-Linda 1, Gertie 2, N*fferton 3: won by two lengths ; div—£2 16s Waitaki Handicap — Fighting Mac 1, Whirlwind 2, Gotdepur 3 ; Hypnotist, Lady Lilian, Sharpehell, and Grandshot also eUrted ; woa by a nesk ; div—^l3 18i

PURITY OF RACING

Uuitited Peeae Association—By Eleotric Telegraph Chkistchoecu, May 30 Sir Q Oifford, at the annual meeting of the Canterbury Jockey Club this evening, referred to the fact that the club was not as well patronised by paople m town as for merly, He gftid that this might be due tn a feeling that the turf did not represent a Bport which should bo supported, but that wan erroneous, as its leaders straggled to make the sport pure and to eliminate unworthy persons. The action that hud re cently been taker against bookmakers to exclude them from the coarse testified to the vigilance of the Canterbury Club m that direction

CANTERBURY JOCKET CLUB

Oebibtceoboh, May 30 At the annual mteting of the Canterbury Jockey Qlub the report showed receipts amounting t0£28,454, a record for the dab sod •xpenditor* £28,552. Of the receipts £4895 ban been received from nominations and acceptances, £7282 from race receipts, and £12,447 teem the tots,Hsator. The prin* cipul items of expenditure were :—Stake*, £19,165; attendance afe meetings, £1098; totalisator tax, £1951 i

OLD AGE PENSIONS

United Press Association—By EieotrJo Telegraph—Oopyrlghft London, May 30 Mr Chamberlain, m & speech to the Independent! Order of Oddfellows at Birm ingham, invited the friendly societies to present to Parliament a scheme as a basis of State aid only so those poor and aged who had made provision for themselves through Bach seoletles. He s»)d a universal old age pension was absolutely impracticable, It would enjUi! a State expenditure of thirty five millions yearly, and would disoourage thrift.

Snow on the Moon.

United Presa Aesoolatlon—By glectrip Telegraph—Copyright London, May 3Q Professor Pickering, of the Harvard University, daring the recent eclipse, from the observation station at Jamaica photographed snow on the moon.

The Plague.

Unitad Frees Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright Brisbane, May 80 A man named Tolkman hag b«ea attacked with plague at Spring Hill, Lojjdon, May 30 There were §00 frasb plague paaes io Hong Kong daring the week ended the 25th inst, and 187 deaths ciilriug the Mmc period. Received Wakapuaita May 3i, 9 39 am, This office 10 55 a m Sydney, May 31 The Karrakatta's case is nob plague

The Wellington Fire.

United Press Aaeocitlon—• By Eieotric Telegraph Wellington, May 80 The fire caused a considerable sedition m the neighbourhood, and though some people were mean enough to steal many things from the salvage, others opened their doore to those <> who were homeless. Help was urgently needed for the homelesß ones saved little or nothing. Two young women escaped only m their ntghtclothea and a blanket, which they had hurriedly wrapped round them when warned of thoir danger. Some would not believe that the fire ever could reaoh their houses, and were very indignant whtn the brigades* men and constables seized hold of their obi dren and insisted on the evacuation of the premises. In a very few minutes, how ever, iD most cases, their houses were m flames and burned to the ground. One woman, who was very ill, had to be carried out of her house to a place of safety on a shutter, together with her six days old infant The burnt oub people are now billeted throughout] the city with friends and rela tives, some families being scattered far and wide. We have one little fellow with us, end aa every now and then he remembers some lost boyish treasure, the tears Me kept back with dffioulty. He has just been on a pilgrimage to the cinders of hit home, to look tor a stamp album that he snatched up while he was dressing, and put under * fence far safety ; bub now he finds that fence and book and everything else m the vioinity has been swept away by the flames The sight this forenoon was pitiable m the extreme, Woebegone folk wandered about the ashes of their houseß, where not a scrap of wood remained, nor a blade of grass. With some the excitement had not calmed down, and they recounted the tragic toenet of the night with emphatic gestures, Here a poor creature, evidently wearing borrowed o'othee, was mounting guard over a dis membered child's/crib and a heap of grimy damp blankets- /There an uld m»n, with a pillow uuder onVarm, stood m the middle of a hideous desoUftion that once was his home. The aide of tip house adjacent tn that m which the fir| originated was burnt j*t black ■»nd had not h*lf a square foot m its windows. A peep into the two residences that were Saved, as it were, by a miracle, revealed piled up mattresses and furniture, and showed that the inmates expected the same fate as befel their neighbours. Haggard, anxious eyed, grimy women hung over the fence, heroines for the nonce, and eager to recount their experiences. The beautiful garden of Mr Device was not so moon injured as might have been expected, and a pictur esque summer house, with pink geraniums climbing over it, only accentuated the horrors of the ruins, with the tail chimneys beside it—all that remained of the hand' some, welt appointed house Luckily, there w&b no serious accident). Mr 0 Freyberg had both his arms scorched ip endeavouring to save some of the effects m his fat hei'a house Gone table O'Connor had an ankle sprained while getting through a fence, and eevera' people received oontu' I siona from pieces of roofing iron which were blown about by the wind m a very dangerous manner Interviewed this morning, Superintendent , Hugo said that immediately on reaching tho scene he saw that there would be a great fire, and a clean sweep. The water service was of very 11 ttle help to him, because the pressure did nob throw the jets more than 20 feet. He bad taken part m the fighting of a bigger fire than that of this morniog but it was the first time a fire had ever got away from him aa this one did. It was a fire which had spread with rare rapidity Wellington, May 31 The destruction of tho Grand Hotel, at Auckland, were the Ducal suite were to stay, necessitates other arrangements and Mr Donne the head of the Tourists Depart menfc left for Auckland this morning to enquire into the portion.

Another Disastrous Fire.

FOUR LIVES LOST.

United Press Association-—By Eleottio I'eiecraph Wellington, May 31 A telephone message received hers at an early hour this morning states that the Grand Hotel, Auckland, with the adjoining hoarding house and residence of the head msfspenger of the post office, were destroyed by fire. Four lives were lost, believed to include two young daughters of Mr Johnston, landlord of the hotel. Several others who were injured were removed tn the hospital. The Pnfttal Department is advised that the body of Mr Ayres, Inspector of the Bank of Australasia, was found m the ruins of the Grand Hotel at Auckland. Auckland, May 31 The Grand Hotel, Princess street, was destroyed by fire at 1 am. When dis covered the flimes had too strong a hold to be i»urpre«aed. The inmates were aroused and just managed to escape m their sight clothes, and four servants dropped from an upper window, a distance of 30 feet. Miss Meyer?, a barmaid, having her thigh broken. Leonora, Eva, and Nina, children of the proprietor Johnston were burned to death. When the father pointed oub the room immediately ftfter getting out, the whole interior mats was m flames. The charred trunks with the heads and limbs burned off were found this morning. A boarder named Lysner from Gisborne is missing, but it it not certain he was m the hotel. With the greatest difficulty the barmaid a wert rescued. One was carried oub hysterical. The servants who dropped from the win' dows were cut and bruised but none but Mies Meyers were severely injured. Praoti cally no affects were saved. The hotel was owned by Mr Moss Darts, and waa valued at £8000. The property was ineuted m the Imperial and National, the hotel for £6000, and the furniture valued at £4000 wae owned by Mr Johnston, and was insured m the Norwich Union, The Masonic Hall was damaged by the walla falling outwards, A portion of the Royal suite would have been put up at the hotel. Later. Miss Wallace, the housemaid, is dead, as the result of her injuries from the fall m escaping from the Grand Hotel. Insurances :—lmperial £3000, National £2003, New Zealand £2000, Norwich Union £750, South British £500

CABLE NEWS.

United Pr«">B Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. London, May §9 Mr Francis Howard, secretary to bhe Railway Department of the Board of Trade, will encased the late Sir Oourtenay Boyle as Permanent Secretary to the Board of Trade. The Assembly of the Church of Scotland, by 168 votes to 14$, adopted a report) declar ing that alteration cf the confossjon of faith requires Parliamentary legislation. Dr Cameron JLeee, Deap of the Chapel Royal pf Scotland, and the minister pf St Giles' Cathedral, Edinburgh, expressed their strong dissent front the deoisiou Delegates, representing 115,000 workers, voted against the eight hours' and minimum wage proposals at the Miners* Conference, and not 315,000 as cabled last sight Mbibouenb, May SO The Baptist Conference has adopted a resolution against any alteration m the coro nation oath. Bf ay 30 Mr Grainger, member of the Assembly for Wallaroo, has he'enappointed Agent General at a salary of £1000, m succession to Sir J A Cookburn. The local doctors are unshaken m their opinion that the case on the Arcadia is one of smallpox, despite the Melbourne doctors decision to the contrary. Briß#4N)b, U&y 30 Mr Murray Russell, Of Dunedin, has been appointed Inspector of Mlnsi for the southern district.

The Broken Hill Disaster

———•— — United Press /isHooiation—By Kfeotrio Telegraph-—Copyright Sydney, May 29 At the inquest on the Broken Hill accident, m which six men were killed m the South mine, the evidence given , showed that some of the miners objec ted to working m the place where the fall took place, considering it unisfe. Tht jury returned an open verdict, and added the opinion that the accident might have been averted if the deceased and the underground manager and the Inspector of Mines bad taken more care

A relief furad haa been started

The Federal Commander-in-chief,

GENERAL POLI-CAREW'S SBLEOTION URGED,

United Preai Association—By Eleotrio Telegraph—-Copyright

London, May 29 The Australian troopa m South Africa, «re strongly urging the selec tion of General Pole Oarew as the Federal Cooimander under the Aus tralian Commonwealth.

THE CRISIS IN CHINA.

United Press Association—By Eloctrlo Telegraph— Copyright) London, May 29 China objects to p«y & per cent interest on the ir.dtmnity May 30 The foreign Ministers favour China's immediate resumption of the adminis tration of Ohi-li province Coant yon Waldersee orges that the provisional Government remain *t Tien tein until the troops are with drawn

Coloured Labour in Queensland

United Press Aisooiation—By Eleotrio Telegraph—Copyright Melbourne, May 30 The debate oa the Address m Reply was continued today la the House Mr Paterson (Queensland) said he was anxious for the gradual abolition of coloured labour, bub ib would be un-British to annihilate ib instantly. He hoped no action would be taken bill a Royal Commission irquired into the subject. In the Senate, Mr Daweon (Queensland) ■aid the presence of Kanakas m Queensland was not a pressing trouble. They did nob want to ruin the sugar industry by tweeping away its mainstay without timely warning. They should first stop the influx of nlieos, and then oust those already m (he States.

SOUTH AFRICA

United Press Association—-by Eleotrio Telegraph—Copyright

Lokdon, May 30. Ihe Boers are strongly enforcing the native hut tax, under the rifles of the Middlebnrg garrison. They brutally flog and threaten to exterminate the coloured scouts employed by the British. Two hundred Boers surrendered at Palypie, aod forty-two waggons full of men, women and children at Tuli. Yiljoen, with 400 men, attacked Colonel Plumer's convoy southwards of Bsthel on Saturday. After a sharp engagement the enemy were repulsed* | Six Boers were killed and thirty wounded. The town guards at Tarkastad, Mol teno, and Queesstown have manned the trenches, to be m readiueas if attacked.

SUPREME COURT.

United Press Aasooiatloo-—By Electric Telegraph - Copyright Auckland, May SO At ths Supreme Court the evidedce m the case ngaintt . Jamea Charles Skioshury, charged with indecent assault upon a Maori woman afc Waiharea, wa« concluded, and the jury brought m a verdict of Dot guilty. Judge Oooolly, who bad summed up strongly against the prisoner, said he did aob.wonder j at the frequency of oases of assault upon women when juries brought m such vezdicte; Accused addressed some remarks about hit ionooence, but hia Horor interrupted him with ' You «re discharged, and you may oontidcr yourself very lucky ' Sabivr. May3i« John McCusky was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for indecent aseaulb Csbistordboh, May 39 At) the Rupremft Court today Jamas Bowie Kirk was charged with having stolen rarioua aurns. aggregating £295 4s 3d, all of whloh had been received on terms requiring him to aocounb for thorn and pay them to J B Wickenden, It was contended for the defence that the relation between the prosecutor and accused was simply that of creditor and debtor, and that tho prosecutor had only a civil remedy. His Honor reserved the poinb for the Court of Appeal, bus left the issue to the jury whether the accused hai orhadnot fraudulently omitted t«a«o«unt for certain moneys. The jury returned a verdiob of guilty on this point, and tentenoe was deferred pending the decision of the Court of Appeal, and the accused waa liberated on bail

News in Brief.

The " Petifc Bleu," Brussels, states on authority that Prince Louis Napoleon has been married to Princess Helen, daughter of the Grand Duke Tirdinilr. " Pare as a Lily" Is the linen dressed with Lily brand starch • All storekeepers A writer m the '♦ Pall Mall GUsatte," who is a believer m the theory that! cur i weather goes through cycle* of changes, makes tho cheerful suggestion thai: for I the next six or ten years ihere will he web summers and severe winters, Sc George Jams are made from the finest fruit and arc true to name* Try them. AH grocers Ex-President Steyn's wife, whom one may see any day driving about; m her carriage reside< m her own house, rent) free, m BloemftSnteiu. It is said by Mr Bennet Burleigh that the British authori ties m.ake hef $n allowance of 4280 a j nrnth. I 86 Gorge Table Delicacies — Potted Tocgaes, Ham, Chicken etc.—are the best procurable,

The Royal Visit.

IS AVAL DISPLAY TN SYDNEY HARBOWR.

ILLUMINAfIUN OF 'I HK WARSHIPS

kyDNEY, May 80. The chief event to-day will be the grand naval display m the harbour. The Duchess and a number of the Royal party yesterday visited the National Park. Melboubhe, May 30. The Dake has consented to give a sitting to Mr Tom Roberts, the well* known artist, for a large historical picture depicting the reading of the Royal maPßi*g«* at the opening of the Common* wealth Parliament!. Sydney, May 30 * Taday was Naval Day m the Royal pro* gramme. The Duke m the dress oi ft Rear Admiral, accompanied by Ltord Henetean and their staffs,, proceeded m the Ophir's steam launah. bearing ou iti bows the Duke's badge, to the Royal Naval Depot, at Gardf a Island. As they passed the warships (he equadron anchored at F*im dove fired a Royal salute. Rear Admiral Beaumont and the officers of the squadron received the party at Garden Island, where the Dnke reviewed the bluejackets, Royal Marine Artillery, and Light Infantry from the warahlps—nine companies m all. The inspection of the Depot and the < ialand was * followed by the planting of a tree by the Dnke, who was presented with apadea made ftt> the Naval Workshops. The handles were made from the old colonial warship Nelson, and the blades from plates oi the Royal Arthur. One was for the Duke and the other for the Dnohes*. This oonaloded the ceremony la the afternoon the Duke and Duthees and the members of th« Royal party attended a garden party at Admiralty House. fr<m the lawn they watohed a (natal dig?lay m the harbour. As the party crossed to Admiralty Hoaee between the ;Jnei of war* Bhipi, whiah were gay win a profusion o! hunting, the harbour . presented a beautiful Bpeotaoie. A Royal ealate was fired, the yards were manned, and rotutieg sheers greeted the Royalties as they passed ttoh Teiiel. The naval programme oonsiated of a review and a aham fight, fifty warship/ boata of all deßoriptiona taking part. Firat tha boats {formed m doable lines, asd watt reviewed by the Dake and Dnohesa. Shea the boats formed up between Fort Dettiaon and the fleet, all saluting service fasblen at they paEsed Admiralty Hoose, Then a fresh formation was taken up, and at a : BiKnal the boats, the largest; of wfaioh Ware armed with threepounder fuiek firing guns, and the emalier ones with rifles, attacked the fleet, both boats and ships opening ire. Then a bugle sounded the charge, and the boats dashed for the warships, and the news attempted to board, both sides keeping up • heavy fußiiade. Theicene while the battle lasted was ezaiting and piotureeque. The harbour tonight presents a fairy ilk* foreground to the city illuminations* The warsbipa Royal Arthur, Ringarooma, Wal laroo and Mildurs, at enored In Neutral Bay, the Ophir and the ornlsert Jnno and Sb George at Farm Cove, and the Rasaian vestel Gromoboi, are outlined with electric and ohaoging lights* Search and arc lights are fUahing across the waters, adding to the effect. A number of other vessels m port are participating m the display. Immense crowds are vidwing it from the foreshores md afloat.

Sneeker Done

A tall official looking man, with ft pocket book m his hand, called upon Sneeker, and observed—-' I beg joor pardon, Mr Sneeker, but I believe yon possess a—ah, yea—a black retriever dog with a white patch »n his breast.' Visions of unpaid dog taxei bant upou Saeeker, and with great energy he replied—■• Oh, no ; ob, dear, no! Nothing of the kind. He it a poor stray brute who followed me home, but he does not belong to me ; indeed I've told tho Bervact to take him to the police station halt a dozen times.' • Oh, indeed, ' eaid the Granger, 1 that m all right, then; Only my client, Mr Kobinson, accidentally that the dog this morning, and I came round to compromise the matter by offering yon five pounds; bat, of coarse, if he it not your dog—why, good morning.'

Unrest in Russia.

United Press Aa«ooiation—By Elaotrio Telegraph—Copyright

St Petbbsbobg, May 89 Order h&B betn restored m ths town and district of Obukhoff. The Bosnian Government it enquir ing »b to making coneeasiom to tht workers.

THELATEST SOUTH AFRICA-

A DYNAMITED TRAIN, SEVERE SKIRMISHES. United PreßD Aseooiatixm—By Elecbrto Telegraph--'Copyright) Received Wakapuaka May 31, 122 km This offns 10 IS » m London, Maj3o Mfcjor-General W. Knox «v ftbemrd th» armoured train recently dynamited tooth* werda of Tredeforb road, One offset md » iergeact were aevtrely injured, Colonel Alienby on Saturday surprised Joschim Prmsioo'i laager «t Wiigerover, capturing many Boers, rifts, ammunition ■ad cattle. Liebenberg'a oommacdo of four hundred strong twice daiporately attacked * convoy at Reitfcmtein Drift. The Boera wer» reputed with the lobb of fourteen killed and nine wonnded. Fifteen Btitiih were wounded. Boer raiders in the Yioinity of GstariWig havn reoroaaed the Orange river.

The Situation in China

United Preia Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright

Received May 30, 943 am Lokixm*. May 3§. The Vienna newspapers complain that the Chinese problem is still noaolved ; reaction ary mandarins are unpunished; and of ali the Powers that intervened Rusaia aloes derived advantage.

Home and Foreign.

United Press Association—By fileetric Telegraph—Copyright (Received May 31, 9 27 am) A RUSSIAN SCHEME. S'f PETKRBBUR6, May 30 Count Kurcpatkia, the Rutiian liiniater of War, has tubmitted to hit colleagues m sobeme for oompuUory military service in Finland, bub Ministers have to a large extent rejected it. MOTOR RACE. Pabii, May 30 The winner of the Paris-Bordeaux motet raoe oovered 345 miiea in 524 minefcdn, averaging between fcbe towoi SO mtlM M hoar. Received Wakftpaak* May 3i» 131» ID Thii Office 1055 ft m FRANCE AND GERMANY, BnilN M«y SO General Bounal, of the Frenoh t«4rvio«, w»» preaent at a review oat^ide Berlin. H* afterwards rode at the head of tba Prowlaa Brigade through the capita!. The Kftiaer paid h% itcriking atceotioae, and called for Gheera for the French array, who, he taid, were brother! ia amu in China with i|t QtrmaDi,

JHE ASHBtJfcTOK ; FRIDAY, MAf 31, 1901



May f» It

28 29 3C 31

••

7 22 7 23 7 24 725

«Pt,H 4 32 4 31 4 30 4 2S



Full muoß .Last quarter Apogee New moon First quarter Perigee

D 4 26 20 18 25 17

H M 6 49 »> 5 10 p m 4 30 am 5 8 p hi 5 10 pra 6 30 pm



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ifh^Jllf^^mm -Jie* TilY'riilW-imiitiii TbillWilln...mtml nr'-in'Hiiir -■-iiil"iiiillitirT'l lor- -- im, -■, ftjifrftfa- JIU *. m™- N.Z- CLtiTlilNU FACTORY. OTATERPEOOF^OOATS aod Oapea, 21s to 80i f ? COVERT OO ITS, He, OEBaTBRFIBJLDS, 26i 6d BOYB' WATKaPaOOf OOYRRT GOATS and REEFEKS" -—{©), — GrRKAT VAU'^TY Waterpro; U Mj.do to Maaaurp—-Wear Guarantned 200 PatfcsrDS to chooi?a from. N. 2, CLOTHING FACTORY -RANGES. RANGES.= SCOTIA •PEERLESS 6 BANGES SCOTI'S 8 ATLAS' RANGES BKINSLEY'S 'OHAMPION' £JLKGES SHAOKLOOK fS • OBIOIS ' RANGES HEPBURN'S «KAPAI' RANGES Largest • Stock. Lowest Prices JOHN ORR & GO'S. AS H^B U,R T O N,