COMMERCIAL.

THE AGENT GENERAL'S CABLE.

j United Presa Association—By Eleotrio } Telegraph I Wellington, April 15 ! The Agtnt Cfoneral's cablegram, dated ] London. 14ih, is as follows ;—Mutton, vary firm, average price of Canterbury 3§d, j Dunedin, Southland, and W.M.E Company j IZ§ J, otber North Island mutton 3^d. Lamb ! is quiet 5 Canterbury brand s£_, othrr New Zealand lamb Bd. The boof market is exoited, and very firm. Supplies of Amerioan ohilled beef are small, and likely bo deoreae.. The stock, of New Zealand on hand ate light; New Zealand hinds 5&1, fores 4^i The marketß for bubter and cheese are good j butter 105 a, cheese 54..

THE PRICE OF FLOUR.

Dunedin, April 15 Inquiry was marie today a« to the prioe at whian Australian flour oould be brounhb into the market, end the following quotation was reoeived from Melbourne :—Country brands £9 2. 61. f.o.b, . qaivaJenb to £11 10s in store at Dunedin. The iooal quotations for good milling oats are 2< 61, a rise of 2d within a week j oatmeal, £13 10s per ton, a riae of £1 since Monday

ASHBURTON STOCK MARKET

The following completes onr report of yesterday's eale :— Sheep—Fab merino ewes 4s 5d to 7s ; fat crossbred ewea 7s to 12.« Butchers lines- Fat wethers 14. 10$ } shores—bwotoo.h crossbred ewe. 10s 9d tolls 6d; boilers from Is to la 2_.; lambs 7s lOd to lOi Id ; n.3rii_o ewea *.i3l, merino wethers 4. 6d to 6a, small two tooth oroaabred wethers B<s Id, crossbred ewes 3s 3i; bwo too.h crossbred ewes 11a 7d, merino boilers Is 9d, lambs 10s 2d, merino ewea 3s 9d to 43 3d, crossbred ewes 8s 5d to 9a, sound month halfbred ewes lis 5d to 13s Bd, two tooth crossbred wethers 12s 9d, old ewes 6?.

Asgburton Guardian MAGNA EST VERITAS ET PRÆVALEBIT WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16, 1902.

The disaster which haa happened to our Eighth Contingent has crested widespread sorrow and sympathy not only throughout New Zealand, bat in every part of the British dominions. It is one of ihe most piioful incidents ia connection with our biys that bas happened since the war bfgan. The young soldier who goes to tho front has learned that his country's enemies may out short his career at any timn, or that the cruel enteric may strike bira down before he has bad time to •cbievfl the distinction he went away to gain, Our boys have bravely taken these risks into consi deration when volunteering for South Africa, and their friend, here have become so accustomed to read of these casualties that they are to some ex tent prepared for their occurrence, But the awful suddenness of this la.t calamity has given ua a greater shock than any former disaster to our New Zealand troops. The men themselves must feel it more than they would foel a similar loss incurred in the ordinary operations of the war, for their comrades have been cut down before even reaching the front ; and the regiment has lost more in this single disaster than any other New Zealand Contingent except tbe seventh has yet dune in any one engagement, Everybody is naturally anxious to know what caused the «accident.' We are amongst those who think it very likely that the catastrophe was not the result of accident, for we know what extraordinary precautions the British military authorities in South Africa take in transportiog their troops from place to place by rail. It seem, in credible that—if the line on which the New Zealand regiment waa travelling was merely subjected to ordinary super vision, and the usual pilot engine pre ceded the train—a collision or a derail ment could have occurred. But in view of the extra precautions which we presume would be taken to ensure the safety of a train carrying a thousand troops to the front, we are unabte to believe that the disaster was entirely the result of acci dent. We know the remarkable facili ties the Boers possess for gaining accurate information concerning the movements of British troops, and we incline to the opinion that a bold attempt bas been made by traitors to destroy the New Zealand Eighth Con tingent. The unusual delay in supply ing particulars of the causes whioh led to the wreck of the train, lends some colour to the view we have taken. But, whatever may be the cause of the catastrophe, the relatives of the victims have the heartfelt sympathy of the whole community in their sad bereave ment.

Local and General.

A Donation—Mr W W White has presented to the Old Men's Home eight bound volumes of the Lytklt-m Times. Tub Price of Whsat—A line of wheat, Hunter's and Tasoan, was sold yesterday at 33 lOd a buahel at a country station. Legislative Council—A Pfess Associ ation telegram from Hokitika says :—ltia announced that Mr James Holmes, of this town, haa been called to bhe Upper House vice the late Hon. S A Bonar. j A DB-EMBb,—A 6reman of the ata^tper [ Angola, named Carl Jan.en, who deserted from the vessel at Timaru, and was at Hinds on Monday, was brought up at' Thwart. ye_terday,and wa_ sentenced to three days' Imprisonment, and to be pnt aboard the steames? again. Training Vessels for New Zealand —A Press Association telegram from Auckland states that in furtherance of the i proposal for securing a training ship for New Zealand natives, the Hon. W. T. Jenninga, in telegraphing good-bye bo the Premier, suggested tbaj. fee' should endeavour to secure from the Imperial (Government obsolete war vessels, one for the Jlorth Jsland and the otfrer £ 0 _ the South. Pbomobb—Fart-iaes roapd about Bro * are busy drilling in their nest Daort' , ' • • In spite of the stoppage sesgonsorop• .5* th§ W weathw of operations throng. * " , w _„,. n t.».' Dromore residents may co^* 6™^ themselves on the progress they have oe^... making, especially when those in other di. _r_a_* have not finished carting In,

Find op- Co^Lts- \ wire from Greymouth states that a second flaatf. pj! piagnificenb coal, 12fb thick, has be.en'gone ".hrt^&ify in the Dobson bore hole at a depth of s?2fb, a top seam, of 4fb 9ins, ie separated from the |2f. seam by twelve feet of stonet The 4isooyery w regarded as the mosb irnpor tanb one in ,the district. | A Waste op TiMB-rOfteai we have noticed oydiets, wasting their time in walking, .imply beeanse they have no lamp, Wesßrji Oates Lowey and Co have landed an enor mous assortment of oysliDg capes, laqips, cheap mudguards, eto, ©to, and their Ashburton branch are selling ab exactly same prices as tbe Chriatflhuroh shops*

OotmsiNG—A meeting of the stewards of 1 the Ashburoon Coursing Club took place la b | evening, the busine.B being details In con nection with the meeting on May the Boh and 9th. Small Birds—Daring the months of May, j June, and July tbe Ashburton Oounty Council will give three farthing, per head j or 6a 3d per hundred for heada of sparrows, . linnet, and lark.J j Depabtdeh of Tenth Contingent—Ex- j onraion furaa by r*il to Ghriatcbucch for j the departure of the Tenth Contingent are I advertised in thle iaeuet | 1 Hobsb Fair—There Is a large entry for j Messrs Friedlander Bros', Limited, monthly I hotoe fair tomorrow. About) 160 head of \ light harness horees, hacks, and draughts' ' will be offered. j A Heatbd Axle—The axle of one of the callages on last night's express having become heated, the carriage was taken off daring the stay of the train here. WILLOWBY—The harvest thanksgiving teameetkig of the Willowby Methodist Ohurch will be held on Thursday evening, when special mn _ie will be given by the choir and addresses by ministers and others,

Technical Education —• A telegram , from Chrititchurcn si ate. that the confer ence appointed by delegates from local bodies to consider the advancement of technical education decided to request the lccal rating bodies to form a guarantee fnnd of £500 to organise associated classes under tha Manual aad Technical Instruction Aob. Not so Bad After All—As showing how careful farmers should be when making provision against bad weather, we were info-med yesterday, by a well known farmer, that when raking off the top of his stacks, to his surprise the wet had not penetrated to anything like the depth he had anticipated. AxmoßA AUBTRALIS— A m.gnifi.enb dtp play of the Aurora Australia was visible aboat 8 o'clock oa Friday evening in the Gore disbr _ob, and continued f.r a consider able time, tbe characteristic vertioal streamers of light moving with unusual rapidity and affording a most brilliant spectacle:

New Zbalano Farmebs' iJnion—Mr W Harding, tbe UTaion's Provincial Secretary, invites the members of the Union and the general publio to meet him at the following times and places ;—Rakaia—Monday, April 21; Methven-—Tuesday, April 22; Spring burn—Wednesday, April 23 % Ru.puna— Thursday, April 24; Hinds—Friday, April 25; in eaoh ease at 3 pm. Dairy Factory—A Dunedin telegtam state, that the South Taieri dairy factory, recently acquired by Irving and Stevenson, is being fitted up with a modern milk con densing plant, and tho new industry should be started within the next few weeks. The BUCC393 of the industry will depend very largely on the establishment of a direct steam service wi'h South Africa, as the local requirements will be comparatively sm.U, and should be overtaken by the firm's new factory in Taranakl. j Tim Fprikoeixd Estate —Mr Duncan Cameron, having decided to cab up part of his well known estate ab Springfield, near Methven, has instructed Messrs Friedlander Bros, Limited, and D Thomas, to sell 5000 acres of the property in various sizsd blocks. The sale takes p'aoo !at Messrs Friedlander ! Bros' saleroom, Wesb Street, on Saturday nexb, and as the land to be off-red is in a high state of cultivation, and exceptionally i ea.y terms can be arranged, the attendance of buyers should be large. Intending pur chasers will be shown over the land on j application to Mr Cameron. Plans of th* estate have else been prepared, and can be obtained on application to the auctioneers, Educational Institute.—The aonual meeting of the Ashburton Section of the New Zealand Educational Institute was held in the Borough School on Saturday. Tbe resignations of Mrs Willis and Mr Hardie of their positions on the Executive were ! accepted with regret. Ti_e election of officers was then procesded with, and Mr Thomas Mitchell was unanimously elected President, Miss Fechney and B_r G.orge Culverhouse Vlce.Presidea.s. Oommittee— Misses Bennington and Thompson, and Meesrs Brown and Kerr; Hon Secretary and j Treasurer—Mr R S Paaraon. A motion was ! passed expressing regret at the death of Miss Buck, who was a member of the branoh, Mr Ttrock, in bringing forward the motion, alluded to the deceased lady's perseverance and euacess as a teacher under very trying oircnm.tartoes, Votes of thanks to the retiring officers and the chair terminated the meeting. The Flow 'Market—The Bouthlaud Timts of Monday says :—We are informed on the best authority that the local millers, '■ Messrs Fleming and 00, have just cabled a large order for Manitoba wheat to Canada, and thab this will be supplemented in a day or so by a heavy order for flour. The perplexed oondibion of She New Zealand market and the difficulty of obtaining flour are the can.es whioh have led to this step ; being taken, and the wheat will be landed at a figure equal bo the prices now being j quoted in Canterbury. Oa his way home I fvom hie reoenb trip in foreign lands, Mr Fleming made provision for snob a contin gency, and his arrangements fer doing business in this way with Canada are now bo ba carried into practical effect. The quality of flour made from Manibohan wheat is well known, and the imported product is regalariy quoted in Australia at far above the price of Victorian flour, ao bhab its superiority should make the venture a success. CRtCKET—The usual fortnightly eommlbtee meeting ot the Ashburton Cricket Club was held en Monday evening. Present--Messrs C J Taylor (chairman), Percy Orr, Archie Lane, L F Andrews, W Crowther, and S S Choa.i Various details were dealt wibh by the Oommittee, and accounts were passed for payment. The Chairman said thab bbc .cricket season being DQW oV er. he would like to take this opportunity of .hanking the Committeemen, one and all, for the help i they had always given him in managing the | affairs of the Club. He was afraid thab be had gob most of the • kudos,' both from bhe press and the public, while he was certain thab if it h»d not been for the able help of the Commit.cc, the Club would not be in the flourishing condition it now is, He had worked en nnmorous Committee, in con nection wibh sport, bub he could conscien tiously a*y that he had never worked with a batter Committee than the present one of bhe Ashburton Cricket Club. (Applause) Mr Percy Orr, in replying for the members of the Committee, spoke in eulogistic terms of the yeoman servioo rendered by Mr Taylor, both as Captain of the Club, and Chairman of Committee, and said that he would always remember wibh pleasure that he, (Mr Orr), was instrumental in gebbing Mr Taylor nominated as C»p,.aln of the Club, Mr Archie L«e endorsed Mr prr'a remarks, and said that the Ciub had showed undoubted progress during the season of Mr Taylor's • regipie.' The meeting tsrrr.ina.ecjl ( TajlobX-TG—Mr 3§j_err, one pf t|ie leading cutters for Bw»nge and Company's tailoring department (Christchuroh), will be in attendance ab the Ashburton agency of the jj.rtp (Mr B*udray's), from 11 a it) on Saturday next, Isih inst, bo • iSb on' bbc ojfders already entrusted bo him, and to book frp.h orders. Straage and' Company, tailoring is deservedly popular, while all commissions are executed in a sty!^ bsfibtinjj bhe rpputabion of this popular house the prices are most reasonable ,<_« (Anr#.) Ah Important Pab'j.—All Budge Whit worth cycles are fitted with dust proof ball beariogs of the mosb approved design. _' -'ova forms are used, each having been adopted in & wHcular place as the re-vlb «f «vh_.nsbive experiments and long actual experSf-R S JosmWW, agent, Burnett Streeb, Ashburton; Any of our readers requiring & U__»P a**"*, de'spr.pity? .should pay Messrs Fletcher _?' 08 establishment' a yieij. $p t£ey have just opened up an immense sh.puieH.t otf iau.jj ? $f all kinds, which their have'marked ab tjie lowest payable prices. Their window display will give you an idea of the large stock they carry Tho Sydney Mai} of March 22 is reapon ! aible'for the following:— * A London cable of March If states that some of the lambs condemned' in a oon..ig^.m'ej_!> of frozen meat from Victoria weighed only lslb and other?

Weather Forecast — Captain Edwin 1 wires:—Moderate to strong winds from between west and southwest and south; glasß .i.e. The Pbics of Bread—The bakers of Ashburton announce thab after the 17th msb, the prioe of bread will be raised one half penny per 21b loaf, Oasterbuby Hug by Union—We have raobived from the secretary of the Oanter- Rugby Union, Mr W G Garrard, a copy of the Union's annual, a handy little volume containing no end of Info.mitlon interesting to footballers

Hockey—Practice for all members of the Club will commence at 2.30 p m t>havp tomorrow afternoon. A match will be held, A team v B team, at 3 30 p m, when the following players will represent tho respective teams ;—A team- Forward.— F Watt, F Olark, H Milliohamp, F Clark, J McCaskey; halves—A Silcock, G-Dodds, F McDonald ; threequarfcera—A Mllli champ, W Smith ; goalkeeper —D Stock. B team—Forwards—W Huston, W Crow ther, W Moore, F Rands, M Baker; ; halves—E Marsden, Humphries, T Adams j threequarters-W Amos, F Amos ; goal keeper—L F Andrews. Emergences— Any other member of the Olub. The members are requested to roll up to practica in view of the forthcoming matches. A Novelty—-The Khaki bicycle ia now being fitted with the two-speed gear hub, whioh not only gives free wheel, but has the additional advantage of allowing the rider < o change his gear at will from a low to a higher gear whilst riding, and oan be in spected ab Besb and Towae's, Saunders' Buildings,

CABLE NEWS.

United Prasa Association—-By Eleotrio Telegraph—Copyright!

A GIGANTIC TRUST. _Sew York, April 14 Mr Frick, the American iron magnate, has formed a steel trust with a capital of forty million pounds, as a rival to Mr Pierpont Morgan's great trust. The new trust controls many mills in the Eastern, Western, and Central Districts of the coal mining areas of tho United States. TURKEY AND BULGARIA. CONSTANTINOPLE;, April 14 Ottoman troops fought a party of Bul garians, killing eight of them. The garrisons on the Tarko-Bulgarian frontier have been reinforced on both sides. AN UNSUCCESSFUL FRENCH CRUISKIi. Paris April 14 The French cruiser Jeanne d'Arc made an nnsuccessfnl trial trip. The vibration lof the hull was so severe that unless remedied it will be Impossible to lay the gana. A GOVERNOR DEGRADED. t Cairo, April 14 The Egyptian Governor, who was charged with torturing a native in con* section with the alleged theft of a null, ha. been dismissed from his post. THE REBKLLDN IN CHINA. London April 14 A thousand of General Ma's troops have joined the Kwangsi rebels. MR ALFRED HILL. Sydney April 15 Mr Alfred Hill, conductor of the Liedertafeiand othermnsical organisations has resigned, owing; to ill health. He returns to New Zealand. A SWEEP PRIZE WINNER. Hobart, April 15 W Bramley. FUumai, won the third sweep pris.9 of £225 in the City Tattersall's Hind-cap. j

News in Brief.

Roller skating Is again 'catching on' in Christchuroh. Some of the crops in the Oamaru district, usually out before bhe end of February, are .till standing. The potato crop of the Clutha district is bo a great extent effected by a disease prevalent in the Home country, . Tho annual dance of the Ashburton Mosical Union will be held on the 7th May.

Tenders are invited by the Wakanui River Board for raising and widening about ten chains of embankment. Tenders close on Saturday. Mr Herbert Gresham, surgeon and mcc* h-nioal dentist, announces that be will con.nr.enoe practice in rooms next Mr Watson, solicitor, Burnett Street, about May Ist,

An election for two members of the Mount Hutt Road Board will be held on Thursday, May Ist. Nominations close on Wednesday April 23rd, Messrs Friedlander Bros, (in conjunction with Messrs Dalgety and Oo) will hold a clearing sale on the homestead of Mr John Withell, Ealing, on May 9th, ! Messrs Morrow, Ba.satt, and Company Invite inspection of their Excelsior ploughs and cultivators! Any fair trial is given, and the prices should suit all. The firm has plough shares otall sfz.s in stock. The fruitgrowers of Motueka will probably join with those of Canterbury in making a shipment of fruit bo London, A Hamilton candidate for the Tenth , Contingent was rejected on account of his height—6ffc 6in, He communicated with | the Premier, and received a wire allowing him to proceed to the fropt, A Southland back bloolfs toper, against! whom a prohibition order was Issued recently, is said to have oonsumed in his hat ia 24 hours tho o.nfcen .sof six bobbles of wblsky, two bottles of sauoe, and a pint bottle of Ink. ! During the past three weeks twentyone oa_e3 of infectious disease have been reported bo the Timaru Borough Council, There were twelve oases of soarlot fever, five of diphtheria, one of chicken pox, one of measels, one of typhoid fever, and one of phthisis. The largest profits m.de in the English cycle trade lasbyear were fourbeen thousand one hundred and sixbyfive pounds by tha Humber Co, bwo hundred and fifty three thousand sis hundred and seventeen pounds in tyres by the Dunlop Tyre Co, and twenty one thousand eight hundred a^d thirty seven poinds in fjyole saddles, etc, by Mr J B Brooks and Go. A 8. A. oyolist, named J McDonald, had a, terrible experience recently up on one of the West Coast sbatlops. He left Mr Gnnn'u Hairg station for Oaicfcerloo on his bicycle,, but bad only proceeded a few mile? Blong an old track when _>c collide^ with a stone fence, sustaining a lieayy fall resulting in a. broken leg. McDonald lay for three days and bwo night» wibhoub food before he waa discovered. He is now recovering, Ib is said, readied M[r Seddo^ to _i:.e workers ool'rlday night, that the attltudo of New Zealand in regard to the war wasi only approved by a few. Where, he asked (and his voice rose to a patriotic pitch,) where do the young men oame from who have foughtfor the colony In South Africa*. ' 4 From Ireland,' said a quiet voice at tha back of the hall, and the assemblage roared with laughter.— Evening Post. A six days race is mooted la Sydney— 0Q_»p9.1.?„f3 to ride twelve hou.s a day in team 3of two haers each. . A Sydney syndicate has approached the NSW League wltja a ppn^sa] to rjsn such a contest next October, ' SlmiJaV contests recently held in the United States have been a great success financially, Th© proposed prize money for the race is £150, winning team; £75, second team ; £25, third team . and a bonus of £1.0 for every team tbat covers a stipulated j .§istape ? ;

SOUTH AFRICA

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright j London, April 15 i Details of Colonel Colenbrander's fight; at Malispoort show tbat the country ia extremely difficnlt. Lieu tenant-Colonel Murray was seriously wounded, and seven other British casualties occurred. A strong column attacked Brigadier Kefcpwich at Ro^ma! on the 11 th. The fighting was very hot, Most of the British were only slightly wound ed. Ihe Times says tbe Boer delegates' coi-imunication was only * feeler. It would be wwr for tbe Boprs to uncon ditionally surrender without haggling, trusting to British goneroßitj.

The Transvaal Legation in Brussels intimates that the conditions of peace include autonomy, with a shadowy recognition of sovereignty, amnesty, a huge grant for restocking farms, equality of langusges, and the cession of the Band to Great Britain. In the Hoase of Commons Mr Bal four stated tbat Lord Kitchener com municated on Saturday a message from the Boer delegates, A reply bad been soot thereto, and a further communica tion was expected. Lord Kitchener's weekly report shows 55 Boers killed, 43 wounded, 167 taken prsoners, and 5 surrendered, while 130 rifles and 5200 rounds of amtnuohion were captured. The report adds that the Boers in Cape Colony are very scattered. Colonel Bruce Hamilton and part of Colonel Williams's columns are sweep ing the Eastern Transvaal from Heidel berg to the Staoderton railway, between tbe ErmelO'Carolina blockhouse and the South African Constabulary line.

Captain R G Tubman, of the Seventh | New Zealand Regiment, died of enteric at Heilbron. Washington April 14 In order to pacify the pro-Boers, President Roosevelt has sanctioned an enquiry as to whether British camps were established in New Orleans and elsewhere for remounts. Representatives of the Southern Western States are indignant, and declare that if the purchases of horses and mules are stopped in these States, they will loseeeverai hundred thousands of dollars monthly, At the instance of certain Congressmen, who feared to lose tbeir seats, President Roosevelt has recalled the Federal remount in spector.

ARRIVAL OF THE KENT AT DURBAN.

Wellington, April 15 News has been received of the arrival of the troopship Kent at Durban, with the Snath Island battalion of the Ninth New Zealand regiment.

The British Budget.

FURTHER TAXATION PRO POSED MPOST ON IMPORTED GRAIN AND FLOUR United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright London, April 15 In his Budget speech Sir M Hicks- Beach said the revenue was buoyant, though the vaiae of foreign trade had declined, owing to the fall in the price of coal last year. The expenditure totalled £195,522,000. Tbe total cost of the South African and China wars, up to the end of March, was £165,000,000, less tho Chinese indem nity of £6,000,000, which was still unrealised, and the eventual contri bution from the Transvaal's wealth.

The expenditure next year the Chan, cellor of the Exchequer estimated at £174.609,000, and the revenue at £147,785 000. Though he hoped for peace, be thought it safer to add £18,500,000 to cover war contingen cies, fresh railways in the conquered territories, bounties to soldiers, return transport for troops, generous provision for the relief and reinstatement of loyalists and enemies. Part of such loans would be repayable from the suspension of the sinking fund, which reduced the deficit to £41,000,000. An additional penny on the income tax would yield two millions during the present year, and two and a half million, next year; He promised this should be the first tax to be reduced. The duty on bills at sight, dividend warrants, and cheques, would be in creased by a penny in the pound, yielding half a million. It would be useless to touch beer, spirits, wine, tobacco, tea, and sugar. He preferred a registration duty of threepence per owt on imported corn and grain, and fivepenoe per cwt on flour and meal, which would yield £2,650,000. He proposed to issue a loan of £32,000,000 providing the balance, £3,850,000, by dthl t on exchequer balances, He pos sibly would ask for additional tempo rary borrowing power to the extent of £10,000,000 or £12,000,000 later on.

In tbe discussion which followed, Sir W V. Harcourt said he considered a tax on com was the worst oUsg of tax devisable Mr Ohaplin, Mr Lowthei", and Mr Howard Vinceqt approved of it. The House by 254 votes to 158 : sanctioned the duty on corn and flour. A few Unionists voted with the minority with the Liberals and. Na tionalists. The Uoioolst newspapers enderse the corn and _$our duties, considering that practically they will 00l affect individuals. They grumble at the additional i__eo_ne tax, and condemn the stamps duty as irritating and meddling,

Ashburton Rifles.

ANNUAL MEETING.

' RESIGNATION OP CAPTAIN DOLMAN

The annual 'mooting of the Ashburton Rifles was held in the Company's orderly room last eveiiDg, There was a ena& mu.ter of members, and Oapfc Dolman, V.D, occupied the ch»ir, The report aod balance sheet for the year 1901 2 was read, ft><» Utter showing a oredib i balance in all of £250 The balance sheet, having been received, 1 Lient A Ciarke, as a member of the Finance Committee, strongly commented upon the manner in which the financial aff.irs of tbe j Company were administered. There wa. a properly constituted Committee, and alt accounts should be plaoed before them prior to being pad. This had not always been done, and although a member of that! committee, he waß entirely ignorant of the Corps' flounces, beyond the bald facts as stated in the balance sheet, He had asked for a meeting of the Committee to be called 1 bo discuss matters o ntained In the balance I sheet pr.viou. to its presentation to bhe I Company, but no notice had been taken of his rqaost. Ho did nob impute dishonesty, ' nor did he wish to refl .ot on any member of tbe committee, but pro.es.ed against the suppression of information. Ib was riot badness like, He moved—That tbe balance sheet be referred back to the Finance Com mittee for further consideration.

Private Marsden seconded bhe resolution* In Societies with which he was connected all matters pertaining to finance ward dis cussed by special committees, and should be conducted on similar lines by the execu tive of the corps. There was nothing I to cavil at in so doing. | Lieut Hayes, as treasurer, explained the mod. of prooedure by the Finance Com mittees for years past, aod said there had been no material change in the manner of : conducting the affairs* The balance ehes. before them showed the comp.ny'e finances had been prudently administered, and not a penny bad been devoted through wrong, channels. They had merely followed an old precedent, tbab it was not necessary to refer every trifling accoant bo bhe Committee. Whore large bueub were involved, the voice of the oompany w«s sounded* Credit should be given Oapt Dolman for his endeavours to work in the company's interests, Coior-Sergt. M .Donald said the account! had been plaoed before the Committee, and if Lieat Ciarke bad not. een all, or any, of them it was bis own fault* Corporal J Baker moved as an amendment, that the balance sheet be adopted. The accounts were in order, bat perhaps a meeting of the Committee would have iim* plified matters for the auditors. He thought Lient Clarke was merely attacking principles, nob men, and his action had been m_s.Bter« preted, Sergb Hefford seconded, and thought a lob of friction would be avoided by a better system of bookkeeping. O.ptain Dolman said the funds of the Company were vested in the commanding officer, with an advising committee to assist. The general or large accounts were plaoed before that Committee in a thoroughly ortho* dox manner, considered and passed. What more did they want. He absolutely declined to call them together to pass every little account, which evidently annoyed Lieut Clarke. He hsd followed the same custom for years, and would continue bo do so. He had brought the Company through many trying years financially, and nob a penny of bhelr funds had been improperly expended. He considered the action of Lieutenant Clarke rcflooted on himself and Lieutenant Hayes. He bad spent the bes. years of hia life in tbe interests of the oompany and tha manner of thanks he was receiving waa anything bub oredibable.

Lieutenant Clarke, in reply, said the Captain had misinterpreted his actions. He bad never imputed wrong motives nor suggested that the funds of the company had been wrongly spent: He cited the regulations in euppo.t of his contention for more details, and was sorry if Captain Dolman and Lieutenant Hayes considered his resolution refi.ct.ed on them: Th* individual members or the company should know how the money waa spent. The motion was then put and carried. Captain Dolnan announced that he wonld forward his resignation to the offioer commanding the district in the morning, and as there was no further business before the meeting, dismissed it.

An Appeal Case.

United Press Association—By Eleotrio Telegraph—Copyright Wellington, April 15 The appeal in the case of O'Connor v Hammond, an appeal against conviction under the'idle and disorderly' clause of , bhe Police Offences Act, last session, waa allowed by the Chief Justioo today* He held that habitual oon.Of ting with reputed thieves aud prostitutes must mean mora than occasional companionship, but need not be repeated associating with bhe same person or persons; to establish repute it wonld b« sufficient if several persona in the oommmlty believed I', or if the police believed it and acted on their knowledge, and the persons who associated with them knew of this repute among the police. As, however, the case on appeal did net show bhe Magistrate had found ' habitual* consortiag proved, the appeal would be allowed, with out costs,

Exporting Stock to America.

United Prees Association—By Eleotrio Telegraph Auckland, April 15 Mr Thomas Merrln has been informed by tbe Oceanic Company that the exportation of purebred atock from New Zealand to Honolulu and California is prohibited by the authorities there, on the around of the infectious diseases in New Zsaland stock, The Hon TV Duncan co_on.unic-.ed with tbe United States previously. One certifi cates allowed cattle into all tbe southern part of America, and this Is the first time that bhe United States or any of them hava questioned ib. The Minister promisee to make ecujulry. Ib is stated that there is no disease amongst stook In New Zeabnd thab should prevent the expert of breeding i animals.

Boring for Coal.

A DISCQYERY OF GREAT IMPORTANCE. United Prose Association—By Kleobrlo Telegraph—Copyright Greymouth, April 15 At a meeting of the Harbour Board to* night the foreman of the bore hole at j Dobaon reported that he had struck a seam (4ft 92n) of ooal at 556 ft* After ! borng 12ft 6ia he struck a seam (12ft) of [splendid coal. Be bored eleven feet farther to maka sure and got through all. He doe. not think it of much use going farther. The Board decided topnsh on with another bore about half a utile ! below Dobson. The unanimous opinion ioi the Board is that tbe discovery Is of : immense importance, as It points to the ; existence of an enormous ooal field of the besb coal at a moderate depth, and mem* bers quoted Mr Mc Kay's opinion on the matter.

TBE ASHBtJKTOK GUARDIAN % WEDNESDAY, AFEIL 16, 190^



F. -FERRIMAN ] I ——— i I (Corner of Middle and Allen's Road, I * ALLENTON. ! IHAVK received iuetruoti■-■ns to soil, by pr«yato treaty, three blocks oi land situated as above. Block 1» containing three aerep, ! Blook 3. aonfcaink-g three acres. Bl< ok 3, containing four acres, one ?cmd, twenty nine perches. On block 3 a well boil fi Hon*e ; h erf off d and a portion of tbe land has been laid «.u. Io garden, and orchard. Art opportunity of securing «tuill and eon r anient blocks of land such as these seldom offers, and a. ray instructions an te tffecfc an immedlato sale, intending purchasers will do well to call and obtain full particulars of the properties and taapwt at o ?cb. Kaay terms of payment can arrang ,d, and the land will bo «o!d in on-a or more blocks* F FKRRIMAN. FOR INVESTMENT IHaYB for immediate Investment the mm of £14.000 oo fimb mortgage ot rural land., at 44 Psl" ceat > ia auma t0 saitl borrower.. F FERRIMAN, Land and Estate Agent, ABhburton Comer of Graham and McMurdo Streets, Tinwald. I HAVE reoeived icsfcruation. to Sell Lob 71 oti Plan 91, .itnated as above, oontaining nearly £ acre, aud upon whioh i* erected a very Comfortable Dwelling House of f)Ur rooms. The Property ie almost within a stone's throw of the Tinwald Batlway, and as the owner is lea.fog the district I have been Instructed to effect a speedy sale Fall patticulare on »PP"o»fc'on F FERRIMAN FUli SALE. JB. INVESTMENT SHARES. FOUR Shares in the ABhburton Permanent Building and Investment Society; 3lso Jfsue. Paid np to April, 19U2. Price-£42. ,„„»,_- Apply F FERRIMAIS *~——«—. ———— ■ ™~ ■■• "~"""" ~ "~ FOB SAL! Clfttke Street and AUen's Road, Allea.ons I AM iaitraoNd to soil that very desir able residence containing 6 rooms, MB!.? and porch, together with one aore and tan p-rohe. of land .itaafcad aa above. The property in for immediate sale, and ft. the prioe a.kad should command a ready F«l' particular- may be had on appli cation to __„,_„•__._*. F FERRIMAN, Land and Estate Agent Havelock Street. ■ FOR SALS j 10 AYE received .n.tructiona from MreJ Bardley, Sanr, to sell hor property fronting on the JSasfc Belt and Eton Street, oomprimng on© acre and forty , perches of land, npou which is ereoterf dwelling house flontafDing Dioing room 18 x 16. *ii»ttog Room, 4 Bedrooms, Bathroom, Kneben acd SoaiSery ; two .tailed Stable and Fowlhousp. The property is well cwpp'.ied wiMi water ftom a wiadoGUl and tenk. fa.fc of the land In laid out h garden and orchard. Fall particulars on application to F FERRYMAN Loud a^d K«»»*« Apen', Hawl-ok Street mmmmsemww*'B'*l*'gW^ BUHINKSS NOTICES __^___________~__—-___________^^ mmWo»»Wl3mmmmm9MmmWmWmlmWK^^ WATERPROOFS fflHB Largest fetock o. Water proofs in the newest shapes, Now Opened RAINPROOF TWEED CHESTERFIELDS 42a 6d and 58. 6d BtitJß TWEED CHESTERFIELDS, 30a ORE¥ T WISED CHKSTBRBIELDS FAWN T.VBEH OHESTBKFItSLDS 42. 6d WATERPROOFS MADE TOj % MEASURE A Very Large* Selection of Water pc©af Patterns to select from THE NEW 2MIjA.NI* CLOTHING FAOTOHT IV H. BECKING. SALE, Mauager A WARNING A REPEATER. 4 143



' ___________ KUSINWSR NOTICE!. ' : GUNS- PUNS. GUNS. JUST LANDED.—SiiMfIe and Doable Barrel Breech Loading. A real Good at 45.. I>.B from 65* upward.). AMMUNITION TO SUIT ALL. .CARTRIDGES, including Bley'* Universal and Blue. Nobel's Balliatite, S_nol_e.ee-. NEW CLUB. NEW RIVAL. Fowder, Shot, o»ps, Loading Implements, Gun Oaspb, Oleaniog Rods, <fee. LAMPS,' AHO LAMP WARE- Library or Dining tioora from 27. 6d to 55.; Table from 2. 6d to 30a; Gall and in pec. the ♦« New MiiU'r." — Hand Lamps from la. LUMP GLASSES AND WICKS OF ALL KINDS, CA KPBNTSIi* S TOOLS Of all Descriptions at Reduced Prices. Greatest variety and Cheapest in A -hburton. RANGES & REGISTER GRATES TO SUIT THB TIMES. a. meßdins, The FeopleV trouu_ons,er, Burnett Street, Opposite Arcade BAIL UP! It was a common enough expression in Australia one time, and the victim was generally one o£ those folka who never look where they are going. Caution ia at all lim s the evidence ot wisdom, and in no particular should it be shown than in choosing one's TEA. You can get all kinds o. Tea in Australia ; doubtless you can get many of them where this journal circulates, and caution, therefore, is absolutely necessary. The finest, purest, most reliable Tea comes from Ceylon, not China or India, and experts of the Tea-room, no less than those of tha household, agree that Js/^^B^*m^'s 'IS FAR AND AWAY THE BEST , YjyC&'£2/2^&££ CEYLON THAT IS GROWN. j n—"Tnn^i NIRVANA TEA is picked and packed under British supervision. Each pound or h*lf pound is put up in lead in Colombo, the capital of Ceylon, and this being soldered, tbe package is made air tight and the contents preserved from deterioration. SOLE AGENT— J. T. GOOOH, Ashburton. BUY FROM ALCORN'S Q__g3yri^-h3t»lliß3V*i» -L.APIJH3S Boots ~™"~™ ["Waterproofs I Stylish MHlmery J Blouse Fiannell. and Clothing j Underwear \ Bmart> Jacket? J Flannollo.t;.. Hata I Hosiery I Drees Materials | Pretty Undenklrta JUST ARRIVE D. JUST ARRIVED—TwiIIed Striped Flan JUST ARRIVED—New Blour.n Flannel- r, fi | o .tea from 4|.1, Twilled Pink do, 4_-d, 6d, ettes 4a 9d doaeo, 5d a yard, worth 7£l ;DW/ 7J,_ upwards ; Pianette, te Embroideries, 2£d, Dre_B Sergoß la 31, !<■ 61, U 91 i fancy 8«, 3£d to 6. a yard. Colonial Flannels from Tweed Dresses from 6a 6d; epecial Hoe 10_<\ • White Blankets 8a lid upwards; Women's Black Ribbed Hose Is a pair, i White H 0 Qallts from 3. lid, double bed Bibbed Wool Bioglefc-, full .sn Is, worth In _.z.; MaroelU ditto, 4. lid; White Satin 91; Wool Shawls Is lid, 2« lid, 4.6 dto FinUh, do, 9i6dto 16s 6J, Aihambra do, 10* 6d each Is lid upwards AT GIBBARD'S AT GIBBARD'S HARD 2 BEAT—Heavy Revardble Car- HARD 2 BEAI'--Boya'N»vy Berge Man pat, yard wide, Ib a ynrd; Oil back Bor o' War Cape la, Superior Velvet do, 2j ; dered FlooroSo.b., yard wide, la 3d, 2yds Reversible SUk Derby Ties6i, 9d,1. ; Mee'a wide ditto, from 2* 31 ; Special Line Tapes' Strong Working Shirts, 2a 6d ; Oalonial try Hearth Ruga 5s lid to oetr, Real Ribbed Wool Pante 3a 11HI, Extra beavy Velvet Pile Axmioßler do. do, 7a lid jOrepe do 4s 6d; Colonial Underfl innel. 2s lid, Oioth O.efconncw. from 4§d ; Double width Good knitted box, 1b ; Samsoa Braces, la; Reversible do, from B|d j Lfcce Curtains, Men. Suits (Good heavy line) 21s j Card fine selection, tip top value Is 9d lo 13s 6d Trcu.er., 4» lid ; Moles, Ss 6d ; Boys' Navy J Sailor Salts 4a lid j Tweed do from 6. lid AT GIBBARD'S J ATJ GIBBARD'S Hundreds of other SPECIAL LINES which cannot be quoted in the | limited space at command. —Inspection Invited. _o.» \JT JL -D -D -ol Jtii xJ 9 ffgT HEADY MONEY DRAPER, 4HS TANORED STREET (opposite Arcndo), Ashburton _aii_m_Mawiwa^^ J. W I L-8 0N DIRECT IMPORTER OF ARTISTIC WALL PAPERS. A Compnt.6nt6«to_ Tradesmen kepb for Bona. Painting and Deoorating In all its Braoch.., for Town and Country, ' I fiave a Well Assorted Stook 0_ MIXED PAINTS In Largs or Small Quantities; also Pain. BroahM White L*ad Linseed Oils (Raw or Boiled s . Window G'.as-s Fancy Glass Turpentine Bera'ne . Methylated Spirit. A rusts' Material Beautiful MIRROR GLASS ia largo sheeba, oan be cut to aoy.-ig? HARDLEY BROS., PLUMBSBS, IRONMONGERS, AND TINSMITH Our Ssiaon'B Stock of GUNS CARTRIDGES. AND GUN FITTINGS * Ii to Hand; and Oar „„ (aUNSMITHTNO, ENGINEERING, aud BRAIZING DEPARTMENT, I, In th. Hand, of a Certificated Engineer, therefore all work will bo .amed.out «id vi- _*» __ M _^ scientific lines, and gnaranteed rtr *. 'A __ U.™ stock of wSdMILLsTtaNKS, BATHS, FORCE and LIFT VT7*™ S.NKS ZVaTORY BASINS. HlGrt PRESSURE BOILERS, ft* and make HOT and COLD WATER ft nd SANITARY WOBK a Specify H■o a.ftimsfl RIDGING and all olagsos of Tin and Iron Good- Manufio.ared. j |fp°o Welh DrSS, Pamps Hydraulic Rams, Windmills aud Wa.or Wheels fixed and r UPAsti of Competent Workmen always available for all 01a._.8 of Plumbing work in any past of the eofiaty. „ , HAEDLEY BROS. -8S PLUMBERS and SANITARY ENGINEERS, EAST STRKET AUTUMN AND I Sf^T^J^' WINTER NOVELTIES. New Good* in all Departments „.^_™X--"»" _ Beautiful Selection of j NEW MANTLES, JACKETS, OAPBS, SEAL J^KFS/ SILK BLOUSES, FURS, GLOVES, and DRESS MATERIALS, LAOE COLLARS, SILK SKIRTS, Ac. -*-. -^~» .^^l3. C * T/'TXr.O I^s GIVING EVIfiRY SaTISFAO' DRESSMx^KI|I^_i ION IS «!.«*■* -*M[CB HIGH-CLASS TAILORING ! Pwfoct Fit, Good Worki_-n.bip, Prices Very Moderate. ANDREW ORR.



The e©cacy of TUSSICURA In all lung and throat complaints is undeniable. Ib ' touches the spot * every time, Hqi&is CyOLBS—The display of Hollis cycles now on view ab John Orr & Go's is well worthy of inspection by all cycling enbhus" lasts. These machines are made from genuine B S.A parts by the celebrated guamakera, I. Hollis & Sons, Birmingham, whioh should be sufficient guaran.es> of their efficiency. The models we have seen are superbly finished, and the high standard of quality attained In bhe manufacture of bhe Hoilia bicycle has been most rigidly maintained. Tub Eitjsive Pigskin is the spuroe of mucl. sport ans tjje' cas.e o. many in juries. Football players should use Chambei-lain's Pain Balm, an antisepb'c liniment, especially valuable for sprains "and bruises. One amplication gives relief. Try 1.6, New Zealand Farmers' Oqop^Sve Asso ciation of panter^u^y, limited, Aghbtl?t;«_l ii#i lb. '" ' .; " '



Baby's Cough Must Nbyjbr Linobk— Nothing is more distressing than to see a helpless little Infanb suffering with a cough, and to be fearful of using a remedy which may contains some harmful ingredient. The makers of Chamberlain's Cough Remedy positively guarantee that this preparation does, not contain opium, In any form, or any other harmful. sabstanq.. Mpbhers may confidently jjlve [ this remtidy to their little ones. _jb givea | prompt relief, and is perfectly safe, It | always cures and cures quickly. The 1 i{iw Zealand F&maeys' Cooperative AG&ociatioQ of Canterbury, Limited 4« hb^rijioa, sella U\ 1 TtfSSICUR*. cures Oon&h* oMVoag Standing, promotes Easy Expectoration, Prioe, 2s 6d $ obtaWb.© everywhere.